UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by the Registrant |
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[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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[ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
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[ X] Definitive Proxy Statement |
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[ ] Definitive Additional Materials |
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[ ] Soliciting Material pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
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EQT Corporation | |
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(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter) | |
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(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant) | |
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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. | ||||
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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. | ||||
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During 2014, we were steadfast in reducing unit costs, maintaining our strong balance sheet, and ensuring ample liquidity . . . |
February 20, 2015
Dear Shareholder,
On behalf of the Board of Directors and senior management team of EQT Corporation, I am pleased to invite you to participate in our Annual Shareholders Meeting, which will be held at EQT Plaza, 625 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 on Wednesday, April 15, 2015 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
This shareholder package describes the key business items to be discussed during the meeting and contains the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and the Proxy Statement. Among other matters, the Proxy Statement includes:
· A proxy summary that highlights the voting matters we are asking you to consider, along with the supporting details found elsewhere in the Proxy Statement, and the Boards voting recommendation for each item
· A detailed discussion and analysis of EQTs compensation programs for senior executives, including our philosophy for aligning pay and performance, and the individual components that drive executive compensation decisions
· Information regarding the qualifications of our current directors, including for those being nominated
· A review of EQTs corporate governance, and the structure and responsibilities of the Board
Your participation, regardless of how many shares you hold, is very important to EQT. To ensure each of your shares are represented and voted as you intend, we urge you to carefully read the Proxy Statement and respond as soon as possible with your instructions. If you are planning to personally attend the annual meeting, we request that you cast your votes now by telephone, via the Internet, or by completing and signing your paper proxy card, voting direction card, or vote instruction form. Casting your votes now will ensure your votes are properly recorded.
During 2014, we were steadfast in reducing unit costs, maintaining our strong balance sheet, and ensuring ample liquidity all while continuing to execute our drilling program and infrastructure projects at an optimal pace of development in a safe and environmentally responsible fashion. We continue to be focused on earning the highest possible returns from our investments, which we believe will increase the value of your shares. We look forward to seeing you in Pittsburgh at our annual meeting and thank you for your support as a valued shareholder of EQT.
David L. Porges
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
EQT Corporation | 625 Liberty Avenue Suite 1700 | Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3111
625 Liberty Avenue, Suite 1700 Pittsburgh, PA 15222 |
Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders
To Be Held April 15, 2015
The annual meeting of shareholders of EQT Corporation will be held on Wednesday, April 15, 2015, at 8:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) at EQT Plaza, located at 625 Liberty Avenue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. If you owned common stock of EQT Corporation at the close of business on February 6, 2015, you may vote at this meeting.
At the meeting, we plan to ask you to:
1) Elect the seven directors nominated by the Board of Directors to serve for new one-year terms;
2) Approve a non-binding resolution regarding the compensation of the Companys named executive officers for 2014 (say-on-pay);
3) Ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as EQT Corporations independent registered public accounting firm for 2015;
4) Vote on a shareholder proposal, if properly presented at the meeting; and
5) Transact such other business as may properly be presented at the meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the meeting.
Please consider the issues presented in the attached proxy statement, and vote your shares as promptly as possible by following the voting instructions included in the proxy statement.
If you plan to attend the meeting, please follow the advance registration instructions under Questions and Answers About the Annual Meeting Who can attend the annual meeting, and how do I obtain an admission ticket? on page 11 of the proxy statement and watch for an admission ticket in the mail. You will need an admission ticket to enter the meeting.
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On behalf of the Board of Directors |
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Nicole King Yohe |
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Corporate Secretary |
February 20, 2015
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials
for the Shareholder Meeting to Be Held on April 15, 2015:
This notice and proxy statement and our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 are also available online at http://www.proxyvote.com.
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Management Development and Compensation Committee Highlights |
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Report of the Management Development and Compensation Committee |
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Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table and 2014 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table |
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EQT CORPORATION
This summary highlights information about EQT Corporation (the Company or EQT) and the upcoming 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. This summary does not contain all the information you should consider in advance of the meeting, and you should read the entire proxy statement carefully before voting. The proxy statement and annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 (or a notice of Internet availability of proxy materials containing instructions on how to access such materials) will be mailed on or about March 2, 2015.
Annual Meeting of Shareholders |
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· Time and Date: |
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8:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) on Wednesday, April 15, 2015 |
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· Place: |
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EQT Plaza |
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625 Liberty Avenue |
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Pittsburgh, PA 15222 |
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· Record Date: |
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February 6, 2015 |
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· Admission: |
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You are entitled to attend the annual meeting if you were an EQT shareholder as of the close of business on the record date. If you plan to attend the meeting, you must obtain an admission ticket and abide by the agenda and procedures for the annual meeting (which will be distributed at the meeting). If your shares are held by a broker, bank or other holder of record in street name (including shares held in certain EQT employee benefit plans), you must provide proof of your ownership of the shares as of the record date in order to attend the meeting. See Questions and Answers About the Annual Meeting Who can attend the annual meeting, and how do I obtain an admission ticket? on page 11 of this proxy statement for additional information and instructions. |
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Voting Matters and Board Recommendations
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Board Voting Recommendation |
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Page Reference (for more detail) |
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Election of seven directors, each for a one-year term expiring at the 2016 annual meeting of shareholders (Item No. 1) |
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FOR EACH DIRECTOR NOMINEE |
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Management Proposals: |
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Approval of a non-binding resolution regarding the compensation of EQTs named executive officers for 2014 (Item No. 2) |
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Ratification of independent registered public accounting firm for 2015 (Item No. 3) |
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Shareholder Proposal: |
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Shareholder proposal regarding proxy access bylaw (Item No. 4) |
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AGAINST |
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EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 1
Board and Board Committees
Name |
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Age |
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Director |
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Principal Occupation |
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Independent |
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Committee Memberships |
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Other Public Company Boards | ||
Vicky A. Bailey |
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62 |
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2004 |
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· President, Anderson Stratton International, LLC · Vice President, BHMM Energy Services, LLC |
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PPC (Chair), EC |
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· Cheniere Energy · Cleco | ||
* Philip G. Behrman, Ph.D. |
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64 |
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2008 |
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· Retired Senior Vice President, Worldwide Exploration, Marathon Oil Corporation |
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AC, PPC |
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· None | ||
Kenneth M. Burke |
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65 |
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2012 |
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· Retired Partner, Ernst & Young LLP |
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AC, PPC |
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· None | ||
* A. Bray Cary, Jr. |
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66 |
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2008 |
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· President, CEO and Director, West Virginia Media Holdings, LLC |
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CGC, MDCC |
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· None | ||
* Margaret K. Dorman |
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51 |
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2012 |
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· Retired Executive Vice President, CFO and Treasurer, Smith International, Inc. |
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· None | ||
George L. Miles, Jr. |
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73 |
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2000 |
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· Retired President and CEO, WQED Multimedia |
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CGC (Chair), EC |
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· Harley-Davidson · AIG · HFF | ||
* David L. Porges (Chairman) |
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57 |
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2002 |
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· Chairman, President and CEO, EQT Corporation · Chairman, President and CEO, EQT Midstream Services, LLC1 |
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PPC, EC |
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· EQT Midstream Partners | ||
* James E. Rohr (Lead Independent Director) |
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66 |
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1996 |
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· Retired Chairman and CEO, The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. |
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MDCC, EC (Chair) |
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· General Electric · Marathon Petroleum · Allegheny Technologies | ||
* David S. Shapira |
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73 |
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1987 |
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· Executive Chairman, Giant Eagle, Inc. · Retired President and CEO, Giant Eagle, Inc. |
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CGC, PPC |
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· None | ||
Stephen A. Thorington |
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59 |
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2010 |
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· Retired Executive Vice President and CFO, Plains Exploration and Production Company |
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AC (Chair), EC |
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· None
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* Lee T. Todd, Jr., Ph.D. |
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68 |
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2003 |
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· President, Lee Todd Consulting, LLC · Retired President and Professor of Electrical Engineering, University of Kentucky |
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Board Nominee |
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EC |
Executive Committee |
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Audit Committee |
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Management Development and Compensation Committee |
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Corporate Governance Committee |
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Public Policy and Corporate Responsibility Committee |
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1 EQT Midstream Services, LLC is the general partner of EQT Midstream Partners, LP (EQM), a publicly-traded master limited partnership. As of February 1, 2015, EQT held the 2% general partner interest, all incentive distribution rights and a 34.4% limited partner interest in EQM.
Elections: |
In 2013, EQTs Board of Directors and shareholders adopted Restated Articles of Incorporation to provide for the phased-in elimination of EQTs classified board structure beginning with the election of directors held at EQTs 2014 annual meeting of shareholders. At the 2015 annual meeting, each director-nominee will be elected, by a majority of votes cast for election, for a one-year term expiring at the 2016 annual meeting. The declassified board structure will be fully implemented at the 2016 annual meeting. |
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Attendance: |
In 2014, each EQT director attended 75% or more of all meetings of the Board and the Board committees on which the director served. Overall attendance at such meetings was over 99%. |
Other Governance Highlights |
· 11 directors (10 independent)
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· Lead Independent Director |
· 7 full Board meetings in 2014
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· Majority voting standard for director elections |
· Frequent meetings of independent directors in executive session without any EQT officer present (6 in 2014)
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· Double trigger payout rights under change of control agreements and 2015 long-term incentive awards |
· All members of the Audit, Management Development and Compensation, and Corporate Governance Committees are independent
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· Significant equity ownership guidelines for executive officers (8X base salary for Chief Executive Officer; 3X base salary for other executive officers) |
· Annual review by the Board of EQTs major risks with certain oversight delegated to Board committees
· Frequent engagement by EQT management with major institutional investors |
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· Compensation recoupment (claw back) policy applicable to all current and former executive officers
· Hedging and pledging of EQT securities by executive officers and directors is prohibited |
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 2
EQT Business Highlights
In 2014, EQT continued to deliver strong operating and financial results, with record volumes in several areas. The Companys production sales volume, a key operating metric for the production business segment, increased by 26%, which represented the fifth consecutive year of annual production sales volume growth in excess of 25%. The Companys total proved reserves increased by 29%, to 10.7 Tcfe. EQTs midstream business continued to capitalize on the growing need for gathering and transmission infrastructure in the Appalachian Basin, reporting a 27% increase in gathered volume and a 57% increase in transmission throughput for 2014 compared to 2013. With record annual production sales volume, gathered volume and transmission throughput in 2014, the Company realized operating income of $853.4 million, which was 30% higher than 2013. All of this was accomplished in a safe and environmentally responsible fashion.
In May 2014, EQT sold its Jupiter gathering system to a subsidiary of EQT Midstream Partners, LP (EQM) in exchange for $1.2 billion. In addition, in June 2014, EQT completed an asset exchange with Range Resources Corporation (Range); EQT received approximately 73,000 net acres and more than 900 wells in the Permian Basin of Texas, and Range received approximately 138,000 net acres, approximately 2,000 wells and EQTs remaining interest in the supporting gathering system in the Nora Field of Virginia, plus $167.3 million in cash.
For more complete information regarding EQTs 2014 performance, please review EQTs annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. The charts below illustrate elements of EQTs strong operating and financial performance during the five-year period ended December 31, 2014, including total shareholder return, production sales volume and gathering and compression expense per unit:
(1) Calculated with the reinvestment of quarterly dividends in additional shares of EQT common stock.
(2) Volumes attributable to natural gas liquids and crude oil were converted to Mcfe at the rate of six Mcfe per barrel for all periods.
Executive Compensation Highlights
EQTs compensation program is designed to reward its named executive officers (determined in accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rules and identified in the table on the following page) when the Company achieves strong financial and operational results, and the Management Development and Compensation Committee of EQTs Board of Directors (the Committee) believes the 2014 compensation of EQTs named executive officers is consistent with the Companys commitment to link pay with performance. For a discussion of the alignment of the named executive officers compensation with EQT performance, see Pay for Performance Results and Compensation Philosophy under the caption Compensation Discussion and Analysis beginning on page 36 of this proxy statement.
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 3
The primary components of EQTs 2014 compensation program were base salary and annual and long-term performance-based incentive compensation. As reflected in the table below, the total compensation packages for EQTs named executive officers are generally weighted in favor of at-risk compensation through annual and long-term performance-based incentive compensation. For additional information regarding EQTs compensation philosophy and the elements of EQTs compensation programs for 2014 and 2015, see the Compensation Discussion and Analysis portion of this proxy statement.
The table below sets forth the total direct compensation (which includes base salary and annual and long-term incentives) of Messrs. Porges, Conti, Crawford, Gardner and Schlotterbeck, EQTs named executive officers for 2014, and the percentage of each named executive officers total direct compensation that is performance-based and, therefore, at-risk. The Committee establishes the total direct compensation for named executive officers each year by establishing base salaries and setting annual and long-term incentive targets. The amounts for each component of total direct compensation set forth in the table below were calculated in accordance with SEC rules. Total direct compensation, which is not a substitute for the total compensation as reported in the Summary Compensation Table on page 59 of this proxy statement, omits certain other compensation (e.g., 401(k) contributions and perquisites) that is reflected in the Summary Compensation Table. For additional information, including information regarding how total compensation is calculated under SEC rules, see the footnotes accompanying the Summary Compensation Table and the Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table and 2014 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table beginning on page 62 of this proxy statement.
2014 Total Direct Compensation
NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICER |
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BASE |
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ANNUAL |
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LONG-TERM |
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TOTAL DIRECT |
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% OF TOTAL DIRECT | ||||
David L. Porges Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer |
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850,000 |
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2,275,000 |
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5,228,744 |
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8,353,744 |
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90% |
Philip P. Conti Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
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404,846 |
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840,000 |
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2,312,809 |
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3,557,655 |
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89% |
Randall L. Crawford Senior Vice President |
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448,461 |
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962,500 |
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2,698,184 |
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4,109,145 |
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89% |
Lewis B. Gardner General Counsel and Vice President, External Affairs |
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365,193 |
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460,000 |
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772,977 |
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1,598,170 |
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77% |
Steven T. Schlotterbeck Executive Vice President |
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476,731 |
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1,100,000 |
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2,889,760 |
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4,466,491 |
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89% |
(1) Includes stock options and other long-term performance-based equity compensation.
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 4
Important Dates for 2016 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
· Shareholder proposals submitted for inclusion in EQTs 2016 proxy statement under SEC rules must be submitted in writing and received by EQTs Corporate Secretary on or before November 3, 2015.
· Under EQTs bylaws, shareholder proposals to be presented in person at the 2016 annual meeting of shareholders (but not included in the 2016 proxy statement) must be submitted in writing and received by EQTs Corporate Secretary not earlier than the close of business on December 17, 2015, and not later than the close of business on January 16, 2016.
For additional information, see Questions and Answers About the Annual Meeting When are shareholder proposals due? on page 13 of this proxy statement.
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 5
EQT CORPORATION
625 Liberty Avenue, Suite 1700
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
We have elected to furnish our proxy statement and annual report to certain of our shareholders over the Internet pursuant to United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rules, which allows us to reduce costs associated with the 2015 annual meeting of shareholders. On or about March 2, 2015, we will mail to certain of our shareholders a notice of Internet availability of proxy materials containing instructions regarding how to access our proxy statement and annual report online (the eProxy Notice). The eProxy Notice contains instructions regarding how you can elect to receive printed copies of the proxy statement and annual report. All other shareholders will receive printed copies of the proxy statement and annual report, which will also be mailed to such shareholders on or about March 2, 2015.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING
EQT Corporation is soliciting proxies for its 2015 annual meeting of shareholders. This proxy statement and the accompanying materials contain information about the items you will vote on at the annual meeting and about the voting process. We sometimes refer to EQT Corporation in this proxy statement as EQT, EQT Corporation, the Company, we or us.
What items will be voted on at the annual meeting?
Shareholders will vote on the following items if each is properly presented at the annual meeting:
· the election to the Companys Board of Directors of the seven directors nominated by the Board to serve for new one-year terms (Item No. 1);
· the approval of a non-binding resolution regarding the compensation of the Companys named executive officers for 2014 (Item No. 2);
· the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Companys independent registered public accounting firm for 2015 (Item No. 3);
· a shareholder proposal regarding a proxy access bylaw (Item No. 4); and
· such other business as may properly be presented at the meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the meeting.
What are the Boards voting recommendations on each item?
Your Board of Directors recommends that you vote FOR Item Nos. 1 through 3. Your Board of Directors recommends that you vote AGAINST Item No. 4.
How do I contact EQTs Corporate Secretary?
You may contact the Companys Corporate Secretary by sending correspondence to: 625 Liberty Avenue, Suite 1700, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222, Attn: Corporate Secretary.
Who is entitled to vote, and how many votes do I have?
You may vote if you held common stock of EQT Corporation at the close of business on February 6, 2015. For each item presented for vote, you have one vote for each share you own.
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 6
What if I received an eProxy Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials?
The SEC permits us to electronically distribute proxy materials to shareholders. We have elected to provide access to our proxy materials and annual report to certain of our shareholders on the Internet instead of mailing the full set of printed proxy materials. On or about March 2, 2015, we will mail to certain of our shareholders an eProxy Notice containing instructions regarding how to access our proxy statement and annual report and how to vote online. If you received an eProxy Notice by mail, you will not receive printed copies of the proxy materials and annual report in the mail unless you request them. Instead, the eProxy Notice instructs you how to access and review all of the important information contained in the proxy statement and annual report. The eProxy Notice also instructs you how you may submit your proxy over the Internet. If you received an eProxy Notice by mail and would like to receive a printed copy of our proxy materials and annual report, you should follow the instructions for requesting such materials included in the eProxy Notice.
What is the difference between holding shares as a shareholder of record or as a beneficial owner?
If your shares are registered directly in your name with the Companys transfer agent, Computershare, you are considered the shareholder of record of those shares. The notice of annual meeting, proxy statement and accompanying materials have been sent directly to you by Computershare.
If your shares are held in a stock brokerage account or by a bank or other holder of record (including shares held through employee benefit and/or compensation plans), you are considered the beneficial owner of shares held in street name. The eProxy Notice or notice of annual meeting, proxy statement and accompanying materials have been forwarded to you by your broker, bank or other holder of record that is considered the shareholder of record of those shares. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker, bank or other holder of record in voting your shares by using the voting direction card or vote instruction form included in the mailing or by following the instructions from the holder of record for voting by telephone or on the Internet. If your shares are held through the Employee Savings Plan, the 2009 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the 2009 LTIP) or the 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the 2014 LTIP), see How do I vote shares held through the Employee Savings Plan? and How do I vote restricted shares held through the 2009 LTIP or the 2014 LTIP? below for instructions regarding how to vote your shares and the right of the holders of record to vote your shares on matters for which they have not received voting instructions.
How do I vote if I am a shareholder of record?
If you are a shareholder of record, you may vote your shares:
· in person by attending the annual meeting;
· by completing the proxy card as outlined in the instructions on the card and mailing the card in the prepaid envelope provided;
· by following the instructions at the Internet site http://www.investorvote.com/EQT; or
· by following the instructions for telephone voting after calling 1-800-652-VOTE (8683).
If the name on the accounts is the same, the shares on your proxy card may represent: (i) shares for which you have a certificate; (ii) shares that you hold in book-entry form; and (iii) shares that you have in a dividend reinvestment account of the 2009 Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan.
If you vote by proxy, your shares will be voted as indicated in your properly completed unrevoked proxy. If you return your proxy card but do not indicate how your shares should be voted on an item, the shares represented by your properly completed unrevoked proxy card will be voted as recommended by the
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 7
Board of Directors. If you do not return a proxy card or do not vote in person, by telephone or on the Internet, your shares will not be voted.
In the case of Internet or telephone voting, you should have your proxy card in hand and retain the card until you have completed the voting process. If you vote by Internet or telephone, you do not need to mail back the proxy card. Even if you plan to attend the meeting, we encourage you to vote by proxy as soon as possible.
See What if I received an eProxy Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials? above if you received an eProxy Notice.
How do I vote if I am a beneficial holder of shares held in street name?
If your shares are held by a broker, bank or other holder of record in street name (including shares purchased through the 2008 Employee Stock Purchase Plan and its predecessor), you should receive (i) an eProxy Notice or (ii) a vote instruction form together with copies of the proxy statement and annual report.
If you receive a vote instruction form, your broker, bank or other holder of record (or designee thereof) will vote your shares in accordance with the instructions on your returned vote instruction form. You may instruct the holder of record to vote your shares:
· by completing the vote instruction form as outlined in the instructions on the form and mailing the form in the prepaid envelope provided;
· by following the instructions at the Internet site http://www.proxyvote.com; or
· by following the instructions for telephone voting after calling 1-800-454-8683.
See Is my vote important and how are the votes counted? below for the right of brokers, banks and other holders of record to vote on routine matters for which they have not received voting instructions.
Please review your vote instruction form for the date by which your instructions must be received in order for your shares to be voted. You may also vote in person at the meeting if you obtain a legal proxy from your broker, bank or other holder of record and present it to the inspectors of election with your ballot. In the case of Internet or telephone voting, you should have your vote instruction form in hand and retain the form until you have completed the voting process. If you vote by Internet or telephone, you do not need to mail back the vote instruction form.
See What if I received an eProxy Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials? above if you received an eProxy Notice.
How do I vote shares held through the Employee Savings Plan?
If you hold shares through the Employee Savings Plan, you will receive a separate voting direction card, proxy statement and annual report. The trustee of the Employee Savings Plan will vote your shares in accordance with the instructions on your returned direction card. You may instruct the trustee to vote your shares:
· by completing the direction card as outlined in the instructions on the card and mailing the card in the prepaid envelope provided;
· by following the instructions at the Internet site http://www.investorvote.com/EQT; or
· by following the instructions for telephone voting after calling 1-800-652-VOTE (8683).
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 8
If you do not return a direction card or if you return a direction card with no instructions, the trustee will vote your shares in proportion to the way other plan participants voted their shares. Please note that the direction cards have an earlier return date and different mailing instructions than the proxy cards. Please review your direction card for the date by which your instructions must be received in order for your shares to be voted.
In the case of Internet or telephone voting, you should have your direction card in hand and retain the card until you have completed the voting process. If you vote by Internet or telephone, you do not need to mail back the direction card.
How do I vote restricted shares held through the 2009 LTIP or the 2014 LTIP?
Employees holding restricted shares through the 2009 LTIP or the 2014 LTIP will receive a separate voting direction card, proxy statement and annual report. The administrator of the 2009 LTIP and the 2014 LTIP (or its designee) will vote your restricted shares in accordance with the instructions on your returned direction card. You may instruct the administrator to vote your shares:
· by completing the direction card as outlined in the instructions on the card and mailing the card in the prepaid envelope provided;
· by following the instructions at the Internet site http://www.investorvote.com/EQT; or
· by following the instructions for telephone voting after calling 1-800-652-VOTE (8683).
If you return a direction card with no instructions, the administrator or its designee will vote your shares as recommended by the Board of Directors. If you do not return a direction card, your shares will not be voted. Please note that the direction cards have an earlier return date and different mailing instructions than the proxy cards. Please review your direction card for the date by which your instructions must be received in order for your shares to be voted.
In the case of Internet or telephone voting, you should have your direction card in hand and retain the card until you have completed the voting process. If you vote by Internet or telephone, you do not need to mail back the direction card.
May I change my vote?
If you are a shareholder of record, you may revoke your proxy before the time of voting at the meeting by:
· voting again by submitting a revised proxy card or voting by Internet or telephone, as applicable, on a date later than the prior proxy;
· voting in person at the meeting; or
· notifying the Companys Corporate Secretary in writing that you are revoking your proxy.
If you are a beneficial owner of shares, you may submit new voting instructions by contacting your broker, bank or other holder of record. Except in the case of shares held through the Employee Savings Plan, the 2009 LTIP or the 2014 LTIP, you may also vote in person at the meeting if you obtain a legal proxy from your broker, bank or other holder of record.
What if I receive more than one proxy card and/or vote instruction form?
If you receive more than one proxy card as a shareholder of record, you have shares registered differently in more than one account. We encourage you to have all accounts registered in the same name and
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 9
address whenever possible. You can do this by contacting our transfer agent, Computershare, at P.O. Box 30170, College Station, Texas 77842-3170, at its toll free number (1-800-589-9026) or on its website at http://www.computershare.com/investor. If you receive more than one vote instruction form, please contact the broker, bank or other holder of record holding your shares to determine whether you can consolidate your accounts.
What is householding?
We have adopted a procedure approved by the SEC called householding, which reduces our printing costs and postage fees. Under this procedure, shareholders of record who have the same address and last name may receive only one copy of our proxy statement and annual report (or one eProxy Notice, if applicable) unless one or more of these shareholders notify us that they wish to continue receiving individual copies. Shareholders who participate in householding will continue to receive separate proxy cards.
If a shareholder of record residing at a household to which we sent only one copy of our proxy statement and annual report (or one eProxy notice, if applicable) wishes to receive separate documents in the future, he or she may discontinue householding by contacting our transfer agent, Computershare, at P.O. Box 30170, College Station, Texas 77842-3170, at its toll free number (1-800-589-9026) or on its website at http://www.computershare.com/investor. If you are an eligible shareholder of record receiving multiple copies of our proxy statement and annual report, you can request householding by contacting the Companys Corporate Secretary. See How do I contact EQTs Corporate Secretary? above. If you own your shares through a broker, bank or other holder of record, you can request householding by contacting the applicable holder of record.
If a shareholder of record residing at a household to which we sent only one copy of our proxy statement and annual report wishes to receive an additional copy for this meeting, he or she may contact the Companys Corporate Secretary. The Company will promptly deliver, upon written or oral request, a separate proxy statement and annual report to a shareholder at a shared address to which a single copy of the documents was delivered.
What is a broker non-vote?
If you are a beneficial owner whose shares are held of record by a broker, bank or other holder of record, you have the right to direct your broker, bank or other holder of record in voting your shares. If you do not provide voting instructions, your shares will not be voted on any proposal on which the broker, bank or other holder of record does not have discretionary authority to vote. This is called a broker non-vote. In these cases, the broker, bank or other holder of record can register your shares as being present at the annual meeting for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum but will not be able to vote on those matters for which specific authorization is required under New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) rules.
Is my vote important and how are the votes counted?
Your vote is very important. Each share of EQT stock that you own as of February 6, 2015, the record date for the annual meeting, represents one vote. If you do not vote your shares, you will not have a say in the important issues to be voted on at the meeting. Many of our shareholders do not vote, so the shareholders who do vote influence the outcome of the proposals in greater proportion than their percentage ownership of the Company.
At the close of business on the record date for the meeting, EQT Corporation had 151,891,704 shares of common stock outstanding. The following are the voting requirements to elect the seven nominees to the Board and approve the other proposals presented in this proxy statement and the discretionary authority of brokers, banks or other holders of record with respect to each proposal:
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 10
PROPOSAL |
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VOTE REQUIRED |
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BROKER DISCRETIONARY VOTING ALLOWED |
Election of Directors (Item No. 1) |
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Majority of votes cast. If a nominee receives a greater number of votes against than votes for election, the Board will consider whether to accept the nominees previously submitted conditional resignation.
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No |
Approval of a non-binding resolution regarding the compensation of the Companys named executive officers for 2014 (Item No. 2)
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Majority of votes cast. |
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No |
Ratification of Ernst & Young LLP (Item No. 3)
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Majority of votes cast. |
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Yes |
Shareholder proposal regarding proxy access bylaw (Item No. 4)
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Majority of votes cast. |
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No |
For purposes of the approval of Item Nos. 1 through 4, abstentions, broker non-votes and the failure to vote are not votes cast and, accordingly, have no effect on the outcome of such proposals.
What constitutes a quorum for the meeting?
A majority of the outstanding shares, present or represented by proxy, constitutes a quorum. A quorum is necessary to conduct business at the annual meeting. You are part of the quorum if you have returned a proxy. Abstentions and broker non-votes also are counted in determining whether a quorum is present.
How will my shares be voted on other matters not included in this proxy statement that may be presented to the annual meeting?
Since no shareholder has indicated an intention to present any matter not included in this proxy statement to the annual meeting in accordance with the advance notice provision in the Companys bylaws, the Board is not aware of any other proposals for the meeting. If another proposal is properly presented, the persons named as proxies will vote your returned proxy in their discretion.
Who can attend the annual meeting, and how do I obtain an admission ticket?
You may attend the annual meeting if you were a shareholder on February 6, 2015. Seating is limited and will be offered on a first come, first served basis. If you plan to attend the meeting, you will need an admission ticket, which you can obtain by checking the appropriate box on your proxy card, direction card or vote instruction form or by writing to the Companys Corporate Secretary. See How do I contact EQTs Corporate Secretary? above. If a broker, bank or other holder of record holds your shares, you must include proof of your ownership of EQT stock as of February 6, 2015, such as a copy of your brokerage account statement or an omnibus proxy, which you can obtain from your broker, bank or other holder of record, and we will send you an admission ticket.
Shareholders must present a form of photo identification, such as a drivers license, in order to be admitted to the annual meeting. No cameras, computers, recording equipment, other similar electronic devices, signs, placards, briefcases, backpacks, large bags or packages will be permitted in the annual
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 11
meeting. All bags or packages permitted in the meeting room will be subject to inspection. The use of mobile phones, tablets, laptops and similar electronic devices during the annual meeting is prohibited, and such devices must be turned off and put away before entering the meeting room. By attending the annual meeting, shareholders agree to abide by the agenda and procedures for the annual meeting, copies of which will be distributed to attendees at the meeting.
What happens if the meeting is postponed or adjourned?
If the meeting is postponed or adjourned, your proxy will still be good and may be voted at the postponed or adjourned meeting. You will still be able to change or revoke your proxy until it is voted. See May I change my vote? above.
Who pays for the solicitation of proxies?
We do. We are soliciting proxies primarily by use of the mails. However, we may also solicit proxies in person, by telephone, by facsimile, by courier or by electronic means. To the extent that our directors, officers or other employees participate in this solicitation, they will not receive any compensation for their participation, other than their normal compensation. D.F. King & Co., Inc. assists us with the solicitation for a fee of $7,500 plus reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. We also reimburse brokerage firms and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses for sending proxy materials to shareholders and obtaining their proxies.
May I nominate someone to be a director of EQT?
Shareholders may either nominate individuals to serve as directors at the annual meeting or recommend individuals as possible director-nominees to the Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors to consider in its normal course.
If you are a shareholder entitled to vote at an annual meeting, you may present at the meeting the nomination of one or more persons for election as a director of EQT Corporation. To do this, you must send advance written notice to the Companys Corporate Secretary. See How do I contact EQTs Corporate Secretary? above. According to our bylaws, we must receive notice of nominations for the 2016 annual meeting not earlier than the close of business on December 17, 2015 (i.e., the 120th day prior to April 15, 2016, the one-year anniversary of this years annual meeting), and not later than the close of business on January 16, 2016 (i.e., the 90th day prior to April 15, 2016).
In addition, the Boards Corporate Governance Committee will consider candidates recommended by the Companys shareholders. If the Corporate Governance Committee determines to nominate as a director an individual recommended by a shareholder, then the recommended individual will be included on the Companys slate for the next annual proxy statement. Shareholders should send their recommendations to the Corporate Governance Committee Chair by addressing the recommendation to the Companys Corporate Secretary. The Corporate Secretary must receive any recommendations as far in advance of the annual meeting of shareholders as possible in order to provide sufficient time for the Committee to consider the recommendation.
Any notice or recommendation provided by the nominating shareholder must include an original irrevocable conditional resignation signed by each proposed nominee, as well as certain information about the person or persons nominated and the nominating shareholder (see Director Nominations under the caption Corporate Governance and Board Matters below for details). For additional information, contact the Corporate Secretary.
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 12
When are shareholder proposals due?
Under SEC rules, eligible shareholders may submit proposals for inclusion in the proxy statement for our 2016 annual meeting. Shareholder proposals must be submitted in writing and must be received by the Companys Corporate Secretary on or before November 3, 2015 for them to be considered for inclusion in the 2016 proxy statement. See How do I contact EQTs Corporate Secretary? above.
Under our bylaws, you may present proposals in person at the 2016 annual meeting, in addition to proposals that will be included in our proxy statement, if you are a shareholder entitled to vote and comply with the following procedures. The Corporate Secretary must receive such proposals to be presented not earlier than the close of business on December 17, 2015 (i.e., the 120th day prior to April 15, 2016, the one-year anniversary of this years annual meeting), and not later than the close of business on January 16, 2016 (i.e., the 90th day prior to April 15, 2016). Proposals received outside that time period, including any proposal nominating a person as a director, may not be presented at the 2016 annual meeting. All proposals must be accompanied by the information required by Section 1.09 of our bylaws (a copy of which will be provided to any shareholder upon written request to the Corporate Secretary).
ITEM NO. 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
(Item No. 1 on the proxy card)
The Board of Directors, consisting of eleven members as of the filing date of this proxy statement, is currently divided into three classes. Prior to the Companys 2014 annual meeting, each of the classes was elected to serve three-year terms which were staggered such that the classes were as equal in number as possible depending on the total number of directors at any time. At the 2013 annual meeting, upon the recommendation of and approval by the Board of Directors, our shareholders approved a restatement of our Restated Articles of Incorporation to phase out the classification of the Board. Each director elected after the 2013 annual meeting, whether to succeed a director whose term of office has expired or to fill any vacancy, has been, and will be, elected for a one-year term expiring at the next annual meeting. Directors elected at the 2013 annual meeting will serve the remainder of their respective terms before standing for re-election at the 2016 annual meeting. Accordingly, our declassified board structure will be fully implemented at the 2016 annual meeting. Each directors term expires upon the earlier of the end of his or her term or the annual meeting following such directors seventy-fourth birthday. Notwithstanding the expiration date of his or her term, each director holds office until his or her successor is elected and qualified.
The terms of seven directors expire at the 2015 annual meeting. Each of the seven directors, Ms. Margaret K. Dorman, Messrs. A. Bray Cary, Jr., David L. Porges, James E. Rohr and David S. Shapira, and Drs. Philip G. Behrman and Lee T. Todd, Jr., have been nominated to serve for a term of one year to expire at the 2016 annual meeting. The persons named as proxies will vote for the nominees named, unless you vote against, or abstain from voting for or against, one or more of them. The seven nominees for election have agreed to serve if elected, and the Board has no reason to believe that such nominees will be unavailable to serve. In the event that any of the nominees is unable or declines to serve as a director at the time of the annual meeting, then the persons named as proxies intend to vote for substitute nominees proposed by the Board, unless the Board decides to reduce the number of directors. Each nominee must be elected by a majority of the votes cast for election, and votes may not be cumulated.
In addition, under our bylaws, each nominee has submitted an irrevocable conditional resignation to be effective if the nominee receives a greater number of votes against than votes for his or her election in an uncontested election. If this occurs, the Board will decide whether to accept the tendered resignation not later than 90 days after certification of the election. The Boards determination shall be made without the participation of any nominee whose resignation is under consideration with respect to
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 13
the election. The Boards explanation of its decision will be promptly disclosed on a Form 8-K furnished to the SEC.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR each nominee for the Board of Directors.
Nominees to Serve for a One-Year Term Expiring in 2016
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Philip G. Behrman, Ph.D. |
Age 64 |
Director since July 2008 |
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Retired Senior Vice President, Worldwide Exploration, Marathon Oil Corporation (integrated energy company), October 2000 through July 2008.
Member of the Audit Committee and the Public Policy and Corporate Responsibility Committee.
Qualifications. Dr. Behrman brings extensive business, senior management and technical industry experience to the Board, having served in various senior management and technical positions with numerous major energy companies throughout his career. In particular, Dr. Behrman has substantial expertise in energy exploration and production business operations, making him uniquely positioned to provide valuable perspectives with respect to the operations of the Companys production business. |
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A. Bray Cary, Jr. |
Age 66 |
Director since July 2008 |
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President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, West Virginia Media Holdings, LLC (television and print media company), since October 2001.
Member of the Corporate Governance Committee and the Management Development and Compensation Committee.
Qualifications. Mr. Cary has extensive public affairs, media relations and senior management experience, having founded and led various media and marketing businesses throughout his career. Mr. Cary utilizes his broad business experience to provide valuable insights with respect to general business and management issues facing the Company. Most importantly, Mr. Cary is uniquely positioned to provide leadership to the Board in public affairs and media relations. |
Margaret K. Dorman |
Age 51 |
Director since | |
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Retired Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, Smith International, Inc. (supplier of oil and gas products and services), August 2008 through October 2009.
Member of the Audit Committee.
Qualifications. Ms. Dorman brings to the Company a wealth of financial expertise and experience in the natural gas industry, having served in
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EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 14
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numerous financial positions with Smith International, Inc. (now part of Schlumberger Limited), including as the chief financial officer for more than a decade, during a period of expansive growth. Prior to her time at Smith International, Inc., Ms. Dorman worked as an auditor, ultimately progressing to the role of senior audit manager. In addition to her financial controls experience, she has extensive experience building banking relationships, structuring debt financings, integrating acquisitions and as the lead investor relations executive, dealing with significant shareholder matters. Ms. Dorman also has prior board and audit committee experience, having served as a director of Hanover Compressor Company (full service natural gas compression business) (now part of Exterran Holdings, Inc.) from 2004 to 2007, including as a member (and ultimately chair) of its audit committee. | ||
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David L. Porges |
Age 57 |
Director since May 2002 | |
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Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, EQT Corporation, since May 2011; President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, EQT Corporation, April 2010 through May 2011; President, Chief Operating Officer and Director, EQT Corporation, February 2007 through April 2010. Mr. Porges is also Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of EQT Midstream Services, LLC, the general partner of EQT Midstream Partners, LP (EQM), a publicly-traded master limited partnership, since January 2012. As of February 1, 2015, EQT held the 2% general partner interest, all incentive distribution rights and a 34.4% limited partner interest in EQM.
Member of the Public Policy and Corporate Responsibility Committee and the Executive Committee.
Qualifications. Mr. Porges brings extensive business, leadership, management and financial experience, and tremendous knowledge of the Companys operations, culture and industry, to the Board. Mr. Porges has served in a number of senior management positions with the Company since joining the Company as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in 1998. He has also served as a member of the Companys Board since May 2002. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Porges held various senior positions within the investment banking industry and also held several managerial positions with Exxon Corporation (now Exxon Mobil Corporation, an international oil and gas company). Mr. Porges served on the board of directors of Westport Resources Corp. (oil and natural gas production company) (now part of Anadarko Petroleum Corporation) from April 2000 through 2004. Mr. Porges strong financial and industry experience, along with his understanding of the Companys business operations and culture, enable Mr. Porges to provide unique and valuable perspectives on most issues facing the Company. Moreover, Mr. Porges service on the Board creates a vital link between management and the Board and provides the Company with decisive and effective leadership. |
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 15
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James E. Rohr |
Age 66 |
Director since May 1996 |
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Retired Executive Chairman, The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (PNC) (financial services), April 2013 through April 2014; and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, PNC, May 2001 through April 2013. Mr. Rohr is a director of General Electric Company (a multinational industrial, energy and technology conglomerate), since September 2013; Marathon Petroleum Corporation (a petroleum product refiner, marketer and transporter), since July 2013; and Allegheny Technologies, Inc. (specialty metal producer), since 1996. Mr. Rohr was a director of PNC, from 1990 through April 2014; and BlackRock, Inc. (provider of investment, advisory and risk management solutions), from 1999 through May 2014.
Lead Independent Director, Chair of the Executive Committee and member of the Management Development and Compensation Committee.
Qualifications. Mr. Rohrs past experience as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of one of the countrys largest financial services companies provides him with valuable business, leadership and management experience, with particular emphasis on capital markets and corporate finance transactions. Mr. Rohrs experience enables him to provide cutting edge insights into the capital markets and corporate finance issues facing the Company. Mr. Rohr is also able to draw on his past experience as the chief executive officer of a major public company, along with his service as a director of a number of other public companies. | |||
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David S. Shapira |
Age 73 |
Director since May 1987 |
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Executive Chairman, Giant Eagle, Inc. (retail grocery store chain), since January 2012. Mr. Shapira was Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Giant Eagle, Inc. from July 2005 through January 2012.
Member of the Corporate Governance Committee and the Public Policy and Corporate Responsibility Committee.
Qualifications. Mr. Shapiras past service as Chief Executive Officer of a major private company provides extensive senior management, leadership and financial experience, including expertise leading a large organization with multistate operations. Mr. Shapira also has an in-depth knowledge of the Companys business operations, culture and industry, having served as a director since 1987. Finally, Mr. Shapiras current and prior service on the boards of public companies, such as Mellon Financial Corporation (financial services) (now part of The Bank of New York Mellon), and large not-for-profit organizations, such as Carnegie Mellon University, enables him to bring to the Board extensive board experience and knowledge from alternative perspectives. |
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 16
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Lee T. Todd, Jr., Ph.D. |
Age 68 |
Director since |
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President, Lee Todd Consulting, LLC (technology consulting services), since October 2014. Dr. Todd was Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Kentucky (major public research university), from July 2011 through September 2014, and President of the University of Kentucky, from July 2001 through June 2011.
Chair of the Management Development and Compensation Committee and member of the Executive Committee.
Qualifications. Dr. Todds past service as President of the University of Kentucky provides valuable leadership and management experience, including experience leading a large organization. Prior to joining the University of Kentucky, Dr. Todd developed a strong reputation as an innovator of cutting edge technology, having founded and led numerous successful technology companies. Dr. Todd also has experience serving on boards of a variety of public companies, private companies and foundations. These strong leadership and business experiences, along with Dr. Todds appreciation for the importance of innovation, enable him to offer a unique perspective with respect to business and technology issues facing the Company. |
Additional Directors Whose Terms Expire in 2016
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Vicky A. Bailey |
Age 62 |
Director since June 2004 |
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President, Anderson Stratton International, LLC (strategic consulting and government relations), since November 2005, and Vice President, BHMM Energy Services, LLC (utility and facilities management services), since January 2006. Ms. Bailey is a director of Cheniere Energy, Inc. (energy company primarily engaged in liquefied natural gas related businesses), since March 2006; and Cleco Corporation (energy services company with regulated utility and wholesale energy businesses), since June 2013.
Chair of the Public Policy and Corporate Responsibility Committee and member of the Executive Committee.
Qualifications. Ms. Bailey has substantial regulatory and senior management experience in the Companys industry, having previously served as a commissioner of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, President of PSI Energy, Inc. (a regulated utility) and commissioner of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. These experiences enable her to provide valuable insights into issues facing the Companys regulated transmission business, particularly with respect to interacting with regulatory agencies. In addition, Ms. Bailey provides leadership to the Board with respect to energy policy issues, owing to her previous experience as Assistant Secretary for the Office of Policy and International Affairs at the Department of Energy. Ms. Bailey also draws upon public company board experience in supporting the Companys strategic efforts. |
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 17
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Kenneth M. Burke |
Age 65 |
Director since |
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Retired Partner, Ernst & Young LLP (EY) (Big Four accounting firm), October 1982 through June 2004. Mr. Burke was a director of Trico Marine Services, Inc. (provider of subsea trenching and marine support vessels and services), from March 2005 through August 2011; and Pride International, Inc. (offshore drilling contractor) (now part of Ensco Plc), from December 2006 through May 2011.
Member of the Audit Committee and the Public Policy and Corporate Responsibility Committee.
Qualifications. Mr. Burke brings over three decades of experience focused on the energy industry, primarily oil and gas. Mr. Burke retired from EY in 2004, where he held a number of leadership positions, including National Energy Industry Director and Partner-in-Charge of the Houston Energy Services Group. He also co-authored the book Oil and Gas Limited Partnerships: Accounting, Reporting and Taxation. During his years at EY, Mr. Burke served as audit partner for numerous companies in the oil and gas industry. Mr. Burke also has substantial experience as a director of both public and private companies (including energy companies), where he has served on and chaired a number of committees. | |||
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George L. Miles, Jr. |
Age 73 |
Director since July 2000 |
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Retired President and Chief Executive Officer, WQED Multimedia (multimedia company), September 1994 through October 2010. Mr. Miles is a director of Harley-Davidson, Inc. (manufacturer of motorcycles), since August 2002; American International Group, Inc. (international insurance organization), since April 2005; and HFF, Inc. (provider of commercial real estate and capital markets services to the U.S. commercial real estate industry), since January 2007. Mr. Miles was a director of WESCO International, Inc. (distributor of electrical construction products supplies), from April 2000 through May 2014.
Chair of the Corporate Governance Committee and member of the Executive Committee.
Qualifications. Mr. Miles has significant senior management, leadership and financial experience, having served as President and Chief Executive Officer of a multimedia company for more than fifteen years. Prior to that, Mr. Miles gained valuable financial experience through his work as an auditor. Mr. Miles also has substantial public company board experience, having served as a member of the board of directors of a number of public companies throughout his career. These diverse experiences enable Mr. Miles to bring unique perspectives to the Board, particularly with respect to business management and corporate governance issues. |
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 18
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Stephen A. Thorington |
Age 59 |
Director since |
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Retired Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Plains Exploration & Production Company (energy company engaged in the upstream oil and gas business) (now part of Freeport-McMoRan Inc.), September 2002 through April 2006. Mr. Thorington was a director of KMG Chemicals, Inc. (diversified chemical company), from May 2007 through December 2014, at which time he retired from the board at the conclusion of his then-current term. Mr. Thorington also was a director of QRE GP, LLC, the general partner of QR Energy, LP (oil and natural gas production master limited partnership), from January 2011 through the acquisition of QR Energy, LP by Breitburn Energy Partners LP during November 2014.
Chair of the Audit Committee and member of the Executive Committee.
Qualifications. Mr. Thorington has significant experience in energy company management, finance and corporate development, as well as natural gas exploration and production. Mr. Thorington has served in a number of senior management positions with energy industry companies and, earlier in his career, held various senior positions within the investment banking industry. Finally, Mr. Thorington has extensive experience on other public company boards, including recent service as a member of audit, compensation, conflicts and nominating and corporate governance committees. Mr. Thorington is able to draw upon these diverse experiences to provide guidance with respect to accounting matters, financial markets and financing transactions, exploration and production operations and investor relations. |
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND BOARD MATTERS
In 2014, the Board of Directors held six regular meetings and one special meeting. The independent directors met six times in executive session without any officer of the Company present. In 2014, each director attended 75% or more of the total number of meetings of the Board and the Committees on which the director served, and overall attendance at such meetings was over 99%. The Company encourages its directors to attend the annual meeting of the shareholders, and it has been their practice to do so. Except for James E. Rohr, all directors attended the 2014 annual meeting.
The Board has five standing Committees: Audit, Management Development and Compensation, Corporate Governance, Public Policy and Corporate Responsibility and Executive. The Board may from time to time form new Committees, disband an existing Committee and delegate additional responsibilities to a Committee. The responsibilities of the Committees are set forth in written charters, which are reviewed periodically by the Committees and, where appropriate, the Corporate Governance Committee and the Board. All of the charters are available on the Companys website at www.eqt.com by clicking on the Investors link on the main page and then on the Corporate Governance link followed by the Charters and Documents link. Additional information about each of the Boards Committees is provided below.
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 19
Audit Committee | |
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Stephen A. Thorington |
Meetings Held in 2014: 10 |
Committee Chair |
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Additional Committee Members: Philip G. Behrman, Ph.D.; Kenneth M. Burke; and Margaret K. Dorman | |
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Primary Responsibilities: The Audit Committee assists the Board by overseeing the accounting and financial reporting processes of the Company and related disclosure matters; the audits and integrity of the Companys financial statements; the qualifications, independence and performance of the Companys registered public accountants; and the qualifications and performance of the Companys internal audit function. The Committee also oversees the Companys compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, including the Companys code of business conduct and ethics. For additional information regarding the Committees responsibilities, see Report of the Audit Committee and Boards Role in Risk Oversight below. | |
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Independence: Each member of the Committee is independent under the Companys corporate governance guidelines, applicable NYSE listing standards and SEC rules. Each member of the Committee is financially literate. The Board has determined that each of Ms. Dorman and Messrs. Burke and Thorington qualifies as an audit committee financial expert (as defined under SEC rules). The designation as an audit committee financial expert does not impose upon the members any duties, obligations or liabilities that are greater than are generally imposed upon them as members of the Committee and the Board. As audit committee financial experts, Ms. Dorman and Messrs. Burke and Thorington also have accounting or related financial management experience under applicable NYSE listing standards. |
Management Development and Compensation Committee | |
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Lee T. Todd, Jr., Ph.D. |
Meetings Held in 2014: 7 |
Committee Chair |
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Additional Committee Members: A. Bray Cary, Jr. and James E. Rohr | |
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Primary Responsibilities: The Management Development and Compensation Committee discharges the Boards responsibilities relating to compensation of the Companys executive officers, including determining and approving, based on input from the Corporate Governance Committee and the other independent directors regarding the Chief Executive Officers performance for the prior year and in light of the goals and objectives established by the Corporate Governance Committee for the upcoming year, the Chief Executive Officers compensation level; reviewing and approving the performance of, and compensation structure for, the Companys executive officers (other than the Chief Executive Officer); and reviewing and approving all compensation plans and employment and severance agreements for executive officers. The Management Development and Compensation Committee has the sole authority to retain and terminate one or more compensation consultants, independent legal counsel or other advisors. It may also obtain advice and assistance from internal legal, accounting, human resources and other advisors. The Committee oversees and, where required by law, administers the Companys benefit plans, incentive-based compensation plans and other equity-based plans. The Committee also reviews the Companys succession plan for all executive officers other than the Chief Executive Officer (whose succession plan is reviewed by the full Board). Pursuant to its Charter, the Committee has the power to form and delegate authority to subcommittees and to delegate authority to one or more members of the Committee or to individuals and committees consisting of employees of the Company. | |
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Independence: Each member of the Committee is (i) independent under the Companys corporate governance guidelines and applicable NYSE listing standards (including the enhanced independence standards for compensation committee members under the NYSE listing standards); (ii) a non-employee director for purposes of Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act); and (iii) an outside director for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code). |
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 20
Corporate Governance Committee | |
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George L. Miles, Jr. |
Meetings Held in 2014: 5 |
Committee Chair |
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Additional Committee Members: A. Bray Cary, Jr. and David S. Shapira | |
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Primary Responsibilities: The Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for recommending | |
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Independence: Each member of the Committee is (i) independent under the Companys corporate governance guidelines and applicable NYSE listing standards (including the enhanced independence standards for compensation committee members under the NYSE listing standards) and (ii) a non-employee director for purposes of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act. |
Public Policy and Corporate Responsibility Committee | |
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Vicky A. Bailey |
Meetings Held in 2014: 4 |
Committee Chair |
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Additional Committee Members: Philip G. Behrman, Ph.D.; Kenneth M. Burke; David L. Porges; and David S. Shapira | |
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Primary Responsibilities: The Public Policy and Corporate Responsibility Committee reviews and provides input and direction to the Companys management and the Board regarding industry, legislative and regulatory activities of significance to the Company relating to environmental, health and safety matters; government affairs (including industry and other organizations that express views about legislative and regulatory affairs); and other matters likely to influence the Companys reputation. |
Executive Committee | |
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James E. Rohr |
Meetings Held in 2014: None |
Committee Chair |
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Additional Committee Members: Vicky A. Bailey; George L. Miles, Jr.; David L. Porges; Stephen A. Thorington; and Lee T. Todd, Jr., Ph.D. | |
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Primary Responsibilities: The Executive Committee has the authority to act in all matters that the full Board may act upon when the Board is not in session, unless limited by a resolution of the Board and except to the extent limited by law. |
Establishing Target Total Direct Compensation
In discharging the Boards responsibilities relating to compensation of the Companys executive officers, the Management Development and Compensation Committee establishes the target total direct compensation (base salary plus annual and long-term incentives) for executive officers by establishing
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 21
base salaries and setting long-term and annual incentive targets. When appropriate, the Committee also reviews and modifies perquisites.
Establishing Annual and Long-Term Incentive Programs
The Management Development and Compensation Committee annually approves plan design, including performance measures and target payout, for annual and long-term incentive programs. These deliberations, which usually start with recommendations from management and involve discussions among management, the Committees independent compensation consultant and the Committee, usually span several meetings before a design is approved. After the end of the performance period for any performance award, the Committee certifies the levels at which the performance measures were satisfied and approves the amount of incentive award payable to each executive officer.
Equity Grants
The Management Development and Compensation Committee may make equity grants to executive officers at any time during the year. The Committee generally does not grant equity awards when in possession of material non-public information. If in possession of such information, the Committee does not take such information into account when determining whether or in what amounts to make such grants.
The Committee and, solely in the case of restricted EQM phantom units, the Board of Directors of EQT Midstream Services, LLC (the EQM Board), the general partner of EQM, have delegated to Mr. Porges, in his capacity as a director of the applicable entity, the authority to grant the following:
· provided that in each case no recipient is an executive officer of the Company, a limited number of restricted EQT shares to (i) newly hired or recently promoted employees on the condition that no award exceeds the 50th percentile of the market long-term incentive compensation target in value, except as may result from an award being rounded-up to the next highest number of shares evenly divisible by 10, (ii) other employees in recognition of exceptional performance on the condition that no award exceeds 1,000 shares, and (iii) employees who participate in the Companys educational assistance program, on the condition that no individual award exceeds 500 shares and the recipient is not a participant in the Companys most recent long-term incentive award program; and
· provided that no recipient is an executive officer of the Company or EQT Midstream Services, LLC, a limited number of restricted EQM phantom units to newly hired or recently promoted employees on the condition that no award exceeds the 50th percentile of the market long-term incentive compensation target in value, except as may result from an award being rounded-up to the next highest number of units evenly divisible by 10.
All such awards must be made on standard terms approved by the Committee (and, in the case of EQM awards, the EQM Board) and are reported to the Committee (and, in the case of EQM awards, the EQM Board) for informational purposes at the next meetings of the Committee and the EQM Board, as applicable. Mr. Porges authorizes restricted EQT shares and restricted EQM phantom units periodically throughout the year on pre-established dates and does not coordinate the timing of such grants with the release of material non-public information. If in possession of such information, Mr. Porges does not take such information into account when determining whether or in what amounts to make such grants.
The Committee has not delegated its authority to award equity to any other executive officer.
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 22
Compensation Consultant
The Management Development and Compensation Committee has the sole authority to hire, terminate and approve fees for compensation consultants, independent legal counsel and other advisors as it deems to be necessary to assist in the fulfillment of its responsibilities. During 2014, the Committee utilized Pay Governance LLC (Pay Governance) as its independent compensation consultant, and Pay Governance reported directly to the Committee.
Representatives of Pay Governance do not make recommendations on, or approve, the amount of compensation for any executive officer. The Committee may request information or advice directly from representatives of Pay Governance and may direct the Company to provide information to representatives of Pay Governance. Representatives of Pay Governance regularly interact with representatives of the Companys human resources department and periodically with the Chief Executive Officer and representatives of the Companys legal department.
During 2014, Pay Governance provided market data and counsel regarding executive officer compensation programs and practices, including specifically:
· competitive benchmarking;
· peer group identification and assessment;
· advice and market insight as to the form of, and performance measures for, annual and long-term incentives;
· marketplace compensation trends in the Companys industry and generally; and
· advice regarding the performance of the Companys annual review of compensation risk.
During 2014, Pay Governance also performed benchmarking services for the Corporate Governance Committee related to director compensation for the Companys Board.
Other than the executive and director compensation services provided for the Management Development and Compensation Committee and the Corporate Governance Committee, respectively, representatives of Pay Governance also performed the following services during 2014:
· The Corporate Governance Committee engaged Pay Governance to perform benchmarking services for director compensation related to the anticipated initial public offering of EQT GP Holdings, LP (2014 fees totaled $22,500).
· Consistent with prior years, Pay Governance performed benchmarking services for director compensation related to the EQM Board (2014 fees totaled $15,000).
· The Companys management engaged Pay Governance to perform a competitive benchmarking analysis for non-executive officers of the Company (2014 fees totaled $25,500).
The Management Development and Compensation Committee has considered the services provided by Pay Governance during 2014 as well as Pay Governances responses to a questionnaire regarding Pay Governances relationship with the Company and its management, and determined that such services do not compromise Pay Governances independence as the Management Development and Compensation Committees independent compensation consultant.
Role of Senior Management
The Companys senior management has an ongoing dialogue with the Management Development and Compensation Committee and the Committees independent compensation consultant regarding compensation and plan design. Most ideas originate with management due to its direct involvement in, and knowledge of, the business goals, strategies, experiences and performance of the Company.
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 23
Managements ideas are reviewed with the independent compensation consultant and frequently modified by the Committee prior to ultimate adoption. The Committee engages in active discussions with the Chief Executive Officer concerning: (i) who should participate in programs and at what levels, (ii) which performance measures should be used, (iii) the determination of performance targets and (iv) whether and to what extent performance measures for the previous year have been achieved. The Chief Executive Officer is advised by the other executive officers of the Company.
We provide additional information regarding the Committee and our policies and procedures regarding executive compensation, including the role of executive officers in recommending executive compensation, below under the caption Compensation Discussion and Analysis.
As described in the Companys corporate governance guidelines, the Board of Directors believes that the functions of the Chairman of the Board are distinct from those of the Chief Executive Officer but that both functions may be effectively performed by the same individual. From time to time, generally in connection with succession planning, the Board considers whether the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer should be separate, and if separate, whether the Chairman of the Board should be an outside director or an inside director. The Board is currently satisfied with the Chief Executive Officer performing the functions of the Chairman of the Board because Mr. Porges is able to utilize his in-depth knowledge and perspective gained in running the Company to effectively and efficiently guide the full Board by recommending Board and Committee meeting agendas, leading Board discussions on critical issues and creating a vital link among the Board, management and shareholders.
Pursuant to the Companys corporate governance guidelines, when the Board does not have an independent Chairman, the Board must designate an independent director as the Lead Independent Director. When a Lead Independent Director has been designated, the Lead Independent Directors exclusive duties are:
· convening, presiding over and setting agendas for regularly scheduled and special executive sessions of independent/non-management directors (which typically occur at each regularly scheduled meeting of the Board), including calling a meeting of the independent/non-management directors, if requested by any other director;
· presiding over any meeting at which the Chairman is not present;
· consulting with the Chairman to set the annual calendar of topics to be covered at Board meetings and reviewing meeting agendas;
· providing input to the Corporate Governance Committee in connection with the evaluation of the Chief Executive Officers performance;
· facilitating an assessment process with respect to the Board as a whole as well as for individual directors;
· serving as the designated director to speak with shareholders (when requested) and to receive communications from interested parties; and
· serving as the Chair of the Executive Committee.
In April 2014, the Board, based on a recommendation from the Corporate Governance Committee, re-elected Mr. Rohr as its Lead Independent Director to serve until the first regular Board meeting following the Companys 2015 annual meeting of shareholders. Mr. Rohr has held this position since May 2011. The service of the Lead Independent Director complements Mr. Porges role as Chairman by, among other things, providing directors, shareholders and other constituents a direct contact to an independent member of the Board. When in office, the Lead Independent Directors term is one year, but an individual may serve multiple consecutive terms upon recommendation of the Corporate Governance Committee and approval of the Board.
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 24
Boards Role in Risk Oversight
The Companys corporate governance guidelines provide that the Board of Directors is responsible for reviewing the process for assessing the major risks facing the Company and the options for their mitigation. The Board executes on this oversight responsibility in a variety of ways, including:
· The Board performs an annual review of the Companys major risks.
· Management addresses the major risks in presentations (initiated by management or requested by the Board) throughout the year.
· The Board delegates oversight for certain risks to the Board Committees. For example, the Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing and discussing with management the Companys major financial risk exposures and the actions management has taken to monitor and control such exposures. The Management Development and Compensation, Corporate Governance and Public Policy and Corporate Responsibility Committees also review and discuss with management major risk exposures associated with their respective areas of oversight.
The Company primarily manages enterprise risk through an Enterprise Risk Committee consisting of certain executive officers and business unit and functional leaders. The Enterprise Risk Committee meets periodically throughout the year to review, prioritize and address the Companys major risk exposures and to consider new or emerging risks. The Corporate Director, Enterprise Risk and Compliance reports the results of the risk assessment annually to the Board of Directors. The Board reviews and assesses the report of the Corporate Director, Enterprise Risk and Compliance and determines whether any further action is required.
The responsibilities of the Corporate Governance Committee include identifying and recommending to the Board the requisite skills and characteristics to be found in individuals qualified to serve as members of the Board and recommending to the Board the director nominees for each annual meeting of shareholders. The Committee typically considers new nominees for the Board in the context of a vacancy on the Board resulting from resignation or retirement of a director or to fill a skill need identified by the Board. The Committee has used third-party search firms to assist it to identify potential director candidates. Director candidates have also been identified by senior management and members of the Board considering individuals both within and external to their respective networks.
As set forth in the Committees charter, the Committee will consider submissions from shareholders in making its recommendation. Any shareholder desiring to recommend an individual to serve as a director of the Company should submit the following information to the Corporate Governance Committee Chair, care of the Corporate Secretary, no earlier than the close of business on the 120th day and no later than the close of business on the 90th day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding years annual meeting:
· The information required by Sections 1.09 and 1.10 of the Companys bylaws (a copy of which will be provided to any shareholder upon written request to the Corporate Secretary), including, but not limited to, (i) the proposing persons notice, (ii) the nominees written questionnaire with respect to the background and qualifications of such nominee and the background of any other person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made, (iii) a written representation and agreement of the nominee in the form provided by the Corporate Secretary, and (iv) the nominees executed irrevocable conditional resignation letter.
· In addition, the Company may require the shareholder to provide such further information as it may reasonably request.
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 25
See How do I contact EQTs Corporate Secretary? under the caption Questions and Answers About the Annual Meeting above.
In evaluating individuals identified as possible director-nominees, whether the source of the possible nominee is another director, a member of management, a shareholder or otherwise, the Committee assesses the experience and personal characteristics of the possible nominee against the guidelines identified below. Possible nominees satisfying the guidelines are then further evaluated to identify, in the judgment of the Committee, the best match for the Board. The Committee retains the right to modify the guidelines, including the criteria for evaluating the qualifications of potential nominees for election to the Board as set forth therein, from time to time.
Individual Qualifications |
· Possesses integrity, competence, insight, creativity and dedication together with the ability to work with colleagues while challenging one another to achieve superior performance · Has attained prominent position in his or her field of endeavor · Possesses broad business experience · Has ability to exercise sound business judgment · Is able to draw on his or her past experience relative to significant issues facing the Company · Has experience in the Companys industry or in another industry or endeavor with practical application to the Companys needs · Has sufficient time and dedication for preparation as well as participation in Board and Committee deliberations · Has no conflict of interest · Meets such standards of independence and financial knowledge as may be required or desirable · Possesses attributes deemed to be appropriate given the then current needs of the Board
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Composition of the Board as a Whole |
· A diversity of background, perspective and skills related to the Companys business · A diversity of race, gender and age
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The Board believes that its members possess individual qualifications consistent with the guidelines set forth above. In addition to the specific individual director qualifications identified under the caption Item No. 1 Election of Directors above, the Board believes that its members offer insightful and creative views and solutions with respect to issues facing the Company. The Board also believes that its members function well together as a group. Finally, the Board believes that it has appropriate diversity consistent with the guidelines set forth above.
You may communicate directly with the Lead Independent Director (and with independent directors, individually or as a group, through the Lead Independent Director) by sending an email to presidingdirector@eqt.com. You may also write to the Lead Independent Director, the entire Board, any Board Committee or any individual director by addressing such communication to the applicable director or directors, care of the Corporate Secretary, at EQT Corporation, 625 Liberty Avenue, Suite 1700, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222. The Corporate Secretary will open such communications and will promptly deliver such communications to the director or directors (as appropriate) designated therein, unless such communications are junk mail or mass mailings.
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 26
The Company maintains a corporate governance page on its website that includes key information about its corporate governance practices, including its corporate governance guidelines, code of business conduct and ethics and charters for the Audit Committee, the Management Development and Compensation Committee, the Corporate Governance Committee and the Public Policy and Corporate Responsibility Committee. The corporate governance page can be found at www.eqt.com, by clicking on the Investors link on the main page and then on the Corporate Governance link. The Company will provide copies of its corporate governance guidelines, code of business conduct and ethics and any of the Board Committee charters upon request by a shareholder to the Corporate Secretary. See How do I contact EQTs Corporate Secretary? under the caption Questions and Answers About the Annual Meeting above.
EQTs corporate governance policies and practices are compliant with applicable corporate governance requirements:
· The Board of Directors has adopted corporate governance guidelines.
· Ten of the eleven members of the Board are independent of the Company and its management.
· The Boards non-management directors meet periodically in executive session, and the Lead Independent Director has been identified as the presiding director at all such executive sessions.
· All members of each of the key Board Committees Audit, Management Development and Compensation and Corporate Governance are independent of the Company and its management.
· Each of the key Committees has a charter that meets applicable legal requirements and reflects good corporate governance.
· The Board and each of the key Committees engage in annual self-assessments, which involve, among other things, reviews of individual director performance.
· The Companys directors are encouraged to participate in educational programs relating to corporate governance and business-related issues, and the Company provides funding for such activities.
· The Company has a code of business conduct and ethics applicable to all employees and directors of the Company.
· The Corporate Governance Committee reviews the Companys governance policies and practices periodically and makes recommendations to the Board.
Independence and Related Person Transactions
Director Independence
In accordance with the Companys corporate governance guidelines, a majority of directors at any time will be independent. For a director to be considered an independent director, the Board must annually determine that he or she has no material relationship with the Company (either directly or as a partner, shareholder or officer of an organization that has such a relationship with the Company), except as a director. To assist it in determining director independence, the Board established guidelines, which are included in the Companys corporate governance guidelines, that conform to the independence requirements under the NYSE listing standards.
The Board considers all relevant facts and circumstances in making an independence determination. Any relationship involving a Company director that complies with the independence standards set forth in the Companys corporate governance guidelines and is not otherwise a related person transaction (as defined
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 27
under the caption Review, Approval or Ratification of Transactions with Related Persons below) under the Companys related person transaction approval policy (the related person transaction policy) is deemed to be an immaterial relationship not requiring consideration by the Board in assessing independence.
Based on the independence standards set forth in the Companys corporate governance guidelines, the Board has determined that all of the Companys directors other than Mr. Porges (who is an executive officer of the Company) have met the above standards and are independent of the Company and its management.
Director ownership of Company stock is encouraged and is not in itself a basis for determining that a director is not independent, provided that such ownership may preclude participation on the Audit Committee if its magnitude is sufficient to make the director an affiliated person of the Company as described in the Audit Committee charter. See Equity-Based Compensation under the caption Directors Compensation below for a description of the equity ownership guidelines for directors.
During the preceding three fiscal years, the Company made no contributions to any tax-exempt organization in which any independent director of the Company is an executive officer.
Review, Approval or Ratification of Transactions with Related Persons
Under the Companys written related person transaction policy, Company management, with the assistance of the Companys legal department, is responsible for determining whether a transaction between the Company and a Related Person (as defined below) constitutes a Related Person Transaction (as defined below). Such determination is based on a review of all facts and circumstances regarding the transaction, including information provided in annual director and executive officer questionnaires. Upon determination that a transaction is a Related Person Transaction that has not been approved by the full Board of Directors, the material facts regarding the transaction are reported to the Corporate Governance Committee for its review. The Corporate Governance Committee then determines whether to approve, ratify, revise, reject or take other action with respect to the Related Person Transaction.
Under the related person transaction policy, a Related Person Transaction is generally a transaction in which the Company or a subsidiary is a participant, the amount involved exceeds $120,000 and a Related Person has a direct or indirect material interest. A Related Person is generally any person who is a director or executive officer of the Company, any nominee for director, any shareholder known to the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of any class of the Companys voting securities and any immediate family member of any of the foregoing persons.
Under the policy, certain transactions are deemed to be automatically pre-approved and do not need to be brought to the Corporate Governance Committee for individual approval. The transactions which are automatically pre-approved include: (i) transactions involving employment of an executive officer by the Company, as long as the executive officer is not an immediate family member of another executive officer or director of the Company and the compensation paid to the executive officer was approved by the Management Development and Compensation Committee; (ii) transactions involving compensation and benefits paid to a director for service as a director of the Company; (iii) transactions on competitive business terms with another company in which the only relationship of a director or immediate family member of a director is as an employee or executive officer, a director or a beneficial owner of less than 10% of that companys shares, provided that the amount involved does not exceed the greater of $1,000,000 or 2% of the other companys consolidated gross revenue; (iv) transactions where the interest of the Related Person arises solely from the ownership of a class of equity securities of the company, and all holders of that class of equity securities receive the same benefit on a pro rata basis; (v) transactions where the rates or charges involved are determined by competitive bids; (vi) transactions involving the rendering of services as a common or contract carrier or public utility at rates or charges fixed in
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 28
conformity with law or governmental regulation; (vii) transactions involving services as a bank depositary of funds, transfer agent, registrar, trustee under a trust indenture or similar services; and (viii) charitable contributions, grants or endowments by the Company or the Companys charitable foundation to a charitable or non-profit organization, foundation or university in which a Related Persons only relationship is as an employee or a director or trustee, if the aggregate amount involved does not exceed the greater of $1,000,000 or 2% of the recipients consolidated gross revenue.
The related person transaction policy does not limit or affect the application of the Companys code of business conduct and ethics and related policies, which require directors and executive officers to avoid engaging in any activity or relationship that may interfere, or have the appearance of interfering, with the performance of the directors or executive officers duties to the Company. Such policies require all directors and executive officers to report and fully disclose the nature of any proposed conduct or transaction that involves, or could involve, a conflict of interest and to obtain approval before any action is undertaken.
Transactions with Related Persons
Based on information provided by the Companys directors and executive officers and assessments by the Companys management, the Corporate Governance Committee determined that there are no Related Person Transactions to be reported in this proxy statement.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
During all of 2014, Dr. Todd and Messrs. Cary and Rohr served as members of the Management Development and Compensation Committee. None of these Committee members is a current or former officer or employee of the Company or had any relationship with the Company requiring disclosure. In addition, none of the Companys executive officers served as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee (or similar committee) of another entity, one of whose executive officers served as a member of the Companys Board of Directors or the Management Development and Compensation Committee.
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 29
Compensation of directors is annually reviewed by the Corporate Governance Committee and approved by the Board. No compensation is paid to employee directors for their service as directors.
In 2014, the Corporate Governance Committee engaged Pay Governance to conduct an annual review of the total compensation for non-employee directors. Specifically, retainer fees, meeting fees, chairperson premiums, stock-based long-term incentives and director matching gift benefits were evaluated using, as the competitive benchmark, levels of total compensation paid to directors of:
· the 244 general industry companies with 2013 revenues of $1 billion to $4 billion that are identified in Appendix A; and
· the following 25 energy industry companies:
Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation |
ONEOK, Inc. |
Chesapeake Energy Corporation |
Pioneer Natural Resources Company |
Cimarex Energy Co. |
QEP Resources, Inc. |
Concho Resources Inc. |
Questar Corporation |
CONSOL Energy Inc. |
Quicksilver Resources Inc. |
Continental Resources, Inc. |
Range Resources Corporation |
Energen Corporation |
SM Energy Company |
EOG Resources, Inc. |
Southwestern Energy Company |
EXCO Resources, Inc. |
Spectra Energy Corp |
MarkWest Energy Partners, L.P. |
Ultra Petroleum Corp. |
National Fuel Gas Company |
Whiting Petroleum Corporation |
Newfield Exploration Company |
Williams Companies, Inc., The |
Noble Energy, Inc. |
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These companies also comprise the Companys peer groups for the Companys 2014 Executive Performance Incentive Program and 2015 Executive Performance Incentive Program.
Set forth below is a description of the compensation of the Companys non-employee directors:
Cash Compensation
· An annual cash retainer of $50,500 was paid on a quarterly basis in 2014 (the retainer increased to $60,000 effective in 2015).
· An additional annual cash retainer of $4,000 was paid on a quarterly basis in 2014 to members of the Audit Committee other than the Chair (the retainer increased to $6,000 effective in 2015).
· The cash meeting fee is $1,500 for each Board and Committee meeting attended in person. If a director participates in a meeting by telephone, the meeting fee is $750. These fees are paid on a quarterly basis.
· For the Audit Committee Chair, an annual committee chair retainer of $15,000 is paid. For the Management Development and Compensation, Corporate Governance, Public Policy and Corporate Responsibility and Executive Committee Chairs, an annual committee chair retainer of $10,000 is paid. These fees are also paid on a quarterly basis.
Equity-Based Compensation
· In 2003, the Company began granting to each non-employee director, on an annual basis, stock units that vest upon award and are payable on a deferred basis under the Companys directors deferred compensation plans. The deferred stock units represent one vehicle used by the Company to deliver compensation to directors for their annual service on the
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 30
Board. The 2014 annual grant was 1,790 deferred stock units, which were awarded on January 1, 2014 to each non-employee director. Each non-employee director serving on the Board on January 1, 2015 received an award of 2,360 deferred stock units. Each deferred stock unit is equal in value to one share of Company common stock but does not have voting rights. Dividends are credited quarterly in the form of additional deferred stock units. The value of the stock units granted in 2013 and subsequent years will be paid in shares of Company common stock upon termination of service as a director. The value of the stock units granted prior to 2013 will be paid in cash (or, if a director made a prior election to settle the award in equity, in Company common stock) upon termination of service as a director.
· Newly elected directors are expected to receive an equity grant upon joining the Board equal to the pro-rata amount of the then applicable annual grant.
· The non-employee directors are subject to equity ownership guidelines which require them to hold shares (or share equivalents, including deferred stock units) with a value equal to five times the annual retainer. Under the guidelines, directors have up to five years from joining the Board to acquire a sufficient number of shares (or share equivalents, including deferred stock units) to meet the ownership guidelines. Each of the Companys non-employee directors satisfies the equity ownership guidelines.
Deferred Compensation
· The Company has deferred compensation plans for non-employee directors. In addition to the automatic deferral of stock units awarded, non-employee directors may elect to defer up to 100% of their annual retainers and fees into the 2005 Directors Deferred Compensation Plan and receive an investment return on the deferred funds as if the funds were invested in Company common stock or permitted mutual funds. Prior to the deferral, plan participants must irrevocably elect to receive the deferred funds either in a lump sum or in equal annual installments. Deferred funds for which directors have elected to receive an investment return as if the funds were invested in Company common stock are distributed in shares of common stock. Distributions are made or, if applicable, commence following termination of service as a director. The directors deferred compensation accounts are unsecured obligations of the Company. Mr. Cary deferred fees under the plan in 2014. The 1999 Directors Deferred Compensation Plan continues to operate for the sole purpose of administering amounts vested under the plan on or prior to December 31, 2004.
Other
· All directors are eligible to participate in the Matching Gifts Program of the EQT Foundation on the same terms as Company employees. Under this program, the EQT Foundation will match gifts of at least $100 made by a director to eligible charities, up to an aggregate total of $25,000 in any calendar year.
· Each non-employee director who joined the Board prior to May 25, 1999 may designate a civic, charitable or educational organization as beneficiary of a gift, payable in a lump sum following the death of the director, funded by a life insurance policy purchased by the Company. The proceeds of the life insurance policy (and, therefore, the amount of the gift) approximate the present value of ten equal annual installments of $50,000. The directors do not receive any financial benefit from this program because the charitable deductions accrue solely to the Company.
· The Company reimburses directors for their travel and related expenses in connection with attending Board and Committee meetings and related activities. The Company also provides non-employee directors with $20,000 of life insurance and $250,000 of travel accident insurance while traveling on business for the Company.
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 31
The table below shows the total 2014 compensation of the Companys non-employee directors:
2014 Directors Compensation Table
NAME
|
FEES |
STOCK |
ALL OTHER |
TOTAL |
Ms. Bailey |
76,250 |
160,706 |
25,559 |
262,515 |
Dr. Behrman |
82,850 |
160,706 |
26,442 |
269,998 |
Mr. Burke |
82,850 |
160,706 |
10,370 |
253,926 |
Mr. Cary |
76,000 |
160,706 |
26,442 |
263,148 |
Ms. Dorman |
76,250 |
160,706 |
20,370 |
257,326 |
Mr. Miles |
77,000 |
160,706 |
11,608 |
249,314 |
Mr. Rohr |
80,000 |
160,706 |
3,108 |
243,814 |
Mr. Shapira |
71,500 |
160,706 |
28,108 |
260,314 |
Mr. Thorington |
87,250 |
160,706 |
25,766 |
273,722 |
Dr. Todd |
80,000 |
160,706 |
23,175 |
263,881 |
(1) |
Includes annual cash retainers, meeting fees and committee chair fees, some of which have been deferred at the election of the director. |
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(2) |
This column reflects the aggregate grant date fair values determined in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 718 for the deferred stock units awarded to each director during 2014. On January 1, 2014, the Company granted 1,790 deferred stock units to each non-employee director. The grant date fair value is computed as the sum of the number of deferred stock units awarded on the grant date multiplied by the closing stock price of the Companys common stock on the business day prior to the grant date, which closing stock price was $89.78 on December 31, 2013. The aggregate number of awarded deferred stock units, including accrued dividends thereon, held at December 31, 2014 was: Ms. Bailey 25,227; Dr. Behrman 15,910; Mr. Burke 6,970; Mr. Cary 15,910; Ms. Dorman 6,970; Mr. Miles 29,806; Mr. Rohr 29,807; Mr. Shapira 29,806; Mr. Thorington 10,275; and Dr. Todd 27,096. |
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|
(3) |
This column reflects (i) dividends accrued on deferred stock units to be settled in cash, (ii) annual premiums of $55.47 per director paid for life insurance and travel accident insurance policies, and (iii) the following matching gifts made to qualifying organizations under the EQT Foundations Matching Gifts Program: $23,000 for Ms. Bailey; $25,000 for Dr. Behrman; $10,000 for Mr. Burke; $25,000 for Mr. Cary; $20,000 for Ms. Dorman; $8,500 for Mr. Miles; $25,000 for Mr. Shapira; $25,000 for Mr. Thorington; and $20,392 for Dr. Todd. The non-employee directors may use a de minimis number of tickets purchased by the Company to attend sporting or other events when such tickets are not otherwise being used for business purposes. The use of such tickets does not result in any incremental costs to the Company. |
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 32
Stock Ownership of Significant Shareholders
The following shareholders reported to the SEC that they owned more than 5% of the Companys outstanding common stock:
NAME AND ADDRESS |
SHARES |
PERCENT OF |
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. 100 E. Pratt Street Baltimore, MD 21202
|
23,971,167 (1) |
15.8% |
BlackRock, Inc. 40 East 52nd Street New York, NY 10022
|
12,603,525 (2) |
8.3% |
The Vanguard Group 100 Vanguard Blvd. Malvern, PA 19355
|
11,696,052 (3) |
7.71% |
(1) Information based on Amendment No. 6 to Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 13, 2015, reporting that T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (T. Rowe Price) has sole voting power over 8,100,741 shares and sole dispositive power over 23,954,867 shares. According to T. Rowe Price, the shares are owned by various individual and institutional investors for which T. Rowe Price serves as an investment advisor with power to direct investments and/or sole power to vote the securities. For the purposes of the Exchange Act reporting requirements, T. Rowe Price is deemed to be a beneficial owner of the shares; however, T. Rowe Price expressly disclaims that it is, in fact, the beneficial owner of the shares.
(2) Information based on Amendment No. 6 to Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on January 23, 2015, reporting that BlackRock, Inc. has sole voting power over 11,357,599 shares and sole dispositive power over 12,603,525 shares.
(3) Information based on Amendment No. 3 to Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 11, 2015, reporting that The Vanguard Group has sole voting power over 263,331 shares, sole dispositive power over 11,451,581 shares and shared dispositive power over 244,471 shares.
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 33
Equity Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers
The following sets forth the number of shares of EQT common stock and EQM common units beneficially owned by the Companys directors and named executive officers (as determined under SEC rules) and all directors and executive officers as a group as of January 30, 2015, including EQT shares and EQM common units they had the right to acquire within 60 days after January 30, 2015.
The amounts and percentages of EQT shares and EQM common units beneficially owned are reported below on the basis of regulations of the SEC governing the determination of beneficial ownership of securities. Under SEC rules, a person is deemed to be a beneficial owner of a security if that person has or shares voting power, which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting of such security, or investment power, which includes the power to dispose of or to direct the disposition of such security. Except as indicated by footnote, the persons named below have sole voting and investment power with respect to all EQT shares and/or EQM common units shown as beneficially owned by them, subject to community property laws where applicable, and none of the EQT shares or EQM common units are subject to a pledge.
NAME
|
EXERCISABLE |
NUMBER OF SHARES |
DEFERRED |
PERCENT OF |
David L. Porges (5) Chairman, President and |
408,900 |
542,057 |
0 |
* |
Vicky A. Bailey Director |
0 |
6,709 |
20,878 |
* |
Philip G. Behrman |
0 |
13,260 |
11,561 |
* |
Kenneth M. Burke |
0 |
6,709 |
2,621 |
* |
A. Bray Cary, Jr. |
0 |
16,611 |
11,561 |
* |
Margaret K. Dorman |
0 |
6,709 |
2,621 |
* |
George L. Miles, Jr. Director |
0 |
16,286 |
22,204 |
* |
James E. Rohr Director |
0 |
17,568 |
32,351 |
* |
David S. Shapira (6) Director |
0 |
72,662 |
55,108 |
* |
Stephen A. Thorington |
0 |
16,709 |
5,926 |
* |
Lee T. Todd, Jr. Director |
0 |
8,909 |
22,747 |
* |
Philip P. Conti Senior Vice President and |
92,100 |
113,642 |
0 |
* |
Randall L. Crawford Senior Vice President |
235,800 |
63,837 |
0 |
* |
Lewis B. Gardner |
26,900 |
19,962 |
0 |
* |
Steven T. Schlotterbeck Executive Vice President |
147,200 |
82,593 |
0 |
* |
Directors and executive officers as a group (17 individuals) |
991,700 |
1,084,323 |
187,578 |
1.4% |
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 34
* Indicates ownership or aggregate voting percentage of less than 1%.
(1) This column reflects the number of shares of Company common stock that the executive officers and directors had a right to acquire within 60 days after January 30, 2015 through the exercise of stock options.
(2) This column reflects shares held of record and shares owned through a broker, bank or other nominee, including, for executive officers (i) shares owned through the Companys 401(k) plan and (ii) unvested restricted shares owned through the 2009 LTIP over which the executive officers have sole voting but no investment power. For the non-employee directors, this column includes deferred stock units (as described in the Equity-Based Compensation discussion included under the caption Directors Compensation above), including accrued dividends, that will be settled in common stock, over which the directors have no voting or investment power prior to settlement (Ms. Bailey 6,709 units; Dr. Behrman 6,709 units; Mr. Burke 6,709 units; Mr. Cary 6,709 units; Ms. Dorman 6,709 units; Mr. Miles 9,962 units; Mr. Rohr 9,962 units; Mr. Shapira 9,962 units; Mr. Thorington 6,709 units; and Dr. Todd 6,709 units). For Dr. Behrman and Messrs. Cary, Miles and Rohr, this column also includes deferred stock units, including accrued dividends, that will be settled in common stock in connection with the deferral of director fees, over which the directors have sole investment but no voting power prior to settlement (Dr. Behrman 6,551 units; Mr. Cary 9,902 units; Mr. Miles 6,324 units; and Mr. Rohr 2,900 units).
(3) This column reflects the number of deferred stock units granted prior to 2013 held by the non-employee directors through the directors deferred compensation plans that will be settled in cash, including:
· deferred stock units (as described in the Equity-Based Compensation discussion included under the caption Directors Compensation above), including accrued dividends (Ms. Bailey 20,878 units; Dr. Behrman 11,561 units; Mr. Burke 2,621 units; Mr. Cary 11,561 units; Ms. Dorman 2,621 units; Mr. Miles 22,204 units; Mr. Rohr 22,204 units; Mr. Shapira 22,204 units; Mr. Thorington 5,926 units; and Dr. Todd 22,747 units); and
· deferred stock units, including accrued dividends, resulting from the curtailment in 1999 of the directors retirement plan (Mr. Rohr 10,147 units; and Mr. Shapira 32,904 units).
(4) This column reflects for each of the named executive officers and directors, as well as all executive officers and directors as a group, (i) the sum of the shares beneficially owned, the stock options exercisable within 60 days of January 30, 2015 and the deferred stock units that will be settled in common stock, as a percentage of (ii) the sum of the Companys outstanding shares at January 30, 2015, all options exercisable by the executive officer and director group within 60 days of January 30, 2015 and all deferred stock units that will be settled in common stock upon termination of the directors service. These calculations exclude all deferred stock units included in column (3) that will be settled in cash.
(5) Shares beneficially owned include 50,000 shares that are held in a trust of which Mr. Porges is a co-trustee and in which he shares voting and investment power.
(6) Shares beneficially owned include 6,300 shares that are held in a trust of which Mr. Shapira is a co-trustee and in which he shares voting and investment power.
As of January 30, 2015, the directors and named executive officers of the Company also held, of record or beneficially through a broker, bank or other nominee, EQM common units in the following amounts: Mr. Porges 20,000 units; Ms. Bailey 1,000 units; Mr. Burke 3,000 units; Mr. Cary 12,000 units; Ms. Dorman 11,000 units; Mr. Miles 2,500 units; Mr. Rohr 2,655 units; Mr. Shapira 17,218 units; Mr. Thorington 5,000 units; Dr. Todd 1,500 units; Mr. Conti 9,750 units; Mr. Crawford 25,000 units; and Mr. Gardner 6,500 units. As of January 30, 2015, the directors and executive officers of the Company owned, as a group, 142,123 EQM common units, representing less than 1.0% of the then outstanding EQM common units.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires that the Companys directors, executive officers and all persons who beneficially own more than 10% of the Companys common stock file initial reports of
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 35
ownership and reports of changes in ownership of the Companys common stock with the SEC. As a practical matter, the Company assists its directors and executive officers by monitoring transactions and completing and filing Section 16 reports on their behalf. Based solely upon the Companys review of copies of filings or written representations from the reporting persons, the Company believes that all reports that were required to be filed under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act were filed on a timely basis during 2014.
The Compensation Discussion and Analysis (CD&A) below contains statements regarding future Company performance targets and goals. These targets and goals are disclosed in the limited context of EQTs compensation programs, may have been established one or more years ago, and should not be understood to be statements of managements expectations or estimates of future company results or other guidance. EQT specifically cautions investors not to apply these statements to other contexts.
Definitions of terms that are used, but not defined, in the CD&A can be found in the Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table and 2014 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table below. The Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table and 2014 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table and the CD&A contain references to one or more financial measures that have not been calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), which are also referred to as non-GAAP financial measures. Attached as Appendix B is a reconciliation of each disclosed non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.
As shareholders, you are invited to express your view of the compensation paid to the Companys named executive officers for 2014, as discussed and analyzed below. In considering how to vote on Item No. 2 below, you should be guided by the following discussion, and should evaluate whether the Management Development and Compensation Committee (or, as used in the CD&A, the Committee) has adequately aligned the interests of the Companys named executive officers with those of its shareholders.
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
EQTs core values include a commitment to operational excellence, integrity and accountability. The Company believes that after reading this CD&A you will agree that its executive compensation program:
· is designed to attract and retain the highest quality named executive officers;
· aligns the interests of the Companys named executive officers with the interests of its shareholders by directly linking executive pay to Company performance;
· directly supports the Companys strategic plan by focusing employee performance on specific drivers; and
· is market-based and premised upon informed industry benchmarking.
In summary, the Companys compensation program is designed to reward the named executive officers when the Company achieves strong financial and operational results, and the Company believes the 2014 compensation of its named executive officers is consistent with its commitment to link pay with performance.
This CD&A describes the Companys compensation philosophy and the components of the Companys compensation program for the Companys named executive officers included in the Summary Compensation Table below. In 2014, our named executive officers were:
· David L. Porges, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer;
· Philip P. Conti, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer;
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 36
· Randall L. Crawford, Senior Vice President;
· Lewis B. Gardner, General Counsel and Vice President, External Affairs; and
· Steven T. Schlotterbeck, Executive Vice President.
How We Performed in Fiscal Year 2014
The Company achieved a number of key financial and operational results in 2014 that are described in detail in the Companys annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, including, but not limited to, the following:
· operating income of $853.4 million; 30% higher than 2013;
· record annual production sales volume of 476 Bcfe; 26% higher than 2013;
○ the Companys five-year growth in production sales volume is set forth earlier in this proxy statement under the caption 2015 Proxy Statement Summary EQT Business Highlights;
· year-end proved reserves of 10.7 Tcfe; 29% higher than 2013;
· record gathered volume of 590.5 TBtu; 27% higher than 2013;
· record transmission throughput of 654.8 TBtu; 57% higher than 2013;
· a 22% year-over-year decrease in gathering and compression expense per unit;
○ the Companys fiveyear trend of reducing this metric is set forth earlier in this proxy statement under the caption 2015 Proxy Statement Summary EQT Business Highlights; and
· completed the foregoing in a safe and environmentally responsible fashion.
In 2014, the Company also completed a number of important transactions and commenced activities on a number of important projects. EQT contributed the Jupiter gathering system to a wholly-owned subsidiary of EQM in exchange for $1.2 billion. In connection with the contribution, EQM completed a public offering of additional limited partner units for net proceeds of $902 million (after deducting the underwriters discount and certain offering expenses), which proceeds were used primarily to pay the sale consideration (the contribution and offering are collectively referred to in this CD&A as the Jupiter transaction). The Company also completed a sale and exchange of production assets with Range Resources Corporation (Range) in which Range transferred to us ownership of certain assets located in the Permian Basin and we transferred to Range our remaining interest in properties located in the Nora field of Virginia and $167.3 million in cash. The Company commenced work on the Ohio Valley Connector project and partnered with an affiliate of NextEra Energy, Inc. to form a joint venture for the purpose of constructing the Mountain Valley Pipeline. Finally, the Company received board approval to file a registration statement with the SEC for an initial public offering of common units of a master limited partnership that is expected to own the general partner interest in, and the incentive distribution rights of, EQM.
The Committee aims to align the named executive officers compensation with the performance of the Company. In 2014, the Committees independent compensation consultant, Pay Governance, prepared the assessment below of the alignment of the aggregate realizable compensation awarded to the Companys Chief Executive Officer for the three-year period ending December 31, 2013 (the last year for which information was publicly available) with the performance of the Company on a relative basis during the same three-year period to the 2015 peer group (which is discussed below).
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 37
The chart below shows the results of this assessment and compares:
· the Companys composite performance on three factors (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) growth, return on invested capital (ROIC) and total shareholder return (TSR) (weighted equally)) to the performance of the 2015 peer group over the three-year period ending December 31, 2013; and
· the total realizable compensation of the Companys Chief Executive Officer to the total realizable compensation of the chief executive officers of the 2015 peer group over the same period. Realizable compensation is defined as the sum of: (i) base salary earned during the three-year period, (ii) actual non-equity incentive compensation earned during the three-year period, (iii) aggregate current value of restricted stock grants received during the three-year period, (iv) aggregate in-the-money value of stock option grants received during the three-year period, and (v) for performance plans, the actual payouts for awards beginning and ending during the three-year period and an estimated payout for unvested awards received during the three-year period.
Source: Pay Governance LLC
As reflected in the chart above, the relative realizable three-year total compensation of the Companys Chief Executive Officer positioned the Company at the 84th percentile of the 2015 peer group, which is aligned with the Companys composite performance over the same period at the 70th percentile, showing the close link between the Chief Executive Officers compensation and Company performance.
While the Companys relative performance is an indication of overall performance, it is more accurately a reflection of the Companys achievement of specific financial and operational objectives, which the Company uses in structuring annual and long-term incentive plans.
|
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 38
|
Management Development and Compensation Committee Highlights
The Committee evaluates and, when appropriate or desirable, takes action with respect to various aspects of the Companys compensation programs. The following are a few of the Committees key actions:
· The Committee evaluated the results of the Companys annual compensation and governance shareholder outreach program. § In addition to the regular and ongoing shareholder outreach program of the Companys investor relations department, during the summer of 2014, for the fifth consecutive year, representatives of the Companys human resources and legal departments requested meetings with holders of approximately 35% of the Companys outstanding shares to review the Companys compensation and governance practices and to understand any areas of concern. § The Committee also considered how the Company compares on key compensation features identified by proxy advisory services.
· The Committee approved the adoption by the Company of a policy prohibiting executive officers (and directors) from pledging (or otherwise allowing a lien to be imposed upon) EQT securities, including through the use of a margin account with a broker.
· The Committee structured the 2015 annual and long-term incentive programs for the Companys named executive officers. These programs continued to focus on total shareholder return, as well as financial and operational measures that drive the Companys success.
· Upon the recommendation of the Committee and the Board, the 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the 2014 LTIP) was approved by approximately 90% of the votes cast at the 2014 annual meeting of shareholders. While based upon the 2009 LTIP, the 2014 LTIP contains the following improvements: § replaced automatic acceleration of awards upon a change in control (i.e. single trigger) with a requirement that the employee be terminated without cause (or resign for good reason) following a change of control in order to trigger acceleration of awards (i.e. double trigger), unless the surviving entity does not assume/convert outstanding awards; § strengthened the prohibition on repricing options; § expressly provided that all awards issued under the plan are subject to the compensation recoupment policy; and § provided for a minimum vesting period of three years with no more frequent than annual ratable vesting for options (previously a requirement only for restricted stock and restricted stock units).
|
Consideration of 2014 Say-on-Pay Vote
In establishing and recommending 2015 compensation for the Companys named executive officers, the Committee considered the results of the 2014 say-on-pay vote at the 2014 annual meeting of shareholders. At that meeting, approximately 98% of the votes cast approved the compensation of the Companys named executive officers for 2013.
Based on the results of the 2014 say-on-pay vote and feedback received through the shareholder outreach program, the Committee concluded that the compensation paid to the named executive officers and the Companys overall pay practices received strong shareholder support and do not require substantial revision to address shareholder concerns. Nonetheless, the Committee did undertake a thorough analysis of its compensation programs as described below.
The Committee recognizes that executive pay practices continue to evolve. Consequently, the Committee intends to continue paying close attention to the advice and counsel of its independent compensation advisors and invites our shareholders to communicate any concerns or opinions on executive pay directly to the Committee or the Board. Please see the caption Contacting the Board under Corporate Governance and Board Matters above for information about communicating with the Committee and the Board.
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 39
At our 2011 annual meeting of shareholders, our shareholders expressed a preference that advisory votes on executive compensation occur every year. In accordance with the results of this vote, the Committee determined to implement an advisory vote on executive compensation every year until the next vote on the frequency of shareholder votes on executive compensation, which must occur no later than our 2017 annual meeting.
· Compensation Program is Designed to Achieve the Companys Objectives
The objectives of EQTs compensation programs are to attract, motivate and retain highly-talented named executive officers who can ensure that the Company is able to safely, efficiently and profitably produce, gather and transport natural gas. The Company seeks executives who are willing to trade off guaranteed compensation for the opportunity presented by at-risk compensation that depends upon achieving challenging performance objectives with an acceptable level of risk-taking. To create the necessary performance incentive, the compensation programs provide not only for increased pay as a reward for above-median performance but also for below-median pay for sub-par performance. Stated differently, the programs are structured to require a commitment to performance because a large percentage of a named executive officers compensation is not guaranteed.
· Compensation is Related to Performance and is Aligned with the Companys Strategic Plan
The total compensation packages for the named executive officers are generally weighted in favor of at-risk compensation through annual and long-term performance-based incentive pay. The various programs that comprise the total compensation package link payout to the Companys performance on specific pre-established, objective performance measures. The table below reflects the actual fixed and at-risk components of the compensation package of each named executive officer, as a percentage of actual total direct compensation (base salary and annual and long-term incentives), for 2014 as reflected in the Summary Compensation Table.
|
|
PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL DIRECT | ||
EXECUTIVE OFFICER |
|
FIXED (1) |
|
AT RISK (2) |
David L. Porges |
|
10% |
|
90% |
Philip P. Conti |
|
11% |
|
89% |
Randall L. Crawford |
|
11% |
|
89% |
Lewis B. Gardner |
|
23% |
|
77% |
Steven T. Schlotterbeck |
|
11% |
|
89% |
(1) This column reflects each named executive officers base salary earned during 2014 (as shown for 2014 in the Salary column of the Summary Compensation Table), as a percentage of the sum of the executives total direct compensation for 2014 set forth in the Summary Compensation Table.
(2) This column reflects each named executive officers non-equity incentive plan compensation and equity compensation for 2014 (as shown for 2014 in the Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation, Stock Awards and Option Awards columns of the Summary Compensation Table), as a percentage of the sum of the executives total direct compensation for 2014 set forth in the Summary Compensation Table.
The Committee aligns its executive compensation decisions with the strategic plan for the Company. As the Companys strategic plan evolves, the Committee makes corresponding changes to financial and operational metrics used to measure performance under its compensation plans to drive group and individual performance most likely to achieve the business plan and uphold strong returns to shareholders. The Companys strategic plan for recent years has focused on growth of production sales
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 40
volume and EBITDA each of which is a performance measure under the Companys various incentive plans.
· Total Compensation Should be Competitive
When considering the total compensation package for a named executive officer, as described in this CD&A, the Committee benchmarks each element of total direct compensation and the mix of compensation (cash versus equity) against the applicable peer group. The Company has chosen to structure the total compensation package for the named executive officers as a mix of base salary and annual and long-term incentives to be competitive in the marketplace.
· Compensation-Related Risk Should be Thoughtfully Managed
The Companys compensation program is designed to avoid excessive risk-taking. Please see Compensation Policies and Practices and Risk Management below for a discussion regarding the evaluation of risks associated with the Companys compensation programs.
· Incentive Compensation Balances Annual and Long-Term Performance
The Companys compensation programs are designed to maintain a balance between rewarding the achievement of strong annual results and ensuring the Companys long-term growth and success. To this end, a mix of both annual and longer-term incentives is provided and allocated in a manner generally consistent with the applicable peer group of companies. Participation in both the annual and long-term incentive programs, which is largely based on comparative benchmarking, increases at higher levels of responsibility, as the named executive officers have the greatest influence on the Companys strategic direction and results over time.
· Peer Groups Help Establish Target Total Direct Compensation and Define Competitive Levels of Performance
The Committee generally looks to an industry-specific peer group of companies to help establish base salary and target annual and long-term incentives for the named executive officers and to ensure that the total direct compensation of the named executive officers is competitive. The Committee may also look to a general industry group of companies when considering compensation of the named executive officers. The Committee also uses industry-specific peer groups in measuring relative company performance for purposes of some of our long-term incentive programs, which impacts a portion of each named executive officers long-term incentive compensation. Peer groups are reviewed with the Committees independent compensation consultant for appropriateness for the particular purpose.
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 41
For 2014, target total direct compensation for certain of the named executive officers was determined by reference to, among other things, the market median total direct compensation of the following companies, in each case as reported in the most recent proxy statement for each company (which we refer to as the 2014 peer group):
Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation |
ONEOK, Inc. |
|
Chesapeake Energy Corporation |
Pioneer Natural Resources Company |
|
Cimarex Energy Co. |
QEP Resources, Inc. |
|
Concho Resources Inc. |
Questar Corporation |
|
CONSOL Energy Inc. |
Quicksilver Resources Inc. |
|
Continental Resources, Inc. |
Range Resources Corporation |
|
Energen Corporation |
SM Energy Company |
|
EOG Resources, Inc. |
Southwestern Energy Company |
|
EXCO Resources, Inc. |
Spectra Energy Corp |
|
MarkWest Energy Partners, L.P. |
Ultra Petroleum Corp. |
|
National Fuel Gas Company |
Whiting Petroleum Corporation |
|
Newfield Exploration Company |
Williams Companies, Inc., The |
|
Noble Energy, Inc. |
|
|
This group of companies was selected in the fall of 2013 by the Committee with the assistance of its independent compensation consultant after considering changes to the Companys strategic direction and conducting a thorough analysis of the prior peer group. Selection criteria for the 2014 peer group included consideration of industry, talent competitiveness, whether a peer is a peer of peers, geographic location, ownership structure, current and historical financial and stock performance and scope.
The 2014 peer group is largely consistent with the peer group for 2013 except for the elimination of companies that were acquired during 2013 and, in light of the Companys 2013 sale of Equitable Gas Company, companies with a distribution focus. The replacement peers, Continental Resources, Inc., Noble Energy, Inc. and QEP Resources, Inc., were identified by the Committee after consideration of historical market capitalization, financial performance and executive compensation of companies not included in the prior year peer group but identified as peers by the largest of the proxy advisory services with a particular focus on production and, to a lesser extent, midstream operations.
The financial metrics at the median of the 2014 peer group are intended to approximate, on balance, the Companys financial metrics. See Appendix C for a comparison of financial metrics of the 2014 peer group available at the time of selection. The 2014 peer group was used to establish the 2014 base salaries and 2014 target annual and long-term incentive compensation for Messrs. Porges, Crawford and Schlotterbeck and to measure relative company performance for purposes of the Companys 2014 EPIP (see the Determining Target Total Direct Compensation section below for a discussion of how the peer group data was used to establish the 2014 compensation levels for the named executive officers). In establishing the 2014 base salary and 2014 target annual and long-term incentive compensation for Mr. Gardner, the Committee considered the compensation paid to executives within the general industry group of companies set forth in Appendix D because the Committee believed that the skills and experience requisite of the General Counsel need not be specific to the Companys business and, accordingly, his compensation should be aligned with general industry. In recognition of the increasing industry focus in his responsibilities, the Committee considered the general industry group of companies and the 2014 peer group in establishing Mr. Contis 2014 base salary and 2014 target annual and long-term incentive compensation.
In the fall of 2014, the Committee reviewed its peer group with its independent compensation consultant and, after conducting a thorough analysis, concluded to make no changes at that time. Although no changes were made, we refer to this peer group as the 2015 peer group to reflect the purpose for its selection.
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 42
The financial metrics at the median of the 2015 peer group are intended to approximate, on balance, the Companys financial metrics. See Appendix E for a comparison of financial metrics of the 2015 peer group available at the time of selection. The 2015 peer group was used to establish the 2015 base salaries and 2015 target annual and long-term incentive compensation for Messrs. Porges, Crawford and Schlotterbeck and to measure relative company performance for purposes of the Companys 2015 EPIP. In establishing the 2015 base salary and 2015 target annual and long-term incentive compensation for Mr. Gardner, the Committee considered the compensation paid to executives within the general industry group of companies set forth in Appendix F for the same reason it used a general industry peer group for establishing 2014 compensation. In continued recognition of the industry focus in his responsibilities, the Committee considered the 2015 peer group and the general industry group of companies in establishing Mr. Contis 2015 base salary and 2015 target annual and long-term incentive compensation.
· The Committee is Mindful of Tax Considerations When Designing Compensation
The Committee considers the impact of the applicable tax laws with respect to compensation paid under the Companys plans, arrangements and agreements. Code Section 162(m) disallows, with certain exceptions, a federal income tax deduction for annual compensation over $1 million paid to any covered employee. The covered employees are the person who served as principal executive officer as of the close of the tax year and the three most highly-compensated officers serving at year-end other than the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer. An exception to the deduction limit is provided under the Code for performance-based compensation paid pursuant to shareholder-approved plans that meet certain criteria.
Long-term incentive awards outstanding in 2014 were granted under plans approved by the Companys shareholders. These plans provide for award opportunities designed to qualify as performance-based compensation under Code Section 162(m). More specifically, the awards under the 2012 EPIP, the 2013 EPIP, the 2014 EPIP, the 2015 EPIP and the EQM TR Program and the stock option awards are anticipated, but cannot be guaranteed, to be fully deductible by the Company under the performance-based compensation exemption.
In addition, the Executive STIP permits the payment of annual incentive awards that are designed to be deductible performance-based compensation under Code Section 162(m). The 2014 and 2015 annual incentive awards are also anticipated, but cannot be guaranteed, to be fully deductible under the performance-based compensation exemption.
Although the Committee generally attempts to structure compensation to preserve deductibility, it also believes that there are circumstances in which the Companys interests are best served by maintaining flexibility in the way compensation is provided, even if it might result in the non-deductibility of certain compensation for tax purposes. For example, the Company has the ability to grant service-based restricted shares and other stock-based awards under the 2014 LTIP and to make cash bonuses and equity grants that are not designed to qualify as performance-based compensation under the Code.
· Executives are Encouraged to Own Equity
Consistent with the goal of driving long-term value creation for shareholders, the Companys equity ownership guidelines require significant equity ownership by our named executive officers. As of December 31, 2014, the named executive officers holdings relative to their equity ownership guidelines were as set forth on the following page:
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 43
NAME (YEAR OF EXECUTIVE |
OWNERSHIP |
ACTUAL |
VALUE REQUIRED |
AGGREGATE | |||
David L. Porges (1998) |
8X |
45.9X |
|
$6,800,000 |
|
$39,008,760 |
(1) |
Philip P. Conti (2000) |
3X |
23.3X |
|
1,218,000 |
|
9,460,593 |
|
Randall L. Crawford (2003) |
3X |
15.6X |
|
1,350,000 |
|
7,023,959 |
|
Lewis B. Gardner (2008) |
3X |
5.6X |
|
1,110,000 |
|
2,076,186 |
|
Steven T. Schlotterbeck (2008) |
3X |
12.9X |
|
1,455,000 |
|
6,246,255 |
|
(1) Excludes 50,000 shares of EQT common stock (value of $3,785,000 at December 31, 2014) held in a trust of which Mr. Porges is a co-trustee and in which he has beneficial interest and voting and investment power.
Qualifying holdings include EQT stock and EQM units owned directly, EQT shares held in the Companys 401(k) plan, time-based restricted stock and units, and performance-based awards for which only a service condition remains, but do not include other performance-based awards or options. Although mandatory, there is no deadline for achieving the ownership guidelines and executives are not required to purchase EQT stock or EQM units. The net shares or units acquired through incentive compensation plans (through the exercise of options, the vesting of restricted stock or similar) must be retained if an executive has not satisfied his target. An executives failure to meet the equity ownership guidelines may influence an executives mix of cash and non-cash compensation. Executives are not permitted to pledge their EQT equity (or EQM equity if they are also executive officers of EQMs general partner) or hedge or otherwise invest in derivatives involving EQT stock or EQM units.
Making Executive Compensation Decisions
· Determining Target Total Direct Compensation
The Committee establishes the target total direct compensation for named executive officers by establishing base salaries and setting annual and long-term incentive targets. When appropriate, the Committee also modifies perquisites and makes other awards. When establishing target total direct compensation for each named executive officer, the Committee considers:
· the market median target total direct compensation for the applicable peer group as compiled by the Committees independent compensation consultant;
· the scope of the executives responsibility, internal pay equity, succession planning, industry-specific technical skills and abilities that may be difficult to replace and the highly-competitive environment for executive talent in the region because of the activity in the Marcellus and Utica plays; and
· Mr. Porges compensation recommendations.
The Committee also seeks input from or the approval of the other independent directors of the Board when appropriate or desirable.
The Committee sets base salaries and annual incentive targets at or below market median. The Committee has established long-term incentive targets for the named executive officers other than the Chief Executive Officer above market median after considering the factors identified above.
In considering the amount and type of each component of compensation, the Committee considers the effect of each element on all other elements as well as the allocation of target total compensation between cash and equity. In response to the request of a significant shareholder, in 2009 the Committee committed that at least 50% of the value of all equity granted to the named executive officers would be performance-based awards (not including options) earned only upon the achievement of disclosed
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 44
performance metrics and hurdle rates. While the Committee remains committed to providing a significant portion of each executive officers equity based compensation in performance-based awards, in 2014, it announced that it believes that options are an appropriate and useful compensation tool which need not be limited as described above. This determination was made after considering shareholder feedback received over the preceding years and input from the Committees independent compensation consultant.
Compensation previously earned by the named executive officers does not typically affect the Committees compensation decisions. This reflects the Committees view that a named executive officers compensation level should reflect the current market value of his services. The Committee further believes that reducing a named executive officers compensation based on the value of past compensation would weaken the competitiveness of the Companys compensation programs and the incentive to achieve superior performance in the future and make it more difficult to attract, motivate and retain executive talent.
In 2014, the target total direct compensation of Mr. Porges substantially exceeded the target total direct compensation of the other named executive officers. This differential is consistent with, and largely driven by, pay differentials reflected in the peer groups as the management and oversight responsibilities of a chief executive officer are significantly broader in scope than those of the other named executive officers.
· Tally Sheets
Annually the Committee is provided with a tally sheet for each named executive officer designed to provide the Committee with a full picture of the executives compensation history as well as of all compensation payable upon his termination of employment and upon a change of control. Each tally sheet sets forth:
· a history of at least five years of base salary, annual incentive targets and awards and perquisites; and
· a complete history since hire date of long-term incentive awards, including realized gains as well as potential gains on unexercised or unvested awards.
The tally sheets also reflect the value of compensation due to each named executive officer under certain termination scenarios, including:
· termination of the executive by the Company with and without cause, as defined in any applicable agreement or policy;
· termination by the executive for good reason, as defined in the applicable agreement;
· termination by the executive other than for good reason, including retirement;
· termination of the executive following a change of control; and
· disability or death.
With regard to each scenario, the tally sheets include:
· the cash amounts payable to the executive, including outplacement and other payments;
· the cost of benefits continuation;
· the value of all equity awards, including the acceleration of unvested equity awards and the value of forfeited awards;
· the value of any cutback of benefits to avoid excise tax;
· retirement benefits; and
· any other compensation payable to the executive upon termination.
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 45
The tally sheets are provided to Committee members in an electronic resource book for easy reference. This resource book also contains base salary, annual and long-term incentive targets, all incentive plan documentation and all non-competition and change of control agreements for each of the named executive officers.
· Role of the Independent Compensation Consultant
The Committee has the sole authority to hire, terminate and approve fees for compensation consultants, outside legal counsel and other advisors as it deems to be necessary to assist in the fulfillment of its responsibilities. During 2014, the Committee utilized Pay Governance as its independent compensation consultant, and Pay Governance reported directly to the Committee. Representatives of Pay Governance provided the Committee with market data and counsel regarding executive officer compensation programs and practices, including specifically:
· competitive benchmarking;
· peer group identification and assessment;
· advice and market insight as to the form of and performance measures for annual and long-term incentives;
· marketplace compensation trends in the Companys industry and generally; and
· advice regarding the performance of the Companys annual review of compensation risk.
Representatives of Pay Governance do not make recommendations on, or approve, the amount of compensation for any executive officer. The Committee may request information or advice directly from representatives of Pay Governance and may direct the Company to provide information to representatives of Pay Governance. Representatives of Pay Governance regularly interact with representatives of the Companys human resources department and periodically with the Chief Executive Officer and representatives of the legal department.
Components of the Companys Compensation Program
The following describes each element of the Companys executive compensation arrangements: base salary, annual incentives, long-term incentives, health and welfare benefits, retirement programs, perquisites, and non-compete and change of control agreements.
· Base Salary
The base salary for each named executive officer is established taking into account the factors discussed under Determining Target Total Direct Compensation above. Base salaries are ordinarily considered and, where appropriate, adjusted early each year. In 2014, the following base salary adjustments were made: Mr. Contis base salary was increased to $406,000 from $400,000; Mr. Crawfords base salary was increased to $450,000 from $442,000; Mr. Gardners base salary was increased to $370,000 from $345,000; and Mr. Schlotterbecks base salary was increased to $485,000 from $442,000. These salary adjustments were made to approximate base salaries at the market median. In 2015, the following base salary adjustments were made: Mr. Contis base salary was increased to $431,400 from $406,000; Mr. Crawfords base salary was increased to $463,500 from $450,000; Mr. Gardners base salary was increased to $385,500 from $370,000; and Mr. Schlotterbecks base salary was increased to $505,500 from $485,000. These salary adjustments were made to approximate base salaries at the market median.
· Annual Incentives
Before or at the start of each year, the Committee approves the target annual incentive award for each named executive officer taking into account the factors discussed under Determining Target Total Direct
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 46
Compensation above. For 2014, the Committee approved the following target annual incentive awards for the named executive officers: $850,000 for Mr. Porges; $320,000 for Mr. Conti; $385,000 for Mr. Crawford; $203,500 for Mr. Gardner; and $415,000 for Mr. Schlotterbeck. These levels approximated the market median and were largely consistent with the 2013 targets. For 2015, the Committee approved the following increases in the target annual incentive awards for Messrs. Gardner and Schlotterbeck to reflect the market median: for Mr. Gardner, an increase of $11,000 to $214,500; and for Mr. Schlotterbeck, an increase of $45,000 to $460,000.
The Executive STIP, which is the annual bonus plan in which the named executive officers participate, is structured with an intent to preserve the full deductibility of awards under Code Section 162(m). In order to do this, the Committee establishes one or more objectively determinable performance goals or measures before or at the beginning of each year. Performance against these measures results in an objectively determinable bonus amount, except that the Committee is permitted to exercise, and has historically exercised, downward discretion in determining the actual payout under the plan. The Committee does not have discretion to pay a higher amount under the Executive STIP than that specified by the objective formula.
2014 Annual Incentives
The 2014 performance measure approved for the Executive STIP was adjusted 2014 EBITDA compared to business plan. Adjusted 2014 EBITDA was calculated consistent with all GAAP line items using a fixed natural gas price of $4.00 per Mcfe, normalizing for weather and excluding the effects of acquisitions and dispositions of greater than $100 million. This measure, which has been successfully used as the annual performance metric since the 2009 plan year, was selected because it drives behavior consistent with the shareholders interests and the Companys business plan embodies the goals and priorities of the Company. Moreover, cash flow measures such as EBITDA are often utilized by capital intensive companies and their investors as an indicator of such companies performance, including their ability to fund their activities and service their debt (see Appendix B for additional information about this metric). The Committee fixed the natural gas price and agreed to normalize for weather to avoid the undue positive or negative effect of natural gas prices and weather, both of which are beyond the control of plan participants and may be volatile. The Committee believed that the exclusion of acquisitions and dispositions of over $100 million from the calculation of adjusted 2014 EBITDA would encourage named executive officers to pursue monetization transactions to further the Companys strategic plan to accelerate development of the Companys Marcellus Shale assets. Under the Executive STIP, a pool to pay bonuses to the Companys seven executive officers (which include the named executive officers) was funded based upon adjusted 2014 EBITDA relative to plan, as follows:
ADJUSTED 2014 EBITDA |
PERCENTAGE OF ADJUSTED 2014 EBITDA |
At or above plan |
2% |
5% below plan |
1.5% |
25% below plan |
1% |
Greater than 25% below plan |
No bonus |
The percentage of adjusted 2014 EBITDA available for the pool was interpolated between levels and capped at 2%. After determining the pool available for distribution, the Committee determined the value of the award to each named executive officer based upon consideration of the individuals 2014 target award and 2014 performance on Company, business unit and individual value drivers. Generally, the Committee aims to award between zero and three times the value of a named executive officers target award, but the Committee may award up to $5 million to each named executive officer, subject to the overall cap. The Committee believes that this structure provides the Committee with flexibility to reward superior individual performance in years of superior company performance.
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 47
The Committee considers the following as a basis for addressing the performance of each named executive officer:
· a review of Mr. Porges performance performed by the Corporate Governance Committee and the Chair of the Committee and reviewed with all independent directors. Mr. Porges provides a self-assessment to the Corporate Governance Committee and the Chair of the Committee to assist their review, and input is requested from the Lead Independent Director and other independent directors; and
· a report by Mr. Porges regarding the performance of each other named executive officer.
Adjusted 2014 EBITDA of $1,693 million exceeded the Companys business plan by approximately 8%. Consistent with the Executive STIP and Code Section 162(m), the Committee exercised downward discretion in determining the award to each named executive officer taking into consideration each named executive officers target award and performance on Company, business unit and individual value drivers. In assessing the value driver performance of each named executive officer, the Committee considered, among other things, the effort on a number of important transactions and projects and the Companys strong 2014 performance (discussed under the caption How We Performed in Fiscal Year 2014 in this CD&A) notwithstanding volatility in the price for natural gas, natural gas liquids and oil and the weakening of local basis in the Appalachian region. The five-year trend in the Companys performance on certain metrics discussed below is set forth in the 2015 Proxy Statement Summary section of this proxy statement under the caption EQT Business Highlights. The following are the highlights of each named executive officers 2014 performance:
NAMED EXECUTIVE |
2014 PERFORMANCE |
David L. Porges |
Mr. Porges served in the role of Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of EQT and of the general partner of EQM throughout 2014. Mr. Porges 2014 incentive award recognized the Companys efforts on important transactions and projects, as well as its strong performance in a weak price market, as follows:
· completed EQTs sale of the Jupiter gathering system to a subsidiary of EQM and the related EQM equity offering; · commenced work on the Ohio Valley Connector project and partnered with an affiliate of NextEra Energy, Inc. to form a joint venture for the purpose of constructing the Mountain Valley Pipeline; · received board approval to file a registration statement with the SEC for an initial public offering of common units of a master limited partnership that is expected to own the general partner interest in, and the incentive distribution rights of, EQM; · commenced operations in the Permian Basin by way of an asset exchange with Range Resources Corporation (Range) through which the Company also exited its position in the Nora Field of Virginia; · increased production sales volume, reserves, gathered volume and transmission throughput to record levels as described below, while at the same time maintaining control over costs and operating in a safe and environmentally responsible fashion; and · leadership on achieving other company and business unit value drivers, including a value driver through which employees were encouraged to identify innovative ways to help the Company grow and enhance its performance. |
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 48
NAMED EXECUTIVE |
2014 PERFORMANCE |
Philip P. Conti |
Mr. Conti served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of EQT and of the general partner of EQM throughout 2014. His role includes the management of the treasury, accounting, tax, financial risk and internal audit functions. Mr. Contis incentive award recognized his performance on Company, business unit and individual value drivers in 2014, including:
· completed EQTs sale of the Jupiter gathering system to EQM and the related EQM equity offering that resulted in $902 million of net proceeds; · following the receipt of EQMs investment grade credit rating, completed EQMs initial debt offering which resulted in net proceeds of $492 million; · led the efforts to put EQT in a strong liquidity position heading into 2015, which efforts included the Jupiter transaction and the EQM debt and equity offerings; · performed an analysis of whether future midstream projects should be built at EQT or EQM, including consideration of the schedule for future asset sales to EQM; · led the effort that resulted in board approval to file a registration statement for an initial public offering of common units of a master limited partnership that is expected to own the general partner interest in, and the incentive distribution rights of, EQM; · provided strong oversight for accounting disclosure and controls systems, as evidenced by the lack of significant internal control or financial reporting deficiencies; and · continued successful tax planning initiatives.
|
Randall L. Crawford |
Mr. Crawford led the Companys midstream and commercial businesses throughout 2014, serving as Senior Vice President and President, Midstream and Commercial, EQT and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the general partner of EQM. Mr. Crawfords incentive award recognized his performance on Company, business unit and individual value drivers in 2014, including:
· operating income of $384.3 million at EQT Midstream; 17% higher than 2013; · record gathered volume of 590.5 TBtu; 27% higher than 2013; · record transmission throughput of 654.8 TBtu; 57% higher than 2013; · gathering and compression expense of $0.14 per MMBtu; a 22% decrease from 2013; · leadership in meeting with EQM stakeholders to communicate issues critical to EQM, including strategy and technical information; · developed and directed the commercial sales strategy for the Companys record natural gas and natural gas liquids production; · led business development efforts to profitably attract third-party volumes while ensuring that EQT Productions volume growth continues to move and access valuable markets; · significant progress on the Mountain Valley Pipeline and Ohio Valley Pipeline projects, which will substantially increase the EQM asset base and geographic footprint and set the foundation of that business for years to come; · with the Finance Department, completed EQTs sale of the Jupiter gathering system to EQM; and · an excellent environmental and safety record. |
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 49
NAMED EXECUTIVE |
2014 PERFORMANCE |
Lewis B. Gardner |
Mr. Gardner served as General Counsel and Vice President, External Affairs throughout 2014. His role includes the management of the legal, enterprise risk, external affairs, corporate communications, environmental, health and safety, governance and corporate secretary functions. Mr. Gardners incentive award recognized his performance on Company, business unit and individual value drivers in 2014, including:
· effective management of corporate governance, compliance and litigation matters; · oversight for legal efforts in support of significant transactions and projects in 2014, including the sale of the Jupiter gathering system and related EQM equity offering, the EQM debt offering, the exchange of assets with Range, the development of the Ohio Valley Connector project, the structure and development of the joint venture to build the Mountain Valley Pipeline and the analysis supporting the filing of a registration statement for an initial public offering of common units of a master limited partnership that is expected to own the general partner interest in, and the incentive distribution rights of, EQM and related matters; · leadership in governmental affairs matters important to EQT, including lease integration and zoning matters; and · continued improvement in safety and environmental performance, including oversight of the design and implementation of a more robust contractor safety program for third-party vendors.
|
Steven T. Schlotterbeck |
Mr. Schlotterbeck led the Companys exploration and production business throughout 2014, serving as Executive Vice President and President, Exploration and Production. At the end of 2013, Mr. Schlotterbeck assumed responsibility for the Companys information technology and procurement functions. Mr. Schlotterbecks incentive award recognized his performance on Company, business unit and individual value drivers in 2014, including:
· record production sales volume of 476.3 Bcfe, an increase of 26% over 2013, which represented the fifth consecutive year of annual production sales volume growth in excess of 25%; · total proved reserves of 10.7 Tcfe, an increase of 29% over 2013; · leased an additional 71,000 gross acres in the Companys core Marcellus play; · leadership in expanding operations into the Permian Basin through the asset exchange with Range which also resulted in the Company exiting its non-core position in the Nora Field in Virginia; · total feet of pay drilled was 108% of the planned amount, while staying within the planned capital budget; · led development of an inventory of 90 wells to be carried into 2015, which equates to 47% of the 191 well 2015 drilling program; · total controllable lease operating expense and gathering and administrative unit costs were 6% less than the planned amount; · leadership in meeting with EQT stakeholders to communicate exploration and production issues critical to EQT, including strategy and technical information; and · an excellent environmental and safety record. |
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 50
Although permitted to distribute a total of $33.8 million to the seven executive officers, the Committee distributed less than $6.4 million. The total 2014 Executive STIP award to each named executive officer as a percent of his respective target award was as follows:
NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICER |
2014 ANNUAL INCENTIVE AWARD AS A |
David L. Porges |
268% |
Philip P. Conti |
263% |
Randall L. Crawford |
250% |
Lewis B. Gardner |
226% |
Steven T. Schlotterbeck |
265% |
2015 Annual Incentives
In December 2014, the Committee selected adjusted 2015 EBITDA as compared to business plan as the performance measure under the 2015 Executive STIP. Adjusted 2015 EBITDA will be calculated consistent with all GAAP line items using a fixed natural gas price of $4.00 per Mcfe and excluding the effects of acquisitions and dispositions of greater than $100 million. Adjusted 2015 EBITDA was selected as the 2015 performance measure for the same reasons that adjusted 2014 EBITDA was selected for 2014 after also considering the relative rigor of the 2015 business plan, including the forecasted growth rate and the importance of managing costs in a low price environment for natural gas. Under the Executive STIP, the pool available for all executive officer incentive awards will be funded based upon adjusted 2015 EBITDA relative to the 2015 business plan consistent with funding permitted under the 2014 annual incentive. Also consistent with 2014 and prior years, after determining the pool available for distribution for 2015, the Committee will determine the value of the award to each named executive officer based upon consideration of the individuals 2015 target award and 2015 performance on Company, business unit and individual value drivers.
· Long-Term Incentives
2014 Long-Term Incentive Awards (2014 options and 2014 EPIP)
In developing the 2014 long-term incentive program, the Committee designed a program that the Committee believed would align the interests of the named executive officers with the interests of shareholders, drive appropriate performance, be market competitive, be effective for retention purposes, be tax efficient and minimize earnings volatility. The Committees considerations included:
· the appropriate way to incentivize executives toward the success of both the Company and EQM;
· the portfolio of existing long-term incentive programs and their combined influence on focusing executive behavior on critical activities; and
· feedback received during the Companys 2013 shareholder outreach program.
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 51
As a result of its analysis, and with input from its independent compensation consultant, the Committee designed a long-term incentive compensation program for 2014 that included stock options and performance units under the 2014 EPIP:
TYPE OF |
|
APPROXIMATE |
|
RATIONALE |
Stock Options |
|
45% |
|
Stock options encourage executives to focus broadly on behaviors that should lead to a sustained long-term increase in the price of EQT stock, which benefits all shareholders.
|
2014 EPIP |
|
55% |
|
The 2014 EPIP performance units drive long-term value directly related to EQT stock performance but allow for the delivery of some value, assuming relative performance, even if the stock price declines. Performance units have stronger retention value than options but less leverage in a rising stock price environment. |
The allocation among the types of awards was largely driven by the Committees commitment at the time of grant that at least 50% of the value of all equity granted to named executive officers would be performance-based awards (not including options).
The options granted in January 2014 have a term of ten years and an exercise price of $89.78. The options will vest on January 1, 2017, contingent upon continued employment with the Company on such date. Prior to 2014, options granted to the executive officers vested 50% on the first anniversary of the grant date and the balance on the second anniversary of the grant date. The change to a three-year cliff vest from a pro-rata vest over two years was largely driven by feedback received during the Companys 2013 shareholder outreach efforts.
The performance measures for the 2014 EPIP are the Companys:
· TSR over the period January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2016, as ranked among the comparably measured TSR of the 2014 peer group; and
· compound annual production sales volume growth.
The Committee chose TSR ranking among peers because it forges a direct link to shareholder performance on a relative basis rather than on an absolute basis. The Committee believes an internal metric is important to serve as a modifier to TSR and to drive appropriate behavior. The Committee considered a variety of internal financial and operational performance metrics before deciding upon compound annual production sales volume growth. In moving to compound annual production sales volume growth from cumulative cash flow per share (used in the 2013 and 2012 EPIPs) as the second performance metric, the Committee considered, among other things, the portfolio of performance measures outstanding, took note that the performance period for the only then-outstanding program utilizing production sales volume as a performance measure ended on December 31, 2013, and concluded that production sales volume growth, as a significant driver of shareholder value, was an appropriate performance measure.
In approving the payout matrix for the 2014 EPIP, the Committee considered the alignment of the matrix with the Companys business plan in the live within cash flows scenario and in the stretch scenario and noted, among other things, that the highest levels of performance exceed performance at the stretch scenario. The analysis behind the selection of the 2014 peer group is described above under the caption
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 52
Peer Groups Help Establish Target Total Direct Compensation and Define Competitive Levels of Performance. Having given consideration to these and other factors, and the advice of its independent compensation consultant, the Committee determined that the payout matrix was appropriately rigorous.
The payout opportunity under the 2014 EPIP ranges from:
· no payout if the Company is one of the nine lowest-ranking companies in the 2014 peer group as to TSR and has compound annual production sales volume growth over the performance period of less than 0%;
· to target payout if the Company ranks seventeenth to fourteenth in the 2014 peer group as to TSR and has compound annual production sales volume growth over the performance period equal to 10%;
· to three times the target award if the Company is one of the four highest-ranking companies in the 2014 peer group as to TSR and has compound annual production sales volume growth over the performance period of at least 30%.
Earned 2014 EPIP units are expected to be distributed in Company common stock. The election to pay awards in Company common stock under the 2014 EPIP was consistent with the Companys efforts to utilize cash to accelerate development of its Marcellus Shale assets. In addition, payment in common stock further aligns the interests of the named executive officers with those of shareholders and allows favorable, non-variable accounting treatment.
The Committee established the 2014 target awards by taking into account the factors discussed under Determining Target Total Direct Compensation above. The target award made to Mr. Porges was at the median of the 2014 peer group. The target awards to Messrs. Conti, Crawford, Gardner and Schlotterbeck ranged from the median to the 66th percentile of the applicable peer group after considering the scope of each executives responsibilities, internal pay equity, succession planning, industry-specific technical skills and abilities that may be difficult to replace and the highly-competitive environment for executive talent in the region because of activity in the Marcellus play.
Long-Term Incentive Awards extending through and beyond 2014
During 2014, in addition to the awards described above, the named executive officers held unvested options that were granted in 2013, as well as unvested awards under the 2012 EPIP, the 2013 EPIP and the EQM TR Program for which the relevant performance or service periods had not yet been completed. In 2014, the Committee certified the relevant performance and authorized payout for the 2011 Volume and Efficiency Program (2011 VEP). Please refer to the Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table and 2014 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table below for a description of the terms of the 2013 options, the 2012 EPIP, the 2013 EPIP and the EQM TR Program.
2015 Long-Term Incentive Awards (2015 options and 2015 EPIP)
In developing the 2015 long-term incentive program, the Committee designed a program that the Committee believes aligns the interests of the named executive officers with the interests of shareholders, drives appropriate performance, is market competitive, is effective for retention purposes, is tax efficient and minimizes earnings volatility. Development of the 2015 long-term incentive program involved a thorough analysis of the long-term incentive programs offered by our peers. The Committees considerations also included:
· the appropriate way to incentivize executives toward the success of both the Company and EQM;
· the portfolio of existing long-term incentive programs and their combined influence on focusing executive behavior on critical activities; and
· feedback received during the Companys 2014 shareholder outreach program.
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 53
The process involved consideration of the pros and cons of seven types of long-term incentive programs. As a result of its analysis, and with input from its independent compensation consultant, the Committee designed a long-term incentive compensation program for 2015 that includes stock options and performance units under the 2015 EPIP:
TYPE OF |
|
PERCENT OF |
|
RATIONALE |
Stock Options |
|
25% |
|
Stock options encourage executives to focus broadly on behaviors that should lead to a sustained long-term increase in the price of EQT stock, which benefits all shareholders.
|
2015 EPIP |
|
75% |
|
The 2015 EPIP performance units drive long-term value directly related to EQT stock performance but allow for the delivery of some value, assuming relative performance, even if the stock price declines. Performance units have stronger retention value than options but less leverage in a rising stock price environment. |
Many companies in the 2015 peer group include time-based awards, as well as stock options and other performance-based awards, in their long-term incentive programs. After giving this information due consideration, the Committee determined to include exclusively stock options and other performance-based awards in the 2015 long-term incentive program in order to provide higher leverage for performance. After assessing the market, the Committee determined to allocate the value of the awards as described above.
The options granted in January 2015 have a term of ten years and an exercise price of $75.70. The options will vest on January 1, 2018, contingent upon continued employment with the Company on such date.
The performance measures for the 2015 EPIP are the Companys:
· TSR over the period January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2017, as ranked among the comparably measured TSR of the 2015 peer group; and
· compound annual production sales volume growth.
TSR was selected for the same reason it was selected for 2014 and prior years. The selection of compound annual production sales volume growth followed consideration of other internal metrics, including cash flow growth, return on total capital, expense management and capital usage. Consistent with the 2014 EPIP, the Committee selected compound annual production sales volume growth because sales volumes are an important driver of shareholder value.
The payout opportunity under the 2015 EPIP ranges from:
· no payout if the Company is one of the nine lowest-ranking companies in the 2015 peer group as to TSR and has compound annual production sales volume growth over the performance period of less than 0%;
· to target payout if the Company ranks seventeenth to fourteenth in the 2015 peer group as to TSR and has compound annual production sales volume growth over the performance period equal to 6.4%;
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 54
· to three times the target award if the Company is one of the four highest-ranking companies in the 2015 peer group as to TSR and has compound annual production sales volume growth over the performance period of at least 26.4%.
In approving the payout matrix, the Committee considered the alignment of the matrix with the Companys historical and expected growth and the importance of managing costs in a low price environment for natural gas and, following discussion with its independent compensation consultant, concluded that the payout matrix would provide rewards appropriate to performance. The analysis behind the selection of the 2015 peer group is described above under the caption Peer Groups Help Establish Target Total Direct Compensation and Define Competitive Levels of Performance. Having given consideration to these and other factors, including the advice of its independent compensation consultant, the Committee determined that the payout matrix was appropriately rigorous.
Earned 2015 EPIP units are expected to be distributed in Company common stock. The election to pay awards in Company common stock under the 2015 EPIP is consistent with the Companys efforts to utilize cash to accelerate development of its assets. In addition, payment in common stock further aligns the interests of the named executive officers with those of shareholders and allows favorable, non-variable accounting treatment.
The target award made to Mr. Porges was at the median of the 2015 peer group. The target awards to Messrs. Conti, Crawford, Gardner and Schlotterbeck were between median and the 75th percentile of the applicable peer group after considering the scope of each executives responsibilities, internal pay equity, succession planning, industry-specific technical skills and abilities that may be difficult to replace and the highly-competitive environment for executive talent in the regions in which the Company operates. The number of options and target units under the 2015 EPIP awarded to the named executive officers were as follows:
EXECUTIVE OFFICER |
|
2015 OPTIONS |
|
2015 EPIP |
David L. Porges |
|
53,900 |
|
47,410 |
Philip P. Conti |
|
20,300 |
|
17,840 |
Randall L. Crawford |
|
23,700 |
|
20,810 |
Lewis B. Gardner |
|
13,000 |
|
11,400 |
Steven T. Schlotterbeck |
|
28,200 |
|
24,770 |
·Other Benefits
Health and Welfare Benefits
The named executive officers participate in the same health and welfare benefit plans offered to other EQT employees, including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, short- and long-term disability, holiday pay and an employee assistance program. The same contribution amounts, deductibles and plan design provisions are applicable to all employees. The Company also facilitates an annual executive physical benefit for the named executive officers. In late 2014, the Committee determined to engage a new vendor to provide the executive physical benefit. The benefit will include preferred access to healthcare professionals and related services beginning in 2015 for each named executive officer and his spouse.
Retirement Programs
The named executive officers participate in the same defined contribution 401(k) plan as other EQT employees. Under the plan, the Company automatically contributes an amount equal to 6% of each participants base salary to an individual investment account for the employee, subject to applicable tax regulations. In addition, the Company matches a participants elective contribution by contributing to the
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 55
participants individual investment account an amount equal to 50% of each dollar contributed by the employee, subject to a maximum Company contribution of 3% of the employees base salary and to applicable tax regulations.
Once Company contributions for named executive officers reach the maximum level permitted under the 401(k) plan or by regulation, Company contributions are continued on an after-tax basis through a retirement annuity product offered by Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Co. Under this program, the Company also contributed to the annuity an amount equal to 11% of each named executive officers annual incentive award. The after-tax annuity program contains no vesting requirements.
The Company currently has no supplemental executive retirement plan (SERP) or deferred compensation obligations to any employee, including executive officers. No named executive officer participates in a defined benefit retirement plan with the Company.
Perquisites
Consistent with its philosophy of pay for performance, the Company provides modest perquisites to its named executive officers that, in number and value, are below median competitive levels for the applicable peer group. Perquisites that are offered to each named executive officer include the following: a car allowance, a country club and a dining club membership, executive physical, financial planning, parking, life insurance and accidental death and disability insurance (both of which exceed the level of insurance provided to other employees), de minimis personal usage of Company purchased event tickets and, starting in 2015, a travel security insurance policy.
See footnote (5) to the Summary Compensation Table below for a discussion and breakdown of the perquisites provided to the named executive officers in 2014.
·Agreements with the Named Executive Officers
The Committee believes that severance protections can play a valuable role in attracting, motivating and retaining highly talented executives. The Committee also believes that having an existing agreement in place is preferable to negotiating an exit strategy at the time of an executive officers departure. Accordingly, the Company provides such protections for the named executive officers under their agreements which are described in detail under the caption Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control below. The Committee considers these protections to be an important part of an executives compensation and consistent with competitive practices.
The confidentiality, non-solicitation and non-competition agreement with each named executive officer other than Mr. Porges was amended in conjunction with the 2015 long-term incentive grants to better align certain benefits with the Companys severance pay plan for all employees. The amendments were economically neutral to the executive and the Company.
The Committee believes that the occurrence, or potential occurrence, of a change of control transaction will create uncertainty regarding continued employment. This uncertainty results from the fact that many change of control transactions result in significant organizational changes, particularly at the senior executive level. Change of control benefits are intended to encourage executive officers to remain employed with the Company during an important time when prospects for continued employment are often uncertain and to provide some measure of financial security prior to and after a change of control. Moreover, the amounts to be paid under the change of control agreements ensure that the interests of the executives will be materially consistent with the interests of the Companys shareholders when considering corporate transactions.
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 56
Each named executive officers change of control agreement provides that payments are not made unless the executives employment is terminated by the Company other than for cause or by the executive for good reason within 24 months following the transaction. The Committee believes that this structure strikes a proper balance between the incentives and the hiring, motivating and retention effects described above, without providing benefits to executives who continue long-term employment with an acquiring company. This structure may also be attractive to potential acquiring companies, which may place significant value on retaining members of the executive team for some transition period. Potential acquirers may have an incentive to constructively terminate the executives employment to avoid paying severance; accordingly, the Committee believes it is appropriate to provide severance benefits upon a termination by the executive for good reason.
Finally, but importantly, the agreements with the named executive officers include covenants not to compete with, or solicit employees, customers, potential customers and, in the case of the non-competition agreement, vendors or independent contractors from, the Company and to maintain the confidentiality of the Companys information, for a specified time. The Committee believes that these covenants are extremely valuable to the Company.
See Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control below for more detail regarding the Companys agreements with each named executive officer, including the value of the benefits.
Change of Control Excise Tax Provisions
If, in connection with a change of control of the Company, any compensation to a named executive officer is accelerated or becomes vested, that executive could, in some cases, be considered to have received parachute payments within the meaning of Code Sections 280G and 4999. Pursuant to these tax laws, the executive could be subject to a 20% excise tax on parachute payments that exceed a certain amount, in which case the Company would be denied a tax deduction for such excess parachute payments. The change of control agreement with each executive officer contains a best net provision, pursuant to which any parachute payments will be reduced to the extent necessary to avoid triggering the excise tax, unless the executive would have a more favorable after-tax result by receiving the unreduced payments and paying the excise tax himself, without a gross-up from the Company. Due to the structure of the excise tax, it is not possible to determine in advance which calculation would produce the more tax-efficient result. If the excise tax is triggered, the Company would not enjoy a tax deduction on the amount of the excess parachute payments but in no event would the Company be obligated to pay any portion of the excise tax.
Disclosures in this proxy statement may contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Exchange Act and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Statements that do not relate strictly to historical or current facts are forward-looking and usually identified by the use of words such as anticipate, estimate, approximate, expect, intend, plan, believe and other words of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial matters. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, forward-looking statements contained in this proxy statement include the matters discussed regarding the expectation of performance under compensation plans, anticipated financial and operational performance of the Company and its subsidiaries and reserves estimates. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from projected results. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. The Company has based these forward-looking statements on current expectations and assumptions about future events. While the Company considers these expectations and assumptions to be reasonable, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, regulatory and other risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Companys control. The risks and uncertainties
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 57
that may affect the operations, performance and results of the Companys business and forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those set forth in the Companys annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.
Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and the Company does not intend to correct or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Report of the Management Development and Compensation Committee
We have reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis (CD&A) with the management of EQT Corporation. Based on our review and discussions, we recommended to the Board of Directors that the CD&A be included in the EQT Corporation Proxy Statement for 2015.
This report is not soliciting material, is not deemed to be filed with the SEC and is not to be incorporated by reference in any filing of EQT Corporation under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, whether made before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation language in any such filing.
This report has been furnished by the Management Development and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.
Lee T. Todd, Jr., Chair
A. Bray Cary, Jr.
James E. Rohr
Compensation Policies and Practices and Risk Management
Culminating in early 2015, members of the Companys senior management, with the assistance of the Management Development and Compensation Committees independent compensation consultant, conducted a risk assessment of the Companys compensation programs for all employees. The results of such assessment were presented to the Management Development and Compensation Committee. Based on the assessment, the Company and the Committee believe that the Companys compensation programs are balanced and do not create risks reasonably likely to have a material adverse impact on the Company. Important factors taken into account include, but are not limited to, the following:
· the Company does not use highly leveraged short-term incentives that drive high risk investments at the expense of long-term Company value;
· the Companys annual incentive compensation is based on balanced performance measures that promote disciplined progress towards longer-term goals, and payments are capped;
· the performance periods and vesting schedules for long-term incentives overlap and, therefore, reduce the motivation to maximize performance in any one period at the expense of performance in other periods;
· the Companys compensation programs reward consistent, long-term performance by heavily weighting compensation to long-term incentives that reward sustainable stock, financial and operating performance;
· variations of the Companys compensation programs have been in place for many years, and the Company has seen no evidence that they encourage excessive risk-taking;
· the Management Development and Compensation Committee has authority to exercise downward discretion to reduce or eliminate payouts under all of the Companys compensation programs;
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 58
· the Companys equity ownership guidelines require executives to hold a meaningful equity interest, linking their interests to the interests of shareholders; and
· hedging and pledging of EQT securities by EQT executive officers and directors, and EQM securities by EQM executive officers and directors, is prohibited under the Companys policies.
The following tables contain information concerning the compensation of the Companys principal executive officer, its principal financial officer and each of its other three most highly compensated executive officers who were serving as executive officers at the end of 2014. References to named executive officers in this Compensation Tables section are to the five individuals included in the following tables.
NAME AND PRINCIPAL |
|
YEAR |
|
SALARY |
|
BONUS |
|
STOCK |
|
OPTION |
|
NON-EQUITY |
|
ALL OTHER |
|
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
($) (1) |
|
($) |
|
($) (2) |
|
($) (3) |
|
($) (4) |
|
($) (5) |
|
($) |
David L. Porges |
|
2014 |
|
850,000 |
|
- |
|
4,169,644 |
|
1,059,100 |
|
2,275,000 |
|
400,156 |
|
8,753,900 |
Chairman, President and |
|
2013 |
|
882,693 |
|
- |
|
2,649,147 |
|
1,544,928 |
|
2,500,000 |
|
345,305 |
|
7,922,073 |
Chief Executive Officer |
|
2012 |
|
826,923 |
|
- |
|
4,176,362 |
|
1,395,502 |
|
1,996,000 |
|
317,893 |
|
8,712,680 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Philip P. Conti |
|
2014 |
|
404,846 |
|
- |
|
1,843,334 |
|
469,475 |
|
840,000 |
|
178,022 |
|
3,735,677 |
Senior Vice President and |
|
2013 |
|
415,385 |
|
- |
|
900,531 |
|
525,008 |
|
950,000 |
|
157,523 |
|
2,948,447 |
Chief Financial Officer |
|
2012 |
|
400,001 |
|
- |
|
1,151,708 |
|
427,356 |
|
730,000 |
|
144,991 |
|
2,854,056 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Randall L. Crawford |
|
2014 |
|
448,461 |
|
- |
|
2,150,834 |
|
547,350 |
|
962,500 |
|
204,558 |
|
4,313,703 |
Senior Vice President |
|
2013 |
|
459,000 |
|
- |
|
1,263,199 |
|
737,352 |
|
1,100,000 |
|
171,235 |
|
3,730,786 |
|
|
2012 |
|
436,923 |
|
- |
|
1,707,462 |
|
590,912 |
|
820,000 |
|
164,055 |
|
3,719,352 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lewis B. Gardner |
|
2014 |
|
365,193 |
|
- |
|
615,002 |
|
157,975 |
|
460,000 |
|
131,569 |
|
1,729,739 |
General Counsel and |
|
2013 |
|
358,268 |
|
- |
|
378,290 |
|
220,704 |
|
550,000 |
|
110,854 |
|
1,618,116 |
Vice President, External Affairs |
|
2012 |
|
342,692 |
|
- |
|
531,889 |
|
180,703 |
|
400,000 |
|
100,991 |
|
1,556,275 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Steven T. Schlotterbeck |
|
2014 |
|
476,731 |
|
- |
|
2,304,585 |
|
585,175 |
|
1,100,000 |
|
189,122 |
|
4,655,613 |
Executive Vice President |
|
2013 |
|
459,000 |
|
- |
|
1,263,199 |
|
737,352 |
|
1,100,000 |
|
163,696 |
|
3,723,247 |
|
|
2012 |
|
436,923 |
|
- |
|
1,707,462 |
|
590,912 |
|
825,000 |
|
149,708 |
|
3,710,005 |
(1) Each named executive officers annual base salary is paid over 26 equal pay periods each year. Due to the timing of the Companys bi-weekly pay cycle, 2013 contained 27 pay dates, while 2012 and 2014 each contained the standard 26 pay dates.
(2) This column reflects the aggregate grant date fair values determined in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 for performance units granted in the applicable year under the 2012 EPIP, the EQM TR Program, the 2013 EPIP and the 2014 EPIP (each as defined and described under the caption Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table and 2014 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table below), using the assumptions described below. Pursuant to SEC rules, the amounts shown in the Summary Compensation Table for awards subject to performance conditions are based on the probable outcome as of the date of grant and exclude the impact of estimated forfeitures.
The 2012 EPIP was a three-year program that provided for stock-based awards. Each named executive officer was granted an award under the 2012 EPIP on January 1, 2012. The vesting and payment of the awards occurred on February 19, 2015. The performance period for the 2012 EPIP was January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2014. The grant date fair values of the awards were: $3,413,600 for Mr. Porges; $1,044,000 for Mr. Conti; $1,445,600 for Mr. Crawford; $442,400 for Mr. Gardner; and $1,445,600 for Mr. Schlotterbeck. The grant date fair values were computed by multiplying the number of units awarded to each named executive officer (42,670 for Mr. Porges; 13,050 for Mr. Conti; 18,070 for Mr. Crawford; 5,530 for Mr. Gardner; and 18,070 for Mr. Schlotterbeck) by $80.00, the grant date fair value of each unit calculated using a Monte Carlo pricing model with the following assumptions: (i) risk-free rate of return: 0.36%; (ii) dividend yield: 5.97%; (iii) volatility:
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 59
37.26%; and (iv) term: three years. Assuming, instead, that the highest level of performance conditions would be achieved, the grant date fair values of these awards would have been: $5,834,696 for Mr. Porges; $1,784,457 for Mr. Conti; $2,470,892 for Mr. Crawford; $756,172 for Mr. Gardner; and $2,470,892 for Mr. Schlotterbeck.
The EQM TR Program is a three and one-half year program (subject to certain quarterly extensions as described under Stock Awards EQM TR Program under the caption Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table and 2014 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table below) that provides EQM unit-based awards. Each named executive officer was granted an award on July 2, 2012. The performance period for the EQM TR Program is June 27, 2012 through December 31, 2015 (subject to quarterly extensions). The grant date fair values of the awards were: $762,762 for Mr. Porges; $107,708 for Mr. Conti; $261,862 for Mr. Crawford; $89,489 for Mr. Gardner; and $261,862 for Mr. Schlotterbeck. The grant date fair values were computed by multiplying the number of units awarded to each named executive officer (38,100 for Mr. Porges; 5,380 for Mr. Conti; 13,080 for Mr. Crawford; 4,470 for Mr. Gardner; and 13,080 for Mr. Schlotterbeck) by $20.02, the grant date fair value of each unit calculated using a Monte Carlo pricing model with the following assumptions: (i) risk-free rate of return for periods within the contractual life of the awards based on the applicable U.S. Treasury yield curves in effect at the time of the grant; (ii) an expected quarterly distribution of $0.35 per EQM common unit for the first year and assuming annual increases of 10% per annum thereafter; (iii) the annual historical volatility of a peer group of companies for the expected term of the awards (the valuation model calculated a range of expected volatilities of 27% to 72% and a weighted average expected volatility of 38%); and (iv) a term of five years. Although granted concurrently with the initial public offering of EQM common units in July 2012, the EQM TR Program awards were attributable to, and served as part of, each named executive officers 2013 (not 2012) long-term incentive awards.
The 2013 EPIP is a three-year program that provides stock-based awards. Each named executive officer was granted an award under the 2013 EPIP on January 1, 2013. The performance period for the 2013 EPIP is January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2015. The grant date fair values of the awards were: $2,649,147 for Mr. Porges; $900,531 for Mr. Conti; $1,263,199 for Mr. Crawford; $378,290 for Mr. Gardner; and $1,263,199 for Mr. Schlotterbeck. The grant date fair values were computed by multiplying the number of units awarded to each named executive officer (23,740 for Mr. Porges; 8,070 for Mr. Conti; 11,320 for Mr. Crawford; 3,390 for Mr. Gardner; and 11,320 for Mr. Schlotterbeck) by $111.59, the grant date fair value of each unit calculated using a Monte Carlo pricing model with the following assumptions: (i) risk-free rate of return: 0.36%; (ii) dividend yield: 0.72%; (iii) volatility: 32.97%; and (iv) term: three years. Assuming, instead, that the highest level of performance conditions would be achieved, the grant date fair values of these awards would have been: $3,323,600 for Mr. Porges; $1,129,800 for Mr. Conti; $1,584,800 for Mr. Crawford; $474,600 for Mr. Gardner; and $1,584,800 for Mr. Schlotterbeck.
The 2014 EPIP is a three-year program that provides stock-based awards. Each named executive officer was granted an award under the 2014 EPIP on January 1, 2014. The performance period for the 2014 EPIP is January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2016. The grant date fair values of the awards were: $4,169,644 for Mr. Porges; $1,843,334 for Mr. Conti; $2,150,834 for Mr. Crawford; $615,002 for Mr. Gardner; and $2,304,585 for Mr. Schlotterbeck. The grant date fair values were computed by multiplying the number of units awarded to each named executive officer (24,950 for Mr. Porges; 11,030 for Mr. Conti; 12,870 for Mr. Crawford; 3,680 for Mr. Gardner; and 13,790 for Mr. Schlotterbeck) by $167.12, the grant date fair value of each unit calculated using a Monte Carlo pricing model with the following assumptions: (i) risk-free rate of return: 0.78%; (ii) dividend yield: 0.46%; (iii) volatility: 31.38%; and (iv) term: three years. Assuming, instead, that the highest level of performance conditions would be achieved, the grant date fair values of these awards would have been: $5,241,247 for Mr. Porges; $2,317,072 for Mr. Conti; $2,703,601 for Mr. Crawford; $773,058 for Mr. Gardner; and $2,896,865 for Mr. Schlotterbeck.
See Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table and 2014 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table below for further discussion of the 2012 EPIP, the EQM TR Program, the 2013 EPIP and the 2014 EPIP.
(3) This column reflects the grant date fair values of option awards granted on January 1, 2012, January 1, 2013, and January 1, 2014.
The grant date fair values of the 2012 option awards were calculated by multiplying the number of options awarded to each named executive officer (105,800 for Mr. Porges; 32,400 for Mr. Conti; 44,800 for Mr. Crawford; 13,700 for Mr. Gardner; and 44,800 for Mr. Schlotterbeck) by $13.19, the grant date fair value of each option calculated using a Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions: (i) risk-free rate of return: 0.89%; (ii) dividend yield: 1.64%; (iii) volatility factor: 31.44%; and (iv) expected term: five years.
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 60
The grant date fair values of the 2013 option awards were calculated by multiplying the number of options awarded to each named executive officer (92,400 for Mr. Porges; 31,400 for Mr. Conti; 44,100 for Mr. Crawford; 13,200 for Mr. Gardner; and 44,100 for Mr. Schlotterbeck) by $16.72, the grant date fair value of each option calculated using a Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions: (i) risk-free rate of return: 0.76%; (ii) dividend yield: 0.22%; (iii) volatility factor: 31.69%; and (iv) expected term: five years.
The grant date fair values of the 2014 option awards were calculated by multiplying the number of options awarded to each named executive officer (47,600 for Mr. Porges; 21,100 for Mr. Conti; 24,600 for Mr. Crawford; 7,100 for Mr. Gardner; and 26,300 for Mr. Schlotterbeck) by $22.25, the grant date fair value of each option calculated using a Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions: (i) risk-free rate of return: 1.72%; (ii) dividend yield: 0.15%; (iii) volatility factor: 24.80%; and (iv) expected term: five years.
See Option Awards 2012 Options, Option Awards 2013 Options and Option Awards 2014 Options under the caption Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table and 2014 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table below for further discussion of the 2012, 2013 and 2014 options.
(4) This column reflects the dollar value of annual incentive compensation earned under the Executive STIP (as defined and described under the caption Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table and 2014 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table below) for the applicable plan year. The awards were paid to the named executive officers in cash in the first quarter of the following year. For the 2013 plan year, the Executive STIP awards for Messrs. Porges, Conti, Crawford and Gardner included transaction recognition components for the completion of significant business transactions during 2013, including the Companys sale of Equitable Gas Company, LLC, in the following amounts: $200,000 for Mr. Porges; $100,000 for Mr. Conti; $100,000 for Mr. Crawford; and $100,000 for Mr. Gardner. See Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation Executive STIP under the caption Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table and 2014 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table below for further discussion of the Executive STIP for the 2014 plan year.
(5) This column includes the dollar value of premiums paid by the Company for group life, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, the Companys contributions to the 401(k) plan and the 2006 Payroll Deduction and Contribution Program and perquisites. For 2014, these amounts were as follows:
NAME
|
|
INSURANCE |
|
401(K) |
|
2006 PAYROLL |
|
PERQUISITES |
|
TOTAL |
|
David L. Porges |
|
2,448 |
|
23,400 |
|
328,100 |
|
46,208 |
|
400,156 |
|
Philip P. Conti |
|
1,169 |
|
23,400 |
|
117,536 |
|
35,917 |
|
178,022 |
|
Randall L. Crawford |
|
1,296 |
|
23,400 |
|
137,962 |
|
41,900 |
|
204,558 |
|
Lewis B. Gardner |
|
1,066 |
|
23,400 |
|
69,967 |
|
37,136 |
|
131,569 |
|
Steven T. Schlotterbeck |
|
1,397 |
|
23,400 |
|
140,506 |
|
23,819 |
|
189,122 |
|
Once 401(k) contributions for the named executive officers reach the maximum level permitted under the 401(k) plan or by regulation, Company contributions are continued on an after-tax basis under the 2006 Payroll Deduction and Contribution Program through an annuity program offered by Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Co. Each year, the Company also contributes an amount equal to 11% of each named executive officers annual incentive award to such program.
The perquisites the Company provided to each named executive officer in 2014 are itemized below:
NAME
|
|
CAR |
|
COUNTRY AND |
|
FINANCIAL |
|
PARKING |
|
PHYSICAL |
|
TOTAL |
| |
David L. Porges |
|
9,180 |
|
15,518 |
|
15,000 |
|
2,160 |
|
4,350 |
|
46,208 |
| |
Philip P. Conti |
|
9,060 |
|
9,902 |
|
10,400 |
|
2,160 |
|
4,395 |
|
35,917 |
| |
Randall L. Crawford |
|
9,060 |
|
12,930 |
|
13,400 |
|
2,160 |
|
4,350 |
|
41,900 |
| |
Lewis B. Gardner |
|
9,060 |
|
10,078 |
|
9,950 |
|
2,160 |
|
5,888 |
|
37,136 |
| |
Steven T. Schlotterbeck |
|
9,060 |
|
2,304 |
|
5,900 |
|
2,160 |
|
4,395 |
|
23,819 |
| |
The car allowance is an amount paid to the executive intended to cover the annual cost of acquiring, maintaining and insuring a car. The entire cost of country and dining club dues has been included in the table although the Company believes that only a portion of the cost represents a perquisite. Financial planning is the actual cost to the Company of providing to each executive financial planning and tax preparation services. The named
EQT Corporation 2015 Proxy Statement 61
executive officers may use two tickets purchased by the Company to attend up to four sporting or other events when such tickets are not otherwise being used for business purposes. The costs of such tickets used for personal purposes are considered de minimis by the Company and are not included as perquisites in the Summary Compensation Table because there are no incremental costs to the Company associated with such use.
2014 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table
|
|
TYPE OF |
|
GRANT |
|
APPROVAL |
|
ESTIMATED FUTURE PAYOUTS UNDER |
|
ESTIMATED FUTURE PAYOUTS UNDER |
|
ALL OTHER |
|
EXERCISE |
|
GRANT DATE |
| |||||||||
NAME |
|
AWARD |
|
DATE |
|
DATE |
|
THRESHOLD |
|
TARGET |
|
MAXIMUM |
|
THRESHOLD |
|
TARGET |
|
MAXIMUM |
|
OPTIONS |
|
AWARDS |
|
AWARDS |
| |
|
|
(1) |
|
|
|
|
|
($) |
|
($) (2) |
|
($) (2) |
|
(#) |
|
(#) (3) |
|
(#) (3) |
|
(#) |
|
($/SH) |
|
($) |
| |
David L. Porges |
|
EPIP |
|
1/1/2014 |
|
12/10/2013 |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
24,950 |
|
74,850 |
|
- |
|
- |
|
4,169,644 |
| |
|
ESTIP |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
850,000 |
|
5,000,000 |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
| ||
|
|
SO |
|
1/1/2014 |
|
12/10/2013 |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
47,600 |
|
89.78 |
|
1,059,100 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Philip P. Conti |
|
EPIP |
|
1/1/2014 |
|
12/10/2013 |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
11,030 |
|
33,090 |
|
- |
|