DEF14A

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.      )

 

Filed by the Registrant x                            Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ¨

Check the appropriate box:

 

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Preliminary Proxy Statement

 

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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

 

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Definitive Proxy Statement

 

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Definitive Additional Materials

 

¨

Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

 

 

J.B. HUNT TRANSPORT SERVICES, INC.

 

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

 

 

 

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

 

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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.

 

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Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

 

 

  

 

  (2)

Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

 

 

  

 

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Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

 

 

  

 

  (4)

Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

 

 

  

 

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Total fee paid:

 

 

  

 

 

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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

 

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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

 

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Date Filed:

 

 

  

 

 


 

LOGO

J.B. HUNT TRANSPORT SERVICES, INC.

615 J.B. Hunt Corporate Drive

Lowell, Arkansas 72745

479-820-0000

Internet Site: www.jbhunt.com

 

 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

To Be Held April 23, 2015

 

 

The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (the “Company”) will be held April 23, 2015, at 10 a.m. (CDT) at the Company’s headquarters, located at 615 J.B. Hunt Corporate Drive in Lowell, Arkansas, for the following purposes:

 

  (1)

To elect Directors for a term of one (1) year

 

  (2)

To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the 2015 calendar year

 

  (3)

To consider a stockholder proposal regarding greenhouse gas reduction targets

 

  (4)

To transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournments thereof

Only stockholders of record on February 17, 2015, will be entitled to vote at the meeting or any adjournments thereof. The stock transfer books will not be closed.

The 2014 Annual Report to Stockholders is included in this publication.

By Order of the Board of Directors

DAVID G. MEE

Corporate Secretary

Lowell, Arkansas

March 13, 2015


 

LOGO

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT

PLEASE EXECUTE YOUR PROXY WITHOUT DELAY

J.B. HUNT TRANSPORT SERVICES, INC.

615 J.B. Hunt Corporate Drive

Lowell, Arkansas 72745

479-820-0000

Internet Site: www.jbhunt.com

 

 

PROXY STATEMENT

 

 

This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (the “Company”), on behalf of its Board of Directors (the “Board”), for the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”). The Proxy Statement and the related proxy card are being distributed on or about March 13, 2015.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF

PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE STOCKHOLDERS MEETING

TO BE HELD APRIL 23, 2015

This Proxy Statement and our 2014 Annual Report to Stockholders, which includes our Annual Report on Form 10-K, are available at www.jbhunt.com.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE PROXY MATERIALS AND

THE ANNUAL MEETING

When And Where Is The Annual Meeting?

 

Date:

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Time:

10 a.m. Central Daylight Time

Location:  

J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.

Corporate Offices

First-Floor Auditorium

615 J.B. Hunt Corporate Drive

Lowell, Arkansas 72745

What Matters Will Be Voted Upon At The Annual Meeting?

At the Annual Meeting, you will be asked to:

 

   

Consider and vote upon a proposal to elect nominees Douglas G. Duncan, Francesca M. Edwardson, Wayne Garrison, Sharilyn S. Gasaway, Gary C. George, Bryan Hunt, Coleman H. Peterson, John N. Roberts, III, James L. Robo, Kirk Thompson, and John A. White as directors to hold office for a term of one year, expiring at the close of the Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2016.

 

   

Consider and vote upon a proposal to ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP (“E&Y”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the 2015 calendar year.

 

   

Consider and vote upon a stockholder proposal to adopt quantitative companywide goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and to report on the Company’s plans to achieve these goals by September 2015.

 

   

Transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournments thereof.

 

1


What Constitutes A Quorum?

The presence, either in person or by proxy, of the holders of at least a majority of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote is required to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes, which are described in more detail below, are counted as shares present at the Annual Meeting for purposes of determining whether a quorum exists.

Who Is Entitled To Vote?

Only stockholders of record of the Company’s common stock at the close of business on Tuesday, February 17, 2015, which is the “record date,” are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting. Shares that may be voted include shares that are held:

 

  (1) directly by the stockholder of record, and
  (2) beneficially through a broker, bank or other nominee.

Each share of our common stock will be entitled to one vote on all matters submitted for a vote at the Annual Meeting.

As of the record date, there were 116,515,423 shares of our common stock issued and outstanding and entitled to be voted at the Annual Meeting.

What Is The Difference Between Holding Shares As A “Registered Owner” And A “Beneficial Owner”?

Most of the Company’s stockholders hold their shares through a broker, bank or other nominee rather than directly in their own name. As summarized below, there are some distinctions between registered shares and those owned beneficially:

 

   

Registered Owners – If your shares are registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, Computershare Trust Company N.A., you are, with respect to those shares, the stockholder of record. As the stockholder of record, you have the right to grant your voting proxy directly to the Company or to vote in person at the Annual Meeting.

 

   

Beneficial Owners – If your shares are held in a brokerage account, bank or by another nominee, you are, with respect to those shares, the “beneficial owner” of shares held in “street name.” As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker, bank or other nominee on how to vote or to vote in person at the Annual Meeting. However, since you are not a stockholder of record, you may not vote these shares in person at the Annual Meeting unless you obtain a “legal proxy” from your broker, bank or other nominee (who is the stockholder of record) giving you the right to vote the shares.

What Stockholder Approval Is Necessary For Approval Of The Proposals?

   

Election of Directors

Each director shall be elected by a vote of the majority of votes cast with respect to that director. This means that a director must receive “for” votes from more than 50% of the number of shares voted with respect to that director. However, if the number of nominees is greater than the number of directors to be elected, the directors will be elected by the vote of a plurality of the shares represented in person or by proxy at any stockholder meeting.

 

   

Ratification of the appointment of E&Y as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm

Ratification of the Audit Committee’s appointment of E&Y as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting. For purposes of this vote, a failure to vote, a vote to abstain or withholding your vote (or direction to your broker to do so) is not counted as a vote cast and, therefore, will have no effect on the outcome of this vote.

Stockholder ratification is not required for the appointment of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. However, we are submitting the proposal to solicit the opinion of our stockholders.

 

   

Vote on a stockholder proposal to adopt quantitative companywide goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and to report on the Company’s plans to achieve these goals by September 2015.

Approval of this resolution requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting. For purposes of this vote, a failure to vote, a vote to abstain or withholding your vote (or direction to your broker to do so) is not counted as a vote cast and, therefore, will have no effect on the outcome of this vote.

        As of the record date, directors and executive officers of the Company beneficially owned an aggregate 5,214,766 shares of common stock representing 4.5% of our common stock issued and outstanding and, therefore, 4.5% of the voting power entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. The Company believes that its directors and executive officers currently intend to vote their shares as follows:

 

   

FOR the election of directors for one (1) year

   

FOR ratification of the appointment of E&Y as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the 2015 calendar year

   

AGAINST the stockholder proposal to adopt quantitative companywide goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and to report on the Company’s plans to achieve these goals by September 2015

 

2


May I Vote My Shares In Person At The Annual Meeting?

If you are the registered owner of shares of the Company’s common stock on the record date, you have the right to vote your shares in person at the Annual Meeting.

If you are the beneficial owner of shares of the Company’s common stock on the record date, you may vote these shares in person at the Annual Meeting if you request and obtain a legal proxy from your broker, bank or other nominee (the stockholder of record) giving you the right to vote the shares at the Annual Meeting, complete such legal proxy and present it to the Company at the Annual Meeting.

Even if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we recommend that you submit your proxy card or voting instructions so that your vote will be counted if you later decide not to attend the Annual Meeting.

How Can I Vote My Shares Without Attending The Annual Meeting?

If you are a registered owner, you may instruct the named proxy holders on how to vote your shares by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided with this Proxy Statement, or by using the Internet voting site or the toll-free telephone number listed on the proxy card. Specific instructions for using the Internet and telephone voting systems are provided on the proxy card. The Internet and telephone voting systems will be available until 11:59 p.m. Central Daylight Time on Wednesday, April 22, 2015 (the day before the Annual Meeting).

If you are the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name,” you should instruct your broker, bank or other nominee on how to vote your shares. Your broker, bank or other nominee has enclosed with this Proxy Statement a voting instruction card for you to use in directing your nominee on how to vote your shares. The instructions from your nominee will indicate whether Internet or telephone voting is available and, if so, will provide details regarding how to use those systems.

If My Shares Are Held In “Street Name,” Will My Broker, Bank Or Other Nominee Vote My Shares For Me?

If you hold shares in street name through a broker, bank or other nominee, your broker, bank or nominee may not be permitted to exercise voting discretion with respect to some of the matters to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting. Under current stock exchange rules, brokers who do not have instructions from their customers may not use their discretion in voting their customers’ shares on certain specific matters that are not considered to be “routine” matters, including the election of directors, executive compensation and other significant matters. The proposals in this Proxy Statement regarding the election of directors and greenhouse gas reduction targets are not considered to be routine matters. Therefore, without your specific instructions, your shares will not be voted on these matters and will not be counted in determining the number of shares necessary for approval. Shares represented by such “broker non-votes,” however, will be counted in determining whether there is a quorum. You should follow the directions provided by your nominee regarding instructions on how to vote your shares.

Ratification of the appointment of E&Y as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm is considered a routine matter and, therefore, if beneficial owners fail to give voting instructions, brokers, banks and other nominees will have the discretionary authority to vote shares of our common stock with respect to this proposal.

What Is A Broker Non-Vote?

Generally, a “broker non-vote” occurs when a broker, bank or other nominee that holds shares in “street name” for a customer is precluded from exercising voting discretion on a particular proposal because:

 

  (1)

the beneficial owner has not instructed the nominee on how to vote, and

  (2)

the nominee lacks discretionary voting power to vote such issues.

Under NASDAQ rules, a nominee does not have discretionary voting power with respect to the approval of “nonroutine” matters absent specific voting instructions from the beneficial owners of such shares.

How Will My Proxy Be Voted?

Shares represented by a properly executed proxy (in paper form, by Internet or by telephone) that is received in a timely manner, and not subsequently revoked, will be voted at the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof in the manner directed on the proxy. Kirk Thompson and John N. Roberts, III are named as proxies in the proxy form and have been designated by the Board as the directors’ proxies to represent you and vote your shares at the Annual Meeting. All shares represented by a properly executed proxy on which no choice is specified will be voted:

 

  (1)

FOR the election of the nominees for director named in this Proxy Statement,

  (2)

FOR ratification of the appointment of E&Y as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the 2015 calendar year,

  (3)

AGAINST the stockholder proposal to adopt quantitative companywide goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and to report on the Company’s plans to achieve these goals by September 2015, and

  (4)

in accordance with the proxy holders’ best judgment as to any other business that properly comes before the Annual Meeting.

This Proxy Statement is considered to be voting instructions for the trustees of the J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. Employee Retirement Plan for our common stock allocated to individual accounts under this plan. If account information is the same, participants in the plan (who are stockholders of record) will receive a single proxy representing all of their shares. If a plan participant does not submit a proxy to us, the trustees of the plan in which shares are allocated to his or her individual account will vote such shares in the same proportion as the total shares in such plan for which directions have been received.

 

3


May I Revoke My Proxy And Change My Vote?

Yes. You may revoke your proxy and change your vote at any time prior to the vote at the Annual Meeting.

If you are the registered owner, you may revoke your proxy and change your vote by:

 

  (1)

submitting a new proxy bearing a later date (which automatically revokes the earlier proxy),

  (2)

giving notice of your changed vote to us in writing mailed to the attention of David G. Mee, Corporate Secretary, at our executive offices, or

  (3)

attending the Annual Meeting and giving oral notice of your intention to vote in person.

You should be aware that simply attending the Annual Meeting will not in and of itself constitute a revocation of your proxy.

Who Will Pay The Costs Of Soliciting Proxies?

Proxies will be solicited initially by mail. Further solicitation may be made in person or by telephone, electronic mail or facsimile. The Company will bear the expense of preparing, printing and mailing this Proxy Statement and accompanying materials to our stockholders. Upon request, the Company will reimburse brokers, banks and other nominees for reasonable expenses incurred in forwarding copies of the proxy materials relating to the Annual Meeting to the beneficial owners of our common stock.

In 2014, the Company retained Broadridge, an independent proxy solicitation firm, to assist in soliciting proxies from stockholders. Broadridge received a fee of approximately $48,000 as compensation for its services and was reimbursed for its out-of-pocket expenses. The fee amount was not contingent on the number of stockholder votes cast in favor of any proposal, and Broadridge is prohibited from making any recommendation to our stockholders to either accept or reject any proposal or otherwise express an opinion concerning a proposal. Proxy solicitation fees in 2015 are expected to be comparable to those paid in 2014.

What Other Business Will Be Presented At The Annual Meeting?

As of the date of this Proxy Statement, the Board knows of no other business that may properly be, or is likely to be, brought before the Annual Meeting. If any other matters should arise at the Annual Meeting, the persons named as proxy holders, Kirk Thompson and John N. Roberts, III, will have the discretion to vote your shares on any additional matters properly presented for a vote at the meeting. If, for any unforeseen reason, any of the director nominees are not available to serve as a director, the named proxy holders will vote your proxy for such other director candidate or candidates as may be nominated by the Board.

What Is The Deadline For Stockholder Proposals For The 2016 Annual Meeting?

In order for a stockholder proposal to be eligible to be included in the Company’s Proxy Statement and proxy card for the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the proposal:

 

  (1)

must be received by the Company at its executive offices, 615 J.B. Hunt Corporate Drive, Lowell, Arkansas 72745, Attention: Corporate Secretary, on or before November 13, 2015, and

  (2)

must concern a matter that may be properly considered and acted upon at the Annual Meeting in accordance with applicable laws, regulations and the Company’s Bylaws and policies, and must otherwise comply with Rule 14a-8 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

Where Can I Find The Voting Results Of The Annual Meeting?

The Company will publish final voting results of the Annual Meeting on a Form 8-K within four days after the annual stockholders meeting on April 23, 2015.

What Should I Do If I Receive More Than One Set Of Voting Materials?

You may receive more than one set of voting materials, including multiple copies of this Proxy Statement and multiple proxies or voting instruction cards. For example, if you hold your shares in more than one brokerage account, you may receive a separate voting instruction card for each brokerage account. If you are a registered owner and your shares are registered in more than one name, you will receive more than one proxy card. Please vote each proxy and instruction card that you receive.

What Is Householding?

In an effort to reduce printing costs and postage fees, the Company has adopted a practice approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) called “householding.” Under this practice, certain stockholders who have the same address and last name will receive only one copy of this Proxy Statement and the Company’s Annual Report, unless one or more of these stockholders notifies the Company that he or she wishes to continue receiving individual copies. Stockholders who participate in householding will continue to receive separate proxy cards.

        If you share an address with another stockholder and received only one copy of this Proxy Statement and the Company’s Annual Report and would like to request a separate copy of these materials, or if you do not wish to participate in householding in the future, please:

 

  (1)

mail such request to J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc., Attention: Corporate Secretary, 615 J.B. Hunt Corporate Drive, Lowell, Arkansas 72745, or

  (2)

call the Corporate Secretary toll-free at 800-643-3622.

Similarly, you may also contact the Company if you received multiple copies of the Company’s proxy materials and would prefer to receive a single copy in the future.

 

4


What Do I Need To Do Now?

First, read this Proxy Statement carefully. Then, if you are a registered owner, you should, as soon as possible, submit your proxy by executing and returning the proxy card or by voting electronically via the Internet or by telephone. If you are the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name,” then you should follow the voting instructions of your broker, bank or other nominee. Your shares will be voted in accordance with the directions you specify. If you submit an executed proxy card to the Company, but fail to specify voting directions, your shares will be voted:

 

  (1)

FOR the election of the director nominees,

  (2)

FOR ratification of the appointment of E&Y as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the 2015 calendar year, and

  (3)

AGAINST the stockholder proposal to adopt quantitative companywide goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and to report on the Company’s plans to achieve these goals by September 2015.

Who Can Help Answer My Questions?

If you have questions concerning a proposal or the Annual Meeting, if you would like additional copies of this Proxy Statement, or if you need directions to or special assistance at the Annual Meeting, please call the Corporate Secretary toll-free at 800-643-3622. In addition, information regarding the Annual Meeting is available via the Internet at our website, www.jbhunt.com.

YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY READ THIS PROXY STATEMENT IN ITS ENTIRETY

The summary information provided above in the question-and-answer format is for your convenience only and is merely a brief description of material information contained in this Proxy Statement.

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT

IF YOU ARE A REGISTERED OWNER, YOU MAY VOTE BY INTERNET, TELEPHONE,

OR BY COMPLETING, SIGNING AND DATING

THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AND RETURNING IT TO US

IN THE ACCOMPANYING ENVELOPE AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE

IF YOU ARE A BENEFICIAL OWNER, PLEASE FOLLOW THE VOTING INSTRUCTIONS

OF YOUR BROKER, BANK OR OTHER NOMINEE

AS PROVIDED WITH THIS PROXY STATEMENT AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE

 

5


PROPOSALS TO BE VOTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING

PROPOSAL NUMBER ONE

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

 

Our Board nominates Douglas G. Duncan, Francesca M. Edwardson, Wayne Garrison, Sharilyn S. Gasaway, Gary C. George, Bryan Hunt, Coleman H. Peterson, John N. Roberts, III, James L. Robo, Kirk Thompson, and John A. White as directors to hold office for a term of one year, expiring at the close of the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or until their successors are elected and qualified or until their earlier resignation or removal. The Board believes that these incumbent directors standing for re-election are well-qualified and experienced to direct and manage the Company’s operations and business affairs and will represent the interests of the stockholders as a whole. Biographical information on each of these nominees is set forth below in “Nominees for Director.”

If any director nominee becomes unavailable for election, which is not anticipated, the named proxies will vote for the election of such other person as the Board may nominate, unless the Board resolves to reduce the number of directors to serve on the Board and thereby reduce the number of directors to be elected at the Annual Meeting.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE

FOR

EACH OF THE DIRECTOR NOMINEES LISTED HEREIN

INFORMATION ABOUT THE BOARD

The Board’s directors hold office for a term of one year.

OTHER INFORMATION YOU NEED TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION

DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY

Number of Directors and Term of Directors and Executive Officers

The Company’s Bylaws provide that the number of directors shall not be less than three or more than 12, with the exact number to be fixed by the Board. Directors serve a term of one year from their election date to the Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

Directors are elected by a majority of votes cast with respect to each director, provided that the number of nominees does not exceed the number of directors to be elected.

The stockholders of the Company elect at the Company’s Annual Meeting successors for directors whose terms have expired. The Board elects members to fill new membership positions and vacancies in unexpired terms on the Board. No director will be eligible to stand for re-election or be elected to a vacancy once he or she has reached 72 years of age. However, our Board of Directors has granted a waiver of this mandatory retirement age to John A. White until the Company’s 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Executive officers are elected by the Board and hold office until their successors are elected and qualified or until their earlier death, retirement, resignation or removal.

 

6


NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR

TERMS EXPIRE 2016

 

LOGO

Douglas G. Duncan

Mr. Duncan, 64, was elected to the Board in 2010. He is a member of the Audit Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. In February 2010, he retired as President and Chief Executive Officer of FedEx Freight Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of FedEx Corporation. FedEx Freight Corporation is a leading provider of regional and national less-than-truckload (LTL) freight services. Mr. Duncan was the founding chief executive officer of FedEx Freight. He also served on the Strategic Management Committee of FedEx Corporation. Before the formation of FedEx Freight, he served for two years as President and Chief Executive Officer of Viking Freight. With 30 years of transportation experience, Mr. Duncan has held management positions in operations, sales and marketing with Caliber System and Roadway Express. He served on the Executive Committee of the American Trucking Associations and as Chairman of the American Transportation Research Institute. A graduate of Christopher Newport University, Mr. Duncan served on the university’s Board of Visitors. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Brambles LTD and Benchmark Electronics, Inc.

LOGO

Francesca M. Edwardson

Ms. Edwardson, 57, was elected to the Board in 2011. She serves on the Company’s Executive Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. She is the Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross of Chicago and Northern Illinois, a business unit of the American Red Cross. She previously served as Senior Vice President and General Counsel for UAL Corporation, a predecessor company to United Continental Holdings, Inc. She has also been a partner in the law firm of Mayer Brown and the Executive Director of the Illinois Securities Department. Ms. Edwardson is a graduate of Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois, with degrees in economics and law, and serves on the Boards of Trustees for Rush University Medical Center and the Lincoln Park Zoo.

LOGO

Wayne Garrison

Mr. Garrison, 62, was elected to the Board in 1981. He served as Chairman of the Board of the Company from 1995 to December 31, 2010, and continues to serve as a member of the Board of Directors. Joining the Company in 1976 as Plant Manager, Mr. Garrison has also served as Vice President of Finance in 1978, Executive Vice President of Finance in 1979, President in 1982, Chief Executive Officer in 1987 and Vice Chairman of the Board from January 1986 until May 1991.

 

7


LOGO

Sharilyn S. Gasaway

Mrs. Gasaway, 46, was elected to the Board in 2009. She is a member of the Audit Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. She served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Alltel Corp., the Little Rock, Arkansas-based Fortune 500 wireless carrier, from 2006 to 2009. She was part of the executive team that spearheaded publicly traded Alltel’s transition through the largest private equity buyout in the telecom sector and was an integral part of the successful combination of Alltel and Verizon. She also served as Alltel’s Corporate Controller and Principal Accounting Officer from 2002 to 2006. Joining Alltel in 1999, she served as Director of General Accounting, Controller, and Vice President of Accounting and Finance. Prior to joining Alltel, she worked for eight years at Arthur Andersen LLC. Mrs. Gasaway has a degree in accounting from Louisiana Tech University and is a Certified Public Accountant. She currently serves on the Board of Directors, chairs the Audit Committee and serves on the Governance, Compensation and Business Development Committee of Genesis Energy, LP. She also serves on the Board of Directors and the Audit, Investment, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees of Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc., as well as on the Louisiana Tech University College of Business Advisory Board and the Board of Directors of Arkansas Children’s Hospital.

LOGO

Gary C. George

Mr. George, 64, was elected to the Board in 2006. He is Chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and a member of the Executive Compensation Committee. Mr. George is Chairman of George’s, Inc., a private, fully integrated poultry company in northwest Arkansas. He is a graduate of the University of Arkansas with a degree in business administration. He served on the Board of Trustees for the University of Arkansas from 1995 through 2005 and was Chairman of the Board of Trustees in 2005. He also serves as Chairman of the Board of Legacy National Bank in Springdale, Ark.

LOGO

Bryan Hunt

Mr. Hunt, 56, was elected to the Board in 1991. He is the Managing Member of Hunt Auto Group, a private company with operations in motor vehicle sales and service in Arkansas and Missouri; Best Buy Here Pay Here of Arkansas, a private company with used-car operations in Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma; Progressive Car Finance, a private company that provides subprime financing for automobile dealers; and 71B Auto Auction and I-135 Auto Auction, both private companies engaged in the auction of automobiles, trucks, boats and other motor vehicles to dealers and the general public in Arkansas and Kansas. A graduate of the University of Arkansas, he has a degree in marketing and transportation. He is the son of co-founders J.B. and Johnelle Hunt.

 

8


LOGO

Coleman H. Peterson

Mr. Peterson, 66, was elected to the Board in 2004. He is Chairman of the Executive Compensation Committee and a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Mr. Peterson is the President and CEO of Hollis Enterprises LLC, a human resources consulting firm founded in 2004. He is retired from Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. as Executive Vice President of its People Division. During his tenure, Mr. Peterson was responsible for recruitment, retention and development of the world’s largest corporate work force. Prior to his experience with Wal-Mart, Mr. Peterson spent 16 years with Venture Stores, with his last position being Senior Vice President of Human Resources. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Loyola University of Chicago. Mr. Peterson serves on the Board of Directors, chairs the Compensation Committee, and serves on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of Build-A-Bear Workshop. He also serves on the Board of Directors, chairs the Compensation Committee, and serves on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. Locally, he served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Northwest Arkansas Community College until December 31, 2010. Mr. Peterson served as a member of the Board of Directors and chaired the Compensation Committee of The ServiceMaster Company. He also sat on the Executive Committee of the NAACP and served as Treasurer for the NAACP’s Special Contribution Fund.

LOGO

John N. Roberts, III

Mr. Roberts, 50, was elected to the Board in 2010, and was elected to serve as the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer effective January 1, 2011. A graduate of the University of Arkansas, he served as Executive Vice President and President of Dedicated Contract Services from 1997 to December 31, 2010. Joining the Company in 1989, he began his career as a Management Trainee and subsequently served as an EDI Services Coordinator, Regional Marketing Manager for the Intermodal and Truckload business units, Business Development Executive for DCS and Vice President of Marketing Strategy for the Company. In 2014, Mr. Roberts was elected as a Class B Director to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

LOGO

James L. Robo

Mr. Robo, 52, was elected to the Board in 2002. He is Lead Independent Director, Chairman of the Audit Committee and a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Mr. Robo is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NextEra Energy, Inc. He served as President and Chief Operating Officer of NextEra Energy until June 2012, as President of NextEra Energy Resources until December 2006 and as Vice President of Corporate Development and Strategy until July 2002. NextEra Energy is a leading clean energy company whose two main subsidiaries are Florida Power & Light Company and NextEra Energy Resources, LLC. Prior to joining NextEra Energy in 2002, Mr. Robo spent 10 years at General Electric Company. He served as President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Mexico from 1997 until 1999 and as President and Chief Executive Officer of the GE Capital TIP/Modular Space division from 1999 until February 2002. From 1984 through 1992, Mr. Robo worked for Mercer Management Consulting. He received a BA summa cum laude from Harvard College and an MBA from Harvard Business School, where he was a Baker Scholar.

 

9


LOGO

Kirk Thompson

Mr. Thompson, 61, was elected to the Board in 1985. He was elected Chairman of the Board in 2010, assuming that office on January 1, 2011. He served as President and Chief Executive Officer from 1987 to December 31, 2010. A graduate of the University of Arkansas and a Certified Public Accountant, Mr. Thompson joined the Company in 1973. He served as Vice President of Finance from 1979 until 1984, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer until 1985, and President and Chief Operating Officer from 1986 until 1987, when he was elected President and Chief Executive Officer. In 2014, Mr. Thompson joined the Board of Directors of Rand Logistics, Inc., a leading provider of bulk freight shipping services in marine vessels throughout the Great Lakes region.

LOGO

John A. White

Dr. White, 75, was elected to the Board in 1998. He is a member of the Audit Committee, the Executive Compensation Committee, and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Dr. White is Chancellor Emeritus and Distinguished Professor of the University of Arkansas. Previous to this appointment, he served as Chancellor of the University of Arkansas, a position he held for 11 years, beginning July 1, 1997. A graduate of the University of Arkansas (BSIE), Virginia Tech (MSIE) and The Ohio State University (Ph.D.), he also holds honorary doctorates from the Katholieke Universiteit of Leuven in Belgium and from George Washington University. Dr. White is a member of the National Academy of Engineering. He has served on the Boards of Directors and the Audit Committees of Eastman Chemical, Logility, Motorola (Motorola Solutions), and Russell Corporation.

 

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DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

The Company pays only nonemployee directors for their services as directors. Directors who are also officers or employees of the Company are not eligible to receive any of the compensation described below.

In calendar year 2014, compensation for nonemployee directors serving on the Board, was as follows:

   

an annual retainer of $140,000 paid in Company stock, cash or any combination thereof

   

an annual retainer of $15,000, paid in cash, to the Audit Committee Chairman

   

an annual retainer of $10,000, paid in cash, to the Executive Compensation Committee Chairman

   

an annual retainer of $5,000, paid in cash, to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Chairman

   

$4,500 for each Board meeting attended

   

$2,500 for each Audit Committee meeting attended

   

$2,000 for each Executive Compensation Committee meeting attended

   

$1,500 for each Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee meeting attended

   

reimbursement of expenses to attend Board and Committee meetings

At the Executive Compensation Committee’s (the “Committee”) meeting on October 28, 2014, the Committee reviewed a summary of various compensation packages awarded to directors of the Company’s peer group compiled by Meridian Compensation Partners, LLC. The Committee determined that the Board’s compensation would be changed to the following, effective January 1, 2015.

 

   

an annual retainer of $155,000 paid in Company stock, cash or any combination thereof

   

an annual retainer of $20,000, paid in cash, to the Audit Committee Chairman

   

an annual retainer of $13,500, paid in cash, to the Executive Compensation Committee Chairman

   

an annual retainer of $7,500, paid in cash, to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Chairman

   

$4,500 for each Board meeting attended

   

$2,500 for each Audit Committee meeting attended

   

$2,000 for each Executive Compensation Committee meeting attended

   

$1,500 for each Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee meeting attended

   

reimbursement of expenses to attend Board and Committee meetings

Nonemployee Board of Director Compensation Paid in Calendar Year 2014

 

Board Member    Fees
Paid
in Cash
($)
     Fees
Paid
in Stock
($)
     Restricted Share
or Stock Option
Awards ($)
   Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation ($)
   Change in Pension
Value and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings ($)
   All Other
Compensation
($) (1)
     Total ($)

Douglas G. Duncan

     182,500                     –        3,439             185,939

Francesca M. Edwardson

     32,500         140,000             –        4,508             177,008

Wayne Garrison

     158,000                     –        –             158,000

Sharilyn S. Gasaway

     77,500         105,000             –        –             182,500

Gary C. George

     37,500         140,000             –        –             177,500

Bryan Hunt

     18,000         140,000             –        –             158,000

Coleman H. Peterson

     42,500         140,000             –        4,648             187,148

James L. Robo

     57,500         140,000             –        6,400             203,900

John A. White

     50,000         140,000             –        –             190,000

(1) Reimbursement of expenses to attend Board and Committee meetings

Each nonemployee member of the Board had the choice of receiving his or her annual retainer of $140,000 in Company stock, cash or any combination thereof. Those directors choosing to receive their full retainer in Company stock received 1,773 shares based on the $78.98 closing market price on July 22, 2014. Sharilyn S. Gasaway elected to receive a portion of her retainer in stock, totaling 1,329 shares, based on the closing market price shown above. Douglas G. Duncan and Wayne Garrison elected to receive their annual retainer in cash.

To more closely align his or her interests with those of the stockholders, each Board member is required to own three times his/her estimated annual compensation in Company stock within five years of his/her initial stockholder election to the Board. All Board members are in compliance with this requirement.

Nonemployee members of the Board did not participate in either a company-sponsored pension or deferred compensation plan in calendar year 2014.

 

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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY

Craig Harper, 57, joined the Company in 1992 as Vice President of Marketing and currently serves as Executive Vice President. Prior to joining the Company, he worked for Rineco Chemical Industries as its Chief Executive Officer.

Nicholas Hobbs, 52, joined the Company in 1984 as a Management Trainee and currently serves as Executive Vice President and President of Dedicated Contract Services.

John Kuhlow, 44, joined the Company in 2006 as Assistant Corporate Controller. He currently serves as Senior Vice President Finance, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer. Prior to joining the Company, he was a Senior Audit Manager for KPMG LLP. Mr. Kuhlow is a Certified Public Accountant.

Terrence D. Matthews, 56, joined the Company in 1986 as a National Accounts Manager and currently serves as Executive Vice President and President of Intermodal. Prior to joining the Company, he worked as a National Accounts Manager for North American Van Lines.

David G. Mee, 54, joined the Company in 1992 as Vice President Tax and currently serves as Executive Vice President of Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer. He also serves as the Company’s Corporate Secretary. Prior to joining the Company, he was a Senior Tax Manager for KPMG LLP. Mr. Mee is a Certified Public Accountant.

Kay Lewis, 51, joined the Company in 1988 as a Program Analyst of Finance and currently serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer. Prior to joining the Company, she worked at EDS as a Systems Engineer Manager.

Shelley Simpson, 43, joined the Company in 1994 as a Management Trainee and currently serves as Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer, and President of Integrated Capacity Solutions and Truckload.

 

12


SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership of the Company’s common stock as of February 17, 2015, by each of its current directors (including all nominees for director), the Named Executive Officers (the “NEOs”), and all other executive officers and directors as a group. Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes below, “beneficially owned” means the sole or shared power to vote or direct the voting of a security or the sole or shared power to dispose or direct the disposition of a security.

 

Owner    Number of Shares
Beneficially Owned
Directly (1)
   Number of Shares
Beneficially Owned
Indirectly (2)
  Percent
of Class (%) (3)

Douglas G. Duncan

       8,500          2,600     *

Francesca M. Edwardson

       10,167              *

Wayne Garrison

       2,520,705              2.2

Sharilyn S. Gasaway

       15,839          275     *

Gary C. George

       41,483          1,454,310  (4)   1.3

Bryan Hunt

       70,242              *

Terrence D. Matthews

       62,998          44,327     *

David G. Mee

       112,907              *

Coleman H. Peterson

       29,948              *

John N. Roberts, III

       269,790          70,000  (5)   *

James L. Robo

       70,420              *

Shelley Simpson

       59,509          38,545     *

Kirk Thompson

       80,242              *

John A. White

       44,549              *

All executive officers and directors as a group (18)

       3,604,541          1,610,225     4.5

* Less than 1 percent

 

(1)

Includes shares owned by the director or executive officer that are:

  (a)

held in a 401(k) or deferred compensation account

  (b)

held in trusts for the benefit of an immediate family member whereby the director or executive officer is the trustee but does not have any beneficial ownership

  (c)

options that are currently exercisable or will become exercisable within 60 days from February 17, 2015

  (d)

pledged shares as shown below:

Bryan Hunt

     66,797   

David G. Mee

     80,530   

John N. Roberts, III

     191,208   

Kirk Thompson

     70,000   

All other executive officers and directors as a group

     8,500   
(2)

Indirect beneficial ownership includes shares owned by the director or executive officer:

  (a)

as beneficiary or trustee of a personal trust

  (b)

by a spouse or as trustee or beneficiary of a spouse’s trust

  (c)

held in trusts for the benefit of an immediate family member whereby the director or executive officer’s spouse is the trustee but does not have any beneficial ownership

  (d)

in a spouse’s retirement account

(3)

Calculated on the basis of 116,515,423 shares of common stock outstanding of the Company on February 17, 2015.

(4)

The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares, which are held in limited partnerships or trusts. This report shall not be deemed an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner of such securities for the purposes of Section 16 or for any other purposes. Includes 38,400 shares currently pledged by the reporting person.

(5)

The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares, which are held in an irrevocable trust for the benefit of immediate family members and managed by a third-party trustee. This report shall not be deemed an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner of such securities for the purposes of Section 16 or for any other purposes.

 

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

We believe that good corporate governance helps to ensure that the Company is managed for the long-term benefit of our stockholders. We continually review and consider our corporate governance policies and practices, the SEC’s corporate governance rules and regulations, and the corporate governance listing standards of NASDAQ, the stock exchange on which our common stock is traded.

You can access and print the Charters of our Audit Committee, Executive Compensation Committee (“Compensation Committee”), and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (“Corporate Governance Committee”), as well as our Corporate Governance Guidelines, Corporate Code of Ethical and Professional Standards for Directors, Officers and Employees, Whistleblower Policy, and other Company policies and procedures required by applicable law, regulation or NASDAQ corporate governance listing standards on the “Corporate Governance” page of the “Investors” section of our website at www.jbhunt.com. Additionally, you can request copies of any of these documents by writing to our Corporate Secretary at the following address:

J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.

Attention: Corporate Secretary

615 J.B. Hunt Corporate Drive

Lowell, Arkansas 72745

Director Independence

The Board is composed of a majority of directors who satisfy the criteria for independence under the NASDAQ corporate governance listing standards. In determining independence, each year the Board affirmatively determines, among other items, whether the directors have no material relationship with the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to the NASDAQ corporate governance listing standards. When assessing the “materiality” of a director’s relationship with the Company, if any, the Board considers all relevant facts and circumstances, not merely from the director’s standpoint, but from that of the persons or organizations with which the director has an affiliation and the frequency or regularity of the services, whether the services are being carried out at arm’s length in the ordinary course of business, and whether the services are being provided substantially on the same terms to the Company as those prevailing at the time from unrelated parties for comparable transactions. Material relationships can include commercial, banking, industrial, consulting, legal, accounting, charitable and familial relationships. The Board also considers any other relationship that could interfere with the exercise of independence or judgment in carrying out the duties of a director.

Applying these independence standards, the Board has determined that Douglas G. Duncan, Francesca M. Edwardson, Sharilyn S. Gasaway, Gary C. George, Coleman H. Peterson, James L. Robo and John A. White are all independent directors. After due consideration, the Board has determined that none of these nonemployee directors has a material relationship with the Company or any of its subsidiaries (either directly or indirectly as a partner, stockholder or officer of any organization that has a relationship with the Company or any of its subsidiaries) and that they all meet the criteria for independence under the NASDAQ corporate governance listing standards.

Risk Management and Oversight

As previously described in their biographies, current members of our Board represent diverse backgrounds of business and academic experience. The Board, as a whole, performs the risk oversight of the Company and does not assign the task or responsibility to any one member or a committee. Therefore, the Board believes that the members each possess unique yet complementary experiences and backgrounds that create diverse points of view, opinions, personalities and management styles that allow for the proper risk management and oversight of the Company.

Lead Director

The Board has established the position of Lead Director, to which James L. Robo was appointed. The Lead Director directs the executive sessions of independent directors at the Board meetings at which the Chairman is not present and has authority to call meetings of independent directors. The Lead Director facilitates communication between the Chairman and CEO and the independent directors, as appropriate, and performs such other functions as the Board directs.

Independent Director Meetings

Independent directors generally meet in executive session as part of each regularly scheduled Board meeting, with discussion led by the Lead Director.

 

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Director Recommendations by Stockholders

In addition to recommendations from Board members, management or professional search firms, the Corporate Governance Committee will consider director candidates properly submitted by stockholders who individually or as a group have beneficially owned at least 2% of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock for at least one year from the date the recommendation is submitted. Stockholders must submit director candidate recommendations in writing by Certified Mail to the Company’s Corporate Secretary not less than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the Proxy Statement relating to the Company’s previous Annual Meeting. Accordingly, for the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, director candidates must be submitted to the Company’s Corporate Secretary by November 13, 2015. Director candidates submitted by stockholders must contain at least the following information:

   

the name and address of the recommending stockholder,

   

the number of shares of the Company’s common stock beneficially owned by the recommending stockholder and the dates such shares were purchased,

   

the name, age, business address and residence of the candidate,

   

the principal occupation or employment of the candidate for the past five years,

   

a description of the candidate’s qualifications to serve as a director, including financial expertise and why the candidate does or does not qualify as “independent” under the NASDAQ corporate governance listing standards,

   

the number of shares of the Company’s common stock beneficially owned by the candidate, if any, and

   

a description of the arrangements or understandings between the recommending stockholder and the candidate, if any, or any other person pursuant to which the recommending stockholder is making the recommendation.

In addition, the recommending stockholder and the candidate must submit, with the recommendation, a signed statement agreeing and acknowledging that:

   

the candidate consents to being a director candidate and, if nominated and elected, he or she will serve as a director representing all of the Company’s stockholders in accordance with applicable laws and the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws,

   

the candidate, if elected, will comply with the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and any other applicable rule, regulation, policy or standard of conduct applicable to the Board and its individual members,

   

the recommending stockholder will maintain beneficial ownership of at least 2% of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock through the date of the Annual Meeting for which the candidate is being recommended for nomination and that, upon the candidate’s nomination and election to the Board, the recommending stockholder intends to maintain such ownership throughout the candidate’s term as director, and

   

the recommending stockholder and the candidate will promptly provide any additional information requested by the Corporate Governance Committee and/or the Board to assist in the consideration of the candidate, including a completed and signed Questionnaire for Directors and Officers on the Company’s standard form and an interview with the Corporate Governance Committee or its representative.

For a complete list of the information that must be included in director recommendations submitted by stockholders, please see the “Director Recommendations by Stockholders Policy” on the “Corporate Governance” page of the “Investors” section of our website at www.jbhunt.com. The Corporate Governance Committee will consider all director candidates submitted through its established processes and will evaluate each of them, including incumbents, based on the same criteria. However, the Corporate Governance Committee may prefer incumbent directors and director candidates whom they know personally or who have relevant industry experience and in-depth knowledge of the Company’s business and operations.

The policies and procedures as set forth above are intended to provide flexible guidelines for the effective functioning of the Company’s director nomination process. The Board intends to review these policies and procedures periodically and anticipates that modifications may be necessary from time to time as the Company’s needs and circumstances change.

Board Composition and Director Qualifications

The Corporate Governance Committee periodically assesses the appropriate size and composition of the Board and whether any vacancies on the Board are expected. In the event that vacancies are anticipated or otherwise arise, the Corporate Governance Committee will review and assess potential director candidates. The Corporate Governance Committee utilizes various methods for identifying and evaluating candidates for director. Candidates may come to the attention of the Corporate Governance Committee through recommendations of Board members, management, stockholders or professional search firms. Generally, director candidates should, at a minimum:

   

possess relevant business and financial expertise and experience, including a basic understanding of fundamental financial statements,

   

have exemplary character and integrity and be willing to work constructively with others,

   

have sufficient time to devote to Board meetings and consultation on Board matters, and

   

be free from conflicts of interest that violate applicable law or interfere with director performance.

In addition, the Corporate Governance Committee seeks director candidates who possess the following qualities and skills:

   

the capacity and desire to represent the interests of the Company’s stockholders as a whole,

   

occupational experience and perspective that, together with other directors, enhances the quality of the Board,

   

leadership experience and sound business judgment,

   

accomplishments in their respective field, with superior credentials and recognition,

   

knowledge of the critical aspects of the Company’s business and operations, and

   

the ability to contribute to the mix of skills, core competencies and qualifications of the Board through expertise in one or more of the following areas:

– accounting and finance

– mergers and acquisitions

 

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– investment management

– law

– academia

– strategic planning

– investor relations

– executive leadership development

– executive compensation

– service as a senior officer of, or a trusted adviser to senior management of, a publicly held company.

The independent members of the Board each possess the general skills, experience, attributes and qualifications that make them a proper fit for the Company’s Board as described above. Specific strengths and qualities possessed by each member that makes him or her eligible to serve on the Company’s Board include:

Douglas G. Duncan – 30 years of experience in the transportation industry

Francesca M. Edwardson – business experience in the transportation industry, law, human resources, and corporate governance

Sharilyn S. Gasaway – accounting, finance, mergers and acquisitions, and regulatory experience

Gary C. George – business experience related to managing a diversified business located in northwest Arkansas

 

Coleman H. Peterson –

human resource experience with a large international workforce, corporate governance, and retail experience

 

James L. Robo –

financial expertise, leadership experience, and business experience related to equipment and the transportation industry

 

John A. White –

business and academic experience related to general business practices and extensive service on
the boards of other publicly traded companies

Messrs. Garrison, Hunt, Roberts and Thompson, as nonindependent directors, have extensive work experience and history with the Company from its origins, which the Board believes are critical to its composition.

Board Diversity

As indicated by the criteria above, the Board prefers a mix of background and experience among its members. Furthermore, the Board is diverse both in gender and ethnic representation, with more than 25% of our current members reflecting demographic minorities. The Board does not follow any ratio or formula to determine the appropriate mix. Rather, it uses its judgment to identify nominees whose backgrounds, attributes and experiences, taken as a whole, will contribute to the high standards of Board service to the Company. The effectiveness of this approach is evidenced by the directors’ participation in insightful and robust yet mutually respectful deliberation that occurs at Board and Committee meetings.

Board Leadership Structure

The Company split the titles, roles and responsibilities of the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer in 1985. The Company and the Board believe that, while the duties may be performed by the same person without consequence to either Company operations or stockholders’ interest, separation of duties allows the Chairman to focus more on active participation by the Board and oversight of management, while the Chief Executive Officer is better able to focus on day-to-day operations of the Company.

Communications With The Board

Stockholders and other interested parties may communicate with the Board, Board Committees, the independent or the nonmanagement directors, each as a group or any director individually by submitting their communications in writing to the attention of the Company’s Corporate Secretary. All communications must identify the recipient and author, state whether the author is a stockholder of the Company and be forwarded to the following address via Certified Mail:

J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.

Attention: Corporate Secretary

615 J.B. Hunt Corporate Drive

Lowell, Arkansas 72745

        The directors of the Company have instructed the Corporate Secretary not to forward to the intended recipient any communications that are reasonably determined in good faith by the Corporate Secretary to relate to improper or irrelevant topics or that are substantially incomplete.

Board Meetings

The Board held four scheduled meetings during the 2014 calendar year. All directors attended all of the Board meetings and committee meetings on which each served during 2014, with the exception of one member not attending one scheduled committee meeting. All members of the Board attended the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The Company has adopted a Director Attendance Policy to stress the importance of attendance, director preparedness, and active and effective participation at Board and Board Committee meetings.

Board Committees

Standing committees of the Board include the Audit, Executive Compensation, and Nominating and Corporate Governance committees. Committee members are elected annually by the Board and serve until their successors are elected and qualified or until their earlier death, retirement, resignation or removal.

 

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The following table summarizes the membership of the Board and each of its committees and the number of times each met during calendar year 2014:

 

Director    Audit    Compensation   

Corporate

    Governance    

Douglas G. Duncan

   X       X

Francesca M. Edwardson

      X    X

Sharilyn S. Gasaway

   X       X

Gary C. George

      X    Chair

Coleman H. Peterson

      Chair    X

James L. Robo

   Chair       X

John A. White

   X    X    X

Number of Meetings in 2014

   8    5    4

On January 29, 2015, the Corporate Governance Committee recommended, and the Board approved, the same committee assignments as 2014 for the 2015 calendar year.

AUDIT COMMITTEE

Under the terms of its charter, the Audit Committee represents and assists the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibility relating to the integrity of the Company’s financial statements and the financial reporting process, the systems of internal accounting and financial controls, the internal audit function, the annual independent audit of the Company’s financial statements, the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, the independent auditor’s qualifications and independence, the performance of the Company’s internal audit function and the performance of its independent auditors.

In fulfilling its duties, the Audit Committee, among other things, shall:

   

appoint, terminate, retain, compensate and oversee the work of the independent registered public accounting firm,

   

preapprove all services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm,

   

oversee the performance of the Company’s internal audit function,

   

review the qualifications, performance and independence of the independent registered public accounting firm,

   

review external and internal audit reports and management’s responses thereto,

   

monitor the integrity of the financial reporting process, system of internal accounting controls, and financial statements and reports of the Company,

   

oversee the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements,

   

review the Company’s annual and quarterly financial statements, including disclosures made in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” set forth in periodic reports filed with the SEC,

   

discuss with management earnings news releases,

   

meet with management, the internal auditors, the independent auditors and the Board,

   

provide the Board with information and materials as it deems necessary to make the Board aware of significant financial accounting and internal control matters of the Company,

   

oversee the receipt, investigation, resolution and retention of all complaints of a financial nature submitted under the Company’s Whistleblower Policy, and

   

otherwise comply with its responsibilities and duties as set forth in the Company’s Audit Committee Charter.

The Board has determined that each member of the Audit Committee satisfies the independence and other requirements for audit committee membership of the NASDAQ corporate governance listing standards and SEC requirements. The Board has also determined that all members of the Audit Committee have the attributes of an audit committee financial expert as defined by the SEC. The Board determined that these members acquired such attributes through their experience in preparing, auditing, analyzing or evaluating financial statements, or actively supervising one or more persons engaged in such activities, and their experience of overseeing or assessing the performance of companies and public accountants with respect to preparation, auditing or evaluation of financial statements. In 2014, the Audit Committee met eight times. All members attended each of the Audit Committee meetings, with the exception of one member not attending a scheduled committee meeting in July 2014. For additional information concerning the Audit Committee, see “Report of the Audit Committee” set forth below.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

The Executive Compensation Committee (the “Compensation Committee”) shall:

   

determine and approve base salary compensation of the Company’s senior executive officers,

   

determine and approve annual equity-based awards for the Company’s “insiders” as defined in Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, with the exception of the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer,

   

evaluate and recommend to the independent members of the Board for their approval base salary and annual equity-based awards for the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer,

   

review and approve the annual performance goals and objectives of the Company’s senior executive officers, including the Chief Executive Officer,

   

establish and certify the achievement of performance goals,

   

oversee the Company’s incentive compensation and equity-based compensation plans,

   

assess the adequacy and competitiveness of the Company’s executive and director compensation programs,

   

review and discuss with management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis (“CD&A”) and recommend whether such analysis should be included in the Proxy Statement filed with the SEC,

 

17


   

produce an Annual Report on executive compensation for inclusion in the Company’s Proxy Statement,

   

review and approve any employment agreements, severance agreements or arrangements, retirement arrangements, change in control agreements/provisions, and any special or supplemental benefits for each officer of the Company,

   

approve, disapprove, modify or amend any non-equity compensation plans designed and intended to provide compensation primarily for officers,

   

make recommendations to the Board regarding adoption of equity-based compensation plans,

   

administer, modify or amend equity-based compensation plans,

   

review the Company’s plan for succession of management,

   

monitor the diversity of the Company’s workforce, and

   

otherwise comply with its responsibilities and duties as set forth in the Company’s Compensation Committee Charter.

None of the individuals serving on the Compensation Committee has ever been an officer or employee of the Company. The Board has determined that all members of the Compensation Committee satisfy the independence requirements of the NASDAQ corporate governance listing standards. All members of the Compensation Committee qualify as “nonemployee directors” for purposes of Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act and as “outside directors” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended.

The Compensation Committee met five times in 2014. All members attended each of the Compensation Committee meetings.

NOMINATING AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (the “Corporate Governance Committee”) shall:

   

annually review the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines,

   

assist the Board in identifying, screening and recruiting qualified individuals to become Board members,

   

propose nominations for Board membership and committee membership,

   

assess the composition of the Board and its committees,

   

oversee the performance of the Board and committees thereof, and

   

otherwise comply with its responsibilities and duties as set forth in the Company’s Corporate Governance Committee Charter.

The Board has determined that all members of the Corporate Governance Committee satisfy the independence requirements of the NASDAQ corporate governance listing standards. The Corporate Governance Committee met four times during 2014. All members attended each of the Corporate Governance Committee meetings.

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

The Board has adopted a Corporate Code of Ethical and Professional Standards for Directors, Officers and Employees (the “Code of Ethics”) that applies to all of the Company’s directors, officers and employees. The purpose and role of this Code of Ethics is to focus our directors, officers and employees on areas of ethical risk, provide guidance to help them recognize and deal with ethical issues, provide mechanisms to report unethical or unlawful conduct, and help enhance and formalize our culture of integrity, honesty and accountability. As required by applicable law, the Company will post on the “Corporate Governance” page of the “Investors” section of its website at www.jbhunt.com any amendments or waivers of any provision of this Code of Ethics made for the benefit of executive officers or directors of the Company.

Corporate Governance Guidelines

The Board has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines to assist it in exercising its responsibilities to the Company and its stockholders. These guidelines address, among other items, director responsibilities, Board Committees and nonemployee director compensation.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires each director, officer and any individual beneficially owning more than 10% of the Company’s common stock to file with the SEC reports of security ownership and reports on subsequent changes in ownership. These reports are generally due within two business days of the transaction giving rise to the reporting obligation.

To the Company’s knowledge, based solely on a review of the copies of such reports furnished to the Company and written representations that no other reports were required, all Section 16(a) filings were made in a timely manner, with the exception of one officer, John Kuhlow, who had one late filing to report an acquisition of shares upon the vesting of restricted stock units and a corresponding disposition of shares to pay the resulting withholding tax obligation.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

The Corporate Governance Committee is charged with the responsibility of reviewing and preapproving all related-party transactions (as defined in SEC regulations) and periodically reassessing any related-party transaction entered into by the Company in accordance with the Company’s Code of Ethics.

Bryan Hunt is the son of Johnelle Hunt, a principal stockholder of the Company. There are no other family relationships among the foregoing directors.

Two sons-in-law of Kirk Thompson, Chairman of the Board of the Company, were employed by the Company in calendar year 2014. The first earned $370,155, and the second earned $140,531 in 2014 compensation. Shelley Simpson’s husband and brother-in-law were employed by the Company in calendar year 2014. Her husband earned $608,772 and her brother-in-law earned less than $120,000 in 2014 compensation.

 

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In the ordinary course of business, the Company has entered into contractual service agreements with two customers considered related parties. The first agreement is with George’s, Inc. and consists of a fleet of tractors and specialty trailers delivering feed and live poultry to and from processing plants located in Cassville, Missouri. Gary C. George is Chairman of George’s, Inc. The second agreement is with Mountain Valley Spring Water and consists of a fleet of tractors delivering bottled water and supplies from Hot Springs, Arkansas, to distribution centers throughout the continental United States. During the first quarter of 2014, Kirk Thompson was a member of the Board of Directors of Mountain Valley Spring Water, and Johnelle Hunt was the majority stockholder of this private company. In March 2014, Mrs. Hunt divested all ownership of Mountain Valley Spring Water and Mr. Thompson resigned from its board. None of the aforementioned individuals were involved in the establishment of these service agreements, nor did they solicit the Company’s services on behalf of George’s, Inc. or Mountain Valley Spring Water. Total revenue earned in calendar year 2014 under these service agreements was $2.6 million for George’s, Inc, and $2.3 million for Mountain Valley Spring Water. Services provided under both of these contracts are and will be carried out at arm’s length in the ordinary course of business and are being provided substantially on the same terms as those of unrelated parties for comparable transactions.

In August 2010, the Company made a gift of $5,000,000 to Arkansas Children’s Hospital. The gift is payable in equal increments over a 10-year period beginning in calendar year 2011. Sharilyn S. Gasaway is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Arkansas Children’s Hospital. However, at the time of the gift, Mrs. Gasaway was not associated with this organization, nor was she instrumental in the Company’s decision to support the medical facility.

In December 2008, the Company made a gift of $250,000 to Northwest Arkansas Community College. The gift is payable in equal increments over a 10-year period beginning in calendar year 2009. At the time of the gift, Coleman H. Peterson served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of this organization. Mr. Peterson did not solicit the contribution on behalf of the organization, nor was he instrumental in the Company’s decision to support the local junior college.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

During the 2014 calendar year, none of the Company’s executive officers served on the Board of Directors or Compensation Committees of any entity whose directors or officers served on the Company’s Board or Compensation Committee. No current or past executive officers or employees of the Company served on the Compensation Committee.

PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY

The following table sets forth all persons known to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Company’s common stock as of December 31, 2014. Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes below, “beneficially owned” means the sole or shared power to vote or direct the voting of a security or the sole or shared power to dispose or direct the disposition of a security.

 

Name and Address    Number
of Shares
     Percent of
Class
 

Johnelle Hunt

     19,353,565         16.6%     

3333 Pinnacle Hills Parkway

     

Rogers, AR 72756

     

FMR LLC

     15,156,783         12.9%     

82 Devonshire Street

     

Boston, MA 02109

     

T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.

     14,725,720         12.5%     

100 East Pratt Street

     

Baltimore, MD 21202

     

BlackRock, Inc.

     9,441,522         8.1%     

40 East 52nd Street

     

New York, NY 10022

     

Information relating to Johnelle Hunt is based on the stockholder’s Form 4, filed with the SEC on December 5, 2014. Information pertaining to the ownership of FMR LLC and T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (Price Associates) is based on the organization’s Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 13, 2015. Information pertaining to the ownership of BlackRock, Inc. is based on the organization’s Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on January 23, 2015. The shares reported for Price Associates are owned by various individual and institutional investors which Price Associates serves as an investment adviser with power to direct investments and/or sole power to vote the securities. For purposes of the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Price Associates is deemed to be the beneficial owner of these securities; however, Price Associates expressly disclaims that it is, in fact, the beneficial owner of these shares.

REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

The Executive Compensation Committee (the “Compensation Committee”) is composed of Coleman H. Peterson, Chairman, Francesca M. Edwardson, Gary C. George and John A. White, none of whom is an officer or employee of the Company and all of whom have been determined by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) to be independent. Additionally, all members of the Compensation Committee qualify as “nonemployee directors” for purposes of Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act and as “outside directors” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended (the “Code”).

 

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The Compensation Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board, a copy of which is available on the “Corporate Governance” page of the “Investors” section of the Company’s website at www.jbhunt.com. In carrying out its responsibilities, the Compensation Committee, among other things:

   

evaluates and recommends to the independent Board members, for their approval, the annual salaries and bonuses of the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer,

   

reviews and approves annual corporate goals and objectives of the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer and other Section 16 reporting officers,

   

recommends for approval to the independent Board members equity-based compensation awards under the Company’s Management Incentive Plan (the “MIP”), as amended and restated, for the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer,

   

reviews and approves equity-based compensation awards under the Company’s MIP, as amended and restated, for the Section 16 reporting officers,

   

establishes and certifies the achievement of performance goals under the Company’s incentive and performance-based compensation plans,

   

reviews and approves compensation recommendations for the Company’s directors,

   

reviews other Company executive compensation programs, and

   

reviews and approves the Compensation Committee report to the stockholders and the Compensation Discussion and Analysis (the “CD&A”) report included in the Proxy.

The Chairman of the Board recommends to the Compensation Committee the form and amount of compensation to be paid to the Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer provides recommendations to the Compensation Committee regarding the form and amount of compensation to be paid to executive officers who report directly to him. Additionally, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer regularly attend Compensation Committee meetings, except for executive sessions. Upon request, management has provided to the Compensation Committee historical and prospective breakdowns of primary compensation components for each executive officer, as well as tally sheets, wealth accumulation analyses and internal pay equity analyses as described in more detail below.

At our 2014 Annual Meeting, the stockholders approved, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the named executive officers (99.5% of votes cast). Previously, at our 2011 Annual Meeting, the stockholders voted for approval of a frequency of holding advisory votes every three years with respect to named executive officer compensation (51% of votes cast). The Compensation Committee believes this level of stockholder support reflects a strong endorsement of the Company’s compensation policies and decisions. The Compensation Committee has considered the results of the last advisory vote on executive compensation in determining the Company’s compensation policies and decisions for 2015, and has determined that these policies and decisions are appropriate and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders at this time.

In 2014, the Compensation Committee engaged Meridian Compensation Partners, LLC (“Meridian”) to review the Company’s executive compensation policies and practices. Meridian was also directed to determine a comparable peer group for executive compensation purposes and to report considerations regarding changes in compensation levels for the NEOs to bring them into the 50th percentile of total direct compensation of the peer group. Meridian is retained by, and reports to, the Compensation Committee to provide compensation analyses and consultation at the Committee’s request. Meridian was paid approximately $66,000 for the consulting engagement and provides no other services to the Company.

The Compensation Committee met five times in 2014 to discuss, among other items, the salaries, bonuses and other compensation of the senior executive officers and other key employees of the Company, including the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer. The Compensation Committee did not act by unanimous consent at any time in 2014.

Historically, the Compensation Committee meets each February to finalize discussion regarding the Company’s performance goals for the previous and current year with respect to performance-based compensation to be paid to executive officers and to approve its letter for the Proxy Statement. These goals are approved within 90 days of the beginning of the year, pursuant to the Code. During the third quarter of each year, the Compensation Committee generally discusses any new compensation issues, the base compensation, bonus and MIP award analyses, and the engagement of the compensation consultant for annual executive and director compensation surveys. The Compensation Committee also meets during the fourth quarter to:

   

review and discuss information provided by the compensation consultant and the recommendations made by the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer,

   

review the performance of the Company and the individual officers,

   

review the extent to which the Company’s performance goals were attained and approve short-term cash bonus and long-term incentive awards, and

   

determine executives’ base salaries for the following year.

        Management also advises the full Board, including the Compensation Committee members, throughout the year of any new issues and developments regarding executive compensation.

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the following CD&A with management, and based upon such review and discussions, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board that the CD&A be included in the Company’s Proxy Statement.

J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.

2014 Executive Compensation Committee

Coleman H. Peterson, Chairman

Francesca M. Edwardson

Gary C. George

John A. White

 

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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

Introduction

The Compensation Discussion and Analysis provides information regarding the compensation paid to our President and Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and certain other executive officers who were the most highly compensated in calendar year 2014. These individuals, referred to collectively as “named executive officers” or NEOs, are identified below:

   

John N. Roberts, III – President and Chief Executive Officer

   

David G. Mee – Executive Vice President, Finance/Administration, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary

   

Kirk Thompson – Chairman of the Board

   

Terrence D. Matthews – Executive Vice President and President of Intermodal

   

Shelley Simpson – Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer and President of Integrated Capacity Solutions and Truckload

Compensation Philosophy and Principles

The Compensation Committee acknowledges that the transportation industry is highly competitive and that experienced professionals have career mobility. The Company believes that it competes for executive talent with a large number of companies, some of which have significantly larger market capitalizations and others of which are privately owned. Retention of key talent remains critical to our success. The Company’s need to focus on retention is compounded by its size and geographic location. The Company’s compensation program is structured to attract, retain and develop executive talent with the ability to assume a broad span of responsibilities and successfully lead complex business units to market-leading positions in the industry. The Compensation Committee believes that the ability to attract, retain and provide appropriate incentives for professional personnel, including the senior executive officers and other key employees of the Company, is essential to maintaining the Company’s leading competitive position, thereby providing for the long-term success of the Company. The Compensation Committee’s goal is to maintain compensation programs that are competitive within the transportation industry. Each year, the Compensation Committee reviews the executive compensation program with respect to external competitiveness and linkage between executive compensation and creation of stockholder value and determines what changes, if any, are appropriate.

The overall compensation philosophy of the Compensation Committee and management is guided by the following principles:

   

Compensation levels should be sufficiently competitive to attract and retain key talent. The Company aims to attract, motivate and retain high-performance talent to achieve and maintain a leading position in its industry. Our total compensation package should be strongly competitive with other transportation companies.

   

Compensation should relate directly to performance and responsibility. Total compensation should be tied to and vary with performance and responsibility, both at the Company and individual level, in achieving financial, operational and strategic objectives. Differentiated pay for high-performing individuals should be proportional to their contributions to the Company’s success.

   

Short-term incentive compensation should constitute a significant portion of total executive compensation. A large portion of total compensation should be tied to performance, and therefore at risk, as position and responsibility increase. Individuals with greater roles and the ability to directly impact strategic direction and long-term results should bear a greater proportion of the risk.

   

Long-term incentive compensation, the Company’s Management Incentive Plan (the “MIP”), should be closely aligned with stockholders’ interests. Awards of long-term compensation encourage executive officers to focus on the Company’s long-range growth and development and incent them to manage from the perspective of stockholders with a meaningful stake in the Company, as well as to focus on long-term career orientation. Participants in the MIP are required to own Company stock. The requirements are discussed in this CD&A under the caption “Stock Ownership Guidelines.”

The Company’s executive compensation program is designed to reward the achievement of initiatives regarding growth, productivity and people, including:

   

setting, implementing and communicating strategies, goals and objectives to ensure that the Company grows revenue and earnings at rates that are comparable to or greater than those of our peers and that create value for our stockholders,

   

motivating and exhibiting leadership that aligns the interests of our employees with those of our stockholders,

   

developing a grasp of the competitive environment and taking steps to position the Company for growth and as a competitive force in the industry,

   

constantly renewing the Company’s business model and seeking strategic opportunities that benefit the Company and its stockholders, and

   

implementing a discipline of compliance and focusing on the highest standards of professional conduct.

 

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PROCESS OF SETTING COMPENSATION

Benchmarking Against a Peer Group

The Compensation Committee engaged Meridian to perform a competitive market assessment for the NEOs to evaluate base salary, target annual incentives, target total cash compensation, long-term incentives and total direct compensation.

The assessment involved the use of a peer group, as noted below, consisting of 16 transportation and logistics companies in the national marketplace. This peer group was updated in 2014 to more closely align the Company’s peer group with peers suggested by Institutional Shareholder Services. These companies represent both business competition and the most relevant labor market for our executives.

 

Amerco ArcBest Corporation Avis Budget Group, Inc.
CH Robinson Worldwide, Inc. CON-Way, Inc. CSX Corporation
Expeditors Int’l of Washington, Inc. Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. Hub Group, Inc.
Kansas City Southern Landstar System, Inc. Norfolk Southern Corporation
Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. Ryder System, Inc. Swift Transportation Company
UTI Worldwide, Inc.

The Compensation Committee utilized a different peer group of 11 companies for the Executive Chairman/Non-CEO position. This peer group was also updated in 2014, primarily due to changes in the leadership structure among peers of the Company. These companies are similar to the Company in size, revenue or market capitalization, and have a comparable chairman role.

 

Barnes & Noble, Inc.

Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc.

Cablevision Systems Corporation

Constellation Brands, Inc.

D.R. Horton, Inc.

GameStop Corp.

Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc.

Hyatt Hotels Corp.

Jarden Corporation

O’Reilly Automotive, Inc.

Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.

The Compensation Committee has decided that the appropriate comparative total compensation target should be at the 50th percentile of the respective peer groups.

Compensation Analysis Tools

In addition to the competitive compensation survey information for each officer that was compiled, the Compensation Committee also reviewed a three-year history of executive compensation tally sheets. The Compensation Committee anticipates that pertinent compensation information will continue to be developed and enhanced to allow the Committee to perform the most relevant analyses practicable.

Our objective for total executive compensation is to provide compensation in the 50th percentile of the respective peer groups. We believe that a sizeable portion of overall compensation should be at risk and tied to stockholder value. Our bonuses are tied to earnings per share (“EPS”); as EPS increases, so do executive bonuses. Long-term incentives are used as tools to reward executives for current and future performance, to encourage an executive to remain with the Company and to align the executive’s interests with those of our stockholders. As part of our long-term incentive strategy, executives are expected to maintain stock ownership values as a multiple of their base salaries. Long-term incentives for NEOs are performance-based. While certain components of compensation are directly tied to the Company’s reported financial performance, sufficient accounting and operational controls are in place and tested effectively to ensure that the Company’s compensation practices and policies, including those for nonexecutives, are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.

Our Company has a 401(k) plan that assists participants in providing for retirement. The Company contributes to each NEO’s account per year based on the NEO’s voluntary contribution amount. The equity buildup in unvested equity-based awards and stock owned currently is critical to each executive’s ability to adequately provide for his or her retirement. As previously mentioned and explained in detail later, we have a Company stock ownership policy for our executives, but we do not have a “hold until retirement” restriction. We do not believe that such a restriction is prudent for the employee or necessary to protect our Company.

Tally Sheets

A compensation tally sheet for each NEO was prepared and reviewed by the Compensation Committee in 2014. These tally sheets detail a three-year history of dollar amounts for components of the NEO’s total compensation, including current salary and estimated cash bonus, equity-based awards, change in control severance payments, if any, personal benefits, if any, and other perquisites.

Long-Term Compensation Analyses and Policies

        With respect to long-term, equity-based awards, the Company maintains the MIP. The MIP was originally adopted and approved by the Board on March 17, 1989, and an amended and restated MIP was subsequently approved by the stockholders on May 11, 1995. The MIP has been amended and restated since the time of its adoption, and all amendments requiring approval of the stockholders have been approved, with the last approval occurring at our Annual Meeting of Stockholders held in 2012. Currently, there are 44 million shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the MIP, of which approximately 8.0 million shares are available for future options and other awards.

Performance-based restricted share units, time-vested restricted share units and stock options of the Company are granted under the MIP in an effort to link future compensation to the long-term financial success of the Company. These equity-based awards are granted to executive officers, including the NEOs, and other key employees (approximately 370 individuals) and are intended to attract and retain employees, to provide incentives to enhance job performance, and to enable those persons to participate in the long-term success and growth of the Company through an equity interest in the Company.

 

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The Compensation Committee typically grants time-vested restricted share units under the MIP to non-NEO employees of the Company, while granting performance-based restricted share units to the NEOs of the Company. The future vesting of performance-based awards is contingent on the Company’s attainment of predetermined performance metrics established by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee believes that restricted share units, both time-vested and performance-based, are currently more effective than stock options in achieving the Company’s compensation objectives, as these grants are subject to less market volatility and are less dilutive to stockholders. Employees realize immediate value as restricted share units vest, with such value increasing as the Company’s stock performance increases. Cash dividends are not paid and there are no voting rights on unvested restricted share units.

The Company does not have a formal policy, but has an established practice described below, with respect to the granting of any form of equity compensation. The Company does not have a policy or practice of either timing equity-based compensation grants to current or new executive officers, or timing the release of material, nonpublic information to affect the value of executive compensation. Recommendations for all Section 16 filers, except for the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer, are presented to the Compensation Committee by the Chief Executive Officer. The Chairman of the Board recommends to the Compensation Committee the award for the Chief Executive Officer. The Compensation Committee approves or adjusts the award using the above tools for all Section 16 filers, except for the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer. The awards for the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer are recommended by the Compensation Committee and submitted for final approval to the Company’s independent Board members. This process occurs in late October or early November of each year to coincide with our third-quarter Board meeting. We consider this our annual award date. The Compensation Committee does not expect to delegate approval authority to grant awards to management or any subcommittee at this time or in the near future. The grant date is typically set by the Compensation Committee. Historically, annual awards of equity compensation have been granted to all awardees, including the NEOs, in October. In 2014, 352,120 grants were made on October 28, and 136,945 grants were made on October 29, the date of the third-quarter Board meeting. Grants have been made in months other than the annual award date on a very limited basis. The limited exceptions to this grant-date practice have included, for example, the hiring of a key employee or the promotion of an employee to an executive office.

The Compensation Committee anticipates that it will continue adhering to these general grant dates for the foreseeable future for administrative ease and consistency. Awards are made in the fourth quarter because the Compensation Committee has a good view as to the Company’s financial performance and the executive’s individual performance for the current year and has the most recently available competitive market data.

Pursuant to the provisions of the MIP, all stock options are granted with an exercise price equal to 100% of the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the grant date. Stock options are generally exercisable over five to 10 years from the grant date. The exercise price of stock options may be satisfied with payment of cash or previously owned Company stock or through a cashless simultaneous exercise and sale. In response to emerging changes in the area of accounting for equity-based compensation and to position ourselves competitively with our peers, the Compensation Committee began granting restricted share units in lieu of stock options under the MIP in 2005. The Compensation Committee anticipates granting restricted share units in lieu of stock options for the foreseeable future, but in the event stock options are granted, such stock options will be granted under the terms discussed above. Similar to stock options, the total number of restricted share units that may be awarded to an individual is within the discretion of the Compensation Committee but also limited by the MIP and is generally based on the Company’s performance and the individual’s current level of compensation, individual performance, potential for promotion and marketability outside the Company. The number of restricted share units or stock options previously granted to an individual may be, but is not always, a consideration in determining the amount of awards granted to that individual in the future. Generally, restricted share units vest over three to 10 years.

As stated above, the Company does not have a policy or practice of timing the grant of equity-based awards and the release of material, nonpublic information in a manner that would affect compensation for new or current executive officers, nor has it deliberately or knowingly done so. In the event that material, nonpublic information becomes known to the Compensation Committee, the Company or its employees at a time when such information could affect or otherwise impact the imminent grant of equity-based compensation, management and the Compensation Committee will take the existence of such information under advisement and determine whether to delay the grant of such equity-based compensation to a later date to avoid the appearance of any impropriety.

 

23


Deductibility of Compensation and Other Regulatory Considerations

        The Code places a limit of $1 million on the amount of compensation the Company may deduct for federal income tax purposes in any one year with respect to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and the next three most highly compensated executive officers whose compensation is required to be disclosed in the Company’s annual Proxy Statement, other than the Chief Financial Officer (the “Covered Employees”). There is an exception to this $1 million limitation for performance-based compensation that meets certain requirements. In reviewing the effectiveness of the Company’s compensation program, the Compensation Committee considers the anticipated tax treatment to the Company and to its executives of various payments and benefits. Additionally, the deductibility of certain compensation payments depends upon the timing of an executive’s vesting or exercise of previously granted awards, as well as interpretations and changes in the tax laws and other factors beyond the Compensation Committee’s control. For these and other reasons, including the need to maintain flexibility in compensating executive officers in a manner designed to promote varying corporate goals, the Compensation Committee will not necessarily, nor in all circumstances, limit executive compensation to that which is deductible under the Code. The Company has not adopted a policy requiring all compensation to be deductible.

The MIP contains specific language and requirements regarding performance-based awards granted to a Covered Employee intended to be “qualified performance-based compensation” as defined by the Code. These awards shall be based on the attainment of one or more objective performance goals established in writing by the Committee. Performance goals must be based on one or more criteria approved by the MIP (e.g., revenue, operating income, return on assets) and be based on an objective formula or standard. Prior to any vesting of an award, the Committee must certify in writing that all of the necessary performance goals have been met. Material terms of the performance goals must be disclosed to and reapproved by the stockholders every five years. In October 2014, 106,945 grants of “qualified performance-based compensation” restricted share units were made to Covered Employees and vest, under the provisions of the MIP, upon the Company’s attainment of predetermined performance metrics established and approved by the Compensation Committee.

The Compensation Committee will continue to consider various alternatives to preserving the deductibility of compensation payments and benefits to the extent reasonably practicable and to the extent consistent with its other compensation objectives. Base salary, bonuses or the vesting of non-performance-based restricted share units do not qualify as performance-based compensation under the Code. In 2014, the following NEO compensation paid was not deductible by the Company:

 

John N. Roberts, III

$ 3,126,544   

Kirk Thompson

  4,972,814   

Terrence D. Matthews

  222,526   

Derivative Trading

It is the Company’s policy that officers and directors not engage in any put or call transactions on Company stock. Such transactions create a significant enticement for abusive trading and, in many instances, give the unwelcome appearance of the officer or director betting against the Company. There is no Company policy, other than required by law, that would prohibit the Company’s executive officers from entering into a forward-sale or forward-purchase contract.

 

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Stock Ownership Guidelines

To motivate the Company’s officers and senior management to emulate its stockholders, the Company expects its management to own Company stock at levels described in the table shown below.

Stock ownership is defined as stock owned:

    directly or indirectly, and/or
    through the Company’s 401(k) Employee Retirement Plan.

 

Position   

Ownership Multiple

of Base Salary

Chief Executive Officer

   6 times

Executive Vice Presidents

   3.5 times

Senior Vice Presidents

   2.75 times

Vice Presidents

   2.5 times

The Compensation Committee has determined that as of the annual award dates, October 28 and October 29, 2014, all of the Company’s officers and members of senior management covered by these guidelines had met their ownership goals.

Stock Retention Policy

Other than indicated above, the Company does not have any other stock retention policy.

Recovery of Awards

The Company does not have a policy, other than required by law, requiring replacement of awards or payments as a result of an officer’s illegal transactions or restatements. However, the Compensation Committee has formally adopted and explicitly communicated the “clawback” provisions of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act with regard to annual cash bonus awards paid to the Company’s executive officers. Since becoming a public company in 1983, the Company has had no illegal actions by its officers or restatements of financial information.

Summary

The Company intends to continue its practice of compensating its executives through programs that emphasize performance. To that end, executive compensation is tied directly to the performance of the Company and is structured to ensure that, due to the nature of the business and the degree of competitiveness for executive talent, there is an appropriate balance between:

   

base salary and incentive compensation,

   

short-term and long-term compensation, and

   

cash and noncash compensation.

Each is determined and measured by:

   

competitive compensation data,

   

financial, operational and strategic goals,

   

long-term and short-term performance of the Company compared with its peer group, and

   

individual contribution to the success of the Company.

 

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2014 COMPENSATION

Elements of Compensation

The Company’s primary compensation components are summarized below. Generally, the Company’s compensation program consists of an annual base salary, a short-term cash incentive award, and an annual long-term, equity-based award. Primary benefits for executives include participation in the Company’s 401(k) plan, health, dental and vision plans, and various insurance plans, including disability and life insurance, all of which are available to all employees on a nondiscriminatory basis. The Company provides limited perquisites to executive officers and other key employees as described in more detail on page 28 under the section titled “Other Perquisites.”

Total direct compensation for executive officers, including the NEOs, consists of one or more of the following components:

   

base salary,

   

annual performance-based incentive cash bonus awards,

   

long-term incentive/equity-based compensation,

   

health and welfare benefits, and

   

other benefits.

The Compensation Committee, with recommendations from management, works to create what it believes is the best mix of these components in delivering total direct compensation. In determining annual compensation, the Compensation Committee reviews all elements of compensation separately and in the aggregate. These compensation components are comparable to those of the Company’s competitors and peer group.

In its review of executive compensation, and, in particular, in determining the amount and form of incentive awards discussed below, the Compensation Committee generally considers several factors. Among these factors are:

   

market information with respect to cash and long-term compensation for its peer group,

   

amounts paid to the executive officer in prior years as salary,

   

annual bonus and other compensation,

   

the officer’s responsibilities and performance during the calendar year, and

   

the Company’s overall performance during prior calendar years and its future objectives and challenges.

At transportation companies, generally the largest elements of compensation are paid in the form of annual short-term incentives and long-term compensation. Compensation mix and industry profitability vary as the industry faces many risk factors, such as the economy and fuel prices.

Cash compensation for our NEOs varies as the EPS of the Company changes, due to the nature of our bonus plan described below. Grants of performance-based restricted share units or stock options are made annually. Performance-based restricted share units and stock options are based on each employee’s level of responsibility and are generally computed as a multiple of base salary.

It has been the policy of the Company to put a significant portion of the executive’s compensation at risk. This is accomplished by our cash bonus plan, which is directly tied to EPS, and the issuance of performance-based restricted share units. Equity-based awards from the MIP may also vary in vesting from three to 10 years. These awards are subject to forfeiture if the employee leaves the Company. Furthermore, the future vesting of performance-based equity awards is contingent on the Company’s attainment of predetermined performance metrics established by the Committee. The Committee and management believe that the proportion of compensation at risk should rise as the employee’s level of responsibility increases.

The Compensation Committee has retained Meridian as its compensation consultant. Meridian reports directly to the Compensation Committee and has no other engagements with the Company. In 2014, Meridian prepared a study providing information and an independent analysis of the Company’s executive compensation program and practices. The results of this study included observations about the Company’s target 2014 executive compensation.

The Compensation Committee does not rely solely on predetermined formulas or a limited set of criteria when it evaluates the individual performances of the NEOs. The Compensation Committee considers actual results against deliverables and also bases its compensation decisions for the NEOs on:

   

leadership,

   

the execution of business plans,

   

strategic results,

   

operating results,

   

growth in EPS,

   

size and complexity of the business,

   

experience,

   

strengthening of competitive position,

   

analysis of competitive compensation practices, and

   

assessment of the Company’s performance.

Where possible, the above criteria were compared with the peer group selected as well as the Chief Executive Officer’s input for his direct reports and the Chairman of the Board’s input for the Chief Executive Officer.

 

26


Base Salary

The Compensation Committee believes that competitive levels of cash compensation, together with equity-based and other incentive programs, are necessary for motivating and retaining the Company’s executives. Salaries provide executives with a base level of monthly income and help achieve the objectives outlined above by attracting and retaining strong talent. Base salaries are evaluated annually for all executive officers, including the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer. Generally, base salaries are not directly related to specific measures of corporate performance, but are determined by the relevance of experience, the scope and complexity of the position, current job responsibilities, retention and relative salaries of the peer group members. The Compensation Committee may elect not to increase an executive officer’s annual salary, and has so elected in prior years. However, if warranted, the Compensation Committee may increase base salary where an executive officer takes on added responsibilities or is promoted.

Annual Bonus Award

As previously mentioned, the Company has had in place for several years a bonus plan that is tied to EPS. At its fall meeting when management presents its budget for the following year, the Compensation Committee establishes a matrix of EPS results with bonus payout levels. These forecasted earnings results are based on customer freight trends, strategies for growth and controlling costs, and corporate strategies to maximize stockholder return. Once presented to the Board, the EPS budget and bonus plan matrix remain fixed, though management continually reforecasts expectations based on actual results and on changing facts and assumptions. Changes in uncontrollable factors such as general economic conditions, railroad or port authority service issues, or rapidly fluctuating fuel costs can have a significant impact on the Company’s actual EPS. Therefore, as the Company performs against the original budget, the executive’s bonus performs against the pre-established matrix.

The bonus plan is based on annual EPS; however, quarterly EPS targets are established. If the Company meets a quarterly EPS target, the executive is eligible to receive a “progress payment” equal to approximately 12.5% of his or her projected annual bonus payout. The annual bonus earned is reduced by the progress payments received during the year. We consider a single quarterly progress payment, computed at approximately 12.5% of the executive’s lowest possible annual bonus amount, to be the threshold bonus amounts described below. The Company’s bonus plan has no reimbursement or “clawback” feature if a progress payment is made in a plan year where an annual bonus is not earned. However, the Compensation Committee has formally adopted and explicitly communicated the “clawback” provisions of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act with regard to annual cash bonus awards paid to the Company’s executive officers.

For 2014, the established matrix consisted of EPS ranging from $2.85 to $4.05, translating to annual bonus payout percentages ranging from 5% to 170% of an executive’s base salary. The 2014 quarterly and annual bonus payout targets compared with actual reported EPS and actual payout percentages were as follows:

 

     EPS      Bonus Payout % of Salary  
Period    Minimum      Target      Reported EPS      Minimum        Target          Actual    

1Q 14

   0.56    0.66    0.58      0.6      3.8         1.1   

2Q 14

   0.71    0.83    0.79      0.6      3.8         2.9   

3Q 14

   0.77    0.89    0.87      0.6      3.8         3.1   

Annual

   2.85    3.30    3.16      5.0      30.0         23.0   

Actual earned bonus amounts by quarter for each NEO:

 

              1Q 14                    2Q 14                    3Q 14                    4Q 14            Total
Annual

John N. Roberts, III

       $7,706          $19,694          $21,406          $108,744          $157,550  

David G. Mee

       4,888          12,492          13,578          68,977          99,935  

Kirk Thompson (1)

                                            

Terrence D. Matthews

       4,950          12,650          13,750          69,850          101,200  

Shelley Simpson

       3,938          10,063          10,938          55,561          80,500  

(1) Currently, the position of Chairman of the Board is not eligible to participate in the Company’s EPS bonus plan.

Long-Term, Equity-Based Award

        Each executive is eligible to receive a long-term incentive award of performance-based restricted share units. Performance-based restricted share units are intended to help achieve the objectives of the compensation program, including the retention of high-performing and experienced talent, a career orientation and strong alignment with stockholders’ interests. The performance-based restricted share units are awarded and settled from shares reserved for issuance under the MIP. The Compensation Committee approves or adjusts the award based on the above criteria for all Section 16 filers who are employees of the Company. The awards for the Company’s Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer are presented for final approval to the Company’s independent Board members. The Compensation Committee believes that performance-based restricted share units must be sufficient in size to provide a strong, long-term performance and retention incentive for executives and to increase their vested interest in the Company. Performance-based restricted share units are used as long-term incentives because they are less dilutive to shares outstanding and to profits. Performance-based restricted share units generally vest from three to 10 years.

In administering the MIP and awarding long-term incentive awards, we are sensitive to the potential for dilution of future EPS. The MIP is a broad-based equity compensation program. We focus the program on employees who will have the greatest impact on strategic direction and long-term results of the Company by virtue of their senior roles and responsibilities. A total of 554,725 performance-based and time-vested restricted share units were granted in 2014. Approximately 19% of the total share units granted were performance-based restricted share units to the NEOs, and approximately 27% of the total share units granted were to the executive officer group as a whole. As described above, MIP participants who hold the title of director and above have an ownership requirement in Company stock.

 

27


In determining the number of performance-based restricted share unit grants for each NEO, the Compensation Committee reviewed peer market data provided by Meridian and a detailed analysis of each NEO’s vested and unvested stock holdings. In considering unvested stock holdings, the Committee reviewed a forecast of the timing of potential future restricted stock unit vesting for each NEO over the next 10 years.

The Compensation Committee subjectively considered the following objectives (without any particular weighting) when determining the form and amount of performance-based restricted share units granted to NEOs in 2014:

   

align NEOs’ long-term interests with those of the Company’s stockholders,

   

strengthen retention hooks for NEOs over the long term,

   

ensure competitiveness of NEOs’ total compensation opportunity through an emphasis on performance-based long-term stock compensation,

   

reinforce share holdings of NEOs,

   

align NEOs’ compensation with the Company’s long-term leadership succession planning initiatives, and

   

bolster the continuity of the entire management team through an upcoming period of critical strategic goals and milestones for the Company.

For 2014, the Compensation Committee and/or independent directors approved the following performance-based restricted share unit grants to the NEOs:

 

John N. Roberts, III

  45,472   

David G. Mee

  15,000   

Kirk Thompson

  21,473   

Terrence D. Matthews

  10,000   

Shelley Simpson

  15,000   

The 2014 NEO awards shown above are performance-based restricted share units. These grants vest from three to five years annually, beginning July 15, 2015, upon the Company’s attainment of predetermined operating metrics established and approved by the Compensation Committee, and are deemed “qualified performance-based compensation” awards under Section 162(m) of the Code. The Compensation Committee acknowledges that the separate components of total direct compensation are not always in the 50th percentile of their respective peer groups, as determined earlier, but it believes that its mix of current and long-term compensation is more appropriate to align the NEO’s compensation with the stockholders’ interests in both the near and longer term.

The Committee also reviewed its compensation strategy in general and specific components of total direct compensation and determined that none of the Company’s compensation programs, individually or as a whole, would create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. The Committee presented its review and conclusion to the entire Board.

Deferred Compensation

The Company administers a Deferred Compensation Plan for certain of its officers. The employee participant may elect on an annual basis to defer part of his or her salary and/or bonus. This plan assists key employees in planning for retirement. The Company contributes nothing to the plan, and participants are not permitted to defer shares of Company stock.

Health and Welfare Benefits

The Company provides benefits such as medical, vision, life insurance, long-term disability coverage, and 401(k) plan opportunities to all eligible employees, including the NEOs. The Company provides up to $750,000 in life insurance coverage and up to $10,000 per month in long-term disability coverage. The value of these benefits is not required to be included in the Summary Compensation Table since they are available to all employees on a nondiscriminatory basis. The Company matches certain employee contributions to the 401(k) plan. The Company provides no postretirement medical or supplemental retirement benefits to its employees.

The Company also provides vacation, sick leave and other paid holidays to employees, including the NEOs, that are comparable to those provided at other transportation companies. The Company’s commitment to provide employee benefits is due to our recognition that the health and well-being of our employees contributes directly to a productive and successful work life that produces better results for the Company and for its employees.

Personal Benefits

The Company provides certain perquisites to management employees, including the NEOs, as summarized below.

Company Aircraft

        The Company actively participates in shared ownership of aircraft services with NetJets and CitationAir. With the approval of the Chief Executive Officer, the NEOs and other management employees use Company aircraft services for business purposes. Personal use of Company aircraft services is provided to executive officers on a very limited basis and to other management employees in the event of emergency or other urgent situations.

Company Vehicles

The Company does not provide Company-owned cars to executives.

Other Perquisites

The Company provides executive officers a taxable allowance of up to $10,000 a year for financial counseling services, which may include legal, financial, estate and/or tax planning, and tax return preparation. This benefit is based on actual cost to the Company. The Company also provides country club memberships to certain of its executive officers. These memberships are valued based on the actual costs of the membership, including dues, regardless of whether use was personal or business. The Company believes that these clubs provide a quiet venue for negotiations and entertainment of clients, bankers, investment bankers, stockholders, etc.

 

28


Severance Agreements

The Company does not have employment contracts or predetermined personal severance agreements with any of its executives. However, according to the terms of the awards granted under the previously mentioned MIP, all outstanding non-incentive-based options and restricted share units immediately vest upon a “change in control.”

Generally, a “change in control” is deemed to occur when more than 30% of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company change ownership in a transaction that is a merger, reorganization or consolidation, when the persons who constitute the Company’s incumbent board of directors cease to constitute a majority of the board, or when the stockholders approve a transaction that is a merger, reorganization or consolidation where more than 50% of the outstanding shares change ownership or a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company.

 

29


SUMMARY COMPENSATION

The following table summarizes the total compensation earned by or paid to the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and the next three most highly compensated executive officers of the Company who served in such capacities as of December 31, 2014, for services rendered to the Company. These five officers are referred to as the NEOs in this Proxy Statement.

 

Name and

Principal

Position

   Year    Salary
($) (1)
  

Share
Units

($) (2)

   Option
Awards
($) (2)
  

Non-Equity
Incentive

Plan
Compensation
($) (1)

   Deferred
Compensation
($)
   All Other
Compensation
($)
   Total ($)

John N. Roberts, III

       2014          695,000          3,465,876                   157,550                   28,044          4,346,470  

President

       2013          642,692          3,244,500                   146,050                   25,001          4,058,243  

and CEO

       2012          601,954          2,505,420                   267,750                   14,742          3,389,866  

David G. Mee

       2014          437,845          1,143,300                   99,935                   17,654          1,698,734  

EVP, Finance

       2013          401,077          2,152,800                   90,850                   18,061          2,662,788  

&Administration

       2012          369,615          691,575                   164,250                   17,300          1,242,740  

and CFO

                                       

Kirk Thompson

       2014          450,000          1,636,672                                     5,003          2,091,675  

Chairman of

       2013          492,308          1,658,300                                     9,453          2,160,061  

the Board

       2012          542,308          2,115,688                   247,500                   10,352          2,915,848  

Terrence D. Matthews

       2014          442,589          762,200                   101,200                   19,438          1,325,427  

EVP and

       2013          408,436          3,229,200                   92,000                   26,315          3,755,951  

President

of Intermodal

       2012          379,931          691,575                   167,625                   32,028          1,271,159  

Shelley Simpson

EVP, CMO and

President of

ICS & Truckload

       2014          371,635          1,143,300                   80,500                   24,391          1,619,826  

 

(1)

Non-equity incentive plan compensation (paid as a bonus) and salary amounts shown above are reported as gross earnings. Totals may include amounts transferred into the deferred compensation plan and/or into the Company’s 401(k) plan. All non-equity awards are reported in the year in which they are earned. Effective January 1, 2013, the position of Chairman of the Board is not eligible to participate in the Company’s non-equity incentive plan.

(2)

Amounts reflect grant date fair value of each individual’s specific award, which will be earned over the vesting period (3 to 8 years) and the achievement of future performance metrics established by the Compensation Committee at the time of grant. No stock options were granted during 2014, 2013 or 2012.

Components of All Other Compensation for Calendar Year 2014

 

Name   

Perquisites

and Other
Personal Benefits
($)

   Company
Contributions
to 401(k) Plan
($)
   Total      
($)      

John N. Roberts, III

       16,961          11,083          28,044          

David G. Mee

       9,612          8,042          17,654          

Kirk Thompson

       2,355          2,648          5,003          

Terrence D. Matthews

       10,598          8,840          19,438          

Shelley Simpson

       15,625          8,766          24,391          

 

30


Components of Perquisites for Calendar Year 2014

 

Name      Personal Use
of Company Plane
($) (1)
    

Legal and
Accounting
Fees

($)

     Club
Dues
($)
     Total
Perquisites
and Other
Personal
Benefits
($)

John N. Roberts, III

              7,610            9,351            16,961    

David G. Mee

                         9,612            9,612    

Kirk Thompson

              2,355                       2,355    

Terrence D. Matthews

              2,197            8,401            10,598    

Shelley Simpson

              7,725            7,900            15,625    

 

(1)

The value of personal aircraft usage reported above is based on the Company’s actual invoiced amount from NetJets or CitationAir for the variable costs incurred on each trip. Since the Company’s aircraft is used primarily for business travel, this methodology excludes fixed costs that do not change based on usage, such as depreciation and management fees. On certain occasions, an executive’s spouse or other family member may accompany the executive on a flight when such person is invited to attend the event for appropriate business purposes. No additional direct operating cost is incurred in such situations under the foregoing methodology; however, the value of personal use of Company aircraft is imputed for federal income tax purposes as income to the NEO. Mr. Mee and Mr. Matthews had such imputed income in 2014. This value is calculated pursuant to Internal Revenue Service guidelines using Standard Industry Fare Level rates, which are determined by the U.S. Department of Transportation, and included in the NEO’s base salary in the Summary Compensation Table shown on page 30 of this Proxy Statement.

Grants of Plan-Based Awards

The following table reflects estimated possible payouts under equity and non-equity incentive plans to the NEOs during 2014. The Company’s equity-based and non-equity incentive-based awards are granted to the NEOs based upon pre-established performance goals set annually by the Compensation Committee with a performance period equal to the calendar year for which the performance goals are set.

The MIP is an annual plan consisting of equity-based awards only. The number of performance-based restricted share units awarded is measured based on the executive’s level of responsibility and other matters described on page 27 under “Long-Term, Equity-Based Award.” Dividends are not paid on awards of performance-based or time-vested restricted share units.

NEOs are eligible to earn cash bonuses under the non-equity incentive award plan based on the Company’s EPS for the calendar year. Please refer to page 27 under “Annual Bonus Award” for further detail.

 

                                Stock   Option      

Grant

Date Fair

Value

of Stock

and

Option

                                 Awards:    Awards:      
                       
                               

  Number  

of

Shares

of Stock

 

Number

of

Securities

 Underlying 

 

Exercise

or Base

Price of

Option

 
        Estimated Possible Payouts   Estimated Possible Payouts        
        Under Non-Equity   Under Equity Incentive        
        Incentive Awards   Plan Awards        
                   
    Grant    Threshold    Target   Maximum   Threshold   Target    Maximum    or Units   Options   Awards   Awards
Name   Date   ($)   ($)   ($) (1)   (#)   (#) (2)   (#)   (#)   (#)   ($/Sh)   ($) (3)

John. N. Roberts, III

      10/29/2014         4,281         205,500         1,164,500         9,094         45,472         45,472                 76.22

David G. Mee

      10/29/2014         2,716         130,350         738,650         3,000         15,000         15,000                 76.22

Kirk Thompson (4)

      10/29/2014                                 4,294         21,473         21,473                 76.22

Terrence D. Matthews

      10/29/2014         2,750         132,000         748,000         3,333         10,000         10,000                 76.22

Shelley Simpson

      10/29/2014         2,188         105,000         595,000         3,000         15,000         15,000                 76.22

 

(1)

This column reflects the maximum non-equity incentive award each NEO was eligible to receive for 2014 under the percentage assigned to each NEO for the cash bonus pool. The actual awards earned are reported in the Summary Compensation Table shown on page 30 of this Proxy Statement.

(2)

This column reflects the number of performance-based restricted share units that were granted to the NEOs in 2014.

(3)

The fair value of the awards was based on a 3.73% discount from the Company’s closing stock price of $78.86 on October 28, 2014, or $79.17 on October 29, 2014. The discount represents the present value of expected dividends to be paid on the Company’s

 

31


 

common stock, using the current dividend rate and the risk-free interest rate, over the vesting period. The Company believes that this discount is appropriate to value the performance-based restricted share units, as the units do not collect or accrue dividends until the awards vest and are settled with Company stock.

(4)

Currently, the position of Chairman of the Board is not eligible to participate in the Company’s EPS bonus plan.

 

32


Outstanding Equity Awards at Calendar Year-end

As of December 31, 2014, there were no outstanding stock options held by the NEOs. The following table sets forth information concerning restricted share units held by the NEOs as of December 31, 2014.

 

Name   

Number

of Shares

or

Units of

Stock That

Have Not
Vested

(#) (1)

    

Market

Value of
Shares or
Units of

Stock That 

Have Not
Vested

($) (2)

    

Equity

Incentive

Plan
Awards:
Number of
Unearned
Shares, Units
or Other
Rights That
Have Not
Vested (#) (1)

    

Equity

Incentive

 Plan Awards: 
Market

Value of
Unearned

 Shares, Units 
or Other
Rights That
Have Not
Vested ($) (2)

 

John N. Roberts, III

     5,100         429,675         
     990         83,408         
     15,000         1,263,750         
           60,000         5,055,000     
           27,000         2,274,750     
           36,000         3,033,000     
           45,472         3,831,016     

David G. Mee

     3,300         278,025         
     990         83,408         
     17,000         1,432,250         
     20,000         1,685,000         
     7,000         589,750         
           6,000         505,500     
           6,250         526,563     
           8,000         674,000     
           20,000         1,685,000     
           15,000         1,263,750     

Kirk Thompson

     17,500         1,474,375         
     20,000         1,685,000         
     23,000         1,937,750         
     12,000         1,011,000         
           24,000         2,022,000     
           22,800         1,920,900     
           18,400         1,550,200     
           21,473         1,809,100     

Terrence D. Matthews

     4,200         353,850         
     990         83,408         
     17,000         1,432,250         
     3,600         303,300         
           21,000         1,769,250     
           6,250         526,563     
           8,000         674,000     
           35,000         2,948,750     
           10,000         842,500     

Shelley Simpson

     1,800         151,650         
     2,400         202,200         
     3,400         286,450         
     21,000         1,769,250         
     6,250         526,563         
     8,000         674,000         
     20,000         1,685,000         
           15,000         1,263,750     

 

(1)

Restricted share units are time-vested or performance-based awards. Effective vesting dates, pending achievement of required performance goals set for performance-based awards, are noted below.

 

33


Time-Based Awards                    
      Shares Vesting    Vesting Date    Shares Vesting    Vesting Date

John N. Roberts, III

       5,100          7/15/15          15,000          7/15/15  
         990          7/15/15                        

David G. Mee

       3,300          7/15/15          10,000          7/15/15  
       990          7/15/15          10,000          7/15/16  
       17,000          7/15/15          7,000          7/15/15  

Kirk Thompson

       17,500          7/15/15          23,000          7/15/15  
       10,000          7/15/15          12,000          7/15/15  
         10,000          7/15/16                        

Terrence D. Matthews

       4,200          7/15/15          17,000          7/15/15  
         990          7/15/15          3,600          7/15/15  

Shelley Simpson

       1,800          7/15/15          3,000          7/15/21  
       1,200          7/15/15          3,125          7/15/15  
       1,200          7/15/16          3,125          7/15/16  
       3,400          7/15/15          2,000          7/15/15  
       3,000          7/15/15          2,000          7/15/16  
       3,000          7/15/16          2,000          7/15/17  
       3,000          7/15/17          2,000          7/15/18  
       3,000          7/15/18          6,666          7/15/21  
       3,000          7/15/19          6,667          7/15/22  
         3,000          7/15/20          6,667          7/15/23  

 

Performance-Based Awards

                   
      Shares Vesting    Vesting Date    Shares Vesting    Vesting Date

John N. Roberts, III

       15,000          7/15/15          9,000          7/15/16  
       15,000          7/15/16          9,000          7/15/17  
       15,000          7/15/17          9,000          7/15/18  
       15,000          7/15/18          9,094          7/15/15  
       9,000          7/15/15          9,094          7/15/16  
       9,000          7/15/16          9,094          7/15/17  
       9,000          7/15/17          9,095          7/15/18  
         9,000          7/15/15          9,095          7/15/19  

David G. Mee

       3,000          7/15/15          10,000          7/15/20  
       3,000          7/15/16          10,000          7/15/21  
       3,125          7/15/15          3,000          7/15/15  
       3,125          7/15/16          3,000          7/15/16  
       2,000          7/15/15          3,000          7/15/17  
       2,000          7/15/16          3,000          7/15/18  
       2,000          7/15/17          3,000          7/15/19  
         2,000          7/15/18                        

Kirk Thompson

       12,000          7/15/15          4,600          7/15/17  
       12,000          7/15/16          4,600          7/15/18  
       7,600          7/15/15          4,294          7/15/15  
       7,600          7/15/16          4,294          7/15/16  
       7,600          7/15/17          4,295          7/15/17  
       4,600          7/15/15          4,295          7/15/18  
         4,600          7/15/16          4,295          7/15/19  

Terrence D. Matthews

       3,000          7/15/15          2,000          7/15/15  
       3,000          7/15/16          2,000          7/15/16  
       3,000          7/15/17          2,000          7/15/17  
       3,000          7/15/18          2,000          7/15/18  
       3,000          7/15/19          17,500          7/15/16  
       3,000          7/15/20          17,500          7/15/17  
       3,000          7/15/21          3,333          7/15/15  
       3,125          7/15/15          3,333          7/15/16  
         3,125          7/15/16          3,334          7/15/17  

Shelley Simpson

       3,000          7/15/15          3,000          7/15/18  
       3,000          7/15/16          3,000          7/15/19  
         3,000          7/15/17                        

 

(2) Values are based on the last closing market price of $84.25 on December 31, 2014.

 

34


Options Exercised and Restricted Share Units Vested

 

     Option Awards    Restricted Share Units
Name   

Number of Shares
Acquired on
Exercise

(#)

  

Value
Realized on  
Exercise

($) (1) (2)

  

Number of Shares
Acquired on
Vesting

(#)

  

Value
Realized on  
Vesting

($) (1) (2)

John N. Roberts, III

       16,000          906,752              4,250          326,995        
                 2,010          154,649        
                 17,000          1,307,980        
                 5,000          384,700        
                 15,000          1,154,100        
                 15,000          1,154,100        
                 9,000          692,460        
                             9,000          692,460        

Total

       16,000          906,752              76,260          5,867,444        

David G. Mee

       10,667          610,225              2,750          211,585        
                 2,010          154,649        
                 10,000          769,400        
                 7,000          538,580        
                 3,000          230,820        
                 3,125          240,438        
                             2,000          153,880        

Total

       10,667          610,225              29,885          2,299,352        

Kirk Thompson

       40,000          2,274,750              8,750          673,225        
                 5,000          384,700        
                 30,000          2,308,200        
                 16,640          1,280,282        
                 12,000          923,280        
                 12,000          923,280        
                 7,600          584,744        
                             4,600          353,924        

Total

       40,000          2,274,750              96,590          7,431,635        

Terrence D. Matthews

       20,000          1,139,300              3,500          269,290        
                 2,010          154,649        
                 3,200          246,208        
                 3,600          276,984        
                 3,000          230,820        
                 3,125          240,438        
                             2,000          153,880        

Total

       20,000          1,139,300              20,435          1,572,269        

Shelley Simpson

       2,000          113,280              1,500          115,410        
                 1,200          92,328        
                 8,500          653,990        
                 3,400          261,596        
                 3,400          261,596        
                 3,000          230,820        
                 3,125          240,438        
                             2,000          153,880        

Total

       2,000          113,280              26,125          2,010,058        

 

(1)

Value realized on the acquired shares shown above is gross earnings. Values are earned over multiple years. Election to exercise an option or the receipt of vested shares in calendar year 2014 should not be interpreted to mean that all value was earned in the year the option was exercised or shares received. Each executive exercised and purchased or retained a portion of the available vested shares as shown below:

John N. Roberts, III

     40,147   

David G. Mee

     15,134   

Kirk Thompson

     60,750   

Terrence D. Matthews

     11,777   

Shelley Simpson

     13,491   

 

(2)

Values are calculated by subtracting the exercise price from the fair market value of the underlying common stock on the date of exercise or vesting.

 

35


Components of Nonqualified Deferred Compensation for Calendar Year 2014

We have a nonqualified deferred compensation plan that allows eligible employees to defer a portion of their compensation. Participants can elect to defer up to a maximum of 50% of their base salary as well as up to 85% of their bonus for the year. The compensation deferred under this plan is credited with earnings or losses of investments elected by plan participants. Each participant is fully vested in all deferred compensation and earnings; however, these amounts are subject to general creditor claims until actually distributed to the employee. A participant may elect to receive deferred amounts in one payment or in quarterly installments payable over a period of two to 25 years upon reaching the age of 55, having 15 years of service, or becoming disabled. Our total liability under this plan was $13,515,042 as of December 31, 2014, and $12,650,590 as of December 31, 2013. These amounts are included in other long-term liabilities in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Participant withholdings are held by a trustee and invested as directed by participants. These investments are included in “other assets” in our Consolidated Balance Sheets and totaled $13,515,042 as of December 31, 2014, and $12,650,590 as of December 31, 2013.

 

Name   

Executive
Contributions
in 2014

($) (1)

    

Registrant
Contributions
in 2014

($)

  

Aggregate
Earnings
in 2014

($)

    

Aggregate
Withdrawals and
Distributions

($)

    

Aggregate
Balance
at 2014

($) (1)

 

John N. Roberts, III

     –                –             –             –     

David G. Mee

     –                –             –             –     

Kirk Thompson

     45,000                77,690             –             1,041,552     

Terrence D. Matthews

     219,077                54,657             –             2,904,103     

Shelley Simpson

     –                –             –             –     

 

(1)

Amounts of executive contributions are included as part of the NEO’s salary in the Summary Compensation Table detailed above. Total executive contributions for the three-year period ending December 31, 2014, were $92,308 for Mr. Thompson and $627,072 for Mr. Matthews.

Potential Post-Employment Benefits

The Company does not have employment contracts or predetermined personal severance agreements with any of its executives. However, according to the terms of the awards granted under the previously mentioned MIP, all outstanding options and restricted share units would immediately vest upon a “change in control.”

Generally, a “change in control” is deemed to occur when more than 30% of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company change ownership in a transaction that is a merger, reorganization or consolidation, when the persons who constitute the Company’s incumbent board of directors cease to constitute a majority of the board, or when the stockholders approve a transaction that is a merger, reorganization or consolidation where more than 50% of the outstanding shares change ownership or a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company.

Potential benefits of the NEOs due to a “change in control” are shown below. The amounts represent the immediate vesting of all outstanding options and restricted share units and are valued using the last closing market price of $84.25 on December 31, 2014.

 

John N. Roberts, III

   $ 15,970,599   

David G. Mee

     8,723,246   

Kirk Thompson

     13,410,325   

Terrence D. Matthews

     8,933,871   

Shelley Simpson

     6,558,863   

 

36


REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

The Audit Committee

The Audit Committee is composed of James L. Robo, Chairman, Douglas G. Duncan, Sharilyn S. Gasaway, and John A. White. Each served as a member of the Audit Committee during calendar year 2014. The Company’s Board has determined that all members of the Audit Committee satisfy the independence and other requirements for audit committee membership pursuant to the NASDAQ corporate governance listing standards and has also determined that Messrs. Robo, Duncan, and White and Mrs. Gasaway each has the attributes of an audit committee financial expert as defined by SEC requirements.

The Audit Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board. A copy of the Audit Committee Charter is available on the “Corporate Governance” page of the “Investors” section of the Company’s website at www.jbhunt.com. In carrying out its responsibilities, the Audit Committee, among other things:

   

monitors the integrity of the financial reporting process, systems of internal accounting controls, and financial statements and reports of the Company,

   

appoints, retains, compensates and oversees the Company’s independent auditors, including reviewing the qualifications, performance and independence of the independent auditors,

   

reviews and preapproves all audit, attest and review services and permitted nonaudit services,

   

oversees the performance of the Company’s internal audit function, and

   

oversees the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.

In 2014, the Audit Committee met eight times. The Audit Committee schedules its meetings with a view to ensure that it devotes appropriate attention to all of its responsibilities and duties. The Audit Committee’s meetings include, whenever appropriate, executive sessions with the Company’s independent auditors and the Company’s internal auditors, in each case outside the presence of the Company’s management.

In performing its oversight role, the Audit Committee reviewed the audited consolidated financial statements for the 2014 calendar year and met and held discussions with management, the Company’s internal auditors and E&Y, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, to discuss those financial statements and the audit related thereto. Management has represented to the Audit Committee that the Company’s consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

The Audit Committee discussed with the independent auditors matters required to be discussed by Auditing Standard No. 16 of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, as may be modified, supplemented or amended, which includes, among other items, matters related to the conduct of the audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The independent auditors also provided the Audit Committee with written disclosures and the letter required by Rule 3526 of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, as may be modified, supplemented or amended, which relates to the auditors’ independence from the Company and its related entities, and the Audit Committee discussed with the independent auditors their independence.

Based on the Audit Committee’s discussions with management, the internal auditors and the independent auditors as described above, and upon its review of the representation of management and the independent auditors and the reports of the independent auditors, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the calendar year ended December 31, 2014, as filed with the SEC.

J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.

2014 Audit Committee Members

James L. Robo, Chairman

Douglas G. Duncan

Sharilyn S. Gasaway

John A. White

 

37


PROPOSAL NUMBER TWO

RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED

PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

The Audit Committee has selected E&Y as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm to examine the consolidated financial statements of the Company for the 2015 calendar year. The Board seeks an indication from our stockholders of their approval or disapproval of the Audit Committee’s selection of E&Y as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the 2015 calendar year.

E&Y has been our independent auditor since 2005. No relationships exist other than the usual relationships between auditor and client. Representatives of E&Y are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting to respond to appropriate questions and will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so. If our stockholders do not ratify the appointment of E&Y at the Annual Meeting, the Audit Committee will consider such event in its selection of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the 2015 calendar year. Additionally, even if the appointment is ratified, the Audit Committee, at its discretion, may direct the appointment of a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the 2015 calendar year if it determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE

FOR

RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP

AS THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

FOR THE 2015 CALENDAR YEAR

AUDIT AND NONAUDIT FEES

The Audit Committee preapproves the audit and nonaudit services to be rendered to the Company, as well as the fees associated with such services. Generally, management will submit to the Audit Committee a detailed list of services that it recommends the Audit Committee engage the independent auditors to provide for the calendar year. The Audit Committee preapproves certain audit and nonaudit services and establishes a dollar limit on the amount of fees the Company will pay for each category of services. The Audit Committee is informed from time to time regarding the nonaudit services actually provided pursuant to the preapproval process. During the year, the Audit Committee periodically reviews the types of services and dollar amounts approved and adjusts such amounts, as it deems appropriate. Unless a service to be provided by the independent auditors has received general preapproval, it will require specific preapproval by the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee also periodically reviews all nonaudit services to ensure that such services do not impair the independence of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee approved all services provided by E&Y for the 2014, 2013, and 2012 calendar years. These services included the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements, audit of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, review of the Company’s quarterly financial statements, audit of the Company’s employee benefit plan, due diligence, consent for and review of registration statements filed by the Company with the SEC, and tax consultation services. See “Report of Audit Committee” set forth earlier for a discussion of auditor independence.

The following table shows the fees billed by E&Y for audit and other services provided to the Company for the 2014, 2013, and 2012 calendar years, respectively:

 

      2014 ($)      2013 ($)      2012 ($)  

Audit fees (1)

     1,035,000         975,000         973,170   

Audit-related fees (2)

       288,275           32,000           25,000   

Tax fees (3)

         10,677           48,766         226,619   

All other fees

                       

 

(1)

Audit fees consisted of the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements, including the audit of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, the review of the Company’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and consent for and review of registration statements filed by the Company with the SEC.

(2)

Audit-related fees consisted of due diligence and an audit of the Employee Benefit Plan.

(3)

Tax fees consisted principally of federal and state income tax consulting.

The Audit Committee has considered whether the nonaudit services provided by E&Y, including the services rendered in connection with income tax consultation, were compatible with maintaining E&Y’s independence and has determined that the nature and substance of the limited nonaudit services did not impair the status of E&Y as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. E&Y did not bill the Company for any other services during calendar years 2014, 2013, and 2012.

Policy on Audit Committee Preapproval of Audit and Permissible Nonaudit Services of Independent Auditor

The Audit Committee has the responsibility of appointing, setting compensation for and overseeing the work of the independent auditor and has established a policy to preapprove all audit and permissible nonaudit services provided by the independent auditor.

Prior to the engagement of the independent auditor for next year’s audit, management will submit to the Audit Committee for approval an aggregate of services expected to be rendered during that year for each of four categories of services:

 

   

Audit services include audit work performed related to the financial statements, as well as work that generally only the independent auditor can reasonably be expected to provide, including comfort letters, statutory audits, attestation services, and consultation regarding financial accounting and/or reporting standards.

 

38


   

Audit-related services are for assurance and related services that are traditionally performed by the independent auditor, including due diligence related to mergers and acquisitions, employee benefit plan audits, and special procedures required to meet certain regulatory requirements.

 

   

Tax services include all services performed by the independent auditor’s tax personnel except those services specifically related to the audit of the financial statements, including fees in the areas of tax compliance, tax planning and tax advice.

 

   

Other services are those not captured in the other categories. The Company generally doesn’t request such services from the independent auditor.

Prior to the engagement, the Audit Committee preapproves these services by category of service. The fees are budgeted and the Audit Committee requires the independent auditor and management to report actual fees versus the budget periodically throughout the year by category of service. During the year, circumstances may arise when it may become necessary to engage the independent auditor for additional services not contemplated in the original preapproval. In those instances, the Audit Committee requires specific preapproval before engaging the independent auditor.

The Audit Committee may delegate preapproval authority to one or more of its members. The member(s) to whom such authority is delegated must report, for informational purposes only, the preapproval decisions to the Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting.

 

39


PROPOSAL NUMBER THREE

STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL REGARDING GREENHOUSE GAS (GHG)

REDUCTION TARGETS

 

In accordance with SEC rules, we have set forth below a stockholder proposal, along with the supporting statement of the stockholder proponents, for which we and the Board accept no responsibility. The Calvert Social Index Fund and Calvert VP S&P MidCap 400 Index Portfolio, 4550 Montgomery Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, are the proponents of the following stockholder proposal and have advised us that each holds shares of the Company’s common stock with a market value in excess of $2,000 and they intend to present the following proposal for a vote at the Annual Meeting.

RESOLVED: Stockholders request that J.B. Hunt adopt quantitative companywide goals for reducing GHG

emissions from operations and products and report on its plans to achieve these goals by September 2015.

Supporting Statement

In 2014, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the world’s leading scientific authority on climate change, released its fifth assessment report concluding that human-caused “warming of the climate system is unequivocal,” with many of the impacts of warming already “unprecedented over decades to millennia.”

In 2012, the U.S. experienced 11 extreme weather events resulting in an estimated $110 billion in total damages and 377 fatalities. Drought in the U.S. Midwest in 2012 affected 80 percent of agricultural land, particularly corn and soybean production, costing approximately $30 billion.

PWC states that to mitigate climate change, the G20 needs to reduce its carbon intensity 6 percent per year and the global economy needs to decarbonize 6 percent per dollar GDP.

Analysis by McKinsey & Co., Deloitte Consulting, and Point380 found that U.S. companies could reduce emissions 3 percent annually between now and 2020 and realize savings up to $780 billion.

Further analysis by Calvert, Ceres, WWF, and David Gardiner and Associates demonstrated that 53 Fortune 100 companies in 2012 alone reported that they are conservatively saving $1.1 billion annually by decreasing their GHG emissions.

In Climate Action and Profitability: CDP S&P 500 Climate Change Report 2014, industry leaders in the S&P 500 that are actively managing and planning for climate change report:

   

An about 18 percent higher return-on-equity than peers and 67 percent higher return-on-equity than companies that do not disclose on climate change.

   

A 50 percent lower earnings volatility over past decade than low-ranking peers.

   

A 21 percent stronger dividend growth than low-ranking peers.

Over 600 businesses, including General Motors, Microsoft, and Nike, signed the Climate Declaration that states, “Tackling climate change is one of America’s greatest economic opportunities of the 21st century.”

The economic, business and societal impacts of climate change are of paramount importance to investors. 767 institutional investors with $92 trillion in assets under management have supported CDP’s request to over 6,000 companies for disclosure of carbon emissions, reduction goals and climate change strategies to address these risks.

We recommend J.B. Hunt take into consideration the IPCC analysis and identified emission reduction targets as it sets its own scientific-based goal. We also recommend that the company consider renewable energy procurement as a strategy to achieve its emission reduction goals.

 

 

Board of Directors Statement in Opposition to the Stockholder Proposal

The Company recognizes that reducing GHG emissions in our business is of significant importance to our stockholders, our customers, the communities we serve, the global environment and ultimately the future success of our Company. Increasingly, our customers are making environmental responsibility a priority in their business decision-making, and the same is true for the Company. We strive to offer transportation solutions that help the Company and our customers reduce both costs and carbon emissions while meeting or exceeding our customers’ operational needs. As such, environmental considerations like those identified in the above proposal are built into the Company’s core modeling as it relates to our mission to provide customized freight movement, revenue equipment, labor and systems services tailored to meet the customer’s specific requirements.

        The Company has stood at the forefront of environmentally friendly transportation services and has undertaken a variety of green initiatives throughout the business. The following are several ways the Company has worked to be an industry leader in reducing the environmental impact of our business:

   

The Company’s Intermodal segment, which accounted for approximately 60% of our total revenue in 2014, owns and operates the world’s largest fleet of 53-foot stackable containers, through which freight that would ordinarily be transported by truck can be carried largely by rail. During 2014, the Company moved approximately 1.7 million intermodal loads, effectively preventing nearly 2.4 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent from entering the atmosphere.

 

40


   

The Company already engineers and designs customer solutions with an emphasis on energy efficiency, including following a five (5) step customer solution that (1) measures baseline energy use/carbon emissions, (2) minimizes total miles traveled, (3) maximizes payload, (4) optimizes mode of transport, and (5) selects the most efficient carriers.

   

The Company deploys sophisticated optimization-based planning tools to minimize daily energy consumption when transporting customer shipments.

   

In each of past three years, as well as 2008 and 2009, the Company has received a SmartWaySM Excellence Award in recognition of our dedication to energy efficiency and decreased overall carbon dioxide emissions. The SmartWay Program is a public-private initiative between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), the freight transportation industry, and other federal and state agencies which seeks to reduce transportation-related emissions by improving supply-chain efficiency. The Company has been a partner in the SmartWay Program since the program’s inception in 2004.

   

Since 2008, the Company has offered our customers a proprietary CLEAN TransportTM carbon calculator that allows customers to measure and track their carbon footprints and identify opportunities for intermodal conversion to reduce emissions.

   

The Company regularly participates in industry working groups focused on reducing GHG emissions and improving environmental impacts, including the Sustainability Consortium, the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board, the Global Logistics Emissions Council and the Environmental Defense Fund.

   

The Company also regularly works with government agencies, including the U.S. Department of Energy and the EPA, as those agencies engage in a process that will determine the applicable rules, regulations and guidelines that govern the transportation industry.

   

The Company has a strong record of ensuring that its revenue equipment complies with required emission standards. For instance, as an integral component of the Company’s operations, the Company undergoes ongoing evaluation to monitor the efficacy of new technologies to reduce energy use and carbon emissions.

Based on these current and continued initiatives to reduce the Company’s impact on the environment, the Board of Directors believes that adopting this proposal would be duplicative of the Company’s existing efforts. Even before receiving this proposal, the Company was and is committed to being an industry leader in lessening its environmental impact and reducing GHG emissions.

The Board of Directors does not think it is prudent to make specific commitments or to be informally regulated by individual stockholders on specific issues, particularly with respect to fuel efficiency given the inherent significance of fuel costs and equipment utilization and replacement costs to the management of a large transportation company. Instead, we believe that the interests of our stockholders will be best served by us continuing to build a profitable business while continuing our current environmental initiatives and efforts, many of which are governed by federal, state and local regulatory requirements, without introducing stockholder requirements to publicly disclose our strategic goals and plans.

We believe the above proposal could undermine the Company’s ability to compete in the transportation marketplace, reducing our profitability and harming the financial interests of our stockholders. The proposal’s requests would in essence commit the Company to publicly disclosing our strategies and solutions for reducing GHG emissions. Publicly disclosing specific GHG reduction goals and reporting on the Company’s plans to achieve those goals, as required by this proposal, would give the Company’s competitors insight into management’s strategic business plans and operational goals and, ultimately, could impair the Company’s ability to achieve GHG emission reductions.

To ensure that the Company can best pursue the common goal of reducing GHG emissions while maintaining our competitive advantages and profitability for our stockholders, the Board of Directors recommends that you vote against this proposal.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY

RECOMMENDS A VOTE

AGAINST

PROPOSAL NUMBER THREE

 

STOCKHOLDERS WHO DO NOT EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING

ARE URGED TO VOTE BY TELEPHONE, MAIL OR INTERNET

IF YOU VOTE BY TELEPHONE OR THE INTERNET,

DO NOT RETURN YOUR PROXY CARD

 

By Order of the Board of Directors

DAVID G. MEE

Corporate Secretary

 

41


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Electronic Voting Instructions

 

Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

 

Instead of mailing your proxy, you may choose one of the voting methods outlined below to vote your proxy.

 

VALIDATION DETAILS ARE LOCATED BELOW IN THE TITLE BAR.

 

Proxies submitted by the Internet or telephone must be received by 11:59 p.m., Central Time, on April 22, 2015.

 

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Vote by Internet

 

•  Go to www.envisionreports.com/JBHT

 

•  Or scan the QR code with your smartphone

 

•  Follow the steps outlined on the secure website

 

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•  Call toll free 1-800-652-VOTE (8683) within the USA, US territories & Canada on a touch tone telephone

 

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q  IF YOU HAVE NOT VOTED VIA THE INTERNET OR TELEPHONE, FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.  q

 

 

 A    Proposals — The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR all the nominees listed, FOR Proposal 2, and AGAINST Proposal 3.
                          +  
1.   Election of Directors:   For   Against   Abstain     For   Against   Abstain     For   Against   Abstain    
  01 - Douglas G. Duncan   ¨   ¨   ¨       02 - Francesca M. Edwardson   ¨   ¨   ¨       03 - Wayne Garrison   ¨   ¨   ¨    
  04 - Sharilyn S. Gasaway   ¨   ¨   ¨       05 - Gary C. George   ¨   ¨   ¨       06 - J. Bryan Hunt, Jr.   ¨   ¨   ¨    
  07 - Coleman H. Peterson   ¨   ¨   ¨       08 - John N. Roberts III   ¨   ¨   ¨       09 - James L. Robo   ¨   ¨   ¨    
  10 - Kirk Thompson   ¨   ¨   ¨       11 - Dr. John A. White   ¨   ¨   ¨            

 

    For   Against   Abstain           For       Against     Abstain
2.   To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent public accountants for calendar year 2015.   ¨   ¨   ¨   3.   To approve a stockholder proposal regarding greenhouse gas reduction targets.   ¨   ¨   ¨
4.   To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments thereof.                

 

 B    Authorized Signatures — This section must be completed for your vote to be counted. — Date and Sign Below

Please sign exactly as name(s) appears hereon. Joint owners should each sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, corporate officer, trustee, guardian, or custodian, please give full title.

 

  Date (mm/dd/yyyy) — Please print date below.     Signature 1 — Please keep signature within the box.     Signature 2 — Please keep signature within the box.
        /      /            

IF VOTING BY MAIL, YOU MUST COMPLETE SECTIONS A - C ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS CARD.

 

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Dear Stockholder:

If voting by proxy, we encourage you to vote your shares electronically this year either by telephone or via the Internet. This will eliminate the need to return your proxy card.

Your telephone or Internet vote authorizes the named proxies to vote your shares in the same manner as if you had marked, signed and returned your proxy card. When voting your shares electronically by telephone or via the Internet, you will need the fifteen digit number on the front of this proxy card. The Computershare Vote by Telephone and Vote by Internet systems are maintained by our transfer agent, Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (“Computershare”) and can be accessed 24 hours a day, seven days a week up until the day prior to the annual meeting; votes may be cast by Internet up until 11:59 p.m. (CDT) on the day before the annual meeting.

If you do not vote via proxy card, telephone or the Internet, you may attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders on April 23, 2015 at the offices of the corporation, 615 J.B. Hunt Corporate Drive, Lowell, Arkansas and at any adjournment thereof.

Direct Deposit of Dividends

We encourage all stockholders who receive their dividends in cash to participate in direct deposit. To enroll in this service, please mail your request along with a copy of a voided check to Computershare at the address noted below.

Transfer Agent Contact Information

 

Computershare Trust Company, N.A.    Telephone Inside the USA:    (877) 498-8861
211 Quality Circle, Suite 210    Telephone Outside the USA:    (781) 575-2723
College Station, TX 77845    TDD/TTY for Hearing Impaired:    (800) 952-9245

 

q IF YOU HAVE NOT VOTED VIA THE INTERNET OR TELEPHONE, FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. q

 

 

 

 

Proxy — J.B. HUNT TRANSPORT SERVICES, INC.

 

   +

This Proxy is being solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of:

J.B. HUNT TRANSPORT SERVICES, INC.

615 J. B. Hunt Corporate Drive

Lowell, Arkansas 72745

The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Kirk Thompson and John N. Roberts III or either of them, proxies for the undersigned, with power of substitution, to represent the undersigned and to vote all of the shares of common stock of J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (the “Company”) which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company to be held on April 23, 2015, at the offices of the Company, 615 J.B. Hunt Corporate Drive, Lowell, Arkansas, and at any adjournment thereof.

This proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned. IF NO DIRECTION IS GIVEN, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR ALL DIRECTOR NOMINEES LISTED, FOR PROPOSAL 2, AND AGAINST PROPOSAL 3.

The signer hereby revokes all proxies heretofore given by the signer to vote at said meeting or any adjournments thereof.

You are encouraged to specify your choices by marking the appropriate boxes, SEE REVERSE SIDE, but you need not mark any boxes if you wish to vote in accordance with the Board of Directors’ recommendations. The Proxy Committee cannot vote your shares unless you sign and return this card.

Important Notice Regarding Internet Availability of Proxy Materials for the Stockholder Meeting to be Held on April 23, 2015

The proxy materials for the Company’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders, including the 2014 Annual Report and Proxy Statement, are available over the Internet by accessing www.envisionreports.com/jbht.

 

  C     Non-Voting Items  

Change of Address — Please print new address below.

 

   

Comments — Please print your comments below.

 

       

 

¢

   IF VOTING BY MAIL, YOU MUST COMPLETE SECTIONS A - C ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS CARD.    +


 

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Using a black ink pen, mark your votes with an as shown in

this example. Please do not write outside the designated areas.

  x

 

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q PLEASE FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. q

 

 

 

 A    Proposals — The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR all the nominees listed, FOR Proposal 2, and AGAINST Proposal 3.
1.   Election of Directors:   For   Against   Abstain     For   Against   Abstain     For   Against   Abstain  

+

 

 

 

01 - Douglas G. Duncan

 

 

¨

 

 

¨

 

 

¨

 

 

02 - Francesca M. Edwardson

 

 

¨

 

 

¨

 

 

¨

 

 

03 - Wayne Garrison

 

 

¨

 

 

¨

 

 

¨

 
  04 - Sharilyn S. Gasaway   ¨   ¨   ¨   05 - Gary C. George   ¨   ¨   ¨   06 - J. Bryan Hunt, Jr.   ¨   ¨   ¨  
  07 - Coleman H. Peterson   ¨   ¨   ¨   08 - John N. Roberts III   ¨   ¨   ¨   09 - James L. Robo   ¨   ¨   ¨  
  10 - Kirk Thompson   ¨   ¨   ¨   11 - Dr. John A. White   ¨   ¨   ¨          

 

    For       Against       Abstain
2.   To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent public accountants for calendar year 2015.   ¨       ¨       ¨
4.   To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments thereof.      

 

      For       Against       Abstain
3.   To approve a stockholder proposal regarding greenhouse gas reduction targets.     ¨       ¨       ¨
 

 

 B    Authorized Signatures — This section must be completed for your vote to be counted. — Date and Sign Below

 

Please sign exactly as name(s) appears hereon. Joint owners should each sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, corporate officer, trustee, guardian, or custodian, please give full title.

 

Date (mm/dd/yyyy) — Please print date below.

 

 

   Signature 1 — Please keep signature within the box.

 

 

   Signature 2 — Please keep signature within the box.

 

                 /              /                     

 

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q PLEASE FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. q

 

 

 

 

Proxy — J.B. HUNT TRANSPORT SERVICES, INC.

 

 

This Proxy is being solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of:

J.B. HUNT TRANSPORT SERVICES, INC.

615 J. B. Hunt Corporate Drive

Lowell, Arkansas 72745

The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Kirk Thompson and John N. Roberts III or either of them, proxies for the undersigned, with power of substitution, to represent the undersigned and to vote all of the shares of common stock of J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (the “Company”) which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company to be held on April 23, 2015, at the offices of the Company, 615 J.B. Hunt Corporate Drive, Lowell, Arkansas, and at any adjournment thereof.

This proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned. IF NO DIRECTION IS GIVEN, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR ALL DIRECTOR NOMINEES LISTED, FOR PROPOSAL 2, AND AGAINST PROPOSAL 3.

The signer hereby revokes all proxies heretofore given by the signer to vote at said meeting or any adjournments thereof.

You are encouraged to specify your choices by marking the appropriate boxes, SEE REVERSE SIDE, but you need not mark any boxes if you wish to vote in accordance with the Board of Directors’ recommendations. The Proxy Committee cannot vote your shares unless you sign and return this card.

Important Notice Regarding Internet Availability of Proxy Materials for the Stockholder Meeting to be Held on April 23, 2015

The proxy materials for the Company’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders, including the 2014 Annual Report and Proxy Statement, are available over the Internet by accessing www.edocumentview.com/jbht.