Compensation Committee Charter
I. Purpose
The Compensation Committee (the "Committee") is appointed by the Board of Directors (the "Board") of PLX Technology, Inc. (the "Company") to: (a) assist the Board in discharging its responsibilities relating to compensation of the Company's directors and executive officers; and (b) to produce an annual report on executive compensation for inclusion in the Company's proxy statement, in accordance with applicable rules and regulations. The Committee shall undertake those specific duties and responsibilities listed below and such other duties as the Board shall from time to time prescribe. All powers of the Committee are subject to the restrictions designated in the Company's Bylaws and by applicable law.
II. Committee Membership
Committee members shall be elected by the Board at the annual meeting of the Board of Directors and shall serve until their successors shall be duly elected and qualified. Committee members may be removed at any time by vote of the Board.
The Committee shall consist of no fewer than two (2) members. Each member of the Committee shall meet the independence requirements of NASDAQ, the definition of a "Non-employee Director" under Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code for "outside directors," and any other regulatory requirements.
III. Structure & Meetings
The Committee shall conduct its business in accordance with this Charter, the Company's Bylaws and any direction by the Board. The Committee chairperson shall be designated by the Board, or, if it does not do so, the Committee members shall elect a chairperson by a vote of the majority of the full Committee.
The Committee shall meet at least once a year at a time and place determined by the Committee chairperson, with further meetings to occur, or actions to be taken by unanimous written consent, when deemed necessary or desirable by the Committee or its chairperson. Members of the Committee may participate in a meeting of the Committee by means of conference call or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
The Committee chairperson will preside at each meeting and, in consultation with the other members of the Committee, will set the frequency and length of each meeting and the agenda of items to be addressed at each meeting. The chairperson of the Committee shall ensure that the agenda for each meeting is circulated to each Committee member in advance of the meeting. The chairperson of the Committee (or other member designated by the chairperson or the Committee in the Chairperson's absence) shall regularly report to the full Board on its proceedings and any actions that the Committee takes. The Committee will maintain written minutes of its meetings, which minutes will be maintained with the books and records of the Company.
As necessary or desirable, the Chairperson of the Committee may invite any Director, officer or employee of the Company, or other persons whose advice and counsel are sought by the Committee, to be present at meetings of the Committee, consistent with the maintenance of confidentiality of compensation discussions. The Company's Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") should not attend any meeting where the CEO's performance or compensation are discussed.
Committee Authority & Responsibilities
The Committee shall:
a. Annually review and approve the Company's corporate goals and objectives relevant to CEO compensation, evaluate the CEO's performance in light of such goals and objectives, and, either as a Committee or together with the other independent directors (as directed by the Board), determine and approve the CEO's compensation level based on this evaluation. In determining the long-term incentive component of the CEO's compensation, the Committee will consider the Company's performance and relative stockholder return, the value of similar incentive awards to CEOs at comparable companies, and the awards given to the Company's CEO in past years.
b. Annually review and make recommendations to the Board with respect to non-CEO compensation, incentive-compensation plans and equity based-plans.
c. Monitor the administration of the Company's incentive-compensation plans and equity based-plans as in effect and as adopted from time to time by the Board.
d. Approve any new equity compensation plan or any material change to an existing plan where stockholder approval has not been obtained.
e. Approve any stock option award or any other type of award as may be required for complying with any tax, securities, or other regulatory requirement, or otherwise determined to be appropriate or desirable by the Committee or Board.
f. Ensure appropriate overall corporate performance measures and goals are set and determine the extent that established goals have been achieved and any related compensation earned.
g. Annually review and approve for the Company's officers:(i) annual base salary levels; (ii) annual incentive compensation levels; (iii) long-term incentive compensation levels; (iv) employment agreements, severance agreements, and change of control agreements/provisions, in each case as, when and if appropriate; and (v) any supplemental or special benefits.
h. Perform such other functions and have such other powers consistent with this Charter, the Company's Bylaws and governing law as the Committee or the Board may deem appropriate.
i. Produce a Committee report on executive compensation as required to be included in the Company's annual proxy statement or annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC.
j. Prepare and issue the evaluation required under "Performance Evaluation" below.
Performance Evaluation
The Committee shall annually review and assess the adequacy of this Charter and recommend any proposed changes to the Board for approval. The Committee shall also perform an annual evaluation of its own performance, which shall compare the performance of the Committee with the requirements of this Charter. The performance evaluation by the Committee shall be conducted in such manner as the Committee deems appropriate. The report to the Board may take the form of an oral report by the chairperson of the Committee or any other member of the Committee designated by the Committee to make this report.
Committee Resources
The Committee shall be empowered, without the approval of the Board or management, to engage and compensate independent legal, accounting and other advisors, as it determines necessary to carry out its duties. The Committee shall have the sole authority to retain and terminate any consultant that it uses to assist in the Committee's evaluation of director, CEO or officer compensation and shall have the sole authority to approve that consultant's fees and other retention terms. The Committee shall receive appropriate funding, as determined by the Committee, from the Company for payment of: (a) compensation to any advisor employed by the Committee; and (b) ordinary administrative expenses of the Committee that are necessary or appropriate in carrying out its duties.
The Committee may form and delegate authority to subcommittees when appropriate.