PAR PACIFIC HOLDINGS, INC.
AMENDED AND RESTATED COMPENSATION COMMITTEE CHARTER
Adopted as of November 4, 2015
Membership
The Compensation Committee (the "Committee") of the board of directors (the "Board") of Par Pacific Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), shall consist of two or more directors. Each member of the Committee shall be independent in accordance with the provisions of Rule 10C-1(b)(1) under Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and the rules of the New York Stock Exchange.
Each member of the Committee must qualify as a "non-employee director" for the purposes of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, and as an "outside director" for the purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended (the “Code”).
The members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Board. The members of the Committee shall serve for such term or terms as the Board may determine or until earlier resignation or death. The Board may remove any member from the Committee at any time with or without cause.
Purpose
The purpose of the Committee is to carry out the responsibilities delegated by the Board relating to the review and determination of executive compensation.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Committee shall have the following authority and responsibilities:
To review and approve annually the corporate goals and objectives applicable to the compensation of the Company’s chief executive officer ("CEO"), evaluate at least annually the CEO's performance in light of those goals and objectives, and determine and approve the CEO's compensation level based on this evaluation. In determining the long-term incentive component of CEO compensation, the Committee may consider the Company's performance and relative stockholder return, the value of similar incentive awards given to CEOs at comparable companies and the awards given to the CEO in past years and such other criteria as the Committee deems relevant. In evaluating and determining CEO compensation, the Committee shall consider the results of the most recent stockholder advisory vote on executive compensation ("Say on Pay Vote") required by Section 14A of the Exchange Act.
To approve the compensation of all other executive officers. In evaluating and determining executive compensation, the Committee shall consider the results of the most recent Say on Pay Vote.
To review, approve and, when appropriate, recommend to the Board for approval, incentive compensation plans and equity-based plans, and where appropriate or required, recommend such plans for approval by the stockholders of the Company, which includes the ability to adopt, amend and terminate such plans. The Committee shall also have the authority to administer the Company's incentive compensation plans and equity-based plans, including designation of the employees to whom the awards are to be granted, the amount of the award or equity to be granted and the terms and conditions applicable to each award or grant, subject to the provisions of each plan. In reviewing and approving incentive compensation plans and equity-based plans, including whether to adopt, amend or terminate any such plans, the Committee shall consider the results of the most recent Say on Pay Vote.
To review and discuss with management the Company's Compensation Discussion and Analysis ("CD&A") and the related executive compensation information, recommend that the CD&A and related executive compensation information be included in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K or proxy statement and produce the compensation committee report on executive officer compensation required to be included in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K or proxy statement.
To review, and approve and, when appropriate, recommend to the Board for approval, any employment agreements and any severance arrangements or plans, including any benefits to be provided in connection with a change in control, for the CEO and other executive officers, which includes the ability to adopt, amend and terminate such agreements, arrangements or plans.
To determine stock ownership guidelines for directors, the CEO and other executive officers and monitor compliance with such guidelines.
To review, approve and, when appropriate, recommend to the Board for approval, all employee benefit plans for the Company, which includes the ability to adopt, amend and terminate such plans.
To review the Company's incentive compensation arrangements to determine whether they encourage excessive risk-taking, to review and discuss at least annually the relationship between risk management policies and practices and compensation, and to evaluate compensation policies and practices that could mitigate any such risk.
To review and recommend to the Board for approval the frequency with which the Company will conduct Say on Pay Votes, taking into account the results of the most recent stockholder advisory vote on frequency of Say on Pay Votes required by Section 14A of the Exchange Act, and review and approve the proposals regarding the Say on Pay Vote and the frequency of the Say on Pay Vote to be included in the Company's proxy statement.
To review director compensation for service on the Board and Board committees at least once a year and to recommend any changes to the Board.
To review and monitor SEC proposed rules and related listing standards requiring companies to adopt clawback policies on executive compensation and, if necessary, develop and recommend to the Board for approval an Executive Compensation Clawback Policy.
To review any benefit and pension plans of the Company at least once annually with respect to financial condition and liabilities, and report to the Board.
To develop and recommend to the Board for approval an executive officer succession plan (the "Succession Plan"), to review the Succession Plan periodically, develop and evaluate potential candidates for executive positions and recommend to the Board any changes to, and any candidates for succession under, the Succession Plan.
Outside Advisors
The Committee shall have the authority, in its sole discretion, to select, retain and obtain the advice of a compensation consultant as necessary to assist with the execution of its duties and responsibilities as set forth in this Charter. The Committee shall set the compensation, and oversee the work, of the compensation consultant. The Committee shall have the authority, in its sole discretion, to retain and obtain the advice and assistance of outside legal counsel and such other advisors as it deems necessary to fulfill its duties and responsibilities under this Charter. The Committee shall set the compensation, and oversee the work, of its outside legal counsel and other advisors. The Committee shall receive appropriate funding from the Company, as determined by the Committee in its capacity as a committee of the Board, for the payment of compensation to its compensation consultants, outside legal counsel and any other advisors. However, the Committee shall not be required to implement or act consistently with the advice or recommendations of its compensation consultant, legal counsel or other advisor to the compensation committee, and the authority granted in this Charter shall not affect the ability or obligation of the Committee to exercise its own judgment in fulfillment of its duties under this Charter.
In retaining or seeking advice from compensation consultants, outside counsel and other advisors (other than the Company's in-house counsel), the Committee must take into consideration the factors affecting independence specified by the rules of the New York Stock Exchange. The Committee may retain, or receive advice from, any compensation advisor it prefers, including ones that are not independent, after considering the specified factors. The Committee is not required to assess the independence of any compensation consultant or other advisor that acts in a role limited to consulting on any broad-based plan that does not discriminate in scope, terms or operation in favor of executive officers or directors and that is generally available to all salaried employees or providing information that is not customized for a particular company or that is customized based on parameters that are not developed by the consultant or advisor, and about which the consultant or advisor does not provide advice.
The Committee shall evaluate whether any compensation consultant retained or to be retained by it has any conflict of interest in accordance with Item 407(e)(3)(iv) of Regulation S-K.
Structure and Operations
The Board shall designate a member of the Committee as the chairperson. The Committee shall meet at least two times a year at such times and places as it deems necessary to fulfill its responsibilities. The Committee shall report regularly to the Board regarding its actions and make recommendations to the Board as appropriate. The Committee is governed by the same rules regarding meetings (including meetings in person or by telephone or other similar communications equipment), action without meetings, notice, waiver of notice, and quorum and voting requirements as are applicable to the Board.
The Committee may invite such members of management to its meetings as it deems appropriate. However, the Committee shall meet regularly without such members present, and in all cases the CEO and any other such officers shall not be present at meetings at which their compensation or performance is discussed or determined.
The Committee shall review this Charter at least annually and recommend any proposed changes to the Board for approval.
Delegation of Authority
The Committee shall have the authority to delegate any of its responsibilities, along with the authority to take action in relation to such responsibilities, to one or more subcommittees as the Committee may deem appropriate in its sole discretion. Any such subcommittee shall be comprised of at least two members, each of which must qualify as a "non-employee director" for the purposes of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, and as an "outside director" for the purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code.
Performance Evaluation
The Committee shall conduct an annual evaluation of the performance of its duties under this charter and shall present the results of the evaluation to the Board. The Committee shall conduct this evaluation in such manner as it deems appropriate.