UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

(Amendment No.    )

Filed by the Registrant  ☒                            Filed by a party other than the Registrant  ☐

Check the appropriate box:

Tejon Ranch Co.

(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):

4436 Lebec Rd.

Post Office Box 1000

Tejon Ranch, California 93243

March 31, 2020

Dear Shareholder:

You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Tejon Ranch Co. (the “Company”) on Wednesday, May 20, 2020, at 9:00 A.M., Pacific Time, at the Hyatt Regency Newport Beach, 1107 Jamboree Road, Newport Beach, California 92660. Your Board of Directors and management look forward to greeting those shareholders who are able to attend. If you are planning to attend the meeting in person, you will need to present proof that you own shares of the Company, such as government-issued photo identification and a proxy card or voting instruction form with your name on it.

The Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement, which contain information concerning the business to be transacted at the meeting, appear in the following pages.

It is important that your shares be represented and voted at the Annual Meeting, whether or not you plan to attend. Please vote on the enclosed proxy or voting instruction form at your earliest convenience.

Your interest and participation in the affairs of the Company are greatly appreciated.

TEJON RANCH CO.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

on

May 20, 2020

The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Tejon Ranch Co. (the “Company”, “Tejon”, “we”, “us”, “our” or words of similar import in this Proxy Statement) will be held at the Hyatt Regency Newport Beach, 1107 Jamboree Road, Newport Beach, California, 92660 on Wednesday, May 20, 2020, at 9:00 A.M., Pacific Time, for the following purposes:

The nominees of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) for election at the meeting are Gregory S. Bielli, Anthony L. Leggio and Norman J. Metcalfe.

The Board recommends that you vote: (i) “FOR” the election of each of the nominees; (ii) “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP; and (iii) “FOR” the approval of named executive officer compensation; and (iv) “FOR” each of the amendments to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation.

The Board has fixed the close of business on March 25, 2020 as the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting.

Your attention is directed to the accompanying Proxy Statement. To ensure that your shares are represented at the Annual Meeting, please date, sign, and mail the enclosed proxy card, for which a return envelope is provided, or vote your proxy by telephone or the Internet, the instructions for which are provided on the enclosed proxy card.

Please note that if your shares are held by a broker, bank, or other holder of record, your broker, bank, or other holder of record will NOT be able to vote your shares with respect to Proposal 1 or Proposal 3 or Proposals 4(a), (b) or (c) unless you provide them with directions on how to vote. We strongly encourage you to return the voting instruction form provided by your broker, bank, or other holder of record or to utilize your broker’s telephone or Internet voting, if available, and exercise your right to vote as a shareholder.

Tejon Ranch, California

April 6, 2020

PLEASE MARK YOUR INSTRUCTIONS ON THE ENCLOSED PROXY, SIGN AND DATE THE PROXY, AND RETURN IT IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE PAID ENVELOPE. ALTERNATIVELY, PLEASE VOTE YOUR PROXY BY TELEPHONE OR THE INTERNET.

PLEASE VOTE YOUR PROXY EVEN IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING. IF YOU ATTEND THE MEETING AND WISH TO DO SO, YOU MAY VOTE YOUR SHARES IN PERSON EVEN IF YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED YOUR PROXY.

Table of Contents of the Proxy Statement

TEJON RANCH CO.

Post Office Box 1000

Tejon Ranch, California 93243

PROXY STATEMENT

Annual Meeting of Shareholders

May 20, 2020

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders

To Be Held on May 20, 2020

The Proxy Statement and accompanying Annual Report to Shareholders and Annual Report on Form 10-K are available at www.tejonranch.com or at http://materials.proxyvote.com/879080

This Proxy Statement is being furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Company for use at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 20, 2020 (the “2020 Annual Meeting”).

It is anticipated that the mailing of this Proxy Statement and accompanying form of Proxy to shareholders will begin on or about April  6, 2020.

SOLICITATION OF PROXIES

At the meeting, the shareholders of the Company will be asked to vote on the following matters: (1) the election of the three directors named in this Proxy Statement, (2) the ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2020, (3) an advisory vote to approve named executive officer compensation, (4) amendments to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, and (5) such other business as may properly come before the meeting. The Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) is asking for your proxy for use at the 2020 Annual Meeting. Although management does not know of any other matter to be acted upon at the meeting, shares represented by valid proxies will be voted by the persons named on the proxy in accordance with their best judgment with respect to any other matters which may properly come before the meeting.

The costs for this proxy solicitation will be paid by the Company. Following the mailing of this Proxy Statement, directors, officers, and regular employees of the Company may solicit proxies by mail, telephone, e-mail, or in person: such persons will receive no additional compensation for such services. Brokerage houses and other nominees, fiduciaries and custodians nominally holding shares of record will be requested to forward proxy soliciting material to the beneficial owners of such shares and will be reimbursed by the Company for their charges and expenses in connection therewith at the rates approved by the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”).

RECORD DATE AND VOTING

General Information

Holders of shares of the Company’s Common Stock, par value $0.50 (the “Common Stock”), of record at the close of business on March 25, 2020 (the “Record Date”) are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the meeting. There were 26,212,329 shares of Common Stock outstanding on the Record Date. Each shareholder is entitled to one vote for each share of Common Stock held as of the Record Date on all matters presented at the 2020 Annual Meeting other than the election of directors. Each shareholder may appoint only one proxy holder or representative to attend the meeting on his or her behalf. A shareholder of record giving a proxy may revoke it at

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any time before it is voted at the Annual Meeting by delivering to the Company’s Secretary a written notice of revocation or by submitting a later-dated proxy via the Internet, by telephone, or by mail. Unless a proxy is revoked, shares represented by a proxy will be voted in accordance with the voting instructions on the proxy, and on matters for which no voting instructions are given, shares will be voted “FOR” the election of each nominee and “FOR” Proposals 2 and 3. If you hold shares in a stock brokerage account or by a bank or other holder of record, you must follow the instructions of your broker, bank, or other holder of record to change or revoke your voting instructions.

Broker Non-Votes

If your shares are held in a stock brokerage account or by a bank or other holder of record, you are considered to be the “beneficial owner” of those shares. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to instruct your broker, bank, or other holder of record how to vote your shares. If you do not provide instructions, your broker, bank, or other holder of record will not have the discretion to vote with respect to certain matters, and your shares will constitute “broker non-votes” with respect to those matters. A “broker non-vote” occurs when a nominee holding shares for a beneficial owner does not vote on a particular proposal because the nominee does not have discretionary voting power for that particular item and has not received instructions from the beneficial owner. Specifically, your broker, bank, or other holder of record will not have the discretion to vote with respect to Proposal 1 or Proposal 3 or Proposals 4(a), (b) or (c), but will have discretion to vote on Proposal 2. Therefore, we strongly encourage you to follow the voting instructions on the materials you receive and vote your shares.

Quorum

The holders of record of a majority of the Common Stock entitled to vote at the 2020 Annual Meeting must be present at the 2020 Annual Meeting, either in person or by proxy, in order for there to be a quorum at the 2020 Annual Meeting. Shares of Common Stock with respect to which the holders are present in person at the 2020 Annual Meeting, but not voting, and shares of Common Stock for which we have received proxies, but with respect to which the holders of the shares have abstained from voting, will be counted as present at the 2020 Annual Meeting for the purpose of determining whether or not a quorum exists. Broker non-votes will also be counted as present for the purpose of determining whether a quorum exists. Shareholders cannot abstain in the election of directors, but they can withhold authority. Shareholders who withhold authority will be considered present for purposes of determining a quorum.

Voting Requirements

For Proposal 1 (election of directors), the three (3) candidates receiving the highest number of affirmative votes at the 2020 Annual Meeting (also referred to as a plurality) will be elected as directors. Shareholders will be able to cumulate their vote in the election of directors. Cumulative voting means that each shareholder is entitled to a number of votes equal to the number of directors to be elected multiplied by the number of shares he or she holds. These votes may be cast for one nominee or distributed among two or more nominees. To exercise the right to cumulate votes, a shareholder must provide written instructions on the proxy card stating how the shareholder wishes to have his or her votes distributed. Withheld votes and broker non-votes will not be counted as participating in the voting and will therefore have no effect for purposes of Proposal 1.

Approval of Proposal 2 (the ratification of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm) will require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the 2020 Annual Meeting. Abstentions will be counted as present and will thus have the effect of a vote against Proposal 2.

Approval of Proposal 3 (the advisory vote to approve named executive officer compensation) will require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the 2020 Annual Meeting. Abstentions will be counted as present and will thus

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have the effect of a vote against Proposal 3. Broker non-votes will not be counted as participating in the voting and will therefore have no effect for purposes of Proposal 3.

Approval of the amendments to the Certificate of Incorporation, which are being presented separately as Proposals 4(a), 4(b) and 4(c), will require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. Abstentions and broker non-votes represent outstanding shares and will thus have the effect of a vote against each of Proposals 4(a), 4(b) and 4(c). Proposal 4(c) is conditioned on the approval of both Proposal 4(a) and Proposal 4(b). Therefore, unless shareholders approve both Proposal 4(a) and Proposal 4(b), Proposal 4(c) will fail, even if it receives enough affirmative votes to pass independently. Proposal 4(a) and Proposal 4(b) are not conditioned on the approval of each other. Accordingly, each of Proposal 4(a) and Proposal 4(b) will pass if it independently receives enough affirmative votes.

Pursuant to Delaware corporate law, the actions contemplated to be taken at the 2020 Annual Meeting do not create appraisal or dissenters’ rights.

Proxy Summary

2019 Performance Highlights

In determining the 2019 compensation for our named executive officers (“NEOs”), the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”) considered each NEO’s contributions to the Company’s strategy related to revenue generation, cash management, continued expansion of the Tejon Ranch Commerce Center (“TRCC”) and continued movement of our residential development projects through the entitlement and litigation process within California. The Compensation Committee considered these items with a particular emphasis on the following areas:

Our Mission and Objectives

We are a diversified real estate development and agribusiness company committed to responsibly using our land and resources to meet the housing, employment, and lifestyle needs of Californians and create value for our shareholders. Currently operations consist of land planning and entitlement, land development, commercial land sales and leasing, leasing of land for mineral royalties, water asset management and sales, grazing leases, farming, and ranch operations.

Our primary business objective is to maximize long-term shareholder value through the monetization of our land-based assets. A key element of our strategy is to entitle and then develop large-scale mixed-use master planned residential and commercial/industrial real estate projects to serve the growing populations of Southern and Central California. Our mixed-use master planned residential developments have received governmental jurisdictional approvals to collectively include up to 34,783 housing units, and more than 35 million square feet of commercial space.

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Forward Looking Statement

This document contains “forward-looking statements”—that is, statements related to future events that by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. We caution you not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and are subject to assumptions and involve known risks, uncertainties, and other important factors that could cause the actual results, performance, or achievement of the Company, or industry results, to differ materially from any future results, performance, or achievement imposed by such forward-looking statements.

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For details on the risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual future results to be materially different than those expressed in our forward-looking statements, see the “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” sections in our annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements. This document also includes certain forward-looking projected financial information that is based on current estimates and forecasts. Actual results could differ materially.

2019 Compensation Summary

Our 2019 compensation program reflects our pay-for-performance philosophy. The short-term incentives paid to all our executives were above target, ranging from 113% -119% of target. Adjusted EBITDA and total revenue and other income, the metrics used for purposes of our short-term incentives, improved significantly from the previous year due to the improvements in revenue as described above.

For the 2017-2019 three-year milestone grants, the goal for cumulative cash from operations was $28,251,000, and goal achievement was 175.62% of the target objective, with actual cash from operations of $49,615,000 over the three-year measurement period. These grants vested at maximum achievement level and were delivered in March 2020 after approval by the Compensation Committee.

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Shareholder Engagement

Shareholder engagement is an important and valuable means for direct input and feedback from our investors, and our directors and management recognize the benefits that come from this dialogue. We engage with shareholders throughout the year in order to:

We create many opportunities for shareholders and prospective shareholders to provide feedback to our Board and management by setting up one-on-one meetings and telephone calls. In 2019, we met with investors representing over 40% of shares outstanding. The primary feedback that we received related to our business plans and compensation programs is summarized below. The input was similar to the feedback last year given our continued push forward toward the development of our land assets. As part of our process to respond to shareholder feedback and evaluate adjustments to our compensation programs, the Compensation Committee hired Semler Brossy Consulting Group LLC, or Semler Brossy, as our new compensation consultant in late 2018. During 2019, Semler Brossy worked with the Compensation Committee to evaluate the Company’s compensation programs. The outcome of this evaluation was a realignment of long-term milestone performance grants beginning in 2020 to include grants that are tied to growth in our stock price.

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PROPOSAL 1

THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

The Board currently consists of eight directors divided into three classes based upon when their terms expire. The terms of three current directors (Class I) will expire at the 2021 Annual Meeting; the terms of two current directors (Class II) will expire at the 2022 Annual Meeting; and the terms of three current directors (Class III) will expire at the 2020 Annual Meeting. The regular term of each director expires at the third annual meeting following the annual meeting at which that director was elected, so that each director serves a three-year term, and until his or her successor is elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier death, resignation, or removal, unless the authorized number of directors is decreased.

The nominees of the Board for election at the 2020 Annual Meeting to serve as Class III Directors are Gregory S. Bielli, Anthony L. Leggio and Norman J. Metcalfe, and all three are presently directors whose terms began at the 2017 Annual Meeting.

Shareholder nominations of persons for election to the Board must be made pursuant to timely written notice to the Secretary of the Company pursuant to, and contain the information required by, the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws. See “Shareholder Proposals for 2021 Annual Meeting” for additional information on the procedure for shareholder nominations.

Except as noted below, each proxy solicited by and on behalf of the Board will be voted “FOR” the election of the nominees named above (unless such authority is withheld, as provided in the proxy), and unless otherwise instructed, one-half of the votes to which the shareholder is entitled will be cast for each of the nominees. All of the nominees of the Board have consented to being named in this Proxy Statement and to serve if elected. In the event that any one or more of the nominees shall become unable to serve or for good cause refuses to serve as director (an event that is not anticipated), the proxy holders will vote for substitute nominees in their discretion. If one or more persons other than those named below as nominees for the 2020 Annual Meeting are nominated as candidates for director by persons other than the Board, the enclosed proxy may be voted in favor of any one or more of said nominees of the Board and in such order of preference as the proxy holders may determine in their discretion.

Brokers do not have discretion to vote on this proposal without your instruction. Therefore, if you are a beneficial owner and you do not instruct your broker how to vote on this proposal, your shares will not be voted on this proposal.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” EACH OF THE

NOMINEES NAMED ABOVE FOR ELECTION AS A DIRECTOR.

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PROPOSAL 2

THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

On March 9, 2020, the Audit Committee selected Deloitte & Touche LLP (“Deloitte”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020. Services provided to the Company and its subsidiaries by Deloitte in fiscal year 2019 are described under “Audit Fees” below. Additional information regarding the Audit Committee is provided in the Report of the Audit Committee below.

Representatives of Deloitte are expected to be present at the 2020 Annual Meeting and will have an opportunity to make a statement if they wish and will be available to respond to appropriate questions from shareholders.

Shareholder Ratification of the Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We are asking our shareholders to ratify the selection of Deloitte as our independent registered public accounting firm. Although ratification is not required by our Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws or otherwise, the Board is submitting the selection of Deloitte to our shareholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate practice. In the event that shareholders do not ratify the appointment of Deloitte, the appointment may be reconsidered by the Audit Committee and the Board. Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit Committee may, in its discretion, select a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if it determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and our shareholders.

Audit Fees and Services

*As discussed below, Deloitte was appointed to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm beginning on March 18, 2019, and the fees discussed include only those paid to Deloitte. Ernst & Young LLP (“E&Y”) was our previous independent registered public accounting firm.

Audit Fees. This category includes the aggregate fees billed by Deloitte for professional services rendered for the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019 and for the reviews of the financial statements included in the Company’s Forms 10-Q for the year ended December 31, 2019.

Audit-Related Fees. This category includes the aggregate fees billed for assurance and related services that were reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Company’s financial statements, including fees for the performance of audits and attest services not required by statute or regulations; audits of the Company’s employee benefit plans; due diligence activities related to investments; and accounting consultations about the application of generally accepted accounting principles to proposed transactions .

Tax Fees. This category includes the aggregate fees billed for tax compliance, advice, and planning services.

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All Other Fees. This category includes the aggregate fees billed for any permitted services not included in categories above, which includes annual subscription fees for accounting practice publications.

Audit Committee Pre-Approval

The Audit Committee Charter requires that the Audit Committee pre-approve all services performed by the Company’s outside auditor. To fulfill this requirement, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm provides a proposal to the Audit Committee for all services it proposes to provide, and the Audit Committee then reviews and approves, rejects, or seeks to modify the proposal. During the years ending December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, 100% of the services provided by the Company’s independent registered public accouting firms were pre-approved by the Audit Committee.

Prior Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

As previously disclosed in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 21, 2019, E&Y served as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm until March 18, 2019, when the Audit Committee dismissed E&Y. The decision to change our independent registered public accounting firm was recommended and approved by the Audit Committee.

The reports of E&Y on the Company’s financial statements for each of fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.

During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, and the subsequent interim period through March 18, 2019, there were no disagreements (as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and related instructions) between the Company and E&Y on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedures which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of E&Y, would have caused E&Y to make reference thereto in its reports on the financial statements for such years.

Representatives of E&Y are not expected to be present at the 2020 Annual Meeting.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP AS THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020.

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PROPOSAL 3

ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

In accordance with Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, (the “Exchange Act”), we are asking shareholders to approve on an advisory basis the compensation paid to the Company’s NEOs, as disclosed in this Proxy Statement on pages 28 to 64. This vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of the Company’s NEOs and the policies and practices described in this Proxy Statement.

The Board recommends that shareholders vote to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation paid to the Company’s NEOs as described in this Proxy Statement, for the following reasons.

Sound Program Design

We design our executive officers’ compensation programs to attract, motivate, and retain the key executives who drive our success and industry leadership while considering individual and Company performance and alignment with the interest of long-term shareholders. We achieve our objectives through compensation that:

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Best Practices in Executive Compensation

Some of our leading practices include

The advisory proposal, commonly referred to as a “say-on-pay” proposal, is not binding on the Board. Although the voting results are not binding, the Board will review and consider them when evaluating our executive compensation program.

The Board has adopted a policy of holding an advisory vote on executive compensation every year, and unless the Board modifies its policy, we expect that, after the 2020 Annual Meeting, the next advisory vote on the compensation of our NEOs will take place at our 2021 Annual Meeting.

Brokers do not have discretion to vote on this proposal without your instruction. Therefore, if you are a beneficial owner and you do not instruct your broker how to vote on this proposal, your shares will not be voted on this proposal.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” APPROVAL OF THE COMPENSATION OF THE COMPANY’S NEOS AS DISCLOSED ON PAGES 28 TO 64 IN THE PROXY STATEMENT.

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PROPOSAL 4

AMENDMENTS TO CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

After careful consideration and upon the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the Board voted to approve, and to recommend to our shareholders that they approve and adopt, certain amendments to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate”). The amendments are being presented to shareholders for their approval as three separate proposals:

The proposed amendments in Proposals 4(a) through 4(c) (collectively, the “Proposed Certificate Amendments”) are described below.

Upon the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the Board has adopted resolutions setting forth the Proposed Certificate Amendments, declaring the Proposed Certificate Amendments advisable and in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders, directing that the Proposed Certificate Amendments be submitted to the Company’s shareholders for approval and adoption, and recommending that the shareholders approve and adopt the Proposed Certificate Amendments.

Proposal 4(c) is conditioned on the approval of both Proposal 4(a) and Proposal 4(b). Therefore, unless shareholders approve both Proposal 4(a) and Proposal 4(b), the Company will not file a certificate of amendment setting forth the Proposed Certificate Amendments set forth in Proposal 4(c), even if it receives enough affirmative votes to pass independently. Proposal 4(a) and Proposal 4(b) are not conditioned on the approval of each other or the approval of Proposal 4(c). Accordingly, each of Proposal 4(a) and Proposal 4(b) will pass if it independently receives enough affirmative votes.

Proposal 4(a): Amendment to Declassify the Board and Provide for the Annual Election of All Directors

Proposal 4(a) would amend the Certificate to phase out the classification of the Board over a three-year period and provide instead for the annual election of directors (the “Declassification Amendment”).

Reasons for Declassifying the Board

The Certificate currently divides our Board into three classes, with each class elected to serve a three-year term. As a result, at each annual meeting of shareholders, approximately one-third of our directors are elected to serve for a three-year term.

Our Board periodically reviews our governance structure and practices, including the continued appropriateness of our classified board structure. As part of its most recent review, and in considering the Declassification Amendment, the Board considered various factors that favor moving to the annual election of all directors, as well as factors that favor continuing with a classified board structure. Among other things, the Board considered that many investors and commentators support annual elections and believe they enhance accountability and responsiveness to shareholders. The Board also recognizes that moving to annual elections is consistent with practices adopted by many companies in recent years.

The Board also took into account the potential benefits of classified boards. These benefits include: (1) promoting stability and continuity of leadership, which are important to the Company because of the long-

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term nature and multi-generational time horizons for the development of many of the Company’s core business assets; (2) enhancing non-management directors’ independence from special interest groups or other parties whose goals may not be in the best interests of all of our shareholders; and (3) helping the Board achieve value for our shareholders in the event of an unsolicited takeover. By increasing the time necessary to elect directors who constitute a majority of the board, a classified board provides a board of directors with the time and flexibility necessary to evaluate the adequacy and fairness of any takeover proposal, negotiate on behalf of all shareholders and weigh alternative methods of maximizing value for all shareholders, without the threat of imminent removal of a majority of board members.

In addition, because the Board is classified, currently directors can be removed only for cause, whereas under Delaware law directors elected to a board that is not classified can be removed with or without cause. If the Declassification Amendment is approved and implemented, it would be easier for one or more shareholders holding a large number of shares, whether an existing or long-term shareholder or one that accumulates a large position in or for a short period of time, to replace the entire Board at once.

Description of the Declassification Amendment

Article VIII, Section 1 of the Certificate currently provides that the Board is divided into three classes as nearly equal in number as possible, composed of directors each serving terms of three years. Proposal 4(a) would amend Article VIII, Section 1 to remove the classified board structure over a three-year period and provide for the annual election of directors commencing with the 2023 annual meeting. It would also amend Article VIII, Section 3, which addresses removal of directors, to provide that directors can be removed with or without cause once the Board is declassified.

If the Declassification Amendment is approved and adopted by shareholders, the declassification of the Board would be phased in over a period of three years. The Declassification Amendment would not shorten the existing terms of directors. Accordingly, a director who has been elected to a three-year term (including directors elected at the 2020 Annual Meeting) will serve for that term. At the 2021 annual meeting of shareholders, the Class I directors, whose terms expire at that meeting, would be elected for a two-year term expiring at the 2023 annual meeting of shareholders. At the 2022 annual meeting of shareholders, the Class II directors, whose terms expire at that meeting, would be elected for a one-year term expiring at the 2023 annual meeting of shareholders. Beginning with the 2023 annual meeting of shareholders, the declassification of the Board would be complete and all directors would be subject to annual election for one-year terms. Consistent with Delaware law, the Declassification Amendment also provides that beginning with the 2023 annual meeting, directors may be removed either with or without cause. Until that time, directors would continue to be removable only for cause.

The general description of the Declassification Amendment set forth above is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of the Declassification Amendment, which is included on Annex 1 to these proxy materials and which is incorporated by reference herein. Additions are indicated by double underlining and deletions are indicated by strike-outs.

Additional Information

If shareholders approve the Declassification Amendment, it will become effective upon filing and effectiveness of a certificate of amendment to the Certificate setting forth the Declassification Amendment with the Delaware Secretary of State, which we anticipate doing as soon as practicable following shareholder approval. The Board also intends to approve conforming amendments to the Bylaws that would take effect once the Declassification Amendment is effective. If shareholders do not approve the Declassification Amendment, the Board will remain classified, the certificate of amendment will not be filed with the Delaware Secretary of State, and the Board will not adopt conforming amendments to the Bylaws.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS

A VOTE “FOR” PROPOSAL 4(A).

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Proposal 4(b): Amendment to Remove Certificate Provisions Related to the Submission of Nominations and Other Business at Shareholder Meetings, Which Would Be Governed Exclusively by the Bylaws

Proposal 4(b) would amend the Certificate to remove the advance notice deadlines and related requirements governing the submission of nominations and other business to be presented at shareholder meetings (the “Advance Notice Amendment”) and provide that such nominations and other business must be made in the manner set forth in the Bylaws. If Proposal 4(b) is approved by shareholders, the Board intends to approve amendments to the advance notice provisions that are included the Bylaws to incorporate customary deadlines and make other updates described below.

Reasons for the Advance Notice Amendment

The Certificate currently contains basic advance notice procedures that shareholders must follow if they wish to propose nominations or other business at an annual meeting of shareholders. This includes deadlines for submitting nominations and other business, and limited informational requirements related to the proposing shareholder, any nominee being proposed and any other business being proposed. The Bylaws currently include additional information that shareholders must furnish to the Company in order to propose nominations or other business at a meeting of shareholders.

As part of the Board’s most recent review of our governance structure and practices, the Board evaluated whether to consolidate the Company’s advance notice provisions in the Bylaws and remove the existing provisions from the Certificate. The Board considered that having advance notice provisions exclusively in the Bylaws would provide significantly greater flexibility and enable the Company to respond more rapidly to developments in law and practice. In this regard, the Board has the authority to amend the Bylaws on its own, while amendments to the Certificate (including the Advance Notice Amendment) require shareholder approval. The Company also believes that including advance notice provisions in the bylaws, rather than the certificate of incorporation, is more typical for public companies. Finally, the Board took into account that under the current deadlines in the Certificate, the Company’s advance notice deadline is only 30 days before the annual meeting date, which results in a limited window of time for shareholders and the Company to consider matters submitted through the advance notice process. Enhancing the Company’s ability to maintain modern, appropriately crafted advance notice bylaws benefits shareholders by providing them with adequate advance notice of matters proposed through the advance notice process and full disclosure about shareholders seeking to use that process.

Description of the Advance Notice Amendment

The advance notice provisions in the Certificate are set forth in Article VIII, Section 4 and Article XIV, which include a requirement that shareholders submit notice of nominations and other business not less than 30 or more than 60 days prior to the current year’s annual meeting. Article VIII, Section 4 and Article XIV also include basic informational requirements related to the proposing shareholder and the nominee or the matter being proposed. Article II, Section 10 of the Bylaws requires that shareholders comply with the deadlines in the Certificate and provide the Company with information required in the Certificate and additional information outlined in Article II, Section 10 of the Bylaws.

If the Advance Notice Amendment is approved by shareholders, Article VIII, Section 4 would be integrated into Article XIV, which would be amended to state that nominations and the proposal of business other than nominations may be made at meetings of shareholders only in the manner set forth in the Bylaws. Following shareholder approval of the Advance Notice Amendment, the Board intends to approve amendments to the Bylaws to establish customary advance notice deadlines and make other updates, as necessary and appropriate, to align the advance notice provisions with practices in place at other companies. In particular, the Board intends to extend the advance notice deadlines so that notice must be delivered to the Company not less than 90 or more than 120 days before the anniversary date of the prior year’s annual meeting of shareholders. These deadlines will better align with practices at other public companies and the Company’s annual meeting schedule, and

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provide shareholders with greater certainty about the deadlines because they will be tied to the anniversary date of the last annual meeting (rather than the upcoming annual meeting date, under the current deadlines in the Certificate). The deadlines will also give shareholders additional time to submit nominations and other proposals and afford both shareholders and the Company additional time to consider matters proposed through the advance notice process. The Board also plans to update the informational requirements in the advance notice bylaws so that the Company and other shareholders have comprehensive, relevant information about the proposing shareholder, including information about the full extent of the shareholder’s economic and voting interests in the Company, and about nominees and other matters being proposed under the advance notice bylaws.

The general description of the Advance Notice Amendment set forth above is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of the Advance Notice Amendment, which is included on Annex 1 to these proxy materials and which is incorporated by reference herein. Additions are indicated by double underlining and deletions are indicated by strike-outs.

Additional Information

If shareholders approve the Advance Notice Amendment, it will become effective upon filing and effectiveness of a certificate of amendment to the Certificate setting forth the Advance Notice Amendment with the Delaware Secretary of State, which we anticipate doing as soon as practicable following shareholder approval. The Board also intends to approve the Bylaw amendments described above, which would take effect once the Advance Notice Amendment is effective. If shareholders do not approve the Advance Notice Amendment, the advance notice provisions in the Certificate would remain unchanged, and the certificate of amendment to the Certificate will not be filed with the Delaware Secretary of State.

If the Advance Notice Amendment does not take effect, going forward, the Board could amend the advance notice provisions in the Bylaws, in a manner consistent with the provisions in the Certificate, because the Board has the authority to amend the Bylaws.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS

A VOTE “FOR” PROPOSAL 4(B).

Proposal 4(c): Amendments to Make Non-Substantive Changes to the Certificate

Proposal 4(c) would amend the Certificate to make various non-substantive updates and changes to the Certificate (the “Additional Amendments”).

Reasons for and Description of the Additional Amendments

The Additional Amendments would update and amend various provisions of the Certificate and remove provisions that no longer apply, as follows:

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If the Additional Amendments take effect, the Board intends to approve a conforming change to Article III, Section 2 of the Bylaws to address the process for setting the size of the Board by resolution.

Additional Information

Proposal 4(c) is conditioned on the approval of both Proposal 4(a) and Proposal 4(b). Therefore, unless shareholders approve both Proposal 4(a) and Proposal 4(b), the Company will not file a certificate of amendment setting forth the proposed amendments in Proposal 4(c), even if it receives enough affirmative votes to pass independently.

If shareholders approve Proposals 4(a), 4(b) and 4(c), the Additional Amendments will become effective upon filing and effectiveness of a certificate of amendment to the Certificate setting forth the Additional Amendments with the Delaware Secretary of State, which we anticipate doing as soon as practicable following shareholder approval. If the Additional Amendments take effect, the Board intends to approve the conforming change to the Bylaws described above, relating to the process for setting the size of the Board.

If the Additional Amendments do not take effect, the Certificate provisions that would be affected by the Additional Amendments would remain unchanged, the certificate of amendment to the Certificate will not be filed with the Delaware Secretary of State, and the Board will not adopt the conforming change to the Bylaws.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS

A VOTE “FOR” PROPOSAL 4(C).

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THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Consideration of Director Nominees

The Board believes the Board, as a whole, should possess the requisite combination of skills, professional experience, and diversity of backgrounds to oversee the Company’s business. The Board also believes that each individual director should possess certain attributes, as discussed below. Accordingly, the Board and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (the “Nominating Committee”) consider the qualifications of directors and director candidates individually, as well as in the broader context of the Board’s overall composition and the Company’s current and future needs.

The Nominating Committee is responsible for selecting nominees for election to the Board. In considering candidates for the Board, the Nominating Committee evaluates the entirety of each candidate’s credentials, attributes, and other factors (as described in greater detail in the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines) but does not have any specific minimum qualifications that a nominee must meet. However, the Nominating Committee seeks as directors individuals with substantial management experience who possess the highest personal values, judgment, and integrity; an understanding of the environment in which the Company does business; and diverse experience with the key business, financial, and other challenges that the Company faces. In addition, in considering the nomination of existing directors, the Nominating Committee takes into consideration (i) each director’s contribution to the Board; (ii) any material change in the director’s employment or responsibilities with any other organization; (iii) the director’s ability to attend meetings and fully participate in Board and committee activities on which the director serves; (iv) whether the director has developed any relationships with the Company or another organization, or other circumstances that may have arisen, that might make it inappropriate for the director to continue serving on the Board; and (v) the director’s age and length of service on the Board.

Because the Nominating Committee recognizes that a diversity of backgrounds, viewpoints, and practical experiences can enhance the effectiveness of the Board, as part of its evaluation of each candidate, the Nominating Committee takes into account how each candidate’s background, experience, qualifications, attributes, and skills may complement, supplement, or duplicate those of other prospective candidates. The Nominating Committee reviews its effectiveness in balancing these considerations when assessing the composition of the Board, which as discussed below is one of the committee’s responsibilities.

Based on the parameters described above, the Board has determined that the directors standing for reelection and the remaining members of the Board have the qualifications, experience, and attributes appropriate for a director of the Company. As reflected below, each director has a varied background in the real estate industry, finance, public policy and/or agriculture. These are all areas that are integral to the strategy, operations, and successful oversight of the Company.

Board Composition and Leadership Structure

The Board is grouped into three classes: (1) Class I Directors, whose terms will expire at the 2021 Annual Meeting; (2) Class II Directors, whose terms will expire at the 2022 Annual Meeting; and (3) Class III Directors, whose terms will expire at the 2020 Annual Meeting. The Board currently consists of eight directors, as the Board reduced its size from nine to eight directors following the 2019 Annual Meeting. The Board’s leadership is structured so that the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) are separate positions. The Chairman of the Board is also an independent director. The Board believes that this structure is appropriate for our Company and our shareholders at this time because it provides an additional layer of oversight as to management and management’s activities and allows the Board to act independently of management.

Director Qualifications and Biographical Information

The Nominating Committee considered the character, experience, qualifications, and skills of each director, including the current director nominees, when determining whether each should serve as a director of the

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Company. In keeping with its stated criteria for director nominees described in the section entitled “Consideration of Director Nominees” above, the Nominating Committee determined that each director, including the current director nominees, has substantial management experience, exhibits the highest personal values, judgment, and integrity, and possesses both an understanding of the environment in which the Company does business and diverse experience with the key business, financial, and other challenges that the Company faces. Each director is or has been a leader in his or her respective field and brings diverse talents and perspectives to the Board. The Nominating Committee also considered the experience and qualifications outlined below in the biographical information for each director, including the current director nominees, as well as other public company board service.

The Nominating Committee noted the following particular attributes and qualities it considers when evaluating director nominees. The Nominating Committee believes that nominees with business, governmental, and strategic management experience gained from service as a chief executive officer or similar position is a critical leadership component to Board service. The Nominating Committee also seeks nominees with backgrounds in finance, banking, economics, public administration and the securities and financial markets, in order to have directors who can assess and evaluate the Company’s financial and competitive position. The Nominating Committee emphasizes familiarity with the real estate and agricultural industries and considers customer perspectives to be important when evaluating director nominees. Although the directors listed below each possess a number of these attributes, the Nominating Committee considered the specific areas noted below for each director when determining which of the director’s qualifications best suit the needs of the Company and qualify them to serve as a director of the Company.

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The following table sets forth information regarding the nominees for Class II Directors at the 2020 Annual Meeting, as well as the Class I and Class III Directors.

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE MATTERS

The Board has determined that all directors, except Mr. Bielli, are “independent” under the listing standards of the NYSE and the Company’s categorical criteria used to determine whether a director is independent (the “Independence Standards”). The Independence Standards are set forth in Attachment A to the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines (the “Corporate Governance Guidelines”), and a copy of the Independence Standards is attached as Appendix A to this Proxy Statement. Thus, the Board determined that the following directors are independent: Steven A. Betts, Jean Fuller, Anthony L. Leggio, Norman J. Metcalfe, Geoffrey L. Stack, Daniel R. Tisch, and Michael H. Winer. In addition, the Board also determined that Robert A. Alter, who served as a director through the 2019 Annual Meeting, was independent during the time he served as a director. Also, in making its independence determinations, the Board reviewed additional information provided by the directors and the Company with regard to any business or personal activities or associations as they may relate to the Company and the Company’s management. The Board considered this information in the context of the NYSE’s objective listing standards, the Independence Standards, and for directors serving on committees, the additional standards established for members of audit committees and compensation committees. In reaching a determination on these directors’ independence, the Board considered that neither the directors nor their immediate family members have within the past three years had any direct or indirect business or professional relationships with the Company other than in their capacity as directors.

The Board’s independence determinations included a review of business dealings at companies where the directors serve as directors or outside consultants, all of which were ordinary course business transactions. The Board also performed a review of the Company’s charitable contributions to any organization where a director serves as an executive officer and found no contributions in excess of the Independence Standards or the NYSE’s objective listing standards.

The independent directors of the Board meet regularly in executive sessions outside the presence of management. As Chairman of the Board, Mr. Metcalfe presides over these executive sessions. During 2019, there were four meetings of the Board, and all directors attended 75% or more of the aggregate total of such meetings of the Board and committees of the Board on which they served.

The Company’s policy is that all directors are expected to attend every annual meeting of shareholder in person. All directors, including Robert A. Alter, who retired at the conclusion of the 2019 Annual Meeting, attended the 2019 Annual Meeting of the Company.

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COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD

Standing committees of the Board include the Executive, Audit, Compensation, Investment Policy, Real Estate, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees. The current members of the standing committees as of the date of this proxy statement are set forth below

Committee Chair		Committee Member

During 2019, there was one meeting of the Executive Committee, seven meetings of the Audit Committee, eight meetings of the Compensation Committee, two meetings of the Real Estate Committee, no meetings of the Nominating Committee, and no meetings of the Investment Policy Committee. The major functions of each of these committees, including their role in oversight of risks that could affect the Company, are described briefly below.

Each year, the Board performs a self-evaluation to assess its effectiveness and the participation of each board member. In addition, on an annual basis, the Audit Committee, Real Estate Committee, Compensation Committee, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee all perform self-evaluations to measure their effectiveness.

The Executive Committee

Except for certain powers that, under Delaware law, may be exercised only by the full Board, or which, under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) or the NYSE, may only be exercised by committees composed solely of independent directors, the Executive Committee may exercise all powers and authority of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Company.

The Audit Committee

The Audit Committee represents and assists the Board in discharging the Board’s oversight responsibility relating to (i) the accounting, reporting, and financial practices of the Company and its subsidiaries, including the integrity of the Company’s financial statements; (ii) the surveillance of administration and financial controls and the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; (iii) the independent auditor’s qualifications and independence; and (iv) the performance of the Company’s internal audit function and the Company’s independent auditor. In addition, the Audit Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, retention, compensation and oversight of the independent auditor and approves all audit and non-audit services the independent auditor performs. It also reviews and discusses the Company’s policies with respect to risk

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assessment and risk management. The Audit Committee reports regularly to the full Board with respect to its activities. The Audit Committee is governed by a written charter adopted and approved by the Board. The Audit Committee’s current charter is available on the Company’s web-site, www.tejonranch.com, in the Corporate Governance section of the Investor Relations webpage, and is available in print form upon request to the Corporate Secretary, P.O. Box 1000, Tejon Ranch, California 93243.

In its annual self-evaluation, the Audit Committee reviews and assesses how effectively it fulfilled these purposes over the prior year and identifies areas for improvement. The Audit Committee also periodically reviews and updates its pre-approval and hiring policies related to the independent auditor. The Audit Committee engages proactively with Deloitte and management as needed in order to understand the status and strategy of the Company’s audit and to discuss new accounting standards or potentially significant events that may impact the Company’s financial reporting. In 2019, these topics included an analysis of the new revenue recognition and lease accounting standards.

The Board has determined that each member of the Audit Committee is independent under the listing standards of the NYSE and under the Company’s Independence Standards, and that each member of the Audit Committee is financially literate and meets the requirements for audit committee membership set forth in Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act. The Board has further found that Mr. Leggio qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” for the purposes of Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K and has “accounting or related financial management expertise” as described in the listing standards of the NYSE.

The Compensation Committee

The Compensation Committee oversees the Company’s overall compensation structure, policies, and programs, and it assesses whether the Company’s compensation structure establishes appropriate incentives for management and employees. It also reviews and approves corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of top managerial and executive officers, including the CEO, evaluates their performance in light of those goals and objectives, and makes recommendations to the Board regarding their compensation. It administers and makes recommendations to the Board with respect to the Company’s incentive compensation and equity-based compensation plans and grants of awards thereunder. It also reviews and recommends to the Board the design of other benefit plans, employment agreements, and severance arrangements for top managerial and executive officers. The Compensation Committee oversees the assessment of the risks related to the Company’s compensation policies and programs applicable to officers and employees, reviews the results of this assessment, and also assesses the results of the Company’s most recent advisory vote on executive compensation. It approves, amends, or modifies the terms of any compensation or benefit plan that does not require shareholder approval, if delegated to the Committee by the Board. It reviews and recommends changes for the compensation of directors, and it reviews succession plans relating to positions held by senior executive officers. It reports regularly to the Board with respect to its activities.

The Compensation Committee is governed by a written charter adopted and approved by the Board. The Compensation Committee’s current charter is available on the Company’s website, www.tejonranch.com, in the Corporate Governance section of the Investor Relations webpage, and is available in print form upon request to the Corporate Secretary, P.O. Box 1000, Tejon Ranch, California 93243. The Compensation Committee is authorized to delegate to a subcommittee consisting of not less than two members of the Compensation Committee the responsibility to review specific issues, meet with management on behalf of the committee regarding such issues, and prepare recommendations for reports or review by the Committee. The Board has determined that each member of the Compensation Committee is independent under the listing standards of the NYSE for directors and compensation committee members and under the Company’s Independence Standards.

The CEO does not participate in the Compensation Committee’s deliberations with regard to his own compensation. At the Compensation Committee’s request, the CEO reviews with the Compensation Committee the performance of the other executive officers, but no other executive officers have any input in executive

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compensation decisions. The Compensation Committee gives substantial weight to the CEO’s evaluations and recommendations because he is particularly able to assess the other executive officers’ performance and contributions to the Company.

During 2019, the Compensation Committee retained Semler Brossy to advise the Compensation Committee on marketplace trends in executive compensation and to analyze companies for peer company identification for the benchmarking of NEO compensation and NEO compensation decisions. The decision to engage an outside compensation consultant was not recommended by management. Semler Brossy consults with the Compensation Committee about its recommendations to the Board on CEO and other NEOs compensation. Semler Brossy did not provide any other services to the Company in 2019, and its fees were $101,000 for the year. The Compensation Committee has reviewed an assessment of any potential conflicts of interest raised by Semler Brossy’s work for the Compensation Committee, which assessment considered the following six factors: (i) the provision of other services to the Company by Semler Brossy; (ii) the amount of fees received from the Company by Semler Brossy, as a percentage of Semler Brossy’s total revenue; (iii) the policies and procedures of Semler Brossy that are designed to prevent conflicts of interest; (iv) any business or personal relationship of the Semler Brossy consultant with a member of the Compensation Committee; (v) any Company stock owned by the Semler Brossy consultants; and (vi) any business or personal relationship of the Semler Brossy consultant or Semler with any of the Company’s executive officers. The Committee concluded that there are no such conflicts of interest.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

The Nominating Committee is charged with assessing existing directors to determine whether to recommend them for reelection to the Board, identifying and recruiting potential new directors, establishing a procedure for consideration of director candidates recommended by shareholders, and recommending candidates to be nominated by the Board or elected by the Board, as necessary, to fill vacancies and newly created directorships. It also reviews and makes recommendations to the Board regarding the structure, composition, and functioning of the Board and its committees, and evaluates and recommends changes to the Corporate Governance Guidelines. The Nominating Committee also annually reviews the independence of all directors and evaluates the Board’s performance.

The Board has determined that each member of the Nominating Committee is independent under the listing standards of the NYSE and under the Company’s Independence Standards. The Nominating Committee is governed by a written charter adopted and approved by the Board. The Nominating Committee’s current charter is available on the Company’s website, www.tejonranch.com, in the Corporate Governance section of the Investor Relations webpage, and is available in print form upon request to the Corporate Secretary, P.O. Box 1000, Tejon Ranch, California 93243.

The Nominating Committee is pleased to consider any properly submitted recommendations of director candidates from shareholders. Shareholders may recommend a candidate for consideration by the Nominating Committee by sending written notice addressed to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Chair, c/o Corporate Secretary, P.O. Box 1000, Tejon Ranch, California 93243. The Nominating Committee does not evaluate candidates differently based on who has made the recommendation. Shareholders may also nominate persons for election to the Board by providing timely notice in writing to the Secretary of the Company pursuant to the procedures set forth in the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws. See “Shareholder Proposals for 2021 Annual Meeting” for additional information on the procedure for shareholder nominations.

The Nominating Committee has the authority under its charter to hire and pay a fee to outside counsel, experts, or other advisors to assist in the process of identifying and evaluating candidates. No such outside advisors were used during 2019, and, accordingly, no fees were paid to such advisors during 2019. Past practice has been for the Nominating Committee to seek recommendations for new directors from current directors, the CEO, and outside advisors.

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The Real Estate Committee

The Real Estate Committee provides oversight, guidance, and strategic input into management plans and operations for development and entitlement of Company land. It reviews and either approves or recommends to the Board appropriate action on significant proposed real estate transactions and development pro formas and budgets. It reports regularly to the full Board with respect to its meetings. The Real Estate Committee’s current charter is available on the Company’s website, www.tejonranch.com, in the Corporate Governance section of the Investor Relations webpage, and is available in print form upon request to the Corporate Secretary, 4436 Lebec Rd., P.O. Box 1000, Tejon Ranch, California 93243.

The Investment Policy Committee

The Investment Policy Committee reviews policies and activities related to the investment of the Company’s assets. It receives and reviews the marketable securities investment policy and data regarding marketable security investments and recommends approval of the Company’s investment security policy to the Board.

CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT AND ETHICS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE GUIDELINES

The Board has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, which is applicable to all directors, officers, and employees. It also has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines to guide its own operations. Both documents (including Attachment A to the Corporate Governance Guidelines, which constitutes the Company’s Independence Standards) are available on the Company’s web-site, www.tejonranch.com, in the Corporate Governance section of the Investor Relations webpage, and are available in print form upon request to the Corporate Secretary, P.O. Box 1000, Tejon Ranch, California 93243.

SUCCESSION PLANNING

The Board, with the assistance of the Compensation Committee, oversees succession plans for the CEO and other senior executive officers. These plans relate both to succession in emergency situations and longer-term succession. As set forth in the Corporate Governance Guidelines and Compensation Committee Charter, the Compensation Committee reviews the Company’s succession planning for senior executive officers at least annually. The CEO also provides the Board with input regarding these matters.

BOARD’S ROLE IN RISK OVERSIGHT

The full Board oversees the Company’s risk management process. The Board oversees a Company-wide approach to risk management, designed to enhance shareholder value, support the achievement of strategic objectives, and improve long-term organizational performance. The full Board determines the appropriate level of risk for the Company generally, assesses the specific risks faced by the Company, and reviews the steps taken by management to manage those risks. The full Board’s involvement in setting the Company’s business strategy facilitates these assessments and reviews, culminating in the development of a strategic plan that reflects both the Board’s and management’s consensus as to appropriate levels of risk and the appropriate measures to manage those risks. The full Board assesses risk throughout the enterprise, focusing on risks arising out of various aspects of the Company’s strategic plan and the implementation of that plan, including financial, legal/compliance, operational/strategic, cybersecurity and compensation risks. In addition to discussing risk with the full Board, the independent directors discuss risk management during executive sessions without management present.

While the full Board maintains the ultimate oversight responsibility for the risk management process, its committees oversee risk in certain specified areas. In particular, the Audit Committee reviews and discusses the Company’s policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management; focuses on financial risk, including

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internal controls; and discusses the Company’s risk profile with the Company’s internal auditors. The Audit Committee also reviews potential violations of the Company’s Code of Ethics and related corporate policies. The Compensation Committee periodically reviews compensation practices and policies to determine whether they encourage excessive risk-taking. Finally, the Nominating Committee assesses the independence of directors and evaluates potential new Board nominees, which allows it to limit the risk associated with having conflicted or otherwise inappropriate directors. Pursuant to the Board’s instruction, management regularly reports on applicable risks to the relevant committee or the full Board, as appropriate, and additional review or reporting on risks is conducted as needed or as requested by the Board and its committees.

The Compensation Committee has also reviewed the design and operation of the Company’s compensation structures and policies as they pertain to risk and has determined that the Company’s compensation programs do not create or encourage the taking of risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.

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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

This Compensation Discussion and Analysis (“CD&A”) provides a detailed description of the objectives and principles of our executive compensation programs. It explains how compensation decisions are linked to performance as compared to Company performance and shareholder interests. The NEOs, for the 2019 fiscal year are as follows.

Executive Summary

Our executive compensation program aligns with our strong pay-for-performance philosophy and ties a substantial portion of executive compensation to the achievement of annual and long-term strategic objectives directly linked to the creation of shareholder value. The objectives of our executive compensation program are to (i) drive performance against critical strategic goals designed to create long-term shareholder value through the enhancement of our land asset values and (ii) pay our executives at a level and in a manner that ensures Tejon Ranch is capable of attracting, motivating, and retaining top executive talent. At our 2019 Annual Meeting, our shareholders expressed support for our executive compensation program, with 93.7% of shareholders casting votes in favor of the advisory vote proposal.

We design our compensation programs to support our commitment to performance. We view our compensation program in three year increments tied to the time period of our milestone grants, which we make every three years. The current three year period is from 2017 to 2019.

The compensation program for our NEOs is designed to align management’s incentives with the long-term interests of our shareholders and to be competitive with comparable employers. Our compensation philosophy recognizes the value of rewarding our NEOs for their past performance and motivating them to continue to excel in the future. The Compensation Committee has developed and maintains a compensation program that rewards superior performance and seeks to encourage actions that drive our business strategy. Our compensation strategy is to provide a competitive opportunity for senior executives, taking into account their total compensation packages, which include a combination of base salary, an annual cash-based incentive bonus, and long-term performance-based and time-based equity awards. At the NEO level, a significant portion of our incentive compensation arrangements are designed to reward the achievement of long-term milestone objectives related to real estate development that are measurable and instrumental to our success. This will drive the creation of value, as well as the achievement of year-to-year operating performance goals. Our overall goal is to have variable compensation be 70% or more of target total compensation for the three-year period.

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Our performance milestones are tied to a variety of factors such as cash management, planning and design, achievement of land entitlements, successful defense of litigation against our entitlements, development of projects, and finally sales and leasing within the projects.

Our intention is to continue to strive to have variable compensation be the most significant component of our total compensation package.

Our primary business objective is to maximize long-term shareholder value through the monetization of our land-based assets. This is accomplished by moving our assets up the value creation chain through the entitlement process, the mapping process, development, and ultimately to sales and leasing. A key element of our strategy is to provide entitled land for large scale residential and mixed-use real estate communities to serve the growing population of Southern and Central California. We are currently engaged in commercial sales and leasing at our fully operational commercial/industrial center Tejon Ranch Commerce Center, or TRCC, and are defending litigation, moving forward in the mapping and permitting process, and preparing for development within our three major residential mixed-use master planned communities Centennial, Grapevine, and Mountain Village. All of these efforts are supported by diverse revenue streams generated from other operations, including farming, mineral resources, and our various joint ventures.

Currently our revenues are derived principally from commodity-based businesses such as farming, and mineral resources including water sales, as well as commercial real estate. Our long-term business plan is for our commercial and residential real estate assets to produce the vast majority of our revenues. Developing real estate assets in California through the entitlement stage to development is a many year process. For this reason, the realization of our Company’s full asset value will come only in future years.

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The chart below is a continuum of the real estate development process highlighting each project’s current status and key milestones to be met in moving through the real estate development process in California. The real estate development process may be subject to delays arising from California’s complex regulatory structure and litigation environment. At each level of success, value is being created in each project due to the approvals received and to entitlement risks being removed and development approvals being achieved.

Our long-term and short-term performance incentive plans are designed to reward the NEOs for success in moving projects forward along the above continuum. Success in achieving these performance objectives is critical to the creation of value within our land assets. Due to the long-term nature of the real estate development process in California the increase in value of land within our projects is not immediately recognized in stock market value largely due to the timing of revenue generation, which does not begin to occur until the execution phase of development operations. Therefore, we measure and reward the progress based on achievement of milestone related goals rather than typical financial measures used by many companies.

Executing on our Strategy—2019 Company Highlights

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2019 Operational and Financial Results

Improvements in revenue and net income during 2019 led to EBITDA and Total Revenue and Other Income, which are the annual corporate incentive bonus quantitative metrics, being above the target goal levels for revenue and above maximum goal levels for EBITDA. These metrics are discussed below under “Annual Incentive Plan.” The Company also met the 2017-2019 rolling three-year cash flow objectives at 175.62% of the target award level. The rolling three-year cash flow metric is described in the equity compensation section.

Pay-for-Performance

Consistent with our pay-for-performance philosophy, Company performance in 2019, as well as over the 2017-2019 measurement period, directly impacted payouts for 2019, as follows:

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2020 – The Year Ahead

The Company believes 2020 will be a challenging year as we defend litigation within our Centennial and Grapevine projects and in terms of the commodity markets we operate in as we see continued pressure on crop prices due to potential increases in supply and reduced oil prices may impact production from lessees. For 2020, we do expect crop production to improve as it will be the up year in the production cycle for pistachios. Thus far the 2020 winter has been dryer than the previous year, but it is still too early to determine any impact this may have on the quantity of water to be sold during 2020 and prices received for water sold. We continue to push forward with our marketing plans within TRCC to build upon our 2019 activity, but it is difficult to predict new sale and lease activity.

Overall Compensation Plan Design and Core Tenets

The compensation policies developed by the Compensation Committee are based on the philosophy that compensation should reflect both financial and operational performance of the Company, the success of the Company in achieving real estate development milestones, and the individual performance of each executive. The Compensation Committee also believes that long-term incentives should be a significant factor in determining compensation, particularly because the business of real estate land development, including obtaining complex entitlement approvals, managing the litigation process, completing development, and many of the other actions and decisions of our NEOs requires an extended time horizon before the Company realizes a tangible financial benefit. The stock price of the Company is also important and in 2019 the Compensation Committee, with guidance from the Committee’s compensation consultant, has designed a performance stock grant program that incorporates stock performance into the long-term incentive plan. The new long-term incentive plan will become effective for 2020 and will cover years 2020-2022.

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The following core tenets inform the design of our compensation plan.

The principles of our pay philosophy influence the design and administration of our executive compensation programs. The Compensation Committee uses several components of pay that are linked to both our long-term and short-term performance in the executive compensation programs, including long-term incentives, annual cash incentives, base pay, and benefits. The chart below illustrates the linkage between the vehicles of pay we use and our pay principles.

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Our Executive Compensation Best Practices

The Role of the Compensation Committee in Setting Compensation

The Compensation Committee completes a review each year of our compensation plan to ensure we are paying competitively, equitably, and in a way that encourages and rewards performance. Although the Compensation Committee reviews Peer Group data, relevant industry market data, and input from our compensation consultant as it determines compensation plans, other considerations are taken into account. Market data alone does not reflect the strategic value of various roles within our Company. Other considerations when making pay decisions for NEOs, include individual experience, sustained performance, historical pay, and realized and realizable pay over three years.

The Compensation Committee of the Board approves all compensation and awards to senior management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the other NEOs. The Compensation Committee independently reviews and establishes the compensation levels of the Chief Executive Officer; it also reviews the performance of the Chief Executive Officer and discusses his performance with him. At the beginning of the year, the Chief

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Executive Officer works with the Compensation Committee to establish his goals and objectives to be evaluated throughout the year. For the remaining executive officers, the Chief Executive Officer makes recommendations as to compensation levels, including grants of equity awards, for final approval by the Compensation Committee.

The Role of the Compensation Consultant

In accordance with its Charter, the Compensation Committee has the sole authority to retain and terminate independent consultants on matters of executive compensation and benefits, including sole authority to approve the consultant’s fees and other retention terms. The Compensation Committee also has the authority to obtain advice and assistance for internal and external legal, accounting, or other advisors. The Compensation Committee utilizes Semler Brossy as its compensation consultant. Semler Brossy reports directly to the Compensation Committee. Semler Brossy was not engaged to perform any additional services beyond its support of the Compensation Committee. In reviewing conflicts of interest, our Compensation Committee considered the following six factors with respect to Semler Brossy:

Upon consideration of these factors, our Compensation Committee concluded that the engagement of Semler Brossy did not present any conflicts of interest and that Semler Brossy is independent.

In connection with its engagement by the Compensation Committee, Semler Brossy has:

Compensation Risk Assessment

As part of its risk assessment process, the Compensation Committee reviewed material elements of executive and non-executive employee compensation. The Compensation Committee concluded these policies

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and practices do not create risk that is reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. The structure of our compensation program for NEOs does not incentivize unnecessary or excessive risk-taking. The base salary component of compensation does not encourage risk taking because it is a fixed amount. The incentive plan awards have the following risk limiting characteristics:

2019 Executive Compensation Plan Framework

Our variable compensation consists of two programs: the annual incentive plan (“AIP”), which is an annual cash incentive program, and the long-term incentive plan (“LTIP”), which consists of performance-based and time-based equity vehicles.

Our AIP has four primary performance measures:

Our LTIP consists of three equity delivery vehicles:

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The Compensation Committee believes that long-term performance award design reflects the value creation process inherent in large-scale land development by first identifying projects, securing complex entitlements, managing litigation, mapping projects, and then developing the projects to maximize financial returns. Please refer to earlier graphic describing the land entitlement and development process within California.

Pay Mix Analysis

The target mix of total direct compensation elements for our NEOs, as a percentage of total compensation, is set forth in the table below. The first set of exhibits illustrates the three-year direct compensation target selected by the Compensation Committee for the period 2017 – 2019. We show a three-year period to account for the granting of project milestone equity performance grants that occurs once every three years. A project milestone grant was most recently made in March 2017. For comparison purposes, the second set of exhibits shows the 2017 – 2019 actual direct compensation granted pay mix. The actual to target direct comparison shows that we are in line with the three-year target and that the CEO’s long-term equity portion has increased as a percentage of his total direct compensation. This increase in the CEO’s long-term equity compensation is consistent with the intent of the Compensation Committee to have a greater percentage of pay tied to equity performance milestones.

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In comparison to the above three-year target pay mix the actual granted pay mix for 2017-2019 is shown in the chart and table below:

Realized vs. Summary Compensation Table Pay

The Summary Compensation Table (“SCT”) summarizes executive pay but does not account for the final payout of performance shares, if any, or the impact of changes to stock price on the value of restricted stock. Since the majority of awards under the Company’s LTIP do not fully vest until after three years, it can be difficult to assess the link between pay and performance by reviewing the SCT alone. For this reason, we also consider realized pay. Realized pay demonstrates the actual impact on executive pay of changes in our share price during the performance period, as well as the payout of performance shares. Shares of restricted stock that vest during the applicable time period are valued at the date of vesting, and performance shares, if any, are valued at the date of payout.

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Realized vs. Summary Compensation Table Pay for the CEO: 2017 through 2019

The graph below illustrates three-year average SCT (“SCT Pay”) total compensation compared to three-year average realized total compensation for our CEO for the 2017-2019 period. The graph illustrates no differences between the comparisons for salary, cash incentives, or other annual compensation. However, the difference between long-term compensation values for the CEO is minimal, due to a 2016 supplemental performance grant vesting at the end of 2019. This supplemental performance grant is not included in the 2017-2019 summary compensation table pay. Excluding the 2016 supplemental performance grant vesting, the 2017-2019 realized pay would be 15% below the comparable 2017-2019 summary compensation table pay. This difference reflects the decrease in stock value realized over the period and the design of our compensation programs that emphasize long-term awards.

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Realized vs. Summary Compensation Table Pay for NEOs (other than the CEO): 2017 through 2019

Average NEO realized compensation over the three-year period ended December 31, 2019 was lower than SCT Pay over the same period. The amount realized from the vesting of shares is considerably less than the value of equity grants reported in the SCT.

Market Comparison Review—2019 Peer Group

Although the Compensation Committee does not believe that it is appropriate to establish compensation levels based solely on market comparisons or industry practices, the Committee believes that information regarding pay practices at other companies is useful in three respects. First, marketplace information is one of the many factors that the Compensation Committee considers in assessing the reasonableness of compensation. Second, it recognizes that our compensation practices must be generally competitive for executive talent in the real estate, land development, and agriculture industries and the market overall. Third, it recognizes that marketplace information reflects emerging and changing components and forms of compensation. While the Compensation Committee considers peer compensation levels and practices when making its compensation decisions, it does not target compensation at any particular point within a range established by a comparison of the financial performance or compensation levels of our peer companies.

The skill, knowledge, and experience required of our senior management in the early period of large scale residential and mixed-use real estate communities is significant. Only with highly talented executives managing early stage development, will our assets realize their potential and our shareholders realize the desired return on their investment. In order to recruit and retain the executives we need in order to successfully manage and monetize our assets, we compare compensation to companies with greater current revenues when compared to our Company.

Each year, the Compensation Committee, with guidance from our independent compensation consultant, reviews companies for inclusion in our peer group. The goal is to identify companies that are engaged in real estate development activities and are appropriate for comparison purposes based on business activities, revenues and market capitalization.

At this time, the Compensation Committee believes that market capitalization is a more appropriate criterion for comparison to peer companies, considering that our primary assets remain under development and are not yet

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producing their full revenue potential. Generally, our peer companies have monetized the majority of their real estate assets and, therefore, have higher revenues and market capitalization, by comparison to our Company.

The 2019 peer group data is shown below. The related comparison statistics are based on 2018 and 2019 financial data which was relied on by the Compensation Committee in approving the 2019 peer group.

Peer Company Data Comparison

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Elements of Compensation

The Compensation Committee seeks to create a compensation plan that is balanced in its use of short-term and long-term compensation elements in order to align management’s incentives with the long-term interests of our shareholders and the development of our land assets. In developing the compensation plan, the Compensation Committee seeks to be aware of changing economic and industry conditions, as well as changing compensation trends. To achieve these objectives, the plan uses a variety of compensation elements as described below.

Base Salaries

When establishing base salaries, the Compensation Committee takes into account each NEO’s performance of his role and responsibilities and, to the extent useful, the range of compensation of comparable executives in our peer group. The Compensation Committee believes that compensation objectives are effectively met when a majority of an executive’s compensation is composed of performance-based bonuses and long-term incentive compensation, rather than fixed compensation such as base salaries. We believe that having the overall compensation emphasis on long-term equity incentives instead of short-term fixed compensation better aligns management with shareholders.

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The Compensation Committee approved the following 2018 and 2019 base salaries for our NEOs.

For 2019, the Compensation Committee after review of peer group data, current industry expectations, and input from our compensation consultant determined that Mr. Bielli’s base salary would be increased to stay competitive with current marked expectations recognizing no adjustments were made in 2018. When granting the salary increases for 2019 for the other NEOs, the Compensation Committee, along with the Chief Executive Officer, performed an annual review of each of the other NEOs’ salaries and evaluated changes to base salary. This review considered several factors, including peer group information, the market for similar job functions, the economic environment, changes in job responsibilities, and the general experience of the Compensation Committee members. Mr. Lyda’s increase in 2019 was tied to his promotion to Chief Operating Officer.

In December 2019, the Compensation Committee determined that for 2020, our Chief Executive Officer’s salary would increase to $700,000 and the base salaries of the other NEOs would be increased by 3%. In determining the 2020 salary levels, the Compensation Committee evaluated overall Company performance, peer group information, base salary compensation in relation to total compensation, individual performance, and information from our compensation consultant.

Annual Incentive Plan

Tejon’s practice is to award annual incentive bonuses based upon the achievement of performance objectives established at the beginning of each year. Annual incentive bonuses are paid in cash.

The attainment of each year’s quantitative financial goals for each of the NEOs is uncertain and is dependent upon factors such as real estate sales and leasing programs, the timing of entitlement activities for our developments, and the uncertainty inherent in our farming and mineral operations due to the commodity nature of the products we produce and the fact that we do not know the production each year or the ultimate price we will receive for our products each year. The achievement of individual objectives tied to land entitlement, development, and conservation efforts is highly dependent on working with groups outside of the Company, such as government agencies, local county planning departments, and environmental resource groups, all of which make the timing of achieving specific steps in the process very complicated. Accordingly, goal achievement under the annual bonus plan is not guaranteed.

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The following chart provides the performance level weightings for the Chief Executive Officer and the other NEOs.

Generally, the Chief Executive Officer’s individual objectives are tied to land entitlement, public outreach in support of entitlement, and development and conservation goals as well as operational, strategic planning, and staffing objectives. The individual objectives for the other NEOs are generally related to land entitlement, development, and operational goals that support the achievement of corporate entitlement and development goals.

The annual incentive plan is structured, and bonus levels are determined based upon the level of achievement of threshold, target, and maximum performance of quantitative and qualitative objectives. If achievement of a performance objective is below threshold, no incentive bonus is earned for that objective, and if achievement is greater than maximum, the maximum bonus level is earned. The Chief Executive Officer and the other NEOs have different cash incentive opportunity levels (expressed as a percentage of base salary) for achievement at the threshold, target, and maximum levels. The target bonus levels expressed as percentage of base salary are in line with information provided by our independent compensation consultant.

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The threshold, target, and maximum levels (expressed as a percentage of base salary) are outlined below.

Quantitative Financial Goal – Corporate

The achievement of entitlements and the beginning of development for our real estate projects is a very important long-term goal, and because Tejon does not generate significant revenue at this time, its short-term objectives, both quantitative and qualitative, are tied to metrics that are critical for the accomplishment of long-term goals. For our annual incentive, two corporate budgeted financial goals are considered: adjusted EBITDA and Total Revenue and Other Income. Total Revenue and Other Income includes revenue from operations, gross sales of investment property, investment income, other income, and equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures. Our definition of adjusted EBITDA is earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, abandonment charges, and non-cash stock compensation. We believe this is a more accurate measurement of the cash used in the operations of the Company. We believe adjusted EBITDA provides a better indicator of management’s creation of operating cash, which is critical to the funding of our entitlement and development efforts, since the Company has significant non-cash expenses each year. The following table outlines adjusted EBITDA and Total Revenue and Other Income results for 2019. Adjusted EBITDA for compensation purposes includes only company specific operations and not the add back of our share of unconsolidated joint venture depreciation, amortization and interest expense. Therefore, this number is different from the numbers shown in the 2019 Annual Report and Form 10-K, Non-GAAP measures.

The incentive targets are set based on the Company’s 2019 business plan and operating budget. The Compensation Committee uses data from each year’s annual budget because it is a reflection of what the Company believes will happen in the coming year based on an analysis of the commodity markets we operate in, anticipated weather patterns that impact our agricultural operations, and sales/leasing activity within TRCC. Our operating budgets we believe are a better predictor of each year’s revenue creation compared to prior year actual numbers, because our forecasting process attempts to pick up annual anticipated production within our crops, primarily pistachios, and trends in the commodity markets we operate in that may not be reflected in the prior year actual numbers.

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Using prior year numbers as a target level for comparison to the next year can unfairly benefit or hurt plan participants due to the nature of commodity markets. The budgeted target goal for 2019 is less than the prior year actuals due largely to the anticipation of a decline in pistachio production due to the alternate year production cycle being lower and reduced estimates for the sale of water. The 2019 actual results are greater than target goal numbers and prior year numbers due to the favorable variances described earlier under 2019 Operational and Financial Results on page 31. The tables below reflect actual achievement shown in the format used by the Company internally to measure NEOs performance compared to the approved 2019 operating budget.

Short-Term Milestone Objectives – Corporate

Annual short-term milestone corporate objectives are generally those items identified each year that are critical to successfully moving forward the Company’s long-term objectives related to land entitlement and development within our four development projects.

For 2019 the short-term objectives were as follows:

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Individual Performance Objectives

In addition to the goals described above, the Chief Executive Officer’s annual incentive bonus in 2019 was based upon the achievement of individual performance objectives proposed by the Chief Executive Officer and agreed upon and approved by the Compensation Committee. These objectives are tied to business development and organizational goals that move the Company forward in achieving its long-term objectives, including the achievement of strategic milestones related to land development and entitlement efforts that the Compensation Committee and the Board believe to be critical to the achievement of the Company’s long-term business plan. Individual goals for 2019 specifically related to:

Based on the approval of the Centennial plan, reapproval of the Grapevine project, continued reduction in controllable costs excluding the cost of sales related to real estate and water sales and assessments which have fixed rates of increase, the Compensation Committee determined that the Chief Executive Officer’s individual performance was at a level above target achievement but below maximum achievement.

The other NEO’s individual performance goals are generally tied to individual areas of responsibility, which focus on both short-term and long-term goals (including improving operational efficiencies and achieving short-term milestones and other goals with respect to the Company’s long-term business strategy related to land entitlement, development, and conservation). Generally, the qualitative goals covered:

The Chief Executive Officer and the Compensation Committee evaluate the success of the NEOs (other than the Chief Executive Officer) in meeting their individual performance objectives, with final approval provided by the Compensation Committee. The Chief Executive Officer and the Compensation Committee note whether each objective was accomplished in the time frame designated and if the outcome achieved was as specified in the original objective. The individual payouts as a percentage of target are shown in the table below.

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2019 Performance Achievement

The following chart provides a breakdown of 2019 annual incentive award measurement by performance measurement category and the total 2019 incentive award as a percentage of salary. Final award measurement for the NEOs reflects actual results. The award measurement percentage for each NEO is shown in the following table.

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Equity Compensation

The Compensation Committee believes that the long-term value of the Company will be driven by the execution of its long-term strategies. Accordingly, Tejon uses long-term equity incentives to align senior management’s interests with shareholders’ interests. The Compensation Committee believes that management should own stock and that teamwork among the management group is important in meeting business goals. Therefore, long-term milestone incentives are goal-based, with common performance measures for all participants to encourage teamwork.

At the end of 2016, the Board of the Company, on the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, approved the 2017-2019 performance milestone measurement objectives that will be used to measure the vesting of performance milestone grants. The objectives are:

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Shares were granted in March 2017 with a target vesting date of December 2019. The values below represent three-years worth of long-term incentive opportunity based on milestone performance. Maximum award achievement is 150% of target and occurs if performance objectives are achieved ten months prior to target date. Threshold award achievement is 50% of target and occurs if objectives are achieved no more than ten months after the target vesting date. The following table identifies the target value and target shares granted:

The actual number of stock units that vested in 2019 are identified in the footnotes to the Outstanding Equity Awards at 2019 Fiscal Year-End table that begins on page 58. When granting three-year cash flow performance shares, performance milestone shares, or time grants the Company’s practice is to determine annually a dollar amount of equity compensation to be provided for each type of grant, and to grant a number of shares that have a fair market value equal to that amount on the date of grant. Vesting of annual three-year cash flow performance share grants is tied to the achievement of budgeted cash provided from operations over 3 years. For 2019, the dollar amount attributed to three-year cash flow performance shares for the Chief Executive Officer was $540,000, and for the other NEOs it ranged from $106,000 to $210,000, depending on the importance of each NEO’s input to the successful achievement of the goal. The level of the target dollar amount for each NEO is based on a report from the POE Group (our prior compensation consultant) that recommended long-term compensation goals for each position. The shares granted are expensed based on the closing price of the stock on grant date.

This rolling three-year cash flow performance metric was selected by the Compensation Committee as a measurement of management’s ability to create operating cash over an extended period at a time when cash demands will be high and net income will not be significant. For the 2019 grant, this cash flow measure covers the years 2019 through 2021 and has a cumulative cash from operations target of $29,970,000. The Company believes that achievement of this target level of performance will require significant effort and is dependent on the continued absorption of land at TRCC, improvement in oil and mineral revenues, maintenance of farm revenues at current levels, sales of water, and progress with respect to pre-development activities at Mountain Village and entitlement activities at Centennial and Grapevine. Please refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 for additional information regarding entitlement and development activities. This target assumes we are moving forward in a positive manner with respect to our development projects. These grants vest at the end of a three-year performance period. The number of shares to be received is determined by the extent of performance achievement and can range from zero shares to the maximum award amount, which is 150% of the target award.

For the 2017–2019 period, the goal for cumulative cash from operations was $28,251,000. For the 2017–2019 period, goal achievement was 175.62% of the target objective, with actual cumulative cash from operations of $49,615,000. Maximum achievement is capped at 150% of target. These grants, which are referenced in footnote 2 to the Outstanding Equity Awards at 2019 Fiscal Year-End table that begins on page 58, vested and were delivered in early March 2020 after approval by the Compensation Committee.

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Actual shares earned in respect of 2017-2019 three-year cash flow performance shares are as follows:

See the 2019 Grants of Plan Based Awards Table on page 57 for the number of shares granted to each NEO for the 2019-2021 rolling three-year period. The table below summarizes the outstanding (as of the end of 2019) cash flow performance share measurement goals.

During 2019, the Compensation Committee granted time-vested restricted stock to the NEOs. This element is seen as a balance to the strong performance orientation of both the LTIP and the annual incentive program, with the objective of retaining our executive team. The dollar value attributed to these shares is one-half the annual performance share grant. For 2019, the dollar amount for the Chief Executive Officer was $270,000, and for the other NEOs it ranged from $53,000 to $105,000.

In 2016, the Board of Directors of the Company, on the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, approved and granted to the CEO a one-time supplemental long-term stock incentive compensation opportunity. Potential awards are based on the achievement of specific performance goals with measurement periods of two years and four years. This supplemental incentive opportunity was provided outside our standard compensation plans and therefore does not recur regularly. The purpose of the supplemental grant was to increase our CEO’s stock ownership opportunity, by achieving performance results, and encourage his retention with the Company.

There were two award opportunities in the grant; the first vested in 2017 and the second vested in 2019. Each opportunity had quantifiable performance metrics associated with our business plans and a TSR component.

The first opportunity, which vested and was settled in 2017, was tied to the growth of revenue at Tejon Ranch Commerce Center East. The performance incentive was paid out at maximum due to a 96.6% increase in revenue from the properties. The TSR component of this opportunity was not earned due to not meeting the TSR performance objective.

The second award opportunity allowed the CEO the opportunity to earn up to a maximum of 90,000 shares of stock if, by December 31, 2019, entitlement is in place, a preliminary tract map is developed and approved, and the business plan is approved by the Board for Grapevine at Tejon Ranch and Mountain Village at Tejon Ranch. This objective was achieved at the maximum level. Please see the Stock Vested in Fiscal Year 2019 table on page 60, for value realized upon vesting. This second award opportunity also included a TSR component, which was not earned due to TSR for the measurement period being below the goal objective.

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For the 2020-2022 period the long-term equity compensation plan is being changed to incorporate three-year measurement period performance milestones grants, time-vested grants, and price vesting grants tied to stock price performance.

Benefits and Perquisites

Retirement Plans

The Compensation Committee believes that retirement programs are important to the Company, as they contribute to the Company’s ability to be competitive with its peers. For many of our employees, including the Chief Operating Officer, and one of our Executive Vice Presidents of Real Estate, Tejon provides a pension plan and a 401(k) plan. In addition, the Company provides the Chief Operating Officer a supplemental executive retirement plan, or SERP. Based on their hiring dates, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, and our Senior Vice President and General Counsel are not included in the pension plan or SERP, which were frozen for entrance as of February 1, 2007, but are included in the 401(k) plan. During 2017, both the pension plan and SERP were frozen as to the accrual of future benefits.

The NEOs may elect to defer cash and equity-based compensation payable to them pursuant to the Company’s deferred compensation plan. This plan is designed to allow for retirement savings above the limits imposed by the IRS for 401(k) plans on an income tax-deferred basis. Cash amounts deferred into the plan are held in accounts with values indexed to the performance of selected mutual funds. Stock awards deferred into the plan can be converted to cash or kept in the Company’s stock. All participants to date have only deferred stock awards and have maintained stock in the plan. The Company does not provide a match on executive deferrals under the deferred compensation plan.

Change in Control Benefits

The Compensation Committee believes that shareholders’ interests will be best served if the interests of executive management are aligned with them, and that providing management with change in control benefits supports that objective by focusing executives on shareholder interests when considering strategic alternatives. Except for accelerated vesting of equity awards, available to all NEOs, pursuant to our equity compensation plan, change in control benefits, as provided in a severance agreement with selected NEOs, are only provided upon a termination of employment without cause or a resignation for good reason in connection with a change in control. None of the agreements with our NEOs or other compensation plans, or arrangements provide for a gross-up payment or reimbursement for excise taxes that could be imposed on the executives. Beginning in 2019, future equity awards will have accelerated vesting only upon a change in control and termination of employment without cause or a resignation for good reason in connection with a change in control. Please refer to the Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control table on page 62 of this Proxy Statement for a more detailed description and an estimate of value of these benefits.

In addition to the foregoing change in control severance benefits, the NEOs who participate in the pension plan and SERP will also continue to be entitled to benefits under any existing pension plan and SERP as determined in accordance with the terms of those plans.

Separation or Severance Benefits

In some circumstances, the Compensation Committee believes it is in the Company’s best interest to provide a severance benefit in order to provide a smooth transition period for the Company when an executive leaves, even if the Company does not have a contractual obligation to provide a separation package. Separation benefits in the form of salary continuation and health benefits may be provided to departing executives on a case-by-case basis. These benefits have historically endured for approximately one year. A more detailed description of separation benefits payable to our NEOs is included below under “Fiscal Year 2019 Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control” beginning on page 62 of this Proxy Statement.

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Unless the Compensation Committee determines otherwise, if an NEO’s employment with the Company is terminated for any reason, including death or disability, prior to vesting of all or any part of a restricted stock award or performance unit award, the NEO will forfeit to the Company the portion of the award that has not vested.

Perquisites and Other Personal Benefits

The Compensation Committee reviews annually the perquisites that NEOs receive. The primary benefits for the NEOs are Company vehicles and related maintenance. In addition, the Chief Executive Officer receives additional life insurance in excess of the insurance that is part of the Company’s broad-based life insurance policy. This additional insurance supplement is necessary to provide the same three-time salary benefit that other employees receive. These benefits are provided to attract and retain highly qualified executives, and because executives often place a higher value on these benefits relative to cost to the Company as compared to increases in cash compensation. In addition, the automobile benefit is provided to executives as well as other Company employees because the Company’s location and the size of the Company’s property necessitate extensive car travel.

Senior management also participates in the Company’s other benefit plans on the same terms as other employees. These plans include medical, dental, and life insurance.

Other Compensation Practices and Policies

Clawback Policy

The Company has a policy requiring a fixed course of action with respect to compensation adjustments following restatements of our financial statements. In the event that our Board determines there has been a restatement due to material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirement under the securities laws, the Board will review all incentive payments that were made to executive officers and all performance-based equity awards granted to executive officers that were vested in each case, on the basis of having met or exceeded such performance targets in grants or awards made during the three full fiscal years prior to the filing of the Current Report on Form 8-K announcing the restatement.

If such payments and/or vesting would have been lower had they been calculated based on such restated results, the Board will, to the extent permitted by governing law, seek to recoup for the benefit of the Company’s shareholders such payments to and/or equity awards held by executive officers who are found personally responsible for the material restatement, as determined by the Board, by requiring such executive officers to pay such amounts to the Company by set-off, by reducing future compensation, or by such other means or combination of means as the Board determines to be appropriate.

Stock Ownership Guidelines

The Company’s stock retention guidelines are as follows:

All NEOs are expected to make reasonably steady progress toward these ownership guidelines each year While the Chief Executive Officer had not met the guidelines as of the end of 2018 due to our year-end stock price, he is expected to meet the guidelines during 2020. The Executive Vice President of Real Estate has until

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2020 to meet the guidelines, and the Senior Vice President General Counsel and the Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer have through 2021 to reach their guidelines, based on their participation dates. The Chief Operating Officer has met the stock ownership guidelines. The Compensation Committee reviews such progress annually. Since these guidelines are not a contractual basis for remaining in the employment of the Company, the success or lack of success in meeting the guidelines will be evaluated by the Compensation Committee and reflected in each NEO’s annual review for that year.

Securities Trading Policy Including Derivatives Trading, Hedging, and Pledging

The Company has a policy that prohibits executive officers and directors from trading in Company stock while in the possession of nonpublic information. Executive officers and directors are also prohibited from trading in options, puts, calls, or other derivative instruments related to the Company’s stock. They are also prohibited from purchasing stock on margin, borrowing against the Company’s stock held in a margin account, or pledging stock as collateral for a loan.

The Company also maintains an Insider Trading Policy, under which directors, executive officers, and employees—and their designees—are prohibited from purchasing financial instruments (including prepaid variable forward contracts, equity swaps, collars, and exchange funds) or otherwise engaging in transactions that hedge or offset, or are designed to hedge or offset, any decrease in the market value of the Company’s equity securities that were granted to the employee or director by the Company as compensation or that are held, directly or indirectly, by the employee or director.

Tax Considerations

For 2017 and prior years, Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code imposed a $1 million limit on the deductibility of compensation paid to certain executive officers of public companies, unless the compensation meets certain requirements for “performance-based” compensation. Following adoption of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act”), the exceptions from Section 162(m)’s deduction limit for performance-based compensation and for the chief financial officer’s compensation were eliminated effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017. Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, annual compensation paid to covered employees in excess of $1 million dollars will not be deductible (other than in the case of certain arrangements in place as of November 2, 2017). Due to the complexity of Section 162(m) and the grandfather rules thereunder, the Compensation Committee cannot be certain that compensation arrangements that were in place before such date that were intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) will in fact be deductible.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

Directors Betts, Leggio, Metcalfe, Stack, and Tisch served on the Compensation Committee during 2019. No member of the Compensation Committee is or has been an officer or employee of the Company, or has had any relationship with the Company requiring disclosure under Item 404 of Regulation S-K.

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COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

The Compensation Committee has reviewed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis and discussed that Compensation Discussion and Analysis with management. Based on its review and discussions with management, the Compensation Committee recommended to our Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in the Company’s 2020 Proxy Statement and incorporated by reference into the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. This report is provided by the following independent directors, who comprised the Compensation Committee for 2019.

Steven A. Betts (Chairman),

Anthony L. Leggio,

Norman J. Metcalfe,

Geoffrey L. Stack,

Daniel R. Tisch

Fiscal Year 2019 Summary Compensation Table

The following table summarizes the total compensation awarded to, earned by, or paid to each of the NEOs for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017.

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The value of stock awards is the grant date fair value of awards computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. The grant date fair value for grants with performance conditions includes the estimated probable outcome of the performance condition. Further information regarding stock awards can be found in Note 11, Stock Compensation Plan, to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. The stock awards granted did not vest during 2019 and will only vest in future years based on the achievement of cash flow targets, milestones and/or continued employment with the Company.

At maximum achievement, the value received under the three-year rolling performance shares awards granted in 2019 would be $810,000 for Mr. Bielli, $315,000 for Mr. Lyda, $237,000 for Mr. McMahon, $159,000 for Mr. Velasquez, and $162,000 for Mr. Houston.

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Grants of Plan-Based Awards in Fiscal Year 2019

The following table provides information about awards granted to the NEOs in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.