sanm-202501240000897723DEF 14AFalseiso4217:USD00008977232023-10-012024-09-2800008977232022-10-022023-09-3000008977232021-10-032022-10-0100008977232020-10-042021-10-020000897723sanm:DeductionForValueOfEquityAwardsDisclosedInTheSummaryCompensationTableMemberecd:PeoMember2023-10-012024-09-280000897723sanm:DeductionForValueOfEquityAwardsDisclosedInTheSummaryCompensationTableMemberecd:PeoMember2022-10-022023-09-300000897723sanm:DeductionForValueOfEquityAwardsDisclosedInTheSummaryCompensationTableMemberecd:PeoMember2021-10-032022-10-010000897723sanm:DeductionForValueOfEquityAwardsDisclosedInTheSummaryCompensationTableMemberecd:PeoMember2020-10-042021-10-020000897723sanm:IncreaseForYearEndFairValueOfEquityAwardsGrantedInTheYearThatRemainOutstandingAndUnvestedAsOfTheEndOfTheYearMemberecd:PeoMember2023-10-012024-09-280000897723sanm:IncreaseForYearEndFairValueOfEquityAwardsGrantedInTheYearThatRemainOutstandingAndUnvestedAsOfTheEndOfTheYearMemberecd:PeoMember2022-10-022023-09-300000897723sanm:IncreaseForYearEndFairValueOfEquityAwardsGrantedInTheYearThatRemainOutstandingAndUnvestedAsOfTheEndOfTheYearMemberecd:PeoMember2021-10-032022-10-010000897723sanm:IncreaseForYearEndFairValueOfEquityAwardsGrantedInTheYearThatRemainOutstandingAndUnvestedAsOfTheEndOfTheYearMemberecd:PeoMember2020-10-042021-10-020000897723sanm:IncreasedeductionForYearOverYearChangeInFairValueOfOutstandingAndUnvestedEquityAwardsMemberecd:PeoMember2023-10-012024-09-280000897723sanm:IncreasedeductionForYearOverYearChangeInFairValueOfOutstandingAndUnvestedEquityAwardsMemberecd:PeoMember2022-10-022023-09-300000897723sanm:IncreasedeductionForYearOverYearChangeInFairValueOfOutstandingAndUnvestedEquityAwardsMemberecd:PeoMember2021-10-032022-10-010000897723sanm:IncreasedeductionForYearOverYearChangeInFairValueOfOutstandingAndUnvestedEquityAwardsMemberecd:PeoMember2020-10-042021-10-020000897723sanm:IncreaseForFairValueAsOfVestingDateOfEquityAwardsGrantedAndVestedInTheYearMemberecd:PeoMember2023-10-012024-09-280000897723sanm:IncreaseForFairValueAsOfVestingDateOfEquityAwardsGrantedAndVestedInTheYearMemberecd:PeoMember2022-10-022023-09-300000897723sanm:IncreaseForFairValueAsOfVestingDateOfEquityAwardsGrantedAndVestedInTheYearMemberecd:PeoMember2021-10-032022-10-010000897723sanm:IncreaseForFairValueAsOfVestingDateOfEquityAwardsGrantedAndVestedInTheYearMemberecd:PeoMember2020-10-042021-10-020000897723sanm:IncreasedeductionForChangeInFairValueOfEquityAwardsFromThePriorYearThatVestedInTheYearMemberecd:PeoMember2023-10-012024-09-280000897723sanm:IncreasedeductionForChangeInFairValueOfEquityAwardsFromThePriorYearThatVestedInTheYearMemberecd:PeoMember2022-10-022023-09-300000897723sanm:IncreasedeductionForChangeInFairValueOfEquityAwardsFromThePriorYearThatVestedInTheYearMemberecd:PeoMember2021-10-032022-10-010000897723sanm:IncreasedeductionForChangeInFairValueOfEquityAwardsFromThePriorYearThatVestedInTheYearMemberecd:PeoMember2020-10-042021-10-020000897723sanm:DeductionForFairValueAtTheEndOfThePriorYearOfEquityAwardsThatFailedToMeetVestingConditionsInTheYearMemberecd:PeoMember2023-10-012024-09-280000897723sanm:DeductionForFairValueAtTheEndOfThePriorYearOfEquityAwardsThatFailedToMeetVestingConditionsInTheYearMemberecd:PeoMember2022-10-022023-09-300000897723sanm:DeductionForFairValueAtTheEndOfThePriorYearOfEquityAwardsThatFailedToMeetVestingConditionsInTheYearMemberecd:PeoMember2021-10-032022-10-010000897723sanm:DeductionForFairValueAtTheEndOfThePriorYearOfEquityAwardsThatFailedToMeetVestingConditionsInTheYearMemberecd:PeoMember2020-10-042021-10-020000897723sanm:DeductionForValueOfEquityAwardsDisclosedInTheSummaryCompensationTableMemberecd:NonPeoNeoMember2023-10-012024-09-280000897723sanm:DeductionForValueOfEquityAwardsDisclosedInTheSummaryCompensationTableMemberecd:NonPeoNeoMember2022-10-022023-09-300000897723sanm:DeductionForValueOfEquityAwardsDisclosedInTheSummaryCompensationTableMemberecd:NonPeoNeoMember2021-10-032022-10-010000897723sanm:DeductionForValueOfEquityAwardsDisclosedInTheSummaryCompensationTableMemberecd:NonPeoNeoMember2020-10-042021-10-020000897723sanm:IncreaseForYearEndFairValueOfEquityAwardsGrantedInTheYearThatRemainOutstandingAndUnvestedAsOfTheEndOfTheYearMemberecd:NonPeoNeoMember2023-10-012024-09-280000897723sanm:IncreaseForYearEndFairValueOfEquityAwardsGrantedInTheYearThatRemainOutstandingAndUnvestedAsOfTheEndOfTheYearMemberecd:NonPeoNeoMember2022-10-022023-09-300000897723sanm:IncreaseForYearEndFairValueOfEquityAwardsGrantedInTheYearThatRemainOutstandingAndUnvestedAsOfTheEndOfTheYearMemberecd:NonPeoNeoMember2021-10-032022-10-010000897723sanm:IncreaseForYearEndFairValueOfEquityAwardsGrantedInTheYearThatRemainOutstandingAndUnvestedAsOfTheEndOfTheYearMemberecd:NonPeoNeoMember2020-10-042021-10-020000897723sanm:IncreasedeductionForYearOverYearChangeInFairValueOfOutstandingAndUnvestedEquityAwardsMemberecd:NonPeoNeoMember2023-10-012024-09-280000897723sanm:IncreasedeductionForYearOverYearChangeInFairValueOfOutstandingAndUnvestedEquityAwardsMemberecd:NonPeoNeoMember2022-10-022023-09-300000897723sanm:IncreasedeductionForYearOverYearChangeInFairValueOfOutstandingAndUnvestedEquityAwardsMemberecd:NonPeoNeoMember2021-10-032022-10-010000897723sanm:IncreasedeductionForYearOverYearChangeInFairValueOfOutstandingAndUnvestedEquityAwardsMemberecd:NonPeoNeoMember2020-10-042021-10-020000897723sanm:IncreaseForFairValueAsOfVestingDateOfEquityAwardsGrantedAndVestedInTheYearMemberecd:NonPeoNeoMember2023-10-012024-09-280000897723sanm:IncreaseForFairValueAsOfVestingDateOfEquityAwardsGrantedAndVestedInTheYearMemberecd:NonPeoNeoMember2022-10-022023-09-300000897723sanm:IncreaseForFairValueAsOfVestingDateOfEquityAwardsGrantedAndVestedInTheYearMemberecd:NonPeoNeoMember2021-10-032022-10-010000897723sanm:IncreaseForFairValueAsOfVestingDateOfEquityAwardsGrantedAndVestedInTheYearMemberecd:NonPeoNeoMember2020-10-042021-10-020000897723sanm:IncreasedeductionForChangeInFairValueOfEquityAwardsFromThePriorYearThatVestedInTheYearMemberecd:NonPeoNeoMember2023-10-012024-09-280000897723sanm:IncreasedeductionForChangeInFairValueOfEquityAwardsFromThePriorYearThatVestedInTheYearMemberecd:NonPeoNeoMember2022-10-022023-09-300000897723sanm:IncreasedeductionForChangeInFairValueOfEquityAwardsFromThePriorYearThatVestedInTheYearMemberecd:NonPeoNeoMember2021-10-032022-10-010000897723sanm:IncreasedeductionForChangeInFairValueOfEquityAwardsFromThePriorYearThatVestedInTheYearMemberecd:NonPeoNeoMember2020-10-042021-10-020000897723sanm:DeductionForFairValueAtTheEndOfThePriorYearOfEquityAwardsThatFailedToMeetVestingConditionsInTheYearMemberecd:NonPeoNeoMember2023-10-012024-09-280000897723sanm:DeductionForFairValueAtTheEndOfThePriorYearOfEquityAwardsThatFailedToMeetVestingConditionsInTheYearMemberecd:NonPeoNeoMember2022-10-022023-09-300000897723sanm:DeductionForFairValueAtTheEndOfThePriorYearOfEquityAwardsThatFailedToMeetVestingConditionsInTheYearMemberecd:NonPeoNeoMember2021-10-032022-10-010000897723sanm:DeductionForFairValueAtTheEndOfThePriorYearOfEquityAwardsThatFailedToMeetVestingConditionsInTheYearMemberecd:NonPeoNeoMember2020-10-042021-10-02000089772312023-10-012024-09-28000089772322023-10-012024-09-28000089772332023-10-012024-09-28000089772342023-10-012024-09-28000089772352023-10-012024-09-28
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 (Amendment No. )
| | | | | | | | | | | |
☑ | Filed by the Registrant | ☐ | Filed by a party other than the Registrant |
| | | | | |
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX: |
☐ | Preliminary Proxy Statement |
☐ | Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
☑ | Definitive Proxy Statement |
☐ | Definitive Additional Materials |
☐ | Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12 |
Sanmina 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 ALL BOXES THAT APPLY): |
☑ | No fee required |
☐ | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials |
☐ | Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11 |
LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN AND CEO

| | | | | |
Jure Sola “Fiscal 2024 was a transition year, with a soft first half followed by a stronger second half as we partnered with our customers across multiple end-markets to adjust inventory levels.” | To Our Stockholders, On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to thank you for your investment and ongoing support. We continue to enhance our capabilities and fine-tune our operations to drive operational and financial efficiencies that position Sanmina to successfully execute our strategy and drive long-term value creation. The Board represents you as stockholders. We appreciate your trust in our Board to oversee your investment in our business. FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE Fiscal 2024 was a transition year, with a soft first half followed by a stronger second half as we partnered with our customers across multiple end-markets to adjust inventory levels. While this was a challenging time, I am proud of the hard work and dedication of our team for their ongoing efforts to drive improvements in our business. We have always prioritized cash generation and a strong balance sheet, which has afforded us the ability to thrive in a dynamic environment. We generated $340 million of cash flow from operations. We reinvested $109 million into the Company through equipment upgrades, sustainability improvements, facility expansions and technology advancements. We believe these investments further strengthen our position in the market and the company’s future financial performance. In addition, we repurchased 4.0 million shares for $227 million. Our ongoing investments in share repurchases reflect our confidence in the Company’s future financial performance and our commitment to return capital to our stockholders. WELL POSITIONED - DIVERSIFIED END-MARKETS Looking ahead, Sanmina is well positioned to manage the complex geopolitical and macroeconomic backdrop. Beginning in the third quarter of fiscal 2024, we began to see our revenue return to sequential growth, putting us on a trajectory for growth in fiscal 2025. During times like these, focusing on what we can control, having a disciplined approach and sustainable execution are imperative to our success. We continue diversifying into mission critical markets, creating a portfolio with longer product life cycles and higher technology and complexity products. As our end markets evolve and grow, our ability to optimize our product and portfolio mix towards higher value opportunities will continue to be an important driver for our business going forward. |
Letter from the Chairman and CEO
SANMINA PRIORITIES ARE ALIGNED AND FOCUSED
•Be customer centric
•Provide leading technology in heavily regulated markets
•Focus on customers and markets with long-term growth and create opportunities for margin expansion
•Optimize our capital structure through a focus on cash generation
•Maximize shareholder value
STOCKHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
Our Board and management team are committed to building trust and delivering sustainable, long-term value to our stockholders. We believe that strong corporate governance practices should include regular outreach and conversations with our stockholders, with whom we regularly discuss our business, financial performance, industry dynamics, executive compensation, sustainability practices, corporate governance matters and our strategy for growth and long-term value creation. We actively engage with stockholders of all sizes through virtual and in-person engagements, including our annual meeting, website, investor conferences and one-on-one meetings.
On behalf of the entire Board, we value feedback from our stockholders and remain committed to open communications going forward. We are excited about Sanmina’s future and value your trust in our Board.
Thank you for your continued investment and support of Sanmina Corporation.
JURE SOLA
Chairman and CEO
| | | | | | | | | | | |
|
|
| |
| Our Vision, Mission and Values We recognize the importance of doing business the right way. At Sanmina, we foster a work environment that is built on the beliefs of our vision, mission and values. We believe our core values help ensure our employees, from entry-level to top leadership, are working towards the same common goal, and share in a bigger purpose. Our culture drives us to seek to exceed customer expectations, build strong supplier partnerships and consistently deliver superior technology and performance. | |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| | VISION | |
| | | |
| To be the trusted leader in providing products, services and supply chain solutions to accelerate customer success. | |
| | | |
| | MISSION | |
| | | |
| Provide competitive advantage for customers with mission critical products, services and supply chain needs while driving value for customers, employees, and investors. | |
| | | |
| | VALUES | |
| | | |
| Our culture emphasizes honesty, integrity, transparency, personal accountability, ethical business practices and good corporate citizenship. | |
| | | |
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| WHEN Monday, March 10, 2025 11:00 A.M., Pacific Daylight Time | | WHERE Virtual Meeting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/SANM2025 | | RECORD DATE January 17, 2025 |
| | | | | | | | |
Items of Business | Board Recommendation |
| | |
PROPOSAL 1 To elect seven directors of Sanmina Corporation | | FOR each director nominee |
| | |
| | |
PROPOSAL 2 To ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as Sanmina Corporation’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending September 27, 2025 | | FOR |
| | |
| | |
PROPOSAL 3 To approve, on an advisory (non-binding) basis, the compensation of Sanmina Corporation’s named executive officers | | FOR |
| | |
| | |
PROPOSAL 4 To approve the reservation of an additional 1,000,000 shares of common stock for issuance under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan of Sanmina Corporation | | FOR |
| | |
| | |
PROPOSAL 5 To consider one stockholder proposal, if properly presented at the Annual Meeting | | AGAINST |
| | |
Stockholders will also transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting.
Pursuant to rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), Sanmina Corporation (“Sanmina” or the “Company”) has elected to provide access to its proxy materials over the Internet. Accordingly, stockholders of record at the close of business on January 17, 2025 will receive a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials and may vote at the Annual Meeting and any adjournment or postponement of the Annual Meeting. Sanmina Corporation expects to mail the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials on or about January 24, 2025.
All stockholders are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting. Even if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, please vote via the Internet or the telephone as promptly as possible to ensure that your vote is recorded. Alternatively, you may follow the procedures outlined in the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials to request a paper proxy card to submit your vote by mail. Any stockholder attending the Annual Meeting may vote even if he or she previously voted by another method.
FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
CHRISTOPHER K. SADEGHIAN
Corporate Secretary
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FISCAL 2024 HIGHLIGHTS
What We Do
Sanmina designs, manufactures and repairs some of the most complex and innovative optical, electronic and mechanical products in the world. Recognized as a technology leader, Sanmina provides end-to-end design, manufacturing and logistics solutions, delivering superior quality and support to Original Equipment Manufacturers primarily in the industrial, medical, defense and aerospace, automotive, communications networks and cloud infrastructure sectors.
Our Competitive Strengths
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Customer focused organization with 32,000 employees across 21 countries | | Advanced component technologies |
| | | |
| Mission critical, end-to-end solutions | | Comprehensive IT systems and a global supplier base |
| | | |
| Product design and engineering resources | | Expertise in serving diverse end markets |
| | | |
| Vertically integrated global manufacturing capabilities | | Expertise in industry standards and regulatory requirements |
Fiscal 2024 Performance
Fiscal 2024 was a transition year, with a soft first half followed by a stronger second half as we partnered with our customers across multiple end-markets to adjust inventory levels. For the full fiscal year, revenue was down 15.3%, non-GAAP operating margin was 5.4%, down 40 basis points, and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share was $5.28. We generated $340 million of cash flow from operations. We reinvested $109 million into the Company through equipment upgrades, sustainability improvements, facility expansions and technology advancements. We believe these investments further strengthen our position in the market and the company’s future financial performance. In addition, we repurchased 4.0 million shares for $227 million. Our ongoing investments in share repurchases reflect our confidence in the Company’s future financial performance and our commitment to return capital to our stockholders.
| | |
Non-GAAP Operating Income and Operating Margin* |
($ in millions) |
|
| | |
Non-GAAP Diluted Earnings per Share (EPS)* |
|
|
| | |
Non-GAAP EBITDA and EBITDA Margin* |
($ in millions) |
|
| | |
Cash Flow from Operations |
($ in millions) |
|
* See Appendix B for reconciliation of non-GAAP financial information provided in this proxy statement to their most directly comparable GAAP measures.
Sustainability and CSR Highlights
Introduction
Since Sanmina’s founding, our culture has been based on professional integrity and doing business the right way. We take our sustainability and corporate social responsibility initiatives seriously, knowing that this work results in positive changes to our working environment, our people and the communities where we do business. We are committed to making our workforce inclusive, our business sustainable and our stakeholders engaged. We strive to do our part, while providing value to our stockholders.
Board Oversight of ESG
Investing in our ESG program is a core part of our global citizenship and reflects our values of accountability, inclusion, teamwork, excellence and integrity. We believe our commitment to corporate social responsibility will enable us to execute on our mission. As we move forward together, we will continue to focus on our impact beyond Sanmina to support the communities where we operate and meet our significant responsibilities to society as a whole. Our Board exercises oversight of our ESG initiatives primarily through the Nominating and Governance Committee, which receives updates from management on various ESG matters. The Board and its committees offer management feedback on ESG best practices that help guide the development of the Company’s various ESG initiatives.
Stakeholder Engagement
We highly value our stakeholder relationships, which represent key sources of input and feedback concerning our CSR initiatives. We engage with stakeholders in various ways, including all hands meetings, internal communications, management meetings, open door policy, wellness programs, training programs, internal and external audits, health and safety programs, investor engagement and employee volunteerism.
We recognize the importance of reporting on social, economic, ethics and environmental practices. Sanmina defines corporate social responsibility as integrating social, environmental, safety, ethics and human rights concerns in our business operations and our interactions with stakeholders. Our customers work hard to maintain an excellent brand image and company reputation and we see this as our job as well. Maintaining excellent stakeholder relationships is very important at Sanmina.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| |
| |
| | | | | | | |
| EMPLOYEES | STOCKHOLDERS | BUSINESS PARTNERS | CUSTOMERS | COMMUNITIES | GOVERNMENTS | |
| | | | | | | |
For more information about engagement with our stockholders, see “Stockholder Outreach” on page 11. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
We are focused on creating a culture of belonging where employees can be their authentic selves and cultivate a workplace where everyone has an opportunity to succeed. Recognizing and respecting our global presence, we strive to maintain a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce everywhere we operate. As of September 28, 2024, approximately 49% of our employees worldwide were female and, in the U.S., non-Caucasian employees accounted for approximately 60% of the employee base. Our diversity, equity and inclusion principles are reflected in our employee training, in particular with respect to our policies against harassment and bullying and an elimination of a bias in the workplace.
2024 Highlights
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| GLOBAL WORKFORCE DATA | | | U.S. WORKFORCE DATA | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Workforce | | New Hires by Region | | New Hires by Age | | | | 38% Female | | 31% Female Supervisor and Above | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 60% Ethnically Diverse | | 39% Ethnically Diverse Supervisor and Above | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
PEOPLE
At Sanmina, we believe our success is a direct result of our diverse and highly skilled and engaged workforce. Sanmina promotes a variety of initiatives to promote employee wellness and engagement.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Career Growth and Development Programs | | | | Promoting Health and Wellness | | | | Keeping Employees Safe |
We invest resources in professional development and growth as a means of improving employee performance and retaining our employees. We provide our employees with access to courses through our learning and development platforms including Sanmina Online Education and Sanmina University. | | | We believe our employees are our biggest asset and we nurture this by offering ways to stay healthy. As part of our U.S. healthcare plan, we offer biometric screening, mental health services, diabetes care and blood pressure maintenance and tobacco cessation programs. | | | We are guided by the principles outlined in the United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) and the environmental health and safety principles described in the Responsible Business Alliance’s Code of Conduct worldwide. |
ENVIRONMENT
Sanmina seeks to address the needs of our global environment, now and in the future.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Managing CO2 Emissions | | | | Water Conservation | | | | Managing Waste |
Managing CO2 emissions is an ongoing priority. We continue to look for ways to drive improvements by investing in renewable and carbon free energy sources such as solar, wind, hydro and biomass. | | | We remain focused on using recycled water in our production process and landscaping and look for ways to further conserve water where possible. | | | We work with ISO-certified third-party recyclers to responsibly dispose of our waste. |
COMMUNITIES
Sanmina works to be a good neighbor in the communities where we operate and around the world. We also encourage our employees to volunteer and become involved with organizations that are meaningful to them and their communities.
PROXY SUMMARY
This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this proxy statement. This summary does not contain all of the information you should consider and you should read the entire proxy statement carefully before voting.
Board and Governance Highlights
Director Nominees
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Age | Independent | Director Since | Tenure (years) | | Board Committees |
Name and Principal Position | | AC | CC | NGC |
| Jure Sola Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Sanmina Corporation | 74 | No | 1989 | 36 | | | | |
| Susan K. Barnes Former Chief Financial Officer, Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc. | 71 | Yes | 2023 | 2 | | | | |
| David V. Hedley III Chief Strategy Officer, Bramshill Investments, LLC | 55 | Yes | 2022 | 2 | | | | |
| Susan A. Johnson Executive Vice President and General Manager, Wireline Transformation and Supply Chain AT&T Communications, Inc. | 59 | Yes | 2021 | 3 | | | | |
| Joseph G. Licata, Jr. Managing Partner - Private Equity, BlueArc Capital | 64 | Yes | 2007 | 18 | | | | |
| Krish Prabhu Consultant | 70 | Yes | 2019 | 6 | | | | |
| Mythili Sankaran Chief Executive Officer, Neythri.org, and Founding Managing Partner, Neythri Futures Fund | 59 | Yes | 2023 | 2 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
AC - Audit Committee | NGC - Nominating and Governance Committee | CC - Compensation Committee | | Chair | | Member |
Board Nominee Snapshot
| | | | | |
| 6 out of 7 directors are independent |
| | | | | |
| 50-60: 3 nominees |
| 61-65: 1 nominee |
| 66-70: 1 nominee |
| Over 70: 2 nominees |
| | | | | |
| 0-5 years: 4 nominees |
| 6-10 years: 1 nominee |
| 11-15 years: 0 nominees |
| Over 15 years: 2 nominees |
| | | | | |
| 3 diverse 43% diverse |
| 3 female 43% female |
Board Nominee Skills and Experience
| | | | | | | | |
| Type of Experience | |
| | |
| Electronics manufacturing services and similar manufacturing companies | 7/7 directors |
| | |
| | |
| Other technology/information technology | 7/7 directors |
| | |
| | |
| Executive or senior management | 7/7 directors |
| | |
| | |
| International business | 7/7 directors |
| | |
| | |
| Accounting, audit and corporate finance | 7/7 directors |
| | |
| | |
| Board governance, including board nominations | 5/7 directors |
| | |
| | |
| Risk management, compliance and regulatory | 6/7 directors |
| | |
| | |
| Cyber Expertise1 | 5/7 directors |
| | |
(1)From job experience or education.
Good Governance Practices
Our Board prides itself on keeping up to date on best governance practices and implementing those we believe are best tied to increasing stockholder value. We continually monitor the way we govern ourselves, including reviewing whether there are alternatives or new ideas to strengthen our governance structures.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| BOARD INDEPENDENCE | | BOARD EFFECTIVENESS | | GOOD CORPORATE GOVERNANCE PRACTICES |
| | | | | |
•6 of our 7 director nominees are independent •Designated Lead Independent Director •All Board committees consist solely of independent directors •Independent Committee Chairs •Independent directors regularly meet in executive session, without members of management | •75% or greater Board and Committee meeting attendance in 2024 by each director •100% director attendance at our 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders •Board oversight of strategy •Board oversight of risk management processes •Updates to the Board on investor engagement | •Annual election of directors •Comprehensive Code of Conduct and Corporate Governance Guidelines •Compensation clawback policy covering executive officers as required by SEC rules •Stock ownership and holding guidelines for directors and executive officers •Policy prohibiting hedging and pledging of our shares by directors and executive officers •Expansive stockholder outreach program to gauge support for our executive compensation practices and corporate governance policies and to respond to stockholder input |
Stockholder Outreach
We believe that effective corporate governance should include regular, constructive conversations with our stockholders, with feedback shared directly with our Board. We engage in year-round dialogue with our stockholders, with a targeted outreach program focused on soliciting input in the Fall and Winter.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| |
| |
| | | |
| 2024 Outreach Subsequent to the 2024 annual meeting, we invited stockholders representing 70% of our outstanding shares to meet with certain members of our management and members of the Board of Directors. During these meetings, we solicited feedback about our business, corporate governance and executive compensation program. | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| Topics Discussed Specific areas of discussion during our 2024 outreach meetings with stockholders and our responses and actions taken in response, are summarized on the following page. In addition, we discussed our overall business, including: | |
| | | |
| •Strategy •Quarterly financial results •Capital allocation priorities •Technology capabilities •India joint venture | •Outsourcing trends •End-markets •Global/regional footprint •Supply chain •Macroeconomic environment | |
| | | |
None of the stockholders we met in these meetings expressed a desire for changes to our CEO’s pay or our executive compensation program. We believe this is due to the changes we made to our executive compensation program beginning in 2020 in response to prior stockholder and proxy advisory firm feedback, which included:
•Maintaining a high percentage (47% in fiscal 2024) of total target compensation comprised of performance-based long-term incentives for the CEO;
•Reducing the number of performance metrics in the annual bonus plan and eliminating duplication of annual bonus plan metrics with the metrics used in long-term incentive awards;
•Ceasing to award “all or nothing” long-term incentives and instead adopting a sloped relationship between performance and earned pay, consistent with market practices; and
•Approving equity awards with a variable payout (70% to 130% in fiscal 2024) based upon a three-year cumulative non-GAAP EPS target. Beginning in 2023, these awards no longer permitted the Compensation Committee to utilize discretion to adjust the number of shares issuable upon vesting based on the relative TSR of the Company compared to its peers.
Not having received further stockholder feedback on our executive compensation program subsequent to the 2024 annual meeting, no new significant changes have been made to such program.
Specific areas of discussion during our meetings with stockholders during the last year and our responses and actions taken in response are summarized below:
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
| Areas of Discussion | Response/Actions |
| | |
| | |
| Board Diversity Disclosure | •The Company has enhanced its diversity disclosures contained in the proxy statement. •Sanmina had three female directors and three diverse directors, all whom are standing for reelection at the Annual Meeting. •The Nominating and Governance Committee has paid special attention to ensuring that Board diversity is enhanced as new members are appointed. This is reflected in the fact that two of the last three directors appointed are diverse. •We are committed, in the Board recruiting process, to ensuring the Board is diverse and brings a broad set of skills and experience. |
| |
| |
Ongoing Process for Board Refreshment/ Succession/Tenure | •The Company added Susan K. Barnes and Mythili Sankaran to its Board in June 2023. •Average Board tenure has decreased as two new members joined the Board in June 2023, one director resigned in December 2023 and two directors currently serving on our Board will not be standing for election as members of our Board at the Annual Meeting. •In furtherance of the Company’s Board refreshment process, the Board has adopted a policy by which no non-employee director who has attained the age of 75 may stand for reelection to the Board. •We have a robust Board evaluation process that is led by the Nominating and Governance Committee. |
| |
| |
Lead Independent Director | •The Board of Directors believes in the importance of having a qualified Lead Independent Director in place at all times given the combined role of Chairman and CEO at Sanmina. This position is currently held by Eugene A. Delaney, who is an independent outside director. Upon Mr. Delaney’s retirement on the date of the Annual Meeting, the independent members of the Board shall select from amongst themselves a new Lead Independent Director. |
| | |
| | |
| Disclosure (generally) | •We continue to provide in the proxy statement a high degree of transparency about our compensation plans, their purpose, what they measure and how they operate. |
| |
| |
Annual Incentive Program Disclosure | •Since our 2022 proxy statement, and in response to stockholder input, Sanmina has provided the actual performance/payout matrix used by the Compensation Committee to help determine the executive officer bonuses under our STI plan. |
| |
| |
Compensation Program | •In recent years, none of the stockholders we met with expressed a desire for additional changes to our CEO’s pay or our executive compensation program. We believe this is due to the changes we made to our executive compensation program beginning in 2020 in response to prior stockholder and proxy advisory firm feedback. |
| | |
| | |
| Overall Business | •Topics included strategy, quarterly financial results, end-markets, outsourcing trends, India joint venture, supply chain, capital allocation priorities, technology capabilities, global/regional footprint and macroeconomic environment. |
| | |
For more information, see “Stockholder Outreach” on page 11 and ”2024 Stockholder Engagement and Say-on-Pay Vote” on page 37.
Executive Compensation Highlights
Components of 2024 CEO Compensation
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Component and % of Total Target | Purpose | Performance Criteria | Key Characteristics |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | Base Salary | •Attract and retain talent with a competitive level of pay | •N/A | •Based on individual performance, experience level and peer group compensation data |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | Annual Incentive Compensation | •Drive achievement of specific financial targets in line with our strategy •Provide competitive annual incentive opportunities | •Two financial goals (revenue and non-GAAP operating margin) •One modifier (cash flow from operations) | •Pays out based upon corporate and individual performance over one-year time periods |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | Equity Incentives | •Align realized pay with stockholder value creation •Support long-term retention of critical talent •Provide competitive long-term incentive opportunities when performance conditions are achieved | •One financial goal (cumulative three-year non-GAAP earnings per share) •Variable payout (70% to 130%) based upon level of achievement, with achievement of minimum threshold required for any payout | •High proportion of performance-based PSUs to time-based RSUs (60%/40%) |
| | | | | | | |
Compensation Practices
| | |
|
What We Are Doing |
|
|
Pay for Performance—Our executive compensation program continues to emphasize performance-based (at risk) compensation, with the majority of the total target pay opportunities of our CEO tied to financial performance. All long-term incentive awards granted to our named executive officers in fiscal 2024 were equity incentives, reinforcing the linkage between executive pay and stockholder value creation. Stockholder Engagement on Executive Compensation Matters—We have a robust, year-round stockholder engagement program that provides valuable feedback and informs the Compensation Committee’s annual evaluation of the executive compensation program. Not having received further stockholder feedback on our executive compensation program subsequent to the 2024 annual meeting, no new significant changes have been made to such program, although we continue to seek to improve stockholders’ understanding of our short-term incentive program. Simplified Annual Bonus Plan Design—Beginning in 2020, we reduced the number of metrics used to measure plan performance from six to two, with one modifier, emphasizing only the most important measures to the health of our business and better focusing management on achievement of such measures. We are also providing greater transparency of short-term incentive factors. Focus on Total Compensation—We design our program so that total compensation becomes competitive only if Sanmina achieves target and higher levels of financial performance. Capped Incentive Payments—We impose a maximum on the amount that can be earned under all of our incentive plans. Stock Ownership Guidelines—Our executive officers and directors are subject to equity ownership requirements. Mandatory Stock Holding Period—Our CEO must hold all shares received upon exercise, settlement or issuance of an award for a minimum of one year, helping ensure alignment of interests with those of our stockholders. Clawback Policy—Our clawback policy requires repayment of both cash and incentive-based compensation following financial restatements in compliance with new SEC rules. Multi-year Vesting Criteria for Equity Awards—Since 2020, our performance-based long-term incentives vest only upon achievement of multi-year financial targets. Separate, Non-overlapping Metrics for Short- and Long-term Awards—Our short-term and long-term incentive plans use different non-overlapping metrics, recognizing the different purposes of each plan. Below-Median Severance Levels—Our change in control severance arrangements provide for severance levels below median general industry practices. Annual Pay Study and Peer Group Review—We annually conduct an executive pay study to ensure the continued alignment of our pay levels and program design with competitive peer practices. We review our peer group every year to ensure relevance and comparability. Annual Say-on-Pay Vote—We conduct an annual say-on-pay vote, the frequency preferred by our stockholders at our 2024 annual meeting. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
| Proposal One ELECTION OF DIRECTORS | |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| The Nominating and Governance Committee has recommended, and our Board has nominated, the following nominees for election as members of our Board at the Annual Meeting: Jure Sola, Susan K. Barnes, David V. Hedley III, Susan A. Johnson, Joseph G. Licata, Jr., Krish Prabhu and Mythili Sankaran, each of whom is currently serving on our Board. As of the date of this proxy statement, Messrs. Eugene Delaney and Mario M. Rosati are also currently serving on our Board, but will not be standing for election as members of our Board at the Annual Meeting. As a result, effective as of the date of the Annual Meeting, the total number of directors shall be fixed at seven. Unless otherwise instructed, the proxy holders will vote the proxies received by them for these nominees. If any such 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 Nominating and Governance Committee to fill the vacancy. If stockholders nominate additional persons for election as directors, the proxy holders will vote all proxies received by them to ensure the election of as many of the nominees listed below as possible, with the proxy holders making any required selection of specific nominees to be voted for. The term of office of each person elected as a director will continue until that person’s successor has been elected by the holders of the outstanding shares of common stock and qualified, or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal in the manner provided in our bylaws. THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE FOLLOWING DIRECTOR NOMINEES. | |
|
Director Nominees
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| JURE SOLA Age: 74 Director Since: 1989 Principal Occupation: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sanmina Corporation | | Biographical Information •Has served as Sanmina’s Chief Executive Officer since August 2020 and from April 1991 to October 2017, Chairman of Sanmina’s Board since August 2020 and from April 1991 to December 2001 and from December 2002 to October 2017, Sanmina’s Executive Chairman from October 2017 to August 2020, and Co-Chairman of Sanmina’s Board from December 2001 to December 2002. •Co-founded Sanmina Corporation and initially held the position of Vice President of Sales in 1980. •Became Vice President and General Manager of Sanmina Corporation, responsible for manufacturing operations and sales and marketing. •Elected as a director and in October 1989 was appointed as President of Sanmina Corporation. Board Nominating Factor Mr. Sola’s role as the co-founder of Sanmina as well as his more than 40 years of experience in the electronics manufacturing industry and deep knowledge of the Company and its operations. | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | | | |
Proposal One Election of Directors
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| SUSAN K. BARNES Age: 71 Director Since: 2023 Principal Occupation: Former Chief Financial Officer, Pacific Biosciences, Inc. | | Biographical Information •Has served as a director of Sanmina since June 2023. •Served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Pacific Biosciences, Inc., a life sciences technology company, from 2010 to 2020. •Served as Senior Vice President, Finance and CFO at Intuitive Surgical from 1997 to 2005. •Was Managing Director of the private equity group at Jefferies & Company from 1994 to 1996. •Was CFO and Managing Director of Richard C. Blum & Associates from 1991 to 1994. •Co-founded NeXT Computer with Steve Jobs and four others in 1985; she was Vice President and CFO until 1991. •Was the Controller of Apple’s Macintosh division from 1981 to 1985. Board Nominating Factor Ms. Barnes’ deep operational and finance experience in leading technology companies. Current Board Committees Audit | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| DAVID V. HEDLEY III Age: 55 Director Since: 2022 Principal Occupation: Chief Strategy Officer of Bramshill Investments, LLC | | Biographical Information •Has served as a director of Sanmina since December 2022. •Has served as Chief Strategy Officer of Bramshill Investments, LLC, an alternative fixed income asset manager, since 2021. •Served as Principal and Senior Managing Director – Head of U.S. Technology Investment Banking for Ernst & Young Capital Advisors, LLC from 2014 to 2020. •Held senior technology investment banking roles at Canaccord Genuity, UBS Investment Bank, Thomas Weisel Partners and Merrill Lynch & Co. between 2000 and 2014. Board Nominating Factor Mr. Hedley’s extensive experience as an investment banker and deep knowledge of the EMS industry. Current Board Committees Audit | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | | | |
Proposal One Election of Directors
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| SUSAN A. JOHNSON Age: 59 Director Since: 2021 Principal Occupation: Executive Vice President and General Manager, Wireline Transformation and Supply Chain at AT&T Communications, Inc. | | Biographical Information •Has served as a director of Sanmina since December 2021. •Has served as Executive Vice President and General Manager, Wireline Transformation and Supply Chain for AT&T Communications, Inc., a telecommunications provider, since November 2022 and as Executive Vice President of Global Connections and Supply Chain for AT&T from 2014 until November 2022. •Held other senior leadership positions with AT&T between 2000 and 2014, including Senior Vice President, Investor Relations, Senior Vice President, Customer Information Services, Senior Vice President, Business Development and Senior Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Planning. •Worked in investment banking at Smith Barney. Board Nominating Factor Ms. Johnson’s wealth of experience in corporate strategy, business development, supply chain management and sustainability. Current Board Committees Audit (Chair) | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| JOSEPH G. LICATA, JR. Age: 64 Director Since: 2007 Principal Occupation: Managing Partner - Private Equity, BlueArc Capital | | Biographical Information •Has served as a director of Sanmina since August 2007. •Has served as the Managing Partner - Private Equity, of BlueArc Capital since April 2014. •Current Chairman of the Board of Brunswick Bowling Products. •Past Chairman of the Board of Choice Adhesives Corp. •Past Chief Executive Officer of Synergy Leadership, LLC, a firm specializing in Board and CEO advisory services in the areas of corporate and growth strategy, operational full potential and enterprise value creation, a company which he also founded, from January 2011 until April 2014. •Served as Chief Executive Officer of Peopleclick Authoria, Inc., a vendor of human resources process management software and services, from April 2010 through November 2010. •Served as President and Chief Executive Officer of SER Solutions, Inc., a global call management and speech analytics solutions company, from July 2007 through October 2008 when the company was acquired. •Served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Siemens Enterprise Networks, LLC, a leader of enterprise communications solutions, from 2001 to 2006. Board Nominating Factor Mr. Licata’s more than 20 years of experience as chief executive officer and chairman of companies in diverse industries providing him excellent visibility into operational and financial issues as well as creating shareholder value. Current Board Committees Audit, Compensation | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | | | |
Proposal One Election of Directors
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| KRISH PRABHU Age: 70 Director Since: 2019 Principal Occupation: Consultant | | Biographical Information •Has served as a director of Sanmina since September 2019. •Has been an independent technology consultant since retiring from AT&T, a telecommunications service provide, in September 2016, where he had served as Chief Technology Officer and President of AT&T Labs since June 2011. •Held senior management positions at Tellabs, Inc., a telecommunications equipment provider, as President and Chief Executive Officer, from 1004 to 2008, and at Alcatel, also a telecommunications equipment provider, between 1991 and 2001. •Was a venture partner at Morganthaler Ventures between 2001 and 2004. •Served as a director of Ribon Communications Inc. between 2020 and 2022 and as a director of Altera Corporation between 2007 and 2015. •Served as a director of Omniter, a private company. Board Nominating Factor Mr. Prabhu’s more than 30 years of industry experience and senior leadership roles at global public corporations. Current Board Committees Compensation, Nominating and Governance (Chair) | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| MYTHILI SANKARAN Age: 59 Director Since: 2023 Principal Occupation: Chief Executive Officer, Neythri.org and Founding Managing Partner, Neythri Futures Fund | | Biographical Information •Has served as a director of Sanmina since June 2023. •Has served as CEO and Co-founder of Neythri.org and the Founding Managing Partner of the Neythri Futures Fund since 2021. •Was the Senior Executive Director & Head, Western Region for the U.S. India Business Council (USIBC) from 2009 to 2014. •Was the CEO of Koollage, Inc. prior to USIBC. •Earlier in her career, held senior leadership positions at Palmsource, eVoice, Lucent Technologies, AT&T Bell Labs Innovations and IBM Research Labs. Board Nominating Factor Ms. Sankaran’s long experience in both the technology sector and in international trade matters. Current Board Committees Nominating and Governance | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | | | |
Proposal One Election of Directors
Attributes and Qualifications of Nominees
The Nominating and Governance Committee believes this slate of nominees possesses the strategic development, financial, operational and industry-specific skills necessary to effectively guide and oversee our business. In evaluating the qualifications of the nominees listed above, the Nominating and Governance Committee considered a number of factors, including the nominees’ experience as shown in the following chart:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Tenure (Years) | 36 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 18 | 6 | 2 |
Age (Years) | 74 | 71 | 55 | 59 | 64 | 70 | 59 |
Gender Identity | M | F | M | F | M | M | F |
Demographic Background |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Asian |
|
|
|
|
| ● | ● |
White | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
|
|
LGBTQ+ |
|
| ● |
|
|
|
|
Skills and Experience |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | |
| Electronics manufacturing services and similar manufacturing companies | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| Other technology/information technology | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| Executive or senior management | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| International business | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| Accounting, audit and corporate finance | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| Board governance, including board nominations | ● | ● | ● |
| ● | ● |
|
| Risk management, compliance and regulatory | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
|
| Cyber Expertise1 | ● | ● |
| ● | ● | ● |
|
| | | | | | | | |
(1)From job experience or education.
The Nominating and Governance Committee has not established specific minimum qualifications for members of the Board and does not require that each nominee have experience in each of these areas, instead evaluating nominees as a group to ensure that the Board as a whole possesses the appropriate mix of experience and knowledge.
Independent Directors
The Board of Directors has determined that all of the non-employee members of the Board satisfy the definition of independence under applicable Nasdaq rules. There are no family relationships among our directors or executive officers. The independent directors regularly meet in executive session, without members of management, as part of the normal agenda of our regularly scheduled board meetings.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND BOARD MATTERS
Sanmina has long been guided by a set of basic beliefs, including conducting business with the highest standards of ethical behavior when relating to customers, suppliers, employees and investors. Accordingly, we have implemented governance policies and practices which we believe meet or exceed regulatory standards and which reflect current corporate governance best practices.
Board Composition
Process for Identifying and Evaluating Directors Nominees
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Identifying Candidates •Nomination of incumbent directors, as recommended to the Board by the Nominating and Governance Committee •New or replacement members, as recommended to the Board by the Nominating and Governance Committee •Can include nominees proposed by stockholders and nominees identified by Board members or external search firms as deemed appropriate by the Nominating and Governance Committee | | | In-Depth Review by the Nominating and Governance Committee •Annual review of the composition (including succession timelines, diversity, skills, tenure and annual self-assessment feedback) of the Board as a whole •Annual review of independence according to the criteria established by Nasdaq •Annual review of the appropriate skills and characteristics required of Board members •Consideration of each potential nominee’s experience in areas determined by the Company •Consideration of diversity •Review of nominees’ other existing and anticipated future commitments | | | Nomination by Nominating and Governance Committee | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Full Board Appoints or Nominee is Voted Upon by Stockholders at Annual Meeting | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Corporate Governance and Board Matters
Director Succession Planning, Tenure and Refreshment
The Board believes that its ability to promote the long term, sustainable growth of Sanmina depends on attracting and retaining board members with a high level of industry-specific experience, who have a deep familiarity with the Company’s business and who will actively engage with management and other stakeholders. The Board seeks to ensure these characteristics in board members through regular succession planning activities and through its Board evaluation process intended to identify board members in need of improvement. In addition to tenure, the Board regularly reviews the contributions of all members, reviews tenure and considers retirements, departures and new potential board members as a matter of succession planning. In furtherance of the Company’s Board refreshment process, the Board has adopted a policy by which no non-employee director who has attained the age of 75 may stand for reelection to the Board unless the Nominating and Governance Committee determines there are special circumstances that require such director’s continued service. A majority of the Board nominees have less than five years of tenure, with two Board members joining in the last 24 months.
Board Orientation and Continuing Education
The Company provides an orientation program for new directors. The program includes presentations on the Company’s business and operations, its risk management practices, its corporate governance policies and opportunities to meet with members of senior management and representatives of our external auditors, as well as visits to one or more manufacturing facilities. In addition, the Company encourages new directors to attend one or more relevant director education programs.
Corporate Governance and Board Matters
Board Structure and Responsibilities
Board Leadership Structure
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
| | Role of Lead Independent Director •Serve as the principal representative of and contact between the independent directors and the Executive Chairman; •Preside over meetings of the independent directors; •Assist the Executive Chairman in establishing the agenda for Board and stockholder meetings; •Monitor the quality, quantity and timeliness of information sent to the Board; •Ensure that he is available for consultation and direct communication with stockholders; •Recommend the retention of outside advisors and consultants; •Provide assistance to Board committees and their Chairs; •Facilitate regular Board level discussion regarding CEO and senior leadership succession planning; and •Provide assistance and counseling to individual directors as needed following the Board’s annual evaluation process. | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
| | Role of Chairman •Guide the strategic direction of Sanmina; •Provide oversight and guidance to Company management on other Company matters as appropriate; •Develop, in consultation with the Lead Independent Director, agendas for all Board meetings; •Preside over all meetings of the Board and the stockholders; •Review matters being considered by Board committees; •Communicate with stockholders as needed; and •Make himself available for consultation and communication with all Board members. | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | | |
The positions of Chairman and CEO are currently held by Mr. Sola. The Board believes that this leadership structure, coupled with the service of Mr. Delaney as the lead independent director, provides balance, continuity and is in the best interests of Sanmina and its stockholders. Upon Mr. Delaney’s retirement on the date of the Annual Meeting, the independent members of the Board shall select from amongst themselves a new Lead Independent Director. The charter for the lead independent director can be found on our website at https://ir.sanmina.com/highlights/default.aspx.
Corporate Governance and Board Matters
Board Committees
The Board currently maintains three standing committees: an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, and a Nominating and Governance Committee.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | |
| AUDIT COMMITTEE Current Members Susan A. Johnson (Chair)* Susan K Barnes David V. Hedley III* Joseph G. Licata, Jr.* Eight meetings in fiscal 2024 | | | Duties and Responsibilities •Oversees our corporate financial reporting and external audit, including, among other things, our internal control environment, the results and scope of the annual audit and other services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm and our internal audit function. •Is responsible for the appointment, compensation, oversight and assessment of the performance of our independent registered public accounting firm and is involved in the selection of the lead audit partner. •Oversees certain risks relating to the preparation of our financial statements, investment policies, casualty risk insurance policies and legal and regulatory compliance, among others. •Oversees our ethics program and reviews related person transactions and legal matters that could have a significant impact on our financial statements. •All members of the Audit Committee are considered audit committee financial experts as defined under Item 407(d)(5)(ii) and (iii) of Regulation S-K. The Audit Committee has adopted a written charter approved by the Board, a copy of which is available on our website at https://ir.sanmina.com/highlights/default.aspx. | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | |
| COMPENSATION COMMITTEE Current Members Eugene A. Delaney (Retiring Chair) Joseph G. Licata, Jr. Krish Prabhu Six meetings in fiscal 2024 | | | Duties and Responsibilities •Reviews and approves the salaries and equity, incentive and other compensation of our executive officers. •Administers our equity incentive plans. •Approves the terms of our annual bonus program and monitors our global compensation policies and practices. •Assists the Board in the oversight of risks relating to recruitment, retention, labor standards compliance and bonus and equity compensation plans and practices and reviews our talent planning process. The Compensation Committee has adopted a written charter approved by the Board, a copy of which is available on our website at https://ir.sanmina.com/highlights/default.aspx. | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | | | |
Corporate Governance and Board Matters
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | |
| NOMINATING AND GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE Current Members Krish Prabhu (Chair) Eugene A. Delaney (Retiring) Mario Rosati (Retiring) Mythili Sankaran Four meetings in fiscal 2024 | | | Duties and Responsibilities •Evaluates the size and structure of the Board and its committees, determining the appropriate qualifications for directors and nominating candidates for election to the Board. •Develops overall governance guidelines for the Board, including director succession planning policies, conducts an annual Board and committee evaluation, and considers stockholder proposals for action at stockholder meetings, including stockholder nominees for director. •Reviews, and recommends for Board approval, non-employee Board member compensation arrangements. •Reviews and reports to the Board on ESG matters. The Nominating and Governance Committee has adopted a written charter approved by the Board, a copy of which is available on our website at https://ir.sanmina.com/highlights/default.aspx. | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | | | |
Areas of Board Oversight
ROLE OF THE BOARD IN STRATEGY
Our Board actively oversees management’s establishment and execution of our corporate strategy, including major business and organizational initiatives, annual budget and long-term strategic plans, capital allocation priorities, financial results and corporate development opportunities. Our Board regularly receives information and formal updates from our management and actively engages with the senior leadership team with respect to the implementation of our corporate strategy at Board meetings and throughout the year. Our independent directors also hold regularly scheduled executive sessions during which they review and discuss our corporate strategy. Consistent with our corporate transaction approval policy, our Board also reviews and approves strategic transactions that are material to our business, including significant acquisitions and collaborations.
ROLE OF THE BOARD IN RISK MANAGEMENT
The Board has developed an enterprise risk management framework that assigns oversight of various enterprise level risks to either the full Board or one of its committees. Pursuant to this framework, the Board and its committees regularly receive presentations from management concerning enterprise level risks that could have a significant adverse impact on Sanmina’s business and operations, including economic conditions, strategy, supply chain, trade risks, legal and regulatory matters, compensation programs, cybersecurity and credit exposures. This process permits the Board and its committees to provide guidance to management in scoping and managing each of the Company’s enterprise risk areas.
ROLE OF THE BOARD IN MANAGEMENT SUCCESSION PLANNING
Our Board is actively engaged in management succession planning and views CEO succession planning as one of its core responsibilities. The Board, with our CEO and Executive Vice President of Global Human Resources, regularly discusses senior management succession planning and reviews the composition of senior management. Our CEO and Board bi-annually review a succession plan for the CEO position using formal criteria to evaluate potential internal and external successors. In conducting its evaluation, the Board considers organizational needs, competitive challenges, leadership and management potential, and development and emergency situations. The Board identifies potential internal successors through various means, including presentations to the Board and informal meetings.
In addition, the Board maintains an interim contingency plan utilizing internal candidates in the event our CEO unexpectedly becomes unable to perform his duties in order to minimize disruption to the business and preserve operational continuity.
Corporate Governance and Board Matters
| | | | | | | | |
|
| |
| BOARD The Board has the ultimate responsibility for, and is actively engaged in, oversight of the Company’s risk management, in some cases directly by the full Board, and in other cases through delegation of certain types of risks to the oversight of the appropriate Board committee. | |
| |
| |
| |
|
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| | | |
| | | |
| |
| AUDIT COMMITTEE Oversees risks related to financial, regulatory and compliance matters and regularly reviews with management, the head of internal audit and the independent accountants the steps taken to monitor and mitigate risks relating to these exposures | | | | COMPENSATION COMMITTEE Oversees risks associated with compensation policies, plans and practices, leadership development and talent planning | | | | NOMINATING AND GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE Oversees the management of risks related to corporate governance matters, including director independence, Board composition and succession and overall Board effectiveness, as well as risks and opportunities associated with ESG matters | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
|
| |
| MANAGEMENT Management is responsible for the Company’s day-to-day risk management activities. Management regularly reports to the Board or its committees on enterprise risk management matters. | |
| |
| |
| |
|
| |
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
| OVERSIGHT OF CYBERSECURITY RISK Our Board has primary responsibility for overseeing risks associated with our information technology, including cybersecurity. Our Board receives regular reports from our Chief Information Officer regarding our information systems and technology and associated policies, processes and practices for managing and mitigating cybersecurity and technology-related risks. Our Audit Committee oversees our SEC reporting process generally including with respect to any required disclosures relating to a material cybersecurity event. | |
| | |
ROLE OF THE BOARD IN ESG
Our ESG program is a core part of our global citizenship and reflects our values of accountability, inclusion, teamwork, excellence and integrity. We believe our commitment to corporate social responsibility will enable us to execute on our mission. As we move forward together, we will continue to focus on our impact beyond Sanmina to support our communities and meet our significant responsibilities to society as a whole. Our Nominating and Governance Committee has primary responsibility for oversight of ESG matters and receives updates on our ESG program.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
None of the members of the Compensation Committee are employees of Sanmina. During fiscal 2024, no executive officer of Sanmina (i) served as a member of the Compensation Committee (or other board committee performing similar functions or, in the absence of any such committee, the board of directors) of another entity, one of whose executive officers served on Sanmina’s Compensation Committee, (ii) served as a director of another entity, one of whose executive officers served on Sanmina’s Compensation Committee, or (iii) served as a member of the Compensation Committee (or other board committee performing similar functions or, in the absence of any such committee, the board of directors) of another entity, one of whose executive officers served as a director of Sanmina.
Corporate Governance and Board Matters
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
Sanmina has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code”) that applies to the Board and all officers and employees. Sanmina provides training to familiarize employees with the requirements of the Code. An ethics reporting resource is available to all employees to enable confidential and anonymous reporting of suspected violations, as well as to the Chairs of the Audit Committee and the Nominating and Governance Committee, if desired. The Code can be found on our website at http://ir.sanmina.com/highlights/default.aspx.
Board Accountability and Processes
STOCKHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Fall | | | | Winter | | | | Spring | | | | Summer |
•File Annual Report on Form 10-K •Solicit input from Investors •Communicate investor feedback with the Board | | | •Board’s annual self-assessment of performance and effectiveness •Distribute proxy statement and annual report •Solicit input from investors •Communicate investor feedback to the Board | | | •Annual meeting held •Review results of stockholder voting •Communicate investor feedback to the Board | | | •Enhance disclosures, governance practices and compensation programs, as needed |
Our long-standing commitment to stockholder engagement includes:
•An engagement program that is management led and overseen by the Board;
•Active engagement with stockholders on a variety of topics throughout the year, including status of the business and executive compensation; and
•Engagement that is designed to address questions and concerns, seek input and provide perspective on Sanmina’s policies and practices.
Feedback from our stockholder engagement is considered by the Board and reflected in our policies and practices, particularly in the area of executive compensation. The results of our stockholder engagement efforts during 2024 are summarized on page 37. CORPORATE GOVERNANCE GUIDELINES
Sanmina has adopted a set of Corporate Governance Guidelines that contain various provisions relating to the operation of the Board and duties and expectations of Board members. The guidelines can be found on our website at https://ir.sanmina.com/highlights/default.aspx.
BOARD MEETINGS
The Board held four meetings during fiscal 2024. All directors attended at least 75% of the meetings of the Board and of the standing committees on which such person served.
ATTENDANCE AT ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Sanmina encourages, but does not require, its Board members to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Our annual meetings of stockholders typically coincide with a regular Board meeting date, which facilitates the attendance of Board members at the stockholder meetings. All Board members who were serving as such at the time attended the 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Corporate Governance and Board Matters
BOARD STOCK OWNERSHIP GUIDELINES
In order to better align the interests of our Board with those of our stockholders, we have adopted stock ownership guidelines. Under these guidelines, Board members must acquire and hold Sanmina shares with a dollar value of at least four times the amount of the cash retainer for Board service within three years of becoming a director. Shares counted towards satisfaction of the guideline include shares issued upon vesting of restricted stock units issued to directors and shares purchased on the open market. All of our directors currently meet this standard or are within the period for initial compliance.
HEDGING AND PLEDGING OF COMPANY SECURITIES
Sanmina believes that “hedging,” a term used to describe certain practices taken to reduce the economic risk of Sanmina stock ownership (e.g., to prevent losses if Sanmina’s stock price were to fall) is inappropriate when undertaken by employees, officers or directors as such practices reduce alignment with the interests of our stockholders. Similarly, Sanmina believes that “pledging” of Sanmina stock by employees, officers or directors (i.e., using Sanmina stock as collateral for a loan, such as in a margin account) can be inappropriate when such practice could cause shares to be sold when the trading window is closed or the individual is in possession of material non-public information and would otherwise be prohibited from selling under this policy. Therefore, Sanmina prohibits employees, officers and directors from (i) purchasing any financial instrument or engaging in any transaction intended to hedge or offset any decrease in the market value of Sanmina’s common stock or (ii) engaging in short sales related to Sanmina’s common stock. Sanmina prohibits officers and directors from (i) depositing any Sanmina common stock in a margin account or (ii) pledging Sanmina securities as collateral for a loan.
INSIDER TRADING POLICY
We have adopted an insider trading policy governing the purchase, sale, and/or other disposition of our securities by our directors, officers, employees and other covered persons. We believe this policy is reasonably designed to promote compliance with insider trading laws, rules and regulations, as well as the exchange listing standards applicable to us. A copy of our insider trading policy is filed as an exhibit to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended September 28, 2024, filed with the SEC on November 27, 2024.
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
Stockholders may submit proposals for inclusion in our proxy statement and may recommend candidates for election to the Board, both of which shall be considered by the Nominating and Governance Committee. Stockholders should send such proposals to the Nominating and Governance Committee, c/o Sanmina Corporation, Attention: Corporate Secretary, 30 E. Plumeria Drive, San Jose, California 95134.
For all other matters that a stockholder proposes to bring before the Annual Meeting, the notice must set forth:
•A brief description of the business intended to be brought before the Annual Meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the Annual Meeting;
•The name and address, as they appear on our books, of the stockholder proposing the business, and any beneficial owner on whose behalf the stockholder is proposing the business or proposing a director nomination and any person controlling, directly or indirectly, or acting in concert with, the stockholder or beneficial owner (a “Stockholder Associated Person”);
•The class and number of shares of Sanmina that are held of record or are beneficially owned by the stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person and any derivative positions held or beneficially held by the stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person (which information must be supplemented in accordance with the bylaws);
•Whether and the extent to which any hedging or other transaction or series of transactions has been entered into by or on behalf of the stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person with respect to any securities of Sanmina, or whether any other agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any short position or any borrowing or lending of shares) has been made, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to or manage risk or benefit from share price changes for, or to increase or decrease the voting power of, the stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person with respect to any securities of Sanmina (which information must be supplemented in accordance with the bylaws);
•Any material interest of the stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person in the business intended to be brought before the Annual Meeting; and
•A statement whether either the stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person will deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of Sanmina’s voting shares required under applicable law to carry the proposal.
Stockholders must comply with certain deadlines in order for proposals submitted by them be considered for inclusion in our proxy statement or brought to a vote at the Annual Meeting. Please see “Q18—What is the deadline to propose actions for consideration at next year’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders or to nominate individuals to serve as directors?” on page 81.
Corporate Governance and Board Matters
DELINQUENT SECTION 16(a) REPORTS
The members of the Board, our executive officers and persons who hold more than 10% of our outstanding common stock are subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, which require them to file reports with respect to their ownership of our common stock and their transactions in such common stock. Based upon (i) the copies of Section 16(a) reports which we filed on behalf of our directors and executive officers for their fiscal 2024 transactions in our common stock and (ii) the written representations received from such persons that all of their transactions during the fiscal year were reported, we believe that all reporting requirements under Section 16(a) for such fiscal year were met in a timely manner by our directors and executive officers. We are not aware of any failure to file required Section 16(a) forms by any of the persons who may beneficially own more than 10% of our common stock.
Equity Award Timing Policies and Practices
We do not grant equity awards in anticipation of the release of material non-public information and we do not time the release of material non-public information based on equity award grant dates or for the purpose of affecting the value of executive compensation. In addition, we do not take material non-public information into account when determining the timing and terms of such awards. Although we do not have a formal policy with respect to the timing of our equity award grants, the Compensation Committee has historically granted such awards on a predetermined annual schedule.
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
Director Compensation Arrangements
The Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board reviews and recommends non-employee director pay levels, which are approved by the Board. The Nominating and Governance Committee believes Sanmina’s director compensation pay levels are reasonable in light of benchmarking data prepared by the Nominating and Governance Committee’s independent compensation consultant, Exequity, LLP (“Exequity”) and reviewed by the Committee.
Cash Compensation
During fiscal 2024, non-employee directors were eligible to receive an annual cash retainer of $80,000. Each such director who was a member of the Audit, Compensation or Nominating and Governance Committees of the Board also earned an annual cash retainer of $10,000 and the chairperson of each such committee earned an additional annual cash retainer of $30,000 in the case of the Audit Committee, $25,000 in the case of the Compensation Committee and $15,000 in the case of the Nominating and Governance Committee. Finally, our lead independent director earned an additional cash retainer of $40,000 for his duties as such during 2024. Directors were permitted to convert their cash retainers into RSUs vesting in one year or upon retirement with the same value as the retainer to which they were entitled.
Equity Compensation
During fiscal 2024, each non-employee director received an aggregate of $180,000 in value of restricted stock units granted under our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan vesting as to 25% of the shares subject thereto on each of the first four quarterly anniversaries of the grant date.
Director Compensation Limits
The 2019 Plan Equity Incentive provides that, in a given fiscal year, a non-employee director may not receive equity awards having a grant date fair market value greater than $900,000. Sanmina believes that having a stockholder-approved limit on equity grants to directors is consistent with best corporate governance practices.
The following table presents the compensation earned by or paid to our non-employee directors during fiscal 2024.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Name | Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($) | Stock Awards ($)(1)(2)(3) | Total ($) |
Susan K. Barnes | 90,000 | | 180,022 | | 270,022 | |
Eugene A. Delaney | 165,000 | | 180,022 | | 345,022 | |
David V. Hedley III | 90,000 | | 180,022 | | 270,022 | |
Susan A. Johnson | 120,000 | | 180,022 | | 300,022 | |
Joseph G. Licata, Jr. | 100,000 | | 180,022 | | 280,022 | |
Krish Prabhu | 115,000 | | 180,022 | | 295,022 | |
Mario M. Rosati | 90,000 | | 180,022 | | 270,022 | |
Mythili Sankaran | 90,000 | | 180,022 | | 270,022 | |
(1)Represents the grant date fair value of each equity award, determined in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”). The assumptions used in the valuation of these awards are set forth in the notes to our consolidated financial statements, which are included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended September 28, 2024, filed with the SEC on November 27, 2024. These amounts do not purport to reflect the value that will be realized upon sale of the underlying securities.
(2)Includes the grant date fair value of restricted stock units granted in lieu of cash retainer awards, when applicable. See “Director Compensation Arrangements — Cash Compensation” above.
(3)As of the end of fiscal 2024, the following directors held unvested restricted stock awards as follows: Ms. Barnes— 1,510, respectively; Mr. Delaney— 1,510, respectively; Mr. Hedley—1,510, respectively; Ms. Johnson—1,510, respectively; Mr. Licata— 1,510, respectively; Mr. Prabhu— 1,510, respectively; Mr. Rosati— 1,510 respectively; and Ms. Sankaran—1,510, respectively.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
| Proposal Two RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM | |
| |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
| THE BOARD BELIEVES THE APPOINTMENT OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP IS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE COMPANY AND ITS STOCKHOLDERS AND UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS VOTING “FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 27, 2025. |
|
|
The Audit Committee has approved the engagement of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending September 27, 2025. In the event stockholders do not ratify the Audit Committee’s selection of PwC as our independent registered public accounting firm, the Audit Committee may reconsider its selection. Representatives of PwC are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting, with the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so, and are expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions.
The following is a summary of fees billed by our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2023 and September 28, 2024. The Audit Committee considers the non-audit and tax fees in its assessment of the independence of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Fiscal 2024 | Fiscal 2023 |
Audit Fees(1) | $ | 7,799,007 | | | $ | 8,145,305 | |
Audit-Related Fees(2) | $ | 9,800 | | | $ | 12,000 | |
Tax Fees(3) | $ | 117,000 | | | $ | 205,000 | |
All Other Fees(4) | $ | 2,000 | | | $ | 10,000 | |
TOTAL | $ | 7,927,807 | | | $ | 8,372,305 | |
Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policy with Respect to Audit Services and Permissible Non-Audit Services
All services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm require pre-approval of the Audit Committee, with limited exceptions as permitted by the SEC’s Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X. Our independent registered public accounting firm periodically reports to the Audit Committee on services for which the independent registered public accounting firm has been engaged and the aggregate fees incurred and to be incurred. During fiscal 2024, all services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm were pre-approved in accordance with this policy.
(1)Audit fees – These fees for professional services performed for the annual audit of our financial statements and review of financial statements included in our quarterly filings, and services that are normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements, and attest services. This category also includes advice on accounting matters that arose during, or as a result of the audit or the review of interim financial statements.
(2)Audit-related fees – These are fees related to assurance and related services.
(3)Tax fees – These are fees for professional services performed with respect to tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning.
(4)All other fees – These consist of all other fees billed to us for professional services performed and not reported under “Audit fees,” “Audit-related fees” and “Tax fees.”
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Sanmina’s Audit Committee is comprised solely of members who meet the Nasdaq Listing Rules’ independence requirements for audit committee members. The Audit Committee has reviewed the audited financial statements for fiscal 2024 and has discussed with management the audited financial statements and Sanmina’s internal controls over financial reporting. Management is responsible for the internal controls and the financial reporting process. Management has represented to the Audit Committee that our financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”), our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2024, was responsible for performing an independent audit of our financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and expressing an opinion on the conformity of those audited financial statements with generally accepted accounting principles. PwC was also responsible for performing an audit of the effectiveness of Sanmina’s internal control over financial reporting as of September 28, 2024, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. The Audit Committee has discussed with PwC the overall scope of such audits and has met with PwC, with and without management present, to discuss the results of their audits.
The Audit Committee also reviewed with PwC its judgments as to the quality, not just the acceptability, of our accounting principles and has discussed with PwC the matters required to be discussed by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and the SEC. Finally, the Audit Committee has also received the written disclosures and the letter from PwC as required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding PwC’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and has discussed with PwC the independence of that firm.
Based on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board (and the Board approved) that the audited financial statements for fiscal 2024 be included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2024 for filing with the SEC.
THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF SANMINA CORPORATION
SUSAN A. JOHNSON, Chair
SUSAN K. BARNES
DAVID V. HEDLEY III
JOSEPH G. LICATA, JR.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
| Proposal Three APPROVAL, ON AN ADVISORY (NON-BINDING) BASIS, OF COMPENSATION OF NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS | |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| The Dodd Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, or the Dodd Frank Act, requires that we provide our stockholders an annual opportunity to vote to approve, on an advisory or non-binding basis, the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement in accordance with Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). This proposal, commonly known as a “say on pay” proposal, gives our stockholders the opportunity to express their views on our named executive officers’ compensation as a whole. This vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation of any specific named executive officer, but rather the overall compensation of all of our named executive officers and the philosophy, policies and practices described in this proxy statement. The say on pay vote is advisory, and therefore not binding on us, the Compensation Committee or our Board of Directors. However, our Board of Directors and our Compensation Committee value the opinions of our stockholders and to the extent there is any significant vote against the named executive officer compensation as disclosed in our proxy statement, we will consider our stockholders’ concerns and the Compensation Committee will evaluate whether any actions are necessary to address those concerns. As described under the heading “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” our executive compensation programs are designed to reward executives for improvement in our financial results and stockholder value and to align the interests of executives and our stockholders. See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” on page 33, the tabular disclosure regarding such compensation and the accompanying narrative disclosure set forth in this proxy statement for additional details about our executive compensation programs, including information about the fiscal 2024 compensation of our named executive officers. Accordingly, our Board of Directors is asking our stockholders to cast a non-binding advisory vote “FOR” the following resolution at the annual meeting: “RESOLVED, that the Company’s stockholders approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the named executive officers, as disclosed in this proxy statement pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the 2024 Summary Compensation Table and the other related tables and disclosure.” THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS. | |
|
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
This Compensation Discussion and Analysis describes the Company’s executive compensation program and the Compensation Committee’s process for implementing its executive compensation program.
I. Executive Summary
Our Named Executive Officers
Throughout this CD&A, the individuals who served as our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer at any time during fiscal 2024 and the other individuals included in the “Summary Compensation Table” in the proxy statement, are referred to as the “named executive officers” or “NEOs” and are listed below.
| | | | | |
Jure Sola | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer |
Jonathan Faust(1) | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
Kurt Adzema(2) | Former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
Alan McW. Reid | Executive Vice President, Global Human Resources |
Charles C. Mason | Executive Vice President, Worldwide Sales |
(1)Mr. Faust was appointed as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, effective December 18, 2023.
(2)The employment of Mr. Adzema, former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, terminated effective January 5, 2024.
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
Fiscal 2024 Business Highlights
Fiscal 2024 was a transition year, with a soft first half followed by a stronger second half as we partnered with our customers across multiple end-markets to adjust inventory levels. For the full fiscal year, revenue was down 15.3%, non-GAAP operating margin was 5.4%, down 40 basis points, and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share was $5.28. We generated $340 million of cash flow from operations. We reinvested $109 million into the Company through equipment upgrades, sustainability improvements, facility expansions and technology advancements. We believe these investments further strengthen our position in the market and the company’s future financial performance. In addition, we repurchased 4.0 million shares for $227 million. Our ongoing investments in share repurchases reflect our confidence in the Company’s future financial performance and our commitment to return capital to our stockholders.
| | |
Non-GAAP Operating Income and Operating Margin* |
($ in millions) |
|
| | |
Non-GAAP Diluted Earnings per Share (EPS)* |
|
|
| | |
Non-GAAP EBITDA and EBITDA Margin* |
($ in millions) |
|
| | |
Cash Flow from Operations |
($ in millions) |
|
* See Appendix B for reconciliation of non-GAAP financial information provided in this proxy statement to their most directly comparable GAAP measures.
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
Fiscal 2024 Executive Compensation Highlights
Sanmina’s NEOs are compensated to drive long-term success and increases in stockholder value. The compensation package that our CEO and other NEOs were granted in 2024 incentivizes them to meet or exceed financial and operational goals not just for 2024, but in future years as well. In this way, our NEOs are motivated to build long-term success and return long-term value to stockholders.
OUR COMPENSATION PROGRAM EMPHASIZES PERFORMANCE-BASED AND AT-RISK PAY
A significant portion of target CEO compensation is comprised of components that are based on achieving a pre-determined level of financial or operational performance. A significant portion of target compensation for all NEOs is dependent on long-term stock price appreciation, aligning executives’ interests with those of our stockholders.
Approximately 61% of the CEO’s total target compensation was comprised of performance-based pay opportunities tied to performance conditions. Approximately 78% of the CEO’s total target compensation and 74% of the other NEOs’ total target compensation was comprised of equity incentives, thereby ensuring closer alignment with stockholder returns.
Target Compensation Mix for Fiscal 2024
* Excludes Mr. Adzema, whose employment with the Company terminated effective January 5, 2024. Due to his employment termination during the fiscal year, he did not receive any equity incentives and did not participate in the Company’s bonus plan for the year.
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
OUR COMPENSATION PROGRAM ALIGNS WITH OUR STRATEGY AND STOCKHOLDER INTERESTS
SHORT-TERM INCENTIVE COMPENSATION
Annual incentive compensation under Sanmina’s Corporate Bonus Plan is intended to incentivize and reward the achievement of short-term goals using metrics that are clear and understandable to both management and investors. Beginning in 2020 and in response to stockholder and stockholder advisory group feedback, the Compensation Committee revised the Corporate Bonus Plan to eliminate duplication of metrics that had been previously used under both the Corporate Bonus Plan and in the long-term incentive program and to reduce the number of metrics under the Corporate Bonus Plan to just two: revenue and non-GAAP operating margin, with cash flow from operations as a modifier.
| | | | | | | | |
Short-Term Incentive Metrics | Modifier | Rationale for Selection |
•Revenue •Non-GAAP operating margin | •Cash flow from operations | •Incentivizes improvements in year-over-year financial performance. |
LONG-TERM EQUITY INCENTIVES
The objectives of our long-term incentive program are to incentivize and reward executives for performance that leads to long-term improvements in financial performance and stockholder value creation and to promote retention of critical executives to remain with Sanmina in an environment where competition for talent is fierce. Beginning in 2020 and in response to stockholder and stockholder advisory group feedback, the Compensation Committee revised the long-term incentive program to focus on earnings per share over a three-year measurement period.
| | | | | |
Long-Term Incentive Metrics | Rationale for Selection |
PSUs | |
•Non-GAAP earnings per share •Three-year cumulative metric measured at the end of the performance period •Variable payout (70% to 130%) based upon level of achievement | •Incentivizes long-term, sustainable improvements in financial performance that the Compensation Committee believes will lead to increases in stockholder value. |
RSUs | |
•Vesting over three or four years | •Promotes retention of key executives over the medium to long-term. |
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
2024 Stockholder Engagement and Say-on-Pay Vote
| | | | | |
At our 2024 annual meeting of stockholders, we received approximately 80% support for the compensation of our named executive officers. We believe this level of support shows a high degree of alignment of our executive compensation program with the interests of stockholders. Subsequent to the 2024 annual meeting, we invited stockholders representing 70% of our outstanding shares to meet with certain members of our management and members of the Board of Directors. We met with stockholders representing 40% of outstanding shares, with stockholders representing the remaining 30% of outstanding shares indicating that they did not require a meeting or not having responded. During these meetings, we solicited feedback about our business, corporate governance and executive compensation program. | |
None of the stockholders we met in these meetings expressed a desire for additional changes to our CEO’s pay or our executive compensation program. We believe this is due to the changes we made to our executive compensation program beginning in 2020 in response to prior stockholder and Proxy Advisory firm feedback, which included:
•Maintaining a high percentage (47% in fiscal 2024) of total target compensation comprised of performance-based long-term incentives for the CEO;
•Reducing the number of performance metrics in the annual bonus plan and eliminating duplication of annual bonus plan metrics with the metrics used in long-term incentive awards;
•Ceasing to award “all or nothing” long-term incentives and instead adopting a sloped relationship between performance and earned pay, consistent with market practices; and
•Approving equity awards with a variable payout (70% to 130% in fiscal 2024) based upon a three-year cumulative non-GAAP EPS target. Beginning in 2023, these awards no longer permitted the Compensation Committee to utilize discretion to adjust the number of shares issuable upon vesting based on the relative TSR of the Company compared to its peers.
Not having received further stockholder feedback on our executive compensation program subsequent to the 2024 annual meeting, no new significant changes have been made to such program, although we continue to seek to improve stockholders’ understanding of our STI program, which is described below.
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
Specific areas of discussion during our meetings with stockholders and our responses and actions taken in response are summarized below:
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
| Areas of Discussion | Response/Actions |
| | |
| | |
| Board Diversity Disclosure | •The Company has enhanced its diversity disclosures contained in the proxy statement. •Sanmina had three female directors and three diverse directors, all whom are standing for reelection at the Annual Meeting. •The Nominating and Governance Committee has paid special attention to ensuring that Board diversity is enhanced as new members are appointed. This is reflected in the fact that two of the last three directors appointed are diverse. •We are committed, in the Board recruiting process, to ensuring the Board is diverse and brings a broad set of skills and experience. |
| |
| |
Ongoing Process for Board Refreshment/ Succession/Tenure | •The Company added Susan K. Barnes and Mythili Sankaran to its Board in June 2023. •Average Board tenure has decreased as two new members joined the Board in June 2023, one director resigned in December 2023 and two directors currently serving on our Board will not be standing for election as members of our Board at the Annual Meeting. •In furtherance of the Company’s Board refreshment process, the Board has adopted a policy by which no non-employee director who has attained the age of 75 may stand for reelection to the Board. •We have a robust Board evaluation process that is led by the Nominating and Governance Committee. |
| |
| |
Lead Independent Director | •The Board of Directors believes in the importance of having a qualified Lead Independent Director in place at all times given the combined role of Chairman and CEO at Sanmina. This position is currently held by Eugene A. Delaney, who is an independent outside director. Upon Mr. Delaney’s retirement on the date of the Annual Meeting, the independent members of the Board shall select from amongst themselves a new Lead Independent Director. |
| | |
| | |
| Disclosure (generally) | •We continue to provide in the proxy statement a high degree of transparency about our compensation plans, their purpose, what they measure and how they operate. |
| |
| |
Annual Incentive Program Disclosure | •Since our 2022 proxy statement, and in response to stockholder input, Sanmina has provided the actual performance/payout matrix used by the Compensation Committee to help determine executive officer bonuses under our STI plan. |
| |
| |
Compensation Program | •In recent years, none of the stockholders we met with expressed a desire for additional changes to our CEO’s pay or our executive compensation program. We believe this is due to the changes we made to our executive compensation program beginning in 2020 in response to prior stockholder and proxy advisory firm feedback. |
| | |
| | |
| Overall Business | •Topics included strategy, quarterly financial results, end-markets, outsourcing trends, India joint venture, supply chain, capital allocation priorities, technology capabilities, global/regional footprint and macroeconomic environment. |
| | |
Going forward, we intend to continue to regularly engage with our stockholders to obtain feedback on issues of importance to them, including our strategy (short and long-term) and our executive compensation program. We will consider such feedback and disclose such feedback and the actions taken in response in future proxy statements.
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
Alignment of Incentive Pay Results with Company Performance
A key objective of our executive compensation program is to more closely align executive pay with Company performance – both financial performance of our Company and long-term stockholder value creation. We believe our executives should be rewarded for their measurable impact on the Company’s financial performance and increases in stockholder value.
For information on our executive compensation program features that are widely recognized as best practices, see “Compensation Practices” in the Proxy Summary section on page 14. II. Compensation Philosophy and Design-Related Features
Sanmina’s Pay for Performance Compensation Philosophy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| Objective | | | How Pursued | |
| | | | | |
| Increase long-term stockholder value and more closely align the interests of our executives and stockholders. | | | | The vast majority of total executive compensation is equity-based so that executives are rewarded more when stockholder value is created. 100% of our long-term incentive awards to our named executive officers are in the form of equity. While a portion of equity awards are time-based in order to promote executive retention over longer performance periods, the majority of our long-term incentive grant value awarded to our CEO, and a substantial portion of our long-term incentive grant values awarded to other named executive officers, is denominated in equity-based incentives that are directly tied to the achievement of multi-year financial goals. | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| Create a direct link between long-term financial performance and individual rewards. | | | | Our executive compensation program includes performance-based awards that reward executives for achievement of financial goals that are important to the long-term health of the business. Annual bonuses tied to achievement of shorter-term critical financial goals strengthen the foundation for long-term success. Beginning in 2020, the goals for short-term and long-term performance awards were differentiated to focus executives on achievement of critical measures of both short-term and long-term performance. | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| Emphasize the competitiveness of total pay rather than any one particular element. | | | | We design our program so that total compensation becomes competitive only if we achieve our financial goals. In furtherance of this strategy, the majority of the compensation of our executives is at risk, becoming payable only upon achievement of specific performance targets. | |
| | | | | | |
Sanmina’s Executive Compensation Process
ROLE AND AUTHORITY OF SANMINA’S COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
The Compensation Committee:
•Oversees our compensation policies, plans and benefit programs;
•Reviews and approves the performance criteria and targets for our short-term and long-term incentive compensation programs;
•Administers our equity compensation plans;
•Reviews and approves the compensation of each of our executive officers, including
•determining the amount of base salary, target performance-based cash and equity compensation and time-based equity compensation;
•determining if and to what extent Company or individual performance goals for performance-based compensation awards have been satisfied;
•determining whether circumstances warrant upward or downward adjustment of any annual incentive bonus; and
•Monitors the potential risks associated with the overall compensation program.
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
ROLE OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS IN COMPENSATION DECISIONS
•Our Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice President of Global Human Resources regularly attend the Committee’s meetings (but are excused, as appropriate, when certain matters related to their own pay are discussed).
•The Chief Executive Officer makes recommendations to the Committee with respect to the compensation payable to the named executive officers (other than himself) and other members of the senior management team. However, the Committee is not bound by the Chief Executive Officer’s recommendations and makes all decisions with respect to the Chief Executive Officer’s compensation without him being present during those discussions.
ROLE AND INDEPENDENCE OF COMPENSATION CONSULTANT
The Committee retained Exequity to provide advice on matters related to executive pay. During fiscal 2024, the Committee directed Exequity to:
•Periodically review our executive compensation programs to help ensure the continued alignment of our programs with our compensation philosophy and objectives, as well as with peer practices;
•Provide a review of Sanmina’s long-term incentive program design in relation to those of our peers and those among companies in the general industry and made recommendations for potential program design adjustments for fiscal 2024 awards;
•Provide the Committee with information regarding executive compensation trends generally, as well as industry specific compensation trends; and
•Assist the Committee in connection with responding to the input of shareholder advisory groups.
We are required to disclose whether the work of our compensation consultant raises any conflict of interest issues and, if so, the nature of the conflict and how the conflict was addressed. The Committee does not believe the retention of Exequity creates a conflict of interest. The Committee’s belief is based on the following:
•Exequity is not performing any additional service for us, other than review of our director compensation program for the Nominating and Governance Committee;
•According to Exequity, fees paid by us are anticipated to represent less than 3% of Exequity’s total revenue;
•Exequity has disclosed to the Committee its conflicts of interest principles concerning client engagements and the Committee believes such policy provides reasonable assurance that conflicts of interest with Exequity will not arise;
•There are no business or personal relationships between Exequity and any member of the Committee or executive officer; and
•Exequity has represented to the Committee that no Exequity consultant providing services to us is a stockholder of Sanmina.
In addition, Exequity reported solely to the Committee other than with respect to our director compensation program, for which it reported to our Nominating and Governance Committee, our management was not involved in the negotiation of fees charged by Exequity or in the determination of the scope of work performed by Exequity and the Committee has the sole authority to hire and terminate compensation consultants, including Exequity. As a result of the foregoing, the Committee believes that Exequity is independent of Sanmina. The Committee has engaged Exequity to provide a similar analysis and review of our executive compensation program for fiscal 2025.
HOW WE DETERMINE AWARD TARGET COMPENSATION OPPORTUNITIES
Each year the Committee determines the amount of base salary and target short-term and long-term performance-based compensation for each NEO. In making this determination, the Committee considers several key factors:
•The need to offer compensation packages that are comparable in total amount and in pay mix to those offered by companies competing with us for executive talent;
•The relationship of the Chief Executive Officer’s compensation to that of the other NEOs and among NEOs generally;
•The individual performance of the NEO;
•The executive’s experience level, responsibilities, performance, and contributions to stockholder value creation; and
•With respect to equity awards, the Committee also takes into account unvested holding power and the total potential value of such awards should vesting conditions be met.
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
REVIEW OF PEER GROUP DATA
In making decisions regarding the key elements of our NEOs’ compensation (i.e., salary and target short-and long-term compensation) for fiscal 2024, the Committee examined competitive market practices for base salary, incentive compensation and equity compensation awards of global, diversified electronics manufacturing services companies and high-technology product manufacturing companies. The Committee included these types of companies in the peer group because, like us, they have numerous, geographically dispersed manufacturing operations and design, manufacture, assemble and sell complex, highly-engineered products and components. Data on compensation practices of peer group companies generally was gathered through publicly available information.
Based on a thorough review of these factors in fiscal 2023, all of the peer companies referenced for determining executive pay in fiscal 2024 and listed below were deemed to appropriately reflect competitive executive pay levels and practices.
The Committee also considered data from third-party surveys, which are reported on an aggregate, not individual company, basis. The peer group companies considered by the Committee in determining named executive officer compensation for fiscal 2024 are listed below:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
| Amphenol Corporation Benchmark Electronics, Inc. Fabrinet Keysight Technologies TTM Technologies, Inc. | Arrow Electronics Celestica Inc. Flex Ltd. Plexus Corp. Western Digital Corporation | Avnet, Inc. Curtiss-Wright Corporation Jabil Inc. Seagate Technology |
|
|
|
| | | |
HOW WE SET TARGET GOALS
•Target goals are set at levels consistent with our internal budgeting and forecasts for the year’s business plan.
•Target goals are set at levels deemed challenging to meet, but attainable with strong performance.
•For short-term incentive compensation, the Committee also considers the competitiveness of total cash compensation (that is, salary plus target short-term incentive) that would be paid to executives compared to peer companies if the plan funded at target levels.
EVALUATIONS OF INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE
In addition to measuring achievement of the financial goals set forth in our short-term and long-term plans, upon completion of the fiscal year the Committee conducts annual qualitative evaluations of each NEO’s performance during the year. Such evaluations form the basis for any discretionary adjustments to NEO compensation the Committee may choose to make.
STOCKHOLDER OUTREACH PROGRAM
We believe that effective corporate governance should include regular, constructive conversations with our stockholders concerning our executive compensation program. In 2024, we continued these stockholder outreach efforts and reached out to stockholders representing approximately 70% of our outstanding shares and met with stockholders owning approximately 40% of our outstanding shares.
For more information on our stockholder engagement, see “Stockholder Outreach,” “Stockholder Engagement” and “2024 Stockholder Engagement and Say-on-Pay Vote” sections on pages 11, 26 and 37, respectively.
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
Key Components of 2024 CEO Compensation
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Component and % of Total Target | Purpose | Performance Criteria | Key Characteristics |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | Base Salary | •Attract and retain talent with a competitive level of pay | •N/A | •Based on individual performance, experience level and peer group compensation data |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | Annual Incentive Compensation | •Drive achievement of specific financial targets in line with our strategy •Provide competitive annual incentive opportunities | •Two financial goals (revenue and non-GAAP operating margin) •One modifier (cash flow from operations) | •Pays out based on corporate and individual performance over one-year time periods |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | Equity Incentives | •More closely align realized pay with long-term stockholder value creation •Support long-term retention of critical talent •Provide competitive long-term incentive opportunities when performance conditions are achieved | •One financial goal (cumulative three-year non-GAAP earnings per share) for PSUs •Variable payout (70% to 130%) based upon level of achievement, with achievement of minimum threshold required for any payout under PSUs | •High proportion of performance-based PSUs to time-based RSUs (60%/40%) |
| | | | | | | |
WHY WE SELECTED THESE COMPONENTS
While the table above shows pay components for the CEO, the same components are used in the other NEOs’ pay packages. The Committee believes each of these components is necessary to help us more closely align executives’ total pay opportunities with stockholder value creation, and to attract, develop and retain executive talent. These components also allow us to provide an incentive for executives to appropriately focus on both our annual and long-term financial performance.
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
III. Executive Officer Compensation Decisions for 2024
Base Salary
Base salary compensates named executive officers for their services rendered on a day-to-day basis. The Committee primarily considers individual performance, experience level, changes in individual roles and responsibilities during the year and peer group compensation data in determining whether to adjust base salary levels for individual named executive officers.
During early fiscal 2024, the Committee reviewed the base salary of each of the named executive officers. Based upon peer group benchmark data and in light of his contributions to the Company during fiscal 2023, the Committee increased the base salary of Charles C. Mason, Executive Vice President, Worldwide Sales, from $350,000 to $380,000, but did not adjust the base salaries of any other NEO.
2024 Short-Term Incentive Compensation
APPROVAL OF FISCAL 2024 CORPORATE BONUS PLAN
Short-term incentives are awarded under an annual Corporate Bonus Plan. On December 4, 2023, the Committee approved the Sanmina Fiscal 2024 Corporate Bonus Plan (the “2024 Bonus Plan”). The 2024 Bonus Plan contained the fiscal 2024 annual incentive compensation targets, expressed as a percentage of salary, for the named executive officers. The 2024 Bonus Plan also contained the performance metrics on which award payouts were based, together with target measures for each metric. For 2024, the performance metrics were revenue and non-GAAP operating margin, with cash flow from operations as a modifier.
Each 2024 Bonus Plan participant’s actual incentive compensation for fiscal 2024 was determined by reference to his or her target incentive compensation opportunity, the Company’s achievement against the corporate performance targets and achievement of the participant’s individual/divisional performance goals for fiscal 2024. Individual goals differed by NEO and included, as applicable and appropriate, demonstrated organizational leadership, strategic contributions and improvement of customer relationships and engagement. The Committee retained discretion under the 2024 Bonus Plan to amend or terminate the 2024 Bonus Plan in any respect and to adjust the individual bonuses payable under the 2024 Bonus Plan upwards or downwards based on individual performance.
The Committee approved the targets contained in the 2024 Bonus Plan based primarily upon forecasts for fiscal 2024 financial performance, the Committee’s view of the likelihood of underachievement or over achievement of the targets and the competitiveness of total cash compensation that would be paid to executives compared to peer companies if the plan funded at target levels. When it approved the 2024 Bonus Plan, the Committee believed that achievement of the target corporate performance factor of 100% under the 2024 Bonus Plan would be challenging based upon industry-wide conditions and our internal forecasts at the time.
OVERVIEW OF FISCAL 2024 CORPORATE BONUS PLAN DESIGN
Step 1: The determination of the earned bonus amounts under the 2024 Bonus Plan started with the “base corporate performance factor.” The base corporate performance factor is determined in reference to two financial metrics; fiscal 2024 revenue and non-GAAP operating margin. The base corporate performance factor ranged from 0% to 130% depending on the level of fiscal 2024 revenue and non-GAAP operating margin, but the corporate performance factor is zero (and no bonus can therefore be payable) unless a certain minimum level of both revenue and non-GAAP operating margin is achieved.
Step 2: Once the base corporate performance factor was determined, it was then adjusted by cash flow from operations for fiscal 2024. Actual results above a certain goal for cash flow could result in an increase in the base corporate performance factor of up to 30%, and actual results below a specified threshold could result in a decrease to the base corporate performance factor of up to 15%.
Step 3: Final payout for each NEO was determined by this formula:
| | |
NEO target opportunity X Adjusted Corporate Performance Factor = Annual Incentive Award Payout, adjusted by the Committee, if appropriate, for individual performance and subject to caps |
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
DETERMINATION OF BASE CORPORATE BONUS FACTOR
Shown below is an excerpt of the 2024 Bonus Plan, showing how the corporate performance factor is determined for differing levels of revenue, non-GAAP operating margin and cash flow from operations. The components of the fiscal 2024 corporate performance factor yielded by actual performance in fiscal 2024 are highlighted. As shown below, the calculated fiscal 2024 corporate performance factor was 105%, of which 80 percentage points were attributable to the Company’s revenue and non-GAAP operating margin for fiscal 2024 and 2025 percentage points were attributable to the Company’s fiscal 2024 cash flow from operations. Incentive compensation can be adjusted upwards or downwards by the Committee pursuant to the exercise of discretion afforded to the Committee under the 2024 Bonus Plan based on individual performance factors.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Fiscal 2024 Revenue (in billions)(1) |
Non-GAAP Operating Margin(1) | $7.100 - $7.600 | $7.601 - $8.100 | $8.101 - $8.990 | >$8.991 |
<3.799% | 0 | % | 0 | % | 0 | % | | 0 | % |
3.800 – 4.100% | 40 | % | 50 | % | 60 | % | | 70 | % |
4.101% - 4.500% | 50 | % | 60 | % | 70 | % | | 80 | % |
4.501% - 4.900% | 60 | % | 70 | % | 80 | % | | 90 | % |
4.901% - 5.300% | 70 | % | 80 | % | 90 | % | | 100 | % |
5.301% - 5.600% | 80 | % | 90 | % | 100 | % | | 110 | % |
5.601% - 5.700% | 90 | % | 100 | % | 110 | % | | 120 | % |
>5.701% | 100 | % | 110 | % | 120 | % | | 130 | % |
(1)Actual FY24 revenue and non-GAAP operating margin were $7.57 billion and 5.4% respectively.
ADDITIONS/SUBTRACTIONS (-15% TO 30%):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash flow from operations & Other (before acquisitions)(2) | >225M+ 15% | >$250M+20% | >$300M+25% | $350M+30% |
| <$200M (-15%) | <$200M (-15%) | <$200M (-15%) | <$200M%(-15%) |
(2)Actual fiscal 2024 cash flow from operations was $340 million.
ADJUSTMENTS TO FISCAL 2024 NEO BONUSES
As described above, short-term incentive compensation may be adjusted upwards or downwards by the Committee on a discretionary basis. No discretionary adjustments to NEO bonuses were made for fiscal 2024.
CEO BONUS FOR FISCAL 2024
Shown below is the calculation of the bonus payment approved by the Committee for the CEO pursuant to the 2024 Bonus Plan:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Name and Position of Named Executive Officer | Base Salary (A) | Target Incentive Compensation Percentage (% of Base Salary) (B) | Target Incentive Compensation (A)x(B)x100% ($)(C) | Potential Incentive Compensation Using 105% Corporate Performance Factor (A)x(B)x 105%(1) ($)(D) | 2024 Incentive Compensation ($)Paid
|
Jure Sola Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | $1,250,000 | | 187.5 | % | $2,343,750 | | $2,460,938 | | $2,460,938 | |
(1)The Company’s achievement against its targets contained in the 2024 Bonus Plan resulted in a corporate performance factor of 105%, applying the criteria shown above in “Determination of Base Corporate Bonus Factor.”
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
OTHER NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICER INDIVIDUAL BONUSES FOR FISCAL 2024
Shown below are the calculations of the bonus payments approved by the Committee for the other named executive officers pursuant to the 2024 Bonus Plan:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Name and Position of Named Executive Officer | Base Salary (A) | | Target Incentive Compensation Percentage (% of Base Salary) (B) | | Target Incentive Compensation (A)x(B)x100% ($)(C) | Potential Incentive Compensation Using 105% Corporate Performance Factor (A)x(B)x105% ($)(D) | 2024 Incentive Compensation Paid ($)(F) | |
Jonathan Faust Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | $650,000 | | (1) | 100 | % | (2) | $650,000 | | $682,500 | $682,500 | |
Kurt Adzema Former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | $550,000 | | | 80 | % | | $440,000 | | N/A | — | | (3) |
Alan McW. Reid Executive Vice President, Global Human Resources | $385,000 | | | 80 | % | | $308,000 | | $323,400 | | $323,400 | | |
Charles C. Mason Executive Vice President, Worldwide Sales | $380,000 | | | 80 | % | | $304,000 | | $319,200 | | $319,200 | | |
(1)Represents Mr. Faust’s base salary upon his appointment as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer effective December 18, 2023.
(2)Represents Mr. Faust’s bonus target as a percentage of base salary for fiscal 2024, as determined in connection with his hire effective December 18, 2023.
(3)Mr. Adzema, former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, was not eligible to receive a bonus for fiscal 2024 as a result of the termination of his employment effective January 5, 2024.
2024 Long-Term Equity-Based Incentive Awards
Our practice has always been to subject a substantial portion of executive equity awards to performance-based vesting conditions tied to the achievement of certain financial objectives. In this way, our equity compensation program aligns the interests of our named executive officers with those of our stockholders by creating an incentive for our named executive officers to help maximize stockholder value. The type of equity granted to the named executive officers by the Committee during fiscal 2024 was made by reference to competitive practices among the peer companies and industry trends. In addition, the Committee takes into account previous equity award levels to executives and the unvested holding power of such awards when making new award determinations.
Our long-term incentive grant practices are designed to provide, when base and incentive cash compensation are also considered, substantially comparable target compensation opportunities for the key executive managers who are also recruited by other manufacturing and high technology companies, particularly in Silicon Valley where our headquarters are located. In addition, our equity compensation program encourages our named executive officers to remain employed with us for a substantial period of time because unvested awards are forfeited upon termination of employment, except in connection with certain qualifying terminations following a change of control, as provided in the Change-in-Control plan as outlined below.
NEO equity awards are typically granted in December of each year. For 2024, our long-term equity incentive awards were comprised of:
•PSUs, vesting of which requires achievement of a three-year non-GAAP EPS target; and
•RSUs, vesting of which requires the executive to remain employed by Sanmina for a specified period of time, but which is not dependent upon a particular level of financial performance. RSU vesting periods for grants to NEOs in fiscal 2024 were four years for grants to Mr. Faust and Mr. Mason, and three years for grants to Mr. Sola and Mr. Reid.
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
PERFORMANCE STOCK UNITS
In fiscal 2024, performance-based PSUs accounted for a substantial portion of the total equity grant value awarded to our NEOs, as shown below. The mix for the CEO is weighted more heavily on performance-based awards given his direct operational role in driving growth.
| | |
|
CEO LONG-TERM INCENTIVE MIX |
|
| | |
|
OTHER NEOs LONG-TERM INCENTIVE MIX |
|
Below is a table illustrating the operation of our performance-based long-term incentive awards granted in 2024.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| 3-Year Cumulative Non-GAAP Earnings Per Share Goal | | | | Payout (70% to 130%) No payout if cumulative non-GAAP EPS is below minimum threshold | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
|
|
| | | | |
| Performance Level | Payout (% of Target) | | | | |
| Minimum | 70% | | | | |
| Target | 100% | | | | |
| Maximum | 130% | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS
The Committee believes that the continued retention of our executive team should be supported by awards of time-based restricted stock units. Enhancing retention of valued top executives through such restricted stock unit awards is typical practice among Silicon Valley-based companies, where talent competition is intense. The Committee selects time-based vesting periods based on various factors, including the minimum amount of time for which continued service is expected, to align with performance goals or periods for such executive, if applicable, and industry practice. The time-based restricted stock units granted to the NEOs during fiscal 2024 vest between three and four years after grant. By combining both performance-based awards containing conditions that the Committee believed to be challenging at the time of grant and time-based awards not tied to a particular level of financial performance, the Committee seeks to maximize executives’ contribution to increasing stockholder value while providing retention incentive.
| | | | | |
Name and Position of Named Executive Officer | Vesting Requirements |
Jure Sola Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | Vests one-third on each of the first three anniversaries of the date of grant |
Jonathan Faust Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | Vests two-thirds over the first three anniversaries of the date of grant and one-third on the fourth anniversary of the date of grant. |
Kurt Adzema Former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | N/A(1) |
Alan McW. Reid Executive Vice President, Global Human Resources | Vests approximately 70% over the first two anniversaries of the date of grant and approximately 30% on the third anniversary of the date of grant. |
Charles C. Mason Executive Vice President, Worldwide Sales | Vests approximately 80% over the first three anniversaries of the date of grant and approximately 20% on the fourth anniversary of the date of grant. |
(1)The employment of Mr. Adzema, former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, terminated effective January 5, 2024 and, as such, he did not receive additional equity awards during fiscal 2024.
Other Benefits
In addition to the base salary, bonus and equity compensation discussed above, we provide our named executive officers with customary benefits that the Committee believes support attraction and retention of key talent:
•Health insurance, as generally available to U.S. employees;
•Optional participation in Sanmina’s 401(k) plan, as generally available to all U.S. employees;
•Supplemental life insurance;
•Optional participation in a non-qualified executive deferred compensation plan that permits executives to defer receipt of part or all of their base salary and incentive compensation to a future date; and
•Executive group travel accident insurance.
These additional benefits do not constitute key elements in the executive compensation program and the Committee does not consider these benefits for purposes of determining specific amounts of base salary, bonus or equity compensation to be provided by any of the NEOs.
We do not provide the following types of perquisites to named executive officers:
•Personal use of corporate assets;
•Executive pension plans;
•Sanmina-funded deferred compensation programs; or
•Sanmina-funded housing (except on a temporary basis in cases of relocation).
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
IV. Other Compensation Program Features
Change-in-Control and Severance Plan
In order to continue to attract and retain key employees and to provide incentive for their continued service in case of an acquisition of Sanmina, the Committee approved a change-in-control plan in December 2009 to provide benefits to such employees, including the named executive officers, in the event that their employment terminates under certain circumstances following a change-in-control of Sanmina. The amount of these benefits upon a qualifying termination would be: (1) payment, in a lump sum, of one, one and one-half or two times base salary and one times target incentive compensation for the year, (2) acceleration in full of all unvested stock options and restricted stock units held by the employee and (3) payment, in a lump sum, of premiums for continued health insurance coverage for a period of 18 months. A change-in-control is defined as an acquisition, in a merger or otherwise, of more than 50% of the voting power of Sanmina, a sale of substantially all of the assets of Sanmina or a change in a majority of the Board other than upon recommendation of the incumbent Board. The plan does not provide for a tax gross-up for any of the benefits payable thereunder. In addition, the plan does not provide benefits unless the employee is terminated without cause, or terminates for good reason, within a specified period of time following a change-in-control, as such terms are defined in the plan. These benefits are generally below competitive market amounts. Among the factors considered by the Committee in establishing the arrangements were the multiple of base salary and incentive compensation used by peer companies to calculate severance benefits and the Committee’s assessment of the extent to which such benefits would motivate named executive officers to remain with Sanmina. Finally, under the 2019 Plan, all unvested equity vests under certain circumstances following a change of control of the Company. See “Employment, Termination and Change in Control Arrangements” on page 56 and “Proposal Four: Approval of the Reservation of an Additional 1,000,000 Shares of Common Stock for Issuance under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan – Change in Control” on page 66. The Committee believes that these arrangements will help Sanmina’s key employees maintain continued focus and dedication to their assigned duties to maximize stockholder value during circumstances in which a qualifying termination following a change-in-control is possible or likely to occur. Policy Regarding Executive Repayment of Compensation Following Misconduct (“Clawback” Policy)
Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires that if misconduct results in a material non-compliance with SEC financial reporting requirements, and as a result of such non-compliance we are required to restate our financial statements, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer must disgorge any incentive compensation received during the 12-month period following the filing of the non-compliant report and profits on the sale of our stock during such period.
In addition, our Board has adopted a policy, as updated effective October 2, 2023 (to reflect the then-new requirements under SEC rules), for repayment of cash and equity incentive awards received by all executive officers and our principal accounting officer under certain circumstances. This policy supplements, but does not replace, the reimbursement requirements of Section 304 discussed above. Under this policy, we shall seek reimbursement of all excess cash and equity incentive compensation paid to any covered officer during the three year period following the filing with the SEC of financial results required to be restated due to material non-compliance with any financial reporting requirement under the securities laws.
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
Executive Stock Ownership Guidelines
We have adopted guidelines providing that our executive officers should hold Sanmina equity equal in value to five times base salary, in the case of our Chief Executive Officer; four times base salary, in the case of our Chief Financial Officer; and two times base salary in the case of the other named executive officers. Covered officers have five years from the later of adoption of the policy or the date the individual becomes a covered officer to achieve the guidelines. The equity counted towards achievement of the executive ownership guidelines includes shares owned outright, shares deemed to be beneficially owned under rules of the SEC and shares underlying unvested time-based restricted stock units, but does not include unvested PSUs. All NEOs currently satisfy the guidelines.
Stock Hedging and Pledging Policy
Our insider trading policy restricts hedging and pledging of Sanmina stock for executive officers and directors, as described above in “Corporate Governance and Board Matters—Hedging and Pledging of Company Securities” on page 27. Tax and Accounting Considerations
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 limits the deductibility of compensation paid to named executive officers to $1 million. While the Committee considers the deductibility of compensation as one factor in determining executive compensation, the Committee believes that it is in the best interests of our stockholders to structure our executive compensation program in the manner it considers to be the most effective in attracting, motivating and retaining key executives.
Accounting rules require us to expense the GAAP-based grant-date fair values of our equity awards, which lowers the amount of our reported profits under U.S. GAAP. In recognition of this equity award expensing and the impact of dilution to our stockholders, we closely monitor the share amounts and the grant-date fair values of the equity awards that are granted each year and provide non-GAAP results that exclude this and certain other expenses that the Company has determined are unusual or infrequent, non-cash or not relating to our operational results. See Appendix B for reconciliation information.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT
The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis for fiscal 2024. Based on the review and discussions, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy statement.
THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF SANMINA CORPORATION
EUGENE A. DELANEY, Chair
JOSEPH G. LICATA, JR.
KRISH PRABHU
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION TABLES
Summary Compensation Table
The following table presents the compensation for the persons who served as our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer during the last fiscal year and our next most highly compensated executive officers for such fiscal year.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Name and Principal Position | Year | Salary ($) | Stock Awards ($)(1) | Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($)(2) | All Other Compensation ($) | | Total ($) |
Jure Sola Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | 2024 | | $ | 1,230,769 | | | $ | 12,872,500 | | | $ | 2,460,938 | | | $ | 41,610 | | (3) | | $ | 16,605,817 | |
2023 | | 1,245,192 | | | 12,058,000 | | | 1,600,000 | | | 42,164 | | | | 14,945,356 | |
2022 | | 1,218,750 | | | 11,867,000 | | | 3,632,813 | | | 41,930 | | | | 16,760,493 | |
Jonathan Faust Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | 2024 | | $ | 487,500 | | | $ | 6,040,800 | | | $ | 682,500 | | | $ | 2,300 | | (5) | | $ | 7,213,100 | |
Kurt Adzema Former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer(6) | 2024 | | $ | 202,590 | | | — | | — | | | $ | 1,688,933 | | (4) | | $ | 1,891,523 | |
2023 | | 550,000 | | | 2,049,860 | | | 275,000 | | | 1,701 | | | | 2,876,561 | |
2022 | | 537,500 | | | 1,773,250 | | | 550,000 | | | 1,378 | | | | 2,862,128 | |
Alan McW. Reid Executive Vice President, Global Human Resources | 2024 | | $ | 385,000 | | | $ | 1,287,250 | | | $ | 323,400 | | | $ | 1,362 | | (5) | | $ | 1,997,012 | |
2023 | | 385,000 | | | 1,145,510 | | | 192,500 | | | 1,190 | | | | 1,724,200 | |
2022 | | 376,250 | | | 1,183,980 | | | 385,000 | | | 965 | | | | 1,946,195 | |
Charles C. Mason Executive Vice President, Worldwide Sales | 2024 | | $ | 371,346 | | | $ | 1,853,640 | | | $ | 319,200 | | | $ | 1,239 | | (5) | | $ | 2,545,425 | |
2023 | | 340,000 | | | 1,446,960 | | | 171,500 | | | 959 | | | | 1,959,419 | |
(1)Represents the grant date fair value of each equity award, determined in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”). These amounts do not purport to reflect the value that will be realized upon sale of the underlying shares The assumptions used in the valuation of these awards are set forth in the notes to our consolidated financial statements, which are included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended September 30, 2024, filed with the SEC on November 27, 2024. These amounts do not purport to reflect the value that will be realized upon sale of the underlying shares.
(2)Represents bonuses earned pursuant to Sanmina’s Corporate Bonus Plan for the fiscal year indicated.
(3)Comprised of (i) $40,000 in premiums for life insurance and (ii) $1,610 in premiums for business travel accident insurance.
(4)Comprised of $1,118,933 in income realized upon the vesting of 22,334 performance stock units and lump sum payment of $570,000, in each case in connection with Mr. Adzema's separation from service with the Company.
(5)Consists of premiums for business travel accident insurance.
(6)The employment of Mr. Adzema terminated on January 5, 2024.
Executive Compensation Tables
Grants of Plan Based Awards
The following table presents information regarding grants of plan based awards made to each of our named executive officers during fiscal 2024. All equity awards were granted under our 2019 Plan.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Grant Date | | | Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards(1) | | Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Plan Awards(2) | All Other Stock Awards; Number of Shares or Units (#)(3) | | Grant Date Fair Value of Stock Awards(4) |
| Threshold | Target | Maximum | | | Threshold | Target | Maximum |
Jure Sola Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | 12/15/23 | | | — | | — | | — | | | | 105,000 | | 150,000 | | 195,000 | | 100,000 | | | $ | 12,872,500 | |
12/4/23 | | | $ | 585,938 | | $ | 2,343,750 | | $ | 3,750,000 | | (5) | | | | | | |
|
Jonathan Faust Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | 1/16/24 | | | — | | — | | — | | | | 21,000 | | 30,000 | | 39,000 | | 90,000 | | | $ | 6,040,800 | |
1/16/24 | | | $ | 162,500 | | $ | 650,000 | | $ | 975,000 | | (6) | | | | | | | |
Kurt Adzema Former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer(7) | | | | — | | — | — | | | — | | — | | — | | — | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
Alan McW. Reid Executive Vice President, Global Human Resources | 12/15/23 | | | — | | — | | — | | | | 8,400 | | 12,000 | | 15,600 | | 13,000 | | | $ | 1,287,250 | |
12/4/23 | | | $ | 77,000 | | $ | 308,000 | | 385,000 | (8) | | | | | | |
|
Charles C. Mason Executive Vice President, Worldwide Sales | 12/15/23 | | | — | | — | | — | | | | 10,500 | | 15,000 | | 19,500 | | 21,000 | | | $ | 1,853,640 | |
12/4/23 | | | $ | 76,000 | | $ | 304,000 | | $ | 380,000 | | (8) | | | | | | |
|
(1)Represents potential cash payments under Sanmina’s Fiscal Year 2024 Corporate Bonus Plan approved on December 4, 2023. Actual cash awards made under this plan are shown in the Summary Compensation Table above under the column entitled “Non-Equity Plan Incentive Compensation.”
(2)Represents potential shares issuable upon vesting of performance stock units (PSUs). PSUs vest based upon extent of achievement of a three-year non-GAAP EPS target. No shares are payable if cumulative non-GAAP EPS over the measurement period is less than a minimum level of performance over the three-year period
(3)Number of time-based RSUs granted.
(4)Represents the grant date fair value of stock awards, determined in accordance with ASC 718.
(5)Bonus compensation is capped at 300% base salary.
(6)Bonus compensation is capped at 150% of base salary.
(7)The employment of Mr. Adzema terminated on January 5, 2024 and, as such, no plan based awards were granted to him in fiscal 2024.
(8)Bonus compensation is capped at 100% of base salary.
Executive Compensation Tables
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal 2024 Year-End
Stock Options
There were no outstanding option awards held by our named executive officers on September 28, 2024, the last day of fiscal 2024.
Stock Awards
The following table presents certain information concerning the outstanding stock awards held as of September 28, 2024, the last day of fiscal 2024, by each of our named executive officers.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Name | Stock Award Grant Date | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights that have not vested (#) | | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights that have not yet vested(1) |
Jure Sola Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | 12/15/21 | 200,000 | | (2) | | $ | 13,774,000 | |
12/15/22 | 50,000 | | (3) | | $ | 3,443,500 | |
12/15/22 | 150,000 | | (4) | | $ | 10,330,500 | |
12/15/23 | 100,000 | | (5) | | $ | 6,887,000 | |
12/15/23 | 150,000 | | (6) | | $ | 10,330,500 | |
Jonathan Faust Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | 1/16/24 | 20,000 | | (7) | | $ | 1,377,400 | |
1/16/24 | 20,000 | | (3) | | $ | 1,377,400 | |
1/16/24 | 20,000 | | (8) | | $ | 1,377,400 | |
1/16/24 | 30,000 | | (9) | | $ | 2,066,100 | |
1/16/24 | 30,000 | | (6) | | $ | 2,066,100 | |
Kurt Adzema Former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | | — | | (10) | | |
Alan McW. Reid Executive Vice President, Global Human Resources | 12/15/2021 | 4,000 | | (5) | | $ | 275,480 | |
12/15/2021 | 18,000 | | (2) | | $ | 1,239,660 | |
12/15/2022 | 6,000 | | (5) | | $ | 413,220 | |
12/15/2022 | 10,000 | | (4) | | $ | 688,700 | |
12/15/2023 | 4,500 | | (7) | | $ | 309,915 | |
12/15/2023 | 4,500 | | (3) | | $ | 309,915 | |
12/15/2023 | 4,000 | | (8) | | $ | 275,480 | |
12/15/2023 | 12,000 | | (6) | | $ | 826,440 | |
Charles C. Mason Executive Vice President, Worldwide Sales | 12/15/2021 | 3,333 | | (5) | | $ | 229,543 | |
12/15/2021 | 10,000 | | (2) | | $ | 688,700 | |
12/15/2022 | 9,000 | | (11) | | $ | 619,830 | |
12/15/2022 | 12,000 | | (4) | | $ | 826,440 | |
12/15/2023 | 5,500 | | (7) | | $ | 378,785 | |
12/15/2023 | 5,500 | | (3) | | $ | 378,785 | |
12/15/2023 | 5,500 | | (8) | | $ | 378,785 | |
12/15/2023 | 4,500 | | (9) | | $ | 309,915 | |
12/15/2023 | 15,000 | | (6) | | $ | 1,033,050 | |
(1)Value is based on Sanmina’s closing stock price of $68.87 on September 27, 2024, the last trading day of fiscal 2024, as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Stock Market.
Executive Compensation Tables
(2)Target number of shares issuable upon vesting of performance stock units (PSUs). PSUs vest based upon extent of achievement of a three-year non-GAAP EPS target. Number of shares issuable were subject to adjustment by up to 20% up or down based on level of actual performance compared to target performance and, at the discretion of the Compensation Committee, by up to 15% up or down based on relative TSR of the Company over the three-year measurement period (fiscal 2022, 2023, and 2024) compared to TSR of the Company's EMS peers. Based on the Company’s actual performance over the three-year measurement period, shares equal to 120% of the target number of shares vested subsequent to the end of fiscal 2024. The Compensation Committee did not utilize its discretion to make a further adjustment to the number of vesting shares as a result of the Company’s TSR during the measurement period compared to its peers.
(3)Restricted stock units vest in full two years from the date of grant, subject to holder continuing to be a service provider to Sanmina.
(4)Target number of shares issuable upon vesting of performance stock units (PSUs). PSUs vest based upon extent of achievement of a three-year non-GAAP EPS target. Number of shares issuable subject to adjustment by up to 30% up or down based on level of actual performance compared to target performance and, at the discretion of the Compensation Committee, by up to 15% up or down based on relative TSR of the Company over the three-year measurement period (fiscal 2023, 2024 and 2025), compared to TSR of the Company's EMS peers. No shares are payable if cumulative non-GAAP EPS over the measurement period is less than a minimum level of performance over the three-year period.
(5)Restricted stock units vest one-third of the shares on each of the first three anniversaries of the date of grant, subject to holder continuing to be a service provider to Sanmina.
(6)Target number of shares issuable upon vesting of performance stock units (PSUs). PSUs vest based upon extent of achievement of a three-year non-GAAP EPS target. Number of shares issuable subject to adjustment by up to 30% up or down based on level of actual performance compared to target performance. No shares are payable if cumulative non-GAAP EPS over the measurement period is less than a minimum level of performance over the three-year period (fiscal 2024, 2025 and 2026).
(7)Restricted stock units vest in full one year from the date of grant, subject to holder continuing to be a service provider to Sanmina.
(8)Restricted stock units vest in full three years from the date of grant, subject to holder continuing to be a service provider to Sanmina.
(9)Restricted stock units vest in full four years from the date of grant, subject to holder continuing to be a service provider to Sanmina.
(10)The employment of Mr. Adzema terminated effective January 5, 2024 and, as such, he had no unearned remaining stock awards outstanding on September 28, 2024.
(11)Restricted stock units vest one-fourth of the shares on each of the first four anniversaries of the date of grant, subject to holder continuing to be a service provider to Sanmina.
Option Exercises and Stock Vested in Last Fiscal Year
The following table presents certain information regarding exercises of options and vesting of stock awards for each of our named executive officers during fiscal 2024.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Option Awards | | Stock Awards |
Name | Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise (#) | Value Realized on Exercise(1) | | Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting (#) | | Value Realized on Vesting(2) |
Jure Sola Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | 200,000 | | | $ | 8,942,201 | | | 440,000 | | | | $ | 22,114,400 | |
Jonathan Faust Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | — | | | — | | | — | | | | — | |
Kurt Adzema Former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | — | | | — | | | 77,334 | | (3) | | $ | 3,893,205 | |
Alan McW. Reid Executive Vice President, Global Human Resources | — | | | — | | | 36,000 | | | | $ | 1,813,620 | |
Charles C. Mason Executive Vice President, Worldwide Sales | — | | — | | 19,933 | | | | $ | 1,015,982 | |
(1)The aggregate value realized upon exercise of stock options represents the difference between the fair market value of Sanmina’s common stock on the date of exercise and the price paid by the named executive officer to exercise the options, multiplied by the number of options exercised.
(2)The aggregate value realized upon vesting of stock awards represents Sanmina’s closing stock price on the date of vesting multiplied by the number of awards vested.
(3)Includes 22,334 unvested shares for which vesting was accelerated in connection with the termination of Mr. Adzema’s employment as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer effective January 5, 2024.
Executive Compensation Tables
Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan
Pursuant to Sanmina’s non-qualified deferred compensation plan, certain highly compensated employees may defer the receipt of certain compensation, and such deferrals are not subject to income tax until the year in which they are paid. Only members of management or highly compensated employees with a projected base salary of at least $130,000 may participate in the plan, subject to the approval of our Chief Executive Officer. Sanmina does not provide matching contributions under this plan. The following table presents certain information concerning participation in our non-qualified deferred compensation plan by the named executive officers during fiscal 2024.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Name | Executive Contributions | Aggregate Earnings | Aggregate Withdrawals/ Distributions | Aggregate Balance |
Jure Sola Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | | $ | — | | | $ | 2,405,001 | | — | | | $ | 11,397,490 | |
Jonathan Faust Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | | — | | | — | | — | | | — | |
Kurt Adzema Former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | | — | | | $ | 393,132 | | — | | | $ | 1,492,984 | |
Alan McW. Reid Executive Vice President, Global Human Resources | | $ | 144,375 | | | $ | 251,118 | | — | | | $ | 1,790,480 | |
Charles C. Mason Executive Vice President, Worldwide Sales | | — | | | — | | — | | | — | |
Executive Compensation Tables
Employment, Termination and Change in Control Arrangements
Sanmina does not have employment agreements with any of its named executive officers. However, in order to attract and retain key employees and to provide incentive for their continued service in case of an acquisition of Sanmina, the Compensation Committee approved in December 2009 a change in control plan to provide benefits to such employees in the event that their employment terminates under certain circumstances following a change in control of Sanmina. These benefits consist of (1) payment, in a lump sum, of one to two times base salary and one times target bonus for the year, (2) acceleration in full of all unvested stock options and restricted stock held by the employee and (3) payment, in a lump sum, of premiums for continued health insurance coverage for a period of 18 months. The plan does not provide benefits unless the employee is terminated without cause or resigns for good reason within a specified period of time following a change in control. In addition, covered employees must execute a general release as a condition to receiving benefits. Sanmina believes that the benefits provided by the plan are comparable to those offered by peer group companies. Below is a table showing the potential benefits payable under such plan to the currently employed named executive officers of Sanmina had a change in control and a triggering termination occurred as of the last day of fiscal 2024.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Name and Position | Salary Payable (multiple of base salary payable) | Target Bonus Payable | Value of Accelerated Stock Options and Restricted Stock(1) | Estimated Value of Continued Health Insurance Coverage(2) | Total |
Jure Sola Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | $2,500,000 (2x) | | $ | 2,343,750 | | | $ | 44,765,500 | | | $ | 28,886 | | | $ | 49,638,136 | |
Jonathan Faust Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | $1,300,000 (2X) | | $ | 650,000 | | | $ | 8,264,400 | | | $ | 52,083 | | | $ | 10,266,483 | |
Alan McW. Reid Executive Vice President, Global Human Resources | $577,500 (1.5X) | | $ | 308,000 | | | $ | 4,338,810 | | | $ | 29,172 | | | $ | 5,253,482 | |
Charles C. Mason Executive Vice President, Worldwide Sales | $570,000 (1.5X) | | $ | 304,000 | | | $ | 4,843,834 | | | $ | 34,185 | | | $ | 5,752,019 | |
(1)Based on unvested equity awards outstanding as of the end of fiscal 2024 and assuming a stock price of $68.87 per share, the closing stock price on September 27, 2024.
(2)Based on COBRA rates for 2025.
For purposes of the change of control plan, the following definitions apply. Change of control means a person becoming the owner of 50% or more of Sanmina’s common stock, a merger of Sanmina by which stockholders before the transaction cease to own at least 50% of the voting power of Sanmina after the transaction, the sale of substantially all of the assets of Sanmina, approval of a plan of liquidation, or the failure of a majority of the Board of Directors in office at the time the plan became effective to continue to remain in office, unless such new members were nominated by a majority of the members of such Board in office at the time the plan became effective. Cause means the willful failure of the executive to perform the executive’s duties, the willful engaging in conduct prohibited by Sanmina’s Code of Conduct or the executive’s commission of a felony or act of moral turpitude, fraud or embezzlement. Good reason means the material diminution of the executive’s total annual compensation, authority, duties or responsibilities after a change of control compared to compensation, authorities duties or responsibilities before the change of control (provided that less than a 20% reduction of annual compensation shall not constitute a material diminution of annual compensation), a relocation of the executive to a place of business more than 75 miles from the place of business predominantly used by executive before the change of control, or a material breach by Sanmina of executive’s employment agreement with Sanmina, if any.
Other Employment, Termination and Change of Control Arrangements
In addition to the benefits described above, pursuant to an agreement with Alan McW. Reid, our Executive Vice President, Global Human Resources, dated March 28, 2008, as amended, Mr. Reid is entitled to receive a lump sum payment equal to 12 months of his then current salary and certain relocation benefits following any termination of his employment without cause or voluntary termination for good reason.
As previously announced, the employment of Kurt Adzema, former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, terminated effective January 5, 2024. In connection with such termination, the Company entered into a Separation and Release Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Mr. Adzema under which Mr. Adzema received a lump sum payment of $570,000, subject to the terms and conditions of the Agreement. In addition, the vesting of the aggregate of 22,334 performance stock units previously granted to Mr. Adzema under the Company’s 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, representing the shares for which the performance criteria had already been achieved, was accelerated, subject to the terms and conditions of the Agreement.
PAY VERSUS PERFORMANCE
Pay Versus Performance
The information below presents the relationship between the compensation of the Company’s NEOs and certain performance measures in accordance with Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K (“Pay Versus Performance Table”). For a discussion of the Company’s compensation programs and pay for performance philosophy, please refer to the section captioned “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” above.
Pay Versus Performance Table
The information below presents the relationship between compensation actually paid (CAP) of the Company’s NEOs and certain performance measures in accordance with Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO (b)(1) | Compensation Actually Paid to PEO (c)(2) | Average Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-PEO NEOs (d)(1) | Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO NEOs (e)(2) | | Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment Based on: | Net Income (millions) (h) | Company Selected Measure(4) (i) |
Year (a) | | Total Shareholder Return (f) | Peer Group Total Shareholder Return(3) (g) |
2024 | | $ | 16,605,817 | | | $ | 27,189,217 | | | $ | 3,411,765 | | | $ | 4,015,111 | | | 259 | | 297 | | | $ | 222.50 | | | $ | 5.28 | |
2023 | | $ | 14,945,356 | | | $ | 18,663,356 | | | $ | 2,186,727 | | | $ | 3,007,319 | | | 204 | | 274 | | | $ | 310.00 | | | $ | 6.26 | |
2022 | | $ | 16,760,493 | | | $ | 20,787,493 | | | $ | 1,638,603 | | | $ | 2,165,569 | | | 174 | | 150 | | | $ | 240.40 | | | $ | 4.68 | |
2021 | | $ | 14,535,131 | | | $ | 16,678,631 | | | $ | 1,957,866 | | | $ | 2,695,765 | | | 148 | | 159 | | | $ | 249.50 | | | $ | 3.61 | |
(1)For all fiscal years covered by the Pay Versus Performance Table, the PEO was Mr. Sola. Our Non-PEO NEOs for the covered years are as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Jonathan Faust | Kurt Adzema | Kurt Adzema | Kurt Adzema |
Kurt Adzema | Alan Reid | Alan Reid | Alan Reid |
Alan Reid | Charles Mason | Dennis Young | Dennis Young |
Charles Mason | | | |
(2)The following adjustments relating to equity awards were made to total compensation for 2024 to determine CAP as computed in accordance with Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| PEO |
| 2024 | | 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
Summary Compensation Table Total | $16,605,817 | | | $14,945,356 | | | $16,760,493 | | | $14,535,131 | |
Adjustments: | | | | | | | |
Deduction for Value of Equity Awards Disclosed in the Summary Compensation Table | ($12,872,500) | | | ($12,058,000) | | | ($11,867,000) | | | ($10,293,000) | |
Increase for Year End Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted in the Year that Remain Outstanding and Unvested as of the End of the Year | $17,217,500 | | | $10,856,000 | | | $13,824,000 | | | $11,754,000 | |
Increase/deduction for Year-Over Year Change in Fair Value of Outstanding and Unvested Equity Awards | $5,836,000 | | | $4,920,000 | | | $2,070,000 | | | — | |
Increase for Fair Value as of Vesting Date of Equity Awards Granted and Vested in the Year | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | |
Increase/deduction for Change in Fair Value of Equity Awards from the Prior Year that Vested in the Year | $402,400 | | | — | | | — | | | $682,500.00 | |
Deduction for Fair Value at the End of the Prior Year of Equity Awards that Failed to Meet Vesting Conditions in the Year | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | |
Compensation Actually Paid | $ | 27,189,217 | | | $ | 18,663,356 | | | $ | 20,787,493 | | | $16,678,631 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| NEOs |
| 2024 | | 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
Summary Compensation Table Total | $3,411,765 | | | $2,186,727 | | | $1,638,603 | | | $1,957,866 | |
Adjustments: | | | | | | | |
Deduction for Value of Equity Awards Disclosed in the Summary Compensation Table | ($2,295,423) | | | ($1,547,443) | | | ($985,743) | | | ($1,146,633) | |
Increase for Year End Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted in the Year that Remain Outstanding and Unvested as of the End of the Year | $3,116,368 | | | $1,393,187 | | | $1,152,000 | | | $1,306,000 | |
Increase/deduction for Year-Over Year Change in Fair Value of Outstanding and Unvested Equity Awards | $263,835 | | | $422,751 | | | $356,500 | | | $502,392 | |
Increase for Fair Value as of Vesting Date of Equity Awards Granted and Vested in the Year | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | |
Increase/deduction for Change in Fair Value of Equity Awards from the Prior Year that Vested in the Year | $29,681 | | | $552,098 | | | $4,209 | | | $76,140 | |
Deduction for Fair Value at the End of the Prior Year of Equity Awards that Failed to Meet Vesting Conditions in the Year | ($511,114) | | | — | | | — | | | — | |
Compensation Actually Paid | $ | 4,015,111 | | | $ | 3,007,319 | | | $ | 2,165,569 | | | $ | 2,695,765 | |
The valuation methodologies used to calculate fair values for each measurement date do not materially differ from those used at the time of grant of each respective award.
(3)Represents the TSR of a peer group comprising Flex Ltd., Jabil Inc., Celestica Inc., Benchmark Electronics, Inc., and Plexus Corp.
(4)Represents Non-GAAP EPS, which is defined in Appendix B of this proxy statement.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CAP AND FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE
In accordance with Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K, the following graphs illustrate the relationship between the amounts disclosed in the Pay Versus Performance Table, above, as CAP to Total Shareholder Return, Peer Group Total Shareholder Return, GAAP Net Income and Non-GAAP EPS.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| PEO CAP | | NEO CAP | | Sanmina TSR | | Peer Group TSR |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| PEO CAP | | NEO CAP | | GAAP Net Income |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| PEO CAP | | NEO CAP | | Non-GAAP EPS |
TABULAR LIST OF PERFORMANCE MEASURES
The following table lists the financial performance measures that the Company considers to be the most important financial performance measures used by the Company to link compensation actually paid to its NEOs for the most recently completed fiscal year to performance of the Company.
| | |
Non-GAAP EPS |
Cash Flow From Operations |
Non-GAAP Operating Margin |
Relative TSR |
Revenue |
CEO PAY RATIO
Under SEC rules, we are required to provide the following information regarding the relationship between the annual total compensation of Jure Sola, our Chief Executive Officer, and the median annual total compensation of our employees (other than Mr. Sola) for fiscal 2024:
•The median of the annual total compensation of all employees (other than Mr. Sola) of the Company (including our consolidated subsidiaries) was approximately $14,250.
•The annual total compensation of our CEO was $16,605,817. This amount equals the CEO’s compensation as reported in the “Summary Compensation Table.”
•Based on the above, for fiscal 2024, the ratio of Mr. Sola’s annualized total compensation to the median of the annual total compensation of all employees (other than Mr. Sola) was 1,165 to 1.
This pay ratio is an estimate calculated in a manner consistent with Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K and based upon our reasonable judgments and assumptions. The SEC rules do not specify a single methodology for identification of the median employee or calculation of the pay ratio and other companies may use assumptions and methodologies that are different from those used by us in calculating their pay ratios. Accordingly, the pay ratios disclosed by other companies may not be comparable to our pay ratio as disclosed above.
For our fiscal 2023 pay ratio disclosure, we determined our median employee as of September 30, 2023, which was the last day of fiscal 2023, at which time we had 35,096 full-time, part-time and temporary employees, 4,459 of whom were U.S. employees, and 30,637 of whom were located outside of the United States, generally in lower cost locations such as China and Mexico. To find our median employee, we compared the target total cash compensation (base plus target incentive) of all such employees as shown in our global HRIS systems, annualizing the compensation of full-time employees who did not work for us for the entire year. Employees who worked for us part-time were included at their part-time pay rate and not converted to a full-time equivalent pay level. Once we identified our median employee, we estimated such employee’s annual total compensation in accordance with the requirements of Item 402(c)(2)(x) of Regulation S-K. We determined that our median employee in fiscal 2023 was a full-time, salaried employee working in Mexico and used that employee’s annual total cash compensation for fiscal 2023 to calculate the CEO pay ratio for that year. While our employee population increased by approximately 6% between end of fiscal 2023 and the end of fiscal 2024, we believe selecting a new median employee would not result in significant change in the pay ratio disclosure. To reach this conclusion, we sampled average salaries of employees in our non-U.S. locations in fiscal 2024, where the substantial majority of our total employees are located. For fiscal 2024, our previously identified median employee’s total cash compensation was approximately $14,250. For purposes of this disclosure, we converted the employee’s total cash compensation from Mexican pesos to U.S. dollars using the exchange rate as of September 28, 2024 (19.48 MXN to 1 USD).
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
| Proposal Four APPROVAL OF THE RESERVATION OF AN ADDITIONAL 1,000,000 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK FOR ISSUANCE UNDER THE 2019 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN | |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| The Board believes that equity compensation programs align the interests of management, directors and the stockholders to increase long-term stockholder value by giving directors, executives and other key employees a stake in our success. By permitting us to grant equity in our company, our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2019 Plan”) is a key tool for attracting, rewarding, motivating and retaining the key personnel necessary for us to achieve our business objectives and increase stockholder value. At the Annual Meeting, we are requesting that stockholders approve the reservation of an additional 1,000,000 shares of common stock for future issuance under the 2019 Plan in order to ensure that we continue to have sufficient shares available for (1) our annual grants to non-executive employees, (2) grants to potential executive new hires, (3) annual grants to executive management and (4) annual grants to directors. Reasons for Request We believe this increase is reasonable for the following reasons: 1.Our burn rate is reasonable compared to our peers. Sanmina’s three-year average net burn rate (grants less cancellations divided by outstanding shares) is 2.1%, compared to a 1.4% median net burn rate for our core peer group (Benchmark Electronics, Inc., Celestica Inc., Flex Ltd., Jabil Inc., and Plexus Corp.) for their three most recent fiscal years for which data is publicly available. 2.Our share repurchases in the last two fiscal years have more than offset the dilutive effect of grants made under the 2019 Plan during the same time period. During the last two fiscal years, we have repurchased approximately 5.6 million shares of our common stock in the open market, more than offsetting the potential dilution from the approximately 2.4 million shares granted under our stock plan during that same time period. 3.Our overhang is reasonable compared to our peers. As of December 31, 2024, 3.1 million shares were subject to outstanding equity awards under our 2019 Plan and 2009 Incentive Plan (the “2009 Plan”) and 4.8 million shares were reserved for issuance under our 2019 Plan, inclusive of outstanding equity awards, representing 6% and 9% of our shares outstanding, respectively. This “overhang” is reasonable compared to average net and gross overhang of our peers. 4.Adherence to Proxy Advisory Firm Guidelines. We have implemented several plan features recommended by proxy advisory firms in the 2019 Plan, including: a.All awards granted under the 2019 Plan must have a minimum vesting period of at least one year, subject to certain de minimis exceptions; b.All shares received by the Chief Executive Officer upon exercise, settlement or issuance of an award must be held for a minimum of one year before being sold or, if earlier, until the termination of the Chief Executive Officer’s service; c.Reasonable and appropriate change in control provisions; d.No dividends payable on unvested awards; and e.No liberal recycling of full value awards (e.g., shares withheld from vesting awards to pay taxes are not returned to the plan for future grant). | |
|
Proposal Four Approval of the Reservation of an Additional 1,000,000 Shares of Common Stock
| | | | | | | | |
|
| |
| For these reasons, Sanmina requests stockholders approve the reservation of an additional 1,000,000 shares of common stock for issuance under the 2019 Plan. We expect that the share reserve under the 2019 Plan, as proposed to be increased, will allow us to continue to grant equity-based compensation at levels we deem necessary and appropriate for at least the next two years. We base this belief upon our historical annual equity award grant rate (otherwise known as burn rate), our historical forfeiture rate and our estimate of the number of shares we will need to attract new senior and executive hires and in connection with potential merger and acquisition transactions. This belief could change, however, based upon a number of factors, including the need to increase our burn rate over historical averages in order to attract and retain key talent and the price of our common stock (because we determine the size of equity awards to be granted in part based on the price of our common stock at the time of grant, if our stock price on the date the award is granted is significantly lower than the stock price assumed in our forecast, we would need to grant a larger number of shares than anticipated to deliver the same value to participants). THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS VOTING “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF THE RESERVATION OF AN ADDITIONAL 1,000,000 SHARES FOR ISSUANCE UNDER THE 2019 PLAN. | |
| |
| |
| |
|
Description of the 2019 Plan
A summary of the principal provisions of the 2019 Plan is set forth below. However, this summary is not a complete description of all of the provisions of the 2019 Plan and is qualified in its entirety by the specific language of the 2019 Plan, which is attached as Appendix A to this proxy statement.
General
•The 2019 Plan has a ten year term;
•The 2019 Plan provides for the grant of stock options, both incentive stock options and nonstatutory stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance units, performance shares, and such other cash or stock awards to eligible individuals as the plan’s administrator (as defined below) may determine;
•10,693,000 shares are authorized for issuance pursuant to awards under the 2019 Plan (the “Base Amount”), plus any shares subject to stock options or similar awards granted under the 2009 Plan that, after March 11, 2019, expire or otherwise terminate without having been exercised in full and shares issued pursuant to awards granted under the 2009 Plan that, after March 11, 2019, are forfeited to or repurchased by the Company, with the maximum number of shares to be added to the 2019 Plan pursuant to the 2009 Plan equal to 6,436,840 shares. If stockholders approve this proposal, the Base Amount will be increased by 1,000,000 to 11,693,000. All of such shares may be authorized, but unissued, or reacquired common stock;
•Shares subject to outstanding awards under the 2009 Plan that are forfeited, cancelled, or otherwise expire will be rolled into the 2019 Plan;
•Any shares subject to awards other than options or stock appreciation rights (e.g., “full value” awards) will be counted against numerical share limits as 1.36 shares for every one share subject thereto; and
•The 2019 Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee.
Administration
Our Board of Directors has delegated administration of the 2019 Plan to the Compensation Committee. In addition, our Board of Directors may delegate authority to one or more officers of the Company the authority to do one or both of the following: (i) designate employees or consultants of the Company or any of its subsidiaries who are not Section 16 officers to be recipients of options, restricted stock and restricted stock units under the terms of the 2019 Plan, and (ii) determine the number of shares to be subject to such awards; provided, however, that the Board resolutions regarding such delegation shall specify the maximum number of shares that may be subject to the awards granted by such officer.
For purposes of this summary of the 2019 Plan, the term “administrator” will refer to our Board of Directors or any committee designated by our Board of Directors to administer the 2019 Plan. To make grants to certain officers and key employees, the members of the committee must qualify as “non-employee directors” under Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act.
Proposal Four Approval of the Reservation of an Additional 1,000,000 Shares of Common Stock
Subject to the terms of the 2019 Plan, the administrator has the authority, in its discretion, to (i) determine the fair market value of a share, (ii) select the service providers to whom awards may be granted, (iii) determine the number of shares to be covered by each award granted under the 2019 Plan, (iv) approve forms of award agreement for use under the 2019 Plan, (v) determine the terms and conditions of any award granted under the 2019 Plan, provided these are not inconsistent with the terms of the 2019 Plan, (vi) construe and interpret the terms of the 2019 Plan and awards granted under the 2019 Plan, (vii) prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the 2019 Plan, (viii) modify or amend each award, subject to the terms of the 2019 Plan; provided that the administrator may not modify or amend an option or stock appreciation right to reduce the exercise price after it has been granted (except for adjustments made pursuant to the terms of the 2019 Plan), and the administrator may not implement any type of exchange program, unless such action is approved by stockholders prior to such action being taken, (ix) allow participants to satisfy tax withholding obligations in a manner prescribed under the terms of the 2019 Plan, (x) authorize any person to execute on behalf of the Company any instrument required to effect the grant of an award previously granted by the administrator, (xi) allow a participant to defer receipt of the payment of cash or the delivery of shares that would otherwise be due to such participant under an award pursuant to such procedures as the administrator may determine, and (xii) make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for administering the 2019 Plan. The administrator’s decisions, determinations and interpretations will be final and binding on all participants and any other holders of awards.
Eligibility
All types of awards other than incentive stock options may be granted to our non-employee directors and to employees and consultants of the Company or any parent or subsidiary corporation of the Company. Incentive stock options may be granted only to employees of the Company or any parent or subsidiary corporation of the Company. As of September 28, 2024, we had approximately 32,000 eligible participants, including employee directors, outside directors and consultants, subject to compliance with local securities laws.
Shares Available for Issuance
Subject to the adjustment provisions contained in the 2019 Plan, our stockholders are being asked to approve an additional 1,000,000 shares for issuance under the 2019 Plan. The number of shares currently reserved for issuance under the 2019 Plan equals 10,693,000 shares (the “Base Amount”), plus any shares subject to stock options or similar awards granted under the 2009 Plan that, after March 11, 2019, expire or otherwise terminate without having been exercised in full and shares issued pursuant to awards granted under the 2009 Plan that, after March 11, 2019, are forfeited to or repurchased by the Company, with the maximum number of shares to be added to the 2019 Plan pursuant to the 2009 Plan equal to 6,436,840 shares. The shares may be authorized, but unissued, or reacquired Common Stock. If stockholders approve this proposal, the Base Amount will be increased by 1,000,000 to 11,693,000, plus any shares that may be added to the 2019 Plan from outstanding awards under the 2009 Plan as discussed above.
Any shares subject to awards other than options or stock appreciation rights will be counted against the numerical limits of the 2019 Plan as 1.36 shares for every one share subject thereto. Further, if shares acquired pursuant to any such award are forfeited or repurchased by the Company and would otherwise return to the 2019 Plan, 1.36 times the number of shares so forfeited or repurchased will return to the 2019 Plan and will again become available for issuance.
If an award under the 2019 Plan expires or becomes unexercisable without having been exercised in full, or, with respect to restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares or performance units which are to be settled in shares, is forfeited to or repurchased by the Company, the unpurchased shares (or for awards other than options and stock appreciation rights, the forfeited or repurchased shares) which were subject thereto will become available for future grant or sale under the 2019 Plan (unless the 2019 Plan has terminated). Upon exercise of a stock appreciation right settled in shares, the gross number of shares covered by the portion of the award so exercised will cease to be available under the 2019 Plan. If unvested shares of restricted stock, or unvested shares issued pursuant to awards of restricted stock units, performance shares or performance units are repurchased by or forfeited to the Company, such shares will become available for future grant under the 2019 Plan. Shares used to pay the tax and exercise price of an award will not become available for future grant or sale under the 2019 Plan. To the extent an award under the 2019 Plan is paid out in cash rather than shares, such cash payment will not result in reducing the number of shares available for issuance under the 2019 Plan.
Proposal Four Approval of the Reservation of an Additional 1,000,000 Shares of Common Stock
Adjustments
In the event of any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, shares, other securities, or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase or exchange of shares or other securities or other change in the corporate structure affecting our common stock, the 2019 Plan administrator, in order to prevent diminution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the 2019 Plan, will adjust the number and class of shares that may be delivered under the 2019 Plan and/or the number, class, and price of shares covered by each outstanding award, and the numerical share or value limits, as applicable, set forth in the 2019 Plan.
Stock Options
An option gives a participant the right to purchase a specified number of shares for a fixed exercise price during a specified period of time. Each option granted under the 2019 Plan will be evidenced by an award agreement specifying the number of shares subject to the option and the other terms and conditions of the option, consistent with the requirements of the 2019 Plan.
The exercise price per share of each option may not be less than the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the date of grant. However, any incentive stock option granted to a person who at the time of grant owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of our stock or any parent or subsidiary corporation of ours (a “ten percent stockholder”) must have an exercise price per share equal to at least 110% of the fair market value of a share on the date of grant. The aggregate fair market value of the shares (determined on the grant date) covered by incentive stock options which first become exercisable by any participant during any calendar year also may not exceed $100,000. The fair market value of the common stock is generally the closing sales price of our stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Stock Market. As of September 27, 2024, Sanmina’s closing stock price was $68.87 as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Stock Market.
Options will be exercisable at such times or under such conditions as determined by the administrator and set forth in the award agreement.
Upon the termination of a participant’s service, the unvested portion of the participant’s option generally expires. The vested portion of the option will remain exercisable for the period following the participant’s termination of service that was determined by the administrator and specified in the participant’s award agreement, and if no such period was determined by the administrator, the vested portion of the option will remain exercisable for: (i) 90 days following a termination of the participant’s service for reasons other than death or disability or (ii) five years following a termination of the participant’s service due to death or disability. In no event will the option be exercisable after the end of the option’s term. In the event of termination of service due to participant’s death, the award becomes vested in full.
The term of an option will be specified in the award agreement but may not be more than ten years (or five years for an incentive stock option granted to a ten percent stockholder).
The 2019 Plan provides that the administrator will determine the acceptable form(s) of consideration for exercising an option. An option will be deemed exercised when we receive the notice of exercise and full payment for the shares to be exercised, together with applicable tax withholdings.
Stock Appreciation Rights
A stock appreciation right gives a participant the right to receive the appreciation in the fair market value of our common stock between the date an award is granted and the date it is exercised. Upon exercise of a stock appreciation right, the holder of the award will be entitled to receive an amount determined by multiplying: (i) the difference between the fair market value of a share on the date of exercise and the exercise price by (ii) the number of exercised stock appreciation rights. We may pay the appreciation in cash, in shares, or a combination of both. Each stock appreciation right granted under the 2019 Plan will be evidenced by an award agreement specifying the exercise price and the other terms and conditions of the award.
The exercise price per share of each stock appreciation right may not be less than the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the date of grant.
Stock appreciation rights will be exercisable at such times or under such conditions as determined by the administrator and set forth in the award agreement.
Proposal Four Approval of the Reservation of an Additional 1,000,000 Shares of Common Stock
The term of a stock appreciation right may not be more than ten years. The terms and conditions relating to the period of exercise of stock appreciation rights following the termination of a participant’s service are similar to those for options described above. In the event of termination of service due to participant’s death, the award becomes vested in full.
Restricted Stock Awards
Awards of restricted stock are rights to acquire or purchase shares that vest in accordance with the terms and conditions established by the administrator in its sole discretion. Unless otherwise provided by the administrator, a participant will forfeit any shares of restricted stock that have not vested by the termination of the participant’s service. However, in the event of termination of service due to participant’s death, the award becomes vested in full. Each restricted stock award granted will be evidenced by an award agreement specifying the number of shares subject to the award and the other terms and conditions of the award. The administrator will determine the vesting conditions that apply to an award of restricted stock.
Unless the administrator provides otherwise, participants holding shares of restricted stock will have voting rights without regard to vesting, but will not have rights to dividends and other distributions with respect to such shares until the shares vest. The administrator has the discretion to reduce or waive any restrictions and to accelerate the time at which any restrictions will lapse or be removed.
Restricted Stock Units
A restricted stock unit represents a right to receive cash or shares of our common stock if the performance goals or other vesting criteria set by the administrator are achieved or the restricted stock unit otherwise vests. Each award of restricted stock units granted under the 2019 Plan will be evidenced by an award agreement specifying the number of shares subject to the award and other terms and conditions of the award. The administrator will determine the vesting conditions that apply to an award of restricted stock units.
After an award of restricted stock units has been granted, the administrator has the discretion to reduce or waive any restrictions or vesting criteria that must be met to receive a payout or to accelerate the time at which any restrictions will lapse or be removed. A participant will forfeit any unearned restricted stock units upon termination of his or her service. However, In the event of termination of service due to participant’s death, the award becomes vested in full. The administrator in its sole discretion may pay earned restricted stock units in cash, shares, or a combination of both.
Performance Units and Performance Shares
Performance units and performance shares are awards that will result in a payment to a participant only if performance goals established by the administrator are achieved or the awards otherwise vest. Performance units will have an initial value established by the administrator on or before the date of grant. Each performance share will have an initial value equal to the fair market value of a share on the grant date. Performance units and performance shares will result in a payment to a participant only if the performance goals or other vesting criteria set by the administrator are achieved or the awards otherwise vest.
Each award of performance units or performance shares granted under the 2019 Plan will be evidenced by an award agreement specifying the performance period and other terms and conditions of the award. The administrator may set vesting criteria based upon the achievement of company-wide, divisional, or individual goals (including, but not limited to, continued employment or service), or any other basis determined by the administrator, in its discretion.
After an award of performance units or performance shares has been granted, the administrator has the discretion to accelerate, reduce or waive any performance objectives or other vesting provisions for such performance units or performance shares, but may not increase the amount payable at a given level of performance.
The administrator has the discretion to pay earned performance units or performance shares in the form of cash, shares (which will have an aggregate fair market value equal to the earned performance units or performance shares at the close of the applicable performance period), or a combination of both.
A participant will forfeit any performance units or performance shares that have not been earned or have not vested as of the termination of his or her service with us. However, in the event of termination of service due to participant’s death, the award will accelerate, with such acceleration assuming that all performance goals and other vesting criteria are deemed achieved at target performance levels and any additional service conditions satisfied.
Proposal Four Approval of the Reservation of an Additional 1,000,000 Shares of Common Stock
Transferability
Awards generally are not transferable other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised, during the lifetime of the participant, only by the participant. With the approval of the administrator, a participant may transfer an award, in a manner specified by the administrator, to a spouse or former spouse pursuant to certain court-approved domestic relations orders, and transfer an option by gift to an immediate family member or certain trusts, partnerships or other entities or foundations in accordance with the terms of the 2019 Plan.
Outside Director Limitations
No non-employee director may be granted, in any fiscal year of the Company, awards with a grant date fair value (determined in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles) of greater than $900,000. Any awards granted to an individual for his or her services as an employee, or for his or her services as a consultant (other than as a non-employee director), will not count for purposes of this limitation.
One-Year Vesting Requirement; Chief Executive Officer Holding Requirement
Awards granted under the 2019 Plan shall vest no earlier than the one year anniversary of the award’s date of grant, provided that the administrator, in its sole discretion, may provide that an award may accelerate vesting, including, without limitation, by reason of the participant’s death, disability or retirement, or termination of the participant’s service, including a termination that occurs in connection with a change in control, and provided further that awards that result in the issuance of an aggregate of up to 5% of the shares reserved for issuance under the 2019 Plan may be granted to service providers, or outstanding awards modified, without regard to such minimum vesting, exercisability and distribution provisions. In addition, shares received by the Chief Executive Officer upon exercise, settlement or issuance of an award granted to him or her while serving as Chief Executive Officer, after satisfaction of any applicable tax obligations, may not be sold or otherwise transferred (other than for estate planning purposes) for at least one year following delivery of such shares or, if earlier, upon the termination of the Chief Executive Officer’s service to us.
Dissolution or Liquidation
In the event of a proposed dissolution or liquidation of our company, the administrator will notify each participant as soon as practicable prior to the effective date of such proposed transaction. An award will terminate immediately prior to consummation of such proposed action to the extent the award has not been previously exercised.
Change in Control
The 2019 Plan provides that, in the event of a merger or change in control of the Company, each award will be treated as the administrator determines, including that that each award be assumed or an equivalent option or right substituted by the successor corporation.
If the successor corporation does not assume or substitute for the award, the participant will fully vest in and have the right to exercise all of his or her outstanding options and stock appreciation rights, all restrictions on restricted stock and restricted stock units will lapse. With respect to awards with performance-based vesting that are not assumed or substituted for, all performance goals or other vesting criteria will be deemed achieved based on actual performance measured through the last date that the award remains outstanding (or such earlier date, as determined by the administrator, in its sole discretion), with any performance period shortened proportionately and applicable performance goals or other vesting criteria adjusted proportionately to reflect the shortened performance period (or to the extent applicable, the value of the consideration to be received by the Company’s stockholders in connection with the merger or change in control), as determined by the administrator, in its sole discretion. In addition, if an option or stock appreciation right is not assumed or substituted for, the administrator will notify the participant in writing or electronically that the option or stock appreciation right will be exercisable for a period of time determined by the administrator, in its sole discretion, and the option or stock appreciation right will terminate upon the expiration of such period.
Proposal Four Approval of the Reservation of an Additional 1,000,000 Shares of Common Stock
For awards granted to our non-employee directors, in the event of a change in control in which such awards are assumed or substituted for, if on the date of or following such assumption or substitution the participant’s status as a director or a director of the successor corporation, as applicable, is terminated other than upon a voluntary resignation by the participant (unless such resignation is at the request of the acquirer), then the participant will fully vest in and have the right to exercise options and/ or stock appreciation rights as to all of the shares underlying such award, including those shares which would not otherwise be vested or exercisable, all restrictions on restricted stock and restricted stock units will lapse, and, with respect to awards with performance-based vesting, unless specifically provided otherwise under the applicable award agreement, a Company policy applicable to the participant, or other written agreement between the participant and the Company, all performance goals or other vesting criteria will be deemed achieved at 100% of target levels and all other terms and conditions met.
Amendment and Termination
The 2019 Plan will automatically terminate ten years from the date of its adoption by our Board of Directors, unless terminated at an earlier time by our Board of Directors. The administrator may amend, alter, suspend, or terminate the 2019 Plan at any time, provided that no amendment may be made without stockholder approval to the extent approval is necessary or desirable to comply with any applicable laws. No amendment, alteration, suspension, or termination may materially impair the rights of any participant unless mutually agreed otherwise between the participant and the administrator.
Summary of U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences
The following summary is intended only as a general guide to the U.S. federal income tax consequences of participation in the 2019 Plan. The summary is based on existing U.S. laws and regulations as of December 31, 2024, and there can be no assurance that those laws and regulations will not change in the future. The summary does not purport to be complete and does not discuss the tax consequences upon a participant’s death, or the provisions of the income tax laws of any municipality, state or foreign country in which the participant may reside. As a result, tax consequences for any particular participant may vary based on individual circumstances.
Incentive Stock Options
A participant recognizes no taxable income for regular income tax purposes as a result of the grant or exercise of an option that qualifies as incentive stock option under Section 422 of the Code. If a participant exercises the option and then later sells or otherwise disposes of the shares acquired through the exercise of the option after both the two-year anniversary of the date the option was granted and the one-year anniversary of the exercise, the participant will recognize a capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the sale price of the shares and the exercise price, and we will not be entitled to any deduction for federal income tax purposes.
However, if the participant disposes of such shares either on or before the two-year anniversary of the date of grant or on or before the one-year anniversary of the date of exercise (a “disqualifying disposition”), any gain up to the excess of the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise over the exercise price generally will be taxed as ordinary income, unless the shares are disposed of in a transaction in which the participant would not recognize a loss (such as a gift). Any gain in excess of that amount will be a capital gain. If a loss is recognized, there will be no ordinary income, and such loss will be a capital loss. Any ordinary income recognized by the participant upon the disqualifying disposition of the shares generally should be deductible by us for federal income tax purposes, except to the extent such deduction is limited by applicable provisions of the Code.
For purposes of the alternative minimum tax, the difference between the option exercise price and the fair market value of the shares on the exercise date is treated as an adjustment item in computing the participant’s alternative minimum taxable income in the year of exercise. In addition, special alternative minimum tax rules may apply to certain subsequent disqualifying dispositions of the shares or provide certain basis adjustments or tax credits for purposes.
Nonstatutory Stock Options
A participant generally recognizes no taxable income as the result of the grant of such an option. However, upon exercising the option, the participant normally recognizes ordinary income equal to the amount that the fair market value of the shares on such date exceeds the exercise price. If the participant is an employee, such ordinary income generally is subject to withholding of income and employment taxes. Upon the sale of the shares acquired by the exercise of a nonstatutory stock option, any gain or loss (based on the difference between the sale price and the fair market value on the exercise date) will be taxed as capital gain or loss. No tax deduction is available to us with respect to the grant of a nonstatutory stock option or the sale of the shares acquired through the exercise of the nonstatutory stock option.
Proposal Four Approval of the Reservation of an Additional 1,000,000 Shares of Common Stock
Stock Appreciation Rights
In general, no taxable income is reportable when a stock appreciation right is granted to a participant. Upon exercise, the participant generally will recognize ordinary income in an amount equal to the fair market value of any consideration received. Any additional gain or loss recognized upon any later disposition of any shares received would be capital gain or loss.
Restricted Stock Awards
A participant acquiring shares of restricted stock generally will recognize ordinary income equal to the fair market value of the shares on the vesting date. If the participant is an employee, such ordinary income generally is subject to withholding of income and employment taxes. The participant may elect, pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code to accelerate the ordinary income tax event to the date of acquisition by filing an election with the Internal Revenue Service no later than thirty days after the date the shares are acquired. Upon the sale of shares acquired pursuant to a restricted stock award, any gain or loss, based on the difference between the sale price and the fair market value on the date the ordinary income tax event occurs, will be taxed as capital gain or loss.
Restricted Stock Unit Awards
There are no immediate tax consequences of receiving an award of restricted stock units. A participant who is awarded restricted stock units generally will be required to recognize ordinary income in an amount equal to the fair market value of shares issued to such participant at the end of the applicable vesting period or, if later, the settlement date elected by the administrator or a participant. Any additional gain or loss recognized upon any later disposition of any shares received would be capital gain or loss.
Performance Shares and Performance Unit Awards
A participant generally will recognize no income upon the grant of a performance share or a performance unit award. Upon the settlement of such awards, participants normally will recognize ordinary income in the year of receipt in an amount equal to the cash received and the fair market value of any cash or unrestricted shares received. If the participant is an employee, such ordinary income generally is subject to withholding of income and employment taxes. Upon the sale of any shares received, any gain or loss, based on the difference between the sale price and the fair market value on the date the ordinary income tax event occurs, will be taxed as capital gain or loss.
Section 409A
Section 409A provides certain requirements for non-qualified deferred compensation arrangements with respect to an individual’s deferral and distribution elections and permissible distribution events. Awards granted under the 2019 Plan with a deferral feature will be subject to the requirements of Section 409A. If an award is subject to and fails to satisfy the requirements of Section 409A, the recipient of that award may recognize ordinary income on the amounts deferred under the award, to the extent vested, which may be prior to when the compensation is actually or constructively received. Also, if an award that is subject to Section 409A fails to comply with Section 409A’s provisions, Section 409A imposes an additional 20% federal income tax on compensation recognized as ordinary income, as well as interest on such deferred compensation.
Tax Effect for Sanmina
We generally will be entitled to a tax deduction in connection with an award under the 2019 Plan in an amount equal to the ordinary income realized by a participant and at the time the participant recognizes such income (for example, upon vesting of restricted stock units) except to the extent such deduction is limited by applicable provisions of the Code. Special rules limit the deductibility of compensation paid to our chief executive officer and certain other individuals as determined under Section 162(m) and applicable guidance. Under Section 162(m), the annual compensation paid to any of these specified individuals will be deductible only to the extent that it does not exceed $1,000,000.
THE FOREGOING IS ONLY A SUMMARY OF THE EFFECT OF U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION UPON PARTICIPANTS AND SANMINA WITH RESPECT TO AWARDS UNDER THE 2019 PLAN. IT DOES NOT PURPORT TO BE COMPLETE AND DOES NOT DISCUSS THE IMPACT OF EMPLOYMENT OR OTHER TAX REQUIREMENTS, THE TAX CONSEQUENCES OF A PARTICIPANT’S DEATH, OR THE PROVISIONS OF THE INCOME TAX LAWS OF ANY MUNICIPALITY, STATE, OR FOREIGN COUNTRY IN WHICH THE PARTICIPANT MAY RESIDE.
Proposal Four Approval of the Reservation of an Additional 1,000,000 Shares of Common Stock
New Plan Benefits
The number of awards that an employee, director, or consultant may receive under the 2019 Plan is in the discretion of the administrator and therefore cannot be determined in advance. The following table sets forth: (i) the aggregate number of shares subject to restricted stock units and performance stock units granted under the 2019 Plan during fiscal 2024 to each of our named executive officers; executive officers, as a group; directors who are not executive officers, as a group; and all employees who are not executive officers, as a group; and (ii) the grant-date value of shares subject to such restricted stock units and performance stock units.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Name of Individual or Group | Number of Shares Subject to RSUs/PSUs Granted | Dollar Value of Shares Subject to RSUs/PSUs Granted(1) |
Jure Sola Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | 250,000 | | | $ | 12,872,500 | |
Jonathan Faust Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | 120,000 | | | $ | 6,040,800 | |
Kurt Adzema Former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | — | | | — | |
Alan McW. Reid Executive Vice President, Global Human Resources | 25,000 | | | $ | 1,287,250 | |
Charles C. Mason Executive Vice President, Worldwide Sales | 36,000 | | | $ | 1,853,640 | |
All executive officers, as a group | 431,000 | | | $ | 22,054,190 | |
All directors who are not executive officers, as a group | 24,160 | | | $ | 1,440,178 | |
All employees who are not executive officers, as a group | 919,180 | | | $ | 47,459,980 | |
(1)Reflects the aggregate grant date fair value of awards computed in accordance with ASC 718.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following table summarizes the number of shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding options and deliverable upon vesting of performance stock units and restricted stock units granted to our employees, directors and consultants, as well as the number of shares of common stock remaining available for future issuance under Sanmina’s equity compensation plans as of September 28, 2024. Sanmina has no stock options, stock appreciation rights or other awards outstanding that are convertible into or exchangeable for common stock. Additionally, there are no awards outstanding under equity compensation plans not approved by stockholders.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Plan Category | Number of Common Shares to be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Options and Rights | Weighted-Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options | Number of Common Shares Remaining Available for Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans |
Equity compensation plans approved by stockholders | 2,886,667 | | (1) | N/A | | 2,458,593 | |
(1)Comprised of shares deliverable upon vesting of Restricted Stock Units and Performance Stock Units.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
| Proposal Five STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL: SPECIAL SHAREHOLDER MEETING IMPROVEMENT | |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| John Chevedden, 2215 Nelson Ave, No. 205, Redondo Beach, CA 90278, the beneficial owner of 100 shares of Sanmina’s common stock, has notified us of his intent to present the following proposal at the Annual Meeting. The Board accepts no responsibility for the contents of the proposal or the supporting statement. The stockholder proposal is required to be voted upon at our Annual Meeting only if properly presented at our Annual Meeting. THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “AGAINST” THE STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL BASED ON THE REASONS SET FORTH IN SANMINA’S STATEMENT IN OPPOSITION FOLLOWING THE STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL. | |
|
Proposal 5 — Special Shareholder Meeting Improvement
Shareholders ask our Board of Directors to take the steps necessary to amend the appropriate company governing documents to give the owners of a combined 10% of our outstanding common stock the power to call a special shareholder meeting or the owners of the lowest percentage of shareholders, as governed by state law, the power to call a special shareholder meeting.
Currently Sanmina Corporation shareholders can only call a special shareholder meeting if all the Sanmina directors are dead and/or have otherwise left the Board.
A shareholder right to call for a special shareholder meeting, as called for in this proposal, can help make shareholder engagement meaningful. A shareholder right to call for a special shareholder meeting will help ensure that management engages with shareholders in good faith because shareholders will have a viable Plan B by calling for a special shareholder meeting.
A shareholder right to call for a special shareholder meeting can incentivize Sanmina directors to be more careful in setting management pay. Sanmina management pay was rejected by more than 20% of shares in 2024. A 5% rejection is the norm for many well performing companies.
With the widespread use of online shareholder meetings it is much easier for management to conduct a special shareholder meeting for important issues and Sanmina bylaws thus need to be updated accordingly.
Please vote yes:
Special Shareholder Meeting Improvement — Proposal 5
Proposal Five Stockholder Proposal: Special Shareholder Meeting Improvement
Sanmina’s Statement in Opposition
The Board has carefully considered this proposal and concluded that its adoption is unnecessary and not in the best interests of Sanmina or our stockholders. The Board unanimously recommends that stockholders vote “AGAINST” this proposal, as further explained below.
Reasons to Vote Against This Proposal
•The Company has already adopted a bylaw provision that permits stockholders to call a special meeting with a 50% ownership threshold.
•The proposed 10% ownership threshold is lower than the threshold adopted by the majority of Sanmina’s peer companies that offer stockholders the right to call a special meeting.
•Special meetings require significant resources, and the lower threshold could lead to unnecessary cost and management distraction.
•Sanmina already maintains strong corporate governance practices that emphasize Board accountability and provide stockholders with ample opportunities for stockholder action.
Sanmina stockholders already have a right to call a special meeting that is both effective and appropriate for the business
The Board acknowledges the importance of allowing stockholders a right to call a special meeting in appropriate circumstances. For that reason, in October 2024, the Board amended the Company’s bylaws to provide stockholders with the right to call a special meeting. Under such provision, stockholders holding at least 50% of Sanmina’s outstanding capital stock may call a special meeting of stockholders. This right permits stockholders to bring important matters before all stockholders for consideration in a fully transparent and equitable manner.
Given our stockholder base, reducing the ownership threshold to 10% could enable a small minority of stockholders (or even a single stockholder) to use the special meeting right to pursue narrow short-term interests that are not widely shared by our stockholder base as a whole.
The Board believes that our current 50% ownership threshold achieves a reasonable and appropriate balance between providing stockholders with the ability to call a special meeting, while protecting the majority of stockholders against the ability of a small minority to utilize the special meeting right to advance their own self interests.
Sanmina’s existing special meeting right was established with peer company practice in mind
The Board approved the right of stockholders to call a special meeting at a 50% ownership threshold after considering peer and selected company practices. Among the Company’s proxy peers, more than one-third do not provide such a right at all and almost one-third of those that do have selected a 50% threshold, like the Company. Thus, the Board believes its recent adoption of a special meeting right with a 50% ownership threshold shows its commitment to strong corporate governance policies that benefit all stockholders broadly. When considered alongside of the various stockholder-friendly governance provisions that we have adopted (as described below) and our annual stockholder engagement program that solicits stockholder feedback throughout the year on our executive compensation program and corporate governance matters generally, the Board believes that our current 50% threshold enhances stockholder rights.
Special meetings require significant resources and management time
A special meeting of stockholders requires a substantial commitment of time, energy, and resources by the Company. The Company must pay to prepare, print, and distribute to stockholders the required SEC disclosure documents related to the meeting, solicit proxies, hold the meeting, tabulate votes, file the voting results with the SEC and engage a service provider to host the meeting online. A threshold of just 10% risks that a small minority of stockholders (or even a single stockholder) whose interests may not align with all stockholders generally will call a meeting, which would consume Company time and resources and distract our Board and management from their primary focus of growing our business and increasing stockholder value.
Proposal Five Stockholder Proposal: Special Shareholder Meeting Improvement
Sanmina’s existing corporate governance practices emphasize Board accountability and provide numerous opportunities for stockholder action
Sanmina’s existing corporate governance practices and policies emphasize Board accountability and give stockholders ample opportunity to take action. Significant examples include the following:
•Annual Elections of Directors. All of the Company’s directors are elected annually by our stockholders.
•Majority Voting in Director Elections. Sanmina’s governance documents provide that, in an uncontested election of directors, a nominee for director shall be elected to the Board if the votes cast for such nominee’s election exceed the votes cast against such nominee’s election. Moreover, our Corporate Governance Guidelines require that new directors must submit an irrevocable resignation as a condition to his or her appointment or election to the Board. If an incumbent director fails to receive the requisite number of votes in an uncontested election, the resignation becomes effective and would be considered by the Nominating and Governance Committee, which would then recommend to the full Board whether or not to accept the resignation.
•Supermajority Voting. Sanmina’s charter documents do not include any supermajority voting rights.
•No “Poison Pill.” We have not adopted a “poison pill,” which is a defensive tactic that can be used by a corporation’s board of directors against a takeover. Such plans are generally viewed negatively by stockholder rights advocates.
•Lead Independent Director Role. The Board has appointed a Lead Independent Director to help ensure that the Board remains highly engaged. The Lead Independent Director’s responsibilities are set forth in a Board-approved charter and contribute meaningfully to the Board’s independent oversight of management and help ensure the perspectives of the independent directors are represented on the Board.
•Annual Advisory Vote to Approve Executive Compensation. On an annual basis, stockholders have the opportunity to provide feedback on the compensation of our NEOs through an advisory vote.
•Board Composition. Six of the seven Board nominees are independent under applicable standards. The Board consists of individuals with highly relevant and complementary skills, professional experience and backgrounds who bring diverse viewpoints and perspectives and effectively represent the long-term interests of our stockholders.
•Stock Ownership Guidelines. Board members and executive officers are subject to minimum stockholding guidelines, aligning their interests with those of our stockholders as a whole.
•Robust Board Evaluation and Succession Practices. Sanmina’s corporate governance practices include a thorough annual evaluation and a recently adopted director retirement policy, both of which help drive Board refreshment and succession.
•Strong Pay-for-Performance Philosophy. Sanmina’s compensation philosophy, as detailed elsewhere in this proxy statement, emphasizes annual and equity incentive components of total compensation that motivate management to achieve key financial and operational goals and strongly align executives’ interests with those of our stockholders as a whole.
Sanmina has demonstrated that it is receptive to stockholder feedback and that it is willing to adopt corporate governance measures that are in the best interests of all stockholders. It is worth noting that no stockholder raised the issue of the right of stockholders to call a special meeting during our annual stockholder engagement process over the last few years. We believe the absence of unsolicited feedback from our stockholders on this issue during such engagement process reflects our stockholders’ belief that our current strong corporate governance practices meet their expectations.
Summary
Sanmina is proud of its consistent engagement with, and responsiveness to, our stockholders, as shown by the Board’s adoption of corporate governance policies that serve the interests of all of our stockholders. Sanmina’s recent adoption of a stockholder right to call a special meeting with a 50% ownership threshold, consistent with the approach of several peer companies, appropriately supports stockholder rights, while the proponent’s proposal could lead the right being used by stockholders whose interests may not be aligned with those of our stockholders as a whole. Accordingly, the Board unanimously recommends that stockholders vote “AGAINST” this proposal.
OWNERSHIP OF OUR STOCK
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of December 31, 2024, as to: (i) each person (or group of affiliated persons) who is known to us to beneficially own more than five percent of the outstanding shares of our common stock; (ii) each of our named executive officers; (iii) each director and nominee for director; and (iv) all directors and executive officers as a group.
The information provided in this table is based on Sanmina’s records, Schedules 13G filed with the SEC and information provided to Sanmina, except where otherwise noted. Unless otherwise indicated, to our knowledge, each stockholder possesses sole voting and investment power over the shares listed. Unless otherwise indicated, the principal address of each of the stockholders below is c/o Sanmina Corporation, 30 E. Plumeria Drive, San Jose, CA 95134.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Name | Shares Beneficially Owned | Approximate Percentage Owned(7) |
BlackRock, Inc.(1) 55 East 52nd Street New York, NY 10055 | | 10,971,171 | | 20.37 | % |
The Vanguard Group, Inc.(2) 100 Vanguard Blvd. Malvern, PA 19355 | | 7,108,722 | | 13.2 | % |
Dimensional Fund Advisors LP(3) Building One 6300 Bee Cave Road Austin, TX 78746 | | 4,578,995 | | 8.5 | % |
Jure Sola(4) | | 1,437,517 | | 2.67 | % |
Jonathan Faust | | — | | *% |
Kurt Adzema(5) | | — | | — | |
Alan Reid | | 20,002 | | *% |
Charles C. Mason | | 12,717 | | *% |
Susan K. Barnes | | 4,851 | | *% |
Eugene A. Delaney | | 86,365 | | *% |
David V. Hedley III | | 4,415 | | *% |
Susan A. Johnson | | 7,451 | | *% |
Joseph G. Licata, Jr. | | 49,585 | | *% |
Krish Prabhu | | 18,411 | | *% |
Mario M. Rosati(6) | | 90,832 | | *% |
Mythili Sankaran | | 4,851 | | *% |
All directors and executive officers as a group (12 persons) | | 1,736,997 | | 3.22 | % |
* Less than 1%.
(1)This information is based solely on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on January 19, 2024 by BlackRock, Inc. (“BlackRock”). BlackRock has sole voting power with respect to 10,538,596 of the shares and has sole dispositive power with respect to 10,971,171 of the shares.
(2)This information is based solely on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 13, 2024 by The Vanguard Group, Inc (“The Vanguard Group”). The Vanguard Group has sole voting power with respect to 0 of the shares and shared voting power with respect to 51,646 of the shares. The Vanguard Group has sole dispositive power with respect to 7,002,213 of the shares and shared dispositive power with respect to 106,509 of the shares.
(3)This information is based solely on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 9, 2024 by Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (“Dimensional”). Dimensional is the beneficial owner of all of the shares and has sole voting power with respect to 4,513,860 of the shares and sole dispositive power with respect to 4,578,995 of the shares. Dimensional is filing as an investment adviser to various investors.
(4)Includes 214,070 shares held by Sola Family Trust.
(5)The employment of Mr. Adzema, former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, terminated effective January 5, 2024. We are not aware of the extent of his current stock ownership.
(6)Includes 1,500 shares held by Mario M. Rosati Retirement Trust, Mario M. Rosati, Trustee.
(7)Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC based on factors, including voting and investment power, with respect to the securities. Common stock subject to conversion or issuable upon exercise of options currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days after December 31, 2024 are deemed outstanding for computing the percentage ownership of the person holding the options, but are not deemed outstanding for computing the percentage of any other person.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS
Pursuant to its written charter, the Audit Committee reviews any related person transactions required to be disclosed pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC and the Nasdaq Global Select Market, namely transactions involving Sanmina in which its executive officers, directors or beneficial owners of more than five percent of our securities have a material direct or indirect interest and which are valued at more than $120,000. In support of such reviews, we solicit written confirmations of any related person transactions from our executive officers and directors on an annual basis. The following is a list of related person transactions meeting the definition above that existed during fiscal 2024.
Zeljko Sola, the brother of Jure Sola, our Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer, is a business development vice president at Sanmina and earned or realized compensation of approximately $541,000 in fiscal 2024. Martina Sola, Mr. Sola’s daughter, is a business development manager at Sanmina and earned or realized compensation of approximately $340,000 in fiscal 2024. Nikola Sola, Mr. Sola’s son, is an account manager at Sanmina and earned or realized compensation of approximately $153,000 in fiscal 2024.
OTHER MATTERS
We know of no other matters to be submitted for consideration at the Annual Meeting. If any other matters are properly brought before the Annual Meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying form of proxy to vote the shares they represent in accordance with their best judgment.
WE WILL MAIL WITHOUT CHARGE TO ANY STOCKHOLDER UPON WRITTEN REQUEST A COPY OF OUR ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K, INCLUDING THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, SCHEDULES AND A LIST OF EXHIBITS. REQUESTS SHOULD BE SENT TO INVESTOR RELATIONS, SANMINA CORPORATION, 30 E. PLUMERIA DRIVE, SAN JOSE, CA 95134.
AVAILABILITY OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We are a reporting company and file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. A copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2024 is available without charge from our website at https://ir.sanmina.com/overview/default.aspx under the heading “Financial-SEC Filings” and is also available in print to stockholders without charge and upon request, addressed to Sanmina Corporation, 30 E Plumeria Drive, San Jose, CA 95134, Attention: Investor Relations.
FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
CHRISTOPHER K. SADEGHIAN
Corporate Secretary
January 24, 2025
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT PROCEDURAL MATTERS
Q1: WHY AM I RECEIVING THESE PROXY MATERIALS?
A: The Board of Directors of Sanmina Corporation (“Sanmina,” “we,” “us” or “our”) is providing these proxy materials to you in connection with its solicitation of proxies for use at the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) to be held on Monday, March 10, 2025 at 11:00 a.m., Pacific Daylight Time, and at any adjournment or postponement thereof, for the purpose of considering and acting upon the matters described in this document.
Q2: WHAT IS THE NOTICE OF INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS?
A: In accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the SEC, instead of mailing a printed copy of our proxy materials to all stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, we are furnishing the proxy materials to our stockholders through the Internet. If you received a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice of Internet Availability”) by mail, you will not receive a printed copy of the proxy materials. Instead, the Notice of Internet Availability will instruct you as to how you may access and review the proxy materials and submit your vote via the Internet. If you received a Notice of Internet Availability by mail and would like to receive a printed copy of the proxy materials, please follow the instructions for requesting such materials included in the Notice of Internet Availability.
We expect to mail the Notice of Internet Availability on or about January 24, 2025, to all stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. On the date of mailing of the Notice of Internet Availability, all stockholders and beneficial owners will have the ability to access all of our proxy materials on a website referred to in the Notice of Internet Availability. These proxy materials will be available free of charge.
Q3: WHERE IS THE ANNUAL MEETING?
A: The Annual Meeting will be held virtually at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/SANM2025.
Q4: CAN I ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING?
A: You are invited to attend the Annual Meeting if you were a stockholder of record or a beneficial owner as of the close of business on January 17, 2025. The Annual Meeting will begin promptly at 11:00 a.m., Pacific Daylight Time.
Stock Ownership
Q5: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HOLDING SHARES AS A STOCKHOLDER OF RECORD AND AS A BENEFICIAL OWNER?
A: Stockholders of Record. If your shares are registered directly in your name with Sanmina’s transfer agent, EQ Shareowner Services, you are considered, with respect to those shares, the stockholder of record, and the Notice of Internet Availability has been sent directly to you.
Beneficial Owners. Many stockholders hold their shares through a broker, trustee or other nominee, rather than directly in their own name. If your shares are held in a brokerage account or by a bank or another nominee, you are considered the “beneficial owner” of shares held in “street name.” The Notice of Internet Availability should be forwarded to you by your broker, trustee or nominee who is considered, with respect to those shares, the stockholder of record. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker, trustee or other nominee on how to vote your shares. For directions on how to vote shares beneficially held in street name, please refer to the voting instructions provided by your broker, trustee or nominee.
Quorum and Voting
Q6: WHO IS ENTITLED TO VOTE AT THE ANNUAL MEETING?
A: Holders of record of our common stock at the close of business on January 17, 2025 are entitled to receive notice of and to vote their shares at the Annual Meeting. Such stockholders are entitled to cast one vote for each share of common stock held as of January 17, 2025. As of the close of business on January 17, 2025, there were 54,325,319 shares of common stock outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting held by approximately 707 stockholders of record.
Questions and Answers About Procedural Matters
Q7: HOW MANY SHARES MUST BE PRESENT OR REPRESENTED TO CONDUCT BUSINESS AT THE ANNUAL MEETING?
A: The presence of the holders of a majority of the shares of our common stock outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting is necessary to constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting. Such stockholders are counted as present at the Annual Meeting if they are present in person (in this case, virtually) at the Annual Meeting or have properly submitted a proxy.
Under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, abstentions and broker “non-votes” are counted as present and entitled to vote at the meeting and are, therefore, included for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present at the Annual Meeting.
Q8: WHAT IS A BROKER “NON-VOTE” AND HOW ARE THEY COUNTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING?
A: A broker “non-vote” can occur if you are a beneficial owner of shares held in street name and you do not provide the organization that holds your shares with specific voting instructions. At the Annual Meeting, broker non-votes will be counted toward the presence of a quorum for the transaction of business at the Annual Meeting, but will not be counted as votes cast or as entitled to vote on any non-routine matter being voted upon at the Annual Meeting. As a result, broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of any non-routine proposal being voted upon at the Annual Meeting. In the absence of specific voting instructions, the organization that holds your shares will have discretion to vote your shares on our sole routine matter: Proposal Two, which is the proposal to ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending September 27, 2025.
Q9: CAN I VOTE MY SHARES AT THE ANNUAL MEETING?
A: Yes. Whether you hold shares directly as the stockholder of record or beneficially in street name, you may vote your shares at the Annual Meeting by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/SANM2025 on the date and time of the Annual Meeting.
Even if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we recommend that you submit your vote as described in the Notice of Internet Availability and below, so that your vote will be counted if you later decide not to attend the Annual Meeting.
Q10: CAN I VOTE MY SHARES WITHOUT ATTENDING THE ANNUAL MEETING?
A: Yes. Whether you hold shares directly as the stockholder of record or beneficially in street name, you may direct how your shares are voted without attending the Annual Meeting, as summarized below.
Internet. Stockholders of record with Internet access may submit proxies by following the “Vote by Internet” instructions on the Notice of Internet Availability until 11:59 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, on March 9, 2025 or by following the instructions at www.proxyvote.com. Most of our stockholders who hold shares beneficially in street name may vote by accessing the website specified in the voting instructions provided by their brokers, trustees or nominees. A large number of banks and brokerage firms are participating in the Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (“Broadridge”) online program. This program provides eligible stockholders the opportunity to vote over the Internet or by telephone. Voting forms will provide instructions for stockholders whose bank or brokerage firm is participating in the Broadridge program.
Telephone. If this option is available to you, you will have received information with the Notice of Internet Availability explaining this procedure.
Mail. If you are a record holder (i.e. you own your shares directly and not through a broker), you may request a proxy card from Sanmina on which you can indicate your vote by completing, signing and dating the card where indicated and by returning it in the prepaid envelope that will be included with the proxy card. If you hold your shares in street name, the voting instructions provided by your broker, trustee or nominee will indicate how you may vote by mail.
Q11: HOW WILL MY SHARES BE VOTED IF I SUBMIT A PROXY VIA THE INTERNET, BY TELEPHONE OR BY MAIL AND DO NOT MAKE SPECIFIC CHOICES?
A: If you submit a proxy via the Internet, by telephone or by mail and do not make voting selections, the shares represented by that proxy will be voted “FOR” each of the seven nominees for election as director listed in Proposal One and “FOR” Proposals Two, Three and Four, and “AGAINST” Proposal Five.
Q12: WHAT HAPPENS IF ADDITIONAL MATTERS ARE PRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING?
A: If any other matters are properly presented for consideration at the Annual Meeting, including, among other things, consideration of a motion to adjourn the Annual Meeting to another time or place or adjournment for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies, the proxy holders will have discretion to vote on those matters in accordance with their best judgment. We do not currently anticipate that any other matters will be raised at the Annual Meeting.
Questions and Answers About Procedural Matters
Q13: CAN I CHANGE OR REVOKE MY VOTE?
A: Yes, by following the instructions below:
Stockholders of Record. If you are a stockholder of record, you may change your vote by:
•Delivering to Sanmina’s Corporate Secretary, prior to your shares being voted at the Annual Meeting, a written notice of revocation or a duly executed proxy card, in either case dated later than the prior proxy relating to the same shares, or
•Attending the Annual Meeting and voting (although attendance at the Annual Meeting will not, by itself, revoke a proxy).
Any written notice of revocation or subsequent proxy card must be received by Sanmina’s Corporate Secretary prior to the taking of the vote at the Annual Meeting.
A stockholder of record who has voted via the Internet or by telephone may also change his or her vote by making a timely and valid Internet or telephone vote no later than 11:59 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, on March 9, 2025.
Beneficial Owners. If you are a beneficial owner of shares held in street name, you may change your vote by submitting new voting instructions to your broker, trustee or other nominee, or if you have obtained a legal proxy from the broker, trustee or other nominee that holds your shares giving you the right to vote the shares, by attending the Annual Meeting and voting.
Q14: WHAT PROPOSALS WILL BE VOTED ON AT THE ANNUAL MEETING?
A: At the Annual Meeting, stockholders will be asked to vote on:
Proposal One. The election of seven directors to hold office until the 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or until their respective successors have been duly elected and qualified;
Proposal Two. The ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending September 27, 2025;
Proposal Three. The approval on an advisory (non-binding) basis of the compensation of our named executive officers; and
Proposal Four. The approval of the reservation of an additional 1,000,000 shares of common stock for issuance under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan.
Proposal Five. The stockholder proposal entitled, “Proposal 5 — Special Shareholder Meeting Improvement,” if properly presented at the Annual Meeting.
Q15: WHAT IS THE VOTING REQUIREMENT TO APPROVE EACH OF THE PROPOSALS AND HOW DOES THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMEND THAT I VOTE?
A: Proposal One. You may vote “FOR,” “AGAINST” or “ABSTAIN” on each of the seven nominees for election as director. A nominee for director shall be elected to the Board if the votes cast for such nominee’s election exceed the votes cast against such nominee’s election. Abstentions and broker non-votes are not considered “votes cast” for or against a nominee with respect to this proposal and, therefore, will not affect the outcome of the election. Pursuant to our Corporate Governance Guidelines, should a nominee for director fail to receive the required number of votes for election, the Board has the option of accepting or declining a conditional resignation of such director from the Board, considering any factors that it deems relevant.
Proposal Two. You may vote “FOR,” “AGAINST” or “ABSTAIN” on this proposal. The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter is required to ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm. Abstentions have the same effect as a vote against this proposal. However, broker non-votes are not deemed to be entitled to vote on the subject matter and, therefore, have no effect on the outcome of this proposal.
Proposal Three. You may vote “FOR,” “AGAINST” or “ABSTAIN” on this proposal. The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter is required to approve on an advisory (non-binding) basis the compensation of our named executive officers, as disclosed in this proxy statement pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the 2024 Summary Compensation Table and the other related tables and disclosure. Abstentions have the same effect as a vote against this proposal. However, broker non-votes are not deemed to be entitled to vote on the subject matter and, therefore, have no effect on the outcome of this proposal.
Questions and Answers About Procedural Matters
Proposal Four. You may vote “FOR,” “AGAINST” or “ABSTAIN” on this proposal. The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter is required to approve the reservation of an additional 1,000,000 shares of common stock for issuance under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan. Abstentions have the same effect as a vote against this proposal. However, broker non-votes are not deemed to be entitled to vote on the subject matter and, therefore, have no effect on the outcome of this proposal.
Proposal Five. You may vote “FOR,” “AGAINST” or “ABSTAIN” on this proposal. The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter is required to approve the stockholder proposal. Abstentions have the same effect as a vote against this proposal. However, broker non-votes are not deemed to be entitled to vote on the subject matter and, therefore, have no effect on the outcome of this proposal. The vote is an advisory vote and, therefore, not binding.
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote “FOR” each of the seven nominees for election as director listed in Proposal One, “FOR” Proposals Two, Three and Four, and ”AGAINST” Proposal Five.
Q16: WHO WILL BEAR THE COST OF SOLICITING VOTES FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING?
A: Sanmina will bear all expenses of soliciting proxies. We must reimburse brokerage firms, custodians, nominees, fiduciaries and other persons representing beneficial owners of common stock for their reasonable expenses in forwarding solicitation material to such beneficial owners. Directors, officers and employees of Sanmina may also solicit proxies in person or by other means of communication. Such directors, officers and employees will not be additionally compensated but may be reimbursed for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in connection with such solicitation.
Q17: WHERE CAN I FIND THE VOTING RESULTS OF THE ANNUAL MEETING?
A: We intend to announce the voting results of the Annual Meeting in a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed with the SEC within four business days of the meeting date.
Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations
Q18: WHAT IS THE DEADLINE TO PROPOSE ACTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION AT NEXT YEAR’S ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OR TO NOMINATE INDIVIDUALS TO SERVE AS DIRECTORS?
A: You may submit proposals, including director nominations, for consideration at future stockholder meetings. All notices of proposals by stockholders should be sent to Sanmina Corporation, Attention: Corporate Secretary, 30 E. Plumeria Drive, San Jose, California 95134.
Requirements for stockholder proposals to be considered for inclusion in our proxy materials. Stockholders may present proper proposals to be considered for inclusion in Sanmina’s proxy statement and for consideration at the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders by submitting their proposals in writing to our Corporate Secretary in a timely manner. In order to be considered for inclusion in the proxy statement for the 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, stockholder proposals must be received by Sanmina’s Corporate Secretary no later than September 26, 2025 and must otherwise comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act.
Requirements for stockholder proposals to be brought before an Annual Meeting of Stockholders. In addition, our bylaws establish an advance notice procedure for stockholders who wish to present matters before an Annual Meeting of Stockholders, provided that the stockholders are stockholders of record when notice of the proposal is given by the stockholders and on the record date for the determination of the stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. To be timely for the 2026 Annual Meeting, a stockholder’s notice must be received by our Corporate Secretary at 30 E. Plumeria Drive, San Jose, CA 95134 between November 10, 2025 and December 10, 2025. For all matters that a stockholder proposes to bring before the Annual Meeting, the notice must set forth:
•A brief description of the business intended to be brought before the Annual Meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the Annual Meeting;
•The name and address, as they appear on our books, of the stockholder proposing the business, and any beneficial owner on whose behalf the stockholder is proposing the business or proposing a director nomination and any person controlling, directly or indirectly, or acting in concert with, the stockholder or beneficial owner (a “Stockholder Associated Person”);
•The class and number of shares of Sanmina that are held of record or are beneficially owned by the stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person and any derivative positions held or beneficially held by the stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person (which information must be supplemented in accordance with the bylaws);
Questions and Answers About Procedural Matters
•Whether and the extent to which any hedging or other transaction or series of transactions has been entered into by or on behalf of the stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person with respect to any securities of Sanmina, or whether any other agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any short position or any borrowing or lending of shares) has been made, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to or manage risk or benefit from share price changes for, or to increase or decrease the voting power of, the stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person with respect to any securities of Sanmina (which information must be supplemented in accordance with the bylaws);
•Any material interest of the stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person in the business intended to be brought before the Annual Meeting; and
•A statement whether either the stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person will deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of Sanmina’s voting shares required under applicable law to carry the proposal.
Q19: HOW DO I NOMINATE CANDIDATES TO THE BOARD?
A: Stockholders may submit proposals for inclusion in our proxy statement and may recommend candidates for election to the Board, both of which shall be considered by the Nominating and Governance Committee. Stockholders should send such proposals to the Nominating and Governance Committee, c/o Sanmina Corporation, Attention: Corporate Secretary, 30 E. Plumeria Drive, San Jose, California 95134. Any stockholder submitting the name of a candidate for election to the Board must include, among other things, all of the following information with their request:
•The candidate’s name, age, business address and residence address;
•The candidate’s principal occupation or employment;
•The class and number of shares of Sanmina that are beneficially owned by the candidate;
•Whether and the extent to which any hedging or other transaction or series of transactions has been entered into by or on behalf of the candidate with respect to any securities of Sanmina, or whether any other agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any short position or any borrowing or lending of shares) has been made, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to or manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, or to increase or decrease the voting power of the candidate;
•A description of all arrangements or understandings between the stockholder and each candidate and any other person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which the nominations are to be made by the stockholder;
•Any other information relating to the candidate that would be required to be disclosed about such candidate if proxies were being solicited for the election of the candidate as a director, or that is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act (including without limitation the candidate’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement, if any, as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected); and
•A statement whether such person, if elected, intends to tender, promptly following such person’s election or re-election, an irrevocable resignation effective upon such person’s failure to receive the required vote for re-election at the next meeting at which such person would face re-election and upon acceptance of such resignation by the Board, in accordance with Sanmina’s Corporate Governance Guidelines.
Stockholders must comply with certain deadlines in order for proposals submitted by them be considered for inclusion in our proxy statement or brought to a vote at the Annual Meeting. Please see “Q18—What is the deadline to propose actions for consideration at next year’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders or to nominate individuals to serve as directors?” above.
In addition to satisfying the requirements of our bylaws, stockholders who intend to solicit proxies in support of director nominees (other than the Company’s nominees) for the 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders must notify our Corporate Secretary no later than January 9, 2026 and comply with the additional requirements of Rule 14a-19(b) of the Exchange Act.
Q20: HOW DO I CONTACT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS?
A: Our Board welcomes the submission of any comments or concerns from stockholders. If you wish to submit any comments or express any concerns to the Board, please send them to the Board, c/o Sanmina Corporation, Attention: Corporate Secretary, 30 E. Plumeria Drive, San Jose, California 95134. If a communication does not relate in any way to matters of the Board, our Corporate Secretary will handle the communication as appropriate. If the communication does relate to the Board, the Corporate Secretary will forward the message to the Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee, who will determine whether to inform the entire Board or the non-management directors.
Questions and Answers About Procedural Matters
Additional Information
Q21: WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I RECEIVE MORE THAN ONE NOTICE OF INTERNET AVAILABILITY OR SET OF PROXY MATERIALS?
A: If you received more than one Notice of Internet Availability or set of proxy materials, your shares are registered in more than one name or brokerage account. Please follow the voting instructions on each Notice of Internet Availability or voting instruction card that you receive to ensure that all of your shares are voted.
Q22: HOW MAY I OBTAIN A SEPARATE COPY OF THE NOTICE OF INTERNET AVAILABILITY OR THE PROXY MATERIALS?
A: If you share an address with another stockholder, each stockholder may not receive a separate copy of the Notice of Internet Availability and, if applicable, the proxy materials, because some brokers and other nominee record holders may be participating in the practice of “householding,” which reduces duplicate mailings and saves printing and postage costs. Upon written or oral request, we will deliver promptly a separate copy of the Notice of Internet Availability and, if applicable, the proxy materials, to any stockholder at a shared address to which we delivered a single copy of any of these materials. If your Notice of Internet Availability and, if applicable, the proxy materials are being householded and you would like to receive separate copies, or if you are receiving multiple copies and would like to receive a single copy, please contact our Investor Relations Department at (408) 964-3610 or write to us at 2700 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95134, Attention: Investor Relations.
Q23: CAN I ACCESS SANMINA’S PROXY MATERIALS AND ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K OVER THE INTERNET?
A: Yes. All stockholders and beneficial owners will have the ability to access our proxy materials, free of charge, at www.proxyvote.com with their control number referred to in the Notice of Internet Availability. Sanmina’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 28, 2024 is also available on the Internet as indicated in the Notice of Internet Availability.
Q24: WHAT IS THE MAILING ADDRESS FOR SANMINA’S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES?
A: Our principal executive offices are located at 30 E. Plumeria Drive, San Jose, California 95134. Any written requests for additional information, copies of the proxy materials and the 2024 Annual Report on Form 10-K, notices of stockholder proposals, recommendations for candidates to the Board of Directors, communications to the Board of Directors or any other communications should be sent to 30 E. Plumeria Dr., San Jose, CA 95134, Attention: Investor Relations.
NO PERSON IS AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATION OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT, AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED AND THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROXY STATEMENT SHALL, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF SANMINA SINCE THE DATE OF THIS PROXY STATEMENT.
APPENDIX A
SANMINA CORPORATION 2019 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
(As proposed to be amended on March 10, 2025)
1.Purposes of the Plan. The purposes of this Plan are:
•to attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of substantial responsibility,
•to provide additional incentive to Employees, Directors, and Consultants, and
•to promote the success of the Company’s business.
The Plan permits the grant of Incentive Stock Options, Nonstatutory Stock Options, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Stock Appreciation Rights, Performance Units, Performance Shares and other stock or cash awards as the Administrator may determine.
2.Definitions. As used herein, the following definitions will apply:
a.“Administrator” means the Board or any of its Committees as will be administering the Plan, in accordance with Section 4 of the Plan.
b.“Affiliate” means any corporation or any other entity (including, but not limited to, partnerships and joint ventures) controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company, including any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company.
c.“Applicable Laws” means the legal and regulatory requirements relating to the administration of equity-based awards and the related issuance of Shares thereunder, including but not limited to U.S. federal and state corporate laws, U.S. federal and state securities laws, the Code, any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted and the applicable laws of any non-U.S. country or jurisdiction where Awards are, or will be, granted under the Plan.
d.“Award” means, individually or collectively, a grant under the Plan of Options, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Stock Appreciation Rights, Performance Units (including Performance Units payable in cash), Performance Shares and other stock or cash awards as the Administrator may determine.
e.“Award Agreement” means the written or electronic agreement setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to each Award granted under the Plan. The Award Agreement is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
f.“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
g.“Change in Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events:
A change in the ownership of the Company which occurs on the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group (“Person”), acquires ownership of the stock of the Company that, together with the stock held by such Person, constitutes more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of the stock of the Company; provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection, (A) the acquisition of additional stock by any one Person, who is considered to own more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of the stock of the Company will not be considered a Change in Control, and (B) if the stockholders of the Company immediately before such change in ownership continue to retain immediately after the change in ownership, in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of shares of the Company’s voting stock immediately prior to the change in ownership, the direct or indirect beneficial ownership of fifty percent (50%) or more of the total voting power of the stock of the Company or of the ultimate parent entity of the Company, such event will not be considered a Change in Control under this subsection (i). For this purpose, indirect beneficial ownership will include, without limitation, an interest resulting from ownership of the voting securities of one or more corporations or other business entities which own the Company, as the case may be, either directly or through one or more subsidiary corporations or other business entities; or a change in the effective control of the Company which occurs on the date that a majority of members of the Board is replaced during any twelve (12)-month period by Directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the Board prior to the date of the appointment or election.
Appendix A Sanmina Corporation 2019 Equity Incentive Plan
For purposes of this subsection (ii), if any Person is considered to be in effective control of the Company, the acquisition of additional control of the Company by the same Person will not be considered a Change in Control; or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets which occurs on the date that any Person acquires (or has acquired during the twelve (12)-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) assets from the Company that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than fifty percent (50%) of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of the Company immediately prior to such acquisition or acquisitions; provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection (iii), the following will not constitute a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets: (A) a transfer to an entity that is controlled by the Company’s stockholders immediately after the transfer, or (B) a transfer of assets by the Company to: (1) a stockholder of the Company (immediately before the asset transfer) in exchange for or with respect to the Company’s stock, (2) an entity, fifty percent (50%) or more of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company, (3) a Person, that owns, directly or indirectly, fifty percent (50%) or more of the total value or voting power of all the outstanding stock of the Company, or (4) an entity, at least fifty percent (50%) of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by a Person described in this subsection (iii)(B)(3). For purposes of this subsection (iii), gross fair market value means the value of the assets of the Company, or the value of the assets being disposed of, determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets.
For purposes of this definition, persons will be considered to be acting as a group if they are owners of a corporation that enters into a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of stock, or similar business transaction with the Company.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction will not be deemed a Change in Control unless the transaction qualifies as a change in control event within the meaning of Section 409A.
Further and for the avoidance of doubt, a transaction will not constitute a Change in Control if: (i) its sole purpose is to change the state of the Company’s incorporation, or (ii) its sole purpose is to create a holding company that will be owned in substantially the same proportions by the persons who held the Company’s securities immediately before such transaction.
h.“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Reference to a specific section of the Code or regulation thereunder will include such section or regulation, any valid regulation promulgated under such section, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing or superseding such section or regulation.
i.“Committee” means a committee of Directors or of one or more other individuals satisfying Applicable Laws appointed by the Board, or a duly authorized committee of the Board, in accordance with Section 4 hereof.
j.“Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company.
k.“Company” means Sanmina Corporation, a Delaware corporation, or any successor thereto.
l.“Consultant” means any natural person, including an advisor, engaged by the Company or an Affiliate to render bona fide services to such entity, provided the services (i) are not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital raising transaction, and (ii) do not directly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities, in each case, within the meaning of Form S-8 promulgated under the Securities Act, and provided, further, that a Consultant will include only those persons to whom the issuance of Shares may be registered under Form S-8 promulgated under the Securities Act.
m.“Director” means a member of the Board.
n.“Disability” means total and permanent disability as defined in Code Section 22(e)(3), provided that in the case of Awards other than Incentive Stock Options, the Administrator in its discretion may determine whether a permanent and total disability exists in accordance with uniform and non-discriminatory standards adopted by the Administrator from time to time.
o.“Employee” means any person, including Officers and Directors, employed by the Company or its Affiliates. Neither service as a Director nor payment of a director’s fee by the Company will be sufficient to constitute “employment” by the Company.
p.“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
q.“Exchange Program” means a program under which (i) outstanding Awards are surrendered or cancelled in exchange for awards of the same type (which may have higher or lower exercise prices and different terms), awards of a different type, and/or cash, (ii) Participants would have the opportunity to transfer any outstanding Awards to a financial institution or other person or entity selected by the Administrator, and/or (iii) the exercise price of an outstanding Award is increased or reduced. For the avoidance of doubt, as set forth in Section 6(a), the Administrator may not implement an Exchange Program.
r.“Fair Market Value” means, as of any date the value of Common Stock determined as follows: The Fair Market Value will be the closing sales price for Common Stock as quoted on any established stock exchange or national market system (including without limitation the New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Nasdaq Global Market or the Nasdaq Capital Market of The Nasdaq Stock Market) on which the Common Stock is listed on the date of determination (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported), as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable.
Appendix A Sanmina Corporation 2019 Equity Incentive Plan
If the determination date for the Fair Market Value occurs on a non-trading day (i.e., a weekend or holiday), the Fair Market Value will be such price on the immediately preceding trading day, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator. In the absence of an established market for the Common Stock, the Fair Market Value thereof will be determined in good faith by the Administrator.
The determination of fair market value for purposes of tax withholding may be made in the Administrator’s discretion subject to Applicable Laws and is not required to be consistent with the determination of Fair Market Value for other purposes.
s.“Fiscal Year” means the fiscal year of the Company.
t.“Incentive Stock Option” means an Option that by its terms qualifies and is otherwise intended to qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Code Section 422 and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
u.“Nonstatutory Stock Option” means an Option that by its terms does not qualify or is not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.
v.“Officer” means a person who is an officer of the Company within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
w.“Option” means a stock option granted pursuant to Section 7 of the Plan.
x.“Outside Director” means a Director who is not an Employee.
y.“Parent” means a “parent corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Code Section 424(e).
z.“Participant” means the holder of an outstanding Award.
(aa) “Performance Share” means an Award denominated in Shares which may be earned in whole or in part upon attainment of performance goals or other vesting criteria as the Administrator may determine pursuant to Section 11.
(bb) “Performance Unit” means an Award which may be earned in whole or in part upon attainment of performance goals or other vesting criteria as the Administrator may determine and which, in the Administrator’s sole discretion, may be settled for cash, Shares or other securities or a combination of the foregoing pursuant to Section 11, in the Administrator’s sole discretion.
(cc) “Period of Restriction” means the period during which the transfer of Shares of Restricted Stock are subject to restrictions and therefore, the Shares are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. Such restrictions may be based on the passage of time, the achievement of target levels of performance, or the occurrence of other events as determined by the Administrator.
(dd) “Plan” means this 2019 Equity Incentive Plan.
(ee) “Restricted Stock” means Shares issued pursuant to an Award of Restricted Stock under Section 9 of the Plan, or issued pursuant to the early exercise of an Option.
(ff) “Restricted Stock Unit” means a bookkeeping entry representing an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of one Share, granted pursuant to Section 10. Each Restricted Stock Unit represents an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company.
(gg) “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or any successor to Rule 16b-3, as in effect when discretion is being exercised with respect to the Plan.
(hh) “Section 16(b)” means Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.
(ii) “Section 409A” means Code Section 409A, as it has been and may be amended from time to time, and any proposed or final Treasury Regulations and Internal Revenue Service guidance that has been promulgated or may be promulgated thereunder from time to time.
(jj) “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(kk) “Service Provider” means an Employee, Director or Consultant.
(ll) “Share” means a share of the Common Stock, as adjusted in accordance with Section 15 of the Plan.
(mm) “Stock Appreciation Right” means an Award, granted alone or in connection with an Option, that pursuant to Section 8 is designated as a Stock Appreciation Right.
(nn) “Subsidiary” means a “subsidiary corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Code Section 424(f).
3.Stock Subject to the Plan.
a.Stock Subject to the Plan. Subject to the provisions of Section 15 of the Plan, the maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be awarded and sold under the Plan is 11,693,000 Shares, plus any Shares subject to stock options or similar awards granted under the Sanmina Corporation 2009 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2009 Plan”) that, after the date of stockholder approval of this Plan, expire or otherwise terminate without having been exercised in full and Shares issued pursuant to awards granted under the 2009 Plan that, after the date of stockholder approval of this Plan, are forfeited to or repurchased by the Company, with the maximum number of Shares to be added to the Plan pursuant to the 2009 Plan equal to 6,436,840 Shares. The Shares may be authorized, but unissued, or reacquired Common Stock.
Appendix A Sanmina Corporation 2019 Equity Incentive Plan
b.Full Value Awards. Any Shares subject to Awards other than Options or Stock Appreciation Rights will be counted against the numerical limits of this Section 3 as 1.36 Shares for every one Share subject thereto. Further, if Shares acquired pursuant to any such Award are forfeited or repurchased by the Company and would otherwise return to the Plan pursuant to Section 3(c), 1.36 times the number of Shares so forfeited or repurchased will return to the Plan and will again become available for issuance.
c.Lapsed Awards. If an Award expires or becomes unexercisable without having been exercised in full, or, with respect to Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares or Performance Units which are to be settled in Shares, is forfeited to or repurchased by the Company, the unpurchased Shares (or for Awards other than Options and Stock Appreciation Rights, the forfeited or repurchased Shares) which were subject thereto will become available for future grant or sale under the Plan (unless the Plan has terminated). Upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right settled in Shares, the gross number of Shares covered by the portion of the Award so exercised will cease to be available under the Plan. If unvested Shares of Restricted Stock, or unvested Shares issued pursuant to Awards of Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares or Performance Units are repurchased by or forfeited to the Company, such Shares will become available for future grant under the Plan. Shares used to pay the tax and exercise price of an Award will not become available for future grant or sale under the Plan. To the extent an Award under the Plan is paid out in cash rather than Shares, such cash payment will not result in reducing the number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing and, subject to adjustment provided in Section 15, the maximum number of Shares that may be issued upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options will equal the aggregate Share number stated in Section 3(a), plus, to the extent allowable under Code Section 422, any Shares that become available for issuance under the Plan under this Section 3(c).
d.Share Reserve. The Company, during the term of this Plan, will at all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as will be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.
4.Administration of the Plan.
a.Procedure.
(i)Multiple Administrative Bodies. Different Committees with respect to different groups of Service Providers may administer the Plan.
(ii)Rule 16b-3. To the extent desirable to qualify transactions hereunder as exempt under Rule 16b-3, the transactions contemplated hereunder will be structured to satisfy the requirements for exemption under Rule 16b-3.
(iii)Delegation to an Officer. The Board may delegate to one or more Officers of the Company the authority to do one or both of the following (i) designate Employees or Consultants of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries who are not Officers to be recipients of Options, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units and the terms thereof, and (ii) determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be subject to such Awards granted to such Employees and Consultants; provided, however, that the Board resolutions regarding such delegation shall specify the total number of shares of Common Stock that may be subject to the Awards granted by such Officer. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4(a), the Board may not delegate to an Officer authority to determine the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock pursuant to Section 4(b) below.
(iv)Other Administration. Other than as provided above, the Plan will be administered by (A) the Board or (B) a Committee, which committee will be constituted to satisfy Applicable Laws.
b.Powers of the Administrator. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, and in the case of a Committee, subject to the specific duties delegated by the Board to such Committee, the Administrator will have the authority, in its discretion:
(i)to determine the Fair Market Value;
(ii)to select the Service Providers to whom Awards may be granted hereunder;
(iii)to determine the number of Shares to be covered by each Award granted hereunder;
(iv)to approve forms of Award Agreements for use under the Plan;
(v)to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any Award granted hereunder. Such terms and conditions include, but are not limited to, the exercise price, the time or times when Awards may be exercised (which may be based on performance criteria), any vesting acceleration or waiver of forfeiture restrictions, and any restriction or limitation regarding any Award or the Shares relating thereto, based in each case on such factors as the Administrator will determine;
(vi)to construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and Awards granted pursuant to the Plan;
Appendix A Sanmina Corporation 2019 Equity Incentive Plan
(vii)to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan, including rules and regulations relating to sub-plans established for the purpose of satisfying applicable non-U.S. laws or for qualifying for favorable tax treatment under applicable non-U.S. laws;
(viii)to modify or amend each Award (subject to 6(b) and Section 20(c) of the Plan) including but not limited to the discretionary authority to extend the post-termination exercisability period of Awards. Notwithstanding the previous sentence, the Administrator may not modify or amend an Option or Stock Appreciation Right to reduce the exercise price of such Option or Stock Appreciation Right after it has been granted (except for adjustments made pursuant to Section 15), and neither may the Administrator cancel any outstanding Option or Stock Appreciation Right in exchange for cash, other awards or an Option or Stock Appreciation Right with an exercise price that is less than the exercise price of the original Option or Stock Appreciation Right, or implement any other type of Exchange Program, unless such action is approved by stockholders prior to such action being taken;
(ix)to allow Participants to satisfy tax withholding obligations in such manner as prescribed in Section 16 of the Plan;
(x)to authorize any person to execute on behalf of the Company any instrument required to effect the grant of an Award previously granted by the Administrator;
(xi)to allow a Participant to defer the receipt of the payment of cash or the delivery of Shares that would otherwise be due to such Participant under an Award pursuant to such procedures as the Administrator may determine; and
(xii)to make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for administering the Plan.
c.Effect of Administrator’s Decision. The Administrator’s decisions, determinations and interpretations will be final and binding on all Participants and any other holders of Awards.
5.Eligibility. Nonstatutory Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Units, Performance Shares and such other cash or stock awards as the Administrator determines may be granted to Service Providers. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to employees of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company.
6.Limits.
a.No Exchange Program or Repricing. The Administrator may not implement an Exchange Program.
b.One-Year Vesting Requirement. Awards granted under the Plan shall vest no earlier than the one (1) year anniversary of the Award’s date of grant, provided that the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may provide an Award may accelerate vesting, including, without limitation, by reason of the Participant’s death, Disability or retirement, or a termination of the Participant’s service, and provided further, that, notwithstanding the foregoing one-year vesting requirement, Awards that result in the issuance of an aggregate of up to five percent (5%) of the Shares reserved for issuance under Section 3(a) may be granted to Service Providers without regard to such minimum vesting provisions.
c.Dividends and Other Distributions. The Administrator will not be permitted to provide that dividends or other distributions with respect to Shares to be paid or issued to a Participant with respect to an Award, unless and until the underlying Award has vested. Further, in no event may dividend equivalents be paid with respect to Awards of Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights.
d.Outside Director Limitations. No Outside Director may be granted, in any Fiscal Year, Awards with a grant date fair value (determined in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles) of greater than $900,000. Any Awards granted to an individual for his or her services as an Employee, or for his or her services as a Consultant (other than as an Outside Director), will not count for purposes of the limitation under this Section 6(d).
e.Chief Executive Officer Holding Requirement. Any Shares received by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company pursuant to the exercise, issuance or settlement of an Award granted to him or her while serving in the capacity of Chief Executive Officer, after satisfaction of any applicable tax obligations, may not be sold or otherwise transferred (other than for estate planning purposes) by the Chief Executive Officer prior to the one (1) year anniversary of the date the Chief Executive Officer received such Shares, or, if earlier, the termination of the Chief Executive Officer’s status as a Service Provider.
7.Stock Options.
a.Limitations. Each Option will be designated in the Award Agreement as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option. However, notwithstanding such designation, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by the Participant during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and any Parent or Subsidiary) exceeds $100,000, such Options will be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options. For purposes of this Section 7(a), Incentive Stock Options will be taken into account in the order in which they were granted. The Fair Market Value of the Shares will be determined as of the time the Option with respect to such Shares is granted.
Appendix A Sanmina Corporation 2019 Equity Incentive Plan
b.Number of Shares. The Administrator will have complete discretion to determine the number of Shares subject to an Option granted to any Participant.
c.Term of Option. The Administrator will determine the term of each Option in its sole discretion; provided, however, that the term will be no more than ten (10) years from the date of grant thereof. Moreover, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Participant who, at the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the term of the Incentive Stock Option will be five (5) years from the date of grant or such shorter term as may be provided in the Award Agreement.
d.Option Exercise Price and Consideration.
(i)Exercise Price. The per share exercise price for the Shares to be issued pursuant to exercise of an Option will be determined by the Administrator, but will be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant. In addition, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to an Employee who, at the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the per Share exercise price will be no less than 110% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7(d), Options may be granted with a per Share exercise price of less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant pursuant to a transaction described in, and in a manner consistent with, Code Section 424(a).
(ii)Waiting Period and Exercise Dates. At the time an Option is granted, the Administrator will fix the period within which the Option may be exercised and will determine any conditions that must be satisfied before the Option may be exercised.
(iii)Form of Consideration. The Administrator will determine the acceptable form(s) of consideration for exercising an Option, including the method of payment, to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws, which forms of consideration shall be set forth in the Award Agreement at the time of grant.
e.Exercise of Option.
(i)Procedure for Exercise; Rights as a Stockholder. Any Option granted hereunder will be exercisable according to the terms of the Plan and at such times and under such conditions as determined by the Administrator and set forth in the Award Agreement. An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share. An Option will be deemed exercised when the Company receives: (i) notice of exercise (in such form as the Administrator specifies from time to time) from the person entitled to exercise the Option, and (ii) full payment for the Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised (together with any applicable withholding taxes). No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the Shares are issued, except as provided in Section 15 of the Plan.
(ii)Termination of Relationship as a Service Provider. If a Participant ceases to be a Service Provider, other than upon the Participant’s termination as the result of the Participant’s death or Disability, the Participant may exercise his or her Option within such period of time as is specified in the Award Agreement to the extent that the Option is vested on the date of termination (but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement). In the absence of a specified time in the Award Agreement, the Option will remain exercisable for ninety (90) days following the Participant’s termination. Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, if on the date of termination the Participant is not vested as to his or her entire Option, the Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option will revert to the Plan. If after termination the Participant does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified by the Administrator, the Option will terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option will revert to the Plan.
(iii)Disability of Participant. If a Participant ceases to be a Service Provider as a result of the Participant’s Disability, the Participant may exercise his or her Option within such period of time as is specified in the Award Agreement to the extent the Option is vested on the date of termination (but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement). In the absence of a specified time in the Award Agreement, the Option will remain exercisable for five (5) years following the Participant’s termination. Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, if on the date of termination the Participant is not vested as to his or her entire Option, the Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option will revert to the Plan. If after termination the Participant does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified herein, the Option will terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option will revert to the Plan.
Appendix A Sanmina Corporation 2019 Equity Incentive Plan
(iv)Death of Participant. If a Participant dies while a Service Provider, the Option may be exercised following the Participant’s death within such period of time as is specified in the Award Agreement to the extent of all of the shares subject to the Option, including Shares that had not yet vested on the date of death (but in no event may the option be exercised later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement), by the Participant’s designated beneficiary, provided such beneficiary has been designated prior to Participant’s death in a form acceptable to the Administrator. If no such beneficiary has been designated by the Participant, then such Option may be exercised by the personal representative of the Participant’s estate or by the person(s) to whom the Option is transferred pursuant to the Participant’s will or in accordance with the laws of descent and distribution. In the absence of a specified time in the Award Agreement, the Option will remain exercisable for five (5) years following Participant’s death. If the Option is not so exercised within the time specified herein, the Option will terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option will revert to the Plan.
(v)Tolling Expiration. A Participant’s Award Agreement may also provide that:
(1)if the exercise of the Option following the termination of Participant’s status as a Service Provider (other than upon the Participant’s death or Disability) would result in liability under Section 16(b), then the Option will terminate on the earlier of (A) the expiration of the term of the Option set forth in the Award Agreement, or (B) the tenth (10th) day after the last date on which such exercise would result in such liability under Section 16(b); or
(2)if the exercise of the Option following the termination of the Participant’s status as a Service Provider (other than upon the Participant’s death or Disability) would be prohibited at any time solely because the issuance of Shares would violate the registration requirements under the Securities Act, then the Option will terminate on the earlier of (A) the expiration of the term of the Option, or (B) the expiration of a period of ninety (90) days after the termination of the Participant’s status as a Service Provider during which the exercise of the Option would not be in violation of such registration requirements.
8.Stock Appreciation Rights.
a.Grant of Stock Appreciation Rights. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, a Stock Appreciation Right may be granted to Service Providers at any time and from time to time as will be determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion.
b.Number of Shares. The Administrator will have complete discretion to determine the number of Stock Appreciation Rights granted to any Participant.
c.Exercise Price and Other Terms. The Administrator, subject to the provisions of the Plan, will have complete discretion to determine the terms and conditions of Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan, provided, however, that the exercise price will be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any outstanding Stock Appreciation Rights held by a Participant who dies while a Service Provider will accelerate and fully vest upon the Participant’s death.
d.Stock Appreciation Right Agreement. Each Stock Appreciation Right grant will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the exercise price, the term of the Stock Appreciation Right, the conditions of exercise, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine.
e.Expiration of Stock Appreciation Rights. A Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan will expire upon the date determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion, and set forth in the Award Agreement; provided, however, that the term will be no more than ten (10) years from the date of grant thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the rules of Section 7(c) also will apply to Stock Appreciation Rights.
f.Payment of Stock Appreciation Right Amount. Upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, a Participant will be entitled to receive payment from the Company in an amount determined by multiplying:
(i)The difference between the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise over the exercise price; by
(ii)The number of Shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised. At the discretion of the Administrator, the payment upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right may be in cash, in Shares of equivalent value, or in some combination thereof.
Appendix A Sanmina Corporation 2019 Equity Incentive Plan
9.Restricted Stock.
a.Grant of Restricted Stock. Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, the Administrator, at any time and from time to time, may grant Shares of Restricted Stock to Service Providers in such amounts as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine.
b.Restricted Stock Agreement. Each Award of Restricted Stock will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the Period of Restriction, the number of Shares granted, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, determines. Unless the Administrator determines otherwise, Shares of Restricted Stock will be held by the Company as escrow agent until the restrictions on such Shares have lapsed.
c.Transferability. Except as provided in Section 14, Shares of Restricted Stock may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated until the end of the applicable Period of Restriction.
d.Other Restrictions. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may impose such other restrictions on Shares of Restricted Stock as it may deem advisable or appropriate and contained in the Award Agreement on the date of grant.
e.Removal of Restrictions. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 9, Shares of Restricted Stock covered by each Restricted Stock grant made under the Plan will be released from escrow as soon as practicable after the last day of the Period of Restriction. Subject to the vesting limitations under Section 6(b), the Administrator, in its discretion, may accelerate the time at which any restrictions will lapse or be removed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any outstanding Shares of Restricted Stock held by a Participant who dies while a Service Provider will accelerate and fully vest upon the Participant’s death.
f.Voting Rights. During the Period of Restriction, Service Providers holding Shares of Restricted Stock granted hereunder may exercise full voting rights with respect to those Shares, unless the Administrator determines otherwise.
g.Dividends and Other Distributions. During the Period of Restriction, Service Providers holding Shares of Restricted Stock will not be entitled to receive dividends or any other distributions paid with respect to such Shares.
h.Return of Restricted Stock to Company. On the date set forth in the Award Agreement, the Restricted Stock for which restrictions have not lapsed will revert to the Company and become available for grant under the Plan.
10.Restricted Stock Units.
a.Grant. Restricted Stock Units may be granted at any time and from time to time as determined by the Administrator. Each Restricted Stock Unit grant will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, determines, including all terms, conditions, and restrictions related to the grant, the number of Restricted Stock Units and the form of payout, which, subject to Section 10(d), may be left to the discretion of the Administrator.
b.Vesting Criteria and Other Terms. Subject to Section 6(b), the Administrator will set vesting criteria in its discretion, which, depending on the extent to which the criteria are met, will determine the number of Restricted Stock Units that will be paid out to the Participant. Subject to Section 6(b), after the grant of Restricted Stock Units, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may reduce or waive any restrictions for such Restricted Stock Units. Each Award of Restricted Stock Units will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the vesting criteria, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, determines. The Administrator may set vesting criteria based upon the achievement of Company-wide, divisional, business unit, or individual goals (including, but not limited to, continued employment or service), applicable federal or state securities laws or any other basis determined by the Administrator in its discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any outstanding Restricted Stock Units held by a Participant who dies while a Service Provider will accelerate and fully vest upon the Participant’s death.
c.Earning Restricted Stock Units. Upon meeting the applicable vesting criteria, the Participant will be entitled to receive a payout as determined by the Administrator. Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to the vesting limitations under Section 6(b), at any time after the grant of Restricted Stock Units, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may reduce or waive any vesting criteria that must be met to receive a payout.
d.Form and Timing of Payment. Payment of earned Restricted Stock Units will be made as soon as practicable after the date(s) determined by the Administrator and set forth in the Award Agreement. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may only settle earned Restricted Stock Units in cash, Shares, or a combination of both.
e.Cancellation. On the date set forth in the Award Agreement, all unearned Restricted Stock Units will be forfeited to the Company and become available for grant under the Plan.
Appendix A Sanmina Corporation 2019 Equity Incentive Plan
11.Performance Units and Performance Shares.
a.Grant of Performance Units/Shares. Performance Units and Performance Shares may be granted to Service Providers at any time and from time to time, as determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion. The Administrator will have complete discretion in determining the number of Performance Units and Performance Shares granted to each Participant.
b.Value of Performance Units/Shares. Each Performance Unit will have an initial value that is established by the Administrator on or before the date of grant. Each Performance Share will have an initial value equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant.
c.Performance Objectives and Other Terms. Subject to Section 6(b), the Administrator will set Performance Goals or other vesting provisions (including, without limitation, continued status as a Service Provider) in its discretion which, depending on the extent to which they are met, will determine the number or value of Performance Units/Shares that will be paid out to the Participant. The Administrator may set performance objectives based upon the achievement of Company-wide, divisional, or individual goals (including, but not limited to, continued employment or service), or any other basis determined by the Administrator in its discretion. The time period during which the performance objectives or other vesting provisions must be met will be called the “Performance Period.” Each Award of Performance Units/Shares will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the Performance Period and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, determines.
d.Earning of Performance Units/Shares. After the applicable Performance Period has ended, the holder of Performance Units/ Shares will be entitled to receive a payout of the number of Performance Units/Shares earned by the Participant over the Performance Period, to be determined as a function of the extent to which the corresponding performance objectives or other vesting provisions have been achieved. After the grant of a Performance Unit/Share, subject to the vesting limitations under Section 6(b), the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may reduce or waive any performance objectives or other vesting provisions for such Performance Unit/Share. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any outstanding Performance Units/Shares held by a Participant who dies while a Service Provider will accelerate upon the Participant’s death, with such acceleration assuming that all performance goals and other vesting criteria are deemed achieved at target performance levels and any additional service conditions satisfied.
e.Form and Timing of Payment of Performance Units/Shares. Payment of earned Performance Units/Shares will be made as soon as practicable after the expiration of the applicable Performance Period and achievement of the performance criteria and other vesting provisions. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may pay earned Performance Units/Shares in the form of cash, in Shares (which have an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the value of the earned Performance Units/Shares at the close of the applicable Performance Period) or in a combination thereof.
f.Cancellation of Performance Units/Shares. On the date set forth in the Award Agreement, all unearned or unvested Performance Units/Shares will be forfeited to the Company, and become available for grant under the Plan.
12.Compliance With Code Section 409A. Awards will be designed and operated in such a manner that they are either exempt from the application of, or comply with, the requirements of Section 409A such that the grant, payment, settlement or deferral will not be subject to the additional tax or interest applicable under Section 409A, except as otherwise determined in the sole discretion of the Administrator. The Plan and each Award Agreement under the Plan is intended to meet the requirements of Section 409A and will be construed and interpreted in accordance with such intent, except as otherwise determined in the sole discretion of the Administrator. To the extent that an Award or payment, or the settlement or deferral thereof, is subject to Section 409A the Award will be granted, paid, settled or deferred in a manner that will meet the requirements of Section 409A, such that the grant, payment, settlement or deferral will not be subject to the additional tax or interest applicable under Section 409A. In no event will the Company (or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company, as applicable) reimburse a Participant for any taxes imposed or other costs incurred as a result of Section 409A.
13.Leaves of Absence/Transfer Between Locations. Unless the Administrator provides otherwise or as provided by written Company policies, vesting of Awards granted hereunder will be suspended during any unpaid leave of absence or as provided by written Company policies. A Service Provider will not cease to be an Employee in the case of (i) any leave of absence approved by the Company or (ii) transfers between locations of the Company or between the Company and its Affiliates. For purposes of Incentive Stock Options, no such leave may exceed three (3) months, unless reemployment upon expiration of such leave is guaranteed by statute or contract. If reemployment upon expiration of a leave of absence approved by the Company is not so guaranteed, then six (6) months and one day following the commencement of such leave any Incentive Stock Option held by the Participant will cease to be treated as an Incentive Stock Option and will be treated for tax purposes as a Nonstatutory Stock Option.
Appendix A Sanmina Corporation 2019 Equity Incentive Plan
14.Transferability of Awards. Unless determined otherwise by the Administrator, an Award may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised, during the lifetime of the Participant, only by the Participant. With the approval of the Administrator, a Participant may, in a manner specified by the Administrator, (a) transfer an Award to a Participant’s spouse or former spouse pursuant to a court-approved domestic relations order which relates to the provision of child support, alimony payments or marital property rights, and (b) transfer an Option by bona fide gift and not for any consideration, to (i) a member or members of the Participant’s immediate family, (ii) a trust established for the exclusive benefit of the Participant and/or member(s) of the Participant’s immediate family, (iii) a partnership, limited liability company of other entity whose only partners or members are the Participant and/or member(s) of the Participant’s immediate family, or (iv) a foundation in which the Participant and/or member(s) of the Participant’s immediate family control the management of the foundation’s assets. For purposes of this Section 14, “immediate family” will mean the Participant’s spouse, former spouse, children, grandchildren, parents, grandparents, siblings, nieces, nephews, parents-in-law, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, including adoptive or step relationships and any person sharing the Participant’s household (other than as a tenant or employee).
15.Adjustments; Dissolution or Liquidation; Merger or Change in Control.
a.Adjustments. In the event that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other securities, or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split up, spin off, combination, repurchase, or exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, or other change in the corporate structure of the Company affecting the Shares occurs, the Administrator, in order to prevent diminution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan, will adjust the number and class of Shares that may be delivered under the Plan and/or the number, class, and price of Shares covered by each outstanding Award, and the numerical Share or value limits, as applicable, set forth in Sections 3 and 6.
b.Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Administrator will notify each Participant as soon as practicable prior to the effective date of such proposed transaction. To the extent it has not been previously exercised, an Award will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed action.
c.Change in Control. In the event of a merger of the Company with or into another corporation or other entity or a Change in Control, each outstanding Award will be treated as the Administrator determines subject to the restriction in the following paragraph, including, without limitation, that each Award be assumed or an equivalent option or right substituted by the successor corporation or a Parent or Subsidiary of the successor corporation (the “Successor Corporation”). The Administrator will not be required to treat all Awards or Participants similarly in the transaction.
In the event that the Successor Corporation does not assume or substitute for the Award (and for the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding the vesting limitations under Section 6(b)), the Participant will fully vest in and have the right to exercise all of his or her outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights, including Shares as to which such Awards would not otherwise be vested or exercisable, all restrictions on Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units will lapse, and, with respect to such Award with performance-based vesting, all performance goals or other vesting criteria will be deemed achieved based on actual performance measured through the last date that the Award remains outstanding (or such earlier date, as determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion), with any performance period shortened proportionately and applicable performance goals or other vesting criteria adjusted proportionately to reflect the shortened performance period (or to the extent applicable, the value of the consideration to be received by the Company’s stockholders in connection with the merger or Change in Control), as determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion. In addition, if an Option or Stock Appreciation Right is not assumed or substituted in the event of a Change in Control, the Administrator will notify the Participant in writing or electronically that the Option or Stock Appreciation Right will be exercisable for a period of time determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion, and the Option or Stock Appreciation Right will terminate upon the expiration of such period.
For the purposes of this subsection (c), an Award will be considered assumed if, following the Change in Control, the Award confers the right to purchase or receive, for each Share subject to the Award immediately prior to the Change in Control, the consideration (whether stock, cash, or other securities or property) received in the Change in Control by holders of Common Stock for each Share held on the effective date of the transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares); provided, however, that if such consideration received in the Change in Control is not solely common stock of the Successor Corporation or its Parent, the Administrator may, with the consent of the Successor Corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right or upon the payout of a Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Unit or Performance Share, for each Share subject to such Award, to be solely common stock of the Successor Corporation or its Parent equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by holders of Common Stock in the Change in Control.
Appendix A Sanmina Corporation 2019 Equity Incentive Plan
Notwithstanding anything in this Section 15(c) to the contrary, an Award that vests, is earned or paid-out upon the satisfaction of one or more performance goals will not be considered assumed if the Company or its successor modifies any of such performance goals without the Participant’s consent; provided, however, a modification to such performance goals only to reflect the Successor Corporation’s post-Change in Control corporate structure will not be deemed to invalidate an otherwise valid Award assumption.
d.Outside Director Awards. With respect to Awards granted to an Outside Director, in the event of a Change in Control in which such Awards are assumed or substituted for, if on the date of or following such assumption or substitution the Participant’s status as a Director or a director of the Successor Corporation, as applicable, is terminated other than upon a voluntary resignation by the Participant (unless such resignation is at the request of the acquirer), then the Participant will fully vest in and have the right to exercise Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights as to all of the Shares underlying such Award, including those Shares which would not otherwise be vested or exercisable, all restrictions on Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units will lapse, and, with respect to Awards with performance-based vesting, unless specifically provided otherwise under the applicable Award Agreement, a Company policy applicable to the Participant, or other written agreement between the Participant and the Company, all performance goals or other vesting criteria will be deemed achieved at one hundred percent (100%) of target levels and all other terms and conditions met.
16.Tax.
a.Withholding Requirements. Prior to the delivery of any Shares or cash pursuant to an Award (or exercise thereof) or such earlier time as any tax withholding obligations are due, the Company will have the power and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy U.S. federal, state, or local taxes, non-U.S. taxes, or other taxes (including the Participant’s FICA obligation) required to be withheld with respect to such Award (or exercise thereof).
b.Withholding Arrangements. The Administrator, in its sole discretion and pursuant to such procedures as it may specify from time to time, may permit a Participant to satisfy such tax withholding obligation, in whole or in part by (without limitation) (i) paying cash, (ii) electing to have the Company withhold otherwise deliverable Shares having a fair market value equal to the minimum statutory amount required to be withheld or such greater amount as the Administrator may determine if such amount would not have adverse accounting consequences, as the Administrator determines in its sole discretion, (iii) delivering to the Company already-owned Shares having a fair market value equal to the statutory amount required to be withheld or such greater amount as the Administrator may determine, in each case, provided the delivery of such Shares will not result in any adverse accounting consequences, as the Administrator determines in its sole discretion, (iv) selling a sufficient number of Shares otherwise deliverable to the Participant through such means as the Administrator may determine in its sole discretion (whether through a broker or otherwise) equal to the amount required to be withheld, or (v) any combination of the foregoing methods of payment. The amount of the withholding requirement will be deemed to include any amount which the Administrator agrees may be withheld at the time the election is made, not to exceed the amount determined by using the maximum federal, state or local marginal income tax rates applicable to the Participant with respect to the Award on the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined. The fair market value of the Shares to be withheld or delivered will be determined as of the date that the taxes are required to be withheld.
17.No Effect on Employment or Service. Neither the Plan nor any Award will confer upon a Participant any right with respect to continuing the Participant’s relationship as a Service Provider, nor will they interfere in any way with the Participant’s right or the right of the Company (or any Affiliate) to terminate such relationship at any time, with or without cause, to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws.
18.Date of Grant. The date of grant of an Award will be, for all purposes, the date on which the Administrator makes the determination granting such Award, or such other later date as is determined by the Administrator. Notice of the determination will be provided to each Participant within a reasonable time after the date of such grant.
19.Term of Plan. Subject to Section 24 of the Plan, the Plan will become effective upon its adoption by the Board. It will continue in effect for a term of ten (10) years from the date adopted by the Board, unless terminated earlier under Section 20 of the Plan.
20.Amendment and Termination of the Plan.
a.Amendment and Termination. The Administrator may at any time amend, alter, suspend or terminate the Plan.
b.Stockholder Approval. The Company will obtain stockholder approval of any Plan amendment to the extent necessary and desirable to comply with Applicable Laws.
c.Effect of Amendment or Termination. No amendment, alteration, suspension or termination of the Plan will materially impair the rights of any Participant, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the Participant and the Administrator, which agreement must be in writing and signed by the Participant and the Company. Termination of the Plan will not affect the Administrator’s ability to exercise the powers granted to it hereunder with respect to Awards granted under the Plan prior to the date of such termination.
Appendix A Sanmina Corporation 2019 Equity Incentive Plan
21.Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares.
a.Legal Compliance. Shares will not be issued pursuant to the exercise of an Award unless the exercise of such Award and the issuance and delivery of such Shares will comply with Applicable Laws and will be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance.
b.Investment Representations. As a condition to the exercise of an Award, the Company may require the person exercising such Award to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required.
22.Inability to Obtain Authority. The inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction or to complete or comply with the requirements of any registration or other qualification of the Shares under any U.S. federal or state law, any non-U.S. law, or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the stock exchange on which Shares of the same class are then listed, or any other governmental or regulatory body, which authority, registration, qualification or rule compliance is deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary or advisable for the issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, will relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority, registration, qualification or rule compliance will not have been obtained.
23.Clawback. The Administrator may specify in an Award Agreement that the Participant’s rights, payments, and/or benefits with respect to an Award will be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, and/or recoupment upon the occurrence of certain specified events, in addition to any applicable vesting, performance or other conditions and restrictions of an Award. Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary under this Plan, an Award granted under the Plan shall be subject to the Company’s clawback policy as may be established and/or amended from time to time. The Board may require a Participant to forfeit or return to and/or reimburse the Company all or a portion of the Award and/or Shares issued under the Award, any amounts paid under the Award, and any payments or proceeds paid or provided upon disposition of the Shares issued under the Award, pursuant to the terms of such Company policy or as necessary or appropriate to comply with Applicable Laws.
24.Stockholder Approval. The Plan will be subject to approval by the stockholders of the Company within twelve (12) months after the date the Plan is adopted by the Board. Such stockholder approval will be obtained in the manner and to the degree required under Applicable Laws.
APPENDIX B
RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP MEASURES
Below is a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures contained in this proxy statement to their most directly comparable GAAP equivalents and a description of the items excluded from the calculation of our non-GAAP measures.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 |
GAAP Operating Income | $ | 335,494 | | | $ | 455,658 | | | $ | 349,479 | | $ | 255,936 | |
GAAP operating margin | 4.4 | % | | 5.1 | % | | 4.4 | % | 3.8 | % |
Adjustments: | | | | | | |
Stock compensation expense | 57,407 | | | 50,402 | | | 39,608 | | 34,977 | |
Amortization of intangible assets | — | | | 2,493 | | | 1,010 | | 558 | |
Distressed customer charges | 1,799 | | | — | | | — | | (1,049) | |
Legal and other | 1,130 | | | 5,170 | | | 2,033 | | 2,703 | |
Restructuring costs | 10,227 | | | 6,054 | | | 11,425 | | 15,057 | |
Gain on sales of long-lived assets | — | | | — | | | (4,610) | | — | |
Non-GAAP Operating Income | $ | 406,057 | | | $ | 519,777 | | | $ | 398,945 | | $ | 308,182 | |
Non-GAAP Operating Margin | 5.4 | % | | 5.8 | % | | 5.0 | % | 4.6 | % |
| | | | | | |
| FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 |
GAAP Net Income Attributable to Common Shareholders | $ | 222,536 | | | $ | 309,970 | | | $ | 240,384 | | $ | 249,546 | |
Adjustments: | | | | | | |
Operating income adjustments (see above) | 70,563 | | | 64,119 | | | 49,466 | | 52,246 | |
Legal and other | (4,967) | | | (3,630) | | | 10,640 | | (39,432) | |
Adjustments for taxes | 12,736 | | | 3,771 | | | (5,231) | | (19,896) | |
Non-GAAP Net Income Attributable to Common Shareholders | $ | 300,868 | | | $ | 374,230 | | | $ | 295,259 | | $ | 242,464 | |
GAAP Net Income Attributable to Common Shareholders Per Share: | | | | | | |
Basic | $ | 4.00 | | | $ | 5.36 | | | $ | 3.92 | | $ | 3.82 | |
Diluted | $ | 3.91 | | | $ | 5.18 | | | $ | 3.81 | | $ | 3.72 | |
Non-GAAP Net Income Attributable to Common Shareholders Per Share: | | | | | | |
Basic | $ | 5.41 | | | $ | 6.47 | | | $ | 4.82 | | $ | 3.71 | |
Diluted | $ | 5.28 | | | $ | 6.26 | | | $ | 4.68 | | $ | 3.61 | |
Weighted-average shares used in computing GAAP and Non-GAAP per share amounts: | | | | | | |
Basic | 55,592 | | | 57,847 | | | 61,310 | | 65,318 | |
Diluted | 56,970 | | | 59,815 | | | 63,117 | | 67,084 | |
Appendix B Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| FY 2024 | | FY 2023 | | FY 2022 | | FY2021 |
EBITDA | | | | | | | |
GAAP operating income (per above) | $ | 335,494 | | | $ | 455,658 | | | $ | 349,479 | | | $ | 255,936 | |
Depreciation and amortization | $ | 122,418 | | | $ | 118,237 | | | $ | 108,783 | | | $ | 109,098 | |
GAAP EBITDA | $ | 457,912 | | | $ | 573,895 | | | $ | 458,262 | | | $ | 365,592 | |
GAAP EBITDA Margin | 6.1% | | 6.4 | % | | 5.8 | % | | 5.4 | % |
Non-GAAP operating income (per above) | $ | 406,057 | | | $ | 519,777 | | | $ | 398,945 | | | $ | 308,182 | |
Depreciation and amortization | $ | 122,418 | | | $ | 118,237 | | | $ | 108,783 | | | $ | 109,098 | |
Non-GAAP EBITDA | $ | 528,475 | | | $ | 638,014 | | | $ | 507,728 | | | $ | 417,280 | |
Non-GAAP EBITDA Margin | 7.0% | | 7.1 | % | | 6.4 | % | | 6.2 | % |
| | | | | | | |
| Q4 2024 | | Q4 2023 | | Q4 2022 | | Q4 2021 |
Pre-tax Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) | | | | | | | |
GAAP operating income | $ | 89,590 | | | $ | 99,266 | | | $ | 103,350 | | | $ | 65,910 | |
| 4 | | 4 | | | 4 | | | 4 | |
Annualized GAAP operating income (A) | 358,360 | | 397,064 | | | 413,400 | | | 263,640 | |
Average invested capital (B)(1) | 1,865,140 | | 1,783,744 | | | 1,398,566 | | | 1,283,630 | |
GAAP pre-tax ROIC ((A)/(B)) | 19.2% | | 22.3 | % | | 29.6 | % | | 20.5 | % |
Non-GAAP operating income | 107,329 | | 117,873 | | | 117,232 | | | 77,498 | |
X Number of Fiscal Quarters | 4 | | 4 | | | 4 | | | 4 | |
Annualized non-GAAP operating income (C) | 429,316 | | 471,492 | | | 468,928 | | | 309,992 | |
Average invested capital (D)(1) | 1,865,140 | | 1,783,744 | | | 1,398,566 | | | 1,283,630 | |
Non-GAAP pre-tax ROIC ((C)/(D)) | 23.0% | | 26.4 | % | | 33.5 | % | | 24.1 | % |
(1)Invested capital is defined as total assets (not including cash equivalents and deferred tax assets) less total liabilities (excluding short-term and long-term debt).
Management excludes from its non-GAAP measures stock-based compensation, restructuring, acquisition and integration expenses, impairment charges, amortization charges and other unusual or infrequent items, as adjusted for taxes, as more fully described below.
Management excludes these items principally because they are not directly related to the Company’s ongoing core business operations. We use such non-GAAP measures in order to (1) make more meaningful period-to-period comparisons of the Company’s operations, both internally and externally, (2) guide management in assessing the performance of the business, internally allocating resources and making decisions in furtherance of Company’s strategic plan, (3) provide investors with better understanding of how management plans and measures the business and (4) provide investors with a better understanding of our ongoing, core business. The material limitations to management’s approach include the fact that the items excluded are nonetheless charges, benefits and expenses required to be recognized under GAAP and, in some cases, consume cash which reduces the Company’s liquidity. Management compensates for these limitations primarily by reviewing GAAP results to obtain a complete picture of the Company’s performance and by including a reconciliation of non-GAAP results to GAAP results in its earnings releases.
Additional information regarding the economic substance of each exclusion, management’s use of the resultant non-GAAP measures, the material limitations of management’s approach and management’s methods for compensating for such limitations is provided below.
Stock-based Compensation Expense, which consists of non-cash charges for the estimated fair value of equity awards granted to employees and directors, is excluded in order to permit more meaningful period-to-period comparisons of the Company’s results since the Company grants different amounts and value of equity awards in each quarter. In addition, given the fact that competitors grant different amounts and types of equity awards and may use different valuation assumptions, excluding stock-based compensation permits more accurate comparisons of the Company’s core results with those of its competitors.
Appendix B Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures
Restructuring, Acquisition and Integration Expenses, which consist of severance, lease termination costs, exit costs and other charges primarily related to closing and consolidating manufacturing facilities and those associated with the acquisition and integration of acquired businesses, are excluded because such charges (1) can be driven by the timing of acquisitions and exit activities which are difficult to predict, (2) are not directly related to ongoing business results and (3) do not reflect expected future operating expenses. In addition, given the fact that the Company’s competitors complete acquisitions and adopt restructuring plans at different times and in different amounts than the Company, excluding these charges or benefits permits more accurate comparisons of the Company’s core results with those of its competitors. Items excluded by the Company may be different from those excluded by the Company’s competitors and restructuring and integration expenses include both cash and non-cash expenses. Cash expenses reduce the Company’s liquidity. Therefore, management also reviews GAAP results including these amounts.
Impairment Charges for Goodwill and other Assets, which consist of non-cash charges, are excluded because such charges are non-recurring and do not reduce the Company’s liquidity. In addition, given the fact that the Company’s competitors may record impairment charges at different times, excluding these charges permits more accurate comparisons of the Company’s core results with those of its competitors.
Amortization Charges, which consist of non-cash charges impacted by the timing and magnitude of acquisitions of businesses or assets, are also excluded because such charges do not reduce the Company’s liquidity. In addition, such charges can be driven by the timing of acquisitions, which is difficult to predict. Excluding these charges permits more accurate comparisons of the Company’s core results with those of its competitors because the Company’s competitors complete acquisitions at different times and for different amounts than the Company.
Other Unusual or Infrequent Items, such as charges or benefits associated with distressed customers, expenses, charges and recoveries relating to certain legal matters and gains and losses on sales of assets, are excluded because such items are typically non-recurring, difficult to predict or not directly related to the Company’s ongoing or core operations and are therefore not considered by management in assessing the current operating performance of the Company and forecasting earnings trends. However, items excluded by the Company may be different from those excluded by the Company’s competitors. In addition, these items may include both cash and non-cash expenses. Cash expenses reduce the Company’s liquidity. Management compensates for these limitations by reviewing GAAP results including these amounts.
Adjustments for Taxes, which consist of the tax effects of the various adjustments that we exclude from our non-GAAP measures and adjustments related to deferred tax and discrete tax items. Including these adjustments permits more accurate comparisons of the Company’s core results with those of its competitors. We determine the tax adjustments based upon the various applicable effective tax rates. In those jurisdictions in which we do not expect to realize a tax cost or benefit (due to a history of operating losses or other factors), a reduced tax rate is applied.