A resignation for “good reason” may occur if there is an adverse change in scope of duties or in compensation and benefit opportunities and, following a change in control of Sempra, changes in employment location. These provisions are intended to provide safeguards against arbitrary actions that may effectively force an executive to resign.
The agreements provide for additional benefits if the termination of employment were to occur within two years following (or such termination was deemed to have occurred, in cases of certain involuntary terminations, in connection with or in anticipation of) a change in control of Sempra.
In order to receive some of the benefits provided for in the agreement, the executive must, upon termination, enter into a general release in favor of the company and Sempra, provide consulting services for two years following the date of termination if requested, and agree to abide by certain contractual confidentiality and non-solicitation obligations. See “Compensation Tables—Severance and Change in Control Benefits” below for additional information about the terms of each named executive officer’s severance pay agreement.
Do the severance pay agreements provide for an excise tax gross-up to offset any taxes incurred by the executive as a result of any severance payment?
The severance pay agreements do not contain any excise tax gross-up provisions.
What happens to outstanding equity awards upon certain terminations or a change in control?
All long-term incentive awards are subject to double-trigger change in control vesting provisions. This means that awards do not automatically vest upon a change in control. Rather, except under limited circumstances, vesting is only accelerated upon a termination of employment that meets certain conditions following a change in control of Sempra. In the event of a termination of employment other than in connection with a change in control, equity awards are generally forfeited to the extent they are not vested at the time of termination, subject to accelerated vesting or non-forfeiture upon termination in certain specific circumstances. See “Compensation Tables— Severance and Change in Control Benefits” below for additional information.
SHARE OWNERSHIP GUIDELINES
Are there share ownership guidelines for officers, and what are they?
Share ownership guidelines for officers have been established to further strengthen the link between executive and shareholder interests. The guidelines set minimum levels of Sempra share ownership that our officers must achieve and maintain within five years after hire or promotion to an officer-level position or promotion to a role with a higher share ownership guideline. For officers, the guidelines are:
| | | | | |
| CEO, President and Chief Operating Officer | | | 3 x base salary | |
| Senior Vice Presidents | | | 2 x base salary | |
| Vice Presidents | | | 1 x base salary | |
| | | | | |
Table 14
For purposes of the guidelines, we include shares owned directly and through our 401(k) savings plan. We also include phantom shares of Sempra common stock into which compensation has been deferred, deferred restricted stock units that have vested, unvested service-based restricted stock units, and the in-the-money value of service-based stock options.
As of April 7, 2025, the named executive officers, excluding Messrs. Drury and Cho who are retired and no longer subject to these guidelines, met their respective guidelines or have additional time within which to comply.
ANTI-HEDGING AND PLEDGING POLICIES
What are the company’s policies with respect to hedging and pledging Sempra securities?
Pursuant to the Sempra Insider Trading and Information Confidentiality Policy, all employees, including all officers and directors of SoCalGas, are prohibited from purchasing financial instruments or otherwise engaging in transactions that hedge or offset, or are designed to hedge or offset, any decrease in the market value of any equity security of Sempra, SoCalGas or any other subsidiary or entity as to which Sempra has majority ownership and control, and are also prohibited from selling “short” any securities of those companies. These prohibitions also apply to family members living in the same household as any such employee, officer or director, as well as entities directly or indirectly controlled by the employee, officer or director.
Officers and directors also are prohibited from pledging any securities of Sempra, SoCalGas or any other entity as to which Sempra has majority ownership and control.