DESCRIPTION OF NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
EXHIBIT 10.3
DESCRIPTION OF NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICER
AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
Named Executive Officer Compensation
Set forth below is a summary of the compensation paid by Knology, Inc. (the Company) to its named executive officers (defined in Regulation S-K Item 402(a)(3)). All of the Companys executive officers are at-will employees whose compensation and employment status may be changed at any time in the discretion of the Companys Board of Directors.
Total compensation to the named executive officers is primarily composed of three types of compensation: (1) base salary, (2) bonuses and (3) stock options awarded under the Companys Amended and Restated 2002 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the Long-Term Incentive Plan).
The Companys compensation arrangements with its named executive officers are intended to (1) attract, retain and motivate qualified management, (2) recognize individual initiative and achievement, (3) reward employees and management for short and long-term accomplishments, (4) align compensation with the achievement of the Companys goals and the Companys overall performance and (5) align the interests of employees, directors and management with those of the Companys stockholders.
Base Salary
Individual base salaries and increases for the Companys named executive officers, other than the President and Chief Executive Officer, are determined by the President and Chief Executive Officer after consultation with the Compensation and Stock Option Committee (the Committee). The base salary and any increases for the Companys President and Chief Executive Officer are determined by the Committee. Base salaries are initially determined by evaluating the responsibilities of the position, the experience of the individual, and the competitive marketplace for managerial talent, including a comparison of base salaries for similar positions at comparable companies. The determination of compensation in a given year, including increases in base salary, is set after a review and consideration of a number of factors, including the individuals level of responsibility and commitment, level of performance, contributions to the achievement of the Companys goals and overall performance and compensation levels at comparable companies. With respect to the President and Chief Executive Officer, the Committee reviews the factors listed above, but without consultation with or input from the President and Chief Executive Officer. The Committee recommends the compensation of the President and Chief Executive Officer to the Board of Directors for final approval.
Set forth below are the 2005 base salaries of the named executive officers of the Company. Base salaries are determined annually in April.
Named Executive Officer | 2005 Base Salary | ||
Rodger L. Johnson | $ | 410,000 | |
Bret T. McCants | 200,000 | ||
Robert K. Mills | 185,200 | ||
Michael B Roddy | 181,200 | ||
Chad S. Wachter | 165,100 |
Bonuses
Bonuses are intended to align short-term cash compensation of eligible Company employees, including the named executive officers, with individual performance and Company performance. Bonuses also help to control compensation expenses and reward past performance by reducing the need for significant annual base salary increases. The President and Chief Executive Officer approves the annual bonus potential for named executive officers, other than the President and Chief Executive Officer. The bonus payment for the President and Chief Executive Officer is determined by the Compensation and Stock Option Committee based upon an evaluation of the competitive marketplace, the Companys performance, the performance of the individual as well as the achievement of certain measurement objectives including net customer connections, revenue and EBITDA, as adjusted. The bonus payment for the named executive officers other than the President and Chief Executive Officer is based upon a committee approved bonus plan which measures the attainment of goals including individual performance as well as Company performance of customer connections, revenue and EBITDA, as adjusted.
Set forth below is the annual bonus potential, as a percentage of base salary, to the Companys named executive officers, other than the President and Chief Executive Officer, for the year ended December 31, 2005.
Named Executive Officer | |||
Bret T.McCants | 40 | % | |
Robert K. Mills | 40 | % | |
Michael B Roddy | 40 | % | |
Chad S. Wachter | 40 | % |
Stock Options
The Company attempts to align the interests of employees, directors, consultants and officers, including its named executive officers, with those of the Companys shareholders, and to reward outstanding performance, by awarding stock options to these individuals under the Long-Term Incentive Plan. The Committee administers the Long-Term Incentive Plan, including designating eligible participants and determining the number of stock options awarded and the terms and conditions thereof.
Set forth below are stock options granted to the Companys named executive officers for 2005 as of May 13, 2005. Additional options may be granted based upon bonus payments made to the named executive officers related to the year ended December 31, 2005.
Named Executive Officer | Securities Underlying Stock Options | |
Rodger L. Johnson | 320,000 | |
Robert K. Mills | 67,500 | |
Bret T. McCants | 45,000 | |
Michael B. Roddy | 10,000 | |
Chad S. Wachter | 40,000 |
Other Compensation
In addition to base salary, bonuses and stock options, the named executive officers receive compensation in the form of premiums on term life insurance paid by the Company, matching contributions to the Companys 401(k) plan and car allowances. The compensation paid to the Companys named executive officers under these
compensation arrangements during 2005 will be set forth under Other Compensation in the Summary Compensation Table of the Companys 2006 Proxy Statement to be filed with the Commission on Schedule 14A.
Director Compensation
Our directors historically have not received directors fees. Beginning in 2005, non-employee directors will be compensated as outlined in the table below. Mr. Davis, who was appointed to the board of directors pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement, receives a fee of $1,000 for each board and committee meeting he attends. In addition, Mr. Davis receives an annual retainer fee of $25,000. All directors are reimbursed for their reasonable out-of-pocket travel expenses. In addition, directors of the Company may receive stock options pursuant to the Companys Amended and Restated 2002 Long-Term Incentive Plan upon their election to the Board of Directors. Grants of stock options to directors, and the terms and conditions thereof, are made at the discretion of the Compensation and Stock Option Committee.
2005 Non-employee Director Compensation | |||
Annual Retainer | $ | 2,000 | |
Fee Per Board of Directors Meeting: | |||
In Person | 1,000 | ||
Via Telephone | 250 | ||
Quarterly fee for Audit and Compensation Committee Meeting Attendance | 500 |