UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
(Rule 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )
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EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY | ||||
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter) | ||||
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(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant) | ||||
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March 20, 2017
Dear Fellow Stockholder:
Our 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held in the Crockett Amphitheatre of the MeadowView Marriott Conference Resort and Convention Center, 1901 Meadowview Parkway, Kingsport, Tennessee, on May 4, 2017 at 11:30 a.m. Doors to the meeting will open at 10:30 a.m. The business to be considered and voted upon at the meeting is explained in this proxy statement. A copy of Eastmans 2016 Annual Report to Stockholders is also included with these materials.
Your vote is important for this years annual meeting, regardless of the number of shares you own. Signing and returning a proxy card or submitting your proxy by Internet or telephone in advance of the meeting will not prevent you from voting in person, but will assure that your vote is counted if you are unable to attend the meeting. Whether you choose to vote by proxy card or by telephone or the Internet, I urge you to vote as soon as possible. If you are a record holder of Eastman stock, an admission ticket for the meeting is included with your proxy card or electronic form of proxy. Please bring this ticket with you if you plan to attend the meeting in person. If you received our proxy materials from a broker or bank and do not have an admission ticket but wish to attend the meeting, please call (423) 229-4647.
Thank you for your support of our Company.
Sincerely,
Mark J. Costa
Board of Directors Chair and
Chief Executive Officer
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING AND PROXY STATEMENT
EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY
200 South Wilcox Drive
Kingsport, Tennessee 37662
(423) 229-2000
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON MAY 4, 2017
To Our Stockholders:
The 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Eastman Chemical Company (Eastman or the Company) will be held in the Crockett Amphitheatre of the MeadowView Marriott Conference Resort and Convention Center, 1901 Meadowview Parkway, Kingsport, Tennessee, on May 4, 2017 at 11:30 a.m. The purposes of the meeting are:
| Elect Directors. To elect twelve directors to serve until the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified; |
| Advisory Approval of Executive Compensation. To approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of certain of the Companys executive officers; |
| Advisory Vote on Frequency of Advisory Approval of Executive Compensation. To vote on the frequency of the advisory vote on executive compensation; |
| Approve the 2017 Omnibus Stock Compensation Plan. To approve the 2017 Omnibus Stock Compensation Plan; |
| Ratify Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. To ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company for 2017; and |
| Transact Any Other Business. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting. |
Only stockholders of record at the close of business on March 15, 2017 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the meeting. It is important that your shares be represented and voted at the meeting. Please vote by proxy in one of these ways:
| Use the toll-free telephone number shown on your proxy card, electronic form of proxy, or voting instruction form (if you received the proxy materials by mail from a broker or bank); |
| By Internet at the web address shown on your proxy card, electronic form of proxy, or voting instruction form; or |
| Mark, sign, date, and promptly return or submit your proxy card, electronic form of proxy, or voting instruction form (in the postage-paid envelope provided if you are returning a paper proxy card). |
Signing and returning the proxy card or submitting your proxy electronically by Internet or telephone does not affect your right to vote in person if you attend the meeting.
By order of the Board of Directors
David A. Golden
Chief Legal and Sustainability Officer
and Corporate Secretary
March 20, 2017
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF
EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY
TO BE HELD ON MAY 4, 2017
INFORMATION ABOUT THE MEETING AND VOTING
Proxy Statement and Annual Meeting
This proxy statement is dated March 20, 2017 and is first being mailed and delivered electronically to Eastman stockholders, and made available on the Internet at the Companys website (www.eastman.com) and at www.ReadMaterial.com/EMN, on or about March 23, 2017. Our Board of Directors (the Board) is furnishing you this proxy statement in connection with its solicitation of proxies to be voted at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company to be held on May 4, 2017 and at any adjournments or postponements of the meeting. A proxy statement is a document that Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulations require us to give you when we ask you to vote your stock by proxy. At the meeting, stockholders will be asked to consider and vote on the items of business listed and described in this proxy statement.
A proxy is a legal designation of another person to vote stock you own. That other person is called a proxy. If you designate someone as your proxy in a written or electronic document, that document is also called a proxy, a proxy card, or a form of proxy.
By completing and returning your proxy (either by returning the paper proxy card, by submitting your proxy electronically by Internet, or by telephone), you appoint Curtis E. Espeland, the Companys Chief Financial Officer, and David A. Golden, the Companys Chief Legal and Sustainability Officer and Corporate Secretary, to represent you at the meeting and direct them to vote your shares at the meeting. Shares of common stock represented by proxy will be voted by the proxy holders at the meeting in accordance with your instructions as indicated in the proxy. If you properly execute and return your proxy (in paper form, electronically by the Internet, or by telephone) but do not indicate any voting instructions, your shares will be voted in accordance with the recommendations of the Board as to the matters identified in this proxy statement and in the best judgment of the proxy holders as to any other matters.
If your shares are registered in your name, you are a stockholder of record. Stockholders of record may vote by proxy in one of three ways:
| by telephone: call (888) 693-8683 and follow the instructions on your proxy card or electronic form of proxy; |
| by Internet: visit the website www.cesvote.com and follow the instructions on your proxy card or electronic form of proxy; or |
| by mail (if you received a paper proxy card): mark, sign, date, and mail your proxy card in the enclosed postage-paid envelope. |
If you received the Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials, follow the instructions on that notice to access an electronic form of proxy. Internet and telephone voting procedures are designed to authenticate stockholder identities, to allow stockholders to give voting instructions, and to confirm that stockholders instructions have been recorded properly.
If your shares are held in street name through a broker, bank, or other holder of record, you will receive instructions from that registered holder that you must follow in order for your shares to be voted for you by that record holder. Telephone and Internet voting may be offered to stockholders who own their shares through certain brokers and banks.
If you give a proxy, you may revoke it at any time before its exercise at the meeting by:
| giving written notice of revocation to the Corporate Secretary of the Company; |
| executing and delivering a later-dated, signed proxy card or submitting a later-dated proxy by Internet or by telephone before the meeting; or |
| voting in person at the meeting. |
All written notices of revocation or other communications with respect to revocation of proxies should be sent to Eastman Chemical Company, P.O. Box 431, Kingsport, Tennessee 37662-0431, Attention: Corporate Secretary, so that they are received before the meeting.
Record Date; Stockholders Entitled to Vote; Voting Rights
The record date for the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is March 15, 2017. Stockholders of record of common stock at the close of business on the record date are entitled to receive notice of the meeting and to vote at the meeting. The record date is established by the Board as required by Delaware law. If your shares are held in street name through a broker, bank, or other holder of record, you must obtain a proxy, executed in your favor, from the holder of record to be able to vote in person at the meeting.
On the record date, there were 145,824,877 shares of common stock issued and outstanding. Holders of common stock are entitled to one vote on each of the twelve director-nominees and one vote on each other matter voted upon at the meeting for each share of common stock they hold of record on the record date.
Quorum; Abstentions and Broker Non-Votes
The presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the shares of common stock entitled to vote at the meeting is necessary to constitute a quorum to conduct business. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted as present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining a quorum. A broker non-vote occurs when a registered holder holding shares in street name for a beneficial owner does not vote on a particular proposal because the registered holder does not have discretionary voting power for that particular item and has not received voting instructions from the beneficial owner. Brokers which have not received voting instructions from their clients cannot vote on their clients behalf on the election of directors, the advisory approval of executive compensation, the advisory vote on the frequency of the advisory vote on executive compensation, or the 2017 Omnibus Stock Compensation Plan, but may, although they are not required to, vote their clients shares on the ratification of the appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm.
Votes Required for Approval of Matters to be Considered
Each director nominee who receives a majority of votes cast (number of shares voted for exceeds the number of shares voted against) will be elected as a director. With respect to the election of directors, stockholders may (1) vote for all twelve of the nominees, (2) vote against all twelve of the nominees, (3) vote against any individual nominee or nominees but vote for the other nominee(s), or (4) abstain from voting on one or more nominees. Shares not present, in person or by proxy, at the meeting and abstentions will have no effect on the outcome of the election of directors. Similarly, broker non-votes are not considered to be votes cast and therefore will have no effect on the outcome of the election of directors.
The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast is required for the advisory approval of executive compensation and the ratification of the appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm. With respect to each of these items, stockholders may (1) vote for, (2) vote against, or (3) abstain from voting. Abstentions and broker non-votes are not considered to be votes cast and therefore will have no effect on the outcome of the vote on these matters.
The advisory vote on the frequency of the advisory approval of executive compensation that receives a plurality (that is, the largest number) of votes cast will be considered the preference selected by stockholders.
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With respect to this advisory vote, stockholders may (1) vote for a voting frequency of every year, (2) vote for a voting frequency of every other year, (3) vote for a voting frequency of every three years, or (4) abstain from voting. Abstentions and broker non-votes are not considered to be votes cast and therefore will have no effect on the outcome of this advisory vote.
The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast is required for the approval of the 2017 Omnibus Stock Compensation Plan. Under New York Stock Exchange rules, abstentions are treated as votes cast but broker non-votes are not. As a result, abstentions will be treated as votes against approval of the 2017 Omnibus Stock Compensation Plan and broker non-votes will have no effect on the vote.
We will bear the cost of soliciting proxies and the cost of the meeting. In addition to the solicitation of stockholders by mail and electronic means, proxies may be solicited by telephone, facsimile, personal contact, and similar means by our directors, officers, or employees, none of whom will be specially compensated for these activities. We have also contacted brokerage houses, banks, nominees, custodians, and fiduciaries which can be identified as record holders of common stock. Such holders, after inquiry by us, have provided certain information concerning beneficial owners not objecting to the disclosure of such information and the quantities of proxy materials and annual reports needed to supply such materials to beneficial owners, and we will reimburse such record holders for the expense of providing such beneficial ownership information and of mailing or otherwise delivering proxy materials and annual reports to beneficial owners. We have retained Georgeson LLC to assist with the solicitation of proxies and vote projections for a fee of $23,500 plus reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses.
Matters to be Acted Upon at the Meeting Not Included in this Proxy Statement
We do not expect any business to be acted upon at the meeting other than as described in this proxy statement. If, however, other matters are properly brought before the meeting, the persons appointed as proxies will have the discretion to vote or act on those matters for you according to their best judgment.
Stockholder Proposals for the 2018 Annual Meeting
In accordance with the rules of the SEC, if you wish to submit a proposal for presentation at Eastmans 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, it must be received by the Company at its principal executive offices no later than November 23, 2017 in order to be included in the Companys proxy materials for its 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Any such proposal should be sent to Eastman Chemical Company, P.O. Box 431, Kingsport, Tennessee 37662-0431, Attention: Corporate Secretary.
In addition, our Bylaws require that a proposal to be submitted by a stockholder for a vote of the Companys stockholders at an annual meeting of stockholders, whether or not also submitted for inclusion in the Companys proxy materials, must be preceded by adequate and timely notice to the Corporate Secretary of the Company. To be adequate, the notice must set forth certain information specified in our Bylaws about the stockholder and the proposal. The Bylaws are available through the Investors Corporate Governance section of the Companys website, and also will be provided to any stockholder upon written request to Eastman Chemical Company, P.O. Box 431, Kingsport, Tennessee 37662-0431, Attention: Investor Relations. To be timely, the notice must be delivered to the Corporate Secretary of the Company no earlier than 150 days and not later than 120 days prior to the day of the month on which the notice of the immediately preceding years annual meeting of stockholders was first sent to the stockholders of the Company. If, as expected, notice of the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is first sent to stockholders on March 23, 2017, then such advance notice must be delivered no earlier than October 24, 2017 and not later than November 23, 2017.
3
Nominations by Stockholders for Election to the Board of Directors and Stockholder Nomination Proxy Access
Our Bylaws provide that nominations by stockholders of persons for election to the Board may be made by giving adequate and timely notice to the Corporate Secretary of the Company. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board will consider persons properly and timely nominated by stockholders and recommend to the full Board whether any such nominees should be included with the Boards nominees for election by stockholders. In addition, our proxy access Bylaw provision allows qualifying stockholders to include their director nominees in the Companys proxy materials by giving adequate and timely notice to the Corporate Secretary. See Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Director Nominations later in this proxy statement. To be adequate, the nomination notice or the notice of proxy access nomination, as applicable, must set forth certain information specified in our Bylaws about each stockholder submitting a nomination and each person being nominated. The Bylaws are available through the Investors Corporate Governance section of the Companys website, and also will be provided to any stockholder upon written request to Eastman Chemical Company, P.O. Box 431, Kingsport, Tennessee 37662-0431, Attention: Investor Relations. To be timely, the nomination notice and the notice of proxy access nomination each must be delivered to the Corporate Secretary of the Company no earlier than 150 days and not later than 120 days prior to the day of the month on which the notice of the immediately preceding years annual meeting of stockholders was first sent to the stockholders of the Company. If, as described above, the notice of the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is first sent to stockholders on March 23, 2017 then such notice would be timely if delivered no earlier than October 24, 2017 and not later than November 23, 2017.
Annual Report to Stockholders, Annual Report on Form 10-K, and Corporate Governance Materials
Our Annual Report to Stockholders for 2016, including our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016, is being mailed and delivered electronically to stockholders, and made available on the Internet at the Companys website (www.eastman.com) and at www.ViewMaterial.com/EMN, concurrently with this proxy statement. The Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 as filed with the SEC is also available on the Internet on the Companys website and on the SECs website (www.sec.gov).
We also make available free of charge, through the Investors Corporate Governance section of the Eastman website, the Companys Corporate Governance Guidelines, the Charters of each of the Committees of the Board, and Codes of Business Conduct and Ethics for our directors, officers, and employees. Such materials are also available in print upon written request of any stockholder to Eastman Chemical Company, P.O. Box 431, Kingsport, Tennessee 37662-0431, Attention: Investor Relations.
Communications to the Board of Directors
We believe that communication and engagement with the Companys stockholders and other interested parties is an essential component of the Companys corporate governance practices. We have adopted a Stockholder Communication and Engagement Policy to facilitate communication between stockholders and other interested parties and the Board. Stockholders and other interested parties may send communications to the Board, any individual director, or the independent directors as a group in writing by mail or email to: Board of Directors, Eastman Chemical Company, c/o Corporate Secretary, P.O. Box 1976, Kingsport, Tennessee 37662-1976, email: corpsecy@eastman.com. Stockholders should indicate in the ATTN: line of the envelope or the subject line of the email, as applicable, whether the communication is directed to the Board, an individual director, or the independent directors as a group.
The Board Stockholder Communication and Engagement Policy is available in the Investors Corporate Governance section of the Eastman website (www.eastman.com).
4
STOCK OWNERSHIP OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Common Stock
The table below sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of Eastman common stock as of December 31, 2016 by each director (which includes all director nominees) and by each executive officer named in the Summary Compensation Table (under Executive Compensation Compensation Tables below, referred to as the named executive officers) and by the directors, the named executive officers, and the other executive officers as a group.
Name |
Number of Shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned(1)(2) | |
Mark J. Costa |
516,101(3) | |
Ronald C. Lindsay (4) |
245,136(5) | |
Curtis E. Espeland |
248,938(6) | |
Brad A. Lich |
69,428(7) | |
David A. Golden |
101,882(8) | |
Stephen G. Crawford |
28,524(9) | |
Humberto P. Alfonso |
6,128(10) | |
Gary E. Anderson |
18,182(11) | |
Brett D. Begemann |
6,104(12) | |
Michael P. Connors |
10,916(13) | |
Stephen R. Demeritt |
17,732(14) | |
Robert M. Hernandez |
53,594(15) | |
Julie F. Holder |
5,163(16) | |
Renée J. Hornbaker |
20,769(17) | |
Lewis M. Kling |
18,604(18) | |
James J. OBrien |
2,177(19) | |
David W. Raisbeck |
28,002(20) | |
Directors, named executive officers, and other executive officers as a group (23 persons) |
1,677,124(21) |
(1) | Information relating to beneficial ownership is based upon information furnished by each person using beneficial ownership concepts set forth in rules of the SEC. Under those rules, a person is deemed to be a beneficial owner of a security if that person has or shares voting power, which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting of such security, or investment power, which includes the power to dispose of, or to direct the disposition of, such security. A person is also deemed to be the beneficial owner of any security of which that person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership (such as by exercise of options) within 60 days. Under such rules, more than one person may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of the same securities, and a person may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of securities as to which he or she may disclaim any beneficial interest. Except as indicated in other notes to this table, directors and executive officers possessed sole voting and investment power with respect to all of their respective shares of common stock in the table. |
(2) | The total number of shares of common stock beneficially owned by the directors, the named executive officers, and the other executive officers as a group is 1.137 percent of the shares of common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2016. The number of shares beneficially owned by each director and executive officer is less than one percent of the shares of common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2016. Shares not outstanding which are subject to options exercisable within 60 days by persons in the group or a named individual are deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage of outstanding shares of common stock owned by the group or such individual. |
(3) | Includes 353,278 shares that may be acquired upon exercise of options exercisable on or before March 1, 2017. |
(4) | Mr. Lindsay retired effective July 1, 2016, and his beneficial ownership is as of the date of his retirement. |
(5) | Includes 149,009 shares that were acquirable upon exercise of options. |
5
(6) | Includes 170,524 shares that may be acquired upon exercise of options exercisable on or before March 1, 2017. |
(7) | Includes 50,150 shares that may be acquired upon exercise of options exercisable on or before March 1, 2017. |
(8) | Includes 40,443 shares that may be acquired upon exercise of options exercisable on or before March 1, 2017. Also includes 50,798 shares owned by the Eastman Chemical Company Foundation (the Foundation), of which shares Mr. Golden may also have been deemed a beneficial owner by virtue of his shared voting and investment power as a director of the Foundation but in which he had no pecuniary interest. |
(9) | Includes 23,562 shares that may be acquired upon exercise of options exercisable on or before March 1, 2017. |
(10) | Includes 1,870 restricted shares that generally vest in May 2017, but as to which Mr. Alfonso has voting power, and 958 restricted shares that generally vest in May 2018, but as to which he has voting power. |
(11) | Includes 4,000 shares that may be acquired upon exercise of options, 1,870 restricted shares that generally vest in May 2017, but as to which Mr. Anderson has voting power, and 958 restricted shares that generally vest in May 2018, but as to which he has voting power. |
(12) | Includes 1,870 restricted shares that generally vest in May 2017, but as to which Mr. Begemann has voting power, and 958 restricted shares that generally vest in May 2018, but as to which he has voting power. |
(13) | Includes 1,870 restricted shares that generally vest in May 2017, but as to which Mr. Connors has voting power, and 958 restricted shares that generally vest in May 2018, but as to which he has voting power. |
(14) | Includes 4,000 shares that may be acquired upon exercise of options, 1,870 restricted shares that generally vest in May 2017, but as to which Mr. Demeritt has voting power, and 958 restricted shares that generally vest in May 2018, but as to which he has voting power. |
(15) | Includes 8,000 shares that may be acquired upon exercise of options, 1,870 restricted shares that generally vest in May 2017, but as to which Mr. Hernandez has voting power, and 958 restricted shares that generally vest in May 2018, but as to which he has voting power. |
(16) | Includes 1,870 restricted shares that generally vest in May 2017, but as to which Ms. Holder has voting power, and 958 restricted shares that generally vest in May 2018, but as to which she has voting power. |
(17) | Includes 4,000 shares that may be acquired upon exercise of options, 1,870 restricted shares that generally vest in May 2017, but as to which Ms. Hornbaker has voting power, and 958 restricted shares that generally vest in May 2018, but as to which she has voting power. |
(18) | Includes 8,000 shares that may be acquired upon exercise of options, 1,870 restricted shares that generally vest in May 2017, but as to which Mr. Kling has voting power, and 958 restricted shares that generally vest in May 2018, but as to which he has voting power. |
(19) | Includes 158 restricted shares which vested in February 2017 and 997 restricted shares that generally vest in May 2017, but as to which Mr. OBrien has voting power. |
(20) | Includes 8,000 shares that may be acquired upon exercise of options, 1,870 restricted shares that generally vest in May 2017, but as to which Mr. Raisbeck has voting power, and 958 restricted shares that generally vest in May 2018, but as to which he has voting power. |
(21) | Includes a total of 987,854 shares that may be acquired upon exercise of options exercisable on or before March 1, 2017 and 29,435 restricted shares as to which directors had voting power but no investment power. Also includes 50,798 shares owned by the Foundation, of which shares two executive officers each may have been deemed a beneficial owner by virtue of shared voting and investment power as a director of the Foundation, but as to which they have no pecuniary interest. |
6
Executive and Director Stock Ownership Expectations; No Hedging or Pledging of Company Stock
Eastman has stock ownership expectations for its directors and executive officers. Non-employee directors are expected to acquire and maintain a stake in the Company valued at $250,000 (five times the portion of the annual retainer fee designated as service retainer), the Chief Executive Officer is expected to acquire and maintain a stake in the Company valued at five times annual base salary, and our other executive officers are expected to acquire and maintain a stake in the Company valued at two and one-half times annual base salary. Directors and executive officers are expected to attain these levels of stock ownership within five years of first becoming a director or an executive officer. Hypothetical units of Eastman common stock (common stock units) that are credited to an executives account under the Eastman Executive Deferred Compensation Plan (the EDCP) or a directors account under the Directors Deferred Compensation Plan (the DDCP) are counted with shares of common stock actually owned to determine stock ownership under the director and executive ownership expectations. See Director Compensation table note (4) and Executive Compensation Compensation Tables 2016 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation later in this proxy statement.
Company directors and executive officers are prohibited from use of derivative financial instruments to hedge or mitigate their exposure to changes in the market price of Eastman common stock, and are prohibited from pledging Eastman common stock as security or collateral for loans or in margin brokerage accounts.
The table below shows the number of shares of common stock and EDCP and DDCP common stock units owned as of December 31, 2016 by each director and each named executive officer. All directors and executive officers have met or are on schedule to meet their ownership expectations.
Name |
Number of Shares of Common Stock and Common Stock Units Owned | |
Mark J. Costa |
162,823 | |
Ronald C. Lindsay |
104,728 | |
Curtis E. Espeland |
78,414 | |
Brad A. Lich |
21,425 | |
David A. Golden |
13,338 | |
Stephen G. Crawford |
10,743 | |
Humberto P. Alfonso |
20,754 | |
Gary E. Anderson |
29,123 | |
Brett D. Begemann |
20,634 | |
Michael P. Connors |
36,822 | |
Stephen R. Demeritt |
54,051 | |
Robert M. Hernandez |
61,764 | |
Julie F. Holder |
9,944 | |
Renée J. Hornbaker |
43,825 | |
Lewis M. Kling |
36,013 | |
James J. OBrien |
2,975 | |
David W. Raisbeck |
55,068 |
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The following table sets forth information about persons we know to be the beneficial owners of more than five percent of Eastman common stock as of December 31, 2016.
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner |
Number of Shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned |
Percent of Class(1) | ||
The Vanguard Group, Inc. |
13,530,005(2) | 9.27% | ||
100 Vanguard Boulevard Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355 |
||||
BlackRock, Inc. |
10,109,956(3) | 6.93% | ||
55 East 52nd Street New York, New York 10055 |
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J. P. Morgan Chase & Co. |
9,460,072(4) | 6.48% | ||
270 Park Avenue New York, New York 10017 |
(1) | Based upon the number of shares of common stock outstanding and entitled to be voted at the meeting as of March 15, 2017, the record date for the Annual Meeting. |
(2) | As of December 31, 2016, based on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC by The Vanguard Group, Inc., an investment adviser. According to the Schedule 13G, The Vanguard Group has sole investment power with respect to 13,275,308 of such shares, shared investment power with respect to 254,697 of such shares, sole voting power with respect to 233,381 of such shares, and shared voting power with respect to 26,294 of such shares. |
(3) | As of December 31, 2016, based on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC by BlackRock, Inc. as parent holding company of certain broker-dealer and investment adviser entities, including certain non-U.S. institutions. According to the Schedule 13G, BlackRock, Inc. and such affiliated entities together have sole investment power with respect to all of such shares and sole voting power with respect to 8,693,742 of such shares. |
(4) | As of December 30, 2016, based on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC by J. P. Morgan Chase & Co., a parent holding company of certain broker-dealer and investment advisor entities, including certain non-U.S. institutions. According to the Schedule 13G, J. P. Morgan Chase and Co. and such affiliated entities together have sole investment power with respect to 9,354,844 of such shares, shared investment power with respect to 98,916 of such shares, sole voting power with respect to 7,854,898 of such shares, and shared voting power with respect to 5,136 of such shares. |
8
PROPOSALS TO BE VOTED ON AT THE ANNUAL MEETING
ITEM 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Stockholders are being asked to vote on the election of twelve directors to serve until the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and their successors are duly elected and qualified. The terms of office of all twelve current directors will expire at the 2017 Annual Meeting, and each of those directors has been nominated for reelection for a one-year term. If any nominee is unable or unwilling to serve (which we do not anticipate), the persons designated as proxies will vote your shares for the remaining nominees and for another nominee proposed by the Board or, as an alternative, the Board could reduce the number of directors to be elected at the Annual Meeting.
Majority Vote Standard for Election of Directors. The Companys Bylaws provide that directors are elected by a majority of votes cast by stockholders. If a nominee who is serving as a director is not reelected by a majority of votes cast at a meeting, under Delaware law the director would continue to serve on the Board as a holdover director. However, under the director election provision of our Bylaws, any incumbent director who is a holdover director whose successor has not been elected by stockholders would be required to offer to resign from the Board. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee would then make a recommendation to the Board whether to accept or reject the resignation, or whether other action should be taken. The Board would act on the recommendation and publicly disclose its decision and rationale within 90 days from the date the election results are certified. The director who tenders his or her resignation would not participate in the Boards decision. If a nominee who was not already serving as a director was not elected by a majority of votes cast by stockholders at an annual meeting, under Delaware law that nominee would not become a director and would not serve on the Board as a holdover director.
Set forth below is information about each director nominated for election.
The nominees have been recommended to the Board by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board. The Board recommends that you vote FOR the election of each of the twelve nominees identified below.
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(For One-Year Term Expiring Annual Meeting 2018)
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HUMBERTO P. ALFONSO (director since January 2011)
Mr. Alfonso became Chief Executive Officer, Global, of Yowie Group Ltd. in June 2016. Yowie Group Ltd. is a global brand licensing company specializing in the development of consumer products designed to promote learning, understanding, and engagement with the natural world through the adventures and exploits of Yowie characters. Mr. Alfonso was President, International, of The Hershey Company, the largest producer of quality chocolate in North America and a global leader in chocolate and sugar confectionery, from April 2013 until his retirement in June 2015. He was Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Administrative Officer from November 2011 to April 2013, and Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from July 2007 to November 2011. He joined Hershey in July 2006, initially serving as Vice President, Finance and Planning, U.S. Commercial Group from July 2006 to October 2006, and then serving as Vice President, Finance and Planning, North American Commercial Group from October 2006 to July 2007. Before joining Hershey, Mr. Alfonso held a variety of finance positions at Cadbury Schweppes, a producer of soft drinks and premium beverages, most recently serving as Executive Vice President Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages from March 2005 to July 2006 and Vice President Finance, Global Supply Chain from May 2003 to March 2005. Prior to that, Mr. Alfonso held a number of senior financial positions at Pfizer, Inc. Mr. Alfonso is 59.
In addition to serving on the Board, Mr. Alfonso is Chair of the Audit Committee and a member of the Finance Committee and the Health, Safety, Environmental and Security Committee. Mr. Alfonso possesses a strong financial management and accounting background, as evidenced by the various senior financial positions held during his career, including his service as an executive vice president and chief financial officer, which provide a solid platform for his service on the Audit Committee, especially concerning financial and audit-related matters and, as Chair of the Audit Committee, to lead the Audit Committees oversight of the Companys financial reporting process and its internal and disclosure controls and of the work of the independent registered public accounting firm. In addition, Mr. Alfonsos substantial senior level management experience, including his current position as a chief executive officer, brings significant operational insight to the Board. |
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GARY E. ANDERSON (director since August 2007)
Mr. Anderson is retired Chairman of the Board of the Dow Corning Corporation. He joined Dow Corning, a diversified company specializing in the development, manufacture, and marketing of silicones and related silicone-based products, in 1967 and served in various executive capacities for over 25 years, including Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer, retiring as Chairman in 2005. Mr. Anderson is also a member of the Board of Directors of Chemical Financial Corporation. Mr. Anderson is 71.
In addition to serving as a member of the Board, Mr. Anderson served as the Lead Director from January 2011 until May 2013, and currently serves as a member of the Audit Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Health, Safety, Environmental and Security Committee. Mr. Anderson offers the Company deep operational knowledge and experience in the chemical industry, providing a valuable, industry-focused skill set to Eastman. Mr. Anderson also brings significant experience serving on other public company boards, including as a chairman of the board, which allows us to benefit from his insight into process and procedural oversight and appropriate levels of interaction between the Board and management. Further, Mr. Andersons professional experience has resulted in him having significant financial acumen and an understanding of risk and capital-related matters that are critical to our success and which are important in his participation on the Audit Committee and the Finance Committee. |
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BRETT D. BEGEMANN (director since February 2011)
Mr. Begemann has been President and Chief Operating Officer of Monsanto Company, a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality, since October 2013, with responsibility for Monsantos worldwide sales and operations, corporate affairs, and global business organization. He joined Monsanto in 1983, initially serving in the companys sales and marketing organization and later in various senior management and executive positions with increasing responsibility. Most recently Mr. Begemann served as Executive Vice President, Global Commercial from October 2007 to October 2009, as Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer until August 2012, and President and Chief Commercial Officer from August 2012 to October 2013. Mr. Begemann is 56.
In addition to serving on the Board, Mr. Begemann serves as Chair of the Compensation and Management Development Committee and as a member of the Finance Committee, the Health, Safety, Environmental and Security Committee, and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. His substantial and varied experience as an executive of an international, public company, including working closely with the Board of Directors of Monsanto, brings to the Board a significant depth of knowledge and experience in global biotechnology and chemicals business operations and international and emerging markets growth strategies, including with respect to management development and compensation. This wide-ranging experience and knowledge contributes to the Board and its Committees significant insight into a number of functional areas critical to Eastman, including as Chair of the Compensation and Management Development Committee. |
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MICHAEL P. CONNORS (director since March 2005)
Mr. Connors has been Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Information Services Group, Inc., an information-based services company, since July 2006. Mr. Connors served as a member of the Executive Board of VNU N.V., a major worldwide media and marketing information company, from the merger of ACNielsen into VNU in 2001 until 2005, and served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of VNU Media Measurement & Information Group and Chairman of VNU World Directories until 2005. He previously was Vice Chairman of the Board of ACNielsen from its spin-off from the Dun & Bradstreet Corporation in 1996 until 2001, was Senior Vice President of American Express Travel Related Services from 1989 until 1995, and before that was a Corporate Vice President of Sprint Corporation. Mr. Connors is also a member of the Board of Directors of Chubb Limited (formerly ACE Ltd.). Mr. Connors is 61.
Mr. Connors brings to the Board substantial corporate management experience in a variety of industries as well as expertise in marketing through his high-level positions at marketing and information-based companies. Mr. Connors skills are enhanced through his experience serving on several public company boards, which furthers his ability to provide valued oversight and guidance to the Company and strategies to inform the Boards general decision-making, including with respect to management development and compensation. For these reasons, Mr. Connors is a member of the Compensation and Management Development Committee, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Health, Safety, Environmental and Security Committee. |
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MARK J. COSTA (director since May 2013)
Mr. Costa has been Chief Executive Officer since January 2014 and Board of Directors Chair since July 2014. Since joining Eastman in 2006, he has held a number of executive positions. He has been instrumental in developing Eastmans growth strategies, and has led Eastmans manufacturing and global supply chain. Mr. Costa has served as Executive Vice President of the Polymers Group, Executive Vice President, Specialty Polymers, Coatings, and Adhesives, and Executive Vice President, Additives & Functional Products and Advanced Materials. In addition, he served as Chief Marketing Officer and had responsibility for the companys corporate innovation organization. He was appointed President in May 2013 and served in that position until he became Chief Executive Officer. Before joining Eastman, Mr. Costa was a senior partner with Monitor Group, a global management consulting firm. He played a crucial role in developing Monitors techniques in corporate transformations and portfolio management and designing client business and marketing capability building programs. Mr. Costa is 51.
Since he joined the Company, Mr. Costa has led a variety of business, marketing, functional, and strategic areas and initiatives, currently serving as Chief Executive Officer, and has senior management, corporate transformation and portfolio management, and business and marketing capability experience and expertise from both his years with the Company and previously as a consultant. As a result, he is appropriately and uniquely able to advise the Board on the opportunities and challenges of managing the Company and its strategy for value creating growth, as well as its day-to-day operations and risks. We believe the perspective of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company is critical for the Board in order for it effectively to oversee the affairs of the Company and its strategy for growth. Through serving a number of executive positions at Eastman and being instrumental in developing Eastmans growth strategies for its businesses, Mr. Costas unique knowledge of the opportunities and challenges associated with our business and familiarity with the Company, as well as of the chemical industry and various market participants, also make him uniquely qualified to lead and advise the Board as Chair. See The Board of Directors and Corporate Governance Board Leadership Structure. |
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STEPHEN R. DEMERITT (director since February 2003)
Mr. Demeritt served as Vice Chairman of General Mills, Inc. from 1999 until his retirement in 2005. General Mills is a leading producer of packaged consumer foods. He joined General Mills in 1969 and served in a variety of marketing positions, including President, International Foods from 1991 to 1993 and Chief Executive Officer of Cereal Partners Worldwide, General Mills global cereal joint venture with Nestle, from 1993 to 1999. Mr. Demeritt is 73.
In addition to serving as a member of the Board, Mr. Demeritt served as the Lead Director from May 2013 to May 2015, and currently serves as a member of the Audit Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Health, Safety, Environmental and Security Committee. He provides to the Board a significant base of marketing and operational expertise through his professional experience at consumer-products companies with significant marketing capabilities and operations, and he also furthers the Boards knowledge base in corporate and product branding. Mr. Demeritts experience serving on the board of directors of a large public company allows us to leverage his experiences with respect to, among other things, appropriate oversight and related actions utilized in the board environment. |
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ROBERT M. HERNANDEZ (director since August 2002)
Mr. Hernandez was Vice Chairman of the Board and Chief Financial Officer of USX Corporation, an integrated oil and gas and steel producer, from 1994 until his retirement in 2001. He joined U.S. Steel Corporation, the predecessor of USX, in 1968, and held positions of increasing responsibility in the financial and operating organizations, including Vice President and Treasurer from 1984 to 1987, Senior Vice President and Controller from 1987 to 1989, President, U.S. Diversified Group from 1989 to 1990, Senior Vice President, Finance from 1990 to 1991, and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from 1991 to 1994. Mr. Hernandez is Lead Director of Chubb Limited (formerly ACE Ltd.) and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of BlackRock Open-End Long Term Bond & Equity Funds. He was non-executive Chairman of the Board of RTI International Metals, Inc. from 1990 until 2015 and a member of the Board of Directors of USX from 1991 until 2001, and was also a member of the Board of Directors of Tyco Electronics Ltd. during the last five years. Mr. Hernandez is 72.
Mr. Hernandez brings a diverse financial and business management background to the Board and to his responsibilities as Lead Director. In addition, Mr. Hernandez also serves as a member of the Compensation and Management Development Committee, the Health, Safety, Environmental and Security Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. He has held a variety of senior management positions throughout his career in a company producing basic materials and commodity-type products. This history and experience is critical to the Boards knowledge base in a variety of areas. Mr. Hernandez has also served as a member of several boards of directors, which allows him to leverage his experience as Lead Director for the further benefit of the Company. |
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JULIE F. HOLDER (director since November 2011)
Ms. Holder has been the Chief Executive Officer of JFH Insights LLC, a consulting firm primarily dedicated to leadership coaching for high potential women executives, since founding the company in 2009. Previously, Ms. Holder served as Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing, Sales and Reputation Officer, U.S. Area Executive Oversight of The Dow Chemical Company, a diversified, worldwide manufacturer and supplier of products used primarily as raw materials in the manufacture of customer products and services, from 2007 until her retirement in 2009, and before that was Vice President, Human Resources, Public Affairs and Diversity and Inclusion of Dow from 2006. Prior to that, Ms. Holder served in various positions with increasing seniority at Dow from 1975 to 2006. Ms. Holder is also a member of the Board of Directors of W.R. Grace & Co., as leading global supplier of catalysts and engineered materials. Ms. Holder is 64.
In addition to serving on the Board, Ms. Holder is Chair of the Health, Safety, Environmental and Security Committee and is a member of the Compensation and Management Development Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Ms. Holder brings to the Board substantial corporate management experience as well as expertise in international sales and marketing and the chemicals industry through her various senior management positions at Dow. Ms. Holders long history at Dow provides her substantial chemical industry experience across a broad range of functional areas and allows her to offer management and operational insight to the Board with an in-depth understanding of the opportunities and challenges associated with our business, including as Chair of the Health, Safety, Environmental and Security Committee. In addition, Ms. Holders experience in human resources management adds to the Compensation and Management Development Committees oversight of and decisions concerning management development and compensation and her professional background of overseeing increasingly large and diverse business units results in her having the financial sophistication and understanding of a company similar to Eastman which is of great benefit to the Board and the Finance Committee. |
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RENÉE J. HORNBAKER (director since September 2003)
Ms. Hornbaker is Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of Stream Energy, a retail energy provider operating in Texas, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Jersey. Ms. Hornbaker served as Chief Financial Officer of Shared Technologies, Inc., a provider of converged voice and data networking solutions, from 2006 to May 2011, and was Consultant to the Chief Executive Officer of CompuCom Systems, Inc., an information technology services provider, from 2005 to 2006. She was Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Flowserve Corporation, a global provider of industrial flow management products and services, from 1997 until 2004, and served as Vice President of Business Development and Chief Information Officer from 1997 to 1998. In 1977, Ms. Hornbaker joined the accounting firm Deloitte, Haskins & Sells, where she became a senior manager of its audit practice in the firms Chicago office. Following that, she served in senior financial positions with several major companies from 1986 until 1996, including five years at Phelps Dodge Corporation where she had financial responsibilities for its international businesses including Columbian Chemicals Corporation. Ms. Hornbaker is also a member of the Boards of Directors of Tri Global Energy, LLC, a private clean energy development company and of The Freeman Company, a family and employee-owned company which produces expositions, conventions, trade shows, and other corporate events and exhibits. Ms. Hornbaker is 64.
Ms. Hornbakers expertise in a variety of financial and accounting matters, experience in business development, strategy and technology, and service with large global businesses makes her a valuable member of the Board, and enhances the value of her service as a member of the Audit Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Health, Safety, Environmental and Security Committee. Ms. Hornbakers significant experience in several senior financial positions at various companies, including her past and current service as a chief financial officer and her previous service as a senior manager at an accounting firm, provides a solid platform for her to advise and consult with the Board on financial and audit-related matters. |
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LEWIS M. KLING (director since October 2006)
Mr. Kling served as President, Chief Executive Officer, and a director of Flowserve Corporation, a global provider of industrial flow management products and services, from 2005 until October 2009, and was Executive Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Flowserve until his retirement in February 2010. He was Chief Operating Officer of Flowserve from 2004 to 2005. Before joining Flowserve, Mr. Kling was Group Vice President and Corporate Vice President of SPX Corporation from 1999 to 2004, and served as President of Dielectric Communications, a division of General Signal Corporation, purchased by SPX Corporation, from 1997 to 1999. Mr. Kling also is a member of the Board of Directors of Alclear, LLC, a private company doing business as CLEAR, which provides a secure identity platform for faster entry at airports and other venues, and was a member of the Board of Directors of Accuride Corporation during the last five years. Mr. Kling is 72.
In addition to his Board service, Mr. Kling also serves as Chair of the Finance Committee and as a member of the Compensation and Management Development Committee, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, and the Health, Safety, Environmental and Security Committee. Mr. Klings extensive corporate management experience and expertise in manufacturing through his high-level positions at several industrial product companies, including as CEO of a global manufacturer and aftermarket service provider of flow control systems to oil and gas, basic materials, and chemical manufacturing companies, allow him to offer a unique perspective on long-term growth strategies for manufacturing companies. In addition, his significant experience on various committees of Eastmans Board, and his prior and current directorships, provide Mr. Kling with the background and knowledge to effectively lead the Finance Committee. |
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JAMES J. OBRIEN (director since February 2016)
Mr. OBrien served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Ashland Inc., a leading global specialty chemical company, from 2002 until his retirement in December 2014, and previously served as President and Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President and Group Operating Officer from 2001 to 2002. He joined Ashland (then known as Ashland Chemical Company) in 1976, and after serving in various positions, became President of the Valvoline business in 1995. Mr. OBrien is also a member of the Boards of Directors of Albemarle Corporation and Humana Inc., and was during the last five years a member of the Board of Directors of WESCO International, Inc. Mr. OBrien is 62.
In addition to serving as a member of the Board, Mr. OBrien serves on the Finance Committee and the Health, Safety, Environmental and Security Committee. Mr. OBrien brings to the Board extensive knowledge of the chemical industry and substantial experience as an executive of an international public company that allow him to offer management insight and understanding of industry challenges to the Board. Under his leadership, Ashland was transformed to a global specialty chemical company. His significant experience serving on other public company boards and management experience and knowledge in the areas of finance, accounting, international business operations, risk oversight and corporate governance provide a solid platform for his service on the Board and the Finance Committee and the Health, Safety, Environmental and Security Committee. |
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DAVID W. RAISBECK (director since December 2000)
Mr. Raisbeck was Vice Chairman of Cargill, Incorporated, an agricultural trading and processing company, from 1999 until his retirement in 2008, and was a director of Cargill until September 2009. He joined Cargill in 1971 and held a variety of merchandising and management positions focused primarily in the commodity and financial trading businesses. Mr. Raisbeck was appointed President of Cargills Financial Markets Division in 1988 and President of Cargills Trading Sector in 1993, was elected a director of Cargill in 1994 and Executive Vice President in 1995. Mr. Raisbeck was a director of CarVal, a distressed asset management company owned by Cargill, and of Black River Asset Management, a hedge fund owned by Cargill, until 2009, and was during the last five years a member of the Boards of Directors of Cardinal Health, Inc., Canadian Pacific Railway Company and Canadian Pacific Railway Limited. Mr. Raisbeck is 67.
Mr. Raisbecks depth of experience in the areas of trading and risks related to commodities and raw materials, which are significant components of our operations and the manufacturing of our products, is a valuable addition to our Board and its Finance Committee. Given his professional experience managing trading businesses and other risk-based, finance-related transactions, we believe Mr. Raisbeck has unique capabilities and insight with respect to the managing of risk exposure and execution of financing transactions. His substantial experience serving on the boards of directors of other companies and his varied corporate management experience allows us to leverage his experiences with respect to, among other things, appropriate oversight and related actions utilized in the board environment, including corporate governance matters as Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, and as a member of the Compensation and Management Development Committee, the Health, Safety, Environmental, and Security Committee, and the Finance Committee. |
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The Board of Directors and Corporate Governance
The Board is elected by the stockholders to oversee management and to assure that the long-term interests of the stockholders are being served. The primary role of the Board is to maximize stockholder value over the long-term. Eastmans business is conducted by its employees, managers, and officers, under the direction of the Chief Executive Officer and with the oversight of the Board. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board periodically reviews and assesses the Companys Corporate Governance Guidelines and governance practices.
The Board held five meetings during 2016. Each director attended at least 75% of the aggregate of the total number of meetings of the Board and the total number of meetings held by all Committees of the Board on which he or she served. The Board meets immediately before each annual meeting of stockholders, and the directors in attendance at such Board meeting attend the annual meeting of stockholders. All directors attended the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
The Chair of the Board provides leadership to the Board and works with the Board to define its structure and activities in the fulfillment of its responsibilities. The Company believes that the members of the Board possess considerable experience and unique knowledge of the challenges and opportunities the Company may face from time to time, and therefore are in the best position to evaluate the needs of the Company and how best to organize the capabilities of our directors and senior executives to meet those needs at any time. As a result, the Company believes that the decision as to who should serve as Chair and as Chief Executive Officer, and whether the offices should be combined or separate, is properly the responsibility of the Board, to be exercised from time to time in appropriate consideration of then-existing facts and circumstances. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines provide the Board the flexibility to determine whether or not the separation or combination of the Chair and Chief Executive Officer offices is in the best interests of the Company.
Upon retirement of the Companys then Executive Chair, effective July 1, 2014 the Board designated Chief Executive Officer and director Mark J. Costa to serve as Chair, having determined that this was the appropriate time for the appointment and the most efficient manner to facilitate effective communication between management and the Board and provide strong and consistent leadership as well as a unified voice for the Company. In addition, the Board believes that currently combining the roles of Chair and Chief Executive Officer helps ensure that the Chief Executive Officer understands and can effectively and efficiently oversee the implementation of the recommendations and decisions of the Board.
In order to give a significant voice to our non-management directors and to reinforce effective, independent leadership on the Board, when the same person holds the Chief Executive Officer and Chair positions or if the Chair is not otherwise independent, the Companys Bylaws and Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that the Company shall have a Lead Director. The Lead Directors responsibilities, which are described in more detail in the Companys Corporate Governance Guidelines, include:
| calling, setting agendas for, and presiding over executive sessions of the non-management directors at each regularly scheduled meeting of the Board, or at such other times as the non-management directors may determine; |
| calling special meetings of the full Board or the non-employee, independent directors; |
| presiding over Board meetings in the absence of the Chair; |
| collaborating and consulting with the Chair and Chief Executive Officer and other senior management concerning and approving or directing the approval of agendas, schedules, and materials for Board meetings; |
| acting as a liaison between the independent directors and the Chair; and |
| being available with the Chair for consultation and direct communication with stockholders. |
Robert M. Hernandez has served as Lead Director since May 2016.
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We believe that the foregoing structure, policies, and practices, when combined with the Companys other governance policies and procedures, provide appropriate opportunities for oversight, discussion, and evaluation of decisions and direction from the Board.
The Board maintains oversight responsibility for the management of the Companys risks, and oversees an enterprise-wide approach to risk management, designed to provide a holistic view of organizational objectives, including strategic objectives, to improve long-term organizational performance, to prioritize and manage identified risks, and to enhance stockholder value. A fundamental part of risk management is not only understanding the risks the Company faces and what steps management is taking to manage those risks, but also understanding what level of risk is appropriate for the Company. The full Board reviews with management its process for managing enterprise risk. Additionally, the Audit Committee is charged with overseeing our risk assessment and management process each year, including ensuring that management has instituted processes to identify major risks and has developed plans to manage such risks and reviewing with management the identified most significant risks and managements plans for addressing and mitigating the potential effects of such risks. During the Companys risk management review process, risk is assessed throughout our entire business, and is reported to a management corporate risk committee comprised of members of our various business units and control functions. Risks that are identified as high-level risks are reported to the Audit Committee and thereafter assigned, as appropriate, to various of the Boards Committees, or to the Board as a whole, for further review, analysis, and development of appropriate plans for management and mitigation.
While the Board maintains the ultimate oversight responsibility for risk management and responsibility for risk management oversight of certain specific areas, each of the various Committees of the Board have been assigned responsibility for risk management oversight of specific identified areas. In particular, and in addition to its responsibility to conduct an annual assessment of the risk management process and report its findings to the Board, the Audit Committee maintains responsibility for overseeing risks related to the Companys financial reporting, audit process, internal controls over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures, and cyber security and security of Company information. The Finance Committee has oversight responsibility related to the Companys financial position and financing activities, including such areas as capital structure, raw material and energy costs, availability, and price volatility and hedging, large capital projects, pension obligations and funding, and acquisitions, divestitures, and joint ventures. The Health, Safety, Environmental and Security Committee assists the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibility with respect to health, safety, environmental, security, and sustainability issues that affect the Company and works closely with the Companys legal and regulatory management with respect to such matters. In addition, in setting compensation, the Compensation and Management Development Committee endeavors to develop a program of incentives that encourage an appropriate level of risk-taking behavior consistent with the Companys long-term business strategy and also reviews the leadership development of our employees. Finally, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee conducts an annual assessment of nominees to our Board and is charged with developing and recommending to the Board corporate governance principles and policies and Board Committees structure, leadership, and membership, including those related to, affecting, or concerning the Boards and its Committees risk oversight.
The Board and its Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee have reviewed the standards of independence for directors established by applicable laws and regulations, including the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange, and by the Companys Corporate Governance Guidelines and have reviewed and evaluated the relationships of directors with the Company and its management. Based upon this review and evaluation, the Board has determined that none of the non-employee members of the Board (that is, all directors but Mr. Costa) has or had a relationship with the Company or its management that would interfere with such directors exercise of independent judgment, and that each non-employee member of the Board is an independent director.
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In making these determinations, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Board reviewed and evaluated all direct and indirect transactions and relationships between the Company and the non-employee directors and their affiliates and immediate family members. Under the New York Stock Exchange listing standards and Eastmans Corporate Governance Guidelines, an independent director is one who has no direct or indirect material relationship with the Company or its management and who:
| has not been employed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, and who has no immediate family member who has been an executive officer of the Company, within the previous three years; |
| has not received, and whose immediate family member has not received, in any 12-month period within the previous three years, more than $120,000 in direct compensation from the Company, other than director and committee fees and pension or other forms of deferred compensation for prior service, provided such compensation is not contingent in any way on continued service; |
| as to the Companys internal or external auditor, is not, and whose immediate family member is not, a partner; is not employed by; has not been, and whose immediate family member has not been, within the last three years, and is not currently, a partner or employee and personally worked on the Companys audit; |
| is not and has not in the past three years been employed, and whose immediate family member is not and has not in the past three years been employed, as an executive officer of another company where any of the Companys present executives at the same time serve or served on that companys compensation committee; |
| is not an employee of, and whose immediate family member is not an executive officer of, another company that has made payments to, or received payments from, the Company for property or services in an amount that exceeds, in any of the last three years, the greater of $1 million or 2% of such other companys consolidated gross revenues; |
| has no personal services contract with the Company, any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company or any executive officer; |
| does not have any other business relationship with the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates (other than service as a director) that the Company would be required to disclose in proxy statements or in annual reports on Form 10-K filed with the SEC; |
| is not an executive officer of another company that is indebted to the Company or to which the Company is indebted and the total amount of either companys indebtedness to the other is more than 1% of the total consolidated assets of the company that he or she serves as an executive officer; |
| is not an officer, director, or trustee of a charitable organization to which discretionary charitable contributions to the organization by the Company or an affiliate are more than 1% of that organizations total annual charitable receipts or $100,000, whichever is less; and |
| is not a director, executive officer, partner, or greater than 10% equity holder of an entity that provides advisory, consulting, or professional services to the Company, any of its affiliates, or any executive officer. |
Transactions with Directors, Executive Officers, and Related Persons
As described above, at least annually the Board reviews and evaluates all current and recent past transactions involving the Company in which non-employee directors and their affiliates (including immediate family members and other firms, corporations, or entities with which the director has a relationship) have or had a direct or indirect interest. The Board also reviews any such transactions and relationships in which executive officers of the Company or members of their immediate families have or had an interest. Written Company policies require approval by the Board (in the case of the Chief Executive Officer) or senior management (in the case of all other employees) of each Company transaction in which an employee has a direct or indirect financial or other personal interest, and restrict direct or indirect reporting relationships between immediate family member employees.
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In the most recent such review, the Board considered purchases and sales of products and services in the ordinary course of business to and from a company of which a non-employee director is an executive officer and a payment by a third-party to a partnership of which a non-employee director is a partner for professional services to the third-party for which the Company paid fees to the third party. Each such transaction was below the thresholds of the categorical standards listed above and determined by the Board not to be a material transaction or relationship.
The Board also reviewed employment by the Company of children of certain executive officers as interns, and determined that no such executive officer has a material interest in his childs employment relationship or transactions that creates a conflict of interest. The terms of such employment, including compensation and benefits, were in all respects according to standard Company policies and practices for intern employees, and each executives child worked in an organization that was not in the executives line of management and the executive had no direct or indirect reporting relationship with his child.
The Board has an Audit Committee, a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, a Compensation and Management Development Committee, a Finance Committee, and a Health, Safety, Environmental and Security Committee. All committee members are non-employee, independent directors. The written charter of each committee of the Board is available in the Investors Corporate Governance section of the Companys website (www.eastman.com).
Audit Committee. The members of the Audit Committee are Messrs. Alfonso (Chair), Anderson, and Demeritt, and Ms. Hornbaker. The Audit Committee held nine meetings during 2016. The purpose of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board in fulfilling the Boards oversight responsibilities relating to:
| the integrity of the financial statements of the Company and the Companys system of internal controls and disclosure controls and procedures; |
| the Companys management of and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; |
| the independence and performance of the Companys internal auditors; |
| the qualifications, independence, and performance of the Companys independent registered public accounting firm; |
| the retention and termination of the Companys independent registered public accounting firm, including the approval of fees and other terms of their engagement and the approval of non-audit relationships with the independent registered public accounting firm; and |
| risk assessment and risk management. |
The Board of Directors has determined that each member of the Audit Committee is independent and that each of Messrs. Alfonso and Anderson and Ms. Hornbaker is an audit committee financial expert under applicable provisions of the New York Stock Exchanges listing standards and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, the Audit Committee oversees the Companys financial reporting process and its internal control over financial reporting and related disclosure controls and procedures, areas for which management has the primary responsibility. The independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of the Companys audited financial statements with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and for issuing its report on the Companys internal control over financial reporting. All audit and non-audit services provided to the Company by the independent registered public accounting firm are pre-approved by the Audit Committee or by the Chair of the Audit Committee pursuant to delegated authority, and the Committee considers the compatibility of such non-audit services with the accounting firms independence. At the beginning of the year, the Audit Committee reviewed
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and approved all known audit and non-audit services and fees to be provided by and paid to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Companys independent registered public accounting firm. During the year, specific audit and non-audit services or fees not previously approved by the Audit Committee were approved in advance by the Audit Committee or by the Chair of the Audit Committee pursuant to delegated authority.
The Audit Committee evaluates the performance of the independent registered public accounting firm, including the senior audit engagement team, each year and determines whether to reengage the current independent registered public accounting firm or consider other independent registered public accounting firms. In doing so, the Audit Committee considers the quality and efficiency of the services provided by the firm, the firms global capabilities, and the firms technical expertise, tenure as the Companys independent registered public accounting firm, and knowledge of the Companys global operations and industry. Based on this evaluation, the Audit Committee decided to retain PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to serve as independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2017. Although the Audit Committee has the sole authority to appoint the independent registered public accounting firm, the Audit Committee has continued its long-standing practice of recommending that the Board ask stockholders to ratify the appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm at the 2017 Annual Meeting (see Item 5 Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm).
Of the Audit Committees nine meetings during 2016, five were regular in-person meetings that included separate private (or executive) sessions of the Committee with the Companys independent registered public accounting firm and with Company management, including the director of internal audit, the chief legal officer, the chief financial officer, the chief accounting officer, the corporate controller, the vice president of corporate compliance, the chief information officer, and other financial and legal management employees, and among the Committee members themselves. These executive sessions included discussion of specific financial management, legal, accounting, auditing, internal and disclosure controls, corporate compliance, and risk management matters. As part of its oversight of the Companys risk management process, the Committee reviewed and discussed managements risk assessment and risk management program, including individual areas of risk and the overall risk management process. See Risk Oversight earlier in this proxy statement. The Audit Committee also met with the chief legal officer and the vice president of corporate compliance to discuss the effectiveness of the Companys compliance program and received regular corporate compliance program status reports and updates.
Four of the Audit Committees meetings were conference calls to review the Companys planned public disclosures of quarterly financial results. These meetings included review with management and the independent registered public accounting firm of the financial statements and managements discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations disclosures in the Companys annual Form 10-K and quarterly Form 10-Q filings prior to filing with the SEC and of matters relating to the Companys internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures for such filings.
Numerous other informal meetings and communications among the Chair, various Committee members, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, and the director of internal audit and other members of the Companys management also occurred. The agenda for each of the Audit Committees meetings is established by the Audit Committee Chair and the director of internal audit.
Throughout the year, the Committee reviewed with the Companys financial management, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, and the director of internal audit the overall audit scope and plans, the results of internal and external audit examinations, evaluations by management and the independent registered public accounting firm of the Companys internal controls over financial reporting, and the quality of the Companys financial reporting.
Management has reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements and related disclosures in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K with the Audit Committee. This review and discussion included the quality of accounting principles, the reasonableness of the significant accounting judgments and estimates, the clarity of disclosures in and concerning the financial statements, and the internal controls and disclosure controls and procedures that support managements accounting and disclosure judgments and the certifications of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer that the financial statements of the Company fairly present, in all material respects, the financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows of the Company.
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In its meetings with representatives of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Audit Committee asked them to address, and discussed their responses to, questions relevant to the Audit Committees oversight. These discussions included significant accounting judgments or estimates made by management in preparing the financial statements, fair presentation to investors in the financial statements of the Companys financial position and performance in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and SEC disclosure requirements, and implementation of internal controls and internal audit procedures that are appropriate for the Company.
The Committee also discussed with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP the matters required to be discussed by the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the PCAOB). The Committee has received from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP the written disclosures and the letter required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding the independent registered public accounting firms communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and discussed with them their independence from the Company and its management. In addition, the Committee has received written materials addressing PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP internal quality control procedures.
In reliance on these reviews and discussions and the reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Audit Committee has recommended to the Board of Directors, and the Board has approved, that the audited financial statements be included in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 filed with the SEC.
Audit Committee
Humberto P. Alfonso (Chair)
Gary E. Anderson
Stephen R. Demeritt
Renée J. Hornbaker
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are Messrs. Raisbeck (Chair), Begemann, Connors, Hernandez and Kling and Ms. Holder. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee held five meetings during 2016. The purpose of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is to:
| identify individuals qualified to become Board members; |
| recommend to the Board candidates to fill Board vacancies and newly-created director positions; |
| recommend to the Board whether incumbent directors should be nominated for reelection to the Board upon the expiration of their terms; |
| review, develop, and recommend corporate governance principles and practices, and regularly review and evaluate corporate governance trends and developments; |
| review and make recommendations to the Board regarding director compensation (see Director Compensation); and |
| recommend committee structures, membership, and chairs and, if the Chairman is not an independent director, the independent director to serve as Lead Director. |
The Board of Directors has determined that each member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is independent under applicable provisions of the New York Stock Exchanges listing standards.
Director Nominations. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for reviewing and recommending to the Board potential directors who possess the skills, knowledge, and understanding necessary to be valued members of the Board in order to assist it in successfully performing its role in corporate oversight and governance. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers not only an individual directors or possible nominees qualities, performance, and professional responsibilities, but also the then-current composition of the Board and the challenges and needs of the Board as a whole in an effort to ensure that the Board, at any time, is comprised of a diverse group of members who, individually and collectively, best serve the needs of the Company and its stockholders. In general, and in giving due
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consideration to the composition of the Board at that time, the desired attributes of individual directors, including those of any nominees of stockholders, are as follows:
| integrity and demonstrated high ethical standards; |
| experience with business administration processes and principles; |
| the ability to express opinions, raise difficult questions, and make informed, independent judgments; |
| knowledge, experience, and skills in at least one specialty area, for example: |
| accounting or finance, |
| corporate management, |
| marketing, |
| manufacturing, |
| technology, |
| information systems, |
| the chemical industry, |
| international business, or |
| legal or governmental affairs; |
| the ability to devote sufficient time to prepare for and attend Board meetings (it is assumed that service on up to three other boards of directors will not impair a directors service on the Companys Board; the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee reviews instances in which a director serves on more than three other for-profit companies boards of directors); |
| willingness and ability to work with other members of the Board in an open and constructive manner; |
| the ability to communicate clearly and persuasively; and |
| diversity with respect to other characteristics, which may include, at any time, gender, ethnic background, geographic origin, or personal, educational and professional experience. |
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider persons nominated by stockholders and recommend to the full Board whether such nominee should be included with the Boards nominees for election by stockholders. Our Bylaws contain provisions that address the process (including the required information and deadlines) by which a stockholder or group of stockholders may nominate an individual for consideration by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to stand for election at an annual meeting of stockholders. In addition, the proxy access provision in our Bylaws provides that, under certain circumstances, a stockholder, or a group of up to 20 stockholders, owning 3% or more of our outstanding common stock continuously for at least the previous three years may nominate and include director nominees constituting up to 20% of the number of directors then serving on the Board in the Companys proxy materials, provided that such stockholder(s) and nominee(s) satisfy the disclosure and other requirements set forth in our Bylaws. In order to use this proxy access Bylaw provision, stockholders are required to hold shares until the date of the applicable annual meeting. For additional information on how stockholders may submit nominees for election to the Board, see Information About the Meeting and Voting Nominations by Stockholders for Election to the Board of Directors and Stockholder Nomination Proxy Access.
The Board and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee have from time to time utilized the services of director search firms to assist in the identification of qualified potential director nominees.
Compensation and Management Development Committee. The members of the Compensation and Management Development Committee (the Compensation Committee) are Messrs. Begemann (Chair), Connors, Hernandez, Kling, and Raisbeck and Ms. Holder. The Compensation Committee held six meetings
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during 2016. The purpose of the Compensation Committee is to establish and administer the Companys policies, programs, and procedures for evaluating, developing, and compensating the Companys senior management. Among other responsibilities included in its charter, the Compensation Committee oversees the Companys compensation and benefits philosophy and strategy, including risk assessment of compensation programs and practices, determines the compensation of the Companys executive officers, reviews managements executive compensation disclosures, approves adoption of cash and equity-based incentive management compensation plans, and oversees managements administration of the Companys benefits plans. The Compensation Committee has exclusive authority to grant stock-based incentive awards under the 2012 Omnibus Stock Compensation Plan (and the 2017 Omnibus Stock Compensation Plan if approved by stockholders at the 2017 Annual Meeting) and has delegated to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer authority to make certain limited stock-based compensation awards to employees other than executive officers. The Compensation Committee receives input from Company management on compensation and benefits matters, and considers such input in establishing and overseeing managements compensation programs and in determining executive compensation. For additional description of the Committees processes and procedures for consideration and determination of executive compensation, including the role of management in recommending compensation, see the Compensation Discussion and Analysis later in this proxy statement.
The Board of Directors has determined that each member of the Compensation Committee is independent under applicable provisions of the New York Stock Exchanges listing standards.
Compensation Consultant. The Compensation Committee has directly engaged Aon Hewitt as its external compensation consultant. Aon Hewitt reports to, and receives its direction from, the Compensation Committee, and a representative of Aon Hewitt attends each meeting of the Compensation Committee as its advisor. Aon Hewitt provides the Compensation Committee with third-party survey information used in setting short- and long-term compensation levels, perspective on emerging compensation issues and trends, and expertise in incentive compensation structure, terms, and design. See Executive Compensation Compensation Discussion and Analysis. Aon Hewitt also provides such services to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee for its recommendations to the Board regarding non-employee director compensation. See Director Compensation. Any other services provided by Aon Hewitt and its affiliates to Eastman are approved by the Compensation Committee. Aon Hewitt and affiliates provided services to the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee for total fees in 2016 of $240,512 and provided international pension consulting, retirement benefits consulting, and insurance brokerage services to the Company for total fees in 2016 of $440,716. Company management also uses the services of several other outside firms for compensation analysis, third-party surveys, and management pay research and analysis. None of these other firms provide any consulting services to the Compensation Committee or to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.
In reviewing Aon Hewitts performance in 2016 and considering its continued engagement for 2017, the Compensation Committee evaluated Aon Hewitts independence from Company management and any conflicts of interest in accordance with applicable New York Stock Exchange listing requirements. The Compensation Committee considered Aon Hewitts provision of other services to the Company, the fees paid by the Company to Aon Hewitt as a percentage of the firms total revenue, Aon Hewitts policies and procedures to prevent conflicts of interest, and the confirmation by Aon Hewitt that it and its representatives have no business or personal relationship with any member of the Compensation Committee, do not own any stock of the Company, and have no business or personal relationship with any executive officer of the Company. The Compensation Committee concluded that Aon Hewitt is independent of the Committee and of Company management and has no conflicts of interest in its performance of services to the Committee.
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The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis which appears later in this proxy statement. Based on this review and discussion, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 filed with the SEC and in this proxy statement.
Compensation and Management Development Committee
Brett D. Begemann (Chair)
Michael P. Connors
Robert M. Hernandez
Julie F. Holder
Lewis M. Kling
David W. Raisbeck
Finance Committee. All of the directors except Mr. Costa are members, and Mr. Kling is the Chair, of the Finance Committee. The Finance Committee held four meetings during 2016. The purpose of the Finance Committee is to review with management and, where appropriate, make recommendations to the Board regarding the Companys financial position and financing activities, including consideration of the Companys financing plans, cost of capital, significant corporate transactions (including acquisitions, divestitures, and joint ventures), capital expenditures, financial status of the Companys defined benefit pension plans, payment of dividends, issuance and repurchase of stock, and use of financial instruments, commodity purchasing, insurance, and other hedging arrangements and strategies to manage exposure to financial and market risks.
Health, Safety, Environmental and Security Committee. All of the directors except Mr. Costa are members, and Ms. Holder is the Chair, of the Health, Safety, Environmental and Security Committee. The Health, Safety, Environmental and Security Committee held two meetings during 2016. The purpose of the Health, Safety, Environmental and Security Committee is to review with management and, where appropriate, make recommendations to the Board regarding the Companys policies and practices concerning health, safety, environmental, security, sustainability, and political activities matters.
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Director compensation is determined by the Board of Directors based upon the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Committees compensation consultant. The Board uses a combination of cash and stock-based incentive compensation to attract and retain qualified candidates to serve as directors. In setting the compensation of non-employee directors, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Board consider the significant amount of time that the Board and its Committees are expected to expend, the skills, knowledge, and understanding needed for service on the Board, and the types and amounts of director pay of other similar public companies (including the compensation peer comparison companies listed under Executive Compensation Compensation Discussion and Analysis Review of 2016 Executive Compensation). The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Board annually review non-employee director compensation, and the Board, upon the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, has from time to time changed the amounts and forms of director pay (including in 2016 the increases in annual director and Committee Chair retainers, the increased annual restricted stock award, and addition of elective deferral of the annual restricted stock award, described below).
The following table provides information concerning compensation paid to the Companys non-employee directors for 2016. Directors who are also employees of the Company (Mr. Costa) receive no additional compensation for their service as directors.
Director Compensation for Year Ended December 31, 2016
Name |
Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($)(1) |
Stock Awards ($)(2) |
Option Awards ($)(3) |
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($) |
Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings ($)(4) |
All Other Compensation ($)(5) |
Total($) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Humberto P. Alfonso |
$127,000 | $75,064 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $60,000 | $262,064 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Gary E. Anderson |
103,000 | 75,064 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60,000 | 238,064 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Brett D. Begemann |
117,000 | 75,064 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60,000 | 252,064 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Michael P. Connors |
100,000 | 75,064 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60,000 | 235,064 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Stephen R. Demeritt |
121,500 | 75,064 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60,000 | 256,564 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Robert M. Hernandez |
134,167 | 75,064 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60,000 | 269,231 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Julie F. Holder |
111,000 | 75,064 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60,000 | 246,064 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Renée J. Hornbaker |
106,000 | 75,064 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60,000 | 241,064 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Lewis M. Kling |
112,000 | 75,064 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60,000 | 247,064 | |||||||||||||||||||||
James J. OBrien(6) |
94,667 | 85,091 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 55,000 | 234,758 | |||||||||||||||||||||
David W. Raisbeck |
115,500 | 75,064 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60,000 | 250,564 |
1) | Compensation in this column consists of director retainer fees and, where applicable, Lead Director or Committee Chair retainer fees. This column also includes compensation paid on an event basis for significant time spent outside Board or Committee meetings for director training, interviewing director candidates, meeting with Company management, meeting with external auditors, or other meetings or activities as directed by the Board or one of its Committees. Cash fees for 2016 were paid according to the following schedule: |
Director Retainers (Service and Meeting Retainers) |
$ | 100,000 | ||
Event Fee (Per Event) |
1,500 | |||
Lead Director Retainer |
40,000 | |||
Chair Retainer Audit Committee |
21,000 | |||
Chair Retainer Compensation and Management Development Committee |
17,000 | |||
Chair Retainer Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee |
14,000 | |||
Chair Retainer Finance Committee |
12,000 | |||
Chair Retainer Health, Safety, Environmental and Security Committee |
12,000 |
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Cash retainers and event fees are paid in two semi-annual payments. Event fees were paid in 2016 to Mr. Alfonso ($6,000), Mr. Anderson ($3,000), Mr. Demeritt ($1,500), Mr. Hernandez ($1,500), Ms. Holder ($3,000), Ms. Hornbaker ($6,000), Mr. OBrien ($3,000), and Mr. Raisbeck ($1,500). |
In 2017, the annual director retainer fee will increase to $105,000, the Audit Committee Chair retainer will increase to $23,000, the Compensation and Management Development Committee Chair retainer will increase to $20,000, and the retainers to the Finance Committee Chair, to the Health, Safety, Environmental and Security Committee Chair, and to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Chair will increase to $15,000. |
2) | Grant date fair value, computed in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 718 (Stock Compensation), of (i) annual award of restricted shares of common stock (restricted shares) to each non-employee director having a fair market value equal to $75,000 (with the number of restricted shares awarded rounded up in the case of fractional shares) made on the date of the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders under the Director Stock Compensation Subplan of the 2012 Omnibus Stock Compensation Plan (the DSCS) and (ii) one-time award of restricted shares to Mr. OBrien upon election as a director under the DSCS having a fair value equal to $10,000 (with the number of restricted shares awarded rounded up in the case of fractional shares). See note 18 to the Companys consolidated financial statements in the Annual Report to Stockholders for 2016, mailed and delivered electronically with this proxy statement, for a description of the assumptions made in the valuation of stock awards under FASB ASC Topic 718. The value of the annual restricted stock award to non-employee directors will increase to $85,000 in 2017. |
The restricted shares are not transferable (except by will or the laws of descent and distribution or as described below) and are subject to forfeiture until the earliest of (i) the third anniversary of the award date for restricted shares awarded prior to 2016 and the first anniversary of the award date for restricted shares awarded in or after 2016 (provided the grantee is still a director), (ii) death, disability, or resignation due to attaining retirement age or another approved reason during the restricted period, or (iii) departure from the Board at the end of the term of service to which elected. During the restricted period, the director has all of the rights of a stockholder with respect to the restricted shares (other than the right to transfer the shares), including voting and dividend rights. The DSCS contains provisions regarding the treatment of restricted shares in the event of a change in control (as defined in the DSCS, generally circumstances in which the Company is acquired by another entity or its controlling ownership is changed). In such event, all outstanding restricted shares would immediately vest and become transferable, and would be valued and cashed out on the basis of the change in control price as soon as practicable, but in no event more than 90 days after the change in control. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has the discretion, even if a change in control event will occur, to determine that immediate vesting of restricted shares under the DSCS should not occur for that event and that the restricted shares will not become fully vested when that event occurs. |
Mr. OBrien held 1,155 restricted shares, and each other non-employee director held 2,828 restricted shares, at December 31, 2016. |
3) | No stock options were granted in 2016. The aggregate number of outstanding stock options held by individual non-employee directors at December 31, 2016 was: Mr. Anderson (4,000), Mr. Demeritt (4,000), Mr. Hernandez (8,000), Ms. Hornbaker (4,000), Mr. Kling (8,000), and Mr. Raisbeck (8,000). |
4) | The Directors Deferred Compensation Plan is an unfunded, non-qualified, deferred compensation plan under which non-employee directors of the Company may elect to defer compensation received as a director until such time as they cease to serve as a director. Non-employee directors may make an annual advance irrevocable election to defer compensation for services to be rendered the following year. Compensation that may be deferred is (i) all or a portion of cash compensation for service as a director, including retainer and event fees and (ii) beginning with the 2017 annual restricted stock award, the annual restricted stock award for service as a director. If a director elects to defer the annual restricted stock award, it is converted upon the scheduled vesting in the year after the award to a cash equivalent amount that is initially deferred into the phantom stock account of the DDCP. In addition, as described in note |
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(5) below, each non-employee director receives a non-elective annual deferral of $60,000 that is initially deferred into the directors Eastman phantom stock account of the DDCP. Directors may elect to credit their deferred compensation accounts in the DDCP to individual hypothetical investment alternatives, including an Eastman phantom stock fund. Upon termination of service as a director, the value of the directors DDCP account is paid, in cash, in a single lump sum or up to ten annual installments as elected in advance by the director. For 2016, no non-qualified deferred compensation earnings are reported because there were no preferential or above-market earnings on amounts in individual hypothetical investment accounts (defined as appreciation in value and dividend equivalents earned at a rate higher than appreciation in value and dividends on the underlying common stock or interest on amounts deferred at a rate exceeding 120% of the federal long-term rate). |
Eastman does not have a director pension plan. |
5) | Amount of annual retainer not included in Fees Earned or Paid in Cash column that was automatically deferred into the directors Eastman phantom stock investment account of the DDCP. The value of non-employee director perquisites and personal benefits that have an incremental cost to the Company (personal liability insurance and Company-provided insurance for non-employee director travel) are not reported for 2016 since the total amount per individual was less than $10,000. |
6) | Mr. OBrien became a director in February 2016. |
ITEM 2 ADVISORY APPROVAL OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (the Dodd-Frank Act) provides stockholders with the right to vote to approve, on an advisory (nonbinding) basis, the compensation of the Companys named executive officers as disclosed pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC. This advisory vote is commonly referred to as the say-on-pay vote. In the Companys advisory say-on-pay vote at the 2016 Annual Meeting, over 96% of votes cast were for approval of the executive compensation as disclosed in the 2016 Annual Meeting proxy statement. The Compensation Committee considered the outcome of this vote in its establishment and oversight of the compensation of the executive officers during 2016, as further discussed in Executive Compensation Compensation Discussion and Analysis later in this proxy statement.
The Companys business strategy for value creating growth is to leverage the capabilities of its employees to innovate and execute its growth strategy while remaining committed to maintaining a strong financial position with appropriate financial flexibility and liquidity. Our compensation philosophy supports this strategy by stressing the importance of pay for corporate and individual performance in meeting strategic and business goals for value creation and financial strength and flexibility, while maintaining flexibility to meet changing employee, business, and market conditions. Our executive compensation program is designed to attract and retain a talented and creative team of executives who will provide disciplined leadership for the Companys success in dynamic, competitive markets. The Company seeks to accomplish this by motivating executives with an appropriate mix of compensation elements. Please read the Executive Compensation Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this proxy statement for additional details about our executive compensation philosophy and programs, including information about the compensation of our named executive officers for 2016 as detailed in the tables and narrative.
The say-on-pay vote gives stockholders the opportunity to indicate their views on the compensation of our named executive officers. This vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of our named executive officers disclosed and the philosophy, objectives, and practices described in this proxy statement. Accordingly, stockholders are being asked to approve the compensation of the named executive officers as disclosed in the Executive Compensation section of this proxy statement, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables, and narrative.
Because this vote is advisory, it will not be binding on the Compensation Committee, the Board, or the Company. However, the Compensation Committee and the Board value the opinions of the Companys stockholders, and the Compensation Committee will consider the outcome of the vote in its establishment and oversight of the compensation of the executive officers.
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The Board of Directors recommends that you vote FOR the advisory approval of the compensation of the Companys named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement.
ITEM 3 ADVISORY VOTE ON FREQUENCY OF ADVISORY APPROVAL OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The Dodd-Frank Act also provides stockholders with the right to vote, every six years, on an advisory (nonbinding) basis, on the frequency with which the Company should include a say-on-pay vote on executive compensation at future annual meetings of stockholders. The last such advisory vote on the frequency of say-on-pay votes was at the 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
At the Companys 2011 Annual Meeting over 89% of votes cast in the advisory vote on the frequency of future say-on-pay votes were for such vote to occur every year, supporting the Board of Directors recommendation that say-on-pay be included in the Companys proxy statement for, and be voted on by stockholders at, each annual meeting of stockholders. The Company has had a say-on-pay vote at each annual meeting of stockholders since the 2011 Annual Meeting.
The Board recommends that an advisory say-on-pay stockholder vote, similar to that contained in Item 2, continue to be included in the Companys proxy statement for, and voted on by stockholders at, each annual meeting of stockholders. The Board believes that an advisory say-on-pay vote every year by stockholders provides the highest level of accountability and direct communication by having such vote correspond with the related information presented in the proxy statement for the applicable meeting of stockholders.
You may cast your vote on a preferred frequency with which the Company is to hold the advisory say-on-pay stockholder vote by selecting your preference of every year, every other year, or every three years, or abstaining from voting.
Because this vote is advisory, it will not be binding on the Board or the Company. Notwithstanding the results of such vote, and while the Company currently plans to continue to have an annual stockholder say-on-pay vote, the Board may decide that it is in the best interests of stockholders and the Company to hold an advisory vote on executive compensation more or less frequently than the preference chosen by the plurality (that is, the largest number) of votes cast by stockholders.
The Board of Directors recommends that you vote for the advisory vote on executive compensation to continue to be held EVERY YEAR.
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Compensation Discussion and Analysis
This Compensation Discussion and Analysis is intended to provide context for the executive compensation information detailed in the tables and narrative in the following sections of this proxy statement. The Compensation and Management Development Committee of the Board of Directors (the Compensation Committee or the Committee) establishes and oversees the administration of the policies, programs, and procedures for evaluating, developing, and compensating our senior management, and determines the components, structure, forms, terms, and amounts of the compensation of our executive officers. What follows is a summary of compensation philosophy and objectives for executive officers, the relationship of corporate performance to executive compensation, and the bases for the compensation of executive officers.
Overview
As described in more detail below, the Compensation Committee believes that the compensation of the executive officers is appropriate based on Eastmans performance and the competitive market. For 2016, the compensation of the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table below (the named executive officers) consisted of three principal elements: base salary, annual incentive pay opportunities, and long-term stock-based incentive awards in the form of stock options, performance shares, and restricted stock units. Base salary helps us to attract and retain executive talent and is the fixed element of our pay program. The Company uses annual incentive pay opportunities to tie executive compensation to attainment of key Company and individual objectives. Long-term stock-based incentive pay is designed to align executive compensation with the long-term interests of the Companys stockholders, focus on achievement of strategic long-term financial objectives, and further attract and retain an outstanding executive team. The Compensation Committee believes that this mix of executive pay components strikes an appropriate balance between the short- and long-term focus of the executives and the types of performance incented and risks encouraged, and aligns the interests of executive officers with those of other stockholders.
Our compensation program includes and does not include the following practices and features:
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For 2016, our executive officers were compensated based on the competitive market, the Companys financial, business, and stockholder value performance and its businesses performance compared to annual and longer-term performance standards established by the Compensation Committee, and the individual performance of each executive.
| Following the Compensation Committees review of market competitive pay levels and targeted total compensation of the executive officers, executive officer base salary was increased from 0% to 16% to keep executive salaries at competitive levels compared to executives with similar positions at peer companies. |
| Executive officers received annual incentive pay awards ranging from 78% to 128% of target amounts as a result of the Companys below target adjusted earnings from operations and above target adjusted free cash flow and each executives organizational and personal performance meeting or exceeding expectations. |
| Executive officers received payouts of common stock at 40% of target award levels under previously awarded long-term performance shares as a result of the Companys three-year (2014-2016) total stockholder return ranking in the 4th quintile of compared companies and the Company attaining an average return on capital of 10.29% (compared to a target return goal of 11.50%). |
| Executive officers received stock option grants and long-term performance share and restricted stock unit awards which directly link future compensation to stockholder and capital returns and as retention incentives. |
In addition, in 2016 the Compensation Committee:
| Redesigned annual cash incentive pay in light of recent changes to the Companys business, products, and strategy for growth so that 2016 corporate performance and the corresponding payout pool was measured 75% by adjusted earnings from operations and 25% by free cash flow (cash from operations less capital expenditures). Similarly, the Committee designed the 2015-2017 and 2016-2018 performance shares to place greater weight on relative total stockholder return and less weight on return on capital. See Annual Incentive Pay Unit Performance Plan and Stock-Based Incentive Pay Long-Term Performance Shares below. |
| Changed the companies to be used for 2017 executive and director compensation benchmarking to make the group more appropriate for Eastmans recent and continuing transition to a more specialty and more global chemical company. |
| Changed the companies to be used in measurement of relative shareholder return in 2017-2019 performance share awards from such companies in previous performance periods to make the group more appropriate for Eastmans recent and continuing transition to a more specialty and global chemical company. |
Management Compensation Philosophy, Objectives, and Program
Our Business. Eastman is a global advanced materials and specialty additives chemical company that produces a broad range of products found in items people use every day. The Company sells differentiated products into diverse markets and geographic regions. Eastmans objective is to be an outperforming specialty chemical company with consistent earnings growth and strong cash flow. Eastman works with customers to meet their needs in existing and new markets through development of innovative products and technologies. Management believes that the Company can deliver consistent financial results by leveraging the Companys world class technology platforms, improving product mix through innovation and increasing emphasis on specialty businesses and products, sustaining and expanding advantaged market positions, and leveraging advantaged cost positions. Consistently increasing earnings are expected to result from both organic (internal) growth initiatives and strategic inorganic (external growth through acquisitions and joint ventures) initiatives.
Since January 1, 2016, the Companys products and operations have been managed and reported in four operating segments: Additives & Functional Products (AFP), Advanced Materials (AM), Fibers, and
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Chemical Intermediates (CI). This reporting structure reflects changes in the Companys prior organizational structure and management to support the Companys strategy to transform towards a specialty portfolio by better aligning similar businesses in a more streamlined structure. In addition to these segments, the Company manages certain costs and initiatives at the corporate level, including various research and development initiatives. Eastman had 2016 revenues of $9.0 billion, compared to 2015 revenues of $9.6 billion.
Our Compensation Philosophy. The Companys business strategy for value creating growth is to leverage the capabilities of its employees to innovate and execute its growth strategy while remaining committed to maintaining a strong financial position with appropriate financial flexibility and liquidity. Our compensation philosophy supports this strategy by stressing the importance of pay for corporate and individual performance in meeting strategic and business goals for growth, value creation and financial strength, while maintaining flexibility to meet changing employee, business, and market conditions. Our executive compensation program is designed to attract and retain a talented team of executives who are expected to provide disciplined leadership for the Companys success in dynamic, competitive markets. The Company seeks to accomplish this by motivating executives with an appropriate mix of compensation elements, as described in more detail below.
As described below, our compensation program is designed so that a significant portion of compensation is based on the measures of performance that we believe are most relevant to our corporate business strategy and significant to investors, including cumulative total shareholder return and return on capital for multi-year periods, annual adjusted earnings from operations, cash from operations and free cash flow, and multi-year stock price appreciation. Performance goals for each of these measures of performance are designed to be challenging so that payouts at target levels will only occur if target performance is achieved (as evidenced by the below target payout pool for 2016 annual cash incentive compensation and below target 2014-2016 performance share payouts described below under Annual Incentive PayUnit Performance Plan and Long-Term Performance Shares).
Our Compensation Objectives. Within the management compensation program, our primary objectives are to:
| Provide the appropriate amount of annual pay that allows us to compete for talent. |
| Attract and retain highly-qualified executives by providing incentive opportunities for the attainment of the Companys strategic business objectives, while providing financial incentives to achieve superior performance. |
| Provide appropriate short-term and long-term incentives to reward the attainment of short-term and long-term corporate and individual objectives consistent with corporate growth strategy and objectives. |
| Ensure performance targets are appropriately challenging and properly aligned with business strategy and stockholder interests. |
| Maintain balance in the types of corporate and individual performance incented and the levels and types of risks managers are encouraged to evaluate and take. |
Primary Components of our Management Compensation Program and How Each Component Complements our Philosophy and Objectives. Our management compensation program has three primary components:
Annual base salary |
Provides a market-based annual salary at a level consistent with the individuals position and contributions. | |
Annual cash incentive pay opportunity |
Designed to align senior managers financial interests with the Companys shorter-term business objectives, making a portion of annual cash compensation dependent upon the annual success of the Company, business unit performance, and attainment of individual objectives. | |
Long-term stock-based incentive pay opportunity |
Encourages an ownership mindset by aligning the interests of senior managers with other stockholders, focusing on the achievement of strategic long-term financial objectives and outperforming peer companies. |
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The Compensation Committee, with input from management and the Committees independent compensation consultant, designs, administers, and assesses the effectiveness of all executive compensation elements against the market and our overall compensation philosophy and objectives. The Committees assessment includes review of the value of each element of pay and of total pay on a recognized and a realizable basis. The table below describes each element of pay and its primary links to the objectives of our compensation philosophy.
Compensation Element |
Compete in Market |
Attract and Retain Executive Talent |
Reward Business Performance and Attainment of Individual Objectives |
Balance Among Performance Incented and Risk Management |
Reward Long-Term Performance in Alignment with Stockholders Interests | |||||
Annual Base Salary |
X | X | X | |||||||
Annual Cash Incentive Pay Opportunity |
X | X | X | X | ||||||
Long-Term Stock-Based Incentive Pay Opportunity Stock Options |
X | X | X | X | ||||||
Long-Term Stock-Based Incentive Pay Opportunity Performance Shares and Restricted Stock Units |
X | X | X | X | X | |||||
Other Compensation and Benefits |
X | X | X |
Each year, the Compensation Committee, with the assistance of its independent compensation consultant, compares the relative mix of the compensation components with those of peer benchmarking companies. The Compensation Committee does not have a fixed method for determining how an executive officers total compensation should be allocated among these compensation components. Instead, the Compensation Committee uses a flexible approach to compensation to help us better achieve our business objectives from year to year and to attract and retain executive talent. As described below, the Company believes that a significant portion of our executives compensation should be at risk to business and individual performance, and that the at-risk amount should increase with the executives level of responsibility. At-risk compensation is only earned if at least a threshold level of targeted business and individual performance is met. We believe it is also important to encourage a balance between the short-term and long-term focus of executives, and in the types of performance incented and risks encouraged, as well as to align their interests with those of stockholders, by providing a meaningful portion of their compensation in the form of stock-based pay.
Other Compensation and Benefits. The Companys executive officers also participate in benefits plans generally available to all other employees, including two nonqualified supplemental retirement plans for U.S. employees with pay above Internal Revenue Code limits, and in a deferred compensation plan for management-level employees. These benefits are intended to keep us competitive in attracting and retaining executive and other management-level employees by restoring benefits that will not be paid to them under our pension plan or 401(k) plan due to tax law limits. See Pension Benefits and 2016 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation in the Compensation Tables section below. We have also entered into limited change in control severance agreements with certain of our executive officers and provide a modest program of executive perquisites and personal benefits which serve the specific purposes described in this Compensation Discussion and Analysis and the tables that follow.
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Mix of Total Target Compensation. The following charts illustrate the percentage of target total compensation for our CEO and our other named executive officers on average, respectively, represented by each element of compensation for 2016. For 2016, 87% of total target CEO compensation and 79% of total target compensation of the other named executive officers was dependent on corporate and individual performance and relative total stockholder return.
* | Target cash payment for 2016 target corporate and individual performance. |
** | Grant date fair value of stock options granted in 2016, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 (Stock Compensation). See Note 1 to the Summary Compensation Table below. |
*** | Grant date fair value of target shares of Eastman common stock underlying performance shares awarded for the 2016-2018 performance period and of shares underlying restricted stock units awarded in 2016, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 (Stock Compensation). See Note 1 to the Summary Compensation Table below. |
**** | For a description of other compensation, see Note 5 to the Summary Compensation Table below. |
Risk Analysis of Executive Compensation. The balance of short-term and long-term compensation as tools to drive individual behaviors and risk management is carefully considered in the design and administration of the Companys overall employee compensation programs. The compensation program for executive employees is additionally structured so that a considerable amount of compensation is tied to the long-term performance of Eastman. We strive to avoid disproportionately large short-term incentives that could encourage unnecessary risk-taking which is not in the Companys long-term interests. While a significant portion of our executive compensation is performance-based, we do not believe that our philosophy or objectives encourage excessive risk-taking. The Compensation Committee has focused our management compensation program on
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aligning the Companys compensation with the long-term interests of Eastman, and has designed the elements of our executive compensation program to discourage management decisions that could pose inappropriate long-term risks to the Company and its stockholders, using the following methods:
| The compensation of our executive officers is not overly-weighted toward short-term incentives. For instance, each of our CEOs and other named executive officers target annual incentive pay for 2016 was 13% to 17% of his total target compensation. Moreover, annual incentive pay awards are capped at 200% of an executives target award opportunity to protect against disproportionately large short-term incentives, and the Compensation Committee has broad discretion in determining the amount of variable cash payouts to executives based upon individual performance and other factors, including whether an executive has caused Eastman to take excessive risk. |
| Our stock ownership expectations are for the CEO to hold Eastman stock and stock-equivalents having a value of at least five times base annual pay and for the other executive officers to hold Eastman stock and stock-equivalents having a value of at least two-and-one-half times their respective base annual pay. We also prohibit our executive officers from entering into arrangements designed to hedge their exposure to changes in the market price of Eastman stock or from pledging Eastman stock as security or collateral for loans or in margin brokerage accounts. See Stock Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers Executive and Director Stock Ownership Expectations; No Hedging or Pledging of Company Stock. These policies ensure that each executive will have a significant amount of personal wealth tied to the long-term performance of Eastman stock and that their interests will remain aligned with those of our other stockholders. |
| The largest portion of total target executive pay is long-term, stock-based incentive compensation that vests, if earned, over a period of years. The stock payout opportunity combined with a multi-year vesting period encourages our executives to focus on maximizing Eastmans long-term performance. These awards are made annually, so executives will continue to have unvested awards that will provide value only if our business continues to be appropriately managed over the long term. |
| A significant portion of executives long-term incentive compensation opportunities consist of performance share awards. Performance share award payouts are tied to how Eastman performs on certain metrics identified by the Compensation Committee periodically as appropriately driving long-term stockholder value over a three-year period. This approach focuses management on sustaining the Companys long-term performance. These awards also have overlapping performance periods, thereby discouraging excessive risk-taking in the near-term because such behavior could jeopardize the potential long-term payouts under other awards. To further ensure that there is not a significant incentive for excessive risk-taking, the payout of these awards has been capped at 250% of target for the 2014-2016, 2015-2017 and 2016-2018 performance periods. |
| The variety of corporate and individual performance evaluated by the Compensation Committee to determine various forms of long-term and short-term incentive pay (including operating earnings and earnings per share, cash flow and free cash flow, return on capital, employee safety, and total stockholder return relative to peer companies) is designed to minimize the risk that executives will focus excessive attention on a single area of performance or performance measure. |
| Company policies and the plan under which our long-term stock-based incentive compensation awards are made require repayment of certain variable and incentive compensation amounts in the event of an accounting restatement due to material noncompliance by the Company with financial reporting requirements. See Compensation Recoupment Policy below. |
We believe that this combination of factors encourages our executives to manage our businesses and execute our strategy for growth in a prudent manner.
In 2016, Aon Hewitt, the Compensation Committees external compensation consultant, conducted a risk assessment of our compensation policies, programs, and practices, including executive compensation and broad-based compensation programs for all employees. Based on the results of Aon Hewitts assessment, the Compensation Committee concluded that the Companys compensation programs and practices are well aligned
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with corporate strategy, contain appropriate risk balancing and mitigation features, and are not structured in a way that should incent risk taking that is reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.
Review of 2016 Executive Compensation
The Compensation Committee reviewed overall compensation of the Chief Executive Officer and the other executive officers and determined each component of executive compensation for 2016 as described below. As part of this review, the Compensation Committee:
| Reviewed the value of each type of compensation and benefit for each executive officer, including annual incentive pay opportunities and long-term stock-based compensation awards, perquisites and personal benefits, deferred accounts, and retirement plans and determined that the amounts, individually and in the aggregate, were appropriate and in line with external market and internal comparisons. |
| Considered the estimated value of outstanding unvested, unexercised, and unrealized stock-based awards in its review of the types and values of each executive officers compensation. |
| Determined the amount and forms of compensation considering: |
| Company and individual performance, |
| compensation relative to that for similar positions in other companies, |
| the mix of short- and long-term compensation, and total compensation, relative to other Eastman executive officers and employees, |
| whether the features of each form of compensation are appropriately balanced in terms of the types of corporate and individual performance being incented, the levels and types of risk they encourage managers to evaluate and take, and whether the compensation encourages managers to take unnecessary risks, |
| background information and recommendations from the Companys management compensation organization and from the external compensation consultant engaged by the Compensation Committee, and |
| the recommendations of the Chief Executive Officer regarding pay for the other executive officers. |
Since 2013, the Compensation Committee has compared total annual cash compensation opportunity (base salary and target incentive pay opportunity) levels and the value and mix of long-term stock-based incentive pay opportunity levels for the Companys executive officers with those of the following companies, taking into account differences in the relative size and businesses of such other companies. These companies were selected with assistance from Aon Hewitt based upon similarity of their industry, number of employees, revenues, number and type of commercialized products, and market capitalization with Eastman.
As described above under Overview, in 2016 the Committee reviewed with Aon Hewitt possible changes to this compensation benchmarking peer group given recent changes to the business, products, strategy for growth, and size of the Company. To make the group more appropriate for Eastmans recent and continuing transition to a larger, more specialty and more global chemical company, the compensation benchmarking peer group for 2017 does not include Corning Inc. and adds The Sherwin-Williams Company, Mosaic Company, and The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company.
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Evaluation of Stockholder Say-on-Pay Vote Results
As described in Item 2 Advisory Approval of Executive Compensation of this proxy statement, at the 2017 Annual Meeting stockholders will again have the opportunity to indicate their views on the compensation of our named executive officers by an advisory say-on-pay vote. At the Companys 2016 Annual Meeting over 96% of the votes cast on the say-on-pay proposal were voted in favor of the proposal. The Compensation Committee considered this vote result as general approval of the Companys approach to executive compensation. Therefore, it did not make any significant changes in the structure of our executive compensation program as a result of this vote. Instead, the Committee focused on refining select elements of the program, as summarized above under Overview. The Compensation Committee will continue to consider the results of future say-on-pay proposals, and other appropriate executive compensation and corporate governance developments, in future years when making compensation decisions for our named executive officers.
Elements of our Executive Compensation
Annual Cash Compensation Base Salary and Incentive Pay
How Base Salary and Annual Incentive Pay Levels Are Determined. For executive officers, targeted total cash compensation is intended to be competitive with comparable pay for similar jobs when target levels of corporate, business and functional organization, and individual performance are achieved. The targeted levels of cash compensation are based upon information provided by Aon Hewitt and from publicly available information. For 2016, a significant portion of each executive officers total pay was variable, as shown in the charts under Mix of Total Compensation. Depending upon Company, business and functional unit, and individual performance, executive officers could receive more or less than their target amount.
As requested by the Compensation Committee, Aon Hewitt provided benchmarking analyses of the total cash compensation for executives with similar positions at the comparator companies listed above. Aon Hewitt also advised the Compensation Committee of general market cash compensation practices and trends. In determining each executive officers targeted total cash compensation, the Compensation Committee considered this benchmarking data and also applied its judgment in considering the competitive market for executive talent, comparative pay levels of each other executive officer, relative cash compensation of other jobs in the Company, and differences between the Companys executive positions and those of the comparator companies. For 2016, the Compensation Committee set the targeted cash pay for executives within a range of 10% above or below the median level of the total targeted cash compensation for comparable positions at the comparator companies, with exceptions for changes in individual scope of responsibilities, corporate performance, and time and experience in position.
Base Salary. In late 2015 and early 2016, after reviewing market competitive pay levels and the targeted total cash compensation of the executive officers, the Compensation Committee determined that base salary increases were appropriate for one of the named executive officers and for certain other executive officers because their targeted total cash compensation was below the median of the comparator companies. In addition to external comparisons, the Committee considered the cash compensation levels of each executive officer relative to that of each other executive officer. Even with these increases in base salary, our executive officers total annual compensation for 2016 consisted primarily of variable compensation. The base salary amounts reported in the Salary column of the Summary Compensation Table reflect the Committees target total cash compensation decisions for 2016.
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Annual Incentive Pay Unit Performance Plan. For 2016, the variable portion of cash compensation paid to approximately 900 management level employees, including the executive officers, was determined under the Unit Performance Plan (the UPP). Under the UPP, the Compensation Committee sets a cash payout pool target amount at the beginning of each year, with the total available payout ranging from 0 to 200 percent of target amount depending on the Companys financial performance. The Committee reserves discretion to adjust the total payout pool amount to reflect overall corporate performance and business and financial conditions and other corporate objectives. The total UPP award pool is determined after the end of the performance year as the aggregate of the UPP payouts for each participant if the individuals organizational and individual performance were at target levels, multiplied by a performance factor determined by actual corporate performance compared to the pre-set performance goals.
HOW THE UPP WORKS | ||||||||
At the start of the year establish corporate performance measures and individual performance goals | Throughout the year track corporate and individual performance, consider adjustments to GAAP corporate performance measures | After year end determine corporate performance, evaluate individual performance, and fund and distribute awards |
2016 UPP named executive officer target opportunities. Consistent with our compensation objectives, as employees assume greater responsibilities more of their pay is linked to Company and individual performance. Variable UPP cash pay targets (expressed as a percentage of base salary) are established at the beginning of the performance year based on job responsibilities, relative targets for other Company positions, and comparator company practices. For the named executive officers, the target annual UPP incentive opportunities for 2016 were as follows:
Name |
Title |
Target UPP Opportunity as % of Base Salary | ||
Mark J. Costa |
Chief Executive Officer | 130% | ||
Curtis E. Espeland |
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | 90% | ||
Ronald C. Lindsay |
Chief Operating Officer | 100% | ||
Brad A. Lich |
Executive Vice President | 90% | ||
David A. Golden |
Senior Vice President, Chief Legal and Sustainability Officer and Corporate Secretary | 70% | ||
Stephen G. Crawford |
Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer | 65% |
2016 UPP Company performance measure and targets. As described under Overview, the 2016 UPP payout pool was determined based 75% on Company adjusted earnings from operations (or EFO) and 25% on free cash flow (or FCF).
EFO under the 2016 UPP is earnings from operations as adjusted by the Compensation Committee for certain cost, charge, and income items that were not included in the Companys targeted financial performance under managements annual business plan as approved by the Board in early 2016 (the annual business plan) and that were excluded from operating earnings in the non-GAAP financial measures disclosed by the Company in its quarterly and annual public disclosures of financial results. The selection of adjusted EFO as the measure of 2016 corporate performance was intended to focus management level employees on both top-line revenue and bottom-line earnings and to allow measurement of UPP performance throughout the year based upon reported Company quarterly financial results. The Committee chose adjusted EFO to tie the performance measure and targets to the strategy and corresponding annual business plan targets on which UPP participant performance would be evaluated in 2016.
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FCF under the 2016 UPP is GAAP cash provided by operating activities less GAAP cash used in additions to properties and equipment, subject to adjustment for any unusual items that the Committee considers distortive of free cash flow and that were not included in the Companys targeted performance under the annual business plan. FCF reflects the cash generated in the current year that enables the Company to invest in innovation in the core businesses and inorganic growth through acquisitions, and allows measurement of performance throughout the year based upon reported Company quarterly financial results.
In establishing the 2016 UPP EFO and FCF performance targets, the Committee considered the targeted 2016 financial and strategic performance under the annual business plan. The UPP payout pools were set for above-target payout if the Company exceeded target annual business plan performance and below-target payout if performance did not meet target annual business plan EFO and FCF.
2016 UPP Company performance and payout pool. Below target adjusted EFO and above target adjusted FCF resulted in a below target payout pool for 2016 (compared to a UPP payout pool below target for 2014 and a payout pool above target for 2015). The 2016 UPP threshold, target, and maximum adjusted EFO and FCF targets and corresponding payout multiples, and actual adjusted EFO and FCF and resulting payout multiples, for the UPP award pool are shown and described below.
Adjusted EFO for 2016 was $1.534 billion and adjusted FCF for 2016 was $909 million, resulting in a performance factor of 0.91x for executives and other senior managers and a total UPP award pool for all management level employees, including the named executive officers, of $38.8 million. The calculation of EFO under the UPP for 2016 was adjusted to exclude from GAAP operating earnings mark-to-market pension and other postretirement benefit net loss, asset impairments and restructuring charges, and acquisition-related costs and charges. The calculation of FCF under the UPP for 2016 was adjusted to exclude as an unusual item distortive of free cash flow a discretionary U.S. defined benefit pension contribution in fourth quarter 2016 that had been planned for future years. These adjustments increased the calculated EFO under the UPP by $151 million, the calculated FCF under the UPP by $150 million, and the UPP award pool by $21.3 million.
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The chart below shows the multiples of target UPP payouts for each of 2014, 2015, 2016 (the sole corporate performance measure for 2014 and 2015 was adjusted EFO).
2016 UPP named executive officer payouts. The Compensation Committee determines the portions of the overall UPP award pool to be allocated to the CEO and to the other executive officers as a group. The Chief Executive Officer, in consultation with the other executive officers, determined the allocation of the overall UPP award pool to the various organizations within the Company for payouts to other management-level employees. The allocation was based on their assessment of the performance of each organization relative to objectives established at the beginning of the performance year.
Once each organizations portion of the overall award pool was determined, management within each organization (the Chief Executive Officer in the case of the named executive officers other than the CEO and, in the case of the Chief Executive Officer, the Compensation Committee) allocated the organizations portion of the Company award pool for individual payouts, based upon individual performance against the financial, organizational, and strategic performance objectives and expectations established at the beginning of the performance year.
The Compensation Committee determined the CEOs payout (equal to 91% of his target variable cash pay amount) based upon the Compensation Committees assessment of his individual performance as described below. The portion of the overall UPP award pool allocated to the other named executive officers was $2.41 million (equal to 105% of their aggregate individual target variable cash pay amounts), with their individual payouts based upon the CEOs assessment of each executives individual performance as described below.
For 2016, the following corporate performance objectives were established for the CEO and the other named executive officers based upon targeted 2016 performance under the annual business plan, with no specific weighting among the objectives. Actual performance against these objectives was assessed by the Compensation Committee (for the CEO) and by the CEO and the Compensation Committee (for the other named executive officers) in determining the amounts of the individual payouts:
Measure |
Target |
Actual | ||
Adjusted earnings from operations* |
$1.6 billion | $1.534 billion | ||
Adjusted earnings per share* |
$6.90 | $6.76 | ||
Adjusted free cash flow** |
³$900 million | $909 million | ||
Employee safety days away from work (measured as days away from work per 200,000 hours worked) |
£0.12 | 0.23 | ||
OSHA recordable injuries (measured per 200,000 hours worked) |
£0.54 | 0.79 | ||
* | Non-GAAP financial measure, with adjustments as described above. |
** | Cash from operations less capital expenditures, with adjustments as described above. |
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Additionally, each of the named executive officers had individual performance commitments targeted to each executives area of responsibility, with no specific weighting among the commitments. Performance of the CEO (as assessed by the Compensation Committee) and of the other named executive officers (as assessed by the CEO and the Compensation Committee) was as follows:
Named Executive Officer |
Commitments |
Performance | ||
Mark J. Costa |
Overall Company financial and business performance |
Met partially | ||
Growth and innovation (including new product and technology initiatives and portfolio management) |
Met partially | |||
Productivity (including cost reductions and targeted growth and innovation spending) |
Met | |||
Organizational capabilities enhancement (including management development and succession, talent development and retention, and diversity) |
Met | |||
Employee safety and wellness |
Met partially | |||
Curtis E. Espeland |
Adjusted free cash flow |
Met | ||
Corporate growth strategy leadership and capabilities enhancements |
Met | |||
Contribution of reduced effective tax rate and interest expense (including refinance of long-term debt) to 2016 and future earnings |
Exceeded | |||
Ronald C. Lindsay |
CI and Fibers segments January-June 2016 business results (including EFO, sales variable cost margin, and costs goals) |
Did not meet | ||
CI and Fibers segments organic and inorganic growth and strategic initiatives (including Fibers asset and business restructuring and reorganization and CI strategic business changes and productivity improvements) |
Met partially | |||
Employee safety and wellness |
Met partially | |||
Brad A. Lich |
AM and July-December 2016 Fibers segments business results (including EFO, sales variable cost margin, and costs goals) |
Exceeded | ||
AM and July-December 2016 Fibers segments organic and inorganic growth and strategic initiatives (including new technology and product development and commercialization and productivity improvements and Fibers business changes) |
Exceeded | |||
Senior management and leadership development |
Met | |||
Employee safety and wellness |
Met partially | |||
David A. Golden |
Legal, intellectual property, regulatory, health, safety, and environment, and corporate compliance support of organic and inorganic growth projects (including new product and technology initiatives and cost reduction and productivity initiatives) |
Met |
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Named Executive Officer |
Commitments |
Performance | ||
Manage commercial dispute resolution and litigation |
Met | |||
Support key business contract customer negotiations |
Met | |||
Stephen G. Crawford |
Productivity (including technology process improvement, capital spending, and quality) |
Exceeded | ||
Innovation (including technology initiatives and product development and commercialization) |
Met | |||
Organizational capabilities |
Exceeded |
The Compensation Committee determined that, based upon actual corporate performance against targets as listed above, each executives individual performance and leadership that contributed to this performance was satisfactory and met or exceeded expectations for purposes of determining his allocated individual portion of the respective award pools (91% of Mr. Costas individual target annual incentive pay amount and 105% of the other named executives aggregate individual target annual incentive pay amounts).
Additionally, the Compensation Committee evaluated each executives performance against his individual commitments as described above and concluded that each executives individual performance in these areas was overall at or above target levels for purposes of determining their individual portions of the respective award pools.
Based upon the amount of the UPP award pool allocated to the CEO and to the other named executive officers, respectively, as described above, and the assessments of the CEOs and other executives individual performance against established goals and expectations as described above, the Compensation Committee determined the amounts of the individual payouts from the allocated portions of the UPP award pools based upon the Committees judgment of overall Company performance and performance of applicable business or functional units, each individual executives overall contribution and leadership, and external business conditions and circumstances, as follows:
Named Executive Officer |
UPP Payout |
Target UPP Payout |
UPP Payout as % of Target | ||||||||||||
Mark J. Costa |
$1,301,300 | $1,430,000 | 91 | % | |||||||||||
Curtis E. Espeland |
723,000 | 661,500 | 109 | % | |||||||||||
Ronald C. Lindsay |
303,000 | 386,250 | 78 | % | |||||||||||
Brad A. Lich |
705,000 | 549,000 | 128 | % | |||||||||||
David A. Golden |
338,000 | 371,000 | 91 | % | |||||||||||
Stephen G. Crawford |
341,000 | 325,000 | 105 | % |
The 2016 UPP payouts to the named executive officers are reported in the Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation column of the Summary Compensation Table below.
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Stock-Based Incentive Pay
Equity-Based Compensation Program. Equity-based compensation is designed to facilitate stock ownership in order to link senior managers pay to the Companys long-term performance to further align those managers interests with the interests of other stockholders. Important elements of the executive equity-based compensation program are:
Stock Options |
Granted under the Companys Omnibus Stock Compensation Plan (the Omnibus Plan), stock options create a direct link between compensation of key Company managers and long-term performance of the Company through appreciation of stock price. | |
Performance Shares |
Awarded under the Omnibus Plan to provide an incentive for key managers to earn stock awards by meeting specified multi-year business or individual performance goals. | |
Other Stock-Based Incentive Pay |
Under the Omnibus Plan, the Compensation Committee may also award additional stock-based compensation (with or without restrictions), including performance units, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights, and additional stock options with performance-based or other conditions to vesting. | |
Stock Ownership Expectations |
Established for executive officers to encourage long-term stock ownership and the holding of shares awarded under the Omnibus Plan or acquired upon exercise of options. Over a five-year period, executive officers are expected to accumulate stock with a value of two and one-half times their annual base salary (five times base salary for the Chief Executive Officer) in Company stock and stock equivalents. See Stock Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers Executive and Director Stock Ownership Expectations. All executive officers have met or are on schedule to meet their ownership expectations. |
How Stock-Based Incentive Pay Levels Are Determined. The Compensation Committee establishes the value and mix of total stock-based incentive pay opportunities for a year by considering recommendations from Aon Hewitt based on long-term compensation survey data for the comparator companies listed under Review of 2016 Executive Compensation.
As requested by the Compensation Committee, Aon Hewitt provides benchmarking analysis of this long-term stock-based compensation information, and also advises the Compensation Committee of general market stock-based incentive compensation practices and trends.
The Compensation Committee also regularly reviews with Aon Hewitt the potential realizable value of each named executive officers outstanding unvested, unexercised, and unrealized stock-based awards compared to similar pay of executives at the comparator companies in determining stock-based incentive pay opportunity levels.
For 2016, stock options and performance shares were awarded at a target opportunity level intended to align total stock-based compensation with the mid-range of comparable stock-based compensation of the comparator companies.
Stock Options. In 2016, the Compensation Committee determined to provide approximately 25% of the value of each executive officers stock-based compensation in the form of stock options. The Compensation Committee grants time-based vesting stock options with an exercise price equal to the market price of the underlying stock on the grant date, and on the date of its authorization of grants it sets a grant date that is on or after the date of approval of the grant. In determining the size and terms of option awards, the Compensation Committee used the services of Aon Hewitt to derive values of options using a variation of the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. In addition, Aon Hewitt advises the Compensation Committee on the design of retention and performance incentive features of option grants. Computation of the value of option awards is comparable to values determined under FASB ASC Topic 718 and reported in the 2016 Grants of Plan-Based Awards table below.
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Long-Term Performance Shares. Other than the executives who received restricted stock unit awards, the other 75% of each executive officers 2016 stock-based compensation was in the form of performance shares. Shares of Company common stock are paid under performance shares based on the Companys multi-year performance based on two measures:
| a return on capital target established at the beginning of the three-year performance period, and |
| the Companys total return to stockholders (change in stock price plus dividends declared during the performance period, assuming reinvestment of dividends) relative to a peer group of industrial companies (for the 2016-2018 performance share awards, as in past years awards, this was the group of companies within the Materials Sector classified as Chemical companies from the Standard and Poors Super Composite 1500 Index). |
The return on capital target is established considering corporate and strategic business plans and expectations for the performance period. Performance relative to the total return to stockholders target is determined by the Companys quintile placement relative to the peer group of industrial companies at the end of the three-year performance period. If earned, awards are paid after the end of the performance period in unrestricted shares of Eastman common stock. Consistent with recent and planned changes to the Companys business, products, and strategy for growth, the Committee designed the 2015-2017 and the 2016-2018 performance shares with greater weight on relative total stockholder return and less relative reward for higher levels of return on capital than for prior periods to reflect the strategic emphasis on specialty businesses and products and, as described in Overview, removed certain companies (The Chemours Company and Rayonier Advanced Materials) from and added certain companies (Celanese Corporation, Westlake Chemical Corporation, and Huntsman Corporation) to the peer group of industrial companies used in measurement of relative total shareholder return in the 2017-2019 performance shares. Although the actual payout of the performance share awards in 2016 will not be determinable until after the end of the performance period in 2018, a grant date fair value of such awards is reported in the 2016 Stock Awards column of the Summary Compensation Table, the range of possible share payouts is reported in the Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards column of the 2016 Grants of Plan-Based Awards table, and the targets and payout matrix is included in the form of the 2016-2018 performance share award filed as Exhibit 10.23 to the Companys 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
In early 2017, the Compensation Committee reviewed performance results and approved a payout of shares to the executive officers under performance shares previously awarded for the 2014-2016 performance period. The payouts to the named executive officers under the 2014-2016 performance shares are reported in the Stock Awards column of the 2016 Option Exercises and Stock Vested table below. The following tables show the targets and the payout matrix for the 2014-2016 performance shares:
Performance Years |
Target Return on Capital |
Total Stockholder Return (TSR) Target Quintile | ||
2014, 2015 and 2016 | 11.50% | 3rd Quintile 50 59% |
Differential from Target Return on Capital | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Eastman TSR Relative to Comparison Companies |
£-5% | -4.99 to -3% |
-2.99 to -1% |
-.99 to 0% |
.01 to 1% |
1.01 to 3% |
3.01 to 5% |
5.01 to 7% |
³7.01% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
0-19% (5th quintile) |
0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
20-39% (4th quintile) |
0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 1.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
40-49% (3rd quintile) |
0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 1.6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
50-59% (3rd quintile) |
0.0 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 1.25 | 1.5 | 1.75 | 2.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
60-79% (2nd quintile) |
0.4 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 1.25 | 1.5 | 1.75 | 2.0 | 2.25 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
80-99% (1st quintile) |
0.6 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 1.75 | 2.0 | 2.25 | 2.5 |
Payouts for the 2014-2016 performance period to the named executive officers ranged from 1,409 shares to 20,661 shares, and represented 40% of each executives target award (of a possible 250% of the target award) based upon the Companys total stockholder return ranking in the 4th quintile of the compared companies and an average return on capital of 10.29%. Measurement of return on capital under the performance shares was based on reported GAAP earnings, and did not exclude charges or other items excluded in the non-GAAP financial measures disclosed by the Company.
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Restricted Stock Unit Awards. From time to time, the Committee grants special cash or equity awards for recognition of sustained valuable performance or to retain key individuals who have critical skills of strategic importance.
The Compensation Committee awarded restricted stock units to named executive officer Brad A. Lich on February 28, 2016. This award, which will vest and be paid in unrestricted shares of Company common stock on February 28, 2019, subject to Mr. Lichs continued employment, was awarded to Mr. Lich as retention incentive and as recognition and incentive for his continued leadership.
The Compensation Committee set the values and terms of this award to be consistent with recent similar special retention and performance incentive awards to executive officers.
Stock-Based Incentive Awards in 2016. In 2016, the named executive officers were awarded stock options, performance shares, and restricted stock units as described above in the numbers of shares below:
M.J. Costa |
C.E. Espeland |
R.C. Lindsay(1) |
B.A. Lich |
D.A. Golden |
S.G. Crawford |
|||||||||||||||||||
Ten-Year Stock Options (underlying shares) |
161,493 | 37,072 | 55,608 | 36,377 | 22,012 | 19,695 | ||||||||||||||||||
Three-Year Performance Shares (target payout shares) |
84,890 | 19,487 | 29,231 | 19,122 | 11,571 | 10,353 | ||||||||||||||||||
Restricted Stock Units (underlying shares) |
| | | 23,500 | | |
(1) | See 2016 Grants of Plan-Based Awards table note (6) and Outstanding Equity Awards at 2016 Year-End table note (2) for the impact of Mr. Lindsays retirement on July 1, 2016 on his outstanding stock options and performance shares. |
Executive Perquisites and Personal Benefits
The Company provides only limited perquisites to our named executive officers, and those perquisites are designed to provide specific benefits. The Compensation Committee annually reviews the types and amount of perquisites provided to executives, and tax treatment of those perquisites for both the Company and executives. Perquisites provided to executives for 2016 were:
| personal umbrella liability insurance coverage, |
| home security system, |
| non-business travel on corporate aircraft by executives, their families, and invited guests when seats are available and the aircraft is otherwise being used for Company business, and |
| supplemental long-term disability insurance for a portion of executives annual cash compensation not replaced in the event of their disability under the all-employee long-term disability insurance plan. |
In addition, in light of the significant time demands on our Chief Executive Officer, the Compensation Committee has determined that it is appropriate to allow the Chief Executive Officer to use corporate aircraft whenever possible for both business and personal travel (and for his family when they are traveling with him). This personal use is accounted for and periodically reviewed by the Compensation Committee.
There are no tax gross-up payments made by the Company for any imputed income to the executive officers on perquisites or personal benefits.
Executive Termination and Change-in-Control Agreements
The Company believes that severance protections in the context of a change-in-control transaction can play a valuable role in attracting and retaining key executive officers, and that the occurrence, or potential occurrence, of a change-in-control transaction will create uncertainty regarding the continued employment of our executive officers. This uncertainty results from the fact that many change-in-control transactions result in significant organizational changes, particularly at the senior executive level. In order to eliminate such a distraction and encourage our executive officers to remain focused on maximizing value when their prospects for continued employment following a transaction are often uncertain, we provide certain of our executive officers with severance benefits if their employment is terminated by the Company without cause or by the executive for
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good reason in connection with a change-in-control. Detailed information regarding these change-in-control severance agreements and the benefits they provide is included in the Termination and Change-in-Control Arrangements section of this proxy statement.
The Compensation Committee evaluates the level of severance benefits payable to each executive officer, and considers these severance protections an important part of executives compensation and consistent with practices of peer companies. Consistent with recommendations from Aon Hewitt and current market and peer company practices, the Compensation Committee has approved and the Company has entered into change-in-control severance agreements with the named executive officers and certain other executive officers that provide for payments of no more than three-times base salary plus target annual bonus for the CEO and two-times base salary plus target annual bonus for other executive officers and which do not provide for any tax gross up payments to executives.
Tax Treatment of Executive Officer Compensation
The Compensation Committee intends to preserve the Companys ability to deduct compensation paid to the Companys Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers for tax purposes to the extent possible while also maintaining the flexibility to compensate such officers in accordance with the Companys compensation philosophy.
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code generally limits the deductibility to the Company of annual compensation (other than qualified performance-based compensation) in excess of $1 million paid to certain of the Companys executive officers. Base salaries, variable cash compensation under the UPP, any bonus payments outside the UPP, and stock and stock-based compensation payable other than solely based on corporate performance conditions are generally subject to the $1 million limit on tax deductible compensation. Compensation attributable to stock options and performance shares may qualify for deductibility under Section 162(m). Changes in tax laws (and interpretations of those laws), as well as other factors beyond the Companys control, also affect the deductibility of executive compensation. In addition, the Committee may determine that corporate objectives justify the cost of being unable to deduct annual and long-term incentive compensation. For these and other reasons, the Company will not necessarily in all circumstances limit executive compensation to the amount which is permitted to be deductible as an expense of the Company under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Committee will consider various alternatives to preserving the deductibility of compensation payments and benefits to the extent reasonably practicable and to the extent consistent with the Companys other compensation objectives.
A portion of named executive officer compensation for 2016 was non-deductible to the Company under Section 162(m). The anticipated amount of the Companys taxes for non-deductible compensation in 2016 is approximately $750,000 and the additional tax cost of such non-deductible compensation has been determined by the Committee to be reasonable relative to total executive compensation cost and in context of overall compensation objectives. The Compensation Committee will continue to retain the discretion to pay non-deductible amounts. The Compensation Committee believes that such flexibility best serves the interests of the Company and its stockholders by allowing the Committee to recognize and motivate executive officers as circumstances warrant.
Compensation Recoupment Policy
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act, Company policy, and pending provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act govern the process for reimbursement by executive officers of certain cash bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation (sometimes referred to as clawback) received following public disclosure of an accounting restatement due to material noncompliance by the Company with any financial reporting requirements. In addition, certain outstanding awards under our Omnibus Long-Term Compensation Plans require reimbursement of certain amounts from awards following an accounting restatement due to material noncompliance by the Company with any financial reporting requirement.
The Compensation Committee has adopted an additional executive clawback policy which requires that, if the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to material noncompliance with financial reporting requirements, then any current and former executive officers who willfully committed an act of fraud,
45
dishonesty, or recklessness that contributed to the noncompliance would be required to repay the amount of incentive-based compensation paid or granted to that executive within three years before the accounting restatement that was in excess of the amount that would have been paid or granted to that executive if the restated financial statements had originally been prepared and disclosed. The clawback policy was adopted in advance of final rules or regulations (Final Regulations) expected to be adopted by the SEC and listing requirements expected to be adopted by the New York Stock Exchange that would implement the incentive-based compensation recovery requirements of the Dodd-Frank Act. We expect that the clawback policy will remain operative until it may be amended to conform to any requirements that may be contained in the Final Regulations and, if necessary, the clawback policy will be interpreted and administered consistent with such Final Regulations.
The following Summary Compensation Table provides information concerning compensation of the individuals serving as Eastmans Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer during 2016, the Companys three other most highly compensated executive officers who were serving as executive officers at December 31, 2016, and one other executive officer who served during a portion of 2016 and who, although not serving as an executive officer at December 31, 2016, would have been in the top three other most highly compensated executive officers had he still been an executive officer at December 31, 2016 (the named executive officers).
Summary Compensation Table
Name and Principal Position |
Year | Salary ($) |
Bonus ($) |
Stock Awards ($)(1)(2) |
Option Awards ($)(1) |
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($)(3) |
Change in Pension Value And Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings ($)(4) |
All Other Compensation ($)(5) |
Total ($) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mark J. Costa |
2016 | $1,102,895 | $0 | $6,295,442 | $1,771,578 | $1,301,300 | $564,900 | $361,952 | $11,398,067 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chief Executive Officer |
2015 | 1,117,070 | 0 | 5,181,984 | 1,422,197 | 1,673,100 | 251,440 | 231,514 | 9,877,305 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 987,316 | 0 | 4,277,385 | 1,017,439 | 1,160,000 | 219,665 | 189,601 | 7,851,406 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Curtis E. Espeland |
2016 | 736,887 | 0 | 1,445,156 | 406,680 | 723,000 | 436,151 | 75,450 | 3,823,324 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Executive Vice President and |
2015 | 737,956 | 0 | 2,715,367 | 367,404 | 774,000 | 111,334 | 62,249 | 4,768,310 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chief Financial Officer |
2014 | 627,087 | 0 | 1,205,465 | 286,731 | 508,635 | 260,989 | 60,029 | 2,948,936 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ronald C. Lindsay |
2016 | 417,122 | 0 | 2,167,771 | 610,020 | 303,000 | 1,329,356 | 65,107 | 4,892,376 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chief Operating Officer(6) |
2015 | 799,754 | 0 | 2,072,844 | 568,879 | 904,000 | 303,178 | 73,183 | 4,721,838 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 751,024 | 0 | 1,866,537 | 443,976 | 667,500 | 518,809 | 67,385 | 4,315,231 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brad A. Lich |
2016 | 611,007 | 0 | 2,949,348 | 399,056 | 705,000 | 328,834 | 63,900 | 5,057,145 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Executive Vice President and |
2015 | 620,902 | 0 | 1,165,969 | 319,998 | 668,000 | 140,442 | 51,559 | 2,966,870 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chief Commercial Officer |
2014 | 551,348 | 0 | 699,993 | 166,504 | 411,180 | 152,830 | 40,081 | 2,021,936 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
David A. Golden |
2016 | 531,324 | 0 | 858,105 | 241,472 | 338,000 | 309,610 | 50,350 | 2,328,861 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Senior Vice President, |
2015 | 544,906 | 0 | 1,880,107 | 213,337 | 477,000 | 145,391 | 43,363 | 3,304,104 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chief Legal and |
2014 | 497,673 | 0 | 699,993 | 166,504 | 323,604 | 253,461 | 41,946 | 1,983,181 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sustainability Officer and Corporate Secretary |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stephen G. Crawford |
2016 | 484,892 | 0 | 767,778 | 216,054 | 341,000 | 372,108 | 43,792 | 2,225,624 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer(6) |
(1) | Grant date fair value of awards of performance shares and restricted stock units (reported in the Stock Awards column) and options (reported in the Option Awards column) made in the year indicated, computed in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 718 (Stock Compensation). See note 18 to the Companys consolidated financial statements in the Annual Report to Stockholders for 2016 mailed and delivered electronically with this proxy statement for a description of the assumptions made in the valuation of 2016 stock awards under FASB ASC Topic 718. For |
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more information about stock and option awards, see 2016 Grants of Plan-Based Awards, Outstanding Equity Awards at 2016 Year-End, and 2016 Option Exercises and Stock Vested tables. |
(2) | Contingent stock awards (performance shares and restricted stock units) with future payment subject to satisfaction of continued employment for specified time periods and the achievement of specified performance-based conditions. Performance share awards were made for performance periods beginning January 1, 2014 and ending December 31, 2016, beginning January 1, 2015 and ending December 31, 2017, and beginning January 1, 2016 and ending December 31, 2018, respectively. Restricted stock units were awarded to Mr. Lich on February 28, 2016, to Mr. Espeland on January 1, 2015, and to Mr. Golden on February 18, 2015 for the three year period following the award date. The potential maximum grant date value of the performance share awards assuming the highest level of performance conditions, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, were: Mr. Costa (2014 $7,594,541, 2015 $7,663,960, 2016 $9,372,705); Mr. Espeland (2014 $2,140,316, 2015 $1,979,927, 2016 $2,151,560); Mr. Lindsay (2014 $3,314,056, 2015 $3,065,658, 2016 $3,227,395); Mr. Lich (2014 $1,242,845, 2015 $1,724,425, 2016 $2,111,260), Mr. Golden (2014 $1,242,845, 2015 $1,149,699, 2016 $1,277,554) and Mr. Crawford (2016 $1,143,075). |
(3) | Cash payments made in the following year for performance in the year indicated under the Unit Performance Plan (the UPP). As described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis preceding these tables and in the 2016 Grants of Plan-Based Awards table below, the UPP is the Companys annual incentive pay program under which a portion of the total annual compensation of executive officers and other management-level employees is dependent upon corporate, organizational, and individual performance. |
(4) | Change in Pension Value is the aggregate change in actuarial present value of the executive officers accumulated benefit under all defined benefit and actuarial retirement plans, which are the Companys tax-qualified defined benefit pension plan (the Eastman Retirement Assistance Plan, or ERAP) and unfunded, nonqualified retirement plans supplemental to the ERAP that provide benefits in excess of those allowed under the ERAP (the Eastman Unfunded Retirement Income Plan, or URIP, and the Eastman Excess Retirement Income Plan, or ERIP). These changes in present value are not directly in relation to final payout potential, and can vary significantly year-over-year based on (i) promotions and corresponding changes in salary; (ii) other one-time adjustments to salary or other reasons; (iii) actual age versus predicted age at retirement; (iv) the interest (or discount) rate used to determine present value of benefit; and (v) other relevant factors. A decrease in the discount rate results in an increase in the present value of the accumulated benefit without any increase in the benefits payable to the named executive officer at retirement and an increase in the discount rate has the opposite effect. |
The aggregate increase in actuarial value of the pension plans is computed as of the same pension plan measurement date used for financial statement reporting purposes with respect to the Companys financial statements for 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The actuarial present value calculations are based on the IRS 2017 Prescribed 417(e)(3) Unisex table as of December 31, 2016, and the IRS 2016 Prescribed 417(e)(3) Unisex table as of December 31, 2015 and assume individual compensation and service through December 31, 2016, December 31, 2015, and December 31, 2014, respectively, with benefit commencement at the normal retirement age of 65. Benefits are discounted using a 3.97% discount rate for the ERAP and a 3.78% discount rate for the URIP for the 2016 calculation, a 4.25% discount rate for the ERAP and the URIP for the 2015 calculation, and a 3.91% discount rate for the ERAP and the URIP for the 2014 calculation. See the Pension Benefits table for additional information about the named executive officers benefits under the pension plans.
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings refers to above-market or preferential earnings on compensation that is deferred on a basis that is not tax-qualified, including such earnings on amounts in nonqualified defined contribution plans. The Company maintains the Executive Deferred Compensation Plan (the EDCP), an unfunded, nonqualified deferred compensation plan into which executive officers can defer compensation until retirement or termination from the Company. For 2016, 2015 and 2014, there were no preferential or above-market earnings on amounts in individual EDCP accounts (defined as appreciation in value and dividend equivalents earned at a rate higher than appreciation in value and dividends on common stock and interest on amounts deferred at a rate exceeding 120% of the federal long term rate). See the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation table for additional information about the named executive officers EDCP accounts.
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(5) | All Other Compensation for 2016 consists of the following: |
| Annual Company contributions to defined contribution plans. The amounts reported for 2016 are the total annual Company contributions to the accounts of Messrs. Costa ($138,655), Espeland ($75,450), Lindsay ($65,107), Lich ($63,900), Golden ($50,350) and Crawford ($43,792) in the Eastman Investment Plan, a 401(k) retirement plan, and in the EDCP. Contributions to the Eastman Investment Plan equaled $13,250 for each named executive officer, with the remaining Company contributions to their respective EDCP accounts. See the 2016 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation table for additional information about Company contributions into the named executive officers EDCP accounts. Annual Company contributions were based upon actual compensation paid during the calendar year. |
| Perquisites and other personal benefits. Perquisites and personal benefits to the named executives (described in Compensation Discussion and Analysis Executive Perquisites and Personal Benefits) are not reported for 2016 except for Mr. Costa, since the total incremental cost to the Company per individual was less than $10,000. |
The amount reported for Mr. Costa for 2016 is the aggregate value, based upon the incremental cost to the Company, of the following perquisites and other personal benefits: personal umbrella liability insurance coverage ($1,414), home security system ($31,494), supplemental long-term disability insurance ($8,554), and non-business travel on corporate aircraft by Mr. Costa and his family ($181,835). The aggregate incremental cost to the Company for operating the corporate aircraft for personal flights for the Chief Executive Officer and his family is based upon calculation of direct operating costs including fuel, fuel additives, lubricants, maintenance, reserves for engine restoration and overhaul, landing and parking expenses, crew expenses, and miscellaneous supplies and catering (including for any deadhead segments of such flights when the aircraft flies empty before picking up or dropping off Mr. Costa). The aggregate incremental costs to the Company of the umbrella liability insurance, the home security system, and supplemental long-term disability insurance are the actual amounts paid by the Company.
(6) | Mr. Lindsay retired effective July 1, 2016. Mr. Crawford became an executive officer on January 1, 2014 and was a named executive officer in 2016. |
The following table provides certain information regarding the 2016 award opportunities under the Unit Performance Plan (the UPP) and equity incentive awards made in 2016 to the individuals named in the Summary Compensation Table.
2016 Grants of Plan-Based Awards
Name |
Approval Date (1) |
Grant Date (2) |
Estimated Possible Payouts
Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards(3) |
Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards(4) |
All Other Stock Awards: Number of Shares of Stock or Units (#)(5) |
All Other Option Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Options (#)(6) |
Exercise or Base Price of Option Awards ($/Share) (7) |
Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and Option Awards (8) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Threshold ($) |
Target ($) |
Maximum ($) |
Threshold (#) |
Target (#) |
Maximum (#) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
M. J. Costa |
1/1/2016 | $715,000 | $1,430,000 | $2,860,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/17/2016 | 1/1/2016 | 16,978 | 84,890 | 212,225 | $ | 6,295,442 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/17/2016 | 2/26/2016 | 161,493 | $65.16 | 1,771,578 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
C. E. Espeland |
1/1/2016 | 330,750 | 661,500 | 1,323,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/17/2016 | 1/1/2016 | 3,897 | 19,487 | 48,718 | 1,445,156 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/17/2016 | 2/26/2016 | 37,072 | 65.16 | 406,680 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
R. C. Lindsay |
1/1/2016 | 386,250 | 772,500 | 1,545,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/17/2016 | 1/1/2016 | 5,846 | 29,231 | 73,078 | 2,167,771 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/17/2016 | 2/26/2016 | 55,608 | 65.16 | 610,020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
B. A. Lich |
1/1/2016 | 274,500 | 549,000 | 1,098,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/17/2016 | 1/1/2016 | 3,824 | 19,122 | 47,805 | 1,418,088 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/17/2016 | 2/26/2016 | 36,377 | 65.16 | 399,056 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/17/2016 | 2/28/2016 | 23,500 | 1,531,260 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
D. A. Golden |
1/1/2016 | 185,500 | 371,000 | 742,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/17/2016 | 1/1/2016 | 2,314 | 11,571 | 28,928 | 858,105 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/17/2016 | 2/26/2016 | 22,012 | 65.16 | 241,472 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
S. G. Crawford |
1/1/2016 | 162,500 | 325,000 | 650,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/17/2016 | 1/1/2016 | 2,071 | 10,353 | 25,883 | 767,778 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/17/2016 | 2/26/2016 | 19,695 | 65.16 | 216,054 |
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(1) | The Compensation Committee made stock option grants, performance share awards for the 2016-2018 performance period, and special restricted stock unit awards in February 2016. |
(2) | Performance share awards for 2016-2018 were effective as of the beginning of the performance period on January 1, 2016. The UPP award opportunities relate to 2016 performance. |
(3) | Estimated possible payouts for 2016 under the UPP. The Threshold column reflects the 50% payout level if performance is at minimum of 85% of target levels. The Target column reflects the 100% payout level if performance is at 100% of target levels. The Maximum column reflects the 200% payout level if performance is at or above 115% of target levels for specified above-goal performance. See the Summary Compensation Table for actual payouts under the UPP for 2016 and Compensation Discussion and Analysis for a description of the UPP and how the payouts were determined. |
(4) | Estimated future share payouts at threshold, target, and maximum levels for performance shares for the 2016-2018 performance period, assuming performance conditions are satisfied. See also Compensation Discussion and Analysis for a description of how performance share payouts are determined, Outstanding Equity Awards at 2016 Year-End table, and Termination and Change-in-Control Arrangements. |
(5) | Restricted stock units, representing the right to receive the same number of unrestricted shares of common stock on the third anniversary of the award date, subject to continued employment (other than in the event of termination by reason of death or disability). An amount equal to cash dividends paid on common stock during the period that the restricted stock units are outstanding and unvested is payable in cash on the vesting date of the restricted stock units. |
(6) | Nonqualified stock options granted during 2016. Options granted in 2016 have an exercise price equal to the closing price on the New York Stock Exchange of the underlying common stock on the date of grant. The stock options vest and become exercisable in one-third increments on each of the first three anniversaries of the grant date, with acceleration of vesting in the event of a change in ownership or in certain circumstances following a change in control. Stock options generally expire ten years from the date of grant. Upon termination by reason of death, disability, or retirement, the stock options remain exercisable for the lesser of five years following the date of termination or the expiration date. If an employee resigns, the stock options remain exercisable for the lesser of ninety days or the expiration date. Stock options not previously exercised are canceled and forfeited upon termination for cause. See Summary Compensation Table, Outstanding Equity Awards at 2016 Year-End and 2016 Option Exercises and Stock Vested tables, and Termination and Change-in-Control Arrangements. |
(7) | Per-share exercise prices of the stock options granted in 2016. The exercise price is the closing price of common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the grant date. |
(8) | Grant date fair value of each stock-based award, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. |
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The following table provides information regarding outstanding option grants and stock awards as of December 31, 2016 held by individuals named in the Summary Compensation Table.
Outstanding Equity Awards at 2016 Year-End
Option Awards | Stock Awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Name | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable |
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable |
Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Unearned Options (#) |
Option Exercise Price ($) |
Option Expiration Date |
Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#) |
Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested ($)(1) |
Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (#)(2) |
Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested ($)(3) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
M. J. Costa |
55,000 | $ | 27.82 | 10/26/19 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
52,000 | 39.84 | 11/01/20 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
33,000 | 38.30 | 10/31/21 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
30,246 | 69.73 | 2/27/23 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3,361 | 69.73 | 2/27/23 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
38,386 | 19,194 | (4) | 87.43 | 2/27/24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
34,130 | 68,260 | (5) | 74.46 | 2/26/25 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
161,493 | (6) | 65.16 | 2/25/26 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
29,366 | $2,208,617 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
C. E. Espeland |
17,100 | 33.08 | 10/29/17 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
47,000 | 39.84 | 11/01/20 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
35,000 | 38.30 | 10/31/21 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
22,685 | 69.73 | 2/27/23 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2,251 | 69.73 | 2/27/23 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
10,818 | 5,409 | (4) | 87.43 | 2/27/24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
8,817 | 17,634 | (5) | 74.46 | 2/26/25 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
37,072 | (6) | 65.16 | 2/25/26 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
18,000 | (7) | $1,353,780 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7,098 | 533,841 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
R. C. Lindsay |
30,246 | 69.73 | 7/1/21 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3,361 | 69.73 | 7/1/21 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
16,750 | 8,376 | (4) | 87.43 | 7/1/21 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
13,652 | 27,304 | (5) | 74.46 | 7/1/21 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
55,608 | (6) | 65.16 | 7/1/21 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
10,802 | 812,418 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
B. A. Lich |
3,068 | 39.84 | 11/01/20 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5,134 | 38.30 | 10/31/21 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4,537 | 69.73 | 2/27/23 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
505 | 69.73 | 2/27/23 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6,282 | 3,141 | (4) | 87.43 | 2/27/24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7,679 | 15,359 | (5) | 74.46 | 2/26/25 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
36,377 | (6) | 65.16 | 2/25/26 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
23,500 | (7) | 1,767,435 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6,612 | 497,289 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
D. A. Golden |
12,099 | 69.73 | 2/27/23 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1,345 | 69.73 | 2/27/23 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6,282 | 3,141 | (4) | 87.43 | 2/27/24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5,119 | 10,240 | (5) | 74.46 | 2/26/25 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
22,012 | (6) | 65.16 | 2/25/26 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
14,600 | (7) | 1,098,066 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4,173 | 313,851 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
S. G. Crawford |
3,800 | 38.30 | 10/31/21 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2,042 | 69.73 | 2/27/23 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
227 | 69.73 | 2/27/23 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2,617 | 1,309 | (4) | 87.43 | 2/27/24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3,501 | 7,003 | (5) | 74.46 | 2/26/25 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
19,695 | (6) | 65.16 | 2/25/26 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3,342 | 251,352 |
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(1) | Market value of shares of common stock payable under restricted stock units, based on the per share closing price of the common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on December 31, 2016. |
(2) | Number of shares of common stock to be paid under outstanding performance share awards, based upon actual performance through 2016, for 2015-2017 and 2016-2018 performance periods. See Compensation Discussion and Analysis for a description of how performance share payouts are determined. If earned, the awards will be paid after the end of the performance period in unrestricted shares of Eastman common stock (subject to proration if the executives employment is terminated during the performance period because of retirement, death, or disability, and to cancellation in the event of resignation or termination for cause). |
(3) | Value of shares of common stock to be paid under outstanding performance share awards, based upon actual performance through 2016, for 2015-2017 and 2016-2018 performance periods, assuming a market value equal to the closing price of the Companys common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on December 31, 2016. Any payments under these performance share awards will be determined based on actual performance through 2017 and 2018, respectively, and not on any interim measure of performance. |
(4) | Option became exercisable as to the remaining shares on February 28, 2017. |
(5) | Option became exercisable as to one-half of the shares on February 27, 2017, and becomes exercisable for remaining shares on February 27, 2018. |
(6) | Option became exercisable as to one-third of the shares on February 26, 2017, and becomes exercisable for remaining shares in equal amounts on February 26, 2018 and February 26, 2019. |
(7) | Restricted stock units, representing the right to receive the same number of unrestricted shares of common stock on the third anniversary of the award date, subject to continued employment (other than termination by reason of death or disability) and, in the case of Mr. Espeland, satisfactory performance in leadership of the financial integration of mergers and acquisitions and of development and execution of business plans that result in improved financial performance of the Company considering external market conditions. An amount equal to cash dividends paid during the period that the restricted stock units are outstanding and unvested with respect to shares underlying restricted stock units which vest is payable in cash on the vesting date of the restricted stock units. |
The following table summarizes aggregate values realized upon exercise of options and payouts of vested stock for 2016 for the individuals named in the Summary Compensation Table.
2016 Option Exercises and Stock Vested
Option Awards(1) | Stock Awards(2) | |||||||||||||||||||
Name |
Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise (#) |
Value Realized on Exercise($) |
Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting (#) |
Value Realized on Vesting($) | ||||||||||||||||
M. J. Costa |
94,400 | $ | 3,422,842 | 20,661 | $ | 1,658,045 | ||||||||||||||
C. E. Espeland |
0 | 0 | 5,823 | 467,296 | ||||||||||||||||
R. C. Lindsay |
140,000 | 4,265,615 | 7,513 | 602,918 | ||||||||||||||||
B. A. Lich |
0 | 0 | 3,381 | 271,325 | ||||||||||||||||
D. A. Golden |
0 | 0 | 3,381 | 271,325 | ||||||||||||||||
S. G. Crawford |
0 | 0 | 1,409 | 113,072 |
(1) | Number of acquired shares and aggregate net value realized upon exercise of options during 2016 . |
(2) | Number of shares received by each named executive officer upon payout under 2014-2016 performance share award and the aggregate value of such shares of common stock based upon the per share closing price of the common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the payout date. |
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The following table summarizes the portion of post-employment benefits payable to the individuals named in the Summary Compensation Table from Company pension plans as of December 31, 2016.
Pension Benefits
Name |
Plan Name (1)(2) |
Number of Years of Credited Service (#) |
Present Value of Accumulated Benefit ($)(3) |
Payments During Last Year($) |
||||||||
M. J. Costa |
ERAP | 11 | $139,954 | $ | 0 | |||||||
ERIP/URIP | 11 | 1,345,633 | 0 | |||||||||
C. E. Espeland |
ERAP | 21 | 326,915 | 0 | ||||||||
ERIP/URIP | 21 | 1,420,625 | 0 | |||||||||
R. C. Lindsay(4) |
ERAP | 36 | 534,595 | 542,813 | ||||||||
ERIP/URIP | 36 | 3,148,341 | 0 | |||||||||
B. A. Lich |
ERAP | 15 | 202,769 | 0 | ||||||||
ERIP/URIP | 15 | 763,352 | 0 | |||||||||
D. A. Golden |
ERAP | 22 | 330,497 | 0 | ||||||||
ERIP/URIP | 22 | 853,968 | 0 | |||||||||
S. G. Crawford |
ERAP | 33 | 456,768 | 0 | ||||||||
ERIP/URIP | 33 | 610,471 | 0 |
(1) | The Eastman Retirement Assistance Plan (ERAP) is a tax-qualified, non-contributory defined benefit pension plan that generally covers employees who became employed with us on or before December 31, 2006. A participants total ERAP benefit consists of his or her Pre-2000 Benefit and Pension Equity Benefit, as described below: |
Pre-2000 Benefit. Prior to 2000, the ERAP used a traditional pension formula which gave each participant a life annuity commencing at age 65. A participant is eligible for an unreduced Pre-2000 Benefit when such participants aggregate age plus years of eligible service totals 85, or at age 65. At retirement, the actuarial present value of the future annual Pre-2000 Benefit payments may at the election of the participant be paid in a lump sum. Benefits earned during 1998 and 1999, upon the election of the participant, may be payable over five years. The Pre-2000 Benefits payable upon retirement are based upon the participants years of service with the Company and average participating compensation, which is the average of three years of those earnings described in the ERAP as participating compensation. Participating compensation, in the case of the named executive officers consists of salary, bonus, and non-equity incentive plan compensation, including an allowance in lieu of salary for authorized periods of absence, such as illness, vacation, and holidays. To the extent that any participants annual Pre-2000 Benefit exceeds the amount payable under the ERAP, such excess will be paid from one or more unfunded, supplementary plans.
Pension Equity Benefit. Effective January 1, 2000, the Company redesigned the ERAP to use a pension equity formula. Under the pension equity formula, beginning January 1, 2000, a participant earns a certain percentage of final average earnings each year based upon age and total service with the Company. When a participant terminates employment, he or she is entitled to a pension amount, payable over five years. The amount may also be converted to various forms of annuities. To the extent that any participants Pension Equity Benefit exceeds the amount payable under the ERAP, such excess will be paid from one or more unfunded, supplementary plans.
(2) | The Company maintains two unfunded, nonqualified plans, the Unfunded Retirement Income Plan (URIP) and the Excess Retirement Income Plan (ERIP). The ERIP and the URIP will restore to participants in the ERAP benefits that cannot be paid under the ERAP because of applicable tax law limits, and benefits that are not accrued under the ERAP because of a voluntary deferral by the participant of compensation that would otherwise be counted for benefit calculation under the ERAP. The Company has established a Rabbi Trust to provide a degree of financial security for the participants unfunded account balances under the ERIP and URIP. See Termination and Change-in-Control Arrangements Benefit Security Trust. |
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(3) | Actuarial present value of the accumulated benefit, computed as of the same pension plan measurement date used for financial statement reporting purposes with respect to the Companys audited financial statements for 2016. The actuarial present value calculation is based on the IRS 2017 Prescribed 417(e)(3)-Unisex post-retirement mortality tables, and assumes individual compensation and service through December 31, 2016, with benefit commencement at normal retirement age of 65. Benefits are discounted to present value using a 3.97% discount rate for the ERAP and 3.78% discount rate for the URIP. |
(4) | Mr. Lindsay retired effective July 1, 2016. |
The following table is a summary of participation by the individuals named in the Summary Compensation Table in the Executive Deferred Compensation Plan (the EDCP), an unfunded, nonqualified deferred compensation plan into which executive officers and other management-level employees can defer compensation until retirement or termination from the Company. Annual base and incentive cash compensation, stock and stock-based awards which are payable in cash and allowed to be deferred, and special compensation payable in connection with the employees initial employment with the Company, may be deferred into the EDCP. Compensation deferred into the EDCP is credited at the election of the employee to multiple hypothetical investment alternatives, including an Eastman stock fund. Amounts deferred into the Eastman stock account increase or decrease in value depending on the market price of Eastman common stock. When cash dividends are declared on Eastman common stock, each stock account receives a dividend equivalent which is used to hypothetically purchase additional shares. Upon retirement or termination of employment, the value of a participants EDCP account is paid, in cash, in a single lump sum or in up to ten annual installments as elected in advance by the participant. The EDCP also provides for early withdrawal by a participant of amounts in his or her EDCP account in certain limited circumstances.
All amounts in the following table have been previously earned by the named executives and reported by the Company as compensation in this proxy statement or in annual meeting proxy statements for previous years, and are not new or additional compensation to the named executives.
2016 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation
Name |
Executive Contributions in Last Year ($) |
Company Contributions in Last Year ($)(1) |
Aggregate Earnings (Loss) in Last Year ($)(2) |
Aggregate Withdrawals/ Distributions ($) |
Aggregate Balance at Last Year-End($)(3) |
|||||||||||||
M. J. Costa |
$ | 0 | $ | 125,405 | $ | 7,595 | $0 | $ | 432,350 | |||||||||
C. E. Espeland |
91,875 | 62,200 | 52,542 | 0 | 1,106,170 | |||||||||||||
R. C. Lindsay(4) |
0 | 51,857 | (5,274 | ) | 0 | 927,008 | ||||||||||||
B. A. Lich |
334,000 | 50,650 | 43,959 | 0 | 625,253 | |||||||||||||
D. A. Golden |
6,931 | 37,100 | 22,948 | 0 | 205,771 | |||||||||||||
S. G. Crawford |
304,523 | 30,542 | 42,839 | 0 | 579,883 |
(1) | Annual Company contributions were made to the accounts of each named executive in the Eastman Investment Plan, a 401(k) retirement plan, and in the EDCP. Amounts shown are the amounts before provision for certain taxes contributed into the EDCP and represent amounts that could not be contributed into the 401(k) retirement plan of the individuals due to Internal Revenue Code restrictions. The total amount of the contributions for each named executive officer in the Eastman Investment Plan and the EDCP was five percent of his 2016 eligible compensation. These contributions are included in the Summary Compensation Table in the All Other Compensation column. |
(2) | Aggregate amounts credited to participant EDCP accounts during 2016. No earnings on deferred amounts are included in the Summary Compensation Table in the Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings column because there were no preferential or above-market earnings on any of the hypothetical investments. Quarterly dividend equivalents of 46 cents per hypothetical share for the first, second, and third quarters and of 51 cents per hypothetical share for the fourth quarter were credited to amounts in individual Eastman stock accounts. |
53
(3) | Balance in individual EDCP accounts as of December 31, 2016. The portions of the balances from annual Company contributions after provision for certain taxes ($400,328 for Mr. Costa, $289,448 for Mr. Espeland, $333,594 for Mr. Lindsay, $77,017 for Mr. Lich, $116,600 for Mr. Golden, and $52,672 for Mr. Crawford) were reported as All Other Compensation in the Summary Compensation Table in this and prior annual meeting proxy statements; the portions of the balances from deferred salary ($272,663 for Mr. Espeland, $6,931 for Mr. Golden, and $361,627 for Mr. Crawford) were included in the amounts reported as Salary in the Summary Compensation Table in applicable annual meeting proxy statements; the applicable portions of the balances from deferred annual incentive compensation and bonuses ($67,307 for Mr. Golden, $334,000 for Mr. Lich, and $117,600 for Mr. Crawford) were included in the amounts reported as Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation in the Summary Compensation Table in this and applicable prior annual meeting proxy statements; the portions of the balances from deferred stock-based awards ($251,752 for Mr. Espeland and $216,611 for Mr. Lindsay) are not reported in the Summary Compensation Table in this or certain prior proxy statements but were previously reported as Long-Term Incentive Plan Payouts in the Summary Compensation Table in certain prior annual meeting proxy statements. The portions of the balances from earnings on deferred amounts were not reported in the Summary Compensation Table in this proxy statement or in the annual meeting proxy statements for previous years because there were no preferential or above-market earnings on any individual EDCP hypothetical investments. Amounts in the Registrant Contributions in Last Year column were paid in February 2017 and are not included in the aggregate balance as of December 31, 2016. |
(4) | Mr. Lindsay retired effective July 1, 2016. |
Termination and Change-in-Control Arrangements
The Companys Change-in-Control Agreements with certain executive officers, including the individuals named in the Summary Compensation Table, and the Omnibus Long-Term Compensation Plans, provide for compensation and benefits in certain circumstances upon or following termination of the executive or a change-in-control of the Company. Circumstances that trigger compensation or provision of benefits related to termination or change in control, how such compensation and benefits are determined, and conditions or obligations applicable to the receipt of payments and benefits are described below.
Change-in-Control Agreements. For the reasons described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the Company has entered into Change-in-Control Agreements (the Agreements) with the individuals named in the Summary Compensation Table and certain other executive officers of the Company. The Agreements provide for specified compensation and benefits following a change-in-control of the Company. A change-in-control is generally defined in the Agreements to include the following, subject to certain exceptions: (i) the acquisition by a person of 35% or more of the voting stock of the Company; (ii) the incumbent Board members (and subsequent directors approved by them) ceasing to constitute a majority of the Board; (iii) approval by the Companys stockholders of a reorganization or merger unless, after such proposed transaction, the former stockholders of the Company will own more than 50% of the resulting corporations voting stock, no person will own 35% or more of the resulting corporations voting stock, and the incumbent Board members will continue to constitute at least a majority of the Board of the resulting corporation; or (iv) approval by the Companys stockholders of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
Pursuant to the Agreements, in the event that a change-in-control of the Company occurs during the change-in-control period, the Company agrees to continue to employ the executive for a period of two years after the occurrence of such change-in-control (the Employment Period). The change-in-control period means the period commencing on December 1, 2016, and ending two years after such date; provided that on each anniversary of the Agreements, the change-in-control period is automatically extended so as to terminate two years after such anniversary, unless the Company provides timely notice to the executive that it will not extend the period.
During the Employment Period, the executive would be entitled to: (i) an annual base salary at a rate at least equal to the base salary in effect on the date of the change-in-control; (ii) an annual bonus at least equal to the executives target bonus opportunity for the last full fiscal year prior to the change-in-control; and (iii) continued participation in all incentive, savings, retirement, welfare benefit, and fringe benefit plans applicable to other peer executives of the Company on terms no less favorable than those in effect during the 120-day period preceding the change in control.
54
The Agreements also specify the payments and benefits to which an executive would be entitled upon a termination of employment during the Employment Period for specified reasons, including death, retirement, disability, termination by the Company with or without cause, and termination by the executive for or without good reason (as such terms are defined in the Agreement).
If an executives employment were to be terminated by the Company for any reason other than for cause or disability, or by the executive for good reason, during the Employment Period, the Company would be required to:
(i) pay to the executive a lump sum cash payment equal to his or her accrued obligations (unpaid base salary through the date of termination, a prorated target bonus for the year of termination, and any accrued vacation pay),
(ii) pay to the executive a lump sum severance payment equal to three-times (in the case of the CEO) or two-times (in the case of the other executives) the sum of his or her then-current annual base salary plus the amount of his or her target annual bonus for the year in which the termination occurs,
(iii) continue to provide all health and welfare benefits to the executive and his or her eligible dependents, subject to certain limitations, for 18 months following termination,
(iv) accelerate the vesting of the executives unvested benefits under the Companys retirement plans, and pay to the executive a lump sum cash payment equal to the value of such unvested benefits, and
(v) pay or provide to the executive any other amounts or benefits to which he or she was entitled under any of the Companys plans, programs, policies, practices, contracts, or agreements then in effect.
Upon the termination of an executives employment by reason of death, disability, or retirement, or upon a termination by the Company for cause or by the executive without good reason, the Agreement would terminate without further obligation of the Company other than the payment of base salary through the date of termination and any other amounts or benefits to which the executive was entitled under any of the Companys plans, programs, policies, practices, contracts, or agreements then in effect.
Cause is defined in the Agreements as a material breach by the executive of any provision of his or her agreement; the conviction of the executive of any criminal act that the Board deems to constitute cause; a material breach by the executive of a published Company code of conduct or code of ethics; or conduct by the executive in his or her office with the Company that is grossly inappropriate and demonstrably likely to lead to material injury to the Company, as determined by the Board.
Good reason is defined in the Agreements as the assignment to the executive of any duties that are materially inconsistent with his or her position (including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties or responsibilities, or any other action by the Company which results in a material diminution in such position, authority, duties or responsibilities (excluding an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent action not taken in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company promptly after notice from the executive); a reduction by the Company in executives base salary or target annual bonus; any failure by the Company to comply with any provisions of his or her agreement (other than an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent failure not occurring in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company promptly after notice from the executive); the Companys requiring the executive to be based at any office or location 50 miles or more from his or her current location; any failure by the Company to have a successor to the Company agree to assume the agreement; or a material breach by the Company of any other provision of the executives agreement.
The Agreements contain certain other typical provisions for agreements of this type, including a requirement that the executive not disclose any confidential information of the Company following termination of employment, and providing that the Company will reimburse the executive on a then-current basis for reasonable fees and expenses in seeking to enforce the Agreement (subject to repayment if his or her claims are determined to be frivolous or in bad faith).
Omnibus Stock Compensation Plans. The Companys 2012 Omnibus Stock Compensation Plan (like its predecessor such plans, collectively referred to as the Omnibus Plans) provides for grants to employees of nonqualified and incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock awards, performance shares, and other stock and stock-based awards (collectively, awards).
55
The Omnibus Plans contain (and the 2017 Omnibus Stock Compensation Plan will, if approved by stockholders at the 2017 Annual Meeting, contain) provisions regarding the treatment of awards in the event of a change in ownership (as defined, generally involving circumstances in which the Companys common stock is no longer publicly traded) and of a change-in-control (as defined, generally involving circumstances in which the Company is acquired by another entity or its controlling ownership is changed). Upon a change in ownership or change-in-control, the rules described below will apply to awards granted under the Omnibus Plans.
However, the Compensation Committee has the discretion, notwithstanding any particular transaction constituting a change in ownership or a change-in-control, either to determine that such transaction is of the type that does not warrant the described consequences with respect to awards (in which case such consequences would not occur) or to alter the way in which awards are treated from the consequences outlined in the Omnibus Plans.
If a change in ownership occurs (and the Compensation Committee has not exercised its discretion described above) during the term of one or more performance periods for outstanding performance shares, the performance period will immediately terminate and, unless the Committee has already determined actual performance for such period, it will be assumed that the performance objectives have been attained at a level of 100%. Participants will be considered to have earned a prorated share of the awards for such performance period. In addition, upon a change in ownership, all outstanding awards will be valued and cashed out on the basis of the change in ownership price.
In the event of a change-in-control (assuming the Compensation Committee has not exercised its discretion described above), if a participants employment terminates within two years following the change-in-control, unless such termination is due to death, disability, cause, resignation (other than as a result of certain actions by the Company and any successor), or retirement, participants will be entitled to the following treatment. All conditions, restrictions, and limitations in effect with respect to any unexercised awards will immediately lapse and no other terms or conditions will be applied. Any unexercised, unvested, unearned, or unpaid awards will automatically become 100% vested. Performance shares will be treated in a manner similar to that described above in the case of a change in ownership. A participant will be entitled to a lump sum cash payment with respect to all of such participants awards.
In order to comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code, it may be necessary for the Company to delay payments until six months following the officers separation from service with the Company.
Potential Payments Under Termination and Change-in-Control Arrangements. The following table shows, for each of the named executive officers, the payments and benefits that would have been provided under the Change-in-Control Agreements and the Omnibus Plans if the executive had been terminated without cause or had resigned for good reason on December 31, 2016 (and, in the case of Mr. Lindsay, on July 1, 2016, the date of his retirement) following a change-in-control.
Form of Payment |
M.J. Costa ($) |
C. E. Espeland ($) |
R.C. Lindsay ($) |
B. A. Lich ($) |
D. A. Golden ($) |
S. G. Crawford ($) |
||||||||||||||||||
Cash severance(1) |
$ | 7,590,000 | $ | 2,793,000 | $ | 3,090,000 | $ | 2,318,000 | $ | 1,802,000 | $ | 1,650,000 | ||||||||||||
Value of unvested stock-based awards at target(2) |
4,274,911 | 1,081,908 | 1,652,460 | 867,046 | 634,398 | 424,781 | ||||||||||||||||||
Health and welfare continuation(3) |
18,831 | 18,831 | 18,831 | 18,831 | 18,831 | 18,831 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total Payments |
$ | 11,883,742 | $ | 3,893,739 | $ | 4,761,291 | $ | 3,203,877 | $ | 2,455,229 | $ | 2,093,612 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) | Lump sum cash severance payment under the Change-in-Control Agreement equal to three times the sum of annual base salary and the target Unit Performance Plan payout for Mr. Costa and two times the sum of annual base salary and the target Unit Performance Plan payout for the other named executive officers. |
(2) | Value of unvested awards at target, which vest and are paid out under the Omnibus Plans at termination following a change-in-control (or earlier upon a change-in-control that is a change in ownership as shown in |
56
the next table below, in which case the payment would not also be received upon a subsequent termination without cause or resignation for good reason). Awards are valued as of year-end 2016 based upon the closing price of Eastman common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on December 31, 2016. |
(3) | Value of continuation of health and welfare benefits for 18 months following termination under the Change-in-Control Agreement. |
The following table shows, for each of the named executive officers, the payment that would have been provided under the Omnibus Plans if there had been a change in ownership of the Company on December 31, 2016 (and, in the case of Mr. Lindsay, on July 1, 2016, the date of his retirement).
Amount of payment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Form of Payment |
M.J. Costa ($) |
C. E. Espeland ($) |
R. C. Lindsay ($) |
B. A. Lich ($) |
D. A. Golden ($) |
S. G. Crawford ($) |
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Value of unvested stock-based awards at target(1) |
$ | 4,274,911 | $ | 1,081,908 | $ | 1,652,460 | $ | 867,046 | $ | 634,398 | $ | 424,781 | ||||||||||||
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(1) | Value of unvested awards at target which vest and are paid out under the Omnibus Plans following a change in ownership of the Company. Awards are valued as of year-end 2016 based upon the closing price of Eastman common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on December 31, 2016. |
In addition to the payments described above, the executive officers would also receive the following payments for amounts already earned or vested as the result of participation in compensation or benefit plans on the same basis as other Company employees:
| value of outstanding vested stock-based awards (see the Outstanding Equity Awards at 2016 Year-End table), |
| earned Unit Performance Plan payout (see Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards column in the 2016 Grants of Plan-Based Awards table), |
| earned Company contribution to vested and unvested defined contribution plans (see All Other Compensation column in the Summary Compensation Table), |
| account balance in the Eastman Investment Plan, a 401(k) retirement plan, and the ESOP, |
| account balance in the Executive Deferred Compensation Plan (see Aggregate Balance at Last Year-End column in the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation table), and |
| lump sum present value of pension under the Companys qualified and non-qualified pension arrangements (see Present Value of Accumulated Benefit column in the Pension Benefits table). |
Benefit Security Trust. The Company has established a Benefit Security Trust (sometimes referred to as the Rabbi Trust) to provide a degree of financial security for its unfunded obligations under the Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, the supplemental ERAP plans, and the Change-in-Control Agreements with the Companys executives. The assets of the Rabbi Trust would be subject to the claims of the Companys creditors in the event of insolvency. Upon the occurrence of a change-in-control or a potential change-in-control (each as defined), or if the Company fails to meet its payment obligations under the covered plans and agreements, the Company would be required to transfer to the trustee cash or other liquid funds in an amount equal to the value of the Companys obligations under the covered plans and agreements. The Company has conveyed to the trustee rights to certain assets as partial security for the Companys funding obligations under the Rabbi Trust.
A change-in-control for purposes of the Rabbi Trust is generally defined to include the following, subject to certain exceptions: (i) the acquisition by a person (other than the Company, certain affiliated entities, or certain institutional investors) of 19% or more of the voting stock of the Company; (ii) the incumbent Board members (and subsequent directors approved by them) ceasing to constitute a majority of the Board; (iii) approval by the Companys stockholders of a reorganization or merger unless, after such proposed transaction, the former stockholders of the Company will own more than 75% of the resulting corporations voting stock; or (iv) approval by the Companys stockholders of a complete liquidation and dissolution of the Company or the
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sale or other disposition of substantially all of the assets of the Company, other than to a subsidiary or in a spin-off transaction. A potential change-in-control will generally be deemed to have occurred if (i) the Company enters into an agreement, the consummation of which would result in the occurrence of a change-in-control; (ii) any person (including the Company) publicly announces an intention to take action which, if consummated, would constitute a change-in-control; or (iii) any person (other than the Company, certain affiliated entities, or certain institutional investors) becomes the beneficial owner of 10% or more of the combined voting power of the Companys then-outstanding securities.
The Rabbi Trust is irrevocable until participants and their beneficiaries are no longer entitled to payments under the covered plans and agreements, but may be amended or revoked by agreement of the trustee, the Company, and a committee of individual beneficiaries of the Rabbi Trust.
ITEM 4 APPROVAL OF THE 2017 OMNIBUS STOCK COMPENSATION PLAN
Overview
Our existing stock-based incentive compensation plan, the 2012 Omnibus Stock Compensation Plan (the 2012 Plan), expires by its terms on May 3, 2017, and no future stock-based incentive awards may be made to our employees, officers, or directors after the 2012 Plan expires unless we adopt a new stock-based incentive plan.
We believe that it is important to the Companys success and long-term value to be able to continue to provide stock-based incentive compensation to our employees, officers, and directors. Such awards link the recipients personal interests to those of our stockholders, provide our employees, officers, and directors with an incentive for outstanding performance, and motivate, attract, and retain the services of those employees, officers, and directors upon whose judgment, interest, and special effort the successful conduct of the Companys operation is dependent.
Accordingly, the Board has adopted and recommends that stockholders approve at the 2017 Annual Meeting the 2017 Omnibus Stock Compensation Plan (the 2017 Plan) to replace the expiring 2012 Plan. The 2017 Plan will become effective on the date it is approved by the stockholders.
The 2017 Plan reserves 10,000,000 new shares of our common stock for future stock-based incentive awards. In addition, the 2017 Plan will reserve additional shares for future awards with respect to any shares of our common stock previously reserved under the 2012 Plan that have not yet been used under the 2012 Plan and that are not currently subject to any outstanding award under the 2012 Plan as of the date the 2017 Plan is approved by stockholders, plus any shares currently subject to outstanding awards under the 2012 Plan, the 2007 Omnibus Long-Term Compensation Plan (the 2007 Plan), and the 2002 Omnibus Long-Term Compensation Plan (the 2002 Plan) as of the date the 2017 Plan is approved by our stockholders that subsequently expire, are cancelled, forfeited or otherwise terminated without issuance of any shares after such date. As of February 28, 2017 there were approximately 2,238,644 unused shares under the 2012 Plan that were not subject to any outstanding award under the 2012 Plan and approximately 4,603,450 shares subject to outstanding awards under the 2012 Plan, the 2007 Plan, and the 2002 Plan. Assuming no changes in these numbers prior to the date of the 2017 Annual Meeting and that all currently outstanding awards under the 2012 Plan subsequently expire or are cancelled, forfeited, or otherwise terminated without the issuance of any shares after the date the 2017 Plan is approved by the stockholders, the maximum number of shares that would be available for issuance under the 2017 Plan if it is approved by the stockholders would be 10,000,000. Based on our historical grant practices and our current share value, we anticipate this share reserve will be sufficient to allow us to continue to grant stock-based incentive awards to our employees, officers, and directors for the entire expected five-year duration of the 2017 Plan.
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The following table sets forth information regarding outstanding equity awards payable in shares under the 2012, 2007, and 2002 Plans and shares available for future equity awards under the 2012 Plan as of February 28, 2017:
Total shares underlying outstanding stock options |
2,983,535 | |||
Weighted average exercise price of outstanding stock options |
$ | 67.02 | ||
Weighted average remaining life of outstanding stock options |
7.50 | |||
Total shares underlying outstanding unvested time-based restricted stock units |
1,619,915 | |||
Total shares available for award under 2012 plan |
2,238,644 |
Considerations in Adopting the 2017 Omnibus Stock Compensation Plan
The Compensation Committee recommended, and the Board approved, the number of shares to be authorized under the 2017 Plan based upon managements recommendation. In developing such recommendation, management considered various factors, including potential dilution (both overall and on an annual basis) of ownership of outstanding shares caused by issuance of new shares, burn rate, overhang, and the Companys historical grant practices.
The number of shares subject to equity awards is commonly expressed as a percentage of total shares outstanding and referred to as burn rate. Burn rate is a measure of dilution that shows how rapidly a company is depleting its shares reserved for equity compensation plans, and differs from annual dilution because it does not consider cancellations and other shares returned to the reserve. We have calculated the burn rate under our equity compensation program for the past three years as set forth in the following table:
Year |
Option Grants |
Full-Value Share Awards(1) |
Total Options and Adjusted Full-Value Share Awards(2) |
Weighted Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding |
Burn Rate(3) | |||||||||||
2016 |
553,998 | 617,480 | 2,097,698 | 147,300,000 | 1.42% | |||||||||||
2015 |
512,747 | 589,914 | 1,987,532 | 148,600,000 | 1.34% | |||||||||||
2014 |
272,143 | 429,546 | 1,346,008 | 149,500,000 | 0.90% |
(1) | Full-value awards are awards other than options and stock appreciation rights settled by issuance of stock. |
(2) | Full-value awards multiplied by 2.5. |
(3) | Three-year average burn rate is 1.22%. |
An additional metric that is used to measure the cumulative impact of a companys equity compensation program is overhang, which is the number of shares subject to equity awards outstanding but not exercised or settled, plus number of shares available to be awarded, divided by total common shares outstanding at the end of the year. Our overhang as of December 31, 2016 was 5.23%. If the 2017 Plan is approved, our overhang as of that date would increase to approximately 10.31%.
The Company estimates that the availability of 10,000,000 shares under the 2017 Plan would provide enough shares to enable us to continue to grant awards at historical rates for at least the next five years. However, there can be no certainty as to the future use of shares under the 2017 Plan, if approved by stockholders, as the Company may grant a different mix of equity awards than in the past, and other factors such as the Companys stock price may affect the rate at which shares are utilized under the 2017 Plan.
We have designed our 2017 Plan to conform to current compensation and corporate governance best practices. In addition to the features of the 2012 Plan that are continued in the 2017 Plan, we have eliminated discretionary acceleration of vesting of awards other than upon death, disability, or change in control and have added a minimum one-year vesting requirement to all awards, subject to a five percent carve-out.
If the stockholders approve the 2017 Plan, all future stock and stock-based awards to our employees, officers, and directors will be made from the 2017 Plan, and we will not grant any additional awards under the 2012 Plan. Previous awards under the 2012 Plan, the 2007 Plan, and the 2002 Plan that are outstanding as of the date the 2017 Plan becomes effective will continue in effect in accordance with their terms.
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A summary of the 2017 Plan follows. This summary is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the 2017 Plan, which is included as Appendix A to this proxy statement.
Summary of the 2017 Omnibus Stock Compensation Plan
Purpose. The purpose of the 2017 Plan is to promote the Companys success by linking the personal interests of our employees, officers, and directors to those of our stockholders, and by providing participants with an incentive for outstanding performance.
Permissible Awards. The 2017 Plan authorizes the granting of awards in any of the following forms:
| options to purchase shares of our common stock, which may be nonqualified stock options or incentive stock options under the Internal Revenue Code; |
| stock appreciation rights (SARs), which give the holder the right to receive the difference between the fair market value per share of our common stock on the date of exercise over the grant price; |
| restricted stock, which is subject to restrictions on transferability and subject to forfeiture; |
| restricted or deferred stock units, which represent the right to receive shares of our common stock (or an equivalent value in cash or other property, as specified in the award notice) in the future, based upon the attainment of stated vesting or performance criteria in the case of restricted stock units; |
| performance awards, which are payable in stock upon the attainment of specified performance goals; |
| dividend equivalents, which entitle the participant to payments (or an equivalent value payable in stock or other property) equal to any dividends paid on the shares of stock underlying such award; and |
| other stock-based awards, including unrestricted stock grants but subject (along with all other awards) to the one-year minimum vesting requirement for employee awards described below. |
Shares Available for Awards. Subject to adjustment as provided in the 2017 Plan, the aggregate number of shares of our common stock reserved and available for issuance pursuant to awards granted under the 2017 Plan is the sum of (i) 10,000,000 shares not previously authorized for issuance under any other plan, plus (ii) any shares previously authorized for issuance under the 2012 Plan and not previously issued under or currently subject to any outstanding award under the 2012 Plan as of the effective date of the 2017 Plan, plus (iii) any shares currently subject to outstanding awards under the 2012 Plan as of the effective date of the 2017 Plan, to the extent such awards may expire, be cancelled, forfeited or otherwise terminated without the issuance of shares after the effective date of the 2017 Plan. Option and SAR awards will be counted against the share reserve as 1 share for 1 share subject to the award while restricted stock, restricted stock unit and other full value awards will count against the share reserve as 2.5 shares for every 1 share subject to the award. Shares subject to awards under the 2012 Plan or the 2017 Plan that expire, are cancelled, forfeited or otherwise terminated, or that are settled in cash instead of any shares, will be added back to the shares available under the 2017 Plan. Shares awarded to persons who become Eastman employees as a result of a merger or acquisition and to substitute for stock awards that they hold from their prior employer (substitute awards) will not be counted against the shares available for issuance under the 2017 Plan. Shares not issued or delivered as a result of the net settlement of an option or SAR, shares delivered to or withheld by the Company to pay the exercise price of or the withholding taxes with respect to an award, and shares repurchased on the open market with the proceeds from the payment of the exercise price of an option will not be added to the share reserve and may not be used for future awards under the 2017 Plan.
The Companys common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange. The last reported sales price of the Companys common stock as of March 15, 2017 was $78.64 per share.
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Limitations on Individual Awards. The maximum aggregate number of shares of our common stock subject to stock-based awards under the 2017 Plan to any one participant in any year is as follows:
Type of Award |
Shares | |||
Options |
600,000 | |||
Stock Appreciation Rights |
600,000 | |||
Restricted Stock or Stock Units |
400,000 | |||
Performance Awards |
400,000 | |||
Other Stock-Based Awards |
400,000 |
Eligibility. Any employee, officer, or director of the Company or any affiliate may receive an award under the 2017 Plan. The Compensation and Management Development Committee of the Board (the Compensation Committee) has the sole power and discretion to select which employees and officers receive awards based on such criteria as it deems appropriate, and the Board has such power and discretion as to awards to non-employee directors under a subplan to the 2017 Plan. As of December 31, 2016, there were approximately 14,000 employees (including approximately 350 management-level employees) and twelve directors who would be eligible to participate in the 2017 Plan.
Administration. Except with respect to non-employee directors, the 2017 Plan will be administered by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee will have the authority to designate participants; determine the type or types of awards to be granted to each participant and the number, terms, and conditions thereof; establish, adopt, or revise any rules and regulations as it may deem advisable to administer the 2017 Plan; and make all other decisions and determinations that may be required under the 2017 Plan. For awards to non-employee directors, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will administer the 2017 Plan. The Board may at any time administer the 2017 Plan. If it does so, it will have all the powers of the Compensation and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees under the 2017 Plan. Only those members of the Board who meet applicable independence requirements can participate in administration of the plan.
Awards to Non-Employee Directors. The 2017 Plan provides for awards to our non-employee directors according to the parameters of a separate subplan, program, or policy for the compensation of non-employee directors as in effect from time to time. Any shares issued pursuant to such separate plan would come from the 2017 Plan. Neither the Board nor the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is authorized to make other discretionary grants to non-employee directors under the 2017 Plan. The maximum aggregate grant-date value of awards under the 2017 Plan in any year to each non-employee director is $250,000.
Stock Options and SARs. The exercise price of any stock option or SAR granted under the 2017 Plan may not be less than 100 percent of the fair market value per share of the common stock covered by the option or SAR on the date the option or SAR is granted. Fair market value is the closing price per share of our common stock as reported by the New York Stock Exchange on the date on which such value is to be determined (or if that date is not a trading day, on the immediately preceding trading day). Options and SARs may be exercised at the times specified by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee may allow for the purchase price of an option to be paid in cash, shares of our common stock or other property, by having us withhold shares from the option sufficient to pay the exercise price, or by exercising in a broker-assisted transaction.
Minimum Vesting Requirements. All awards under the 2017 Plan are subject to a minimum vesting period of one year. The minimum vesting restrictions will not apply with respect to a maximum of 5% of the authorized shares under the 2017 Plan, including any substitute awards or awards granted as an inducement to join the Company as a new employee to replace forfeited awards from a former employer.
Performance Goals. All options and SARs granted under the 2017 Plan are designed to be exempt from the $1,000,000 deduction limit imposed by Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m). The Compensation Committee may designate any other award granted under the 2017 Plan as a qualified performance-based award in order to make the award fully deductible without regard to the $1,000,000 deduction limit imposed by Code Section 162(m). If an award is so designated, the Compensation Committee must establish objectively determinable performance goals for the award based on one or more of the following business criteria, which
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may be expressed in terms of company-wide objectives or in terms of objectives that relate to the performance of an affiliate or a division, region, department, or function within the Company or an affiliate:
| Net earnings or net income (before or after taxes); |
| Earnings per share; |
| Net sales or revenue growth; |
| Net operating profit; |
| Return measures (including, but not limited to, return on assets, capital, invested capital, equity, sales, or revenue); |
| Cash flow (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow, free cash flow, cash flow return on equity, and cash flow return on investment); |
| Earnings before or after taxes, interest, depreciation, or amortization; |
| Gross or operating margins; |
| Productivity ratios; |
| Share price (including, but not limited to, growth measures and total stockholder return); |
| Expense targets; |
| Margins; |
| Operating efficiency; |
| Market share; |
| Customer satisfaction; |
| Working capital targets; |
| Economic value added (net operating profit after tax minus the sum of capital multiplied by the cost of capital, sales variable cost margin or other value added measures, or similar measures); |
| Operating earnings; and |
| Employee safety measures. |
The Compensation Committee must establish such goals within 90 days after the beginning of the period for which such performance goal relates (or such later date as may be permitted under applicable tax regulations) and the Compensation Committee may for any reason reduce (but not increase) any award, notwithstanding the achievement of a specified goal. The Compensation Committee may provide, at the time the performance goals are established, that any evaluation of performance may include or exclude any of the following events that occurs during a performance period: (a) asset write-downs; (b) litigation or claim judgments or settlements; (c) the effect of changes in tax laws, accounting principles, or other laws or provisions affecting reported results; (d) any reorganization and restructuring programs; (e) unusual or infrequently occurring items as described in Financial Accounting Standards Board Subtopic 225-20; (f) non-core, unusual or non-recurring items described in and excluded from the non-GAAP financial measures in managements discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations appearing in our annual report to stockholders for the applicable year or in the quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the applicable quarter; (g) acquisitions or divestitures; and (h) foreign exchange gains and losses.
Limitations on Transfer; Beneficiaries. While awards are generally not assignable or transferable by a participant other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, the Compensation Committee may permit other transfers (other than transfers for value) where it concludes that such transferability does not result in accelerated taxation, is consistent with securities offerings registered under the Securities Act of 1933 on Form S-8, does not cause any option intended to be an incentive stock option to fail to qualify as such, and is otherwise appropriate and desirable, taking into account any factors deemed relevant, including without limitation, any state, federal or foreign tax or securities laws or regulations applicable to transferable awards.
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Treatment of Awards upon Termination of Service. Unless otherwise provided in an award notice, upon the termination of a participants service for a reason other than death, disability, retirement, or any other approved reason, all unexercised, unearned, or unpaid awards, including awards earned but not yet paid, all unpaid dividends and dividend equivalents, and all interest accrued on such awards will be canceled or forfeited. Subject to limitations applicable to certain qualified performance-based awards, the Compensation Committee has the authority to promulgate rules and regulations to (i) determine what events constitute retirement or termination for an approved reason for purposes of the 2017 Plan, and (ii) determine the treatment of a participant under the 2017 Plan in the event of such participants death, disability, retirement, or termination for an approved reason.
Treatment of Awards upon a Change in Ownership. Unless otherwise provided by the Compensation Committee, if Eastman experiences a change in control that results in Eastman stock ceasing to be publicly traded (a change in ownership), the following will occur:
| all of the conditions, restrictions, and limitations in effect on any unexercised, unearned, unpaid or deferred awards, or any other outstanding award, will lapse and such awards will become immediately vested as of the effective date of the change in ownership; |
| the payout opportunities attainable under all outstanding performance awards will vest based on target or actual performance (depending on the time during the performance period in which the change in ownership occurs) and the awards will pay out on a pro rata basis, based on the time elapsed prior to the change in ownership; and |
| all unpaid dividends and dividend equivalents and all interest accrued thereon, if any, will be treated and paid in the identical manner and time as the award with respect to which such dividends or dividend equivalents have been credited. |
Treatment of Awards upon a Change in Control. Unless otherwise provided by the Compensation Committee, upon a participants termination of employment within two years after the effective date of a change in control other than termination due to (i) death, (ii) disability, (iii) cause, (iv) resignation other than (A) resignation from a declined reassignment to a job that is not reasonably equivalent in responsibility or compensation, or that is not in the same geographic area, or (B) resignation within thirty (30) days following a reduction in base pay, or (v) retirement entitling the participant to benefits under his or her employers retirement plan, then:
| all of the conditions, restrictions, and limitations in effect on any unexercised, unearned, unpaid or deferred awards, or any other outstanding award, will lapse and such awards will become immediately vested as of the date of termination; |
| the payout opportunities attainable under all outstanding performance awards will vest based on target or actual performance (depending on the time during the performance period in which termination occurs) and the awards will pay out on a pro rata basis, based on the time elapsed prior to termination; and |
| all unpaid dividends and dividend equivalents and all interest accrued thereon, if any, will be treated and paid in the identical manner and time as the award with respect to which such dividends or dividend equivalents have been credited. |
Forfeiture Events. The Compensation Committee may specify in an award notice that the participants rights, payments and benefits with respect to an award will be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, or recoupment upon the occurrence of certain specified events, including, but not limited to, termination of employment for cause, violation of Company policies, breach of applicable non-competition, confidentiality or other restrictive covenants, or other conduct by the participant that is detrimental to the business or reputation of the Company.
If we are required to prepare an accounting restatement due to the material noncompliance of the Company with any financial reporting requirement, awards granted under the 2017 Plan will be subject to any applicable law or Company policy requiring reimbursement to the Company of certain incentive-based compensation.
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Adjustments. In the event of a nonreciprocal transaction between the Company and its stockholders that causes the per-share value of the common stock to change (including, without limitation, any stock dividend, stock split, spin-off, rights offering, or large nonrecurring cash dividend), the share authorization limits under the 2017 Plan will be adjusted proportionately, and the Compensation Committee must make such adjustments to the 2017 Plan and awards as it deems necessary, in its sole discretion, to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights immediately resulting from such transaction. In the event of a stock-split, a stock dividend, or a combination or consolidation of the outstanding common stock into a lesser number of shares, the authorization limits under the 2017 Plan will automatically be adjusted proportionately, and the shares then subject to each award will automatically be adjusted proportionately without any change in the aggregate purchase price.
Termination and Amendment. The Board may, at any time and from time to time, terminate or amend the 2017 Plan, but if an amendment would constitute a material amendment requiring stockholder approval under applicable listing requirements, laws, policies or regulations, then such amendment will be subject to stockholder approval. In addition, the Board may condition any amendment on the approval of stockholders for any other reason. No termination or amendment of the 2017 Plan may, without the written consent of the participant, reduce or diminish the value of an award determined as if the award had been exercised, vested, cashed in or otherwise settled on the date of such amendment or termination. The 2017 Plan will automatically terminate on the fifth anniversary of the date on which it is approved by stockholders, unless earlier terminated by the Board.
The Board or the Compensation Committee may amend or terminate outstanding awards. However, such amendments may require the consent of the participant and, unless approved by the stockholders, the exercise price of an outstanding option may not be reduced, directly or indirectly, and the original term of an option may not be extended.
Prohibition on Repricing and Reloading. Outstanding stock options and SARs cannot be repriced, directly or indirectly, without the prior consent of the Companys stockholders. The exchange of an underwater option or SAR (i.e., an option or SAR having an exercise price in excess of the current market value of the underlying stock) for another award or for cash would be considered a repricing and would, therefore, require the prior consent of the Companys stockholders. No option or SAR may include provisions that reload the option or SAR upon exercise or that extend the term of the SAR beyond what is the maximum period specified in the option or SAR.
Certain Federal Tax Consequences
Nonqualified Stock Options. There will be no federal income tax consequences to the optionee or to us upon the grant of a nonqualified stock option under the 2017 Plan. When the optionee exercises a nonqualified option, however, he or she will recognize ordinary income in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the common stock received upon exercise of the option at the time of exercise over the exercise price, and we will be allowed a corresponding federal income tax deduction. Any gain that the optionee realizes when he or she later sells or disposes of the option shares will be short-term or long-term capital gain, depending on how long the shares were held.
Incentive Stock Options. There will be no federal income tax consequences to the optionee or to us upon the grant of an incentive stock option under the 2017 Plan. If the optionee holds the option shares for the required holding period of at least two years after the date the option was granted and one year after exercise, the difference between the exercise price and the amount realized upon sale or disposition of the option shares will be long-term capital gain or loss, and we will not be entitled to a federal income tax deduction. If the optionee disposes of the option shares in a sale, exchange, or other disqualifying disposition before the required holding period ends, he or she will recognize taxable ordinary income in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the option shares at the time of exercise over the exercise price, and we will be allowed a federal income tax deduction equal to such amount. While the exercise of an incentive stock option will not result in current taxable income, the excess of the fair market value of the option shares at the time of exercise over the exercise price will be an item of adjustment for purposes of determining the optionees alternative minimum taxable income.
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Stock Appreciation Rights. A participant receiving a SAR under the 2017 Plan will not recognize income, and we will not be allowed a tax deduction, at the time the award is granted. When the participant exercises the SAR, he or she will recognize ordinary income in an amount equal to the excess of the amount received on exercise over the fair market value of underlying shares and we will be allowed a corresponding federal income tax deduction at that time.
Restricted Stock. Unless a participant makes an election to accelerate recognition of the income to the date of award as described below, a participant will not recognize income, and we will not be allowed a tax deduction, at the time of a restricted stock award under the 2017 Plan, provided that the award is nontransferable and is subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. When the restrictions lapse, the participant will recognize ordinary income equal to the fair market value of the common stock as of that date (less any amount he or she paid for the stock), and we will be allowed a corresponding federal income tax deduction at that time, subject to any applicable limitations under Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m). If the participant files an election under Internal Revenue Code Section 83(b) within 30 days after the date of grant of the restricted stock under the 2017 Plan, he or she will recognize ordinary income as of the date of grant equal to the fair market value of the stock as of that date (less any amount paid for the stock), and we will be allowed a corresponding federal income tax deduction at that time, subject to any applicable limitations under Section 162(m). Any future appreciation in the stock will be taxable to the participant at capital gains rates. However, if the stock is later forfeited, the participant will not be able to recover the tax previously paid pursuant to the Section 83(b) election.
Restricted or Deferred Stock Units. A participant will not recognize income, and we will not be allowed a tax deduction, at the time a stock unit award is made under the 2017 Plan. Upon receipt of shares of common stock (or the equivalent value in cash or other property) in settlement of a stock unit award, a participant will recognize ordinary income equal to the fair market value of the common stock or other property as of that date (less any amount he or she paid for the stock or property), and we will be allowed a corresponding federal income tax deduction at that time, subject to any applicable limitations under Section 162(m).
Performance Awards. A participant generally will not recognize income, and we will not be allowed a tax deduction, at the time performance awards are made under the 2017 Plan. Upon receipt of shares of stock or other property in settlement of a performance award, the fair market value of the stock or other property will be ordinary income to the participant, and we will be allowed a corresponding federal income tax deduction at that time, subject to any applicable limitations under Section 162(m).
Internal Revenue Code Section 409A. The 2017 Plan permits the grant of various types of incentive awards, which may or may not be exempt from Internal Revenue Code Section 409A. If an award is subject to Section 409A, and if the requirements of Section 409A are not met, the taxable events as described above could apply earlier than described, and could result in the imposition of additional taxes and penalties. Awards that comply with the terms of the 2017 Plan are designed to be exempt from the application of Section 409A. If not exempt, such awards must be specially designed to meet the requirements of Section 409A in order to avoid early taxation and penalties.
The above description of tax consequences is general in nature and does not purport to be complete. Moreover, statutory provisions and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder are subject to change, as are their interpretations, and their application may vary in individual circumstances. Additionally, the consequences under applicable state and local income tax laws, rules and regulations may not be the same as under federal income tax laws, rules, and regulations.
Benefits to Named Executive Officers and Others
No awards may be granted under the 2017 Plan until it becomes effective upon approval by stockholders. Awards will be made to employees at the discretion of the Compensation Committee or pursuant to delegated authority or to non-employee directors under the terms of a separate plan, program, or policy approved by the Board under the 2017 Plan. Therefore, it is not presently possible to determine the benefits or amounts that will be received by such persons or groups pursuant to the 2017 Plan in the future.
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Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following table gives information about our common stock that may be issued under all of our equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2016.
Plan Category |
Number of Securities to be Issued upon Exercise of Outstanding Options (a) |
Weighted- Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options (b) |
Number of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans (Excluding Securities Reflected in Column (a)) (c) | |||||
Equity compensation plans approved by stockholders |
2,363,700 | $61 | 3,807,724 | |||||
Equity compensation plans not approved by stockholders |
| | | |||||
|
|
|
| |||||
Total |
2,363,700 | $61 | 3,807,724 | |||||
|
|
|
|
No additional shares will be awarded under the 2012 Plan, the 2007 Plan, or the 2002 Plan other than those that may be issued upon exercise of already outstanding options indicated in column (a) of the table above and shares that may be issued upon payout of previously awarded performance shares and restricted stock units from the shares in column (c) of the table above.
The Board of Directors recommends that you vote FOR approval of the 2017 Omnibus Stock Compensation Plan.
ITEM 5 RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has retained PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to serve as the Companys independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2017.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP also served as the Companys independent registered public accounting firm for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, and has billed the Company the following amounts for fees and related expenses for professional services rendered during 2016 and 2015:
Audit Fees: $5.8 million, in the aggregate, for the year ended December 31, 2016 and $5.89 million, in the aggregate, for the year ended December 31, 2015 for professional services rendered for the audits of the consolidated financial statements of the Company (including the audit of internal controls over financial reporting), statutory and subsidiary audits, issuance of comfort letters, and assistance with review of documents filed with the SEC.
Audit-Related Fees: $60,000, in the aggregate, for the year ended December 31, 2016 and $20,000, in the aggregate, for the year ended December 31, 2015 for assurance and related services, including employee benefit plan audits, other audit procedures, and consultations concerning financial accounting and reporting standards. In addition, various employee benefit plans were billed for fees and related expenses of $65,000 for 2016 and for 2015 for audits of their plan financial statements by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
Tax Fees: $5.06 million, in the aggregate, for the year ended December 31, 2016 and $4.04 million, in the aggregate, for the year ended December 31, 2015 for services related to tax planning, tax compliance, including expatriate tax services and preparation of tax returns and claims for refunds, tax advice, assistance with respect to tax audits, and requests for rulings for technical advice from tax authorities.
All Other Fees: $1,800, in the aggregate, for the year ended December 31, 2016 and $6,500, in the aggregate, for the year ended December 31, 2015 for all services other than those covered above under Audit Fees, Audit-Related Fees, and Tax Fees. All Other Fees for 2016 and 2015 were for technology access licenses.
As described under Audit Committee Audit Committee Report earlier in this proxy statement, all audit and non-audit services provided to the Company by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP were pre-approved by the Audit Committee or by the Chair of the Audit Committee pursuant to delegated authority.
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The stockholders are being asked to ratify the Audit Committees appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. If the stockholders fail to ratify this appointment, the Audit Committee may, but is not required to, reconsider whether to retain that firm. Even if the appointment is ratified, the Audit Committee in its discretion may direct the appointment of a different 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 its stockholders.
A representative of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is expected to attend the 2017 Annual Meeting and will have the opportunity to make a statement on behalf of the firm if he desires to do so. The representative is also expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions from stockholders.
The Board of Directors recommends that you vote FOR ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as Eastmans independent registered public accounting firm.
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2017 OMNIBUS STOCK COMPENSATION PLAN
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EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY
2017 Omnibus Stock Compensation Plan
Effective May 4, 2017
ARTICLE 1
PURPOSE
1.1. GENERAL. The purpose of the Eastman Chemical Company 2017 Omnibus Stock Compensation Plan (the Plan) is to promote the success, and enhance the value, of Eastman Chemical Company (the Company,) by linking the personal interests of employees, officers, and directors of the Company or any Affiliate (as defined below) to those of Company stockholders and by providing such persons with an incentive for outstanding performance. The Plan is further intended to provide flexibility to the Company in its ability to motivate, attract, and retain the services of employees, officers, and directors upon whose judgment, interest, and special effort the successful conduct of the Companys operation is largely dependent. Accordingly, the Plan permits the grant of incentive awards from time to time to selected employees, officers, and directors of the Company and its Affiliates.
1.2 EFFECT ON 2012 PLAN. Once the Plan is effective, the Companys 2012 Omnibus Stock Compensation Plan (the 2012 Plan) will terminate and no further awards will be granted under the 2012 Plan. Existing awards previously granted under the 2012 Plan will continue in effect in accordance with their terms.
ARTICLE 2
DEFINITIONS
2.1. DEFINITIONS. When a word or phrase appears in this Plan with the initial letter capitalized, and the word or phrase does not commence a sentence, the word or phrase shall generally be given the meaning ascribed to it in this Section or in Section 1.1 unless a clearly different meaning is required by the context. The following words and phrases shall have the following meanings:
(a) Affiliate means (i) any Subsidiary or Parent, or (ii) an entity that directly or through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Company, as determined by the Committee.
(b) Award means any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit Award, Deferred Stock Unit Award, Performance Award, Dividend Equivalent Award, or Other Stock-Based Award awarded or granted to a Participant under the Plan.
(c) Award Notice means a written document, in such form as the Committee prescribes from time to time, setting forth the terms and conditions of an Award. Award Notices may be in the form of individual award notices, agreements or certificates or a program document describing the terms and provisions of an Award or series of Awards under the Plan. The Committee may provide for the use of electronic, internet or other non-paper Award Notices, and the use of electronic, internet or other non-paper means for the acceptance thereof and actions thereunder by a Participant.
(d) Beneficial Owner shall have the meaning given such term in Rule 13d-3 of the 1934 Act.
(e) Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(f) Cause as a reason for a Participants termination of employment shall have the meaning assigned such term in the employment, severance or similar agreement, if any, between such Participant and the Company or an Affiliate, provided, however that if there is no such employment, severance or similar agreement in which such term is defined, and unless otherwise defined in the applicable Award Notice, Cause shall mean any of the following acts by the Participant, as determined by the Committee: gross neglect of duty, prolonged absence from duty without the consent of the Company, material breach by the Participant of any published Company code of conduct or code of ethics; or willful misconduct, misfeasance or malfeasance of duty which is reasonably determined to be detrimental to the Company, or, with respect to
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Participants employed outside the United States, such other definition as may be codified under local laws, rules and regulations. With respect to a Participants termination of Board directorship, Cause means an act or failure to act that constitutes cause for removal of a director under applicable Delaware law. The determination of the Committee as to the existence of Cause shall be conclusive on the Participant and the Company.
(g) Change in Control means and includes the occurrence of any one of the following events:
(i) individuals who, on the Effective Date, constituted the Board of Directors of the Company (the Incumbent Directors) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of such Board, provided that any person becoming a director after the Effective Date and whose election or nomination for election was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the Incumbent Directors then on the Board shall be an Incumbent Director; provided, however, that no individual initially elected or nominated as a director of the Company as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors (Election Contest) or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of any Person other than the Board (Proxy Contest), including by reason of any agreement intended to avoid or settle any Election Contest or Proxy Contest, shall be deemed an Incumbent Director; or
(ii) any person becomes a Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of either (A) 35% or more of the then-outstanding shares of Stock or (B) securities of the Company representing 35% or more of the combined voting power of the Companys then outstanding securities eligible to vote for the election of directors (the Company Voting Securities); provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection (ii), the following acquisitions of Stock or Company Voting Securities shall not constitute a Change in Control: (w) an acquisition directly from the Company, (x) an acquisition by the Company or a Subsidiary, (y) an acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any Subsidiary, or (z) an acquisition pursuant to a Non-Qualifying Transaction (as defined in subsection (iii) below); or
(iii) the consummation of a reorganization, merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or similar form of corporate transaction involving the Company or a Subsidiary (a Reorganization), or the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Companys assets (a Sale) or the acquisition of assets or stock of another corporation or other entity (an Acquisition), unless immediately following such Reorganization, Sale or Acquisition: (A) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the Beneficial Owners, respectively, of the outstanding Stock and outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Reorganization, Sale or Acquisition beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the entity resulting from such Reorganization, Sale or Acquisition (including, without limitation, an entity which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Companys assets or stock either directly or through one or more subsidiaries, the Surviving Entity) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Reorganization, Sale or Acquisition, of the outstanding Stock and the outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, and (B) no person (other than (x) the Company or any Subsidiary, (y) the Surviving Entity or its ultimate parent entity, or (z) any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by any of the foregoing) is the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of 35% or more of the total common stock or 35% or more of the total voting power of the outstanding voting securities eligible to elect directors of the Surviving Entity, and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the Surviving Entity were Incumbent Directors at the time of the Boards approval of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such Reorganization, Sale or Acquisition (any Reorganization, Sale or Acquisition which satisfies all of the criteria specified in (A), (B) and (C) above shall be deemed to be a Non-Qualifying Transaction); or
(iv) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
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(h) Change in Ownership means a Change in Control that results directly or indirectly in the Stock (or the stock of any successor to the Company received in exchange for Stock) ceasing to be publicly traded in a national securities market.
(i) Code means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time. For purposes of this Plan, references to sections of the Code shall be deemed to include references to any applicable regulations thereunder and any successor or similar provision, and will also include any proposed, temporary or final regulations, or any other guidance, promulgated with respect to such Section by the U.S. Department of the Treasury or Internal Revenue Service.
(j) Committee means the committee or committees of the Board described in Article 4.
(k) Company means Eastman Chemical Company, a Delaware corporation, or any successor corporation.
(l) Continuous Status as a Participant means the absence of any interruption or termination of service as an employee, officer, or director of the Company or any Affiliate, as applicable; provided, however, that for purposes of an Incentive Stock Option Continuous Status as a Participant means the absence of any interruption or termination of service as an employee of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, as applicable, pursuant to applicable tax regulations. Continuous Status as a Participant shall not be considered interrupted in the following cases: (ii) a Participant transfers employment between the Company and an Affiliate or between Affiliates, or (ii) in the discretion of the Committee as specified at or prior to such occurrence, in the case of a spin-off, sale or disposition of the Participants employer from the Company or any Affiliate, or (iii) any leave of absence authorized in writing by the Company prior to its commencement; provided, however, that for purposes of Incentive Stock Options, no such leave may exceed 90 days, unless reemployment upon expiration of such leave is guaranteed by statute or contract. If reemployment upon expiration of a leave of absence approved by the Company is not so guaranteed, on the 91st day of such leave any Incentive Stock Option held by the Participant shall cease to be treated as an Incentive Stock Option and shall be treated for tax purposes as a Nonstatutory Stock Option. Whether military, government or other service or other leave of absence shall constitute a termination of employment shall be determined in each case by the Committee for executive officers, or the Committees delegate for other employees, and any determination by the Committee or the Committees delegate shall be final and conclusive.
(m) Covered Employee means a covered employee as defined in Section 162(m)(3) of the Code.
(n) Deferred Stock Unit means a right granted to a Participant under Article 9 to receive Shares of Stock (or the equivalent value in cash or other property if the Committee so provides) at a future time as determined by the Committee, or as determined by the Participant within guidelines established by the Committee in the case of voluntary deferral elections.
(o) Disability of a Participant means that the Participant (i) is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, (ii) is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Participants employer, or (iii) with respect to Participants employed outside of the United States, such other definition as may be codified under local laws, rules and regulations. If the determination of Disability relates to an Incentive Stock Option, Disability means Permanent and Total Disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code. In the event of a dispute, the determination whether a Participant is Disabled will be made by the Committee for executive officers and directors, or the Committees delegate for other employees, and may be supported by the advice of a physician competent in the area to which such Disability relates.
(p) Dividend Equivalent means a right granted to a Participant under Article 12.
(q) Effective Date has the meaning assigned such term in Section 3.1.
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(r) Eligible Participant means an employee, officer, or director of the Company or any Affiliate.
(s) Exchange means the New York Stock Exchange or any national securities exchange on which the Stock may from time to time be listed or traded.
(t) Fair Market Value means the closing sales price per share of Stock on the Exchange on which Stock has the highest trading volume on the Grant Date or any other date for which the value of Stock must be determined under the Plan or, in the absence of reported sales on such date, the closing sales price on the immediately preceding date on which sales were reported.
(u) Full Value Award means an Award other than in the form of an Option or SAR, and which is settled by the issuance of Stock.
(v) Grant Date of an Award means the first date on which all necessary corporate action has been taken to approve the grant of the Award as provided in the Plan, or such later date as is determined and specified as part of that authorization process. Notice of the grant shall be provided to the grantee within a reasonable time after the Grant Date.
(w) Incentive Stock Option means an Option that is intended to be an incentive stock option and meets the requirements of Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision.
(x) Independent Director means a member of the Board of Directors who qualifies at any given time as an independent director under applicable Exchange requirements, a non-employee director under Rule 16b-3 of the 1934 Act, and an outside director under Section 162(m) of the Code.
(y) Non-Employee Director means a director of the Company who is not a common law employee of the Company or an Affiliate.
(z) Nonstatutory Stock Option means an Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option.
(aa) Option means a right granted to a Participant under Article 7 of the Plan to purchase Stock at a specified price during specified time periods. An Option may be either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option.
(bb) Other Stock-Based Award means a right, granted to a Participant under Article 13 that relates to or is valued by reference to Stock or other Awards relating to Stock.
(cc) Parent means a corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other entity which owns or beneficially owns a majority of the outstanding voting stock or voting power of the Company. Notwithstanding the above, with respect to an Incentive Stock Option, Parent shall have the meaning set forth in Section 424(e) of the Code.
(dd) Participant means a person who, as an employee, officer, or director of the Company or any Affiliate, has been granted an Award under the Plan; provided that in the case of the death or Disability of a Participant, the term Participant refers to the Participants estate or other legal representative acting in a fiduciary capacity on behalf of the Participant under applicable state law and court supervision.
(ee) Performance Award means an Award under Article 10 herein and subject to the terms of this Plan, denominated in Shares, the value of which at the time it is payable is determined as a function of the extent to which corresponding performance criteria have been achieved.
(ff) Person means any individual, entity or group, within the meaning of Section 3(a)(9) of the 1934 Act and as used in Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the 1934 Act.
(gg) Plan means this Eastman Chemical Company 2017 Omnibus Stock Compensation Plan, as amended from time to time.
(hh) Qualified Performance-Based Award means an Award that is either (i) intended to qualify for the Section 162(m) Exemption and is made subject to performance goals based on Qualified Business Measures as set forth in Section 11.2, or (ii) an Option or SAR having an exercise price equal to or greater than the Fair Market Value of the underlying Stock as of the Grant Date.
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(ii) Qualified Business Measures means one or more of the business measures listed in Section 11.2 upon which performance goals for certain Qualified Performance-Based Awards may be established by the Committee.
(jj) Repricing means, with respect to an Option or Stock Appreciation Right, any of the following: (i) the lowering of the exercise price after the Grant Date; (ii) the taking of any other action that is treated as a repricing under generally accepted accounting principles; or (iii) the cancellation of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right at a time when its exercise price (or, with respect to the Stock Appreciation Right, the Fair Market Value of the Stock covered by the Stock Appreciation Right on the Grant Date) exceeds the Fair Market Value of the underlying Stock in exchange for any other Award or for cash, unless the cancellation and exchange occurs in connection with a merger, acquisition, spin-off or other similar corporate transaction.
(kk) Restricted Stock Award means Stock granted to a Participant under Article 9 that is subject to certain restrictions and to risk of forfeiture.
(ll) Restricted Stock Unit Award means the right granted to a Participant under Article 9 to receive shares of Stock (or the equivalent Fair Market Value in cash or other property if the Committee so provides) in the future, which right is subject to certain restrictions and to risk of forfeiture.
(mm) Section 162(m) Exemption means the exemption from the limitation on deductibility imposed by Section 162(m) of the Code that is set forth in Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code or any successor provision thereto.
(nn) Shares means shares of the Companys Stock. If there has been an adjustment or substitution pursuant to Article 15, the term Shares shall also include any shares of stock or other securities that are substituted for Shares or into which Shares are adjusted pursuant to Article 15.
(oo) Stock means the $0.01 par value common stock of the Company and such other securities of the Company as may be substituted for Stock pursuant to Article 15.
(pp) Stock Appreciation Right or SAR means a right granted to a Participant under Article 8 to receive a payment equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of a Share as of the date of exercise of the SAR over the base price of the SAR, all as determined pursuant to Article 8.
(qq) Subsidiary means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other entity, domestic or foreign, of which a majority of the outstanding voting stock or voting power is beneficially owned directly or indirectly by the Company. Notwithstanding the above, with respect to an Incentive Stock Option, Subsidiary shall have the meaning set forth in Section 424(f) of the Code.
(rr) Taxable Year means the fiscal period used by the Company for reporting taxes on its income under the Code.
(ss) 1933 Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.
(tt) 1934 Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.
(uu) 2012 Plan has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2.
ARTICLE 3
EFFECTIVE TERM OF PLAN
3.1. EFFECTIVE DATE. The Plan shall be effective as of the date it is approved by the stockholders of the Company (the Effective Date).
3.2. TERMINATION OF PLAN. The Plan shall terminate on the fifth anniversary of the Effective Date unless earlier terminated as provided herein. The termination of the Plan on such date shall not affect the validity of any Award outstanding on the date of termination, which shall continue to be governed by the applicable terms and conditions of this Plan.
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ARTICLE 4
ADMINISTRATION
4.1. COMMITTEE. The Plan shall be administered by a Committee appointed by the Board (which Committee shall consist solely of Independent Directors) or, at the discretion of the Board from time to time, the Plan may be administered by the Board. If any members of the Committee do not qualify as Independent Directors, such members shall abstain from participating in any decision to make or administer Awards that are made to Eligible Participants who at the time of consideration for such Award (i) are persons subject to the short-swing profit rules of Section 16 of the 1934 Act, or (ii) are reasonably anticipated to become Covered Employees during the term of the Award. However, the mere fact that a Committee member shall fail to qualify as an Independent Director or shall fail to abstain from such action shall not invalidate any Award made by the Committee which Award is otherwise validly made under the Plan. The members of the Committee shall be appointed by, and may be changed at any time and from time to time in the discretion of, the Board. Unless and until changed by the Board, the Compensation and Management Development Committee of the Board is designated as the Committee to administer the Plan; provided that in the case of Awards to Non-Employee Directors, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board is designated as the Committee to administer the Plan with respect to such Awards. The Board may reserve to itself any or all of the authority and responsibility of the Committee under the Plan or may act as administrator of the Plan for any and all purposes. To the extent the Board has reserved any authority and responsibility or during any time that the Board is acting as administrator of the Plan, it shall have all the powers of the Committee hereunder, and any reference herein to the Committee (other than in this Section 4.1) shall include the Board; provided, however, that only those directors who qualify as Independent Directors shall act as the Board for this purpose. To the extent any action of the Board under the Plan conflicts with actions taken by the Committee, the actions of the Board shall control.
4.2. ACTION AND INTERPRETATIONS BY THE COMMITTEE. For purposes of administering the Plan, the Committee may from time to time adopt rules, regulations, guidelines and procedures for carrying out the provisions and purposes of the Plan and make such other determinations, not inconsistent with the Plan, as the Committee may deem appropriate. The Committees interpretation of the Plan, any Awards granted under the Plan, any Award Notice and all decisions and determinations by the Committee with respect to the Plan are final, binding, and conclusive on all parties. Each member of the Committee is entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to that member by any officer or other employee of the Company or any Affiliate, the Companys or an Affiliates independent certified public accountants, Company counsel or any executive compensation consultant or other professional retained by the Company or the Committee to assist in the administration of the Plan.
4.3. AUTHORITY OF COMMITTEE. Except as provided in Section 4.1 and 4.4 hereof, the Committee has the exclusive power, authority and discretion to:
(a) Grant Awards;
(b) Designate Participants;
(c) Determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each Participant;
(d) Determine the number of Awards to be granted and the number of Shares or dollar amount to which an Award will relate;
(e) Determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted under the Plan;
(f) Accelerate the vesting, exercisability or lapse of restrictions of any outstanding Award upon a Participants death or Disability or upon a Change in Control as described in Article 14 subject to and in accordance with Section 5.5 and Article 11 or 14;
(g) Determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances an Award may be settled in, or the exercise price of an Award may be paid in, cash, Stock, other Awards, or other property, or an Award may be canceled, forfeited, or surrendered;
(h) Prescribe the form of each Award Notice, which need not be identical for each Participant;
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(i) Decide all other matters that must be determined in connection with an Award;
(j) Establish, adopt or revise any rules, regulations, guidelines or procedures as it may deem necessary or advisable to administer the Plan;
(k) Make all other decisions and determinations that may be required under the Plan or as the Committee deems necessary or advisable to administer the Plan;
(l) Amend the Plan or any Award Notice as provided herein;
(m) Grant Awards to Eligible Participants who are foreign nationals, who are employed outside the United States or who are not compensated from a payroll maintained in the United States, or who are otherwise subject to (or could cause the Company or any Affiliate to be subject to) legal, regulatory or tax provisions of countries or jurisdictions outside the United States, on such terms and conditions different from those specified in the Plan as may, in the judgment of the Committee, be necessary or desirable to foster and promote achievement of the purposes of the Plan (and may, for purposes of the foregoing, establish sub-plans of the Plan or adopt such other modifications and procedures to effectuate the grant of Awards outside of the United States);
(n) Establish or verify the extent of satisfaction of any performance goals with respect to Performance Awards or Qualified Performance-Based Awards, or other conditions applicable to the grant, issuance, exercisability, vesting and/or ability to retain any Award;
(o) Prescribe and amend the terms of the Award Notice or other documents evidencing Awards made under this Plan (which need not be identical);
(p) Determine whether, and the extent to which, adjustments are required pursuant to Article 15;
(q) Interpret and construe this Plan, any subplans, programs and policies under this Plan and the terms and conditions of any Award granted hereunder, and to make exceptions to any provisions for the benefit of the Company; and
(r) Make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of this Plan.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Awards to Non-Employee Directors hereunder shall be made only in accordance with the terms, conditions and parameters of a subplan to this Plan, program, or policy for the compensation of Non-Employee Directors adopted by the Board as in effect from time to time, and the Committee may not make grants hereunder to Non-Employee Directors outside of the terms of such a subplan, program, or policy. The terms of any such subplan, program or policy may allow for the deferral of any Awards to Non-Employee Directors, including Restricted Stock Awards.
4.4. DELEGATION.
(a) Administrative Duties. The Committee may delegate to one or more of its members or to one or more officers of the Company or an Affiliate or to one or more agents or advisors such administrative duties or powers as it may deem advisable, and the Committee or any individuals to whom it has delegated duties or powers as aforesaid may employ one or more individuals to render advice with respect to any responsibility the Committee or such individuals may have under this Plan. For the avoidance of doubt, any delegation hereunder shall include the right to modify Awards as necessary to accommodate changes in applicable laws, rules or regulations, including in jurisdictions outside the United States.
(b) Special Committee. The Board or the Compensation and Management Development Committee of the Board may, by resolution, expressly delegate to a special committee, consisting of one or more directors who are also officers of the Company, the authority, within specified parameters as to the number and terms of Awards, to (i) designate officers or employees of the Company or any of its Affiliates to be recipients of Awards under the Plan, and (ii) to determine the number of such Awards to be received by any such Participants; provided, however, that such delegation of duties and responsibilities to an officer of the Company may not be made with respect to the grant of Awards to eligible participants (a) who are subject to Section 16(a) of the 1934 Act at the Grant Date, or (b) who as of the Grant Date are reasonably anticipated
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to be become Covered Employees during the term of the Award. The acts of such delegates shall be treated hereunder as acts of the Board or the Compensation and Management Development Committee of the Board and such delegates shall report regularly to the Board or the Compensation and Management Development Committee of the Board regarding the delegated duties and responsibilities and any Awards so granted.
4.5. AWARD NOTICES. Each Award shall be evidenced by an Award Notice. Each Award Notice shall include such provisions, not inconsistent with the Plan, as may be specified by the Committee.
ARTICLE 5
SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
5.1. NUMBER OF SHARES. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 5.2 and Article 15, the aggregate number of Shares reserved and available for issuance pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan shall be the sum of (i) 10,000,000 new Shares not previously authorized for issuance under any plan, plus (ii) any Shares previously authorized for issuance under the 2012 Plan and not previously issued under or currently subject to any outstanding award under the 2012 Plan as of the Effective Date, plus (iii) any Shares currently subject to outstanding awards under the 2012 Plan as of the Effective Date, to the extent such awards may expire, be cancelled, forfeited or otherwise terminated without the issuance of Shares after the Effective Date. When an award granted under the 2012 Plan and denominated in Stock (or any portion thereof) expires, is cancelled, is forfeited or is otherwise terminated without the issuance of Shares, or is settled in cash or consideration other than Shares, then the Shares previously counted against the total number of Shares available for issuance or delivery under such 2012 Plan on account of such award (or portion thereof) will be added to the total number of Shares available for issuance or delivery under this Plan. The maximum number of Shares that may be issued upon exercise of Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan shall be 10,000,000.
5.2. SHARE COUNTING. The number of Shares covered by an Award shall be counted against the Plans Share reserve as of the Grant Date; provided, however, that the Shares covered by each Full Value Award will be counted against the total number of Shares available for issuance or delivery under the Plan as 2.5 Shares for every one Share covered by such Award. The following rules shall apply for the purpose of determining the number of Shares remaining available for issuance under the Plan:
(a) To the extent that an Award is canceled, terminates, expires, is forfeited or lapses for any reason, any unissued or forfeited Shares subject to the Award will again be available for issuance pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan.
(b) Shares subject to Awards that are settled in cash or other property will again be available for issuance pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan.
(c) Substitute awards granted pursuant to Section 14.8 of the Plan shall not count against the Shares otherwise available for issuance under the Plan under Section 5.1.
(d) Notwithstanding the rest of this Section 5.2 the following Shares will not be added to the total number of Shares available or be made available again for issuance under this Plan: (i) Shares not issued or delivered as a result of the net settlement of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right; (ii) Shares delivered to or withheld by the Company to pay the exercise price of or the withholding taxes with respect to an Award; and (iii) shares repurchased on the open market with the proceeds from the payment of the exercise price of an Option.
5.3. STOCK DISTRIBUTED. Any Stock distributed pursuant to an Award may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Stock, treasury Stock or Stock purchased on the open market.
5.4. LIMITATION ON AWARDS. Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary (but subject to adjustment as provided in Article 15):
(a) Options. The maximum aggregate number of Shares subject to Options granted under the Plan in any Taxable Year to any one Participant shall be 600,000.
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(b) SARs. The maximum number of Shares subject to Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan in any Taxable Year to any one Participant shall be 600,000.
(c) Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units. The maximum aggregate grant of performance-based Awards of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units under the Plan in any Taxable Year to any one Participant shall be 400,000.
(d) Performance Awards. The maximum aggregate number of Shares that a Participant may receive in any Taxable Year under a Performance Award under the Plan shall be 400,000 Shares, determined as of the date of vesting or payout, as applicable.
(e) Other Stock-Based Awards. The maximum aggregate grant with respect to Other Stock-Based Awards under the Plan in any Taxable Year to any one Participant shall be 400,000 Shares.
(f) Non-Employee Director Awards. The maximum aggregate grant-date value with respect to any Awards granted under the Plan or any subplan (excluding any Other Stock-Based Awards initially paid or payable solely in cash) in any Taxable Year to any Non-Employee Director shall be $250,000.
5.5. MINIMUM VESTING REQUIREMENTS. All Awards granted under the Plan shall be subject to a minimum vesting period of one year. For purposes of Awards to Non-Employee Directors, a vesting period will be deemed to be one year if it begins on the date of one annual meeting of the Companys stockholders and ends on the date of the Companys next succeeding annual meeting of stockholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the minimum-vesting restrictions of this Section 5.5 shall not apply with respect to a maximum of 5% of the Shares authorized to be issued under the Plan, including any substitute Awards granted pursuant to Section 14.8 or Awards granted as an inducement to join the Company or an Affiliate as a new employee to replace forfeited awards from a former employer.
ARTICLE 6
ELIGIBILITY
6.1. GENERAL. Awards may be granted only to Eligible Participants. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Eligible Participants who are employees of the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary as defined in Section 424(e) and (f) of the Code. Eligible Participants who are employees of an Affiliate may only be granted Options or SARs to the extent that the Affiliate is part of: (i) the Companys controlled group of corporations, or (ii) a trade or business under common control with the Company, as of the Grant Date, as determined within the meaning of Code Section 414(b) or 414(c), and substituting for this purpose ownership of at least 50% (or 20% in the case of an Option or SAR granted to an employee of a joint venture partner based on legitimate business criteria within the meaning of Code Section 409A), of the Affiliate to determine the members of the controlled group of corporations and the entities under common control.
ARTICLE 7
STOCK OPTIONS
7.1. GENERAL. The Committee is authorized to grant Options to Participants on the following terms and conditions:
(a) EXERCISE PRICE. The exercise price per Share under an Option shall be determined by the Committee, provided that the exercise price for any Option (other than an Option issued as a substitute Award pursuant to Section 14.8) shall not be less than the Fair Market Value as of the Grant Date.
(b) PROHIBITION ON REPRICING OR RELOADING. The Committee is prohibited from Repricing any Option without the prior approval of the stockholders of the Company with respect to the proposed Repricing. No Option may include provisions that reload the Option upon exercise or that extend the term of the Option beyond what is the maximum period specified in the Plan and/or Award Notice.
(c) TIME AND CONDITIONS OF EXERCISE. The Committee shall determine the time or times at which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part, subject to Section 7.1(e). The Committee shall also
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