SEC-Show

BALCHEM CORP filed this DEF 14A on April 26, 2024

Back to Results Entire Filing Printer Friendly Outline

BALCHEM CORP - DEF 14A - 20240426 - PROPOSAL_2

PROPOSAL 2: RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Audit Committee, upon review, has appointed RSM as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2024. The Company is submitting its selection of RSM for ratification by the shareholders at the Annual Meeting. RSM has audited the Company’s financial statements since 2004 and has a strong understanding of our business and operations, accounting policies and financial systems, and internal control framework. Based on such understanding and their ability, and lower fee structure due to efficiencies from such knowledge, we believe RSM is best qualified to perform this important function. Further, RSM rotates its lead audit engagement partner every five years.

Neither the Company’s charters nor its Bylaws require that the shareholders ratify the selection of RSM as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. However, the Company is submitting the selection of RSM to shareholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate governance practice. If shareholders do not ratify the selection, the Audit Committee will reconsider whether to retain RSM. Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit Committee in its discretion may change the appointment at any time during the year if they determine that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.

Assuming a quorum is present, the affirmative vote of a majority of all votes, by attendance at the Annual Meeting or represented by proxy, is required for approval of this proposal. Abstentions will not be counted as votes cast and will have no effect on the outcome of the vote. Brokers have discretionary authority to vote on this proposal, so there will be no broker non-votes.

We expect that representatives of RSM will be present at the Annual Meeting, will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.

Please refer to the section titled “Information Relating to Proposal 2: Ratification of Appointment of Independent registered Public Accounting Firm” of this proxy statement for more information.

THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF RSM AS THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2024.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PROPOSAL 3: ADVISORY VOTE ON THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Since our 2017 annual meeting, at which our shareholders last approved holding advisory or “Say-on-Pay” votes on executive compensation on an annual basis, the “Say-on-Pay” vote has been held every year. Last year, our shareholders approved our “Say-on-Pay” resolution by approximately 72% of the votes cast on the executive compensation described in our 2023 Proxy Statement. Details regarding our shareholder engagement and Say-on-Pay vote in 2023 are on pages 35-36 of this Proxy Statement.

The Company again seeks your advisory vote and asks that you approve the compensation of the Company’s Named Executive Officers (“NEOs”) as disclosed in this Proxy Statement by voting FOR the following resolution at the Annual Meeting:

“RESOLVED, that the Company’s shareholders approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Named Executive Officers, as disclosed pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC (which disclosure includes the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables and any related material disclosed in this proxy statement).”

Please refer to the section entitled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis”, and the tables and narratives in the Executive Compensation portion of this section for the discussion and summary of the policies of the Compensation Committee which form the basis for the compensation of our NEOs and information on the amounts paid. For reference, the pay versus performance disclosure is provided under the section titled “Pay versus Performance” of this Proxy Statement.

This vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of our NEOs and the policies and practices described in this Proxy Statement. Because this vote is advisory only, the vote is not binding; however, the Compensation Committee will consider the results of shareholder voting in making future compensation decisions regarding NEOs.

Assuming a quorum is present, the affirmative vote of a majority of all votes cast, by attendance at the Annual Meeting or represented by proxy, is required for approval of this proposal. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted as votes cast and will have no effect on the vote.

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.