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Harley-Davidson DEF 14A 2012 Documents found in this filing:Table of ContentsUNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 14A Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. ) Filed by the Registrant x Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ¨ Check the appropriate box:
Harley-Davidson, Inc.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant) Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING AND PROXY STATEMENT
Harley-Davidson, Inc. 3700 West Juneau Avenue Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53208 (414) 342-4680
March 26, 2012
Dear Fellow Shareholder:
On behalf of the Board of Directors and management of Harley-Davidson, Inc., we cordially invite you to attend the 2012 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held at 10:30 a.m., Central Daylight Time, on Saturday, April 28, 2012, at the Harley-Davidson Museum, 400 West Canal Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The attached Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement describe the formal business that the shareholders will transact at the Annual Meeting. During the Annual Meeting, there will also be brief reports on our operations. Once the shareholders conclude the business of the Annual Meeting, we will give shareholders an opportunity to ask questions.
We sincerely hope you will be able to attend our Annual Meeting. However, whether or not you are personally present, it is important that you vote your shares.
We are pleased to once again offer multiple options for voting your shares. As described in the section called, Questions and Answers About the MeetingHow Do I Vote? of the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement, you may vote your shares by telephone, the Internet, mail or written ballot at the Annual Meeting.
If you own shares through a broker, bank or other nominee, please vote your shares by providing your broker, bank or nominee with your voting instructions.
Thank you for your continued support of Harley-Davidson, Inc.
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NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
April 28, 2012
The 2012 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Harley-Davidson, Inc. will be held at the Harley-Davidson Museum, 400 West Canal Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 10:30 a.m., Central Daylight Time, for the following purposes:
1. To elect twelve directors to the Board of Directors;
2. To approve, by advisory vote, the compensation of our named executive officers;
3. To ratify the selection of Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, to be the auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2012; and
4. To take action upon any other business as may properly come before the 2012 Annual Meeting and any adjournments or postponements of that meeting.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR items 1, 2 and 3. The Board of Directors or proxy holders will use their discretion on other matters that may arise at the 2012 Annual Meeting.
The Board of Directors fixed the close of business on March 8, 2012 as the record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the 2012 Annual Meeting and any adjournments or postponements of that meeting.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin March 26, 2012
Table of ContentsWe urge you to submit your proxy as soon as possible. If the records of our transfer agent, Computershare Investor Services LLC, show that you own shares in your name, or you own shares in our Dividend Reinvestment Plan, then you can submit your proxy for those shares by using a toll-free telephone number or the Internet. Or you can mark your votes on the proxy card we have enclosed, sign and date it, and mail it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided. Instructions for using these convenient services are set forth on the proxy card.
If you own shares in street name, we encourage you to provide voting instructions to your bank, broker or other nominee. Street name holders may also vote by telephone or the Internet if their bank, broker or other nominee makes those methods available, in which case the bank, broker or other nominee will enclose the instructions along with this Proxy Statement. Street name holders who wish to vote at the meeting cannot vote in person at the 2012 Annual Meeting unless they first obtain a proxy issued in their name from their broker, bank or other nominee.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Shareholder Meeting to be Held on April 28, 2012
Pursuant to rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, we have elected to provide access to our proxy materials both by sending you this full set of proxy materials, including a proxy card, and by notifying you of the availability of our proxy materials on the Internet. This Proxy Statement and our 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K are available at http://www.proxyvote.com.
Table of ContentsPROXY STATEMENT
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3700 West Juneau Avenue Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53208
March 26, 2012
PROXY STATEMENT
The Board of Directors of Harley-Davidson, Inc. requests the proxy accompanying this Proxy Statement for use at the 2012 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on April 28, 2012 and at any adjournment or postponement of that meeting (the Annual Meeting). We first sent this Proxy Statement and the accompanying proxy to shareholders on or about March 26, 2012.
As used in this Proxy Statement, we, the company or Harley-Davidson refers to Harley-Davidson, Inc. We operate in two business segments: the motorcycles and related products segment and the financial services segment. Motor Company refers to our motorcycles and related products segment subsidiaries, which include the companies that do business as Harley-Davidson Motor Company. HDFS generally refers to our financial services segment, which includes Harley-Davidson Financial Services, Inc. and its subsidiaries.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE MEETING
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE COMPANY
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Table of ContentsPROPOSALS TO BE VOTED ON ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Our Restated Articles of Incorporation provide for a Board of Directors that has between six and fifteen members. The Board determines the size from time to time by the vote of a majority of the directors then in office. The entire Board is elected annually. The Board currently consists of twelve members with terms that expire at the Annual Meeting.
Our By-laws have a majority vote standard for the election of directors. The By-laws provide that a director nominee in an uncontested election who receives more withheld votes than for votes must tender his or her resignation to the Chairman of the Board. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will promptly consider that resignation and will recommend to the Board whether to accept the tendered resignation or reject it. The Board will then act on that recommendation no later than 90 days following the date of the shareholders meeting at which the election occurred. However, the Board may determine to extend such 90-day period by an additional period of up to 90 days if it determines that such an extension is in the best interests of the company and its shareholders. Within four days of the Boards decision, the company must disclose the decision in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission that includes a full explanation of the process by which the decision was reached and, if applicable, the reasons for rejecting the resignation. These requirements do not apply in a contested election.
We have identified the twelve director nominees that the Board of Directors has nominated below. All twelve nominees have advised us that they will serve if elected.
The twelve nominees receiving the most votes will be elected to the Board, assuming a quorum is present at the Annual Meeting. Any shares not voted, whether due to abstentions or broker nonvotes, will not have an impact on the election of directors. Once a share is counted as present at the Annual Meeting, it will count as present for quorum purposes throughout the Annual Meeting (including any adjournment or postponement of that meeting unless a new record date is or must be set for the adjournment or postponement).
Unless you specify otherwise in your proxy, the persons you have appointed will vote your shares FOR the Board of Directors nominees that we name below. If any nominee becomes unable to serve, the persons you have appointed may vote your shares for another person that the Board designates.
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Table of ContentsBelow, we provide the following information for each nominee of the Board of Directors:
Under our By-laws, no person may be elected as a director of the company after such persons 72nd birthday, except as the Board may otherwise approve in advance of such election. In light of the strategic transformation that the company is undertaking, the Board believes retaining a retirement policy for directors while allowing for discretion by the Board to make exceptions to the policy when it deems it to be in the best interests of the company is a prudent balance of succession planning for members of the Board and ensuring continuity in the leadership of the company. The Board exercised its discretion in February 2012 to allow the nomination and election of Messrs. Beattie and Conrades, who have both reached age 72.
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Table of ContentsTHE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE FOLLOWING TWELVE NOMINEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
Nominees of the Board of Directors
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Table of ContentsAPPROVAL, BY ADVISORY VOTE, OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Under legislation that Congress enacted in 2010, our shareholders may approve, on a non-binding, advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in accordance with the executive compensation disclosure rules contained in Item 402 of the SECs Regulation S-K. Accordingly, we are seeking input from shareholders with this advisory vote on the compensation of our named executive officers. The vote on this proposal is not intended to address any specific element of compensation; rather, the vote relates to the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section and the accompanying executive compensation tables and narrative discussion contained in this Proxy Statement. The company asks that you support the compensation of our named executive officers as so disclosed. Because your vote is advisory, it will not be binding on the Human Resources Committee, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the Board or the company. However, the Board will review the voting results and take them into consideration when making future decisions regarding executive compensation.
Our executive compensation philosophy emphasizes pay-for-performance. For example, we based several of our compensation programs upon delivering high levels of performance relative to performance measures that we selected. Our annual STIP program and our cash-based long-term incentives require that we achieve significant financial performance before recipients are entitled to payments, our equity programs provide greater financial benefits when our stock price is increasing, and our leadership STIP program generates higher payouts correlated with high leadership scores. This philosophy is designed to:
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Table of ContentsWe describe the individual elements that make up our total compensation more fully in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this Proxy Statement. We believe our executive compensation programs are structured in the best manner possible to support our company and our business objectives, as well as to support our culture and traditions that have been around for over 100 years.
Accordingly, for the reasons we discuss above, the Board recommends that shareholders vote in favor of the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables and narrative discussion.
Vote Requirement. The votes cast for this proposal must exceed the votes cast against this proposal for approval of the compensation of our named executive officers, assuming that a quorum is present. For purposes of determining the vote regarding this proposal, abstentions and broker non-votes do not constitute a vote for or against the proposal and will be disregarded in the calculation of votes cast. Proxies solicited by the Board will be voted FOR approval of the compensation unless a shareholder specifies otherwise.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR APPROVAL OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AS DISCLOSED IN THE COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS SECTION AND THE ACCOMPANYING COMPENSATION TABLES AND NARRATIVE DISCUSSION CONTAINED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT.
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Table of ContentsRATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, performed an audit of our consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011. The Audit Committee has selected Ernst & Young LLP to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm for the 2012 fiscal year, and the committee is presenting this selection to shareholders for ratification. Representatives of Ernst & Young LLP will be present at the Annual Meeting to respond to shareholders questions.
If prior to the Annual Meeting, Ernst & Young LLP declines to act as our independent registered public accountant or the Audit Committee does not want to use Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accountant, the Audit Committee will appoint another independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee will present any new independent registered public accounting firm for the shareholders to ratify at the Annual Meeting. If the shareholders do not ratify the engagement of Ernst & Young LLP at the Annual Meeting, then the Audit Committee will reconsider its selection of Ernst & Young LLP.
To ratify the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2012, the votes cast for this proposal must exceed the votes cast against it. For purposes of determining the vote regarding this proposal, abstentions and broker non-votes do not constitute a vote for or against the proposal and will be disregarded in the calculation of votes cast. Unless you specify otherwise in your proxy, the persons you have appointed will vote your shares FOR ratification of the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2012.
We entered into an engagement letter with Ernst & Young LLP for its work in 2011. The engagement letter contains provisions that subject the company to alternative dispute resolution. The arbitration panel has the power to make an award or impose a remedy if, and only if, such award could be made or remedy imposed by a court deciding the matter in the same jurisdiction. The arbitration panel has no power to award non-monetary or equitable relief or to make an award or impose a remedy that is inconsistent with any applicable agreement between the parties. We expect that the audit work that Ernst & Young LLP performs for 2012 will be subject to a similar engagement letter.
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Table of ContentsFees Paid to Ernst & Young LLP
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, we hired Ernst & Young LLP to perform the annual audit and to provide audit-related and tax services. The Audit Committee Charter requires that the Audit Committee pre-approve all Ernst & Young LLP services. The Audit Committee also pre-approved all fees that we incurred for services that Ernst & Young LLP provided for the last two fiscal years. The fees we incurred for services that Ernst & Young LLP provided are listed in the following table.
Audit fees included fees for the audit of our consolidated financial statements and our internal control over financial reporting as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. This category also includes fees for audits provided in connection with government filings or services that generally only the principal auditor can reasonably provide to a client, such as comfort letters, procedures related to debt financing, consents and reviews of documents that we file with the SEC. Audit-related services included audits of employee benefit plans, procedures related to securitization transactions, transaction advisory services and consultation on accounting and internal control matters. Tax services included tax advice, planning, compliance and transaction consulting.
The Audit Committee has procedures for pre-approving all audit and nonaudit services that the independent registered public accounting firm provides. These procedures include reviewing and approving a budget for audit and permitted nonaudit services. The budget includes a description of, and a budgeted amount for, particular categories of nonaudit services that are recurring in nature and that we anticipate at the time we submit the budget. In addition, the Audit Committee has established a policy that the fees we pay for nonaudit services must be less than the fees we pay for audit and audit-related services. Audit Committee approval is required to exceed the budget amount for a particular category of nonaudit services and to engage the independent registered public accounting firm for any nonaudit services not included in the budget. For both types of pre-approval, the Audit Committee considers whether the services are consistent with the SECs rules on auditor independence. The Audit Committee also considers whether the independent registered public accounting firm is best positioned to provide the most effective and efficient service. The Audit Committee may delegate pre-approval authority to one or more members of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee periodically monitors the services that our independent registered public accounting firm provides and actual fees we have paid to the independent registered public accounting firm to ensure that the services are within the parameters that the Audit Committee has approved.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM.
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Table of ContentsOTHER MATTERS TO COME BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING
The Board of Directors and management do not intend to bring any matters before the Annual Meeting other than those to which we referred in the Notice of Annual Meeting and this Proxy Statement. If any other matters come before the Annual Meeting, the persons named in the proxy cards intend to vote the shares that shareholders have authorized those persons to vote in accordance with their judgment on those matters. To bring business before an annual meeting, a shareholder must give written notice to our Secretary before the meeting and comply with the terms and time periods that our Restated Articles of Incorporation specify (see Shareholder Proposals on page 77). No shareholder has given written notice to our Secretary of his or her desire to bring business before the Annual Meeting in compliance with the terms and time periods that our Restated Articles of Incorporation specify.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE PRINCIPLES AND BOARD MATTERS
Independence of Directors
The Board has affirmatively determined that Ms. Brooks, Ms. Levinson and Messrs. Anderson, Allen, Beattie, Conrades, Linebarger, Miles, Norling and Zeitz qualify as independent directors under New York Stock Exchange rules. The Board has affirmatively determined that Messrs. James and Wandell are not independent. To assist the Board in making determinations of independence, the Board adopted the categorical standards set forth below. In evaluating the independence of our directors, the Board determined that any relationships that these directors have with the company satisfy the categorical standards that we describe below.
The Board reviews and determines on the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (the Nominating Committee), after reviewing all relevant facts and circumstances, whether any director has a material relationship with the company that would affect his or her independence. Under the categorical standards that the Board has established to assist it in making these determinations, the Board will not consider the following relationships material:
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When making director independence determinations, the Board considered certain business relationships. We have a business relationship with Akamai Technologies, Inc., of which Mr. Conrades is the Chairman, and with Cummins Inc., of which Mr. Linebarger is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. We discuss these relationships in more detail in the Certain Transactions section below. The Board considered the nature of the relationship and the annual amount of payments we make and determined that the dollar amount of such payments did not preclude the Board from making an independence determination for either director and that the relationship fell within our categorical standards of independence.
In addition, a director cannot qualify as independent for Audit Committee purposes if the director, other than in his or her capacity as a member of the Audit Committee, the Board, or any other Board committee meets one of the following:
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Table of ContentsIndirect acceptance of any consulting, advisory or other compensatory fee includes:
Board Committees
The Board has four committees: the Audit Committee, the Human Resources Committee, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Sustainability Committee. The Corporate Governance page of our website located at http://www.harley-davidson.com contains the charter for each of the committees.
Audit Committee
Number of Meetings in 2011: 8
Audit Committee Purpose:
The Audit Committee Charter provides that the Audit Committee will assist the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibility relating to:
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In December 2011, the Audit Committee reviewed the Audit Committee Charter and recommended proposed changes to the Board for approval. The Board approved the revised Audit Committee Charter in December 2011, and shareholders can find it on our website located at http://www.harley-davidson.com.
The Board has determined that all members of the Audit Committee are independent and financially literate under the audit committee requirements of New York Stock Exchange rules. The Board has also determined that Messrs. Linebarger, Miles and Zeitz are audit committee financial experts within the meaning of SEC rules. The section below under the heading Audit Committee Report discusses the functions of the Audit Committee and its activities during fiscal year 2011.
Human Resources Committee
Number of Meetings in 2011: 4
Human Resources Committee Purpose:
The Human Resources Committee Charter provides that the Human Resources Committee should:
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In December 2011, the Human Resources Committee reviewed the Human Resources Committee Charter and recommended proposed changes to the Board for approval. The Board approved the revised Human Resources Committee Charter in December 2011, and shareholders can find it on our website located at http://www.harley-davidson.com.
The Board of Directors has determined that all members of the Human Resources Committee are independent under the New York Stock Exchange rules.
The Human Resources Committee also has overall responsibility for reviewing total direct compensation (consisting of base salaries, short-term incentive compensation and long-term incentive compensation) for our employees who are at least at the vice president level. In addition, the Human Resources Committee reviews other aspects of compensation, such as deferred compensation plans, perquisite payments and health and welfare plans.
The Human Resources Committee is also responsible for reviewing the annual performance of the CEO with input from the independent directors of the Board who comprise the Nominating Committee. Based upon the review of the annual performance of the CEO and competitive market data, the Human Resources Committee develops a compensation package for the CEO and recommends the CEOs compensation package to the Nominating Committee for approval.
The Human Resources Committee has the authority to engage the services of outside advisors, experts and others to assist it in performing its responsibilities. The Human Resources Committee retained the services of Meridian Compensation Partners, LLC. Representatives of Meridian report to the chairperson of the Human Resources Committee. On an annual basis, the Human Resources Committee reviews and approves the scope of Meridians services regarding executive compensation, its performance and fees related to work Meridian performed for the Human Resources Committee. The Human Resources Committee retains the right to terminate Meridians services at any time. Meridians primary responsibilities to the Human Resources Committee include providing:
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Currently, Meridian does no work for us beyond its engagement by the Human Resources Committee and assisting the Nominating Committee with benchmarking director compensation.
The Human Resources Committee annually approves several Short-Term Incentive Plans (STIPs) to motivate and reward the performance of employees of the Motor Company, HDFS and Harley-Davidson. Our STIPs have broad-based participation and provide an opportunity to earn annual cash awards based upon performance during the course of our fiscal year relative to financial goals or other performance objectives. Prior to the beginning of each year, the Human Resources Committee reviews and approves Financial STIP and Leadership STIP performance measures and goals. The Human Resources Committee also reviews and approves target STIP opportunities for our Executive Leadership Team. Upon the completion of the fiscal year, the Human Resources Committee determines the extent to which actual performance satisfies the defined performance goals for each STIP.
In general, we grant equity-based long-term incentives annually in February. In the case of the CEO, the Human Resources Committee recommends an equity award for the CEO to the Nominating Committee for review and approval. The Human Resources Committee has authorized the CEO to make equity grants to employees in certain instances, including to help recruit a new employee or retain a current employee or to reward an employee for exceptional service or such other instance that the CEO believes is in our best interest. The CEO may grant awards of stock options and stock appreciation rights that involve not more than 100,000 shares of our common stock in the aggregate annually and not more than 25,000 shares of common stock to any one employee and/or a person engaged to become an employee. The CEO may also grant awards of restricted stock, restricted stock units and shares of our common stock that involve not more than 50,000 shares of our common stock in the aggregate annually and not more than 10,000 shares of common stock to any one employee and/or a person engaged to become an employee. The CEO may not grant equity awards to members of the Executive Leadership Team.
The Human Resources Committee has adopted a number of policies and agreements to further the goals of the executive compensation program and to strengthen the alignment of interests of executives with the long-term interests of shareholders. These include Stock Ownership Guidelines for executives that we describe beginning on page 39.
We also provide benefits to our executives that are the same benefits received by salaried employees in general. They include medical and dental benefits, retirement plans, employee savings plans, death benefits and deferred compensation plans for eligible employees. Management reviews these programs periodically, generally with the aid of an outside consultant, and revises them when necessary. In addition, the Human Resources Committee periodically reviews aspects of these programs.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
Number of Meetings in 2011: 4
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The Nominating Committee Charter provides that the Nominating Committee should:
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Table of ContentsIn December 2011, the Nominating Committee reviewed the Nominating Committee Charter and recommended proposed changes to the Board for approval. The Board approved the revised Nominating Committee Charter in December 2011, and shareholders can find it on our website located at http://www.harley-davidson.com.
The Board has determined that all members of the Nominating Committee are independent under New York Stock Exchange rules.
The Nominating Committee Charter outlines the criteria for identifying and recommending new candidates to serve on the Board. In considering any potential candidate for the Board, the Nominating Committee considers the following qualifications:
The Nominating Committees charter has long required the committee to consider diversity in its process of selecting director nominees. Specifically, the Nominating Committee evaluates each candidate for director on, among other things, the basis of the diversity that he or she would bring to the Board, including with respect to business and professional experiences, skills, ethnicity and gender. We believe this policy has been effective in the creation of a Board comprised of diverse members and that the composition of the current Board reflects the Nominating Committees consideration of diversity in its evaluation and nomination process.
The Nominating Committee will consider candidates that shareholders recommend. Shareholders may recommend candidates for the Nominating Committee to consider by writing to the Nominating Committee in care of our Secretary, 3700 West Juneau Avenue, P.O. Box 653, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201-0653. The Nominating Committees policy regarding director candidates that shareholders recommend and the process for evaluating the nominees are as follows:
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To enable the Nominating Committee to consider a shareholder recommendation in connection with the 2013 annual meeting of shareholders, we must receive the recommendation on or before November 26, 2012.
Submitting a shareholder recommendation to the Nominating Committee does not ensure that shareholders will have an opportunity to vote on the shareholders candidate because the Nominating Committee may determine not to recommend the candidate to the full Board or the full Board may determine not to recommend the candidate to shareholders. Any shareholder who wants to ensure that shareholders will have an opportunity to vote on the shareholders candidate may nominate the director candidate for the shareholders to vote on at the 2013 annual meeting of shareholders, in addition to recommending the candidate to the Nominating Committee, by giving written notice to our Secretary in advance of the 2013 annual meeting. To give that notice, a shareholder must comply with the terms and time periods of our Restated Articles of Incorporation. Our Restated Articles of Incorporation state that a shareholder must give written notice that complies with the Restated Articles of Incorporation to our Secretary not less than 60 days before the date in 2013 corresponding to the date we released this Proxy Statement to our shareholders. Because we anticipate mailing this Proxy Statement on March 26, 2012, we must receive notice of a nomination for a director candidate for shareholders to consider at the 2012 annual meeting of shareholders no later than January 25, 2013. Even if a shareholder delivers a timely notice and otherwise complies with the terms and time periods of our Articles of Incorporation, we will not be obligated to name the shareholders candidate in our proxy materials.
The Nominating Committee is responsible for establishing, reviewing and revising compensation we pay to our directors. The Nominating Committee, working with management and third party compensation consultants and reviewing benchmarked data from a comparator group of companies, determines director compensation that it believes is competitive with these companies. The Nominating Committee periodically reviews and revises, when necessary, the Director Compensation Policy, generally with the aid of a compensation consultant. The Nominating Committee most recently revised this policy in April 2011.
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Number of Meetings in 2011: 2
Sustainability Committee Purpose:
The Sustainability Committee Charter provides that the Sustainability Committee should:
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Board Meetings, Attendance, Executive Sessions and Annual Meeting Attendance
In 2011, there were five regularly scheduled meetings of the Board, one of which was a telephonic meeting. All current directors attended at least 75% of the meetings of the Board and the committees on which they served during 2011.
The Board met in executive sessions during all regularly scheduled meetings, without management present, and plans to continue that practice going forward. During 2011, Mr. Allen served as an independent Chairman of the Board and presided over these executive sessions.
Unless a director has a conflict in his or her schedule, we expect all directors to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. All of our directors attended our 2011 annual meeting of shareholders and were available to answer any shareholder questions.
Leadership Structure
Mr. Allen, who is one of our independent directors, served as our Chairman of the Board until February 7, 2012. Since 2005, the Chairman of the Board was not the Chief Executive Officer and not otherwise a company executive. On February 7, the Board elected Mr. Wandell, our Chief Executive Officer, as our Chairman of the Board. At the same time, the Board reviewed and enhanced the role of the Presiding Director, and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee appointed Mr. Beattie to serve in that role. Mr. Beattie is one of our independent directors, an expert in corporate governance issues and the Chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Mr. Beattie has served as a director of Harley-Davidson since 1996.
The primary roles of the Presiding Director are to assist the Chairman in managing the governance of the Board of Directors and to serve as a liaison between the Chairman and other directors. As Presiding Director, Mr. Beattie has the responsibility to: (1) preside at all meetings of the Board at which the Chairman is not present, including all executive sessions of the non-management and/or independent directors; (2) call meetings of the non-management and/or independent directors; (3) provide input to the Chairman regarding the annual Board calendar and Board meeting dates,
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Under the circumstances at this point in time, the Board believes that the continuity, efficiency, and unified leadership of having a single individual act both as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer provides centralized management and direction for the company, allowing for a single, clear focus for management to execute our business strategies. The Board believes the number of independent, experienced directors that make up the Board, along with the independent oversight and enhanced responsibilities of the Presiding Director, benefits the company and its shareholders and assures the appropriate level of management oversight and independence. The Board retains the authority to modify this leadership structure as and when appropriate to best address the companys current circumstances and to advance the best interests of all shareholders. Our Corporate Governance Policy provides the flexibility for the Board to modify or maintain this leadership structure in the future, as it deems appropriate.
The Boards Role in the Oversight of Risk
While the Board has the ultimate responsibility for oversight of the risk management process, various committees of the Board have a role in the oversight of risk management. In particular, the Audit Committee focuses on financial risk, including internal controls, and receives an assessment of the companys systems to monitor and manage business risk from our independent registered public accounting firm. Internal audit regularly reviews risk management processes and internal controls with the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee also receives a report at each regular Audit Committee meeting on legal and compliance matters. In addition, the Human Resources Committee reviews our compensation programs for compensation risk as we describe more fully on page 72.
Risk management is an integral part of our annual strategic planning process. The entire Board reviews the strategic risk management plan at least annually.
Shareholder Communication with the Board
Shareholders and other parties interested in communicating directly with the Chairman of the Board may do so by writing to the Chairman of the Board, Keith E. Wandell, in care of our Secretary, 3700 West Juneau Avenue, P.O. Box 653, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201-0653. Richard I. Beattie, our Presiding Director (who is the contact for those who wish to communicate with non-management directors) can be reached by writing in care of our Secretary, 3700 West Juneau Avenue, P.O. Box 653, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201-0653. Communications may be made to the Chairperson of the Audit Committee, James A. Norling, by writing to Chairperson, Audit Committee in care of our Secretary, 3700 West Juneau Avenue, P.O. Box 653, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201-0653. The Corporate Governance page of our website lists the current members of the Board of Directors. We open and forward all mail to the director or directors specified in the communication.
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Policies and Procedures Governing Related Person Transactions
In December 2002, our Nominating Committee adopted a written policy regarding transactions with related persons. The committee amended this policy, which we refer to as our Conflict of Interest Process for Directors, Executive Officers and Other Employees, in December 2003.
Under the policy, the chair of the Nominating Committee reviews any potential conflict that arises and is reported for our CEO or a director. If the chair of the Nominating Committee determines that an actual conflict exists, then the entire Nominating Committee reviews the potential conflict of interest. If our Nominating Committee determines that an actual conflict exists, the committee decides whether to waive the conflict or require the CEO or director to remove the conflict. Any conflicts that are waived by our Nominating Committee are promptly disclosed to our shareholders.
Our Vice President and General Counsel reviews any potential conflict that arises for any executive officer (other than our CEO and the Vice President and General Counsel). Our CEO reviews any potential conflict that arises for our Vice President and General Counsel. If the Vice President and General Counsel or CEO determines that an actual conflict exists, the chair of the Human Resources Committee reviews the potential conflict. If the chair of the Human Resources Committee determines that an actual conflict exists, the entire Human Resources Committee reviews the potential conflict of interest. If our Human Resources Committee determines that an actual conflict exists, the committee decides whether to waive the conflict or require the officer to remove the conflict. Any conflicts that are waived by our Human Resources Committee are promptly disclosed to our shareholders.
Our Vice President and General Counsel reviews any potential conflict that arises and is reported for any of our other employees. He determines whether an actual conflict exists and what, if any, steps need to be taken.
Certain Transactions
Mr. Conrades, a director, is the Chairman of Akamai Technologies, Inc. We have continued a commercial relationship with Akamai that existed before Mr. Conrades joined the Board of Directors under which Akamai provides Internet content distribution services to the company. The relationship does not prevent Mr. Conrades from qualifying as an independent director under the Boards categorical independence standards. The Nominating Committee has considered this relationship under our Conflict of Interest Process for Directors and Executive Officers. The Nominating Committee has waived any conflict of interest that this relationship may represent on the basis that the relationship existed before Mr. Conrades joined the Board. In addition, the fees we paid to Akamai were negotiated on an arms length basis and are well within the categorical independence standards that the Board has adopted that we describe beginning on page 23.
Mr. Linebarger, a director, is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cummins, Inc. We have continued a commercial relationship with Cummins that existed before Mr. Linebarger joined the Board of Directors under which we have purchased exhaust parts and components from subsidiary companies of Cummins. The relationship does not prevent Mr. Linebarger from qualifying as an independent director under the Boards categorical independence standards. The Nominating Committee has considered this relationship under our Conflict of Interest Process for Directors and
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Table of ContentsExecutive Officers. The Nominating Committee has waived any conflict of interest that this relationship may represent on the basis that the relationship existed before Mr. Linebarger joined the Board. In addition, the prices we paid to Cummins were negotiated on an arms length basis and were well within the categorical independence standards that the Board has adopted that we describe beginning on page 23. During the fourth quarter of 2011, Cummins sold its light-duty filtration business. As a result, our ongoing commercial relationship with Cummins is nominal.
Mr. James is Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and an equity owner of Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada/Fred Deeley Imports Ltd. (Deeley Imports), the exclusive distributor of the companys motorcycles in Canada. The company in 2011 recorded revenue and financial services income from Deeley Imports of $155.2 million and had an accounts receivable balance due from Deeley Imports of $14.5 million as of December 31, 2011. We anticipate that we will do a similar amount of business with Deeley Imports in 2012. The Nominating Committee has considered this relationship under our Conflict of Interest Process for Directors and Executive Officers. The Nominating Committee has waived any conflict of interest that this relationship may represent on the basis that we provided the products and services that generated the revenue and income from Deeley Imports in the ordinary course of business at prices and on terms and conditions that we believe are the same as those that would result from arms length negotiations between unrelated parties.
Mr. Wandells brother is a regional sales representative for a division of Whelen Engineering Company, Inc. Whelen Engineering manufactures and sells globally a wide range of lighting and power supply products for automotive, motorcycle and aviation applications. The company has purchased lighting and warning siren motorcycle components for its police and fire/rescue division from Whelen Engineering for many years predating Mr. Wandells employment with the company, which began in 2009. The companys total annual purchases from Whelen Engineering over the last five years were $1,252,052 (2007), $817,975 (2008), $1,126,812 (2009), $751,181 (2010) and $469,009 (2011). At Mr. Wandells direction, the company has implemented a process for the companys General Counsel to review the competitiveness of all purchases the company makes from Whelen Engineering. The chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has considered this relationship under the companys Conflict of Interests Process for Directors and Executive Officers. The chairman has determined that no actual conflict of interest exists as a result of the companys relationship with Whelen Engineering on the basis that Whelen Engineering has had a historical relationship with the company predating Mr. Wandells employment with the company, the amount of the companys purchases from Whelen Engineering have continued at similar levels since Mr. Wandells employment, and the companys purchases from Whelen Engineering are determined based on competitive bids.
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Table of ContentsCOMMON STOCK OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth certain information as of March 8, 2012 with respect to the ownership of our common stock by each director, our NEOs, all directors and executive officers as a group and each person or group of persons that we know to own beneficially more than 5% of our stock.
Beneficial Ownership Table
* The amount shown is less than 1% of the outstanding shares of our common stock.
(1) Except as otherwise noted, all persons have sole voting and investment power over the shares listed. In all cases, information regarding such power is based on information that the individual beneficial owners provide to us.
(2) Includes shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options exercisable within 60 days of March 8, 2012 and shares of common stock held in our 401(k) Plan and our Dividend Reinvestment Plan, as of March 8, 2012. For the executive officers, the number of shares also includes shares of unvested restricted stock granted under the Harley-Davidson, Inc. 2009 Incentive Stock Plan, as of March 8, 2012, as follows: Mr. Hund25,854; Mr. Jones14,864; Mr. Levatich42,159; Mr. Olin20,003; and Mr. Wandell168,174 shares, and All Directors and Executive Officers as a Group305,575 shares. For the named executive officers, the number of shares of unvested restricted stock as of December 31, 2011 is set forth in the table below entitled
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Table of ContentsOutstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2011. Restricted stock granted in February 2012 was granted pursuant to the Harley-Davidson, Inc. 2009 Incentive Stock Plan, one-third of the shares of restricted stock vest on each of the first three anniversaries of the date of grant, and the shares are subject to forfeiture until vested.
(3) Includes only stock options exercisable within 60 days of March 8, 2012.
(4) The Barry K. Allen Revocable 1990 Living Trust held 22,156 shares of common stock for the primary benefit of Mr. Allen. Mr. Allen has shared voting and investment power over the shares held in the trust.
(5) Ms. Brooks disclaims beneficial ownership of 275 shares of common stock that are held by her adult son. A trust held 4,000 shares, and Ms. Brooks husband serves as Trustee of this trust.
(6) Mr. Hunds spouse held 1,619 shares.
(7) Deeley Imports held 393,675 shares of common stock. Mr. James has sole voting power over the shares.
(8) Heritage Ventures, Ltd. held 8,000 shares of common stock. Mr. Norling has sole voting power over the shares.
(9) We derived the information from a Schedule 13G/A that Capital Research Global Investors, a division of Capital Research and Management Company, an investment company and investment adviser, filed with the company and the SEC on February 14, 2012. As of December 31, 2011, Capital Research Global Investors was deemed to be the beneficial owner of 19,344,500 shares as a result of Capital Research and Management Company acting as investment adviser to various investment companies registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940. As of December 31, 2011, Capital Research Global Investors had sole voting power over 17,644,500 shares, shared voting power over zero shares, sole investment power over 19,344,500 shares and shared investment power over zero shares. Capital Research Global Investors is located at 333 South Hope Street, Los Angeles, California 90071.
(10) We derived the information from a Schedule 13G that The Vanguard Group, Inc., an investment adviser, filed with the company and the SEC on February 8, 2012. As of December 31, 2011, The Vanguard Group, Inc. was deemed to be the beneficial owner of 12,824,076 shares and had sole voting power over 330,795 shares, shared voting power over zero shares, sole investment power over 12,493,281 shares and shared investment power over 330,795 shares. The Vanguard Group, Inc. is located at 100 Vanguard Blvd., Malvern, PA 19355.
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Table of ContentsStock Ownership Guidelines
The Board of Directors originally approved Stock Ownership Guidelines in 2002. The Board most recently revised the Stock Ownership Guidelines in February 2011. The revised Stock Ownership Guidelines apply to directors and approximately 40 of our top leaders. Under the revised Stock Ownership Guidelines, all directors must hold 15,000 shares of our common stock and certain members of the Senior Leadership Group must hold at least 15,000 to 200,000 shares of our common stock. Stock appreciation rights are not counted; vested stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units are counted (including restricted stock and restricted stock units which have been deferred). Each director has until the later of September 2014 or five years after the date of election as a director if after September 2009 to accumulate the appropriate number of shares. The Senior Leadership Group members who must comply have until the later of September 2014 or five years from the date the Stock Ownership Guidelines become applicable to them to accumulate the appropriate number of shares. We describe the Stock Ownership Guidelines more fully beginning on page 54.
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires our directors, executive officers and holders of more than 10% of our common stock to file with the SEC reports regarding their ownership and changes in ownership of our securities. To our knowledge, there are no holders of more than 10% of our common stock. Based on our review of the copies of Forms 3 and 4 (and any amendments) filed with the SEC and the written representations of our directors and executive officers, we believe that, during fiscal 2011 and to date in 2012, our directors and executive officers complied with all Section 16(a) filing requirements, except for one Form 4 filed on behalf of Mr. Hund to report shares withheld to pay tax withholding associated with vesting of restricted stock that we inadvertently filed late due to a failure to receive notice of the transaction from a service provider.
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Table of Contents
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
Executive Summary
In 2011, Harley-Davidson continued to make substantial progress towards the long-term business objectives and strategies that we announced in 2009 which improved our position as an industry leader and further strengthened our unique brand. The strategy of delivering results through a focus on four key pillars (growth, continuous improvement, leadership development and sustainability) has resulted in significant actions across the entire business over the last year. We are transforming our company with a focus on manufacturing, product development and retail experience. We believe that the structure of our executive compensation programs, focused on paying for performance, is an enabling factor to our corporate performance and the execution of our business strategy.
During 2011, we improved our financial performance as compared to 2010 and created approximately $1.1 billion in total shareholder return in the fiscal year.
We achieved these results through growing revenue, managing expenses and driving continuous improvement in manufacturing, product development and business operations.
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Table of ContentsWe believe we have structured our executive compensation programs in the best manner possible to support our company strategy, to attain our business objectives, to support our desired corporate culture and to deliver significant shareholder value. The following table provides an executive summary of our compensation programs:
We discuss our compensation plans and philosophy in greater detail in this Compensation Discussion and Analysis.
Introduction
This Compensation Discussion and Analysis addresses our compensation programs and policies for fiscal year 2011 and how they applied to executives in our Senior Leadership Group (to whom we refer as our Senior Leaders), which we describe in more detail beginning on page 5. The Senior Leaders include the following Named Executive Officers (NEOs):
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Table of ContentsWe believe that our employees are a sustainable long-term competitive advantage for our organization. We are in competition to attract and retain executive and employee talent primarily with companies for whom engineering, manufacturing and the maintenance of a strong global product brand and marketing focus are important parts of their businesses. The compensation programs and policies we have developed and implemented enable us to compete for these qualified and talented employees.
In 2011, these executive compensation programs and policies included the following:
Our Senior Leaders are also eligible to participate in other benefit plans that are generally available to our salaried employees. In certain special circumstances, such as newly-hired executives or for special retention or recognition, we provide compensation outside of these regular executive compensation programs. We discuss these special awards in this Compensation Discussion and Analysis where it affects our NEOs. Also, for Senior Leaders located outside the United States, we customize our compensation and benefits to meet local market, tax, regulatory and competitive practices.
Oversight of Executive Compensation
For 2011, the Human Resources Committee had overall responsibility for approving the compensation of our Executive Leadership Team other than the Chief Executive Officer. Our Executive Leadership Team is a subset of our Senior Leaders comprised of our Executive Officers. For 2011, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee approved the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer with input from the Human Resources Committee. During 2011, the Human Resources Committee consisted of the following directors: R. John Anderson, Martha F. Brooks, George H. Conrades, Sara L. Levinson and Jochen Zeitz (on April 30, 2011, Mr. Zeitz left the Human Resources Committee to serve as chair of the newly-formed Sustainability Committee and to serve on the Audit Committee). From January 1, 2011 until April 30, 2011, Mr. Conrades served as Chairperson of the Committee. Commencing April 30, 2011, Ms. Brooks served as Chairperson of the Committee.
We describe the responsibilities and functions of the Human Resources Committee more fully in the Corporate Governance Principles and Board MattersHuman Resources Committee section beginning on page 26.
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Table of ContentsUse of Advisors
The Human Resources Committee has the authority to engage the services of outside advisors, experts and others to assist in performing its responsibilities. For 2011, the Human Resources Committee retained the services of Meridian Compensation Partners LLC as its outside executive compensation advisor. We describe the independent advisors primary responsibilities and reporting obligations more fully in the Corporate Governance Principles and Board MattersHuman Resources Committee section beginning on page 26. During 2011, the independent outside executive compensation advisor performed no services for the company beyond its engagement with the Human Resources Committee.
In December 2010, the Committee approved the use of two new peer groups in benchmarking executive compensation practices and levels. Based on discussions with management and the outside executive compensation advisor, which communicated its view that companies that maintain a strong product brand have significantly different compensation philosophies and practices, the Committee decided to utilize market data from two peer groups going forward as comparator groups due to the uniqueness of Harley-Davidson. One group consists of companies for whom the maintenance of a strong product brand is a key attribute and a second group consists of companies for whom manufacturing and engineering are key attributes. The Committee selected the companies based on industry and revenue size and because Harley-Davidson competes for executive talent with these companies. The Committee reviews compensation levels and reward practices of these comparator companies as disclosed in their respective proxy statements. When determining the competitive market using comparator company data, we weight data from the Manufacturing/Engineering peer group 60% and data from the Brand Name peer group 40%. In addition to the compensation data for these comparator companies, we utilized data from the Aon Hewitt 2011 U.S. Total Compensation Measurement (TCM) database to assist us in determining market compensation levels. We have included a list of all of the companies in this survey in the Corporate Governance section on our website at http://investor.harley-davidson.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=87981&p=irol-govhighlights&locale=en_US&bmLocale=en_US. We size-adjust survey data, using regression analysis to normalize to a revenue and/or asset size of the appropriate business unit. We benchmarked NEO compensation versus competitive medians based upon survey data and proxy statement data, weighted equally where appropriate matches were available. The Human Resources Committee believes that the survey data, together with the proxy statement data from the comparator group, accurately defines competitive market compensation levels for executive talent
The current peer groups that we use are:
Manufacturing/Engineering Peer Group
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Brand Name/Consumer Goods Peer Group
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Table of ContentsExecutive Compensation Philosophy
Our goal is to provide an opportunity for total direct compensation that is competitive and sufficient to attract, motivate and retain executives. Direct compensation consists of base salary, short-term incentive compensation and long-term incentive compensation.
Our executive compensation philosophy emphasizes pay-for-performance. For example, we based several of our compensation programs upon delivering high levels of performance relative to performance measures that we selected. Our annual STIP program requires that we achieve significant financial performance before recipients are entitled to payments, our equity programs provide greater financial benefits when our stock price is increasing, and our leadership STIP program generates higher payouts correlated with high leadership scores. This philosophy is designed to:
Response to 2011 Shareholder Advisory Vote
The results of the shareholder advisory vote on executive compensation at our 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders were extremely favorable and supportive of our compensation programs. Prior to the date of that vote, we had already made compensation decisions that impacted executive pay for 2011. The Committee kept in place for 2012 the same executive compensation elements that it had disclosed to shareholders in our proxy statement for the 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
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Table of ContentsComponents of the Executive Compensation Program
The compensation packages of our Senior Leaders, and more specifically for NEOs, consist of several elements. The primary elements include:
Base Salary. Base salaries provide Senior Leaders with a portion of total compensation that is fixed. We set base salaries by starting with salary midpoints which are approximately at the competitive market median. We then make adjustments to base salaries on a subjective basis based upon each NEOs individual performance and their accomplishment of key initiatives as determined by the assessment of the CEO, the length and nature of the NEOs experience, their competency in the position and the potential for advancement. We also subjectively take overall general business and economic conditions into account in determining base salaries. During 2011, we increased base salaries for each of our NEOs. The percentage change in base salaries for the NEOs ranged between 0 and 7%. Mr. Wandell requested to not have his base salary increased for 2011. These increases were warranted based upon the positioning of the executives base pay in relation to the competitive market median and their individual performance.
The CEO recommends base salary changes for the Executive Leadership Team to the Human Resources Committee for final approval. In February 2011, the Human Resources Committee reviewed and approved the CEOs salary increase recommendations for other Senior Leaders at the vice president level and above, including the NEOs other than the CEO. Base salary increases became effective as of March 1, 2011.
The Human Resources Committee evaluates the performance of the CEO, with input from the independent directors on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, and reviews external market compensation data with the outside executive compensation adviser to formulate the CEOs salary. The Human Resources Committee believes that the difference that exists between the base salary level of the CEO as compared with other NEOs is supported by competitive market data and is appropriate based upon the level of accountability for his position.
Short-Term Incentive Plans (STIPs). Our STIPs have broad-based employee participation and provide an opportunity to over 6,800 employees to earn annual cash awards based upon performance during the course of our fiscal year relative to financial goals or other performance objectives that we generally establish prior to the start of the year. Our executives, including the NEOs, have the opportunity to earn two types of annual incentive compensation. We have based one type on quantifiable, objective factors. We refer to this type of annual incentive compensation opportunity as our Financial STIP. In addition, certain of our executives, including the NEOs, have the opportunity to receive payments under an annual incentive plan that we have referred to as our Leadership STIP. The Human Resources Committee, with final approval by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee as to the CEO, approved Financial STIPs and a Leadership STIP under the Harley-Davidson, Inc. Short-Term Incentive Plan for Senior Executives. We made those awards subject to receiving shareholder approval of that plan, which we refer to as the Senior Executive Plan, at the 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Shareholders overwhelmingly approved the Senior Executive Plan.
In December 2010, the Human Resources Committee reviewed and approved the 2011 performance measures and goals for the Financial STIPs, which consisted of the Corporate STIP, Motor Company STIP, and Harley-Davidson Financial Services (or HDFS) STIP plans. The Human
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Table of ContentsResources Committee also reviewed and approved the target STIP opportunities for all NEOs, all of whom participated in the Corporate STIP. Target award percentages for these opportunities ranged from 50% of base salary to 125% of base salary for NEOs.
The key financial measures that we used in our 2011 Corporate STIP relate to our financial results as presented in our consolidated financial statements and notes as follows:
Consolidated Net Income: consolidated income from continuing operations excluding the after-tax loss on debt extinguishment and the impact of a Wisconsin tax law change
Consolidated Asset Productivity: consolidated total revenue divided by the sum of consolidated average property, plant and equipment, net and average consolidated Net Working Capital
Net Working Capital: the sum of consolidated accounts receivable, net, inventories and other current assets less consolidated accounts payable and accrued liabilities (excluding dividends payable and liabilities of discontinued operations)
For 2011, the Human Resources Committee approved a Corporate STIP formula based upon Consolidated Asset Productivity and achieving Consolidated Net Income Margin, weighted equally. The rationale for using Consolidated Asset Productivity in conjunction with Consolidated Net Income Margin was to provide incentives relating to both the balance sheet and the income statement. These measures take into account the level of net income and the return on investment, which involves the size and quality of earnings. The Human Resources Committee established performance goals under these measures that took into account that while we were still operating during a period of slow economic recovery that has resulted in lower than historical motorcycle shipment volumes, we were to carry out our restructuring plans while continuing to implement a new business strategy to drive year over year shipment and revenue growth and to enhance productivity and profitability through continuous improvement. The Human Resources Committee believes the goals it established based on Consolidated Net Income Margin and Consolidated Asset Productivity were appropriate and balanced and provided adequate incentive for participants to strive to achieve the respective corporate objectives for 2011.
Upon the completion of the fiscal year, the Human Resources Committee reviews the extent to which actual performance satisfies the defined performance goals for each Financial STIP. We typically pay STIP awards in February after the prior years financial statement audit is complete and the Human Resources Committee reviews and approves earned amounts. The Human Resources Committee has the right to reduce awards that executives would otherwise earn under the Corporate STIP.
Under the 2011 Corporate STIP, if we did not achieve positive net income from continuing operations, then we would not make any payouts, regardless of performance under the other financial measure. In addition, the minimum payout was zero (0) and the maximum payout was 200% of a participants target STIP opportunity with a cap of $6 million that applied to the sum of an executives Corporate STIP and Leadership STIP payouts.
For the 2011 Corporate STIP, we set the Consolidated Asset Productivity target at 5.972 and the Consolidated Net Income Margin target at 8.16%. The Committee approved potential payout
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Table of Contentspercentages ranging from zero to 200% for various levels of performance against these performance targets. A participant would have been eligible to receive the maximum potential payout if our performance met or exceeded Consolidated Asset Productivity of 6.384 and Consolidated Net Income Margin of 8.81%. Based on 2011 performance that exceeded the maximums, participants in the Corporate STIP earned incentive payments equal to 200% of their target STIP opportunity.
Leadership STIP. In December 2010, the Human Resources Committee approved the Leadership STIP applicable in 2011. The Leadership STIP provided the opportunity to earn an incentive payment above amounts that a participant could earn under their respective 2011 Financial STIP. For 2011, the target Leadership STIP opportunity for each NEO was 30% of that executives target Financial STIP opportunity. For example, in the case of our CEO, his target Financial STIP opportunity was 125% of base salary and his target Leadership STIP opportunity was 30% of his target Financial STIP opportunity. Therefore, in the aggregate between both of the STIP plans applicable to him, the potential total payout for the CEO ranged between 0 and 287.5% of his base salary (a maximum payout of 200% of his target Corporate STIP opportunity of 125% of base salary under the Financial STIP, which equals 250% of base salary, and a maximum payout of 30% of 125% of base salary under the Leadership STIP, which equals 37.5% of base salary). The CEO was able to earn a Leadership STIP payment based upon his performance relative to strategic goals and objectives that the Human Resources Committee, with input from the Nominating Committee, approved. A participant who was a Senior Leader other than the CEO was able to earn a Leadership STIP payment based on individual performance relative to the following leadership behaviors: teamwork, creativity, accountability, drive for results, respect for others, integrity and diversity (recognizes and embraces the diverse nature of our markets, customers and employees). However, if an NEO performed inadequately relative to these objectives, then the amount that the NEO would have earned under the 2011 Financial STIP was subject to reduction by up to 30% of the NEOs target Financial STIP opportunity.
The Human Resources Committee, with final approval by the Nominating Committee, reviewed the CEOs performance against his goals and objectives. Cross functional groups of peers and subordinates rated the Senior Leaders other than the CEO, including Messrs. Olin, Levatich, Hund and Jones, on the extent to which they demonstrated leadership behaviors, and a third party compiled those ratings. Based upon these ratings, the CEO reviewed the extent to which an executive attained the objectives in the Leadership STIP, and the Human Resources Committee approved any payouts for Senior Leaders. While inadequate performance with respect to demonstrating leadership behaviors could have resulted in a reduction of amounts earned under the Financial STIPs, that was not the case for any NEO.
2012 Financial STIP
In December 2011, the Human Resources Committee approved the companys 2012 Financial STIP consisting of two plans: one for Motor Company employees and one for HDFS employees. The Committee reduced the Financial STIPs to two plans for several reasons. The first was to align the Financial STIPs with the business model. As we have reported, we operate in two business segments: Motorcycles & Related Products and Financial Services. We believe that having our Financial STIPs mirror our business model helps drive business objectives. In addition, we wanted our Financial STIPs to be clear and concise to our employees and emphasize our One Company-One Team-One Direction philosophy. For 2012, there is no Corporate STIP. Instead, the members of the Executive Leadership Team that would have participated in the Corporate STIP will participate in both the Motor
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Table of ContentsCompany and the HDFS STIPs based upon the following weighting: 89% Motor Company and 11% HDFS.
The key financial measures for the Motor Company STIP and HDFS STIP relate to our financial results as presented in our consolidated financial statements and notes as follows:
Motor Company STIP
Consolidated Net Income: consolidated net income from continuing operations
Motor Company Asset Productivity: revenue from the Motor Company divided by the sum of Motor Company average property, plant and equipment, net and average Motor Company Net Working Capital
Motor Company Net Working Capital: the sum of Motor Company accounts receivable, inventories and other current assets less Motor Company accounts payable and accrued liabilities (excluding dividends payable and liabilities of discontinued operations)
HDFS STIP
Consolidated Net Income: consolidated net income from continuing operations
HDFS Return on Assets: operating income from Financial Services divided by average HDFS finance receivables, net
HDFS Finance Receivables: the sum of finance receivables, net, and restricted finance receivables held by variable interest entities, net
Under each of these 2012 Financial STIPs, the minimum payout will be zero ($0) and the maximum payout is 200% of a participants target Financial STIP opportunity with a cap of $6 million that applies to the sum of an executives Corporate STIP and Leadership STIP payouts. The Human Resources Committee determined that there was a reasonable likelihood that employees could achieve the goals and earn incentive compensation at the target performance level.
2012 Leadership STIP
The Committee also approved the 2012 Leadership STIP Plan. For 2012, the target Leadership STIP opportunity for each NEO will be 30% of that executives target Financial STIP opportunity. In general, this will provide NEOs with a potential total payout opportunity under the Financial STIP and the Leadership STIP for 2012 that is the same on a percentage basis as applied in 2011.
Long-term Incentives. The Human Resources Committee believes that long-term incentives are a key component of total compensation for participating executives. Their purpose is to: (i) enhance the growth and profitability of our company by focusing the Senior Leaders and other key employees on our long-term financial success and growth in value, providing balance and perspective to annual goals and incentives; and (ii) further align the interests of shareholders and employees. In addition, the Human Resources Committee believes that long-term incentives provide a valuable tool to retain and attract key employees. Using objective market data that our outside executive compensation advisor
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Table of Contentsprovides, which we update and review annually, we assign each key position that is eligible to participate in the 2009 Incentive Stock Plan a target value of long-term incentive opportunity.
In February 2011, we provided long-term incentive equity compensation under our 2009 Incentive Stock Plan which gives the Human Resources Committee the flexibility to grant equity instruments, including stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock and restricted stock units, and under our Employee Incentive Plan, which gives the Committee the flexibility to grant long-term cash incentive awards.
Through 2009 the Human Resources Committee provided long-term incentive awards through a mix of restricted stock and stock options. The Human Resources Committee determined that a mix of options and restricted shares was appropriate, considering executive motivation and retention as well as external competitive market compensation practices trending toward increased use of restricted stock. Beginning in 2010 and continuing in 2011, the Human Resources Committee used a third means of providing long-term incentive compensation for certain Senior Leaders including all NEOsa cash-based long-term performance plan based on performance over a period of three years. Utilizing the cash-based incentive award tied to long-term performance did not result in an increase in the aggregate value of long-term incentive awards that each executive received. Rather, for each NEO who received a long-term cash incentive opportunity, we allocated one-third of the executives target value of long-term incentive opportunity to each of the three types of long-term incentive awards. The Human Resources Committee believes this mix of long-term awards encourages executives to focus on specific long-term corporate objectives while still building equity ownership and shareholder alignment.
For 2011, the Human Resources Committee used a methodology to calculate an individuals potential aggregate long-term incentive award value that provided for a target value of long-term incentive opportunity (which was expressed as a percentage of base pay) that was based approximately upon the market median.
We describe the process and restrictions on granting long-term incentive awards more fully in the Corporate Governance Principles and Board MattersHuman Resources Committee section beginning on page 26.
In February 2011, the Human Resources Committee reviewed competitive market data with the CEO (except in the case of his own individual awards) and Meridian, and approved a combination of stock options, restricted stock, and for certain Senior Leaders (including the CEO), a long-term cash award based on the methodology we discuss above for each Senior Leader and others eligible to receive long-term incentive awards. We converted the target value of long-term incentive opportunity for each participant into a grant of stock options, an award of restricted stock, and an award under our cash-based long-term performance plan. For this conversion, we valued stock options at an amount equal to the closing price of the stock on the date of grant divided by 3.2. We valued restricted stock at the market price based on the closing price of the stock on the date of grant, and we valued the long-term cash incentive award at the payout under the award assuming performance at target. Based upon similar considerations, and with input from the outside executive compensation advisor, the Human Resources Committee recommended the amount of the CEOs long-term incentive award for the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to approve.
In certain special circumstances, such as for newly-hired executives or for special retention or recognition, we also provide compensation outside of these regular executive compensation programs
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Table of Contents(special equity awards for newly hired executives). In 2011, there were no special grants made to newly hired executives.
We award stock options and restricted stock to employees and directors pursuant to a process that the Human Resources Committee has approved. Annual stock option and restricted share awards to employees historically have occurred in February after the release of fourth quarter earnings at which time the window for effecting transactions in the companys stock is generally open for those employees who, through their job, have access to material non-public information. Off-cycle grants of stock options and/or restricted shares may only be effective on dates during an open window period and occur after the CEO determines that an individual is deserving of an award because: (i) an eligible employee was inadvertently omitted from the annual award list; (ii) an eligible employee is a recent hire; (iii) an eligible employee excelled in his/her job; (iv) an eligible employee is promoted to a new career band (which is stock eligible); or (v) an eligible employee is highly valued and management wants to retain the individual. For Senior Leaders located outside the United States, we adjust our long-term incentives to address local market tax, regulatory and competitive practices.
Stock Options. The Human Resources Committee believes stock options are a valuable tool to align the Senior Leaders with long-term shareholder value creation by placing a portion of their compensation at risk, tied to stock price appreciation. Stock option grants also enable us to attract and retain the services of executives that we consider essential to our long-range success by providing them with a competitive compensation package and an opportunity to become owners of our stock. Participants can realize value from stock options only to the extent the price of our common stock on the date of exercise exceeds the exercise price.
Each stock option that we granted in 2011 permits a Senior Leader, for a period of ten years, to purchase shares of our common stock at an exercise price representing the closing price of the stock on the date of grant. The date of grant is the day on which the Human Resources Committee approves the award, typically at its meeting in February, subject to the concurrence of the Nominating Committee in the case of the CEO. Stock options that we granted in 2011 generally become exercisable in three equal annual installments beginning one year after the grant date.
Restricted Stock. The Human Resources Committee believes that stock options represent a valuable tool to align the Senior Leaders with our goal of stock price appreciation. However, it also acknowledges that competitive market practices have continued to shift and restricted stock awards are prevalent as they aid in key employee retention. The Human Resources Committee believes that restricted stock awards complement our use of stock options by providing an effective and valuable tool to recruit and retain Senior Leaders.
Restricted stock awards are for shares of our common stock that a Senior Leader will only earn when the restrictions on the awards lapse, but only if the individual remains an employee or certain other circumstances apply. The regular annual restricted stock awards that we made in 2011 vest in three equal annual installments beginning one year after the grant date. During the restricted period, the recipient is entitled to receive on a current basis dividends that are declared and paid quarterly on each share of restricted stock.
In addition to annual awards, we also use special equity awards in special circumstances, for recruiting, special recognition or retaining employees. Restricted stock that we use for these special purposes may have different vesting conditions. During 2012 there were no special awards granted to any NEO.
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Table of ContentsCash-Based Long-Term Incentive Awards. Based on a review of peer company practices, and a desire to focus on long-term strategic objectives, the Human Resources Committee, beginning in 2010, implemented a third means of providing long-term incentive compensation for certain Senior Leaders including all NEOs. Executives received one-third of their long-term incentive award value in the form of a cash-based long-term incentive award. The 2011 long-term cash award will pay out, only after a three-year performance period (2011 through 2013), based upon the attainment of average return on invested capital above a threshold amount. Payouts under the long term cash incentive award will vary between zero and 200% of the target value of long-term incentive opportunity based upon results over the performance period. For the purposes of the 2011 awards, the Committee approved the use of Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) for the Motor Company as the sole measure for determining the payout under the plan because the Committee believes it is important to have executive leadership focus on the long term strategic plan of providing an appropriate return to shareholders on the capital invested in the company. The ROIC calculation that we use in the 2011 long-term cash incentive award relates to our financial results as presented in our consolidated financial statements and notes as follows:
Motor Company Return on Invested Capital (ROIC): the amount equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the average of the Motor Company Net Operating Income After Tax for each year in the performance period by (ii) the average Motor Company Invested Capital for such performance period.
Motor Company Net Operating Income After Tax: the amount of Motor Company income after operating expenses and taxes are deducted for the relevant year in the performance period.
Motor Company Invested Capital: the amount of Motor Company shareholders equity plus Motor Company long-term debt for the relevant year in the performance period.
At the end of the three-year performance period, we will pay the target value of long-term incentive opportunity if average ROIC over the three-year performance period is 20%. We will pay a maximum award of 200% of the target value if performance is at or above 28%. If ROIC is below 12%, the executive will receive no payout. Awards will be interpolated on a linear basis for performance between these levels.
Other Benefits. We provide other benefits to our Senior Leaders, including medical and dental benefits; death benefits; deferred compensation; retirement plans; employee savings plan; a fixed cash payment in lieu of other perquisites and certain other limited perquisites. The goal of these programs is to provide benefits that are competitive in the marketplace where we compete for executives at the Senior Leaders level. In general, these benefits have been in place for a number of years and to the extent needed were modified to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code. In addition, to a large extent, the most significant benefits available to the Senior Leaders (such as health, welfare and retirement benefits) are those that are available to all of our salaried employees.
Medical and Dental Benefits. We provide medical and dental benefit plans that are available to substantially all employees, including the Senior Leaders. We do not provide any supplemental medical or dental benefits to our NEOs.
Death Benefits. We provide death benefits to the Senior Leaders that are available only in the event of their death while they are actively employed in the amount of one and one-half to three times
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Table of Contentsannual base pay, depending on their salary grade, under which participants are generally entitled to proceeds under one or more insurance policies to the extent of the benefit. We also reimburse executives for taxes on income that tax law imputes to executives related to the provision of life insurance in excess of $50,000. For non-executive salaried employees, we provide such benefits in the amount of one and one-half times base pay.
Deferred Compensation. We maintain a Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan for salaried employees, in which a group of highly compensated employees (as defined by the Internal Revenue Code) are eligible to participate. Under the terms of this plan, participants can defer a portion of their base salary, a portion of their annual STIP payment and/or a portion of their annual restricted stock award. If a participant in this plan makes an election to defer eligible compensation and there are statutory limits on such participants ability to defer at least 6% of eligible compensation into the qualified employee Retirement Savings Plan, then the participant will also receive company matching contributions in this plan that would have been made in the qualified plan if no statutory limit had been applicable. We believe earnings on amounts deferred reflect the returns available in the market as investment options in the Deferred Compensation Plan that are participant directed are similar to those which exist in our 401(k) plan. This plan is structured to comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code.
Retirement Plans.
Salaried Defined Contribution Retirement Plan. We maintain a qualified non-contributory, defined contribution plan that covers all U.S. salaried employees who were employed on or after August 1, 2006. Under our Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan, we pay participants amounts that would have been accrued or payable under this defined contribution plan if statutory limits that apply to this defined contribution plan as a qualified plan under the Internal Revenue Code had not been applicable.
Salaried Pension Plan. The Motor Company has long maintained a qualified non-contributory, defined benefit pension plan which covers all U.S. salaried employees who were employed prior to August 1, 2006. Beginning August 1, 2006 we have not allowed new participants into this Plan.
Employee Savings Plans. We have qualified section 401(k) savings plans for employees, which we believe are competitive with other similar companies. Eligible participants can make contributions to the plan up to the Internal Revenue Code limits. We provide participants with matching contributions of up to either 4.5% or 3% of their eligible compensation based upon the extent to which they make elective deferrals and their date of hire. Under our Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan, we pay participants amounts that we would have provided as matching contributions under the Savings Plan if statutory limits that apply to the Savings Plan as a plan qualified under the Internal Revenue Code had not been applicable.
Restoration Plan. We have long maintained a non-qualified Pension Benefit Restoration Plan pursuant to which we pay participants amounts that would have been accrued under or payable from the Salaried Pension Plan if statutory limits that apply to the Salaried Pension Plan as a plan qualified under the Internal Revenue Code had not been applicable.
Payment in Lieu of Post Retirement Life Insurance. Certain Senior Leaders, including the NEOs, who retire after reaching age 55 and after attaining five or more years of service are entitled to
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Table of Contentsreceive a net payment equal to one years base salary at retirement. We adopted this benefit in 1995 in lieu of providing post retirement life insurance coverage.
Perquisites. We provide perquisites and other compensation to our Senior Leaders who are based in the United States. The perquisites for Senior Leaders consist of an annual cash payment (generally in lieu of receiving other benefits such as a car, or a motorcycle). For a subset of the Senior Leaders including all NEOs, we provide a limited financial planning benefit.
Additionally, to further promote the Harley-Davidson brand and the recognition of Senior Leaders as representatives of the company at rallies and other industry events, they receive an allowance for the purchase of MotorClothes® apparel and accessories.
Other Compensation. For Senior Leaders and other executives, we have standard compensation packages applicable to relocations and overseas assignments. In addition, in particular cases, such as short-term assignments, we may include other elements in our discretion.
Additional Executive Compensation Policies and Agreements
In addition to the compensation programs described above, we have adopted a number of policies and agreements to further the goals of the overall executive compensation program and to strengthen the alignment of interests of executives with the long-term interests of shareholders.
Stock Ownership Guidelines
The table below describes the stock ownership guidelines for the CEO and other executive officers:
In addition, non-U.S. based Senior Leaders who are not required to pay U.S. income tax are required to hold 50% of the shares assigned to their designated Career Band as indicated in the table above.
The Committee believes the Stock Ownership Guidelines are appropriate and provide for significant alignment of the interests of Senior Leaders with those of shareholders. The CEOs current ownership requirement reflects a multiple that is currently approximately seven times his annual base pay.
The Human Resources Committee monitors each Senior Leaders progress toward, and continued compliance with, the guidelines. Restricted stock, restricted stock units, shares held in
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Table of Contents401(k) accounts, vested unexercised stock options and stock appreciation rights, and shares of common stock that Senior Leaders hold directly count toward satisfying the guidelines.
Transition Agreements. We have entered into Transition Agreements with Mr. Wandell, Mr. Levatich, Mr. Hund and Mr. Olin (as well as two additional Senior Leaders) that become effective upon a change in control of Harley-Davidson, Inc. as defined in the Transition Agreements. In the agreements with the NEOs, to the extent that payments to these executives under these agreements would be considered excess parachute payments as defined in Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code, the payments will be reduced to a point at which they are no longer considered excess parachute payments, or the executive will receive the full payment and be personally liable for the excise tax, whichever produces the larger after-tax benefit to the executive. There are no provisions for an excise tax gross up or any provision for payment of benefits in the event the executive voluntarily terminates his employment for no reason after a change in control. In addition, for grants after April 2009, there is no immediate vesting of equity awards upon a change in control for those Senior Leaders who are parties to Transition Agreements.
We believe the circumstances that entitle an individual to payments upon termination strike the appropriate balance between protecting the interests of the executives and our shareholders. A table below presents estimates of the amounts of compensation payable to each NEO upon a change in control and termination of the executive. The assumptions we used to calculate those amounts accompany the Change in Control table below.
Under the Transition Agreements, a change in control of Harley-Davidson means any one of the following:
Severance Agreements. We provide a Severance Benefits Agreement to a subset of the Senior Leaders, including the CEO and the other NEOs. The Severance Benefits Agreement provides for up to one years salary and up to one year of certain employee benefits if we terminate employment other than for cause.
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Table of ContentsEmployment Agreements. We have entered into Transition Agreements and Severance Benefits Agreements. However, we generally do not enter into employment contracts with executives that provide for ongoing terms of employment.
Tally Sheets. In 2011, for the purpose of having more information to contribute to Committees decisionmaking, the Human Resources Committee reviewed tally sheets that management and the outside executive compensation advisor prepared. Tally sheets provide a more complete picture of the current and historical compensation of each NEO by recounting in detail the dollar value of the total compensation that we paid to each NEO for the past three years. The total dollar value includes base salary and short-term and long-term incentive compensation that we actually paid, and the costs we incur to provide various health and insurance benefits and perquisites to our NEOs. The tally sheets also reflect each NEOs accumulated realized and unrealized stock option gains, any vested and unvested restricted stock awards and stock options at various stock values, and any outstanding long-term cash awards at target value and the amounts our NEOs will receive if they leave the Company under various circumstances, such as retirement or termination in connection with a change in control. The Human Resources Committee believes that annual review of the tally sheets is helpful as part of their process to oversee the design of our executive compensation program.
Clawbacks. The Human Resources Committee has reviewed approaches to implement a compensation recoupment policy, which is also known as a clawback policy, and the Committee believes it is advisable to adopt a clawback policy, once regulations that will apply to clawbacks are finalized. In 2010, Congress passed the Dodd-Frank Act, which requires many public companies to adopt clawback policies. The Committee has been awaiting final regulations under the Dodd-Frank Act before adopting a clawback policy to ensure that our policy complies. The SEC has not yet adopted the final regulations. As a result, the Committee has not yet adopted a policy pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act. However, provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act currently provide for clawbacks under certain circumstances that apply to our CEO and CFO. Once final regulations for the Dodd-Frank Act are published, the Committee intends to formally adopt a clawback policy that complies with that Act.
Income Tax Consequences of Executive Compensation
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code limits the tax deductibility of compensation that we pay to NEOs (other than the chief financial officer) to $1,000,000 in any year. This limitation does not apply to performance-based compensation if certain conditions are met. The Human Resources Committee intends to maximize the extent of the tax deductibility of executive compensation under the provisions of Section 162(m). The Committee believes, however, that shareholders interest are best served by not restricting its discretion and flexibility in structuring compensation programs, even though such programs may result in certain non-deductible compensation expenses.
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Table of ContentsSummary Compensation Table
(1) NEOs earned a Leadership STIP during 2011 and received payment for the awards in 2012. We disclose this compensation in the table for the year in which it was earned.
(2) We have calculated the compensation related to stock and option awards based on the grant date fair value of an award. We based the fair value of stock awards on the market price of the shares awarded on the date of grant (which considers the value of dividends that the holder of restricted shares is entitled to receive). We calculated the fair values of option awards using a binomial lattice model. Refer to Note 19 of our financial statements included in our 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K for details regarding assumptions we used to value the option awards.
(3) NEOs earned non-equity incentive plan compensation during 2011 and received payment for the awards in 2012. We disclose this compensation in the table for the year in which it was earned.
(4) The amounts in this column represent the aggregate change in the actuarial present value of each NEOs accumulated benefit under all defined benefit and actuarial pension plans (including supplemental plans) from the pension plan measurement date used for financial statement reporting purposes with respect to our audited financial statements for 2010 to the pension plan measurement date used for financial statement reporting purposes with respect to our audited financial statements for 2011. Refer to the narrative to the Pension Benefits Table for further information.
(5) During 2011, Mr. Wandell received cash payments of $29,600 in lieu of receiving certain perquisites and personal benefits, which we refer to as a perquisite payment, non-qualified deferred compensation plan contributions of $68,466, 401(k) plan contributions of $31,850 and life insurance premiums of $13,727. Mr. Wandell also received additional benefits as perquisites with an incremental cost to us of $25,478 consisting of financial planning services, personal use of company aircraft and clothing. We also reimburse executives for taxes on income that tax law imputes to executives related to the provision of life insurance in excess of $50,000.
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Table of ContentsDuring 2011, Mr. Levatich received cash payments of $29,600 in lieu of receiving certain perquisites and personal benefits, 401(k) plan contributions of $14,700 and life insurance premiums of $13,426. Mr. Levatich also received additional benefits as perquisites with an incremental cost of $10,051 consisting of financial planning services, personal use of company aircraft and clothing.
During 2011, Mr. Olin received cash payments of $20,300 in lieu of receiving certain perquisites and personal benefits, non-qualified deferred compensation plan contributions of $29,277, 401(k) plan contributions of $14,700 and life insurance premiums of $14,965.
During 2011, Mr. Hund received cash payments of $20,300 in lieu of receiving certain perquisites and personal benefits.
During 2011, Mr. Jones received cash payments of $20,300 in lieu of receiving certain perquisites and personal benefits, non-qualified deferred compensation plan contributions of $15,730, 401(k) plan contributions of $20,739 and life insurance premiums of $14,965.
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Table of ContentsGrants of Plan Based Awards for 2011
(1) In February 2011, the Human Resources Committee approved a long-term incentive plan. Under this plan, the NEOs have the potential to earn the estimated future payouts that we disclose above based on performance during the three-year period ending December 2013 which we expect to pay out in February 2014. The 2011 long-term cash award will pay out based upon the attainment of average return on invested capital above a threshold amount. Payouts under the long term incentive award will vary between zero and 200% of the target value of long-term incentive opportunity based upon results over the performance period. We include further details regarding this plan, including information on performance criteria, in the Compensation Discussion and AnalysisComponents of the Executive Compensation Program section beginning on page 46.
In December 2011, the Human Resources Committee approved the Motor Company STIP and HDFS STIP plans relating to 2012 performance. In 2012, all of the NEOs will participate in both the Motor Company and the HDFS STIPs based upon the following weighting: 89% Motor Company and 11% HDFS. Under these plans, each NEO has the potential to earn the estimated future payouts that we disclose above during 2012 which we would pay out in February 2013. There is no minimum payout upon reaching the threshold levels of performance. We include further details regarding this plan, including information on performance criteria, in the Compensation Discussion and AnalysisComponents of the Executive Compensation Program section beginning on page 46.
(2) Restricted stock awards involve shares of our common stock, and NEOs earn the shares when the restrictions on the awards lapse, but only if the individual remains an employee or certain other circumstances apply. The restricted stock awards that we granted to NEOs in February 2011 vest 33% after 1 year, 33% after 2 years, and 33% after 3 years. However, if the NEO is 55 years of age or older and elects to retire more than one year after the date of the grant of an award, all unvested shares under that award will automatically vest upon retirement. During the restricted period, each share of restricted stock entitles the recipient to receive payments equal to the quarterly dividends on one share of common stock, if any are paid to shareholders.
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Table of ContentsNarrative to Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table
For 2011, we maintained the following executive compensation programs for our named executive officers:
We include further details regarding these programs, including information on performance criteria and vesting provisions, in the Compensation Discussion and AnalysisComponents of Executive Compensation Program section beginning on page 46.
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Table of ContentsOutstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2011
(1) We granted all options ten years prior to the expiration date. Each grant made in 2009 and prior vests ratably over a four year period beginning with the first 25% vesting one year after the date of grant, the second 25% vesting two years after the date of grant, the third 25% vesting three years after the date of grant and the final 25% vesting four years after the date of grant. Each grant made in 2010 and after vests ratably over a three year period beginning with the first 33% vesting one year after the date of grant, the second 33% vesting two years after the date of grant and the third 33% vesting three years after the date.
(2) Mr. Wandells restricted shares will vest as follows: 12,452 shares on February 9, 2012 20,345 shares on February 10, 2012 44,269 shares on May 1, 2012 12,453 shares on February 9, 2013 20,345 shares on February 10, 2013 44,269 shares on May 1, 2013 12,453 shares on February 9, 2014
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Table of Contents(3) Mr. Olins restricted shares will vest as follows: 1,360 shares on February 9, 2012 2,028 shares on February 10, 2012 7,691 shares on February 13, 2012 1,360 shares on February 9, 2013 2,028 shares on February 10, 2013 8,943 shares on February 12, 2013 1,361 shares on February 9, 2014
(4) Mr. Levatichs restricted shares will vest as follows: 2,734 shares on February 9, 2012 4,433 shares on February 10, 2012 5,208 shares on February 13, 2012 5,000 shares on February 14, 2012 2,734 shares on February 9, 2013 4,434 shares on February 10, 2013 12,195 shares on February 12, 2013 10,000 shares on August 22, 2013 2,734 shares on February 9, 2014
(5) Mr. Hunds restricted shares will vest as follows: 2,298 shares on February 9, 2012 3,918 shares on February 10, 2012 5,285 shares on July 17, 2012 2,299 shares on February 9, 2013 3,918 shares on February 10, 2013 5,286 shares on July 17, 2013 2,299 shares on February 9, 2014
(6) Mr. Jones restricted shares will vest as follows: 707 shares on February 9, 2012 5,000 shares on August 26, 2012 707 shares on February 9, 2013 5,000 shares on August 26, 2013 707 shares on February 9, 2014
Option Exercises and Stock Vested in 2011
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Table of ContentsPension Benefits
Narrative to Pension Benefits Table
We maintain the Retirement Annuity Plan for Salaried Employees of Harley-Davidson, a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan (Salaried Pension Plan). Under the Salaried Pension Plan, our salaried employees (excluding employees of HDFS and certain other subsidiaries), including Mr. Olin and Mr. Levatich, are generally eligible to retire with unreduced benefits at age 62 or later. Mr. Wandell and Mr. Jones are not eligible to participate as the plan was closed to new participants in 2006.
Benefits are based upon monthly final average earnings as defined in the Salaried Pension Plan. Prior to December 31, 1994, the monthly benefit is the difference between 1.6% of the final average earnings and 0.9% of the primary monthly Social Security benefit multiplied by years of service. On and after December 31, 1994, the revised benefit is 1.2% of the final average earnings plus 0.4% of the final average earnings in excess of Social Security covered compensation multiplied by years of service. The benefit of a person with service on or after December 31, 1994 is the greater of his or her benefit determined using the revised formula for all service or the sum of his or her benefit under the former formula for service through December 31, 1994 and his or her benefit under the revised formula for service after that date.
For each eligible NEO, final average earnings equal one-twelfth of the highest average annual total compensation (consisting of base salary, annual bonus and annual non-equity incentive compensation as shown in the Summary Compensation Table) paid over five highest total compensation years within the last ten years of service prior to the participants retirement or other date of termination. Compensation under any long-term incentive plan that we maintain, including equity or cash plans, is not eligible compensation for purposes of the pension or pension benefit restoration plans.
Vesting under the Salaried Pension Plan occurs upon the earlier of five years of service or age 65. An employee who retires after age 55 and before age 62 with a minimum of five years of service will receive an actuarially reduced benefit under the Salaried Pension Plan. The surviving spouse of an employee who is eligible for early retirement or who is vested at death is also entitled to certain benefits under the Salaried Pension Plan.
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Table of ContentsWe have adopted the Pension Benefit Restoration Plan pursuant to which we will pay participants amounts that exceed certain limitations the Internal Revenue Code imposes on benefits payable under the Salaried Pension Plan as a plan qualified under the Internal Revenue Code. Approximately 110 employees participate in the Restoration Plan. An executive may elect payment in an optional form, including a single lump sum payment in lieu of periodic payments of the Restoration Plan benefit.
Certain executives are entitled to receive a lump sum payment equal to one years salary plus applicable taxes upon retirement at or after age 55 with 5 years of service. We have adopted this defined benefit in lieu of providing post-retirement life insurance. Mr. Hund was the only NEO entitled to this benefit as of December 31, 2011. The other NEOs were not entitled to this benefit as of December 31, 2011 because they would not have satisfied the requirements as of that date.
We computed the present value of each NEOs accumulated benefit using the same assumptions and measurement date that we used for financial reporting purposes for our 2010 financial statements. For each active NEO that was eligible to receive benefits as of the end of the year, we assumed a retirement age of 62, which is the earliest age at which an NEO may retire under the relevant plans without any reduction to benefits.
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation
(1) Messrs. Wandell, Olin, Levatich and Jones participate in the Harley-Davidson non-qualified deferred compensation plan. Mr. Hund is eligible to participate in the Harley-Davidson Financial Services non-qualified deferred compensation plan, but has not elected to participate in such plan.
(2) Executive contributions to these plans represent compensation that NEOs earned but elected to defer. The executive contribution is therefore included in the NEOs salary or non-equity incentive plan compensation reported in the Summary Compensation Table.
(3) Under the Harley-Davidson plan, the company matches up to 50 percent of employee deferred compensation plan contributions (including contributions to the companys 401(k) plans and its non-qualified deferred compensation plans) on the first six percent of cash compensation (salary and non-equity incentive plan pay) that an executive defers (Matching Contribution) for individuals hired prior to August 1, 2006. For employees hired after August 1, 2006, the match is up to 75% on the first six percent of cash compensation that an executive defers. In addition, employees with a date of hire or rehire on or after August 1, 2006, and who are not covered under the Salaried Pension Plan during the same period may receive an additional employer contribution of four percent of their
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Table of Contentseligible pay (Retirement Contribution). The total amount of such employer contributions that is included in the non-qualified deferred compensation plan is equal to the total contribution less the amount contributed to the NEOs 401(k) account. Retirement Contributions made in the last fiscal year (2011) relate to employee contributions and eligible pay for the preceding year (2010). We reflect these contributions as a component of all other compensation in the Summary Compensation Table.
(4) Executives have the option of allocating their deferred compensation balances across several different independent third-party investment vehicles. No amounts of aggregate earnings for the last fiscal year or for prior years have been included in the Summary Compensation Table.
(5) The total amount of executive and registrant non-qualified deferred compensation plan contributions for 2009, 2010 and 2011 (included in the aggregate deferred compensation balance above) that has also been included as compensation in the Summary Compensation Table is as follows: Mr. Wandell$133,418, Mr. Olin$374,357, Mr. Levatich$1,750, Mr. Hund$0 and Mr. Jones$35,231.
Payments Made Upon Termination
Regardless of the manner in which an NEOs employment terminates, he or she may be entitled to receive amounts earned during his or her term of employment. Such amounts include:
Change in Control
We have entered into a Transition Agreement with Messrs. Wandell, Olin, Levatich and Hund. The Transition Agreement provides that, if we terminate the individuals employment for any reason (other than for cause) within two years after a change in control, then such individual will receive a cash payment and certain other benefits. In addition, among other events, voluntary termination by the executive of his or her employment for good reason within two years after a change in control would entitle the executive to the benefits under the agreement. We describe the Transition Agreements more fully in the section Compensation Discussion and AnalysisTransition Agreements beginning on page 55. That section also outlines the definition of a change in control under the Transition Agreements.
Our incentive stock plans also contain provisions that apply if there is a change in control. Equity awards that we made under our 2009 Incentive Stock Plan to an executive who was then a party to a Transition Agreement do not become fully vested upon a change in control (but may become vested if we terminate the individuals employment for any reason other than cause within two years
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Table of Contentsafter a change in control). All other restricted stock awards and option grants that we made under our 2009 Incentive Stock Plan and predecessor plans that are unvested become fully vested upon a change in control.
The table below presents estimates of the amounts of compensation payable to each NEO upon a change in control and termination of the executive in a manner that entitles the executive to cash severance. The amounts shown assume that such change in control and termination were both effective as of December 31, 2011. The actual amounts to be paid can only be determined at the time of a change in control or executives termination. These amounts are in addition to amounts that an NEO would be entitled to receive under our pension plans as well as vested amounts of deferred compensation that are fully disclosed for each NEO in the Pension Benefits and Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation tables, respectively.
Footnotes to Change in Control Table
(a) For each NEO that is a party to a Transition Agreement, the cash severance reflects the product of three times the sum of the NEOs highest annual base pay in the preceding five years plus the higher of the NEOs bonus opportunity (at target) for the year in which the change in control event occurs or the highest annual bonus in the preceding five years.
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Table of Contents(b) For each NEO that is a party to a Transition Agreement, the interrupted bonus reflects the higher of the NEOs target STIP opportunity for 2011 or the actual bonus earned in 2010 on the assumption that the actual bonus for 2011 would not have been determined had the change in control occurred December 31, 2011. Without the benefit of a Transition Agreement, there is no entitlement to any amount under the Corporate STIP upon a change of control.
(c) Pursuant to our Transition Agreements, upon a termination following a change in control in a manner that entitles the executive to cash severance, an NEO is entitled to receive three years of continued coverage in our health and welfare benefit programs, three years of pension service credit for those who participate in the pension plan (but not beyond age 65) based on assumed compensation, up to three years of outplacement services, and three years of annual perquisite payments based upon the amount of those payments per year for the NEO. Under the Transition Agreements with Messrs. Wandell, Olin, Levatich and Hund, to the extent that payments to these executives would be considered excess parachute payments as defined in Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code, the payments will be reduced to a point at which they are no longer considered excess parachute payments, or the executive will receive the full payment and be personally liable for the excise tax, whichever produces the larger after-tax benefit to the executive. In these agreements, there are no provisions for an excise tax gross up. Amounts in the table assume that the executives received the full payment. We estimated the amounts in the table relating to continued coverage in our health and welfare benefit programs and outplacement services.
(d) We calculated the present values of qualified and nonqualified pension plan benefits using the same actuarial assumptions that we used for the Pension Benefits Table.
(e) Pursuant to Transition Agreements with Mr. Wandell and Mr. Hund, because they are not eligible to participate in our defined benefit pension plan, they are entitled to certain other benefits upon a termination following a change in control in a manner that entitles them to cash severance. Mr. Wandell is entitled to an amount equal to the employer retirement contribution that would have been made under our qualified and nonqualified defined contribution plans if his employment had continued for three additional years (but not beyond age 65). The employer retirement contribution is 4% of base salary and annual bonus paid during the calendar year preceding the year of the change in control or the year of termination, whichever is more beneficial to Mr. Wandell. We calculated the estimated payment amount based upon Mr. Wandells annual salary rate and full-year target bonus amount as of December 31, 2011. Mr. Hund is entitled to the value of three years of the company contribution to the Harley-Davidson Financial Services 401(k) Plan, which is the maximum of $9,000 per year.
(f) For each NEO, amounts reflect the value of restricted stock and unvested options awards that become vested upon a termination following a change in control. The definition of change in control under our stock plans is essentially the same as in the Transition Agreements.
(g) We calculated the value of the unvested stock options based upon the difference between the aggregate market value of the shares of common stock underlying the unvested stock options and the aggregate exercise price that the NEO would be required to pay upon exercise of those stock options. We calculated the value of the unvested shares of restricted stock held by each NEO based upon the aggregate market value of such shares. We used a price of $38.87 per share to determine market value in both of these calculations, which was the closing price of our common stock on December 30, 2011, as reported by the New York Stock Exchange.
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(h) For each NEO, amounts reflect the target value of cash long-term incentive awards and the value of restricted stock and unvested options awards that become vested upon a change in control regardless of whether the executives employment is actually terminated. Without the benefit of a Transition Agreement, there is no entitlement to any amount under the cash long-term incentive awards upon a change of control. Equity awards that we made to Messrs. Wandell, Levatich, Hund and Olin under our 2009 Incentive Stock Plan do not vest upon a change in control (but may become vested if we terminate the executives employment for any reason other than cause within two years after a change in control). Because Mr. Jones is not a party to a Transition Agreement, equity awards that we made to him under our 2009 Incentive Stock Plan will vest upon a change in control without regard to termination of employment resulting from such change in control.
Severance Arrangements
We have entered into a Severance Benefits Agreement with each NEO. The Severance Benefits Agreement provides that if we terminate an NEOs employment at any time, then the NEO is entitled to receive certain benefits, unless we terminate the NEO for cause or in connection with the NEOs death or disability. Six months after the date of termination, the NEO would be entitled to receive a lump sum payment equal to the executives annual base salary. Each Severance Benefits Agreement ceases to be applicable if the Transition Agreement for the executive becomes effective.
In addition, the NEO would be entitled to receive medical, dental and death benefits on the same terms as the plans are made available to employees generally for 12 months or until the NEO becomes employed on a substantially full-time basis, whichever is earlier. We are also required to maintain and pay the premiums on any split-dollar life insurance policy on the NEO for 12 months or until the NEO becomes employed on a substantially full-time basis, whichever is earlier. The amounts shown in the table below reflect estimates of the cost of providing the medical, dental and vision coverage, the value to the NEO of life insurance coverage (based on tables used for tax purposes) and reimbursement for taxes related to that value.
The Severance Benefits Agreement provides that the NEO is also entitled to benefits to which he or she is vested and entitled under our stock, 401(k), compensation, pension and deferred compensation plans.
The table below presents estimates of the amounts of compensation payable to each NEO under the Severance Benefits Agreement upon a termination of the executive absent a change in control for any reason other than cause, death or disability. The amounts shown assume that such termination was effective as of December 31, 2011. The actual amounts to be paid can only be determined at the time of the executives termination.
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