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Viad Corp – ‘DEF 14A’ for 5/15/12

On:  Friday, 4/13/12, at 2:37pm ET   ·   Effective:  4/13/12   ·   For:  5/15/12   ·   Accession #:  1193125-12-162353   ·   File #:  1-11015

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  As Of                Filer                Filing    For·On·As Docs:Size              Issuer               Agent

 4/13/12  Viad Corp                         DEF 14A     5/15/12    1:1.4M                                   RR Donnelley/FA

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 1: DEF 14A     Definitive Proxy Statement                          HTML   1.04M 

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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 ¨

VIAD CORP

(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):

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April 13, 2012

Dear Fellow Viad Corp Shareholder:

We look forward to your attendance in person or by proxy at the 2012 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Viad Corp. We will hold the meeting on Tuesday, May 15, 2012, at 9:00 a.m. at The Phoenician, 6000 East Camelback Road, Scottsdale, Arizona 85251, in Ballroom A. The formal notice of the meeting is attached. No admission tickets or other credentials will be required for attendance at the meeting. You may use the hotel’s free valet parking.

Directors and officers will be available at the meeting to speak with you. There will be an opportunity during the meeting for your questions regarding the affairs of the Company and for a discussion of the business to be considered at the meeting, as explained in the notice and proxy statement.

The agenda for this year’s annual meeting includes the following items:

We want to briefly call your attention to our proposal for approval of the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement, which is commonly referred to as a “shareholder rights plan.” Our Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote FOR approval of the shareholder rights plan at the annual meeting. As you may know, our shareholder rights plan was adopted in February 2002 and was scheduled to expire on February 28, 2012. As the expiration date approached, our Board determined that maintaining a shareholder rights plan is in the best interests of the Company and our shareholders. Accordingly, on February 28, 2012, we amended the shareholder rights plan in its entirety and extended its expiration date, subject to binding shareholder approval. If shareholders do not approve the amended shareholder rights plan by February 28, 2013, it will terminate on that date; otherwise, it will terminate on February 28, 2015, unless the underlying rights are earlier redeemed or exchanged (as described in the attached proxy statement).

The amended shareholder rights plan was designed to assist our Board to enable all shareholders to realize the long-term value of their investment, to ensure that all shareholders receive fair and equal treatment in the event of any proposed takeover and to protect Viad and its shareholders from abusive takeover tactics.

It is important to note that the amendment to our shareholder rights plan was not adopted in response to any specific takeover proposal, but in response to the general takeover environment and the fact that 19.56% of our shares of common stock are held by one shareholder and its affiliates, based on the shareholder’s recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (as described in the attached proxy statement).

Additional detailed information on the amended shareholder rights plan and each of the other proposals included on the agenda for the annual meeting are provided in the attached proxy statement.

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Your vote is important, and we urge you to cast your vote promptly. Whether you plan to attend the meeting or not, please sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card in the envelope provided, or you may vote your shares by telephone or the Internet as described on your proxy card. If you plan to attend the meeting, you may vote in person.

Thank you for your continued support of Viad Corp.

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NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

AND AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS

April 13, 2012

To Viad Corp Shareholders:

We will hold the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Viad Corp, a Delaware corporation, at The Phoenician, 6000 East Camelback Road, Scottsdale, Arizona 85251, in Ballroom A, on Tuesday, May 15, 2012, at 9:00 a.m., Mountain Standard Time. No admission tickets or other credentials will be required for attendance at the meeting. You may use the hotel’s free valet parking. The purposes of the meeting are to:

The foregoing items of business are more fully described in the proxy statement accompanying this notice. Our 2011 Annual Report, including financial statements, is included with your proxy materials. Only shareholders of record of common stock at the close of business on March 28, 2012, are entitled to receive this notice and to vote at the meeting. A list of shareholders entitled to vote will be available at the meeting for examination by any shareholder for any proper purpose. The list will also be available on the same basis for 10 days prior to the meeting at Viad’s principal executive offices at the address listed above. To assure your representation at the meeting, please vote your shares by telephone, the Internet or by signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card at your earliest convenience. The Internet and automated telephone voting features are described on the proxy card. We have enclosed a return envelope, which requires no postage if mailed in the United States, if you choose to mail your proxy. Your proxy is being solicited by the Board of Directors.

By Order of the Board of Directors

DEBORAH J. DEPAOLI

General Counsel and Secretary

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for Shareholder Meeting

To Be Held on May 15, 2012:

The 2012 Proxy Statement and 2011 Annual Report are available at viad.investorroom.com/proxy_notices

(or go to www.viad.com and then click onto the link “2012 Annual Meeting–Proxy Materials”).

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VIAD CORP

1850 North Central Avenue, Suite 1900

Phoenix, Arizona 85004-4565

PROXY STATEMENT

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE MEETING

Prompt return of your proxy will help reduce the costs of resolicitation.

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PROPOSAL 1:    ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Introduction

Upon the recommendation of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, the Board of Directors (the “Board of Directors” or the “Board”) of Viad Corp (“Viad,” “we” or the “Company”) has nominated the three persons listed below to serve as directors. Each of the director nominees proposed for election at this year’s annual meeting are independent directors within the meaning of the New York Stock Exchange listing standards, applicable Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) regulations and Viad’s Corporate Governance Guidelines.

Majority Vote Standard for Election of Directors

For uncontested elections of directors, Viad’s Bylaws (the “Bylaws”) provide that the vote standard is a majority of votes cast, which means that the number of shares voted “for” a director nominee must exceed the number of votes cast “against” that director nominee. The Bylaws further provide that if a nominee who already serves as a director is not elected by a majority vote, then the director will be obligated to tender his or her resignation to the Board. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee of the Board will make a recommendation to the Board on whether to accept or reject the resignation, or whether other action should be taken. The Board will be required to publicly disclose its decision and the rationale behind it within 90 days of the certification of the election results. The director who tenders his or her resignation will not participate in the Board’s decision. In contested elections where the number of nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected, the Bylaws provide for a plurality vote standard. If a nominee, who was not already serving as a director, is not elected at the annual meeting, the Bylaws provide that the nominee would not become a director.

Skills, Qualifications and Experience of Viad’s Directors

While Viad’s directors have many individual qualifications, our Board believes that certain specific qualifications are common to all of Viad’s directors, and these qualifications (as well as others) led the Board to conclude that each director listed below under the “Director Nominees” and “Directors Continuing in Office” sections should serve on the Board. These qualifications include:

Board Structure

Our Board consists of 10 persons divided into three classes or groups. The term of one class of directors expires at each annual meeting, and nominees are elected to that class for a term of three years. Three directors are proposed for election at this year’s annual meeting.

Director Nominees

Our Board of Directors has nominated Daniel Boggan Jr., Richard H. Dozer and Robert E. Munzenrider for election at the 2012 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. These nominees are currently members of the Board of Directors and, if elected, have agreed to serve another term, which will expire in 2015. Information about the director nominees is presented below.

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Recommendation of the Board

The Board of Directors recommends that you vote “FOR” these director nominees.

Directors Continuing in Office

Information about the seven directors continuing in office until expiration of their designated terms is presented below.

For Terms Expiring at the 2013 Annual Meeting:

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For Terms Expiring at the 2014 Annual Meeting:

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THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ITS COMMITTEES

Corporate Governance

In accordance with applicable laws and the Bylaws, the business and affairs of Viad are governed under the direction of the Board of Directors. The system of governance practices the Company follows is set forth in its Corporate Governance Guidelines (the “Corporate Governance Guidelines”) and in the charters of each of the committees of the Board of Directors. The Corporate Governance Guidelines set forth the practices our Board will follow with respect to its duties, operations, committee matters, director qualifications and selection process, director compensation, director independence, director orientation and continuing education, chief executive officer evaluation, management succession and annual Board and committee evaluation. The Corporate Governance Guidelines and committee charters are reviewed periodically to ensure the effective and efficient governance of Viad and compliance in a timely manner with all laws and the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) that are applicable to corporate governance.

The Corporate Governance Guidelines and committee charters, as well as the Code of Ethics applicable to Viad’s directors, officers and employees, may be viewed by selecting the “Corporate Governance” link on Viad’s web site at www.viad.com/investors/. They are also available in print upon request to the Corporate Secretary of Viad at the address listed on the first page of this proxy statement.

Board Committees and Director Independence

Our Board maintains three standing committees to assist in fulfilling its responsibilities: the Audit Committee, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and the Human Resources Committee. Each committee meets periodically during the year, reports regularly to the full Board and annually evaluates its performance. The table below provides current membership and meeting information for each committee. In addition, the table identifies the independent directors, as determined by our Board in February 2012, within the meaning of the NYSE listing standards, applicable SEC regulations and the Corporate Governance Guidelines. The Corporate Governance Guidelines include categorical standards for independence that meet or exceed the NYSE listing standards.

The particular areas of responsibility of each Board committee and other related information are described below. Each committee may form and delegate authority to a subcommittee of one or more members of the committee.

Audit Committee.    The Audit Committee appoints Viad’s independent registered public accountants and assists the Board in monitoring the quality and integrity of the financial statements of Viad, the compliance by Viad with legal and regulatory requirements and the independence and performance of Viad’s internal auditors and external independent registered public accountants. The Committee conducts regularly scheduled executive sessions with individual members of

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Viad’s management and with Viad’s independent registered public accountants. The Committee has sole authority to appoint or replace Viad’s independent registered public accountants. The independent registered public accountants report directly to the Committee. The Board has determined that all members of the Audit Committee are “financially literate,” as defined by NYSE listing standards, and that Mr. Munzenrider qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert,” as defined by SEC regulations.

Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee.    The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee proposes a slate of directors for election by the shareholders at each annual meeting and proposes candidates to fill any vacancies on the Board. The Committee is also responsible for an assessment of the Board’s performance to be discussed with the full Board annually, and for review of, and from time to time for proposal of changes to, the Corporate Governance Guidelines and the compensation and benefits of non-employee directors. The Committee has sole authority to retain and/or terminate any search firm or compensation consultant to identify director candidates or to assist in the evaluation of director compensation.

Human Resources Committee.    The Human Resources Committee oversees development and implementation of a compensation strategy designed to enhance profitability and shareholder value. The Committee also reviews and approves, subject to ratification by independent members of the Board, the salary and equity and incentive compensation of Viad’s Chief Executive Officer (the “CEO”), approves salaries and compensation of other Viad executive officers and approves incentive compensation targets and awards under various compensation plans and programs of Viad. In addition, the Committee has sole authority to retain and/or terminate any compensation consultant to assist in the evaluation of the compensation of the CEO and other senior executives. The Committee also has authority to obtain advice and assistance from internal or external legal, accounting or other advisors. While the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee has responsibility to review and make recommendations to the Board regarding non-employee director compensation and benefits, the Human Resources Committee has sole authority to approve grants of equity compensation to non-employee directors under the 2007 Viad Corp Omnibus Incentive Plan.

Aon Hewitt Associates, a nationally-known independent consulting firm, has been retained by the Human Resources Committee and Viad’s Human Resources Department to provide services, advice and counsel on executive compensation and to serve as a technical resource for market data on executive and director compensation. Viad’s Human Resources and Law Departments support the Committee in its work and in some cases act pursuant to delegated authority to fulfill various functions in administering Viad’s compensation programs. The CEO makes a recommendation to the Committee on the compensation of other executive officers of Viad; however, the Committee has sole authority to approve, for the CEO and other executive officers, (a) the annual base salary level, (b) the annual incentive opportunity level and granting of incentive awards, (c) the long-term incentive opportunity level and granting of awards and (d) any special or supplemental benefits, with the salary, equity and incentive compensation of the CEO being subject to ratification by independent members of the Board.

Board Meetings and Annual Shareholder Meeting

Under Viad’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, each director is expected to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, Board meetings and meetings of committees on which they serve. The Board of Directors held four regular meetings and four special meetings during 2011. Each director who held office in 2011 attended 100% of his or her Board and committee meetings in 2011. All directors who held office in May 2011 were in attendance at the 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

Meetings of Non-Management Directors and Presiding Director

Our Board held four executive sessions of the independent, non-management directors in 2011. Regular executive sessions of the non-management directors have been scheduled for 2012. Mr. Hay has served as Presiding Director of Viad since May 17, 2005, and was designated by the Board to continue as Presiding Director for the period beginning January 1, 2011, and ending December  31, 2012, or until such other time as his successor is chosen by action of the non-management directors of Viad.

Board Leadership Structure

The Board combines the role of chairman of the board with the role of chief executive officer. The Board also has a presiding director, who is an experienced and long-tenured independent director. The Board believes this governance structure provides efficient and effective leadership for Viad. Having a single person lead both the Board and management fosters effective decision-making, enabling the definition of corporate strategies to be driven by a unified vision and supported by a clear path of accountability. Furthermore, Mr. Dykstra, Viad’s Chairman and CEO, is receptive to input from the Board, and fosters frequent communication with members of the Board, as appropriate. The Board also believes that Viad has appropriate governance practices to ensure that the full Board maintains independent oversight, including:

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Corporate Governance and Nominating and Human Resources Committees Interlocks and Insider Participation

Viad is not aware of any interlocking relationships between any member of the Human Resources Committee or Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and any of Viad’s executive officers that would require disclosure under the applicable rules promulgated under the U.S. federal securities laws.

Review and Approval of Transactions with Related Persons

In February 2007, the Board adopted a written policy and procedures for review, approval and monitoring of transactions involving the Company and “related persons” (including directors and executive officers or their immediate family members or shareholders and their immediate family members owning 5% or greater of the Company’s outstanding stock). The policy applies to any transaction in which Viad or an operating company is a participant and any related person has a direct or indirect interest, excluding de minimus transactions of a commercial or other nature between a related person and Viad or one of its operating companies, as well as any compensation arrangements with executive officers or directors of Viad that have been approved or authorized by the Board or the Human Resources Committee.

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee is responsible for reviewing, approving and/or ratifying any transaction involving a related person. Management will bring the matter to the attention of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and provide it with all material information with respect to related person transactions. A related person transaction must be approved in advance whenever practicable, otherwise it must be ratified as promptly as practicable; provided that if ratification is not forthcoming, management will make all reasonable efforts to cancel or annul the transaction. In determining whether to authorize, approve and/or ratify a related person transaction, the Committee considers all information that it determines is reasonable under the circumstances. Specifically, the Committee inquires into whether the transaction is fair and reasonable and whether the terms of the transaction are more or less favorable to Viad than terms Viad could obtain in a comparable arm’s length transaction with an unrelated third party. A related person transaction will be submitted to the Committee for consideration at its next meeting or, in those instances in which the CEO determines that it is not practicable or desirable for Viad to wait until the next Committee meeting, to the Chairman of the Committee (who has the delegated authority to act between Committee meetings with respect to this policy). The Chairman of the Committee will report to the Committee at the next Committee meeting any approval under this policy pursuant to delegated authority. The Committee will annually review with management existing related person transactions, if any, and report annually to the Board, to ensure that such transactions are being pursued in accordance with understandings and commitments made at the time they were approved, that payments are being made appropriately and that such transactions continue to serve the interests of Viad.

Director Nominations

As provided in its charter, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee has established procedures for consideration of candidates for Board membership suggested by its members and other sources, including shareholders. The Committee has authority under its charter to employ a third-party search firm to assist it in identifying candidates for director. A shareholder who wishes to recommend a prospective nominee for the Board should notify Viad’s Corporate Secretary in writing at the address listed on page 1 of this proxy statement. Any such recommendation should include:

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The Committee will review the qualifications of any person properly nominated by a shareholder in accordance with the Bylaws relating to shareholder proposals as described in the “Submission of Shareholder Proposals and Director Nominations” section of this proxy statement.

When the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee reviews a potential nominee, it looks at the candidate’s qualifications in light of the needs of our Board and Viad at that time given the then-current mix of director attributes. The Committee, in accordance with Viad’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, assesses director nominees based on their qualification as independent, as well as consideration of diversity, skills and experience in the context of the current needs of our Board. The Committee does not have a specific policy on diversity. Director nominees also must have common qualities expected of all Viad directors, including high personal and professional ethics, integrity and values, and a commitment to representing the long-term interests of shareholders. The Committee also ensures that the members of the Board, as a group, maintain the requisite qualifications under the listing standards of the NYSE for populating the Audit, Human Resources and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committees.

Viad will deliver a questionnaire to a director candidate properly nominated by a shareholder addressing the candidate’s independence, qualifications and other information that would assist the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee in evaluating the candidate, as well as certain information that must be disclosed about the candidate in Viad’s proxy statement, if nominated by the Committee. In accordance with the Bylaws, a director candidate is required to provide responses to Viad’s director candidate questionnaire related to background, qualification, conflicts of interest and director independence. In addition, the director candidate questionnaire includes a representation and agreement to be signed by the director candidate as to his or her independence and the lack of conflicts of interest.

Communication with Board of Directors

Interested parties may communicate directly with non-management directors, including the Presiding Director, and/or with the Board by writing to the following address: Viad Corp, 1850 North Central Avenue, Suite 1900, Phoenix, Arizona 85004-4565, Attention: Corporate Secretary. All communications will be delivered to the non-management directors or the Board, as the case may be, no later than the Board’s next regularly scheduled meeting.

Risk Oversight

Management is responsible for assessing and managing the Company’s various exposures to risk, including the adoption of risk management controls, policies and procedures. Our Board oversees the management of the Company’s risk exposures by the Company’s management. Our Board has delegated to the Audit Committee, as reflected in its charter, responsibility for discussing with Viad’s management the major financial risk exposures of Viad and the steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures, including Viad’s risk assessment and risk management policies. Annually, Viad conducts a risk assessment to identify, evaluate and prioritize potential business risks. As a part of this business risk assessment, a financial statement risk assessment and materiality analysis is conducted, including evaluating potential fraud schemes and scenarios that might affect Viad. The risk assessment includes an evaluation of the significance of the risks, the likelihood of occurrence, the risk remaining after application of management controls and actions necessary to mitigate risk exposure. Management presents a report on the results of the annual risk assessment during a regularly scheduled meeting of the Audit Committee, typically its May meeting. Prior to the meeting, a written report of the results of the assessment is provided to all members of our Board. All members of the Board are invited to attend the Audit Committee meeting, and all members of the Board were present at the May 2011 meeting when the results of the 2011 assessment were discussed. Thereafter, at the meeting of the Board, the Chairman of the Audit Committee provides a summary report to the Board regarding the results of the assessment and the Audit Committee’s discussions concerning the results. Management continuously monitors the Company’s risks throughout the year.

Director Compensation Table

Each non-employee director receives compensation for service on our Board and any of its committees. Directors who are also officers or employees of Viad do not receive any special or additional remuneration for service on the Board and do not serve on any of its committees. Mr. Dykstra is the only officer-director serving on our Board.

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The following table provides the compensation of the directors in 2011, other than Mr. Dykstra, whose compensation is disclosed in the Summary Compensation Table provided in this proxy statement. The dollar figures presented below in column (c), “Stock Awards,” of the Table represent the grant date fair value of the 2011 stock awards, which may not reflect the actual value to be realized by the director as economic and market risks associated with stock awards can affect the actual value realized. The actual value realized by the director for the stock will not be determined until time of vesting, or in the case of option awards, until the exercise of the option.

In 2011, each of the non-employee directors was granted 3,300 shares of restricted stock with a grant date fair value of $75,933, except Ms. Pederson received a grant of 2,100 shares with a grant date fair value of $37,989, pro-rated based from the date of her election as a director in August 2011 to the next grant date in February 2012. All restricted stock granted to directors will vest three years from the date of grant, with pro-rata vesting of shares upon expiration of the three-year period if a director leaves the Board prior to the end of such period for any reasons other than for “cause,” provided that full vesting will occur upon lapse of such period if the director has met certain age and holding period requirements. Full vesting may also occur upon expiration of the three-year period, at the discretion of the Human Resources Committee, if a director has terminated service due to unforeseen hardship or circumstances beyond the control of the director and such termination of service is at least six months after the date of grant. If a non-employee director were to take office after the restricted stock grant in February of each year, the new director would receive a pro-rata grant of restricted stock based on the date of election and the next regularly scheduled February grant of restricted stock.

At December 31, 2011, 10,200 shares of restricted stock were outstanding for each of the non-employee directors, except that Ms. Pederson had 2,100 shares of restricted stock outstanding.

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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF VIAD MANAGEMENT

AND CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS

Ownership Guidelines for Directors and Executive Officers

We believe it is important to align the financial interests of our directors and executive officers with those of our shareholders. Accordingly, we have adopted guidelines which specify the minimum amount of Viad stock that we expect directors and officers to own on a direct basis, meaning stock which is subject to market risk, not simply held under option. The security ownership guidelines call for each officer to own stock which has a value within a range of one and one-half to five times that individual’s annual salary, depending on salary level. The guidelines also call for each non-employee director to own stock which has a value equal to five times the annual retainer payable to a director. As of the measurement date in 2012, all non-employee directors and the named executive officers had met or exceeded their goals, except Ms. Pederson, who was elected director of the Company in August 2011, and Messrs. Hannan, Kuczynski and Moster, who are working toward achieving their goals.

Security Ownership of Management

The table below provides information concerning the beneficial ownership of Viad’s common stock by directors and executive officers of Viad, individually and as a group, as of March 28, 2012.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires Viad’s executive officers, directors and beneficial owners of more than 10% of Viad’s common stock to file initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of Viad’s common stock with the SEC and the NYSE. Such executive officers, directors and beneficial owners are required by U.S. federal securities regulations to furnish Viad with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. As a matter of practice, Viad’s administrative staff assists its executive officers and directors in preparing initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership, and files such reports on their behalf with the SEC and the NYSE. Based solely on a review

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of the copies of such forms furnished to Viad and written representations from its executive officers and directors, Viad believes that all executive officers, directors and beneficial owners timely complied with the Section 16(a) reporting requirements in 2011.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners

The table below provides certain information regarding those persons known by Viad to be the beneficial owners of more than 5% of Viad’s outstanding common stock.

The Human Resources Committee Report and the Audit Committee Report contained in this proxy statement will not be incorporated by reference into any present or future filings we make with the SEC, even if those reports incorporate all or any part of this proxy statement.

HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE REPORT

The Human Resources Committee of the Board is comprised solely of independent directors. The Committee oversees design and implementation of an executive compensation strategy intended to enhance the fundamental value of Viad by increasing its earnings, cash flows, market position and financial condition, thereby providing a logical predicate for increases in shareholder value. The Committee has reviewed and discussed with Viad’s management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis provided in this proxy statement and, based on such review and discussions, recommended to the Board of Directors that such Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy statement and incorporated by reference in Viad’s 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed March 9, 2012.

HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE

Jess Hay, Chairman

Daniel Boggan Jr.

Isabella Cunningham

Richard H. Dozer

Albert M. Teplin

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

This Compensation Discussion and Analysis section explains the compensation program for Viad’s executive officers whose compensation information is provided in the tables following this discussion and who are referred to in this proxy statement as the “named executive officers.” Viad’s named executive officers include:

Executive Summary

The Board employs a pay-for-performance philosophy through its executive compensation programs by aligning the financial interests of its executive officers and key management with the long-term financial interest of Viad and its shareholders. The Human Resources Committee oversees Viad’s executive compensation program and determines the compensation for its executive officers. The Human Resources Committee believes the executive compensation program for executive officers was a significant factor contributing to Viad’s improved profitability and operating efficiencies in 2011.

In the past three years, the Company took quick and aggressive action to address the challenging economic and business environment and improve Viad’s operational and financial performance. During 2009 and 2010, Viad made significant changes to its business, including deploying a Lean transformation initiative and implementing a comprehensive corporate reorganization. In 2011, Viad’s Marketing & Events Group realigned its U.S. sales force and consolidated several overlapping facilities and Viad’s Travel & Recreation Group successfully completed three acquisitions which will contribute to future growth in this high margin business. These initiatives helped Viad drive productivity improvements, reduce overhead costs, improve service levels and position the Company for growth in future years. These initiatives also contributed materially to our improved operating results in 2011 ($25.4 million, up $10.6 million or 72.0% from 2010) and total revenues ($942.4 million, up $97.6 million or 11.6% from 2010). Viad’s Marketing & Events Group delivered meaningful revenue growth and returned to profitability in 2011 and Viad’s Travel & Recreation Group delivered double-digit revenue growth and maintained operating margins of nearly 20%. In addition, Viad generated full year free cash flow of $10.0 million, and finished the year with a strong balance sheet, with $100.4 million in cash and cash equivalents and $3.2 million in debt, with a debt-to-capital ratio of 0.8%. These performance results provide context for the key compensation decisions made by the Human Resources Committee in 2011 and prior years.

Viad’s executive compensation program for 2011 was designed to drive improved profitability, motivate and retain executives and encourage executive focus on creating and maintaining long-term value for Viad’s shareholders:

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Consideration of Say-on-Pay Results

The Human Resources Committee considered the results of the 2011 advisory, non-binding “say-on-pay” proposal in connection with the discharge of its responsibilities. Nearly 84% of Viad’s shareholders voting on the “say-on-pay” proposal approved the compensation of the named executive officers described in our proxy statement in 2011. For 2012, the Committee did not find it necessary to implement significant changes to our executive compensation program.

Executive Total Compensation Philosophy

The Board employs a pay-for-performance philosophy as reflected in its compensation programs by aligning the financial interests of its executive officers and key management with the long-term financial interest of Viad and its shareholders. No changes to the philosophy are planned for the 2012 executive compensation programs.

Viad’s compensation philosophy is designed to:

Decision-Making Process

The Human Resources Committee reviews and approves Viad’s executive compensation program and the compensation levels for its executive officers. The Human Resources Committee, comprised only of independent directors, has sole responsibility with respect to the CEO and other executive officers to approve (a) the annual base salary level, (b) the annual incentive opportunity level, achievement of performance measures and payment of incentive awards, (c) the long-term incentive opportunity level, grant of awards and achievement of performance measures and (d) any special or supplemental benefits. The salary, equity and incentive compensation of the CEO is approved by the Human Resources Committee and is subject to ratification by independent members of the Board. The Human Resources Committee also has sole authority to retain and terminate any compensation consultant used to assist in the evaluation of the compensation of the CEO and other executive officers.

Total compensation is reviewed by the Human Resources Committee at its regularly scheduled meeting in February. Merit adjustments, if any, to annual base salary are effective April 1 of each year. Awards earned under the annual incentive plan (for the prior year) and long-term performance plans are approved at the February meeting. Once achievement of financial targets established for the prior year is determined, the payment of incentive awards, if earned, is not made until the Company’s books have been officially closed for the prior fiscal year. In 2011, long-term incentive compensation awards (as discussed in more detail below) were granted at the February meeting, and targets for the incentive plans were determined at the March meeting of the Human Resources Committee.

Using general industry market survey data (as discussed below) provided by Aon Hewitt Associates (“Aon Hewitt”) and Viad’s Human Resources Department, each component of the total compensation package (as discussed below) for the named executive officers is generally targeted between the 50th and 75th percentiles of general industry survey data. This analysis and a number of other factors, including advice from Aon Hewitt, an assessment of individual performance, his/her experience and special expertise related to the responsibilities of his/her position, Viad’s operating and financial results, the extent to which Viad’s financial and operating goals were achieved in the prior year and internal equity considerations are considered by the Human Resources Committee in determining appropriate levels of compensation for each named executive officer. At the regularly-scheduled meeting in February, the Human Resources Committee discusses the performance of the CEO and the other executive officers.

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Benchmarking and Resources

Aon Hewitt, a national independent compensation consulting firm, has been retained by the Human Resources Committee and Viad’s Human Resources Department to provide services, advice and counsel on executive compensation and to serve as a technical resource for market data on executive compensation. As a participant in Aon Hewitt’s executive compensation database and other compensation surveys, Viad obtains competitive market data for executive positions, including base salary, target and actual annual incentives, long-term incentives and total compensation values, which assist the Human Resources Committee in its decisions on executive compensation.

Viad’s Human Resources and Law Departments support the Human Resources Committee in its work and in some cases act pursuant to delegated authority to fulfill various functions in administering Viad’s compensation programs for executive officers. The Human Resources Department also provides the Human Resources Committee with competitive compensation benchmarks using general industry market data. Viad does not use a set of identified comparator or peer companies in connection with the decision-making process for executive compensation. Viad’s unique and diverse mix of businesses – from marketing and event services to travel and recreation services – makes it difficult to identify a peer group that has similar characteristics. In addition, Viad is the only publicly-held company in the United States operating with this mix of businesses. As a result, Aon Hewitt obtained market data from their Total Compensation Measurement Database for a broad mix of general industry companies that have annual revenues similar to Viad’s annual revenues (companies with annual revenues in the range of $500 million to $2 billion with a median of $979 million), without regard to specific companies or the specific industry in which the companies compete. Benchmark valuations were derived from this general industry data by Aon Hewitt. Such competitive data provides reference points for the Human Resources Committee.

Components of Compensation

Compensation components for the named executive officers include:

Each component of the total compensation of the named executive officers is discussed below.

Mix of Pay

The Human Resources Committee and management create what they believe is the optimal mix of compensation components, consistent with Viad’s compensation philosophy, in delivering the executives’ targeted total compensation. The table below shows the 2011 mix of compensation components for the named executive officers.

Components of 2011 Compensation

As a Percentage (%) of Targeted Total Compensation

Viad’s total compensation package for executives is designed to enhance shareholder value, as well as to mitigate the potential for excessive risk-taking by executives in managing Viad’s businesses. The Human Resources Committee believes that certain design features of Viad’s executive compensation program aid in discouraging excessive risk-taking, including, among others, the following:

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Annual Base Salary

The base salary program for Viad’s executives helps achieve the objectives outlined above by attracting and retaining strong talent. Base salaries represent the fixed portion of the executive compensation package. Salary levels are determined using a combination of factors including competitive benchmark levels, the executive’s experience and tenure, Viad’s annual merit budget and the executive’s individual performance. Merit increase guidelines for all employees, including the named executive officers, are determined using published survey sources, and have ranged from 0% to 5%, averaging approximately 3% on a historical basis. If an executive is not meeting expectations, then no merit increase would be awarded.

Base salaries for Viad’s named executive officers are targeted between the 50th and 75th percentiles of the general industry market survey data. Base salaries generally fall between the minimum and maximum of the targeted range, depending upon time in position, individual performance and qualifications for the role. This range allows Viad to respond to changing business conditions and manage salaries more evenly over an executive’s career.

In 2011, base salaries approved by the Human Resources Committee for the named executive officers were within the 50th and 75th percentile range of the general market survey data, except for the base salaries of Mr. Kuczynski, which was above the 75th percentile of the general market, and Mr. Dykstra, which was below the 50th percentile of the general market. However, Mr. Dykstra’s total targeted compensation, including incentive-based compensation, did fall within the targeted range.

Annual Incentives

Viad’s Management Incentive Plan is an annual, cash-based, pay-for-performance incentive program for executive officers and other key executives. The Management Incentive Plan is designed to motivate and reward these individuals for their contributions to Viad’s performance during the year by making a significant portion of their cash compensation variable and dependent upon achievement of Viad’s annual performance targets. The performance targets are established by the Human Resources Committee at the beginning of each year. Incentive cash payments reflect the extent to which targets for performance goals are met or exceeded.

Financial targets are set with the intent that achievement will result in enhancement to the fundamental value of Viad, which, in turn, is ultimately reflected in enhanced shareholder value. When determining the performance targets, the Human Resources Committee considers past financial performance of Viad and its operating companies and the internal estimates of their current-year planned financial performance. Established growth trends, or improved profitability and operating efficiencies during periods of economic uncertainty, which are based on economic and business conditions specific to Viad’s businesses, are the gauge by which meaningful targets are set and executive performance is measured.

For the past seven years, the Human Resources Committee has not awarded a discretionary cash bonus to any named executive officer in circumstances where performance goals under the annual incentive plan were not met. The Human Resources Committee has discretion to increase or decrease the actual awards based on Company and individual performance, except in the case of executive officers, whose awards may only be decreased.

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The table below provides information for the 2011 Management Incentive Plan, including the performance goals, the weighting of each performance goal as a percentage of the total award and the targeted achievement levels for each performance goal.

2011 Annual Incentive Performance Goals, Weighting and Targets

The 2011 performance goal of Operating Income is a stand-alone goal and awards are paid based on achievement of the goal. No payout for the performance goals of Operating Cash Flow, Revenue or Operating Margin can be earned unless the performance goal of Operating Income is achieved at or greater than the Threshold amount. The performance goals of Operating Cash Flow, Revenue and Operating Margin are also stand-alone goals and awards are paid based on achievement of their respective target, provided that the Operating Income measure is met at the Threshold amount or greater.

The formula for determining the annual bonus award is: annual base salary earnings times individual target bonus percentage times the company achievement factor. As shown in the “Target” column in the table below, the 2011 target bonus percentages for the named executive officers in 2011 ranged from 50% to 90% of the executive’s annual base earnings. The “Threshold” column in the table below reflects the executive’s target level times the company achievement factor at the

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threshold level of 18% (which is the Threshold amount of 30% multiplied by the 60% performance goal weight of Operating Income, as discussed in more detail above). The “Maximum” column in the table below reflects the executive’s target level times the company achievement factor at the maximum level of 175%. Individual target bonus percentages are established for each executive officer based upon competitive target bonus levels for comparable positions and are targeted within the 50th and 75th percentile range of the general market survey data.

Long-Term Incentives

Long-term incentives for the named executive officers in 2011 were granted using restricted stock and performance units, except that Mr. Hannan was granted restricted stock units, which are payable in cash, rather than restricted stock due to Canadian tax considerations. Of the total long-term award value granted to the named executive officers, 50% was made up of performance units and 50% from restricted stock (or units). This mix places a heavy emphasis on the financial performance of the Company, which provides for long-term value to Viad’s shareholders, as well as providing a retention incentive for key executives. Long-term incentive grants are market driven based on the 50th and 75th percentile range of the competitive market, as reflected in general industry market surveys. Each of the long-term incentive plans is described below.

Time Vested Restricted Stock (or Units).    In 2011, the named executive officers and other key executives who have a significant impact on Viad’s operational and financial goals were awarded restricted stock, except restricted stock units were awarded to Mr. Hannan due to Canadian tax considerations. For the executives receiving restricted stock, the executives may vote the shares and will receive dividends during the restriction period. Mr. Hannan, who received restricted stock units, does not have voting rights, but does receive dividend equivalents. Receipt of dividends (or dividend equivalents) and the executive’s right to vote shares are important links in aligning management’s interests with those of Viad’s shareholders.

The restricted stock (and units) will vest three years from the grant date. The Human Resources Committee believes that due to the three-year cliff vesting feature of the shares and units, this compensation element has been highly effective in retaining executives and in motivating executives to make long-term decisions that will be beneficial to shareholders and Viad.

In 2011, the Human Resources Committee awarded Mr. Dykstra a special grant of 25,000 shares of restricted stock, having a five-year cliff vesting feature, in recognition of his performance and leadership over the prior several years (including his dual role as the president of Viad and the Marketing & Events Group during 2010), as well as to provide a retention incentive. This award was in addition to the award he received as part of the annual grant of long-term incentive awards to executive officers.

Performance Units.    The Performance Unit Incentive Plan (“PUP”) is designed to focus participants on the long-term interests of our shareholders by tying the value of units to both stock price appreciation during the three-year performance period and to achievement of financial performance measures that are key factors in increasing shareholder value. Performance targets are set by the Human Resources Committee during the first quarter of the three-year performance period. Targets are set such that achievement will result in enhancement to the fundamental value of Viad, which in turn is ultimately reflected in enhanced shareholder value. Established growth trends, which are based on economic and business conditions specific to Viad and each of the operating companies, are the gauge by which meaningful targets are set and executive performance is measured.

PUP awards are paid in cash and are earned based on the degree of achievement of the targets during the performance period and are calculated using the average price of Viad’s common stock during the ten-day trading period beginning on the day following public announcement of Viad’s year-end financial results for the final year of the performance period. The formula for determining the payout of a PUP award is the number of units originally granted to the executive multiplied by the ten-day average stock price described above, multiplied by the achievement factor for the Company. The achievement factor can range from 0% to 200%. The performance cycle for PUP awards made in 2011 is for the three year period beginning in 2011 and ending in 2013. PUP awards earned by named executive officers for the 2011-2013 performance period will be paid

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out in 2014. The financial performance goals for the 2011-2013 performance period include revenue, operating income, cash flow, and for the Marketing & Events Group only, lower invested capital. These financial measures are designed to focus executives and key employees on achievement of Viad’s long-term operating and financial goals of driving growth and return on invested capital.

Stock Options.    Stock options are another form of equity compensation intended to encourage and reward effective management that results in long-term financial success and increased shareholder value. The options have value only to the extent that the price of Viad’s stock increases. Stock options have a three-year vesting schedule, vesting one-third each year starting in the first year after the grant and becoming fully vested in the third year after the grant. All granted and outstanding options contain forfeiture and non-competition provisions. No stock options were granted in 2011.

Performance-Based Restricted Stock (or Units).    No grants of performance-based restricted stock (or units) were made in 2011. However, in 2011, the final one-third payout of the performance-based restricted stock granted and earned in 2008 was made to Messrs. Dykstra and Kuczynski and Ms. Ingersoll. Mr. Hannan did not receive a 2008 grant as he had not joined Viad at that time, and Mr. Moster did not receive a grant in 2008 because he was not an executive officer of GES at that time. Also in 2011, the second one-third payout of the performance-based restricted stock units granted to Mr. Hannan in 2009 was made as performance targets established for 2009 were partially met. These awards had performance targets established for the year of the grant and were designed to focus management’s attention on annual financial performance, and to retain the management team with a three-year vesting schedule of one-third of the earned award per year starting one year after the grant date. The executives with unvested performance-based restricted stock could vote the shares granted, and received dividends on the shares. Mr. Hannan’s performance-based restricted stock units (and dividend equivalents) are paid in cash. His units do not have voting rights.

Executives earn from 0% to 100% of the shares (or units) granted, dependent upon the performance of the operating company or overall corporate results. For executives in Viad’s operating companies, 50% of the award is earned based on the achievement of the operating company’s performance measures and targets and the other 50% is based on the achievement of the corporate level performance measures and targets established in the year of the grant under that year’s Management Incentive Plan. For corporate level executives, 100% of the award is based on the achievement of the corporate level performance measures and targets established in the year of the grant under that year’s Management Incentive Plan. Messrs. Dykstra and Kuczynski and Ms. Ingersoll earned 100% of the 2008 award, based on the overall achievement of the established performance goals, which are provided below:

For the 2009 performance-based restricted stock award, no stock vested for the corporate level and GES executives as no achievement was made under the 2009 Management Incentive Plan, and therefore 100% of the awards for Messrs. Dykstra, Kuczynski and Moster and Ms. Ingersoll were cancelled. For Mr. Hannan’s 2009 award (made in units and not stock), 50% of the award was not earned as the corporate level performance targets under the 2009 Management Incentive Plan were not achieved. Mr. Hannan achieved 48.125% of the award because the overall achievement of the operating company’s

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performance goals under the 2009 Management Incentive Plan was at 99.4%. The performance targets are provided in the table below:

Vesting of Long-Term Incentives.    The vesting of long-term incentives is generally subject to continued employment with Viad or its operating companies, except certain termination events will trigger post-termination benefits as discussed below under the “Post-Termination Compensation and Benefits” subsection below, as well as the “Potential Payment Upon Employment Termination or Change of Control” section of this proxy statement.

Perquisites and Other Personal Benefits

Perquisites and other personal benefits are part of the executive’s total compensation package and are reviewed periodically to ensure external competitiveness. The perquisites currently offered by the Company to the executive officers include financial counseling and tax preparation, annual executive physical examination, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, executive medical insurance, club memberships and Company-paid parking. Mr. Dykstra is also eligible for executive life insurance, home Internet service, a home security system and an automobile, plus related expenses. Messrs. Hannan and Moster are eligible for an automobile allowance, plus related expenses, and a home security system. Additional information on perquisites and other personal benefits provided to the named executive officers in 2011 is discussed in the “Summary Compensation Table” section of this proxy statement.

Retirement Income and Savings Plans

All eligible employees, including the named executive officers (excluding Mr. Hannan), may participate in the Viad Corp Capital Accumulation Plan (the “401(k) Plan”). In addition, the named executive officers (excluding Mr. Hannan) are eligible to participate in the Supplemental 401(k) Plan, which provides for additional employee contributions over the annual limits set by the Internal Revenue Code for the 401(k) Plan, plus matching contributions by Viad based on the same percentage as the 401(k) Plan. In lieu of participation in the 401(k) Plan and the Supplemental 401(k) Plan, Mr. Hannan is a participant in the Retirement Plan for Management Employees of Brewster Inc.

Annual retirement benefits will be paid under applicable schedules of the Viad Corp Supplemental Pension Plan (the “SERP”) and under the MoneyGram Pension Plan (formerly the Viad Corp Retirement Income Plan) to Mr. Dykstra and Ms. Ingersoll, although accruals under the MoneyGram Pension Plan were frozen as of December 31, 2003. In connection with the spin-off of MoneyGram International, Inc. (“MoneyGram”) on June 30, 2004, the sponsorship and administration of the MoneyGram Pension Plan, as well as all liabilities of the MoneyGram Pension Plan and the SERP, were assumed by MoneyGram. In general, the compensation covered by the MoneyGram Pension Plan and the SERP is annual salary and one-half of annual bonus. Actual benefits under the SERP will be calculated primarily on the basis of the average of a participant’s last five years of annual salary prior to retirement and on the basis of the average of one-half of a participant’s highest five years of annual incentive compensation. Like all other forms of compensation, the level of retirement benefit is

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determined by individual performance assessments throughout a career, since individual performance determines the level of compensation, which is an integral component of savings and pension benefit formulas.

Under the Retirement Plan for Management Employees of Brewster Inc., the annual pension payable to Mr. Hannan, assuming a normal retirement date, is equal to 2% of his highest average earnings for each year of credited service. “Highest average earnings” are defined as the average of the highest annual earnings in any three calendar years of credited service. The maximum pension payable to Mr. Hannan cannot exceed the dollar limits permitted under the Income Tax Act of Canada.

The change in the value of the pension plans during 2011 is included in the “Summary Compensation Table” section of this proxy statement. Please refer to the “Pension Benefit Table” and the “Potential Payment Upon Employment Termination or Change of Control” sections of this proxy statement for further discussion of retirement benefits.

Post-Termination Compensation and Benefits

Certain termination events will trigger post-termination payments and benefits for the named executive officers, including retirement, change of control severance, termination for cause, involuntary termination not for cause, death or disability. These are discussed below and also under the “Potential Payment Upon Employment Termination or Change of Control” section of this proxy statement. Post-termination compensation provides for either short-term (termination or change of control) or long-term (retirement) security to the Company’s executive officers in the event their employment with the Company ends. In the event of involuntary termination, post-termination compensation is intended to provide an interim financial resource to the executive during the transition from employment with Viad.

Retirement.    Eligibility for normal retirement is age 65 and for early retirement is age 55. The retirement income received by the executives is discussed under the “Retirement Income and Savings Plans” and “Pension Benefits Table” sections of this proxy statement. Upon normal or early retirement, executives would receive ownership of the restricted stock (or units), earned PBRS (or units) and earned performance units awarded to them upon the lapse of the vesting period on a pro-rata basis (percentage of time from the grant date to the retirement date), except that executives who have reached the age of 60 at the time of retirement and retire at least two years (or 18 months, in the case of earned performance units) from the date of the grant would receive full ownership (not pro-rated) upon lapse of the vesting period. Stock options not yet exercisable would fully vest upon retirement (or six months and one day thereafter in the event the termination date occurs within six months of the grant date) and the executive may exercise the option rights within a five-year period following the retirement date. Executives would receive an accrued annual incentive bonus, if earned, on a pro-rata basis. Mr. Dykstra is entitled to the same benefits upon retirement pursuant to the terms of his employment contract. In addition, he will be provided with an office and secretarial support for five years following retirement. There are currently no named executive officers eligible for retirement.

Change of Control Severance.    Viad’s Executive Severance Plan (Tier I) provides each of the named executive officers with severance benefits if the executive’s employment is terminated by Viad without cause or by the executive for good reason (as those terms are defined in the Executive Severance Plan) within 36 months after a change of control of Viad, or by the executive for any reason (other than for good reason, death, disability or retirement) during a 30-day window period beginning on the first anniversary of the change of control of Viad. The purpose of the Executive Severance Plan is to ensure, in the event of a possible change of control of Viad, that executives will be available (without concern for their personal financial situations) to perform their regular duties and to advise management and the Board as to whether the change of control proposal would be in the best interests of Viad and its shareholders, to assist in the change of control implementation and transition and to perform other appropriate actions. Severance benefits also provide an economic means for executives to transition from Viad employment. Participants in the plan are designated by the CEO and approved by the Human Resources Committee. Upon a change of control, Viad’s annual and long-term incentive plans also provide for accelerated vesting of equity awards and payment of annual incentive and performance units, as discussed in the “Potential Payment Upon Employment Termination or Change of Control” section of this proxy statement.

For purposes of these benefits, a change of control is deemed to occur, in general, if (a) a shareholder or group of shareholders acquires 20% or more of Viad’s common stock, (b) the current directors in office cease to constitute at least a majority of the Board, (c) a reorganization, merger or consolidation or the sale of all or substantially all of the corporate assets occurred or (d) there is a complete liquidation and dissolution of Viad.

Involuntary Termination Not For Cause.    Mr. Dykstra’s employment agreement provides that he will receive post-termination payments and benefits upon Viad’s termination of his employment without cause. The relevant material terms of Mr. Dykstra’s employment agreement with Viad are discussed in the “Potential Payment Upon Employment Termination or Change of Control” section of this proxy statement. For the other named executive officers, Viad has an arrangement providing payments and benefits to them for Viad’s termination of their employment without cause, as discussed in the “Potential Payment Upon Employment Termination or Change of Control” section of this proxy statement.

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Death or Disability.    Mr. Dykstra’s employment agreement does not provide for any post-termination payments upon his employment termination due to death or disability; however, he and the other named executive officers will be eligible to receive benefits or rights otherwise due in the event of their death or disability pursuant to compensation and benefit plans and related agreements, as discussed in the “Potential Payment Upon Employment Termination or Change of Control” section of this proxy statement.

Forfeiture and Reimbursement Provisions for Detrimental Conduct

In order to protect Viad and its operating companies and to help ensure the long-term success of the business, annual incentive compensation and long-term incentive compensation (including awards of restricted stock, restricted stock units and stock options) are subject to forfeiture and reimbursement provisions (i.e., a “clawback” provision) relating to the following conduct:

The forfeiture and reimbursement provisions also relate to violations of certain restrictions on competitive activities following employment termination. In addition, the annual incentive compensation and long-term incentive compensation awards (including awards of restricted stock, restricted stock units and performance units) also provide Viad with the right to stop the executive, through a court-ordered injunction, from working for competitors and soliciting customers and employees following employment termination. Viad also may seek monetary damages for such activities.

Limit on Deductibility of Certain Compensation

Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code disallows a corporate income tax deduction on compensation paid to a named executive officer that exceeds $1.0 million during the tax year, subject to certain permitted exceptions. To the extent compensation is based upon attaining performance measures set by the Human Resources Committee and meets the other requirements of Section 162(m), the compensation is not included in computation of the limit. The Human Resources Committee intends, to the extent possible and where it believes it is in the best interest of Viad and its shareholders, to qualify such compensation as tax deductible. However, it does not intend to permit the provisions of Section 162(m) to erode the effectiveness of Viad’s overall system of compensation policies and practices. The Board submitted performance measures and certain other material terms under the 1997 Viad Corp Omnibus Incentive Plan for approval at the 1997 and 2002 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, as required to allow certain of the compensation payable under such plans to be eligible for deduction. The Board, for the same reason, submitted performance measures and certain other material terms under the 2007 Viad Corp Omnibus Incentive Plan for approval at the 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and will be submitting the terms for re-approval at the 2012 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. For purposes of meeting the requirements of Section 162(m), under the 2007 Viad Corp Omnibus Incentive Plan, the maximum aggregate amount awarded or credited with respect to cash-based awards, including annual incentive awards and performance units, to any one participant in any one plan year may not exceed $5.0 million.

Stock Ownership Guidelines

Stock ownership guidelines were adopted in 1993 requiring executives to own a minimum amount of stock on a direct basis, meaning stock of Viad which is subject to market risk and not simply held under option. The minimum required amount is based on multiples of salary ranging from one and one-half to five times an executive’s annual salary, depending on salary level.

Viad believes it is important to align the financial interests of our executives with those of our shareholders. Mr. Dykstra has ownership guidelines of five times his annual base salary. Ms. Ingersoll and Messrs. Hannan, Kuczynski and Moster have ownership guidelines of three times their base salaries. As of the measurement date in 2012, Mr. Dykstra and Ms. Ingersoll had exceeded their goals, and Messrs. Hannan, Moster and Kuczynski are working toward achieving their goals.

Changes to Executive Compensation in 2012

The value of the overall mix of long-term incentive grants in 2012 will be the same as in 2011, 50% of such value in the form of restricted stock (or units) with a three-year vesting period and 50% performance units with a three-year vesting period

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and payable in cash. This mix of restricted stock (or units) and performance units will continue to provide incentives for executives to create and maintain shareholder value over a multi-year period because the ultimate value of each executive’s grant will depend upon the value of Viad’s stock at the time of vesting or payout. This mix also continues to provide an effective retention tool for executives. Awards of restricted stock (or units) and performance units will be subject to the forfeiture and reimbursement provisions discussed in the “Forfeiture and Reimbursement Provisions for Detrimental Conduct” subsection above.

Compensation Consultant

As discussed in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section of this proxy statement, in 2011 Aon Hewitt provided services and advice related to executive compensation. In addition to compensation advice, in 2011, Aon Hewitt also provided to Viad at the request of Viad management actuarial services on qualified and non-qualified retirement programs, benefits and pension calculations, federal payroll tax calculations and other services and advice. For these 2011 services and advice, Viad paid Aon Hewitt in the aggregate $433,386. Viad paid Aon Hewitt $55,474 in the aggregate for its 2011 services and advice related to executive and director compensation.

Summary Compensation Table

The following table summarizes the compensation in 2009, 2010 and 2011 of the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer and each of the three other most highly compensated executive officers of Viad in 2011.

The amounts presented below in column (e), “Stock Awards,” and column (f), “Option Awards,” of the Table represent the grant date fair value of awards granted to the named executive officers and may not reflect the actual value to be realized by each executive officer. Variables that can affect the actual value realized by the named executive officer include achievement levels of performance targets, economic and market risks associated with stock and option awards and performance unit valuation based on the market price of Viad’s stock. The actual value realized by the named executive officer will not be determined until the time of vesting in the case of restricted stock (or units), performance units and PBRS (or units), or until option exercise in the case of option awards.