Willis Lease Finance Corp PRE 14A, filed Apr 4, 2024
Willis Lease Finance Corp (WLFC)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by the Registrant ☒
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☐
Check the appropriate box:
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Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
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Definitive Proxy Statement |
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Definitive Additional Materials |
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Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12 |
Willis Lease Finance Corporation
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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No fee required. |
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
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Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11 |
PRELIMINARY PROXY STATEMENT SUBJECT TO COMPLETION DATED
APRIL 4, 2024
In accordance with Rule 14a-6(d) under Regulation 14A, Willis Lease Finance Corporation intends to release definitive copies of this proxy statement to security holders on or about April 19, 2024.
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NOTICE OF 2024 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS |
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Wednesday, May 22, 2024 11:00 a.m., Eastern Time |
Willis Lease Finance Corporation 4700 Lyons Technology Parkway Coconut Creek, Florida 33073 |
Dear Stockholder:
You are cordially invited to attend the 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of WILLIS LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION (the “Annual Meeting”) which will be held virtually via live webcast at 11:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
The platform for the virtual Annual Meeting includes functionality that affords validated stockholders the same meeting participation rights and opportunities they would have at an in-person meeting. Instructions to access and log into the virtual Annual Meeting are provided below and, once admitted, stockholders may view reference materials, submit questions, and vote their shares by following the instructions that will be available on the Annual Meeting website.
In addition to any other business that may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, stockholders will be asked to:
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on April 5, 2024, as the record date for determining those stockholders who will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting. The stock transfer books will not be closed between the record date and the date of the meeting. A quorum comprising the holders of the majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock on the record date must be present or represented for the transaction of business at the Annual Meeting. Accordingly, it is important that your shares be represented at the meeting.
Access and Log-in Instructions for Virtual Annual Meeting
Register prior to the Annual Meeting at www.proxydocs.com/WLFC using your unique 12-digit or 16-digit control number included on your proxy card or on the instructions that accompany your proxy materials. You will be able to attend the Annual Meeting by following the instructions that will be emailed to you upon completion of such registration. Online access to the Annual Meeting will open at 10 a.m., Eastern Time, to allow time for you to log-in prior to the start of the live audio webcast of the Annual Meeting at 11 a.m., Eastern Time.
How Beneficial Owners May Participate in the Virtual Annual Meeting
If your shares are registered in the name of your bank, broker or other nominee, you are the “beneficial owner” of those shares and those shares are considered as held in “street name.” If you are a beneficial owner, to vote or ask questions at the virtual Annual Meeting, you must first obtain a valid legal proxy from your bank, broker or other nominee and then register in advance to attend the Annual Meeting. Follow the instructions from your bank, broker or other nominee included with the proxy materials that you are provided, or contact your bank, broker or other nominee to request a legal proxy form.
After obtaining a valid legal proxy from your bank, broker or other nominee, to register to vote or ask questions at the virtual Annual Meeting, you must submit proof of your legal proxy reflecting the number of your shares along with your name and email address to DMSsupport@BetaNXT.com.
Requests for registration must be labeled as “Legal Proxy” and be received no later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on May 21, 2024. You will receive a confirmation of your registration by email after we receive your registration materials.
Voting Methods
BEFORE the Annual Meeting:
Vote by Internet: Go to www.proxydocs.com/WLFC until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 21, 2024.
Vote by Phone: Call toll-free 1-866-994-5580 until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 21, 2024.
Vote by Mail: Complete, sign and date the proxy card/voting instruction card and return it in the postage-paid envelope that is enclosed with your proxy materials.
DURING the Annual Meeting:
Vote by Internet: Go to www.proxydocs.com/WLFC and vote during the Annual Meeting by entering the 12-digit or 16-digit control number included in your proxy materials and following the instructions on the Annual Meeting website.
It remains very important that your shares are represented and voted at the Annual Meeting. We therefore strongly encourage you to vote in advance of the Annual Meeting. You may revoke your proxy at any time prior to the time it is voted at the Annual Meeting. Returning the proxy card does not deprive you of your right to virtually attend the meeting and to vote your shares at the virtual Annual Meeting.
Proxy materials were mailed to you on or about April 19, 2024. Please read the proxy materials carefully. Your vote is important, and we appreciate your cooperation in considering and acting on the matters presented.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
Dean M. Poulakidas
Senior Vice President,
General Counsel and
Corporate Secretary
April [ ], 2024
TABLE OF CONTENTS
2024 WLFC Proxy Statement 1
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SOLICITATION AND VOTING OF PROXIES |
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General
This proxy statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation by the Board of Directors (also referred to as the “Board”, “Directors” or, individually, “Director”) of WILLIS LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION (“we,” “us,” “our,” “Willis Lease” or the “Company”) for proxies to be voted at our 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”), which will be held virtually via live webcast at 11:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. Register prior to the Annual Meeting, or at any adjournments or postponements thereof, for the purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting, at www.proxydocs.com/WLFC using your unique 12- digit or 16-digit control number included on your proxy card or on the instructions that accompany your proxy materials. You will be able to attend the Annual Meeting by following the instructions that will be emailed to you upon completion of such registration.
This proxy statement is being mailed to stockholders on or about April 19, 2024. Our 2023 Annual Report is being mailed to stockholders concurrently with this proxy statement.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for
the Annual Meeting to be held on May 22, 2024:
The Proxy Statement, Proxy Card and the Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023
are also available free of charge at
https://www.investorrelations.com/WLFC.
Voting
The close of business on April 5, 2024 is the record date for determining whether you, in your capacity as a stockholder, are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. As of that date, we had [6,859,179] shares of common stock, $0.01 par value, issued and outstanding. All of the shares of our common stock outstanding on the record date are expected to be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. If you are entitled to vote at the meeting, you will have one vote for each share of common stock you hold with regard to each matter to be voted upon.
The required quorum for the meeting is a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock eligible to be voted on the matters to be considered at the meeting.
Shares of our common stock represented by proxies which are properly executed and returned to us on the accompanying proxy card will be voted at the Annual Meeting in accordance with the instructions marked on the proxy card. If you do not mark any instructions on the proxy card, your shares represented by the proxy card will be voted for the election of the Board’s nominees as Class II Directors, in favor of Proposal 2, and in favor of Proposal 3. In the election for two Directors (Proposal 1), the nominees for Class II Directors receiving the highest number of affirmative votes will be elected. The affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of our common stock entitled to vote thereon is required for the approval of Proposal 2. The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares voted in person or by proxy at the 2024 Annual Meeting is required for the approval of 3.
2 2024 WLFC Proxy Statement
A summary of the voting provisions for the matters to be voted on at the Annual Meeting, provided a valid quorum is present or represented at the Annual Meeting, is as follows:
Proposal |
Vote |
Board Recommendation |
Routine or Non-Routine |
Discretionary Voting by Broker Permitted? |
Vote Required for Approval |
Impact of Abstentions |
Impact of Broker Non-Votes |
1 |
Election of director nominees |
FOR |
Non-routine, thus if you hold your shares in street name, your broker may not vote your shares for you if you do not provide instructions to your broker |
No |
Plurality |
No impact |
No impact |
2 |
Amendment to amended and restated certificate of incorporation to provide for officer exculpation |
FOR |
Non-routine, thus if you hold your shares in street name, your broker may not vote your shares for you if you do not provide instructions to your broker |
No |
Majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of our common stock entitled to vote thereon |
Same effect as a vote AGAINST the Proposal |
Same effect as a vote AGAINST the Proposal |
3 |
Ratification of independent registered public accounting firm |
FOR |
Routine, thus if you hold your shares in street name, your broker may vote your shares for you absent any other instructions from you
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Yes |
Majority of votes cast affirmatively or negatively |
No impact |
Broker has the discretion to vote |
2024 WLFC Proxy Statement 3
If a properly signed proxy or ballot indicates that you abstain from voting or that your shares are not to be voted on a particular proposal (or that you “withhold” your vote for a director nominee), your shares will not be counted as having been voted on that proposal, although your shares will be counted as being in attendance at the meeting for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum. Broker non-votes (i.e., shares held by brokers or nominees, as to which instructions have not been received from beneficial owners or persons entitled to vote, that the broker or nominee does not have discretionary power to vote on a particular matter) are counted towards a quorum, but are not counted for purposes of the proposals in determining whether a matter has been approved by a majority of the shares represented in person or by proxy and entitled to vote. A broker or other nominee will not have discretion to vote your shares on any “non-routine” matters, absent instructions from you. “Non-routine” matters include all proposals, including the election of Directors, except for Proposal 3. Accordingly, we encourage you to provide voting instructions to your broker or other nominee whether or not you plan to participate in the meeting.
Our management does not know of any matters to be presented at the Annual Meeting other than those set forth in this proxy statement and in the Notice accompanying this proxy statement. If other matters should properly come before the meeting, the proxy holders will vote on such matters in accordance with their best judgment.
We encourage stockholders to vote in advance of the Annual Meeting, even if they plan to access the Annual Meeting virtually. In order to vote in advance, proxies submitted by internet or telephone must be received by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on May 21, 2024. Stockholders can vote during the Annual Meeting, using the internet. Beneficial holders who wish to vote during the Annual Meeting must obtain a valid legal proxy from their broker, bank or other nominee prior to the date of the Annual Meeting and then register in advance no later 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on May 21, 2024. Voting by a stockholder during the Annual Meeting will replace any previous votes.
Revocability of Proxies
Stockholders of record may revoke their proxy at any time before the polls close by submitting a later-dated proxy card, by voting using the internet at the Annual Meeting, by delivering an instrument of revocation to our Corporate Secretary before the Annual Meeting, or by voting again using the internet or by telephone before the cut-off time. Your latest internet or telephone proxy is the one that will be counted. Please note, however, that if your shares are held of record by a broker, bank or other nominee and you wish to revoke a proxy, you must contact that firm to revoke any prior voting instructions.
Solicitation
This solicitation is made by our Board of Directors on our behalf. The entire cost of preparing, assembling and mailing the Notice of Annual Meeting, this proxy statement and the enclosed proxy card, and of soliciting proxies, will be paid by us. Proxies will be solicited principally through the use of mail services, but we may solicit proxies personally or by telephone, electronic mail or special letter by our officers and our regular employees for no additional compensation. We have retained Mediant Communications LLC to aid in the solicitation at an estimated cost to us of approximately $25,000 plus out-of-pocket expenses.
In addition, stockholders who intend to solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than the Company’s nominees must comply with the additional requirements of Rule 14a-19(b).
4 2024 WLFC Proxy Statement
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INFORMATION ABOUT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD |
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Board of Directors
Our Bylaws authorize us to have seven Directors. At the present time, the Board consists of five Directors who are divided into three classes, one Director in Class I and two Directors in each of Class II and Class III. One class is elected each year for a three year term. Colm Barrington, Brendan J. Curran and Rae Ann McKeating qualify as independent Directors, as defined in the Nasdaq listing standards.
Our business, property and affairs are managed under the direction of the Board. Directors are kept informed of our business through discussions with our Executive Chairman and our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) as well as our other officers, by reviewing materials provided to them and by participating in meetings of the Board and its committees. The Board held a total of nine meetings during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. Each incumbent Director attended at least 75% of the aggregate of (i) the total number of meetings of the Board, and (ii) the total number of meetings held by all committees of the Board on which that Director served.
Communications with the Board
You may communicate with the Board by sending a letter to: Board of Directors, Willis Lease Finance Corporation, c/o Office of the Corporate Secretary, 60 East Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, Suite 209, Larkspur, CA 94939. Our Office of the Corporate Secretary will receive your correspondence and forward it to the Board of Directors or to any individual Director or Directors to whom your communication is directed, unless the communication is unduly hostile, threatening, illegal, does not reasonably relate to us or our business, or is similarly inappropriate. The Office of the Corporate Secretary has the authority to discard any inappropriate communications or to take other appropriate actions with respect to any such inappropriate communications.
Attendance at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders
Although we do not have a formal policy regarding attendance by members of our Board of Directors at our Annual Meeting of Stockholders, we encourage, but do not require, Directors to attend. Four of our Directors participated in our 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Committees of the Board
The Board of Directors has an Audit Committee and a Compensation Committee, both currently comprised solely of independent directors as defined by the Nasdaq listing standards (the “Audit Committee” and the “Compensation Committee”, respectively).
The Board does not have a nominating committee or committee performing the functions of such a committee. The Board has determined that the function of a nominating committee is adequately fulfilled by the independent Directors. As there is no such established committee, the Company has no nominating committee charter. The full Board of Directors participates in the consideration of any Director nominee.
Although we have not formally set any specific minimum qualifications that Director nominees must possess, we look for candidates with appropriate experience in aviation and leasing, a strong professional background, and a general understanding of marketing, finance and other disciplines related to the success of a company in our industry. Also, although not part of any formal policy, our goal is a balanced and diverse Board, with members whose skills, background and experience are complementary and, together, cover the spectrum of areas that impact our business. Our Directors are generally nominated by our management or other Directors, and each nominee is evaluated based on the above qualifications and in the context of the Board as a whole. While we do not normally engage professional search firms or other third parties in connection with our Board nomination process, we may do so in the future.
As we do not have a history of stockholder nominations of Directors, we do not have a formal policy regarding stockholder nominees to the Board. Under our bylaws, stockholders wishing to nominate a candidate for Director must give notice to our Corporate Secretary no later than the close of business on the 90th day prior to the anniversary of our preceding year’s annual meeting. If the annual meeting is more than 30 days before or 60 days after such anniversary date, the notice must be delivered no later than the 90th day prior to such annual meeting or the 10th day following the day on which we publicly announce the annual meeting date. The notice should set forth: (i) the name, age, business address and residence address of the nominee; (ii) the principal occupation or employment of the nominee; (iii) the class and number of our shares
2024 WLFC Proxy Statement 5
beneficially owned by the nominee; (iv) a description of all arrangements or understandings between the stockholder and the nominee and any other person(s) pursuant to which the nomination is made by the stockholder; and (v) any other information relating to the nominee that is required to be disclosed in proxy statements for the election of Directors pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Nominees proposed by stockholders will be evaluated in the same manner as those proposed by management or existing Directors.
The Audit Committee oversees our accounting function, internal controls and financial reporting process on behalf of the Board. The Audit Committee meets with our financial management and our independent registered public accounting firm to review our financial statements and filings, the audit and matters arising from them, and financial reporting procedures, including any significant judgments made in preparation of the financial statements. The Nasdaq’s listing rules require that our Audit Committee be composed of at least three independent Directors, who currently are: Directors Brendan J. Curran (Chair), Rae Ann McKeating and Colm Barrington. All members of the Audit Committee are able to read and understand financial statements. Mr. Curran also qualifies as an audit committee financial expert, as defined by the SEC, and is financially sophisticated as required by the Nasdaq listing standards. The Audit Committee held four meetings during the 2023 fiscal year. The Audit Committee’s charter is available on the Company’s website (www.wlfc.global).
The Compensation Committee reviews and approves our compensation arrangements for executive officers and administers the Company’s 2023 Incentive Stock Plan and the Company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan. The Compensation Committee currently consists of the Board’s independent Directors: Directors Rae Ann McKeating (Chair), Colm Barrington and Brendan J. Curran. The Compensation Committee held nine meetings during 2023. The Compensation Committee’s charter is available on the Company’s website (www.wlfc.global).
The Board of Directors may also establish a committee of independent Directors, as defined by the Nasdaq listing standards, to address specific strategic issues from time to time, including as it did in 2023.
Board Leadership Structure
Our Company is led by Charles F. Willis, IV, the Company’s founder and Executive Chairman of the Board, and Austin Willis, the Company’s CEO. This approach of splitting the Executive Chairman and CEO roles is commonly utilized by public companies in the United States and we believe it is effective for our Company as well. Prior to serving as Executive Chairman of the Board, Mr. Charles Willis served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since the Company was founded, which has allowed Mr. Charles Willis to be seen by participants in the aviation industry and by our customers, business partners, investors and other stakeholders as providing strong leadership for our Company and in our industry. Prior to serving as the Company’s CEO, Mr. Austin Willis served as the Company’s Senior Vice President, Corporate Development which gave him extensive knowledge of the Company and its business lines and prepared him for the role of CEO. The Board believes that the separation of the roles of Executive Chairman and CEO are the optimal structure for us and our stockholders because it enables decisive leadership, ensures clear accountability and enhances our ability to consistently communicate our message and strategy to all of our stakeholders. Moreover, Messrs. Charles Willis and Austin Willis possess detailed and in-depth knowledge of the issues, opportunities and challenges facing us and our business and, therefore, are best positioned to develop agendas that focus the Board’s time and attention on the most critical matters. We recognize that different board leadership structures may be appropriate for companies in different situations and at different times, and we believe that no one structure is suitable for all companies. While we believe that our current Board leadership structure is optimal for us, demonstrating to our employees, suppliers, customers and other stakeholders that Willis Lease is under strong leadership, this may change in the future.
We have not appointed an independent Board chairman or lead independent Director, as we believe that the members of our Board and the two standing Board committees consisting of entirely independent Directors provide an appropriate level of oversight. In this regard, the Audit Committee oversees the accounting and financial reporting processes, as well as risk, legal and compliance matters. The Compensation Committee oversees the compensation of our Executive Chairman and CEO and, upon the recommendation of the CEO, the compensation of the other executive officers of the Company. Each of these committees is led by a chairperson other than the Executive Chairman or CEO and, as discussed in more detail in this proxy statement, the entire Board of Directors is actively involved in overseeing our risk management. The entire Board monitors or, as appropriate, the independent Directors monitor matters such as the composition of the Board and its committees, Board performance and “best practices” in corporate governance. Our independent Directors also conduct meetings in executive session. These meetings are typically held in conjunction with Board meetings. In 2023, five Board meetings included an independent Directors’ session. This allows Directors to speak candidly on any matters of interest without the Executive Chairman, CEO or other management members present. We believe this framework strikes a sound balance with appropriate oversight and that appointing an independent Board chairman would not improve the performance of the Board in a material way.
6 2024 WLFC Proxy Statement
The Board’s Role in Risk Oversight
It is management’s responsibility to manage risk and bring to the Board’s attention the most material risks to the Company. Our Board, including through the Audit Committee and Compensation Committee, each of which are comprised solely of independent Directors, regularly reviews various areas of significant risk to the Company, and advises and directs management on the scope and implementation of policies, strategic initiatives and other actions designed to mitigate various types of risks. Specific examples of risks primarily overseen by the full Board include competition risks, industry risks, economic risks, interest rate risks, liquidity risks, business operations risks and risks related to acquisitions and dispositions. Our Audit Committee regularly reviews with management and our independent auditors significant financial risk exposures and the processes management has implemented to monitor, control and report such exposures. Specific examples of risks primarily overseen by the Audit Committee include risks related to the preparation of Willis Lease’s financial statements, disclosure controls and procedures, internal controls and procedures required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, accounting, financial and auditing risks, treasury risks (insurance, credit and debt), risks posed by significant litigation matters, data security risks and risks associated with proposed affiliate transactions. Our Audit Committee also oversees compliance with other applicable laws and regulations, as well as the Company’s Standards of Ethical Conduct Policy. Any reports received on the Company’s whistleblower hotline are submitted to the Chair of the Audit Committee. The Compensation Committee reviews and evaluates risks related to the attraction and retention of talent, risks associated with management succession planning, and risks related to the design of compensation programs established by the Compensation Committee for our executive officers. The Compensation Committee has determined in its reasonable business judgment that our compensation policies and practices for all employees, including executive officers, do not create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.
Director Compensation
For details regarding Director compensation, see “Compensation Tables — Director Compensation” elsewhere in this proxy statement.
Biographical Information
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Director |
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Age* |
Class I Director Whose Term Expires at the 2026 Annual Meeting: |
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Rae Ann McKeating |
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2020 |
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71 |
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Class II Directors Whose Term Expires at the 2027 Annual Meeting (provided they are re-elected at the 2024 Annual Meeting): |
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Colm Barrington |
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2024 |
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78 |
Austin C. Willis |
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2008 |
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43 |
Class III Directors Whose Term Expires at the 2025 Annual Meeting: |
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Brendan J. Curran |
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2024 |
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61 |
Charles F. Willis, IV |
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1985 |
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75 |
* Age as of April 5, 2024.
2024 WLFC Proxy Statement 7
Board Diversity
The following Board Diversity Matrix provides information on the diversity of our Board as of April 5, 2024.
TOTAL NUMBER OF DIRECTORS: 5 |
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FEMALE |
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MALE |
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NON- |
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DID NOT |
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Part I: Gender Identity |
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Directors |
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Part II: Demographic Background |
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African American or Black |
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Alaskan Native or Native American |
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Asian |
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Hispanic or Latinx |
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Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander |
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White |
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1 |
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4 |
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Two or More Races or Ethnicities |
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LGBTQ+ |
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Did Not Disclose Demographic Background |
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8 2024 WLFC Proxy Statement
Principal Occupations, Background and Qualifications of Director Nominees and Continuing Directors
Class I Director Whose Term Expires at the 2026 Annual Meeting:
Rae Ann McKeating
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Director since: 2020 Independent |
Rae Ann McKeating retired in 2016 as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer at Aviation Capital Group (ACG), a company that purchases new aircraft from Boeing and Airbus, and sells, leases and manages commercial aircraft to/for customers around the globe. Ms. McKeating served in the ACG legal department from 2007 to 2016. Since 2013, Ms. McKeating has been serving as a non-paid Board of Director for the non-profit St. Luke’s McCall Foundation, serving the health of the community of Valley and Adams counties in Idaho. Prior to joining ACG, Ms. McKeating provided legal business services to public and private businesses and individuals. From 1997 to 1999, Ms. McKeating was Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for Willis Lease Finance Corporation. From 1993 to 1997, Ms. McKeating served as Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. Prior to joining Hawaiian Airlines, Ms. McKeating worked several years with a major Hawaiian law firm, after having practiced two years with a Southern California law firm. Ms. McKeating earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in anthropology from the University of Texas and her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Utah.
Ms. McKeating brings to the board vast experience in both the leasing and commercial aviation industry. |
Class II Directors Whose Term Expires at the 2027 Annual Meeting (provided they are re-elected at the 2024 Annual Meeting):
Colm Barrington
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Director since: 2024 Independent |
Colm Barrington has over 50 years of experience in the global aviation industry, having started his aviation career in 1968 at Aer Lingus. In 1980, he joined GPA Group plc where he held various senior management positions and helped establish and develop a global market for the sale of leased aircraft as financial assets. In 1993, Mr. Barrington oversaw the acquisition of GPA Group plc by GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) and was subsequently appointed President of GECAS Ireland. Mr. Barrington left his role at GECAS soon after to start his own aircraft lease management company, which subsequently merged into Babcock & Brown Limited. Following the merger, he remained at Babcock & Brown and was responsible for managing and developing aircraft operating lease and management activities globally for its aircraft operating lease division known as BBAM. When Babcock & Brown Air (subsequently renamed Fly Leasing Limited) was launched on the New York Stock Exchange in 2007, he served as Chief Executive Officer and Director until it was sold to Carlyle Aviation in 2021. Following that sale, Mr. Barrington stepped down from a full-time executive role and served as a Senior Ambassador to BBAM. In addition to his executive roles, Mr. Barrington has served in various non-executive director roles at five public companies in the aircraft leasing, airline, real estate and financial services sectors, including Non-Executive Chairman at Aer Lingus from 2008 to 2015 and Vice Chair of Finnair from 2016 to 2021. Mr. Barrington received a master’s degree in economics from University College Dublin and a diploma in public administration from The Institute for Public Administration, also in Dublin.
Mr. Barrington’s extensive senior executive management experience in the aviation industry over the last five decades and his in-depth board knowledge from serving on various public company boards with listings in New York, Dublin, London and Helsinki would add significant value to the Board.
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Austin C. Willis
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Director since: 2008 CEO |
Austin C. Willis was elected to the Board in December 2008 and has served as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer since 2022. Prior to that, he was the Company’s Senior Vice President, Corporate Development, for over five years. Prior to joining the Board, Mr. Austin Willis established JT Power LLC, a company that sold commercial aircraft engine parts and leased commercial engines and aircraft. He later sold his business to enlist in the U.S. armed forces, |
2024 WLFC Proxy Statement 9
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where he served as an Army Green Beret. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from London School of Economics and Political Science and is the son of Charles F. Willis, IV.
Mr. Austin Willis understands the inner workings of the Company and brings a familiarity with the aviation industry generally, as well as aftermarket parts and leasing.
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Class III Directors Whose Term Expires at the 2025 Annual Meeting:
Brendan J. Curran
Director since: 2024 Independent |
Brendan J. Curran was appointed to the Board effective January 1, 2024. Mr. Curran is currently an operating resource and advisor to ATL Partners, a New York based private equity firm specializing in mergers & acquisitions. He also serves as Chairman of the Board of Aero Accessories, a leading independent component maintenance facility based in Miramar, FL. Mr. Curran’s leadership experience includes public company senior executive roles at Boeing Global Services, Crane Co., United Technologies Corporation, Pratt & Whitney Commercial Engines, and Hamilton Sundstrand. From 2020 to 2022, Mr. Curran served as Chairman of the Board of Boeing Asia-Pacific Aviation Services. Mr. Curran graduated from Columbia Business School with a Master of Business Administration degree and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Vermont. While at Columbia, he was awarded the Center for International Business Fellowship.
With a distinguished career in the aerospace industry spanning nearly four decades, Mr. Curran brings to the Board a wealth of experience across the engine and airframe segments.
|
|
|
Charles F. Willis, IV
|
|
Director since: 1985 Executive Chairman of the Board |
Charles F. Willis, IV is the founder of Willis Lease, has served as a Director since our incorporation in 1985, served as President until July 2011 and CEO until April 1, 2022, has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors since 1996 and assumed the role of Executive Chairman on April 1, 2022. Mr. Charles Willis has over 45 years of experience in the aviation industry. From 1975 to 1985, Mr. Willis served as President of Willis Lease’s predecessor, Charles F. Willis Company, which purchased, financed and sold a variety of large commercial transport aircraft and provided consulting services to the aviation industry. During 1974, Mr. Charles Willis operated a small business not involved in the aviation industry. From 1972 through 1973, Mr. Charles Willis was Assistant Vice President of Sales at Seaboard World Airlines, a freight carrier. From 1965 through 1972, he held various positions at Alaska Airlines, including positions in the flight operations, sales and marketing departments.
As our founder and Executive Chairman, Mr. Charles Willis brings to the Board significant senior leadership, sales and marketing, industry, technical and global experience, as well as a deep institutional knowledge of the Company, its operations and customer relations. |
10 2024 WLFC Proxy Statement
|
PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF TWO CLASS II DIRECTORS |
|
Our Board is divided into three classes, each class having a three-year term that expires in successive years. At the Annual Meeting, two Directors will be elected in Class II, to serve a three-year term expiring at the 2027 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or until succeeded by another qualified Director who has been duly elected.
The Board of Directors proposes that Colm Barrington and Austin C. Willis be re-elected as Directors in Class II for a three-year term expiring at the 2027 Annual Meeting or until their successor is duly elected and qualified or until such Director’s earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal.
The proxy holders intend to vote all proxies received by them for the foregoing nominees, unless instructions to the contrary are marked on the proxy. In the event that any nominee is unable or declines to serve as a Director at the time of the Annual Meeting, the proxies will be voted for any nominee who shall be designated by the present Board to fill the vacancy. As of the date of this proxy statement, the Board is not aware of any nominee who is unable or will decline to serve as a Director.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES AS CLASS II DIRECTORS.
2024 WLFC Proxy Statement 11
|
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY |
|
Our current executive officers and their respective ages as of April 5, 2024 were as listed below.
Name |
|
Age |
|
Positions and Offices |
Charles F. Willis, IV* |
|
75 |
|
Executive Chairman |
Austin C. Willis* |
|
43 |
|
Chief Executive Officer |
Brian R. Hole |
|
46 |
|
President |
Scott B. Flaherty |
|
58 |
|
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
Dean M. Poulakidas |
|
55 |
|
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary |
* See business experience background under “Principal Occupations, Background and Qualifications of Director Nominees and Continuing Directors.”
Brian R. Hole
|
|
President |
Brian R. Hole joined Willis Lease in August 2014 and was promoted to President on April 1, 2016. Prior to his appointment as President, he served as Senior Vice President & Chief Investment Officer. Formerly, Mr. Hole was Owner and President of Aviation Opportunity Management LLC, where he advised bank, private equity and alternative investment funds regarding investment in large commercial aircraft and engines. Prior to starting his own business, from 2008 to 2012, Mr. Hole served as an attorney for United Technologies Corporation, Pratt & Whitney Division, where he worked with the Commercial Engines Group in assisting with the next generation product family of engines, and specifically, on the partnership for the PW1100G engine on the Airbus A320neo family of aircraft and at IAE International Aero Engines, where he structured and negotiated engine sales and aftermarket programs as well as spare engine and aircraft financings. Mr. Hole earned his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University and a law degree, with high honors, from the University of Connecticut School of Law. |
Scott B. Flaherty
|
|
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
Scott B. Flaherty joined Willis Lease in June 2016 and serves as our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining Willis Lease, Mr. Flaherty was Senior Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer at Colt Defense LLC from 2009 until April of 2016. Prior to Colt Defense LLC, Mr. Flaherty was a Managing Director at Banc of America Securities LLC where he ran the origination effort, within the equity capital markets group, for various industries. Mr. Flaherty also was an investment banker at Credit Suisse First Boston. He worked as an engineer at the Pratt and Whitney division of the United Technologies Corporation for eight years. Mr. Flaherty earned his undergraduate degree from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and a Masters of Business Administration degree from the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University. |
Dean M. Poulakidas
|
|
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary |
Dean M. Poulakidas joined Willis Lease in September 2011 and serves as our Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. Formerly, Mr. Poulakidas was Vice President and Corporate Counsel with International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC), where he managed a wide variety of aviation transactions working with airlines, manufacturers, purchasers, financiers, service providers and aviation authorities in many jurisdictions. Prior to ILFC, he was a corporate attorney at Pillsbury Madison & Sutro, where his transactional experience included international and domestic joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Poulakidas earned his undergraduate degree from the University of California at Los Angeles, his masters degree from Columbia University and his law degree from the University of California’s Hastings College of the Law. |
12 2024 WLFC Proxy Statement
|
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT |
|
The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of April 5, 2024 by: (i) each person who is known to us to own beneficially more than five percent of the outstanding shares of our common stock; (ii) each Director; (iii) each Executive Officer; and (iv) all Directors and Executive Officers as a group. Unless specified below, the mailing address for each individual, officer or Director is c/o Corporate Secretary, Willis Lease Finance Corporation, 60 East Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, Suite 209, Larkspur, CA 94939. As of April 5, 2024, we had [6,859,179] shares of common stock, $0.01 par value, issued and outstanding.
|
|
Common stock(1) |
|
||||||
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner |
|
Number of |
|
|
|
Percentage |
|
||
Charles F. Willis, IV |
|
|
3,131,263 |
|
(2) |
|
|
44.18 |
% |
Austin C. Willis |
|
|
859,119 |
|
(3) |
|
|
12.12 |
% |
Brian R. Hole |
|
|
114,022 |
|
|
|
|
1.61 |
% |
Dean M. Poulakidas |
|
|
146,346 |
|
|
|
|
2.06 |
% |
Scott B. Flaherty |
|
|
113,553 |
|
|
|
|
1.60 |
% |
Robert J. Keady |
|
|
34,779 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
Hans Joerg Hunziker |
|
|
24,994 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
Rae Ann McKeating |
|
|
16,250 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
Brendan J. Curran |
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
All Directors, nominees and Executive Officers as a group (9 persons) |
|
|
4,039,838 |
|
|
|
|
57.00 |
% |
CFW Partners, L.P. |
|
2,134,148 |
|
(2)(3) |
|
|
30.11 |
% |
|
M3 Partners, LP |
|
|
626,726 |
|
(4) |
|
|
8.84 |
% |
Dimensional Fund Advisors LP |
|
|
492,937 |
|
(5) |
|
|
6.96 |
% |
* Less than one percent of our outstanding common stock.
2024 WLFC Proxy Statement 13
14 2024 WLFC Proxy Statement
|
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION |
|
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer and the two most highly compensated executive officers other than our Chief Executive Officer (the “NEOs”), based on total compensation for their services with us in all capacities.
Summary Compensation Table for Fiscal Year 2023
Name and Principal |
|
Year |
Salary |
Bonus |
|
Stock |
Option |
Non-Equity |
All Other |
Total |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Austin C. Willis |
|
2023 |
|
|
697,375 |
|
|
|
|
1,766,832 |
|
|
|
|
|
3,619,752 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
220,324 |
|
(3) |
|
|
6,304,283 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Chief Executive Officer |
|
2022 |
|
|
580,688 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
1,278,220 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
93,436 |
|
|
|
|
1,952,344 |
|
|
Charles F. Willis, IV |
|
2023 |
|
|
1,103,857 |
|
|
|
|
2,733,571 |
|
|
|
|
|
6,486,000 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
160,145 |
|
(4) |
|
|
10,483,573 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Executive Chairman |
|
2022 |
|
|
1,097,000 |
|
|
|
|
1,000,000 |
|
(1) |
|
|
|
3,909,088 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
207,022 |
|
|
|
|
6,213,110 |
|
|
Brian R. Hole |
|
2023 |
|
|
702,693 |
|
|
|
|
1,172,568 |
|
|
|
|
|
2,397,000 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
76,611 |
|
(5) |
|
|
4,348,872 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
President |
|
2022 |
|
|
499,244 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
1,066,586 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
23,566 |
|
|
|
|
1,589,396 |
|
|
With respect to time-based restricted stock awards, the amounts in this column represent the value of such awards as of the grant date. With respect to performance-based restricted stock awards, the amounts in this column represent the value for such awards based upon the probable outcome of the performance conditions as of the date of grant under FASB ASC Topic 718, which is equal to the value of each award as of such date assuming maximum achievement of the performance conditions.
For 2023, the reported grant date fair value represents the value of each of the following awards granted under the Company’s 2023 Incentive Stock Plan (“2023 Incentive Plan”): (i) restricted stock awards granted in 2023 subject to time-based vesting conditions; and (ii) performance-based restricted stock awards granted in 2023 and issued in 2024, based on the achievement of performance goals during the 2023 performance cycle and reported at the probable outcome value, which will then be subject to further time-based vesting conditions, as described below:
For 2022, the reported grant date fair value represents the value of each of the following awards granted under the Company’s 2021 Incentive Stock Plan (“2021 Incentive Plan”): (i) restricted stock awards granted in 2022 subject to time-based vesting conditions; and (ii) performance-based restricted stock awards granted in 2022 and issued in 2023, based on the achievement of performance goals during the 2022 performance cycle and reported at the probable outcome value, which will then be subject to further time-based vesting conditions, as described below:
2024 WLFC Proxy Statement 15
2023 Equity Awards
The Compensation Committee established an equity award grant structure which awards a combination of time-based vesting restricted stock and target performance shares.
The time-based restricted stock was granted to each NEO on April 1, 2023 pursuant to the Company’s 2021 Incentive Plan, and vests ratably over a three-year period.
Each NEO was eligible to be granted performance shares based on achievement of a target goal, pursuant to the Company’s 2021 Incentive Plan. For the awards to be issued in early 2023, the Committee determined that the performance shares for the NEOs would be based on liquidity (defined as non-restricted cash plus revolver availability) as of December 31, 2022. If the Company’s liquidity for fiscal year 2022 achieved $50 million, each NEO would receive 100% of their target number of related performance shares. Our liquidity as of December 31, 2022 exceeded $50 million. The performance shares related to the achievement of liquidity targets are subject to additional time-based vesting over a one-year period following the end of the performance cycle. As a result of the Company’s performance, the Compensation Committee determined the performance shares had been earned and formally issued them to each NEO, subject to vesting conditions, on April 1, 2023:
Executive |
|
Restricted |
|
Target |
|
Earned |
|
Total Restricted |
||||||||||||||||
Austin C. Willis |
|
|
|
20,680 |
|
|
|
|
|
31,020 |
|
|
|
|
|
31,020 |
|
|
|
|
|
51,700 |
|
|
Charles F. Willis, IV |
|
|
|
40,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
60,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
60,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
Brian R. Hole |
|
|
|
14,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
21,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
21,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
35,000 |
|
|
2024 Equity Awards
The Compensation Committee established an equity award grant structure which awards a combination of time-based vesting restricted stock and target performance shares.
The time-based restricted stock was granted to each NEO on April 1, 2024 pursuant to the Company’s 2023 Incentive Plan, and vests ratably over a three-year period.
Each NEO was eligible to be granted two ranges of performance shares based on achievement of minimum, target or maximum goals, pursuant to the Company’s 2023 Incentive Plan. For the awards to be issued in early 2024, the Committee
16 2024 WLFC Proxy Statement
determined that the performance shares for the NEOs would be based on Return on Equity and Net Contribution Margin (defined as Lease Rent revenue, less Depreciation and Interest expenses) as of December 31, 2023. If the Company’s Return on Equity for fiscal year 2023 achieved 10%, 8% or 6%, each NEO would receive 125%, 100% or 75% of their target number of related performance shares. Additionally, if the Company’s Net Contribution Margin for fiscal year 2023 achieved $30 million, $24 million or $18 million, each NEO would receive 125%, 100% or 75% of their target number of related performance shares. Our Return on Equity and Net Contribution Margin as of December 31, 2023 exceeded 10% and $30 million, respectively. The performance shares related to the achievement of these targets are subject to additional time-based vesting over a two-year period following the end of the performance cycle. As a result of the Company’s performance, the Compensation Committee determined the maximum number of performance shares had been earned and formally issued them to each NEO, subject to vesting conditions, on April 1, 2024:
Executive |
|
Restricted |
|
Target |
|
Earned |
|
Total Restricted |
||||||||||||||||
Austin C. Willis |
|
|
|
23,200 |
|
|
|
|
|
34,800 |
|
|
|
|
|
43,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
66,700 |
|
|
Charles F. Willis, IV |
|
|
|
40,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
60,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
75,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
115,000 |
|
|
Brian R. Hole |
|
|
|
15,200 |
|
|
|
|
|
22,800 |
|
|
|
|
|
28,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
43,700 |
|
|
Recoupment of Incentive Compensation
In June 2023, the SEC approved the Nasdaq’s proposed rules implementing the incentive-based compensation recovery provisions of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which require listed companies to develop and implement a policy providing for the recovery of erroneously awarded incentive-based compensation received by current or former executive officers and to satisfy related disclosure obligations. In October 2023, the Compensation Committee adopted the Compensation Recovery Policy, which applies these new requirements to the Company’s executive officers, any vice-president or above in charge of a principal business unit, division, or function, or any other person (including an officer of the Company’s parent(s) or subsidiaries) who performs similar policy-making functions for the Company. The Compensation Recovery Policy applies to performance-based incentive compensation received on or after October 2, 2023, and provides for the mandatory recovery from covered persons of erroneously awarded incentive compensation in the event of an accounting restatement of the Company’s financial statements regardless of fault or misconduct.
2024 WLFC Proxy Statement 17
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal 2023 Year-End
The following table provides information regarding each unvested stock award held by our NEOs as of December 31, 2023.
|
|
|
Option Awards |
|
|
|
Stock Awards |
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Name |
|
Number of |
Option |
Option |
|
|
Award |
Number |
Market |
Equity |
Equity |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Austin C. Willis |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
4/1/2021 |
|
|
|
2,826 |
|
(1) |
|
$ |
135,478 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
4/1/2022 |
|
|
|
5,653 |
|
(1) |
|
|
271,005 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
4/1/2023 |
|
|
|
20,680 |
|
(1) |
|
|
991,399 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
4/1/2023 |
|
|
|
31,020 |
|
(2) |
|
|
1,487,099 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
Charles F. Willis, IV |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4/1/2021 |
|
|
|
9,600 |
|
(1) |
|
|
460,224 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
4/1/2022 |
|
|
|
40,533 |
|
(1) |
|
|
1,943,152 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
4/1/2023 |
|
|
|
40,000 |
|
(1) |
|
|
1,917,600 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
4/1/2023 |
|
|
|
60,000 |
|
(2) |
|
|
2,876,400 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
Brian R. Hole |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
4/1/2021 |
|
|
|
3,986 |
|
(1) |
|
|
191,089 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
4/1/2022 |
|
|
|
7,973 |
|
(1) |
|
|
382,226 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
4/1/2023 |
|
|
|
14,000 |
|
(1) |
|
|
671,160 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
4/1/2023 |
|
|
|
21,000 |
|
(2) |
|
|
1,006,740 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
Employment Agreements and Severance Payments
Employment agreements have been entered into with Messrs. Austin Willis, Charles Willis and Hole. These agreements provide for base salary (subject to increase but not decrease unless part of a salary reduction program affecting all senior executive officers), bonus compensation and certain benefits. As described in detail below, the employment contracts specify certain severance benefits to be paid in the event of an involuntary termination.
Employment contracts for Messrs. Austin Willis, Charles Willis, and Hole specify certain severance benefits to be paid in the event of an “Involuntary Termination” (i.e., termination of employment by the Company without cause or resignation by the employee for good reason) and, in the case of Mr. Hole, specified severance benefits in the event of an Involuntary Termination within 18 months following a change of control (a “Change of Control Termination”).
The maximum of these severance benefits payable to Mr. Austin Willis would represent (i) two times his base salary, plus (ii) any unpaid base salary and a prorated portion of his annual incentives accrued during the year of termination, and accrued vacation and sick pay, plus (iii) two times the average annual incentives he earned during the two years prior to his Involuntary Termination (or the greater of (A) one year or (B) the target bonus for such year), plus (iv) distribution of unpaid deferred compensation, accelerated vesting of restricted stock scheduled to vest during the two years following the termination date and continued coverage for two years under the Company’s employee group benefit plans. Additionally, in the event Mr. Austin Willis is terminated with less than the six months’ notice required by his contract, he is entitled to a lump sum payment equal to his annual base salary. Upon a change of control, Mr. Austin Willis is entitled to immediate vesting of all restricted stock bonus awards.
18 2024 WLFC Proxy Statement
The maximum of these severance benefits payable to Mr. Charles Willis would represent (i) three times his base salary, plus (ii) three times the average annual incentives he earned during the three years prior to his Involuntary Termination, plus (iii) a prorated portion of his annual incentives accrued during the year of termination, plus (iv) immediate vesting of all outstanding stock options and restricted stock, plus (v) continued coverage for three years under the Company’s employee group benefit plans, plus (vi) continued payment for three years for club memberships (if any), plus (vii) the right to purchase company car or to assume the lease. Additionally, in the event Mr. Charles Willis is terminated with less than the one year’s notice required by his contract, he is entitled to a lump sum payment equal to his annual base salary prorated for the portion of the year for which he did not receive notice. Upon a change of control, Mr. Charles Willis is entitled to immediate vesting of all stock options and restricted stock. In the event that Mr. Charles Willis voluntarily retires, he is entitled to purchase or assume the lease for his company car, to continued payment for his club memberships (if any) and to continued coverage under the Company’s employee group benefit plans for one year following his retirement.
The maximum of these severance benefits payable to Mr. Hole would represent (i) one times his base salary for an Involuntary Termination or one and one-half times his base salary for a Change of Control Termination, plus (ii) any unpaid base salary and any annual incentive compensation to which Mr. Hole is entitled as of his termination, and accrued vacation and sick pay, plus (iii) only in the case of a Change of Control Termination, the average annual incentives he earned during the two years prior to his termination, plus (iv) distribution of unpaid deferred compensation, plus (v) payment of the average of the largest and smallest (excluding from calculation any annual incentive equal to zero) of his last five annual incentives earned prior to his termination, plus (vi) payment of an amount equal to his average annual total compensation for the immediately preceding five years, multiplied by the number of years (full or partial) remaining in the initial employment term that ends on March 31, 2025, if the Involuntary Termination occurs on or before March 31, 2025. In addition, he is entitled to accelerated vesting of unvested restricted stock and continued coverage under the Company’s employee group benefit plans for 18 months following an Involuntary Termination, or for two years following a Change of Control Termination. Additionally, in the event Mr. Hole is terminated with less than the six months’ notice required by his contract, he is entitled to a lump sum payment equal to six months of his annual base salary.
If any of these payments or benefits would constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended, and would be subject to the Excise Tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code, the employment contracts of each of Messrs. Austin Willis, Charles Willis, and Hole stipulate that payments to each of them will be reduced, to the extent necessary, so that no portion of the payments would be subject to the Excise Tax. This reduction shall only occur if the after-tax net present value of the payments, as so reduced, is greater than or equal to the after-tax present value of such payments without such reduction.
Other than as described above, if a NEO ceases to be employed by us because of his or her resignation or retirement (other than for reasons constituting a constructive termination under his or her employment agreement), no severance payments are owed by us.
Pay Versus Performance
Pursuant to Section 953(a) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K, the Pay Versus Performance Table (set forth below) is required to include “Compensation Actually Paid,” as calculated per SEC disclosure rules, to the Company’s principal executive officer (“PEO”) and the Company’s non-PEO NEOs, as noted below. “Compensation Actually Paid” represents a new required calculation of compensation that differs significantly from the Summary Compensation Table calculation of compensation, the NEO’s realized or earned compensation. The amounts in the table below are calculated in accordance with SEC rules and do not represent amounts actually earned or realized by NEOs, including with respect to equity awards, which remain subject to forfeiture if the vesting conditions are not satisfied.
2024 WLFC Proxy Statement 19
Pay Versus Performance Table
Year |
|
|
Summary |
|
Summary |
|
Compensation |
|
Compensation |
|
Average |
|
Average |
|
Value of Initial |
|
Net |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
2023 |
|
|
|
|
6,304,283 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
5,029,397 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
7,416,223 |
|
|
|
|
|
5,444,083 |
|
|
|
|
|
160.47 |
|
|
|
|
|
43.8 |
|
|
|
2022 |
|
|
|
|
1,952,344 |
|
|
|
|
|
6,213,110 |
|
|
|
|
|
3,354,169 |
|
|
|
|
|
11,929,180 |
|
|
|
|
|
1,589,386 |
|
|
|
|
|
2,960,493 |
|
|
|
|
|
193.70 |
|
|
|
|
|
5.4 |
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
7,917,156 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
10,821,552 |
|
|
|
|
|
1,519,734 |
|
|
|
|
|
1,984,797 |
|
|
|
|
|
123.60 |
|
|
|
|
|
3.4 |
|
|
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2022 |
|
2021 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Austin |
Average Non- |
|
|
Austin |
Charles |
Average Non- |
|
Charles |
Average Non- |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total Compensation from Summary Compensation |
|
$ |
6,304,283 |
|
|
|
$ |
7,416,223 |
|
|
|
$ |
1,952,344 |
|
|
|
|
6,213,110 |
|
|
|
|
1,589,396 |
|
|
|
|
|
7,917,156 |
|
|
|
|
1,519,734 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Adjustments for Pension |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Adjustment Summary Compensation Table Pension |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
Amount added for current year service cost |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Amount added for prior service cost impacting current year |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total Adjustments for Pension |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
Adjustments for Equity Awards |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Adjustment for grant date values in the Summary Compensation Table (8) |
|
$ |
(3,619,752 |
) |
|
|
$ |
(4,441,500 |
) |
|
|
$ |
(1,278,220 |
) |
|
|
$ |
(3,909,088 |
) |
|
|
$ |
(1,066,586 |
) |
|
|
|
$ |
(6,403,600 |
) |
|
|
$ |
(1,031,239 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Year-end fair value of unvested awards granted in the current year |
|
$ |
2,527,096 |
|
|
|
$ |
3,299,400 |
|
|
|
$ |
2,330,895 |
|
|
|
$ |
7,128,408 |
|
|
|
$ |
1,944,970 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
5,722,800 |
|
|
|
$ |
907,365 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Year-over-year difference of year-end fair values for unvested awards granted in prior years |
|
$ |
(85,892 |
) |
|
|
$ |
(314,496 |
) |
|
|
$ |
486,410 |
|
|
|
$ |
3,397,650 |
|
|
|
$ |
686,639 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,456,212 |
|
|
|
$ |
225,150 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Fair values at vest date for awards granted and vested in current year |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Difference in fair values between prior year-end fair values and vest date fair values for awards granted in prior years |
|
$ |
(96,338 |
) |
|
|
$ |
(515,544 |
) |
|
|
$ |
(137,260 |
) |
|
|
$ |
(900,900 |
) |
|
|
$ |
(193,926 |
) |
|
|
|
$ |
2,128,984 |
|
|
|
$ |
363,787 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Forfeitures during current year equal to prior year-end fair value |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Dividends or dividend equivalents not otherwise included in total compensation |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total Adjustments for Equity Awards |
|
$ |
(1,274,887 |
) |
|
|
$ |
(1,972,140 |
) |
|
|
$ |
1,401,825 |
|
|
|
$ |
5,716,070 |
|
|
|
$ |
1,371,097 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
2,904,396 |
|
|
|
$ |
465,063 |
|
|
Compensation Actually Paid (as calculated) |
|
$ |
5,029,397 |
|
|
|
$ |
5,444,083 |
|
|
|
$ |
3,354,169 |
|
|
|
$ |
11,929,180 |
|
|
|
$ |
2,960,493 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
10,821,552 |
|
|
|
$ |
1,984,797 |
|
|
20 2024 WLFC Proxy Statement
Narrative Disclosure to Pay Versus Performance Table
We believe the “Compensation Actually Paid” in each of the years reported above and over the three-year cumulative period are reflective of the Compensation Committee’s emphasis on “pay-for-performance.” The total “Compensation Actually Paid for each of the PEO and NEOs fluctuated year-over-year, primarily due to fluctuations in our stock price over the period.
The illustrations below compare “Compensation Actually Paid” (as calculated in accordance with the SEC rules) and the following measures:
2024 WLFC Proxy Statement 21
Director Compensation
The following table summarizes compensation for 2023 by individual non-employee Directors. Messrs. Austin Willis and Charles Willis are also members of the Board but receive no additional compensation for such service. Please see the “Summary Compensation Table for Fiscal Year 2023” for the compensation paid to Messrs. Austin Willis and Charles Willis for their service to the Company.
Director Compensation for Fiscal Year Ended 2023
Name |
|
Fees Earned |
|
Stock |
|
Option |
|
All Other |
|
Total |
||||||||||||||||||||
Hans Joerg Hunziker(4) |
|
|
$ |
150,482 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
122,700 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
273,182 |
|
|
Robert J. Keady(5) |
|
|
$ |
147,590 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
122,700 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
270,290 |
|
|
Rae Ann McKeating |
|
|
$ |
147,590 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
122,700 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
270,290 |
|
|
22 2024 WLFC Proxy Statement
|
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE |
|
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Audit Committee”) oversees our accounting function, internal controls and financial reporting process on behalf of the Board of Directors. The Audit Committee is composed of three Directors, each of whom is independent as defined by the Nasdaq listing standards and operates pursuant to the Audit Committee Charter.
The Audit Committee reviews our financial reporting process on behalf of the Board. Management has primary responsibility for establishing and maintaining adequate internal financial controls, for preparing the financial statements and for the public reporting process. Grant Thornton LLP (“Grant Thornton”), the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2023, is responsible for expressing opinions on the conformity of the Company’s audited financial statements with generally accepted accounting principles and on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
In this context, the Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed with management and Grant Thornton the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023 and Grant Thornton’s evaluation of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The Audit Committee discussed with Grant Thornton the matters that are required to be discussed by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and the Securities and Exchange Commission. Grant Thornton provided to the Audit Committee the written disclosures and the letter required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent accountant’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and the Audit Committee discussed with Grant Thornton that firm’s independence. The Audit Committee concluded that Grant Thornton’s provision of audit and non-audit services to the Company is compatible with Grant Thornton’s independence.
Based on the review and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to our Board that the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023 be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2023 for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This report is provided by the following independent Directors, who comprise the Audit Committee:
Brendan J. Curran, Committee Chair
Colm Barrington
Rae Ann McKeating
2024 WLFC Proxy Statement 23
|
PROPOSAL 2: APPROVAL OF Amendment to OUR Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to provide for officer exculpation |
|
General
Our Board has unanimously adopted, and recommends that stockholders approve, an amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Charter”) to limit the personal liability of certain senior officers of the Company as permitted by recent amendments to Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as discussed further below (the “Amendment”).
Article VIII of our Charter currently includes a provision, authorized under the Delaware General Corporation Law (“the DGCL”), that eliminates the personal liability of Directors for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a Director to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL. Prior to 2022, the DGCL did not allow for similar elimination or limitation of officers’ personal liability. As a result, shareholder plaintiffs employed tactics of bringing certain claims against individual officers when such claims would otherwise be exculpated and dismissed if brought against directors.
Effective August 1, 2022, the State of Delaware adopted an amendment to Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL to allow Delaware corporations to exculpate certain of their officers from direct claims for a breach of the duty of care. The DGCL currently provides for exculpation of officers for direct claims, including class actions, and does not provide exculpation for breaches of the duty of loyalty, acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, any transaction in which the officer derived an improper personal benefit, or any action brought by or in the right of the corporation.
In order to extend the protections of the recently amended Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL to its officers, a Delaware corporation must affirmatively amend its certificate of incorporation to include such a provision, as the protections do not apply automatically. The Amendment proposed herein would provide both directors and certain officers with exculpation rights to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL. Officers that may be entitled to exculpation under Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL include: (i) the corporation’s president, chief executive officer, chief operating officer, chief financial officer, chief legal officer, controller, treasurer or chief accounting officer; (ii) an individual identified in the corporation’s public filings with the SEC as an NEO; and (iii) an individual who, by written agreement with the corporation, has consented to be identified as an officer for purposes of accepting service of process (collectively, the “covered officers”).
Rationale for Amendment
Officers often must make time-sensitive decisions on matters of significant importance to various stakeholders, which gives rise to the risk of legal action that may be based on hindsight. The Amendment would enhance the ability of our officers to make decisions that will maximize the Company’s value in furtherance of stockholder interests and empower our officers to exercise their business judgment without being concerned about personal risk of legal action. In addition, adopting an exculpation provision that aligns with Delaware law could prevent costly and protracted litigation that distracts our officers from important operational and strategic matters, which often result in higher insurance premiums.
The Board believes that amending and restating our Charter to add liability protection for officers is necessary in order to continue to attract and retain experienced and qualified executives, especially since similar officer exculpation provisions have been adopted by public corporations. It would also reduce our officers’ personal legal exposure and help curb corporate litigation and associated insurance costs. We believe all of these are in the best interest of our stockholders. Furthermore, the Amendment would more generally align the protections available to our officers with those protections currently available to our Directors. Accordingly, our Board believes that the proposal to extend exculpation to our officers is fair and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.
Proposed Amendment
If the Amendment, in the form attached hereto as Annex A, is approved by the stockholders at the Annual Meeting, it will become effective upon the filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware of a Certificate of Amendment to the Charter, which we would expect to file following the Annual Meeting. Other than the replacement of the existing Article VIII with the proposed Article VIII, the remainder of the Charter will remain unchanged after effectiveness of the Amendment. Even if our stockholders approve the Amendment, our Board retains discretion under Delaware law not to implement it. If the Amendment is not approved by our stockholders, the Charter will remain unchanged.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION.
24 2024 WLFC Proxy Statement
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PROPOSAL 3: ADVISORY VOTE ON THE APPOINTMENT OF GRANT THORNTON LLP |
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The Audit Committee has appointed the firm of Grant Thornton to audit our 2024 financial statements, and Grant Thornton also served in this capacity in 2023. Although not required by the Company’s bylaws or otherwise, the Audit Committee and the Board of Directors believe it appropriate, as a matter of good corporate practice, to request that Willis Lease’s stockholders ratify, on an advisory basis, the appointment of Grant Thornton as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024. If the stockholders do not so ratify, the Audit Committee will reconsider the appointment and may retain Grant Thornton or another firm without re-submitting the matter to the Company’s stockholders. Even if the stockholders vote on an advisory basis in favor of the appointment, the Audit Committee may, in its discretion, direct the appointment of a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if it determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF GRANT THORNTON LLP AS THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM.
Fees Billed to Willis Lease by Grant Thornton
For the 2023 and 2022 fiscal years, fees for services provided by Grant Thornton to us were as follows:
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2023 |
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2022 |
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Audit Fees (1) |
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$ |
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819,954 |
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$ |
921,927 |
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Audit Related Fees(2) |
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268,428 |
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165,720 |
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Tax Fees (3) |
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13,840 |
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14,095 |
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$ |
1,102,222 |
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$ |
1,101,742 |
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All fees described above were approved by the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee requires that any services to be provided by our auditors must be approved in advance by the Audit Committee. If approval is required before the Committee can act, a single member of the Committee can approve an engagement, subject to ratification by the Committee at its next meeting. All services were pre-approved by the Committee or its Chair.
Grant Thornton will attend the Annual Meeting. They will have the opportunity to make a statement, if they desire to do so. They will also be available to respond to appropriate questions from stockholders.
2024 WLFC Proxy Statement 25
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From January 1, 2023 to the present, there have been no transactions, and there are currently no proposed transactions, in which the amount involved exceeds $120,000 to which we or any of our subsidiaries was (or is to be) a party and in which any Director, executive officer, holder of more than 5% of our capital stock, or any immediate family member of or person sharing the household with any of these individuals, had (or will have) a direct or indirect material interest, except as set forth below.
Between January 2023 and July 2023, Willis Asset Management Limited, one of the Company's wholly-owned and vertically-integrated subsidiaries, leased one of its hangars to Fur and Feather and Fin Limited, an entity which the Company's Executive Chairman retains an ownership interest, for quarterly rent payments of approximately $7,700. The lease was approved by the Board's Independent Directors.
During 2023, the Company paid approximately $44,000 of expenses payable to Mikchalk Lake, LLC, an entity in which our Executive Chairman retains an ownership interest. These expenses were for lodging and other business-related services were approved by the Board’s Independent Directors.
As required by Nasdaq rules, all material discretionary transactions between us and our Directors, executive officers or known principal stockholders (or their respective affiliates) must be approved by the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee does not intend to approve any such transactions unless it believes that they are on terms no less favorable to us than could be obtained from unaffiliated third parties.
Austin C. Willis, the son of our Executive Chairman, served as an executive officer of the Company during 2023 serving as the Company’s CEO. He received total compensation of $6,304,283 for 2023, calculated in the same manner as in the Summary Compensation Table of this proxy statement. His total compensation includes salary, cash incentive awards, stock awards and other compensation.
Policies and Procedures for Related-Party Transactions
The Board has adopted a formal policy governing the disclosure and approval of related party transactions. That policy is available on the Company’s website (www.wlfc.global). Under that policy, the Audit Committee reviews the material facts of all covered transactions that may require prior approval of or ratification by the Audit Committee. A “covered transaction” includes, but is not limited to, any financial transaction, arrangement or relationship or any series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships including indebtedness and guarantees of indebtedness in which (a) the aggregate amount involved will or may be expected to exceed $120,000 in any calendar year, (b) the Company is a participant, and (c) any related person has or will have a direct or indirect interest (other than solely as a result of being a Director or a less than 10 percent beneficial owner of another entity). This might include, but is not limited to, lease transactions, sale or purchase transactions, creditor/debtor transactions, guarantees or charitable contributions. The following includes types of transactions with related parties which have been pre-approved by the Audit Committee and therefore are not subject to Audit Committee review and approval, even if the amount exceeds $120,000:
26 2024 WLFC Proxy Statement
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DELINQUENT SECTION 16(A) REPORTS |
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Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act of 1934 requires our directors, executive officers and any persons who own more than 10% of our common stock to file initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership with the SEC. Based solely on our review of the copies of such forms filed with the SEC and written representations from the directors and executive officers, we believe that all Section 16(a) filing requirements were timely met in the year ended December 31, 2023.
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STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS |
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Stockholder proposals intended to be considered at the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders must, under Rule 14a-8 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, be received by us no later than December 24, 2024. Your proposal(s) must be mailed to our offices at 60 East Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, Suite 209, Larkspur, CA 94939, Attention: Corporate Secretary. Your proposal(s) may be included in next year’s proxy statement if they comply with certain rules and regulations promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Alternatively, under our bylaws, a proposal or nomination that you do not seek to include in our proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 may be submitted in writing to our Corporate Secretary for the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders not less than 90 days prior to the anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, unless the date of the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is advanced by more than 30 days or delayed (other than as a result of adjournment) by more than 60 days from the anniversary of the 2024 Annual Meeting. For our 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, this means that your proposal(s) or nomination(s) must be submitted no later than February 21, 2025 (which is 90 calendar days before the anniversary of the 2024 Annual Meeting). If the date of our 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is advanced by more than 30 days or delayed (other than as a result of adjournment) by more than 60 days from the anniversary of our 2024 Annual Meeting, you must submit any such proposal or nomination no later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. Your submission must include certain specified information concerning the proposal or nominee, as the case may be, as required by our bylaws, and information as to your ownership of our common stock.
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STOCKHOLDERS SHARING THE SAME LAST NAME AND ADDRESS |
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We are sending only one copy of our annual report and proxy statement to stockholders who share the same last name and address unless they have notified us that they want to continue receiving multiple copies. If you would like to have additional copies of our annual report and/or proxy statement mailed to you, or you would like to opt out of this
practice for future mailings, please either contact us at 415-408-4700 or submit your request to Willis Lease Finance Corporation, attention Corporate Secretary, 60 East Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, Suite 209, Larkspur, CA 94939. We will promptly send additional copies of the annual report and/or proxy statement upon receipt of such request. Also, if you received multiple copies of the annual meeting materials and would prefer to receive a single copy in the future, following receipt of such request, we will ensure that change for future mailings of annual meeting materials.
2024 WLFC Proxy Statement 27
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OTHER MATTERS |
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Our management does not know of any matters to be presented at the Annual Meeting other than those set forth herein and in the Notice accompanying this proxy statement.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
Charles F. Willis, IV
Executive Chairman of the Board
28 2024 WLFC Proxy Statement
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ANNEX A:
PROPOSED CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION |
WILLIS LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION
AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
Willis Lease Finance Corporation (the “Corporation”), a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), does hereby certify as follows:
FIRST: That Article VIII of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended, is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows (the “Amendment”):
ARTICLE VIII
LIMITATION OF DIRECTOR AND OFFICER LIABILITY
To the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, no director or officer of the Corporation shall have personal liability to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer, provided that nothing in this article shall eliminate or limit the liability of a director or officer (i) for any breach of the director’s or officer’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under § 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director or officer derived an improper personal benefit. In the event the Delaware General Corporation Law is amended after the date hereof so as to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the liability of directors or officers of the Corporation, the liability of the directors or officers shall thereupon be eliminated or limited to the maximum extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, as so amended from time to time.
SECOND: That the Amendment was duly adopted in accordance with the applicable provisions of Section 242 of the DGCL.
THIRD: That the Amendment shall become effective upon filing with the State of Delaware.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this certificate to be signed this [ ] day of [ ], 2024.
WILLIS LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION |
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