Proxy Statement
Table of Contents

 

 

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  þ                            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))
þ   Definitive Proxy Statement
¨   Definitive Additional Materials
¨   Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.
(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):
þ   No fee required.
¨   Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
  (1)  

Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

 

 

   

 

  (2)  

Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

 

 

   

 

  (3)  

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

 

 

   

 

  (4)  

Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

 

 

   

 

  (5)   Total fee paid:
   
   

 

¨   Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
¨   Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
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Date Filed:

 

 

   

 

 

 

 


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LOGO

 

 

Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders

July 16, 2013

 

 

June 4, 2013

 

Date:

   Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Time:

   10:00 a.m., Eastern Time

Place:

   Hotel du Pont
11th and Market Streets
Wilmington, Delaware 19801

Purpose:

  

•      To elect fifteen directors;

  

•      To approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers;

  

•      To ratify the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm;

  

•      To vote on four stockholder proposals, if presented at the annual meeting; and

  

•      To transact such other business as may properly come before the annual meeting.

Record Date:

   Close of business on May 24, 2013

Your vote is important. Whether or not you plan to attend the annual meeting in person, it is important that your shares be represented and voted at the annual meeting. You may submit your proxy and voting instructions via the internet or you may complete, date, sign and return a proxy card. Your cooperation is appreciated. You can obtain directions to the Hotel du Pont online at the hotel’s web site at http://www.hoteldupont.com/map-and-directions-en.html.

By Order of the Board of Directors.

 

LOGO

DOUGLAS N. CURRAULT II

Secretary


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Information about Attending the Annual Meeting

Only stockholders of record on the record date of May 24, 2013, are entitled to notice of and to attend or vote at the annual meeting. If you plan to attend the annual meeting in person, please bring the following:

 

  1. Proper identification.

 

  2. Acceptable Proof of Ownership if your shares are held in “Street Name.”

Street Name means your shares of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. common stock are held of record by a bank, broker, trustee or other nominee.

Acceptable Proof of Ownership is either (a) a letter from your bank, broker, trustee or other nominee confirming that you beneficially owned shares of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. common stock on the record date or (b) an account statement showing that you beneficially owned shares of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. common stock on the record date.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE STOCKHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON JULY 16, 2013.

This proxy statement and the 2012 Annual Report are available at http://www.edocumentview.com/FCX_MTG.


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     Page  

Questions and Answers about the Proxy Materials, Annual Meeting and Voting

     1   

2014 Stockholder Proposals

     5   

Corporate Governance

     5   

Director Compensation

     12   

Proposal No. 1: Election of Directors

     16   

Information About Director Nominees

     17   

Stock Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers

     27   

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

     29   

Stock Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners

     29   

Executive Officer Compensation

     29   

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

     29   

Compensation Committee Report

     49   

Executive Compensation Tables

     50   

Proposal No. 2: Advisory Vote on the Compensation of Our Named Executive Officers

     61   

Audit Committee Report

     62   

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     64   

Proposal No.  3: Ratification of the Appointment of our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     65   

Certain Transactions

     65   

Proposal No. 4: Stockholder Proposal A

     66   

Proposal No. 5: Stockholder Proposal B

     68   

Proposal No. 6: Stockholder Proposal C

     69   

Proposal No. 7: Stockholder Proposal D

     72   

 

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FREEPORT-MCMORAN COPPER & GOLD INC.

333 North Central Avenue

Phoenix, Arizona 85004

The 2012 annual report to stockholders, including financial statements, has been made and/or is being made available to stockholders together with these proxy materials on or about June 4, 2013.

 

 

Questions and Answers about the Proxy Materials, Annual Meeting and Voting

Why am I receiving these proxy materials?

The board of directors (board) is soliciting your proxy to vote at our 2013 annual meeting of stockholders because you owned shares of our common stock at the close of business on May 24, 2013, the record date for the annual meeting, and are therefore entitled to vote at the annual meeting. This proxy statement, along with a proxy card or a voting instruction card, is being made available to our stockholders on or about June 4, 2013. We have made these materials available to you on the internet and, in some cases, we have delivered printed proxy materials to you. This proxy statement summarizes the information that you need to know in order to cast your vote at the annual meeting. You do not need to attend the annual meeting in person to vote your shares.

Why did I receive a notice of internet availability of proxy materials instead of a full set of proxy materials?

In accordance with the rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), we are permitted to furnish proxy materials, including this proxy statement and our 2012 annual report, to stockholders by providing access to these documents on the internet instead of mailing printed copies. Most stockholders will not receive printed copies of the proxy materials unless requested. Instead, the notice provides instructions on how to access and review the proxy materials on the internet. The notice also provides instructions on how to submit your proxy and voting instructions via the internet. If you would like to receive a printed or email copy of our proxy materials, please follow the instructions for requesting the materials in the notice.

When and where will the annual meeting be held?

The annual meeting will be held at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on Tuesday, July 16, 2013, at the Hotel du Pont located at 11th and Market Streets, Wilmington, Delaware 19801. You can obtain directions to the Hotel du Pont online at the hotel’s web site at http://www.hoteldupont.com/map-and-directions-en.html.

Who is soliciting my proxy?

The board is soliciting your proxy to vote on all matters scheduled to come before our 2013 annual meeting of stockholders, whether or not you attend in person. By completing, dating, signing and returning the proxy card or voting instruction card, or by submitting your proxy and voting instructions via the internet, you are authorizing the proxy holders to vote your shares at the annual meeting as you have instructed.

On what matters will I be voting? How does the board recommend that I cast my vote?

At the annual meeting, you will be asked to elect our director nominees; approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers; ratify the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm; consider four stockholder proposals included in this proxy statement, if presented at the annual meeting; and consider any other matter that properly comes before the annual meeting.

The board unanimously recommends that you vote:

 

   

FOR all of the director nominees;

 

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FOR the approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of our named executive officers;

 

   

FOR the ratification of the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm; and

 

   

AGAINST the four stockholder proposals included in this proxy statement, if presented at the annual meeting.

We do not expect any matters to be presented for action at the annual meeting other than the matters described in this proxy statement. However, by completing, dating, signing and returning a proxy card or voting instruction card, or by submitting your proxy and voting instructions via the internet, you will give to the persons named as proxies discretionary voting authority with respect to any other matter that may properly come before the annual meeting, and they intend to vote on any such other matter in accordance with their best judgment.

How many votes may I cast?

You may cast one vote for every share of our common stock that you owned on the record date.

How many shares are eligible to be voted?

As of the record date, we had 949,737,246 shares of common stock outstanding, each of which is entitled to one vote.

How many shares must be present to hold the annual meeting?

Under Delaware law and our by-laws, the presence in person or by proxy of a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock entitled to vote is necessary to constitute a quorum at the annual meeting. The inspector of election will determine whether a quorum is present. If you are a beneficial owner (as defined below) of shares of our common stock and you do not instruct your bank, broker, trustee or other nominee how to vote your shares on any of the proposals, your shares will be counted as present at the annual meeting for purposes of determining whether a quorum exists. In addition, votes of stockholders of record who are present at the annual meeting in person or by proxy will be counted as present at the annual meeting for purposes of determining whether a quorum exists, whether or not such holder abstains from voting on any of the proposals.

How do I vote?

Stockholders of Record

If your shares of our common stock are registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, Computershare Shareowner Services LLC, you are the stockholder of record of those shares and these proxy materials have been made available or mailed to you by us. You may submit your proxy and voting instructions by internet or by mail as further described below. By completing, dating, signing and returning your proxy card or by submitting your proxy and voting instructions via the internet, you are authorizing each of James R. Moffett, Richard C. Adkerson and Kathleen L. Quirk, as your proxies, each with the power to appoint his or her substitute, to represent and vote your shares as you direct.

 

   

Submit Your Proxy and Voting Instructions by Internet — http://www.ivselection.com/freeport13

 

   

Use the internet to transmit your proxy and voting instructions 24 hours a day, seven days a week until 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) on Monday, July 15, 2013.

 

   

Please have your proxy card available and follow the instructions to obtain your records and create an electronic ballot.

 

   

Submit Your Proxy and Voting Instructions by Mail — If you have received printed materials, complete, date and sign your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope provided.

If you submit your proxy and voting instructions by internet, please do not mail your proxy card. Only the latest dated proxy received from you, whether by internet or mail, will be voted at the annual meeting. You may also vote in person at the annual meeting.

 

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Beneficial Owners

If your shares of our common stock are held in a stock brokerage account by a bank, broker, trustee, or other nominee, you are considered the beneficial owner of shares held in street name and these proxy materials are being forwarded to you by your bank, broker, trustee or other nominee that is considered the holder of record of those shares. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your bank, broker, trustee or other nominee on how to vote your shares of our common stock via the internet or by telephone if the bank, broker, trustee or other nominee offers these options or by completing, dating, signing and returning a voting instruction card. Your bank, broker, trustee or other nominee will send you instructions for submitting your voting instructions for your shares of our common stock. For a discussion of the rules regarding the voting of shares held by beneficial owners, please see the question below titled “What happens if I don’t submit voting instructions for a proposal? What is discretionary voting? What is a broker non-vote?”

Participants in our Employee Capital Accumulation Program

If you hold shares of our common stock through our Employee Capital Accumulation Program, which is the company’s 401(k) plan (ECAP), you may only submit your voting instructions for your shares of our common stock by mail. Accordingly, please complete, date and sign your voting instruction card and return it in the postage-paid envelope provided to you.

What happens if I don’t submit voting instructions for a proposal? What is discretionary voting? What is a broker non-vote?

If you properly complete, date, sign and return a proxy or voting instruction card, your shares of our common stock will be voted as you specify. If you are a stockholder of record and you make no specifications on your proxy card, your shares of our common stock will be voted in accordance with the recommendations of the board, as provided above.

If you are a beneficial owner and you do not provide voting instructions to your bank, broker, trustee or other nominee holding shares of our common stock for you, your shares of our common stock will not be voted with respect to any proposal for which your holder of record does not have discretionary authority to vote. Rules of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) determine whether proposals presented at stockholder meetings are “discretionary” or “non-discretionary.” If a proposal is determined to be discretionary, your bank, broker, trustee or other nominee is permitted under NYSE rules to vote on the proposal without receiving voting instructions from you. If a proposal is determined to be non-discretionary, your bank, broker, trustee or other nominee is not permitted under NYSE rules to vote on the proposal without receiving voting instructions from you. A “broker non-vote” occurs when a bank, broker, trustee or other nominee holding shares for a beneficial owner does not vote on a non-discretionary proposal because the holder of record has not received voting instructions from the beneficial owner.

Under the rules of the NYSE, the proposal relating to the ratification of the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm is a discretionary proposal. Accordingly, if you are a beneficial owner and you do not provide voting instructions to your bank, broker, trustee or other nominee holding shares for you, your shares may be voted with respect to the ratification of the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm.

Under the rules of the NYSE, the proposals relating to election of directors, the compensation of our named executive officers and the stockholder proposals are non-discretionary proposals. Accordingly, if you are a beneficial owner and you do not provide voting instructions to your bank, broker, trustee or other nominee holding shares for you, your shares will not be voted with respect to the election of directors, the compensation of our named executive officers, and the stockholder proposals. Without your voting instructions on these matters, a broker non-vote will occur with respect to your shares. Shares subject to broker non-votes will not be counted as votes for or against and will not be included in calculating the number of votes necessary for approval of such matters to be presented at the annual meeting; however, such shares will be considered present at the annual meeting for purposes of determining the existence of a quorum.

 

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What vote is required, and how will my votes be counted, to elect directors and to adopt the other proposals?

 

Proposal

  

Voting Options

  

Vote Required

to Adopt the
Proposal

  

Effect of
Abstentions

  

Effect of

“Broker

Non-Votes”

No. 1: Election of directors    For or withhold on each nominee    Affirmative vote of a majority of votes cast    N/A    No effect
No. 2: Approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of our named executive officers    For, against or abstain    Affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of common stock present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon    Treated as votes against    No effect
No. 3: Ratification of the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm    For, against or abstain    Affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of common stock present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon    Treated as votes against    N/A
Nos. 4-7: Consideration of the four stockholder proposals included in this proxy statement, if presented at the annual meeting    For, against or abstain    Affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of common stock present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon    Treated as votes against    No effect

In uncontested elections, our directors are elected by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares voted. In contested elections (where the number of nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected), our directors are elected by a plurality of shares voted. Under our by-laws, all other matters require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of our common stock present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote, except as otherwise provided by statute, our certificate of incorporation or our by-laws.

Can I revoke or change my vote after I deliver my proxy?

Yes. Your proxy can be revoked or changed at any time before it is voted if you provide notice in writing to our corporate secretary before the annual meeting, if you timely provide to us another proxy with a later date or if you vote in person at the annual meeting or notify the corporate secretary in writing at the annual meeting of your wish to revoke your proxy. Your attendance alone at the annual meeting will not be enough to revoke your proxy.

Who pays for soliciting proxies?

We pay all expenses incurred in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the annual meeting. We have retained Georgeson Inc., 599 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York, for an estimated fee of $11,000, plus reimbursement of certain reasonable expenses, to assist in the solicitation of proxies and otherwise in connection with the annual meeting. We and our proxy solicitor will also request banks, brokers and other nominees holding shares of our common stock beneficially owned by others to send this document to, and obtain proxies from, the beneficial owners and will reimburse such holders of record for their reasonable expenses in so doing. Solicitation of proxies by mail may be supplemented by telephone, email and other electronic means, advertisements and personal solicitation by our directors, officers and employees. No additional compensation will be paid to directors, officers or employees for such solicitation efforts.

 

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Could other matters be considered and voted upon at the annual meeting?

The board does not expect to bring any other matter before the annual meeting, and it is not aware of any other matter that may be considered at the annual meeting. In addition, pursuant to our by-laws, the time has elapsed for any stockholder to properly bring a matter before the annual meeting. However, if any other matter does properly come before the annual meeting, each of the proxy holders will vote the proxies in his or her discretion.

What happens if the annual meeting is postponed or adjourned?

Unless a new record date is fixed, your proxy will still be valid and may be voted at the postponed or adjourned annual meeting. You will still be able to change or revoke your proxy until your shares are voted.

2014 Stockholder Proposals

If you want us to consider including a proposal in next year’s proxy statement, you must deliver it in writing to: Corporate Secretary, Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., 333 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85004 by February 4, 2014.

If you want to present a proposal at the next annual meeting but do not wish to have it included in our proxy statement, you must submit it in writing to our corporate secretary by March 18, 2014, in accordance with the specific procedural requirements in our by-laws. If you would like a copy of these procedures, please contact our corporate secretary as provided above, or access our by-laws on our web site at www.fcx.com under Investor Center — Corporate Governance. Failure to comply with our by-law procedures and deadlines may preclude presentation of your proposal at our 2014 annual meeting.

Corporate Governance

Corporate Governance Guidelines; Principles of Business Conduct

Our corporate governance guidelines and our principles of business conduct are available at www.fcx.com under Investor Center — Corporate Governance. Both are available in print upon request. Amendments to or waivers of our principles of business conduct granted to any of our directors or executive officers will be published promptly on our web site.

Board and Committee Meeting Attendance

The board held five regular meetings and one special meeting during 2012. During 2012, each of our directors participated in more than 75% of the total number of meetings of the board and the total number of meetings held by each committee of the board on which each such director served. Directors are invited but not required to attend annual meetings of our stockholders. Mr. Adkerson attended the last annual meeting of stockholders.

Board Composition and Leadership Structure

As of the date of this proxy statement, the board consists of fifteen members, eleven of whom have no material relationship with the company and are independent within the meaning of our corporate governance guidelines, which comply with the NYSE director independence standards as currently in effect. We also have four advisory directors who do not vote. For more information about our advisory directors, see “Advisory Directors” below. We also have one director emeritus, Henry A. Kissinger. The director emeritus does not vote.

James R. Moffett serves as chairman of the board and Richard C. Adkerson serves as president and chief executive officer. We separated the positions of chairman of the board and chief executive officer in 2003, when we named Mr. Moffett as chairman of the board and Mr. Adkerson as chief executive officer. The board determined that the separation of these roles would maximize management’s efficiency. Separating these positions allows our chief executive officer to focus on our day-to-day business, while allowing the chairman of the board to lead the board in its fundamental role of providing guidance to and oversight of management.

 

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As executive chairman, Mr. Moffett furthers our business strategy by applying his exceptional talents and experience as a geologist. He directs our global exploration programs. Mr. Moffett also has been, and continues to be, instrumental in fostering our relationships with host governments, including the government of Indonesia, the location of our Grasberg mine. Mr. Moffett is not considered an independent director because he is part of our management team and receives compensation for services to the company. Mr. Adkerson, as president and chief executive officer, is responsible for the executive management of the company. Mr. Adkerson has demonstrated exceptional leadership abilities in developing and executing a financial strategy that has benefited our stockholders, and in building an operational, financial and administrative organization that efficiently supports our business.

Effective May 31, 2013, in connection with the company’s acquisition of PXP and pursuant to the terms of the merger agreement, the board of directors elected Richard C. Adkerson, the company’s president and chief executive officer and a member of the company’s board of directors, as a vice chairman of the board of directors, and elected James C. Flores, formerly chairman, president and chief executive officer of PXP, as a vice chairman of the board of directors and as chief executive officer of the company’s oil and gas business.

The board has concluded that the current leadership structure provides an appropriate framework for our directors to provide independent, objective and effective oversight of management. While our by-laws and corporate governance guidelines do not require our chairman and chief executive officer positions to be separate, the board believes that having separate positions is the appropriate leadership structure for the company at this time. The board, however, periodically reviews the leadership structure and may make such changes in the future as it deems appropriate.

In accordance with our corporate governance guidelines, our non-management directors meet in executive session at the end of each regularly scheduled board meeting. The presiding director for each executive session meeting rotates among the independent directors who are chairpersons of our four principal board committees (audit, compensation, nominating and corporate governance, and corporate responsibility; see discussion below), except as the directors may otherwise determine for a specific executive session meeting. We believe that this approach effectively encourages full engagement of the non-management directors in executive sessions. Following each executive session meeting of the non-management directors, the presiding director serves as a liaison between the non-management directors and the chairman regarding any specific feedback or issues that have been discussed in the executive session meeting.

Advisory Directors

Advisory directors provide general policy advice to the board as determined from time to time by the board. Advisory directors, upon the invitation of the board, have the privilege to receive notice of and to attend regular meetings of the board or any board committee for which the advisory director has been appointed to serve as an advisor or consultant. Advisory directors serve at the pleasure of the board, are not entitled to vote on any matter brought before the board or any board committee and are not considered a director of the company for any purpose. Compensation paid to advisory directors is determined from time to time by the board, and advisory directors may have consulting agreements with the company. Effective June 9, 2010, the board appointed J. Bennett Johnston, Gabrielle K. McDonald, J. Stapleton Roy and J. Taylor Wharton, each of whom previously served as a director of the company, as advisory directors.

J. Bennett Johnston is Chairman of Johnston & Associates, LLC, a business consulting firm and consultant to the company, and Chairman of Johnston Development Co. LLC, a project development firm. He served as United States Senator from 1972 to 1997.

Gabrielle K. McDonald has served as a judge on the Iran-United States Claims Tribunal, The Hague, The Netherlands since November 2001. Judge McDonald has also served as the Special Counsel on Human Rights to the company since 1999.

 

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J. Stapleton Roy is Director of the Kissinger Institute on China and the United States at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. He is Senior Advisor and previously served as Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Kissinger Associates, Inc., international consultants and consultants to the company. He previously served as Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research and United States Ambassador to Indonesia.

J. Taylor Wharton is the retired Special Assistant to the President for Patient Affairs and professor of Gynecologic Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and a consultant to the company.

Board Committees

The board has four standing committees: an audit committee, a compensation committee (formerly the corporate personnel committee), a nominating and corporate governance committee and a corporate responsibility committee (formerly the public policy committee). Each of our audit, compensation and nominating and corporate governance committees are composed entirely of independent directors. Each committee operates under a written charter adopted by the board. All of the committee charters are available on our web site at www.fcx.com under Investor Center — Corporate Governance and are available in print upon request. The members and primary functions of each board committee are described below.

 

Audit

Committee Members

  

Primary Functions of the Audit Committee

   Meetings
in 2012
 

Robert A. Day, Chairman

Gerald J. Ford

H. Devon Graham, Jr.

Jon C. Madonna

Stephen H. Siegele

  

• please refer to “Audit Committee Report” included in this proxy statement

     4   

Compensation

Committee Members

  

Primary Functions of the Compensation Committee

   Meetings
in 2012
 

H. Devon Graham, Jr., Chairman

Robert J. Allison, Jr.

Charles C. Krulak

Bobby Lee Lackey

  

• oversees the discharge of the board’s responsibilities relating to compensation of our executive officers

• administers our cash-based and equity-based incentive compensation plans

• please refer to “Compensation Committee Procedures” included in this proxy statement for more information

     5   

Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee Members

  

Primary Functions of the Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee

   Meetings
in 2012
 

Robert J. Allison, Jr., Chairman Robert A. Day

Gerald J. Ford

  

• identifies individuals qualified to serve as directors and recommends to the board director nominees for election at the next annual meeting of stockholders consistent with criteria approved by the board

• monitors the composition of the board and its committees

• maintains our corporate governance guidelines and recommends to the board any desirable changes

• evaluates the effectiveness of the board, its committees and management

• oversees the form and amount of director compensation

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Corporate Responsibility

Committee Members

  

Primary Functions of the Corporate Responsibility Committee

   Meetings
in 2012
 

Stephen H. Siegele, Chairman

Robert J. Allison, Jr.

Charles C. Krulak

Bobby Lee Lackey

Dustan E. McCoy

B. M. Rankin, Jr.

  

• oversees our environmental policy and implementation programs

• oversees our human rights policy and practices

• oversees our safety and health policies and programs

• oversees our community health programs and related public health and medical matters

• oversees our community policy and practices, governmental and stakeholder relations, and social investment and sustainable development programs

• oversees our charitable contributions

• oversees our political activity and spending practices

     3   

On May 24, 2012, the board of directors authorized a special committee of independent directors, comprised of Messrs. Allison, Krulak, Lackey, Madonna and McCoy, with the power and authority to oversee the company’s efforts to evaluate potential merger transactions with McMoRan Exploration Co. (McMoRan) and Plains Exploration & Production Company (PXP). As previously disclosed, on December 5, 2012, we entered into: (1) an agreement and plan of merger (the PXP merger agreement), by and among PXP, the company and IMONC LLC, our wholly-owned subsidiary (PXP Merger Sub), pursuant to which PXP will merge with and into PXP Merger Sub, with PXP Merger Sub surviving the merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of the company; and (2) an agreement and plan of merger, by and among McMoRan, the company and INAVN Corp., our wholly owned subsidiary (MMR Merger Sub), pursuant to which MMR Merger Sub will merge with and into McMoRan, with McMoRan surviving the merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company. Each of the merger agreements has been approved by the board of directors of each of the company and PXP and the company and McMoRan, respectively. The company completed its acquisition of PXP on May 31, 2013 and completed its acquisition of McMoRan on June 3, 2013.

Compensation Committee Procedures

The compensation committee has the sole authority to set annual compensation amounts and annual and long-term incentive plan criteria for our executive officers, evaluate the performance of our executive officers, and make awards to our executive officers under our stock incentive plans. The committee also reviews, approves and recommends to the board any proposed plan or arrangement providing for incentive, retirement or other compensation to our executive officers. The committee oversees our assessment of whether our compensation practices are reasonably likely to expose the company to material risks. The committee annually recommends to the board the slate of officers for the company, periodically reviews the functions of our executive officers and makes recommendations to the board concerning those functions.

To the extent stock options or other equity awards are granted in a given year, the committee’s historical practice has been to grant such awards at its first meeting of that year, which is usually held in January or February. Each July or August, the board establishes a meeting schedule for itself and its committees for the next calendar year. Thus, the first meeting of each year is scheduled approximately six months in advance and is scheduled to fall within the window period following the release of the company’s earnings for the fourth quarter of the previous year. The committee has a written policy stating that it will approve all regular annual equity awards at its first or second meeting of each fiscal year, and that to the extent the committee approves any out-of-cycle awards at other times during the year, such awards will be made during an open window period during which our executive officers and directors are permitted to trade.

The terms of our stock incentive plans provide that the exercise price of each stock option cannot be less than the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the grant date. Pursuant to the committee’s policies, for purposes of our stock incentive plans, the fair market value of our common stock will be determined by reference to the closing sale price on the grant date. In addition, our stock incentive plans permit the committee

 

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to delegate to appropriate personnel its authority to make awards to employees other than those subject to Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Our current equity grant policy provides that each of the chairman of the board and the chief executive officer of the company has authority to make or modify grants to such employees, subject to the following conditions:

 

   

No grant may relate to more than 20,000 shares of our common stock;

 

   

Such grants must be made during an open window period and must be approved in writing by such officer, the grant date being the date of such written approval;

 

   

The exercise price of any options granted may not be less than the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant; and

 

   

The officer must report any such grants to the committee at its next meeting.

The committee engages an independent executive compensation consultant to advise the committee on matters related to executive compensation. Please refer to the section titled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” for more information related to the independent executive compensation consultant. In addition, the board has its own independent legal counsel, with whom the committee consults on an as needed basis.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

The current members of our compensation committee are Messrs. Allison, Graham, Krulak and Lackey. In 2012, none of our executive officers served as a member of the compensation committee of another entity, or as a director of another entity, one of whose executive officers served on our compensation committee.

Board’s Role in Oversight of Risk Management

The board as a whole is responsible for risk oversight, with reviews of certain areas being conducted by the relevant board committees that report to the full board. In its risk oversight role, the board reviews, evaluates and discusses with appropriate members of management whether the risk management processes designed and implemented by management are adequate in identifying, assessing, managing and mitigating material risks facing the company. In addition, as reflected in our principles of business conduct, the board seeks to establish a “tone at the top” communicating the board’s strong commitment to ethical behavior and compliance with the law.

The board believes that full and open communication between senior management and the board is essential to effective risk oversight. Our chairman and our chief executive officer meet and discuss regularly with senior management a variety of matters including business strategies, opportunities, key challenges and risks facing the company, as well as management’s risk mitigation strategies. Senior management attends all regularly scheduled board meetings where they conduct presentations on various strategic matters involving our operations and are available to address any questions or concerns raised by the board on risk management-related or any other matters. The board oversees the strategic direction of the company, and in doing so considers the potential rewards and risks of our business opportunities and challenges, and monitors the development and management of risks that impact our strategic goals.

While the board is ultimately responsible for risk oversight at the company, its four committees assist the board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities with respect to certain areas of risk. As part of its responsibilities as set forth in its charter, the audit committee is responsible for reviewing and discussing with management and our independent registered public accounting firm the company’s major financial risk exposures and the measures management has taken to monitor, control and minimize such risks, including the company’s risk assessment and risk management policies. The audit committee assists the board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities by monitoring the effectiveness of the company’s system of financial reporting and internal controls, and the company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. Our internal audit firm and

 

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independent registered public accounting firm meet regularly in executive session with the audit committee. As part of its responsibilities as set forth in its charter, the compensation committee is responsible for overseeing the company’s assessment of whether its compensation policies and practices are reasonably likely to expose the company to material risks and, in consultation with management, is also responsible for overseeing the company’s compliance with regulations governing executive compensation. The nominating and corporate governance committee assists the board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities with respect to the management of risks associated with the company’s board leadership structure and corporate governance matters. The corporate responsibility committee assists the board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities with respect to the management of risks associated with our environmental policy and implementation programs, human rights policy and practices, safety and health policies and programs, community health programs and related public health and medical matters, community policy and practices, governmental and stakeholder relations and social investment and sustainable development programs, charitable contributions and political activity and spending practices. Each committee regularly reports on these matters to the full board.

Board and Committee Independence and Audit Committee Financial Experts

On the basis of information solicited from each director, and upon the advice and recommendation of the nominating and corporate governance committee, the board has affirmatively determined that each of Messrs. Allison, Day, Ford, Graham, Krulak, Lackey, Madonna, McCoy and Siegele has no material relationship with the company and is independent within the meaning of our corporate governance guidelines, which comply with the applicable NYSE listing standards and SEC rules. In making this determination, the nominating and corporate governance committee, with assistance from the company’s legal counsel, evaluated responses to a questionnaire completed annually by each director regarding relationships and possible conflicts of interest between each director, the company and management. In its review of director independence, the committee considered the commercial, industrial, banking, consulting, legal, accounting, charitable, and familial relationships any director may have with the company or management. The nominating and corporate governance committee recommended to the board that the nine directors named above be considered independent, which the board approved. In addition, we believe that each of Messrs. Buckwalter and Fry will be considered independent.

The board also has determined that each of the members of the audit, compensation, and nominating and corporate governance committees has no material relationship with the company and satisfies the independence criteria (including the enhanced criteria with respect to members of the audit committee and compensation committee) set forth in the applicable NYSE listing standards and SEC rules. In addition, the board has determined that each of the following members of the audit committee — Messrs. Day, Ford, Graham and Madonna — qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert,” as such term is defined by the rules of the SEC.

Director Stock Ownership Guidelines

The nominating and corporate governance committee adopted stock ownership guidelines applicable to our directors. Under the guidelines, each non-management director is encouraged to maintain ownership of company stock valued at five times his or her annual retainer, determined by reference to the one-year or five-year trailing average monthly stock price. Shares of common stock currently owned by the directors are included in total stock owned for purposes of the stock ownership guidelines, as are shares held in individual retirement accounts, shares issuable upon the vesting of outstanding restricted stock units (RSUs), shares issuable upon conversion of any convertible preferred stock outstanding, and shares held in certain trusts. We recently amended our policies to provide that any shares pledged will not be considered as owned for purposes of the stock ownership guidelines applicable to our executive officers and directors. As of December 31, 2012, all of our non-management directors exceeded their target ownership levels.

Consideration of Director Nominees

In evaluating nominees for membership on the board, our nominating and corporate governance committee applies the board membership criteria set forth in our corporate governance guidelines. Under these

 

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criteria, the committee takes into account many factors, including personal and professional integrity, general understanding of our industry, corporate finance and other matters relevant to the successful management of a large publicly traded company in today’s business environment, educational and professional background, independence, and the ability and willingness to work cooperatively with other members of the board and with senior management. In selecting nominees, the committee seeks to have a board that represents a diverse range of perspectives and experience relevant to the company. The committee also evaluates each individual in the context of the board as a whole, with the objective of recommending nominees who can best perpetuate the success of the business, be an effective director in conjunction with the full board, and represent stockholder interests through the exercise of sound judgment using their experience in these various areas.

Our nominating and corporate governance committee regularly assesses the appropriate size of the board, and whether any vacancies on the board are expected due to retirement or otherwise. In the event that vacancies are anticipated, or otherwise arise, the committee will consider various potential candidates who may come to the attention of the committee through current board members, professional search firms, stockholders or other persons. Each candidate brought to the attention of the committee, regardless of who recommended such candidate, is considered on the basis of the criteria set forth in our corporate governance guidelines.

Pursuant to the PXP merger agreement, on May 31, 2013, our board increased its size from twelve to fifteen members and our board appointed the following former PXP directors to serve on our board: Alan R. Buckwalter, III, James C. Flores and Thomas A. Fry, III.

As stated above, our nominating and corporate governance committee will consider candidates proposed for nomination by our stockholders. Stockholders may propose candidates by submitting the names and supporting information to: Corporate Secretary, Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., 333 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85004. Supporting information should include (a) the name and address of the candidate and the proposing stockholder; (b) a comprehensive biography of the candidate and an explanation of why the candidate is qualified to serve as a director taking into account the criteria identified in our corporate governance guidelines; (c) proof of ownership, the class and number of shares, and the length of time that the shares of our voting securities have been beneficially owned by each of the candidate and the proposing stockholder; and (d) a letter signed by the candidate stating his or her willingness to serve, if elected.

In addition, our by-laws permit stockholders to nominate candidates directly for consideration at next year’s annual meeting of stockholders. Any nomination must be in writing and received by our corporate secretary at our principal executive office no later than March 18, 2014. If the date of next year’s annual meeting is moved to a date more than 90 days after or 30 days before the anniversary of this year’s annual meeting, the nomination must be received no later than 90 days prior to the date of the 2014 annual meeting or 10 days following the public announcement of the date of the 2014 annual meeting. Any stockholder submitting a nomination under our by-law procedures must include (a) all information relating to the nominee that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (including such nominee’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected), and (b) the name and address (as they appear on the company’s books) of the nominating stockholder and the class and number of shares beneficially owned by such stockholder. Nominations should be addressed to: Corporate Secretary, Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., 333 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85004.

Communications with the Board

Stockholders or other interested parties may communicate directly with one or more members of the board, or the non-management directors as a group, by writing to the director or directors at the following address: Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., Attn: Board of Directors or the name of the individual director or directors, 333 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85004. The communication will be forwarded to the appropriate directors.

 

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Director Compensation

We use a combination of cash and equity-based incentive compensation to attract and retain qualified candidates to serve on the board. In setting director compensation, we consider the significant amount of time directors dedicate in fulfilling their duties as directors as well as the skill-level required by the company to be an effective member of the board. The form and amount of director compensation is reviewed by our nominating and corporate governance committee, which makes recommendations to the full board.

Cash Compensation

Each non-management director and advisory director receives an annual fee of $75,000. Committee chairs receive an additional annual fee as follows: audit committee, $25,000; compensation committee, $20,000; and all other committees (including nominating and corporate governance committee and corporate responsibility committee), $15,000. Committee members, excluding the committee chairman, receive an additional annual fee as follows: audit committee, $12,500; compensation committee, $10,000; and all other committees (including nominating and corporate governance committee and corporate responsibility committee), $7,500. Each non-management director and each advisory director receives a fee of $3,000 for attending each board and committee meeting (for which he or she is a member) and is reimbursed for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in attending such meetings.

In addition, Messrs. Krulak, Lackey, Madonna and McCoy received a one-time fee of $200,000 and Mr. Allison (chairman) received a one-time fee of $250,000 in connection with their service in 2012 on the special committee of the board.

The compensation of each of Messrs. Moffett and Adkerson is reflected in the “2012 Summary Compensation Table” included in this proxy statement.

Equity-Based Compensation

During 2012, non-management directors and advisory directors also received equity-based compensation under our Amended and Restated 2006 Stock Incentive Plan (the Plan), which was approved by our stockholders. The Plan authorizes our nominating and corporate governance committee to make equity grants, including options to acquire shares of our common stock and RSUs, to our non-management directors and advisory directors at its discretion. Under the program in effect during 2012, upon approval of our nominating and corporate governance committee, each non-management director and advisory director received an annual grant of options to acquire 10,000 shares of our common stock and 2,000 RSUs on June 1 of each year. The options are granted at fair market value on the grant date, vest ratably over the first four anniversaries of the grant date and expire on the tenth anniversary of the grant date. The RSUs also vest ratably over the first four anniversaries of the grant date. Each RSU entitles the director to receive one share of our common stock upon vesting. Dividend equivalents are accrued on the RSUs on the same basis as dividends are paid on our common stock and include market rate interest. The dividend equivalents are only paid upon vesting of the RSUs. In addition, upon initial election to the board other than at an annual meeting, a director may receive a pro rata equity grant. On June 1, 2012, each non-management director and advisory director was granted an option to purchase 10,000 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $32.07 and 2,000 RSUs.

During 2013, the nominating and corporate governance committee evaluated our equity compensation program for non-management directors and advisory directors. The nominating and corporate governance committee recognized our long-standing practice of granting equity awards using a fixed share approach, as well as our focus on delivering a majority of the equity award in the form of stock options over full-value stock awards. Referring to survey data describing the director compensation practices of the Fortune 500 companies and the largest 200 companies, the committee noted a strong trend away from the use of stock options and towards full-value equity awards and the committee recognized that a majority of these companies use a fixed

 

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value approach to equity awards. The committee also noted that the average value of the equity awarded to our non-management directors over the last three years was approximately $286,000 per year. After considering this information, in April 2013 the nominating and corporate governance committee approved changes to the equity component of our director compensation program. Beginning in June 2013, our non-management directors and advisory directors will receive annual equity awards payable solely in RSUs, with the number of RSUs granted determined by dividing $270,000 by the closing sale price of our common stock on June 1st, the grant date, or the previous trading day if no sales occur on that date, and rounding down to the nearest hundred shares. The terms of the RSUs will be the same as described above.

Non-management directors and advisory directors may elect to exchange all or a portion of their annual fee for an equivalent number of shares of our common stock on the payment date, based on the fair market value of our common stock on the date preceding the payment date. Non-management directors and advisory directors may also elect to defer all or a portion of their annual fee and meeting fees, and such deferred amounts will accrue interest at a rate equal to the prime commercial lending rate announced from time to time by JPMorgan Chase (compounded quarterly), and shall be paid out at such time or times as directed by the participant. See footnote (1) to the “2012 Director Compensation” table for details regarding participation in this program by our non-management directors.

Frozen and Terminated Retirement Plan

In April 2008, we revised our retirement plan for non-management directors who reach age 65 and are entitled to a retirement benefit based on the annual director fees. We froze the benefit under this plan for our existing directors and terminated the plan for any future directors. Under the plan, as revised, an eligible current director is entitled to an annual benefit up to a maximum of $40,000 (the prior level of annual director fees), depending on the number of years the retiree served as a non-management director for us or our predecessors. The percentage of the maximum annual benefit, which is at least 50% but not greater than 100%, will depend on the number of years the retiree served as a non-management director for us or our predecessors. The benefit is payable from the date of retirement until the retiree’s death. Each eligible director who was also a director of Freeport-McMoRan Inc., our former parent, and who did not retire from that board, will receive upon retirement from the board an additional annual benefit of $20,000, which is also payable from the date of retirement until the retiree’s death.

The chart below identifies the current non-management directors who would have been eligible to participate in the retirement plan as of December 31, 2012, and summarizes the projected benefit to each assuming the director had retired from the board on such date:

 

Name of Eligible Director

   Percent of Annual
Benefit (Maximum
$40,000) to be Paid
Annually  Following
Retirement
    Eligible for
Additional
$20,000 Benefit
 

Robert J. Allison, Jr.

     100     No   

Robert A. Day

     100     Yes   

Gerald J. Ford

     100     No   

H. Devon Graham, Jr.

     100     No   

Charles C. Krulak

     50     No   

Bobby Lee Lackey

     100     Yes   

Jon C. Madonna

     50     No   

B. M. Rankin, Jr.

     100     No (1) 

 

  (1) Mr. Rankin previously retired from the company’s former parent and is currently receiving the additional $20,000 retirement benefit from a successor entity.

 

 

 

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2012 Director Compensation

The table below summarizes the total compensation paid to or earned by our non-management directors during 2012.

2012 Director Compensation

 

Name of Director

   Fees Earned
or Paid

in Cash
(1)
     Stock
Awards

(2)
     Option
Awards

(3)
     Change in Pension
Value and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings

(4)
     All Other
Compensation
(5)
     Total  

Robert J. Allison, Jr.

     $405,500         $64,140         $108,700                 $3,021         $581,361   

Robert A. Day

     143,500         64,140         108,700         $3,618         489         320,447   

Gerald J. Ford

     131,000         64,140         108,700         3,900         489         308,229   

H. Devon Graham, Jr.

     152,500         64,140         108,700                 3,658         328,998   

Charles C. Krulak

     331,500         64,140         108,700                 2,369         506,709   

Bobby Lee Lackey

     334,500         64,140         108,700                 925         508,265   

Jon C. Madonna

     317,500         64,140         108,700         528         1,799         492,667   

Dustan E. McCoy

     303,500         64,140         108,700         21,935         1,448         499,723   

B. M. Rankin, Jr.

     103,500         64,140         108,700                 906,217         1,182,557   

Stephen H. Siegele

     141,500         64,140         108,700         52,875         489         367,704   

 

(1) Each of Messrs. Allison, Ford and Siegele elected to receive an equivalent number of shares of our common stock in lieu of 100% of his annual fee. The amounts reflected in this column include the fees used to purchase shares of our common stock by the directors.

 

(2) On June 1, 2012, each non-management director was granted 2,000 RSUs. Amounts reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of the RSUs, which are valued on the date of grant at the closing sale price per share of our common stock.

 

(3) On June 1, 2012, each non-management director was granted options to purchase an aggregate of 10,000 shares of our common stock. Amounts reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of the options. The options that were granted had a grant date fair value of $10.87 per option using the Black-Scholes-Merton option valuation model. For information relating to the assumptions made by us in valuing the option awards made to our non-management directors in fiscal year 2012, refer to Notes 1 and 11 of our financial statements in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.

 

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The following table sets forth the total number of outstanding RSUs, stock options and stock appreciation rights (SARs) held by each non-management director as of December 31, 2012:

 

Name of Director

   RSUs      Options      SARs(†)  

Robert J. Allison, Jr.

     14,500         120,000           

Robert A. Day

     6,500         180,000         13,112   

Gerald J. Ford

     6,500         180,000         13,112   

H. Devon Graham, Jr.

     22,500         85,000           

Charles C. Krulak

     10,500         110,000           

Bobby Lee Lackey

     10,500         65,000           

Jon C. Madonna

     12,500         100,000           

Dustan E. McCoy

     13,000         110,000           

B. M. Rankin, Jr.

     6,500         80,000           

Stephen H. Siegele

     6,500         120,000           

 

  (†) Reflects SARs awarded under our former director compensation program.

 

  (4) Amounts reflect the aggregate change in the actuarial present value of each director’s accumulated benefit under the revised retirement plan as calculated in accordance with Item 402 of Regulation S-K. Messrs. Allison, Graham, Krulak, Lackey and Rankin had a negative change in the actuarial present value of the pension benefit in 2012 in the amounts of $3,960, $7,412, $160, $7,548 and $8,808, respectively, due to changes in the discount rate and/or decreasing life expectancies when the director continues to provide services past the normal retirement date age of 65. As noted above, the director retirement plan has been terminated for any future directors.

 

  (5) Includes (a) consulting fees received in connection with the consulting arrangements described under “Certain Transactions” below, (b) interest credited on dividend equivalents on unvested RSUs during 2012 and (c) the dollar value of life insurance premiums and the related tax reimbursement paid by the company pursuant to an arrangement assumed in connection with our acquisition of Phelps Dodge Corporation as follows:

 

Name of Director

  Consulting Fees     Interest Credited
on Dividend
Equivalents
    Life Insurance
Premium and Tax
Paid
 

Robert J. Allison, Jr.

         $ 3,021          

Robert A. Day

           489          

Gerald J. Ford

           489          

H. Devon Graham, Jr.

           3,658          

Charles C. Krulak

           925      $ 1,444   

Bobby Lee Lackey

           925          

Jon C. Madonna

           1,086        713   

Dustan E. McCoy

           1,099        349   

B. M. Rankin, Jr.

  $ 905,728        489          

Stephen H. Siegele

           489          

Payments made under the matching gifts program are no longer reportable as a perquisite because effective January 1, 2012, the limit on the annual amount of our matching gifts was increased to $40,000 for all directors, officers, employees, full time consultants and certain retirees; therefore, matching gifts are no longer reflected in the “All Other Compensation” column for any of our directors.

 

 

 

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Proposal No. 1: Election of Directors

The terms of all of our directors expire at our 2013 annual meeting of stockholders. In accordance with our by-laws, the board has fixed the number of directors at fifteen. Upon the recommendation of our nominating and corporate governance committee, the board has nominated each of Messrs. Adkerson, Allison, Buckwalter, Day, Flores, Ford, Fry, Graham, Krulak, Lackey, Madonna, McCoy, Moffett, Rankin and Siegele to serve a one-year term commencing at our 2013 annual meeting and continuing until our 2014 annual meeting or until their successors are duly elected and qualified. The persons named as proxies on the proxy card intend to vote your proxy for the election of each such director, unless otherwise directed. If, contrary to our expectations, a nominee should become unavailable for any reason, your proxy will be voted for a substitute nominee designated by the board, unless otherwise directed.

Vote Required to Elect Director Nominees

Under our by-laws, in uncontested elections, directors are elected by a majority of the votes cast. In contested elections where the number of nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected, directors are elected by a plurality vote, with the director nominees who receive the most votes being elected.

In an uncontested election, any nominee for director who has a majority of votes cast “withheld” from his or her election will be required to promptly tender his or her resignation to the board. Our nominating and corporate governance committee will recommend to the board whether to accept or reject the tendered resignation. The board will act on the committee’s recommendation and publicly disclose its decision within 90 days from the date of the annual meeting of stockholders. Any director who tenders his or her resignation will not participate in the committee’s recommendation or the board action regarding whether to accept or reject the tendered resignation.

In addition, if each member of the nominating and corporate governance committee fails to be elected at the same election, the independent directors who were elected will appoint a committee to consider the tendered resignations and recommend to the board whether to accept or reject them. Any vacancies on the board may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office. Each director elected in this manner will hold office until his or her successor is elected and duly qualified.

Board of Directors’ Recommendation

THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR ALL OF THE DIRECTOR NOMINEES LISTED ABOVE.

 

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Information About Director Nominees

The following table provides certain information as of May 24, 2013, with respect to each director nominee, including information regarding the person’s business experience, director positions with other public companies held currently or at any time during the last five years, and the experiences, qualifications, attributes or skills that caused our nominating and corporate governance committee and the board to determine that the person should be nominated at our 2013 annual meeting of stockholders to serve as a director of the company. Unless otherwise indicated, each person has been engaged in the principal occupation shown for the past five years.

 

Name of Director

   Age     

Principal Occupation, Business Experience, and

Other Public Company Directorships

   Year First
Elected a
Director
 

Richard C. Adkerson

     66      

Chief Executive Officer of the company since December 2003. President of the company since January 2008 and from April 1997 to March 2007. Chief Financial Officer of the company from October 2000 to December 2003. Vice Chairman of the Board of the company since May 2013. Co-Chairman of the Board of McMoRan Exploration Co. (McMoRan) from 1998 until acquired by the company in 2013. President and Chief Executive Officer of McMoRan from 1998 to 2004. Vice Chairman of Freeport-McMoRan Inc. from 1995 to 1997. Chairman, Chief Executive Officer & President of Stratus Properties Inc. from 1992 to 1998. Partner in Arthur Andersen & Co. where he served as a Managing Director and head of the firm’s global oil and gas industry services from 1978 to 1989. Professional Accounting Fellow with the Securities and Exchange Commission and Presidential Exchange Executive from 1976 to 1978. Holds B.S. in Accounting with highest honors and M.B.A. from Mississippi State University and completed Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.

 

Mr. Adkerson is an experienced business leader making him highly qualified to serve as a member of the board of directors. As President and Chief Executive Officer, he is responsible for the executive management of the company. He has demonstrated exceptional leadership abilities in developing and executing a financial strategy that has benefited our stockholders, and in building an operational, financial and administrative organization that efficiently supports our business. Mr. Adkerson is recognized as a mining industry leader, having served as past Chairman of the International Council on Mining and Metals and on the Executive Board of the International Copper Association.

     2006   

 

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Name of Director

   Age     

Principal Occupation, Business Experience, and

Other Public Company Directorships

   Year First
Elected a
Director
 

Robert J. Allison, Jr.

     74      

Retired Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Anadarko Petroleum Corporation. Chairman of the Board of Anadarko Petroleum Corporation from 1986 to 2005. President and Chief Executive Officer of Anadarko Petroleum Corporation from 1979 to 2002 and March 2003 to December 2003. Holds B.S. in Petroleum Engineering from The University of Kansas. Former director of Anadarko Petroleum Corporation.

 

Mr. Allison’s experience serving as the former President and Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of one of the largest independent oil and gas exploration and production companies in the world provides him with a wealth of knowledge in dealing with operational, strategic, financial, regulatory and international matters at the board level. His business and board experience make him highly qualified to serve as the chairman of our nominating and corporate governance committee.

     2001   

Alan R. Buckwalter, III

     66      

Retired Chairman of JPMorgan Chase Bank, South Region, a position he held from 1998 to 2003. From 1990 to 1998, he was President of Texas Commerce Bank — Houston, the predecessor entity of JPMorgan Chase Bank. He holds a B.A. in Political Science and History from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Mr. Buckwalter is a director of Service Corporation International. Former director of Plains Exploration & Production Company. Mr. Buckwalter also serves as a director and on the nominating and governance committee of the Houston chapter of the National Association of Corporate Directors.

 

Mr. Buckwalter’s extensive experience serving in leadership positions in the banking industry provides him with knowledge to address the managerial, financial and strategic issues facing the company. In addition, his service as a director of other public companies allows him to provide insight on a broad range of corporate governance matters.

 

Following the closing the PXP merger, Mr. Buckwalter was appointed to the board pursuant to the PXP merger agreement. See the section titled “Corporate Governance — Consideration of Director Nominees” for additional information.

     2013   

 

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Name of Director

   Age     

Principal Occupation, Business Experience, and

Other Public Company Directorships

   Year First
Elected a
Director
 

Robert A. Day

     69      

Chairman and founder of Trust Company of the West, an investment management company and one of the largest independent trust companies in the U.S. Chairman of Oakmont Corporation, a registered investment advisor. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of W. M. Keck Foundation, a national philanthropic organization. Holds B.S. in Economics from Claremont McKenna College. Former director of Société Générale and McMoRan.

 

Mr. Day is an experienced entrepreneur and financial leader with the skills necessary to serve on the board of directors and to lead our audit committee. With his background in economics and extensive experience in the financial services industry, Mr. Day is well-versed in accounting standards and regulations, and is equipped to evaluate financial results and generally oversee the financial reporting process of a large corporation. Mr. Day brings significant business and finance experience to the board and provides insight into strategies and solutions to address an increasingly complex business environment.

     1995   

 

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Name of Director

   Age     

Principal Occupation, Business Experience, and

Other Public Company Directorships

   Year First
Elected a
Director
 

James C. Flores

     53      

Vice Chairman of the Board of the company and Chief Executive Officer and President of Freeport-McMoRan Oil & Gas, LLC, our wholly owned subsidiary, since May 2013. Former Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Plains Exploration & Production Company from its inception in December 2002 until acquired by the company in 2013 and President since 2004 until acquired by the Company in 2013. Chairman of the Board of Plains Resources, Inc. (now owned by Vulcan Energy Corporation) from May 2001 to June 2004 and current director of Vulcan Energy Corporation. Chief Executive Officer of Plains Resources, Inc. from May 2001 to December 2002. Co-founder, Chairman, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at various times from 1992 to January 2001 of Ocean Energy, Inc., an oil and gas company. Holds B.S. in Petroleum Land Management and B.S. in Corporate Finance from Louisiana State University. Former director of McMoRan and Plains Exploration & Production Company.

 

Mr. Flores is a seasoned oil and gas industry executive with over 25 years of experience in leading and managing oil and gas companies. As former Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Plains Exploration & Production Company, he brings invaluable oil and gas industry experience to our board of directors in light of our recent acquisition of two publicly traded oil and gas companies with significant onshore and offshore operations.

 

Following the closing the PXP merger, Mr. Flores was appointed to the board pursuant to the PXP merger agreement. See the section titled “Corporate Governance — Consideration of Director Nominees” for additional information.

     2013   

 

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Name of Director

   Age     

Principal Occupation, Business Experience, and

Other Public Company Directorships

   Year First
Elected a
Director
 

Gerald J. Ford

     68      

Principal Shareholder and Chairman of the Board of Hilltop Holdings Inc. since August 2007, and a director of Hilltop Holdings Inc. since June 2005. General Partner of Ford Financial Fund, L.P., a private equity firm, from January 2010 to present. Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Golden State Bancorp, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, California Federal Bank, FSB, a Federal Savings Bank, from 1998 through its 2002 merger with Citigroup Inc. Chairman of the Board of First Acceptance Corporation from 1996 to 2010 and Chief Executive Officer of First Acceptance Corporation from 1996 to 2002. Holds B.A. in Economics and J.D. from Southern Methodist University. Current director of Hilltop Holdings Inc., SWS Group, Inc. and Scientific Games Corporation. Former director of First Acceptance Corporation, Liberté Investors, Inc., Americredit Corp., Affordable Residential Communities, Inc., Pacific Capital Bancorp and McMoRan.

 

Mr. Ford is a banking and financial institutions entrepreneur who has been involved in numerous mergers and acquisitions of private and public sector financial institutions, primarily in the Southwestern United States, over the past 30 years. In that capacity, he acquired and consolidated 30 commercial banks from 1975 to 1993, forming First United Bank Group, Inc., a multi-bank holding company for which he functioned as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer until its sale in 1994. During this period, he also led investment consortiums that acquired numerous financial institutions, forming in succession, First Gibraltar Bank, FSB, First Madison Bank, FSB and First Nationwide Bank. His extensive banking industry experience and educational background provide him with significant knowledge in dealing with financial, accounting and regulatory matters, making him a valuable member of the board of directors. In addition, his service on the board of directors and audit and corporate governance committees of a variety of public companies gives him a deep understanding of the role of the board and positions him well to serve as a member of our nominating and corporate governance and our audit committees.

     2000   

 

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Name of Director

   Age     

Principal Occupation, Business Experience, and

Other Public Company Directorships

   Year First
Elected a
Director
 

Thomas A. Fry, III

     68      

Retired President of National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA), a position he held from 2000 to 2010. Before joining NOIA, Mr. Fry served as the Director of the Department of Interior’s Bureau of Land Management from 1998 to 2000 and has also served as the Director of the Minerals Management Service from 1993 to 1994. He holds a B.S. in Political Science from Trinity University and a J.D. from Southern Methodist University Law School. Former director of Plains Exploration & Production Company and Pogo Producing Company LLC.

 

Mr. Fry has served as the president of a national trade association representing all segments of the domestic offshore energy industry and as the director of federal agencies responsible for managing federal onshore oil, gas and coal operations and the exploration and development of national offshore oil and gas resources. This experience makes him highly qualified to serve on our board of directors in light of our recent acquisition of two publicly traded oil and gas companies with significant onshore and offshore operations.

 

Following the closing the PXP merger, Mr. Fry was appointed to the board pursuant to the PXP merger agreement. See the section titled “Corporate Governance — Consideration of Director Nominees” for additional information.

     2013   

H. Devon Graham, Jr.

     78      

President of R. E. Smith Interests, an asset management company, from 1997 to present. U.S. Regional Managing Partner, Arthur Andersen from 1985 to 1997. Chairman of the Board of Partners of Arthur Andersen from 1984 to 1986. Holds B.S. in Accounting from Mississippi State University. Former director of McMoRan.

 

Mr. Graham has over 40 years of experience in public accounting and has served in various leadership positions with an international accounting firm, including Chairman of the Board of Partners, member of the Worldwide Executive Committee, U.S. Regional Managing Partner, member of the U.S. Leadership Committee and Chairman of the Industry Steering Committee, making him a valuable member of the board of directors and our audit committee as well as chair of our compensation committee. In addition, Mr. Graham brings invaluable management and administrative experience as President of an asset management company. His experience provides him with the necessary skills to lead our compensation committee.

     2000   

 

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Name of Director

   Age     

Principal Occupation, Business Experience, and

Other Public Company Directorships

   Year First
Elected a
Director
 

Charles C. Krulak

     71      

President of Birmingham-Southern College from March 2011 to present. Former Commandant, United States Marine Corps, the Marine Corps’ highest-ranking officer. Retired from United States Marine Corps in 1999 after serving 35 years. Executive Vice Chairman and Head of Mergers and Acquisitions of MBNA Corp., a financial services company, from March 2004 to June 2005. Chief Executive Officer of MBNA Europe Bank, Ltd. from January 2001 to March 2004, and Senior Vice Chairman of MBNA America Bank, N.A. from 1999 to 2001. Holds B.S. in Engineering from U.S. Naval Academy and M.S. in Labor Relations from George Washington University. Current director of Union Pacific Corporation and the Aston Villa Football Club, U.K. Former director of ConocoPhillips and Phelps Dodge Corporation.

 

As a retired Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, General Krulak brings a unique perspective to the board. His successful record of leadership and military service makes him highly suited to understand and oversee the complex managerial, strategic and international considerations addressed by the board. In addition, General Krulak’s service on the boards of other public companies allows him to provide the board with a variety of insights.

     2007   

Bobby Lee Lackey

     75      

Consultant. President and Chief Executive Officer of McManus-Wyatt-Hidalgo Produce Marketing Co., shipper of fruits and vegetables from 1998 to 2000. Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of McManus Produce Co., Inc., McManus Cotton Gin, Inc. and McManus Ice Co., Inc. from 1968 to 1998. Former President of Texas Citrus and Vegetable Growers & Shippers Association. Attended The University of Texas at Austin.

 

Mr. Lackey’s over 40 years of experience in the agricultural business, where he served in various leadership positions, including President and Chief Executive Officer, makes him a valuable member of the board of directors. This experience provides him with a broad understanding of the operational, financial and strategic issues facing the company.

     1995   

 

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Name of Director

   Age     

Principal Occupation, Business Experience, and

Other Public Company Directorships

   Year First
Elected a
Director
 

Jon C. Madonna

     70      

Retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of KPMG, an international accounting and consulting firm. Retired from KPMG in 1996 having held numerous senior leadership positions throughout his career spanning over 25 years. Chairman of DigitalThink, Inc. from April 2002 to May 2004 and Chief Executive Officer of DigitalThink, Inc. from 2001 to 2002. President and Chief Executive Officer of Carlson Wagonlit Corporate Travel, Inc. from 1999 to 2000 and Vice Chairman of Travelers Group, Inc. from 1997 to 1998. Holds B.S. in Accounting from The University of San Francisco. Current director of AT&T Inc. and Tidewater Inc. Former director of Albertson’s, Inc., Visa Inc., Jazz Technologies, Inc. and Phelps Dodge Corporation.

 

Mr. Madonna’s long career in public accounting with an international accounting firm and his service as an executive and a director for several publicly traded companies provides him with extensive experience in dealing with financial, accounting and regulatory matters at the board level and gives him a deep understanding of the role of the board and expectations of our directors. In addition, his service on the audit and nominating committees of public companies in a variety of industries positions him well to serve as a member of our audit committee and to provide insights into strategies and solutions to address the challenges of our business.

     2007   

Dustan E. McCoy

     63      

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since December 2005 of Brunswick Corporation, a leading, publicly traded, global manufacturer and marketer of recreation products including marine engines, boats, fitness equipment and bowling and billiards equipment. President of the Brunswick Boat Group from 2000 until 2005. Joined Brunswick in 1999 as Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. Prior to joining Brunswick, served as Executive Vice President for Witco Corporation, a publicly traded specialty chemical products company, with operating responsibility for a variety of global businesses and functions and served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. Holds B.S. in Political Science from Eastern Kentucky University and J.D. in Law from Salmon P. Chase College of Law. Current director of Louisiana-Pacific Corporation and Brunswick Corporation. Former director of Phelps Dodge Corporation.

 

Mr. McCoy’s experience serving as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of a large, global publicly traded company provides him with a broad understanding of the operational, financial and strategic issues facing the company. In addition, his experience and qualifications as a general counsel enable him to provide insight in addressing legal and regulatory matters.

     2007   

 

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Name of Director

   Age     

Principal Occupation, Business Experience, and

Other Public Company Directorships

   Year First
Elected a
Director
 

James R. Moffett

     74      

Chairman of the Board from 1992 to present. Chief Executive Officer of the company from 1995 to 2003. Co-Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of McMoRan from 1998 until acquired by the company in 2013. Received Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans Award in 1990. Received Norman Vincent Peale Award in 2000 for exceptional humanitarian contributions to society. Holds B.S. with special honors in Geology from The University of Texas at Austin and M.S. in Geology from Tulane University.

 

Mr. Moffett, one of the founders of the company, has extensive expertise as a practicing geologist and with respect to our business operations, making him uniquely qualified to lead the board. In 1969, he and two associates founded McMoRan Oil & Gas Co., which developed into one of America’s leading independent oil and gas companies. In 1981, Mr. Moffett led the effort to merge McMoRan Oil & Gas Co. and Freeport Minerals Company. The merger resulted in the establishment of a new company, Freeport-McMoRan Inc., our former parent company, which became one of the world’s leading natural resource companies of which he served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer from 1984 until 1997 when it was acquired. Through his leadership and skill as a geologist, Mr. Moffett has guided our growth through significant discoveries of metal reserves and the development of our mines, milling facilities and infrastructure. As executive chairman, he continues to further our business strategy by applying his exceptional talents and experience as a geologist. He directs our global exploration programs and continues to be instrumental in fostering our relationships with host governments, including the government of Indonesia, the location of our Grasberg mine.

     1992   

 

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Name of Director

   Age     

Principal Occupation, Business Experience, and

Other Public Company Directorships

   Year First
Elected a
Director
 

B. M. Rankin, Jr.

     83      

Private investor. Vice Chairman of the Board from 2001 to present. Vice Chairman of the Board of McMoRan from 2001 until acquired by the company in 2013. Director and member of the Executive Committee of U.S. Oil and Gas Association, serving as Chairman from 2008 to 2010. McCombs School of Business, The University of Texas at Austin Hall of Fame, 2006. Hunt Oil Company from 1955 to 1967. Director of Texas Oil and Gas Association. Holds B.B.A. from The University of Texas at Austin.

 

Mr. Rankin is one of the founders of the company and has more than 50 years of experience in the natural resources industry. In 1969, along with Mr. Moffett and another associate, he founded McMoRan Oil & Gas Co., which developed into one of America’s leading independent oil and gas companies. In 1981, McMoRan Oil & Gas Co. and Freeport Minerals Company merged, resulting in the establishment of one of the world’s leading natural resource companies, Freeport-McMoRan Inc., our former parent company. As a founder, he has a comprehensive understanding of the company and its management, operations and financial requirements. With his detailed knowledge of our business and his perspectives regarding strategic and operational opportunities and challenges facing us, he continues to provide valuable insight to the board of directors.

     1995   

Stephen H. Siegele

     53      

Private investor. Founder and Chief Executive of Advanced Delivery & Chemical Systems, Inc. (ADCS), a worldwide leader in advanced chemicals and delivery hardware serving markets in Asia, Europe and the U.S., from 1988 to 1997. In 1997, ADCS merged with Advanced Technology Materials, Inc., a public company, where Mr. Siegele became a divisional president and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors until his retirement in 2000. He then founded and served as Chairman of Fluorine On Call, Ltd., a private company that designs and manufactures high purity fluorine generators. Mr. Siegele retired from Fluorine On Call, Ltd. in April 2006. Holds B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is an inventor of numerous U.S. patents.

 

Mr. Siegele has extensive experience as an entrepreneur and inventor within the semiconductor, microelectronics and chemical industries, and as a director and senior manager of public and private companies. These experiences provide him with a strong background in addressing the strategic, operational, financial and technical matters presented to the board, and make him highly qualified to serve as chairman of our corporate responsibility committee.

     2006   

 

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Stock Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers

We believe that it is important for our directors and executive officers to align their interests with the long-term interests of our stockholders. We encourage stock accumulation through the grant of equity incentives to our directors and executive officers and through our stock ownership guidelines applicable to our directors and executive officers.

The table below shows the amount of our common stock beneficially owned as of the record date, May 24, 2013, by each of our director nominees and our chief executive officer, our chief financial officer and our other executive officers (such officers being our named executive officers). Unless otherwise indicated, all shares shown in the table below are held with sole voting and investment power.

 

Name of Beneficial Owner

  Number of
Shares Not
Subject to
Exercisable
Options or
Vesting of RSUs
    Number of
Shares Subject

to Exercisable
Options and
Vesting of RSUs(1)
    Total Number
of Shares
Beneficially
Owned(2)
    Percent  of
Class(3)
 

Richard C. Adkerson(4)

    1,623,163        4,332,500        5,955,663        *   

Robert J. Allison, Jr.(5)

    175,560        113,500        289,060        *   

Michael J. Arnold(6)

    189,001        1,145,000        1,334,001        *   

Alan R. Buckwalter, III(7)

                         *   

Robert A. Day(8)

    1,337,500        165,500        1,503,000        *   

James C. Flores(7)

                         *   

Gerald J. Ford(9)

    125,264        165,500        290,764        *   

Thomas A. Fry, III(7)

    18               18        *   

H. Devon Graham, Jr.

    13,500        86,500        100,000        *   

Charles C. Krulak

    11,500        99,500        111,000        *   

Bobby Lee Lackey

    22,342        54,500        76,842        *   

Jon C. Madonna

    16,180        91,500        107,680        *   

Dustan E. McCoy

    11,000        100,000        111,000        *   

James R. Moffett(10)

    3,130,989        2,082,500        5,213,489        *   

Kathleen L. Quirk

    299,932        2,074,000        2,373,932        *   

B. M. Rankin, Jr.(11)

    709,860        65,500        775,360        *   

Stephen H. Siegele

    236,384        105,500        341,884        *   

Directors and executive officers as a group (17 persons)

    7,902,193        10,681,500        18,583,693        1.94

 

 * Ownership is less than 1%.

 

(1) Reflects our common stock that could be acquired within sixty days of the record date upon the exercise of options, vesting of RSUs and the termination of deferrals on previously vested RSUs.

 

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(2) In addition to the RSUs included in “Number of Shares Subject to Exercisable Options and Vesting of RSUs,” each beneficial owner holds the following unvested RSUs, which are not included in the table above.

 

Name of Beneficial Owner

   Number of RSUs  

Richard C. Adkerson

     453,537   

Robert J. Allison, Jr.

     3,500   

Michael J. Arnold

     90,195   

Alan R. Buckwalter, III

       

Robert A. Day

     3,500   

James C. Flores

       

Gerald J. Ford

     3,500   

Thomas A. Fry, III

       

H. Devon Graham, Jr.

     3,500   

Charles C. Krulak

     3,500   

Bobby Lee Lackey

     3,500   

Jon C. Madonna

     3,500   

Dustan E. McCoy

     3,500   

James R. Moffett

     453,537   

Kathleen L. Quirk

     148,471   

B. M. Rankin, Jr.

     3,500   

Stephen H. Siegele

     3,500   

For more information regarding the RSUs, see the sections titled “Director Compensation,” “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” and “Executive Officer Compensation Tables — Grants of Plan-Based Awards in Fiscal Year 2012.”

 

(3) Based on 949,737,246 shares of our common stock outstanding as of May 24, 2013.

 

(4) Includes (a) 20,330 shares of our common stock held in his individual retirement account (IRA), (b) 552,844 shares of our common stock held in a trust and (c) 131,686 shares held in a foundation with respect to which Mr. Adkerson, as a member of the board of trustees, shares voting and investment power, but as to which he disclaims beneficial ownership. Mr. Adkerson has pledged 862,425 shares of our common stock to secure a line of credit.

 

(5) Includes 59,244 shares of our common stock held by Mr. Allison’s spouse.

 

(6) Includes 5,331 shares of our common stock held in our ECAP.

 

(7) Excludes shares of our common stock acquired by former PXP directors in connection with completion of the company’s acquisition of PXP on May 31, 2013. As of May 31, 2013, Mr. Buckwalter held approximately 73,000 shares of our common stock, which includes shares of our common stock held by his minor children as to which he disclaims beneficial ownership, Mr. Flores held approximately 4.9 million shares of our common stock and Mr. Fry held approximately 24,000 shares of our common stock.

 

(8) Includes 42,000 shares of our common stock held by his spouse, as to which he disclaims beneficial ownership. Mr. Day has pledged 1,272,000 shares of our common stock to secure a line of credit.

 

(9) Includes 20,000 shares of our common stock held as trustee of a trust.

 

(10)

Includes (a) 3,066,880 shares of our common stock held by a limited liability company with respect to which Mr. Moffett, as a member, shares voting and investment power, (b) 56,557 shares of our common stock held in our ECAP and (c) 7,552 shares of our common stock held by his spouse, as to which he disclaims beneficial ownership. The limited liability company through which Mr. Moffett owns his shares has entered into three forward sale contracts with a securities broker pursuant to which the limited liability company agreed to sell: (a) 450,000 shares of common stock on March 4, 2014 and 300,000 shares of

 

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  common stock on November 3, 2014, with the sale price to be determined and paid on the respective maturity dates, and (b) up to 1,500,000 shares on November 3, 2014, with exact number of shares to be delivered on the maturity date determined by the closing price on such date, and in exchange for which the limited liability company received a payment upon execution of the contract. Under all three contracts, the limited liability company may elect to settle the contract in cash and retain ownership of the shares. The limited liability company has pledged a total of 2,250,000 shares in part to secure its obligations under these contracts but continues to hold beneficial ownership and voting power with respect to these shares, and the right to receive quarterly dividend payments of up to $0.3125 per share with respect to 450,000 of the shares.

 

(11) Includes 585,360 shares held by a limited partnership in which Mr. Rankin is the sole shareholder of the sole general partner.

 

 

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires our directors and executive officers and persons who own more than 10% of our common stock to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC. Based solely upon our review of the Forms 3, 4 and 5 filed during 2012, and written representations from certain reporting persons that no Forms 5 were required, we believe that all required reports were timely filed.

Stock Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners

Based on filings with the SEC, the table below shows the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding shares of common stock as of December 31, 2012. Unless otherwise indicated, all information is presented as of December 31, 2012, and all shares beneficially owned are held with sole voting and investment power.

 

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner

   Number of Shares
Beneficially Owned
    Percent of
Outstanding
Shares(1)
 

BlackRock, Inc.

40 East 52nd Street New York, NY 10022

     84,022,739 (2)      8.85

 

(1) Based on 949,737,246 shares of our common stock outstanding as of May 24, 2013.

 

(2) Based on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 1, 2013, by BlackRock, Inc. on its own behalf and on behalf of its subsidiaries identified therein.

 

 

Executive Officer Compensation

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

This Compensation Discussion and Analysis, or CD&A, describes and analyzes our executive compensation philosophy and program in the context of the compensation paid during the last fiscal year to our chief executive officer, our chief financial officer, and each of our two other executive officers (referred to as our named executive officers or NEOs). For fiscal year 2012, our named executive officers are:

 

   

James R. Moffett, our chairman of the board;

 

   

Richard C. Adkerson, our president and chief executive officer;

 

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Kathleen L. Quirk, our executive vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer; and

 

   

Michael J. Arnold, our executive vice president and chief administrative officer.

In this CD&A, we provide an Executive Summary of our actions and highlights from 2012. We explain the principles that guide our compensation committee’s (our committee’s) executive compensation decisions and discuss in detail each component of executive compensation, including the actual results yielded for each named executive officer for 2012. We also explain the process we follow when setting executive compensation.

Executive Summary

Our committee has implemented an executive compensation program that links our performance (as measured by key financial and business objectives) to incentive compensation. Specifically, our committee believes that a significant portion of the named executive officers’ compensation corresponds to the key measures that our stockholders use in assessing company value. The primary quantitative measures are operating cash flow, return on investment (ROI), and total shareholder return (TSR). Our committee further believes in maintaining a straightforward executive compensation program using cash (short-term), performance-based restricted stock units (long-term), and stock options (long-term). Our stockholder-approved annual incentive plan (AIP) uses operating cash flow and ROI as performance measures in awarding annual cash incentives and performance-based restricted stock units (RSUs). Stock options are annually awarded and vest over four years.

Revisions to our Executive Compensation Program

During the last few years, we have conducted an extensive effort to engage our investors in conversations to identify areas of our program that could be improved, in part in an effort to respond to stockholder concerns evidenced by a negative say-on-pay vote at our 2011 annual meeting. We have held conversations with over 25 of our largest institutional investors and two of the largest proxy advisory firms, and received comments on our executive compensation program. During the discussions, we reviewed our committee’s long-standing pay for performance philosophy and the company’s entrepreneurial culture, the history of our executive compensation programs, including modifications in response to changes in market practices as well as changes following the Phelps Dodge transaction in 2007, and our long track record of being responsive to the concerns of our stockholders. After our committee worked to develop proposed changes to our executive compensation program, we also sought input from these stockholders and advisory firms in December 2011 and January 2012 on the proposed changes. The Chairman of our committee participated in many of these discussions.

During our discussions, many of our investors noted that the company is well managed and recognized (1) the company’s strong performance over the years and (2) that the company’s executive compensation has been linked to performance. Investors who voted against say-on-pay and the proxy advisory firms cited pay magnitude as the primary concern. Many of our stockholders also noted that our AIP had a ROI performance metric that they believed lacked sufficient rigor and expressed interest in seeing more information on the qualitative factors that the committee considers in determining the AIP awards.

During 2011 and continuing into 2012, our committee worked with its independent consultant to revise our executive compensation program to respond to these concerns. In response to stockholder feedback, we implemented significant changes to the executive compensation program, including adding new caps and increasing the rigor of the ROI performance metric in the AIP beginning for awards under the AIP for 2011, and incorporating a TSR element into our performance-based restricted stock unit grants. As a result of these changes, as shown below, the total direct compensation awarded to each of the Chairman and the CEO for performance in each of 2011 and 2012 was approximately 40% less than the amount awarded for 2010. In addition, the AIP awards for 2012 were approximately 20% below the plan funding amount.

At our 2012 annual meeting, we were encouraged by the increase in stockholder support for our program from the prior year, with approximately 68% of the total votes cast approving our say-on-pay proposal. While

 

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this result indicates that there are still some concerns about our program, our committee continues to believe that the core elements of the program, including the revisions made to the AIP during 2012, support our business strategy by encouraging high performance. We also believe that the implementation of our revised program during the course of the past year and a half demonstrates our commitment to be responsive to the views of our stockholders.

In addition to the changes made to our program in early 2012 that began impacting pay for 2011 (with respect to the AIP payments for 2011 and the option awards in 2012 that related to 2011 performance), the following highlights additional actions taken during 2012 and early 2013 that impact our executives’ compensation and use of company securities:

 

   

Annual Incentive Awards Based on Performance. Awards earned under the AIP are based on our ROI performance and are funded based on our operating cash flow, with downward adjustments related to copper prices and the committee’s subjective evaluation of other financial and non-financial achievements. Following the evaluation of our performance under these metrics and goals during 2012, the committee concluded that although awards under the AIP were earned by our executive officers, the payouts should be reduced in the aggregate by approximately 20% of the plan funding amount.

 

   

Payout of 2012 AIP in Performance-Based RSUs. The committee elected to deliver the 2012 AIP payment to our Chairman, CEO and CFO solely in performance-based RSUs, with only Mr. Arnold receiving a portion of his AIP in cash. No cash incentive awards were paid to our Chairman, CEO and CFO for 2012. Accordingly, the entire 2012 AIP award for these executives was made contingent on future performance.

 

   

Adoption of Anti-Hedging Policy. We recently amended our insider trading policy to prohibit our executives and directors from entering into hedging arrangements with respect to our securities. This new policy will apply prospectively.

 

   

Revisions to Policy on Pledging. We recognize that in certain circumstances an insider’s pledge of company securities could have potential negative impacts. We believe, however, that pledging can be done in a responsible manner and that given the significant level of ownership of our securities by our executives and many of our directors and the significant trading volume of our shares, we should not adopt a blanket prohibition of these transactions. Alternatively, to address some of the concerns surrounding insider pledging of company securities, we recently amended our policies to provide the following limits on the ability of our executives and directors to pledge our securities:

 

  o our securities may not be pledged as collateral for a margin loan,

 

  o the executive or director must notify the company prior to execution of the pledge,

 

  o the executive or director must establish that he or she has the financial capacity to repay the loan without resort to the pledged securities, and

 

  o any shares pledged will not be considered as owned for purposes of the stock ownership guidelines applicable to the executive or director.

Our committee recognizes that executive compensation is an evolving area and will continue to monitor market developments. We are still awaiting rules to be adopted to implement provisions of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (Dodd Frank) relating to compensation clawbacks, hedging transactions, and pay ratio and pay for performance disclosures. Our committee expects to consider adopting new, or modifying current, policies and practices relating to these matters as these new rules are implemented.

Highlights of our Executive Compensation Program

What We Do:

 

   

Pay for Performance — a significant portion of executive pay (86% for our chairman and chief executive officer) is tied to performance of our company and increases in our stock price.

 

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Cap Total Incentive Compensation — total incentive awards under our AIP, both the cash and equity components, and stock option grants that may be received in any one year by each of our chairman and chief executive officer, may not exceed $20 million.

 

   

Limit Awards under our AIP — the total value of annual awards under the AIP (cash and equity) may not exceed six times each executive’s base salary, and while the committee has discretion to determine the form of payment, cash awards may not exceed three times the executive’s base salary.

 

   

Clawback Pay — we may recover incentive awards paid based on restated financial statements under certain circumstances.

What We Don’t Do:

 

   

No Excise Tax Gross-Ups — we have eliminated all excise tax gross-up provisions from our change in control arrangements.

 

   

No Single Trigger Vesting of Equity since 2012 — stock option and RSU awards granted since February 2012 will not accelerate upon a change in control, and will only accelerate upon the recipient’s actual or constructive termination of employment within one year of the change of control.

2012 Total Direct Compensation for Chairman and CEO drops over 40% from 2010

Our committee views each executive’s “total direct compensation” for a given year as the sum of the executive’s base salary, awards under the AIP for that year (both cash and performance-based RSUs), and the value of other long-term incentives granted in recognition of our performance for that year. As indicated in the following graphs (dollars in millions), the revisions to the executive compensation program in early 2012 had a significant impact on each executive’s total direct compensation for performance in 2011 and 2012, with the total direct compensation awarded to each of the Chairman and the CEO for 2011 being 40% less than the amounts awarded for 2010, and dropping another 6% in 2012 as compared to 2011. In addition, no cash incentive awards were paid to our Chairman, CEO or CFO for 2012. See “Summary of 2012 Total Direct Compensation” below and the discussion and tables on pages 52-53 for more information on how we calculate total direct compensation and how these amounts differ from the information contained in the 2012 Summary Compensation Table.

 

LOGO

2012 Company Performance Highlights

The following highlights certain of our accomplishments during 2012, many of which are also discussed under “Overview of Principal Components of Executive Compensation — Annual Incentive Awards — Factors Considered in Determination of 2012 AIP Awards”:

 

   

Solid operational performance and cost management

 

   

Operating cash flow for 2012 of $5.2 billion (as adjusted for working capital changes)

 

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Production growth in North America and Africa

 

   

Achievement of important milestones in the development of financially attractive projects to increase copper and molybdenum production

 

   

Continued active exploration program, with results focused on generating future reserve growth

 

   

Strong management of environmental and social programs with positive international recognition for corporate social responsibility

 

   

Completed debt refinancing, issuing $3 billion in new debt at 3% average cost, resulting in a $160 million annual interest savings

 

   

Maintained strong balance sheet and increased regular annual common stock dividend rate by 25% to $1.25 per year

During 2012, we also faced a number of challenges, including:

 

   

Labor and security issues, as well as regulatory uncertainty, in Indonesia

 

   

Six fatalities worldwide

 

   

A 7% decrease in our share price, including a 14% decrease in the 2012 fourth quarter

Executive Compensation Philosophy

The fundamental tenets of our company’s executive compensation philosophy are to:

 

   

pay for performance by emphasizing performance-based compensation that balances rewards for both short- and long-term results and provides our executives with high reward opportunities for high corporate performance,

 

   

tie compensation to the interests of stockholders, and

 

   

provide a competitive level of compensation.

Our committee believes that its pay for performance philosophy complements the company’s entrepreneurial culture. In order to achieve these goals, our committee believes that not only should a significant portion of the named executive officers’ compensation be performance-based, such compensation should also correspond to the key measures used by our stockholders in assessing our company’s value. The primary elements of the performance-based pay under our program are the awards under our stockholder-approved AIP, which focus on operating cash flow and ROI, and also include a TSR requirement.

As described below, our annual incentive plan contains both a quantitative component pursuant to which the plan is funded based on our achievement of certain financial measures, and a qualitative component pursuant to which our committee exercises its discretion in determining the ultimate awards. If our company achieves the required ROI threshold, our annual incentive plan is funded by a percentage of operating cash flow (excluding working capital changes), which we believe is a key measure of our company’s performance. Our executive compensation program also contains certain caps on the awards payable to individual executives. Our committee then uses its discretion to determine individual awards within this framework, based on its evaluation of metrics that our committee believes are critical to our success and indicative of management’s performance during the year. Our committee believes that this dual approach appropriately awards our executives if the company performs well, but also gives the members of our committee the ability to exercise their judgment and consider qualitative factors that may not be easily measurable but that also impact our success. Our stockholders have indicated an interest in learning more about the other measures our committee considers, and we have included disclosure in this CD&A describing our committee’s discretionary assessment.

 

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Overview of Principal Components of Executive Compensation

The principal components of executive officer compensation for 2012 were base salaries, annual incentive awards, and long-term incentive awards, the sum of which our committee views as the executives’ “total direct compensation.” In addition, we provide our executives with certain personal benefits and perquisites, as well as post-employment compensation, which our committee considers separately from total direct compensation and which are further described below. The following charts illustrate the component mix of the aggregate total direct compensation paid to our named executive officers for 2012:

 

LOGO

The following is an explanation of each principal component of our executive compensation program, including a description of our committee’s compensation decisions for 2012.

Base Salaries

 

How base salaries support our compensation philosophy and objectives:  

 

•   Base salaries help us meet the objective of attracting and retaining the executive officers needed to manage our business successfully.

 

•   Fixed compensation in the form of base salary represents an average of 14% of our executive officers’ compensation, reflecting our goal to allocate more compensation to the performance-dependent elements of the total compensation package.

 

Individual base salary amounts reflect our committee’s judgment with respect to each executive officer’s responsibility, performance, work experience and the individual’s historical salary level. We have not increased the base salaries of our executive officers since May 2007, when increases to the base salaries of certain executive officers were approved to address the increased responsibilities of these executives following the acquisition of Phelps Dodge. The base salaries of Messrs. Moffett and Adkerson and Ms. Quirk are contractually set pursuant to their employment agreements.

 

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Annual Incentive Awards

Our annual incentive plan, or AIP, is designed to provide performance-based awards to our executive officers, each of whose performance has a significant impact on our financial stability, profitability and future growth.

 

How the overall design of
the AIP supports our compensation philosophy
and objectives:
 

 

•   It encourages the entrepreneurial spirit of the organization and the alignment of executive management with stockholder objectives.

 

•   Its focus on operating cash flow and returns on invested capital, the underlying metrics of the plan, reflects our goal to maximize cash flows and long-term returns for our stockholders.

 

•   The variability of cash flows associated with changes in commodity prices, changes in production volumes, cost management and other changes in business conditions closely aligns management and stockholder interests.

 

•   Its revised cap on overall awards to six times the executive’s base salary limits the value of cash and equity awards while providing significant compensation opportunities if the company’s performance warrants high payouts.

 

•   Mandating that all payments over three times the executive’s base salary be made in performance-based RSUs having an equivalent value converts a portion of the annual award to a long-term incentive dependent upon the company’s continued performance.

 

General Structure of the AIP.    The current AIP was approved by our stockholders in 2009, and its design is intended to provide compensation opportunities that reflect the performance of our business, which may vary significantly from year to year, and that are consistent with observed market pay levels. As noted above, the financial measure used to fund the AIP pool is operating cash flow, excluding working capital changes, reflecting our committee’s belief that operating cash flow is a meaningful indicator of overall performance for our company.

Our committee allocates a percentage of the plan funding amount to each participant at the beginning of the year. If our five-year ROI (as defined in the AIP) is 6% or greater, our executive officers would share in a plan funding amount equal to 0.625% of our operating cash flow, as adjusted. After the end of the year, our committee then uses its discretion to determine the payouts under the plan for the year, subject to the limits on the payouts depending on ROI and other factors set forth in the plan and described below. The plan also specifically enumerates a non-exclusive list of qualitative factors that our committee may consider in exercising this discretion.

Additional Requirements under the AIP.    Beginning with the AIP awards for fiscal year 2011, our committee implemented the following guidelines that will be used in the exercise of the committee’s discretion to reduce awards when determining awards under the AIP:

 

  Ø Reduced Individual Caps Under the AIP — No participant in the AIP may receive an award under the plan having an aggregate value in excess of six times his or her salary (reduced from the eight times limit in the plan). In addition, the total value of the cash award under the AIP may not exceed three times the executive’s salary (reduced from the four times in the plan). These changes reduce the magnitude of each executive’s potential awards under the plan.

 

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  Ø Increased the Rigor of the AIP Performance Measure — The company’s operating cash flows are significantly impacted by changes in copper prices. Accordingly, as an additional overlay to the AIP metrics and the individual award caps, our committee adopted a matrix of potential awards, expressed as a multiple of salary, designed to increase the rigor of the ROI performance metric as copper prices increase. The matrix is used as a guideline and our committee considers various additional factors, as more fully described below, to determine the ultimate payouts under the AIP. Under this matrix, as copper prices increase (determined by the average consolidated realized copper price reported by the company), the company’s annual ROI must also increase in order for an increased salary multiple to apply (up to the six times cap). If ROI does not increase, the individual cap will be reduced as set forth in the table below. The matrix is only applicable if the average consolidated realized copper price reported by the company for the year is above $2.50 per pound. In developing the matrix, our committee and its consultants reviewed the company’s projections with an objective of establishing the upper end of the salary multiple opportunity as a stretch target. The annual ROI calculation will exclude costs of major projects until the project is operational.

 

Average Copper Price Per Pound

   Salary Multiples – Annual ROI Thresholds  
     2x         3x         4x         5x         6x    

$2.51-$3.00

     6     7     10     13     16

$3.01-$3.50

     9     10     13     16     19

$3.51-$4.00

     12     13     16     19     23

>$4.01

     15     17     20     23     27

 

    The following example illustrates the application of these guidelines. For this example, we are assuming that the five-year ROI measure is met for the plan year, and that the company’s operating cash flow is sufficient to generate a plan funding amount in excess of six times the executives’ aggregate salaries (the revised cap). Under these guidelines, if the average copper price per pound for the year is $3.00, in order for the executives to be eligible for an aggregate payout under the AIP of six times his or her salary (the revised cap), the company’s annual ROI must be at least 16%. If the average copper price per pound for the year is $4.20, in order for the executives to be eligible for an aggregate payout under the AIP of six times his or her salary, the company’s annual ROI must be at least 27%.

 

  Ø

Additional TSR Conditions Applicable to AIP Awards Delivered as Performance-Based RSUs — Any RSUs granted as part of the AIP will cliff vest after three years if the ROI measure has been achieved, with 20% of the award subject to forfeiture if our TSR for the three-year period ending on the December 31st prior to the vesting date is below the median TSR of our peer group (the Peer Group). For purposes of the performance-based RSUs, TSR, as applied to the company or any company in the Peer Group, means stock price appreciation from the beginning to the end of the performance period, including dividends and distributions made or declared (assuming such dividends or distributions are reinvested in the common stock of the applicable company) during the performance period, expressed as a percentage return. In addition, the Peer Group against which we will measure our TSR for these performance-based RSUs is comprised of the following companies:

 

Alcoa Inc.

   Rio Tinto plc

Anglo American plc

   Southern Copper Corporation

Antofagasta plc

   Teck Resources Limited

Barrick Gold Corporation

   United States Steel Corporation

BHP Billiton plc

   Vale S.A.

Newmont Mining Corp.

   Xstrata plc

 

    In selecting the Peer Group for these performance-based RSUs, we selected metals and mining companies that the investment community generally tracks as an industry group, many of which are based outside the U.S. Because there are limited U.S.-based metals and mining companies, we expanded our selection of U.S. companies to include two industrial metal companies, which resulted in a group of 12 companies, with one-third being comprised of U.S.-based companies.

 

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Factors Considered in Determination of 2012 AIP Awards.    In February 2012, we assigned each of our executive officers a percentage of the aggregate plan funding amount under the stockholder-approved AIP for 2012: 40% to each of Messrs. Moffett and Adkerson, 11% to Ms. Quirk and 9% to Mr. Arnold. These allocations were based on each officer’s position and were consistent with the prior year’s allocations.

Quantitative Measures.    For 2012, operating cash flow as adjusted for working capital changes as reflected in our consolidated statements of cash flows was $5.2 billion, thus producing a maximum plan funding amount of $32.5 million. During the five-year period ending in 2012, the average ROI was 17.1%. In addition, under our new guidelines, the average recorded copper price per pound was $3.60 and the 2012 ROI was 21.7%, allowing for a guideline maximum payout opportunity of 5.7 times base salary for each executive, subject to the maximum plan funding amount and the committee’s discretion to reduce the awards after review of the qualitative measures.

Qualitative Measures.    In addition to reviewing the quantitative results discussed above, our committee evaluated and considered the company’s and our management group’s performance relative to other factors in determining payouts under the AIP. Specifically, our committee evaluated performance relative to safety results, environmental and social factors, certain operational metrics, results of growth initiatives, the company’s relative TSR and ROI compared to peer companies, exploration results, financial management and management’s response to labor and governmental challenges that the company continued to face during 2012. The following is a summary of the information relative to these matters reviewed and considered by our committee when determining the 2012 AIP awards.

Safety.    Our committee assessed the company’s safety performance for 2012 based in part on pre-established targets for the total reportable rates in each area of operation and the company as a whole. Although the company’s total reportable rate in 2012 met the 2012 performance target, the company regrettably had six reportable fatalities in 2012. Our committee also recognized a number of significant safety initiatives that management completed in 2012, including the following:

 

   

Completion of OHSAS 18001 accredited certification for all sites

 

   

Enhancements to the company’s fatality prevention program

 

   

Enhancements to industrial hygiene processes at sites

 

   

Successful rollout of crisis management initiative to all FM Americas and Climax sites

 

   

Receipt of Chilean National Mining Society Award for Chilean operations

 

   

Receipt of U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health award for implementation of practices to prevent accidents in the surface mining environment

Environmental and Social.    Our committee recognized management’s continued efforts during 2012 to conduct business in an environmentally and socially responsible manner for the benefit of its stakeholders. Specifically, our operations incurred zero significant consequence environmental events. We maintained ISO 14001 Environmental Management System certifications at all major operations with Tenke being recommended for certification in December 2012. We also completed internal, external and government compliance audits, which confirmed that PT Freeport Indonesia is in full compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations. In addition, we received approval from the Peruvian Government of the environmental impact statement for the Cerro Verde expansion. During 2012, the company had several sustainability accomplishments, including:

 

   

Maintained the company’s Working Toward Sustainable Development Report at the A+ level of the Global Reporting Initiative, including third-party assurance

 

   

Completed a three-year cycle to conduct site-level external assurance of the International Council on Mining and Metals Sustainable Development Framework at all major operations

 

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Named to the Civic 50, a list of the most community-minded companies in America and a national initiative to survey and rank America’s S&P 500 corporations on how they engage with the communities they serve and institutionalize practices in their corporate culture

 

   

Completed the Cerro Verde water treatment plant for Arequipa, Peru and inaugurated the plant in partnership with President Humala

 

   

Awarded ISO 50001 certification for Atlantic Copper’s energy management system

 

   

Honored by the New Mexico Mining and Minerals Division with the Excellence in Reclamation Award for large scale and innovative reclamation at the Tyrone Mine and successfully implementing tailings and stockpile reclamation projects at Chino

 

   

Provided funding to State of Colorado Inactive Mine Reclamation Program and to Trout Unlimited to clean-up abandoned mine sites that are not associated with the company or our historic operations

 

   

Continued to strategically advance community development and investment programs in key regions where we operate:

 

  ¡    

In Africa, we continued to invest in community infrastructure projects, resettled 70 households in Tenke for the Phase II expansion project and received the Workplace/Workforce Engagement Award in the Special Focus HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis or Malaria category from GBCHealth

 

  ¡    

In Indonesia, we launched new community infrastructure investment projects in and around Timika and received an award from the Government for Best HIV/AIDS Program in the Work Place

 

  ¡    

In the United States, we established a new community investment fund in Arizona, implemented a Native American Scholarship Program and cultivated partners to support an effort to recruit and retain new STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) teachers in the U.S. (specifically Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico)

Operational Metrics.    Our committee also evaluated the company’s achievement of production and sales targets, operational efficiencies and cost management.

Sales.    The company’s consolidated sales were slightly below plan, primarily because of the labor disputes in Indonesia during the first half of 2012. Following is a summary of the company’s 2012 sales results:

 

   

North America sales exceeded forecast, reflecting the successful initiatives to increase mining and milling activities at Morenci and the ramp up of production from restarts at Miami and Chino.

 

   

South America sales were slightly below forecast and were impacted by lower recoveries at the El Abra mine, which were successfully addressed in the second half of 2012.

 

   

Tenke sales exceeded forecast and were nearly 20% higher than 2011 sales as a result of successful initiatives to increase mining rates and optimize mill performance.

 

   

Grasberg sales were below forecast because of labor disruptions in the first half of 2012 and a slower ramp-up of the underground DOZ mine following the prolonged labor strike in 2011.

Costs.    During 2012, management continued to aggressively manage costs despite inflationary pressures in a number of areas. As anticipated, unit costs in 2012 were higher than in 2011, primarily because of lower copper sales volumes in Indonesia and higher mining costs in North and South America. Consolidated unit site production and delivery costs were slightly below the unit costs estimated at the start of the year.

Growth Initiatives.    Our committee recognized the significant efforts of management to grow our business and enhance returns for stockholders. Some of the projects involve restarting idled production or replacing production from depleting reserves and others involve major expansions. Through exploration and

 

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technical evaluations, management is pursuing three major projects that have the potential to increase production by nearly 1 billion pounds of copper over the next three years. Our committee noted the following major accomplishments on growth initiatives during 2012:

 

   

Successful completion of the construction of the Climax molybdenum mine, which commenced production in 2012

 

   

Achievement of significant milestones in the development of Grasberg Underground to prepare for transition from open pit operations in 2016

 

   

Received Peruvian government approval for the environmental impact statement for Cerro Verde expansion to triple concentrator rates

 

   

Obtained key permits and commenced construction of projects at Morenci to increase production by 40% by 2014

 

   

Completed construction of Phase II expansion at Tenke to increase production by 50% (the project was completed on time and within budget in a challenging environment)

TSR & ROI Compared to Peers.    Our committee noted that the company’s one-year TSR was -4.0% compared to the median of 3.3% for the Peer Group; the company’s three-year TSR of -7.5% compared to the median of -1.0%; and the company’s five-year TSR was -25.5% compared to the median of -22.3%. The company’s ROI for the first nine months of 2012, which was the data available at the time of our committee’s review, was 17.1%, which was above the 75th percentile of 16.3%. Our three-year ROI of 31.5% was above the 75th percentile and our five-year ROI of 16.2% was the median. Thus, despite the stock price volatility we have experienced, management has effectively managed the business to deliver strong operational results.

Exploration Results.    Our committee noted the company’s aggressive exploration program to define the size of our resources, identify new resources, and develop expansion plans and growth initiatives, all with the view of generating long-term values for our shareholders. In particular, through recent exploration drilling activities, including the 2012 program, the company has identified potential new future copper reserve additions over the next few years. In addition, our committee noted the addition since 2007 of 46 billion pounds of copper reserves, replacing production by more than two times.

Financial Management.    The company has maintained a strong balance sheet, which provides financial strength to pursue aggressively its growth objectives, manage volatile market conditions and provide strong cash returns to shareholders. Following completion of the pending acquisitions, the company plans to reduce debt incurred in the transactions through operating cash flows and disciplined management of capital expenditures. For 2012, our committee noted the following items:

 

   

Completed a highly successful refinancing of its debt in February 2012, through $3 billion in bond financings at an average cost of 3% (the proceeds were used to refinance higher cost debt resulting in annual interest cost savings of approximately $160 million)

 

   

Year-end 2012 net cash position of $0.2 billion, compared with $17.6 billion in debt ($14.2 billion net of cash) at the time of the Phelps Dodge transaction in 2007; interest cost savings from debt repayments and refinancings since January 1, 2009 approximated $420 million per year

 

   

Maintained investment grade ratings with three credit rating agencies

 

   

Paid $1.1 billion in common stock dividends during 2012, and increased the annual common dividend rate from $1.00 to $1.25 per share

 

   

Obtained financing commitments for low cost debt financing for the pending acquisitions

Other Factors.    Our committee also considered the continued labor and governmental relations challenges faced by the company during 2012. Specifically, the company continued to address challenges with

 

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changes in the regulatory environment and significant labor and security challenges at its Grasberg operations. Following a three month strike in late 2011, the company successfully re-integrated the work force and improved productivity. During 2012, management dedicated significant resources to improving relations with the company’s large Indonesian work force and addressing the challenging security situation and complex regulatory environment in Indonesia.

Organizational changes at PT Freeport Indonesia were implemented in early 2012, including a change in the President Director and other senior management positions to address complex issues that had not been experienced in our 40-year operating history. Significant “quality of life” initiatives for our workforce and the local community were implemented, which are consistent with our objective of maintaining a productive and healthy work environment.

Executive management maintained active discussions with Indonesian government officials to address the labor and security issues. In addition, executive management continues to work proactively with local management and with Indonesian government officials to conclude the ongoing review of our Contract of Work in a mutually satisfactory manner. Substantial progress has been made in developing a framework for a mutually acceptable Contract of Work resolution.

We maintained good labor relations in South America and the 2011 Cerro Verde labor agreement was implemented without disruption. In addition, we were successful in reaching a new four-year labor agreement in late 2012 with the Candelaria labor union in advance of the 2013 expiration. A new labor agreement was also reached at Tenke Fungurume during 2012.

Executive management also maintained positive relations with key governmental officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Peru, Chile and the U.S. Management committed significant resources, personal involvement, and leadership in communicating with key government stakeholders on the benefits of the company’s operations.

Long-Term Incentive Awards

Long-term incentives granted by the company may consist of a variety of incentives, but we have historically granted stock options, RSUs, or a combination of the two. Since 2009, our committee’s practice has been to make annual equity-based awards to the executives in the form of stock options.

 

How long-term

incentive awards, specifically stock

options, support our compensation

philosophy and objectives:

 

 

•   Long-term incentives are a variable component of compensation intended to reward our executives for the company’s success in achieving sustained, long-term profitability and increases in stock value.

 

•   Stock options align the executives’ interests with those of our stockholders as their value is dependent on an increase in our stock price. We recognize that some institutional shareholders have expressed reservations about using stock options as performance-based compensation, but our committee strongly believes that stock options continue to be an excellent performance-based compensation vehicle that links compensation to shareholder return.

 

•   We also provide long-term incentive awards in the form of performance-based RSUs in connection with the AIP, which strengthen focus on stock price performance and encourage executive ownership of our stock.

 

 

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2012 Executive Compensation

AIP Payout and Stock Option Awards for 2012

In determining the AIP payout and stock option awards for 2012, our committee considered (1) the company’s performance in 2012, including the quantitative and qualitative measures described above, (2) the umbrella cap adopted by our committee, which limits total incentive awards to $20 million for each of our chairman and chief executive office and (3) the grant date value of the stock option awards and how those awards related to total compensation and base salary.

Although the new ROI guideline provided a maximum payout opportunity of 5.7 times base salary for each executive, this would have exceeded the maximum plan funding amount ($32.5 million), thus the maximum plan funding amount set the upper limit of awards under the AIP for 2012. Our committee recognized that the company’s stock price had declined 7% in 2012, including a 14% decrease in the 2012 fourth quarter, and the company faced challenges during 2012 as described above. The committee also remained mindful of the views of our stockholders regarding pay magnitude. Based on these factors and pursuant to its discretionary authority to reduce awards, our committee made aggregate awards under the AIP for 2012 that were approximately 20% less than the plan funding amount. In addition, the committee elected to award only performance-based RSUs to three of the named executive officers under the AIP (no cash awards). Further, our committee awarded stock options valued at approximately 2.0 times base salary for each of our chairman and our chief executive officer and 2.5-2.7 times base salary for each of our two other named executive officers.

The table below reflects the value of the 2012 AIP and stock option awards (i.e. all of the 2012 incentive compensation awards), which were awarded in January 2013. As noted below, the value of the performance-based RSUs and the stock options reflected in the table below are not included in the 2012 Summary Compensation Table on page 50, as SEC regulations require that they be reflected in the 2013 Summary Compensation Table for 2013 because they were granted during 2013. The performance-based RSUs and stock options included as part of 2012 compensation in the Summary Compensation Table were granted as part of 2011 compensation.

AIP and Stock Options Awards to the NEOs for 2012

($ millions)

 

     Actual 2012 AIP Awards      Black-Scholes
Value of
Options

Granted
for 2012(1)
     Salary
Multiple
 

Name

   Value Paid
in Cash
     Salary
Multiple
     Value Paid
in Perf.-
Based
RSUs(1)
     Salary
Multiple
     Aggregate
Value
Awarded
     Salary
Multiple
       

Mr. Moffett

   $ 0.0         n/a       $ 9.860         3.9       $ 9.860         3.9       $ 4.94         2.0   

Mr. Adkerson

     0.0         n/a         9.860         3.9         9.860         3.9         4.94         2.0   

Ms. Quirk

     0.0         n/a         3.287         5.1         3.287         5.1         1.65         2.5   

Mr. Arnold

     1.2         2.2         1.643         3.0         2.843         5.2         1.48         2.7   
  

 

 

       

 

 

       

 

 

       

 

 

    

Totals

   $ 1.2          $ 24.650          $ 25.850          $ 13.01      

 

(1) Awards were granted on January 29, 2013, and the performance-based RSU values are calculated using the Monte Carlo valuation model.

 

 

Our committee has always considered the value of the options on the grant date but did not historically use this to determine the appropriate grant level due to the significant changes in value that can occur from one year to the next. Beginning with awards made in February 2011, our committee considered both the number of options granted and the grant date values when approving awards. For awards made for 2012 (granted in January 2013), the committee approved awards with a grant date fair value that was consistent with the options awarded the prior year and approximately 50% less than the value of the options awarded for 2010. Although the awards made in February 2012 are viewed by our committee as part of 2011 total direct compensation, SEC regulations require that they be reflected in the 2012 Summary Compensation Table because they were granted during 2012.

 

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The following chart shows the varying Black-Scholes values of the options granted to the named executive officers for each of the previous three fiscal years:

 

LOGO

Summary of 2012 Total Direct Compensation

As noted above, our committee views each executive’s “total direct compensation” for a given year as the sum of the executive’s base salary, aggregate awards under the AIP for that year, and the value of long-term incentives granted in recognition of our performance for that year. In making its decisions regarding the appropriate levels of annual incentive and long-term incentive awards, our committee evaluates the impact of its decisions on the amount of total direct compensation and the percentage of each component to total direct compensation of the executive team as a group. Our committee concluded that the award levels, the form of the awards and the resulting total direct compensation set forth below for the executive team were appropriate considering the company’s performance during 2012. See a detailed calculation of total direct compensation for 2012 and a summary of 2010 to 2012 total direct compensation on pages 52-53. See also “Executive Compensation Market Assessment” below.

 

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Performance-Based Compensation v. Stock Performance

The following chart illustrates the link between the company’s performance-based compensation (total value of the AIP cash awards, performance-based RSU awards and stock option awards to our named executive officers) to the company’s stock performance over the previous four years.

 

LOGO

Realizable Pay

In addition to reviewing total direct compensation, the committee also believes that it is important to review and assess “realizable” compensation over the last three years for our Chairman and CEO. Realizable compensation differs from the amounts shown in the 2012 Summary Compensation Table required by the SEC, which appears on page 50, and is not a substitute for that table. Realizable compensation only includes the following elements of compensation found in the 2012 Summary Compensation Table, and the valuation of certain of these elements differs as noted below:

 

   

base salary for the three-year period (this value is equivalent to the aggregate value in the 2012 Summary Compensation Table),

 

   

cash awards under the AIP for the three-year period (this value is equivalent to the aggregate value in the 2012 Summary Compensation Table),

 

   

for performance-based RSUs that were granted during the three-year period, the value of such awards at vesting or, if unvested, the value as of the end of the three-year period (this value differs from the aggregate value reported in the 2012 Summary Compensation Table, which reports the grant date fair value of the performance-based RSUs granted during the three-year period), and

 

   

for stock options that were granted during the three-year period, the value received upon exercise of such awards, or if unexercised, the value as of the end of the three-year period based on the Black-Scholes pricing model (this value differs from the aggregate value reported in the 2012 Summary Compensation Table, which reports the grant date fair value of the stock options granted during the three-year period).

As shown in the graph below, realizable compensation for each of our Chairman and CEO for the three-year period was lower than his aggregate reported compensation in the 2012 Summary Compensation Table, primarily resulting from our actual stock price performance over the three-year period. Specifically, the decline

 

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in our stock price during the three-year period impacted both the actual value received by each of our Chairman and CEO in connection with vested performance-based RSUs and also the value of outstanding awards at the end of the period. In contrast, the values included in the 2012 Summary Compensation Table for these awards are the grant date fair values and thus do not reflect the impact of future stock price performance.

 

LOGO

Personal Benefits and Perquisites

In addition to the primary elements of our compensation program discussed above, we also provide certain personal benefits and perquisites to our executive officers. In recent years we have revised this program to discontinue certain benefits, and we will continue to monitor this program and adjust it as we deem appropriate. The personal benefits and perquisites currently offered are reflected in the 2012 Summary Compensation Table. Many of these benefits are designed to provide an added level of security to our executives and increase travel efficiencies, thus ensuring the executives’ ready availability on short notice and enabling the executives to focus more time and energy on company matters. Our committee also recognizes the high degree of integration between the personal and professional lives of these executive officers, and that these benefits ensure the security of the company’s proprietary information by enabling our officers to conduct business while traveling without concern that company information will be compromised.

Post-Termination Compensation

In addition to the compensation received by the executive officers during 2012 and benefits under the company’s ECAP (our 401(k) plan), which we provide to all qualified employees, we also provide certain post-employment benefits to our executive officers, including a nonqualified defined contribution plan and a supplemental executive retirement plan, as well as certain change of control and severance benefits.

Nonqualified Defined Contribution Plan.    We maintain an unfunded nonqualified defined contribution plan for the benefit of our executive officers, as well as others. The plan provides those employees whose earnings in a prior year were in excess of the dollar limit under Section 401(a)(17) of the Internal Revenue Code the ability to defer up to 20% of their base salary after deferrals to the ECAP have ceased due to qualified plan limits. The company makes a matching contribution equal to the participant’s deferrals in this plan and the ECAP limited to 5% of the participant’s base salary. In addition, the company also makes enhanced contributions equal to 4% of eligible compensation (base salary plus 50% of bonus) in excess of qualified plan limits for each eligible employee, with employees who met certain age and service requirements in 2000 (including Messrs. Moffett and Adkerson) receiving an additional 6% contribution. The purpose of the nonqualified plan is to make total retirement benefits for our employees who earn over the qualified plan limits commensurate with those available to other employees as a percentage of pay.

 

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Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan.    We established an unfunded supplemental executive retirement plan (SERP) for Messrs. Moffett and Adkerson in February 2004. Our committee, advised by Mercer, its independent compensation consultant at the time, approved the SERP, which was then recommended to and approved by our board. The SERP provides for benefits payable in the form of a 100% joint and survivor annuity, life annuity or an equivalent lump sum. The annuity will equal a percentage of the executive’s highest base pay for any three of the five years immediately preceding the executive’s retirement or the completion of 25 years of credited service, plus his average bonus for those years, provided that the average bonus cannot exceed 200% of average base pay. The percentage used in this calculation is equal to 2% for each year of credited service up to 25 years. Income associated with option exercises or the vesting of RSUs is not considered in determining the benefits payable under the SERP.

The SERP benefit will be reduced by the value of all benefits received under all other retirement plans (qualified and nonqualified), sponsored by the company, by FM Services Company, one of our wholly owned subsidiaries, or by any predecessor employer (including our former parent company, Freeport-McMoRan Inc.), except for benefits produced by accounts funded exclusively by deductions from the participant’s pay. Messrs. Moffett and Adkerson are both 100% vested under the SERP.

Change of Control and Severance Benefits.    During 2012, we provided Messrs. Moffett and Adkerson and Ms. Quirk with contractual protections in the event of a change of control, and have also entered into employment agreements with each of these executives, which provide additional severance benefits. We believe that severance protections, particularly in the context of a change of control transaction, can play a valuable role in attracting and retaining key executive officers by providing protections commonly provided in the market. In addition, we believe these benefits also serve the company’s interest by promoting a continuity of management in the context of an actual or threatened change of control transaction. The existence of these arrangements does not impact our decisions regarding other components of our executive compensation program, although we consider these severance protections an important part of our executives’ compensation packages.

We also believe that the occurrence, or potential occurrence, of a change of control transaction will create uncertainty regarding the continued employment of our executive officers. This uncertainty results from the fact that many change of control transactions result in significant organizational changes, particularly at the senior executive level. In order to encourage certain executive officers to remain employed with the company during an important time when their prospects for continued employment following the transaction are often uncertain, we provide certain executive officers with enhanced severance benefits if their employment is terminated by the company without cause or, in certain cases, by the executive in connection with a change of control. Because we believe that a termination by the executive for good reason may be conceptually the same as a termination by the company without cause, and because we believe that in the context of a change of control, potential acquirors would otherwise have an incentive to constructively terminate the executive’s employment to avoid paying severance, we believe it is appropriate to provide severance benefits in these circumstances. We do not provide excise tax gross-up protections under any change of control arrangements.

We do not believe that our executive officers should be entitled to receive cash severance benefits merely because a change of control transaction occurs. The payment of cash severance benefits is only triggered by an actual or constructive termination of employment following a change of control (i.e. a “double trigger”). Under their respective incentive agreements for awards granted prior to 2012, however, our executive officers would be entitled to accelerated vesting of their outstanding equity awards automatically upon a change of control of the company, whether or not the officer’s employment is terminated. This treatment of the equity awards in connection with a change of control applies to all award recipients. As noted above, our committee revised this practice beginning with awards made in 2012. Thus, in connection with the grants of stock options and RSUs made in February 2012 and January 2013, the agreements provide for accelerated vesting of the award following a change of control only if the recipient also experiences an actual or constructive termination of employment within one year after the change of control.

As described in more detail below under “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control,” Messrs. Moffett and Adkerson and Ms. Quirk would also be entitled under their employment agreements to

 

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severance benefits in the event of a termination of employment by the company without cause or by the executive for good reason. Our committee has determined that it is appropriate to provide these executives with severance benefits under these circumstances in light of their positions with the company and as part of their overall compensation package.

Compensation Processes and Policies

Role of Advisors.    Our committee has engaged Pay Governance LLC as its independent executive compensation consultant since February 2010. Consistent with our committee’s longstanding policy, Pay Governance will not provide, and has not provided, any services to the company’s management. As required by SEC rules, the committee has assessed the independence of Pay Governance and concluded that Pay Governance’s work did not raise any conflicts of interest. A representative of Pay Governance attends meetings of our committee and communicates with our committee chair between meetings; however, our committee makes all decisions regarding the compensation of our executive officers. Pay Governance provides various executive compensation services to our committee, including advising our committee on the principal aspects of our executive compensation program and evolving industry practices and providing market information and analysis regarding the competitiveness of our program design, as discussed in more detail below.

The committee evaluates the information provided by Pay Governance, but does not apply “hard metrics” to decisions regarding executive compensation. We have a small group of executive officers, and our committee’s decisions regarding salary levels and grant amounts (in the form of equity awards and percentage allocations under the annual incentive plan) reflect our committee’s views as to the broad scope of responsibilities of our executive officers and our committee’s subjective assessment of their individual impact on the company’s overall success. The committee also consults with our executive chairman and our chief executive officer regarding compensation decisions affecting our other executive officers.

Executive Compensation Market Assessment.    In February 2012, Pay Governance, presented the committee with a competitive market compensation assessment for the named executive officers. The committee requested this report in order to evaluate how the proposed total compensation to be paid to the company’s named executive officers compared to other publicly traded companies, but not with the intention of setting compensation levels based on the results. Pay Governance compared our executive compensation levels with those of the three groups noted below and a fourth general industry group using data from over 1,000 companies but focused on companies with similar revenues to the company ($19 billion). Although we do not believe that most of the companies in the Basic Materials group are relevant comparators for our company, we recognize that some of our institutional shareholders and some advisory groups may use this group or a similar group to evaluate our executive pay. As a result, the committee reviews this information to ensure that it understands this perspective on “the market,” despite its view that this group is not a relevant reference point.

 

U.S. Natural Resource Companies

 

Non-U.S. Metals and Mining Companies

 

Basic Materials Companies

Anadarko Petroleum Corporation

  Anglo American plc   Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.

Apache Corp.

  Barrick Gold Corporation   Alcoa Inc.

Chesapeake Energy Corporation

  BHP Billiton plc   Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.

Devon Energy Corporation

  Rio Tinto plc   E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company

Hess Corporation

  Teck Resources Limited   International Paper Company

Murphy Oil Corporation

  Vedanta Resources plc   LyondellBasell Industries N.V.

Newmont Mining Corp.

  Xstrata plc   Monsanto Company

Occidental Petroleum Corporation

    Newmont Mining Corporation
    Nucor Corporation
    PPG Industries, Inc.
    Praxair, Inc.
    Southern Copper Corporation
    The Dow Chemical Company
    The Mosaic Company

Based on a review of the information from Pay Governance, the committee recognizes that our 2011 executive compensation levels were consistent with or above the 90th percentile of each group. However, as compared to 2010, when our executive compensation levels were significantly in excess of the top of each group, these levels dropped by

 

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approximately 40% for our chairman and our chief executive officer after implementation of the changes discussed above. Pay Governance has not conducted a competitive market compensation assessment since February 2012, and we have not made changes to our program since the significant changes made in early 2012.

In light of the significant changes that will occur in our organization during 2013 as result of our proposed mergers with Plains Exploration & Production Company and McMoRan Exploration Co., Pay Governance will be performing a competitive market compensation assessment during 2013. The committee will be taking a fresh look at executive compensation and the structure of our program during 2013 following the closing of these transactions, and will use this assessment in making its executive compensation decisions.

Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.    We recognize that the level of compensation paid to our chairman and our chief executive officer is significantly greater than that paid to our other executive officers. The compensation levels of Messrs. Moffett and Adkerson reflect our view that their management of the organization provides the basis for the company to achieve success and reflects the value that we place on the quality of their leadership and capabilities. Messrs. Moffett and Adkerson each impart extraordinary value to our company, each bringing to their “partnership” a set of complementary skills. We believe their respective compensation arrangements recognize those skills and their contributions to the success of our company. As noted above, the total direct compensation awarded to each of Messrs. Moffett and Adkerson for 2012 was approximately 6% less than the amount awarded for 2011 and 43% less than the amount awarded for 2010.

Mr. Moffett has been at the helm of our company since its formation and has guided our growth through significant discoveries of metal reserves using his skill as a geologist. He also led the development of our Grasberg minerals district. As executive chairman, Mr. Moffett continues to further our business strategy by applying his exceptional talents, which has created substantial value for our company. He directs our global exploration programs and also continues to be instrumental in fostering our relationship with host governments, including the government of Indonesia, the location of our Grasberg mine.

Mr. Adkerson, as president and chief executive officer, is responsible for the executive management of our company. Mr. Adkerson has demonstrated outstanding leadership abilities in developing and executing a business and financial strategy that is positive for our stockholders, and in building an operational, financial and administrative organization that efficiently supports our business through various economic cycles. He led the combination and successful integration of our company and Phelps Dodge to become the world’s largest publicly traded copper company. In addition, Mr. Adkerson has provided strong leadership and sound judgment in our efforts to respond aggressively to changing economic circumstances. Mr. Adkerson, a recognized leader in various business and mining industry organizations, fosters strong relationships with business partners, key customers, suppliers and host governments.

Stock Ownership.    We believe that it is important for our executive officers to align their interests with the long-term interests of our stockholders. With that philosophy in mind, we have structured our compensation programs to ensure that a portion of our executive officers’ compensation is delivered in a form of equity, such as stock options and RSUs. Under our program, our executive officers will receive annual grants of stock options and/or RSUs, and our annual incentive plan requires that award amounts in excess of three times an executive’s base salary be paid in an equivalent number of RSUs.

Under our stock ownership guidelines, each of Messrs. Moffett and Adkerson is required to maintain ownership of company stock valued at five times his base salary, and our other executive officers are required to maintain ownership of company stock valued at three times their base salaries. We recently revised the guidelines to exclude shares that have been pledged from the definition of “ownership” for purposes of the guidelines. As of December 31, 2012, all of our executive officers had exceeded their target ownership level. In particular, using the one year trailing average stock price under the guidelines, each of Messrs. Moffett and Adkerson owned shares under the guidelines valued at approximately 13 times his base salary (representing $33.8 million in value for Mr. Moffett and $31.2 million in value for Mr. Adkerson and more than twice each

 

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executive’s target ownership level). These levels reflect their individual commitments to aligning their interests with those of the stockholders and provide an incentive to maximize the value of our stock over the long term. For more information regarding the current stock holdings of our executive officers, please see “Stock Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers.”

Consideration of Stock Option Exercises and RSU Vestings.    Our committee does not factor into its decisions regarding executive compensation the gains received by our executive officers in connection with exercises of stock options or the vesting of RSUs. The value an executive receives from a stock option exercise is directly related to the appreciation in value of our common stock, which in turn we believe is directly affected by the efforts of our executive officers in managing our company. Because RSUs are granted as performance compensation for the year awarded, we believe it would be inappropriate to allow the value of the award at vesting to affect future compensation decisions. Our annual incentive plan requires that any portion of our executive’s annual bonus paid in RSUs will continue to be subject to a performance condition for three years. Further, a key purpose behind granting equity awards to executives is to provide an incentive for them to increase stockholder value over time. Accordingly, our committee has not taken realized option gains into account when making decisions regarding future compensation, nor did it revise its compensation or grant practices during years when our executives did not exercise any stock options.

Compensation Clawback Policy.    Our committee has adopted an incentive compensation clawback policy that would enable the company to clawback all or a portion of incentive compensation in the event an executive’s misconduct causes the company to have to issue a restatement of its financial statements, to the extent that such executive’s incentive compensation was based on the misstated financials. Our committee will amend the clawback policy, as needed, once the SEC adopts the final implementing rules regarding compensation clawbacks mandated by Dodd-Frank.

Risks Arising from Compensation Policies and Practices    After reviewing the company’s significant compensation programs, management and our committee believe that the risks arising from our compensation policies and practices for our employees, including our executive officers, are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the company. In reaching this conclusion, we have taken into account the purpose and structure of these programs and the following design elements of our compensation programs and policies: our balance and amount of annual and long-term compensation elements at the executive and management levels; our use of operating cash flow as a performance metric for executives and management level employees, which we believe is a meaningful indicator of our performance; the multi-year vesting of equity awards that promotes focus on the long-term operational and financial performance of our company; and bonus arrangements for most employees that are not guaranteed and are ultimately at the discretion of either our committee (for our executive officers and senior management) or senior management (for other employees). These features, as well as the stock ownership requirements for our executive officers, result in a compensation program that aligns our executives’ interests with those of our stockholders and does not promote excessive risk-taking on the part of our executives or other employees.

Tax Considerations

Section 162(m).    Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (the Code) limits to $1 million a public company’s annual tax deduction for compensation paid to certain highly compensated executive officers. Qualified performance-based compensation is excluded from this deduction limitation if certain requirements are met. The committee’s policy is to structure compensation awards that will be deductible where doing so will further the purposes of our executive compensation programs. The committee also considers it important to retain flexibility to design compensation programs that recognize a full range of criteria important to our success, even where compensation payable under the programs may not be fully deductible. As such, the committee may implement revised or additional compensation programs in the future as it deems appropriate or necessary to adequately compensate our executive team.

 

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The AIP is designed to meet the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code by setting an objective performance target and a maximum funding amount. Under the plan, once the performance target has been achieved, the committee retains the discretion to reduce or eliminate the award pool and the awards to specific officers. Accordingly, this plan design preserves the company’s tax treatment of these awards as “performance-based” under Section 162(m), but gives the committee flexibility in operating the plan.

With respect to the compensation received by our named executive officers for 2012, the stock options and the awards under our AIP are designed to qualify for the exclusion from the deduction limitation under Section 162(m).

Sections 280G and 4999.    Code Section 4999 imposes a 20% excise tax on the recipient of an “excess parachute payment” and Code Section 280G disallows the tax deduction to the payor of any amount of an excess parachute payment that is contingent on a change of control. We do not provide excise tax gross-up protections under any change of control arrangements.

Compensation Committee Report

The compensation committee of the board has reviewed and discussed with management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K, and based on such review and discussion, the compensation committee recommended to the board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy statement.

Submitted by the Compensation Committee on April 22, 2013:

H. Devon Graham, Jr., Chairman

Robert J. Allison, Jr.

Charles C. Krulak

Bobby Lee Lackey

 

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Executive Compensation Tables

The table below shows the total compensation paid to or earned by our named executive officers. The amounts reflected in the Stock Awards and the Option Awards columns for 2012 were awarded in February 2012 for performance in 2011. For a more detailed discussion of our executive compensation program, see the section titled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” beginning on page 29, and for the amounts awarded for performance in 2012 specifically, see page 41.

2012 Summary Compensation Table

 

Name and

Principal Position

  Year     Salary
(1)
    Stock
Awards

(2)
    Option
Awards

(3)
    Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
(4)
    Change in
Pension Value
and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings

(5)
    All Other
Compensation
(6)
    Total  

James R. Moffett

Chairman of the Board

   

 

 

2012

2011

2010

  

  

  

   

 

 

$2,500,000

2,500,000

2,500,000

  

  

  

   

 

 

$4,746,016

7,768,290

5,818,492

  

  

  

   
 

 

$5,190,900
10,300,000

15,420,000

  
  

  

   

 

 

$—

6,000,000

10,000,000

  

  

  

   

 

 

$1,490,722

1,357,042

1,241,272

  

  

  

   

 

 

$1,771,778

2,160,511

1,773,225

  

  

  

   

 

 

$15,699,416

30,085,843

36,752,989

  

  

  

Richard C. Adkerson

President & Chief

Executive Officer

   

 

 

2012

2011

2010

  

  

  

   

 

 

2,500,000

2,500,000

2,500,000

  

  

  

   

 

 

4,746,016

7,768,290

5,818,492

  

  

  

   

 

 

5,190,900

10,300,000

15,420,000

  

  

  

   

 

 


6,000,000

10,000,000

  

  

  

   

 

 


2,188,032

4,241,511

  

  

  

   

 

 

1,574,460

1,867,544

1,555,531

  

  

  

   

 

 

14,011,376

30,623,866

39,535,534

  

  

  

Kathleen L. Quirk

Executive Vice

President, Chief

Financial Officer &

Treasurer

   

 

 

2012

2011

2010

  

  

  

   

 

 

650,000

650,000

650,000

  

  

  

   

 

 

1,542,440

2,286,248

1,967,559

  

  

  

   

 

 

1,730,300

3,090,000

4,626,000

  

  

  

   

 

 


1,625,000

2,600,000

  

  

  

   

 

 


  

  

  

   

 

 

132,756

192,440

149,239

  

  

  

   

 

 

4,055,496

7,843,688

9,992,798

  

  

  

Michael J. Arnold

Executive Vice

President & Chief

Administrative

Officer

   
 
 
2012
2011
2010
 
 
  
   

 

 

550,000

550,000

550,000

  

  

  

   

 

 

1,305,134

1,797,840

1,721,677

  

  

  

   

 

 

1,573,000

2,472,000

3,700,800

  

  

  

   

 

 

1,200,000

1,375,000

2,200,000

  

  

  

   

 

 


  

  

  

   

 

 

134,633

188,809

146,180

  

  

  

   

 

 

4,762,767

6,384,489

8,318,657

  

  

  

 

(1) Messrs. Moffett and Adkerson and Ms. Quirk also provide services to and receive compensation from McMoRan Exploration Co.

 

(2) Reflects the aggregate grant date fair value of performance-based restricted stock units (RSUs). The grant date fair value of RSUs awarded in February 2012 was calculated using a Monte Carlo simulation model as described in Note 11 to our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012. Each RSU represents a contingent right to receive one share of our common stock on February 15, 2015, if our five-year return on investment is 6% or greater, with 20% of the award subject to forfeiture if our total shareholder return (TSR) for the three-year period ending on December 31, 2014 is below the median TSR of our peer group. The maximum aggregate grant date value of the 2012 stock awards for each of the named executive officers assuming maximum payout of the RSUs is as follows: for each of Messrs. Moffett and Adkerson — $5,000,017, for Ms. Quirk — $1,624,989 and for Mr. Arnold — $1,374,984. For more information regarding RSUs granted to the named executive officers in 2013 relating to 2012 compensation, see the section titled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” beginning on page 29.

 

(3)

The amounts reported in the “Option Awards” column reflect the grant date fair value of the options granted to the named executive officers in the year reflected, determined using the Black-Scholes option valuation model. For information relating to the assumptions made by us in valuing the option awards made to our named executive officers in fiscal years 2010 through 2012, refer to Notes 1 and 11 of our financial statements in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012. Our committee views options granted in a given year as part

 

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  of the prior year’s compensation. For more information regarding options granted to the named executive officers in 2013 relating to 2012 compensation, see the section titled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” beginning on page 29.

 

(4) The amounts reported in the “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” column reflect the annual cash incentive payments received under our annual incentive plan.

 

(5) The amounts reported in the “Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings” column include the change in actuarial value of our supplemental executive retirement plan for Messrs. Moffett and Adkerson in 2010, 2011 and 2012. See the section titled “Retirement Benefit Programs” beginning on page 56 for more information. Mr. Adkerson had a negative change in the actuarial present value of the supplemental executive retirement plan benefit in the amount of $394,993 during 2012 as a result of employer contributions made to his other benefits.

 

(6) The amounts reported in the “All Other Compensation” column for 2012 reflect, for each named executive officer as applicable, the sum of the incremental cost to the company of all perquisites and other personal benefits and additional all other compensation required by SEC rules to be separately quantified, including (A) amounts contributed by the company to defined contribution plans, which includes both the ECAP and the nonqualified defined contribution plan (B) the dollar value of life insurance premiums paid by the company; and (C) the dollar value of interest credited on dividend equivalents on unvested RSUs during 2012. The perquisites and other personal benefits reported include (a) personal financial and tax advice under the company’s executive services program, (b) the aggregate incremental cost to the company of the executive’s personal use of fractionally owned company aircraft, which includes the hourly operating rate, fuel costs and excise taxes, (c) personal use of company facilities and personnel, (d) personal and business use of company cars and security services, which includes annual driver compensation and annual car lease and insurance costs, and (e) our premium payments for personal excess liability insurance, as reflected in the table below. The aggregate incremental cost to the company of Messrs. Moffett and Adkerson’s personal use of fractionally owned company aircraft does not include the lost tax deduction for expenses that exceeded the amounts reported as income for each executive, which for fiscal year 2012 was approximately $73,148 for Mr. Moffett and $73,947 for Mr. Adkerson.

 

    Perquisites and Other Personal Benefits (*)     Additional All Other Compensation  

Name

  Financial
and Tax
Advice
    Aircraft
Usage
    Facilities
and
Personnel
    Security
and

Cars
    Personal
Excess
Liability
Insurance
Premiums
    Plan
Contributions
    Life
Insurance
Premiums
    Interest
Credited
on Dividend
Equivalents
 

Mr. Moffett

  $ 20,000      $ 233,154      $ 218,507      $ 176,141      $ 4,791      $ 904,750      $ 201,124      $ 13,311   

Mr. Adkerson

    12,596        325,160        52,763        214,712        4,791        913,750        37,377        13,311   

Ms. Quirk

    2,352                             1,575        122,360        2,250        4,219   

Mr. Arnold

    17,022                      779        1,575        103,420        8,316        3,521   

 

(*) Payments made under the matching gifts program are no longer reportable as a perquisite because effective January 1, 2012, the limit on the annual amount of our matching gifts was increased to $40,000 for all directors, officers, employees, full time consultants and certain retirees; therefore, matching gifts are no longer reflected in the “All Other Compensation” column for 2012 for any of our named executive officers.

The amount reported in the “All Other Compensation” column for 2011 was adjusted to reflect payment of financial and tax advice fees incurred by Mr. Arnold in 2011 but paid in 2012.

 

 

 

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As noted above in the section titled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” our compensation committee makes compensation decisions based on each executive’s “total direct compensation” for a given year, which our compensation committee views as the sum of the executive’s base salary, aggregate awards under the AIP for that year, and the value of long-term incentives granted in recognition of our performance for that year. For 2012, total direct compensation of our executive officers was as follows:

2012 Total Direct Compensation(1)

(in millions)

 

            2012 AIP Awards                       

Executive

   Base
Salary
     Value
Paid in
Cash
     Value
Paid in
RSUs
     Black-Scholes
Value of  Stock
Options
Granted(2)
     Total Incentive
Compensation(3)
     Total Direct
Compensation
 

James R. Moffett

   $ 2.50       $ 0       $ 9.860       $ 4.94       $ 14.800       $ 17.300   

Richard C. Adkerson

     2.50         0         9.860         4.94         14.800         17.300   

Kathleen L. Quirk

     0.65         0         3.287         1.65         4.937         5.587   

Michael J. Arnold

     0.55         1.2         1.643         1.48         4.323         4.873   

 

(1) Does not include the value of perquisites and personal benefits, as well as commitments for post-employment compensation, which amounts are included in the 2012 Summary Compensation Table above and the supplementary tables below.

 

(2) Although our committee granted these stock options in January 2013, our committee views these grants as part of the executives’ 2012 total direct compensation. See the description of these awards under “Overview of Principal Components of Executive Compensation — Long-Term Incentive Awards.”

 

(3) Represents total of AIP awards (cash and performance-based RSUs) and stock option awards.

 

 

Comparison of Total Direct Compensation to Amounts Included in Summary Compensation Table for 2012. The above table differs from the 2012 Summary Compensation Table required by the SEC, which appears on page 50, and is not a substitute for that table. The 2012 Summary Compensation Table includes amounts reflecting the change in the actuarial present value of certain executives’ accumulated pension benefits and additional compensation amounts identified as “all other compensation.” The above table excludes these amounts because the committee does not consider these amounts part of their annual compensation decisions. The values of salary and non-equity incentive plan compensation reflected in the 2012 Summary Compensation Table are equivalent to the base salary and the cash portion of the annual incentive award reflected above. However, the value of the performance-based RSUs and stock options reflected in the table above are not the same values reported in the 2012 Summary Compensation Table. SEC regulations require that the Summary Compensation Table include the value of equity awards granted “in” a given year, but we view the equity awards granted following the fiscal year end, specifically the stock options and performance-based RSUs under our AIP, as part of the total compensation for the preceding fiscal year. As such, the equity awards included in the 2012 Summary Compensation Table reflect the value of stock options and performance-based RSUs granted in February 2012 for performance in 2011, and not the stock options and performance-based RSUs granted in 2013 for performance in 2012, which are reflected in the table above.

 

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The table below shows the reduction in total direct compensation of our named executive officers from 2010 to 2012.

Total Direct Compensation — 2010 to 2012

(in millions)

 

     Total Direct Compensation      Percentage
Change for
2012 from
2010
 

Executive

   2010      2011      2012         

James R. Moffett

   $ 30.57       $ 18.45       $ 17.30         -43

Richard C. Adkerson

     30.57         18.45         17.30         -43

Kathleen L. Quirk

     8.63         5.55         5.59         -35

Michael J. Arnold

     7.02         4.80         4.87         -31
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total

   $ 76.79       $ 47.25       $ 45.06         -41

 

 

Grants of Plan-Based Awards

in Fiscal Year 2012

 

Name

   Grant Date      Estimated Future
Payouts Under
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Awards: Target
    Estimated Future
Payouts Under
Equity Incentive
Plan Awards: Target
     All Other Option
Awards: Number of
Securities
Underlying Options
     Exercise or Base
Price of Option
Awards(2)
     Grant Date Fair
Value of Stock and
Option Awards
 

James R. Moffett

                

AIP – Cash Award

AIP – RSU Award

Options

    

 

 


02/06/12

02/06/12

  

  

  

    

 

 

$7,500,000

(1) 

  

  

   

 

 


106,998

  

  

  

    

 

 


330,000

  

  

  

    

 

 


$46.73

  

  

  

    

 

 


$4,746,016

5,190,900

  

  

  

Richard C. Adkerson

                

AIP – Cash Award

AIP – RSU Award

Options

    

 

 


02/06/12

02/06/12

  

  

  

    

 

 

7,500,000

(1) 

  

  

   

 

 


106,998

  

  

  

    

 

 


330,000

  

  

  

    

 

 


46.73

  

  

  

    

 

 


4,746,016

5,190,900

  

  

  

Kathleen L. Quirk

                

AIP – Cash Award

AIP – RSU Award

Options

    

 

 


02/06/12

02/06/12

  

  

  

    

 

 

1,950,000

(1) 

  

  

   

 

 


34,774

  

  

  

    

 

 


110,000

  

  

  

    

 

 


46.73

  

  

  

    

 

 


1,542,440

1,730,300

  

  

  

Michael J. Arnold

                

AIP – Cash Award

AIP – RSU Award

Options

    

 

 


02/06/12

02/06/12

  

  

  

    

 

 

1,650,000

(1) 

  

  

   

 

 


29,424

  

  

  

    

 

 


100,000

  

  

  

    

 

 


46.73

  

  

  

    

 

 


1,305,134

1,573,000

  

  

  

 

(1) Represents the estimated maximum possible annual cash incentive payment that could have been received by each named executive officer pursuant to the annual incentive plan for fiscal year 2012. These estimated amounts were calculated by multiplying the percentage of the award pool under the plan allocated to each officer for 2012 by the maximum plan funding amount produced for the 2011 plan year and applying the cap of three times each executive’s base salary under the annual incentive plan. The actual cash amounts paid in early 2013 to Mr. Arnold pursuant to the annual incentive plan for 2012 are reflected in the “2012 Summary Compensation Table.” As discussed in the section titled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” on page 41, our other named executive officers did not receive cash payouts under our annual incentive plan for 2012, instead receiving the entire value of the earned award in performance-based RSUs.

 

(2) The exercise price of each stock option reflected in this table was determined by reference to the closing quoted per share sale price of our common stock on the composite tape for NYSE-listed stocks on the grant date.

 

 

 

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Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2012

 

     Option Awards(1)      Stock Awards(2)  

Name

   Option
Grant
Date
     Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options

Exercisable
     Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options

Unexercisable
     Option
Exercise

Price(3)
     Option
Expiration
Date
     Equity
Incentive

Plan
Awards:
Number of
Unearned
Shares,

Units or
Other
Rights That
Have Not
Vested
     Equity
Incentive
Plan

Awards:
Market or
Payout

Value of
Unearned
Shares,

Units or
Other

Rights That
Have Not
Vested(4)
 

James R. Moffett

    

 

 

 

 

05/11/07

02/02/09

02/02/10

02/08/11

02/06/12

  

  

  

  

  

    

 

 

 

 

750,000

500,000

125,000

  

  

  

  

  

    

 

 

 

 


250,000

500,000

375,000

330,000

  

  

  

  

  

   $

 

 

 

 

36.460

12.295

36.255

55.640

46.730

  

  

  

  

  

    

 

 

 

 

05/11/17

02/02/19

02/02/20

02/08/21

02/06/22

  

  

  

  

  

     253,572       $ 8,672,162   

Richard C. Adkerson

    

 

 

 

 

05/11/07

02/02/09

02/02/10

02/08/11

02/06/12

  

  

  

  

  

    

 

 

 

 

3,000,000

500,000

125,000

  

  

  

  

  

    

 

 

 

 


250,000

500,000

375,000

330,000

  

  

  

  

  

    

 

 

 

 

36.460

12.295

36.255

55.640

46.730

  

  

  

  

  

    

 

 

 

 

05/11/17

02/02/19

02/02/20

02/08/21

02/06/22

  

  

  

  

  

     253,572         8,672,162   

Kathleen L. Quirk

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

02/04/03

02/03/04

02/01/05

05/11/07

02/02/09

02/02/10

02/08/11

02/06/12

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15,000

75,000

371,500

1,000,000

225,000

150,000

37,500

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


75,000

150,000

112,500

110,000

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9.443

18.383

18.520

36.460

12.295

36.255

55.640

46.730

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

02/04/13

02/03/14

02/01/15

05/11/17

02/02/19

02/02/20

02/08/21

02/06/22

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

     80,257         2,744,789   

Michael J. Arnold

    

 

 

 

 

05/11/07

02/02/09

02/02/10

02/08/11

02/06/12

  

  

  

  

  

    

 

 

 

 

700,000

120,000

120,000

30,000

  

  

  

  

  

    

 

 

 

 


60,000

120,000

90,000

100,000

  

  

  

  

  

    

 

 

 

 

36.460

12.295

36.255

55.640

46.730

  

  

  

  

  

    

 

 

 

 

05/11/17

02/02/19

02/02/20

02/08/21

02/06/22

  

  

  

  

  

     66,795         2,284,389   

 

(1) Unless otherwise noted, the stock options become exercisable in 25% annual increments on each of the first four anniversaries of the date of grant and have a term of 10 years. The stock options granted prior to 2012 will become immediately exercisable in the event of a change in control of the company (as defined in the applicable agreement), and stock options granted in 2012 will only become immediately exercisable if there is a qualifying termination of employment following a change in control.

 

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(2) The RSUs held by the named executive officers will vest and be paid out in shares of our common stock as follows, provided the average return on investment for the five calendar years preceding the year of vesting is at least 6%.

 

Name

   RSUs      Vesting
Date
 

Mr. Moffett

    

 

 

100,035

46,539

106,998

  

  

  

    

 

 

02/15/13

02/15/14

02/15/15

  

  

  

Mr. Adkerson

    

 

 

100,035

46,539

106,998

  

  

  

    

 

 

02/15/13

02/15/14

02/15/15

  

  

  

Ms. Quirk

    

 

 

31,786

13,697

34,774

  

  

  

    

 

 

02/15/13

02/15/14

02/15/15

  

  

  

Mr. Arnold

    

 

 

26,600

10,771

29,424

  

  

  

    

 

 

02/15/13

02/15/14

02/15/15

  

  

  

 

(3) Effective January 30, 2007, the compensation committee (formerly the corporate personnel committee) of the board amended its policies to provide that the exercise price of an option shall not be less than the closing quoted per share sale price of our common stock on the composite tape for NYSE-listed stocks on the grant date or, if there are no reported sales on such date, on the last preceding date on which any reported sale occurred. Thus, the exercise price of the stock options expiring in 2017 and thereafter was determined by reference to the closing price of our common stock. Prior to that time, the exercise price of each outstanding stock option reflected in this table was determined by reference to the average of the high and low quoted per share sale price of our common stock on the composite tape for NYSE-listed stocks on the grant date or, if there are no reported sales on such date, on the last preceding date on which any reported sale occurred.

 

(4) The market value of the unvested RSUs reflected in this table was based on the $34.20 closing market price per share of our common stock on December 31, 2012.

 

 

Option Exercises and Stock Vested During 2012

 

     Option Awards      Stock Awards  

Name

   Number of
Shares

Acquired on
Exercise
     Value Realized
on Exercise(1)
     Number of
Shares

Acquired  on
Vesting
     Value Realized
on Vesting(2)
 

James R. Moffett

     250,000         $7,526,250         100,033         $4,241,399   

Richard C. Adkerson

     250,000         8,531,250         180,033         7,184,599   

Kathleen L. Quirk

                     61,785         2,451,384   

Michael J. Arnold

                     26,599         1,127,798   

 

(1) The value realized on exercise is based on the difference between the closing sale price on the date of exercise and the exercise price of each option.

 

(2) The value realized on vesting is based on the closing sale price on the date of vesting of the RSUs or, if there were no reported sales on such date, on the last preceding date on which any reported sale occurred.

 

 

 

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Retirement Benefit Programs

Nonqualified Defined Contribution Plan.    We maintain an unfunded nonqualified defined contribution plan for the benefit of our executive officers, as well as others. The plan provides those employees whose earnings in a prior year were in excess of the dollar limit under Section 401(a)(17) of the Internal Revenue Code the ability to defer up to 20% of their base salary after deferrals to the ECAP have ceased due to qualified plan limits. The company makes a matching contribution equal to the participant’s deferrals in this plan and the ECAP limited to 5% of the participant’s base salary. In addition, the company also makes enhanced contributions equal to 4% of eligible compensation (base salary plus 50% of bonus) in excess of qualified plan limits for each eligible employee, with employees who met certain age and service requirements in 2000 (including Messrs. Moffett and Adkerson) receiving an additional 6% contribution. Distribution is made in a lump sum as soon as practicable or if timely elected by the participant, on January 1st of the year following retirement, but no earlier than the date allowable under law following separation from service. The table below sets forth the balances under our unfunded nonqualified defined contribution plan as of December 31, 2012 for each named executive officer.

2012 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

 

Name

   Executive
Contributions in
Last Fiscal Year(1)
     Registrant
Contributions in
Last Fiscal Year(2)
     Aggregate
Earnings in  Last
Fiscal Year(3)
     Aggregate
Withdrawals /
Distributions
     Aggregate Balance
at Last Fiscal
Year End(4)
 

James R. Moffett

   $ 202,500       $ 871,750       $ 946,645               $ 30,076,071   

Richard C. Adkerson

     112,500         880,750         678,970                 21,618,876   

Kathleen L. Quirk

     28,500         99,860         31,749                 1,045,839   

Michael J. Arnold

     27,000         80,920         102,738                 3,272,409   

 

(1) The amounts reflected in this column are included in the “Salary” column for each named executive officer for 2012 reported in the “2012 Summary Compensation Table.”

 

(2) The amounts reflected in this column are included in the “All Other Compensation” column for each named executive officer for 2012 in the “2012 Summary Compensation Table,” although the “Plan Contributions” reflected in footnote 6 to that table also include contributions to the company’s ECAP.

 

(3) The assets in the plan are treated as if invested to produce a rate of interest equal to the prime rate, as published in the Federal Reserve Statistical Report at the beginning of each month. For 2012, that rate of interest was equal to 3.25% for the entire year and none of the earnings were considered preferential.

 

(4) The following amounts reflected in this column for each named executive officer were included in the 2011 “total” compensation for each named executive officer in the “2012 Summary Compensation Table”: Mr. Moffett — $1,413,617, Mr. Adkerson — $1,332,392, Ms. Quirk — $161,991 and Mr. Arnold — $133,775. The following amounts reflected in this column for each named executive officer were included in the 2010 “total” compensation for each named executive officer in the “2012 Summary Compensation Table”: Mr. Moffett — $1,171,105, Mr. Adkerson — $1,418,605, Ms. Quirk — $116,290 and Mr. Arnold — $97,850.

 

 

Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan — Messrs. Moffett and Adkerson.    In February 2004, we established an unfunded Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP) for Messrs. Moffett and Adkerson. The compensation committee, advised by its independent compensation consultant at that time, approved the SERP, which was then recommended to and approved by the board. The SERP provides for benefits payable in the form of a 100% joint and survivor annuity, life annuity or an equivalent lump sum. If a participant retires prior to completing 25 years of credited service, the annuity will equal a percentage of the executive’s highest average base pay for any three of the five calendar years immediately preceding the executive’s retirement, plus his average bonus for the same three years; provided that the average bonus cannot exceed 200% of the average base pay. The percentage used in this calculation is 2% for each year of credited service for the company and its

 

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predecessor beginning in 1981, but capped at 25 years. For Mr. Moffett, who has attained 25 years of credited service, the annuity was fixed as of January 1st of the year in which he completed 25 years of credited service, and will only increase at retirement as a result of mortality and interest adjustments.

The SERP benefit is reduced by the value of all benefits from current and former retirement plans (qualified and nonqualified), sponsored by the company, by FM Services Company or by any predecessor employer (including our former parent company, Freeport-McMoRan Inc.), except for benefits produced by accounts funded exclusively by deductions from the participant’s pay. The amounts provided in the table below reflect these reductions. Messrs. Moffett and Adkerson are both 100% vested under the SERP, and each has elected to receive his SERP benefit in a lump sum.

2012 Pension Benefits

 

Name

   Plan Name      Number of Years
Credited Service
(1)
     Present Value of
Accumulated Benefit
(2)
 

James R. Moffett

     Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan         25         $22,041,551   

Richard C. Adkerson

     Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan         24         27,592,359   

 

(1) The years of credited service under the SERP is the participant’s years of service with the company and its predecessor beginning in 1981, but capped at 25 years.

 

(2) The present value of the accumulated benefit at the normal retirement date is calculated using the following assumptions: the mortality table described in Revenue Ruling 2001-62 of the IRS, and a 6% interest rate.

 

 

Potential Payments upon Termination or Change of Control

Employment Agreements — Messrs. Moffett and Adkerson and Ms. Quirk.    We have entered into employment agreements with each of Messrs. Moffett and Adkerson and Ms. Quirk, which were approved by our compensation committee and the board.

Mr. Moffett.    The employment agreement with Mr. Moffett provides for a base salary of $2,500,000 per year and eligibility to participate in our annual incentive plan. Mr. Moffett continues to be eligible for all other benefits and compensation, including stock options, generally provided to our most senior executives. The amended term of the agreement continued through December 31, 2009, with automatic one-year extensions unless a change of control occurs or prior written notice is given by the compensation committee (formerly the corporate personnel committee) that it does not wish to extend the agreement. In the event of a change of control during the employment term, Mr. Moffett’s employment will continue for an additional three years following the change of control pursuant to his change of control agreement. Mr. Moffett’s agreement also contains non-competition, nondisclosure and other provisions intended to protect our interests in the event that he ceases to be employed.

Mr. Adkerson and Ms. Quirk.    The employment agreements with Mr. Adkerson and Ms. Quirk reflect the current base salary for each executive officer, $2,500,000 for Mr. Adkerson and $650,000 for Ms. Quirk, and provide that each executive officer is eligible to participate in our annual incentive plan. Mr. Adkerson and Ms. Quirk continue to be eligible for all other benefits and compensation, including stock options, generally provided to our most senior executives. The original term of each agreement continued through January 1, 2012, with automatic one-year extensions unless prior written notice is given by the compensation committee (formerly the corporate personnel committee) that it does not wish to extend the agreement. In the event of a change of control, the agreements will expire three years following the change of control. These agreements also contain non-competition, nondisclosure and other provisions intended to protect our interests in the event that the executive officer ceases to be employed.

 

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In addition to the post-employment benefits provided under the company’s retirement benefit programs described above, as of December 31, 2012, we provided the following additional benefits to our named executive officers.

Severance Benefits — Messrs. Moffett and Adkerson and Ms. Quirk.    As of December 31, 2012, the employment agreements for Messrs. Moffett and Adkerson and Ms. Quirk provide that if we terminate the executive’s employment without cause or the executive terminates employment for good reason, we will make certain payments and provide certain benefits to the executive, including:

 

   

payment of a pro rata bonus for the year in which the termination of employment occurs,

 

   

a cash payment equal to three times the sum of (a) the executive’s base salary plus (b) the average of the bonuses paid to the executive for the immediately preceding three years,

 

   

continuation of insurance and welfare benefits for three years or until the executive accepts new employment, if earlier, and

 

   

acceleration of the vesting and payout of all outstanding stock options and RSUs.

Under the employment agreements, “cause” is generally defined as the executive’s (a) failure to perform substantially the executive’s duties with the company, (b) breach of the agreement, (c) felony conviction, (d) unauthorized acts resulting in harm to the company or (e) falsification of financial records. “Good reason” is generally defined as (a) any failure by the company to materially comply with any of the provisions of the agreement or (b) the assignment to the executive of any duties inconsistent in any material respect with the executive’s position, authority, duties or responsibilities under the agreement.

If the executive’s employment terminates as a result of death, disability or retirement, benefits to the executive or the executive’s estate include the payment of a pro rata bonus for the year of termination and, in the case of retirement, the continuation of insurance and welfare benefits for three years or until the executive accepts new employment, if earlier. The executive will also receive an additional year’s vesting on unvested stock options and the vesting of certain outstanding RSUs, all as described in footnotes (1) and (2) to the table below.

As a condition to receipt of these severance benefits, the executive must retain in confidence all confidential information known to him or her concerning our business. Further, Messrs. Moffett and Adkerson have each agreed not to compete with us for a period of two years after termination of employment. Ms. Quirk has agreed not to compete with us for a period of six months after termination of employment.

Change of Control Benefits — Messrs. Moffett and Adkerson and Ms. Quirk.    The change of control agreement for Mr. Moffett and the employment agreement for each of Mr. Adkerson and Ms. Quirk provide generally that the terms and conditions of the executive’s employment (including position, compensation and benefits) will not be adversely changed until the third anniversary of the change of control.

If any of Messrs. Moffett or Adkerson or Ms. Quirk is terminated without “cause,” as generally defined above, or if the executive terminates for “good reason” during the covered period after a change of control, the executive is generally entitled to receive the same payments and benefits that he or she would receive in the event of a similar termination under the employment agreements, described above, except the executive will receive a cash payment equal to three times the sum of the executive’s base salary plus the highest bonus paid to the executive (rather than the average bonus paid to the executive) for the immediately preceding three fiscal years. This is a “double trigger” agreement meaning that they do not receive benefits unless (1) a change of control occurs and (2) employment is terminated. The term “good reason” includes the failure of the acquiror to provide the executive with substantially the same position, authority, duties and responsibilities in the ultimate parent company of the entity resulting from the transaction, in addition to the reasons generally provided above.

 

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If employment terminates as a result of death, disability or retirement following a change of control, the executive will receive the same benefits described above under “Severance Benefits — Messrs. Moffett and Adkerson and Ms. Quirk” in the event of death, disability or retirement.

We do not provide excise tax gross-up protections in any of our change of control arrangements. If any part of the payments or benefits received by Messrs. Moffett or Adkerson or Ms. Quirk in connection with a termination following a change of control constitutes an excess parachute payment under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code, the executive will receive the greater of (a) the amount of such payments and benefits reduced so that none of the amount constitutes an excess parachute payment, net of income taxes, or (b) the amount of such payments and benefits, net of income taxes and net of excise taxes under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code.

The confidentiality and non-competition provisions of the executives’ employment agreements continue to apply after a change of control.

Change of Control Benefits — Mr. Arnold.    Mr. Arnold’s change of control agreement expired on December 31, 2011. Accordingly, we currently do not have a change of control agreement with Mr. Arnold. For Mr. Arnold, the following table shows only accelerated vesting of stock options and RSUs upon certain terminations of employment and upon a change of control. This benefit is a term of the stock option or RSU grant, and applies to all stock option or RSU recipients, not just our executives.

The following table quantifies the potential payments to our named executive officers under the contracts, arrangements or plans discussed above for various scenarios involving a change of control or termination of employment of each of our named executive officers. In addition to these benefits, our named executive officers would be entitled to receive the retirement and pension benefits described above under “Retirement Benefit Programs,” and outstanding vested stock options, which amounts are reflected in the “Walk-Away Value” column.

In accordance with SEC rules, the information below assumes a termination date of December 31, 2012. We have used the closing price of our common stock of $34.20 on December 31, 2012, as reported on the NYSE, for purposes of calculating the value of the unvested and accelerated options and restricted stock units.

 

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Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control

 

Name

  Lump
Sum
Payment
    Options
(Unvested and
Accelerated)
(1)
    Restricted
Stock Units
(Unvested
and
Accelerated)

(2)
    Accumulated
Dividends &
Interest
Payable on
Accelerated
RSUs
    Health
and
Welfare
Benefits
    Total     Walk-
Away
Value
(including

Value of
Vested Benefits)

(3)
 

James R. Moffett

             

• Retirement(4)

           $5,476,250        $7,080,529        $482,842        $605,325        $13,644,946        $65,762,568   

• Death / Disability(4)

           5,476,250        7,080,529        482,842               13,039,621        65,157,243   

• Termination-Good Reason/No Cause

    $48,932,454        5,476,250        8,672,162        614,638        605,325        64,300,829        116,418,451   

• Termination after Change of Control(5)(6)

    60,805,014        5,476,250        8,672,162        614,638        605,325        76,173,389        128,291,011   

Richard C. Adkerson

             

• Retirement(4)

           5,476,250        7,080,529        482,842        103,864        13,143,485        62,354,720   

• Death / Disability(4)

           5,476,250        7,080,529        482,842               13,039,621        62,250,856   

• Termination-Good Reason/No Cause

    48,932,454        5,476,250        8,672,162        614,638        103,864        63,799,368        113,010,603   

• Termination after Change of Control(5)(6)

    60,805,014        5,476,250        8,672,162        614,638        103,864        75,671,928        124,883,163   

Kathleen L. Quirk

             

• Retirement(4)

           1,642,875        2,276,352        155,717        39,325        4,114,179        17,471,438   

• Death / Disability(4)

           1,642,875        2,276,352        155,717               4,074,944        17,432,203   

• Termination-Good Reason/ No Cause

    13,556,211        1,642,875        2,744,789        194,506        39,325        18,177,616        31,534,875   

• Termination after Change of Control(5)(6)

    16,608,879        1,642,875        2,744,789        194,506        39,325        21,230,284        34,587,543   

Michael J. Arnold

             

• Retirement(4)

           1,314,300        1,916,021        131,552               3,361,873        9,262,882   

• Death / Disability(4)

           1,314,300        1,916,021        131,552               3,361,873        9,262,882   

• Termination-No Cause(7)

                                              5,901,009   

• Termination after Change of Control(5)(6)

           1,314,300        2,284,389        162,055               3,760,744        9,661,753   

 

(1) Vesting of outstanding stock options may be accelerated under certain termination scenarios pursuant to the employment agreements as discussed above. The value of the accelerated options is determined by multiplying (a) the difference between the December 31, 2012 closing price of our common stock and the applicable exercise price of each option, by (b) the number of unvested and accelerated options.

 

(2) Vesting of outstanding RSUs may be accelerated under certain termination scenarios pursuant to the employment agreements as discussed above. The values of the accelerated RSUs and the RSUs awarded in 2012 were determined by multiplying the December 31, 2012 closing price of our common stock by the number of unvested and accelerated RSUs and the number of RSUs awarded in 2012 to be retained under each scenario.

 

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(3) Includes the value of the following benefits as of December 31, 2012, for each named executive officer, as applicable: outstanding, in-the-money vested stock options, the aggregate balance of the Nonqualified Defined Contribution Plan (as reflected on page 56), and the present value of the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (as reflected on page 57). These amounts do not include benefits under our ECAP or life insurance policies. In addition to the standard life insurance policy generally available to employees, Mr. Moffett and Mr. Adkerson each have an executive life insurance policy providing for a death benefit of $3.75 million and $1.5 million, respectively.

 

(4) Generally, pursuant to the terms of the stock option agreements, upon termination of the executive’s employment as a result of death, disability or retirement, the unvested portion of any outstanding stock option that would have vested within one year of the date of termination will vest. Pursuant to the terms of the RSU agreements outstanding as of December 31, 2011, termination of the executive’s employment as a result of death, disability or retirement will result in acceleration of vesting of certain outstanding RSUs and the related amounts credited to the participant’s dividend equivalent account and all property distributions deposited in such account. With respect to the RSUs granted in February 2012, termination of the executive’s employment as a result of death, disability or retirement will not result in acceleration of vesting of outstanding RSUs awarded in 2012 and the related amounts credited to the 2012 participant’s dividend equivalent account and all property distributions deposited in such account. Instead, such 2012 grants will not be forfeited and will remain outstanding and vest on the regularly scheduled vesting date of February 15, 2015, provided the applicable performance condition is met. The full amount of RSUs granted in 2012 has been included in the table above.

 

(5) Certain of the benefits described in the table would be achieved in the event of a change of control alone, and would not require a termination of the executive’s employment. In particular, pursuant to the terms of our stock incentive plans and the individual award agreements outstanding as of December 31, 2011, upon a change of control as defined in the plans, (a) all outstanding stock options would immediately vest and (b) all restrictions on outstanding RSUs would lapse. However, with respect to the stock options and RSUs granted in February 2012, the agreements provide for accelerated vesting of the award following a change of control only if the recipient also experiences an actual or constructive termination of employment within one year after the change of control. The amounts stated in the rows titled “Termination after Change of Control” assume the full vesting of options and RSUs granted in 2012.

 

(6) Pursuant to the terms of the executive’s change of control agreement, the total payments may be subject to reduction if such payments result in the imposition of an excise tax under Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

(7) Mr. Arnold is entitled to certain severance benefits in the event of his termination without cause under the company’s Severance Plan, which is generally available to certain eligible employees.

 

 

Proposal No. 2: Advisory Vote on the Compensation of Our Named Executive Officers

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, enacted in July 2010, requires that we provide our stockholders with the opportunity to vote to approve, on a non-binding, advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement in accordance with the rules of the SEC. This vote (commonly referred to as a “say-on-pay” vote) is advisory, which means that the vote on executive compensation is not binding on the company, the board of directors or the compensation committee of the board of directors. However, the board and our compensation committee value the opinion of our stockholders and will consider the outcome of the vote when evaluating our executive compensation program. The vote on this resolution is not intended to address any specific element of compensation, but rather relates to the overall compensation of our named executive officers and our compensation philosophy and practices, as described in this proxy statement.

At last year’s annual meeting, we provided our stockholders with the opportunity to cast a non-binding advisory vote regarding the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in our proxy statement for

 

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our 2012 annual meeting of stockholders. Our stockholders approved the “say-on-pay” proposal, with approximately 68% of the total votes cast voted for the proposal. We are again asking our stockholders to vote on the following resolution:

RESOLVED, That the stockholders of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. (the Company) approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers, as disclosed in the Company’s proxy statement for the 2013 annual meeting of stockholders pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the Summary Compensation Table and the other related tables and disclosure.

We understand that our executive compensation practices are important to our stockholders. Our core executive compensation philosophy continues to be based on pay for performance, and we believe that our executive compensation program is strongly aligned with the long-term interests of our stockholders. In considering how to vote on this proposal, we encourage you to review all of the relevant information in this proxy statement — our Compensation Discussion and Analysis (including the Executive Summary), the compensation tables and the narrative discussion following the tables regarding our executive compensation program. As discussed in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this proxy statement, our compensation committee considered the results of the 2012 “say-on-pay” vote in connection with the discharge of its responsibilities and modified our executive compensation program. The next advisory “say-on-pay” vote will occur at our 2014 annual meeting of stockholders.

Vote Required to Approve, on an Advisory Basis, the Compensation of Our Named Executive Officers

Approval of this proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the common stock present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon. For more information on the voting requirements, see “Questions and Answers about the Proxy Materials, Annual Meeting and Voting.”

Board of Directors’ Recommendation

THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR THE APPROVAL, ON AN ADVISORY BASIS, OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AS DISCLOSED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT.

Audit Committee Report

The audit committee is currently comprised of five directors, all of whom are independent, as defined by SEC rules and in the NYSE’s listing standards. We operate under a written charter approved by our committee and adopted by the board. Our primary function is to assist the board in fulfilling the board’s oversight responsibilities by monitoring (1) the company’s continuing development and effectiveness of its system of financial reporting and internal controls, (2) the operation and integrity of the system of financial reporting and the integrity of the financial statements, (3) the company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, (4) the qualifications and independence of the company’s independent registered public accounting firm and (5) the performance of the company’s independent registered public accounting firm and internal auditors.

We oversee the company’s financial reporting process on behalf of the board. Our responsibility is to monitor this process, but we are not responsible for developing and consistently applying the company’s accounting principles and practices, preparing and maintaining the integrity of the company’s financial statements and maintaining an appropriate system of internal controls, auditing the company’s financial statements and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, or reviewing the company’s unaudited interim financial statements. Those are the responsibilities of management and the company’s independent registered public accounting firm, respectively.

 

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During 2012, management assessed the effectiveness of the company’s system of internal control over financial reporting in connection with the company’s compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. We reviewed and discussed with management, Deloitte & Touche LLP, the company’s internal auditor (Deloitte & Touche) and Ernst & Young, LLP, the company’s independent registered public accounting firm (Ernst & Young) management’s report on internal control over financial reporting and Ernst & Young’s report on their audit of the company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2012, both of which are included in the company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.

Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm; Financial Statement Review

In February 2012, in accordance with our charter, we appointed Ernst & Young as the company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2012. We have reviewed and discussed the company’s audited financial statements for the year 2012 with management and Ernst & Young. Management represented to us that the audited financial statements fairly present, in all material respects, the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the company as of and for the periods presented in the financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, and Ernst & Young provided an audit opinion to the same effect.

We have received from Ernst & Young the written disclosures required by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Ethics and Independence Rule 3526, Communication with Audit Committees Concerning Independence, regarding the company’s independent registered public accounting firm’s independence, and we have discussed with them their independence from the company and management. We have also discussed with Ernst & Young the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, as amended (AICPA, Professional Standards, Vol. 1, AU section 380), as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board in Rule 3200T.

In addition, we have discussed with Ernst & Young the overall scope and plans for their audit, and have met with them and management to discuss the results of their examination, their understanding and evaluation of the company’s internal controls as they considered necessary to support their opinions on the financial statements and on the internal control over financial reporting for the year 2012, and various factors affecting the overall quality of accounting principles applied in the company’s financial reporting. Ernst & Young also met with us without management being present to discuss these matters.

In reliance on these reviews and discussions, we recommended to the board, and the board approved, the inclusion of the audited financial statements referred to above in the company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.

Internal Audit

We also review the company’s internal audit function, including the selection and compensation of the company’s internal auditor. In February 2012, in accordance with our charter, we appointed Deloitte & Touche as the company’s internal auditor for 2012. We have discussed with Deloitte & Touche the scope of their audit plan, and have met with them to discuss the results of their reviews, their review of management’s documentation, testing and evaluation of the company’s system of internal control over financial reporting, any difficulties or disputes with management encountered during the course of their reviews and other matters relating to the internal audit process. The internal auditor also met with us without management being present to discuss these matters.

Dated: May 23, 2013

Robert A. Day, Chairman

Gerald J. Ford

H. Devon Graham, Jr.

Jon C. Madonna

Stephen H. Siegele

 

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Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Fees and Related Disclosures for Accounting Services

The following table discloses the fees for professional services provided by Ernst & Young in each of the last two fiscal years:

 

     2012     2011  

Audit Fees(1)

   $ 9,774,000 (2)    $ 9,585,000   

Audit-Related Fees(3)

     106,000        83,000   

Tax Fees(4)

     384,000        203,000   

All Other Fees

              

 

(1) Audit Fees were primarily for professional services rendered for the audits of the consolidated financial statements and internal controls over financial reporting in compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the review of documents filed with the SEC, consents, comfort letters and financial accounting and reporting consultations.

 

(2) Includes additional fees and expenses in the amount of $568,000 that had not been billed at the time of our filing of Amendment No. 1 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

(3) Audit-Related Fees were primarily for professional services rendered for other attest and due diligence services.

 

(4) Tax Fees were for professional services related to general tax consultation, transfer pricing, tax compliance and international tax matters.

 

 

The audit committee has determined that the provision of the services described above is compatible with maintaining the independence of our independent registered public accounting firm.

Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

The audit committee’s policy is to pre-approve all audit services, audit-related services and other services permitted by law provided by our independent registered public accounting firm. In accordance with that policy, the committee annually pre-approves a list of specific services and categories of services, including audit, audit-related and other services, for the upcoming or current fiscal year, subject to specified cost levels. Any service that is not included in the approved list of services must be separately pre-approved by the audit committee. In addition, if fees for any service exceed the amount that has been pre-approved, then payment of additional fees for such service must be specifically pre-approved by the audit committee; however, any proposed service that has an anticipated or additional cost of no more than $30,000 may be pre-approved by the chairman of the audit committee, provided that the total anticipated costs of all such projects pre-approved by the chairman during any fiscal quarter does not exceed $60,000.

At each regularly-scheduled audit committee meeting, management updates the committee on the scope and anticipated cost of (1) any service pre-approved by the chairman since the last meeting of the committee and (2) the projected fees for each service or group of services being provided by our independent registered public accounting firm. Since the 2003 effective date of the SEC rules stating that an auditor is not independent of an audit client if the services it provides to the client are not appropriately approved, each service provided by our independent registered public accounting firm has been approved in advance by the audit committee, and none of those services required use of the de minimis exception to pre-approval contained in the SEC’s rules.

 

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Proposal No. 3: Ratification of the Appointment of our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

In January 2013, our audit committee appointed Ernst & Young as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2013. Our audit committee and board seek stockholder ratification of the audit committee’s appointment of Ernst & Young as our independent registered public accounting firm to audit our and our subsidiaries’ financial statements for the year 2013. If the stockholders do not ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young, our audit committee will reconsider this appointment. Representatives of Ernst & Young are expected to be present at the annual meeting to respond to appropriate questions, and those representatives will also have an opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so.

Vote Required to Ratify the Appointment of our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Approval of this proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the common stock present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon. For more information on the voting requirements, see “Questions and Answers about the Proxy Materials, Annual Meeting and Voting.”

Board of Directors’ Recommendation

THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM.

Certain Transactions

Director Transactions

Our Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that any transaction that would require disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K of the rules and regulations of the SEC, with respect to a director or executive officer, must be reviewed and approved, or ratified, annually by the board. Any such related party transactions will only be approved or ratified if the board determines that such transaction will not impair the involved person’s service to, and exercise of judgment on behalf of, the company, or otherwise create a conflict of interest that would be detrimental to the company. The director transaction described below has been reviewed and approved or ratified by the board.

B. M. Rankin, Jr. and FM Services Company are parties to an agreement under which Mr. Rankin renders business consulting services to us and, prior to our acquisition of McMoRan on June 3, 2013, to McMoRan, relating to finance, accounting, guidance and advice on public policy matters and business development. FM Services Company provides Mr. Rankin compensation, medical coverage and reimbursement for taxes in connection with those medical benefits. In 2012, FM Services Company paid Mr. Rankin $490,000 ($389,991 of which was allocated to us) pursuant to this agreement. During 2012, the cost to FM Services Company (all of which was allocated to us) for Mr. Rankin’s personal use of company facilities was $24,300, medical expenses was $23,327, and reimbursement for a portion of his office rent and utilities and for executive administrative and support services was $37,114. In addition, during 2012 the aggregate incremental cost to FM Services Company (all of which was allocated to us) for Mr. Rankin’s personal use of fractionally owned company aircraft, which includes the hourly operating rate, fuel costs and excise taxes, was $430,996. The aggregate incremental cost does not include the lost tax deduction for expenses that exceeded the amounts reported as income for Mr. Rankin, which for fiscal year 2012 was approximately $81,915. Accordingly, the total received by Mr. Rankin during 2012 pursuant to this agreement was $1,005,737 of which $905,728 was allocated to us.

 

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Proposal No. 4: Stockholder Proposal A

We have received a stockholder proposal from the New York State Common Retirement Fund for presentation at the annual meeting of stockholders. Upon request, we will provide the address of the proponent and the number of shares of our common stock held by the proponent. Requests may be sent to the Corporate Secretary, Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., 333 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85004 or submitted by calling (602) 366-8100.

Approval of the proposal would require the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of our common stock present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote on the proposal. The board opposes Proposal No. 4: Stockholder Proposal A for the reasons stated following the proposal.

 

 

RESOLVED, that the shareholders request that, as the terms in office of elected directors expire, at least one candidate shall be selected and recommended for election to the company’s board who:

(i) has a high level of expertise and experience in environmental matters relevant to mining and is widely recognized in the business and environmental communities as an authority in such field, in each case as reasonably determined by the company’s board, and

(ii) will qualify, subject to limited exceptions in extraordinary circumstances explicitly specified by the board, as an independent director under the standards applicable to the company as a New York Stock Exchange listed company, in order that the company’s board includes at least one director satisfying the foregoing criteria, which director shall have designated responsibility on the board for environmental matters.

Supporting statement

Environmental expertise is critical to the success of mining companies in the twenty-first century because of the significant environmental impacts mining can have. Shareholders, lenders, host country governments and regulators, as well as affected communities, are focused on the environmental impact of mining operations. A company’s inability to demonstrate that its environmental performance matches internationally accepted standards can lead to difficulties in accessing capital for new projects and obtaining the necessary regulatory licenses.

The company continues to receive sharp criticism regarding its environmental policies and practices, notably over the impact of riverine tailings disposal at its Grasberg operation (see e.g., Norway Sells $853 Million Rio Stake on Ethics Grounds, http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/story.aspx?guid=%7bBDE96994-B8D8-4A33-8ECD-0 789B0763BED%7d&siteid=rss).

We believe that this controversy damages shareholder value and that the company must respond to its environmental challenges in an effective, strategic and transparent manner in order to restore trust in the company and minimize the adverse environmental impact of its operations.

Freeport does not currently have an independent director with environmental expertise and designated responsibility for environmental matters — yet environmental management is critical to the company’s future success. We believe it would benefit the company to address the environmental impact of its business at the most strategic level in a similar manner to the way it has addressed human rights — by appointing a specialist to the board. An authoritative figure with acknowledged environmental expertise and standing who is respected in the environmental community could perform a valuable and strategic role for the company. Such leadership would enable the company more effectively to address the environmental issues inherent in its business, including the environmental and health impacts of riverine tailings disposal and the feasibility of long-term rehabilitation of the tailings deposition area at Grasberg. It would also help ensure that the highest levels of attention are devoted to environmental standards at new developments. Such a board role would strengthen the company’s ability to demonstrate the seriousness with which it is addressing environmental issues.

 

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Board of Directors’ Statement in Opposition to Stockholder Proposal A

The board of directors opposes the proposal because it believes the current process for the nomination, selection and election of directors is effective. As a corporate governance matter, the board does not believe that it is in our stockholders’ best interests to require a particular type of specialist on the board. A director’s fiduciary responsibilities are not limited to any single issue. As provided in more detail in the section titled “Corporate Governance — Consideration of Director Nominees,” the nominating and corporate governance committee considers a variety of factors in evaluating nominees for membership on the board. We believe that the board of directors represents a diverse group of individuals with broad experience. The board of directors believes that the standard suggested by the proponents of the proposal is too narrow and would limit the board’s ability to identify and recruit the most qualified candidates to serve on the board.

Our existing commitment to environmental management is evidenced by our established policies, practices and procedures. The board of directors appreciates the importance of environmental management and recognizes the company’s responsibility to minimize the environmental impact of our operations. Relevant issues are reviewed and discussed at the highest levels of our organization. In 1995, the board of directors established the corporate responsibility committee (formerly the public policy committee), which oversees the company’s environmental programs. The board of directors, the corporate responsibility committee and senior management routinely review the company’s environmental policies and practices, including any potential impacts that the company’s operations may have on the environment. In addition, we are a founding member of the International Council of Mining & Metals (ICMM), a CEO-led organization that represents many of the world’s leading mining and metals companies. Our active involvement with ICMM exemplifies our commitment to working with industry experts on improving our performance based on sustainable development principles.

We have consistently met internationally accepted standards for environmental management. Our Grasberg operation has undergone triennial external audits by recognized experts in the industry, the results of which have been made publicly available. We completed independent audits in 1996, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2008 and 2011. The results of the 2005, 2008 and 2011 audits are posted on our web site at www.fcx.com/envir/audits.htm. All of these audits have concluded that (1) we are in material compliance with Indonesian laws, (2) we meet international standards, and (3) our tailings management plan is the best management alternative considering the applicable geotechnical, topographic, climatological, seismic, and rainfall conditions. We also were one of the first companies in Indonesia to receive ISO 14001 certification of our Environmental Management System in 2001 from the International Certification Services Division of Société Générale de Surveillance (SGS). We have retained ISO 14001 certification following annual surveillance audits each year since that date.

We are committed to sound and sustainable environmental practices in managing our tailings deposition in Papua, Indonesia. We have prepared a special riverine tailings report, available on our web site at www.fcx.com. This report explains the extensive studies, planning, permitting, and ongoing management and monitoring of tailings that occurs, including our efforts for reclaiming affected land as soon as feasible. In addition, our annual Working Toward Sustainable Development report, available on our web site at www.fcx.com, details our environmental management programs and compliance with relevant environmental laws and regulations and describes our procedures to ensure future compliance with these laws. Our reclamation programs have demonstrated that tailings can be reclaimed with native vegetation or used for agricultural purposes. We have also shown that tailings can be used in cement for infrastructure construction. We have signed an agreement with the provincial government to establish cement facilities that will utilize tailings as a resource in the construction of roads, bridges, building bricks and other similar uses, helping to provide necessary infrastructure that will aid in the development of the province, as well as employment for Papuans. This development will proceed in conjunction with our other efforts to plant trees and use available tailings land for agricultural and other sustainable uses.

Our existing governance framework has produced a strong commitment to environmental management and progress that is evident in our established policies, practices and procedures, which continue to evolve. Thus,

 

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we believe this proposal suggests action that is unnecessary in light of our existing commitment to environmental management, and adopting the proposed resolution would be contrary to the interests of the company and its stockholders.

Board of Directors’ Recommendation

FOR THE REASONS SET FORTH ABOVE, THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS YOU VOTE AGAINST THE ADOPTION OF PROPOSAL NO. 4: STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL A.

Proposal No. 5: Stockholder Proposal B

We have received a stockholder proposal from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Employees Pension Plan for presentation at the annual meeting of stockholders. Upon request, we will provide the address of the proponent and the number of shares of our common stock held by the proponent. Requests may be sent to the Corporate Secretary, Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., 333 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85004 or submitted by calling (602) 366-8100.

Approval of the proposal would require the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of our common stock present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote on the proposal. The board opposes Proposal No. 5: Stockholder Proposal B for the reasons stated following the proposal.

 

 

RESOLVED: The shareholders of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. (“FCX”) request the Board of Directors to adopt a policy, and amend the bylaws as necessary to reflect that policy, to require the Chair of the Board of Directors to be an independent member of the Board. This independence requirement shall apply prospectively so as not to violate any contractual obligation at the time this resolution is adopted. Compliance with this policy is waived if no independent director is available and willing to serve as Chair.

Supporting Statement

Former CEO James Moffett serves as Chair of FCX’s Board of Directors. We believe that having a former CEO serve as Chair weakens a corporation’s governance structure, which can harm shareholder value. Having a former CEO serve as Chair is often called the apprentice model, and studies show the apprentice model can lead to underperformance. A 2010 study found apprenticed CEOs underperformed non-apprenticed CEOs on average (CEO Succession 2000-2009: A Decade of Convergence and Compression, Booz & Co. Summer 2010), while a 2007 study found that CEOs who first served in lower roles while the previous CEO was Chair performed significantly worse for investors from 1998 — 2006 (The Era of the Inclusive Leader, Booz Allen Hamilton, Summer 2007).

In our view, shareholder value is enhanced by an independent Board Chair who can provide a balance of power between the CEO and the Board and can support strong Board leadership. The primary duty of a Board of Directors is to oversee the management of a company on behalf of its shareholders. An independent Board Chair has been found in studies to improve the financial performance of public companies. A 2007 Booz & Co. study found that, in 2006, all of the underperforming North American companies with long-tenured CEOs lacked an independent Board Chair (The Era of the Inclusive Leader, Booz Allen Hamilton, Summer 2007). A more recent study found that, worldwide, companies are now routinely separating the jobs of Chair and CEO: in 2009 less than 12 percent of incoming CEOs were also made Chair, compared with 48 percent in 2002 (CEO Succession 2000-2009: A Decade of Convergence and Compression, Booz & Co., Summer 2010).

We believe that independent Board leadership would be particularly constructive at FCX, where our company’s plans to buy Plains Exploration and Production and McMoRan Exploration “erased some $5 billion of market value” and “exposed a litany of conflicts and bad decisions” (“Freeport’s Deals Epitomize Industry’s Conflicts of Interest,” New York Times, December 5, 2012) and where, in 2011, less than 46 percent of shares voted supported the advisory vote on executive compensation.

 

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We urge shareholders to vote for this proposal.

Board of Directors’ Statement in Opposition to Stockholder Proposal B

The board believes that a policy requiring that the chairman of the board be an independent director who has not served as an executive officer of the company would not be in the best interests of our stockholders. The board believes it is the proper responsibility of the board of directors to determine the person or persons best suited to serve as chairman, and that the board should have the flexibility to choose the best person to fill this role, based on the prevailing facts and circumstances and the board’s knowledge of the company’s current and future needs.

The board continues to believe that the appointment of James R. Moffett as chairman of the board is in the best interests of our stockholders. The role of chairman demands an individual with strong leadership abilities and a comprehensive knowledge of the company. Mr. Moffett is one of the founders of the company and has been at the helm of the company since its inception, making him uniquely qualified to lead the board. Mr. Moffett also brings to the company his skill and expertise as a geologist, and we continue to benefit from his direction of our exploration programs.

The board believes that our corporate governance practices, reflected in our corporate governance guidelines and in the charters of our board committees, establish an appropriate framework for our directors to provide independent, objective and effective oversight of management. A substantial majority of our current directors are independent. In addition, at every regularly scheduled meeting of the board, and more frequently if necessary, the non-management directors meet without management in executive session. The executive sessions are chaired on a rotating basis by the non-management directors who chair our four principal board committees. The board believes this approach fairly distributes responsibilities and time demands among the non-management directors. These board leaders communicate directly with the chairman regarding any issues that arise at the executive sessions and serve as a liaison between the chairman and the non-management directors. The board understands that some people are of the opinion that having a single “lead independent director” enhances the ability of the board to act independently of management; however, after having considered that alternative, the board has concluded that its current leadership structure is effectively achieving that objective. In addition, our four principal board committees have the power and authority to engage independent legal, financial or other advisors as they may deem necessary, without consulting or obtaining the approval of the full board of directors or management.

Our directors have the power and responsibility to select from among themselves a chairman to lead the board. The chairman is appointed annually, and the board can change the person holding this position at any time by majority vote. The board has appointed Mr. Moffett as chairman, and continues to believe that this leadership structure is in the best interests of the company and its stockholders, even though Mr. Moffett is not an independent director.

Board of Directors’ Recommendation

FOR THE REASONS SET FORTH ABOVE, THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS YOU VOTE AGAINST THE ADOPTION OF PROPOSAL NO. 5: STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL B.

Proposal No. 6: Stockholder Proposal C

We have received a stockholder proposal from the New York City Pension Funds for presentation at the annual meeting of stockholders. Upon request, we will provide the address of the proponents and the number of shares of our common stock held by the proponents. Requests may be sent to the Corporate Secretary, Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., 333 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85004 or submitted by calling (602) 366-8100.

 

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Approval of the proposal would require the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of our common stock present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote on the proposal. The board opposes Proposal No. 6: Stockholder Proposal C for the reasons stated following the proposal.

 

 

Resolved, Shareholders request that the Board of Directors of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc. (“Freeport-McMoRan”) adopt a policy on Board diversity that requires the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board (the “Committee”), consistent with its fiduciary duties, to:

1. include women and minority candidates in the pool from which Board nominees are chosen;

2. expand director searches to include nominees from both non-executive corporate positions and non-traditional environments such government, academia, and non-¬profit organizations;

3. review periodically the composition of the Board to ensure it reflects the knowledge, experience, skills, and diversity required to fulfill its duties; and

4. report to shareholders, at reasonable expense and omitting proprietary information, its efforts to encourage diversified representation on the Board.

Supporting Statement

Currently, Freeport-McMoRan has no women or minorities on its board.

In an increasingly global marketplace, the ability to draw on a wide range of viewpoints, backgrounds, skills, and experience is critical to a company’s success, as it increases the likelihood of making the right strategic and operational decisions. This is especially important for corporate boards, given the range, complexity and significance of their responsibilities and decisions.

We believe diversity, inclusive of race and gender, is therefore an essential measure of sound governance and a critical component of a well-functioning board that can help to ensure that different perspectives are brought to bear on issues. We also share SEC Commissioner Luis Aguilar’s belief, expressed in September 2010, “that companies that expand their search for new directors to include more women and minorities will find a breadth and depth of talent that will serve to improve their performance and increase the wealth of their investors.”

A growing body of empirical research indicates a significant positive relationship between firm value and the percentage of women and minorities on boards. According to an August 2012 report by Credit Suisse Research Institute, which evaluated the performance of 2,360 companies globally over the six years ending December 2011, companies with one or more women on the board delivered higher average returns on equity, lower leverage, better average growth and higher price/book value multiples. (https://infocus.credit-suisse.com/data/productdocuments/shop/360145/csrigenderdiversityandcorporateperformance.pdf).

The proposed policy resembles the Rooney Rule in the National Football League, which requires teams to interview minority candidates for head coaching and senior football operations openings. While corporate boards may face differing circumstances, it is difficult to ignore the positive impact of the Rooney Rule on both diversity and performance.

According to Forbes (5/9/12), “In 2002, the year before the Rooney Rule was implemented, three head coaches were minorities. Going into last season, 11 minorities were interim or full-time head coaches and five minorities were general managers.” (http:www.forbes.com/sites/forbeswomanfiles/2012/05/09/bring-the-nfl-rooney-rule-into-corporate-boardrooms/). Moreover, “the last six Super Bowls have featured at least one team with a minority head coach or general manager.”

We urge shareholders to vote for this proposal.

 

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Board of Directors’ Statement in Opposition to Stockholder Proposal C

The board believes that our existing director nominating process is designed to identify the best possible nominees for director, regardless of the nominees’ gender, racial background, religion, ethnicity or other classification. Although the board agrees with the merits of achieving diversity throughout the company, the board believes that this proposal would not improve its ability to select the most suitable and qualified candidates for membership on the board and would impose unnecessary administrative burdens and costs.

The board represents a diverse group of individuals with broad experience in geology, business, finance, international relations, and public affairs. Under the leadership of the board, the company has a long track record of success in creating stockholder value.

The board seeks persons with the highest personal and professional ethics, integrity and values, with an inquisitive and objective perspective, practical wisdom and mature judgment. In evaluating prospective director nominees, the nominating and corporate governance committee takes into account many factors, including those listed above in the section titled “Corporate Governance — Consideration of Director Nominees” to determine whether a candidate’s capabilities will best perpetuate the success of the business, and whether the candidate will be an effective director in conjunction with the full board, representing stockholder interests through the exercise of sound judgment using his or her experience. The board believes that the experience and skills of the board members should be complementary, such that the board as a whole has a broad range of experiences. The nominating and corporate governance committee and the board believe the nominees proposed at the 2013 annual meeting of stockholders fulfill these criteria and are qualified and prepared to act in the best interests of our stockholders.

The board and the nominating and corporate governance committee aim to assemble a diverse group of candidates and believe that no single criterion such as gender or minority status is determinative in obtaining diversity on the board. This approach is consistent with statements made by the SEC, which has explicitly acknowledged in an analogous context that there is no uniform definition of diversity. In the adopting release relating to amendments to the proxy disclosure rules in 2009, the SEC stated:

“We recognize that companies may define diversity in various ways, reflecting different perspectives. For instance, some companies may conceptualize diversity expansively to include differences of viewpoint, professional experience, education, skill and other individual qualities and attributes that contribute to board heterogeneity, while others may focus on diversity concepts such as race, gender and national origin. We believe that for purposes of this disclosure requirement, companies should be allowed to define diversity in ways that they consider appropriate. As a result we have not defined diversity in the amendments.”

The board and the nominating and corporate governance committee are supportive of qualified candidates who would provide the board with greater diversity. The board believes it is important to maintain flexibility in the nominating process in order to ensure that the most qualified available candidates are selected as directors in light of the company’s evolving needs and circumstances. The board further believes that the company’s existing nominating process, including the factors considered by the nominating and corporate governance committee in evaluating director candidates, is appropriate for the discharge of the fiduciary duties of the board. The imposition on the nominating process of specific diversity requirements and affirmative search obligations would undermine the company’s holistic evaluation of candidates, unduly restrict the nominating and corporate governance committee in the performance of its duties and add administrative burdens and costs, without necessarily resulting in the selection of the best director candidates for the company.

Board of Directors’ Recommendation

FOR THE REASONS SET FORTH ABOVE, THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS YOU VOTE AGAINST THE ADOPTION OF PROPOSAL NO. 6: STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL C.

 

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Proposal No. 7: Stockholder Proposal D

We have received a stockholder proposal from the California State Teachers’ Retirement System for presentation at the annual meeting of stockholders. Upon request, we will provide the address of the proponent and the number of shares of our common stock held by the proponent. Requests may be sent to the Corporate Secretary, Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., 333 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85004 or submitted by calling (602) 366-8100.

Approval of the proposal would require the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of our common stock present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote on the proposal. The board opposes Proposal No. 7: Stockholder Proposal D for the reasons stated following the proposal.

 

 

RESOLVED:

Article IV, paragraph 7 of the corporation’s bylaws are hereby amended to state as follows:

7. Subject to such rights to call special meetings of stockholders under the specified circumstances as may be granted to holders of any shares of Preferred Stock of the corporation pursuant to the provisions of Section (c) of Article FOURTH of the Certificate of Incorporation, special meetings of the stockholders may be called only by (i) the Chairman of the Board, the Vice Chairman of the Board, or the President of the corporation; or (ii) at the request in writing or by a vote of a majority of the Board of Directors; or (iii) at the request in writing of stockholders owning at least fifteen percent of the corporation’s Common Stock, as defined in Section (b) of Article FOURTH of the Certificate of Incorporation. Any request for a special meeting made by the Board of Directors or by stockholders shall state the purpose or purposes of the proposed meeting.

Supporting Statement

The proposed bylaw amendment would give shareholders collectively owning at least 15% of the Company’s Common Stock the ability to call for a special meeting of stockholders. The current bylaw provision allows such meetings to be called only by the Chairman of the Board, the Vice Chairman of the Board, or the Company’s President, or at the request in writing or by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.

Special meetings allow shareholders to vote on important company matters that may arise between annual meetings, such as electing new directors in the event of a vacancy. If shareholders do not have the power to call special meetings, investor returns may suffer. Corporate events may arise during the year that do not necessarily provide the automatic right for shareholder review, but nonetheless merit discussion by the shareholders and, if appropriate, shareholder action. We believe shareholders should have the ability to call a special meeting when a matter is sufficiently important to merit attention before the annual meeting will be held.

Shareholder proposals asking for companies to amend their bylaws to give holders of 10% of a company’s stock the power to call a special meeting won a majority of votes cast at several companies in 2011, including NYSE Euronext, NV Energy, and Home Depot. In 2009, similar proposals received support from 51% of votes cast at Pfizer, and support from over 60% of votes cast at CVS Caremark, Sprint Nextel, Safeway, Motorola, and R.R. Donnelley. Similar proposals received support from over 60% of votes cast in 2008 at Occidental Petroleum, First Energy Corp., and Marathon Oil.

We urge you to vote FOR this proposal.

Board of Directors’ Statement in Opposition to Stockholder Proposal D

The board believes that it is not in the best interests of our stockholders or the company to enable holders of only 15% of our outstanding common stock to have an unlimited ability to call a special meeting of

 

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stockholders for any purpose at any time. That power is already vested in a number of fiduciaries who can exercise it at any time when they believe that doing so will promote shareholder interests. The proposal would permit a small group of minority stockholders, who have no fiduciary duties to the company or our other stockholders, to use the extraordinary measure of calling a special meeting to serve their narrow self-interest at the expense of the majority of our stockholders and the company.

A special meeting also imposes significant burdens on the company, and giving holders of 15% of our outstanding common stock the unlimited power to call a special meeting opens the door to potential abuse and waste of corporate resources. Preparing and conducting a special meeting could distract the board and senior management from their focus of maximizing long-term financial returns. Moreover, convening a special meeting is expensive and time-consuming because of the costs associated with preparing required disclosure documents, printing and mailing costs and the time commitment required of the board and senior management to prepare for and conduct the special meeting. Calling special meetings of stockholders is not a matter to be taken lightly, and special meetings of stockholders should be extraordinary events that occur only when, due to fiduciary duties or strategic concerns, the matters to be addressed cannot wait until the next annual meeting.

The board believes that our existing mechanism for calling a special meeting is appropriate. Consistent with the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, our by-laws provide that a special meeting may be called at any time by the board, the chairman of the board, any vice chairman of the board or the chief executive officer and president. This provision allows the board to exercise their seasoned business judgment and consider the interests of all of our stockholders, consistent with their fiduciary duties to the company and our stockholders, in determining when it is in the best interest of all of our stockholders to convene a special meeting. This mechanism effectively safeguards the broader interests of all of our stockholders and the company.

The board maintains open lines of communication with our stockholders regarding important issues relating to the company’s business and governance. Our stockholders are currently able to communicate directly with the board and can use the company’s annual meeting of stockholders to communicate their concerns to other stockholders, the board and senior management, including through the submission of stockholder proposals.

Our existing corporate governance mechanisms and open lines of communication with our stockholders ensure accountability to our stockholders while enabling the board to protect the company from hostile or abusive tactics, consistent with their fiduciary duties to the company and our stockholders. Accordingly, the board does not believe that approval of this stockholder proposal is necessary or advisable.

Board of Directors’ Recommendation

FOR THE REASONS SET FORTH ABOVE, THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS YOU VOTE AGAINST THE ADOPTION OF PROPOSAL NO. 7: STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL D.

 

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FREEPORT-MCMORAN COPPER & GOLD INC.

Proxy Solicited on Behalf of the Board of Directors for

Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on July 16, 2013

The undersigned hereby appoints James R. Moffett, Richard C. Adkerson and Kathleen L. Quirk, each or any of them, as proxies, with full power of substitution, to vote the undersigned’s shares of common stock of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on Tuesday, July 16, 2013, at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time, and at any adjournment thereof, on all matters coming before the meeting. The proxies will vote: (1) as you specify on the back of this proxy card, (2) as the board of directors recommends where you do not specify your vote on a matter listed on the back of this proxy card, and (3) as the proxies decide on any other matter properly coming before the meeting.

If you wish to vote on all matters as the board of directors recommends, please sign, date and return this proxy card. If you wish to vote on items individually, please also mark the appropriate boxes on the back of this proxy card.

 

  
  
  
  
  
  

PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY

IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE

 

 

(continued on reverse side)

p FOLD AND DETACH HERE p


Table of Contents
 

Please mark your votes as

indicated in

this example

   
     x    
     

 

The board of directors recommends a vote FOR Items 1, 2 and 3 below.
Item 1    Election of fifteen directors. Nominees are:   FOR   WITHHOLD
  01 Richard C. Adkerson   09 Charles C. Krulak   ¨   ¨
  02 Robert J. Allison, Jr.   10 Bobby Lee Lackey    
  03 Alan R. Buckwalter, III   11 Jon C. Madonna    
  04 Robert A. Day   12 Dustan E. McCoy    
  05 James C. Flores   13 James R. Moffett    
  06 Gerald J. Ford   14 B. M. Rankin, Jr.    
  07 Thomas A. Fry, III   15 Stephen H. Siegele    
  08 H. Devon Graham, Jr.        
FOR, except withhold vote from following nominee(s):    

 

 

     
    FOR   AGAINST   ABSTAIN
Item 2    Approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of our named executive officers.   ¨   ¨   ¨
Item 3    Ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm.   ¨   ¨   ¨

 

The board of directors recommends a vote AGAINST Items 4, 5, 6 and 7 below.

Item 4    Stockholder proposal regarding the selection of a candidate with environmental expertise to be recommended for election to the board of directors.  

FOR

 

¨

 

AGAINST

 

¨

 

ABSTAIN

 

¨

Item 5    Stockholder proposal regarding the requirement that our chairman of the board of directors be an independent member of the board of directors.   ¨   ¨   ¨
Item 6    Stockholder proposal regarding the adoption by the board of directors of a policy on board diversity.   ¨   ¨   ¨
Item 7    Stockholder proposal regarding the amendment of our by-laws to permit stockholders holding 15% of our outstanding common stock to call a special meeting of stockholders.   ¨   ¨   ¨
 

 

     
     

 

  Signature(s)  

 

          Dated:                                                    , 2013  
    You may specify your votes by marking the appropriate boxes on this side. You need not mark any boxes, however, if you wish to vote all items in accordance with the board of directors’ recommendation. If your votes are not specified, this proxy will be voted FOR Items 1, 2 and 3, and AGAINST Items 4, 5, 6 and 7.

p FOLD AND DETACH HERE p

FREEPORT-MCMORAN COPPER & GOLD INC. OFFERS STOCKHOLDERS OF RECORD

TWO WAYS TO SUBMIT YOUR VOTING INSTRUCTIONS

Your Internet submission of voting instructions authorizes the named proxies to vote your shares of common stock in the same manner as if you had returned your proxy card. We encourage you to use this cost effective and convenient way of submitting your voting instructions, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

 

SUBMITTING VOTING INSTRUCTIONS
BY INTERNET
  SUBMITTING VOTING INSTRUCTIONS
BY MAIL
Visit http://www.ivselection.com/freeport13. Have your proxy card ready and follow the instructions on your screen. You will incur only your usual Internet charges. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week until 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on July 15, 2013.   Simply mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope to Secretary, Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., P.O. Box 17149, Wilmington, Delaware 19885-9808. If you are submitting your voting instructions by Internet, please do not mail your proxy card.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE STOCKHOLDER MEETING

TO BE HELD ON JULY 16, 2013.

This proxy statement and the 2012 Annual Report are available at http://www.edocumentview.com/FCX_MTG.