UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities

Exchange Act of 1934

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☐     Preliminary Proxy Statement

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☒     Definitive Proxy Statement

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☐     Soliciting material under Rule 14a-12

Energy Recovery, Inc.

(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)

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Energy Recovery, Inc.

Notice of 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

To Be Held On June 20, 2014

Dear Stockholders,

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Energy Recovery, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company” or “Energy Recovery”) will be held on Friday, June 20, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time. The Annual Meeting will take place at the Company’s headquarters, located at 1717 Doolittle Drive, San Leandro, CA 94577.

The purpose of the meeting is:

These items of business are more fully described in the attached Proxy Statement, which is part of this Notice.

Only stockholders who owned stock at the close of business on April 21, 2014 may attend and vote at the meeting or any postponement or adjournment of the meeting.

Whether or not you expect to attend the annual meeting of stockholders in person, you are urged to vote as promptly as possible to ensure your representation and the presence of a quorum at the annual meeting.

At the meeting, we will also report on our 2013 business results and other matters of potential interest to our stockholders.

By Order of the Board of Directors,

/s/ Thomas S. Rooney, Jr.

Thomas S. Rooney, Jr.

President and Chief Executive Officer

San Leandro, California

April 25, 2014

Stockholders of record can vote their shares by using the internet or the telephone. Instructions for using these convenient services are set forth on the enclosed proxy card. Stockholders may also vote their shares by marking, signing, dating, and returning the proxy card in the enclosed postage-prepaid envelope.

If you send in your proxy card and then decide to attend the annual meeting to vote your shares in person, you may still do so. Your proxy is revocable in accordance with the procedures described in the Proxy Statement.

ENERGY RECOVERY, INC.

PROXY STATEMENT

FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

TO BE HELD ON JUNE 20, 2014

This Proxy Statement (“Proxy Statement”) applies to the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of Energy Recovery, Inc. for use at the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on Friday, June 20, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time. The Annual Meeting will take place at the Company’s headquarters, located at 1717 Doolittle Drive, San Leandro, CA 94577. The telephone number at that location is (510) 746-7370. This Proxy Statement, the accompanying proxy, and our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 (the “2013 Annual Report”) are being sent by mail to stockholders on or about May 9, 2014.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE MEETING

All holders of shares of common stock of record at the close of business on April 21, 2014, (the “Record Date”) are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and all adjournments or postponements thereof. At the meeting, our stockholders will vote on:

If you are a record holder of our common shares, you can vote either in person at the Annual Meeting or by proxy whether or not you attend the Annual Meeting. If you plan to vote in person, you must bring the enclosed proxy card and proof of identification to the meeting.

To vote by proxy, you can direct your vote as follows:

To ensure that your vote is counted, please submit your vote by June 19, 2014.

If your shares are held for you in an account with a broker or other nominee, you will receive voting instructions from your nominee rather than a proxy card. To vote, please follow the voting instructions sent by your broker or other nominee. If you return your voting instructions timely, your broker or other nominee will then include your vote in the appropriate proxy card held by the record holder. If your shares are held in the name of a broker or other nominee, you cannot vote in person at the Annual Meeting unless you first obtain a legal proxy from your nominee and present it at the Annual Meeting.

On each matter to be voted upon, you have one (1) vote for each share of common stock you own as of the Record Date.

If you are the record holder of your shares, you can withdraw or revoke your proxy at any time before the final vote at our Annual Meeting by:

If you return a signed and dated proxy card without marking any voting selections, your shares will be voted “FOR” our three director nominees and “FOR” the other proposals made in this Proxy Statement. If any other matter is properly presented at the meeting, the Company representative authorized to vote on your behalf as your proxy will vote your shares using his or her best judgment.

The Company will bear the costs of soliciting proxies, including the costs for the preparation, assembly, printing, and mailing of the Proxy Statement and related proxy materials. In addition, the Company will reimburse brokerage firms and other nominees representing beneficial owners of shares for their expenses in forwarding solicitation materials to beneficial owners of those shares. We have retained Eagle Rock Proxy Advisors as our proxy solicitors, and proxies may be solicited by a representative of that firm. Proxies may also be solicited by certain of the Company’s directors, officers, and regular employees, without additional compensation, either personally, by telephone, facsimile, or mail.

Only stockholders of record at the close of business on April 21, 2014, the Record Date, will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, our Annual Meeting. On the Record Date, the Company had 51,507,098 shares of common stock outstanding.

We do not know of any business to be considered at the meeting other than the proposals described in this Proxy Statement; however, the proxy holders (who are management representatives named on the proxy card) may vote using their discretion with respect to any other matters properly presented for a vote at the meeting.

A “quorum” of stockholders must be present for us to hold a valid meeting of stockholders. Stockholders representing a majority (more than 50%) of the voting power of our outstanding common stock as of the Record Date, present in person or represented by proxy, constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the Annual Meeting.

Your shares will be counted towards the quorum only if you submit a valid proxy or if you vote in person at the meeting. Stockholders who submit signed and dated proxies without specifying their votes and broker “non-votes” described below will be counted towards the quorum requirement. If there is no quorum, the chairperson of the meeting or a majority of the votes present at the meeting may adjourn the meeting to another date.

If your shares are registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, you are considered a “record holder” of those shares. In this case, you will receive a form of proxy card for record holders along with the other proxy materials.

If your shares are held in a stock brokerage account, by a bank, or by other nominee, those shares are registered with American Stock Transfer & Trust Company in the “street name” of the brokerage account, bank, or other nominee, and you are considered the “beneficial owner” of those shares. If you are a beneficial owner, your broker or other nominee will send you a form of voting instructions (rather than a proxy card) along with the other proxy materials.

As a beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker, bank, or other nominee on how to vote your shares by using the voting instruction form included in the mailing or by following the instructions on the voting instruction card for voting via the Internet or telephone.

If there are multiple beneficial owners in the same household, your broker or other nominee may send only one copy of the proxy materials to your household. If you would like a separate copy of either document, please contact Juan Otero, Corporate Counsel and Secretary, at (510) 746-2561 or by mail at 1717 Doolittle Drive, San Leandro, California 94577.

If you are receiving multiple copies of these materials and would like to receive a single copy in the future, please contact your broker, bank, or other nominee, or you may contact the Company’s investor relations department to request a single copy only in the future.

All shares of common stock represented by valid proxies will be voted in accordance with their instructions. In the absence of instructions, proxies will be voted “FOR” Proposals 1, 2, and 3.

Brokers, banks, and other nominees may submit a proxy card for shares of common stock that they hold for a beneficial owner, but decline to vote on certain items because they have not received instructions from the beneficial owner. These are called “Broker Non-Votes” and are not included in the tabulation of the voting results for the election of directors or for purposes of determining the number of votes cast with respect to a particular proposal. Consequently, Broker Non-Votes do not have an effect on the vote.

Brokers have the discretion to vote such shares for which they have not received voting instructions from the beneficial owners on routine matters, but not on non-routine matters. The only routine matter up for vote this year is the ratification of the independent registered public accounting firm (Proposal No. 2).

A broker is prohibited from voting on a non-routine matter unless the broker receives specific voting instructions from the beneficial owner of the shares. The election of directors (Proposal No. 1) and the advisory vote on executive compensation for 2013 (Proposal No. 3) are non-routine matters, and your broker cannot vote your shares on these proposals unless you have timely returned applicable voting instructions to your broker.

Abstentions have no effect on the outcome of voting for Proposal No. 1, election of directors. Abstentions are treated as shares present or represented and voting regarding Proposals No. 2 and No. 3, so abstentions have the same effect as negative votes on those proposals.

The votes of stockholders attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person will be counted or tabulated by an independent inspector of election. For our meeting, a representative of Broadridge Investor Communications Solutions, Inc. will tabulate votes cast by proxy and in person.

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be Held on June 20, 2014.

This Proxy Statement, the 2013 Annual Report, and related proxy materials are available electronically at http://ir.energyrecovery.com

We are mailing physical copies of our notice, Proxy Statement, proxy, and 2013 Annual Report to our stockholders; however, you may also access these materials at the website noted above.

If you have previously chosen to receive the Proxy Statement and the 2013 Annual Report over the Internet, you will be receiving an e-mail on or about May 9, 2014 with information on how to access stockholder information and instructions for voting over the Internet. Stockholders of record may vote via the Internet until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on June 19, 2014.

If a stockholder’s shares are registered in the name of a brokerage firm and the stockholder has not elected to receive the Proxy Statement and Annual Report over the Internet, the stockholder may still be eligible to vote shares electronically over the Internet. Many brokerage firms participate in programs that provide eligible stockholders who receive a paper copy of the Proxy Statement and Annual Report the opportunity to vote via the Internet. If a stockholder’s brokerage firm participates in such a program, a form from the broker will provide voting instructions.

Stockholders can elect to view future Proxy Statements and Annual Reports over the Internet instead of receiving paper copies. Stockholders of record wishing to receive future stockholder materials electronically can elect this option by following the instructions provided when voting over the Internet at www.proxyvote.com.

Upon electing to view future Proxy Statements and Annual Reports over the Internet, stockholders will receive an e-mail notification next year with instructions containing the Internet address of those materials. The choice to view future Proxy Statements and Annual Reports over the Internet will remain in effect until the stockholder contacts their broker or the Company to rescind the instructions. Internet access does not have to be elected each year.

Stockholders who elected to receive this Proxy Statement electronically over the Internet and who would now like to receive a paper copy of this Proxy Statement so that they may submit a paper proxy in lieu of an electronic proxy should contact either their broker or the Company.

PROPOSALs to be voted on at the meeting

Proposal NO. 1

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

As set by the Board of Directors under the Bylaws of the Company, the authorized number of directors of the Company will be eight as of the date of the 2014 Annual Meeting.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors has recommended, and the Board of Directors has nominated, the three nominees listed below for election as Class III directors at the Annual Meeting. If elected, each newly elected director will serve until the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, until each director’s successor is duly elected and qualified, or until the director’s earlier removal or resignation.

Each of the nominees is currently a director of the Company, and each of the nominees named below has consented, if elected as a director of the Company, to serve until his term expires.

In the event that any nominee of the Company is unable or declines to serve as a director at the time of the Annual Meeting, the proxies will be voted for any nominee who shall be designated by the present Board of Directors to fill the vacancy. In the event that additional persons are nominated for election as directors, the proxy holders intend to vote all proxies received by them in such a manner as will assure the election of as many of the nominees listed below as possible. In such event, the specific nominees to be voted for will be determined by the proxy holders. The Board has no reason to believe that any of the persons named below will be unable or unwilling to serve as a director, if elected. Each of the three nominees for director who receives the greatest number of votes will be elected.

Set forth below are the names, ages, and certain biographical information relating to the Class III director nominees as of April 21, 2014.

Robert Yu Lang Mao joined our Board of Directors in September 2010. Mr. Mao was on the Board of Directors of 3Com Corporation from 2007 to 2010. He is currently a Board member of Taiwan-based Yulon-Nissan Motor Company, which is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange. He serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Ubee Interactive Corporation, a supplier of broadband access equipment and devices to multimedia and telecom service providers worldwide, and Pyroswift Holdings, Ltd., a supplier of high-intensity LED lighting modules and equipment. Both Ubee and Pyroswift are private companies. Mr. Mao served as a Board Director of Hurray! Holding Co. Ltd., a NASDAQ-listed company before it was acquired by another company in 2009, from March 2003 to August 2009. Mr. Mao also served as a Board member of US-China Business Council and as a Board member and Vice Chairman of the Pacific Telecommunication Council. In August of 2013, Mr. Mao was named Chairman of Hewlett-Packard, China. From 2008 to 2010, Mr. Mao was the CEO of 3Com Corporation, a developer of computer networking and security solutions, where he helped expand the company’s business in Europe, the Middle East, the Americas, Asia Pacific, and China. He completed the M&A transaction in which 3Com was acquired by Hewlett-Packard Company in April of 2010. Prior to 3Com Corporation, he worked for Nortel Networks, a broad-based communications technology company, as CEO of the company’s Greater China operations from 1997 to 2006. Before joining Nortel, he was Regional President of the Greater China region for Alcatel-Lucent from 1995 to 1997. He also held executive positions at Alcatel and ITT in Asia and the United States. Mr. Mao holds a B.S. in Material Science and an M.S. in Metallurgical Engineering from Cornell University and an M.B.A. in Management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The Board selected Mr. Mao to serve as a Director because of his prior executive experience helping equipment manufacturers expand into new product and geographic markets, his knowledge of the China market, and his strong strategic and analytical skills.

Thomas S. Rooney, Jr. joined the Company as its President and Chief Executive Officer in February 2011. He was appointed by the Board as a Director in February 2011 and elected to that position by the stockholders in June 2011. Mr. Rooney is a member of the International Centre for Democratic Transition, an international non-profit organization dedicated to the development and promotion of democracy. From 2009 to 2012, he served on the Board of Directors of Enertech Environmental, Inc., a privately-held renewable energy company, and he served as its Board Chairman from August 2010. Mr. Rooney also served as a member of the Technology Advisory Board of Advanced Energy Industries (NASDAQ: AEIS), a maker of industrial power conversion products, from 2010 through 2012. From 2008 to 2010, he served on the Board of Directors of China-based Duoyuan Global Water, Inc. (NYSE: DGW), a manufacturer and distributor of water purification products that he helped bring public on the New York Stock Exchange in 2009. From May 2009 to December 2010, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of SPG Solar, Inc., a private company that manufactures and installs solar photovoltaic power systems. From July 2003 to August 2007, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Insituform Technologies, Inc., (now Aegion Corporation; NASDAQ: AEGN), a global, leading supplier of infrastructure technology and services for municipalities and industry, including oil and gas. Mr. Rooney holds a B.S. degree in civil engineering from Cornell University and an M.B.A., with a specialization in Finance, from the University of Chicago. The Board selected Mr. Rooney as a Director because of his role as our Chief Executive Officer as well as his board and executive experience described above.

Dominique Trempont has served as a Director of the Company since July 2008. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the following companies, with a strategic focus on disruptive technologies and emerging markets: RealNetworks (NASDAQ: RNWK), a leader in on-line entertainment (video, music, SMS, ring tones, games); The Daily Mail and General Trust (London Stock Exchange: DMGT.L), a global B2B and B2C media company focused on high-quality content and publishing applications; on24, a late-stage private software-as-a-service company and leader in virtual events and webcasting; and Trion Worlds, Inc., a private cloud-based multiplayer online gaming company. From 2005 until November 2011, he served as a Director of Finisar (NASDAQ: FNSR), a leader in high-speed fiber optic communication systems. From October 2006 to April 2010, Mr. Trempont served as Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee of 3Com Corporation, a network management company that was acquired by Hewlett Packard in April 2010. Mr. Trempont spent the first 14 years of his career as a senior executive with Raychem Corporation, a leader in material science. From 1992 to 2002, he was Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Kanisa, Inc., a start-up company focused on natural language search and knowledge management software until its merger with Serviceware, now Knova, Inc. From 1993 through 1997, he served as Chief Financial Officer and Head of Operations of NeXT Software. After NeXT was acquired by Apple Computer Corporation, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Gemplus Corp (now a part of Gemalto), a developer of smart-card solutions. Mr. Trempont received a B.S. in Economics from College Saint Louis (Belgium), a B.S. in Business Administration and Computer Sciences from IAG (LSM) at the University of Louvain (Belgium), and an M.B.A. from INSEAD (France/Singapore). The Board selected Mr. Trempont as a Director after our initial public offering because of his prior board and audit committee experience with established public companies (including as chairman of the Audit Committee of 3Com), his financial expertise, and his operational experience at global and multi-cultural technology companies.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES NAMED ABOVE

PROPOSAL NO. 2

RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

BDO USA, LLP has been appointed by the Audit Committee to continue as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2014. Although the Company is not required to seek stockholder approval for its selection of independent registered public accounting firm, the Board believes that the practice constitutes sound corporate governance. If the appointment is not ratified, the Audit Committee will investigate the reasons for stockholder rejection and will reconsider its selection of independent registered public accounting firm. 

A representative of BDO USA, LLP is expected to be present at the Annual Meeting. The representative will have an opportunity to make a statement and to respond to any questions.

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

The following table summarizes total fees that BDO USA, LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm, billed to us for its work in connection with fiscal years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012.

Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Audit Committee pre-approves audit, audit-related, tax, and non-audit services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm, BDO USA, LLP, and will not approve services that are impermissible under applicable laws and regulations. The pre-approval of services may be delegated to one or more of the Audit Committee’s members, but the decision of that member to pre-approve specific services must be reported to the full Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR RATIFICATION
OF THE APPOINTMENT OF BDO USA, LLP AS THE COMPANY’S
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR
THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2014

ADVISORY APPROVAL OF THE COMPANY’S EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The Compensation Discussion and Analysis beginning on page of this Proxy Statement describes the Company’s executive compensation program and the compensation decisions made by the Compensation Committee for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 with respect to the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table on page . The Board of Directors is asking our stockholders to cast a non-binding advisory vote to approve the following resolution:

“RESOLVED, that the stockholders of Energy Recovery, Inc. approve the compensation of the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table for 2013, as disclosed in the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (which disclosure includes the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the Summary Compensation Table, and the related footnotes and narrative accompanying the table).”

We believe that the compensation of our executive officers and directors in 2013 supported our corporate goals, aligned with the long-term strategy of the Company to maximize stockholder value, and provided incentive for key employees to drive market share gains, revenue growth, cost reduction, product innovation, and market expansion for the Company.

Significant compensation decisions in 2013 were based on the following:

Compensation decisions in 2013 included the following:

We believe that the compensation decisions enumerated above are reflective of individuals’ respective contributions in the context of vastly improved profitability, accelerated product innovation, and further progress regarding expansion into the oil & gas market. For these reasons, the Board is asking our stockholders to vote “FOR” this proposal. Although your vote on this proposal is advisory and non-binding, the Compensation Committee values the views of our stockholders and will take into account the outcome of the vote when considering future compensation decisions for our named executive officers. We are providing this advisory vote pursuant to Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR PROPOSAL NO. 3

BOARD AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE MATTERS

Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors is divided into three classes, with each class serving for a staggered three-year term. As of the date of the 2014 Annual Meeting, the Board of Directors will consist of:

At each annual meeting of stockholders, a class of directors will be elected for a three-year term to succeed the directors of the same class whose terms are then expiring. The term of the Class I directors ends at the annual meeting in 2015. The term of the Class II directors ends at the annual meeting in 2016. The current term of the Class III directors ends at the annual meeting in June 2014, and the term of the Class III directors who are elected at the upcoming 2014 Annual Meeting will end at the annual meeting in 2017.

Director Independence

Our Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Cook, Mr. Hanstveit, Mr. Johannessen, Mr. Mao, Dr. Paté-Cornell, and Mr. Trempont, representing a majority of our directors, are “independent directors” as defined in the listing rules of the NASDAQ Global Market LLC. Consistent with the principles of the NASDAQ listing rules, the Board has also determined that ownership of the Company’s stock by a director is not inconsistent with a determination of independence.

Relationships Among Directors or Executive Officers

There are no family relationships among any of the directors or executive officers of the Company.

Committees and Meetings of the Board of Directors

During the year ended December 31, 2013, the Board of Directors met eight times. The Board has three committees: the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. During the year ended December 31, 2013, no director attended fewer than 75% of all the meetings of the Board or its committees on which he or she served after becoming a member. The Company encourages, but does not require, its directors to attend the annual meeting of stockholders. In 2013, all of our Directors attended our annual meeting.

The Audit Committee

The Audit Committee held four meetings in the year ended December 31, 2013. The Audit Committee is responsible for assisting the full Board of Directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities relating to:

The Board has determined that all members of the Audit Committee are independent directors as defined in the listing rules of NASDAQ. The Board has further determined that Mr. Trempont is an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by SEC rules. The Board of Directors has adopted and approved a charter for the Audit Committee, a copy of which can be viewed on the Company’s website at www.energyrecovery.com.

The Compensation Committee

The Compensation Committee held five meetings in the year ended December 31, 2013. The Compensation Committee is responsible for, among other things:

The Board has determined that all members of the Compensation Committee are independent directors as defined in the listing rules of NASDAQ. The Board of Directors has adopted and approved a charter for the Compensation Committee, a copy of which can be viewed on the Company’s website at www.energyrecovery.com.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee held one meeting in the year ended December 31, 2013. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for:

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee operated under a written charter setting forth the functions and responsibilities of the Committee. A copy of the charter can be viewed on the Company’s website at www.energyrecovery.com.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding any stockholder recommendations for candidates to serve on the Board of Directors. Stockholders wishing to recommend candidates for consideration by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may do so by writing to the Secretary of the Company at 1717 Doolittle Drive, San Leandro, California 94577 and providing: (a) the candidate’s name, biographical data, and qualifications, (b) a document indicating the candidate’s willingness to act if elected, and (c) evidence of the nominating stockholder’s ownership of the Company’s common stock at least 120 days prior to the next annual meeting to assure time for meaningful consideration by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee does not have a policy of considering diversity specifically or formally in identifying nominees for directors. In the past, when new directors have been added to our Board of Directors, the Board or Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has endeavored to select director candidates who have business, scientific, or regulatory specializations; technical skills; or other backgrounds that increased the range of experience and diversity of perspectives within our Board of Directors in ways that pertain to our current and future business goals. The Committee also considers diversity in terms of gender, ethnic background, and national origin.

There are no differences in the manner in which the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee evaluates nominees for director based on whether the nominee is recommended by a stockholder or by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee itself. The Company does not pay any third party to identify or assist in identifying or evaluating potential nominees.

In reviewing potential candidates for the Board, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers numerous factors including:

Of greatest importance is the individual’s integrity and ability to bring to the Company experience and knowledge in areas related to the Company’s current and future business. The Board intends to continue using these criteria to evaluate candidates for election to the Board. The Board has determined that all members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are independent directors as defined in the listing rules of NASDAQ.

Board Leadership Structure and Role in Risk Management

The offices of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at our company are held by different individuals. Mr. Michelet is currently Chairman of the Board and has served as our Board Chairman since September 2004. Mr. Rooney has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer since February 2011. Mr. Rooney was appointed by the Board as a director in February 2011 and elected as a director by the stockholders in June 2011. The Company believes that having the roles of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board filled by different individuals enhances our internal system of checks and balances and the Board’s oversight role. The practice also enables the Chief Executive Officer to focus on the Company’s operations.

The Board does not have a standing risk management committee, but administers this oversight function directly through the Board as a whole, as well as through its various committees that address risks inherent in their respective areas of oversight. In particular, our Audit Committee has the responsibility to consider and discuss our major financial risk exposures and the steps our management has taken to monitor and control these exposures, our Compensation Committee assesses and monitors whether any of our compensation policies and programs has the potential to encourage excessive risk-taking, and our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee monitors our governance risk exposures, Board composition, and overall Board performance. The full Board, or the appropriate committee, receives reports on risks facing the Company from our Chief Executive Officer or other members of management to enable it to understand our risk identification, risk management, and risk mitigation strategies. We believe that our Board’s leadership structure supports effective risk management because it allows the independent directors on our committees to exercise oversight over management.

The Board also receives and approves reports on key product development projects, organizational matters, and strategic initiatives. In addition, the Audit Committee periodically considers and approves the Company’s corporate investment policy and practices. The Audit Committee also oversees and reviews related-person transactions.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

None of our current executive officers serve on the Compensation Committee or the Board of Directors of another entity whose executive officer(s) serve(s) on the Company’s Compensation Committee or Board of Directors.

Communication between Stockholders and Directors

Our Board of Directors currently does not have a formal process for stockholders to send communications to the Board. The Company, however, makes every effort to ensure that the views of stockholders are heard by the Board or individual directors and that the Company responds to stockholders on a timely basis. The Board of Directors does not recommend that formal communication procedures be adopted at this time because it believes that informal communications are sufficient to convey questions, comments, and observations that could be useful to the Board. Stockholders wishing to formally communicate with the Board of Directors may send communications directly to Juan Otero, Corporate Counsel and Secretary, c/o Energy Recovery, Inc., 1717 Doolittle Drive, San Leandro, California 94577.

Director Compensation

Directors who are non-employees of the Company received the following fees, unchanged from 2012, for their services on the Board during the year ending December 31, 2013:

Additionally, directors receive:

Our non-employee directors also receive:

We have granted our non-employee directors the following number of options to purchase our common stock during the past three years:

Prior to 2011, in addition to the equity awards depicted above, we have granted 250,000 options to Mr. Michelet; 100,000 options each to Mr. Cook, Mr. Hanstveit, Mr. Johannessen, Dr. Pate-Cornell, and Mr. Trempont; and 25,000 options to Mr. Mao. All of these options to purchase shares of common stock have a four-year vesting period, with 25% of the shares vesting one year after the vesting commencement date and 1/48 of the shares vesting every month thereafter. With the exception of options granted to Mr. Mao in 2010, these options are fully vested. Options granted in 2011 and after have a one-year vesting period. With the exception of options granted in 2013, which will become fully vested within 60 days of April 21, 2014, these shares are fully vested. All options to directors were granted at the fair market value on the date of grant.

In addition to the equity awards depicted in the table above, in August 2010, the Company issued 29,500 shares of restricted stock awards to Mr. Cook in consideration of his consulting services to the Company. These shares are fully vested.

Director Compensation for the Year Ended December 31, 2013

The table below summarizes the compensation paid to non-employee directors for the year ended December 31, 2013. Mr. Rooney, who served as Chief Executive Officer during 2013 and also as a director, is not included in the table below because he received compensation in 2013 only as an employee and did not receive additional compensation for services provided as a director:

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of April 21, 2014 for (i) each person who is known by the Company to beneficially own more than 5% of the Company’s common stock, (ii) each of the Company’s directors, (iii) each of the officers appearing in the “Summary Compensation Table” on Page , and (iv) all directors and executive officers as a group.

To the Company’s knowledge, except as itemized in the footnotes to this table and subject to applicable community property laws, each person named in the table has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares set forth opposite such person’s name. The address of each executive officer and director is c/o Energy Recovery, Inc., 1717 Doolittle Drive, San Leandro, CA 94577.

*Less than 1%

 

(3)

Based on a Schedule 13G/A and a Form 4 filed with the SEC on March 19, 2010 and April 29, 2010, respectively, which together showed 7,641,103 shares beneficially owned by Arvarius AS and 7,641,103 shares beneficially owned by Mr. Skaugen, the controlling stockholder of Arvarius. Each reported shared voting and dispositive power over the shares respectively reported for that beneficial owner. The shares reported by Arvarius included 800,000 shares that could be acquired under exercisable warrants. Warrants to purchase 200,000 shares were exercised in December 2013 for 180,276 shares in lieu of cash payment. The remaining 19,724 warrants were cancelled and considered payment for the exercise. The 7,621,526 shares currently reported, reflect the cancellation of warrants from the exercise in December 2013 and include the remaining 600,000 shares that may be acquired under warrants within 60 days of April 21, 2014.

(4)

Based on a Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on April 2, 2014, which reported 5,408,893 shares beneficially owned by Ludvig Lorentzen AS and 6,199,227 shares beneficially owned by its controlling shareholder, Mr. Ole Peter Lorentzen. Shares beneficially owned by Mr. Lorentzen include the 5,408,893 shares beneficially owned by Ludvig Lorentzen AS and shares held by Mr. Lorentzen in other accounts. Each reported shared voting and dispositive power over the shares respectively reported for that beneficial owner.

(5)

Based on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on January 29, 2014, which reported 2,671,574 shares beneficially owned by BlackRock, Inc. having sole voting and dispositive power.

(6)

Consists of 1,500,800 shares held by Mr. Hanstveit; 150,000 shares held by Mr. Hanstveit’s daughters; and options to purchase 201,986 shares of common stock that are exercisable within 60 days of April 21, 2014. Mr. Hanstveit has shared voting and investment power over the shares that are owned by his daughters.

(7)

Consists of 919,500 shares held by Mr. Johannessen; 25,000 shares held by Mr. Johannessen’s wife; 55,417 shares held by Gallissas Ltd.; 102,200 shares held by Kalamaris Invest AS; and options to purchase 201,986 shares of common stock that are exercisable within 60 days of April 21, 2014. Mr. Johannessen is the sole stockholder of Gallissas Ltd. and is a controlling stockholder of Kalamaris Invest AS.

(8)

Consists of options to purchase 1,119,973 shares of common stock that may be exercised within 60 days of April 21, 2014.

(9)

Consists of 409,700 shares held by Mr. Michelet and options to purchase 351,986 shares of common stock that are exercisable within 60 days of April 21, 2014.

(10)

Consists of 21,800 shares held by Mr. Sanchez-Blanco and options to purchase 508,430 shares of common stock that may be exercised within 60 days of April 21, 2014.

(11)

Consists of 267,905 shares held by Mr. Trempont, 6,250 shares held by a household member, and options to purchase 201,986 shares of common stock that may be exercised within 60 days of April 21, 2014.

(12)

Consists of options to purchase 337,012 shares of common stock that may be exercised within 60 days of April 21, 2014.

(13)

Consists of 49,800 shares held by Mr. Cook and options to purchase 201,986 shares of common stock that may be exercised within 60 days of April 21, 2014.

(14)

Consists of options to purchase 201,986 shares of common stock that may be exercised within 60 days of April 21, 2014.

(15)

Consists of 7,361 shares held by Mr. Mao as trustee of The R. Mao Trust and options to purchase 125,423 shares of common stock that are exercisable within 60 days of April 21, 2014.

(16)

Consists of options to purchase 101,205 shares of common stock that may be exercised within 60 days of April 21, 2014.

(17)

Consists of 3,000 shares held jointly by Dr. Krish and his wife; 5,000 shares held by Dr. Krish’s wife; and options to purchase 86,692 shares of common stock that may be exercised within 60 days of April 21, 2014.

(18)

Consists of 3,523,733 shares held by the 12 executive officers and directors as a group and options to purchase 3,640,651 shares of common stock that may be exercised within 60 days of April 21, 2014.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

Results of 2013 “Say on Pay” Vote

In the Proxy Statement for our 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, we asked our stockholders for an advisory vote to approve the executive compensation disclosed in the Proxy Statement. Of the votes cast on that proposal, counting (for this purpose) shares voted for, against, and abstain, approximately 92.62 % were voted in favor of our “say on pay” proposal. We did not implement changes in our executive compensation in response to this favorable vote.

In the related “say on when” vote in 2011, we proposed, and a strong majority of the advisory votes cast approved, holding our “say on pay” vote annually. As previously reported, we intend to hold a “say on pay” advisory vote at each annual meeting until we review the results of our next “say on when” vote in 2017.

Executive Summary

Compensation Philosophy

As with any company, we have some degree of risk in not being able to attract or retain key talent. We believe, however, that at this time our compensation philosophy appropriately minimizes such risk. Our current compensation philosophy also attempts to align the compensation earned by executives and other employees based on their efforts and achievement with the overarching objective of value creation for our stockholders. For our named executive officers in 2013, total compensation as allocated among base salary, annual cash incentive, and equity-based compensation is depicted in the following table:

The following summary should be read in connection with the additional discussion in this section and the information provided in the compensation tables and narrative discussion that follow this section.

2013 Business Developments

The following business developments were important factors underlying compensation decisions for executive officers in 2013 and relate primarily to cost reductions for the enterprise through value creation, efficiency-enhancing initiatives, and driving technological innovation to expand into new addressable markets with a preeminent focus on oil & gas, while continuing our market leadership the core desalination market:

Executive Compensation Decision-Making

The Compensation Committee reviews the executive compensation philosophy, approves the components of executive officer compensation, and establishes strategic and financial objectives for the chief executive officer. Our executive officers’ compensation has had three primary components: base compensation or salary, equity awards, and annual cash bonuses under a performance-based bonus plan. At the request of the Committee, our chief executive officer provides recommendations for base salary, annual cash incentives, and equity-based incentives for the other executive officers. While said recommendations are considered by the Committee, the Committee ultimately decides whether or not to follow the recommendation or the proposed compensation philosophy. When the Committee deems appropriate, our chief executive officer attends and participates in Committee meetings, except when his own compensation is under consideration, due to his direct knowledge of individual performance and his role in setting annual performance goals for the other executive officers. The only executive officer who had a role in determining or recommending 2013 compensation for named executive officers was Thomas S. Rooney, Jr., our President and Chief Executive Officer.

We do not benchmark our executive compensation against a peer group of companies. Although we are still a relatively small company, we operate in a global industry (for the year ended December 31, 2013, approximately 87% of our net revenue was derived from sales outside of the U.S.). Importantly, the market for executive talent is specialized, considering our needs for cross-border management expertise, relevant industry knowledge, and experience working for U.S. publicly-traded companies. We have no direct competitors of a comparable size and in a similar stage of development that are publicly traded on a U.S. or other major stock exchange. Consequently, we believe that there is no set of directly related and comparable companies operating in similar labor markets against which benchmarking for executive compensation purposes would be meaningful.

While the Compensation Committee has in the past reviewed salary and other data from companies in the water, manufacturing, and high-tech industries; companies of a comparable size in terms of revenue and market capitalization; companies in a comparable stage of growth; and other companies located in the greater San Francisco Bay Area, where our headquarters is centered, it did not do so in 2013 but intends to do so in 2014. In 2014, the Compensation Committee will also include data from companies in other fluid flow market segments such as oil and gas.

The Compensation Committee did not retain a compensation consultant for 2013 executive compensation matters.

Base Salaries of Named Executive Officers

Base salaries are designed to provide our executives with a stable source of income commensurate with their responsibility, experience, and performance.

In 2013, the base salary of our chief executive officer, Mr. Thomas S. Rooney, Jr., was $420,000, an increase from $400,000 in 2012. Details of Mr. Rooney’s compensation package are discussed below under the caption entitled “Employment Arrangements with Named Executive Officers.” Mr. Rooney’s base salary has increased to $428,400 for 2014.

In 2013, the base salary of our chief financial officer, Mr. Alexander J. Buehler, was $314,000, an increase from $305,000 in 2012. Details of Mr. Buehler’s compensation package are discussed below under the caption entitled “Employment Arrangements with Named Executive Officers.” Mr. Buehler’s base salary for 2014 has increased to $320,280.

In 2013, the base salary of our senior vice president of sales, Mr. Borja Sanchez-Blanco, was €264,180, an amount equal to $350,900 based on the average interbank exchange rate in 2013 (€1.00/$1.33). This was an increase from €259,000 in 2012. Mr. Sanchez-Blanco’s base salary for 2014 has increased to €269,464. Effective April 1, 2014, Mr. Sanchez-Blanco, at the request of the Company, relocated from Madrid, Spain to Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The relocation serves to better align key Company resources with the increasing importance of Gulf Coast Countries to both our desalination market and our strategic diversification into oil and gas.

In 2013, the base salary of our chief technology officer, Dr. Prem Krish, was $242,000. On September 14, 2012, the base salary for Dr. Krish was increased from $200,000 to $230,000 due to the additional responsibility associated with a newly expanded research and development department and a much-increased R&D budget focused on oil & gas development. Dr. Krish's base salary for 2014 has increased to $246,840.

In 2013, the base salary of our chief marketing officer, Ms. Audrey Bold, was $237,000, an increase from $185,000 in 2012 due to her promotion from vice president of marketing to Chief Marketing Officer. Ms. Bold's base salary for 2014 has increased to $241,740.

Annual Cash Incentive Compensation

In 2013 our annual cash incentive plan was designed primarily to motivate and reward executives in achieving critical financial and operational objectives in support of the Company’s annual budget and strategic plan. Actual cash incentive payments for 2013, paid in March 2014 to each named executive officer, are set forth in the “Summary Compensation Table” below under the column for “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation.” We refer to these amounts in the discussion below for convenience as a “bonus.”

2013 Cash Incentive Plan

The objectives for our named executive officers under the 2013 cash incentive plan are enumerated in the table below. The column entitled “Target Bonus for 100% Goal Achievement” in the table conveys the targeted bonus for each officer if 100% of his or her objectives are achieved. The column entitled “Maximum Bonus Allowable” describes the maximum bonus the officer could receive in the event that the actual results exceed those specified in the objectives. In the context of extraordinary performance, however, the Compensation Committee can exercise its discretion to approve a cash incentive above the “Maximum Bonus Allowable,” although they did not do so in 2013.

The Compensation Committee determined that, based upon performance measured against the objectives outlined above, the following cash payments would be made under the 2013 annual cash incentive plan:

Payment calculations for individual named executive officers were determined by corporate financial performance and individual performance. Participants must be employed as of October 1 of the plan year and must be an employee in good standing at the time of payment. A participant’s bonus payment under this plan shall be calculated as:

For 2013, the allocation ratio was set at 1.0 due to the Company exceeding its approved business plan.

The Board of Directors had enumerated objectives for the chief executive officer in 2013, and the chief executive officer had specified objectives for other named executive officers in the context of the business plan and his own objectives. The Company evaluated and remitted bonuses for performance in 2013 during the first quarter of 2014.

2014 Cash Incentive Plan

For 2014, the Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors updated the cash incentive plan based on the approved business plan for the same year. As discussed in further detail in the "2014 Equity-Based Awards" section that follows, Mr. Rooney will not participate in the 2014 cash incentive plan. The Board of Directors has established a potential bonus pool based on corporate wide achievement of five key growth objectives. The actual funding of the bonus pool will be determined at the end of the fiscal year based on the degree to which the key growth metrics have been met. In addition, participating employees' performance will be measured against key individual objectives. The target bonus for all named executives remains unchanged for 2014.

Equity-Based Incentive Compensation

The Company grants stock options to executives and other key employees to provide long-term incentives to increase stockholder value pursuant to the Company’s Amended and Restated 2008 Equity Incentive Plan.

2013 Equity-Based Incentive Awards

On February 25, 2013, as part of an annual stock option grant program for employees, the Compensation Committee authorized the grant of options to purchase the Company’s common stock to the following named executive officers: Mr. Rooney, in the amount of 123,153 options; Mr. Buehler, in the amount of 98,522 options; Mr. Sanchez-Blanco, in the amount of 73,892 options; Dr. Krish, in the amount of 98,522 options; and Ms. Bold, in the amount of 73,892 options. The vesting schedule for these grants provides that 25% of the options vest on the one-year anniversary of the vesting commencement date, and thereafter, 1/36 of the remaining options vest at the end of each month of active service.

2014 Equity-Based Incentive Awards

For 2014, management presented a proposed equity grant based on the Black-Scholes valuation as of February 14, 2014 to the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee considered the proposal and after making certain adjustments, authorized the grant of options to purchase the Company’s common stock to the following named executive officers: Mr. Buehler, in the amount of 100,000 options; Mr. Sanchez-Blanco, in the amount of 84,000 options; Dr. Krish, in the amount of 84,000 options; and Ms. Bold, in the amount of 84,000 options. The vesting schedule for these grants provides that 25% of the options vest on the one-year anniversary of the grant date of March 12, 2014, and thereafter, 1/36 of the remaining options vest at the end of each month of active service. In regard to Mr. Rooney, the Compensation Committee authorized a grant in the amount of 440,000 options, in lieu of his participation in the 2014 cash incentive plan. The vesting schedule for Mr. Rooney’s grant provides that 25% of the options vest at the one-year anniversary of the grant date of April 24, 2014, and thereafter, 1/36 of the remaining options will vest at the end of each month of active service. The Compensation Committee has evaluated the potential risks associated with the chief executive's compensation and has determined that Mr. Rooney's increased participation in the equity program, in lieu of his non-participation in the annual cash bonus program, will further align the chief executive officer with the development of key strategic initiatives to further develop new fluid flow markets and deliver long term value to our stockholders.

Benefits

In 2013, our named executive officers based in the United States were eligible to participate in our standard benefits programs on the same basis provided to all of our other U.S. employees, including medical, dental, and vision insurance; life and short-term disability insurance; and health and dependent care flexible spending accounts. Mr. Sanchez-Blanco was eligible to participate in standard benefit programs on the same basis provided to all other employees of our Spanish affiliate. With the exception of Mr. Sanchez-Blanco, all named executive officers and other executives are also offered special life, long-term disability, and accidental death and dismemberment insurance benefits.

We also maintain a tax-qualified 401(k) plan, which provides for broad-based employee participation in the United States. Under the 401(k) plan, all of our U.S. employees are eligible to receive matching Company contributions at the discretion of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors within IRS guidelines. The matching contribution in 2013 was 50% of the amount contributed by the employee, up to an amount equal to 3% of each participant’s pretax base compensation, calculated and paid on an annual basis subject to the approval of the Compensation Committee and applicable federal limits. On February 24, 2014, the Compensation Committee approved the discretionary matching contribution for 2013. For subsequent periods, the Compensation Committee will evaluate performance in accordance with the annual budget as part of this approval process. For new employees, matching contributions will vest over a four-year period from the date of hire at the rate of 25% per year. After four years from the date of hire, employees are vested in all former and future contributions. We do not provide defined benefit pension plans or defined contribution retirement plans to our named executive officers other than the 401(k) plan.

Change in Control Severance Plan

In August 2009, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted a Change in Control Severance Plan for key employees. In March 2012, the Board adopted a revised Change in Control Severance Plan (“the CIC Plan”) for highly paid employees. On December 31, 2012 and on each anniversary thereafter, the CIC Plan will be extended automatically for an additional year unless the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors delivers written notice, at least six months prior to the end of each such term, to each participant that the CIC Plan will not be extended. Accordingly, the CIC Plan was extended through December 31, 2014. Each of the named executive officers currently serving participates in the CIC Plan described below.

The CIC Plan is summarized below under the caption “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control” following the compensation tables. Designed as a retention tool, the CIC Plan protects participating executives from economic harm in the event that their employment is actually or constructively terminated after a change in control of the Company. Under this “double trigger” approach, participating executives are eligible for severance and other benefits under the CIC Plan if they are terminated without “Cause” or leave for “Good Reason,” as those terms are defined below, within eighteen (18) months after a change in control of the Company.

Severance and Termination Compensation

We do not currently have individual employment agreements with our named executive officers, except for Thomas S. Rooney, Jr., Alexander J. Buehler, and Borja Sanchez-Blanco. All named executive officers were participants in our CIC Plan described above. The terms of Mr. Rooney’s and Mr. Buehler’s employment with the Company include severance-related provisions set forth in their respective offer letters. In 2013 Mr. Sanchez-Blanco was employed by our Spanish subsidiary and had severance-related provisions in his employment agreement reflecting common practice under Spanish employment law. As part of Mr. Sanchez-Blanco's relocation to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Mr. Sanchez-Blanco is now an employee of the Company. There are no material modifications to his severance-related terms. Severance-related terms for Mr. Rooney, Mr. Buehler, and Mr. Sanchez-Blanco are summarized below in the section entitled “Employment Arrangements with Named Executive Officers”.

Tax Deductibility

Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) generally disallows a tax deduction to public corporations for compensation in excess of $1 million paid for any fiscal year to certain executive officers. Performance-based compensation is not subject to the $1 million deduction limit if certain requirements are met. Our Compensation Committee may consider the impact of Code Section 162(m) when designing our cash and equity bonus programs, but may elect to provide compensation that is not fully deductible as a result of Code Section 162(m) if it determines that the program is in our best interests.

Compensation Committee Report

This report is not deemed to be soliciting material filed with the SEC or subject to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates it by reference into a document filed with the SEC.

The Compensation Committee reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis (“CD&A”) set forth above with the Company’s management. Based on the review and discussions, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Company’s Board of Directors that the CD&A be included in this Proxy Statement.

MEMBERS OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

Arve Hanstveit, Chairman of the Compensation Committee

Paul M. Cook

Fred Olav Johannessen

Dr. Marie-Elisabeth Paté-Cornell

Dominique Trempont

Summary Compensation Table

The table below summarizes the compensation information with respect to the named executive officers for the applicable fiscal years ending December 31, 2013; December 31, 2012; and December 31, 2011. All amounts are in dollars.

Grants of Plan-Based Awards in 2013

The following table sets forth information concerning non-equity and equity incentive plan awards to the named executive officers during 2013. The non-equity incentive plan consists of the 2013 cash incentive plan described in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section above. The actual amounts realized in accordance with the non-equity incentive plan are reported in the “Summary Compensation Table” under the column entitled “Non-Equity Incentive Compensation.” The Company did not grant any restricted stock awards or units in 2013. The table also depicts information with respect to stock option awards granted by the Company during 2013.

Employment Arrangements with Named Executive Officers

Thomas S. Rooney, Jr.

In February 2011, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Rooney in the form of an Offer Letter. Under the Offer Letter, Mr. Rooney is employed for an indefinite period of time. Mr. Rooney’s initial base salary was set at $400,000, and he also received a one-time sign-on bonus of $150,000. If he chose to resign from the Company for any reason (other than “Good Reason” as defined in the Company’s Change in Control Severance Plan then in effect) within the first twenty-four (24) months of his employment, he agreed to return to the Company a pro-rata share of his sign-on bonus equal to the number of months remaining in the 24-month period at the time of resignation divided by 24. As of February 2013, Mr. Rooney satisfied this service obligation.

The Offer Letter provides Mr. Rooney with an annual performance bonus opportunity in an amount up to 100% of his base salary. His bonus under the 2011 cash incentive plan was reduced by the amount of his sign-on bonus in accordance with the Offer Letter.

Under the Offer Letter, Mr. Rooney received options to purchase 800,000 shares of the Company’s common stock on February 18, 2011 and options to purchase 250,000 shares of the Company’s common stock on January 4, 2012. Both option grants vest over four (4) years with twenty five percent (25%) of the shares vesting one year after the vesting commencement date, which was the first day of his employment for both awards. After that date, one forty-eighth (1/48th) of the shares vest each month. In the event of a Change in Control (as defined in the CIC Plan, which is discussed below under the caption “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control”), he will be paid an additional lump-sum payment of $400,000 less deductions required or permitted by applicable law on the next regular Company payroll date following the Change of Control.

In the event of an involuntary termination other than for Cause, as defined in the CIC Plan, as amended, Mr. Rooney is entitled to the following severance benefits:

These severance benefits are conditioned on his signing a release in favor of the Company and are reduced by deductions required or permitted by applicable law.

In the event of termination due to a Change of Control, as defined in the CIC Plan, as amended, Mr. Rooney is entitled to the greater of termination benefits under his Offer Letter, termination benefits under the CIC Plan, or termination benefits under another severance plan then in effect.

Alexander J. Buehler

In April 2011, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Buehler in the form of an Offer Letter. Under the Offer Letter, Mr. Buehler is employed for an indefinite period of time. Mr. Buehler“s initial base salary was set at $300,000, and he also received a one-time sign-on bonus of $100,000. If he chose to resign from the Company for any reason (other than “Good Reason” as defined in the Company’s Change in Control Severance Plan then in effect) within the first twenty-four (24) months of his employment, he agreed to return to the Company a pro-rata share of his sign-on bonus equal to the number of months remaining in the 24-month period at the time of resignation divided by 24. Mr. Buehler satisfied this service obligation in May 2013.

The Offer Letter provides Mr. Buehler with an annual performance bonus opportunity in an amount up to 50% of his base salary dependent upon his achievement of Company and individual objectives. Mr. Buehler’s annual performance bonus opportunity increased from 50% in 2011 to 60% in 2012. The Offer Letter also provided Mr. Buehler with reimbursement for relocation expenses up to $30,000 for expenses in excess of $50,000.

Under the Offer Letter, Mr. Buehler was granted options to purchase 400,000 shares of the Company’s common stock under the 2008 Equity Incentive Plan on June 1, 2011. He also will receive recurring equity grants, consisting of options to purchase shares under the 2008 Equity Incentive Plan and valued at $200,000 per year, subject to the Company’s standard four-year vesting schedule at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Mr. Buehler’s equity award was increased in 2012 in recognition of the application of enhanced financial structure and managerial reporting.

In the event of an involuntary termination other than for Cause, as defined in the CIC Plan, as amended, Mr. Buehler is entitled to the following severance benefits:

In the event of termination due to a Change of Control, as defined in the CIC Plan, as amended, Mr. Buehler is entitled to only the termination benefits under the CIC Plan.

Borja Sanchez-Blanco

In August 2007, our Spanish subsidiary, Energy Recovery Iberia, S.L., entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Sanchez-Blanco, a common practice under the laws of Spain and as part of a relocation package from the United States to Spain. Under the employment agreement, Mr. Sanchez-Blanco was employed for an indefinite period of time. As part of Mr. Sanchez-Blanco’s relocation to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Mr. Sanchez-Blanco is now an employee of the Company and there is no material modifications to his severance-related terms as outlined below. Mr. Sanchez-Blanco’s initial base salary was set at €253,000. Since he became a named executive officer in March 2009, his salary has been reviewed annually by the chief executive officer and the Compensation Committee for adjustments.

Under the terms of his employment agreement, Mr. Sanchez-Blanco is entitled to the following benefits in the event of an involuntary termination other than for cause:

In the event of a termination of employment for cause, Mr. Sanchez-Blanco will be entitled to receive:

If the above termination for cause is found to be unfair by a final court judgment, Mr. Sanchez-Blanco may also be entitled to twenty (20) days of salary for each year of service dating back to his December 1, 2005 start date with the Company, up to a maximum of twelve (12) months salary.

In the event that Mr. Sanchez-Blanco terminates his employment for cause, he will be entitled to receive:

Upon termination for any reason, Mr. Sanchez-Blanco is also entitled to an amount equal to six (6) months salary in exchange for a one-year post-contractual duty not to compete with the Company in addition to the benefits described above.

In the event of termination due to a Change of Control, as defined in the CIC Plan, as amended, Mr. Sanchez-Blanco is entitled to the greater of the termination benefits under his employment agreement or the termination benefits under the CIC Plan.

Outstanding Equity Awards as of December 31, 2013

The following table presents certain information concerning equity awards held by our named executive officers as of December 31, 2013.

Option Exercises and Stock Vested in 2013

In 2013, none of our named executive officers exercised any options and the following restricted stock awards vested for the following named executive officers:

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control

We adopted a revised Change in Control Severance Plan (the “CIC Plan”) in March 2012 for highly compensated employees. Each of the named executive officers currently serving participates in the CIC Plan described below.

Except for the CIC Plan, Mr. Rooney’s and Mr. Buehler’s severance terms under their respective Offer Letters, and Mr. Sanchez-Blanco’s severance terms under his employment agreement summarized above under “Employment Arrangements with Named Executive Officers”, these individuals do not otherwise have an agreement, plan, or arrangement that provides for payments in connection with any employment termination, change in control of the Company, or change in their responsibilities.

The CIC Plan became effective on March 5, 2012. On December 31, and on each anniversary thereafter, the CIC Plan will be extended automatically for an additional year unless the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors delivers written notice, at least six months prior to the end of each such term, to each participant that the CIC Plan will not be extended. The CIC Plan was automatically extended through December 31, 2014.

The Compensation Committee is authorized by the CIC Plan to designate any full-time employee of the Company as a participant. As was the case with the previous CIC Plan, the participants include the Company’s executive officers and other designated key employees.

A participant is entitled to severance benefits under the CIC Plan if a change of control occurs and the acquiring company terminates the participant’s employment without cause, or the participant terminates his or her employment with good reason, in either case within 18 months after a change in control (including, but not limited to, an acquisition of a controlling interest in the Company by a third party). The CIC Plan sets forth definitions of cause, good reason, and change in control, which are described in full at the end of this summary.

The severance benefits, conditioned on the participant’s signing a release in favor of the Company and complying with certain other covenants under the CIC Plan, include the following (in addition to then earned and unpaid amounts owed less deductions required or permitted by law):

The CIC Plan also provides that if a change in control occurs and a participant’s equity compensation is not converted, assumed, or replaced by a successor entity with an equivalent award, then immediately prior to the change in control, the participant’s equity compensation shall become fully exercisable and vested and all forfeiture restrictions on such equity compensation shall immediately lapse. In the case of equity compensation, the amount of which is based on the satisfaction of performance criteria, all performance criteria will be deemed satisfied at target. The conversion, assumption, or replacement of an equity award for another equity award of stock that is not publicly traded shall not be considered an equivalent award for purposes of the CIC Plan.

In no event is the Company obligated to gross up any payment or benefit to a participant to avoid the effects of the “parachute rules” of Sections 280G and 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). Benefits to a participant, however, may be reduced if the reduction would result in the participant receiving a greater payment on an after-tax basis due to the application of those sections of the tax law. Additionally, payments may be conditioned or delayed as needed to be exempt from or comply with Section 409A of the Code relating to “nonqualified deferred compensation.”

The CIC Plan also obligates the Company to make all payments to a Participant required by applicable law upon employment termination such as earned but unpaid salary and bonus (without regard to a release or other covenants of the participant in the CIC Plan and subject to deductions required or permitted by applicable law).

Key Defined Terms of the Change In Control Plan

“Cause” means in the context of employment termination:

“Change in Control” means:

“Good Reason” means the occurrence of any one or more of the following without the participant’s express written consent:

Good Reason will only be deemed to exist if the participant provides notice of the condition(s) constituting Good Reason within 30 days of the existence of the condition and gives the Company 30 days from its receipt of such notice to remedy the condition. If the condition is remedied, Good Reason will not be deemed to exist.

The benefits provided in the CIC Plan and Mr. Sanchez-Blanco’s agreement are summarized in the tables below, and the amounts shown assume hypothetically that each applicable termination or event was effective as of December 31, 2013. The actual amounts that will be paid can only be determined at the time of the termination or other applicable event.

The tables below do not include payments that are generally required by applicable law for all salaried employees (notwithstanding that these requirements are referred to in the applicable arrangement) such as payment of accrued but unpaid wages and unused vacation or rights to previously incurred business expense reimbursement. The amounts set forth below do not reflect taxes, tax withholding, or other deductions required by law and may be subject to reduction or delay in payment in accordance with the specific provisions of the applicable arrangement or law.

Benefits under the Change in Control Plan

The payments summarized below are triggered if a change of control occurs, and the acquiring company terminates the participant’s employment without cause, or the participant terminates his/her employment with good reason, in either case within 18 months after a change in control (including, but not limited to, an acquisition of a controlling interest in the Company by a third party).