plan (“DCP”) and provides a matching contribution to participants. The Company makes available to its executive officers an annual executive physical at a local hospital in which the Company pays the taxes associated with this benefit. The Company allows personal use of its fractional aircraft interests by certain executive officers with approval by the Chief Executive Officer. Our executives must reimburse the Company for their personal use of our fractional aircraft interests at the Standard Industry Fare Level plus either 20% or 30%, depending on the aircraft.
Retirement and Other Benefits
Pension Benefits
We do not provide pension arrangements or subsidized post-retirement health coverage for our executives or employees.
Non-qualified Deferred Compensation
Our executive officers, in addition to certain other key managerial employees, are entitled to participate in the DCP. Pursuant to this plan, eligible employees can defer certain compensation on a pre-tax basis. The DCP is discussed in further detail below under the heading “2024 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation.”
Other Post-Employment Payments
All of our executive officers are employees-at-will and as such do not have employment contracts with us. Certain payments will be made upon a termination or change in control. These payments are discussed in further detail below under the heading “Potential Payouts upon Termination or Change in Control” below.
Stock Ownership Guidelines
To directly align the interests of executive officers with the interests of the stockholders, our Board adopted a policy that requires each executive officer to acquire and maintain a minimum ownership interest in the Company. Each executive officer, other than the Chief Executive Officer, must own Class A Shares (including unvested restricted stock awards) with a value of at least two times his or her base annual salary. The Chief Executive Officer must own Shares with a value of at least three times his base salary. Each executive officer has five years to meet this requirement. Until they do, executive officers must retain a minimum of 25% of the stock granted to them in any one year. As of December 31, 2024, all Named Executive Officers were in compliance with these guidelines.
Tax and Accounting Implications
Deductibility of Executive Compensation
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), limits the Company’s deduction for individual compensation over $1 million paid in any taxable year to each of the persons that meet the definition of a covered employee under Section 162(m). For 2024, covered employees include anyone who was a covered employee for any taxable year beginning after December 31, 2016, anyone who held the position of CEO or Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) at any time during the fiscal year and the three most highly compensated employees who acted as executive officers (other than as CEO or CFO) at any time during the fiscal year.
Section 274 of the Code limits the Company’s deduction for expenses allocated to certain personal use of its fractional aircraft interests. For 2024, such expenses, less amounts reimbursed to the Company, were not deductible for federal income tax purposes.
The Compensation Committee continues to view the tax deductibility of executive compensation as one of many factors to be considered in the context of its overall compensation philosophy and therefore reserves the right to approve compensation that may not be deductible in situations it deems appropriate. The Compensation Committee also considers the accounting treatment of the cash and equity awards that it grants and maintains.