DEF 14A

 

 

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Filed by the Registrant  ☒                         Filed by a Party other than the Registrant  ☐

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  Preliminary Proxy Statement

  Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

  Definitive Proxy Statement

  Definitive Additional Materials

  Soliciting Material Under Rule 14a-12

LANDSTAR SYSTEM, INC.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

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LOGO

LANDSTAR SYSTEM, INC.

13410 Sutton Park Drive South

Jacksonville, Florida 32224

March 30, 2021        

To the Stockholders of Landstar System, Inc.:

You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Landstar System, Inc., on Wednesday, May 12, 2021, at 9:00 a.m., Eastern Time, to be held in a virtual-only meeting format. A notice of meeting, a proxy card, the 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K and a Proxy Statement containing information about the matters to be acted upon are enclosed. It is important that your shares be represented at the meeting. Accordingly, please vote promptly by telephone, via the Internet or by signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card. Instructions for voting by telephone or via the Internet are included on the enclosed proxy card.

I look forward to the Annual Meeting of Stockholders and I hope you will attend the virtual meeting or be represented by proxy. As always, we encourage you to vote your shares prior to the annual meeting.

 

 

LOGO

JAMES B. GATTONI
President and Chief Executive Officer


LOGO

LANDSTAR SYSTEM, INC.

13410 Sutton Park Drive South

Jacksonville, Florida 32224

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

To Be Held May 12, 2021

Notice is hereby given that the 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “2021 Annual Meeting”) of Landstar System, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), will be held in a virtual-only meeting format on Wednesday, May 12, 2021, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time, for the following purposes:

(1) To elect two Class I Directors whose terms will expire at the 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders;

(2) To ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2021;

(3) To hold an advisory vote on executive compensation; and

(4) To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.

Only stockholders of record at the close of business on March 17, 2021 will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the meeting. A list of stockholders eligible to vote at the meeting will be available for inspection at the meeting and during business hours from May 5, 2020 to the date of the meeting at the address set forth above, the Company’s corporate headquarters.

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Stockholder meeting to be held on May 12, 2021:

 

   

The proxy statement and annual report to security holders are available at www.landstar.com and www.proxyvote.com.

The platform for the virtual 2021 Annual Meeting includes functionality that provides validated stockholders the same meeting participation rights and opportunities they would have at an in-person meeting. Instructions to access and log-in to the virtual Annual Meeting are provided below. Once admitted, stockholders may view reference materials, submit questions and vote their shares by following the instructions that will be available on the meeting website.

For admission to the 2021 Annual Meeting, stockholders may go to www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/LSTR2021 and enter the 16-digit control number you received with your proxy materials. Online access to the 2021 Annual Meeting will open at 8:45 a.m., Eastern Time on the morning of the meeting to allow time for stockholders to log-in prior to the start of the live audio webcast of the 2021 Annual Meeting at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Persons who do not have a control number may attend as guests and will be able to hear the audio webcast but will not be able to utilize the question, voting or other functionality noted above. A recording of the webcast will be available at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/LSTR2021, approximately 24 hours after the conclusion of the meeting.


All stockholders are cordially invited to attend the 2021 Annual Meeting. Whether you expect to attend the meeting or not, your proxy vote is very important. To assure your representation at the 2021 Annual Meeting, the Company encourages you to vote in advance of the meeting by using one of the methods set forth below, whether or not you plan to access the virtual meeting.

Vote by Internet

Go to www.proxyvote.com until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 11, 2021.

Vote by Phone

Call toll-free 1-800-690-6903 until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 11, 2021.

Vote by Mail

Complete, sign and date the latest proxy/voting instruction card and return it in the postage-paid envelope the Company has provided.

The proxy statement and annual report are available at:

www.landstar.com and www.proxyvote.com

We are furnishing our proxy materials to all of our stockholders over the Internet rather than in paper form. We believe that this delivery process lowers the costs of printing and distributing our proxy materials and reduces our environmental impact, without impacting our stockholders’ timely access to this important information. Accordingly, stockholders of record at the close of business on March 17, 2021 will receive a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice of Internet Availability”) and may vote at the meeting. Such stockholders will also receive notice of any postponements or adjournments of the meeting. The Notice of Internet Availability is being distributed to stockholders on or about March 30, 2021.

 

By Order of the Board of Directors
LOGO

 

MICHAEL K. KNELLER
Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Jacksonville, Florida

March 30, 2021

 


LOGO

LANDSTAR SYSTEM, INC.

13410 Sutton Park Drive South

Jacksonville, Florida 32224

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON MAY 12, 2021

The proxy statement and annual report to stockholders are available at

www.landstar.com and www. proxyvote.com

In accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), we are pleased to provide access to our proxy materials over the Internet to all of our stockholders rather than in paper form. Accordingly, a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice of Internet Availability”) has been mailed to our stockholders on or about March 30, 2021. Stockholders will have the ability to access the proxy materials on the websites listed above, or to request a printed set of the proxy materials be sent to them by following the instructions in the Notice of Internet Availability.

The Notice of Internet Availability also provides instructions on how you may request that we send future proxy materials to you electronically by electronic mail or in printed form by mail. If you choose to receive future proxy materials by electronic mail, you will receive an electronic mail next year with instructions containing a link to those materials and a link to the proxy voting site. Your election to receive proxy materials by electronic mail or in printed form by mail will remain in effect until you terminate it. We encourage you to choose to receive future proxy materials by electronic mail, which will allow us to provide you with the information you need in a more timely manner, will save us the cost of printing and mailing documents to you and will conserve natural resources.

 


LANDSTAR SYSTEM, INC.

PROXY STATEMENT

March 30, 2021

INTRODUCTION

This Proxy Statement (the “Proxy Statement”) has been made available on the Internet to the stockholders of Landstar System, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company” or “Landstar”), in connection with the solicitation of proxies on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) to be voted at the 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on Wednesday, May 12, 2021, at 9:00 a.m., Eastern time (the “2021 Annual Meeting”). The 2020 Annual Report to Stockholders (the “2020 Annual Report”) (which, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, does not form a part of the proxy solicitation material relating to this Proxy Statement), including the financial statements of the Company for fiscal year 2020, has also been made available on the Internet. This Proxy Statement, the form of proxy, the Notice of 2021 Annual Meeting and the 2020 Annual Report (collectively, the “proxy materials”) are being made available to the stockholders of the Company on or about March 30, 2021. Instructions on how to access the proxy materials over the Internet or to request a printed copy may be found in the Notice of Internet Availability. The mailing address of the principal executive offices of the Company is 13410 Sutton Park Drive South, Jacksonville, Florida 32224.

RECORD DATE

The Board has fixed the close of business on March 17, 2021 as the record date for the 2021 Annual Meeting. Only stockholders of record on that date will be entitled to vote at the 2021 Annual Meeting in person or by proxy.

PROXIES

Shares cannot be voted at the 2021 Annual Meeting unless the owner thereof is present in person or by proxy. The proxies named on the proxy card were appointed by the Board to vote the shares of Common Stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”), represented by the proxy card. If a stockholder does not return a signed proxy card with respect to any of his or her shares, such shares cannot be voted by proxy. Stockholders are urged to mark the boxes on the proxy card to show how his or her shares are to be voted. All properly executed and unrevoked proxies that are received in time for the 2021 Annual Meeting will be voted at the 2021 Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof in accordance with any specification thereon, or if no specification is made, will be voted as follows: (i) “FOR” the election of the two Class I Directors nominated by the Board and named in this Proxy Statement; (ii) “FOR” the ratification of KPMG LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company; and (iii) “FOR” the proposal regarding an advisory vote on executive compensation. Each of these proposals is more fully described in this Proxy Statement. The proxy card also confers discretionary authority on the proxies to vote on any other matter not presently known to management that may properly come before the 2021 Annual Meeting.

Any proxy delivered pursuant to this solicitation is revocable at the option of the person(s) executing the same (i) upon receipt by the Company before such proxy is voted of a duly executed proxy bearing a later date, (ii) by written notice of the revocation of such proxy to the Secretary of the Company received before such proxy is voted or (iii) by such person(s) voting in person at the 2021 Annual Meeting.

The Board has selected Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions, Inc. as Inspector of Election (the “Inspector”) pursuant to Article I of the Company’s Bylaws, as amended and restated (the “Bylaws”). The Inspector shall ascertain the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding, determine the number of shares

 

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represented at the 2021 Annual Meeting by proxy or in person and count all votes. Each stockholder shall be entitled to one vote for each share of Common Stock held by such stockholder and such votes may be cast either in person or by proxy.

PROXY SOLICITATION

The cost of the preparation of proxy materials and the solicitation of proxies will be paid by the Company. The Company has engaged Georgeson LLC as the proxy solicitor for the 2021 Annual Meeting for a fee of approximately $10,000 plus reasonable expenses. In addition to the use of the mails, certain directors, officers or employees of the Company may solicit proxies by telephone or personal contact. Upon request, the Company will reimburse brokers, dealers, banks and trustees, or their nominees, for reasonable expenses incurred by them in forwarding proxy materials to the beneficial owners of shares.

STOCKHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

A description of the procedures as to how stockholders may send communications to the Board or individual Board members is included on the Company’s website at www.landstar.com under Investor Relations/Corporate Governance.

VOTING SECURITIES

Shares of Common Stock are the only class of voting securities of the Company which are outstanding. On March 17, 2021, 38,408,571 shares of Common Stock were outstanding. At the 2021 Annual Meeting, each stockholder of record at the close of business on March 17, 2021 will be entitled to one vote for each share of Common Stock owned by such stockholder on that date as to each matter properly presented to the 2021 Annual Meeting. The holders of a majority of the total number of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock on such date shall constitute a quorum for purposes of the 2021 Annual Meeting (a “Quorum”).

PROPOSAL NUMBER ONE — ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

The Board is divided into three classes (Class I, Class II and Class III), with directors of the Board (collectively, “Directors”) in each class serving staggered three-year terms. At each annual meeting of stockholders, the terms of the Directors in one of these three classes is scheduled to expire. At that annual meeting of stockholders, Directors are elected to a class to succeed the Directors whose terms are then expiring, with the terms of that class of Directors so elected to expire at the third annual meeting of stockholders thereafter. Pursuant to the Bylaws, in furtherance of dividing the Board into classes that are as nearly equal in number as possible, the Board may nominate one or more persons for election to the Board and the stockholders may elect such nominee to a class of Directors having a term that expires less than three years after the annual meeting of stockholders at which such nominee is elected.

There are currently seven members of the Board: two Class I Directors whose terms will expire at the 2021 Annual Meeting, three Class II Directors whose terms will expire at the 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “2022 Annual Meeting”) and two Class III Directors whose terms will expire at the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (“the 2023 Annual Meeting”). The Board has nominated Mr. James B. Gattoni and Mr. Anthony J. Orlando as Class I Directors for election at the 2021 Annual Meeting.    

It is intended that the shares represented by the form of proxy will be voted at the 2021 Annual Meeting for the election of nominees Mr. Gattoni and Mr. Orlando as Class I Directors, each for a term to expire at the 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, unless the proxy specifies otherwise. Mr. Gattoni and Mr. Orlando have each indicated his willingness to serve as a member of the Board, if elected.

 

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If, for any reason not presently known, Mr. Gattoni or Mr. Orlando is not available for election at the time of the 2021 Annual Meeting, the shares represented by the form of proxy may be voted for the election of one or more substitute nominee(s) designated by the Board or a committee thereof, unless the proxy withholds authority to vote for such substitute nominee(s).

Assuming the presence of a Quorum, to be elected, a nominee must receive the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by the holders of Common Stock with respect to that director’s election at the 2021 Annual Meeting. Abstentions from voting and broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of this proposal.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THIS PROPOSAL

 

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DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY

The following information describes the principal occupation or employment, other affiliations and business experience of each of the nominees named above for election as a Class I Director and the other persons whose terms as Directors will continue after the 2021 Annual Meeting.

 

Name

   Age     

Business Experience

CLASS I —Nominees to serve as Directors until the 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

James B. Gattoni

     59     

Mr. Gattoni was appointed as a Director of the Company by the Board on January 29, 2015, and, subsequently, was elected by the Company’s stockholders at the 2015 Annual Meeting as a Class I Director. Mr. Gattoni has been President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since December 29, 2014, the first business day of the Company’s 2015 fiscal year. Mr. Gattoni was President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company from January 2014 to December 28, 2014. Mr. Gattoni was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from January 2013 to January 2014. Mr. Gattoni was Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company from April 2007 to January 2013. Mr. Gattoni was Vice President and Co-Chief Financial Officer of the Company from January 2007 to April 2007. He was Vice President and Corporate Controller of Landstar System Holdings, Inc. (“LSHI”) from July 2000 to January 2007. He was Corporate Controller of LSHI from November 1995 until July 2000. He is also an officer or director of each of the Company’s subsidiaries and is a trustee of the Landstar Scholarship Fund.

 

Mr. Gattoni has significant financial, administrative and operational experience with the Company, having served as the Chief Financial Officer from 2007 through 2014 and as President of the Company since 2014. Mr. Gattoni has been instrumental in contributing to the growth of Landstar over his 25 year career with the Company and, as Chief Executive Officer, is responsible for leading the overall strategic direction of the enterprise. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Gattoni was a certified public accountant in audit with KPMG for approximately eight years.

Anthony J. Orlando

     61      Mr. Orlando was appointed as a Director of the Company by the Board on May 19, 2015, and, subsequently, was elected by the Company’s stockholders at the 2016 Annual Meeting as a Class I Director. Mr. Orlando is currently a private investor and business consultant. From October 2004 until March 2015, Mr. Orlando served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Covanta

 

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Name

   Age     

Business Experience

     

Holding Corporation (“Covanta”), a leading provider of sustainable waste and energy solutions listed on the NYSE. Prior to serving as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Covanta, Mr. Orlando was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Covanta Energy from November 2003 to October 2004. From March 2003 to November 2003, Mr. Orlando served as Senior Vice President, Business and Financial Management of Covanta Energy. Mr. Orlando served in various other capacities with Covanta and its affiliates beginning in 1987. Mr. Orlando formerly served on the board of directors of Covanta from 2005 to 2017, and on the board of directors of Contura Energy, Inc., an NYSE-listed company, from 2017 to 2019.

 

Mr. Orlando has extensive business experience, having served in a number of different roles at Covanta with responsibility for, among other areas, strategic, operational and financial matters. The Board believes Mr. Orlando’s service, in particular as Chief Executive Officer of Covanta, adds valuable expertise to the Board.

 

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Name

   Age     

Business Experience

CLASS II —Directors whose terms expire at the 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

Homaira Akbari

     60     

Dr. Akbari was appointed as a Director of the Company by the Board in January 2013, and, subsequently, was elected by the Company’s stockholders at the 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders as a Class II Director. Dr. Akbari is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer of AKnowledge Partners, LLC, a global advisory firm providing high-impact consultative strategies and advice to Fortune 1000 companies and private equity firms in the sectors of The Internet of Things, cybersecurity, enterprise software and artificial intelligence. From 2007 to 2012, Dr. Akbari was the President and Chief Executive Officer of SkyBitz, Inc., a leading provider of remote asset tracking and security solutions specializing in real-time decision-making tools for companies with unpowered assets such as truck trailing equipment, intermodal containers and rail cars. Prior to her service with SkyBitz, Dr. Akbari held executive positions at Microsoft Corporation, Thales Group, TruePosition, Inc., a subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation, and Cambridge Strategic Management Group (CSMG). Dr. Akbari holds a Ph.D. in particle physics from Tufts University and is presently a member of the Business Board of Advisors for Carnegie Mellon University. Dr. Akbari also serves on the Board of Directors of Banco Santander, S.A., a company incorporated in Spain and listed on the NYSE, Santander Consumer USA Holdings Inc., a NYSE listed company (as of February 22, 2021, over 80% of which was owned by Santander Holdings USA, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Banco Santander), and Temenos AG, a company incorporated in Switzerland and listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange. Dr. Akbari formerly served on the board of directors of (i) Covisint Corporation, a company formerly listed on the NASDAQ, from 2014 to 2016, (ii) GEMALTO N.V., a company incorporated in the Netherlands and formerly listed on the Euronext Amsterdam and Euronext Paris, from 2013 to 2019, and (iii) Veolia S.A., a company incorporated in France and listed on the Euronext Paris, from 2015 to 2019.

 

Dr. Akbari has extensive business experience, with an emphasis on the use of technology within the transportation and logistics sector. The Board believes Dr. Akbari’s experience as leading AKnowledge Partners and as the former Chief Executive Officer of SkyBitz, a major technology

 

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Name

   Age     

Business Experience

      vendor to the transportation sector, as well as to many industrial sectors served by the Company, provides important technological and business expertise to the Board. The Board also believes that Dr. Akbari’s prior executive service in various capacities with a number of large multinational corporations provides the Board with additional expertise in international matters.

Diana M. Murphy

     64     

Ms. Murphy was elected by the Board of Directors as non-executive Chairman of the Board on May 19, 2015. Ms. Murphy served as Lead Independent Director of the Board from May 2012 to May 2015. Ms. Murphy has been a Director of the Company since February 1998. Ms. Murphy is a Managing Director of Rocksolid Holdings, LLC, a private equity firm. She was the Managing Director of the Georgia Research Alliance Venture Fund from 2012 to 2015. From 1997 to 2007, she was a Managing Director at Chartwell Capital Management Company, a private equity firm. Prior to that time, Ms. Murphy spent over 15 years in various senior management positions in the publishing industry. Ms. Murphy also serves on the Board of Directors of Synovus Financial Corporation, a NYSE listed company. Ms. Murphy served on the Board of Directors of CTS Corporation, a NYSE listed company, from 2010 to 2020. Ms. Murphy also serves on the Board of Directors of several private companies and non-profit organizations and is a past President of the United States Golf Association.

 

Ms. Murphy has extensive experience in business management, having served as a Managing Director of several private equity firms, as a board member of numerous portfolio companies of these private equity firms and as an executive in the media and communications industry. The Board believes Ms. Murphy’s work across a range of companies operating in different industry sectors, together with her strong background in strategic planning, marketing and management development, allows her to add important perspective and experience to the Board.

Larry J. Thoele

     70      Mr. Thoele was appointed as a Director of the Company by the Board in January 2013, and, subsequently, was elected by the Company’s stockholders at the 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders as a Class II Director. Mr. Thoele served as an audit partner with KPMG LLP from 1982 to 2009. Mr. Thoele also served as Managing

 

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Name

   Age     

Business Experience

     

Partner of the Jacksonville office of KPMG from 1991 to 2007, partner in charge of the North Florida audit practice of KPMG from 1996 to 2007 and as a lead partner in KPMG’s private equity practice from 2007 to 2009. Mr. Thoele also served as KPMG’s audit engagement partner with the Company from 2002 to 2006.

 

Mr. Thoele has extensive financial and audit experience, having served as an audit partner for KPMG for 27 years. During his career with KPMG, Mr. Thoele served as the engagement partner for a number of transportation and logistics companies in addition to the Company. Mr. Thoele also has extensive experience working with companies in sectors served by the Company, including oil and gas, manufacturing, food and beverage and retail. In addition to his breadth of experience and expertise in the accounting, auditing and risk management fields, the Board believes Mr. Thoele’s service as the Company’s audit engagement partner while with KPMG brings valuable in-depth knowledge of the Company’s accounting policies, systems and internal controls to the Board.

 

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Name

   Age     

Business Experience

CLASS III — Directors whose terms expire at the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

David G. Bannister

     65     

Mr. Bannister has been a Director of the Company since April 1991. Mr. Bannister is a private investor. From May 2005 to September 2014, Mr. Bannister held a number of positions with FTI Consulting, Inc. (“FTI”), a global business consulting firm listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”). Effective April 1, 2011, Mr. Bannister was elected to the position of Chairman of the North American Region of FTI. In this capacity, Mr. Bannister had operating and profitability responsibility for FTI’s client-service operations and business segments. Mr. Bannister served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of FTI from March 2010 to April 2011, Executive Vice President – Corporate Development and Chief Administrative Officer from December 2008 to March 2010, Executive Vice President – Corporate Development from June 2006 to December 2008 and Senior Vice President – Business Development from May 2005 to June 2006. From 1998 to 2003, Mr. Bannister was a General Partner of Grotech Capital Group, Inc., a private equity and venture capital firm. Prior to joining Grotech Capital Group, Inc. in May 1998, Mr. Bannister was a Managing Director at Deutsche Bank Alex Brown Incorporated.

 

Mr. Bannister has broad financial and strategic experience through a long career that has included work as (i) an investment banker focused on the transportation sector, (ii) a private equity and venture capital investor and (iii) as a senior executive with FTI. In his former capacity as a senior executive with FTI, Mr. Bannister was involved extensively with FTI’s operational strategy and global expansion, with responsibility for all of FTI’s business segments, budgeting and strategic growth initiatives. Earlier in his career, Mr. Bannister was a certified public accountant with Deloitte, Haskins and Sells and has extensive experience with financial reporting and auditing matters. The Board believes Mr. Bannister’s experience, together with his 30 years of service as a Director of the Company, allows him to bring a sophisticated, diverse and seasoned business perspective to the Board.

George P. Scanlon

     63      Mr. Scanlon has been a Director of the Company since May 2017. Mr. Scanlon is a private investor. From 2010 to 2013, Mr. Scanlon was the Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity National

 

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Name

   Age     

Business Experience

     

Financial, Inc. (“FNF”), after serving as Chief Operating Officer of FNF earlier in 2010. FNF, listed on the NYSE, is the nation’s largest title insurance company, through its title insurance underwriters, and a leading provider of technology and transaction services to the real estate and mortgage industries. Mr. Scanlon also served as the Executive Vice President - Finance of Fidelity National Information Services from 2009 to 2010 and the Chief Financial Officer of Fidelity National Information Services, also listed on the NYSE, from 2008 to 2009. Prior to working at FNF, Mr. Scanlon served as the Chief Financial Officer at several companies in various industries, including real estate, technology and data services. Earlier in his career, Mr. Scanlon worked for approximately 18 years for Ryder System, Inc., a NYSE-listed transportation and supply chain management solutions company, in a number of financial, audit and strategic roles, and for Price Waterhouse (now PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited)1 (“PwC”) as an accountant. Mr. Scanlon also currently serves on the board of directors of Cyndx Holdco, Inc., a privately held company, and previously served on the board of directors of WageWorks, Inc., formerly a NYSE-listed company, from 2018 to 2019 and Remy International, Inc., formerly a NASDAQ-listed company, from 2012 to 2015.

 

Mr. Scanlon has broad business, financial and strategic expertise through a long career with both public and private companies in a number of industries. Mr. Scanlon’s service as an executive at FNF, particularly his service as the former Chief Executive Officer of FNF, brings valuable experience to the Board. FNF also owned minority or majority equity positions in a number of private portfolio companies on whose boards Mr. Scanlon served, including Comdata, Inc., a leading provider of fleet management and B2B payment solutions for the trucking industry and a key vendor to the Company. Mr. Scanlon also offers a very strong financial background, having served as the chief financial officer at a number of companies, as a financial executive at Ryder System, Inc., and as an accountant at PwC.

 

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INFORMATION REGARDING BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND COMMITTEES

The business of the Company is managed under the direction of the Board. The Board meets on a regularly scheduled basis four times a year to review significant developments affecting the Company and to act on matters requiring Board approval. It also holds special meetings and acts by written consent when matters require Board action between scheduled meetings. In addition, the Independent Directors (as defined below) of the Board meet regularly in executive session without any other members of management or the Board present.

Attendance at Annual Meetings

Each member of the Board is required to attend all meetings (whether special or annual) of the stockholders of the Company. In the case where a Director is unable to attend a special or annual stockholders’ meeting, such absence shall be publicly disclosed in the subsequent Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and an explanation for such absence shall be provided to the Company’s Nominating and ESG Committee. Any consideration of additional Company action, as appropriate, with respect to such absence shall be solely within the discretion of the Nominating and ESG Committee of the Board. All current Board members attended the 2020 Annual Meeting, which was held virtually.

Attendance at Board Meetings

During the Company’s 2020 fiscal year, the Board held eleven meetings and acted by unanimous written consent three times. During the Company’s 2020 fiscal year, each current Director who served on the Board in 2020 attended 75% or more of the total number of meetings of the Board and all committees of the Board on which such Director serves.

Independent Directors

Each of Homaira Akbari, David G. Bannister, Diana M. Murphy, Anthony J. Orlando, George P. Scanlon and Larry J. Thoele is an “independent director,” as defined in Rule 5605(a)(2) of the Listing Rules of the NASDAQ Stock Market and Item 407(a) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act and meets the requirements of Rule 5605(c)(2)(A) of such NASDAQ rules and Item 407(a) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act (such Directors are, collectively, the “Independent Directors”). The Independent Directors held five meetings during fiscal year 2020, in each case in executive session without any other members of management or the Board present.    

Structure and Committees of the Board

The Board has established an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, a Nominating and ESG Committee, a Safety and Risk Committee and a Strategic Planning Committee to devote attention to specific subjects. The functions of these committees and the number of meetings held during 2020 are described below. The Board does not currently have an Executive Committee. The Independent Directors have elected a non-executive Chairman, whose role is further described below. In addition, the Board has established a Disclosure Committee comprised of members of management, including one employee member of the Board, to establish and maintain certain disclosure controls and procedures to ensure accurate and timely disclosure in the Company’s periodic reports filed with the SEC.

Each of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and ESG Committee solely consist of the Independent Directors, with a different Independent Director serving as the Chairman for each such committee. In addition, Dr. Akbari serves as the Chairman of the Strategic Planning Committee and Mr. Orlando serves as the Chairman of the Safety and Risk Committee, each of which is comprised of all of the Directors on

 

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the Board. Historically, each of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and ESG Committee has typically invited Mr. Gattoni, the Director who does not serve on those committees, to attend all regular meetings of these three committees, excluding any meetings of the Compensation Committee to the extent pertaining to his executive compensation arrangements.

Leadership Structure of the Board

The leadership structure of the Board consists of: (i) a non-executive Chairman; (ii) an Independent Director serving as Chairman of the Audit Committee; (iii) an Independent Director serving as Chairman of the Compensation Committee; (iv) an Independent Director serving as Chairman of the Nominating and ESG Committee; (v) an Independent Director serving as Chairman of the Strategic Planning Committee; (vi) an Independent Director serving as the Chairman of the Safety and Risk Committee; and (vii) an employee Director who also serves as the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer. Each of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and ESG Committee consists solely of Independent Directors.

The Board believes this leadership structure is appropriate for the Company as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer is responsible for leading the overall strategic direction of the enterprise; however, the Independent Directors, led by the non-executive Chairman of the Board, retain the decision making authority of the Board because the Independent Directors consist of a majority of the members of the Board. In addition, the Independent Directors constitute the sole members of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and ESG Committee and a majority of members of the Strategic Planning Committee and the Safety and Risk Committee. The Board also believes that its leadership structure is supported by Independent Directors serving as the Chairman of each committee of the Board, as the Chairman of each committee of the Board has responsibility for setting the agenda for each meeting of that committee. Ms. Murphy, as non-executive Chairman, sets the agenda for the meetings of the Independent Directors.    Further, the Company’s internal audit function reports directly to the Audit Committee. Finally, there are no meetings of the Board or any committee of the Board at which each Independent Director is not an invited member, the Independent Directors meet regularly in executive session without any members of management present, including Mr. Gattoni, and the Independent Directors have significant input regarding the Board’s agenda and information flow.

Non-Executive Chairman

On May 19, 2015, the Board elected Diana M. Murphy to serve as non-executive Chairman of the Board for such term as the Board may determine. In appointing Ms. Murphy as the non-executive Chairman of the Board following the Company’s 2015 Annual Meeting, the Board considered Ms. Murphy’s extensive experience with the Company having served on the Board since 1998, including her service as Independent Lead Director since 2012 and her service at various times as Chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (subsequently renamed the Nominating and ESG Committee), the Strategic Planning Committee and the Compensation Committee.

The duties and responsibilities of the non-executive Chairman include: (i) to preside as the chairman at all meetings of the Board; (ii) to preside as the chairman at all meetings of the Independent Directors; (iii) to serve as a liaison between the Independent Directors and Mr. Gattoni; (iv) to coordinate with Mr. Gattoni to prepare meeting agendas and related materials for meetings of the Board; (v) to coordinate with the other Independent Directors of the Board to develop the agenda with respect to all meetings of the Independent Directors; (vi) to have the authority to call meetings of the Board and meetings of the Independent Directors; (vii) to approve the annual schedule of meetings of the Board; (viii) to ensure that the Board has adequate resources, including complete, timely information necessary to enable the members of the Board to perform their duties; and (ix) to communicate to management, as appropriate, the results of private discussions among the Independent Directors.

In addition to the aforementioned duties, the non-executive Chairman of the Board is also the Chairman of the Nominating and ESG Committee. In that capacity, Ms. Murphy leads the process by which potential new

 

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Independent Directors are identified and evaluated. The Board believes it is important to confer this responsibility on the non-executive Chairman in order to support a Board structure where the Independent Directors retain the decision making authority of the Board.

Separation of the Roles of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Ms. Murphy, the former Lead Independent Director of the Company, was appointed non-executive Chairman of the Board, effective May 19, 2015. Historically, the Company has experienced periods during which the roles of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer have been combined and periods during which these roles have been separated. The Board believes that an analysis of whether the roles of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer should be separated is based on the facts and circumstances applicable at the time of the analysis and that it may not be appropriate under all circumstances to separate the roles of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer.

Classified Structure of the Board

As described above, the Board is divided into three classes (Class I, Class II and Class III), with Directors in each class serving staggered three-year terms. The Board believes it is appropriate for the Board to retain its classified structure for several reasons, including: (i) to promote the best interests of the Company and its stockholders by providing continuity and stability with respect to leadership; (ii) to facilitate long-term planning and enhance the ability of the Board to implement long-term business strategies; (iii) to help attract and retain highly qualified directors; (iv) to enhance the Company’s bargaining power on behalf of stockholders in the event of a hostile takeover attempt or other activist shareholder undertakings; and (v) to reduce vulnerability to a coercive takeover attempt and thereby make it more likely that a potential acquiror would initiate discussions with the existing Board since it cannot replace all Directors in a single election cycle.

Audit Committee

The members of the Audit Committee are Homaira Akbari, David G. Bannister, Diana M. Murphy, Anthony J. Orlando, George P. Scanlon and Larry J. Thoele (Chairman), each an Independent Director.

The Charter of the Audit Committee was amended and restated by the Board at the May 18, 2020 Board meeting. The Charter of the Audit Committee more fully describes the purposes, membership, duties and responsibilities of the Audit Committee described herein. A copy of the Charter of the Audit Committee is available on the Company’s website at www.landstar.com under Investor Relations/Corporate Governance.

The Audit Committee (i) appoints the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company and monitors the performance of such firm, (ii) reviews the scope and results of the annual audits, (iii) evaluates with the independent registered public accounting firm the Company’s annual audit of the consolidated financial statements and audit of internal control over financial reporting, (iv) monitors the performance of the Company’s internal audit function, (v) reviews with management the annual and quarterly financial statements, (vi) reviews with management and the internal auditors the status of internal control over financial reporting, (vii) reviews and maintains procedures for the anonymous submission of complaints concerning accounting and auditing irregularities and (viii) reviews problem areas having a potential financial impact on the Company which may be brought to its attention by management, the internal auditors, the independent registered public accounting firm, the Board or through an anonymous submission of complaints. In addition, the Audit Committee preapproves all non-audit related services provided by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, currently KPMG, and approves the independent registered public accounting firm’s fees for services rendered to the Company. During the 2020 fiscal year, the Audit Committee held twelve meetings and did not act by written consent.

 

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Compensation Committee

The members of the Compensation Committee are Homaira Akbari, David G. Bannister (Chairman), Diana M. Murphy, Anthony J. Orlando, George P. Scanlon and Larry J. Thoele, each an Independent Director.

The Compensation Committee functions include: (i) reviewing and making determinations with respect to matters having to do with the compensation of Executive Officers and Directors of the Company and (ii) administering certain plans relating to the compensation of officers and Directors. During the Company’s 2020 fiscal year, the Compensation Committee held five meetings and did not act by written consent.

The Charter of the Compensation Committee was amended and restated by the Board at the December 7, 2020 Board meeting. The Charter of the Compensation Committee more fully describes the purposes, membership, duties and responsibilities of the Compensation Committee described herein. A copy of the Charter of the Compensation Committee is available on the Company’s website at www.landstar.com under Investor Relations/Corporate Governance.

The Compensation Committee has full and complete discretion to establish the compensation payable to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and the other Executive Officers and oversees the compensation payable to other employees of the Company. With regard to the Executive Officers other than the Chief Executive Officer, the Compensation Committee considers the recommendations of the Chief Executive Officer. The Compensation Committee, following authorization by the Board, has delegated to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer authority with respect to management of annual salary decisions for employees making up to $150,000 in annual salary. In addition, the Compensation Committee has delegated to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer the authority with respect to the grant of restricted stock units and/or nonvested restricted stock up to an aggregate grant date fair value of $150,000 per employee (other than Executive Officers) with vesting over a period of no less than three years from the date of the grant following consultation with the Chairman of the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee has otherwise not delegated to management any of its responsibilities with respect to the compensation of the Executive Officers of the Company, except with respect to the day-to-day operations of the Company’s compensation plans.

The Compensation Committee has the authority to hire and negotiate the terms of compensation for its advisers, including compensation consultants. The Compensation Committee periodically reviews the Company’s compensation programs.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

As noted above, the members of the Compensation Committee are Homaira Akbari, David G. Bannister, Diana M. Murphy, Anthony J. Orlando, George P. Scanlon and Larry J. Thoele. All members of the Compensation Committee are Independent Directors, and no member is or has been an employee of the Company. During the Company’s 2020 fiscal year, no Executive Officer of the Company served as a member of the compensation committee (or its equivalent) or board of directors of another entity whose executive officer served on the Board or the Compensation Committee.

Nominating and ESG Committee

The members of the Nominating and ESG Committee are Homaira Akbari, David G. Bannister, Diana M. Murphy (Chairman), Anthony J. Orlando, George P. Scanlon and Larry J. Thoele, each an Independent Director.

The functions of the Nominating and ESG Committee include to (a) review the composition of the Board and its committees to determine whether it may be appropriate to add or remove individuals or otherwise change the composition thereof; (b) oversee the self-evaluation of the Board and the self-evaluation of each Board committee; (c) review and evaluate current directors for re-nomination to the Board or reappointment to any

 

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Board committee; (d) identify individuals qualified and suitable to become Board members and recommend to the Board the director nominees for each annual meeting of stockholders; (e) develop and recommend to the Board a set of corporate governance principles applicable to the Company; and (f) provide oversight of the Company’s corporate responsibility initiatives and principles, including those relating to environmental and social matters. During the Company’s 2020 fiscal year, the Nominating and ESG Committee held one meeting and did not act by written consent.

The Charter of the Nominating and ESG Committee was amended and restated by the Board at the December 8, 2020 Board meeting in connection with the renaming of the committee from the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to the Nominating and ESG Committee. The Charter more fully describes the purposes, membership, duties and responsibilities of the Nominating and ESG Committee described herein. A copy of the Charter of the Nominating and ESG Committee is available on the Company’s website at www.landstar.com under Investor Relations/Corporate Governance.

The Nominating and ESG Committee oversees an annual self-evaluation conducted by the Board in order to determine whether the Board and its committees are functioning effectively. The Nominating and ESG Committee also oversees individual Director self-assessments. The Nominating and ESG Committee considers the Board, committee and individual Director self-assessments for purposes of making recommendations to the Board as to the persons who should be nominated for election or re-election, as the case may be, at each upcoming annual meeting of stockholders.

The Nominating and ESG Committee considers candidates for the Board suggested by its members and other Board members, as well as management and stockholders. The Nominating and ESG Committee also has the authority to engage search firms to help conduct searches for new candidates for the Board. There are no differences in the manner in which the Nominating and ESG Committee evaluates nominees for the Board based on whether or not the nominee is recommended by one of its members, another Board member, management or a stockholder. The Nominating and ESG Committee evaluates prospective nominees against a number of minimum standards and qualifications, including business experience and financial literacy. The Nominating and ESG Committee also considers such other factors as it deems appropriate, including the current composition of the Board, the balance of management Directors and Independent Directors, the need for Audit Committee or other relevant expertise, the evaluations of other prospective nominees and other individual qualities and attributes that contribute to a broad spectrum of experience among members of the Board. The Nominating and ESG Committee then determines whether to interview the prospective nominees, and, if warranted, one or more of the members of the Nominating and ESG Committee, and others as appropriate, interview such prospective nominees whether in person or by telephone. After completing this evaluation and, if warranted, interview, the Nominating and ESG Committee makes a recommendation to the Board as to the persons who should be nominated by the Board. The Board then determines the nominees after considering the recommendation and report of the Nominating and ESG Committee.

Stockholders who wish to submit names to the Nominating and ESG Committee for consideration for nomination to the Board should do so in writing addressed to the Nominating and ESG Committee, c/o Corporate Secretary, Landstar System, Inc., 13410 Sutton Park Drive South, Jacksonville, Florida 32224.

Following the recommendation of the Nominating and ESG Committee, the Board approved revised Nominating and Corporate Guidelines at its May 20, 2019 meeting. The Corporate Governance Guidelines set forth, among other things, guidelines with respect to Director qualification standards and Board membership criteria, limitations on the number of public company boards on which a Director may serve, attendance of Directors at Board meetings, Director compensation, Director education, evaluation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Board self-assessment. A copy of the Corporate Governance Guidelines is available on the Company’s website at www.landstar.com under Investor Relations at https://investor.landstar.com/committee-details/corporate-governance-guidelines.

 

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With respect to environmental and social matters, the Nominating and ESG Committee provides oversight with respect to the Company’s efforts and related public disclosure regarding environmental stewardship in its operations and social matters pertaining to the Company’s business, including current and emerging social trends and issues that may affect the business operations, performance and public image of the Company. Information regarding Landstar’s corporate responsibility efforts is available on the Company’s website at https://www.landstar.com/corporate-information/corporate-responsibility/.

Safety and Risk Committee

The members of the Safety and Risk Committee are Homaira Akbari, David G. Bannister, James B. Gattoni, Diana M. Murphy, Anthony J. Orlando (Chairman), George P. Scanlon and Larry J. Thoele.

The Charter of the Safety and Risk Committee was amended and restated by the Board at the May 18, 2020 Board meeting. The Charter more fully describes the purposes, membership, duties and responsibilities of the Safety and Risk Committee described herein. A copy of the Charter of the Safety and Risk Committee is available on the Company’s website at www.landstar.com under Investor Relations/Corporate Governance. During the Company’s 2020 fiscal year, the Safety and Risk Committee held two meetings, no telephonic meetings and did not act by written consent.

The Safety and Risk Committee functions include the review and oversight of the Company’s safety performance, goals and strategies and the Company’s enterprise-wide risk identification, policies and procedures. The Company has also established a management risk committee, consisting of those members of executive management of the Company with ultimate responsibility for the Company’s enterprise risk management practices. The current members of this committee include the President and Chief Executive Officer, the Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, the Vice President and Chief Safety and Operations Officer, the Vice President and Chief Information Officer, the Director of Internal Audit, the Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, the Vice President, Transportation Administrative Services and the Vice President, Corporate Controller. The management risk committee meets on a quarterly basis to review the Company’s enterprise-wide risk identification and monitoring practices, policies and procedures. Representatives from the management risk committee meet with the Safety and Risk Committee at least twice annually to review and discuss enterprise risk management within the Company.

The Safety and Risk Committee functions also include review with management of the performance, goals and strategies of the Company with respect to (i) the safety of its employee workforce, including, for example, with respect to illness or disease and other public health matters and related impacts on the operations of the Company, (ii) insurance-based risk management, which may involve the use of arrangements with third party insurance and reinsurance companies, the Company’s captive insurance company, and self-insurance and other risk-retention practices, and (iii) the security of and risks related to information technology systems and procedures, including cybersecurity, the Company’s information security training programs and other cyber and information security related matters.

Strategic Planning Committee

The members of the Strategic Planning Committee are Homaira Akbari (Chairman), David G. Bannister, James B. Gattoni, Diana M. Murphy, Anthony J. Orlando, George P. Scanlon and Larry J. Thoele. During the Company’s 2020 fiscal year, the Strategic Planning Committee held three meetings and did not act by written consent.

The Strategic Planning Committee functions include the review and consideration of the strategic objectives of the Company as well as the Company’s action plans designed and intended to achieve these strategic objectives. The Strategic Planning Committee solicits the views of the Company’s senior management and

 

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assesses strategic directions for implementation. The Strategic Planning Committee also reviews and approves the Company’s annual operating plan each year upon which is based the annual budgeted amount of diluted earnings per share that the Compensation Committee approves for purposes of establishing the “threshold” target under the Company’s Executive Incentive Compensation Plan. See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Performance Based Compensation – Annual Incentive Compensation” for more information.

COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS

For fiscal year 2020, each Independent Director was paid an annual fee of $75,000 with no additional fees payable for attendance at or participation in Board or committee meetings or service as a chairman of a committee of the Board. Ms. Murphy, the non-executive Chairman of the Board, was paid an additional $50,000 annual fee to serve in that capacity. Directors are not paid a retainer fee upon election or re-election to the Board. Directors are reimbursed for expenses incurred in connection with attending Board meetings and other company-related expenses such as attending director educational events.

In addition, a Director who was neither an officer nor an employee of the Company received a grant of 978 restricted shares of Common Stock or deferred stock units under the Amended and Restated 2013 Directors Stock Compensation Plan, on the first business day immediately following the May 2020 Annual Meeting, determined based on the number of restricted shares of Common Stock or deferred stock units equal to the quotient of $110,000 divided by the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on the date of such grant, rounded to the nearest whole number of shares. Each such grant of restricted stock or deferred stock units vests on the date of the next Annual Meeting. The unvested shares of restricted stock or deferred stock units are subject to forfeiture upon early departure of a Director from the Board for any reason prior to the Annual Meeting that immediately follows the Annual Meeting in respect of which such shares were granted.

Mr. Gattoni, who is not an Independent Director, did not receive any compensation for services as Director, for services on committees of the Board or for attendance at meetings, but he was reimbursed for expenses incurred in his capacity as a Director.

Compensation Paid to Directors

The following table summarizes the compensation paid to Directors, other than Mr. Gattoni, during 2020.

Director Compensation

 

Name

   Fees earned or
paid in cash ($)
     Stock awards
($) (1)
     All Other
Compensation ($)
     Total ($)  

Homaira Akbari

     75,000        109,957        2,701        187,658  

David G. Bannister

     75,000        109,957        2,701        187,658  

Diana M. Murphy

     125,000        109,957        2,701        237,658  

Anthony J. Orlando

     75,000        109,957        9,766        194,723  

George P. Scanlon

     75,000        109,957        2,701        187,658  

Larry J. Thoele

     75,000        109,957        2,701        187,658  

 

(1)

Dr. Akbari, Mr. Bannister, Ms. Murphy, Mr. Scanlon and Mr. Thoele were each granted 978 restricted shares and Mr. Orlando was granted 978 deferred stock units on May 20, 2020, the first business day immediately following the date of the Company’s 2020 Annual Meeting. The fair market value of a share of Common Stock on May 20, 2020 was $112.43. At December 26, 2020, Dr. Akbari, Mr. Bannister, Ms. Murphy, Mr. Scanlon and Mr. Thoele each had 978 restricted shares outstanding and Mr. Orlando had 4,331 deferred stock units outstanding. Dr. Akbari, Mr. Bannister, Ms. Murphy, Mr. Scanlon and

 

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  Mr. Thoele were each paid dividends on unvested restricted stock of $2,701 in 2020. Mr. Orlando was paid dividend equivalents on deferred stock units of $9,766 in 2020. Dividends paid on shares of unvested restricted stock and dividend equivalents paid on deferred stock units are included in All Other Compensation in the table above.

Director Stock Ownership Guidelines

The Compensation Committee of the Board has established stock ownership guidelines for Directors that recommend that each Director own a number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock in an amount no less than five times the annual cash fee payable to an outside Director within five years of such Director’s initial election to the Board. At March 17, 2021, each current Director who has served five years on the Board was in compliance with the stock ownership guidelines.

Hedging and Pledging of Common Stock by Directors

The Board has established a policy that prohibits the hedging and pledging of the Common Stock by all Directors under any circumstances.

 

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REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

The Audit Committee of the Board is responsible for providing independent, objective oversight of the Company’s accounting functions and internal controls. The Audit Committee has the sole authority and responsibility to select, evaluate and, when appropriate, replace the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee is comprised of all of the Independent Directors. The Audit Committee operates under a written charter approved by the Board.

Management is responsible for the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for performing an independent audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and to issue a report thereon. The independent registered public accounting firm is also responsible for auditing the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The Audit Committee is responsible for monitoring these processes. The Audit Committee is not, however, professionally engaged in the practice of accounting or auditing and does not provide any expert or other special assurance as to such financial statements concerning compliance with laws, regulations or generally accepted accounting principles or as to the independent registered public accounting firm’s independence. The Audit Committee relies, without independent verification, on the information provided to it and on presentations and statements of fact made by management, the internal auditors and the independent registered public accounting firm.

In connection with these responsibilities, as discussed elsewhere in this Proxy Statement, the Audit Committee held four meetings and eight telephonic meetings during the Company’s 2020 fiscal year. These meetings were designed, among other things, to facilitate and encourage communication among the Audit Committee, management, the internal auditors and the independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee discussed with representatives of the independent registered public accounting firm the overall scope and plans for these audits. The Audit Committee also met with representatives of KPMG, with and without management and the internal auditors present, to discuss the Company’s fiscal year 2020 financial statements and the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The Audit Committee also reviewed and discussed the December 26, 2020 audited financial statements with management and reviewed and discussed the status of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting with management and the internal auditors. The Audit Committee also discussed with representatives of the independent registered public accounting firm the matters required to be discussed by Auditing Standard No. 1301, “Communications with Audit Committees,” adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, and also received written disclosures and the letter from KPMG required by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding KPMG’s independence from the Company. The Audit Committee had discussions with representatives of the independent registered public accounting firm concerning the independence of the independent registered public accounting firm under the rules and regulations governing auditor independence promulgated under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The Audit Committee had discussions with management and the internal auditors concerning the process used to support certifications by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer that are required by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act to accompany the Company’s periodic filings with the SEC.

The Board has determined that Mr. Bannister, Mr. Orlando and Mr. Thoele, each an independent director under the NASDAQ and SEC audit committee structure and membership requirements, meet the SEC criteria of an “audit committee financial expert” under the standards established by Item 407(d) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act. Mr. Bannister’s background and experience includes serving as a Managing Director of Deutsche Bank Alex Brown Incorporated, a General Partner of Grotech Capital Group, and as a senior executive with FTI Consulting, Inc., a global business consulting firm listed on the New York Stock Exchange. In addition, Mr. Bannister was a certified public accountant employed as an audit manager at the firm of Deloitte, Haskins and Sells. Mr. Orlando’s background and experience includes serving as the CEO of Covanta from 2004 to 2015, during which time he actively supervised the principal financial and accounting officer of Covanta and helped to oversee and assess the performance of public accountants with respect to the preparation, auditing and evaluation

 

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of Covanta’s financial statements. Mr. Orlando also has a Masters in Business Administration (Finance) from Seton Hall University. Mr. Thoele’s background and experience includes service as an audit partner with KPMG from 1982 to 2009. Mr. Thoele served as Managing Partner of the Jacksonville office of KPMG from 1991 to 2007, the partner in charge of the North Florida audit practice of KPMG from 1996 to 2007 and as a lead partner in KPMG’s private equity practice from 2007 to 2009.

During 2020, the Audit Committee preapproved the continuation of all non-audit services to be rendered to the Company by the independent registered public accounting firm in 2020 (which services are disclosed elsewhere in this Proxy Statement) and concluded that these services, if any, complied with maintaining the independence of the registered public accounting firm.

Based upon the Audit Committee’s discussions with management and the independent registered public accounting firm, and the Audit Committee’s review of the representations of management and the independent registered public accounting firm, the Audit Committee recommended that the Board include the audited consolidated financial statements in the 2020 Annual Report, filed with the SEC on February 23, 2021. The Audit Committee has also selected KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 25, 2021 and has recommended to the Board that this selection be presented to the stockholders for ratification.

THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

Larry J. Thoele, Chairman

Homaira Akbari

David G. Bannister

Diana M. Murphy

Anthony J. Orlando

George P. Scanlon

 

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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY

The following table sets forth the name, age, principal occupation and business experience during the last five years of each of the current executive officers (the “Executive Officers”) of the Company. The Executive Officers of the Company serve at the discretion of the Board and until their successors are duly elected and qualified. For information regarding ownership of Common Stock by the Executive Officers of the Company, see “Security Ownership by Management and Others.” There are no family relationships among any of the Directors and Executive Officers of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

 

Name

   Age     

Business Experience

James B. Gattoni

     59      See previous description under “Directors of the Company.”

Michael K. Kneller

     46      Mr. Kneller has been an Executive Officer of the Company since June 2005. He has been Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the Company since June 2005. Prior to joining the Company in 2005, Mr. Kneller was a corporate attorney at the law firm of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP. He is also an officer or director of each of the Company’s subsidiaries and is a trustee of the Landstar Scholarship Fund.

Robert S. Brasher

     50      Mr. Brasher has been an Executive Officer of the Company since June 2019. He has been Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of the Company since June 2019. Mr. Brasher also serves as the President of Landstar Transportation Logistics, Inc., Landstar Ranger, Inc., Landstar Inway, Inc., Landstar Ligon, Inc., Landstar Gemini, Inc., Landstar Express America, Inc., and Landstar Global Logistics, Inc. (the “Transportation Services Subsidiaries”). Mr. Brasher served as Executive Vice President, Western Field Division of each of the Transportation Services Subsidiaries of the Company from January 2014 until June 2019. Mr. Brasher held various other positions with subsidiaries of the Company since 2000.

Joseph J. Beacom

     56      Mr. Beacom has been an Executive Officer of the Company since January 2006. He has been Vice President and Chief Safety and Operations Officer since May 2011. Mr. Beacom served as Vice President and Chief Safety, Security and Compliance Officer of the Company from January 2006 until May 2011. Mr. Beacom served as Vice President and Chief Safety, Security and Compliance Officer of LSHI from May 2005 to May 2011. Prior to May 2005, Mr. Beacom held various other positions with subsidiaries of the Company since 1993.

 

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Name

   Age     

Business Experience

Ricardo S. Coro

     57      Mr. Coro has been an Executive Officer of the Company since May 2017. He has been Vice President and Chief Information Officer of the Company since May 2017. Prior to joining the Company in 2017, Mr. Coro served from 2012 to 2017 as Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer for Southeastern Grocers, LLC, parent company of BI-LO, Fresco y Más, Harveys and Winn-Dixie supermarkets. From 2005 to 2012, he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Advance Auto Parts, Inc., a leading retailer of automotive replacement parts and accessories. From 2002 to 2005, Mr. Coro served as Vice President of North American Information Technology at Office Depot, a leading retailer of office supplies. Earlier in his career, Mr. Coro served in various roles at other employers in the technology and engineering fields.

 

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Compensation Discussion and Analysis

Overall Policy

The Company’s executive compensation philosophy is to attract and motivate executive talent best suited to develop and implement the Company’s business strategy. These objectives are attained by tying a significant portion of each executive’s compensation to the Company’s success in meeting specified annual corporate financial performance goals and, through the grant of stock-based awards, aligning the interests of the Named Executives to the interests of our stockholders. The Company’s philosophy is to recognize individual contributions while supporting a team approach in achieving overall business objectives and increasing shareholder value.

The key elements of the Company’s executive compensation consist of base salary, annual performance-based incentive payments and stock-based awards. The Company’s policies with respect to each of these elements, including the basis for the compensation awarded, are discussed below.

The Company’s philosophy is to pay annual compensation generally in cash, with long-term incentive compensation paid in the form of stock-based awards. Base salary is intended to constitute a modest percentage of total compensation. The annual incentive compensation plan is designed to pay substantial compensation for superior performance. Stock-based awards have historically accounted for a significant portion of each Named Executive’s total compensation. In 2020, the Company awarded both performance stock units and restricted stock to each of its Named Executives based on each individual’s level of responsibility and performance and to help align management’s future interests with that of the Company’s stockholders. The Company believes that its compensation practices align executive compensation with financial performance and, as such, executive compensation arrangements are generally aligned with the Company’s variable cost business model.

The Compensation Committee of the Board is solely responsible for decisions with respect to the compensation of the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, James B. Gattoni. The Compensation Committee is also responsible, taking into consideration recommendations of the President and Chief Executive Officer, for decisions with respect to the compensation awarded to the other individuals whose compensation is detailed below (such other officers, together with Mr. Gattoni, collectively herein referred to as the “Named Executives”), subject to review by the entire Board.

The Company provides its stockholders with the opportunity to cast an annual advisory vote on Named Executive compensation as described elsewhere in this Proxy Statement (commonly known as a “say-on-pay” proposal). At the Company’s 2020 Annual Meeting, approximately 99% of the votes cast on the say-on-pay proposal at that meeting were voted in favor of the proposal. The Compensation Committee believes this affirms stockholders’ support of the Company’s approach to executive compensation. As noted above, the say-on-pay vote is advisory and therefore not binding on the Compensation Committee. However, the Compensation Committee values the opinion of the Company’s stockholders and, to the extent there were any significant vote against the Named Executive compensation as disclosed in this Proxy Statement, would consider the stockholders’ concerns and evaluate whether any actions are necessary to address those concerns.    

Base Salaries

Base salaries for Named Executives are initially determined by evaluating the responsibilities of the position held and the experience of the individual. Salary adjustments are determined by evaluating the performance of the Company and of each Named Executive, and also take into account the Named Executive’s assumption of, or changes in, responsibilities, if any. The financial results of the operating functions which report into a Named Executive or for which a Named Executive otherwise has responsibility are also considered. The base salaries of the five Named Executives are detailed in the Summary Compensation Table that follows. As of January 1, 2021, the Compensation Committee approved increases in the annual base salaries of Mr. Gattoni to $600,000 per year, Mr. Kneller to $350,000 per year, and Messrs. Beacom and Mr. Coro to $340,000 per year.

 

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As disclosed in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 2, 2020, L. Kevin Stout stepped down from his position as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, effective November 2, 2020, and was named Special Advisor to the CEO, in which capacity he is expected to serve until December 31, 2021, with an annual salary of $120,000.

Performance Based Compensation

The Company maintains performance-based compensation programs that are designed to encourage the Company’s Named Executives to achieve various financial goals linked to operating objectives both for the Company’s upcoming fiscal year as well as for the longer term performance of the enterprise. The Company’s performance-based compensation programs include the Company’s annual incentive program and stock-based awards program, each of which are further described below.

Annual Incentive Compensation

The Company’s objective with respect to the Landstar System, Inc. Executive Incentive Compensation Plan, adopted by the Board and approved by the Company’s stockholders effective January 1, 2017 (the “EICP”), is to encourage the Company’s Named Executives to achieve various financial goals linked to operating objectives for the Company’s upcoming fiscal year. These annual goals are developed as part of the Company’s budgeting process and in general are aligned with the Company’s long-term objectives with respect to earnings growth. For each annual fiscal period, the Compensation Committee reviews and approves, among other financial metrics, the budgeted amount for diluted earnings per share. In establishing budgeted amounts for diluted earnings per share for 2020, the Company considered 2019 operating results, historical operating trends and forecasted 2020 U.S. economic factors such as industrial production, estimated freight demand and capacity availability. Once the annual budgeted goal is approved by the Compensation Committee, the EICP is designed to incent management to meet and, when possible, to exceed their goals. An executive’s incentive compensation payment continues to increase as actual results for the fiscal year exceed budgeted amounts. As further described below, actual payments under the EICP are calculated based upon how much actual results exceed budgeted diluted earnings per share, using a predetermined formula, up to the maximum annual payment per eligible participant as per the EICP as approved by the Company’s stockholders, and subject to the discretion of the Compensation Committee. For the 2020 fiscal year, the maximum annual payment per eligible participant was $3 million.

With respect to the 2020 fiscal year, each of the Named Executives had a “threshold” target under the EICP based on a specific budgeted diluted earnings per share amount approved in connection with the Company’s annual operating budget. The Compensation Committee believes it is appropriate to establish the target under the EICP based on diluted earnings per share because (1) each of the Named Executives were in positions of broad responsibility over various components that affect the Company’s diluted earnings per share amount, (2) the Compensation Committee believes that diluted earnings per share is the primary financial measure reflecting the performance of the Company’s overall strategic direction and on that basis evaluates the performance of the Named Executives, (3) the Compensation Committee believes it is appropriate to compensate the Named Executives upon achievement of Company-wide, rather than function specific budgeted targets in order to focus executive management on Company-wide strategic and financial performance goals, (4) the Compensation Committee, at its discretion, has the ability to adjust calculated bonus amounts in the event of extraordinary or unusual items impacting diluted earnings per share and (5) the Company’s performance-based equity programs use a number of other financial measures, including operating income, pre-tax income per diluted share and total shareholder return (“TSR”), to determine executive compensation under those programs, as further described below under “Stock-based Awards”.

The “threshold” amount of diluted earnings per share under the EICP refers to the amount of diluted earnings per share that would be required to give effect to a “one-time incentive payment.” Budgeted diluted earnings per share does not include the aggregate amount of a “one-time incentive payment.” Therefore, each

 

24


Named Executive would have received no incentive payout if the Company’s actual diluted earnings per share amount for the fiscal year was less than budgeted diluted earnings per share before giving effect to the funding of a one-time incentive payment. Each Named Executive would have received a “one-time incentive payout” if the Company’s actual diluted earnings per share amount for the fiscal year equaled budgeted diluted earnings per share after giving effect to such one-time incentive payment.

A “one-time incentive payment” under the EICP equals the executive’s EICP percentage multiplied by such executive’s base salary. The EICP percentages for the Named Executives in 2020 were as follows: Mr. Gattoni, 100%, Mr. Stout, 65%, Mr. Kneller, 50%, Mr. Coro, 50% and Mr. Beacom, 50%.

If the Company’s actual diluted earnings per share for the fiscal year were greater than the “threshold” amount of diluted earnings per share, the EICP payment for each Named Executive would be calculated by multiplying each such executive’s base salary by such executive’s EICP percentage multiplied by a “multiplier” that is equal to one plus a predetermined factor. The factor equaled 33 1/3 percent for each one percent by which actual diluted earnings per share exceeded threshold diluted earnings per share up to a multiplier of 3.0 for each executive. In other words, each executive would achieve a multiplier of 3.0 if actual diluted earnings per share exceeded threshold diluted earnings per share by six percent. For purposes of this Compensation, Discussion and Analysis and the “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” table below, we refer to the amount of diluted earnings per share required to achieve a multiplier of 3.0 as the “target” amount of diluted earnings per share.

In the event actual diluted earnings per share exceeded target diluted earnings per share, a bonus pool would accrue as if the multiplier continued to increase above 3.0 for each participant under the EICP. The bonus pool amount would be calculated by multiplying each such executive’s base salary by such executive’s EICP percentage multiplied by a “multiplier” that is also equal to one plus a predetermined factor. With respect to the calculation of the bonus pool, the factor equaled 16 2/3 percent, not 33 1/3 percent, for each one percent by which actual diluted earnings per share exceeded target diluted earnings per share. The bonus pool is allocable among EICP participants based on the discretion of the Compensation Committee. These calculations of individual amounts for each Named Executive may be adjusted upwards or downwards at the discretion of the Compensation Committee, subject to the $3 million maximum.

The “threshold” amount of diluted earnings per share under the EICP with respect to the 2020 fiscal year was $5.44 and the “target” amount of diluted earnings per share under the EICP with respect to the 2020 fiscal year was $5.76. Diluted earnings per share for the 2020 fiscal year was $4.98, lower than “threshold” diluted earnings per share by 8.5%, or $0.46 per share, and was lower than “target” diluted earnings per share by 13.5%, or $0.78 per share. Although the threshold amount of diluted earnings per share under the EICP with respect to the 2020 fiscal year was not achieved, the Compensation Committee approved bonuses for each current Named Executive equal in amount to a one-time “threshold” payout under the EICP for the 2020 fiscal year given the committee’s overall evaluation of the Company’s performance in 2020.

In approving these bonus amounts for the Named Executives, the Compensation Committee recognized that the 2020 fiscal year involved the most challenging operating environment in the Company’s history. As a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Landstar experienced an extraordinary decline in truckload volumes that began during late March and continued into the 2020 second quarter followed by a similarly significant yet more gradual increase in demand during the second half of fiscal 2020. This rapid decrease in demand followed by the similarly significant yet more gradual increase was unprecedented in the history of the Company. The overarching goals of the Company throughout the pandemic crisis were to preserve the culture and strength of the Landstar network while keeping participants in the network safe. To that effect, during 2020, to address the safety and health of our employees, BCO Independent Contractors and independent commission sales agents amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, management implemented the following, among other steps:

 

   

Shifted the vast majority of our employees to a remote work environment;

 

   

Initiated regular communication to employees regarding impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, including health and safety protocols and procedures to address actual and suspected COVID-19 cases and potential exposure of our employees;

 

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Established physical distancing procedures and providing personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies for employees who needed to be on-site;

 

   

Increased cleaning protocols at our offices;

 

   

Modified work spaces with plexiglass dividers, rearranged office layouts and touchless faucets;

 

   

Expanded the use of virtual interactions in all aspects of our business;

 

   

Cancelled the annual agent convention, BCO All-Star Celebration and various other events;

 

   

Instituted a pandemic relief incentive program whereby Landstar paid an extra $50 for each load delivered by a BCO Independent Contractor with a confirmed delivery date from April 1, 2020 through May 30, 2020 to both the BCO Independent Contractor that hauled the load and the independent commission sales agent that dispatched the load;

 

   

Provided up to $2,000 to a BCO Independent Contractor who tested positive for COVID-19 or was placed under a mandatory quarantine by a public health authority;

 

   

Provided additional paid time-off for employees directly impacted by COVID-19, and instructed those who were infected to stay home; and

 

   

Prohibited non-essential business travel for all employees.

The Compensation Committee recognized that the Company accomplished these steps without negatively impacting Landstar’s employee-based operations or productivity, and while continuing to support our network of agents, BCO Independent Contractors and other third party capacity providers. During 2020, the Company also:

 

   

Continued to make progress on its digital transformation initiatives, in particular, with respect to new releases achieved with respect to the digital tools made available to independent commission sales agents and BCO Independent Contractors;

 

   

Established a new subsidiary, Landstar Blue, LLC, and executed a corporate acquisition and an asset purchase by Landstar Blue to position that new entity for future growth;

 

   

Completed a refinancing of its credit facility;

 

   

Initiated the roll-out of a new Field Operations Center initiative to support the continued recruitment and retention of truck owner-operators to the Company’s network of BCO Independent Contractors; and

 

   

Successfully negotiated buyouts with 13 independent commission sales agents of their legacy domicile incentive commission arrangements in connection with the restructuring of the Company’s BCO Independent Contractor recruiting and retention programs.

From a financial perspective, the Compensation Committee believes that the Company’s performance in 2020 was outstanding given the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the U.S. economy and supply chains throughout the world, the softness in the U.S. manufacturing sector throughout the year, and the many other challenges experienced by the Company’s customers, employees, agents, BCOs and other third party capacity providers in managing through the business and personal disruptions caused by the pandemic. Despite the aforementioned challenges, the Company’s financial performance in the second half of 2020 was remarkable. Revenue, gross profit, operating income and diluted earnings per share exceeded the second half of 2019 by 19 percent, 14 percent, 22 percent and 27 percent, respectively. During the 2020 fourth quarter, the Company established new all-time quarterly records for revenue, gross profit and diluted earnings per share. Landstar also concluded the year with all-time high numbers of BCO trucks leased to Landstar companies and approved third-party truck brokerage carriers.

Finally, it should be noted that although fiscal year 2020 diluted earnings per share of $4.98 did not achieve the “threshold” target under the Company’s 2020 executive incentive compensation plan of $5.44, a difference of

 

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$0.46, net income during fiscal year 2020 was unfavorably impacted by (i) $15,494,000, or $0.31 per common share ($0.31 per diluted share), related to the one-time costs to buyout all of the legacy domicile incentive commission arrangements with Landstar independent commission sales agents, and (ii) $12,593,000, or $0.25 per common share ($0.25 per diluted share), related to the COVID-19 pandemic relief incentive payments made to the Company’s BCO Independent Contractors and independent commission sales agents. The Company believes both of these measures were important steps in support of the long-term strength of the Landstar network.

Inclusive of fiscal year 2020, the Company has achieved the “threshold” amount of diluted earnings per share in two of the five preceding fiscal years and seven of the preceding ten fiscal years. Inclusive of fiscal year 2020, the Company has achieved the “target” amount of diluted earnings per share in two of the five preceding fiscal years and six of the preceding ten fiscal years.

Annual Incentive Compensation – Clawback Rights

The EICP provides that if the Company is required to restate its financial results due to material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirement under applicable securities laws, the Compensation Committee may, in its discretion after considering the costs and benefits of doing so, recover that portion of any bonus paid under the EICP to any current or former Named Executive during the three-year period preceding the date on which the Company files the restatement of such financial statement(s) with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which portion exceeds the amount or value that the Compensation Committee determines would have been payable or received in respect of such bonus had the revised financial statement(s) reflected in the restatement been applied to determine such bonus. Subject to applicable law, the Compensation Committee may seek such excess compensation by requiring the Named Executive to pay such amount to the Company by set-off, by reducing future compensation or by such other means or combination of means as the Committee determines to be appropriate.

Stock-based Awards

Under the Company’s 2011 Landstar System, Inc. Equity Incentive Plan, stock-based awards may be granted to the Company’s Named Executives and certain other key employees. No further grants of stock-based awards can be made under the Amended and Restated 2002 Employee Stock Option and Stock Incentive Plan (together with the 2011 Equity Incentive Plan, the “Employee Equity Plans”). The Compensation Committee determines the type and number of stock-based awards to be granted to a Named Executive based on such Named Executive’s job responsibilities, the individual performance evaluation of such Named Executive and overall Company performance. Stock-based awards are typically granted to Named Executives once a year.

The Compensation Committee believes that restricted stock, restricted stock units (the “RSUs”) and other forms of stock-based awards that may be granted under the Employee Equity Plans are effective methods that may be used as part of the Company’s long-term compensation program. Over each of the past five years, the Compensation Committee approved the grant of performance related stock awards in the form of RSUs to Named Executives on an annual basis (the “Regular RSU Awards”). In 2016, the Compensation Committee modified the structure of the Regular RSU Awards program and, in connection with those modifications, initiated a program to grant annual restricted stock awards to Named Executives (the “Regular Restricted Stock Awards”) along with the Regular RSU Awards.

Stock-based Awards – Regular RSU Awards

On January 27, 2015, the Company granted an aggregate of 42,500 RSUs to Named Executives. Under these Regular RSU Awards, Mr. Gattoni received 15,000 RSUs, Mr. Stout received 12,500 RSUs, and Messrs. Beacom and Kneller each received 7,500 RSUs. The Compensation Committee awarded Mr. Gattoni a larger grant in recognition of Mr. Gattoni’s broader responsibilities as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Mr. Stout received a larger grant than Messrs. Beacom and Kneller in recognition of his promotion to Chief

 

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Financial Officer of the Company. The number of RSUs that vested under the 2015 Regular RSU Awards was determined annually, for each year in the five-year period from the date of grant.

On January 29, 2016, the Company granted an aggregate of 33,800 RSUs to Named Executives. Under these Regular RSU Awards, Mr. Gattoni received 13,520 RSUs, and Messrs. Beacom, Kneller and Stout each received 6,760 RSUs. The Compensation Committee awarded Mr. Gattoni a larger grant in recognition of Mr. Gattoni’s broader responsibilities as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The number of RSUs that vest under the 2016 Regular RSU Awards is determined on the third, fourth and fifth anniversary from the date of grant.

On February 2, 2017, the Company granted an aggregate of 22,641 RSUs to Named Executives. Under these Regular RSU Awards, Mr. Gattoni received 9,057 RSUs, and Messrs. Beacom, Kneller and Stout each received 4,528 RSUs. The Compensation Committee awarded Mr. Gattoni a larger grant in recognition of Mr. Gattoni’s broader responsibilities as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Similar to the 2016 Regular RSU award grant, the number of RSUs that vest under the 2017 Regular RSU Award is determined on the third, fourth and fifth anniversary from the date of grant.

On February 2, 2018, the Company granted an aggregate of 25,186 RSUs to Named Executives. Under these Regular RSU Awards, Mr. Gattoni received 8,761 RSUs, Messrs. Beacom, Kneller and Stout each received 4,380 RSUs and Mr. Coro received 3,285 RSUs. The Compensation Committee awarded Mr. Gattoni a larger grant in recognition of Mr. Gattoni’s broader responsibilities as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The Compensation Committee awarded Mr. Coro a smaller grant of RSUs in light of the overall compensation package agreed to with Mr. Coro in connection with his hiring as of May 1, 2017, which included, among other compensatory items, a cash sign-on bonus payable over two years and a significant grant of restricted stock upon his first day of employment with the Company, as further described below. Similar to the 2016 and 2017 Regular RSU award grants, the number of RSUs that vest under the 2018 Regular RSU Award is determined on the third, fourth and fifth anniversary from the date of grant.

On February 1, 2019, the Company granted an aggregate of 27,956 RSUs to Named Executives. Under these Regular RSU Awards, Mr. Gattoni received 9,724 RSUs, Messrs. Beacom, Kneller and Stout each received 4,862 RSUs and Mr. Coro received 3,646 RSUs. The Compensation Committee awarded Mr. Gattoni a larger grant in recognition of Mr. Gattoni’s broader responsibilities as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The Compensation Committee awarded Mr. Coro a smaller grant of RSUs in light of the overall compensation package agreed to with Mr. Coro in connection with his hiring as of May 1, 2017, which included, among other compensatory items, a cash sign-on bonus payable over two years and a significant grant of restricted stock upon his first day of employment with the Company, as further described below. Similar to the 2016, 2017 and 2018 Regular RSU award grants, the number of RSUs that vest under the 2019 Regular RSU Award is determined on the third, fourth and fifth anniversary from the date of grant.

On January 31, 2020, the Company granted an aggregate of 26,850 RSUs to Named Executives. Under these Regular RSU Awards, Mr. Gattoni received 8,950 RSUs, and Messrs. Beacom, Coro, Kneller and Stout each received 4,475 RSUs. The Compensation Committee awarded Mr. Gattoni a larger grant in recognition of Mr. Gattoni’s broader responsibilities as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Similar to the 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 Regular RSU award grants, the number of RSUs that vest under the 2020 Regular RSU Award is determined on the third, fourth and fifth anniversary from the date of grant.

For the Regular RSU Awards, each RSU represents the contractual right to receive up to two shares of Common Stock (subject to adjustment as provided in the Employee Equity Plans) when the award becomes vested. For the 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 Regular RSU Awards, the number of RSUs that vest each year will be determined by (a) multiplying the number of RSUs credited to the Named Executive as of the applicable vesting date by (b) the Performance Multiple derived from the chart below, and (c) subtracting therefrom the

 

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number of RSUs that have previously vested; provided that, in no event, may the aggregate number of RSUs that become vested exceed 200% of the RSUs credited to the Named Executive under the applicable grant.

For purposes of the Regular RSU Awards, the determination of the Performance Multiple is based on the achievement of the applicable Performance Hurdle. For purposes of the 2016 and 2017 Regular RSU Awards, the Performance Hurdle means the sum of (a) the average of the percentage change (positive or negative) in operating income and diluted earnings per share, in each case from continuing operations, from the most recently completed fiscal year as compared to the results from continuing operations for the base year, plus (b) 5%, and is as set forth in the chart below, with linear interpolation between Performance Hurdles. For purposes of the 2018, 2019 and 2020 Regular RSU Awards, the Performance Hurdle means the sum of the average of the percentage change (positive or negative) in operating income and pre-tax income per diluted share, in each case from continuing operations, from the most recently completed fiscal year as compared to the results from continuing operations for the base year, and is as set forth in the chart below, with linear interpolation between Performance Hurdles:

 

Performance Hurdle

   Performance
Multiple
  Performance
Level
 

0%

   0%  

25%

   50%  

50%

   100%     Target  

75%

   150%  

100%

   200%     Maximum  

No dividends are paid on the Regular RSU Awards and Regular RSU Awards have no voting rights. However, dividend equivalents are credited to the Named Executive with respect to the Regular RSU Awards each time that a dividend is paid on the Company’s Common Stock. The aggregate amount of such dividend equivalents so credited in respect of each such dividend are equal to the dividend paid on a share of Common Stock multiplied by, respectively, the number of outstanding 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 Regular RSU Awards credited to the Named Executive on the dividend record date. The dividend equivalents are converted into additional 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 Regular RSU Awards credited to the Named Executive on the dividend payment date based upon the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on such date.

The Compensation Committee has designed the manner in which performance-based restricted stock unit awards are deemed to be earned to reflect the level of performance that the Committee expects to be achieved, with a targeted number of units earned if the targeted level of performance is attained, and a maximum number of units earned if the maximum level of performance is attained. An increasing percentage of the Regular RSU awards is earned based on an increasing level of positive average change in operating income and diluted earnings per share or pre-tax income per diluted share, as applicable, during the five year performance period, such that no portion of the award is earned if there is no positive change based on the applicable calculation, 100% of the number of units credited is earned if the “target” level of positive increase is achieved, and a maximum of 200% of the number of units credited is earned if a maximum level of positive increase is achieved, with interpolation between these levels of performance. The Compensation Committee believes the use of a “target” and “maximum” sets expectations associated with these awards both internally to employee recipients as well as to stockholders and other third parties to help them understand the derivation of the value attributed by the Company to these awards at the time of grant. The Compensation Committee further believes that the manner in which these awards are deemed to be earned emphasizes to employee recipients and investors that the expectation at the time of grant is that the employee recipients would need to perform at a high level in order for the Company’s performance to reach the targeted level of operating income and diluted earnings per share or pre-tax income per diluted share, as applicable, for the employees to earn the “target” number of units during the term of the award, and, moreover, that superior performance by the Company is required for the employee recipients to earn the “maximum” performance-based award.

 

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In 2016, as noted above, the Compensation Committee changed the vesting schedule upon which performance-based restricted stock unit awards are deemed to be earned. With respect to the 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 Regular RSU Awards, the number of RSUs that vest is determined on the third, fourth and fifth anniversary from the date of grant whereas vesting of 2015 Regular RSU Awards are determined annually for each year in the five-year period from the date of grant. The Compensation Committee believes this change to the vesting schedule so that no awards are subject to vesting until three years or more from the date of grant is consistent with the long-term performance goals these awards are intended to reward. Accordingly, the performance period of all Regular RSU Awards issued since 2016 is no less than three, and up to five, years in duration.

In 2018, the Compensation Committee changed the method to determine the Performance Hurdle (1) to reference the average of the percentage change (positive or negative) in operating income and pre-tax income per diluted share as opposed to the average of the percentage change (positive or negative) in operating income and diluted earnings per share and (2) to remove the 5% positive adjustment previously included in the Performance Hurdle. The change to reference pre-tax income per diluted share rather than diluted earnings per share was implemented in order to use a financial metric that will not be impacted by changes to applicable tax rates, and in particular, potential future changes to the federal corporate tax rate, during the performance period of the applicable RSU. The change to remove the 5% positive adjustment was made as part of an overall review of the Company’s executive compensation program in light of other changes made to Named Executive salaries and grants under the Company’s Regular Restricted Stock program referred to below.

Stock-based Awards – Regular Restricted Stock Awards

On February 2, 2017, 7,546 shares of restricted stock were issued in aggregate to Named Executives that vest in three equal annual installments on January 31 of 2018, 2019 and 2020. Under these restricted stock awards, Mr. Gattoni received 3,019 shares, and Messrs. Beacom, Kneller and Stout each received 1,509 shares. The Compensation Committee awarded Mr. Gattoni a larger grant in recognition of Mr. Gattoni’s broader responsibilities as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

On May 1, 2017, the Compensation Committee awarded 5,813 shares of restricted stock to Mr. Coro in connection with his hiring as Vice President and Chief Information Officer. The May 1, 2017 award vests in four equal annual installments on May 1 of 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.

On February 2, 2018, 12,045 shares of restricted stock were issued in aggregate to Named Executives that vest in three equal annual installments on January 31 of 2019, 2020 and 2021. Under these restricted stock awards, Mr. Gattoni received 4,380 shares, Messrs. Beacom, Kneller and Stout each received 2,190 shares and Mr. Coro received 1,095 shares. The Compensation Committee awarded Mr. Gattoni a larger grant in recognition of Mr. Gattoni’s broader responsibilities as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The Compensation Committee awarded Mr. Coro a smaller grant in light of the overall compensation package agreed to with Mr. Coro in connection with his hiring as of May 1, 2017, which included, among other compensatory items, a cash sign-on bonus payable over two years and a significant grant of restricted stock upon his first day of employment with the Company.

On February 1, 2019, 13,370 shares of restricted stock were issued in aggregate to Named Executives that vest in three equal annual installments on January 31 of 2020, 2021 and 2022. Under these restricted stock awards, Mr. Gattoni received 4,862 shares, Messrs. Beacom, Kneller and Stout each received 2,431 shares, and Mr. Coro received 1,215 shares. The Compensation Committee awarded Mr. Gattoni a larger grant in recognition of Mr. Gattoni’s broader responsibilities as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The Compensation Committee awarded Mr. Coro a smaller grant in light of the overall compensation package agreed to with Mr. Coro in connection with his hiring as of May 1, 2017, which included, among other compensatory items, a cash sign-on bonus payable over two years and a significant grant of restricted stock upon his first day of employment with the Company.

 

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On January 31, 2020, 13,423 shares of restricted stock were issued in aggregate to Named Executives that vest in three equal annual installments on January 31 of 2021, 2022 and 2023. Under these restricted stock awards, Mr. Gattoni received 4,475 shares, and Messrs. Beacom, Coro, Kneller and Stout each received 2,237 shares. The Compensation Committee awarded Mr. Gattoni a larger grant in recognition of Mr. Gattoni’s broader responsibilities as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

The Compensation Committee believes that whereas the Regular RSU Awards are designed to incentivize the attainment of specific financial goals over a multi-year period (as well as rewarding for stock price appreciation), the Regular Restricted Stock Awards serve as a retention tool as they retain value during periods of adverse market volatility while also rewarding for stock price appreciation over time. The Compensation Committee believes that these two equity vehicles when used in conjunction with each other serve to reward long-term financial performance and stock price appreciation while also providing a retention-based benefit for the Named Executive in the event of shorter term market and/or economic turbulence. In determining the amount of the 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 Regular RSU Awards and the Regular Restricted Stock Awards for each Named Executive, the Compensation Committee considered the full equity compensation component of each Named Executive’s annual compensation and allocated such component between Regular RSU Awards and Regular Restricted Stock Awards such that each Named Executive was awarded two RSUs for each share of restricted stock.

The Compensation Committee has established post-vesting holding period requirements with respect to shares of Common Stock received upon vesting of Regular RSU Awards. Each Named Executive is subject to a one year post-vesting holding requirement with respect to the shares received upon settlement of Regular RSU Awards, net of any applicable withholding obligations in connection with such settlement.

Stock-based Awards – Grants of TSR-based RSU Awards to the CEO

On March 17, 2015, and in connection with his promotion to the position of Chief Executive Officer, the Company and James B. Gattoni entered into an agreement granting to Mr. Gattoni, as of May 1, 2015, a special performance-related stock award under the Company’s 2011 Equity Incentive Plan in the form of 20,000 RSUs (the “CEO Promotion Award”). A portion of the CEO Promotion Award vested on April 30, 2019 and April 30, 2020, and, in general, the remainder of the CEO Promotion Award will vest on April 30, 2021, with the number of RSUs that vest on each vesting date determined by multiplying one-third of the number of RSUs credited to Mr. Gattoni pursuant to the CEO Promotion Award by a “payout percentage” that is based on the Company’s TSR compound annual growth rate (“CAGR”) over the vesting periods, adjusted to reflect dividends (if any) paid during such period, and as may be necessary to take into account capital adjustments.

During 2018, the Company and Mr. Gattoni entered into an agreement granting Mr. Gattoni 9,324 RSUs that vest based on a market condition (the “2018 TSR RSU Award”). These RSUs may vest on June 30 of 2022, 2023 and 2024 based on the Company’s TSR CAGR over the vesting periods, adjusted to reflect dividends (if any) paid during such periods and capital adjustments as may be necessary. The maximum number of common shares available for issuance under the 2018 TSR RSU Award equals 150% of the number of RSUs awarded. The fair value of this RSU award was determined at the time of grant based on the expected achievement of the market condition at the end of each vesting period.

During 2019, the Company and Mr. Gattoni entered into an agreement granting Mr. Gattoni 9,725 RSUs that vest based on a market condition (the “2019 TSR RSU Award”). These RSUs may vest on June 30 of 2023, 2024 and 2025 based on the Company’s TSR CAGR over the vesting periods, adjusted to reflect dividends (if any) paid during such periods and capital adjustments as may be necessary. The maximum number of common shares available for issuance under the 2019 TSR RSU Award equals 150% of the number of RSUs awarded. The fair value of this RSU award was determined at the time of grant based on the expected achievement of the market condition at the end of each vesting period.

 

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Under the terms of the CEO Promotion Award, the 2018 TSR RSU Award and the 2019 TSR RSU Award (collectively the “TSR RSU Awards”), TSR CAGR over the applicable vesting period is determined as of the beginning and end of each performance period using a sixty day measurement period, other than in the event of a change in control. The “payout percentage” as of each vesting date is as follows, with straight line interpolation between performance levels:

 

Performance Level

 

If TSR CAGR is:

  

Then the Payout Percentage is:

Maximum

  12.0% or greater    150%

Target

  10.0%    100%

Threshold

  8.0%    50%

<Threshold

  Less than 8.0%    0%

To the extent these RSUs are not vested at the maximum level in the chart above as of the first or second vesting dates, such RSUs will again be eligible to vest at the next vesting date based on the “payout percentage” achieved as of such next vesting date. In addition, if any dividends are paid by the Company during the vesting period, dividend equivalents will be credited to Mr. Gattoni under the applicable award as additional RSUs that are eligible to vest based on the “payout percentage” achieved as of the future vesting dates of the underlying RSUs to which such dividend equivalents relate. Any RSUs that vest will be settled in shares of Common Stock as soon as practicable after the applicable vesting date. With respect to the CEO Promotion Award, any units that do not become vested as of April 30, 2021 (or earlier upon Mr. Gattoni’s termination of employment or a change in control of the Company) will be forfeited. With respect to the 2018 TSR RSU Award, any units that do not become vested as of June 30, 2024 (or earlier upon Mr. Gattoni’s termination of employment or a change in control of the Company) will be forfeited. With respect to the 2019 TSR RSU Award, any units that do not become vested as of June 30, 2025 (or earlier upon Mr. Gattoni’s termination of employment or a change in control of the Company) will be forfeited.

Mr. Gattoni’s right to receive shares underlying each of the TSR RSU Awards is generally conditioned upon his continued employment through the applicable vesting dates. In the event of his death or disability prior to a vesting date, a pro rata number of the units then credited to Mr. Gattoni pursuant to the applicable award (based on the number of days he remained employed during the vesting period) will vest based on the “payout percentage” achieved as of his termination of employment. Similarly, if there is a change in control of the Company prior to a vesting date, a pro rata number of the units then credited to Mr. Gattoni pursuant to the applicable award (based on the number of days during the vesting period prior to the change in control) will vest based on the “payout percentage” achieved as of the date of the change in control.

There are several reasons why the Compensation Committee believes the nature and terms of these grants of TSR RSU Awards to Mr. Gattoni, on the one hand, as opposed to the Regular RSU Awards, including those to Mr. Gattoni, on the other, are appropriate. The TSR RSU Awards are intended to tie the amount of future vesting directly to the Company’s TSR over the vesting period, using the growth in TSR as an additional means to measure the performance of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The Regular RSU Awards are intended to be annual, recurring grants, subject to the discretion of the Compensation Committee, that the Compensation Committee believes will be the principal long-term performance based compensation vehicle through which the Named Executives will be granted additional equity in the Company, along with, to a lesser extent, grants of restricted stock. The Compensation Committee believes that growth in operating income and pre-tax income per diluted share are key financial measures reflecting the long-term growth of the enterprise. The Compensation Committee also believes that the Company would have to achieve superior financial performance in order for a Named Executive to vest at the maximum level with respect to a Regular RSU Award granted in 2020. For example, in order for a Named Executive to vest at the maximum level with respect to a Regular RSU Award granted in 2020, the Company would need to achieve in 2022, 2023 or 2024, an average of a 100% increase in operating income and pre-tax earnings per diluted share compared to those achieved in fiscal year 2019.

The Company believes that the granting of stock-based awards in the form of RSUs and restricted stock is designed to encourage the creation of long-term stockholder value as the number of RSUs that vest is dependent

 

32


upon growth in the Company’s operating income, pre-tax income per diluted share and diluted earnings per share and their value varies directly with the Company’s stock price and the benefit realized from restricted stock varies directly with the Company’s stock price. Further, the Compensation Committee believes that the Company’s use of stock-based awards is key as a retention tool, as the continued employment of the Named Executives is an important factor relating to the Company’s strategic execution and growth.

Stock-based Awards – Clawback Rights

The 2011 Equity Incentive Plan provides that any payment paid or award made to a participant under such plan is subject to recovery or “clawback” by the Company if the payment or award is based on materially inaccurate financial statements or any other materially inaccurate performance metric criteria. The Compensation Committee has also provided for a “clawback right” as a condition of all RSUs granted since 2015. If the Company were required to restate its financial results due to material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirement under the securities laws, the Compensation Committee may, in its discretion after considering the costs and benefits of doing so, recover all or a portion of any shares delivered or payment made that is related to an RSU award during the three-year period preceding the date on which the Company files the restatement of such financial statement(s) with the Securities and Exchange Commission, to the extent the value of such shares or the amount of such payment exceeds the amount or value that the Committee determines would have been payable in respect of the award had the revised financial statement(s) reflected in the restatement been applied to determine such amount or value.

Equity Ownership Guidelines

The Company believes that equity interests held by management help to align the interests of stockholders and management and maximizes stockholder returns over the long term. To that end, the Compensation Committee has established equity ownership guidelines for each Named Executive based on a multiple of the annual salary of such Named Executive. These guidelines recommend that the Chief Executive Officer of the Company beneficially own equity value in the Company’s Common Stock of no less than seven times the annual salary of such Chief Executive Officer and that each of the other Named Executives of the Company beneficially own equity value in the Company’s Common Stock of no less than four times the annual salary of such Named Executive, in each case to be achieved within five years of an individual’s initial appointment as a Named Executive. For purposes of these equity ownership guidelines, equity value in the Company’s Common Stock includes: (1) the value of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the Named Executive, plus (2) the value of outstanding restricted shares of Common Stock, either vested or unvested, beneficially owned by the Named Executive. No value is attributed to any unvested RSUs issued to a Named Executive for purposes of compliance with these equity ownership guidelines. On the basis of these criteria, each currently employed Named Executive is in compliance with these equity ownership guidelines. In the event a Named Executive is not in compliance with these equity ownership guidelines, the Named Executive is expected to hold no less than 50% of the after-tax number of shares of Common Stock received upon exercise of stock options and vesting of restricted stock units until compliance with these equity ownership guidelines is achieved.

Policy Regarding Hedging and Pledging of Company Stock

The Board has established a policy that prohibits the hedging and pledging of the Common Stock by certain members of the Company’s leadership, including all Named Executives, under any circumstances. In addition, all employees of the Company are prohibited from entering into or trading any exchange-traded security which is a derivative of the Common Stock of the Company.

Deferred Compensation

The Company maintains an Internal Revenue Service Code Section 401(k) Savings Plan (the “401(k) Plan”) for all eligible employees. The Company maintains a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (the “SERP”) for

 

33


all officers, including the Named Executives, of the Company and its subsidiaries. The SERP is designed to provide officers with the option to receive the benefits that are offered under the Company’s 401(k) Plan (tax deferred investment of a certain percentage of the executive’s salary and/or bonus and a Company matching contribution on a certain portion of the executive’s contribution) on the portion of the executive’s salary that is not eligible to be included under the Company’s 401(k) Plan, because it is above the various limitations established in the Internal Revenue Code. Except for the elimination of the maximum salary limitations, the benefits and the investment options of the SERP are the same as the 401(k) Plan. Messrs. Gattoni, Kneller and Beacom have elected to participate in the SERP.

Key Executive Employment Protection Agreements

The Board has approved the execution of Key Executive Employment Protection Agreements for each of the Named Executives to assure that each of these officers will have a minimum level of personal financial security in the context of a change in control transaction to avoid undue distraction due to the risks of job security and to enable such officer to act in the best interests of stockholders without being influenced by such officer’s economic interests. Each agreement provides certain severance benefits in the event of a change in control of the Company. Generally, (i) if on or before the second anniversary of a “change in control” (x) the Company terminates the covered executive’s employment for any reason other than for “cause” or “disability” or (y) the covered executive voluntarily terminates his employment for “good reason” or (ii) if the covered executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for any reason other than death, “disability” or “cause” or by the covered executive for “good reason” after the execution of a definitive agreement with respect to a change in control transaction but prior to the consummation thereof, and the transaction contemplated by such definitive agreement is subsequently consummated, such executive will be entitled to severance benefits consisting of a lump sum cash amount equal to a multiple of the sum of (A) the executive’s annual base salary and (B) the amount that would have been payable to the executive as an annual “threshold” incentive compensation bonus for the year in which the change in control occurs, determined by multiplying his annual base salary by his total “participant’s percentage participation” established for such year under the EICP (or any successor plan thereto). The applicable multiples are: three times for Mr. Gattoni; two times for Messrs. Coro and Kneller and one time for Mr. Beacom. Severance multiples for Named Executives were established based on their position and the potential impact to their continued employment in the event of a change in control and to remain competitive within our industry. Each agreement also provides the covered executive with a pro rata payout of the “threshold” annual bonus amount for the year of employment termination of such covered executive and for continuation of medical benefits for up to one year from the date of employment termination.

The Company believes that the terms of our Key Executive Employment Protection Agreements are consistent with market practice and assist us in retaining the services of our Named Executives.

Other Benefits and Arrangements

The Company provides the Named Executives with certain other benefits and arrangements that the Company believes are reasonable and consistent with its overall compensation program to enable the Company to continue to attract and maintain highly qualified individuals in key positions. The Company pays the premium associated with term life insurance policies for all its employees including each of the Named Executives. The dollar value paid by the Company on behalf of each of the Named Executives with respect to these policies is included in the Summary Compensation Table below. The Board has approved and the Company has entered into indemnification agreements with each of the Named Executives providing each such Named Executive with a contractual obligation from the Company to indemnify such individual in connection with such individual’s service as an employee of the Company (and in the case of Mr. Gattoni, his service as a member of the Board) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. The Company retains discretion to provide Named Executives with the use of certain equipment in connection with their job responsibilities, including cell phone, and other computer and communications equipment and maintenance of connectivity for such equipment in the Named Executive’s home.

 

34


Compensation Consultants

The Compensation Committee has the authority to hire and negotiate the terms of compensation for its advisers, including compensation consultants. During 2019, the Compensation Committee used the services of Compensation Strategies, Inc. to assist it, as further described below, in benchmarking the Company’s current executive compensation program, including base salary, annual incentive compensation and long-term incentive compensation. In prior years, the Compensation Committee engaged Compensation Strategies, Inc. to review the Company’s compensation philosophy and the structure and various design features of each component of the program, as well as Director compensation and the Company’s equity ownership guidelines for its Directors and Named Executives. The Compensation Committee determined that the work of the consultants did not raise any conflicts of interest taking into consideration the independence factors enumerated in Rule 10C-1(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. No member of the Compensation Committee or any Named Executive has any affiliation with the consultants. In 2020, the Company paid $3,075 in fees and expense reimbursements to Compensation Strategies, Inc. with respect to a review of the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on executive compensation practices.

Peer Group

During 2019, the Compensation Committee used the services of Compensation Strategies, Inc. to assist it for purposes of benchmarking Named Executive compensation against a peer group consisting of 19 other transportation and logistics companies. This peer group consisted of:

 

Alaska Air Group, Inc.

  

J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.

  

Ryder System, Inc.

ArcBest Corporation

  

Kansas City Southern

  

Saia, Inc.

C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.

  

Kirby Corp.

  

Schneider National Inc.

Echo Global Logistics, Inc.

  

Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings, Inc.

  

U.S. Xpress Enterprises, Inc.

Forward Air Corporation

  

Matson, Inc.

  

Werner Enterprises, Inc.

Genesee & Wyoming, Inc.

  

Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.

  

YRC Worldwide Inc.

Hub Group, Inc.

     

Tax Considerations

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Reform Act”) was signed into law on December 22, 2017. Prior to the Tax Reform Act, Section 162(m) of the Code generally disallowed a tax deduction for compensation over $1 million paid to our Named Executive Officers who are considered “covered employees” under this rule. Performance-based compensation was exempt from this deduction limitation if specified requirements set forth in the Code and applicable Treasury Regulations were satisfied. The Company previously undertook to qualify substantial components of the performance-based incentive compensation available to Named Executives to be exempt from this deduction limitation.

Beginning with fiscal year 2018, the Tax Reform Act eliminated the performance-based compensation exception to the deductibility limitation under Section 162(m), other than with respect to certain “grandfathered” performance-based awards granted prior to November 2, 2017. Performance-based equity awards that were granted under the Company’s stockholder-approved employee equity plans prior to November 2, 2017, including performance-based RSUs, were designed to meet these requirements. However, no assurance can be given that grandfathered compensation intended to satisfy the requirements for exemption from Section 162(m) will actually satisfy such requirements.

The Compensation Committee’s philosophy strongly emphasizes performance-based compensation, which had historically minimized the consequences of the Section 162(m) limit on deductibility. The Company believes that tax deductibility of compensation is an important factor, but not the sole factor, to be considered in setting executive compensation policy, and in light of the changes to Section 162(m), the Compensation Committee has authorized, and is expected to continue to authorize, payments that are not deductible for federal income tax purposes when the committee believes that such payments are appropriate to attract, retain and incentivize executive talent.

 

35


COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K with management and, based on such review and discussions, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement.

THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

David G. Bannister, Chairman

Homaira Akbari

Diana M. Murphy

Anthony J. Orlando

George P. Scanlon

Larry J. Thoele

Compensation of Named Executives. The following table summarizes the compensation paid to (i) the President and Chief Executive Officer, (ii) the Special Advisor to the CEO and former Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and (iii) the Company’s three most highly compensated Executive Officers other than the Chief Executive Officer and the former Chief Financial Officer (such five individuals, collectively, the “Named Executives”).

Summary Compensation Table

 

Name and Principal Position

  Year     Salary
(1) ($)
    Bonus     Stock
Awards
(2) ($)
    Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
(3) ($)
    Change in
Pension Value
And
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
(4) ($)
    All Other
Compensation
(5) ($)
    Total ($)  

James B. Gattoni

    2020       500,000       500,000       1,429,976             217,156       51,958       2,699,091  

President and Chief

Executive Officer (6)

   

2019

2018

 

 

   

500,000

500,000

 

 

   


 

 

   

1,929,895

1,929,789

 

 

   


3,000,000

 

 

   

184,682

 

 

   

31,213

39,910

 

 

   

2,645,790

5,469,699

 

 

L. Kevin Stout

    2020       270,000       150,000  (7)      714,932                   25,968       1,160,900  

Special Advisor to the CEO

and Former Vice President

and Chief Financial Officer (6)

   

2019

2018

 

 

   

300,000

300,000

 

 

   


 

 

   

714,942

714,842

 

 

   


1,285,000

 

 

   


 

 

   

16,594

20,121

 

 

   

1,031,536

2,319,963

 

 

Joseph J. Beacom

    2020       300,000       150,000       714,932             177,252       28,709       1,370,894  

Vice President and Chief

Safety and Operations Officer

   

2019

2018

 

 

   

300,000

300,000

 

 

   


 

 

   

714,942

714,842

 

 

   


989,000

 

 

   

226,207

 

 

   

18,514

21,218

 

 

   

1,259,663

2,025,060

 

 

Michael K. Kneller

    2020       300,000       150,000       714,932             11,631       25,853       1,202,416  

Vice President, General

Counsel and Secretary

   

2019

2018

 

 

   

300,000

300,000

 

 

   


 

 

   

714,942

714,842

 

 

   


989,000

 

 

   

10,002

 

 

   

16,316

19,421

 

 

   

1,041,260

2,023,263

 

 

Ricardo S. Coro

    2020       300,000       150,000       714,932                   28,293       1,193,225  

Vice President and Chief

Information Officer

   

2019

2018

 

 

   

331,250

425,000

 

 

   


 

 

   

473,612

473,645

 

 

   


989,000

 

 

   


 

 

   

17,974

21,892

 

 

   

822,836

1,909,537

 

 

 

(1)

Amounts shown include any salary deferred at the election of the Named Executive under the Landstar 401(k) Savings Plan and/or the SERP. Mr. Coro’s salary amount reflects an annual salary of $300,000 and additional cash compensation agreed to with Mr. Coro in connection with his hiring on May 1, 2017. This additional compensation was paid to Mr. Coro in quarterly installments over the two-year period following his first day of employment with the Company. Additional compensation paid under this arrangement was

 

36


  $31,250 and $125,000 during 2019 and 2018, respectively. Mr. Stout was paid based on an annual salary of $300,000 for the first ten months of 2020 during which he served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and based on an annual salary of $120,000 for the final two months of 2020 during which he served as Special Advisor to the CEO.

 

(2)

Stock award amounts for 2020, 2019 and 2018 reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of RSUs and restricted stock computed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Assumptions used in calculating the fair market value of RSUs and restricted stock granted are disclosed in the footnotes to the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 26, 2020 filed with the SEC. Amounts shown are based upon the most probable outcome of the performance conditions for these stock awards. Assuming the highest level of performance is achieved, the maximum possible value of the stock awards granted to the named executive officers in 2020, using the grant date fair value, is: (i) $2,359,961 for Mr. Gattoni; and (ii) $1,179,925 for Messrs. Stout, Beacom, Kneller and Coro. Assuming the highest level of performance is achieved, the maximum possible value of the stock awards granted to the named executive officers in 2019, using the grant date fair value, is: (i) $3,859,841 for Mr. Gattoni; (ii) $1,179,904 for Messrs. Stout, Beacom, and Kneller; and (iii) $822,286 for Mr. Coro. Assuming the highest level of performance is achieved, the maximum possible value of the stock awards granted to the named executive officers in 2018, using the grant date fair value, is: (i) $3,859,689 for Mr. Gattoni; (ii) $1,179,739 for Messrs. Stout, Beacom and Kneller; and (iii) $822,318 for Mr. Coro.

 

(3)

These payments constitute payments under the EICP.

 

(4)

Represents aggregate earnings during each fiscal year on investments held on behalf of the Named Executives under the SERP. Amounts for 2018 exclude losses of $35,079, $26,332 and $4,141 for Messrs. Beacom, Gattoni and Kneller, respectively.

 

(5)

Amounts include contributions made by the Company under the Landstar 401(k) Savings Plan on behalf of the Named Executives, contributions made by the Company under the SERP on behalf of the Named Executives, Health Savings Account (HSA) contributions made by the Company for those Named Executives electing to participate in the Company’s high deductible medical plan, the dollar value of term life insurance premiums paid by the Company on behalf of the Named Executives and dividends paid on unvested restricted stock in the following amounts:

 

     401(k)      SERP      HSA      Insurance
Premiums
     Dividends Paid on
Unvested
Restricted Stock
     Total  

2020

                 

James B. Gattoni

   $ 11,200      $ 10,233      $ 1,000      $ 4,698      $ 24,827      $ 51,958  

L. Kevin Stout

     11,200           1,000        1,355        12,413        25,968  

Joseph J. Beacom

     11,525        2,025           2,746        12,413        28,709  

Michael K. Kneller

     11,450           1,000        990        12,413        25,853  

Ricardo S. Coro

     11,638              2,838        13,817        28,293  

2019

                 

James B. Gattoni

   $ 11,000      $ 8,567      $ 1,000      $ 4,494      $ 6,152      $ 31,213  

L. Kevin Stout

     11,000           1,000        1,518        3,076        16,594  

Joseph J. Beacom

     11,250        1,350           2,838        3,076        18,514  

Michael K. Kneller

     11,250           1,000        990        3,076        16,316  

Ricardo S. Coro

     11,500              2,838        3,636        17,974  

2018

                 

James B. Gattoni

   $ 10,600      $ 9,400      $ 1,000      $ 4,902      $   14,008      $ 39,910  

L. Kevin Stout

     10,600           1,000        1,518        7,003        20,121  

Joseph J. Beacom

     10,597        2,100           1,518        7,003        21,218  

Michael K. Kneller

     10,758           1,000        660        7,003        19,421  

Ricardo S. Coro

     8,000              1,518        12,374        21,892  

 

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(6)

Mr. Stout stepped down from his position as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective November 2, 2020, and subsequently served in the position of Special Advisor to the CEO. Mr. Stout is expected to continue to serve as Special Advisor to the CEO until December 31, 2021. Mr. Gattoni served as principal financial officer of the Company from November 2, 2020 through December 26, 2020, and is expected to do so until a successor to Mr. Stout is named.

 

(7)

Paid to Mr. Stout in lieu of a bonus under the Company’s incentive compensation plan for fiscal year 2020 pursuant to a letter agreement, dated as of November 2, 2020, included as Exhibit 10.1 to a Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on November 2, 2020.

Grants of Plan-Based Awards. The following table illustrates the threshold, target and maximum amounts that could have been payable in respect of 2020 services under the EICP. The following table also sets forth the number of and information about stock-based awards granted in fiscal 2020 to each of the Named Executives of the Company.

Grants of Plan-based Awards

 

Name

 

Grant Date

 

Date of
Compensation
Committee Action

  Estimated future payouts
under non-equity incentive
plan awards
    Estimated future payouts
under equity incentive
plan awards
    All
other
stock
awards:
Number
of
shares
of stock
or units
(#)
    Grant
date
fair value
of stock
and
option
awards
($)
    Fair
market

value on
date of
grant
($/Sh)
 
  Threshold
($)
    Target
($)
    Maximum
($)
    Threshold
(#)
    Target
(#)
    Maximum
(#)
 

James B. Gattoni

  January 31, 2020 (1)   December 9, 2019           —         8,950       17,900         929,985       111.73  
  January 31, 2020 (2)   December 9, 2019                 4,475       499,992       111.73  
        500,000       1,500,000       3,000,000              

L. Kevin Stout

  January 31, 2020 (1)   December 9, 2019           —         4,475       8,950         464,992       111.73  
  January 31, 2020 (2)   December 9, 2019                 2,237       249,940       111.73  
        195,000       585,000       3,000,000              

Joseph J. Beacom

  January 31, 2020 (1)   December 9, 2019           —         4,475       8,950         464,992       111.73  
  January 31, 2020 (2)   December 9, 2019                 2,237       249,940       111.73  
        150,000       450,000       3,000,000              

Michael K. Kneller

  January 31, 2020 (1)   December 9, 2019           —         4,475       8,950         464,992       111.73  
  January 31, 2020 (2)   December 9, 2019                 2,237       249,940       111.73  
        150,000       450,000       3,000,000              

Ricardo S. Coro

  January 31, 2020 (1)   December 9, 2019           —         4,475       8,950         464,992       111.73  
  January 31, 2020 (2)   December 9, 2019                 2,237       249,940       111.73  
        150,000       450,000       3,000,000              

 

(1)

RSUs have five-year contractual lives and will vest on January 31 of 2023, 2024 and 2025 based on the average of the percentage change in operating income and pre-tax income per diluted share as compared to the results from the 2019 fiscal year rounded to the nearest whole number, less the number of RSUs that have previously vested. All unvested RSUs expire on March 1, 2025. The estimated future payouts under this award assume: i) 200 percent of the number of units credited to the recipient under the granted award will vest at the maximum payout, ii) 100 percent of the number of units credited to the recipient under the granted award will vest at the target (representing the sum of the average of the percentage change (positive or negative) in operating income and pre-tax income per diluted share, in each case from continuing operations as compared to the 2019 fiscal year, equals 50%) and iii) no awards are assumed to vest at the threshold. Amounts shown are based on the most probable outcome of the performance conditions for these stock awards. The grant date fair market value per share of this award was $111.73.

 

(2)

Shares of restricted stock vest over three years at a rate of 33 1/3% per year on each of January 31 of 2021, 2022 and 2023.

 

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Stock Vested. The following table sets forth the number and value of all RSUs and restricted shares that vested during the 2020 fiscal year by each of the Named Executives.

 

     Stock Awards  

Name

   Number of
shares acquired
on vesting (#)
     Value realized
on vesting (1) ($)
 

James B. Gattoni

     21,502        2,360,178  

L. Kevin Stout

     7,722        862,779  

Joseph J. Beacom

     7,722        862,779  

Michael K. Kneller

     7,722        862,779  

Ricardo S. Coro

     2,223        235,226  

 

(1)

The value realized represents the fair market value of the shares of Common Stock on the vesting date. The fair market value was calculated based upon the average of the high and low sale prices per share of Common Stock as reported on NASDAQ on the respective vesting dates.

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End. The following table sets forth the outstanding equity awards held by the Named Executives at December 26, 2020 and corresponding market value based on the closing stock price on December 24, 2020.

Outstanding Equity Awards

 

Name

   Number of
Shares or Units
of Stock That
Have Not
Vested (#)
    Market
Value of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested ($)
     Equity
Incentive Plan
Awards:
Number of
Unearned
Shares, Units
or Other
Rights That
Have Not
Vested (#)
    Equity
Incentive
Plan Awards:
Market or
Payout Value
of Unearned
Shares, Units
or Other
Rights That
Have Not
Vested ($)
 

James B. Gattoni

     9,176 (1)      1,242,063        55,851 (2)      7,559,991  

L. Kevin Stout

     4,588 (1)      621,032        14,047 (2)      1,901,402  

Joseph J. Beacom

     4,588 (1)      621,032        14,047 (2)      1,901,402  

Michael K. Kneller

     4,588 (1)      621,032        14,047 (2)      1,901,402  

Ricardo S. Coro

     4,866 (1)      658,662        11,658 (2)      1,578,027  

 

(1)

Shares of restricted stock vest over three years at a rate of 33 1/3% per year on each of January 31 of 2019, 2020 and 2021 for grants made in 2018; January 31 of 2020, 2021 and 2022 for grants made in 2019; and January 31 of 2021, 2022 and 2023 for grants made in 2020. Shares of restricted stock for Mr. Coro also include 1,454 related to his May 1, 2017 grant, which vest on May 1, 2021.

 

(2)

For information regarding the vesting of RSUs, see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Performance Based Compensation – Stock-based Awards.”

 

39


Nonqualified Deferred Compensation. The following table provides the contributions, earnings and balances under the SERP as of and for the fiscal year ended December 26, 2020 for the Named Executives:

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

 

Name

   Executive
Contributions
in Last Fiscal
Year ($)
     Registrant
Contributions
in Last Fiscal
Year ($)
     Aggregate
Earnings
in Last
Fiscal
Year ($)
     Aggregate
Withdrawals/
Distributions ($)
     Aggregate
Balance at
Last Fiscal
Year End ($)
 

James B. Gattoni

     52,083        10,233        217,156           1,264,946  

Joseph J. Beacom

     31,250        2,025        177,252           1,709,064  

Michael K. Kneller

           11,631           60,327  

Eligible employees can elect to make deferred contributions to the SERP, based on a percentage of their base salary and/or bonus, subject to certain limitations. To the extent the employee has achieved the maximum allowable matching contribution under the Landstar System, Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan (the “401(k) Plan”), the Company will contribute an amount equal to 100% of the first 3% of salary contributions and 50% of the next 2% of such salary contributions, subject to certain limitations. Interest, earnings or appreciation (less losses and depreciation) with respect to investment balances included in the employee’s SERP account balance are credited to the employee’s investment balance. Distributions under the SERP of individual account balances credited on or after January 1, 2005, and earnings thereon, are made following termination of employment as to form of payment (i.e., lump sum or annual installments) and time of payment (i.e., within 30 days following the six-month anniversary of the employee’s termination of employment or within 30 days of March 1 of the year following the year of termination from employment of the participant) elected by the participant for that year’s contributions prior to the start of each year of participation, and otherwise in accordance with the terms of the SERP. Investments in the SERP include primarily mutual funds and are valued using quoted market prices. The table below shows the investment options available to an employee under the SERP and their annual rate of return for 2020 as reported by the administrator of the SERP.

 

Name of Fund

  Rate of Return    

Name of Fund

  Rate of Return  

BlackRock Inflation Protected Bond A

    11.76  

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2025 TR-A

    14.69

MFS Growth R3

    31.30  

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2030 TR-A

    15.91

Vanguard 500 Index Admiral

    18.37  

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2035 TR-A

    17.05

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2010 Fund

    11.91  

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2055 TR-A

    18.55

Prudential Guaranteed Income Fund Class 3

    2.02  

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2060 TR-A

    18.47

MFS Value R3

    3.66  

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2040 TR-A

    18.12

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2015 TR-A

    12.58  

Delaware Small Cap Value

    (1.24 )% 

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2020 TR-A

    13.19  

T. Rowe Price Mid-Cap Value Fund

    9.88

T. Rowe Price Mid-Cap Growth Fund

    24.17  

American Funds Euro Pacific Growth R5

    25.20

Invesco Small Cap Growth Fund

    57.56  

T. Rowe Price International Discovery

    38.74

BNY Mellon Small Cap Stock Index Fund

    10.92  

PGIM Total Return Bond Z

    8.01

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2045 TR-A

    18.66  

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2050 TR-A

    18.68

Potential Payment Upon Termination or Change in Control

The table below reflects the amount of compensation payable to each of the current Named Executives in the event of a qualifying termination of employment in connection with a change in control or possible change in

 

40


control under the Key Executive Employment Protection Agreements, as further described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this Proxy Statement as of the end of the Company’s 2020 fiscal year. In addition, in accordance with the provisions of the Company’s stock-based award plans, all outstanding, non-vested restricted stock are subject to accelerated vesting upon a change in control of the Company. The intent of the potential acceleration of non-vested restricted stock in the event of a change in control is to enable the executive to vest in an award primarily intended as a retention tool that would otherwise have vested based solely on the passage of time and the executive’s continued employment with the Company, which may not be possible or permitted by an acquirer following a change in control of the Company due to no fault of the executive.

With respect to Regular RSU Awards granted to Named Executives since 2016, unless the Compensation Committee determines otherwise, in the event a change in control occurs prior to January 31, 2021 with respect to the 2016 awards, prior to January 31, 2022 with respect to the 2017 awards, prior to January 31, 2023 with respect to the 2018 awards, prior to January 31, 2024 with respect to the 2019 awards and prior to January 31, 2025 with respect to the 2020 awards, 20% of the number of RSUs credited to the Named Executive under each such RSU award would vest to the extent such amount would not exceed the number of RSUs that are eligible to vest at the maximum level under the applicable award. The intent of these partial potential accelerations of Regular RSU awards in the event of a change in control is to compensate the executive for 20% of the target amount under each such award in lieu of potential vesting for the year of the change in control. In addition, with respect to the 2019 and 2020 Regular RSU Awards, unless the Compensation Committee determines otherwise, in the event a change in control occurs prior to January 31, 2022 or January 31, 2023, respectively, a number of RSUs would vest under each such award assuming for this purpose that the applicable Performance Hurdle was calculated based on the results from continuing operations for the most recently completed fiscal year prior to the change in control compared to the results from continuing operations for the 2018 and 2019 fiscal years, respectively. The intent of these partial potential accelerations of Regular RSU Awards in the event of a change in control is to compensate the executive for the performance of the Company achieved during fiscal years completed during the initial three year performance period under each award where the change in control occurs prior to the first vesting date under such award approximately three years from the date of grant.

With respect to the TSR RSU Awards to the CEO, if there is a change in control of the Company prior to a vesting date, a pro rata number of the RSUs then credited to Mr. Gattoni (based on the number of days during the vesting period prior to the change in control) will vest based on the “payout percentage” achieved as of the date of the change in control, which would reflect the price paid for a share of Landstar System, Inc. common stock upon the change in control.

 

Name

   Change in Control (1)
($)
 

James B. Gattoni

     9,202,418  

Joseph J. Beacom

     1,930,285  

Michael K. Kneller

     2,380,285  

Ricardo S. Coro

     2,019,017  

 

(1)

Change in Control amounts include severance benefits, pro rata threshold bonus and medical benefits under the Key Executive Employment Protection Agreements, as described further in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, plus the intrinsic value of unvested restricted stock and a portion of RSUs outstanding based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock of $135.36 on December 24, 2020 and assuming partial accelerated vesting upon a change in control of the Company, effective as of that date. The value of medical benefits for each Named Executive equals the payments that may be waived by the Company on behalf of such Named Executive for the continuation of existing coverage for up to one year under the Company’s medical benefit plans pursuant to such Named Executive’s Key Executive Employment Protection Agreement.

 

41


CEO Pay Ratio

As required by Section 953(b) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, and Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K, Landstar is providing the following information regarding the relationship of compensation of employees of the Company and its affiliates and compensation of the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer. The pay ratio set forth below is a reasonable estimate calculated in a manner consistent with Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K.    

Landstar identified its “median employee” by examining the 2020 total cash compensation for all individuals, excluding our CEO, who were employed by the Company on December 26, 2020, the last day of the Company’s 2020 fiscal year. All employees, whether employed on a full-time, part-time or temporary basis, were included in this calculation. The Company (i) did not make any assumptions, adjustments or estimates with respect to total cash compensation, (ii) did not annualize the compensation for any employees that were not employed by Landstar or any of its affiliates for all of 2020, and (iii) did not make any “cost of living” adjustments to the compensation of any employees. The Company believes the use of total cash compensation for all employees is a consistently applied compensation measure as the Company does not widely distribute annual equity awards throughout its employee workforce. After identifying the median employee based on total cash compensation, the Company calculated annual total compensation for such employee using the same methodology used for the Named Executives as set forth in the 2020 Summary Compensation Table. As illustrated in the table below, Landstar’s 2020 CEO to median employee pay ratio was 59.3:1.

CEO to Median Employee Pay Ratio

 

     President &
CEO
            Median
Employee
 

Base Salary

   $ 500,000         $ 42,598  

Stock Awards

     1,429,976            

Bonus

     500,000           500  

Change in Pension Value

     217,156            

All Other Compensation

     51,958           2,449  
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

Total

   $ 2,699,091         $ 45,547  
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

CEO Pay to Median Employee Pay Ratio

     59.3        :        1  

Item 402(s) Statement

The Compensation Committee has considered the potential risks arising from the Company’s compensation policies and practices for all employees and does not believe the risks from those compensation policies and practices are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.

 

42


SECURITY OWNERSHIP BY MANAGEMENT AND OTHERS

The following table sets forth certain information concerning the beneficial ownership of the Company’s Common Stock as of March 17, 2021 by (i) each person who is known by the Company to own beneficially more than 5% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, (ii) each Director, nominee for election as a Director and Executive Officer of the Company, and (iii) all Directors and Executive Officers as a group. Except as otherwise indicated, the business address of each stockholder listed on the table below is c/o Landstar System, Inc., 13410 Sutton Park Drive South, Jacksonville, Florida 32224.

 

Name of Beneficial Owner

 

Position(s)

   

Amount and

Nature of

Beneficial

Ownership

   

Ownership

Percent of

Class (1)

 

(i)

     

BlackRock, Inc.(2)(3)

      4,335,583       11.3

The Vanguard Group(2)(4)

      4,093,379       10.7

Eaton Vance Management(2)(5)

      2,712,824       7.1

Victory Capital Management, Inc.(2)(6)

      1,961,791       5.1

(ii)

     

Homaira Akbari(7)

    Director       8,822       *  

David G. Bannister(7)

    Director       31,861       *  

Diana M. Murphy(7)

    Chairman of the Board       24,947       *  

Anthony J. Orlando(8)

    Director and Nominee for Director       9,702       *  

Larry J. Thoele(7)

    Director       11,672       *  

George P. Scanlon(7)

    Director       4,331       *  

James B. Gattoni(9)

   
President, Chief Executive Officer
and Nominee for Director
 
 
    79,823       *  

Michael K. Kneller(10)

   
Vice President, General Counsel
and Secretary
 
 
    52,207       *  

Joseph J. Beacom(10)

   
Vice President and Chief Safety
and Operations Officer
 
 
    38,697       *  

Robert S. Brasher(11)

   
Vice President and Chief
Commercial Officer
 
 
    12,472       *  

Ricardo S. Coro(12)

   
Vice President and Chief
Information Officer
 
 
    10,392       *  

(iii)

     

All Directors, Director Nominees and Executive Officers as a group (11 persons)(13)(14)

      284,926       0.7

 

*

Less than 1%

 

(1)

The percentages are based upon the number of outstanding shares of the Company as of March 17, 2021.

 

(2)

In accordance with the rules of the SEC, the information set forth above is based on the most recent Schedule 13G (and amendments thereto) filed by this entity.

 

(3)

According to its Schedule 13G/A filed on January 27, 2021, BlackRock, Inc. (“BlackRock”) is a parent holding company or control person and is deemed to be the beneficial owner of 4,335,583 shares of Common Stock. BlackRock has sole voting power with respect to 4,112,792 of such shares, shared voting power or shared dispositive power with respect to none of the shares, and sole dispositive power with respect to all 4,335,583 of such shares. The business address of BlackRock is 55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10055.

 

(4)

According to its Schedule 13G/A filed on February 10, 2021, the Vanguard Group, Inc. (“Vanguard”) is an investment adviser registered under Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and is deemed to be

 

43


  the beneficial owner of 4,093,379 shares of Common Stock. Vanguard has sole voting power with respect to none of such shares, shared voting power with respect to 31,295 of such shares, sole dispositive power with respect to 4,032,343 of such shares and shared dispositive power with respect to 61,036 of such shares. The business address of Vanguard is 100 Vanguard Blvd., Malvern, PA 19355.

 

(5)

According to its Schedule 13G/A filed on February 12, 2021, Eaton Vance Management (“Eaton Vance”) is an investment adviser registered under Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and is deemed to be the beneficial owner of 2,712,824 shares of Common Stock. Eaton Vance has sole voting power and sole dispositive power with respect to all 2,712,824 of such shares. The business address of Eaton Vance is 2 International Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02110.

 

(6)

According to its Schedule 13G/A filed on February 3, 2021, Victory Capital Management, Inc. (“Victory Capital”) is an investment adviser registered under Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and is deemed to be the beneficial owner of 1,961,791 shares of Common Stock. Victory Capital has sole voting power with respect to 1,880,691 of such shares, shared voting power or shared dispositive power with respect to none of the shares, and sole dispositive power with respect to all 1,961,791 of such shares. The business address of Victory Capital is 4900 Tiedeman Rd. 4th Floor, Brooklyn, OH 44144.

 

(7)

Includes 978 shares of restricted stock subject to vesting.

 

(8)

Includes 4,331 Deferred Stock Units, of which 978 remain subject to vesting.

 

(9)

Includes 8,149 shares of restricted stock subject to vesting.

 

(10)

Includes 4,075 shares of restricted stock subject to vesting.

 

(11)

Includes 6,264 shares of restricted stock subject to vesting.

 

(12)

Includes 5,123 shares of restricted stock subject to vesting.

 

(13)

Represents amount of shares that may be deemed to be beneficially owned either directly or indirectly by all Directors, Nominees for Director and Executive Officers as a group.

 

(14)

Includes 32,576 shares of restricted stock and 978 Deferred Stock units subject to vesting.

 

44


PROPOSAL NUMBER TWO —

RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED

PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The firm of KPMG LLP served as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company for the fiscal years ended December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019. In addition to retaining KPMG LLP to audit the consolidated financial statements and internal control over financial reporting of the Company and its subsidiary, LSHI, the Company engaged KPMG LLP to render certain employee benefit plan audit services to the Company in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 and expects to continue to do so in fiscal 2021. The aggregate fees billed for professional services by KPMG LLP in fiscal years 2020 and 2019 for services consisted of the following:

AUDIT FEES: Fees for the audits of the consolidated financial statements and internal control over financial reporting, quarterly reviews and subsidiary audit were $1,085,000 and $1,005,000 for fiscal years 2020 and 2019, respectively.

AUDIT RELATED FEES: Fees for the audit of the Company’s 401(k) plan were $29,500 and $28,500 for fiscal years 2020 and 2019, respectively.

TAX FEES: None.

ALL OTHER FEES: None

The Audit Committee has approved all of the fees above.

The Audit Committee has appointed KPMG LLP to continue in that capacity for the Company’s fiscal year 2021, and has recommended to the Board that a resolution be presented to stockholders at the 2021 Annual Meeting to ratify that appointment. The Board has adopted such resolutions and hereby presents it to the Company’s stockholders. A representative of KPMG LLP will be present at the 2021 Annual Meeting and will have an opportunity to make a statement and respond to questions from stockholders, as appropriate.

Assuming the presence of a Quorum, to be approved, this proposal must receive the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Common Stock, present, in person or by proxy, at the 2021 Annual Meeting. Abstentions from voting and broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of this proposal.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THIS PROPOSAL

 

45


PROPOSAL NUMBER THREE —

ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

As described in detail under the heading “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” Landstar’s executive compensation programs are designed to attract, motivate and retain the Named Executives, who are critical to the Company’s success. Under these programs, the Named Executives are rewarded for the achievement of specific annual, long-term and corporate goals and the realization of increased stockholder value. The Compensation Committee believes that the Company’s executive compensation programs are designed effectively to take into account both short term and longer term performance components using a variety of financial metrics. Please read the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” included in this Proxy Statement for additional details about the executive compensation programs, including information about the fiscal year 2020 compensation of the Named Executives.

The Compensation Committee regularly reviews the compensation programs for the Named Executives to ensure they achieve the desired goals of aligning the Company’s executive compensation structure with current market practices and the interests of stockholders. While the Compensation Committee determines the compensation of the Named Executives in the manner described in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” the Company understands that stockholders may be particularly interested in the connection between our Chief Executive Officer’s compensation and the Company’s performance, as well as the long-term trend of the Chief Executive Officer’s total compensation relative to the stockholders’ return. As set forth in the Summary Compensation Table included in this Proxy Statement, a significant portion of total compensation paid to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer as well as the other Named Executives is designed to be “performance based” (as discussed in “Compensation Discussion and Analysis”).

As described above in “Compensation, Discussion and Analysis – Performance Based Compensation; Annual Incentive Compensation,” the Company did not achieve its “threshold” amount of full year diluted earnings per share under the EICP; however, the Compensation Committee approved bonuses for each current Named Executive equal in amount to a one-time “threshold” payout under the EICP for the 2020 fiscal year given the committee’s overall evaluation of the Company’s performance in 2020. In approving these bonus amounts for the Named Executives, the Compensation Committee recognized that the 2020 fiscal year involved the most challenging operating environment in the Company’s history.

As a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Landstar experienced an extraordinary decline in truckload volumes that began during late March and continued into the 2020 second quarter, followed by a similarly significant yet more gradual increase in demand during the second half of fiscal 2020. This rapid decrease in demand followed by the similarly significant yet more gradual increase was unprecedented in the history of the Company. The overarching goals of the Company throughout the pandemic crisis were to preserve the culture and strength of the Landstar network while keeping participants in the network safe. To that effect, during 2020, to address the safety and health of our employees, BCO Independent Contractors, and independent commission sales agents amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, management implemented the following, among other steps:

 

   

Shifted the vast majority of our employees to a remote work environment;

 

   

Initiated regular communication to employees regarding impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, including health and safety protocols and procedures to address actual and suspected COVID-19 cases and potential exposure of our employees;

 

   

Established physical distancing procedures and providing personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies for employees who need to be on-site;

 

   

Increased cleaning protocols at our offices;

 

   

Modified work spaces with plexiglass dividers, rearranged office layouts and touchless faucets;

 

46


   

Expanded the use of virtual interactions in all aspects of our business;

 

   

Cancelled the annual agent convention, BCO All-Star Celebration and various other events;

 

   

Instituted a pandemic relief incentive program whereby Landstar paid an extra $50 for each load delivered by a BCO Independent Contractor with a confirmed delivery date from April 1, 2020 through May 30, 2020 to both the BCO Independent Contractor that hauled the load and the independent commission sales agent that dispatched the load;

 

   

Provided up to $2,000 to a BCO Independent Contractor who tested positive for COVID-19 or was placed under a mandatory quarantine by a public health authority;

 

   

Provided additional paid time-off for employees directly impacted by COVID-19, and instructed those who were infected to stay home; and

 

   

Prohibited non-essential business travel for all employees.

The Compensation Committee recognized that the Company accomplished these steps without negatively impacting Landstar’s employee-based operations or productivity, and while continuing to support our network of agents, BCO Independent Contractors and other third party capacity providers. During 2020, the Company also:

 

   

Continued to make progress on its digital transformation initiatives, in particular, with respect to new releases achieved with respect to the digital tools made available to independent commission sales agents and BCO Independent Contractors;

 

   

Established a new subsidiary, Landstar Blue, LLC, and executed a corporate acquisition and an asset purchase by Landstar Blue to position that new entity for future growth;

 

   

Completed a refinancing of its credit facility;

 

   

Initiated the roll-out of a new Field Operations Center initiative to support the continued recruitment and retention of truck owner-operators to the Company’s network of BCO Independent Contractors; and

 

   

Successfully negotiated buyouts with 13 independent commission sales agents of their legacy domicile incentive commission arrangements in connection with the restructuring of the Company’s BCO Independent Contractor recruiting and retention programs.

The Compensation Committee also believes that the Company’s financial performance in 2020 was outstanding given the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the U.S. economy and supply chains throughout the world, the softness in the U.S. manufacturing sector throughout the year, and the many other challenges experienced by the Company’s customers, employees, agents, BCOs and other third party capacity providers in managing through the business and personal disruptions caused by the pandemic. After managing through an extremely challenging second quarter and despite the aforementioned challenges associated with the ongoing pandemic, the Company’s financial performance in the second half of 2020 was remarkable. Revenue, gross profit, operating income and diluted earnings per share exceeded the second half of 2019 by 19 percent, 14 percent, 22 percent and 27 percent, respectively. During the 2020 fourth quarter, the Company established new all-time quarterly records for revenue, gross profit and diluted earnings per share. Landstar also concluded the year with all-time high numbers of BCO trucks leased to Landstar companies and approved third-party truck brokerage carriers.

Finally, it should be noted that although fiscal year 2020 diluted earnings per share of $4.98 did not achieve the “threshold” target under the Company’s 2020 executive incentive compensation plan of $5.44, a difference of $0.46, net income during fiscal year 2020 was unfavorably impacted by (i) $0.31 per diluted share related to the one-time costs to buyout all of the legacy domicile incentive commission arrangements with Landstar independent commission sales agents, and (ii) $0.25 per diluted share related to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic relief incentive payments made to the Company’s BCO Independent Contractors and independent

 

47


commission sales agents. The Company believes both of these measures were important steps in support of the long-term strength of the Landstar network.

We are asking the stockholders to indicate their support for the Named Executive compensation as described in this Proxy Statement. This proposal, commonly known as a “say-on-pay” proposal, gives the stockholders the opportunity each year to express their views on the Named Executives’ compensation. This vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of the Named Executives and the philosophy, policies and practices described in this Proxy Statement. Accordingly, we will ask the stockholders to vote “FOR” the following resolution at the Company’s 2021 Annual Meeting:

“RESOLVED, that the Company’s stockholders approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Named Executives, as disclosed in the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2021 Annual Meeting pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the 2020 Summary Compensation Table and the other related tables and disclosure.”

The say-on-pay vote is advisory, and therefore not binding on the Company, the Compensation Committee or the Board. The Board and the Compensation Committee value the opinions of the Company’s stockholders and to the extent there is any significant vote against the Named Executive compensation as disclosed in this Proxy Statement, we will consider the stockholders’ concerns and the Compensation Committee will evaluate whether any actions are necessary to address those concerns.

Approval of Proposal No. 3 requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the 2021 Annual Meeting, provided a Quorum is present. Unless you instruct us to vote differently, we will vote valid proxies FOR the approval of the compensation paid by the Company to its Named Executives as discussed in this Proxy Statement.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE APPROVAL, ON AN ADVISORY BASIS, OF THE COMPENSATION PAID BY THE COMPANY TO ITS NAMED EXECUTIVES AS DISCUSSED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT.

 

48


STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS

In accordance with regulations issued by the SEC, stockholder proposals intended for presentation at the 2022 Annual Meeting must be received by the Secretary of the Company no later than December 1, 2021, if such proposals are to be considered for inclusion in the Company’s Proxy Statement. In accordance with the Bylaws of the Company, stockholder proposals intended for presentation at the 2022 Annual Meeting that are not intended to be considered for inclusion in the Company’s Proxy Statement must be received by the Secretary of the Company not earlier than December 1, 2021 and not later than December 31, 2021. For any proposal that is not submitted for inclusion in next year’s Proxy Statement, but is instead sought to be presented directly at the 2022 Annual Meeting, SEC rules permit management to vote proxies in its discretion if the Company: (1) receives notice of the proposal before the close of business on February 14, 2022 and advises stockholders in the 2022 Proxy Statement about the nature of the matter and how management intends to vote on such matter; or (2) does not receive notice of the proposal prior to the close of business on February 14, 2022.

In addition, in accordance with the Bylaws, stockholder proposals intended for presentation at the 2021 Annual Meeting that are not intended for inclusion in this Proxy Statement must have been received by the Company not earlier than December 2, 2020 and not later than January 1, 2021. For any proposal that is not submitted for inclusion in this Proxy Statement, but is instead sought to be presented directly at the 2021 Annual Meeting, SEC rules permit management to vote proxies in its discretion if the Company: (1) received notice of the proposal before the close of business on February 15, 2021, and advises stockholders in this year’s Proxy Statement about the nature of the matter and how management intends to vote on such matter; or (2) did not receive notice of the proposal prior to the close of business on February 15, 2021.

All proposals should be mailed via certified mail and addressed to Michael K. Kneller, Secretary, Landstar System, Inc., 13410 Sutton Park Drive South, Jacksonville, Florida 32224.

DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS TO SECURITY HOLDERS SHARING AN ADDRESS

The Company and its intermediaries shall provide one copy of the Notice of Internet Availability to two or more security holders who share an address in accordance with Rule 14a-3(e)(1) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, where consent of such security holders has been properly obtained and where neither the Company nor the intermediary has received contrary instructions from one or more of such security holders. The Company undertakes to deliver promptly upon written or oral request a separate copy of the Notice of Internet Availability to any security holder at a shared address to which a single copy of the Notice of Internet Availability was delivered. A security holder can notify the Company that the security holder wishes to receive a separate copy of the Notice of Internet Availability by contacting the Company at the following phone number and/or mailing address:

Landstar System, Inc.

Investor Relations

13410 Sutton Park Drive South

Jacksonville, FL 32224

Phone: 904-398-9400

Security holders sharing an address can also request delivery of a single copy of the Notice of Internet Availability if they are receiving multiple copies of the Notice of Internet Availability by contacting the Company at the preceding phone number and/or mailing address.    

All stockholders may access the proxy materials at www.proxyvote.com as well as the Company’s website— www.landstar.com. If you would like to receive a paper or an e-mail copy of our proxy materials, at no charge, please make the request by Internet at www.proxyvote.com, by phone at 1-800-579-1639 or by e-mail to sendmaterial@proxyvote.com.

 

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OTHER MATTERS

Management knows of no matters that are to be presented for action at the meeting other than those set forth above. If any other matters properly come before the 2021 Annual Meeting, the persons named in the form of proxy will vote the shares of Common Stock represented by proxies in accordance with their best judgment on such matters.

Whether or not you expect to attend the Annual Meeting, we urge you to vote via the Internet, as instructed on the proxy card and Notice of Internet Availability or, by executing and returning the requested proxy card in the postage-paid envelope that will be provided, so that your shares may be represented at the Annual Meeting.

 

By Order of the Board of Directors

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Michael K. Kneller
Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary

13410 Sutton Park Drive South

Jacksonville, FL 32224

THE COMPANY WILL FURNISH, WITHOUT CHARGE, TO ANY STOCKHOLDER OF THE COMPANY WHO SO REQUESTS, A COPY OF THE COMPANY’S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 26, 2020, AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. ANY SUCH REQUEST SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO LANDSTAR SYSTEM, INC., ATTENTION: MICHAEL K. KNELLER, SECRETARY, 13410 SUTTON PARK DRIVE SOUTH, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA 32224.

 

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LANDSTAR SYSTEM, INC. 13410 SUTTON PARK DRIVE SOUTH JACKSONVILLE, FL 32224 Investor Address Line 1 Investor Address Line 2 Investor Address Line 3 Investor Address Line 4 Investor Address Line 5 John Sample 1234 ANYWHERE STREET ANY CITY, ON A1A 1A1 2345678 1234567 2345678 1234567 2345678 1234567 234567 VOTE BY INTERNET - www.proxyvote.com Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information. Vote by 11:59 P.M. ET on 05/11/2021. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form. ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF FUTURE PROXY MATERIALS If you would like to reduce the costs incurred by our company in mailing proxy materials, you can consent to receiving all future proxy statements, proxy cards and annual reports electronically via e-mail or the Internet. To sign up for electronic delivery, please follow the instructions above to vote using the Internet and, when prompted, indicate that you agree to receive or access proxy materials electronically in future years. VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903 Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions. Vote by 11:59 P.M. ET on 05/11/2021. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions. VOTE BY MAIL Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717. NAME THE COMPANY NAME INC. - COMMON CONTROL # → SHARES 123,456,789,012.12345 THE COMPANY NAME INC. - CLASS A 123,456,789,012.12345 THE COMPANY NAME INC. - CLASS B 123,456,789,012.12345 THE COMPANY NAME INC. - CLASS C 123,456,789,012.12345 THE COMPANY NAME INC. - CLASS D 123,456,789,012.12345 THE COMPANY NAME INC. - CLASS E 123,456,789,012.12345 THE COMPANY NAME INC. - CLASS F 123,456,789,012.12345 THE COMPA N Y NAME INC. - 401 K 123,456,789,012.12345 x TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS: PAGE 1 OF 2 KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED. DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR the following: 1. Election Of Directors Nominees 1a. James B. Gattoni 1b. Anthony J. Orlando For Against Abstain 0 0 0 0 0 0 The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR proposals 2 and 3. For Against Abstain 2. Ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2021. 3. Advisory vote to approve executive compensation. NOTE: In their discretion, each of the proxies is authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof. 0 0 0 0 0 0 Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) hereon. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee, guardian or other fiduciary, please give full title as such. Joint owners should each sign personally. All holders must sign. If a corporation or partnership, please sign in full corporate or partnership name by authorized officer. JOB # Investor Address Line 1 Investor Address Line 2 Investor Address Line 3 Investor Address Line 4 Investor Address Line 5 John Sample 1234 ANYWHERE STREET ANY CITY, ON A1A 1A1 SHARES CUSIP # SEQUENCE # Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX] Date Signature (Joint Owners) Date


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Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting: The Notice and Proxy Statement, Annual Report on Form 10K and Shareholder Letter are available at www.proxyvote.com LANDSTAR SYSTEM, INC. Annual Meeting of Stockholders May 12, 2021 9:00 AM Eastern Time This proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors The undersigned hereby appoints Michael K. Kneller and James P. Todd, jointly and severally, as Proxies, each with the power to appoint his substitute, and hereby authorizes each or both of them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse side, all of the shares of Common Stock of Landstar System, Inc., held of record by the undersigned on March 17, 2021, at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held virtually at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/LSTR2021 on Wednesday, May 12, 2021, at 9:00 AM, Eastern Time, or any adjournment or postponement thereof. None of the matters to be acted upon, each of which has been proposed by Landstar System, Inc., is related to or conditioned on the approval of other matters. This proxy when properly executed will be voted in accordance with the specifications made herein by the undersigned stockholder. If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted FOR proposals 1, 2 and 3. Continued and to be signed on reverse side


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LANDSTAR SYSTEM, INC. 13410 SUTTON PARK DRIVE SOUTH JACKSONVILLE, FL 32224 Your Vote Counts! LANDSTAR SYSTEM, INC. 2021 Annual Meeting Vote by May 11, 2021 11:59 PM ET Ricky Campana P.O. Box 123456 Suite 500 51 Mercedes Way Edgewood, NY 11717 30# FLASHID-JOB# You invested in LANDSTAR SYSTEM, INC. and it’s time to vote! You have the right to vote on proposals being presented at the Annual Meeting. This is an important notice regarding the availability of proxy material for the shareholder meeting to be held on May 12, 2021. Get informed before you vote View the Notice & Proxy Statement, Annual Report on Form 10K, Shareholder Letter online OR you can receive a free paper copy of voting material(s) by requesting prior to April 28, 2021. If you would like to request a copy of the voting material(s), you may (1) visit www.ProxyVote.com, (2) call 1-800-579-1639 or (3) send an email to sendmaterial@proxyvote.com. If sending an email, please include your control number (indicated below) in the subject line. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Smartphone users Point your camera here and vote without entering a control number Vote Virtually at the Meeting* May 12, 2021 9:00 AM EDT www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/LSTR2021 *Many shareholder meetings have attendance requirements including, but not limited to, the possession of an attendance ticket issued by the entity holding the meeting. Please check the meeting materials for any special requirements for meeting attendance. At the meeting, you will need to request a ballot to vote these shares.


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Vote at www.ProxyVote.com Control # XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX THIS IS NOT A VOTABLE BALLOT This is an overview of the proposals being presented at the upcoming shareholder meeting. Please follow the instructions on the reverse side to vote these important matters. SHARE CLASSES REPRESENTED FOR VOTING THE COMPANY NAME INC. - COMMON ASDFGHJKL 123456789.1234 THE COMPANY NAME INC. - CLASS A 123456789.1234 THE COMPANY NAME INC. - CLASS B 123456789.1234 THE COMPANY NAME INC. - CLASS C 123456789.1234 THE COMPANY NAME INC. - CLASS D 123456789.1234 THE COMPANY NAME INC. - CLASS E 123456789.1234 THE COMPANY NAME INC. - CLASS F 123456789.1234 THE COMPANY NAME INC. - 401 K 123456789.1234 Voting Items Board Recommends 1. Election Of Directors Nominees: 1a. James B. Gattoni For 1b. Anthony J. Orlando For 2. Ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2021. For 3. Advisory vote to approve executive compensation. For NOTE: In their discretion, each of the proxies is authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof. FLASHID-JOB#