Share Ownership Guidelines
To reinforce the importance of aligning the financial interests of Nordson’s Directors, executive officers and shareholders, Nordson Directors and executive officers are required to hold a minimum number of shares of Nordson Common Stock.
Directors are required to hold shares of Nordson Common Stock with a value equal to five (5) times the amount of the annual cash retainer paid to Directors. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer is required to hold Nordson Common Stock having a dollar value at least equal to five (5) times base salary. Nordson’s President (if the President is not also the CEO) or Chief Operating Officer is required to hold Nordson Common Stock having a dollar value at least equal to three (3) times base salary. The Company’s Chief Financial Officer is required to hold Nordson Common Stock having a dollar value at least equal to three (3) times base salary while other Nordson executive officers are required to hold Nordson Common Stock having a dollar value at least equal to two (2) times base salary.
Directors are required to achieve the share ownership requirement within five years of election to the Board, or, in the case of Directors serving at the time the ownership requirements were adopted, within five years of the date of adoption. Likewise, newly elected or promoted executive officers will have up to five years to meet the applicable ownership requirements after their election or promotion, or in the case of executive officers in office at the time the ownership requirements were adopted or revised, within five years of the date of adoption.
Equity interests that count toward satisfaction of the ownership requirement include:
Directors: Shares owned outright by the Director, or his or her spouse and dependent children; shares held in trust for the benefit of the Director or his or her family; shares of restricted stock; restricted stock units and stock equivalent units held in deferred compensation accounts which may be distributed only in the form of Common Shares; or other individual retirement accounts.
Executive Officers: Shares owned outright by the Executive Officer, or his or her spouse and dependent children; shares held in trust for the benefit of the Executive Officer or his or her family; shares of restricted stock; shares held in deferred compensation accounts; and shares held in the NEST (Nordson ESOP Fund and Nordson Stock Fund) or other individual retirement accounts.
Directors and executive officers who have not satisfied the share ownership requirements by the end of the five-year period or who have not exhibited progress towards the required ownership level prior to the end of such five-year period will be expected to retain 100% of the shares acquired through exercise of stock options, lapse of transfer restrictions on restricted stock, vesting of non-deferred restricted stock units, or performance shares awards received pursuant to the Company’s shareholder approved equity award plan, net of shares tendered to cover the exercise price of the option or taxes due on the exercise of stock option, the lapse of a restriction period or award of shares until the share ownership required, or progress therewith as applicable, is achieved.
Directors or executive officers who will be unable to achieve the required share ownership after taking any or all of the actions listed above will meet with the Chairman of the Governance and Nominating Committee (for Directors) or Compensation Committee (for executive officers) who will consult with the Chief Executive Officer to develop a plan to permit the Director or executive officer to achieve the required share ownership.
[rev November 25, 2014]
Directors are required to hold shares of Nordson Common Stock with a value equal to five (5) times the amount of the annual cash retainer paid to Directors. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer is required to hold Nordson Common Stock having a dollar value at least equal to five (5) times base salary. Nordson’s President (if the President is not also the CEO) or Chief Operating Officer is required to hold Nordson Common Stock having a dollar value at least equal to three (3) times base salary. The Company’s Chief Financial Officer is required to hold Nordson Common Stock having a dollar value at least equal to three (3) times base salary while other Nordson executive officers are required to hold Nordson Common Stock having a dollar value at least equal to two (2) times base salary.
Directors are required to achieve the share ownership requirement within five years of election to the Board, or, in the case of Directors serving at the time the ownership requirements were adopted, within five years of the date of adoption. Likewise, newly elected or promoted executive officers will have up to five years to meet the applicable ownership requirements after their election or promotion, or in the case of executive officers in office at the time the ownership requirements were adopted or revised, within five years of the date of adoption.
Equity interests that count toward satisfaction of the ownership requirement include:
Directors: Shares owned outright by the Director, or his or her spouse and dependent children; shares held in trust for the benefit of the Director or his or her family; shares of restricted stock; restricted stock units and stock equivalent units held in deferred compensation accounts which may be distributed only in the form of Common Shares; or other individual retirement accounts.
Executive Officers: Shares owned outright by the Executive Officer, or his or her spouse and dependent children; shares held in trust for the benefit of the Executive Officer or his or her family; shares of restricted stock; shares held in deferred compensation accounts; and shares held in the NEST (Nordson ESOP Fund and Nordson Stock Fund) or other individual retirement accounts.
Directors and executive officers who have not satisfied the share ownership requirements by the end of the five-year period or who have not exhibited progress towards the required ownership level prior to the end of such five-year period will be expected to retain 100% of the shares acquired through exercise of stock options, lapse of transfer restrictions on restricted stock, vesting of non-deferred restricted stock units, or performance shares awards received pursuant to the Company’s shareholder approved equity award plan, net of shares tendered to cover the exercise price of the option or taxes due on the exercise of stock option, the lapse of a restriction period or award of shares until the share ownership required, or progress therewith as applicable, is achieved.
Directors or executive officers who will be unable to achieve the required share ownership after taking any or all of the actions listed above will meet with the Chairman of the Governance and Nominating Committee (for Directors) or Compensation Committee (for executive officers) who will consult with the Chief Executive Officer to develop a plan to permit the Director or executive officer to achieve the required share ownership.
[rev November 25, 2014]