Washington, D.C. 20549
Range
Resources Corporation Proxy Statement
Annual
Meeting
Wednesday,
May 16, 2018
8:00 a.m. Central Time
The Worthington
Renaissance Hotel
Bur Oak Room
200 Main Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76102
Meeting
Hours:
Registration:
7:00 am
Meeting: 8:00 am
Please
vote promptly by:
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TELEPHONE
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INTERNET
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MAIL
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marking,
signing and returning your proxy or voting instruction card
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Range Resources Corporation
100 Throckmorton Street
Suite 1200
Fort Worth, Texas 76102
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Jeffrey
L. Ventura
Chairman, President & CEO
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April 6, 2018
Dear Range Resources Corporation Stockholders:
On behalf of our Board of Directors, I
am pleased to invite you to attend our 2018 annual meeting. The meeting will be held at The Worthington Renaissance Hotel, Bur
Oak Room, 200 Main Street, in Fort Worth, Texas 76102 on Wednesday, May 16, 2018 at 8:00 a.m. Central Time.
The matters to be addressed at the meeting
are outlined in the enclosed Notice of 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and more fully described in the enclosed Proxy Statement.
Our senior executives and representatives of our independent auditor will be present at the meeting to respond to questions. Our
2017 Annual Report is not included with these materials but a copy can be downloaded from our website at
www.rangeresources.com
or you may request that we mail you a copy by calling our Investor Relations team at 817-869-4258.
MacKenzie Partners, Inc. has been retained
to assist us in the process of obtaining your proxy. If you have any questions regarding the meeting or require assistance in
voting your shares, please contact them at 800-322-2885 or call them collect at 212-929-5500.
Whether or not you expect to
attend the meeting, your vote is important. We urge you to vote your shares online at
www.proxyvote.com
or sign and return
the enclosed proxy card at your earliest convenience to ensure that your shares will be represented.
You may revoke your proxy
at the meeting and vote your shares in person if you wish. Thank you in advance for your prompt response which will reduce our
proxy solicitation costs.
Lastly, I will use this opportunity to thank Mary Ralph Lowe
for her many years of dedicated service to the Range Resources Corporation Board of Directors and our stockholders. The Board is
extremely grateful to Ms. Lowe for her contribution. She will retire effective after the 2018 Annual Meeting.
Sincerely yours,
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Jeffrey L. Ventura
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Chairman, President & CEO
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RANGE
RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
ii
Notice
of 2018 Annual Meeting
of Stockholders
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To
the Stockholders of Range Resources Corporation:
The
2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Range Resources Corporation (the “Annual Meeting” or the “Meeting”),
a Delaware corporation (“Range” or the “Company”), will be held at The Worthington Renaissance Hotel,
Bur Oak Room, 200 Main Street, Fort Worth, Texas on Wednesday, May 16, 2018 at 8:00 a.m. Central Time.
The
purposes of the meeting, as more fully described in the attached Proxy Statement, are:
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To
elect the ten nominees named in the attached Proxy Statement to our Board of Directors,
each for a term expiring at the 2019 annual meeting or when their successors are duly
elected and qualified;
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To
consider and vote on a non-binding proposal to approve our executive compensation philosophy
(“say on pay”);
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To
consider and vote on a proposal to ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as
our independent registered public accounting firm as of and for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2018;
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To
consider and vote on a stockholder proposal requesting disclosure of political spending;
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If
presented, to consider and vote on a stockholder proposal requesting the preparation
of a report regarding methane emissions; and
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To
transact any other business properly brought before the meeting.
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This
notice is being sent to holders of our common stock of record at the close of business on March 23, 2018. Each such holder has
the right to vote at the meeting or any adjournment or postponement. The list of stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting
will be open to the examination of any stockholder for any purpose relevant to the meeting during normal business hours for ten
days before the meeting at our Fort Worth offices. The list will also be available during the meeting for inspection by stockholders.
Whether
or not you plan to attend the meeting, please complete, date and sign the enclosed proxy and return it in the envelope provided
or you may vote online at
www.proxyvote.com
using the control number printed on the proxy. You may revoke your proxy at
any time before its exercise and, if you are present at the meeting, you may withdraw your proxy and vote in person.
By
Order of the Board of Directors
David
P. Poole
Corporate
Secretary
April
6, 2018
RANGE
RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
iii
Letter
from our
Lead Independent Director
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April
6, 2018
To
the Stockholders of Range Resources Corporation:
It
is an honor to serve as Lead Independent Director on your behalf. Board members are accountable to stockholders and are responsible
for overseeing the strategy, the execution of that strategy, the allocation of capital and ensuring that Range is well-managed
and well-governed. Among other things, we oversee the executive compensation programs, the production of financial statements
and ensure high-quality disclosures. On behalf of my fellow directors, I want to share some of our key areas of focus:
AN ACTIVE &
ENGAGED BOARD
2017
Active stockholder engagement which included reaching out to 65% of
our outstanding shares.
2016
Refreshed Board, recruiting
2 directors;
Implemented pledging and
non-hedging policy.
2015
Refreshed Board, recruiting
2 directors & retiring 2 directors;
Implemented proxy access;
Implemented stock ownership
guidelines for officers and directors.
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INDEPENDENT BOARD LEADERSHIP
4X+/year
meetings in executive session without management present
20+
committee meetings (all key committees are independent)
Annual
assessment of Board leadership structure
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BOARD ACCOUNTABILITY TO INVESTORS
Annual director elections with majority voting standard
+
Proxy access at 3%, 3 years, 20% of Board, up to 20 shareholders can
aggregate
+
Annual Board governance review that includes investor views &
feedback
+
Periodic independent director meetings with investors
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With
these bigger-picture topics in mind, as your lead independent director, I speak for the entire Board when I say we are committed
to doing all we can to make Range a well-governed, stockholder-focused Company. I encourage you to review the accompanying proxy
and to vote your shares. I look forward to continuing to serve our stockholders and thank you for your support.
Sincerely
yours,
James
M. Funk
Lead
Independent Director
RANGE
RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
iv
Table of Contents
RANGE
RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
v
RANGE
RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
vi
VOTING
INFORMATION
We
Want to Hear From You — Vote Today
It is important that you vote. Please
carefully review the proxy materials for the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and follow the instructions below to cast your
vote on all of the voting matters.
Voting
Matters and Board Recommendations
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Board
Recommendation
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More
Information
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Proposal 1
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Election of Directors
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FOR each Nominee
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Page 14
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Proposal 2
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Advisory Vote to Approve Executive Compensation
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FOR
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Page 62
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Proposal 3
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Ratification of Independent Auditors
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FOR
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Page 64
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Proposal 4
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Vote on Stockholder Proposal
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AGAINST
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Page 67
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Proposal 5
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Vote on Stockholder Proposal
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AGAINST
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Page 69
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Advance
Voting Methods
Even if you plan to attend the 2018 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders in person, please vote right away using one of the following advance voting methods (see page 72 for additional
details).
Make sure to have your proxy card or voting instruction forms in hand and follow the instructions.
You
can vote in advance in one of three ways:
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Visit the website listed on your proxy card/voting instruction form to vote
VIA THE INTERNET
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Call the telephone number on your proxy card/voting instruction form to vote
BY TELEPHONE
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Sign, date and return your proxy card/voting instruction form in the enclosed envelope to vote
BY MAIL
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Voting at our 2018 Annual Meeting
of Stockholders
All stockholders of record may vote in
person at the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which will be held on Wednesday, May 16, 2018 at 8:00 a.m., local time, at The
Worthington Renaissance Hotel, Bur Oak Room, 200 Main Street, Fort Worth, Texas. If you require directions to attend the meeting
in person, please contact our Investor Relations team at (817) 869-4258. Beneficial owners may vote in person at the meeting but
ONLY IF THEY HAVE A LEGAL PROXY, as described in the response to question 2 on page 72 of “Proxy Materials and Voting Information.”
Quorum and Adjournments
The presence, in person or by proxy, of
stockholders holding a majority of the votes to be cast is necessary to constitute a quorum at the meeting. If a quorum is not
present at the meeting, the holders of a majority of the common stock entitled to vote who are present or represented by proxy
at the meeting have the power to adjourn the meeting without notice, other than an announcement at the meeting of the time and
place of the adjourned meeting, until a quorum is present. In addition, the chairman of the meeting has the power to adjourn the
meeting for any reason without notice, other than an announcement at the meeting of the time and place of the adjourned meeting,
provided that the adjournment is not for more than 30 days and a new record date is not set. At any such adjourned meeting at which
a quorum is present, any business may be transacted that could have been transacted at the original meeting.
RANGE
RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
1
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
2
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
3
Board Composition Highlights
The Board of Directors annually evaluates the
Board’s standing committees and the overall Board to assess, among other things, whether the Board is functioning effectively
and possesses the necessary diversity of skills, backgrounds and experiences to meet Range’s needs.
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
4
2017 Performance
Range Resources Corporation is a Fort Worth,
Texas based independent natural gas, natural gas liquids (“NGLs”) and oil company, engaged in the exploration, development
and acquisition of natural gas and oil properties in the United States. Our business objective is to build stockholder value through
returns-focused growth, on a per share debt-adjusted basis, of both reserves and production.
Despite the continuing challenging commodity
price environment, our senior leadership team continued its focus on our key priorities:
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Preserve liquidity and improve financial strength;
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Focus on organic opportunities through disciplined capital investments;
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High-grade investments based on rate of returns;
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Improve operational efficiencies and economic returns;
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Limit capital spending to at or below cash flow; and
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Attract and retain quality employees whose efforts are aligned with
stockholders’ interests.
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“
Financial
results were improved in 2017 with increases in earnings, cash flow, revenues and production compared to 2016. Our focus on
our key priorities is the reason we are optimistic about our future.
”
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Jeffrey Ventura,
Chairman, President & CEO
Financial Accomplishments
In 2017, net income increased by 164% from
2016 and diluted earnings per share increased by 149% from 2016. We believe that several key metrics are reflective of our results
in 2017 – daily production volume, average realized prices, total proved reserves, cash unit costs, drill bit finding costs,
debt-adjusted production and reserve growth per share, EBITDAX, cash flow growth per share, cash margin per share and recycle ratio.
A majority of these areas are among those considered by our Compensation Committee in determining payout of our Annual Cash Incentive
Awards and our Long-Term Incentive Equity Awards.
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
5
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
6
Due to the continued low commodity price environment, we took action
in both 2016 and 2017 to reduce operating and general and administrative costs. 2016 initiatives included workforce reductions,
and in February 2016, the board of directors approved a reduction of our quarterly dividend from $0.04 per share to $0.02 per share.
2017 initiatives included additional workforce reductions. Our capital budget for 2018 is currently $941.2 million.
We believe that demand for our products,
especially natural gas, will more closely align with supply in the future and that will drive more economically rational commodity
prices. At that time, when economic returns justify it, we expect to be positioned to increase our development of our core operating
assets, grow production and reserves and accelerate value creation for our stockholders.
Executive Compensation Overview
In late 2017 and early 2018, following an extensive
shareholder engagement initiative, the Compensation Committee made significant changes to better align the compensation program
with stockholder interests and long-term strategic objectives.
Mr. Funk, our independent lead director
and Mr. Palko, the Chairman of our Compensation Committee, led the stockholder outreach effort, joined by members of senior management.
We reached out to stockholders representing 65% of our outstanding shares; these investors were typically our larger stockholders.
We held meetings with each stockholder who accepted our invitation to engage. During these conversations, stockholders were invited
to provide direct feedback on our current compensation programs. We also spoke with proxy advisory firms that provide vote recommendations
to gain insight into their views on our executive compensation programs and address their questions.
While many stockholders had differing views
on some of the topics discussed, we received the following feedback:
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Many indicated support of our compensation and governance practices
and took the opportunity to share their views on how we might enhance these practices;
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A number of our stockholders asked about our commitment to the environment;
and
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In all cases, comments and feedback were shared with members of the
Board.
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RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
7
The
following table summarizes the feedback we heard from our investors and the changes we made to our executive pay program in response.
What
we heard
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How
we responded
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Tailor
metrics with overall company strategy
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Qualitative
overlay of key strategic initiatives including lowering leverage and focusing on environmental, health and safety
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Continue
with metrics that make sense
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Maintained
quantitative measure such as debt-adjusted per share calculations
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Focus
on returns based measures
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Maintained
Drilling Rate of Return Metric
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Focus
on leverage by reducing debt to EBITDAX ratio as soon as possible
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Added
a leverage metric to the Annual Cash Incentive calculation
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Our
Peer Group should be revisited
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For
2018, our peer group was revised based on input from our new independent compensation consultant
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What
is our commitment to the environment
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For
2018, added a qualitative measure, with a weighting of 15%, addressing health, safety and environmental performance
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Specific
2017/2018 changes to the compensation program include:
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Appointed
a new Compensation Committee Chairperson and changed Committee composition;
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Engaged
Longnecker & Associates as our independent compensation consultant who has extensive
industry experience;
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CEO
total compensation declined 12% from 2016 to 2017;
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Held
Base Salary flat for the fourth consecutive year;
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Applied
31% negative discretion to the 2017 Annual Cash Incentive (paid in March 2018), $443,000
below the formulaically determined award;
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Applied
negative discretion to Long-Term Equity Incentives in both 2017 and 2018;
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CEO
Long-Term Incentive Equity Awards granted declined 12% from 2016 to 2017 and declined
13% from 2017 to 2018;
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Increased
performance-based restricted stock component of long-term equity incentive awards from
50% to 60%;
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No
payout of performance-based restricted stock below the 50
th
payout percentage;
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Tightened
Annual Cash Incentive Award performance targets for finding & development cost and
drilling rate of return;
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Added
a new Annual Cash Incentive qualitative measure addressing health, safety, and environmental
performance; and
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Established
a new smaller peer group composed of smaller sized companies with operating characteristics
more closely aligned to the Company.
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The
Compensation Committee strives to develop a compensation program designed not only to be consistent with the industry practice
but to also attract and retain executives by providing incentives to reward them for performance that supports Range’s long-term
strategic objectives.
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Be
highly aligned with stockholder interests;
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Preserve
performance accountability in both strong and weak commodity price environments;
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Build
long-term share ownership;
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Provide
a consistent retention incentive; and
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Match
or exceed prevailing governance standards for performance-based compensation.
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RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
8
The
Compensation Committee decisions in both May 2017 and March 2018 reflect reaction to our declining stock performance and our goal
to be aligned with our stockholders. The Annual Cash Incentive for 2017 (paid in March 2018) included negative discretion exercised
by the Compensation Committee in the form of a reduction to the award of $443,000 or a 31% reduction of the total payout achieved.
The tables below detail our CEO compensation decisions for 2016, 2017 and 2018 (in thousands):
CEO
COMPENSATION ELEMENTS FOR 2016, 2017 AND 2018
Consistent
with Range’s philosophy on executive compensation, at least 84% of our named executive officers (“NEOs”) compensation
is performance–based and can only be realized if Range meets applicable performance goals. The allocation of compensation
elements in 2017 to the NEOs is shown below and is based on compensation as reported in the Summary Compensation Table (see page
52).
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
9
ALLOCATION
OF COMPENSATION ELEMENTS IN 2017
(1)
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
ALL
OTHER NEO’s
(1)
Key
Compensation Elements
Base
Salary:
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Targeted
at 50
th
percentile to increase “at risk” compensation as a percentage
of total compensation
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Annual
Cash Incentive Awards:
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Awards
range from 0% to 240% of target
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Determined
by Compensation Committee based on quantitative metrics
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Long-term
Incentive Equity Awards:
Performance-Based
Restricted Stock (50%)
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38%
based on three-year TSR performance
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6%
based on three-year production debt-adjusted growth per share (PGPS)
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6%
based on three-year reserve debt-adjusted growth per share (RGPS)
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Payout
range from 0% to 150% of target
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Based
on a three-year performance period for TSR
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Based
on annual payout percentages over a three-year period for PGPS and RGPS
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Time-Based
Restricted Stock (50%)
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Restricted
stock vests 30%, 30%, 40% over three years
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Based
on comparison of actual performance to peer group performance
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Status
of Previously Granted Performance-Based Restricted Stock Awards
In
May 2014, the Compensation Committee granted long-term incentive awards to the NEOs, which were allocated 50% Restricted Stock
and 50% Performance-Based Restricted Stock based on a comparative performance of our common stock measured against a predetermined
group of peer companies (“TSR-PSUs”), each of which was equivalent to one share of common stock. The TSR-PSUs awards
granted in 2014 were payable in shares of common stock from zero to 150% of the target number granted. The performance period
began May 2014 and ended May 2017. In May 2017, the Compensation Committee certified Range’s TSR over the performance period,
with Range ranking
15
th
out of 20 companies in the peer group. The formula,
according to the terms of the TSR-PSUs award, resulted in a payout of 56%.
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
10
Changes
to the Compensation Program in Effect for 2017
In
May 2017, the Compensation Committee reviewed the metrics used in evaluating our executives’ compensation. As discussed
below, the Compensation Committee:
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For
the third year in a row, all NEOs base salary remained unchanged as of May 2017;
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Removed
the use of Absolute Stock Performance as a metric for Annual Cash Incentive Awards;
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Added
the use of Drilling Rate of Return (with a weighting of 15%) as a metric for Annual Cash
Incentive Awards;
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Added
Reserves and Production Growth per share, debt-adjusted, as a performance metric for
Long-Term Incentive Awards, based on a forward looking, three-year performance period.
As a result, the Long- Term Incentive Awards awarded in 2017 changed to the following
mix:
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Changes
to the Compensation Program in Effect for 2018
Effective
for the 2018 compensation period, the Compensation Committee:
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Moved
determination of base salary and long-term incentive grants from May to March to allow
for disclosure in the current year proxy;
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Changed
long-term incentive grant mix to 60% Performance-Based Stock and 40% Time-Based Performance
Stock;
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Added
a new leverage metric for Annual Cash Incentive defined as debt divided by EBITDAX;
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Added
a new qualitative measure addressing health, safety and environmental performance, with
a weighting of 15%, to the Annual Cash Incentives award mix;
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Tightened
targets for both finding and development costs and drilling rate of return for the 2018
Annual Cash Incentive Awards;
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Determined,
for the fourth year in a row, not to increase NEO base salary based on compensation analysis
compared to the Compensation Peer Group;
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Reduced
the amount of Long-term Incentive Award values compared to amounts granted in 2017, as
detailed below:
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Long-Term
Incentive
Grant in
May 2017
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Long-Term
Incentive Grant in
March 2018
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Long-Term
Value Decrease
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Percentage
Decrease
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Jeffrey
L. Ventura
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$
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6,580,649
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$
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5,727,774
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$
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(852,875)
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(13%)
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Roger S. Manny
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$
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3,179,160
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$
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2,239,487
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$
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(939,673)
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(30%)
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Ray N. Walker, Jr.
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$
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3,094,155
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$
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2,239,487
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$
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(854,668)
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(28%)
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Chad S. Stephens
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$
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1,971,171
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$
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1,584,941
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$
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(386,230)
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(20%)
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David
P. Poole
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$
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1,686,171
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$
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1,276,951
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$
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(409,220)
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(24%)
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Adjusted
the maximum payout percentage for TSR-PSUs from 150% to 200%, with no payout below the
50% payout percentage; and
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Determined
that the fair value of certain equity grants will be based on the average trading price
of our common stock ten days prior to and inclusive of the date of grant.
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Highlights
of Executive Compensation Program Policies and Practices
The
executive compensation program for the NEOs includes many best practice features that are intended to enhance the alignment of
compensation with the interests of Range’s stockholders:
What
We Do
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What
We Don’t Do
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Seek
stockholder engagement and responsiveness
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Grant
annual cash bonuses or long-term incentive awards to executive officers that are not subject to clawback
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Exercise negative
discretion with declining company performance
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No individual change-in-control
contracts
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Majority
of NEOs compensation is at risk and performance based, which links pay to performance
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No
backdating or repricing of stock options
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All long-term incentive
awards are payable in stock
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No employment contracts
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Financial
performance metrics underlying long-term incentive awards are objective and aligned with stockholders’ interests
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No
accelerated vesting of equity awards in the event of a change-in-control without a qualifying termination under the Management
CIC Plan
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Perform annual say-on-pay
advisory vote for stockholders
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Allow margin, derivatives
or speculative transactions, such as hedges, pledges and margin accounts
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Maintain
robust stock ownership goals for senior executives
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No
individual supplemental executive retirement arrangements
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Engage an independent
compensation consultant to advise the committee
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Reward executives
for excessive, inappropriate or unnecessary risk-taking
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Offer
minimal use of perquisites
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Dedicate time to
executive succession planning and leadership development each year
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Compensation
Peer Groups revised annually
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RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
11
Pay
For Performance
Our
executive compensation programs deliver payments aligned with performance achieved and are designed in a way that our performance
impacts the realizable pay of our NEOs. The following graph demonstrates this impact on Mr. Ventura’s pay over time. The
value shown (in thousands) as of December 31, 2017 represents the annual base salary, the actual bonus paid for each year’s
performance, the year-end value of restricted stock and an estimated prevailing value of performance awards (in thousands). The
ultimate value of stock-based awards will depend on our future stock price performance, our total shareholder return relative
to a defined group of our peers and our performance compared to internal metrics of production and reserve growth per share (debt
adjusted).
These
graphics emphasize the realizable value of Mr. Ventura’s compensation is strongly aligned with stockholder value.
CEO
TOTAL COMPENSATION - DECREASE IN VALUE OF AT LEAST 40%
Values
for this illustration was determined with the following:
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Our
closing stock price as of December 31,2017 was $17.06;
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Our
payout percentage, as measured under our performance unit programs for PSU-TSRs as of
December 31, 2017 were: 36% for 2015, 0% for 2016 and 0% for 2017; and
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Our
percentage payout assumed for PGPS and RGPS was 92% as of December 31, 2017.
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The
following graph provides additional detail of estimated value for our TSR-PSUs and the impact on the realizable value of Mr. Ventura’s
compensation. Payouts under and the values of these awards have declined compared to grant date value.
CEO
TSR - PSUs - DECREASE IN VALUE
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(1)
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For
the award granted in 2014, the value shown is the final value.
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Values
for this illustration for 2015, 2016 and 2017 were determined with the following:
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Our
closing stock price as of March 23, 2018 was $14.65; and
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|
Our
payout percentage, as measured under our performance unit programs for PSU-TSRs were:
36% for 2015, 0% for 2016 and 0% for 2017.
|
Important
Dates for 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (page 71)
Stockholders proposals submitted for inclusion in
our 2019 proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)
must be received by us no later than December 7, 2018.
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
12
PROXY
STATEMENT
We
are furnishing you this proxy statement to solicit proxies to be voted at the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Range Resources
Corporation. The meeting will be held at the Worthington Renaissance Hotel, Bur Oak Room, 200 Main Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76102
on May 16, 2018 at 8:00 a.m. Central Time. The proxies also may be voted at any adjournment or postponements of the meeting.
The
mailing address of our principal office is 100 Throckmorton Street, Suite 1200, Fort Worth, Texas 76102. We are first furnishing
these proxy materials to stockholders on April 6, 2018.
All
properly executed written proxies and all properly completed proxies submitted by telephone or internet that are delivered pursuant
to this solicitation will be voted at the meeting in accordance with the directions given in the proxy, unless the proxy is revoked
prior to completion of voting at the meeting.
Only
owners of record of shares of Range common stock (“Common Stock”) as of the close of business on March 23, 2018, the
record date, are entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting or any adjournments or postponements of the meeting. Each owner
of Common Stock on the record date is entitled to one vote for each share of Common Stock held. On March 23, 2018, there were
249,236,194 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding.
IMPORTANT
NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON MAY 16, 2018.
The
Notice of Annual Meeting, Proxy Statement and Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 are available
at
www.rangeresources.com
.
|
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
13
PROPOSAL
1
|
ELECTION
OF DIRECTORS
|
Nomination
and Election of Directors Nominated by the Board
|
All
of our directors are elected to single year terms. As a result, the current term of all our directors expires at the 2018 annual
meeting. Based on the recommendation received from the Governance and Nominating Committee, our Board of Directors proposes that
each of the nominees, all of whom are currently serving as directors, be elected for a new term expiring at the 2019 annual meeting
or when their successors are duly elected and qualified. Each of the nominees has agreed to serve if elected. If any one of them
becomes unavailable to serve as a director, our Board of Directors may designate a substitute nominee. In that case, the persons
named as proxies will vote for the substitute nominee designated by our Board of Directors. Our Board of Directors does not presently
contemplate that any of the nominees will become unavailable for election. Ms. Lowe is not standing for re-election. The Company
and our directors extend their sincere appreciation for her dedicated service as a member of Range’s Board of Directors.
Required
Vote and Recommendation
|
Because
it is an uncontested election of directors, each nominee must receive more votes “for” the nominee than votes cast
“against” the nominee in order for the nominee to be elected to the Board of Directors. Under our by-laws, in the
event a candidate for the board does not receive more “for” votes than votes “against,” the candidate’s
resignation from the Board will be considered by the Governance and Nominating Committee. A properly executed proxy marked “Abstain”
with respect to the election of one or more of our directors will not be voted with respect to the director or directors indicated,
although it will be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present. Uninstructed shares are not entitled to vote
on this proposal; therefore, broker non-votes will not affect the outcome of this proposal. Proxies cannot be voted for a greater
number of persons than the number of nominees named. For the reasons described at the end of each biographical information for
each candidate which discusses the skills, qualifications and attributes led the Governance and Nominating Committee to recommend
such persons for election to the Board. In the event of a contested election of directors, a nominee would be required to receive
a plurality of the votes of the holders of shares of our common stock present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at the
meeting. Under our by-laws, an “uncontested election” is an election in which the number of nominees for director
is not greater than the number to be elected and a “contested election” is an election in which the number of nominees
for director is greater than the number to be elected.
|
The Board
of Directors recommends a vote FOR all of the nominees
|
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
14
Director
Qualifications
Our
Corporate Governance Guidelines contain criteria that apply to nominees recommended by the Governance and Nominating Committee
for positions on our Board of Directors. Under these criteria, members of our Board of Directors should:
|
●
|
have
high professional and personal ethics and values;
|
|
●
|
have
broad experience in management, policy-making and/or finance;
|
|
●
|
commit
to enhancing stockholder value;
|
|
●
|
have
sufficient time to carry out their duties and to provide insight and practical wisdom
based on their experience and knowledge;
|
|
●
|
limit
their service on other boards of other public companies to a number that permits them,
given their individual circumstances, to perform their expected duties; and
|
|
●
|
represent
the interests of all stockholders.
|
Our
Board of Directors prefers to have a reasonable number of directors who have experience within the oil and gas industry. Our Board
has also adopted a policy with regard to the consideration of diversity in the selection of candidates for the Board of Directors
and that policy has been included in the Governance and Nominating Committee’s charter.
Each
of the nominees for director is now a member of the Board of Directors, which met seven times during 2017. Each of the nominees
for director attended at least 75% of the combined Board and Committee meetings held during the periods served by such nominee
in 2017. We have provided below, key attributes, skills and experience that led the Board to conclude that the nominee should
serve as a director. The table below summarizes, in no particular order, the primary experiences, qualifications and skills that
our nominees for director bring to the Board.
Name
|
Leadership
|
Industry
|
Finance
|
Geoscience/
Engineering
|
Marketing
|
Technology
|
Brenda A. Cline
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anthony V. Dub
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Allen Finkelson
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
James M. Funk
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Christopher A. Helms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert A. Innamorati
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Greg G. Maxwell
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kevin S. McCarthy
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Steffen E. Palko
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jeffrey
L. Ventura
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consideration of Stockholder
Nominees for Director
The policy of our Governance
and Nominating Committee is to consider stockholder nominations for director candidates as described below under “Identifying
and Evaluating Nominees for Directors.” In evaluating such nominations and in evaluating the composition of the Board, our
Governance and Nominating Committee seeks to achieve a balance of knowledge, experience and capability on our Board of Directors
and to address the membership criteria set forth above under “Director Qualifications” including diversity. Any stockholder
nominations proposed for consideration by our Governance and Nominating Committee should include the nominee’s name and
qualifications for Board of Directors membership, meet the requirements set forth in our by-laws and should be addressed to: Corporate
Secretary, Range Resources Corporation, 100 Throckmorton Street, Suite 1200, Fort Worth, Texas 76102.
Identifying and Evaluating
Board Nominees for Directors, including Diversity Considerations
Our Governance
and Nominating Committee uses a variety of avenues to identify and evaluate director nominees. The Committee regularly assesses
the appropriate size of our Board of Directors and whether any vacancies on our Board of Directors are expected due to retirement
or otherwise. If vacancies are anticipated, or otherwise arise, our Governance and Nominating Committee considers various potential
candidates for the Board of Directors. Candidates may come to the attention of the Committee through current Board members, stockholders
or other persons. Candidates may be evaluated at regular or special meetings of the Committee and may be considered at any point
during the year.
The Committee also considers any stockholder nominations for candidates for our Board of Directors. Following
verification of the stockholder status of persons proposing candidates, recommendations are provided to and considered by our
Governance and Nominating Committee at a regularly scheduled meeting, which is generally the first or second meeting before the
issuance of the proxy statement for our annual meeting. If any materials are provided by a stockholder in connection with the
nomination of a director candidate, such materials are forwarded to our Governance and Nominating Committee. Our Governance and
Nominating Committee also reviews materials provided by other parties in connection with a nominee
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
15
who is
not proposed by a stockholder. In evaluating such nominations, our Governance and Nominating Committee seeks to achieve a balance
of knowledge, experience and capability on our Board of Directors and evaluates the experience, skills, abilities and qualifications
of each candidate and considers the diversity of the current members of the Board. Our Governance and Nominating Committee does
not currently expect to use a paid third-party in identifying potential directors but if it does, it is committed to having any
such third party seek candidates from both traditional and non-traditional candidate pools, regardless of gender, ethnicity or
national origin, as part of the Board’s commitment to consideration of diversity as described in the Company’s Corporate
Governance Guidelines and the Committee’s charter. The Governance and Nominating Committee annually assesses the effectiveness
of the Company’s diversity policy in connection with the selection of individual candidates for election or re-election
to the Board.
Proxy
Access
In response
to a stockholder proposal submitted to a vote of the Company’s stockholders in May 2015, the Company’s Board of Directors
adopted provisions of the Company’s By-Laws to allow a stockholder or group of stockholders that meet certain criteria and
requirements to nominate candidates for election to the Board and have such persons included in the Company’s proxy statement.
The basic requirements to be met in order to submit a candidate for election to the Board utilizing proxy access are that a stockholder
or group of stockholders comprised of no more than 20 unaffiliated stockholders must have owned at least 3% of the outstanding
common stock of the Company for at least 3 years in order to submit a nominee. The maximum number of nominees is 20% of the Board
or 2 whichever is greater. If you wish to utilize the Company’s proxy access process, you must submit the information required
under the By-laws to the Company not less than one hundred and twenty (120) days nor more than one hundred and fifty (150) days
prior to the first anniversary of the date that the Company first distributed its proxy statement to stockholders for the previous
year’s Annual Meeting (i.e. April 6, 2018). Copies of the Company’s By-laws are available on the Company’s website
at
www.rangeresources
. com or upon request addressed to the Company’s Corporate Secretary. Any questions regarding
the Company’s proxy access procedures may be directed to the Company’s Corporate Secretary.
Director
Independence
In accordance
with applicable laws, regulations, our Corporate Governance Principles and the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”),
the Board must affirmatively determine the independence of each director and director nominee. The Governance and Nominating Committee
considers all relevant facts and circumstances including, without limitation, transactions during the previous year between Range
and the director directly, immediate family members of the director, organizations with which the director is affiliated, and
the frequency and dollar amounts associated with these transactions. The Committee then makes a recommendation to the Board with
respect to the independence of each director and director nominee. Based on these considerations, the Board determined the following
directors are independent:
Brenda
A. Cline
|
Robert
A. Innamorati
|
Anthony V. Dub
|
Greg
G. Maxwell
|
Allen
Finkelson
|
Kevin
S. McCarthy
|
James
M. Funk
|
Steffen E. Palko
|
Christopher
A. Helms
|
Jeffrey
L. Ventura*
|
*As CEO of the Company,
Mr. Ventura is not independent.
|
|
Regular
Assessment of Board Composition
The
Governance and Nominating Committee regularly assesses the appropriate size and composition of our Board, which incorporates the
results of the annual evaluation process. The Committee also considers succession planning for its directors.
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
16
Nominees
For Director – Terms Expire 2019
|
|
BRENDA
A. CLINE
|
|
|
Independent Director
Age:
57
Director Since:
2015
|
Board Committees:
●
Audit
●
Governance
and Nominating
|
Ms. Cline became a director in July 2015.
Ms. Cline currently serves as Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, and Secretary of the Kimbell Art Foundation, a private operating
foundation that owns and operates the Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth, Texas. From 1993 until 2013, Ms. Cline also served as a contract
author for Thomson Reuters, Fort Worth, Texas. Before 1993, Ms. Cline held various positions with Ernst & Young LLP. Ms. Cline
also serves on the board of certain non-profit entities including the Board of Trustees of Texas Christian University and the Pension
Fund of the Christian Church. Ms. Cline is a certified public accountant. She received her Bachelor of Business Administration,
Accounting degree, summa cum laude, from Texas Christian University.
Current Public Company Directorships:
Tyler Technologies; American Beacon Funds; Cushing Closed – End Funds
Public Company Directorships Within
the Past Five Years:
None
Key Attributes, Skills and Experience
Ms. Cline has extensive experience in a number
of areas including accounting and finance. Her experience as a current chief financial officer, her public accounting experience
and her work as an independent board member are the primary factors in the Board having elected Ms. Cline as a Director of the
Company and for the Governance and Nominating Committee’s recommendation that she be nominated for election.
|
ANTHONY
V. DUB
|
|
|
Independent Director
Age:
68
Director Since:
1995
|
Board Committees:
●
Audit
●
Compensation
|
Mr. Dub is Chairman of Indigo Capital,
LLC, a financial advisory firm based in New York. Before forming Indigo Capital in 1997, he served as an officer of Credit Suisse
First Boston (“CSFB”). Mr. Dub joined CSFB in 1971 and was named a Managing Director in 1981. Mr. Dub led a number
of departments during his 26 year career at CSFB including the Investment Banking Department. After leaving CSFB, Mr. Dub became
Vice Chairman and a director of Capital IQ, Inc. until its sale to Standard & Poor’s in 2004. Capital IQ is a leader
in helping organizations capitalize on synergistic integration of market intelligence, institutional knowledge and relationships.
Mr. Dub received a Bachelor of Arts degree, magna cum laude, from Princeton University.
Current Public Company Directorships:
None
Public Company Directorships Within
the Past Five Years:
None
Key Attributes, Skills and Experience
Mr. Dub has significant experience in the
financial area and serves as a member of the Company’s Audit and Compensation Committees. Mr. Dub gained his financial expertise
from many years of service as an investment banker, having led the Asset Finance, Mortgage Finance, Capital Markets and Investment
Banking practices at CSFB at various points in his career. His experience evaluating financial risks as well as his performance
as a member of the Company’s Audit and Compensation Committees are significant factors in the Governance and Nominating Committee’s
conclusion that he should be nominated as a director.
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
17
|
ALLEN
FINKELSON
|
|
|
Independent Director
Age:
71
Director Since:
1994
|
Board Committees:
●
Governance
and Nominating (Chair)
|
Mr. Finkelson was a partner at Cravath,
Swaine & Moore LLP from 1977 to 2011, with the exception of the period 1983 through 1985, when he was a managing director of
Lehman Brothers Kuhn Loeb Incorporated. Mr. Finkelson joined Cravath, Swaine & Moore, LLP in 1971. Mr. Finkelson earned a Bachelor
of Arts from St. Lawrence University and a J.D. from Columbia University School of Law. Mr. Finkelson’s experience in mergers
and acquisitions and corporate law brings a unique perspective to the Company’s Board.
Current Public Company Directorships:
None
Public Company Directorships Within
the Past Five Years:
None
Key Attributes, Skills and Experience
Mr. Finkelson practiced law at one of the
leading law firms in the country, where he was a partner with over 30 years of experience and where he had significant involvement
with a wide range of public company transactions and other corporate issues. Additionally, he has strong knowledge of corporate
best practices as a result of his practice as a lawyer in a number of areas, including public company executive compensation and
corporate governance. As a result of these skills and abilities, the Governance and Nominating Committee determined to nominate
him for election to the Board.
|
JAMES
M. FUNK
|
|
|
Lead Independent Director – Since 2015
Age:
68
Director Since:
2008
|
Board Committees:
●
Compensation
●
Dividend
(Chair)
|
Mr. Funk is an independent consultant and
producer with over 30 years of experience in the energy industry. Mr. Funk served as Senior Vice President of Equitable Resources
and President of Equitable Production Co. from June 2000 until December 2003. Previously, Mr. Funk was employed by Shell Oil Company
for 23 years in senior management and technical positions. Mr. Funk has previously served on the boards of Westport Resources (2000
to 2004), and Matador Resources Company (2003 to 2008). Mr. Funk received a B.A. degree in Geology from Wittenberg University,
a M.S. in Geology from the University of Connecticut, and a PhD in Geology from the University of Kansas. Mr. Funk is a Certified
Petroleum Geologist.
Current Public Company Directorships:
Superior Energy Services, Inc.
Public Company Directorships Within
the Past Five Years:
Sonde Resources Corporation
Key Attributes, Skills and Experience
Mr. Funk was selected to serve as a
Director based on his strong technical experience in geology as well as his knowledge of the Appalachian basin where much of
the Company’s current exploration is being conducted. He has significant technical expertise in unconventional oil and
gas resources and knowledge of oil and gas exploration and development generally as well as reserves determination and
reporting in particular as a result of his service at Shell and Equitable Production, one of the leading companies in the
Appalachian basin, where he served as President. Mr. Funk has knowledge from his service with Equitable regarding the
regulatory, political and environmental arenas in Pennsylvania, where much of the Company’s exploration is currently
occurring, and he has a strong background in compensation policies and practices of oil and gas companies including
establishing energy industry specific performance based compensation metrics. All of these skills and attributes were
considered by the Board in originally selecting Mr. Funk to join the Board in December 2008 and led the Governance and
Nominating Committee to nominate him for election to the Board.
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
18
|
CHRISTOPHER
A. HELMS
|
|
|
Independent Director
Age:
64
Director Since:
2014
|
Board Committees:
●
Compensation
|
Mr. Helms has over 39 years of experience
in the energy industry, principally in the midstream sector. Mr. Helms is the President and Chief Executive Officer of US Shale
Energy Advisors LLC and subsidiaries that own and operate energy midstream and logistics assets. Prior to his retirement in 2012,
Mr. Helms was Executive Vice President and Group Chief Executive Officer of NiSource Inc. From 2005 to 2011 he served as Chief
Executive Officer and Executive Director of NiSource Gas Transmission and Storage. He has previously served and as a director of
the Marcellus Shale Coalition, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission, as Vice Chair of the Interstate
Natural Gas Association of America and Chair of the Southern Gas Association. Mr. Helms received a Bachelor of Arts from Southern
Illinois University at Edwardsville and a Juris Doctor from Tulane University School of Law.
Current Public Company Directorships:
MPLX GP LLC
Public Company Directorships Within
the Past Five Years:
Questar Corporation
Key Attributes, Skills and Experience
Mr. Helms was selected to serve as a Director
based on his extensive experience in the pipeline, processing and midstream business and his extensive knowledge of the midstream
infrastructure in the Appalachian basin where much of the Company’s current exploration is being conducted. Additionally,
Mr. Helms served as an executive with several pipeline companies and has experience as a lawyer. All of these skills and attributes
led the Governance and Nominating Committee to nominate him for election to the Board.
|
ROBERT
A. INNAMORATI
|
|
|
Independent Director
Age:
70
Director Since:
2016
|
Board Committees:
●
Audit
|
Mr. Innamorati has served as President
of Robert A. Innamorati & Co., a private investment and advisory firm, since 1995. Mr. Innamorati served as a member of the
board of directors of Memorial Production Partners GP LLC from August 2012 to December 2014 and Memorial Resource Development Corp.
from June 2014 to September 2016, where he served as chairman of the audit committee. He also served as president of a private
investment company with net assets of $1.5 billion from 2007 until 2012. Mr. Innamorati was part of ownership and served as a board
member of the Texas Rangers Baseball Club (MLB) until February 2013, where he served as chairman of the compensation committee
and as a member of the finance committee. From 1979 until 1995, Mr. Innamorati held senior positions in investment banking. Mr.
Innamorati has also served as a board member for several private companies and as a special agent with the United States Secret
Service and received an honorable discharge from the United States Marine Corps Reserves. Mr. Innamorati earned a Bachelor of Science
degree in finance and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Virginia.
Current Public Company Directorships:
None
Public Company Directorships Within
the Past Five Years:
Memorial Resource Development Corp.
Key Attributes, Skills and Experience
Mr. Innamorati was selected to serve as
a Director in connection with the merger of the Company and Memorial Resource Development Corp., where he was an independent member
of the board of directors. Mr. Innamorati’s knowledge and experience he gained while serving as a member of the Memorial
board along with his significant financial and business experience were the key skills and experience that led the Governance and
Nominating Committee to nominate him for election to the Board.
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
19
|
GREG
G. MAXWELL
|
|
|
Independent Director
Age:
61
Director Since:
2015
|
Board Committees:
●
Audit
(Chair)
●
Compensation
|
Mr. Maxwell became a director in September
2015. Mr. Maxwell served as executive vice president, finance, and chief financial officer for Phillips 66, a diversified energy
manufacturing and logistics company until his retirement on December 31, 2015. Mr. Maxwell had over 37 years of experience in various
financial roles within the petrochemical and oil and gas industries. Mr. Maxwell served as senior vice president, chief financial
officer and controller for Chevron Phillips Chemical Company from 2003 until joining Phillips 66 in 2012. He joined Phillips Petroleum
Company in 1978 and held various positions within the comptroller’s group including the corporate planning and development
group, the corporate treasury department and downstream business units. He is a certified public accountant and a certified internal
auditor. He earned a Bachelor of Accountancy degree from New Mexico State University in 1978.
Current Public Company Directorships:
Jeld – Wen Holding, Inc.
Public Company Directorships Within
the Past Five Years:
DCP Midstream Partners; Phillips 66 Partners LP
Key Attributes, Skills and Experience
Mr. Maxwell’s background includes a
significant amount of experience in public company finance and financial reporting and, as a result, he has significant experience
with SEC filings required of public companies in the energy business. He serves as the chair of the Company’s Audit Committee
and is a member of the Company’s Compensation Committee. Mr. Maxwell’s corporate finance, accounting and financial
reporting experience led the Governance and Nominating Committee to conclude that he should be nominated as a director.
|
KEVIN
S. MCCARTHY
|
|
|
Independent Director
Age:
58
Director Since:
2005
|
Board Committees:
●
Governance
and Nominating
|
Mr. McCarthy is Co-founder and Managing
Partner for Kayne Anderson Fund Advisors (“Kayne Anderson”). Mr. McCarthy is responsible for master limited partnership
investments and serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Office of four publicly traded closed end funds for which Kayne Anderson
serves as the investment manager and as Chairman of a special purpose acquisition corporation for which an affiliate of Kayne Anderson
acts as a sponsor. Mr. McCarthy joined Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors as a Senior Managing Director in 2004 from UBS Securities
LLC, where he was global head of energy investment banking. In this role, he had senior responsibility for all of UBS’s energy
investment banking activities, including direct responsibilities for securities underwriting and mergers and acquisitions in the
energy industry. From 1995 to 2000, Mr. McCarthy led the energy investment banking activities of Dean Witter Reynolds and then
PaineWebber Incorporated. He began his investment banking career in 1984. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Geology
from Amherst College and an MBA in Finance from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.
Current Public Company Directorships:
Kayne Anderson Acquisition Corp.
Public Company Directorships Within
the Past Five Years:
Oneok Inc.
Key Attributes, Skills and Experience
Mr. McCarthy’s background and experience
in the exploration and production business as a result of having served with UBS Securities LLC where he was global head of energy
investment banking, his knowledge of the oil and gas commodity markets, his knowledge of compensation practices and risk management
in oil and gas companies from his experience both as an investment banker and his management experience at Kayne Anderson where
he serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of four closed-end investment funds with an energy focus was viewed by the Governance
and Nominating Committee to be of importance to the success of the Company and the basis for the nomination of Mr. McCarthy as
a director.
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
20
|
STEFFEN
E. PALKO
|
|
|
Independent Director
Age:
67
Director Since:
2016
|
Board Committees:
●
Compensation
(Chair)
|
Mr. Palko was a co-founder of XTO Energy
Inc., serving as President and Vice-Chairman from 1986 to 2005, which became the largest independent natural gas producer in the
United States in 2009. He currently serves as a Member of the Development Board at the University of Texas at Arlington. Previously,
Mr. Palko served as a trustee for the Fort Worth ISD school board, and assumed numerous educational leadership roles at the state
and national levels, including chair of the National Assessment of Vocational Education for the United States Department of Education
and Commissioner for the U.S. Department of Labor SCANS committee. Mr. Palko earned his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from
Texas Christian University where he currently serves as an Associate Professor. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Electrical
Engineering from the University of Texas at El Paso.
Current Public Company Directorships:
None
Public Company Directorships Within
the Past Five Years:
None
Key Attributes, Skills and Experience
Mr. Palko was elected to the Board upon the
mutual approval of the Company and SailingStone Capital Partners, LLC in accordance with the Voting and Nomination Support Agreement
dated August 7, 2016 by and between the Company and SailingStone which, among other things, called for the appointment of a new
independent director to the Board who has oil and gas engineering expertise. Mr. Palko’s background and experience in the
exploration and production business including his extensive technical background and his experience with XTO Energy led the Board
to select and appoint Mr. Palko as a director and for the Governance and Nominating Committee to nominate him for election to the
Board.
|
JEFFREY
L. VENTURA
|
|
|
Age:
60
Director Since:
2005
|
Board Committees:
●
Dividend
|
Mr. Ventura is the Company’s Chairman,
President and Chief Executive Officer, having joined Range in 2003 as Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Ventura was named President
effective May, 2008, Chief Executive Officer in January 2012 and was named Chairman of the Board effective January 1, 2015. Previously,
Mr. Ventura served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Matador Petroleum Corporation which he joined in 1997. Prior to
his service at Matador, Mr. Ventura spent eight years at Maxus Energy Corporation where he managed various engineering, exploration
and development operations and was responsible for coordination of engineering technology. Previously, Mr. Ventura was with Tenneco
Oil Exploration and Production, where he held various engineering and operating positions. Mr. Ventura earned a Bachelor of Science
degree in Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University.
Current Public Company Directorships:
None
Public Company Directorships Within
the Past Five Years:
None
Key Attributes, Skills and Experience
Mr. Ventura is a highly experienced
oil and gas business executive who has a very deep technical understanding of the development of oil and gas reserves,
particularly oil and gas reserves from unconventional resources. Additionally, Mr. Ventura has significant experience in the
evaluation and reporting of oil and gas reserves, analysis of producing properties considered for divestiture and management
and development of technical human resources. The Governance and Nominating Committee considers having the benefit of the
technical management perspective provided to the Board from Mr. Ventura, a Pittsburgh native, as a director highly desirable
and beneficial to the long term growth and development of the Company because its exploration and development strategies,
especially in the Marcellus Shale play, are important to stockholder value. The Governance and Nominating Committee also
believes having the point of view of the Chief Executive Officer represented on the Board is in the best interest of the
stockholders and therefore, the committee nominated Mr. Ventura as a candidate for election as a director.
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
21
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
We are committed to having sound and strong corporate
governance principles. We believe having such principles and using them in the daily conduct of our business is essential to running
our business efficiently and to maintaining our integrity in the marketplace and among the Company’s various constituents,
including the public and you, our stockholders. The Board continually reviews evolving best practices in governance and seeks input
from Range’s stockholders through our ongoing stockholder engagement program. Our website contains a number of documents,
available free of charge, that are helpful to your understanding of our corporate governance practices including:
|
●
|
Corporate Governance Guidelines;
|
|
●
|
Certificate of Incorporation;
|
|
●
|
Board Committee Charters;
|
|
●
|
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and
information about how to report concerns.
|
A summary of key governance highlights are
noted below:
|
Director retirement age of 75
|
|
Code of business conduct and ethics
|
|
Ability of stockholders to act by written consent
|
|
Corporate governance guidelines
|
|
Ability of stockholders to call special meetings
|
|
Stockholders have the right to proxy access
|
|
Majority voting for directors
|
|
Board and Audit Committee risk oversight
|
|
Annual Election of all directors
|
|
Compensation risk assessment
|
|
Independent lead director
|
|
Review of related party transactions
|
|
Diverse board skills and experience
|
|
Non-hedging and pledging policies
|
|
Annual board, committee and director evaluations
|
|
Clawback policy
|
|
Stockholder outreach to 65% of outstanding shares in 2017
|
|
Management and director stock ownership guidelines
|
Board Leadership Structure
Our CEO serves as the Chairman of the Board.
An independent director serves as the Board’s Lead Director, with broad authority and responsibility over Board governance
and operations.
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
22
Why our Board Leadership is Appropriate
for Range.
While the Company acknowledges that having an officer of the Company as Chairman can present an issue for some companies
or some boards, the Company, the Governance and Nominating Committee and the Board do not believe there is any material corporate
governance benefit to limiting the position of Chairman of the Board to the non-management directors or only independent directors.
The Board considered the advantages and disadvantages to the election of the current CEO to the position of Chairman and determined
that it was in the best interest of the Board and the Company to elect Mr. Ventura as Chairman. The Board considered, among other
factors, the fact that the Chairman of the Board does not have any enhanced rights as a director, but has the same voting authority
as all other directors and the role of Chairman is principally that of presiding at Board meetings and taking the initiative on
establishing the proposed agenda for Board meetings, which is a role senior management of the Company would play a significant
part in regardless of which director serves as Chairman. Further, the Board has maintained a Lead Independent Director and among
the expectations for the Lead Independent Director is for that individual to be involved in setting the agenda for Board meetings
as well as facilitating regular communications between the independent members of the Board and the Chairman with regard to their
interest in having particular issues or topics addressed in a Board meeting. As a result, input from the independent members of
the Board is consistently and regularly considered in developing the Board’s agenda regardless of the Director who serves
as Chairman. Additionally, the Board has established a Board calendar which includes a number of regular agenda items to ensure
that the Board spends an appropriate amount of time considering the key matters which are important to the growth and development
of the Company at regular and established intervals. As a result of these various factors, the Company does not believe there is
any corporate governance enhancement or benefit to the Company or its stockholders if it were to require that the Chairman be elected
from the non-management or independent members of the Board. Further, the Company has received input from a number of stockholders
with large ownership positions in the Company expressing support for Mr. Ventura’s service as Chairman.
Accordingly, the Board may elect as Chairman
any member of the Board, including the CEO as the Board did for 2017. The Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines ensure
that the non-management directors have a Lead Independent Director to chair executive sessions of the Board and to assist with
interface between the Chairman and the independent directors when a non-independent director is elected Chairman. Additionally,
as previously described, all of the directors of the Company regularly communicate with the Chairman and each other resulting in
communication by and among the independent and management members of the Board to facilitate the appropriate functioning of the
Board and its committees.
How we select the Lead Director.
The Nomination and Governance Committee considers feedback from the current lead director, our Board members and the chairman and
then makes a recommendation to the Board’s independent directors. Acting on this recommendation, the independent directors
elect the lead director. Jim Funk was elected as lead director in 2017, a position he has held since 2015.
The Lead Director Role.
The lead
director focuses on optimizing the Board’s processes and ensuring that it is prioritizing the right matters. Specifically,
the lead director has the following responsibilities (and may also perform other functions the Board may request):
|
●
|
Board leadership – provides leadership
to the Board in any situation where the Chairman’s role may be, or may be perceived to be, in conflict and also, chairs meetings
when the Chairman is absent;
|
|
●
|
Leadership of independent director meetings
– leads independent director meetings, which take place at least four times per year;
|
|
●
|
Additional meetings – calls additional
Board or independent director meetings as needed;
|
|
●
|
Chairman – independent director liaison
– regularly meets with the Chairman and serves as a liaison between the Chairman and the independent directors;
|
|
●
|
Board discussion items – works with
the Chairman to propose schedule of discussion items for the Board;
|
|
●
|
Board agenda, schedule & information
– approves the agenda schedule and information sent to directors for Board meetings;
|
|
●
|
Board leadership structure review –
oversees the Board’s periodic review and evaluation of its leadership structure; and
|
|
●
|
Chairman evaluation – leads the annual
evaluation of the Chairman.
|
Board of Directors
Attendance.
The Board of Directors met
seven times in 2017. Each director attended at least 75% of the meetings held by the Board and the committees on which he or she
served during the year. Directors are expected to attend all meetings of stockholders, the Board and the committees which they
serve. Mr. Funk, our lead independent director, also attends committee meetings he is not a member of, including the Audit Committee.
All of our directors attended the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Independence of Directors.
Our Board
of Directors has considered the issue of director independence and determined that, except for Mr. Jeffrey L. Ventura, our current
Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer, none of the current directors standing for election, specifically, Brenda A.
Cline, Anthony V. Dub, Allen Finkelson, James M. Funk, Christopher A. Helms, Robert A. Innamorati, Greg G. Maxwell, Kevin S. McCarthy
and Steffen E. Palko, have a material relationship with our Company (either directly or as a partner, stockholder or officer of
an organization that has a relationship with us) and each of these directors is independent within the meaning of our director
independence standards. Our director independence standards are included in our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, available
under the Corporate Governance section of our website at www.rangersources.com. Our director independence standards reflect the
standards required by the NYSE, and SEC rules as currently in effect. Furthermore, our Board of Directors has determined that each
of the current members of each of the committees has no material relationship with us (directly or as a partner, stockholder or
officer of an organization that has a relationship with us) and is “independent” within the meaning of our director
independence standards.
Executive Sessions of Non-Employee Directors.
Non-employee directors ordinarily meet in executive session without management present at most regularly scheduled Board meetings
and may meet at other times at the discretion of the Lead Independent or at the request of any non-employee directors.
Review and Approval of Related Person
Transactions.
Our Governance and Nominating Committee Charter includes a provision regarding the review and approval of related
person transactions. Our Governance and Nominating Committee is charged with reviewing transactions which would require disclosure
under our filings under the Exchange Act, and related rules, as a related person transaction, and making a recommendation to our
Board of Directors regarding the initial authorization or ratification of any such transaction. If our Board of Directors considers
ratification of a related person transaction and determines not to ratify the transaction, management is required to make all reasonable
efforts to cancel or annul such transaction.
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
23
In determining whether or not to recommend
the approval or ratification of a related person transaction, our Governance and Nominating Committee will consider the relevant
facts and circumstances including, if applicable:
|
●
|
whether there is an appropriate business
justification for the transaction;
|
|
●
|
the benefits that accrue to us as a result
of the transaction;
|
|
●
|
the terms available to unrelated third
parties entering into similar transactions;
|
|
●
|
the impact of the transaction on a director’s
independence (in the event the related person is a director, an immediate family member of a director or an entity in which a director
is a partner, stockholder or executive officer);
|
|
●
|
the availability of other sources for comparable
products or services;
|
|
●
|
whether it is a single transaction or a
series of ongoing, related transactions; and
|
|
●
|
whether entering into the transaction would
be consistent with our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics.
|
No related person transaction in an amount
exceeding $120,000 occurred during 2017.
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics.
We have a written Code of Business Conduct and Ethics which is applicable to all of our directors and employees including our principal
executive officer and our principal financial officer. We intend to post amendments to and waivers, if any, from our code of ethics
(to the extent applicable to our principal executive and financial officers and directors) on our website at
www.rangeresources.com
under the section titled “Corporate Governance.” The latest change to our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics was posted
February 20, 2013. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics was reviewed by our Board of Directors and our Governance and Nominating
Committee in 2017.
Risk Oversight by the Board
A summary of the allocation of general risk oversight
function among management, the Board and its Committees is as follows:
The Board’s role in risk oversight
recognizes the multifaceted nature of risk management. It is a control and compliance function, but it also involves strategic
considerations in normal business decisions, finance, security, cybersecurity, safety, health and environmental concerns.
The Board has empowered its Committees
with risk oversight responsibilities. However, the Board retains the oversight of environmental, health and safety issues and any
related social concerns rather than delegating that responsibility to a Committee of the Board. Each of the Committees meets regularly
with management to review, as appropriate, compliance with existing policies and procedures and to discuss change or improvement
that may be required or desirable.
The Audit Committee plays a central role
in the Board’s oversight of internal risks, by evaluating the Company’s financial reporting, by supervising the internal
audit function, interfacing with the independent auditor, regularly communicating with the Chief Financial Officer and other members
of management, monitoring the Company’s compliance programs, including the Company’s third party anonymous hotline
for the notification of compliance concerns, supervising the investigation of any alleged financial fraud, monitoring the Company’s
internal risk forums and the Company’s enterprise risk management program (the responsibility for which the Audit Committee
shares with the Board). The Compensation Committee considers the possible risk implications of the Company’s various compensation
programs and plans and monitors the elements of such compensation programs so that risk in the behavior of the employees of the
Company, including our NEOs, is considered in such policies and programs. The Governance and Nominating Committee is responsible
for the oversight of the Company’s governance processes and monitors those processes, including the Company’s Code
of Business Conduct and Business Ethics, compliance function, Board Committee Charters and Board annual evaluations, to evaluate
their effectiveness in avoiding the creation of risk to the Company and providing for proper and effective governance of the Company.
While the Board and its committees oversee
risk management, Range management is responsible for managing risk. We have a robust enterprise risk management process for identifying,
assessing and managing risk and monitoring risk mitigation strategies. Our Chief Operating Officer and a committee of officers
and senior managers work across the business to manage each enterprise level risk and to identify emerging risks.
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
24
Board
Committees
Our
audit committee, compensation committee and governance and nominating committee is composed of independent directors. The primary
responsibilities of the committees are described below. From time to time, the Board of Directors delegates additional duties
to the standing committees.
Audit
Committee
|
|
Meetings
in 2017: 6
|
Members:
Greg Maxwell (Chair), Brenda Cline, Anthony Dub, Robert Innamorati
|
Primary
Responsibilities
|
●
prepares
the Audit Committee report for inclusion in the annual proxy statement;
●
annually
reviews our Audit Committee charter and our Audit Committee’s performance;
●
appoints,
evaluates and determines the compensation of our independent registered public accounting firm;
●
reviews and approves
the scope of the annual audit; the audit fee and the financial statements;
●
reviews our disclosure
controls and procedures;
●
reviews our internal
audit functions;
●
reviews
our corporate policies with respect to financial information and earnings guidance;
|
|
●
oversees
any investigations into complaints concerning financial matters; and
●
reviews any risks that
may have a significant impact on our financial statements.
The
Audit Committee members are independent within the meaning of the listing standards of the NYSE, SEC regulations and our
Corporate Governance Guidelines and are financially literate. The Board has determined that Mr. Maxwell is the “audit
committee financial expert” within the meaning of the SEC’s regulations. In addition, the other members of
the committee, namely Ms. Cline, Mr. Dub and Mr. Innamorati, all qualify as a “financial expert” under
the applicable standards.
|
Compensation
Committee
|
|
Meetings
in 2017: 9
|
Members:
Steffen Palko (Chair), Anthony Dub, James Funk, Christopher Helms, Greg Maxwell
|
Primary
Responsibilities
|
●
discharges
our Board of Director’s responsibilities to compensation of our executives and
directors;
●
produces
an annual report on executive compensation for inclusion in our proxy statement;
●
provides
oversight of our compensation structure, including our equity compensation plans and benefits programs
●
reviews and provides guidance
on our human resource programs;
●
provides guidance on succession
planning for our senior management;
●
retains and approves the
terms of the retention of any compensation consultants and other compensation experts;
●
evaluates human resources
and compensation strategies and oversees our total incentive compensation program including considering the risks associated
with such programs;
●
reviews
and approves objectives relevant to executive officer compensation and evaluates performance;
|
|
●
determines
the compensation of executive officers in accordance with those objectives;
●
approves
and amends our incentive compensation and equity award or share-based payment program (subject to stockholder approval,
if required);
●
recommends director
compensation to our Board of Directors;
●
monitors director
and executive stock ownership; and
●
annually evaluates
its performance and its charter.
All
of the members of our Compensation Committee are independent within the meaning of the listing standards of the NYSE,
SEC regulations and our Corporate Governance Guidelines. The report of our Compensation Committee is included in this
Proxy Statement. The Compensation Committee’s Charter was prepared by the Compensation Committee and approved by
the Governance and Nominating Committee and the Board of Directors.
|
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
25
Governance
and Nominating Committee
|
|
Meetings
in 2017: 2
|
Members:
Allen Finkelson (Chair), Brenda Cline, Mary Ralph Lowe*, Kevin McCarthy
|
Primary
Responsibilities
|
●
identifies
individuals qualified to become directors (including receiving and considering stockholder
suggested nominees) consistent with criteria approved by our Board of Directors;
●
oversees the organization
of our Board of Directors to discharge our Board of Directors’ duties and responsibilities property and efficiently;
●
reviews, when
necessary, any potential Related Person Transaction of our Company;
●
identifies best practices
and recommends corporate governance principles to our Board of Directors, including giving proper attention and making effective
responses to stockholder concerns regarding corporate governance;
●
annually
assesses the size and composition of our Board of Directors including the diversity of the Board;
*
Through May 16, 2018.
|
|
●
develops
membership qualifications for our Board committees;
●
determines director
independence;
●
monitors
compliance with our Board of Directors and our Board committee membership criteria;
●
annually
reviews and recommends directors for election to the Board;
●
reviews governance-related
stockholder proposals and recommends our Board of Directors’ response; and
●
oversees
the evaluation of our Board of Directors and management, including succession.
All
of the members of the Governance and Nominating Committee are independent within the meaning of the listing standard of
the NYSE, SEC regulations and our Corporate Governance Guidelines.
|
Dividend
Committee
|
Members:
James Funk (Chair), Jeff Ventura
|
Primary
Responsibilities
|
●
The
Dividend Committee is authorized to declare and set the record and payment dates of dividends
in accordance with Board of Directors’ directives and established dividend policy.
|
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
26
Directors
who are company employees do not receive any separate compensation for service on the Board of Directors or committees of the
Board. Director compensation is set by the Compensation Committee after working with its independent compensation consultants
and a review of a peer group of companies (the “Peer Group”). The Compensation Committee generally approves compensation
for directors just prior to the Board of Directors’ meeting following the election of directors at the annual meeting of
stockholders. Compensation arrangements for directors are effective with each election to the Board of Directors at the annual
meeting. In the past several years, the Compensation Committee has also approved the payment of annual stock awards to the directors
for a portion of their overall director compensation.
Since
director long-term equity incentive awards are granted upon director elections at the annual meeting, the timing of director long-term
equity incentive awards is not a subjective matter. Annual stock awards are fully vested upon grant and the amounts shown in the
2017 Director Compensation table reflect the grant date fair value of the awards granted during calendar year 2017 (May 2017 for
all Directors who were elected at the Annual Stockholder Meeting). Certain directors may voluntarily elect to defer all or a portion
of their cash fees in our Active Deferred Compensation Plan. Directors have the power to change their tracking investment options
in the Deferred Compensation Plans among the funds listed on page 57.
2017
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
Name
|
|
Fees
Earned or
Paid in Cash
|
|
Stock
Awards
|
|
Total
|
|
(a)
|
|
|
(b)
|
|
|
(c)
|
|
|
(h)
|
|
Brenda A. Cline
|
|
$
|
75,000
|
|
$
|
224,990
|
|
$
|
299,990
|
|
Anthony V. Dub
|
|
$
|
75,000
|
|
$
|
224,990
|
|
$
|
299,990
|
|
Allen Finkelson
|
|
$
|
75,000
|
|
$
|
224,990
|
|
$
|
299,990
|
|
James M. Funk
|
|
$
|
105,000
|
|
$
|
224,990
|
|
$
|
329,990
|
|
Christopher A. Helms
|
|
$
|
75,000
|
|
$
|
224,990
|
|
$
|
299,990
|
|
Robert A. Innamorati
|
|
$
|
75,000
|
|
$
|
224,990
|
|
$
|
299,990
|
|
Greg G. Maxwell
|
|
$
|
75,000
|
|
$
|
224,990
|
|
$
|
299,990
|
|
Kevin S. McCarthy
|
|
$
|
75,000
|
|
$
|
224,990
|
|
$
|
299,990
|
|
Steffen E. Palko
|
|
$
|
75,000
|
|
$
|
224,990
|
|
$
|
299,990
|
|
Columns
(d), (e), (f) and (g) covering stock appreciation rights (“SARs”), Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation, Changes
in Pension Values and all other Compensation, respectively, have been deleted from the SEC-prescribed table format because the
directors do not receive any such compensation.
The
following table reflects the compensation arrangements for the last three fiscal years. Director compensation was reviewed by
the Compensation Committee just prior to the 2017 annual meeting, at which time the Compensation Committee established the compensation
arrangements for the 2017 – 2018 director term. Director Compensation for the 2018 – 2019 term will be determined
at the Board meeting in May 2018, at which time the Board will consider the Company’s financial performance and the effect
of the commodity price environment in which the Company is operating.
The
Compensation Committee has not awarded additional fees to the Chairs of the Audit, Compensation or Governance and Nominating Committee
other than the retainer fees paid to all directors. After a discussion with the Board of Directors, the Compensation Committee
concluded that the preparation time for each meeting and carrying out each committee’s responsibilities generally was shared
by all the directors on the committee. In addition, because the Chair responsibilities were shared among the directors as a whole,
the Compensation Committee determined that no special fees associated with chairing a committee would be granted. The Board, based
on a recommendation of the Compensation Committee, has awarded the Lead Independent Director an additional $30,000 per year for
a total of $105,000 per year. In May 2016, the cash fee for each meeting was discontinued.
|
|
Rates
in Effect
|
|
Non-Employee
Director Forms of Compensation*
|
|
2017
– 2018 Term
|
|
2016
– 2017 Term
|
|
2015
– 2016 Term
|
|
Chairman Cash Annual retainer
|
|
$
|
*
|
|
$
|
*
|
|
$
|
*
|
|
Lead Independent Director Cash Annual retainer
|
|
$
|
105,000
|
|
$
|
105,000
|
|
$
|
70,000
|
|
Non-Employee Director Cash Annual retainer
|
|
$
|
75,000
|
|
$
|
75,000
|
|
$
|
50,000
|
|
Board or Committee cash fee for each meeting
|
|
$
|
–
|
|
$
|
–
|
|
$
|
1,000
|
|
Annual stock awards each
|
|
|
8,996
|
|
|
6,455
|
|
|
4,284
|
|
Grant date fair value of annual stock awards (per
share)
|
|
$
|
25.01
|
|
$
|
38.73
|
|
$
|
58.35
|
|
*
Not payable to Mr. Ventura.
The
Governance Committee continues to monitor the activities and time responsibilities of each director to determine if a change in
circumstances would warrant a change in the director fee structure. The directors are reimbursed for their travel and out-of-pocket
expenses in connection with their duties as a director. In addition, the directors are allowed to participate in our Deferred
Compensation Plan but their deferrals do not qualify for our Company match. We do not provide to directors any of the following:
any legacy awards or charitable awards programs for directors upon retirement, tax reimbursement arrangements, payments in connection
with a Change in Control, securities or products purchased at a discount or life insurance arrangements. Subject to the approval
of the Board of Directors, we pay for spouses to accompany our directors to certain Board of Director meetings and functions.
There were no such events in 2017.
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
27
Compensation Committee
Interlocks and Insiders Participation
|
The
Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors at fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, consisted of Messrs. Dub, Funk, Helms,
Maxwell and Palko. None of the members of the Compensation Committee were at any time during 2017 an officer or employee of the
Company. None of our executive officers serve as a member of board of directors or a compensation committee of any entity that
has one or more executive officers serving as a member of our Board or Compensation Committee.
Stock Ownership-Directors,
Management and Certain Beneficial Owners
|
The
following table shows, as of March 23, 2018, the number of shares of common stock “beneficially owned,” as determined
in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, by the directors, the NEOs, and all senior executive officers and directors,
as a group:
|
Number
of Common Shares Beneficially Owned
|
Shares
in
|
Total
|
|
|
Shares
Directly
Owned
|
Shares
in
IRA/ 401(k)
Accounts
|
SARs
(a)
|
Shares
Owned by
Family
(b)
|
Percent
of
Class
|
Deferred
Compensation
Plans
|
Common
Shares
Controlled
|
Percent
of
Outstanding
Shares
|
Brenda A. Cline
|
11,063
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
*
|
8,996
|
20,059
|
*
|
Anthony V. Dub
|
96,000
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
*
|
15,451
|
111,451
|
*
|
Allen Finkelson
|
75,000
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
*
|
25,178
|
100,178
|
*
|
James M. Funk
|
11,722
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
*
|
33,825
|
45,547
|
*
|
Christopher A. Helms
|
26,927
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
*
|
—
|
26,927
|
*
|
Robert A. Innamorati
|
21,875
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
*
|
13,449
|
35,324
|
*
|
Greg G. Maxwell
|
22,207
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
*
|
—
|
22,207
|
*
|
Kevin S. McCarthy
|
23,897
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
*
|
46,770
|
70,667
|
*
|
Steffen E. Palko
|
61,267
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
*
|
—
|
61,267
|
*
|
Jeffrey L. Ventura
|
351,282
|
3,504
|
—
|
—
|
*
|
696,161
|
1,050,947
|
*
|
Roger S. Manny
|
128,946
|
2,109
|
—
|
—
|
*
|
383,210
|
514,265
|
*
|
Ray N. Walker, Jr.
|
67,583
|
6,239
|
—
|
—
|
*
|
221,812
|
295,634
|
*
|
Chad L. Stephens
|
128,346
|
12,594
|
—
|
64,279
|
*
|
159,384
|
364,603
|
*
|
David P. Poole
|
17,647
|
7,553
|
—
|
—
|
*
|
135,893
|
161,093
|
*
|
All directors and senior executive officers as a group (18 individuals)
|
1,092,447
|
38,164
|
—
|
69,103
|
*
|
1,994,580
|
3,194,294
|
1.3%
|
|
(a)
|
Includes
shares that may be purchased under currently exercisable SAR awards or SAR awards exercisable within 60 days.
|
|
(b)
|
Individuals
disclaim beneficial ownership.
|
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
28
Security Ownership of
Certain Beneficial Owners
|
The
following table reflects the beneficial ownership of our common stock based upon the 249,236,194 common shares outstanding as
of March 23, 2018 by each person known to us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of our common
stock. Unless otherwise indicated, to our knowledge, each stockholder has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to the
securities beneficially owned by that stockholder and
no such securities were subject to a pledge.
|
|
Common
Stock
|
|
Name
and address of Beneficial Owner
|
|
Number
of Shares
Beneficially
Owned
|
|
|
Percent
of
Class
|
|
|
Sole
Voting
Shares
|
|
|
Shared
Voting
Shares
|
|
|
Sole
Investment
Shares
|
|
|
Shared
Investment
Shares
|
|
SailingStone Capital Partners LLC
One California Street, 30
th
Floor
San Francisco, CA 94111
|
|
35,832,571
|
(1)
|
|
14.4
|
%
|
|
35,832,571
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
35,832,571
|
|
|
–
|
|
The Vanguard Group
100 Vanguard Blvd
Malvern, PA 19355
|
|
24,881,422
|
(2)
|
|
10.02
|
%
|
|
316,237
|
|
|
64,798
|
|
|
24,529,685
|
|
|
351,557
|
|
BlackRock, Inc.
55 East 52
nd
Street
New York, New York 10055
|
|
13,517,305
|
(3)
|
|
6.3
|
%
|
|
13,517,305
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
15,543,212
|
|
|
–
|
|
State Street Corporation
State Street Financial Center
One Lincoln Street
Boston, MA 02111
|
|
15,530,948
|
(4)
|
|
6.26
|
%
|
|
–
|
|
|
15,530,948
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
15,530,948
|
|
Stelliam Investment Management, LP
12 East 49
th
Street, 22
nd
Floor
New York, New York 10017
|
|
12,512,500
|
(5)
|
|
5.0
|
%
|
|
12,512,500
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
12,512,500
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
(1)
|
Based
on Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC dated February 6, 2018.
|
|
(2)
|
Based
on Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC dated February 12, 2018.
|
|
(3)
|
Based
on Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC dated January 29, 2018.
|
|
(4)
|
Based
on Schedule 13G filed with the SEC dated February 14, 2018.
|
|
(5)
|
Based
on Schedule 13G filed with the SEC dated February 13, 2018.
|
Section 16(a) Beneficial
Ownership Reporting Compliance
|
Section
16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our directors and executive officers, and persons who own more than 10% of our common stock,
to file reports of ownership of, and transactions in, our common stock with the SEC. Such directors, executive officers and 10%
stockholders are also required to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) reports they file. We believe that during 2017 all
such reporting persons complied with all Section 16(a) reporting requirements applicable to them.
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
29
A
Message from the Compensation Committee
The primary role of the Compensation Committee
is to serve the Board of Directors in an independent advisory role, providing insight as it pertains to Range’s executive
compensation programs, while always representing the best interests of the Company’s shareholders and maintaining our fiduciary
responsibilities. In addition, the Committee is responsible for establishing performance measures and specific targets, as well
as evaluating the executives’ performance against those goal and objectives in conjunction with the determination of their
compensation awards in order to link pay and performance. In its capacity, the Committee is responsible for functioning both in
a strategic role and in an administrative capacity.
In 2017, the Board and Compensation Committee
oversaw a shareholder engagement program to identify potential areas of adjustment and shareholder disconnect. We heard shareholder
views about Range’s business strategy, compensation plans and incentive program design, all considering the continued historically
low commodity price environment. Overall, investor feedback was positive regarding our executive compensation program and its link
between executive pay and performance. As part of this outreach program the Compensation Committee took steps to assure shareholder
alignment with our executive compensation program; specifically, the Committee established metric adjustments to our annual incentive
plan to more closely align with the feedback from our shareholders.
The Compensation Committee believes the
compensation of our Named Executive Officers should be linked to shareholder value. Based on this philosophy, the Compensation
Committee has taken steps to assure continued alignment to shareholders in 2017 and leading into 2018. Specifically, we awarded
no salary increases to our executive officers in 2017 or 2018, applied negative discretion to the formulaic bonus results for 2017
due to shareholder returns lower than desired, and revised our long-term incentive program to further incentivize for returns to
our shareholders.
We want to express our dedication to maintaining
an open dialog with shareholders, soliciting and considering your input and comments, with a further commitment to enhance our
corporate governance program as appropriate. We very much value your continued support, trust and confidence you have placed in
us.
|
|
Compensation
Discussion and Analysis
|
This Compensation Discussion and Analysis (CD&A)
describes the material elements, objectives, and principals of Range’s executive compensation program, compensation decisions
made in 2017 and 2018 (through the date of this proxy filing) and the factors the Compensation Committee considered in making those
decisions.
For 2017, our named executive officers,
or NEOs were:
Named Executive Officer
|
Officer Since
|
Title
|
Jeffrey L. Ventura
|
2003
|
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
|
Roger S. Manny
|
2003
|
Executive Vice President – Chief Financial Officer
|
Ray N. Walker, Jr.
|
2010
|
Executive Vice President – Chief Operating Officer
|
David P. Poole
|
2008
|
Senior Vice President – General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
|
Chad L. Stephens
|
1990
|
Senior Vice President – Corporate Development
|
The 2017 Compensation of these NEOs is explained
in the following sections and in the compensation tables and related disclosures under “Executive Compensation Tables”
(beginning on page 52) that follows this CD&A. This CD&A is divided into five sections:
1
|
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
|
31
|
2
|
STOCKHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND RESPONSIVENESS
|
34
|
3
|
HOW WE DETERMINE EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
|
36
|
4
|
2017 COMPENSATION PROGRAM
|
38
|
5
|
2018 COMPENSATION PROGRAM
|
47
|
6
|
COMPENSATION POLICIES AND PRACTICES
|
49
|
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
30
Financial Accomplishments
Range is a Texas-based independent natural gas,
NGLs and oil company, engaged in the exploration development and acquisition of natural gas and oil properties in the United States.
Our principal areas of operation are the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania and the Lower Cotton Valley formation in Louisiana.
In 2017, net income increased 164% from
2016 and diluted earnings per share increased 149% from 2016. We believe that several key metrics are reflective of our positive
results in 2017 – daily production volume, average realized prices, total proved reserves, cash unit costs, drill bit finding
costs, debt-adjusted production and reserve growth per share, EBITDAX, cash flow per share, cash margin per share and recycle ratio.
A majority of these areas are among those considered by our Compensation Committee in determining payout of our Annual Cash Incentive
Awards and our Long-Term Incentive Equity Awards.
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
31
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
32
Our Business Objective and Strategy
Our overarching business objective is to build
stockholder value through returns – focused growth, on a per share debt-adjusted basis, of both reserves and production.
Our strategy to achieve our business objective is to economically develop reserves and production through internally generated
drilling projects coupled with occasional acquisitions and divestitures of non-core assets. In addition, we expect to limit capital
spending to at or below cash flow. Our strategy requires us to make significant investments and financial commitments in technical
staff, acreage, seismic data, drilling and completion technology and gathering and transportation arrangements to build drilling
inventory and market our products. Our strategy has the following key elements:
|
●
|
Commit to environmental protection and
worker and community safety;
|
|
●
|
Concentrate in core operating areas;
|
|
●
|
Maintain a multi-year drilling inventory;
|
|
●
|
Focus on cost efficiency;
|
|
●
|
Maintain a long-life reserve base;
|
|
●
|
Market our products to a large number of
customers in different markets under a variety of commercial terms;
|
|
●
|
Maintain operational and financial flexibility;
and
|
|
●
|
Provide employee equity-ownership and incentive
compensation.
|
These elements are primarily anchored by
our interests in the Marcellus Shale located in Pennsylvania. Complementing this growth area, we have natural gas, crude oil and
condensate and NGLs production activities in the Lower Cotton Valley in North Louisiana.
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
33
2016-2017 Key Accomplishments
|
●
|
Reduced total costs per mcfe in 2016 by
greater than 18% compared to 2015 levels and more than 5% in 2017 compared to 2016 levels;
|
|
●
|
Implemented innovative ways to enhance
margins;
|
|
●
|
Produced 2.0 Bcfe per day in 2017 compared
to 1.5 Bcfe per day in 2016 and 1.4 Bcfe per day in 2015 primarily attributable to the Marcellus Shale;
|
|
●
|
Increased proved reserves 3.2 Tcfe in 2017
compared to an increase of 2.2 Tcfe in 2016, primarily attributable to the Marcellus Shale. In 2017, proved reserves were 55% proved
developed reserves and 67% natural gas; and
|
|
●
|
As of December 31, 2017, we had approximately
$507.6 million of liquidity.
|
2018 Strategic Priorities
|
●
|
Preserve liquidity, improve financial strength
and reduce leverage;
|
|
●
|
Focus on organic opportunities through
disciplined capital investments;
|
|
●
|
High-grade development based on rates of
returns;
|
|
●
|
Improve operational efficiencies and economic
returns;
|
|
●
|
Limit capital spending to at or below cash
flow; and
|
|
●
|
Attract and retain quality employees whose
efforts are aligned with stockholders’ interests.
|
2
|
ENGAGEMENT AND RESPONSIVENESS TO STOCKHOLDERS
|
The Board and management were disappointed
with the outcome of last year’s say-on-pay vote, which was only 68.75% favorable. Our relationship with our stockholders
is an integral part of our corporate governance practices. In addition to our customary participation at industry and investor
conferences, road shows and meetings, we held meetings to better understand the views of stockholders on a range of topics including
compensation, governance practices and business strategy. The Compensation Committee and management undertook a year-long review
of our entire compensation program with input from the Board’s independent compensation consultant. This review included
direct engagement with our stockholders to ensure full understanding of their perspectives and their feedback was incorporated
into the Compensation Committee’s deliberations and decisions in March 2018.
Mr. Funk, our independent lead director
and Mr. Palko, the Chairman of our Compensation Committee, led the stockholder outreach effort, joined by members of senior management.
We reached out to stockholders representing 65% of our outstanding shares; these investors were typically our larger stockholders.
We held meetings with each stockholder who accepted our invitation to engage. During these conversations, stockholders were invited
to provide direct feedback on our current compensation programs. We also spoke with proxy advisory firms that provide vote recommendations
to gain insight into their views on our executive compensation programs and address their questions.
While many stockholders had differing views
on some of the topics discussed, we received the following feedback:
|
●
|
Many indicated support of our compensation
and governance practices and took the opportunity to share their views on how we might enhance these practices;
|
|
●
|
A number of our stockholders asked about
our commitment to the environment; and
|
|
●
|
In all cases, comments and feedback were
shared with members of the Board.
|
The following table summarizes the feedback
we heard from our investors and the changes we made to our executive pay program in response.
What
we heard
|
|
How
we responded
|
●
|
Tailor metrics with overall company strategy
|
●
|
Qualitative overlay of key strategic initiatives including lowering leverage and focusing on environmental, health and safety
|
●
|
Continue with metrics that make sense
|
●
|
Maintained quantitative measure such as debt-adjusted per share calculations
|
●
|
Focus on returns based measures
|
●
|
Maintained Drilling Rate of Return Metric
|
●
|
Focus on leverage by reducing debt to EBITDAX ratio as soon as possible
|
●
|
Added a leverage metric to the Annual Cash Incentive calculation
|
●
|
Our Peer Group should be revisited
|
●
|
For 2018, our peer group was revised based on input from our new independent compensation consultant
|
●
|
What is our commitment to the environment
|
●
|
For 2018, added a qualitative measure, with a weighting of 15%, addressing health, safety and environmental performance
|
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
34
Specific 2017/2018 changes to the compensation
program include:
|
●
|
Appointed a new Compensation Committee
Chairperson and changed Committee composition;
|
|
●
|
Engaged Longnecker & Associates as
our independent compensation consultant who has extensive industry experience;
|
|
●
|
CEO total compensation declined 12% from
2016 to 2017;
|
|
●
|
Held Base Salary flat for the fourth consecutive
year;
|
|
●
|
Applied 31% negative discretion to the
2017 Annual Cash Incentive (paid in March 2018), $443,000 below the formulaically determined award;
|
|
●
|
Applied negative discretion to Long-Term
Equity Incentives in both 2017 and 2018;
|
|
●
|
CEO Long-Term Incentive Equity Awards granted
declined 12% from 2016 to 2017 and declined 13% from 2017 to 2018;
|
|
●
|
Increased performance-based restricted
stock component of long-term equity incentive awards from 50% to 60%;
|
|
●
|
No
payout of performance-based restricted stock below the 50
th
payout percentage;
|
|
●
|
Tightened Annual Cash Incentive Award performance
targets for finding & development cost and drilling rate of return;
|
|
●
|
Added a new Annual Cash Incentive qualitative
measure addressing health, safety, and environmental performance; and
|
|
●
|
Established a new smaller peer group composed
of smaller sized companies with operating characteristics more closely aligned to the Company.
|
The Compensation Committee strives to develop
a compensation program designed not only to be consistent with the industry practice but to also attract and retain executives
by providing incentives to reward them for performance that supports Range’s long-term strategic objectives.
|
●
|
Be highly aligned with stockholder interests;
|
|
●
|
Preserve performance accountability in
both strong and weak commodity price environments;
|
|
●
|
Build long-term share ownership;
|
|
●
|
Provide a consistent retention incentive;
and
|
|
●
|
Match or exceed prevailing governance standards
for performance-based compensation.
|
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
35
3
|
HOW
WE DETERMINE EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
|
Compensation Committee
. The Committee
is responsible for establishing and overseeing our executive compensation program and policies that are consistent with our overall
compensation philosophy. In making such decisions, the Committee considers a variety of factors, including stockholder feedback,
information provided by its independent compensation consultant, our CEO’s input, Peer Group data, each executive’s
experience in the role, Company and individual performance, internal pay equity and any other information the Committee deems relevant
in its discretion.
Stockholder Outreach.
The Committee
considers the outcomes of the Company’s advisory stockholder vote on our executive compensation program and any associated
stockholder initiatives when making compensation decisions. To continue our focus on best practices, we enhanced our stockholder
engagement program in 2017 and early 2018 to solicit specific valuable feedback from investors on executive compensation which
we then shared with the Committee and the Board. We contacted a broad base of institutional investors and spoke with those interested
in meeting and sharing feedback with us. While overall investor feedback was positive regarding our executive compensation program
and its link between pay and performance, the vote on executive compensation indicated that we needed to make changes to our program.
In particular, investors favored the use of debt-adjusted per share metrics when measuring growth of both production and reserves.
These metrics have been used as part of our Annual Cash Incentive criterion for over ten years. Investors also positively viewed
the use of a returns-based metric (Drilling Rate of Return) in conjunction with our Annual Cash Incentive Awards which was added
by the Compensation Committee in 2016 for use with our 2017 measurements.
Several of our debt-adjusted per share
metrics are used in conjunction with the determination of our Annual Cash Incentives and in comparing our relative performance
compared to our peer companies to determine Long-Term Equity Incentive Grants for our NEOs. The Compensation Committee believes
it is important to measure growth on a per share basis so senior executives are incentivized to build long-term stockholder value.
The Compensation Committee believes production and reserve growth per share (debt-adjusted) is an important driver of both short
and long-term value creation for an oil and gas company such as Range and does not encourage growth by increasing leverage.
We believe our incentive program changes
are highly responsive to the feedback received from our stockholders and serve to strengthen the alignment with our strategic objectives.
We will continue our dialogue with stockholders on compensation issues as part of our ongoing engagement.
Role of Senior Management.
Through
our compensation cycle that ended May 2017, our CEO submitted recommendations to the Compensation Committee for adjustments to
the salary, annual cash incentives and long-term equity incentive awards payable to all employees. The Compensation Committee considers
the recommendations of our CEO as only one factor, in addition to the other factors described in this CD&A, in setting our
executive officer and other employee compensation. At the request of the Compensation Committee, our CEO and our CFO attend certain
meetings and work sessions of the Compensation Committee. Senior members of the Human Resources team and other members of senior
management interact with the compensation consultant as necessary and prepare materials for each Compensation Committee meeting.
Compensation Consultants.
For 2017,
the Committee directly engaged Alvarez & Marsal, LLC (“Alvarez & Marsal” or “A&M”) as its independent
compensation consultant to advise the Committee on executive compensation matters. Alvarez & Marsal provided the Committee
with information on industry trends, market practices and legislative issues. With the approval of the Compensation Committee,
the Company also retained A&M to provide valuation services related to the use of performance-based restricted stock awards
based on TSR. Alvarez & Marsal provides no other services to the Company or our executive officers and the Committee has the
right to terminate the services of A&M and appoint a new compensation consultant at any time. In 2017, the Company paid A&M
a total of $257,000 for consulting services related to executive and director compensation.
Alvarez & Marsal interacted with several
of our officers and employees as necessary. In addition, Alvarez & Marsal may seek input and feedback from members of our management
regarding its work product prior to presentation to the Committee to confirm that information is accurate or address other issues.
We believe that a consultant provides an independent perspective to the Committee.
In fourth quarter 2017, the Compensation
Committee engaged Longnecker and Associates as its independent compensation consultant due to their knowledge of our peers and
their industry experience. With a change in the composition of the Compensation Committee during 2017, the members chose to interview
a select number of new independent compensation consultants primarily considering the fact that A&M had been engaged by the
Committee for more than 10 years. A&M is still retained by the Company for valuation services. The new independent compensation
consultant has undertaken to review the overall competitiveness of our executive compensation program for 2018 with a continued
focus on aligning management compensation with performance of the Company and our stockholders.
Use of Tally Sheets.
In its analysis
of the appropriate compensation for our executive officers, the Compensation Committee reviews a summary report or “tally
sheet” prepared by A&M for each individual. This includes each executive salary, annual cash incentive award, long-term
equity incentive awards and any other compensation. The tally sheets reflect the total annual compensation for each executive,
as well as the potential payments under selected performance scenarios, termination of employment and change in control scenarios.
In valuing termination and change in control
payments, we calculate the total payments under each of the potential termination or change in control scenarios that are contemplated
under the Range Resources Corporation Executive Change in Control Severance Benefit Plan. The purpose of the tally sheets is to
bring together all of the elements of actual and potential future compensation of our NEOs so that the Compensation Committee can
analyze both the individual elements of compensation as well as the aggregate amount of actual and potential future compensation
for each executive.
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
36
Role of Peer Companies.
Peer Group
benchmarking is one of several factors the Compensation Committee considers in setting pay. The Committee seeks to maintain a Peer
Group that is generally similar to us with respect to business activity and specifically focuses on companies engaged in exploration
for and production of oil and gas resources with Range having a market capitalization near the median of the Peer Group. The Compensation
Committee reviews the composition of the Peer Group with advice from the independent compensation consultant in the first quarter
of each calendar year and any additions or deletions are made to the Peer Group at that time. For 2018, the Peer Group was adjusted
due to Range’s lower market capitalization. Each year, companies that are acquired or merged during the year are eliminated
from that year’s Peer Group to the extent such acquisitions or mergers prevent the company from being an appropriate member
of the Peer Group.
This chart describes the oil and gas exploration
and production companies that have been included in the Peer Group in the last three years:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Peer
Group
|
|
Company
|
|
|
2018
|
|
|
2017
|
|
|
2016
|
|
Antero Resources Corporation
|
|
|
✓
|
|
|
✓
|
|
|
✓
|
|
Apache Corporation
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
✓
|
|
|
–
|
|
Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation
|
|
|
✓
|
|
|
✓
|
|
|
✓
|
|
Carrizo Oil & Gas, Inc.
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
✓
|
|
Chesapeake Energy Corporation
|
|
|
✓
|
|
|
✓
|
|
|
✓
|
|
Cimarex Energy Co.
|
|
|
✓
|
|
|
✓
|
|
|
✓
|
|
CNX Resources
|
|
|
✓
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
–
|
|
Concho Resources, Inc.
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
✓
|
|
|
✓
|
|
Continental Resources, Inc.
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
✓
|
|
|
✓
|
|
Devon Energy
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
✓
|
|
Diamondback Energy
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
✓
|
|
|
✓
|
|
Encana Corporation
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
✓
|
|
|
✓
|
|
Energen Corporation
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
✓
|
|
|
✓
|
|
EQT Corporation
|
|
|
✓
|
|
|
✓
|
|
|
✓
|
|
Gulfport Energy Corporation
|
|
|
✓
|
|
|
✓
|
|
|
✓
|
|
Hess Corp
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
✓
|
|
|
✓
|
|
Laredo Petroleum
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
✓
|
|
|
✓
|
|
Marathon Oil Corp.
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
✓
|
|
|
✓
|
|
Memorial Resource Development Corp.
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
✓
|
|
Murphy Oil
|
|
|
✓
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
–
|
|
Newfield Exploration Company
|
|
|
✓
|
|
|
✓
|
|
|
✓
|
|
Noble Energy, Inc.
|
|
|
✓
|
|
|
✓
|
|
|
✓
|
|
Oasis Petroleum
|
|
|
✓
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
–
|
|
Parsley Energy
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
✓
|
|
|
–
|
|
PDC Energy Inc.
|
|
|
✓
|
|
|
✓
|
|
|
✓
|
|
QEP Resources, Inc.
|
|
|
✓
|
|
|
✓
|
|
|
✓
|
|
Rice Energy
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
✓
|
|
|
✓
|
|
RSP Permian
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
✓
|
|
|
✓
|
|
SM Energy Company
|
|
|
✓
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
–
|
|
Southwestern Energy Company
|
|
|
✓
|
|
|
✓
|
|
|
✓
|
|
WPX Energy
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
✓
|
|
|
–
|
|
Average Market capitalization of peer group using 12/31/17 stock price (in billions)
|
|
$
|
6.3
|
|
$
|
9.6
|
|
$
|
9.8
|
|
“
✓
”
denotes companies included in our Peer Group
Compensation Benchmarking Process.
The Compensation Committee conducts an annual comparison of the compensation of our NEOs to the compensation of executives with
similar job responsibilities among companies in our Peer Group, based upon information gathered and provided by the independent
compensation consultant. The Committee references this competitive market analysis in making compensation decisions for the coming
year. The Committee generally targets executive total direct compensation opportunities at the 50
th
percentile of the
Peer Group for average performance and adjusts total direct compensation opportunities higher or lower based on the Committee’s
assessment of each executive position. We define total direct compensation as the sum of base salary, target annual cash bonus
and the intended grant-date value of long-term incentive awards.
In May 2017, A&M provided the Committee
a market analysis that included information regarding Peer Group executives’ base salaries, target annual bonus levels and
the mix and level of long-term incentives. According to this analysis, NEO compensation levels varied by individual, but were well
positioned relative to 50
th
percentile benchmarks of comparable roles. The compensation of our CEO was approximately
90% of the market’s 50
th
percentile.
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
37
4
|
2017
COMPENSATION PROGRAM ELEMENTS
|
The majority of compensation for the NEOs
is based on the long-term performance of Range. The elements of our 2017 executive compensation program are summarized in the table
below and are described further under “Elements of Executive Compensation” on page 41.
|
Element
|
Objective
|
Form
of
Payout
|
How
Payout Value is
Calculated
|
2017
Decisions
|
FIXED
|
Base Salary
|
●
Provide
a competitive level of fixed compensation to attract and retain employees.
|
Cash
|
Review of compensation surveys, publicly available peer company data, internal pay equity, individual responsibilities and performance assessment. Base salaries are reviewed annually and as circumstances warrant.
|
In 2017, all NEOs salaries remained unchanged.
|
VARIABLE
OR AT RISK
|
Annual Cash Incentive
|
●
Motivate
financial and operational performance over a one-year period.
●
Align
executives with performance metrics that are critical to Range’s success.
|
Cash
|
Criteria and weighting pre-established by the Compensation Committee in May 2017. All five performance criteria are internal company performance measures.
The Annual Cash Incentive award is described in more detail under “Elements of the 2017 Compensation Program- Annual Cash Incentive” beginning on page 42.
|
For the Chief Executive Officer:
●
Target
bonus % salary at 120%.
For the other NEOs:
●
Target
bonus % of salary at 96% for Executive Vice Presidents and 72% of salary for Senior Vice Presidents.
●
Actual
payment for 2017 performance included negative discretion exercised by the Compensation Committee.
|
Long-Term Incentive – Performance-Based Total Stockholder Return (TSR) Awards
|
●
Reward
higher returns in Range common stock over a three-year performance period.
●
Align
executives with the interests of stockholders.
|
Stock
|
A comparison of Range’s TSR to that of the peer group over a three-year performance period. In addition, if Range’s absolute TSR is negative for the period, payout of the award is capped at no more than target.
The terms and conditions of the TSR award are described in more detail under “Long-Term Incentive Program” beginning on page 44.
|
For the Chief Executive Officer:
●
The
TSR award accounts for 38% of the target 2017 long-term incentive award value.
For the other NEOs:
●
The
TSR award accounts for 38% of target 2017 long-term incentive award value.
|
Long-Term
Incentive – Performance-Based - Production and Reserve Growth Per Share Awards (Debt Adjusted)
|
●
Rewards
performance annually over a three- year period.
●
Align
executives interest with interests of stockholders
|
Stock
|
A comparison of reported production and year-end reserves adjusted for price revisions, debt adjusted to a performance target.
The terms and conditions of this award is described in more detail under “Summary of 2017 Long-Term Incentive Program” beginning on page 44.
|
For Chief Executive Officer:
●
The
award accounts for 12% of the target 2017 long-term incentive award values.
For other NEOs:
●
The
award accounts for 12% of the target 2017 long-term incentive award values.
|
Long-Term Incentive – Time-Based Restricted Stock
|
●
Provide
a retention incentive that promotes sustained stock ownership
●
Tie
ultimate value realized to performance of Range’s common stock
|
Stock
|
Generally vest in three tranches over a three-year period (30%, 30% 40%), subject to continued employment.
The terms and conditions of these awards are described in more detail under “Long-Term Incentive Program” beginning on page 44.
|
For the Chief Executive Officer:
●
The
stock award accounts for 50% of the target 2017 long-term incentive award value.
For the other NEOs:
●
The
stock award accounts for 50% of the target 2017 long-term incentive award value.
|
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
38
As set forth below, our CEO had 87% of
his pay “at risk” or dependent on both the Company’s and his individual performance and the other NEOs had an
average of 84% of their pay “at risk”.
ALLOCATION OF COMPENSATION ELEMENTS IN
2017
(1)
|
(1)
|
Amounts
shown reflect salary paid in 2017, annual cash incentive awards for 2017 which were paid
in 2018 based on 2017 performance and the grant date fair value for Long-Term Incentive
Awards granted in 2017.
|
Setting Executive Compensation in 2017
The Compensation Committee decisions in
May 2017 and March 2018 reflect reaction to our declining poor stock performance and our goal to be aligned with our stockholders.
The Annual Cash Incentive for 2017 (paid in March 2018) included negative discretion exercised by the Compensation Committee in
the form of a reduction to the award of $443,000 or 31% reduction of the payout achieved. The tables below detail the CEO compensation
decisions for 2016, 2017 and 2018 (in thousands):
CEO COMPENSATION ELEMENTS FOR 2016, 2017
AND 2018
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
39
Determining Relative Performance Compared
to the Peer Group.
The Compensation Committee, with assistance from the independent compensation consultant, determines total
executive compensation for our NEOs based on our performance relative to the Peer Group, measured by comparing performance measures
that the Compensation Committee believes to be key indicators of superior performance for oil and gas exploration and production
companies. As described in more detail below, the Compensation Committee uses long-term equity incentive awards as the final element
of total compensation; however, the Committee only determines total compensation once it has assessed the Company’s actual
performance relative to the Peer Group for the prior calendar year and establishes total compensation (and thus the amount of equity
awards granted) based on the Company’s actual performance relative to the Peer Group as described below. Thus, during May
2017, the Compensation Committee awarded long-term equity incentive awards for our NEOs for 2016 based on our relative performance
compared to the Peer Group for 2016 and the total compensation received for 2016 by executive officers in the Peer Group (omitting
from the peer compensation certain companies and certain compensation elements the Committee, with input from A&M, determined
were not appropriate for inclusion to determine the amount of pay to be used for benchmarking). In order to evaluate the Company’s
performance as compared to the Peer Group companies, the information for the Peer Group for 2016 was taken from each company’s
audited financial statements for 2016 along with the compensation information for 2016 disclosed in each company’s 2017 proxy
statement.
In May 2017, to evaluate the Company’s
relative performance to our peer companies, each company in the Peer Group was measured in seven categories for
2016
results:
|
●
|
stock price appreciation;
|
|
●
|
debt-adjusted reserve growth per share;
|
|
●
|
debt-adjusted production growth per share;
|
|
●
|
drilling-bit finding and development costs;
|
|
●
|
cash flow growth per share;
|
The Committee then considered the same
criteria for the Company’s 2016 performance and determined the Company’s actual 2016 performance relative to the Peer
Group. This analysis showed that the Company’s performance was at the 43
rd
percentile. The Compensation Committee
has determined not to be bound by a formulaic application of the performance percentile when setting total compensation and regularly
uses negative discretion to establish the percentile that it applies before the step described below of setting each individual
executive’s total compensation. Negative discretion means that the Compensation Committee reduces the compensation amounts.
The Committee believes that the use of
actual Peer Group company performance compared to the Company’s actual performance, after the fact and based on audited financial
results, allows the Committee to make a well-informed judgment with regard to the performance of the Company and our executives
as compared to the Peer Group. The determination of the Company’s performance relative to the Peer Group is one of the most
important steps in setting the Company’s executive compensation and is the key to the Committee’s view that it awards
pay directly linked to actual performance by the Company relative to its peers.
As a result, the Committee and its independent
consultant devote a significant amount of time to:
|
●
|
establishing a Peer Group that challenges
our executives with the inclusion of strong performing peer companies including peer companies larger than the Company;
|
|
●
|
considering performance metrics for comparison
that the Committee views as key to the success of the Company; and
|
|
●
|
when determining total compensation (which
itself directly determines the amount of equity compensation awarded), eliminating from consideration as a Peer Group member any
company that would unrealistically skew the Company’s relative performance or the compensation awarded to a particular executive.
|
No compensation is granted in anticipation
of future performance; time vesting is an additional restriction placed upon compensation already earned for past performance.
The Committee believes that the practice of granting equity compensation for past, actual performance relative to peers, combined
with that compensation being “at risk” during the vesting period (a retention tool), is a rigorous process of granting
long-term equity awards in a way that reflects consistent alignment with the Company’s actual performance relative to its
peers. The Committee believes that its methodology results in total compensation being directly based on the Company’s performance
relative to its peers and therefore provides a very strong culture of pay for performance. As described in the section below entitled
“
Long-Term Equity Incentive Compensation
”, beginning with equity awards granted to senior executives in May
2014, the Committee granted a combination of 50% Performance-Based Restricted Stock Awards and 50% Time-Based Restricted Stock
Awards. In March 2018, this allocation changed to 60% Performance-Based Restricted Stock Awards and 40% Time-Based Restricted Stock
Awards.
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
40
Determining Individual Total Compensation
of our Senior Executives and Use of Relative Performance to Establish Total Compensation.
In determining an individual executive’s
total compensation to be awarded, the Compensation Committee reviewed the compensation paid in 2016 relative to the corresponding
comparable executives in the Peer Group as compiled from the 2017 proxy data by A&M. In reviewing compensation, data from certain
Peer Group companies was omitted where the Committee believed the pay included elements that were inconsistent with the Company’s
pay philosophy or where the Peer Company was much larger than the Company. Additionally, data for certain positions in some companies
in the Peer Group was excluded where the Compensation Committee determined that total compensation at a Peer Group company was
not comparable or was affected by non-comparable factors. By
excluding
companies from the Peer Group used for benchmarking
executive pay but
including
those same companies for the relative performance analysis, the Committee believes that the
Company’s relative performance is more rigorously judged, but the potential effect of increasing the pay benchmark by including
much larger companies or companies with a different compensation philosophy is avoided. In those instances, where a comparable
position did not exist in the Peer Group or the Peer Group data was not considered adequately comparable, the Compensation Committee
used a relative ranking of the compensation paid to the five most highly compensated officers at that Peer Group company to determine
compensation for comparison purposes with our executives.
Once the appropriate total compensation
for a particular position is determined, the proposed total compensation is calculated using the percentile performance level determined
in the Peer Group performance comparison described in the previous section entitled “
Determining Relative Performance
Compared to the Peer Group
.”
After determining the total compensation for 2016, the Compensation Committee reviewed with
A&M the relative differences among total compensation amounts between each of executive, especially between our CEO and our
other senior executives. The Compensation Committee determined that relative differences in the total compensation provided to
our senior executives were reasonable before finalizing total compensation for each and adjusting the total compensation as appropriate
given the Company’s performance and the individual senior executive’s performance. While the Committee has the authority
to increase total compensation for a senior executive, the Committee believes upward adjustments from the total compensation determined
based on the performance and Peer Group benchmark should be limited to extraordinary circumstances and it did not make any upward
adjustments in setting senior executive compensation in May 2017.
In determining our performance and our
NEOs performance for 2016 to grant the long-term incentives in May 2017, the Compensation Committee utilized a performance scorecard
that analyzed the Company’s performance relative to its 24 company Peer Group with regard to the following criteria set forth
with the Company’s rank among its peers:
Criterion
|
Weighting
|
Rank
Among Peers
|
Stock Price Appreciation
|
25%
|
13
th
|
Reserve Growth per share
|
15%
|
14
th
|
Production Growth per share
|
15%
|
10
th
|
Finding/Development Costs
|
15%
|
10
th
|
Cash Flow Growth per share
|
10%
|
11
th
|
Cash Margin
|
10%
|
17
th
|
Recycle Ratio
|
10%
|
17
th
|
Using the weightings for each criterion (which were assigned
by the Committee in advance), resulted in a weighted average rank of 14
th
or a percentile of 43
rd
. The Compensation
Committee concluded that each NEOs compensation would generally be targeted below the 50
th
percentile.
The table below summarizes (a) the value of each of our NEOs
total compensation for 2016 as determined by the Compensation Committee in May 2017 and (b) various measures of the total compensation
received by executive officers with corresponding comparable positions at companies in the Peer Group for 2016.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Value of
Compensation for
2016 Performance
|
|
Median
of Total
Compensation for
Peer Positions
|
|
Comparable
Range of
Total Compensation
for Peer Positions
|
|
75
th
Percentile
of Peer Group
|
|
|
|
|
(millions)
|
|
(millions)
|
|
(millions)
|
|
Jeffrey L. Ventura
|
|
$
|
8,967,000
|
|
$
|
9.8
|
|
$
|
3.3 to $21.9
|
|
$
|
11.9
|
|
Roger S. Manny
|
|
$
|
4,325,000
|
|
$
|
4.6
|
|
$
|
0.9 to $7.9
|
|
$
|
5.8
|
|
Ray N. Walker, Jr.
|
|
$
|
4,236,000
|
|
$
|
3.5
|
|
$
|
0.6 to $6.8
|
|
$
|
4.4
|
|
Chad L. Stephens
|
|
$
|
2,800,000
|
|
$
|
2.9
|
|
$
|
0.4 to $5.2
|
|
$
|
3.8
|
|
David P. Poole
|
|
$
|
2,488,000
|
|
$
|
2.2
|
|
$
|
1.2 to $6.0
|
|
$
|
2.8
|
|
For a list of those companies included
in the Peer Group for 2017, please refer to the section of this Proxy Statement entitled “
Compensation Discussion and
Analysis — Role of Peer Companies
.”
Elements
of Executive Compensation
Base
Salary
The Compensation
Committee reviews base salaries on an annual basis, at the time of a promotion or changes in responsibilities and when market
conditions warrant. Base salaries for our NEOs are targeted at the 50
th
percentile of the Peer Group adjusted for certain
factors. Base salary is based on an evaluation of the following:
|
●
|
the complexity of their respective positions
and specific technical experience required;
|
|
●
|
the base salaries of comparable positions
at Peer Group companies (omitting those with non-comparable pay practices);
|
|
●
|
competitive market conditions; and
|
|
●
|
internal pay equity among our senior executives.
|
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
41
Salary adjustments have historically been
approved by the Compensation Committee in May of each year and take effect on the first payroll period after approval. Beginning
in 2018, salary adjustments are determined in March. Making salary adjustments in May allowed the Compensation Committee to determine
compensation for our NEOs after the completion of the Peer Group analysis of proxy data and audited financial statements so that
the Committee could consider the compensation paid during the prior calendar year to executive officers of the Peer Group companies.
Making salary adjustments in March will still allow the Compensation Committee to consider the audited financial results of our
Peer Group companies and will allow for disclosure in our proxy of current compensation decisions. In May 2017, based on a recommendation
from management, the Compensation Committee did not increase the base salaries of any of the NEOs. In March 2018, based on a recommendation
from management, the Committee again did not increase the base salaries of any of the NEOs.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Base Salary
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of March 6,
2018
|
|
|
As of January 1,
2018
|
|
|
As of January 1,
2017
|
|
|
As of January 1,
2016
|
|
|
As of January 1,
2015
|
|
Jeffrey L. Ventura
|
|
$
|
925,000
|
|
|
$
|
925,000
|
|
|
$
|
925,000
|
|
|
$
|
925,000
|
|
|
$
|
925,000
|
|
Roger S. Manny
|
|
$
|
493,000
|
|
|
$
|
493,000
|
|
|
$
|
493,000
|
|
|
$
|
493,000
|
|
|
$
|
493,000
|
|
Ray N. Walker, Jr.
|
|
$
|
493,000
|
|
|
$
|
493,000
|
|
|
$
|
493,000
|
|
|
$
|
493,000
|
|
|
$
|
493,000
|
|
Chad L. Stephens
|
|
$
|
410,000
|
|
|
$
|
410,000
|
|
|
$
|
410,000
|
|
|
$
|
410,000
|
|
|
$
|
410,000
|
|
David P. Poole
|
|
$
|
398,000
|
|
|
$
|
398,000
|
|
|
$
|
398,000
|
|
|
$
|
398,000
|
|
|
$
|
398,000
|
|
Annual
Cash Incentive Awards
In accordance with our philosophy of rewarding
performance and linking substantial percentages of pay with performance, we established the Amended and Restated 2005 Equity-Based
Incentive Compensation Plan. We refer to cash awards paid under the Amended and Restated 2005 Plan as “Annual Cash Incentives.”
The Annual Cash Incentives are paid to our NEOs based on a formulaic application of certain performance criteria that are discussed
more fully below.
The Annual Cash Incentives are subject only to
the negative discretion of the Compensation Committee. Annual Cash Incentives are determined without reference to Peer Group data,
because each performance criteria has been pre-established by the Compensation Committee. The Annual Cash Incentive related to
our 2017 performance was paid in March 2018.
The Committee exercised negative discretion
for the Annual Cash Incentive Awards paid in March 2018 as detailed in the table below:
|
|
Annual Incentive Payout
|
|
|
|
Actual
Payout
Achieved
(1)
|
|
|
Actual
Payment
for 2017
(2)
|
|
CEO
|
|
$
|
1,443,000
|
|
|
$
|
1,000,000
|
|
Executive Vice Presidents
|
|
$
|
1,230,528
|
|
|
$
|
597,664
|
|
Senior
Vice Presidents
|
|
$
|
1,620,263
|
|
|
$
|
1,381,095
|
|
|
(1)
|
Reflects
the payout earned prior to negative discretion applied by the Compensation Committee.
|
|
(2)
|
Reflects
amount paid after negative discretion by the Compensation Committee.
|
The Compensation Committee develops the
performance criteria to be used for the Annual Cash Incentives, reviews the performance criteria with the independent compensation
consultants and then discusses the performance criteria with our CEO and CFO. The Committee then sets the criteria as well as the
weighting and performance achievement levels necessary to calculate Annual Cash Incentives based upon payout percentages established
for our NEOs. For 2017, the performance criteria were based upon either industry standards or our annual business plan (the “Annual
Business Plan”). Our Annual Business Plan is a forecast of expected business results for the applicable fiscal year based
upon certain assumptions made by our management. The Compensation Committee believes that the performance criteria, taken together,
are strong objective indicators of the Company’s performance, thus similar factors are typically used in determining the
Company’s performance relative to its Peer Group for setting total compensation and long-term incentive equity awards as
described above. Target Annual Cash Incentives are determined as a percentage of each NEOs base salary paid during the year. This
target percentage is established through an analysis of compensation for comparable positions in the Peer Group and is intended
to provide a competitive level of compensation if the Company achieves the performance criteria established by the Compensation
Committee.
The performance criteria selected with respect
to the Annual Cash Incentive Awards for 2017 (which was paid in March 2018) are shown in the table below, together with the target
levels of achievement with respect to each criterion. All five of the performance criteria are internal performance measures.
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
42
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2017
|
|
|
Unit of
|
|
Actual for
|
|
|
2017 Performance Levels
|
|
|
Actual for
|
|
|
Payout%
|
|
Criterion
|
|
Weighting
|
|
|
Measurement
|
|
2016
|
|
|
Threshold
|
|
|
Target
|
|
|
Excellent
|
|
|
2017
|
|
|
Achieved
(1)
|
|
Finding & development costs
|
|
|
30
|
%
|
|
$ per mcfe
|
|
$
|
0.36
|
|
|
$
|
0.90
|
|
|
$
|
0.80
|
|
|
$
|
0.70
|
|
|
$
|
0.33
|
|
|
|
240
|
%
|
EBITDAX
|
|
|
15
|
%
|
|
$ millions
|
|
$
|
723
|
|
|
$
|
1,155
|
|
|
$
|
1,216
|
|
|
$
|
1,277
|
|
|
$
|
1,103
|
|
|
|
0
|
%
|
Production growth per share
|
|
|
20
|
%
|
|
Percentage Increase
|
|
|
4
|
%
|
|
|
4
|
%
|
|
|
6
|
%
|
|
|
8
|
%
|
|
|
0
|
%
|
|
|
0
|
%
|
Reserves growth per share
|
|
|
20
|
%
|
|
Percentage Increase (Decrease)
|
|
|
(7
|
%)
|
|
|
4
|
%
|
|
|
6
|
%
|
|
|
8
|
%
|
|
|
24
|
%
|
|
|
240
|
%
|
Drilling rate of return
|
|
|
15
|
%
|
|
Percentage Increase (Decrease)
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
10
|
%
|
|
|
15
|
%
|
|
|
20
|
%
|
|
|
49
|
%
|
|
|
240
|
%
|
|
(1)
|
The
Payout percentage achieved is shown for the CEO and is prorated for other officers.
|
Finding and development costs.
The first criterion the Compensation Committee selected for 2017 was finding and development costs. The Compensation Committee
believes that finding and development costs is one of the key measurements of the performance of an oil and gas exploration and
production company and one that is used by financial analysts to evaluate our performance. The Committee has reduced these targets
consistently each year which incentivizes management to become increasingly efficient in developing at oil and gas reserves. The
Compensation Committee specified that, in determining our finding and development costs, only cash costs incurred in connection
with exploration and development would be used and the costs of acquisitions would be excluded because the Board of Directors
approves each material acquisition. In determining the reserve additions for this calculation, any reserve revisions for changes
in commodity prices between years are excluded, but any performance related reserve revisions are included. In setting the performance
levels (i.e., threshold, target and excellent) for finding and development costs, the Compensation Committee considers historical
finding and development costs of the Peer Group. Our historical finding and development costs has continued to decline over the
years as management continues to focus on capital efficiency and adding new reserves at a cost that is lower than the industry
in general. Our 2017 finding and development costs performance, as compared with the targets, was achieved primarily through focusing
on capital efficiency.
EBITDAX.
The second
criterion the Compensation Committee selected for 2017 was EBITDAX. EBITDAX is calculated by adding back exploration expense,
interest expense and depletion, depreciation and amortization expense to income before income taxes (adjusted for asset sales),
excluding any non-cash revenues and expenses. The Compensation Committee selected this criterion to measure our ability to achieve
the results targeted by our Annual Business Plan. The Compensation Committee determined that the EBITDAX measure was appropriate
because it captures our ability to adapt to the impact of changing commodity prices as well as changing costs. Our EBITDAX target
will fluctuate from year to year as commodity prices change. At times of higher prices, our EBITDAX target will be higher compared
to times of lower commodity prices. The 2017 EBITDAX performance levels were based on the 2017 Annual Business Plan, which reflected
an EBITDAX level of $1.2 billion. Our actual 2017 EBITDAX totaled $1.1 billion. We did not achieve the EBITDAX level provided
in our Annual Business Plan in 2017.
Production and reserve growth per
share.
The third and fourth criteria the Compensation Committee selected for 2017 were production growth per share
and reserves growth per share. The Compensation Committee believes that it is important to measure our growth on a per share basis
so our senior executives are incentivized to build long-term stockholder value. Two essential measurements of performance are
growth in production and reserves on a debt adjusted per share basis. Production and reserves used in the calculation of these
criteria are based on reported production and year-end reserves, adjusted for price revisions. The calculation is debt adjusted
to ensure that per share growth was not achieved solely by increasing leverage. The targets for production and reserve growth
per share are determined annually based upon the capital budget approved by our board of directors and is tied directly to the
amount of capital budgeted and spent on drilling and completion activities. In addition, the Peer Group debt adjusted per share
growth rates for reserves and production for the prior year are also used to benchmark capital efficiency and set the proposed
growth targets. We did not achieve the 2017 performance in production growth per share, as compared with our performance target.
Our reserve growth per share performance in 2017 was achieved through improving capital efficiency primarily through longer laterals.
Drilling rate of return.
The fifth criterion the Compensation Committee selected for 2017 was drilling rate of return. The Compensation Committee added
drilling rate of return in 2017 to encourage a balanced approach to operational goals and encourage efficiency of capital spending.
This metric continues to encourage focus on reducing drilling costs particularly in response to the continued weak commodity price
environment. The drilling rate of return is measured based on actual capital expenditures and the year-end proved reserves estimates
of drilling results. NYMEX futures prices effective on the first day of the year are used in the calculation. The target is set
based on our expectation of capital allocation and capital efficiency for the year and our prior year drilling results.
In addition to selecting the performance
criteria, the Compensation Committee determined, after consultation with A&M, the respective performance payout percentages
for each of our NEOs. In determining these payout percentages, the Compensation Committee attempted to ensure that the payouts
provided meaningful incentives to each of our senior executives. For 2017, the annual incentive payout percentage was a weighted
average of the payout percentage for each category using the percentages set forth below in the table. When actual results achieved
fall between the performance levels, the percentile performance used to determine the payout percentage is proportionately adjusted
between the performance levels. For 2017, the Compensation Committee used negative discretion to lower bonuses paid to certain
NEOs based on various factors including our stock price performance and capital cost overruns. The Compensation Committee awarded
the Annual Cash Incentives payout percentages, as shown in the table below:
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
43
|
|
|
|
|
Annual
Cash Incentive Payout % of Salary
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Threshold
|
|
|
Target
|
|
|
Excellent
|
|
|
Payout
% Achieved
(1)
|
|
|
Actual
Payment %
For 2017
(2)
|
|
CEO
|
|
|
60
|
%
|
|
|
120
|
%
|
|
|
240
|
%
|
|
|
156
|
%
|
|
|
108
|
%
|
Executive Vice Presidents
|
|
|
48
|
%
|
|
|
96
|
%
|
|
|
192
|
%
|
|
|
125
|
%
|
|
|
61
|
%
|
Senior Vice Presidents
|
|
|
36
|
%
|
|
|
72
|
%
|
|
|
144
|
%
|
|
|
94
|
%
|
|
|
80
|
%
|
|
(1)
|
Reflects
the payout percentage prior to any negative discretion applied by the Compensation Committee.
|
|
(2)
|
Reflects
the payout percentage after negative discretion was applied by the Compensation Committee,
if any.
|
The following table sets forth the total amount of cash paid to
our NEOs for 2017 performance (paid in March 2018), for 2016 performance (paid in February 2017) and for 2015 performance (paid
in February 2016).
|
|
Annual
Cash Incentive Earned
|
|
|
|
2017
|
|
|
2016
|
|
|
2015
|
|
Jeffrey L. Ventura
|
|
$
|
1,000,000
|
|
|
$
|
1,332,000
|
|
|
$
|
1,270,456
|
|
Roger S. Manny
|
|
$
|
497,664
|
|
|
$
|
567,936
|
|
|
$
|
510,143
|
|
Ray N. Walker, Jr.
|
|
$
|
100,000
|
|
|
$
|
567,936
|
|
|
$
|
510,143
|
|
Chad L. Stephens
|
|
$
|
383,760
|
|
|
$
|
354,240
|
|
|
$
|
318,193
|
|
David P. Poole
|
|
$
|
250,000
|
|
|
$
|
343,872
|
|
|
$
|
308,880
|
|
The 2018 performance criteria, weighting and target levels of
achievement with respect to each of the 2018 criterion are shown in the table below.
|
|
|
|
|
Unit of
|
|
2018
Performance Levels
|
|
Criterion
|
|
Weighting
|
|
|
Measurement
|
|
Threshold
|
|
|
Target
|
|
|
Excellent
|
|
Finding & development costs
|
|
|
20
|
%
|
|
$ per mcfe
|
|
$
|
0.70
|
|
|
$
|
0.60
|
|
|
$
|
0.50
|
|
Debt/EBITDAX
|
|
|
20
|
%
|
|
$ millions
|
|
|
3.7x
|
|
|
|
3.3x
|
|
|
|
2.9x
|
|
Production growth per share
|
|
|
15
|
%
|
|
Percentage Increase
|
|
|
4
|
%
|
|
|
6
|
%
|
|
|
8
|
%
|
Reserves growth per share
|
|
|
15
|
%
|
|
Percentage Increase
|
|
|
4
|
%
|
|
|
6
|
%
|
|
|
8
|
%
|
Drilling rate of return
|
|
|
15
|
%
|
|
Percentage Increase
|
|
|
15
|
%
|
|
|
20
|
%
|
|
|
25
|
%
|
Qualitative
measure
(1)
|
|
|
15
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
(1)
|
In
response to stockholder outreach, this measure will include elements of environmental,
health and safety performance.
|
Long-Term
Incentive Program
The 2017 long-term incentive program consists
of Performance-Based Restricted Stock Awards and Time-Based Restricted Stock Awards.
ALLOCATION OF LONG-TERM INCENTIVE AWARDS IN
2017
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
44
|
●
|
Performance-Based
TSR Stock Units (TSR-PSUs).
The Committee believes that a performance unit program
based on TSR relative to peer companies aligns pay and Company performance. The industry
peers selected for each performance cycle generally match the industry peers comprising
the prevailing Peer Group used for compensation benchmarking. TSR is determined using
the average stock price of each company at the beginning of the performance period based
on the average closing price in a 10 day period prior to and ending at the close of business
on the date of grant and at the end of the performance period using the 10 day period
prior to and ending on the 3 year anniversary date of the grant date. Reinvestment of
dividends is assumed. If the TSR at the end of the performance period is negative, the
payout percentage is capped at 100% regardless of ranking. The TSR-PSUs award is denominated
in performance stock units (PSUs), each of which is equivalent to one share of common
stock.
|
2017 TSR – PSUs.
In May 2017,
the Committee awarded the NEOs performance units that will vest based on relative TSR for the three-year performance period ending
May 2020. The value of each underlying unit tracks the price of a share of our common stock. The percentage of units earned ranges
from 0% to 150% of the units granted. When the award is settled, NEOs will receive dividend equivalents paid in shares equal to
the number of units granted, multiplied by the payout percentage. Dividend equivalents accrue and are paid based on performance
at the end of the performance period. Earned awards are paid in stock shortly after the completion of the performance period. A
table illustrating the potential payouts based on relative and absolute TSR performance for the TSR-PSUs granted in 2017 is set
forth below:
|
Range’s
Rank Among
Peer Companies
|
Percentage
of
TSR-PSUs Earned
|
Maximum
|
1
|
150.0%
|
|
2
|
145.5%
|
|
3
|
140.9%
|
|
4
|
136.4%
|
|
5
|
131.8%
|
|
6
|
127.3%
|
|
7
|
122.7%
|
|
8
|
118.2%
|
|
9
|
113.6%
|
|
10
|
109.1%
|
|
11
|
104.5%
|
Target
|
12
|
100.0%
|
|
13
|
100.0%
|
|
14
|
90.9%
|
|
15
|
81.8%
|
|
16
|
72.7%
|
|
17
|
63.6%
|
|
18
|
54.5%
|
|
19
|
45.5%
|
|
20
|
36.4%
|
|
21
|
27.3%
|
|
22
|
18.2%
|
|
23
|
9.1%
|
Minimum
|
24
|
0.0%
|
2016 TSR-PSUs.
The performance units
granted in May 2016 have a performance period end date of May 2019 and follow the same payout percentages as the 2017 TSR-PSUs
(as listed above but adjusted for the number of peer companies to 23).
2015 TSR-PSUs.
The performance units
granted in May 2015 have a performance period end date of May 2018 and follow the same payout percentages as the 2017 TSR-PSUs
(listed above).
2014 TSR-PSUs.
The performance units granted in May 2014 had a performance end date of May 2017. For the performance period,
we ranked 15
th
out of 20 companies. In May 2017, the Committee determined the final payout
was 56%.
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
45
TSR-PSUs
Payouts Demonstrate Alignment with Stockholders
Payouts under and the values of TSR-PSUs awards
have declined by up to 100% as compared to grant date value, as shown below (in thousands):
CEO TSR -
PSU
S
- DECREASE IN VALUE
These graphics emphasize the realizable
value of Mr. Ventura’s TSR-PSUs are significantly aligned with stockholder value. Values for this illustration for 2015,
2016 and 2017 were determined with the following inputs:
|
●
|
Our closing stock price as of March 23, 2018 was $14.65; and
|
|
●
|
Our rank in our TSR peer group and the corresponding payout percentage
as measured under our performance unit programs: 36% for 2015, 0% for 2016 and 0% for 2017.
|
|
●
|
Performance
– Based Reserves and Production Growth Per Share (Debt Adjusted).
In 2017,
the Committee added Production and Reserves Growth per share, calculated on an absolute
basis and debt-adjusted.
|
The performance period began January 1, 2017
and ends December 31, 2019. The number of shares earned at the end of the three-year period will be determined as follows, based
on the annual payout percentages over the three year period: (i) 1/3 of the award is based on 2017 targets; (ii) 1/3 of the award
will be based on performance targets to be established for 2018 and (iii) 1/3 of the award will be based on performance to be established
for 2019. For each year, a minimum performance level has been or will be established. For performance at the minimum level shares
will be forfeited and will not carry over to any future period. Performance is measured relative to a target determined by the
Compensation Committee. The table below summarizes these grants in 2017.
Performance
Metric
|
|
Production
Growth Per Share (PGPS)
|
|
Reserves
Growth Per Share (RGPS)
|
Performance Period
|
|
3 years
|
|
3 years
|
Form of Payout
|
|
Stock
|
|
Stock
|
Performance basis
|
|
Debt-adjusted production growth per share – absolute basis
|
|
Debt adjusted reserve growth per share – absolute basis
|
Minimum Payout
|
|
0%
|
|
0%
|
Performance Resulting in Minimum Payout
|
|
PGPS of less than 4%
|
|
RGPS of less than 4%
|
Target Payout
|
|
100%
|
|
100%
|
Performance Resulting in Target Payout
|
|
PGPS of greater than or equal to 6%
|
|
RGPS of greater than or equal to 6%
|
Maximum Payout
|
|
150%
|
|
150%
|
Performance Resulting in Maximum Payout
|
|
PGPS of greater than or equal to 8%
|
|
RGPS of greater than or equal to 8%
|
|
●
|
Time-Based
Restricted Stock.
The Committee awards restricted stock for diversification of the
long-term incentive award mix, for consistent alignment between executives and stockholders
and for retention purposes. Restricted stock provides recipients with the opportunity
for capital accumulation and a more predictable long-term incentive value than is provided
by performance units. Restricted stock awards are made according to our normal annual
grant schedule and generally vest over three years (30%, 30% and 40%). Prior to vesting,
restricted stock recipients have the right to vote and receive dividends on the restricted
shares.
|
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
46
5
|
2018 COMPENSATION PROGRAM
|
With a change in the composition of the
Compensation Committee during 2017, the members chose to interview a select number of new independent compensation consultants
primarily considering the fact that A&M had been engaged by the Committee for more than 10 years. A&M is still retained
by the Company for valuation services. In fourth quarter 2017, the Compensation Committee engaged Longnecker & Associates,
its new independent compensation consultants, to review the overall executive compensation program with a continued focus on simplifying
alignment management compensation with our peers, continued alignment with our stockholders and providing incentives to achieve
our long-term strategies. The Committee chose Longnecker & Associates due to their knowledge of our peers and their industry
expertise. Armed with input from our new independent compensation consultant and stockholder feedback, the following changes have
been made for 2018:
|
●
|
Moved determination of base salary and
long-term incentive grants from May to March to allow for disclosure in the current year proxy;
|
|
●
|
Changed long-term incentive grant mix to
60% Performance-Based Restricted Stock and 40% Time-Based Restricted Stock;
|
|
●
|
Added a new leverage metric for Annual
Cash Incentive defined as debt divided by EBITDAX;
|
|
●
|
Added a new qualitative measure addressing
health, safety and environmental performance, with a weighting of 15%, to the Annual Cash Incentives award mix;
|
|
●
|
Tightened targets for both finding and
development costs and drilling rate of return for the 2018 Annual Cash Incentive Awards;
|
|
●
|
Determined for the fourth year in a row,
not to increase NEO base salary based on compensation analysis compared to the Compensation Peer Group;
|
|
●
|
Reduced the amount of Long-term Incentive
Awards values compared to amounts granted in 2017, as detailed below:
|
|
Long-Term Incentive
Grant in
May 2017
|
|
Long-Term Incentive
Grant in
March 2018
|
Jeffrey L. Ventura
|
$
|
6,580,649
|
|
$
|
5,727,774
|
Roger S. Manny
|
$
|
3,179,160
|
|
$
|
2,239,487
|
Ray N. Walker, Jr.
|
$
|
3,094,155
|
|
$
|
2,239,487
|
Chad L. Stephens
|
$
|
1,971,171
|
|
$
|
1,584,941
|
David P. Poole
|
$
|
1,686,171
|
|
$
|
1,276,951
|
|
●
|
Adjusted
the maximum payout percentage for TSR-PSUs from 150% to 200%, with no payout below the
50
th
payout percentage; and
|
|
●
|
Determined that the fair value of certain
equity grants will be based on the average trading price of our common stock ten days prior to the date of grant.
|
The table below illustrates the potential
payouts based on relative and absolute TSR performance for the TSR-PSUs granted in 2018:
|
Range’s
Rank Among
Peer Companies
|
Percentage
of
TSR-PSUs Earned
|
Maximum
|
1
|
200.0%
|
|
2
|
185.7%
|
|
3
|
171.4%
|
|
4
|
157.1%
|
|
5
|
142.9%
|
|
6
|
128.6%
|
|
7
|
114.3%
|
Target
|
8
|
100.0%
|
|
9
|
75.5%
|
|
10
|
50.0%
|
|
11
|
0.0%
|
|
12
|
0.0%
|
|
13
|
0.0%
|
|
14
|
0.0%
|
|
15
|
0.0%
|
Minimum
|
16
|
0.0%
|
Summary Long-Term Equity Incentive
Compensation
One of the fundamental philosophies of our compensation
program is that all of our full-time employees are eligible to be granted long-term equity incentive awards to focus and align
their interests with those of our stockholders. The Compensation Committee believes that long-term equity incentive awards give
employees who receive such equity awards a direct interest in our financial results and the performance of the Company, furthering
our goal of aligning the interests of each employee with those of our stockholders.
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
47
Other Compensation
Deferred
Compensation Plan
Members of management and our directors are entitled
to participate in our deferred compensation plan. Currently we have one active deferred compensation plan (the “Active Deferred
Compensation Plan”) and we have a second deferred compensation plan in which participation was frozen at the end of 2004
(the “Frozen Deferred Compensation Plan”). These deferred compensation plans are described in greater detail in the
section of this Proxy Statement entitled
“Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plans.”
Under the Active Deferred
Compensation Plan, officers and directors may defer a dollar amount or percentage amount of their base salary and/or annual bonus.
Currently, we match the voluntary deferrals of the employee participants, up to 10% of their base salary. Employee participants
can elect to have the match paid in cash or stock (the “Match Award”). The Compensation Committee considers the matching
contributions, whether paid in cash or by stock, as additional cash compensation in calculating the total compensation for each
NEO. We understand that the matching component of the Active Deferred Compensation Plan is not common among the Peer Group. However,
the matching component is a significant component to our compensation practices because we do not provide any pension or retirement
benefits other than the 401(k) Plan. In fourth quarter 2017, we implemented a post retirement benefit plan to assist in providing
health care to officers who are active employees and have met certain age and service requirements up until the time they are eligible
for Medicare. See
“Other Benefits”
below for additional information.
In addition, when our NEOs receive Time-Based
Restricted Stock Awards as described above, we contribute the awards to the Active Deferred Compensation Plan on our NEOs behalf,
and such contributions constitute unvested discretionary contributions. The investment tracking options are described in greater
detail in the section of this Proxy Statement entitled “
Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plans
”. Performance
Units, when awarded, are not placed into the Active Deferred Compensation Plan.
401(k)
Plan
The Company sponsors a 401(k) Plan which is a
tax-qualified retirement savings plan pursuant to which all of our full-time and part-time employees are eligible to contribute
the lesser of up to 75% of their annual salary or the limit prescribed by law to the 401(k) Plan on a before-tax basis. In addition,
participants age 50 or over may contribute additional before-tax amounts up to the annual catch-up contribution limit determined
by the IRS and any participant may contribute rollover amounts from certain other qualified plans. Participants may also receive
matching contributions, payable in cash, in an amount equal to 100% of their before-tax contributions to the 401(k) Plan up to
a maximum matching contribution of 6% of their base salaries and cash bonus. The Company has adopted an auto-enrollment process
for new employees which results in the employees participating in the 401(k) plan unless they determine not to participate.
The Compensation
Committee considers the dollar value of the 401(k) matching contributions as additional cash compensation in calculating total
compensation for purposes of determining the amount of long-term equity incentive compensation to award to each NEO.
Participants
are 100% vested in all contributions to the 401(k) Plan. In addition to the other investment options available under the 401(k)
Plan, participants may invest all or a portion of their 401(k) Plan account in our common stock. The 401(k) Plan investment options
for 2017 are listed in the section of this Proxy Statement entitled
“Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plans.”
Other
Benefits
We provide certain other limited personal benefits
the Compensation Committee determines are reasonable and consistent with our overall compensation philosophy. The Compensation
Committee believes that these benefits are consistent with those provided to executive officers of our Peer Group companies, are
an important retention factor and are in accordance with general compensation practices in our industry. Moreover, the Compensation
Committee considers the cost and value of any such benefits as additional cash compensation when calculating the total cash compensation
for purposes of determining the performance adjusted amount of long-term equity incentive compensation to award to our NEOs. We
offer medical, dental, vision and life insurance and disability benefits to all eligible employees. We also provide our NEOs with
the following benefits: (i) supplemental disability plans and (ii) reimbursement for approved spousal travel expenses related to
Company business. We only provide club membership dues reimbursement and reimbursement of certain expenses to certain of our executives
to the extent such membership dues and expenses are related to the conduct of our business. The Compensation Committee believes
these particular benefits help our executives to network and foster relationships in the oil and gas industry and community that
are valuable and important to our Company. Any executive must reimburse us for any personal club use or use by a member of his
family.
Effective fourth quarter 2017 to facilitate an
orderly management succession process, we implemented a post-retirement benefit plan to assist in providing health care to officers
who are active employees (including their spouses) and have met certain age and service requirements. These benefits are not funded
in advance and are provided up to age 65 or at the date they become eligible for Medicare, subject to various cost-sharing features.
In combination with the implementation of this succession plan enhancement, certain officers that qualify for the post-retirement
benefit plan are also immediately vested in all equity grants (excluding any involuntary termination for cause).
Change
in Control Arrangements
There
are no employment agreements currently in effect between us and any employee. None of our employees are covered under any general
severance plan. In the event an executive terminates employment, any severance benefits payable would be determined by the Compensation
Committee at its discretion, unless such termination occurred following a change in control, in which case severance may be payable
pursuant to the Range Resources Corporation Amended and Restated Executive Change in Control Severance Benefit Plan (the
“Management
CIC Plan”
).
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
48
The
Management CIC Plan was adopted in March 2005. Pursuant to the Management CIC Plan all our corporate officers and certain other
employees selected by the Compensation Committee (the “Management Group”) may be entitled to receive certain payments
and benefits if there is a “Change in Control” of the Company and a member of the Management Group is terminated other
than for “Cause” or resigns for “Good Reason” within the “Protection Period.” The terms Change
in Control, Cause, Good Reason, and Protection Period, as used in the Management CIC Plan, are defined in the section of this
Proxy Statement entitled “Potential Payments upon Termination and Change in Control.” If a member of the Management
Group is terminated without Cause or resigns for Good Reason within the Protection Period, that participant will receive:
|
●
|
a
lump sum payment equal to (i) the participant’s “benefit multiple” multiplied by (ii) the sum of (A) the average
of the bonuses paid or awarded to the participant for the three prior fiscal years plus (B) the participant’s base salary;
and
|
|
●
|
for
a period of years equal to the participant’s “benefit multiple,” continued participation in any medical, dental,
life, disability, and any other insurance arrangement for the participant (and, if applicable, the participant’s spouse
and eligible children) in which such person(s) were participating immediately prior to (i) the date of the participant’s
termination as determined under the Management CIC Plan, or, if greater, (ii) the occurrence of the Change in Control.
|
The
“benefit multiples” applicable to the NEOs are as follows: Mr. Ventura – three; Mr. Manny – two and one-half;
Mr. Walker – two and one-half; Mr. Stephens – two and Mr. Poole - two. In addition, any non-vested equity based compensation
awards held by each participant vest upon the occurrence of a Change in Control. A more detailed description of these provisions
is provided in the section of this Proxy Statement entitled
“Potential Payments upon Termination and Change in Control.”
6
|
COMPENSATION
POLICIES AND PRACTICES
|
Risk
Assessment of Compensation Policies and Practices
Although
the majority of the executive compensation program pay is performance-based, the Compensation Committee believes the program does
not encourage unnecessary or excessive risk-taking. The Compensation Committee believes that any potential risk of the executive
compensation program influencing behavior that could be inconsistent with the overall interests of Range and its stockholders
is mitigated by several factors, including:
|
●
|
Program elements that use both annual and longer-term
performance periods;
|
|
●
|
Use
of a transparent, external performance metric, TSR, for a large portion of the long-term incentive program opportunity;
|
|
●
|
Relative
nature of the TSR performance measure, which minimizes the impact that volatile commodity prices have on Range’s TSR award;
|
|
●
|
Forfeiture
and recoupment provisions for awards in the event of violations of Range’s Code of Business Conduct;
|
|
●
|
Payouts
of long-term incentive awards that are 100% in stock rather than cash; and
|
|
●
|
Meaningful
stock ownership guidelines for executives that encourage a long-term perspective.
|
Impact
of Prior Equity Awards on Current Awards – No Repricing or Cash Buyouts
Each year, the Compensation Committee grants long-term equity incentive awards based on the prior year relative
performance of the Company to the Peer Group and generally applies a three-year vesting to such awards for retention purposes.
Because the equity grants are determined annually based on the Company’s actual performance for the year for which the compensation
is being paid, the Compensation Committee does not feel it is appropriate to consider past awards and adjust compensation (including
long-term equity awards) due to a strong historical stock price performance. Likewise, the Committee has a practice that it does
not compensate employees with additional amounts of pay if the value of prior grants of long-term equity awards is lower than valued
at the time of the grant, thus the Committee does not re-price equity awards or pay cash buy outs for equity awards that are not
“in the money.” In this way, the Committee believes that the actual performance of the Company directly affects the
employee’s compensation actually received from the equity award. The Committee’s philosophy in this regard is the same
with the use of Performance Units, including the fact that such awards are intentionally designed such that the payout varies between
0% to 150% of the number of shares initially awarded.
Tax
Deductibility of Compensation
For tax year 2017, Section 162(m) of the Code places a limit of $1,000,000 on the amount of compensation that
we may deduct in any one year with respect to each of our CEO and our other three most highly paid executive officers, not including
the CFO. There is an exception to the $1,000,000 limitation for performance-based compensation meeting certain requirements. We
believe the Annual Cash Incentive Awards and TSR-PSUs granted in 2017 are performance-based compensation meeting those requirements
and, as such, should be fully deductible by us in 2017. Non-performance based compensation would include any salaries not deferred,
distributions from the deferred compensation plans and our Performance Units based on internal metrics and the IRS value of any
perquisites. Our executives can defer a portion of their salaries and Annual Cash Incentive Awards either under our 401(k) Plan
or Active Deferred Compensation Plan, which also may defer the amount that may
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
49
otherwise
be deductible by us for the applicable taxable year, as we can deduct amounts contributed to the 401(k) Plan at the time the contribution
is made. Stock awards that vest solely with the passage of time are not considered performance-based under Section 162(m) of the
Code and, as such, are not deductible by us beyond the $1,000,000 limit. However, because currently all Restricted Stock and Matching
Stock Awards to our executives are placed into our Active Deferred Compensation Plan, the deductibility of such awards are not
subject to the Section 162(m) limitation until the common stock or the sale proceeds from the common stock are distributed from
the deferred compensation plans. For tax year 2017, the deductibility of distributions from the deferred compensation plans under
Section 162(m) is dependent on (i) the individual elections of each executive regarding time of payment, (ii) whether the executive
is a covered employee at the end of the year when distributed, and (iii) whether the aggregate amount of all non-performance based
compensation exceeds the $1,000,000 deduction threshold. Currently, we have a significant net operating loss carryover for federal
tax purposes so any deferrals do not have any current effect on income taxes owed by us. To maintain flexibility in compensating
our executive officers in a manner designed to promote varying corporate goals, the Compensation Committee has not adopted a policy
requiring all compensation to be tax deductible.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 was signed into law on December 22, 2017. The new law expands the definition
of what types of compensation are subject to the $1,000,000 limitation under Section 162(m) to include performance-based compensation
and to also now include the CFO as a covered employee. In addition, the new rule expands the definition of a “covered employee”
to include any individuals who have previously been a covered employee for any years after December 31, 2016. Thus, once an individual
is identified as one of the top 5 covered employees, the $1,000,000 deduction limitation applies to compensation paid to that individual,
even after the individual no longer holds that position or has separated from service.
Financial
Restatement/Clawback Policy
The
Board of Directors’ policy is that the Compensation Committee, to the extent permitted by governing law, retains the sole
and absolute authority to make retroactive adjustments to any cash or equity-based incentive compensation paid to our executives
where the payment of such amounts was predicated upon the achievement of certain financial results that were subsequently the
subject of a restatement. Where applicable, we will seek to recover (or “clawback”) any amount determined to have
been inappropriately received by an individual.
Grant
Timing
The Compensation Committee does not time, nor has the Compensation Committee in the past timed, equity grants
in coordination with the release of material non-public information. Instead, we grant equity at the time or times dictated by
our normal compensation process as developed by the Compensation Committee.
Through May 2017, the Compensation Committee made all
equity grants to our NEOs at its scheduled meeting in May of each year. This allowed the Compensation Committee and its independent
compensation consultant time to review the compensation of executive officers at the Peer Group companies, as reported in the Peer
Group companies’ respective proxy statements and audited financial statements filed during the first four months of each
year in order to evaluate the Company’s performance relative to the Peer Group companies and the compensation paid by such Peer Group companies. Beginning in
2018, this process was accelerated to March to allow for disclosure in the current year proxy.
None of our employees have attempted to time long-term equity incentive award grants by making grant recommendations
to the Compensation Committee. Certain executives are authorized to make requests to the Compensation Committee regarding awards
for new personnel as part of the hiring process, to existing employees who are promoted or where market conditions could reduce
our ability to retain key employees. However, these are market driven occurrences and not timing issues, and such executives only
provide recommendations that may or may not be approved by the Compensation Committee.
Stock
Ownership Requirements for Executive Officers and Directors
Our executives and directors have always held substantial amounts of our common stock; however, to formalize
the policy of stock ownership for such individuals, the Compensation Committee and our Board determined to impose a minimum ownership
threshold for our common stock to further ensure alignment between the interests of our NEOs and our stockholders as well as our
directors and our stockholders.
Each officer listed below is expected to own a number of our shares with a value that is a multiple of the
officer’s current base salary and each non-management director is expected to own a number of shares with a value that is
a multiple of the director’s annual cash retainer, as follows:
Position
|
Multiple
|
Chief Executive Officer
|
5.0 x base salary
|
Executive Vice President
|
4.0 x base salary
|
Senior Vice President
|
3.0 x base salary
|
Non-management Director
|
5.0 x annual cash retainer
|
Unless the officer has achieved the required level of share ownership, the officer is required to retain an
amount equal to 50% of the net shares received as a result of any equity awards granted to the officer by the Company until he
or she is in compliance with the stock ownership policy. An officer must continue to retain shares in the amount required for as
long as the officer is subject to the policy. As of the date of this Proxy Statement, all of our NEOs are in compliance with the
policy.
Unless a director has achieved the required level of share ownership, the director is required to retain an
amount equal to 50% of the net shares received as a result of any equity awards granted to the director by the Company until he
or she is in compliance with the stock ownership policy. A director must continue to retain shares in the amount required for as
long as the director serves on the Board. As of the date of this Proxy Statement, all of our directors but two are in compliance
with the policy.
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
50
Trading
in the Company’s Stock Derivatives and Pledging Limitation
It
is our policy that directors and all officers, including our NEOs, may not purchase or sell options on our common stock, nor engage
in short sales with respect to our common stock. Trading by officers and directors in puts, calls, straddles, equity swaps or
other derivative securities that are directly linked to our common stock is also prohibited.
In the past, the Company allowed directors and officers to pledge Company equity as security for an extension
of credit subject to specified limitations. Effective May 18, 2016, pledging of Company equity to secure any new credit is prohibited.
As of the date of this proxy, no NEOs or directors have any pledged Company equity.
Compensation
Committee Report
|
The
Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis with our management. Based on this
review and discussion, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis
be included in our Proxy Statement.
Steffen
E. Palko,
Chair
Anthony
V. Dub
James
M. Funk
Christopher
A. Helms
Greg G. Maxwell
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
51
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION TABLES
|
|
|
Summary Compensation Table
|
The following table summarizes total compensation
for each NEO for the years shown:
Name
and Principal Position
|
|
Year
|
|
Salary
|
|
Stock
Awards
(1)
|
|
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
(2)
|
|
All
Other
Compensation
(3)
|
|
Total
|
Jeffrey L. Ventura
|
|
2017
|
|
$
|
925,000
|
|
$
|
6,580,649
|
|
$
|
1,000,000
|
|
$
|
151,217
|
|
$
|
8,656,866
|
President & CEO
|
|
2016
|
|
$
|
925,000
|
|
$
|
7,455,999
|
|
$
|
1,332,000
|
|
$
|
149,926
|
|
$
|
9,862,925
|
|
|
2015
|
|
$
|
925,000
|
|
$
|
7,496,007
|
|
$
|
1,270,456
|
|
$
|
149,366
|
|
$
|
9,840,829
|
Roger S. Manny
|
|
2017
|
|
$
|
493,000
|
|
$
|
3,179,160
|
|
$
|
497,664
|
|
$
|
86,462
|
|
$
|
4,256,286
|
EVP & CFO
|
|
2016
|
|
$
|
493,000
|
|
$
|
3,640,996
|
|
$
|
567,936
|
|
$
|
84,969
|
|
$
|
4,786,901
|
|
|
2015
|
|
$
|
493,000
|
|
$
|
3,633,004
|
|
$
|
510,143
|
|
$
|
83,476
|
|
$
|
4,719,623
|
Ray N. Walker, Jr.
|
|
2017
|
|
$
|
493,000
|
|
$
|
3,094,155
|
|
$
|
100,000
|
|
$
|
82,869
|
|
$
|
3,770,024
|
EVP & COO
|
|
2016
|
|
$
|
493,000
|
|
$
|
3,546,967
|
|
$
|
567,936
|
|
$
|
81,397
|
|
$
|
4,689,300
|
|
|
2015
|
|
$
|
493,000
|
|
$
|
3,536,003
|
|
$
|
510,143
|
|
$
|
79,716
|
|
$
|
4,618,862
|
Chad L. Stephens
|
|
2017
|
|
$
|
410,000
|
|
$
|
1,971,171
|
|
$
|
383,760
|
|
$
|
72,652
|
|
$
|
2,837,583
|
SVP
|
|
2016
|
|
$
|
410,000
|
|
$
|
2,490,004
|
|
$
|
354,240
|
|
$
|
70,618
|
|
$
|
3,324,862
|
|
|
2015
|
|
$
|
410,000
|
|
$
|
2,490,991
|
|
$
|
318,193
|
|
$
|
71,594
|
|
$
|
3,290,778
|
David P. Poole
|
|
2017
|
|
$
|
398,000
|
|
$
|
1,686,171
|
|
$
|
250,000
|
|
$
|
26,410
|
|
$
|
2,360,581
|
SVP
|
|
2016
|
|
$
|
398,000
|
|
$
|
1,947,004
|
|
$
|
343,872
|
|
$
|
64,942
|
|
$
|
2,753,818
|
|
|
2015
|
|
$
|
398,000
|
|
$
|
1,940,993
|
|
$
|
308,880
|
|
$
|
64,631
|
|
$
|
2,712,504
|
|
(1)
|
This column reflects the aggregate fair values calculated in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles in the United States regarding stock compensation, without taking into account estimated forfeitures, and
does not reflect the actual value that may be recognized by each NEO. Restricted stock generally will vest according to the following
schedule: 30% after year one, 60% after year two and 100% after year three. Performance restricted stock generally will vest three
years after the date of grant upon our achievement of certain criteria including total stockholder return relative to a pre-determined
peer group and certain internally developed performance metrics. Performance restricted stock is valued assuming a target number
of shares would be issued. If our achievement of the defined criteria resulted in 150% of the award being paid, the grant date
fair value for 2017 would have been as follows: Mr. Ventura ($8,230,967); Mr. Manny ($3,976,436); Mr. Walker ($3,870,124); Mr.
Stephens ($2,465,511); and Mr. Poole ($2,109,052). See grants of Plan-Based Awards table for more information. In fourth quarter
2017, all current NEOs qualified for our new post-retirement health care benefit plan which also qualified them to be fully vested
in all equity awards.
|
|
(2)
|
The amounts shown as “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” are equal to the cash
incentive awards granted by the Compensation Committee for each of our NEOs performance for the applicable calendar year. While
these awards are based on performance criteria established by the Compensation Committee, the actual amounts awarded are not determined
until early in the year following the calendar year being evaluated. These amounts were accrued during the calendar year being
evaluated on an estimated basis and then adjusted to reflect the actual amounts awarded. The cash incentive awards were determined
and paid in accordance with our Amended and Restated 2005 Plan.
|
|
(3)
|
The following table describes each component of the “All Other Compensation” column
for 2017 in the Summary Compensation Table above.
|
|
Active
Deferred
Compensation
Plan Match
|
|
401(k)
Plan
Match
|
|
Executive
Disability
Premium
|
|
Total
|
|
Jeffrey L. Ventura
|
$
|
92,500
|
|
$
|
16,200
|
|
$
|
42,517
|
|
$
|
151,217
|
|
Roger S. Manny
|
$
|
49,301
|
|
$
|
16,200
|
|
$
|
20,961
|
|
$
|
86,462
|
|
Ray N. Walker, Jr.
|
$
|
49,301
|
|
$
|
16,200
|
|
$
|
17,368
|
|
$
|
82,869
|
|
Chad L. Stephens
|
$
|
40,999
|
|
$
|
16,200
|
|
$
|
15,453
|
|
$
|
72,652
|
|
David P. Poole
|
$
|
—
|
|
$
|
16,200
|
|
$
|
10,210
|
|
$
|
26,410
|
|
|
|
CEO Pay Ratio of 70 to 1
|
Pursuant to Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K, we
have prepared a comparison of the annual total compensation of Mr. Ventura, our Chief Executive Officer and President, for fiscal
year 2017 to the median of annual total compensation of all other Company employees for the same period.
We identified the median employee for this
review by examining the 2017 annual total compensation for all employees, excluding our Chief Executive Officer, who were employed
by us on December 31, 2017 because it allowed us to make the identification in a reasonably efficient manner. We included all employees,
whether employed on a full-time, part-time, or seasonal basis. For this purpose and using reasonable estimates, the calculation
of annual total compensation of all employees, excluding our Chief Executive Officer, was determined by using the wages and compensation
similar to the salary components used to determine Mr. Ventura’s total compensation. We chose this method because it is readily
available in our existing payroll system, it is determined on a consistent basis for
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
52
each employee, and because we believe it
is a reasonable proxy for total compensation for purposes of determining the median employee. We annualized the compensation for
any employee that was not employed by us for all of 2017. For the total annual compensation of our Chief Executive Officer, we
used the “Total Compensation” shown for Mr. Ventura in the “Summary Compensation Table” on page 52 of this
Proxy Statement.
Following our review, we have determined
that for 2017:
|
●
|
the median of the annual total compensation
of all employees of the Company (other than our Chief Executive Officer) was $123,500.
|
|
●
|
the annual total compensation of our Chief
Executive Officer, as reported in the Summary Compensation Table above was $8.7 million; and
|
|
●
|
as a result, we estimate Mr. Ventura’s
2017 annual total compensation was approximately 70 times that of our median employee.
|
The above determination is a reasonable
estimate calculated in a manner consistent with SEC rules based on our payroll and employment records and the methodology described
above. The SEC rules for identifying the median employee and calculating the pay ratio based on that employee’s annual total
compensation allow companies to adopt a variety of methodologies, to apply certain exclusions and to make reasonable estimates
and assumptions that reflect their comparison to the ratio reported above, as other companies may have different employment and
compensation practices and may utilize different mythologies, exclusions, estimates and assumptions in calculating their own pay
ratios.
|
|
Grants
of Plan-Based Awards in 2017
|
The table below shows the plan-based awards
granted by the Compensation Committee to the NEOs in 2017. The awards are abbreviated in the table as follows: (i) Annual Cash
Incentive Award (ACI); (ii) Matching Award (MA); (iii) Time-Based Restricted Stock (RS); and (iv) Performance-Based Awards (PBA).
|
|
Estimated Future Payouts Under
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards
(1)
|
|
|
Estimated
Future Payouts Under
Equity
Incentive Plan Awards
(2)
|
|
|
All
Other Stock
Awards: # of
Shares
of Stock
or
Units
(4)
|
|
Grant Date Fair
Value of Stock
and Option
Awards
(3)
|
|
Name
|
Grant
Date
|
Threshold ($)
|
|
Target ($)
|
|
Maximum ($)
|
|
|
Threshold
(#)
|
|
|
Target
(#)
|
|
|
Maximum
(#)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
(b)
|
|
(c)
|
|
|
(d)
|
|
|
(e)
|
|
|
(f)
|
|
|
(g)
|
|
|
(h)
|
|
|
(i)
|
|
|
(l)
|
|
Jeffrey
L. Ventura
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ACI
|
|
$
|
555,000
|
|
$
|
1,110,000
|
|
$
|
2,220,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MA
|
02/07/17
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,790
|
(4)
|
$
|
92,500
|
|
RS
|
05/17/17
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
131,148
|
(5)
|
$
|
3,280,012
|
|
PBA
|
05/17/17
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
128,730
|
|
|
193,095
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
3,300,637
|
|
Roger
S. Manny
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ACI
|
|
$
|
236,640
|
|
$
|
473,280
|
|
$
|
946,560
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MA
|
02/07/17
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
(4)
|
$
|
49,301
|
|
RS
|
05/17/17
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
63,359
|
(5)
|
$
|
1,584,609
|
|
PBA
|
05/17/17
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
62,190
|
|
|
93,285
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
1,594,551
|
|
Ray
N. Walker, Jr.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ACI
|
|
$
|
236,640
|
|
$
|
473,280
|
|
$
|
946,560
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MA
|
02/07/17
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,487
|
(4)
|
$
|
49,301
|
|
RS
|
05/17/17
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
61,664
|
(5)
|
$
|
1,542,217
|
|
PBA
|
05/17/17
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
60,528
|
|
|
90,792
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
1,551,938
|
|
Chad
L. Stephens
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ACI
|
|
$
|
147,600
|
|
$
|
295,200
|
|
$
|
590,400
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MA
|
02/07/17
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,237
|
(4)
|
$
|
40,999
|
|
RS
|
05/17/17
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
39,284
|
(5)
|
$
|
982,493
|
|
PBA
|
05/17/17
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
38,560
|
|
|
57,840
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
988,678
|
|
David
P. Poole
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ACI
|
|
$
|
143,280
|
|
$
|
286,560
|
|
$
|
573,120
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RS
|
05/17/17
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
33,604
|
(5)
|
$
|
840,436
|
|
PBA
|
05/17/17
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
32,985
|
|
|
49,478
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
845,735
|
|
|
(1)
|
The Threshold, Target and Maximum dollar amounts for the ACI are shown in columns (c), (d) and
(e), respectively, for 2017. The actual Annual Incentive Awards paid under the Amended and Restated 2005 Plan and applicable to
the 2017 performance period were determined by the Compensation Committee in March 2018. These awards are disclosed as “Non-Equity
Incentive Plan Compensation” in column (g) of the Summary Compensation Table for 2017 compensation. The estimated payout
amounts reflected in the Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table reflect the amounts that could be paid under the Compensation Committee
approved payout ranges for 2017 performance, subject to any changes in salaries of our NEOs. For a detailed description of the
performance criteria associated with the Annual Cash Incentives please see the section of this Proxy Statement entitled “Compensation
Discussion and Analysis — Elements of Executive Compensation.”
|
|
(2)
|
Performance Units will be paid on 5/17/20 if specified performance goals are met. For a detailed
description of our performance shares please see the section of this Proxy Statement entitled “Compensation Discussion and
Analysis-Elements of Executive Compensation”.
|
|
(3)
|
The grant date fair value are determined in accordance with current accounting guidance. The
Time-Based Restricted Stock Awards set forth in the Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table are valued at the closing price of our common
stock on the date such awards were approved by the Compensation Committee. PBAs where the performance condition is based on market
conditions are valued using a Monte Carlo simulation and assumes a target payout. The Monte Carlo model utilizes multiple input
variables that determine the probability of satisfying the market condition stipulated in the award. PBAs where the performance
condition is based on internal performance metrics is based on the market value of our common stock on the date of grant and assumes
a target payout.
|
|
(4)
|
These awards are cash or shares of our common stock granted as Matching Awards. The dollar value
of Matching Awards granted to each of our NEOs is included in the Summary Compensation Table under column (i) as “All Other
Compensation.” When these awards were granted in February 2017, the closing price of our common stock was $33.15. For a detailed
description of matching contributions to our Active Deferred Compensation Plan (which may be paid in cash or stock, at the election
of our participating employees) see the section of this Proxy Statement entitled “Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plans.”
|
|
(5)
|
When RS Awards were granted on May 17, 2017, the closing price of our common stock was $25.01.
For a detailed description of RS Awards granted on May 17, 2017 see the section of this Proxy Statement entitled “Compensation
Discussion and Analysis – Elements of Executive Compensation.”
|
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
53
During 2017, the Compensation Committee
granted the following Time-Based Restricted Stock Awards and Performance-Based Restricted Stock Awards to our NEOs:
|
Time-Based Restricted Stock Awards
|
|
Performance-Based Restricted
Stock
|
|
|
Date
|
|
Fair Value
per Share
|
|
Shares
Granted
|
|
Grant Date
Fair Value
|
|
Date
|
|
Grant
Price
|
|
Fair Value
per Share
|
|
Shares
Granted
|
|
Grant Date
Fair Value
|
|
Jeffrey L. Ventura
|
|
05/17/17
|
|
$
|
25.01
|
|
|
131,148
|
|
$
|
3,280,012
|
|
|
05/17/17
|
|
$
|
25.01
|
|
$
|
25.64
|
|
|
128,730
|
|
$
|
3,300,637
|
|
Roger S. Manny
|
|
05/17/17
|
|
$
|
25.01
|
|
|
63,359
|
|
$
|
1,584,609
|
|
|
05/17/17
|
|
$
|
25.01
|
|
$
|
25.64
|
|
|
62,190
|
|
$
|
1,594,551
|
|
Ray N. Walker, Jr.
|
|
05/17/17
|
|
$
|
25.01
|
|
|
61,664
|
|
$
|
1,542,217
|
|
|
05/17/17
|
|
$
|
25.01
|
|
$
|
25.64
|
|
|
60,528
|
|
$
|
1,551,938
|
|
Chad L. Stephens
|
|
05/17/17
|
|
$
|
25.01
|
|
|
39,284
|
|
$
|
982,493
|
|
|
05/17/17
|
|
$
|
25.01
|
|
$
|
25.64
|
|
|
38,560
|
|
$
|
988,678
|
|
David P. Poole
|
|
05/17/17
|
|
$
|
25.01
|
|
|
33,604
|
|
$
|
840,436
|
|
|
05/17/17
|
|
$
|
25.01
|
|
$
|
25.64
|
|
|
32,985
|
|
$
|
845,735
|
|
|
|
Outstanding Equity Awards at 2017 Fiscal Year-End
|
The table below reflects each of our NEOs
unvested equity grants, or unexercised SARs or long-term equity grants where the performance condition has not been met as of December
31, 2017 on an individual award basis. The market values of “Stock Awards” in column (j) were determined using the
closing price of $17.06 of our common stock on December 31, 2017. Column (d),(g) and (h) have been deleted from the SEC-prescribed
table format because we did not have any such awards outstanding as of December 31, 2017.
|
Option
Awards
(1)
|
|
Stock
Awards
(2)
|
|
Name
|
Grant
Date
|
|
Number
of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
Exercisable
|
|
Number
of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
Unexercisable
|
|
Option
Exercise
Price
|
|
Option
Expiration
Date
|
|
Equity
Incentive
Plan Awards:
Number of
Unearned
Shares, Units
or Other Rights
that have not
vested #
(2)
|
|
Equity
Incentive
Plan Awards:
Market or
Payout Value
of Unearned
Shares, Units
or Other Rights
that have not
vested $
(2)
|
|
(a)
|
|
|
(b)
|
|
(c)
|
|
(e)
|
|
(f)
|
|
(i)
|
|
(j)
|
|
Jeffrey L. Ventura
|
5/22/13
|
|
|
96,755
|
|
|
—
|
|
$
|
77.2600
|
|
05/22/18
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5/19/15
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
65,285
|
|
$
|
1,113,762
|
|
|
5/18/16
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
95,321
|
|
$
|
1,626,176
|
|
|
5/17/17
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
128,730
|
|
$
|
2,196,134
|
|
TOTAL
|
|
|
|
96,755
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
289,336
|
|
$
|
4,936,072
|
|
Roger S. Manny
|
5/22/13
|
|
|
42,666
|
|
|
—
|
|
$
|
77.2600
|
|
05/22/18
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5/19/15
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
31,641
|
|
$
|
539,795
|
|
|
5/18/16
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
46,548
|
|
$
|
794,109
|
|
|
5/17/17
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
62,190
|
|
$
|
1,060,961
|
|
TOTAL
|
|
|
|
42,666
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
140,379
|
|
$
|
2,394,865
|
|
Ray N. Walker, Jr.
|
5/22/13
|
|
|
26,955
|
|
|
—
|
|
$
|
77.2600
|
|
05/22/18
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5/19/15
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
30,796
|
|
$
|
525,380
|
|
|
5/18/16
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
45,346
|
|
$
|
773,602
|
|
|
5/17/17
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
60,528
|
|
$
|
1,032,608
|
|
TOTAL
|
|
|
|
26,955
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
136,670
|
|
$
|
2,331,590
|
|
Chad L. Stephens
|
5/22/13
|
|
|
27,003
|
|
|
—
|
|
$
|
77.2600
|
|
05/22/18
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5/19/15
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
21,695
|
|
$
|
370,116
|
|
|
5/18/16
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
31,833
|
|
$
|
543,071
|
|
|
5/17/17
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
38,560
|
|
$
|
657,834
|
|
TOTAL
|
|
|
|
27,003
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
92,088
|
|
$
|
1,571,021
|
|
David P. Poole
|
5/22/13
|
|
|
24,028
|
|
|
—
|
|
$
|
77.2600
|
|
05/22/18
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5/19/15
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,905
|
|
$
|
288,399
|
|
|
5/18/16
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
24,891
|
|
$
|
424,640
|
|
|
5/17/17
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
32,985
|
|
$
|
562,724
|
|
TOTAL
|
|
|
|
24,028
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
74,781
|
|
$
|
1,275,763
|
|
|
(1)
|
“Option Awards” are SARs that vest over three years at the rate of 30% the first
two years and 40% the third year and have a term of five years.
|
|
(2)
|
Performance-based restricted stock that will be issued subject to the achievement of certain
levels of total shareholder return or internal performance metrics. The amounts shown assume a target payout and are listed in
chronological order as granted.
|
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
54
As of December 31, 2017, all Time-Based
Restricted Stock granted to our NEOs is considered vested because each NEO qualified, based on age and years of service, for our
new post-retirement benefit plan which was intended to improve our management succession plan. Our Performance-Based Restricted
Stock continues to be reported in the Outstanding Equity Awards table above because the performance condition has not been satisfied.
However, if an NEO is terminated involuntarily for cause, the Time-Based Restricted Stock would be forfeited by him.
|
Option
Exercises and Stock Vested in 2017
|
The following table reflects information about the value
realized by the NEOs on option award exercises and restricted stock vesting during 2017.
|
|
Option
Awards
(1)
|
|
|
Stock
Awards
(2)
|
|
Name
|
|
Number
of Shares
Acquired on
Exercise
|
|
|
Value
Realized
on Exercise
|
|
|
Number
of Shares
Acquired on
Vesting
|
|
|
Value
Realized
on Vesting
|
|
(a)
|
|
(b)
|
|
|
(c)
|
|
|
(d)
|
|
|
(e)
|
|
Jeffrey L. Ventura
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
|
324,410
|
|
|
$
|
6,588,488
|
|
Roger S. Manny
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
|
153,760
|
|
|
$
|
3,116,548
|
|
Ray N. Walker, Jr.
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
|
151,039
|
|
|
$
|
3,057,772
|
|
Chad L. Stephens
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
|
102,168
|
|
|
$
|
2,075,879
|
|
David P. Poole
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
|
83,373
|
|
|
$
|
1,694,259
|
|
(1)
|
There
were no option awards exercised in 2017.
|
(2)
|
The
“Stock Awards” included in the vesting amounts shown in this table are from
(i) Time-Based Restricted Stock Awards granted during 2014 through 2017, (ii) Matching
Awards for 2015 through 2017 and Performance-Based Restricted Stock granted during 2014.
Because the Summary Compensation Table reflects the entire value of the “Stock
Awards” instead of over the period of time when such awards vest, a significant
portion of the dollar amounts shown as realized on vesting is duplicative of the amounts
that are shown in the Summary Compensation Table for different periods of time. The value
realized upon vesting that is reported above was calculated by multiplying the number
of shares that vested during 2017 by the closing price of our common stock on the applicable
vesting date.
|
|
Non-Qualified
Deferred Compensation Plans
|
Generally, our NEOs elect at the time they make
their compensation deferrals into the deferred compensation plan whether to receive our matching contribution under such plan in
cash or in the form of our common stock. Matching contributions up to 10% of our NEOs base salary paid during the calendar year
generally vest over a three-year period, commencing with the year the matching contribution is made. Separate deferral elections
may be made with respect to our NEOs bonus and salary. To the extent that our NEOs elected to receive a Matching Award, vesting
of the Matching Award for 2015 through 2017 is reflected as to each respective NEO in the
“Options Exercised and Stock
Vested Table”
above.
All such Time-Based Restricted Stock and Matching
Awards are automatically contributed as discretionary contributions to our Active Deferred Compensation Plan. Therefore, upon the
vesting of any such awards, any appreciation or depreciation in value that would otherwise be realized is deferred under the terms
of the Active Deferred Compensation Plan and will be distributed pursuant to the terms of the Active Deferred Compensation Plan
as described below.
The Compensation Committee may elect to make
discretionary contributions to the Active Deferred Compensation Plan on behalf of our NEOs. These contributions may be made in
the form of the matching contributions described above. Any such discretionary contributions generally will be subject to vesting
and any other terms specified by the Compensation Committee. Matching contributions generally will vest on a class-year basis over
a three-year period at the rate of 33-1/3% each year, commencing with the year in which the contribution is made unless a different
vesting schedule is determined by the Compensation Committee. In addition, our NEOs will become fully vested in the matching contributions
upon reaching age 65, death or disability (as defined in the Active Deferred Compensation Plan). Our NEOs will forfeit all discretionary
or matching contributions, irrespective of the attainment of age 65, disability or death, if their employment with the Company
terminates for gross misconduct or if they engage in unlawful business competition with the Company. As of December 31, 2017, all
of our NEOs are fully vested in their Matching Awards and their Time-Based Restricted Stock.
Amounts contributed to the deferred compensation
plans and earnings thereon are contributed to a rabbi trust, which is a grantor trust the assets of which may only be used to pay
benefits under the deferred compensation plans or to satisfy the claims of our creditors in the event of our insolvency. Thus,
we have set aside the assets to fund the benefits payable under the deferred compensation plans. Our NEOs are entitled to direct
the benchmark for returns on their deferred compensation generally in similar investment funds as are offered under our 401(k)
Plan. However, Time-Based Restricted Stock Awards and Matching Awards may not be transferred out of our common stock until vesting
of such awards. Participants can elect to invest contributions and matching contributions in the 401(k) Plan in common stock of
the Company.
Benefits under the Active Deferred Compensation
Plan will be paid at the time and form as previously specified by our NEOs in accordance with the requirements of Section 409A
of the Code. Such amounts may be paid in the form of a single lump sum payment or annual installments
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
55
over a period of up to 10 years. Time-Based Restricted
Stock Awards and Matching Awards contributed to the Active Deferred Compensation Plan may be paid in shares of our common stock,
with fractional shares in cash at the discretion of the Compensation Committee. Each of our NEOs may change the time and/or form
of payment, by making an election with the plan administrator at least one year before the date his/her Active Deferred Compensation
Plan accounts would be paid in accordance with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. Any such subsequent deferral election
must delay our NEOs’ benefit commencement date by at least five years. In addition, the Active Deferred Compensation Plan
permits our NEOs to obtain an earlier distribution in the event of “Hardship,” as defined under the Active Deferred
Compensation Plan.
The accompanying table reflects the activity
during the 2017 calendar year for each of our NEOs for the Frozen Deferred Compensation Plan shown as “F” in the table
and the Active Deferred Compensation Plan shown as “A” in the table.
NON-QUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION
|
|
|
|
|
Registrant
Contributions
in Last FY
(1)
|
|
|
Aggregate
Earnings
in Last FY
(2)
|
|
|
Aggregate
Withdrawals/ Distributions
|
|
|
Aggregate
Balance
at Last FYE
|
|
Name
|
|
Plan
|
|
|
(c)
|
|
|
(d)
|
|
|
(e)
|
|
|
(f)
|
|
Jeffrey L. Ventura
|
|
|
A
|
|
|
$
|
3,280,012
|
(5)
|
|
$
|
164,208
|
(3)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
A
|
|
|
$
|
92,500
|
(6)
|
|
$
|
(8,427,466
|
)
(4)
|
|
$
|
(1,651,941
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
TOTAL
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
3,372,512
|
|
|
$
|
(8,263,258
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1,651,941
|
)
|
|
$
|
10,535,218
|
|
Roger S. Manny
|
|
|
F
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
14,291
|
(3)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
59,933
|
|
|
|
|
F
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
(42,371
|
)
(4)
|
|
$
|
(59,210
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
A
|
|
|
$
|
1,584,609
|
(5)
|
|
$
|
97,338
|
(3)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
6,067,359
|
|
|
|
|
A
|
|
|
$
|
49,301
|
(6)
|
|
$
|
(5,051,908
|
)
(4)
|
|
$
|
(1,112,166
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
TOTAL
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
1,633,910
|
|
|
$
|
(4,982,650
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1,171,376
|
)
|
|
$
|
6,127,292
|
|
Ray N. Walker, Jr.
|
|
|
A
|
|
|
$
|
1,542,217
|
(5)
|
|
$
|
40,583
|
(3)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
A
|
|
|
$
|
49,301
|
(6)
|
|
$
|
(2,398,959
|
)
(4)
|
|
$
|
(1,019,148
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
TOTAL
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
1,591,518
|
|
|
$
|
(2,358,376
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1,019,148
|
)
|
|
$
|
2,914,195
|
|
Chad L. Stephens
|
|
|
A
|
|
|
$
|
982,493
|
(5)
|
|
$
|
43,023
|
(3)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
A
|
|
|
$
|
40,999
|
(6)
|
|
$
|
(1,806,508
|
)
(4)
|
|
$
|
(635,915
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
TOTAL
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
1,023,492
|
|
|
$
|
(1,763,485
|
)
|
|
$
|
(635,915
|
)
|
|
$
|
2,063,611
|
|
David P. Poole
|
|
|
A
|
|
|
$
|
840,436
|
(5)
|
|
$
|
44,289
|
(3)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
A
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
(6)
|
|
$
|
(1,537,877
|
)
(4)
|
|
$
|
(342,770
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
TOTAL
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
840,436
|
|
|
$
|
(1,493,588
|
)
|
|
$
|
(342,770
|
)
|
|
$
|
1,943,844
|
|
(1)
|
Column
(c) reflects the value of our common stock contributed by us as Time-Based Restricted
Stock Awards and Matching Awards.
|
(2)
|
The
earnings/(losses) from each of our NEOs’ deferred compensation plan account shown
in column (d) represents the cash earnings or appreciation/ depreciation in market value
from the investment funds and our common stock which our NEOs invest in under the deferred
compensation plans. Because our NEOs’ deferred compensation plan accounts have
significant investments in our common stock, the plan earnings each year for each of
our NEOs are significantly impacted by the change in our common stock price during that
period. The amounts of the appreciation or depreciation in our common stock held in the
Frozen and Active Deferred Compensation Plan accounts for each NEO is segregated in the
table for reference purposes.
|
(3)
|
Earnings/(losses)
from appreciation/depreciation in market value, dividends and interest from mutual funds
selected by each of our NEOs.
|
(4)
|
These
amounts reflect depreciation in the value of our common stock held in the Frozen and
Active Deferred Compensation Plan accounts. As of December 31, 2017, the following numbers
of shares of our common stock were held in our NEOs’ deferred compensation plan
accounts – 555,071 shares by Mr. Ventura; 318,345 shares by Mr. Manny; 157,430
shares by Mr. Walker, 110,784 shares by Mr. Stephens and 98,907 shares by Mr. Poole.
|
(5)
|
These
amounts reflect the grant date fair value of Time-Based Restricted Stock Awards determined
in accordance with current accounting guidance. The Compensation Committee grants these
awards each year to our NEOs. Such awards are contributed to each of our NEOs accounts
in the Active Deferred Compensation Plan. These awards generally vest over a three–year
period at the rate of 30% for each of the first two years and 40% the last year. As of
fourth quarter 2017, all of our NEOs qualified for our post-retirement health care benefit
and therefore, all vesting of equity grants was accelerated.
|
(6)
|
Generally,
our NEOs elect, at the time they make their compensation deferral elections under the
Active Deferred Compensation Plan for the coming calendar year, whether to receive their
matching contribution under such plan in cash or in the form of our common stock. During
2017, all our NEOs except Mr. Poole elected Matching Awards. The dollar equivalent value
of the Matching Awards is shown in column (c) of the table. Matching Awards generally
vest ratably over a three-year period beginning with the year such awards were contributed
to our deferred compensation plan. These amounts are shown in column (l) of the Grants
of Plan-Based Awards Table and are included as “All Other Compensation” in
the Summary Compensation Table. As of fourth quarter 2017, all of our NEOs qualified
for our post-retirement health care benefit and therefore all vesting of equity grants
was accelerated.
|
Voluntary contributions to our deferred compensation
plans by our NEOs from salary, bonus and cash incentive awards from prior years have been reported in the Summary Compensation
Tables for such prior years. Mr. Stephens has been participating in the deferred compensation plans since 1997. Messrs. Ventura
and Manny began participating in 2003, Mr. Walker began participating in 2006 and Mr. Poole in 2008.
In the Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Table,
Time-Based Restricted Stock Awards granted during 2017 are valued at the grant value fair value in accordance with current accounting
guidance. Matching Awards are reflected in the Summary Compensation Table (as “All Other Compensation”) during the
year such awards are contributed to our deferred compensation plan, although such awards may be subject to future vesting.
The table below shows the investment funds available
under our 401(k) Plan and our deferred compensation plans (other than our common stock) and their annual rate of return for the
calendar year ended December 31, 2017, as reported by the administrator of the plans.
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
56
|
|
Rate
of Return
|
|
Investment
Fund
|
|
401(k)
Plan
|
|
|
Deferred
Compensation Plan
|
|
American Beacon Small Cap Value – Institutional
|
|
|
8.68
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
Blackrock Global Allocation Fund, Inc. – Institutional Class
|
|
|
13.60
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
Deutsche Real Estate Securities I
|
|
|
6.50
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
Goldman Sachs Emerging Market Equity Insights Fund
|
|
|
39.28
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
J Hancock Disciplined Value Mid Cap I Fund
|
|
|
15.64
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
Janus Enterprise Fund Class T
|
|
|
26.35
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
MFS Growth Fund Class R4
|
|
|
30.88
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
MFS International Diversification Fund Class R4
|
|
|
30.25
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
T. Row Price
|
|
|
10.58
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
PIMCO Foreign Bond
|
|
|
3.53
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
PIMCO Income Fund Institutional Class
|
|
|
8.61
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
PIMCO Real Return Fund – Institutional Class
|
|
|
3.93
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
Prudential Total Return – Q
|
|
|
6.71
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
T. Rowe Price Diversified Small Cap Growth
|
|
|
22.12
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
T. Rowe Price International Discovery Fund
|
|
|
39.01
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
T. Rowe Price Retirement Balance Investor
|
|
|
10.37
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
T. Rowe Price Retirement 2005 Fund
|
|
|
10.67
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
T. Rowe Price Retirement 2010 Fund
|
|
|
11.66
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
T. Rowe Price Retirement 2015 Fund
|
|
|
13.34
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
T. Rowe Price Retirement 2020 Fund
|
|
|
15.74
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
T. Rowe Price Retirement 2025 Fund
|
|
|
17.68
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
T. Rowe Price Retirement 2030 Fund
|
|
|
19.45
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
T. Rowe Price Retirement 2035 Fund
|
|
|
20.88
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
T. Rowe Price Retirement 2040 Fund
|
|
|
22.02
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
T. Rowe Price Retirement 2045 Fund
|
|
|
22.41
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
T. Rowe Price Retirement 2050 Fund
|
|
|
22.38
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
T. Rowe Price Retirement 2055 Fund
|
|
|
22.33
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
T. Rowe Price Retirement 2060 Fund
|
|
|
22.29
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
T. Rowe Price Stable Value Fund
|
|
|
1.90
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
Vanguard Equity Income Investor Shares
|
|
|
18.38
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
Vanguard Institutional Index
|
|
|
21.79
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
Vanguard Mid-Cap Index Admiral
|
|
|
19.25
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
Vanguard REIT Index Admiral
|
|
|
4.94
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
Vanguard Small Cap Index Admiral
|
|
|
16.24
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
Vanguard Total International Stock Index Admiral
|
|
|
27.55
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
Vanguard Total Bond Index Admiral
|
|
|
3.56
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
A B Small Cap Growth Portfolio Class A
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
34.60
|
%
|
Aberdeen Global Small Cap Fund – Class A
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
31.75
|
%
|
Alger Spectra Fund – Class A
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
31.03
|
%
|
Allianz GI NFJ Small Cap Value Fund – Class A
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
9.68
|
%
|
BlackRock Equity Dividend Fund Investor A
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
16.43
|
%
|
BlackRock Global Allocation Fund Investor A
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
13.32
|
%
|
BlackRock Fed Fund Institutional
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
0.77
|
%
|
Blackrock High Equity Income Fund – Class A
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
17.21
|
%
|
Calamos Growth & Income Fund – Class A
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
16.38
|
%
|
Deutsche Real Estate Securities A
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
6.11
|
%
|
Deutsche Equity 500 Index Fund I
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
21.48
|
%
|
First Eagle Gold A
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
8.12
|
%
|
Goldman Sachs Emerging Markets Equity Insights A
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
38.77
|
%
|
Harbor International Fund Investor Class
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
22.45
|
%
|
J. Hancock Disciplined Value Mid Cap A Fund
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
15.28
|
%
|
Lord Abbett Fundamental Equity A Fund Class A
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
12.97
|
%
|
Oppenheimer Global Fund Class A
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
36.24
|
%
|
Oppenheimer International Bond – Class A
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
10.85
|
%
|
PIMCO Income A Fund
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
8.18
|
%
|
PIMCO Real Return Fund – Class A
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
3.51
|
%
|
PIMCO Total Return Fund – Class A
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
4.74
|
%
|
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
57
Potential
Payments upon Termination and Change in Control
|
There are no employment agreements currently
in effect between us and any of our NEOs. Our NEOs are not covered under any general severance plan. In the event any NEOs terminates
employment, any severance benefits payable would be determined by the Compensation Committee in its discretion, unless termination
occurred following a Change in Control, in which case severance may be payable pursuant to our Management CIC Plan.
Under the Management CIC Plan members of
our Management Group, including our NEOs, may be entitled to receive certain payments and benefits if there is a Change in Control
and a member of the Management Group is terminated other than for Cause or resigns for Good Reason (each an “Involuntary
Termination” with individual terms defined below). These potential severance payments are considered “double-trigger”
change in control arrangements, as a termination alone, or a Change in Control alone, will not result in severance payments becoming
due; the termination of employment and the Change in Control event must occur together prior to amounts becoming due under the
Management CIC Plan. Specifically under our Management CIC Plan, if a member of our Management Group leaves the Company as a result
of an Involuntary Termination during the Protection Period, the participant will receive (a) a lump sum cash payment equal to (i)
such person’s Benefit Multiple (which is set forth in the table below with respect to our NEOs) multiplied by (ii) the sum
of (A) the participant’s Base Salary (as defined below) plus (B) the participant’s Bonus (collectively, the “Cash
Payment”), and (b) for a period of years equal to the participant’s Benefit Multiple (but not beyond the end of the
second calendar year following the year in which the Involuntary Termination occurred), continued participation in any medical,
dental, life, disability or any other insurance arrangement for the benefit of the participant (and his/her spouse and eligible
children, if applicable) in which such person(s) (iii) were participating immediately prior to (iv) the date of the participant’s
Involuntary Termination, or, if greater, (v) the occurrence of the Change in Control (the “Continued Benefits”).
The Cash Payment will be paid as soon as
practicable following a member of our Management Group’s termination, and in all events not later than March 15 of the year
following the year of termination, unless payment is required to be delayed for six months from the date of termination to prevent
additional tax under Section 409A of the Code. Further, the receipt of Continued Benefits is conditioned on the member of our Management
Group paying to our Company the same premium amount for such benefits as such participant was required to pay prior to his termination,
and the Continued Benefits will be limited and reduced to the extent that comparable coverage that does not result in greater out-of-pocket
expenses to such participant is provided or available to such participant. Our Management CIC Plan does not provide for any Cash
Payments or Continued Benefits in the event a member of our Management Group is terminated due to death or Disability (as defined
below). A discussion of the Benefit Multiple selected for each of our NEOs can be found below.
Our Management CIC Plan also provides that,
upon a Change in Control, all non-vested long-term equity incentive awards held by members of our Management Group, including our
NEOs, will vest. In addition, any long-term equity-incentive awards that vest and that provide for exercise by the participant
will remain exercisable following an Involuntary Termination or any termination due to death or Disability on or after a Change
in Control for the lesser of (i) the remaining term of the award or (ii) one year following the latest to occur of (A) the participant’s
termination of employment, (B) in the event of a termination of employment in anticipation of a Change in Control, the actual occurrence
of or consummation of such Change in Control, or (C) in the event of a Change in Control as a result of approval by the stockholders
of our Company of a reorganization, merger, consolidation or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets or an
acquisition of the assets or stock of another corporation, the consummation of such transaction. Following a termination of employment
that is not an Involuntary Termination or a termination due to death or disability, other than a termination for Cause, any long-term
equity-incentive award that vests and that provides for exercise by the participant will be exercisable for the lesser of (i) the
remaining term of the award or (ii) 30 days following such termination of employment. Upon a termination of employment for Cause,
any long-term equity-incentive awards will terminate and no longer be exercisable at the time of a final determination that Cause
exists.
In connection with the delivery of the
Cash Payments under our Management CIC Plan, each member of our Management Group is required to execute and deliver to us a release
that generally releases and discharges our Company (and its related entities and agents) from any and all claims (with certain
limited exceptions) existing at any time prior to execution of the release. Our Management CIC Plan also contains non-disparagement
provisions pursuant to which each member of our Management Group and our Company have agreed not to disparage one another during
the term of such person’s employment and thereafter. Violation of the non-disparagement provisions entitles the wronged party
to complete relief including injunctive relief, damages, and/or termination or return of payments made under our Management CIC
Plan.
As discussed above, the Management CIC Plan also provides for the payment of a tax-gross up to members of our Management
Group, including our NEOs, in the event that Change in Control Payments would result in excess parachute payments under Section
280G of the Code. This tax gross-up has been eliminated for employees who become an officer of the Company after November 2014.
For purposes of our Management CIC Plan,
the following terms have been assigned the meanings set forth below:
|
(i)
|
“Change in Control” means (A) a person or group of persons becomes the beneficial owner
of 35% or more of the then outstanding shares of our common stock or the combined voting power of the outstanding securities of
our Company that are eligible to vote in the election of our Board of Directors, (B) a majority of the members of our Board of
Directors is replaced by directors who were not endorsed by a majority of the board members prior to their appointment, (C) the
consummation of a reorganization, merger, consolidation, or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets or an acquisition
of the assets of another corporation, unless, immediately following the consummation of such transaction, (1) the Company’s
stockholders immediately prior to such transaction own more than 50% of the company resulting from such transaction and exercise
more than 50% of the resulting company’s combined voting power in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of
the stock of the Company and the Company’s voting securities immediately prior to such a reorganization, merger, consolidation,
or other disposition, (2) no person (other than certain entities related to the Company) or group of persons becomes the beneficial
owner of 35% or more of either the outstanding shares of common stock of the company resulting from such a transaction or the resulting
company’s combined voting power and (3) the individuals who were directors of the Company constitute at least a majority
of the resulting company’s board of directors, or (D) a liquidation or dissolution of the Company. In the event a member
of our Management Group is terminated without Cause or for Good Reason in anticipation of a Change in Control and a Change in Control
actually occurs, a Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred on the date immediately prior to such person’s termination;
|
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
58
|
(ii)
|
“Cause” means (A) an act of dishonesty that constitutes a felony, or (B) an act that
results or that is intended to result in gain to or personal enrichment of the member of our Management Group at our expense;
|
|
(iii)
|
“Good Reason” means, without a person’s consent, (A) material diminution of
the duties, authority or responsibilities of the person, (B) material reduction of such person’s Base Salary; or, (C) a
change in such person’s principal place of employment, without consent, to a location more than 30 miles from the
principal place of employment prior to the Change in Control;
|
|
(iv)
|
“Protection Period” means, generally, the period beginning on the date of the occurrence
of a Change in Control and ending on the last day of the twelfth full calendar month following the calendar month in which the
Change in Control occurred;
|
|
(v)
|
“Base Salary” means the annual gross rate of pay, including vacation and holiday pay,
sick leave compensation, and any amounts reduced and contributed to an employee benefit plan of our Company in effect immediately
prior to the member’s termination date or the occurrence of the Change in Control, but does not include any bonus, incentive
pay, overtime, auto or travel allowance, or any other benefits or special allowances;
|
|
(vi)
|
“Bonus” means the average of the annual bonus awards paid to the member of our Management
Group for the three prior fiscal years immediately prior to (A) the member’s termination date or, if greater (B) the occurrence
of the Change in Control; and
|
|
(vii)
|
“Disability” means a member of our Management Group (A) is unable to engage in any
substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result
in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of 12 months; or, (B) is, by reason of such a physical or mental impairment,
receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three months under an accident and health plan covering our
employees.
|
|
(viii)
|
Benefit Multiple. The Compensation Committee determined the “benefit multiple” applicable
to the NEOs based on the payment multiples for comparable positions with the companies in the Peer Group. The three times multiple
selected for our CEO is the dominant multiple used by members of the Peer Group for comparable positions. The Compensation Committee
also determined that, based on the range in multiples paid to chief financial officers and chief operating officers by other companies,
our CFO and COO should receive a two and one-half times multiple, which is the midpoint of the range. Similarly, the “benefit
multiples” for our other corporate officers were set at two times.
|
|
(ix)
|
Tax Reimbursement. The Management CIC Plan as adopted included a tax gross up provision which provides
for the payment to participants if amounts payable under the Management CIC Plan or payable pursuant to other arrangements between
the participant and the Company (the “Change in Control Payments”) would result in excess parachute payments under
Section 280G of the Code and entitles the participant to receive an amount equal to (i) any excise tax that would be imposed under
Section 4999 of the Code (the “4999 Excise Tax”) with respect to the Change in Control Payments, (ii) federal, state,
and local taxes applicable to payment of the 4999 Excise Tax and (iii) any additional 4999 Excise Tax amounts that are assessed
by reason of payment of the tax payments. The Committee recognizes that tax gross ups are disfavored and, while the Management
CIC Plan has not been revised since December 2008, the Committee re-evaluated whether to limit or eliminate the gross up provision.
After consulting with A&M regarding the effect of the change to add performance-based shares as a substantial part of the equity
awards to executives and the fact that the use of performance-based shares creates a potential for the senior executives to incur
significant 4999 Excise Tax where prior to the use of performance –based shares there would have been no 4999 Excise Tax
liability, the Committee determined to eliminate the rights under the gross up provision for any employees who become officers
after the Committee’s action.
|
The following table reflects the estimated
payments due to each of our NEOs as of December 31, 2017, assuming, as applicable, that a Change in Control occurred and each of
our NEOs were terminated without Cause effective December 31, 2017. For these purposes, our common stock price was assumed to be
$17.06 which was the closing price of our common stock on December 31, 2017. The amounts below have been calculated using assumptions
that we believe are reasonable. For purposes of the Section 280G calculation, it is assumed that no amounts will be treated as
attributable to reasonable compensation and no value will be attributed to our NEO executing a non-compete agreement. The amount
of the 4999 Excise Tax gross-up, if any, will change based upon when our NEO’s employment with our Company is actually terminated
because the amount of compensation subject to Section 280G of the Code will change. Any actual payments that may be made pursuant
to the arrangements described above are dependent on various factors, which may or may not exist at the time a Change in Control
actually occurs and any of our NEOs are actually terminated.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Potential
Change in Control Payments
|
|
|
|
Benefit
Multiple
|
|
Cash
Payments
(1)
|
|
Value
of
Accelerated
Awards
(2)
|
|
Value
of
Benefits
(3)
|
|
Potential
Excise Tax
Gross Up
(4)
|
|
Total
|
|
Jeffrey L. Ventura
|
|
|
3X
|
|
$
|
6,643,442
|
|
$
|
4,941,816
|
|
$
|
122,324
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
$
|
11,707,582
|
|
Roger S. Manny
|
|
|
2.5X
|
|
$
|
2,578,242
|
|
$
|
2,380,529
|
|
$
|
78,134
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
$
|
5,036,905
|
|
Ray N. Walker, Jr.
|
|
|
2.5X
|
|
$
|
2,578,529
|
|
$
|
2,334,562
|
|
$
|
70,767
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
$
|
4,983,858
|
|
Chad L. Stephens
|
|
|
2X
|
|
$
|
1,490,973
|
|
$
|
1,558,093
|
|
$
|
66,843
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
$
|
3,115,909
|
|
David P. Poole
|
|
|
2X
|
|
$
|
1,448,743
|
|
$
|
1,269,585
|
|
$
|
71,680
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
$
|
2,790,008
|
|
|
(1)
|
Represents
cash payments equal to Base Salary and Bonus, determined as of December 31, 2017, multiplied
by the applicable Benefit Multiple. Such calculation averages the prior three bonuses
paid as of December 31, 2017 which would be for the years, 2014, 2015 and 2016.
|
|
(2)
|
Assumes
no acceleration of vesting of restricted stocks awards in fourth quarter 2017. Represents
the value of unvested Time-Based Restricted Stock Awards and Matching Awards granted
under any of our benefit plans vesting upon a Change in Control as of December 31, 2017,
at the 2017 year end price of the common stock of $17.06. Performance shares based on
TSR assumes payout of 45.5% of target for shares granted in 2015 and 0% of target for
shares granted in 2016 and 0% of target for shares granted in 2017. Performance shares
based on an internal metrics are assumed to pay out at 100%.
|
|
(3)
|
Represents
the value of the continuation of medical, dental, life, disability, and other insurance
benefits for a period of one year multiplied by the applicable Benefit Multiple assuming
a 5% increase per year terminating at the end of the second calendar year following the
year of termination.
|
|
(4)
|
Represents
the amount of the 4999 Excise Tax gross-up payment necessary to result in our NEOs receiving
the total Change in Control Payments. No 4999 Excise Tax gross – up payment would
have been required as of December 31, 2017.
|
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
59
Our employees who are not covered in our
Management CIC Plan (the “Employee Group”) may be entitled to receive certain change in control payments under the
Range Resources Corporation Amended and Restated Employee Change in Control Severance Benefit Plan (the “Employee CIC Plan”)
upon an involuntary termination of employment by us for other than Cause or if an employee resigns for Good Reason. If any employee
in the Employee Group is terminated by us, other than for Cause or resigns for Good Reason, within the Protection Period, the employee
will receive a lump sum payment (the “Employee Payment”) equal to one-half of the sum of his or her Base Salary and
Bonus. The same definitions used in our Management CIC Plan are used in our Employee CIC Plan.
Our deferred compensation plans do
provide for tax gross-up payments in certain limited circumstances. Specifically, a tax gross-up may be payable if all or a
portion of a participant’s deferred compensation plan account is paid prior to the date the participant otherwise
elected to receive such payment (without the consent of the participant or his or her beneficiary) as a result of (i) the
participant’s termination of employment within 24 months of a Change in Control (as defined under Section 409A of the
Code), (ii) the amendment of either of our deferred compensation plans in connection with a Change in Control, or (iii) the
termination of either of our deferred compensation plans in connection with a Change in Control.
The participant will be entitled to a
gross-up with respect to any portion of such payments that are subject to Section 409A of the Code. The balance of the
accounts of our NEOs under the Deferred Compensation Plans as of December 31, 2017 is set forth in column (f) of the
Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Table. The calculation of the tax gross-ups assumes, pursuant to the terms of the
Deferred Compensation Plans, a 21% federal income tax rate, a 2.35% Medicare tax rate, and 20% in additional taxes under
Section 409A of the Code (with respect to amounts accelerated under the Active Deferred Compensation Plan). The potential tax
gross-ups for our NEOs with respect to their Frozen Deferred Compensation Plan accounts (identified by an “F”)
and their Active Deferred Compensation Plan accounts (identified by an ”A”) with respect to an accelerated
distribution as of December 31, 2017, are as follows: Mr. Ventura — $7,321,084 (A); Mr. Manny — $15,932 (F);
$4,216,300 (A); Mr. Walker — $2,025,119 (A); Mr. Stephens — $1,434,035 (A) Mr. Poole — $1,350,807 (A).
Other
Post-Employment Payments
|
Upon the death, Disability (which definition
is the same as the definition under the Management CIC Plan) or retirement of a NEO or any other employee, certain unvested Time-Based
Stock Awards and Performance-Based Stock Awards vest under the terms of the award grant. Upon Disability, all employees are covered
under a group compensation continuation plan. The group disability coverage provides for compensation continuance of 60% of an
employee’s salary and bonus up to a maximum of $180,000 per year until his or her 65
th
birthday. All of our NEOs
are also covered under supplemental individual executive disability policies. Coverage under these policies would increase the
disability coverage from the maximum of $180,000 per year under the group plan to the coverage amounts shown below for each NEO.
The percent of coverage varies depending on when the policy was put in place for each NEO. The executive disability coverage premium
is shown as a perquisite in the Summary Compensation Table in column (i) ”All Other Compensation.” The following table
summarizes the value of the compensation continuation which would be available to each NEO assuming that he became disabled as
of December 31, 2017 under the policies currently in effect until he attained the age of 65 years old. The table also summarizes
the value of the Time-Based Restricted Stock Awards, Matching Awards and Performance-Based Restricted Stock Awards which would
vest upon the death, disability or retirement assuming that such events occurred on December 31, 2017 based on the value of the
Company’s common stock on that date of $17.06. Retirement is defined as reaching the age of 65 years old. This calculation
assumes no acceleration of equity awards in fourth quarter 2017.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual
Salary
|
|
Benefit
Continuance
Under
Executive
Disability Plan
|
|
Value
of
Accelerated
Vesting of
SARs
|
|
Value
of
Accelerated
Vesting of Stock
Awards
|
|
Value
of
Accelerated
Vesting of
Performance
Awards
|
|
Jeffrey L. Ventura
|
|
$
|
925,000
|
|
$
|
1,795,200
|
|
$
|
–
|
|
$
|
3,875,708
|
|
$
|
1,066,108
|
|
Roger S. Manny
|
|
$
|
493,000
|
|
$
|
898,200
|
|
$
|
–
|
|
$
|
1,864,692
|
|
$
|
515,837
|
|
Ray N. Walker, Jr.
|
|
$
|
493,000
|
|
$
|
796,200
|
|
$
|
–
|
|
$
|
1,832,517
|
|
$
|
502,045
|
|
Chad L. Stephens
|
|
$
|
410,000
|
|
$
|
668,460
|
|
$
|
–
|
|
$
|
1,222,144
|
|
$
|
335,949
|
|
David P. Poole
|
|
$
|
398,000
|
|
$
|
541,800
|
|
$
|
–
|
|
$
|
995,042
|
|
$
|
274,543
|
|
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
60
Equity
Compensation Plan Information
|
The following table reflects
information regarding equity compensation awards outstanding and available for future grants as of December 31, 2017 and
March 23, 2018, segregated between equity compensation plans approved by our stockholders and equity compensation plans not
approved by our stockholders
(a)
:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Plan
Category
|
|
Date
|
|
Number
of
securities to
be issued upon
exercise of
outstanding
options/SARs
|
|
Weighted
average exercise
price of
outstanding
options/SARs
|
|
Number
of
securities
remaining
available for
future issuance
under equity
compensation
plans
|
|
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders
|
|
|
12/31/17
|
|
|
2,984,499
(b)
|
|
$
|
76.54
(c)
|
|
|
4,896,855
|
|
|
|
|
3/23/18
|
|
|
4,785,298
(d)
|
|
$
|
77.28
(e)
|
|
|
2,680,854
|
|
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
(f)
|
|
|
12/31/17
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
|
3/23/18
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
(a)
|
Our
common stock is issued to officers and key employees, long-term incentive awards and
Company matches under our deferred compensation arrangements if elected by the employee.
Any such awards are approved by our Compensation Committee, which is composed of five
independent directors. Issuances to NEOs are disclosed in the section of this Proxy Statement
in the Summary Compensation Table included in this Proxy Statement.
|
|
(b)
|
Includes
approximately 359,000 shares related to SARs, 1.5 million shares related to RSUs and
1.1 million shares representing the target number of performance units that may be earned,
assuming the target payout level is achieved.
|
|
(c)
|
Weighted
average exercise price of 359,000 SARs outstanding.
|
|
(d)
|
Includes
approximately 313,000 shares related to SARs, 2.6 million shares related to RSUs and
1.8 shares representing the target number of performance units that may be earned, assuming
the target payout level is achieved.
|
|
(e)
|
Weighted
average exercise price of 313,000 SARs outstanding.
|
|
(f)
|
There
are no equity compensation plans, as defined by the NYSE, which have not been approved
by our stockholders.
|
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
61
PROPOSAL
2
|
ADVISORY
VOTE TO APPROVE EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
|
In
accordance with Section 14A of the Exchange Act, we are submitting this proposal to stockholders for an advisory vote to approve
the compensation of our NEOs as disclosed in the Proxy Statement in accordance with the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC.
The executive compensation program is described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section
beginning
on page 30 and the other tables and narrative disclosures in this Proxy Statement.
The
executive compensation program for the NEOs includes many best-practice features that are intended to enhance the alignment of
compensation with the interests of Range’s stockholders:
What
We Do
|
Seek
Stockholder Engagement and Responsiveness
|
|
Maintain
robust stock ownership goals for senior executives
|
|
Exercise
negative discretion with declining company performance
|
|
Engage
an independent compensation consultant to advise the committee
|
|
Majority
of NEO compensation is at risk and performance based, which links pay to performance
|
|
Offer
minimal use of perquisites
|
|
All
long-term incentive awards are payable in stock
|
|
Dedicate
time to executive succession planning and leadership development each year
|
|
Financial
performance metrics underlying long-term incentive awards are objective and aligned with stockholders’ interests
|
|
Compensation
Peer Group’s reviewed annually
|
|
Perform
annual say-on-pay advisory vote for stockholders
|
|
|
Executive
Compensation Program Objectives
In
2017, the Compensation Committee continued to strive to develop a compensation program not only to be consistent with industry
practice but also to attract and retain outstanding executives by providing incentives to reward them for superior performance
that supports Range’s long-term strategic objectives.
The
2017 executive compensation program is expected to:
|
●
|
Be
highly aligned with stockholder interests;
|
|
●
|
Preserve
performance accountability in both strong and weak commodity price environments;
|
|
●
|
Build
long-term share ownerships;
|
|
●
|
Simplify
the executive compensation program; and
|
|
●
|
Match
or exceed prevailing governance standards for performance-based compensation.
|
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
62
We
are therefore asking stockholders to vote on the following resolution:
RESOLVED,
that the stockholders approve the compensation of the NEOs as disclosed in this Proxy Statement pursuant to the SEC’s compensation
disclosure rules, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis and the compensation tables.
Required
Vote and Recommendation
|
As
an advisory vote, the matter for which stockholders have the opportunity to vote under Proposal 2 is non-binding. Although the
vote is non-binding, the Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee value the opinions of our stockholders and will carefully
consider the outcome of the vote when making future compensation decisions for our NEOs.
If
you own shares through a bank, broker or other holder of record, you must instruct them how to vote so that your vote can be counted
on this proposal as uninstructed shares are not entitled to vote with regard to Proposal 2. The affirmative vote of a majority
of the shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote is required to approve this Proposal 2.
The
Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR Proposal 2
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
63
PROPOSAL
3
|
RATIFICATION
OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THE INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
|
The
Audit Committee of our Board of Directors has appointed Ernst & Young LLP as the independent registered public accounting
firm to audit our consolidated financial statements as of and for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018 and our internal controls
over financial reporting and our Board of Directors has ratified that selection. From fiscal years 2003 through 2017, Ernst &
Young LLP served as our independent registered public accounting firm and also provided certain tax and other services. Representatives
of Ernst & Young LLP are expected to be present at the 2018 annual meeting and will have the opportunity to address the stockholders
at the meeting if they desire to do so. Such representatives are also expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions.
Required
Vote and Recommendation
|
The
affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of our common stock represented at the meeting in person or by proxy and entitled
to vote on the proposal at the meeting is required for the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent
registered public accounting firm for 2018. Abstentions have the effect of negative votes on this proposal. If the appointment
is not ratified, our Audit Committee will consider whether it should select another independent registered public accounting firm.
The
Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR Proposal 3
Report
of the Audit Committee
|
The
Audit Committee of our Board of Directors is responsible for engaging our independent registered public accountants and for monitoring
the integrity of our consolidated financial statements, our system of internal controls and the independence and performance of
our independent registered public accountants. The Audit Committee also reviews internal audit activities, the scope of the audit
coverage, the annual financial statements and such other matters with respect to the accounting, auditing and financial reporting
practices and procedures as it may find appropriate or as have been brought to its attention. The Audit Committee is composed
of four non-employee directors. The Committee operates under a written charter adopted and approved by our Board of Directors.
Our Board of Directors, in its business judgment, has determined that all members of the Audit Committee are “independent”
as required by the NYSE. Mr. Maxwell was designated as the “audit committee financial expert” primarily, but not solely,
due to his prior experience as a CFO with public reporting companies. In addition, each of the other members of the Audit Committee,
namely Ms. Cline, Mr. Dub and Mr. Innamorati, all qualify as a “financial expert” under the applicate standards.
Management
is responsible for the financial reporting process, including the system of internal controls, and for the preparation of consolidated
financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Our independent registered public accounting
firm for 2017, Ernst & Young LLP, is responsible for performing an audit of the consolidated financial statements in accordance
with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Ernst & Young LLP has been retained as
our external auditor since 2003.
The
Audit Committee held 6 meetings during 2017 including two in person meetings at which the Committee met with internal audit and
the independent auditor with and without management present. The meetings involved the discussion of the audited consolidated
financial statements of the year ended December 31, 2017, discussion of our 2017 quarterly consolidated financial statements and
various aspects of our internal controls and financial reporting. The meetings were also designed to facilitate and encourage
communication and gain a better understanding of the issues involved in the preparation of the financial statements between the
Audit Committee, management and Ernst & Young LLP. The Audit Committee discussed with our independent registered public accounting
firm the overall scope and plans for their audit. The Audit Committee met with our independent registered public accounting firm,
with and without management present, to discuss the results of its examinations and its evaluations of our internal controls.
The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2017
with management and Ernst & Young LLP. The Audit Committee has also discussed with our independent registered public accounting
firm matters required to be discussed with audit committees under generally accepted auditing standards, including, among other
things, matters related to the conduct of the audit of our consolidated financial statements and the matters required to be discussed
by Auditing Standard No. 1301, “Communication with Audit Committees.” The independent registered public accounting
firm provided to us the written disclosures and the letter required by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board regarding the independent registered public accounting firm’s communications with the audit committee regarding
independence, and the Audit Committee discussed with them its independence from our Company. When considering Ernst & Young
LLP’s independence, the Audit Committee considered whether its provision of services to our Company beyond those rendered
in connection with its
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
64
audit
and review of the consolidated financial statements was compatible with maintaining its independence. The Audit Committee also
reviewed the amount of fees paid to Ernst & Young LLP for audit, audit-related, tax and non-audit services.
The
Audit Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of our independent accountants.
In connection with this evaluation, the Audit Committee takes into consideration the following factors: management’s perception
of expertise and past performance, external data relating to audit quality, independence and appropriateness of fees. In order
to assure continuing auditor independence, the Audit Committee periodically considers whether there should be a regular rotation
of the independent external audit firm. The Audit Committee periodically reviews and evaluates the performance of the lead audit
partner and ensures the audit partner rotation as required by law. In conjunction with the mandated rotation of the lead audit
partner, the Audit Committee is directly involved in the selection of a new lead engagement partner. The Audit Committee reviews
and pre-approves the fees of the independent auditor for audit, audit-related, tax and permissible non-audit services. Based on
our review and these meetings, discussions and reports, and subject to the limitations on our role and responsibilities discussed
in this report and in the Audit Committee Charter, the Audit Committee recommended to our Board of Directors that our audited
consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2017 be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with
the SEC.
We
are seeking our stockholders’ ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP to audit our financial statements
and effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting for 2018 at the Annual Meeting. The Audit Committee and the Board
believe the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent auditor for 2018 is in our best interests and in the best
interests of our stockholders.
The
members of the Audit Committee are not professionally engaged in the practice of auditing or accounting and are not experts in
the fields of auditing or accounting, including in respect of independent registered public accounting firm independence. Members
of the Audit Committee rely, without independent verification, on the information provided to them and on the representations
made by management and the independent registered public accounting firm. Accordingly, the Audit Committee’s oversight does
not provide an independent basis to determine that management has maintained appropriate accounting and financial reporting principles
or appropriate internal controls and procedures designed to assure compliance with accounting standards and applicable laws and
regulations. Furthermore, the Audit Committee’s considerations and discussions referred to above do not assure that the
audit of our financial statements has been carried out in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards that the financial
statements are presented in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) or
that Ernst & Young LLP is, in fact, “independent.”
This
report has been furnished by the members of the Audit Committee.
Greg
G. Maxwell, Chair
Brenda
A. Cline
Anthony
V. Dub
Robert
A. Innamorati
Independent
Registered Public Accountants
|
The
Audit Committee has appointed Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm to audit our consolidated
financial statements as of and for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018 and our internal controls over financial reporting.
Our stockholders are being asked to ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP at our annual meeting, pursuant to Proposal
3.
Representatives
of Ernst & Young LLP are expected to be present at our annual meeting. Ernst & Young LLP representatives will have an
opportunity to make a statement if they desire and are expected to be available to respond to any appropriate questions at our
meeting.
Our
independent registered public accounting firm for 2017 and 2016 was Ernst & Young LLP. The fees billed to us by Ernst &
Young LLP are shown in the table below.
|
|
Year Ended December
31,
|
|
|
2017
|
|
|
2016
|
|
Audit
Fees
|
|
$
|
2,966,994
|
|
|
$
|
3,212,226
|
|
Audit
Related Fees
|
|
|
2,160
|
|
|
|
1,995
|
|
Tax
Fees
|
|
|
85,737
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
TOTAL
|
|
$
|
3,054,891
|
|
|
$
|
3,214,221
|
|
Audit
fees consist of fees billed for professional services rendered for the audit of our annual financial statements and our internal
controls over financial reporting, reviews of the financial statements included in our quarterly reports and services that are
normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings, including consents and other work associated with debt
and equity offerings.
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
65
Tax
fees shown in the table above consist of fees billed for professional services for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning.
These services include tax assistance regarding federal and state compliance, tax audit defense, mergers and acquisitions.
Pre-Approval
Policy and Procedures
|
The
Audit Committee must give prior approval to any management request for any amount or type of service (audit, audit-related and
tax services or to the extent permitted by law, non-audit services) our independent registered public accounting firm provides.
All audit, audit-related and tax services rendered by Ernst & Young LLP in 2017 were approved by our Audit Committee before
Ernst & Young LLP was engaged for such services. No services of any kind were approved pursuant to a waiver permitted pursuant
to 17 CFR 210.2-01(c)(7)(i)(C). Consultation and approval of such services for 2017 occurred during the regularly scheduled meetings
of the Audit Committee or by other means of communication between management and the Audit Committee.
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
66
PROPOSAL
4
|
A
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL REQUESTING DISCLOSURE OF POLITICAL SPENDING BY THE COMPANY
|
The
Nathan Cummings Foundation, 475 Tenth Avenue, 14
th
Floor New York, New York 10018, telephone (212) 787-7300, notified
the Company, that as of December 8, 2017, it held over $2,000.00 worth of common stock of Range Resources Corporation and that
it intends to present the following resolution at the annual meeting for action by the stockholders:
Resolved,
that the shareholders of Range Resources Corp. (“Range Resources” or “Company”) hereby request that the
Company provide a report, updated semiannually, disclosing the Company’s:
|
1.
|
Policies
and procedures for making, with corporate funds or assets, contributions and expenditures
(direct or indirect) to (a) participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf
of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office, or (b) influence the general
public, or any segment thereof, with respect to an election or referendum.
|
|
2.
|
Monetary
and non-monetary contributions and expenditures (direct and indirect) used in the manner
described in section 1 above, including:
|
|
a.
|
The
identity of the recipient as well as the amount paid to each; and
|
|
b.
|
The
title(s) of the person(s) in the Company responsible for decision-making related to these
contributions and expenditures.
|
The
report shall be presented to the board of directors or relevant board committee and posted on the Company’s website within
12 months of the date of the annual meeting. This proposal does not encompass spending on lobbying.
Supporting
Statement by the Stockholder
As
long-term shareholders of Range Resources, we support transparency and accountability in corporate political spending. This includes
any activity considered intervention in a political campaign under the Internal Revenue Code, such as direct and indirect contributions
to political candidates, parties or organizations, and independent expenditures or electioneering communications on behalf of
federal, state or local candidates.
Disclosure
is in the best interest of the Company and its shareholders. The Supreme Court recognized this in its 2010 Citizens United decision:
“[D]isclosure permits citizens and shareholders to react to the speech of corporate entities in a proper way. This transparency
enables the electorate to make informed decisions and give proper weight to different speakers and messages.”
Publicly
available records show that, since the 2010 election cycle, the Company has contributed at least $2,046,254 to state or local
candidates and their campaigns, and to groups that have filed notice of section 527 status with the Internal Revenue Service (CQ:
http://moneyline.cq.com and National Institute on Money in State Politics: http://www.followthemoney.org).
However,
relying on publicly available data does not provide a complete picture of the Company’s political spending. For example,
the Company’s payments to trade associations that may be used for election-related activities are undisclosed and unknown.
This proposal asks the Company to disclose all of its political spending, including payments to trade associations and other tax-exempt
organizations, which may be used for political purposes. This would bring our Company into line with a growing number of leading
companies, including Apache Corp. and Anadarko Petroleum Corp., which present this information on their websites.
The
Company’s board and shareholders need comprehensive disclosure to fully evaluate the political use of corporate assets.
We urge your support for this critical governance reform.
Statement
by the Board of Directors Regarding Proposal No.
4
This
proposal is included in the Proxy Statement for the third year in a row and was submitted by a stockholder owning 364 shares (valued
at $5,332.60 as of March 23, 2018). Despite the fact that the proponent of the proposal has a very small ownership interest in
the Company, senior management of the Company held extensive discussions with the proponent to attempt to address the proposal
after it was presented at the Company’s 2016 annual meeting, where it failed to receive a majority vote. The Company voluntarily
added a number of disclosures to its website in order to provide additional substantive details and transparency regarding the
Company’s approach to political related spending in a good faith effort to address the issues raised by the proponent. Despite
this effort, the proponent submitted essentially the same proposal as the prior year for the 2017 proxy in order to attempt to
force the Company to disclose additional information that is not legally required to be disclosed and, in the view of the Company,
is unnecessary, and possibly would be used in ways detrimental to the Company and its stockholders. Despite receiving a positive
recommendation from two influential proxy advisory services the previous year, over 62% of the shares voted, voted against the
proposal. The proponent, however, continues to insist on presenting this proposal again.
We
believe it is important to constructively participate in the political process to further the best interests of our stockholders
and create long-term stockholder value. As the Company explained in response to this proposal last year, Range is committed to
maintaining the highest ethical standards in all endeavors and our approach to political engagement is guided by this basic belief.
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
67
As
with all our business activities, Range is committed to complying with all laws and regulations applicable to our political participation
activities. We believe it is important for us to be engaged in the policymaking process by supporting public officials who understand
our views on various issues significant to our industry in general, and our business operations in particular. While the politically
related amount we spend annually is a very small portion of our total annual expenses (less than 1%), we nonetheless have a rigorous
framework for our participation in political activity.
Range,
in an effort to further our legitimate business interests, engages in the policymaking process by participating in various business
and industry forums. This participation in organizations such as the Marcellus Shale Coalition, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce,
the National Association of Manufacturers and other trade associations allows us to engage in collective and cost-efficient efforts
to provide information to the general public and public officials regarding policymaking important to our business. This interaction
allows for more informed legislative and regulatory action based upon an understanding of, and appreciation for, the oil and natural
gas industry and the critical role the industry and our Company play at the regional, state and national level.
Range’s
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (which is posted on our website www.rangeresources.com) addresses the topic of political contributions.
As stated in the Code, our position regarding political activities is “non-political and non-partisan,” and we adhere
to all applicable legal requirements regarding these activities. Range established a Political Action Committee (PAC) under Pennsylvania
law in 2009 and is fully compliant with all required reporting obligations. All of our employees are permitted to contribute to
the PAC but all contributions are entirely voluntary; no employee is required to contribute. Further, no employee’s job
performance or advancement opportunities are contingent in any manner on PAC participation. Our PAC makes relatively small contributions
to individual candidates on a non-partisan basis at the local and state level. The PAC has contributed to candidates from both
major political parties and party affiliation is not a criterion for any political spending made by the Company. Similarly, to
the extent the Company makes direct contributions, it does so without regard to party affiliation and makes contributions to candidates
or organizations whose approach to policy is consistent with the safe and efficient development of oil and gas resources. Range’s
entire Board of Directors receives a report regarding the PAC’s recent activities at each of the Board’s regular meetings
and is advised on any significant use of corporate funds for political purposes. We believe that this Board oversight is consistent
with good governance practices and provides the level of oversight that ensures the Company’s funds are used in a way consistent
with our policies. Further, any additional detailed public disclosure of such spending would not enhance the oversight of such
spending but would only create the opportunity for criticism of the Company’s activities by partisan or agenda driven persons
or organizations.
Given
the existing polices and oversight, the Board of Directors believes that spending further corporate funds to prepare the report
requested by the proposal would not be an effective and productive use of the Company’s time and limited resources.
Required
Vote and Recommendation
|
The
affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of our common stock represented at the meeting in person or by proxy and entitled
to vote on the proposal at the meeting is required to approve the stockholder proposal set forth as Proposal 4. Uninstructed shares
are not entitled to vote on this proposal; therefore, broker non-votes will not affect the outcome of this proposal. Abstentions
have the effect of negative votes on this proposal.
The
Board of Directors recommends a vote AGAINST Proposal 4
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
68
PROPOSAL
5
|
A
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL REQUESTING PREPARATION OF A REPORT REGARDING METHANE EMISSIONS
|
Unitarian
Universalist Association, 24 Farnsworth Street, Boston, MA 02210-1409, telephone 617-742-2100, is the owner of 130 shares of the
Company’s common stock, (valued at $1,904.50 as of March 23,2018) and it has notified the Company that it intends to present
the following resolution at the meeting for action by the stockholders:
Statement
By the Proponent Regarding Proposal No.
5
WHEREAS:
We
believe that reporting on environmental risk management increases company responsiveness to shareholders who are seeking information
about the company’s response to current and evolving regulation, as well as to increasing public awareness of how corporate
behavior can impact the environment.
Companies
in the oil and gas industry face multiple types of risk from emissions of methane gas from their operations, including environmental
and reputational risk. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the oil and gas sector in the U.S. is the largest industrial
source of methane emissions, contributing to 31% of U.S. methane emissions.
Methane
gas emissions are a significant contributor to climate change. According to the Environmental Defense Fund, methane is a climate
pollutant 84 times more powerful than carbon dioxide over a 20 year period and is responsible for one quarter of today’s
global warming.
The
International Energy Agency has identified minimizing methane emissions from upstream oil and gas production as one of four key
global greenhouse gas mitigation opportunities to keep the world below a 2° Celsius temperature increase.
Because
of their potency, unmanaged emissions of methane can undermine the positive environmental profile of natural gas and therefore
harm its ability to play a positive role in solving climate change. Consequently, methane emissions can damage the product reputation
of natural gas as a cleaner- burning fuel. This has negative long-term implications for demand, particularly when considering
the growing competition from renewable energy.
Low-cost
solutions to achieve methane emission reductions exist, including leak detection and repair technologies (LDAR). The World Energy
Outlook 2017 analysis finds reduction potentials globally of 75%, with 40-50% of this reduction at net zero costs. The reduction
of oil and gas methane emissions remains a cost-efficient way of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
We
believe a strong program of measurement, mitigation, target-setting, and disclosure supports continued market share, maximizes
gas for sale, preserves natural gas’ favorable environmental profile, and bolsters shareholder value.
Range
Resources has not provided adequate disclosure in public filings, on its website, or through a report, of the Company’s
strategies to mitigate risk associated with the emission of methane gas from its operations.
RESOLVED:
Shareholders request Range Resources issue a report (by September 2018, at reasonable cost, omitting proprietary information)
that reviews the Company’s policies, actions and plans related to methane emissions management, including efforts to: measure,
monitor, mitigate, disclose, utilize leak detection and repair (LDAR) technologies (including frequency, scope, and methodology).
Supporting
Statement: We believe the report should include the leakage rate as a percentage of production, throughput, and or stored gas;
management of high risk infrastructure; best practices; worst performing assets; environmental impact; reduction targets and methods
to track progress over time. Best practice strategy would utilize real-time measurement and monitoring.
Statement
By the Board of Directors’ Regarding Proposal No. 5
The
Board of Directors recommends a vote “AGAINST” the above stockholder proposal for the following reasons:
This
proposal, submitted on behalf of a stockholder who holds 130 shares (valued at $2,217.80 as of December 31, 2017), is substantively
the same as a proposal presented in 2014, which was rejected by a significant margin with only 8 percent of shares which were
voted at the 2014 annual meeting voting for the proposal.
|
●
|
Despite
Range’s past efforts to explain the very limited nature of the potential sources
of methane emissions from its operations, in re-submitting the proposal, apparently the
proponent of the proposal does not recognize that the Company’s operations are
such that they are not associated with potentially significant methane emissions.
|
|
●
|
Range
has in place a “strong program of measurement, mitigation, target setting and disclosure”
as called for under the proponent’s proposal.
|
|
●
|
Further,
despite the very limited potential for Range to contribute to fugitive methane emissions,
the Company proactively discloses information regarding methane emissions from the Company’s
operations. This includes policies and procedures designed to mitigate potential releases
and the Company publicly discloses estimated and field measured volumes of emissions.
This data and specific actions are listed on the Company’s website at the following
addresses:
http://www.rangeresources.com/
|
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
69
corp-responsibility/environment-health-and-safety/air-quality-best-practices
and
http://www.rangeresources.com/corp-responsibility/environment-health-and-safety/emission-reduction-and-reporting
.
As
stated in the Company’s Corporate Responsibility Report posted on its website, based on calculations by a third party expert,
estimated greenhouse gas emissions (which includes all forms of greenhouse gas – not just methane) were less than one percent
of the Company’s total 2016 production. 2016 conservatively calculated methane emissions constituted only 0.052% of our
total 2016 gas production. The Company will disclose its 2017 results when the calculations have been completed.
Range
has been a pioneer for implementing a variety of best-in-class practices and technologies to reduce and eliminate potential emissions,
including methane. The proposal to set reduction targets for measured emissions that are only a fraction of 1 percent of the Company’s
production is an attempt to impose standards that the Company has already effectively addressed. The Company has ongoing and considerable
disclosure to stockholders of both its practices and favorable measured results related to controlling all forms of emissions.
Additionally, emissions are reported yearly to both the EPA and State agencies. The proposal will do nothing to advance the Company’s
continuous improvement efforts in this area or the reporting of such efforts and the effects to stockholders.
For
operational efficiency and safety reasons, and at every stage of the drilling, completion and production process, the Company
takes a number of steps to prevent the release of methane. To the extent it cannot be captured for sale, methane is captured or
combusted (burned) through a closed loop system in accordance to regulatory standards thus minimizing releases. This method is
recommended by both state and federal regulatory agencies as the safest way to manage emissions to limit GHG emissions.
The
Company has adopted a number of beneficial operational practices including the use of plunger lift systems for liquids unloading,
vapor recovery systems to eliminate sources of fugitive emissions and OGI camera program to determine which components could potentially
leak and the Company regularly deploys imaging equipment to locate emission sources. These are in addition to regular and routine
physical inspections of our facilities. As a result, the existence of fugitive methane emissions from the Company’s operations
is extremely small and limited. An extensive list and explanation of these practices and procedures are included in the corporate
responsibility section of the Company’s website.
Range’s
expert consultants utilize two different methods of measuring emissions - an EPA recommended engineering analysis and, for our
Marcellus Shale operations, a Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection methodology in the field and follows similar
procedures in other areas of Range’s operations, which includes site-specific inspections of facilities, including methane,
in our areas of operations. The results of these two methodologies are very consistent.
Range
has conducted specific site measurements in Pennsylvania since 2008 for our Marcellus activity, which constituted the majority
of Range’s operations, whether measured by capital expenditures or production for 2017. The Marcellus Shale is expected
to drive Range’s production growth well into the future. Many of our innovations are developed in the Appalachia Division
and when applicable used in other divisions.
Range
believes using additional, unnecessary equipment to attempt measurement of such small volumes that Range already manages would
be uneconomic and impracticable. Therefore, responding to this proposal would require an additional expensive analysis of thousands
of individual field facilities when an analysis is already calculated to meet Environmental Protection Agency regulations and
further validated and estimated based on Pennsylvania DEP regulations.
The
Board believes that the long-term interests of stockholders are best served by the Company growing, managing and operating the
business in a responsible manner that is focused on long-term value creation with due regard for the environment. The Company
daily strives to operate responsibly in support of our stockholder’s long-term interests including focusing on its environmental
impact and minimizing its impact where feasible therefore,
Required
Vote and Recommendation
|
If
presented, the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of our common stock represented at the meeting in person or by proxy
and entitled to vote on the proposal at the meeting is required to approve the stockholder proposal set forth as Proposal 5. Uninstructed
shares are not entitled to vote on this proposal, therefore broker non-votes will not affect the outcome of this proposal. Abstentions
have the effect of negative votes on this proposal.
The
Board of Directors recommends a vote AGAINST Proposal 5
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
70
OTHER
BUSINESS
The
Company knows of no other business that will be presented for consideration at the meeting, but should any other matters be properly
brought before the meeting, it is intended that the persons named in the accompanying proxy will vote such proxy at their discretion
with regard to such matters.
STOCKHOLDER
PROPOSALS FOR 2019
ANNUAL MEETING
Any
stockholder desiring to present a stockholder proposal at our 2019 annual meeting and to have the proposal included in our proxy
statement must send it to our Corporate Secretary at 100 Throckmorton Street, Suite 1200, Fort Worth, Texas 76102 so that it is
received on or before December 7, 2018. All such proposals should be in compliance with the SEC regulations and our by-laws. We
will only include in the proxy materials those stockholder proposals that we receive before the deadline and that are proper for
stockholder action.
In
addition, in accordance with our by-laws, any stockholder entitled to vote at our 2019 annual meeting of stockholders may propose
business (other than proposals to be included in our proxy statement and proxy as discussed in the preceding paragraph) to be
included on the agenda of, and properly presented for action at, the 2019 annual meeting only if written notice of such stockholder’s
intent is given in accordance with the requirements of our by-laws. Such proposals must be submitted in writing and addressed
to the attention of our Corporate Secretary at 100 Throckmorton Street, Suite 1200, Fort Worth, Texas 76102, no later than February
14, 2019 and no earlier than January 16, 2019. Pursuant to Rule 14a-4(c) of the Exchange Act, our Board of Directors may exercise
discretionary voting authority under proxies solicited by it with respect to any matter properly presented by a stockholder at
the 2019 annual meeting that the stockholder does not seek to have included in our proxy statement if (except as described in
the following sentence) the proxy statement discloses the nature of the matter and how our Board of Directors intends to exercise
its discretion to vote on such matter, unless we are notified of the proposal on or before February 14, 2019, and the stockholder
satisfies the other requirements of Rule 14a-4(c)(2). If we first receive notice of such matter after February 14, 2019, and the
matter nonetheless is permitted to be presented at the 2019 annual meeting, our Board of Directors may exercise discretionary
voting authority with respect to any such matter without including any discussion of the matter in the proxy statement for the
2019 annual meeting. We reserve the right to reject, rule out of order or take other appropriate action with respect to any proposal
that does not comply with the requirements described above and other applicable requirements.
By
Order of the Board of Directors
David
P. Poole
Corporate
Secretary
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
71
FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Proxy
Materials and Voting Information
|
|
1.
|
Why
did I receive these proxy materials?
|
We
are providing these materials in connection with the solicitation by Range’s Board of Directors of proxies to be voted at
our 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Meeting”) and at any adjournment or postponement of the Meeting.
The Meeting will take place
on May 16, 2018, beginning at 8:00 a.m. Central Time, at The Worthington Renaissance Hotel, Bur Oak Room, 200 Main Street, Fort
Worth, Texas 76102.
|
2.
|
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 Range’s registrar and transfer agent, Computershare Investor Services
LLC, 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.
|
3.
|
What
shares are included on the proxy card?
|
If
you are a stockholder of record, you will receive only one proxy card for all the shares you hold of record in certificate form
and in book-entry form.
If
you are a Range employee, you will receive a proxy or voting instruction card for all the shares you may hold in the Range 401(k)
Plan. Your proxy card will serve as a voting instruction card for the Plan trustee. If you do not specify your voting instructions
on the proxy card, the Plan trustee will vote your shares in the same proportion as it votes shares for which it did receive timely
instructions.
To allow sufficient time for voting by the trustee, your voting instructions must be received no later than 5:00
p.m. Eastern Time on May 14, 2018.
|
4.
|
What
different methods can I use to vote?
|
Voting
In Person.
Shares held in your name as the stockholder of record may be voted in person at the Meeting.
Shares held beneficially
in street name may be voted in person only if you obtain a proxy from the broker, trustee or nominee that holds your shares giving
you the right to vote the shares.
Even if you plan to attend the Meeting, we recommend that you also submit your proxy or
voting instructions so that your vote will be counted if you later decide not to attend the Meeting.
By
Written Proxy.
All stockholders of record can vote by written proxy card. If you are a stockholder of record and receive a
notice regarding the availability of proxy materials, you may request a written proxy card by following the instructions included
in the notice. If you are a beneficial owner, you may request a written proxy card or a voting instruction form from your bank,
broker or other nominee.
By
Telephone or Internet.
All stockholders of record can vote by calling the toll-free telephone number on the proxy card. Please
have your proxy card when you call. Voice prompts will direct you on how to vote your shares and will confirm that your voting
instructions have been recorded properly.
Stockholders
of record may also vote by accessing the website noted on the proxy card. Please have your proxy card when you go to the website.
Beneficial owners may vote
by telephone or Internet if their bank, broker or other nominee makes those methods available, in which case the bank, broker
or other nominee will include the instructions with the proxy materials.
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
72
Default
Voting.
A proxy that is properly completed and returned will be voted at the Meeting in accordance with the instructions on
the proxy. If you properly complete and return a proxy but do not indicate any voting instructions, your shares will be voted
in the manner recommended by the Board on all matters presented in this Proxy Statement and as the proxy holders may determine
in their discretion with respect to any other matters properly presented for a vote at the Meeting. If we propose to adjourn the
Meeting, proxy holders will vote all shares for which they have voting authority in favor of adjournment. Our Board of Directors
knows of no matters other than those stated in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and described in the Proxy Statement
to be presented for consideration at the annual meeting.
|
5.
|
What
are my voting choices for each of the proposals to be voted at the 2018 Annual Meeting
of Stockholders and what are the voting standards?
|
Proposal
|
|
|
Voting
Choices and Board Recommendation
|
|
Voting
Standard
|
Proposal
1. Election of Directors
|
|
●
vote in favor of all nominees;
●
vote in favor of specific nominees;
●
vote against all nominees;
●
vote against specific nominees;
●
abstain from voting with respect to all nominees; or
●
abstain from voting with respect to specific nominees.
The
Board recommends a vote FOR each of the nominees.
|
|
Majority
of votes cast
|
Proposal
2. Advisory Vote Concerning Executive Compensation
|
|
●
vote in favor of the advisory proposal;
●
vote against the advisory proposal; or
●
abstain from voting on the advisory proposal.
The
Board recommends a vote FOR the advisory proposal to approve executive compensation.
|
|
Majority of shares present and entitled to vote
|
Proposal
3. Ratification of the Appointment of Ernst & Young LLP
|
|
●
vote in favor of the ratification;
●
vote against the ratification; or
●
abstain from voting on the ratification.
The
Board recommends a vote FOR the ratification.
|
|
Majority
of shares present and entitled to vote
|
Proposal
4. To consider and vote on the stockholder proposal
|
|
●
vote
in favor of the proposal;
●
vote against the proposal;
or
●
abstain from voting on
the proposal
The
Board recommends a vote AGAINST the proposal.
|
|
Majority
of shares present and entitled to vote
|
Proposal
5. If presented, to consider and vote on the stockholder proposal
|
|
●
vote in favor of the proposal;
●
vote against the proposal; or
●
abstain from voting on the proposal
The
Board recommends a vote AGAINST the proposal.
|
|
Majority
of shares present and entitled to vote
|
|
6.
|
What
if I am a beneficial owner and do not give voting instructions to my broker?
|
As
a beneficial owner, in order to ensure your shares are voted in the way you would like, you must provide voting instructions to
your bank, broker or other nominee by the deadline provided in the materials you receive from your bank, broker or other nominee.
If you do not provide voting instructions to your bank, broker or other nominee, whether your shares can be voted by such person
depends on the type of item being considered to vote.
Non-Discretionary
Items.
The election of directors, the advisory vote concerning executive compensation and the
stockholder proposals, if presented, are non-discretionary items and may not be voted on by brokers, banks or other nominees who
have not received specific voting instructions from beneficial owners.
Discretionary
Items.
The ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as Independent Auditors is
a discretionary item. Generally, banks, brokers and other nominees that do not receive voting instructions from beneficial owners
may vote on the proposal at their discretion.
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
73
|
7.
|
How
are abstentions and broker non-votes counted?
|
Proposal
1.
Election of Directors.
If you abstain from voting in the
election of directors, you have not cast a vote and the abstention will not be counted in determining the outcome of the election.
Broker non-votes are not considered a vote cast under our by-laws and will have no effect on the outcome of the election of directors.
Proposal
2. Advisory Vote to Approve Executive Compensation.
If you abstain from voting on the advisory vote to approve executive compensation,
you are considered present and entitled to vote, and your shares are considered in the calculation of whether Proposal 2 received
the affirmative vote of a majority of shares present and entitled to vote. The effect of an abstention is a vote against Proposal
2. Broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of Proposal 2 because broker non-votes are not entitled to vote and are
not considered in the calculation of a majority of shares present and entitled to vote.
Proposal
3. Ratification of Appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as Independent Auditors.
If you abstain from voting on the ratification
of Ernst & Young LLP as Range’s independent auditors, you are considered present and entitled to vote, and your shares
are considered in the calculation of whether Proposal 3 received the affirmative vote of a majority of shares present and entitled
to vote. The effect of an abstention is a vote against Proposal 3. Because Proposal 3 is a routine matter on which a broker has
discretionary authority, no broker non-votes likely will result from this Proposal.
Proposal
4. To consider and vote on the stockholder proposal.
If you abstain from voting on the stockholder proposal, you are considered
present and entitled to vote, and your shares are considered in the calculation of whether Proposal 4 received the affirmative
vote of a majority of shares present and entitled to vote. The effect of an abstention is a vote against Proposal 4. Broker non-votes
will have no effect on the outcome of Proposal 4 because broker non-votes are not entitled to vote and are not considered in the
calculation of a majority of shares present and entitled to vote.
Proposal
5. If presented, to consider and vote on the stockholder proposal.
If you abstain from voting on the stockholder proposal,
you are considered present and entitled to vote, and your shares are considered in the calculation of whether Proposal 5 received
the affirmative vote of a majority of shares present and entitled to vote. The effect of an abstention is a vote against Proposal
5. Broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of Proposal 5 because broker non-votes are not entitled to vote and are
not considered in the calculation of a majority of shares present and entitled to vote.
|
8.
|
What
can I do if I change my mind after I vote my shares?
|
You
may revoke your proxy prior to the completion of voting by:
|
●
|
Giving
written notice to Range’s Corporate Secretary;
|
|
●
|
Delivering
a valid, later-dated proxy or a later-dated vote by telephone or on the Internet in a
timely manner; or
|
|
●
|
Voting
by ballot at the annual meeting after written notice of revocation has been delivered
to our Corporate Secretary.
|
If
you hold your shares in a brokerage account or by other nominee and deliver voting instructions to the record holder of those
shares, you may only revoke the voting of those shares in accordance with your instruction if the record holder revokes the original
proxy as directed above and either resubmits a proxy reflecting your voting instructions or delivers to you a legal proxy giving
you the right to vote the shares.
|
9.
|
Can
I access the proxy materials on the Internet? How can I sign up for the electronic proxy
delivery service?
|
We
are distributing our proxy materials to certain stockholders via the Internet under the “notice and access” approach
permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). On or about April 6, 2018, we will mail to certain
of our stockholders a notice of Internet availability of proxy materials with instructions explaining how to access our proxy
statement and annual report and how to vote online. If you receive a notice of Internet availability by mail, you will not receive
a printed copy of the proxy materials in the mail unless you request them by following the instructions for requesting such materials
included in the notice of Internet availability.
Even
if you do not participate in “notice and access,” the Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement are available on
the Internet at
www.proxyvote.com
.
|
10.
|
Who
counts the votes?
|
The
individuals named as proxies will tabulate the votes and act as inspector of election.
|
11.
|
When
will Range announce the voting results?
|
We
will announce the preliminary voting results at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Range will report the final results in a Current
Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC within a few days after the meeting.
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
74
|
12.
|
How
are proxies solicited, and what is the cost?
|
We
bear all expenses incurred in connection with the solicitation of proxies. We hired MacKenzie Partners, Inc. to assist with the
solicitation of proxies for an estimated fee of $13,000.00 plus expenses. We will reimburse brokers, fiduciaries and custodians
for their costs in forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners of Common Stock.
Our directors, officers
and employees also may solicit proxies by mail, telephone and personal contact. They will not receive any additional compensation
for these activities.
|
13.
|
What
is householding?
|
As
permitted by the Exchange Act, only one copy of this Proxy Statement is being delivered to stockholders residing at the same address,
unless the stockholders have notified Range of their desires to receive multiple copies of the Proxy Statement. This is known
as “householding.”
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. Direct requests for additional copies for the current year or future years to our Corporate
Secretary, 100 Throckmorton Street, Suite 1200, Fort Worth, Texas 76102 or our Investor Relations team at (817) 869-4258.
Stockholders
of record residing at the same address and currently receiving multiple copies of the Proxy Statement may contact our registrar
and transfer agent, Computershare, to request a single copy be mailed in the future.
Beneficial owners should
contact their broker or bank.
|
14.
|
How
can I vote at the meeting if I am a beneficial owner?
|
If
you are a beneficial owner and want to vote your shares at the annual Meeting, you will need to ask your bank, broker or other
nominee to furnish you with a legal proxy, bring the legal proxy with you to the Meeting and hand it in with a signed ballot that
will be provided to you at the Meeting. You will not be able to vote your shares at the Meeting without a legal proxy. If you
do not have a legal proxy, you can still attend the Meeting.
We encourage you to vote your
shares in advance, even if you intend to attend the Meeting. Please note that if you request a legal proxy, any previously executed
proxy will be revoked, and your vote will not be counted unless you appear at the Meeting and vote in person or legally appoint
another proxy to vote on your behalf.
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
75
Company
Documents, Communications and Stockholder Proposals
|
|
1.
|
How
can I view copies of Range’s corporate documents and SEC filings?
|
Our
Corporate Governance Guidelines, Board Committee Charters, Code of Business Conduct and Code of Ethics are available under the
Corporate Governance section of our website at
www.rangeresources.com
and are available in printed form upon request by
any stockholder. Our SEC filings are also posted on our website and, upon request, we will mail free of charge a copy of the Form
10-K to any stockholder. Direct such requests to our Investor Relations team at (817) 869-4258.
|
2.
|
How
can I communicate with Range’s Board of Directors or Individual Directors?
|
Range’s
Board of Directors welcomes contact from stockholders or others with an interest in the Company. Interested parties may communicate
with the Lead Independent Director of our Board of Directors by submitting correspondence to the Corporate Secretary at Range
Resources Corporation, 100 Throckmorton Street, Suite 1200, Fort Worth, Texas 76102, Attention: Lead Independent Director. Any
confidential matters intended only for the Lead Independent Director may be submitted in a separately enclosed envelope marked
“confidential.” Similarly, any correspondence to individual Board members or the Board as a whole can be submitted
to the same address and such correspondence will be forwarded to the Board member(s) to whom the correspondence is addressed.
|
3.
|
How
do I submit a proposal for action at the 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders?
|
A
proposal to be acted upon at the 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders will only be acted upon:
|
●
|
If
the proposal is to be included in the proxy statement, pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the
Exchange Act, the proposal is received by our Corporate Secretary on or before December
7, 2018 and the proposal meets the requirements of the applicable rules of the SEC and
the requirements of our by-laws.
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●
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If
the proposal is not to be included in the proxy statement according to our by-laws, the
proposal is submitted in writing to our Corporate Secretary no earlier than January 16,
2019 and no later than February 14, 2019, and such proposal is, under Delaware General
Corporation Law, an appropriate subject for stockholder action, and the notice relating
to such proposal meets the requirement of our by-laws.
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4.
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How
do I submit a candidate for election to the Board under the Company’s Proxy Access
by-law?
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In
response to a stockholder proposal submitted to a vote of the Company’s stockholders in May 2015, the Company’s Board
of Directors adopted new provisions of the Company’s by-laws to allow a stockholder or group of stockholders that meet certain
criteria and requirements to nominate candidates for election to the Board and have such persons included in the Company’s
proxy statement. If you wish to do so, you must submit the required information to the Company not less than one hundred and twenty
(120) days nor more than one hundred and fifty (150) days prior to the first anniversary of the date that the Company first distributed
its proxy statement to stockholders for the previous year’s Annual Meeting (i.e. April 6 for this proxy statement). Copies
of the Company’s by-laws are available on the Company’s website at
www.rangeresources.com
or upon request addressed
to the Company’s Corporate Secretary.
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
-
2018 Proxy Statement
76
Designed & published by
labrador-company.com
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100
THROCKMORTON STREET
SUITE
1200
FORT WORTH, TX 76102
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VOTE
BY INTERNET - www.proxyvote.com
Use
the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information. Vote by 11:59 P.M. ET on 05/15/2018.
Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an
electronic voting instruction form.
ELECTRONIC
DELIVERY OF FUTURE PROXY MATERIALS
If
you would like to reduce the costs incurred by our company in mailing proxy materials, you can consent to receiving all future
proxy statements, proxy cards and annual reports electronically via e-mail or the Internet. To sign up for electronic delivery,
please follow the instructions above to vote using the Internet and, when prompted, indicate that you agree to receive or access
proxy materials electronically in future years.
VOTE
BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903
Use
any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions. Vote by 11:59 P.M. ET on 05/15/2018. Have your proxy card in
hand when you call and then follow the instructions.
VOTE
BY MAIL
Mark, sign and date your proxy card
and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way,
Edgewood, NY 11717.
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TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN
BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS:
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KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS DETACH
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AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY
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THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED.
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The
Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR the following:
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1.
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Election of Directors
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Nominees
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For
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Against
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Abstain
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1a
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Brenda A. Cline
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☐
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☐
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☐
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1b.
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Anthony V. Dub
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☐
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☐
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☐
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1c.
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Allen Finkelson
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☐
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☐
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☐
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1d.
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James M. Funk
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☐
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☐
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☐
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1e.
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Christopher A. Helms
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☐
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☐
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☐
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1f.
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Robert A. Innamorati
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☐
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☐
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☐
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1g.
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Greg G. Maxwell
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☐
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☐
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☐
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1h.
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Kevin S. McCarthy
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☐
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☐
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☐
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1i.
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Steffen E. Palko
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☐
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☐
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☐
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1j.
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Jeffrey L. Ventura
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The
Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR proposals 2. and 3.
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For
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Against
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Abstain
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2.
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A non-binding proposal to approve executive compensation philosophy (“say on pay”).
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☐
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☐
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☐
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3.
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To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm as of and for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018.
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☐
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☐
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☐
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The
Board of Directors recommends you vote AGAINST proposals 4. and 5.
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For
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Against
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Abstain
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4.
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Stockholder
Proposal - requesting publication of a political spending report.
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☐
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☐
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☐
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5.
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Stockholder
Proposal-requesting publication of a methane emissions report.
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☐
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☐
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☐
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Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) hereon. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, or other fiduciary, please give full title as such. Joint owners should each sign personally. All holders must sign. If a corporation, LLC or partnership, please sign in full corporate, company or partnership name by authorized officer.
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Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX]
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Date
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Signature (Joint Owners)
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Date
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0000372657_1
Important
Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting:
The Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement
and Form 10-K are available at
www.proxyvote.com
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RANGE
RESOURCES CORPORATION
Annual
Meeting of Stockholders May 16, 2018
Proxy
Solicited on Behalf of the Board of Directors
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The
undersigned appoints David P. Poole and David S. Goldberg, and each of them, his/her/its
true and lawful agents and proxies with full power of substitution and revocation, solely
to vote, as designated on the reverse side hereof, all the Common Stock of Range Resources
Corporation which the undersigned has power to vote, with all powers which the undersigned
possesses if personally present, at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Range Resources
Corporation to be held on May 16, 2018, and at any adjournments thereof.
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Please
mark the appropriate boxes, SEE REVERSE SIDE. Any unmarked box will be voted in accordance
with the Board of Directors’ recommendations. The shares cannot be voted unless the card
is signed and returned.
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This
proxy is governed by Delaware law and is to be executed for the sole purpose of appointing
proxies for the Range Resources Corporation 2018 Annual Meeting.
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PLEASE VOTE, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED E
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0000372657_2
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