Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors;
Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
2009 Incentive Plan Targets
On February 11, 2009, the Executive Compensation Subcommittee (the
"Subcommittee") of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the
"Board") of AutoNation, Inc. (the "Company") (i) selected the 2009 participants
under the AutoNation, Inc. Senior Executive Incentive Bonus Plan (the "Incentive
Plan"), (ii) established specific objective annual performance goals for 2009
and (iii) set target awards for the 2009 participants in the Incentive Plan.
The Subcommittee selected the following senior executive officers to
participate in the Incentive Plan for 2009: Mike Jackson, Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer; Michael E. Maroone, President and Chief Operating Officer;
Michael J. Short, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; and
Jonathan P. Ferrando, Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary. The
2009 performance goals under the Incentive Plan that were established by the
Subcommittee are based upon the achievement of specified levels of adjusted
operating income per share (minus a net charge for capital deployed for
acquisitions or share repurchases) and adjusted operating income as a percentage
of gross profit for the Company during 2009. Bonus awards will be payable on a
sliding scale based on the Company's actual achievement relative to the
predetermined goals, with the possibility that bonuses earned may exceed or be
less than the targeted level. The Subcommittee has absolute "negative
discretion" to eliminate or reduce the amount of any award under the Incentive
Plan.
The 2009 performance goals established under the Incentive Plan also
constitute the performance goals that have been established for bonus-eligible
corporate employees of the Company to ensure that our management team is fully
aligned to achieve improved operating performance for our existing business and
to deploy capital effectively and profitably.
2009 Annual Stock Option and Restricted Stock Awards
On February 11, 2009, the Subcommittee also approved annual stock option and
restricted stock awards to our equity grant-eligible employees under the
AutoNation, Inc. 2008 Employee Equity and Incentive Plan (the "2008 Plan"). The
annual awards included stock option awards to our named executive officers,
specifically, Mike Jackson (265,648 options), Michael E. Maroone (212,608
options), Michael J. Short (159,752 options), Jonathan P. Ferrando (159,752
options), and Kevin P. Westfall, Senior Vice President, Sales (15,968 options).
Prior to 2009, the Subcommittee's practice had been to award stock options
during our third fiscal quarter at meetings of the Subcommittee with an
effective grant date after the public release of the Company's second-quarter
earnings results. For 2009, the Subcommittee modified this practice by approving
the annual stock option awards in February and granting the awards in four equal
increments over the year. One-fourth (1/4) of each stock option award will be
granted on the first trading day of each of March, June, September and December,
with an exercise price equal to the closing price of our common stock on each
such grant date,
subject to continuous employment through each such grant date. Accordingly, the
exercise price for each grant will be based on the closing price of our common
stock on a future date. The Subcommittee believes that this practice is fair and
reasonable to the award recipients, the Company and its stockholders since it
minimizes the impact that any particular event could have on the exercise price
of stock options, particularly during times of market volatility.
The Subcommittee adopted this practice for all stock option-eligible
employees of the Company and awarded stock options to all stock option-eligible
employees on the same terms (other than the number of options granted, which
varies primarily by position and based on individual performance). Each of the
four option grants comprising the annual award to our named executive officers
and other employees in 2009 will vest annually in equal installments over four
years commencing on June 1, 2010 and will expire on March 2, 2019 (subject to
earlier termination in accordance with the terms of the 2008 Plan and applicable
award agreements).
In addition to the stock options described above, on February 11, 2009, the
Subcommittee also awarded to Mr. Westfall 5,324 shares of restricted stock, all
of which will be granted on the first trading day of March 2009. The shares of
restricted stock will vest annually in equal installments over four years
commencing on June 1, 2010. The Subcommittee also awarded shares of restricted
stock to all restricted stock-eligible employees of the Company on the same
terms (other than the number of restricted shares granted, which varies
primarily by position and based on individual performance).
Copies of each of our form of stock option agreement and form of restricted
stock agreement to be entered into in connection with the grants described above
are filed as Exhibits 10.1 and 10.2 hereto and are incorporated herein by
reference.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
10.1 Form of Stock Option Agreement under the 2008 Employee Equity and
Incentive Plan (for grants in 2009 and thereafter) (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.18 to the Company's Annual Report on Form
10-K, filed with the SEC on February 17, 2009).
10.2 Form of Restricted Stock Agreement under the 2008 Employee Equity and
Incentive Plan (for grants in 2009 and thereafter) (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.19 to the Company's Annual Report on Form
10-K, filed with the SEC on February 17, 2009).