10.1 - 2015 STIP






Exhibit 10.1


Kaiser Aluminum 
2015 Short-Term Incentive Plan for Key Managers


This is a summary of the Kaiser Aluminum short-term incentive program (“STIP”) effective January 1, 2015. The STIP performance period is the 2015 calendar year. The 2015 STIP rewards participants for performance based on adjusted pre-tax operating income in excess of a capital charge calculated as a percentage of net assets and expressed in adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”) with modifiers for safety, quality, delivery and manufacturing cost efficiency, with the possibility of adjustments to individual awards based on actual performance, including individual, facility, and/or functional.
Purpose of the 2015 Kaiser Aluminum STIP
		
	1.
	Focus attention on value creation within Fabricated Products, our core business segment, and Corporate.


		
	2.
	Reward the achievement of aggressive performance goals.


		
	3.
	Provide incentive opportunities that are consistent with competitive market.


		
	4.
	Link incentive pay to performance as well as our success and ability to pay.


STIP Philosophy
Compensation should (i) reward management for value creation, the safe and efficient operation of our business and customer satisfaction, (ii) stand the test of time to provide continuity in compensation philosophy, (iii) recognize the cyclical nature of our business, and (iv) provide a retention incentive. In order to achieve success, participants must continue to seek out and find ways to create value, operate safely and efficiently and provide customer satisfaction.
Primary Performance Measures
The performance goals will be based on Adjusted EBITDA, as reflected in the Company’s Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Measures - Consolidated, as reported in the Company’s earnings materials.    


		
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	Safety performance will be measured by Total Case Incident Rate (TCIR).




		
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	Quality performance will be measured by the no fault claim rate.




		
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	Delivery performance will be measured by the on-time delivery rate.




		
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	Manufacturing cost efficiency will be measured by the Company’s manufacturing cost compared to plan.




2015 Metrics


		
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	There is no payout if the Adjusted EBITDA (a) is less than the threshold amount or (b) the Company does not have positive adjusted Net Income as reflected in the Company’s Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Measures - Consolidated, as reported in the Company’s earnings materials


		
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	The Award Multiplier (subject to safety, quality, delivery, cost and individual modifiers) is:


		
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	0.5x at threshold


		
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	1.0x at target


		
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	3.0x at or above maximum


		
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	Payouts between threshold and 1.0x will be linearly interpolated.  Payouts between 1.0x and 3.0x will be linearly interpolated


		
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	Maximum Award Multiplier is 3.0x 



















Target Incentive
		
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	A monetary target incentive amount for each participant is established for the STIP based on the competitive market, internal compensation balance and position responsibilities.


		
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	Participants’ monetary incentive targets are set at the beginning of the STIP performance period.


		
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	The participant’s monetary incentive target amount represents the incentive opportunity when the Adjusted EBITDA, safety, quality, delivery and cost performance goals are met.




How The Award Multiplier Is Determined
		
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	At the end of the year Adjusted EBITDA will be determined and used to calculate the Award Multiplier.


		
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	The Award Multiplier is adjusted within a range as follows:


		
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	10% based upon TCIR


		
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	10% based upon no fault claim rate  


		
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	10% based upon on-time delivery rate  


		
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	20% based on manufacturing cost efficiency for executive officers and 10% based on manufacturing cost for all other participants  


		
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	Individual participant awards are modified to reflect any adjustments permitted by the STIP and subject to a maximum final Award Multiplier of 3.0 times target.




STIP Award
Each participant’s base award is determined as the vested monetary incentive target times the Award Multiplier modified to reflect any adjustments permitted by the STIP.


		
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	Individual payouts from may be adjusted up or down 100% based on actual performance, including individual, facility, and/or functional area.


		
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	Adjustments to awards for senior executives and managers, including our CEO and named executive officers, require approval by the Compensation Committee.  All other adjustments require the approval of our CEO.




Form and Timing of Payment
		
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	STIP awards are paid, at the Company’s election, in cash, non-restricted shares of the Company’s common stock or a combination of cash and non-restricted shares no later than March 15 following the end of the year.


		
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	Except as set forth in this STIP, Awards are conditioned on employment on date of payment. 




Detrimental Activity
		
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	If a participant, either during employment by the Company or any affiliate or within one year after termination of such employment (or, if termination of such employment results from retirement at or after age 65, within the period ending one year after the date the Company paid the STIP award to the participant), shall engage in any Detrimental Activity (as defined below), and the Compensation Committee shall so find, forthwith upon notice of such finding, the participant shall forfeit to the Company any payment received under this STIP.


		
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	To the extent that such amounts are not paid to the Company, the Company may, to the extent permitted by law, set off the amounts so payable to it against any amounts that may be owing from time to time by the Company or any affiliate to the participant, whether as wages or vacation pay or in the form of any other benefit or for any other reason; provided, however, that, except to the extent permitted by Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(j)(4), such offset shall not apply to amounts that are “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code.  


		
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	“Detrimental Activity” means any conduct or act determined by the Committee to be injurious, detrimental or prejudicial to any significant interest of the Company or any affiliate, including, without limitation, any one or more of the following types of activity: 


		
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	Conduct resulting in an accounting restatement due to material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirement under the U.S. federal securities laws.


		
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	Engaging in any activity, as an employee, principal, agent, or consultant for another entity that competes with the Company in any actual, researched, or prospective product, service, system, or business activity for which the Participant has had any direct responsibility during the last two years of his or her employment with the Company or an affiliate, in any territory in which the Company or an affiliate manufactures, sells, markets, services, or installs such product, service, or system, or engages in such business activity.











		
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	Soliciting any employee of the Company or an affiliate to terminate his or her employment with the Company or an affiliate.


		
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	The disclosure to anyone outside the Company or an affiliate, or the use in other than the Company’s or an affiliate’s business, without prior written authorization from the Company, of any confidential, proprietary or trade secret information or material relating to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries acquired by the participant during his or her employment with the Company or its subsidiaries or while acting as a consultant for the Company or its subsidiaries.


		
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	The failure or refusal to disclose promptly and to assign to the Company upon request all right, title and interest in any invention or idea, patentable or not, made or conceived by the participant during employment by the Company or any affiliate, relating in any manner to the actual or anticipated business, research or development work of the Company or any affiliate or the failure or refusal to do anything reasonably necessary to enable the Company or any affiliate to secure a patent where appropriate in the U.S. and in other countries.


		
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	Activity that results in termination for Cause (as defined below).


		
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	“Cause” means (i) the participant’s engaging in fraud, embezzlement, gross misconduct or any act of gross dishonesty with respect to the Company or its affiliates, (ii) the participant’s habitual drug or alcohol use which impairs the ability of the participant to perform his duties with the Company or its affiliates, (iii) the participant’s indictment with respect to, conviction of, or plea of guilty or no contest to, any felony, or other comparable crime under applicable local law (except, in any event, for motor vehicle violations not involving personal injuries to third parties or driving while intoxicated), or the participant’s incarceration with respect to any of the foregoing that, in each case, impairs the participant’s ability to continue to perform his duties with the Company and its affiliates, or (iv) the participant’s material breach of any written employment agreement or other agreement between the Company and the participant, or of the Company’s Code of Business Conduct, or failure by the participant to substantially perform his or her duties for the Company which remains uncorrected or reoccurs after written notice has been delivered to the participant demanding substantial performance and the participant has had a reasonable opportunity to correct such breach or failure to perform.




Other Administrative Provisions
		
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	The STIP will be reviewed annually.


		
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	Annual incentive awards paid from the STIP count as additional compensation for purposes of the Company’s Defined Contribution and Restoration Plans but not for other Company benefits.


		
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	All applicable federal, state, local and FICA taxes will be withheld from all incentive award payments.


		
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	Retirement or termination: If a participant dies, or retires at or after age 65, or becomes disabled, the participant’s award shall be determined based on the Company’s actual performance and prorated for the actual number of days of the participant’s employment during 2015.


		
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	Leave of absence participants earn a prorated award based on the number of months of active employment.


		
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	Beneficiary designation: In the event of death the deceased participant’s designated beneficiary will receive any payments due under the STIP. If there is no designated beneficiary on file with Human Resources, any amounts due will be paid to the surviving spouse or, if no surviving spouse, to the participant’s estate.


		
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	Non transferability: No amounts earned under the STIP may be sold, transferred, pledged or assigned, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution until the termination of the applicable performance period. All rights to benefits under the STIP are exercisable only by the participant or, in the case of death, by the participant’s beneficiary.


		
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	The STIP may be modified, amended or terminated by the Compensation Committee at any time. If the plan is terminated, modified or amended, then future payments from the STIP are governed by such modifications or amendments. If terminated, then a prorated award will be determined based on number of months up to termination, and paid before March 15 following the end of the year.


		
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	The STIP constitutes no right to continued employment.


		
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	The Chairman and CEO, with oversight from the Compensation Committee, has the discretionary authority to interpret the terms of the plan and his decisions shall be final, binding and conclusive on all persons affected.