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Organization
The Compensation Committee ("Committee") is a committee of the Board of Directors (the "Board") of National Fuel Gas Company (the "Company").
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Membership of the Committee
The Committee shall consist of no fewer than three members of the Board. Each member of the Committee shall (i) meet the independence requirements of the New York Stock Exchange, as they may be amended from time to time, and any other applicable laws, rules and regulations governing independence; (ii) qualify as a "non-employee director," as defined in Rule 16b-3 promulgated under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; (iii) meet the requirements of the Company's Corporate Governance Guidelines; and (iv) meet any additional requirements the Board deems appropriate . All members of the Committee will be appointed by the Board and shall serve at the discretion of the Board. Any vacancy on the Committee shall be filled by majority vote of the Board. No member of the Committee shall be removed except by majority vote of the Board. The chairperson of the Committee shall be designated by the Board, provided that if the Board does not so designate a chairperson, the members of the Committee, by a majority vote, may designate a chairperson.
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Committee's Purpose
The Committee's purposes are:
- to exercise delegated authority of the Board regarding compensation of Executive Officers (as defined below) of the Company;
- to make recommendations to the Board regarding compensation of directors of the Company;
- to exercise authority granted by various compensation plans approved by the Board and/or the Company's shareholders;
- to perform activities required of Compensation Committees by applicable law, rules or regulations including the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”); and
- to make recommendations to the Board on compensation-related matters.
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Meetings of the Committee
The Committee shall meet as often as it determines necessary to carry out its duties and responsibilities, but no less than twice annually. The Committee, in its discretion, may ask members of management or others to attend its meetings (or portions thereof) and to provide pertinent information as necessary.
The chairperson of the Committee shall preside at all meetings of the Committee. He shall determine the agenda for all Committee meetings with the assistance of the Committee members. Each Committee member shall be entitled to suggest the inclusion of items on the agenda, with the final determination of the agenda to be made by the chairperson of the Committee. The chairperson of the Committee shall also determine the timing and length of the meetings, and the time devoted to each topic on the agenda. All procedural matters with respect to the conduct of Committee meetings shall be determined by the chairperson of the Committee, including whether any individuals other than Committee members shall be invited to attend and/or participate in all or any portion of any meetings, and the conditions of such individuals’ attendance and/or participation.
A majority of the members of the Committee present in person or by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other shall constitute a quorum.
The Committee may act by unanimous written consent as described in the Company's By-Laws.
The Committee shall maintain minutes of its meetings and records relating to those meetings and shall report regularly to the Board on its activities, as appropriate.
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Committee's Authority and Responsibilities
To carry out its purpose, the Committee shall also have the following responsibilities.
- Shareholder Delegated Authority. Exercise authority delegated by the Company's shareholders with respect to compensation plans. These include, but may not be limited to:
- the National Fuel Gas Company 2010 Equity Compensation Plan, as amended; and
- the National Fuel Gas Company 2012 Annual At Risk Compensation Incentive Plan, including At Risk Awards;
- CEO Compensation. At least annually review and approve corporate goals and objectives relevant to CEO compensation, evaluate the CEO's performance in light of those goals and objectives and determine and approve the CEO's compensation level based upon this evaluation. In determining the incentive components of CEO compensation, the Committee may consider a number of factors, including but not limited to the Company's performance and relative shareholder return, the value of similar incentive awards to chief executive officers at comparable companies and the awards given to the Company's CEO in past years.
- Non-CEO Compensation. After consultation with the CEO:
- Approve base salaries for individuals who have been designated by the Board as "officers" or "executive officers" for purposes of federal securities laws, including Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (collectively "Executive Officers"); and
- Approve annual incentive opportunities and cash bonuses of Executive Officers.
- Director Compensation. Regularly evaluate the level of compensation for Board and Committee service by non-employee directors and make recommendations regarding same to the Board.
- Other Compensation and Benefits
- Review the life insurance benefits made available to officers from time to time and, with the advice and counsel of the CEO, modify and supplement such benefits if it should deem such action appropriate;
- Review the perquisites or other personal benefits made available to officers from time to time and modify and supplement such perquisites or other personal benefits if it should deem such action appropriate; and
- Exercise the authority delegated by the Board under the National Fuel Gas Company Executive Annual Cash Incentive Program and the National Fuel Gas Company Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors and Officers.
- Recommendations. Make recommendations to the Board with respect to other compensation, including, but not limited to, incentive compensation plans and equity plans.
- CD&A. Review and discuss with management the Company's compensation discussion and analysis (“CD&A”) required to be included in the Company's annual proxy statement and annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and, based on that review and discussion, recommend to the Board that the CD&A be so included.
- Compensation Committee Report. Prepare the disclosure required by Item 407(e)(5) of the SEC's Regulation S-K.
- Severance and Termination Benefits. Review and recommend to the Board any severance or termination arrangements to be made with any Executive Officer of the Company.
- Regular Board Reports. Make regular reports to the Board
- Administrative Rules Review. Review from time to time and, as appropriate, amend the Committee's Administrative Rules regarding awards under various compensation plans administered by the Committee;
- Other Matters. Investigate and consider such other matters in relation to the compensation of the officers and employees of the Company and its subsidiaries as the Committee may, in its discretion, determine to be advisable.
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Authority to Retain Advisors. As deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee in its sole discretion, retain or obtain the advice of compensation consultants, independent legal counsel or other advisors ("Advisors"). The Committee shall be directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, oversight, evaluation and termination of the work of any Advisor retained by the Committee. The Company must provide for appropriate funding, as determined by the Committee, for payment of reasonable compensation to any Advisor retained by the Committee.
In selecting Advisors, the Committee shall take into account factors, including
factors related to the independence of such Advisors, it considers appropriate or as may be required
by law or NYSE listing standards. The Committee may select or receive advice from any Advisor, including Advisors that are not independent, after considering factors relevant to the Advisor's independence from management.
- Compensation Program Review. Review from time to time with management and any consultants or advisors the adequacy and effectiveness of the compensation programs of the Company, and elicit any recommendations for the improvement of such programs or particular areas where new or different programs are desirable, and recommend that the Board amend or adopt programs if the Committee deems appropriate.
- Delegation to Subcommittees. The Committee may form subcommittees and may delegate to such subcommittees such power and authority of the Committee as the Committee deems appropriate; provided, however, that no subcommittee shall consist of fewer than two members; and provided further that the Committee shall not delegate to a subcommittee any power or authority required by any law, regulation or listing standard to be exercised by the Committee as a whole.
- Charter Review. On an annual basis, review the adequacy of this Compensation Committee Charter ("Charter") and recommend to the Board any modifications to this Charter, which the Committee deems appropriate, for approval by the Board.
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Role of CEO
The CEO may make, and the Committee may consider, recommendations to the Committee regarding the Company's compensation and employee benefit plans and practices, including its executive compensation plans, its incentive-compensation and equity-based plans with respect to Executive Officers other than the CEO.
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Annual Performance Evaluation
The Committee shall conduct an annual performance evaluation of the Committee.
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While the Committee has the duties and responsibilities set forth in this Charter, nothing contained in this Charter is intended to create, or should be construed as creating, any responsibility or liability of members of the Committee.