Eric Guichard
About Eric Guichard
Eric Guichard, 57, is Senior Vice President & General Manager of Silvaco’s TCAD business unit, a role he has held since November 2012. He previously served as Vice President of Applications (2008–2012) and held various roles at Silvaco SA beginning in 1995. He holds an M.S. in materials science and a Ph.D. in semiconductor physics from Instituto Politécnico Nacional de Grenoble, France. In fiscal 2024, his annual bonus achievement was 98.1% of target, indicating near‑target performance against corporate and individual KPIs .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Strategic Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silvaco SA (subsidiary) | Applications Engineer and other roles | 1995–2008 | Not disclosed |
| Silvaco Group, Inc. | Vice President of Applications | 2008–2012 | Not disclosed |
| Silvaco Group, Inc. | SVP & GM, TCAD Business Unit | 2012–present | Leads TCAD division |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| None disclosed | — | — | No public external directorships or roles disclosed |
Fixed Compensation
Multi‑year summary compensation (USD):
| Metric | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Salary | $291,000 | $343,370 (includes $22,400 for service as Managing Director of Silvaco France SA beginning Mar 1, 2024) |
| All Other Compensation | $9,630 | $13,800 (Company 401(k) match) |
Performance Compensation
Annual incentive and equity:
| Metric | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Non‑Equity Incentive (Cash Bonus) | $57,000 | $47,510 |
| Bonus Paid in RSUs (Fair Value) | Not disclosed | $31,210 |
| Target Bonus % | Not disclosed | 25% of base salary |
| Bonus Achievement | Not disclosed | 98.1% of target |
| LT Equity Awards (RSUs fair value) | $171,000 | $191,875 |
- In May 2024, the Compensation Committee determined 30% of FY2024 bonuses would be paid in cash and 70% in immediately vested RSUs; the RSU portion is reflected in the Stock Awards column of the Summary Compensation Table .
- No stock options are currently granted; awards are RSUs vesting over multi‑year schedules .
Equity Ownership & Alignment
Beneficial ownership and outstanding awards:
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Common shares beneficially owned | 43,211; represents less than 1% of shares outstanding |
| RSUs vesting within 60 days of Mar 25, 2025 | 3,594 |
| Shares pledged as collateral | No pledging disclosed for Guichard; Company maintains anti‑pledging policy |
Outstanding unvested RSUs at Dec 31, 2024:
| Grant Date | Unvested Units (#) | Market Value ($ at $8.08) | Vesting Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/22/2022 | 2,031 | $16,410 | 625 vested on Jan 1, 2025; 625 on Apr 1, 2025; remainder in two quarterly installments |
| 1/26/2023 | 5,862 | $47,365 | 938 vested Jan 1 & Apr 1, 2025; remainder in five quarterly installments |
| 11/13/2023 | 8,750 | $70,700 | 1,250 vested Jan 1 & Apr 1, 2025; remainder in five equal quarterly installments |
| 1/29/2024 | 9,376 | $75,758 | 3,125 vested Jan 1, 2025; remainder in eight equal quarterly installments |
| 5/24/2021 | 118,953 | Not disclosed | Vested on Jan 1, 2025 |
Additional award details:
- 1/29/2024 grant: 18,752 RSUs (9,376 vested at IPO; remaining vest through Jan 1, 2026) .
- IPO accelerated vesting for NEOs: Guichard’s IPO Acceleration Percentage was 25% of then‑unvested RSUs .
Policies enhancing alignment:
- Anti‑hedging and anti‑pledging; pre‑clearance, blackout windows; ability to use approved Rule 10b5‑1 trading plans .
Employment Terms
Executive Severance Plan (effective Feb 20, 2024):
| Scenario | Cash Severance | Bonus | Health (COBRA) | Equity Vesting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non‑CIC termination (without cause or for Non‑CIC good reason) – SVPs | 9 months of monthly base salary | Pro‑rated target bonus | Up to 9 months company‑paid premiums | Not specified for SVPs; IPO benefit and CIC terms noted below |
| CIC termination (without cause or for CIC good reason) – SVPs | 15 months of monthly base salary | Pro‑rated target bonus | Up to 15 months company‑paid premiums | Accelerated time‑based vesting of 100% of then‑outstanding equity awards |
Key provisions:
- Double‑trigger CIC protection (termination in CIC period required for severance and equity acceleration) .
- IPO accelerated vesting benefit for NEOs applied at IPO close (Guichard 25%) .
- Clawback policy adopted per SEC Rule 10D‑1/Nasdaq listing standards (three‑year lookback for restatements) .
- No excise tax gross‑ups; plan includes 280G optimization/cutback mechanics .
- Insider Trading & Communications Policy governs trading windows, pre‑clearance, anti‑hedging/pledging, and 10b5‑1 plans .
Risk Indicators & Red Flags
- Pledging: Not disclosed for Guichard; principal stockholder pledges noted elsewhere; Company maintains anti‑pledging policy .
- Option repricing: Company does not currently grant options; no repricing disclosed .
- Forms and filings: A Form 4 for Guichard was filed late (administrative error) to report share withholding for RSU settlement after lock‑up expiration on Nov 2, 2024; corrected Nov 7, 2024 .
Compensation Structure Analysis
- Mix and trends: Guichard’s FY2024 compensation comprised base salary, a cash bonus, an RSU bonus component, and a significant LT RSU award; the committee shifted FY2024 bonus delivery toward RSUs (policy set at 70% RSUs) to strengthen equity alignment .
- At‑risk pay: Bonus achievement at 98.1% indicates pay responsiveness to KPI performance; LT equity with multi‑year vesting ties retention to sustained service .
- Governance controls: Independent compensation consultant (Compensia) engaged; clawback, anti‑hedging/pledging, and no tax gross‑ups strengthen shareholder alignment .
Investment Implications
- Alignment: Equity‑heavy incentives and multi‑year vesting support long‑term alignment; anti‑hedging/pledging and clawback mitigate risk .
- Retention: Double‑trigger CIC severance (15 months for SVPs) and 100% equity acceleration upon CIC termination reduce retention risk in M&A scenarios; IPO accelerated vesting (25%) increased near‑term realized value in 2024 .
- Trading signals: Several quarterly vesting dates (e.g., Apr 1, 2025 and subsequent quarters through Jan 1, 2026 for 2022–2024 grants) may create regular sell‑to‑cover or 10b5‑1 activity within permitted windows; recent late Form 4 was for tax withholding, not open‑market selling .