SCHEDULE 14A
PROXY STATEMENT
Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by the Registrant ☒ Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☐
Check the appropriate box:
☐ | Preliminary Proxy Statement | |
☐ | Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as Permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) | |
☒ | Definitive Proxy Statement | |
☐ | Definitive Additional Materials | |
☐ | Soliciting Material Under Rule 14a-12 |
Sabre Corporation
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
☒ | No fee required. | |||
☐ | Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. | |||
(1) | Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
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(2) | 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. | |||
☐ | Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
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(1) | Amount Previously Paid:
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(2) | Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No:
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(3) | Filing Party:
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(4) | Date Filed:
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Notice of 2021 Annual Meeting
of Stockholders and
Proxy Statement
March 18, 2021
Dear Fellow Stockholders:
We are pleased to invite you to the 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be held on Wednesday, April 28, 2021, at 9:30 a.m. CDT. Due to concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, and to help protect the health and safety of our employees, stockholders, and other stakeholders, the Annual Meeting will be a virtual meeting conducted solely online via live webcast at www.proxydocs.com/SABR. There is no physical location for the meeting.
To participate in the Annual Meeting, you must register in advance at www.proxydocs.com/SABR. As part of the registration process, you must enter the control number provided on your proxy card, voting instruction form, or Notice of Electronic Availability. Upon completing your registration, you will receive further instructions via email, one hour prior to the meeting time, including your unique links that will allow you to access the meeting and will permit you to submit questions during the meeting. If you encounter any difficulties accessing the virtual meeting during the check-in or meeting time, please call the technical support number provided.
Details about the business to be conducted at the Annual Meeting can be found in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and proxy statement.
Your vote is important. Regardless of whether you plan to virtually attend the Annual Meeting, we urge you to submit your proxy as soon as possible. You may submit your proxy using the proxy card by completing, signing, and dating it, then returning it by mail. Also, most of our stockholders can submit their proxy by telephone or through the Internet. If telephone or Internet voting is available to you, instructions will be included on your proxy card. Additional information about voting your shares is included in the proxy statement.
As in prior years, we are utilizing rules that allow companies to furnish proxy materials to stockholders on the Internet. We believe furnishing proxy materials in this manner allows us to continue to make this information available to our stockholders, while reducing printing and delivery costs and acting in a sustainable manner.
On behalf of your Board of Directors, thank you for your continued interest and support.
Sincerely,
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Karl Peterson |
Sean Menke | |
Chairman of the Board | President and Chief Executive Officer |
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
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SABRE CORPORATION
3150 Sabre Drive
Southlake, Texas 76092
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
The Annual Meeting of Stockholders (including any adjournments or postponements, the Annual Meeting) of Sabre Corporation, a Delaware corporation, will be held virtually at 9:30 a.m. CDT on Wednesday, April 28, 2021, for the following purposes:
1. | To elect George Bravante, Jr., Hervé Couturier, Gary Kusin, Gail Mandel, Sean Menke, Phyllis Newhouse, Karl Peterson, Zane Rowe, Gregg Saretsky, John Scott, and Wendi Sturgis to our Board of Directors, each to serve a one-year term, |
2. | To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021, |
3. | To approve our 2021 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, |
4. | To hold an advisory vote on the compensation of our named executive officers, |
5. | To hold an advisory vote on the frequency of the advisory stockholder vote on the compensation of our named executive officers, and |
6. | To transact any other business that may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournments or postponements. |
Our Board of Directors recommends you vote (1) FOR the election of the eleven nominees for directors named in this proxy statement, (2) FOR ratification of the appointment of our independent auditors, (3) FOR the approval of our 2021 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, (4) FOR the advisory, non-binding vote on the compensation of our named executive officers, and (5) for the option of ONE YEAR as the frequency of the advisory stockholder vote on the compensation of our named executive officers.
Only stockholders of record at the close of business on March 2, 2021 are entitled to notice of, to attend virtually, and to vote at the Annual Meeting and any adjournments or postponements.
Due to concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, and to help protect the health and safety of our employees, stockholders, and other stakeholders, the Annual Meeting will be a virtual meeting conducted solely online via live webcast at www.proxydocs.com/SABR. Please register in advance at www.proxydocs.com/SABR prior to the registration deadline of 5:00 p.m. EDT on April 26, 2021. As part of the registration process, you must enter the control number provided on your proxy card, voting instruction form, or Notice of Electronic Availability. Upon completing your registration, you will receive further instructions via email, including your unique links that will allow you to access the meeting and will permit you to submit questions during the meeting. If you encounter any difficulties accessing the virtual meeting during the check-in or meeting time, please call the technical support number provided.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
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Whether or not you expect to virtually attend the Annual Meeting, we encourage you to submit your proxy promptly by using the Internet or telephone or by signing, dating, and returning your proxy card.
By order of the Board of Directors.
Steve Milton
Corporate Secretary
March 18, 2021
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials
for the Stockholder Meeting to be Held on April 28, 2021
This proxy statement and the 2020 annual report are available at
www.proxydocs.com/SABR
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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PROPOSAL 3: APPROVAL OF THE SABRE CORPORATION 2021 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN | 36 | ||||
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PROPOSAL 4: ADVISORY, NON-BINDING VOTE ON THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS |
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PROPOSAL 5: FREQUENCY OF ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION |
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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT |
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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OTHER INFORMATION | 94 | ||||
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Proxy Access Nominations and Annual Meeting Advance Notice Requirements |
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APPENDIX A: | Sabre Corporation 2021 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan | A-1 | |||||
APPENDIX B: | List of Included and Excluded Countries | B-1 |
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PROXY STATEMENT SUMMARY
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This summary represents only selected information. You should review the entire proxy statement before voting.
Matters for Stockholder Voting
Proposal | Description |
Board
Voting | ||
1. Election of directors
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Election of George Bravante, Jr., Hervé Couturier, Gary Kusin, Gail Mandel, Sean Menke, Phyllis Newhouse, Karl Peterson, Zane Rowe, Gregg Saretsky, John Scott, and Wendi Sturgis to serve a one-year term |
FOR these nominees
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2. Ratification of appointment of auditors |
Ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent auditors for 2021 |
FOR
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3. Approval of our 2021 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan
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Approval of our 2021 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, to replace our 2019 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan and increase the number of shares authorized for issuance under our equity-based compensation plans |
FOR
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4. Advisory, non-binding vote on the compensation of our named executive officers |
Approval, on an advisory and non-binding basis, of our named executive officers 2020 compensation |
FOR
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5. Advisory, non-binding vote on the frequency of the advisory vote on the compensation of our named executive officers |
Approval, on an advisory and non-binding basis, of the frequency of the advisory vote on our named executive officers compensation
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ONE YEAR
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PROXY STATEMENT SUMMARY
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Information on Director Nominees
Information about the eleven nominees for director is included below. The Governance and Nominating Committee has reviewed the individual director attributes and contributions of these nominees, and the Board of Directors recommends that stockholders vote FOR the election of each of these nominees.
Name and Occupation
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Committee Roles
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Independent
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Experience Highlights
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George Bravante, Jr. Co-founder of Bravante-Curci Investors, LP, Owner of Bravante Produce, and CEO of Pacific Agricultural Realty, LP |
Audit Committee Executive Committee |
✓ | Travel industry experience, as the former Chairman of the Board of ExpressJet Holdings, Inc. Investment experience Financial and strategic business knowledge Audit Committee financial expert | |||
Hervé Couturier President, Kerney Partners |
Audit Committee Technology Committee Executive Committee |
✓ | Significant experience in the areas of solutions strategy, product strategy, product development, and business management in software-based companies Domain experience in the travel industry International experience | |||
Gary Kusin Private investor, business advisor, and entrepreneur |
Compensation Committee Governance and Nominating Committee |
✓ | Substantial experience in executive management and corporate governance Extensive experience as an investor, director, and executive officer of major corporations | |||
Gail Mandel Managing Director, Focused Point Ventures, LLC |
Audit Committee Technology Committee |
✓ | Extensive hospitality industry experience Significant leadership experience, including in finance and technology implementation | |||
Sean Menke President and CEO, Sabre Corporation |
Technology Committee Executive Committee |
Extensive travel technology sector experience Substantial leadership experience as a former executive officer of airline companies |
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PROXY STATEMENT SUMMARY
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Name and Occupation |
Committee Roles
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Independent
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Experience Highlights
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Phyllis Newhouse Founder and CEO, Xtreme Solutions, Inc. |
Audit Committee* Technology Committee* |
✓ | Deep experience in cybersecurity and information technology fields as the CEO of a cybersecurity firm and as a former United States Army noncommissioned officer that focused on national security Significant focus on entrepreneurship, including through the founding of her firm and a nonprofit dedicated to connecting and supporting women on their entrepreneurial journeys | |||
Karl Peterson Senior Partner of TPG and Managing Partner, TPG Pace Group, and Chairman of the Board, Sabre Corporation |
Compensation Committee Executive Committee Governance and Nominating Committee |
✓ | Extensive experience as a director of several travel and technology companies Former executive of an airline travel company Private equity investor with significant experience working with public companies | |||
Zane Rowe Chief Financial Officer and Interim Chief Executive Officer, VMware, Inc. |
Compensation Committee Technology Committee |
✓ | Extensive experience in the travel industry and the technology sector Financial expertise Experience in sales, operations, and strategic roles | |||
Gregg Saretsky Retired President and Chief Executive Officer, WestJet |
Technology Committee |
✓ | Deep airline industry experience Leadership experience as an executive of airline companies | |||
John Scott Founder and Chairman of Park House |
Governance and Nominating Committee |
✓ | Extensive experience in the hospitality, leisure, and entertainment industries Significant experience serving on the boards of private and public companies | |||
Wendi Sturgis Chief Revenue Officer, Lyte, Inc. |
Governance and Nominating Committee* Technology Committee* |
✓ | Significant cybersecurity, technology and marketing leadership experience Extensive executive officer experience, including as a founding executive of a search experience cloud company |
* | Subject to election as a director. |
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PROXY STATEMENT SUMMARY
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2021 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan
We are seeking approval of our 2021 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (the 2021 Omnibus Plan), which our Board of Directors adopted in March 2021, subject to stockholder approval. We currently have the 2019 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (the 2019 Omnibus Plan) in place. We are proposing adoption of the 2021 Omnibus Plan to replace the 2019 Omnibus Plan, which will also increase the number of shares authorized for issuance pursuant to our equity-based compensation plans. The 2021 Omnibus Plan is a critical part of our overall compensation program and is intended to promote the interests of Sabre and our stockholders by providing our employees, who are largely responsible for the management, growth, and protection of our business, with incentives and rewards to encourage them to continue in the service of Sabre. The 2021 Omnibus Plan is designed to meet these objectives by providing these employees with a proprietary interest in pursuing the long-term growth, profitability, and financial success of Sabre.
The Board of Directors recommends that stockholders vote FOR the approval of the 2021 Omnibus Plan.
Advisory, Non-Binding Vote on the Compensation of Our Named Executive Officers
Stockholders are asked to cast an advisory, non-binding vote on the compensation of our named executive officers, as described in Compensation Discussion and Analysis and the executive compensation tables following that section. This is often referred to as a say-on-pay proposal.
The Board of Directors recommends that stockholders vote FOR the approval of the compensation of our named executive officers, as disclosed in this proxy statement pursuant to the SECs compensation disclosure rules.
Advisory, Non-Binding Vote on the Frequency of the Vote on the Compensation of Our Named Executive Officers
Stockholders are asked to cast an advisory, non-binding vote on the frequency of the advisory vote on the compensation of our named executive officers. Stockholders may vote for the vote to occur every year, every two years, or every three years.
The Board of Directors recommends that stockholders vote for the frequency of ONE YEAR for the advisory vote on the compensation of our named executive officers.
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PROXY STATEMENT
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PROXY STATEMENT
for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders
to be held on April 28, 2021
INFORMATION ABOUT OUR ANNUAL MEETING
Date and Time of Virtual Annual Meeting
Our 2021 Annual Meeting will be held virtually solely online via live webcast on Wednesday, April 28, 2021, at 9:30 a.m. CDT at www.proxydocs.com/SABR.
Only stockholders as of the record date and persons holding proxies from stockholders as of the record date may attend the virtual Annual Meeting.
The Board of Directors established the close of business on March 2, 2021 as the record date for determining the holders of Sabre stock entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting.
On the record date, 317,335,073 shares of common stock were outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. Each share of common stock outstanding is entitled to one vote for each director nominee and one vote for each other item to be voted on at the Annual Meeting.
We are first mailing this proxy statement and the accompanying proxy materials to holders of Sabre common stock on or about March 18, 2021.
Notice of Electronic Availability of Proxy Statement and Annual Report
As permitted by rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), we are making this proxy statement and our annual report available to our stockholders electronically via the Internet. This reduces printing and delivery costs and supports our sustainability efforts. You may have received in the mail a Notice of Electronic Availability explaining how to access this proxy statement and our annual report on the Internet and how to vote online. If you received this Notice but would like to receive a paper copy of the proxy materials, you should follow the instructions contained in the Notice for requesting these materials.
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PROXY STATEMENT
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You may direct how your shares are voted by proxy, without virtually attending the Annual Meeting. The manner in which your shares may be voted by proxy depends on whether you are a:
| Registered stockholder. Your shares are represented by certificates or book entries in your name on the records of Sabres stock transfer agent, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, or |
| Beneficial stockholder. You hold your shares in street name through a broker, trust, bank, or other nominee. |
You may vote your shares by proxy in any of the following three ways:
| Using the Internet. Registered stockholders may submit their proxies using the Internet by going to www.proxypush.com/SABR and following the instructions. Beneficial stockholders may submit their proxies by accessing the website specified on the voting instruction forms provided by their brokers, trusts, banks, or other nominees. You will be required to enter the control number that is included on the voting instruction form provided by your broker, trust, bank, or other nominee. |
| By Telephone. Registered stockholders may submit their proxies, from within the United States, using any touch-tone telephone by calling (866) 206-5104 and following the recorded instructions. Beneficial owners may submit their proxies, from within the United States, using any touch-tone telephone by calling the number specified on the voting instruction forms provided by their brokers, trusts, banks, or other nominees. You will be required to enter the control number that is included on the voting instruction form provided by your broker, trust, bank, or other nominee. |
| By Mail. Registered stockholders that received printed proxy materials may submit proxies by mail by marking, signing, and dating the printed proxy cards and mailing them in the accompanying postage-paid envelopes. Beneficial owners may submit their proxies by marking, signing, and dating the voting instruction forms provided by their brokers, trusts, banks, or other nominees and mailing them in the accompanying postage-paid envelopes. |
Please note that if you received a Notice of Electronic Availability, you cannot vote your shares by filling out and returning the Notice. Instead, you should follow the instructions contained in the Notice on how to submit a proxy by using the Internet or telephone.
All proxies properly submitted and not revoked will be voted at the Annual Meeting in accordance with the instructions indicated on the proxies. If you are a stockholder of record and submit your signed proxy voting instructions but do not direct how to vote on each item, the persons named as proxies will vote your shares as follows:
| FOR the election of the eleven directors named in this proxy statement, |
| FOR the ratification of the appointment of our independent auditors, |
| FOR the approval of the 2021 Omnibus Plan, |
| FOR the advisory, non-binding vote on the compensation of our named executive officers, and |
| For the option of ONE YEAR as the frequency of the advisory stockholder vote on the compensation of our named executive officers. |
You may also vote during the Annual Meeting by following the instructions on the meeting website during the Annual Meeting. Votes during the Annual Meeting will replace any previous votes you have made by
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PROXY STATEMENT
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mail, telephone, or the Internet. Attendance at the virtual Annual Meeting without voting or revoking a previous proxy in accordance with the voting procedures will not in and of itself revoke a previously submitted proxy.
Any stockholder of record submitting a proxy has the power to revoke the proxy at any time prior to its exercise by (1) submitting a new proxy with a later date or time, including a proxy given over the Internet or by telephone, (2) notifying our Corporate Secretary at 3150 Sabre Drive, Southlake, Texas 76092 in writing, which notice must be received by the Corporate Secretary before the meeting or (3) voting during the virtual Annual Meeting.
If you are a beneficial stockholder, you may revoke your proxy or change your vote only by following the separate instructions provided by your broker, trust, bank, or other nominee.
Transaction of business at the Annual Meeting may occur if a quorum is present. The presence at the Annual Meeting, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to be voted at the meeting, present in person or by proxy, constitutes a quorum. If a quorum is not reached, the Annual Meeting will be adjourned until a later time.
Item 1: Election of Directors. The election of each director will be determined by the vote of a majority of the votes cast with respect to that directors election, requiring the number of votes cast for a directors election to exceed the number of votes cast against that director.
Item 2: Ratification of the Appointment of Our Independent Auditors. The affirmative vote of the holders of not less than a majority of the outstanding common stock entitled to vote and present, in person or by proxy, at the meeting is required.
Item 3: Approval of the 2021 Omnibus Plan. The affirmative vote of the holders of not less than a majority of the voting power of the outstanding common stock entitled to vote and present, in person or by proxy, at the meeting is required.
Item 4: Advisory, Non-binding Vote on the Compensation of Our Named Executive Officers. The affirmative vote of the holders of not less than a majority of the outstanding common stock entitled to vote and present, in person or by proxy, at the meeting is required.
Item 5: Advisory, Non-binding Vote on the Frequency of the Vote on the Compensation of Our Named Executive Officers. The affirmative vote of the holders of not less than a majority of the outstanding common stock entitled to vote and present, in person or by proxy, at the meeting is required.
Abstentions and Broker Non-Votes
Abstentions and broker non-votes are counted as present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining a quorum. For Item 1, because the election of each director requires a majority of votes cast, abstentions
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PROXY STATEMENT
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and broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of the vote. For Items 2, 3, 4 and 5, because the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares present and entitled to vote is required for approval, abstentions will be counted as votes against this proposal, and there will be no broker non-votes.
If you hold Sabre shares in street name, you must provide your broker, bank, or other holder of record with instructions in order to vote these shares. If you do not provide these voting instructions, whether your shares can be voted by your bank, broker, or other nominee depends on the type of item being considered for a vote.
| Non-Discretionary Items. The election of directors, the approval of the 2021 Omnibus Plan, the advisory, non-binding vote on the compensation of our named executive officers, and the advisory, non-binding vote on the frequency of the vote on the compensation of our named executive officers are non-discretionary items and may NOT be voted on by your broker, bank, or other nominee absent specific voting instructions from you. |
| Discretionary Item. The ratification of Ernst & Young LLP as Sabres independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021 is a discretionary item. Generally, brokers, banks and other nominees that do not receive voting instructions may vote on this proposal in their discretion. |
This solicitation is being made by our Board of Directors. We will bear all costs of this proxy solicitation, including the cost of preparing, printing, and delivering materials, the cost of the proxy solicitation, and the expenses of brokers, fiduciaries, and other nominees who forward proxy materials to stockholders. In addition to mail and electronic means, our employees may solicit proxies by telephone or otherwise. In addition, we may enlist the help of banks, brokers, broker-dealers, and similar organizations in soliciting proxies from their customers (i.e., beneficial stockholders). We have retained Alliance Advisors, LLC to aid in the solicitation at a cost of approximately $11,500 plus reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses.
The Board of Directors does not presently intend to bring any business before the Annual Meeting other than the proposals discussed in this proxy statement and specified in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders. If any other matters should properly come before the Annual Meeting, the persons designated in the proxy will vote on them according to their best judgment.
Your vote is very important. Whether or not you plan to virtually attend the Annual Meeting, please take the time to submit your proxy via the Internet, by telephone, or by returning your marked, signed, and dated proxy card so that your shares will be represented at the Annual Meeting.
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
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Corporate Governance Guidelines
The Board of Directors has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines, which govern the Board of Directors structure and proceedings and contain its position on many governance issues. These Guidelines are available on the investors section of our website at www.sabre.com.
Our Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that our Board of Directors has the right to exercise its discretion to either separate or combine the offices of the Chairman of the Board and the CEO. This decision is based upon the Board of Directors determination of what is in the best interests of Sabre and its stockholders, in light of the circumstances and taking into consideration succession planning, skills, and experience of the individuals filling those positions and other relevant factors.
Mr. Peterson currently serves as non-executive Chairman of the Board. As Chairman of the Board, his duties include:
| leading and overseeing the Board, |
| presiding at all meetings of the Board and the stockholders, |
| establishing, in consultation with the CEO (and any other executive officers as needed), the schedule and agendas for meetings of the Board, |
| defining the scope, quality, quantity, and timeliness of the flow of information between management and the Board, including Board meeting materials, that is necessary for the Board to effectively and responsibly perform its duties, |
| advising the Board committee chairs in fulfilling their designated roles and responsibilities to the Board, |
| facilitating discussions among directors both during and between Board meetings and serving as a liaison between the Board and the CEO, |
| advising the CEO on strategic matters, including regular discussions on key acquisitions, divestitures, significant company developments, and other items requiring Board approval or oversight, |
| developing the agenda for and presiding over Board executive sessions, as well as providing feedback and perspective to the CEO regarding discussions at these sessions and working with the CEO to address any feedback, |
| overseeing the Boards review and approval of the CEOs annual goals and objectives for Sabre, |
| leading the Board in the annual performance evaluation of the CEO, |
| leading the Board in CEO and senior management succession planning, |
| managing the Boards oversight and approval of Sabres annual plan and multi-year outlook, |
| managing, in coordination with the Compensation Committee, the Boards oversight of company-wide talent management and diversity, |
| managing the Boards oversight of risks and conflicts of interest, including ensuring appropriate ownership by the full Board or an appropriate Board committee, |
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| leading the annual Board evaluation and, in coordination with the Governance and Nominating Committee, overseeing the process for Board committee evaluations, |
| chairing the Governance and Nominating Committee, |
| working with the Governance and Nominating Committee regarding recommendations for Board committee service, including chairing Board committees, |
| interviewing, along with appropriate members of the Governance and Nominating Committee, all Board candidates and making recommendations to the Governance and Nominating Committee and the Board regarding these candidates, |
| consulting with stockholders, in coordination with the CEO, |
| approving the retention of consultants who report directly to the Board, and |
| assuming such other responsibilities that the Board or the CEO may designate from time to time. |
Mr. Menke was elected as President and CEO effective December 31, 2016. The current leadership structure is based on the leadership provided by a non-executive Chairman of the Board (currently Mr. Peterson) and a full-time CEO (currently Mr. Menke), with both positions being subject to oversight and review by Sabres Board of Directors. The Board of Directors recognizes that, if circumstances change in the future, other leadership structures might also be appropriate, and it has the discretion to revisit this determination of Sabres leadership structure.
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
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The following charts provide a snapshot of the Boards composition.
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Board Composition and Director Independence
Our Board of Directors is currently comprised of thirteen directors and will be comprised of eleven directors following Ms. James, Ms. Odoms, Messrs. Osnoss and Sicilianos retirement from the Board of Directors immediately prior to the Annual Meeting and if Ms. Newhouse and Ms. Sturgis are elected. Our Certificate of Incorporation provides that the number of directors on our Board of Directors shall be not less than five directors nor more than thirteen directors, as determined by the affirmative vote of the majority of the Board of Directors then in office.
Our Board of Directors has determined that George Bravante, Jr., Hervé Couturier, Renée James, Gary Kusin, Gail Mandel, Phyllis Newhouse, Judy Odom, Joseph Osnoss, Karl Peterson, Zane Rowe, Gregg Saretsky, John Scott, John Siciliano, and Wendi Sturgis are independent as defined under the corporate governance rules of Nasdaq. The Board also determined that Lawrence W. Kellner was independent as defined under the corporate governance rules of Nasdaq during the period in 2020 in which he served as a
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
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director. In making these determinations, the Board of Directors considered the applicable legal standards and any relevant transactions, relationships, or arrangements. See Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions.
Director Nominee Criteria and Process
The Board of Directors is responsible for approving candidates for membership to the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors has delegated the screening and recruitment process to the Governance and Nominating Committee, in consultation with our Chairman of the Board and our President and CEO. The Governance and Nominating Committee believes that the criteria for director nominees should support Sabres strategies and business, ensure effective governance, account for individual director attributes and the overall mix of those attributes, and support the successful recruitment of qualified candidates for the Board of Directors.
Qualified candidates for director are those who, in the judgment of the Governance and Nominating Committee, possess all of the general attributes and a sufficient mix of the specific attributes listed below to ensure effective service on the Board of Directors.
General Attributes | Specific Attributes | |
Leadership skills Ethical character Active participator Relationship skills Effectiveness Independence Financial literacy Reflection of Sabre values |
Leadership experience, including executive and board experience Technology or travel industry knowledge Financial background Diversity, including geographical, industry, function, gender, race, or ethnicity International experience Marketing or sales background Other functional expertise |
The Governance and Nominating Committee may receive recommendations for candidates for the Board of Directors from various sources, including our directors, management, and stockholders. In addition, the Governance and Nominating Committee may periodically retain a search firm to assist it in identifying and recruiting director candidates meeting the criteria specified by the Governance and Nominating Committee.
The Governance and Nominating Committee recommends nominees to the Board of Directors to fill any vacancies. As provided in our Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors elects a new director when a vacancy occurs between annual meetings of stockholders. The Governance and Nominating Committee also recommends to the Board of Directors any new appointments and nominees for election as directors at our Annual Meetings.
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
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Attributes of Current Directors
The Governance and Nominating Committee believes that each of our current directors possesses all of the general attributes described above. The following chart provides an overview of the specific attributes described above we believe are applicable to our current directors.
See Certain Information Regarding Nominees for Director for additional information regarding director qualifications.
The Governance and Nominating Committee believes that Board tenure is important, as we seek to achieve the appropriate balance in years of service. New directors provide fresh perspectives, while longer serving directors provide a deep knowledge of the company. Our current Board has an average tenure of 6 years.
Our Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that directors will not stand for re-election after reaching age 74. This guideline may be waived in individual cases by the Governance and Nominating Committee.
The Governance and Nominating Committee oversees annual performance evaluations of the Board and its committees, and the Board and each committee conducts an annual evaluation. The Governance and Nominating Committee further assesses the individual contributions of directors recommended for re-election, as well as considers the overall composition of the Board and its committees, including whether the directors have an appropriate mix of the attributes described above in order to function effectively and taking into account any anticipated future needs of the Board.
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
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As noted above, the Governance and Nominating Committee believes that diversity of backgrounds and viewpoints is a key attribute for directors. As a result, the Governance and Nominating Committee considers specific attributes for director candidates, including whether the individual brings an appropriate level of diversity, which may be, among others, geographical, industry, function, gender, race, or ethnicity. While the Governance and Nominating Committee considers this diversity when reviewing nominees for director, the Governance and Nominating Committee has not established a formal policy regarding diversity in identifying director nominees.
Stockholder Nominations for Directors
The Governance and Nominating Committee considers nominees recommended by stockholders as candidates for election to the Board of Directors. As discussed under Other Corporate Governance Practices and Matters, our Bylaws provide for proxy access stockholder nominations of director candidates. Stockholders who wish to nominate directors under our proxy access Bylaw provisions or who wish to nominate directors who are not intended to be included in our proxy materials should refer to the information under Other InformationProxy Access Nominations and Annual Meeting Advance Notice Requirements.
A nomination that does not comply with the requirements set forth in our Bylaws will not be considered for presentation at the annual meeting, but may be considered by the Governance and Nominating Committee for any vacancies arising on the Board of Directors between annual meetings in accordance with the process described in Director Nominee Criteria and Process.
Board Meetings and Annual Meeting Attendance
The Board of Directors met eight times in 2020. All of the directors attended in excess of 75% of the total number of meetings of the Board of Directors and the committees on which they served.
Our Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that directors are expected to attend all or substantially all Board meetings and meetings of the committees of the Board on which they serve, as well as our annual meeting. Our 2020 Annual Meeting was attended by all of our directors then in office.
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
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The Board of Directors has established five standing committees to assist it in carrying out its responsibilities: the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, the Governance and Nominating Committee, the Technology Committee and the Executive Committee. The table below provides current membership for each committee.
Director | Audit | Compensation |
Governance and Nominating |
Technology | Executive | ||||||||||||||||||||
George Bravante, Jr. |
Chair |
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Member | ||||||||||||||||||||
Hervé Couturier |
Member |
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Chair | Member | ||||||||||||||||||||
Renée James |
Member |
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Member |
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Gary Kusin |
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Member | Member |
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Gary Mandel |
Member |
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|
Member |
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Sean Menke |
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Member | Member | ||||||||||||||||||||
Judy Odom |
Member |
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Joseph Osnoss |
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Member |
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Karl Peterson |
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Member | Chair |
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Chair | ||||||||||||||||||||
Zane Rowe |
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Member |
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Member |
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Gregg Saretsky |
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Member |
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John Scott |
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Member |
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John Siciliano |
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Chair | Member |
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Member |
Ms. Newhouse is expected to serve on the Audit Committee and the Technology Committee, and Ms. Sturgis is expected to serve on the Governance and Nominating Committee and the Technology Committee, if elected.
Each of the committees operates under its own written charter adopted by the Board of Directors, each of which is available on the investors section of our website at www.sabre.com.
Ad hoc committees may also be designated under the direction of our Board of Directors when necessary to address specific issues.
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee assists the Board of Directors in the oversight of, among other things, the following items:
| the integrity of Sabres financial statements and internal control system, |
| the performance of Sabres internal audit function, |
| the annual independent audit of Sabres financial statements, |
| the engagement of the independent auditors and the evaluation of their qualifications, independence, and performance, |
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
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| legal and regulatory compliance, |
| the implementation and effectiveness of Sabres disclosure controls and procedures, |
| review of our cybersecurity and other information technology risks, controls, and procedures, and |
| the evaluation of enterprise risk issues, including overseeing risks to Sabre related to the items listed above, and reviewing Sabres procedures with respect to risk management. |
The members of the Audit Committee are George Bravante, Jr. (Chairman), Hervé Couturier, Renée James, Gail Mandel, and Judy Odom, and Ms. Newhouse is expected to serve on the Audit Committee if elected. Each of these individuals is independent, as defined under Nasdaq rules and Rule 10A-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act). Our Board of Directors has determined that each director appointed to the Audit Committee is financially literate and that Mr. Bravante, Ms. James, Ms. Mandel and Ms. Odom meet the criteria of the rules and regulations set forth by the SEC for an audit committee financial expert. The Audit Committee met seven times in 2020.
Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee assists the Board of Directors in the oversight of, among other things, the following items:
| the operation of our executive compensation program, |
| the review and approval of the corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of our CEO, the evaluation of his or her performance in light of those goals and objectives, and the determination and approval of his or her compensation based on that evaluation, |
| the establishment and annual review of any stock ownership guidelines applicable to our executive officers and management, and the non-employee members of the Board of Directors, |
| the determination and approval of the compensation level (including base and incentive compensation) and direct and indirect benefits of our executive officers, |
| any recommendation to the Board of Directors regarding the establishment and terms of incentive-compensation and equity-based plans, and the administration of these plans, and |
| the evaluation and oversight risks to Sabre and its business implied by Sabres compensation program, taking into account Sabres business strategy. |
The members of the Compensation Committee are John Siciliano (Chairman), Gary Kusin, Karl Peterson, and Zane Rowe, each of whom is independent, as defined under Nasdaq rules. The Compensation Committee met seven times in 2020.
Committee Consultant
The Compensation Committees charter provides that the Compensation Committee has the authority to retain advisors, including compensation consultants, to assist in its work. The Compensation Committee believes that a compensation consultant can provide important market information and perspectives that can help it determine compensation programs that best meet the objectives of our compensation philosophy and policies. Pursuant to its charter, prior to selecting a compensation consultant the Compensation Committee considers factors relevant to the independence of the individual advisors, as well as the independence of the advisors organization.
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
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The Compensation Committee has engaged Compensia, Inc., a national compensation consulting firm, to assist it with compensation matters. Compensia has no other business relationship with Sabre and receives no payments from us other than fees for services to the Compensation Committee. Compensia reports directly to the Compensation Committee, and the Compensation Committee may replace Compensia or hire additional consultants at any time. A representative of Compensia attends Compensation Committee meetings and communicates with the Chairman of the Compensation Committee between meetings from time to time.
The Compensation Committee has assessed the independence of Compensia taking into account, among other things, the factors set forth in Exchange Act Rule 10C-1 and the listing standards of Nasdaq, and has concluded that no conflict of interest exists with respect to the work that Compensia performs for the Compensation Committee.
Compensation Policies and Practices Risk Assessment
At the request of the Compensation Committee, Compensia has assessed the risk profile of Sabres compensation programs. Based on this review, management and the Compensation Committee have concluded that Sabres compensation policies and practices, taken as a whole, are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse impact on Sabre.
Governance and Nominating Committee
The Governance and Nominating Committee assists the Board of Directors in the oversight of, among other things, the following items:
| the review of the performance of our Board of Directors and any recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding the selection of candidates, qualification and competency requirements for service on the Board of Directors, and the suitability of proposed nominees as directors, |
| corporate governance principles applicable to Sabre, |
| leadership of the annual review of the Board of Directors performance, and |
| oversight of risks to Sabre associated with corporate governance, including Board leadership structure, succession planning, and other related governance matters. |
The members of the Governance and Nominating Committee are Karl Peterson (Chairman), Gary Kusin, John Scott, and John Siciliano, and Ms. Sturgis is expected to serve on the Governance and Nominating Committee if elected. Each of these individuals is independent, as defined under Nasdaq rules. The Governance and Nominating Committee met six times in 2020.
Technology Committee
The Technology Committee assists the Board of Directors in the oversight of, among other things, the following items:
| the appraisal of major technology-related projects and recommendations to our Board of Directors regarding our technology strategies, |
| the review of the quality and effectiveness of Sabres information technology security, data privacy, and disaster recovery capabilities, |
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| the provision of advice to our senior technology management team with respect to existing trends in information technology and new technologies, applications, and systems, and |
| in coordination with the Audit Committee, oversight of risks related to the quality and effectiveness of Sabres information technology security, data privacy, and disaster recovery capabilities. |
The members of the Technology Committee are Hervé Couturier (Chairman), Renée James, Gail Mandel, Sean Menke, Joseph Osnoss, Zane Rowe, and Gregg Saretsky, and Ms. Newhouse and Ms. Sturgis are expected to serve on the Technology Committee if elected. The Technology Committee met three times in 2020.
Executive Committee
The Executive Committees principal function is to exercise, when necessary between meetings of the Board of Directors, certain of the Board of Directors powers and authority in the management of our business and affairs and to act on behalf of the Board of Directors.
The members of the Executive Committee are Karl Peterson (Chairman), George Bravante, Hervé Couturier, Sean Menke, and John Siciliano. The Executive Committee did not meet in 2020.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
None of our executive officers currently serves, or in the past year has served, as a member of the Board of Directors or compensation committee of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving on our Board of Directors or Compensation Committee.
Other Corporate Governance Practices and Matters
Proxy Access
In 2020, the Board of Directors amended our Bylaws to implement proxy access. The proxy access provisions in our Bylaws generally permit a stockholder or group of up to 20 stockholders owning 3% or more of our outstanding common stock continuously for at least three years to nominate and include in our proxy materials director nominees constituting up to the greater of 20% of the Board of Directors or two individuals, provided that such stockholders and nominees satisfy the requirements specified in the Bylaws.
Simple Majority Voting Provisions
In 2019, stockholders approved an amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation that eliminated the supermajority voting provisions contained in our Certificate of Incorporation in favor of simple majority voting requirements contained in our Certificate of Incorporation.
Annual Election of Directors
In 2018, stockholders approved amendments to our Certificate of Incorporation to provide that directors will be elected on an annual basis instead of for staggered terms of three years each. Under the amendment, as of the 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, all directors are elected annually.
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
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Majority Voting for Directors in Uncontested Elections
In 2017, the Board of Directors and our stockholders approved an amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation to facilitate the implementation of a majority vote standard in uncontested director elections. As a result, our Bylaws now provide for a majority vote standard in these elections.
Communicating with Directors
Stockholders and other interested parties may communicate with our Board of Directors by writing to the Board of Directors, c/o Corporate Secretary, Sabre Corporation, 3150 Sabre Drive, Southlake, Texas 76092. You may also find information on communicating with the Board of Directors on the investors section of our website at www.sabre.com.
Code of Business Ethics
We have adopted a Code of Business Ethics, which is the code of conduct applicable to all of our directors, officers, and employees. The Code of Business Ethics is available on the investors section of our website at www.sabre.com. Any change or amendment to the Code of Business Ethics, and any waivers of the Code of Business Ethics for our directors, CEO or senior financial officers, will be available on our website at the above location. As of the date of this proxy statement, no such waivers had been posted at this location.
Board and Management Roles in Risk Oversight
Our Board of Directors has the primary responsibility for risk oversight of Sabre as a whole. The Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing risks associated with financial and accounting matters, including compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and internal control over financial reporting. In addition, the Audit Committee has oversight responsibility relating to the evaluation of enterprise risk issues, as well as for reviewing Sabres procedures with respect to risk management. The Audit Committee further has oversight authority to review our plans to mitigate cybersecurity risks.
The Board of Directors has also charged the Compensation Committee with evaluating Sabres compensation program, taking into account Sabres business strategy and risks to Sabre and its business implied by the compensation program. See Compensation Policies and Practices Risk Assessment. The Governance and Nominating Committee oversees risks associated with corporate governance, including Board leadership structure, succession planning and other matters. The Technology Committee, in coordination with the Audit Committee, is responsible for periodically reviewing, appraising, and discussing with management the quality and effectiveness of Sabres information technology security, data privacy, and disaster recovery capabilities.
We believe that the current leadership structure of the Board of Directors is designed to support effective oversight of our risk management processes described above by providing independent leadership at the Board committee level, with ultimate oversight by the full Board of Directors as led by both the Chairman of the Board and the President and CEO.
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
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Whistleblower Procedures
The Audit Committee has established procedures for receiving, recording, and addressing any complaints we receive regarding accounting, internal accounting controls, or auditing matters, and for the confidential and anonymous submission, by our employees or others, of any concerns about our accounting or auditing practices. We also maintain a toll-free Sabre Global Integrity Hotline telephone line and a website, each allowing our employees and others to voice their concerns anonymously.
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PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
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PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Our business and affairs are managed under the direction of our Board of Directors. Our Certificate of Incorporation provides that our Board of Directors shall consist of at least five directors but no more than thirteen directors.
As of the date of this proxy statement, the Board of Directors consists of thirteen members. The Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of the Governance and Nominating Committee, has recommended Phyllis Newhouse and Wendi Sturgis for election to the Board of Directors. In addition, Ms. James, Ms. Odom, and Messrs. Osnoss and Siciliano have notified us that they are retiring from the Board of Directors immediately prior to the Annual Meeting. We would like to thank them for their many years of service and substantial contributions to the Board of Directors, Sabre and our stockholders. Following their retirement, and if Ms. Newhouse and Ms. Sturgis are elected, the Board of Directors will consist of eleven directors. The eleven nominees for director set forth on the following pages are proposed to be elected at this years Annual Meeting to serve for a term to expire at the 2022 Annual Meeting and until their successors are elected and have been qualified. Should any nominee become unable to serve, proxies may be voted for another person designated by management. All nominees have advised us that they will serve if elected.
Certain Information Regarding Nominees for Director
The names of the nominees, their ages as of March 18, 2021, the year they first became directors, their principal occupations during at least the past five years, information regarding director qualifications, and certain other biographical information are set forth below. Information is also provided on public company boards with a class of securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act or subject to the requirements of Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act or registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 on which they have served on since January 1, 2016. All of the nominees, other than Ms. Newhouse and Ms. Sturgis, are current directors standing for reelection.
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PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
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NOMINEES FOR ELECTION TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
For a One-Year Term Expiring at the 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
GEORGE R. BRAVANTE, JR.
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Sabre committee membership: Audit Committee (chair) and Executive Committee
Professional experience: Mr. Bravante is the co-founder and the managing member of the general partner of Bravante-Curci Investors, LP, an investment firm focusing on real estate investments in California. He has held this position since 1996. Since 2005, he has also been the owner of Bravante Produce, a grower, packer, and shipper of premium California table grapes and citrus. In addition, since 2012 he has served as the CEO of Pacific Agricultural Realty, LP, a private equity fund investing in agricultural assets in California. Previously, he served as chairman of the board of ExpressJet Holdings, Inc. from 2005 to 2010 and was a member of its board from 2004 to 2010. From 1994 to 1996, Mr. Bravante was President and Chief Operating Officer of Colony Advisors, Inc., a real estate asset management company, and prior to that he was President and Chief Operating Officer of America Real Estate Group, Inc., where he led strategic management, restructuring, and disposition of assets. He serves as a director of KBS Growth & Income REIT, Inc., a real estate investment trust.
Director qualifications: We believe that Mr. Bravante should serve on the Board of Directors because of his travel industry experience, as well as his investment experience and financial and strategic business knowledge.
Public company boards served on since 2016: KBS Growth & Income REIT, Inc. (2016 to present) | |
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62, Director since December 2014
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Co-founder of Bravante-Curci Investors, LP, Owner of Bravante Produce, and CEO of Pacific Agricultural Realty, LP
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HERVÉ COUTURIER
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Sabre committee membership: Audit Committee, Technology Committee (chair) and Executive Committee
Professional experience: Mr. Couturier is a private investor and product strategy consultant. Mr. Couturier currently serves as President of Kerney Partners, a consulting firm. From 2012 to 2016, he was Executive Vice President, R&D, at Amadeus, an airline reservation systems provider. From 2007 to 2012, he was Executive Vice President of SAP AGs Technology Group and Head of Research. He also serves as a board member for SimCorp A/S, Infovista Inc., Unit4 N.V., Sportradar AG, and Kyriba Corp., and has held management positions at a number of IT companies including Business Objects, the worldwide leader of business intelligence solutions, now part of SAP, S1 Corporation, a provider of payment software for financial institutions, and XRT, a leading European treasury management software company, now part of the Sage Group PLC. Mr. Couturier holds both an engineering degree and a Master of Science degree from the École Centrale Paris in France. He began his career at IBM in 1982, where he held various engineering and business positions until 1997.
Director qualifications: Mr. Couturier has significant experience in the areas of solutions strategy, product strategy, product development, and business management at software-based companies, as well as domain experience in the travel, banking, and manufacturing segments. We believe this international and industry expertise provides valuable insights for the Board of Directors. | |
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62, Director since December 2017
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President, Kerney Partners
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PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
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GARY KUSIN
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Sabre committee membership: Compensation Committee and Governance and Nominating Committee
Professional experience: Mr. Kusin is a private investor, business advisor, and entrepreneur. Mr. Kusin has advised an array of public companies, private companies, and private equity firms, including TPG Capital and Leonard Green Partners on strategic, management, and growth issues. He co-founded two companies, Babbages, operating now as GameStop, and Laura Mercier Cosmetics which today are well known global brands. Mr. Kusin served from 2001 to 2006 as president and chief executive officer of Kinkos, today operating as FedEx Office. He was responsible for the turnaround, strategic growth, and transformation of Kinkos and oversaw its ultimate sale to FedEx. An Inc. magazine Entrepreneur of the Year, Mr. Kusin has served on numerous private and public the boards of director. Mr. Kusins community activities include positions held with St. Marks School of Texas Board of Trustees, Dallas Young Presidents Organization (YPO) chairman, Dallas Citizens Council board of directors, the Southwestern Medical School Foundation, and as chairman of the Advisory Council for the University of Texas McCombs School of Business. A member of the University of Texas McCombs School of Business Hall of Fame, Mr. Kusin earned a BA from the University of Texas at Austin and a MBA from the Harvard Business School.
Director qualifications: We believe that Mr. Kusin should serve on our Board of Directors because of his substantial expertise in executive management and corporate governance as a result of his extensive experience as an investor, director, and an executive officer of major corporations.
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69, Director since March 2007
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Private investor, business advisor, and entrepreneur
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GAIL MANDEL
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Sabre committee membership: Audit Committee and Technology Committee
Professional experience: Ms. Mandel has served as Managing Director of Focused Point Ventures, LLC, a business advisory and consulting services organization, since 2019. In addition, she currently serves as the Executive Chairman of the Board of PureStar, a provider of laundry services and linen management to the hospitality industry. From 2014 to 2018, she served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Wyndham Destination Network, an operating division of Wyndham Worldwide and a provider of professionally managed, unique vacation accommodations. Ms. Mandel served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, Wyndham Exchange & Rentals (later known as Wyndham Destination Network), from March 2014 to November 2014 and Chief Financial Officer, Wyndham Destination Network, from January 2010 to March 2014. From August 2006 to January 2010, Ms. Mandel was Senior Vice President, Financial Planning & Analysis, for Wyndham Worldwide. From February 1999 to August 2006, Ms. Mandel was Division CFO/Controller, Cendant Hospitality Services, and from October 1997 to February 1999, Ms. Mandel was Controller, Cendant Mobility.
Director qualifications: We believe that Ms. Mandels extensive hospitality industry experience, as well as her significant leadership experience in finance and technology implementation, provides an important contribution to our Board of Directors.
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52, Director since April 2020
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Managing Director, Focused Point Ventures, LLC
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PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
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SEAN MENKE
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Sabre committee membership: Executive Committee and Technology Committee
Professional experience: Mr. Menke was elected President and CEO of Sabre effective December 31, 2016. Prior to that, he served as Sabres executive vice president and president of Travel Network. Before joining Sabre in October 2015, Mr. Menke served as executive vice president and chief operating officer of Hawaiian Airlines from October 2014 to October 2015. From 2013 to 2014, he was executive vice president of resources at IHS Inc., a global information technology company. He served as managing partner of Vista Strategic Group, LLC, a consulting firm, from 2012 to 2013 and from 2010 to 2011. From 2011 to 2012, he served as president and chief executive officer of Pinnacle Airlines, and from 2007 to 2010 as president and chief executive officer of Frontier Airlines. Frontier Airlines and Pinnacle Airlines filed for bankruptcy protection under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in 2008 and 2012, respectively. He serves as a director of Waste Management, Inc.
Director qualifications: Mr. Menkes extensive travel technology sector experience and his substantial leadership experience as an executive officer of airline companies make him a valuable asset to our management and our Board of Directors.
Public company boards served on since 2016: Waste Management, Inc. (2021 to present) | |
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52, Director since December 2016
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President and CEO, Sabre Corporation
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PHYLLIS NEWHOUSE
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Professional experience: Ms. Newhouse has served as Chief Executive Officer of Xtreme Solutions, Inc. since 2002. Xtreme Solutions, Inc. is a leading information technology and cybersecurity firm that specializes in ethical hacking, training, and providing cyber solutions consultancy to the federal and private sectors. She served in the United States Army, where she focused on national security, including working with several information security task forces teams. In 2019, Ms. Newhouse founded ShoulderUp, a nonprofit dedicated to connecting and supporting women in their entrepreneurial journeys. Ms. Newhouse currently serves on the board of the Technology Association of Georgia, is a member of the Business Executives for National Security and of the Women Presidents Organization, and serves on the Board of Directors of Girls Inc.
Director qualifications: Ms. Newhouse has deep experience in the cybersecurity and information technology fields as the CEO of a cybersecurity firm and as a former United States Army noncommissioned officer that focused on national security. She also has a significant focus on entrepreneurship, including through the founding of her firm and a nonprofit dedicated to connecting and supporting women on their entrepreneurial journeys. We believe these characteristics will serve an important role on our Board of Directors. | |
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58
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Founder and CEO, Xtreme Solutions, Inc.
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PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
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KARL PETERSON
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Sabre committee membership: Compensation Committee, Executive Committee (chair) and Governance and Nominating Committee (chair)
Professional experience: Mr. Peterson is a Senior Partner of TPG and Managing Partner of TPG Pace Group, the firms effort to sponsor SPACs and other permanent capital solutions for companies. He previously served as President and CEO of TPG Pace Holdings and Pace Holdings Corp. Since rejoining TPG in 2004, Mr. Peterson has led investments for the firm in technology, media, financial services, and travel sectors and oversaw TPGs European operations from 2010 until 2017. Prior to 2004, he was a co-founder and the president and CEO of Hotwire.com. He led the business from its launch in 2000 through its sale to InterActiveCorp in 2003. Before Hotwire, Mr. Peterson was a principal at TPG in San Francisco, and from 1992 to 1995 he was a financial analyst at Goldman, Sachs & Co. Mr. Peterson is currently a director of Playa Hotels and Resorts and as Chairman of Accel Entertainment.
Director qualifications: We believe that as a result of his experience as a director of several travel and technology companies, as a former executive of an online travel company, and as a private equity investor with significant experience working with public companies, Mr. Peterson brings a keen strategic understanding of our industry and of the competitive landscape for our company.
Public company boards served on since 2016: Pace Holdings Corp. (2015 to 2017), Playa Hotels and Resorts (2017 to present), Caesars Acquisition Company (2013 to 2017), Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (2008 to 2016), TPG Pace Holdings (2017 to 2019), TPG Pace Beneficial Finance (2020 to 2021), and TPG Pace Tech Opportunities (2020 to 2021) | |
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50, Director since March 2007
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Senior Partner of TPG and Managing Partner, TPG Pace Group Chairman of the Board, Sabre Corporation
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ZANE ROWE
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Sabre committee membership: Compensation Committee and Technology Committee
Professional experience: Mr. Rowe has served as Chief Financial Officer of VMware, Inc. since March 2016, and as its Interim Chief Executive Officer since February 2021. Before joining VMware, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of EMC Corporation from October 2014 through February 2016. Prior to joining EMC, Mr. Rowe was Vice President of North American Sales of Apple Inc. from May 2012 to May 2014. He was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of United Continental Holdings, Inc., an airline holdings company, from October 2010 until April 2012 and was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Continental Airlines from August 2008 to September 2010. Mr. Rowe serves on the Board of Trustees of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Director qualifications: Mr. Rowes extensive experience in the travel industry and the technology sector, as well as his financial expertise and experience in sales, operations, and strategic roles, provides key contributions to our Board of Directors.
Public company boards served on since 2016: Pivotal Software, Inc. (2016 to 2019) | |
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50, Director since May 2016
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Chief Financial Officer and Interim Chief Executive Officer, VMware, Inc.
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| | 25 |
PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
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GREGG SARETSKY
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Sabre committee membership: Technology Committee
Professional experience: Mr. Saretsky retired in March 2018 from WestJet as President and Chief Executive Officer, a position he held since April 2010 after having joined WestJet in June 2009. During Mr. Saretskys tenure, WestJet doubled in size, started a regional airline subsidiary, inaugurated long haul international operations, all while achieving an investment-grade credit rating and recognition from Waterstone Human Capital for Canadas Most admired corporate culture. He was named Albertas Business Person of the Year for 2012 by Alberta Venture magazine. In 2013, Mr. Saretsky was also named Top New CEO of the Year by Canadian Business Magazine, an award bestowed on a CEO who has transformed his company within the first five years of his appointment. In addition, he received an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Concordia University in 2014 and was the recipient of the David Foster Foundation Visionary Award as Canadas National Business Leader of the Year in 2015. Mr. Saretsky began his career in aviation with Canadian Airlines in 1985, after a short period in Commercial Banking, and rose through the ranks to the position of Vice-President, Airports, and Vice-President, Marketing, before joining Alaska Airlines in 1998 as Senior Vice-President, Marketing & Planning and then Executive Vice-President of Flight Operations and Marketing, responsible for the airlines flight crews, operations, and consumer programs and activities. He led the development of Alaska Airlines alliance strategy and was instrumental in building new airline and tour operator partnerships. Mr. Saretsky has served as a board member of the Conference Board of Canada, Calgary Telus Convention Centre, Tourism Vancouver, and the University of British Columbia (UBC) and is currently Board Chair of the Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo Economic Development & Tourism Corporation, a Director of RECARO, a German Industrial Company, and a Director of IndiGo, Indias largest airline and low-cost carrier.
Director qualifications: Mr. Saretskys deep airline industry experience, including as the retired President and Chief Executive Officer of WestJet, and his leadership experience as an executive of airline companies make him a valuable asset to our Board of Directors.
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61, Director since July 2020
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Retired President and Chief Executive Officer, WestJet
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PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
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JOHN SCOTT
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Sabre committee membership: Governance and Nominating Committee
Professional experience: Mr. Scott is an experienced executive in the hospitality, leisure, and entertainment industries with more than 25 years of consumer facing business expertise across complex global, multi-unit, multi-brand enterprises. Mr. Scott is a founder and Chairman of Park House, a new private social club business located in Dallas, Texas, which is redefining the private social club model. He is also Chairman of A&O Hotels, the largest European hybrid hotel and hostel platform, which owns and operates 40 assets with more than 25,000 beds and 7,000 rooms throughout Europe. Most recently Mr. Scott served from 2012 through 2015 as President, Chief Executive Officer, and a Director of Belmond Ltd., previously Orient-Express Hotels Ltd., a publicly listed company engaged in the ownership and management of a global portfolio of 46 luxury hotel, restaurants, tourist trains, and cruise businesses in 22 countries. Prior to joining Belmond Ltd., he served from 2003 until 2011 as President and Chief Executive Officer of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, an international luxury hotel ownership and management company. Mr. Scott previously served on the board of Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants, a private hotel and restaurant management company, SMU COX School of Business, and Cedar Fair Entertainment, a leading North American amusement park owner and operator, and currently serves as a director of Subway Restaurants.
Director qualifications: Mr. Scotts extensive experience as an executive in the hospitality, leisure, and entertainment industries, including as President and Chief Executive Officer of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts and Belmond Ltd., as well as his significant experience in serving on the boards of private and public companies, provides important insights and contributions to our Board of Directors.
Public company boards served on since 2016: Cedar Fair Entertainment (2010 to 2020) | |
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55, Director since July 2020
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Founder and Chairman of Park House
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PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
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WENDI STURGIS
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Professional experience: Ms. Sturgis has served as the Chief Revenue Officer of Lyte, Inc., a ticketing/consumer technology platform, since 2021. She has over twenty-five years of experience as a technology and marketing leader at some of the worlds largest tech companies. Prior to Lyte, Ms. Sturgis was a founding executive at Yext (NYSE: Yext) where she worked from 2011 to 2019, serving in multiple roles, including SVP of Sales and Services, Chief Customer Officer, and most recently, CEO of Yext Europe. She has previously held executive positions at Oracle, Gartner, Right Media, and Yahoo!, where she was Vice President of Account Management for North America in charge of the North American Search business. She is currently an independent director for The Container Store and Kustomer, a private company based in New York City. She has served on multiple boards including Dailyworth.com, Student Transportation of America, Step Up Womens Network, and Chair of the Georgia Tech Advisory Board. Ms. Sturgis currently serves as a trustee for the Georgia Tech Foundation.
Director qualifications: We believe that Ms. Sturgis significant cybersecurity, technology, and marketing leadership experience, as well as her extensive executive officer experience, make her well qualified to serve as a member of our Board of Directors.
Public company boards served on since 2016: The Container Store Group, Inc. (2019 to present), TPG Pace Tech Opportunities Corp. (2020 to present) and Student Transportation of America (2013 to 2018) | |
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53
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Chief Revenue Officer, Lyte, Inc.
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The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR the election of the eleven nominees for director.
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PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
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2020 Compensation
Our Board of Directors, based on recommendations by the Compensation Committee, has adopted a formal compensation program for the non-employee members of our Board of Directors. This compensation program is designed to pay directors an appropriate amount for their services required as a director, while also seeking to align their interests with the long-term interests of our stockholders. When assessing the director compensation program, the Compensation Committee, with the assistance of Compensia, compares the design and the compensation elements of the program to that of our compensation peer group. For information regarding our compensation peer group, see Compensation Discussion and AnalysisCompetitive Positioning below.
For 2020, this compensation program consisted of the following elements, adjusted as described below under Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on 2020 Board Compensation:
Type of Compensation | Dollar Value of Compensation Element | |
Annual cash retainer |
$90,000, paid quarterly | |
Annual grant of restricted stock unit awards (vests in full on first anniversary of date of grant) |
$160,000 value, awarded on March 15 | |
Audit Committee chairman annual cash retainer |
additional $30,000, paid quarterly | |
Audit Committee member annual cash retainer |
additional $15,000, paid quarterly | |
Compensation Committee chairman annual cash retainer |
additional $20,000, paid quarterly | |
Compensation Committee member annual cash retainer |
additional $10,000, paid quarterly | |
Governance and Nominating Committee chairman annual cash retainer |
additional $15,000, paid quarterly | |
Governance and Nominating Committee member annual cash retainer |
additional $10,000, paid quarterly | |
Technology Committee chairman annual cash retainer |
additional $15,000, paid quarterly | |
Technology Committee member annual cash retainer |
additional $10,000, paid quarterly |
In addition, the non-employee members of our Board of Directors are also eligible to receive a one-time restricted stock unit award with a grant date value of $400,000 in connection with their appointment to the Board of Directors, which vests ratably on a quarterly basis over four years from the date of grant.
Our Chairman of the Board receives an additional annual cash retainer equal to $160,000, payable quarterly in arrears, for service as Chairman of the Board. He receives no additional fees for serving as a committee chairman or member.
Awards granted to non-employee directors (i) from 2014 through May 2016 were pursuant to the 2014 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (the 2014 Omnibus Plan), (ii) from May 2016 to April 2019 were pursuant to the 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (the 2016 Omnibus Plan), and (iii) after April 2019 were pursuant to the 2019 Director Equity Compensation Plan (the 2019 Director Plan). Each of the 2014 Omnibus Plan, the 2016 Omnibus Plan, and the 2019 Director Plan was approved by stockholders.
Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on 2020 Board Compensation
Notwithstanding the program described above, as a result of the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the travel industry and our business, the Board reduced its cash retainer by 25% from
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PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
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March 16, 2020 through June 30, 2020. In addition, the Compensation Committee approved the use of a minimum stock price of $14.00 per share to calculate the number of shares issued for grants to directors under the 2019 Director Plan from March 13, 2020 through July 31, 2020, including restricted stock units awarded in connection with the annual grant and to newly-elected directors. The use of this $14.00 calculation had the effect of significantly limiting the number of shares issued to directors during this period. See Compensation Discussion and Analysis for more information on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and actions taken in response to the pandemic on our executive compensation program.
Approval of 2020 Compensation
In February 2020, the Compensation Committee, with the assistance of Compensia, reviewed the compensation program for the non-employee members of our Board of Directors. In its assessment, the Compensation Committee compared the design and the compensation elements of the program to that of the directors compensation programs of our compensation peer group. Based on its review, the Compensation Committee recommended, and the Board concurred, not to make any changes to the program at that time.
Non-Employee Directors Compensation Deferral Plan
We maintain the Sabre Corporation Non-Employee Directors Compensation Deferral Plan, a non-qualified deferred compensation plan that allows non-employee directors to defer receipt of all or a portion of the shares of our common stock subject to their restricted stock unit awards. Each participating non-employee director has a notional account established to reflect the vesting of his or her restricted stock unit awards and any associated notional dividend equivalents. Non-employee directors are fully vested in their accounts. Deferrals are distributed in the form of Sabre common stock after the director terminates his or her service on the Board of Directors or in the event of a change in control of Sabre.
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PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
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2020 Director Compensation Table
The following table presents the total compensation for each person who served as a non-employee member of our Board of Directors during 2020. Mr. Menke, who is our President and CEO, does not receive any compensation for his service as a director and is not included in this table. The compensation received by Mr. Menke as an employee is presented in the 2020 Summary Compensation Table below.
Director |
Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($)(1) |
Stock Awards |
Total ($) | ||||||||||||
George Bravante, Jr. |
$ | 107,854 | $ | 95,204 | $ | 203,058 | |||||||||
Hervé Couturier |
$ | 112,500 | $ | 95,204 | $ | 207,704 | |||||||||
Renée James |
$ | 107,813 | $ | 95,204 | $ | 203,017 | |||||||||
Lawrence W. Kellner(4) |
$ | 36,332 | $ | 95,204 | $ | 131,536 | |||||||||
Gary Kusin |
$ | 106,223 | $ | 95,204 | $ | 201,427 | |||||||||
Gail Mandel |
$ | 72,428 | $ | 211,425 | $ | 283,853 | |||||||||
Judy Odom |
$ | 103,084 | $ | 95,204 | $ | 198,288 | |||||||||
Joseph Osnoss |
$ | 99,945 | $ | 95,204 | $ | 195,149 | |||||||||
Karl Peterson |
$ | 229,375 | $ | 95,204 | $ | 324,579 | |||||||||
Zane Rowe |
$ | 103,125 | $ | 95,204 | $ | 198,329 | |||||||||
Gregg Saretsky |
$ | 46,196 | $ | 245,711 | $ | 291,907 | |||||||||
John Scott |
$ | 46,196 | $ | 245,711 | $ | 291,907 | |||||||||
John Siciliano |
$ | 107,854 | $ | 95,204 | $ | 203,058 |
(1) | Reflects reduction in cash retainer from March 16, 2020 through June 30, 2020 as a result of the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the travel industry and our business, as described above. |
(2) | The amounts reported in the Stock Awards column represent the grant date fair value of the restricted stock unit award for shares of our common stock granted during 2020, computed in accordance with Financial Accounting Standard Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (ASC Topic 718), disregarding the impact of estimated forfeitures. The assumptions used in calculating the grant date fair value of these stock-based awards are set forth in Note 14, Equity-Based Awards, to the audited consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. The amounts reported in this column reflect the accounting cost for these stock-based awards, and do not correspond to the actual economic value that may be received by the non-employee members of our Board of Directors from their awards. The amounts also reflect the use of a minimum stock price of $14.00 per share to calculate the number of shares issued for grants to directors under the 2019 Director Plan from March 13, 2020 through July 31, 2020, including restricted stock units awarded in connection with the annual grant and to newly-elected directors. The use of this $14.00 calculation had the effect of significantly limiting the number of shares issued to directors during this period. |
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PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
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(3) | The following table sets forth information on the restricted stock unit awards for shares of our common stock granted in 2020 and the aggregate number of shares of our common stock subject to such outstanding restricted stock unit awards held at December 31, 2020 by the non-employee members of our Board of Directors. |
Director | Grant Date |
Restricted Stock Units Awarded in 2020 (#) |
Restricted Stock Units Held at December 31, 2020 (#) | ||||||||||||
George Bravante, Jr. |
03/13/2020 | 11,429 | (a) | 11,429 | (a) | ||||||||||
Hervé Couturier |
03/13/2020 | 11,429 | 16,547 | ||||||||||||
Renée James |
03/13/2020 | 11,429 | (a) | 11,429 | (a) | ||||||||||
Lawrence W. Kellner |
03/13/2020 | 11,429 | (a) | 0 | |||||||||||
Gary Kusin |
03/13/2020 | 11,429 | 11,429 | ||||||||||||
Gail Mandel |
04/29/2020 | 28,571 | 25,000 | ||||||||||||
Judy Odom |
03/13/2020 | 11,429 | (a) | 11,429 | (a) | ||||||||||
Joseph Osnoss |
03/13/2020 | 11,429 | 11,429 | ||||||||||||
Karl Peterson |
03/13/2020 | 11,429 | (a) | 11,429 | (a) | ||||||||||
Zane Rowe |
03/13/2020 | 11,429 | 11,429 | ||||||||||||
Gregg Saretsky |
07/15/2020 | 28,571 | 26,786 | ||||||||||||
John Scott |
07/15/2020 | 28,571 | 26,786 | ||||||||||||
John Siciliano |
03/13/2020 | 11,429 | (a) | 22,676 | (a) |
(a) | Per election made by the non-employee director under the Non-Employee Directors Compensation Deferral Plan, receipt of this restricted stock unit award for shares of our common stock was deferred until the end of the respective board members service. Mr. Bravante, Ms. James, Mr. Kellner, and Ms. Odom also earned an aggregate of 794, 627, 5,816, and 794 dividend equivalent shares in 2020 on previously deferred shares, respectively. |
(4) | Mr. Kellner retired from the Board effective April 29, 2020. |
The non-employee members of our Board of Directors are reimbursed for their actual travel and other out-of-pocket expenses in connection with their service on our Board of Directors and Board committees. Non-employee directors are not otherwise provided perquisites or retirement benefits.
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PROPOSAL 2: RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
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PROPOSAL 2: RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has selected Ernst & Young LLP (Ernst & Young) as the independent registered public accounting firm to audit our financial statements for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021, and is requesting ratification by our stockholders. If our stockholders do not approve the selection of Ernst & Young, the selection of other independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022 will be considered by the Audit Committee.
Representatives of Ernst & Young are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting with the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and to respond to questions.
Principal Accounting Firm Fees
Our aggregate fees (excluding value added taxes) with respect to the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 to our principal accounting firm, Ernst & Young, were as follows (in thousands):
|
2020 | 2019 | ||||||||
Audit Fees(1) |
$ | 8,057 | $ | 7,306 | ||||||
Audit-Related Fees(2) |
$ | 803 | $ | 860 | ||||||
Tax Fees(3) |
$ | 482 | $ | 1,200 | ||||||
All Other Fees(4) |
$ | 10 | $ | 10 |
(1) | Audit fees consist of fees for the audit of our consolidated financial statements, the review of the unaudited interim financial statements included in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and other professional services provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or which include services provided in connection with our filings with the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. |
(2) | Audit-related fees consist primarily of service organization control examinations and other attestation services. |
(3) | Tax fees comprise fees for a variety of permissible services relating to international tax compliance, tax planning, and tax advice. |
(4) | All other fees were paid for an online technical accounting research tool. |
Audit Committee Approval of Audit and Non-Audit Services
All audit and non-audit services provided by Ernst & Young to Sabre are pre-approved by the Audit Committee using the following procedures. At the first in-person meeting of the Audit Committee each year, the Audit Committee reviews a proposal, together with the related fees, to engage Ernst & Young for audit services. In addition, also at the first in-person meeting of the year, our Audit Committee reviews non-audit services to be provided by Ernst & Young during the year. At each subsequent in-person meeting, the Audit Committee reviews, if applicable, updated information regarding approved services and highlights any new audit and non-audit services to be provided by Ernst & Young. All new non-audit services to be provided are described in individual requests for services. The Audit Committee reviews the individual requests for non-audit services and approves the services if acceptable to the Audit Committee.
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PROPOSAL 2: RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
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Predictable and recurring covered services and their related fee estimates or fee arrangements are considered for general pre-approval by the full Audit Committee on an annual basis at the first in-person meeting of the year, based on information that is sufficiently detailed to identify the scope of the services to be provided. General pre-approval of any covered services is effective for the applicable fiscal year. A covered service and its related fee estimate or fee arrangement that has not received general pre-approval must be pre-approved by the Audit Committee or the Chairman of the Audit Committee.
In considering whether to pre-approve a covered service, the Audit Committee considers the nature and scope of the proposed service in light of applicable law, as well as the principles and other guidance enunciated by the SEC and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) with respect to auditor independence, including that an auditor cannot (1) function in the role of management, (2) audit his or her own work, or (3) serve in an advocacy role for his or her client. The Audit Committee also considers whether the independent auditors are best positioned to provide the most effective and efficient service, for reasons such as its familiarity with our business, people, culture, accounting systems, risk profile, and other factors, and whether the service might enhance our ability to manage or control risk, or improve audit quality. All these factors are considered as a whole, and no one factor is necessarily determinative. The Audit Committee is also mindful of the ratio of fees for audit to non-audit services in determining whether to grant pre-approval for any service, and considers whether the level of non-audit services, even if permissible under applicable law, is appropriate in light of the independence of the auditor.
To ensure prompt handling of unexpected matters, the Audit Committee has delegated to the Chairman of the Audit Committee the authority to pre-approve any individual covered services that are not the subject of general pre-approval and for which the aggregate estimated fees do not exceed $250,000. Actions taken are reported to the Audit Committee at its next Committee meeting. All services and fees in 2020 were pre-approved by the Audit Committee or the Chairman of the Audit Committee.
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021.
The Audit Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors. In accordance with this charter, the Audit Committee assists the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibility relating to the integrity of Sabres financial statements and internal control system. Management and the independent auditors are responsible for the planning and conduct of audits, as well as for any determination that Sabres financial statements are complete, accurate, and in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). The Audit Committee is responsible for the oversight of management and the independent auditors in connection with this process.
In addition, the Audit Committee is responsible for monitoring the independence of and the risk assessment procedures used by the independent auditors, selecting, and retaining the independent auditors, and overseeing compliance with various laws and regulations.
In discharging its oversight responsibilities, the Audit Committee reviewed and discussed Sabres audited financial statements with management and Ernst & Young, Sabres independent auditors. The Audit Committee also discussed with Ernst & Young all communications required by the auditing standards of the PCAOB.
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PROPOSAL 2: RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
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The Audit Committee received the written disclosures and letter from Ernst & Young required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding Ernst & Youngs communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence and has discussed Ernst & Youngs independence with them.
The Audit Committee has relied on managements representation that the financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP and on the opinion of Ernst & Young included in their report on Sabres financial statements.
Based on the above-mentioned review and discussions with management and the auditors, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in Sabres Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, for filing with the SEC.
AUDIT COMMITTEE OF
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
George Bravante, Jr., Chair
Hervé Couturier
Renée James
Gail Mandel
Judy Odom
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PROPOSAL 3: APPROVAL OF THE SABRE CORPORATION 2021 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
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PROPOSAL 3: APPROVAL OF THE SABRE CORPORATION 2021 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
In March 2021, our Board of Directors adopted the Sabre Corporation 2021 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (the 2021 Omnibus Plan), subject to approval by our stockholders at the 2021 Annual Meeting.
We currently have the 2019 Omnibus Plan in place, and as of December 31, 2020, there were 10,344,102 shares of our common stock available for issuance under the 2019 Omnibus Plan. We expect to utilize an additional approximately 6,000,000 shares of common stock under the 2019 Omnibus Plan through the date of the 2021 Annual Meeting, which will result in approximately 4,344,102 shares of common stock available for issuance as the date of the 2021 Annual Meeting. Subject to approval of the 2021 Omnibus Plan by stockholders, the 2021 Omnibus Plan will replace the 2019 Omnibus Plan for grants made after the 2021 Annual Meeting, which will also increase the number of shares authorized for issuance pursuant to our equity-based compensation plans.
The 2021 Omnibus Plan is a critical part of Sabres overall compensation program and is intended to promote the interests of Sabre and its stockholders by providing Sabres employees, who are largely responsible for the management, growth, and protection of Sabres business, with incentives and rewards to encourage them to continue in the service of Sabre. The 2021 Omnibus Plan is designed to meet these objectives by providing these employees with a proprietary interest in pursuing the long-term growth, profitability, and financial success of Sabre.
As with the 2019 Omnibus Plan, non-employee directors are not eligible to participate in the plan; instead, they participate in the 2019 Director Plan.
Alignment of 2021 Omnibus Plan with Stockholders Interests
The 2021 Omnibus Plan is designed to reinforce the alignment of our equity compensation opportunities for officers and employees with stockholders interests and, as highlighted below, includes a number of provisions that we believe are consistent with good compensation practices.
| No Discounted Stock Options. Stock options may not be granted with an exercise price lower than the fair market value of the underlying shares on the date of grant. |
| No Repricings/Cash Buyouts without Stockholder Approval. The 2021 Omnibus Plan prohibits, without stockholder approval, a stock option or a stock appreciation right from being repurchased for cash at a time when the exercise or strike price, as applicable, is equal to or greater than the fair market value of the underlying shares. The 2021 Omnibus Plan also prohibits any stock option or stock appreciation right from being re-priced, replaced, re-granted through cancellation, or modified without stockholder approval if the effect would be to reduce the exercise or strike price, as applicable, for the shares underlying the option or stock appreciation right. |
| No Evergreen Provision. There is no evergreen feature pursuant to which the shares available for issuance under the 2021 Omnibus Plan can be automatically replenished. |
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PROPOSAL 3: APPROVAL OF THE SABRE CORPORATION 2021 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
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| No Transferability. Awards generally may not be transferred, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, unless approved by the Compensation Committee. |
| No Automatic Grants. The 2021 Omnibus Plan does not provide for reload or other automatic grants to participants. |
| No Tax Gross-ups. The 2021 Omnibus Plan does not provide for any tax gross-ups. |
| Compensation Recovery (Clawback). The 2021 Omnibus Plan provides that Sabre is entitled, to the extent permitted or required by applicable law, Sabre policy (including our Executive Compensation Recovery Policy), or the requirements of any national securities exchange on which Sabres shares are listed for trading, to claw back compensation paid by Sabre to a participant under the 2021 Omnibus Plan. |
| No Single Trigger Vesting Upon a Change in Control. The 2021 Omnibus Plan provides that all outstanding equity awards will become exercisable and/or vest in the event of a change in control of Sabre only if these awards are not assumed, continued, or substituted by the surviving corporation, or if the holder undergoes a qualifying termination of employment following a change in control of Sabre. |
| No Liberal Share Recycling. Shares of our common stock used to pay the exercise price (whether through actual or constructive transfer) or tax withholding requirements related to any award granted under the 2021 Omnibus Plan may not be regranted, issued, or transferred under the 2021 Omnibus Plan. |
| Minimum Vesting Period. 95% of the shares of our common stock issued pursuant to an equity award granted under the 2021 Omnibus Plan are subject to a minimum one-year vesting requirement. |
The following table includes information regarding outstanding equity awards, shares available for grants of future equity awards, and total shares of common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2020 (and without giving effect to approval of this Proposal 3):
Total shares underlying outstanding options |
3,300,256 | ||||
Weighted average exercise price of outstanding options |
$ | 13.59 | |||
Weighted average remaining contractual life of outstanding options |
7.9 years | ||||
Total shares underlying outstanding unvested restricted stock unit awards |
12,309,646 | (1) | |||
Total shares available for grant |
10,344,102 | (2) | |||
Total shares available for grant as full-value awards |
10,344,102 | (3) | |||
Total shares of common stock outstanding |
317,296,733 |
(1) | Represents shares underlying outstanding unvested time-based restricted stock unit awards. As of December 31, 2020, there were also 2,846,795 shares underlying outstanding unvested performance-based restricted stock unit awards, assuming vesting at target levels. |
(2) | Total shares available for grant as of the Annual Meeting is projected to be 4,334,102. Total amount of shares initially available for grant as of April 23, 2019 was 23,187,275. |
(3) | Total shares available for grant as full-value awards as of the Annual Meeting is projected to be 4,334,102. |
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PROPOSAL 3: APPROVAL OF THE SABRE CORPORATION 2021 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
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Based on our historical practice, the Board of Directors believes the shares available for grant under the 2021 Omnibus Plan will be sufficient to cover awards for approximately the next two to three years, depending on circumstances such as significant market value fluctuations, vesting levels of performance-based restricted stock unit awards, off-cycle awards, or acquisitions. Since our initial public offering in April 2014, we granted equity awards (gross equity grants, which do not reflect the impact of cancellations) representing a total of approximately 4,996,677 shares in 2014, 2,824,579 shares in 2015, 4,777,809 shares in 2016, 5,681,376 shares in 2017, 5,679,715 shares in 2018, 5,925,561 shares in 2019, and 13,596,722 shares in 2020. These awards reflect a five-year average utilization rate of 2.54%. We expect to grant equity awards representing a total of approximately 6,000,000 through the date of the 2021 Annual Meeting.
Summary of Terms of the 2021 Omnibus Plan
The principal features of the 2021 Omnibus Plan are described below. This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the 2021 Omnibus Plan, a copy of which is attached as Appendix A to this proxy statement and incorporated in this proxy statement by reference. Please refer to Appendix A for more information.
Term
Awards under the 2021 Omnibus Plan may be granted for a term of ten years following the date that stockholders approve the 2021 Omnibus Plan at the 2021 Annual Meeting.
Administration
The 2021 Omnibus Plan is administered by our Board of Directors, the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors, or such other committee as designated by our Board of Directors (the Committee). Among the Committees powers under the 2021 Omnibus Plan is the power to determine those employees who will be granted awards and the amount, type, and other terms and conditions of awards. The Committee may also prescribe agreements evidencing or settling the terms of any awards, and any amendments thereto; grant awards alone or in addition to, in tandem with, or in substitution or exchange for (subject to restrictions on repricing stock options and stock appreciation rights, as described below), any other award, any award granted under the Prior Plans or that of any business entity we are acquiring, or any other right of the plan participant to receive payment from us.
Prior Plans means, with respect to the 2019 Omnibus Plan, the Sabre Corporation 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (the 2016 Omnibus Plan), the Sabre Corporation 2014 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (the 2014 Omnibus Plan), the Sovereign Holdings, Inc. 2012 Management Equity Incentive Plan (the Sovereign 2012 MEIP), the Sovereign Holdings, Inc. 2007 Management Equity Incentive Plan (as amended in 2010), and the Sovereign Holdings, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan (the Sovereign MEIP), and with respect to the 2021 Omnibus Plan, each of the foregoing plans plus the 2019 Omnibus Plan.
The Committee may delegate its powers and responsibilities under the 2021 Omnibus Plan, in writing, to a sub-committee of our Board of Directors, or delegate certain administration powers (not including the grant of awards) over the plan to one or more of our officers or employees.
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PROPOSAL 3: APPROVAL OF THE SABRE CORPORATION 2021 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
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The Committee has discretionary authority to interpret and construe any and all provisions of the 2021 Omnibus Plan and the terms of any award (or award agreement) granted thereunder and to adopt and amend such rules and regulations for the administration of the 2021 Omnibus Plan as it deems appropriate. Decisions of the Committee will be final, binding, and conclusive on all parties.
On or after the date of grant of any award, the Committee may accelerate the date on which any award becomes vested, exercisable, or transferable, provided that 95% of the shares underlying any stock-settled award must have a vesting period of at least one year from the date of grant. The Committee may also extend the term of any such award (including the period following a termination of a participants employment during which any such award may remain outstanding); waive any conditions to the vesting, exercisability, or transferability of any such award; grant other awards in addition to, in tandem with, or in substitution or exchange for any award granted under the 2021 Omnibus Plan, any Prior Plan, or any equity compensation plan of any business entity we are acquiring (subject to restrictions on repricing stock options and stock appreciation rights, as described below); or provide for the payment of dividends or dividend equivalents with respect to any such award. The Committee does not have the authority and may not take any such action described in this section to the extent that the grant of such authority or the taking of such action would cause any tax to become due under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code).
We will not reprice any stock option or stock appreciation right without the approval of our stockholders.
Shares Available for Issuance
| Available Shares. The aggregate number of shares of our common stock which may be issued under the 2021 Omnibus Plan may not exceed the sum of: |
(1) | 12,000,000 shares, |
(2) | the number of shares that remain available for issuance under the Prior Plans as of April 28, 2020, and |
(3) | the number of shares subject to outstanding awards under the 2019 Omnibus Plan or any of the Prior Plans that may become available if the underlying awards expire, are forfeited, cancelled, or terminated, are settled for cash, or otherwise become available in accordance with the terms of such plans. |
| Incentive Stock Options. The number of shares that may be covered by incentive stock options under the 2021 Omnibus Plan may not exceed 12,000,000 shares in the aggregate. |
| The shares to be delivered under the 2021 Omnibus Plan may be authorized and unissued shares or shares held in or acquired for our treasury, or both. |
In general, if awards under the 2021 Omnibus Plan expire or are forfeited, cancelled, or terminated without the issuance of shares, or are settled for cash in lieu of shares, or are exchanged for an award not involving shares, the shares covered by such awards will again become available for the grant of awards under the 2021 Omnibus Plan. However, if the exercise price or tax withholding requirements related to any award under the 2021 Omnibus Plan are satisfied through our withholding of shares otherwise then deliverable in respect of an award or through actual or constructive transfer to us of shares already owned, the number of shares equal to such withheld or transferred shares, as applicable, will no longer be available for issuance under the 2021 Omnibus Plan.
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PROPOSAL 3: APPROVAL OF THE SABRE CORPORATION 2021 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
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Shares covered by awards granted pursuant to the 2021 Omnibus Plan in connection with the assumption, replacement, conversion, or adjustment of outstanding equity-based awards in the context of a corporate acquisition or merger will not count as issued under the 2021 Omnibus Plan.
Individual Employee Share Limits Per Fiscal Year under the 2021 Omnibus Plan
| Options. 2,000,000 shares. |
| Stock Appreciation Rights. 2,000,000 shares. |
| Other Stock-Based Awards. 2,000,000 shares. |
Individual Limits on Cash Incentive Awards
| Cash Incentive Awards. The amount payable in respect of a cash incentive award granted to any participant in a single fiscal year that is subject to performance-based vesting may not exceed $5,000,000. |
Eligibility for Participation
The individuals eligible to receive awards under the 2021 Omnibus Plan are our employees (including prospective employees who have been offered employment) and those of our subsidiaries, as selected by the Committee.
As of December 31, 2020, approximately 7,500 employees would be eligible to participate in the 2021 Omnibus Plan. During 2020, a total of approximately 852 individuals received awards under the 2019 Omnibus Plan.
Cash Incentive Awards
The Committee may grant cash incentive awards. Cash incentive awards may be settled in cash or in other property, including shares of our common stock.
Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights
The Committee may grant non-qualified stock options and incentive stock options to purchase shares of our common stock. The Committee will determine the number of shares of our common stock subject to each option, the vesting schedule (provided that no option may be exercisable after the expiration of ten years after the date of grant), the method and procedure to exercise vested options, restrictions on transfer of options and any shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an option, and the other terms of each option. The exercise price per share of common stock covered by any option may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of a share of common stock on the date of grant.
Additionally, with respect to incentive stock options (within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code), the aggregate fair market value of shares with respect to incentive stock options that are exercisable for the first time by a participant during any calendar year under the 2021 Omnibus Plan or any of our other stock option plans may not exceed $100,000. To the extent the fair market value of such shares exceeds $100,000, the incentive stock options granted to such participant, to the extent and in the order required by regulations, automatically will be deemed to be non-qualified stock options, but all other terms and
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PROPOSAL 3: APPROVAL OF THE SABRE CORPORATION 2021 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
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provisions of such option will remain unchanged. No incentive stock option may be granted to a 10% stockholder unless the exercise price of the option is at least 110% of the fair market value of a share of common stock at the time such incentive stock option is granted and such incentive stock option is not exercisable after the expiration of five years from the date such incentive stock option is granted.
Other Stock-Based Awards
The Committee may grant other stock, stock-based, or stock-related awards in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as determined by the Committee. Each such other stock-based award may (i) involve the transfer of actual shares of our common stock to the participant, either at the time of grant or thereafter, or payment in cash or otherwise of amounts based on the value of shares of common stock, (ii) be subject to performance-based and/or service-based conditions, (iii) be in the form of stock appreciation rights, phantom stock, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares, deferred share units, or share-denominated performance units, and (iv) be designed to comply with applicable laws of jurisdictions other than the United States; provided, that each award must be denominated in, or must have a value determined by reference to, a number of shares of our common stock that is specified at the time of the grant of such award.
Performance-Based Compensation, Performance Goals and Measures
The Committee may grant performance-based compensation to a participant payable upon the attainment of specific performance goals. The performance goals may include any one or more of the following, including in combination: adjusted net earnings, appreciation in and/or maintenance of the price of common stock (including, without limitation, comparisons with various stock market indices), attainment of strategic and operational initiatives, budget, cash flow (including, without limitation, free cash flow), cost of capital, cost reduction, earnings and earnings growth (including, without limitation, earnings per share, earnings before taxes, earnings before interest and taxes, and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization), market share, market value added, net income, net sales, net revenue, operating profit and operating income, pretax income before allocation of corporate overhead and bonus, reductions in costs, return on assets and return on net assets, return on equity, return on invested capital, revenues, sales and sales growth, successful acquisition/divestiture, total stockholder return and improvement of stockholder return, gross margin, measures of liquidity or credit metrics, cash flow per share, improvements or attainments of expense levels, improvements or attainment of working capital levels or debt reduction, or such other measures as the Committee may determine from time to time.
Performance goals may relate to individual performance, company performance, or business unit performance.
In addition, any performance measure may be used to measure the performance of Sabre or a subsidiary as a whole or any business unit of Sabre or a subsidiary or any combination thereof, as the Committee may deem appropriate, or any of the above performance measures as compared to the performance of a group of comparator companies, or a published or special index that the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.
The Committee may, subject to the terms of the 2021 Omnibus Plan, amend previously granted awards whose grant, vesting, or payment is subject to performance-based measures.
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PROPOSAL 3: APPROVAL OF THE SABRE CORPORATION 2021 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
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Stockholder Rights
No person will have any rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares of our common stock covered by or relating to any award granted pursuant to the 2021 Omnibus Plan until the date of the issuance of such shares on our books and records.
Amendment and Termination
Notwithstanding any other provision of the 2021 Omnibus Plan, our Board of Directors may at any time suspend or discontinue the plan or revise or amend it in any respect whatsoever; provided, however, that to the extent that any applicable law, regulation, or rule of a national securities exchange requires stockholder approval for any such revision or amendment to be effective, such revision or amendment will not be effective without such approval.
Transferability
Awards granted under the 2021 Omnibus Plan are generally nontransferable (other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution), except that the Committee may provide for the transferability of non-qualified stock options subject to conditions and limitations as determined by the Committee; however, awards (other than incentive stock options and tandem stock appreciation rights) may be transferred during the lifetime of the participant, and may be exercised by these transferees during the lifetime of the participant, but only to the extent the transfers are permitted by the Committee.
Change in Control
Except as otherwise set forth in a participants award agreement, in the event (i) a participant has a qualifying termination of employment following a change in control of Sabre or (ii) of a change in control of Sabre in which outstanding awards are not assumed, continued, or substituted by the surviving corporation:
| All deferral of settlement, forfeiture conditions, and other restrictions applicable to awards granted under the 2021 Omnibus Plan will lapse, and such awards will be deemed fully vested as of the time of the change-in-control transaction without regard to deferral and vesting conditions, and |
| Any award carrying a right to exercise that was not previously exercisable and vested will become fully exercisable and vested as of the time of the change in control of Sabre. |
For purposes of this provision, a qualifying termination of employment means with respect to a participant, (i) a termination of such participants employment by Sabre (or any of its then-affiliated entities) without cause or by the participant for good reason, or (ii) a termination of such participants employment in the event of the participants death or disability, in each case, following a change in control of Sabre.
All awards made under the 2021 Omnibus Plan are discretionary. Therefore, the benefits and amounts that will be received or allocated under the 2021 Omnibus Plan are not determinable at this time. The closing price of our common stock, as reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market, on February 26, 2021 was $14.69 per share. See Executive Compensation2020 Grants of Plan-Based Awards, which provides information on the equity awards granted to the named executive officers in 2020.
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PROPOSAL 3: APPROVAL OF THE SABRE CORPORATION 2021 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
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U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences
The following is a summary of certain federal income tax consequences of the awards to be made under the 2021 Omnibus Plan based upon the laws in effect on the date hereof. The discussion is general in nature and does not take into account a number of considerations which may apply in light of the circumstances of a particular participant under the 2021 Omnibus Plan. The income tax consequences under applicable state and local tax laws may not be the same as under federal income tax laws.
Non-Qualified Stock Options
A participant will not recognize taxable income at the time of grant of a non-qualified stock option, and we will not be entitled to a tax deduction at such time. A participant will recognize compensation taxable as ordinary income (and subject to income tax withholding in respect of an employee) upon exercise of a non-qualified stock option equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares purchased over their exercise price, and we generally will be entitled to a corresponding tax deduction, except to the extent the deduction limits of Section 162(m) of the Code apply.
Incentive Stock Options
A participant will not recognize taxable income at the time of grant of an incentive stock option. A participant will not recognize taxable income (except for purposes of the alternative minimum tax) upon exercise of an incentive stock option. If the shares acquired by exercise of an incentive stock option are held for the longer of two years from the date the stock option was granted and one year from the date the shares were transferred to the participant in connection with the exercise of such incentive stock option, any gain or loss arising from a subsequent disposition of such shares will be taxed as long-term capital gain or loss, and we will not be entitled to any tax deduction. If, however, such shares are disposed of within such two- or one-year periods, then in the year of such disposition the participant will recognize compensation taxable as ordinary income equal to the excess of the lesser of the amount realized upon such disposition and the fair market value of such shares on the date of exercise over the exercise price, and we generally will be entitled to a corresponding tax deduction, except to the extent the deduction limits of Section 162(m) of the Code apply. The excess of the amount realized through the disposition date over the fair market value of the stock on the exercise date will be treated as capital gain.
Stock Appreciation Rights
A participant will not recognize taxable income at the time of grant of a stock appreciation right, and we will not be entitled to a tax deduction at such time. Upon exercise, a participant will recognize compensation taxable as ordinary income (and subject to income tax withholding in respect of an employee) equal to the fair market value of any shares delivered and the amount of cash paid by us, and we generally will be entitled to a corresponding tax deduction, except to the extent the deduction limits of Section 162(m) of the Code apply.
Restricted Stock
A participant will not recognize taxable income at the time of grant of shares of restricted stock award, and we will not be entitled to a tax deduction at such time, unless the participant makes an election under Section 83(b) of the Code to be taxed at such time. If such election is made, the participant will recognize compensation taxable as ordinary income (and subject to income tax withholding in respect of an
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| | 43 |
PROPOSAL 3: APPROVAL OF THE SABRE CORPORATION 2021 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
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employee) at the time of the grant equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares at such time over the amount, if any, paid for such shares. If such election is not made, the participant will recognize compensation taxable as ordinary income (and subject to income tax withholding in respect of an employee) at the time the restrictions lapse in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares at such time over the amount, if any, paid for such shares. We are entitled to a corresponding tax deduction at the time the ordinary income is recognized by the participant, except to the extent the deduction limits of Section 162(m) of the Code apply. In addition, a participant receiving dividends with respect to restricted stock for which the above-described election has not been made and prior to the time the restrictions lapse will recognize compensation taxable as ordinary income (and subject to income tax withholding in respect of an employee), rather than dividend income. We will be entitled to a corresponding tax deduction, except to the extent the deduction limits of Section 162(m) of the Code apply.
Restricted Stock Units
A participant will not recognize taxable income at the time of grant of a restricted stock unit, and we will not be entitled to a tax deduction at such time. A participant will recognize compensation taxable as ordinary income (and subject to income tax withholding in respect of an employee) at the time of settlement of the award equal to the fair market value of any shares delivered and the amount of cash paid by us, and we will be entitled to a corresponding deduction, except to the extent the deduction limits of Section 162(m) of the Code apply.
Other Stock-Based Awards
The grant, exercise or settlement of other stock-based awards granted under the 2021 Omnibus Plan may be taxable based on the specific terms and conditions of such awards.
Section 162(m) Limitations
Section 162(m) of the Code generally places a $1 million annual limit on a companys federal income tax deduction for compensation paid to certain senior executives. Thus, it is possible that Section 162(m) of the Code may disallow compensation deductions that would otherwise be available to us.
The foregoing general tax discussion is intended for the information of stockholders considering how to vote with respect to this proposal and not as tax guidance to participants in the 2021 Omnibus Plan. Participants are strongly urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the federal, state, local, foreign and other tax consequences to them of participating in the 2021 Omnibus Plan.
At the Annual Meeting, stockholders will be asked to approve the 2021 Omnibus Plan. This proposal requires the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than a majority of the voting power of the outstanding common stock entitled to vote and present, in person or by proxy, at the meeting.
Abstentions will be counted toward the tabulation of votes cast on the approval of the proposal to approve the 2021 Omnibus Plan, and will have the same effect as votes against that proposal.
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR approval of the Sabre Corporation 2021 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan.
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PROPOSAL 3: APPROVAL OF THE SABRE CORPORATION 2021 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
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Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following table gives information about our common stock that may be issued upon the exercise of options, warrants, and rights under all of our equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2020.
Number of securities
|
Weighted average
|
Number of securities
| |||||||||||||
Equity compensation plans approved by stockholders |
|
18,456,697 |
$ |
13.59 |
|
10,642,038 |
|||||||||
Equity compensation plans not approved by stockholders |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(a) | Includes shares to be issued upon the exercise of outstanding options under our 2019 Omnibus Plan, 2016 Omnibus Plan, 2014 Omnibus Plan, the Sovereign 2012 MEIP, and the Sovereign MEIP. Also includes 15,156,441 restricted stock unit awards under our 2019 Omnibus Plan, 2016 Omnibus Plan, and 2014 Omnibus Plan (including shares that may be issued pursuant to outstanding performance-based restricted stock unit awards, assuming the target award is met; actual shares may vary, depending on actual performance). |
(b) | Excludes restricted stock unit awards which do not have an exercise price. |
(c) | Excludes securities reflected in column (a). |
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PROPOSAL 4: ADVISORY, NON-BINDING VOTE ON THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
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PROPOSAL 4: ADVISORY, NON-BINDING VOTE ON THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
In Compensation Discussion and Analysis and the executive compensation tables following that section, we describe in detail our executive compensation program, including its objectives, policies and components. As discussed in Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the Compensation Committee seeks to observe the following principles, while balancing them with the context of the current uncertain COVID-19 pandemic environment and the corresponding need to respond quickly to any related challenging circumstances that may result from the pandemic:
| Retain and hire top-caliber executive officers. Executive officers should have base salaries and employee benefits that are market competitive and that permit us to hire and retain high-caliber individuals at all levels. |
| Pay for performance. A significant portion of the target total direct compensation opportunities of our executive officers should vary with annual and long-term business performance and each individuals contribution to that performance, while the level of at-risk compensation should increase as the scope of the executive officers responsibility increases. |
| Reward long-term growth and profitability. Executive officers should be rewarded for achieving long-term results, and these rewards should be aligned with the interests of our stockholders. |
| Align compensation with stockholder interests. The interests of our executive officers should be linked with those of our stockholders through the risks and rewards of the ownership of shares of our common stock. |
| Provide limited personal benefits. Perquisites and other personal benefits for our executive officers should be limited to items that serve a reasonable business purpose. |
| Reinforce succession planning process. The overall compensation program for our executive officers should reinforce our succession planning process. |
| Promote transparency. We seek to establish an efficient, simple, and transparent process for designing our compensation arrangements, setting performance objectives for annual and long-term incentive compensation opportunities, and making compensation decisions. |
For a more detailed discussion of how our executive compensation program reflects these objectives, policies, and principles, including information about the 2020 compensation of our named executive officers, see Compensation Discussion and Analysis. The Compensation Committee and our Board of Directors believe that the policies, practices, and compensation components described in Compensation Discussion and Analysis are effective in achieving our objectives and are directly aligned with our performance.
We are asking our stockholders to indicate their support for our executive compensation as described in this proxy statement. This proposal, commonly known as a say-on-pay proposal, gives our stockholders the opportunity to express their views on our executive compensation program. This vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of our executive
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PROPOSAL 4: ADVISORY, NON-BINDING VOTE ON THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
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officers and the objectives, policies, and practices described in this proxy statement. Accordingly, we will ask our stockholders to vote on the following resolution at the Annual Meeting:
RESOLVED, that the compensation paid to the Corporations named executive officers, as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables, and narrative discussion, is hereby approved.
This proposal is being presented pursuant to Section 14A of the Exchange Act. The say-on-pay vote is advisory and is therefore not binding on us, the Compensation Committee, or our Board of Directors. The Compensation Committee and our Board of Directors value the opinions of our stockholders and, to the extent there is any significant vote against our executive compensation program as disclosed in this proxy statement, will consider our stockholders concerns, and the Compensation Committee will evaluate whether any actions are necessary to address those concerns.
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR the approval of the compensation of our named executive officers, as disclosed in this proxy statement pursuant to the SECs compensation disclosure rules.
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PROPOSAL 5: FREQUENCY OF ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
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PROPOSAL 5: FREQUENCY OF ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
This proposal gives stockholders the opportunity to indicate how frequently we should seek an advisory vote on our executive compensation, such as Proposal 4 above. By voting on this Proposal 5, stockholders can indicate whether they would prefer an advisory non-binding vote on executive compensation every one, two, or three years.
After careful consideration of this proposal, our Board has determined that an advisory vote on executive compensation that occurs every year is the most appropriate alternative for Sabre, and therefore our Board recommends that you vote for a one-year interval for the advisory vote on executive compensation.
You may cast your vote on your preferred voting frequency by choosing the option of one year, two years, three years, or abstain from voting when you vote in response to the resolution set forth below.
RESOLVED, that the option of every one year, two years, or three years that receives the highest number of votes cast for this resolution will be determined to be the frequency preferred by stockholders for which the Corporation is to hold an advisory stockholder vote to approve the compensation paid to the named executive officers, as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables, and narrative discussion.
This proposal is being presented pursuant to Section 14A of the Exchange Act. The option of one year, two years, or three years that receives the highest number of votes cast by stockholders will be the frequency for the advisory vote on executive compensation that has been selected by stockholders. However, because this vote is advisory and not binding on our Board or Sabre in any way, our Board may decide that it is in the best interests of our stockholders and Sabre to hold an advisory vote on executive compensation more or less frequently than the option approved by our stockholders. Depending on whether the Board adopts a one-, two-, or three-year interval for the advisory vote on executive compensation, the next stockholder advisory vote will occur respectively at the 2022, 2023, or 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote for the option of every ONE YEAR as the frequency with which stockholders are provided an advisory, non-binding vote on the compensation of our named executive officers.
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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
This Compensation Discussion and Analysis addresses the principles underlying our executive compensation program and the policies and practices that contributed to our executive compensation actions and decisions for the year ended December 31, 2020 for our named executive officers. For 2020, our named executive officers were:
Name |
Position | |
Sean Menke |
President and Chief Executive Officer | |
Douglas Barnett |
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |
Wade Jones |
Executive Vice President and Chief Product Officer | |
David Moore |
Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer | |
David Shirk |
Executive Vice President, Sabre and President, Travel Solutions |
Strategic Initiatives
In February 2020, we announced a set of strategic initiatives that we expect will position us to accelerate growth, increase margins and create long-term stockholder value. These strategic initiatives are focused on creating and distributing personalized offers including through the new distribution capability (NDC) standard, increasing our footprint in low-cost carrier growth and innovation, building a full-service hotel property management system, and completing our technology transformation. These initiatives form a part of our vision to lead a new marketplace for personalized travel and are intended to increase our addressable market across our business, deliver revenue and share growth, and improve our overall margin structure. These strategic initiatives continue to be a significant focus for us, as we believe that they will help position us favorably on the other side of the COVID-19 pandemic. As described below, to help ensure alignment with these strategic initiatives and our intermediate business objectives, certain executive officers, excluding our CEO, received performance-based long-term cash incentive awards in 2020 designed to align with our strategic initiatives.
Changes to Executive Officer Long-Term Incentive Program Design Reflected in March 2020 Awards
As discussed in Stockholder Engagement below, we maintain an ongoing, proactive stockholder engagement program. Through this process, we received stockholder feedback in 2019 that focused on the performance metrics and performance period length of our performance-based restricted stock unit awards. After carefully considering this feedback, as well as competitive market compensation factors, in March 2020 the Compensation Committee approved significant design changes to our performance-based restricted stock unit awards granted to our executive officers. See Compensation Elements of Total Direct CompensationLong-Term Incentive Compensation2020 Equity Awards2020 Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit Awards.
In addition, as discussed above, certain executive officers, excluding our CEO, received performance-based cash incentive awards in March 2020. These incentive awards will be payable in March 2022 based on the Compensation Committees determination of the extent to which our strategic initiatives have been achieved by December 2021. See Compensation Elements of Total Direct CompensationLong-Term Incentive Compensation2020 Long-Term Performance-Based Cash Incentive Awards.
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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
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Executive Compensation Actions Taken in 2020 in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic created an unprecedented time of disruption in global travel and represented a massive challenge to the travel industry and our business. As a global technology company that is a leader in the retailing, distribution, and fulfillment of travel and a key solutions provider to the global travel industry, we experienced a rapid and sustained decline in airline and hotel bookings driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, which directly and significantly impacted our 2020 revenue, earnings and free cash flow.
In response, we quickly took a number of decisive actions to increase our cash position, including through reducing costs, suspending common stock dividends and share repurchases, borrowing under our existing revolving credit facility, and completing debt and equity offerings. We also took the following actions with regard to our workforce and compensation programs:
| Reduced base salary and suspended 401(k) match. In mid-March 2020, the Board immediately implemented base salary reductions of 25% for our CEO and 20% for our other executive officers, which extended from March 16, 2020 through July 6, 2020. These amounts will not be repaid to the executive officers. Our 401(k) employer matching contribution was suspended for executive officers and other U.S.-based employees from March 16, 2020 through December 31, 2020. |
| Reduced shares granted under long-term incentives. In light of the significant reduction in our stock price during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Compensation Committee in March 2020 approved the use of a minimum stock price of $14.00 per share to calculate the number of shares issued for grants under the 2019 Omnibus Plan from March 13, 2020 through July 31, 2020, including stock options, performance-based restricted stock units and time-based restricted stock units awarded in connection with the March 13, 2020 annual grant. This had the effect of significantly limiting the number of shares issued to executive officers and other plan participants during this period. |
| Offered voluntary time-off, voluntary severance, and voluntary early retirement in the first quarter of 2020. |
| Implemented a temporary furlough program of approximately one-third of our workforce during the second quarter of 2020. |
| Right-sized our global organization through a reduction-in-force, which was in addition to the voluntary severance and voluntary early retirement programs described above. |
An additional consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic is that it placed us at a significant disadvantage compared to many other technology companies with which we compete for talent but that were not as severely harmed by the direct and significant impact of the pandemic on the travel and hospitality industries. This disadvantage was particularly magnified during the initial period of the COVID-19 pandemic, when its scope and duration were unknown. As a result, our ability to accomplish our strategic initiatives and our executive compensation objectives has been significantly challenged.
Correspondingly, motivating and retaining our existing talent at all levels of our organization, including new leadership engaged with our strategic initiatives in mind, have taken on an even greater importance, particularly after we acted to stabilize our cash position as described above. Consequently, the Compensation Committee took steps to address these challenges, including ending the base salary reductions and the use of the $14.00 valuation for the purpose of calculating long-term equity incentive
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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
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awards, as described above. The Compensation Committee also proactively took additional actions to help address the disadvantages we faced in retaining key talent.
| Modified annual cash incentive plan and cap on payments. Prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Compensation Committee approved performance metrics for the 2020 annual cash incentive plan consisting of revenue and Pre-Tax and Pre-VCP/EIP Adjusted EPS. As noted above, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic immediately and precipitously impacted our revenue and earnings, beginning in mid-March 2020. Given the scope of this direct and unprecedented impact, the metrics initially selected for the annual cash incentive plan for 2020 became almost immediately unattainable. As a result, the Compensation Committee replaced these metrics in May 2020 with an expense reduction metric; failure to meet this expense reduction target would have resulted in no payment of the annual cash incentive for 2020. The Compensation Committee selected this objective metric early in 2020, given our focus on controlling costs and its importance in stabilizing our business and our cash position, as well as enhancing the profitability of our cost structure after recovery from the pandemic, rather than choosing to exercise discretion regarding the payout of the annual cash incentive at the end of the performance period. The Compensation Committee also capped the potential payouts at 50% of the original target annual cash incentive opportunity. See Compensation Elements of Total Direct CompensationAnnual Incentive Compensation below. |
| Granted time-based restricted stock unit awards in June 2020. As noted, the Compensation Committee was focused on the talent and retention concerns described above in light of the disparate impact of COVID-19 on us as compared to many other technology companies, potentially providing these companies with a competitive advantage in recruiting our key talent, including new leadership engaged to help execute our strategic initiatives. As a result, in June 2020, the Compensation Committee granted off-cycle time-based restricted stock unit awards to our executive officers and other key employees. Fifty percent of these awards vest on each of June 15, 2021 and June 15, 2022 based on continuous service through these dates. See Compensation Elements of Total Direct CompensationLong-Term Incentive Compensation below. |
| Updated metrics with respect to performance-based restricted stock units with 2020 performance periods and reduction in maximum payout. Similar to the metrics for the annual cash incentive plan, the metrics with respect to outstanding performance-based restricted stock unit awards with performance periods to be completed in 2020, which were based on our financial performance, also became almost immediately unattainable for 2020, following the impact of the onset COVID-19 pandemic beginning in mid-March 2020. As a result, in July 2020 the Compensation Committee amended outstanding performance-based restricted stock unit awards with 2020 performance periods, which included awards granted in prior years as well as awards granted in 2020, replacing the financial performance metrics with the following metrics and weightings. These metrics were designed to align with key areas of focus for management in 2020, given the likely impact of the COVID-19 pandemic environment: |
| Achieve expense reduction targets for 2020 (25%) |
| Maintain our capital structure and liquidity through 2020 in a manner that seeks to provide operational flexibility to manage the business through the COVID-19 pandemic (25%) |
| Negotiate a new deal structure for technology infrastructure services that achieves significant incremental cost savings over the contract term (20%) |
| Utilize a systemic process to review and address customer concession requests that seeks to minimize disruption to the business (15%) |
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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
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| Design programs by the end of 2020 for implementation in 2021 that enable employees to work from anywhere (to the extent allowed under local laws) and further our diversity and inclusion initiatives (15%) |
In connection with this change, the maximum payout for these outstanding performance-based restricted stock units with respect to the 2020 performance period became the target of 100%, a reduction from the prior maximum payout of 150%. See Compensation Elements of Total Direct CompensationLong-Term Incentive Compensation below.
Stockholder Engagement
Since 2016, we have maintained an ongoing, proactive stockholder engagement program. Throughout the year, members of our investor relations group, Corporate Secretarys office and executive compensation team engage with our stockholders to seek their input on topics of interest to them, including related to our strategy, compensation, Board and other governance matters. We actively engage with our stockholders on a year-round basis and integrate the information we learn through these discussions into our governance calendar.
Fall 2020 Stockholder Outreach Program
Given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and the corresponding changes to our executive compensation program in 2020, our 2020 stockholder engagement program was a key focus for our ongoing dialogue with stockholders. Throughout the year, we focused on transparency with investors, providing multiple disclosures of actions we took in response to the COVID-19 pandemic (including in filings with the SEC on Current Reports on Form 8-K). These disclosures supported our conversations with investors on these topics and augmented our fall 2020 stockholder outreach program.
In the fall of 2020, we contacted 24 institutional stockholders representing approximately 67% of our shares then outstanding, and we ultimately met with stockholders representing over 24% of our shares then outstanding, including four of our top six stockholders. Our Chairman of the Board played an active role in our outreach program, meeting with stockholders representing almost 20% of our shares then
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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
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outstanding. Stockholder feedback from these discussions was shared with the Governance and Nominating Committee, the Compensation Committee and the full Board of Directors.
As noted, much of these conversations focused on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, how we were responding to the challenges posed to our workforce, and the corresponding changes to our executive compensation program. Investors were generally understanding of the reasons for the Compensation Committees changes to our executive compensation program, particularly given the unprecedented impact of the pandemic on the global travel environment. Given the pandemics effect on our business, particularly as compared to many other technology companies as described above, many investors focused on employee retention and steps taken to address retention considerations, including the June 15, 2020 grant of time-based restricted stock unit awards. Investors also provided feedback regarding Sabres executive compensation after the conclusion of the pandemic, including generally expressing support for a return to the structure of the long-term incentive award program established in March 2020 described above once our business operations and financial results have stabilized.
This feedback informed the Compensation Committees discussion and review of our overall approach to compensation and the design of our 2021 executive compensation program, as highlighted below.
What we heard |
What we did | |
Encouragement to provide for metrics in our executive compensation program that are designed to provide for continued focus on factors critical for our health in the current COVID-19 pandemic environment |
The Compensation Committee designed our 2021 annual cash incentive so that it will not pay out if our Adjusted Free Cash Flow in 2021 is less than a target amount and if we do not achieve an expense reduction threshold for 2021
In addition, if the threshold requirements described above are met, 50% of the 2021 annual cash incentive funding formula will be based on the extent to which we meet this expense reduction target, and the remaining 50% of the funding formula will be based on the extent to which we achieve in 2021 specified GDS bookings, passengers boarded, central reservation transactions, and technology transformation goals
None of the performance-based restricted stock units granted in 2021 will vest if we do not achieve a minimum expense reduction threshold for 2021, and these performance-based restricted stock units will not vest above target unless we exceed an Adjusted Free Cash Flow target for 2021 |
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What we heard |
What we did | |
Encouragement for metrics in our executive compensation program that are designed to provide for continued focus on our strategic initiatives, including our technology transformation, with the goal of positioning us for success following the COVID-19 pandemic |
The 2020 long-term performance-based cash incentive awards are based on the Compensation Committees determination of the extent to which our strategic initiatives have been achieved by December 2021, based on criteria for certain strategic deliverables related to these initiatives
The 2021 annual cash incentive includes a metric based on the extent to which we achieve technology transformation goals | |
Questions regarding talent retention throughout the organization, including executives |
In March 2021, the Compensation Committee amended outstanding performance-based restricted stock units with 2021 and/or 2022 performance periods to replace the existing financial metrics with the metrics described above
We have designed programs to further our inclusion and diversity initiatives, as well as implemented programs to assist in global retention and employee satisfaction, such as our Work-from-Anywhere program |
See 2021 Executive Compensation Program.
2020 Annual and Long-Term Incentive Results
With respect to 2020, the Compensation Committee approved the following results regarding our annual cash and long-term incentives:
| Annual cash incentive results. In December 2020, the Compensation Committee reviewed the results of our focus on controlling costs as discussed above and determined that we met the expense reduction target approved in May 2020. As a result, the Compensation Committee approved annual cash incentive payouts under the 2020 EIP in amounts equal to 50% of the named executive officers target annual cash incentive opportunities. See Compensation Elements of Total Direct CompensationAnnual Incentive Compensation below. |
| Long-term incentive results. In February 2021, the Compensation Committee reviewed our progress in achieving the updated metrics with respect to performance-based restricted stock units with 2020 performance periods. Based on this review, the Compensation Committee determined that each of the revised metrics for the outstanding performance-based restricted stock units with 2020 performance periods was achieved. See Compensation Elements of Total Direct CompensationLong-Term Incentive Compensation below. |
Pay-for-Performance Philosophy
Our executive compensation philosophy, which is embodied in the design and operation of our executive compensation program, provides that a substantial portion of each years target total direct compensation
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opportunity for our executive officers, including our named executive officers, is delivered through our annual and long-term incentive compensation awards which are earned contingent on our ability to meet and exceed our annual and long-term objectives. Consequently, we believe that our executive compensation program creates commonality of interest between our executive officers and stockholders for long-term value creation.
We believe our commitment to a pay-for-performance compensation philosophy is reflected by the following:
| A substantial portion of our executive officers target total cash compensation opportunity is performance-based. This focus on performance-based metrics for cash compensation remained in place notwithstanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, for 2020, a significant portion of Mr. Menkes target total cash compensation opportunity was contingent on meeting expense reduction targets. See 2020 Total Direct Compensation Mix. |
| We grant performance-based restricted stock unit awards to our executive officers. Outstanding performance-based restricted stock units with 2020 performance periods were revised to include metrics representing key areas of focus for management in 2020, given the COVID-19 pandemic environment and its effect on the global travel industry. See Compensation Elements of Total Direct CompensationLong-Term Incentive Compensation2020 Equity Awards2020 Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit Awards. |
Compensation Program Overview
What we do |
What we dont do | |
✓IndependentCompensation Committee consultant. The Compensation Committee has engaged its own compensation consultant to assist with the review and analysis of our executive compensation program. This consultant performs no other consulting or other services for us |
X No pension plans. We do not currently offer, nor do we have plans to provide, supplemental pension arrangements or defined benefit pension plans to our executive officers | |
✓Annualexecutive compensation review. The Compensation Committee conducts an annual review of our executive compensation program, including a review of the competitive market for executive talent, and has developed a compensation peer group for use during its deliberations when evaluating the competitive market |
X No tax reimbursements. We do not provide any tax reimbursement payments (including gross-ups) on any severance or change-in-control payments | |
✓Compensationat-risk. Our executive compensation program is designed so that a significant portion of compensation is at risk based on corporate performance, as well as equity-based to align the interests of our executive officers and stockholders |
X No special health or welfare benefits. Our executive officers participate in broad-based company-sponsored health and welfare benefits programs on the same basis as our other full-time, salaried employees |
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What we do |
What we dont do | |
✓Performance-basedincentives. We use performance-based annual and long-term incentives |
X Limited perquisites. We provide only limited perquisites and other personal benefits to our executive officers | |
✓Multi-yearvesting requirements. The equity awards granted to our executive officers vest or are earned over multi-year periods, consistent with current market practice and our retention objectives |
X Hedging and pledging prohibited. Our Insider Trading Policy prohibits employees that are recipients of equity grants, including our executive officers, and members of our Board of Directors from hedging or pledging any of their shares of Sabre common stock | |
✓Clawbackpolicy. We maintain an Executive Compensation Recovery Policy (also referred to as a clawback policy) |
X No stock option repricings. We prohibit the repricing of outstanding options to purchase our common stock without prior stockholder approval |
Committee Consideration of 2018 Stockholder Advisory (Say-on-Pay) Vote on the Compensation of Our Named Executive Officers
At our 2018 Annual Meeting, we conducted an advisory stockholder vote on the compensation of our named executive officers (a say-on-pay vote). Our executive compensation program received the support of approximately 81% of the shares of our common stock present at the meeting. See Stockholder Engagement for a discussion of our stockholder outreach program. At our 2015 Annual Meeting, our stockholders expressed their preference for our Boards recommendation to conduct the say-on-pay vote every three years. Based on this outcome, our Board determined that the say-on-pay vote would be held every three years, until the next stockholder vote on the frequency of the say-on-pay vote, or our Board otherwise determines that a different frequency for such advisory votes is in the best interests of our stockholders.
As noted above, there will be a say-on-pay vote and a frequency of say-on-pay vote at the 2021 Annual Meeting. Our Board of Directors recommends that stockholders vote FOR the say-on-pay vote and for the option of ONE YEAR as the frequency of the say-on-pay vote at the 2021 Annual Meeting. See Proposal 4: Advisory, Non-Binding Vote on the Compensation of Our Named Executive Officers and Proposal 5: Frequency of Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation.
Compensation Philosophy and Principles
The philosophy underlying our executive compensation program is to provide an attractive, flexible, and effective total compensation opportunity to our executive officers, including our named executive officers, tied to our corporate performance and aligned with the interests of our stockholders. Our objective is to recruit, motivate, and retain the caliber of executive officers necessary to deliver sustained high performance to our stockholders, customers, and other stakeholders.
Equally important, we view our compensation policies and practices as a means of communicating our goals and standards of conduct and performance and for motivating and rewarding employees in relation to their achievements. Overall, the same principles that govern the compensation of our executive officers also generally apply to the compensation of our salaried employees. Within this framework, we seek to observe the following principles, while balancing them with the context of the current uncertain COVID-19
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pandemic environment and the corresponding need to respond quickly to any related challenging circumstances that may result from the pandemic:
| Retain and hire top-caliber executive officers. Executive officers should have base salaries and employee benefits that are market competitive and that permit us to hire and retain high-caliber individuals at all levels. |
| Pay for performance. A significant portion of the target total direct compensation opportunities of our executive officers should vary with annual and long-term business performance and each individuals contribution to that performance, while the level of at-risk compensation should increase as the scope of the executive officers responsibility increases. |
| Reward long-term growth and profitability. Executive officers should be rewarded for achieving long-term results, and these rewards should be aligned with the interests of our stockholders. |
| Align compensation with stockholder interests. The interests of our executive officers should be linked with those of our stockholders through the risks and rewards of the ownership of shares of our common stock. |
| Provide limited personal benefits. Perquisites and other personal benefits for our executive officers should be limited to items that serve a reasonable business purpose. |
| Reinforce succession planning process. The overall compensation program for our executive officers should reinforce our succession planning process. |
| Promote transparency. We seek to establish an efficient, simple, and transparent process for designing our compensation arrangements, setting performance objectives for annual and long-term incentive compensation opportunities, and making compensation decisions. |
We believe that our compensation philosophy, as reinforced by these principles, has been effective in aligning our executive compensation program with the creation of sustainable long-term stockholder value.
2020 Total Direct Compensation Mix
We believe our executive compensation program has been designed to reward strong performance. The program seeks to focus a significant portion of each executive officers target total direct compensation opportunity on annual and long-term incentives that depend upon our performance. Each executive officer has been granted a significant stake in Sabre in the form of an equity award to closely link his or her interests to those of our stockholders. These equity awards also seek to focus his or her efforts on the successful execution of our long-term strategic and financial objectives.
(1) | Excludes the June 15, 2020 grant of time-based restricted stock unit awards, which was awarded in addition to Mr. Menkes target total direct compensation package for 2020. |
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In addition, the Compensation Committee believes that Mr. Menkes target incentive compensation for 2020 was comprised of an appropriate mix of long-term elements (performance-based restricted stock unit awards and stock options) and short-term elements (an annual cash incentive opportunity), consistent with our emphasis on pay-for-performance:
(1) | Excludes the June 15, 2020 grant of time-based restricted stock unit awards, which was awarded in addition to Mr. Menkes target total direct compensation package for 2020. |
Role of the Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee is responsible for overseeing our executive compensation program (including our executive compensation policies and practices), approving the compensation of our executive officers (including our named executive officers), and administering our various employee stock plans.
Pursuant to its charter, the Compensation Committee has responsibility for reviewing and determining the compensation of our CEO at least annually, as well as for evaluating our CEOs performance in light of the corporate goals and objectives applicable to him. In reviewing our CEOs compensation each year and considering any potential adjustments, the Compensation Committee exercises its business judgment after taking into consideration several factors, including our financial results, his individual performance and strategic leadership, its understanding of competitive market data and practices, and his current total compensation and pay history.
In addition, the Compensation Committee annually reviews and determines the compensation of our other executive officers, including our other named executive officers, and it also approves the terms of any employment offers for our executive officers. In doing so, the Compensation Committee is responsible for ensuring that the compensation of our executive officers, including our named executive officers, is consistent with our executive compensation philosophy and objectives.
Role of Executive Officers
The Compensation Committee receives support from our People Department in designing our executive compensation program and analyzing competitive market practices. Our CEO and certain other executive officers regularly participate in portions of Compensation Committee meetings, providing management input on organizational structure, executive development, and financial and governance considerations.
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Our CEO evaluates the performance of each of our executive officers, including our other named executive officers. Our CEO then reviews each executive officers target total direct compensation opportunity and based on his or her target total direct compensation opportunity and his or her performance, proposes compensation adjustments for him or her, subject to review and approval by the Compensation Committee. Our CEO presents the details of each executive officers target total direct compensation opportunity and performance to the Compensation Committee for its consideration and approval. Our CEO does not participate in the evaluation of his own performance.
In making executive compensation decisions, the Compensation Committee reviews a variety of information for each executive officer, including his or her current total compensation and pay history, his or her equity holdings, individual performance, and competitive market data and practices for comparable positions. Neither our CEO nor our other named executive officers are present when their specific compensation arrangements are approved by the Compensation Committee.
Role of Compensation Consultant
In fulfilling its duties and responsibilities, the Compensation Committee has the authority to engage the services of outside advisers, including compensation consultants. In 2020, the Compensation Committee engaged Compensia, Inc., a national compensation consulting firm, to assist it with compensation matters. A representative of Compensia attends regularly scheduled meetings of the Compensation Committee, responds to inquiries from members of the Compensation Committee, and provides his analysis with respect to these inquiries.
The nature and scope of services provided to the Compensation Committee by Compensia in 2020 included the following:
| Assisted in the review of our compensation peer group. |
| Monitored the responses with respect to executive compensation of peer group and other travel industry companies to the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| Provided input and guidance regarding decisions of the Compensation Committee with respect to executive compensation actions taken in response to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| Analyzed the executive compensation levels and practices of the companies in our compensation peer group. |
| Provided advice with respect to compensation best practices and market trends for our executive officers, including our CEO. |
| Provided advice with respect to market trends and practices for non-employee director compensation. |
| Analyzed various design alternatives for long-term incentive compensation program. |
| Assessed our executive compensation risk profile and reported on this assessment. |
| Provided ad hoc advice and support throughout the engagement. |
Compensia does not provide any services to us, other than the services provided to the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee has assessed the independence of Compensia taking into account, among other things, the factors set forth in Exchange Act Rule 10C-1 and the listing standards of Nasdaq, and has concluded that no conflict of interest exists with respect to the work that Compensia performs for the Compensation Committee.
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Competitive Positioning
At least annually, the Compensation Committee reviews competitive market data for comparable executive positions in the market as one factor for determining the structure of our executive compensation program and establishing target compensation levels for our executive officers, including our named executive officers.
The Compensation Committee, with the assistance of Compensia, reviewed and updated our compensation peer group based on an evaluation of companies that it believed were comparable to us with respect to operations, industry segment, revenue level, and enterprise value as a reference source in its executive compensation deliberations. This compensation peer group, which was used by the Compensation Committee as a reference in the course of its executive compensation deliberations, consisted of the following companies with respect to 2020 executive compensation matters:
Alliance Data Systems Corporation | Maximus, Inc. | |
Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. | NortonLifeLock Inc. | |
CACI International Inc. | Nuance Communications, Inc. | |
Citrix Systems, Inc. | Science Applications International Corporation | |
CoreLogic, Inc. | SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. | |
Euronet Worldwide, Inc. | Verisk Analytics, Inc. | |
Gartner, Inc. | The Western Union Company | |
Genpact Limited | WEX Inc. |
In selecting this compensation peer group, the Compensation Committee considered companies with the following primary selection criteria: companies within the software and services, data processing and outsourced services, SaaS companies, and other companies in related industries, companies with revenues between approximately $2.0 billion to $7.9 billion (or between approximately 0.5x to 2.0x of our preceding four quarters of revenue), and companies with market capitalization of approximately $1.8 billion to $17.9 billion (or between approximately 0.3x to 3.0x our estimated market capitalization). Further, the Compensation Committee considered companies with the following secondary selection criteria: revenue growth over the prior four quarters exceeding 5.0%, positive operating income over the prior four quarters, and are SaaS-based companies.
Competitive comparison data was collected from publicly-available information contained in the SEC filings of the compensation peer group companies, as well as from the Radford Global Technology Survey. The Radford survey provides market data for executive positions that may not be available from publicly-available SEC filings and other information related to trends and competitive practices in executive compensation.
The competitive market data described above was not and is not used by the Compensation Committee in isolation but rather serves as one point of reference in its deliberations on executive compensation. The Compensation Committee uses the competitive market data as a guide when making decisions about total direct compensation, as well as individual elements of compensation; however, the Compensation Committee does not formally benchmark our executive officers compensation against this data. While market competitiveness is important, it is not the only factor the Compensation Committee considers when establishing compensation opportunities of our executive officers. Actual compensation decisions
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also depend upon the consideration of other factors that the Compensation Committee deems relevant, such as the financial and operational performance of our businesses, individual performance, specific retention concerns, internal equity, and external factors.
In December 2020, the Compensation Committee, with the assistance of Compensia, reviewed the compensation peer group to be used as a reference for purposes of its deliberations on our 2021 executive compensation program. Given the fluid circumstances underlying the COVID-19 pandemic and its anticipated unique effect on Sabre and other peer companies, the Compensation Committee determined that any changes to the peer group would not have been appropriate at that time.
The Compensation Committee, with the assistance of Compensia, reviews the compensation peer group annually.
Compensation-Related Risk Assessment
The Compensation Committee considers potential risks when reviewing and approving the various elements of our executive compensation program, including executive compensation actions taken in response to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In evaluating the elements of our executive compensation program, the Compensation Committee assesses each element to help ensure that it does not encourage our executive officers to take excessive or unnecessary risks or to engage in decision-making that promotes short-term results at the expense of our long-term interests. In addition, we have designed our executive compensation program, including our incentive compensation plans, with specific features to address potential risks while rewarding our executive officers for achieving financial and strategic objectives through prudent business judgment and appropriate risk taking. Further, the following policies and practices have been incorporated into our executive compensation program:
| Balanced Mix of Compensation Components. The target compensation mix for our executive officers is composed of base salary, annual cash incentive compensation, and long-term incentive compensation in the form of equity and cash awards, including performance-based awards, which provides a compensation mix that is not overly weighted toward short-term cash incentives. |
| Minimum Performance Measure Thresholds. Our annual cash incentive compensation plan, which encourages focus on the achievement of corporate performance objectives for our overall benefit, does not pay out unless pre-established target levels for one or more financial measures are met. |
| Long-Term Incentive Compensation Vesting. Our long-term equity- and cash-based incentives have multi-year vesting requirements. These long-term incentive programs complement our annual cash incentive compensation plan and include awards that are earned and pay out only upon meeting specific pre-established performance objectives. |
| Capped Annual Cash Incentive and Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit Awards. Awards under the annual cash incentive compensation plan and grants of performance-based restricted stock unit awards were initially capped at 200% and 150%, respectively, of the target award level. As a result of actions taken by the Compensation Committee in response to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, these caps subsequently became 50% and 100%, respectively. |
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Compensation Elements of Total Direct Compensation
Our executive compensation program is designed around the concept of total direct compensation. The performance-based portion of total direct compensation generally increases as an executive officers level of responsibilities increases. The chart below provides information on the principal elements of total direct compensation and is intended to illustrate our overall objectives relative to our executive compensation program.
Long-term equity-based compensation |
Performance- based restricted stock unit awards
|
Supports achievement of our long-term strategic and financial objectives and creates an incentive to deliver stockholder value
| ||
Stock options
|
Provides rewards for stock price appreciation, creating an incentive to deliver stockholder value and to achieve our long-term strategic and financial objectives
| |||
Annual cash compensation |
Annual incentive
|
Supports and encourages the achievement of our specific annual corporate goals as reflected in our annual operating plan
| ||
Base salary
|
Provides a consistent and fixed amount of annual cash income
|
In March 2020, certain executive officers, excluding our CEO, also received long-term performance-based cash incentive awards, and in June 2020, our executive officers received time-based restricted stock unit awards.
In setting the appropriate level of total direct compensation, the Compensation Committee seeks to establish each compensation element at a level that is both competitive and attractive for motivating top executive talent, while also keeping the overall compensation levels aligned with stockholder interests and job responsibilities. These compensation elements are structured to motivate our executive officers, including our named executive officers, and to align their financial interests with those of our stockholders.
Base Salary
We believe that a competitive base salary is essential in attracting and retaining key executive talent. Historically, the Compensation Committee has reviewed the base salaries of our executive officers, including our named executive officers, on an annual basis or as needed to address changes in job title, a promotion, assumption of additional job responsibilities, or other unique circumstances.
In evaluating the base salaries of our executive officers, the Compensation Committee considers several factors, including our financial performance, his or her contribution towards meeting our financial objectives, his or her qualifications, knowledge, experience, tenure, and scope of responsibilities, his or her past performance as against individual goals, his or her future potential, the recommendations of our CEO (with respect to the other executive officers), competitive market data and practices, our desired compensation position with respect to the competitive market, retention purposes, internal equity, and external factors.
2020 Base Salary Decisions
As previously noted, in response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Board implemented base salary reductions of 25% for the Chief Executive Officer and 20% for other executive officers, which extended from March 16, 2020 through July 6, 2020.
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In June 2020, we announced a strategic realignment of our Travel Solutions business to fully combine our airline and agency-focused businesses, with the goal of providing a stronger, more seamless experience for our customers. As a result of this realignment, Mr. Shirk took on additional responsibilities in his role as President of the newly realigned business, including overseeing all aspects of our agency and airline-focused business segments including product management, global product development, sales, and account management, delivery and professional services, as well as strategy. Mr. Jones was designated Executive Vice President and Chief Product Officer, with the responsibility of overseeing a centralized product management and marketing organization that will help customers maximize the value of their content by delivering a brand-consistent customer experience across all channels. Mr. Moore was promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, with the responsibility of building world-class software products for customers, embracing a unified approach to all product development efforts, and driving our technology transformation. In connection with the realignment, the Compensation Committee increased Messrs. Shirks, Jones and Moores base salaries, on an annualized basis, from $690,000 to $705,000, from $567,500 to $625,000, and from $460,000 to $530,000, respectively, effective July 6, 2020.
The base salaries paid to our named executive officers during 2020 are set forth in the 2020 Summary Compensation Table below.
Annual Incentive Compensation
We use annual incentive compensation to support and encourage the achievement of our specific annual corporate and business segment goals as reflected in our annual operating plan. Each year, our officers at the level of senior vice president or above, which includes our named executive officers, are eligible to receive annual cash incentive payments under our Executive Incentive Program, or EIP.
Typically, at the beginning of the fiscal year the Compensation Committee approves the terms and conditions of the EIP for the year, including the selection of one or more performance measures as the basis for determining the funding of annual cash incentive payments for the year. Subject to available funding, the EIP provides cash incentive payments based upon our achievement as measured against the pre-established target levels for these performance measures.
Annual Cash Incentive Opportunities
For purposes of the 2020 EIP, the annual cash incentive opportunity for each of our eligible executive officers, including our named executive officers, was expressed as a percentage of his or her base salary during 2020 and was as follows:
Named Executive Officer
|
2020 Cash Incentive Opportunity (as a percentage of base salary)
|
Potential Payout
| ||||||||
Sean Menke
|
|
150
|
%
|
0% to 200% of opportunity
| ||||||
Douglas Barnett
|
|
100
|
%
|
0% to 200% of opportunity
| ||||||
Wade Jones
|
|
85
|
%
|
0% to 200% of opportunity
| ||||||
David Moore
|
|
79
|
%(1)
|
0% to 200% of opportunity
| ||||||
David Shirk
|
|
97
|
%(2)
|
0% to 200% of opportunity
|
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(1) | Prorated percentage. In connection with Mr. Moores additional responsibilities, his cash incentive opportunity was increased from 70% to 85%, effective June 8, 2020. The Compensation Committee did not change Mr. Moores cash incentive opportunity in March 2021 from the target level of 85%. |
(2) | Prorated percentage. In connection with Mr. Shirks additional responsibilities, his cash incentive opportunity was increased from 95% to 100%, effective June 8, 2020. The Compensation Committee did not change Mr. Shirks cash incentive opportunity in March 2021 from the target level of 100%. |
The annual cash incentive opportunities were established by the Compensation Committee based on its consideration of various factors such as each executive officers contribution towards meeting our financial objectives, his or her qualifications, knowledge, experience, tenure, and scope of responsibilities, his or her past performance as against individual goals, his or her future potential, the recommendations of our CEO (with respect to the other executive officers), competitive market data and practices, our desired compensation position with respect to the competitive market, internal equity, and external factors.
Corporate Performance Measures and Weights
As noted above, the Compensation Committee initially approved performance metrics for the annual cash incentive plan consisting of revenue (25% of funding formula) and Pre-Tax and Pre-VCP/EIP Adjusted EPS (75% of funding formula).
The onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic, as well as government directives enacted to slow the spread of the virus, immediately and severely affected the global travel industry beginning in mid-March 2020, which materially decreased our transaction-based revenue across our business, as compared to 2019. Our 2020 revenue was further negatively impacted by significantly increased cancellation activity. Compared to 2019, our total consolidated revenue for 2020 dropped 66%, driven by unprecedented reductions in global air, hotel and other travel bookings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and our Adjusted EPS for 2020 dropped 415%.
Given the scope of this direct and unprecedented impact, the metrics initially selected for the annual cash incentive plan for 2020 became almost immediately unattainable. As a result, the Compensation Committee replaced these metrics in May 2020 with an expense reduction metric, based on our achievement of at least $260 million of expense reductions in 2020; failure to meet this expense reduction target would have resulted in no payment of the annual cash incentive for 2020. The Compensation Committee selected this objective metric early in 2020, given our focus on controlling costs and its importance in stabilizing our business and our cash position, as well as enhancing the profitability of our cost structure after recovery from the pandemic, rather than choosing to exercise discretion regarding the payout of the annual cash incentive at the end of the performance period. The Compensation Committee also capped the payout potential at 50% of the original target annual cash incentive opportunity. The Compensation Committee also provided that any payments under the annual cash incentive plan for 2020 would be made in December 2020.
In December 2020, the Compensation Committee determined that the expense reductions for 2020 were approximately $355 million, resulting in a payout percentage of 50%. In addition to helping to improve our cash position in 2020, these expense reductions are expected to reduce our go-forward annual costs by approximately $200 million, which would represent a significant improvement in our EBITDA margin versus 2019, all else equal. Accordingly, in December 2020, the Compensation Committee approved the cash
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incentive payments under the revised 2020 EIP for our named executive officers at the 50% payout level as follows:
Named Executive Officer
|
2020
|
2020 Actual
|
2020 Actual Cash
| ||||||||||||
Sean Menke
|
$
|
1,462,500
|
|
$
|
731,251
|
|
|
50
|
%
| ||||||
Douglas Barnett
|
$
|
705,000
|
|
$
|
352,500
|
|
|
50
|
%
| ||||||
Wade Jones
|
$
|
506,950
|
|
$
|
253,475
|
|
|
50
|
%
| ||||||
David Moore
|
$
|
392,260
|
|
$
|
196,130
|
|
|
50
|
%
| ||||||
David Shirk |
$ | 683,216 | $ | 341,608 | 50 | % |
(1) | Reflects original target cash incentive opportunity prior to revision of the metrics by the Compensation Committee in May 2020, as well as the effects of the base salary reduction from March 16, 2020 through July 6, 2020, in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic. For Messrs. Jones, Moore and Shirk, also reflects the base salary increase in June 2020. |
The cash incentives actually paid to our named executive officers for 2020 are set forth in the 2020 Summary Compensation Table below.
Long-Term Incentive Compensation
We have used long-term incentive compensation in the form of equity awards as the principal element of our executive compensation program to align the financial interests of our executive officers, including our named executive officers, with those of our stockholders. We also have sought to retain top executive talent and drive long-term stockholder value creation through the use of equity-based long-term incentive compensation.
In determining the value of the long-term incentive compensation opportunities for our executive officers, including our named executive officers, the Compensation Committee considers several factors, including our financial performance, the executive officers contribution towards meeting our financial objectives, his or her qualifications, knowledge, experience, tenure, and scope of responsibilities, his or her past performance as against individual goals, his or her future potential, the recommendation of our CEO (with respect to our other executive officers), his or her current equity position (including the value of any unvested equity awards), competitive market data and practices, our desired compensation position with respect to the competitive market, internal equity, and external factors.
The Compensation Committee has made annual long-term incentive compensation awards to our executive officers, including our named executive officers, using a portfolio mix of time-based and performance-based equity awards. We believe this approach aligns the interests of our executive officers and stockholders, aids in attracting and retaining talent by conforming more closely to the practices among the members of our compensation peer group, and further mitigates excessive risk incentives by ensuring that we provide incentive compensation with diversified performance measures.
2020 Equity Awards
The Compensation Committee approved equity awards in the form of performance-based restricted stock unit awards and time-based options to purchase shares of our common stock to our named executive
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officers, which were granted on March 13, 2020. For 2020, the Compensation Committee set the long-term incentive compensation award value for each named executive officer, with the size of the award value based on the factors discussed above.
This award value was then divided into two separate grants consisting of a performance-based restricted stock unit award and a time-based stock option for an equal number of shares of our common stock.
In light of the significant reduction in our stock price during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Compensation Committee approved the use of a minimum stock price of $14.00 per share to calculate the number of shares issued for grants under the 2019 Omnibus Plan from March 15, 2020 through July 31, 2020, including in connection with the March 13, 2020 annual grant. The Compensation Committee selected the $14.00 valuation in light of the significant uncertainly in our stock price during this period and its corresponding effect on our share usage under the 2019 Omnibus Plan. The use of this $14.00 valuation had the effect of significantly limiting the number of shares issued to executive officers and other participants during this period.
The equity awards made in March 2020 were as follows:
Named Executive Officer
|
2020 Equity Award Value
|
2020 Amount of
|
2020 Number of
| ||||||||||||
Sean Menke
|
$
|
7,000,000
|
|
|
420,420
|
|
|
420,420
|
| ||||||
Douglas Barnett
|
$
|
1,500,000
|
|
|
90,090
|
|
|
90,090
|
| ||||||
Wade Jones
|
$
|
1,000,000
|
|
|
60,060
|
|
|
60,060
|
| ||||||
David Moore
|
$
|
1,000,000
|
|
|
60,060
|
|
|
60,060
|
| ||||||
David Shirk
|
$
|
2,000,000
|
|
|
120,120
|
|
|
120,120
|
|
2020 Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit Awards
After carefully considering investor feedback, as well as market compensation factors, the Compensation Committee initially approved the following structure for the performance-based restricted stock unit awards granted to our executive officers in March 2020, as follows:
| Adjusted Free Cash Flow performance-based restricted stock unit awards (FCF PRSUs). Initially, approximately one-half of the performance-based restricted stock unit awards granted in March 2020 utilized Adjusted Free Cash Flow as the performance measure. For 2020, the FCF PRSUs were designed to include a one-time transitional approach to facilitate the move from one-year performance measurement and vesting periods to a three-year performance measurement and vesting period. As a result, approximately 16.67% of the FCF PRSUs granted to each named executive officer in March 2020 have a one-year performance measurement period, approximately 33.33% have a two-year performance measurement period, and approximately 50% have a three-year performance measurement period. The FCF PRSUs granted in March 2020 initially had the potential to earn up to 150% of the target number of performance-based restricted stock units based on our actual performance in the applicable performance periods. |
| Adjusted EBITDA performance-based restricted stock unit awards (EBITDA PRSUs). Initially, approximately one-half of the performance-based restricted stock unit awards granted to the named |
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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
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executive officers in March 2020 utilized Adjusted EBITDA as the performance measure. The EBITDA PRSUs were designed to contain three consecutive one-year performance and vesting periods, with the potential to initially earn up to 150% of the target number of performance-based restricted stock units based on our actual performance in each of the three performance periods. |
Subsequent to the Compensation Committees approval of the program described above, the metrics with respect to outstanding performance-based restricted stock unit awards with 2020 performance periods also became almost immediately unattainable for 2020, following the impact of the onset COVID-19 pandemic beginning in mid-March 2020. In addition to the impacts on our revenue and Adjusted EPS described above, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a severe drop in our Free Cash Flow and Adjusted EBITDA. For 2020, our Free Cash Flow and Adjusted EBITDA were negative in 2020 and dropped 279% and 139%, respectively, compared to 2019.
As a result, the Compensation Committee reviewed the metrics with respect to outstanding performance-based restricted stock unit awards with 2020 performance periods, including the applicable performance-based restricted stock unit awards granted in March 2020, in the context of the significant uncertainty related to the subsequent impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our 2020 financial results. Based on this review, in July 2020 the Compensation Committee amended outstanding performance-based restricted stock units with 2020 performance periods, which included awards granted in prior years as well as awards granted in 2020, replacing the financial performance metrics with performance criteria and weightings that represented key areas of focus for management in 2020, given the likely impact of the COVID-19 pandemic environment. In connection with this change, the maximum payout for these outstanding performance-based restricted stock unit awards with respect to the 2020 performance period became the target of 100%, a reduction from the prior maximum payout of 150%.
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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
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In February 2021, the Compensation Committee evaluated our achievements regarding the revised 2020 performance criteria, as follows:
Revised Performance Criteria
|
Weighting
|
Evaluation of Criteria
| ||
Achieve expense reduction target for 2020 |
25% | Achieved$355 million expense reduction for 2020 achieved (compared to target of $260 million) | ||
Maintain our capital structure and liquidity through 2020 in a manner that seeks to provide operational flexibility to manage the business through the COVID-19 pandemic |
25% | AchievedExecuted multiple actions in 2020 to raise additional liquidity in case the COVID-19 pandemic persists longer than expected, as well as pushed out material debt maturities to extend our liquidity runway | ||
Negotiate a new deal structure for technology infrastructure services that achieves significant incremental cost savings over the contract term |
20% | AchievedSigned a contract extension with DXC in August 2020 that provides for significant incremental savings over its multi-year term | ||
Utilize a systemic process to review and address customer concession requests that seeks to minimize disruption to the business |
15% | AchievedImplemented a weekly review process for customer concessions, involving key members of management including the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Product Officer | ||
Design programs by the end of 2020 for implementation in 2021 that enable employees to work from anywhere (to the extent allowed under local laws) and further our diversity and inclusion initiatives |
15% | AchievedCommunicated a company-wide program to employees in the fourth quarter of 2020 of a work-from-anywhere strategy for implementation in 2021. Created an Inclusion and Diversity Council, conducted global training on unconscious bias and inclusive leadership, and developed an inclusion and diversity strategy and work plan |
Based on this review, the Compensation Committee determined that each of the revised metrics had been achieved. As a result, 100% of the units vested with respect to outstanding performance-based restricted stock units with 2020 performance periods.
2020 Stock Option Awards
The stock options granted to the named executive officers in March 2020 vest over three years, with one-third of these options vesting annually beginning in March 2021. The Compensation Committee believes that stock options help further align our executive officers interest with those of our stockholders and encourage them to remain with us through the multi-year vesting schedule.
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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
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June 2020 Time-Based Restricted Stock Unit Awards
As discussed above, the Compensation Committee noted that, as a technology solutions provider, Sabre directly competes for executive and key employee talent within the technology industry. The Compensation Committee also considered the tremendous challenges that the travel industry faced in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic environment. In particular, the Compensation Committee focused on talent and retention concerns in light of the disparate impact of COVID-19 on Sabre as compared to many other technology companies, potentially providing these companies with a competitive advantage in recruiting our key talent, including the new leadership engaged to help execute our strategic initiatives.
To address retentive vulnerability in the uncertain environment, and to help ensure retention of key talent and business continuity, both of which support stockholder interests, on June 15, 2020 the Compensation Committee granted time-based restricted stock unit awards to our executive officers and certain other employees viewed as critical to the implementation of our strategic initiatives, given the pandemic environment. Due to their nature, these awards were granted in addition to the equity awards granted under our total direct compensation program.
In determining the number of time-based restricted stock units awarded, the Compensation Committee considered employee tenure, position, and total previously awarded equity value. The equity awards granted to the named executive officers in June 15, 2020 were as follows:
Named Executive Officer
|
Number of Time-
| ||||
Sean Menke |
579,580 | (1) | |||
Douglas Barnett |
166,983 | ||||
Wade Jones |
161,637 | ||||
David Moore |
109,138 | ||||
David Shirk |
249,319 |
(1) | Initially, this amount was indicated to be 855,163 restricted stock units. It was subsequently determined that the restricted stock unit grant was inadvertently partially in excess of the individual share limits specified in the 2019 Plan. Specifically, it was determined that the grant in fact provided for a total grant of 579,580 restricted stock units and Mr. Menke has waived any rights to any restricted stock units in excess of that number. |
Fifty percent of these awards vest on each of June 15, 2021 and June 15, 2022, subject to continued service through such dates.
For additional information on these equity awards, see the 2020 Summary Compensation Table and the 2020 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table below.
2020 Long-Term Performance-Based Cash Incentive Awards
In March 2020, certain executive officers, excluding our CEO, received long-term performance-based cash incentive awards. These awards are designed to help ensure alignment of participants with our strategic initiatives and intermediate business objectives. The awards will be payable in March 2022 based on the Compensation Committees determination of the extent to which our strategic initiatives have been achieved by December 2021, based on criteria for certain strategic deliverables related to creating and
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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
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distributing personalized offers, increasing our footprint in low-cost carrier growth and innovation, implementing an enhanced billing platform, moving our technology transformation forward, and enabling the NDC standard. As noted above, these awards support our strategic initiatives, which form a part of our vision to lead a new marketplace for personalized travel and are intended to increase our addressable market across our business, deliver revenue and share growth, and improve our overall margin structure. These strategic initiatives continue to be a significant focus for us, as we believe that they will help position us favorably on the other side of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The award value for each participant was based on the participants position. The long-term performance-based cash incentive awards granted to the named executive officers in 2020 were as follows:
Named Executive Officer
|
2020 Long-Term
| ||||
Sean Menke(1) |
$ | 0 | |||
Douglas Barnett |
$ | 2,000,000 | |||
Wade Jones |
$ | 1,000,000 | |||
David Moore |
$ | 1,000,000 | |||
David Shirk |
$ | 2,000,000 |
(1) | Mr. Menke did not receive a long-term performance-based cash incentive award in 2020. |
Health, Welfare, and Other Employee Benefits
We have established a defined contribution or 401(k) retirement plan for all employees who satisfy certain eligibility requirements, including requirements relating to age and length of service. We currently match contributions made to the plan by our employees, including our executive officers, up to 6% of their eligible compensation. We intend for the plan to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code so that contributions by employees to the plan, and income earned on plan contributions, are not taxable to employees until withdrawn from the plan.
The 401(k) match was suspended for its executive officers and other U.S.-based employees from March 16, 2020 through December 31, 2020 as a cost-reduction measure in light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition, we provide other benefits to our executive officers, including our named executive officers, on the same basis as all of our full-time employees. These benefits include medical, dental, and vision benefits, medical and dependent care flexible spending accounts, short-term and long-term disability insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, and basic life insurance coverage.
We design our employee benefits programs to be affordable and competitive in relation to the market, as well as compliant with applicable laws and practices. We adjust our employee benefits programs as needed based upon regular monitoring of applicable laws and practices and the competitive market.
Perquisites and Other Personal Benefits
Currently, we do not view perquisites or other personal benefits as a significant component of our executive compensation program. Accordingly, we provide perquisites and other personal benefits to our executive officers in limited situations where we believe it is appropriate to assist an individual in the
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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
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performance of his or her duties, to make our executive officers more efficient and effective, and for recruitment and retention purposes. For example, each of our executive officers is eligible to receive financial planning benefits, subject to an annual allowance of up to $5,000 per year. In addition, our executive officers are eligible to participate in our annual physical program. This program provides for an annual executive physical examination in an amount of up to $5,000. The Compensation Committee believes that these personal benefits are a reasonable component of our overall executive compensation program and are consistent with market practices.
In the future, we may provide perquisites or other personal benefits in limited circumstances. All future practices with respect to perquisites or other personal benefits for named executive officers will be approved and subject to periodic review by the Compensation Committee.
2021 Executive Compensation Program
The COVID-19 pandemic has continued to significantly impact the travel industry in 2021 and, correspondingly, our financial results, and it continues to be challenging to predict when the post-COVID-19 environment will take effect and how that environment will affect the industry. In light of this ongoing impact and uncertainty, the Compensation Committee sought to implement a 2021 executive compensation program that is designed to address the ongoing need to provide for a competitive executive compensation program that is aligned with stockholders interests. In connection with these objectives, the Compensation Committee sought to establish goals that it considered to be appropriate in the continuing COVID-19 pandemic and that are tied to our achievement of internally dependent goals designed to help benefit us in a recovery from the pandemic. As a result, in the first quarter of 2021, the Compensation Committee took certain actions with respect to the compensation of our named executive officers, including the following:
| Annual cash incentive framework. For the 2021 annual cash incentive program, the maximum payout potential will be 100% of the target opportunity, rather than the historical maximum payout potential of 200% of the target opportunity. If our Adjusted Free Cash Flow in 2021 is less than a target amount and if we do not achieve an expense reduction threshold for 2021, the annual cash incentive will not pay out. If these threshold requirements are met, then 50% of the funding formula will be based on the extent to which we meet this expense reduction target, and the remaining 50% of the funding formula will be based on the extent to which we achieve in 2021 specified GDS bookings, passengers boarded, central reservation transactions, and technology transformation goals. To the extent that the payout requirements are met, the 2021 annual cash incentive is expected to be paid in March 2022. |
| Long-term incentive awards. The Compensation Committee granted performance-based restricted stock unit awards in March 2021, after setting the long-term incentive compensation award value for each named executive officer. One-half of the performance-based restricted stock unit awards will vest in March 2024, and one-half will vest annually in three equal tranches, beginning in March 2022, subject to the named executive officers continued employment through the applicable vesting date. The total number of units eligible to be earned could range from zero to 150% of the number of units granted, depending on the degree to which we achieve expense reduction and Adjusted Free Cash Flow targets for 2021. If we do not achieve a minimum expense reduction threshold for 2021, none of the performance-based restricted stock units will vest. If this threshold requirement is met, then 50% to 100% of the target award will vest as specified above based on our expense reductions for 2021. Thereafter, 100% to 150% of the target award will vest as specified above based on the extent to which we exceed an Adjusted Free Cash Flow target for 2021. In light of the significant ongoing uncertainty |
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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
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related to the subsequent impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our 2021 financial results, the Compensation Committee also amended outstanding performance-based restricted stock units with 2021 and/or 2022 performance periods to replace the existing financial metrics with the metrics described above; however, the vesting dates of these awards did not change. |
In addition, to help ensure CEO continuity during the implementation of our strategic initiatives, including our technology transformation, in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic environment, the Compensation Committee granted Mr. Menke a time-based restricted stock unit award in March 2021. One-third of this award will vest annually, beginning on March 15, 2022, subject to his continued service through the vesting dates.
Employment Agreements and Offer Letters
We have entered into a written employment agreement or offer letter with each of our named executive officers. We believe that these agreements and letters were necessary to induce these individuals to forego other employment opportunities or leave their current employer for the uncertainty of a demanding position in a new and unfamiliar organization.
In filling these executive positions, the Compensation Committee was aware that it would be necessary to recruit candidates with the requisite experience and skills to manage a growing business in a dynamic and ever-changing industry. Accordingly, it recognized that it would need to develop competitive compensation packages to attract qualified candidates in a highly-competitive labor market. At the same time, the Compensation Committee was sensitive to the need to integrate new executive officers into the executive compensation structure that it was seeking to develop, balancing both competitive and internal equity considerations.
For additional information on the employment agreements and offer letters of our named executive officers, see Employment Agreements and Offer Letters below.
We have adopted the Sabre Corporation Executive Severance Plan (the Executive Severance Plan) for key executives of Sabre. Under the Executive Severance Plan, participants are eligible to receive certain payments and benefits in the event of a termination of their employment by Sabre without cause or a termination of employment by the participant for good reason, as well as upon disability (as each of these terms is defined in the Executive Severance Plan) and death. The Executive Severance Plan is designed to provide post-employment compensation payments and benefits that approximate the termination benefits that executive officers with employment agreements were entitled to receive under their respective agreements.
We provide these arrangements under the Executive Severance Plan to encourage our named executive officers to work at a dynamic and growing business where their long-term compensation largely depends on future stock price appreciation. Specifically, the arrangements are intended to mitigate a potential disincentive for our named executive officers when they are evaluating a potential acquisition of Sabre, particularly when their services may not be required by the acquiring entity. In such a situation, we believe that these arrangements are necessary to encourage retention of our named executive officers through the conclusion of the transaction, and to ensure a smooth management transition. We believe that the
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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
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level of benefits provided under these various agreements is consistent with market practice and help us to attract and retain key talent. For additional information, see Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control below.
Change-in control payments and benefits for our named executive officers are based on a double-trigger arrangement (that is, they require both a change in control of Sabre plus a qualifying termination of employment before payments and benefits are paid).
Other Compensation Policies and Programs
Stock Ownership Policy
We have historically maintained a stock ownership policy for our executive officers and the non-employee members of our Board of Directors. Under this policy, the individuals who have been designated as an executive officer or Senior Vice President are required to own that number of shares of our common stock with a value equal to a specified multiple of their annual base salary divided by the closing price of our common stock on the applicable measurement date. As adopted, these base salary multiples are as follows:
Position
|
Market Value of
Stock That Must be Owned
| |
Chief Executive Officer |
Five | |
Executive Vice Presidents |
Three | |
Senior Vice Presidents |
Two |
Shares of our common stock that count towards satisfaction of the guidelines include shares beneficially owned by the individual or immediate family members, shares held in trust for the benefit of the individual or immediate family members, vested shares of restricted stock, vested deferred stock units, restricted stock units or performance share units that may only be settled in shares of stock, and shares acquired as a result of the exercise of vested options to purchase shares of our common stock. Unvested restricted stock awards or restricted stock unit awards, and unexercised stock options do not count towards satisfaction of the guidelines.
In addition, until such time as an executive officer has met his or her specified ownership level, he or she has historically been required to hold an amount equal to 50% of the net shares of our common stock (i.e., shares remaining after the payment of the exercise price or the tax withholding obligations with respect to an equity award) received as the result of the exercise, vesting, or payment of any equity awards granted to him or her.
In the case of the non-employee members of our Board of Directors, each individual is required to own that number of shares of our common stock with a market value equal to five times his or her annual retainer divided by the closing price of our common stock on applicable measurement date.
Our traditional measurement date is the trading day immediately preceding April 1st of each year. Given the significant uncertainty in the global travel industry in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic and the significant volatility in our stock price, the Compensation Committee did not measure ownership levels in 2020 and suspended the 50% holding requirement through July 2021. The Compensation Committee will
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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
|
continue to monitor economic conditions and our financial results and intends to measure ownership levels in the future, with any adjustments to the policy deemed appropriate by the Compensation Committee.
Compensation Recovery Policy
The Compensation Committee has adopted an executive compensation recovery policy (often referred to as a clawback policy). The policy addresses when the Compensation Committee will be authorized to cause us to seek to recover erroneously-awarded incentive compensation in the event of an accounting restatement due to material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirements under the federal securities laws. The policy applies to any current or former Section 16 officer during a three-year look-back period. We will further review this policy once the SEC adopts final rules implementing the requirement of Section 954 of the Dodd-Frank Act.
Derivatives Trading and Hedging and Pledging Policies
We have adopted a general Insider Trading Policy that provides that employees that are recipients of equity grants, as well as individuals that have been designated as insiders, including executive officers and members of our Board of Directors, may not enter into hedging or monetization transactions, including zero-cost collars, equity swaps, exchange fund and forward sale contracts. Similarly, our Insider Trading Policy generally prohibits these individuals from pledging any of their shares of our common stock as collateral for a loan or other financial arrangement.
Equity Award Grant Policy
We maintain a formal policy for the timing of equity awards. The policy provides that our annual grant pool is approved at a meeting of the Compensation Committee held in the first quarter of each fiscal year and awards are granted on the 15th day of the third month of our fiscal year or if such day is not a business day, the first business day immediately preceding such day. In addition to our annual grant pool, we may grant equity awards to our named executive officers at other times during the year in recognition of special events, such as promotions, or for retention or other business purposes. Under our equity grant policy, all awards to our executive officers must be granted by the Compensation Committee. Awards to newly elected non-employee directors will be granted on the date of the meeting of our Board of Directors at which the new director is elected. If the specified grant date falls on a non-business day, the grant date will be the first business day immediately preceding that day. All stock options must be granted at an option price not less than the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the grant date.
Tax and Accounting Considerations
Deductibility of Compensation
Section 162(m) of the Code generally disallows for public companies a tax deduction for federal income tax purposes of remuneration in excess of $1 million paid to the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, and each of the three other most highly-compensated executive officers in any taxable year. Prior to January 1, 2018, remuneration in excess of $1 million could in general be deducted if it qualified as qualified performance-based compensation within the meaning of the Code. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the TCJA) eliminated the performance-based exception, beginning January 1, 2018; however, the TCJA provides a transition rule with respect to remuneration that is provided pursuant to a written binding
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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
|
contract that was in effect on November 2, 2017 and that was not materially modified after that date. As a result, compensation paid to our covered executive officers in excess of $1 million in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017 will not be deductible unless it qualifies for the transition relief described above.
In designing our executive compensation program and determining the compensation of our executive officers, including the named executive officers, the Compensation Committee considers a variety of factors, including the possible tax consequences to us and our executive officers, such as the potential impact of the Section 162(m) deduction limit. To maintain flexibility to compensate our executive officers in a manner designed to promote short-term and long-term corporate goals and objectives, the Compensation Committee has not adopted a policy that all compensation must be deductible. The Compensation Committee believes that our stockholder interests are best served if its discretion and flexibility in structuring compensation programs to attract, motivate, and retain key executives is not restricted, even though such arrangements may result in non-deductible compensation expense. Thus, the Compensation Committee may approve compensation for the named executive officers that does not comply with an exemption from the deduction limit when it believes that such compensation is consistent with the goals of our executive compensation program and is in the best interests of Sabre and our stockholders.
Golden Parachute Payments
Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code provide that executive officers and directors who hold significant equity interests and certain other service providers may be subject to an excise tax if they receive payments or benefits in connection with a change in control of Sabre that exceeds certain prescribed limits, and that we, or a successor, may forfeit a deduction on the amounts subject to this additional tax. We did not provide any executive officer, including any named executive officer, with a gross-up or other reimbursement payment for any tax liability that he or she might owe as a result of the application of Sections 280G or 4999 during 2020, and we have not agreed and are not otherwise obligated to provide any named executive officer with such a gross-up or other reimbursement.
Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation
We follow ASC Topic 718 for our stock-based compensation awards, which requires companies to measure the compensation expense for all share-based payment awards made to employees and directors, including stock options, stock appreciation rights and other awards, based on the grant date fair value of these awards. This calculation is performed for accounting purposes and reported in the compensation tables below, even though our employees, including our executive officers, and directors may never realize any value from their awards. ASC Topic 718 also requires companies to recognize the compensation cost of their stock-based compensation awards in their income statements over the period that an employee or director is required to render service in exchange for the stock option, stock appreciation right, or other award.
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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
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The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis with our management, which has the responsibility for preparing the Compensation Discussion and Analysis. Based upon this review and discussion, the Compensation Committee recommended to our Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy statement and incorporated by reference in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
John Siciliano, Chair
Gary Kusin
Karl Peterson
Zane Rowe
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
|
2020 Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth the compensation paid to, received by, or earned during fiscal years 2020, 2019 and 2018 by our named executive officers:
Name and Principal Position |
Fiscal Year |
Salary ($)(3) |
Bonus ($)(4) |
Stock Awards ($)(5) |
Option ($)(5) |
Non-Equity ($)(6) |
All
Other ($)(7) |
Total ($) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sean Menke |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||
President and CEO |
|
2020 |
|
$ |
937,500 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
8,416,937 |
|
$ |
449,849 |
|
$ |
731,251 |
|
$ |
27,523 |
|
$ |
10,563,060 |
| ||||||||||||||||
|
2019 |
|
$ |
966,346 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
5,770,265 |
|
$ |
1,229,729 |
|
$ |
797,594 |
|
$ |
21,155 |
|
$ |
8,785,089 |
| |||||||||||||||||
|
2018 |
|
$ |
943,269 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
7,044,225 |
|
$ |
1,355,765 |
|
$ |
1,414,904 |
|
$ |
14,182 |
|
$ |
10,772,345 |
| |||||||||||||||||
Douglas Barnett(1) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
|
2020 |
|
$ |
688,731 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
2,166,466 |
|
$ |
96,396 |
|
$ |
352,500 |
|
$ |
10,513 |
|
$ |
3,314,606 |
| ||||||||||||||||
|
2019 |
|
$ |
699,808 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
2,060,809 |
|
$ |
439,189 |
|
$ |
385,037 |
|
$ |
22,196 |
|
$ |
3,607,039 |
| |||||||||||||||||
|
2018 |
|
$ |
291,923 |
|
$ |
500,000 |
|
$ |
3,629,255 |
|
$ |
620,739 |
|
$ |
291,923 |
|
$ |
13,591 |
|
$ |
5,347,431 |
| |||||||||||||||||
Wade Jones(2) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||
Executive Vice President and Chief Product Officer |
|
2020 |
|
$ |
583,154 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,870,982 |
|
$ |
64,264 |
|
$ |
253,475 |
|
$ |
8,448 |
|
$ |
2,780,323 |
| ||||||||||||||||
|
2019 |
|
$ |
561,442 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,648,647 |
|
$ |
351,351 |
|
$ |
262,616 |
|
$ |
17,054 |
|
$ |
2,841,110 |
| |||||||||||||||||
|
2018 |
|
$ |
536,539 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
2,096,507 |
|
$ |
403,504 |
|
$ |
456,058 |