UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.__)

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Triumph Group, Inc.

 

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Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders

To Be Held on July 21, 2021

 

To the holders of shares of our common stock:

 

 

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Triumph Group, Inc. (“Triumph” or the “Company”) will be held on Wednesday, July 21, 2021, beginning at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time and conducted virtually via a live audio webcast on the Internet in light of the ongoing public health impact of the current ongoing global coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic*.  You may virtually attend, vote and submit questions during the Annual Meeting via the live audio webcast on the Internet at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/TGI2021. You will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person nor will there be any physical location.

Only stockholders of record at the close of business on May 24, 2021 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting and any postponement or adjournment thereof. We are committed to ensuring our stockholders have the same rights and opportunities to participate in the Annual Meeting as if it had been held in a physical location. While we encourage you to vote in advance of the Annual Meeting, you may also vote and submit questions relating to meeting matters during the Annual Meeting (subject to time restrictions). You may vote by telephone, Internet or mail prior to the Annual Meeting.

As further described in the proxy materials for the Annual Meeting, you are entitled to virtually attend the Annual Meeting via the live audio webcast on the Internet at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/TGI2021. To be admitted to the Annual Meeting you must enter the 16-digit control number found next to the box with the arrow included on your Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting to be held on July 21, 2021 (the “Notice”) or proxy card (if you receive a printed copy of the proxy materials).The Annual Meeting will be held for the following purposes:

 

To elect eight nominees for director for the coming year;

 

To approve, by advisory vote, the compensation paid to our named executive officers for fiscal year 2021;

 

To ratify the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022; and

 

To consider and transact any other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any postponements or adjournments.

Management currently knows of no other business to be presented at the Annual Meeting. If any other matters come before the meeting, the persons named in the accompanying proxy will vote with their judgment on those matters.

On June 8, 2021, we began mailing to certain stockholders a Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) for the  Annual Meeting containing instructions on how to access this Proxy Statement and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021 and how to vote by Internet or mail. By furnishing the Notice instead of a printed copy of the proxy materials, we are lowering printing and mailing costs and reducing the environmental impact of the Annual Meeting. If you received the Notice, you will not receive a printed copy of the proxy materials unless you request it by following the instructions for requesting such materials contained in the Notice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Meeting Information:

 

 

 

 

 

Date:           July 21, 2021

 

Time:           9:00 a.m. Eastern Time

 

Location*     Live audio webcast on the Internet at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/TGI2021*

        

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your vote is important.

    

 

 

 

 

 

Your vote is very important. Whether or not you plan to virtually attend the Annual Meeting, we encourage you to read this Proxy Statement and submit your proxy or voting instructions as soon as possible. You may vote during the Annual Meeting, by telephone or Internet (instructions are on your proxy card, voter instruction form or the Notice, as applicable) or, if you received your materials by mail, by completing, signing and mailing the enclosed proxy card in the enclosed envelope.

 

 

 

 

 

How You Can Access the Proxy Materials Online:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting to be held on July 21, 2021.

 

Triumph Group, Inc.’s Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting and its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021 are available via the Internet at www.proxyvote.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

By Order of the Board of Directors,

Jennifer H. Allen

Secretary

June 8, 2021

 

* The Annual Meeting will be conducted via audio webcast online and a completely virtual meeting of stockholders due to the public health impact of the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic. This decision was made in light of the protocols that federal, state, and local governments have imposed or may impose in the near future and taking into account the health and safety of our stockholders, directors and members of management and is consistent with the Company’s safety and health core values. You may virtually attend, ask questions relating to meeting matters and vote during the Annual Meeting via the live audio webcast on the Internet at the link above. You will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person. There will be no physical location for stockholders to attend.

 

 

 


 

 

Table of Contents

 

 

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

1

 

 

VOTE REQUIRED FOR APPROVAL

2

 

 

PROPOSALS TO STOCKHOLDERS

3

 

 

 

PROPOSAL NO. 1 –

Election of Directors

3

 

 

 

PROPOSAL NO. 2 –

Advisory Vote on Compensation Paid to Named Executive Officers for Fiscal Year 2021

8

 

 

 

 

 

 

PROPOSAL NO. 3 –

Ratification of Selection of Registered Public Accounting Firm

9

 

 

OTHER MATTERS

10

 

 

GOVERNANCE OF TRIUMPH

11

 

 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

13

 

 

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

18

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

19

 

 

 

 


 

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Proxy Statement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 relating to Triumph Group, Inc.’s (the “Company”) future operations and prospects, including statements that are based on current projections and expectations about the markets in which it operates, and management's beliefs concerning future performance and capital requirements based upon current available information. Such statements are based on management's beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to management. When used in this document, words like "may," "might," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "plan," "believe," "potential," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from management's current expectations. For example, there can be no assurance that additional capital will not be required or that additional capital, if required, will be available on reasonable terms, if at all, at such times and in such amounts as may be needed by the Company. In addition to these factors, among other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, are uncertainties relating to the integration of acquired businesses, general economic conditions affecting the Company’s business segments, the impact of the dependence of certain of the Company’s businesses on certain key customers, the risk that the Company will not realize all of the anticipated benefits from acquisitions as well as competitive factors relating to the aerospace industry. Further, widespread health developments, including the ongoing global coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic, and the responses thereto (such as voluntary and in some cases, mandatory quarantines as well as shut downs and other restrictions on travel and commercial, social and other activities) could adversely and materially affect, among other things, the economic and financial markets and labor resources of the countries in which the Company operates, the Company’s manufacturing and supply chain operations, commercial operations and sales force, administrative personnel, third-party service providers, business partners and customers and the demand for the Company’s products, which could result in a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial conditions and results of operations. For more information on the potential factors that could affect the Company’s financial results and business, review the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021, its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and its Current Reports on Form 8-K. The Company does not intend to update publicly any forward-looking statements except as required by law. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in this Proxy Statement may not occur.

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

Triumph Group, Inc.

899 Cassatt Road Suite 210

Berwyn, Pennsylvania 19312

(610) 251-1000

Proxy Statement

For Annual Meeting of Stockholders

To be held virtually on July 21, 2021

 

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

 

Triumph Group, Inc. (“Triumph”, the “Company”, “we”, “us” or “our”) first made these materials available to stockholders on or about June 8, 2021 on the Internet or, upon your request, has delivered printed proxy materials to you, in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of the Company for use at our 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”), to be held on Wednesday, July 21, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The Company will conduct the Annual Meeting virtually via a live audio webcast on the Internet in light of the public health impact of the ongoing global coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic. The decision to conduct a virtual meeting of stockholders this year was made in light of the protocols that federal, state, and local governments have imposed or may impose in the near future and taking into account the health and safety of our stockholders, directors and members of management and is consistent with the Company’s safety and health core values. You may virtually attend, ask questions relating to meeting matters and vote during the Annual Meeting by visiting: www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/TGI2021. Only stockholders of record at the close of business on May 24, 2021 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting, or at any adjournment or postponement thereof.

 

To virtually attend the Annual Meeting, visit www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/TGI2021 and enter the 16-digit control number included on your Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting, on your proxy card, or on the voting instructions that accompanied your proxy materials.  Check-in for the Annual Meeting will begin at 8:45 a.m. Eastern Time and we encourage you to check-in prior to the start of the Annual Meeting and to allow ample time for the check-in procedures. The meeting will begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. We will have technicians ready to assist you with any technical difficulties you may have accessing the virtual meeting or submitting questions. If you encounter any difficulties accessing the Annual Meeting during the check-in or meeting time, please call the technical support number that will be posted on the Annual Meeting login page. A list of stockholders of record entitled to vote shall be open to any stockholder for any purpose relevant to the Annual Meeting for ten days before the Annual Meeting, during normal business hours, at the Company’s corporate office. A list of stockholders as of the close of business on the record date will also be available for examination by the stockholders at the Annual Meeting.

 

In accordance with rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), we may furnish proxy materials, including this Proxy Statement and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021 to our stockholders by providing access to such documents on the Internet instead of mailing printed copies. Most stockholders will not receive printed copies of the proxy materials unless they request them. Instead, the Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) for the Annual Meeting that was mailed to most of our stockholders will instruct you as to how you may access and review all of the proxy materials for the Annual Meeting on the Internet. The Notice also instructs you as to how you may submit your proxy on the Internet. If you would like to receive a paper or email copy of our proxy materials, you should follow the instructions for requesting such materials in the Notice. You may request printed copies up until one year after the date of the Annual Meeting.

The website on which you will be able to view our proxy materials will also allow you to choose to receive all future proxy materials electronically, which will save the Company the cost of printing and mailing documents to you. If you choose to receive future proxy materials electronically, you will receive an email next year with instructions containing a link to the proxy voting site. Your election to receive proxy materials electronically will remain in effect until you terminate it.

Sending a signed proxy will not affect your right to participate in the Annual Meeting and cast your vote during the meeting because the proxy is revocable. You have the power to revoke your proxy by, among other methods, giving written notice to the Secretary of the Company at any time before your proxy is exercised or by virtually attending the Annual Meeting and voting via the internet at by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/TGI2021. A legal proxy is required if you hold your shares in street name and you plan to vote via the Internet at the Annual Meeting.

In the absence of contrary instructions, the shares represented by proxies that are properly dated, executed and returned, will be voted:

“FOR” the eight nominees for director stated thereon;

“FOR” the approval, by advisory vote, of the compensation paid to our named executive officers for fiscal year 2021; and

“FOR” the ratification of the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022. 

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR

THE 2021 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON JULY 21, 2021.

Triumph Group Inc.’s proxy statement for the 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021 are available via the Internet at www.proxyvote.com.

 

 

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 VOTE REQUIRED FOR APPROVAL

General

Holders of record of our common stock as of the close of business on May 24, 2021 (the “Record Date”), will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting and any postponements or adjournments thereof. Holders of shares of common stock are entitled to vote on all matters properly brought before the Annual Meeting.

As of the Record Date, there were 64,220,262 shares of common stock outstanding and entitled to vote on the election of directors and all of the other matters discussed in this Proxy Statement. No shares of our preferred stock were outstanding as of the Record Date. Each outstanding share of common stock entitles the holder to one vote. All votes will be counted by Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.

The presence virtually or represented by proxy of the holders of a majority of the stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote is necessary to constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted for the purpose of determining whether a quorum is present at the Annual Meeting.

Proposal No. 1 – Election of Directors

In an uncontested election (which is the case for the election of directors at the Annual Meeting), a majority of the votes cast at any meeting for the election of directors at which a quorum is present shall elect directors. A majority of the votes cast means that the number of shares voted “for” a director nominee’s election exceeds 50% of the number of votes cast with respect to that director’s election. Votes cast shall include direction to withhold authority in each case and abstentions and broker non-votes are not considered votes cast on this proposal and, therefore, will have no effect on the results of the vote on this proposal. Our Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “Bylaws”) contain detailed procedures to be followed in the event that one or more directors do not receive a majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting.

Proposal No. 2 – Approval, by Advisory Vote, of Compensation Paid to our Named Executive Officers for Fiscal Year 2021

Approval, by advisory vote, of the compensation paid to our named executive officers for fiscal year 2021 will require the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the shares having voting power present virtually or represented by proxy. Abstentions are counted toward the tabulation of votes on this proposal and will have the same effect as a negative vote. Broker non-votes will have no effect on the results of the vote on this proposal. The vote on this proposal is advisory in nature and, therefore, not binding on the Company. However, our Board and the Compensation and Management Development Committee (the “Compensation Committee”) will consider the outcome of this vote in its future deliberations regarding executive compensation.

 

Proposal No. 3 – Ratification of Ernst & Young LLP as Our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for the Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2022

Ratification of the Audit Committee’s selection of our independent registered public accounting firm will require the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the shares having voting power present virtually or represented by proxy. Abstentions are counted toward the tabulation of votes on this proposal and will have the same effect as a negative vote. The ratification of the selection of our independent registered public accounting firm is considered a routine matter. Therefore, no broker non-votes are expected with respect to this proposal.

 

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PROPOSALS TO STOCKHOLDERS

Proposal No. 1 – Election of Directors

The Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board” or the “Board of Directors”) currently consists of nine directors: Paul Bourgon, Daniel J. Crowley, Ralph E. Eberhart, Daniel P. Garton, Richard A. Goglia, Barbara W. Humpton, William L. Mansfield, Colleen C. Repplier and Larry O. Spencer. At the Annual Meeting, eight of the directors are being submitted as nominees for election by the stockholders for a term ending at the next annual meeting of stockholders and when each such director’s successor is duly elected and qualified. Richard A. Goglia is not standing for re-election. The Board has determined by resolution that, effective as of the Annual Meeting, the size of the Board will be decreased to eight directors.

The table below lists the name of each person nominated by the Board to serve as a director for the coming year. All of the nominees are currently members of our Board with terms expiring at the Annual Meeting. Each nominee has consented to be named as a nominee and, to our knowledge, is willing to serve as a director, if elected. Should any of the nominees not remain a nominee at the end of the Annual Meeting (which is not anticipated), solicited proxies will be voted in favor of those who remain as nominees and may be voted for substitute nominees. Unless contrary instructions are given on the proxy, the shares represented by a properly executed proxy will be voted “FOR” the election of Paul Bourgon, Daniel J. Crowley, Ralph E. Eberhart, Daniel P. Garton, Barbara W. Humpton, William L. Mansfield, Colleen C. Repplier and Larry O. Spencer. Proxies cannot be voted for a greater number of persons than the number of nominees named.

 

Nominees

 

Age

 

Year First

Elected a Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paul Bourgon

 

 

64

 

 

2008

 

Daniel J. Crowley

 

 

58

 

 

2016

 

Ralph E. Eberhart

 

 

74

 

 

2010

 

Daniel P. Garton

 

 

64

 

 

2018

 

Barbara W. Humpton

 

 

61

 

 

2019

 

William L. Mansfield

 

 

73

 

 

2012

 

Colleen C. Repplier

 

 

60

 

 

2019

 

Larry O. Spencer

 

 

67

 

 

2018

 

 

Composition of Board Nominees

 

 

 

 

 

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The principal occupations of each nominee and the experience, qualifications, attributes or skills that led to the conclusion that such nominee should serve as a director for the coming year are as follows:

Paul Bourgon

President, Aeroengine Division SKF USA (Retired)

64 years old

Director since: 2008

Independent

Biographical Information

Paul Bourgon has been a director of Triumph since 2008. Mr. Bourgon is the former General Manager—Global Sales and Engineering for SKF Aeroengine, a position he held from 2006 until May 2021. SKF Group supplies products, solutions and services within rolling bearings, seals, mechatronics, services and lubrication systems and SKF Aeroengine, a division of SKF Group, focuses on providing services in bearing repair and overhaul. Prior to joining SKF Aeroengine, Mr. Bourgon served as Vice President Marketing of Heroux-Devtex Inc., a company that then supplied the commercial and military sectors with landing gear, airframe structural components, including kits, and aircraft engine components. Mr. Bourgon also serves on the board of directors of Venture Aerobearing LLC.

Experience

Mr. Bourgon’s experience as a president of a significant aerospace business and his experience within the aerospace industry enable him to serve as an additional point of reference on trends and developments affecting Triumph’s business and its customers, suppliers and competitors. In addition, his background as a Chartered Accountant, member of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants since 1983, articling with Coopers & Lybrand in Montreal in the Auditing and Taxes departments, as well as his ongoing responsibility for the financial statements of the business he manages, enables him to lend additional financial expertise to the deliberations of the Board.

Daniel J. Crowley

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Triumph Group, Inc.

58 years old

Director since: 2016

Biographical Information

Daniel J. Crowley has been a director of Triumph since 2016. Mr. Crowley has served as Triumph’s President and Chief Executive Officer since January 4, 2016.  In November 2020, Mr. Crowley became Chairman of the Board.  Mr. Crowley served as a corporate Vice President and President of Integrated Defense Systems at Raytheon Company from 2013 until 2015, and as President of Network Centric Systems at Raytheon Company from 2010 until 2013. Prior to joining Raytheon Company, Mr. Crowley served as Chief Operating Officer of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics after holding a series of increasingly responsible assignments across its space, electronics, and aeronautics sectors.

Experience

Mr. Crowley brings to the Board 37 years of industry experience during which he has held key leadership roles in the development, production and deployment of some of the largest and most complex aerospace and defense products. He also provides the Board with detailed information about Triumph’s businesses and communicates management’s perspective on important matters to the Board.

 

Ralph E. Eberhart

Lead Independent Director, Triumph Group, Inc.

Chair, Armed Forces Benefit Association

General, U.S. Air Force (Retired)

74 years old

Director since: 2010

Independent

Biographical Information

Ralph E. Eberhart has been a director of Triumph since 2010.  From April 2015 until November 2020, he served as its non-executive Chair, and, since November 2020, he has served as its Lead Independent Director.  It is expected that when William L. Mansfield assumes the role of Lead Independent Director of the Company on July 21, 2021, Gen. Eberhart will continue to serve on the Board as a director.  Gen. Eberhart served as Commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and U.S. Northern Command from October 2002 to January 2005. Since January 2005, he has been the Chair of the Armed Forces Benefit Association, where he also served as President from January 2005 until his retirement as President in March 2020.  Gen. Eberhart’s active military career spanned

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36 years. He is also a member of the board of directors of Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. and VSE Corporation and serves as Chair of 5 Star Life Insurance Company. Gen. Eberhart also served as a director of Rockwell Collins, Inc. from November 2007 until its acquisition by United Technologies Corp. in November 2018. Gen. Eberhart joined the Board as part of an arrangement in connection with the Company’s acquisition (the “Vought Acquisition”) of Vought Aircraft Industries, Inc. (“Vought”) in 2010.

Experience

Given the significant share of Triumph’s business focused on serving the militaries of the United States and other countries, Gen. Eberhart provides the Board with valuable insight into military operations that enables the Company to better serve its military customers. The Company also benefits from his experience as a director of other aerospace and defense companies. Moreover, his senior leadership experience enables him to provide management with valuable advice on governance and management issues.

 

 

Daniel P. Garton

Former Chief Executive Officer and President, American Eagle, American Airlines

64 years old

Director since: 2018

Independent

Biographical Information

Daniel P. Garton has been a director of Triumph since February 2018. Mr. Garton is the former Chief Executive Officer and President of American Eagle Holding Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Airlines, a position he held from June 2010 until December 2014, at which time he retired. He previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for American Airlines, and Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Continental Airlines. He also served as a director of Liberty Property Trust until its acquisition by Prologis, Inc. in February 2020.  In addition, he served as a director of Republic Airways Holdings Inc. from 2014 to 2017.

Experience

The Company benefits from Mr. Garton’s diverse functional leadership experiences during his career of over 30 years in the airline industry in key management and financial positions. In addition, he brings extensive experience working with many of the aerospace OEMs Triumph serves, including Boeing, Airbus, Bombardier and Embraer and with Tier 2 major component and engine suppliers, and aftermarket service providers.

 

Barbara W. Humpton

Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Siemens USA

61 years old

Director since: 2019

Independent

Biographical Information

Barbara W. Humpton has been a director of Triumph since September 2019. Ms. Humpton is the Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Siemens USA where she leads strategy, operations and services for the largest subsidiary of Siemens AG, one of the world’s largest producers of energy-efficient, resource-saving technologies. Ms. Humpton joined Siemens in 2011 and held roles of increasing responsibility in the Siemens Government Technologies business, ultimately being named President and CEO of the business. Prior to joining Siemens, Ms. Humpton was a Vice President at Booz Allen Hamilton where she was responsible for program performance and new business development for technology consulting with the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security. Earlier, Ms. Humpton served as Vice President at Lockheed Martin with responsibility for Biometrics Programs, Border and Transportation Security and Critical Infrastructure Protection.

Experience

 

Ms. Humpton’s experience in managing large and complex manufacturing businesses is of significant benefit to the Company, as is her global industry experience.  She also brings to the Board significant leadership skills that will be used to serve the Company’s interests.


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William L. Mansfield

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Valspar Corporation (Retired)

73 years old

Director since: 2012

Independent

Biographical Information

William L. Mansfield has been a director of Triumph since 2012 and is expected to serve as its Lead Independent Director beginning July 21, 2021. Mr. Mansfield served as the Chairman of the Board of The Valspar Corporation from August 2007 through June 2012 and served as its Chief Executive Officer from February 2005 to June 2011 and as its President from February 2005 through February 2008. Mr. Mansfield also served as a director of Bemis Company, Inc. until May 2018 and as Non-Executive Chair of the Board of Axiall Corporation until August 2016.

Experience

Mr. Mansfield brings to the Board deep management experience as a former chief executive officer of a significant, publicly-traded manufacturing business with diverse operations spread across the globe as well as a track record of enhancing growth through acquisition. Likewise, his service as a director of other public companies is a source of additional insight into developments in corporate management and governance.

 

Colleen C. Repplier

Vice President and General Manager of Johnson Controls (Retired)

60 years old

Director since: 2019

Independent

Biographical Information

Colleen C. Repplier has been a director of Triumph since August 2019. Ms. Repplier retired in June 2018 as Vice President and General Manager of Johnson Controls (“JCI”), where she was responsible for a $4.5 billion global portfolio of HVAC businesses with 20,000 employees. She had previously been with Tyco International since 2007, holding the title of President of the fire protection products strategic business unit during that time and joined JCI in 2016 as a result of JCI’s purchase of Tyco. Prior to Tyco, Ms. Repplier held senior leadership positions at The Home Depot from 2005 to 2007. Prior to 2005, Ms. Repplier spent 20 years in the energy industry, holding engineering and marketing roles with Westinghouse Electric Company and Bechtel Corporation as well as progressing through commercial and general management assignments at General Electric.  She has served as a director of Kimball Electronics since November 2014 and SKF Group since March 2018.

Experience

Ms. Repplier’s broad experience leading global industrial businesses is of significant value to the Company.  Her engineering background and experience in operations and six-sigma methodologies provide strong insights into improvement opportunities for the Company.  In addition, her board experiences with Kimball Electronics and SKF Group greatly benefits the Company.

 

Larry O. Spencer

President, Armed Forces Benefit Association

General, U.S. Air Force (Retired)

67 years old

Director since: 2018

Independent

Biographical Information

Larry O. Spencer has been a director of Triumph since January 2018.  Since March 2020, he has served as the President of the Armed Forces Benefit Association, which provides a range of benefit products to over 650,000 members of the Armed Forces, first responders, federal workers and their families.  He also serves on the Board of Directors of Whirlpool Corporation and Haynes International, Inc.  General Spencer previously served as President of the Air Force Association from April 2015 until March 2019.  General Spencer spent 44 years in the United States Air Force, retiring as a four-star general in 2015.  His final assignment was Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, the second highest ranking member of the Air Force, assisting the Chief of Staff in organizing, training and equipping 690,000 active-duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian forces serving in the United States and overseas.  Prior to that, General Spencer served on the Joint Staff, reporting directly to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, where he was responsible for resources allocation for all of the

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Armed Services.  During his career, General Spencer participated in several contingency operations, including Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Experience

The Company benefits from Gen. Spencer’s experiences as a leader of large, complex organizations, his knowledge of global business operations and logistics and his insight into the military and government affairs.  His financial management experience and his strong knowledge and understanding with major repair and overhaul of complex aerospace systems are of significant value to the Company, and his knowledge of global supply chain operations and six-sigma methodologies is an asset to the Company’s efforts to improve efficiency.

 

The Board recommends that stockholders vote “FOR” each of the nominees.
The nominees receiving a majority of the votes cast in favor of their
election will be elected as directors.

 

 

 

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Proposal No. 2 – Advisory Vote on Compensation Paid to Named Executive Officers for Fiscal Year 2021

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) added Section 14A to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), which requires that we provide our stockholders with the opportunity to vote to approve, on a nonbinding, advisory basis, the compensation paid to our named executive officers for fiscal year 2021 as disclosed in this proxy statement in accordance with the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Currently, we hold this vote annually.

We seek to closely align the interests of our named executive officers with the interests of our stockholders. Our executive compensation programs are intended to achieve several business objectives, including: (i) recruiting and retaining our executives with the talent required to successfully manage our business; (ii) motivating our executives to achieve our business objectives; (iii) instilling in our executives a long-term commitment to the Company’s success by providing elements of compensation that align the executives’ interests with those of our stockholders; (iv) providing compensation that recognizes individual contributions as well as overall business results; and (v) avoiding or minimizing the risks of incentivizing management behavior that is inconsistent with the interests of our stockholders. Our Compensation Discussion and Analysis (the “CD&A”), included below, describes in detail the components of our executive compensation program, the process by which our Board of Directors makes executive compensation decisions, and the compensation paid to our named executive officers for fiscal year 2021. Highlights of our executive compensation program include the following:

 

We set initial base salaries for executive officers by evaluating the responsibilities of the position and each individual’s experience and, as part of such evaluation, considering the competitive marketplace for executives and peer group salaries for similar positions.

 

We provide significant incentive opportunities for our executive officers, so that our executive officers have the potential for above average compensation, but only if certain Company-based performance objectives are met or exceeded.

 

We design our performance-based equity awards such that:

 

(i)

they align management’s interest with that of our stockholders;

 

(ii)

they induce management to remain with the Company through vesting requirements over several years; and

 

(iii)

they promote the achievement of the Company’s short- and long-term targeted business objectives.

 

We provide certain executive officers with additional benefits, or perquisites, that we believe are reasonable, competitive, and consistent with our overall executive compensation program and allow our executive officers to work more efficiently.

The vote on this proposal is advisory, which means that the approval of the compensation paid to our named executive officers is not binding on the Company, the Board or the Compensation and Management Development Committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”). The vote on this resolution is not intended to address any specific element of compensation, but rather relates to the overall compensation of our named executive officers for fiscal year 2021, as described in this Proxy Statement in accordance with the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC. To the extent there is a significant vote against the compensation paid to our named executive officers as disclosed in this Proxy Statement, the Compensation Committee will evaluate whether any actions are necessary to address our stockholders’ concerns. Accordingly, we ask our stockholders to vote on the following resolution at the Annual Meeting:

RESOLVED, that the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers for fiscal year 2021, as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, including the CD&A, compensation tables, and narrative discussion, is hereby APPROVED, on a non-binding, advisory basis.

 

The Board recommends that stockholders vote “FOR” the approval of the compensation
paid to our named executive officers, as disclosed in this Proxy Statement.

 

 

 

8


 

 

Proposal No. 3 – Ratification of Selection of Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Audit Committee has selected Ernst & Young LLP (“EY”) as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022, and the stockholders are asked to ratify this selection. EY has served as our independent registered public accounting firm since 1993. All audit and non-audit services provided by EY are approved by the Audit Committee. EY has advised us that it has no direct or material indirect interest in us or our affiliates. Representatives of EY are expected to virtually attend the Annual Meeting, will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and are expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions.

Fees to Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for Fiscal Years 2021 and 2020

Audit Fees

EY’s fees associated with the annual audit of financial statements, the audit of internal control of financial reporting, the reviews of the Company’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, statutory audits, assistance with and review of documents filed with the SEC, issuance of consents and accounting consultations for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, were $3.8 million in each year.

Audit-Related Fees

EY’s fees for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, for assurance and related services that were reasonably related to the performance of the audits of our financial statements were $0.5 million and $1.1 million, respectively. For the fiscal years ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, these audit-related services were primarily related to due diligence services and defined benefit plan audits.

Tax Fees

EY’s fees for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning were $0.2 million in each year. These services consisted primarily of the review of the Company’s U.S. Federal income tax return Form 1120 and consultation regarding transfer pricing.

All Other Fees

EY did not perform any material professional services other than those described above in the fiscal years ended March 31, 2021 and 2020.

Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policy

The Audit Committee pre-approved the engagement of EY to render all of the audit and the permitted non-audit services described above. The Audit Committee has determined that EY’s rendering of all other non-audit services is compatible with maintaining auditor independence. The Audit Committee has delegated to its chair or, if he is unavailable, any other member of the Audit Committee, the right to pre-approve all audit services, between regularly scheduled meetings, subject to presentation to the full Audit Committee at its next meeting.

 

The Board recommends that stockholders vote “FOR” the ratification of Ernst & Young LLP as independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022.

 

 

 

9


 

 

OTHER MATTERS

The Board knows of no other matters that will be presented at the Annual Meeting. However, if other matters should properly come before the Annual Meeting, or any postponements or adjournments thereof, the person or persons voting the proxies will vote them with their judgment in those matters.

 

 

 

10


 

 

GOVERNANCE OF TRIUMPH

Pursuant to the Delaware General Corporation Law and the Bylaws, our business is managed under the direction of our Board. Members of the Board are kept current on matters relating to our business:  through reports from and discussions with our Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, and other executive officers of the Company; through an annual meeting with our executive officers and senior management from our operating locations; by reviewing materials provided to them by our executive officers, senior management, advisors and others; and by participating in meetings of the Board and, as applicable, its committees. In addition, to promote open discussion among our non-employee directors, those directors meet in regularly scheduled executive sessions without participation from management. These sessions are presided over by our Lead Independent Director.

Corporate Governance Guidelines

We have adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines that are posted on our website at www.triumphgroup.com under “Investor Relations—Corporate Governance” and are available in print to any stockholder upon request.

Code of Business Conduct

Our Board has adopted a Code of Business Conduct that applies to each of our employees, officers and directors, including, but not limited to, our Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Controller (principal accounting officer). The Code of Business Conduct is reviewed at least annually by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (the “Governance Committee”) and amended as the Board deems appropriate upon the recommendation of the Governance Committee. A copy of the Code of Business Conduct is posted on our website at www.triumphgroup.com under “Investor Relations—Corporate Governance” and is available in print to any stockholder upon request.

Proxy Access

On April 24, 2019, the Board, after review of similarly situated companies, approved amendments to the Company’s Bylaws to implement proxy access. Section 14 was added to Article III to permit a stockholder or group of stockholders owning at least 3% of the Company’s outstanding common stock continuously for three years or more to nominate and include in the Company’s proxy materials for an annual meeting of stockholders director nominees constituting up to 25% of the total number of directors then in office, provided that the nominating stockholder(s) and nominee(s) satisfy the requirements specified in the Bylaws.   This right is subject to various requirements, conditions, procedures and limitations set forth in the Bylaws, including the requirement that notice of such a nomination be provided to the Company not less than 120 days nor more than 150 calendar days prior to the one-year anniversary of the date of the Company’s proxy statement for the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders. A summary of the proxy access provisions included in the Bylaws is below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

% Ownership
Threshold

Limit on Proxy
Access
Nominees
(Maximum % of
Board)

Group Size

Limit

Loaned Shares
Count as
“Owned”

Requirement/
Express

Intention to Hold
Shares Beyond
Meeting Date

(1 Year)

Restrictions on
Renominating
Unsuccessful
Proxy Access
Nominees

Board Power to
Amend Proxy
Access Bylaws

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3%

25%

No limit

Loaned shares count as owned if recallable on

5 business days’ notice and stockholder commits to recall and hold shares until next annual meeting if stockholder nominee will

be included in

Company’s

Proxy

Required to hold shares through the date of the annual meeting

A stockholder’s nominee that does not receive at least

25% of the votes cast is ineligible to be a stockholder nominee for

the next two annual meetings

Board can amend proxy access bylaw

 

11


 

 

Social Responsibility and Environmental Sustainability

We continually strive to better serve our customers, provide quality jobs for employees and value to our investors. Our directors, officers and employees are expected to conduct business ethically and in compliance with the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and all applicable laws, rules and regulations, and other compliance obligations. Triumph’s Code of Business Conduct is reflective of our culture and contains the business and ethical principles upon which we have built our reputation for integrity. We are committed to sourcing components and materials from companies that share our values regarding human rights, ethics and environmental responsibility.  Additional details regarding our environmental, social and governance program can be found in our Sustainability and Annual Report, available on our investor relations website at ir.triumphgroup.com.

Employees. We value our employees and their families and, therefore, we offer competitive benefits that cover the many facets of health including resources and programs designed to support physical, mental, and financial wellness. We also provide tuition reimbursement and other educational and training opportunities to our employees.

Diversity. We value the diversity of our workforce and believe that the best business results are achieved when teams are populated with individuals from a diverse set of backgrounds, cultures, genders, and experiences. We track the diversity of our leadership and workforce and review our progress toward our diversity objectives with the Board on a periodic basis.

Safety. Our Environment, Safety and Health (ES&H) goals include:

 

Eliminating workplace injuries;

 

Protecting employee health from workplace exposures;

 

Preventing safety incidents; and

 

Complying with health and safety regulations.

During fiscal year 2021, ensuring the safety of our employees during the global COVID-19 pandemic was of paramount importance. Our ES&H team fosters and leads a culture that provides the skills, resources and management to fully engage and empower our workforce to create an incident-free environment. At our manufacturing sites, the ES&H team is leading the Company’s efforts to provide a safe workplace for our employees, customers and visitors and to ensure that our operations are conducted in an environmentally responsible manner in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. We continuously invest in educational platforms for our employees, contractors, and visitors to improve their skills and knowledge, as well as provide improved tools, to create an incident-free workplace.

Environmental. Our business, operations and facilities are subject to numerous stringent federal, state, local and foreign environmental laws and regulation by government agencies. Among other matters, these regulatory authorities impose requirements that regulate the emission, discharge, generation, management, transportation and disposal of hazardous materials, pollutants and contaminants, govern public and private response actions to hazardous or regulated substances that may be or have been released to the environment, and require us to obtain and maintain licenses and permits in connection with our operations. We continually seek to improve the design and safety of our processes, seek energy efficient options, and minimize waste generation through pollution prevention and sustainability strategies. We partner with contractors, suppliers, and third-party providers who share our commitment to eliminate work-related injuries, incidents, and environmental impacts.

Community Service and Philanthropy. Since 2011, we have demonstrated a deep dedication to corporate citizenship through our Wings community outreach program. Through Wings, based on the needs of their communities, our employees around the world create and implement service projects by partnering with local non-profit organizations and engage in meaningful volunteer projects that directly benefit local charities committed to serving the needs of others. Through the Wings program and individual acts of volunteerism, employees at our sites have partnered with organizations including the United Way, American Red Cross, Salvation Army, Boys and Girls Club of Middle Tennessee, Ouachita Children’s Center, Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, Second Harvest Food Bank and many others. The Company enjoys partnering in local communities and team-based volunteer events help bring our employees together as one team serving its communities.

Triumph Group Charitable Foundation. In 2008, the Triumph Group Charitable Foundation was formed.  The Triumph Group Charitable Foundation allocates its approximately $300,000 annual grant budget to recipient organizations with the missions of advancing education, with a focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), improving our communities, and supporting veterans and military families.

Anti-Hedging Policy

We believe that the issuance of incentive and compensatory equity awards to our officers and directors, including non-employee directors, along with our stock ownership guidelines, help to align the interests of such officers and directors with our stockholders. As part of our insider trading policy, we prohibit any officers and directors from engaging in hedging activities with respect to any owned shares or outstanding equity awards. The policy also discourages pledges of any Company stock by officers and directors, and requires Company notice and approval. None of our officers and directors pledged any shares of Company stock during fiscal year 2021.

12


 

Director Age and Committee Composition

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Age as of

2021 Proxy

Statement

 

 

Audit

 

CMDC

 

Finance

 

N&CG

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paul Bourgon

 

 

64

 

 

 

 

Member

 

Member

 

Member

 

Daniel J. Crowley

 

 

58

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ed Eberhart

 

 

74

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dan Garton

 

 

64

 

 

Chair

 

 

 

Member

 

Member

 

Richard Goglia

 

 

69

 

 

Member

 

Member

 

Member

 

 

 

Barbara Humpton

 

 

61

 

 

 

 

Chair

 

 

 

Member

 

Bill Mansfield

 

 

73

 

 

Member

 

Member

 

Chair

 

 

 

Colleen Repplier

 

 

60

 

 

Member

 

Member

 

 

 

Member

 

Larry Spencer

 

 

67

 

 

Member

 

 

 

Member

 

Chair

 

 

Board of Directors

The Board currently consists of nine directors: Paul Bourgon, Daniel J. Crowley, Ralph E. Eberhart, Daniel P. Garton, Richard A. Goglia, Barbara W. Humpton, William L. Mansfield, Colleen C. Repplier and Larry O. Spencer. Richard A. Goglia is not standing for reelection at the Annual Meeting. The Board has determined by resolution that, effective as of the Annual Meeting, the size of the Board will be decreased to eight directors. The Board’s composition has undergone significant refreshment since 2016 when there were eleven directors as a result of retirements and new appointments.

Lead Independent Director

On November 17, 2020, the Board unanimously elected Mr. Crowley as Board Chairman, succeeding Gen. Eberhart, who served as non-executive Chair of the Board since April 2015.  In addition to the Corporate Guidelines established by the Board, the Board has approved and adopted Lead Independent Director Guidelines, which are posted on our website at www.triumphgroup.com under “Investor Relations—Corporate Governance” and are available in print to any stockholder upon request.  Among other responsibilities, the Lead Independent Director is charged with:

 

Facilitating discussion and open dialogue among the independent directors during Board and committee meetings and during executive sessions;

 

Providing feedback regarding the Board’s committees and the Chairman;

 

Leading the evaluation and review of the effectiveness of the Chairman;

 

Overseeing the CEO succession planning process; and

 

Managing crises when required.

The Board determined that Mr. Crowley’s proven leadership capabilities, strategic and operational expertise, and deep understanding of the aerospace and defense industry make him well-qualified to lead the Company in the added role of Chairman.

The Board selected Gen. Eberhart to serve as Lead Independent Director, based upon other selection criteria, his industry and government service, track record of strong corporate governance, and history with the Board.  As previously announced, the Board has selected Mr. Mansfield to succeed Gen. Eberhart beginning July 21, 2021.  As an experienced public company leader and long-standing Board member with the Company, he is well-positioned to serve as Lead Independent Director.  It is anticipated that Gen. Eberhart will continue to serve as a director, allowing for an effective transition in the role.

Director Independence

The Board has determined that each of Mr. Bourgon, Gen. Eberhart, Mr. Garton, Ms. Humpton, Mr. Mansfield, Ms. Repplier and Gen. Spencer are independent based upon the standards of independence set forth in the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange and in our Independence Standards for Directors, which are posted on our website at www.triumphgroup.com under “Investor Relations—Corporate Governance.”

Meetings and Committees of the Board of Directors

The Board held fourteen meetings during our fiscal year ended March 31, 2021 and also acted 12 times by unanimous written consent. Each of our directors attended at least 75% of the meetings of the Board and committees of the Board of which he or she was a member during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021. We encourage all of our directors to attend the Annual Meeting. For the Annual Meeting, we expect all of our directors standing for reelection will attend. All of the directors attended the 2020 annual meeting of stockholders.

13


 

As Chairman, Mr. Crowley leads meetings of the Board. As Lead Independent Director, Gen. Eberhart provides leadership of the independent directors during meetings of the Board and also generally attends meetings of the Board’s committees (without a vote). Our Chairman and Lead Independent Director are elected annually by the Board upon a recommendation by the Governance Committee. Executive sessions of the independent directors are held at every Board meeting (which sessions are not attended by management, except upon invitation by the Chairman). While the Board believes this leadership structure is appropriate, the Board may decide to change it in the future.

The standing committees of the Board are the Audit Committee, the Compensation and Management Development Committee (the “Compensation Committee”), the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (the “Governance Committee”), and the Finance Committee.  In November 2020, the Board determined that it no longer required an Executive Committee. All members of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Governance Committee are independent, as independence for such committee members is defined in the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange and in our Independence Standards for Directors, which are posted on our website at www.triumphgroup.com under “Investor Relations—Corporate Governance.”

The Board has adopted a written charter for each of the standing committees, each of which is reviewed at least annually by the relevant committee. A copy of the charter of each standing Board committee is posted on our website at www.triumphgroup.com under “Investor Relations—Corporate Governance” and is available in print to any stockholder upon request.

 

14


 

 

  Audit Committee

The Audit Committee, currently consisting of Mr. Garton (Chair), Mr. Goglia, Mr. Mansfield, Ms. Repplier and Gen. Spencer, met seven times during the last fiscal year. The Committee assists the Board in its oversight of the integrity of our financial statements, the operations and effectiveness of our internal controls, our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, the independent registered public accounting firm’s qualifications and independence, and the performance of our internal audit function and the independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee is also responsible for reviewing and approving all related person transactions in accordance with the Company’s policy.

 

  Compensation Committee

The Compensation Committee, currently consisting of Mr. Bourgon, Mr. Goglia, Ms. Humpton (Chair), Mr. Mansfield and Ms. Repplier met six times during the last year. The Compensation Committee periodically reviews and evaluates the compensation of our officers and other members of senior management, administers the incentive plans under which the executive officers receive their compensation, establishes guidelines for compensation of other personnel and oversees our management development and succession plans.

The Compensation Committee determines the compensation of the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. The Compensation Committee also reviews and approves the compensation proposed by the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer to be awarded to Triumph’s other executive officers, as well as certain key senior officers of each of Triumph’s operating companies and divisions. The Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer generally attends Compensation Committee meetings but does not attend executive sessions or any discussion of his own compensation. The Compensation Committee also considers the results of the most recent stockholder advisory vote on executive compensation in determining executive compensation. The Compensation Committee may delegate any of its responsibilities to one or more subcommittees consisting solely of one or more members of the Compensation Committee as it may deem appropriate, provided, that the Compensation Committee does not delegate any power or authority required by law, regulation or listing standard to be exercised by the Compensation Committee as a whole.

As further described in the CD&A, for fiscal year 2021, the Compensation Committee engaged a compensation consultant, Pay Governance LLC (“Pay Governance”), whose selection and fees were recommended and approved by the Compensation Committee, to assist the Compensation Committee and the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer in modifying the peer group, reviewing select officer pay recommendations, providing recommendations for fiscal year 2021’s long-term incentive plan design, and assisting with the preparation of the CD&A included in this Proxy Statement. Pay Governance provided the Compensation Committee with specific recommendations on the compensation for Mr. Crowley and input on the compensation for the other named executive officers.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

None of the members of the Compensation Committee is an officer or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, nor were any of them an officer or employee of Company or any of our subsidiaries during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021. None of our executive officers served as a member of the compensation committee of another entity, one of whose executive officers served as one of our directors.

 

  Governance Committee

The Governance Committee, currently consisting of Mr. Bourgon, Mr. Garton, Ms. Humpton, Ms. Repplier and Gen. Spencer (Chair), met five times during fiscal year 2021. The Governance Committee assists the Board in identifying individuals qualified to become Board members, recommending the nominees for directors, developing and recommending our Corporate Governance Guidelines and overseeing the evaluation of the Board and management. In addition to these responsibilities, the committee also advises the Board on non-employee director compensation matters.

 

  Finance Committee

The Finance Committee, currently consisting of Mr. Bourgon, Mr. Garton, Mr. Goglia, Mr. Mansfield (Chair), and Gen. Spencer, met fifteen times during the last fiscal year. The Finance Committee reviews our capital structure and policies, financial forecasts, operations and capital budgets, pension fund investments and employee savings plans and corporate insurance coverage, as well as other financial matters deemed appropriate by the Board.

 

Risk Oversight

The Board of Directors is responsible for consideration and oversight of risks facing Triumph. Acting as a whole and through its standing committees, the Board is responsible for ensuring that material risks are identified and managed appropriately. The Board and its committees regularly review material strategic, operational, financial, compensation and compliance risks with senior management. In addition to such ongoing supervision, the Board has followed a practice of annually assessing the Company’s strategic risks and opportunities as part of an extended Board meeting. The Audit Committee performs a central oversight role with respect to financial and compliance risks, receives a report from Internal Audit, on the Company’s enterprise risk management assessment at each regular meeting, and meets independently, outside the presence and without the participation of senior management, with Internal Audit and our independent accountants in conjunction with each regularly scheduled Board meeting. The Compensation Committee considers the risks of the Company’s compensation programs in connection with the design of our compensation programs for senior corporate and Company

15


 

management.  In addition, the Finance Committee is responsible for assessing risks related to our capital structure, significant financial exposures, our risk management and major insurance programs and regularly assesses financial risks associated with such exposures and programs.

Director Nominations

As previously discussed, the Governance Committee assists the Board in identifying individuals qualified to become Board members and recommends the director nominees for the next annual meeting of stockholders. The Governance Committee will consider nominees for director recommended by stockholders in accordance with the following procedures. As a stockholder, you may recommend any person as a nominee for director for consideration by our Governance Committee by submitting the name(s), completed and signed questionnaire(s) and written representation and agreement(s), supplemented and updated if necessary, for each named person in writing to Jennifer H. Allen, Secretary, Triumph Group, Inc., 899 Cassatt Road, Suite 210, Berwyn, Pennsylvania 19312. Recommendations should be received by no earlier than March 23, 2022 and later than April 22, 2022 for the 2022 annual meeting of stockholders and, as further described in the Bylaws, should generally be accompanied by:

 

the name and address of the nominating stockholder;

 

the class or series and number of shares of the Company beneficially held by the nominating stockholder;

 

the stock ownership interests, and any agreements or arrangements with respect to such ownership interests, of the Company beneficially held by the nominating stockholder, including the information required by Article II, Section 14(C)(1)(a)(ii) of the Bylaws of the Company;

 

information regarding each nominee that would be required to be included in a proxy statement;

 

a description of any arrangements or understandings between and among the stockholder and each nominee during the past three years; and

 

the written consent of each nominee to serve as a director, if elected, and to be named in the proxy statement as a nominee.

As set forth in our Corporate Governance Guidelines and the Governance Committee charter, the Governance Committee has not established any specific minimum eligibility requirements for nominees, other than personal and professional integrity, dedication, commitment and, with respect to a majority of the Board, independence. However, when assessing a candidate’s qualifications, the Governance Committee considers the candidate’s experience, diversity (including gender, racial, and ethnic diversity), expertise, education, insight, judgment, skills, character, conflicts of interest and background. Within the limitations of the maximum number of the Board members deemed to be effective for the management of the Company, the Governance Committee seeks to ensure diversity among all of these criteria to provide the Board with the greatest practicable breadth of input. The Governance Committee seeks to implement these principles through consideration, on at least an annual basis, of the Board’s composition and discussion with the Board of any identified criteria that the committee believes should be sought in considering candidates for membership. A consideration of the adequacy of the Board’s composition is formally included in the Board’s annual self-evaluation, and the adequacy of the process for identifying and recommending Board candidates is examined as part of the annual self-evaluation of the Governance Committee.

The Governance Committee does not have any specific process for identifying and evaluating nominees. It considers candidates proposed by directors, executive officers and stockholders, as well as those identified by third party search firms.

Communications with Directors

The Board of Directors welcomes and seeks input from the Company’s stockholders during its stockholder meetings, through its investor relations function, and through direct communications to the Board. Stockholders and interested parties may communicate with any of our directors, any committee chair, the non-employee directors as a group or the entire Board of Directors by writing to the director, committee chair, non-employee directors or the Board in care of Triumph Group, Inc., Attention: Secretary, 899 Cassatt Road, Suite 210, Berwyn, Pennsylvania 19312. Communications received by the Secretary for any director or group of directors are forwarded directly to the director or group of directors. If the communication is addressed to the Chairman, Board and no particular director is named, the communication will be forwarded, depending on the subject matter, to the Chairman, the Lead Independent Director, the appropriate committee chair, all the non-employee directors or all the directors.

16


 

Director Compensation

In fiscal year 2021, the Board determined that it would temporarily reduce the cash retainer amount for Board members by 25% from its level of $85,000 in fiscal year 2020 in light of the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic.  Each of the independent directors received a cash retainer in the amount of $63,750.  During the first 3 quarters of fiscal year 2021, Gen. Eberhart received a prorated fee as Chair that was reduced by 25% from its level of $100,000 per year in fiscal year 2020 in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. During the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2021, Gen. Eberhart received a prorated fee as Lead Independent Director that was reduced by 25% from its anticipated level in fiscal year 2022 of $25,000 per year in light of the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, committee chairs received chairperson fees in cash, in each case again reduced by 25% from fiscal year 2020 levels in light of the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic. Each received an equity award in the form of restricted stock units. The following table summarizes compensation we paid to non-employee directors for their service during fiscal year 2021 under this revised non-employee director compensation program.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name

 

Fees Earned

or Paid in

Cash ($)

 

Stock Awards

($)(1)

 

Total ($)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paul Bourgon

 

 

$

63,750

 

 

 

 

$

140,000

 

 

 

 

$

203,750

 

 

Ralph E. Eberhart

 

 

 

124,688

 

 

 

 

 

140,000

 

 

 

 

 

264,688

 

 

Daniel P. Garton

 

 

 

75,000

 

 

 

 

 

140,000

 

 

 

 

 

215,000

 

 

Richard A. Goglia

 

 

 

63,750

 

 

 

 

 

140,000

 

 

 

 

 

203,750

 

 

Barbara W. Humpton

 

 

 

70,781

 

 

 

 

 

140,000

 

 

 

 

 

210,781

 

 

William L. Mansfield

 

 

 

73,125

 

 

 

 

 

140,000

 

 

 

 

 

213,125

 

 

Colleen C. Repplier

 

 

 

63,750

 

 

 

 

 

140,000

 

 

 

 

 

203,750

 

 

Larry O. Spencer

 

 

 

71,250

 

 

 

 

 

140,000

 

 

 

 

 

211,250

 

 

 

(1)

On July 16, 2020, Mr. Bourgon, Gen. Eberhart, Mr. Goglia, Mr. Garton, Ms. Humpton, Mr. Mansfield, Ms. Repplier and Gen. Spencer each received 17,588 restricted stock units, each unit representing the contingent right to receive one share of common stock. The closing price on the date of such grant was $7.96. Forfeiture restrictions lapse on the restricted stock units on the first anniversary of the date of grant, unless earlier terminated or accelerated in accordance with the Company’s 2016 Directors’ Plan. Calculations are based on the closing price on the date of grant.

Director Stock Ownership Guidelines

To further align the interests of the non-employee directors of the Company with the interests of the stockholders, the Company has adopted stock ownership guidelines for its non-employee directors. These guidelines establish an expectation that, within a five-year period, each non-employee director will hold shares of Triumph common stock, including shares covered by restricted stock units granted under Triumph’s 2016 Directors’ Plan, with a value equal to five times the amount of the annual cash retainer paid to non-employee directors. In addition, it is expected that all non-employee directors hold 50% of vested shares, on an after-tax basis, until the stock ownership guidelines have been achieved. An annual review is conducted by our Governance Committee to assess compliance with the guidelines. All of our non-employee directors meet their applicable ownership guidelines, or, for non-employee directors who have been with the Company for less than five years, are on track to achieve their ownership guidelines by the applicable target compliance date. The Governance Committee will continue to monitor compliance with the guidelines.

 

 

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AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors consists of five independent directors and operates under a written charter adopted by the Board and reviewed by the Audit Committee and the Board. The members of the Audit Committee are not professionally engaged in the practice of auditing or accounting nor are they experts in the fields of auditing or accounting, including in respect of auditor independence. However, all committee members are financially literate. In addition, the Board has determined that each of Mr. Garton, Mr. Goglia  and Mr. Mansfield is an “audit committee financial expert” as defined under the rules of the SEC and that each member of the Audit Committee is independent as independence for audit committee members is defined in the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange.

Management is responsible for Triumph’s internal control and the financial reporting process, including the presentation and integrity of our financial statements. Triumph’s independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for, among other things, performing an independent audit of Triumph’s financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and issuing a report thereon. Triumph’s independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for auditing the effectiveness of Triumph’s internal control over financial reporting and management’s assessment thereof in accordance with standards of the PCAOB, and issuing a report thereon. The Audit Committee’s responsibility is to monitor and oversee these processes on behalf of the Board of Directors. The Audit Committee also selects and approves the compensation of our independent registered public accounting firm.

In fiscal year 2021, the Audit Committee met and held private discussions with management, the independent registered public accounting firm and Triumph’s internal auditors. In addition, the members of the Audit Committee reviewed (independently or collectively) Triumph’s financial statements before such statements were filed with the SEC in Triumph’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and annual report on Form 10-K, and all press releases containing earnings reports. Management represented to the Audit Committee that Triumph’s financial statements were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, and the Audit Committee reviewed and discussed the financial statements with management and the independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee also discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm the matters required to be discussed under PCAOB standards.

The Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from the Company’s independent auditor required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding the independent auditor’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence and has had discussions with Ernst & Young LLP about its independence. The Audit Committee also considered whether the provision of non-audit services by Ernst & Young LLP is compatible with maintaining the independence of such independent auditor. Based on these discussions and disclosures, the Audit Committee concluded that Ernst & Young LLP is independent from Triumph and its management.

Based on the Audit Committee’s discussion with management and the independent registered public accounting firm and its review of the representations of management and the report of the independent registered public accounting firm to the Audit Committee, the Audit Committee recommended that the Board include the audited financial statements in Triumph’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2021, filed with the SEC.

 

Audit Committee

 

Daniel P. Garton (Chair)

Richard A. Goglia

William L. Mansfield

Colleen C. Repplier

General Larry O. Spencer

This report of the Audit Committee shall not be deemed incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this Proxy Statement into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or under the Exchange Act, except to the extent that Triumph specifically incorporates this information by reference, shall not otherwise be deemed filed under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and shall not be deemed soliciting material.

 

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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

Review and Approval of Transactions with Related Persons

Our policy for the Review, Approval or Ratification of Transactions with Related Persons (the “Policy”), which is in writing, requires our Board of Directors, or a committee thereof, to approve or ratify any transaction in which the amount involved exceeds $120,000, the Company or one of its subsidiaries is a participant, and any “related person” (as such term is defined in Item 404 of Regulation S-K) has a direct or indirect material interest. The Policy and the Company’s Code of Business Conduct establish procedures for reporting of potential related person transactions under the Policy and potential conflicts of interest. Our legal department determines whether reported transactions constitute a related person transaction requiring pre-approval.

The Policy provides that the Board may delegate the review and approval of a related person transaction to the Audit Committee (or another standing or ad hoc committee) if it is impractical to wait until the next Board or committee meeting to review and, if appropriate, approve or ratify such related person transaction. Additionally, the chair of the Audit Committee may approve the transaction, provided that the chair reports such approval at the next regularly scheduled Board meeting. If the transaction at issue relates to a member of the Board, that Board member may not participate in the review of such transaction. In approving or ratifying any transaction, the Board, the Audit Committee, the Chair of the Audit Committee or any other committee designated by the Board, as applicable, must determine that the transaction is fair and reasonable to the Company.

If the Board becomes aware of a related person transaction that was not pre-approved under the Policy, then the Board will review the matter and evaluate its options (including ratification, revision and termination of the transaction at issue).

Related Person Transactions

The Board is not aware of any transaction during fiscal year 2021, or any currently proposed transaction, in which Triumph or one of its subsidiaries was or is a participant, the amount involved exceeds $120,000, or in which any related person (as such term is defined in Item 404 of Regulation S-K) has or will have a direct or indirect material interest.

 

 

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

Introduction

This Compensation Discussion and Analysis (“CD&A”) provides detailed information about the compensation program for the Company’s named executive officers (“NEOs”). For our fiscal year 2021, which ended March 31, 2021 (“fiscal year 2021”), our NEOs are listed in the table below.

 

Named Executive Officers

Title

Daniel J. Crowley

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”)

James F. McCabe

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Peter K. A. Wick

Executive Vice President, Aerospace Structures

Jennifer H. Allen

Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary

William C. Kircher

Executive Vice President, Customer Solutions & Support

 

The following executive officer departed the Company on March 20, 2021 and is also a NEO for fiscal year 2021.

 

Former Executive Officer

Title

Daniel J. Ostrosky

Vice President, Supply Chain

 

Mr. Crowley, Mr. McCabe, Mr. Wick, Ms. Allen, and Mr. Kircher are referred to herein as our “Current NEOs”. Following the end of fiscal year 2021, Mr. Wick departed the Company on May 7, 2021 in connection with the divestiture of our manufacturing facilities located in Red Oak, Texas, Milledgeville, Georgia, and Rayong, Thailand.  In February of 2021, Mr. Kircher transitioned from serving as Executive Vice President, Systems & Support, to a broader role as Executive Vice President, Customer Solutions & Support.

 

For purposes of the CD&A, the terms “Committee” and “Compensation Committee” refer to the Compensation and Management Development Committee of the Board.

Executive Summary

Company and Performance Overview

Fiscal Year 2021 Imperatives

In fiscal year 2021, Triumph shifted its focus to managing through the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic and addressing the associated unprecedented aerospace industry downturn.  Early in March of 2020, Mr. Crowley set the following three imperatives for fiscal year 2021, which remained essential throughout fiscal year 2021.

 

Imperative

Achievements

Keep our People Safe by Implementing Effective Safeguards.

We implemented strict protocols aimed at protecting our people and keeping our factories operational and followed Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance.  Drawing upon our core value of acting with velocity, Triumph team members responded locally and company-wide with innovative solutions to limit the spread of the virus and deliver products and services to customers. We limited travel and adjusted our capacity and staffing levels in response to commercial demands. The Company also produced and distributed over 10,000 masks to local medical facilities.

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Imperative

Achievements

Keep our Company Safe by Preserving Liquidity.

The Company restructured its debt and equity financing arrangements and implemented several significant actions which reduced our costs in fiscal year 2021.  These plans and related activities were implemented to generate savings of approximately $120 million in fiscal 2021 on a consolidated basis. We achieved these savings goals for the year ended March 31, 2021. These actions included:

    Reducing base salaries of our CEO and other executives by 10% and by 2.5% to 5% for other salaried employees throughout fiscal year 2021;

    Suspending all employee merit increases in fiscal year 2021;

    Reducing the cash retainer of our independent directors by 25% throughout fiscal year 2021;

    Implementing employee furloughs and reductions in force;

    Suspending the Company’s 401(k) match for fiscal year 2021;

    Suspending the Company’s dividend to stockholders; and

    Eliminating three senior leadership positions and consolidating leadership responsibilities for the information technology, quality, and supply chain functions.

Collaborate with our Customers for Mutual Benefit.

We partnered with our customers creatively and quickly to adapt to rapidly changing market conditions. We also continued to work toward sustained excellence in our factories.  During the fiscal year, we achieved return to green status in all sites in our Aerostructures business and steadily progressed our return to green efforts in our Systems and Support business. The Company also contributed to COVID-19 vaccine distribution efforts by supporting the fleets delivering vaccines and supplies to first responders.

Financial Performance Highlights

Financially, fiscal year 2021 was a challenging but productive year in which we significantly improved the financial health and condition of the Company by restructuring our debt and equity financing arrangements, exiting low-margin businesses and programs, reducing our debt and overhead expenses, and repositioning our organization to function more efficiently. Our sales decreased from fiscal year 2020 by 35.5% due to the impacts of the ongoing global COVID 19 pandemic as well as planned asset divestures and we used free cash of ($198.3) million* in fiscal year 2021. Net loss increased from a loss of ($29.4) million in fiscal year 2020 to a loss of ($450.9) million in fiscal year 2021, as shown below. For a detailed description of our operating results for fiscal year 2021 including the factors contributing to such results, see our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2021 (the “Annual Report”), including “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” contained in the Annual Report.  

  

Net Sales (in billions)

Net Loss (in millions)

Free Cash Flow (Use) (in millions)*

 

 

 

 

 

*

Free cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure. For a reconciliation of adjusted free cash flow to cash flow used in operations, the most comparable GAAP measure, for fiscal year 2021, see Appendix A to this Proxy Statement.

Adjusted EBITDAP was $109.4 million in fiscal year 2021, a decrease from $241.6 million in fiscal year 2020. Adjusted EBITDAP is a non-GAAP financial measure. For a reconciliation of net income to adjusted EBITDAP, see Appendix A to this Proxy Statement.

 

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Throughout fiscal year 2021, the Company focused on achieving financial health and delivering on its commitments amidst the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic, but it also continued its efforts to secure competitive wins to support its organic growth.

Executive Compensation Overview

Compensation Program Changes and Rationale in Fiscal Year 2021

The timing of the pandemic and related shutdown of the global economy in the spring of 2020 was particularly challenging for the Compensation Committee, which meets in April each year to approve incentive designs, performance goals based on Company business plans and forecasts, and award opportunities for plan participants for the upcoming fiscal year. At that time, the Company’s business plan for fiscal year 2021 had reflected continued restructuring, but overall upside to the business following the Company’s operational improvements and divestitures. As the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic set in, however, the Committee decided at its April 2020 meeting to delay its approval process for fiscal year 2021 compensation until more information became available regarding the duration of the pandemic and the timing and speed of the subsequent recovery. The Committee also sought the advice of Pay Governance LLC (“Pay Governance”) to keep informed of trends and actions taken by other companies in response to the pandemic. As the Committee, members of management, and Pay Governance deliberated in April and May 2020 on a path to compensate, incentivize, and retain the management team during the period of significant unknowns regarding the financial and operational health of the Company, it arrived at the following decisions pertaining to the compensation of executives and directors:

 

Base salaries of all members of the executive team would be reduced by 10%;

 

Cash retainer of the independent directors would be reduced by 25%;

 

Negative discretion would be used to reduce the fiscal year 2020 annual incentive payout from the earned and calculated amount of 123% of target to 95% of target in order to preserve approximately $2.5 million to be used to provide our hourly production and production support employees a one-time cash bonus ranging from $200 to $1,900 in April 2020; and

 

Outstanding PSU awards granted in fiscal year 2018, fiscal year 2019, and fiscal year 2020 would not be modified, despite the fact that forfeiture was likely for the awards for all three years.

As the Committee further deliberated on the structure and design of the fiscal year 2021 incentive plans, it was challenged to establish annual and long-term performance goals amidst the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic and the uncertainty of timing of the aerospace industry recovery. The Committee was concerned with the prospect of performance goals that ultimately would be either too easy to meet or inappropriately unachievable based on the speed and timing of the recovery.  The Committee conferred with Pay Governance and considered a range of structural options for the incentive plans, including the possibility of using half-year performance goals for the short-term incentive plan and annual performance goals for the long-term performance plan, and decreasing the allocation to performance plans. Ultimately, following extensive deliberation, the Committee determined to maintain the performance metrics in the cash annual incentive plan (“AIP”) but to increase the weighting assigned to the strategic goal component from 25% to 50% to emphasize the importance of strategic management through the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s financial performance. As described in more detail below, the Committee established strategic goals that were key to the Company’s management through the pandemic.  The Committee, however, maintained a 50% weighting on financial performance.  As further detailed below, in light of the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic, at its April 2021 meeting, the Committee used its discretion to reduce the AIP amounts paid to executives in connection with fiscal year 2021.

With respect to our fiscal year 2021 long-term incentive (“LTI”) awards, the unknown effects of the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s business overall made it difficult for the Committee to set meaningful performance targets. To address the risk that performance targets ultimately would be either too easy to meet or inappropriately unachievable based on the speed and timing of the pandemic recovery, the Committee decided to award only restricted stock units (“RSUs”) to management, vesting ratably over three years.  Each executive’s long-term incentive value was decreased by 10% from target given the absence of performance conditions. The Committee determined that this approach would balance the difficulty in establishing achievable yet challenging performance goals during the height of the pandemic with the need for the Company to retain its management team. In considering the goal of retention, the Committee also took into account the fact that outstanding performance share units (“PSUs”) granted for the performance periods fiscal year 2018-fiscal year 2020 would be forfeited as a result of the pandemic, and outstanding performance awards for the performance periods fiscal year 2019-fiscal year 2021 and fiscal year 2020-fiscal year 2022 were performing well below threshold performance on an interim basis and would also likely be forfeited. These outstanding awards would not be modified in any way to increase the likelihood of a payout. The Committee granted only RSUs as a temporary pandemic-related structure only for the fiscal year 2021 plan design and

22


 

has already returned to the Company’s customary plan design that incorporates both RSUs (weighted 40%) and PSUs (weighted 60%) for fiscal year 2022.  A summary of our fiscal year 2021 AIP and LTI plans is reflected in the table below.

 

Changed From

Changed To

Rationale for Change

 

The AIP metrics and weighting for fiscal year 2020 at a corporate level were:

 

    25% Strategic

    40% EBITDAP Margin

    35% Free Cash Flow

 

The AIP metrics and weighting for fiscal year 2021 at a corporate level were:

 

    50% Strategic

    25% EBITDAP Margin

    25% Free Cash Flow

 

The proportion of the incentive tied to strategic objectives was increased to partially address market conditions of the global COVID-19 pandemic effecting the establishment of performance goals in May 2020.

 

The LTI plan included 40% RSUs (vesting ratably over three years) and 60% PSUs with weighting as follows:

 

    30% 3-year absolute total stockholder return (“Absolute TSR”)

    30% 3-year relative total stockholder return (“Relative TSR”)

    40% EBITDAP Margin

 

The fiscal year 2021 equity awards consisted of all RSUs (vesting ratably over three years), with a 10% reduction in award amount from target.

 

 

The unknown effects of the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s business overall made it difficult for the Committee to set meaningful performance targets. To address the risk that performance targets ultimately would be either too easy to meet or inappropriately unachievable based on the speed and timing of the pandemic recovery, the Committee decided to award only RSUs to management, but to reduce the amount of RSUs awarded by 10% from target.  

 

Other Fiscal Year 2021 Compensation Highlights

 

Compensation

Highlight

 

Details

Say-on-Pay

Advisory Vote

At the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders held in July 2020, compensation of our named executive officers was approved by 97.04% of the votes present.  Taking this support into account, the Committee made changes to the general structure and philosophy of our executive compensation program for fiscal year 2021 only to the extent it believed necessary to adapt the program for the conditions of the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic. The Committee continues to evaluate our pay programs and practices to ensure that they are market competitive, equitable, and aligned with the Company’s performance.

AIP Payout

    Target performance goals for both EBITDAP and free cash flow reflected our Board-approved annual operating plan and were considered to be challenging.

    Mr. Crowley, Mr. McCabe, and Ms. Allen: Based on achievement of strategic goals at 150% of target and achievement levels against financial performance metrics, a corporate payout of 138% of target was calculated under plan terms. At management’s suggestion, at its April 2021 meeting, however, in light of the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic, the Committee determined to reduce the awards for Mr. Crowley, Mr. McCabe, and Ms. Allen to 125% of target.

    Mr. Wick: 20% of Mr. Wick’s annual cash incentive was based on the achievement levels against financial performance metrics across the Company, 30% was based on the achievement of goals by his business unit, Aerospace Structures, and the remaining 50% was based on the achievement of strategic goals by the Company. Based on the corporate payout levels described above, achievement of strategic goals for Aerospace Structures at 150% of target, and achievement levels against Aerospace Structures financial performance metrics, a payout level for Mr. Wick was calculated at 130% of target under plan terms.  At management’s suggestion, at its April 2021 meeting, however, in light of the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic, the Committee determined to reduce the award for Mr. Wick to 125% of target.

    Mr. Kircher: 20% of Mr. Kircher’s annual cash incentive as based on the achievement levels against financial performance metrics across the Company, 30% was based on the achievement of goals by his business unit, Systems & Support,  and the remaining 50% was based on the achievement of strategic goals by the Company. Based on the corporate payout levels described above, achievement of strategic goals for Systems & Support at 150% of target, and achievement levels against Systems and Support financial performance metrics, a payout level for Mr. Kircher was calculated at 130% of target under plan terms.  At management’s suggestion, at its April 2021 meeting, however, in light of the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic, the Committee determined to reduce the award for Mr. Kircher to 125% of target.

LTI Awards

    The PSUs granted for the fiscal years 2019 through 2021 performance period were earned at 0% of target due to failure to achieve the threshold levels of Absolute TSR and Relative TSR.

    Service-based RSUs vested ratably over three years.

 

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PSU Award to President and Chief Executive Officer Upon Execution of New Employment Agreement

On November 17, 2020, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Crowley pursuant to which he will continue in his role as CEO of the Company, a role he held since January 2016. The term of the employment agreement is five years, although it may be terminated earlier under certain circumstances.  This agreement is further discussed below.  The Board simultaneously unanimously elected Mr. Crowley as Chairman of the Board.

Determining that the continuity of Mr. Crowley’s leadership is important as the Company continues its multi-year transformation and positions itself for the future, in connection with the execution of the employment agreement with Mr. Crowley, the Board approved a performance-based equity incentive compensation award.  This award will vest in three equal tranches if, within five years from the date of grant, the Company achieves 20-day average stock price hurdles of $15, $20, and $25, respectively, provided further that Mr. Crowley is employed by the Company on the applicable vesting date, subject to accelerated vesting in certain circumstances. In evaluating the stock price hurdles, the Committee considered the fact that if the final hurdle of $25 were achieved, stockholders would have benefitted from an over 100% return in the five-year performance period. The first of these hurdles was achieved during fiscal year 2021 and accordingly, shares representing one-third of the aggregate award have been issued to Mr. Crowley.

 

Best Practices in Executive Compensation Governance

The following practices and policies ensure sound corporate governance practices and alignment of interests between stockholders and executives.

 


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What We Do

Pay for performance – A significant percentage of the total direct compensation package was at-risk and connected to performance objectives, including RSUs since their value depends on the stock price of the Company.

Establish sound performance goals – Pre-established goals for our performance-based incentive plans are carefully developed and calibrated through a rigorous process that involves the Board.

Maintain stock ownership guidelines – We maintain stock ownership guidelines to further align executives’ interests with those of our stockholders. Guidelines are 6 times base salary for the CEO and 1 to 3 times base salary for other executive officers.

Use double-triggers for severance and vesting provisions We require both a qualified change in control and qualifying termination of employment (“double trigger”) for the payment of cash severance and the acceleration of outstanding equity awards in the event of a change in control of the Company.

Designate a Lead Independent Director – Designation of a Lead Independent Director ensures appropriate oversight of management.

Engage an independent compensation consultant – The Committee engages an independent consultant to advise on executive compensation program design, practices, and related governance. Other than providing non-employee director compensation advice to the Governance Committee, the consultant does not provide any other services to the Company.

Clawback policy – We maintain a clawback policy with respect to incentive-based cash and equity compensation.

What We Don’t Do

×

No stock option grants with an exercise price less than the fair market value on the date of grant.

×

No excise tax gross ups are provided on a change in control termination.

×

No repricing or exchanging of stock options or other equity awards without stockholder approval.

×

No hedging of Company securities by directors or executive officers and pledging of Company securities is restricted.

×

No excessive perquisites.

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Compensation Results: Payouts Reflect Corporate Performance

The Committee considers a mix of cash and equity awards over both the short-term and long-term as a critical balance in emphasizing Triumph’s commitment to performance alignment. This strong pay-for-performance alignment is clearly reflected in amounts earned by our NEOs based on the achievement of metrics established by the Committee under the AIP and LTI plans.

The following table illustrates how our performance has affected the actual and interim payouts of our AIP and LTI incentives based on our closing stock price of $18.38 on March 31, 2021, the final trading day of our fiscal year. Based on our actual and interim performance versus goals, the total realizable compensation for our CEO over the past three fiscal years is 81% of target, when including base salary earned over the period.

The average annual AIP payout over the last three fiscal years for our CEO is 108% of target. RSUs granted over the three-year period have a realizable value of 119% of grant value. Annual PSUs granted over the 3-year period have no realizable value since the fiscal year 2019-fiscal year 2021 PSUs have not been earned, and interim performance for fiscal year 2020-fiscal year 2022 is below threshold.

Three-Year (Fiscal Year 2019 – Fiscal Year 2021) Aggregate CEO Compensation (in millions)

 

 

The realizable value of our incentives are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Realizable Value as a % of Target (5)

 

 

Chief Executive Officer – Mr. Crowley

 

FY19

 

 

FY20

 

 

FY21

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Annual Cash Incentive (1)

 

102%

 

 

95%

 

 

125%

 

 

Annual Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) (2)

 

82%

 

 

88%

 

 

148%

 

 

Annual Performance Share Units (PSUs) (3)

 

0%

 

 

0%

 

 

N/A

 

 

November 2020 PSU Awards (PSUs) (4)

 

N/A

 

 

N/A

 

 

59%

 

 

 

(1)

Annual cash incentive indicates the percentage of the target award earned under our AIP.