AAP DEF14A
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE
14A
Proxy
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange
Act of 1934 (Amendment
No. )
Filed
by the Registrant x
Filed
by a Party other than the Registrant o
Check
the appropriate box:
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Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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Cofidential, for Use of the Commission Only
(as
permitted by Rule
14a-6(5)(2))
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Definitive Proxy Statement |
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Definitive Additional Materials |
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
ADVANCE
AUTO PARTS, INC.
(Name
of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
(Name
of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if
other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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No fee required. |
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Fee computed on table below per Exchange
Act
Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
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Title of each class of securities to which transaction
applies: |
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Aggregate number of securities to which transaction
applies: |
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(3) |
Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction
computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on
which
the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): |
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(4) |
Proposed maximum aggregate value of
transaction: |
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(5) |
Total fee paid: |
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Fee paid previously with preliminary
materials. |
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Check box if any part of the fee is offset
as
provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for
which
the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing
by
registration number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its
filing. |
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(1) |
Amount Previously Paid: |
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Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: |
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Date Filed: |
ADVANCE
AUTO PARTS, INC.
5008
AIRPORT ROAD
ROANOKE,
VIRGINIA 24012
______________
NOTICE
OF 2007 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
May 16,
2007
______________
It
is my
pleasure to invite you to attend the 2007 Annual Meeting of the Stockholders
of
Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (the “Company”), a Delaware corporation, on Wednesday,
May 16, 2007 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). The meeting will be
held
at The Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center, 110 Shenandoah Avenue, NW, Roanoke,
Virginia 24016.
At
the
Annual Meeting, stockholders will vote on the following matters, which are
further described in this Proxy Statement:
1. |
Election
of 10 directors to the Board of Directors to serve until the
2008 annual
meeting of stockholders;
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2. |
Ratification
of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company's
independent registered public accounting firm for
2007;
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3. |
Approval
of an amendment to our Long-Term Incentive Plan, which includes
authorization for 5 million additional
shares;
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4.
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Approval
of the 2007 Executive Incentive Plan; and |
5.
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To
act upon such other matters, if any, as may properly come before
the
meeting. |
The
Board
of Directors set March 28, 2007 as the Record Date. Only record holders of
our common stock at the close of business on that day are entitled to vote
at
our Annual Meeting or any adjournment of our Annual Meeting.
We
invite
you to attend the meeting and vote. We
urge you, after reading this proxy statement, to sign and return the enclosed
proxy card as promptly as possible in the enclosed postage prepaid envelope
or
vote your proxy by Internet or telephone by following the instructions on
the
form of proxy.
If you
attend the meeting, you may vote in person, even if you previously voted
by
proxy.
By
order
of the Board of Directors,
Eric
M.
Margolin
Senior
Vice President
General
Counsel and Secretary
Roanoke,
Virginia
April 11,
2007
TABLE
OF
CONTENTS
ABOUT THE
ANNUAL
MEETING |
1
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PROPOSAL
NO. 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
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6
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Nominees for Election
to Our
Board |
6
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CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE
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8
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MEETINGS
AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD |
11
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COMPENSATION
COMMITTEE REPORT |
13
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COMPENSATION
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS |
13
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ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION REGARDING EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION |
17
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Summary
Compensation Table
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17
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2006
Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table
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18
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Outstanding
Equity Awards at 2006 Fiscal Year-End Table |
19
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2006
Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table |
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2006
Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Table |
20
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Potential
Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control |
21
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NON-MANAGEMENT
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
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22
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INFORMATION
CONCERNING OUR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
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24
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SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
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STOCK
OWNERSHIP GUIDELINES
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27
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SECTION
16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
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27
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PROPOSAL
NO. 2 RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT BY THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF DELOITTE
&
TOUCHE LLP AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR
2007 |
28
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2006
and 2005 Audit Fees
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28
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AUDIT
COMMITTEE REPORT
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29
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PROPOSAL
NO. 3 APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO 2004 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE
PLAN
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31
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PROPOSAL
NO. 4 APPROVAL OF 2007 EXECUTIVE INCENTIVE PLAN
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38
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OTHER
MATTERS
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_______________
ADVANCE
AUTO PARTS, INC.
PROXY
STATEMENT
FOR
2007 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
________________
ABOUT
THE ANNUAL MEETING AND VOTING
What
is the purpose of the Annual Meeting?
At
our
Annual Meeting, the stockholders will act upon the matters outlined in the
Notice of Meeting on the first page of this proxy statement, including the
election of directors, ratification of the Company’s independent registered
public accounting firm (the “independent auditors”), and consideration of two
Company proposals. This proxy statement summarizes the information you need
to
know to vote at the Annual Meeting. This proxy statement and form of proxy
were
first mailed to stockholders on or about April 11, 2007.
Where
will the Meeting be held?
The
2007
Annual Meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 at 8:30 a.m. (EDT),
at
The Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center, 110 Shenandoah Avenue, NW, Roanoke,
Virginia 24016. The Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center is accessible to
persons
with disabilities. If you have a disability, we can provide reasonable
assistance to help you participate in the meeting upon request.
Who
is soliciting my vote?
The
Board
of Directors of the Company (“Board”) is soliciting your proxy to vote at the
Annual Meeting.
What
am I voting on?
You
are
voting on four items:
1. |
The
election of the following 10 directors to the Board to serve until
the
2008 annual meeting of stockholders:
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· John
C. Brouillard
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· William
S. Oglesby
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· Lawrence
P. Castellani
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· Gilbert
T. Ray
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· Michael
N. Coppola
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· Carlos
A. Saladrigas
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· Darren
R. Jackson
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· William
L. Salter
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· Nicholas
J. LaHowchic
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· Francesca
M. Spinelli
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2. |
Ratification
of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP (“Deloitte”) as the
Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for
2007.
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3. |
Approval
of an amendment to our Long-Term Incentive Plan, which includes
authorization for 5 million additional
shares.
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4. |
Approval
of the 2007 Executive Incentive
Plan.
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What
are the voting recommendations of the Board?
The
Board
recommends the following votes:
1. |
FOR
each of the director nominees
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2 |
FOR
ratification of the appointment of Deloitte as independent registered
public accounting firm for 2007
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3. |
FOR
approval of the amendment to our Long-Term Incentive
Plan
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4. |
FOR
approval of the 2007 Executive Incentive
Plan
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Will
any other matters be voted on?
The
Board
does not intend to present any other matters at the meeting. We do not know
of
any other matters that will be brought before the stockholders for a vote at
the
Annual Meeting. If any other matter is properly brought before the Annual
Meeting, your signed proxy card gives authority to Eric M. Margolin and Michael
O. Moore as proxies, with full power of substitution (“Proxies”), to vote on
such matters in their discretion.
Who
is entitled to vote?
Stockholders
of record as of the close of business on March 28, 2007 (the “Record Date”) are
entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.
How
many votes do I have?
You
will
have one vote for every share of Company common stock that you owned at the
close of business on the Record Date. You are not entitled to cumulate your
vote.
What
is the difference between holding shares as a stockholder of record and as
a
beneficial owner?
Many
stockholders hold their shares through a broker or bank rather than directly
in
their own names. As summarized below, there are some distinctions between shares
held of record and those owned beneficially.
Stockholder
of Record
If
your
shares are registered directly in your name with the Company’s transfer agent,
Mellon Investor Services LLC, you are considered, with respect to those shares,
the stockholder
of record,
and
these proxy materials are being sent directly to you by the
Company.
Beneficial
Owner
If
your
shares are held in a stock brokerage account or by a bank, you are considered
the beneficial
owner of
shares
held in street name, and these proxy materials are being forwarded to you by
your bank or broker, which is considered the stockholder of record of these
shares. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your bank or
broker how to vote and are also invited to attend the Annual Meeting. However,
since you are not the stockholder of record, you may not vote these shares
in
person at the Annual Meeting unless you bring with you a legal proxy from the
stockholder of record. Your bank or broker has enclosed a voting instruction
card for you to use for providing directions for how to vote your
shares.
How
do I vote?
If
you
are a stockholder of record, there are four ways to vote:
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By
Internet at www.proxyvote.com;
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By
toll-free telephone at 1-800-690-6903;
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By
completing and mailing your proxy card; and
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By
written ballot at the Annual
Meeting.
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If
you
vote by Internet or telephone, your vote must be received by 11:59 P.M. (EDT)
on
May 15th, the day before the Annual Meeting. Your shares will be voted as you
indicate. If you return your proxy card but you do not indicate your voting
preferences, the Proxies will vote your shares FOR items 1 through
4.
If
your
shares are held in street name, you should follow the voting directions provided
by your bank or broker. You may complete and mail a voting instruction card
to
your bank or broker or, in most cases, submit voting instructions by the
Internet or telephone to your bank or broker. If you provide specific voting
instructions by mail, the Internet or telephone, your shares should be voted
by
your bank or broker as you have directed.
We
will
distribute written ballots at the Annual Meeting to any stockholder who wants
to
vote. If you hold your shares in street name, you must request a legal proxy
from your broker to vote at the Annual Meeting.
Can
I change my vote?
Yes.
If
you are a stockholder of record, you can change your vote or revoke your proxy
any time before the Annual Meeting by:
· |
Entering
a new vote by Internet or telephone;
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· |
Returning
a later-dated proxy card;
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· |
Sending
written notice of revocation to Eric M. Margolin, Senior Vice
President,
General Counsel and Secretary, at the Company’s address of record, which
is 5008 Airport Road, Roanoke, VA 24012; or
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· |
Completing
a written ballot at the Annual
Meeting.
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Is
my vote confidential?
It
is the
policy of the Company that all proxies, ballots, and vote tabulations that
identify the vote of a stockholder will be kept confidential from the Company,
its directors, officers, and employees until after the final vote is tabulated
and announced, except in limited circumstances including any contested
solicitation of proxies, when required to meet a legal requirement, to defend
a
claim against the Company or to assert a claim by the Company, and when written
comments by a stockholder appear on a proxy card or other voting
material.
How
are votes counted?
Votes
are
counted by inspectors of election designated by the corporate
secretary.
Who
pays for soliciting proxies?
The
Company will pay for the cost of preparing, assembling, printing and mailing
this proxy statement and the accompanying form of proxy to our stockholders,
as
well as the cost of soliciting proxies relating to the meeting. We may request
banks and brokers to solicit their customers, on whose behalf such banks and
brokers hold our common stock in street name. We will reimburse these banks
and
brokers for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses for these solicitations.
Our
officers, directors and employees may supplement these solicitations of proxies
by telephone, facsimile, e-mail and personal solicitation. We will pay no
additional compensation to our officers, directors or employees for these
activities.
What
is the quorum requirement of the Annual Meeting?
A
majority of the outstanding shares on the Record Date, represented in person
or
by proxy at the Annual Meeting, constitutes a quorum for voting on items at
the
Annual Meeting. If you vote, your shares will be part of the quorum.
Abstentions, including those recorded by brokers holding their customers’
shares, will be counted in determining the quorum. On the Record Date, there
were 105,984,337 shares outstanding and 985 stockholders of record. A majority
of common stock, or 52,992,169 shares, will constitute a quorum.
What
are broker non-votes?
Broker
non-votes occur when holders of record, such as banks and brokers holding shares
on behalf of beneficial owners, do not receive voting instructions from the
beneficial holders at least ten days before the Annual Meeting.
If
that
happens, the bank or broker may vote those shares only on matters deemed
“routine” by the New York Stock Exchange. On non-routine matters, a bank or
broker cannot vote without instructions from the beneficial owner, resulting
in
a so-called “broker non-vote.” Except for Item 3, which may be considered a
non-routine matter by the New York Stock Exchange, broker non-votes will not
affect the outcome of the matters being voted on at the Annual Meeting, assuming
that a quorum is obtained.
What
vote is required to approve each proposal?
Item
1.
For the election of directors, the 10 nominees receiving the highest number
of
“FOR” votes will be elected.
Item
2.
Ratification of our independent registered public accounting firm requires
the
approving vote of a majority of the votes cast on this proposal by the holders
of shares of our common stock who are present, or represented, and entitled
to
vote at the annual meeting. Abstentions count as votes cast and have the effect
of a vote against the proposal.
Item
3.
Approval of the amendment of our 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan requires the
approving vote of a majority of the votes cast on this proposal by the holders
of shares of our common stock who are present, or represented, and entitled
to
vote at the annual meeting. Abstentions count as votes cast and have the effect
of a vote against the proposal.
Item
4.
Approval of the our 2007 Executive Incentive Compensation Plan requires the
approving vote of a majority of the votes cast on this proposal by the holders
of shares of our common stock who are present, or represented, and entitled
to
vote at the annual meeting. Abstentions count as votes cast and have the effect
of a vote against the proposal.
Who
can attend the Annual Meeting?
All
Advance Auto Parts stockholders as of the close of business on the Record Date
may attend.
What
do I need to do to attend the Annual Meeting?
If
you
are a stockholder of record, your proxy card is your admission ticket to the
Annual Meeting. If you own shares in street name, you will need to ask your
broker or bank for an admission ticket in the form of a legal proxy. You will
need to bring the legal proxy with you to the Annual Meeting. If you do not
receive the legal proxy in time, bring your most recent brokerage statement
with
you to the Annual Meeting. We can use your statement to verify your ownership
of
our common stock and admit you to the Annual Meeting; however, you will not
be
able to vote your shares at the Annual Meeting without a legal
proxy.
What
does it mean if I get more than one proxy card?
It
means
you own shares in more than one account. You should vote the shares on each
of
your proxy cards.
How
can I consolidate multiple accounts registered in variations of the same
name?
If
you
have multiple accounts, we encourage you to consolidate your accounts by having
all your shares registered in exactly the same name and address. You may do
this
by contacting our transfer agent, Mellon Investor Services LLC, toll-free at
(866) 865-6327 or at P.O. Box 3315, South Hackensack, NJ 07606, attention:
Shareholder Correspondence.
I
own my shares indirectly through my broker, bank, or other nominee, and I
receive multiple copies of the annual report, proxy statement, and other
mailings because more than one person in my household is a beneficial owner.
How
can I change the number of copies of these mailings that are sent to my
household?
If
you
and other members of your household are beneficial owners, you may eliminate
this duplication of mailings by contacting your broker, bank, or other nominee.
Duplicate mailings in most cases are wasteful for us and inconvenient for you,
and we encourage you to eliminate them whenever you can. If you have eliminated
duplicate mailings, but for any reason would like to resume them, you must
contact your broker, bank, or other nominee.
I
own my shares directly as a registered owner of Company stock and so do other
members of my family living in my household. How can I change the number of
copies of the annual report and proxy statement being delivered to my
household?
Family
members living in the same household generally receive only one copy per
household of the annual report, proxy statement, and most other mailings. The
only item which is separately mailed for each registered stockholder or account
is a proxy card. If you wish to start receiving separate copies in your name,
apart from others in your household, you must contact Mellon Investor Services
LLC toll-free at (866) 865-6327 or at P.O. Box 3315, South Hackensack, NJ 07606,
attention: Shareholder Correspondence, and request that action. Within 30 days
after your request is received we will start sending you separate mailings.
If,
for any reason, you and members of your household are receiving multiple copies
and you want to eliminate the duplications, please also contact Mellon Investor
Services LLC and request that action. That request must be made by each person
in the household entitled to receive the materials.
Multiple
stockholders live in my household, and together we received only one copy of
this year’s annual report and proxy statement. How can I obtain my own separate
copy of those documents for the Annual Meeting in
May?
You
may
pick up copies in person at the Annual Meeting or download them from our
Internet web site, www.AdvanceAutoParts.com
(click
on homepage link to Annual Meeting materials). If you want copies mailed to
you
and are a beneficial owner, you must request them from your broker, bank, or
other nominee. If you want copies mailed and are a stockholder of record, we
will mail them promptly if you request them from our corporate office by phone
at (540) 561-8490 or by mail to 5008 Airport Road, Roanoke VA 24102, attention:
Investor Relations. We cannot guarantee you will receive mailed copies before
the Annual Meeting.
Where
can I find the voting results of the Annual Meeting?
We
plan
to announce preliminary voting results at the Annual Meeting and publish final
results in our Report on Form 10-Q for the second quarter of 2007.
What
is the deadline for consideration of shareholder proposals for the 2008 Annual
Meeting?
A
stockholder who wants to present a proposal at the 2008 annual meeting and
have
it included in our proxy statement for that meeting must submit the proposal
in
writing at our offices at 5008 Airport Road, Roanoke, Virginia 24012, Attention:
Corporate Secretary, on or before December 12, 2007. Applicable SEC rules and
regulations govern the submission of stockholder proposals and our consideration
of them for inclusion in next year’s proxy statement.
A
stockholder who wants to present a proposal at the 2008 annual meeting (but
not
to include the proposal in our proxy statement) or to nominate a person for
election as a director must comply with the requirements set forth in our
by-laws. Our by-laws require, among other things, that our corporate secretary
receive written notice from the record holder of intent to present such proposal
or nomination no less than 45 days and no more than 75 days prior to the
anniversary of the date on which we first mailed the proxy materials for the
preceding year’s annual meeting. Therefore, we must receive notice of such
proposal no earlier than January 26, 2008, and no later than February 25, 2008.
The notice must contain the information required by our by-laws. You may obtain
a print copy of our by-laws upon request from our corporate secretary at Advance
Auto Parts, 5008 Airport Road, Roanoke, Virginia 24012. Our by-laws are also
available on our web site at www.AdvanceAutoParts.com.
Management may vote proxies in its discretion on any matter at the 2008 annual
meeting if we do not receive notice of the matter within the time frame
described in this paragraph. In addition our Chair or any other person presiding
at the meeting may exclude any matter that is not properly presented in
accordance with these requirements.
How
can I find the Company’s proxy materials and annual report on the
Internet?
This
proxy statement and the 2006 annual report to shareholders are available on
our
Internet web site at www.AdvanceAutoParts.com.
PROPOSAL
NO. 1
ELECTION
OF DIRECTORS
At
the
meeting, you will elect 10 members of our Board to serve until our 2008 annual
meeting of stockholders and until their respective successors are elected and
qualified. Our Board has nominated John C. Brouillard, Lawrence P. Castellani,
Michael N. Coppola, Darren R. Jackson, Nicholas J. LaHowchic, William S.
Oglesby, Gilbert T. Ray, Carlos A. Saladrigas, William L. Salter and
Francesca M. Spinelli for election as directors. All of the nominees are current
members of our Board. Each nominee has consented to being named in this proxy
statement as a nominee and has agreed to serve as a director if elected. None
of
the nominees to our Board has any family relationship with any other nominee
or
with any of our executive officers.
The
persons named as proxies in the accompanying form of proxy have advised us
that
at the meeting, unless otherwise directed, they intend to vote the shares
covered by the proxies FOR the election of the nominees named above. If one
or
more of the nominees are unable to serve, or for good cause will not serve,
the
persons named as proxies may vote for any election of the substitute nominees
that our Board may propose. The persons named as proxies may not vote for a
greater number of persons than the number of nominees named above.
Nominees
for Election to Our Board
The
following table provides information about our nominees for director at March
28, 2007.
Name
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Age
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Position
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|
|
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John
C. Brouillard(1)(2)
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58
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|
Lead
Director
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Lawrence
P. Castellani(3)
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61
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Director
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Michael
N. Coppola
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58
|
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Chairman
of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer
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Darren
R. Jackson(1)(3)
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42
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Director
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Nicholas
J. LaHowchic(3)
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59
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|
Director
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William
S. Oglesby(3)(4)
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47
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Director
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Gilbert
T. Ray(2)(4)
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62
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|
Director
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Carlos
A. Saladrigas(1)
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58
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|
Director
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William
L. Salter(2)(4)
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63
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Director
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Francesca
M. Spinelli(2)
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53
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Director
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_______________
(1)
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Member of Audit
Committee |
(2) |
Member
of Compensation Committee
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(3) |
Member
of Finance Committee
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(4) |
Member
of Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee
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Mr.
Coppola, Chairman,
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, became a member of our Board
in
September 2004. Mr. Coppola joined us in February 2001 and has held his current
position since May 2006. From May 2005 to May 2006, Mr. Coppola served as our
President and Chief Executive Officer, and he served as our Executive Vice
President, Chief Operating Officer from August 2003 to May 2005. Mr. Coppola
previously served as Senior Vice President, Merchandising from February 2001
to
August 2003. Prior to joining us, Mr. Coppola operated his own retail company
for two years. Prior to December 1997, he held various positions with Tops
Friendly Markets, a supermarket chain and a division of Ahold USA, ultimately
serving as Executive Vice President of Marketing.
Mr.
Brouillard, Lead
Director, became a member of our Board in May 2004 and was appointed Lead
Director on February 14, 2007. Mr. Brouillard retired as Chief Administrative
and Financial Officer of H.E. Butt Grocery Company in June 2005, a position
that
he had held since February 1991. From 1977 to 1991, Mr. Brouillard held various
positions with Hills Department Stores, including serving as President of that
company. Mr. Brouillard serves as a director of Eddie Bauer Holdings, Inc.
and
H.E. Butt Grocery Company.
Mr. Castellani,
Director, became a member of our Board in February 2000. Mr. Castellani is
the
former Chairman of the Board and retired Chief Executive Officer of Advance
Auto
Parts, Inc. He served as our Chairman from February 2003 until May 2006 and
as
our Chief Executive Officer from February 2000 to May 2005. Prior to joining
us,
Mr. Castellani
served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Ahold Support Services in
Latin America (a division of Royal Ahold, a supermarket company) from
February 1998 to February 2000. Prior to that, Mr. Castellani was
President and Chief Executive Officer of Tops Friendly Markets, a supermarket
chain headquartered in Buffalo, New York. Mr. Castellani serves as a director
of
Gregg Appliances, Inc., an electronics and appliances retailer, and as an
affiliate with the Freeman Spogli private equity firm.
Mr.
Jackson, Director,
became a member of our Board in July 2004. Mr. Jackson joined Best Buy Co.,
Inc.
a specialty retailer of consumer electronics, in 2000 and was appointed its
Executive Vice President-Finance and Chief Financial Officer in February of
2001. Prior to 2000, he served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
of
Nordstrom, Inc., Full-line Stores and held various senior positions including
Chief Financial Officer of Carson Pirie Scott & Company. He began his career
at KPMG Peat Marwick.
Mr.
LaHowchic,
Director, became a member of our Board in May 2006. Mr. LaHowchic is the retired
President & CEO of Limited Logistics Services, Inc., which provides supply
chain, compliance and procurement services to Limited Brands, Inc. and other
retailers. He held this position from October 1997 to February 2007. Mr.
LaHowchic is also the retired Executive Vice President of Limited Brands, Inc.,
a retail consumer packaged goods company. He held that position from April
2004
to February 2007. Prior to October 1997, he served as President of Becton
Dickinson Supply Chain Services, a medical technology company. Mr. LaHowchic
serves as a director of Express Scripts, Inc.
Mr.
Oglesby, Director,
became a member of our Board in December 2004. Mr. Oglesby is currently Senior
Managing Director for The Blackstone Group, L.P., a global investment and
advisory firm, and has held this position since April 2004. Mr. Oglesby has
over
20 years of investment experience as a result of holding managing director
positions with Credit Suisse First Boston; Donaldson Lufkin & Jenrette and
Kidder, Peabody & Co.
Mr. Ray,
Director, became a member of our Board in December 2002. Mr. Ray was a
partner of the law firm of O’Melveny & Myers LLP until his retirement
in February 2000. Mr. Ray is a member of the boards of Watson
Wyatt Worldwide, Inc.; IHOP Corp.; Automobile Club of Southern California;
Sierra Monolithics, Inc. and Diamond Rock Hospitality Company. Mr. Ray is
also a trustee of SunAmerica Series Trust; Seasons Series Trust; The John
Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation and St. John’s Health Center
Foundation.
Mr.
Saladrigas,
Director, became a member of our Board in May 2003. Mr. Saladrigas has been
the
Chairman of Premier American Bank in Miami, Florida since September 2001. From
November 1984 to May 2002, he was the Chief Executive Officer of ADP TotalSource
(previously The Vincam Group, Inc.), a human resources outsourcing company
that
provides human resource functions to small and mid-sized businesses. Mr.
Saladrigas serves as a director of Progress Energy, Inc.; Carolina Power &
Light Company; and Florida Progress Corporation.
Mr. Salter,
Director,
became a member of our Board in April 1999 and served as Lead Director from
May 2004 until February 2007. Mr. Salter is the retired President of the
Specialty Retail division of Sears, Roebuck and Co., a position he held from
March 1999 to December 1999. From November 1996 to
March 1999, Mr. Salter served as President of the Home Stores division
of Sears. From October 1995 to November 1996, he served as President
of the Hardlines division of Sears, and from April 1993 to
October 1995, he served as the Vice President and General Manager of the
Home Appliances and Electronics division of Sears.
Ms. Spinelli,
Director, became a member of our Board in November 2002. Ms. Spinelli has
been the Senior Vice President, People for PetSmart, Inc., a retail supplier
of
pet products and services, since September 2003. Previously, Ms. Spinelli
served as the Senior Vice President of People for RadioShack Corporation, a
position she held from December 1999 to June 2003. From July 1998 to
December 1999, she served as Vice President of People for RadioShack
Corporation. From February 1997 to July 1998, Ms. Spinelli served
as Corporate Vice President of Organizational Development for Wal-Mart Stores,
Inc. From March 1993 to February 1997, Ms. Spinelli served as
Vice President of Human Resources for McLane Company, Inc., a former division
of
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
OUR
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS
A
VOTE FOR
EACH OF OUR BOARD’S NOMINEES.
CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE
Guidelines
on Significant Governance Issues
The
responsibility of our Board is to review, approve and regularly monitor the
effectiveness of our fundamental operating, financial and other business plans,
policies and decisions, including the execution of our strategies and
objectives. Accordingly, our Board has adopted guidelines on the following
significant governance issues:
· |
the
structure of our Board including, among other things, the size, mix
of
independent and non-independent members, membership criteria, term
of
service, compensation and assessment of performance of our
Board;
|
· |
Board
procedural matters, including among other things, selection of the
chair
of the Board, Board meetings, Board communications, retention of
counsel
and advisors and our expectations regarding the performance of our
directors;
|
· |
committee
matters including, among other things, the types of committees, charters
of committees, independence of committee members, chair of committees,
service of committee members, committee agendas and committee minutes
and
reports;
|
· |
chief executive officer evaluation,
management development and succession planning; |
· |
codes of conduct; and |
· |
other
matters, including charitable contributions, use of the corporate
airplane, auditor services, Board access to management and interaction
with third parties, directors and officers insurance and the
indemnification/limitation of liability of directors, our policy
prohibiting Company loans to the Company’s executive officers and
directors, and confidential stockholder
voting.
|
A
complete copy of our guidelines on significant governance issues is available
on
our web site at www.AdvanceAutoParts.com
or you
may obtain a print copy by request to our corporate secretary at 5008 Airport
Road, Roanoke, Virginia 24012.
Director
Independence
Our
Board, after consultation with and the recommendation of the Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee, determined that Messrs. Brouillard, Jackson,
LaHowchic, Oglesby, Ray, Saladrigas, Salter and Ms. Spinelli are each
“independent” directors under the listing standards of the NYSE, because each of
these directors: (1) has no material relationship with us or our subsidiaries,
either directly or indirectly as a partner, stockholder or officer of an
organization that has a relationship with us or our subsidiaries, and (2)
satisfies the “bright line independence” criteria set forth in Section
303A.02(b) of the NYSE’s listing standards. In addition, based on such
standards, the Board determined that: (1) Mr. Castellani is not independent
because he has served as an executive officer of the company within the past
three years; and (2) Mr. Coppola is not independent because he is our President
and Chief Executive Officer. The Board made this determination after assessing
the issue of materiality of any relationship not merely from the standpoint
of
each director or nominee, but also from that of persons or organizations with
which the director or nominee may have an affiliation, based upon all facts
and
circumstances known to the Board, including, among other things, a review of
questionnaires submitted by these directors and a review of a recent resume
or
biography of each director.
Our
Board
reviews each director’s status under this definition annually with the
assistance of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Each director
is required to keep the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee fully
and
promptly informed as to any developments that might affect his or her
independence.
Meetings
of Non-Management Directors
During
2006, the non-management directors on our Board met a total of five times.
In
addition, the independent directors met separately one time during 2006. The
lead director, who was Mr. Salter during 2006 and until February 2007, presided
at these meetings. For 2007, our non-management directors are scheduled to
meet
separately in conjunction with each of the five scheduled meetings of the
Board.
Stockholder
and Interested Party Communications with our Board
Communications
with our Board Generally. Stockholders
who desire to communicate with our Board, or with a specific director, including
on an anonymous or confidential basis, may do so by delivering a written
communication to
our
Board, c/o Advance Auto Parts, Inc., 5008 Airport Road, Roanoke, Virginia 24012,
Attention: General Counsel. The general counsel will not edit or modify any
such
communication received and will forward each such communication to the
appropriate director or directors, as specified in the communication. If the
envelope containing a communication that a stockholder wishes to be confidential
is conspicuously marked “Confidential,” the general counsel will not open the
communication. Communications will be forwarded by the general counsel to our
Board or any specified directors on a bi-monthly basis. The general counsel
will
ensure the timely delivery of time sensitive communications to the extent such
communication indicates time sensitivity. In addition, we have a policy that
each of our directors should make every reasonable effort to attend each annual
meeting of stockholders. All of our current directors were in attendance at
our
2006 annual meeting of stockholders, except Mr. Ray.
Interested
Party Communications with our Independent Directors, our Non-Management
Directors or our Lead Director. Any
interested party, including stockholders, who desires to communicate directly
with one or more of the independent directors, our non-management directors
as a
group, or our lead director, including on an anonymous or confidential basis,
may do so by delivering a written communication to the independent directors,
the non-management directors as a group or to our lead director, c/o Advance
Auto Parts, Inc., 5008 Airport Road, Roanoke, Virginia 24012, Attention: General
Counsel. The general counsel will not open any such communication received
and
will forward each such communication to the appropriate individual director
or
group of directors, as specified in the communication. Such communications
will
not be disclosed to the non-independent or non-management members of our Board
or management unless so instructed by the independent or non-management
directors. Communications will be forwarded by the general counsel on a
bi-monthly basis. The general counsel will ensure the timely delivery of time
sensitive communications to the extent such communication indicates time
sensitivity.
Nominations
for Directors
Identifying
Director Candidates. The
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for leading the
search for and evaluating qualified individuals to become nominees for election
as directors. The Committee is authorized to retain a search firm to assist
in
identifying, screening and attracting director candidates. During 2006 the
Committee utilized the services of Spencer Stuart, an executive search firm,
to
assist in identifying potential director candidates. After a director candidate
has been identified, the committee evaluates each candidate for director within
the context of the needs of the Board in its composition as a whole. The
committee considers such factors as the candidate’s business experience, skills,
independence, judgment and ability and willingness to commit sufficient time
and
attention to the activities of the Board. At a minimum, committee-recommended
candidates for nomination must possess the highest personal and professional
ethics, integrity and values, and commit to representing the long-term interests
of our stockholders.
Stockholder
Recommendations for Director Candidates.
The
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider stockholder
suggestions for nominees for directors. Any stockholder who desires to recommend
a director candidate must submit the recommendation in writing and follow the
procedures set forth in our by-laws. The by-laws require that a stockholder’s
nomination be received by the corporate secretary not less than 45 days or
more
than 75 days prior to the first anniversary date of the mailing of our proxy
materials for the preceding year’s annual meeting. The notice should include the
following information about the proposed nominee: name, age, business and
residence address, principal occupation or employment, the number of shares
of
Company stock owned by the nominee, and other information required by the SEC’s
regulations. In addition, the stockholder providing the notice should provide
his or her name and address as they appear on the Corporation’s books and the
number of shares that are beneficially owned by the stockholder. The committee
does not evaluate any candidate for nomination as a director any differently
solely because the candidate was recommended by a stockholder. You may obtain
a
copy of our by-laws by requesting a copy from our corporate secretary at Advance
Auto Parts, Inc., 5008 Airport Road, Roanoke, Virginia 24012. Our by-laws also
are available on our web site at www.AdvanceAutoParts.com.
Code
of Ethics and Business Conduct
We
expect
and require all of our employees, who we refer to as our Team Members, our
officers and our directors, and any parties with whom we do business to conduct
themselves in accordance with the highest ethical standards. Accordingly, we
have adopted a code of ethics and business conduct, which outlines our
commitment to, and expectations for, honest and ethical conduct by all of these
persons and parties in their business dealings. A complete copy of the code
of
ethics and business conduct is available on our web site at www.AdvanceAutoParts.com
or you
may obtain a print copy by request to our corporate secretary at 5008 Airport
Road, Roanoke, Virginia 24012.
Code
of Ethics for Finance Professionals
We
also
have adopted a code of ethics for finance professionals to promote and provide
for ethical conduct by our finance professionals, as well as for full, fair
and
accurate financial management and reporting. Our finance professionals include
our chief executive officer, chief financial officer, controller and any other
person performing similar functions. We expect all of these finance
professionals to act in accordance with the highest standards of professional
integrity, to provide full and accurate disclosure in reports and other
documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and
other regulators or in any public communications and to comply with all
applicable laws, rules and regulations, to deter wrongdoing. Our code of ethics
for finance professionals is intended to supplement our code of ethics and
business conduct. A complete copy of the code of ethics for finance
professionals is available on our web site at www.AdvanceAutoParts.com
or you
may obtain a print copy by request to our corporate secretary at 5008 Airport
Road, Roanoke, Virginia 24012.
Related
Party Transactions
On
an
annual basis, each director and executive officer is obligated to complete
a
Director and Officer Questionnaire which requires disclosure of any transactions
with the Company in which the director or executive officer, or any member
of
his or her immediate family, have a direct or indirect material interest.
Pursuant to our Code of Ethics & Business Conduct, officers and directors
are required to disclose to the Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee of the Board or to our general counsel any transactions or
relationship that may create an actual or perceived conflict of interest.
For
fiscal year 2006, Mr. Margolin, an executive officer of the Company, received
an
annual base salary of approximately $232,000, which was approved by senior
management of the Company. Mr. Margolin’s annual and long-term incentive
compensation were approved by the Board’s independent Compensation Committee.
For fiscal year 2007, all compensation for all executive officers of the Company
has been approved by the Board’s independent Compensation
Committee.
MEETINGS
AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD
The
Board
Each
director is expected to make every reasonable effort to attend each meeting
of
the Board and any Committee of which the director is a member, and to be
reasonably available to management and the other directors between meetings.
Our
Board met five times during 2006. Each director attended 75% or more of the
total number of meetings of the Board and meetings of the committees of the
Board on which he or she served.
Committees
of the Board
We
currently have an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and a Nominating
and
Corporate Governance Committee, each of which is comprised of independent
directors in accordance with the listing standards of the New York Stock
Exchange (“NYSE”). In addition, we have a Finance Committee. The following table
sets forth the names of each committee member, the primary responsibilities
of
each committee and the number of times each committee met in 2006:
Name
of Committee and Members
|
Primary
Responsibilities
|
#
of Meetings
in
2006
|
Audit
Carlos
A. Saladrigas (Chair)
John
C. Brouillard
Darren
R. Jackson
|
· monitors
the integrity of our financial statements, reporting processes, internal
controls, risk management and legal and regulatory
compliance;
· selects,
determines the compensation of, evaluates and, when appropriate,
replaces
our independent registered public accounting firm; pre-approves all
audit
and permitted non-audit services;
· monitors
the qualifications, independence and performance of our independent
registered public accounting firm; and
· oversees
our internal audit function.
|
12
|
Compensation
Francesca
M. Spinelli (Chair)
John
C. Brouillard
Gilbert
T. Ray
William
L. Salter
|
· reviews
and approves our executive compensation philosophy;
· annually
reviews and approves corporate goals and objectives relevant to the
compensation of the CEO and evaluates the CEO’s performance in light of
these goals;
· determines
the compensation of our executive officers and approves compensation
for
key members of management; and
· oversees
our incentive and equity-based compensation plans.
|
6
|
Finance
William
S. Oglesby (Chair)
Lawrence
P. Castellani
Darren
R. Jackson
Nicholas
J. LaHowchic
|
· reviews
and makes recommendations to the Board regarding our financial policies,
including investment guidelines, deployment of capital and short-term
and
long-term financing;
· reviews
credit metrics, including debt ratios, levels and leverage
ratios;
· reviews
all aspects of financial planning, strategic planning, cash uses
and our
expansion program; and
· reviews
and recommends the annual budget to the Board.
|
8
|
Nominating
and Corporate Governance
Gilbert
T. Ray (Chair)
William
S. Oglesby
William
L. Salter
|
· assists
the Board in identifying, evaluating and recommending candidates
for
election to the Board;
· establishes
procedures and provides oversight for evaluating the Board and
management;
· develops,
recommends and reassesses our corporate governance guidelines;
and
· evaluates
the size, structure and composition of the Board and its
committees.
|
4
|
Our
Board
has adopted written charters for each committee setting forth the roles and
responsibilities of each committee. Each of the charters is available on our
web
site at www.AdvanceAutoParts.com.
In
addition, you may obtain a print copy of each charter by request to our
corporate secretary at 5008 Airport Road, Roanoke, Virginia 24012.
Compensation
Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
None
of
our executive officers currently serves on the compensation committee of any
other company or board of directors of any other company of which any member
of
our Compensation Committee or Board is an executive officer.
COMPENSATION
COMMITTEE REPORT
Our
Committee is comprised entirely of four independent directors who meet
independence, experience and other qualification requirements of the NYSE
listing standards, and the rules and regulations of the SEC. Our Committee
chair
is Ms. Spinelli. The Compensation Committee operates under a written charter
adopted by the Board. Our charter can be viewed by connecting to the Advance
Auto Parts web site, under the investor relations section.
We
have
relied on management’s representation that the compensation discussion and
analysis presented in this proxy statement has been prepared with integrity
and
objectivity in conformity with SEC regulations. Based upon our discussion with
management, we recommended to the Board that the compensation discussion and
analysis be included in this proxy statement.
THE
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
Francesca
M. Spinelli (Chair)
John
C.
Brouillard
Gilbert
T. Ray
William
L. Salter
COMPENSATION
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Introduction
In
this
section, we provide you an overview and analysis of our compensation program
and
policies, the material compensation decisions we have made under those programs
and policies, and the material factors considered in making those decisions.
Later in this proxy statement under the heading “Additional Information
Regarding Executive Compensation” you will find a series of tables containing
specific information about compensation earned in 2006.
Compensation
Decision Roles
The
Compensation Committee of the Board (“Committee”) approves all compensation for
our named executive officers and authorizes all equity awards under the Advance
Auto Parts Long-Term Incentive Plan. Decisions regarding non-equity compensation
of other employees are made by management. The Chief Executive Officer annually
reviews the performance of each named executive officer and other selected
officers. The conclusions reached and recommendations based on these reviews,
including with respect to salary adjustments and annual incentive amounts,
are
presented to the Committee. The Chief Executive Officer’s performance is
reviewed annually by the Committee. The Committee has final approval on the
determination of compensation recommendations for executives. Management is
responsible for developing and maintaining an effective compensation program
throughout the Company and preparing documents required for compliance with
applicable United States law.
Compensation
Philosophy and Objectives
Compensation
provided to executive officers of the Company is intended to be closely linked
with the performance of the Company. Our compensation programs are designed
to
ensure that:
· |
compensation
for executive officers is linked to annual and long-term Company
performance goals that are structured to align the interests of
executive
officers with those of the Company’s stockholders;
|
· |
a
significant portion of total compensation is stock-based, thereby
further
aligning the interests of executive officers and Company stockholders;
and
|
· |
executive
compensation is comparable with compensation levels at major retail
competitors so the Company can attract, retain and motivate superior
management talent essential to the Company’s long-term
success.
|
Setting
Executive Compensation
Based
on
the foregoing objectives, the Committee has structured the Company’s annual and
long-term incentives to motivate executives to achieve the business goals set
by
the Company and reward the executives for achieving such goals. The Committee
has engaged HayGroup, an independent consulting firm, to conduct an annual
review of the total compensation program and to provide relevant market data
and
alternatives for the Committee to consider when making compensation decisions
for our named executive officers, as well as for other key executives.
We
intend
to set total direct compensation, defined as the combined value of annual and
long-term compensation, based on the Company’s relative performance compared to
an established group of peer companies in the retail industry. Our overall
total
direct compensation level is determined based on our annual earnings per share
growth over a three-year period. To calculate the level of total direct
compensation, the annual earnings per share growth for the most recent year
has
a weight of 50%, and the two prior years’ performance are each weighted 25%.
When our annual earnings per share growth performance is at the median of our
peer group, our total direct compensation levels should be roughly equivalent
to
the retail market median. When performance is below median, total direct
compensation levels are targeted to be below the retail market median. Total
direct compensation levels will approach the seventy-fifth percentile of the
retail market when we achieve top quartile results based on our earnings per
share growth performance compared with our peer group.
The
companies in our peer group were selected based on their similarity to the
Company in terms of annual sales, store count and square footage, employee
count, and overall market value. The companies comprising our 2006 retail peer
group are:
AutoZone |
Barnes & Noble |
Bed Bath & Beyond |
Borders Group |
Circuit City |
CSK Auto |
Dollar General |
Dollar Tree |
Foot Locker |
Genuine Parts |
Longs Drug Stores |
Michaels |
O’Reilly Automotive |
Payless Shoesource |
The Pep Boys |
PetSmart |
RadioShack |
Williams-Sonoma |
|
|
Executive
Compensation Components
The
principal components of the Company’s compensation for executive officers are:
· |
base
salary, which is intended to compensate executives for their
primary
responsibilities and individual contributions;
|
· |
performance-based
incentives, which are intended to link annual compensation and
short-term
performance;
|
· |
long-term
equity incentives, which are intended to link long-term compensation
with
stockholder value over the long term; and
|
· |
retirement
savings and other
compensation
|
Although
there is no pre-established policy or target for the allocation between specific
compensation components, long-term equity compensation opportunity generally
offers between 50% to 60% of total direct compensation, reflecting our intent
to
align executive and stockholder interests.
Base
Salary
Executives’
base salaries are reviewed annually as part of the Company’s performance review
process. During its review of base salaries for executives, the Committee
considers the executive’s individual performance, experience, and
responsibilities compared with competitive retail market data provided by
HayGroup, as well as the executive’s pay relative to other Company executives.
Over the long-term, we aim to position base salaries at a level approaching
the
median of the retail market. Currently, base salary levels for executives are
at
approximately the twenty-fifth percentile of the retail market.
Annual
Incentive Plan
Our
annual incentive plan provides for the payment of cash bonuses based upon
Company performance in relation to predetermined financial targets established
near the beginning of the year. We aim to establish incentive targets annually
at industry median levels, with opportunity above median for correspondingly
higher performance. The overall incentive potential varies depending upon the
executive’s position. For 2006, our chief executive officer had an incentive
target of 100% of base salary and other named executive officers had an
incentive target of 60% of base salary. Potential incentive payout ranged from
zero to 200% of each executive officer’s bonus target. The maximum payout would
have required the Company to exceed all predetermined financial targets. For
additional information about the annual incentive plan, please refer to the
“Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table,” which shows the threshold, target and
maximum incentive amounts payable under the plan for 2006, and the “Summary
Compensation Table,” which shows the actual non-equity incentive plan
compensation paid to executives for 2006 fiscal year performance.
The
following financial performance targets and relative weights were established
for 2006: 1) sales compared to budget level: 30%; 2) operating income compared
to budget level: 30%; 3) specific achievement of operating income growth goals
compared to prior year: 30%; and 4) inventory turns compared to budget level:
10%. These targets and weights continue into 2007 and are based on the
significance of these key performance indicators in driving stockholder value.
In the three years prior to 2006, the annual incentive plans yielded payouts
ranging from 60% to 103% of targets.
Long-Term
Incentive Compensation
To
link
executives’ compensation to the Company’s long-term financial success and
provide our executive officers with performance incentives, we also granted
non-qualified stock options to our executive officers in 2006 under the Advance
Auto Parts Long-Term Incentive Plan, which was approved by stockholders in
May
2004. Guidelines for stock option awards are established for positions within
the Company based on the relative competitive level of total direct compensation
compared to the retail market. Individual executives’ stock option grants were
determined based on the executive’s performance relative to the established
stock option guidelines.
Except
for the employee stock options awarded in 2006 or awarded as part of the
compensation arrangement for a newly hired executive officer, stock option
grants have been approved by the Committee at a meeting held one to two days
prior to the public release of the Company’s periodic financial results. The
grant date for such stock awards is generally the third trading day on New
York
Stock Exchange following the release of earnings. The grant dates for the
February 2006 option grants coincided with the date of approval by the
Committee. All options granted in 2006 have a term of seven years and vest
in
equal thirds during the three years following grant, starting with the first
anniversary of the grant, according to the terms of the option agreements.
Newly-hired executives are generally eligible to receive long-term incentive
grants shortly after their hire date based on guidelines and grant schedule
approved by the Committee. Please refer to the “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” and
“Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End” tables for additional information
about executives’ 2006 long-term incentive awards.
For
2007,
the Compensation Committee decided to grant long-term incentive awards in the
form of stock appreciation rights and restricted stock. The February 2007
long-term incentive awards were granted with 75% of the value in stock
appreciation rights and the remaining 25% in restricted stock. Stock
appreciation rights were granted with an exercise price equal to the closing
stock price on the grant date. Stock appreciation rights have a term of seven
years and vest in equal thirds during the three years following grant, starting
with the first anniversary of the grant, according to the terms of the stock
appreciation rights award certificate. The restricted stock awards do not vest
until February 2010, but dividend and voting rights were granted as part of
the
restricted stock awards.
We
believe the use of stock appreciation rights and restricted stock is an
effective way to continue the alignment of executive performance and achievement
with stockholder interests and to reduce future dilution for stockholders.
Retirement
Savings Programs
Executives
are eligible to participate in the Company’s 401(k) plan, along with other
eligible employees of the Company, once they meet eligibility requirements.
Generally, executives’ ability to accumulate retirement savings through the
Company’s 401(k) plan is limited due to Internal Revenue Service limitations
with respect to highly compensated employees. Consequently, the Company has
established a non-qualified deferred compensation plan for named executive
officers and certain other eligible executives. Pursuant to the plan, eligible
employees were able to defer up to ten percent of their annual salary and up
to
ten percent of bonus earnings in 2006. These maximum deferral limits were
increased to 30% starting in 2007. Earnings on deferrals depend on the
investment funds selected by the executives, all of which are market-based.
The
Company made no contributions and did not match executives’ deferrals in 2006.
All compensation deferred under this plan is distributed in cash to the
executive on a future date elected by the participating executive or upon
termination of employment, whichever occurs first.
Named
executive officers and senior vice presidents of the Company may also
voluntarily defer up to 50% of their base salary on a bi-weekly basis into
the
Company’s Deferred Stock Unit Plan. Deferred earnings are converted into
equivalent stock units of Company stock based on the closing stock price on
the
deferral date. Prior to the beginning of the year in which the deferrals begin,
eligible executives make irrevocable participation elections and designate
future distribution dates for both the deferred compensation and deferred stock
unit plans. All deferred stock units are settled in Company stock. Specific
information about named executive officers’ deferrals is presented in detail
under “2006 Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Table” contained in this proxy
statement.
Other
Compensation
The
Company provides named executive officers and certain other executives taxable
allowances that the Company and the Committee believe are reasonable and
consistent with the objectives of the overall compensation program, and better
enable the Company to attract and retain superior employees for key positions.
The Committee periodically reviews allowance levels for named executive
officers. Executives may apply their allowances toward personal automobile
expenses, legal and financial planning, health club memberships, and personal
supplemental disability or life insurance policies based on their individual
needs. The Company specifically excludes country club memberships from its
allowance plan. Offering these allowances enables the Company to maintain a
competitive total compensation package for executives. Allowance reimbursement
amounts for named executive officers are included in the “Summary Compensation
Table” contained in this proxy statement. Our named executive officers are also
eligible for personal use of the Company airplane in accordance with the
airplane use policy approved by the Compensation Committee.
Effective
March 31, 2006, the Company entered into employment agreements with
Messrs. Coppola, Klasing, Moore, Mueller, Wade and other selected officers.
The initial term of the agreements was one year, and the agreements extend
from
year-to-year unless terminated by the employee or the Company. The agreements
contain severance provisions that provide for payment of one year of base salary
upon termination of employment by the Company without cause or by the employee
with good reason as defined in the employment agreement. The agreements also
provide for payment of the pro rata share of any bonus that is based upon the
Company’s achievement of certain financial targets approved by our Board and
earned by the affected executive officer prior to the termination of his
employment as well as any unused vacation due to the employee prior to the
termination of employment. The executive officer has also agreed not to compete
with the Company, to preserve our confidential information, not to recruit
or
employ our employees in other businesses and not to solicit our customers or
suppliers for competitors during the term of the executive’s employment and for
one year following termination of employment. In the case of death, a lump
sum
amount equal to the executive’s annual salary shall be paid to his designated
beneficiary or estate. In the case of termination of employment due to
disability as defined in the agreement, the executive will receive an amount
equal to 30 percent of his base salary for a one-year period in addition to
the
benefits under our qualified group disability plan. Executives are also granted
a right to continue their medical benefits for one year at the same cost as
active employees during the one-year period. These agreements are intended
to
provide for a continuity of senior management. Information regarding applicable
payments under such agreements for the named executive officers is provided
under the heading “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control
Table” contained in this proxy statement.
Ownership
Guidelines
The
Board
adopted stock ownership guidelines in November 2006 which established required
levels of stock ownership by named executive officers and members of our Board.
These guidelines are designed to further strengthen and align Company leadership
with stockholders’ interests and to enhance stockholder value over the
long-term. Details of these guidelines are included in the Security Ownership
section of this proxy statement and are posted on the Company’s web
site.
Tax
Deductibility of Pay
We
consider the potential impact of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code,
which disallows a tax deduction for any publicly held corporation for individual
compensation exceeding $1 million in any taxable year paid to the Company’s
named executive officers other than compensation paid in accordance with a
stockholder approved performance-based incentive plan. Although all annual
incentive plan payments to named executive officers have been made according
to
a performance-based incentive plan for the past five years, this proxy statement
includes a proposal for stockholders to approve a performance-based, annual
incentive compensation plan that will provide flexibility in structuring total
direct compensation for its executives in the future that is consistent with
the
requirements of Section 162(m). We intend to structure compensation payments
to
meet the requirements of Section 162(m), other than restricted stock or
restricted stock units which are not considered performance-based under 162(m)
of the Tax Code and, as such are generally not deductible by the Company.
However, the Compensation Committee retains the authority to award compensation
which may not be fully deductible by the Company. Stockholder approval of the
2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan permits us to exclude from the $1 million limit
any performance-based compensation resulting from options or other qualifying
awards granted under the plan to our named executive officers.
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION REGARDING EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Summary
Compensation Table
The
following Summary Compensation Table provides the compensation earned for 2006
by the chief executive officer, principal financial officer and the other three
most highly compensated executive officers as of the end of our last completed
fiscal year.
Name
and
Principal
Position
|
|
Year
|
|
Salary
($)
|
|
Option
Awards
(a)
($)
|
|
Non-Equity
Incentive
Plan
Compensation(b)
($)
|
|
Change
in Pension
Value
and Non-
Qualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
(c)
($)
|
|
All
Other
Compensation
(d)
(e) (f) (g) (h)
($)
|
|
Total
($)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael
N. Coppola
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
$
772,502
|
|
|
$
2,383,314
|
|
|
$
54,990
|
|
|
$
6,675
|
|
|
$
23,059
|
|
|
$
3,240,540
|
|
Chairman,
President
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and
Chief Executive Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael
O. Moore
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
380,260
|
|
|
439,592
|
|
|
16,159
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
106,899
|
|
|
942,910
|
|
EVP,
Chief Financial Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jimmie
L. Wade
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
481,510
|
|
|
1,223,406
|
|
|
20,548
|
|
|
3,188
|
|
|
17,496
|
|
|
1,746,148
|
|
EVP,
Business Development
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Paul
W. Klasing
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
358,748
|
|
|
857,274
|
|
|
15,334
|
|
|
1,367
|
|
|
16,698
|
|
|
1,249,421
|
|
EVP,
Stores
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David
B. Mueller
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
341,234
|
|
|
727,592
|
|
|
14,699
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
11,458
|
|
|
1,094,983
|
|
EVP,
Merchandising & Marketing
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(a) |
Represents the fair value of employee
stock
options which vested during 2006, consistent with the provisions of
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004),
“Share-Based Payment.” The assumptions of the Black-Scholes valuation
method are discussed in Part 4, Item 15 of the Company’s Annual Report on
Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 28, 2007. |
(b) |
Amounts in this column were paid to
the named
executives in March 2007 according to the annual incentive plan in
place
for our 2006 fiscal year. |
(c) |
Represents unrealized gains or losses
on
market-based investments selected by executives for their deferred
compensation balances. |
(d) |
Company matching contributions according
to
the terms of the Company’s 401(k) plan are included in this
column. |
(e) |
Includes life insurance premiums paid
by the
Company for coverage equal to one times the executive’s annual salary
according to our normal life insurance benefit, and an equivalent amount
required to cover a benefit stated in the terms of each executive’s
employment contract. |
(f) |
Company expenses related to executive
allowance reimbursements for 2006 were as follows: Mr. Coppola - $14,000
for personal automobile use; Mr. Moore - $9,000 for personal automobile
use and supplemental insurance; Mr. Wade - $9,000 for personal automobile
use; Mr. Klasing - $9,000 for personal automobile use, supplemental
insurance and fitness club use; and Mr. Mueller- $9,000 for personal
automobile use, supplemental insurance and financial planning. Information
about these taxable perquisites is provided under the heading “Other
Compensation” of this proxy statement. |
(g) |
For Mr. Moore, this column also includes
reimbursement of $57,481 for moving expenses and a tax reimbursement
in
the amount of $39,594 provided in accordance with the Company’s relocation
program. |
(h) |
This column also includes the value
of any
personal use of the Company aircraft calculated as the incremental
cost to
the Company and tax reimbursements related to personal use of the Company
aircraft. Individual expenses related to plane use and any related
tax
reimbursements provided in accordance with the Company’s plane use policy,
respectively, for 2006 were as follows: Mr. Coppola - $1,191 and $528;
Mr.
Wade - $1,191 and $528; Mr. Klasing - $1,191 and $264; and Mr. Mueller
-
$1,191 and $528. The incremental cost to the Company for personal use
of
Company aircraft is calculated based on the primary variable operating
costs to the Company, including fuel, maintenance and other miscellaneous
variable costs. Tax reimbursement amounts are based on the taxable
value
of the personal use calculated in accordance with IRS
regulations. |
2006
Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table
The
following table sets forth information concerning grants of cash and stock-based
awards made under our employee compensation and incentive plans. The non-equity
incentive plan information represents our annual bonus plan.
|
|
|
|
Estimated
Future Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan
Awards
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name
|
|
Grant
Date
|
|
Threshold ($)
|
|
Target
($)
|
|
Maximum
($)
|
|
All
Other Option Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Options
(#)
|
|
Exercise
Price
of
Option
Awards
($)
|
|
Grant
Date Fair
Value
of Stock
and
Option
Awards
($)
|
|
Mr.
Coppola
|
|
|
2/21/2006
|
|
|
$
136,500
|
|
|
$
780,000
|
|
|
$
1,560,000
|
|
|
210,000
|
|
|
$
40.45
|
|
|
$
2,244,900
|
|
Mr.
Moore
|
|
|
2/21/2006
|
|
|
40,111
|
|
|
229,207
|
|
|
458,414
|
|
|
90,000
|
|
|
40.45
|
|
|
962,100
|
|
Mr.
Wade
|
|
|
2/21/2006
|
|
|
51,005
|
|
|
291,458
|
|
|
582,916
|
|
|
105,000
|
|
|
40.45
|
|
|
1,122,450
|
|
Mr.
Klasing
|
|
|
2/21/2006
|
|
|
38,063
|
|
|
217,501
|
|
|
435,002
|
|
|
90,000
|
|
|
40.45
|
|
|
962,100
|
|
Mr.
Mueller
|
|
|
2/21/2006
|
|
|
36,486
|
|
|
208,490
|
|
|
416,980
|
|
|
90,000
|
|
|
40.45
|
|
|
962,100
|
|
The
threshold non-equity incentive award amounts shown in the table represent the
amounts that would have been paid if the Company’s performance had met the
minimum level of all four financial targets as more fully described in the
Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this proxy statement. The target
amounts represent the amounts that would be paid to the named executive officers
if the Company’s performance met the budgeted level of each financial target,
and the maximum amounts represent the amounts that would have been paid if
the
Company’s performance exceeded all financial targets. The 2006 stock options
awards become exercisable in three approximately equal installments commencing
on February 20, 2007, and have a term of seven years.
Outstanding
Equity Awards at 2006 Fiscal Year-End Table
The
following table provides information concerning non-qualified employee stock
options granted to our named executive officers that were outstanding at the
end
of our last fiscal year.
|
|
Option
Awards
|
|
Name
|
|
Number
of
Securities
Underlying Unexercised
Options
(#) Exercisable
|
|
Number
of
Securities
Underlying Unexercised
Options
(#) Unexercisable
|
|
Option
Exercise
Price
($)
|
|
Option
Expiration
Date
|
|
Outstanding
Vesting Dates
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mr.
Coppola
|
|
|
30,000
|
|
|
-
|
|
$
|
7.00
|
|
|
4/5/2008
|
|
|
Vested
|
|
|
|
|
36,000
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
14.00
|
|
|
3/12/2009
|
|
|
Vested
|
|
|
|
|
42,000
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
13.46
|
|
|
2/18/2010
|
|
|
Vested
|
|
|
|
|
45,000
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
24.34
|
|
|
8/18/2010
|
|
|
Vested
|
|
|
|
|
70,000
|
|
|
35,000
|
|
|
26.21
|
|
|
2/23/2011
|
|
|
Balance
vested on February 23, 2007
|
|
|
|
|
100,000
|
|
|
50,000
|
|
|
23.88
|
|
|
9/14/2011
|
|
|
Balance
vests on September 14, 2007
|
|
|
|
|
100,000
|
|
|
200,000
|
|
|
33.37
|
|
|
2/22/2012
|
|
|
Equally
vests on February 22, 2007 and 2008
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
210,000
|
|
|
40.45
|
|
|
2/21/2013
|
|
|
Equallly
vests on February 21, 2007, 2008 and 2009
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mr.
Moore
|
|
|
15,000
|
|
|
30,000
|
|
|
42.10
|
|
|
12/19/2012
|
|
|
Equally
vests on December 19, 2007 and 2008
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
90,000
|
|
|
40.45
|
|
|
2/21/2013
|
|
|
Equallly
vests on February 21, 2007, 2008 and 2009
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mr.
Wade
|
|
|
109,999
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
14.00
|
|
|
3/12/2009
|
|
|
Vested
|
|
|
|
|
40,000
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
13.46
|
|
|
2/18/2010
|
|
|
Vested
|
|
|
|
|
45,000
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
24.34
|
|
|
8/18/2010
|
|
|
Vested
|
|
|
|
|
90,000
|
|
|
45,000
|
|
|
26.21
|
|
|
2/23/2011
|
|
|
Balance
vested on February 23, 2007
|
|
|
|
|
45,000
|
|
|
90,000
|
|
|
33.37
|
|
|
2/22/2012
|
|
|
Equally
vests on February 22, 2007 and 2008
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
105,000
|
|
|
40.45
|
|
|
2/21/2013
|
|
|
Equallly
vests on February 21, 2007, 2008 and 2009
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mr.
Klasing
|
|
|
75,000
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
7.00
|
|
|
4/5/2008
|
|
|
Vested
|
|
|
|
|
90,000
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
14.00
|
|
|
3/12/2009
|
|
|
Vested
|
|
|
|
|
90,000
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
13.46
|
|
|
2/18/2010
|
|
|
Vested
|
|
|
|
|
15,000
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
24.34
|
|
|
8/18/2010
|
|
|
Vested
|
|
|
|
|
60,000
|
|
|
30,000
|
|
|
26.21
|
|
|
2/23/2011
|
|
|
Balance
vested on February 23, 2007
|
|
|
|
|
30,000
|
|
|
60,000
|
|
|
33.37
|
|
|
2/22/2012
|
|
|
Equally
vests on February 22, 2007 and 2008
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
90,000
|
|
|
40.45
|
|
|
2/21/2013
|
|
|
Equally
vests on February 21, 2007, 2008 and 2009
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mr.
Mueller
|
|
|
20,000
|
|
|
10,000
|
|
|
26.21
|
|
|
2/23/2011
|
|
|
Balance
vested on February 23, 2007
|
|
|
|
|
20,000
|
|
|
10,000
|
|
|
27.51
|
|
|
11/10/2011
|
|
|
Balance
vests on November 10, 2007
|
|
|
|
|
30,000
|
|
|
60,000
|
|
|
33.37
|
|
|
2/22/2012
|
|
|
Equally
vests on February 22, 2007 and 2008
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
90,000
|
|
|
40.45
|
|
|
2/21/2013
|
|
|
Equally
vests on February 21, 2007, 2008 and 2009
|
|
2006
Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table
No
named
executive officers exercised employee stock options during 2006.
2006
Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Table
The
following table sets forth information with respect to our named executive
officers concerning executive contributions to non-qualified deferred
compensation plans during 2006. Aggregate earnings information includes changes
in market value of the investments plus any dividends received by the executive
for their deferred stock units. The amounts reported in this table are also
included in information provided in the Summary Compensation Table.
Name
|
Executive
Contributions
in
Last
FY (a) (b)
($)
|
Registrant
Contributions
in
Last
FY (a)
($)
|
Aggregate
Earnings
in
Last FY (a) (b)
($)
|
Aggregate
Withdrawals/
Distributions
($)
|
Aggregate
Balance
at
Last FYE
($)
|
Mr.
Coppola
|
$155,056
|
-
|
$6,675
|
-
|
$231,397
|
Mr.
Moore
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Mr.
Wade
|
60,900
|
-
|
3,188
|
-
|
287,365
|
Mr.
Klasing
|
35,736
|
-
|
1,367
|
-
|
123,051
|
Mr.
Mueller
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(a)
|
Additional
information is provided under “Retirement Savings” in the Compensation
Discussion and Analysis section of this proxy
statement.
|
(b)
|
Any amounts reported in columns for
“Executive Contributions” or “Aggregate Earnings” are also reported as
salary in the Summary Compensation Table of this proxy
statement. |
Potential
Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control Table
The
following table provides an estimate of the inherent value of each of our named
officer’s employment agreement or other compensation arrangements described
above, assuming termination of employment or change in control occurred on
December 30, 2006, the last day of our 2006 fiscal year.
Executive and Benefits
|
|
Voluntary
Termination
or
Due
Cause
(a)
|
|
Retirement
|
|
Disability
|
|
Death
|
|
By
Company Other
than
Retirement,
Disability,
Death,
or
Due Cause or by
Employee
for Good
Reason(a)
|
|
Change
in
Control
|
|
Mr.
Coppola
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salary
Continuation
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
780,000
|
|
$
|
780,000
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
Annual
Incentive Plan (b)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
54,990
|
|
|
54,990
|
|
|
54,990
|
|
|
54,990
|
|
|
-
|
|
Stock
Options (c) (d) (e)
|
|
|
5,107,470
|
|
|
6,456,225
|
|
|
6,456,225
|
|
|
6,456,225
|
|
|
5,107,470
|
|
|
6,456,225
|
|
Healthcare
(f)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
8,098
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
8,098
|
|
|
-
|
|
Life
Insurance
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
780,000
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
Disability
(g)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
702,000
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
Deferred
Compensation (h)
|
|
|
231,397
|
|
|
231,397
|
|
|
231,397
|
|
|
231,397
|
|
|
231,397
|
|
|
231,397
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mr.
Moore
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salary
Continuation
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
382,013
|
|
$
|
382,013
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
Annual
Incentive Plan (b)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
16,159
|
|
|
16,159
|
|
|
16,159
|
|
|
16,159
|
|
|
-
|
|
Stock
Options (c) (d) (e)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
Healthcare
(f)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
7,282
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
7,282
|
|
|
-
|
|
Life
Insurance
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
382,013
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
Disability
(g)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
343,812
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
Deferred
Compensation (h)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mr.
Wade
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salary
Continuation
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
485,763
|
|
$
|
485,763
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
Annual
Incentive Plan (b)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
20,548
|
|
|
20,548
|
|
|
20,548
|
|
|
20,548
|
|
|
-
|
|
Stock
Options (c) (d) (e)
|
|
|
4,700,663
|
|
|
5,318,378
|
|
|
5,318,378
|
|
|
5,318,378
|
|
|
4,700,663
|
|
|
5,318,378
|
|
Healthcare
(f)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
8,098
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
8,098
|
|
|
-
|
|
Life
Insurance
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
485,763
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
Disability
(g)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
437,187
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
Deferred
Compensation (h)
|
|
|
287,365
|
|
|
287,365
|
|
|
287,365
|
|
|
287,365
|
|
|
287,365
|
|
|
287,365
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mr.
Klasing
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salary
Continuation
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
362,502
|
|
$
|
362,502
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
Annual
Incentive Plan (b)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
15,334
|
|
|
15,334
|
|
|
15,334
|
|
|
15,334
|
|
|
-
|
|
Stock
Options (c) (d) (e)
|
|
|
6,866,490
|
|
|
7,278,300
|
|
|
7,278,300
|
|
|
7,278,300
|
|
|
6,866,490
|
|
|
7,278,300
|
|
Healthcare
(f)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
8,098
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
8,098
|
|
|
-
|
|
Life
Insurance
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
362,502
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
Disability
(g)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
326,252
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
Deferred
Compensation (h)
|
|
|
123,051
|
|
|
123,051
|
|
|
123,051
|
|
|
123,051
|
|
|
123,051
|
|
|
123,051
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mr.
Mueller
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salary
Continuation
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
347,484
|
|
$
|
347,484
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
Annual
Incentive Plan (b)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
14,669
|
|
|
14,669
|
|
|
14,669
|
|
|
14,669
|
|
|
-
|
|
Stock
Options (c) (d) (e)
|
|
|
413,610
|
|
|
718,830
|
|
|
718,830
|
|
|
718,830
|
|
|
413,610
|
|
|
718,830
|
|
Healthcare
(f)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
8,000
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
8,000
|
|
|
-
|
|
Life
Insurance
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
347,484
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
Disability
(g)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
312,736
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
Deferred
Compensation (h)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
(a) |
Termination for due cause makes an executive
ineligible for any employment agreement benefits other than any rights
he
may have under the normal terms of other benefit plans. Unvested options
expire 90 days after the date of termination. |
(b) |
Executives are eligible only for annual
incentive payments earned prior to their termination date. The delivery
of
any such payments would coincide with the regular payment date for
other
executives. Refer to the “Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table”
|
|
for the range of potential payments.
Actual
amounts earned for 2006 are shown here. In the case of voluntary
termination or termination for due cause, the executive would be
ineligible to receive the payment because he would not have been actively
employed on the date of distribution. |
(c) |
Amounts shown here are calculated as
the
differences between the exercise price of the outstanding stock options
and the closing price of our stock at the end of our fiscal year ($35.56).
Mr. Moore had no “in-the-money” stock options at the end of our fiscal
year. |
(d) |
An executive’s retirement, defined as age 55
plus 10 years of service, allows all unvested stock options to continue
vesting into retirement. “Retirement” column amounts indicate the value of
all outstanding options, based on footnote (c), assuming all executives
qualify for retirement. |
(e) |
The terms of executives’ stock option
agreements provide that all stock options are 100% vested when a change
in
control occurs, unless an equivalent substitute equity award is provided
by the acquiring company. |
(f) |
Amounts provided here represent the
Company’s
cost of providing one year of healthcare coverage to the
executive. |
(g) |
Disability amounts shown consist of
the
amount the executives receive under the Company’s qualified plan plus an
amount equal to 30% of their annual salary as specified in their
employment agreements. |
(h) |
Executives’ deferred compensation balances
are always 100% vested and are not affected by any type of
termination. |
NON-MANAGEMENT
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
Under
our
director compensation program, each non-management director receives a
combination of cash and equity-based compensation. Non-management directors
receive an annual retainer of $25,000 and all additional applicable retainers
or
fees as set forth in the following table. Specific committee member information
is provided in the Corporate Governance section of this proxy statement.
Board
Participation Type
|
|
Retainer/Fee
|
Lead
Director
|
|
$
25,000
|
Audit
Committee Chair
|
|
$
15,000
|
Compensation
Committee Chair
|
|
$
10,000
|
Finance
Committee Chair
|
|
$
10,000
|
Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee Chair
|
|
$
10,000
|
Attendance
at each Board Meeting
|
|
$
2,000
|
If
Attendance is Telephonic
|
|
$
1,000
|
Attendance
at each Committee Meeting
|
|
$
1,000
|
If
Attendance is Telephonic
|
|
$
750
|
Each
non-management director may elect to receive all or a portion of his or her
annual retainer on a deferred basis in the form of deferred stock units. Each
deferred stock unit is equivalent to one share of our common stock. Dividends
paid by the Company are credited toward the purchase of additional deferred
stock units. Deferred stock units are payable in the form of common stock to
participating directors over a specified period of time as elected by the
participating director, or whenever their Board service ends, whichever is
sooner.
In
addition, each non-management director receives
stock-based compensation. Upon appointment ot the Board, a director receives
an
initial grant of 7,500 non-qualified stock options and 825 deferred stock units.
Thereafter, an annual grant of 7,500 stock options and 825 deferred stock units
is made to each director shortly after the date of the annual stockholder
meeting. Each new director's first annual grant is prorated based upon the
number of days served as a director during the year preceding the first annual
grant. Stock option grants vest in three equal annual installments
commencing on the first anniversary of the grant and expire after seven years.
Deferred stock units are fully vested upon grant but are not available for
distribution until the director's service on the Board ends.
2006
Director Summary Compensation Table
Information
provided in the following table reflects the compensation delivered to
non-management directors for our last fiscal year:
Name
|
|
Fees
Earned or
Paid
in Cash
(a)
($)
|
|
Stock
Awards
(b)
($)
|
|
Option
Awards
($)
(c)
|
|
All
Other
Compensation
($)
(d)
|
|
Total
($)
|
|
John
C. Brouillard
|
|
|
$
49,250
|
|
|
$
31,639
|
|
$
|
65,544
|
|
|
$
729
|
|
$
|
147,162
|
|
Lawrence
P. Castellani
|
|
|
40,250
|
|
|
31,639
|
|
|
1,185,244
|
|
|
149
|
|
|
1,257,282
|
|
Darren
R. Jackson
|
|
|
50,000
|
|
|
31,639
|
|
|
62,193
|
|
|
513
|
|
|
144,345
|
|
Nicholas
J. LaHowchic
|
|
|
35,250
|
|
|
31,639
|
|
|
19,712
|
|
|
257
|
|
|
86,858
|
|
William
S. Oglesby
|
|
|
56,000
|
|
|
31,639
|
|
|
57,036
|
|
|
699
|
|
|
145,374
|
|
Gilbert
T. Ray
|
|
|
54,500
|
|
|
31,639
|
|
|
77,958
|
|
|
596
|
|
|
164,693
|
|
Carlos
A. Saladrigas
|
|
|
56,500
|
|
|
31,639
|
|
|
98,768
|
|
|
546
|
|
|
187,453
|
|
William
L. Salter
|
|
|
69,500
|
|
|
31,639
|
|
|
94,904
|
|
|
629
|
|
|
196,672
|
|
Francesca
M. Spinelli
|
|
|
50,500
|
|
|
31,639
|
|
|
93,299
|
|
|
645
|
|
|
176,083
|
|
(a) |
Information includes paid or deferred
board
annual retainers, chair retainers and board and committee meeting fees
paid to directors based on their respective meeting attendance during
2006. |
(b) |
Deferred Stock Unit grant value is based
on
the number of units granted multiplied by the stock price ($38.35)
on May
22, 2006, the grant date. |
(c) |
Represents the fair value of employee
stock
options which vested during 2006, consistent with the provisions of
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004),
“Share-Based Payment.” The assumptions of the Black-Scholes valuation
method are discussed in Part 4, Item 15 of the Company’s Annual Report on
Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 28, 2007. The grant date fair
value per option was $10.25 for the 2006 grant. |
(d) |
Figures reported are the value of dividends
earned on Deferred Stock Units and converted to additional deferred
stock
units. |
Directors
Outstanding Equity Award at 2006 Fiscal-Year End
The
following table provides information about non-management directors’ outstanding
equity as of the end of our last fiscal year:
Name
|
|
Outstanding
Stock
Options
(#)
|
|
Outstanding
Deferred
Stock
Units
(#)
|
John
C. Brouillard
|
|
22,500
|
|
3,251
|
Lawrence
P. Castellani (a)
|
|
742,500
|
|
828
|
Darren
R. Jackson
|
|
21,250
|
|
2,348
|
Nicholas
J. LaHowchic
|
|
7,500
|
|
1,427
|
William
S. Oglesby
|
|
19,375
|
|
3,291
|
Gilbert
T. Ray
|
|
28,750
|
|
2,694
|
Carlos
A. Saladrigas
|
|
45,000
|
|
2,486
|
William
L. Salter
|
|
48,124
|
|
2,833
|
Francesca
M. Spinelli
|
|
48,750
|
|
2,901
|
(a) |
Grants for Mr. Castellani reflect
those
awarded to him during his tenure as our past chief executive officer
and
chairman and other grants awarded to him under our director compensation
arrangement, all of which continue to vest during his service as
a board
member. |
INFORMATION
CONCERNING OUR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The
following table provides information about our executive officers at March
28,
2007.
Name
|
|
Age
|
|
Position
|
|
Michael
N. Coppola
|
|
58
|
|
Chairman,
President and Chief Executive Officer and Director
|
|
Paul
W. Klasing
|
|
47
|
|
Executive
Vice President, Stores
|
|
Michael
O. Moore
|
|
56
|
|
Executive
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
|
|
David
B. Mueller
|
|
48
|
|
Executive
Vice President, Merchandising and Marketing
|
|
Elwyn
G. Murray III
|
|
40
|
|
Executive
Vice President, Administration
|
|
Jimmie
L. Wade
|
|
52
|
|
Executive
Vice President, Business Development
|
|
Eric
M. Margolin
|
|
53
|
|
Senior
Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
|
|
Keith
A. Oreson
|
|
50
|
|
Senior
Vice President, Human Resources
|
|
Our
executive officers are elected by and serve at the discretion of our Board.
Set
forth below is a brief description of the business experience of all executive
officers other than Mr. Coppola, who is also a Director and whose business
experience is set forth in the “Information Concerning Members of Our Board”
section of this proxy statement.
Mr. Klasing,
Executive Vice President, Stores, joined us in April 1995 and has held his
current position since August 2003. From October 1999 to August 2003, Mr.
Klasing served as Executive Vice President, Merchandising and Marketing. From
July 1997 to October 1999, Mr. Klasing served as our Senior Vice
President, Purchasing. Prior to July 1997, Mr. Klasing held various
other positions with us.
Mr.
Moore,
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, joined us in December 2005.
Prior to joining Advance, Mr. Moore worked for Cato Corporation from 1998 to
December 2005, where he served as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial
Officer and Secretary. Mr. Moore also served on Cato’s Board. Prior to Cato, Mr.
Moore served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for the Party
Experience, a privately held specialty party goods retailer, from 1997 to 1998.
From 1994 to 1997, he worked for David’s Bridal where he held the positions of
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer from 1994 to 1995, and
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from 1995 to 1997. Prior
to
1994, Mr. Moore worked for Bloomingdale’s, where he held a variety of positions
and ultimately served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer.
Mr.
Mueller,
Executive Vice President, Merchandising and Marketing, joined us in March 2003
and has held his current position since November 2004. From October 2003 to
November 2004, Mr. Mueller served as Senior Vice President, Merchandising and
Marketing. From March 2003 to October 2003, he served as Vice President,
Merchandising Support. Before joining Advance, Mr. Mueller served as Director
of
Operations for Nutrition Warehouse, a vitamin supplements company, from December
2000 to March 2003. From February 1999 to December 2000, he served as a partner
in a privately held retail company. From January 1997 to January 1999, he served
as Director of Natural and Organic Marketing with Tops Friendly Markets, a
division of Ahold USA, and served as Director of Category Management for Ahold
USA from January 1995 to December 1996. Prior to 1995, Mr. Mueller served as
Vice President of Merchandising for Fresh Fields, a privately owned supermarket
chain.
Mr.
Murray,
Executive Vice President, Administration, joined us in April 2005. Before
joining Advance, Mr. Murray served in a variety of positions for Food Lion,
LLC.
From May 2002 to January 2005, he served as Senior Vice President of Store
Operations. From January 2001 to April 2002, he served as Senior Vice President
of Procurement, Distribution and Quality Assurance. From July 1999 to December
2000, he served as Vice President of Procurement and Pricing, and from December
1998 to June 1999, he held the position of Vice President of Marketing. Prior
to
1998, Mr. Murray held a number of other positions with Food Lion in a variety
of
functional areas including category management, information technology and
purchasing.
Mr. Wade,
Executive Vice President, Business Development, joined us in February 1994
and has held his current position since May 2005. Mr. Wade was named
President in October 1999 and was named Chief Financial Officer in
March 2000. He served as President and Chief Financial Officer through
August 2003 and served as President until May 2005. Mr. Wade also served as
our Secretary from March 2000 until April 2001. Prior to 1993,
Mr. Wade was Vice President, Finance and Operations, for S.H. Heironimus, a
regional department store company. Mr. Wade is a certified public
accountant.
Mr. Margolin,
Senior
Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, joined us in April 2001.
From 1993 to June 2000, Mr. Margolin was Vice President, General
Counsel and Secretary of Tire Kingdom, Inc., a retailer of tires and provider
of
automotive services, which now operates as TBC Corporation, a
subsidiary of Sumitomo
Corporation of America. Prior to 1993, Mr. Margolin served as the general
counsel for several companies in the apparel manufacturing and retail
field.
Mr.
Oreson,
Senior
Vice President, Human Resources, joined us in May 2005. Before
joining
Advance, Mr. Oreson served as Vice President of Human Resources for Frank’s
Nursery & Crafts, Inc. from 1998 to 2005. From 1993 to 1997, he served as
Senior Vice President, Human Resources for ARAMARK Uniform Services. Prior
to
1993, Mr. Oreson worked for Pizza Hut, a division of PepsiCo, where he held
a
variety of positions, ultimately serving as Division Director, Human Resources.
There
are
no family relationships among any of our executive officers.
SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The
following table sets forth information known to us regarding the ownership
of
our common stock at March 28, 2007 by:
· |
each
person or entity known to us that beneficially owns more than 5%
of our
common stock;
|
· |
each
member of our Board;
|
· |
each
of our executive officers named in the “Summary Compensation Table”
included in the “Executive Compensation” section of this proxy statement;
and
|
· |
all
directors and executive officers as a
group.
|
Beneficial
ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC. In computing
the number of shares beneficially owned by a person and the percentage of
ownership held by that person, shares of common stock subject to options and
warrants held by that person that are currently exercisable or will become
exercisable within 60 days after March 28, 2007 are deemed outstanding, while
these shares are not deemed outstanding for computing percentage ownership
of
any other person. The address of each beneficial owner for which an address
is
not otherwise indicated is: c/o Advance Auto Parts, Inc., 5008 Airport Road,
Roanoke, Virginia 24012. Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes to the
table, the persons and entities named in the table have sole voting and
investment power with respect to all shares beneficially owned, subject to
community property laws where applicable. We know of no agreements among our
stockholders which relate to voting or investment power over our common stock
or
any arrangement that may at a subsequent date result in a change in control
of
the Company.
The
percentages of common stock beneficially owned are based on 105,984,337 shares
of our common stock outstanding at March 28, 2007.
|
|
|
Shares
Beneficially Owned
|
|
Name
of Beneficial Owner
|
|
|
|
Number
|
|
Percentage
|
|
T.
Rowe Price Associates, Inc.(1)
100
E. Pratt Street
Baltimore,
Maryland 21202
|
|
|
5,620,985
|
|
|
5.3%
|
|
|
Lawrence
P. Castellani(2)
|
|
|
706,958
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
Michael
N. Coppola(3)
|
|
|
698,616
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
John
C. Brouillard(4)
|
|
|
18,256
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
Darren
R. Jackson(5)
|
|
|
14,019
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
Nicholas
J. LaHowchic(6)
|
|
|
9,930
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
William
S. Oglesby(7)
|
|
|
16,213
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
Gilbert
T. Ray(8)
|
|
|
29,049
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
Carlos
A. Saladrigas(9)
|
|
|
39,990
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
William
L. Salter(10)
|
|
|
45,337
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
Francesca
M. Spinelli(11)
|
|
|
45,656
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
Paul
W. Klasing(3)(12)
|
|
|
509,259
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
Michael
O. Moore(3)
|
|
|
50,588
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
David
B. Mueller(3)
|
|
|
146,260
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
Jimmie
L. Wade(3)
|
|
|
381,574
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
All
executive officers and directors as a group (17 persons)(13)
|
|
|
2,910,107
|
|
|
2.7%
|
|
|
_______________
*
Less
than
1% of the outstanding shares of common stock.
(1) |
According to a Schedule 13G filed with
the
SEC on February 12, 2007 by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., “these
securities are owned by various individual and institutional investors
which T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (Price Associates) serves as
investment adviser with power to direct investments and/or sole power
to
vote the securities. For purposes of the reporting requirements of
the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Price Associates is deemed to be a
beneficial owner of such securities; however, Price Associates expressly
disclaims that it is, in fact, the beneficial owner of such
securities.” |
(2) |
Includes 829 shares of our common stock
with
respect to deferred stock units and 677,500 shares of our common stock
subject to options exercisable within 60 days of March 28,
2007. |
(3) |
Includes shares of our common stock
subject
to options beneficially owned by the following persons and exercisable
within 60 days of March 28, 2007: Mr. Coppola, 628,000 options;
Mr. Klasing, 450,000 options; Mr. Moore, 45,000 options; Mr. Mueller,
140,000 options; and Mr. Wade, 345,000 options. Also includes shares
of
our restricted stock owned by the following persons: Mr. Coppola, 13,148
shares; Mr. Klasing, 5,259 shares, Mr. Moore, 5,588 shares, Mr. Mueller,
5,916 shares and Mr. Wade, 6,574 shares. Mr. Mueller also owns 21 shares
of our common stock with respect to deferred stock units. |
(4) |
Includes 2,808 shares of our common
stock
issuable with respect to deferred stock units and 15,000 shares of
our
common stock subject to options exercisable within 60 days of March
28,
2007. |
(5) |
Includes 2,352 shares of our common
stock
issuable with respect to deferred stock units and 11,667 shares of
our
common stock subject to options exercisable within 60 days of March
28,
2007. |
(6) |
Includes 1,430 shares of our common
stock
issuable with respect to deferred stock units and 2,500 shares of our
common stock subject to options exercisable within 60 days of March
28,
2007. |
(7) |
Includes 3,296 shares of our common
stock
issuable with respect to deferred stock units and 10,417 shares of
our
common stock subject to options exercisable within 60 days of March
28,
2007. |
(8) |
Includes 2,699 shares of our common
stock
issuable with respect to deferred stock units and 21,250 shares of
our
common stock subject to options exercisable within 60 days of March
28,
2007. |
(9) |
Includes 2,490 shares of our common
stock
issuable with respect to deferred stock units and 37,500 shares of
our
common stock subject to options exercisable within 60 days of March
28,
2007. |
(10) |
Includes 2,838 shares of our common
stock
issuable with respect to deferred stock units and 40,624 shares subject
to
options beneficially owned and exercisable within 60 days of March
28,
2007. |
(11) |
Includes 2,906 shares of our common
stock
issuable with respect to deferred stock units and 41,250 shares subject
to
options and exercisable within 60 days of March 28, 2007. |
(12) |
Includes indirect ownership of 54,000
shares
held by Mr. Klasing’s wife. |
(13) |
Includes 25,851 shares of our common
stock
issuable with respect to deferred stock units, 48,055 shares of our
common
stock with respect to restricted common stock and 2,616,708 shares
of our
common stock subject to options beneficially owned and exercisable
within
60 days of March 28, 2007 by our executive officers and
directors. |
STOCK
OWNERSHIP GUIDELINES FOR DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
In
an
effort to align the interests of non-employee directors and members of
management’s Executive Committee more closely with the interests of
stockholders, the Company’s Board has adopted Stock Ownership Guidelines as
follows:
Directors |
Stock valued at 3 times their annual
retainer |
Chairman, President and CEO |
Stock valued at 3 times their annual
base
salary |
Other Executive Committee Members |
Stock valued at 1 times their annual
base
salary |
Incumbent
Directors and Executive Committee Members are expected to achieve this level
of
stock ownership by the end of year 2012. Current Executive Committee Members
who
have been in their current positions for less than two years will be given
an
additional two years to reach the target ownership levels. Those individuals
who
do not achieve the required levels of ownership within the prescribed amount
of
time will be required to retain a designated percentage of the net shares
received upon the exercise of any stock options or stock appreciation rights
until the guideline ownership levels have been reached.
Shares
or
units held by a director or an executive officer in any deferral plan are
included in calculating the value of ownership to determine whether the minimum
ownership requirement has been met. Currently, each director receives a portion
of his or her annual retainer in the form of deferred stock units and is
permitted to defer a portion of his or her cash retainer in the form of deferred
stock units.
SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL
OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires “insiders,” including our executive
officers, directors and beneficial owners of more than 10% of our common stock,
to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership of our common stock with
the SEC and the NYSE, and to furnish us with copies of all
Section 16(a) forms they file. Based solely on our review of copies of
such forms received by us, or written representations from reporting persons
that no Forms 5 were required for those persons, we believe that our
insiders complied with all applicable Section 16(a) filing
requirements during fiscal 2006, except that one transaction consisting of
the
acquisition on July 7, 2006 of deferred stock units as a result of the
reinvestment of dividends paid on deferred stock unit accounts was reported
on a
late-filed Form 4 by each of Messrs. Brouillard, Margolin and Oreson,
respectively, on July 18, 2006, and by each of Messrs. Castellani, Jackson,
LaHowchic, Oglesby, Ray, Saladrigas and Salter and Ms. Spinelli, respectively,
on July 20, 2006.
PROPOSAL
NO. 2
RATIFICATION
OF APPOINTMENT BY THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF
DELOITTE
& TOUCHE LLP AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTING
FIRM FOR 2007
Our
Audit
Committee has selected Deloitte as our independent registered public accounting
firm for 2007. Deloitte also served as our independent registered public
accounting firm for fiscal 2006. You are being asked to ratify the appointment
by our Audit Committee of Deloitte as our independent registered public
accounting firm for 2007.
Members
of Deloitte will be present at the Annual Meeting, will have an opportunity
to
make a statement if they desire to do so and will be available to respond to
appropriate questions. If Deloitte should decline to act or otherwise become
incapable of acting, or if Deloitte’s engagement is discontinued for any reason,
our Audit Committee will appoint another accounting firm to serve as our
independent registered public accounting firm for 2007.
2006
and 2005 Audit Fees
The
following table summarizes the aggregate fees billed by Deloitte for 2006 and
2005 for the following professional services:
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
|
($
in thousands)
|
|
($
in thousands)
|
Audit
Fees (a)
|
$1,477
|
|
$1,247
|
Audit-Related
Fees (b)
|
-
|
|
81
|
Tax
Fees (c)
|
-
|
|
32
|
All
Other Fees
|
-
|
|
-
|
Total
|
$1,477
|
|
$1,360
|
(a) |
Fees for audit services
billed in
2006 and 2005 consisted of: |
|
· |
audit of our annual financial
statements |
|
· |
reviews of our quarterly financial
statements |
|
· |
attestation of management’s assessment and
effectiveness of internal controls as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act
of 2002, Section 404 |
|
· |
statutory and regulatory audits, consents
and
other services related to SEC matters |
(b) |
2005 audit-related fees
consist of
due diligence services associated with mergers and
acquisitions. |
(c) |
Fees for tax services related
to
property taxes and an annual license fee for tax preparation software.
Professional service firms other than Deloitte provide other tax
consulting and preparation services. These fees are not included in
the
table above. |
The
Audit
Committee is required by its charter to pre-approve audit services and permitted
non-audit services to be performed by our independent registered public
accounting firm. The Audit Committee approved all services provided by Deloitte
during 2006.
In
considering the nature of the services provided by Deloitte, the Audit Committee
determined that such services are compatible with the provision of independent
audit services. The Audit Committee discussed these services with Deloitte
and
management to determine that they are permitted under the rules and regulations
concerning auditor independence promulgated by the SEC to implement the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as well as the American Institute of Certified
Public Accountants.
OUR
BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR
RATIFICATION OF
DELOITTE
& TOUCHE LLP AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTING
FIRM FOR 2007.
AUDIT
COMMITTEE REPORT
We
are
responsible for providing independent, objective oversight of Advance’s
accounting functions and internal controls and operate pursuant to a written
charter approved by Advance’s Board. We are comprised entirely of three
independent directors who meet independence, experience and other qualification
requirements of the NYSE listing standards, Section 10A(m)(3) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations of the SEC. Advance’s Board
has determined the committee’s current chair, Mr. Saladrigas, is the Audit
Committee “financial expert,” as defined by SEC rules.
Management
is responsible for Advance’s financial reporting process, including Advance’s
system of internal control, and for the preparation of consolidated financial
statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States. Advance’s independent registered public accounting firm, or
“independent accountants,” are responsible for auditing its consolidated
financial statements and providing an opinion as to its conformity with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States as well as
attesting and reporting on management’s assertion regarding the effectiveness of
its internal controls over financial reporting. Our responsibility is to monitor
and review these processes. It is not our duty or responsibility to conduct
auditing or accounting reviews or procedures. Consequently, in carrying out
our
oversight responsibilities, we shall not be charged with, and are not providing,
any expert or special assurance as to Advance’s financial statements, or any
professional certification as to the independent accountants’ work. In addition,
we have relied on management’s representation that the financial statements have
been prepared with integrity and objectively in conformity with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States, and on the representations
of independent accountants included in their report on Advance’s financial
statements.
During
2006 we met twelve times, including five times via conference call. We schedule
our meetings to ensure we have sufficient time to devote attention to all of
our
tasks. During 2006 and subsequent to the end of the year, we:
· |
appointed
Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent registered public accounting
firm for fiscal year 2006;
|
· |
met
with management and the independent accountants to review and discuss
Advance’s critical accounting policies and significant
estimates;
|
· |
met
with management and the independent accountants to review and approve
the
fiscal year 2006 audit plan;
|
· |
met
regularly with both the independent accountants and internal audit
outside
the presence of management;
|
· |
met
with management and the independent accountants to review the audited
financial statements for the year ended December 30, 2006, and internal
controls over financial reporting as of December 30,
2006;
|
· |
reviewed
and approved the quarterly and annual reports prior to filing with
the
SEC;
|
· |
reviewed
and approved the quarterly earnings press releases and other financial
press releases;
|
· |
met with the Chief Internal Audit Executive
to review, among other things, the audit plan, test work, findings
and
recommendations, and staffing; |
· |
reviewed
the processes by which risk is assessed and mitigated;
and
|
· |
completed
all other responsibilities under the audit committee
charter.
|
We
have
discussed with the independent accountants the matters required by Statement
on
Auditing Standards No. 114 (The Auditor’s Communication With Those Charged With
Governance), which includes a review of significant accounting estimates and
Advance’s accounting practices. In addition, we have received written
disclosures from the independent accountants required by Independence Standards
Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussions with Audit Committees), and
discussed with independent accountants their firm’s independence.
Based
upon our discussion with management and the independent accountants, and our
review of the representations of management and the independent accountants,
we
recommended to the Board that the audited consolidated financial statements
be
included in Advance’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 30,
2006.
We
considered whether the independent accountants’ provision of non-audit services
to Advance is compatible with maintaining the independent accountants’
independence, and have determined the provision of the non-audit services are
compatible with the independent accountants’ independence. Accordingly, we have
approved retention of Deloitte as Advance’s independent registered public
accounting firm for fiscal year 2007.
We
reviewed and reassessed the adequacy of the Audit Committee Charter and
recommended changes, which were approved by the Board.
THE
AUDIT
COMMITTEE
Carlos
A.
Saladrigas, Chair
John
C.
Brouillard
Darren
R.
Jackson
PROPOSAL
NO. 3
APPROVAL
OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE 2004 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
Background
The
Board, the Compensation Committee and Company management believe the effective
use of stock-based long-term incentive compensation has been integral to the
Company’s success in the past and is vital to its ability to achieve continued
strong performance in the future. Subject to the approval of the Company’s
stockholders, the Board has adopted an amendment to the Advance Auto Parts
Inc.
2004 Long Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) to increase the number of shares
available for awards under the Plan by five million shares. In addition, the
Board has approved a Plan amendment to ensure any award under the Plan that
constitutes deferred compensation for purposes of Section 409A of the Internal
Revenue Code is paid in accordance with the requirements of Section 409A.
Amendment of the Plan was approved by the Board on February 14, 2007 and will
become effective upon approval by the Company’s stockholders at the Annual
Meeting. In the event that the required vote of the stockholders to approve
the
amendment to the Plan is not obtained, the Plan amendment will not become
effective and the Company will continue to make grants of awards pursuant to
the
terms of the Plan as currently in effect and subject to applicable law. If
stockholders do not approve the 409A amendment, the Company cannot make awards
that implicate 409A rules without exposing award recipients to applicable 409A
tax penalties.
Proposed
Amendment
At
this
time, shareholders are being asked to approve an amendment to the Plan to
authorize an additional five million shares for issuance in connection with
awards made to eligible participants. The Company believes additional shares
are
required to support the continuation of the Plan through its termination date
of
May 19, 2014. For information regarding shares currently available for issuance
under the Plan, please see “New Plan Benefits” below. Other provisions are
proposed to address regulations imposed by Section 409A. The provisions are
intended to enable eligible participants to receive payment of awards under
the
Plan without incurring additional personal federal tax liability for awards
determined to be deferred compensation. Outstanding deferred stock unit awards
are currently being administered in compliance with Section 409A, and the
provisions do not generally apply to stock options, restricted stock, or stock
appreciation rights. The amendment does not affect the nature or amount of
awards made under the Plan. All other Plan terms and conditions will remain
unchanged.
The
full
text of the Plan as amended and restated appears as Appendix A to this proxy
statement. The following is a summary of the principal provisions of the
Plan.
Administration
The
Plan
is administered by the Compensation Committee.
Term
The
term
of the Plan commenced May 19, 2004 (the date the Plan was approved by our
shareholders) and will expire on May 19, 2014.
Eligibility
The
Compensation Committee may select active employees of Advance Auto Parts or
its
subsidiaries, non-employee directors, and consultants who provide bona fide
service to us to receive awards under the Plan. As of December 30, 2006,
approximately 600 employees and nine non-employee directors were eligible to
participate in the Plan based on the participant’s position with us. No
consultants are currently eligible to participate.
Shares
Available as Originally Approved by Shareholders
The
Plan
currently has approximately 4.6 million shares available for grant or issuance
in connection with awards made to eligible participants (subject to adjustment
as provided below). Any shares granted as stock options or stock appreciation
rights are counted against this limit as one share for every one share granted.
Any shares granted as awards
other
than stock options or stock appreciation rights are counted against this limit
as 1.7 shares for every one share granted.
Any
shares of our Common Stock that are subject to an award, including an award
under any of the predecessor plans that were incorporated into the Plan (the
“Prior Plans”) that was made prior to and remains outstanding as of the
effective date of the Plan, that is forfeited, settled in cash, expires, or
is
otherwise terminated without the issuance of shares of our Common Stock, will
again be available for grant under the Plan so long as no participant has
received any benefits of ownership in respect of those shares. In addition,
the
number of shares available for awards under the Plan will be increased by (i)
the number of shares that the Company repurchases in the open market or
otherwise with proceeds received from option exercises, (ii) shares that are
tendered or withheld to pay the exercise price or purchase price of an award
or
to settle tax withholding or other obligations arising in connection with an
award, and (iii) shares of Common Stock that are not otherwise issued pursuant
to an award, in each case including shares with respect to awards made under
any
of the Prior Plans prior to and remaining outstanding as of the effective date
of the Plan.
Any
shares of our Common Stock issued under the Plan, including in connection with
substitute awards, may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued
shares of our Common Stock, shares purchased in the open market or otherwise,
treasury shares, or any combination of the foregoing as the Board or the
Compensation Committee may from time to time determine.
In
the
event of any merger, reorganization, consolidation, recapitalization, stock
dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, spin-off or other similar
transaction or other change in corporate structure affecting the shares of
our
Common Stock, an adjustment will be made in the aggregate number, class and
kind
of shares of our Common Stock or other consideration which may be delivered
under the Plan, in the number, class, kind and option or exercise price of
shares of our Common Stock subject to outstanding awards, and in the number,
class and kind of shares of our Common Stock subject to awards granted under
the
Plan, as might be determined to be appropriate by the Compensation Committee,
in
its sole discretion; provided that the number of shares of our Common Stock
subject to any award will always be a whole number.
The
number of shares available for grants under the Plan or to a participant in
any
fiscal year will not be reduced by awards granted or shares issued by the
Company through the assumption of, or in substitution or exchange for, awards
or
the right or obligation to make future grants of awards in connection with
the
acquisition of another corporation or business entity.
Awards
The
Plan
provides for the grant of options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock
awards, performance awards, dividend equivalents and other stock unit awards,
as
such terms are defined in the Plan.
Stock
Options. The
Committee may grant nonqualified options to purchase shares of our Common Stock,
either alone or in addition to other awards. The Committee will determine the
terms and conditions of all options granted. However, the purchase price will
not be less than the fair market value, as defined in the Plan, of a share
of
our Common Stock on the date of the grant of the option. The term of each option
is fixed by our Compensation Committee, but no option will be exercisable after
the expiration of ten years from the date of grant. The Committee may determine
that the shares of Common Stock to be issued upon an option’s exercise will be
in the form of restricted stock or other similar securities. We may not reprice
option grants, including the cancellation of an existing grant followed by
a
regrant, without the express approval of the Company’s shareholders. Upon
termination of employment, other than for death, disability or retirement,
a
participant forfeits all unexercisable options and may exercise all exercisable
options by the earlier of 90 days following such termination or the original
expiration date of the options.
Stock
Appreciation Rights (SARs). SARs
may
be granted by the Committee to eligible individuals under the Plan. A SAR is
a
contractual right granted to a participant to receive upon exercise, either
in
cash or shares, an amount equal to the appreciation of one share from the date
of grant. SARs may be granted alone or in tandem with other awards and may
relate to a specific option or other award. Any SARs related to an option may
be
granted at the same time such option is granted or at any time thereafter before
exercise or expiration of such option. Our Compensation Committee may impose
such conditions or restrictions on the exercise of any SAR as it may deem
appropriate. We may not reprice SAR grants, including the cancellation of an
existing grant followed by a regrant, without the express approval of our
stockholders.
When granted in tandem, if the underlying award is exercised or settled, the
SAR
is cancelled. A freestanding SAR cannot have a term of greater than ten years
and an exercise price less than 100% of the fair market value on date of grant.
Performance
Awards. Performance-based
equity awards may be issued to participants either alone or in addition to
other
awards granted under the Plan. The performance criteria to be achieved during
any performance period under the Plan and the length of the performance period
will be determined by the Compensation Committee upon the grant of each
performance award, but no performance period may be fewer than twelve months
or
greater than five years. Performance awards generally will be distributed only
after the end of the relevant performance period. Performance awards may be
paid
in cash, Common Stock, other property or any combination thereof, in the sole
discretion of our Compensation Committee at the time of payment.
Dividend
Equivalents. The
Committee may also grant dividend equivalents to eligible individuals under
the
Plan either alone or in connection with other awards granted under the Plan.
Dividend equivalents represent an amount equal to the regular cash dividends
paid on one share and may be paid in cash or may be paid in additional shares
or
otherwise invested.
Other
Stock Unit Awards. Other
awards of shares of Common Stock and other awards that are valued in whole
or in
part by reference to, or are otherwise based on, shares of our Common Stock
or
other property may be granted to eligible individuals, either alone or in
addition to other awards. Other stock unit awards may be paid in shares of
our
Common Stock, other securities, cash or any other form of property as the
Compensation Committee may determine. Our Compensation Committee may impose
those conditions or restrictions on the exercise of any other stock award as
the
Committee may deem appropriate.
Restricted
Stock. Restricted
stock awards may be issued to participants as real shares (Restricted Stock)
or
phantom shares (Restricted Stock Units), either alone or in addition to other
awards granted under the Plan. The award agreement will set forth a specified
period of time, which generally may not be less than three years (the
“restriction period”), during which shares or units will be subject to
forfeiture or restrictions on transfer. During the restriction period, the
participants will generally have all the rights of a shareholder, including
the
right to vote the shares and the right to receive dividends, unless the
Committee determines otherwise.
Awards
to Non-employee Directors
The
Plan
provides that Non-employee Directors are eligible to receive awards under the
Plan. To the extent deemed appropriate by the Compensation Committee, awards
may
be granted to Non-employee Directors upon commencement of service on the Board.
In addition, Non-employee Directors are eligible to receive retainer awards
for
continued service on the Board. Retainer awards granted pursuant to the Plan
shall be made annually, shortly after our annual shareholder
meeting.
Awards
to “Covered Employees”
The
Plan
provides that if the Compensation Committee determines at the time that an
award, other than an option or stock appreciation right with an exercise price
not less than 100% of the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on the
date of grant, is established for a participant and such participant is, or
may
be as of the end of the tax year in which the Company would claim a tax
deduction in connection with such award, a “covered employee” within the meaning
of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) (i.e., the Chief
Executive Officer or another Advance named executive officer), then the
Compensation Committee may make the grant of the award subject to the Company
attaining specified levels of one or any combination of performance goals that
have been established for the relevant performance period. The Company’s
stockholders have approved the following performance goals on which the
Committee may base the covered employee’s incentive compensation: operating
income, net cash provided by operating activities, earnings per share from
continuing operations, revenues, operating margins, return on operating assets,
return on equity, economic value added, stock price appreciation, total
stockholder return, cost control, strategic initiatives, market share, net
income, and/or return on invested capital of the Company or the Affiliate or
division of the Company for or within which the Participant is primarily
employed. The Compensation Committee will establish these performance goals
within the first ninety (90) days of the Performance Period, or by such earlier
time as is prescribed by Section 162(m) of the Code or the regulations
thereunder in order for the level to be considered “pre-established.” The
Committee
may, in its discretion, reduce the amount of any award subject to this section
based on such criteria as it determines, including, but not limited to,
individual merit.
No
participant may receive in any three-year period during the term of the Plan,
beginning with the date the Plan was approved by the shareholders, stock option
awards or freestanding SARs with respect to more than, in each case in the
aggregate, 1,000,000 shares of our Common Stock. An option granted with a tandem
SAR will only count once against this limit. No participant may be granted
restricted stock, performance shares and/or other stock unit awards during
any
three-year period with respect to more than 500,000 shares. Deferred stock
units
granted as a result of a participant’s voluntary election to defer cash or other
compensation will not count against this limit. The maximum dollar value payable
with respect to performance units and/or other stock unit awards that are valued
with reference to property other than shares and granted to any participant
in
any three-year performance period is $4,000,000, with proportionate adjustments
for shorter or longer performance periods not to exceed five years. Deferred
stock units granted as a result of a participant’s voluntary election to defer
cash or other compensation will not count against these limits. These limits
are
intended to meet the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue
Code
regarding performance-based compensation.
Change
in Control
In
general, vesting of awards under the Plan is accelerated upon a change in
control of the Company. The Plan provides that, unless our Compensation
Committee determines otherwise at the time of grant with respect to a particular
award, in the event of a “change in control,” (i) any unvested options and stock
appreciation rights outstanding as of the date the change in control is
determined to have occurred will become fully exercisable and vested; provided,
however, that the Committee may determine to cancel each option or SAR for
a
payment in an amount equal to the difference between the price paid in the
change in control transaction and the purchase price per share under the option
or SAR; (ii) the restrictions and deferral limitations applicable to any
restricted stock awards will lapse; (iii) all performance awards will be
considered to be earned and payable in full, and any deferral or other
restriction will lapse and such performance awards will be immediately settled;
and (iv) the restrictions and deferral limitations and other conditions
applicable to any other stock unit awards or any other awards will lapse, and
such other stock unit awards or other awards will become free of all
restrictions, limitations or conditions and become fully vested and
transferable. Please see Section 7 of the Plan for the definition of “change in
control” under the Plan.
In
certain corporate transactions in which a successor company assumes or
substitutes new awards of substantially equal value to the awards under the
Plan, or the predecessor plans, no accelerated vesting will occur, provided
that
each award held by a participant at the time of the change in control will
vest
in full in the event of a termination of the participant without cause within
24
months of the change in control.
Other
Key Provisions
Our
Board
may amend, alter or discontinue the Plan, but no amendment, alteration, or
discontinuation may be made that would impair rights under an award previously
granted under the Plan without the consent of an affected participant. Subject
to the provisions of the Plan and any award agreement, the recipient of an
award, including, without limitation, any deferred award may, if so determined
by our Compensation Committee, be entitled to receive, currently or on a
deferred basis, interest or dividends, or interest or dividend equivalents,
with
respect to the number of shares of our Common Stock covered by the award. Our
Compensation Committee may provide that such amounts, if any, will be deemed
to
have been reinvested in additional shares of our Common Stock or otherwise
reinvested. Unless otherwise specified by the Compensation Committee in the
applicable award agreement, an award granted under the Plan to a participant
may
not be assigned other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution,
and
during the lifetime of the participant an award can only be exercised by that
participant or his or her guardian or legal representative.
Market
Value
The
per
share closing price of our Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on
December 30, 2006 was $35.56.
New
Plan Benefits
During
fiscal 2006, the following equity awards were made under the Plan to the
following groups:
|
Stock
Options
|
Deferred
Stock Units
|
All named executive officers as a group
(1) |
585,000
|
-
|
All Non-employee Directors as a group
(2) |
67,500
|
7,425
|
All employees, excluding named executive
officers, as a group |
1,463,500
|
-
|
(1)
For additional information regarding awards made during fiscal 2006 to the
named
executive officers, see “Summary Compensation Table” and “2006 Grants of
Plan-Based Awards Table.”
(2)
For additional information regarding awards made during fiscal 2006 to
Non-employee Directors, see “2006 Director Summary Compensation
Table.”
As
of
December 30, 2006, the following awards remain outstanding under the Plan:
(i)
an aggregate of 7,269,000 options at a weighted average purchase price of $29.31
with a weighted average remaining life of 4.58 years and 19,000 vested deferred
stock units. At issuance, these amounts would increase the total number of
shares of our Common Stock outstanding, which, as of December 30, 2006, was
105,351,000 shares. Also, as of December 30, 2006, 4,565,000 shares of Common
Stock (subject to adjustment as permitted by the terms of the Plan) remain
available for issuance under the Plan through its May 19, 2014 termination
date,
without giving effect to the amendment being proposed.
Federal
Income Tax Consequences
Stock
Options. The
following is a brief and general discussion of the United States federal income
tax consequences to recipients of awards granted under the Plan. This summary
is
not comprehensive and is based upon laws and regulations in effect as of the
date of this filing. Such laws and regulations are subject to change. This
summary is intended for the information of shareholders considering how to
vote
and not as tax guidance to participants in the Plan. Participants in the Plan
should consult their own tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of
participation. Generally, the grant of a nonqualified stock option will create
no federal income tax consequences for a participant or the Company. Upon
exercising a stock option, a participant will recognize ordinary income equal
to
the difference between the fair market value of the acquired Common Stock on
the
date of exercise and the exercise price. At this time, the Company will be
entitled to a deduction for the same amount. A sale of common stock acquired
through option exercise will result in a capital gain or loss equal to the
difference between the exercise price and the fair market value of the common
stock on the exercise date. The treatment to a participant of a disposition
of
Common Stock acquired through the exercise of a stock option depends on how
long
the shares were held. Generally, there will be no tax consequence to the Company
in connection with a disposition of shares of Common Stock acquired under a
stock option.
SARs. Similarly,
the grant of a SAR will create no tax consequences for a participant or the
Company at the time of grant. Upon the actual receipt of the underlying property
with respect to the SAR, the participant must recognize ordinary income equal
to
the difference between the fair market value of the property received and the
price paid for the property, if any. At this time, the Company will be entitled
to a deduction for the same amount. The fair market value of the property that
the participant receives will become the tax basis in the property for federal
income tax purposes. The participant will generally recognize capital gain
or
loss upon the sale as measured by the difference between the sales price and
the
participant’s basis in the property.
Restricted
Stock. A
participant receiving restricted stock generally will recognize ordinary income
in the amount of the fair market value of the restricted stock at the time
the
share is no longer subject to forfeiture, less any consideration paid for the
restricted stock. At this time, the Company is entitled to a deduction in the
same amount. However, a participant who is granted restricted stock may, within
30 days of receiving the award, choose to have any applicable risk of forfeiture
disregarded for tax purposes by making an “83(b) election.” A participant who
makes an 83(b) election will recognize ordinary income equal to the difference
between the value of the shares and the price paid for the shares, if any,
at
the time of the transfer of the restricted stock. The holding period to
determine whether the participant has long-term or short-term capital gain
or
loss on the subsequent sale of such shares generally begins when the restriction
period expires, and the participant’s tax basis for such shares will generally
equal the fair market value of such shares on such date.
Restricted
Stock Units.
A
participant who has received restricted stock units under the Plan will
generally recognize ordinary income upon receipt of any shares of Common Stock
in satisfaction of the restrictions attached to the award in an amount equal
to
the then fair market value of such shares received.
Performance
Awards. There
are
no tax consequences to a participant at the time performance awards are granted,
but the participant will recognize ordinary income and be subject to wage and
employment tax withholding upon the receipt of shares or cash awards upon
satisfaction of the applicable performance goals. The Company will generally
be
entitled to claim a corresponding deduction at such time.
Dividend
Equivalents. A
participant will recognize ordinary income and be subject to wage and employment
tax withholding upon the receipt of payments of related dividend equivalents.
The Company will generally be entitled to claim a corresponding deduction at
such time.
Other
Stock Unit Awards. The
recipient of deferred stock units or other stock-based awards will not recognize
taxable income at the time of grant as long as the shares associated with such
awards are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture but will recognize
ordinary income and be subject to a wage and employment tax withholding when
the
substantial risk of forfeiture expires or is removed, unless the shares or
cash
to be paid with respect to such award are deferred until a date subsequent
to
the vesting date. The Company will generally be entitled to claim a
corresponding deduction at such time.
Withholding
Taxes. Because
the amount of ordinary income a participant recognizes with respect to the
receipt or exercise of an award may be treated as compensation that is subject
to applicable withholding of federal, state and local income taxes and social
security taxes, the Company may require the participant to pay the amount
required to be withheld before delivering to the participant any shares or other
payment to be received under the Plan. Arrangements for payment may include
deducting the amount of any withholding or other tax due from other
compensation, including salary or bonus, otherwise payable to the participant.
Section
409A of the Code.
To the
extent that any payments or benefits provided under the Plan are considered
deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Company intends
for the Plan to comply with the standards for nonqualified deferred compensation
established by Section 409A and the regulations promulgated thereunder, (the
“409A Standards”). To the extent that any terms of the Plan would subject
participants to gross income inclusion, interest or an excise tax pursuant
to
Section 409A, those terms are to that extent superseded by the 409A
Standards.
Certain
Limitations on Deductibility of Compensation
In
general, whenever a recipient is required to recognize ordinary income in
connection with an award, the Company will be entitled to a corresponding tax
deduction. However, pursuant to Section 162(m) of the Code, the deductibility
for federal corporate tax purposes of compensation paid to certain individual
senior executive officers of the Company in excess of $1 million in any year
may
be restricted, subject to certain exceptions. One exception applies to certain
“performance-based” compensation, provided that this compensation has been
approved by stockholders in a separate vote and certain other requirements
are
met, such as equity awards granted under the Plan as described more fully in
“Awards to Covered Employees.” The Company believes that, as a general rule, it
is in the best interests of the Company’s stockholders to meet the requirements
for deductibility of Section 162(m) while still maintaining the goals of the
Company’s compensation programs. However, when it has been deemed necessary and
in the best interests of the Company to continue to attract and retain the
best
possible executive talent, and to motivate such executives to achieve the goals
inherent in the Company’s business strategy, the Compensation Committee may
approve compensation to executive officers which exceeds the Section 162(m)
limits of deductibility.
Equity
Compensation Plan Information
The
following table sets forth our shares (in thousands) authorized for issuance
under our equity compensation plans at December 30, 2006.
|
|
Number
of shares to be issued
upon
exercise of outstanding
options,
warrants, and rights
#
|
|
Weighted-average
exercise
price of
outstanding
options,
warrants,
and rights
$
|
|
Number
of securities
remaining
awailable
for
future issuance
under
equity
compensation
plans
#
|
|
Equity
compensation plans approved by stockholders
|
|
|
7,269
|
|
|
$
29.31
|
|
|
4,565
|
|
Equity
compensation plans not approved by stockholders
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
Total
|
|
|
7,269
|
|
|
$
29.31
|
|
|
4,565
|
|
THE
BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR
THE
PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE
ADVANCE
AUTO PARTS, INC. 2004 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN.
PROPOSAL
NO. 4
APPROVAL
OF 2007 EXECUTIVE INCENTIVE PLAN
The
Company is asking you to approve the Advance Auto Parts 2007 Executive Incentive
Plan (the “Plan”) so we can deduct from our U.S. federal corporate income taxes
the full amount of the bonus awards paid under the Plan as allowed by Section
162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. The disclosure below is a summary only.
The
full text of the Plan is attached as Appendix B.
Section
162(m) limits our ability to deduct from our U.S. federal corporate income
taxes
compensation in excess of $1 million per year paid to “covered employees” unless
the compensation qualifies as “performance-based.” Compensation cannot qualify
as “performance-based” unless the Plan under which it is paid is approved by
stockholders. “Covered employees” include our Chief Executive Officer and our
other four most highly-compensated executive officers.
Any
bonuses paid to “covered employees” in accordance with the terms of the Plan
will be fully tax deductible by the Company if this Plan is approved at the
Annual Meeting and if we comply with certain other requirements set forth in
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. If this Plan is not approved at
the
Annual Meeting, then any bonuses paid to our “covered employees” will not
qualify as “performance-based” and will count against the $1 million deductible
compensation limit otherwise imposed by Section 162(m).
The
Compensation Committee of the Board determines who is eligible to participate
in
the Plan. Any of our executive officers or the executive officers of any of
our
subsidiaries may be selected by the Compensation Committee to participate in
the
Plan. We currently have eight executive officers.
As
more
fully described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this
proxy statement, our annual incentive compensation is designed to attract and
retain executives and to motivate those executives to enhance the profitability
and growth of the Company through performance-based annual cash bonuses. The
Plan authorizes the payment of cash bonuses based on our actual performance
measured against established business and/or financial performance measures.
Within 90 days of the start of each fiscal year, the Compensation Committee
will
determine the executives who will be Participants in the Plan and will approve
the performance measure or measures upon which performance goals will be based,
the performance goal or goals applicable to each chosen performance measure,
the
relative weight of each performance measure if more than one is selected, and
each Participant’s target bonus percentage. No Participant may receive a bonus
under the Plan in excess of the lesser of $5 million or 500% of the
Participant’s base salary in any fiscal year. The Compensation Committee can
base performance goals on one or any combination of the following performance
measures related to the Company, a Subsidiary or an operating unit:
· |
Company revenues |
· |
Company
operating earnings or margin
|
· |
Earnings
before or after taxes, interest, depreciation, and/or
amortization
|
· |
Inventory
productivity measures such as inventory turns
|
· |
Share
price (including, but not limited to, growth measures and total
shareholder return)
|
· |
Earnings
per share
|
· |
Economic
profit or value created
|
· |
Return
measures (including, but not limited to, return on assets, capital,
invested capital, equity sales or revenue)
|
· |
Strategic
business criteria (including, but not limited to, meeting specified
goals
relating to market penetration, geographic business expansion, cost
targets, customer or employee satisfaction, or acquisitions or
divestitures of subsidiaries, affiliates or joint
ventures)
|
No
bonus
may be paid under the Plan unless and until the Committee certifies that
previously established performance goal or goals have been satisfied. The
Committee may reduce or eliminate any bonus in its discretion despite
achievement of the performance goal or goals, but the Committee may not exercise
discretion to increase the amount of bonus payable to a “covered
employee.”
The
Plan
allows a Participant to elect to defer the payment of his or her award in
accordance with the terms of our Advance Auto Parts Deferred Compensation Plan
(“AAPDC”) as it exists. The Plan does not limit our ability to make payments or
awards to employees (including executive officers) under any other plan or
arrangement. The Committee selected total sales compared to budget, operating
income compared to budget, operating income versus prior year operating income,
and inventory turns compared to budget as the performance measures for 2006.
The
Committee has again selected these performance measures for 2007.
Payments
made under the Plan will be taxable to the recipients when paid. If a
Participant properly elects to defer a portion of the bonus award to our AAPDC
Plan, or any successor plan, the Participant will generally be entitled to
defer
the recognition of income in accordance with the terms of the deferred
compensation plan. As described above, we intend payments under the Plan to
qualify as “performance-based” compensation under Section 162(m). As a result,
the Company will generally be entitled to a federal income tax deduction
corresponding to the amount of income recognized by the Participant.
The
Compensation Committee will administer the Plan. The Compensation Committee
will
have full authority to interpret the Plan, to establish rules and regulations
relating to the Plan’s operation, to select the Plan’s Participants, to
determine amounts of awards under the Plan and to make all other determinations
with respect to the Plan. The Compensation Committee may terminate or amend
the
Plan at any time. However, any amendment that would require shareholder approval
pursuant to Section 162(m), the NYSE listing rules, or any other applicable
law,
rule or regulation will not be effective without stockholder approval (for
example, an amendment to change the approved performance measures or to increase
the maximum bonus that may be awarded to an individual Participant in any given
year).
The
amount that would be paid in the future or would have been paid for the last
completed fiscal year to any particular person or group under the Plan is not
currently determinable. Information regarding our recent practices with respect
to annual incentive awards under the current programs is presented in the
“Summary Compensation Table.”
The
Plan
will be effective as of December 31, 2006, the commencement of the current
fiscal year, subject to stockholder approval at the Annual Meeting.
OUR
BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR
APPROVAL OF
THE
2007 EXECUTIVE INCENTIVE PLAN.
OTHER
MATTERS
A
copy of
our 2006 annual report of stockholders is being mailed to each stockholder
of
record together with this proxy statement. The annual report is not part of
our
proxy soliciting material.
By
order
of the Board of Directors,
Eric
M.
Margolin
Senior
Vice President,
General
Counsel and Secretary
Roanoke,
Virginia
April 11,
2007
Appendix
A
ADVANCE
AUTO PARTS, INC.
2004
LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
(Amended
and Restated as of May 16, 2007)
SECTION
1. PURPOSE.
The
purposes of the 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) are to encourage
selected Employees and Directors of Advance Auto Parts, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (“Advance Auto” or the “Company”), and its Affiliates to acquire a
proprietary and vested interest in the growth, development and financial success
of the Company, to generate an increased incentive to contribute to the
Company’s future success and prosperity, thus enhancing the value of the Company
for the benefit of stockholders, and to enhance the ability of the Company
and
its Affiliates to attract and retain individuals of exceptional managerial
talent upon whom, in large measure, the sustained progress, growth and
profitability of the Company depends.
The
Company has previously adopted the Advance Auto Parts, Inc. 2001 Executive
Stock
Option Plan and the Advance Auto Parts, Inc.
2001
Senior Executive Stock Option Plan (collectively, the “Predecessor Plans”),
which were established to provide similar equity-based compensation incentives
through the grant of stock options. Effective upon the adoption of the Plan
by
stockholders of the Company, the Predecessor Plans will be merged into this
Plan, thereby making available for the grant of awards under this Plan any
authorized but unused Shares (as herein defined) not already used for such
purpose under the Predecessor Plans. All outstanding option grants under the
Predecessor Plans shall continue in full force and effect, subject to their
original terms, after the Predecessor Plans are merged into the Plan under
the
terms and conditions noted above.
SECTION
2. DEFINITIONS.
As used
in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings as set forth
below:
(a) “Affiliate”
shall mean (i) any Person that directly, or through one or more intermediaries,
controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company
or
(ii) any entity in which the Company has a significant equity interest, as
determined by the Committee.
(b) “Award”
shall mean any Option, SAR, Restricted Stock Award, Performance Share,
Performance Unit, Deferred Stock Unit, Dividend Equivalent, Other Stock Unit
Award or any other right, interest or option relating to Shares or other
property granted pursuant to the provisions of the Plan.
(c) “Award
Agreement” shall mean any written agreement, contract or other instrument or
document evidencing any Award granted by the Committee hereunder, which may,
but
need not, be executed or acknowledged by both the Company and the
Participant.
(d) “Board”
shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
(e) “Change
in
Control” shall mean the happening of any of the following events:
(i) an
acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section
13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (an “Entity”)
of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under
the
Exchange Act) of 25% or more of either (A) the then outstanding Shares (the
“Outstanding Company Common Stock”) or (B) the combined voting power of the then
outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in
the
election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); excluding,
however, the following: (1) any acquisition directly from the Company, other
than an acquisition by virtue of the exercise of a conversion privilege unless
the security being so converted was itself acquired directly from the Company,
(2) any acquisition by the Company, (3) any acquisition by any employee benefit
plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any
corporation controlled by the Company, or (4) any acquisition by any corporation
pursuant to a transaction that complies with clauses (A), (B) and (C) of Section
2(e)(iii);
(ii) a
change
in the composition of the Board on the Plan’s effective date such that the
individuals who, as of the effective date, constitute the Board (such Board
shall be hereinafter referred to as the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason
to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that for
purposes of this definition, any
individual
who becomes a member of the Board subsequent to the effective date, whose
election, or nomination for election, by the Company’s stockholders was approved
by a vote of at least a majority of those individuals who are members of the
Board and who were also members of the Incumbent Board (or deemed to be such
pursuant to this proviso) shall be considered as though such individual were
a
member of the Incumbent Board; and provided further, however, that any such
individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of or in
connection with either an actual or threatened solicitation with respect to
the
election of directors (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-12(c) of Regulation
14A promulgated under the Exchange Act) or other actual or threatened
solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of an Entity other than
the
Board shall not be so considered as a member of the Incumbent
Board;
(iii) the
consummation of a merger, reorganization or consolidation or sale or other
disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (each,
a
“Corporate Transaction”), excluding however, any Corporate Transaction pursuant
to which (A) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who
are the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common
Stock
and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Corporate
Transaction will beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of,
respectively, the outstanding shares of common stock, and the combined voting
power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally
in
the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting
from
such Corporate Transaction (including, without limitation, a corporation or
other Person that as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or
substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more
subsidiaries (a “Parent Company”)) in substantially the same proportions as
their ownership, immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction, of the
Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities,
as
the case may be, (B) no Entity (other than the Company, any employee
benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company, such corporation resulting
from
such Corporate Transaction or, if reference was made to equity ownership of
any
Parent Company for purposes of determining whether clause (A) above is
satisfied in connection with the applicable Corporate Transaction, such Parent
Company) will beneficially own, directly or indirectly, 25% or more of,
respectively, the outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation
resulting from such Corporate Transaction or the combined voting power of the
outstanding voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally
in
the election of directors unless such ownership resulted solely from ownership
of securities of the Company prior to the Corporate Transaction, and
(C) individuals who were members of the Incumbent Board will immediately
after the consummation of the Corporate Transaction constitute at least a
majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting
from such Corporate Transaction (or, if reference was made to equity ownership
of any Parent Company for purposes of determining whether clause (A) above
is satisfied in connection with the applicable Corporate Transaction, of the
Parent Company); or
(iv) the
approval by the stockholders of the Company of the complete liquidation or
dissolution of the Company.
(f) “Change
in Control Price” means, with respect to a Share, the higher of (A) the
highest reported sales price, regular way, of such Share in any transaction
reported on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape or other national
exchange on which such Shares are listed or on the NASDAQ National Market during
the 60-day period prior to and including the date of a Change in Control or
(B) if the Change in Control is the result of a tender or exchange offer or
a Corporate Transaction, the highest price per such Share paid in such tender
or
exchange offer or Corporate Transaction. To the extent the consideration paid
in
any such transaction described above consists all or in part of securities
or
other noncash consideration, the value of such securities or other non-cash
consideration shall be determined in the sole discretion of the
Board.
(g) “Code”
shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time,
and
any successor thereto.
(h) “Committee”
shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board, or any successor to such
committee, composed of
no
fewer than two directors, each of whom is a non-employee Director within the
meaning of Rule 16b-3(b)(3) of the Exchange Act and an “outside director”
within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, or any successor
provision thereto.
(i) “Company”
shall mean Advance Auto Parts, Inc. a Delaware corporation.
(j) “Covered
Employee” shall mean a “covered employee” within the meaning of
Section 162(m)(3) of the Code, or any successor provision
thereto.
(k) “Deferred
Stock Unit” or “DSU” shall mean a bookkeeping entry that represents the right to
receive one Share at a future date. DSUs may be granted outright by the
Committee or may be granted in exchange for cash compensation deferred by a
Participant. To the extent the Company pays a dividend, DSUs will include the
right to receive Dividend Equivalents, which are credited in the form of
additional DSUs.
(l) “Director”
shall
mean a member of the Board who is not an Employee.
(m) “Dividend
Equivalent” shall mean an amount equal to the cash paid by the Company upon one
Share, either as a freestanding Award, or in connection with the grant of
Restricted Units, Performance Shares, Options, and/or SARs or Other Stock Unit
Awards.
(n) “Employee”
shall mean any employee of the Company or any Affiliate. Unless otherwise
determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, for purposes of the Plan,
an
Employee shall be considered to have terminated employment or services and
to
have ceased to be an Employee if his or her employer ceases to be an Affiliate,
even if he or she continues to be employed by such employer.
(o) “Exchange
Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(p) “Fair
Market Value” shall mean, with respect to any property other than Shares, the
market value of such property determined by such methods or procedures as shall
be established from time to time by the Committee. Unless otherwise determined
by the Committee, the Fair Market Value of Shares as of any date shall be
closing price for the Shares as reported on the New York Stock Exchange (or
on
any national securities exchange on which the Shares are then listed) for that
date or, if no such prices are reported for that date, the closing price on
the
next preceding date for which such prices were reported.
(q) “Option”
shall
mean any right granted to a Participant under the Plan allowing such Participant
to purchase Shares at such price or prices and during such period or periods
as
the Committee shall determine.
(r) “Other
Stock
Unit Award” shall mean any right granted to a Participant by the Committee
pursuant to Section 6(f).
(s) “Participant”
shall mean an Employee or Director who is selected by the Committee to receive
an Award under the Plan. Participant shall also mean a consultant selected
by
the Committee who provides services to the Company or any Affiliate, so long
as
such person (i) renders bona fide services that are not in connection with
the offer and sale of the Company’s securities in a capital-raising transaction
and (ii) does not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for
the Company’s securities.
(t) “Performance
Award” shall mean any Award of Performance Shares or Performance Units granted
pursuant to Section 6(d).
(u) “Performance
Period” shall mean that period established by the Committee at the time any
Performance Award is granted or at any time thereafter during which any
performance goals specified by the Committee with respect to such Award are
to
be measured.
(v) “Performance
Share” shall mean any grant pursuant to Section 6(d) of a unit valued by
reference to a designated number of Shares, which value may be paid to the
Participant by delivery of such property as the Committee shall determine,
including, without limitation, cash, Shares, other property, or any combination
thereof, upon achievement of such performance goals during the Performance
Period as the Committee shall establish at the time of such grant or
thereafter.
(w) “Performance
Unit” shall mean any grant pursuant to Section 6(d) of a unit valued by
reference to a designated amount of property other than Shares, which value
may
be paid to the Participant by delivery of such property as the Committee shall
determine, including, without limitation, cash, Shares, other property, or
any
combination thereof, upon achievement of such performance goals during the
Performance Period as the Committee shall establish at the time of such grant
or
thereafter.
(x) “Person”
shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership, association, limited
liability company, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization
or
government or political subdivision thereof.
(y) “Restricted
Stock” shall mean any Share issued with the restriction that the holder may not
sell, transfer, pledge or assign such Share and with such other restrictions
as
the Committee, in its sole discretion, may impose (including, without
limitation, any restriction on the right to vote such Share, and the right
to
receive any cash dividends), which restrictions may lapse separately or in
combination at such time or times, in installments or otherwise, as the
Committee may deem appropriate.
(z) “Restricted
Stock
Award” shall mean an award of Restricted Stock under Section 6(c).
(aa) “Restricted
Stock
Unit” is a bookkeeping entry that represents the right to receive one share of
Common Stock at a future date, and which is subject to the restriction that
the
holder may not sell, transfer, pledge or assign such unit and other restrictions
as the Committee, in its sole discretion, may impose (including, without
limitation, any restriction on the right to receive any Dividend Equivalents,
if
dividends are paid by the Company), which restrictions may lapse separately
or
in combination at such time or times, in installments or otherwise, as the
Committee may deem appropriate.
(bb) “Shares”
shall mean the shares of common stock of the Company, par value $.0001 per
share.
(cc) “Stock
Appreciation Right” or “SAR” shall mean any right granted to a Participant
pursuant to Section 6(b) to receive, upon
exercise by the Participant, the excess of (i) the Fair Market Value of one
Share on the date of exercise or at any time during a specified period before
the date of exercise over (ii) the grant price of the right on the date of
grant, or if granted in connection with an outstanding Option on the date of
grant of the related Option, as specified by the Committee in its sole
discretion, which, except in the case of Substitute Awards or in connection
with
an adjustment provided in Section 4(c), shall not be less than the Fair Market
Value of one Share on such date of grant of the right or the related Option,
as
the case may be. Any payment by the Company in respect of such right may be
made
in cash, Shares, other property, or any combination thereof, as the Committee,
in its sole discretion, shall determine.
(dd) “Subsidiary”
shall mean any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of
corporations beginning with the Company if, at the time of the granting of
the
Award, each of the corporations other than the last corporation in the unbroken
chain owns stock possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power
of
all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in the chain.
(ee) “Substitute
Awards” shall mean Awards granted or Shares issued by the Company in assumption
of, or in substitution or exchange for, awards previously granted, or the right
or obligation to make future awards, by a company acquired by the Company or
with which the Company combines.
SECTION
3. ADMINISTRATION. The
Committee shall have full power, discretion, and authority, subject to such
orders or resolutions not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan as may
from time to time be adopted by the Board, to
(a) select
the Participants
to whom Awards may from time to time be granted hereunder;
(b) determine
the type or types of Award to be granted to each Participant
hereunder;
(c) determine
the
number of Shares to be covered by each Award granted hereunder;
(d) determine
the terms and
conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, of any Award
granted hereunder;
(e) determine
whether, to what extent and under what circumstances Awards may be settled
in
cash, Shares or other property or canceled or suspended;
(f)
determine
whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances cash, Shares, other
property and other amounts payable with respect to an Award made under the
Plan
shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the
Participant;
(g)
interpret
and administer the Plan and any instrument or agreement entered into under
the
Plan;
(h)
establish
such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as it shall deem appropriate
for the proper administration of the Plan;
and
(i)
make
any
other determination
and take
any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for
administration of the Plan.
Actions
of the Committee shall be final, conclusive and binding on all Persons,
including the Company, any Participant, any stockholder
and any
Employee of the Company or any Affiliate. A majority of the members of the
Committee may act on behalf of the Committee and may fix the time and place
of
its meetings. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything else to the contrary
in
the Plan, any action or determination by the Committee specifically affecting
or
relating to an Award to a Director shall be approved and ratified by the Board.
In addition, no member of the Board or any of its Committees, as the case may
be, shall be liable for any action or determination made in good faith with
respect to the Plan or any Award granted under it.
SECTION
4. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
(a) Effective
as of May 19, 2004, and subject to adjustment
as
provided in Section 4(c), a total of 4,500,000 Shares
shall be authorized for grant or issuance under the Plan plus any remaining
Shares available for awards under the Predecessor Plans as of the effective
date
of the merger of the Predecessor Plans with this Plan. Effective as of May
16,
2007, and subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4(c), an additional
5,000,000 Shares shall be authorized for grant or issuance under the Plan.
Any
Shares issued in connection with Awards other than Options and SARs shall be
counted against this limit as 1.7 Shares
for every one Share issued.
(i) If
any
Shares subject to an Award or to an award under the Company’s Predecessor Plans
are forfeited or if any Award or award under the Predecessor Plans based on
Shares is settled for cash, or expires or otherwise is terminated without
issuance of such Shares, the Shares subject to such Award shall, to the extent
of such cash settlement, forfeiture or termination, again be available for
Awards under the Plan.
(ii) In
the
event that any Option or other Award granted hereunder is exercised through
the
tendering of Shares (either actually or by attestation), by cashless exercise
through the Company, or in the event that withholding tax liabilities arising
from such Option or other Award are satisfied by the tendering of Shares or
by
the withholding of Shares by the Company, only the number of Shares issued
net
of the Shares tendered or withheld shall be counted for purposes of determining
the maximum number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan.
(iii) In
the
event that any option or award granted under the Predecessor Plans is exercised
through the tendering of Shares (either actually or by attestation), or in
the
event that withholding tax liabilities arising from such options or awards
are
satisfied by the tendering of Shares or the withholding of Shares by the
Company, the Shares so tendered or withheld shall again be available for Awards
under the Plan.
(iv) Shares
reacquired by the Company on the open market using the cash proceeds received
by
the Company from the exercise of Options granted under the Plan or options
granted under the Predecessor Plans that are exercised after the effective
date
of the Plan shall be available for Awards under the Plan.
(v) Substitute
Awards shall not reduce the Shares authorized for issuance under the Plan or
authorized for grant to a Participant in any calendar year.
(vi) Deferred
Stock Units granted as a result of a voluntary election by a Participant to
defer cash or other compensation otherwise payable to the Participant shall
not
reduce the Shares authorized for issuance under the Plan or authorized for
grant
to a Participant in any calendar year.
(vii) In
the
event that a company acquired by the Company or with which the Company combines
has shares available under a pre-existing plan not adopted in contemplation
of
such acquisition or combination, the shares available for grant pursuant to
the
terms of such pre-existing plan (as adjusted, to the extent appropriate, using
the exchange ratio or other adjustment or valuation ratio or formula used in
such acquisition or combination to determine the consideration payable to the
holders of common stock of the entities party to such acquisition or
combination) may be used for Awards
under
the
Plan and shall not reduce the Shares authorized for issuance under the Plan;
provided that Awards using such available shares shall not be made after the
date awards or grants could have been made under the terms of the pre-existing
plan, absent the acquisition or combination, and shall only be made to
individuals who were not Employees or Directors of the Company or an Affiliate
prior to such acquisition or combination.
(b) Any
Shares issued hereunder may
consist,
in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued shares, treasury shares or
shares purchased in the open market or otherwise.
(c) In
the
event of any merger, reorganization,
consolidation, recapitalization, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock
split, spin-off or similar transaction or other change in corporate structure
affecting the Shares, such adjustments and other substitutions shall be made
to
the Plan and to Awards as the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems equitable
or appropriate, including, without limitation, such adjustments in the aggregate
number, class and kind of securities that may be delivered under the Plan,
in
the aggregate or to any one Participant, in the number, class, kind and option
or exercise price of securities subject to outstanding Options, SARs or other
Awards granted under the Plan, and in the number, class and kind of securities
subject to Awards granted under the Plan (including, if the Committee deems
appropriate, the substitution of similar options to purchase the shares of,
or
other awards denominated in the shares of, another company) as the Committee
may
determine to be appropriate in its sole discretion; provided, however, that
the
number of Shares subject to any Award shall always be a whole
number.
SECTION
5. ELIGIBILITY. Any
Employee, Director or consultant who provides services to the Company or any
Affiliate shall be eligible to be selected as a Participant.
SECTION
6. AWARDS. The
Committee shall determine the type of Awards to be granted or issued under
the
Plan and shall approve the terms and conditions governing such Awards through
the issuance of an Award Agreement. Awards may be granted singly, in
combination, or in tandem so that the settlement or payment of one automatically
reduces or cancels the other.
(a) STOCK
OPTIONS.
Options
may be granted hereunder to Participants either alone or in addition to other
Awards granted under the Plan. Any Option granted under the Plan shall be
evidenced by an Award Agreement in such form as the Committee may from time
to
time approve. Any such Option shall be subject to the following terms and
conditions and to such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with
the provisions of the Plan, as the Committee shall deem desirable:
(i) OPTION
PRICE. The purchase price per Share purchasable under an Option shall not be
less than the Fair Market Value of the Share on the date of the grant, except
in
the case of Substitute Awards or in connection with an adjustment provided
for
in Section 4(c).
(ii) OPTION
PERIOD. The term of each Option shall be fixed by the Committee in its sole
discretion; provided that no Option shall be exercisable after the expiration
of
ten years from the date the Option is granted.
(iii) EXERCISABILITY.
Options shall be exercisable at such time or times as determined by the
Committee at or subsequent to grant. Except under certain circumstances in
connection with a Participant’s termination or in the event of a Change in
Control, Options will not be exercisable before the expiration of one year
from
the date the Option is granted.
(iv) METHOD
OF
EXERCISE. Subject to the other provisions of the Plan, any Option that is
exercisable in accordance with the preceding paragraph may be exercised by
the
Participant in whole or in part at such time or times, and the Participant
may
make payment of the option price in such form or forms, including, without
limitation, payment by delivery of cash, delivery of Shares (either actually
or
by attestation) already owned by the Participant for at least six months (or
any
shorter period sufficient to avoid a charge to the Company’s earnings for
financial reporting purposes), via cashless exercise, through a broker, or
delivery of other consideration (including, where permitted by law and the
Committee, Awards) having a Fair Market Value on the exercise date equal to
the
total option price, or by any combination of cash, such Shares and other
consideration as the Committee may specify in the applicable Award
Agreement.
(v) FORM
OF
SETTLEMENT. In its sole discretion, the Committee may provide, at the time
of
grant, that the Shares to be issued upon an Option’s exercise shall be in the
form of Restricted Stock or other similar securities, or may reserve the right
so to provide after the time of grant.
(vi) PROHIBITION
ON REPRICING. The Company may not reprice Option grants, including the
cancellation of an existing grant followed by a regrant, without the express
approval of stockholders.
(b) STOCK
APPRECIATION
RIGHTS.
Stock Appreciation Rights (“SARs”) may be granted hereunder to Participants
either alone (“freestanding”) or in addition to other Awards granted under the
Plan (“tandem”) and may, but need not, relate to a specific Option granted under
Section 6(a). The provisions of SARs need not be the same with respect to each
recipient. Any tandem SAR related to an Option may be granted at the same time
such Option is granted or at any time thereafter before exercise or expiration
of such Option. In the case of any tandem SAR related to any Option, the SAR
or
applicable portion thereof shall terminate and no longer be exercisable upon
the
termination or exercise of the related Option, except that a SAR granted with
respect to less than the full number of Shares covered by a related Option
shall
not be reduced until the exercise or termination of the related Option exceeds
the number of Shares not covered by the SAR. Any Option related to any tandem
SAR shall no longer be exercisable to the extent the related SAR has been
exercised. The Committee may impose such conditions or restrictions on the
exercise of any SAR, as it shall deem appropriate; provided that a freestanding
SAR shall not have a term of greater than ten years or an exercise price less
than 100% of Fair Market Value of the Share on the date of grant. The Company
may not reprice SAR grants, including the cancellation of an existing grant
followed by a regrant, without the express approval of stockholders of the
Company.
(c) RESTRICTED
STOCK.
(i) ISSUANCE.
A Restricted Stock Award shall be subject to restrictions imposed by the
Committee during a period of time specified by the Committee (the “Restriction
Period”). Restricted Stock Awards may be issued hereunder to Participants, for
no cash consideration or for such minimum consideration as may be required
by
applicable law, either alone or in addition to other Awards granted under the
Plan. Restricted Stock Awards may be real shares (Restricted Stock) or phantom
shares (Restricted Stock Units). The provisions of Restricted Stock Awards
need
not be the same with respect to each recipient. Except for certain limited
situations, Other Stock Unit Awards granted to Employees subject solely to
continued employment conditions shall have a vesting period of not less than
three years.
(ii) REGISTRATION.
Any Restricted Stock issued hereunder may be evidenced in such manner, as the
Committee, in its sole discretion, shall deem appropriate, including, without
limitation, book entry registration or issuance of a stock certificate or
certificates. In the event any stock certificates are issued in respect of
Shares of Restricted Stock awarded under the Plan, such certificates shall
be
registered in the name of the Participant and shall bear an appropriate legend
referring to the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to such
Award.
(iii) FORFEITURE.
Except as otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of grant or
thereafter, upon termination of employment or services for any reason during
the
Restriction Period, all Shares of Restricted Stock still subject to restriction
shall be forfeited by the Participant and reacquired by the Company.
Unrestricted Shares, evidenced in such manner as the Committee shall deem
appropriate, shall be issued to the grantee promptly after expiration of the
Restriction Period, as determined or modified by the Committee.
(d) PERFORMANCE
AWARDS. Performance Awards may be issued hereunder to Participants, for no
cash
consideration or for such minimum consideration as may be required by applicable
law, either alone or in addition to other Awards granted under the Plan. The
performance criteria to be achieved during any Performance Period and the length
of the Performance Period shall be determined by the Committee upon the grant
of
each Performance Award, provided, however, that a Performance Period shall
not
be shorter than 12 months or longer than five years. Except as provided in
Section 7, Performance Awards will be distributed only after the end of the
relevant Performance Period. Performance Awards may be paid in cash, Shares,
other property, or any combination thereof, in the sole discretion of the
Committee at the time of payment. The performance levels to be achieved for
each
Performance Period and the amount of the Award to be distributed shall be
conclusively determined by the Committee. Performance Awards may be paid in
a
lump sum or in installments following the close of the Performance Period or,
in
accordance with procedures established by the Committee, on a deferred
basis.
(e) DIVIDEND
EQUIVALENTS. Dividend Equivalents may be granted hereunder to Participants
either alone (“freestanding”) or in connection with other Awards granted under
the Plan. The provisions of Dividend Equivalents need not be the same with
respect to each recipient. Subject to the provisions of the Plan and any Award
Agreement, the recipient of an Award (including, without limitation any deferred
Award) may, if so determined by the Committee, be entitled to receive, currently
or on a deferred basis, cash dividends, or Dividend Equivalents with respect
to
the number of Shares covered by the Award, as determined by the Committee,
in
its sole discretion, and the Committee may provide that such amounts (if any)
shall be deemed to have been reinvested in additional Shares or otherwise
reinvested.
(f) OTHER
STOCK UNIT AWARDS.
(i) STOCK
AND
ADMINISTRATION. Other Awards of Shares and other Awards that are valued in
whole
or in part by reference to, or are otherwise based on, Shares or other property
(“Other Stock Unit Awards”) may be granted hereunder to Participants, either
alone or in addition to other Awards granted under the Plan, and such other
Stock Unit Awards shall also be available as a form of payment in the settlement
of other Awards granted under the Plan. Other Stock Unit Awards may be paid
in
Shares, cash or any other form of property, as the Committee shall determine.
The provisions of Other Stock Unit Awards need not be the same with respect
to
each recipient. Except for certain limited situations, Other Stock Unit Awards
granted to Employees subject solely to continued employment conditions shall
have a vesting period of not less than three years.
(ii) TERMS
AND
CONDITIONS. Subject to the provisions of the Plan and any applicable Award
Agreement, Awards and Shares subject to Awards made under this Section 6(f)
may
not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered prior to
the
date on which the Shares are issued, or, if later, the date on which any
applicable restriction, performance or deferral period lapses. Shares (including
securities convertible into Shares) subject to Awards granted under this Section
6(f) may be issued for no cash consideration or for such minimum consideration
as may be required by applicable law. Shares (including securities convertible
into Shares) purchased pursuant to a purchase right awarded under this Section
6(f) shall be purchased for such consideration as the Committee shall determine
in its sole discretion, which, except in the case of Substitute Awards, shall
not be less than the Fair Market Value of such Shares or other securities as
of
the date such purchase right is awarded.
SECTION
7. CHANGE IN CONTROL PROVISIONS.
(a) IMPACT
OF
EVENT.
Subject
to Section 7(a)(v) and notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the
contrary, unless the Committee shall determine otherwise at the time of grant
with respect to a particular Award, in the event of a Change in
Control:
(i) any
Options and SARs outstanding as of the date such Change in Control is determined
to have occurred, and which are not then exercisable and vested, shall become
fully exercisable and vested to the full extent of the original
grant;
(ii) the
restrictions and deferral limitations applicable to any Restricted Stock shall
lapse, and such Restricted Stock shall become free of all restrictions and
limitations and become fully vested and transferable to the full extent of
the
original grant;
(iii) all
Performance Awards shall be immediately accelerated and considered to be earned
and payable pro rata based on: (a) the portion of the Performance Period that
has been completed as of the date such Change in Control is determined to have
occurred and (b) the actual performance as of such date, or if actual
performance is not calculable, target performance; in addition, any deferral
or
other restriction shall lapse and such Performance Awards shall be immediately
settled or distributed; and
(iv) the
restrictions and deferral limitations and other conditions applicable to any
Other Stock Unit Awards or any other Awards shall lapse, and such Other Stock
Unit Awards or such other Awards shall become free of all restrictions,
limitations or conditions and become fully vested and transferable to the full
extent of the original grant.
(v) Notwithstanding
the foregoing, if in the event of a Corporate Transaction the successor company
assumes or substitutes for an Option, SAR, Share of Restricted Stock, Dividend
Equivalent or Other Stock Unit Award then each
outstanding
Option, SAR, Share of Restricted Stock, Dividend Equivalent or Other Stock
Unit
Award shall not be accelerated as described in Sections 7(a)(i), (ii) and (iv).
For the purposes of this Section 7(a)(v), an Option, SAR, Share of Restricted
Stock, Dividend Equivalent or Other Stock Unit Award shall be considered assumed
or substituted for if following the Corporate Transaction the award confers
the
right to purchase or receive, for each Share subject to the Option, SAR,
Restricted Stock Award, Dividend Equivalent or Other Stock Unit Award
immediately prior to the Corporate Transaction, the consideration (whether
stock, cash or other securities or property) received in the Corporate
Transaction by holders of Shares for each Share held on the effective date
of
the transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the
type
of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares);
provided, however, that if such consideration received in the Corporate
Transaction is not solely common stock of the successor company, the Committee
may, with the consent of the successor company, provide that the consideration
to be received upon the exercise or vesting of an Option, SAR, Restricted Stock
Award, Dividend Equivalent or Other Stock Unit Award, for each Share subject
thereto, will be solely common stock of the successor company substantially
equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by holders
of
Shares in the Corporate Transaction. The determination of such substantial
equality of value of consideration shall be made by the Committee in its sole
discretion and its determination shall be conclusive and binding.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of a termination of a Participant’s
employment in such successor company without cause during the 24-month period
following such Change in Control, then each Award held by such Participant
at
the time of the Change in Control shall be accelerated as described in clauses
(i), (ii) and (iv) above.
(b) CHANGE
IN
CONTROL CASH-OUT. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, in the event
of a Change in Control the Committee may, in its discretion, provide that each
Option or SAR shall, upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, be cancelled
in
exchange for a payment in an amount equal to the amount by which the Change
in
Control Price per Share exceeds the purchase price per Share under the Option
or
SAR (the “spread”) multiplied by the number of Shares granted under the Option
or SAR.
SECTION
8. CODE SECTION 162(m) PROVISIONS.
(a) Notwithstanding
any other provision of the Plan, if the Committee determines at the time
Restricted Stock, a Performance Award,
Dividend Equivalents or an Other Stock Unit Award is granted to a Participant
who is then an officer that
such
Participant is, or is likely to be as of the end of the tax year in which the
Company would claim a tax deduction in connection with such Award, a Covered
Employee, then the Committee may provide that this Section 8 is applicable
to
such Award.
(b) If
Restricted Stock,
a
Performance Award, a Dividend Equivalent or an Other Stock Unit Award is subject
to this Section 8, then the lapsing of restrictions thereon and the distribution
of cash, Shares or other property pursuant thereto, as applicable, shall be
subject to the achievement of one or more objective performance goals
established by the Committee. Such performance goals shall be set by the
Committee within the time period prescribed by, and shall otherwise comply
with
the requirements of, Section 162(m) of the Code, or any successor provision
thereto, and regulations thereunder.
(i) Performance
goals shall be based on the attainment of specified of one or any combination
of
the following: operating income, net cash provided by operating activities,
earnings per share from continuing operations, revenues, operating margins,
return on operating assets, return on equity, economic value added, stock price
appreciation, total stockholder return, cost control, strategic initiatives,
market share, net income, or return on invested capital of the Company or the
Affiliate or division of the Company for or within which the Participant is
primarily employed.
(ii) Such
performance goals also may be based on the achievement of specified levels
of
Company performance (or performance of an applicable Affiliate or division
of
the Company) under one or more of the measures described above relative to
the
performance of other corporations. Such performance goals shall be set by the
Committee within the time period prescribed by, and shall otherwise comply
with
the requirements of, Section 162(m) of the Code, or any successor provision
thereto, and the regulations thereunder.
(iii) the
measurement of the Company’s performance against its goals shall exclude the
impact of charges for restructurings, discontinued operations, extraordinary
items, and any other unusual or non-recurring items, and the cumulative effects
of accounting changes, each as defined by generally accepted accounting
principles and as identified
in
the
Company’s financial statements, notes to the financial statements or
management’s discussion and analysis
(c) Notwithstanding
any
provision of the Plan other than Section 7, with respect to any Restricted
Stock, Performance Award, Dividend Equivalent or Other Stock Unit Award that
is
subject to this Section 8, the Committee may adjust downwards, but not upwards,
the amount payable pursuant to such Award, and the Committee may not waive
the
achievement of the applicable performance goals except in the case of the death
or disability of the Participant.
(d) The
Committee shall have the power to impose such other restrictions on Awards
subject to this Section 8 as it may deem necessary or appropriate to ensure
that
such Awards satisfy all requirements for “performance-based compensation” within
the meaning of Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code, or any successor provision
thereto.
(e) Notwithstanding
any provision of the Plan other than Section 4(c), no Participant may be granted
Options or “freestanding” SARs
during
any three-year period with respect to more than 1,000,000 Shares or Restricted
Stock, Performance Shares, Dividend Equivalents and/or Other Stock Unit Awards
subject to this Section 8 that are denominated in Shares in any three-year
period with respect to more than 500,000 Shares, and the maximum dollar value
payable with respect to Performance Units and/or Other Stock Unit Awards that
are valued with reference to property other than Shares and granted to any
Participant for any three-year period is $4,000,000, with proportionate
adjustments for shorter or longer performance periods, not to exceed 5
years.
“Tandem”
SARs granted in connection with other Awards pursuant to Section 6(b) and
Deferred Stock Units granted as a result of a Participant’s voluntary election
to defer cash or other compensation otherwise payable to the Participant shall
not count against such limits.
SECTION
9. AMENDMENTS AND TERMINATION. The
Board
may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate the Plan or any portion
thereof at any time; provided, however, that stockholder approval is required
if
such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation or termination would
be
required under the rules or listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange,
any other securities exchange or the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. on which the Company’s securities are listed, or such approval is required
to qualify for or comply with any tax or other regulatory requirement for which
or with which the Board deems it necessary or desirable to qualify or comply.
In
addition, no such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation or
termination shall be made without the consent of the affected Participant,
if
such action would impair the rights of such Participant under any outstanding
Award. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Committee may amend
the Plan in such manner as may be necessary so as to have the Plan conform
to
local rules and regulations in any jurisdiction outside the United
States.
The
Committee may amend the terms of any Award theretofore granted, prospectively
or
retroactively, but no such amendment shall (a) impair the rights of any
Participant without his or her consent or (b) except for adjustments made
pursuant to Section 4(c) or in connection with Substitute Awards, reduce the
exercise price of outstanding Options or SARs or cancel or amend outstanding
Options or SARs for the purpose of repricing, replacing or regranting such
Options or SARs with an exercise price that is less than the exercise price
of
the original Options or SARs without stockholder approval. Notwithstanding
the
foregoing, any adjustments made pursuant to Section 4(c) shall not be subject
to
these restrictions.
SECTION
10. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
(a) No
Award,
and no Shares subject
to
Awards described in Section 6(f) that have not been issued or as to which any
applicable restriction, performance or deferral period has not lapsed, may
be
sold, assigned,
transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered, except by will or by the laws
of
descent and distribution; provided, however, that, if so determined by the
Committee, a Participant may, in the manner established by the Committee,
designate a beneficiary to exercise the rights of the Participant with respect
to any Award upon the death of the Participant. Each Award shall be exercisable,
during the Participant’s lifetime, only by the Participant or, if permissible
under applicable law, by the Participant’s guardian or legal representative.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may permit
a Participant to assign or transfer an Award; provided, however, that
an
Award so assigned or transferred shall be subject to all the terms and
conditions of the Plan and the instrument evidencing the Award.
(b) No
Employee or Participant
shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and there is no
obligation for uniformity of treatment of Employees or Participants under the
Plan.
(c) If
required by the Committee, the prospective recipient of any Award under the
Plan
shall not, with respect to such Award, be deemed to have become a Participant,
or to have any rights with respect to such Award, until and unless such
recipient shall have executed an agreement or other instrument evidencing the
Award and delivered a copy thereof to the Company, and otherwise complied with
the then applicable terms and conditions.
(d) Nothing
in the Plan or any
Award
granted under the Plan shall be deemed to constitute an employment or service
contract or confer or be deemed to confer on any Participant any right to
continue in the employ or service of, or to continue any other relationship
with, the Company or any Affiliate or limit in any way the right of the Company
or any Affiliate to terminate a Participant’s employment or service or other
relationship at any time, with or without cause.
(e) Except
as
provided in Section 8, the Committee shall be authorized to make adjustments
in
performance award criteria or in the terms and conditions of other Awards in
recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events affecting the Company or its
financial statements or changes in applicable laws, regulations or accounting
principles. The Committee may correct any defect, supply any omission or
reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award in the manner and to the
extent it shall deem desirable to carry it into effect. In the event that the
Company shall assume outstanding employee benefit awards or the right or
obligation to make future such awards in connection with the acquisition of
or
combination with another corporation or business entity, the Committee may,
in
its discretion, make such adjustments in the terms of Awards under the Plan
as
it shall deem appropriate.
(f) The
Committee shall have
full
power and authority to determine whether, to what extent and under what
circumstances any Award shall be canceled or suspended.
(g) All
certificates for Shares delivered under the Plan pursuant to any Award shall
be
subject to such stock-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee
may deem advisable under the rules, regulations and other requirements of the
Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange upon which the Shares
are
then listed, and any applicable federal or state securities law, and the
Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates
to
make appropriate reference to such restrictions.
(h) No
Award
granted hereunder shall be construed as an offer to sell securities of the
Company, and no such offer shall be outstanding, unless and until the Committee
in its sole discretion has determined that any such offer, if made, would comply
with all applicable requirements of the U.S. federal securities laws and any
other laws to which such offer, if made, would be subject.
(i) The
Committee shall
be
authorized to establish procedures pursuant to which the payment of any Award
may be deferred. In addition, Subject to the provisions of the Plan and any
Award Agreement, the recipient of an Award (including, without limitation any
deferred Award) may, if so determined by the Committee, be entitled to receive,
currently or on a deferred basis, cash dividends, or Dividend Equivalents with
respect to the number of Shares covered by the Award, as determined by the
Committee, in its sole discretion, and the Committee may provide that such
amounts (if any) shall be deemed to have been reinvested in additional Shares
or
otherwise reinvested.
(j) Except
as
otherwise required in any applicable Award Agreement or by the terms of the
Plan, recipients of Awards under the Plan shall not be required to make any
payment or provide consideration other than the rendering of
services.
(k) The
Committee may delegate to a committee of one or more directors of the Company
or, to the extent permitted by Delaware law, to one or more officers or a
committee of officers the right to grant Awards to Employees who are not
officers or directors of the Company and to cancel or suspend Awards to
Employees who are not officers or Directors of the Company.
(l) The
Company shall be
authorized to withhold from any Award granted or payment due under the Plan
the
amount of withholding taxes due in respect of an Award or payment hereunder
and
to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Company
to
satisfy all obligations for the payment of such taxes. The Committee shall
be
authorized to establish procedures for election by Participants to satisfy
such
obligation for the payment of such taxes by delivery of or transfer of Shares
to
the Company (up to the employee’s minimum required tax withholding rate to the
extent the Participant has owned the surrendered shares for less than six months
if such a limitation is necessary to avoid
a
charge
to the Company for financial reporting purposes), or by directing the Company
to
retain Shares (up to the employee’s minimum required tax withholding rate)
otherwise deliverable in connection with the Award.
(m) Nothing
contained
in
the Plan shall prevent the Board from adopting other or additional compensation
arrangements, subject to stockholder approval if such approval is required;
and
such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in
specific cases.
(n) The
validity, construction and effect of the Plan and any rules and regulations
relating to the Plan shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the
State of Delaware and applicable federal law.
(o) If
any
provision of the Plan is or becomes or is deemed invalid, illegal or
unenforceable in any jurisdiction, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award
under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be
construed or deemed amended to conform to applicable laws or if it cannot be
construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee,
materially altering the intent of the Plan, it shall be stricken and the
remainder of the Plan shall remain in full force and effect.
(p) Awards
may be granted to Participants who are foreign nationals or employed outside
the
United States, or both, on such terms and conditions different from those
applicable to Awards to Employees employed in the United States as may, in
the
judgment of the Committee, be necessary or desirable in order to recognize
differences in local law or tax policy. The Committee also may impose conditions
on the exercise or vesting of Awards in order to minimize the Company’s
obligation with respect to tax equalization for Employees on assignments outside
their home country.
SECTION
11. EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN. The
Plan
shall be effective as of May
19, 2004.
SECTION
12. TERM OF PLAN. The
Plan
shall terminate on the tenth anniversary of the effective date, unless sooner
terminated by the Board pursuant to Section 9.
SECTION
13. INDEMNIFICATION. In
addition to such other rights of indemnification as they may have as members
of
the Board of Directors, the members of the Committee shall be indemnified by
the
Company to the fullest extent permitted by law against the reasonable expenses,
including attorney’s fees, actually and necessarily incurred in connection with
the defense of any action, suit or proceeding, or in connection with any appeal
therein, to which they or any of them may be a party by reason of any action
taken or failure to act under or in connection with the Plan or any Option
granted thereunder, and against all amounts paid by them in satisfaction of
a
judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding except in relation to matters
as
to which it shall be adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding that such
Committee member is not entitled to indemnification under applicable law;
provided, however, that within sixty (60) days after institution of any
such action, suit or proceeding such Committee member shall in writing offer
the
Company the opportunity, at the Company’s expense to handle and defend the same,
and such Committee member shall cooperate with and assist the Company in the
defense of any such action, suit or proceeding. The Company shall not be
obligated to indemnify any Committee member with regard to any settlement of
any
action, suit or proceeding of which the Company did not consent to in writing
prior to such settlement.
SECTION
14. GOVERNING LAW. The
Plan,
any Award Agreement, any Award granted and any action taken hereunder shall
be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware,
without reference to principles of conflicts of laws thereof.
SECTION
15.
CODE SECTION 409A PROVISIONS.
(a) Notwithstanding
any other provision of the Plan, effective as of January 1, 2007, this Section
15 shall be applicable to each Award that constitutes deferred compensation
within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, as more fully addressed in
Section 15(b) below.
(b) An
Award
shall constitute deferred compensation, and thus shall be subject to this
Section 15, if the Award provides a Participant in one year with a legally
binding right to income or other taxable benefit that shall be paid in a future
year, unless:
(i) Payment
under the Award will be made no later than 2½ months after the end of the first
year during which the amount is no longer subject to a substantial risk of
forfeiture (if applicable); or
(ii) The
Award
is one described in Section 15(c) below.
An
Award
made under the Plan that is subject to the provisions of this Section 15 shall
hereafter be referred to as a “Section 409A Award.”
(c) The
Awards described below are not deemed to be deferred compensation, and thus
are
not subject to this Section 15.
(i) An
Option
with respect to the purchase of Shares, provided that the exercise price is
never less than the Fair Market Value of the Shares at the date of the grant,
and the number of Shares subject to the Option is fixed on the original date
of
the grant;
(ii) Restricted
Stock and any other restricted property; and
(iii) A
Stock
Appreciation Right (“SAR”), provided that
(A) The
amount payable under the SAR is not greater than the difference between the
Fair
Market Value of the Shares on the date of the grant and the Fair Market Value
of
the Shares on the date of exercise; and
(B) The
exercise price of the SAR may never be less than the Fair Market Value of the
Shares on the date the right is granted.
For
purposes of this subsection (c), the Fair Market Value of Shares shall be
determined without regard to any lapse restrictions within the meaning of IRS
Regulation §1.83-3(i).
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, an Award described above shall constitute deferred compensation
for purposes of this Section 15 if it is granted as a Substitute Award in
substitution or exchange for an Award that constitutes deferred
compensation.
(d) A
Section
409A Award must provide that payment to a Participant may be made only upon
an
event described below:
(i) The
Participant’s separation from service with the Company (subject to the
restriction on distributions to key employees prescribed in Section 15(f)
below);
(ii) The
Participant becoming disabled;
(iii) The
death
of the Participant;
(iv) A
specified time (or pursuant to a fixed schedule) established at the time of
the
Award; or
(v) Such
other permitted event prescribed under Code Section 409A or the regulations
issued thereunder.
(e) A
Section
409A Award must provide for a date of payment or payments that is objectively
determinable at the time the permitted payment event occurs. Payment can also
be
made in accordance with a fixed schedule that is objectively determined based
on
the date of the allowed payment event if the schedule is fixed at the time
the
permissible payment event is specified. The Award can provide for payment upon
the later of (or the latest of) two or more permissible payment events so long
as each separate payment event is a permitted payment event. Alternatively,
payment may be made upon the earlier of (or the earliest of) two or more
permissible payment events if each payment event is a permitted payment
event.
(f) Notwithstanding
Sections 15(d) and (e) above, a Section 409A Award must provide that payment
to
be made to a “key employee” (as determined under Code Section 416(i) without
considering Section 416(i)(5)) by reason of the key employee’s separation from
service cannot be made prior to the date which is six months after the date
of
the key employee’s separation from service. If payments are to be made in
installments, then the installments will be deemed to be a single payment so
that only the commencement of the installments, rather than each scheduled
payment, shall be subject to the six-month deferred payment rule.
(g) The
time
or schedule of any payment to be made under a Section 409A Award may not be
accelerated, except as expressly permitted under Code Section 409A. For this
purpose, an acceleration of the time or the schedule of
payments
shall not be deemed to have occurred if the Company or Committee waives or
accelerates the satisfaction of a condition constituting a substantial risk
of
forfeiture applicable to the Award, but only if the requirements of this Section
15 are otherwise satisfied with respect to that Award. The time or schedule
of
payments may also be accelerated, if the Award so permits, as necessary for
the
Participant to pay the FICA taxes imposed under Code Sections 3101, 3121(a)
and
3121(v)(2) on the Award, or so that the income tax withholding can be paid
on
the Award (if constituting wages included in the Participant’s income) as
imposed by Code Section 3401.
(h) If
a
Section 409A Award allows a Participant, or the Company or Committee, to elect
to change the form or time of a distribution under the Award, then the Award
must provide that the subsequent election may not take effect until at least
twelve months after the date on which the election is made. If an election
is
related to a payment for separation from service or at a specified time or
schedule, the Award must require that the payment with respect to which the
subsequent election is made shall be deferred for a period of not less than
five
years from the date of payment.
Appendix
B
ADVANCE
AUTO PARTS, INC.
EXECUTIVE
INCENTIVE PLAN
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE
I
|
INTRODUCTION
AND
PURPOSE |
1
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
II
|
DEFINITIONS |
1
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
III
|
ELIGIBILITY |
2
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
IV
|
INCENTIVE
AWARDS |
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 4.1. |
General |
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 4.2. |
Performance Objectives |
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 4.3. |
Payment of Awards |
2
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
V
|
ADMINISTRATION |
2
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
VI
|
AMENDMENT AND
TERMINATION OF THE PLAN |
3
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 6.1. |
Amendment of Plan |
3
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 6.2. |
Termination of Plan |
3
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 6.3. |
Procedure for Amendment
or
Termination |
3
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
VII
|
MISCELLANEOUS |
3
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 7.1. |
Rights of Employees |
3
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 7.2. |
Unfunded Status |
3
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 7.3. |
Limits on Liability |
3
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 7.4. |
Interpretation |
3
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 7.5. |
Tax Withholding |
4
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 7.6. |
Nontransferability of
Benefits |
4
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 7.7. |
Governing Law |
4
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
VIII
|
EFFECTIVE DATE
AND
DURATION OF THE PLAN |
4
|
EXECUTIVE
INCENTIVE PLAN
ARTICLE
I
INTRODUCTION
AND PURPOSE
Advance
Auto Parts desires to adopt the Executive Incentive Plan which permits the
Company to make cash incentive awards to eligible employees of the Company
based
on the satisfaction of specific performance objectives.
ARTICLE
II
DEFINITIONS
For
purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:
(a) “Award”
means
an incentive award which, subject to such terms and conditions as may be
prescribed by the Committee, entitles a Participant to receive a cash payment
from the Company or a Subsidiary pursuant to Article IV.
(b) “Board”
means
the Board of Directors of the Company.
(c) “Code”
means
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, or any
successor statute, and applicable regulations.
(d) “Committee”
means
the Compensation Committee of the Board or such other committee or subcommittee
as may be designated by the Board. The Committee shall be comprised of not
fewer
than two members who shall be “outside directors” within the meaning of Section
162(m) of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
(e) “Company”
means
Advance Auto Parts, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
(f) “Covered
Employee”
means
a
Participant who the Committee determines meets the definition of a Covered
Employee as defined in Code Section 162(m)(3) and the regulations promulgated
thereunder, which definition generally includes the chief executive officer
of
the Company and the four highest compensated officers of the Company other
than
the chief executive officer.
(g) “Effective
Date”
means
December 31, 2006, subject to approval by stockholders as presented in Article
VIII, on May 16, 2007.
(h) “Employee”
means
any person, including a member of the Board, who is employed by the Company
or a
Subsidiary.
(i) “Fair
Market Value”
means,
on any given date, the closing price of a share of common stock of the Company
as reported on the New York Stock Exchange composite tape on such date, or
if
such common stock was not traded on the New York Stock Exchange on such day,
then on the next preceding day that such common stock was traded on such
exchange, all as reported by such source as the Committee may
select.
(j) “Participant”
means
an Employee who is granted an Award by the Committee.
(k) “Performance-Based
Compensation”
means
an Award that is intended to constitute “performance-based compensation” within
the meaning of Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code and the regulations promulgated
thereunder.
(l) “Performance
Objective”
is
defined in Section 4.2.
(m) “Performance
Period” is
defined in Section 4.2.
(n) “Plan”
means
the Advance Auto Parts, Inc. Executive Incentive Plan, as set forth herein
and
as amended from time to time.
(o) “Subsidiary”
means
any corporation (other than the Company), limited liability company, partnership
or other business organization of which a majority of the outstanding voting
stock or voting power is beneficially owned directly or indirectly by the
Company.
ARTICLE
III
ELIGIBILITY
Awards
may be granted to any Employee who is designated as a Participant from time
to
time by the Committee. The Committee shall determine which Employees shall
be
Participants and the terms, conditions, and limitations applicable to each
Award
not inconsistent with the Plan. Designation by the Committee as a Participant
for an Award in one period shall not confer on a Participant the right to
participate in the Plan for any other period.
ARTICLE
IV
INCENTIVE
AWARDS
Section
4.1.
General.
Awards
may be granted to a Participant in such amounts and upon such terms, and at
any
time and from time to time, as shall be determined by the Committee. The
Committee, at the time an Award is made, shall specify the terms and conditions
which govern the Award, which terms and conditions shall prescribe that the
Award shall be earned only upon, and to the extent that, Performance Objectives
as described in Section 4.2, are satisfied within a designated time. Different
terms and conditions may be established by the Committee for different Awards
and for different Participants.
Section
4.2.
Performance Objectives.
The
vesting and payment of Awards shall be contingent upon the degree of attainment
of such performance goals (the “Performance
Objectives”)
over
such period (the “Performance Period”)
as
shall be specified by the Committee at the time the Award is granted.
Performance Objectives will be established prior to or within the first ninety
(90) days of each Performance Period or
by
such earlier time as is prescribed by Section 162(m) of the Code or the
regulations thereunder in order for them to be considered “pre-established.” The
Performance Objectives may be stated with respect to one or any combination
of
the following measures based on the Company, a Subsidiary, or an operating
unit:
(i) Company revenues; (ii) Company operating earnings or margin; (iii) Earnings
before or after taxes, interest, depreciation, and/or amortization; (iv)
Inventory productivity measures such as inventory turns; (v) Share price
(including, but not limited to, growth measures and total stockholder return);
(vi) Earnings per share; (vii) economic profit or value created; (viii) Return
measures (including, but not limited to, return on assets, capital, invested
capital, or revenue); (viii) Strategic business criteria (including, but not
limited to, meeting specified goals relating to market penetration, geographic
business expansion, cost targets, customer or employee satisfaction, or
acquisitions or divestitures of subsidiaries, affiliates, or joint ventures).
The targeted level or levels of performance with respect to such business
criteria may be established at such levels and in such terms as the Committee
may determine, in its discretion, including in absolute terms, as a goal
relative to performance in prior periods (e.g., earnings per share growth),
or
as a goal compared to the performance of one or more comparable companies or
an
index covering multiple companies.
Section
4.3.
Payment of Awards.
Awards
shall be made to Participants in a single lump sum in cash at a time determined
by the Committee, but in no event later than two and one-half months after
the
end of the fiscal year in which the Performance Period ends. The actual amount
of payment under an Award will be calculated by applying the degree of
attainment of Performance Objectives. The Committee shall make all calculation
of payments and shall certify in writing the extent, if any, to which the
Performance Objectives have been met. In no event shall a Covered Employee
receive an Award payment in any fiscal year that exceeds the lesser of (i)
$5,000,000 or (ii) 500% of the Covered Employee's base salary (prior to any
salary reduction or deferral elections) as of the date of the
Award.
ARTICLE
V
ADMINISTRATION
The
Plan
shall be administered by the Committee. The Committee shall have all of the
powers necessary to enable it to properly carry out its duties under the Plan.
Not in limitation of the foregoing, the Committee shall have the power to
construe and interpret the Plan and to determine all questions that shall arise
thereunder. The Committee shall have such other and further specified duties,
powers, authority and discretion as are elsewhere in the Plan either expressly
or by necessary implication conferred upon it. The Committee may appoint such
agents, who need not be members of the
Committee,
as it may deem necessary for the effective performance of its duties, and may
delegate to such agents such powers and duties as the Committee may deem
expedient or appropriate that are not inconsistent with the intent of the Plan
to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law. The decision of the
Committee or any agent of the Committee upon all matters within the scope of
its
authority shall be final and conclusive on all persons.
ARTICLE
VI
AMENDMENT
AND TERMINATION
Section
6.1.
Amendment of Plan.
The
Company has the right, at any time and from time to time, to amend in whole
or
in part any of the terms and provisions of the Plan to the extent permitted
by
law for whatever reason(s) the Company may deem appropriate. No amendment that
would increase the maximum amount payable to a Covered Employee as specified
in
Section 4.3 shall be effective without approval of the shareholders of the
Company.
Section
6.2.
Termination of Plan.
The
Company expressly reserves the right, at any time, to suspend or terminate
the
Plan in whole or in part to the extent permitted by law for whatever reason(s)
the Company may deem appropriate, including, without limitation, suspension
or
termination as to any Subsidiary, Employee, or class of Employees.
Section
6.3.
Procedure for Amendment or Termination.
Any
amendment to the Plan or termination of the Plan shall be made by the Company
by
resolution of the Committee and shall not require the approval or consent of
any
Subsidiary or Participant to be effective to the extent permitted by law. Any
amendment to the Plan or termination of the Plan may be retroactive to the
extent not prohibited by applicable law.
ARTICLE
VII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section
7.1. Rights
of Employees.
Status
as an eligible Employee shall not be construed as a commitment that any Award
will be made under the Plan to such eligible Employee or to eligible Employees
generally. Nothing contained in the Plan (or in any other documents related
to
this Plan or to any Award) shall confer upon any Employee any right to continue
in the employ or service of the Company or any Subsidiary or constitute any
contract or limit in any way the right of the Company to change such person's
compensation or other benefits or to terminate the employment or service of
such
person with or without cause.
Section
7.2. Unfunded
Status.
The
Plan shall be unfunded. Neither the Company, any Subsidiary, the Committee,
nor
the Board shall be required to segregate any assets that may at any time be
represented by Awards made pursuant to the Plan. Neither the Company, any
Subsidiary, the Committee, nor the Board shall be deemed to be a trustee of
any
amounts to be paid under the Plan.
Section
7.3.
Limits on Liability.
Any
liability of the Company or any Subsidiary to any Participant with respect
to an
Award shall be based solely upon contractual obligations created by the Plan.
Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary nor any member of the Board or the
Committee, nor any other person participating in any determination of any
question under the Plan, or in the interpretation, administration or application
of the Plan, shall have any liability to any party for any action taken or
not
taken in good faith under the Plan. To the extent permitted by applicable law,
the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each member of the Board and
the
Committee from and against any and all liability, claims, demands, costs, and
expenses (including the costs and expenses of attorneys incurred in connection
with the investigation or defense of claims) in any manner connected with or
arising out of any actions or inactions in connection with the administration
of
the Plan except for such actions or inactions which are not in good faith or
which constitute willful misconduct.
Section
7.4.
Interpretation.
Unless
otherwise expressly stated by the Committee with respect to an Award, each
Award
granted to a Covered Employee under the Plan is intended to be Performance-Based
Compensation that is fully deductible by the Company for federal income taxes
and not subject to the deduction limitation of Section 162(m) of the Code,
and
the Plan shall be construed or deemed amended to the extent possible to conform
any Award to effect such intent. The Committee shall not have any discretion
to
determine that an Award will be paid to a Covered Employee if the Performance
Objective for such Award is not attained. The Committee shall, however, have
the
authority to reduce or eliminate any Award under the Plan. The Plan is intended
to meet the short-term deferral exception under Code
Section
409A such that payments made to Participants under the Plan are not deferred
compensation subject to the provisions of Code Section 409A.
Section
7.5.
Tax Withholding.
The
Company shall be entitled to withhold from any payment made under the Plan
the
full amount of any required federal, state or local taxes.
Section
7.6.
Nontransferability of Benefits.
A
Participant may not assign or transfer any interest in an Award. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, upon the death of a Participant, the Participant's rights and
benefits under the Plan shall pass by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution.
Section
7.7.
Governing Law.
To the
extent not governed by federal law, the Plan shall be construed in accordance
with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware.
ARTICLE
VIII
EFFECTIVE
DATE AND DURATION OF THE PLAN
The
Plan
shall be effective as of the Effective Date, subject to approval and
ratification of the Plan by the shareholders of the Company to the extent
necessary to satisfy the requirements of the Code, the New York Stock Exchange
or other applicable federal or state law. If not sooner terminated by the Board,
this Plan shall terminate at the close of business on December 30,
2016.