DEF 14A
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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

SCHEDULE 14A

(Rule 14a-101)

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.     )

 

 

Filed by the Registrant    ☑                             

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☐

Check the appropriate box:

 

   Preliminary Proxy Statement
   Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
   Definitive Proxy Statement
   Definitive Additional Materials
   Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12

Navigant Consulting, 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):

  No fee required.
  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
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  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
  Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
  (1)   

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LOGO

May 11, 2018

Dear Shareholder:

You are cordially invited to attend the 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Navigant Consulting, Inc. (the “annual meeting”), which will be held at 150 North Riverside Plaza, Conference Center – Lower Level, Chicago, Illinois 60606, on Friday, June 15, 2018, at 10:00 a.m., Central time. Details of the business to be conducted at the annual meeting are provided in the attached Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement. Please read the enclosed information and our 2017 Annual Report, which includes our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, carefully before voting your proxy.

Your vote is important. Even if you plan to attend the annual meeting in person, please authorize your proxy or direct your vote by following the instructions on each of your voting options described in the Proxy Statement. You may vote your shares by Internet, telephone or mail pursuant to the instructions included on the enclosed proxy card or voting instruction card. We encourage you to use the first option and vote by Internet.

We look forward to your attendance and participation in this year’s annual meeting.

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Julie M. Howard

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer


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LOGO

NAVIGANT CONSULTING, INC.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

 

Time and Date:   10:00 a.m., Central time, on June 15, 2018
Place:  

150 North Riverside Plaza, Conference Center – Lower Level, Chicago, Illinois 60606

Agenda:   The purposes of the meeting are to:

 

  1. Elect the nine nominees identified in the Proxy Statement to the Company’s Board of Directors to serve for one-year terms;

 

  2. Approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers, as disclosed in the Proxy Statement;

 

  3. Ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2018; and

 

  4. Transact any other business properly brought before the meeting, or any adjournments or postponements of the meeting.

 

Record Date:   If you were a shareholder of record at the close of business on May 1, 2018, you are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the annual meeting.

Whether or not you plan to attend the annual meeting, we urge you to please sign and return the enclosed proxy card as promptly as possible in the envelope enclosed for your convenience, or please vote via the Internet or phone using the instructions on the proxy card. If you receive more than one proxy card because your shares are registered in different names or addresses, each proxy card should be signed and returned to assure that all of your shares are represented at the annual meeting. If you mail the proxy card or voting instruction card in the envelope provided, no postage is required if mailed from within the United States. Sending in your proxy will not prevent you from attending and voting your shares at the annual meeting because you have the right to revoke your proxy at any time before it is voted as described in the enclosed Proxy Statement.

We have also enclosed the Proxy Statement and 2017 Annual Report to Shareholders, which includes our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, with this Notice of Annual Meeting.

By Order of the Board of Directors,

 

LOGO

Monica M. Weed

Secretary

Chicago, Illinois

May 11, 2018


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You can find detailed information regarding voting in the section entitled “Questions and Answers” in the enclosed Proxy Statement.

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR

THE ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON JUNE 15, 2018

The Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement are available on our website at

www.navigant.com/2018proxy. The 2017 Annual Report to Shareholders, which

includes our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, is available on our website at

www.navigant.com/2017annualreport.


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YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT.

PLEASE VOTE YOUR PROXY OVER THE INTERNET

OR BY TELEPHONE USING THE INSTRUCTIONS PRINTED ON THE PROXY CARD

OR

MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN YOUR PROXY CARD BY MAIL

WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING.

NAVIGANT CONSULTING, INC.

 

 

PROXY STATEMENT FOR 2018 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

 

 

This Proxy Statement and the accompanying proxy card is being mailed or otherwise furnished to our shareholders on or about May 11, 2018 in connection with the solicitation of proxies by our Board of Directors (the “Board”) for the 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Navigant Consulting, Inc. which will be held on June 15, 2018 at 10:00 a.m., Central time, at 150 North Riverside Plaza, Conference Center – Lower Level, Chicago, Illinois 60606.

The words “we,” “us,” “our” and the “Company” used throughout this Proxy Statement refer to Navigant Consulting, Inc.

Our principal executive offices are currently located at 150 North Riverside Plaza, Suite 2100, Chicago, Illinois 60606. Our telephone number is (312) 573-5600.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

Questions and Answers

     1  

PROPOSAL 1 — Election of Directors

     5  

Corporate Governance

     15  

Audit Committee Report

     21  

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

     22  

Compensation Committee Report

     36  

Executive Compensation

     37  

Director Compensation

     45  

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

     47  

Stock Ownership of Directors, Executive Officers and Principal Holders

     48  

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

     50  

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

     50  

Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions

     50  

PROPOSAL 2 — Vote to Approve, on an Advisory Basis, Our Executive Compensation

     51  

PROPOSAL  3 — Ratification of the Appointment of KPMG LLP as Our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for Fiscal Year 2018

     53  

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     53  

Shareholder Proposals for the 2019 Annual Meeting

     54  

Other Business

     55  

Other Information

     55  


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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

 

Q: What is a proxy and proxy statement?

 

A: A proxy is a document, also referred to as a “proxy card,” on which you authorize someone else to vote for you in the way that you want to vote at the 2018 annual meeting of shareholders of the Company, which we refer to as the “annual meeting,” to be held on June 15, 2018, at 10:00 a.m., Central time, at 150 North Riverside Plaza, Conference Center – Lower Level, Chicago, Illinois 60606.

A proxy statement is a document, such as this one, required by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) that, among other things, explains the items on which you are asked to vote on the proxy card. This Proxy Statement and the accompanying proxy card for our 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders is being solicited by our Board.

 

Q: Who is entitled to vote?

 

A: Only holders of our common stock as of the close of business on the record date, May 1, 2018, are entitled to vote at the annual meeting. Each outstanding share of our common stock is entitled to one vote. There were 45,187,592 shares of our common stock outstanding as of the close of business on May 1, 2018.

 

Q: What am I being asked to vote on at the annual meeting?

 

A: At the annual meeting, our shareholders will be asked to:

 

   

elect the nine nominees identified in this Proxy Statement to our Board for one-year terms (see page 5);

 

   

approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers, as disclosed in this Proxy Statement (see page 51);

 

   

ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2018 (see page 53); and

 

   

transact any other business properly brought before the meeting or any adjournments or postponements of the meeting.

 

Q: How do I cast my vote?

 

A: If you hold your shares directly in your own name, you are a “registered shareholder” and may vote your shares at the annual meeting or complete and submit a proxy by mail, telephone or the Internet prior to the meeting. If your shares are registered in the name of a broker or other nominee, you are a “street-name shareholder” and will receive instructions from your broker or other nominee describing how to vote your shares.

 

Q: How do I vote by mail, telephone or the Internet?

 

A: If you are a registered shareholder, you may vote by telephone or the Internet by following the instructions on your proxy card. If you are a street-name shareholder, your broker or other nominee will provide a voting instruction form for you to use in directing your broker or other nominee how to vote your shares.

If you vote by mail, your proxy card must be received by the close of business on June 14, 2018.

If you vote by telephone, you must do so by the close of business on June 14, 2018.

If you vote via the Internet, you must do so by the close of business on June 14, 2018.

 

Q: Can I change my vote after I have voted?

 

A:

A subsequent vote by any means will change your prior vote. For example, if you voted by telephone, a subsequent Internet vote will change your vote. If you wish to change your vote by mail, you may do so by requesting, in writing, a new proxy card from our corporate secretary at our principal executive office address indicated on the first page of this Proxy Statement. The last vote received prior to the annual meeting will be the one counted. If you are a registered shareholder, you may also change your vote by

 

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  voting your shares at the annual meeting. Street-name shareholders wishing to change their votes after returning voting instructions to their broker or other nominee should contact their broker or other nominee directly.

 

Q: Can I revoke a proxy?

 

A: Yes, registered shareholders may revoke a properly executed proxy by submitting a letter addressed to and received by our corporate secretary at our principal executive office address by the close of business on June 14, 2018, or by voting live during the meeting. You may also revoke a proxy submitted by telephone or the Internet by voting again by telephone or the Internet by the deadline indicated on your proxy card. Street-name shareholders should follow the instructions provided by their brokers or other nominees to revoke an earlier proxy. Street-name shareholders cannot revoke their proxies at the annual meeting unless they obtain a legal proxy from their brokers or other nominees allowing them to vote live during the meeting.

 

Q: What does it mean if I receive more than one proxy card?

 

A: The receipt of more than one proxy card indicates that your shares are registered differently and are in more than one account. Sign and return all proxy cards, or vote each account by telephone or the Internet, to ensure that all your shares are voted at the annual meeting. We encourage you to register all your accounts in the same name and address. To do so, registered shareholders may contact our transfer agent, Computershare, by mail at P.O. Box 30170, College Station, Texas 77842 or by telephone at 800-522-6645. Street-name shareholders holding their shares through a broker or other nominee should contact their broker or other nominee and request consolidation of their accounts.

 

Q: What is householding?

 

A: SEC rules allow us to deliver a single set of proxy materials and annual report to one physical address shared by two or more of our shareholders. This delivery method is referred to as “householding” and can result in significant cost savings. To take advantage of this opportunity, we have delivered only one set of proxy materials and annual report to multiple shareholders who share an address, unless we have received different instructions from the impacted shareholders prior to the mailing date. We agree to deliver promptly, upon written or oral request, a separate set of proxy materials and annual report, as requested, to any shareholder at the shared address to which a single copy of those documents was delivered. If you prefer to receive separate copies of the annual meeting materials, contact Broadridge by telephone at (800) 540-7095 or in writing at Broadridge, Householding Department, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, New York 11717.

If you are currently a shareholder sharing an address with another shareholder and are receiving multiple copies of our proxy materials and wish to receive only one copy of future proxy statements and annual reports for your household, please contact Broadridge at the above telephone number or address.

 

Q: What happens if I submit a proxy card without giving specific voting instructions?

 

A: If you are a registered shareholder and you submit your proxy card with an unclear voting designation or with no voting designation at all, the proxy holders will vote your shares on the proposals set forth in this Proxy Statement in accordance with the Board’s recommendations. With respect to any other matter that is properly brought before the annual meeting, the proxy holders will vote the proxies held by them in their discretion.

 

Q: What makes a quorum?

 

A:

A majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, present or represented by proxy at the annual meeting, constitutes a quorum. A quorum is necessary to conduct business at the annual meeting. Abstentions are counted as shares present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present. As explained below under “What are ‘broker non-votes?,’” shares held in “street name” by brokers or other nominees for which voting instructions are not received will not be counted as shares present for purposes of

 

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  determining whether a quorum is present if such brokers or other nominees exercise their discretionary voting authority on Proposal 3.

 

Q: What are “broker non-votes”?

 

A: A broker non-vote occurs when a broker, bank, trust or other nominee lacks discretionary authority to vote on a proposal and the beneficial owner of the shares has not provided an instruction as to how to vote those shares. If you are a street-name shareholder and you do not instruct your broker, bank or other nominee how to vote your shares, under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), your broker, bank or other nominee may vote your shares on “routine” matters only. The proposal to ratify the appointment our independent registered public accounting firm (Proposal 3) is the only routine matter being presented at the annual meeting and, therefore, may be voted upon by your broker, bank or other nominee in its discretion. If brokers exercise this discretionary voting authority on Proposal 3, such shares will be considered present at the annual meeting for quorum purposes and broker non-votes will occur as to each of the other proposals presented at the annual meeting (Proposals 1 and 2), which are considered “non-routine.” Broker non-votes will have no effect on these proposals.

If you hold your shares in street name, you are strongly encouraged to cast your vote by instructing your bank, broker, trust or other nominee on how to vote if you want your vote to be counted at the annual meeting.

 

Q: What vote is required to elect the nominees for director and approve the other proposals?

 

A: For each proposal, the vote required for approval is set forth below:

Proposal 1: Each nominee for director will be elected if the total votes cast “FOR” the nominee’s election exceed the total votes cast “AGAINST” the nominee’s election.

Proposal 2: The compensation paid to our named executive officers, as disclosed in this Proxy Statement, will be approved, on an advisory basis, by our shareholders if a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, present or represented by proxy at the annual meeting, vote “FOR” the proposal.

Proposal 3: The appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2018 will be ratified by our shareholders if a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, present or represented by proxy at the annual meeting, vote “FOR” the proposal.

Abstentions will have no effect on the election of directors. Abstentions will have the same effect as a vote “against” the remaining proposals. Broker non-votes will have no effect on the proposals.

 

Q: Who may attend the annual meeting?

 

A: Any shareholder as of the close of business on May 1, 2018 may attend the annual meeting. The following procedures have been adopted to ensure that the Company’s shareholders can check in efficiently when entering the annual meeting.

Shareholders of Record: If you are a shareholder of record on the record date, you (or your duly appointed proxy holder) are entitled to attend the annual meeting. If you are a shareholder of record, there is an admission ticket located on your meeting notice or proxy card. You will be asked to present the admission ticket and valid picture identification to obtain admittance to the annual meeting. If you are a record holder (or a record holder’s duly appointed proxy) and you do not bring an admission ticket with you to the annual meeting, you will be admitted upon verification of ownership at the shareholders’ registration desk. Please be prepared to present valid picture identification.

Beneficial Owners: If you are a beneficial owner of common stock as of the record date, you may obtain admittance at the shareholders’ registration desk by presenting evidence of your common stock ownership. This evidence could be a legal proxy from the institution that is the record holder of your shares, or your most recent account statement from your broker, bank, trust or other nominee that includes the record date, along with valid picture identification. Please note that in order to vote at the annual meeting, beneficial owners must present the legal proxy from the record holder.

 

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Q: Who bears the expense of this Proxy Statement and the solicitation of proxies?

 

A: We will bear all expenses of the solicitation of proxies, including expenses of preparing and mailing or otherwise furnishing this Proxy Statement. We have retained MacKenzie Partners, Inc. (“MacKenzie”) to act as a proxy solicitor in connection with the annual meeting. The Company has agreed to pay MacKenzie customary compensation for its services plus reimbursement for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred during the solicitation. MacKenzie has advised us that its total fees are estimated to be $17,500 in connection with the solicitation. The Company has also arranged to indemnify MacKenzie against certain liabilities arising from or in connection with the engagement.

In addition, our officers, directors and employees may solicit proxies in person or by telephone, facsimile or other means of communication. They will not receive any additional compensation for, but they may be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with, that solicitation. We will furnish copies of our proxy materials to brokerage firms, nominees, fiduciaries and custodians to forward to our street-name shareholders and will reimburse those brokerage firms and other nominees for their reasonable expenses in forwarding our solicitation materials to our street-name shareholders.

 

Q: Has the Company been notified that a shareholder intends to propose alternative director nominees at the annual meeting?

 

A: Yes. Engine Capital L.P. (“Engine”) notified the Company of its intention to nominate director nominees for election at the annual meeting. However, Engine irrevocably withdrew its nomination notice as part of a settlement with the Company. Please see “Resolution of Shareholder Nominations” on page 20 for additional details.

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. PLEASE RETURN YOUR MARKED, SIGNED AND DATED PROXY CARD PROMPTLY BY MAIL, OR VOTE BY TELEPHONE OR THE INTERNET, TO ENSURE THAT YOUR SHARES ARE REPRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING, EVEN IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING IN PERSON.

 

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PROPOSAL 1

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Pursuant to our Restated Certificate of Incorporation, all of our directors are subject to annual election. The size of our Board is currently fixed at ten directors. Two of our longest serving directors, Samuel K. Skinner and Governor James R. Thompson are not standing for re-election this year and will retire. The Company is grateful for and wishes to thank both Mr. Skinner and Governor Thompson for their many years of steadfast stewardship and distinguished service during their respective tenures. The Board has nominated a new candidate, Rudina Seseri, to stand for election to the Board at the annual meeting. As a result of these developments, nine directors are proposed to be elected at the annual meeting to serve until the 2019 annual meeting of shareholders or until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified. The size of the Board will accordingly be reduced to nine directors as of the annual meeting. Proxies at the annual meeting cannot be voted for a greater number of persons than the number of nominees (nine) named in this Proxy Statement.

Kevin M. Blakely, Cynthia A. Glassman, Julie M. Howard, Stephan A. James, Rudina Seseri, Michael L. Tipsord, Kathleen E. Walsh, Jeffrey W. Yingling and Randy H. Zwirn have been nominated for election to the Board at the 2018 annual meeting of our shareholders.

The Board unanimously recommends that our shareholders vote “FOR” the election of each of the nominees.

Shares represented by executed proxy cards will be voted “FOR” the election of the nine nominees unless your proxy card is marked otherwise (if you are a registered shareholder) or you have provided a different instruction to your broker (if you are a street-name shareholder). We have no reason to believe that any of the nominees would be unable or unwilling to serve if elected. However, if any nominee becomes unable or unwilling to serve, proxies may be voted for the election of another person nominated as a substitute by the Board.

Under our By-Laws, in uncontested elections, each director nominee will be elected by vote of a majority of the votes cast with respect to such nominee’s election (in other words, the number of shares voted “FOR” a director nominee exceeds the number of shares voted “AGAINST” that director nominee, with abstentions and broker non-votes not counted as a vote cast either “FOR” or “AGAINST” that nominee’s election).

If an incumbent director is not elected, the director is required to promptly tender his or her resignation to the Board. The nominating and governance committee (or another committee designated by the Board) will then make a recommendation to the Board as to whether to accept or reject the resignation of the director, or whether other action should be taken. The Board will act on the resignation and publicly disclose (in the manner provided in our By-Laws) its decision regarding the tendered resignation of the director and the rationale behind the decision within 90 days following certification of the election results. The Board may extend that 90-day period by an additional period of up to 90 days if it determines that the extension is in the best interests of the Company and our shareholders. The director who has tendered his or her resignation may not participate in the recommendation of the nominating and governance committee or the decision of the Board with respect to his or her resignation. If the incumbent director’s resignation is not accepted by the Board, the director will continue to serve until his or her successor is elected and qualified.

Certain biographical information for each of the nominees is set forth in the following section. Also set forth therein is a description of the specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills of each nominee for director that were considered by the Board, in light of the Company’s current business needs and long-term operating strategy, in concluding that these individuals should serve on the Board.

 

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Nominees for Election at the 2018 Annual Meeting for One-Year Terms Expiring at the 2019 Annual Meeting

Consistent with the Company’s ongoing effort to maintain a highly qualified, independent board with relevant expertise to guide the Company going forward, the nominating and governance committee and the Board believe a broad range of characteristics, including skills and experience, as well as diversity and demographic factors are important considerations in selecting director nominees. As part of that effort, the Company has added a new Board member in four of the last five years, and is nominating an additional new director candidate for election at the 2018 annual meeting. The nominees, whose information appears below, reflect those efforts.

 

 

LOGO

 

LOGO

 

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Kevin M. Blakely

Age 66

Director since May 2016

 

 

 

 

LOGO

  

Mr. Blakely currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of KMB Financial, LLC, a consulting and advisory service firm which provides services to financial institutions and firms serving the financial industry. Mr. Blakely founded the firm in 2012. Previously, he served as Senior Advisor to Oliver Wyman Group, a global management consulting firm, and as a member of its Advisory Board of Directors, from April 2015 to May 2016. From April 2012 to April 2015, Mr. Blakely held the position of Senior Advisor to Deloitte & Touche LLP, a major international accounting and consulting firm, and from June 2009 to January 2012, held the office of Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer for Huntington Bancshares. Prior to that, Mr. Blakely held several senior positions including at KeyCorp, and also served as Chief Executive Officer of the Risk Management Association. Mr. Blakely is currently a member of the board of directors of HSBC North American Holdings, Inc., having joined that board in 2013, where he serves as chair of the compliance committee and a member of the risk committee. Mr. Blakely holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Southern Illinois University and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Case Western Reserve University.

 

Key experience, qualifications, attributes and skills:

 

Mr. Blakely brings more than 40 years of financial services experience to the Board and provides us strategic insights and valuable relationships within the financial services sector, an area of key strategic focus for the Company. As one of the country’s leading financial risk management experts, he provides valuable perspectives as it relates to risk oversight and our risk management programs.

 

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Cynthia A. Glassman

Age 70

Director since October 2009

 

 

 

LOGO

  

Dr. Glassman was appointed by President George W. Bush as Under Secretary for Economic Affairs at the U.S. Department of Commerce from 2006 to 2009 and as Commissioner of the SEC from 2002 to 2006 including Acting Chairman during the summer of 2005. Dr. Glassman has spent over 40 years in the public and private sectors focusing on financial services regulatory and public policy issues, including 12 years at the Federal Reserve and over 15 years in financial services consulting. Dr. Glassman joined the board of Discover Financial Services in 2009 and currently serves as a director and the chairman of its audit committee. In addition, she is a Senior Research Scholar at the Institute for Corporate Responsibility at the George Washington University Business School and an Honorary Fellow of Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge, England. Dr. Glassman received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Wellesley College and a Master of Arts degree and a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania.

 

Key experience, qualifications, attributes and skills:

 

Dr. Glassman holds a Ph.D. in Economics and served as the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs at the U.S. Department of Commerce which enable her to provide insights that are specifically beneficial to our economics business. In addition, Dr. Glassman served as a Commissioner at the SEC and brings a thorough and unique perspective to regulatory and corporate governance issues. She also spent 12 years at the Federal Reserve and served as a consultant practitioner for over 15 years, with particular focus on issues facing the financial services industry (which is one of the key industries to which we provide our services) and risk management, and brings a keen understanding of the Company’s business model and retention strategies. In addition, she has deep experience in strategic issues and possesses the ability to identify market trends and specific business development opportunities and contacts of importance to us.

 

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Julie M. Howard

Age 55

Director since March 2012

Chairman since May 2014

 

 

LOGO

  

Ms. Howard has served as our Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board since March 2012 and as Chairman of the Board since May 2014. She served as our President from 2006 to March 2012 and Chief Operating Officer from 2003 to March 2012. From 2001 to 2003, Ms. Howard was the Company’s Vice President and Human Capital Officer. Prior to 2001, Ms. Howard held a variety of consulting and operational positions, including with the Company. Ms. Howard is currently a member of the board of directors of InnerWorkings Inc., which she joined in 2012, and ManpowerGroup Inc., which she joined in 2016. Ms. Howard also serves on the Medical Center Board for Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and is a founding member of the Women’s Leadership and Mentoring Alliance (WLMA). Ms. Howard is a past member of the board of directors of Kemper Corporation, where she served from 2012 to 2015, and the Association of Management Consulting Firms, the Dean’s Advisory Board of the Business School of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Board of Governors for the Metropolitan Planning Council in Chicago. Ms. Howard is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance. She has also completed several post-graduate courses within the Harvard Business School Executive Education program, focusing in finance and management.

 

Key experience, qualifications, attributes and skills:

 

Ms. Howard has nearly 30 years of professional services experience and has held a broad array of senior management roles overseeing the Company’s consulting businesses and key administrative functions. She has also been a critical architect of the Company’s business strategy. As Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Howard is responsible for the development and implementation of the Company’s long-term strategy and the effective prioritization of resource allocation to realize long-term shareholder value. Ms. Howard brings significant experience and insights to the Board in the areas of strategic market analysis and planning, targeted business and client development, operating model and profitability enhancements, consultant compensation and retention, client channel alignment and integrated brand management. In her current roles, she maintains regular interactions with clients, employees, investors and other key stakeholders. Additionally, Ms. Howard brings outside management and governance perspectives based on her business and civic board memberships.

 

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Stephan A. James

Age 71

Director since January 2009

 

 

LOGO

  

Mr. James is the former Chief Operating Officer of Accenture Ltd. (now Accenture plc), a global professional services company, and served as Vice Chairman and a member of the board of directors of Accenture Ltd. from 2001 to 2004. He also served in the advisory position of International Chairman of Accenture from August 2004 until August 2006. During his more than 35 years at Accenture, Mr. James held several senior management roles, including Managing Partner for the Central U.S., Managing Partner for the North American Financial Services Practice and Managing Partner for the Global Financial Services Operating Group. He is currently a member of the board of directors of Fidelity National Information Services, Inc., where he has served since 2009. He also serves as a member of the University of Texas McCombs School of Business Advisory Board. During the past five years, Mr. James also served as a director at BMC Software Inc. from 2010 until it was acquired in 2013. Mr. James received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, concentrating in Industrial Management and Labor Relations, from the University of Texas.

 

Key experience, qualifications, attributes and skills:

 

Mr. James has had multiple leadership roles related to global business and technology consulting and business transformation outsourcing, including as Chief Operating Officer of Accenture Ltd. Mr. James provides key insights into managing professional services workforces, both domestic and international. He has a deep understanding of corporate governance needs, and understands successful strategies for running global consulting firms and outsourcing businesses.

 

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Rudina Seseri

Age 40

Nominee for Director

 

 

LOGO

  

Ms. Seseri is the Founder and Managing Partner of Glasswing Ventures, LLC, a Boston- based venture capital firm that invests in artificial intelligence and machine learning companies that provide technology solutions for enterprise, cyber-security, robotics and consumer markets, a company she co-founded in 2015. In January of 2018, Ms. Seseri was appointed by the Harvard Business School as Rock Venture Capital Partner, while previously she served as Entrepreneur-in-Residence for the university, a position she held since 2014. From 2007 to 2015, Ms. Seseri was a Partner at Fairhaven Capital, a technology venture capital firm, where she led investments in innovative technologies in the areas of artificial intelligence, enterprise software, robotics and social and omnichannel marketing. Previously, Ms. Seseri was part of the Corporate Development Group at Microsoft Corporation where she was responsible for leading acquisitions and investments in companies of strategic importance to the corporation, and part of the Technology Group at Credit Suisse Group AG, leading public market transactions. Ms. Seseri currently serves on the boards of startup companies including CrowdTwist Inc., an omnichannel marketing and loyalty software company, SocialFlow, Inc., a deep learning and artificial intelligence company that optimizes content delivery on social platforms for global publishers, Celtra, Inc., an artificial intelligence powered programmatic advertising company, Talla, Inc. an artificial intelligence platform leveraging blockchain for knowledge creation, organization and sharing, and Inrupt, Inc., an enterprise infrastructure company. Ms. Seseri also serves on the Digital Advisory Board of GlaxoSmithKlein Consumer, a global pharmaceutical company, Philanthropic Advisory Board for Boston Children’s Hospital, and is a Member of the Business Leadership Council at Wellesley College. Ms. Seseri received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and International Relations from Wellesley College and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the Harvard Business School.

 

Key experience, qualifications, attributes and skills:

 

Ms. Seseri will bring over 16 years of investing and transaction experience to the Board, including experience building successful technology companies in innovative fields such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, Internet of Things, robotics, block chain, enterprise software, and digital media technologies. Her experience in technology, capital markets, and operations provides her with important perspectives relevant to the Company’s growth areas.

 

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Michael L. Tipsord

Age 58

Director since July 2009

 

 

 

LOGO

  

Mr. Tipsord is Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company. Mr. Tipsord has served in various capacities with State Farm since 1988. Mr. Tipsord became Chief Executive Officer of State Farm in September 2015 and was previously elected to the office of President in December 2014. From 2011 until being named Chief Executive Officer, he served as Chief Operating Officer, and from 2005 to 2010, he served as Chief Financial Officer, in addition to the role of Vice Chairman which he held until he was appointed Chairman in June 2016. Currently, he serves as Chairman-Elect of the board of directors of the Financial Services Roundtable, as a trustee of the Brookings Institution and as a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board for the University of Illinois College of Law. During the past five years, Mr. Tipsord also served as a trustee of the State Farm Associates’ Funds Trust, the State Farm Mutual Fund Trust, and the State Farm Variable Product Trust. Mr. Tipsord received a Bachelor’s degree from Illinois Wesleyan University and a J.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign College of Law.

 

Key experience, qualifications, attributes and skills:

 

As the President and Chief Executive Officer of State Farm, a major insurance company, Mr. Tipsord brings deep financial and regulatory expertise as well as a critical understanding of the financial services industry, which is one of the key industries to which we provide our services. He also provides management and the Board with real time capital markets perspectives. In addition, Mr. Tipsord has broad experience in accounting and financial risk controls and management.

Kathleen E. Walsh

Age 62

Director since October 2017

 

 

LOGO

  

Ms. Walsh has served as President and CEO of the Boston Medical Center health system since March 2010. Prior to her appointment at Boston Medical Center, she served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She served previously as the Chief Operating Officer for Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research and at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in positions including Senior Vice President of medical services and the MGH Cancer Center. Prior to her tenure at MGH, she held positions in a number of New York City hospitals including Montefiore, Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, Saint Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center, and the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation. Ms. Walsh received her Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master’s degree in public health from Yale University. She is a member of the Boards of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, the Boston Public Health Commission, the Massachusetts Hospital Association, the AAMC Council of Teaching Hospitals, Pine Street Inn, the Yale Corporation, and the Greater Boston YMCA Board of Overseers.

 

Key experience, qualifications, attributes and skills:

 

Ms. Walsh brings over 35 years of healthcare industry experience and provides us with valuable, in-depth insights and relationships

 

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   within the healthcare sector, a key industry to our business. Her leadership and financial management acumen contribute important perspectives to our strategy and operations.

Jeffrey W. Yingling

Age 58

Director since February 2018

 

 

LOGO

  

Mr. Yingling currently serves as a senior advisor of investment banking for power, energy, and renewables at Guggenheim Securities, LLC, the investment banking and capital markets business of Guggenheim Partners, a position he has held since 2017. Previously, from 2006 until 2017, he held various roles at J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, most recently as managing director and head of Midwest investment banking, and where he also served as a member of the Midwest operating committee, led the Corporate Investment Banking practice in the region, and was the relationship manager for many of the firm’s most important power, utility, and large corporate clients. Prior to that, Mr. Yingling spent more than 15 years at Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, where he was a managing director — investment banking in the firm’s global power and utilities group. He founded and was co-head of Dean Witter Reynolds’ public utility group prior to that firm’s merger with Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC. During his investment banking career, Mr. Yingling has advised on numerous mergers and acquisition transactions, and executed many equity, debt, and convertible securities offerings for clients. Mr. Yingling currently serves on the board of directors of LendingPoint LLC, an online consumer lender to near prime customers. He also serves on the board of trustees of the Chicago Historical Society and is a past member of the civic committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago. Mr. Yingling graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance from the University of Notre Dame and later received his MBA from the University of Chicago, Graduate School of Business.

 

Key experience, qualifications, attributes and skills:

 

Mr. Yingling brings over 30 years of financial, managerial and strategy experience gained from his service in senior executive and management positions at leading international financial institutions and in the professional service sector, and particular expertise with respect to the power and energy industries, an important area of focus for the Company.

 

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Randy H. Zwirn

Age 63

Director since October 2014

 

 

LOGO

  

Mr. Zwirn served as Chief Executive Officer of the Power Generation Services Division of Siemens AG, an industrial manufacturing company, from January 2008 to October 2016 and as President and Chief Executive Officer of Siemens Energy, Inc., a developer and builder of power plants and power-generating components, from August 1998 to October 2016. Prior to that, Mr. Zwirn was a member of Group Executive Management of the Siemens Power Generation Group from 1998 until 2008. He also served as President of the Power Generation business of Westinghouse Electric Corporation from 1996 to 1998 and previously held various positions in general management, operations, projects, marketing and corporate finance at Westinghouse. Mr. Zwirn has served on the board of directors of Babcock Power Inc since 2017. He previously served on the board of the Advisory Committee for the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the Georgia Tech Advisory Board, the Governor’s Council of the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission and the boards of directors of SunEdison, Inc., AREVA, USA and the University of Central Florida Foundation. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Brooklyn College.

 

Key experience, qualifications, attributes and skills:

 

With nearly 40 years of experience in the energy industry, Mr. Zwirn brings deep understanding of the highly regulated energy sector, an area of key strategic focus for the Company. As the former Chief Executive Officer of the Power Generation Services Division of Siemens AG and President and Chief Executive Officer of Siemens Energy, Inc., his leadership experience, including in the areas of general management, operations, projects, marketing and corporate finance, contribute valuable insights to the Board.

 

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Committees of the Board of Directors

The following table sets forth the current members of each of the committees of the Board.

 

     Audit
Committee
   Compensation
Committee
   Executive
Committee
   Nominating
and
Governance
Committee

Kevin M. Blakely*

   Chair          X

Cynthia A. Glassman*

   X          Chair

Julie M. Howard

         X   

Stephan A. James*

   X    Chair      

Samuel K. Skinner*^

      X    X    X

Governor James R. Thompson*†^

         Chair    X

Michael L. Tipsord*

      X      

Kathleen E. Walsh*

   X         

Jeffrey W. Yingling*

   X         

Randy H. Zwirn*

      X      

 

* Independent director (see “— Independence Determinations” below)

 

^ Mr. Skinner and Governor Thompson are not standing for re-election to the Board

 

Lead Director (see “— Board Leadership Structure” below)

Charters for the audit committee, compensation committee and nominating and governance committee are available on our website at www.navigant.com/about under “Corporate Governance.”

Audit Committee.    The audit committee monitors the integrity of our financial statements, financial reporting process and systems of internal controls regarding finance and accounting; monitors our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements (particularly with respect to securities, financial and accounting related matters); reviews any related party transactions; monitors the qualifications, independence and performance of our independent public accountants; monitors the performance of our internal audit function; provides an avenue of communication among the independent public accountants, internal audit function, management and the Board; and monitors significant litigation and enterprise risk exposure with respect to finance, accounting and securities related matters. In addition, the audit committee is directly responsible for the appointment, retention, compensation and oversight over the work of our independent public accountants. The audit committee also has responsibility for reviewing and approving the hiring or dismissal of the employee or outsourced entity responsible for leading our internal audit function, as well as the scope, performance and results of our internal audit function’s internal audit plans. The audit committee has the authority to conduct any investigation appropriate to fulfilling its responsibilities, and it has direct access to the independent public accountants as well as anyone in the Company. The audit committee has the ability to retain, at our expense, special legal, accounting, or other consultants or experts it deems necessary in the performance of its duties and is entitled to receive appropriate funding from the Company, as the audit committee determines, for payment of compensation to the independent public accountants and any other consultants or experts retained by the audit committee as well as ordinary administrative expenses of the audit committee that are necessary or appropriate in carrying out its duties. Each of the members of the audit committee is “independent” as defined by the listing standards of the NYSE and satisfies the additional audit committee independence requirements set forth therein and under applicable SEC rules. The Board has determined that each of the members of the audit committee meets the NYSE financial literacy requirements and that Mr. Blakely qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by applicable SEC rules. None of the members of the audit committee serves on more than two other public company audit committees. The audit committee met six times during 2017.

 

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Compensation Committee.    The compensation committee reviews and monitors matters related to management development and succession; reviews and approves executive compensation policies and pay for performance criteria for the Company; reviews and approves corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer and evaluates our Chief Executive Officer’s performance in light of those goals and objectives; reviews and approves base salaries, annual incentive bonuses and all long-term incentive awards for our executive officers; makes recommendations to the Board regarding new or amended incentive compensation and equity-based compensation plans and administers and exercises all powers of the Board under such plans (other than the power to amend those plans); reviews and provides input on such other matters concerning our employee compensation and benefit plans as the compensation committee deems appropriate; reviews and assesses the risks arising from our compensation policies and practices; reviews and evaluates our policies on recovery (or “clawback”) of excess compensation; reviews and assesses our stock ownership guidelines and holding period requirements for our directors and executive officers and oversees compliance with those guidelines; evaluates and recommends to the Board the form and amount of director compensation; and otherwise carries out the responsibilities that have been delegated to the compensation committee under the Company’s various compensation and benefit plans. The compensation committee also reviews and discusses with management the compensation discussion and analysis, prepares the compensation committee report included in our annual proxy statement, reviews the results of the advisory “say-on-pay” vote, and considers whether any adjustments to the Company’s executive compensation policies and practices are necessary or appropriate in light of such vote. In fulfilling its duties and responsibilities, the compensation committee has the authority, in its sole discretion, to retain the advice of a compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser(s). With respect to any adviser so retained, the compensation committee is directly responsible for appointing, setting the compensation for and overseeing the work of the adviser and is entitled to receive appropriate funding from the Company, as the compensation committee determines, for payment of reasonable compensation to such adviser(s). To the extent required by the NYSE or other relevant listing authority rules, the compensation committee evaluates the independence of its advisers (other than in-house legal counsel) prior to its being selected by, or providing advice to, the compensation committee, after taking into consideration all factors relevant to the adviser’s independence from management, including the factors specified by the applicable NYSE rules. Each of the members of the compensation committee is “independent” as defined by the listing standards of the NYSE, satisfies the additional compensation committee independence requirements set forth therein, is a “non-employee director” as defined by applicable SEC rules and is an “outside director” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The compensation committee met six times during 2017.

Nominating and Governance Committee.    The nominating and governance committee identifies and evaluates individuals qualified to become members of the Board and recommends that the Board appoint those individuals as directors or selects (or recommends that the Board select) the director nominees to stand for election at the next annual meeting of our shareholders at which directors will be elected. The nominating and governance committee monitors and reviews new SEC rules and NYSE listing standards as they are proposed, adopted and revised and reviews and assesses, at least annually, the adequacy of our Corporate Governance Guidelines as well as compliance with applicable SEC rules and NYSE listing standards. Based on this review, the nominating and governance committee develops and makes recommendations to the Board regarding our Corporate Governance Guidelines. The nominating and governance committee also reviews and makes recommendations to the Board regarding shareholder proposals properly submitted for inclusion in our proxy statement and reviews and approves our Code of Business Standards and Ethics. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines and Code of Business Standards and Ethics are each posted on our website at www.navigant.com/about under “Corporate Governance.” Any waiver granted to a director or executive officer or substantive amendments related to our Code of Business Standards and Ethics will be promptly disclosed to the extent and in the manner required by the SEC or the NYSE and posted on our website. Each of the members of the nominating and governance committee is “independent” as defined by the listing standards of the NYSE. The nominating and governance committee met four times during 2017.

 

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Executive Committee.    The executive committee has the authority to act in lieu of the Board when necessary between meetings as permitted by Delaware law. The executive committee did not meet during 2017.

Board Meetings; Annual Meetings of Shareholders

The Board met ten times during 2017. Each of our directors attended at least seventy-five percent of the meetings of the Board held during their respective tenures and the Board committees on which he or she served that were held during 2017. (Ms. Walsh joined the Board in October 2017 and Mr. Yingling joined the Board in 2018.) Our non-management directors meet in regularly scheduled executive sessions with our Lead Director (see “— Board Leadership Structure” below). Governor Thompson currently serves as our Lead Director. As Governor Thompson is not standing for re-election, it is anticipated that Mr. Tipsord will serve as Lead Director if elected as a director at the annual meeting of shareholders. While we have no formal policy regarding attendance by our directors at the annual meetings of our shareholders, we encourage all of our directors to attend. All of our directors attended the 2017 annual meeting of our shareholders, except Ms. Walsh and Mr. Yingling, each of whom joined the Board after the annual meeting was held.

Board Leadership Structure

The Board believes the leadership of the Board is a matter that should be evaluated and determined by the Board from time to time, based on all of the then-relevant facts and circumstances. Ms. Howard, our Chief Executive Officer, has served as Chairman of the Board since May 2014, following the retirement of our previous Chairman, and as a member of the Board since March 2012. The Board continues to believe that vesting leadership of the Board in Ms. Howard provides a clear and efficient leadership structure for the Company, with a single person setting the “tone at the top” and having primary responsibility for managing the overall business and strategy of the Company. Ms. Howard is supported in her role as Chairman by our Lead Director, a position currently held by Governor Thompson and who, following his retirement in connection with the annual meeting of shareholders, is expected to be succeeded by Mr. Tipsord, both of whom are “independent” under NYSE listing standards. As described in more detail below, our Lead Director, serves as a liaison between the Chairman and the independent members of the Board. Given the Lead Director’s clearly-delineated governance responsibilities, the Board believes its current leadership structure provides an appropriate balance between strong Company leadership and oversight by the independent directors on the Board.

Our Corporate Governance Guidelines require that if the Chairman of the Board is not independent, the Board will appoint an independent lead director and that the Board meet in regularly scheduled executive sessions without management. The Lead Director serves as the conduit for the independent members of the Board to relay any concerns about governance or management issues. At any time, he has authority to call meetings of the independent directors. Management, as well as the internal audit function and enterprise risk management committee, also have unfettered access to the Lead Director’s counsel. The Lead Director leads all executive sessions of the independent directors and presides at any meetings of the Board at which the Chairman is not present. Further, the Lead Director reviews and approves information sent to the Board, including meeting agendas and meeting schedules. To the extent requested, the Lead Director is available for consultation and serves as a line of direct communication with our shareholders and other interested parties (see the section entitled “Other Information” below).

Risk Oversight

The Board is ultimately responsible for overseeing our risk management process. The Board receives regular reports from our Chief Executive Officer and other members of our executive management team regarding the strategic and operational risks facing the Company. Through this process, our Board reviews and assesses information regarding cybersecurity risks with management. In addition, certain Board committees oversee risk within their respective areas of responsibility. For example, the audit committee has been delegated with primary oversight of financial, accounting and securities related risk. The Company’s internal audit function

 

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conducts an annual risk assessment and reports directly to the audit committee. The compensation committee regularly assesses potential risks associated with the Company’s executive compensation program. In addition, the Company has an enterprise risk management committee (which reports directly to the Board) to evaluate risks affecting our business.

Specifically, with respect to potential risks arising from the Company’s compensation policies and practices for all of our employees, including our executive officers, management presented the Board with an overview of all of the Company’s compensation programs, including the risk mitigation features embedded in those programs. Based on its review, the Board has concluded that the risks arising from our compensation policies and practices are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.

Independence Determinations

On an annual basis, the nominating and governance committee reviews and makes recommendations to the Board as to whether individual directors are “independent” for purposes of the applicable SEC rules and NYSE listing standards relating to corporate governance. The nominating and governance committee also makes this determination for new director nominees. This review is based on all relevant facts and circumstances, as well as criteria set forth in the applicable SEC rules and NYSE listing standards. In addition, the nominating and governance committee considers certain categorical standards approved by the Board to assist it in making independence recommendations. These categorical standards describe certain relationships that are considered immaterial and do not preclude a finding of independence.

Under our Standards for Director Independence, the following relationships are considered immaterial and therefore do not preclude a finding of independence:

 

  1. The director is affiliated with or employed by a company, partnership or other entity that receives payments from us for services in an amount which, in the current fiscal year, does not exceed the greater of (a) $1 million or (b) two percent of such other company’s consolidated gross revenues, provided, however, that (i) for purposes of determining whether a director satisfies the additional audit committee independence requirements set forth in the NYSE listing standards and under applicable SEC rules a director may not accept, directly or indirectly, a consulting, advisory or other compensatory fee from us in any amount (other than director and committee fees), and (ii) for purposes of determining whether a director satisfies the additional compensation committee independence requirements set forth in the NYSE listing standards, the Board will consider the source of compensation of such director, including any consulting, advisory or other compensatory fee from us (other than director and committee fees).

 

  2. The director is an employee, officer or director of a foundation, university or other non-profit organization to which we give directly, or indirectly through the provision of services, less than $250,000 during the year in question.

 

  3. In any cases where payments are made by us “indirectly” to an immediate family member of a director, as for example fees paid to a law firm in which such immediate family member is a partner, if such immediate family member disclaims and does not accept any share of payments, the Board will not consider that such payments preclude the director from being considered “independent” for all purposes, including service on the audit committee or the compensation committee.

A copy of these categorical standards is posted on our website at www.navigant.com/about under “Corporate Governance.”

Based on the review and recommendation of the nominating and governance committee, the Board affirmed that, except for Ms. Howard, all of the Company’s directors and nominees for election to the Board at the annual

 

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meeting (that is, Mr. Blakely, Dr. Glassman, Mr. James, Ms. Seseri, Mr. Skinner, Mr. Tipsord, Gov. Thompson, Ms. Walsh, Mr. Yingling and Mr. Zwirn), are “independent” within the meaning of the NYSE listing standards, applicable SEC rules and our Standards for Director Independence. In addition, the Board affirmed that all of the members of the audit committee satisfy the NYSE’s and SEC’s additional requirements for audit committee independence and that all of the members of the compensation committee satisfy the NYSE’s and the SEC’s additional requirements for compensation committee independence.

Shareholder Rights Plan Policy

The Board has adopted a policy stating that we will submit the adoption or extension of any shareholder rights plan to a shareholder vote, unless the Board, in an exercise of its fiduciary responsibilities, believes that it is in the best interests of the Company and our shareholders to adopt or extend (for one year) a shareholder rights plan without the delay that would come from the time required to seek a shareholder vote.

Director Nomination Procedures

After considering the evaluation criteria outlined below, the nominating and governing committee recommended to the Board that each of the nine nominees for director identified in this Proxy Statement be nominated for election to the Board to serve one-year terms. With the exception of Ms. Seseri, each of the nominees currently serves on the Board.

The nominating and governance committee is generally tasked with evaluating and recommending to the Board nominees for election to the Board at each annual meeting. The nominating and governance committee works with the Board to determine the appropriate characteristics, skills, and experiences for individual directors and for the Board as a whole with the objective of having a board of directors with diverse backgrounds and experience. In considering the qualifications of incumbent directors as well as future candidates for election to the Board, the nominating and governance committee considers all relevant factors, including judgment, character, reputation, education, and experience in relation to the qualifications of any alternate candidates and the particular needs of the Board, its committees and the Company as they exist at the time of the candidate’s consideration. Characteristics expected of all our directors include independence, integrity, high personal and professional ethics, sound business judgment, and the ability and willingness to commit sufficient time to the Board. Although the Company does not have a formal policy on diversity, the Company seeks directors who represent a mix of backgrounds and experiences. The nominating and governance committee discusses each candidate’s diversity of background and experience in the context of the Board as a whole, with the objective of recommending a candidate for nomination to the Board who can best perpetuate the success of our business and represent our shareholders’ interests through the exercise of sound judgment. The nominating and governance committee evaluates each incumbent director to determine whether he or she should be nominated to stand for re-election, based on the types of criteria outlined above as well as the director’s contributions to the Board during their current term. The nominating and governance committee also considers each candidate’s relationships, if any, with the Company and its directors, officers, employees and shareholders, as well as any applicable criteria set forth in SEC rules, NYSE listing standards and Delaware law. Ms. Walsh was identified as a candidate for director by Heidrick & Struggles, a director search firm. Ms. Seseri and Mr. Yingling were each identified as candidates for directors by Reilly Partners, LP, also a director search firm. In addition to identifying potential candidates for consideration and based upon feedback from the nominating and governance committee about the overall candidate pool, the director search firms assisted in obtaining candidate feedback and compiling information for further review by the nominating and governance committee.

The nominating and governance committee will consider director candidates recommended by the Company’s shareholders. Once the nominating and governance committee receives a recommendation from a shareholder, it may request additional information from the candidate about the candidate’s independence, qualifications and other information that would assist the nominating and governance committee in evaluating the candidate, as well as certain information that must be disclosed about the candidate in the Company’s proxy statement, if nominated.

 

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Shareholders may also directly nominate a candidate for director pursuant to the advance notice provisions of the Company’s By-laws. Nominations must be received within the time frame established by the Company’s By-laws and otherwise comply with requirements set forth in our By-laws (see the section entitled “Shareholder Proposals for the 2019 Annual Meeting” below). All candidates for director, including those who have been properly recommended or nominated by a shareholder, are evaluated using the same criteria as described above.

Resolution of Shareholder Nominations

On May 10, 2018, the Company entered into a Settlement Agreement (the “Settlement Agreement”) with Engine, Engine Capital Management, LP, Engine Capital Management GP, LLC, Engine Jet Capital, L.P., Engine Airflow Capital, L.P., Engine Investments, LLC, Engine Investments II, LLC and Arnaud Ajdler (collectively, the “Engine Parties”).

Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, Engine irrevocably withdrew its letter dated February 15, 2018, providing notice to the Company of its intent to nominate candidates for election to the Board at the annual meeting. Also in connection with the Settlement Agreement, the Board approved an expansion of the Company’s share repurchase authorization to $175 million and will target repurchasing shares in that amount through the end of 2020, subject to market conditions, applicable legal requirements and certain other relevant factors.

The Settlement Agreement further provides, among other things, that:

 

   

During the term of the Settlement Agreement, the Engine Parties will be subject to customary standstill restrictions relating to, among other things, share purchases subject to a cap of 4.99% of the Company’s outstanding shares, nominating persons for election at the annual meeting, engaging in the solicitation of proxies with respect to the election or removal of directors of the Company, making any public or private proposal or public statement with respect to the composition of the Board or the Company’s corporate governance structure, calling special meetings and other related matters.

 

   

During the term of the Settlement Agreement, the Engine Parties will vote all of their shares of the Company’s common stock at all annual or special meetings and in any action by written consent in accordance with the Board’s recommendations, subject to certain exceptions relating to extraordinary transactions and recommendations of Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. and Glass Lewis & Co., LLC.

 

   

Prior to setting certain performance goals of the Company’s named executed officers and subject to the Engine Parties certifying their beneficial ownership of at least 1.0% of the Company’s outstanding shares, the Company shall offer Mr. Ajdler the opportunity to present via telephone to the chairman of the compensation committee of the Board his views with respect to such performance goals for the named executive officers of the Company.

 

   

Each party agrees not to disparage the other party, subject to certain exceptions.

 

   

Each party agrees not to sue the other party, subject to certain exceptions.

 

   

Either party may terminate the Settlement Agreement by giving five business days’ advance notice to the other parties at any time after the date that is 30 days prior to the notice deadline for the nomination of director candidates to the Board at the Company’s 2019 annual meeting of shareholders, subject to certain exceptions.

 

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AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

The audit committee has reviewed and discussed with management the audited financial statements of the Company as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017 (the “Audited Financial Statements”). In addition, the audit committee has discussed with KPMG LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company, the matters required to be discussed by Standard No. 1301, Communications with Audit Committees, as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. The audit committee also has received the written disclosures and the letter from KPMG LLP required by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding its communications with the audit committee concerning independence, and has discussed with KPMG LLP its independence from the Company and management. The audit committee also has discussed with management, the Company’s internal audit function and KPMG LLP such other matters, and has received such assurances from them, as it deemed appropriate. Based on the foregoing review and discussions and relying thereon, the audit committee has recommended to the Board (and the Board has approved) the inclusion of the Audited Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.

AUDIT COMMITTEE

Kevin M. Blakely, Chair

Cynthia A. Glassman

Stephan A. James

Kathleen E. Walsh

Jeffrey W. Yingling

 

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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

This section contains a discussion and analysis of the compensation program in place for our named executive officers, or NEOs. The compensation committee determines and approves the compensation of our NEOs. For 2017, our NEOs were:

 

   

Julie M. Howard, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”);

 

   

Stephen R. Lieberman, our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”);

 

   

Lee A. Spirer, our Executive Vice President and Chief Growth and Transformation Officer; and

 

   

Monica M. Weed, our Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary.

Executive Summary

The Company’s results for 2017 reflect a myriad of demand side factors that negatively impacted the Company’s financial performance, and as further described below, these results are reflected in the total compensation of each of our NEOs for 2017. In addition to financial performance, NEO compensation is also impacted by the achievement of qualitative performance factors designed to support both short-term and long-term strategic goals. During 2017 we executed several major projects, including on-boarding the Company’s first comprehensive revenue cycle managed services client of significant scale and the integration of our first major European-based acquisition. In addition, our NEOs were responsible for taking numerous actions to align our business operations with the demand environment, including cost reduction actions of over $20 million in annualized expense versus our original operating plan, aggressively shifting resources from areas of lower to higher demand, actioning performance improvement plans for underperforming service lines and improving our working capital position.

How was the Company’s performance in 2017 linked to our NEOs’ compensation?

Performance-based compensation represented a significant percentage of our NEOs’ 2017 total direct compensation (“TDC”) opportunity (which includes annual base salary, annual cash bonus target and the target value of equity incentive awards). For 2017 and consistent with prior years, more than half of our NEOs’ TDC opportunity was tied to the achievement of pre-established performance goals aligned with the Company’s financial performance, individual performance and relative total shareholder return (“TSR”).

 

 

LOGO

Annual Incentive Compensation.    The Company uses annual and long-term incentive plans to align the compensation for our NEOs with the Company’s performance. Our 2017 annual incentive plan measured

 

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revenues before reimbursement (“RBR”), adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) and adjusted earnings per share (“EPS”). As outlined in the table below, we fell short of our 2017 goals which, after combined with individual performance factors, resulted in actual bonus payouts below target levels for all of our NEOs. The Company’s actual performance relative to the financial performance goals established by the compensation committee at the beginning of 2017 for our 2017 annual incentive plan are shown in the following table:

 

(in millions, except per share data and percentages)    2017
Target
     2017
Actual
     2017 Actual
as % of  2017
Target
 

Revenues Before Reimbursements

   $ 992.5      $ 939.6        94.7

Adjusted EBITDA(1)

   $ 150.5      $ 125.8        83.6

Adjusted Earnings Per Share(1)

   $ 1.33      $ 1.09        82.0

 

  (1) Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EPS are non-GAAP financial measures, as defined by the SEC. Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EPS exclude the impact of severance expenses and other operating costs (benefits), such as contingent acquisition liability adjustments, office consolidation costs and impairment expenses.

The majority (or 70%) of our NEOs’ annual cash bonus opportunity for 2017 was based on the Company’s 2017 financial performance, as defined by the three performance measures summarized in the preceding table. The balance (or 30%) of their annual cash bonus opportunity for 2017 was based on the achievement of individual qualitative performance goals tied to strategic and operating initiatives at the Company. Based on the Company’s actual financial performance (as shown in the preceding table) and the compensation committee’s assessment of the relative achievement by each NEO of his or her respective individual performance goals for 2017, the cash bonuses paid to our NEOs under our 2017 annual incentive plan ranged between approximately 75% and 88% of their respective annual cash bonus targets, as summarized in the following table:

 

     2017
Bonus
Target
     2017 Bonus as
% of  Target
    2017 Actual
Bonus
 

Julie M. Howard

   $ 1,080,000        76.0   $ 821,000  

Stephen R. Lieberman

   $ 375,000        74.7   $ 280,000  

Lee A. Spirer

   $ 650,000        84.6   $ 550,000  

Monica M. Weed

   $ 337,500        88.0   $ 297,000  

 

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A detailed discussion of our 2017 annual incentive plan, including how the Company’s financial performance and each NEO’s individual performance specifically impacted the actual cash bonuses paid to them for 2017, is set forth under “— 2017 Executive Compensation Program” below.

Long-Term Incentive Compensation.    65% of the long-term incentive awards granted to our NEOs under our 2017 long-term incentive program consisted of performance-based restricted stock units. The performance-based restricted stock units granted to our NEOs in 2017 will vest if and only to the extent that specific performance goals are met with respect to relative TSR and adjusted EBITDA during a three-year performance period. The remaining 35% of the aggregate target value of the awards consisted of time-based restricted stock units. The compensation committee eliminated stock options from the 2017 long-term incentive compensation program, which had represented 25% of the long-term incentive awards granted to our NEOs in 2016, and approved a change in the 2017 long-term incentive compensation mix to increase the percentage of long-term incentive compensation with payouts determined based on the achievement of pre-established performance goals (by increasing the percentage of the NEO’s long-term incentive compensation consisting of performance-based restricted stock units to 65% in 2017 from 50% in 2016) and to provide the balance in time-based restricted stock units (increasing the percentage of the NEOs’ long-term incentive compensation consisting of time-based restricted stock units to 35% in 2017 from 25% in 2016) to increase the retentive aspect of the program.

 

 

LOGO

Based on the Company’s performance for the 2015-2017 performance period, the performance-based restricted stock units granted to our NEOs in 2015 vested based on performance from January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2017. The performance goals applicable to these awards were to increase adjusted EBITDA and to deliver stockholder returns that exceeded those of our benchmark index over the three-year performance period. As noted further below, we delivered cumulative adjusted EBITDA above target for the three-year performance period, but our relative TSR was below the median of our benchmark index. Combined, we exceeded our target goals, resulting in the vesting of 102.8% of target for our participating NEOs for the three-year performance period.

 

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What features of our executive compensation program reflect commonly viewed best practices from a corporate governance perspective?

Working with its independent compensation consultant, the compensation committee engages in an ongoing review of the Company’s executive compensation program to evaluate whether it remains consistent with the Company’s pay-for-performance philosophy and, as a whole, reflects what the compensation committee believes to be best practices among the Company’s peer group and the broader market. The chart that follows summarizes certain features of our executive compensation program, each of which the compensation committee believes reinforces our pay-for-performance philosophy.

 

What We Do    What We Don’t Do

 

✓      Align pay with Company performance and the interests of our shareholders

  

 

×       No “single-trigger” change-in-control severance benefits or provisions in equity award agreements

 

×       No excise tax gross-ups upon change in control

 

×       No excessive severance benefits

 

×       No supplemental executive retirement plans

 

×       No re-pricing, cancellation and re-grant, or cash repurchase of underwater stock options without shareholder approval

 

×       No excessive perquisites and no tax gross-ups on perquisites

 

×       Our 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan prohibits the payment of dividend equivalents on unearned performance awards or unvested time-based stock awards

 

✓      Tie annual bonus payouts to pre-established financial and individual performance goals

  

 

      Employ our NEOs “at will” without a fixed-term employment agreement

  

 

✓      Utilize multiple and both absolute and relative performance goals and multi-year, overlapping performance periods for performance awards granted under our annual long-term equity incentive program

  

 

✓      Have stock ownership guidelines and post-vesting and post-exercise holding periods for our NEOs and non-employee directors

  

 

✓      Require reimbursement of excess incentive compensation in the event of certain restatements of our financial statements

  

 

✓      Prohibit pledging and hedging of Company stock

    

The compensation committee believes the features of our executive compensation program are consistent with many of the views that have been expressed by our top shareholders over the years and appropriately incentivize our NEOs to create value for our shareholders.

How did we consider the results of the 2017 advisory shareholder vote on executive compensation?

At our 2017 annual shareholders meeting, our shareholders overwhelmingly voted to approve the 2016 compensation paid to our NEOs as disclosed in the 2017 proxy statement (commonly referred to as a “say-on-pay” proposal), with over 98% of the shares present in person or represented by proxy voting “for” the say-on-pay proposal. Considering the results of this advisory vote, the compensation committee decided to retain our overall executive compensation philosophy and did not make any changes to our executive compensation program for 2017 in response to the 2017 “say-on-pay” vote. Although not made in response to the 2017 “say-on-pay” vote, as noted above, for 2017 the compensation committee approved a change in the long-term incentive compensation award mix. Stock options were eliminated, and the weighting on performance-based restricted stock units was increased, with the balance provided in time-based restricted stock units. The compensation committee made this change to increase the percentage of equity compensation with payouts determined based on the achievement of pre-established performance goals. We believe our executive compensation program for 2017 continues to emphasize performance-based and retention-based annual and long-term incentive compensation opportunities that are designed to reward our NEOs for the creation of shareholder value. We believe the performance metrics established by the compensation committee as part of our 2017 executive compensation program are consistent with this philosophy.

 

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Executive Compensation Philosophy

The overall objective of our executive compensation program is to attract, retain and motivate highly qualified and effective executive officers in order to positively impact the Company strategically, operationally, financially and culturally, and to ultimately create long-term value for our shareholders. We designed our executive compensation program to meet this objective by:

 

   

aligning our NEOs’ incentive compensation opportunities with Company financial and strategic performance goals, as well as the relative performance of our stock price over time;

 

   

providing our NEOs with target compensation opportunities that are competitive with other companies in our peer group; and

 

   

discouraging excessive risk taking and promoting sound corporate governance.

How is pay aligned with performance?

Performance-based compensation represented a significant portion of our NEOs’ TDC opportunity for 2017. In particular:

 

   

all of the cash bonuses paid to our NEOs under our annual incentive plan are tied to pre-established financial and/or individual performance goals designed to be aligned with the Company’s operational and long-term strategic initiatives; and

 

   

65% of the equity awards granted to our NEOs under our 2017 long-term incentive compensation program were performance-based restricted stock units, the terms of which require that the Company achieve pre-established financial and TSR goals in order to vest.

How do we establish the market competitiveness of our executive compensation program?

To enhance retention and strengthen the focus of our executive management team, we designed our executive compensation program to provide our NEOs with TDC opportunities that are competitive with comparable positions at companies within our peer group. The compensation committee assesses the market competitiveness of our executive compensation program based on peer group proxy data and utilizes “median market” ranges that are computed based on peer group proxy data when targeting the compensation opportunities for our NEOs (as discussed in further detail below). In limited circumstances, the compensation committee will review general industry survey data as a supplement to the peer group proxy data, but that data does not represent the primary benchmark used by the compensation committee in determining compensation levels for our NEOs. Frederic W. Cook & Co., the compensation committee’s independent compensation consultant (“FW Cook”), compiles and analyzes peer group proxy data and provides survey data for this purpose.

On an annual basis, the compensation committee evaluates and, if appropriate, adjusts the composition of the peer group. In reviewing the composition of the peer group, the compensation committee considers the following general criteria:

 

   

companies in the same or similar lines of business;

 

   

companies with at least one of the following business traits: human capital intensive, business-to-business advisory services, project-based revenue model and international operations; and

 

   

companies with revenues ranging between approximately 33% and 300% of the Company’s trailing four-quarter revenues before reimbursements (which were $951 million as of June 30, 2017, when the peer group was reviewed, as shown in the chart below) and within a reasonable size range of the Company, as recommended by FW Cook, with respect to other size metrics, such as net income, market capitalization, total assets and total employees.

 

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Based on these criteria, as well as input from management and FW Cook, the compensation committee approved the peer group for purposes of evaluating 2017 executive compensation decisions. This peer group of companies remained the same as compared to the peer group used for purposes of evaluating 2016 executive compensation decisions, except that one company, VSE Corporation, was eliminated for 2017 following the repositioning of that company’s business such that it no longer falls within the Company’s industry group. The following companies comprised the peer group for 2017:

 

The Advisory Board Company   FTI Consulting, Inc.    IHS Inc.
CBIZ, Inc.   Gartner, Inc.    Korn/Ferry International
CEB Inc.   Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc.      MAXIMUS, Inc.
CRA International, Inc.   Hill International, Inc.    Resources Connection, Inc.
Exponent, Inc.   Huron Consulting Group Inc.    Tetra Tech, Inc.
  ICF International, Inc.    TRC Companies, Inc.

For 2017, and consistent with prior years, we targeted the compensation of our NEOs at a “median market” range, which we define as within 10% of the peer group median for base salaries, within 15% of the peer group median for annual cash bonus targets, and within 20% of the peer group median for long-term equity incentive targets and targeted TDC. Individual target compensation opportunities, however, may vary depending on the relative level of experience and tenure of the executive or clearly differentiated individual performance.

How do we discourage excessive risk-taking and promote sound corporate governance?

We have designed our executive compensation program and adopted certain compensation policies to discourage excessive risk-taking. The design features of our program that we believe mitigate risk include the following:

 

   

we have a clawback policy requiring the reimbursement of excess incentive compensation paid to the Company’s executive officers in the event of certain restatements of the Company’s financial statements;

 

   

the awards granted under our long-term incentive compensation program contain multi-year vesting and/or performance periods that overlap in order to diminish the incentive to maximize performance in any one fiscal year at the expense of another;

 

   

awards payable to our NEOs under our annual incentive plan, as well as the vesting of the performance-based restricted stock unit awards granted to our NEOs, are based on the attainment of multiple performance goals, with balanced weighting, which decreases the incentive to focus on a single performance goal to the detriment of others;

 

   

awards under our annual incentive plan and the vesting of performance-based restricted stock unit awards are limited to formulaic maximums based on the achievement of pre-established performance goals over the relevant performance period;

 

   

our stock ownership guidelines, which also include holding period requirements, continue to align our NEOs’ interests with those of our shareholders beyond the end of a specific performance period or following a vesting or option exercise date;

 

   

our insider trading policies prohibit all of our employees, including our NEOs, from selling short our common stock or engaging in hedging or offsetting transactions regarding our common stock; and

 

   

our insider trading policies also prohibit our executives and directors from holding shares of our common stock in a margin account or pledging shares of our common stock as collateral for a loan.

 

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Role of Independent Compensation Consultant and Management

Role of Independent Compensation Consultant

The compensation committee has engaged FW Cook to serve as its independent compensation consultant. FW Cook works directly for the compensation committee (and not on behalf of management) and assists the compensation committee in evaluating our executive and non-employee director compensation programs, including peer group composition, competitive benchmarking, program design, and staying abreast of market practices and trends. FW Cook performed no other work for the Company in 2017.

In connection with its engagement of FW Cook, the compensation committee assessed the independence of FW Cook, taking into account such factors as FW Cook’s policies and procedures designed to prevent conflicts of interest and the existence of any business or personal relationship that could impact FW Cook’s independence. The compensation committee identified no conflicts of interests with respect to its engagement of FW Cook and concluded that FW Cook was independent.

Role of Management in Compensation Decisions

As part of its annual compensation review, the compensation committee reviews the performance of each NEO. For our NEOs other than the CEO, the compensation committee receives performance assessments and compensation recommendations from our CEO. Except for our CEO, none of the other NEOs is present when these assessments and recommendations are made, and they do not otherwise play any role in decisions affecting their compensation, except for discussing their annual, individual performance goals (and their self-assessment of their respective achievement of those goals) with our CEO. Our CEO, in turn, makes recommendations to the compensation committee based on these discussions. Our CEO does not participate in her own performance review and does not recommend her own compensation (other than completing a self-assessment of her annual, individual performance achievements against pre-established goals).

2017 Executive Compensation Program

Our executive compensation program for 2017 was comprised primarily of annual cash compensation (base salary and performance-based bonus) and equity incentive compensation (performance-based restricted stock units and time-based restricted stock units). We offer limited perquisites and no supplemental executive retirement benefits to our NEOs.

 

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How does our 2017 executive compensation program align with our overall pay philosophy and objectives?

The following table shows how our 2017 executive compensation program fits into our overall compensation philosophy and program objectives:

 

           
     Component   Key Characteristics   Overall Objective   Specific Purpose   2017 Decisions
LOGO   Base Salary  

•  Fixed compensation payable in cash 

 

•  Reviewed annually for market competitiveness

 

•  Attract and retain

 

•  Pay competitively

 

•  Provide a base level of fixed and predictable income

 

•  None of our NEOs received base salary increases in 2017 (see below on this page 29)

 

Performance-

Based Bonus

 

•  Variable incentive compensation payable in cash

 

•  Payouts based on the achievement of pre-established annual financial goals related to revenues, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EPS as well as individual performance goals

 

•  Attract and retain

 

•  Pay competitively

 

•  Align pay with performance results

 

•  Motivate and reward financial and individual performance in line with the Company’s annual operating plan and short-term operating objectives

 

•  Based on actual performance relative to the financial and individual performance goals established at the beginning of the year, cash bonus payouts under our 2017 annual incentive plan ranged between 75% and 88% of target (see page 32)

    Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units  

•  Variable equity incentive compensation

 

•  Vest based on relative TSR percentile rank and cumulative adjusted EBITDA performance over a three-year performance period

 

•  Attract and retain

 

•  Pay competitively

 

•  Align pay with performance results and shareholder value creation during the performance period

 

•  Promote long-term retention

 

•  Incentivize the creation of shareholder value and achievement of long-term financial and strategic objectives

 

•  Represented 65% of the awards granted under our 2017 long-term incentive compensation program (see page 24)

 

•  Awards granted in 2015 vested at 102.8% of target based on the Company’s relative TSR and adjusted EBITDA performance during the three-year performance period ended December 31, 2017 (see page 24)

    Time-Based Restricted Stock Units  

•  Vest annually over three-year service period

 

•  Attract and retain

 

•  Pay competitively

 

•  Align NEOs’ interests with our shareholders’ interests on a long-term basis

 

•  Promote long-term retention

 

•  Incentivize the creation of shareholder value

 

•  Represented 35% of the awards granted under our 2017 long-term incentive compensation program (see page 24)

How were each of our executive pay components determined for 2017?

 

   

Annual Base Salary — Our NEOs’ initial annual base salaries are set based on median market data and other factors such as each executive’s prior work experience and scope of responsibility. Thereafter, base salaries are reviewed annually by the compensation committee relative to the peer group median in keeping with our objective of retaining executive talent and paying competitively (see “Executive Compensation Philosophy — How do we establish the market competitiveness of our executive compensation program?” above), as well as each executive’s experience, level of responsibility, individual performance and tenure with the Company. After analyzing the relevant benchmarking and

 

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related data, the compensation committee did not make any changes to the annual base salary of any of our NEOs for 2017.

 

   

Annual Performance-Based Bonus — We designed our 2017 annual incentive plan to motivate our NEOs to achieve the Company’s annual financial goals and their individual performance goals in line with the Company’s annual operating plan and short-term operating objectives. Cash bonuses awarded to our NEOs under the plan are based on the achievement by the Company and each NEO of pre-established performance goals and are calculated using the following formula:

 

Target

Annual

Bonus

($)

    x         Company

Performance

Factor (%)

    x     70%

weighting

    +     Individual

Performance

Factor (%)

    x     30%

weighting

         =     Payout

($)

Annual cash bonus targets, which are expressed as a percentage of the NEO’s base salary, are reviewed and set annually by the compensation committee based on peer group data and other factors such as the respective executive’s expected relative contribution to the organization and internal pay equity.

Based on competitive market data, individual performance and the desire to concentrate her compensation in the form of performance-based vehicles, Ms. Howard’s annual cash bonus target for 2017 was increased from 100% to 120% of her base salary. Other than for Ms. Howard, all of our NEOs’ annual cash bonus targets (expressed as a percentage of their respective base salaries) remained at 2016 levels. Awards payable under our annual incentive plan may range from 0% to a maximum cap of 200% of an NEO’s annual cash bonus target.

How was the Company Performance Factor determined for 2017?

The Company Performance Factor was determined by measuring the Company’s performance for 2017 against specified financial performance goals established by the compensation committee at the beginning of the year. Each financial performance goal is comprised of threshold, target and maximum performance levels. If the threshold performance level for a particular financial performance goal is not achieved, no amount will be paid for that performance goal. For 2017, the Company performance goals and their relative weightings were as follows:

 

           Payout Factor
(in  millions, except per share data)
 

Performance Goal

   Weighting     Threshold
(50%)
     Target
(100%)
     Maximum
(200%)
 

Revenues Before Reimbursements

     33.33   $ 844.0      $ 992.5      $ 1,141.0  

Adjusted EBITDA

     33.33   $ 120.0      $ 150.5      $ 181.0  

Adjusted EPS

     33.33   $ 1.06      $ 1.33      $ 1.60  

The compensation committee selected these financial measures because it believed that they collectively: (1) motivated our NEOs to focus on both revenue growth and profitability; (2) were consistent with the Company’s long-term strategic initiatives; and (3) were tied to the creation of shareholder value. Each performance goal’s target performance level was the same as the Company’s 2017 financial and operating plan targets established at the beginning of the year. Company performance between the threshold, target and maximum performance levels is determined using straight line interpolation between these performance levels.

The Company’s 2017 performance, measured against each of the financial performance targets established under our 2017 annual incentive plan, is illustrated in the following table. This performance resulted in a Company Performance Factor of 65.8%.

 

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Performance Goal

   2017
Actual
     Payout
Factor
    Weighting     Weighted
Payout
Factor
 

Revenues Before Reimbursements

   $ 939.6M        82.2     33.33     27.4

Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 125.8M        59.6     33.33     19.9

Adjusted EPS

   $ 1.09        55.6     33.33     18.5
     Company Performance Factor       65.8

How were the Individual Performance Factors for each NEO determined for 2017?

Individual performance goals for each NEO were established early in 2017 and were designed to generally align with the Company’s strategic and operating initiatives (both short-term and long-term). The compensation committee reviews and approves the individual performance goals (including the goals’ relative weighting) for the CEO and, based on the CEO’s recommendations, reviews and approves the individual performance goals (including the goals’ relative weighting) for the other NEOs. In early 2018, the compensation committee evaluated the NEOs’ individual performance, with input from the CEO on the individual performance of the NEOs other than herself. Based on this evaluation, the compensation committee certified the achievement by each NEO of his or her individual performance goals and assigned each NEO an Individual Performance Factor (ranging from 0% to 200%), which is weighted 30% in the bonus payout formula.

The following table contains a high-level summary of the individual performance goals of each NEO, as approved by the compensation committee.

 

     

Individual Performance Goals and Accomplishments

Julie M. Howard

   Ms. Howard’s 2017 goals focused on driving successful progress on key strategic imperatives, effective alignment of our people and organization against strategic imperatives and development of greater awareness, interest and confidence in our expertise and the Navigant brand. Her key achievements for the year include leading the Company’s response to economic and market-related challenges that developed over the year while balancing the required investments in our people, capabilities and expertise to prepare us to meet future needs and opportunities.

Stephen R. Lieberman

   Mr. Lieberman’s 2017 goals included effective management of our finance, accounting, corporate development, real estate, information technology and investor relations functions, continued maintenance of our internal controls and management of our capital allocation strategy and cash flows. His key accomplishments for the year included providing leadership of critical cost reduction initiatives, enhancements to corporate systems and process infrastructure, successfully managing our capital allocation strategy, leading the efforts to put our new credit facility into place, and evaluating and refining alignment of the Company’s resources against our strategic objectives.

Lee A. Spirer

   Mr. Spirer’s 2017 goals were centered on aligning, strengthening and focusing the organization to deliver against current year operating goals and make progress against the Company’s long-term strategic initiatives. His key achievements for the year included creating significant enhancements to corporate strategic planning initiatives and identifying specific actions, creating opportunities for improved corporate productivity and effectiveness of our client delivery, and leveraging innovation initiatives and digital capabilities toward the development of new service offerings and business ideas.

 

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Individual Performance Goals and Accomplishments

Monica M. Weed

   Ms. Weed’s 2017 goals primarily related to successfully managing our legal department, litigation activity, as well as corporate governance, securities and compliance matters. Her goals also included leading the enterprise risk management function. Her key accomplishments for the year included successful management of corporate compliance and risk matters and supporting key strategic initiatives throughout the Company.

What were the bonus payouts to our NEOs for 2017?

Based on Company performance and achievement by each NEO of his or her respective individual performance goals, cash bonus awards paid under our 2017 annual incentive plan to eligible NEOs in March 2018 were as follows:

 

     Target
Annual
Incentive
     Actual
Bonus
Payout
     Bonus
Award as
%  of

Target(1)
 

Julie M. Howard

   $ 1,080,000      $ 821,000        76.0

Stephen R. Lieberman

   $ 375,000      $ 280,000        74.7

Lee A. Spirer

   $ 650,000      $ 550,000        84.6

Monica M. Weed

   $ 337,500      $ 297,000        88.0

 

  (1) Calculated based on a Company Performance Factor of 65.8% (resulting in a payout percentage of 46.1% for Company performance after applying the 70% weighting) and an Individual Performance Factor for each NEO determined by the compensation committee based on its assessment of each NEO’s achievement of the above-referenced individual performance goals (which is weighted 30% in the bonus payout formula).

 

   

Long-Term Incentive Compensation — We believe long-term incentive compensation in the form of equity-based incentive awards further align our NEOs’ interests with those of our shareholders and incentivize the creation of shareholder value as well as the achievement of Company financial and strategic initiatives. We also believe that offering our NEOs equity-based incentives gives us an advantage in terms of attracting and retaining executive talent in a competitive environment.

How were grant values determined under our 2017 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Program?

Target equity award values for each of our NEOs who received awards under our 2017 long-term incentive compensation program were determined by the compensation committee based on the median market ranges developed by FW Cook. The aggregate grant date value of the long-term incentive compensation awards, granted effective March 15, 2017, is shown in the table below:

 

     2016 Equity
Award
Value(1)
     2017 Equity
Award
Value(1)
     Percent
Change
 

Julie M. Howard

   $ 2,200,000      $ 2,500,000        13.6

Stephen R. Lieberman

   $ 500,000      $ 600,000        20.0

Lee A. Spirer

   $ 650,000      $ 650,000        0

Monica M. Weed

   $ 375,000      $ 450,000        20

 

  (1)

Represents the target equity award opportunity for each NEO included in the table. The target award values are not the same as the grant date fair values computed for financial reporting purposes and reported in the “2017 Grants of Plan-Based Awards” table included in the section

 

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  entitled “Executive Compensation” below because the target number of shares underlying the target award value of the performance-based restricted stock units is computed based on our average stock price during the 30 calendar-day period prior to the grant date, rather than the stock price on the date of grant, and in the case of the performance-based restricted stock units is tied to relative TSR, with the grant-date fair value based on a Monte Carlo model.

The target equity award value for each of the above NEOs was determined based upon the peer group median ranges recommended by FW Cook. As explained above, long-term incentive compensation targets are determined based in part on the median of our peer group, plus or minus 20%. When determining compensation levels for 2017 in the beginning of that year, the compensation committee determined to increase the target equity award values for Ms. Howard, Mr. Lieberman and Ms. Weed for 2017 in order to align their compensation with the market for their respective positions and to recognize strong performance at the Company and individual levels in 2016.

In 2017, two award types were granted under our 2017 long-term incentive compensation program:

 

   

performance-based restricted stock units (which represented 65% of the total target award value); and

 

   

time-based restricted stock units (which represented 35% of the total target award value).

For the 2017 long-term incentive compensation program, the compensation committee reallocated the 25% of target grant value previously provided in the form of stock options to performance-based restricted stock units and time-based restricted stock units. The compensation committee increased the weighting of performance-based restricted stock units from 50% to 65% in order to increase the percentage of equity compensation with payouts determined based on the achievement of pre-established performance goals, and increased the weighting of time-based restricted stock units from 25% to 35% in order to enhance the retentive aspect of the program.

Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units — Similar to prior years, the performance-based restricted stock units granted to our NEOs under our 2017 long-term equity incentive program vest if and only to the extent that specified quantitative performance goals with respect to the Company’s TSR, relative to the GICS Industry Group, and cumulative adjusted EBITDA are met during a three-year performance period. Cumulative adjusted EBITDA is weighted at 75% and relative TSR performance is weighted at 25%, consistent with the weighting of each performance goal for the awards granted to our NEOs under our 2016 long-term equity incentive program. Both performance goals have threshold, target and maximum performance levels. If the threshold level of performance is not met for a particular performance goal, the portion of the award related to that performance goal will not vest.

The vesting percentages applicable to the TSR performance goal are set forth below.

 

Percentile Rank vs. GICS Industry Group

   Vesting Percentage
(Straight  Line
Interpolation
Between Levels)
 

Below 25th percentile

     0

25th percentile

     50

50th percentile

     100

75th percentile and above

     150

The target performance level for the cumulative adjusted EBITDA goal (which would result in a 100% payout for this tranche of the performance-based restricted stock unit award) was designed to be achievable with sustained strong business performance, while the maximum performance level (which would result in a 150% payout for this tranche of the award) was designed to be more difficult to

 

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achieve and would require stronger business performance and significantly higher adjusted EBITDA performance over the three-year performance period.

Time-Based Restricted Stock Units — The time-based restricted stock units granted to our NEOs under our 2017 long-term incentive compensation program vest in one-third increments on each of the first three anniversaries of the grant date, subject to the NEO’s continued employment with the Company on the applicable vesting date (except as otherwise set forth in the underlying award agreement).

How did the Company’s performance during 2017 affect the vesting of performance-based restricted stock unit awards?

25% percent of the performance-based restricted stock unit awards granted to Ms. Howard, Mr. Spirer and Ms. Weed in 2015 that vested on March 16, 2018 (the third anniversary of the grant date) vested if and only to the extent that the Company’s TSR, relative to companies in the GICS Industry Group, met or exceeded specified targets during the three-year performance period ended December 31, 2017, with the vesting percentages for this tranche of the award determined as follows (using straight-line interpolation between performance levels):

 

Company Percentile Rank v. GICS Industry Group

   Vesting Percentage  

Below 25th percentile

     0

25th percentile

     50

50th percentile and above

     100

75th percentile and above

     150

Actual Vesting Percentage

(3-year TSR rank = 48th percentile)

     96.0

As the table above indicates, the Company’s actual TSR rank for the three-year performance period ended December 31, 2017 was at the 48th percentile of companies in the GICS Industry Group, which resulted in a payout level for this tranche of the award equal to 96.0% of the target shares underlying this tranche of the award.

The remaining 75% percent of the performance-based restricted stock unit awards granted to Ms. Howard, Mr. Spirer and Ms. Weed in 2015 that vested on March 16, 2018 (which was the third anniversary of the grant date) vested if and only to the extent that the Company’s cumulative adjusted EBITDA for the three-year performance period ended December 31, 2017 met or exceeded the threshold, target or maximum level for this performance goal. Based on a cumulative adjusted EBITDA target for the three-year performance period of $385 million, and the Company’s actual cumulative adjusted EBITDA for the three-year performance period of $389 million, 105.1 % of the target shares underlying this tranche of the award vested, as shown in the following table.

 

     Adjusted
EBITDA
 

Below threshold (0%)

   <$ 308M  

Threshold (50%)

   $ 308M  

Target (100%)

   $ 385M  

Maximum (150%)

   $ 424M  

Actual Vesting Percentage = 105.1%

(Cumulative 3-Year Adjusted EBITDA = $389 million)

  

Accordingly, based on the Company’s relative TSR and cumulative adjusted EBITDA performance over the three-year performance period, the vesting percentage of the performance-based restricted stock unit awards granted in 2015 to Ms. Howard, Mr. Spirer and Ms. Weed was 102.8% of the target

 

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shares underlying the award after applying the weighting of each performance goal. Mr. Lieberman did not receive an award under this program as he was not an employee of the Company at the time of grant.

 

   

Other Compensation — We offer limited perquisites to our NEOs, with parking benefits being the main perquisite that our NEOs receive on an annual basis. None of our NEOs receives benefits under a defined benefit pension plan or supplemental executive retirement plan.

Post-Termination Compensation

We have entered into severance arrangements with our NEOs that provide, among other things, for certain payments and benefits in the event that an NEO’s employment is terminated under certain circumstances, such as being terminated by the Company without “cause” or resigning for “good reason” or within a specified period following a “change in control.” These severance arrangements are described in further detail in the section entitled “Executive Compensation — Employment Arrangements” below.

The compensation committee believes that the severance arrangements provided to our NEOs are an important part of our overall executive compensation program because they help us ensure the continued focus and dedication of our NEOs, notwithstanding any concern that they may have at any given time regarding their continued employment prior to or following a change in control transaction. The compensation committee also believes that offering severance benefits is an important recruiting and retention tool, as the majority of companies with which we compete for executive talent have similar arrangements in place for their executive officers.

Prior to 2016, we had a practice of entering into employment agreements with each of our NEOs for finite terms. In early 2016, following a review of peer group and market practice, the compensation committee decided to discontinue the practice of entering into employment agreements for our executive officer positions (excluding the CEO) commencing with the new CFO hire (Mr. Lieberman) and upon expiration of the term of each NEO’s employment agreement. Ms. Howard’s employment agreement provides for one-year extensions past the initial five-year term ending on March 1, 2017, unless we provide notice of our intent not to continue her employment after the expiration of that agreement on terms (other than contract length) at least equivalent to the terms of the agreement. Because the five-year term ended on March 1, 2017, Ms. Howard’s employment agreement is currently subject to the annual extension provisions set forth in the agreement.

None of the employment arrangements with our NEOs contain excise tax gross-up provisions related to a change in control of the Company, and in order for our NEOs to be entitled to severance benefits in connection with a change in control transaction, a qualifying termination event (or “double trigger”) is required.

Other Compensation Policies

Stock Ownership Guidelines and Holding Period Requirements

To reinforce the importance of stock ownership and further align our NEOs’ interests with those of our shareholders, the compensation committee has adopted stock ownership guidelines which also include holding period requirements that apply to equity incentive awards granted to our NEOs. Consistent with the prevailing practice in our current peer group, our stock ownership guidelines require the CEO to own shares of our common stock valued at a minimum of four times annual base salary and the other NEOs to own shares of our common stock valued at a minimum of three times annual base salary. In addition to shares owned outright by the NEO, shares that count toward the achievement of the ownership guidelines include the net in-the-money, after-tax value of vested, but unexercised, stock options, as well as vested and unvested time-based restricted stock units. Shares that do not count towards the achievement of the ownership guidelines include shares underlying unvested stock options and unvested performance-based restricted stock units. Until these ownership guidelines are achieved, each NEO must retain at least 50% (75% in the case of the CEO) of the net shares received upon the vesting of equity awards or the exercise of stock options.

 

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Even after meeting the applicable stock ownership guideline, our NEOs must comply with holding period requirements with respect to their equity incentive awards. Under these holding period requirements, our CEO is required to hold at least 75%, and the other NEOs are required to hold at least 50%, of the net shares received from the vesting of equity awards or the exercise of stock options for at least one year following the vesting or exercise date.

At the end of 2017, all of our NEOs were in compliance with these stock ownership guidelines (either because they achieved the applicable ownership guideline or had complied with the applicable retention ratios if such guideline had not been achieved) including the holding period requirements contained therein.

Clawback Policy

The Board has adopted a clawback policy requiring the reimbursement of excess annual cash or long-term incentive compensation paid to the Company’s executive officers in the event of certain restatements of the Company’s financial statements. This policy will be amended as deemed necessary to comply with the final regulations under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act when they are adopted by the SEC.

Insider Trading Policies

Our insider trading policies prohibit all of our employees, including our NEOs, from selling short our common stock, engaging in hedging or offsetting transactions, or pledging our common stock. Our insider trading policies also prohibit our employees from holding shares of our common stock in a margin account or pledging shares of our common stock as collateral for a loan.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

The compensation committee has reviewed and discussed the foregoing Compensation Discussion and Analysis, required by Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K, with management of the Company. Based on this review and discussion, the compensation committee recommends to the Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement, the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 and such other filings with the SEC as may be appropriate.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

Stephan A. James, Chairman

Samuel K. Skinner

Michael L. Tipsord

Randy H. Zwirn

 

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

2017 Summary Compensation Table

The table below summarizes the total compensation paid to or earned by each of our NEOs for 2017, and to the extent required by SEC disclosure rules, 2016 and 2015.

 

Name and Principal Position   Year     Salary
($)
    Bonus
($)
    Stock
Awards
($)(1)
    Option
Awards
($)
    Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)(2)
    All Other
Compensation
($)(3)
    Total ($)  

Julie M. Howard

    2017       900,000             2,241,037             821,000       22,078       3,984,115  

Chairman and Chief

Executive Officer

    2016       884,231             1,961,617       550,004       1,215,000       15,004       4,625,856  
    2015       830,769             1,262,483       425,050       968,000       15,448       3,501,750  

Stephen R. Lieberman

    2017       500,000             537,855             280,000       15,929       1,333,784  

Executive Vice President

    2016       355,769             957,084       125,002       312,000       136,737       1,886,594  

and Chief Financial Officer(4)

    2015                                            

Lee A. Spirer

    2017       650,000             582,684             550,000       13,583       1,796,267  

Executive Vice President

    2016       642,115             579,588       162,500       777,000       12,802       2,174,005  

and Chief Growth and Transformation Officer(5)

    2015       623,077             445,601       150,019       679,000       11,696       1,909,393  

Monica M. Weed

    2017       450,000             403,413             297,000       20,459       1,170,872  

Executive Vice President,

    2016       450,000             334,378       93,753       406,000       16,653       1,300,784  

General Counsel and Secretary

    2015       467,308             222,807       75,012       389,000       17,777       1,171,904  
               

 

(1) The amounts reported in these columns for 2017 represent the aggregate grant date fair value of the restricted stock unit awards granted to our NEOs computed in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standard Codification Topic 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation (“ASC Topic 718”), excluding the effect of estimated forfeitures. Assumptions made in calculating the aggregate grant date fair value of these awards are described in Note 8 — Share-Based Compensation Expense to the notes to consolidated financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, filed with the SEC on February 23, 2018, as amended on Form 10-K/A, filed with the SEC on April 30, 2018 (the “2017 Form 10-K”). With respect to the performance-based restricted stock units that were granted to our NEOs in 2017, the amounts reported are based on the probable outcome of the performance-based vesting conditions at the time of grant. Assuming the highest level of performance is achieved, the grant date fair value of the performance-based restricted stock unit awards would have been as follows: $2,412,369 for Ms. Howard; $578,965 for Mr. Lieberman; $627,237 for Mr. Spirer; and $434,249 for Ms. Weed.

 

(2) The amounts reported in this column for 2017 represent awards paid to our NEOs under the 2017 annual incentive plan. These awards are discussed in more detail under the section entitled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis — 2017 Executive Compensation Program” above. These annual cash incentive awards were paid to our NEOs on March 9, 2018.

 

(3) The amounts reported in this column include Company matching contributions under our 401(k) plan, the value attributable to group-term life insurance benefits and parking benefits provided to each NEO. For 2017, Ms. Howard received $10,063 of value attributed to group-term life insurance benefits. No other items included in this column for any of the NEOs had a value in excess of $10,000 for 2017.

 

(4) Mr. Lieberman joined the Company on April 18, 2016.

 

(5) Mr. Spirer served as our Executive Vice President and Global Business Leader until April 2017, when he became our Executive Vice President and Chief Growth and Transformation Officer.

 

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2017 Grants of Plan-Based Awards

 

     Grant
Date
    Grant
Approval
Date
    Estimated Future Payouts
Under Non-Equity Incentive
Plan Awards(1)
    Estimated Future Payouts
Under Equity Incentive Plan
Plan Awards(2)
    All
Other
Stock
Awards:
Number

of
Shares
(#)(3)
    All Other
Option
Awards:
Number
of
Shares

Underlying
Options
(#)
    Exercise
or Base
Price of

Option
Awards
($/Sh)
    Grant
Date Fair
Value of
Stock and

Option
Awards
($)(4)
 
Name       Threshold
($)
    Target
($)
    Maximum
($)
    Threshold
(#)
    Target
(#)
    Maximum
(#)
         

Julie M. Howard

                540,000       1,080,000       2,160,000                
    3/15/2017       3/7/2017             34,932       69,863       104,795             1,375,048  
    3/15/2017       3/7/2017                   37,619           865,989  

Stephen R. Lieberman

                187,500       375,000       750,000                
    3/15/2017       3/7/2017             8,384       16,767       25,151             330,007  
    3/15/2017       3/7/2017                   9,029           207,848  

Lee A. Spirer

                325,000       650,000       1,300,000                
    3/15/2017       3/7/2017             9,083       18,165       27,248             357,525  
    3/15/2017       3/7/2017                   9,781           225,159  

Monica M. Weed

                168,750       337,500       675,000                
    3/15/2017       3/7/2017             6,288       12,576       18,864             247,522  
    3/15/2017       3/7/2017                   6,772           155,891  

 

(1) The amounts reported in these columns show the threshold, target and maximum award opportunities payable to our NEOs under the 2017 annual incentive plan. A discussion of the performance goals utilized for the 2017 annual incentive plan is included under the section entitled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis — 2017 Executive Compensation Program,” above. The actual cash awards paid to our NEOs under the 2017 annual incentive plan are set forth in the 2017 Summary Compensation Table above under the column entitled “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation.”

 

(2) The amounts reported in these columns show the threshold, target and maximum award opportunities for the performance-based restricted stock units granted to the NEOs under the Navigant Consulting, Inc. 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended and restated (the “2012 Plan”). These restricted stock units vest on the third anniversary of the grant date, subject to the holder’s continued employment with the Company, if and only to the extent that specific performance goals with respect to the Company’s TSR, relative to companies in the GICS Industry Group, and cumulative adjusted EBITDA are met during a three-year performance period.

 

(3) The amounts reported in this column represent the time-based restricted stock units granted to the NEOs under the 2012 Plan. These restricted stock units vest in one-third increments on each of the first three anniversaries of the grant date, subject to the holder’s continued employment with the Company.

 

(4) The amounts reported in this column represent the grant date fair value of each 2017 equity award computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718, excluding the effect of estimated forfeitures. In the case of the performance-based restricted stock units, the amounts reported are based upon the probable outcome of the applicable performance-based vesting conditions at the time of grant. Assumptions made in computing the grant date fair value of these awards are described in Note 8 — Share-Based Compensation Expense to the notes to consolidated financial statements in our 2017 Form 10-K.

 

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Outstanding Equity Awards at 2017 Fiscal Year-End

 

    Option Awards   Stock Awards

Name

  Grant
Date
  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable
  Number  of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable(1)
  Option
Exercise
Price
($)
  Option
Expiration
Date
  Number of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested
(#)
  Market
Value of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested
($)(2)
  Equity
Incentive  Plan
Awards:
Number of
Unearned
Shares, Units
or Other
Rights That
Have Not
Vested
(#)(3)
  Equity
Incentive  Plan
Awards:
Market or
Payout Value
of Unearned
Shares, Units
or Other
Rights That
Have Not
Vested
($)(2)

Julie M. Howard

      3/15/2012       67,411             13.78       3/15/2018                        
      3/15/2013       72,873             13.17       3/15/2019                        
      3/17/2014       48,146             18.45       3/17/2020                        
      3/16/2015       61,688       30,845       13.36       3/16/2021       73,923 (4)       1,434,839            
      3/15/2016       37,993       75,988       15.11       3/15/2022       24,380 (5)       473,216       109,709       2,129,442
      3/15/2017                           37,619 (5)       730,185       104,795       2,034,061

Stephen R. Lieberman

      4/18/2016       8,474       16,949       15.77       4/18/2022       26,848 (5)       521,120       24,164       469,014
      3/15/2017                           9,029 (5)       175,253       25,151       488,171

Lee A. Spirer

      3/17/2014       19,923             18.45       3/17/2020                        
      3/16/2015       21,772       10,887       13.36       3/16/2021       26,092 (4)       506,444            
      3/15/2016       11,225       22,451       15.11       3/15/2022       7,204 (5)       139,830       32,415       629,175
      3/15/2017                           9,781 (5)       189,849       27,248       528,874

Monica M. Weed

      3/15/2012       15,557             13.78       3/15/2018                        
      3/15/2013       16,817             13.17       3/15/2019                        
      3/17/2014       9,962             18.45       3/17/2020                        
      3/16/2015       10,886       5,444       13.36       3/16/2021       13,046 (4)       253,232            
      3/15/2016       6,476       12,953       15.11       3/15/2022       4,156 (5)       80,668       18,701       362,977
      3/15/2017                           6,772 (5)       131,445       18,864       366,150

 

(1) The stock options reported in this column vest annually in equal installments over a three-year period from the grant date, subject to the holder’s continued employment with the Company.

 

(2) The amounts reported in these columns are calculated by multiplying $19.41, the closing sales price per share of our common stock on December 29, 2017, by the number of shares that have not vested.

 

(3) The performance-based restricted stock units vest on the third anniversary of the grant date if and only to the extent that specific performance goals with respect to the Company’s TSR, relative to the companies in the GICS Industry Group, and cumulative adjusted EBITDA are met during a three-year performance period. The amounts reported in this table for these awards are based on achieving the “maximum” level of performance, as the performance-based restricted stock units that vested based on the three-year performance period ended December 31, 2017 vested at 102.8% of target.

 

(4) Includes the performance-based restricted stock units which vested on March 15, 2018 at 102.8% of target based on performance actually achieved during the three-year performance period ended December 31, 2017.

 

(5) The time-based restricted stock unit awards vest annually in equal installments over a three-year period from the grant date, subject to the holder’s continued employment with the Company.

2017 Option Exercises and Stock Vested

 

     Option Awards    Stock Awards

Name

   Number of Shares
Acquired  on Exercise
(#)
   Value Realized  on
Exercise
($)(1)
   Number of Shares
Acquired  on Vesting
(#)
   Value Realized  on
Vesting
($)(1)

Julie M. Howard

       16,727        239,133        72,369        1,688,339

Stephen R. Lieberman

                     13,424        307,812

Lee A. Spirer

       28,028        274,159        27,875        650,834

Monica M. Weed

       8,550        110,808        14,215        331,805

 

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(1) The amounts reported in this column are calculated by multiplying the closing sales price per share of our common stock on the exercise/vesting date by the number of shares acquired on exercise/vesting, less the aggregate exercise price paid in the case of the option awards.

2017 Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control

The following table reflects the potential payments and benefits to which each of our NEOs would be entitled in the event of a termination of his or her employment or change in control of the Company. The amounts shown in the table below are estimates and were calculated assuming that the termination of employment or change in control was effective as of December 31, 2017 based on the employment arrangement that existed between the Company and the respective NEO at such date. The actual amounts that would be paid to a NEO can only be determined at the time of the termination of employment or change in control. In addition, any or all amounts payable to a NEO upon a termination of employment may be delayed for six months following the date of termination if the delay of payment is necessary to comply with Section 409A of the Code. Any cash payment delayed in that manner would also accrue interest. The section entitled “—Employment Arrangements” below contains a summary of the material terms of the employment arrangements we have with each of the NEOs shown in the table below, including terms related to any payments to which the NEO would be entitled in connection with a termination of his or her employment or change in control of the Company.

 

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     Cash
Payment
($)(1)
   Continuation of
Medical/
Welfare
Benefits (Present
Value) ($)(2)
   Acceleration  of
Equity
Awards ($)(3)
   Total  Termination
Payments/
Benefits ($)

Julie M. Howard

                   

Voluntary

                           

Death/Disability

       4,573,667        12,083        3,619,016        8,204,766

Termination by Company Other Than For Cause

       4,573,667        12,083        3,619,016        8,204,766

Termination by Executive for Good Reason

       4,573,667        12,083               4,585,750

Qualifying Termination in Connection with a Change in Control

       6,450,000        12,083        7,315,103        13,777,186

Change in Control

                           

Stephen R. Lieberman

                   

Voluntary

                           

Death/Disability

       280,000               766,399        1,046,399

Termination by Company Other Than For Cause

       1,155,000               766,399        1,921,399

Termination by Executive for Good Reason

       1,155,000                      1,155,000

Qualifying Termination in Connection with a Change in Control

       2,030,000               1,715,252        3,745,252

Change in Control

                           

Lee A. Spirer

                   

Voluntary

                           

Death/Disability

       550,000               1,120,203        1,670,203

Termination by Company Other Than For Cause

       1,822,000        8,428        1,120,203        2,950,631

Termination by Executive for Good Reason

       1,822,000        8,428               1,830,428

Qualifying Termination in Connection with a Change in Control

       3,094,000        8,428        2,156,578        5,259,006

Change in Control

                           

Monica M. Weed

                   

Voluntary

                           

Death/Disability

       297,000               631,912        928,912

Termination by Company Other Than For Cause

       1,120,334        4,735        631,912        1,756,981

Termination by Executive for Good Reason

       1,120,334        4,735               1,125,069

Qualifying Termination in Connection with a Change in Control

       1,943,667        4,735        1,283,106        3,231,508

Change in Control

                           

 

(1) Cash payments in connection with a termination as a result of death or disability; termination by the Company other than for “cause,” or a termination by the NEO for “good reason,” as applicable, were calculated as follows:

 

   

for Ms. Howard, the cash payment equals two times the sum of her base salary and the average of her three most recent annual bonuses, plus a pro-rata portion of her annual bonus for the year in which the termination occurs based on an estimate of Company performance for the period before the date of termination, as determined by the compensation committee (which for purposes of reporting the

 

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amounts in the table above, we have assumed to be the actual cash bonus awarded to Ms. Howard for 2017); and

 

   

for Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Spirer and Ms. Weed, in the case of a termination as a result of death or disability, the cash payment equals a pro-rata portion of his or her annual bonus for the year in which the termination occurs based on an estimate of Company performance for the period before the date of termination, as determined by the compensation committee (which for purposes of reporting the amounts in the table above, we have assumed to be the actual cash bonus awarded to the NEOs for 2017), and in the case of a termination of employment by the Company other than for “cause” or a termination by the NEO for “good reason,” the cash payment equals the sum of the NEO’s base salary and the average of his or her annual bonuses for the three most recently completed years (or such shorter period if employed by the Company for less than three years), plus a pro-rata portion of the NEO’s annual bonus for the year in which the termination occurs based on an estimate of Company performance for the period before the date of termination, as determined by the compensation committee (which, for purposes of reporting the amounts in the table above, we have assumed to be the actual cash bonus awarded to the NEO for 2017).

Cash payments in connection with a qualifying termination of employment in connection with a change in control were calculated as follows:

 

   

for Ms. Howard, the cash payment equals three times the sum of her base salary and the average of her three most recent annual bonuses, plus the pro-rata portion of her annual bonus for the year in which the termination occurs based on an estimate of Company performance for the period before the date of termination, as determined by the compensation committee (which for purposes of this amount in the table above, we have assumed to be the actual cash bonus awarded to Ms. Howard for 2017); and

 

   

for Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Spirer and Ms. Weed, the cash payment equals two times the sum of his or her base salary and the average of his or her three most recent annual bonuses (or such shorter period if employed by the Company for less than three years), plus a pro-rata portion of his or her annual bonus for the year in which the termination occurs based on an estimate of Company performance for the period before the date of termination, as determined by the compensation committee (which for purposes of reporting these amounts in the table above, we have assumed to be the actual cash bonuses awarded to the NEO for 2017).

 

(2) The amounts reported in this column represent the present value of continuing the NEO’s healthcare benefits at the same level and cost to her or him as immediately preceding the date of termination for 24 months (in the case of Ms. Howard) or 12 months (in the case of Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Spirer and Ms. Weed) after the assumed date of termination.

 

(3) The amounts reported in this column represent the aggregate value of the restricted stock units and stock options that would vest in connection with a qualifying termination of employment based on the closing sales price per share of our common stock on December 29, 2017 of $19.41.

The agreements setting forth the terms and conditions of the restricted stock unit and stock option awards granted to our NEOs provide for:

 

   

prorated vesting for any performance-based restricted stock units, based on the Company’s actual performance during the respective performance period (for purposes of reporting the amounts in the table above, we have assumed that the “maximum” performance level was met) and the number of days the NEO was employed during the performance period, in the event of a termination as a result of death or disability or by the Company other than for cause;

 

   

prorated vesting for any time-based restricted stock units, based on the number of underlying shares that would have vested on the next vesting date and the number of days that have elapsed since the last vesting date through the assumed date of termination, in the event of a termination as a result of death

 

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or disability or by the Company other than for cause (or in the case of Mr. Lieberman with respect to the initial award of restricted stock units granted to him upon commencement of his employment with us, a termination of employment by him for “good reason”); and

 

   

full vesting of the award (with any performance-based restricted stock units vesting at the “maximum” performance level) in the event there is a qualifying termination of employment within 24 months following a change in control of the Company.

Accrued Pay and Regular Retirement Benefits. The amounts reported in the table above do not include payments and benefits to the extent they are provided on a non-discriminatory basis to salaried employees generally upon termination. These include:

 

   

accrued salary and, if applicable, vacation pay;

 

   

distributions of plan balances under the Company’s 401(k) plan; and

 

   

payments of amounts under life and disability insurance policies.

Employment Arrangements

We have entered into employment arrangements with each of our NEOs that generally provide for minimum base salaries, annual cash bonus opportunities under the Company’s annual incentive plan (subject to the achievement of annual performance goals) and severance benefits in the case of certain termination events, including, in certain cases, in connection with or following a change in control of the Company.

Julie M. Howard

In connection with Ms. Howard’s appointment as our CEO, effective March 1, 2012, we amended and restated our employment agreement with her. The employment agreement automatically extends for one-year terms past the initial five-year term (which ended on March 1, 2017), unless the Company provided notice of our intent not to continue her employment after the expiration of the initial five-year term on at least equivalent terms (other than contract length) (no such notice was provided by the Company), or unless earlier terminated as provided therein. Under the employment agreement Ms. Howard will receive an annual base salary, in an amount determined by the compensation committee (currently $900,000), and is eligible to receive an annual cash incentive bonus under the annual incentive plan for the Company’s executive officers based on the achievement of annual performance goals as determined by the compensation committee. The employment agreement binds Ms. Howard to certain non-solicitation and non-competition restrictions during the term of her employment and for a period of one year thereafter.

The employment agreement provides, among other things, that if the Company terminates Ms. Howard other than for “cause” (as defined in the employment agreement), Ms. Howard terminates her employment for “good reason” (as defined in the employment agreement) or Ms. Howard’s employment is terminated because of death or disability, the Company will pay to Ms. Howard (or her legal representatives) as a severance benefit an amount in cash equal to (i) two times the sum of her base salary and the average of her annual bonuses for the three most recently completed years, plus (ii) a pro rata portion of her annual bonus for the year in which the termination occurs based on an estimate of Company performance for the period before the date of termination, as determined by the compensation committee (subject to subsequent reconciliation based on the Company’s actual performance). In addition, if the Company terminates Ms. Howard other than for cause or disability, Ms. Howard terminates her employment for good reason or Ms. Howard’s employment is terminated because of death, the Company will pay Ms. Howard (or her family in the event of her death) an amount equal to monthly COBRA premiums (less the amount of her portion of such premiums prior to the date of termination) for up to 24 months after the date of termination. If Ms. Howard’s employment is terminated because of disability, Ms. Howard would be entitled to continuation of her healthcare benefits for up to 24 months after the date of termination. However, if the Company terminates Ms. Howard for cause or Ms. Howard terminates her

 

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employment other than for good reason, the Company would have no further obligation to Ms. Howard other than the obligation to pay her base salary through the date of termination and any other compensation and benefits then due.

The employment agreement also provides that if, during the one-year period following a change in control, the Company terminates Ms. Howard’s employment other than for cause, death or disability or Ms. Howard terminates her employment for good reason or if, during the one-year period preceding a change in control, the Company terminates Ms. Howard’s employment other than for cause, death or disability in anticipation of a change in control transaction that the Board is actively considering and that is ultimately consummated, the Company will pay to Ms. Howard (or her legal representatives) as a severance payment an amount in cash equal to (i) three times the sum of her base salary and the average of her annual bonuses for the three most recently completed years, plus (ii) a pro rata portion of her annual bonus for the year in which the termination occurs based on an estimate of Company performance for the period before the date of termination, as determined by the compensation committee (subject to subsequent reconciliation based on the Company’s actual performance). In addition, the Company will pay Ms. Howard (or her family in the event of her death) an amount equal to monthly COBRA premiums (less the amount of her portion of such premiums prior to the date of termination) for up to 24 months after the date of termination.

Any compensation paid or awarded to Ms. Howard under the employment agreement is subject to the Company’s clawback policy.

Stephen R. Lieberman, Lee A. Spirer and Monica M. Weed

Pursuant to the terms of their respective at-will offer letters with the Company, each of Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Spirer and Ms. Weed are eligible for the Company’s standard executive severance benefits which generally provide that if the executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without cause or by the executive due to a constructive termination of employment, then the Company will pay the executive a cash severance payment equal to the sum of his or her base salary and the average of his or her annual bonuses for the three most recently completed years (or such shorter period if employed by the Company for less than three years). The offer letter also provides that if (i) during the one-year period following a change in control, the executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without cause or by the executive due to a constructive termination of employment, or (ii) during the six-month period preceding a change in control, the Company terminates the executive’s employment other than for cause, death or disability in anticipation of a change in control transaction that the Board is actively considering and that is ultimately consummated, the Company will pay the executive a cash severance payment equal to two times the sum of (1) his or her base salary and (2) the average of his or her annual bonuses for the three most recently completed years (or such shorter period if employed for less than three years). In the event that the executive’s employment is terminated by reason of death or disability, the Company will also pay the executive COBRA premiums (less the amount of his or her portion of such premiums as in effect prior to the date of termination) for up to 12 months and any earned but unpaid annual bonus for the year prior to his or her termination and a prorated annual bonus based on actual performance for the year in which his or her employment terminates. These executive severance benefits are subject to the executive having been and remaining in compliance with any and all restrictive covenants and other obligations to the Company, including those set forth in the Company’s standard form of executive officer business protection and arbitration agreement.

Pay Ratio

As required by Section 953(b) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the Company is providing the following disclosure about the relationship of the annual total compensation of our employees to the annual total compensation of Ms. Howard, our CEO. We believe that the pay ratio disclosed below is a reasonable estimate calculated in a manner consistent with Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K. SEC rules for identifying the median employee and calculating the pay ratio allow companies to apply various methodologies and apply various assumptions and, as result, the pay ratio reported by us may not be comparable to the pay ratio reported by other companies.

 

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For 2017,

 

   

The median of the annual total compensation of all of our employees, other than Ms. Howard, was $56,602.

 

   

Ms. Howard’s annual total compensation, as reported in the Total column of the 2017 Summary Compensation Table, was $3,984,115.

 

   

Based on this information, the ratio of the annual total compensation of Ms. Howard to the median of the annual total compensation of all employees is estimated to be 70 to 1.

As is permitted under the applicable SEC rules, to identify our median employee among our domestic and international employee population, we used “annualized base pay” (i.e., we have calculated the total amount that individuals hired during 2017 would have received had they been employed for the full year) as a consistently applied compensation measure. We calculated annualized base pay using annual base salary levels, except for hourly workers, for whom we used a reasonable estimate of hours worked during the year, determined based on payroll records, to determine annualized compensation. After identifying the median employee based on annualized base pay, we calculated annual total compensation for that employee using the same methodology we use for our NEOs as set forth in the 2017 Summary Compensation Table.

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

For 2017, our non-employee directors received an annual retainer of $80,000. In addition, the chairman of the audit committee and the chairman of the compensation committee each received an additional annual retainer of $15,000, and the chairman of the nominating and governance committee received an additional annual retainer of $10,000. Our Lead Director received an additional annual retainer of $20,000. Any member of the Board who is employed by the Company (or any of its subsidiaries) is not compensated for his or her service on the Board or any of its committees.

All retainers are paid in cash on a quarterly basis, unless a director elects to defer his or her retainer(s) under our directors’ deferred fees plan. This plan provides that a director may elect to defer all or a portion of his or her retainer to an account which earns interest monthly. Payment is then made to a participating director under the plan upon the director’s resignation from the Board or his or her death. A participating director may elect to receive the payment in a lump-sum or in installments over a ten-year period.

The compensation program for our non-employee directors also includes an equity component. In 2017, our non-employee directors received an equity grant consisting of restricted stock units with an aggregate value of $120,000, with the number of restricted stock units awarded to each non-employee director determined based on the average daily closing price of the Company’s common stock during the 30-day calendar period leading up to, but not including, the grant date. All annual equity awards granted to our non-employee directors that are elected or appointed as of that date are made on the same date as our annual meeting of shareholders. On May 16, 2017 (the date of the 2017 annual meeting of our shareholders), each of our non-employee directors then elected to office received an annual equity award consisting of 5,313 restricted stock units granted pursuant to the terms of the Navigant Consulting, Inc. 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “2017 Plan”). Directors appointed or elected on a date that is not the date of our annual meeting of shareholders receive only a pro-rated portion of this annual award, calculated based on the portion of the year in which the director served from the date of the most recently held annual meeting to the first anniversary thereof. In connection with her appointment to the Board effective October 24, 2017, Ms. Walsh received a pro-rated initial equity award consisting of 3,932 restricted stock units granted pursuant to the 2017 Plan. The restricted stock units vest upon the earlier of (i) the one-year anniversary of the grant date and (ii) the next annual meeting of our shareholders occurring after the grant date.

The compensation committee has adopted stock ownership guidelines that apply to our non-employee directors and is responsible for monitoring compliance with those guidelines and overseeing that they remain

 

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appropriate. These guidelines require each of our non-employee directors to own shares of our common stock (as defined in the guidelines) valued at a minimum of four times their annual retainer (excluding any additional annual retainer earned for chairing a committee or serving as our Lead Director). Although there is no specific period of time by which the stock ownership guidelines must be achieved, each of our non-employee directors is expected to make continuous progress towards the guidelines and, prior to meeting the guidelines, is required to hold at least 75% of the net shares received from the vesting of their equity awards or the exercise of stock options. Even after achieving the stock ownership guidelines, our non-employee directors must also comply with holding period requirements with respect to their equity grants. Under these holding period requirements, each of our non-employee directors is required to hold at least 75% of the net shares received from the vesting of their equity awards or the exercise of stock options for at least one year following the vesting or exercise date. As of the end of 2017, all of our non-employee directors were in compliance with these stock ownership guidelines, including the applicable holding period requirements set forth in the guidelines.

The following table summarizes the total compensation paid to or earned by our non-employee directors for 2017.

 

Name

   Fees
Earned  or
Paid in
Cash ($)(1)
     Stock
Awards
($)(2)
     Option
Awards
($)(3)
     Change in
Pension Value
and Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings ($)
     Total ($)  

Kevin M. Blakely

     89,375        108,704                      198,079  

Cynthia A. Glassman

     90,000        108,704                      198,704  

Stephan A. James

     95,000        108,704                      203,704  

Samuel K. Skinner

     80,000        108,704                      188,704  

Governor James R. Thompson

     100,000        108,704                      208,704  

Michael L. Tipsord

     85,625        108,704                      194,329  

Kathleen E. Walsh(4)

     15,000        68,102                      83,102  

Randy H. Zwirn

     80,000        108,704                      188,704  

 

  (1) Includes an additional annual retainer of $15,000 paid to Mr. Blakely for serving as chairman of the audit committee; an additional annual retainer of $15,000 paid to Mr. James for serving as chairman of the compensation committee; an additional annual retainer of $10,000 paid to Dr. Glassman for serving as chairman of the nominating and governance committee; and an additional annual retainer of $20,000 paid to Governor Thompson for serving as our Lead Director. For 2017, Mr. James, Mr. Skinner, Ms. Walsh and Governor Thompson elected to defer their respective retainers under our directors’ deferred fees plan (see the narrative preceding this table for a description of that plan).

 

  (2) The amounts reported in this column represent the aggregate grant date fair value of the restricted stock units granted to our non-employee directors during 2017 computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718, excluding the effect of estimated forfeitures. Assumptions made in calculating the aggregate grant date fair value of these awards are described in Note 8 – Share-Based Compensation Expense to the notes to the consolidated financial statements in our 2017 Form 10-K. As of December 31, 2017, the aggregate number of shares underlying outstanding restricted stock unit awards for each individual serving as a non-employee director during 2017 was as follows:

 

Kevin M. Blakely

     5,313  

Cynthia A. Glassman

     5,313  

Stephan A. James

     5,313  

Samuel K. Skinner

     5,313  

Governor James R. Thompson

     5,313  

Michael L. Tipsord

     5,313  

Kathleen E. Walsh

     3,932  

Randy H. Zwirn

     5,313  

 

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  (3) As of December 31, 2017, the aggregate number of stock options outstanding for each individual serving as a non-employee director during 2017 was as follows:

 

Kevin M. Blakely

      

Cynthia A. Glassman

     5,909  

Stephan A. James

     5,909  

Samuel K. Skinner

     5,909  

Governor James R. Thompson

     5,909  

Michael L. Tipsord

     5,909  

Kathleen E. Walsh

      

Randy H. Zwirn

      

 

  (4) Ms. Walsh joined the Board on October 23, 2017; accordingly, the Company prorated her annual cash retainer based on the number of days she served as our director during 2017. Mr. Yingling joined the Board following in 2018, and thus was not compensated in 2017.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS

AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION

No person who served on the compensation committee in 2017 was an officer or employee of the Company during 2017, was formerly an officer of the Company, or had any relationships requiring disclosure by the Company under the SEC’s rules regarding certain relationships and related person transactions. None of our executive officers served as a member of the compensation committee (or other board committee performing similar functions or, in the absence of such committee, the entire board) of another corporation during 2017, where one of the executive officers of the other corporation served on our compensation committee or as one of our directors. None of our executive officers served as a director of another corporation during 2017, where one of the executive officers of the other corporation served on our compensation committee.

 

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STOCK OWNERSHIP OF DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE

OFFICERS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS

The following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of May 1, 2018 (unless otherwise indicated) by: (i) each of our directors and director nominees; (ii) each of our NEOs; (iii) all of our directors and executive officers as a group; and (iv) each person known to us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of our common stock, based on filings with the SEC. We believe that, except where noted otherwise, each person named below has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to all shares of our common stock shown as beneficially owned by such person, subject to community property laws where applicable.

 

     Shares Beneficially
Owned(1)
 
Directors, Director Nominees and Executive Officers    Number      Percent  

Kevin M. Blakely

     12,928        *    

Cynthia A. Glassman

     81,683        *    

Julie M. Howard

     412,425        *    

Stephan A. James

     86,484        *    

Rudina Seseri

             

Samuel K. Skinner

     95,576        *    

Governor James R. Thompson

     87,764        *    

Michael L. Tipsord

     118,070        *    

Kathleen E. Walsh

     3,932        *    

Jeffrey W. Yingling

     1,535        *    

Randy H. Zwirn

     21,226        *    

Stephen R. Lieberman

     40,546        *    

Lee A. Spirer

     139,966        *    

Monica M. Weed

     141,641        *    

All directors and executive officers as a group (14 persons)

     1,243,776        2.75
Name and Address of 5% Shareholders      

BlackRock, Inc., 55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10055(2)

     5,963,727        13.20

The Vanguard Group, Inc., 100 Vanguard Blvd., Malvern, PA 19355(3)

     4,155,427        9.20

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, Building One, 6300 Bee Cave Road, Austin, TX 78746(4)

     3,943,155        8.73

T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., 100 E. Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202(5)

     2,642,352        5.85

 

* Less than 1%.

 

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(1) Includes shares of our common stock subject to stock options that are or become exercisable within 60 days of May 1, 2018 and shares underlying restricted stock units that are scheduled to vest within 60 days of May 1, 2018 as follows:

 

     Stock
Options
     Restricted
Stock  Units
 

Kevin M. Blakely

            5,313  

Cynthia A. Glassman

     5,909        5,313  

Julie M. Howard

     289,539         

Stephan A. James

            5,313  

Rudina Seseri

             

Samuel K. Skinner

     5,909        5,313  

Governor James R. Thompson

            5,313  

Michael L. Tipsord

     5,909        5,313  

Kathleen E. Walsh

            3,932  

Jeffrey W. Yingling

            1,535  

Randy H. Zwirn

            5,313  

Stephen R. Lieberman

     16,948         

Lee A. Spirer

     75,032         

Monica M. Weed

     56,061         

All directors and executive officers as a group (14 persons)

     455,307        42,658  

 

(2) Based solely on information provided in the Schedule 13G/A filed by BlackRock, Inc. (“BlackRock”) with the SEC on January 19, 2018. As of December 31, 2017, BlackRock reported having sole voting power with respect to 5,834,199 shares and sole dispositive power with respect to all 5,963,727 shares reported on the Schedule 13G/A. BlackRock reported that several BlackRock subsidiaries beneficially owned our common stock as of December 31, 2017. Of these subsidiaries, only BlackRock Fund Advisors was reported as owning 5% or greater of our outstanding common stock as of December 31, 2017.

 

(3) Based solely on information provided in the Schedule 13G/A filed by The Vanguard Group, Inc. (“Vanguard”) with the SEC on February 9, 2018. As of December 31, 2017, Vanguard reported having sole voting power over 52,078 shares, shared voting power over 16,662 shares, sole dispositive power over 4,155,427 shares and shared dispositive power over 63,609 shares. Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vanguard, is the beneficial owner of 46,947 shares as a result of its serving as investment manager of collective trust accounts. Vanguard Investments Australia, Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vanguard, is the beneficial owner of 21,793 shares as a result of its serving as investment manager of Australian investment offerings.

 

(4) Based solely on information provided in the Schedule 13G/A filed by Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (“DFA”) with the SEC on February 9, 2018. As of December 31, 2017, DFA reported having sole voting power with respect to 3,783,570 shares and sole dispositive power with respect to all 3,943,155 shares reported on the Schedule 13G/A. The Schedule 13G/A reported that DFA, a registered investment adviser, furnishes investment advice to four registered investment companies and serves as investment manager or sub-adviser to certain other commingled funds, group trusts and separate accounts (collectively, the “Funds”), and in certain cases, subsidiaries of DFA may act as an adviser or sub-adviser to certain Funds. In its role as investment advisor, sub-adviser and/or manager, DFA or its subsidiaries (collectively, “Dimensional”) may possess voting and/or investment power over the shares of our common stock that are owned by the Funds and may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the shares of our common stock held by the Funds. Dimensional disclaimed beneficial ownership of any of the shares reported on the Schedule 13G/A. The Schedule 13G/A further reported that the Funds own all of the shares reported in the Schedule 13G/A and have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends or proceeds from the sale of shares of our common stock that are held in their respective accounts and that, to the knowledge of Dimensional, the interest of any one Fund did not exceed 5% of our outstanding common stock as of December 31, 2017.

 

(5)

Based solely on information provided in the Schedule 13G/A filed by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (“Price Associates”) with the SEC on February 14, 2018. As of December 31, 2017, Price Associates reported having sole voting power with respect to 734,664 shares and sole dispositive power with respect to all

 

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  2,416,286 shares reported in the Schedule 13G/A. The Schedule 13G/A reported that, as of December 31, 2017, not more than 5% of our outstanding common stock was owned by any one of Price Associates’ clients for which it serves as investment adviser.

SECURITIES AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE

UNDER EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS

The following table provides information with respect to shares of our common stock that may be issued under our equity compensation plans at December 31, 2017.

 

Plan Category

   Number of Securities
to be Issued upon
Exercise of Outstanding
Options, Warrants
and Rights
     Weighted Average
Exercise Price of
Outstanding Options,
Warrants and Rights
     Number of  Securities
Remaining Available for
Future Issuance Under
Equity Compensation
Plans (Excluding
Securities Reflected in
the First Column)
 

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

     614,265      $ 14.56        2,571,868  

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

                

Total

     614,265      $ 14.56        2,571,868  

SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

REPORTING COMPLIANCE

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) requires our directors and executive officers, and any persons who beneficially own more than 10% of our common stock, to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of our common stock. To our knowledge, based solely on a review of copies of such reports and representations received from our directors and executive officers, we believe that during the year ended December 31, 2017, our directors, executive officers and 10% shareholders complied with their Section 16(a) filing requirements on a timely basis.

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

We or one of our subsidiaries may occasionally enter into transactions with certain “related persons.” Related persons include our executive officers, directors, nominees for directors, more than 5% shareholders and immediate family members of these persons. We refer to transactions involving amounts in excess of $120,000 and in which the related person has a direct or indirect material interest as “related person transactions.” In accordance with our written related person transaction policy, any related person transaction must be approved or ratified by the audit committee or, if the audit committee so determines, by all disinterested members of the Board (by the vote of a majority of the disinterested members).

The audit committee considers all relevant factors when determining whether to approve a related person transaction including the following:

 

   

the size of the transaction and the amount payable to a related person;

 

   

the nature of the interest of the related person in the transaction;

 

   

whether the transaction may involve a conflict of interest; and

 

   

whether the transaction involves the provision of goods or services to us that are available from unaffiliated third parties and, if so, whether the transaction is on terms and made under circumstances that are at least as favorable to us as would be available in comparable transactions with or involving unaffiliated third parties.

We have not had any related person transactions requiring approval of the audit committee since January 1, 2017.

 

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PROPOSAL 2

VOTE TO APPROVE, ON AN ADVISORY BASIS,

OUR EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Pursuant to Section 14A of the Exchange Act, we are providing our shareholders with a vote to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation paid to our NEOs as disclosed in this Proxy Statement. This advisory vote on executive compensation is commonly referred to as a “say-on-pay” vote. Based on the voting results from the 2017 annual meeting of our shareholders with respect to the frequency of future say-on-pay votes, the Board decided it was in the best interests of our shareholders and the Company to include a say-on-pay vote in our proxy statement on an annual basis until the next required advisory vote on the frequency of future say-on-pay votes.

The overall objective of our executive compensation program is to attract, retain and motivate highly qualified and effective executive officers in order to positively impact the Company and ultimately create long-term value for our shareholders. We designed our executive compensation program to meet this objective by:

 

   

aligning our NEOs’ incentive compensation opportunities with the Company’s financial and strategic performance goals, as well as the relative performance of our stock price over time;

 

   

providing our NEOs with target compensation opportunities that are competitive with other companies in our peer group; and

 

   

discouraging excessive risk-taking and promoting sound corporate governance.

This pay philosophy is evidenced by, among other things, the following features of our executive compensation program:

 

   

Performance-based compensation represented a significant portion of our NEOs’ total direct compensation opportunity for 2017. In particular, approximately 60% of our CEO’s 2017 total direct compensation opportunity was tied to the achievement of pre-established financial and individual performance goals that are designed to be aligned with the Company’s operating and long-term strategic initiatives or relative TSR.

 

   

A significant portion of our NEOs’ compensation package consists of performance-based restricted stock units which vest, if at all, only to the extent that specified quantitative performance goals with respect to the Company’s relative TSR and cumulative adjusted EBITDA are met during a three-year performance period. The performance-based restricted stock unit awards granted to Ms. Howard, Mr. Spirer and Ms. Weed in 2015 and which vested on March 16, 2018 vested at 102.8% of target based on the Company’s performance during the three-year performance period ended December 31, 2017.

 

   

The cash bonus awards paid to our NEOs under our annual incentive plan are based on the achievement by the Company and each participating NEO of pre-established financial and individual performance goals that are designed to be aligned with the Company’s operational and long-term strategic initiatives. Based on the Company’s actual financial performance and the relative achievement by each NEO of his or her respective individual performance goals for 2017, the bonuses paid to our NEOs who participated in our 2017 annual incentive plan ranged between approximately 75% and 88% of their respective annual cash bonus targets.

 

   

65% of the equity incentive awards granted to our NEOs under our 2017 long-term incentive compensation program was performance-based, delivered in the form of performance-based restricted stock units with payout levels determined based on the specific achievement of specified quantitative performance goals with respect to the Company.

 

   

We have a clawback policy requiring the reimbursement of excess incentive compensation paid to the Company’s executive officers in the event of certain restatements of the Company’s financial statements.

 

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All of our NEOs are prohibited from selling short our common stock or engaging in hedging or offsetting transactions regarding our common stock, and are also prohibited from holding shares of our common stock in a margin account or pledging shares of our common stock as collateral for a loan.

We encourage you to read the sections entitled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” “Compensation Committee Report” and “Executive Compensation” on pages 22 through 45 of this Proxy Statement for additional details relating to our executive compensation program.

We are asking our shareholders to indicate their support for our executive compensation program by voting “FOR” the following resolution at the annual meeting:

“RESOLVED, that the Company’s shareholders approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers, as disclosed in the Proxy Statement pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis and the compensation tables and related narrative discussion.”

The say-on-pay vote is an advisory vote only, and therefore, it will not bind the Company or the Board (or any of its committees). However, the Board and the compensation committee will consider the voting results when making future compensation decisions for our NEOs.

The Board and the compensation committee unanimously recommend that our shareholders vote “FOR” the approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation paid to our NEOs as disclosed in this Proxy Statement.

 

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PROPOSAL 3

RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF KPMG LLP AS OUR INDEPENDENT

REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018

At the annual meeting, our shareholders will be asked to ratify the appointment by the audit committee of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2018. KPMG LLP has served as the Company’s independent accounting firm since our initial public offering in 1996.

In selecting KPMG LLP to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2018, the audit committee considered a number of factors, including:

 

   

the quality of its ongoing discussions with KPMG LLP, including the professional resolution of accounting and financial reporting matters with KPMG LLP’s national office;

 

   

the professional qualifications of KPMG LLP, the lead audit partner and other key engagement partners;

 

   

KPMG LLP’s independence program and its processes for maintaining its independence;

 

   

KPMG LLP’s depth of understanding of our businesses, accounting policies and practices and internal control over financial reporting;

 

   

the appropriateness of KPMG LLP’s fees for audit and non-audit services (on both an absolute basis and as compared to its peer firms);

 

   

consideration of KPMG LLP’s known legal risks and significant proceedings that may impair their ability to perform our annual audit;

 

   

the most recent Public Company Accounting Oversight Board inspection report on KPMG LLP and the actions taken by KPMG in response to inspection findings, including investment in audit quality; and

 

   

the results of management’s and the audit committee’s annual evaluations of the qualifications, performance and independence of KPMG LLP.

The members of the audit committee believe that the continued retention of KPMG LLP to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. The Board and the audit committee unanimously recommend that our shareholders vote “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2018.

Representatives from KPMG LLP are expected to attend the annual meeting and will be available to respond to appropriate questions. The KPMG LLP representatives will be given an opportunity to make a statement if they desire.

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

KPMG LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm, has provided an unqualified opinion regarding our consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017 and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017. The following table presents fees for professional audit services rendered by KPMG LLP for the audit of our annual consolidated financial statements for 2016 and 2017 and fees billed for other services rendered by KPMG LLP. The audit committee reviewed 100% of the services provided by KPMG LLP with respect to such fees and concluded that such services were compatible with maintaining KPMG LLP’s independence. The audit committee is responsible for audit fee negotiations associated with the retention of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.

 

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The audit committee reviews and pre-approves both audit and permitted non-audit services provided by KPMG LLP and will not approve any engagement of KPMG LLP to perform any non-audit services prohibited by law or regulation. At each regular audit committee meeting, the audit committee receives updates on the services actually provided by KPMG LLP, and management may submit additional services for pre-approval. The audit committee has delegated to the chairman of the audit committee the authority to evaluate and approve engagements on behalf of the audit committee in the event that a need arises for pre-approval between regular audit committee meetings. If the chairman of the audit committee so approves any such engagements, he will report that approval to the full audit committee at the next audit committee meeting.

Each year, the independent registered public accounting firm’s engagement to audit our annual consolidated financial statements is approved by the audit committee before the filing of the preceding year’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

     2017      2016  

Audit fees

     1,917,145      $ 1,761,625  

Audit-related fees(1)

     117,651        117,600  

Audit and audit-related fees

     2,034,796        1,879,225  

Tax fees

            14,900  

All other fees(2)

             

Total fees

     2,034,796      $ 1,894,125  

 

(1) Audit-related fees consist of fees for a report on our controls as a service organization under Statement on Standards for Attestation Engagements (SSAE) No. 16, performed at the request of certain clients of the Company.

 

(2) All other fees are comprised primarily of acquisition due diligence services.

SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR THE 2019 ANNUAL MEETING

If you wish to submit a proposal to be included in the proxy statement for the 2019 annual meeting of our shareholders, you must submit the proposal in writing to our corporate secretary at our principal executive office address. We must receive the proposal by January 11, 2019 in order to consider it for inclusion in our proxy materials for the 2019 annual meeting. Any such proposal must meet the requirements of Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.

For proposals to be presented at the 2019 annual meeting but not included in our proxy materials, our By-Laws provide that a shareholder must deliver written notice to, or mail such written notice so that it is received by, our corporate secretary at our principal executive office, not less than 120 nor more than 150 days prior to the first anniversary of the date our proxy statement is released to shareholders in connection with the previous year’s election of directors or annual meeting of shareholders, except that if no annual meeting of shareholders or election of directors by consent was held in the previous year, the proposal must be received by us within ten days after we have publicly disclosed the date of the annual meeting in the manner provided in our By-Laws. For the 2019 annual meeting, any such proposals must be received by January 11, 2019 and no earlier than December 12, 2018.

In addition, our By-Laws provide that nominations by shareholders of persons for election as directors must be made by written notice delivered to, or mailed and received by, our corporate secretary at our principal executive office not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the preceding year’s annual meeting.

Our By-Laws contain provisions regarding information that must be set forth in a shareholder’s notice or otherwise provided in connection with shareholder nominations or other business to be brought before an annual meeting by a shareholder.

 

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OTHER BUSINESS

The Company knows of no other matters to be submitted to shareholders at the annual meeting, other than the proposals referred to in this Proxy Statement. If any other matters properly come before the shareholders at the annual meeting, it is the intention of the proxy holders named in the accompanying proxy card to vote the shares represented thereby on such matters in accordance with the Board’s recommendations

OTHER INFORMATION

If a shareholder or any other interested party has a matter that they would like to communicate with the Board, our non-management directors as a group, or any individual director (including our Lead Director), the shareholder or interested party may write to our Lead Director in care of the Office of our Corporate Secretary, at our principal executive office address at 150 North Riverside Plaza, Suite 2100, Chicago, Illinois 60606. All communications sent will be reviewed by our Lead Director, who will determine whether the communication should be distributed to the Board, all of our non-management directors as a group or the specified individual director, as applicable.

A copy of our 2017 Annual Report to Shareholders, which includes our 2017 Form 10-K, is being mailed with this Proxy Statement and is also available at www.navigant.com/2017annualreport. We will also send you additional copies of the 2017 Form 10-K and this Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement, and accompanying proxy card, without charge upon request. Please send your written request to the attention of our Director of Investor Relations at the address noted in the preceding paragraph.

 

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       LOGO

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VOTE BY INTERNET - www.proxyvote.com

 

Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time on 06/14/2018. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form.

 

ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF FUTURE PROXY MATERIALS

 

If you would like to reduce the costs incurred by our company in mailing proxy materials, you can consent to receiving all future proxy statements, proxy cards and annual reports electronically via e-mail or the Internet. To sign up for electronic delivery, please follow the instructions above to vote using the Internet and, when prompted, indicate that you agree to receive or access proxy materials electronically in future years.

 

VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903

 

Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time Eastern Time on 06/14/2018. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions.

 

VOTE BY MAIL

 

Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717.

 

 

 

NAME

 

THE COMPANY NAME INC. - COMMON

THE COMPANY NAME INC. - CLASS A

THE COMPANY NAME INC. - CLASS B

THE COMPANY NAME INC. - CLASS C

THE COMPANY NAME INC. - CLASS D

THE COMPANY NAME INC. - CLASS E

THE COMPANY NAME INC. - CLASS F

THE COMPANY NAME INC. - 401 K

 

  

 

CONTROL #   LOGO

 

SHARES        123,456,789,012.12345

              123,456,789,012.12345

              123,456,789,012.12345

              123,456,789,012.12345

              123,456,789,012.12345

              123,456,789,012.12345

              123,456,789,012.12345

              123,456,789,012.12345

 
TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS:       

PAGE             1     OF             2

KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS        

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DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY        

THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED.

 

       

 

The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR the following:

                                 
LOGO
 

 

LOGO

     

1.   Election of Directors

 

      Nominees

     For        Against       Abstain              

LOGO   

             

 

The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR proposals 2. and 3.

 

 

         
   

1a. Kevin M. Blakely

 

1b. Cynthia A. Glassman

 

1c. Julie M. Howard

 

1d. Stephan A. James

 

1e. Rudina Seseri

 

1f. Michael L. Tipsord

 

1g. Kathleen E. Walsh

 

1h. Jeffrey W. Yingling

 

1i. Randy H. Zwirn

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

 

For

 

 

 

   

 

Against

 

 

 

   

 

Abstain

 

 

 

   
             

 

2.  Proposal to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers, as disclosed in the Proxy Statement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   
                       
             

 

3.  Proposal to ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2018.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   
                       
              NOTE: The proxies will vote in their discretion upon any other business properly brought before the meeting, or any adjournments or postponements of the meeting.          
                       
                       
             

 

 

Investor Address Line 1

                           
             

Investor Address Line 2

         
   

 

 

 

Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) hereon. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, or other fiduciary, please give full title as such. Joint owners should each sign personally. All holders must sign. If a corporation or partnership, please sign in full corporate or partnership name, by an authorized officer.

 

 

Investor Address Line 3

Investor Address Line 4

Investor Address Line 5

John Sample

1234 ANYWHERE STREET

ANY CITY, ON A1A 1A1

                           
                         
                      JOB #                        

SHARES

CUSIP 

 

# 

   
       

Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX]

 

    

 

Date

 

 

 

                  

Signature (Joint Owners)

 

   

 

Date

 

 

 

           

 

SEQUENCE 

 

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Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting: The Notice and Proxy Statement and Annual Report are available at www.ViewOurMaterial.com/NCI

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NAVIGANT CONSULTING, INC.

Annual Meeting of Shareholders - June 15, 2018

THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

   
 

LOGO  

 

 

The undersigned shareholder(s) of Navigant Consulting, Inc., a Delaware corporation, hereby acknowledge(s) receipt of the Notice & Proxy Statement and Annual Report and hereby appoint(s) Stephen R. Lieberman and Monica M. Weed, and each of them, as proxies and attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, on behalf and in the name of the undersigned, to represent the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Navigant Consulting, Inc., to be held at 150 North Riverside Plaza, Conference Center – Lower Level, Chicago, Illinois 60606 on June 15, 2018, at 10:00 A.M., Central Time, and at any adjournment or postponement thereof, and to vote all shares of common stock that the undersigned would be entitled to vote if personally present, on all matters set forth on the reverse side.

 

The shares represented by this proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned. If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted in accordance with the Board of Directors’ recommendations. If any other matters properly come before the meeting, the persons named in this proxy will vote in their discretion.

 

PLEASE MARK, SIGN AND DATE THIS PROXY AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.

 

 

Continued and to be marked, signed and dated on the reverse side.