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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No. )

Filed by the Registrant Filed by a Party other than the Registrant

Check the appropriate box:

Preliminary Proxy Statement

 

Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

 

Definitive Proxy Statement

 

Definitive Additional Materials

 

Soliciting Material under § 240.14a-12

DIODES INCORPORATED

(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):

 

No fee required

 

Fee paid previously with preliminary materials

Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a6(i)(1) and 0-11

 

 


 

DIODES INCORPORATED

Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders

To Be Held May 29, 2024

Notice is hereby given that the annual meeting (the “Meeting”) of the stockholders of Diodes Incorporated (the “Company”) will be held online via live audio webcast at www.proxydocs.com/DIOD on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. (Central Time). The Meeting will be conducted completely virtually, via a live audio webcast; there will be no physical meeting location. Even though our Meeting is being held virtually, stockholders will still have the ability to participate in and hear others during the Meeting. Questions should be submitted when registering to attend the Meeting. The Meeting is being held for the following purposes:

1.
Election of Directors. To elect seven persons to the Board of Directors of the Company, each to serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their respective successors have been elected and qualified. The Board of Directors’ nominees are: Elizabeth Bull, Angie Chen Button, Warren Chen, Robert E. Feiger, Keh-Shew Lu, Christina Wen-Chi Sung and Gary Yu.
2.
Approval of Executive Compensation. To approve, on an advisory basis, the Company’s executive compensation.
3.
Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. To ratify the appointment of Moss Adams LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024.
4.
Other Business. To transact such other business as properly may come before the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

It is possible that an adjournment or postponement may be necessary that makes us unable to hold the Meeting on the date as planned. If such an adjournment or postponement is made, the Company will notify stockholders through the issuance of a press release and the filing of definitive additional soliciting material with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Only persons who were stockholders of record at the close of business on April 1, 2024 are entitled to notice of and to vote either by proxy or at the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

The proxy statement, which accompanies this Notice, contains additional information regarding the proposals to be considered at the Meeting, and stockholders are encouraged to read it in its entirety.

The Company has elected to provide access to our proxy materials by notifying you of the availability of our proxy statement and our fiscal 2023 Annual Report to Stockholders over the Internet at www.proxydocs.com/DIOD. Stockholders may also obtain a printed copy of the proxy materials free of charge by following the instructions provided in the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials that will be first mailed to stockholders on or about April 19, 2024 or in the enclosed proxy statement.

As set forth in the enclosed proxy statement, proxies are being solicited by and on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company. All proposals set forth above are proposals of the Board of Directors.

Whether or not you plan to participate in the virtual Meeting, YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. Please follow the instructions enclosed to ensure that your shares are voted. If you participate in the Meeting, you may revoke your proxy at any time prior to its exercise at the Meeting.

Dated at Plano, Texas, this 19th day of April, 2024.

By Order of the Board of Directors,

DIODES INCORPORATED

https://cdn.kscope.io/ce2176f224a834c5293122c729ee2397-img207102839_0.jpg 

Richard D. White,
Secretary

IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING

 

If you plan to attend the Meeting online you must be registered no later than 5:00 p.m. Central Time on May 28, 2024. To register go to www.proxydocs.com/DIOD. Upon completing your registration, you will receive further instructions via email, including your unique links that will allow you access to the Meeting and will also permit you to submit questions in advance of the Meeting. Please be sure to follow instructions found on your proxy card and subsequent instructions that will be delivered to you via email. You will be able to listen, vote, and submit questions from any remote location that has Internet connectivity. Technical assistance is available as part of the instructions.

 

 


 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

Page

General Information

1

Matters to be Considered at the Meeting

1

Voting Recommendations of the Board

1

Voting Shares Held in “Street Name”

1

Internet Access to Proxy Materials

1

How to Vote

2

How to Change or Revoke Your Vote

3

Meeting Admission

3

Voting Rights

3

Procedures for Stockholder Nominations and Proposals

5

Cost of Proxy Solicitation

5

Other Business

5

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

6

Proposal One – Election of Directors

8

Board Diversity

 

9

Corporate Governance

12

Committees of the Board

12

Meetings of the Board and Committees

13

Board Leadership Structure

14

Nominating Procedures and Criteria and Board Diversity

14

Director Resignation Policy

15

Communications with Directors

15

Compensation of Directors

17

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

 

17

Corporate Policies

 

18

Corporate Sustainability

 

19

Executive Officers of the Company

25

Report of the Audit Committee

27

Code of Ethics

29

Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions

29

Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports

 

30

Proposal Two - Approval of Executive Compensation

 

32

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

33

Introduction

33

Executive Summary

 

33

Overview of Compensation Program

 

35

Pay for Performance

 

37

Principal Components of Compensation

 

39

Compensation Review Process

 

45

Additional Benefits and Perquisites

 

47

Best Practices

 

47

Compensation Risk Assessment

 

48

Post-Termination and Change-In-Control Payments

 

48

Tax and Accounting Considerations

 

49

Report of the Compensation Committee on Executive Compensation

 

50

Executive Compensation

51

Summary Compensation Table

51

Grants of Plan-Based Awards

 

53

CEO Pay Ratio

53

Narrative to Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table

54

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

57

Option Exercises and Stock Vested

57

Equity Compensation Plan Information

58

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

58

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control

59

Proposal Three - Ratification of the Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

67

Audit Fees, Audit-Related Fees, Tax Fees and All Other Fees

67

Proposals of Stockholders and Stockholder Nominations for 2025 Annual Meeting

69

Annual Report and Form 10-K

70

Meeting Location

Back Cover

 

 


 

DIODES INCORPORATED

4949 Hedgcoxe Road, Suite 200

Plano, Texas 75024

(972) 987-3900

PROXY STATEMENT

ANNUAL MEETING: May 29, 2024

GENERAL INFORMATION

This proxy statement (“Proxy Statement”) is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Diodes Incorporated (the “Company”) for use at the annual meeting (the “Meeting”) of the stockholders of the Company to be held online via live audio webcast at www.proxydocs.com/DIOD on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. (Central Time), and at any adjournment or postponement thereof. Only stockholders of record at the close of business on April 1, 2024 (the “Record Date”) are entitled to notice of and to vote by proxy or at the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

Matters to be Considered at the Meeting

The matters to be considered and voted upon at the Meeting will be:

1.
Election of Directors. To elect seven persons to the Board of Directors of the Company, each to serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their respective successors have been elected and qualified. The Board of Directors’ nominees are: Elizabeth Bull, Angie Chen Button, Warren Chen, Robert E. Feiger, Keh-Shew Lu, Christina Wen-Chi Sung and Gary Yu.
2.
Approval of Executive Compensation. To approve, on an advisory basis, the Company’s executive compensation.
3.
Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. To ratify the appointment of Moss Adams LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024.
4.
Other Business. To transact such other business as properly may come before the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

Voting Recommendations of the Board

Our Board recommends that you vote your shares “FOR” each of the nominees to the Board, “FOR” the approval of executive compensation, and “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of Moss Adams LLP.

Voting Shares Held in “Street Name”

Brokerage firms who are members of the New York Stock Exchange cannot vote your shares held in street name in the election of directors or on executive compensation, if you fail to instruct the organization how to vote such shares. Therefore, it is very important that you provide instructions on how to vote any shares beneficially owned by you in street name.

Internet Access to Proxy Materials

Under rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), the Company has elected to provide access to our proxy materials over the Internet at www.proxydocs.com/DIOD. Stockholders will not receive printed copies of the proxy materials unless they have requested us to provide proxy materials in printed form. On or about April 19, 2024, a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) will be first sent to our stockholders of record and beneficial owners. All stockholders receiving the Notice can request a printed copy of the proxy materials.

1 Diodes Incorporated


 

The Notice provides you with instructions regarding how to:

View our proxy materials for the Meeting on the Internet;
Request a printed copy of the proxy materials; and
Instruct us to send future proxy materials to you by mail or electronically by email on an ongoing basis.

Choosing to receive future proxy materials by email will save us the cost of printing and mailing documents to you and will reduce the impact of our annual meetings on the environment. If you choose to receive future proxy materials by email, you will receive an email next year with instructions containing a link to those materials and a link to the proxy voting site. Your election to receive proxy materials by email will remain in effect until you terminate it, and it is your responsibility to notify us of any change to your email address given to us.

The proxy materials include:

Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders;
This Proxy Statement; and
The 2023 Annual Report to Stockholders, which includes our audited consolidated financial statements.

If you request printed copies of the proxy materials by mail, these materials will also include a proxy card.

How to Vote

Stockholder of Record. If your shares are registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, you are considered the stockholder of record with respect to those shares, and the Notice was sent directly to you by the Company. If you are a stockholder of record, you may attend the Meeting and vote in person via the Internet at www.proxydocs.com/DIOD.

If you do not wish to attend the Meeting and vote online during the Meeting, you may vote by proxy. There are three ways to vote by proxy. You may submit a proxy by telephone by calling (855) 686-4804 and following the instructions provided. You may submit a proxy over the Internet at www.proxypush.com/diod by following the instructions provided. If you request and receive a printed copy of the proxy materials by mail, you can submit a proxy by signing and dating the enclosed proxy card and either mailing it in the postage-paid envelope provided to the address stated on the proxy card or transmitting it by facsimile to the Inspector of Elections at (972) 987-3900.

Telephone and Internet voting facilities for stockholders will be available 24 hours a day and will close at 9:00 a.m. (Central Time) on May 29, 2024. If a proxy is properly submitted and is not revoked, the proxy will be voted at the Meeting in accordance with the stockholder’s instructions indicated on the proxy. If no instructions are indicated on the proxy with respect to any matter, the proxy will be voted on such matter as follows: “FOR” the election of the Board’s nominees, “FOR” the approval of executive compensation, “FOR” ratification of the appointment of Moss Adams LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024, and in accordance with the recommendations of the Board as to any other matter that may properly be brought before the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

Beneficial Owner of Shares Held in Street Name. If your shares are held in an account at a brokerage firm, bank, broker-dealer, or other similar organization, then you are the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name,” and the Notice was forwarded to you by that organization. The organization holding your shares is considered the stockholder of record for purposes of voting at the Meeting. As a beneficial owner, you have the right to direct that organization on how to vote the shares held in your account by following the instructions they provided. If you wish to attend the Meeting and vote during the Meeting in person via the Internet, you must obtain a proxy executed in your favor from the organization that holds your shares.

Even if you plan to attend the Meeting, the Company recommends that you also submit your proxy or voting instructions so that your vote will be counted if you later decide not to attend the Meeting.

2 Diodes Incorporated


 

How to Change or Revoke Your Vote

You may change your vote at any time before the vote at the Meeting. If you are a stockholder of record, you may change your vote by submitting a proxy over the Internet or telephone on a later date (only your last Internet or telephone proxy will be counted), or by filing a written revocation, or a duly executed proxy card bearing a later date, with the Company’s Secretary at the Meeting or at our offices located at 4949 Hedgcoxe Road, Suite 200, Plano, Texas 75024 provided that any such written revocation or duly executed proxy card bearing a later date must be received at such offices no later than May 28, 2024. You may also change your vote by attending the Meeting and voting in person via the Internet. Attending the Meeting will not automatically revoke a previously granted proxy unless you vote at the Meeting or file a written revocation with the Company’s Secretary at or before the Meeting.

If you are a beneficial owner of shares held in street name, you may change your vote by submitting new voting instructions to the brokerage firm, bank, broker-dealer or other organization holding your shares by following the instructions they provided or, if you obtained a proxy in your favor from that organization, by attending the Meeting and voting in person via the Internet.

Meeting Admission

This year our Meeting will be a completely virtual meeting, which will be conducted via live audio webcast at www.proxydocs.com/DIOD. You are entitled to participate in the Meeting only if you were a holder of the Company's Common Stock at the close of business on April 1, 2024, which is the record date for the Meeting, or if you hold a valid proxy. If you plan to attend the Meeting online you must be registered no later than 5:00 p.m. (Central Time) on May 28, 2024. Upon completing your registration, you will receive further instructions via email, including your unique links that will allow you access to the Meeting and will also permit you to submit questions prior to the Meeting. Please be sure to follow instructions found on your proxy card and subsequent instructions that will be delivered to you via email. You will be able to participate in, and hear others from, any remote location that has Internet connectivity. Technical assistance is available as part of the instructions.

Voting Rights

The authorized capital of the Company consists of (i) 70,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.66-2/3 per share (“Common Stock”), of which 46,178,622 shares were issued and outstanding on the Record Date, and (ii) 1,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share (“Preferred Stock”), none of which were issued and outstanding on the Record Date.

A majority of the shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the Meeting, present either in person via the Internet or by proxy, constitutes a quorum for the conduct of business at the Meeting. Votes withheld, abstentions and “broker non-votes” (as defined below) will be counted for the purpose of determining the presence of a quorum.

Each stockholder is entitled to one vote, in person via the Internet or by proxy, for each share of Common Stock standing in his or her name on the books of the Company at the close of business on the Record Date on any matter submitted to the stockholders, except that in connection with the election of directors, each stockholder has the right to cumulate votes. Cumulative voting entitles a stockholder to give one candidate a number of votes equal to the number of directors to be elected multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock owned by such stockholder, or to distribute such stockholder’s votes on the same principle among as many candidates and in such manner as the stockholder shall desire.

If you are a stockholder of record and wish to exercise cumulative voting rights, you must submit a proxy by mail. Your proxy card or ballot must specify how you want to allocate your votes among the nominees. Telephone and Internet voting facilities do not accommodate cumulative voting. If you hold your shares in street name, contact your brokerage firm, bank, broker-dealer, or other similar organization for directions on how to exercise cumulative voting rights using their voting instruction card, or to request a legal proxy so that you can vote your shares directly. Discretionary authority to cumulate votes is hereby solicited by the Board. If you return a signed proxy card or submit voting instructions in writing without providing instructions about cumulative voting, or if you submit a proxy by telephone or in person via the Internet, you will confer on the designated Proxyholders named below discretionary authority to exercise cumulative voting. If they

3 Diodes Incorporated


 

elect to do so, they will be authorized, in their discretion, to cast your votes for some or all of the nominees in the manner recommended by the Board or otherwise in the discretion of the Proxyholders. However, they will not cast any of your votes for a nominee as to whom you have instructed them on your proxy card, voting instruction card or otherwise to withhold a vote. If you do not wish to grant the Proxyholders authority to cumulate your votes in the election of directors, you must explicitly state that objection on your proxy card or voting instruction card, as applicable.

For Proposal 1, our Bylaws provide that, in the election of directors, the candidates receiving the highest number of votes, up to the number of directors to be elected, shall be elected; provided, however, that the Board has adopted a policy requiring that, other than elections in which the number of director nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected, each nominee will submit a resignation for consideration by the Board promptly following the election if he or she receives a greater number of votes “WITHHELD” than votes “FOR.” Abstentions and broker non‑votes are not considered a vote cast and, therefore, will have no effect with respect to the election of directors other than to reduce the number of affirmative votes required to elect a director. “Broker non‑votes” are shares of stock held in record name by brokers or nominees for which instructions have not been received from the beneficial owners or persons entitled to vote and the broker or nominee does not have discretionary voting power under applicable rules or the instrument under which it serves in such capacity. See “Proposal One – Election of Directors” and “Corporate Governance – Director Resignation Policy.”

Proposals 2 and 3 require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock present, in person via the Internet or by proxy, and entitled to vote on the proposal at the Meeting. Abstentions will be included in the number of votes present and entitled to vote on these proposals and, accordingly, will have the effect of a vote “AGAINST” the proposal. Broker non-votes with respect to these proposals will not be counted as shares present and entitled to vote on these proposals and, accordingly, will not have any effect with respect to the approval of these proposals (other than to reduce the number of affirmative votes required to approve the proposal). However, the Board and the Compensation Committee will review the result of this vote and take it into consideration when making future decisions regarding executive compensation. Although the appointment of Moss Adams LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024 is not required to be submitted to a vote of stockholders, the Audit Committee believes that it is appropriate as a matter of policy to request that the stockholders ratify the appointment of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. If the stockholders do not ratify the appointment, which requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock present, in person via the Internet or by proxy, and entitled to vote on the proposal at the Meeting, the Board will consider the selection of another independent registered public accounting firm.

Of the shares of Common Stock outstanding on the Record Date, 1,093,048 shares (or approximately 2.4%) were beneficially owned by directors and executive officers of the Company. Each of the directors and executive officers have informed the Company that they will vote “FOR” the election of the Board’s nominees named herein, “FOR” the approval of executive compensation and “FOR” ratification of the appointment of Moss Adams LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024.

Organizations holding Common Stock in “street name” that are members of a stock exchange are required by the rules of the applicable stock exchange to transmit the proxy materials to the beneficial owner of the Common Stock and to solicit voting instructions with respect to the matters submitted to the stockholders. If the organization has not received instructions from the beneficial owner by the date specified in the statement accompanying such proxy materials, the organization may give or authorize the giving of a proxy to vote the Common Stock in its discretion as to “routine” matters, but not as to “non-routine” matters. When an organization is unable to vote a client’s shares on a proposal, the missing votes are referred to as “broker non-votes.” If you hold Common Stock in “street name” and you fail to instruct the organization that holds your shares as to how to vote such shares, that organization may, in its discretion, vote such Common Stock “FOR” ratification of the appointment of Moss Adams LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024, which is considered a routine matter, but not with respect to the election of the nominees to the Board or the advisory vote on executive compensation, each of which is considered a non-routine matter.

4 Diodes Incorporated


 

Procedures for Stockholder Nominations and Proposals

Under the Company’s Bylaws, any stockholder generally may submit proposals or nominate one or more persons for election as directors by following the procedures described in this Proxy Statement under “Proposals of Stockholders and Stockholder Nominations for 2025 Annual Meeting.” No notice of a stockholder proposal or nomination was timely received in connection with the Meeting.

Cost of Proxy Solicitation

This proxy solicitation is made by the Board, and the Company will bear the costs of this solicitation, including the expense of preparing, assembling, printing and mailing this Proxy Statement and any other material used in this proxy solicitation. If it should appear desirable to do so to ensure adequate representation at the Meeting, officers and regular employees may communicate with stockholders of record, beneficial owners, banks, brokerage houses, custodians, nominees and others, by telephone, facsimile transmissions, email or in person via the Internet to request that the proxies be furnished. No additional compensation will be paid for these services to officers or employees of the Company. The Company will reimburse banks, brokerage houses, and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries, for their reasonable expenses in forwarding proxy materials to their principals. The Company has not engaged a proxy solicitor at this time, but the Board may determine it is necessary to employ an outside firm to assist in the solicitation process. If so, the Company will pay the proxy solicitor its reasonable and customary fees, estimated not to exceed $15,000 plus reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.

Other Business

As of the date of this Proxy Statement, the Board knows of no business to be presented for consideration at the Meeting other than as stated in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders. However, if any other matters properly come before the Meeting, including a motion to adjourn the Meeting to another time or place in order to solicit additional proxies in favor of the recommendations of the Board, the designated proxyholders, Dr. Keh-Shew Lu, the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Brett Whitmire, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer (the “Proxyholders”), will vote the shares represented by the proxies on such matters in accordance with the recommendation of the Board, and authority to do so is included in the proxy. Such authorization includes authority to appoint a substitute nominee or nominees to the Board’s nominees identified herein where death, illness or other circumstances arise which prevent any such nominee from serving in such position and to vote such proxy for such substitute nominee.

 

5 Diodes Incorporated


 

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership of Common Stock as of the Record Date by each person known to the Company to be the beneficial owner of five percent (5%) or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (other than depositories).

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner

Amount and Nature of
Beneficial Ownership
(1)

 

 

Percent of Class (2)

BlackRock, Inc. (“BlackRock”)
55 East 52nd Street
New York, New York 10022

 

7,245,208

 

(3)

15.7%

The Vanguard Group (“Vanguard”)
100 Vanguard Blvd.
Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355

 

5,650,727

 

(4)

12.2%

EARNEST Partners ("EARNEST")
1180 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 2300
Atlanta, Georgia 30309

 

2,456,093

 

(5)

5.3%

(1) The named stockholder has sole voting power and investment power with respect to the shares listed, except as indicated below.

(2) Based on 46,178,622 shares outstanding as of the Record Date.

(3) Based solely on information provided by BlackRock in Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on January 22, 2024, reporting beneficial ownership of the Company’s Common Stock. According to the Schedule 13G/A, BlackRock has sole voting power with respect to 7,152,592 shares, has sole dispositive power with respect to 7,245,208 shares and has neither shared voting power nor shared dispositive power with respect to any shares.

(4) Based solely on information provided by Vanguard in Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 13, 2024, reporting beneficial ownership of the Company’s Common Stock. According to the Schedule 13G/A, Vanguard has shared voting power with respect to 72,143 shares, has sole dispositive power with respect to 5,529,481 shares and has shared dispositive power with respect to 121,246 shares.

(5) Based solely on information provided by EARNEST in Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on March 11, 2024, reporting beneficial ownership of the Company’s Common Stock. According to the Schedule 13G/A, EARNEST has sole voting power with respect to 1,739,429 shares, has sole dispositive power with respect to 2,456,093 shares, and has shared voting power with respect to 403,711 shares.

The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership of Common Stock of the Company as of the Record Date by (i) each director and nominee of the Company, (ii) each Named Executive Officer (“NEO”) of the Company (as defined below), and (iii) all directors, nominees and executive officers of the Company as a group.

 

Name of Beneficial Owner

Common Stock Underlying Options or Restricted Stock Units (1)

 

Common
 Stock

 

Amount and Nature
of Beneficial
Ownership
(2)

 

 

Percent of Class (3) (4)

 

Directors and Nominees

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elizabeth Bull

 

750

 

 

 

 

750

 

 

*

 

Angie Chen Button

 

2,010

 

 

1,890

 

 

3,900

 

 

*

 

Warren Chen

 

2,910

 

 

4,590

 

 

7,500

 

(1)

*

 

Robert E. Feiger

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*

 

Michael R. Giordano (9)

 

2,910

 

 

74,924

 

 

77,834

 

(1)

*

 

Keh-Shew Lu (5)

 

5,688

 

 

669,417

 

 

675,105

 

(1)(6)(8)

 

1.5

%

Peter M. Menard (9)

 

2,910

 

 

11,630

 

 

14,540

 

(1)

*

 

Christina Wen-Chi Sung

 

2,910

 

 

17,190

 

 

20,100

 

(1)

*

 

Gary Yu (10)

 

 

 

28,747

 

 

28,747

 

(1)(8)

*

 

Named Executive Officers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brett R. Whitmire

 

 

 

37,315

 

 

37,315

 

(1)(8)

*

 

Francis Tang

 

 

 

70,595

 

 

70,595

 

(1)(8)

*

 

Julie Holland (11)

 

 

 

26,077

 

 

26,077

 

(1)(8)

*

 

All directors, nominees and executive officers of the Company as a group (14 individuals including those named above)

 

20,088

 

 

1,027,078

 

 

1,047,166

 

(7)

 

2.3

%

* Indicates less than 1%.

6 Diodes Incorporated


 

(1) Consists of shares of Common Stock that the named individual has the right to acquire within sixty (60) days after the Record Date by exercising stock options or the vesting of restricted stock units (“RSUs”) or performance stock units (“PSUs”). For further discussion on the Company’s use of equity awards, see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Principal Components of Compensation - Long-Term Incentive (LTI) Plan.”

(2) The named stockholder has sole voting power and investment power with respect to the shares listed, except as indicated and subject to community property laws where applicable.

(3) Under Rule 13d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), certain shares may be deemed to be beneficially owned by more than one person (for example, if a person shares the power to vote or the power to dispose of the shares). In addition, under Rule 13d-3(d)(1) of the Exchange Act, shares which the person (or group) has the right to acquire within sixty (60) days after the Record Date are deemed to be outstanding in calculating the beneficial ownership and the percentage ownership of the person (or group) but are not deemed to be outstanding as to any other person or group. As a result, the percentage of outstanding shares of any person as shown in this table does not necessarily reflect the person’s actual ownership of voting power with respect to the number of shares of Common Stock actually outstanding at the Record Date.

(4) Percent of class is based on 46,178,622 shares of the Common Stock of the Company outstanding as of the Record Date.

(5) Dr. Lu is Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and an NEO.

(6) Includes 46,150 shares of Common Stock held in the name of an UTMA (Custodial) Trust, and 285,801 shares held in the name of the Lu Grandchildren’s Trust. Dr. Lu is a co-trustee of the Lu Family Revocable Trust, the UTMA (Custodial) Trust and the Lu Grandchildren’s Trust. Dr. Lu has voting and investment authority over these shares.

(7) Includes 21,498 shares that all directors and executive officers of the Company have the right to acquire within sixty (60) days after the Record Date, by exercising stock options or the vesting of RSUs, but excludes an additional 512,814 shares that all directors and executive officers of the Company will have the right to acquire upon the vesting of RSUs and PSUs, which may vest in installments more than sixty (60) days after the Record Date.

(8) Does not include 25,000, 6,100, 22,000 and 7,200 shares of Common Stock subject to PSUs granted February 1, 2024 to Messrs. Lu, Whitmire, Yu and Tang, respectively, that vest only if (i) the Company achieves a targeted Non-GAAP operating income for 2024 through 2026 and (ii) the executive continues to provide services to the Company.

Does not include 42,000, 9,000, 13,000 and 9,000 shares of Common Stock subject to PSUs granted February 1, 2023 to Messrs. Lu, Whitmire, Yu and Tang, respectively, that vest only if (i) the Company achieves a targeted Non-GAAP operating income for 2023 through 2025 and (ii) the executive continues to provide services to the Company.

Does not include 32,000, 7,600, 8,500, 7,600 and 3,067 shares of Common Stock subject to PSUs granted February 1, 2022 to Messrs. Lu, Whitmire, Yu, Tang and Ms. Holland, respectively, that vest only if (i) the Company achieves a targeted Non-GAAP operating income for 2022 through 2024 and (ii) the executive continues to provide services to the Company.

Does not include 4,500 shares of Common Stock subject to RSUs granted on May 24, 2023 to Dr. Lu that vest in three equal installments on May 24, 2025, 2026, and 2027, if the executive continues to provide services to the Company.

Does not include 25,000, 6,100, 22,000 and 7,200 shares of Common Stock subject to RSUs granted February 1, 2024 to Messrs. Lu, Whitmire, Yu and Tang, respectively, that vest in four equal installments on February 1, 2025, 2026, 2027 and 2028, if the executive continues to provide services to the Company.

Does not include 31,500, 6,750, 9,750 and 6,750 shares of Common Stock subject to RSUs granted February 1, 2023 to Messrs. Lu, Whitmire, Yu and Tang, respectively, that vest in three equal installments on February 1, 2025, 2026 and 2027, if the executive continues to provide services to the Company.

Does not include 2,500 shares of Common Stock subject to RSUs granted on May 26, 2022 to Dr. Lu that vest in two equal installments on May 26, 2025 and 2026, if the executive continues to provide services to the Company.

Does not include 16,000, 3,800, 4,250, 3,800 and 4,600 shares of Common Stock subject to RSUs granted February 1, 2022 to Messrs. Lu, Whitmire, Yu, and Tang and Ms. Holland, respectively, that vest in two equal installments on February 1, 2025 and 2026 if the executive continues to provide services to the Company.

Does not include 1,250 shares of Common Stock subject to RSUs granted on May 24, 2021 to Dr. Lu that vest on May 24, 2025, if the executive continues to provide services to the Company.

Does not include 8,000, 1,900, 2,125, 1,900 and 2,300 shares of Common Stock subject to RSUs granted on February 8, 2021 to Messrs. Lu, Whitmire, Yu, Tang and Ms. Holland, respectively, that vest on February 24, 2025, if the executive continues to provide services to the Company.

Does not include 2,000 shares of Common Stock subject to RSUs granted on July 1, 2020 to Mr. Yu that vest on July 1, 2024, if the executive continues to provide services to the Company.

For further discussion on the operating income performance goal and service condition related to these grants, see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Principal Components of Compensation - Long-Term Incentive (LTI) Plan.”

(9) Mr. Michael R. Giordano and Mr. Peter M. Menard are not standing for reelection at the Meeting.

(10) Mr. Yu is President of the Company and an NEO.

(11) Ms. Holland retired as an executive officer effective March 31, 2023.

 

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PROPOSAL ONE

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

The Company’s Bylaws provide that the number of directors shall be determined from time to time by the Board, but may not be less than five nor more than seventeen. Currently the Board consists of eight directors. Mr. Michael R. Giordano and Mr. Peter M. Menard will not be standing for reelection at the Meeting and a new candidate, Mr. Robert E. Feiger, will be nominated for election. The Company’s Bylaws further provide for the election of each director at each annual meeting of stockholders. Seven directors will be nominated for election at the Meeting, leaving one vacancy on the Board. Proxies cannot be voted for a greater number of persons than the number of nominees named.

The persons nominated have been nominated for election to the Board to serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their respective successors have been elected and qualified. All nominees, except Mr. Feiger, are currently directors of the Company, and all nominees have indicated their willingness to serve. Unless otherwise instructed, proxies will be voted in such a way as to elect as many of these nominees as possible under applicable voting rules. In the event that any of the nominees should be unable or unwilling to serve as a director, proxies will be voted for the election of such substitute nominees, if any, as shall be designated by the Board. The Board has no reason to believe that any nominee will be unable or unwilling to serve.

The seven nominees who receive the highest number of affirmative votes will be elected. The Board has adopted a policy requiring that in an uncontested election (such as the election held at the Meeting), each nominee will submit an irrevocable resignation promptly following the election if he or she fails to receive a majority of votes cast. An uncontested election means that there are as many candidates standing for election as there are directors to be elected a the Meeting. A majority of votes cast means that the number of shares cast “FOR” a director’s election exceeds the number of votes “WITHHELD.” See “Corporate Governance – Director Resignation Policy.”

None of the nominees were selected pursuant to any arrangement or understanding, other than that with the directors of the Company acting within their capacity as such. Mr. Gary Yu is married to the niece of Dr. Keh-Shew Lu. Other than the aforementioned relationship between Mr. Yu and Dr. Lu, there are no family relationships among the directors of the Company as of the date hereof, and, except as set forth below, as of the date hereof, no directorships are now, or in the past five years have been, held by any director in a company that has a class of securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act or subject to the requirements of Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act or any company registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

The following table and discussion sets forth certain biographical information concerning the nominees of the Company as of the Record Date:

Nominees

Age

Position with the Company

Director Since

Keh-Shew Lu

77

Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, and Director

2001

Angie Chen Button

70

Independent Lead Director

2021

Elizabeth Bull

65

Independent Director

2023

Warren Chen

74

Independent Director

2020

Robert E. Feiger

75

Nominee

Christina Wen-Chi Sung

70

Independent Director

2017

Gary Yu

51

President and Director

2024

 

8 Diodes Incorporated


 

Board Diversity

In accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(f), the following chart sets forth certain self-identified personal demographic characteristics of the nominees for 2024 and 2023:

Total Number of Director Nominees 2024

7

Total Number of Director Nominees 2023

7

 

Female

 

Male

Part I. Gender Identity

 

 

 

Directors 2024

3

 

4

Directors 2023

3

 

4

Part II. Demographic Background

 

 

 

Asian 2024

2

 

3

Asian 2023

2

 

2

White 2024

1

 

1

White 2023

1

 

2

Keh-Shew Lu

Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, and Director

Member, Risk Oversight Committee

Dr. Lu was elected Chairman of the Board in May 2020 and appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company in June 2005 after serving on the Board since 2001. Dr. Lu is also a board member of Lite-On Technology Corporation, a publicly held company. Dr. Lu is the founding Chairman of the Asian American Citizen’s Council. From 2001 to 2005, Dr. Lu was a partner of the WK Technology Venture Fund. From 1998 to 2001, Dr. Lu served as Senior Vice President and General Manager of Worldwide Mixed-Signal and Logic Products of Texas Instruments (“TI”). His responsibilities included all aspects of the analog, mixed-signal and logic products for TI’s worldwide business, including design, process and product development, manufacturing and marketing. From 1996 to 1998, Dr. Lu was the manager of TI’s worldwide memory business. In addition, he served as the President of TI Asia from 1994 to 1997 where he supervised all of TI activities in Asia, excluding Japan. Dr. Lu holds a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan, and a master’s degree and a doctorate in Electrical Engineering from Texas Tech University.

Having worked in the semiconductor industry for more than 40 years and, particularly, having served in various managerial and senior executive capacities at TI, Dr. Lu possesses a wealth of semiconductor management experience. Dr. Lu is also an experienced board leader and member, having served for many years on behalf of several public and private companies.

Angie Chen Button

Lead Independent Director

Chair, Compensation Committee

Chair, Governance and Stockholder Relations Committee

Ms. Button has served as a representative in the State of Texas House of Representatives since 2009. The only Asian American Woman legislator in Texas, she currently chairs the International Relations and Economic Development Committee, and has previously served as Chair of the Urban Affairs Committee, as Chair of the Economic and Small Business Development Committee, as Vice Chair of the Technology Committee, sat on the Appropriations (Budget) Committee, and has sat and currently serves on the Ways and Means (Taxation) Committee. A CPA, Ms. Button worked for Texas Instruments for over 30 years in various auditing, finance, business development, procurement, and international marketing positions. She also served on the Audit Committee of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Board. Texas Monthly named Ms. Button as a “Top 10 Best Legislator” in 2021 and 2023; the Texas Healthcare & Bioscience Institute awarded her its “Luminary Award” in 2023; and the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children awarded her as its “Elected Official of the Year” in 2021. As a state representative, she brings experience and connections in dealing with government officials and business leaders, including promoting international business and trade.

9 Diodes Incorporated


 

Ms. Button received her bachelor’s degree in Accounting from National Taiwan University in 1976, her master’s degree in Public Finance from National Chengchi University in 1978, and her master’s degree in Management Science from University of Texas at Dallas in 1980. Ms. Button is a co-founder of the DFW Asian American Citizens Council. Ms. Button provides the Board with semiconductor industry experience, leadership skills as well as state and national governmental knowledge. Ms. Button is not related to Mr. Warren Chen.

Elizabeth Bull

Independent Director

Chair, Audit Committee (Audit Committee Financial Expert)

Member, Compensation Committee

Ms. Bull is the former Chief Financial Officer of Communities Foundation of Texas ("CFT"). CFT is a Dallas-based non-profit grant-making organization and is one of the largest community foundations in the nation, with more than $1.5 billion in assets. In her role as CFO, Ms. Bull held full budget accountability, reporting to the CEO and Board/Committees. She served as Staff Lead on Finance & Audit, Investment, Compensation, Governance, and Building Committees for the CFT Board of Trustees, partnering for organizational growth.

Prior to CFT, Ms. Bull was Vice President and Treasurer of Texas Instruments, where she was employed for over 25 years. In her role as Vice President and Treasurer she led strategic financial, investment, operational, and people development initiatives in progressive roles, working in multiple Texas locations and in Asia across eight countries. She was TI's first female Vice President in Finance, Treasury, and Asia regional roles and worked with billion dollar and smaller entities/organizations in multiple capacities.

Ms. Bull received her MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and her bachelor's degree in Mathematics from DePauw University. She is a member of the North Texas chapter of the National Association of Corporate Directors, and she recently completed Harvard Business School’s Executive Education program on “Audit Committees in the New Era of Governance.” Ms. Bulls’s experience provides the Board with knowledge in financial and accounting matters.

Warren Chen

Independent Director

Chair, Risk Oversight Committee

Member, Compensation Committee

Member, Governance and Stockholder Relations Committee

Mr. Chen was a member of the Board of Lite-On Technology Corp. (“LTC”) from 2002 to 2022 and was promoted to President of the Lite-On Group in 2010. He was Vice Chairman and Group CEO of LTC since from 2014 through July 31, 2020. He joined the Lite-On Group in 1983 and has served in positions of increasing responsibility, including as Group Deputy CEO and Core Investment CEO from 2006 to 2010, Deputy CEO of LTC from 2000 to 2006, President of Taiwan Lite-On Electronics Inc. from 1992 to 2000, Senior Vice President of Lite-On Inc. and Production Manager of Compound Semi, Inc. (CA). Prior to joining the Lite-On Group, from 1975 to 1983, Mr. Warren Chen served as manufacturing superintendent for TI Taiwan. Mr. Chen is also a board member of Nuvoton Technology Corporation, a publicly held company. Mr. Chen holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Chinese Culture University. See “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions – Relationships and Transactions.”

Mr. Chen’s approximately 45 years of management experience in the electronics industry and the global supply chain provides the Board with perspective on the future trends and challenges in the semiconductor industry. Mr. Warren Chen is not related to Ms. Angie Chen Button.

Robert E. Feiger

Nominee

Mr. Feiger is the Senior Partner with the law firm of Friedman & Feiger, LLP in Dallas, Texas. His practice is concentrated in the areas of commercial transactions, corporate structuring, mergers and acquisitions, corporate tax planning, personal estate tax and asset protection planning. He formerly served as Staff Attorney for the United States Securities & Exchange Commission in the Division of Enforcement, Special Proceedings, in Washington, D.C., and as an Assistant General Counsel

10 Diodes Incorporated


 

for Betz Laboratories, Inc., a publicly-held company, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mr. Feiger holds the designation of Accredited Estate Planner by the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils. He is currently a member of the Dallas Estate Planning Council and formerly served as a member of the Advisory Council of The Dallas Foundation. He is admitted to the State Bar of Texas, and is also a member of the Tax Section of the State Bar of Texas and the Dallas Bar Association.

Mr. Feiger received a B.S.B.A. with final honors from Washington University in St. Louis, where he became a member of Beta Gamma Sigma and Omicron Delta Kappa honor societies, and his J.D. and LL.M. in Taxation from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law.

Christina Wen-Chi Sung

Independent Director

Member, Audit Committee

Member, Compensation Committee

Member, Risk Oversight Committee

Ms. Sung served as the Chairman of the Taipei Financial Center Corporation, the management company for Taipei 101, the world’s tallest green building, from 2012 to 2015. She previously served as a Director for Arcadyan Technology Corporation from 2012 to 2014 and Independent Director for Lite-On IT Corporation from 2009 to 2013. She was also the head of the HSBC Asset Management Group (Taiwan) from 2004 to 2006 and the co-CEO of JP Morgan Chase (Taiwan) in 2003. Ms. Sung has over 20 years of experience working in the financial investment industry in Taiwan, during which she has earned numerous accolades, including: inclusion in the 2019 Most Influential Corporate Directors list by WomenInc. Magazine, the 2003 Most Influential Business Woman of the Year by Taiwan Commonwealth Magazine, the 2002 Montblanc Business Woman of the Year, the 1998 Best CEO of the Securities Industry in Taiwan by the Securities and Futures Development Foundation Golden Goblet Awards, and 1998 Outstanding Business Woman in Taiwan by the Chinese Business Woman’s Association.

Ms. Sung brings extensive directorship and business experience to the Board, and she continues to serve on multiple nonprofit boards, including as a director of Feng Chia University. After retiring from Taipei 101, she founded Social Welfare and Social Enterprise Revolving Trust (“SERT”) at the end of 2015, which is aimed at providing financial support and management to non-profit organizations and social enterprises in Taiwan. SERT has been awarded by the government for two consecutive years for its special contribution to the related sector. Ms. Sung received her bachelor’s degree in English language and literature from Soochow University in 1976 and her master’s degree in Executive Management of Business Administration from National Cheng-chi University in 2003.

Gary Yu

President and Director

Member, Risk Oversight Committee

Mr. Yu, who has been with the Company since 2008, was appointed President and elected to the Board of Directors in January 2024. Prior roles in the Company include Chief Operating Officer; Senior Vice President with responsibility for Business Groups and the integration of Lite-On Semiconductor Corporation; President, Asia Pacific Region; General Manager of the Company’s Shanghai wafer fabrication operation and the Company's BCD business unit; Vice President of Asia Pacific Sales; and manager of the Company’s sensor and satellite business unit. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Yu spent over 10 years at Lite-On Semiconductor Corporation as Vice President, Worldwide Sales and at Texas Instruments in IT, finance, and capacity planning positions. Mr. Yu holds a bachelor’s degree in MIS from Fu-Jen University, Taiwan, a master’s degree in Telecommunication Engineering from Southern Methodist University, and an MBA from University of Dallas. Mr. Yu provides the Board with many years of domestic and foreign semiconductor experience in sales and operations as well as risk management.

THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” EACH OF THE SEVEN NOMINEES TO THE BOARD SET FORTH ABOVE.

11 Diodes Incorporated


 

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD

The Board has delegated authority to four standing committees: the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, the Governance and Stockholder Relations Committee and the Risk Oversight Committee (the “Committees”) and the Committees regularly report on their activities and actions to the full Board. Each Committee consists of three or more directors who serve at the discretion of the Board. The Board usually makes Committee and Committee chair assignments annually at its meeting immediately following the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders. Mr. Giordano will cease to serve on the Audit Committee upon his retirement from the Board at the Meeting. The Board will name Mr. Giordano's replacement to the Audit Committee promptly following the Meeting. The current composition of each Committee is as follows:

Directors

Audit Committee

Compensation Committee

Governance and Stockholder Relations Committee

Risk Oversight Committee

Keh-Shew Lu

 

 

 

Member

Angie Chen Button (1)(2)(4)

 

Chair

Chair

 

Elizabeth Bull (1)(4)

Chair (3)

 

Member

 

Warren Chen (1)

 

Member

Member

Chair

Michael R. Giordano (1)(5)

Member (3)

 

 

 

Peter M. Menard (1)(5)

 

 

 

 

Christina Wen-Chi Sung (1)

Member

Member

 

Member

Gary Yu

 

 

 

Member

(1) Independent director (as determined by the Board under the rules of The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) and, in the case of members of the Audit Committee, the rules of the SEC).

(2) Ms. Button became Lead Director on May 23, 2023.

(3) Qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as that term is defined in Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Exchange Act.

(4) Ms. Bull became Chair of the Audit Committee on May 23, 2023, replacing Ms. Button.

(5) Mr. Michael R. Giordano and Mr. Peter M. Menard are not standing for reelection at the Meeting.

Director Independence

The Board has determined that five of the seven director nominees (all director nominees other than Dr. Lu, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and Mr. Yu, our President) will be “independent directors” as shown in the above table, as the term “independent director” is defined under the rules of Nasdaq. The Board also has determined that each member of its Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Governance and Stockholder Relations Committee meets the applicable independence requirements prescribed by Nasdaq and the SEC.

In making its independence determinations with regard to Dr. Lu and Messrs. Feiger and Yu, the Board considered the relationships described under “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions – Relationships and Transactions.”

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee makes recommendations to the Board regarding the engagement of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, reviews the plan, scope and results of the audit, reviews the Company’s policies and procedures with the Company’s management concerning internal accounting and financial controls, and reviews changes in accounting policy and the scope of non-audit services which may be performed by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee also monitors policies to prohibit unethical, questionable or illegal activities by the Company’s employees. The “Audit Committee Report” section of this Proxy Statement describes in more detail the Audit Committee’s responsibilities, particularly with regard to the Company’s financial statements and its interactions with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.

12 Diodes Incorporated


 

The Board has determined that each member of the Audit Committee is “independent” as that term is defined under the rules of Nasdaq and the SEC, and is able to read and understand fundamental financial statements. The Board also has determined that Ms. Bull and Mr. Giordano each qualify as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined under the rules of the SEC.

Compensation Committee

The Compensation Committee makes recommendations to the Board regarding compensation, benefits and incentive arrangements for the Chief Executive Officer and other officers and key employees of the Company. The Compensation Committee administers the 2022 Equity Incentive Plan ("2022 Plan"), the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2013 Plan”), the Company’s 401(k) profit sharing plan (the “401(k) Plan”) and the Company’s nonqualified deferred compensation plan. The Board has determined that each member of the Compensation Committee is “independent” as that term is defined under the rules of Nasdaq.

Governance and Stockholder Relations Committee

The principal purposes of the Governance and Stockholder Relations Committee (the “Governance Committee”) are to help ensure that the Board (i) identifies individuals qualified to become members of the Board, consistent with criteria approved by the Board, and (ii) recommends to the Board the nominees for election at the next annual meeting of stockholders. The Board has determined that each member of the Governance Committee is “independent” as that term is defined under the rules of Nasdaq.

Risk Oversight Committee

The Risk Oversight Committee assists the Board in overseeing the Company’s risk management process by (i) overseeing the Company’s efforts to align its management of risks with its strategic objectives, (ii) overseeing the establishment and implementation of a risk oversight framework, and (iii) reviewing the effectiveness of the risk oversight framework in the identification, assessment, monitoring, management and disclosure of significant risks. The Risk Oversight Committee’s oversight provides reasonable assurance that processes are in place to identify, assess, monitor, manage and disclose risks that may have a material adverse effect on the achievement of the Company’s strategic objectives.

Charters of the Committees

All four Committees operate pursuant to written charters, current copies of which are available on the Company’s website, at www.diodes.com, in the “Investors – Corporate Governance” section.

MEETINGS OF THE BOARD AND COMMITTEES

The following table represents the number of meetings and actions taken by written consent of the Board and the Committees in 2023:

 

Meetings Held

Action by
Written Consent

Board

5

2

Audit Committee

5

1

Compensation Committee

4

2

Governance and Stockholder Relations Committee

3

1

Risk Oversight Committee

3

With the exception of Mr. Menard, all current directors attended at least 75% of the total number of meetings of the Board and Committees on which each served held during the period he or she served in 2023.

It is the policy of the Company to require Board members to attend the annual meetings of stockholders, if practicable. Each director at the time, except Mr. Menard, attended the 2023 annual meeting of stockholders.

13 Diodes Incorporated


 

BOARD LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE

The Chairman of the Board, Dr. Keh-Shew Lu, conducts each Board meeting and sets the agenda of each Board meeting after consulting Ms. Angie Chen Button, our independent lead director ("Lead Director") and members of the Board. The Chairman of the Board also has the responsibility to establish effective communications with the Company’s stakeholders, including stockholders, customers, employees, communities, suppliers, creditors, governments and corporate partners. The Chairman also serves as our Chief Executive Officer. Our Board of Directors has determined that this leadership structure is appropriate and effective for the Company at this time. This structure effectively utilizes Dr. Lu’s knowledge of the Company and the industry in which we operate, while fostering greater communication and producing a greater degree of transparency between management and our directors. Dr. Lu has served as a director since 2001 and as Chief Executive Officer since 2005.

The duties of the Lead Director are to preside at executive sessions of the independent directors, serve as principal liaison between the independent directors and the Chairman, work with the Chairman to set and approve the schedule and agenda for meetings of the Board and its committees, direct the retention of advisors and consultants who report directly to the Board, serve as liaison for consultation and communication with stockholders, oversee the annual evaluation of our Board and its committees and evaluate, in cooperation with the Compensation Committee and all members of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer's performance.

NOMINATING PROCEDURES AND CRITERIA AND BOARD DIVERSITY

Among its functions, the Governance Committee identifies individuals qualified to become Board members, consistent with criteria approved by the Board, and recommends to the Board the director nominees to be selected by the Board for election at the next annual meeting of stockholders. In addition to the candidates proposed by the Board or identified by the Governance Committee, the Governance Committee considers candidates for director suggested by stockholders provided such recommendations are made in accordance with the procedures set forth under “Proposals of Stockholders and Stockholder Nominations for 2025 Annual Meeting.” Stockholder nominations that comply with these procedures and meet the criteria outlined below will receive the same consideration that the Governance Committee’s nominees receive.

Essential criteria for all candidates considered by the Governance Committee include the following:

integrity and a commitment to ethical behavior;
personal maturity and leadership skills in industry, education, the professions, or government;
independence of thought and willingness to deal directly with difficult issues;
fulfillment of the broadest definition of diversity, seeking diversity of thought; and
broad business or professional experience, with an understanding of business and financial affairs, and the complexities of business organizations.

In evaluating candidates for certain Board positions, the Governance Committee evaluates additional criteria, including the following:

technical expertise in engineering, chemistry, solid state physics or electronics;
senior management experience and expertise, especially from leadership roles in semiconductor, information technology or electronics corporations;
financial or accounting expertise, generally and as necessary to fulfill the financial requirements of the SEC and Nasdaq regulations;
leadership experience in other industries to help the Company better understand the care-abouts in key, targeted industries; and
experience in investment banking, commercial lending or other financing activities.

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In selecting nominees for the Board, the Governance Committee evaluates the general and relevant specialized criteria set forth above prior to commencement of the recruitment process, determines whether a nominee fulfills the independence requirements of the SEC and Nasdaq, evaluates recommendations received from other existing members of the Board, reviews the education of the nominee, evaluates the quality of experience and achievement of the nominee, reviews the nominee’s current or past membership on other companies’ boards, determines that the nominee has the ability and the willingness to spend the necessary time required to function effectively as a director (except in extraordinary circumstances, no director shall serve on the board of more than four other public companies), and determines that the nominee has a genuine interest in representing the stockholders and the interests of the Company overall.

If the Governance Committee is evaluating a nominee for re-election, the Governance Committee will review the nominee’s performance, including the following: availability for and attendance at meetings; contribution to Board processes such as information gathering and decision making; accessibility for communication with other directors and management; participation in Committee activities; depth of knowledge of the Company and its industry; the Company’s performance during the nominee’s previous term, in light of the role played by the Board and the nominee in guiding management; and any specialized expertise or experience that has contributed or may contribute to the functioning of the Board or the success of the Company.

The Governance Committee believes that the Board should include individuals with a broad range of relevant professional expertise, experience and education and reflect the diversity and cultural and geographical perspectives of the Company’s employees, customers and suppliers.

The Governance Committee, as well as the full Board, has recommended the Board’s nominees for election at the Meeting. Stockholders have not proposed any candidates for election at the Meeting.

DIRECTOR RESIGNATION POLICY

Under the Company’s director resignation policy, promptly following the receipt of the final report from the Inspector of Elections relating to an election of directors of the Company (other than elections in which the number of nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected), any nominee who receives a greater number of votes “WITHHELD” from his or her election than votes “FOR” his or her election, will tender his or her resignation for consideration by the Board. Subject to certain conditions, the Governance Committee will meet to consider the tendered resignation and make a recommendation to the Board concerning the action, if any, to be taken with respect to the director’s resignation.

The Board will consider and act upon the Governance Committee’s recommendation within 90 days of certification of the vote at the Meeting. In considering the director’s resignation, the Governance Committee and the Board will consider all factors they deem relevant, including, without limitation, the underlying reason for the vote result, if known, the director’s contributions to the Company during his or her tenure, and the director’s qualifications. The Board may accept the resignation, refuse the resignation, or refuse the resignation subject to such conditions designed to cure the underlying cause as the Board may impose. Within four business days of the decision regarding the tendered resignation, the Company will file with the SEC a report on Form 8-K disclosing the decision with respect to the resignation, describing the deliberative process and, if applicable, the specific reasons for rejecting the tendered resignation.

COMMUNICATIONS WITH DIRECTORS

You may communicate with the chair of our Audit Committee, our Compensation Committee, our Governance Committee or our Risk Oversight Committee or with our independent directors individually or as a group, by writing to any such person or group c/o Corporate Secretary, Diodes Incorporated, 4949 Hedgcoxe Road, Suite 200, Plano, Texas 75024.

Communications are distributed to the Board, or to any individual director, depending on the facts and circumstances set forth in the communication. In that regard, the Board has requested that certain items that are unrelated to the duties and responsibilities of the Board be excluded, including, but not limited to, the following: junk mail and mass mailings; product complaints; product inquiries; new product suggestions; resumes and other forms of job inquiries; surveys; and business solicitations or advertisements. In addition, material that is unduly hostile, threatening, illegal or similarly

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unsuitable will not be distributed, provided that any communication that is not distributed will be made available to any independent director upon request.

Communications that include information that would be better addressed by the Company’s ethics and compliance hotline, which reports to the Audit Committee at (855) 316-2192, will be delivered to the Audit Committee.

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COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS

The following table sets forth the compensation of each director, who is not a NEO, for service in 2023:

Name
(a)

 

Fees
Earned or
Paid in
Cash
($)
(1)
(b)

 

 

RSUs
($)
 (2) (3)
(c)

 

 

Stock
Options
($)
(1)
(d)

 

Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)
(e)

 

Changes in Pension
Value and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($)
(f)

 

All Other
Compensation
($)
(g)

 

Total
($)
(h)

 

Angie Chen Button

 

 

120,000

 

 

 

262,110

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

382,110

 

Elizabeth Bull

 

 

97,500

 

 

 

262,110

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

359,610

 

Warren Chen

 

 

102,500

 

 

 

262,110

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

364,610

 

Michael R. Giordano

 

 

100,000

 

 

 

262,110

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

362,110

 

Peter M. Menard

 

 

93,650

 

 

 

262,110

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

355,760

 

Christina Wen-Chi Sung

 

 

97,500

 

 

 

262,110

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

359,610

 

(1) See below for the details of cash retainers paid to non-employee directors.

(2) These amounts reflect the value determined by the Company for financial accounting purposes for these awards and do not reflect whether each director has actually realized a financial benefit from the awards. The value of the equity awards in column (c) and (d) is based on the grant date fair value calculated in accordance with the amount recognized for financial statement reporting purposes. Pursuant to SEC rules, the amounts shown exclude the impact of estimated forfeitures related to service-based vesting conditions. Amounts reported for RSUs are calculated by multiplying the number of shares subject to the award by the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on the grant date. See Note 14, Share-Based Compensation, to the Company’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 9, 2024, for a further discussion of the relevant valuation assumptions used in calculating grant date fair value. All equity awards vest in four equal annual installments.

(3) Under the Company’s 2023 director compensation arrangements, each non-employee director listed in the table above was granted an award under the 2022 Equity Incentive Plan of 3,000 RSUs on May 26, 2023. The per-share closing price of our Common Stock on May 26, 2023 was $87.37 .

(3) Ms. Bull served as chair of the Audit Committee and received an additional $30,000 retainer for such service.

The following table shows the aggregate number of shares underlying outstanding RSUs and outstanding stock options held by non-employee directors as of December 31, 2023:

Name

 

RSUs (#)

 

 

Stock Options (#)

 Angie Chen Button

 

 

6,150

 

 

 Elizabeth Bull

 

 

3,000

 

 

 Warren Chen

 

 

7,050

 

 

 Michael R. Giordano

 

 

7,050

 

 

 Peter M. Menard

 

 

7,050

 

 

 Christina Wen-Chi Sung

 

 

7,050

 

 

During 2023, each non-employee director of the Company received a grant of 3,000 RSUs, which vest in four equal annual installments commencing on the first anniversary of the date of grant. The Board may in its discretion modify such director compensation arrangements in the future. For additional information see, “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions – Relationships and Transactions.”

The table below sets for the cash retainers paid for non-employee directors for service in 2023 and 2024:

 

 

2023

 

 

2024

 

Quarterly retainer:

 

$

22,500

 

 

$

22,500

 

Additional quarterly retainer:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lead Director, Chair of Governance and Compensation Committees

 

 

10,000

 

 

 

10,000

 

Chair of Audit Committee

 

 

10,000

 

 

 

10,000

 

Chair of Risk Committee

 

 

5,000

 

 

 

5,000

 

Member of the Audit Committee

 

 

2,500

 

 

 

2,500

 

 

 

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

During 2023, the Compensation Committee consisted of three directors: Angie Chen Button (Chair), Warren Chen and Christina Wen-Chi Sung. During 2023, no executive officer of the Company served on the compensation committee (or

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equivalent) of the board of directors of another entity whose executive officer(s) served on the Company’s Compensation Committee or Board.

 

CORPORATE POLICIES

Anti-Hedging Policy

The Company’s insider trading policy prohibits all executive officers and directors of the Company from engaging in any hedging or monetization transactions involving the Company’s securities, including zero cost collars, forward sale contracts, and trading in options, puts, calls, or other derivative instruments related to the Company’s Common Stock. To the best of the Company’s knowledge, no executive officers or directors of the Company currently are parties to a hedge with respect to any shares of Common Stock of the Company.

Anti-Pledging Policy

The Company’s insider trading policy prohibits executive officers and directors from pledging the Company’s securities. Acquiring Company shares on margin also is prohibited. To the best of the Company’s knowledge, no executive officers or directors of the Company currently are parties to a pledge of any shares of the Common Stock of the Company.

Short-Selling Policy

Directors and executive officers are prohibited from selling the Company’s equity securities “short” (i.e., the sale of a security that is not owned and must be borrowed to complete the sale) or “selling short against the box” (i.e., the sale of a security that is currently owned but is not delivered against such sale within twenty days thereafter, or is not within five days after such sale deposited in the mails or other usual channels of transportation and the sale is completed with borrowed shares). To the best of the Company’s knowledge, no executive officers or directors of the Company currently are parties to any short-selling transactions with respect to any shares of Common Stock of the Company.

Stock Ownership Policy

Stock Ownership Policy for Directors. The Company’s stock ownership policy provides that all non-employee directors are required to acquire (and thereafter throughout the term of appointment maintain ownership of) a minimum number of shares of Common Stock with a value equal to three times the annual retainer received by them as directors within five years of the later of (1) the adoption of this stock ownership policy, or (2) their respective appointment or initial election. All of the directors are currently or are expected to be in compliance with our stock ownership policy in accordance with the time frame requirements.

Stock Ownership Policy for Executive Officers. The Company’s stock ownership policy provides that all individuals holding the positions with the Company listed below are required to acquire (and thereafter throughout the term of employment maintain ownership of) a minimum number of shares of Common Stock with a value equal to the multiple of such executive officer’s annual base salary (excluding bonus) within five years of the later of (1) the adoption of this stock ownership policy, or (2) their respective appointment (other than a newly-appointed Chief Executive Officer, who has seven years to comply), as follows:

Position

Multiple of Salary

Chief Executive Officer of the Company

Six times annual base salary (excluding bonus)

President or Senior Vice President or Vice President

Two times annual base salary (excluding bonus)

All of the executive officers are currently or are expected to be in compliance with our stock ownership policy in accordance with the time frame requirements.

For purposes of this stock ownership policy, stock ownership includes any shares owned by an executive officer or director or his or her immediate family members or held by him or her as part of a tax or estate plan in which the executive officer or director retains beneficial ownership. The value of shares held is calculated once per year, on the last business day of the fiscal year. For purposes of determining compliance with this stock ownership policy, “value” means an assumed per share value based on the closing price of Common Stock on the last business day of the fiscal year. An executive officer or director subject to this stock ownership policy is not required to acquire shares of Common Stock in accordance with this

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policy if acquisition at such time would result in a violation of the Company’s insider trading policy, in which event the executive officer or director is required to comply with this stock ownership policy as soon as reasonably feasible thereafter. A hardship exception is available at the discretion of the Compensation Committee, but no exceptions have been solicited or granted to date.

If any executive officer or director is determined to own less than the minimum number of shares of Common Stock, such executive officer or director shall have the two open periods after the two subsequent “Blackout Periods” to obtain the minimum number of shares of Common Stock. Blackout Period is (i) a period starting on the fifteenth day of the third month in the first calendar quarter and the period starting on the first day of the third month in the second, third and fourth calendar quarters (i.e. March 15, June 1, September 1, December 1) and ending two business days after earnings for that quarter have been publicly released (trading of the Company’s securities can begin on the third day after announcement); and (ii) any other period of significant corporate activity designated from time to time by the Company.

Stock Retention Policy

In addition to the stock ownership policy described above, under which each executive officer or director must maintain a certain multiple of his or her annual base salary or annual retainer throughout the term of employment or appointment, each executive officer or director who acquires shares of our Common Stock through the exercise of a stock option is required to retain 33% of the “net” shares acquired (i.e., net of the tax impact of the stock option exercise) until the earlier to occur of the first anniversary of the date of exercise or the date the individual ceases to be an executive officer or director. This stock retention policy only applies to stock option grants awarded to executives.

Recoupment of Compensation

Pursuant to our Policy Regarding Recoupment of Executive Compensation (“Clawback Policy”), in the event the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to the material noncompliance of the Company with any financial reporting requirement under applicable securities laws, including any required accounting restatement to correct an error in previously issued financial statements that is material to the previously issued financial statements, or that would result in a material misstatement if the error were corrected in the current period or left uncorrected in the current period, the Company will recover reasonably promptly from each Covered Officer (as defined in the Clawback Policy) the Covered Compensation (as defined in the Clawback Policy) received by such Covered Officer. If a Clawback Exception (as defined in the Clawback Policy) applies, the Company may forgo such recovery under the Clawback Policy.

A copy of our Clawback Policy and other corporate policies are available on the Company’s website, at www.diodes.com, in the “Investors – Corporate Governance” section.

CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY

Corporate Social and Environmental Responsibility (“CSER”) Statement

The commitment to sustainability is represented in the Company's core values of integrity, commitment, and innovation. The Company strives for environmental sustainability, social responsibility, responsible sourcing, business ethics and compliance, corporate citizenship, and employee volunteerism to have a sustainable operation and a long-term, positive impact on our stakeholders, investors, customers, employees, suppliers, and our communities.

The Company adopted a stakeholder-oriented approach to governance and is committed to conducting an ethical, lawful, profitable, and sustainable business that creates value over the long term. It is our firm belief that our stakeholders’ well-being is supported by sustainability considerations, and such considerations are integral to our ongoing organizational success and operational resilience.

As a participant in the global community, the Company recognizes the impact it has on the communities in which its employees, customers, suppliers and other stakeholders live and work. By living our core values – integrity, commitment, and innovation - continuously through our actions in the way the Company conducts business and interacts with its stakeholders, the Company upholds its commitment to be a responsible corporate citizen and positive contributor to our global community. The Company adheres to responsible and ethical business practices and strives to contribute back to its communities.

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The Company is committed to a safe and healthy workplace for all our employees and values diversity and inclusion as it contributes to its competitiveness in the global marketplace. The Company is dedicated to ensuring that our employees, customers and suppliers are treated with dignity and respect. In addition to compliance with applicable laws and regulations of the countries in which the Company operates, we also look for opportunities to contribute to the well-being of the communities which we serve.

Stakeholder Engagement

The Company's decision to support sustainability influences our operations worldwide: responsible manufacturing, the health & safety of employees, human resource and human capital management, research and development, product innovation, supply chain management, business ethics, investor relations, and corporate citizenship. We engage with our stakeholders, specifically employees, customers and investors, for feedback on our sustainability efforts.

We view sustainability as a competitive advantage and have adopted a sustainability-oriented approach to assess and address related risks that may influence our operational activities, business results, and financial performance. This includes considering the importance of economic, environmental, and social factors as they impact our business and stakeholders. By engaging with stakeholders to identify sector- and Company-specific risks and opportunities, we may develop proactive strategies to uphold our sustainability efforts. We also assess our progress and leverage industry-standard certification and audit processes to ensure sustained accountability and long-term performance.

Code of Conduct

The Company aligns its business practices and operations with the Code of Conduct published by the Responsible Business Alliance ("RBA"), a leading industry coalition dedicated to corporate social responsibility in global supply chains. The Company's CSER Code of Supplier Conduct and Human Rights and Workforce Labor Rights Policy are based on the RBA Code of Conduct. The RBA Code of Conduct establishes standards to ensure safe working conditions in the electronics industry and in industries in which electronics is a key component, including the supply chains that support those industries. The RBA Code of Conduct seeks to ensure workers are treated with respect and dignity, and that business operations are environmentally responsible and ethically conducted. The RBA Code of Conduct is in alignment with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and is based on international principles and norms that we support and incorporate in our business practices, including the United Nations (UN) Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Labor Organization’s (ILO) International Labor Standards and Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, and ISO standards.

Through its rigorous RBA Validated Assessment Program (VAP), the Company endeavors to consistently conduct its operational activities in alignment with the RBA Code of Conduct and the Company's quality standards and procedures.

Environmental Sustainability

Environmental Policy

Our commitments to environmental sustainability as a responsible corporate citizen are to:

protect the health and safety of our employees and partners on a worldwide basis;
comply with the applicable regulatory and other requirements;
use natural resources, energy, and materials efficiently and reduce consumption where possible;
substitute sustainable resources in place of non-renewable resources;
recycle materials wherever practical and economically reasonable;
minimize waste and dispose of waste safely and responsibly;
implement specific measures to prevent and minimize hazards to humans and the environment including pollution prevention; and
consult with and encourage the participation of all employees.

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The Company recognizes that environmental responsibility is integral to producing world-class products. We understand the impact our operations have on the environment, the community, as well as the health and safety of our employees, contractors, and suppliers. We are committed to ensuring environmentally sustainable business practices and to help minimize the environmental impact of our supply chain.

As such, the Company has based its CSER Code of Supplier Conduct on the Responsible Business Alliance ("RBA") Code of Conduct to ensure that business operations are environmentally responsible and compliant, at a minimum, with applicable environmental laws and regulations of the countries in which they have operations. The Company’s direct suppliers are expected to implement the Code of Conduct as well as an adequate management system to help ensure continued compliance with the Company's CSER Code of Supplier Conduct.

We expect our suppliers and vendors to also subscribe to standards and commitments described in these policies so that we collectively manage a responsible supply chain.

We implement rigorous product compliance with the EU Directive regarding the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) 2011/65/EU and the REACH Directive 2006/1907 on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals. We provide customers with information on the chemical composition of the materials used in our products, as further described in our master Certificate of Compliance (master CofC).

Resource Conservation Efforts

We are committed to protecting and preserving the environment and providing a safe and healthy workplace for all employees. We are also committed to the continual improvement of environmental protection and health and safety performance, as well as compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, permits, internal worldwide standards, and other social responsibility requirements to which we subscribe. We recognize the impact of our business operations on the environment, the ecosystem, and the communities in which we work and our employees reside. Consistent with our commitment to environmental stewardship, and as reflected in our Company Code of Business Conduct, we have policies and processes in place that incorporate assessment of environmental impact as part of our business decision making process. With a continual focus on resource use efficiencies, we re-use and recycle resources where possible.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Business Ethics

The Company is committed to operating with a strong sense of integrity, critical to maintaining trust and credibility with our stakeholders. We believe that long-term, trusting business relationships are built by being honest, open, and fair. We are committed to fostering a culture of integrity that starts with the management team modelling the right way and employees doing the right thing across all levels of the organization. Our promise is to uphold high professional standards in our global business operations and also expect the same from our vendors and suppliers. These values are embedded in our policies and are applicable to all employees, suppliers, and third parties with whom we partner:

Code of Conduct
Code of Business Conduct
Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption Policy

Our employees are required to familiarize themselves with the Code of Business Conduct and related policies and procedures. New employees, as part of the onboarding process, are required to acknowledge certain policies and procedures including our Code of Business Conduct. Each year, employees are required to formally acknowledge that they have read and will comply with the Code of Business Conduct. This mechanism helps increase awareness of acceptable business conduct and allows us to deal with issues as they arise.

Conflict Minerals

The Company is dedicated to ensuring that we use responsibly sourced minerals in both our supply chain as well as through our suppliers. The armed conflict and human rights atrocities that proliferate and are funded by the exploitation of natural

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resources in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) or adjoining countries are unacceptable and any manufacture of product connected with this will not be tolerated.

Commonly known conflict minerals are those such as tantalum, tin, tungsten, and gold. Conflict minerals originating from the DRC or the adjoining countries must not be included in materials or products supplied to the Company. We are committed to ensuring an ethical and diverse supply chain that is focused on responsible mineral sourcing.

Human Capital Management

As an international semiconductor company with a global footprint, the Company recognizes the important role its human capital plays in a talent-based economy, and what the impact of effective and efficient human capital management ("HCM") has on its long-term strategic success and sustainable growth. Our employees are our most critical asset—they contribute to our financial success for the benefit of all our stakeholders, they are the source of great idea generation that fuels the engine of product innovation, and they are collaborators and contributors to the success of the communities in which we live and work. Human capital management affects many aspects of our operations, including recruitment and talent acquisition, retention, training, workforce optimization, performance management, workplace safety, employee health and wellness, employee engagement, and diversity and inclusion.

Developing two–way communications and deploying effective feedback mechanisms are critical components in our employee engagement process. In addition to quarterly CEO “all hands” meetings, we have an “Open Door” policy, and encourage employees to have regular conversations with their managers to share feedback and express concerns. We also solicit employee feedback informally through regular employee interactions. We hold our managers accountable for setting clear expectations and goals with their teams, for providing coaching, as well as identifying professional development opportunities for their teams, and for engaging in periodic performance reviews. We assist our managers with performance management tools as needed to help them effectively manage their teams and optimize workforce productivity.

We utilize third-party operated employee self-service portals to allow employees to efficiently and timely manage several of their employment related activities; for example, employee benefits, expense reporting, leave of absence management, and attendance records. In addition to employee onboarding orientations and on-the-job training, we leverage a third party learning management system tool to provide training to our employees. We regularly assess the training modules to be responsive to the professional development and training needs of our employees.

Employee retention is a critical element in our sustainable success. To maintain a stable workforce, we provide skill advancement training and coaching, where appropriate, to help our employees enhance their existing skillsets. With our support and preparation, our employees can continue to grow in their current role and maximize the value they contribute to their current teams. Where a suitable rotation opportunity arises, we provide skill expansion training to equip employees for these new positions. By honing their skills, our employees can leverage their institutional knowledge and experience to contribute to the overall success of the organization. The availability of rotational opportunities can also help keep our employees motivated and engaged.

Modern Slavery Act Transparency Statement

The Company conducts business in accordance with its core values of integrity, commitment, and innovation. As a global business committed to protecting human rights, we take seriously the responsibility of preventing modern slavery in our business and supply chains. We are committed to upholding best practices and remaining vigilant to continuously improve.

Pay and Gender

We are committed to complying with applicable wage laws to ensure our employees are fairly and timely compensated and strive to be equitable and ethical in regards to appropriate compensation for applicable roles.

Health and Safety

The Company’s health and safety policy is based on our commitment to provide a safe worksite for all employees worldwide and applies to our suppliers, vendors, partners, and other companies that sell goods or services to the Company and its affiliates. Every employee is responsible for safety, and the Company encourages employees to notify their

22 Diodes Incorporated


 

manager of any safety-related concerns. To that end we require that applicable federal, state and local safety requirements.

To achieve the goal of having a safe workplace, each site has implemented policies and procedures to address emergency preparedness and response, industrial hygiene and health resources, as well as the use of personal protective equipment. This preventive safety approach allows us to take protective measures to minimize workplace-related risks. Where possible, we leverage technology and automation tools, including industrial robots, to automate repetitive tasks to reduce workplace injuries and illness. Additionally, we seek to provide a safe and secure working environment to our employees through implementation of effective security equipment (e.g. CCTV and alarm systems), security protocols, and onsite security staff.

We ask that each employee be safety conscious. The Company prioritizes assuring a safe environment and compliance with local safety regulations in the countries where we operate. All employees should understand that Diodes will not tolerate any retaliation against an employee for making safety complaints or reporting safety concerns.

By providing a safe space for grievance and incident reporting where employees feel comfortable about reporting near-misses and feel confident that their concerns will be heard and addressed, we intend to exceed the basic standards and promote improved mental and physical well-being throughout the work and home lives of our employees.

Investment in Our Employees

At Diodes we regard our employees as our most important asset. We are committed to providing a positive environment for the development and achievement of goals for our employees. We invest in our employees not only through fair compensation and benefits but also by providing professional and personal development opportunities.

We believe in the value of continuous improvement so that we can satisfy our stakeholders’ requirements. In its broadest sense, we believe our stakeholders include our employees, partners, and the communities where we operate. We believe in the value of continuous learning and fostering a culture of professional growth.

We offer learning opportunities to employees at all levels, through developmental courses and experiential learning. We encourage our managers to identify the training needs of their employees and to help employees manage their careers, and we encourage our employees to request relevant training to promote career and personal development. Based on their functions and responsibilities, employees are offered development opportunities on job related topics such product-specific training, customer complaints training, and audit processes. Other developmental skill training offerings included team building, effective communication, leadership, and negotiation.

Additionally, we engage third party service providers to provide training and webinars on various financial wellness topics such as workplace pension, retirement courses, social security benefits, and early career financial planning to help our employees prepare for personal changes and financial challenges throughout their career.

Governance and Oversight

Sustainability is a strategic focus for the Company and its Board of Directors. We have a Sustainability Steering Committee that focuses on sustainability, the ongoing assessment of our operations, and their impact on the communities in which we operate.

The Sustainability Steering Committee reports directly to the Board and provides periodic updates to the Board regarding the Company’s sustainability related strategies, policies, initiatives, and disclosures. The Board reviews and considers environmental, health and safety, and social matters impacting the Company’s operations. The Sustainability Steering Committee is comprised of members of the senior management team, including the President, Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Secretary, General Counsel and Vice President of Sustainability, and Worldwide Quality Director. It meets regularly to review the Company’s sustainability initiatives and goals as well as the progress towards achieving those goals.

Given our global manufacturing footprint and strong commitment to environmental responsibility, we also formed a Sustainability Task Force represented by regional environmental, health, and safety (EHS) subject matter experts, human resources, and supply chain professionals to review, assess and address the various operational impacts to the Company in areas such as water, waste, energy, supply chain, and human capital management. Additionally, an Energy & Climate

23 Diodes Incorporated


 

Initiatives Team (ECIT) was established to specifically address climate-related risks and opportunities, exercise oversight over potential climate impacts on our Company operations, and provide guidance on regulatory reporting requirements.

 

 

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Executive Officers of the Company

None of the executive officers were selected pursuant to any arrangement or understanding, other than that the executive officers of the Company shall act within their capacity as such. Executive officers serve at the discretion of the Board. The following table and discussion sets forth certain biographical information concerning the Company’s executive officers as of the Record Date:

Name

Age

Position with the Company

Dr. Keh-Shew Lu(1)

77

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer ("CEO")

Gary Yu(1)

51

President

Brett R. Whitmire

58

Chief Financial Officer

Francis Tang

69

Senior Vice President, Worldwide Discrete Products

Andy (Kuo-Ting) Tsong

56

Senior Vice President, Analog Business Group

Richard D. White

76

Corporate Secretary and Special Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer

Emily Yang

55

Senior Vice President, Worldwide Sales and Marketing

Jin Zhao

55

President, Asia Pacific Region

(1) See “Proposal One - Election of Directors” for biographical information regarding Dr. Keh-Shew Lu and Mr. Gary Yu.

Brett R. Whitmire Chief Financial Officer

Mr. Whitmire assumed his current position as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer in March 2019. He has 34 years of industry experience and has been with the Company for over 13 years. Prior to being named CFO, he served as the Corporate Controller and Principal Accounting Officer of the Company, and previously served as the Director of Global Supply Chain. Mr. Whitmire worked at Freescale Semiconductor as Chief Financial Officer for the Analog & Sensors Division. He began his career at Texas Instruments in a variety of finance and operations leadership positions including seven years as Vice President while serving as the finance and operations executive for the High Volume Analog & Logic Division and the corporate supply chain head. Mr. Whitmire holds both a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA from The University of Texas at Austin.

Francis Tang Senior Vice President, Worldwide Discrete Products

Mr. Tang was appointed Vice President, Worldwide Discrete Products in 2006 and Senior Vice President in November 2020. He previously served as the Company’s Global Product Manager since 2005. From 2002 until joining the Company, Mr. Tang served as general manager of T2 Microelectronics in Shanghai, China where he managed complex mixed-signal SOC product development. From 1996 to 2001, Mr. Tang was the senior strategic marketing director for Acer Labs, Inc. USA, and prior to that, he was employed by National Semiconductor for 17 years, where he held various management positions in analog and mixed-signal circuit design, applications and strategic marketing. Mr. Tang holds a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from University of Missouri – Rolla.

Andy (Kuo-Ting) Tsong Senior Vice President, Analog Business Group

Mr. Tsong joined the Company in 2009 as Worldwide Design Engineering Manager for the Analog Business Group. In November 2015, he was assigned to lead the newly-acquired worldwide Pericom business, and held the position of Division Manager for the Precision Timing and Connectivity organization within the Analog Business Group. In November 2021, he was appointed as regional President for the Asia Pacific region with responsibility over non-Make functions. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Tsong worked for Texas Instruments for over 15 years where he held several key management roles for new product development including System Engineering Manager for High Speed Interface, Senior Design Manager for Mixed Signal IP Development for ASIC, and Design Manager for High Speed SERDES Development. Mr. Tsong received a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from National Chiao Tung University in Taiwan, and a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Richard D. White Corporate Secretary and Special Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer

Mr. White was appointed as the Company’s Corporate Secretary and Special Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer in February 2019. Mr. White had previously served as the Company's Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary since 2009. From 2006 to 2009, he served as Senior Vice President, Finance. Mr. White has over 40 years of senior level finance experience, including 25 years at Texas Instruments, where he served as Vice President of Finance and Production Planning

25 Diodes Incorporated


 

for MOS memory, Controller for TI’s Asia Pacific Division in Singapore, and various other financial positions in the United States, France and Germany. From 1999 to 2005, he served as the Chief Financial Officer for Optisoft, Inc., and from 2005 to 2006, he served as a Partner of Tatum, LLC. Mr. White, a licensed certified public accountant, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Oklahoma State University and an MBA from the University of Michigan.

Emily Yang Senior Vice President, Worldwide Sales and Marketing

Ms. Yang was appointed Vice President of Worldwide Sales and Marketing in 2017 and Senior Vice President in November 2020. Ms. Yang has been with the Company since the acquisition of Pericom in 2015, where she was Vice President of Global Sales. Prior to that, she held a number of sales management positions with Pericom since 1998, including: VP of Sales, NAEU, Contract Manufacturing Sales Director, Western Regional Sales Director, and Strategic Account Sales Director covering Asia, North America, and Europe. Ms. Yang holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Toronto.

Jin Zhao President, Asia Pacific Region

Dr. Jin Zhao was appointed to manage the Analog Business Group in November 2020, having previously served as manager of the Company’s Linear, Logic and Power Product Division, within the Analog Business Group. Before joining the Company in 2017, Dr. Zhao had held Vice President and General Manager roles at NXP and Fairchild Semiconductor, respectively. In these positions, he had been responsible for managing various product lines, including analog interface ICs and high voltage discrete products. Prior to this, Dr. Zhao was employed by Texas Instruments, where he managed the integrated PMIC and over-voltage protection product lines. He also previously worked at AMD’s fab in Austin, Texas. Dr. Zhao holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the State University of New York (in Buffalo) and an MBA from the University of Texas (in Dallas).

There are no family relationships among any of our executive officers and directors, except as described in this Proxy Statement. There have been no material proceedings to which any director, executive officer or affiliate of the Company, any owner of record or beneficially of more than five percent of any class of voting securities of the Company, or any associate of any such director, executive officer, affiliate of the Company, or security holder is a party adverse to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or has a material interest adverse to the Company or any of its subsidiaries. None of our current directors or executive officers have been, during the past 10 years, involved in any legal proceedings required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 401(f) of Regulation S-K.

 

26 Diodes Incorporated


 

 

REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

The Report of the Audit Committee of the Board does not constitute soliciting material and shall not be deemed incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this Proxy Statement into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates this information by reference, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under such Acts.

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

The Board maintains an Audit Committee composed of three of the Company’s directors, Elizabeth Bull (Chair), Michael R. Giordano and Christina Wen-Chi Sung. Each member of the Audit Committee meets the independence and experience requirements of Nasdaq and the independence requirements of the SEC. Ms. Bull and Mr. Giordano each qualify as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined under the rules of the SEC. The Audit Committee assists the Board in monitoring the accounting, auditing and financial reporting practices of the Company. Mr. Giordano will cease to serve on the Audit Committee upon his retirement from the Board at the Meeting. The Board will name Mr. Giordano's replacement to the Audit Committee promptly following the Meeting.

Management is responsible for the preparation of the Company’s financial statements and financial reporting process, including evaluating the effectiveness of its system of internal controls. In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the Audit Committee:

reviewed and discussed with management the audited financial statements contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2023; and
obtained from management their representation that the Company’s financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

The independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for performing an audit of the Company’s financial statements in accordance with the auditing standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and expressing an opinion on whether the Company’s financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the Company’s financial position and results of operations for the periods presented and conform with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the Audit Committee:

discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm the matters required to be discussed by Auditing Standard No. 1301 (“Communications with Audit Committees”);
has received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent registered public accounting firm required by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, regarding the independent registered public accounting firm’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and has discussed with Moss Adams LLP the firm’s independence, and;
reviewed and discussed with management, the internal auditor, and the independent registered public accounting firm management’s assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and the independent registered public accounting firm’s opinion about the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

The Audit Committee operates under a written charter, which was adopted by the Board and is assessed annually for adequacy by the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee held five (5) meetings and took action by unanimous written consent one (1) time during fiscal 2023.

In performing its functions, the Audit Committee acts only in an oversight capacity. It is not the responsibility of the Audit Committee to determine that the Company’s financial statements are complete and accurate, are presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States or present fairly the results of operations of the Company for the periods presented or that the Company maintains appropriate internal controls. Nor is it the duty of the Audit Committee to determine that the audit of the Company’s financial statements has been carried out in accordance

27 Diodes Incorporated


 

with the generally accepted auditing standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) or that the Company’s auditors are independent. Based upon the reviews and discussions described above, and the report of the independent registered public accounting firm, the Audit Committee has recommended to the Board, and the Board has approved, that the audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 for filing with the SEC. The Audit Committee also has recommended, and the Board also has approved, the selection of Moss Adams LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024.

 

 

THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

 

 

Elizabeth Bull, Chair

 

 

Michael R. Giordano

 

 

Christina Wen-Chi Sung

 

 

28 Diodes Incorporated


 

CODE OF ETHICS

The Company has adopted a Code of Ethics applicable to the principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, or persons performing similar functions, and all members of the finance department of the Company. The Code of Ethics is available on the Company’s website at www.diodes.com, in the “Investors – Corporate Governance” section. The Company intends to disclose future amendments to, or waivers from, certain provisions of the Code of Ethics on the Company’s website within four business days following the date of such amendment or waiver.

Policy Regarding Related Person Transactions

The Audit Committee has adopted a written policy (the “Policy”) to review any transaction in which the Company was, or is to be, a participant and in which any director, executive officer, or beneficial owner of more than five percent (5%) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company, or any immediate family member of any such person, has a direct or indirect material interest (a “related person transaction”). The Policy requires the following:

the Audit Committee shall review any proposed agreement or arrangement relating to a related person transaction or series of related person transactions, and any proposed amendment to any such agreement or arrangement;
the Audit Committee shall establish standards for determining whether the transactions covered by such proposed agreement or arrangement are on terms no less favorable to the Company than could be obtained from an unrelated third party (“fair to the Company”);
before the Company enters into any such proposed agreement or arrangement, and at least annually thereafter, the Company’s internal audit department shall report to the Audit Committee whether the transactions covered by such agreement or arrangement are fair to the Company under the standards established by the Audit Committee;
the Audit Committee shall make all reasonable efforts (taking into account the cost thereof to the Company) to cancel or to renegotiate any such agreement or arrangement which is not so determined to be fair to the Company; and
the Company shall disclose any related person transactions required to be disclosed by the rules promulgated by the SEC, in the manner so required.

Relationships and Transactions

The Audit Committee reviews all related person transactions for potential conflict of interest situations on an ongoing basis, in accordance with such procedures as the Audit Committee may adopt from time to time. We believe that all related person transactions are on terms no less favorable to us than could be obtained from unaffiliated third parties.

We conduct business with the following related parties: Keylink International (B.V.I.) Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates (“Keylink”), Nuvoton Technology Corporation (“Nuvoton”), Jiyuan Crystal Photoelectric Frequency Technology Ltd. (“JCP”) and Atlas Magnetics, Co ("Atlas").

Keylink is our 5% joint venture partner in our Shanghai assembly and test facilities. We sell products to, and purchase inventory from, companies owned by Keylink. We sold products to companies owned by Keylink, totaling approximately $12.6 million and $20.0 million for the 12 month periods ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. In addition, our subsidiaries in China lease their manufacturing facilities in Shanghai from, and subcontract a portion of our manufacturing process (metal plating and environmental services) to Keylink. We also pay a consulting fee to Keylink. The aggregate amounts paid to Keylink for the 12 month periods ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 were approximately $16.9 million and $18.2 million, respectively.

We purchase wafers from Nuvoton for use in our production process and consider our relationships Nuvoton to be mutually beneficial. We plan to continue our strategic alliance with Nuvoton. We purchased silicon wafers from Nuvoton

29 Diodes Incorporated


 

that we use in the production of finished goods, totaling $10.5 million and $15.1 million, respectively, for the twelve month periods ended December 31, 2023 and 2022. We have an agreement to purchase approximately $35.3 million of wafers from Nuvoton that through the fourth quarter of 2025. Warren Chen, a member of the Company's board of directors serves as a member of the Nuvoton board of directors.

We also purchase materials from JCP, a frequency control product manufacturing company in which we have made an equity investment and account for using the equity method of accounting and from Atlas an early stage privately held fabless wafer design company in which the Company holds a majority interest. The Company determined that Atlas is a variable interest entity and the Company does not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact Atlas. The Company has therefore determined that the Company is not the primary beneficiary. For additional information related to Atlas see Note 19 - Equity Investments - Variable Interest Entities, in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 9, 2024 for additional information. below.

See also “Risk Factors – One of our external suppliers is also a related party. The loss of this supplier could harm our business, operating results and financial condition.” in Part I, Item 1A, and Note 15 - “Related Party Transactions,” in each case, in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 9, 2024 for additional information.

Mr. Gary Yu, the Company's President and Director is married to the niece of Dr. Keh-Shew Lu, the Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Yu has been an employee since 2008. Details of Mr. Yu’s compensation are provided below in the Summary Compensation Table. Kevin Chou is the son-in-law of Dr. Keh-Shew Lu, and is employed by the Company as Vice President and Corporate Controller. He has been an employee since 2009. For 2023, Mr. Chou’s total cash compensation was approximately $483,377, and his total equity compensation was 1,700 RSUs, which vest in four equal annual installments.

Mr. Robert E. Feiger, a nominee for director, and his law firm, Friedman & Feiger, LLP, have provided legal representation to Dr. Keh-Shew Lu on matters unrelated to Dr. Lu’s services to the Company. In addition, Friedman & Feiger, LLP previously provided legal representation to the Company from 2007 through March 2020. In connection with his nomination to serve as a director, Mr. Feiger has agreed that while serving on the Board, neither Mr. Feiger nor Friedman & Feiger, LLP, will provide legal services to the Company or its directors or employees, including Dr. Lu, without the prior written approval of the Board, which will allow the Board to consider in advance whether the provision of any requested services would compromise Mr. Feiger’s independence.

DELINQUENT SECTION 16(a) REPORTS

Under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, the Company’s directors, executive officers and any persons holding ten percent or more of the Common Stock are required to report their ownership of Common Stock and any changes in that ownership to the SEC and to furnish the Company with copies of such reports.

Specific due dates for these reports have been established by the SEC, and the Company is required to report any failure to file on a timely basis. Based solely upon review of copies of reports filed by the Company’s directors and executive officers with the SEC during the most recent fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, (i) one Form 4, representing two transactions for Julie Holland and (ii) one Form 3 and one Form 4 representing two transactions for Andy Tsong, (iii) one Form 4 representing three transactions for Evan Yu and (iv) one Form 4 representing one transaction for Elizabeth Bull were not filed timely.

STOCKHOLDERS SHARING THE SAME LAST NAME AND ADDRESS

To reduce the expense of delivering duplicate proxy materials to stockholders who may have more than one account holding Diodes stock but who share the same address, we have adopted an SEC-approved procedure called “householding.” Under this procedure, certain stockholders of record who have the same address and last name, and who do not participate in electronic delivery of proxy materials, will receive a single copy of our Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials and, as applicable, any additional proxy materials that are delivered until such time as one or more of these stockholders notify us that they want to receive separate copies. This procedure reduces duplicate mailings and saves printing costs and postage fees, as well as natural resources. Stockholders who participate in householding will

30 Diodes Incorporated


 

continue to have access to and utilize separate proxy voting instructions. If you receive a single set of proxy materials as a result of householding and you would like to have separate copies of our Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, annual report, or proxy statement mailed to you, please submit a request to the Secretary of the Company at the Company’s office at 4949 Hedgcoxe Road, Suite 200, Plano, Texas 75024, and we will promptly send you the requested materials. However, please note that if you want to receive a paper proxy or voting instruction form or other proxy materials for this year’s annual meeting, you will need to follow the instructions included in the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials that was sent to you. If you are a beneficial stockholder and you share an address with other beneficial stockholders, your broker, bank, or other institution is permitted to deliver a single copy of the proxy materials and Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials to your address, unless you otherwise request separate copies.

31 Diodes Incorporated


 

PROPOSAL TWO

APPROVAL OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

At the Meeting, the stockholders are being asked to approve the compensation of the NEOs as disclosed below pursuant to Section 14A of the Exchange Act (which was added by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act) and the other compensation disclosure rules of the SEC, including the information in “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” and in the Summary Compensation Table and other related tables and narrative disclosure below in “Executive Compensation.”

At the Company’s 2023 annual meeting of the stockholders, the Company’s stockholders voted in favor of providing stockholders an advisory vote on the approval of the compensation of the Company’s NEOs on an annual basis.

As discussed below, our executive compensation programs are designed to attract, retain and motivate executives who are critical to our long-term growth and profitability. Under these programs, our executives are incentivized to achieve Company performance goals and individual objectives established by the Compensation Committee, without encouraging undue or unreasonable risk-taking.

The Compensation Committee reviews our executive compensation programs annually to ensure they align executive compensation with the interests of our stockholders and current market practices. See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” and “Executive Compensation” for information about our executive compensation programs, including information about the fiscal 2023 compensation of the NEOs.

This proposal, commonly known as a “say-on-pay” proposal, gives our stockholders the opportunity to express their views on the compensation of our NEOs. This vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of our NEOs and the executive compensation philosophy and decisions described in “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” and “Executive Compensation.”

Approval of the compensation paid to the NEOs, as disclosed below pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC, requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Common Stock present, in person via the Internet or by proxy, and entitled to vote on the proposal at the Meeting.

This vote is advisory and is not binding on the Company, the Board or the Compensation Committee. However, the Board and the Compensation Committee value the opinions of our stockholders and will review the result of the vote and take it into consideration when making future decisions regarding executive compensation.

Accordingly, our stockholders are being asked to vote on the following resolution at the Meeting:

“RESOLVED, that the compensation paid to the Company's NEOs, as disclosed in this Proxy Statement pursuant to the SEC’s executive compensation disclosure rules, including Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables and narrative discussion, is hereby APPROVED.”

THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NEOS AS DISCLOSED IN “COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS” AND “EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.”

32 Diodes Incorporated


 

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

INTRODUCTION

This Compensation Discussion and Analysis (“CD&A”) explains the design and operation of the Company’s compensation program for (i) anyone who served during the fiscal year as our Chief Executive Officer or our Chief Financial Officer and (ii) our three other most highly compensated executive officers in the fiscal year (collectively, our “NEOs”).

Our NEOs for fiscal 2023 were:

Name

Position with the Company

Dr. Keh-Shew Lu

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer ("CEO")

Brett R. Whitmire

Chief Financial Officer

Gary Yu

President

Francis Tang

Senior Vice President, Worldwide Discrete Products

Julie Holland (1)

Former Senior Vice President, Corporate Operations

(1) Ms. Holland retired as an executive officer effective March, 31, 2023.

 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

“Say-on-Pay” Vote Summary

At our 2023 annual meeting of stockholders, our stockholders approved, by a vote of approximately 98% of the shares present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote on the proposal (not counting abstentions and broker non-votes), the compensation paid to our NEOs for services rendered in 2022 as presented in the proxy statement for the 2023 annual meeting of stockholders. In light of this favorable “say on pay” vote and our stockholder engagement, the Compensation Committee did not materially adjust the Company’s compensation program for 2023 or 2024.

We have engaged with our stockholders to understand their perspectives on our Company, including our strategies, performance, governance, and executive compensation. This ongoing dialogue has helped inform the Board's decision-making and ensure our interests remain well-aligned with those of our stockholders.

The Company has a record of adopting provisions or modifying practices to reflect stockholder input. Examples include the Company's majority vote policy which was strengthened and documented at the request of our stockholders, as well as the 2017 redesign of our executive compensation program and external reviews of the Company's peer group and executive compensation program in 2020 and 2022.

2023 Business Summary

Below is a summary of our 2023 financial results:

Net sales for fiscal 2023 were $1.7 billion, a decrease of 16.9% from the $2.0 billion in fiscal 2022;
Gross profit for fiscal 2023 was $658.2 million, a decrease of 20.4% from the $827.2 million in fiscal 2022;
Gross profit margin for fiscal 2023 declined 170 basis points to 39.6% from 41.3% for fiscal 2022;
Operating income decreased 38.6% to $250.6 million, or 15.1% of revenue, compared to $408.2 million, or 20.4% of revenue in 2022;
Net income for fiscal 2023 was $227.2 million, or $4.91 per diluted share, compared to $331.3 million, or $7.20 per diluted share, in fiscal 2022;
We achieved $280.9 million cash flow from operations. We had cash capital expenditures of $150.8 million, or 9.1% of net sales. Net cash flow was a negative $22.6 million, which includes the net pay-down of $124.3 million of total debt; and
As of December 31, 2023, the Company had approximately $328.7 million in cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, and short-term investments. Total debt (including long-term and short-term) amounted to approximately $62.1 million, and working capital was approximately $793.9 million.

 

33 Diodes Incorporated


 

The following table provides additional information concerning our performance in fiscal 2022 compared to fiscal 2021:

Description (in millions, except per share amounts)

2023

 

 

2022

 

Net sales

$

1,661.7

 

 

$

2,000.6

 

Gross profit

 

658.2

 

 

 

827.2

 

Gross profit margin

 

39.6

%

 

 

41.3

%

Income from operations

 

250.6

 

 

 

408.2

 

Diluted net income per share

 

4.91

 

 

 

7.20

 

Stock price at fiscal year end

 

80.52

 

 

 

76.14

 

Adjusted earnings per share - common stockholders (Non-GAAP)

 

4.81

 

 

 

7.36

 

 

CONSOLIDATED RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO ADJUSTED NET INCOME

 

(unaudited)

 

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

 

 

 

For the 12 Months Ended December 31,

 

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GAAP net income - common stockholders

 

 

$

227,182

 

 

$

331,283

 

GAAP earnings per share - common stockholders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted

 

 

$

4.91

 

 

$

7.20

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income - common stockholders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

to adjusted net income - common stockholders, net of tax:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets

 

 

 

12,479

 

 

 

12,753

 

Officer retirement

 

 

 

2,217

 

 

 

Restructuring costs

 

 

 

1,187

 

 

 

Non-cash market-to-market investment value adjustments

 

 

 

(16,577

)

 

 

Investment gain

 

 

 

(3,704

)

 

 

Insurance recovery for manufacturing facility

 

 

 

 

 

(2,875

)

Loss on sale of manufacturing facilities

 

 

 

 

 

575

 

Acquisition-related costs

 

 

 

 

 

480

 

LSC investments related

 

 

 

 

 

(3,257

)

Adjusted net income - common stockholders (Non-GAAP) (1)

 

 

$

222,784

 

 

$

338,959

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted shares used in computing earnings per share

 

 

 

46,311

 

 

 

46,036

 

Adjusted earnings per share - common stockholders (Non-GAAP)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted (1)

 

 

$

4.81

 

 

$

7.36

 

(1) See Exhibit 99.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 6, 2024 for a description of the adjustments used to calculate Adjusted net income – common stockholders (Non-GAAP) and Adjusted earnings per share – common stockholders (Non-GAAP) Diluted.

34 Diodes Incorporated


 

OVERVIEW OF COMPENSATION PROGRAM

Compensation Philosophy

Our executive compensation program is designed to attract, retain and motivate experienced executives to achieve sustainable profitable growth and generate positive cash flow. Our compensation philosophy is driven by the following guiding principles:

https://cdn.kscope.io/ce2176f224a834c5293122c729ee2397-img207102839_1.jpg 

35 Diodes Incorporated


 

Best-Practice Compensation Governance Features

Our executive compensation program is based upon best-practices.

 

What We Do

 

What We Don’t Do

 

Place heavy emphasis on performance-based variable compensation. Generally the Company sets performance objectives for annual bonuses and long-term equity incentives higher year-over-year to establish challenging goals and thereby align the interests of our executives with the interests of our stockholders

 

X

Allow option backdating, cash out of underwater options or option repricing

 

 

Emphasize long-term equity awards in executive pay mix

 

X

Gross up excise taxes upon a change in control

Apply stock ownership and stock retention guidelines to align executives’ interests with stockholders’ interests

 

X

Permit hedging or pledging of Company stock, or short sales and transactions in derivatives

Include a clawback provision in our incentive plans

 

X

Provide perquisites to NEOs that are not available to other senior management generally

Conduct an annual risk assessment

 

X

Offer enhanced retirement formulas or death benefits

Engage an independent compensation consultant periodically to ensure alignment with market executive compensation

 

X

Provide automatic acceleration of equity awards upon retirement

Have a “double-trigger” equity vesting upon a change in control

 

X

 

Provide automatic “single trigger” acceleration of equity or other benefits in the event of a change in control

Conduct an annual stockholder say-on-pay vote

 

X

 

Pay dividend equivalents on unearned restricted shares or stock units

Components of Compensation

The principal elements of our executive compensation program for 2021, 2022 and 2023 are summarized in the table below:

 

Element

Form

What It Does

 

How It Links to Performance

Base Salary

Cash (Fixed)

Provides a competitive rate relative to similar positions in the market, and enables the Company to attract and retain critical executive talent

 

Based on job scope, level of responsibilities, experience, tenure and market levels

Annual (Bonus) Incentive Plan

Cash (Variable)

Focuses executives on achieving annual financial and strategic goals that drive long-term stockholder value

 

Payouts: 0% to 200% of target, based on results against pre-established goals

 

Financial Metrics: 80% of bonus for 2022 and 2023: Earnings per share (“EPS”), Net sales and CSER

Strategic Objectives: 20% of bonus for 2022 and 2023

Long-Term Incentive (LTI) Plan

Equity (Variable)

Provides incentives for executives to execute on longer-term financial and strategic growth goals that drive long-term stockholder value and support the Company’s retention strategy

 

50% of the LTI award is performance-based and 50% vests ratably over a four-year period

Performance-based awards can pay out between 0% and 200% of target, based on actual performance compared to pre-established, three-year financial performance targets

 

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Factors Considered in Making Compensation Decisions

Our compensation strategy is flexible and enables us to appropriately differentiate and reward executives by taking into account:

• Company financial and operational performance;

• The executive's individual performance, experience and qualifications;

• The scope of the executive's role;

• The level of total compensation for our other executives; and

• Competitive market data which helps us evaluate how our executive pay levels compare to that being offered to individuals with comparable roles in semiconductor companies with which we compete for talent.

For additional information regarding elements of compensation, please refer to the graphs below in the section entitled “Principal Components of Compensation."

PAY FOR PERFORMANCE

The chart below illustrates the relative degree of alignment between the total stockholder return ("TSR," defined as stock price appreciation plus dividends) and the CEO's annual compensation as reported in the Summary Compensation Table for the Company (set forth below) and its 2023 Peer Group (as defined below) for the most recent three-year period available. For further information concerning the 2023 Peer Group, see “Compensation Review Process – Selection of Peer Group.”

https://cdn.kscope.io/ce2176f224a834c5293122c729ee2397-img207102839_2.jpg 

 

 

37 Diodes Incorporated


 

The table below illustrates the change in Dr. Lu’s total direct compensation for 2021, 2022 and 2023:

CEO's Total Direct Compensation

 

 

2021

 

2022

 

 

2023

 

2021 vs 2023

 

Base Salary

$

728,250

 

$

757,303

 

 

$

805,753

 

 

11

%

Bonus

$

1,843,688

 

$

1,919,501

 

 

$

211,905

 

 

-89

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RSU's

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of shares

 

32,000

 

 

32,000

 

 

 

42,000

 

 

31

%

Value/share (closing price on day of grant)

$

79.57

 

$

91.89

 

 

$

93.35

 

 

17

%

Number of shares

 

5,000

 

 

5,000

 

 

 

6,000

 

 

20

%

Value/share (closing price on day of grant)

$

75.29

 

$

73.91

 

 

$

87.37

 

 

16

%

Value

$

2,922,690

 

$

3,310,030

 

 

$

4,444,920

 

 

52

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PSU's

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of shares

 

32,000

 

 

32,000

 

 

 

42,000

 

 

31

%

Value/share (closing price on day of grant)

$

79.57

 

$

91.89

 

 

$

93.35

 

 

17

%

Value

$

2,546,240

 

$

2,940,480

 

 

$

3,920,700

 

 

54

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Long-Term Incentive

$

5,468,930

 

$

6,250,510

 

 

$

8,365,620

 

 

53

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other compensation

$

96,461

 

$

118,332

 

 

$

100,538

 

 

4

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Compensation

$

8,137,329

 

$

9,045,646

 

 

$

9,483,816

 

 

17

%

Change from previous year

 

2.9

%

 

11.2

%

 

 

4.8

%

N/A

 

Total shareholder return for 2021, 2022 and 2023 was 55.8%, (30.7)% and 5.8%, respectively. The increase in total shareholder return reflects the increase in the Company's stock price from $76.14 per share at December 30, 2022 to $80.52 at December 29, 2023.

To evaluate projected 2023 compensation levels, the Compensation Committee retained Compensation Advisory Partners (“CP”) in September 2022. In November 2022 CP advised the Compensation Committee as to the composition of the 2022 Peer Group. Then in December 2022 CP compared our 2023 projected executive target compensation to that of our 2022 Peer Group. CP reported directly to the Compensation Committee. The individuals at CP who provided the compensation consulting services to the Compensation Committee provide no other services to the Company or its subsidiaries.

In the December 2022 comparison, CP reviewed the compensation elements and market practices impacting the top eight senior executive positions at the Company. The scope of the review focused on the base salary plus target annual and target long-term incentive compensation levels of the top eight senior executive positions. The report relied on the compensation practices of our 2022 Peer Group. For a description of the 2022 Peer Group, see “Compensation Review Process – Selection of Peer Group” below. The review summarized the executives’ overall percentile alignment for the Company's executives compared to the final blended market data, with target compensation being the primary focus of the study percentile value and derived from base salary, target total cash, 2023 target long-term incentives and total direct compensation at target total cash. The review demonstrated that with some variation by individual, The Company's executives are compensated at the 68th percentile in terms of total direct compensation using target total cash plus 2023 target long-term incentives. The 68th percentile measurement was primarily driven by the long-term performance incentives portion of our executive compensation program. The relative pay rank for our CEO and other executives by type of compensation are detailed in the following chart:

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Pay Rank

Component of Pay

 

CEO

 

Other Executive Officers

 

Overall

Base salary

 

53rd

 

24th

 

28th

Cash compensation (base salary + target bonus)

 

39th

 

28th

 

30th

Long-term incentives ("LTI")

 

66th

 

75th

 

74th

Total direct compensation (cash compensation + LTI)

 

67th

 

68th

 

68th

PRINCIPAL COMPONENTS OF COMPENSATION

2023 Pay Mix

The Compensation Committee set 2023 base salary and target bonus and LTI award levels to generally align the NEO’s total direct compensation with the semiconductor market. The charts below illustrate the relative composition of 2023 total direct compensation for our CEO and our other NEOs.

https://cdn.kscope.io/ce2176f224a834c5293122c729ee2397-img207102839_3.jpghttps://cdn.kscope.io/ce2176f224a834c5293122c729ee2397-img207102839_4.jpg 

Base Salaries

We provide each of our NEOs with a competitive fixed annual base salary. The base salaries for our NEOs are reviewed annually by the Compensation Committee by taking into account each executive officer's scope of responsibility, level of experience, individual performance, and past and potential contribution to the Company's business, as well as the Company’s performance and the current year’s change in the cost of living. The Compensation Committee does not assign any particular formula or weight to the foregoing factors.

Consistent with our compensation philosophy, base salaries represent a fixed portion of total compensation and may generally be at or lower than the median base salaries being offered to individuals with comparable roles in semiconductor companies with which we compete for talent.

The following table shows each NEO’s annualized base salary for 2021 to 2023 and the percentage change in each NEOs’ annualized base salary from the prior year:

Annualized Base Salary

 

 

2021

 

2022

 

2023

Name

 

Base Salary
($)

 

 

(%) Change

 

Base Salary
($)

 

 

(%) Change

 

Base Salary
($)

 

 

(%) Change

Dr. Keh-Shew Lu

 

 

728,250

 

 

 

 

760,000

 

 

4%

 

 

810,000

 

 

7%

Brett R. Whitmire

 

 

294,000

 

 

2%

 

 

310,000

 

 

5%

 

 

330,000

 

 

6%

Gary Yu

 

 

330,000

 

 

N/A

 

 

350,000

 

 

6%

 

 

450,000

 

 

29%

Francis Tang

 

 

390,500

 

 

 

 

400,000

 

 

2%

 

 

410,000

 

 

2%

Julie Holland (1)

 

 

390,500

 

 

 

 

400,000

 

 

2%

 

 

 

(1) Ms. Holland retired as an executive officer effective March 31, 2023.

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Annual (Bonus) Incentive Plan

Annual incentives reward both the achievement of short-term financial goals, as well as the execution of activities to advance our strategic priorities, which support near-term financial performance and long-term strategic objectives. Our annual bonus plan for 2022 and 2023 was simple, formulaic and responsive to investor feedback:

 

https://cdn.kscope.io/ce2176f224a834c5293122c729ee2397-img207102839_5.jpg 

 

This table illustrates the structure of the plan for 2022 and 2023.

Annual Incentives – Plan Structure (2022 and 2023)

Weighting

Performance Objectives

Metrics

80%

Financial Metrics

Non-GAAP Earnings Per Share (EPS),

 Net Sales and CSER

 

https://cdn.kscope.io/ce2176f224a834c5293122c729ee2397-img207102839_6.jpg 

 

20%

Strategic Priorities

Examples of strategic initiatives include, but are not limited to:

Manage the Company through the semiconductor industry slowdown
Expand internal manufacturing
Increase % of net sales from the combined automotive and industrial markets
Develop new products

 

Both the financial metrics and the strategic priorities are set at the beginning of the year and on an absolute basis. The schedule below sets forth the annual incentives to be paid as a percentage of target. Performance below or above target will result in an award ranging from 0% to a maximum of 200% of target.

The Compensation Committee chose to use EPS and net sales as the primary measures for 2022 and 2023 to keep our NEOs focused on profitability and profitable growth. The Compensation Committee determined these measures to be appropriate since they are measures used by our peers in evaluating performance and are commonly used by stakeholders in the evaluation of company performance. The Compensation Committee has weighted CSER to the financial metrics at a to 5% weighting, and established an internal committee to improve the Company's focus on its ongoing environmental,

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social and governance activities. Achieving goals in all of these areas is critical to driving short-term results that have long-term impact on value creation. The strategic initiatives will be evaluated based upon demonstrated performance against the specific pre-determined targets.

 

Annual Incentives –
Financial and Strategic Performance & Payout Ranges

Performance Level

Range of Payout*

Below 80% of Target

0% payout

From 80% to 100% of Target

50% to 100% payout

From 100% to 120% of Target

100% to 200% payout

Above 120% of Target

200% payout (capped)

*Performance between 80% and 100% of target and between 100% and

120% of target is interpolated between the end points identified above.

The following table sets forth the performance targets established by the Compensation Committee and the results achieved by the Company for fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2023:

 

 

2022

 

 

2023

 

Performance

Objective

 

Weight

 

Target

 

 

Actual

 

 

Weight

 

Target

 

 

Actual

 

vs. Target

Financial objectives (80% of award)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales (millions)

 

18%

 

$

1,900.0

 

 

$

2,000.6

 

 

18%

 

$

1,971.0

 

 

$

1,661.7

 

 

Not Met

Non-Gaap diluted earnings per share

 

77%

 

$

5.74

 

 

$

7.36

 

 

77%

 

$

6.55

 

 

$

4.81

 

 

Not Met

CSER (1)

 

5%

 

 

7

 

 

 

8

 

 

5%

 

 

7

 

 

 

5

 

 

Exceeded

Strategic objectives (20% of award)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Manage the Company through the semiconductor industry slowdown

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Achieved (2)

Expand internal manufacturing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Achieved (3)

Develop new products

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Achieved (4)

Increase % of net sales from the combined automotive and industrial markets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Achieved (5)

(1) The Company combines the social and environmental scores provided by Institutional Shareholder Services as a CSER measurement;

(2) The Company's management managed the semiconductor slowdown;

(3) The Company has expanded its internal manufacturing, reflected by increased loading at Company-owned facilities and the purchase of SPFAB:

(4) The Company continues to develop successful new products; and

(5) Net related to the combined automotive and industrial markets increased to 46% in 2023 from 42% in 2022.

The following payout percentages, as a percent of target opportunity, for 2023 were calculated based upon the weight of each performance objective for 2023 and the results set forth above:

Performance Objective

% Attained to Target

% Payout to Target

Weight

Financial objective

 

 

 

Net sales

84

61

14%

Non-GAAP earnings per share

73

62%

CSER

120

200

4%

Strategic objectives

85

20%

For fiscal 2022 and 2023, each financial objective (i.e., net sales, Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share and CSER) was established after consideration by the Compensation Committee to ensure that the performance targets establish challenging goals and thereby align the interests of our executives with the interests of our stockholders.

The following table shows each NEO’s maximum executive bonus opportunity for 2021, 2022 and 2023 and the percentage change from the prior year:

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2021

 

2022

 

2023

Name

 

$

 

 

Change (%)

 

$

 

 

Change (%)

 

$

 

 

Change (%)

Dr. Keh-Shew Lu

 

 

1,820,625

 

 

 

 

1,893,259

 

 

4.0%

 

 

2,049,000

 

 

8.2%

Brett R. Whitmire

 

 

411,600

 

 

2.1%

 

 

432,098

 

 

5.0%

 

 

462,000

 

 

6.9%

Gary Yu

 

 

462,000

 

 

N/A

 

 

487,622

 

 

5.5%

 

 

630,000

 

 

29.2%

Francis Tang

 

 

546,700

 

 

 

 

558,870

 

 

2.2%

 

 

462,000

 

 

-17.3%

Julie Holland (1)

 

 

546,700

 

 

 

 

558,870

 

 

2.2%

 

 

 

(1) Ms. Holland retired as an executive officer effective March 31, 2023.

In late 2023, the Compensation Committee reviewed the design of our annual incentive plan for 2024. For 2024, the Compensation Committee set the bonus target for the CEO at 100% of annual salary, the bonus target for the President at 90% of salary and the bonus target for all other executives to 65% of salary. Previous targets were 125% of salary for the CEO and 70% for all other executives No changes were made to the financial objectives, the strategic objectives, or the relative weight of the financial objectives as compared to the strategic objectives. The weighting of the Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share financial metric will continue to be 77% to emphasize profitability, the weighting of net sales will be 18% and CSER will be 5%. The Compensation Committee feels these measures reflect the Company’s longer-term goal of achieving a 40% gross margin and the increased focus on corporate governance. Due to the sensitivity of earnings per share and net sales forecasts and the correlation of earnings per share to our stock price, the 2024 targets are not being disclosed at this time. However, the targets will be disclosed at the end of the performance period along with the achievement levels against such targets.

Long-Term Incentive (LTI) Plan

Under the Company's 2022 Plan, the Company may grant any type of equity award whose value is derived from the value of the Common Stock of the Company, including, but not limited to, shares of Common Stock, stock options, stock appreciation rights (“SARs”), restricted stock units (“RSUs”), performance stock units (“PSUs”) and restricted stock. Equity awards encourage our NEOs to execute on longer-term financial goals that drive stockholder value creation and support our retention strategy.

https://cdn.kscope.io/ce2176f224a834c5293122c729ee2397-img207102839_7.jpg 

 

In February 2023, the Committee granted long-term incentive (“LTI”) awards under the 2022 Plan to certain executive officers. Each LTI award consisted of (1) restricted stock units (“RSUs”) which vest over four years and (2) performance stock units (“PSUs”) which contain a performance-based vesting condition under which the PSUs will vest upon the Company achieving a cumulative 3-year Non-GAAP operating income target for 2023-2025.

In December 2023, the Compensation Committee reviewed the design of our LTI plan. No changes were made to the structure of the plan compared to 2023, except for a change to the 3-year Non-GAAP operating income target for 2024-2026 and a change in our peer group, as described below.

For PSU awards granted in fiscal 2021, 2022 and 2023 each year a 3-year cumulative operating income goal is set as a target. It is not adjusted for market changes or company performance throughout the 3-year period.

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The following chart illustrates the structure of the plan for 2021, 2022 and 2023. The structure of the LTI awards is the same for the CEO and all other NEOs.

https://cdn.kscope.io/ce2176f224a834c5293122c729ee2397-img207102839_8.jpg 

LTI Plan Structure

Weighting

Equity Vehicles

Metrics

50%

Performance-Based Stock Units: Vest according to actual performance compared to pre-established, three‐year absolute financial performance targets.

For the 2021‐2023 award cycle, the Compensation Committee chose a GAAP operating income target of $535.9 million, and increased this target for 2022-2024.

50%

Time-Based Restricted Stock Units: Vest ratably over a four‐year period (i.e., 25% on each anniversary of the award).

N/A

 

https://cdn.kscope.io/ce2176f224a834c5293122c729ee2397-img207102839_9.jpg 

 

43 Diodes Incorporated


 

The actual amount of performance-based awards that are earned and vest will be driven by the achievement of the performance metrics at the end of the three-year performance period relative to our three-year absolute performance goals:

 

Annual Incentives –
Financial and Strategic Performance & Payout Ranges

Performance Level

Range of Payout*

Below 80% of Target

0% payout

From 80% to 100% of Target

50% to 100% payout

From 100% to 120% of Target

100% to 200% payout

Above 120% of Target

200% payout (capped)

*Performance between 80% and 100% of target and between 100% and

120% of target is interpolated between the end points identified above.

 

The following table sets forth the number of shares subject to RSUs and PSUs granted to each NEO in 2022, 2023 and 2024, the grant date fair value of such awards, and the percentage change in such shares and such value from the prior year:

 

 

2022

 

 

2023

 

 

2024

 

Name

Shares/
Value

 

RSUs (2)

 

 

PSUs

 

 

Change % (1)

 

 

RSUs (2)

 

 

PSUs

 

 

Change % (1)

 

 

RSUs

 

 

PSUs

 

 

Change % (1)

 

Dr. Keh-Shew Lu

#

 

 

37,000

 

 

 

32,000

 

 

 

 

 

48,000

 

 

 

42,000

 

 

 

 

 

32,000

 

 

 

32,000

 

 

 

 

$

 

 

3,310,030

 

 

 

2,940,480

 

 

 

15

%

 

 

4,444,920

 

 

 

3,920,700

 

 

 

1.6

%

 

 

2,166,080

 

 

 

2,166,080

 

 

 

-44.8

%

Brett R. Whitmire

#

 

 

7,600

 

 

 

7,600

 

 

 

 

 

9,000

 

 

 

9,000

 

 

 

 

 

7,600

 

 

 

7,600

 

 

 

 

$

 

 

698,364

 

 

 

698,364

 

 

 

15

%

 

 

840,150

 

 

 

840,150

 

 

 

1.6

%

 

 

514,444

 

 

 

514,444

 

 

 

-38.8

%

Gary Yu

#

 

 

8,500

 

 

 

8,500

 

 

 

 

 

13,000

 

 

 

13,000

 

 

 

 

 

8,500

 

 

 

8,500

 

 

 

 

$

 

 

781,065

 

 

 

781,065

 

 

 

15

%

 

 

1,213,550

 

 

 

1,213,550

 

 

 

1.6

%

 

 

575,365

 

 

 

575,365

 

 

 

-52.6

%

Francis Tang

#

 

 

7,600

 

 

 

7,600

 

 

 

 

 

9,000

 

 

 

9,000

 

 

 

 

 

7,600

 

 

 

7,600

 

 

 

 

$

 

 

698,364

 

 

 

698,364

 

 

 

15

%

 

 

840,150

 

 

 

840,150

 

 

 

1.6

%

 

 

514,444

 

 

 

514,444

 

 

 

-38.8

%

Julie Holland (3)

#

 

 

9,200

 

 

 

9,200

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

 

 

845,388

 

 

 

845,388

 

 

 

15

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1) Represents the combined number of shares subject to RSUs and PSUs for the given year and the combined grant date values of such RSUs and PSUs, compared to the combined number of shares subject to awards and the combined grant date values of such awards for the prior year.

(2) In May of 2022 and May 2023 Dr. Lu received 5,000 and 6,000 RSUs, respectively, related to his role as Chairman of the Board.

(3) Ms. Holland retired as an executive officer effective March 31, 2023.

The Compensation Committee believes that both performance-based and time-based awards are appropriate equity vehicles for a portion of long-term incentive compensation for the Company’s executive officers because both such awards align executive officers’ interests with the interests of stockholders by focusing executive officers on long-term Company performance. The value of these awards increases if the Company’s stock price increases, and the value of these awards decreases if the stock price declines. Time-based awards also serve to retain executive officers because they provide executive officers some economic value (if time-based vesting requirements are met) regardless of stock price changes. Performance-based awards encourage NEOs to achieve the specific pre-determined performance objectives selected by the Compensation Committee.

The Compensation Committee’s policy is to grant equity awards annually in recognition of each executive officer's current and potential contributions to the Company. To encourage retention, stock option and restricted stock awards are subject to a four-year time-based vesting requirement in addition to any performance-based vesting requirement.

In determining equity awards in 2022, 2023 and 2024, the Compensation Committee first reviewed the NEOs’ equity awards in light of the executive compensation philosophy that the total compensation (i.e., the aggregate of all cash and equity awards) of the NEOs and all other executive officers should be competitive with the total compensation paid to executive officers with comparable duties paid by similarly sized companies in the semiconductor industry. The number of RSU and PSU awards is adjusted to reflect the Company’s stock price at the time the award is granted. The Compensation Committee noted that in 2023, management contended with challenges presented by the slowdown in the semiconductor industry, increased net sales in the combined automotive and industrial markets, expanded internal manufacturing, and developed new products.

44 Diodes Incorporated


 

The Compensation Committee then reviewed each NEO’s personal performance and contribution to the Company. When doing its review, the Compensation Committee believes that target compensation should be competitive with that being offered to individuals with comparable roles in semiconductor companies with which we compete for talent. This is done to ensure we employ the best people to lead to our success. The Compensation Committee reviews the allocation between cash and non-cash components of the NEO’s compensation, and the size, term and value of the awards made in prior years. The Compensation Committee believes that each NEO made meaningful contributions in each area of his or her responsibilities to the growth and profitability of the Company. The Compensation Committee believes that it has appropriately valued the cash awards and equity awards granted in 2022, 2023 and 2024 consistent with the Company’s compensation objectives and philosophy.

 

COMPENSATION REVIEW PROCESS

Our Board of Directors has delegated to the Compensation Committee the authority to approve all compensation and awards to NEOs. When making individual compensation decisions for NEOs, the Compensation Committee takes many factors into account, including the performance of the Company as a whole, the current market conditions, the executive officer’s experience, responsibilities, management abilities and job performance, and pay levels for similar positions at comparable companies. The Compensation Committee does not assign any particular formula or weight to the foregoing factors.

The Compensation Committee has ultimate authority, including delegated authority over all aspects of NEO compensation, including the base salary for each NEO and the overall compensation of the Chief Executive Officer.

The Role of the Compensation Committee The Compensation Committee determines the compensation for the executive officers, including the NEOs. The Compensation Committee meets in an executive session at the beginning of each fiscal year to:

Evaluate the performance of the NEOs and all other executive officers during the prior fiscal year;
Determine their final annual bonuses, if any, for the prior fiscal year;
Determine the threshold, target and maximum bonus opportunity for the current fiscal year for each executive officer as a percentage of base salary, the performance objectives and the formula for computing the bonus; and
Determine the mix of stock options, restricted shares and/or restricted stock units to be granted in the current year, the portion of such equity compensation that will be time-vested or performance-based, and the performance objectives.

At the end of each fiscal year, the Compensation Committee:

Certifies satisfaction of the performance objectives; and
Determines the annual bonuses, if any, for all executive officers for such fiscal year.

The Compensation Committee may meet from time to time during the year to assess the adequacy of the Company’s compensation for all executive officers.

The Role of Management The Compensation Committee discusses with, and takes into consideration, the recommendations of the CEO concerning the annual evaluation of the executive officers, except for matters related to his own evaluation and compensation. The CEO has a role in determining executive compensation because he evaluates employee performance, recommends performance goals and objectives, and recommends salary levels, bonuses and incentive awards of the executive officers, other than himself.

The Role of the Independent Consultant To gain a perspective on external pay levels, emerging practices and regulatory changes, our Compensation Committee from time to time engages outside executive compensation consultants that are independent under the SEC and NASDAQ Stock Market rules to provide benchmark and survey information and advise the Compensation Committee as it conducts its review of our executive compensation programs. The Compensation Committee retained CP in January 2020 and in September 2022. CP advised the Compensation Committee as to the

45 Diodes Incorporated


 

composition of our 2020 and 2022 Peer Groups and compared our 2020 and 2023 projected executive target compensation to the respective Peer Group. CP each was selected by and reported directly to the Compensation Committee. The individuals at CP who provided the compensation consulting services to the Compensation Committee have provided no other services to the Company or its subsidiaries.

The Compensation Committee’s reason for updating the benchmarking/survey information at least every three years as opposed to every year is that the Compensation Committee does not believe that the executive compensation benchmark or the comparable companies are likely to have significant changes over just a one or two year period.

In accordance with its charter, the Compensation Committee analyzed whether the work of CP as a compensation consultant has raised any conflict of interest, taking into consideration the following factors: (i) the provision of other services to the Company by CP; (ii) the amount of fees from the Company paid to CP as a percentage of the firm’s total revenue; (iii) CP’s policies and procedures that are designed to prevent conflicts of interest; (iv) any business or personal relationship of CP or the individual compensation advisors employed by the firm with an executive officer of the Company; (v) any business or personal relationship of the individual compensation advisors with any member of the Compensation Committee; and (vi) any stock of the Company owned by CP or the individual compensation advisors employed by the firm. The Compensation Committee has determined based on its analysis of the above factors, that the work of CP and the individual compensation advisors employed by CP as compensation consultants to the Company has not created a conflict of interest.

Selection of Peer Group The Compensation Committee reviews data concerning the pay practices among semiconductor companies of similar size to the Company. Below is the Company's current peer group (the “2023 Peer Group”):

Based on the review undertaken in 2022 by CP, the Company’s peer group effective for 2023 consists of the following companies (the “2022 Peer Group”):

Peer Group

Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Limited

Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.

Cirrus Logic, Inc.

Qorvo, Inc.

Coherent

Semtech Corporation

Infinera Corporation

Silicon Laboratories Inc.

Littelfuse, Inc.

Skyworks Solutions, Inc.

Marvell Technology Incorporated

Synaptics Incorporated

Maxlinear

Vishay Intertechnology, Inc.

Microchip Technology Incorporated

Wolfspeed, Inc.

MKS Instruments

 

(1) For the 2022 Peer Group, the median revenue as reported in the most recently available Annual Report filed on Form 10-K with the SEC was $2.7 billion. For the year-ended December 31, 2023, period the Company's revenue was $1.7 billion.

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ADDITIONAL BENEFITS AND PERQUISITES

Executive officers are entitled to reimbursement for all reasonable and documented business expenses and paid time off in accordance with the Company’s policies (which are also applicable to all employees). Certain executive officers are also provided additional executive benefits and perquisites. For fiscal 2022, the Company provided the following benefits and perquisites to the NEOs:

Benefit

Description

Automobile Allowance

$1,300 per month for Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

$1,000 per month for certain NEOs

$600 per month for the Senior Vice President of World Wide Sales

Health Insurance

Corporate group insurance

Dental Insurance

Corporate group insurance

Vision Insurance

Corporate group insurance

Employee Assistance Program

Corporate employee assistance program

Retirement Plans

401(k) Plan matching contributions of $1 for every $2 contributed by the participant up to 6% (3% maximum matching) of the participant’s eligible payroll (subject to regulations of the Internal Revenue Service)

Discretionary 401(k) contribution, the amount of which is to be determined each year. For 2023, no discretionary contributions were made.

Deferred Compensation Plan

Defer receipt of a portion of salary, cash bonus, equity or other specified compensation.

Discretionary contribution made by the Company. For 2022, no discretionary contributions were made.

Life Insurance

Corporate group life insurance in the amount of $700,000

Accidental Death and Dismemberment

Insured in the amount of $700,000

Business Travel Accident Insurance

$1,000,000 for accidental death and dismemberment

$500,000 for permanent total disability

$500 per week for up to 52 weeks of accident total disability

Short-Term Disability Insurance

After elimination period of seven days, 66-2/3% of weekly earnings are paid to a maximum of $3,750 per week.

Long-Term Disability Insurance

After elimination period of 180 days, 66-2/3% of basic monthly earnings to a maximum of $15,000 per month (and the duration of such benefit is based on such NEO’s age on the date of his or her disability).

Executive Health Reimbursement

Reimbursement of certain enhanced medical services intended to promote the executive's health and well-being up to the annual maximum reimbursement limits as follows:

$6,000 for CEO

$3,000 for Other Executive Officers

 

The additional benefits and perquisites provided to NEOs for fiscal 2023 accounted for a nominal amount of the NEOs’ total compensation. The Compensation Committee believes that these benefits and perquisites are consistent with the Compensation Committee’s philosophy to provide a competitive compensation package.

BEST PRACTICES

For a description of the Company’s anti-hedging, anti-pledging, anti-short selling, stock ownership, stock retention and clawback policies, see “Corporate Governance – Corporate Policies.”

47 Diodes Incorporated


 

COMPENSATION RISK ASSESSMENT

The Compensation Committee has conducted an annual compensation risk assessment and concluded that the Company’s compensation policies and practices do not encourage excessive or unnecessary risk-taking and are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. The Compensation Committee took into account the significant proportion of the annual compensation that is based on equity incentives that have long maturities and vesting periods, and the Company’s clawback, stock retention and stock ownership policies that align the NEO’s and other executive officers’ compensation with the interests of the Company’s stockholders.

POST-TERMINATION AND CHANGE- IN-CONTROL PAYMENTS

The Compensation Committee believes that a change-in-control transaction would create uncertainty regarding the continued employment of the Company’s executive officers. This is because many change-in-control transactions result in significant organizational changes, particularly at the senior executive level. In order to encourage the Company’s executive officers to remain employed with the Company during an important time when their continued employment in connection with, or following, a transaction is often uncertain, and to help keep the Company’s executive officers focused on Company business rather than on their personal financial security, the Compensation Committee believes that providing certain of the Company’s executive officers with severance benefits upon certain terminations of employment following an actual or potential change-in-control transaction is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.

On January 17, 2024, the Company and Dr. Lu entered into Amendment # 3 (the "Third Amendment") to Employment Agreement between the Company and Dr. Lu dated as of July 21, 2015, as amended February 22, 2017, as described below. The Third Amendment removed the role of "President" from Dr. Lu's title and reduced his annual salary to $740,000. In the event that Dr. Lu’s employment by the Company is terminated (a) by the Company for "cause" (as defined in Dr. Lu's employment agreement), or (b) by him other than for "good reason" (as defined in Dr. Lu's employment agreement), or (c) due to his death, neither the Company nor he shall have any remaining duties or obligations under the employment agreement, except that:

 

a)
the Company shall promptly pay or provide to Dr. Lu, or his estate, the annual base salary, prorated through the date of termination;
b)
the Company shall pay to Dr. Lu, or his estate, any amount payable under an executive bonus plan for the fiscal year in which such termination occurs, prorated to the date of the termination;
c)
all stock-based compensation previously granted to Dr. Lu shall continue to be governed by the applicable award agreement; and
d)
Dr. Lu shall continue to be bound by the restrictions on the use of trade secrets, “competitive activities” (as defined in Dr. Lu's employment agreement) and solicitation of employees and independent contractors.

In the event that Dr. Lu’s employment by the Company is terminated by (a) the Company other than for "cause" including a termination by the Company due to Dr. Lu’s “Disability” (as defined in Dr. Lu's employment agreement), or (b) Dr. Lu for "good reason", neither the Company nor Dr. Lu shall have any remaining duties or obligations under the agreement, except that:

 

1)
clauses (a) through (d) in the preceding paragraph shall each be applicable;
2)
the Company shall continue to pay or provide to Dr. Lu, or his estate, the annual base salary during the period commencing on the 60th day after the effective date of such termination and ending on the first anniversary of such effective date such that an aggregate total of 12 months of base salary are provided;
3)
the Company shall provide to Dr. Lu continued participation in any group health plan or medical reimbursement plan on the terms existing on the date of termination for the period commencing on the effective date of such termination and ending on the earlier of 18 months thereafter or the date that the Company is otherwise unable to continue to cover him under its group health plans without penalty under applicable law; and
4)
The term of Dr. Lu’s employment agreement commenced on July 21, 2015 and shall end on May 31, 2027, unless sooner terminated as provided in the agreement or due to death. Employment is “at will” and may be terminated

48 Diodes Incorporated


 

by either the Company or Dr. Lu at any time. See Exhibits 99.1 to the Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 27, 2015, February 27, 2017, June 1, 2022 and January 22, 2024, for a complete copy of the employment agreement and the amendments thereto between the Company and Dr. Lu. See, "CEO Employment Agreement" below, for a summary of Dr. Lu's employment agreement .

TAX AND ACCOUNTING CONSIDERATIONS

Deductibility of Compensation Under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), prior to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “Tax Act”), a public company generally will not be entitled to a deduction for non-performance-based compensation paid to an executive officer to the extent such compensation exceeds $1.0 million. Special rules apply for “performance-based” compensation, including the approval of the performance goals by the stockholders of the Company. The stockholders of the Company have approved each of the Company's incentive plans for the purpose of qualifying those plans under Code Section 162(m). To qualify for deductibility under Code Section 162(m), the performance goals must be established no later than 90 days from the beginning of the performance period.

While the Compensation Committee has in the past generally intended that all compensation be deductible, there will be instances where potentially non-deductible compensation is provided to reward our NEOs consistent with our compensation philosophy for each compensation element. Moreover, the Tax Act substantially revised Code Section 162(m). As a result of the Tax Act revisions, effective as of 2018, (1) the commission and performance-based exceptions have been removed (effectively eliminating the tax deduction for annual compensation which is in excess of $1 million), and (2) the group of executives covered by Code Section 162(m) includes the chief executive officer, the chief financial officer, the three other most highly compensated executive officers, and anyone who was previously a covered executive officer with the Company. While the Tax Act provides some limited transitional relief for certain performance-based compensation awards that may be grandfathered from the elimination of the performance-based compensation exception, this relief is limited and may not be applicable. Therefore, despite the Compensation Committee’s past efforts to structure executive team incentive awards in a manner intended to be exempt from Code Section 162(m) and therefore not subject to its deduction limits, no assurance can be given that compensation which is in excess of the annual $1 million compensation limit will in fact be deductible. Further, the Compensation Committee reserves the right to modify compensation that was initially intended to be exempt from Code Section 162(m) if it determines that such modifications are consistent with the Company’s business needs.

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation For a discussion of the Company's nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements, see “Executive Compensation – Nonqualified Deferred Compensation.”

Accounting for Share-Based Compensation The Company uses the Black-Scholes-Merton option-pricing model to determine the fair value of stock options on the date of grant. The amount recognized for financial statement reporting purposes for restricted stock and performance stock grants is calculated by multiplying the number of shares subject to the grant by the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on the grant date.

Limited Change-in-Control Benefits We provide limited change-in-control severance benefits to Company’s executive officers and do not provide any related tax gross-ups. See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Additional Benefits and Perquisites.”

 

49 Diodes Incorporated


 

REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The Report of the Compensation Committee of the Board does not constitute soliciting material and shall not be deemed incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this Proxy Statement into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates this information by reference and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under such Acts.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

The Compensation Committee of the Board has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis with the Company’s management, and based on such review and discussions, the Compensation Committee unanimously recommended to the Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

The Compensation Committee

 

 

 

Angie Chen Button, Chair

 

Warren Chen

 

Christina Wen-Chi Sung

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

50 Diodes Incorporated


 

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The table below summarizes the compensation for each of the last three fiscal years of (1) each person who served as the Company’s principal executive officer ("PEO") or the Company’s principal financial officer during 2023, (2) the Company’s three other most highly compensated executive officers who were serving as executive officers at the end of 2023 (excluding the amount in column (h)), and (3) up to two additional individuals for whom disclosure would have been required under clause (2) but for the fact that the individual was not serving as an executive officer at the end of fiscal 2023 (collectively, “NEOs”).

SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

Name and
Principal Position
(a)

 

Year
(b)

 

Salary
($)
(1)
(c)

 

 

Bonus
($)
(2)
(d)

 

 

Stock
Awards
($)
(3)
(e)

 

 

Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)
(2)
(g)

 

 

Change in
Pension Value
and
Non-qualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($)
(h)

 

 

All Other
Compensation
($)
(4)
(i)

 

 

Total
($)
(5) 
(j)

 

Dr. Keh-Shew Lu

 

2023

 

 

805,753

 

 

 

 

 

 

8,365,620

 

 

 

211,905

 

 

 

341

 

 

 

100,538

 

 

 

9,483,816

 

Chairman and

 

2022

 

 

757,303

 

 

 

204,615

 

 

 

6,250,510

 

 

 

1,714,886

 

 

 

99

 

 

 

118,332

 

 

 

9,045,646

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

2021

 

 

728,250

 

 

 

168,058

 

 

 

5,468,930

 

 

 

1,675,630

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

96,461

 

 

 

8,137,329

 

Brett R. Whitmire

 

2023

 

 

328,301

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,680,300

 

 

 

48,370

 

 

 

17,508

 

 

 

52,622

 

 

 

2,109,594

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

2022

 

 

308,641

 

 

 

83,461

 

 

 

1,396,728

 

 

 

391,716

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

50,721

 

 

 

2,231,267

 

 

 

2021

 

 

293,030

 

 

 

67,846

 

 

 

1,209,464

 

 

 

378,820

 

 

 

 

 

 

49,598

 

 

 

1,998,759

 

Gary Yu

 

2023

 

 

441,507

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,427,100

 

 

 

65,959

 

 

 

152,810

 

 

 

15,905

 

 

 

2,950,471

 

President

 

2022

 

 

348,301

 

 

 

94,231

 

 

 

1,562,130

 

 

 

442,260

 

 

 

(111,741

)

 

 

12,082

 

 

 

2,459,005

 

 

 

2021

 

 

316,066

 

 

 

76,154

 

 

 

1,352,690

 

 

 

425,206

 

 

 

114,450

 

 

 

15,076

 

 

 

2,185,193

 

Francis Tang

 

2023

 

 

409,151

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,680,300

 

 

 

48,370

 

 

 

130,169

 

 

 

30,699

 

 

 

2,168,520

 

Senior Vice President,

 

2022

 

 

399,193

 

 

 

107,692

 

 

 

1,396,728

 

 

 

505,440

 

 

 

(135,914

)

 

 

30,176

 

 

 

2,439,229

 

World Wide Discrete Products

 

2021

 

 

390,500

 

 

 

90,115

 

 

 

1,209,464

 

 

 

378,820

 

 

 

97,892

 

 

 

27,729

 

 

 

2,096,628

 

Julie Holland (6)

 

2023

 

 

562,123

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,224

 

 

 

33,037

 

 

 

595,160

 

Former Senior Vice President

 

2022

 

 

399,193

 

 

 

107,692

 

 

 

1,690,776

 

 

 

505,440

 

 

 

(1,456

)

 

 

32,111

 

 

 

2,735,212

 

Corporate Operations

 

2021

 

 

390,500

 

 

 

90,115

 

 

 

1,464,088

 

 

 

503,161

 

 

 

955

 

 

 

30,517

 

 

 

2,478,381

 

(1) Each executive officer’s salary is established in February of each year. Amounts shown represent the amounts earned in each fiscal year. Effective February 1, 2024, the base salaries for Dr. Lu and Messrs. Whitmire, Yu and Tang were $740,000, $330,000, 630,000 and 410,000, respectively.

(2) The amount shown is the actual cash bonus paid for 2023. This amount consists of any performance-based bonus and any discretionary bonus. Under the executive bonus formula that established the target bonus for each executive officer (i) 80% of the bonus was tied to the financial metrics of the Company and (ii) 20% of the bonus was tied to individual goals for each NEO. See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Principal Components of Compensation – Annual (Bonus) Incentive Plan.”

(3) These amounts reflect the value determined by the Company for accounting purposes for these awards and do not reflect whether each NEO has actually realized a financial benefit from the awards. The value of the equity awards in columns (e) and (f) is based on the grant date fair value calculated in accordance with the amount recognized for financial statement reporting purposes. Pursuant to SEC rules, the amounts shown exclude the impact of estimated forfeitures related to service-based vesting conditions. Amounts reported in the Stock Awards column (e) above (in the form of RSUs and PSUs) are calculated by multiplying the number of shares subject to the award by the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on the grant date. See Note 14, Share-Based Compensation, to the Company’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 9, 2024, for a further discussion of the relevant valuation assumptions used in calculating grant date fair value. All restricted stock and option awards vest in four equal annual installments after the date of grant. Performance-based equity awards vest according to actual performance compared to pre-established, three‐year absolute financial performance targets.

(4) Certain of the Company’s executive officers receive personal benefits in addition to salary, cash bonuses and share-based compensation, consisting of automobile allowance, medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, employee assistance program, taxable per diem, contributions under the Company’s retirement plans, deferred compensation plan, life insurance payable at the direction of the employee, accidental death and dismemberment insurance (“AD&D”), business travel accident insurance, and short-term and long-term disability insurance. The amount shown in column (i) for “All Other Compensation” includes benefits summarized in the following table for each``.

(5) The total does not include change in deferred compensation plan benefit value, if any.

(6) Ms. Holland retired as an executive officer effective March 31, 2023.

51 Diodes Incorporated


 

The table below sets forth the detail of “All Other Compensation” for each NEO:

Name

 

Year

 

Auto
Allowance
($)

 

 

Health
Insurance
($)
(1)

 

 

Retirement
Plans
($)

 

 

Life and Disability
Insurance
($)
(2)

 

 

Per Diem
($)
(3)

 

 

Total
($)

 

Dr. Keh-Shew Lu

 

2023

 

 

15,600

 

 

 

17,031

 

 

 

9,900

 

 

 

3,106

 

 

 

54,901

 

 

 

100,538

 

 

 

2022

 

 

15,600

 

 

 

17,043

 

 

 

9,150

 

 

 

2,918

 

 

 

73,621

 

 

 

118,332

 

 

 

2021

 

 

15,600

 

 

 

16,055

 

 

 

8,700

 

 

 

2,762

 

 

 

53,344

 

 

 

96,461

 

Brett R. Whitmire

 

2023

 

 

12,000

 

 

 

27,616

 

 

 

9,900

 

 

 

3,106

 

 

 

 

 

 

52,622

 

 

 

2022

 

 

12,000

 

 

 

26,654

 

 

 

9,150

 

 

 

2,918

 

 

 

 

 

 

50,721

 

 

 

2021

 

 

12,000

 

 

 

26,148

 

 

 

8,700

 

 

 

2,751

 

 

 

 

 

 

49,598

 

Gary Yu

 

2023

 

 

 

 

 

2,898

 

 

 

9,900

 

 

 

3,106

 

 

 

 

 

 

15,905

 

 

 

2022

 

 

 

 

 

15

 

 

 

9,150

 

 

 

2,918

 

 

 

 

 

 

12,082

 

 

 

2021

 

 

3,600

 

 

 

15

 

 

 

8,700

 

 

 

2,762

 

 

 

 

 

 

15,076

 

Francis Tang

 

2023

 

 

 

 

 

17,693

 

 

 

9,900

 

 

 

3,106

 

 

 

 

 

 

30,699

 

 

 

2022

 

 

 

 

 

18,109

 

 

 

9,150

 

 

 

2,918

 

 

 

 

 

 

30,176

 

 

 

2021

 

 

 

 

 

16,267

 

 

 

8,700

 

 

 

2,762

 

 

 

 

 

 

27,729

 

Julie Holland (4)

 

2023

 

 

 

 

 

20,031

 

 

 

9,900

 

 

 

3,106

 

 

 

 

 

 

33,037

 

 

 

2022

 

 

 

 

 

20,043

 

 

 

9,150

 

 

 

2,918

 

 

 

 

 

 

32,111

 

 

 

2021

 

 

 

 

 

19,055

 

 

 

8,700

 

 

 

2,762

 

 

 

 

 

 

30,517

 

(1) Consists of medical, dental, and vision insurance, as well as employee assistance program.

(2) Consists of life, AD&D, business travel accident, and short-term and long-term disability insurance.

(3) Taxable per diem amounts consist of amounts paid to Dr. Lu for reimbursements while staying at his personal residence while traveling on Company business.

(4) Ms. Holland retired as an executive officer effective March 31, 2023.

52 Diodes Incorporated


 

GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to grants of awards to the NEOs under the Company’s non-equity incentive plan and the 2022 Plan during 2023:

 

 

 

 

Estimated Future Payouts Under
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards

 

 

Estimated Future Payouts
Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grant Date
(b)

 

Threshold
($)
(c)

 

 

Target
($)
(1)
(d)

 

 

Maximum
($)
(e)

 

 

Threshold
(#)
(f)

 

 

Target
(#)
(g)

 

 

Maximum
(#)
(h)

 

 

All Other Stock Awards: Number of Shares of Stock or Units (#)
(i)

 

 

Grant Date Fair Value
of Stock and Option Awards
($)
(2) 
(l)

 

Dr. Keh-Shew Lu

 

2/1/2023

 

 

475,000

 

 

 

950,000

 

 

 

1,900,000

 

 

 

21,000

 

 

 

42,000

 

 

 

84,000

 

 

 

42,000

 

 

 

7,841,400

 

 

 

5/24/2023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,000

 

 

 

524,220

 

Brett R. Whitmire

 

2/1/2023

 

 

115,500

 

 

 

231,000

 

 

 

462,000

 

 

 

4,500

 

 

 

9,000

 

 

 

18,000

 

 

 

9,000

 

 

 

1,680,300

 

Gary Yu

 

2/1/2023

 

 

157,500

 

 

 

315,000

 

 

 

630,000

 

 

 

6,500

 

 

 

13,000

 

 

 

26,000

 

 

 

13,000

 

 

 

2,427,100

 

Francis Tang

 

2/1/2023

 

 

115,500

 

 

 

231,000

 

 

 

462,000

 

 

 

4,500

 

 

 

9,000

 

 

 

18,000

 

 

 

9,000

 

 

 

1,680,300

 

Julie Holland (3)

 

2/1/2023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1) The amount shown is the actual cash bonus paid for 2023. This amount consists of any performance-based bonus and any discretionary bonus. Under the executive bonus formula that established the target bonus for each executive officer (i) 80% of the bonus was tied to the financial metrics of the Company and (ii) 20% of the bonus was tied to individual goals for each NEO. See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Principal Components of Compensation – Annual (Bonus) Incentive Plan.”

(2) These amounts reflect the value determined by the Company for accounting purposes for these awards and do not reflect whether each NEO has actually realized a financial benefit from the awards. Pursuant to SEC rules, the amounts shown exclude the impact of estimated forfeitures related to service-based vesting conditions. Grant date fair value reported for stock awards in the form of RSUs and PSUs is calculated by multiplying the number of shares subject to the award by the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on the grant date. See Note 14, Share-Based Compensation, to the Company’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 9, 2024, for a further discussion of the relevant valuation assumptions used in calculating grant date fair value. All equity awards vest in four equal annual installments. In addition to time requirements, in order for performance-based equity awards to vest, certain performance criteria must be met.

(3) Ms. Holland retired as an executive officer effective March 31, 2023.

CEO Pay Ratio

At the end of 2023 the Company had approximately 8,635 employees worldwide, located mainly in Asia. The annual total compensation for our median employee for 2023 was $27,843 and $9,483,816 for our CEO. The resulting ratio of our CEO’s pay to the pay of our median employee for 2023 was 341 to 1. The annual total compensation for our median US employee for 2023 was $124,474 and the resulting ratio of our CEO’s pay to the pay of our median US employee for 2023 was 76 to 1.

We identified the median employee by examining the 2023 compensation data for all individuals, excluding our CEO, who were employed by us as of December 31, 2023. We included all employees, whether employed on a full-time, part-time or seasonal basis. We did not make any cost-of-living adjustments in identifying the median employee. We also did not make any assumptions or adjustments with respect to total cash compensation. We calculated the median employee’s annual total compensation using the same methodology we use for our NEOs as set forth in the 2023 Summary Compensation Table in this Proxy Statement.

53 Diodes Incorporated


 

NARRATIVE TO SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE AND GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS TABLE

CEO Employment Agreement

2024 Amendment. On January 17, 2024, the Company and Dr. Lu entered into Amendment # 3 (the "Third Amendment") to Employment Agreement between the Company and Dr. Lu dated as of July 21, 2015, as amended February 22, 2017, as described below. The Third Amendment removed the role of "President" from Dr. Lu's title and reduced his annual salary to $740,000. See Exhibit 99.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 22, 2024.

2022 Amendment. On May 31, 2022, the Company and Dr. Lu entered into Amendment No. 2 (the "Second Amendment") to the Employment Agreement between the Company and Dr. Lu dated as of July 21, 2015, as amended February 22, 2017, as described below. The Second Amendment (i) extended the term of employment to May 31, 2027, unless sooner terminated as provided in the agreement or due to death, (ii) specified that Dr. Lu shall receive a minimum annual salary of $760,000 (subject to increase in the discretion of the Company's Board of Directors), and (iii) replaced references to the Company's 2013 Equity Incentive Plan with references to the Company's 2022 Equity Incentive Plan. See Exhibit 99.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 1, 2022.

2017 Amendment. On February 22, 2017, the Company and Dr. Lu entered into Amendment No. 1 (the “Amendment”) to the Employment Agreement between the Company and Dr. Lu dated as of July 21, 2015, as described below. The Amendment provided for the replacement of the 2015 Awards covering 700,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock granted to Dr. Lu on July 21, 2015 with the Modified Awards covering 62,905 shares, all pursuant to the Company’s 2013 Plan. The Modified Awards had more stringent vesting and performance criteria than the 2015 Awards they replaced. The Modified Awards replaced the 2015 Awards and, therefore, were to be Dr. Lu’s annual equity incentive award granted for 2015. See Exhibit 99.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 27, 2017.

The terms of performance-based awards state that within ninety days after the end of the performance period, the Compensation Committee shall determine the degree to which Target Performance has been achieved (such date of determination is the “Determination Date”) and that will also be the date of vesting for the target number of PSUs (the “Target Award”). These shares were released during February 2020.

The terms of performance-based awards state that the Target Award will vest if the Target Performance is achieved. 50% of the Target Award will vest upon achievement of 80% of the Target Performance, and 200% of the Target Award will vest upon achievement of 120% of the Target Performance. Upon achievement of between 80% and 100%, and between 100% and 120%, of Target Performance, the percentage of the Target Award that vests will be decreased or increased on a pro rata basis, with no vesting or payout upon achievement of below 80% of Target Performance and with vesting and payout limited to 200% of the Target Award if the Target Performance exceeds 120%. If either a Qualifying Termination or a Change in Control, as defined, occurs before the end of the three-year performance period, then the Target Performance and Target Award shall each be pro-rated based on the number of days within the performance period that have elapsed as of the end of the calendar month before the Qualifying Termination or Change in Control.

Upon termination at any time before the earlier of a Qualifying Termination or Change in Control or the Determination Date, all then unvested PSUs shall be forfeited.

The Company satisfied the performance criteria, at the 200% level, and the 125,810 shares were released in February 2020.

2015 Employment Agreement. The following is a summary of Dr. Lu’s employment agreement entered into on July 21, 2015, that was amended as described above on February 22, 2017. Prior to the 2017 Amendment, the employment agreement provided that Dr. Lu would be entitled to (i) receive an annual base salary of $623,000 (changed to $660,750 by the Amendment) (subject to increase in the discretion of the Company's Board of Directors), (ii) receive grants of the 2015 Awards, covering 700,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock (replaced with the Modified Awards covering 62,905 shares), (iii) participate in any executive bonus plan of the Company and maintain continued eligibility for additional equity compensation grants, (iv) receive reimbursement for all reasonable and documented business expenses, (v) receive paid vacation in accordance with the Company's vacation policy for employees, (vi) participate in all plans and programs sponsored by the Company for employees in general, (vii) receive a life insurance policy with a death benefit in

54 Diodes Incorporated


 

the amount in effect on the date of the employment agreement ($700,000), and (viii) receive a disability insurance policy in the maximum insurable amount.

The term of Dr. Lu’s employment agreement commenced on July 21, 2015 and was scheduled to end on May 31, 2022, unless sooner terminated as provided in the agreement or due to death. Employment is “at will” and may be terminated by either the Company or Dr. Lu at any time. See Exhibits 99.1 to the Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 27, 2015, February 27, 2017, June 1, 2022 and January 22,2024, for a complete copy of the employment agreement and the Amendments thereto between the Company and Dr. Lu.

Executive Bonus Plan

For a description of the Company’s executive bonus plan, including the amount granted to NEOs in 2021, 2022, and 2023, and the method for determining the executive bonuses, see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Principal Components of Compensation – Annual (Bonus) Incentive Plan.”

2022 Equity Incentive Plan

At the 2022 annual meeting of stockholders, the Company stockholders approved the Diodes Incorporated 2022 Equity Incentive Plan (“2022 Plan”) pursuant to which stock-based incentive awards can be granted to our employees (including our named executive officers), consultants and directors (collectively, “Selected Participants”). Up to a maximum aggregate of 7,000,000 shares of our common stock may be issued under the 2022 Plan. However, a share that is issued pursuant to an award other than a stock option or stock appreciation right shall count as two (2) shares against this limit. If not terminated earlier by the Board, the 2022 Plan will terminate on March 10, 2032. As a result of the approval of the 2022 Plan, no further awards can be issued under the 2013 Plan. Awards are subject to recoupment of compensation policies adopted by the Company.

The purpose of the 2022 Plan is to promote our long-term success and the creation of stockholder value by:

Attracting and retaining the services of key employees who would be eligible to receive grants as Selected Participants;
Motivating Selected Participants through equity-based compensation that is based upon the performance of our Common Stock; and
Further aligning Selected Participants’ interests with stockholders, through the award of equity compensation grants which increases their proprietary interest in the Company, to achieve long-term growth over short-term performance.

The 2022 Plan permits the grant of the following types of equity-based incentive awards:

stock options (which can be either incentive or nonstatutory);
stock appreciation rights;
restricted stock;
restricted stock units; and
other equity awards.

Stock options and stock appreciation rights may not be granted at a per share exercise price below the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the date of grant. The maximum exercisable term of stock options and stock appreciation rights may not exceed eight years. Stock options and stock appreciation rights may not be repriced or exchanged without stockholder approval. Shares (after applicable tax withholding) acquired from the exercise of stock options must be held for at least one year after exercise or until an earlier termination of service.

The vesting of awards can be based on continuous service and/or performance goals. Discretionary acceleration of vesting of awards is not permitted except in the case of a participant’s death or disability. If a Change in Control or similar transaction occurs then (i) if there is no assumption, substitution or continuation of outstanding awards, then all awards shall vest (with performance-based awards vesting and being paid out at their target levels) and (ii) if a participant’s service is terminated without Cause by the Company (or its acquirer) within two years after a Change in Control or similar

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transaction, then all of such participant’s awards shall vest (with performance-based awards vesting and being paid out at their target levels).

The 2022 Plan is generally administered by a committee comprised solely of independent members of the Board. This committee will be the Compensation Committee unless otherwise designated by the Board (the “2022 Plan Committee”). The Board or the 2022 Plan Committee may designate a separate committee to make awards to employees who are not officers subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The 2022 Plan Committee has the discretion, among other things, to determine (i) which service providers shall receive any awards, and (ii) the terms and conditions of such awards.

The 2022 Plan provides that any non-employee director cannot receive awards in any fiscal year that in the aggregate exceeds 100,000 shares for the Chairperson, 80,000 shares for the Vice Chairperson, and 10,000 for other non-employee directors. Provided that the Board affirmatively acts to implement such a process, the 2022 Plan also provides that non-employee directors may elect to receive stock grants or stock units (which would be issued under the 2022 Plan) in lieu of fees that would otherwise be paid in cash.

401(k) Plan and Other Retirement Plans

The Company maintains a 401(k) Plan for the benefit of qualified employees at our U.S. locations. Employees who participate in the 401(k) Plan may elect to make salary deferral contributions to the 401(k) Plan up to 100% of the employees’ eligible payroll subject to annual Internal Revenue Code maximum. We currently make a discretionary matching contribution of $1 for every $2 contributed by the participant up to 6% (3% maximum matching) of the participant’s eligible payroll, which vests over an initial four years. In addition, we may make a discretionary contribution to the entire qualified employee pool, in accordance with the 401(k) Plan. As stipulated by the regulations of the People’s Republic of China, we maintain a retirement plan pursuant to the local municipal government for the employees in China. We are required to make contributions to the retirement plan at a rate between 10% and 22% of the employee’s eligible payroll. Pursuant to the Taiwan Labor Standard Law and Factory Law, we maintain a retirement plan for the employees in Taiwan, whereby we make contributions at a rate of 6% of the employee’s eligible payroll.

 

 

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OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END

The following table sets forth certain information regarding equity-based awards held by NEOs as of December 31, 2023:

Stock Awards

Name
(a)

 

 

Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested
(#)
(1)
(g)

 

 

Grant Date

Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested
($)
(h)

 

 

Equity Incentive Plan Awards:
Number of Unearned Shares, Units of Other Rights That Have Not Vested
(#)
(1) 
(i)

 

 

Equity Incentive Plan Awards:
Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units, of Other Rights That Have Not Vested
($)
(j)

 

 

Grant Date

Dr. Keh-Shew Lu

 

 

 

13,275

 

 

2/19/2020

 

1,068,903

 

 

 

32,000

 

 

 

5,153,280

 

 

2/8/2021

 

 

 

 

1,688

 

 

5/18/2020

 

135,918

 

 

 

32,000

 

 

 

5,153,280

 

 

2/1/2022

 

 

 

 

16,000

 

 

2/8/2021

 

1,288,320

 

 

 

42,000

 

 

 

6,763,680

 

 

02/01/2023

 

 

 

 

2,500

 

 

5/24/2021

 

201,300

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

24,000

 

 

2/1/2022

 

1,932,480

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,750

 

 

05/26/2022

 

301,950

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

42,000

 

 

2/1/2023

 

3,381,840

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,000

 

 

5/24/2023

 

483,120

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brett R. Whitmire

 

 

 

2,700

 

 

2/19/2020

 

217,404

 

 

 

7,600

 

 

 

1,223,904

 

 

2/8/2021

 

 

 

 

3,800

 

 

2/8/2021

 

305,976

 

 

 

6,080

 

 

 

979,123

 

 

02/01/2022

 

 

 

 

4,560

 

 

02/01/2022

 

367,171

 

 

 

1,520

 

 

 

244,781

 

 

02/01/2022

 

 

 

 

1,140

 

 

02/01/2022

 

91,793

 

 

 

7,200

 

 

 

579,744

 

 

02/01/2023

 

 

 

 

7,200

 

 

02/01/2023

 

579,744

 

 

 

1,800

 

 

 

289,872

 

 

02/01/2023

 

 

 

 

1,800

 

 

02/01/2023

 

144,936

 

 

 

 

 

 

12/31/1899

Gary Yu

 

 

 

2,000

 

 

07/01/2020

 

161,040

 

 

 

8,500

 

 

 

1,368,840

 

 

07/01/2020

 

 

 

 

4,250

 

 

02/08/2021

 

342,210

 

 

 

3,400

 

 

 

547,536

 

 

02/01/2022

 

 

 

 

2,550

 

 

02/01/2022

 

205,326

 

 

 

5,100

 

 

 

821,304

 

 

12/31/1899

 

 

 

 

3,825

 

 

02/01/2022

 

307,989

 

 

 

6,500

 

 

 

1,046,760

 

 

12/31/1899

 

 

 

 

6,500

 

 

02/01/2023

 

523,380

 

 

 

6,500

 

 

 

1,046,760

 

 

12/31/1899

 

 

 

 

6,500

 

 

02/01/2023

 

523,380

 

 

 

 

 

 

12/31/1899

Francis Tang

 

 

 

3,825

 

 

02/19/2020

 

307,989

 

 

 

7,600

 

 

 

1,223,904

 

 

2/8/2021

 

 

 

 

3,800

 

 

02/8/2021

 

305,976

 

 

 

7,600

 

 

 

611,952

 

 

2/1/2022

 

 

 

 

5,700

 

 

02/01/2022

 

458,964

 

 

 

9,000

 

 

 

724,680

 

 

2/1/2023

 

 

 

 

9,000

 

 

2/1/2023

 

724,680

 

 

 

 

 

 

12/31/1899

Julie Holland (2)

 

 

 

3,825

 

 

02/19/2020

 

307,989

 

 

 

6,133

 

 

 

987,658

 

 

02/8/2021

 

 

 

 

4,600

 

 

02/8/2021

 

370,392

 

 

 

3,067

 

 

 

493,910

 

 

02/01/2022

 

 

 

 

6,900

 

 

02/01/2022

 

555,588

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1) Equity awards vest in four equal annual installments on the first four anniversary dates of the date of grant. Performance-based awards can pay out between 0% and 200% of target, based on actual performance compared to pre-established, three-year financial performance targets. The amount reflected in column J is based on an achievement level of 200%, based on the most recent performance-based award achievement. The price per share to calculate the above value of equity awards was $80.52 which was the closing price per share on December 29, 2023. There are no outstanding stock options.

(2) Ms. Holland retired as an executive officer effective March 31, 2023.

 

OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED

The following table sets forth certain information regarding vesting of RSU or PSUs held by NEOs during the year ended December 31, 2023 (no stock options were exercised during the period):

 

 

 

Stock Awards

 

Name

 

 

Number of Shares
Acquired on
Vesting
(#)

 

 

Value Realized
on Vesting
($)
(1)

 

Dr. Keh-Shew Lu

 

 

 

154,413

 

 

 

14,308,817

 

Brett R. Whitmire

 

 

 

31,100

 

 

 

2,879,771

 

Gary Yu

 

 

 

7,250

 

 

 

672,823

 

Francis Tang

 

 

 

42,475

 

 

 

3,933,360

 

Julie Holland (2)

 

 

 

43,275

 

 

 

4,007,288

 

 

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(1) Value realized on vesting is calculated by (i) multiplying the number of shares acquired upon vesting by (ii) the closing share price of the Common Stock of the Company on the vesting date and does not necessarily reflect the actual value realized. The actual value ultimately realized depends upon the number of shares actually sold by each NEO, if any, and the value received upon such sales.

(2) Ms. Holland retired as an executive officer effective March 31, 2023.

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

The following table sets forth information with respect to shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the Company’s equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2023:

Plan Category

 

Number of
Securities to be
Issued Upon
Exercise of
Outstanding
 Options, Warrants
 and Rights
(a)

 

 

 

Weighted-Average
Exercise Price of
Outstanding
Options, Warrants
and Rights
(b)

 

 

 

Number of Securities
Remaining Available for
Future Issuance Under
Equity Compensation Plans
(Excluding Securities
Reflected in Column (a))
(c)

 

 

Equity Compensation Plans
   Approved by Security Holders

 

 

1,219,257

 

(1)

 

 

 

(2)

 

 

5,055,860

 

(3)

Equity Compensation Plans
   Not Approved by Security Holders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

1,219,257

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,055,860

 

 

(1) Shares issuable pursuant to outstanding awards under the 2013 Plan and 2022 Plan as of December 31, 2023.

(2) The Company has no stock options outstanding.

(3) Represents shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to future awards under the 2022 Plan.

NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION

The Company maintains a nonqualified deferred compensation plan, which permits the Board and eligible employees, including the NEOs, to voluntarily elect to defer up to 75% of base salary, and up to 100% of cash bonuses and stock awards until designated future dates, provided that their total deferrals do not reduce their total compensation below the amount necessary to satisfy obligations such as employment taxes and benefit plan payments. Amounts deferred are credited with earnings or losses based on the participant’s investment allocation among investment options, which may include stocks, bonds and mutual fund shares. Withdrawals can be made pursuant to Internal Revenue Service regulations for retirement and distributions. While still employed, distributions are paid in accordance with the participants’ elections with regard to the timing and form of distributions. Upon termination of an executive, a 100% distribution of their account is made after six months has lapsed from their separation from service. The Company may, from time to time, make discretionary contributions to participants’ accounts. No discretionary contributions were made in 2023, 2022 or 2021. The Company offsets its obligations under the nonqualified deferred compensation plan by investing in the actual underlying investments. These investments are classified as trading securities and are carried at fair value. At December 31, 2023, these investments totaled approximately $14.6 million. Gains and losses in these investments are materially offset by corresponding gains and losses in the deferred compensation plan liabilities.

The following table sets forth certain information related to the nonqualified deferred compensation plan for the NEOs:

Name
(a)

 

Executive
Contributions in
Last Fiscal Year
($)
(1)
(b)

 

 

Registrant
Contributions in
Last Fiscal Year
($)
(c)

 

Aggregate Earnings
in Last Fiscal Year
($)
(2)
(d)

 

 

Aggregate
Withdrawals/
Distributions
($)
(e)

 

Aggregate Balance
at Last Fiscal
Year End
($)
(f)

 

Dr. Keh-Shew Lu

 

 

 

 

 

341

 

 

 

 

7,279

 

Brett R. Whitmire

 

 

46,423

 

 

 

 

17,508

 

 

 

 

95,235

 

Gary Yu

 

 

274,720

 

 

 

 

152,810

 

 

 

 

1,047,413

 

Francis Tang

 

 

 

 

 

130,169

 

 

 

 

779,706

 

Julie Holland (3)

 

 

 

 

 

1,224

 

 

 

 

7,735

 

 

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(1) Contributions are reported as compensation in the last completed fiscal year in either the “Salary” or the “Bonus” column in the Summary Compensation Table depending on the source of the deferral.

(2) The amounts reported in this column are reported as compensation for 2023 in the Summary Compensation Table.

(3) Ms. Holland retired as an executive officer effective March 31, 2023.

POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION OR CHANGE IN CONTROL

The following discussion sets forth potential payments payable to the NEOs upon termination of their employment or a change in control of the Company. For purposes of this section, certain relevant provisions and terms that are generally applicable and which therefore cover the NEOs are described below:

Dr. Keh-Shew Lu – Employment Agreement and Equity Award Agreements

Payments Upon Termination by the Company Other Than for “Cause” or by Employee for “Good Reason”

Payments upon termination by the Company other than for “cause” (as defined in Dr. Lu’s employment agreement) which includes termination due to Disability (as defined in Dr. Lu’s employment agreement) or by Dr. Lu for “good reason” (as defined in Dr. Lu’s employment agreement) are governed by his current employment agreement entered into with the Company on July 21, 2015, as amended. Dr. Lu’s relationship with the Company is “at will” and may be terminated at the option of either party, for any or no reason whatsoever, with or without cause.

“Cause” means: the willful and continued refusal of employee to substantially perform his duties in accordance with his employment agreement (other than any such failure resulting from incapacity due to physical or mental illness), insubordination, or material violation of the Company’s policies, in each case after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to employee by the Board which specifically identifies the manner in which the Board believes that employee has not substantially performed such duties, the acts constituting such insubordination, or such violations of the Company’s policies, as the case may be, and employee shall have had a reasonable opportunity to remedy the same; or
the conviction of, or a plea of nolo contendere by, employee to a felony; or
a charge or indictment of a felony, the defense of which renders employee substantially unable to perform his duties under his employment agreement. In order to terminate employee’s employment for Cause, the Company must provide employee with a copy of a resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than a majority of all members of the Board at a meeting of the Board (after reasonable notice is provided to employee and employee is given an opportunity, together with counsel, to be heard before the Board), finding that employee is guilty of a Cause act.

“Good Reason” means:

a material diminution in employee’s base salary;
a material diminution in employee’s authority, duties or responsibilities as contemplated in his employment agreement;
a material change in the geographic location at which employee must perform services; or
any other action or inaction that constitutes a material breach by the Company of the employment agreement. Good Reason shall not exist unless employee has notified the Company within thirty (30) days of the initial existence of the actions or failures to act giving rise to Good Reason, and such actions or failures have not been cured or remedied by the Company within thirty (30) days of the receipt of such notice. Thereafter, employee must then timely consummate his resignation for Good Reason.

“Disability” generally means: (other than for equity awards which consist of tax code section 422 incentive stock options or tax code section 409A nonqualified deferred compensation) a medically determinable physical or mental incapacitation such that for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, employee is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity or which can be expected to result in death. The definition of Disability with respect to incentive stock options and nonqualified deferred compensation is provided by their respective tax code definitions.

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In the event Dr. Lu’s employment is terminated by (a) the Company other than for “cause” (as defined), or (b) Dr. Lu for “good reason” (as defined), (i) the Company shall continue to pay or provide to Dr. Lu the annual base salary during the period commencing on the 60th day after the effective date of such termination and ending on the first anniversary of such effective date such that an aggregate total of 12 months of base salary are provided, (ii) the Company shall pay to Dr. Lu any amount payable under an executive bonus plan for the fiscal year in which such termination occurs, prorated to the date of the termination, (iii) the Company shall pay Dr. Lu his accrued but unused paid time off, (iv) the Company shall provide to Dr. Lu continued participation in any group health plan or medical reimbursement plan on the terms existing on the date of termination for the period commencing on the effective date of such termination and ending 18 months thereafter, and (v) all stock-based compensation previously granted to Dr. Lu (including, but not limited to, all stock options, SARs, stock units, bonus units and stock grants) shall continue to be governed by the applicable award agreement. The benefits provided by the foregoing clauses (i) and (iv) are conditioned upon Dr. Lu’s execution of a separation agreement with the Company and such agreement shall include a release of all claims against the Company and its affiliates.

However, if Dr. Lu’s employment is terminated either by the Company other than for “cause” (as defined) or by Dr. Lu for “good reason” (as defined) and if Dr. Lu then obtains a new employment within one year from the date of his termination, the annual post-employment base salary payable by the Company to Dr. Lu shall be reduced by any amount received by him during such one year in connection with such other employment.

Payments Upon Termination by the Company for “Cause” or by Dr. Lu Other Than for “Good Reason”

In the event that Dr. Lu’s employment is terminated by (a) the Company for “cause” (as defined) or (b) Dr. Lu other than for “good reason” (as defined), (i)the Company shall promptly pay or provide to Dr. Lu the annual base salary, prorated through the date of termination, (ii) the Company shall pay to Dr. Lu any amount payable under an executive bonus plan for the fiscal year in which such termination occurs, prorated to the date of the termination, (iii) the Company shall pay Dr. Lu his accrued but unused paid time off, and (iv) all stock-based compensation previously granted to Dr. Lu (including, but not limited to, all stock options, SARs, stock units, bonus units and stock grants) shall continue to be governed by the applicable award agreement. A termination of employment by Dr. Lu due to his retirement will generally be treated the same as a resignation without Good Reason.

Payment Upon Termination Due To Death or Disability

Under Dr. Lu’s employment agreement, Dr. Lu is entitled to a life insurance policy with a death benefit in an amount equal to that existing on the date of his employment agreement and a disability insurance policy in the maximum insurable amount as defined by such policy. Additionally, if termination of employment occurred due to Dr. Lu’s death or Disability then he would also receive the same benefits provided for a resignation without Good Reason.

Payment Upon a Change in Control

The 2013 Plan generally provides that, (1) in the event of a change in control and/or the Company is a party to a merger, acquisition, reorganization or similar transaction, outstanding equity awards shall be subject to the merger agreement or other applicable transaction agreement, and (2) in the event of a change in control and there is no assumption, substitution or continuation of equity awards pursuant to a merger, acquisition, reorganization or similar transaction, the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”) in its discretion may provide that some or all Dr. Lu’s equity awards shall vest and become exercisable as of immediately before such change in control. The Compensation Committee may also in its discretion include in an applicable equity award agreement that accelerated vesting of an equity award will be provided if Dr. Lu’s service is terminated without cause by the Company (or its acquirer) within a specified period of time on or after a change in control. The Compensation Committee may also in its discretion include in an applicable equity award agreement a requirement that, under certain circumstances, acceleration of vesting (or compensation payable) with respect to such equity award shall be reduced (or eliminated) to the extent that such reduction (or elimination) would, after taking into account any other payments in the nature of compensation to which Dr. Lu would have a right to receive from the Company and any other person contingent upon the occurrence of a change in control, prevent the occurrence of a “parachute payment” as defined under Code Section 280G. The applicable 2022 Plan provisions are similar to the above except that the treatment of awards is not subject to discretion and instead is objectively specified as described in the 2022 Equity Incentive Plan section.

60 Diodes Incorporated


 

The definition of change in control in the 2022 Plan and the 2013 Plan are similar to each other and generally mean the consummation of any one (or more) of the following:

any person, including a group as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, becoming the beneficial owner of stock of the Company which entitles such holder to cast 25% or more of the total number of votes for the election of the Board;
a cash tender offer, exchange offer, merger or other business combination, sale of assets or contested election, or combination of the foregoing, in which the directors of the Company immediately prior to such event cease to be a majority of the Board;
the Company ceases to be an independent publicly owned company or a sale or other disposition is completed for all or substantially all the assets of the Company; or
a tender offer or exchange offer (other than one made by the Company) in which the shares of the Company’s stock are acquired.

Payment Upon Retirement

Dr. Lu’s employment agreement does not specifically provide for a cash payment to him in the event of his retirement.

Brett R. Whitmire, Gary Yu and Francis Tang

Payment Upon Termination

Mr. Whitmire, Mr. Yu and Mr. Tang do not have employment agreements with the Company, and payments upon termination under any circumstance for them are governed by their respective equity award agreements, the 2022 Plan, the 2013 Incentive Plan and Company’s general policies for termination of employees as specified in the Company’s employee handbook. Please refer to the tables below in this Proxy Statement for further discussion of Mr. Whitmire’s, Mr. Yu's and Mr. Tang’s payments upon termination on December 31, 2023, under any circumstance.

NEO Payments Upon Termination Events and Change In Control

The following tables assume (i) the triggering event took place on December 29, 2023; (ii) the price per share used to calculate the value of equity awards was $80.52, the closing price per share on December 29, 2023, the last trading day of 2023; (iii) the intrinsic value of nonqualified stock option acceleration is calculated by multiplying the difference between the respective exercise prices of any unvested nonqualified stock option shares that would have been subject to acceleration and $80.52 by the number of shares underlying the unvested nonqualified stock options that would have been subject to acceleration; (iv) the value of RSUs and Modified Awards acceleration is calculated by multiplying $80.52 by the number of RSUs and Modified Awards that would have been subject to acceleration; and (v) a performance incentive bonus was earned for 2023 at the level set forth in the “Summary Compensation Table.”

Name

 

Voluntary Termination
or Termination
With Cause
($)

 

 

Termination
Due to Disability
or Death
($)
(1) (3)

 

 

Termination
Without
Cause
($)
(1)

 

 

Change in
Control
($)
 (2)(3)

 

Dr. Keh-Shew Lu

 

 

289,790

 

 

 

17,618,740

 

 

 

1,125,284

 

 

 

17,328,951

 

Brett R. Whitmire

 

 

71,216

 

 

 

3,726,824

 

 

 

71,216

 

 

 

3,655,608

 

Gary Yu

 

 

102,305

 

 

 

4,581,230

 

 

 

102,305

 

 

 

4,478,925

 

Francis Tang

 

 

87,793

 

 

 

3,833,986

 

 

 

87,793

 

 

 

3,746,193

 

Julie Holland (4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1) Such amounts do not include a $700,000 benefit for each NEO paid by the Company's life insurance policy upon death and do not include short- and long-term disability payments for the first year and long-term disability payments for the second year paid by disability insurance policies.

(2) Reflects the estimate of the payments and benefits that each NEO would receive assuming the NEO's employment was terminated without "cause" (and for Dr. Lu if he terminated his employment with “good reason”) on December 29, 2023. These disclosed amounts are estimates only and do not necessarily reflect the actual amounts that would be paid to the NEOs, which would only be known at the time they become eligible for such payments.

(3) Represents the value of the continued vesting of the following shares underlying RSUs and PRSAs upon a death or disability on December 29, 2023.

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(4) Ms. Holland retired as an executive officer effective March 31, 2023 and no longer is entitled to payments or other benefits upon termination events or change in control

None of our NEOs have any outstanding stock options.

The following table reflects the estimate of the payments and benefits that each NEO would receive assuming the NEO's employment was terminated without "cause" (and for Dr. Lu if he terminated his employment for good reason) on December 29, 2023. These disclosed amounts are estimates only and do not necessarily reflect the actual amounts that would be paid to the NEOs, which would only be known at the time they become eligible for such payments.

Name
(a)

 

Base
Salary
($)
(b)

 

 

Bonus
($)
(c)

 

 

Paid
Vacation
($)
(d)

 

 

Medical
Benefits
($)
(e)

 

 

Life Insurance,
Disability
and AD&D
Benefits
($)
(f)

 

Continued
Vesting
of Share-based
Compensation
($)
(g)

 

Total
($)
(h)

 

Dr. Keh-Shew Lu

 

 

810,000

 

 

211,905

 

 

 

77,885

 

 

 

25,494

 

 

 

 

1,125,284

 

Brett R. Whitmire

 

 

 

 

48,370

 

 

 

22,846

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

71,216

 

Gary Yu

 

 

 

 

65,959

 

 

 

36,346

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

102,305

 

Francis Tang

 

 

 

48,370

 

 

 

39,423

 

 

 

 

 

 

87,793

 

Julie Holland (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(b) For purposes of determining this amount, Dr. Lu would receive his current base salary for one-year following the termination.

(c) Any bonus amount would be prorated based on days employed in 2023 and calculated using actual 2022 results per the performance criteria in accordance with the Company's executive bonus plan.

(d) Reflects the estimated lump sum value of 18-month accrual of paid vacations.

(e) Reflects the estimated lump sum value of premiums to be paid on behalf of the executive under the medical benefit plans for 18 months for Dr. Lu.

(f) In the event of termination without cause, the Company does not continue to provide benefits under the life, disability, and accidental death and dismemberment insurance plans.

(1) Ms. Holland retired as an executive officer effective March 31, 2023 and no longer is entitled to payments or other benefits upon termination events or change in control.

The table below details the number of RSUs and PSUs, currently unvested, that would vest upon a change in control:

Name

 

Stock
Options
(#)

 

RSUs
(#)

 

 

PSU
(#)

 

 

Total
(#)

 

Dr. Keh-Shew Lu

 

 

 

109,213

 

 

 

106,000

 

 

 

215,213

 

Brett R. Whitmire

 

 

 

21,200

 

 

 

24,200

 

 

 

45,400

 

Gary Yu

 

 

 

25,625

 

 

 

11,900

 

 

 

37,525

 

Francis Tang

 

 

 

22,325

 

 

 

24,200

 

 

 

46,525

 

Julie Holland (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1) Ms. Holland retired as an executive officer effective March 31, 2023 and no longer is entitled to payments or other benefits upon termination events or change in control.

Payment Upon Retirement

Ms. Holland retired as an executive officer effective March 31, 2023. Ms. Holland entered into a letter agreement with the Company, effective March 31, 2023 (the “Letter Agreement”), that provides, among other things, (a) payment of current annual base salary of $400,000 in twelve pro rata payments each calendar month following the termination of Ms. Holland’s employment, (b) a monthly benefit allocation of $1,413.94 towards the payment of Ms. Holland’s health insurance premiums for 12 months, (c) payment of the annual Executive Health Benefit of up to $3,000, to be paid out in January following the date of termination of Ms. Holland’s employment, (d) all outstanding Company time-based vesting restricted stock units shall continue to vest in accordance with their terms as if Ms. Holland were still employed full-time by the Company, (e) two-thirds of the outstanding performance stock units (rounded to the nearest whole number) which were granted to Ms. Holland in February 2021 will be eligible to vest in February 2024 in accordance with the terms of the applicable equity compensation plan and award agreement (and for avoidance of doubt the other one-third of such performance stock units shall be forfeited without consideration on February 1, 2023); and (f) one-third of the outstanding performance stock units (rounded to the nearest whole number) which were granted to Ms. Holland in February 2022 will be eligible to vest in February 2025 in accordance with the terms of the applicable equity compensation plan and award agreement (and for avoidance of doubt the other two-thirds of such performance stock units shall be forfeited without consideration on February 1, 2023). Pursuant to the Letter Agreement, Ms. Holland was also entitled to receive the

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Company-issued laptop and cell phone number associated with the Company-issued cell phone. Furthermore, pursuant to the Letter Agreement, Ms. Holland agreed to serve as an at-will part-time employee from April 1, 2023 through September 30, 2023. During Ms. Holland’s employment in this part-time position, Ms. Holland was entitled to receive (i) an annual base salary of $217,000 paid in accordance with Company payroll practices, (ii) continued use of the Company provided laptop computer and cell phone service, and (iii) continued eligibility to participate in the Company 401(k) retirement plan and Executive Health Benefit. See Exhibits 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 17, 2023, for a complete copy of the Letter Agreement between the Company and Ms. Holland.

Pay versus Performance Disclosure

We are required by SEC rules to disclose the following information regarding compensation paid to our NEOs (including our principal executive officer(“PEO”), also referred to herein as our “CEO”) as compared to the Company's performance. The amounts set forth below under the headings “Compensation Actually Paid to PEO” and “Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO NEOs” have been calculated in a manner consistent with Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K. Footnotes (2) and (3) below discuss the adjustments from the Total Compensation for each NEO reported in the Summary Compensation Table above to derive the "compensation actually paid" ("CAP") to each NEO. The following table sets forth additional compensation information of our PEO and our non-PEO NEOs along with total shareholder return ("TSR"), net income, and net sales performance results for fiscal years 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023:

Pay versus Performance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment Based On:

 

 

 

 

 

Year
(a)

Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO
(b)
(1)

 

Compensation Actually Paid to PEO
(c)
(2)

 

Average Summary Compensation
 Table Total for Non-PEO NEOs
(d)

 

Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO NEOs
(e)
(3)

 

Total Shareholder Return
(f)

 

Peer Group Total Shareholder Return
(g)
(4)

 

Net Income (000)
(h)

 

Net Sales (000) (5)

 

2023

$

9,483,816

 

$

13,252,259

 

$

1,955,936

 

$

2,683,673

 

$

114

 

$

103

 

$

227,182

 

$

1,661,739

 

2022

$

9,045,646

 

$

(2,249,898

)

$

2,466,178

 

$

1,048,748

 

$

135

 

$

129

 

$

331,283

 

$

2,000,580

 

2021

$

8,137,329

 

$

30,669,186

 

$

2,189,740

 

$

5,627,245

 

$

195

 

$

202

 

$

228,763

 

$

1,805,162

 

2020

$

7,856,116

 

$

21,550,659

 

$

2,051,918

 

$

4,438,637

 

$

125

 

$

146

 

$

98,088

 

$

1,229,215

 

(1) The dollar amounts reported are the amounts of total compensation reported for our PEO in the Summary Compensation Table for the applicable fiscal year.

(2) (3) The dollar amounts reported represent the amount of CAP, as computed in accordance with SEC rules. The dollar amounts do not reflect the actual amounts of compensation paid to our PEO or other NEOs during the applicable year, but also include (i) the year-end value of equity awards granted during the reported year, and (ii) the change in the value of equity awards that were unvested at the end of the prior year, measured through the date the awards vested or were forfeited, or through the end of the reported fiscal year along with changes in pension value and nonqualified deferred compensation earnings. The tables below provide full details.

(4) Reflects cumulative TSR of the Company's Peer Group (as described above in this Proxy Statement) index, as of the applicable fiscal years. See "Compensation Review Process" for the composition of our Peer Group Companies for the applicable year.

(5) Net Sales is the financial measure that the Company believes to be the most important measure (that is not otherwise required to be disclosed in the table) it used in the most recent fiscal year to link CAP to the NEOs. The Company generates revenue from sales of its semiconductor products to direct customers and distributors and recognizes revenue when control is transferred. Revenues are reduced in the period of sale for estimates of product returns and other allowances including distributor adjustments resulting in net sales.

The PEO and other NEOs included in the above compensation columns are comprised of the following:

Year

PEO

 

NON-PEO NEOS

2023

Dr. Keh-Shew Lu

 

 Brett R. Whitmire, Gary Yu, Francis Tang, Julie Holland

2022

Dr. Keh-Shew Lu

 

 Brett R. Whitmire, Gary Yu, Francis Tang, Julie Holland

2021

Dr. Keh-Shew Lu

 

 Brett R. Whitmire, Gary Yu, Francis Tang, Julie Holland

2020

Dr. Keh-Shew Lu

 

 Brett R. Whitmire, Francis Tang, Emily Yang, Julie Holland

To calculate the amounts in the "Compensation Actually Paid to PEO" column in the Pay versus Performance table above, the following amounts were deducted from and added to (as applicable) "Total" compensation of our PEO for each applicable year, as reported in the Summary Compensation Table above.

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Compensation Actually Paid to PEO

 

Year

Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO (i)

 

Minus
 Reported Value of Equity Awards for PEO
 (ii)

 

Plus
Equity Award Adjustments for PEO
(iii)

 

Plus
Reported Change in
Pension Value
and
Non-qualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($)

 

Compensation Actually Paid to PEO

 

2023

$

9,483,816

 

$

8,365,620

 

$

12,133,722

 

$

341

 

$

13,252,259

 

2022

$

9,045,646

 

$

6,250,510

 

$

(5,045,133

)

$

99

 

$

(2,249,898

)

2021

 

8,137,329

 

 

5,468,930

 

 

28,000,786

 

 

1

 

 

30,669,186

 

2020

 

7,856,116

 

 

5,571,738

 

 

19,266,259

 

 

22

 

 

21,550,659

 

(i) The dollar amounts reported are the amounts of total compensation reported for our PEO in the Summary Compensation Table for the applicable fiscal year.

(ii) Represents the grant date fair value of the equity awards to our PEO, as reported in the “Stock Awards” column in the Summary Compensation Table for each applicable year.

(iii) Represents the year-over-year change in the fair value of equity awards to our PEO, as itemized in the table below. No awards granted in any year vested in the year they were granted. Fair value or change in fair value, as applicable, of equity awards in the "Compensation Actually Paid" columns was determined by reference to (a) for RSU awards, closing price on applicable year-end dates (b) for PSU awards, the same valuation methodology as RSU awards above except year-end share amounts are multiplied by the probability of achievement as of each such date.

Equity Award Adjustments for PEO

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Fair Value of Equity Awards for PEO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plus as of year-end value for awards granted during the year

$

10,628,640

 

 

$

7,690,140

 

 

$

11,090,810

 

Plus year-over-year change of unvested awards granted in previous years

 

828,753

 

 

 

(8,169,217

)

 

 

9,551,577

 

Plus change from prior fiscal year-end awards that vested during the year

 

676,329

 

 

 

(4,566,056

)

 

 

7,358,400

 

Total equity award adjustments

 

12,133,722

 

 

 

(5,045,133

)

 

 

28,000,786

 

To calculate the amounts in the “Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO NEOs” column in the Pay versus Performance table above, the following amounts were deducted from and added to (as applicable) the average of the “Total” compensation of our non-PEO NEOs for each applicable year, as reported in the Summary Compensation Table above.

Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO NEOs

 

Year

Average Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-PEO NEOs (i)

 

Minus
Average Reported Value of Equity Awards for Non-PEO NEOs
(ii)

 

Plus
Average Equity Award Adjustments for Non-PEO NEOs
(iii)

 

Plus
Average Reported Change in
Pension Value
and
Non-qualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings for Non-PEO NEOs
($)

 

Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO NEOs

 

2023

$

1,955,936

 

$

1,446,925

 

$

2,099,234

 

$

75,428

 

$

2,683,673

 

2022

$

2,466,178

 

$

1,511,591

 

$

156,437

 

$

(62,277

)

$

1,048,748

 

2021

$

2,189,740

 

$

1,308,927

 

$

4,615,418

 

$

131,013

 

$

5,627,245

 

2020

$

2,051,918

 

$

1,313,960

 

$

3,670,333

 

$

30,346

 

$

4,438,637

 

(i) The dollar amounts reported is the average of the amounts of total compensation reported for our Non-PEO NEOs in the Summary Compensation Table for the applicable fiscal year.

(ii) Represents the grant date fair value of the equity awards to our Non-PEO NEOs, as reported in the “Stock Awards” column in the Summary Compensation Table for each applicable year.

(iii) Represents the year-over-year change in the fair value of equity awards to our Non-PEO NEOS, as itemized in the table below. No awards vested in the year they were granted. Fair value or change in fair value, as applicable, of equity awards in the "Compensation Actually Paid" columns was determined by reference to (a) for RSU awards, closing price on applicable year-end dates (b) for PSU awards, the same valuation methodology as RSU awards above except year-end share amounts are multiplied by the probability of achievement as of each such date.

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Average Equity Award Adjustments for Non-PEO NEOs

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Fair Value of Equity Awards for Non-PEO NEOs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plus as of year-end value for awards granted during the year

$

1,872,090

 

 

$

1,878,755

 

 

$

2,709,562

 

Plus year-over-year change of unvested awards granted in previous years

 

91,255

 

 

 

(885,837

)

 

 

919,834

 

Plus change from prior fiscal year-end awards that vested during the year

 

135,890

 

 

 

(836,481

)

 

 

986,023

 

Total equity award adjustments

 

2,099,234

 

 

 

156,437

 

 

 

4,615,418

 

The following graphs illustrates the relationship of CAP for our PEO and the average CAP for our Non-PEO NEOs in relationship to our Total Shareholder Return ("TSR"), net income and net sales the Company Selected Measure. Additionally, the graphs also describe the relationship between our own TSR versus peer group TSR.

 

https://cdn.kscope.io/ce2176f224a834c5293122c729ee2397-img207102839_10.jpg
 

Compensation Actually Paid Versus Net Income($000) $35,000 $30,000 $25,000 $15,000 $10,000 $5,000 $0 ($5,000) $350,000 $300,000 $250,000 $150,000 $100,000 $50,000 $0 2020 2021 2022 $98,088 $228,763 $331,283 PEO CAP Non PEONEO CAP NET INCOME

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https://cdn.kscope.io/ce2176f224a834c5293122c729ee2397-img207102839_11.jpg 

 

Compensation Actually Paid Versus Net Sales ($000) $35,000 $30,000 $25,000 $20,000 $15,000 $10,000 $5,000 $0 ($5,000) $2,500,000 $2,000,000 $1,500,000 $1,000,000 $500,000 $0 2020 2021 2022 PEO CAP Non PEO NEO CAP Net Sales $1,229,215 $1,805,162 $2,000,580

https://cdn.kscope.io/ce2176f224a834c5293122c729ee2397-img207102839_12.jpg 

The three financial performance measures listed in the following table represent an unranked list of the “most important” financial performance measures linking CAP to the NEOs for 2023 and company performance. After net sales, we do not consider any one of the other following financial performance measures to be a more important measure than the other when measuring performance for our company or executive compensation program. See the discussion above in "Compensation Discussion and Analysis" for additional discussion related to executive pay.

Net sales

Operating income

 

Non-GAAP earnings per share

 

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PROPOSAL THREE

RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The firm of Moss Adams LLP has been the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm since 1993 and has been selected by the Board, upon the recommendation of the Audit Committee, to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024. Professional services rendered by Moss Adams LLP for 2023 consisted of an audit of the Company’s annual financial statements (including services incurred with rendering an opinion under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002) and review of quarterly financial statements, services related to filings with the SEC and meetings with the Company’s Audit Committee. All professional services rendered by Moss Adams LLP during 2023 were furnished at customary rates and terms. Representatives of Moss Adams LLP are expected to be present at the Meeting and will have the opportunity to make a statement, if they so desire, and respond to appropriate questions, previously submitted, from stockholders.

For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, fees for the services provided by Moss Adams LLP were approximately as follows:

Description

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Audit fees (1)

 

$

2,934,111

 

 

$

3,382,389

 

Audit-related fees (2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tax fees, professional services related to income tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

All other fees, not included above

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

2,934,111

 

 

$

3,382,389

 

(1) Includes fees for professional services necessary to perform an audit or review in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, including services rendered for the audit of the Company’s financial statements (including services incurred with rendering an opinion under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002) included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K and review of financial statements included in the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

(2) Includes assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Company’s financial statements and are not reported under Audit Fees of this section.

The Audit Committee administers the Company’s engagement of Moss Adams LLP and pre-approves all audit and permissible non-audit services on a case-by-case basis. In approving non-audit services, the Audit Committee considers whether the engagement could compromise the independence of Moss Adams LLP, and whether for reasons of efficiency or convenience it is in the best interest of the Company to engage its independent registered public accounting firm to perform the services.

Moss Adams LLP has advised the Company that neither the firm, nor any member of the firm, has any financial interest, direct or indirect, in any capacity in the Company or its subsidiaries. The Audit Committee, in reliance on the independent registered public accounting firm, determined that the provision of these services is compatible with maintaining the independence of Moss Adams LLP.

Prior to engagement, the Audit Committee pre-approves all independent registered public accounting firm services. The fees are budgeted, and the Audit Committee may require the independent registered public accounting firm and management to report actual fees versus the budget periodically throughout the year by category of service. During the year, circumstances may arise when it may become necessary to engage the independent registered public accounting firm for additional services not contemplated in the original pre-approved categories. In those instances, the Audit Committee is required to specifically pre-approve such additional services before engaging the independent registered public accounting firm.

The Audit Committee has delegated pre-approval authority to each of its members. Each member must report, for informational purposes only, any pre-approval decisions to the Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting.

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Although the appointment of Moss Adams LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024 is not required to be submitted to a vote of stockholders, the Audit Committee believes that it is appropriate as a matter of policy to request that the stockholders ratify the appointment. If the stockholders do not ratify the appointment, which requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock present, in person via the Internet or by proxy, and entitled to vote on the proposal at the Meeting, the Board will consider the selection of another independent registered public accounting firm.

THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF MOSS ADAMS LLP AS THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2024.

 

 

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PROPOSALS OF STOCKHOLDERS AND STOCKHOLDER NOMINATIONS FOR 2025 ANNUAL MEETING

Under certain circumstances, stockholders are entitled to present proposals at stockholder meetings. Currently, the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders is expected to be held on or about May 28, 2025.

SEC Rule 14a-8 provides that any stockholder proposal to be included in the proxy statement for the Company’s 2024 annual meeting must be received by the Secretary of the Company at the Company’s office at 4949 Hedgcoxe Road, Suite 200, Plano, Texas 75024 on or before December 20, 2024, in a form that complies with applicable regulations. If the date of the 2025 annual meeting is advanced or delayed more than 30 days from the date of the 2024 annual meeting, stockholder proposals intended to be included in the proxy statement for the 2025 annual meeting must be received by the Company within a reasonable time before the Company begins to print and mail the proxy statement for the 2025 annual meeting. Upon any determination that the date of the 2025 annual meeting will be advanced or delayed by more than 30 days from the date of the 2024 annual meeting, the Company will disclose the change in the earliest practicable Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

In addition, the Company’s Bylaws require advance written notice of nominations or other matters that stockholders wish to present for action at an annual meeting other than those to be included in our proxy statement under Rule 14a-8. The Company must receive written notice of such nominations or other proposals to be presented at the 2025 annual meeting, at the address stated in the preceding paragraph, no earlier than the close of business on Wednesday, January 29, 2025 and no later than the close of business on Friday, February 28, 2025. If written notice of such nominations or other matters is not received within the time set forth in the Company’s Bylaws, the proxies solicited by the Board for the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders will confer authority on the proxyholders to vote the shares in accordance with the recommendations of the Board if the proposal is presented at the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders without any discussion of the proposal in the proxy statement for such meeting. If the date of the 2025 annual meeting is advanced or delayed more than 30 days from the anniversary date of the 2024 annual meeting, then if the stockholder proposal has not been submitted to the Company within a reasonable time before the Company mails the proxy statement for the 2025 annual meeting, the proxies will confer the authority set out in the preceding sentence.

Stockholders may suggest candidates for the Board. Stockholders who wish to request that the Governance Committee consider a candidate for election at the 2025 annual meeting should submit information about the candidate to the Governance Committee a reasonable time before the Company begins to print and mail the proxy statement for the 2025 annual meeting. The requesting stockholder should provide sufficient biographical information about the proposed candidate to satisfy the requirements of the SEC for inclusion in the Proxy Statement and to permit the Governance Committee to evaluate the proposed candidate in light of the criteria described in “Corporate Governance – Nominating Procedures and Criteria and Board Diversity.” The request should also provide the full name, address and telephone number of the requesting stockholder and sufficient information to verify that the requesting stockholder is eligible to vote at the 2025 annual meeting. Additional information and certifications by the requesting stockholder and the proposed candidate may be required before the Governance Committee can make its evaluation.

The deadline for providing notice to the Company under Rule 14a-19, the SEC’s universal proxy rule, of a stockholder’s intent to solicit proxies in support of nominees submitted under the Company’s advance notice bylaws for our 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is March 30, 2025. Stockholders intending to provide such a notice must comply with all requirements of Rule 14a-19 in addition to all requirements under our bylaws, including the timing of notice requirements described above.

69 Diodes Incorporated


 

ANNUAL REPORT AND FORM 10-K

The Company’s annual report to stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2023 accompanies or has preceded this Proxy Statement. The annual report contains consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries and the report thereon of Moss Adams LLP, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021.

STOCKHOLDERS MAY OBTAIN, WITHOUT CHARGE, A COPY OF THE COMPANY’S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K, INCLUDING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS REQUIRED TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC PURSUANT TO THE EXCHANGE ACT, FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2023 BY WRITING TO THE COMPANY, ATTENTION: INVESTOR RELATIONS, 4949 HEDGCOXE ROAD, SUITE 200, PLANO, TEXAS 75024, OR EMAIL THE REQUEST TO DIODES-FIN@DIODES.COM. THE INFORMATION IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE COMPANY’S WEBSITE AT WWW.DIODES.COM AND THE SEC’S WEBSITE AT WWW.SEC.GOV.

Dated at Plano, Texas, this 19th day of April, 2024.

By Order of the Board of Directors,

DIODES INCORPORATED

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Richard D. White,

Secretary

 

 

70 Diodes Incorporated


 

MEETING LOCATION

 

www.proxydocs.com/DIOD

71 Diodes Incorporated


 

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72 Diodes Incorporated


 

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73 Diodes Incorporated