Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc DEF 14A, filed Mar 28, 2024
Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. (MD)
About this DEF 14A
Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc filed this DEF 14A on March 28, 2024.
| ☐ | Preliminary Proxy Statement | |
| ☐ | Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) | |
| ☒ | Definitive Proxy Statement | |
| ☐ | Definitive Additional Materials | |
| ☐ | Soliciting Material under Rule 14a-12 | |
| ☒ | No Fee Required. | |||
| ☐ | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. | |||
| ☐ | Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. | |||
| 1301 Concord Terrace Sunrise, Florida 33323-2825 (954) 384-0175 |
Dear Pediatrix Shareholder:
You are cordially invited to attend the 2024 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting of Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. (“Pediatrix”, the “Company”, “we” or “our”) on Thursday, May 9, 2024, beginning at 10:30 a.m. (ET). The annual meeting will be a virtual meeting conducted solely online via live webcast. In order to attend the annual meeting, you must register at https://proxydocs.com/MD prior to the deadline of May 7, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. (ET). Whether or not you plan to virtually attend the annual meeting, we urge you to read this Proxy Statement and consider such information carefully before voting.
At the annual meeting, we will ask you to (i) vote on the election of the following individuals to Pediatrix’s Board of Directors: Laura A. Linynsky, Thomas A. McEachin, Mark S. Ordan, Michael A. Rucker, Guy P. Sansone, John M. Starcher, Jr., James D. Swift, M.D., Shirley A. Weis and Sylvia J. Young; (ii) ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the 2024 fiscal year; (iii) conduct an advisory vote regarding the compensation of our named executive officers for the 2023 fiscal year; and (iv) consider and act upon any other business properly brought before the meeting. Please vote on all the matters described in our Proxy Statement. Your Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” the election of each of the nine nominees for Director stated above, “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the 2024 fiscal year, and “FOR” the approval of the compensation of our named executive officers for the 2023 fiscal year.
Under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), we are providing access to our proxy materials over the Internet. Accordingly, we are sending a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “E-Proxy Notice”) on or about March 28, 2024, to Pediatrix’s shareholders of record at the close of business on March 11, 2024. The E-Proxy Notice contains instructions for your use of this process, including how to access our Proxy Statement and Annual Report and how to vote online. In addition, the E-Proxy Notice contains instructions on how you may (i) receive a paper copy of the Proxy Statement and Annual Report or (ii) elect to receive your Proxy Statement and Annual Report over the Internet.
Whether or not you plan to virtually attend, it is important that your shares be represented and voted at the annual meeting. You may vote your shares over the Internet as described in the E-Proxy Notice. As an alternative, if you received a paper copy of the proxy card by mail, please mark, sign, date and promptly return the card in the self-addressed stamped envelope provided. You may also vote by telephone as described in your proxy card. Voting by telephone, over the Internet, or by mailing a proxy card will not limit your right to attend the annual meeting, revoke your proxy and vote your shares virtually. We appreciate your continued support of our Company.
| Sincerely,
James D. Swift, M.D. Chief Executive Officer
March 28, 2024 |
|
Notice of 2024 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders
TO BE HELD ON MAY 9, 2024
To the Shareholders of Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc.:
|
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 2024 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting of Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc., a Florida corporation (“Pediatrix”, the “Company”, or “our”), will be held at 10:30 a.m., ET, on Thursday, May 9, 2024, virtually, for the following purposes, as more fully described in our Proxy Statement:
• to elect, each for a term expiring at the next annual meeting or until a successor has been duly elected and qualified, the following individuals to Pediatrix’s Board of Directors: Laura A. Linynsky, Thomas A. McEachin, Mark S. Ordan, Michael A. Rucker, Guy P. Sansone, John M. Starcher, Jr., James D. Swift, M.D., Shirley A. Weis and Sylvia J. Young;
• to ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the 2024 fiscal year;
• to conduct an advisory vote regarding the compensation of our named executive officers for the 2023 fiscal year; and
• to consider and act upon such other business as may properly come before the annual meeting. |
How to Vote
Internet
Phone |
The annual meeting will be a virtual meeting conducted solely online via live webcast. In order to attend the annual meeting, you must register at https://proxydocs.com/MD prior to the deadline of May 7, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. (ET).
The Board of Directors of Pediatrix has fixed the close of business on March 11, 2024, as the record date for determining those shareholders entitled to notice of, to virtually attend and to vote at the meeting and any postponement or adjournment thereof.
Whether or not you plan to virtually attend, please vote your shares over the Internet, as described in the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “E-Proxy Notice”). As an alternative, if you received a paper copy of the proxy card by mail, please mark, sign, date and promptly return the proxy card in the self-addressed stamped envelope provided. You may also vote by telephone as described in your proxy card. Shareholders who vote over the Internet, following the instructions provided in the E-Proxy Notice, who return proxy cards by mail, or vote by telephone prior to the meeting may nevertheless attend the meeting, revoke their proxies and vote their shares virtually.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
Mary Ann E. Moore
Executive Vice President,
General Counsel and Secretary
Sunrise, Florida
March 28, 2024
Table of Contents
| 2024 Proxy Statement | i | Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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| Actual Performance and Shares Earned under the 2023 Performance Share Awards |
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| Chief Executive Officer Pay Ratio | 57 | |||
| Pay Versus Performance | 58 | |||
| Director Compensation | 64 | |||
| Share Ownership Information | 65 | |||
| Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management |
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| Independent Auditors | 67 | |||
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| Proposal 2: Ratification of the Appointment of Independent Auditors | 68 | |||
| Proposal 3: Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation | 69 | |||
| Other Business | 71 | |||
| Availability of Annual Report on Form 10-K | 71 | |||
| Information Concerning Shareholder Proposals | 71 | |||
| Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. | ii | 2024 Proxy Statement |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
This proxy statement includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which may include, but are not limited to, statements relating to our objectives, plans and strategies, and all statements (other than statements of historical facts) that address activities, events or developments that we intend, expect, project, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future. These statements are often characterized by terminology such as “believe,” “hope,” “may,” “anticipate,” “should,” “intend,” “plan,” “will,” “expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “positioned,” “strategy” and similar expressions, and are based on assumptions and assessments made by our management in light of their experience and their perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors they believe to be appropriate. Any forward-looking statements in this proxy statement are made as of the date hereof, and we undertake no duty to update or revise any such statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results, developments and business decisions to differ materially from forward-looking statements are described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. Website references throughout this proxy statement are provided for convenience only, and none of the statements on our websites or reports referenced or discussed in this proxy statement are deemed to be part of, or incorporated by reference into, this proxy statement.
| 2024 Proxy Statement | iii | Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. |
| 1301 Concord Terrace Sunrise, Florida 33323-2825 |
Proxy Statement
We are furnishing this Proxy Statement and related materials to Pediatrix’s shareholders as part of the solicitation of proxies by Pediatrix’s Board of Directors for use at Pediatrix’s 2024 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting and at any postponement or adjournment of the meeting. As used in this Proxy Statement, unless the context otherwise requires, the terms “Pediatrix,” “we,” “us,” “our” and the “Company” refer to the parent company, Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc., a Florida corporation, and the consolidated subsidiaries through which its businesses are actually conducted, including Pediatrix® and its affiliated medical groups, Pediatrix® Medical Group and Obstetrix® Medical Group, together with Pediatrix’s affiliated business corporations or professional associations, professional corporations, limited liability companies and partnerships.
Under the rules and regulations of the SEC, we are furnishing our proxy materials to our shareholders over the Internet and providing a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “E-Proxy Notice”) by mail instead of mailing a printed copy of our proxy materials, which include our Proxy Statement and Annual Report, to all Pediatrix shareholders. The E-Proxy Notice will instruct you on how you may access and review all of the important information contained in the proxy materials. The E-Proxy Notice also instructs you how you may submit your proxy via the Internet. You will not receive a printed copy of the proxy materials unless you request to receive these materials in hard copy by following the instructions provided in the E-Proxy Notice.
We are mailing the E-Proxy Notice on or about March 28, 2024 to Pediatrix’s shareholders of record at the close of business on March 11, 2024.
Questions and Answers About Our Annual Meeting
What Is the Date, Time and Place of the Annual Meeting?
Pediatrix’s 2024 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting will be held on Thursday, May 9, 2024, beginning at 10:30 a.m. (ET). The annual meeting will be a virtual meeting conducted solely online via live webcast. In order to attend the annual meeting, you must register at https://proxydocs.com/MD prior to the deadline of May 7, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. (ET). Upon completing your registration, you will receive further instructions via email, including your unique link that will allow you to access the virtual meeting. The online meeting will begin promptly at 10:30 a.m. (ET). We encourage you to access the annual meeting 15 minutes prior to the start time leaving ample time for check-in and to ensure that you can hear audio prior to the annual meeting. If you encounter any difficulties accessing the annual meeting during the check-in or meeting time, please call the technical support number that will be posted on the virtual annual meeting page for assistance. Technical support will be available 15 minutes prior to the start of the annual meeting.
| 2024 Proxy Statement | 1 | Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. |
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT OUR ANNUAL MEETING
What Is the Purpose of the Annual Meeting?
At the annual meeting, Pediatrix’s shareholders will be asked to:
| • | elect nine Directors, each for a term expiring at the next annual meeting or until a successor has been duly elected and qualified; |
| • | ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the 2024 fiscal year; |
| • | conduct an advisory vote regarding the compensation of our named executive officers for the 2023 fiscal year; and |
| • | consider and act upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting. |
Who Is Entitled to Vote at the Annual Meeting?
Only holders of record of our common stock at the close of business on March 11, 2024, the record date for the meeting, are entitled to notice of, to virtually attend and to vote at the annual meeting, or any postponements or adjournments of the meeting. At the close of business on the record date, 84,025,983 shares of our common stock were issued and outstanding and were held by approximately 181 holders of record.
What Are the Voting Rights of Pediatrix’s Shareholders?
Pediatrix’s shareholders have one vote per share of Pediatrix common stock owned on the record date for each matter properly presented at the annual meeting. For example, if you owned 100 shares of our common stock at the close of business on March 11, 2024, you can cast 100 votes for each matter properly presented at the annual meeting.
What Constitutes a Quorum?
A quorum will be present at the meeting if holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock on the record date are represented at the meeting virtually or by proxy. If a quorum is not present at the meeting, Pediatrix expects to postpone or adjourn the meeting to solicit additional proxies. Abstentions, including broker non-votes (as described below), will be counted as shares present and entitled to vote for the purposes of determining the presence or absence of a quorum.
What Are “Broker Non-Votes”?
“Broker non-votes” occur when shares held by a brokerage firm are not voted with respect to a proposal because the firm has not received voting instructions from the shareholder and the firm does not have the authority to vote the shares at its discretion. Under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, brokerage firms may have the authority to vote their customers’ shares on certain routine matters for which they do not receive voting instructions, including the ratification of the appointment of independent auditors. The election of Directors and the advisory vote on executive compensation are considered “non-routine” matters under the New York Stock Exchange rules. In addition, other matters may properly be brought before the meeting that may be considered “non-routine” under the applicable New York Stock Exchange rules. Shares held by a brokerage firm will not be voted on such non-routine matters by a brokerage firm unless it has received voting instructions from the shareholder and, accordingly, any such shares will be “broker non-votes.”
| Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. | 2 | 2024 Proxy Statement |
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT OUR ANNUAL MEETING
How Are Abstentions and Broker Non-Votes Treated?
Abstentions and broker non-votes are counted as present for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted as votes cast either in favor of or against the election of the nominees for Director, the ratification of the appointment of our independent auditors or the advisory vote on executive compensation.
Will My Shares Be Voted if I Do Not Provide My Proxy?
If your shares are held in the name of a brokerage firm, they will not be voted by the brokerage firm except as described above if you do not give the brokerage firm specific voting instructions. If you are a registered shareholder and hold your shares directly in your own name, your shares will not be voted unless you provide a proxy prior to the meeting.
How Do I Vote?
You can vote in any of the following ways:
To vote via the Internet prior to the annual meeting if you are a registered shareholder:
| • | Follow the instructions on your proxy card and E-Proxy Notice; and |
| • | Vote your shares as instructed on your proxy card and E-Proxy Notice. |
To vote by telephone if you are a registered shareholder who received a paper proxy card:
| • | Dial 1-866-484-0895 from any touch-tone telephone at any time up until 11:59 p.m. ET on May 8, 2024; and |
| • | Have your proxy card in hand and follow the instructions given to you on the line. |
To vote by mail if you are a registered shareholder who received a paper proxy card:
| • | Mark, sign and date your proxy card; and |
| • | Return it in the envelope provided. |
To vote prior to the annual meeting if you hold your shares in “street name,” follow the instructions of your bank or broker.
To vote virtually at the annual meeting if you are a registered shareholder or if you hold your shares in “street name”:
| • | Access https://proxydocs.com/MD; |
| • | If you are a registered shareholder, have your 16-digit control number located on your E-Proxy Notice or your proxy card (if you received a printed copy of the proxy materials); and |
| • | If you hold your shares in “street name,” have your 16-digit control number provided to you by your bank or broker. If you hold your shares in “street name” and do not have your 16-digit control number, please contact your bank or broker prior to the annual meeting. |
If you hold shares of our common stock in the Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. Amended and Restated 2008 Incentive Compensation Plan, the Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. 1996 Non-Qualified Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended, the Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. 2015 Non-Qualified Stock Purchase Plan, or the PMG Services, Inc. Thrift and Profit Sharing Plan, your vote with respect to such shares must be received by 11:59 a.m. ET on May 7, 2024.
| 2024 Proxy Statement | 3 | Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. |
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT OUR ANNUAL MEETING
What Vote Is Required for the Proposals?
Assuming that a quorum is present at the annual meeting and that the election of directors remains uncontested, each Director nominee will be elected as a Director of Pediatrix if such nominee receives a majority of the votes cast with respect to such director in accordance with Pediatrix’s Second Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “Amended and Restated Bylaws”).
Pediatrix has a majority voting standard as part of its corporate governance principles. The majority voting standard is applicable solely to uncontested elections, which are those elections in which the number of nominees for election is less than or equal to the number of Directors to be elected. Under the majority voting standard, any nominee for Director who receives more “withheld” votes than “for” votes in an uncontested election must submit a written resignation as Director. Any such resignation will be reviewed by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and, within 90 days after the election, the independent members of the Board of Directors will determine whether to accept, reject or take other appropriate action with respect to the resignation in furtherance of the best interests of Pediatrix and its shareholders.
Assuming that a quorum is present, the advisory vote on executive compensation and the ratification of the appointment of our independent auditors each requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast with respect to such proposal.
How Does the Board of Directors Recommend I Vote on the Proposals?
The Board of Directors recommends that you vote:
| • | “FOR” the election of each of the nine nominees for Director named in this Proxy Statement; |
| • | “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the 2024 fiscal year; and |
| • | “FOR” the approval of the compensation of our named executive officers for the 2023 fiscal year. |
How Will My Proxy Holders Vote?
The enclosed proxy designates James D. Swift, M.D., our Chief Executive Officer, and Mary Ann E. Moore, our Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, each with full power of substitution, to hold your proxy and vote your shares. Dr. Swift and Ms. Moore will vote all shares of our common stock represented by proxies properly submitted via telephone or the Internet or properly executed proxies received in time for the annual meeting in the manner specified by the holders of those shares. Dr. Swift and Ms. Moore intend to vote all shares of our common stock represented by proxies properly submitted via telephone, or the Internet, or that are properly executed by the record holder but otherwise do not contain voting instructions, as follows:
| • | “FOR” the election of each of the nine nominees for Director named in this Proxy Statement; |
| • | “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the 2024 fiscal year; |
| • | “FOR” the approval of the compensation of our named executive officers for the 2023 fiscal year; and |
| • | in accordance with the recommendation of Pediatrix’s Board of Directors, “FOR” or “AGAINST” all other matters as may properly come before the annual meeting. |
| Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. | 4 | 2024 Proxy Statement |
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT OUR ANNUAL MEETING
Can I Change My Vote After I Have Voted?
Voting by telephone, over the Internet or by mailing a proxy card does not preclude a shareholder from voting virtually at the meeting. A shareholder may revoke a proxy, whether submitted via telephone, the Internet or mailed, at any time prior to its exercise by filing with Pediatrix’s Secretary a duly executed revocation of proxy, by properly submitting, either by telephone, mail or Internet, a proxy to Pediatrix’s Secretary bearing a later date or by appearing at the meeting and voting online. Virtual attendance at the meeting will not itself constitute revocation of a proxy.
Who Pays for the Preparation of the Proxy Statement?
Pediatrix will bear the cost of the solicitation of proxies from its shareholders, including preparing, printing and mailing this Proxy Statement, should you request a printed copy of the proxy materials, and the E-Proxy Notice. In addition to solicitations by mail, Pediatrix’s Directors, officers and employees, and those of its subsidiaries and affiliates, may solicit proxies from shareholders by telephone, other electronic means, or virtually, but will receive no additional compensation for soliciting such proxies. Pediatrix will cause banks, brokerage firms, and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to forward solicitation materials to the beneficial owners of our common stock held of record by such banks, brokerage firms, custodians, nominees and fiduciaries. Pediatrix will reimburse such banks, brokerage firms, custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in doing so.
How Can I Submit a Question or Make a Comment During the Annual Meeting?
Upon completing your registration, which can be done at https://proxydocs.com/MD prior to the deadline of May 7, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. (ET), you will receive further instructions via email, including your unique link that will allow you to access the virtual meeting and submit questions. Questions and comments submitted via the virtual meeting platform that are pertinent to annual meeting matters will be addressed during the meeting. Questions and comments that are not pertinent to annual meeting matters or that are not addressed during the meeting due to time constraints will be addressed after the meeting by our Investor Relations department. Consistent with our approach when annual meetings are held in person, questions or comments that are not related to the proposals under discussion, are about personal concerns not shared by shareholders generally, or use blatantly offensive language may be ruled out of order.
Why is the Annual Meeting Being Held Virtually?
Due to the public health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, we began conducting the annual meeting solely online in 2020. We have embraced the latest technology to provide expanded access, improved communication and cost savings for our shareholders and the Company. We believe that hosting a virtual meeting enables more of our shareholders to attend and participate in the meeting since our shareholders can participate from any location around the world with Internet access.
| 2024 Proxy Statement | 5 | Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. |
Proposal 1: Election of Pediatrix’s Directors
Pediatrix’s Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (the “Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation”) and Amended and Restated Bylaws provide that the number of Directors constituting Pediatrix’s Board of Directors will be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by Pediatrix’s Board of Directors. Maintaining the appropriate board composition is an important priority for Pediatrix. Upon the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the nominees for Director to be elected at the annual meeting in 2024 by the holders of our common stock are as follows:
| |
Laura A. Linynsky, who has served as a Director since May 2022; |
Guy P. Sansone, who has served as a Director since July 2020 and Lead Independent Director since January 2023, after having served as Chair of our Board of Directors from July 2020 to December 2022; | ||||||||
| Thomas A. McEachin, who has served as a Director since July 2020;
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John M. Starcher, Jr., who has served as a Director since July 2020; | |||||||||
| Mark S. Ordan, who has served as a Director since July 2020 and Chair of our Board of Directors since July 2023, after having served as Executive Chair of our Board of Directors from January 2023 to June 2023;
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James D. Swift, M.D., who has served as a Director since March 2023; | |||||||||
| Michael A. Rucker, who has served as a Director since May 2019; |
Shirley A. Weis, who has served as a Director since July 2020; and
Sylvia J. Young, who has served as a Director since May 2023. |
Please see below under “Directors and Executive Officers” for the biographies of these nominees for Director.
Each Director elected will serve for a term expiring at Pediatrix’s 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which is expected to be held in May 2025, or until a successor has been duly elected and qualified.
Pediatrix’s Board of Directors has no reason to believe that any nominee will refuse to act or be unable to accept election; however, in the event that a nominee for a directorship is unable to accept election or if any other unforeseen contingencies should arise, proxies will be voted for the remaining nominees and for such other person as may be designated by Pediatrix’s Board of Directors, unless the proxies provide otherwise.
Vote Required
If a quorum is present at the annual meeting and the election of directors remains uncontested, each nominee will be elected as a Director of Pediatrix if such nominee receives a majority of the votes cast with respect to such director, subject to the majority voting policy described above. Proxies will be voted “FOR” all such nominees absent contrary instructions.
| ✓ | Pediatrix’s Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR” Proposal 1 to elect each of the nine nominees for Director. | |||
| Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. | 6 | 2024 Proxy Statement |
Governance and Related Matters
Our business, property and affairs are managed under the direction of our Board of Directors, except with respect to those matters reserved for our shareholders. Our Board of Directors establishes our overall corporate policies, reviews the performance of our senior management in executing our business strategy and managing our day-to-day operations and acts as an advisor to our senior management. Our Board of Directors’ mission is to further the long-term interests of our shareholders. Members of the Board of Directors are kept informed of Pediatrix’s business through discussions with Pediatrix’s management, primarily at meetings of the Board of Directors and its committees, and through reports and analyses presented to them. Significant communications between our Directors and senior management occur apart from such meetings.
Questions and Answers About Our Corporate Governance Practices
What Committees Have Our Board of Directors Established?
The standing committees of Pediatrix’s Board of Directors are the Audit Committee, the Compensation and Talent Committee, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Strategy Committee. Copies of the charters for these committees, as well as our corporate governance principles, are available on our website at www.Pediatrix.com. Our website and the information contained therein, other than material expressly referred to in this Proxy Statement, or connected thereto, are not incorporated into this Proxy Statement. A copy of our committee charters and corporate governance principles are also available upon request from Pediatrix’s Secretary at 1301 Concord Terrace, Sunrise, Florida 33323.
How Many Times Did Our Board of Directors Meet During 2023?
During 2023, Pediatrix’s Board of Directors held 10 meetings. Committees of the Board of Directors held a combined total of 28 meetings, and also took certain actions via unanimous written consent. Each Director attended at least 75% of the total number of meetings of Pediatrix’s Board of Directors and its committees held during 2023. Although Pediatrix has no formal policy with respect to its Directors’ attendance at Pediatrix’s Annual Shareholders’ Meetings, all of our Directors attended the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting virtually in 2023.
Are a Majority of Our Directors Independent?
Our Board of Directors has reviewed information about each of our Directors and made the determination that all of the non-employee Directors on our Board of Directors, other than Mr. Ordan, are independent. In arriving at this conclusion, our Board of Directors made the affirmative determination that each of the non-employee Directors, other than Mr. Ordan, meets the Board of Directors’ previously adopted categorical standards for determining independence in accordance with the New York Stock Exchange’s corporate governance rules. In making this determination, the Board of Directors considered transactions and relationships between each Director or any member of such Director’s immediate family and Pediatrix and its subsidiaries and affiliates. These transactions consisted of those reported below under “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions — Transactions with Related Persons.” Our Board of Directors determined that each of these transactions and relationships was within the New York Stock Exchange standards and our categorical standards and that none of the transactions or relationships affected the independence of the Director involved. Our adopted categorical standards for determining independence in accordance with the New York Stock Exchange’s corporate governance rules are contained in our corporate governance principles, a copy of which is available on our website at www.Pediatrix.com. As our Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Swift is not independent under the New York Stock Exchange corporate governance rules.
| 2024 Proxy Statement | 7 | Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. |
GOVERNANCE AND RELATED MATTERS
Who Is the “Chair of the Board”?
To assist the Board of Directors in fulfilling its obligations, following each annual meeting of shareholders, Pediatrix’s Board of Directors has historically designated a non-management Director as “Chair of the Board.” In addition, the Board of Directors, by a majority vote of the non-management Directors, may also designate a non-management Director as “Lead Independent Director.” In 2022, Pediatrix’s Board of Directors did not designate a Lead Independent Director because the Chair of the Board, Mr. Sansone, was an independent Director.
Mr. Ordan was appointed as the Executive Chair of the Board effective as of January 1, 2023, following his separation as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, and Mr. Sansone was appointed as the Lead Independent Director effective as of January 1, 2023 because Mr. Ordan is not an independent director based on the New York Stock Exchange corporate governance rules. In deciding to appoint Mr. Ordan as Executive Chair, the Board believed that Mr. Ordan’s experience managing large-scale healthcare operations, including as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, together with his experience as a director of public companies, made him uniquely suited to serve as the Executive Chair of the Board following his separation as Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Ordan became the Chair of the Board on July 1, 2023.
Pediatrix separates the roles of Chief Executive Officer and Chair or Executive Chair of the Board in recognition of the differences between the two roles. The Chief Executive Officer is responsible for determining the long-term strategic direction for the Company. The principal responsibility of the Chair or Executive Chair of the Board is to serve as chief administrative liaison between independent Directors and Pediatrix management and to monitor implementation of Board of Directors’ directives and actions. We believe this balance of shared leadership between the two positions is a strength for the Company. The principal responsibility of the Lead Independent Director, if designated, is to work collaboratively with the Chair of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer with respect to the Board of Directors’ governance and process. The Lead Independent Director has additional responsibilities and authorities set out in our corporate governance principles.
At least once a year, the Chair or Executive Chair of the Board, or Lead Independent Director if a Lead Independent Director is designated, presides over meetings of our independent Directors. The Board also generally meets in executive session at each meeting.
The Board believes that its current leadership structure provides the most effective leadership model for our Company by promoting balance between the Board’s independent authority to oversee our business and the Chief Executive Officer and the Company’s management team, which manage the business on a day-to-day basis.
What Role Does the Board of Directors Serve in Risk Oversight for the Company?
Our Company faces a number of risks, including operational, regulatory, commercial, technological, financial and strategic risks. The Board of Directors, acting as a whole and through its committees, oversees the Company’s risk exposure and processes for assessing and managing these risks, while the Company’s management is responsible for the day-to-day management of these risks. The Board of Directors evaluates its role in risk oversight on an ongoing basis and determines which areas of risk oversight should be retained at the full Board of Directors level and which areas of risk oversight should be delegated to certain of its committees.
As reflected in the Audit Committee Charter, the Board of Directors has delegated to the Audit Committee the responsibility to oversee, discuss and evaluate the Company’s policies and guidelines with respect to risk assessment and risk management, including internal control over financial reporting. As appropriate, the Audit Committee provides reports to and receives direction from the full Board of Directors regarding the Company’s risk management policies and guidelines, as well as the committee’s risk oversight activities. The Audit Committee also has the responsibility for oversight of the process for determining disclosure required with respect to cybersecurity incidents.
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GOVERNANCE AND RELATED MATTERS
As reflected in the Compensation and Talent Committee Charter, the Board of Directors has delegated to the Compensation and Talent Committee the responsibility to oversee the review of the Company’s incentive compensation arrangements to determine whether they encourage excessive risk-taking, including discussing the relationship between risk management policies and practices and compensation, and considering compensation policies and practices that could mitigate any such risk. The Compensation and Talent Committee has also been delegated the responsibility to review risks and opportunities regarding the Company’s key human capital and talent strategies, including those related to training, health and wellness, employee engagement, talent recruitment, development and retention, and diversity, equity and inclusion. As appropriate, the Compensation and Talent Committee provides reports to and receives direction from the full Board of Directors regarding the committee’s risk oversight activities.
As reflected in the Strategy Committee Charter, the Board of Directors has delegated to the Strategy Committee the responsibility to review, evaluate and oversee the Company’s corporate strategy, including the risks inherent in such strategy, which risks often include commercial and regulatory risk. As appropriate, the Strategy Committee provides reports to and receives direction from the full Board of Directors regarding the committee’s risk oversight activities.
As reflected in the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Charter, the Board of Directors has delegated to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee the responsibility to take the lead in shaping the corporate governance of the Company. As part of its responsibilities, the committee reviews certain risks relating to the Company’s corporate governance practices, including assessing the reporting channels through which the Board of Directors receives information and the quality and timeliness of such information and evaluating and recommending appropriate succession plans for senior executives. As appropriate, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee provides reports to and receives direction from the full Board of Directors regarding the committee’s risk oversight activities.
The Board of Directors has retained primary responsibility for overseeing risks associated with our information technology, including cybersecurity. The Board of Directors has elected to exercise direct oversight over this area, rather than acting through one of its committees, given the increasing importance of cybersecurity matters and the cross-functional impacts of technology on the Company’s business. The Board of Directors receives reports at least twice per year from members of senior management including our Chief Information Security Officer and Chief Compliance Officer, regarding the Company’s information systems and technology and associated policies, processes and practices for managing and mitigating cybersecurity and technology-related risks. The Board of Directors also meets with external advisors to discuss technology and cybersecurity risks applicable to the Company and obtains perspectives which inform senior management’s discussions with the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors has delegated oversight of the process for determining disclosure required with respect to cybersecurity incidents to the Audit Committee.
The Board of Directors has determined to retain direct oversight of the Company’s overall ESG strategy and its implementation given the importance of this emerging area to the Company’s stakeholders and the implications of the Company’s ESG program across the committees of the Board of Directors. As described below under Environmental, Social and Governance, in 2021, at the direction of the Board of Directors, the Company created an ESG Operational Committee, comprised of senior leaders in the Company’s Clinical Services, Operations, Information Technology, Legal, Compliance, Internal Audit, People Services (Human Resources), Finance and Strategy departments to create and implement the Company’s formal ESG program. The ESG Operational Committee reports frequently to an ESG Executive Committee comprised of the Company’s senior management and Mr. Ordan, the Chair of the Board of Directors. The ESG Executive Committee oversees the ESG Operational Committee’s activities and reports to the full Board of Directors regarding the Company’s ESG program, as well as to the Compensation and Talent Committee regarding those ESG matters that are included in the non-financial metrics that are part of the Company’s annual bonus program.
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GOVERNANCE AND RELATED MATTERS
In furtherance of the Board of Director’s oversight responsibilities and the Company’s senior management’s day-to-day management of risk, the Board of Directors and the Company’s senior management meet as needed with external advisors to discuss risks applicable to the Company and obtain perspectives that inform the Board of Directors’ and senior management’s decisions with respect to risk oversight. The Board of Directors also receives regular reports from senior management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer, Chief Information Security Officer and others regarding financial, operational, cyber, regulatory, sustainability, legal and strategic risks and mitigation strategies for such risks.
The Board of Directors believes that this division of responsibilities is the most effective approach for addressing the risks facing the Company and that the Board’s leadership structure supports this approach.
How Can Shareholders and Other Interested Parties Communicate with the Board of Directors?
Anyone who has a concern about Pediatrix’s conduct, including accounting, internal controls or audit matters, may communicate directly with our Chair of the Board of Directors (or the Lead Independent Director), our non-management Directors, the Chair of the Audit Committee or the Audit Committee. In addition, at the request of the Board of Directors, communications that do not directly relate to our Board’s duties and responsibilities as directors will be excluded from distribution. Such excluded items include, among others, “spam;” advertisements, mass mailings, form letters, and email campaigns that involve unduly large numbers of similar communications; solicitations for goods, services, employment or contributions; and surveys. Any excluded communication will be made available to any Director upon request. Such communications may be confidential or anonymous and may be submitted in writing to the Secretary, Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc., 1301 Concord Terrace, Sunrise, Florida 33323, or reported by phone at 877-835-5764. Any such concerns will be forwarded to the appropriate Directors for their review and will be simultaneously reviewed and addressed by the Company’s General Counsel or Chief Compliance Officer in the same way that other concerns are addressed. Pediatrix’s Code of Conduct, which is discussed below, prohibits any employee from retaliating or taking any adverse action against anyone who in good faith raises or assists in the resolution of an integrity concern.
Has Pediatrix Adopted a Code of Conduct?
Pediatrix has adopted a Code of Conduct that applies to all Directors, officers, employees and independent contractors of Pediatrix and its subsidiaries, professional corporations, partnerships, associations and other affiliated entities. Pediatrix intends to disclose any amendments to, or waivers from, any provision of the Code of Conduct that applies to any of Pediatrix’s executive officers or Directors by posting such information on its website at www.Pediatrix.com.
Pediatrix has also adopted a Code of Professional Conduct — Finance that applies to all employees with access to, and responsibility for, matters of finance and financial management, including Pediatrix’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Chief Operating Officer. Pediatrix intends to disclose any amendments to, or waivers from, any provision of the Code of Professional Conduct — Finance that applies to any of Pediatrix’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Chief Operating Officer, or persons performing similar functions, by posting such information on its website at www.Pediatrix.com.
Copies of our Code of Conduct and the Code of Professional Conduct — Finance are available on our website at www.Pediatrix.com and upon request from Pediatrix’s Secretary at 1301 Concord Terrace, Sunrise, Florida 33323.
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GOVERNANCE AND RELATED MATTERS
Has Pediatrix Adopted a Clawback Policy?
Pediatrix previously adopted a Clawback Policy that permits the Company to seek to recover certain amounts of incentive compensation, including both cash and equity, paid to any executive officer (as defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) on or between January 1, 2014 and October 1, 2023, if payment of such compensation was based on the achievement of financial results that were subsequently the subject of a restatement of its financial statements due to misconduct, and if the executive engaged in improper conduct that materially contributed to the need for restatement, and a lower amount of incentive compensation would have been earned based on the restated financial results.
In November 2023, the Board of Directors approved a new Policy on Recoupment of Incentive Compensation (the “NYSE Clawback Policy”) to comply with the final rules of the New York Stock Exchange regarding the clawback of executive compensation. The NYSE Clawback Policy applies to any incentive-based compensation received by any current or former executive officer (as defined in the Exchange Act) on or after October 2, 2023.
Does Pediatrix Require its Executive Officers and Board of Directors to Retain a Certain Amount of Pediatrix Common Stock?
Pediatrix has adopted a Stock Ownership and Retention Policy which requires that each named executive officer and each non-management Director retain Pediatrix common stock worth a certain multiple of annual base salary, or cash retainer, respectively. Details of the policy and the required ownership levels are described in further detail in the “Executive Compensation: Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section of this Proxy Statement.
Has Pediatrix Adopted an Anti-Hedging and Anti-Pledging Policy?
Pediatrix has adopted a policy prohibiting its Directors, management, financial and other insiders from engaging in transactions in Pediatrix securities or derivatives of Pediatrix securities that might be considered hedging, or from holding Pediatrix securities in margin accounts or pledging Pediatrix securities as collateral for a loan, unless such person clearly demonstrates the financial capacity to repay the loan without resorting to the pledged securities.
Does Pediatrix Have a Director Retirement Age Policy?
Pediatrix has adopted a Director Retirement Age Policy which provides that a Director must retire and may not stand for re-election during the calendar year in which the Director attains age 80. Additionally, no Director may be nominated to a new term if the Director would attain age 80 by the end of the calendar year in which the election is held. The Board of Directors did not grant any waivers or exemptions related to this policy during the prior year.
Report of the Audit Committee
The following report of the Audit Committee does not constitute soliciting material and should not be deemed filed or incorporated by reference into any of Pediatrix’s filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate such report by reference.
We act under a written charter that has been adopted by Pediatrix’s Board of Directors. While we have the responsibilities set forth in this charter, it is not our duty to plan or conduct audits or to determine that Pediatrix’s financial statements are complete, accurate or in compliance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). This is the responsibility of Pediatrix’s management and independent auditors.
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GOVERNANCE AND RELATED MATTERS
Our primary function is to assist the Board of Directors in their evaluation and oversight of the integrity of Pediatrix’s financial statements and internal control over financial reporting, the qualifications and independence of Pediatrix’s independent auditors and the performance of Pediatrix’s audit functions. In addition, while we are also responsible for assisting the Board of Directors in their evaluation and oversight of Pediatrix’s compliance with applicable laws and regulations, it is not our duty to ensure compliance with such laws and regulations or Pediatrix’s Compliance Plan and related policies. We are also responsible for overseeing, discussing and evaluating Pediatrix’s guidelines, policies and processes with respect to risk assessment and risk management and the steps management has taken to monitor and control risk exposure, and we advise the Board of Directors with respect to such matters, as appropriate.
We also generally oversee Pediatrix’s auditing, accounting and financial reporting processes. Management is responsible for Pediatrix’s financial statements and the financial reporting process, including the system of internal controls. We also review the preparation by management of Pediatrix’s quarterly and annual financial statements. Pediatrix’s independent auditors, who are accountable to us, are responsible for expressing an opinion as to whether the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of Pediatrix in conformity with GAAP. Pediatrix’s independent auditors are also responsible for auditing and reporting on the effective operation of Pediatrix’s internal control over financial reporting. We are responsible for retaining Pediatrix’s independent auditors and maintain sole responsibility for their compensation, oversight and termination. We are also responsible for pre-approving all non-audit services to be provided by the independent auditors, and on an annual basis discussing with the independent auditors all significant relationships they have with Pediatrix to determine their independence.
In fulfilling our oversight role, we met and held discussions with Pediatrix’s management and independent auditors. Management advised us that Pediatrix’s audited consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP, and we reviewed and discussed the consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. In addition, we reviewed and discussed the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations section of Pediatrix’s periodic reports, key accounting and reporting issues and the scope, adequacy and assessments of Pediatrix’s internal controls and disclosure controls and procedures with management and Pediatrix’s independent auditors. We discussed privately with the independent auditors matters deemed significant by the independent auditors, including those matters required to be discussed pursuant to the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) and the SEC.
The independent auditors also provided us with the written disclosures and the letter required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB, regarding the independent accountant’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and we discussed with the independent auditors matters relating to their independence. We also reviewed a report by the independent auditors describing the firm’s internal quality-control procedures and any material issues raised in the most recent internal-quality control review or external peer review or inspection performed by the PCAOB.
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GOVERNANCE AND RELATED MATTERS
Based on our review with management and the independent auditors of Pediatrix’s audited consolidated financial statements and internal control over financial reporting and the independent auditors’ report on such financial statements and their evaluation of Pediatrix’s internal control over financial reporting, and based on the discussions and written disclosures described above and our business judgment, we recommended to the Board of Directors that the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 be included in Pediatrix’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, for filing with the SEC.
Submitted by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.
Thomas A. McEachin
Laura A. Linynsky
Michael A. Rucker
Guy P. Sansone
Sylvia J. Young
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Directors and Executive Officers
Pediatrix’s Directors and Executive Officers
Pediatrix’s current Directors and Executive Officers are as follows:
| Name |
Age | Position with Pediatrix | ||||
| Mark S. Ordan |
65 | Chair of the Board of Directors | ||||
| Guy P. Sansone(1)(2)(3)(4) |
59 | Lead Independent Director | ||||
| Laura Linynsky(2)(4) |
56 | Director | ||||
| Thomas A. McEachin(1)(2)(3) |
71 | Director | ||||
| Michael A. Rucker(2)(3) |
54 | Director | ||||
| John M. Starcher, Jr.(1)(4) |
53 | Director | ||||
| Shirley A. Weis(1)(3)(4) |
70 | Director | ||||
| Sylvia J. Young(2)(4) |
62 | Director | ||||
| James D. Swift, M.D. |
62 | Chief Executive Officer and Director | ||||
| C. Marc Richards |
53 | Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer | ||||
| Curtis B. Pickert, M.D. |
66 | Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer | ||||
| Mary Ann E. Moore |
64 | Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary | ||||
| Lee A. Wood |
56 | Executive Vice President, National and Market Operations | ||||
| (1) | Member of the Strategy Committee. |
| (2) | Member of the Audit Committee. |
| (3) | Member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. |
| (4) | Member of the Compensation and Talent Committee. |
The biographical information for each of the nominees for Director and Executive Officers is included below.
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DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
| Mark S. Ordan Chair of the Board of Directors
Director Since: 2020
Age: 65
Committees: None |
The Board of Directors has concluded that Mr. Ordan’s qualifications to serve on the Board include his extensive experience in the healthcare industry, including as a senior executive and board member of both public and private companies, together with his extensive experience managing large-scale healthcare operations. | |||||||||||
Mark S. Ordan has been a Director since July 2020 and Chair of our Board of Directors since July 2023. He previously served as Executive Chair of our Board of Directors from January 2023 to June 2023. Mr. Ordan served as our Chief Executive Officer from July 2020 through December 2022. Mr. Ordan previously served as the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the board of directors of Quality Care Properties, Inc. (“QCP”), a self-managed and self-administered real estate investment trust (“REIT”) and one of the nation’s largest actively managed real estate companies focused on post-acute/skilled nursing and memory care/assisted living properties, from October 2016 to July 2018. Prior to joining QCP, he served as a consultant to HCP, Inc. (NYSE:PEAK), a REIT which invests primarily in real estate serving the United States healthcare industry, from March 2016 until QCP’s spin-off from HCP, Inc. in October 2016. Mr. Ordan previously held several positions at Washington Prime Group Inc., a retail REIT, including as a director from May 2014 to May 2017, Non-Executive Chairman of the board of directors from January 2016 to June 2016, Executive Chairman from January 2015 to January 2016, and Chief Executive Officer from May 2014 until January 2015. From January 2013 to November 2013, Mr. Ordan served as a director and as the Chief Executive Officer of Sunrise Senior Living, LLC, the successor to the management business of Sunrise Senior Living, Inc. (formerly NYSE:SZR) (“Sunrise”), which had been an operator of approximately 300 senior living communities in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, prior to its sale in January 2013. Mr. Ordan served as Sunrise’s Chief Executive Officer from November 2008 to January 2013, as its Chief Investment and Administrative Officer from March 2008 to November 2008 and as a director from July 2008 to January 2013. While at Sunrise, Mr. Ordan led its restructuring and oversaw its eventual sale to Health Care REIT, Inc. Prior to Sunrise, he served as the Chief Executive Officer and President of The Mills Corporation (“Mills”) (formerly NYSE:MLS), an owner and manager of a diversified portfolio of regional shopping malls and retail entertainment centers, from October 2006 to May 2007, as its Chief Operating Officer from February 2006 to October 2006 and as a director from December 2006 until March 2007. While at Mills, Mr. Ordan oversaw its operations and its eventual sale to Simon Property Group, Inc. and Farallon Capital Management, L.L.C. in April 2007.
In February 2022, Mr. Ordan was appointed to serve on the Board of Directors of The Carlyle Group, a global investment firm, effective April 1, 2022. Mr. Ordan has served on the board of directors of Elli Finance (UK) plc, the parent holding company of Four Seasons Health Care, a private home care operator, since October 2018. Previously, Mr. Ordan served on the Board of Trustees of Federal Realty Investment Trust (NYSE:FRT) from February 2019 to September 2022, where he also previously served from 1996 to 2006, including as Chairman from 2001 to 2006, and the Board of Directors of VEREIT, Inc. (f/k/a American Realty Capital Properties, Inc.), a leading, full-service real estate operating company with investment management capability, a position he held from June 2015 until his appointment as our Chief Executive Officer in July 2020. Mr. Ordan currently serves on the boards of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Vassar College and Holton Arms School. Mr. Ordan received a B.A. from Vassar College and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
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DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
| Guy P. Sansone Lead Independent Director
Director Since: 2020
Age: 59
Committees: Strategy, Audit, Nominating and Corporate Governance and Compensation and Talent |
The Board of Directors has concluded that Mr. Sansone’s qualifications to serve on the Board include his extensive experience working as an adviser, investor and senior manager of companies in the healthcare industry, together with his financial expertise and leadership experience as a senior executive and board member. | |||||||||||
Guy P. Sansone has been a Director of the Company since July 2020 and the Lead Independent Director since January 2023. Mr. Sansone previously served as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Company from July 2020 through December 2022. Mr. Sansone has served as the Co-Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of H2 Health, a leading regional provider of physical rehabilitation services and clinician staffing solutions, since February 2020. Prior to that, he served as Managing Director at Alvarez & Marsal in New York, a financial advisory and consulting firm notable for its work in turnaround management and performance improvement of a number of large, high-profile businesses across the globe, where he served as Chairman of the firm’s Healthcare Industry Group, which he founded in 2004. Mr. Sansone has also served on the Boards of Directors of Magellan Health, Inc., a healthcare company focused on special populations, complete pharmacy benefits and other specialty areas of healthcare, since March 2019, Longevity Health Plans, a specialized Medicare Advantage health plan, since February 2020, Carisk Partners, a risk transfer, care coordination company, since April 2019, and Qhr Health, a hospital management consultant to independent, community and rural hospitals and healthcare systems, and as Non-Executive Chairman of Brookdale Senior Living, Inc. (NYSE:BKD), an owner and operator of senior living and retirement communities, since January 2020. Mr. Sansone has served on the Board of Advisors for Pager, Inc., a mobile healthcare technology company, since March 2017. Previously, Mr. Sansone served on the Boards of Directors of Civitas Solutions, Inc. (formerly NYSE:CIVI), a leading national provider of home-and community-based health and human services to must-serve individuals with intellectual, developmental, physical or behavioral disabilities and other special needs, from December 2009 until its acquisition by Celtic Intermediate Corp. in March 2019, and HealthPRO Heritage, a leading national provider of therapy management and consulting services, from September 2015 to November 2019. Over the past 20 years, he has invested in and consulted as an executive to numerous companies, focusing on developing and evaluating strategic and operating alternatives designed to enhance value. Mr. Sansone earned a B.S. from the State University of New York at Albany.
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DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
| Laura A. Linynsky Director
Director Since: 2022
Age: 56
Committees: Audit and Compensation and Talent |
The Board of Directors has concluded that Ms. Linynsky’s qualifications to serve on the Board include her financial experience, senior housing healthcare experience and her experience in healthcare management consulting. | |||||||||||
Laura A. Linynsky has been a Director of the Company since May 2022. Ms. Linynsky has served as a consultant focused on healthcare management, providing operational, quality care, employment, ESG and regulatory guidance for both start up and expanding organizations since August 2018. Ms. Linynsky previously served as Senior Vice President of Quality Care Properties, a real estate company that owned over 300 post-acute/skilled nursing and assisted living properties, from 2016 to 2018, where she was responsible for operational and financial oversight of the communities and was part of the executive team that fully restructured the relationship with HCR ManorCare and its sole landlord to combine the two. She served as interim Chief Financial Officer for HCR ManorCare until the company was sold in July 2018. Prior to this, from 2010 to 2013, she served as Chief Operating Officer and head of Operations for Sunrise Senior Living, Inc. (formerly NYSE:SZR) (“Sunrise”) where she oversaw operations in the United States, Canada and the UK and was part of the senior team who led the company’s operating and financial turnaround. Before leading Sunrise operations, Ms. Linynsky served as Vice President, Real Estate and Asset Management and was Director of Acquisitions from 2002 to 2010. Prior to Sunrise, Ms. Linynsky served in various finance, tax and business development roles at, among other companies, Marriott International (NASDAQ:MAR), Nextel Communications (formerly NYSE:FON) and Cogent Communications (NASDAQ:CCOI). She is a past board member of Argentum and the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing, both non-profit organizations. Ms. Linynsky has over 20-plus years of corporate finance, accounting, and tax experience with over 10 years’ experience in the senior housing healthcare industry. Ms. Linynsky earned a B.S. from the University of South Carolina, Columbia.
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DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
| Thomas A. McEachin Director
Director Since: 2020
Age: 71
Committees: Audit, Nominating and Corporate Governance and Strategy |
The Board of Directors has concluded that Mr. McEachin’s qualifications to serve on the Board include his extensive finance and executive management experience and in-depth knowledge of financial reporting, compliance, accounting and controls and corporate governance matters. | |||||||||||
Thomas A. McEachin has been a Director of the Company since July 2020. Mr. McEachin has served on the Board of Federal Realty Investment Trust (NYSE:FRT), a publicly traded REIT, since October 2022. He served on the Board of Directors of Surgalign Holdings, Inc. (formerly NASDAQ:SRGA), a global medical technology company advancing the science of spine care, from December 2015 until October 2023. Previously, he held executive positions at Covidien Surgical Solutions, a division of Covidien plc (formerly NYSE:COV), a global health care products company and manufacturer of medical devices and supplies, from 2008 to 2012. During his tenure at Covidien Surgical Solutions, he served as Vice President, Finance from 2008 to 2011 and Vice President and Group Chief Financial Officer from 2011 to 2012. From 1997 to 2008, Mr. McEachin served in various finance capacities at United Technologies Corporation, a global leader in the aerospace and building industries, and its subsidiaries, including as Chief Investor Relations officer, Vice President and Controller of Pratt & Whitney, and Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of UTC Power. Prior to that, he held several executive positions with Digital Equipment Corporation (formerly NYSE:DEC), a vendor of computer systems, including computers, software, and peripherals, from 1986 to 1997. Mr. McEachin was with Xerox Corporation (n/k/a Xerox Holdings Corporation) (NYSE:XRX), a global corporation that sells print and digital document products and services, from 1975 to 1986, serving as Controller of the procurement organization. Mr. McEachin formerly served as a trustee and officer of the Wadsworth Atheneum (Hartford, CT), the oldest public art institution in the United States, serving on their executive, finance and investment committees. He also is a past board member of the Connecticut Science Center and chair of the audit committee. Mr. McEachin holds a B.S. from New York University and an MBA from Stanford University.
| Michael A. Rucker Director
Director Since: 2019
Age: 54
Committees: Audit and Nominating and Corporate Governance |
The Board of Directors has concluded that Mr. Rucker’s qualifications to serve on the Board include his extensive experience as an executive in the healthcare industry, including the management of physician practices and partnerships. | |||||||||||
Michael A. Rucker was elected as a Director in May 2019. Since 2017, Mr. Rucker has served as Chief Executive Officer, and since 2016 as a member of the Board of Directors, of Ivy Rehab Network, Inc., one of the largest networks of physical therapy clinics in the United States. Prior to joining Ivy Rehab, Mr. Rucker served from 2010 to 2017 as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Surgical Care Affiliates, Inc., at the time a publicly traded operator of one of the nation’s largest networks of surgical facilities, until its acquisition by United Health Group. Mr. Rucker has also held executive roles in various healthcare companies, including DaVita, Inc., where he served as Division Vice President from 2005 to 2008 after DaVita acquired Gambro Healthcare, where Mr. Rucker had served in various general management and business development capacities since 1997. Mr. Rucker, a former certified public accountant, holds a B.S. from Miami University and an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business.
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DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
| John M. Starcher, Jr. Director
Director Since: 2020
Age: 53
Committees: Compensation and Talent and Strategy |
|
The Board of Directors has concluded that Mr. Starcher’s qualifications to serve on the Board include his significant leadership experience as a senior executive in the healthcare industry, including as President and Chief Executive Officer of Bon Secours Mercy Health. | ||||||||||
John M. Starcher, Jr. has been a Director of the Company since July 2020. Mr. Starcher is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Bon Secours Mercy Health, a not-for-profit Catholic health system that owns and operates 50 acute care hospitals, over 1,000 sites of care serving more than 10 million patients and has more than 60,000 employees across seven states and two countries, where he has served since September 2018. Prior to this, he served as Chief Executive Officer and President of Mercy Health from April 2016 to August 2018, where he oversaw the development of system strategies and operations for all 23 Mercy Health hospitals and the clinically integrated network across Ohio and Kentucky. Before being promoted to Chief Executive Officer at Mercy Health, Mr. Starcher served as an Executive Vice President of Operations and Chief Executive Officer of the Cincinnati Market at Mercy Health from January 2015 to April 2016. From August 2013 through March 2014, Mr. Starcher served as the Interim President and Chief Executive Officer of Health Management Associates Inc. (formerly NYSE:HMA) (“HMA”), an integrated acute care delivery system with 71 hospitals across 15 states, where he guided HMA through its successful sale to Community Health Systems. Prior to that, Mr. Starcher served as President of HMA’s Eastern Group from February 2012 until August 2013. Before joining HMA, Mr. Starcher served as the Chief Executive Officer of three of Mercy Health’s four divisions — overseeing more than 20 acute care hospitals, five long term care facilities, six home health agencies, and dozens of affiliated clinical practices with more than $3 billion in net revenue. Prior to that, he served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Region, the senior vice president of Human Resources and corporate associate general counsel at Catholic Health Partners. Mr. Starcher started his career in 1993 in Human Resources at the Medical College of Ohio as the Director of Labor Relations where he worked until he joined Catholic Health Partners in 1999. Mr. Starcher serves as a Director on the Boards of Bon Secours Mercy Health and Ensemble Health Partners. He also serves on the Advisory Board of HealthQuest Capital. Mr. Starcher holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from Bowling Green State University and J.D. from the University of Toledo. He is licensed to practice law in the State of Ohio (currently inactive) and has actively served as a director on more than 20 boards in varied industries, including banking, insurance, acute and sub-acute healthcare, specialty care, and physician practice organizations.
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DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
| Shirley A. Weis Director
Director Since: 2020
Age: 70
Committees: Compensation and Talent, Nominating and Corporate Governance and Strategy |
The Board of Directors has concluded that Ms. Weis’ qualifications to serve on the Board include her extensive leadership, management and consulting experience in the healthcare industry, including as Mayo Clinic’s first female Chief Administrative Officer, together with her private and public company board experience. | |||||||||||
Shirley A. Weis has been a Director of the Company since July 2020. Ms. Weis has served as the President of Weis Associates, LLC, a consulting firm she founded focused on healthcare management, strategic planning and leadership development, since January 2014. Previously, Ms. Weis was the Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Mayo Clinic, a nonprofit medical practice and medical research group, from 2007 until her retirement in December 2013. She joined Mayo Clinic in 1995 and held a number of clinical and administrative leadership positions, including Chair of Administrative Services for the Mayo Clinic in Arizona, Chair of the Mayo Clinic Managed Care Department and Executive Director of Mayo Management Services, Inc. Ms. Weis was also previously a member of the Mayo Clinic Board of Trustees. Ms. Weis served on the Board of Directors of Obyx (formerly The Medical Memory, LLC), a Phoenix-based, private company that facilitates recording of medical conversations with doctors and distributes them to patients and families, from July 2017 to December 2021. She previously served on the Boards of Directors of Sentry Insurance Company, a mutual insurance company specializing in business insurance, from May 2015 until April 2019 and Surgalign Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:SRGA) (formerly RTI Surgical Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:RTIX)), a global medical technology company advancing the science of spine care, from October 2014 until May 2021. Ms. Weis holds a B.S. from Michigan State University, a Master of Management degree from Aquinas College and an honorary Doctor of Science degree from Michigan State University. She was named one of the Top 25 Women in Healthcare by Modern Healthcare magazine for 2007 and 2013.
| Sylvia J. Young Director
Director Since: 2023
Age: 62
Committees: Audit and Compensation and Talent |
The Board of Directors has concluded that Mrs. Young’s qualifications to serve on the Board include her extensive leadership and consulting experience in the healthcare industry, including as President and Chief Executive Officer of the HCA Continental Division. | |||||||||||
Sylvia J. Young has been a Director of the Company since May 2023. Mrs. Young is currently the owner of Young Consulting Advisors, LLC where she brings over 35 years of experience as a dedicated veteran of hospital administration to healthcare consulting and executive coaching. Mrs. Young most recently served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the HCA Continental Division, a multi-state regional healthcare system that is part of Hospital Corporation of America (HCA). Prior to her appointment to the Denver-based Division headquarters, Mrs. Young served as President of HCA’s Sunrise Health System, including Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, Sunrise Children’s Hospital, Mountain View Hospital and Southern Hills Hospital, as well as four ambulatory surgery centers in Las Vegas, NV. Mrs. Young retired from HCA in March 2023. Mrs. Young serves as an independent director on the Board of Directors and Compensation and Talent Committee of Lincoln Educational Services Corporation and on the Board of Directors for the Denver Center for Performing Arts where she serves as Chair of the Audit Committee. Mrs. Young holds a Master of Science degree in Health Administration from the University of Alabama, Birmingham and a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration degree from Samford University in Birmingham. In 2022, Mrs. Young was named as one of the “2022 Top Women to Watch in Healthcare” by Modern Healthcare Magazine.
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DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
| James D. Swift, M.D. Chief Executive Officer and Director
Director Since: 2023
Age: 62
Committees: None |
The Board of Directors has concluded that Dr. Swift’s qualifications to serve on the Board include his extensive experience within the Company and in the broader healthcare industry, including as Chief Executive Officer of Children’s HealthCare Network. | |||||||||||
James D. Swift, M.D., has served as our Chief Executive Officer since January 2023 and was appointed as a Director in March 2023. Dr. Swift joined the Company in 2009 through the acquisition of a multi-state pediatric specialty practice, Children’s HealthCare Network, which he founded in 1996 and where he served as Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Swift became the Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in 2022 and led all aspects of the Company’s growth strategy and the design and launch of its primary and urgent care service line. From 2013 until 2022, Dr. Swift served as the Company’s Chief Development Officer and prior thereto served as Regional President, South Central Region for the Company’s Pediatrix Division. Dr. Swift has authored numerous peer review articles and he co-edited the clinical textbook titled “Pediatric Hospital Medicine: Textbook of Inpatient Management.” At the time of publication in 2007, it was the first textbook for pediatricians practicing in inpatient settings. Dr. Swift received his medical degree from the University of Health Sciences/The Chicago Medical School and completed his internal medicine/pediatrics residency program at Loma Linda University Medical Center. He completed a fellowship in pediatric critical care at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Children’s Hospital of Orange County and Martin Luther King Jr. Medical Center.
| C. Marc Richards Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Age: 53 |
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|
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C. Marc Richards has served as our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since September 2020. Prior to joining the Company as Executive Vice President in September 2020, Mr. Richards, served as Chief Financial Officer of Quality Care Properties (“QCP”), a self-managed and self-administered real estate investment trust focused on post-acute/skilled nursing and memory care/assisted living properties, from October 2016 to July 2018. In this role he oversaw the spin-off of QCP from Healthcare Property Investors (“HCP”) and the eventual merger of QCP with Welltower. Prior to the establishment of QCP, Mr. Richards served as a consultant to HCP from March 2016 to October 2016. Mr. Richards previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Washington Prime Group Inc. from January 2015 to January 2016 and as Chief Financial Officer from May 2014 to January 2015. From January 2013 to May 2014, Mr. Richards served as Chief Financial and Administrative Officer of Sunrise. He served as Chief Financial Officer of Sunrise Senior Living, Inc. (formerly NYSE:SZR) (“Sunrise”) from March 2011 to January 2013 and as Chief Accounting Officer of Sunrise from July 2009 to March 2011. Before joining Sunrise, Mr. Richards served in executive roles with JE Robert Companies, Republic Property Trust and The Mills Corporation.
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DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
| Curtis B. Pickert, M.D. Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer
Age: 66 |
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Curtis B. Pickert, M.D., has served as our Chief Operating Officer since February 2023. He joined the Company in 2009 and was appointed Executive Vice President, Clinical Services Division in 2021, overseeing Pediatrix Clinical Research, Education, Quality and Safety (CREQS), medical affairs, clinical systems, medical professional liability, the advanced practice program and medical administrative services. In 2022, his leadership role was expanded with the promotion to Chief Physician Executive, where he serves as chair of the Company’s Physician Executive Council. The council helps ensure physician leadership representation across all specialty areas. In 2023, his role was expanded again to include leading our corporate operations in addition to clinical services. Previously, Dr. Pickert served as President, Clinical Services Division, from January 2017 to 2022, as the Company’s Chief Medical Officer, Western Division, from July 2015 to December 2016, and as Regional Vice President, Midwest Region, from January 2014 to June 2015 for the Company’s Pediatrix Division. From 2009 to 2013, Dr. Pickert was the Director of Hospital-Based Pediatric Services for the Company’s Pediatrix Division and served as Chief of Medical Services and the Medical Director of Pediatrics and the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Cottage Children’s Hospital in Santa Barbara, California. Dr. Pickert attended medical school and completed a residency in pediatrics at the University of Kansas. He received fellowship training in pediatric hematology/oncology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, after which he completed a fellowship program in pediatric critical care medicine at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock. He is board-certified in pediatrics and pediatric critical care medicine.
| Mary Ann E. Moore Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Age: 64 |
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Mary Ann E. Moore was appointed Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary in October 2022. Ms. Moore joined the Company in 2006 as Associate General Counsel and has served in various senior roles within the Legal Department since that time, including her last appointment as Executive Vice President, Chief Enterprise Risk and Legal Operations Officer beginning in 2021. Prior to joining the Company, Ms. Moore was Senior Counsel for Tenet Health System in South Florida. Ms. Moore was previously with the Adventist Health System in Chicago, Illinois and prior thereto she was in private legal practice with the law firms of Hinshaw and Culbertson in Chicago, Illinois and Tallman Hudders and Sorrentino in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Ms. Moore holds a Juris Doctor degree from Duquesne University School of Law and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Carlow College, both in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
| Lee A. Wood Executive Vice President, National and Market Operations
Age: 56 |
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Lee A. Wood has served as our Executive Vice President, National and Market Operations since February 2023. Mr. Wood rejoined the Company in 2019 and served as Senior Vice President, National Operations, from July 2020 to February 2023, and Chief Operating Officer, Western Markets, from October 2019 to June 2020. He previously held various operation roles with the company from 2005 to 2015, including Regional President, Regional Vice President, Director of Operations and Director of Business Development. Prior to rejoining Pediatrix, Mr. Wood was the Executive Vice President and General Manager of Physician Services for InTouch Health from 2016 to 2019. Mr. Wood holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, specializing in accounting, from Texas Wesleyan University.
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DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Board Characteristics and Diversity
The following chart depicts certain information regarding the characteristics and diversity of our Board of Directors as of March 28, 2024.
Committees of the Board of Directors
Audit Committee
Pediatrix’s Audit Committee held six meetings in 2023. Messrs. McEachin and Rucker and Ms. Linynsky were members of the committee throughout 2023. Mr. Sansone and Mrs. Young have been members of the committee since May 2023. Mr. McEachin has acted as chair of the committee since May 2022. Pediatrix’s Board of Directors has determined that each of Messrs. McEachin, Rucker and Sansone and Ms. Linynsky qualify as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by the rules and regulations of the SEC and that each member of the Audit Committee during 2023 meets the independence requirements under such rules and regulations and for a New York Stock Exchange listed company.
Pediatrix’s Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee setting out the functions that it is to perform. A copy of the Audit Committee Charter is available on our website at www.Pediatrix.com.
Please refer to the Report of the Audit Committee, which is set forth above, for a further description of our Audit Committee’s responsibilities and its recommendation with respect to our audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Compensation and Talent Committee
Pediatrix’s Compensation and Talent Committee held six meetings in 2023. Ms. Linynsky, Mr. Starcher and Ms. Weis were members of the committee throughout 2023. Mr. Sansone and Mrs. Young have been members of the committee since May 2023. Ms. Weis has acted as chair of the committee since July 2020. Pediatrix’s Board of Directors determined that each member of the Compensation and Talent Committee during 2023 meets the independence requirements for a New York Stock Exchange listed company.
Pediatrix’s Compensation and Talent Committee has a written charter for the Compensation and Talent Committee setting out the functions that it is to perform. A copy of the Compensation and Talent Committee Charter is available on our website at www.Pediatrix.com.
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DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The primary purpose of Pediatrix’s Compensation and Talent Committee is to assist Pediatrix’s Board of Directors in the discharge of the Board of Directors’ responsibilities relating to compensation of executive officers. The scope of authority of Pediatrix’s Compensation and Talent Committee includes the following:
| • | Evaluating the performance of and setting the compensation for Pediatrix’s Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers; |
| • | Supervising and making recommendations to Pediatrix’s Board of Directors with respect to incentive compensation plans and equity-based plans for executive officers; |
| • | Overseeing the review of the Company’s incentive compensation arrangements to determine whether they encourage excessive risk-taking, including discussing at least annually the relationship between risk management policies and practices and compensation and considering, as appropriate, compensation policies and practices that could mitigate any such risk; |
| • | Reviewing and discussing with management workforce demographics and employee matters, including compensation and employee benefits, training, health and wellness and diversity, equity and inclusion; |
| • | Evaluating whether to engage, retain, or terminate an outside consulting firm for the review and evaluation of Pediatrix’s compensation plans and approving such outside consulting firm’s fees and other retention terms; |
| • | Monitoring compliance with executive stock ownership guidelines; |
| • | Developing and implementing policies with respect to the “clawback” of excess incentive-based compensation paid to any of Pediatrix’s executive officers; and |
| • | Conducting an annual self-assessment of the Compensation and Talent Committee. |
Upon a determination of Pediatrix’s full Compensation and Talent Committee membership, matters may be delegated to a subcommittee for evaluation and recommendation back to the full committee. For a description of the role performed by executive officers and compensation consultants in determining or recommending the amount or form of executive and Director compensation, see “How Pay Decisions are Made.”
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
Pediatrix’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee held three meetings in 2023. Messrs. McEachin and Rucker and Ms. Weis were members of the committee throughout 2023. Mr. Sansone has been a member of the committee since May 2023. Mr. Rucker has acted as chair of the committee since May 2022. Pediatrix’s Board of Directors has determined that each member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee during 2023 meets the independence requirements for a New York Stock Exchange listed company.
Pediatrix’s Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee setting out the functions that it is to perform. A copy of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Charter is available on our website at www.Pediatrix.com.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee assists the Board of Directors with respect to nominating new Directors and committee members and taking a leadership role in shaping the corporate governance of Pediatrix. To fulfill its responsibilities and duties, the committee, among other things, reviews the qualifications and independence of existing Directors and new candidates; assesses the contributions of current Directors; identifies and recommends individuals qualified to be appointed to committees of the Board of Directors; considers rotation of committee members; reviews the charters of the committees and makes recommendations to the full Board of Directors with respect thereto; develops and recommends to the Board of Directors corporate governance principles, including a code of business conduct; and evaluates and recommends succession plans for Pediatrix’s Chief Executive Officer and other senior executives.
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DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Although the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee does not solicit Director nominations, the committee will consider candidates suggested by shareholders in written submissions to Pediatrix’s Secretary in accordance with the procedures described below in the section entitled “Information Concerning Shareholder Proposals.” In evaluating nominees for Director, the committee does not differentiate between nominees recommended by shareholders and others. In identifying and evaluating candidates to be nominated for Director, the committee reviews the desired experience, mix of skills and other qualities required for appropriate Board composition, considering the current Board members and the specific needs of Pediatrix and its Board of Directors as well as other factors as approved by the Board of Directors from time to time. Although the committee does not have a formal policy with regard to the consideration of diversity in identifying Director nominees, the committee’s review process is designed so that the Board of Directors includes members with diverse backgrounds, skills and experience, and represents appropriate financial, clinical and other expertise relevant to the business of Pediatrix. At a minimum, Director candidates must meet the following qualifications: high personal and professional ethics, integrity and values and a commitment to the representation of the long-term interests of our shareholders.
Strategy Committee
Pediatrix’s Strategy Committee did not meet separately in 2023. While the Strategy Committee did not meet on its own in 2023, the full Board of Directors, including the members of the Strategy Committee, met and oversaw items within the Strategy Committee’s purview during 2023. Messrs. McEachin, Sansone and Starcher and Ms. Weis served as members of the Strategy Committee throughout 2023. Mr. Sansone has acted as chair of the committee since July 2020. Pediatrix’s Board of Directors has determined that each member of the Strategy Committee during 2023 met the independence requirements for a New York Stock Exchange listed company.
Pediatrix’s Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for the Strategy Committee setting out the functions that it is to perform. A copy of the Strategy Committee Charter is available on our website at www.Pediatrix.com.
The Strategy Committee reviews, evaluates and oversees the Company’s corporate strategy and identifies opportunities to create value for the Company’s shareholders; reviews with management the Company’s strategy for acquisitions; and makes regular reports and recommendations to the Board regarding its activities.
Risk Considerations in Our Compensation Programs
The Compensation and Talent Committee has reviewed the Company’s compensation structures and policies as they pertain to risk and has determined that the Company’s compensation programs do not create or encourage the taking of risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.
Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions
Sandra Medel, the daughter of Dr. Roger J. Medel, who served as a Director of the Company from 1979 to March 2023, is employed by Pediatrix as Senior Division Counsel and is responsible for providing legal support and advice in the areas of contracting and operations. Ms. Medel’s base salary was $139,695 for 2023. Ms. Medel was paid $17,240 in bonus during 2023 that related to individual and Company performance for the 2022 bonus year, for which the payment percentage was consistent with similarly situated employees. In addition, Pediatrix provided her certain health and other benefits customarily provided to similarly situated employees.
Catherine Stevens, the daughter of Ms. Moore, is employed by Pediatrix as Assistant General Counsel and is responsible for providing legal support and advice in the area of the Company’s defense of its
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DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
commercial litigation. Ms. Stevens does not directly report to Ms. Moore but rather to the Company’s Vice President, Senior Deputy General Counsel. Ms. Stevens’ base salary was $221,304 for 2023 and is expected to be $227,943 for 2024. Ms. Stevens was paid $28,571 in bonus during 2023 that related to individual and Company performance for the 2022 bonus year, for which the payment percentage was consistent with similarly situated employees. In addition, Pediatrix provided her certain health and other benefits customarily provided to similarly situated employees.
Review and Approval of Related Person Transactions
Pediatrix has a written policy for the review and approval or ratification of transactions (i) between Pediatrix and any Pediatrix Director or any other entity in which any Pediatrix Director is a director, officer or has a financial interest; and (ii) in which Pediatrix is or will be a participant and any related person has or will have a direct or indirect material interest. For purposes of the policy, a related person includes any Pediatrix Director or Director nominee, executive officer or holder of more than 5% of the outstanding voting stock of Pediatrix or any of their respective immediate family members. The policy does not apply to transactions pertaining to (i) director or officer compensation that is approved or recommended to Pediatrix’s Board of Directors for approval by Pediatrix’s Compensation and Talent Committee or (ii) the employment by Pediatrix of any immediate family member of a related person in a non-officer position and at compensation levels commensurate with that paid to other similarly situated employees.
Pursuant to the terms of the policy, all covered transactions, if determined to be material by Pediatrix’s General Counsel or if the transaction involves the participation of a member of the Pediatrix Board of Directors, are required to be promptly referred to the disinterested members of the Pediatrix Audit Committee for their review or, if less than a majority of the members of Pediatrix Audit Committee are disinterested, to all the disinterested members of the Pediatrix Board of Directors. Pursuant to the terms of the policy, materiality determinations must be based on the significance of the information to investors in light of all circumstances, including, but not limited to, the (i) relationship of the related persons to the covered transaction, and with each other, (ii) importance to the person having the interest, and (iii) amount involved in the transaction. All transactions involving in excess of $120,000 are automatically deemed to be material pursuant to the terms of the policy.
The disinterested Directors of Pediatrix’s Audit Committee or Board of Directors, as applicable, are required to review such material covered transactions at their next regularly-scheduled meeting, or earlier if a special meeting is called by the Chair of the Audit Committee, and may only approve such a material covered transaction if it has been entered into in good faith and on fair and reasonable terms that are no less favorable to Pediatrix than those that would be available to Pediatrix in a comparable transaction in arm’s length dealings with an unrelated third party at the time it is considered by the disinterested Directors of Pediatrix’s Audit Committee or Board of Directors, as applicable.
All of the transactions described in “Transactions with Related Persons” below were covered transactions under our policy and the policies and procedures required by the policy were followed in connection with the review and approval or ratification of all of such transactions.
Transactions with Related Persons
Since the beginning of 2023, there have been no transactions with related persons other than as described above, and there are no other currently proposed transactions with related persons.
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DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
In 2023, none of our executive officers or Directors was a member of the Board of Directors of any other company where the relationship would be considered a compensation committee interlock under the SEC rules.
Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”)
As a leading provider of women’s and children’s health care services, delivering high-quality, specialized patient care is at the forefront for our affiliated medical practices. In fulfilling our mission to Take great care of the patient, every day and in every wayTM, we uphold unwavering moral values and ethical conduct. Another priority for us is the well-being of our associates, who must consistently and relentlessly be treated with respect, equality, dignity, compassion, empowerment and integrity. Finally, taking care of our patients and associates goes hand-in-hand with taking care of the environment. With a commitment to improving patient outcomes, we are on a mission to continually evolve our social and environmental responsibilities for the greater good of the planet and its various populations. In line with these values, during 2023 we donated $1.8 million to various charities, primarily benefiting women’s and children’s health.
Our ESG Operational Committee is comprised of senior leaders in the Company’s Clinical Services, Operations, Information Technology, Legal, Compliance, Internal Audit, People Services (Human Resources), Finance and Strategy departments. The ESG Operational Committee members were tasked with creating the Company’s formal ESG program based on the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) standards for companies in the business of Healthcare Delivery. The ESG Operational Committee reports frequently to an ESG Executive Committee comprised of our senior management and the Chair of the Board of Directors, which oversees the ESG Operational Committee’s activities and reports to the Compensation and Talent Committee and the full Board of Directors.
Our Sustainability Report for fiscal 2022 outlines our approach and business practices regarding our ESG-related efforts as part of our commitment toward a sustainable future. The Sustainability Report outlines how we as a Company have integrated ESG principles into our operations and aligned them with our overarching business strategy. The Sustainability Report includes our Company policies and current progress in making positive and lasting changes in the areas of environmental sustainability, socially responsible corporate governance, and diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, among others.
Please follow our ESG journey as it develops by visiting the ESG section of our website at: www.pediatrix.com/sustainability, which contains a description of our ESG policies, the full text of our Sustainability Report, and further information on our ESG initiatives.
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Executive Compensation: Compensation Discussion and Analysis (“CD&A”)
Section I: A Message to Our Shareholders
Dear Pediatrix Shareholders,
The principal responsibility of the Compensation and Talent Committee is to design an executive compensation program that attracts and retains the best executive workforce in our industry. We believe that having the highest-quality leadership team in place is critical to our mission: “Take great care of the patient, every day and in every way.”® We also recognize that to best serve our patients and shareholders, we must also fulfill our responsibility to “Take great care of the business.” We strive to design an executive compensation program that is aligned with our mission while delivering value to our shareholders.
The Compensation and Talent Committee is committed to designing our performance-based compensation program to continue to align our executive compensation with value creation for our shareholders.
Members of the Company’s management team and I sought additional engagement with our shareholders in 2022 to better understand their concerns and suggestions related to executive compensation following our “say on pay” proposal receiving only 45% support at our 2022 Annual Meeting. We incorporated those concerns and suggestions into our thought process and decisions during 2023, including the establishment of 2023 performance metrics. As a result of our commitment to continuously strive for improvement and our engagement with our shareholders, our “say on pay” proposal received approval from approximately 97% of the votes cast at our 2023 Annual Meeting.
In response to this feedback, in 2023, the Company began to issue performance-based equity awards with three one-year performance periods to better align executive compensation with the Company’s long-term performance. The performance-based equity awards are also subject to a three-year return on invested capital modifier to hold leaders accountable for the efficient use of capital. In addition, in 2023, the Company began setting measurable goals and weighting for the non-financial components of the Company’s annual bonus program. The Company will continue to provide enhanced disclosure surrounding the annual achievement of non-financial performance metrics in the years ahead.
Beginning on the next page of this Proxy Statement, we present specific information about the compensation paid to our Chief Executive Officer and other Named Executive Officers (“NEOs”) for fiscal year 2023. We have provided information regarding how the Company’s 2023 executive compensation program was designed, as well as how the Compensation and Talent Committee has designed the compensation of Dr. Swift, and our other NEOs, on a go-forward basis.
Finally, we want to thank you for making Pediatrix part of your investment portfolio. You can be confident in our commitment to deliver exceptional performance that drives shareholder value over the long-term and quality care for the patients that depend on Pediatrix.
| Sincerely,
Shirley A. Weis Compensation and Talent Committee Chair | ||
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION: COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS (“CD&A”)
Section II: Compensation and Talent Committee Report
The Compensation and Talent Committee determines the compensation for our Chief Executive Officer and other NEOs and oversees the administration of our executive compensation program. The Compensation and Talent Committee is composed entirely of independent Directors and is advised as necessary by independent consultants and legal counsel. Our Chief Executive Officer provides advice and recommendations to the Compensation and Talent Committee with respect to the compensation of other senior executive officers. Under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, our NEOs for 2023 are:
| • | James D. Swift, M.D., Chief Executive Officer |
| • | C. Marc Richards, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
| • | Curtis B. Pickert, M.D., Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer (formerly Executive Vice President, Clinical Service Division until February 13, 2023) |
| • | Mary Ann E. Moore, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary |
| • | Lee A. Wood, Executive Vice President, National and Market Operations (formerly Senior Vice President, National Operations until February 13, 2023) |
In fulfilling our role, we met and held discussions with the Company’s management and reviewed and discussed this CD&A. Based on our review and such discussions, we recommended to the Board of Directors that the CD&A be included in this Proxy Statement and incorporated by reference into the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Submitted by the Compensation and Talent Committee of the Board of Directors:
Shirley A. Weis
Laura A. Linynsky
Guy P. Sansone
John M. Starcher, Jr.
Sylvia J. Young
This Compensation and Talent Committee Report does not constitute soliciting material and should not be deemed filed or incorporated by reference into any of Pediatrix filings under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate such report by reference.
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION: COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS (“CD&A”)
Section III: Executive Summary
2023 Business Highlights
We are a national medical group comprised of the nation’s leading providers of physician services practicing under the Pediatrix® brand. Pediatrix-affiliated clinicians are committed to providing coordinated, compassionate and clinically excellent services to women, babies and children across the continuum of care, both in hospital settings and office-based practices. Our specialties include obstetrics, maternal-fetal medicine and neonatology complemented by more than 20 pediatric subspecialties. The group’s high-quality, evidence-based care is bolstered by investments in research, education, quality-improvement and safety initiatives. Our unique healthcare model has been in place for more than 40 years, allowing us to focus on what is most important in our industry – taking great care of our patients.
We began 2023 with a new leadership team, led by Dr. James Swift who was appointed as our Chief Executive Officer effective January 1, 2023. In February 2023, Dr. Curt Pickert was appointed our Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and Lee Wood was appointed as our Executive Vice President of National and Market Operations.
During 2023, we faced various headwinds that challenged our operating results, predominantly in the second half of the year. As a result of these challenges, our leadership team took critical steps focused on improving our operating financial results going forward.
First, the decision to transition to a hybrid model for revenue-cycle management services, including utilizing a new third-party vendor, was made during the fourth quarter of 2023. This decision was not made lightly, given the importance of this function to our affiliated physician practices and to our overall operating performance. Our decision to make the change in vendor reflected our need to migrate quickly and completely to a true hybrid model, one that incorporates an internal team focused on front-end functions, that we believe is the appropriate structure to generate optimal performance for Pediatrix.
Second, with the hybrid revenue cycle management model noted above necessitating the addition of internal revenue management staff, management worked, and continues to work, to identify other areas within our support structure where we can operate more efficiently such that our overall general and administrative expense profile remains at a comparable percent of revenue.
Third, although our in-network status has typically been above 95%, we entered 2024 with an even higher in-network position, following successful negotiations with two payors and three states where we previously had been out of network.
Finally, we experienced variations in financial performance within our affiliated physician practices, with operating expenses exceeding top line growth at various practices. We have developed and initiated specific plans for a wide range of practices, encompassing structural, tactical and strategic steps with the ultimate goal to stabilize our practice-level margin profiles.
Accordingly, our leadership team has identified three key priorities as we head into 2024: effectively transitioning to a strong, sustainable revenue cycle management program; generating continued efficiencies across our support structure; and maintaining strong payor relationships and a high in-network status.
Despite the operating challenges we face, we continue to believe our current debt structure provides us with an efficient capital structure that offers optimal flexibility and liquidity for the foreseeable future as we seek to generate value for our shareholders.
We look forward to executing on our key priorities in 2024.
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION: COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS (“CD&A”)
2023 Financial Information
Key financial results for the last three fiscal years are highlighted in the tables below.
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Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation and amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”) is a non-GAAP financial measure. For a description of the rationale for our presentation of Adjusted EBITDA and a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, please see the disclosure under the caption “Non-GAAP Measures” beginning on page 65 in the Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Income from continuing operations was negatively impacted by impairment losses and transformation and restructuring related expenses. Excluding such losses and expenses, our income from continuing operations was $200.0 million and $157.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2023, respectively.
Response to Say-on-Pay Vote and Shareholder Outreach
Each year, we provide our shareholders with the opportunity to approve, or vote against, the compensation of our NEOs (“say-on-pay”). In 2023, our shareholders overwhelmingly approved our 2022 executive compensation program as disclosed in our 2023 proxy statement.
We are committed to helping our investors understand our executive compensation program, including how it aligns the interests of our executives with our shareholders and how it rewards the achievement of our strategic objectives. We believe that the continued delivery of sustainable long-term value to our shareholders requires regular dialogue. To this end, we regularly make efforts to engage in discussions with our shareholders to obtain a deeper understanding of our investors’ views regarding our compensation program and other important topics, including Company performance and operations, strategic direction, risk and operational oversight and leadership, among other
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION: COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS (“CD&A”)
matters. Outside of formal engagement efforts, we interact throughout the year with our shareholders and make ourselves available to them at their request.
Conversations with our shareholders were generally led by our Senior Vice President, Finance and Strategy, and often included other representatives of our senior management team, including our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and/or General Counsel.
In the area of Company operations, risks and opportunities, topics of particular shareholder interest were the regulatory environment, specifically the implementation of the No Surprises Act and our relationships with health insurance carriers; our transition to a hybrid revenue-cycle management function; and clinical compensation cost trends as related to the broader inflationary environment. As we have done historically, we utilized the input and interest from our shareholder discussions to inform our own disclosures, specifically disclosures contained in our annual and quarterly reports and earnings conference calls.
In the area of executive compensation, consistent with the approval of our 2022 executive compensation program as disclosed in our 2023 proxy statement by approximately 97% of the shares voted, shareholders expressed their support for the changes to our executive compensation program effective for 2023, particularly the reduction of Chief Executive Officer target compensation, our shift to issuing performance-based equity awards with three one-year performance periods to better align pay with long-term performance, our implementation of a return on invested capital (“ROIC”) component as an additional performance measure for our performance-based equity awards and the annual establishment of set qualitative non-financial goals with assigned weighting, among other things.
Reduction of CEO Target Compensation
| We have over time materially reduced the amount of target compensation for our Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Swift’s annual target compensation in 2023 was approximately $3.0 million less than the annual target direct compensation of Mr. Ordan, our prior Chief Executive Officer, in 2022 (his final year as Chief Executive Officer) and was approximately $5.65 million less than the annual target direct compensation of Dr. Medel, our Chief Executive Officer prior to Mr. Ordan, in his final year as Chief Executive Officer. While acknowledging that the comparisons prior to 2021 are difficult due to the structural changes to compensation since that time, following discussions with our shareholders and benchmarking conducting by our compensation | ||
| consultant, the Compensation and Talent Committee believes that our current Chief Executive Officer compensation levels reflect our comprehensively restructured Company and are aligned with those of our peers. | ||
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION: COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS (“CD&A”)
Multi-Year Performance Goals
While historically the Company has not incorporated financial goals over a multi-year period (such as cumulative earnings over three years) into our executive compensation program due to the uncertainties surrounding the environment for our business in the long term, following substantive discussions with our shareholders during 2022 and early 2023 regarding the duration of the performance measures used in our executive compensation program, we determined that the Company’s executive compensation program could be designed to better align pay with long-term performance.
Beginning in 2023, our performance-based equity awards have three one-year performance periods with new performance goals set at the beginning of each year for that year. Awards for which the performance goals have been met will vest at the end of the full three-year period. Beginning in 2023, we also implemented a ROIC modifier, measured over the three-year cumulative performance period, as an additional performance measure for these performance-based equity awards. We believe this approach balances the Compensation and Talent Committee’s desire to align compensation with long-term performance and the risk that comes with setting three-year goals that would necessarily need to reflect assumptions and projections about various expense-related initiatives, acquisition-related activities, including size, type, timing and volume of acquisitions, organic growth initiatives, same-unit volumes, and reimbursement-related factors, including payor mix during the measurement period. During our conversations, shareholders expressed support for our updated approach to performance-based equity awards.
Structured Non-Financial Metrics
Our discussions also showed support for the structure of our current bonus program, which includes both a financial component to focus on Adjusted Income from Operations as a measure of our profitability, and non-financial metrics to align compensation with our strategic goals.
Shareholders supported our move to a more structured process to review and assess the performance of non-financial performance metrics in 2023. Beginning in 2023, we established clear non-financial bonus metrics at the beginning of each year with the weighting of various categories/metrics. In addition, we added enhanced disclosure in our 2023 proxy statement related to our achievement of non-financial performance metrics during 2022 and intend to continue to describe the assessment process and key considerations in scoring the results on an annual basis in our proxy statements. With these changes following shareholder feedback, our Compensation and Talent Committee believes that the compensation program for our executives is constructed in a way to maximize long-term shareholder value. For more information on the Compensation and Talent Committee’s approach to measuring pay for performance, see the section entitled Measuring Pay-for-Performance at Pediatrix.
ESG Initiatives
Our ESG Committee is composed of individuals in senior roles in multiple departments of the Company and is tasked with the implementation of our ESG program and our continuing efforts related to ESG initiatives. As part of the diversity component of our ESG program, we have committed to reporting on the ethnic and gender diversity of our Directors in this Proxy Statement. More information on the diversity of our Board can be found in the diversity grid on page 24 of this Proxy Statement.
We strive to foster a culture of trust and respect where all employees have a sense of belonging. As of December 31, 2023, approximately 80% of our total headcount was female and over 40% of our total headcount identified as a person of color. Among our affiliated physicians and other clinical professionals, approximately 75% were female and over 35% identified as a person of color. Among the executive and senior executive level and manager group, over 40% were female and approximately 20% identified as a person of color.
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|
Measuring Pay-for-Performance at Pediatrix
| ||||||||
| - | In the healthcare services industry, company stock prices at any point in time can be significantly affected by changes (actual or anticipated) in the regulatory or payor environment. Additionally, regulatory changes affect different healthcare companies in varying ways. For Pediatrix specifically, factors such as effects of same-unit volume and reimbursement-related factors, including payor mix shifts from commercial to government payors, are often unpredictable. | |||||||
| - | Payor mix shifts, which represents a shift in the patient population from private healthcare insurance programs (i.e., commercial programs) to government-sponsored healthcare programs (i.e., Medicaid) is extremely difficult to forecast over a long-term period. However, these payor mix shifts directly impact both top-line growth and profitability as the reimbursement received is materially lower for government-sponsored healthcare programs than commercial payors, and a shift in payor mix to government payors can result in a significant reduction in our average reimbursement rates. | |||||||
| - | For these reasons, we have not used relative total shareholder return as a key performance metric in our executive compensation programs. Instead, our performance goals have been focused on internal key financial metrics that we believe drive long-term value creation and will focus management on not just growing our business, but doing so profitability, such as Adjusted Income from Operations and Adjusted EBITDA. We believe that meeting these metrics will over time translate into increased shareholder value. For equity-based awards, we believe that our share price should ultimately reflect whether we have executed this strategy successfully and more specifically, the three-year cliff vesting schedule for our performance-based equity grants encourages our officers to maintain a long-term perspective while the three-year back-end weighted vesting schedule for our time-based equity grants also encourages such behavior due to half of the award vesting in year three. | |||||||
| - | For many of these same reasons, we have historically not incorporated financial goals over a multi-year period (such as cumulative earnings over three years) into our executive compensation program. Our long-term strategy emphasizes continued growth through a disciplined approach in acquiring established physician practices and growing organically in our specialties or adjacent specialties, and any multi-year goals would necessarily need to reflect assumptions and projections about both the level and type of acquisitions made during the measurement period and other growth and expense related items that are difficult to predict over a longer term. While we believe that the three-year back-end weighted (25%, 25%, 50%) vesting schedule for our time-based equity grants that we transitioned to in 2021 following shareholder feedback is a good approach to align a long-term commitment to growth from our executive team, in an effort to have a stronger link between pay and long-term performance, our performance-based equity awards also consist of three one-year performance periods and any shares earned will only vest at the end of that three-year period. | |||||||
| - | New performance goals will be established at the beginning of each year, and awards for which the performance goals have been met will not vest until the end of the full three-year period. In addition to using Adjusted EBITDA as a performance measure, beginning in 2023, our performance-based equity awards are subject to a three-year ROIC modifier to hold leaders accountable for the efficient use of capital. The Compensation and Talent Committee believes that this approach demonstrates our continued commitment to aligning pay with performance - with a view to long-term performance - and is in the best interests of all of Pediatrix’s constituents. The Compensation and Talent Committee will continue to refine its approach as the healthcare landscape continues to evolve. | |||||||
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION: COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS (“CD&A”)
CEO Pay At-A-Glance
More than 75% of the target direct compensation (sum of base salary, target bonus and grant value of stock awards, including performance shares at target) of Dr. James D. Swift, our Chief Executive Officer, is variable and linked to financial performance results, as was the case for the percentage of target direct compensation that was variable for Mr. Ordan, our prior Chief Executive Officer, in his final year as Chief Executive Officer, and Dr. Medel, our Chief Executive Officer prior to Mr. Ordan, in his final year as Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Swift’s annual target compensation was determined by taking into account the size and performance of the Company as well as the tenure of Dr. Swift as our new Chief Executive Officer and is substantially lower than the target compensation of Dr. Swift’s predecessors. Dr. Swift’s annual target compensation is $3.0 million less than the target direct compensation of Mr. Ordan in his final year as Chief Executive Officer and is $5.65 million less than the annual target direct compensation of Dr. Medel in his final year as Chief Executive Officer.
The charts below reflect the elements of target Chief Executive Officer total direct compensation for Dr. Swift for 2023, the first full year during which he served as Chief Executive Officer, and Mr. Ordan for 2022. The charts illustrate the alignment of Chief Executive Officer pay to the Company’s performance and shareholder value. For more information on Dr. Swift’s performance share awards and restricted stock awards for 2023, please see the section below entitled 2023 Equity-Based Awards.
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION: COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS (“CD&A”)
Elements of Pay
Our pay philosophy was supported by the following pay elements in our executive compensation program for 2023:
| Element |
Form | Description | ||
| Base Salary | Cash (Fixed) | Provides a competitive level of pay that reflects the executive’s experience, role and responsibilities and performance. | ||
| Annual Bonus | Cash (Variable) | Based 80% on annual Adjusted Income from Operations performance and 20% on certain non-financial metrics. | ||
| Long-Term Incentives | Equity (Variable) | Comprised of 50% restricted stock that vests over three years (back end weighted) and 50% performance shares tied to the achievement of annual Adjusted EBITDA targets and a three-year ROIC modifier. Any performance shares earned will vest at the end of the full three-year period, which is a change made beginning in 2023 in response to shareholder feedback.
| ||
In 2023, we adjusted the performance share aspect of our long-term incentives by issuing performance-based equity awards with three one-year performance periods. New performance goals will be set at the beginning of each year and awards for which the performance goals have been met will vest at the end of the full three-year period. In addition, the performance shares are also subject to a three-year ROIC modifier that may adjust the final payout up or down by as much as 20%.
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION: COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS (“CD&A”)
Section IV: Overview of the Executive Compensation Program
The Guiding Principles of Our Pay Philosophy
The Compensation and Talent Committee has historically designed our executive compensation program with the following guiding principles in mind:
| • | Quality of Personnel and Competitiveness. We are committed to employing the highest quality executive team in the healthcare services industry. We expect our executives to be of the highest caliber in terms of business acumen and integrity. We closely analyze and understand compensation for executives at similarly situated companies to as part of our efforts to effectively compete for and retain key talent. |
| • | Alignment of Interests. We must offer a total executive compensation package that best supports our leadership talent and growth strategies and focuses executives on financial and operational results. We use a mix of fixed and variable (at-risk) pay to support these objectives, by giving our executives a substantial equity stake in the business and rewarding them for performance that drives shareholder value over the long term. |
| • | Compliance with Regulatory Guidelines and Sensible Standards of Corporate Governance. We monitor our compliance with applicable laws, rules, statutes, regulations and guidelines and monitor our compensation program on an ongoing basis for compliance with the applicable requirements. Specifically, we focus on relevant considerations in the areas of accounting cost, tax impact, cash flow constraints, risk management and other sensible standards of good corporate governance. |
How Pay Decisions Are Made
The Compensation and Talent Committee, composed solely of independent Directors, is responsible for making pay decisions for the NEOs. The Compensation and Talent Committee works very closely with its independent consultant and management to examine pay and performance matters throughout the year. After conducting a formal request for proposal process in 2022, the Compensation and Talent Committee engaged Semler Brossy Consulting Group (“Semler Brossy”) as its independent consultant for 2022 and again for 2023. The Compensation and Talent Committee’s written charter can be accessed on the Pediatrix website at www.Pediatrix.com.
The Role of the Compensation and Talent Committee and Management
One of the primary roles of the Compensation and Talent Committee is to assist Pediatrix’s Board of Directors in the discharge of the Board’s responsibilities related to executive compensation matters, which include:
| • | Evaluating the performance of and setting pay for the Chief Executive Officer and other NEOs; |
| • | Supervising and making recommendations to the Board of Directors about changes to the executive compensation program; |
| • | Overseeing the annual review of the Company’s incentive compensation elements to determine whether they encourage excessive risk taking, including discussing the relationship between risk management policies and practices and pay; |
| • | Evaluating whether to engage, retain, or terminate an outside consulting firm for the review and evaluation of Pediatrix’s executive compensation program and approving such outside consulting firm’s fees and other retention terms; and |
| • | Conducting an annual self-assessment of the Compensation and Talent Committee’s performance. |
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION: COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS (“CD&A”)
The Chief Executive Officer does not play any role in the Compensation and Talent Committee’s determination of his own pay; however, the Compensation and Talent Committee solicits input from the Chief Executive Officer concerning the performance and compensation of the other NEOs. The Chief Executive Officer bases his recommendations on his assessment of each individual’s performance, tenure and experience in the role, external market pay practices, retention risk and Pediatrix’s overall pay philosophy.
The Role of Independent Consultants
The Compensation and Talent Committee, with extensive advice and input from its advisors and our shareholders, continually reviews executive compensation for alignment with our pay philosophy and, as necessary, retains the services of an independent consultant to assist in such review. The Compensation and Talent Committee has assessed the independence of Semler Brossy pursuant to applicable SEC rules, New York Stock Exchange listing standards and its own committee charter and concluded that no conflict of interest exists that would prevent Semler Brossy from independently advising the Compensation and Talent Committee.
Assessing External Market Practice
As part of our pay philosophy, our executive compensation program is designed to attract, motivate and retain our executives in an increasingly competitive and complex talent market. To this end, we regularly evaluate industry-specific and general market compensation practices and trends to assess whether our program features and NEO pay opportunities remain appropriately competitive. The Compensation and Talent Committee considers publicly available data, provided by its independent compensation consultant, for informational purposes when making its pay decisions. However, market data are not the sole determinants of the Company’s practices or executive pay levels. When determining salaries, target bonus opportunities and annual equity grants for NEOs, the Compensation and Talent Committee also considers the performance of the Company and the individual, the nature of an individual’s role within the Company, internal comparisons to the compensation of other Company officers, tenure with the Company and experience in the officer’s current role.
In evaluating the peer group composition, the Compensation and Talent Committee generally considers companies that meet the following criteria:
| • | Companies that are reasonably similar in size based on revenue and market capitalization. Generally, these companies fall within a range of 0.5x to 2x the Company’s revenue and 0.25x to 4x the Company’s market capitalization; |
| • | Organizations operating in either the Healthcare or Diversified Support Services industries, with a focus towards those that provide care in clinical settings; or |
| • | Entities that compete with the Company for executive talent or have comparable skill requirements at the executive level. |
Following its review, the Compensation and Talent Committee approved the peer group identified below for the purpose of 2023 compensation comparisons. This group was updated from 2022 to better reflect our company size and as such included the removal of several larger peers (such as AMN Healthcare Services, Inc., Apollo Medical Holdings, Inc. and R1 RCM, Inc.).
| • Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. |
• The Ensign Group. Inc. | |
| • Addus HomeCare Corporation |
• Healthcare Services Group, Inc. | |
| • Amedisys, Inc. |
• ModivCare Inc. | |
| • Aveanna Healthcare Holdings Inc. |
• National HealthCare Corporation | |
| • Brookdale Senior Living, Inc. |
• Premier, Inc. | |
| • Chemed Corporation |
• RadNet, Inc. | |
| • Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. |
• Surgery Partners, Inc. | |
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION: COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS (“CD&A”)
Section V: The Executive Compensation Program in Detail
Base Salary
The Compensation and Talent Committee reviews and approves base salary levels for our NEOs. Base salary decisions generally reflect the Compensation and Talent Committee’s consideration of the external market practices of our peer group for comparable positions, published survey data and subjective factors including the individual’s experience, role, responsibilities and performance.
2023 Base Salary Decisions
The 2023 base salaries for the NEOs were as follows:
| NEO |
2023 Base Salary | |
| James D. Swift, M.D. |
$650,000 | |
| C. Marc Richards |
$500,000 | |
| Curtis B. Pickert, M.D. |
$500,000 | |
| Mary Ann E. Moore |
$475,000 | |
| Lee A. Wood |
$425,000 | |
Dr. Swift’s base salary was increased from $450,000 to $650,000 in connection with his promotion to Chief Executive Officer on January 1, 2023. Dr. Pickert’s base salary was increased from $425,000 to $500,000 in connection with his promotion to Chief Operating Officer.
Annual Bonuses
The NEOs participate in an annual bonus program, which is administered under the shareholder-approved Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. Amended and Restated 2008 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Plan”). The annual bonus is designed to recognize performance achievements primarily focused on our Company’s results of operations during its fiscal year.
The Compensation and Talent Committee uses guidelines and may apply either positive or negative discretion to adjust the bonuses based on the actual level of income from operations achieved, as well as other performance goals established for individual NEOs. In addition, the Compensation and Talent Committee uses a performance range at the target bonus level to minimize the variability of potential payouts.
2023 Annual Bonus Program
In response to shareholder feedback, the Company considers both financial and non-financial metrics as components of the executive annual performance bonus program. The program requires achievement of certain non-financial metrics in order to earn 20% of the target bonus amount. The remaining 80% of the target amount would be earned upon the achievement of certain Adjusted Income from Operations goals.
Financial Metrics
In 2023, the financial component of the bonus guidelines was based on income from operations, adjusted to exclude transformational and restructuring related activities. Consideration was also given to those factors that impacted previous year results (positively or negatively) but were not anticipated to impact 2023 results with the same magnitude.
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION: COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS (“CD&A”)
Why We Use Adjusted Income From Operations
The Compensation and Talent Committee uses adjusted income from operations as its sole financial performance measure for annual bonuses. This measure is used to encourage our NEOs to focus on efficiently managing our business and to execute on our growth strategy. We strive to set financial targets that are both challenging and realistic.
The financial components of the 2023 bonus guidelines were as follows:
| Adjusted Income from Operations: Performance Goals* |
% of Target Bonus Payout |
|||
| Less than $168,000,000 |
0% | |||
| $176,000,000 |
50% | |||
| $185,000,000 |
90% | |||
| $194,000,000 |
100% | |||
| $202,000,000 |
110% | |||
| $210,000,000 |
150% | |||
| $218,000,000 |
200% | |||
| Adjusted Income from Operations was $157,852,000 representing a payout of 0% of target bonus |
| |||
Actual target bonus payout percentages would increase proportionately between each percentage amount based on the Adjusted Income from Operations achieved by the Company.
| * | Adjusted Income from Operations (“AIFO”) is defined as Income From Operations calculated in accordance with GAAP and was adjusted to exclude goodwill impairment and transformational and restructuring related activities. |
Non-Financial Metrics
The non-financial metrics used in 2023 were as follows: (i) design a diversity, equity and inclusion program tailored to the Company’s associates that fosters an inclusive culture and encourages respect and cultural competency, drives equitable outcomes, mitigates bias in decision-making, and advances diverse representation at all levels of the organization; (ii) develop a comprehensive plan and strategy for a long term, cost conscious integrated electronic health records, billing and related systems technology solution, inclusive of a proposal for timely and effective implementation of such technology; (iii) establish a viable operational and economic plan and proposal for an alternative to the Company’s then-current revenue cycle management vendor structure to include alternatives to existing vendor relationships; and (iv) establish healthcare worker professional fulfillment and well-being as a core value across the enterprise, implementing systems, programs, and resources to measure and promote same.
2023 Annual Bonus Decisions
The Compensation and Talent Committee establishes each NEO’s target annual bonus opportunity as a percentage of base salary in effect at the end of the year. Dr. Swift’s target bonus opportunity as a percentage of base salary was increased from 100% to 125% in connection with his appointment as Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Pickert’s target bonus opportunity as a percentage of base salary was increased from 50% to 100% in connection with his appointment as Chief Operating Officer and Mr. Woods’ target bonus opportunity as a percentage of base salary was increased from 50% to 75% in connection with his appointment as Executive Vice President, National and Market Operations. The maximum bonus opportunity for each NEO is equal to 200% of the NEO’s target bonus opportunity.
In March 2023, the Compensation and Talent Committee established the AIFO performance goals set forth in the table above. In February 2024, the Compensation and Talent Committee conducted its annual review of the NEOs in the course of making annual bonus determinations. The Compensation and Talent Committee paid particular attention to the substantial efforts that the NEOs had
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION: COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS (“CD&A”)
undertaken with respect to implementing the Company’s hybrid revenue-cycle management structure, increasing in-network status (including successful negotiations with two payors in three states where we previously had been out of network), navigating the No Surprises Act and positioning Pediatrix for reliable cash flow and future growth. Accordingly, the focus and successful execution on these efforts by the NEOs is expected to generate long-term shareholder value. In light of the foregoing and given the macroeconomic conditions impacting the healthcare industry nationally, and considering retention considerations for a new executive team, the Compensation and Talent Committee recommended approval by the Board of Directors of a 60% payment for the financial performance metric component for all NEOs despite not meeting the previously established AIFO performance goals. The Compensation and Talent Committee and Board of Directors both determined that approving such payment despite not meeting the performance goals was in the long term interests of the Company and its shareholders to both recognize the efforts of the NEOs and incentivize the NEOs’ future performance. The Compensation and Talent Committee believes the approval of a bonus payment for the financial performance metric component despite the Company’s failure to meet the performance goals will be an isolated incident resulting from extraordinary circumstances and is not expecting such bonuses to be a recurring component of the annual bonus program following the Company’s transition to its new hybrid revenue-cycle management structure.
The Compensation and Talent Committee approved a 100% achievement on the non-financial component of the annual bonus program. A summary of the Company’s achievements pertaining to the non-financial components of the annual bonus program is below.
| Component |
Achievements | |
| Design a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) program tailored to the Company’s associates that fosters an inclusive culture and encourages respect and cultural competency, drives equitable outcomes, mitigates bias in decision-making, and advances diverse representation at all levels of the organization |
• Evaluated the current demographic representation of our employees, identified areas of opportunity related to recruitment/promotions/retention, built awareness around those gaps, and partnered with appropriate stakeholders to form action plans to address them
• Evolved our DEI governance by establishing an employee Diversity Council, DEI Executive Advisory Board, and Employee Resource Group (ERG) structure
• Expanded awareness, cultural competency and education on key and relevant DEI topics with a specific focus on supporting our marginalized and underrepresented employees, as well as similar patient communities
• Upskilled leaders with tools and resources to drive DEI strategic focus areas and enable them to lead the way at the local level
• Branded Pediatrix as an inclusive and sustainable organization through both internal and external channels to align with our desire to be an employer of choice | |
| Develop a comprehensive plan and strategy for a long term, cost conscious integrated electronic health records, billing and related systems technology solution |
• Completed an updated system requirements document for existing and potential technology partners
• Completed potential vendor functionality assessments and presented vendor evaluation findings and summary of costs to executive leadership
• Developed an implementation plan for the chosen technology |
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| Component |
Achievements | |
| Establish a viable operational and economic plan and proposal for an alternative to our current revenue cycle management (RCM) vendor structure to include alternatives to existing vendor relationships |
• Made efforts to stabilize current revenue cycle activity, including establishing an RCM oversight team and increasing internal capabilities
• Completed evaluation of alternative vendors and the potential of re-internalizing RCM
• Developed go forward strategy and execution plan | |
| Establish healthcare worker professional fulfillment and well-being as a core value across the enterprise, implementing systems, programs, and resources |
• Promoted awareness and understanding of the components of professional fulfillment to operational and clinical teams
• Launched Office of Professional Fulfillment and Well-Being, and Interdisciplinary Steering and Wellness committees
• Created multi-directional communication channels to provide awareness of company resources and points of access to clinical and operational team
• Implemented evidence-based tools to measure well-bring, fulfillment and engagement across the enterprise and identified opportunities for action
• Identified and engaged physician champions to lead shared-learning cohorts across key well-being and leadership workstreams | |
Accordingly, the bonus earned equaled 68% of target, representing the non-financial component being paid at 100% and a 60% payout with respect to the financial component. Accordingly, the following actual bonuses were paid.
| Name |
Maximum Annual Bonus as a % of Base Salary |
Target Annual Bonus as a % of Base Salary |
Actual Annual Bonus as a % of Target |
Actual Bonus ($) | ||||||||||||||||
| Dr. Swift |
250 | % | 125 | % | 68 | % | $ | 552,500 | ||||||||||||
| Mr. Richards |
200 | % | 100 | % | 68 | % | $ | 340,000 | ||||||||||||
| Dr. Pickert |
200 | % | 100 | % | 68 | % | $ | 340,000 | ||||||||||||
| Ms. Moore |
200 | % | 100 | % | 68 | % | $ | 323,000 | ||||||||||||
| Mr. Wood |
150 | % | 75 | % | 68 | % | $ | 216,750 | ||||||||||||
Equity-Based Awards
2023 Equity-Based Awards
The Compensation and Talent Committee approved the annual equity-based awards outlined below in February 2023 with a March 1, 2023 grant date for the NEOs. These equity-based awards were divided equally into performance share awards and time-based restricted stock awards. Dr. Swift’s target equity award opportunity was increased from $825,000 to $1,537,500 based on his new role as Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Pickert’s target equity award opportunity was increased from
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION: COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS (“CD&A”)
$750,000 to $1,000,000 based on his new role as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Ms. Moore’s target equity award opportunity was increased from $750,000 to $1,000,000 to bring her target equity award in line with market median. Mr. Wood’s target equity award opportunity was increased from $500,000 to $750,000 based on his new role as Executive Vice President, National and Market Operations.
50% of the equity-based awards for 2023 were granted in performance shares that:
| Use a financial metric: |
Have rigorous performance goals: | |
| Shares are earned based on the achievement of Adjusted EBITDA goals, which we believe drive shareholder value creation. We believe Adjusted EBITDA is a key driver of market capitalization value and is linked to shareholder returns. In addition, beginning in 2023, the vesting of the performance share awards is also subject to a ROIC payout modifier, as discussed further below. | One-third of the target award was eligible to be earned if 2023 Adjusted EBITDA equaled or exceeded $235 million. NEOs were eligible to receive an above-target payout for one-third of the target award only if Adjusted EBITDA equaled or exceeded $245 million. The Adjusted EBITDA performance goals for years two and three of the three-year performance period will be established at the beginning of each year during the performance period. These goals vary year-to-year, based on various factors that may have a direct impact on the results for the performance period, including the effects of volume and reimbursement-related factors and acquisition and organic growth-related activities.
| |
| The approach described in the table above reflects the Compensation and Talent Committee’s desire to set rigorous performance goals in a highly volatile and uncertain environment, while also rewarding NEOs when the Company achieves these goals and delivers sustained results for our shareholders. | Why We Use Adjusted EBITDA
We from time to time incur certain expenses that we do not consider representative of our underlying operations, including transformational and restructuring related expenses. Accordingly, we report Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations, defined as income (loss) from continuing operations before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, and transformational and restructuring related expenses. The Adjusted EBITDA measure is also intended to be further adjusted as necessary to exclude various non-ordinary course activities such as the impairment losses in 2023. The Compensation and Talent Committee strives to set financial targets that are both challenging and realistic and uses Adjusted EBITDA as a performance measure for its equity-based awards because it believes that it more accurately reflects underlying business trends and performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis. | |
|
In setting financial performance goals for the performance share awards, the Compensation and Talent Committee received recommendations from management based on the Company’s strategic plan for the performance measurement period. The Compensation and Talent Committee, working with its independent compensation consultant and Company management, evaluated the impact of various drivers on revenue and Adjusted EBITDA in determining the 2023 grants. | ||
|
The 2023 performance goals incorporate specific factors that were expected to have a direct impact on the results for this performance period, while remaining challenging to achieve. The targets for the 2023 performance period differ from the Company’s historical five-year averages because of volatility in the various drivers that impact results from year to year. Other drivers considered in setting the performance goals included but were not necessarily limited to: acquisition-related activities, including size, |
type, timing and volume of acquisitions; organic growth initiatives; various expense-related initiatives; same-unit volume growth; and reimbursement-related factors, including payor mix. The Compensation and Talent Committee established Adjusted EBITDA goals that reflected the financial
| Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. | 44 | 2024 Proxy Statement |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION: COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS (“CD&A”)
challenges and uncertain operating environment at the time the goals were established, particularly with regard to year-over-year changes in Adjusted EBITDA, that the Compensation and Talent Committee felt were rigorous yet achievable. At the time the goals were approved, the Company’s internal forecast for the performance share measurement period projected an improvement in Adjusted EBITDA as compared to 2022.
The Compensation and Talent Committee believes the above approach used to establish financial performance goals for performance share awards results in goals that are challenging yet realistic and achievable, adequately rigorous and effective in continuing to motivate the executive team. Accordingly, the Committee believes the performance shares awarded appropriately align Company performance with executive compensation.
While this discussion of 2023 equity awards relates to performance targets for the 2023 performance period, we believe our approach to granting performance shares also creates long-term alignment, given that the value of the award realized by the NEOs will depend on the value of our stock when the shares vest over a multi-year period, with any of the earned performance shares vesting in the third year, as opposed to prior year grants where half of the performance shares vest on an annual basis over a two year period and half vest in the third year.
Beginning in 2023, our performance-based equity awards have three, one-year performance periods, with new performance goals established at the beginning of each year for that year. Awards for which the performance goals have been met will vest at the end of the full three-year period. We have also implemented a ROIC modifier, measured over a three-year period, as an additional performance measure for these performance-based equity awards.
As a result, we believe our NEOs are incentivized not only to execute the Company’s strategy but also to maintain discipline in its acquisition and organic growth-related activities and processes in order to generate sustainable longer-term growth and increased shareholder value. We believe our approach also addresses our critical need to retain the highest-caliber executives — especially as the challenges in the healthcare sector grow increasingly more complex and competition for executive talent in the healthcare sector increases.
| 2024 Proxy Statement | 45 | Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION: COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS (“CD&A”)
The table below outlines the 2023 equity award program:
| Equity Component |
How It Works | |||||
| Performance Share
Purpose: To have the percentage of shares earned vary with Company performance achievement of pre-established goals |
• Performance share awards divided into three equal tranches, with grant dates of March 1, 2023, March 1, 2024 and March 1, 2025.
• The performance share award is tied to three different annual Adjusted EBITDA results.
• Performance for the first tranche was measured over a one-year period from January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023. Adjusted EBITDA performance measures for the March 1, 2024 and March 1, 2025 grant dates will be determined in 2024 and 2025, respectively.
• If shares are earned during this initial measurement period, they will vest on March 1, 2026, subject to continued employment.
• Shares earned will be subject to a ROIC modifier, such that any earned shares may be decreased by 20% or increased by 20%, based on three-year average ROIC. If the three-year average ROIC is below 5%, the earned share amount will be decreased by 20%. If the three-year average ROIC is above 12%, the earned share amount will be increased by 20%. The maximum overall payout is capped at 200% of target.
• Shares earned may vary from 0% to 200% of target based on achievement of Adjusted EBITDA results during the initial measurement period:
| |||||
| Adjusted EBITDA Achieved* |
Shares Earned(1) | |||||
| $205,000,000 or Below | 0% | |||||
| $215,000,000 | 50% | |||||
| $225,000,000 | 90% | |||||
| $235,000,000 | 100% | |||||
| $245,000,000 | 110% | |||||
| $255,000,000 | 150% | |||||
| $265,000,000 or Above | 200% | |||||
|
* To be adjusted as necessary to exclude the impacts from the closure or sale of other assets, business and other activities, as well as the impact of the following items that are not anticipated in the Company’s fiscal budget: (i) contract issues, including material changes in reimbursement inconsistent with historical trends, any impact related to surprise billing legislation and any unreasonable conduct of payors prompted by or related to this or similar legislation; (ii) legal settlements or judgments; (iii) the COVID-19 pandemic and its variants; (iv) unplanned startup costs related to the pediatric and urgent care growth initiatives; and (v) other one-time, material items outside of the ordinary course of business of the Company and outside of the control of the Company’s executive management including, but not limited to incremental costs incurred or deterioration in results from a substantial failure by a significant third-party service provider. None of these potential adjustments in (i) — (v) above were used in the 2023 calculations. | ||||||
| (1) Actual percentage of shares earned would be determined by linear interpolation based on the actual growth rate achieved. In each case, any earned performance shares would be subject to additional time-based vesting as described above. | ||||||
| Restricted Stock
Purpose: To encourage the retention of executives, while providing a continuing incentive to increase shareholder value since the realized value of the award will depend on the Company’s share price at the time an award vests.
|
• Shares will vest at the rate of one-quarter per year on each of the first two anniversaries of the grant date (March 1, 2024 and March 1, 2025) and one-half on the third anniversary of the grant date (March 1, 2026), subject to continued employment. | |||||
| Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. | 46 | 2024 Proxy Statement |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION: COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS (“CD&A”)
Actual Performance and Shares Earned under the 2023 Performance Share Awards
For the period from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023, the Company’s Adjusted EBITDA, the metric on which the first tranche of the 2023 performance share awards were measured, was $200.4 million. The results corresponded to no performance share awards being earned by any of our NEOs with respect to the first tranche.
Other Practices, Policies & Guidelines
Equity Grant Practices
The Compensation and Talent Committee determines the effective date of annual equity-based awards without regard to current or anticipated stock price levels. The Compensation and Talent Committee made the 2023 annual equity grant to NEOs in March 2023 and may also make, and in the past has made, grants during the course of the year, primarily for new hires, promotions, to retain valued employees or to reward exceptional performance. These grants may be subject to performance conditions and/or time-based vesting and are issued on the date of grant approval or upon a date certain following the grant approval date. The Compensation and Talent Committee does not plan to grant off-cycle awards to any executive officers of the Company unless it is part of their initial hiring process or due to a promotion.
We follow equity grant procedures designed to promote the proper authorization, documentation and accounting for all equity grants. Pursuant to these procedures the Compensation and Talent Committee or the Board of Directors must formally approve all equity awards during an in person or telephonic meeting or by the unanimous written consent executed by all members of the Compensation and Talent Committee or the Board of Directors, as the case may be, it being understood that no equity award granted pursuant to any such written consent may have an effective date earlier than the date that all executed counterparts of such unanimous written consent are delivered to the General Counsel of the Company.
The grant-date fair value of our equity-based awards will be the closing sales price for a share of our common stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on the effective date of the grant as approved by the Compensation and Talent Committee or the Board of Directors, which date may not be prior to either the date such grant was approved or the commencement date of employment of the employee to whom the equity award is being made.
Our “insiders” can only buy or sell Company stock in accordance with our Insider Trading Policy, and our employees generally can only buy or sell Company stock in accordance with our Policy Statement on Inside Information and Insider Trading for All Employees.
NEOs are allowed to vote performance shares and restricted stock as a shareholder based on the number of shares held under restriction. Any dividends declared with respect to any performance share or restricted stock awards would be held until the awards vest, at which time the dividends would be paid to the NEOs. If performance shares or restricted stock are forfeited, the NEO’s rights to receive the dividends declared with respect to those shares would be forfeited as well. At present, the Company does not pay dividends and it has no current intention to do so in the future.
Clawback Policy
The Company previously adopted a “clawback policy” that permits the Company to seek to recover certain amounts of incentive compensation, including both cash and equity, awarded to any executive officer (as defined in the Exchange Act) on or after the effective date of the policy, if payment of such compensation was based on the achievement of financial results that were subsequently the subject of a restatement of our financial statements due to misconduct, and if the executive officer engaged in improper conduct that materially contributed to the need for restatement, and a lower amount of incentive compensation would have been earned based on the restated financial results. Such policy applies to incentive compensation received by an executive officer on or before October 1, 2023.
| 2024 Proxy Statement | 47 | Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION: COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS (“CD&A”)
In November 2023, the Board of Directors approved the NYSE Clawback Policy to comply with the final rules of the New York Stock Exchange regarding the clawback of executive compensation. The NYSE Clawback Policy applies to any incentive-based compensation received by any current or former executive officer on or after October 2, 2023.
Stock Ownership and Retention Policy
The Compensation and Talent Committee believes that the Company’s Board of Directors and NEOs should maintain a material personal financial stake in the Company through the ownership of shares of the Company’s common stock to promote a long-term perspective in managing the enterprise and to align shareholder, Director and executive interests.
Each of our NEOs are required to own shares of Pediatrix common stock with a value of not less than a specified multiple of his or her base salary. The policy also requires NEOs to retain 50% of net after-tax shares acquired during the year upon vesting (or exercise of stock options) unless his or her ownership level was satisfied as of the beginning of the year. These multiples were determined in accordance with current market practice. Each covered person is expected to meet the minimum share ownership value not later than the end of the fifth full calendar year following becoming subject to the policy, a change that was implemented in 2023 to be more in line with peers and given the shorter tenure of the Company’s current executive officers. At December 31, 2023, all of our NEOs were in the transition period under the policy to attain their required stock ownership.
The chart below shows the multiple of base salary ownership requirements and whether the NEOs are in compliance as of December 31, 2023:
| Name |
Ownership Requirement |
Compliance | ||
| Dr. Swift |
5x base salary | Transition Period | ||
| Mr. Richards |
2x base salary | Transition Period | ||
| Dr. Pickert |
2x base salary | Transition Period | ||
| Ms. Moore |
2x base salary | Transition Period | ||
| Mr. Wood |
2x base salary | Transition Period | ||
Shares that count toward the ownership requirement are as follows:
| • | Owned outright by the NEO, or by spouse or dependent children; |
| • | Held in trust for economic benefit of the NEO, or spouse or dependent children; |
| • | Held in the Pediatrix 401(k) plan or other Company-sponsored benefit plan; and |
| • | Restricted shares/units for which the underlying performance conditions have been met and only remain subject to time-based vesting requirements. |
Shares subject to performance-based awards for which the underlying performance conditions have not been met and shares subject to unexercised stock options, whether vested or unvested, do not count towards satisfaction of the guidelines.
The Compensation and Talent Committee will evaluate NEO ownership levels annually and will review this policy from time to time and, following consultation with the Board of Directors, make modifications as necessary or appropriate.
| Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. | 48 | 2024 Proxy Statement |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION: COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS (“CD&A”)
Anti-Hedging and Anti-Pledging Policy
All Pediatrix Directors, management, financial and other insiders are prohibited from engaging in transactions in Pediatrix securities or derivatives of Pediatrix securities that might be considered hedging, such as selling short or buying or selling options. In addition, it is against the policy for such persons to hold securities in margin accounts or pledge Pediatrix securities as collateral for a loan, unless such person clearly demonstrates the financial capacity to repay the loan without resorting to the pledged securities.
Retirement and Deferred Compensation Plans
We maintain the Thrift and Profit-Sharing Plan (the “401(k) Plan”), to enable eligible employees to save for retirement through a tax-advantaged combination of elective employee contributions and our discretionary matching contributions and provide employees the opportunity to directly manage their retirement plan assets through a variety of investment options.
Although the Company maintains a non-qualified deferred compensation plan, none of the NEOs participate in that plan.
The amounts of the Company’s matching contributions under the 401(k) Plan for 2023 for each of the NEOs are included in the “All Other Compensation” column of the 2023 Summary Compensation Table.
Benefits and Perquisites
We provide our NEOs with certain benefits designed to protect them and their immediate families in the event of illness, disability, or death. We believe it is necessary to provide these benefits in order for us to be successful in attracting and retaining executives in a competitive marketplace, and to provide financial security in these circumstances. NEOs are eligible for health and welfare benefits available to similarly situated eligible Company employees during active employment under the same terms and conditions. These benefits include medical, dental, vision, short-term and long-term disability and group-term life insurance coverage.
Pursuant to the terms of their Employment Agreements or as otherwise provided by the Company’s policies, each of the NEOs is entitled to paid time off each year for vacation, illness, injury, personal days and other similar purposes in accordance with our policies in effect from time to time. Any paid time off not used during a calendar year may be carried over to the next year to the extent permitted under those policies.
The Compensation and Talent Committee has reviewed our perquisites expenditures, and believes they continue to be an important element of the overall compensation package to retain current officers, and in fact command a higher perceived value than the actual cost.
Employment Agreements
As described in greater detail below, the Employment Agreements between the Company and each of the NEOs provide for the payment of certain compensation and benefits in the event of the termination of an executive’s employment, the amount of which varies depending upon the reason for such termination. In 2023, each NEO’s employment agreement was amended and restated to provide that, in the event of a termination by the Company without cause or by the NEO for good reason, any time-based equity awards will fully vest and any performance-based equity awards will remain outstanding and vest based on actual performance during the performance period. The Compensation and Talent Committee has reviewed the essential terms of these termination provisions, and believes they are reasonable, appropriate, and generally consistent with market practice. Each NEO’s Employment Agreement provides that if any amount payable to the executive
| 2024 Proxy Statement | 49 | Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION: COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS (“CD&A”)
would be subject to excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code, then the Company will reduce the payment to an amount equal to the largest portion of such payment that would result in no portion of such payment being subject to excise tax (unless such reduction would result in the executive receiving, on an after tax basis, an amount lower than the unreduced payment after taking into account all applicable federal, state and local employment taxes, income taxes and excise taxes, in which case the payment amount would not be reduced).
For a more detailed explanation of the employment agreement terms governing vesting of equity in various termination events, please see the section below entitled “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control”.
| Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. | 50 | 2024 Proxy Statement |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION: COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS (“CD&A”)
2023 Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth the 2023, 2022, and 2021 compensation for our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, and our other NEOs for the time they were deemed to be NEOs.
| Name and Principal Position |
Year | Salary | Bonus | Stock Awards(1) |
Option Awards |
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation |
All Other Compensation |
Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| James D. Swift, M.D. Chief Executive Officer |
2023 | $ | 650,000 | $ | 390,000 | (2) | $ | 1,025,015 | — | $ | 162,500 | $ | 10,324 | (3) | $ | 2,237,839 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | $ | 450,000 | — | $ | 825,007 | — | $ | 90,000 | $ | 9,534 | (3) | $ | 1,374,541 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| C. Marc Richards Executive Vice President and |
2023 | $ | 500,000 | $ | 240,000 | (2) | $ | 933,350 | — | $ | 100,000 | $ | 10,326 | (4) | $ | 1,783,676 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | $ | 500,000 | — | $ | 1,400,019 | — | — | $ | 9,576 | (4) | $ | 1,909,595 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | $ | 500,000 | — | $ | 1,400,004 | — | $ | 780,000 | $ | 8,948 | (4) | $ | 2,688,952 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Curtis B. Pickert, M.D. Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer |
2023 | $ | 500,000 | $ | 240,000 | (2) | $ | 1,026,683 | — | $ | 100,000 | $ | 10,170 | (5) | $ | 1,876,853 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mary Ann E. Moore Executive Vice President, |
2023 | $ | 475,000 | $ | 228,000 | (2) | $ | 1,026,683 | — | $ | 95,000 | $ | 10,305 | (6) | $ | 1,834,988 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | $ | 437,500 | — | $ | 750,006 | — | $ | 95,000 | $ | 9,516 | (6) | $ | 1,292,022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | $ | 364,938 | — | $ | 200,018 | — | $ | 285,978 | $ | 8,948 | (6) | $ | 859,882 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lee A. Wood Executive Vice President, National and Market Operations |
2023 | $ | 425,000 | $ | 153,000 | (2) | $ | 740,009 | — | $ | 63,750 | $ | 10,262 | (7) | $ | 1,392,021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (1) | Stock awards consist of performance share awards and time-based restricted stock awards. The amounts in this column reflect the grant-date fair value of the awards, calculated in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”), but excluding the impact of estimated forfeitures. The amounts included for any performance share awards are calculated based on the probable outcome of the performance conditions for such awards on the grant date. Assuming the highest level of performance is achieved for the performance share awards granted in 2023, the maximum value of these awards at the grant date would be as follows: Dr. Swift-$512,507; Mr. Richards-$466,683; Dr. Pickert-$333,349; Ms. Moore-$333,349; and Mr. Wood-$250,012. See the Grants of Plan-Based Awards in 2023 table for information on restricted stock awards granted in 2023. For information regarding the assumptions made in calculating the amounts reflected in this column, see Note 16, “Stock Incentive Plans and Stock Purchase Plans,” to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K. |
| (2) | Reflects the discretionary portion of the annual cash bonus for services performed in 2023, which amount is in addition to the Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation disclosed in the table. |
| (3) | Reflects additional compensation of $9,900 and $9,150 for 401(k) thrift and profit sharing matching contributions in 2023 and 2022, respectively, and costs incurred by Pediatrix of $424 and $384 for term life insurance coverage in 2023 and 2022, respectively. |
| (4) | Reflects additional compensation of $9,900, $9,150 and $8,700 for 401(k) thrift and profit sharing matching contributions in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and costs incurred by Pediatrix of $426, $426 and $248 for term life insurance coverage in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. |
| (5) | Reflects additional compensation of $9,900 for 401(k) thrift and profit sharing matching contributions in 2023 and costs incurred by Pediatrix of $270 for term life insurance coverage in 2023. |
| (6) | Reflects additional compensation of $9,900, $9,150 and $8,700 for 401(k) thrift and profit sharing matching contributions in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and costs incurred by Pediatrix of $405, $366 and $248 for term life insurance coverage in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. |
| (7) | Reflects additional compensation of $9,900 for 401(k) thrift and profit sharing matching contributions in 2023 and costs incurred by Pediatrix of $362 for term life insurance coverage 2023. |
| 2024 Proxy Statement | 51 | Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION: COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS (“CD&A”)
Grants of Plan-Based Awards in 2023
Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards(1) |
Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards(2) |
All Other Stock Number of shares of stock or units (#)(3) |
Grant Date Fair Value of Stock Awards ($)(4) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Name |
Grant Date |
Approval Date |
Threshold ($) |
Target ($) |
Maximum ($) |
Threshold (#) |
Target (#) |
Maximum (#) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| James D. Swift, M.D. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Annual cash incentive |
N/A | 812,500 | 1,625,000 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Performance share award |
3/1/23 | 2/27/23 | — | — | — | 0 | 16,586 | 33,172 | — | 256,254 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Restricted stock award |
3/1/23 | 2/27/23 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 49,758 | 768,761 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| C. Marc Richards |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Annual cash incentive |
N/A | 500,000 | 1,000,000 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Performance share award |
3/1/23 | 2/27/23 | — | — | — | 0 | 15,103 | 30,206 | — | 233,341 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Restricted stock award |
3/1/23 | 2/27/23 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 45,308 | 700,009 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Curtis B. Pickert, M.D. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Annual cash incentive |
N/A | 500,000 | 1,000,000 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Performance share award |
3/1/23 | 2/27/23 | — | — | — | 0 | 10,788 | 21,576 | — | 166,675 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Restricted stock award |
3/1/23 | 2/27/23 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 55,664 | 860,009 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mary Ann E. Moore |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Annual cash incentive |
N/A | 475,000 | 950,000 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Performance share award |
3/1/23 | 2/27/23 | — | — | — | 0 | 10,788 | 21,576 | — | 166,675 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Restricted stock award |
3/1/23 | 2/27/23 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 55,664 | 860,009 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lee A. Wood |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Annual cash incentive |
N/A | 318,750 | 637,500 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Performance share award |
3/1/23 | 2/27/23 | — | — | — | 0 | 8,091 | 16,182 | — | 125,006 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Restricted stock award |
3/1/23 | 2/27/23 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 39,806 | 615,003 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (1) | These columns reflect the range of payouts for 2023 annual cash bonuses under the Plan. Amounts actually earned in 2023 are reported as Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation in the 2023 Summary Compensation Table. For a more detailed description of the annual cash awards, see the section entitled “Annual Bonuses” in the CD&A. |
| (2) | Represents performance share awards granted under the Plan, for which shares earned have the ability to vary from 0% to 200% of target based on achievement of specified levels of Adjusted EBITDA plus an ROIC modifier during the measurement period. See the section entitled “2023 Equity-Based Awards” in the CD&A for additional information. The performance share awards granted represent the first third of the award. The second third of the performance share award was granted in March 2024, and the final third of the performance share award will be granted in March 2025. |
| (3) | Represents the time-based restricted stock awards granted under the Plan. The restricted stock awards vested 25% on March 1, 2024, 25% will vest on March 1, 2025 and 50% will vest on March 1, 2026, subject to continued employment. For a more detailed description of our restricted stock and equity-based award granting policies, see the section entitled “2023 Equity-Based Awards” in the CD&A. |
| (4) | The grant-date fair value of the performance share awards (based on the probable outcome of such conditions) and restricted stock awards is determined pursuant to the accounting guidance for equity-based compensation and represents the total amount that is expected to be expensed in our financial statements over the relevant vesting periods. For information regarding the assumptions made in calculating the amounts reflected in this column, see Note 16, “Stock Incentive Plans and Stock Purchase Plans,” to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K. |
| Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. | 52 | 2024 Proxy Statement |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION: COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS (“CD&A”)
Outstanding Equity Awards at 2023 Fiscal Year-End
| Stock Awards | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of shares or that have not vested |
Market shares or that have not vested |
Equity Incentive |
Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Yet Vested(1) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| James D. Swift, M.D. |
20,205 | (2) | $ | 187,907 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13,481 | (3) | $ | 125,373 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 49,758 | (4) | $ | 462,749 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 16,586 | (5) | $ | 154,250 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| C. Marc Richards |
34,286 | (2) | $ | 318,860 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 22,877 | (3) | $ | 212,756 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 45,308 | (4) | $ | 421,364 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15,103 | (5) | $ | 140,458 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Curtis B. Pickert, M.D. |
4,082 | (2) | $ | 37,963 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3,083 | (6) | $ | 28,672 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12,255 | (3) | $ | 113,972 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 55,664 | (4) | $ | 517,675 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10,788 | (5) | $ | 100,328 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mary Ann E. Moore |
4,082 | (2) | $ | 37,963 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12,255 | (3) | $ | 113,972 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 55,664 | (4) | $ | 517,675 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10,788 | (5) | $ | 100,328 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lee A. Wood |
4,082 | (2) | $ | 37,963 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3,083 | (6) | $ | 28,672 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8,171 | (3) | $ | 75,990 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 39,806 | (4) | $ | 370,196 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8,091 | (5) | $ | 75,246 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (1) | Based on a stock price of $9.30, which was the closing price of a share of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on December 29, 2023 (the last trading day of 2023). |
| (2) | These performance share awards and restricted stock awards vested on March 1, 2024. |
| (3) | These performance share awards and restricted stock awards vested one-third on March 1, 2024 and the remaining two-thirds will vest on March 1, 2025. |
| (4) | These restricted stock awards vested 25% on March 1, 2024, 25% will vest on March 1, 2025 and 50% will vest on March 1, 2026. |
| (5) | These performance share awards will vest on March 1, 2026, subject to achievement of the applicable performance conditions that will determine the ultimate number of shares earned. |
| (6) | These restricted stock awards will vest on June 1, 2024. |
| 2024 Proxy Statement | 53 | Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION: COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS (“CD&A”)
Stock Vested in Fiscal Year 2023
| Name |
Stock Awards(1) | |||||||||||
| Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting |
Value Realized Upon Vesting(2) |
|||||||||||
| James D. Swift, M.D. |
24,769 | $ | 389,864 | |||||||||
| C. Marc Richards |
24,768 | $ | 389,848 | |||||||||
| Curtis B. Pickert, M.D. |
9,826 | $ | 150,899 | |||||||||
| Mary Ann E. Moore |
8,593 | $ | 135,254 | |||||||||
| Lee A. Wood |
8,156 | $ | 124,613 | |||||||||
| (1) | These columns reflect performance shares and restricted stock previously awarded to the NEO that vested during 2023. |
| (2) | Calculated based on the closing price of a share of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the vesting date. |
Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control
The Employment Agreements between the Company and each of the NEOs provide for the payment of certain compensation and benefits in the event of the termination of an executive’s employment, the amount of which varies depending upon the reason for such termination. Those provisions are summarized below.
Termination by Company for Cause. In the event that a NEO’s employment with the Company is terminated by the Company for Cause (as defined in each executive’s respective Employment Agreement with the Company), then the Company will pay the executive his or her base salary through the termination date at the rate in effect at the termination date and reimburse the executive for any reasonable business expenses incurred through the date of termination.
Termination due to Executive’s Death. In the event a NEO’s employment terminates because of his or her death, then the Company will pay to the executive’s estate his or her base salary to the termination date, a pro rata target bonus for the year in which his or her employment terminates and reimburse the executive for any reasonable business expenses incurred, as well as any other accrued employee benefits, through the date of termination.
Termination due to Disability. In the event of a NEO’s Disability as defined in accordance with such executive’s respective Employment Agreement), then the Company will continue to pay the executive’s base salary for a period of 90 days after the date of Disability under the Company’s short term disability policy. If the NEO’s Disability continues following such 90-day period, the Company may terminate the NEO, in which case, subject to his or her execution and non-revocation of a release of claims in favor of the Company, the NEO would be entitled to a pro rata target bonus for the year in which his or her employment terminates and reimburse the executive for any reasonable business expenses incurred, as well as any other accrued employee benefits, through the date of termination.
Termination by Company without Cause or by Executive for Good Reason. If the Company terminates a NEO’s employment without Cause or if the executive terminates his or her employment for Good Reason (each as defined in the executive’s Employment Agreement), then, subject to his or her execution and non-revocation of a release of claims in favor of the Company, the Company will (a) pay that executive’s base salary through the termination date plus any reimbursement owed to that executive for any reasonable business expenses, as well as any other accrued employee benefits, incurred through the date of termination, (b) continue to pay the executive’s base salary and health, medical, hospitalization and other similar health insurance costs on the same basis as regular, full-time employees for a period of 24 months after the termination date, (c) pay the executive an amount equal to the greater of 1.5 times his or her “average annual performance bonus”
| Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. | 54 | 2024 Proxy Statement |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION: COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS (“CD&A”)
(as defined in the executive’s Employment Agreement) or 1.5 times his or her target bonus amount, and (d) pay the executive a pro rata portion of the target bonus for the year in which his or her employment terminates.
Termination by Executive other than for Good Reason. Each NEO may terminate his or her employment, other than for Good Reason or due to a Change in Control (as defined in the executive’s Employment Agreement), upon 90 days’ notice to the Company. In such event, the Company will continue to pay the executive his or her base salary through the termination date and reimburse the executive for any reasonable business expenses incurred through the date of termination. The Company may specify a termination date for the employment of any of the NEOs that is less than 90 days after the Company’s receipt of written notice of such termination from the executive.
Vesting of Equity Awards. In the event a NEO’s employment is terminated due to Disability or death, by the Company without Cause or by the NEO for Good Reason, any time-based equity awards granted to the executive prior to termination of his or her employment will immediately become fully vested, non-forfeitable and, if applicable, exercisable, and all performance-based shares awards will remain outstanding and vest based upon actual performance determined at the end of the applicable performance period. In addition, in the event of a Change of Control, (i) all time-based equity awards granted to the NEOs will immediately become fully vested, non-forfeitable and, if applicable, exercisable and (ii) all performance-based equity awards granted to such executives for which the applicable performance condition has been met at the time of such Change in Control will immediately become fully vested, non-forfeitable and, if applicable, exercisable.
Change in Control. In the event of a Change in Control (as defined in the Plan), the performance criteria under the annual bonus program will automatically be deemed to have achieved a minimum level of 100% of target and will be payable to the executive no later than 30 days after such Change in Control.
Payments of Unused Leave Time. In accordance with the Company’s paid time off policies, an executive officer will be paid any earned but unused paid time off upon termination. This payment will occur in all termination events. In addition to the leave time that the executive accrues in any year, such executive may carry forward 10 days of leave time from the prior year; therefore, the maximum payout upon termination for each executive would be the value of such executive’s contracted annual leave time plus 10 carry-over days.
Restrictive Covenants. Pursuant to his or her Employment Agreement, each executive officer is subject to certain restrictive covenants that survive termination of employment, such as 18 or 24-month non-solicitation and non-competition restrictive covenants, a customary confidentiality agreement surviving the term of the Employment Agreement and a 10-year non-disparagement restrictive covenant. If the executive fails to comply with any of those restrictive covenants, the executive will not be entitled to receive any further payments or benefits as a result of the termination of the executive’s employment (other than base salary through the date of termination and reimbursement of any reasonable business expenses incurred through the date of termination). In addition, the Company then will have the right to terminate without advance notice any future payments and benefits of every kind that otherwise would be due to the executive on account of termination of the executive’s employment.
| 2024 Proxy Statement | 55 | Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION: COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS (“CD&A”)
The following table illustrates the payments and benefits that each NEO would have received under his or her Employment Agreement and the annual bonus program if his or her employment with the Company had terminated for any of the reasons described above on December 31, 2023. The amounts presented in the table reflect compensation (including equity ownership) at such year end, are estimates only and do not necessarily reflect the actual value of the payments and other benefits that would be received by the NEOs, which amounts would only be known at the time that employment actually terminates.
| TRIGGERING EVENT |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Executive |
Compensation Components |
Change in Control |
By Executive without Good Reason |
By Company for Cause |
By Company without Cause |
By Executive for Good Reason |
By the Company by Reason of Executive’s Disability |
By Company Due to Executive’s Death |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| James D. Swift, M.D. |
Cash Severance(1) | $ | 260,000 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 3,331,250 | $ | 3,331,250 | $ | 975,000 | $ | 812,500 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Long-Term Incentives(2) | 930,279 | — | — | 930,279 | 930,279 | 930,279 | 930,279 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Benefit to Employee |
|
$ | 1,190,279 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 4,261,529 | $ | 4,261,529 | $ | 1,905,279 | $ | 1,742,779 |
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||||
| C. Marc Richards |
Cash Severance(1) | $ | 160,000 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 2,250,000 | $ | 2,250,000 | $ | 625,000 | $ | 500,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Long-term Incentives(2) | 1,093,438 | — | — | 1,093,438 | 1,093,438 | 1,093,438 | 1,093,438 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Benefit to Employee |
|
$ | 1,253,438 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 3,343,438 | $ | 3,343,438 | $ | 1,718,438 | $ | 1,593,438 |
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||||
| Curtis B. Pickert, M.D. |
Cash Severance(1) | $ | 160,000 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 2,250,000 | $ | 2,250,000 | $ | 625,000 | $ | 500,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Long-Term Incentives(2) | 798,610 | — | — | 798,610 | 798,610 | 798,610 | 798,610 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Benefit to Employee |
|
$ | 958,610 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 3,048,610 | $ | 3,048,610 | $ | 1,423,610 | $ | 1,298,610 |
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||||
| Mary Ann E. Moore |
Cash Severance(1) | $ | 152,000 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 2,137,500 | $ | 2,137,500 | $ | 593,750 | $ | 475,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Long-Term Incentives(2) | 769,938 | — | — | 769,938 | 769,938 | 769,938 | 769,938 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Benefit to Employee |
|
$ | 921,938 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 2,907,438 | $ | 2,907,438 | $ | 1,363,688 | $ | 1,244,938 |
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||||
| Lee A. Wood |
Cash Severance(1) | $ | 102,000 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 1,646,875 | $ | 1,646,875 | $ | 425,000 | $ | 318,750 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Long-Term Incentives(2) | 588,067 | — | — | 588,067 | 588,067 | 588,067 | 588,067 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Benefit to Employee |
|
$ | 690,067 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 2,234,942 | $ | 2,234,942 | $ | 1,013,067 | $ | 906,817 |
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||||
| (1) | Cash severance includes: in all cases, continuation of base salary through the termination date and any reimbursement owed to the executive for any reasonable business expenses incurred through the date of termination, plus (i) in the case of termination by the Company without Cause or by the executive for Good Reason, (a) continuation of base salary for 24 months after the termination date, (b) the target performance bonus, on a pro rata basis, for the fiscal year, and (c) an amount equal to one and a half times the greater of the executive’s “average annual performance bonus” and the executive’s target bonus, and (ii) in the case of termination by the Company on account of the executive’s Disability or death, the target performance bonus, on a pro rata basis, for the fiscal year, and in the case of a Disability, the executives’ base salary for 90 days after the date of disability. Under the terms of the annual bonus program, in the event of a Change in Control, the applicable performance criteria will automatically be deemed to have achieved a minimum level of 100% of target. The amount of cash severance reflected in the Change in Control column represents the difference between the NEOs’ target bonuses under the 2023 annual bonus program and the amounts that were actually paid for 2023, as reflected in the Summary Compensation Table. |
| (2) | This amount reflects the value of the executive’s unvested restricted stock as of December 31, 2023 that would vest if a specified termination event had occurred on December 31, 2023. In the case of a Change in Control, the vesting of such unvested restricted stock is immediate whether or not the executive’s employment is terminated. |
| Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. | 56 | 2024 Proxy Statement |
Chief Executive Officer Pay Ratio
Our aggregate compensation paid to Dr. Swift for 2023 was $2,237,839, based on amounts reflected in the 2023 Summary Compensation Table. The identification of the median employee was determined based on 2023 W-2 compensation for all of our employees employed on December 31, 2023, with the compensation for any full-time employees who were not employed by us for all of 2023 annualized. Once the median employee was identified, we calculated our median employee’s compensation in accordance with the rules applicable to the 2023 Summary Compensation Table, resulting in 2023 compensation for our median employee of $119,689. As a result, we estimate that our Chief Executive Officer’s 2023 total compensation was approximately 19 times that of our median employee.
| 2024 Proxy Statement | 57 | Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. |
Year |
Summary Compensation Table (“SCT”) Total for First PEO (1) |
SCT Total for Second PEO (1) |
SCT Total for Third PEO (1) |
Compensation Actually Paid (“CAP”) to First PEO (2) |
CAP to Second PEO |
CAP to Third PEO |
Average SCT Total for Non-PEO NEOs (3) |
Average CAP to Non-PEO NEOs (2)(3) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 |
$ |
N/A |
N/A |
$ |
N/A |
N/A |
$ |
$ |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
2022 |
N/A |
$ |
N/A |
N/A |
$ |
N/A |
$ |
$ |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 |
N/A |
$ |
N/A |
N/A |
$ |
N/A |
$ |
$ |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 |
N/A |
$ |
$ |
N/A |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year |
Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment Based On: |
Net (Loss) Income ($ in thousands) |
Adjusted EBITDA ($ in thousands) (6) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Shareholder Return |
Peer Group Total Shareholder Return (4) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 |
$ |
$ |
$ |
( |
) |
$ |
|||||||||||||||||||||
2022 |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 |
$ |
$ |
$ |
( |
) |
$ |
|||||||||||||||||||||
(1) |
In 2023, our principal executive officer (“PEO”) was as our PEOs in 2020. For purposes of the table, Dr. Swift is our First PEO, Mr. Ordan is our Second PEO and Dr. Medel is our Third PEO. |
(2) |
Compensation “actually paid” is calculated in accordance with Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K, however, as required, the dollar amounts include (among other items) equity compensation that may be realizable in future periods, and as such, the dollar amounts shown do not fully represent the actual final amount of compensation earned or actually paid during the applicable years. The table below sets forth each adjustment made during the years presented in the table to calculate the compensation “actually paid,” in accordance with Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K, to our NEOs during each year in the table. |
(3) |
non-PEO NEOs consisted of Mr. Richards, Dr. Pickert, Ms. Moore and Mr. Wood. In 2022, our non-CEO NEOs consisted of Messrs. Richards and Dominic Andreano, our former Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Ms. Moore and Dr. Swift. During 2021, our non-PEO NEOs consisted of Messrs. Richards and Andreano, Mr. John C. Pepia, Ms. Moore and Roger “Mack” Hinson, M.D. During 2020, our non-PEO NEOs consisted of Messrs. Richards, Andreano and Pepia, Dr. Hinson, Mr. Stephen D. Farber and Mr. Nicholas J. Nikolopoulos. |
(4) |
10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. |
(5) |
non-GAAP financial measure. |
Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. |
58 |
2024 Proxy Statement |
Adjustments to Calculate Compensation “Actually Paid” to First PEO (7) |
2023 |
|||||||||||
SCT Total |
$ |
|||||||||||
Minus: Grant Date Fair Value of Awards Granted During the Year (8) |
$ |
( |
) |
|||||||||
Plus (Minus): CAP Adjustments Calculated Using SEC Methodology (9) |
$ |
|||||||||||
CAP Total |
$ |
|||||||||||
Adjustments to Calculate Compensation “Actually Paid” to Second PEO (7) |
2022 |
2021 |
2020 |
|||||||||
SCT Total |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|||||||||
Minus: Grant Date Fair Value of Awards Granted During the Year (8) |
$ |
( |
) |
$ |
( |
) |
$ |
( |
) | |||
Plus (Minus): CAP Adjustments Calculated Using SEC Methodology (9) |
$ |
( |
) |
$ |
$ |
|||||||
CAP Total |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|||||||||
Adjustments to Calculate Compensation “Actually Paid” to Third PEO (7) |
2020 |
|||||||||||
SCT Total |
$ |
|||||||||||
Minus: Grant Date Fair Value of Awards Granted During the Year (8) |
$ |
( |
) |
|||||||||
Plus (Minus): CAP Adjustments Calculated Using SEC Methodology (9) |
$ |
|||||||||||
CAP Total |
$ |
|||||||||||
Adjustments to Calculate Compensation “Actually Paid” to Non-PEO NEOs (7) |
2023 |
2022 |
2021 |
2020 |
||||||||||||
SCT Total |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
||||||||||||
Minus: Grant Date Fair Value of Awards Granted During the Year (8) |
$ |
( |
) |
$ |
( |
) |
$ |
( |
) |
$ |
( |
) | ||||
Plus (Minus): CAP Adjustments Calculated Using SEC Methodology (9) |
$ |
$ |
( |
) |
$ |
$ |
||||||||||
CAP Total |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
||||||||||||
(7) |
As shown in these tables, the Compensation “Actually Paid” totals represent the SCT totals for the applicable year, but adjusted as required by SEC rules to include the fair value of current and prior year equity awards that are outstanding, vested or forfeited during the applicable year, instead of the grant date value of awards granted during the applicable year. |
(8) |
Represents the total of the amounts reported in the Stock Awards and Option Awards columns of the SCT for the applicable year. |
(9) |
The fair value of equity component of the CAP calculation was determined in accordance with SEC methodology for this disclosure. Unlike the SCT, which reflects the grant date fair value of equity awards granted during the applicable year, the CAP table reflects equity fair value as follows: |
• |
for awards granted during the applicable year (and which are still outstanding), the year-end value; plus |
• |
for awards granted during prior years that were still outstanding as of the applicable year-end, the change in value as of the applicable year-end compared against the prior year-end; plus |
• |
for awards granted in prior years that vested during the applicable year, the change in value as of the vesting date compared against the prior year-end; plus |
2024 Proxy Statement |
59 |
Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. |
• |
for any awards granted in the applicable year that vested during the applicable year, the value as of the vesting date; plus |
• |
the value of any dividend equivalents that were paid during the applicable year that are not otherwise included in total compensation; minus |
• |
for awards granted in prior years that were forfeited during the applicable year, the value as of the prior year-end. |
First PEO – CAP Equity Adjustments |
2023 |
|||||||||||
YE Value of Current Year Awards Outstanding as of YE |
$ |
|||||||||||
Change in Value as of YE for Prior Year Awards Outstanding as of YE |
$ |
( |
) |
|||||||||
Change in Value as of Vesting Date for Prior Year Awards That Vested During the Year |
$ |
( |
) |
|||||||||
Value as of Vesting Date for Current Year Awards That Vested During the Year |
$ |
|||||||||||
Value as of Vesting Date for Dividend Equivalents Paid During the Year Not Otherwise Included in Total Compensation |
$ |
|||||||||||
Value as of Prior YE for Prior Year Awards Forfeited During the Year |
$ |
|||||||||||
Value of Equity for CAP Purposes |
$ |
|||||||||||
Second PEO – CAP Equity Adjustments |
2022 |
2021 |
2020 |
|||||||||
YE Value of Current Year Awards Outstanding as of YE |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|||||||||
Change in Value as of YE for Prior Year Awards Outstanding as of YE |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|||||||||
Change in Value as of Vesting Date for Prior Year Awards That Vested During the Year |
$ |
( |
) |
$ |
$ |
|||||||
Value as of Vesting Date for Current Year Awards That Vested During the Year |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|||||||||
Value as of Vesting Date for Dividend Equivalents Paid During the Year Not Otherwise Included in Total Compensation |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|||||||||
Value as of Prior YE for Prior Year Awards Forfeited During the Year |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|||||||||
Value of Equity for CAP Purposes |
$ |
( |
) |
$ |
$ |
|||||||
Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. |
60 |
2024 Proxy Statement |
Third PEO – CAP Equity Adjustments |
2020 |
|||||||||||
YE Value of Current Year Awards Outstanding as of YE |
$ |
|||||||||||
Change in Value as of YE for Prior Year Awards Outstanding as of YE |
$ |
( |
) |
|||||||||
Change in Value as of Vesting Date for Prior Year Awards That Vested During the Year |
$ |
( |
) |
|||||||||
Value as of Vesting Date for Current Year Awards That Vested During the Year |
$ |
|||||||||||
Value as of Vesting Date for Dividend Equivalents Paid During the Year Not Otherwise Included in Total Compensation |
$ |
|||||||||||
Value as of Prior YE for Prior Year Awards Forfeited During the Year |
$ |
|||||||||||
Value of Equity for CAP Purposes |
$ |
|||||||||||
Non-PEO NEOs – CAP Equity Adjustments |
2023 |
2022 |
2021 |
2020 |
||||||||||||
YE Value of Current Year Awards Outstanding as of YE |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|||||||||||||
Change in Value as of YE for Prior Year Awards Outstanding as of YE |
$ |
( |
) |
( |
) |
$ |
$ |
( |
||||||||
Change in Value as of Vesting Date for Prior Year Awards That Vested During the Year |
$ |
( |
) |
( |
) |
$ |
$ |
( |
) | |||||||
Value as of Vesting Date for Current Year Awards That Vested During the Year |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|||||||||||||
Value as of Vesting Date for Dividend Equivalents Paid During the Year Not Otherwise Included in Total Compensation |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|||||||||||||
Value as of Prior YE for Prior Year Awards Forfeited During the Year |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|||||||||||||
Value of Equity for CAP Purposes |
$ |
( |
) |
$ |
$ |
|||||||||||
2024 Proxy Statement |
61 |
Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. |
Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. |
62 |
2024 Proxy Statement |
Most Important Financial Measures | ||
• |
• | |
• |
||
2024 Proxy Statement |
63 |
Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. |
Director Compensation
The non-employee Directors receive the following compensation for their service: (i) an annual retainer fee of $80,000, payable quarterly, (ii) an additional annual retainer fee of $50,000, payable quarterly, for the Chair of the Board, (iii) an additional annual retainer fee of $50,000, payable quarterly, for the Lead Independent Director, (iv) an additional annual retainer fee of $22,500, payable quarterly, for the chair of the Audit Committee, and (v) an additional annual retainer fee of $15,000, payable quarterly, for the Chair of the Compensation and Talent Committee, and (vi) an additional annual retainer fee of $12,500, payable quarterly, for the Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. In addition, each year, each non-employee Director is granted restricted stock with a grant date fair value of $150,000, vesting on the first anniversary of the award, on the date of such non-employee Director’s election at the Company’s annual meeting of shareholders.
We provide grants of equity to our Directors because we believe that it helps foster a long-term perspective and aligns our Directors’ interests with that of our shareholders. All non-management members of our Board of Directors are required to own Pediatrix common stock worth three times their annual base cash retainer fee. Pediatrix also reimburses all of its Directors for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the rendering of services as a Director.
The following table includes all non-employee Directors who served in 2023. Dr. Swift, our Chief Executive Officer, did not earn additional income for his service as a Director in 2023. As the Executive Chair of the Board, Mr. Ordan received a monthly fee of $60,000 through June 30, 2023, in lieu of the $80,000 annual retainer fee payable to the Chair of the Board.
| Name |
Fees Earned or Paid in Cash(1) |
Stock Awards(2) |
Total | ||||||||||||
| Mark S. Ordan(3) |
$425,000 | $129,454 | $554,454 | ||||||||||||
| Guy P. Sansone |
$145,000 | $150,001 | $295,001 | ||||||||||||
| Laura A. Linynsky |
$ 80,000 | $150,001 | $230,001 | ||||||||||||
| Thomas McEachin |
$102,500 | $150,001 | $252,501 | ||||||||||||
| Michael A. Rucker |
$ 92,500 | $150,001 | $242,501 | ||||||||||||
| John M. Starcher, Jr. |
$ 80,000 | $150,001 | $230,001 | ||||||||||||
| Shirley A. Weis |
$ 95,000 | $150,001 | $245,001 | ||||||||||||
| Sylvia J. Young(4) |
$ 50,989 | $150,009 | $200,998 | ||||||||||||
| Roger J. Medel, M.D.(5) |
$ 14,667 | $ — | $ 14,667 | ||||||||||||
| (1) | This column reports the amount of cash compensation earned in 2023 for Board and committee service. |
| (2) | The amounts in this column reflect the grant date fair value of the restricted stock awards granted to the non-employee Directors in 2023, calculated in accordance ASC 718, but excluding the impact of estimated forfeitures. For information regarding the assumptions made in calculating the amounts reflected in this column, see Note 16, “Stock Incentive Plans and Stock Purchase Plans,” to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 20, 2024. The following Directors had outstanding restricted stock awards at the end of fiscal year 2023: Ms. Linynsky (10,965); Mr. McEachin (10,965); Mr. Rucker (10,965); Mr. Sansone (10,965); Mr. Starcher (10,965); Ms. Weis (10,965); Mrs. Young (10,831); Mr. Ordan (9,463) and Mr. Medel (0). |
| (3) | Mr. Ordan served as Executive Chair of the Board effective January 1, 2023 through June 30, 2023 and then as Chair from July 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023. His stock award in May 2023 was prorated for the period of time he served as Chair. |
| (4) | Mrs. Young was appointed as a non-employee Director effective May 12, 2023. |
| (5) | Dr. Medel served as a non-employee Director through March 7, 2023. |
| Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. | 64 | 2024 Proxy Statement |
Share Ownership Information
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
The following table sets forth information concerning the beneficial ownership of common stock of Pediatrix as of March 11, 2024, for the following:
| • | Each person known to us to be a beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding shares of common stock; |
| • | Each of our Directors; |
| • | Our Chief Executive Officer and our other NEOs; and |
| • | All of our Directors and executive officers as a group. |
| Name of Beneficial Owner(1) |
Common Stock Beneficially Owned(2) |
||||||||||||||
| Shares | Percent | ||||||||||||||
| BlackRock, Inc.(3) |
13,600,467 | 16.2 | % | ||||||||||||
| The Vanguard Group, Inc.(4) |
10,393,239 | 12.4 | % | ||||||||||||
| AllianceBernstein L.P.(5) |
7,887,018 | 9.4 | % | ||||||||||||
| EARNEST Partners, LLC(6) |
4,818,090 | 5.7 | % | ||||||||||||
| Dimensional Fund Advisors, L.P.(7) |
4,409,901 | 5.2 | % | ||||||||||||
| Laura A. Linynsky(8) |
19,445 | * | |||||||||||||
| Thomas A. McEachin(9) |
36,286 | * | |||||||||||||
| Mark S. Ordan(10) |
147,923 | * | |||||||||||||
| Michael A. Rucker(11) |
39,792 | * | |||||||||||||
| Guy P. Sansone(12) |
49,961 | * | |||||||||||||
| John M. Starcher Jr.(13) |
36,277 | * | |||||||||||||
| Shirley A. Weis(14) |
17,668 | * | |||||||||||||
| Sylvia J. Young(15) |
10,831 | * | |||||||||||||
| Mary Ann E. Moore.(16) |
123,611 | * | |||||||||||||
| Curtis B. Pickert, M.D.(17) |
105,437 | * | |||||||||||||
| C. Marc Richards(18) |
174,895 | * | |||||||||||||
| James D. Swift, M.D.(19) |
125,694 | * | |||||||||||||
| Lee A. Wood(20) |
91,066 | * | |||||||||||||
| All Directors and executive officers as a group (13 persons)(21) |
978,886 | 1.2 | % | ||||||||||||
| * | Less than one percent |
| (1) | Unless otherwise specified, the address of each of the beneficial owners identified is c/o Pediatrix, Inc., 1301 Concord Terrace, Sunrise, Florida 33323. Each holder is a beneficial owner of common stock of Pediatrix. |
| (2) | Based on 84,025,983 shares of common stock issued and outstanding as of March 11, 2024. The number and percentage of shares beneficially owned is determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act and the information is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose. Under that rule, beneficial ownership includes any shares as to which the individual or entity has voting power or investment power and any shares that the individual or entity has the right to acquire within 60 days of March 11, 2024, through the exercise of any stock option or other right. Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes or table, each individual or entity has sole voting and investment power, or shares such powers with his or her spouse, with respect to the shares shown as beneficially owned. |
| (3) | BlackRock, Inc. has sole voting power over 13,427,559 shares and sole dispositive power over 13,600,467 shares. This information is based on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on January 22, 2024. BlackRock, Inc.’s address is 50 Hudson Yards, New York, New York 10001. Reported ownership includes shares held by subsidiaries listed in the filing. |
| (4) | The Vanguard Group, Inc. has shared voting power over 119,132 shares, sole dispositive power over 10,190,134 shares and shared dispositive power over 203,105 shares. This information is based on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 13, 2024. The Vanguard Group’s address is 100 Vanguard Boulevard, Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355. Reported ownership includes shares held by subsidiaries listed in the filing. |
| 2024 Proxy Statement | 65 | Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. |
SHARE OWNERSHIP INFORMATION
| (5) | AllianceBernstein L.P. has sole voting power over 6,852,567 and sole dispositive power over 7,887,018 shares. This information is based on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 14, 2024. Alliance Bernstein L.P. address is 501 Commerce Street, Nashville, Tennessee 37203. |
| (6) | EARNEST Partners, LLC has sole voting power over 3,803,450 shares and sole dispositive power over 4,818,090 shares. This information is based on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 12, 2024. EARNEST Partners, LLC’s address is 1180 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 2300, Atlanta, Georgia 30309. Reported ownership includes shares held by subsidiaries listed in the filing. |
| (7) | Dimensional Fund Advisors, L.P. has sole voting power over 4,311,030 shares and sole dispositive power over 4,409,901 shares. This information is based on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 9, 2024. Dimensional Fund Advisors, L.P.’s address is 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, Texas 78746. |
| (8) | Includes (i) 8,480 shares of common stock directly owned; and (ii) 10,965 shares of unvested restricted stock which Ms. Linynsky presently has the power to vote. |
| (9) | Includes (i) 25,321 shares of common stock directly owned; and (ii) 10,965 shares of unvested restricted stock which Mr. McEachin presently has the power to vote. |
| (10) | Includes (i) 138,460 shares of common stock directly owned; and (ii) 9,463 shares of unvested restricted stock which Mr. Ordan presently has the power to vote. |
| (11) | Includes (i) 28,827 shares of common stock directly owned; and (ii) 10,965 shares of unvested restricted stock which Mr. Rucker presently has the power to vote. |
| (12) | Includes (i) 38,996 shares of common stock directly owned; and (ii) 10,965 shares of unvested restricted stock which Mr. Sansone presently has the power to vote. |
| (13) | Includes (i) 25,312 shares of common stock directly owned; and (ii) 10,965 shares of unvested restricted stock which Mr. Starcher presently has the power to vote. |
| (14) | Includes (i) 6,703 shares of common stock directly owned; and (ii) 10,965 shares of unvested restricted stock which Ms. Weis presently has the power to vote. |
| (15) | Includes 10,831 shares of unvested restricted stock which Mrs. Young presently has the power to vote. |
| (16) | Includes (i) 25,600 shares of common stock directly owned; (ii) 15,730 shares of common stock beneficially owned by a trust for which immediate family members of Ms. Moore are the beneficiaries of the trust; and (iii) 82,281 shares of unvested performance shares and restricted stock which Ms. Moore presently has the power to vote. |
| (17) | Includes (i) 12,923 shares of common stock directly owned; (ii) 7,150 shares of common stock beneficially owned by a trust for which immediate family of Dr. Pickert are the beneficiaries of the trust; and (iii) 85,364 shares of unvested performance shares and restricted stock which Dr. Pickert presently has the power to vote. |
| (18) | Includes (i) 80,355 shares of common stock directly owned; and (ii) 94,540 shares of unvested performance shares and restricted stock Mr. Richards presently has the power to vote. |
| (19) | Includes (i) 29,630 shares of common stock directly owned; and (ii) 96,064 shares of unvested performance shares and restricted stock which Dr. Swift presently has the power to vote. |
| (20) | Includes (i) 27,051 shares of common stock directly owned; (ii) 1,358 shares of common stock directly owned that were acquired through the Company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan; and (iii) 62,657 shares of unvested performance shares and restricted stock which Mr. Wood presently has the power to vote. |
| (21) | Includes (i) 447,658 shares of common stock directly owned; (ii) 22,880 shares of common stock indirectly owned by trusts; (iii) 1,358 shares of common stock directly owned that were acquired through the Company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan; and (iv) 506,990 shares of unvested performance shares and restricted stock which certain executive officers and directors presently have the power to vote. |
| Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. | 66 | 2024 Proxy Statement |
Independent Auditors
Independent Auditors
Pediatrix’s independent auditor for the year ended December 31, 2023 was the firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. Subject to shareholder ratification at the Company’s 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the Audit Committee has reappointed PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm to perform audit services for Pediatrix in 2024. Pediatrix expects that representatives of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP will virtually attend the annual meeting. They will have an opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.
Fees Paid to Independent Auditors
The aggregate fees billed by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for the indicated services rendered during fiscal years 2023 and 2022 were as follows:
Audit Fees
In 2023, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP billed Pediatrix $1,798,600, in the aggregate, for professional services for the audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements and internal control over financial reporting for the year ended December 31, 2023, reviews of Pediatrix’s interim consolidated financial statements, which are included in each of Pediatrix’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the year ended December 31, 2023, the statutory audit of Pediatrix’s wholly owned captive insurance subsidiary and the audit of funds received under the CARES Act for reporting periods 3 and 4. In 2022, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP billed Pediatrix $1,690,500, in the aggregate, for professional services for the audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements and internal control over financial reporting for the year ended December 31, 2022, reviews of Pediatrix’s interim consolidated financial statements, which are included in each of Pediatrix’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the year ended December 31, 2022, the statutory audit of Pediatrix’s wholly owned captive insurance subsidiary and the audit of funds received under the CARES Act for reporting periods 1 and 2.
Audit-Related Fees
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP did not bill Pediatrix for any audit-related fees in 2023 or 2022.
Tax Fees
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP did not bill Pediatrix for any tax services in 2023 or 2022.
All Other Fees
In 2023, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP billed Pediatrix $14,500 for access to a human resources benchmarking tool. In 2022, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP billed Pediatrix $95,000 for comfort letter procedures in connection with a debt offering, $14,500 for access to a human resources benchmarking tool and $3,250 for access to a global accounting research and business knowledge platform.
Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
The Audit Committee is required to review and approve the proposed retention of independent auditors to perform any proposed auditing and non-auditing services as outlined in its charter. The Audit Committee has not established policies and procedures separate from its charter concerning the pre-approval of auditing and non-auditing related services. As required by Section 10A of the Exchange Act, our Audit Committee has authorized all auditing and non-auditing services provided by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP during 2023 and 2022 and the fees paid for such services.
| 2024 Proxy Statement | 67 | Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. |
Proposal 2: Ratification of the Appointment of Independent Auditors
The Audit Committee has selected and appointed the firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to act as our independent registered public accounting firm for the 2024 fiscal year. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP was our independent auditor for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. Although ratification is not required by our Amended and Restated Bylaws or otherwise, the Board of Directors is submitting the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to our shareholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate practice. If the appointment is not ratified, the Audit Committee will re-evaluate its appointment, taking into consideration our shareholders’ vote. However, the Audit Committee is solely responsible for the appointment and termination of our auditors and may do so at any time in its discretion.
Proxies will be voted “FOR” ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the 2024 fiscal year absent contrary instructions.
| ✓ | Pediatrix’s Board of Directors unanimously recommends a Vote “FOR” Proposal 2 to ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for the 2024 fiscal year. | |||
| Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. | 68 | 2024 Proxy Statement |
Proposal 3: Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation
As required by Section 14A of the Exchange Act, Pediatrix is providing its shareholders the opportunity to cast a non-binding advisory vote “FOR” or “AGAINST” the compensation paid to named executive officers in 2023 as disclosed and described in the “Executive Compensation: Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section of this Proxy Statement, including the section entitled “Overview of the Executive Compensation Program,” the compensation tables and the narrative disclosures that accompany the compensation tables.
As described in detail in our “Executive Compensation: Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section of this Proxy Statement, the compensation tables and related narrative discussion, the compensation of executive officers is designed to have strong links to performance achievements, both in terms of operational and financial results as well as in optimizing shareholder value. We evaluate the relationship between compensation cost, shareholder value and Company performance on a regular basis. At-risk elements such as performance-based cash incentives and equity-based compensation comprise a significant portion of our overall executive remuneration. For incentive plans, we establish performance goals so that the level of compensation received appropriately corresponds to the level of performance achieved. In addition, the vesting of equity-based compensation is designed to encourage ownership that results in business decisions that build long-term shareholder value and thus stock price appreciation, and retention of our named executive officers.
The Compensation and Talent Committee is committed to enhancing our performance-based compensation program to further align our executive compensation with value creation for our shareholders, which was demonstrated with the implementation of a three-year back end weighted (25%, 25%, 50%) vesting schedule to align a long-term commitment to growth from our executive team and the change in 2023 to began granting performance-based equity awards with three one-year performance periods and a three-year return on invested capital modifier, with any awards earned vesting at the end of the third year. The Compensation and Talent Committee believes that these changes further align executive pay with Company performance and our clawback policy, required minimum share ownership for our executive officers and enhanced anti-hedging policies further align executive compensation with our shareholders’ long-term interests.
Shareholders are urged to read the section entitled “Executive Compensation: Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” which discusses our executive compensation programs in detail, as well as the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” appearing in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, that accompanies this Proxy Statement.
Accordingly, Pediatrix requests your approval of the following resolution:
RESOLVED, that the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers, as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act, including the section entitled “Executive Compensation: Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” compensation tables and related narrative discussion, is hereby APPROVED.
| 2024 Proxy Statement | 69 | Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. |
PROPOSAL 3: ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
| ✓ |
Pediatrix’s Board of Directors unanimously recommends a Vote | |||
Although the vote is non-binding and advisory, the Board of Directors and the Compensation and Talent Committee will review the voting results in connection with their ongoing evaluation of the Company’s compensation program.
| Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. | 70 | 2024 Proxy Statement |
Other Business
The Board of Directors knows of no other business to be brought before the annual meeting. If, however, any other business should properly come before the annual meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying proxy card to vote the shares they represent in accordance with the recommendation of Pediatrix’s Board of Directors.
Availability of Annual Report on Form 10-K
Copies of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 (without exhibits or documents incorporated by reference therein) are available without charge to shareholders upon written request to Investor Relations at 1301 Concord Terrace, Sunrise, Florida 33323, by calling (954) 384-0175 or via the Internet at www.Pediatrix.com.
Information Concerning Shareholder Proposals
As more specifically provided in our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, no business may be brought before an annual meeting unless it is specified in the notice of the meeting or is otherwise properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction of our Board of Directors or by a shareholder entitled to vote who has delivered proper notice to us, together with the information required by our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, not less than 120 days nor more than 180 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s notice of annual meeting. Accordingly, any shareholder proposal to be considered at the 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders must be properly submitted to us on or before November 28, 2024, but not earlier than September 29, 2024 or such proposal will be considered untimely. A copy of the provision of our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation relating to shareholder nominations is available upon request from Pediatrix’s Secretary at 1301 Concord Terrace, Sunrise, Florida 33323. These requirements are separate from the SEC’s requirements that a shareholder must meet in order to have a shareholder proposal included in our Proxy Statement for the 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
Shareholders interested in submitting a proposal for inclusion in our proxy materials for the 2025 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting may do so by following the procedures set forth in Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act and our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation. To be eligible for inclusion in such proxy materials, shareholder proposals must be received by our Secretary, at the address noted above, not later than November 28, 2024.
| 2024 Proxy Statement | 71 | Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. |
1301 Concord Terrace
Sunrise, Florida 33323-2825
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P.O. BOX 8016, CARY, NC 27512-9903 |
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| Scan QR for digital voting | ||
| Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc.
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Internet: | |||
| Annual Meeting of Shareholders |
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www.proxypush.com/MD • Cast your vote online • Have your Proxy Card ready • Follow the simple instructions to record your vote | ||
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For shareholders of record as of March 11, 2024 |
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Phone: | ||
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Thursday, May 9, 2024, 10:30 AM, Eastern Time Annual Meeting to be held live via the Internet - please visit www.proxydocs.com/MD for more details. |
1-866-484-0895 • Use any touch-tone telephone • Have your Proxy Card ready • Follow the simple recorded instructions | |||
| Mail: • Mark, sign and date your Proxy Card • Fold and return your Proxy Card in the postage-paid envelope provided | ||||
| YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT! PLEASE VOTE BY: 10:30 AM, Eastern Time May 9, 2024. |
Virtual: You must register to attend the meeting online and/or participate at www.proxydocs.com/MD |
This proxy is being solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors
The undersigned hereby appoints James D. Swift, M.D. and Mary Ann E. Moore (the “Named Proxies”), and each or either of them, as the true and lawful attorneys of the undersigned, with full power of substitution and revocation, and authorizes them, and each of them, to vote all the shares of capital stock of Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. which the undersigned is entitled to vote at said meeting and any adjournment thereof upon the matters specified and upon such other matters as may be properly brought before the meeting or any adjournment thereof, conferring authority upon such true and lawful attorneys to vote in their discretion on such other matters as may properly come before the meeting and revoking any proxy heretofore given.
THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED OR, IF NO DIRECTION IS GIVEN, SHARES WILL BE VOTED IDENTICAL TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ RECOMMENDATION. This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein. In their discretion, the Named Proxies are authorized to vote upon such other matters that may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
You are encouraged to specify your choice by marking the appropriate box (SEE REVERSE SIDE) but you need not mark any box if you wish to vote in accordance with the Board of Directors’ recommendation. The Named Proxies cannot vote your shares unless you sign (on the reverse side) and return this card.
PLEASE BE SURE TO SIGN AND DATE THIS PROXY CARD AND MARK ON THE REVERSE SIDE
Copyright © 2024 BetaNXT, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved
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Please make your marks like this:
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE:
FOR ON PROPOSALS 1, 2 AND 3 |
Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. Annual Meeting of Shareholders |
| PROPOSAL | YOUR VOTE |
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS | ||||||||
| 1. |
Elect nine Directors, each for a term expiring at the next annual meeting or until a successor has been duly elected and qualified; | |||||||||
| FOR | AGAINST | ABSTAIN | ||||||||
| 1.01 Laura A. Linynsky | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | FOR | ||||||
| 1.02 Thomas A. McEachin | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | FOR | ||||||
| 1.03 Mark S. Ordan | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | FOR | ||||||
| 1.04 Michael A. Rucker | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | FOR | ||||||
| 1.05 Guy P. Sansone | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | FOR | ||||||
| 1.06 John M. Starcher, Jr. | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | FOR | ||||||
| 1.07 James D. Swift, M.D. | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | FOR | ||||||
| 1.08 Shirley A. Weis | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | FOR | ||||||
| 1.09 Sylvia J. Young | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | FOR | ||||||
| FOR | AGAINST | ABSTAIN | ||||||||
| 2. |
Ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the 2024 fiscal year; | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | FOR | |||||
| 3. |
Conduct an advisory vote regarding the compensation of our named executive officers for the 2023 fiscal year; and | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | FOR | |||||
| 4. |
Consider and act upon such other business as may properly come before the annual meeting. | |||||||||
You must register to attend the meeting online and/or participate at www.proxydocs.com/MD
Authorized Signatures - Must be completed for your instructions to be executed.
Please sign exactly as your name(s) appears on your account. If held in joint tenancy, all persons should sign. Trustees, administrators, etc., should include title and authority. Corporations should provide full name of corporation and title of authorized officer signing the Proxy/Vote Form.
| Signature (and Title if applicable) Date | Signature (if held jointly) Date |