Item 11. Executive Compensation
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Item 11. Executive Compensation
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
Overview
2019 Named Executive Officers. This Compensation Discussion and Analysis describes Expedia Group’s executive compensation program as it relates to the following individuals who are “named executive officers” of Expedia Group for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019:
| Name | Position With Expedia Group, Inc. |
| Barry Diller | Chairman/Senior Executive |
| Peter Kern | Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer |
| Robert Dzielak | Chief Legal Officer and Secretary |
| Eric Hart | Chief Financial Officer and Chief Strategy Officer |
| Lance Soliday | Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Controller |
| Mark Okerstrom | Former President and Chief Executive Officer |
| Alan Pickerill | Former Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer |
2019 Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Changes. On December 3, 2019, the Board of Directors accepted the resignation of Mark Okerstrom as Expedia Group’s President, Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors and of Alan Pickerill as Expedia Group’s Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, in each case effective immediately. The Board also approved the appointment of Eric Hart to serve as acting Chief Financial Officer, succeeding Mr. Pickerill, while continuing to serve as Expedia Group’s Chief Strategy Officer. In connection with these changes, Chairman of the Board and Senior Executive, Barry Diller, and Vice Chairman of the Board, Peter Kern, agreed to jointly preside over the Company’s day to day operations. Compensation arrangements for Messrs. Okerstrom and Pickerill in connection with these changes are described in the section below titled “Severance - Okerstrom and Pickerill Severance.”
Compensation Program Philosophy and Objectives
Expedia Group’s executive compensation program is designed to attract, motivate, retain and reward highly skilled executives with the business experience and acumen that we believe are necessary for achievement of Expedia Group’s long-term business objectives. We support a pay for performance culture where employees are rewarded for individual, business and overall company success. The executive compensation program is designed to reward short- and long-term performance and to align the financial interests of executive officers with the interests of our stockholders. To that end, we believe that compensation packages provided to executive officers should generally include both annual cash (including performance-based bonus opportunities) and a significant longer-term equity-based component. We evaluate both performance and compensation levels to ensure that:
| • | Expedia Group maintains its ability to attract and retain outstanding employees in executive positions; |
| • | the compensation provided to Expedia Group’s executives remains competitive with the compensation paid to similarly situated executives at comparable companies; and |
| • | Expedia Group’s compensation programs are applied in an internally consistent manner and fall within pre-established cash and equity compensation budgets. |
Roles of the Compensation Committee and Section 16 Committee
Historically, Expedia Group has had a Compensation Committee and a Section 16 Committee that together had primary responsibility for establishing the compensation of Expedia Group’s named executive officers. The Compensation Committee was responsible for (i) administering and overseeing Expedia Group’s executive compensation program, including salary matters, bonus plans and equity compensation plans, and (ii) approving all grants of equity awards, but excluding matters governed by Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act. The Section 16 Committee was responsible for administering and overseeing matters governed by Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, including approving grants of equity awards to executive officers. The Board of Directors disbanded the Section 16 Committee, effective July 26, 2019 and approved amendments to the Compensation Committee charter on September 10, 2019. For additional details regarding the amended Compensation Committee charter, as well as changes to the composition of the Compensation Committee, see “Board Committees - Compensation Committee” and “Board Committees - Section 16 Committee” in Item 10, “Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.”
The Compensation Committee is appointed by the Board of Directors and, with the exception of Ms. Coe during her tenure, each member satisfied the independence requirements for Compensation Committee members under the current standards imposed by the rules of the SEC and Nasdaq. The Section 16 Committee was also appointed by the Board of Directors and consisted entirely of directors who were “non-employee directors” for purposes of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act. For the purposes of this Compensation Discussion and Analysis, we refer to the Compensation Committee and Section 16 Committee collectively as the “Compensation Committees.”
Role of Executive Officers
Expedia Group management participates in reviewing and refining Expedia Group’s executive compensation program. In the first quarter of 2019, Mr. Diller and Mr. Okerstrom, then the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, met with the Compensation Committees to discuss their views on corporate performance, individual executive officer performance, and compensation packages for the executive team. Mr. Okerstrom reviewed with the Compensation Committees the performance of Expedia Group and each named executive officer, other than himself and Messrs. Diller and Kern, and made recommendations with respect to the appropriate base salary, annual cash bonus and grants of long-term equity incentive awards. Mr. Diller met separately with the Compensation Committees to discuss his own, Mr. Kern’s and Mr. Okerstrom’s performance, and to recommend an appropriate compensation package for Messrs. Kern and Okerstrom. The Compensation Committees then discussed each recommendation, with each of Messrs. Diller and Okerstrom absent when his respective compensation is discussed. After considering these recommendations and other considerations discussed below, the Compensation Committees determined the annual compensation package for each executive officer.
In the first quarter of 2020, a similar process was followed with respect to approval of the executive officer’s annual cash bonuses for 2019, except that Mr. Diller and Mr. Kern discussed corporate performance, individual executive officer performance and recommended compensation.
Role of Compensation Consultants
In connection with the Company’s annual compensation review meetings in each of 2019 and 2020, Compensia, Inc., an independent compensation consulting firm, was retained to conduct an independent review of the prior year’s compensation peer group for positions held by executive officers and to compile data from proxy statements and other SEC filings of peer
companies regarding compensation for executive officer positions, where available. Compensia also advised the Compensation Committees with regard to a performance-based restricted stock unit award granted to Mr. Kern in March 2019, which is discussed below in the section titled “Compensation Program Elements-Equity Compensation.” Expedia Group also regularly uses non-customized survey or other data from a number of compensation consulting firms. A more detailed description of the compensation peer group review and use of survey and other data provided by compensation consultants is included below in the section titled “Role of Peer Groups, Surveys and Benchmarking.”
Role of Stockholder Say-on-Pay Votes
Expedia Group provides its stockholders with the opportunity to cast a triennial advisory vote on executive compensation (“say-on-pay”), which reflects the preference expressed by our stockholders in 2017 with respect to the frequency of the say-on-pay vote. At Expedia Group’s annual meeting of stockholders held in June 2017, 76% of the votes cast on the say-on-pay proposal at that meeting were voted in favor of the proposal. The Compensation Committee believes that the vote reflected stockholder support of Expedia Group’s approach to executive compensation, and, as such, did not make changes based on the 2017 vote. Stockholders will again have an opportunity to cast a say-on-pay vote at the 2020 Annual Meeting. Expedia Group management continues to engage in dialogue with many of the Company’s largest stockholders, and the Compensation Committees will continue to consider stockholder feedback and the results of the Company’s say-on-pay votes when making future compensation decisions for the Company’s executive officers.
Role of Peer Groups, Surveys and Benchmarking
Multiple data sources are considered when reviewing compensation information to ensure that the data reflect compensation practices of relevant companies in terms of size, industry and geographic location. Among other factors, the following information, when available, is considered when establishing compensation for executive officers:
| • | Data regarding compensation for comparable executive officer positions from recent proxy statements and other SEC filings of peer companies, which include: |
| ◦ | direct industry competitors, |
| ◦ | non-industry companies with which Expedia Group commonly competes for talent (including both regional and national competitors), and |
| ◦ | data regarding compensation levels for all our employees; and |
| • | Data from salary and equity compensation surveys that include companies of a similar size, based on market capitalization, revenues and other factors. |
In light of his role as both Chairman and Senior Executive of Expedia Group, a separate peer group comprised of executives in broadly comparable roles is considered with respect to Mr. Diller’s compensation.
When available, competitive market compensation paid by other peer group companies is considered, but the Compensation Committee does not attempt to maintain a certain target percentile within the peer group or otherwise rely solely on such data. Management and the Compensation Committee strive to incorporate flexibility into the compensation programs and the assessment process to respond to and adjust for the evolving business environment and the value delivered by the executive officers.
In addition, we review each of our peer groups annually. For both 2019 and 2020, we engaged Compensia to conduct an initial review and make recommendations regarding peer group changes. In each case, the Compensation Committees then considered any proposed changes prior to approving the peer groups for the upcoming year.
2019 Peer Groups
In connection with the Compensation Committees’ approval of executive officer base salary and equity compensation during 2019, which is discussed below in the sections titled “Compensation Program Elements-Base Salary” and “Compensation Program Elements-Equity Compensation,” data regarding compensation for comparable executive officer positions at the following peer companies were considered:
Executive Officer Peer Group (other than Chairman/Senior Executive):
| Activision Blizzard, Inc. | Intuit Inc. |
| Alliance Data Systems Corporation. | Marriott International Inc. |
| Booking Holdings, Inc | PayPal Holdings, Inc. |
| eBay, Inc. | salesforce.com, inc. |
| Electronic Arts Inc. | TripAdvisor, Inc. |
| First Data Corporation | VMware, Inc |
| Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc. | Zillow Group, Inc |
Chairman/Senior Executive Peer Group:
| Booking Holdings, Inc. | Marriott International, Inc. |
| Charles Schwab | News Corporation |
| DISH Network Corporation | Twitter, Inc. |
| Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. | Starbucks Corporation |
| Hyatt Hotels Corporation | Zillow Group, Inc. |
2020 Peer Groups
In connection with the Compensation Committee’s approval of executive officer cash bonuses for 2019, which were approved in the first quarter of 2020 and are discussed below in the section titled “Compensation Program Elements-Cash Bonuses,” the Compensation Committee considered data from the same peer groups other than the following changes:
Executive Officer Peer Group (other than Chairman/Senior Executive):
| • | The removal of First Data Corporation due to its recent acquisition, as well as PayPal Holdings, Inc. and salesforce.com, inc. to better align on relative market capitalization, and |
| • | The addition of CenturyLink, Inc., Carnival Corporation & plc and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., CBS Corporation, Discovery, Inc., Live Nation Entertainment, Inc., Twitter, Inc. and Uber Technologies, Inc. to bolster the size of the group to ensure robust market data for a range of executive positions, and to better align on relative size and value including criteria such as revenue and market capitalization. |
Chairman/Senior Executive Peer Group:
| • | The removal of Booking Holdings, Inc., Starbucks Corporation and Zillow Group, Inc. as in each case the executive chair had transitioned out of that role, as well as Twitter, Inc. because Twitter no longer publicly files compensation data for its executive chair; and |
| • | The addition of Best Buy Co., Inc., Carnival Corporation & plc, and Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. as each had a comparable executive chair role and to ensure that the peer group remains robust. |
Compensation Program Elements
General
The primary elements of the executive compensation program are base salary, cash bonus, equity compensation and, in certain instances, perquisites and other benefits. The Compensation Committee reviews these elements in the first quarter of each year in light of Company and individual performance, recommendations from management and other relevant information, including prior compensation history and outstanding long-term compensation arrangements. Management and the Compensation Committee believe that there are multiple, dynamic factors that contribute to success at an individual and business level and have therefore avoided adopting strict formulas and relied primarily on a discretionary approach that allows the Compensation Committee to set executive compensation levels on a case-by-case basis, taking into account all factors the Compensation Committee considers relevant.
Following recommendations from management, the Compensation Committee may adjust compensation for executive officers at other times during the year including when executives are hired or appointed, when there are significant changes in their responsibilities, in connection with their entry into new or extended employment agreements, or under other circumstances that the Compensation Committee considers appropriate.
Base Salary
Base salary represents the fixed portion of an executive officer’s compensation and is intended to provide compensation for expected day-to-day performance. An executive officer’s base salary is initially determined upon hire or promotion based on the executive officer’s responsibilities, prior experience, and salary levels of other executives within Expedia Group and similarly situated executives at comparable companies. Mr. Kern has not received a base salary since his appointment as an executive officer of the Company in June 2018.
Base salary is typically reviewed annually, at the time of the executive’s hire, promotion or expansion in responsibilities, or entry into a multi-year employment agreement, at which time management makes recommendations to the Compensation Committee based on consideration of a variety of factors, including:
| • | the executive’s total compensation relative to other executives in similarly situated positions; |
| • | individual performance of the executive; |
| • | the executive’s responsibilities, prior experience, including any additional compensation such as signing bonuses or relocation benefits; |
| • | the terms of the executive’s employment agreement, if any; |
| • | general economic conditions and specific company financial performance; |
| • | competitive compensation market data, when available; and |
| • | the recommendations of the Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, or Chairman/Senior Executive other than in connection with their own compensation |
2019 Annual Compensation Review. In February 2019, the Compensation Committee approved an increase in Mr. Pickerill’s base salary from $525,000 to $575,000, reflecting his performance since initially being appointed as the Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in September 2017, and an increase in Mr. Soliday’s base salary from $329,600 to $339,488, reflecting a standard market-based increase. Base salaries for Messrs. Diller, Okerstrom and Dzielak remained unchanged. Mr. Hart’s base salary was $425,000 at the time of his appointment as acting Chief Financial Officer and was not changed in connection with his assumption of that role.
Annual Cash Bonuses
Cash bonuses are granted to recognize and reward an individual’s annual contribution to Company performance. Bonus target percentages for executive officers, other than the Chairman/Senior Executive, Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, are generally established by the Compensation Committee, based on the recommendation of management, at the time of the executive’s hire, promotion, expansion in responsibilities, or entry into a multi-year employment agreement, and generally take into account the scope of an executive’s responsibilities and comparative market data.
Bonus target percentages for executives other than the Chairman/Senior Executive, Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer are generally reviewed by the Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer with the approval of the Chairman/Senior Executive and the Compensation Committee. In addition to annual bonuses related to performance, management may also recommend that the Compensation Committee grant bonuses to new executive officers upon hire or existing executive officers upon promotion or in connection with contractual severance rights. Expedia Group utilizes new hire bonuses to help attract highly skilled executives to Expedia Group and to offset an executive’s loss of incentive compensation from a prior employer.
At the time of the Compensation Committee’s approval of the 2019 cash bonuses to executive officers in February 2020, Mr. Dzielak had a target cash bonus of 100% of his base salary, Mr. Hart had a target cash bonus of 80% of his base salary, and Mr. Soliday had a target cash bonus of 50% of his base salary. At the time of his resignation as Chief Financial Officer of the Company in December 2019, Mr. Pickerill had a target cash bonus of 80% of his base salary. Mr. Diller does not, and Mr. Okerstrom during his tenure as Chief Executive Officer, did not have a target cash bonus percentage as their base salaries tended to be lower than executives in comparable roles and their annual bonus payments were highly variable. Mr. Kern has not received a salary or cash bonus since his appointment as an executive officer of the Company in June 2018.
When approving annual bonuses for executive officers, the Compensation Committee takes into account a variety of factors, including:
| • | Expedia Group’s business and financial performance, including year-over-year performance; |
| • | the executive’s target cash bonus percentage, if any; |
| • | the executive’s individual performance; |
| • | the terms of the executive’s employment agreement or separation arrangements, if applicable; |
| • | the overall funding of the cash bonus pool; |
| • | amount of bonus relative to other Company executives; |
| • | general economic conditions; |
| • | competitive compensation market data, when available; and |
| • | the recommendations of the Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer and Chairman/Senior Executive, which do not include recommendations regarding their own compensation. |
2019 Annual Cash Bonuses
On February 28, 2020, the Compensation Committee approved annual cash bonuses for Messrs. Dzielak, Hart and Soliday relating to performance in 2019. Consistent with his compensation structure since his appointment as Vice Chairman, Mr. Kern did not receive a 2019 cash bonus and Mr. Diller indicated to the Compensation Committee that he did not wish to be considered for an annual bonus for 2019.
The Compensation Committee considered a variety of factors when approving 2019 bonuses, including the factors noted above, with a particular focus on the Company’s 2019 full-year financial performance, including an 8% increase in revenue, an 8% increase in adjusted EBITDA, and a 6% increase in adjusted earnings per share growth, which in each case represented a significant deceleration in growth as compared with the prior-year period. The Compensation Committee also took into account the relative contributions made during the year by each named executive officer who received a cash bonus, including: (i) with respect to Mr. Dzielak, his consistent executive leadership in a time of significant change at senior management levels while continuing to oversee the Company’s legal and regulatory functions in a dynamic and evolving landscape, (ii) with respect to Mr. Hart, the performance of the business segment he led prior to his appointment as an executive officer, and (iii) with respect to Mr. Soliday, his solid performance overseeing the Company’s worldwide accounting function. Based on the totality of these considerations, the 2019 bonus awards to each of the named executive officers varied as a percentage of their target bonus values, but in all cases were significantly lower than the prior year in light on the Company’s 2019 financial performance as compared to the prior year. In addition, consistent with his employment agreement, Mr. Pickerill received a cash bonus for 2019 in connection with his termination of employment, which his described below in the section titled “Severance - Okerstrom and Pickerill 2019 Severance.”
Executive officer bonuses tend to be variable from year-to-year depending on the performance of the Company and individual factors including individual performance, changes in responsibilities or base salaries and target bonus percentages. Accordingly, we believe our executive officer bonus program provides strong incentives to reach the Company’s goals. The following table reflects 2019 target bonus percentages and values (taking into account salary and target bonus percentage changes during 2019), as well as actual 2019 bonuses paid for each named executive officer:
| Target Bonus Percentage | Target Bonus Value | 2019 Annual Cash Bonus | |
| Barry Diller | -- | -- | $0 |
| Peter Kern | -- | -- | $0 |
| Robert Dzielak | 100% | $700,000 | $700,000 |
| Eric Hart | 80% | $210,042 | $100,000 |
| Lance Soliday | 50% | $168,920 | $127,000 |
| Mark Okerstrom | -- | -- | $0 |
| Alan Pickerill | 80% | $422,419 | $336,000 |
The cash bonuses described above are reflected in the “Bonus” column of the table titled “2019 Summary Compensation Table” in the section below titled “Executive Compensation.”
Equity Compensation
Equity compensation is designed to align executive compensation with the interests of our stockholders and the long-term performance of Expedia Group. Equity compensation awards link compensation to financial performance because the value of equity awards ultimately depends on Expedia Group’s stock price. In 2020, to further strengthen the alignment of equity compensation to Company performance, the Company adopted broad-based awards of performance-based restricted stock units
to senior executives. Equity compensation awards are also an important employee retention tool because they generally vest over a multi-year period, subject to continued service by the award recipient.
Equity awards are typically granted to executive officers upon hire, promotion, in connection with the Company’s annual compensation review or entry into a multi-year employment agreement. Until 2018, stock option awards were generally utilized as Expedia Group’s primary equity compensation vehicle for executives, but restricted stock units (“RSUs”) were also utilized from time to time at the time of hire to replace forfeited equity of a prior employer and pursuant to individually negotiated arrangements and special circumstances. In connection with the 2017 annual compensation review process, the Company introduced a new program that permitted employees below senior management levels to elect to receive equity compensation in the form of stock options, RSUs, or a combination of both and the equity choice program was expanded to include senior executives of the Company, other than the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, in connection with the 2018 annual compensation review process.
In 2019, the Company transitioned to the use of RSUs as the primary equity compensation vehicle for all employees, including executives. The transition was made in part as a response to the preferences expressed by employees under the equity choice program and in order to ensure the Company remains competitive in recruiting, motivating and retaining talented executives and employees, particularly against key local labor competitors and to reduce the dilutive impact of equity awards made to our executives (relative to stock options), while still aligning the interests of our executives with those of our stockholders.
From time-to-time, stock option and RSU awards granted to our senior executives have also been made subject to stock price performance goals in order to further align our executives’ interests with our pay-for-performance objectives and those of our stockholders. Most recently, senior executives received 50% of their fiscal year 2020 annual equity compensation awards in the form of performance-based restricted stock units (“PSUs”). A base number of PSUs was communicated to each executive, with ultimate settlement based on the compound annual stock price growth rate using the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the grant date as the starting price and an ending price based on a 30-day trailing average through December 31, 2021 for 50% of the PSUs and through December 31, 2022 for the remaining 50% of the PSUs. The following are the payout percentages for the 2020 PSU awards, with payout percentages between points determined by linear interpolation:
| Compound Annual Growth Rate | Payout % |
| <5% | 0% for Mr. Kern 50% for Executives other than Mr. Kern |
| 5% | 50% |
| 10% | 100% |
| 15% or higher | 150% |
We expect to continue to evaluate the appropriate form of equity-based incentive awards as market conditions evolve.
Annual Review Equity Award Process. Management generally recommends annual equity awards in the first quarter of each year when the Compensation Committee meets to make determinations regarding annual bonuses for the last completed fiscal year and to set compensation levels for the current fiscal year. The meeting at which the Compensation Committee approves these awards is generally scheduled several months in advance and timed to occur after the public disclosure of Expedia Group’s prior year financial statements.
The Compensation Committee reviews various factors considered by management when establishing Expedia Group’s equity grant pool, which for 2019 included:
| • | Expedia Group’s 2018 business and financial performance; |
| • | potential dilution rates, taking into account projected headcount changes and employee turnover; |
| • | non-cash compensation as a percentage of adjusted EBITDA; |
| • | equity compensation utilization by peer companies; |
| • | general economic conditions; and |
| • | competitive compensation market data regarding individual executive award values. |
For specific grants to executive officers, management makes recommendations based on a variety of factors, including:
| • | individual performance, scope of role and future potential of the executive; |
| • | the overall size of the equity grant pool; |
| • | individual award value relative to other Company executives for purposes of assessing internal pay equity; |
| • | the grant date and realizable value of previous grants and amount of outstanding unvested equity awards; |
| • | competitive compensation market data, where comparable; and |
| • | the recommendations of the Chairman, Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, as applicable other than in connection with their own compensation. |
Prior to July 26, 2019, the Section 16 Committee approved the grants of equity compensation to executive officers and the Compensation Committee approved grants of equity compensation to non-executive officers. Since July 26, 2019, the Compensation Committee approves all grants of equity compensation, although no grants were made between July 26, 2019 and September 10, 2019. The annual corporate performance factors relevant to setting bonus amounts, while considered, are generally less relevant in determining the type and level of equity awards, as the awards tend to be more forward looking, and are a longer-term retention and reward instrument relative to our annual bonuses.
February 2019 Annual Review Equity Awards for Executive Officers other than Mr. Kern. In February 2019, the Company completed its 2019 annual compensation review process and each of the named executive officers other than Mr. Kern received an award of RSUs that vest 25% on February 15, 2020 and an additional 6.25% on the 15th day of the second month of each of the next 12 fiscal quarters. In connection with the annual review stock awards granted to the named executive officers, the Section 16 Committee reviewed, with input from Mr. Okerstrom in the case of Messrs. Dzielak and Soliday, and Mr. Diller in the case of Mr. Okerstrom, the individual performance of each executive and the factors described above in relation to the establishment of the Expedia Group-wide equity grant pool and specific equity award grants. As he was not then an executive officer of the Company, the Compensation Committee approved Mr. Hart’s annual equity award only, based on management’s recommendation.
March 2019 Annual Review Equity Award for Mr. Kern. In March 2019, the Section 16 Committee also approved the following long-term equity grants to Mr. Kern, the vesting of which are subject to Mr. Kern’s continued employment or provision of services to the Company:
| • | an award of 30,000 RSUs that vest on February 28, 2022, subject to satisfaction of a stock price goal of $180 (a 48% increase to the closing price of Expedia Group’s common stock on the date of grant), measured on the basis of the average of the closing prices of the Company’s common stock for either the six or twelve-month period immediately preceding February 28, 2022 (the “First Kern Award”); and |
| • | an award of 20,000 RSUs that vest on February 28, 2022, subject to satisfaction of a stock price goal of $200 (a 64% increase to the closing price of Expedia Group’s common stock on the date of grant), measured on the basis of the average of the closing prices of the Company’s common stock for either the six or twelve-month period immediately preceding February 28, 2022 (the “Second Kern Award” and together with the First Kern Award, the “Kern RSU Awards”) |
Upon a termination of Mr. Kern’s employment by the Company without cause (other than by reason of his death or disability) or resignation by Mr. Kern for Good Reason, the Kern RSU Awards will vest on a pro-rated basis for each full month from the date of grant to the first anniversary of the termination date and subject to the achievement of the applicable stock price goal. For the purposes of the Kern RSU Awards only, the definition of good reason includes (in addition to other triggers) the current Chairman and Senior Executive no longer serving in that or a similar role.
In approving the Kern RSU Awards, the Section 16 Committee considered the factors described above in relation to the establishment of the Expedia Group-wide equity grant pool and specific equity award grants, as well as Mr. Kern’s participation in strategic oversight of the Company and the fact that he does not receive either a base salary or cash bonus compensation*.* As a result of the stock price performance goals applied to the Kern RSU Awards, which represent Mr. Kern’s entire 2019 Expedia Group executive compensation package, and the Company’s subsequent stock price performance, the current realizable value of Mr. Kern’s 2019 compensation is $0, further demonstrating alignment of executive compensation with the interests of stockholders and the long-term performance of Expedia Group.
December 2019 Promotion RSU Award for Mr. Hart and Retention RSU Award for Mr. Dzielak. On December 6, 2019, Mr. Dzielak and Mr. Hart each received an award of 2 and 3-year cliff vest RSUs in connection with the Company’s organizational restructuring. Mr. Hart’s RSU award related to his appointment to the role of Chief Strategy Officer and Mr. Dzielak’s award was a retention award that recognized his key executive leadership role within the Company’s new organizational structure.
The 2019 equity grants to the named executive officers described above are reflected in the table titled “2019 Grants of Plan-Based Awards” in the section below titled “Executive Compensation.”
Other Compensation
In addition to the primary elements of compensation (base salary, cash bonuses and equity awards) described above, the named executive officers may also receive compensation in the following forms:
| • | 401(k) Match: All domestic Expedia Group employees, including executives, who participate in Expedia Group’s 401(k) Retirement Program are eligible for Company matching contributions. Expedia Group matches 50% of each dollar a participant contributes, up to the first 6% of eligible compensation, subject to applicable Internal Revenue Service limits. |
| • | Personal Use of Corporate Aircraft: Executives may receive benefits attributable to the personal use of certain aircraft, including aircraft jointly owned by Expedia Group and IAC. Pursuant to Company policy, Mr. Diller is required to travel on corporate aircraft for business and personal purposes, and the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and other senior executives are encouraged to travel on corporate aircraft for business and personal purposes when doing so would serve the interests of the Company. In addition to serving general security interests, this means of travel permits Mr. Diller and other executives to travel non-stop and without delay, to remain in contact with Expedia Group while traveling, to change plans quickly in the event Company business requires, and to conduct confidential Company business while flying, be it telephonically, by email or in person. These interests are furthered on both business and personal flights, as Mr. Diller and other executives typically provide services to Expedia Group while traveling in either case. Nonetheless, the incremental cost to Expedia Group of each executive’s travel for personal purposes during 2019 is reflected as compensation from Expedia Group, and is taken into account in establishing each executive’s overall compensation package. For personal use of Company-owned aircraft during 2019, Mr. Okerstrom reimbursed the Company for the incremental cost to the Company of his personal use of the aircraft. See the disclosure under the section “Relationships Involving Significant Stockholders, Named Executives and Directors-Relationships Involving Mr. Okerstrom” in Item 13, “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions, and Director Independence.” |
| • | Security. From time to time the Company may provide personal security services to executive officers based on the recommendations of our security personnel. During 2019, the Company provided such services to Mr. Okerstrom in connection with his personal travel on one occasion. |
In addition, in light of Mr. Diller’s senior role at both companies, Expedia Group and IAC have agreed to share certain expenses associated with the provision of personal benefits to Mr. Diller, including the use of automobiles for personal purposes and certain office space and IT equipment used by individuals who work for Mr. Diller personally. Expedia Group and IAC each cover 50% of the costs, which reflects the current allocation of actual time spent by Mr. Diller between the two companies.
Other Executive Compensation Practices and Policies
Stock Ownership Policy
To further align the interests of Expedia Group senior management and Expedia Group stockholders, the Company has adopted a Stock Ownership Policy that specifies a number of shares that the Chief Executive Officer and members of the Company’s senior leadership team (other than the Chairman and Vice Chairman) are expected to accumulate and hold by the later of five years from the date of hire or promotion into an eligible position (the “Ownership Target Date”). Unexercised stock options and unvested RSUs are not counted toward compliance with the minimum stockholding target.
The Stock Ownership Policy also includes stock retention provisions. Prior to the Ownership Target Date, if eligible executives have not met their stockholding requirement, they are required to retain 25% of the net shares received from any exercised options or any vested restricted stock units until they have met their stockholding target. “Net shares” are the shares remaining after payment of the exercise price and/or withholding of taxes. If executives subject to the Stock Ownership Policy have not met their stockholding requirement on the Ownership Target Date, the net-share retention percentage may be increased until they have met their minimum stockholding target.
The Stock Ownership Policy minimum stockholding targets in effect for the named executive officers in 2019 were 200,000 shares for Mr. Okerstrom, 60,000 shares for Messrs. Dzielak, Hart and Pickerill, and 15,000 for Mr. Soliday. Messrs. Dzielak and Soliday have not met their respective minimum stockholding targets and are therefore required to retain 25% of the net shares received from any exercised options or vesting of RSU awards.
Hedging & Pledging Policy
The Expedia Group Securities Trading Policy prohibits employees, including executive officers and directors, from engaging in short sales with respect to Expedia Group securities or the purchase, sale or issuance of options or rights relating to Expedia Group securities. This prohibition extends to various forms of hedging or monetization transactions. While not prohibited, pledges of Expedia Group securities by employees, including executive officers and directors, require pre-approval by the Company’s legal department.
Incentive Compensation Clawback Policy
In March 2018, the Board of Directors adopted, and delegated authority to the Compensation Committee to administer, an Incentive Clawback Policy that applies to compensation granted to current and former executives after January 1, 2018. The Incentive Clawback Policy provides that in the event of either (i) a material accounting restatement resulting from material noncompliance with financial reporting requirements, or (ii) misconduct that involves a material violation of law or the Company’s policies resulting in significant harm to the Company, the Compensation Committee is authorized to recover any excess incentive compensation that was received by certain employees, including current and former executive officers, taking into account such factors as the Compensation Committee deems appropriate. In addition, equity award agreements for all employees, including the named executive officers, provide for the recovery of equity-based compensation realized during the two years prior to an employee’s termination of employment for cause.
Tax Deductibility of Compensation
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) generally imposes a $1 million limit on the amount that a public company may deduct for compensation paid to the company’s applicable named executives. Prior to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “Tax Act”), this limitation did not apply to compensation that met the tax code requirements for “qualifying performance-based” compensation. Following enactment of the Tax Act, compensation paid to our applicable executive officers in excess of $1 million will not be deductible, subject to an exception for specified compensation provided pursuant to a binding written contract in effect as of November 2, 2017 that meets the requirement for grandfathered treatment. Additionally, under applicable Internal Revenue Service rules, the personal use of corporate aircraft leads to a disallowance of the deduction by Expedia Group for tax purposes of certain airplane-related costs. The Compensation Committee intends to continue to consider the potential impact of Section 162(m) of the Code on compensation decisions, but believes that stockholder interests are best served if its discretion and flexibility in awarding compensation is not restricted, even though some compensation awards may result in non-deductible compensation expenses.
Change in Control
Under the Expedia Group Fourth Amended and Restated 2005 Stock and Annual Incentive Plan (the “Expedia Group 2005 Plan”), the named executive officers are entitled to accelerated vesting of equity awards in the event of a change in control of Expedia Group. The Compensation Committee has approved changes to the Expedia Group 2005 Plan that would limit the circumstances entitling executive officers to accelerated vesting of future equity awards in the event of a change in control. The Board intends to submit the amendment to the Expedia Group 2005 Plan including such changes as a proposal for stockholder approval at the 2020 Annual Meeting.
Severance
Employment Agreements. Each of Messrs. Dzielak and Hart have, and Messrs. Okerstrom and Pickerill had prior to their termination of employment, employment agreements with Expedia Group pursuant to which, in the event of a qualifying termination and subject to the executive executing a release of claims agreement:
| • | Expedia Group will continue to pay base salary to (i) Messrs. Okerstrom and Pickerill through the longer of the end of the term of the employment agreement (subject to a maximum of 36 months for Mr. Okerstrom only) and 12 months, (ii) to Mr. Dzielak for 12 months, except that Expedia Group may, at its sole discretion, choose to extend the payment period to 18 months (whether 12 or 18 months, the “Dzielak Continuation Period”), and (iii) to Mr. Hart for 12 months, in each case payable in equal biweekly installments and provided that such payments will be offset by any amount earned by the executive from another employer during the relevant period; |
| • | Expedia Group will consider in good faith the payment of discretionary bonuses on a pro rata basis for the year in which termination of employment occurs, payable in a lump sum at the time such annual bonus would otherwise have been paid; |
| • | Expedia Group will pay an amount equal to COBRA health insurance coverage for a period of 12 months for Messrs. Okerstrom, Pickerill and Hart, and for the Dzielak Continuation Period for Mr. Dzielak, in each case payable in a lump sum; |
| • | except as described below with respect to certain long-term incentive stock option awards, all equity holdings that otherwise would have vested during the 12-month period following termination of employment will accelerate, provided that equity awards that vest less frequently than annually will be treated as though such awards vested annually; and |
| • | Messrs. Okerstrom, Pickerill, Dzielak and Hart will have 18 months following the date of termination to exercise any vested stock options (including stock options accelerated pursuant to the terms of the executive’s employment agreement) or, if earlier, through the scheduled expiration date of the options. |
Non-Competition & Non-Solicitation Provisions. Messrs. Okerstrom, Pickerill, Dzielak and Hart will be restricted from competing with the Company and from soliciting Company employees and business partners during a period following termination of their employment for any reason. For Messrs. Okerstrom and Pickerill the applicable non-compete and non-solicitation period is the longer of the term of their employment agreement and eighteen months, for Mr. Dzielak it is the Dzielak Continuation Period, and for Mr. Hart it is 12 months.
Offset Provisions. Any cash payments made in connection with the severance provisions described above will be offset by any cash amounts earned from other employers during the applicable time period.
Equity Award Agreements. Upon an executive’s termination of employment by the Company without cause (other than by reason of death or disability) or resignation by the executive for good reason, certain equity awards vest on a pro-rated basis for each full month from the date of grant to the applicable termination date (or, in the case of Messrs. Okerstrom and Kern only, the first anniversary of the termination date) and, in the case of such equity awards subject to satisfaction of a stock price goal, subject to the achievement of such stock price goal. Equity awards with special monthly pro-rated severance provisions include:
| • | performance-based and service-based stock options granted to Mr. Okerstrom on March 7, 2016; |
| • | performance-based options granted to Mr. Okerstrom on September 15, 2017; |
| • | performance-based options granted to Messrs. Okerstrom, Dzielak and Pickerill on March 2, 2018; |
| • | cliff-vest options granted to Messrs. Dzielak and Pickerill on March 2, 2018; and |
| • | cliff-vest RSUs granted to Mr. Kern on August 17, 2018 and March 7, 2019. |
The foregoing arrangements are intended to attract and retain qualified executives who may have other employment alternatives that may appear to them to be less risky absent these arrangements.
Death or Disability. In August 2019, the Compensation Committee amended the terms of all outstanding equity awards, including those held by the named executive officers, to provide for the accelerated vesting of unvested equity awards held by an employee in the event of a termination of employment due to death or disability (as such termination is described in the Expedia Group 2005 Plan), provided that the aggregate value of all such accelerated awards held by an employee upon his or her death or disability may not exceed $1,000,000.
Okerstrom and Pickerill 2019 Severance. In connection with their respective qualifying terminations in December 2019, Messrs. Okerstrom and Pickerill each executed a release of claims agreement and received the contractual benefits described above. Having considered in good faith the payment of discretionary bonuses on a pro rata basis, Mr. Pickerill received a 2019 cash bonus payment of $336,000 a 34% reduction from the prior year and Mr. Okerstrom did not receive a 2019 cash bonus payment. For Messrs. Okerstrom and Pickerill the 2019 business payments reflected their respective roles and the Company’s 2019 financial and operating performance.
For a description and quantification of these termination and change in control benefits, please see the section below titled “Executive Compensation-Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control.”
Recent Developments. In the first quarter of 2020, Mr. Diller elected to forego his base salary for the remainder of 2020 in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Mr. Kern agreed to continue to forego his base salary. In addition, Mr. Diller did not receive an annual equity award in connection with the 2020 annual compensation review process. As noted above, neither Mr. Diller nor Mr. Kern received a cash bonus with respect to 2019.
On April 23, 2020, the Company announced that the Expedia Group Board of Directors had unanimously approved the appointment of Peter Kern as Expedia Group’s Chief Executive Officer, and the appointment of Eric Hart as Expedia Group’s Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Kern continues to also serve as Vice Chairman and as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors and Mr. Hart continues to also serve as the Company’s Chief Strategy Officer. On the same date, the Company also announced that base salaries for Expedia Group’s senior executives would be reduced by 25% for the remainder of 2020.
Compensation Committee Report
The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis. Based on this review and discussions with management, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 and in the Company’s 2020 proxy statement.
Members of the Compensation Committee:
Chelsea Clinton (Chair)
Craig A. Jacobson
2019 Summary Compensation Table
The table below sets forth certain information regarding the total compensation earned by our named executive officers in 2019, as well as equity awards made to our named executive officers during 2019.
| Name and Principal Position | Year | Salary ($)****(1) | Bonus ($)****(2) | Stock Awards ($)****(3) | Option Awards ($)****(3) | All Other Compensation ($)****(4) | Total ($) |
| Barry Diller | 2019 | 465,000 | — | 5,093,844 | — | 833,228 | 6,392,072 |
| Chairman and Senior Executive | 2018 | 465,000 | 2,500,000 | — | — | 652,100 | 3,617,100 |
| 2017 | 465,000 | 1,000,000 | — | 6,840,950 | 560,895 | 8,866,845 | |
| Peter M. Kern | 2019 | — | — | 1,879,500 | — | 45,000 | 1,924,500 |
| Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | 2018 | 43,764 | — | 6,809,927 | — | 45,000 | 6,898,691 |
| Eric M. Hart | 2019 | 374,731 | 100,000 | 1,712,312 | — | 8,804 | 2,195,847 |
| Chief Financial Officer and Chief Strategy Officer | |||||||
| Robert J. Dzielak | 2019 | 700,000 | 700,000 | 3,495,107 | — | 8,231 | 4,903,338 |
| Chief Legal Officer and Secretary | 2018 | 680,769 | 925,000 | 1,295,223 | 4,290,208 | 5,788 | 7,196,988 |
| 2017 | 595,193 | 600,000 | — | 2,007,402 | 5,683 | 3,208,278 | |
| Lance Soliday | 2019 | 337,587 | 127,000 | 458,401 | — | 9,568 | 932,556 |
| Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Controller | 2018 | 327,754 | 175,000 | — | 437,747 | 6,202 | 946,703 |
| 2017 | 313,269 | 132,530 | — | 336,641 | 6,052 | 788,492 | |
| Mark D. Okerstrom | 2019 | 980,769 | — | 10,187,688 | — | 94,095 | 11,262,552 |
| Former President and Chief Executive Officer | 2018 | 1,000,000 | 3,000,000 | — | 9,078,946 | 10,616 | 13,089,562 |
| 2017 | 824,039 | 1,250,000 | 3,480,000 | 25,158,318 | 8,100 | 30,720,457 | |
| Alan R. Pickerill | 2019 | 554,327 | — | 2,292,129 | — | 379,717 | 3,226,173 |
| Former Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer | 2018 | 510,577 | 512,500 | 1,028,801 | 3,253,570 | 7,087 | 5,312,535 |
| 2017 | 346,654 | 325,000 | — | 2,009,143 | 6,202 | 2,686,999 |
| (1) | Reflects base salary earned during the relevant fiscal year. |
| (2) | Reflects annual cash bonuses paid to named executive officers for performance in the relevant fiscal year. |
| (3) | Reflects aggregate grant date fair value of awards granted in the year indicated, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, and in accordance with the assumptions described in the “Stock-Based Compensation” section of “Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies” in the notes to consolidated financial statements in the Company’s most recent Form 10-K. The grant date fair value of awards reflects an estimate as of the grant date and may not correspond to the actual value that will be recognized by the named executive officers. Upon termination of employment, each of Mr. Okerstrom and |
Mr. Pickerill forfeited 45,680 RSUs (the fair value of which were $5,730,637 on the date of grant) and 10,278 RSUs (the fair value of which were $1,289,393 on the date of grant), respectively, that were granted to them in 2019.
| (4) | Additional information regarding certain components of amounts reflected in the “All Other Compensation” is as follows: |
| Barry Diller | Peter M. Kern | Eric M. Hart | Robert J. Dzielak | Lance A. Soliday | Mark D. Okerstrom | Alan R. Pickerill | |
| Corporate Aircraft(a) | $762,705 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 401(k) Company Match(b) | — | — | $8,804 | $8,231 | $9,568 | $7,192 | $8,659 |
| Miscellaneous(c) | $70,523 | $45,000 | — | — | — | $31,672 | — |
| Severance(d) | — | — | — | — | — | $55,231 | $371,058 |
| (a) | Reflects the incremental cost to Expedia Group for personal use of corporate aircraft jointly owned by each of Expedia Group and IAC (or charter aircraft in the event the jointly-owned aircraft are temporarily unavailable). In 2019, the incremental cost to Expedia Group for Messrs. Diller’s personal use of these aircraft is based on the average variable operating cost to Expedia Group. Variable operating costs include fuel, certain maintenance costs, navigation fees, onboard catering, landing fees, crew travel expenses and other miscellaneous variable costs. The total annual variable costs are divided by the annual number of hours such aircraft flew to derive an average variable cost per hour. This average variable cost per hour is then multiplied by the hours flown for personal use (for the jointly-owned aircraft, including repositioning flights, commonly referred to as “deadhead” flights), to derive the incremental cost. We do not include fixed costs that do not change based on usage, such as pilots’ salaries, purchase costs, insurance, scheduled maintenance and non-trip-related hangar expenses in the case of the jointly-owned aircraft. For personal use of the corporate aircraft during 2019, Mr. Okerstrom reimbursed the Company an amount permitted under Federal Aviation Administration regulations for his personal use of the aircraft. Executive officers occasionally have family members or other guests accompany them on business and personal trips, at minimal incremental cost to the Company. While travel by family members or other guests does not result in any incremental cost to the Company, such travel does result in the imputation of taxable income to such executive officers, the amount of which is calculated in accordance with applicable Internal Revenue Service regulations. See the section above titled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis- Compensation Program Elements-Other Compensation” for a description of the Company’s policy regarding the personal use of Company aircraft by executive officers. |
| (b) | Represents matching contributions of Expedia Group under the Company’s 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan. Under this plan as in effect through December 31, 2019, Expedia Group matches $0.50 for each dollar a participant contributes, up to the first 6% of eligible compensation, subject to limits imposed by the Internal Revenue Code. |
| (c) | For Mr. Diller, “Miscellaneous” represents the total amount of other benefits provided to Mr. Diller, none of which individually exceeded 10% of the total value of all perquisites and personal benefits. In connection with the IAC/Expedia Group Spin-Off, Expedia Group and IAC agreed that, in light of Mr. Diller’s senior role at both companies and his anticipated use of certain resources for the benefit of both companies, certain expenses associated with such usage would be shared between Expedia Group and IAC. Mr. Diller is provided with the use of certain automobiles for business and personal purposes and certain IAC-owned office space and IT equipment for use by certain individuals who work for Mr. Diller personally. In 2019, Expedia Group and IAC covered 50% and 50% of these costs, respectively. For Mr. Okerstrom, “Miscellaneous” represents the cost of certain personal security services paid by the Company for Mr. Okerstrom and his family when traveling outside of the U.S. For Mr. Kern, “Miscellaneous” represents the cash compensation received for service on the trivago N.V. Supervisory Board in 2019. |
| (d) | For Mr. Okerstrom, “Severance” represents one salary continuation payment of $19,231 that occurred in 2019 and a payment of $36,000 to cover the cost of continuing health coverage under COBRA. For Mr. Pickerill, “Severance” represents one salary continuation payment of $11,058 that occurred in 2019, a payment of $24,000 to cover the cost of continuing health coverage under COBRA, and pro-rata annual cash bonus for 2019 in the amount of $336,000. See “2019 Option Exercises and Stock Vested” for amounts related to the acceleration of vesting for stock awards upon Mr. Okerstrom and Mr. Pickerill’s respective terminations of employment. |
2019 Grants of Plan-Based Awards
During fiscal year 2019, the Compensation Committee or Section 16 Committee, as appropriate, approved RSU awards to the named executive officers as follows:
| Name | Grant Date | Closing Market Price on Date of Grant ($) | Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards(#)****(2) | Grant Date Fair Value of Awards ($)****(5) |
| Barry Diller-Incremental Vesting RSUs | 02/28/2019 | 123.31 | 40,604 | 5,093,844 |
| Peter M. Kern-Performance RSUs(1) | 03/07/2019 | 123.16 | 30,000 | 1,248,900 |
| Peter M. Kern-Performance RSUs(1) | 03/07/2019 | 123.16 | 20,000 | 630,600 |
| Eric M. Hart-Incremental Vesting RSUs | 02/28/2019 | 123.31 | 4,060 | 509,334 |
| Eric M. Hart-Incremental Vesting RSUs | 12/06/2019 | 107.58 | 11,828 | 1,202,978 |
| Robert J. Dzielak-Incremental Vesting RSUs | 02/28/2019 | 123.31 | 18,271 | 2,292,129 |
| Robert J. Dzielak-Incremental Vesting RSUs | 12/06/2019 | 107.58 | 11,828 | 1,202,978 |
| Lance A. Soliday-Incremental Vesting RSUs | 02/28/2019 | 123.31 | 3,654 | 458,401 |
| Mark D. Okerstrom-Incremental Vesting RSUs | 02/28/2019 | 123.31 | 81,208(3) | 10,187,688 |
| Alan R. Pickerill-Incremental Vesting RSUs | 02/28/2019 | 123.31 | 18,271(4) | 2,292,129 |
| (1) | Represents the number of shares of Expedia Group common stock to be issued on the vesting date of February 28, 2022 upon satisfaction of the conditions to vesting, including continued employment and satisfaction of stock price goals of $180 for the RSU award subject to 30,000 shares and $200 for the RSU award subject to 20,000 shares, without taking into account shares withheld to cover taxes, if any. |
| (2) | Represents the number of shares of Expedia Group common stock to be issued upon satisfaction of the conditions to vesting, without taking into account shares withheld to cover taxes, if any. The Incremental Vesting RSUs awarded on February 28, 2019 to Mr. Diller, Mr. Hart, Mr. Dzielak, and Mr. Soliday vested 25% on February 15, 2020 and will vest 6.25% on the 15th day of the second month of each of the next 12 fiscal quarters, subject to the executive’s continued employment with the Company. The Incremental Vesting RSUs awarded on December 6, 2019 to Mr. Hart and Mr. Dzielak vest 50% on December 15, 2021 and 50% on December 15, 2023. |
| (3) | Represents the number of shares of Expedia Group common stock that were granted to Mr. Okerstrom on February 28, 2019, 35,528 of which were accelerated and vested on December 6, 2019 and 45,680 of which were forfeited on the date of termination of employment. |
| (4) | Represents the number of shares of Expedia Group common stock that were granted to Mr. Pickerill on February 28, 2019, 7,993 of which were accelerated and vested on December 6, 2019 and 10,278 of which were forfeited on the date of termination of employment. |
| (5) | These amounts reflect an estimate of the grant date fair value and may not correspond to the actual value that will be recognized by the named executive officers. |
Outstanding Equity Awards at 2019 Year-End
The following table provides information regarding the holdings of stock options and RSUs by the named executive officers as of December 31, 2019. The market value of the RSUs is based on the closing price of Expedia Group common stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market on December 31, 2019, the last trading day of the year, which was $108.14.
| Option Awards | Stock Awards | |||||||
| Equity Incentive Plan Awards: | ||||||||
| Name | Grant Date**(1)** | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable | Option Exercise Price ($) | Option Expiration Date | Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (#) | Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested ($) | |
| Barry Diller | 03/13/2013 | 100,000(2) | — | 65.75 | 03/13/2020 | — | — | |
| 02/26/2014 | 100,000(2) | — | 78.52 | 02/26/2021 | — | — | ||
| 02/27/2015 | 150,000(3) | — | 91.75 | 02/27/2022 | — | — | ||
| 02/25/2016 | 112,500 | 37,500(3) | 105.13 | 02/25/2023 | — | — | ||
| 02/28/2017 | 75,000 | 75,000(3) | 119.04 | 02/28/2024 | — | — | ||
| 02/28/2019 | 40,604(5) | 4,390,917 | ||||||
| Peter M. Kern | 03/06/2017 | 49,424 | 24,711(15) | 12.14 | 12/20/2024 | — | — | |
| 06/01/2017 | — | — | — | — | 580(13) | 62,721 | ||
| 12/20/2017 | 41,840 | 83,680(15) | 7.17 | 12/20/2024 | — | — | ||
| 06/01/2018 | — | — | — | — | 1,377(13) | 148,909 | ||
| 08/17/2018 | — | — | — | — | 50,000(14) | 5,407,000 | ||
| 02/08/2019 | — | — | — | — | 33,389(16) | 87,479 | ||
| 03/07/2019 | — | — | — | — | 30,000(17) | 3,244,200 | ||
| 03/07/2019 | — | — | — | — | 20,000(17) | 2,162,800 | ||
| Eric M. Hart | 02/26/2014 | 20,000(2) | — | 78.52 | 02/26/2021 | — | — | |
| 02/27/2015 | 18,000(3) | — | 91.75 | 02/27/2022 | — | — | ||
| 02/25/2016 | 15,000 | 5,000(3) | 105.13 | 02/25/2023 | — | — | ||
| 02/28/2017 | 6,521 | 6,522(3) | 119.04 | 02/28/2024 | — | — | ||
| 03/02/2018 | 4,751 | 14,253(3) | 104.50 | 03/02/2025 | — | — | ||
| 05/30/2017 | — | — | — | — | 1,030(4) | 111,384 | ||
| 02/28/2019 | — | — | — | — | 4,060(5) | 439,048 | ||
| 12/06/2019 | — | — | — | — | 11,828(6) | 1,279,080 | ||
| Robert J. Dzielak | 03/13/2013 | 25,232(2) | — | 65.75 | 03/13/2020 | — | — | |
| 02/26/2014 | 65,000(2) | — | 78.52 | 02/26/2021 | — | — | ||
| 02/27/2015 | 65,000(3) | — | 91.75 | 02/27/2022 | — | — | ||
| 02/25/2016 | 52,500 | 17,500(3) | 105.13 | 02/25/2023 | — | — | ||
| 02/28/2017 | 35,000 | 35,000(3) | 119.04 | 02/28/2024 | — | — | ||
| 03/02/2018 | 20,251 | 60,753(3) | 104.50 | 03/02/2025 | — | — | ||
| 03/02/2018 | — | 40,502(10) | 104.50 | 03/02/2025 | — | — | ||
| 03/02/2018 | — | 51,280(11) | 104.50 | 03/02/2025 | — | — | ||
| 03/02/2018 | — | 9,561(3) | 1,033,927 | |||||
| 02/28/2019 | — | 18,271(5) | 1,975,826 | |||||
| 12/06/2019 | — | 11,828(6) | 1,279,080 | |||||
| Lance A. Soliday | 03/13/2013 | 3,000(2) | — | 65.75 | 03/13/2020 | — | — | |
| 02/26/2014 | 9,000(2) | — | 78.52 | 02/26/2021 | — | — | ||
| 02/27/2015 | 7,500(3) | — | 91.75 | 02/27/2022 | — | — | ||
| 02/25/2016 | 5,793 | 1,932(3) | 105.13 | 02/25/2023 | — | — |
| Option Awards | Stock Awards | ||||||
| 02/28/2017 | 5,869 | 5,870(3) | 119.04 | 02/28/2024 | — | — | |
| 03/02/2018 | 4,275 | 12,828(3) | 104.50 | — | — | — | |
| 02/28/2019 | — | — | — | — | 3,654(5) | 395,144 | |
| Mark D. Okerstrom | 03/13/2013 | 100,000(2) | — | 65.75 | 03/13/2020 | — | — |
| 02/26/2014 | 100,000(2) | — | 78.52 | 02/26/2021 | — | — | |
| 03/06/2014 | 50,000(2) | — | 74.71 | 03/06/2021 | — | — | |
| 02/27/2015 | 115,000(3) | — | 91.75 | 02/27/2022 | — | — | |
| 02/25/2016 | 115,000(3) | — | 105.13 | 02/25/2023 | — | — | |
| 03/07/2016 | 219,375(7) | — | 105.39 | 03/07/2023 | — | — | |
| 03/07/2016 | 151,164(8) | — | 105.39 | 03/07/2023 | — | — | |
| 02/28/2017 | 101,250(3) | — | 119.04 | 02/28/2024 | — | — | |
| 09/15/2017 | 225,000(2) | — | 142.13 | 09/15/2024 | — | — | |
| 09/15/2017 | 237,500(9) | — | 142.13 | 09/15/2024 | — | — | |
| 03/02/2018 | 154,765(11) | — | 104.50 | 03/02/2025 | — | — | |
| 03/02/2018 | 100,000(12) | — | 104.50 | 03/02/2025 | — | — | |
| Alan R. Pickerill | 02/26/2014 | 4,500(2) | — | 78.52 | 02/26/2021 | — | — |
| 02/27/2015 | 6,350(3) | — | 91.75 | 02/27/2022 | — | — | |
| 02/25/2016 | 8,750(3) | — | 105.13 | 02/25/2023 | — | — | |
| 02/28/2017 | 10,326(3) | — | 119.04 | 02/28/2024 | — | — | |
| 09/15/2017 | 37,500(2) | — | 142.13 | 09/15/2024 | — | — | |
| 03/02/2018 | 20,251(3) | — | 104.50 | 03/02/2025 | — | — | |
| 03/02/2018 | 29,092(10) | — | 104.50 | 03/02/2025 | — | — | |
| 03/02/2018 | 25,010(11) | — | 104.50 | 03/02/2025 | — | — |
| (1) | Represents the date on which the original grant was approved by the applicable compensation committee. |
| (2) | Options, or RSUs, as the case may be, vest in four equal annual installments commencing on the first anniversary of the grant date. |
| (3) | Options, or RSUs, as the case may be, vest in four equal installments commencing on February 15 in each of the first four years following the grant date. |
| (4) | RSUs vest in two equal installments on March 15, 2019 and March 15, 2020. |
| (5) | RSUs vest 25% on February 15 in the first year following the grant date and 6.25% each fiscal quarter thereafter until fully vested. |
| (6) | RSUs vest in two equal installments on December 15, 2021 and December 15, 2023. |
| (7) | Options vest in two equal installments on March 7, 2019 and March 7, 2021. |
| (8) | Options vest in full in one installment on September 30, 2021, subject to satisfaction of a stock price goal of $180, measured on the basis of the average of the closing prices of the Company’s common stock for either the six or twelve-month period immediately preceding September 30, 2021. |
| (9) | Options vest in full in one installment on September 15, 2021, subject to satisfaction of a stock price goal of $200, measured on the basis of the average of the closing prices of the Company’s common stock for either the six or twelve-month period immediately preceding September 15, 2021. |
| (10) | Options vest in two equal installments on March 2, 2020 and March 2, 2022. |
| (11) | Options vest in two equal installments: (a) 50% on September 15, 2021, subject to satisfaction of a stock price goal of $200, measured on the basis of the average of the closing prices of the Company’s common stock for either the six or twelve-month period immediately preceding September 15, 2021; and (b) 50% on September 30, 2021, subject to |
satisfaction of a stock price goal of $180, measured on the basis of the average of the closing prices of the Company’s common stock for either the six or twelve-month period immediately preceding September 30, 2021.
| (12) | Options vest in full on March 2, 2022, the fourth anniversary of the grant date. |
| (13) | RSUs vest in three equal installments commencing on the first anniversary of the grant date. |
| (14) | RSUs vest in full on June 20, 2021. |
| (15) | Represents options to purchase American Depositary Shares of trivago N.V. granted pursuant to the trivago N.V. 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan. Options vest in equal installments on each of the first three anniversaries of (i) January 3, 2017, for the option granted on March 6, 2017, or (ii) January 2, 2018, for the option granted on December 20, 2017. |
| (16) | Represents RSUs subject to American Depositary Shares of trivago N.V. granted pursuant to the trivago N.V. 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan. RSUs vest one-third on January 2, 2020 and vest one-twelfth each quarter thereafter until the award is fully vested. |
| (17) | RSUs vest in full on February 28, 2022 subject to the satisfaction of a stock price performance goal of $180 for the RSU award subject to 30,000 shares and a stock price performance goal of $200 for the RSU award subject to 20,000 shares. |
2019 Option Exercises and Stock Vested
The following table provides information regarding Expedia Group stock options exercised by and Expedia Group RSU awards vested for the named executive officers during 2019.
| Option Awards | Stock Awards | |||
| Name | Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise (#) | Value Realized on Exercise ($)****(1) | Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting (#)****(2) | Value Realized on Vesting ($)****(3) |
| Barry Diller | — | — | — | — |
| Peter M. Kern | — | — | 2,016 | 231,840 |
| Eric M. Hart | 27,500 | 2,111,872 | 1,030 | 124,424 |
| Robert J. Dzielak | 10,000 | 694,396 | 6,084 | 771,208 |
| Lance A. Soliday | 10,000 | 623,708 | — | — |
| Mark D. Okerstrom**(4)** | 25,000 | 2,338,792 | 54,278 | 5,736,099 |
| Alan R. Pickerill**(5)** | 500 | 31,425 | 14,140 | 1,559,094 |
| (1) | Represents the value of exercised options calculated by multiplying (i) the number of shares of Expedia Group’s common stock to which the exercise of the option related by (ii) the difference between the market price of Expedia Group’s common stock at exercise and the exercise price of the options. |
| (2) | Represents the gross number of shares acquired upon vesting of RSUs without taking into account any shares that may be withheld to satisfy applicable tax obligations. |
| (3) | Represents the value of vested RSUs calculated by multiplying the gross number of vested RSUs by the closing price of Expedia Group common stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market on the vesting date or if the vesting occurred on a day on which the Nasdaq Stock Market was closed for trading, the immediately preceding trading day. |
| (4) | Under the terms of Mr. Okerstrom's employment agreement, upon the date of termination of employment, 51,930 RSUs and 345,946 stock options were forfeited, and the vesting for certain equity awards was accelerated including 54,278 RSUs that vested immediately, the value of which was $5,839,227 on the date of termination, and 887,804 stock options that vested and became immediately exercisable, the value of which was $1,420,219 on the date of termination. |
| (5) | Under the terms of Mr. Pickerill's employment agreement, upon the date of termination of employment, 15,341 RSUs and 73,873 stock options were forfeited, and the vesting for certain equity awards was accelerated including 11,067 RSUs that vested immediately, the value of which was $1,190,588 on the date of termination, and 82,670 stock options that vested and became immediately exercisable, the value of which was $203,947 on the date of termination. |
Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control
Certain of our employment agreements, compensation plans, and equity award agreements entitle some of our named executive officers to salary continuation, accelerated vesting of equity awards and other severance benefits in the event of a change in control of the Company and/or upon the termination of the executive’s employment with Expedia Group under specified circumstances. These plans and agreements are described below as they apply to our named executive officers.
Employment Agreement Severance Provisions
Qualifying Termination. Each of Messrs. Hart and Dzielak have entered into an employment agreement with Expedia Group, pursuant to which, in the event of such executive’s termination of employment by the Company without cause (other than by reason of his death or disability) or by the executive for good reason (together, a “Qualifying Termination”) and subject to the executive executing a release of claims agreement:
| • | Expedia Group will continue to pay base salary to Mr. Hart and Mr. Dzielak for 12 months, except that Expedia Group may, at its sole discretion, choose to extend the payment period for Mr. Dzielak to 18 months (whether 12 or 18 months, the “Dzielak Continuation Period”), in each case payable in equal biweekly installments and provided that such payments will be offset by any amount earned by the executive from another employer during the relevant period; |
| • | Expedia Group will pay an amount equal to COBRA health insurance coverage for a period of 12 months for Mr. Hart and for the Dzielak Continuation Period for Mr. Dzielak in each case payable in a lump sum; |
| • | except as described below under “Dzielak Long-Term Equity Awards,” all equity holdings that otherwise would have vested during the 12-month period following termination of employment will accelerate, provided that equity awards that vest less frequently than annually shall be treated as though such awards vested annually; and |
| • | Messrs. Hart and Dzielak will have 18 months following the date of termination to exercise any vested stock options (including stock options accelerated pursuant to the terms of the executive’s employment agreement) or, if earlier, through the scheduled expiration date of the options. |
In addition, Messrs. Hart and Dzielak will be restricted from competing with the Company and from soliciting Company employees and business partners during a period following termination of their employment for any reason. For Mr. Hart the applicable period is 12 months, and in the case of Mr. Dzielak it is the Dzielak Continuation Period. Any cash payments made in connection with the severance provisions described above shall be offset by any cash amounts earned from another employer during the applicable time period.
As defined in the Hart and Dzielak employment agreements:
| • | “Good reason” means the occurrence of any of the following without the executive’s consent (i) the Company’s material breach of any material provision of the executive’s employment agreement, (ii) the material reduction in the executive’s title, duties or reporting responsibilities, (iii) a material reduction in the executive’s base salary, or (iv) the relocation of the executive’s principal place of employment more than 50 miles outside of the Seattle metropolitan area, in each case, following a requisite notice and cure period in favor of the Company; and |
| • | “Cause” means the executive’s (i) plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, conviction for, or the commission of, a felony offense, (ii) material breach of a fiduciary duty owed to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (iii) material breach of any of the covenants made pursuant to the executive’s employment agreement, (iv) willful or gross neglect of the material duties required by the executive’s employment agreement, or (v) knowing and material violation of any Company policy pertaining to ethics, legal compliance, wrongdoing or conflicts of interest, subject to certain qualifications. |
Messrs. Diller, Kern, and Soliday do not have an employment agreement with the Company.
Expedia Group 2005 Plan Change in Control Equity Acceleration
Pursuant to the Expedia Group 2005 Plan, in the event of a change in control, outstanding stock options and RSUs held by employees with a title of Senior Vice President or above, including each of our named executive officers, will become fully vested and, in the case of options, fully exercisable (“Single Trigger Event”). With respect to a Single Trigger Event, any restrictions applicable to restricted stock and RSUs will lapse, and RSUs will be considered earned and payable in full and will be settled in cash or shares of Expedia Group common stock as promptly as practicable, except to the extent such settlement must be delayed pursuant to the rules and regulations of Section 409A of the Code.
The Expedia Group 2005 Plan defines a “change in control” as follows:
| • | another party, other than Mr. Diller, Liberty Expedia, or their respective affiliates, acquires the beneficial ownership of at least 50% of the Company’s outstanding voting stock, with certain exceptions; |
| • | the members of the Board as of the date the Expedia Group 2005 Plan was adopted by the Board (the “incumbent Board members”) cease to constitute a majority of the Board (with replacement directors that are endorsed by a majority of the Company directors who are incumbent Board members generally counting as incumbent Board members); |
| • | the Company consummates a merger, reorganization or consolidation with another party, or the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or the purchase of assets or stock of another entity (“Business Combination”), unless (A) all or substantially all of the beneficial stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such Business Combination retain more than 50% of the combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the entity resulting from the Business Combination in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of voting stock immediately prior to such Business Combination, (B) no person (excluding Mr. Diller, Liberty Expedia and their respective affiliates, any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such entity resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns more than a majority of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such entity except to the extent that such ownership of the Company existed prior to the Business Combination, and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors (or equivalent governing body, if applicable) of the entity resulting from the Business Combination were incumbent members of the Company’s Board at the time of the initial agreement or Board action providing for such Business Combination; or |
| • | the Company’s stockholders approve the complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company. |
Incremental Vesting Equity Awards
Other than new-hire grants or special equity awards, stock option and RSU awards granted to employees prior to 2019, including the named executive officers, have historically been subject to incremental vesting whereby 25% of the stock option or RSU award vests and, in the case of stock options, become exercisable in each of the four years following the grant, subject to continued service with the Company through each applicable vesting date (“Incremental Vesting Equity Awards”). RSU awards that were granted to employees in 2019, including the named executive officers, are subject to 25% vesting in the first year following the grant and 6.25% each quarter thereafter until fully vested, except in the case of the awards granted to Messrs. Hart and Dzielak in December 2019, which vest in two equal installments on December 15, 2021 and December 15, 2023.
Each of our named executive officers other than Mr. Kern held Incremental Vesting Equity Awards that were unvested as of December 31, 2019. In the event of a change in control, these equity awards vest as described in the section above titled “Expedia Group 2005 Plan Change in Control Equity Acceleration”, and, if applicable, in the section above titled “Employment Agreement Severance Provisions” upon a Qualifying Termination.
Kern Equity Awards
Initial RSU Award. In connection with his appointment as Vice Chairman of the Company, Mr. Kern was granted an award of 50,000 restricted stock units on August 17, 2018, with a vest date of June 20, 2021, subject to Mr. Kern’s continued employment with the Company (the “2018 Kern Cliff-Vest RSUs”).
2019 RSU Awards. On March 7, 2019, Mr. Kern was granted an award of 30,000 RSUs that are subject to Mr. Kern's continued employment with the Company and satisfaction of a stock price goal of $180 on February 28, 2022, and an award of 20,000 RSUs that are subject to Mr. Kern's continued employment with the Company and the satisfaction of a stock price goal of $200 on February 28, 2022 (the “2019 Kern Performance RSUs”).
In the event of a Qualifying Termination, or as a result of Mr. Kern’s death or disability, the 2018 Kern Cliff-Vest RSUs and the 2019 Kern Performance RSUs will vest on a pro-rated basis for each full month from the date of grant to the first anniversary of the termination date, in the case of the 2019 Kern Performance RSUs, subject to the achievement of the applicable stock price goal. For the purposes of the 2018 Kern Cliff-Vest RSUs and the 2019 Kern Performance RSUs, “good reason” also includes Mr. Diller no longer serving as Chairman and Senior Executive Officer of the Company (or comparable positions of and executive leadership).
Director RSUs. Prior to his appointment as Vice Chairman of the Company, Mr. Kern was entitled to receive standard non-employee director compensation in accordance with the Company’s compensation policies and practices for the Board,
which included annual grants of restricted stock units on June 1 that vest in equal installments on the first three anniversaries of the grant date, subject to Mr. Kern’s continued service as a member of the Board (the “Kern Director RSUs”). In the event of a Change in Control (as defined in the Expedia Group 2005 Plan), the Kern Director RSUs will vest in full. If Mr. Kern ceases to be a member of the Board of Directors or otherwise provide services to the Company, the Kern Director RSUs will be forfeited.
Dzielak Long-Term Equity Awards
In addition to Incremental Vesting Equity Awards, Mr. Dzielak was granted the following long-term equity awards on March 2, 2018, with an exercise price of $104.50:
| • | 40,502 stock options that vest 50% on each of the second and fourth anniversaries of the date of grant, subject in all cases to the executive’s continued employment with the Company (the “2018 Dzielak Cliff-Vest Options”); and |
| • | 51,280 stock options, that are subject to Mr. Dzielak’s continued employment with the Company and, with 50% of the grant subject to the satisfaction of a stock price goal of $200 on September 15, 2021, and with the remaining 50% of the grant subject to the satisfaction of a stock price goal of $180 on September 30, 2021, with satisfaction of the stock price goal measured on the basis of the average of the closing prices of the Company’s common stock for either the six or twelve-month period immediately preceding the applicable vest date (the “2018 Dzielak Performance Options” and together with the 2018 Dzielak Cliff-Vest Options, the “2018 Dzielak Long-Term Stock Option Awards”). |
In the event of a Qualifying Termination, the 2018 Dzielak Long-Term Stock Option Awards will vest on a pro-rated basis for each full month from the date of grant to the termination date, in the case of the 2018 Dzielak Performance Options, subject to the achievement of the applicable stock price goal.
In the event of a Change in Control (as defined in the Expedia Group 2005 Plan), the 2018 Dzielak Long-Term Stock Option Awards will vest in full.
Estimated Potential Incremental Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control
The table below describes and quantifies certain amounts that would become payable to our named executive officers upon certain terminations of employment or change in control events, assuming that the relevant event occurred on December 31, 2019. These amounts, which exclude the effect of any applicable taxes, are based on:
| • | the named executive’s base salary as of December 31, 2019; |
| • | the number of stock options or RSUs outstanding as of December 31, 2019; and |
| • | the closing price of Expedia Group common stock on December 31, 2019 ($108.14). |
These amounts are estimates of the incremental amounts that would be paid out to the executive upon such relevant event. The actual amounts to be paid out can only be determined at the time of the relevant event, if any. In addition to these amounts, certain other amounts and benefits generally payable and made available to other Company employees upon a termination of employment, including payments for accrued but unpaid salary, will generally be payable to our named executives.
| Name and Benefits | Qualifying Termination**(1)** ($) | Qualifying Termination & Stock Price Performance Goal Satisfied ($) | Change in Control**(2)** ($) | ||
| Barry Diller | |||||
| Incremental Vesting Equity Awards | — | — | 4,503,792 | ||
| Total Estimated Incremental Value | — | — | 4,503,792 | ||
| Peter M. Kern | |||||
| 2018 Kern Cliff-Vest RSUs | 4,505,869 | — | 5,407,000 | ||
| 2019 Kern Performance RSUs(3) | 3,304,218 | 5,407,000 | |||
| Director RSUs | — | — | 211,630 | ||
| Total Estimated Incremental Value | 4,505,869 | 3,304,218 | 11,025,630 | ||
| Eric M. Hart | |||||
| Cash Severance (salary) | 425,000 | — | — | ||
| Health and Benefits | 24,440 | — | — | ||
| Incremental Vesting Equity Awards | 655,554 | — | 1,896,443 | ||
| Total Estimated Incremental Value | 1,104,994 | — | 1,896,443 | ||
| Robert J. Dzielak | |||||
| Cash Severance (salary)(4) | 1,050,000 | — | — | ||
| Health and Benefits(4) | 25,584 | — | — | ||
| Incremental Vesting Equity Awards | 1,655,164 | — | 4,562,648 | ||
| 2018 Dzielak Cliff-Vest Options | 125,817 | — | 147,427 | ||
| 2018 Dzielak Performance Options(3) | — | 148,767 | 186,659 | ||
| Total Estimated Incremental Value | 2,856,565 | 148,767 | 4,896,734 | ||
| Lance A. Soliday | |||||
| Cash Severance (salary) | — | — | — | ||
| Health and Benefits | — | — | — | ||
| Incremental Vesting Equity Awards | — | — | 447,653 | ||
| Total Estimated Incremental Value | — | — | 447,653 |
| (1) | Qualifying Termination is described in the section above titled “Employment Agreement Severance Provisions - Qualifying Termination.” In the case of the 2018 Kern Cliff-Vest RSUs, a Qualifying Termination also includes termination as a result of death or disability as well as Mr. Diller no longer serving as Chairman and Senior Executive Officer of the Company (or comparable positions of and executive leadership). “Health and Benefits” relates to the payment of an amount equal to COBRA health insurance coverage for a period of 12 months following termination of employment for Messrs. Hart and Dzielak. |
| (2) | Upon a Change in Control (as defined in the Expedia Group 2005 Plan), all unvested equity awards held by the named executive officers vest in full. |
| (3) | Reflects incremental value of prorated vesting as of December 31, 2019. However, these options would only become exercisable if the applicable stock price goals of $180 per share or $200 per share are met on February 28, 2022. |
| (4) | The amount of Cash Severance (salary) and Health and Benefits for Mr. Dzielak assumes that Expedia Group has chosen to extend the Dzielak Continuation Period to 18 months. |
Pay Ratio Disclosure
As required by Section 953(b) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and related regulations, we are providing the information below regarding the ratio of the annual total compensation of our median compensated employee to that of our Chief Executive Officer (the “CEO Pay Ratio”).
Identifying Our Median Compensated Employee
The SEC rules allow companies to identify the median employee whose compensation will be used for the annual total compensation calculation once every three (3) years provided that there have not been any changes in the company’s employee population or employee compensation arrangements that it is reasonably believed would result in a significant change in its pay ratio disclosure. While there were no changes in the Company’s employee population or employee compensation arrangements that it is reasonably believed would result in a significant change to the Company’s pay ratio, the median employee identified in 2017 was subsequently promoted making the employee no longer representative of the median. Therefore, in accordance with SEC executive compensation disclosure rules, for our 2018 disclosure, we selected an employee whose compensation was substantially similar to our 2017 median employee based on the compensation measure used to select the 2017 median employee. We determined that the median employee selected in 2018 is still representative of the median for the 2019 disclosure.
As previously disclosed, when determining our median compensated employee, we included the following compensation elements for our global employee population other than our President and Chief Executive Officer, including employees of our consolidated subsidiaries, as of November 1, 2017 (the “Determination Date”), using foreign exchange rates in effect on the Determination Date for non-domestic employees:
| • | annual salary, which for hourly employees was calculated based on hourly rates and total scheduled 2017 hours as of the Determination Date, and for all other employees was calculated based on their salary in effect on the Determination Date; |
| • | annual cash bonus (including cash incentive plan payments), which was calculated based on an employee’s target percentage times base salary in effect on the Determination Date; and |
| • | equity-based compensation, which was calculated based on target equity award levels as of the Determination Date, taking into account an employee’s role and level. |
On the Determination Date, our global employee population for purposes of the median employee determination was 22,152 employees (comprised of 10,227 domestic and 11,925 international employees), including full-time and part-time employees, interns, trainees, and fixed term contractors who are paid directly by the Company. This determination process identified in a median group consisting of several employees and a representative employee was selected from that group, taking into account demographic characteristics that best represent a typical Expedia Group employee, including tenure, location, role and responsibilities.
Median Employee’s Total 2019 Compensation
Having identified our median compensated employee, we then calculated that employee’s actual 2019 total annual compensation in accordance with the SEC’s requirements for reporting named executive officer compensation in the 2019 Summary Compensation Table, resulting in 2019 annual total compensation of $69,854.
CEO’s Total 2019 Compensation
For the purposes of the 2019 CEO Pay Ratio disclosure, we used Mr. Okerstrom’s 2019 total compensation as reported in the Summary Compensation Table (which included annualized base salary and cash severance), for a total of $11,262,552.
2019 CEO Pay Ratio
The ratio of Mr. Okerstrom’s annual total compensation for 2019 to the median employee annual total compensation, determined as described above, was 161:1.
Other Considerations
Due to Mr. Okerstrom’s departure as Chief Executive Officer, the vesting for a portion of the 2019 RSU award was accelerated and the remainder was forfeited. The value realized for the accelerated portion of the RSU award was $3,822,102 based on the closing price of Expedia Group common stock on December 6, 2019, the date of termination. Substituting the realized value of the accelerated 2019 RSU award in lieu of the grant date fair value of the 2019 RSU award, Mr. Okerstrom’s annual total compensation for 2019 would be calculated as $4,896,966, and the ratio of Mr. Okerstrom’s annual total compensation to the median employee annual total compensation would be 70:1.
The pay ratio disclosure set forth above is a reasonable estimate calculated in a manner consistent with applicable SEC rules, based on the methodologies and assumptions described above. SEC rules for identifying the median employee and determining the related pay ratio permit companies to use a wide range of methodologies, estimates and assumptions. As a result, the pay ratios reported by other companies may be based on other permitted methodologies and/or assumptions, and as a result, are likely not comparable to our pay ratio.
Compensation of Directors
The Board of Directors, since July 26, 2019 based on recommendations from the Nominating Committee, has primary responsibility for establishing non-employee director compensation arrangements, which have been designed to provide competitive compensation necessary to attract and retain high quality non-employee directors and to encourage ownership of Company stock to further align directors’ interests with those of our stockholders.
Expedia Group employees generally do not receive compensation for serving as a director. Each non-employee director of Expedia Group who served on the Board during 2019 was entitled to receive the following compensation:
| • | an annual retainer of $45,000, paid in equal quarterly installments; |
| • | a grant of RSUs with a value of $250,000 (based on the closing price of Expedia Group’s common stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market on the day prior to the grant), upon such director’s initial election to office or at the time such director first became eligible to receive compensation for service as a director, and annually thereafter on June 1, such RSUs to vest in three equal installments commencing on the first anniversary of the grant date and such RSUs to be entitled to dividends declared and paid on the underlying shares of common stock during the vesting period. In the event of a change in control (as defined in the Expedia Group 2005 Plan and described in the section above titled “Executive Compensation-Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control”), the RSUs shall vest automatically in full; |
| • | an annual retainer of $20,000 for each member of the Audit Committee (including the Chair) and $15,000 for each member of the Compensation Committee (including the Chair); |
| • | an additional annual retainer of $10,000 for the Chair of the Audit Committee and $10,000 for the Chair of the Compensation Committee; and |
| • | a quarterly retainer of $20,000 for each member of the Special Litigation Committee. |
Members of the Nominating Committee and the Section 16 Committee, prior to it being disbanded, do not receive additional compensation for their service on such committee. Expedia Group reimburses directors for all reasonable expenses incurred to attend Board and committee meetings.
In connection with the Liberty Expedia Transaction, pursuant to the Merger Agreement (as defined below) described below (see “Relationships Involving Significant Stockholders, Named Executive Officers and Directors” in Item 13, “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions, and Director Independence”) and immediately prior to the closing of the Combination (as defined below), each of Courtnee A. Chun, Pamela L. Coe and Christopher W. Shean, who had been nominated to the Board by Liberty Expedia, resigned from the Board. Upon their resignation, which was effective as of the closing of the Liberty Expedia Transaction on July 26, 2019 each then-outstanding award of RSUs of the Company held by Ms. Coe, Ms. Chun and Mr. Sheen was settled in shares of Expedia Group common stock.
Director Stock Ownership Guidelines
The Board of Directors has adopted stock ownership guidelines for directors to further align the interests of the directors with the interests of the stockholders of the Company. The director stock ownership guidelines apply to all directors except directors who are also subject to the Company’s Executive Stock Ownership Guidelines (“Covered Directors”).
Covered Directors are encouraged to hold a number of shares of Expedia Group common stock during their tenure equal to three times the annual cash retainer (currently $45,000, with the current holding requirement thereby equal to $135,000). Covered Directors have three years to attain the holding requirement. If the annual cash retainer is increased during a Covered Director’s service, the Covered Director shall have three years from the date of the increase in the annual cash retainer to acquire the additional stock. Based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on April 13, 2020 each Covered Director held shares of Expedia Group common stock with a value greater than $135,000, except Ms. Whalen, who was elected to the Board in June 2019 and Ms. Athey, who was elected to the Board in December 2015.
Non-Employee Director Deferred Compensation Plan
Under the Company's Director Deferred Compensation Plan, non-employee directors may defer all or a portion of their directors’ fees. Eligible directors who defer their directors’ fees may elect to have such deferred fees (i) applied to the purchase of share units, representing the number of shares of Expedia Group common stock that could have been purchased on the date such fees would otherwise be payable, or (ii) credited to a cash fund. If any dividends are paid on Expedia Group common stock, dividend equivalents will be credited on the share units. The cash fund will be credited with deemed interest at an annual rate equal to the average “bank prime loan” rate for such year identified in the U.S. Federal Reserve Statistical Release. Upon termination of service as a director of the Company, a director will receive (1) with respect to share units, such number of shares of Expedia Group common stock as the share units represent, and (2) with respect to the cash fund, a cash payment. Payments upon termination will be made in either one lump sum or up to five installments, as elected by the eligible director at the time of the deferral election. Each of Messrs. von Furstenberg and Khosrowshahi elected to defer their respective 2019 director fees, and Ms. Clinton elected to defer 50% of her 2019 director fees.
Hedging Policy
The Expedia Group, Inc. Securities Trading Policy prohibits directors from engaging in short sales with respect to Expedia Group securities or the purchase, sale or issuance of options or rights relating to Expedia Group securities. This prohibition extends to various forms of hedging or monetization transactions.
2019 Director Compensation
As employee directors, Messrs. Diller, Kern and Okerstrom did not receive compensation for service as directors for 2019. The following table shows compensation information for all other directors who received compensation for their Board of Directors service during 2019.
| Name | Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($)****(1) | Stock Awards ($)****(2)(3) | All Other Compensation ($) | Total ($) |
| Samuel Altman(4) | 13,815 | 249,955 | — | 263,770 |
| Susan C. Athey(17) | 45,000 | 249,895 | — | 294,895 |
| A. George “Skip” Battle(5) | 75,000 | 249,895 | — | 324,895 |
| Chelsea Clinton(6),(17) | 65,725 | 249,895 | — | 315,620 |
| Jon T. Gieselman(7) | 9,844 | 249,961 | — | 259,805 |
| Craig A. Jacobson(8) | 86,955 | 249,895 | — | 336,850 |
| Dara Khosrowshahi(9)(17) | 45,000 | 249,895 | — | 294,895 |
| Alexander von Furstenberg(17) | 45,000 | 249,895 | — | 294,895 |
| Julie Whalen(10) | 43,513 | 249,912 | — | 293,425 |
| Jonathan L. Dolgen(11) | 58,550 | 249,895 | — | 308,445 |
| Courtnee Chun(12) | 25,684 | 249,895 | — | 275,579 |
| Pamela L. Coe(13) | 34,245 | 249,895 | — | 284,140 |
| Victor A. Kaufman(14) | 45,000 | 249,895 | — | 294,895 |
| Scott Rudin(15) | 9,750 | — | — | 9,750 |
| Christopher W. Shean(16) | 25,684 | 249,895 | — | 275,579 |
| (1) | This column reports the amount of cash compensation earned in 2019 for Board and committee service, including amounts deferred at the director’s election. |
| (2) | Reflects aggregate grant date fair value of awards granted in the year indicated, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, and in accordance with the assumptions described in the “Stock-Based Compensation” section of “Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies” in the notes to consolidated financial statements in the Company’s most recent Form 10-K. The grant date fair value of awards reflects an estimate as of the grant date and may not correspond to the actual value that will be recognized by the directors. Stock awards consist of RSUs valued using the closing price of Expedia Group common stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market on the first trading day immediately preceding the grant date. |
| (3) | Each of Ms. Athey and Messrs. Battle, Dolgen, Jacobson, and von Furstenberg had 4,130 RSUs outstanding at December 31, 2019. Ms. Clinton had 4,773 RSUs outstanding at December 31, 2019, Mr. Altman had 1,905 RSUs outstanding at December 31, 2019, Mr. Gieselman had 2,481 RSUs outstanding at December 31, 2019 and Ms. Whalen had 2,080 RSUs outstanding at December 31, 2019. Mr. Khosrowshahi had 4,112 RSUs outstanding and 770,000 stock options outstanding at December 31, 2019. Mr. Kaufman had 4,130 RSUs outstanding and 37,500 options outstanding at December 31, 2019. Prior to her resignation from the Board, Ms. Chun had 4,913 RSUs outstanding, the vesting of which was accelerated on July 26, 2019. Prior to their respective resignations from the Board, each of Ms. Coe and Mr. Shean had 4,130 RSUs outstanding, the vesting of which was accelerated on July 26, 2019. |
| (4) | Mr. Altman was appointed to the Board on September 10, 2019. |
| (5) | Mr. Battle was the Chair of the Audit Committee during 2019. |
| (6) | Ms. Clinton was a member of the Compensation Committee during 2019, was appointed Co-Chair of the Compensation Committee on June 5, 2019 and subsequently appointed sole Chair on September 10, 2019, and was appointed to the Nominating Committee on July 26, 2019. |
| (7) | Mr. Gieselman was appointed to the Board and the Special Litigation Committee on December 3, 2019. |
| (8) | During 2019, Mr. Jacobson was a member of each of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Section 16 Committee until it was disbanded on July 26, 2019, was Co-Chair of the Compensation Committee until September 10, 2019, and was Co-Chair of the Section 16 Committee until it was disbanded. |
| (9) | Mr. Khosrowshahi was a member of the Nominating Committee during 2019. |
| (10) | Ms. Whalen was appointed to the Board and the Audit Committee on June 5, 2019, and was appointed to the Special Litigation Committee on December 3, 2019. |
| (11) | Mr. Dolgen was Co-Chair of the Compensation Committee in 2019 until his resignation from the Board effective June 5, 2019. |
| (12) | Ms. Chun resigned from the Board, effective July 26, 2019. |
| (13) | Ms. Coe was a member of the Compensation Committee in 2019 until her resignation from the Board effective July 26, 2019. |
| (14) | Mr. Kaufman resigned from the Board, effective March 5, 2020. |
| (15) | Mr. Rudin resigned from the Board, effective March 19, 2019. |
| (16) | Mr. Shean resigned from the Board, effective July 26, 2019. |
| (17) | Each of Messrs. Khosrowshahi and von Furstenberg elected to defer his 2019 director fees pursuant to the Director Deferred Compensation Plan and Ms. Clinton elected to defer 50% of her 2019 director fees pursuant to the Deferred Compensation Plan, which is described above. Mr. von Furstenberg previously elected to defer his 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 director fees pursuant to the Director Deferred Compensation Plan. Each of Mses. Athey and Clinton and Mr. Khosrowshahi previously elected to defer 2018 director fees pursuant to the Director Deferred Compensation Plan. At December 31, 2019, Ms. Athey held a total of 387.209 share units, Ms. Clinton held a total of 723.148 share units, Mr. Khosrowshahi held a total of 755.719 share units and Mr. von Furstenberg held a total of 1,537.991 share units. |
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
In 2019, the Board of Directors had a Compensation Committee, consisting of Ms. Clinton and Mr. Jacobson for the entire year and Ms. Coe and Mr. Dolgen until their respective resignations from the board in July 2019 and June 2019, and a Section 16 Committee, consisting of Mr. Dolgen until his resignation in June 2019 and Ms. Clinton and Mr. Jacobson until the Section 16 Committee was disbanded in July 2019. During the one-year period ended December 31, 2019, none of Mses. Clinton or Coe or Messrs. Dolgen or Jacobson, was an officer or employee of Expedia Group, formerly an officer of Expedia Group, or an executive officer of an entity for which an executive officer of Expedia Group served as a member of the Compensation Committee or as a director.
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