Company: TR
Filing Date: 2025-03-27
Form Type: DEF 14A
Source: 0001558370-25-003853
Chunk: 19

Company: TOOTSIE ROLL INDUSTRIES INC
Filing Date: 2025-03-27
Form: DEF 14A
Chunk 19
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 with an aggregate incremental cost of $80,999, which usage has been approved by the Board of Directors for security and other reasons. All named executive officers, except the Chief Executive Officer, have the use of a Company provided automobile. The Chief Executive Officer is provided with the use of a Company apartment and, for efficiency and security reasons, was provided with a car and driver when in Chicago.

Compensation Clawback Policy

Pursuant to Section 954 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, as codified by Section 10D of the Exchange Act, and New York Stock Exchange listing Rule 303A-14, the Company adopted a Compensation Clawback Policy effective December 1, 2023. This policy would require the recovery of certain forms of executive compensation in the case of accounting misstatements resulting from a material error in the Company’s financial statements or material non-compliance with financial reporting requirements under federal securities laws.

Change in Control Agreements

In 1997, the Company entered into change in control agreements with Mr. Ember and Mr. Bowen. The Board of Directors at that time determined amounts payable under its change in control program based in part on its review at such time of available information of such programs maintained by similarly situated companies with the assistance of a compensation consultant. The purpose of these agreements is to avoid the distraction and loss of key management personnel that may occur in connection with rumored or actual fundamental corporate changes. A change in control program protects shareholder interests by enhancing employee focus during rumored or actual change in control activity. The Board of Directors adopted these agreements under the belief that such arrangements are frequently part of executive compensation practices at major public corporations. These agreements were not extended to the Chief Executive Officer due to her significant equity stake in the Company. A detailed summary of these agreements is set forth in section entitled “Potential Payments on Termination or Change in Control” below in this proxy statement.

There are no employment agreements or other forms of severance agreement with the named executive officers.

Tax Considerations

In general, under Section 162(m) of the Code, income tax deductions of publicly-held corporations are generally limited to the extent total compensation (including base salary, annual bonus and non-qualified deferred compensation benefits) for certain executive officers exceeds $1 million in any taxable year of the corporation. The exception for qualified “performance-based” compensation was eliminated by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2018. As a result, any