DEF 14A
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SCHEDULE 14A

(Rule 14a-101)

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities

Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.     )

Filed by the Registrant  x

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))
x Definitive Proxy Statement
¨ Definitive Additional Materials
¨ Soliciting Material pursuant to § 240.14a-12.

BOYD GAMING 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 the appropriate box):

 

x No fee required.

 

¨ Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.

 

  1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

 

  2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

 

  3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

 

  4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

 

  5) Total fee paid:

 

¨ Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

 

¨ Check box, if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the form or schedule and the date of its filing.

 

  1) Amount Previously Paid:

 

  2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

 

  3) Filing Party:

 

  4) Date Filed:


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LOGO

Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders

To be held on April 24, 2014

To the Stockholders of Boyd Gaming Corporation:

You are invited to attend our 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (“Annual Meeting”), which will be held at IP Casino Resort Spa, 850 Bayview Avenue, Biloxi, Mississippi 39530 on April 24, 2014 at 11:00 a.m., local time, for the following purposes:

 

  1. To elect eleven members to our board of directors to serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders or until their respective successors have been duly elected and qualified.

 

  2. To ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014.

 

  3. To hold an advisory vote on executive compensation.

 

  4. To transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof.

The foregoing items of business, including the nominees for directors, are more fully described in the proxy statement which is attached to and made part of this notice.

Our board of directors has fixed the close of business on March 24, 2014 as the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof.

All stockholders are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting in person. However, whether or not you expect to attend the Annual Meeting in person, we urge you to vote as promptly as possible by following the instructions included in this proxy statement, in order to ensure your representation and the presence of a quorum at the Annual Meeting. If you send in your proxy card or vote by telephone or the Internet, you may still decide to attend the Annual Meeting and vote your shares in person. Your proxy is revocable in accordance with the procedures set forth in this proxy statement.

 

By Order of the Board of Directors
LOGO
William S. Boyd
Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors

Las Vegas, Nevada

March 28, 2014


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Proxy Statement

  1

Introduction

  1

Questions and Answers

  2

Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

  6

Corporate Governance

  9

Director Independence

  9

Selection of Directors

  10

Board Leadership and Presiding Director

  12

Stockholder Communication with Directors

  12

Board Committees

  12

Risk Management

  13

Risk Considerations in Our Compensation Programs

  14

Compensation and Stock Option Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

 

15

Executive Officer and Director Compensation

 

16

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

 

16

Summary Compensation Table

 

31

Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table

 

33

Outstanding Equity Awards At Fiscal Year-End Table

 

34

Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table

 

36

Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Table

 

36

Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control

 

37

Director Compensation Table

 

39

Board Committee Reports

 

41

Compensation and Stock Option Committee Report

 

41

Report of the Audit Committee

 

41

Proposals Requiring Your Vote

 

42

Proposal 1—Election of Directors

 

42

Director Nominees

 

43

Meetings of the Board of Directors

 

45

Proposal 2—Ratification of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

46

Audit and Non-Audit Fees

 

46

Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Non-Audit Services

 

46

Proposal 3—Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation

 

47

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

48

Section  16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance; Transactions with Related Persons; Policies and Procedures Regarding Transactions with Related Persons

 

49

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

 

49

Transactions with Related Persons

 

49

Policies and Procedures Regarding Transactions with Related Persons

 

50

Stockholder Proposals; Other Matters

 

51

Stockholder Proposals

 

51

Other Matters

 

51


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BOYD GAMING CORPORATION

3883 Howard Hughes Parkway, Ninth Floor

Las Vegas, Nevada 89169

 

 

PROXY STATEMENT

 

 

INTRODUCTION

Our board of directors is soliciting proxies for our 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. This proxy statement contains important information for you to consider when deciding how to vote on the matters brought before the Annual Meeting. Please read it carefully.

In this proxy statement:

 

   

“we,” “us” and the “Company” mean Boyd Gaming Corporation, a Nevada corporation, unless otherwise indicated; and

 

   

“Annual Meeting” means our 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on April 24, 2014 at 11:00 a.m., local time, at IP Casino Resort Spa, 850 Bayview Avenue, Biloxi, Mississippi 39530 and any adjournment or postponement thereof.

A copy of our 2013 Annual Report to Stockholders, this proxy statement and accompanying proxy card are being mailed to our stockholders beginning on or about March 28, 2014. Our executive offices are located at 3883 Howard Hughes Parkway, Ninth Floor, Las Vegas, Nevada 89169.

This proxy statement provides instructions on how to inform us to send future proxy materials to you electronically by e-mail or in printed form by mail. If you choose to receive future proxy materials by e-mail, you will receive an e-mail with instructions containing a link to those materials or a link to a special website to access our proxy materials. Your election to receive proxy materials by e-mail or printed form by mail will remain in effect until you terminate it.

 

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

What is the purpose of the Annual Meeting?

You are invited to attend the Annual Meeting to consider and vote on the following proposals:

 

  1. To elect eleven members to our board of directors to serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders or until their respective successors have been duly elected and qualified.

 

  2. To ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014.

 

  3. To hold an advisory vote on executive compensation.

 

  4. To transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof.

Who is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting?

The close of business on March 24, 2014 has been fixed as the record date for determining the holders of shares of our common stock entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. Only stockholders of record at the close of business on that date are entitled to attend and vote at the Annual Meeting. The only class of stock that is currently outstanding and that can be voted at the Annual Meeting is our common stock. Each outstanding share of common stock is entitled to one vote on each matter that comes before the Annual Meeting.

At the close of business on the record date, there were 108,296,502 shares of our common stock outstanding. Those shares represented by properly submitted proxies that are not duly revoked will be voted at the Annual Meeting.

How do I vote?

You may vote by ballot in person at the Annual Meeting. Alternatively, if your shares are registered directly in your name, you may submit a proxy and vote by using any of the following methods:

 

   

By Internet—You may use the Internet to vote at anytime until noon (Central Daylight Time) on April 23, 2014 by going to www.proxypush.com/byd. When voting by Internet, please have the control number from the box in the upper right corner of your printed proxy card and the last four digits of your Social Security Number or Tax Identification Number available, and follow the simple instructions contained on the website to obtain your records and create an electronic ballot.

 

   

By Telephone—You may use any touch-tone telephone to vote at anytime until noon (Central Daylight Time) on April 23, 2014 by calling 1-866-883-3382. When voting by telephone, please have the control number from the box in the upper right corner of your printed proxy card and the last four digits of your Social Security Number or Tax Identification Number available, and follow the simple voice-guided instructions.

 

   

By Mail—You may vote by completing, signing and dating the proxy card and returning it in the provided postage-paid envelope. Please mail your completed proxy card to Boyd Gaming Corporation, c/o Shareowner Services SM, P.O. Box 64873, St. Paul, MN 55164-0873.

To determine how you may revoke or change your vote submitted by the telephone, Internet and mail methods described above, please refer to the section entitled “Can I change my vote after I submit my proxy?

If your shares are not registered directly in your name (e.g., you hold your shares in a stock brokerage account or through a bank or other holder of record), you may vote by following the instructions provided by the record holder (i.e., your broker, bank or other holder of record) regarding how to vote your proxy.

How does the board of directors recommend I vote on the proposals?

The board of directors recommends that you vote:

 

   

Proposal 1—FOR the election of each of the eleven nominees to our board of directors.

 

   

Proposal 2—FOR the ratification of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting                       firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014.

 

   

Proposal 3—FOR the approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of our Named Executive Officers.

 

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What is the frequency of the Company’s “Say-on-Pay” advisory vote?

At our 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “2011 Annual Meeting”), we held our first advisory vote on executive compensation of our Named Executive Officers and on the frequency of holding future advisory votes on executive compensation of our Named Executive Officers. At the 2011 Annual Meeting, our stockholders approved the proposal to hold advisory votes on executive compensation for our named executive officers once every three years.

As a result, consistent with the preference expressed by our stockholders, our second “say-on-pay” advisory vote will occur at the Annual Meeting as further detailed in Proposal 3.

What if I do not specify how my shares are to be voted?

If you are a stockholder of record and you execute and return your proxy card but you do not provide instruction with respect to any or all proposals to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting, your proxy will be voted “FOR” the election of each of the director nominees named in this proxy statement; “FOR” Proposal 2; “FOR” Proposal 3; and as the proxy holders deem advisable on other matters that may properly come before the Annual Meeting.

If you are a beneficial owner of our common stock and you do not provide instructions to your broker on how to vote your shares, your broker may vote your shares in its discretion only on Proposal 2; however, your shares will not be voted on either Proposal 1 or Proposal 3. For a discussion regarding the difference between stockholders of record and beneficial owners, please refer to the section entitled “What is the difference between holding shares as a stockholder of record and as a beneficial owner?”

Currently, no matter is expected to be considered at the Annual Meeting other than the proposals set forth in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Notice of Annual Meeting”). However, if any other matters are properly brought before the Annual Meeting for action, it is intended that the shares of our common stock represented by proxies will be voted by the persons named as proxies on the proxy card in accordance with their discretion on such matters.

Why did I receive a full set of the proxy materials instead of a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials?

This year, for our 2014 Annual Meeting, all stockholders are being delivered traditional paper copies of our proxy materials. In the past, we have taken advantage of the SEC rules that allow companies to furnish their proxy materials over the Internet, and accordingly, have sent to our stockholders an Internet Availability Notice regarding Internet availability of proxy materials for those years’ annual meetings. In the future, we may again take advantage of the SEC rules, and in such years, will send to our stockholders an Internet Availability Notice for those years’ annual meetings.

How can I receive a full set of the proxy materials by e-mail?

Stockholders may request to receive proxy materials in printed form or electronically by e-mail on an ongoing basis by submitting a request to us at www.boydgaming.com/proxymaterials; by mail at Boyd Gaming Corporation, 3883 Howard Hughes Parkway, Ninth Floor, Las Vegas, Nevada 89169, Attn: David Strow, Director Corporate Communications; via toll-free telephone: 800-695-2455, Attn: David Strow, Director Corporate Communications; or via e-mail: davidstrow@boydgaming.com. A stockholder’s election to receive proxy materials by mail or e-mail will remain in effect until the stockholder terminates it.

 

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Do I need an admission ticket to attend the Annual Meeting?

No. However, all stockholders will need to present a valid government-issued photo identification (e.g., a driver’s license or passport) at the door to be admitted to the Annual Meeting. Additionally, if you hold your shares in a stock brokerage account or in the name of a bank or other holder of record and you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, you will also need to obtain and present a copy of your brokerage account statement (which you can obtain from your broker) reflecting your ownership of our common stock as of the close of business on March 24, 2014, the record date for the Annual Meeting.

No cameras, recording equipment or other electronic devices will be permitted at the Annual Meeting.

What is the difference between holding shares as a stockholder of record and as a beneficial owner?

If your shares are registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, Wells Fargo Shareowner Services, you are considered, with respect to those shares, the “stockholder of record.” In such case, the Notice of Annual Meeting, this proxy statement and our 2013 Annual Report to Stockholders have been sent directly to you.

If your shares are held in a stock brokerage account or by a bank or other holder of record, you are considered the “beneficial owner” of shares held in street name. In such case, the Notice of Annual Meeting, this proxy statement and our 2013 Annual Report to Stockholders should have been forwarded (or otherwise made available) to you by your broker, bank or other holder of record who is considered, with respect to those shares, the stockholder of record. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker, bank or other holder of record on how to vote your shares by following their instructions for voting.

Can I change my vote after I submit my proxy?

Yes. You may revoke your proxy at any time before it is voted at the Annual Meeting by:

 

   

properly submitting a subsequent proxy in one of the manners authorized and described in this proxy statement (such as via the Internet, by telephone or by mail pursuant to the voting procedures described above under the section entitled “How do I vote?”); or

 

   

giving written notice of revocation to our Corporate Secretary prior to or at the Annual Meeting; or

 

   

attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person.

Your attendance at the Annual Meeting will not have the effect of revoking your properly submitted proxy unless you follow one of the revocation procedures referenced above. Any written notice revoking a proxy should be sent to our Corporate Secretary (Attention: Brian A. Larson, Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel) at 3883 Howard Hughes Parkway, Ninth Floor, Las Vegas, Nevada 89169 and must be received before voting is closed at the Annual Meeting.

If you are a beneficial owner of our common stock, follow the instructions provided by the record holder (i.e., your bank or broker) regarding how to change or revoke your proxy.

What are “broker non-votes”?

“Broker non-votes” are shares as to which a broker or nominee does not vote, or has indicated that it does not have discretionary authority to vote. Under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), certain matters submitted to a vote of stockholders are considered by the NYSE to be “routine” items upon which brokerage firms may vote in their discretion on behalf of their customers if such customers have not furnished voting instructions within a specified period of time prior to the Annual Meeting. On those matters which the NYSE determines to be “non-routine,” brokerage firms that have not received instructions from their customers do not have discretion to vote. Consistent with applicable NYSE rules, with respect to the proposals set forth in this proxy statement, only Proposal 2 is a “routine” matter. Proposal 1 and Proposal 3 are each considered a “non-routine” matter. Neither our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, our Amended and Restated Bylaws nor Nevada corporate statutes specifically address the treatment of broker non-votes and abstentions.

 

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How many votes are required to approve the proposals?

Assuming a quorum is present, the required votes to approve each proposal are as follows:

 

   

Proposal 1—a plurality of the votes cast is required for the election of directors. This means that the eleven director nominees receiving the greatest number of “FOR” votes will be elected to the board of directors. You may vote “FOR” or “WITHHELD” with respect to the election of directors. Only votes “FOR” are counted in determining whether a plurality has been cast in favor of a director. Broker non-votes and withheld votes are not counted for purposes of the election of directors.

 

   

Proposal 2—the number of affirmative votes cast in favor of Proposal 2 must exceed the number of votes cast against it for approval of the ratification of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm. Broker non-votes and abstentions are not counted for purposes of Proposal 2.

 

   

Proposal 3—the number of affirmative votes cast in favor of Proposal 3 must exceed the number of votes cast against it for the approval, on an advisory basis, of the executive compensation of our Named Executive Officers. Broker non-votes and abstentions are not counted for purposes of Proposal 3.

Who will count the votes?

Votes cast by proxy or in person will be tabulated by the Inspector of Elections for the Annual Meeting, Wells Fargo Shareowner Services. The Inspector of Elections will also determine whether or not a quorum is present.

What is a quorum, and how is it determined?

For business to be properly conducted and the vote of stockholders to be valid at the Annual Meeting, a quorum must be present. The presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of shares of our common stock issued and outstanding as of the record date is necessary to constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting. Shares represented at the Annual Meeting in person or by proxy but not voted will nevertheless be counted for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum. Accordingly, abstentions and broker non-votes will be treated as shares that are present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum.

Who pays for the cost of this proxy solicitation?

This proxy solicitation by our board of directors will be conducted by mail, and we will bear all attendant costs. These costs will include the expense of preparing and mailing proxy solicitation materials for the Annual Meeting and reimbursements paid to brokerage firms and others for their expenses incurred in forwarding such materials to beneficial owners of our common stock. We may conduct further solicitation personally, telephonically, via the Internet or e-mail, or by facsimile or mail through our officers, directors and employees, none of whom will receive additional compensation for assisting with the solicitation. To help assure the presence in person or by proxy of the largest number of stockholders possible, we have engaged D.F. King & Co., Inc. (“D.F. King”), a proxy solicitation firm, to solicit proxies on our behalf. We have agreed to pay D.F. King a proxy solicitation fee currently estimated at $15,000. We will also reimburse D.F. King for its reasonable out-of pocket expenses.

 

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OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of March 3, 2014 by:

 

   

each person who is a director;

 

   

each of our executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table contained herein;

 

   

all directors and our executive officers as a group; and

 

   

each person who is known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of our common stock.

Unless otherwise indicated, each individual listed below has sole investment power and sole voting power with respect to the shares of our common stock owned by that person. Percentage ownership is based on an aggregate of 108,213,838 shares of our common stock outstanding on March 3, 2014. Except as noted below, the mailing address of all persons on the list set forth in the table below is 3883 Howard Hughes Parkway, Ninth Floor, Las Vegas, Nevada 89169.

 

Name

   Number of Shares
Owned and Nature of
Beneficial  Ownership(1)
     Percent
of Class
 

Directors

     

William S. Boyd

     21,104,451(2)          19.20%   

Marianne Boyd Johnson

     8,864,553(3)          8.16%   

William R. Boyd

     2,344,882(4)          2.16%   

Keith E. Smith

     1,477,461(5)          1.35%   

Robert L. Boughner

     1,085,413(6)          1.00%   

Thomas V. Girardi

     221,497(7)          *          

Peter M. Thomas

     81,902(8)          *          

Frederick J. Schwab

     80,085(9)          *          

Billy G. McCoy

     77,288(10)        *          

Veronica J. Wilson

     73,169(11)         *          

Christine J. Spadafor

     59,621(12)         *          

Richard E. Flaherty

     33,075(13)         *          

Other Named Executive Officers

     

Paul J. Chakmak

     590,698(14)         *          

Josh Hirsberg

     150,691(15)         *          

All directors and executive officers as a group (16 persons)

     36,598,230(16)         32.10%   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

5% or Greater Stockholders

     

William S. Boyd

     21,104,451(2)           19.20%   

Marianne Boyd Johnson

     8,864,553(3)           8.16%   

PAR Capital Management, Inc.

     6,907,300(17)         6.38%   

One International Place, Suite 2401

Boston, MA 02110

     

BlackRock, Inc.

     6,467,010(18)         5.98%   

40 East 52nd Street

New York, NY 10022

     

 

* Indicates less than 1% of class.
(1) Except for certain Career Restricted Stock Units and certain Restricted Stock Units held by our outside directors that were fully vested upon grant, shares of common stock underlying grants of Restricted Stock Units and Performance Shares are excluded from beneficial ownership in this table. Restricted Stock Units are reported as beneficially owned by certain of our executive officers in their Section 16 reports pursuant to applicable provisions of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and positions taken by the SEC. However, to the extent that Restricted Stock Units and Performance Shares do not independently vest or become exercisable within 60 days of March 3, 2014, such Restricted Stock Units and Performance Shares are not included in this table.

 

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(2) Includes 19,011,535 shares of our common stock held by the William S. Boyd Gaming Properties Trust (“WSBGPT”), of which Mr. Boyd is trustee, settlor and beneficiary; 212,654 shares held by the BG-09 Limited Partnership, of which WSBGPT and the Marianne E. Boyd Gaming Properties Trust are the general partners; and 153,117 shares owned by Mr. Boyd’s spouse. Includes 3,000,000 shares of our common stock held by WSBGPT that are pledged or held in a margin account. Also includes 1,599,282 shares issuable pursuant to options exercisable within 60 days of March 3, 2014; and 127,863 vested Career Restricted Stock Units granted under our Career Share Program, each representing a contingent right to receive one share of our common stock. With respect to the 212,654 shares held by BG-09 Limited Partnership, WSBGPT does not hold voting power and WSBGPT shares dispositive power with the Marianne E. Boyd Gaming Properties Trust. Mr. Boyd disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares owned by his spouse.
(3) Includes 1,859,802 shares of our common stock held by the Marianne E. Boyd Gaming Properties Trust (“MBGPT”), of which Ms. Johnson is trustee, settlor and beneficiary; 37,332 shares held by the Aysia Lynn Boyd Education Trust, of which Ms. Johnson is a trustee; 37,332 shares held by the Taylor Joseph Boyd Education Trust, of which Ms. Johnson is a trustee; 36,042 shares held by the William Samuel Boyd Education Trust, of which Ms. Johnson is a trustee; 37,332 shares held by the Samuel Joseph Boyd, Jr. Education Trust, of which Ms. Johnson is a trustee; 37,332 shares held by the T’Mir Kathleen Boyd Education Trust, of which Ms. Johnson is a trustee; 35,842 shares held by the Josef William Boyd Education Trust, of which Ms. Johnson is a trustee; 21,934 shares held by the Justin Boyd Education Trust, of which Ms. Johnson is a trustee; 91,324 shares held by the Johnson Children’s Trust, dated June 24, 1996, Bruno Mark, trustee; 130,247 shares held by the William R. Boyd and Myong Boyd Children’s Trust, dated August 1, 1993, of which Ms. Johnson is the trustee; 5,812,040 shares held by the BG-00 Limited Partnership, of which MBGPT is the general partner; and 212,654 shares held by the BG-09 Limited Partnership, of which MBGPT and WSBGPT are general partners. Includes 6,055,103 shares of our common stock held by MBGPT and BG-00 Limited Partnership, of which MBGPT is the general partner, that are pledged or held in a margin account. Also includes 458,374 shares issuable pursuant to options exercisable within 60 days of March 3, 2014; and 30,337 vested Career Restricted Stock Units granted under our Career Share Program, each representing a contingent right to receive one share of common stock. With respect to the 212,654 shares held by the BG-09 Limited Partnership, MBGPT holds sole voting power, and MBGPT shares dispositive power with WSBGPT. Ms. Johnson disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by the above referenced Education Trusts, the Johnson Children’s Trust, the William R. Boyd and Myong Boyd Children’s Trust, the above referenced Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts and the above referenced Limited Partnerships, except to the extent of her pecuniary interests in a trust or other entity that owns such shares.
(4) Includes 2,049,660 shares of our common stock held by the William R. Boyd Gaming Properties Trust, of which Mr. Boyd is trustee, settlor and beneficiary; and 37,931 shares held by the Sean William Johnson Education Trust, of which Mr. Boyd is trustee. Also includes 255,725 shares of our common stock issuable pursuant to options exercisable within 60 days of March 3, 2014. Mr. Boyd disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by the Sean William Johnson Education Trust.
(5) Includes 325 shares of our common stock owned by Mr. Smith’s wife. Also includes 1,197,599 shares issuable pursuant to options exercisable within 60 days of March 3, 2014.
(6) Includes 252,769 shares of our common stock held by the Robert L. Boughner Investment Trust, of which Mr. Boughner is trustee. Includes 696,821 shares issuable pursuant to options exercisable within 60 days of March 3, 2014; and 135,823 vested Career Restricted Stock Units granted under our Career Shares Program, each representing a contingent right to receive one share of our common stock.
(7) Includes 5,000 shares of our common stock issuable pursuant to options exercisable within 60 days of March 3, 2014. Includes 67,902 restricted stock units that were fully vested upon grant and will be paid in shares of our common stock (on a 1-for-1 basis) upon cessation of service on the board of directors.
(8) Includes 1,000 shares of our common stock issuable pursuant to options exercisable within 60 days of March 3, 2014. Includes 67,902 restricted stock units that were fully vested upon grant and will be paid in shares of our common stock (on a 1-for-1 basis) upon cessation of service on the board of directors.
(9) Includes 10,183 shares of our common stock held by the Frederick J. and Dorothy M Schwab TR UA 59-1128945, Sun Trust Bank, Atlanta, Georgia, trustee. Includes 2,000 shares of our common stock issuable pursuant to options exercisable within 60 days of March 3, 2014. Also, includes 67,902 restricted stock units that were fully vested upon grant and will be paid in shares of our common stock (on a 1-for-1 basis) upon cessation of service on the board of directors.
(10) Includes 1,000 shares of our common stock issuable pursuant to options exercisable within 60 days of March 3, 2014. Includes 67,902 restricted stock units that were fully vested upon grant and will be paid in shares of our common stock (on a 1-for-1 basis) upon cessation of service on the board of directors.

 

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(11) Includes 4,267 shares of our common stock held by the I.R.A. FBO Veronica Wilson, Pershing LLC, as custodian; and 1,000 shares of our common stock issuable pursuant to options exercisable within 60 days of March 3, 2014. Also, includes 67,902 restricted stock units that were fully vested upon grant and will be paid in shares of our common stock (on a 1-for-1 basis) upon cessation of service on the board of directors.
(12) Includes 1,500 shares of our common stock held by the Spadaforclay Group Inc. Defined Benefit Pension Plan, dated January 1, 2005, of which Ms. Spadafor is trustee; and 1,500 shares of our common stock held by the 2012 Trust UAD 6/1/12, of which Ms. Spadafor is trustee. Also, includes 56,621 restricted stock units that were fully vested upon grant and will be paid in shares of our common stock (on a 1-for-1 basis) upon cessation of service on the board of directors.
(13) Includes 24,075 restricted stock units that were fully vested upon grant and will be paid in shares of our common stock (on a 1-for-1 basis) upon cessation of service on the board of directors.
(14) Includes 94,414 shares of our common stock held by the Paul J. Chakmak and M. Stephanie Chakmak Family Trust, of which Mr. Chakmak is trustee, settlor and beneficiary; 15,000 shares of our common stock held by the Charles Schwab I.R.A. C/F Paul J. Chakmak; and 5,000 shares of our common stock held by the Charles Schwab I.R.A. C/F Mr. Chakmak’s wife. Also includes 476,284 shares of our common stock issuable pursuant to options exercisable within 60 days of March 3, 2014.
(15) Includes 20,500 shares of our common stock owned by Mr. Hirsberg’s wife. Also includes 100,511 shares of our common stock issuable pursuant to options exercisable within 60 days of March 3, 2014.
(16) Includes 5,024,426 shares of our common stock issuable pursuant to options exercisable within 60 days of March 3, 2014. Also includes 9,055,103 shares of our common stock which are pledged or held in a margin account. Also includes 347,543 vested Career Restricted Stock Units granted under our Career Share Program, each representing a contingent right to receive one share of our common stock; and 420,206 restricted stock units that were fully vested upon grant and will be paid in shares of our common stock (on a 1-for-1 basis) upon cessation of the holder’s service on the board of directors.
(17) Based solely on information contained in Schedule 13G, Amendment 1, filed with the SEC on February 14, 2014 by PAR Investment Partners, L.P., PAR Group, L.P. and PAR Capital Management, Inc. (collectively referred to as “PAR”). PAR has sole dispositive and voting power of 6,907,300 shares.
(18) Based solely on information contained in Schedule 13G, filed with the SEC on January 28, 2014 by BlackRock, Inc. (“BlackRock”). The Schedule 13G provides that (i) BlackRock is a parent holding company or control person, and (ii) BlackRock, through its subsidiaries identified therein, has sole voting power with respect to 6,281,511 shares and sole dispositive power over 6,467,010 shares.

 

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Director Independence

We are committed to having sound corporate governance principles and maintaining our integrity in the marketplace. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines and our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics are available on our website at www.boydgaming.com. We will also provide a paper copy of this information to stockholders upon written request. Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applies to each of our directors, officers and employees.

Our board of directors has determined that each of Richard E. Flaherty, Thomas V. Girardi, Billy G. McCoy, Frederick J. Schwab, Christine J. Spadafor, Peter M. Thomas and Veronica J. Wilson is “independent,” as defined in Section 303A of the NYSE Listed Company Manual and within the meaning of our director independence standards (detailed below). As discussed below in Proposal 1, Election of Directors, Mr. Schwab is retiring from the board of directors at the end of his current term and is not standing for re-election at the Annual Meeting.

To be considered “independent,” a director must be determined, by resolution of our board of directors as a whole, after due deliberation, to have no material relationship with the Company other than as a director. In each case, our board of directors shall broadly consider all relevant facts and circumstances and shall apply the following standards:

 

  1. a director who is an employee, or whose immediate family member is an executive officer, of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is not “independent” until three years after the end of such employment relationship;

 

  2. a director who receives, or whose immediate family member receives, more than $120,000 per year in direct compensation from the Company or any of its subsidiaries, other than director and committee fees and pension or other forms of deferred compensation for prior service (provided such compensation is not contingent in any way on continued service), is not “independent” until three years after he or she ceases to receive more than $120,000 per year in such compensation;

 

  3. a director who is affiliated with or employed by, or whose immediate family member is affiliated with or employed in a professional capacity by, a present or former internal or external auditor of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is not “independent” until three years after the end of the affiliation or the employment or auditing relationship;

 

  4. a director who is employed, or whose immediate family member is employed, as an executive officer of another company where any of the Company’s or any of its subsidiaries’ present executives serve on that company’s compensation committee is not “independent” until three years after the end of such service or the employment relationship;

 

  5. a director who is an executive officer or an employee, or whose immediate family member is an executive officer, of a company (which does not include chartable entities) that makes payments to, or receives payments from, the Company or any of its subsidiaries for property or services in an amount which, in any single fiscal year, exceeds the greater of $1.0 million, or 2% of such other company’s consolidated gross revenues, is not “independent” until three years after falling below such threshold; and

 

  6. any director that has a material relationship with the Company shall not be independent. Any relationship not required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), shall be presumptively not material. For relationships not covered by the preceding sentence, the determination of whether the relationship is material or not, and therefore whether the director would be independent or not, shall be made by the board of directors. We would explain in the next proxy statement the basis for any board determination that a relationship is immaterial despite the fact that it does not meet the categorical standards of immateriality set forth above.

In making its independence determination regarding Mr. Thomas, the board of directors considered, among other things, the transactions between the Company and Switch, LLC (“Switch”) and its majority-owned subsidiary, Switch Business Solutions, LLC (“SBS”) described in the section of this proxy statement titled “Transactions with Related Persons.” In determining that Mr. Thomas is “independent,” our board of directors considered the following facts and circumstances (without giving one factor any more significance than another), among others: (i) that the transactions with Switch and SBS were negotiated on an arm’s-length basis, and are ordinary course, commercial transactions; (ii) Mr. Thomas’ limited ownership interest in Switch and SBS; (iii) the passive nature of Mr. Thomas’ ownership and involvement in Switch and SBS, including that he is neither an officer nor employee of SBS or Switch, he is not a

 

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member of SBS and is a non-managing member of Switch, and he does not have an active role in providing services to either entity; (iv) the immaterial dollar amounts that we, or our subsidiaries paid (or are expected to pay in fiscal year 2014) to Switch and SBS and the competitive rates at which such amounts were paid; and (v) Mr. Thomas’ personal net worth. Additionally the board of directors considered the nature and scope of the relationship of Mr. Thomas’ sibling with Switch, which is further discussed below under “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance; Transactions with Related Persons; Policies and Procedures Regarding Transactions with Related Persons—Transactions with Related Persons.”

Selection of Directors

Stockholder Nominations

The policy of our Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee is to consider properly submitted stockholder nominations for candidates for membership on the board of directors as described below under “Identifying and Evaluating Nominees for Directors.” In evaluating such nominations, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will address the membership criteria set forth under “Director Qualifications.” Any stockholder nominations proposed for consideration by the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee should include the nominee’s name and qualifications for membership on the board of directors and should be addressed to:

Boyd Gaming Corporation

3883 Howard Hughes Parkway, Ninth Floor, Las Vegas, Nevada 89169

Attn: Brian A. Larson, Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel

In addition, our Amended and Restated Bylaws permit stockholders to nominate individuals for consideration in director elections at an annual stockholder meeting. Pursuant to our Amended and Restated Bylaws, in order to make such a nomination, a stockholder is required to, not less than 60 days prior to the date of the annual meeting of stockholders, deliver a notice to our Corporate Secretary setting forth:

 

   

the name, age, business address and the residence address of each nominee proposed in such notice;

 

   

the principal occupation or employment of each such nominee;

 

   

the number of shares of capital stock of the Company that are beneficially owned by each such nominee; and

 

   

such other information concerning each such nominee as would be required, under the rules of the SEC, to be disclosed in a proxy statement soliciting proxies for the election of such nominees pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act.

A nomination notice must include a signed consent of each such nominee to serve as a member of our board of directors, if elected. In the event that a person is validly designated as a nominee in accordance with our Amended and Restated Bylaws and thereafter becomes unable or unwilling to stand for election to the board of directors, our board of directors or the stockholder who proposed such nominee, as the case may be, may designate a substitute nominee.

Director Qualifications

Our Corporate Governance Guidelines contain membership criteria that apply to nominees for a position on our board of directors. Under these criteria, members of our board of directors should possess certain core competencies, some of which may include broad experience in business, finance or administration, familiarity with national and international business matters, and familiarity with the gaming industry. In addition to having one or more of these core competencies, members of our board of directors are identified and considered on the basis of knowledge, experience, integrity, diversity, leadership, reputation, and ability to understand our business.

Specifically, in concluding that each of our eleven directors who are standing for re-election should continue to serve on our board of directors, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee also considered the following individual attributes, in addition to the general overall considerations mentioned above:

(i) the significant career-long contributions and leadership of our Executive Chairman with respect to the Company and the gaming industry, which spans more than 40 years, in addition to his background in the legal profession; (ii) the in depth and strategic operations, management and financial knowledge of the gaming industry that Mr. Smith, our President and Chief Executive Officer, possesses from his over 25 years in the gaming industry, including over 20 years with the Company; (iii) the over 30 years of gaming, operations and

 

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complex development related experience that Mr. Boughner has with the Company; (iv) the significant “ground up” operations and management experience with the Company, including more than 20 years as a member of our board of directors, which Ms. Johnson contributes coupled with her service on other boards and community organizations; (v) the near 30 years of experience in the gaming industry with the Company, including various administrative and operational roles, as well as over 20 years of service on our board of directors, that Mr. William R. Boyd provides; (vi) the broad business and management experiences across other industries, including a sound foundation for understanding and applying strategic and operational issues and challenges, both domestically and internationally, of Ms. Spadafor; (vii) the extensive senior operations management and financial accounting and controllership expertise within the gaming industry of Ms. Wilson; (viii) the leadership, organizational and strategic focus and experience from General McCoy’s decorated military career, as well as his experience in the gaming industry and his past service as a member and Chairman of the board of directors of a public company; (ix) the extensive experience in the banking and finance industry of Mr. Thomas, including his past service on the board of the Los Angeles Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, and his service on other public company boards; (x) the acumen and professional experience of Mr. Girardi from his more than 45 years as a leading trial attorney and his service on the board of directors of other public companies; and (xi) the distinguished career in financial accounting academia from Dr. Flaherty’s more than 30 years of service as a university faculty member, including his 10 years of administrative leadership experience from serving as dean of two different business schools.

Identifying and Evaluating Nominees for Directors

Our Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee utilizes a variety of methods for identifying and evaluating nominees for director. Our Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee has the duty of regularly assessing the composition of our board of directors, including size of our board of directors, diversity, age, skills and experience in the context of the needs of our board of directors. In addition, our Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee also has the duty of identifying individuals qualified to become members of the board of directors. Candidates may come to the attention of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee through current members of our board of directors, professional search firms, stockholders or other persons. These candidates will be evaluated by our Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and may be considered at any point during the year. As described above, our Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will consider properly submitted stockholder nominations for candidates for our board of directors. Following verification of the stockholder status of persons proposing candidates, recommendations will be aggregated and considered by our Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. If any materials are provided by a stockholder in connection with the nomination of a director candidate, such materials will be forwarded to our Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. Stockholder nominees that comply with our nomination procedures will receive the same consideration that our Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee nominees receive.

We have previously reviewed, and our Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee may in the future review, materials provided by professional search firms or other parties to identify, evaluate and recruit potential director nominees who are not proposed by a stockholder. In addition, a professional search firm may be used to make initial contact with potential candidates to assess, among other things, their availability, fit and major strengths.

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee considers diversity as one of many factors in the identification and evaluation of potential director nominees. The overriding principle guiding our director nomination process is a desire to ensure that our board of directors as a whole collectively serves the interests of our stockholders. We believe that having diverse skills, experiences and perspectives represented on the board provides the most value to the Company and its stockholders. When the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee evaluates diversity of director nominees, it may consider the following elements, among others, without assigning specific weights to any particular element:

 

   

Gender and ethnicity;

 

   

Financial and accounting acumen;

 

   

Personal and professional integrity;

 

   

Business or management experience; and

 

   

Leadership and strategic planning experience.

 

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The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee annually performs an assessment of the composition of the board of directors regarding age, skills and experience and the effectiveness of its efforts to consider diversity in its director nomination process. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee believes its director nomination process, including its policy of considering diversity in that process, has led to a board of directors with diverse backgrounds and experiences that collectively serves the interests of our stockholders well.

Board Leadership and Presiding Director

We have a separate Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors. William S. Boyd serves as our Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Keith E. Smith serves as our President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Smith also serves as a director, an arrangement that the Company believes is effective to ensure that relevant information is made available directly from management to the board of directors. We believe this separation of responsibilities provides an appropriate delegation of duties and responsibilities. Our Executive Chairman concentrates on the strategic opportunities and direction of the board of directors and the Company as well as further engages in customer and employee relations. Mr. Boyd’s long history with the Company and the critical role that he has played in the development of the Company’s business make him particularly well suited to act as a link between the board of directors and the rest of management. While in the role of our President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Smith focuses on the management and coordination of the long and near-term operational performance and efforts of the Company in alignment with the strategic guidance and direction offered from the board of directors.

Another important component of the board of directors’ leadership structure is the role of the Presiding Director. The Presiding Director is a non-management director designated by the independent directors to chair the board of directors’ non-management director sessions, which are expected to occur at least three times per year. The Presiding Director’s other responsibilities include advising the Executive Chairman and the chairmen of the committees with respect to agendas and informational needs and to advise with respect to the selection of chairmen of committees. The Presiding Director serves for a one-year term, provided that no Presiding Director serves for more than three years in any five-year period. Our independent directors have designated Peter M. Thomas as our current Presiding Director.

Stockholder Communication with Directors

Our stockholders and other interested parties may communicate with our board of directors and the Presiding Director by writing to:

Boyd Gaming Corporation

3883 Howard Hughes Parkway, Ninth Floor, Las Vegas, Nevada 89169

Attn: Brian A. Larson, Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel

Communications will be reviewed by our General Counsel and if they are relevant to, and consistent with, our operations and policies, they will be forwarded to our board of directors or the Presiding Director, as applicable.

Board Committees

Our board of directors has an Audit Committee, a Compensation and Stock Option Committee and a Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. Our board of directors has adopted a written charter for each of these committees, which are available on our website at www.boydgaming.com.

Audit Committee.    The functions of the Audit Committee include reviewing and supervising our financial controls, appointing our independent registered public accounting firm, reviewing our books and accounts, meeting with our officers regarding our financial controls, acting upon recommendations of our auditors and taking such further actions as the Audit Committee deems necessary to complete an audit of our books and accounts. Each of the members of the Audit Committee, Mr. Schwab, Dr. Flaherty, Ms. Spadafor, Mr. Thomas and Ms. Wilson, is “independent,” as defined in Section 303A of the NYSE Listed Company Manual and Rule 10A-3(b)(1) of the Exchange Act, and the board of directors has determined that all of the members of the Audit Committee are “audit committee financial experts” as that term is defined in Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K of the Exchange Act. The Audit Committee was established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act.

 

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Compensation and Stock Option Committee.    The functions of the Compensation and Stock Option Committee (the “Compensation Committee”) include reviewing with management cash and other compensation policies for employees, making recommendations to the board of directors regarding compensation matters, determining compensation for the Chief Executive Officer and providing oversight of our compensation philosophy as described under “Executive Officer and Director Compensation—Compensation Discussion and Analysis.” In addition, the Compensation Committee administers the Company’s stock plans and, within the terms of the respective stock plan, determines the terms and conditions of issuances thereunder. Each of the members of the Compensation Committee, Mr. Girardi, General McCoy and Mr. Schwab, is “independent” as defined in Section 303A of the NYSE Listed Company Manual.

Our Compensation Committee, independent of management, determines the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer, Keith E. Smith. Mr. Smith is a Named Executive Officer and a member of our eight (8) member management committee (“Management Committee”). For the other Named Executive Officers and members of our Management Committee, the Chief Executive Officer made compensation recommendations to our Compensation Committee for its consideration and approval as described under “Executive Officer and Director Compensation—Compensation Discussion and Analysis.” The Compensation Committee believes that input from both our Chief Executive Officer and from compensation consultants retained from time to time provides useful information and points of view to assist it in making decisions on compensation. Additionally, pursuant to its charter, the Compensation Committee may, from time to time, form and delegate authority to subcommittees when appropriate, although no such subcommittees were formed or utilized during 2013.

The Compensation Committee has the sole authority to retain and terminate any consultant that it uses to assist it in evaluating various elements of our compensation programs and making compensation determinations. The Compensation Committee has the sole authority to approve that consultant’s fees and other retention terms. The Compensation Committee also has the authority to obtain advice and assistance from such other advisors that it deems necessary or appropriate. The Compensation Committee continued its engagement of Exequity, LLP (“Exequity”) in 2013 to provide compensation related analysis and consulting services. Pursuant to our request, Exequity provided analysis in 2013 on certain of our compensation related programs and policies as a part of an executive compensation study, all as further discussed below in our Compensation Discussion and Analysis. During 2013, a representative of Exequity also participated in a meeting of the Compensation Committee. Additionally, for 2013, the Compensation Committee reviewed whether the work of Exequity as a compensation consultant raised any conflict of interest or independence issues, taking into consideration all relevant factors, including those set forth in Rule 10C-1(b)(4)(i) through (vi) under the Exchange Act. The Compensation Committee ultimately determined, based on its review of such factors, that the work of Exequity has not created any conflict of interest.

Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee.    The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee’s functions include assisting the board of directors in identifying qualified individuals to become members of the board of directors, determining the composition and compensation of the board of directors and its committees, conducting annual reviews of each director’s independence and making recommendations to the board of directors based on its findings, recommending to the board of directors the director nominees for election at the annual meeting of stockholders, establishing and monitoring a process of assessing the board of directors’ effectiveness, and developing and recommending to the board of directors and implementing a set of corporate governance principals and procedures applicable to the Company. During 2013, Exequity was also engaged to provide analysis of our outside director’s compensation programs, and in furtherance of that engagement, a representative of Exequity participated in a meeting of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. Each of the members of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, General McCoy, Mr. Girardi, Ms. Spadafor and Mr. Thomas, is “independent” as defined in Section 303A of the NYSE Listed Company Manual.

Risk Management

The board of directors is actively involved in the ongoing oversight and review of material risks and resultant considerations and potential impacts that exist within our Company. These risks may include, among others, risks associated with the Company’s financial condition, liquidity, operating performance and various regulatory impacts and compliance. The board of directors’ oversight is primarily managed and coordinated through the board committees, such as the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. Senior management of the Company is responsible for advising and responding to the board

 

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of directors and its committees on management’s assessment of potential material risks facing the Company. The entire board of directors is responsible for reviewing and overseeing the Company’s internal risk management processes and policies to help ensure that the Company’s corporate strategy is functioning as directed and that necessary steps are taken to foster a culture of risk awareness and risk-adjusted decision making throughout the Company.

As it relates to risk oversight, the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee each play an important role. As provided in the charter for the Audit Committee, the Audit Committee is required to review with management the Company’s major financial and other risk exposures and the steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures. The Audit Committee is also responsible for, among other things, assisting the board of directors in fulfilling their oversight responsibility of the integrity of the Company’s financial statements and accounting and financial reporting processes by reviewing the financial information provided to stockholders and others, and the system of internal controls which management and the board of directors have established. As further discussed below, the Compensation Committee, among other things, periodically reviews with management the Company’s compensation policies and attempts to ensure that the Company’s compensation policies reinforce business strategies and objectives for enhanced stockholder value without creating risks that may have a material adverse effect on the Company. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, among other things, is responsible for developing and recommending to the board of directors, and implementing and monitoring compliance with, a code of business conduct for directors, officers and employees and a set of corporate governance principals.

Various management-led committees, such as the Management Committee, are responsible for coordinating with the committees of the board of directors with respect to oversight and management of specific risks. For example, our Corporate Compliance Committee, which is responsible for overseeing risk associated with the Company’s gaming and regulatory requirements, updates and reports on its significant deliberations and findings to the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. In turn, each board committee is responsible for providing reports and updates to the entire board of directors on any significant risks reviewed within the scope of its responsibility.

Risk Consideration in Our Compensation Programs

Our Compensation Committee, together with management, periodically reviews the compensation policies and practices for employees across the Company, including our Named Executive Officers and members of our Management Committee, and considers how they relate to material risks facing the Company. In this review, the Compensation Committee and our management, together with input and recommendations from our compensation consultants, consider the different types of incentive compensation arrangements used across the Company in light of such risks. We also consider whether the design of these arrangements, together with other policies and practices of the Company, operate to mitigate the potential for excessive risk-taking.

Based upon this review, our management concluded, and the Compensation Committee concurred, that based on a combination of factors, our compensation policies and practices do not incentivize excessive risk-taking that could have a material adverse effect on the Company. The following are among the factors considered in reaching this conclusion:

 

   

our compensation plans and programs generally provide potential rewards based on a balanced combination of both the short-term and long-term goals of the Company, thereby mitigating the potential for rewarding short-term results that appear in isolation to be favorable;

 

   

none of our business units carry a disproportionate portion of our risk profile or vary significantly from the Company’s overall risk and reward structure;

 

   

the manner in which we structure our compensation, including our belief that the mix of compensation that we provide helps us to mitigate risk by providing compensation that depends in part on the long-term success of the Company;

 

   

we have Stock Ownership Guidelines for our directors and senior officers, including the members of our Management Committee, which we believe focuses our leadership on long-term stock price appreciation and sustainability; and

 

   

all of the equity awards granted to employees under the Company’s equity-based plans are subject to multi-year time vesting, which requires an employee to commit to a longer period of employment for such awards to be valuable, and certain of our equity awards are contingent upon the Company’s performance measured over multiple years.

 

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Compensation and Stock Option Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

During 2013, members of our Compensation Committee included Mr. Girardi, General McCoy, and Mr. Schwab. None of the Company’s executive officers serves as a director or member of the compensation committee (or other board committee performing equivalent functions) of another entity that has one or more executive officers serving as a director of the Company or on the Company’s Compensation Committee.

 

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EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

Overview

We compensate our Named Executive Officers (as identified in the Summary Compensation Table below) primarily through base salary and short and long-term incentive compensation. Our executive compensation practices are designed to be competitive with comparable employers in our industry, to closely align compensation with our annual objectives and long-term goals, to reward above-average corporate performance, to recognize individual initiative and achievements, and to assist us in attracting and retaining qualified executives.

Executive Summary

In consideration of the continuing, but inconsistent, economic recovery from the national recession and the impacts that it has had on our industry and business, the Compensation Committee generally continued with a conservative approach to our compensation programs in fiscal year 2013. Highlighted below are some of the key actions and decisions with respect to our executive compensation programs for fiscal year 2013, as approved by our Compensation Committee following input, analysis and recommendations from management and our compensation consultant, Exequity.

 

   

2013 Compensation Review.    During late 2012, the Compensation Committee conducted a detailed analysis of our Named Executive Officers’ compensation to evaluate the overall competitiveness and effectiveness of our executive compensation programs. This analysis found that even with the prior year adjustments in 2012 and 2011, our Named Executive Officers’ executive compensation generally remained below average compared to peer core gaming companies.

 

   

Base Salary.    The base salaries of our Named Executive Officers remained unchanged in 2013, from base salaries in effect for 2012. For Messrs. Boyd, Smith and Boughner, our Executive Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Business Development Officer, respectively, this represented a fifth straight year that their annual base salaries remained frozen.

 

   

Short-Term Bonus Plan.    For 2013, the Compensation Committee approved potential short-term cash bonus awards payable based on specific, objective performance criteria measured relative to the Company’s operating budget, as approved by the board of directors. In fiscal year 2013, our actual corporate performance achieved approximately 91% of our target operating budget. Accordingly, the Compensation Committee approved the payment of short-term bonuses to our Named Executive Officers in accordance with the plan, resulting in short-term bonus payments to our Named Executive Officers of approximately 78% of each of their respective target award amounts.

 

   

Equity Compensation.    In 2013, the Compensation Committee approved long-term incentive equity compensation for our Named Executive Officers. The Compensation Committee granted our Named Executive Officers equity awards that allocated roughly one-third of the intended value of the equity compensation to each of stock options, restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and performance-based restricted stock units (“Performance Shares”). After considering market data and Exequity’s executive compensation review in 2013, the number of shares represented by these equity compensation awards to our Named Executive Officers in 2013 was the same number of shares as had been granted in 2012, except with respect to Mr. Hirsberg. For Mr. Hirsberg in 2013, the number of shares was increased based on a comparison of Mr. Hirsberg’s long term incentive compensation relative to that of our peer group.

 

   

2013 Special Equity Bonus—Peninsula.    In February 2013, the Compensation Committee approved the grant of a special bonus to each member of our Management Committee, including to each of our Named Executive Officers, in recognition of the successful negotiation, execution and completion of the acquisition of Peninsula Gaming, LLC (“Peninsula”) and its five operating casino properties. The Peninsula acquisition closed on November 20, 2012. The Peninsula transaction represents a critical and transformative long-term strategic transaction for us that provides important growth and deleveraging opportunities for the Company. The special bonuses were comprised of RSU awards that cliff vest at the end of three years. We believe an award denominated in stock with a multi-year vesting period will best link compensation to the integration efforts associated with the Peninsula acquisition.

 

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Risk Considerations.    As a part of its review in 2013 of our compensation practices and policies, the Compensation Committee evaluated risks associated with our compensation programs. As described above under the section Risk Considerations in Our Compensation Programs, the Compensation Committee undertook an annual evaluation of our compensation risk. The Compensation Committee concluded that our compensation policies and practices for fiscal year 2013 do not create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.

 

   

2014 Compensation.    In late 2013, in consultation with Exequity, the Compensation Committee again undertook a detailed review of each of the elements of our Named Executive Officers compensation packages to evaluate, and as appropriate, update the overall competitiveness and effectiveness of our executive compensation programs. The Compensation Committee carefully considered several factors, including the expanded scope of individual roles and responsibilities within the Company of our senior executive team as we work to run our business more efficiently, the significant and strategic achievements and accomplishments of the Company in recent years, and the ongoing economic recovery. For 2014, in an effort to remain competitive in its compensation packages and recognize achievements and leadership, the Compensation Committee approved base salary increases for all of our Named Executive Officers as well as increases to the short-term bonus target awards and adjustments to the potential payout scales for our Named Executive Officers that better align the Company’s short-term bonus plan with our bonus program in effect prior to the recession and with current competitive norms.

Consideration of Say-on-Pay.

The Company’s most recent advisory vote on executive compensation was held at the 2011 Annual Meeting, where approximately 85% of the votes cast on the advisory vote on executive compensation proposal were in favor of our Named Executive Officer compensation as disclosed in the proxy statement for our 2011 Annual Meeting, and, as a result, our Named Executive Officer compensation was approved. The board of directors and Compensation Committee reviewed these final vote results and determined that, given the significant level of support, no changes to our executive compensation policies and decisions were necessary at that time based on the vote results. Nevertheless, as discussed in this Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the Compensation Committee has made important changes to various components of our executive compensation over the last three years, which demonstrate our ongoing commitment to ensure our executive compensation remains aligned with the interests of our stockholders and current market practices.

Process.

Our compensation process generally consists of establishing an overall compensation target for each senior executive and then allocating that compensation among base salary and short-term and long-term incentive compensation. At the senior-most corporate levels, we designed the incentive compensation to primarily reward company-wide performance. In establishing compensation, our Compensation Committee, among other things:

 

   

reviews with management our cash and other compensation policies for all of our employees;

 

   

reviews the performance of our Named Executive Officers and all components of their compensation;

 

   

evaluates the effectiveness of our overall executive compensation program on a periodic basis; and

 

   

administers our stock and bonus plans and, within the terms of the respective plan, determines the terms and conditions of the issuances thereunder.

In addition, our Compensation Committee annually reviews and approves our corporate goals and objectives relative to our Chief Executive Officer’s compensation, evaluates his compensation in light of such goals and objectives, and has the sole authority to set the Chief Executive Officer’s compensation based on this evaluation. For 2013, the Compensation Committee, independent of management, determined the compensation arrangements for our Chief Executive Officer, Keith E. Smith. The Compensation Committee approved the compensation arrangements of the other Named Executive Officers after reviewing the recommendations of our Chief Executive Officer. In addition to its annual review of our compensation levels, our Compensation Committee may, from time to time, review our compensation practices and programs and generally has the authority, subject to any existing contractual or other rights of participants, to modify or terminate those practices and programs.

 

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We have historically engaged compensation consultants to assist us in the evaluation of our compensation practices and programs. In 2013, Exequity was engaged to provide a compensation study, consistent with prior years, and to assist the Compensation Committee in its review and evaluation of our executive compensation programs generally.

Objectives of our Compensation Program

Our compensation program is designed to reward an executive officer’s current contribution to the Company, as well as the officer’s impact and involvement in our future performance. The compensation of our Named Executive Officers is set at levels that are intended to be competitive with other leading companies in the gaming and hospitality industries, which generally fall into three categories: (i) core gaming companies; (ii) gaming technology/equipment companies; and (iii) resort hotel operator companies.

In late 2012, in connection with its approval of short-term bonus awards and maintenance of base salaries for 2013, the Compensation Committee generally compared the compensation paid to our Named Executive Officers with the compensation paid to executive officers at Ameristar Casinos, Inc.; Churchill Downs, Inc.; Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc.; Las Vegas Sands Corp.; MGM Resorts International; Penn National Gaming, Inc.; Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc.; Wynn Resorts, Ltd.; Bally Technologies, Inc.; International Game Technology; Scientific Games Corp.; WMS Industries, Inc.; Choice Hotels International, Inc.; Gaylord Entertainment, Co.; Hyatt Hotels Corp.; Life Time Fitness, Inc.; Vail Resorts, Inc.; and Wyndham Worldwide Corp.

Additionally, in subsequently reviewing long-term incentive equity compensation for 2013 and evaluating the overall competitiveness and effectiveness of our executive compensation programs, the Compensation Committee reviewed and modified this peer group pool to reflect changes both to our Company and within our related industries. After considering General Industry Classification Standards, range of peer company revenues and “peer-of-peer” analysis for our core gaming peers, our modified peer group included: Ameristar Casinos, Inc.; Caesars Entertainment; Churchill Downs, Inc.; Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc.; Las Vegas Sands Corp.; MGM Resorts International; Penn National Gaming, Inc.; Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc.; Wynn Resorts, Ltd.; Bally Technologies, Inc.; Hyatt Hotels Corp.; International Game Technology; Scientific Games Corp.; Starwood Hotels & Resorts; Vail Resorts, Inc.; and Wyndham Worldwide Corp.

The Compensation Committee has generally sought to ensure that each of our Named Executive Officer’s compensation is competitive with similarly situated executives at other companies within the applicable comparative group. The Compensation Committee also considers general market surveys and trends as part of the various factors it reviews in setting executive compensation. This practice allows for comparison both to direct gaming companies as well as to the broad leisure sector, and offers the Compensation Committee multiple vantage points from which to evaluate compensation. While the Compensation Committee reviews the compensation levels of executives at comparable companies and generally targets our executive management’s compensation toward the 50th percentile of the Company’s peer group, the Compensation Committee does not benchmark, and the compensation packages of our Named Executive Officers are not tied to a relative ranking of compensation against other companies or that peer group.

Our compensation program is intended to recognize achievement and leadership when appropriate and further align the interests of our Named Executive Officers with those of our stockholders, including with respect to our future performance and achievement of strategic objectives. Accordingly, the compensation of our Named Executive Officers is based in large part on our recent success and achievements. For example, the Company has recently through strategic acquisitions successfully expanded into six new gaming markets, expanding our total presence to twenty-two gaming entertainment properties. Additionally, the Company has diligently pursued strengthening its balance sheet through divestures of non-core assets, such as the Echelon project (an 87-acre land parcel on the Las Vegas Strip) and our Dania Jai-Alai operation (a pari-mutuel jai-alai facility with approximately 47 acres of related land located in Dania Beach, Broward County, Florida), and through measured efforts to, where appropriate, reduce balances, refinance or extend maturity dates of our corporate indebtedness. This further alignment of interests with our stockholders is exemplified by our long term incentive awards that are entirely equity based, including through the use of Performance Shares as a meaningful component of the long-term incentive equity compensation for our Management Committee, which plays an active and critical role in the leadership and strategy for the development, operations and growth of our Company. During 2013, our Management Committee included certain members of our senior management team, including each of our Named Executive Officers.

 

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Primary Components of our Executive Compensation Program

There are three primary components of our executive compensation program:

 

   

base salary;

 

   

short-term bonus; and

 

   

long-term incentive compensation (equity compensation).

Base Salary.    We provide our Named Executive Officers with a base salary that we believe is competitive and that corresponds and fairly relates to their status and accomplishments, both professionally and within our industry. Salaries are reviewed annually and in certain instances have been adjusted to recognize individual performance, promotions, competitive compensation levels and other subjective factors.

Our Compensation Committee, independent of management, determined the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer, including his base salary. For the other Named Executive Officers, our Chief Executive Officer customarily makes recommendations regarding compensation to our Compensation Committee for their review and approval. Where appropriate, the Compensation Committee and our Chief Executive Officer have historically considered the following factors in establishing or recommending, as applicable, the compensation for our Named Executive Officers:

 

   

the Named Executive Officer’s qualifications, experience, scope of responsibilities, time in a particular role and anticipated future performance;

 

   

the Named Executive Officer’s role within the Company, including, where applicable, the role on various corporate committees, such as the Management Committee, the Corporate Compliance Committee and the Diversity Committee;

 

   

the overall performance of the Named Executive Officer;

 

   

the overall performance of the Company;

 

   

competitive pay practices at other select companies within the gaming and hospitality industries, as identified above; and

 

   

compensation analysis performed for us by our compensation consultants.

With a challenging recessionary period continuing to face our industry at the conclusion of 2012, the Compensation Committee determined that the base salaries of all of our Named Executive Officers would remain unchanged in 2013 at their 2012 levels.

For 2014, the Compensation Committee determined, after consultation with Exequity, review of the objectives of our compensation program and in recognition that the base salaries of Messrs. Boyd, Smith and Boughner had not changed for five consecutive years, that increases to the base salaries for each of our Named Executive Officers were appropriate and are as follows: for Mr. Smith, in the amount of $150,000, bringing his salary to $1,250,000; for Mr. Boughner, in the amount of $25,000, bringing his salary to $1,125,000; for Mr. Boyd, in the amount of $20,000, bringing his salary to $1,020,000; for Mr. Chakmak, in the amount of $15,000, bringing his salary to $765,000; and for Mr. Hirsberg, in the amount of $10,000, bringing his salary to $495,000.

Short-Term Bonus.    Our Named Executive Officers are eligible to receive short-term (or annual) bonuses under our 2000 Executive Management Incentive Plan (“2000 MIP”). Bonus awards under our 2000 MIP are generally set as a percentage of base salary, with the specific target percentage determined by the participant’s position, level and scope of responsibility within the Company so that highly compensated executives receive a relatively larger percentage of their total compensation in the form of bonuses and other incentive based vehicles.

For 2013, the Compensation Committee continued our compensation practice of awarding cash bonuses based upon achievement of specific, predetermined objective performance targets, as it had for fiscal years 2012 and 2011.

The performance target was performance against our 2013 operating budget, measured based on EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization),1 as approved by the board of directors. For 2013, the approved operating budget was consolidated company EBITDA of $576 million, as adjusted.

 

1  Note, EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. For supplemental financial data and corresponding reconciliation of EBITDA to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), please see Note 18 to our financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013.

 

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For each of our Named Executive Officers, the short-term bonus potential awarded for 2013, as a percentage of base salary, was as follows:

 

Executive

   2013 Threshold
Bonus
    2013 Target
Bonus
    2013 Maximum
Bonus
 

William S. Boyd

     63.75     85     127.50

Keith E. Smith

     82.50     110     165.00

Robert L. Boughner

     63.75     85     127.50

Paul J. Chakmak

     63.75     85     127.50

Josh Hirsberg

     45.00     60     90.00

The minimum or threshold bonus represents approximately 75% of the target bonus award for each Named Executive Officer that could be earned at a performance level of 90% of the approved operating budget. The target bonus represents the target bonus award for each Named Executive Officer that could be earned at a performance level of 100% of the approved operating budget. The maximum bonus represents approximately 150% of the target bonus award for each Named Executive Officer that could be earned at a performance level of at least 120% of the approved operating budget. No short-term bonus awards may be earned for a performance level of less than 90% of the approved operating budget.

Our actual 2013 performance, determined consistent with prior years, resulted in the achievement of approximately 91% of the approved operating budget, exceeding the threshold performance level. As a result, the Compensation Committee approved short-term bonus payments for 2013 representing approximately 78% of each Named Executive Officer’s target bonus award amount. The precise amount of each Named Executive Officer’s bonus is set forth below in the “Non-Equity Inventive Plan Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation Table.

As a part of its review of the elements of our executive compensation programs, current competitive pay practices and in consultation with Exequity, in late 2013, the Compensation Committee approved certain modifications to the Company’s short-term bonus program for 2014. These approved changes included increases to the short-term bonus target awards for our Named Executive Officers and expansion of the potential payout scale, with: (i) the threshold bonuses reflecting achievement of 80% of the target performance level and yielding 50% of the target bonus payout; (ii) target bonuses reflecting achievement between 95-105% of the target performance level; and (iii) a maximum bonus reflecting the achievement of 130% or more of the target performance level and yielding 200% of the target bonus payout. The 2014 potential payout scales are generally similar in structure to those utilized under our annual bonus plan prior to the recession.

For 2014, the Compensation Committee continued its practice of utilizing the achievement of predetermined, objective performance targets for short-term bonus awards and set the target as performance against the 2014 operating budget, as approved by our board of directors, measured based on EBITDA. Additionally, as modified in late 2013, the approved short-term bonus payout parameters for our Named Executive Offers for 2014, as a percentage of their base salaries, are as follows:

 

Executive

   2014 Threshold
Bonus
    2014 Target
Bonus
    2014 Maximum
Bonus
 

William S. Boyd

     47.50     95     190

Keith E. Smith

     75.00     150     300

Robert L. Boughner

     47.50     95     190

Paul J. Chakmak

     47.50     95     190

Josh Hirsberg

     37.50     75     150

The potential award payout levels will be increased or decreased based on the actual achievement relative to our 2014 approved operating budget. No short-term bonus awards would be earned for a performance level of less than 80% of the approved operating budget. A minimum award payout would be earned at a performance level of 80% of the approved budget and would result in a payout award potential of 50% of the Named Executive Officer’s target bonus amount. A target award payout would be earned at a performance level between 95% and 105% of budget. A maximum payout would be earned at a performance level of at least 130% of budget and would result in a payout award potential of 200% of the Named Executive Officer’s target bonus amount.

 

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Long-Term Compensation.    We believe that the long-term compensation component should serve as both an incentive for achieving longer term company performance goals and as a retention tool for our executives. In 2013, as we have done each year since 2008, all of the long-term compensation awards granted to our Named Executive Officers were in the form of equity awards.

Equity Compensation

We believe that a significant component of the compensation paid to our executives over the long-term should be equity-based compensation. We also believe that stock price appreciation and stock ownership in the Company are valuable incentives to our executives and that the grant of equity awards to them serves to further align their interests with the interests of our stockholders as a whole and to encourage them to manage the Company in its best long-term interests.

The Compensation Committee determines the type of equity awards that are to be granted to our Named Executive Officers. Over recent years, these equity awards have consisted of grants under our stock incentive plans of stock options, RSUs and, beginning in 2011, Performance Shares.

In recent years, the Compensation Committee has approved equity awards to our Named Executive Officers comprised of stock options, RSUs and Performance Shares, with approximately one-third of the equity compensation award value split among each of the three types of awards for each Named Executive Officer. Stock options are intended to provide strong alignment with stockholders and only provide value to the executives if the stock price appreciates over the grant price. RSUs provide additional linkage to stock price and serve to promote the retention of our executives. Performance Shares provide reward opportunities for achieving sustained multi-year performance goals as set by our Compensation Committee. Further, Performance Shares are intended to enhance the equity award component of compensation, promote retention and incentivize long-term strategic performance by reducing some of the risks of stock price volatility and tying payout of the award to both time based vesting and measurable performance metrics. Each of these awards is ultimately denominated in shares of our common stock and is earned over three years, thus providing a strong incentive to grow stockholder value.

In 2013, the Compensation Committee again approved equity awards to our Named Executive Officers comprised of stock options, RSUs and Performance Shares, with each award type representing approximately one-third of the equity compensation award value for each Named Executive Officer. The Compensation Committee remains committed to the belief that this mix of stock options, RSUs and Performance Shares in our equity compensation helps to further align the long-term interests of senior management and our stockholders, provides meaningful compensation value and serves as a valuable retention tool.

All equity awards granted as long-term compensation to our Named Executive Officers in 2013 were granted pursuant to our 2002 Stock Incentive Plan as amended and restated as the 2012 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Stock Incentive Plan”). The amendments to and restatement of our Stock Incentive Plan were approved by our stockholders at our 2012 Annual Meeting.

Stock Options, RSUs and Performance Shares

The Compensation Committee has the authority and determines, on a discretionary basis, whether to grant equity awards, as well as the amount and the terms of such awards, based on the Named Executive Officer’s position within the Company.

 

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The stock options granted in 2013 feature a three-year vesting schedule, with one-third of each award vesting on each anniversary of the grant date. The RSUs granted in 2013, other than those granted under the Career Shares Program, feature three-year cliff vesting. The Performance Shares granted in 2013 provide for three-year cliff vesting and are subject to achievement of the three (3) performance metrics for each of our Named Executive Officers. Each performance metric works and is measured independently of the others and includes a minimum (or threshold) performance level, a target performance level and a maximum performance level opportunity. The scale to be applied to each metric is a sliding scale and generally works as follows:

 

Metric Performance Achievement

   Performance Shares Payout
(as % of target award)
 

Below Minimum

     -0-   

Minimum

     50

Target

     100

Maximum (and above)

     200

The three performance metrics associated with the Performance Shares granted to our Named Executive Officers in 2013 are: (i) net revenue growth; (ii) EBITDA growth; and (iii) customer service score. Each of the performance metrics is measured over the three full fiscal years following the date of grant and each performance metric represents one-third ( 1/3) of the shares potentially payable on settlement of the Performance Shares. These are the same performance metrics and value allocations as utilized with our grants of Performance Shares in 2011 and 2012. The measurement period for the Performance Shares granted in 2013 commences on January 1, 2014 and runs through December 31, 2016. The achievement level of each Performance Share metric will determine the final payout of shares under the award at the end of the measurement period. All three metrics must be satisfied at a maximum performance level for the maximum payment of 200% to be earned. If none of the three performance metrics achieves the minimum performance level, then no shares will be earned and awarded. Achievement between the payout points shown in the table above will be interpolated on a linear basis.

The Compensation Committee set specific targets for the three Performance Share metrics, as well as the minimum levels required to receive any share payout and the levels that would earn a maximum payout. The Compensation Committee determined the minimum, target and maximum levels of net revenue growth and EBITDA growth after considering comparable historical and current budgeted revenue and operating income. In setting the customer service score metric, the Compensation Committee also considered historical performance as well as the Company’s goals and expectations with respect to the next three years. The Compensation Committee has determined that the performance metrics were all sufficiently challenging to incentivize performance. The minimum performance levels generally require average performance and are expected to be achieved. The target performance levels are intended to be reasonably achievable and require average or above average performance and the maximum performance levels require extraordinary performance.

In establishing the individual long-term equity compensation awards for 2013, the Compensation Committee analyzed, in consultation with Exequity, the equity compensation target award value for each of our Named Executive Officers, which first had been established in late 2011. Based on historical values of long-term equity compensation awards for our Named Executive Officers in prior years, and the Company’s efforts to remain competitive in its compensation practices, the Compensation Committee determined to grant the same number of stock options, RSUs and Performance Shares to our Named Executive Officers, other than Mr. Hirsberg, in 2013 as it awarded in 2012, notwithstanding that doing so continued to provide awards that trailed peer group competitive practices. For Mr. Hirsberg, in 2013, the Compensation Committee determined that long-term equity compensation for Mr. Hirsberg should be increased in order to generally make his long-term equity compensation more competitive with that of his peers at other companies, and as a result approved an increased equity incentive award for him, derived from an approximate long term incentive target valuation of $650,000.

The number of stock options, RSUs and Performance Shares awarded to each Named Executive Officer is set forth below in the Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table. These figures represent a theoretical grant date value, but the actual value of these awards will fluctuate with our stock price and, in the case of Performance Shares, the extent we achieve, if at all, our multi-year performance goals. The Compensation Committee believes that the current equity compensation target award values are appropriate to ensure that our Named Executive Officers are adequately compensated in light of current market practices, remain motivated and focused on providing strong management as the economy continues to stabilize, and remain committed to the long-term goals and success of the Company and its stockholders.

 

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Our Compensation Committee grants equity awards pursuant to its policy of making such grants, if at all, on the fifth business day following our release of earnings for the third quarter of each year, except in the case of our non-employee directors, new hires or other special situations. As an example of special situations, as discussed below, in February 2013, the Compensation Committee approved special bonus RSU grants to the members of our Management Committee, including our Named Executed Officers, in connection with the successful acquisition of Peninsula. In addition, our Compensation Committee adopted a policy in 2006 regarding our Career Shares Program, which is discussed below, that provides for the annual grant of RSUs under our Stock Incentive Plan on January 2 of each year or, if January 2 is not a business day, then the next business day. During 2012, the equity compensation awards by the Compensation Committee were consistent with these policies.

Our Compensation Committee continues to review our long-term compensation policy, in connection with the assessment of our overall compensation program, to determine whether other modifications to the policy are warranted. However, it is anticipated that the Compensation Committee will continue the practice of granting equity awards to our Named Executive Officers in 2014 as long-term compensation.

2013 Special Equity Bonus—Peninsula.    In February 2013, the Compensation Committee approved the grant of a separate, special bonus to each member of our Management Committee, including to each of our Named Executive Officers, in recognition of the successful negotiation, execution and completion of the acquisition of Peninsula and its five operating casino properties. The Peninsula transaction closed on November 20, 2012, and it represents a critical and transformative long-term strategic transaction for us that provides important growth and deleveraging opportunities for the Company. This special bonus was comprised of an RSU award. The number of RSUs awarded to each of our Named Executive Officers is set forth in the following table:

 

Executive

   2013 Special
Bonus – Peninsula
RSU (#)
 

William S. Boyd

     47,222   

Keith E. Smith

     67,222   

Robert L. Boughner

     51,944   

Paul J. Chakmak

     35,417   

Josh Hirsberg

     16,250   

Each RSU is subject to three-year cliff vesting, consistent with our current RSU award practices discussed above. The Compensation Committee believes this award denominated in stock with multi-year vesting will best link our Management Committee’s compensation to the integration efforts associated with the Peninsula acquisition.

Career Shares Program

Our Career Shares Program is a stock incentive award program for certain executive officers to provide for additional capital accumulation opportunities for retirement and to reward long-service executives. Our Career Shares Program was adopted by the Compensation Committee on December 7, 2006 and amended on October 25, 2010. The Career Shares Program provides for the grant of RSUs (“Career RSUs”) under our Stock Incentive Plan to members of our senior management, including members of our Management Committee and each of our Named Executive Officers. Each Career RSU is analogous to one share of restricted common stock, except that Career RSUs do not have any voting rights and do not entitle the holder to receive dividends.

Under the Career Shares Program, a fixed percentage of each participant’s base salary is credited to his or her career shares account annually. Each January 2, or, if January 2 is not a business day, then the next business day, Career RSUs are awarded to members of our Management Committee in an amount that equals 15% of such individual’s base salary, and to certain other members of our senior management in an amount that equals 10% of their individual base salaries, in each case, subject to adjustment by the Compensation Committee. Career RSUs granted pursuant to our Career Shares Program are awarded for service provided for the immediately preceding calendar year. The basis for the value of the awards is the base salary of the participant in effect on December 31 of the immediately preceding year and the closing stock price of our common stock on January 2 or, if January 2 is not a business day, then the next business day. Consistent with this policy and the Career Shares Program, on January 2, 2014, Career RSUs were granted to all of our Named Executive Officers as well as to the other members of the Management Committee.

 

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Upon becoming eligible to receive a grant of Career RSUs, participants generally will have their initial award prorated based on the number of full months served in a career shares eligible position during the preceding year. For example, if someone becomes eligible on July 15 they would receive 5/12 of the product of their year end salary and their Career RSUs percentage on the next grant date, since they had served for five full months during the preceding year. If a participant becomes career shares eligible during the last quarter of the year, however, no Career RSUs will be awarded on the next grant date.

Payouts are made at retirement, at which time participants receive one share of our common stock for each vested Career RSU held in their respective career share account, less any applicable taxes. To receive any payout under the Career Shares Program, as amended, participants must be at least 55 years old and must have been continually employed by the Company for a minimum of 10 years. Retirement after 10 years of service will entitle a participant to fifty percent (50%) of his or her career shares account. This increases to seventy-five percent (75%) after 15 years and one hundred percent (100%) following 20 years of employment. The Compensation Committee may credit participants with additional years of service in its discretion.

In the event of a participant’s death or permanent disability, or following a change in control, the participant will be deemed to have attained age 55 and the Career RSUs will immediately vest and convert into shares of our common stock based on the participant’s years of continuous service through the date of death, termination resulting from permanent disability or the change in control, as applicable.

In addition, awards in a participant’s career share account can be applied towards satisfying our stock ownership guidelines discussed below.

Other bonus payments

In 2013, a special bonus in the amount of $250,000 was approved by the Compensation Committee and paid to Mr. Boyd in recognition of the loss of a benefit that Mr. Boyd previously received under certain split-dollar life insurance arrangements, which were terminated by us in 2003. Mr. Boyd has received this special bonus payment each year since 2003 and we expect that the Compensation Committee will continue to extend the $250,000 special bonus to Mr. Boyd in 2014.

State income tax gross-up payments.

Beginning in January 2009 and continuing through November 2012, Mr. Boughner served as the President and Chief Operating Officer of Marina District Development Company, LLC (“MDDC”) our New Jersey joint venture, which owns and operates the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa and the Water Club in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Consistent with past years in which Mr. Boughner served as an executive officer of MDDC, the Company has agreed to provide Mr. Boughner with a state income tax gross-up payment to compensate him for his added state income tax liability resulting from his assignment. This payment was $137,813, relating to Mr. Boughner’s 2012 tax year. We do not anticipate making further state income tax gross-up payments to Mr. Boughner following his 2012 tax year.

Our Policy on Perquisites

We provide our Named Executive Officers with perquisites that we believe are reasonable, competitive and consistent with our overall executive compensation program. We believe that our perquisites help us to hire and retain qualified executives.

Certain senior executive officers, as designated by the Chief Executive Officer and pursuant to our internal policies, may use our corporate aircraft for personal travel on a limited basis. Such executive officers are imputed with income in an amount equivalent to the Standard Industry Fare Level rate, as defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), for such use and are required to advance to us an amount sufficient to cover certain out-of-pocket costs directly attributed to such use. These out-of-pocket costs include crew lodging expenses, on-board catering, landing fees, trip-related hangar/parking costs and other variable costs.

The aggregate incremental cost for use of our corporate aircraft during 2013 that is attributable to any Named Executive Officer, net of amounts advanced to us by the applicable executive as discussed above, is reflected in the Summary Compensation Table. We determine the aggregate incremental cost based on estimated fuel expenses and maintenance expenses per flight hour. Since our aircraft are used primarily for business travel, we do not include the fixed costs that do not change based on usage, such as pilots’ salaries and the purchase costs of the corporate aircraft.

 

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We provide Mr. Boyd with use of a corporate car that is owned by the Company, and reflect the aggregate incremental cost attributable to such use during 2013 in the Summary Compensation Table. We determine the aggregate incremental cost for use of the corporate car by calculating the assumed annual lease value of the car, consistent with applicable Treasury regulations, multiplied by the percentage of use that is estimated to be attributable to Mr. Boyd’s personal use.

In addition, we provide a country club membership for Mr. Boyd, which is used for both business and personal purposes. The amount of all unreimbursed costs related to this membership for 2013 is reported as other compensation for Mr. Boyd in the Summary Compensation Table.

Our employee and non-employee directors, along with members of our Management Committee, are eligible to participate in the Medical Expense Reimbursement Plan, which covers medical expenses incurred by plan participants and their spouses that are not covered by other medical plans. We also provide our Named Executive Officers with more life insurance coverage than is generally made available to our other employees. Please see the Summary Compensation Table for the amount of medical premiums or related reimbursements paid on behalf of the Named Executive Officers during 2013 and for the amount of the applicable premiums paid for such additional life insurance coverage during 2013.

Our senior management members, including our Named Executive Officers, also are eligible to participate in our other benefit plans and programs on the same terms as other employees. These plans include our 401(k) plan, medical, vision and dental insurance and paid time-off plan. In addition, our senior management members are eligible to participate in our deferred compensation plan on the same terms as other eligible management-level employees.

Stock Ownership Guidelines

As we noted above, we believe that ownership in the Company by our executive management team, including our Named Executive Officers, is an important individual incentivizing tool that fosters the management of the Company in its long-term best interests for the benefit of all of our stockholders. Our Compensation Committee initially adopted stock ownership guidelines in 2006 for certain key executives, and in October 2010, the Compensation Committee undertook a periodic review of the guidelines and approved certain amendments to reflect the significant change in circumstances in the broader equities markets and the sharp volatility in our Company’s stock price over recent years. The Compensation Committee believes that the guidelines, as they may be updated and revised from time to time, will continue to further the alignment between our executive team and stockholders. Pursuant to the current stock ownership guidelines, certain key executive officers, including our Named Executive Officers, are required to pursue ownership of an amount of our common stock based on a multiple of the participant’s base salary, as set forth in the following table:

 

Executive Tier

   Multiple of
Base Salary
 

Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors

     5   

Chief Executive Officer

     5   

Chief Operating Officer

     4   

All Other Members of Management Committee

     3   

Certain Other Members of Senior Management

     1-2   

A participant’s stock ownership level can include shares of our common stock represented by RSUs, including Career RSUs and Performance Shares (which are included at an assumed target performance level). As a part of its review of the guidelines in 2010, the Compensation Committee also approved a mechanism to facilitate each participant’s ongoing progress towards achievement of the established stock ownership levels. For any participant who does not then meet their established stock ownership level, the guidelines mandate that 50% of the net shares, after accounting for tax withholding and any option exercise payments, resulting from the sale of stock options or the vesting of RSUs or Performance Shares must be retained by the executive until that individual has met his or her stock ownership level established by the guidelines.

Stock ownership guidelines are also applicable to the independent members of our board of directors, pursuant to certain amendments adopted by our Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee in 2011. The director stock ownership guidelines provide that each independent member of the board of directors will be required to hold stock in

 

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the Company at least equal to five (5) times the annual cash retainer received by such independent director. Each director shall have a three (3) year period, after the later of joining the board of directors or the adoption of the guidelines, in which to accumulate the required level of stock ownership. For purposes of the required stock ownership levels under the guidelines, any deferred shares or RSUs shall be included in such calculation; however, pursuant to the amendments to the guidelines adopted in 2011, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee also determined that at least twenty five percent (25%) of the ownership goal must be achieved through direct ownership of shares, with a three (3) year period to achieve such direct ownership beginning in January 2012, using a rolling average stock price. The director stock ownership guidelines, like those applicable to our senior executives, serve as an incentivizing tool for the independent members of the board of directors to strategically guide and manage the Company in its long-term best interests for the benefit of all of our stockholders.

Post-Termination Compensation

In 2006, our Compensation Committee adopted our Change-in-Control Severance Plan (the “CIC Plan”) to provide severance benefits for certain executive officers, including our Named Executive Officers, upon termination of employment in connection with a change in control. In addition, our CIC Plan provides for the acceleration of vesting of equity awards for our Named Executive Officers, and certain other executives, upon the occurrence of certain events. We believe that it is important to protect key executives who helped build our Company and who will be important in continuing the Company’s success through a change in control or similar event. Further, we believe that the interests of stockholders will be best served if the interests of our most senior management are aligned with them. Providing change in control benefits is intended to reduce the reluctance of senior management to pursue potential change of control transactions that may be in the overall best interests of our stockholders. We did not modify our CIC Plan in 2013. Also, we currently do not have individual written severance agreements with our executive officers, including our Named Executive Officers; however, we retain the discretion to negotiate individual arrangements as deemed appropriate.

2000 MIP.    Our 2000 MIP contains a continuous employment requirement. In addition, certain provisions of our 2000 MIP are triggered in the event of a change in control or if a “long service” employee retires. Generally, if a participant, other than a “long service” employee, terminates employment for any reason other than death or disability prior to the award payment date, he or she is not entitled to the payment of any award under the 2000 MIP for any outstanding plan period (regardless of whether it is a short-term or long-term incentive award). If the participant’s termination is due to disability or death, he or she is entitled to the payment of an award for each plan period in which he or she is participating on the date of termination; provided, however, that the Compensation Committee may proportionately reduce or eliminate his or her actual award based on the date of termination and such other considerations as the Compensation Committee deems appropriate. For 2013, the only outstanding plan period under the 2000 MIP was for the short-term, annual incentive awards for 2013. There were no long-term cash incentive awards or award periods outstanding under the 2000 MIP during 2013.

If a “long service” participant terminates employment with us for any reason (including death or disability) prior to the award payment date, he or she is entitled to (i) the payment of an award for the plan period (in which the participant is participating on the date of termination) with the earliest date of commencement and (ii) the payment of an award for any other plan period (in which the participant is participating on the date of termination) reduced proportionally based on the number of years of employment completed during the plan period with each partial year of employment counting as a full year. A “long service” participant generally means a participant who has reached age 55 and completed 15 or more years of service with us or any of our subsidiaries (including acquired entities).

If a participant is terminated without cause within 24 months after a corporate transaction or a change in control (as defined in our Stock Incentive Plan), the participant is entitled to the payment of an award for each plan period (in which the participant is participating on the date of termination). The Compensation Committee believes that this double-trigger feature provides appropriate incentives and job security for management while protecting stockholder value in the event of a change in control.

CIC Plan.    Our Named Executive Officers are eligible to participate in our CIC Plan, which provides severance benefits upon certain qualifying terminations. A “qualifying termination” includes involuntary termination without cause, voluntary termination due to a relocation in excess of 50 miles or certain reductions in compensation, among other events, within 24 months immediately following a change in control. Generally, a “change in control” is deemed to occur upon (i) the direct or indirect acquisition by any person or related group of persons (other than an

 

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acquisition from or by the Company, by a Company-sponsored employee benefit plan or by a person who directly or indirectly controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company or by members of the Boyd family) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act) of securities possessing more than 50% of the total combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities, or (ii) a majority of the board of directors ceasing to be continuing directors at any time within a 36-month period due to contested elections.

CIC Plan benefits are determined based upon the relevant status of the participant as a Tier One Executive (our Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors), Tier Two Executive (members of our Management Committee, other than our Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors), or Tier Three Executive (certain other members of senior management, other than Management Committee members). Following the execution of a general release in a form generally acceptable to the Company that releases the Company and its affiliates from any and all claims the participant may have against them, among other things, the Company shall pay to the participant a lump-sum cash payment of:

 

   

any unpaid amounts owed to the participant, such as any unpaid base salary, accrued vacation pay, or unreimbursed business expenses;

 

   

a multiple of three, two and one for Tier One Executives, Tier Two Executives and Tier Three Executives, respectively, of the participant’s:

 

  ¡    

annual salary in effect immediately prior to the occurrence of the change of control or, if greater, upon the occurrence of the qualifying termination; plus

 

  ¡    

then-current target short-term bonus opportunity in effect immediately prior to the change of control or, if greater, the average of the participant’s actual short-term bonus for the three fiscal years immediately prior to the change in control or, if greater, the participant’s target short-term bonus opportunity in effect upon the qualifying termination,

 

   

an amount equal to the greater of:

 

  ¡    

the participant’s then-current target short-term bonus opportunity established for the plan year in which the qualifying termination occurs; or

 

  ¡    

the participant’s target bonus opportunity in effect prior to the occurrence of the change in control,

in each case, adjusted on a pro rata basis based on the number of days the participant was actually employed during such plan year; and

 

   

the amount of monthly premiums that would have been paid by the Company on behalf of the participant under the Company’s health insurance plan, or COBRA (for a period of 36 months, 24 months and 12 months for Tier One Executives, Tier Two Executives and Tier Three Executives, respectively), plus an additional amount such that the participant effectively receives such premiums on a tax-free basis.

In addition, under the CIC Plan, any outstanding equity-based long-term incentive awards granted, including but not limited to stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, RSUs and Performance Shares, will become immediately vested in full upon a qualifying termination.

If the sum of the amounts to be received by the participant under the CIC Plan, plus all other payments or benefits that the participant has received or has the right to receive from the Company, would constitute a “parachute payment” under Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code, that combined amount will be decreased by the smallest amount that will eliminate any such parachute payment. However, for Tier One Executives and Tier Two Executives only, if the decrease referred to in the preceding sentence is 10% or more of the combined amount, the combined amount will not be decreased, but rather will be increased by an amount sufficient to provide the participant, after taking into account all applicable federal, state and local taxes, a net amount equal to the excise tax imposed on the combined amount (as increased by any applicable tax gross-up) by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Deferred Compensation Plan.    Under the Boyd Gaming Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan effective as of January 1, 2005 (the “Deferred Compensation Plan”), in which our Named Executive Officers are eligible to participate, Named Executive Officers may defer up to 25% of base salary and up to 75% of incentive compensation paid. We may make discretionary contributions to a participant’s account; however, during 2013, we did not exercise such discretion. Upon a change in control (as defined in the Deferred Compensation Plan), the benefits under the

 

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Deferred Compensation Plan are immediately payable in a lump sum, subject to certain conditions and limitations set forth in Internal Revenue Code section 409A and its related Treasury regulations. In addition, upon termination of employment prior to the age of 55 or death, benefits under the Deferred Compensation Plan are payable in a lump sum. Otherwise, upon termination of employment (including upon retirement), the participant may elect to have benefits paid in a lump sum or in periodic payments over a period of 5, 10 or 15 years; however, with respect to “specified employees” as defined in Internal Revenue Code section 409A, any payment that is triggered by termination of employment must be delayed for at least six months following the date of termination. Prior to the Deferred Compensation Plan, we maintained a separate, prior deferred compensation plan, but that plan has been closed to new contributions from participants since the effective date of the current plan.

Equity Incentive Plans.    During 2013, the only equity incentive plan in which our Named Executive Officers participated was our Stock Incentive Plan. Generally, except as our Compensation Committee may otherwise determine or in connection with a “long service” employee as discussed below, equity awards granted under each of our equity incentive plans provide that, in the event of termination, the grantee may exercise the portion of the option award that was vested at the date of termination for a period of three months following termination; provided that if the termination is due to disability or death, the exercise period is twelve months.

Pursuant to the terms of our Stock Incentive Plan, our Compensation Committee has the authority, in connection with an actual or anticipated change in control or corporate transaction, to provide for the full or partial accelerated vesting and exercisability of outstanding unvested awards.

Under our Stock Incentive Plan, a “change in control” means a change in ownership or control of the Company effected through:

 

   

the direct or indirect acquisition of more than 50% of the total combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities pursuant to a tender or exchange offer which the majority of the board of directors do not recommend; or

 

   

a change in the composition of the board of directors over a period of up to 36 months such that a majority of the board members cease, by reason of one or more contested elections, to be comprised of continuing directors.

Pursuant to the terms of our Stock Incentive Plan, a “corporate transaction” means any of the following transactions:

 

   

a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving entity;

 

   

the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company;

 

   

the complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company;

 

   

any reverse merger in which the Company is the surviving entity but in which securities possessing more than 50% of the total combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities are transferred to a person or persons different from those who held such securities immediately prior to such merger; or

 

   

an acquisition in a single or series of related transactions by any person or related group of persons of beneficial ownership of securities possessing more than 50% of the total combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities, but excluding an acquisition by the Company, by a Company-sponsored employee benefit plan or by members of the Boyd family or any transaction that the Compensation Committee deems is not a corporate transaction.

 

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Pursuant to the form of our restricted stock unit agreement (“RSU Agreement”) for the Stock Incentive Plan, vesting ceases upon termination of continuous service (defined as employment) for any reason, including death or disability, except as described below. Any unvested RSUs held by the grantee following such termination will be deemed reconveyed to us. Also under our RSU Agreement, in the event of a change in control or corporate transaction (each as defined in the RSU Agreement), any outstanding award will automatically become fully vested. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of a grantee’s Retirement (defined below), the grantee may be entitled to additional vesting with respect to RSUs. “Retirement” means separation from service (including as a result of death or disability), other than for Cause (as defined in the RSU Agreement), after reaching age 55 and having at least 10 years of service to the Company. In the event of a Retirement, the grantee will be entitled to accelerated vesting as follows:

 

Age of Employee

and Length of Service

        at time of Retirement         

  

                       Acceleration of Vesting for                  

Unvested RSUs

55 years of age and
10-14 years of service
  

RSUs otherwise scheduled to vest

within the 12 months following the date

of Retirement shall fully accelerate

55 years of age and
15-19 years of service
  

RSUs otherwise scheduled to vest

within the 24 months following the date

of Retirement shall fully accelerate

55 years of age and
20 or more years of service
  

RSUs otherwise scheduled to vest

within the 36 months following the date

of Retirement shall fully accelerate

Pursuant to the form of our performance share unit agreement (“Performance Share Agreement”) for the Stock Incentive Plan, vesting ceases upon termination of continuous service (defined as employment) for any reason, except as described below. Any unvested units held by the grantee following such termination will be deemed reconveyed to us. Also under our Performance Share Agreement, in the event of a change in control or corporate transaction (as defined in the Performance Share Agreement), any outstanding award will automatically become fully vested assuming achievement of the applicable performance metrics at target, provided that such change in control or corporate transaction effective date occurs prior to the applicable award determination date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of a grantee’s Retirement, a portion or all of the shares may be issuable following the performance period (as shortened for a change in control or corporate transaction), based on deemed length of service during the performance period. In the event of a Retirement, the grantee shall be deemed to have provided service for the number of days within the performance period for which the grantee actually provided service, plus a credited number of days equal to 365 (after 10 years of service), 730 (after 15 years of service), and 1095 (after 20 years of service). The resulting number of days will be divided by the number of days in the performance period (with the resulting ratio never exceeding one), and the ratio will be multiplied by the number of shares that would be issued based on actual performance or target performance upon a change in control or corporate transaction.

In 2006, the Compensation Committee initially adopted the provisions in the table below, which provide certain “long service” employees with automatic vesting acceleration and an extended exercise period with respect to stock options upon termination (other than for cause). Of our Named Executive Officers, William S. Boyd and Robert L. Boughner currently qualify as “long service” employees. These enhanced stock option provisions do not apply to stock options that are granted within six months of such employee’s termination.

 

Age of Employee

and Length of Service

        at time of Termination         

  

                  Acceleration of Vesting for              

    Unvested Stock Options

  

          Extended Exercise        

Period

55 years of age and

15-19 years of service

  

Options otherwise scheduled to vest

within the 12 months following the date

of termination shall fully accelerate

   Up to 12 months

following termination

55 years of age and

20-24 years of service

  

Options otherwise scheduled to vest

within the 24 months following the date

of termination shall fully accelerate

   Up to 24 months

following termination

55 years of age and

25 or more years of service

  

All unvested stock options shall

fully accelerate

   Up to 36 months

following termination

 

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In February 2013, the Compensation Committee approved an update to our “long service” employee vesting acceleration and extended exercise period schedule for stock option grants, the effect of which will be to update the length of service thresholds for accelerated vesting of stock options to match the schedule currently utilized with our RSU grants. Therefore, options granted after February 2013, including the 2013 grant of stock options to our Named Executive Officers, are subject to the “long service” employee vesting acceleration and extended exercise period schedule set forth below, while previously granted stock options will remain subject to the schedule above.

 

Age of Employee

and Length of Service

        at time of Termination         

  

                  Acceleration of Vesting for                  

Unvested Stock Options

  

        Extended Exercise        
Period

55 years of age and

10-14 years of service

  

Options otherwise scheduled to vest

within the 12 months following the date

of termination shall fully accelerate

   Up to 12 months

following termination

55 years of age and

15-19 years of service

  

Options otherwise scheduled to vest

within the 24 months following the date

of termination shall fully accelerate

   Up to 24 months

following termination

55 years of age and

20 or more years of service

  

Options otherwise scheduled to vest

within the 36 months following the date

of termination shall fully accelerate

   Up to 36 months

following termination

Other Benefits.    From time to time, in recognition of the contribution of services provided to us, we may in our discretion offer additional compensation and benefits to our executive officers in connection with their retirement from the Company. During 2013, no such discretion was exercised with respect to our senior executive officers.

Succession Planning

Pursuant to the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, all of the independent members of our board of directors are involved in the succession planning of the Company. Our independent directors participate annually in a review of the Company’s current succession plan. Additionally, the Company has engaged in the past, and continues to engage, the nationally recognized consulting firm Lee Hecht Harrison to assist and advise during this annual review as well as on other matters related to succession planning.

Accounting and Tax Treatment

Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code generally disallows a tax deduction to public companies for compensation over $1 million paid to the chief executive officer or any of the other three most highly compensated executive officers other than the chief financial officer. The Company has structured certain performance-based portions of its executive officers’ compensation in a manner that is designed to comply with the exceptions to the deductibility limitations of Section 162(m); however, we can provide no assurances that such compensation arrangements would ultimately satisfy such requirements if they were examined by the Internal Revenue Service.

The Compensation Committee believes, however, that in certain circumstances, factors other than tax deductibility take precedence when determining the forms and levels of executive compensation most appropriate and in the best interests of the Company and our stockholders. Given our changing industry and business, as well as the competitive market for outstanding executives, the Compensation Committee believes that it is important to retain the flexibility to design compensation programs consistent with our overall executive compensation program, even if some executive compensation is not fully deductible. Accordingly, the Compensation Committee has from time to time approved elements of compensation for certain officers that are not fully deductible and reserves the right to do so in the future, when appropriate.

The performance factors for compensation intended to qualify as performance-based compensation pursuant to Section 162(m) must be approved by stockholders every five years.

 

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Summary Compensation Table (2013)

The following table sets forth the compensation earned for services performed for us, or our subsidiaries, during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2011, 2012 and 2013, by:

 

   

our Chief Executive Officer;

 

   

our Chief Financial Officer; and

 

   

each of our other three most highly compensated executive officers, employed by us as of the end of fiscal year 2013,

whom we refer to collectively as our “Named Executive Officers.”

 

Name and Principal Position

  Year     Salary
($)(1)
    Bonus
       ($)(1)      
    Stock
   Awards    
($)(3)(4)
    Option
   Awards    
($)(3)
    Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)(1)(2)
    All Other
Compensation
($)(5)
         Total     
($)
 

William S. Boyd

    2013        1,000,000        250,000 (7)      1,335,139        455,275        660,875        129,196        3,830,485   

Executive Chairman of

the Board of Directors

    2012        1,000,000        250,000 (7)      597,429        232,754        170,000        80,796        2,330,979   
    2011        1,000,000        250,000 (7)      724,284        262,899        506,250        184,477        2,927,910   

Keith E. Smith

    2013        1,100,000               2,527,090        1,011,718        940,775        16,813        5,596,396   

President and

Chief Executive Officer

    2012        1,100,000               1,159,281        517,228        242,000        29,905        3,048,414   
    2011        1,100,000               1,441,194        584,218        742,500        39,634        3,907,546   

Robert L. Boughner(6)

    2013        1,100,000               1,384,135        455,275        726,963        147,687        3,814,060   

Executive Vice President and

Chief Business Development

Officer

    2012        1,100,000               612,425        232,754        187,000        161,366        2,293,545   
    2011        1,100,000               739,288        262,899        556,875        148,684        2,807,746   
               

Paul J. Chakmak

    2013        750,000               1,212,643        455,275        495,656        19,321        2,932,895   

Executive Vice President and

Chief Operating Officer

    2012        750,000               548,674        232,754        127,500        17,326        1,676,254   
    2011        675,000               675,530        262,899        341,719        16,948        1,972,096   

Josh Hirsberg

    2013        485,000               544,709        190,385        226,253        12,328        1,458,675   

Senior Vice President, Treasurer

and Chief Financial Officer

    2012        485,000               192,648        77,584        58,200        11,367        824,799   
    2011        435,000               234,931        87,632        117,450        441        875,454   

 

(1) Includes amounts deferred, to the extent of such individual’s participation, pursuant to our 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and Trust and our Deferred Compensation Plan.
(2) For the year ended December 31, 2013, the Compensation Committee approved the payment of a short-term bonus under the 2000 MIP. For a discussion regarding the 2013 bonus payments, see “—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Primary Components of our Compensation Program—Short-Term Bonus.”
(3) Reflects the grant date fair value as determined in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 718 (“ASC 718”) for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2011, 2012, and 2013, respectively, of awards to each of the Named Executive Officers granted in such years pursuant to our Stock Incentive Plan. Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are included in the notes to our audited financial statements under the caption “Stockholders’ Equity and Stock Incentive Plans,” for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2011, 2012, and 2013, included in our Annual Reports on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 7, 2012, March 18, 2013 and March 14, 2014, respectively. However, as required, the amounts shown exclude the impact of estimated forfeitures related to service-based vesting conditions.
(4) Includes RSUs and Performance Shares. Each Performance Share represents a contingent right to receive up to a maximum of two (2) shares of our common stock, subject to three year cliff vesting and satisfaction of certain performance metrics. With respect to the Performances Shares, the amounts reported in the table assume that the performance metrics were all achieved at the target performance level. As required pursuant to Instruction 3 of Item 402(c)(2)(v) of Regulation S-K, if the performance metrics were all achieved at maximum performance the Grant Date Fair Value of the Performance Shares awarded to each of our Named Executive Officers would be: to Mr. Smith, $1,878,094, to each of Messrs. Boyd, Boughner and Chakmak, $845,140, and to Mr. Hirsberg, $354,960. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the RSUs and the Performance Shares are subject to forfeiture and other terms and conditions contained in the award agreement and the Stock Incentive Plan. See—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Equity Compensation.”

 

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(5) The amounts shown as “all other compensation” include the following perquisites and personal benefits:

 

Name

  401(k)
Contributions(A)
    Life  Insurance
Premiums
    Medical
Reimbursements(B)
    Use of
Corporate Aircraft and
Corporate Car(C)
    Other
Benefits(D)
 

William S. Boyd

  $ 3,825      $ 442      $ 24,721      $ 90,271      $ 9,937   

Keith E. Smith

    3,825        442        12,546                 

Robert L. Boughner

    3,825        442        5,607               137,813   

Paul J. Chakmak

    3,825        442        15,054                 

Josh Hirsberg

           442        11,886                 

 

  (A) Represents amounts we contributed pursuant to the 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and Trust.
  (B) Represents our Medical Expense Reimbursement Plan, which includes plan premiums, company sponsored health care plan premiums and amounts received as reimbursements under this plan.
  (C) Represents the aggregate incremental cost to the Company for use of our corporate aircraft and, solely as it relates to Mr. Boyd, use of a corporate car. Of the total amounts reported for Mr. Boyd for 2013, $2,804 is attributable to the use of a corporate car.
  (D) Includes reimbursed state income tax gross up payment for Mr. Boughner for his 2012 New Jersey income tax liability. Includes country club membership fees for Mr. Boyd.
(6) In December 2009, Mr. Boughner was named our Executive Vice President and Chief Business Development Officer. Beginning in January 2009 until November 30, 2012, he also served as President and Chief Operating Officer of MDCC, the Company’s New Jersey joint venture. Mr. Boughner continues to serve as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Marina District Finance Company, Inc. (“MDFC”), a wholly owned subsidiary of MDDC. The full amount of Mr. Boughner’s compensation reflected for 2013 was paid by the Company, with approximately $250,000 being reimbursed by MDDC. For more information regarding MDDC and MDFC, see “—Transactions with Related Persons.”
(7) Includes a special bonus in the amount of $250,000 that was approved by our Compensation Committee and paid to Mr. Boyd in recognition of the loss of a benefit that Mr. Boyd previously received under certain split-dollar life insurance arrangements that we terminated in December 2003.

 

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Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table (2013)

The following table sets forth information regarding each grant of an award made under our incentive plans to our Named Executive Officers during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013.

 

Name

 

Award

Type

  Grant
Date
    Date of
Compensation
Committee
Action(7)
    Estimated Possible
Payouts Under
Non-Equity Incentive
Plan Awards
    Estimated Future
Payouts Under
Equity Incentive Plan
Awards—Number of Shares
or Units
    All
Other
Stock
Awards:
Number
of
Shares
of Stock
or Units
(#)
    All Other
Option
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options
(#)
    Exercise
or Base
Price of
Option
Awards
($/Sh)(8)
    Grant
Date
Fair
Value of
Equity
Awards
($)(9)
 
        Threshold
($)
    Target
($)
    Maximum
($)
    Threshold
(#)
    Target
(#)
    Maximum
(#)
         

William S. Boyd

  Short-term bonus(1)                   637,500        850,000        1,275,000                                                    
 

Career RSUs(2)

    01/02/13        12/07/06                                                  22,124                      150,001   
 

RSU(3)

    02/13/13                                          47,222                      339,998   
 

Stock Options(4)

    11/07/13                                                           76,531        9.86        455,275   
 

RSU(5)

    11/07/13                                                         42,857                      422,570   
 

Performance Shares(6)

    11/07/13                                    21,428        42,857        85,714                             422,570   

Keith E. Smith

  Short-term bonus(1)                   907,500        1,210,000        1,815,000                                                    
 

Career RSUs(2)

    01/02/13        12/07/06                                    24,336                                    164,998   
 

RSU(3)

    02/13/13                                                         67,222                      483,998   
 

Stock Options (4)

    11/07/13                                                           170,068        9.86        1,011,718   
 

RSU(5)

    11/07/13                                                         95,238                      939,047   
 

Performance Shares(6)

    11/07/13                                    47,619        95,238        190,476                             939,047   

Robert L. Boughner

  Short-term bonus(1)                   701,250        935,000        1,402,500                                                    
 

Career RSUs(2)

    01/02/13        12/07/06                                                  24,336                      164,998   
 

RSU(3)

    02/13/13                                          51,944                      373,997   
 

Stock Options(4)

    11/07/13                                                                76,531        9.86        455,275   
 

RSU(5)

    11/07/13                                                         42,857                      422,570   
 

Performance Shares(6)

    11/07/13                                    21,428        42,857        85,714                             422,570   

Paul J. Chakmak

  Short-term bonus(1)                   478,125        637,500        956,250                                                    
 

Career RSUs(2)

    01/02/13        12/07/06                                    16,593                                    112,501   
 

RSU(3)

    02/13/13                                                    35,417                      255,002   
 

Stock Options(4)

    11/07/13                                                                76,531        9.86        455,275   
 

RSU(5)

    11/07/13                                                         42,857                      422,570   
 

Performance Shares(6)

    11/07/13                                    21,428        42,857        85,714                             422,570   

Josh Hirsberg

  Short-term bonus(1)                   218,250        291,000        436,500                                                    
 

Career RSUs(2)

    01/02/13        12/07/06                                    10,730                                    72,749   
 

RSU(3)

    02/13/13                                                         16,250                      117,000   
 

Stock Options(4)

    11/07/13                                                                32,000        9.86        190,385   
 

RSU(5)

    11/07/13                                                         18,000                      177,480   
 

Performance Shares(6)

    11/07/13                                    9,000        18,000        36,000                             177,480   

 

(1) Represents short-term (or annual) bonus for the 2013 fiscal year under the 2000 MIP. The award amount is based upon our performance relative to the operating budget measured by our EBITDA, as approved by the board of directors. “Threshold” represents achieving a performance level that is 90% of the target operating budget amount; “Target” represents achieving 100% of the target operating budget amount; and “Maximum” represents achieving 120% or more of the of the target operating budget amount. See “—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Primary Components of our Compensation Program—Short-Term Bonus.”
(2) Represents Career RSUs granted to the Named Executive Officers for no consideration pursuant to our Career Shares Program under our Stock Incentive Plan. Each Career RSU represents a contingent right to receive one share of our common stock. The vested Career RSUs will be paid out in shares of our common stock at the time of retirement based upon the grantee’s attained age and years of continuous service at the time of retirement. To receive any payout under the Career Shares Program, grantees must be at least 55 years old and must have been continually employed by us for a minimum of 10 years. Retirement after 10 years of service will entitle a grantee to fifty percent (50%) of his or her Career RSUs. This increases to seventy-five percent (75%) after 15 years and one hundred percent (100%) following 20 years of employment. In the event of a grantee’s death or permanent disability, or following a change in control of the Company, the grantee will be deemed to have attained age 55 and the Career RSUs will immediately vest and convert into shares of our common stock based on the grantee’s years of continuous service through the date of death, termination resulting from permanent disability or the change in control, as applicable. See “—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Career Shares Program.”
(3) Represents RSUs granted in 2013 under our Stock Incentive Plan as a special bonus in recognition of the successful negotiation, execution and completion of the acquisition of Peninsula Gaming, LLC. Each RSU represents a contingent right to receive one share of our common stock. The RSUs vest in full upon the third anniversary of the grant date. The RSUs are subject to forfeiture and other terms and conditions contained in the award agreement and the Stock Incentive Plan. See “—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Equity Incentive Plans.”
(4)

Represents stock options granted under our Stock Incentive Plan. The stock options granted to the Named Executive Officers in 2013 have a 10-year term and vest as to 33 1/3% of the shares of our common stock underlying the option grant per year on the first day of each successive 12-month period, commencing one year from the date of grant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, these stock options are subject to enhanced vesting and exercise period provisions for certain “long service” employees as discussed above in “—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Post-Termination Compensation—Equity Incentive Plans.”

(5) Represents RSUs granted under our Stock Incentive Plan. Each RSU represents a contingent right to receive one share of our common stock. The RSUs granted to the Named Executive Officers in 2013 vest in full upon the third anniversary of the grant date. The RSUs are subject to forfeiture and other terms and conditions contained in the award agreement and the Stock Incentive Plan. See “—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Equity Incentive Plans.”
(6) Represents Performance Shares granted under our Stock Incentive Plan. Each Performance Share represents a contingent right to receive up to a maximum of two (2) shares of our common stock, subject to three year cliff vesting and satisfaction of certain performance metrics. Notwithstanding the foregoing, these Performance Shares are subject to forfeiture and other terms and conditions contained in the award agreement and the Stock Incentive Plan. See “—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Equity Compensation.”
(7) Our Compensation Committee has adopted a policy of providing for the automatic grant of Career RSUs on January 2 of each calendar year (or, if January 2 is not a business day, then the next business day) based on the base salary of the participant in effect on December 31 of the immediately preceding year and the closing stock price of our common stock on January 2 or, if January 2 is not a business day, then the next business day. For more information see “—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Career Shares Program.”
(8) The exercise price of option awards is based on the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant, calculated as the closing sales price for our common stock on the date of determination.
(9) Represents the aggregate ASC 718 value of awards made in 2013. With respect to the Performances Shares, the amounts reported in the table assume that the performance metrics were all achieved at the target performance level.

 

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Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End Table (2013)

The following table sets forth information regarding unexercised stock options and unvested Restricted Stock Units for each of our Named Executive Officers outstanding as of December 31, 2013.

 

     Option Awards      Stock Awards  

Name

   Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable
     Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options  (#)
Unexercisable
    Option
Exercise
Price
($)
     Option
Expiration
Date
     Number of
Shares, Units or
Other Rights
That Have Not
Vested
(#)
    Market or
Payout Value
of Shares,
Units or Other
Rights That Have
Not Vested
($)(4)
 

William S. Boyd

     425,000                36.76         12/08/2014         42,857 (6)      482,570   
     305,000                39.96         10/19/2015         21,428 (7)      241,279   
     305,000                39.00         11/02/2016         42,857 (8)      482,570   
     195,000                38.11         12/06/2017         21,428 (9)      241,279   
     146,375                7.55         11/03/2019         47,222 (10)      531,720   
     146,375                8.34         11/01/2020         42,857 (11)      482,570   
     51,021         25,510 (1)      6.70         12/07/2021         21,428 (12)      241,279   
     25,511         51,020 (2)      5.22         11/08/2022        
             76,531 (3)      9.86         11/07/2023        

Keith E. Smith

     150,000                36.76         12/08/2014         119,293 (5)      1,343,239   
     115,000                39.96         10/19/2015         95,238 (6)      1,072,380   
     115,000                39.00         11/02/2016         47,619 (7)      536,190   
     185,000                38.11         12/06/2017         95,238 (8)      1,072,380   
     231,265                7.55         11/03/2019         47,619 (9)      536,190   
     231,265                8.34         11/01/2020         67,222 (10)      756,920   
     113,379         56,689 (1)      6.70         12/07/2021         95,238 (11)      1,072,380   
     56,690         113,378 (2)      5.22         11/08/2022         47,619 (12)      536,190   
             170,068 (3)      9.86         11/07/2023        

Robert L. Boughner

     150,000                36.76         12/08/2014         42,857 (6)      482,570   
     115,000                39.96         10/19/2015         21,428 (7)      241,279   
     115,000                39.00         11/02/2016         42,857 (8)      482,570   
     130,000                39.78         11/07/2017         21,428 (9)      241,279   
     135,800                8.34         11/01/2020         51,944 (10)      584,889   
     25,511         25,511 (1)      6.70         12/07/2021         42,857 (11)      482,570   
     25,511         51,020 (2)      5.22         11/08/2022         21,428 (12)      241,279   
             76,531 (3)      9.86         11/07/2023        

Paul J. Chakmak

     40,000                16.37         02/02/2014         75,063 (5)      845,209   
     40,000                36.76         12/08/2014         42,857 (6)      482,570   
     35,000                39.96         10/19/2015         21,428 (7)      241,279   
     75,000                39.00         11/02/2016         42,857 (8)      482,570   
     111,000                38.11         12/06/2017         21,428 (9)      241,279   
     138,752                8.34         11/01/2020         35,417 (10)      398,795   
     51,021         25,510 (1)      6.70         12/07/2021         42,857 (11)      482,570   
     25,511         51,020 (2)      5.22         11/08/2022         21,428 (12)      241,279   
             76,531 (3)      9.86         11/07/2023        

Josh Hirsberg

     25,000                33.31         01/02/2018         34,169 (5)      384,743   
     20,000                6.60         11/04/2018         14,286 (6)      160,860   
     20,000                7.55         11/03/2019         7,143 (7)      80,430   
     10,000                8.34         11/01/2020         14,286 (8)      160,860   
     17,007         8,503 (1)      6.70         12/07/2021         7,143 (9)      80,430   
     8,504         17,006 (2)      5.22         11/08/2022         16,250 (10)      182,975   
             32,000 (3)      9.86         11/07/2023         18,000 (11)      202,680   
                9,000 (12)      101,340   

 

(1) These stock options were granted on December 7, 2011 and will vest and become exercisable as to 33 1/3% of the shares of our common stock underlying the option grant on the first day of each successive 12-month period, with the first installment vesting on December 7, 2012. Notwithstanding the foregoing, these stock options are subject to enhanced vesting and exercise period provisions for certain “long service” employees as discussed above in “—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Post-Termination Compensation—Equity Incentive Plans.”
(2) These stock options were granted on November 8, 2012 and will vest and become exercisable as to 33 1/3% of the shares of our common stock underlying the option grant on the first day of each successive 12-month period, with the first installment vesting on November 8, 2013. Notwithstanding the foregoing, these stock options are subject to enhanced vesting and exercise period provisions for certain “long service” employees as discussed above in “—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Post-Termination Compensation—Equity Incentive Plans.”

 

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(3) These stock options were granted on November 7, 2013 and will vest and become exercisable as to 33 1/3% of the shares of our common stock underlying the option grant on the first day of each successive 12-month period, with the first installment vesting on November 7, 2014. Notwithstanding the foregoing, these stock options are subject to enhanced vesting and exercise period provisions for certain “long service” employees as discussed above in “—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Post-Termination Compensation—Equity Incentive Plans.”
(4) Pursuant to applicable SEC rules, represents the closing market price of our common stock on December 31, 2013 ($11.26), multiplied by the aggregate number of Career RSUs, Restricted Stock Units or Performance Shares, as applicable, held by the Named Executive Officer on such date.
(5) Represents unvested Career RSUs granted to the Named Executive Officers for no consideration pursuant to our Career Shares Program under our Stock Incentive Plan. Each Career RSU represents a contingent right to receive one share of our common stock. The vested Career RSUs will be paid in shares of our common stock at the time of retirement based upon the grantee’s attained age and years of continuous service at the time of retirement. The only Named Executive Officers whose Career RSUs were fully vested as of December 31, 2013 were Mr. Boyd and Mr. Boughner. The actual market value of our common stock, if any, ultimately received upon the grantee’s termination of service in connection with such Career RSUs can only be determined upon the occurrence of such termination. See “—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Career Shares Program.”
(6) Represents Restricted Stock Units granted under our Stock Incentive Plan on December 7, 2011. Each Restricted Stock Unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of our common stock. The Restricted Stock Units granted to the Named Executive Officers vest in full upon the third anniversary of the grant date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, these Restricted Stock Units are subject to forfeiture and other terms and conditions contained in the award agreement and the Stock Incentive Plan. See “—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Equity Incentive Plans.”
(7) Represents Performance Shares granted under our Stock Incentive Plan on December 7, 2011. Each Performance Share represents a contingent right to receive up to a maximum of two (2) shares of our common stock, subject to three year cliff vesting and satisfaction of certain performance metrics. In accordance with Instruction 3 to Item 402(f)(2) of Regulation S-K, the amount reported is the threshold number of shares that may be issued pursuant to the award. Notwithstanding the foregoing, these Performance Shares are subject to forfeiture and other terms and conditions contained in the award agreement and the Stock Incentive Plan. See “—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Equity Compensation.”
(8) Represents Restricted Stock Units granted under our Stock Incentive Plan on November 8, 2012. Each Restricted Stock Unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of our common stock. The Restricted Stock Units granted to the Named Executive Officers vest in full upon the third anniversary of the grant date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, these Restricted Stock Units are subject to forfeiture and other terms and conditions contained in the award agreement and the Stock Incentive Plan. See “—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Equity Incentive Plans.”
(9) Represents Performance Shares granted under our Stock Incentive Plan on November 8, 2012. Each Performance Share represents a contingent right to receive up to a maximum of two (2) shares of our common stock, subject to three year cliff vesting and satisfaction of certain performance metrics. In accordance with Instruction 3 to Item 402(f)(2) of Regulation S-K, the amount reported is the threshold number of shares that may be issued pursuant to the award. Notwithstanding the foregoing, these Performance Shares are subject to forfeiture and other terms and conditions contained in the award agreement and the Stock Incentive Plan. See “—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Equity Compensation.”
(10) Represents Restricted Stock Units granted under our Stock Incentive Plan on February 13, 2013. Each Restricted Stock Unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of our common stock. The Restricted Stock Units granted to the Named Executive Officers vest in full upon the third anniversary of the grant date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, these Restricted Stock Units are subject to forfeiture and other terms and conditions contained in the award agreement and the Stock Incentive Plan. See “—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Equity Incentive Plans.”
(11) Represents Restricted Stock Units granted under our Stock Incentive Plan on November 7, 2013. Each Restricted Stock Unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of our common stock. The Restricted Stock Units granted to the Named Executive Officers vest in full upon the third anniversary of the grant date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, these Restricted Stock Units are subject to forfeiture and other terms and conditions contained in the award agreement and the Stock Incentive Plan. See “—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Equity Incentive Plans.”
(12) Represents Performance Shares granted under our Stock Incentive Plan on November 7, 2013. Each Performance Share represents a contingent right to receive up to a maximum of two (2) shares of our common stock, subject to three year cliff vesting and satisfaction of certain performance metrics. In accordance with Instruction 3 to Item 402(f)(2) of Regulation S-K, the amount reported is the threshold number of shares that may be issued pursuant to the award. Notwithstanding the foregoing, these Performance Shares are subject to forfeiture and other terms and conditions contained in the award agreement and the Stock Incentive Plan. See “—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Equity Compensation.”

 

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Table of Contents

Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table (2013)

The following table sets forth information regarding the exercise of stock options and the vesting of Restricted Stock Units for each of our Named Executive Officers during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013.

 

    OPTION AWARDS     STOCK AWARDS(1)  

Name

  Number of Shares Acquired
on Exercise
(#)
    Value Realized on
Exercise
($)
    Number of Shares Acquired
on Vesting
(#)
        Value Realized on    
Vesting
($)(2)
 

William S. Boyd

    146,375        782,228        46,664        403,254 (3) 

Keith E. Smith

    213,916        1,216,901        92,378        873,896 (4) 

Robert L. Boughner

    297,111        1,676,021        89,688        779,846 (3)(4) 

Paul J. Chakmak

    249,752        1,505,104        57,737        556,122 (4) 

Josh Hirsberg

                12,720        131,270   

 

(1) On November 1, 2013, RSUs granted to the Named Executive Officers, under our Stock Incentive Plan on November 1, 2010, vested in full in accordance with the terms of their award agreement. Each RSU represents a contingent right to receive one share of our common stock. The value realized is calculated by multiplying the closing market price on November 1, 2013, $10.32, the vesting date, by the total number of shares that vested.
(2) Consistent with applicable SEC rules, represents the number of Career RSUs and/or RSUs that vested during 2013 for the applicable Named Executive Officer, multiplied by the market price of the underlying shares of our common stock on the vesting date.
(3) Includes Career RSUs that were granted to the Named Executive Officers on January 2, 2013 for no consideration pursuant to our Career Shares Program under our Stock Incentive Plan. Each Career RSU represents a contingent right to receive one share of our common stock. The vested Career RSUs will be paid out in shares of our common stock at the time of retirement based upon the grantee’s attained age and years of continuous service at the time of retirement. Since Mr. Boyd and Mr. Boughner were at least 55 years old and had been employed by us for at least 20 years as of the January 2, 2013 grant date, they were each immediately 100% vested in the Career RSUs granted. As a result, the value realized becomes the closing market price on January 2, 2013, $6.78, the grant date, multiplied by the number of units. However, consistent with the terms of the Career Shares Program as described above, the Career RSUs of Mr. Boyd and Mr. Boughner will not convert into our common stock until the termination of each of their respective service with us. The value Mr. Boyd and Mr. Boughner receive, if any, upon such conversion can only be determined at the time that each of their respective service with us terminates.
(4) On April 16, 2013, RSUs granted to Messrs. Smith, Boughner and Chakmak, under our Stock Incentive Plan, vested in full in accordance with the terms of their award agreement. Each RSU represents a contingent right to receive one share of our common stock. The value realized is calculated by multiplying the closing market price on April 16, 2013, $8.60, the vesting date, by the total number of shares that vested.

Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Table (2013)

Our Deferred Compensation Plan provides for the deferral of compensation on a basis that is not tax-qualified. Under our Deferred Compensation Plan, our Named Executive Officers may defer up to 25% of their base salary and up to 75% of their incentive compensation. We may make discretionary matching or additions to a participant’s account; however, during 2013, we did not exercise such discretion. For an explanation on a participant’s potential distributions, see “—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Deferred Compensation Plan.” Our Deferred Compensation Plan is a self-directed investment program containing investment features and funds that are substantially similar to the Company’s 401(k) program. The following table sets forth amounts deferred under our Deferred Compensation Plan, including our predecessor plan, for the year ended December 31, 2013:

 

Name

   Executive Contributions in
Last FY
($)
    Aggregate Earnings (Losses)
in Last FY
($)
     Aggregate Balance at
Last FYE
($)
 

William S. Boyd

     —         —          —    

Keith E. Smith

     458 (1)      98,943         439,409 (2) 

Robert L. Boughner

     —         56,707         664,445   

Paul J. Chakmak

     —         44,666         202,616   

Josh Hirsberg

     —         —          —    

 

(1) This amount is disclosed in the Summary Compensation Table under the heading “Salary” for 2012, which posted into Mr. Smith’s account in January 2013.
(2) Includes $12,834 and $55,002 that was previously disclosed in the Summary Compensation Table under the heading “Salary” for 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

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Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control (2013)

Under the terms of our 2000 MIP, CIC Plan and our equity incentive plans, including the individual award agreements under our equity incentive plans, payments may be made to our Named Executive Officers upon their termination of employment or a change in control of the Company. See “—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Post-Termination Compensation” for an explanation of the specific circumstances that would trigger payments under each plan. The description of the plans is qualified by reference to the complete text of the plans, which have been filed with the SEC. We have not entered into any severance agreements with our Named Executive Officers.

The following table sets forth the estimated payments that would be made to each of our Named Executive Officers upon voluntary termination, involuntary termination—not for cause,—for cause, and—as a qualifying termination in connection with a change in control, and death or permanent disability. The payments would be made pursuant to the plans identified in the preceding paragraph. The information set forth in the table assumes:

 

   

The termination event occurred on December 31, 2013 (the last business day of our last completed fiscal year);

 

   

The price per share of our common stock on the date of termination is $11.26 per share (the closing market price of our common stock on December 31, 2013, the last trading day in 2013);

 

   

For purposes of the short-term/annual awards under the 2000 MIP, (i) the Named Executive Officers have earned their target awards and the plan administrator does not elect to eliminate or reduce the awards pursuant to authority to do so granted under the plan, and (ii) except as otherwise stated herein each Named Executive Officer has earned and is paid their target bonus, as applicable, under the 2000 MIP;

 

   

All payments are made in a lump sum on the date of termination;

 

   

The vesting of all unvested stock options, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares and Career RSUs held by the executives is immediately accelerated in full upon a change of control pursuant to discretionary authority of the plan administrator granted pursuant to the particular plan (if not otherwise accelerated pursuant to the terms of the applicable award agreements, terms of the CIC Plan or pursuant to “long service” benefits);

 

   

The portion of in-the-money stock options and other equity awards that are subject to accelerated vesting in connection with the termination are immediately exercised and the shares received upon exercise (or upon settlement in the case of Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares and Career RSUs) are immediately resold at the assumed price per share of our common stock on the date of termination; and

 

   

Any vested Career RSUs held by the executives are immediately resold at the assumed price per share of our common stock on the date of termination.

 

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The actual amounts to be paid out can only be determined at the time of such executive’s separation from the Company and may differ materially from the amounts set forth in the table below. The amounts set forth in the table below do not reflect the withholding of applicable state and federal taxes.

 

Name

  Voluntary
Termination
($)
    Involuntary Termination      Death or Permanent
Disability
($)
 
    Not For Cause
($)
    For Cause
($)
    Change in Control
($)
    

William S. Boyd

          

CIC Plan

                         9,547,708              

Short-term/Annual Bonus (2000 MIP)

    850,000        850,000        850,000        850,000(1)         850,000   

Unvested and Accelerated Awards Under Equity Incentive Plans

    5,142,021        5,142,021        1,290,396        5,249,164            5,142,021   

Total

    5,992,021        5,992,021        2,140,396        15,646,872            5,992,021   

Keith E. Smith

          

CIC Plan

                         14,428,239              

Short-term/Annual Bonus (2000 MIP)

                         1,210,000(2)         1,210,000   

Unvested and Accelerated Awards Under Equity Incentive Plans

                         9,715,838            1,343,239   

Total

                         25,354,077            2,553,239   

Robert L. Boughner

          

CIC Plan

                         7,542,022              

Short-term/Annual Bonus (2000 MIP)

    935,000        935,000        935,000        935,000(1)         935,000   

Unvested and Accelerated Awards Under Equity Incentive Plans

    5,269,894        5,269,894        1,365,095        5,377,038            5,269,894   

Total

    6,204,894        6,204,894        2,300,095        13,854,060            6,204,894   

Paul J. Chakmak

          

CIC Plan

                         6,295,414              

Short-term/Annual Bonus (2000 MIP)

                         637,500(2)         637,500   

Unvested and Accelerated Awards Under Equity Incentive Plans

                         4,385,814              

Total

                         11,318,728            637,500   

Josh Hirsberg

          

CIC Plan

                         3,204,728              

Short-term/Annual Bonus (2000 MIP)

                         291,000(2)         291,000   

Unvested and Accelerated Awards Under Equity Incentive Plans

                         1,672,967              

Total

                         5,168,695            291,000   

 

(1) Represents the amount payable under the 2000 MIP in the event of a change of control followed by the executive’s termination with or without cause.
(2) Represents the amount payable under the 2000 MIP in the event of a change of control followed by the executive’s termination without cause. In the event of the executive’s termination with cause following a change of control, the amount payable would be $0.

 

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Director Compensation Table (2013)

The following table sets forth the compensation earned for services performed for us as a director by each member of our board of directors, other than any directors who are also our employees, during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013.

 

Name(1)

   Fees
Earned
or Paid
in Cash
($)(2)
     Stock
Awards
($)(3)(4)
     Option
Awards
($)(5)
   All Other
Compensation
($)(6)
     Total 
($)
 

Frederick J. Schwab

     115,000         112,504            10,014         237,518   

Peter M. Thomas

     100,000         112,504            10,014         222,518   

Richard E. Flaherty

     80,500         112,504            12,976         205,980   

Billy G. McCoy

     83,000         112,504            10,014         205,518   

Christine J. Spadafor

     85,000         112,504            5,007         202,511   

Thomas V. Girardi

     83,000         112,504                    195,504   

Veronica J. Wilson

     80,500         112,504                    193,004   

 

(1) Marianne Boyd Johnson and William R. Boyd each serves as a member of our board of directors and also both serve as our executive officers. Neither Ms. Johnson nor Mr. Boyd receives any compensation (including board or committee fees, stock options or otherwise) for serving as a member of our board of directors, but they are compensated for serving as an executive officer. For more information, see “Transactions with Related Persons.”
(2) Represents the amount of cash compensation earned in 2013 for service on our board of directors and committees of our board of directors, as applicable. The independent members of our board of directors approved the conversion to a fixed monthly director fee retainer payment beginning in 2012 in lieu of director fee payments based on attendance at board or committee meetings, which had been our historical practice. This annual retainer component in 2013 was $66,500. Each independent director’s monthly retainer was then specifically established based on committee memberships, anticipated meeting frequency and committee chair or lead director positions held during the year. Fixed annual committee retainers were then established at $14,000 for the Audit Committee and $4,500 for each of the Compensation Committee and the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. The Chairman of the Audit Committee received an additional annual fee of $15,000 for his added responsibilities. The Chairman of each of the Compensation Committee and the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee received an additional annual fee of $7,500, for their added responsibilities. In addition, our Presiding Director received an additional annual fee in the amount of $15,000 for serving in such position. Additionally, Mr. Schwab earned an additional fixed retainer fee of $15,000 for his service on the corporate governance committee of MDDC.
(3) These amounts reflect the grant date fair value, as determined in accordance with ASC 718, of awards pursuant to our Stock Incentive Plan. Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are included in Note 14, “Stockholders’ Equity and Stock Incentive Plans,” to our audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 14, 2014. However, as required, the amounts shown exclude the impact of estimated forfeitures related to service-based vesting conditions.
(4) On May 16, 2013, we awarded each non-employee director RSUs in the amount of 8,536 shares, each fully vested upon grant and to be paid in shares of our common stock upon cessation of service on the board of directors. The restricted stock units do not contain voting rights and are not entitled to dividends. As of December 31, 2013, each of our current non-employee directors had outstanding RSUs entitling them to 67,902 shares of our common stock upon retirement from the board, other than Ms. Spadafor and Dr. Flaherty. As of December 31, 2013, Ms. Spadafor had RSUs entitling her to 56,621 shares of our common stock upon retirement, and Dr. Flaherty had RSUs entitling him to 24,075 shares of our common stock upon retirement.

 

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(5) As of December 31, 2013, certain of our current directors had stock options outstanding to purchase shares of our common stock in the aggregate amounts set forth in the table below, subject to the terms of their award agreements:

 

Name

   Aggregate Number of Shares
Underlying Stock Options
(#)
 

Frederick J. Schwab

     2,000   

Peter M. Thomas

     3,500   

Billy G. McCoy

     2,000   

Thomas V. Girardi

     5,000   

Veronica J. Wilson

     1,000   

Prior to fiscal year 2009, each non-employee director had received an option to purchase 5,000 shares of our common stock upon first joining the board of directors and, prior to fiscal year 2007, had received an additional option to purchase 1,000 shares of our common stock on the date of each succeeding annual meeting of stockholders so long as the director served on the board of directors for the preceding twelve months. The stock options granted to our non-employee directors were granted at fair market value on the date of grant and vest at the rate of 25% per year on the first day of each successive 12 month period for a four year period, commencing one year from the date of grant. All of these prior grants of stock options were fully vested by the end of fiscal year 2010.

(6) Each of our non-employee directors is eligible to participate in our Medical Expense Reimbursement Plan, which covers medical expenses incurred by plan participants and their spouses that are not covered by other medical plans. The amounts in this column represent amounts paid in the form of plan premiums or received as reimbursement under this plan for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013.

In 2013, as a part of a detailed review of the elements of our outside director compensation programs and in consultation with Exequity, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee recommended and approved certain modifications to the Company’s compensation programs for the independent members of our board of directors. Primarily these changes were designed to ensure that the Company’s outside director compensation program is competitive with and comparable to peer group compensation practices, generally targeting outside directors’ compensation toward the 50th percentile of the Company’s selected peer group companies (see “—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Objectives of our Compensation Program”). These approved changes for 2014 include: (i) an increase in the annual director retainer fee from $66,500 to $73,000; (ii) an increase in the annual presiding director retainer from $15,000 to $25,000; (iii) increases in the annual retainer associated with the Compensation and Stock Option Committee, including an increase from $7,500 to $12,000 for the Committee Chair, and an increase from $4,500 to $8,000 for the other members; and (iv) an increase in the annual equity grant component of the directors’ compensation from $112,500 to $145,000, which will continue to be made in the form of RSUs.

 

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BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in any of our filings under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act that might incorporate future filings, including this proxy statement, in whole or in part, the Compensation and Stock Option Committee Report and the Report of the Audit Committee shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any such filings, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates such report by reference, and such incorporated report shall not otherwise be deemed filed.

Compensation and Stock Option Committee Report

We have reviewed and discussed with management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis. Based on our review and discussions, we recommended to the board of directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy statement.

 

Thomas V. Girardi, Chairman

Billy G. McCoy

Frederick J. Schwab

Members, Compensation and Stock Option Committee

Report of the Audit Committee

To the Board of Directors:

We have reviewed and discussed with management the Company’s audited financial statements as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013.

We have discussed with Deloitte & Touche LLP (“Deloitte”), the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, the matters required to be discussed by Auditing Standards No. 16, as amended (Communications with Audit Committees), as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

We have received and reviewed the written disclosures and the letter from Deloitte required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding Deloitte’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and have discussed with Deloitte their independence.

Based on the reviews and discussions referred to above, we recommended to the board of directors that the audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013.

During the course of 2013, the Audit Committee continued to oversee the Company’s efforts related to its internal control over financial reporting and management’s preparation for the evaluation in 2014. The Audit Committee was kept apprised of the progress of the 2013 evaluation and provided oversight and advice to management during the process. In connection with this oversight, the Audit Committee reviewed periodic updates provided by management, members of the Company’s internal audit group, and Deloitte. At the conclusion of the process, management, as well as members of the Company’s internal audit group, provided the Audit Committee with, and the Audit Committee reviewed, a report on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The Audit Committee also reviewed Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, as well as Deloitte’s Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K related to its audit of the consolidated financial statements and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting.

 

Frederick J. Schwab, Chairman

Richard E. Flaherty

Christine J. Spadafor

Peter M. Thomas

Veronica J. Wilson

Members, Audit Committee

 

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PROPOSALS REQUIRING YOUR VOTE

PROPOSAL 1—Election of Directors

General

The authorized number of directors is currently fixed at twelve, as set by the board of directors pursuant to our Amended and Restated Bylaws. Frederick J. Schwab turned 75 years of age during his current term as a director and therefore, pursuant to our Corporate Governance Guidelines, is not eligible to stand for re-election at the Annual Meeting. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee determined not to nominate Mr. Schwab as a director on this basis, and the Company’s board of directors has determined to fix the authorized number of directors at eleven, effective upon the election of directors at the Annual Meeting. Other than Mr. Schwab, each of our directors is standing for re-election, to hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders or until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified.

As noted above, Mr. Schwab is retiring from the board at the end of his current term at the 2014 Annual Meeting. He has served on the board of directors of the Company since 2002. The Company and the board of directors wish to express their sincere thanks to Mr. Schwab for his years of dedicated service and counsel to the Company.

Following the recommendation of our Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, the board of directors has nominated the eleven persons listed below to serve as directors for a one-year term beginning at the Annual Meeting.

Vacancies on our board of directors and newly created directorships will generally be filled by vote of a majority of the directors then in office, and any directors so chosen will hold office until the next annual election of directors. The board of directors has no reason to believe that any of its nominees will be unable or unwilling to serve if elected to office and, to the knowledge of the board of directors, each of its nominees intends to serve the entire term for which election is sought. However, should any nominee of the board of directors become unable or unwilling to accept nomination or election as a director of the Company, the proxies solicited by management will be voted for such other person as our board of directors may determine.

In voting for a director, each stockholder is entitled to cast one vote for each outstanding share of our common stock that they hold. Stockholders are not entitled to cumulate their votes for members of the board of directors. The eleven nominees who receive the greatest number of “FOR” votes will be elected to the board of directors.

 

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THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS YOU VOTE “FOR”

THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE FOLLOWING NOMINEES.

Director Nominees

The names of the director nominees, their ages as of the record date and certain other information about them are set forth below:

 

                  Board Committee Membership(1)

Name

 

Age

 

Position

  Director
Since
    Audit
Committee
  Corporate
Governance
and
Nominating
Committee
  Compensation
and Stock
Option
Committee

Robert L. Boughner

  61  

Executive Vice President, Chief Business Development Officer and Director

    1996         

William R. Boyd

  54   Vice President and Director     1992         

William S. Boyd

  82  

Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors

    1988         

Richard E. Flaherty

  69   Director     2011      ü    

Thomas V. Girardi

  74   Director     2005        ü   Chair

Marianne Boyd Johnson

  55  

Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors and Executive Vice President

    1990         

Billy G. McCoy

  73   Director     1997        ü   ü

Keith E. Smith

  53  

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

    2005         

Christine J. Spadafor

  58   Director     2009      ü   ü  

Peter M. Thomas

  64   Director     2004      ü   Chair  

Veronica J. Wilson

  62   Director     2003      ü    

 

(1) Frederick J. Schwab will continue to serve as a member of the Compensation and Stock Option Committee and as Chairman of the Audit Committee until the election of directors at the Annual Meeting. We anticipate that Dr. Flaherty will be appointed to serve as Chairman of the Audit Committee thereafter.

Robert L. Boughner has served as a director of the Company since April 1996 and has more than 25 years of senior management experience with the Company. In December 2009, Mr. Boughner was named Executive Vice President and Chief Business Development Officer for the Company. Additionally, from January 2009 through November 2012, Mr. Boughner served as the President and Chief Operating Officer of Marina District Development Company, LLC (“MDDC”), the limited liability company formed as part of a 50-50 joint venture with MGM Resorts International. MDDC owns and operates the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa and the Water Club in Atlantic City, New Jersey. He also served as President and Chief Executive Officer of our Echelon Place project, from July 2005 through the sale of the project in March 2013. Mr. Boughner had held the position of Chief Executive Officer of MDDC from January 1999 through June 2006. Prior to his initial service with MDDC, Mr. Boughner had served as Chief Operating Officer and Senior Executive Vice President of the Company, from April 1990 and May 1998, respectively, through October 2001. He is active in civic and industry affairs and currently serves on the board of directors of Bank of Nevada and Southwest Gas Corporation.

William R. Boyd has been a Vice President of the Company since December 1990 and a director since September 1992. From June 1987 until December 1990, he was Director of Operations at the Fremont Hotel and Casino. From 1978 until 1987, he held various administrative and operations positions at the California Hotel and Casino and Sam’s Town Hotel and Gambling Hall. Mr. Boyd serves on the board of directors of the Better Business Bureau of Southern Nevada and is Chairman of Borgata’s charitable Heart and Soul Foundation. He also serves as chairman of the Company’s corporate compliance committee and is a member of the Company’s diversity council. Mr. Boyd is the son of William S. Boyd and the brother of Marianne Boyd Johnson, both of whom are directors and officers of the Company.

 

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William S. Boyd has served as a director of the Company since its inception in June 1988 and as Chairman of the Board of Directors since August 1988. Mr. Boyd has served as the Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company since January 2008, and he previously held the position of Chief Executive Officer of the Company from August 1988 through December 2007. A co-founder of California Hotel and Casino, Mr. Boyd has been a director of that company since its inception in 1973, and he has held several offices with that company, including having served as its President. Prior to joining California Hotel and Casino, Mr. Boyd practiced law in Las Vegas for 15 years. Between 1970 and 1974, he also was Secretary, Treasurer and a member of the board of directors of the Union Plaza Hotel and Casino. Mr. Boyd has served as Vice Chairman of the board of directors of the American Gaming Association and for the past twelve years, has been on the board of directors and the President Emeritus of the National Center for Responsible Gaming. Mr. Boyd is also a member of the board of directors of Western Alliance Bancorporation. Mr. Boyd is the father of Marianne Boyd Johnson and William R. Boyd, both of whom are directors and officers of the Company.

Richard E. Flaherty has served as a director of the Company since October 2011. From September 2008 until retiring in July 2010, Dr. Flaherty served as the Dean of the Eberhardt School of Business at the University of the Pacific, in Stockton, California. Prior to that, he had served as Dean of the College of Business and Professor of Accounting at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (“UNLV”) for eight years; and before joining UNLV, Dr. Flaherty was on the faculty at Arizona State University for approximately twenty-one years. He was also previously on the faculties of the University of Illinois and Oklahoma State University, and served for almost two years as a research associate at the Financial Accounting Standards Board. He has published articles on financial accounting theory and practice in several journals and co-authored an intermediate accounting textbook through six editions.

Thomas V. Girardi has served as a director since February 2005. Mr. Girardi served as a director of Coast Casinos, Inc. (“Coast Casinos”) from August 2002 through the closing of the Boyd/Coast merger transaction on July 1, 2004. He is currently a partner in the Los Angeles law firm of Girardi and Keese and has been practicing law since 1965, specializing in product liability law, toxic torts and bad faith insurance cases. Mr. Girardi also is a member of the board of directors of Spectrum Laboratories, Inc. and Astex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (formerly known as Supergen, Inc.).

Marianne Boyd Johnson has served as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors since February 2001 and has been a director since September 1990. Ms. Johnson has served as Executive Vice President of the Company since January 2008. She also serves as chief diversity officer of the Company. Ms. Johnson previously held the position of Senior Vice President of the Company from December 2001 through December 2007; and prior to being elected Senior Vice President, she had served as Vice President of the Company since September 1997. From 1976 until September 1990, she held a variety of operations positions with the Company. Ms. Johnson also serves on the board of directors of Western Alliance Bancorporation. Ms. Johnson is the daughter of William S. Boyd and the sister of William R. Boyd, both of whom are directors and officers of the Company.

Billy G. McCoy, Major General USAF (Ret), has been a director of the Company since March 1997. From 1993 to 1996, General McCoy served as Director of Development for the Company. He served on the board of Luscombe Aircraft Corporation from 1997 until July 2007, serving as its Chairman of the Board from 2000 until January 2007. He served as the President and Chief Operating Officer of Luscombe Aircraft Corporation from 1997 through January 2001. General McCoy entered the Air Force in June 1963 and was promoted to Major General in October 1989. During his 30 years of active service, he served as Commander of Homestead AFB in Florida, Langley AFB in Virginia, Luke AFB in Arizona, Nellis AFB in Nevada and Lackland AFB in Texas. He serves on the board of the Nevada Federal Credit Union and as a trustee of the Community College of Southern Nevada.

Keith E. Smith has been President and a director of the Company since April 2005, and he has served as Chief Executive Officer since January 2008. Mr. Smith served as the Chief Operating Officer of the Company from October 2001 through December 2007, and prior to being appointed President, Mr. Smith had served as the Company’s Executive Vice President since May 1998. He joined the Company in September 1990. In January 2012, Mr. Smith was appointed by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco to serve as the Chairman of the board of directors of its Los Angeles Branch, and he has served as a director on that board since January 2009. In 2005, Mr. Smith was appointed to the Board of the Nevada Resort Association and served as Chairman from December 2008 until December 2012. Mr. Smith is also a member of the board of directors of the American Gaming Association having

 

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served as its Chairman in 2010 and 2011. He served as the Vice Chairman of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority from January 2006 to July 2011 and is currently a member of the board of directors of Sky West, Inc.

Christine J. Spadafor has served as a member of our board of directors since May 2009. Ms. Spadafor has served since March 2004 as the President and Chief Executive Officer of SpadaforClay Group, Inc. (“SpadaforClay”), a global consulting firm that she founded. The professional focus of SpadaforClay is on strategic and operational issues for private equity, small and mid-cap companies, both domestic and international. Prior to her current firm, she held various roles for nearly a decade as a principal or partner with three global management consulting firms, specializing in strategy development and implementation, operational improvement and corporate turnarounds. Ms. Spadafor is a licensed attorney and registered nurse, and she currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer for St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, a non-profit organization that provides services to abused, abandoned and neglected children. She has held this position with St. Jude’s Ranch since April 2006. Ms. Spadafor is a published author, has served on a number of non-profit boards and in 2008 was selected by Direct Women in conjunction with the American Bar Association as one of the top 20 female attorneys in the U.S. with outstanding business expertise.

Peter M. Thomas has served as a director of the Company since April 2004. Mr. Thomas served as a director of Coast Casinos from August 2002 until his election to the board of directors of the Company, and he served on the Rio Suite Hotel and Casino, Inc. board of directors from 1995 to 1999. Mr. Thomas is the Managing Member of Thomas & Mack Co. Limited Liability Company, a commercial real estate development and management company. He also served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Bank of America, Nevada from 1992 to 1995 and, prior to the acquisition of Valley Capital Corporation by Bank of America, as the President and Chief Operating Officer of Valley Bank of Nevada from 1982 to 1992. Mr. Thomas was the Chairman of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s Committee on Fiscal Affairs and a committee member from 1994 through 2006. Mr. Thomas has been a member of the board of directors of City National Corp. since April 2003 and was a board member of the Los Angeles Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco from January 2003 to December 2008.

Veronica J. Wilson has served as a director of the Company since October 2003. Since November 2009, Ms. Wilson has served as the Executive Director of the Blind Center of Nevada, an organization that assists people with visual impairments. Prior to her current position, she had served as that organization’s President and Chief Executive Officer since September 2000. In addition, from July 1993 through March 2002, Ms. Wilson had served as the Chief Executive Officer of JMJ Inc., the former operator of the Aladdin Hotel & Casino. Prior to serving as the Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Wilson served as JMJ Inc.’s Chief Financial Officer from June 1992 to July 1993. From 1973 to 1992, Ms. Wilson held several accounting positions with Maxim Hotel & Casino. Ms. Wilson is a committee member on the Nevada State Rehabilitation Council, Chairman of the Aging and Disability Resource Center Advisory Board and a member of the Nevada Strategic Plan Accountability Committee. Ms. Wilson has over 30 years of experience in the gaming industry.

Meetings of the Board of Directors

The board of directors held a total of fourteen (14) meetings during 2013. The Audit Committee, Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, and Compensation Committee held eighteen (18), five (5) and five (5) meetings during 2013, respectively. Each director attended at least 75% of the meetings of the board of directors and the committees of the board of directors on which the director served that were held during the applicable period of service. We encourage, but do not require, our directors to attend our annual stockholders meetings. Last year, all of the members of the board of directors attended the 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

 

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PROPOSAL 2—Ratification of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Deloitte & Touche LLP (“Deloitte”) has served as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company and California Hotel and Casino, our predecessor, since 1981 and has been appointed by the Audit Committee to continue as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2014. In the event that the stockholders do not ratify the selection of Deloitte as our independent registered public accounting firm, the Audit Committee will review its future selection of auditors. Even if the appointment is ratified, the Audit Committee reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to select a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the fiscal year if it determines such a change would be in our best interests and the best interests of our stockholders. A Deloitte representative is expected to be present at the Annual Meeting and will have an opportunity to make a statement and respond to appropriate questions.

The Audit Committee considered whether Deloitte’s provision of any professional services, other than its audits of our annual financial statements and the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting, reviews of quarterly financial statements and other audit-related services, is compatible with maintaining the auditor’s independence.

Audit and Non-Audit Fees

The following table sets forth the aggregate fees billed by Deloitte for the audits and other services provided to the Company for fiscal years 2013 and 2012.

 

     2013      2012  

Audit Fees(1)

   $ 2,335,000       $ 1,770,000   

Audit-Related Fees(2)

     361,000         257,000   

Tax Fees(3)

     303,000         281,000   

All Other Fees

             
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 2,999,000       $ 2,308,000   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Audit fees represent fees for professional services provided in connection with the audit of our consolidated financial statements, the review of our quarterly financial statements and the audit of the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting, including professional services relating to our acquisition of Peninsula and to our equity and debt offerings.
(2) Audit-related fees consist primarily of services provided in connection with our regulatory audits, consulting on technical accounting matters, review of valuation services and certain other audit-related consultation services.
(3) Tax fees consist primarily of tax consultation and planning fees and tax compliance services, including services provided in connection with certain federal and state tax matters, cost segregation services, transaction support and Internal Revenue Service examination support services, and services provided in connection with our acquisition of Peninsula.

Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Non-Audit Services

The Audit Committee has adopted a policy for the pre-approval of all audit and permissible non-audit services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm. These services may include audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other services. Under the policy, pre-approval is generally provided for up to one year and any pre-approval is detailed as to the particular service or category of services and is subject to a specific budget. In addition, the Audit Committee may also pre-approve particular services on a case-by-case basis. The Audit Committee has delegated its pre-approval authority to the Chairman of the Audit Committee. The Chairman is required to report any decisions to the Audit Committee at the next scheduled committee meeting. All services provided by Deloitte in fiscal year 2013 were in compliance with our policy relating to the pre-approval of services.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” RATIFICATION OF THE

APPOINTMENT OF DELOITTE AS THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC

ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2014.

 

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PROPOSAL 3—Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation

The Company is providing stockholders with the opportunity to vote to approve, on a nonbinding, advisory basis, the compensation of our Named Executive Officers as disclosed in this proxy statement in accordance with the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC, as required by Section 14A of the Exchange Act and related SEC rules.

While an advisory vote on compensation is not binding on the Company, our board of directors or our Compensation Committee, we believe that it is important for our stockholders to have an opportunity to express their views regarding our executive compensation philosophy, our compensation policies and programs, and our decisions regarding executive compensation, all as disclosed in our proxy statements from time to time. 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 compensation of our Named Executive Officers as disclosed in our proxy statements, we will consider our stockholders’ concerns and the Compensation Committee will evaluate whether any actions are necessary to address those concerns. We are committed to ongoing engagement with our stockholders on executive compensation and corporate governance issues, in addition to the conducting of periodic advisory votes on executive compensation. Consistent with the preference expressed by our stockholders at the 2011 Annual Meeting, we have determined that our stockholders should vote on a say-on-pay proposal every three years. Accordingly, following this advisory vote on executive compensation at the Annual Meeting, the next advisory vote on compensation for our Named Executive Officers would be held at our annual meeting of stockholders in 2017.

As described in greater detail under the heading “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” our compensation programs for our Named Executive Officers are designed based primarily on our efforts to (i) recognize achievement and leadership when appropriate, (ii) further align the interests of our Named Executive Officers with those of our stockholders; and (iii) provide our Named Executive Officers with compensation at levels that are comparable with similarly situated executive officers at other leading companies in the gaming and hospitality industries. Accordingly, the compensation of our Named Executive Officers is based in large part on our success and achievements, as assessed by our board of directors and Compensation Committee.

The Compensation Committee believes the Company’s executive compensation programs have been effective at recognizing the achievement of sound financial performance and accomplishment of strategic, long-term transformative corporate events, during the challenging recessionary period that has faced our industry. During this past three year period, the Company has through strategic acquisitions successfully expanded into six new gaming markets, expanding our total presence to twenty-two gaming entertainment properties. Additionally, the Company has diligently pursued strengthening its balance sheet through divestures of non-core assets, such as the Echelon project and our Dania Jai- Alai operation, and through measured efforts to, where appropriate, reduce balances, refinance or extend maturity dates of indebtedness. Our annual report to stockholders provides more details on the Company’s financial performance.

This vote is advisory, which means that the vote on executive compensation is not binding on us, our board of directors or the Compensation Committee. The vote on this resolution is not intended to address any specific element of compensation, but rather relates to the overall compensation of our Named Executive Officers, as described in this proxy statement in accordance with the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC. To the extent there is a significant vote against our Named Executive Officers’ compensation as disclosed in this proxy statement, the Compensation Committee will evaluate whether any actions are necessary to address our stockholders’ concerns.

Accordingly, we ask our stockholders to vote on 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 the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the Summary Compensation Table and the other related tables and disclosure.”

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL, ON AN

ADVISORY BASIS, OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AS

DISCLOSED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT.

 

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EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

The following table provides additional information regarding our equity compensation plans in effect at December 31, 2013.

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

     (a)      (b)      (c)  

Plan Category

   Number of
Shares to be
Issued upon
Exercise of Options,
Warrants and Rights
     Weighted Average
Exercise Price of
Outstanding
Options, Warrants
and Rights
     Number of Shares
Remaining Available
for Future Issuance
under Equity
Compensation Plans
(excluding shares
reflected in column(a))
 

Equity compensation plans approved by stockholders

     14,009,615(1)       $ 26.62(2)         1,455,160(3)   

Equity compensation plans not approved by stockholders

                    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     14,009,615(1)       $ 26.62(2)         1,455,160(3)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Includes options to purchase shares outstanding under our 1993 Director’s Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan, 1996 Stock Incentive Plan and our Stock Incentive Plan. Also includes RSUs and Performance Shares outstanding under our Stock Incentive Plan.
(2) Weighted Average Exercise Price does not include RSUs or Performance Shares outstanding under our Stock Incentive Plan, which are exercisable for zero consideration.
(3) Consists of shares available for future issuance under our Stock Incentive Plan, which may also be issued as RSUs and Performance Shares under our 2000 MIP. Each Performance Share represents a contingent right to receive up to a maximum of two (2) shares of our common stock, subject to three-year cliff vesting and satisfaction of certain performance metrics. With respect to our outstanding grants of Performance Shares, the amounts reported in the table above assume that the performance metrics will all be achieved at the target performance level, or one (1) share of our common stock for each Performance Share. If the performance metrics were all achieved at maximum performance, the Performance Shares awarded would be the maximum of two (2) shares of our common stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the RSUs and the Performance Shares are subject to forfeiture and other terms and conditions contained in the award agreement and the Stock Incentive Plan. See—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Equity Compensation.”

 

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SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE;

TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONS; POLICIES AND PROCEDURES REGARDING

TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONS

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Company’s directors, certain of the Company’s officers, and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of the Company’s equity securities, to file an initial report of ownership on Form 3 and changes in ownership on Form 4 or 5 with the SEC. Such officers, directors and 10% stockholders are also required by the SEC rules to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.

Based solely on its review of the copies of such forms received by it, or written representations from certain reporting persons that no Forms 5 were required for such persons, the Company believes that during 2013 all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to such officers, directors and 10% stockholders were satisfied, except that two Form 4s for Christine J. Spadafor, each reporting an acquisition, were filed late.

Transactions with Related Persons

We purchase, in arm’s length negotiated, ordinary course commercial transactions, communications-related products and services from Switch, LLC (“Switch”) and its majority-owned subsidiary, Switch Business Solutions, LLC (“SBS”). Peter M. Thomas, a member of our board of directors, owns, either directly or indirectly, an approximate 6.7% equity interest as a passive investor in Switch. Mr. Thomas’ family members own collectively, either directly or indirectly, an approximate 24.4% equity interest in Switch. Mr. Thomas does not actively engage in the management of Switch or SBS. Mr. Thomas’ sibling, who is affiliated with Switch, is not involved in the daily business operations or decisions of Switch and does not perform any policy-making functions. Additionally, Mr. Thomas’ sibling is not and never has been an employee of Switch and none of the employees or contractors of Switch report to him. We paid Switch and SBS, in the aggregate, a total of approximately $878,000 in fiscal year 2013, and expect to pay such entities a substantially similar amount in fiscal year 2014. Our transactions with Switch and SBS represented approximately 0.5% of Switch’s and SBS’s consolidated revenue for 2013, and is expected to represent less than 0.5% of Switch’s and SBS’s consolidated revenue in 2014.

Marianne Boyd Johnson, William R. Boyd and Samuel J. Boyd are the children of William S. Boyd, the Executive Chairman of our Board of Directors. Samuel J. Johnson, III, is the step-son of Marianne Boyd Johnson, our Executive Vice President and Vice Chairman of the Company’s board of directors. Marianne Boyd Johnson received a base salary and cash bonus in the amount of $373,958 for fiscal year 2013 and is receiving a base salary in the amount of $260,000 for fiscal year 2014. William R. Boyd, a Vice President and member of the Company’s board of directors, received a base salary and cash bonus in the amount of $301,530 for fiscal year 2013 and is receiving a base salary in the amount of $234,000 for fiscal year 2014. Samuel J. Boyd, Executive Host at The Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, received a base salary and cash bonus in the amount of $129,085 for fiscal year 2013 and is receiving a base salary in the amount of $111,000 for fiscal year 2014. Samuel J. Johnson, III, Director of Program Development with the Company, received a base salary and cash bonus in the amount of $166,161 for fiscal year 2013 and is receiving a base salary in the amount of $148,800 for fiscal year 2014. Marianne Boyd Johnson, William R. Boyd, Samuel J. Boyd and Samuel J. Johnson, III are also eligible to earn cash bonuses in fiscal year 2014.

Through a wholly owned subsidiary, we own and operate the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa and The Water Club in a joint venture with a divestiture trust established for the benefit of a wholly owned subsidiary of MGM Resorts International. MDDC is the operating company created pursuant to this arrangement. In January 2009, Robert L. Boughner, a member of our board of directors and our Executive Vice President and Chief Business Development Officer, resumed the duties of President and Chief Operating Officer of MDDC, which responsibilities he held until November 30, 2012. Mr. Boughner also continues to serve as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Marina District Finance Company, Inc. (“MDFC”), a wholly owned subsidiary of MDDC. Consistent with past years in which Mr. Boughner served as an executive officer of MDDC or MDFC, MDDC reimbursed the Company for a corresponding portion of Mr. Boughner’s compensation. For 2013, MDDC reimbursed the Company approximately $250,000.

 

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Policies and Procedures Regarding Transactions with Related Persons

We attempt to analyze all transactions in which the Company (or our subsidiaries) participates and in which a related person may have a direct or indirect material interest, both due to the potential for a conflict of interest and to determine whether disclosure of the transaction is required under applicable SEC rules and regulations. Related persons include any of our directors or executive officers, certain of our stockholders and their respective immediate family members. As it relates to our employees, officers and directors, pursuant to our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, which is available on our website at www.boydgaming.com, a conflict of interest arises when personal interests interfere with the ability to act in the best interests of the Company. Pursuant to our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, our employees are to disclose any potential conflicts of interest to the Chief Executive Officer or his designees, who will advise the employee as to whether or not the Company believes a conflict of interest exists. Employees are also to disclose potential conflicts of interest involving their respective spouses, siblings, parents, in-laws, children, and members of their households. Non-employee directors are also to discuss any concerns with the Chairman of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee or our General Counsel.

Each year, we require our director nominees and executive officers to complete a questionnaire that is intended to, among other things, identify any transactions or potential transactions with us in which a director or an executive officer or one of their family members or associated entities has an interest that exceeds $120,000. We also require that directors and executive officers promptly notify us of any changes during the course of the year to the information provided in the annual questionnaire.

Our Audit Committee, pursuant to its charter, has responsibility for reviewing and approving certain related person transactions, as provided in the charter. In addition, the board of directors annually determines the independence of directors based on a review by the directors and the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee.

We believe that these policies and procedures collectively ensure that all related person transactions requiring disclosure under SEC rules are appropriately reviewed and approved or ratified.

 

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STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS; OTHER MATTERS

Stockholder Proposals

Our stockholders may submit proposals on matters appropriate for stockholder action at subsequent annual stockholder meetings consistent with Rule 14a-8 promulgated under the Exchange Act. Consistent with the Company’s bylaws, to be properly considered at the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, notice of stockholder proposals must be given to our Corporate Secretary in writing not less than 45 days and not more than 75 days prior to the anniversary of the date on which we first mailed our proxy materials for this year’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders (i.e., not earlier than January 12, 2015 and not later than February 11, 2015), after which the notice is untimely. A stockholder’s notice to our Corporate Secretary must set forth for each matter proposed to be brought before the annual meeting (a) a brief description of the matter the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting, (b) the name and address of the stockholder proposing such business, (c) the number of shares of our common stock which are beneficially owned by the stockholder, and (d) any material interest of the stockholder in such business. In addition, proposals of stockholders intended to be presented at our 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and included in the board of directors’ proxy statement and form of proxy for that meeting must be received by us, Attention: Brian A. Larson, Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel, at our principal offices, no later than November 28, 2014. If the date of the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is moved by more than 30 days from the anniversary of this year’s annual meeting, the aforementioned deadlines for stockholder proposals will be adjusted consistent with Rule 14a-8 promulgated under the Exchange Act and the Company’s bylaws.

Other Matters

The board of directors currently knows of no other business which will be presented at the Annual Meeting. If any other business is properly brought before the Annual Meeting, it is intended that proxies in the enclosed form will be voted in respect thereof as the proxy holders deem advisable.

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on April 24, 2014.

This proxy statement and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, as filed with the SEC, are available at http://www.boydgaming.com/proxymaterials. A copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 as filed with the SEC has been provided to our stockholders together with this proxy statement and will be provided to a stockholder without charge upon written request to Boyd Gaming Corporation, 3883 Howard Hughes Parkway, Ninth Floor, Las Vegas, Nevada 89169, (702) 792-7200, Attn: David Strow, Director Corporate Communications.

 

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LOGO   

Shareowner Services

P.O. Box 64945

St. Paul, MN 55164-0945

 

                         
    

Vote by Internet, Telephone or Mail

24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week

Your phone or Internet vote authorizes the named proxies to vote your shares in the same manner as if you marked, signed and returned your proxy card.

 

LOGO    INTERNET – www.proxypush.com/byd
  

 

Use the Internet to vote your proxy until 12:00 p.m. (C.D.T.) on April 23, 2014.

LOGO    PHONE 1-866-883-3382
  

 

Use a touch-tone telephone to vote your proxy until 12:00 p.m. (C.D.T.) on April 23, 2014.

 

LOGO

  

 

MAIL – Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope provided.

If you vote your proxy by Internet or by Telephone, you do NOT need to mail back your Proxy Card.
 

 

 

 

LOGO   Please detach here   LOGO

 

    

 

The Board of Directors Unanimously Recommends a Vote

    
     FOR all of the Director Nominees identified in Proposal 1, and FOR each of Proposals 2 and 3.     

 

1.   Election of    01 Robert L. Boughner    05 Thomas V. Girardi    09 Christine J. Spadafor   ¨    Vote FOR   ¨    Vote WITHHELD
  directors:    02 William R. Boyd    06 Marianne Boyd Johnson    10 Peter M. Thomas      all nominees      from all
     03 William S. Boyd    07 Billy G. McCoy    11 Veronica J. Wilson      (except as marked)      nominees
     04 Richard E. Flaherty    08 Keith E. Smith             

 

(Instructions: To withhold authority to vote for any indicated nominee,     
write the number(s) of the nominee(s) in the box provided to the right.)     

 

2.   To ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014.    ¨ For    ¨ Against    ¨ Abstain
3.   Advisory vote on executive compensation.    ¨ For    ¨ Against    ¨ Abstain

THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED OR, IF NO DIRECTION IS GIVEN, WILL BE VOTED FOR ALL DIRECTOR NOMINEES IDENTIFIED IN PROPOSAL 1, and FOR EACH OF PROPOSALS 2 AND 3.

 

Address Change? Mark box, sign, and indicate changes below:    ¨          Date                                                                          

 

      
      
      
    

Signature(s) in Box

Please sign exactly as your name appears herein. Joint owners should each sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by the President or other authorized person. If a partnership, please sign in full partnership name by an authorized person.

 

         
         


Table of Contents

 

BOYD GAMING CORPORATION

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

Thursday, April 24, 2014

11:00 a.m. (local time)

IP Casino Resort Spa

850 Bayview Avenue

Biloxi, Mississippi 39530

 

 

Boyd Gaming Corporation

3883 Howard Hughes Parkway, Ninth Floor

Las Vegas, Nevada 89169

        proxy   
     

 

This proxy is solicited by the board of directors for use at the Boyd Gaming Corporation Annual Meeting of Stockholders on Thursday, April 24, 2014.

The undersigned hereby appoints William S. Boyd and William R. Boyd (collectively, the “Proxies”), or either of them, each with the power of substitution, to represent and vote the shares of the undersigned, with all the powers which the undersigned would possess if personally present, at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Boyd Gaming Corporation, a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), to be held on Thursday, April 24, 2014 at 11:00 a.m., local time, at IP Casino Resort Spa, 850 Bayview Avenue, Biloxi, Mississippi 39530, and at any adjournments or postponements thereof. SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS PROXY CARD WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED BY THE STOCKHOLDER. IF NO SUCH DIRECTIONS ARE INDICATED, THE PROXIES WILL HAVE AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF ALL DIRECTOR NOMINEES LISTED ON THE REVERSE SIDE AND FOR EACH OF PROPOSALS 2 AND 3. IN THEIR DISCRETION, THE PROXIES ARE AUTHORIZED TO VOTE UPON SUCH OTHER BUSINESS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING.

TO ACCESS THE COMPANY’S ANNUAL REPORT AND PROXY STATEMENT MATERIALS ONLINE GO TO: http://www.boydgaming.com/proxymaterials

PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD

PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED REPLY ENVELOPE.

See reverse for voting instructions.