UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

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the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

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CROWN HOLDINGS, INC.
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(Name of person(s) filing proxy statement, if other than the registrant)
 

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Crown Holdings, Inc.

770 Township Line RoadHidden River Corporate Center Two

Yardley, Pennsylvania 1906714025 Riveredge Drive, Suite 300

Tampa, Florida 33637

________________________

NOTICE OF 20212023 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

________________________

Date:April 22,202127, 2023
Time:
Time:Online check-in begins:9:15 a.m. Eastern Time
Online Meeting begins:9:30 a.m. Eastern Time

Place:Meeting via the Internet – please visit: www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CCK2021The Westin Tampa Waterside
 725 South Harbour Island Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33602
Purposes:Agenda:·ElectElection of Directors
 ·Ratify the

Ratification of appointment of independent auditors for the fiscal year ending

December 31, 20212023

 ·VoteAdvisory vote on an advisorya resolution to approve executive compensation for the Named Executive Officers as disclosed in this Proxy Statement
 ·Conduct suchAdvisory vote on the frequency of future Say-On-Pay votes
·If properly presented, consideration of a Shareholder proposal seeking Shareholder ratification of termination pay
·Such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting

AllOnly Shareholders are cordially invited to attend our virtual Annual Meeting of Shareholders, conducted via the Internet. Due to the ongoing public health impactCommon Stock of the COVID-19 pandemic and the travel and public gathering restrictions that have been imposed throughout Pennsylvania as a result thereof, the Annual Meeting will be held in a virtual meeting format to support the health and well-being of the Company’s Shareholders, employees and their families. Shareholders will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person this year.

Only Shareholdersrecord as of the close of business on March 2, 2021, the record date for the Annual Meeting, may participate and vote at the meeting. During the virtual Meeting, you may submit questions and will be able to vote your shares electronically. To participate, you will need the 16-digit control number included on your proxy card or voting instruction form. We encourage you to allow ample time for online check-in, which will begin at 9:15 a.m. Eastern Time on April 22, 2021.

This Proxy Statement, the Proxy Card relating to the Annual Meeting of Shareholders and the Annual Report to Shareholders are available electronically at: www.crowncork.com/investors/proxy-online.

By Order of the Board of Directors
ADAM J. DICKSTEIN
Corporate Secretary
Yardley, Pennsylvania
March 15, 2021

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE 2021 VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEETING

Attendance and Participation

Only Shareholders as of the close of business on March 2, 2021, which is7, 2023, the record date for the Annual Meeting, will be entitled to participate online, vote their shares electronically and submit questions duringvote.

By Order of the Board of Directors
ADAM J. DICKSTEIN
Corporate Secretary

Tampa, Florida

March 20, 2023

NOTE:THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND SHAREHOLDERS IS OUR TOP PRIORITY. SHOULD WE DETECT A HEALTH RISK, WE MAY MODIFY THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING. IF WE TAKE THIS STEP, WE WILL ANNOUNCE ANY CHANGES IN ADVANCE IN A PRESS RELEASE AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE AND FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (“SEC”) AS ADDITIONAL PROXY MATERIALS. PLEASE GO TO WWW.CROWNCORK.COM/INVESTORS/GOVERNANCE/PROXY-ONLINEFOR FURTHER DETAILS.

Important Notice Regarding the Annual Meeting. You willAvailability of Proxy Materials for the
Shareholder Meeting to
be able to access the meeting at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CCK2021 using your 16-digit control number.

If your shares are registered directly in your name with EQ Shareowner Services, the Company’s stock transfer agent, and you received proxy materials by mail, your 16-digit control number will be contained on your proxy card. If you are a participant in the Company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan or any other applicable Company employee benefit plan, your 16-digit control number will be contained on your proxy card.

If your shares are held in a bank or brokerage account, your 16-digit control number will be contained on the voting instruction form provided by your bank or broker. If you do not receive a voting instruction form with this control number, please contact your bank or broker.

We encourage you to access the virtual Annual Meeting before the start time of 9:30 a.m., Eastern Time,Held on April 22, 2021. Please allow ample time for online check-in, which will begin at 9:15 a.m., Eastern Time, on April 22, 2021. The decision to have a virtual Annual Meeting again this year due to the ongoing public health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic does not represent a change in our Shareholder engagement philosophy. The Company expects to return to an in person meeting next year.

27, 2023:

The virtual Annual Meeting platform is fully supported across browsers (Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, Firefox, ChromeProxy Statement and Safari) and devices (desktops, laptops, tablets and cell phones) running the most updated version of applicable software and plugins. Participants should ensure they have a strong Internet connection wherever they intend to participate in the Annual Meeting. Participants should also allow plenty of time to log in and ensure that they can hear streaming audio prior to the start of the Annual Meeting.

Shareholder Lists

A list of the Shareholders entitled to vote at the meeting will be open to examination by any Shareholder during the meeting.

Questions

Shareholders may submit questions during the Annual Meeting. If you wish to submit a question, you may do so by logging into the virtual meeting platform at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CCK2021, typing your question into the “Ask a Question” field, and clicking “Submit.” Questions pertinentProxy Card relating to the Annual Meeting will be answered duringof Shareholders

and the Annual Meeting, subjectReport to time constraints.Shareholders are available at

Technical Support

If you encounter any difficulties accessing the virtual Annual Meeting during the check-in or meeting time, please call 844-986-0822 (Toll Free) or 303-562-9302 for assistance. Technical support will be available beginning at 9:15 a.m. Eastern Time on April 22, 2021 through the conclusion of the Annual Meeting.

WWW.CROWNCORK.COM/INVESTORS/GOVERNANCE/PROXY-ONLINE

 
 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

2021 Proxy Statement Summary1
  
2023 Proxy Statement Summary1
Questions & Answers about the 20202023 Annual Meeting1114
Proposal 1:  Election of Directors1720
Director Compensation2125
Common Stock Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners, Directors and Executive Officers2327
  
Corporate Governance2530
  
Compensation Discussion and Analysis3136
2022 Say-On-Pay Vote Results36
At-Risk Compensation37
Pay-for-Performance Alignment - 
2020 Say-On-Pay Vote ResultsPerformance-Based Compensation3138
At-Risk Compensation32
Pay-for-Performance Alignment - Performance-Based Shares33
Role of the Compensation Committee3338
Compensation Philosophy and Objectives3338
Committee Process3439
Role of Executive Officers in Compensation Decisions35
Decisions40
Executive Compensation Consultant3540
Use of Benchmarking3540
Peer Group Composition3540
Compensation Strategy for CEO3641
Compensation Strategy for NEOs other than the CEO3742
Components of Compensation3743
Base Salary3743
Annual Incentive Bonus3843
Long-Term Equity Incentives4146
Retirement Benefits4551
Perquisites4652
Severance4652
Tax Deductibility of Executive Compensation4652
  
Compensation Committee Report4753
  
Executive Compensation4954
Summary Compensation Table4954
Grants of Plan-Based Awards5156
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End5358
Option Exercises and Stock Vested5560
Pension Benefits5661
Employment Agreements and Potential Payments upon Termination5762
Pay Ratio Disclosure6065
Pay Versus Performance Disclosure65
  
Principal Accountant Fees and Services6172
  
Audit Committee Report6273
  
Proposal 2:  Ratification of Appointment of Independent Auditors6374
  
Proposal 3:  Advisory Vote to Approve Executive Compensation6475
  
Proposal 4:  Advisory Vote on Frequency of Future Say-on-Pay Votes76
Proposal 5:  Consideration of Shareholder Proposal Seeking Shareholder Ratification of Termination Pay77
Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports81
Other Matters6581

 

20212023 PROXY STATEMENT SUMMARY

 

This is a summary only and does not contain all the information that you should consider. We urge you to carefully read the entire Proxy Statement before voting.

Crown Holdings, Inc. - 2021 Virtual2023 Annual Meeting

 

 

Time and Date:9:30 a.m. Eastern Time, April 22, 202127, 2023
  
Place:Meeting via the Internet – www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CCK2021The Westin Tampa Waterside
725 South Harbour Island Boulevard
Tampa, Florida 33602   
  
Record Date:Date:

March 2, 2021.7, 2023. Only Shareholders of record of the Company’s Common Stock at the close of business on the Record Date will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.

20212023 Annual Meeting Proposals

 

 

 

Agenda ItemBoard RecommendationPage
1.  Election of DirectorsFOR EACH DIRECTOR NOMINEE1720
2.  Ratification of appointment of Independent AuditorsFOR6374
3.  Advisory vote to approve executive compensationFOR6475
4.  Advisory vote on frequency of future Say-On-Pay votesEVERY YEAR76
5.  Consideration of Shareholder proposal seeking Shareholder ratification of termination payAGAINST77

How to Cast Your Vote

 

You can vote by any of the following methods:

 

Internet

Phone

Mail

In Person

Internet

Phone

Mail

LOGO

During Meeting

www.proxyvote.comwww.proxypush.com/cck

Deadline for voting online is 11:59 p.m. (ET) on April 21, 2021.26, 2023.

1-800-690-69031-866-883-3382

Deadline for voting by phone is 11:59 p.m. (ET) on April 21, 2021.26, 2023.

Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope provided.  Your proxy card must be received before the Annual Meeting.

You may vote online during

For instructions on attending

the Annual Meeting, at www.virtualshareholderplease

meeting.com/CCK2021see “Questions and Answers

about the 2023 Annual Meeting” on page 14.

 

Proposal 1:1 - Election of Directors

 

There are thirteen nominees for election to the Board of Directors. This year’s BoardAll of the nominees include one new Director – Dwayne Wilson. Sixcurrently serve on the Board. Eight of the Company’s independent Directors have joined the Board in the last five years as a result of a Board refreshment process where Director candidates were identified through Board, Shareholder and third-party search firm input. Our Board refreshment strategy has further strengthened and diversified the skills and experiences of the Board. On December 12, 2022, the Company entered into a Director Appointment and Nomination Agreement with Carl C. Icahn and the affiliated persons and entities listed therein (collectively, the “Icahn Group”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to (i) increase the size of the Board of Directors of the Company to 13 directors and (ii) appoint Andrew J. Teno and Jesse A. Lynn (collectively, the “Icahn Designees”) to the Board to fill the resulting vacancies, and include each of the Icahn Designees as part of the Company’s slate of nominees for election to the Board at the 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Each Director nominee is listed below, and you can find additional information about each nominee under Proposal 1: Election of Directors, beginning on page 17.20.

     

Director

 

 

 

Committee Memberships

 Name and Primary Occupation Age Since Independent A C E NCG

Timothy J. Donahue

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company

 60 2015 No       

Richard H. Fearon

Former Vice Chairman and Chief Financial and Planning Officer of Eaton Corporation

 66 2019 Yes      

Andrea J. Funk

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

of EnerSys

 53 2017 Yes      

Stephen J. Hagge

Former President and Chief Executive Officer of AptarGroup

 71 2019 Yes   Chair  

Jesse A. Lynn

General Counsel of Icahn Enterprises and Chief Operating Officer of Icahn Capital

 52 2022 Yes       

James H. Miller

Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of PPL Corporation 

 74 2010 Yes     Chair

Josef M. Müller

Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé in the Greater China Region

 75 2011 Yes      

B. Craig Owens

Former Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer of Campbell Soup Company

 68 2019 Yes Chair     

Angela M. Snyder

Senior Executive Vice President/Chief Banking Officer of Fulton Bank

 58 2022 Yes       

Caesar F. Sweitzer

Former Senior Advisor and Managing Director of Citigroup Global Markets

 72 2014 Yes     

Andrew J. Teno

Portfolio Manager of Icahn Capital

 37 2022 Yes      
     

Director

 

 

 

Committee Memberships

 Name and Primary Occupation Age Since Independent A C E NCG

Marsha C. Williams

Former Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Orbitz Worldwide

 71 2022 Yes       

Dwayne A. Wilson

Former Senior Vice President of Fluor Corporation

 64 2020 Yes       

 

DirectorCommittee Memberships
Name and Primary OccupationAgeSinceIndependentACNCGE

John W. Conway

Chairman of the Board of the Company

 75 1997 Yes       Chair

Timothy J. Donahue

President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company

 58 2015 No       

Richard H. Fearon

Vice Chairman and Chief Financial and Planning Officer of Eaton Corporation[1]

 64 2019 Yes        

Andrea J. Funk

VP Finance, Americas of EnerSys

 51 2017 Yes      

Stephen J. Hagge

Former President and Chief Executive Officer of AptarGroup

 69 2019 Yes       

Rose Lee

President of DuPont Water & Protection 

 55 2016 Yes       

James H. Miller

Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of PPL Corporation 

 72 2010 Yes    Chair 

Josef M. Müller

Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé in the Greater China Region

 73 2011 Yes      

B. Craig Owens

Former Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer of Campbell Soup Company

 66 2019 Yes       

Caesar F. Sweitzer

Former Senior Advisor and Managing Director of Citigroup Global Markets

 70 2014 Yes Chair    

Jim L. Turner

Chief Executive Officer of JLT Beverages; former Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Dr Pepper/Seven Up Bottling Group

 75 2005 Yes   Chair  

William S. Urkiel

Former Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of IKON Office Solutions

 75 2004 Yes      

Dwayne A. Wilson

Former Senior Vice President of Fluor Corporation

 62 2020 Yes       

A: Audit Committee   C:Compensation Committee    E:Executive Committee NCG: Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee  E:

Executive Committee

The Board elected Mr. Timothy Donahue as its Chairman following the 2022 Annual Meeting. Mr. James Miller is the Board’s Independent Lead Director. See the section below titled “Corporate Governance: Board Leadership and Risk Oversight” for a summary of the duties of our Independent Lead Director.

 

1Mr. Fearon will retire as an officer of Eaton Corporation on March 21, 2021.

Director Tenure
Less than 6 years

6 – 10 years

More than 10 years

Ongoing Board Refreshment –

sixeight new directorsDirectors in five years

  

 

Board Independence and Diversity

Board CompositionDiversity

·       TwoThree female directorsDirectors

·One African American directorDirector

·       One Asian American director

·One non-U.S. citizen directorDirector

 

 

The thirteen Director nominees standing for reelection to the Board have diverse backgrounds, skills and experiences. We believe their varied backgrounds contribute to an effective and well-balanced Board that is able to provide valuable insight to, and effective oversight of, our senior executive team.

 

  

 

Governance Best Practices

 

The Board of Directors is committed to implementing and maintaining strong corporate governance practices. The Board continually adopts emerging best practices in governance that enhance the effectiveness of the Board and our management and that serve the best interests of the Company’s Shareholders. The Corporate Governance section beginning on page 2530 describes our governance framework. We call your attention to the following best practices.

ü

Annual election of all Directors

ü

Resignation policy applicable to Directors who do not receive a majority of votes cast in uncontested elections

ü

Mandatory retirement policy for Directors

ü

Proxy access

ü

Active outreach and engagement with Shareholders throughout the year

ü

Overboarding limits

ü

Robust Board refreshment with sixeight new independent Directors joining the Board in the last five years

ü

12 of 13 Directors independent – all key committees consisting solely of independent Directors

ü

Independent Lead Director with broad authority

ü

Executive sessions of independent Directors held regularly

ü

Annual review of Committee charters and Corporate Governance Guidelines

ü

Robust stock ownership guidelines for Directors and Named Executive Officers

ü

Prohibition on all pledging and hedging of the Company’s stock by Directors, Officers and other insiders

ü

Annual advisorySay-on-Pay vote on executive compensation

ü

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to Directors and employees

ü

No supermajority voting requirement to amend By-Laws

ü

Shareholder right to call special meetings

üNo poison pill

ü

Oversight of sustainability/environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) policy matters assigned to Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
and oversight of ESG disclosures and reporting assigned to Audit Committee

ü

Integration of Diversity and Inclusion in the Company’s Sustainability program, overseen by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

ü

Board oversight of cybersecurityinformation security

Shareholder Engagement

The Company has developed a multi-platform Shareholder engagement program that results in active dialogue with both current and prospective Shareholders all over the world.investors globally.  Major elements of the program include individual or group investor meetings, scheduled teleconferences, participation in sponsored institutional investor conferences and investor visits to Company manufacturing, research and development or administrative facilities.  Subjects of discussion at these events include long-term strategy, financial information, recent and pending acquisitions and divestitures, major trends and issues affecting the Company’s businesses, industry dynamics, executive compensation, sustainability and corporate governance, among other matters.  Every few years, as appropriate, the Company hosts investor day events, which may also include facility tours.  The Company has recently

increased its efforts to cultivate relationships with the respective stewardship teams of its index-based Shareholders.  In addition, since the November 2019 announcement of our ongoing Board-led review of our portfoliodiscussions with current and capital allocation/return and our continuing Board refreshment process,prospective Shareholders, our Shareholder engagement has included the receipt ofincludes eliciting Shareholder perspectives on our businessesbusiness portfolio and capital allocation as well as our Board composition.policies, among other matters.  During last year’s engagement cycle, we estimate that we had personal contact with investors owning well over 50%60% of the Company’s outstanding shares.shares and the Company entered into a Director Appointment and Nomination Agreement with one of our significant Shareholders, pursuant to which we appointed two new Directors recommended by the Shareholder in question.

 

Sustainability – Environmental and Social Responsibility

 

Sustainability is integralcontinues to be a central motivating factor in and focus of the Company’s business strategy. The Company’sUnder the Board’s general direction the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has oversight ofreviews and assesses the Company’s sustainability efforts Sustainability policies, programs and practices pursuant to its charter. Additionally, the Audit Committee reviews Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) disclosures and reporting as set forth in its charter. We manageAll aspects of the business, and in particular sustainability, are managed through sound governance structures. Along with the two Board Committees responsible for sustainability, the Company monitors its sustainability functions through a Global Executive Sustainability Committee, which includes senior Company executives.

In 2020, Crown established its comprehensive Twentyby30TM program, setting 20 measurable goals that the Company would attempt to reach by 2030 or sooner. These objectives encompass multiple aspects of sustainability and reflect areas which may be material to the Company’s business as well as areas where it believes it can create notable impact. Structured within five core program pillars of: Climate Action, Resource Efficiency, Optimum Circularity, Working Together and Never Compromise, these initiatives include efforts such as making operational improvements in energy, water and waste and elevating our business with ESG as an important operational consideration and with a relentless focus on safety, innovationmaterial use efficiency, recycling, responsible and efficiency – both in our manufacturing processesethical sourcing and our use of resources. That discipline has enabled us to reduce our overall energy consumptionfood contact and greenhouse gas emissions, even as demand for our metal packaging products has continued to increase and we have grown our global footprint to support our regional and international customers. In 2020, we expanded our conservation efforts to water usage. Our focus on sustainability is aided by the strong recyclability credentials ofsafety.

The Company’s main raw material inputs, aluminum and steel, our primary rawoffer unparalleled sustainability credentials for packaging not only due to their superior recycling rates and recycled content, but also because both materials for metal packaging thatare infinitely recyclable, meaning they can be infinitely recycled repeatedly with no loss of physical properties. These natural elements maintain their properties forever, making metal a key contributor to the circular economy. or quality. This constant reuse into new containers or other metal products saves raw materials, and energy and reduces CO2 emissions. Most of the products made by ourthe Company’s Transit Packaging Division use a high-degreehigh degree of recycled content, andwith many useusing 100% recycled content. In fact, our plastic strapping business unitthe group recycles hundreds of millions of pounds of PET bottles to make strapping.

The Company issuedplastic every year for use in its most recent biennial Sustainability Report in February 2020. products. The report uses the Global Reporting Initiative’s G4 guidelines and is available in full at sustainability.crowncork.com. The Company’s next Sustainability Report will be a supplement report published in the Spring of 2021 to close out our 2020 goals and transition to our Twentyby30 program.

Some highlights from our recent sustainability results are as follows:1

·We participate in the climate change program of CDP (formerly known as the Carbon Disclosure Project) to further increase transparency with customers and other important stakeholders. Our last three annual submissions have received high rankings, placing us in the “Leadership” and “Management” tiers. Crown consistently scores as one of the highest companies in the packaging sector.
·For 2020 Crown achieved a top score for CDP Supplier Engagement, scoring in the top 7% of all 8,033 companies reporting to CDP. The supplier engagement score provides a rating for how effectively companies engage their suppliers on climate change.
·The Company expects to report under the SASB methodology in its next Sustainability Report, which will be published in the Spring of 2021.

·We established a goal to reduce energy consumption by 5% per billion standard units of production (our unit of measure for metal packaging defined in the report) from 2015 levels by the end of 2020. As of December 31, 2019, we exceeded this goal, reducing energy consumption by 5.1% per billion standard units for metal packaging.

1 We continue actively working to integrate our new Transit Packaging Division also produces reusable top frames, which hascontribute to a much more diverse setlower carbon footprint.

Crown recognizes that its sustainability journey depends on others within the value chain. The Company works to positively influence its upstream value chain through its written environmental supplier standards, which all suppliers are expected to follow and which provide oversight of and visibility into suppliers’ environmental management. Third-party risk assessments and off-site audits help to ensure sustainability is prioritized in our raw materials as the business works to improve all points of product offerings and manufacturing formats than our metal packaging business, into our sustainability measurement methodology. The data above do not include Transit Packaging. Nevertheless, we note that a large percentage of the products sold by the Transit Packaging Division are made from recycled materials and that the Transit Packaging Division recycles millions of pounds of material to manufacture its products. We expect that our Transit Packaging Division will be integrated into all future Sustainability Reports.

·We established a goal to reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 10% per billion standard units of production from 2015 levels by the end of 2020. As of December 31, 2019, we exceeded this goal, with greenhouse gas emissions reduced by 10.8% per billion standard units. Absolute emissions have decreased by 1.1% even as production has increased by 13.9%.
·During the reporting period, the Company won numerous awards in multiple U.S. states and in all three of our global geographic divisions in areas such as safety, recycling, pollution prevention and green manufacturing.

The Company has taken many additional steps in our sustainability efforts, including the following:

·We signed one of the largest non-investment grade “sustainability-linked loans” in history. The interest rate on the Company’s revolving credit facility will increase or decrease, in part, based on the annual environmental, social and governance scores received by the Company from one of the major third-party sustainability ratings agencies.

·We announced plans to reduce water usage in our global operations by 20% from 2019 levels by the end of 2025. These efforts will decrease the Company’s water usage by over 500 million gallons annually.

·We joined RE100, pledging a total transition to 100% renewable electricity by 2050, with interim targets of 60% by 2030, and 90% by 2040.

·We committed to the Science-Based Targets initiative (“SBTi”), which requires the Company to set specific goals for reducing GHG emissions. These targets, which have been accepted by the SBTi, align with global temperature increase limits of 1.5° C set by the Paris Agreement of 2015. The Company established a Scope 1 and 2 emissions reduction goal of 50% by 2030. Additionally, the Company established a Scope 3 goal of 16% emissions reduction by 2030.

·In July 2020, the Company introduced its next phase of Sustainability with the launch of its Twentyby30 program. This ambitious and aggressive program commits to twenty measurable goals to be achieved by 2030 or sooner and is available at www.crowncork.com/sustainability/twentyby30-overview.

·We launched our new Supplier Code of Conduct, available at www.crowncork.com/investors/corporate-governance/supplier-code-conduct, to align supplier conduct with the Company’s core values.

·In the past year, we have issued public policy statements on Environmental Sustainability, Human Rights, Responsible and Ethical Sourcing, Tax Strategy and Conflict Minerals, all of which are available at www.crowncork.com.

lifecycles.

 

 

The Company issued its most recent complete Sustainability Report in August 2022. The report uses the Global Reporting Initiative’s 2016 guidelines and is available in full at www.crowncork.com/sites/files/2022-08/Crown_2021-Sustainability-Report.pdf. This report details progress within the Company’s Twentyby30 program throughout 2021, which includes:

·An 11% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the 2019 baseline
·A 1.5% reduction in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) per unit produced
·Improving the percentage of total electricity used by the Company coming from renewable resources to 30%
·A 3.6% overall reduction in water used
·An overall 4% reduction in 12 oz. or 330 ml can weights
·A 99% diversion of waste sent to landfill
·An 8% reduction in Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR)

Some additional highlights from recent sustainability engagements are as follows:

·The Company committed to The Climate Pledge, targeting to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, a full 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement goals. This commitment accelerated the Company’s existing RE100 goals, with a new target of achieving 100% renewable electricity by 2040, which is also 10 years sooner than required by previous commitments.

·ESG ratings provider Sustainalytics ranked Crown as a Low ESG Risk Rating for managing ESG risk within the metal and glass packaging subindustry. For the third year in a row, Sustainalytics ranked Crown as a leader in the top 3% of the containers and packaging industry in 2022, with more than 100 global companies reviewed.
·In 2022, Crown’s North American Beverage Packaging business ranked within the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Top 25 Green Power Partners from the Fortune 500 list for the second consecutive year, demonstrating a commitment to advancing the green power market.
·For the second year in a row, Crown was named to the 100 Best Corporate Citizens of 2022 list by 3BL Media, headlined by its strong performance in the Climate Change pillar, within which it ranked in the top ten.
·Crown was named to the America’s Most Responsible Companies 2023 list by Newsweek, in partnership with global research and data firm Statista. The list draws from an initial pool of 2,000 eligible U.S.-based companies and selects 500 finalists that demonstrate outstanding efforts relating to corporate social responsibility and sustainability.
·In 2022, Crown was ranked in the top 100 companies included in Forbes’ inaugural “World’s Top Female-Friendly Companies” list, which evaluates employers on criteria including parental leave, promotion of gender equality and representation at equity board levels.

The Company has also taken further steps in its sustainability efforts, including the following:

·In 2022, Crown hosted the beverage can industry’s first Global Aluminium Can Sustainability Summit in partnership with Ardagh Metal Packaging, the Can Manufacturers Institute and the International Aluminium Institute. The Summit brought together over 100 global attendees from various parts of the aluminum supply chain and facilitated important discussions aimed at driving actionable progress toward the industry’s sustainability goals.

·Crown received certification from the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) for its Mexican beverage can operations in 2022. ASI verifies responsible production, sourcing and stewardship of aluminum in the region. The Company achieved certification by the ASI Chain of Custody (CoC) Standard in Brazil, and is pursuing ASI certification in Mexico and within all Asian and Europe/Middle Eastern beverage can operations. The Company’s Brazil beverage can operation recently completed its own ASI Performance Standard.

·The Company set ambitious new global recycling rates and recycled content goals for aluminum beverage cans, committing to work with industry partners to expedite progress aligned with its Twentyby30 program. The new targets include reaching a 70% target recycling rate in the U.S. and an 80% target rate in EMEA; maintaining rates of greater than 90% in Mexico and greater than 97% in Brazil by 2030; and establishing 2030 rate goals for Asia Pacific by 2025.

·In 2022, Crown signed on to the United Nations (UN) Global Compact, a voluntary initiative based on CEO commitments to implement universal sustainability principles and take steps to support UN goals.

·The Company reported under the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) methodology and made disclosures in line with the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) framework in its 2021 Sustainability Report, published in August 2022.

The Company’s next Sustainability Report will be issued in 2023 and will use the Global Reporting Initiatives 2021 guidelines, which are effective for reports or other materials published on or after January 1, 2023. This next Sustainability Report will include alignment to recommendations of the TCFD. As with any material risk to the Company, Crown closely manages risks and opportunities that climate change and the transition to a low-carbon economy could create for the Company.

Information Security

The Company places a high priority on securing its confidential business information, as well as the confidential business information and personal information that we receive from and store about our business partners and employees.

The Company has systems in place to securely receive and store information and to detect, contain, and respond to data security incidents. The Company has information security compliance procedures in place to manage information security risk and runs a training program for those Company employees who have access to confidential information. This program provides training at least annually on information security. To respond to the threat of security breaches and cyberattacks, the Company maintains a program, overseen by the Company’s Chief Information Security Officer, that is designed to protect and preserve the confidentiality, integrity and continued availability of all information owned or controlled by the Company. This program also includes a cyber incident response plan that provides controls and procedures for timely and accurate reporting

of any material information security incident. The Company undergoes annual third-party security penetration testing to gain an independent view of the strength of our information security defenses and audits its information technology and security compliance procedures annually in order to comply with the requirements of the Sarbanes Oxley Act. The Company also maintains an information security risk insurance policy.

The Board, the Audit Committee and Company management share top-level responsibility for management of information security risk. Day-to-day oversight rests with the Company’s Chief Information Security Officer, who reports to the Company’s Chief Financial Officer. The Audit Committee, which is tasked with oversight of certain risk issues, including information security risk, receives two to four reports annually from the Company’s senior leadership, including the Chief Information Security Officer, that includes a information security dashboard and discussion of emerging risks and trends. The Audit Committee then briefs the Board on these matters. The full Board receives a presentation, usually annually, from the Company’s senior leadership on information security matters. The Company has identified training programs for Board members to enhance our Directors’ literacy on information security issues.

Proposal 2 – Ratification of Appointment of Independent Auditors

 

As a matter of good corporate governance, we are asking youthe Company asks its Shareholders to ratify the selection by the Audit Committee of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) as ourthe Company’s independent auditors for 2021.2023. The following table summarizes the fees PwC billed to the Company for 2020.2022.

 

Audit FeesAudit-Related FeesTax Compliance FeesTax Advisory Services FeesAll Other FeesAudit-Related FeesTax-Related FeesAll Other Fees
$9,408,000$6,315,000$320,000$1,148,000$21,000
$7,923,208$687,703$1,458,229$12,305

Additional information in the section titled “Principal Accountant Fees and Services” and the Audit Committee Report may be found on pages 6172 and 62.73.

Proposal 3 – Advisory Vote to Approve Executive Compensation

At the 20202022 Annual Meeting, the say-on-paySay-on-Pay resolution with respect to Named Executive Officer (“NEO”) compensation received a favorable vote of over 96%94%. Accordingly, the general approach to the compensation of our NEOs, including the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), remained largely unchanged. For 2022, we added a sustainability criterion for the Board’s annual evaluation of the CEO. See the Compensation and Discussion Analysis (“CD&A”) section that begins on page 31.36. Below is a summary of the CEO’s compensation for 2018, 20192020, 2021 and 2020.2022. Compensation of Mr. Donahue and the other NEOs is more fully described in the Summary Compensation Table on page 49.54.

Name and PositionYearSalary

Grant Date Projected Value of Unvested Restricted

Stock Awards

Non-Equity Incentive Plan CompensationChange in Pension ValueAll Other CompensationTotal Compensation

Timothy Donahue

President and Chief Executive Officer

2022$1,315,000$7,364,000$599,969$0  $21,167$9,300,136
20211,260,0006,368,7703,024,0001,106,979       55,31611,815,065
20201,200,0006,239,9512,880,0005,714,2971,486,79117,521,039

Name and PositionYearSalary

Grant Date Projected Value of Unvested Restricted

Stock Awards

Non-Equity Incentive Plan CompensationChange in Pension ValueAll Other CompensationTotal Compensation

Total

Compensation Net of Certain Retirement-Related Benefits

Timothy Donahue

President and Chief Executive Officer

2020$1,200,000$6,239,951$2,880,000$5,714,297$1,486,791$17,521,039$10,324,226
20191,155,0006,005,9701,711,7104,056,9571,081,05314,010,6908,876,880
20181,100,0005,720,0551,735,8001,183,618 77,268 9,816,7418,566,727

The last column above shows Total Compensation net of certain retirement-related benefits (i.e., theThis year’s Change in Pension Value column and certain retirement-related elements of All Other Compensation).was a decrease, which is presented here as $0. The lump-sum present value calculations required to be included for all of our NEOs in this Proxy Statement for certain components of Total Compensation continue to be inflated(e.g., Changes in Pension Value) are affected strongly by historically-low interest rates. NotFuture changes in interest rates could cause significant changes in the lump-sum value of such benefits. See page 61, footnote 4, for more information about interest rate sensitivity. Note also that not all of the pension benefits payable to our NEOs will be paid in a lump sum.Future increases in interest rates could cause a significant reduction in the lump-sum value of such benefits. See page 56, footnote 4, for more information about interest rate sensitivity.

Pay-for-Performance Alignment – Performance-Based Shares

Compensation

The Company has developed an executive compensation program that is ownership-oriented and that rewards the attainment of specific annual and long-term goals that will result in improvement in Shareholdershareholder value. Two-thirdsApproximately two-thirds of our NEOs’ share awards are performance-based. Beginning with 2017 grants, which vested in early 2020, vestingVesting is based on two performance metrics: the Company’s relative total shareholder return (“TSR”) against a peer group (the Dow Jones U.S. Containers & Packaging Index) and the Company’s return on invested capital (“ROIC”).

Annual incentive bonuses are also based on two performance metrics: the Company’s modified operating cash flow (“MOCF”) and its economic profit.

Based on the Company’s performanceover-performance for the measurement periodperiods related to the vesting of performance-based shares in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, the Company’s NEOs, including the CEO, received awards that were 21.3%, 48.5%, 62.6% and 25.7% above the target grants established in 2017. However, due totarget. Based on the Company’s under-performance for the measurement periods related to the vesting of performance-based shares vesting in 2018 and 2019, the Company’s NEOs, including the CEO, forfeited 100% of the targeted vestings of performance-based shares granted in 2015shares. For 2022, based on the Company’s under-performance on both the MOCF and 2016. Such additional awards and forfeitures display a clear and direct correlation between pay-for-performance and our executives’ compensation. This performance-based vesting history illustrates a strong pay-for-performance alignment.

economic profit components of the annual incentive bonus, corporate-level NEOs (including the CEO) received bonuses that were 63.5% below target. The Committee views these outcomes as demonstrative of the Company’s “pay-for-performance” philosophy.

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Elements of Total Direct Compensation

The allocation of 20202022 total direct compensation for our CEO and for our other NEOs among the various components of compensation is set forth in the following charts that highlight the Company’s emphasis on “at risk” and equity-based compensation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Executive Compensation Best Practices

WHAT WE DO

ü

Benchmark our NEOs’ total direct compensation at the 50th percentile of our peer group

ü

Review pay and performance alignment annually

ü

ProvideTarget and provide a majority of the direct compensation paid to our NEOs in performance-based compensation

ü

Allocate approximately two-thirds of compensation under the Company’s long-term incentive plan to performance-based share awards and approximately one-third to time-based share awards

ü

Vest performance-based shares on the basis of two metrics (total(relative total shareholder return and return on invested capital)

ü

Base payouts under the Company’s Annual Incentive Bonus Plan on the achievement of specified levels of economic profit and modified operating cash flow

ü

Maintain stock ownership and holding period requirements for our NEOs

ü

Recoup (“Clawback”) non-equity incentive bonus payments and performance-based equity awards from NEOs in the event of certain acts of misconduct
(Note: the Company expects to update its current Clawback policy in 2023 after the New York Stock Exchange standards are updated to comply with the SEC final rule)

ü

Engage an independent compensation consultant for our Compensation Committee

ü

Annually review the independence of the compensation consultant retained by the Compensation Committee

ü

Utilize tally sheets to review total compensation, compensation mix, internal pay equity, payouts under certain potential termination scenarios and the aggregate value of retirement benefits and interest rate sensitivity onof retirement benefits

ü

Hold annual Say-on-Pay votes

üInclude a sustainability criterion for the Board’s annual evaluation of the CEO

WHAT WE DON’T DO

û

Allow carry-forward or banking of economic profit or modified operating cash flow achievement in the Company’s Annual Incentive Bonus Plan

û

Use subjective individual qualitative factors in determining executives’ annual bonuses

û

Include any tax gross-up provisions in any new or revisedour executive employment agreements

û

Provide excessive perquisites

û

Permit any form of hedging or pledging of Company stock

Please read the CD&A, beginning on page 31,36, for a more detailed description of the Company’s executive compensation program.

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Proposal 4 – Advisory Vote on Frequency of Future Say-on-Pay Votes

 

This Proposal affords Shareholders the opportunity to cast an advisory vote on how often we should include a Say-on-Pay vote in our proxy materials for future annual Shareholder meetings or any special Shareholder meeting for which we must include executive compensation information in the proxy statement for that meeting. Under this Proposal 4, Shareholders may vote to have the Say-on-Pay vote every year, every two years, or every three years.

The Board recommends you vote “Every Year” for the Say-on-Pay frequency proposal.

Proposal 5 – Consideration of Shareholder Proposal Seeking Shareholder Ratification of Termination Pay

Mr. John Chevedden has advised he intends to present a Shareholder proposal requesting the Board of Directors seek Shareholder approval of any senior manager’s new or renewed pay package that provides for severance or termination payments with an estimated value exceeding 2.99 times the sum of the executive’s base salary plus target short-term bonus.

The Board has carefully considered this Shareholder proposal and recommends that you vote AGAINST Proposal 5.

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QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ABOUT THE 20212023 ANNUAL MEETING

 

 

Why am I receiving these materials?

 

The Company is providing you this Proxy Statement, the accompanying Proxy Card and a copy of our Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2020,2022, containing audited financial statements, in connection with our Annual Meeting of Shareholders or any adjournments or postponements of the Annual Meeting. The Meeting will be conducted via the Internetheld on April 22, 202127, 2023 at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time. All ShareholdersTime at The Westin Tampa Waterside located at 725 South Harbour Island Boulevard, Tampa, Florida. As a Shareholder of the Company, you are cordially invited to attend our virtualthe Annual Meeting and are entitled and requested to vote on the matters described in this Proxy Statement. The accompanying Proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company. We are mailing this Proxy Statement and the accompanying Proxy Card and Annual Report to our Shareholders on or about March 15, 2021.20, 2023.

What is a Proxy?

A Proxy is your legal designation of another person to vote the shares that you own in accordance with your instructions. The person you appoint to vote your shares is called a Proxy Holder. On the Proxy Card you will find the names of the persons designated by the Company to act as Proxy Holders to vote your shares at the Annual Meeting. The Board is asking you to allow any of the persons named as Proxy Holders on the Proxy Card (all of whom are Officers of the Company) to vote your shares at the Annual Meeting. The Proxy Holders must vote your shares in the manner you instruct.

Who is entitled to vote?

Only Shareholders as of the close of business on March 2, 20217, 2023 (“Record Date”) are entitled to receive notice of, to attend and to vote at the Annual

Meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the Annual Meeting. Each Shareholder has one vote per share on all matters to be voted on. As of the Record Date, there were 134,912,097120,107,190 shares of Common Stock outstanding.

What is the difference between a “record owner” and a “beneficial owner”?

Record Owners: If your shares are registered directly in your name with EQ Shareowner Services, the Company’s stock transfer agent, you are considered the “Shareholder of record” or “record owner” with respect to those shares. You vote your shares directly and may vote online directly duringat the Annual Meeting with no prior authorizations required.

Beneficial Owners: If your shares are held in an account at a brokerage firm, bank or trust as custodian on your behalf, you are considered the “beneficial owner” of those shares. Your shares are registered on the Company’s books in the name of the brokerage firm, bank or trust, or its nominee. Shares held in this manner are commonly referred to as being held in “street name.” As the beneficial owner of the shares, you have the right to direct your broker, bank or trustee how to vote your shares by using the voting instruction form sent to you along with this Proxy Statement. You also are invited to attend the virtual Annual Meeting andMeeting. However, because a beneficial owner is not the Shareholder of record, you may not vote online duringthese shares in person at the Annual Meeting, by followingor participate in the instructions provided by yourAnnual Meeting, unless you obtain a legal proxy from the broker, bank or trust with your voting instruction form.

who is the Shareholder of record, or holds a legal proxy from the Shareholder of record, giving you the right to vote the shares at the Annual Meeting.

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What proposals will be voted on at the Annual Meeting?

Shareholders will vote on threefive proposals at the Annual Meeting:

·the election of Directors
·the ratification of the appointment of the Company’s independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 20212023
·the “Say-on-Pay” vote
·an advisory resolution to approvevote on the compensationfrequency of the Named Executive Officers as disclosed in this Proxy Statement (the “Say-on-Pay” vote)future Say-on-Pay votes
·if properly presented, a Shareholder proposal seeking Shareholder ratification of termination pay

The Company also will consider any other business that properly comes before the Annual Meeting in accordance with Pennsylvania law and the Company’s By-Laws.

How does the Board of Directors recommend that I vote?

The Board of Directors recommends that you vote your shares:

·FOR”each of the nominees for election to the Board
·“FOR”the ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s independent auditors for 20212023
·“FOR”the advisory resolution to approve the compensation of the Named Executive Officers as disclosed in this Proxy Statement
·“EVERY YEAR” for the advisory vote on the frequency of future Say-on-Pay votes
·“AGAINST” the Shareholder proposal seeking Shareholder ratification of termination pay

What happens if additional matters are presented at the Annual Meeting?

Other than the items of business described in this Proxy Statement, we are not aware of any other business to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting. If you grant a Proxy to the Proxy Holders named on the Proxy Card, they will have the discretion to vote your
shares in their best judgment with respect to any additional matters properly brought before the Annual Meeting in accordance with Pennsylvania law and the Company’s By-Laws. Also, if for any reason any of our nominees are not available as candidates for Director, the Proxy Holders will vote the Proxies for any other candidate or candidates who may be nominated by the Board.

How do I vote my shares?

You may vote your shares by Proxy or during the virtual meeting. in person.

You may vote by Proxy:

·by the Internet, at the web address provided on page 1 of this Proxy Statement or on your Proxy Card or voting instruction form; or
·by telephone, using the toll-free number listed on page 1 of this Proxy Statement or on your Proxy Card or voting instruction form; or
·by mail, by marking, signing, dating and mailing your Proxy Card or voting instruction form and returning it in the envelope provided. If you return your signed Proxy Card or voting instruction form but do not mark the boxes showing how you wish to vote, your shares will be voted FOR Proposals 1 through 3; or3, the option of EVERY YEAR for Proposal 4 and AGAINST Proposal 5.

15 

You may vote in person:

·during the Meeting, by using the unique 16-digit control number which appears on the proxy card, with no prior authorization, if you are a record owner; owner;
·with a legal proxy from the brokerage firm, bank or trust that holds your shares in street name, if you are a beneficial owner, your 16-digit control number will be contained on the voting instruction form provided by your bank or broker..

The deadline for voting by telephone or electronically through the Internet is 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, April 21, 2021.26, 2023.

12 

Will my shares be voted if I do not provide my Proxy?

It depends on whether you are a record owner or beneficial owner. If you are a record owner, your shares will NOT be voted unless you provide a Proxy or attend and vote onlinein person at the Annual Meeting. For beneficial owners who hold shares in street name through brokerage firms, those firms generally have the authority to vote their clients’ unvoted shares in their discretion on certain routine matters. For example, if you are a beneficial owner and you do not provide voting instructions, your brokerage firm may vote your shares with respect to the ratification of the appointment of independent auditors (Proposal 2), as this matter is considered routine under the applicable New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) rules. All other matters to be voted on at this year’s Annual Meeting are not considered routine, and your broker cannot vote your shares on those non-routine matters without your instruction (“broker non-votes”).

Beneficial Owners: The Company urges you to instruct your broker, bank or trust on how to vote your shares.

What constitutes a quorum?

The presence, by attendance at the virtual Annual Meetingin person or by Proxy, of Shareholders entitled to cast a majority of votes will be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the Annual Meeting. WITHHOLD votes with respect to Director nominees and abstain votes will be counted in determining the presence of a quorum as well as shares subject to broker non-votes if the broker votes the shares on a routine matter, such as the ratification of the appointment of the Company’s independent auditors (Proposal 2).

Under Pennsylvania law and the Company’s By-Laws, ABSTAIN votes and broker non-votes are not considered to be “votes cast” and, therefore, although they will be counted for purposes of determining a quorum, they will not be given effect either as FOR or WITHHOLD / AGAINST votes or as votes on the frequency of the Company’s Say-on-Pay votes.

What vote is needed for the election of Directors, and what is the policy with respect to the resignation of Directors who do not receive a majority of the votes?

With regard to Proposal 1, Shareholders may vote FOR or WITHHOLD with respect to the election of Directors. Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast, by those in attendance at the virtual Annual Meetingperson or by Proxy, subject to the Company’s By-Law provision described below. The Company’s By-Laws set forth the procedures if a Director nominee does not receive at least a majority of votes cast in an uncontested election of Directors where a quorum is present. In an uncontested election, an incumbent Director nominee who receives the support of less than a majority of the votes cast at an Annual Meeting, although deemed to have been elected to the Board by plurality vote, must promptly tender his or her resignation to the Board. In an uncontested election, if a nominee who is not an incumbent does not receive the vote of at least a majority of the votes cast, the nominee will be deemed to have been elected to the Board by plurality vote and to have immediately resigned.

 

For this purpose, “majority of votes cast” means the number of shares voted FOR a Director’s election exceeds 50% of the total number of votes cast with respect to the Director’s election. “Votes cast” includes only FOR and WITHHOLD votes. Under Pennsylvania law and the Company’s By-Laws, broker non-votes are not considered to be “votes” and, therefore, will not be given effect either as FOR or WITHHOLD votes in the context of Proposal 1.

 

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The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will evaluate the tendered resignation of an incumbent Director who does not receive a majority vote in an uncontested election and make a recommendation to the Board as to whether the resignation should be accepted. The Board will act on the tendered resignation and publicly disclose its decision within 90 days from the date of certification of election results. If the Board does not accept the incumbent’s resignation, such Director will continue to serve until the next Annual Meeting and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified or until such Director’s earlier death, resignation or removal. If the Board accepts the Director’s resignation, the Board may fill the resulting vacancy or decrease the size of the Board pursuant to the Company’s By-Laws. To be eligible to stand for election, each nominee who agrees to be nominated must agree in writing to be bound by the By-Law resignation provisions in the event the nominee does not receive a majority of the votes cast in an uncontested election.

What vote is needed to approve all other proposals?

Proposals 2, 3 and 35 require a FOR vote of a majority of the votes cast, by those in attendance at the virtual Annual Meeting orperson and by Proxy, in order to be approved.

A plurality of the votes cast for Proposal 4, in person and by Proxy, will determine the Shareholders’ preferred frequency for holding future Say-on-Pay votes.

ABSTAIN votes and broker non-votes will not be considered as votes cast and will have no effect on the outcome of the votes on these proposals.

 

Can I change or revoke my vote after I have delivered my Proxy?

Yes. If you are a record owner, prior to the Annual Meeting you may change your vote by submitting a later-dated Proxy in one of the manners authorized and described in this Proxy Statement (by Proxy Card, via the Internet or by telephone). You also may give a written notice of revocation to the Company’s Corporate Secretary, so long as it is delivered to the Corporate Secretary at the Company’s principal executive offices prior to the beginning of the Annual Meeting, or given to the Corporate Secretary at the Annual Meeting prior to the time your Proxy is voted at the Annual Meeting. You also may revoke any Proxy given pursuant to this solicitation by voting your shares electronically duringattending the Annual Meeting.Meeting and voting in person by ballot. If you are a beneficial owner, please follow the instructions provided by your broker, bank or trust withas to how you may change your voting instruction formvote or obtain a legal proxy to vote your shares if you wish to cast your vote electronicallyin person at the Annual Meeting.

Who can attend the Annual Meeting?

Our virtual Annual Meeting will be conducted onOnly Company employees and Shareholders as of the Internet via webcast. Shareholders of record on March 2, 2021 will be able to participate online, vote their shares electronically and submit questions during7, 2023 Record Date may attend the Annual Meeting by visiting:

www.virtualshareholdingmeeting.com/CCK2021

To participate inMeeting. Record owners may attend without any prior authorization. If you are a beneficial owner, to be admitted to the Annual Meeting you will need proof of beneficial ownership satisfactory to the 16-digit control number included on yourCompany in the form of a statement from the brokerage firm, bank or trust or a legal proxy cardfrom that institution showing you as a beneficial owner of Company shares or your voting instruction form. Theas the sole legal proxy of a beneficial owner. All Annual Meeting will begin promptly at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time. We encourage youattendees may be asked to accesspresent valid, government-issued photo identification, such as a driver’s license or passport, before entering the Annual Meeting priorMeeting. Attendees will be subject to security inspections and will be required to comply with other security and procedural measures in place at the start time. Online accessAnnual Meeting. Please arrive early enough to allow yourself adequate time to clear security. You will begin at 9:15 a.m. Eastern Time.

The virtual Annual Meeting platform is fully supported across browsers (Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, Firefox, Chrome and Safari) andnot be allowed to use video or audio recording devices (desktops, laptops, tablets and cell phones) running the most updated version of applicable software and plugins. Participants should ensure they have a strong Internet connection wherever they intend to participate in the Annual Meeting. Participants also should allow plentyRepresentatives of time to log in and ensure that they can hear streaming audio priorthe Company will be at the entrance to the startAnnual Meeting, and these representatives will be authorized on the Company’s behalf to determine whether the admission policies and procedures are being followed and whether you will be granted admission to the Annual Meeting.

COVID-19 Protocols:

For the health and safety of our Shareholders and employees, we ask that you follow all applicable health orders related to the COVID-19 pandemic in place at the time of the Annual Meeting.

Shareholders may submit questions during As the Annual Meeting. If you wish to submit a question, you may do so by logging intostate of the virtual meeting platform at

www.virtualshareholdingmeeting.com/CCK2021

COVID-19 pandemic and typing your question into the “Ask a Question” field, and clicking “Submit.” Questions pertinent to the Annual Meeting will be answered during the Annual Meeting,applicable health orders are subject to time constraints.change following the date of this Proxy Statement, we encourage Shareholders who

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If you encounter any difficulties accessing the virtual Annual Meeting during the check-in or meeting time, please call 844-986-0822 (Toll Free) or 303-562-9302 for assistance. Technical support will be available beginning at 9:15 a.m. Eastern Time on April 22, 2021 through the conclusion of the Annual Meeting.

Additional information regarding matters addressing technical and logistical issues, including technical support duringplan to attend the Annual Meeting will be available atin person to review the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Florida Department of Health, as well as the Company’s website at:

www.virtualshareholdingmeeting.com/CCK2021www.crowncork.com/investors/governance/proxy-online

prior to attending. Individuals experiencing cold/flu-like symptoms, or any other symptoms associated with COVID-19, should not attend the Annual Meeting in person but are encouraged to vote prior to the meeting using one of the other methods described under “How do I vote my shares?” above.

Where can I find voting results of the Annual Meeting?

The Company will announce the preliminary voting results at the Annual Meeting and publish the final results in a Form 8-K or Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) within four business days after the date of the Annual Meeting.

Who conducts the Proxy solicitation, and how much will it cost?

The Company has engaged D.F. King to assist in the solicitation of Proxies for a fee of $10,000 plus reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses and certain additional fees for services rendered in connection with such solicitation. Certain Officers and employees of the Company may also solicit Proxies by mail, telephone, Internet or facsimile or in person without any extra compensation. The Company bears the cost of soliciting Proxies.

What is the deadline for proposals for consideration or for nominations of individuals to serve as Directors at the 20222024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders?

Proposals to be Considered for Inclusion in the Company’s Proxy Materials:

 

In order to be considered for inclusion in the Proxy Statement for the Company’s 20222024 Annual Meeting
of Shareholders, any Shareholder proposal intended to be presented at that meeting, in addition to meeting the shareholder eligibility and other requirements of the SEC rules governing such proposals, must be received in writing, via Certified Mail – Return Receipt Requested, by the Office of the Corporate Secretary, Crown Holdings, Inc., 770 Township Line Road, Yardley, PA 19067Hidden River Corporate Center Two, 14025 Riveredge Drive, Suite 300, Tampa, FL 33637 not later than November 15, 2021.
21, 2023.

 

Director Nominations for Inclusion in the Company’s Proxy Materials (Proxy Access):

 

Under certain circumstances, Shareholders may submit nominations for Directors for inclusion in the Company’s proxy materials by complying with the proxy access requirements in the Company’s By-Laws, which require nominations to be submitted in writing, via Certified Mail – Return Receipt Requested, and received at the above address not before October 16, 202122, 2023 nor after November 15, 2021.21, 2023.

 

Other Business and Director Nominations to Be Brought Before the 20222024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders:

 

The Company’s By-Laws currently provide that a Shareholder of record at the time that notice is given to the Company and who is entitled to vote at an annual meeting may bring business before the meeting or nominate a person for election to the Board of Directors if the Shareholder gives timely notice of such business or nomination. To be timely, and subject to certain exceptions, notice in writing to the Corporate Secretary must be delivered or mailed, via Certified Mail – Return Receipt Requested, and received at the above address not before October 16, 202122, 2023 nor after November 15, 2021.21, 2023. The notice must describe various matters regarding the nominee or proposed business. Any Shareholder desiring a copy of the Company’s By-Laws will be furnished one copy without charge upon written request to the Corporate Secretary.

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How can I access the Proxy materials on the Internet?

The Company has made available copies of the following materials at the Company’s website at:

https://www.crowncork.com/investors/governance/proxy-online

·this Proxy Statement
·the Proxy Card relating to the Annual Meeting of Shareholders
·the Annual Report to Shareholders

Information included on the Company’s website, other than this Proxy Statement, the Proxy Card and the Annual Report to Shareholders, is not part of the Proxy soliciting materials.

Whom should I contact to obtain a copy of the Annual Report on Form 10-K?

The Company filed its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 20202022 with the SEC on February 26, 2021.27, 2023. A copy of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K was included as part of the Annual Report to Shareholders that you received along with the proxy materials. Any Shareholder can obtain a copy of the Annual Report, including the financial statements and schedules thereto and a list describing all the exhibits not contained therein, without charge. Requests for copies of the Annual Report should be sent to: Investor Relations Department, Crown Holdings, Inc., 770 Township Line Road, Yardley, PA 19067Hidden River Corporate Center Two, 14025 Riveredge Drive, Suite 300, Tampa, FL 33637 or you may call toll free 888-400-7789. Copies in electronic format of the Company’s Annual Report and filings with the SEC are available at the Company’s website at www.crowncork.comwww.crowncork.com/investors/reports-filings in the “For Investors” section.

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PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

 

The Proxy Holders shall vote the shares with respect to the nominees listed below, all of whom are now Directors of the Company, to serve as Directors for the ensuing year or until their successors shall be elected. None of the persons named as a nominee for Director has indicated that he or she will be unable or will decline to serve. In the event that any of the nominees are unable or decline to serve, which the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors does not believe will happen, the Proxy Holders will vote with respect to the remaining nominees and others who may be nominated by the Board of Directors.

 

The By-Laws of the Company provide for a Board of Directors consisting of between 10 and 18 Directors, as determined by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors has fixed the number of Directors at 13. It is intended that the Proxies will be voted for the election of the 13 nominees named below as Directors, and no more than 13 will be nominated by the Board. If all 13 directorDirector nominees are elected, the Board of Directors will consist of 13 Directors, 12 of whom,the Directors, representing 92% of the Board, will be “independent” as defined in the NYSE listing standards.

The Board is committed to regular review of its composition to ensure that the Board continues to have the right mix of skills, background and tenure. This year’s Board nominees include one new Director – Dwayne Wilson. SixEight of the Company’s independent Directors have joined the Board in the last five years as a result of a Board refreshment process where Director candidates were identified through Board, Shareholder and third-party search firm input. Our ongoing Board refreshment strategy has further strengthened and diversified the skills and experiences of the Board. The Board believes that the collective combination of backgrounds, skills and experiences of its members has produced a Board that is well-equipped to exercise oversight responsibilities for the Company’s Shareholders and to help guide the Company to achieve its long-term strategic objectives.

On December 12, 2022, the Company entered into a Director Appointment and Nomination Agreement with Carl C. Icahn and the persons and entities listed therein (collectively, the “Icahn Group”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to (i) increase the size of the board of directors of the Company to 13 directors and (ii) appoint Andrew J. Teno and Jesse A. Lynn (collectively, the “Icahn Designees”) to the Board to fill the resulting vacancies and include each of the Icahn Designees as part of the Company’s slate of nominees for election to the Board at the 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. A summary of the terms of the Director Nomination Agreement is provided in the “Transactions with Related Persons” section on page 34.

Under the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, no Director will commence a term of Board service if the Director is over 75 years old unless the Board determines that an additional term of Board service would be in the best interests of the Company.

The names of thethis year’s nominees and information concerning them and their associations as of March 2, 2021,7, 2023, as furnished by the nominees, follow. The principal occupations and the directorships stated include the nominees’ occupations and directorships with any U.S. publicly traded companies or registered investment companies during the last five years.

 

The Board of Directors Recommends that Shareholders Vote FOR Election

of Each of the Nominees Named Below.

1720 
 

NameAgePrincipal OccupationYear Became
Director

John W. Conway

(a)

75

 

Chairman of the Board and former Chief Executive Officer of the Company; also a Director of PPL Corporation1997

Timothy J. Donahue

(a)

58President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company2015

Richard H. Fearon

 

64Vice Chairman and Chief Financial and Planning Officer and Director of Eaton Corporation[1]; also a Director of Avient Corporation and CRH plc2019

Andrea J. Funk

(b) (c)

51VP Finance, Americas of EnerSys; former Chief Executive Officer of Cambridge-Lee Industries; former Director of Destination Maternity Corporation2017

Stephen J. Hagge

(c)

69Former President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of AptarGroup; also a Director of CF Industries Holdings2019

Rose Lee

(d)

55President of DuPont Water & Protection2016

James H. Miller

(a) (c) (d)

72Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of PPL Corporation; also a Director of AES Corporation2010

Josef M. Müller

(b) (c)

73Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé in the Greater China Region2011

B. Craig Owens

(b)

66Former Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer of Campbell Soup Company; also a Director of AptarGroup; former Director of J.C. Penney Company2019

Caesar F. Sweitzer

(a) (b) (d)

70Former Senior Advisor and Managing Director of Citigroup Global Markets2014

Jim L. Turner

(a) (c) (d)

75Chief Executive Officer of JLT Beverages; former Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Dr Pepper/Seven Up Bottling Group; also a Director of Comstock Resources2005

William S. Urkiel

(b) (d)

75Former Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of IKON Office Solutions; former Director of Roadrunner Transportation Systems2004

Dwayne A. Wilson

(b)

62Former Senior Vice President of Fluor Corporation; Director of Sterling Construction Company and Ingredion Incorporated; former Director of AK Steel Holding Corporation2020
(a) Member of the Executive Committee(c) Member of the Compensation Committee
(b) Member of the Audit Committee(d) Member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
     


[1] Mr. Fearon will retire as a director and officer of Eaton Corporation on March 31, 2021.

NameAgePrincipal OccupationYear Became
Director

Timothy J. Donahue

(e)

60Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company2015

Richard H. Fearon

(a) (ncg)

66Former Vice Chairman and Chief Financial and Planning Officer and Director of Eaton Corporation; also a Director of Avient Corporation and CRH plc2019

Andrea J. Funk

(a) (c)

53Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of EnerSys; former Chief Executive Officer of Cambridge-Lee Industries; former Director of Destination Maternity Corporation2017

Stephen J. Hagge

(c) (e) (ncg)

71Former President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of AptarGroup; also Chairman of CF Industries Holdings2019

Jesse A. Lynn

(ncg)

52General Counsel of Icahn Enterprises and Chief Operating Officer of Icahn Capital; also a Director of Conduent, FirstEnergy and Xerox Holdings; former Director of Cloudera, Herbalife Nutrition and Manitowoc2022

James H. Miller

(c) (e) (ncg)

74Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of PPL Corporation; also a Director of AES Corporation2010

Josef M. Müller

(a) (c)

75Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé in the Greater China Region2011

B. Craig Owens

(a) (e)

68Former Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer of Campbell Soup Company; also a Director of AptarGroup; former Director of J C Penney Company2019

Angela M. Snyder

(a)

58Senior Executive Vice President/Chief Banking Officer of Fulton Bank2022

Caesar F. Sweitzer

(a) (e) (ncg)

72Former Senior Advisor and Managing Director of Citigroup Global Markets2014

Andrew J. Teno

(a) (c)

37Portfolio Manager of Icahn Capital; former Director at Fir Tree Partners; also a Director of FirstEnergy and Southwest Gas; former Director of Cheniere Energy, Eco-Stim Energy and Herc Holdings2022

Marsha C. Williams

(c)

71Former Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Orbitz Worldwide; also Chairperson of Modine Manufacturing Company and a Director of Fifth Third Bancorp2022

Dwayne A. Wilson

(a)

64Former Senior Vice President of Fluor Corporation; also a Director of Sterling Construction Company, Ingredion Incorporated and DT Midstream; former Director of AK Steel Holding Corporation2020
(a) Member of the Audit Committee(c) Member of the Compensation Committee
(e) Member of the Executive Committee(ncg) Member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
     
1821 
 

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for leading the search for individuals qualified to become members of the Board of Directors and recommending candidates to the Board as Director nominees. The Board desires a diverse membership, including with respect to race, gender, nationality and ethnicity as well as professional background and geographic and industry experience. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee assesses each potential nominee’s overall mix of experiences, qualifications, perspectives, talents, education and skills as well as each potential nominee’s ability to contribute to the Board and to enhance the Board’s decision-making process.processes. Independence is a key factor when considering the Director nominees, as are critical thinking skills, practical wisdom and mature judgment in the decision-making process. For a description of the identifying and evaluating procedures of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, see “Corporate Governance – Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.” The Board believes that each of the nominees listed above has the sound character, integrity, judgment and record of achievement necessary to be a member of the Board and is independent of the influence of any particular Shareholder or group of Shareholders whose interests may diverge from the interests of the Company’s Shareholders as a whole.Board. In addition, each of the nominees has exhibited the ability to operate constructively with the other members of the Board and to challenge and question management in a productive way.

The Board believes, moreover, that each nominee brings a strong and unique background and skill set to the Board, giving the Board, as a whole, competence and experience in diverse areas. These areas include organizational leadership; public company board service; manufacturing; finance; management in the packaging, food and beverage sectors and other relevant industries; and international business and markets.markets; information security; and experience representing the views of investors. The Board believes that the following specific experiences, qualifications and skills, together with the aforementioned attributes, qualify each of the nominees listed above to serve as a Director.

John Conway. Mr. Conway, the Company’s independent non-executive Chairman of the Board, served as the CEO of the Company for over 15 years until his retirement at year-end 2015, as a member of the Board since 1997 and in other positions, both domestic and international, with the Company and its predecessors for over 40 years. He gives the Board seasoned leadership and an in-depth knowledge of the Company, especially its international business. Mr. Conway also serves as Lead Director of another NYSE-listed company.

Timothy Donahue. Mr. Donahue was elected Chairman by the Board following the 2022 Annual Meeting and assumed the position of CEO of the Company in 2016. He has served as a member of the Board since 2015 and in other executive positions with the Company for over 3032 years. He gives the Board seasoned leadership and an in-depth knowledge of the Company, especially its international business. He also brings to the Board an intimate understanding of the operations and finances of the Company from his prior experience as the Company’s Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer.

Richard Fearon. Mr. Fearon’s experience as aFearon, the former Vice Chairman and CFO of an NYSE-listed global, diversified manufacturing company, brings to the Board comprehensive knowledge of financial accounting and extensive experience in financial reporting, corporate finance and capital markets, corporate development, strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, risk management and investor relations. He also oversaw his company’s information security program for more than 10 years and chaired its senior management committee on information security. Mr. Fearon’s experience qualifies him as an “audit committee financial expert” within the meaning of SEC regulations. In addition, his service as a Lead Director of an NYSE-listed global provider of specialized polymers also provides significant governance experience. Mr. Fearon also serves as a director of another publicly-listedNYSE-listed company. Mr. Fearon will retire as a director and officer of Eaton Corporation on March 31, 2021.

Andrea Funk. Ms. Funk’s experience as VP Finance of the Americas divisionSenior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of an NYSE-listed international manufacturing company and as former CEO and CFO of an international manufacturing and distribution business brings to the Board significant expertise in the areas of finance, operations and strategy. This, along with Ms. Funk’s prior experience in public accounting, enhances her contributions to the Audit Committee and qualifies her as an “audit committee financial expert” within the meaning of SEC regulations.

19 

Stephen Hagge. Mr. Hagge brings to the Board substantial leadership and management experience in public company governance, operations, international business, strategic initiatives and risk management from his roleroles as former CEO, CFO and COO of an NYSE-listed global packaging manufacturer. Mr. Hagge chairs the Compensation Committee and also serves as Chairman of another NYSE-listed company.

22 

Jesse Lynn. Mr. Lynn’s extensive experience, since 2004, as general counsel or assistant general counsel of a diversified holding company engaged in a variety of businesses, including in the investment, energy, automotive, food packaging, real estate, home fashion and pharmaceuticals sectors, brings to the Board significant legal and financial expertise. Mr. Lynn is also the Chief Operating Officer of a company that manages investment funds, and he has prior experience in private legal practice. Additionally, as the designee to the Board by one of the Company’s significant Shareholders, Mr. Lynn has experience understanding the viewpoint of Company Shareholders. Mr. Lynn also serves as a director of another NYSE-listed company.three other publicly-listed companies, including one in the highly-regulated energy sector.

Rose Lee. Ms. Lee brings senior management experience to the Board from her role as president of a global business segment of an NYSE-listed international manufacturing company. She also brings a deep knowledge of operations, engineering and technology matters that enhances her contribution to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s oversight of the Company’s sustainability efforts.

James Miller. Mr. Miller, the Company’s Independent Lead Director, brings to the Board substantial leadership and management experience, both domestic and international, from his role as former chairmanChairman and CEO of an NYSE-listed international energy and utility holding company. Mr. Miller also brings to the Board significant safety, environmental, governmental relations and regulatory agency experience by virtue of his responsibilities at this highly regulated utility company. Mr. Miller chairs the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and also serves as director of another NYSE-listed company.

Josef Müller. Mr. Müller, a European national, has over 35 years of senior management experience at a global food and beverage company, including as the CEO of that company’s greater China region. Mr. Müller brings to the Board significant emerging market business development and management experience.

B. Craig Owens. Mr. Owens’ extensive experience in the consumer food and beverage industries, including his former service as the CFO of a leading NYSE-listed international consumer food company, brings to the Board significant financial expertise, including all aspects of financial reporting, accounting, corporate finance and capital markets, as well as significant experience in strategic planning, business integration and operations, and in managing supply chain organizations. In his roles as CFO for several companies, he had over 15 years of senior-level management responsibility for information security. He also recently completed a Director-level certification course in information security. Mr. Owens also has considerable knowledge of the retail industry having served as CFO of a leading international grocery retailer. His experience qualifies him as an “audit committee financial expert” within the meaning of SEC regulations, and he chairs the Audit Committee. Mr. Owens also serves as a director of another NYSE-listed company.

Angela Snyder. Ms. Snyder brings to the Board extensive experience in the banking sector and proven senior executive leadership experience from her roles as Chairwoman, President and CEO of a former subsidiary of a NASDAQ-listed financial holding company. She possesses more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry.

Caesar Sweitzer. Mr. Sweitzer spent over 35 years in finance, primarily as an investment banker focusing on industrial companies. Mr. Sweitzer brings to the Board significant knowledge of the global packaging industry as well as finance and investment matters, such as acquisitions, dispositions and corporate finance. Mr. Sweitzer’s experience qualifies him as an “audit committee financial expert” within the meaning of SEC regulations, and he chairs the Audit Committee.regulations.

Jim TurnerAndrew Teno. Mr. Turner’s extensive experience in the soft drink industry, and in particular his experience as owner and CEO of the largest independent soft drink bottler in the U.S., givesTeno brings to the Board deep insight intosignificant financial and strategic knowledge through his extensive public and private investment experience across a diverse set of industries and investment platforms. Since October 2020, Mr. Teno serves as Portfolio Manager of a diversified holding company engaged in a variety of businesses, including the industry of manyinvestment, energy, automotive, food packaging, real estate, home fashion and pharmaceuticals sectors. As the designee to the Board by one of the Company’s significant customers.Shareholders, Mr. TurnerTeno also has valuable experience in business development, finance and mergers and acquisitions.understanding the viewpoint of Company Shareholders. Additionally, Mr. Turner chairs the Compensation Committee and alsoTeno serves as a director of another NYSE-listed company.two other publicly-listed companies, both of which are in the highly-regulated energy sector.

23 

William UrkielMarsha Williams. Mr. Urkiel’s experience as CFO of a NYSE-listed provider of innovative document management systems and servicesMs. Williams brings to the Board both leadership skillsextensive experience in strategic planning, corporate finance, operations, mergers and comprehensive knowledge of accounting, finance and capital marketsacquisitions, investor relations, information technology, liquidity management, risk management and corporate governance matters. Mr. Urkiel’s accountingthrough her prior roles as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer of companies in diverse industries. Ms. Williams also serves as Chairperson of one publicly-listed company and as a director of another with global operations. In these roles, Ms. Williams has accumulated extensive knowledge of corporate governance, global finance, capital management, internal controls and human resources, including significant experience qualify him as an “audit committeein the financial expert” withinmarkets in which the meaning of SEC regulations, and he serves on the Audit Committee.Company competes for financing.

Dwayne Wilson. Mr. Wilson brings to the Board over 36 years of senior management experience at a leading NYSE-listed construction and engineering company. Mr. Wilson has gained a broad range of experience and exposure to a number of diverse end markets, and the Company will benefitbenefits from his knowledge and perspective, particularly in the areas of manufacturing, technology, operational excellence and engineering. Mr. Wilson also serves as a director of twothree other publicly-listed companies.companies.

 

2024 
 

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

 

The following table lists 20202022 Director compensation for all independent Directors who received compensation as Directors in 2020.2022. Compensation for Mr. Donahue, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, is reported in the Summary Compensation Table included in the Executive Compensation section below. Mr. Donahue does not earn additional compensation for his service as Director.Director or for his service as Chairman.

 

Name

Fees Earned or

Paid in Cash (1)

 

Stock Awards (2)

 

Total

John Conway$180,000$145,000$325,000
Richard Fearon100,000145,000245,000
Andrea Funk125,000145,000270,000
Stephen Hagge110,000145,000255,000
Rose Lee117,500145,000262,500
William Little (3)52,50072,500125,000
Hans Löliger (3)52,50072,500125,000
James Miller155,000145,000300,000
Josef Müller125,000145,000270,000
B. Craig Owens111,250145,000256,250
Caesar Sweitzer135,000145,000280,000
Jim Turner130,000145,000275,000
William Urkiel125,000145,000270,000

(1)

Each Director may defer receipt of all, or any part, of his or her cash compensation until termination of service as a Director. At the election of the Director, deferred cash compensation amounts are paid in either a lump sum or installments over a period not to exceed 10 years after departure from the Board and are credited with interest at the prime rate until distributed.

(2)

The annual grant of Company Common Stock for 2020 consisted of $145,000 of Company Common Stock under the Stock Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors and was paid on a quarterly basis. The number of shares paid each quarter is determined based on the average of the closing market price of the Company’s Common Stock on each of the second through sixth business days following the date on which the Company publicly released its quarterly results.

(3)Messrs. Little and Löliger retired as Directors of the Company pursuant to the Company’s mandatory retirement rules and did not stand for re-election in April 2020.

 

Name

Fees Earned or

Paid in Cash (1)

 

Stock Awards (2)

 

Total

John Conway (3) (4)$90,000$80,000$170,000
Richard Fearon122,500160,000282,500
Andrea Funk125,000160,000285,000
Stephen Hagge125,000160,000285,000
Rose Lee (3)27,50040,00067,500
James Miller155,000160,000315,000
Josef Müller125,000160,000285,000
B. Craig Owens125,000160,000285,000
Angela Snyder28,75040,00068,750
Caesar Sweitzer125,000160,000285,000
Jim Turner (3)65,00080,000145,000
William Urkiel (3)55,00080,000135,000
Marsha Williams82,500120,000202,500
Dwayne Wilson115,000160,000275,000

(1)    Each Director may defer receipt of all, or any part, of his or her cash compensation until termination of service as a Director. Effective 2024, a Director may defer his or her cash compensation to a fixed payment date that is before or after the Director’s termination of service. At the election of the Director, deferred cash compensation amounts are paid in either a lump sum or installments over a period not to exceed 10 years and are credited with interest at the prime rate until distributed.

(2)    The annual grant of Company Common Stock for 2022 consisted of $160,000 of Company Common Stock under the Stock Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors and was paid on a quarterly basis. The number of shares paid each quarter is determined based on the average of the closing market price of the Company’s Common Stock on each of the second through sixth business days following the date on which the Company publicly released its quarterly results.

(3)   Messrs. Conway, Turner and Urkiel retired as Directors of the Company in April 2022. Ms. Lee resigned as a Director of the Company in February 2022.

(4)    Mr. Conway received $40,000 in cash compensation as the Company’s Non-Executive Board Chairman in 2022.

2125 
 

The Board periodically receives benchmarking data regarding director compensation from Pay Governance LLC, an executive compensation consulting firm, and uses the 50thpercentile of its peer group’s target total cash compensation and target total direct compensation as a market check in determining director compensation. For 2021,2023, Directors who are not employees of the Company will receive annual cash base fees, grants of Company Common Stock and cash committee fees in the amounts set forth as follows.

 

Cash Base Fee

$100,000
Equity Grant145,000160,000
Supplemental Cash Committee Fees: 

·Audit Committee - Chair

25,000
·Audit Committee - Other Members

15,000
·Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee - Chair

20,000
·Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee - Other Members

25,000

15,000

20,000

10,000

Non-Executive Board Chairman Fee 80,000
Independent Lead Director Fee25,000

 

Directors do not receive any additional fees for their service on the Executive Committee. There are no Board or committee meeting attendance fees. Directors are reimbursed by the Company for travel and related expenses they incur in connection with their service on the Board and its committees.

Under the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, after five years of service on the Board, independent Directors are expected to own Company Common Stock having a market value of at least five times the cash base annual Director’s fee. As of the date of this Proxy Statement, each independent Director with more than five years of service on the Board satisfies this requirement.

 

 

2226 
 

COMMON STOCK OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS, DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

 

The following table shows, as of March 2, 2021,7, 2023, the number of shares of Company Common Stock beneficially owned by each person or group that is known to the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock.

Name and Address

 

Amount of Common Stock of the Company

Owned Beneficially, Directly or Indirectly

Percentage of

Outstanding Shares (1)

 

The Vanguard Group (2)

100 Vanguard Blvd.

Malvern, PA 19355

11,968,5598.9%

JP Morgan Chase & Co. (3)

383 Madison Avenue

New York, NY 10179

8,518,5566.3%

Janus Henderson Group plc (4)

201 Bishopsgate

EC2M 3AE

United Kingdom

7,323,3325.4%

BlackRock, Inc. (5)

55 East 52nd Street

New York, NY 10055

6,812,3945.0%

(1) Percentages are derived based upon 134,912,097 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of March 2, 2021.

(2) The Vanguard Group, an investment advisor, reported that it may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of 11,968,559 shares of the Company’s Common Stock. The Vanguard Group reported that it had sole dispositive power with respect to 11,745,103 shares, including 117,151 shares for which it had shared voting power, and shared dispositive power with respect to 223,456 shares.

(3) JP Morgan Chase & Co., a parent holding company, reported that it may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of 8,518,556 shares of the Company’s Common Stock. JP Morgan Chase & Co. reported that it had sole dispositive power with respect to 8,487,669 shares, including 7,778,630 shares for which it had sole voting power and 28,950 shares for which it had shared voting power, and shared dispositive power with respect to 29 shares.

(4) Janus Henderson Group plc, a parent holding company, reported that it may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of 7,323,332 shares of the Company’s Common Stock. Janus Henderson Group plc reported that it had shared voting power and shared dispositive power with respect to 7,323,332 shares.

(5) BlackRock, Inc., a parent holding company, reported that it may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of 6,812,394 shares of the Company’s Common Stock. BlackRock, Inc. reported that it had sole dispositive power with respect to 6,812,394 shares, including 6,068,303 shares for which it had sole voting power.

Name and Address

 

Amount of Common Stock

of the Company Owned Beneficially, Directly or Indirectly

Percentage of

Outstanding Shares (1)

 

The Vanguard Group (2)

100 Vanguard Blvd.

Malvern, PA 19355

11,449,2769.5%

Icahn Partners Master Fund LP, Icahn Offshore LP, Icahn Partners LP, Icahn Onshore LP, Icahn Capital LP, IPH GP LLC, Icahn Enterprises Holdings L.P., Icahn Enterprises G.P. Inc., and Beckton Corp. (3)

16690 Collins Avenue, PH-1

Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160

Matsumura Fishworks LLC (3)

312 Walnut Street, Suite 2000

Cincinnati, OH 45202

Carl C. Icahn (3)

c/o Icahn Associates Holding LLC

16690 Collins Avenue, PH-1

Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160

10,201,2738.5%

BlackRock, Inc. (4)

55 East 52nd Street

New York, NY 10055

6,642,3005.5%

Janus Henderson Group plc (5)

201 Bishopsgate

EC2M 3AE

United Kingdom

6,443,2065.4%
2327 

(1) 

Percentages are derived based upon 120,107,190 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of March 7, 2023.

(2) 

The Vanguard Group, an investment advisor, reported that it may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of 11,449,276 shares of the Company’s Common Stock. The Vanguard Group reported that it had sole dispositive power with respect to 11,282,303 shares, including 76,613 shares for which it had shared voting power, and shared dispositive power with respect to 166,973 shares. 

(3) 

The Icahn Group may be deemed to be the beneficial owner, in the aggregate, of 10,201,273 shares of Common Stock. Of such shares of Common Stock, an aggregate of 1,040,100 shares of Common Stock were acquired by Icahn Partners, Icahn Master and Matsumura in open market purchases. The remaining 9,161,173 shares of Common Stock may be deemed beneficially owned by the Icahn Group as a result of their having entered into forward contracts with respect to such number of shares of Common Stock. 

(4) 

BlackRock, Inc., a parent holding company, reported that it may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of 6,642,300 shares of the Company’s Common Stock. BlackRock, Inc. reported that it had sole dispositive power with respect to 6,642,300 shares, including 5,994,623 shares for which it had sole voting power. 

(5) 

Janus Henderson Group plc, an investment advisor and holding company, reported that it may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of 6,443,206 shares of the Company’s Common Stock. Janus Henderson Group plc reported that it had shared voting power and shared dispositive power with respect to 6,443,206 shares.

28 
 

The following table shows, as of March 2, 2021,7, 2023, the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by each Director; the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and the three other Executive Officers who were the highest paid during 2020;2022; and all Directors and Executive Officers as a group. The Directors and Executive Officers of the Company have sole voting and dispositive power with respect to the securities of the Company listed in the table below.

Name

Amount of Common Stock of the Company Owned Beneficially, Directly or Indirectly

Percentage of

Outstanding Shares (1)

Amount of Common Stock

of the Company Owned Beneficially, Directly or Indirectly

Percentage of

Outstanding Shares (1)

John Conway1,031,933*
Kevin Clothier (2)28,133*
Timothy Donahue (2)637,682*585,976*
Richard Fearon (3)3,531*6,737*
Andrea Funk8,564*11,770*
Gerard Gifford161,896*144,471*
Stephen Hagge2,338*5,544*
Thomas Kelly (2)133,172*
Rose Lee10,134*
Jesse Lynn465*
James Miller25,001*28,539*
Josef Müller24,314*27,838*
Djalma Novaes77,473*90,842*
B. Craig Owens2,338*
Didier Sourisseau91,760*
B. Craig Owens (4)7,599*
Angela Snyder1,048*
Caesar Sweitzer15,914*19,120*
Jim Turner92,725*
William Urkiel51,944*
Andrew Teno465*
Marsha Williams1,824*
Dwayne Wilson368*3,574*
Directors and Executive    
Officers as a Group of 202,499,0811.9%1,053,9170.9%
* Less than 1%* Less than 1%* Less than 1%

(1) Percentages are derived based upon 134,912,097 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of March 2, 2021.

(2) Excludes 3,000,000 shares of Common Stock held in the Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc. Master Retirement Trust on behalf of various Company pension plans (“Trust Shares”). Messrs. Donahue and Kelly are members of the Benefits Plan Investment Committee of the trust that has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to the Trust Shares, but they disclaim beneficial ownership of the Trust Shares.

(3) Includes 16 shares of Common Stock held by the Fearon Family Trust, of which Mr. Fearon is a trustee and a beneficiary.

(1) 

Percentages are derived based upon 120,107,190 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of March 7, 2023.

(2) 

Excludes 3,000,000 shares of Common Stock held in the Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc. Master Retirement Trust on behalf of various Company pension plans (“Trust Shares”). Messrs. Donahue and Clothier are members of the Benefits Plan Investment Committee of the trust that has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to the Trust Shares, but they disclaim beneficial ownership of the Trust Shares. 

(3) 

Includes 16 shares of Common Stock held by the Fearon Family Trust, of which Mr. Fearon is a trustee and a beneficiary. 

(4) 

Includes 2,000 shares of Common Stock held by The B Craig Owens Rev Trust U/A 1/25/08, of which Mr. Owens is a trustee and a beneficiary. 

 

2429 
 

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 

 

Meetings of the Board of Directors. In 2020,2022, there were seveneleven meetings of the Board of Directors. Each Director during his or her term of service attended at least 75% of the aggregate meetings of the Board and of the committees on which he or she served.

Attendance at the Annual Meeting. Under the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, Directors are expected to attend the Company’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders. In 2020,2022, each of the Directors serving on the Board at the time attended the Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

Director Independence.The Board has determined that all Directors standing for election, with the exception of Timothy Donahue, the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, are independent under the listing standards of the NYSE. The Board made this determination based on the absence of any of the express disqualifying criteria set forth in the listing standards that require a majority of the Board nominees to be independent Directors.

In making the foregoing determinations, the Board considered the Directors’ affiliations with the Company or third parties and Company payments to such parties. For Mr. Conway, the Board considered his status prior to 2016 as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. For Ms. Funk, the Board considered her role as an officer of EnerSys and ordinary course of business purchases by the Company of batteries and related accessories from EnerSys. The Board also considered her role as a director of Ecore International in relation to ordinary course of business purchases of rubber matting by the Company from Ecore. For Mr. Fearon, the Board considered his role as a Director of Avient Corporation and ordinary course of business purchases of plastisol sealing compounds and lubricants by the Company from Avient. TheFor Ms. Funk, the Board also considered Mr. Fearon’sher role as a Director and officerdirector of Eaton Corporation (from which he will retire on March 31, 2021) andEcore International, a privately-held company, in relation to ordinary course of business purchases of energy management solutionsrubber matting by the Company from Eaton. Finally for Mr. Fearon, the Board considered his role as a Trustee of Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI, Inc., a not for profit professional society, and the payment of membership dues for Crown employees by the Company to MAPI.Ecore. For Mr. Hagge, who is a Director of Transcendia Topco Holdings, a privately-held company, the Board considered ordinary course of business purchases of high-density polyethylene and products purchased for re-sale by the Company from Transcendia. For Mr. Wilson, the Board considered his role as a Director of Ingredion Incorporated and ordinary course of business purchases of dry bag material for making adhesive used in corrugated paper and products purchased for re-sale by the Company from Ingredion. None of these relationships or transactions fell within the NYSE listing standards disqualifying criteria.

Board Leadership and Risk Oversight. Mr. Conway isDonahue has been the independent, non-executive Chairman of the Board. The non-executive Chairman of the Board has a rangesince 2022 and the Chief Executive Officer of duties, including, among other things:

·creating and maintaining an effective working relationship among the Chief Executive Officer and other members of management and the other members of the Board;
·providing the Chief Executive Officer ongoing direction as to Board needs, interests and opinions; and
·assuring that the Board agenda is appropriately directed to the matters of greater importance to the Company.
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the Company since 2016. Mr. Miller, as the Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, serves as the Independent Lead Director of the Board. The Independent Lead Director is an independent Director designated by the other independent DirectorsBoard and presides over meetings of the Board and has a rangeexecutive sessions of duties, including, among other things:the independent Directors.

·presiding at all meetings of the Board in the Chairman’s absence;
·presiding at all executive sessions of the Board’s independent directors;
·serving as a liaison between the Chairman of the Board and the Board’s independent directors;
·providing the Chairman with input on and approving the agendas and schedules for meetings of the Board and its committees;
·advising the Chairman as to the quality, quantity and timeliness of the flow of information from senior management that is necessary for the independent Directors to effectively and responsibly perform their duties, including specifically requesting the inclusion of certain information in the materials provided for the Board by senior management when appropriate;
·calling executive sessions of the Board’s independent Directors when appropriate;
·being available for consultation with the Chief Executive Officer regarding the concerns of the other directors;
·being available for consultation with members of senior management regarding the concerns of any members of senior management;
·being available for consultation and direct communication with Shareholders and other interested parties when appropriate;
·interviewing Director candidates and making recommendations to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Board;
·leading the Board’s evaluation of the Chairman of the Board; and
·serving a leading role in the Board’s annual self-assessment.

The Board’s currentBoard has carefully considered its leadership structure includes Audit, Compensation and Nominatingbelieves that the Company and Corporate Governance Committees thatits Shareholders are each chairedbest served by and composed solely of independent Directors.

The roles ofhaving Mr. Donahue serve as both Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer are held by two different individuals. The independent ChairmanOfficer. This structure gives the Board and management unified leadership and direction, and is tailored to present a single, clear focus for the execution of the Company’s strategic initiatives and business plans. In addition, because Mr. Donahue manages the day-to-day operations of the Company and is responsible for executing the Company’s business strategy, the Board believes it is most functional and efficient that Mr. Conway,Donahue presides overat the meetings of the Board and acts as liaison between the Board and Mr. Donahue, the Chief Executive Officer, who is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Company.Board. Moreover, the Board believes that its other structural features, including twelve independent Directors among the slate of thirteen Directors standing for election at the Company’s Annual Meeting, regular meetings of independent Directors in executive session, key committees consisting wholly of independent Directors and an Independent Lead Director with a wide range of duties, provide for substantial independent oversight of the Company’s management.

 

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Mr. Miller serves as the Independent Lead Director of the Board. The Independent Lead Director is an independent Director designated by the other independent Directors of the Board and has a range of duties, including, among other things:

·presiding at all meetings of the Board in the Chairman’s absence;
·presiding at all executive sessions of the Board’s independent Directors;
·serving as a liaison between the Chairman of the Board and the Board’s independent Directors;
·providing the Chairman with input on and approving the agendas and schedules for meetings of the Board and its committees;
·advising the Chairman as to the quality, quantity and timeliness of the flow of information from senior management that is necessary for the independent Directors to effectively and responsibly perform their duties, including specifically requesting the inclusion of certain information in the materials provided for the Board by senior management when appropriate;
·calling executive sessions of the Board’s independent Directors when appropriate;
·being available for consultation with the Chairman regarding the concerns of the other Directors;
·being available for consultation with members of senior management regarding the concerns of any members of senior management;
·being available for consultation and direct communication with Shareholders and other interested parties when appropriate;
·interviewing Director candidates and making recommendations to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Board;
·leading the Board’s evaluation of the Chairman of the Board; and
·serving a leading role in the Board’s annual self-assessment.

The Board’s current leadership structure includes Audit, Compensation and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees that are each chaired by and composed solely of independent Directors.

The Board is responsible for providing oversight of the Company’s Executive Officers’ responsibilities to assess and manage the Company’s risk, including its credit risk, liquidity risk, reputational risk, climate risk, information security risk, and risk from adverse fluctuations in foreign exchange and interest rates and commodity prices. The Board periodically meets in person with the Executive Officers regarding the Company’s risks and ways to mitigate such risks. In addition, the Audit Committee periodically reviews with management, internal audit and independent auditors the adequacy and effectiveness of the Company’s policies for assessing and managing risk.

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Director Stock Ownership, Anti-Pledging and Anti-Hedging. Under the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, after five years of service on the Board, independent Directors are expected to own Company Common Stock having a market value of at least five times the cash base annual Director’s fee. As of March 2, 2021,7, 2023, each Director with five or more years of service on the Board owned the required minimum level of Common Stock. The Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines prohibit Directors, Officers and other insiders from all forms of pledging or hedging transactions relating to Company Common Stock.

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Board Committees. The Board has an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and an Executive Committee. The Board has approved written charters for the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee that can be found at www.crowncork.com/investors/corporate-governancegovernance. Each of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee conducts a self-evaluation and review of its charter annually.

Audit Committee. In 2020,2022, the Audit Committee had tennine meetings. The Audit Committee provides assistance to the Board in discharging its responsibilities in connection with the oversight of the financial accounting practices and internal controls of the Company and represents the Board in connection with the services rendered by the Company’s independent auditors. The Audit Committee also has explicit responsibilities with respect to ESG and information security. The current members of the Audit Committee are Ms. Funk, Ms. Snyder and Messrs. Fearon, Müller, Owens, Sweitzer, UrkielTeno and Wilson. Mr. SweitzerOwens serves as Chair of the Audit Committee. The Board has determined that the Directors who serve on the Audit Committee are all independent under the listing standards of the NYSE and that Messrs. Sweitzer and Urkiel and Ms. Funk and Messrs. Fearon, Owens and Sweitzer are “audit committee financial experts” within the meaning of SEC regulations.

Compensation Committee. In 2020,2022, the Compensation Committee had sixfive meetings. The Compensation Committee is responsible for the review of the executive compensation program. The current members of the Compensation Committee are Ms. Funk, Ms. Williams and Messrs. Hagge, Miller, Müller and Turner,Teno, each of whom is independent under the listing standards of the NYSE. Mr. TurnerHagge serves as Chair of the Compensation Committee. For further discussion regarding the Compensation Committee’s processes and procedures for the consideration of executive compensation, see the CD&A beginning on page 31.36.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. There were fourtwo meetings of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee in 2020.2022. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for leading the search for individuals qualified to become members of the Board and recommending to the Board individuals as Director nominees. The Committee also oversees the annual self-evaluation process of the Board and its committees, makes recommendations to the Board regarding the membership of the Board committees and performs other corporate governance functions, such as oversightstrategic review of the Company’s environmental, social and governanceESG policies, programs and practices. The current members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are Ms. LeeMessrs. Fearon, Hagge, Lynn, Miller and Messrs. Miller, Sweitzer, Turner and Urkiel, each of whom is independent under the listing standards of the NYSE. Mr. Miller serves as Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

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Consistent with the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee seeks Director nominees committed to upholding the highest standards of personal and professional integrity and representing the interests of all Shareholders, not particular Shareholder constituencies. The Committee identifies nominees for Director by first evaluating the current members of the Board willing to continue in service. In addition, the Committee regularly assesses the appropriate size of the Board, whether any vacancies on the Board are expected because of retirement or otherwise and whether the Board needs Directors with particular skills or experience. To identify and evaluate potential candidates for the Board, the Committee solicits ideas for possible nominees from a number of sources, which may include current Board members, senior-level Company executives and professional search firms. The Committee will also consider candidates properly submitted by Company Shareholders. Candidates for the Board are evaluated through a process that may include background and reference checks, personal interviews with members of the Committee and a review of each candidate’s qualifications and other relevant characteristics. The same identifying and evaluating procedures

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apply to all candidates for Director, whether submitted by Shareholders or otherwise. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Board desire to maintain the Board’s diversity and consider factors such as race, gender, nationality and ethnicity, as well as professional backgrounds and geographic and industry experiences. The Committee does not intend to nominate representational Directors but instead considers diversity given the characteristics of the Board in its entirety.

The Company is committed to thoughtful board refreshment and ongoing board succession planning. SixEight new independent directorsDirectors recently have been added to the Company’s Board of Directors: Ms. Lee in 2016, Ms. Funk in 2017, Messrs. Fearon, Hagge and Owens in 2019, and Mr. Wilson in 2020.2020 and Ms. Williams, Ms. Snyder and Messrs. Lynn and Teno in 2022. During the refreshment process, the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee was assisted by an independent search firm and interviewed candidates identified through Director, Shareholder and independent search firm input.

On December 12, 2022, the Company entered into a Director Appointment and Nomination Agreement with Carl C. Icahn and the affiliated persons and entities listed therein (collectively, the “Icahn Group”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to (i) increase the size of the board of directors of the Company to 13 directors and (ii) appoint Andrew J. Teno and Jesse A. Lynn (collectively, the “Icahn Designees”) to the Board to fill the resulting vacancies and include each of the Icahn Designees as part of the Company’s slate of nominees for election to the Board at the 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. A summary of the terms of the Director Nomination Agreement is provided in the “Transactions with Related Persons” section on page 34.

Shareholders who wish to suggest qualified candidates may write, via Certified Mail – Return Receipt Requested, to the Office of the Corporate Secretary, Crown Holdings, Inc., 770 Township Line Road, Yardley, PA 19067Hidden River Corporate Center Two, 14025 Riveredge Drive, Suite 300, Tampa, FL 33637 stating in detail the qualifications of the persons they recommend. Shareholders must include a letter from each person recommended affirming that he or she agrees to serve as a Director of the Company if elected by Shareholders. Each of these submissions should comply with the additional requirements of the Company’s By-Laws. However, through its own resources, the Committee expects to be able to identify an ample number of qualified candidates. See “Questions and Answers about the 20212023 Annual Meeting” for information on bringing nominations for the Board of Directors at the 20222024 Annual Meeting.

Executive Sessions of the Board. Pursuant to the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, the independent Directors of the Company meet periodically at regularly scheduled executive sessions without management. There is at least one scheduled executive session each year where the Chairman is not present to allow the other Directors to evaluate his performance as Chair. The Independent Lead Director chairs such meetings.

Proxy Access. The Company’s proxy access By-Law permits Shareholders owning 3% or more of the Company’s Common Stock for a period of at least three years to nominate up to the greater of 20% of the Board of Directors or two Directors and include these nominations in the Company’s proxy materials.materials, for election at an Annual Meeting of Shareholders, subject to the relevant requirements in the Company’s By-Laws. The number of Shareholders who may aggregate their shares to meet the 3% ownership threshold is limited to 20.

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. The Company has a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to all Directors and employees. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is available on the Company’s website at www.crowncork.com/investors/corporate-governance/policies/code-business-conduct-and-ethics., and is available in English and 19 other languages. The Company intends to disclose updates to, and waivers of, the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics on the Company’s website. All employees with Company e-mail addresses are

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required to complete annual training on the Code. The Company also expects certain third parties, including suppliers, to abide by the principles of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics in the manner set forth in the Company’s Supplier Code of Conduct, which is available on the Company’s website at www.crowncork.com/investors/policies/supplier-code-conduct in English and 19 other languages.

The Company also maintains a Business Ethics Line, which is accessible via telephone number and web-based portal, as a means of raising concerns or seeking advice related to the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. The Business Ethics Line is available to all employees worldwide, as well as third parties, such as vendors, suppliers and customers. Persons who report potential violations through the Business Ethics Line may choose to remain anonymous (unless prohibited by local law) and all such reports are kept confidential to the extent practicable in connection with the investigation. The Company’s Business Ethics Line (“CBE Line”) is administered by an independent third-party provider, Lighthouse Services. To access the CBE Line, visit www.lighthouse-services.com/crowncork.

Information Security. See “Information Security” on page 8 in the Proxy Statement Summary.

Human Rights Policy. The Company has a Human Rights Policy covering the Company and all of its subsidiaries, controlled joint ventures and partners that is overseen by the Board of Directors. The Human Rights Policy is available on the Company’s website at www.crowncork.com/investors/policies/human-rights-policy, and is available in English and 19 other languages.

Sustainability. See “Sustainability – Environmental and Social Responsibility” on page 56 in the Proxy Statement Summary.

Transactions with Related Persons. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is charged with reviewing and approving or ratifying all transactions with related persons by Directors and Executive Officers required to be disclosed under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Regulation S-K”). The written Company policy pertaining to related party transactions is included in the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines.

Related Person Transactions involving the Icahn Group

On December 12, 2022, the Company entered into a Director Appointment and Nomination Agreement (the “Agreement”) with the Icahn Group, pursuant to which the Company agreed to, on or prior to December 12, 2022 (i) increase the size of the Board to 13 directors and (ii) appoint the Icahn Designees to the Board to fill the resulting vacancies, with such appointments effective on December 12, 2022. In addition, the Company has agreed to include each of the Icahn Designees as part of the Company’s slate of nominees for election to the Board at the 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

The Icahn Group will be entitled, in the event any Icahn Designee resigns or for any reason fails to serve or is not serving as a Director (subject to exceptions set forth in the Agreement, including as a result of such director not being nominated by the Company to stand for election at an Annual Meeting subsequent to the 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders or the termination of the Icahn Group’s designation rights with respect to such director in accordance with the Agreement), to designate a replacement for appointment to the Board on the terms set forth in the Agreement.

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So long as an Icahn Designee is a member of the Board, any Board consideration of appointment and employment of the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of the Company, mergers, acquisitions of material assets, dispositions of material assets, or similar extraordinary transactions, and voting with respect thereto, will take place only at the full Board level or in committees of which one of the Icahn Designees is a member.

If at any time the Icahn Group ceases to hold a “Net Long Position”, as defined in the Agreement, in at least (i) 7,196,865 of the total outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company, one of the Icahn Designees will, and the Icahn Group will cause one Icahn Designee to, promptly resign from the Board and (ii) 3,598,432 of the Common Shares of the Company, each of the Icahn Designees will, and the Icahn Group will cause each such Icahn Designee to, promptly resign from the Board.

So long as the Icahn Group holds a “Net Long Position”, as defined in the Agreement, in at least 5,100,637 of the Common Shares of the Company, the Company will not adopt a Rights Plan, as defined in the Agreement, with an “Acquiring Person” beneficial ownership threshold below 15.0% of the then-outstanding Common Shares unless the Rights Plan includes an exemption for the Icahn Group up to 15.0%.

The Agreement also includes other customary voting, standstill and non-disparagement provisions. Absent an uncured breach of the material provisions of the Agreement by the Company, the standstill restrictions on the Icahn Group will remain in effect until the later of (i) thirty days before the nomination deadline for shareholders to nominate Director candidates for the 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and (ii) thirty days after such date as no Icahn Designee is on the Board and the Icahn Group no longer has any right to designate a replacement (including if the Icahn Group has irrevocably waived such right in writing).

In connection with the entry into the Agreement, the Company and the Icahn Group entered into a Confidentiality Agreement concurrently with the appointment of the Icahn Designees to the Board.

Human Capital Resources. The Company’s global workforce is the backbone of its sustainability and business success and is the focus of the Working Together pillar of the Company’s Twentyby30Twentyby30 sustainability program. The Company has built a Total Safety Culture that provides the framework for all health and safety initiatives across the Company and empowers employees to take a proactive role in their safety and that of their peers. For more information, see “Human Capital” on page 65 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.2022.

Shareholder Engagement. See “Shareholder Engagement” on page 45 in the Proxy Statement Summary.

Communications with the Board of Directors. Shareholders and other interested parties who wish to send communications on any topic to the Chairman, the Independent Lead Director, the independent Directors or the Board as a whole may do so by writing c/o Office of the Corporate Secretary, Crown Holdings, Inc., 770 Township Line Road, Yardley, PA 19067.Hidden River Corporate Center Two, 14025 Riveredge Drive, Suite 300, Tampa, FL 33637. Communications will be forwarded to the Directors if they relate to substantive matters and include information, suggestions or comments that the Chairman or Independent Lead Director, with the assistance of the Corporate Secretary, deems appropriate for consideration by the Directors.

Company Website. The Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and the Charters of the Audit, Compensation and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees are available on the Company’s website at www.crowncork.com/investors/corporate-governancegovernance.

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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

 

 

This Compensation Discussion and Analysis (“CD&A”) provides an overview of the Company’s executive compensation program together with a description of the material factors underlying the decisions that resulted in the compensation provided for 20202022 to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, and the other three Executive Officers who were the highest paid during 20202022, as well as a former Executive Officer for whom disclosure would have been provided but for the fact that he was not serving as an Executive Officer at the end of 2022 (collectively, “Named Executive Officers” or “NEOs”). The names of the Company’s 20202022 NEOs and their titles at year-end are:

 

·Timothy J. Donahue – President and Chief Executive Officer
·Thomas A. KellyKevin C. Clothier – Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
·Gerard H. Gifford – Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
·Didier Sourisseau – President – European Division
·Djalma Novaes, Jr. – President – Americas Division
·Hock Huat Goh – President – Asia Pacific Division
·Robert H. Bourque – Former President – Transit Packaging Division1

 

The following discussion and analysis contains statements regarding individual and Company performance targets and goals. These targets and goals are disclosed in the limited context of the Company’s executive compensation programsprogram and should not be understood to be statements of management’s expectations or estimates of financial results or other guidance. The Company specifically cautions investors not to apply these statements to other contexts.

 

20202022 Say-on-Pay Vote Results. At our Annual Meeting of Shareholders held in April 2020,2022, we held an advisory Shareholder Say-on-Pay vote on the 20192021 compensation of our NEOs. Over 96%94% of the shares voted at last year’s Annual Meeting voted FOR our Say-on-Pay resolution, approving the compensation of our NEOs. The Board’s Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) believes the results of the Say-on-Pay vote show strong support for the performance-based and ownership-oriented compensation philosophy that the Committee utilizes. Accordingly, the Committee did not change its general approach to executive compensation in 2020.2022. The Company added an evaluation criterion for sustainability for the annual Board evaluation of the CEO in 2022. Although the advisory Shareholder vote on executive compensation is non-binding, the Committee will continue to take the outcome of this annual vote into consideration when making compensation decisions for our NEOs.

 

1 Mr. Bourque ceased to serve as the President of the Transit Packaging Division on July 29, 2022 and his employment with the Company terminated on August 29, 2022.

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At-Risk Compensation. Our executive compensation program is based on our “pay-for-performance” philosophy, as outlined in the following table, with the majority of our NEOs’ total direct compensation “at risk” and tied to the accomplishment of performance objectives.

 

Compensation Element

 

Basis for Measurement

Alignment with Pay-for-Performance Philosophy

 

Annual Cash Compensation

 

 

Base Salary

 

Individual performance based on primary duties and responsibilities and market competitiveness.

 

 

Competitive compensation required to attract and retain highly qualified executives.

 

Annual Incentive Bonus

 

Economic profit and modified operating cash flow.

 

Use of economic profit and modified operating cash flow metrics drives long-term operating performance and long-term increase in Shareholdershareholder value.

 

 

Long-Term Equity Compensation

 

 

Performance-Based Restricted Stock Awards (approximately two-thirds of total long-term equity compensation)

 

Total shareholder return relative to industry peer group and return on invested capital versus a target, in each case over a three-year performance period.

 

 

 

Provides incentive to outperform and deliver superior Shareholdershareholder returns relative to peers and to efficiently utilize the Company’s capital. Aligns NEOs with interests of Shareholders and promotes commitment to the long-term performance of the Company.

 

Time-Based Restricted Stock Awards (approximately one-third of total long-term equity compensation)

 

Long-term stock price appreciation.

 

Aligns NEOs with interests of Shareholders and promotes commitment to the long-term performance of the Company.

 

The allocation of 20202022 target total direct compensation for our CEO and for our other NEOs among these various components is set forth in the materials on page 911 in the Proxy Statement Summary that highlight the Company’s emphasis on “at risk” and equity-based compensation.

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Pay-for-Performance Alignment – Performance-Based Shares.Compensation. The Company’sCompany has developed an executive compensation program that is designed to motivateownership-oriented and that rewards the attainment of specific annual and long-term goals that will result in improvement in shareholder value. Approximately two-thirds of our NEOs to create long-term value for our Shareholders and to efficiently useNEOs’ share awards are performance-based. Vesting is based on two performance metrics: the Company’s invested capital in order to grow our business. To achieve these objectives, our program emphasizes long-term performance-based equity incentives. Beginning with 2017 grants vesting in 2020, performance share grants have utilized two performance metrics:relative total shareholder return (“TSR”) relative toagainst a peer group of industry peers and the Company’s return on invested capital (“ROIC”) versus a target. Grants made prior to 2017 vested solely. Annual incentive bonuses are also based on two performance metrics: the basis of TSR. Company’s modified operating cash flow (“MOCF”) and its economic profit.

Based on the Company’s performanceover-performance for the measurement periods related to the vesting of performance-based shares in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2021,2023, the Company’s NEOs, including the CEO, received awards that were 21.3%, 48.5%, 62.6% and 48.5%25.7% above the target grants established in 2017 and 2018. However, due totarget. Based on the Company’s under-performance for the measurement periods related to the vesting of performance-based shares vesting in 2018 and 2019, the Company’s NEOs, including the CEO, forfeited 100% of the targeted vestings of performance-based shares granted in 2015shares. For 2022, based on the Company’s under-performance on both the MOCF and 2016. Such forfeitures and additional awards display a clear and direct correlation between pay-for-performance and our executives’ compensation.economic profit components of the annual incentive bonus, corporate-level NEOs (including the CEO) received bonuses that were 63.5% below target. The Committee views these outcomes as demonstrative of the Company’s “pay-for-performance” philosophy.

 

Role of the Compensation Committee. The Committee currently comprises five Directors, all of whom are independent under the NYSE listing standards. During 2020,2022, the Committee members were Andrea Funk, Stephen Hagge, Hans Löliger, James Miller, Josef Müller, Jim Turner1and Jim Turner. In February 2020, Mr. Löliger retired from the Committee and was replaced by Mr. Hagge.Marsha Williams. The Committee has responsibility for determining and implementing the Company’s philosophy with respect to executive compensation. To implement this philosophy, the Committee oversees the establishment and administration of the Company’s executive compensation program. The Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors. A copy of this charter is available on the Company’s website at www.crowncork.com/investors/corporate-governance/governance/compensation-committee-charter.

 

Compensation Philosophy and Objectives. The Committee maintains a “pay-for-performance” philosophy toward executive compensation. One of the guiding principles of this “pay-for-performance” philosophy is that the executive compensation program should enable the Company to attract, retain and motivate a team of highly qualified executives who will create long-term value for the Shareholders. To achieve this objective, the Committee has developed an executive compensation program that is ownership-oriented and that rewards the attainment of specific annual and long-term goals that will result in improvement in total shareholder return.TSR. To that end, the Committee believes that the executive compensation program should include both cash and equity-based compensation that rewards specific performance by the Company. In addition, the Committee continually monitors the effectiveness of the program to ensure that the compensation provided to executives remains competitive relative to the compensation paid to executives in a peer group comprising select companies in the container and packaging industry and other manufacturing companies.

The Committee annually evaluates the components of the compensation program as well as the desired mix of compensation among these components. The Committee believes that a substantial portion of the direct compensation paid to the Company’s NEOs should be at risk, contingent on the Company’s operating and stock market performance. Consistent with this philosophy, the Committee will continue to place significant emphasis on stock-based and performance-based compensation in an effort to more closely align compensation with Shareholder interests and increase executives’ focus on the Company’s long-term performance. Accordingly, the annual incentive bonus is determined by operating metrics that drive long-term growth and Shareholdershareholder value,

1 Mr. Turner retired from service as a Director in 2022.

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and approximately two-thirds of the value of the restricted stock granted in 20202022 under the Company’s long-term incentive plan is tied to performance of the Company’s total shareholder returnTSR versus that of a peer group and return on invested capital versus the Company’s projected three-year average of return on invested capital.

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Stock Ownership Guidelines and Share Retention Policy. Consistent with the Committee’s stock ownership-oriented compensation philosophy and its focus on long-term performance, the Company maintains stock ownership guidelines under which our NEOs are expected to own Company Common Stock with a minimum value equal to a multiple of base salary, as set forth in the following table.

 

Stock Ownership Guidelines Applicable to NEOs
PositionMultiple of Base Salary
CEO6x
All other NEOs3x

Until the ownership requirement is satisfied, an NEO is required to retain 50% of the after-tax number of shares of any Common Stock received as the result of an option exercise, vesting of restricted shares or issuance of deferred shares. At year-end, allAll the NEOs employed by the Company at year-end either owned more than the minimum level of Common Stock or were otherwise in compliance with the stock ownership guidelines.

Stock Holding Period. Under the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, an NEO is required to retain 50% of the after-tax number of shares of Common Stock received as the result of a restriction lapse for a period of two years.

Prohibition of Hedging and Pledging. Under the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, the Company’s Directors, Officers and other insiders may not engage in any form of hedging or pledging transactions with respect to Company securities.

Committee Process. The Committee meets as often as necessary to perform its duties and responsibilities. During 2020,2022, the Committee met sixfive times. The Committee usually meets with the CEO and, when appropriate, with other Company Officers and outside advisors. In addition, the Committee periodically meets in executive session without management present.

Setting of Meeting Agenda. The Committee’s meeting agenda is normally established by the Committee Chair in consultation with the CEO and the Sr. Vice President of Human Resources. Committee members receive and review materials in advance of each meeting. Depending on the meeting’s agenda, such materials may include: financial reports regarding the Company’s performance, reports on achievement of corporate objectives, reports detailing executives’ stock ownership and stock awards and information regarding the compensation programs and compensation levels of certain peer group companies.

Use of Tally Sheets. The Committee reviews tally sheets when setting annual compensation for the NEOs. These tally sheets allow the Committee to review each NEO’s compensation on an aggregate basis and to see how a change in any one component affects each NEO’s total compensation. For 2020,2022, the Committee used the tally sheet information to review total compensation, the current mix of compensation (e.g., cash versus equity), issues of internal pay equity, total value of Company stock held by each NEO, payouts under certain potential termination scenarios, the aggregate value of retirement benefits and interest rate sensitivity onof retirement benefits.

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Retention of Compensation Consultants. The Committee’s charter authorizes the Committee, in its sole discretion, to retain, oversee and terminate consultants to assist it in the evaluation of compensation for the NEOs. The Committee has sole authority to approve the fees and other retention terms of any such consultants.

34 

Role of Executive Officers in Compensation Decisions. The Committee makes all decisions regarding the CEO’s compensation. Decisions regarding the compensation of other NEOs are made by the Committee in consultation with, and upon the recommendation of, the CEO. In this regard, the CEO provides the Committee with evaluations of business goals and objectives and executive performance and recommendations regarding salary levels, equity grants and other incentive awards.

Executive Compensation Consultant. Pursuant to its authority under its charter to retain compensation consultants, the Committee engaged Pay Governance LLC, an executive compensation consulting firm, to act as its independent advisor with respect to 20202022 compensation decisions.

Consultant Independence. All services provided by Pay Governance to the Committee are conducted under the direction and authority of the Committee, and all work performed by Pay Governance must be pre-approved by the Committee. Pay Governance does not provide any other services to the Company, and neither Pay Governance nor the individuals affiliated with Pay Governance who provide services to the Company own any shares of the Company’s stock.Common Stock. There are no personal or business relationships between the Pay Governance consultants and any executive of the Company. In addition, there are no personal relationships between the Pay Governance consultants and any member of the Committee. Pay Governance maintains a detailed conflict of interest policy in order to ensure that compensation committees receive conflict-free advice.

Use of Benchmarking. In advising the Committee regarding 20202022 compensation for our NEOs, Pay Governance developed competitive compensation levels by establishing a benchmark match for each NEO position in the competitive market. Competitive levels were developed for the following elements of pay:

·base salary
·target annual incentive
·target total cash compensation (base salary plus target annual incentive)
·long-term equity incentives
·target total direct compensation (target total cash compensation plus the target value of long-term equity incentives)
·annualized value of retirement benefits
·target total remuneration (target total direct compensation plus the annualized value of retirement benefits)

Peer Group Composition. In establishing its benchmarks for each of the NEOs, Pay Governance gathered data for 1715 companies, or divisions of companies, defined as the “Peer Group.”1 Members of the Peer Group are manufacturing companies of similar scope and are generally from the following three categories: (i) other container and packaging industry companies, (ii) current or potential suppliers to the Company and (iii) current or potential customers of the Company. The Peer Group comprises the following companies:

·Avery Dennison Corporation·Nestlé USA
·Ball Corporation·O-I Glass
·Bemis Company·PPG Industries
·Campbell Soup Company·SC Johnson & Son
·Colgate Palmolive Company·Sealed Air Corporation
·Dean Foods Company·The Sherwin-Williams Company
·Eastman Chemical Company·United States Steel Corporation
·Greif·WestRock
·Keurig Dr Pepper

 

1 Dean Foods was removed from the 2022 Peer Group as it ceased to be a public company for which compensation data is available.

3540 
 
·Avery Dennison Corporation·O-I Glass
·Ball Corporation·PPG Industries
·Campbell Soup Company·SC Johnson & Son
·Colgate Palmolive Company·Sealed Air Corporation
·Eastman Chemical Company·The Sherwin-Williams Company
·Greif·United States Steel Corporation

·Keurig Dr Pepper

·WestRock

·Nestlé USA

Specific benchmark levels were developed using regression analysis to size-adjust the market data to reflect the Company’s corporate revenue or the individual business unit revenue, when appropriate. To provide a broader frame of reference, Pay Governance also analyzed each NEO position against general industry data.

Compensation Strategy for CEO. The evaluation of the CEO’s performance and the setting of his compensation is one of the fundamental duties of the Committee. In determining the CEO’s compensation for 2020,2022, the Committee evaluated the CEO’s performance and the Company’s performance in the prior year and since Mr. Donahue became CEO in 2016.  In evaluating the CEO’s performance, the Committee considered the Company’s overall financial, operational and strategic results. In addition, the Committee continued to focus on the Company’s development during Mr. Donahue’s tenure in several key areas that the Committee believes are essential to increase Shareholdershareholder value, including:

 

·Strong earnings and cash flow generation.operating performance. For the year, net income was $688 million. This translated to diluted earnings per share of $4.30, an increase of 13.8% over 2019. Cash flowwere $5.99 per share, reflecting strong returns from operating activitiesprior year investments, and are the highest since Mr. Donahue became CEO in 2020 was $1,315 million, which was significantly improved over $1,163 million2016 despite global inflation and record energy prices in 2019.Europe in 2022.

·Investment in growth marketsmarkets.. In response to increasing global demand for beverage cans,can growth opportunities identified by management in prior years, during 20202022 the Company completed a new two-line plant in Uberaba, Brazil and added new production lines at its facilitiesto existing plants in Toronto, OntarioMonterrey, Mexico and Nichols, New York, commercialized a new can plant in Thailand, and completed the conversion of two lines in Spain from steel to aluminum. In addition, thePhnom Penh, Cambodia. The Company began construction on a number of projects that are scheduled to be completed in 2021, including a new two-line can plantplants in Bowling Green, Kentucky; a third production line at its Olympia, Washington facility; a second production line at its plant in Rio Verde, Brazil;Martinsville, Virginia and Mesquite, Nevada and a new canmulti-line plant in Vung Tao, Vietnam.Peterborough, United Kingdom. Additional beverage production lines are currently being installed at existing plants in Parma, Italy and Agoncillo, Spain. The Company supplemented its food can capacity for pet foods with a third two-piece steel production line in the Owatonna, Minnesota plant and began installation of a pet food can line in the Dubuque, Iowa plant.

·DeleveragingReturn of the balance sheet.capital to Shareholders Following the Signode (Transit Packaging) acquisition,. Consistent with the Company’s deleveraging goal is on plan. Atlong-standing objective, the endCompany returned over $800 million of 2020, net leverage (net debt over EBITDA) declinedcapital to 3.9 times.Shareholders during 2022 through the repurchase of $722 million (or 5%) of its outstanding Common Stock and the payment of cash dividends totaling $106 million.

·Sustainability. Strong Balance Sheet. The Company is well positioned for the future after investing over $2.2 billion since 2020 in capital projects to grow global beverage and food can capacity and returning over $1.9 billion to Shareholders while maintaining a manageable debt level. The Company has no significant near term debt maturities until September 2024 and the Company successfully refinanced its revolving credit facility in 2022.
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·Sustainability. Under Mr. Donahue’s leadership, the Company has continued its commitment to reduce its impact on the environment and the communities in which it operates by, among others, efficiently managemanaging and conserveconserving resources and bring innovationsbringing innovation to market to support the market. In 2020, Crown established its comprehensive Twentyby30TMsustainability efforts of Crown, its customers and consumers. Asstrategy, which encompasses the material aspects of the endCompany’s strategy into 20 measurable goals to be achieved by 2030 or sooner.  The strategy’s main climate-related goal of 2019 (four years into its five-year initiative to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions), the Company surpassed its 2020 worldwide metal packaging sustainability goals ofachieving a 5%50% reduction in energy consumptionScope 1 and 2 emissions is on track, with an 11% reduction from the 2019 baseline already being achieved by 2022. The Company has also expanded its climate commitments by signing The Climate Pledge, a 10% reductioncommitment to be net-zero by 2040, 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement. The Company was again recognized in greenhouse gas emissions, per billion standard units of production. In March 2020,2022 by the Company signedratings agency Sustainalytics as a Top Performer in regard to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors. Crown was also recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s Most Responsible Companies. Also in 2022, Crown helped sponsor (along with the largest non-investment grade “sustainability-linked loans” in history. The Company also has made commitments regarding renewable energyCan Manufactures Institute, the International Aluminium Institute and water conservationArdagh Metal Packaging) the inaugural Global Aluminium Can Sustainability Summit to focus on industry decarbonization and has made commitments to continue making the Science-Based Targets initiative (“SBTi”) for Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. The Company received numerous awards from governments and high rankings by various ESG ratings agencies, some of which is described in more detailbeverage can the most sustainable package. Crown was ranked in the Proxy Summary above. In addition, the Company centralized managementtop 100 companies in Forbes’ inaugural (2022) “World’s Top Female-Friendly Companies” list, which evaluates employers on criteria including parental leave, promotion of its corporate-level sustainability efforts under the newly-created role of Vice President – Global Sustainability, created Sustainability Steering Committees comprised of senior executivesgender equality and representation at the corporate and divisional levels, launched its Supplier Code of Conduct to ensure alignment of supplier conduct with the Company’s core values, and created the role of Senior Vice President – Diversity & Inclusion.equity board levels.
36 

CEO Target Compensation. The Committee uses the 50th percentile of the Peer Group’s target total direct compensation as a guidepost in determining CEO compensation.

The specific components of Mr. Donahue’s 20202022 compensation were set as follows:

Base Salary$1,200,0001,315,000
Target Annual Incentive1,440,0001,643,750
Target Long-Term Equity Incentive6,239,9517,364,000
Target Total Direct Compensation8,879,95110,322,750

 

In conjunction with the Committee’s emphasis on stock-based compensation, a majorityapproximately 72% of the CEO’s 20202022 target total direct compensation was in the form of Company Common Stock.

Compensation Strategy for NEOs other than the CEO. For 2020,2022, the Committee generally continued following its market-based compensation strategy for NEOs (excluding the NEOs other than the CEO:CEO):

·Pay levels were evaluated relative to the Peer Group as the primary market reference point. In addition, general industry data was reviewed as an additional market reference and to ensure robust competitive data.
·Target total cash compensation and target total direct compensation levels were set towards the middle range of the Peer Group. The Committee used the 50th percentile of the Peer Group’s target total cash compensation and target total direct compensation as a market check in determining compensation. However, the 50th percentile is a guidepost and not an absolute target.
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Components of Compensation. For 2020,2022, the principal components of compensation for NEOs were base salary, annual incentive bonus, long-term equity incentives, retirement benefits and perquisites.

Base Salary. The Company provides NEOs with base salaries to compensate them for services rendered during the year. The Committee recognizes that competitive salaries must be paid in order to attract and retain high-quality executives. Normally, the Committee reviews NEO salaries at the end of each year, with any adjustments to base salary becoming effective on January 1 of the succeeding year. However, in special circumstances, such as a promotion or increased responsibilities, the Committee may act to increase an NEO’s salary during the year.

20202022 Base Salaries. The Committee has determined that base salary levels for the NEOs should be targeted towards the middle range of the Peer Group. Consistent with this market-based pay strategy, the Committee approved increases in the base salaries of the NEOs in order to move them in line with the middle range of the Peer Group. Mr. Clothier was promoted to Chief Financial Officer effective January 1, 2022. In light of this new role, the Committee set Mr. Clothier’s initial compensation near the 25th percentile of the Peer Group with a plan to increase his compensation closer to the 50th percentile over time, based on job performance. Base salaries for each of the NEOs for 20202022 were as set forth in the following table.

37 Name2022 Base Salary
Timothy Donahue$1,315,000
Kevin Clothier535,000
Gerard Gifford805,000
Djalma Novaes650,000
Hock Huat Goh517,5001
Robert Bourque600,000 

Name2020 Base Salary
  Timothy Donahue$1,200,000
  Thomas Kelly710,000
  Gerard Gifford745,000
  Didier Sourisseau (1)639,640
  Djalma Novaes600,000

__________________________

(1)Mr. Sourisseau’s base salary for 2020 set forth in the table above has been converted from Swiss Francs into U.S. Dollars at the 2020 average exchange rate of $1.066067.

Annual Incentive Bonus. Annual cash bonuses are included as part of the executive compensation program because, consistent with our “pay-for-performance” philosophy, the Committee believes that a significantmeaningful portion of each NEO’s compensation should be contingent on success in achieving annual goals that drive the long-term operating performance of the Company. NEOs are eligible for annual cash bonuses under our Economic Profit Incentive Plan (the “EP Plan”). For 2020,2022, our NEOs were eligible to receive annual incentive bonuses under the EP Plan upon the achievement of specified levels of economic profit and modified operating cash flow. The Committee believes the use of economic profit and modified operating cash flow as key performance measures under the EP Plan drives the Company’s long-term operating performance and is closely correlated with long-term increase in Shareholdershareholder value. The maximum payout under the EP Plan is limited to two times the target bonus, with no excess carried forward into subsequent years.

1 Converted from Singapore Dollars.

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20202022 Bonus Opportunities and Results. For 2020,2022, the Committee assigned each NEO an annual target level under the EP Plan together with a maximum annual bonus opportunity as a percentage of each NEO’s base salary. Based upon the Peer Group information provided by Pay Governance and the consideration of NEO performance and internal equity, the Committee determined that the target and maximum bonus opportunities for the NEOs for 20202022 should be the same as in 2019.2021, except for Mr. Donahue, whose target bonus was increased from 120% to 125% of base salary, and Mr. Clothier, whose target bonus was increased from 40% to 80% of base salary in connection with his promotion to Chief Financial Officer. The 20202022 minimum, maximum and target bonus opportunities together with actual bonuses paid to the NEOs were as follows:

Name

Minimum Bonus as a Percentage of Base SalaryMaximum Bonus as a Percentage of Base SalaryTarget Bonus as a Percentage of Base Salary

Target

Bonus

Amount

Actual

Bonus

Amount

Minimum Bonus as a Percentage of Base SalaryMaximum Bonus as a Percentage of Base SalaryTarget Bonus as a Percentage of Base Salary

Target

Bonus Amount

Actual

Bonus Amount

Timothy Donahue0%240%120%$1,440,000$2,880,0000%250%125%$1,643,750$599,969
Thomas Kelly0%160%80%568,0001,136,000
Kevin Clothier0%160%80%428,000156,220
Gerard Gifford0%190%95%707,7501,415,5000%190%95%764,750279,134
Didier Sourisseau0%160%80%511,7121,023,424
Djalma Novaes0%160%80%480,000960,0000%160%80%520,000557,960
Hock Huat Goh0%160%80%414,00030,222
Robert Bourque10%160%80%480,00093,120

 

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Performance Measures. Bonus amounts under the EP Plan were based on the following performance measures:

·economic profit – defined generally as net operating profit after tax less cost of capital employed as adjusted for certain items, including currency exchange rates and acquisitions/divestitures
·modified operating cash flow – defined generally as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization reduced by capital spending and adjusted for certain items, including changes in year-end trade working capital

Cost of Capital. For purposes of calculating economic profit under the EP Plan, cost of capital employed was defined as the average capital employed multiplied by the weighted average cost of capital. Capital employed was generally defined as total assets less non-interest bearing liabilities and is adjusted for certain items. The following items were excluded from capital employed: investments, net goodwill and intangibles, pension and post-employment assets and liabilities and deferred tax assets and liabilities. Invested capital may also be adjusted for additional capital employed at the direction of the Company’s corporate office or in accordance with overall corporate objectives. For 2020,2022, the EP Plan used a cost of capital of 9.0%9%, which is higher thanapproximates the Company’s actual cost of capital.

Weighting of Performance Measures. TheIn early 2022, the Committee established target levels of performance for each performance measure. In determining the weighting of performance targets for 2020,At year-end, the Committee consideredassessed the potential impact ofactual results versus the COVID-19 pandemic but ultimately determined that there should be no changetargets in the weighting of such targets.determining awards. The Committee must approve all awards, and all awards are subject to review and downward discretionary adjustment by the Committee.

 

1 As a component of Mr. Bourque’s severance benefits, he was eligible for a pro-rated bonus for 2022.

44 

An NEO’s actual bonus amount was determined by: (i) multiplying the NEO’s target bonus amount by the actual percentage earned for each of the two performance measures, (ii) weighting each performance measure in accordance with a pre-specified formula, (iii) adding the results together to determine the overall payout factor and (iv) if applicable, reducing the overall payout to the maximum of 200% of the target bonus amount.

 

As the achievement of each of economic profit and modified operating cash flow increases in excess of respective performance targets, the percentage of each NEO’s target bonus payable with respect to such performance measure also increases. In the case of modified operating cash flow, up to 125% of the target bonus amount will be paid, in incremental increases, as the achievement level increases from 100% to 110% of the performance target. Conversely, the percentage of the target bonus amount payable with respect to modified operating cash flow decreases as achievement falls below 100% of the applicable performance target, with no amount being payable for achievement levels at or below the threshold of 80% of the applicable performance target. The modified operating cash flow component of the EP Plan was determined based upon actual performance compared to a budgeted modified operating cash flow amount.

 

The economic profit component of the EP Plan was determined by relating current-year economic profit to prior years economic profit, adjusted for currency fluctuations.fluctuations and divestitures. In the case of economic profit, up to 125% of the target bonus amount will be paid, in incremental increases, as the achievement level increases from 100% to 110% of the performance target. Conversely, the percentage of the target bonus amount payable with respect to economic profit decreases as achievement falls below 100% of the applicable performance target, with no amount being payable for achievement levels at or below the threshold of 80% of the applicable performance target. No portion of the target bonus amount will be paid for economic profit arising from accounting changes or similar non-cash items.

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Notwithstanding the ability to earn up to 125% of the target bonus amount under each of the two tests (modified operating cash flow and economic profit), the maximum aggregate bonus opportunity is capped at 200% of the target bonus amount for all NEOs, with no excess carried forward into subsequent years.

 

Setting of Target Performance Levels. Generally, the Committee attempts to set the target performance levels so that the relative difficulty of achieving the targets is consistent among the NEOs in any one year and for each NEO from year to year. In making this determination the Committee may consider specific circumstances experienced by the Company in prior years or that the Company expects to face in the coming year. For example, with respect to modified operating cash flow, targets may be set below prior year actual results due to the forecasted increases in capital investment (property, plant and equipment and working capital) required for the Company’s capacity expansion, forecasted increases in working capital, higher input costs due to price increases by suppliers and variances in average trade working capital. Establishing targets for 2020 was particularly challenging because of the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the Committee ultimately determined that the targets for the NEOs would be set consistent with historical practice. For 2020, the Committee recognized that increasing global product demand would require significant capital spending, with the 2020 budget for capital spending being approximately $200 million greater than the actual capital spending for 2019. Accordingly, the Committee believed that it was appropriate to establish modified operating cash flow targets which reflected this additional investment in the long-term success of the Company, and that would continue to incentivize investment for growth. The Committee also determined that the modified operating cash flow targets for one of its operating divisions should be adjusted slightly from the budget that was established before the COVID-19 pandemic, but the targets and bonuses earned with respect to 2020 for all NEOs were unaffected by that adjustment. In addition, the Committee determined that the economic profittarget performance measure should be set in the normal manner without any adjustment.levels are subject to adjustment for special circumstances such as currency exchange rate fluctuations, acquisitions and divestitures.

 

The economic profit and modified operating cash flow thresholds and targets for 20202022 were set at the Company level for the CEO, Chief OperatingFinancial Officer and Chief FinancialOperating Officer. For division-level NEOs (Messrs. SourisseauNovaes, Goh and Novaes)Bourque), economic profit and modified operating cash flow thresholds and targets include both division-level and Company-level metrics. The applicable thresholds, targets and actual achievement levels for 20202022 are set forth for each NEO in the following table.

 

 

 

Name

Economic Profit (in millions)

Modified Operating Cash Flow

(in millions)

ThresholdTargetActualThresholdTargetActual
Timothy Donahue$478.1$597.6$668.0$743.0$928.8$1,113.0
Thomas Kelly478.1597.6668.0743.0928.81,113.0
Gerard Gifford478.1597.6668.0743.0928.81,113.0
Didier Sourisseau (1)124.9156.1162.4236.2295.3393.4
Djalma Novaes (1)164.1205.1296.4

261.4

326.7363.1

 

____________________

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Name

Economic Profit (in millions)

Modified Operating Cash Flow

(in millions)

ThresholdTargetActualThresholdTargetActual
Timothy Donahue$486.8   $608.5   $575.9   $692.3   $865.7   $315.0   
Kevin Clothier486.8608.5575.9692.3865.7315.0
Gerard Gifford486.8608.5575.9692.3865.7315.0
Djalma Novaes (1)245.7307.1351.8431.3539.1154.8
Hock Huat Goh (1)35.644.526.882.4103.1(35.9)
Robert Bourque (1)109.4136.8124.4295.0368.8263.5
____________________
(1)The threshold and target numbers presented here for Messrs. SourisseauNovaes, Goh and NovaesBourque are their respective division-level numbers. To the extent that Company-level performance is included in computing their actual bonuses as explained above, the applicable threshold and target numbers with respect to Company-level performance are the same as set forth for Messrs. Donahue, KellyClothier and Gifford.

 

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20202022 Bonus Calculations. Many of the Company’s products are essential for the delivery and protection of food and beverages as well as cleaning and sanitizing products. Therefore, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company maintained its focus on increasing global production. We maintained our existing workforce with only minimal pandemic-related furloughs and ended 2020 with substantially the same number of employees with which we began the year. In addition, we did not institute wage or salary cuts with respect to our employees and with a few localized exceptions we provided wage and salary increases during 2020 in the normal course without postponement. As the COVID-19 pandemic spread, our management team took decisive actions to ensure the safety of our employees and the products they produce, including increased sanitizing efforts, modification of workspaces and distribution of personal protective equipment in our manufacturing facilities and offices, implementation of travel and visitor restrictions and remote working and rotational arrangements whenever possible. Therefore, notwithstanding the unprecedented challenges presented by the pandemic, the Company produced strong financial results. Consequently, Messrs. Donahue, GiffordClothier and KellyGifford received bonuses under the EP Plan equal to 200%36.5% of their respective target bonus amounts. For Messrs. Donahue, Clothier and Gifford, and Kelly, 125%0% was attributable to modified operating cash flow and 125%36.5% to economic profit, reduced to the maximum of 200%, with no excess carried forward into subsequent years. Mr. Sourisseau received a bonus under the EP Plan equal to 200% of his target bonus amount, 125% attributable to modified operating cash flow and 89.2% to economic profit, reduced to the maximum of 200%, with no excess carried forward into subsequent years.profit. Mr. Novaes received a bonus under the EP Plan equal to 200%107.3% of his target bonus amount, 82.3%0% attributable to modified operating cash flow and 125%107.3% to economic profit, reducedprofit. Mr. Goh received a bonus under the EP Plan equal to 7.3% of his target bonus amount, 0% attributable to modified operating cash flow and 7.3% to economic profit. As a component of Mr. Bourque’s severance benefits, he was eligible to receive a pro-rated bonus for 2022. Mr. Bourque received a pro-rated bonus under the maximumEP Plan, which was calculated based on a full-year award of 200%, with no excess carried forward into subsequent years.29.1% of his target bonus amount, 0% attributable to modified operating cash flow and 29.1% to economic profit.

 

Long-Term Equity Incentives. The Committee believes that equity-based incentives, delivered through annual grants of time-based restricted stock and performance-based restricted stock, are an important link between executive and Shareholder interests. Because the Committee believes that a significant portion of the benefits realized from long-term equity-based incentive grants should require continuous improvement in value created for the Shareholders, approximately two-thirds of the targeted value of stock awards to NEOs is performance-based. In the 20202022 grants, the Company used relative total shareholder return (“TSR”) and return on invested capital (“ROIC”) as the two performance metrics for purposes of vesting performance-based shares. The Committee believes that the use of TSR and ROIC aligns the Company’s long-term incentive plan with its peersthe Company’s long-term objectives and with current market practice.peer practices. Although the Committee may vary the size of annual grants based on the Company’s and executive’s performance, the total annual equity award granted to each NEO is generally determined based upon the difference between the total direct compensation target established by the Committee, using the competitive market benchmarking and internal factors described above, and the sum of the NEO’s base salary and target annual incentive bonus. See “Compensation Strategy for CEO” and “Compensation Strategy for NEOs other than the CEO.”

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Equity awards to NEOs are generally made by the Committee each year in the form of restricted stock as part of the normal annual compensation review cycle. The awards for a particular year generally occur in January or February. In addition, the Committee may approve equity awards for newly-hired executives or in recognition of an executive’s promotion or expansion of responsibilities.

The Committee approved the following award structure for 2020:2022:

·Target Award Levels. Award levels were generally set to deliver target total direct compensation (sum of base salary, annual and long-term equity incentives) in the middle range of the Peer Group after taking into account the competitive positioning of the executives’ target total cash compensation.
41 
·Performance-Based Restricted Stock. Approximately two-thirds of an NEO’s targeted long-term equity incentive was delivered in performance-based restricted stock, approximately half of which may be earned based on the Company’s TSR relative to a group of industry peers over a three-year performance period and approximately half of which may be earned based on ROIC over the same three-year performance period relative to the Company’s projected three-year average of return on invested capital. A target number of shares was established for 20202022 for each NEO, as set forth in the “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” table in the Executive Compensation section below. Actual vesting of performance-based share awards generally will not occur until the third anniversary of the grant date, if at all. The Committee believes that, in addition to linking a substantial portion of our NEOs’an NEO’s compensation to the long-term performance of the Company, the three-year vesting structure provides a strong retention element because an NEO terminating employment (other than for retirement with Committee approval, disability or death) will leave behindforfeit unvested awards.
·Time-Based Restricted Stock. Approximately one-third of an NEO’s targeted long-term equity incentive was delivered in time-based restricted stock that vests in equal annual installments over three years from the date of the award in the amounts set forth in the “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” table in the Executive Compensation section below.

 

Industry Peer Group Composition. The Committee believes that for purposes of comparing TSR it is appropriate to utilize a recognized publicly available index of container and packaging industry companies as the peer group. As a result, with respect to determining shareholder return for 20202022 grants, the Committee will useused the Dow Jones U.S. Containers & Packaging Index, currently comprisingcomprised of the Company and the following other companies:

 ·Amcor·O-I GlassInternational Paper
 ·AptarGroup·Packaging Corporation of America
 ·Avery Dennison CorporationArdagh Metal Packaging·Sealed Air Corporation
 ·BallAvery Dennison Corporation·Silgan Holdings
 ·Berry Global GroupBall Corporation��·Sonoco Products Company
 ·Graphic PackagingBerry Global Group·WestRock
 ·International PaperGraphic Packaging 
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Performance Vesting Schedule for TSR-Based Awards. The Committee determined that, for the portion of performance-based shares vesting on the basis of TSR, such shares would vest based on the following schedule.

TSR Percentile Ranking

Versus Peers
Percentage of Shares Vesting
90th or Above200%
75th – 89th150-199%
50th – 74th100-149%
40th – 49th50-99%
25th – 39th25-49%
Below 25th0%

 

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Calculation of TSR. TSR is calculated by dividing the closing share price of a company’s common stock on the ending date of the applicable three-year calendar period plus cumulative dividends during such period, if any, by the closing share price of such company’s common stock on the beginning date of the applicable period. In the event that the Company’s TSR percentile ranking is between the specified percentiles, the vesting percentage is pro-rated on a straight-line basis.

Performance Vesting Schedule for ROIC-Based Awards. The Committee determined that, for the portion of performance-based shares vesting on the basis of ROIC, such shares would vest on the following schedule.

ROICPercentage of Shares Vesting
11.7% or Above200%
10.7%100%
9.7%25%
Below 9.7%0%
ROICPercentage of Shares Vesting
14.0% or Above200%
13.0%100%
12.0%25%
Below 12.0%0%

 

Calculation of ROIC. ROIC is calculated by dividing the Company’s after-tax segment income from continuing operations, adjusted for pension and post-retirement expenses, by the average invested capital. ROIC is subject to adjustment for foreign exchange, acquisitions and divestitures, and non-recurring and other significant non-operational items. The target is equal to the Company’s projection of its three-year average of ROIC of 10.7%13.0%. In the event that the Company’s ROIC is between the specified percentiles, the vesting percentage is pro-rated on a straight-line basis.

48 

20202022 Long-Term Equity Incentive Awards. The first table below sets forth the number of time-based restricted shares granted to the NEOs for 2020.2022. The second table below sets forth the target number of performance-based restricted shares granted to the NEOs for 20202022 as well as the minimum and maximum number of performance-based shares that may vest. Vesting of performance-based share awards is based on two criteria: the Company’s TSR relative to the industry peer group over the applicable performance period and the Company’s ROIC over the same three-year performance period relative to the Company’s projected three-year average of ROIC. The tables also set forth the fair value of the shares on the date of grant. With respect to the annual 20202022 grants awarded to the NEOs, the grant-date fair value wasof the time-based restricted stock and ROIC performance-based shares is $108.12 and is based on a sharethe closing price of $70.31the Company’s Stock on the date immediately precedingprior to the date of grant, as adjusted to take into account that holders of unvested shares are not eligible for time-based restricted stock and the portiondo not receive dividends while such shares remain unvested. The grant-date fair value of the TSR performance-based restricted stock that vests on the basis of ROICshares is $116.21 and $75.68 for the portion of the performance-based restricted stock that vests on the basis of TSR (basedis based on a Monte Carlo valuation model).model.

NameTime-Based Restricted StockTime-Based Restricted Stock
SharesAward ValueSharesAward Value
Timothy Donahue29,583$2,079,98122,703$2,454,648
Thomas Kelly6,059426,008
Kevin Clothier3,464374,528
Gerard Gifford8,655608,5336,080657,370
Didier Sourisseau5,028353,519
Djalma Novaes4,978350,0033,507379,177
Hock Huat Goh2,154232,890
Robert Bourque13,145340,037

 

1 In connection with his departure, Mr. Bourque forfeited his 2022 long-term equity incentive award.

4349 
 
NamePerformance-Based Restricted StockPerformance-Based Restricted Stock
TSR-Based AwardROIC-Based AwardTSR-Based AwardROIC-Based Award
Target SharesAward ValueMinimum SharesMaximum SharesTarget SharesAward ValueMinimum SharesMaximum SharesTarget SharesAward ValueMinimum SharesMaximum SharesTarget SharesAward ValueMinimum SharesMaximum Shares
Timothy Donahue27,484$2,079,989054,96829,583$2,079,981059,16621,123$2,454,704042,24622,703$2,454,648045,406
Thomas Kelly5,629426,003011,2586,059426,008012,118
Kevin Clothier3,223374,54406,4463,464374,52806,928
Gerard Gifford8,040608,467016,0808,655608,533017,3105,657657,400011,3146,080657,370012,160
Didier Sourisseau (1)4,671353,50109,3425,028353,519010,056
Djalma Novaes4,625350,02009,2504,978350,00309,9563,263379,19306,5263,507379,17707,014
Hock Huat Goh2,004232,88504,0082,154232,89004,308
Robert Bourque12,926340,03005,8523,145340,03706,290

____________________

(1)The shares awarded to Messrs. Donahue, Kelly, Gifford and Novaes are unvested restricted shares. Mr. Sourisseau instead receives a commitment for a future award of deferred shares that are to be issued subject to the same time-based and performance-based conditions as relate to the restricted stock granted to the other NEOs and that are to be issued at the same time that restricted shares are vested for the other NEOs. For ease of reference, this document uses the term “restricted shares” for all shares, whether restricted or deferred.

Pay-for-Performance Alignment – Performance-Based Shares.Compensation. In 2021, based on the Company’s strong performance for the three-year measurement period ending December 31, 2020, 48.5%2023, 25.7% more performance shares vested above the target established for the Company’s NEOs, including the CEO, at the time they were awarded in 2018.2020. The additional performance-based shares wereoutcome was attributable to over-achievementunder-achievement on the TSR metric that resulted in an award of 54.4% less than the target established in 2020 and over-achievement of the ROIC target that resulted in an award of 100% over the target established in 20182020. For 2022, based on the Company’s under-performance of both the MOCF and achievementeconomic profit components of the ROIC targetAnnual Incentive Bonus, corporate-level NEOs, including the CEO, received bonuses that resulted in an award equalwere 63.5% below target. The Company over-achieved for the measurement periods related to the target establishedvesting of performance-based shares in 2018. In2022, 2021 and 2020, 21.3% more performance shares vested above the target established forso the Company’s NEOs, including the CEO, at the time theyreceived awards that were awarded in 2017.62.6%, 48.5% and 21.3%, respectively, above target. Based on the Company’s under-performance for the measurement periods related to the vesting of performance-based shares in 2018 and 2019, the Company’s NEOs, including the CEO, forfeited 100% of the performance-based shares targeted for vesting in 2018 and 2019. The Committee views these outcomes as demonstrative of the Company’s “pay-for-performance” philosophy.

Clawback Policy. Beginning with 2021 grants, the Company adopted a new clawback policy applicable to performance-based equity awards. Under the clawback policy, if the Company is required to restate its financial statements resulting in the Company’s financial results being reduced such that an equity award (or any portion thereof) would not have been awarded (oror would have been awarded with respect to a smaller, number of shares), the Committee may reduce such equity award and recoup from the recipient shares or cash if the Committee determines, in its sole discretion, that the recipient engaged in intentional misconduct or fraud that resulted in the financial restatement. The Company previously established a similar policy with respect to its annual non-equity incentive bonus plan. In 2022, the SEC adopted a final rule requiring national securities exchanges to establish listing standards that require public companies to develop, enforce and disclose a clawback policy. The Company expects to update its current clawback policy in 2023 after the New York Stock Exchange standards are updated to comply with the SEC final rule.

1 In connection with his departure, Mr. Bourque forfeited his 2022 long-term equity incentive award.

4450 
 

Retirement Benefits. To attract and retain highly qualified senior executives and as an incentive for long-term employment, the Company maintains a number of retirement plans.

 

U.S. Pension Plan. In the United States, the Company maintains a defined benefit pension plan (the “U.S. Pension Plan”) for certain eligible employees in which all U.S.-based NEOs except Mr. Sourisseau participate. The U.S. Pension Plan is designed and administered to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The U.S. Pension Plan provides normal retirement benefits at age 65 based on the average of the five highest consecutive years of earnings in the last ten years prior to employment termination. For purposes of the U.S. Pension Plan, earnings consist of salary excluding any bonus. These average earnings are multiplied by 1.25% and by years of service, which yields the annual Company-funded pension benefit. Under U.S. federal law for 2020,2022, benefits from the U.S. Pension Plan are limited to $230,000$245,000 per year and may be based only on the first $285,000$305,000 of an employee’s annual earnings.

Senior Executive Retirement Plan. Because of the benefit limits under the U.S. Pension Plan described above, the Company provides additional retirement benefits to the NEOsMessrs. Donahue, Gifford, Novaes and Bourque under the Senior Executive Retirement Plan (“SERP”). The annual benefit for executives eligible to participate in the SERP is based upon a formula equal to (i) 2.0% of the average of the five highest consecutive years of earnings (consisting of salary and bonus, but excluding stock compensation, and determined without regard to the limits imposed on tax-qualified plans) during the last 10 years of employment times years of service up to twenty years plus (ii) 1.45% of such average earnings for the next fifteen years of service plus (iii) at the discretion of the Committee, 1% of such average earnings for years of service beyond thirty-five years less (iv) Social Security old-age benefits (and similar benefits provided in foreign jurisdictions) attributable to employment with the Company and the Company-funded portion of the executive’s pension plan benefits. In the casescase of Messrs.Mr. Gifford, and Sourisseau, the SERP is also reduced by their benefitshis benefit under the Company’s Restoration Plan and Swiss Pension Plan, respectively (described below). The ultimate amount to be paid to each NEO under the SERP is subject to interest rate sensitivity. See footnote 4 on page 5661 for more information.

All benefits earned under the SERP are paid in a lump sum. If an NEO with a vested retirement benefit under the SERP dies prior to termination of employment, the NEO’s surviving spouse (but not other named beneficiaries) will be entitled to a 50% survivor benefit. The SERP also provides a lump-sum death benefit of five times the imputed annual retirement benefit payable to the NEO’s named beneficiaries.

SERP participants vest in their benefits at the earliest of five years of participation, specified retirement dates, total disability or upon a “change in control” of the Company. Messrs. Donahue, Kelly, Gifford, Novaes and NovaesBourque are vested.

Restoration Plan. PriorMessrs. Gifford (prior to his participating in the SERP, Mr. Gifford became a participantSERP) and Clothier are participants in the Company’s Restoration Plan. Participants in the Restoration Plan receive supplemental retirement benefits equal to the difference between (i) the benefits that they would have accrued under the U.S. Pension Plan if their target bonus amounts were included in compensation for purposes of calculating their benefits under that plan and if certain statutory benefit limits did not apply and (ii) the benefits that they actually accrue under the U.S. Pension Plan. As described above, the benefits to which Mr. Gifford is entitled under the SERP will be offset by the benefits to which he is entitled under the Restoration Plan.

Retirement Allowance. Pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement, Mr. Goh is entitled to a retirement benefit equal to two times his base salary. See “Employment Agreements and Potential Payments upon Termination” on page 62 for a description of Mr. Goh’s employment agreement. Mr. Goh’s retirement benefit is paid in a lump sum.

51 

U.S. Defined Contribution Plan. The Company also maintains a tax-qualified 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan to which all U.S. salaried employees, including all U.S.-based NEOs, other than Mr. Sourisseau, are able to contribute a portion of their salaries on a pre-tax basis. Subject to certain Code limits, for each of our eligible NEOs, the Company will match 50% of the first 3% of salary that is contributed to this 401(k) plan.

45 

Swiss Defined Contribution Pension Plan. Mr. Sourisseau participates in a defined contribution pension plan maintained for the benefit of certain Company employees in Switzerland (the “Swiss Pension Plan”). For each year Mr. Sourisseau participates in the Swiss Pension Plan, the Company will contribute an amount on Mr. Sourisseau’s behalf equal to 12% times the sum of (i) the lesser of his target bonus and his actual bonus for such year and (ii) his base salary for such year (in each case, reduced in coordination with certain statutory limits).

Perquisites. The Company provides the NEOs with a limited number of perquisites and other personal benefits that the Committee believes are reasonable and consistent with its overall compensation program to better enable the Company to attract and retain key executives. An item is a perquisite if it confers a direct or indirect benefit that has a personal aspect, without regard to whether it may be provided for some business reason or for the convenience of the Company, unless it is generally available on a non-discriminatory basis to all employees. An item is not a perquisite if it is integrally and directly related to the performance of the executive’s duties.

Severance.The Company has employment agreements with all of the NEOs. In addition to the compensation components listed above, these contracts provide for post-employment severance payments and benefits in the event of employment termination under certain circumstances. In 2022, Mr. Bourque’s employment with the Company was terminated, and he received certain severance payments and benefits. For more information regarding these potential severance payments and benefits with respect to the NEOs generally and the severance payments and benefits in connection with Mr. Bourque’s termination of employment, see “Employment Agreements and Potential Payments upon Termination” in the Executive Compensation section below. The Committee believes that these contracts provide an incentive to the NEOs to remain with the Company and serve to align the interests of the NEOs and Shareholders, including in the event of a potential acquisition of the Company.

Tax Deductibility of Executive Compensation. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which was passed in December 2017, eliminated the “performance-based” compensation exemption underPursuant to Section 162(m) of the Code, and made several other significant changes to Section 162(m). Consequently, since 2018, compensation paid or accrued by the Company for U.S. federal income tax purposes in excess of $1 million with respect to each of our CEO, our Chief Financial Officer and our other NEOs is not tax deductible regardlessdeductible. The Company’s compensation of whether such compensation would have qualified for the “performance-based” exemption under prior law. Anyany individual who wasis a “covered employee” (as defined in Section 162(m) of the Code) in 2017 or becomes a covered employee thereafter will remain subject to the annual $1 million tax deductibility limit regardless of loss of status as an NEO or termination of employment.  The Committee believes that Shareholder interests are best served by not restricting the Committee’s discretion and flexibility in structuring compensation programs, even if such compensation results in non-deductible expenses under applicable law. However, consistent with our compensation philosophy of linking pay to performance and aligning executive interests with those of our Shareholders, we currently expect that we will continue to structure our executive compensation program so that a significant portion of total executive compensation is performance-based.

 

4652 
 

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

 

TheAs required by Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K, the Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the foregoing Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K with the Company’s management. Based on such review and discussions, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement.

 

This report is respectfully submitted on February 24, 202122, 2023 by the members of the Compensation Committee.

 

Jim Turner,

Stephen Hagge, Chair

Andrea Funk
Stephen Hagge
James Miller
Josef Müller

47 

Andrea Funk

James Miller

Josef Müller

(This Page Intentionally Left Blank)

Marsha Williams

 

 

4853 
 

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

Summary Compensation Table

 

The following table lists certain information regarding compensation earned during the Company’s last three fiscal years by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and other three Executive Officers who were the highest paid during 2020.2022. This table and certain other tables in this Section also include information about Mr. Robert Bourque, who served in an executive officer capacity until July 29, 2022 and whose employment with the Company terminated on August 29, 2022.

Name and Principal Position

YearSalaryStock
Awards (1)
Non-Equity Incentive Plan CompensationChange in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings (2)All Other Compensation (3)Total Compensation(4)YearSalaryStock
Awards (1)
Non-Equity Incentive Plan CompensationChange in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings (2)All Other Compensation (3)Total Compensation
    
Timothy Donahue2020$1,200,000$6,239,951$2,880,000$5,714,297  $1,486,791$17,521,0392022$1,315,000$7,364,000$599,969$0$21,167$9,300,136

President and Chief

Executive Officer

20191,155,0006,005,9701,711,7104,056,957  1,081,05314,010,69020211,260,0006,368,7703,024,0001,106,97955,31611,815,065
20181,100,0005,720,0551,735,8001,183,618    77,268  9,816,74120201,200,0006,239,9512,880,0005,714,297  1,486,79117,521,039
              
Thomas Kelly2020710,0001,278,0191,136,0002.109,946546,4395,780,404
Kevin Clothier (4)2022535,0001,123,600156,22004,5751,819,395

Senior Vice President

and Chief Financial Officer

2019685,0001,233,018676,7801,666,986443,9394,705,723       
2018650,0001,169,970683,800532,453135,3533,171,576       
              
Gerard Gifford2020745,0001,825,5331,415,5001,230,335436,7045,653,0722022805,0001,972,140279,134010,0153,066,289
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer2019715,0001,787,478838,8741,825,676465,5815,632,6092021780,0001,857,4741,482,000066,6514,186,125
2018680,0001,700,010849,4901,048,49663,5724,341,5682020745,0001,825,5331,415,5001,230,335436,7045,653,072
              
Didier Sourisseau (5)2020639,6401,060,5391,023,4241,579,272479,0264,781,901
President – European Division2019588,7501,032,906178,5091,005,730358,8713,164,766
2018567,765971,268573,670329,461116,9082,559,072
       
Djalma Novaes2020600,0001,050,026960,0001,516,241401,0944,527,3612022650,0001,137,547557,960046,1412,391,648
President – Americas Division2019575,0001,006,293887,3401,567,452480,6064,516,6912021620,0001,054,698948,352235,099163,4613,021,610
2018555,000971,269312,132419,42314,2712,272,0952020600,0001,050,026960,0001,516,241401,0944,527,361
             
Hock Huat Goh (4) (5)2022517,500698,66530,22201,141,4742,387,861
President – Asia Pacific       
Division       
       
Robert Bourque (6)2022400,000093,1200986,9061,480,026
Former President - Transit2021575,000950,074737,840350,458319,1972,932,569
Packaging Division2020550,000935,019660,0001,731,920372,9384,249,877
       
(1)The amounts in this column, computed in accordance with current Financial Accounting Standards Board guidance for accounting for and reporting of stock-based compensation, represent the aggregate grant-date fair value of time-based restricted stock and performance-based restricted stock awards (market condition for TSR, performance condition for ROIC and assuming that the target level of performance conditions were achieved) issued by the Company for the respective fiscal years. The grant-date fair market values of the time-based restricted stock awards were as follows: Mr. Donahue: $2,454,648 for 2022, $2,132,414 for 2021 and $2,079,981 for 2020, $2,001,9802020; Mr. Clothier: $374,528 for 2019 and $1,906,692 for 2018; Mr. Kelly: $426,008 for 2020, $411,017 for 2019 and $389,982 for 2018;2022; Mr. Gifford: $657,370 for 2022; $621,930 for 2021 and $608,533 for 2020, $595,830 for 2019 and $566,675 for 2018; Mr. Sourisseau: $353,519 for 2020, $344,302 for 2019 and $323,757 for 2018; and2020; Mr. Novaes: $379,177 for 2022, $353,151 for 2021 and $350,003 for 2020, $335,429 for 2019 and $314,978 for 2018. The grant-date fair market values of the performance-based restricted stock, assuming instead that the highest level of performance conditions were to be achieved, would be as follows: Mr. Donahue: $8,024,762 for 2020, $7,485,049 for 2019 and $7,408,227 for 2018; Mr. Kelly: $1,643,567 for 2020, $1,536,651 for 20192020;
4954 
 

Mr. Goh: $232,890 for 2022; and $1,515,283Mr. Bourque: $318,110 for 2018;2021 and $311,684 for 2020. Mr. Bourque forfeited his 2022 award on his departure. The grant-date fair market values of the performance-based restricted stock, assuming instead that the highest level of performance conditions were to be achieved, would be as follows: Mr. Donahue: $9,818,704 for 2022, $8,472,712 for 2021 and $8,024,762 for 2020; Mr. Clothier: $1,498,144 for 2022; Mr. Gifford: $2,629,540 for 2022, $2,471,088 for 2021 and $2,347,651 for 2020, $2,227,6672020; Mr. Novaes: $1,516,740 for 20192022, $1,403,094 for 2021 and $2,201,733$1,350,374 for 2018;2020; Mr. Sourisseau: $1,363,873Goh: $931,550 for 2020, $1,287,276 for 2019 and $1,257,921 for 20182022; and Mr. Novaes: $1,350,374Bourque: $1,263,928 for 2020, $1,254,1122021 and $1,202,442 for 2019 and $1,257,921 for 2018.2020. Upon his departure, Mr. Bourque forfeited his 2022 award. If the minimum level of performance conditions were not to be achieved, the value of the performance-based restricted stock awards would be $0 in all cases. Further detail surrounding the shares awarded, the method of valuation and the assumptions made are set forth in Note V,W, “Stock-Based Compensation” to the financial statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.2022. There can be no assurance that the amounts related to performance-based shares will ever be realized by the NEOs.

(2)ThePositive amounts in this column reflect the increase in actuarial lump-sum present value of defined benefit retirement plans, including supplemental plans, for the respective fiscal years. A decrease in actuarial lump-sum present value is required to be excluded from the amount reported in this column and is indicated in this column with a zero value. For 2022, due to interest rate increases, each of the NEOs participating in a defined benefit retirement plan had a decrease in the actuarial lump-sum present value of his benefits. Actuarial valuations were based on assumptions that were in accordance with the guidelines of FASB ASC Topic 715 and that are discussed in Note Q,R, “Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits” to the financial statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020. Interest rates continue to be at historic lows which inflate the present value of such benefits, not2022. Not all of which arethe pension benefits payable to our NEOs will be paid in a lump sum. Future increaseschanges in interest rates could cause a significant reductionchanges in the lump-sum value of such benefits. See footnote 4 on page 5661 for more information. The change in value represents the difference between the highest year-end value disclosed for such benefit in prior years and the value of such benefit at the end of the reporting year.

(3)The amounts in this column for 20202022 include the following items:

T. DonahueT. KellyG. GiffordD. SourisseauD. NovaesT. DonahueK. ClothierG. GiffordD. NovaesH. GohR. Bourque
Change in Value of SERP Life Insurance$1,421,763$525,009$426,506$404,921$378,544$         0$        0$         0$   99,845
FICA on Change in SERP Valuation60,75317,1555,923018,27516,59205,4404,1660142,009
Defined Contribution Plan Company Contributions *

 

4,275

 

4,275

 

56,195

 

4,275

 

4,575

 

4,575

 

6,092

 

4,575

Automobile Allowance0017,9100
Relocation Expenses0037,4000
Other001,135,382**740,477**
Total$1,486,791$546,439$436,704$479,026$401,094$21,167$4,575$10,015$46,141$1,141,474$986,906

 

*See the “Retirement Benefits” subsection of the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this Proxy Statement for a more complete description of the defined contribution benefit plans applicable to the NEOs.

**Mr. Goh’s “Other” payments include a retirement benefit of $1,088,021 paid in 2022 in anticipation of his upcoming retirement. Mr. Bourque’s “Other” payments consist of certain severance payments and benefits including the following: a lump-sum payment of $600,000; continued coverage in the Company’s health plans of $30,360; forgiveness of repayment of relocation expenses of $85,117; and an outplacement services allowance of $25,000.
(4)See the Proxy Summary – Proposal 3 (page 7) for a description of Total Compensation forNeither Mr. Donahue net of certain retirement-related benefits.Clothier nor Mr. Goh were NEOs prior to 2022, so only information related to 2022 is presented.

(5)Certain components of Mr. Sourisseau’sGoh’s compensation for 20202022 set forth in the table above, including Salary, and Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation and All Other Compensation, have been converted from Swiss FrancsSingapore Dollars into U.S. Dollars at the 20202022 average exchange rate of $1.066067.$0.75.

(6)Mr. Bourque received stock awards in 2022 with a total grant date fair value of $1,020,104 (see pp. 49-50), but these were forfeited upon his departure from the Company.
5055 
 

Grants of Plan-Based Awards

The following table provides information about the annual incentive bonuses that the Company’s NEOs were eligible to receive for 20202022 under the Company’s Economic Profit Incentive Plan and stock-based awards granted in 20202022 to each of the Company’s NEOs under the Company’s Stock-Based Incentive Compensation Plan. There can be no assurance that the fair value of the performance-based stock awarded to the Company’s NEOs in 20202022 will ever be realized by the NEOs. For further information and the assumptions made in determining the grant-date fair values of the stock awards, see Notes A and VW to the Company’s financial statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.2022.

Name

Grant Dates

of Equity

Awards

Estimated Future Payouts under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards (1)

 

Estimated Future Payouts under Equity Incentive Plan Awards (2)

 

All Other

Stock

Awards: Number of

Shares

of Stock or

Units (3)

2020 Grant

Date Fair

Value of

Stock and

Option

Awards (4)

($)

Grant Dates

of Equity

Awards

Estimated Future Payouts under Non-

Equity Incentive Plan Awards (1)

 

Estimated Future Payouts under

Equity Incentive Plan Awards (2)

 

All Other

Stock

Awards: Number of

Shares

of Stock or

Units (3)

2022 Grant

Date Fair

Value of

Stock and

Option

Awards (4)

($)

Minimum ($)Target
($)
Maximum
($)
Minimum (Shares)Target (Shares)Maximum (Shares)Minimum ($)Target
($)
Maximum
($)
Minimum (Shares)Target (Shares)Maximum (Shares)
Timothy Donahue1/9/2020
(5)
01,440,0002,880,000057,067114,13429,5836,239,9511/5/2022
(5)
01,643,7503,287,500043,82687,65222,7037,364,000
Thomas Kelly1/9/2020
(6)
0568,0001,136,000011,68823,3766,0591,278,019
Kevin Clothier1/5/2022
(6)
0428,000856,00006,68713,3743,4641,123,600
Gerard Gifford1/9/2020
(7)
0707,7501,415,500016,69533,3908,6551,825,5331/5/2022
 (7)
0764,7501,529,500011,73723,4746,0801,972,140
Didier Sourisseau1/9/2020
(8)
0511,7121,023,42409,69919,3985,0281,060,539
Djalma Novaes1/9/2020
(9)
0480,000960,00009,60319,2064,9781,050,0261/5/2022
(8)
0520,0001,040,00006,77013,5403,5071,137,547
Hock Huat Goh1/5/2022
 (9)
0414,000828,00004,1588,3162,154698,665
Robert Bourque1/5/2022
(10)
0480,000960,0000000

 

(1)These amounts represent the range of annual non-equity incentive bonuses for which the NEOs were eligible in 20202022 under the Company’s EP Plan. For further information relating to the EP Plan, see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Annual Incentive Bonus.” For the actual awards earned under the EP Plan for 2020,2022, see the “Summary Compensation Table” above.
(2)These amounts represent the range of stock-based compensation that might be realized under the 20202022 performance-based restricted stock awards. The potential payouts are based on performance and are therefore at risk. The performance awards make up approximately two-thirds of the stock-based compensation. The first performance measure, representing approximately one-third of the total stock-based compensation (or half of the performance-based portion), is based upon the total shareholder return (“TSR”) achieved by the Company from January 1, 20202022 to December 31, 20222024 versus the TSR during that same period of a defined peer group of companies that are described in “Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Long-Term Equity Incentives” above. The second performance measure, representing approximately one-third of the total stock-based compensation (or half of the performance-based portion), is based on the Return on Invested Capital (“ROIC”) achieved by the Company from January 1, 20202022 to December 31, 20222024 compared to the ROIC target established by the Compensation Committee. The vesting of the performance-based shares from the 20202022 award will occur in 2023,2025, with the actual number of shares vesting dependent upon the Company’s TSR compared to that of the peer group and performance against the ROIC target. For further details, refer to Note V,W, “Stock-Based Compensation” to the Company’s financial statements in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.2022. Rights to the performance-based shares are not forfeited upon death or disability and remain subject to attainment of the performance goal. Performance-based shares may not be forfeited upon retirement at the discretion of the Committee and, if not forfeited, remain subject to attainment of the performance goal. TSR performance-based shares vest upon a “change in control” of the Company based on the Company’s TSR as compared to that of the peer group from January 1, 20202022 until the time of the “change in control.” ROIC performance-based shares vest upon a “change in control” of the Company based on the ROIC of the Company compared to that of the ROIC target from January 1, 20202022 until the date of the “change in control.” Awards to Mr. Sourisseau are deferred shares instead of restricted shares. His shares are issued on the vesting date for restricted shares for the other NEOs. See note (1) on page 44.

5156 
 

(3)These amounts represent time-based restricted stock awarded in 2020,2022, which constitute approximately one-third of the total stock-based compensation. Time-based restricted stock vests annually over three years from the date of the award. If a participant terminates employment due to retirement with(with Committee approval,approval), disability or death, or upon a “change in control” of the Company, vesting of the award accelerates.
(4)These amounts represent the grant-date fair value of time-based restricted stock and performance-based restricted stock awarded in 2020.2022. The grant-date fair value of the time-based restricted stock and ROIC performance-based shares is $108.12 and is based on the $70.31 per share closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on the date immediately preceding the dateJanuary 4, 2022, as adjusted to take into account that holders of the award on January 9, 2020.unvested shares are not eligible for and do not receive dividends while such shares remain unvested. The grant-date fair value of the TSR performance-based shares is $75.68 for the January 9, 2020 awards$116.21 and is based on a Monte Carlo valuation model. The Committee has determined that approximately two-thirds of the targeted value of stock awards to NEOs should be performance-based. In order for the Company in 20202022 to deliver two-thirds of the value of an NEO’s targeted long-term equity incentive in performance-based restricted stock, somewhat more than one-third of the total number of shares granted were time-based restricted shares, and somewhat less than two-thirds were performance-based restricted shares because the prescribed valuation methods under FASB ASC Topic 718 result in higher per unit values for TSR performance-based restricted stock than for time-based restricted stock and ROIC performance-based restricted stock. Further details regarding these shares, the method of valuation and the assumptions made are set forth in Note V,W, “Stock-Based Compensation” to the financial statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.2022.
(5)Represents grant to Mr. Donahue of 86,65066,529 shares of stock-based compensation under the 2013 Stock-Based Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2013 Stock Plan”). Time-based restricted stock totaling 29,58322,703 shares vests over a three-year period as follows: 9,8617,568 shares on January 11, 2021, January 10, 20225, 2023 and January 9, 2023, respectively.5, 2024, respectively and 7,567 shares on January 6, 2025. The remaining 57,06743,826 shares of performance-based restricted stock vest on January 9, 20236, 2025 as follows: 29,58322,703 shares based on the Company’s ROIC from January 1, 20202022 to December 31, 20222024 compared to the established ROIC target; 27,48421,123 shares based on the Company’s TSR for that same period versus the TSR of a defined peer group of companies. The final number of performance-based shares actually vesting may vary from 0 to 114,134.87,652.
(6)Represents grant to Mr. KellyClothier of 17,74710,151 shares of stock-based compensation under the 2013 Stock Plan. Time-based restricted stock totaling 6,0593,464 shares vests over a three-year period as follows: 2,0201,155 shares on January 11, 20215, 2023 and January 10, 2022,5, 2024, respectively, and 2,0191,154 shares ofon January 9, 2023.6, 2025. The remaining 11,6886,687 shares of performance-based restricted stock vest on January 9, 20236, 2025 as follows: 6,0593,464 shares based on the Company’s ROIC from January 1, 20202022 to December 31, 20222024 compared to the established ROIC target; 5,6293,223 shares based on the Company’s TSR for that same period versus the TSR of a defined peer group of companies. The final number of performance-based shares actually vesting may vary from 0 to 23,376.13,374.
(7)Represents grant to Mr. Gifford of 25,35017,817 shares of stock-based compensation under the 2013 Stock Plan. Time-based restricted stock totaling 8,6556,080 shares vests over a three-year period as follows: 2,8852,027 shares on January 11, 2021, January 10, 20225, 2023 and January 9, 2023, respectively.5, 2024, respectively, and 2,026 shares on January 6, 2025. The remaining 16,69511,737 shares of performance-based restricted stock vest on January 9, 20236, 2025 as follows: 8,6556,080 shares based on the Company’s ROIC from January 1, 20202022 to December 31, 20222024 compared to the established ROIC target; 8,0405,657 shares based on the Company’s TSR for that same period versus the TSR of a defined peer group of companies. The final number of performance-based shares actually vesting may vary from 0 to 33,390.23,474.
(8)Represents grant to Mr. Sourisseau of 14,727 shares of stock-based compensation under the 2013 Stock Plan. Time-based deferred stock totaling 5,028 shares will be issued over a three-year period as follows: 1,676 shares on January 11, 2021, January 10, 2022 and January 9, 2023, respectively. The remaining 9,699 shares of performance-based deferred stock vest on January 9, 2023 as follows: 5,028 shares based on the Company’s ROIC from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2022 compared to the established ROIC target; 4,671 shares based on the Company’s TSR for that same period versus the TSR of a defined peer group of companies. The final number of performance-based shares actually issued may vary from 0 to 19,398.
(9)Represents grant to Mr. Novaes of 14,58110,277 shares of stock-based compensation under the 2013 Stock Plan. Time-based restricted stock totaling 4,9783,507 shares vests over a three-year period as follows: 1,6601,169 shares on January 11, 2021 and 1,659 shares on5, 2023, January 10, 20225, 2024 and January 9, 2023,6, 2025, respectively. The remaining 9,6036,770 shares of performance-based restricted stock vest on January 9, 20236, 2025 as follows: 4,9783,507 shares based on the Company’s ROIC from January 1, 20202022 to December 31, 20222024 compared to the established ROIC target; 4,6253,263 shares based on the Company’s TSR for that same period versus the TSR of a defined peer group of companies. The final number of performance-based shares actually vesting may vary from 0 to 19,206.13,540.
(9)Represents grant to Mr. Goh of 6,312 shares of stock-based compensation under the 2013 Stock Plan. Time-based restricted stock totaling 2,154 shares vests over a three-year period as follows: 718 shares on January 5, 2023, January 5, 2024 and January 6, 2025, respectively. The remaining 4,158 shares of performance-based restricted stock vest on January 6, 2025 as follows: 2,154 shares based on the Company’s ROIC from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2024 compared to the established ROIC target; 2,004 shares based on the Company’s TSR for that same period versus the TSR of a defined peer group of companies. The final number of performance-based shares actually vesting may vary from 0 to 8,316.
(10)Upon his departure from the Company, Mr. Bourque forfeited shares issued this year (see pp. 49-50). Under his employment agreement with the Company, Mr. Bourque was entitled to a pro-rated annual non-equity incentive bonus.

5257 
 

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

The following table shows unvested time-based restricted Common Stock and unvested performance-based restricted Common Stock held by the Company’s NEOs on December 31, 2020.2022. There are no outstanding options. These outstanding equity awards have been granted to the Company’s NEOs under the Company’s 2013 Stock-Based Incentive Compensation Plan.

 

 

Stock Awards

Name

 

 

Number of

Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (1)

(Shares)

Market Value

of Shares or

Units of Stock

That Have

Not Vested (2)

($)

Equity Incentive

Plan Awards:

Number of Unearned

Shares, Units

or Other Rights That

Have Not Vested (3)

(Shares)

Equity Incentive Plan

Awards: Market or

Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (2)

($)

Timothy Donahue71,7037,184,641208,84320,926,069
Thomas Kelly14,6981,472,74042,7984,288,360
Gerard Gifford21,1852,122,73761,8396,196,268
Didier Sourisseau (4)12,2471,227,14935,6603,573,132
Djalma Novaes12,0601,208,41235,1793,524,936

Stock Awards

Name

 

 

Number of

Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (1)

(Shares)

Market Value

of Shares or

Units of Stock

That Have

Not Vested (2)

($)

Equity Incentive

Plan Awards:

Number of Unearned

Shares, Units

or Other Rights That

Have Not Vested (3)

(Shares)

Equity Incentive Plan

Awards: Market or

Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (2)

($)

Timothy Donahue47,0883,871,104142,53511,717,802
Kevin Clothier5,464449,1956,687549,738
Gerard Gifford13,2011,085,25440,5773,335,835
Djalma Novaes7,571622,41223,2691,912,944
Hock Huat Goh10,609872,16614,1551,163,683
Robert Bourque008,551702,978
(1)These amounts represent outstanding unvested time-based restricted stock awards (right to deferred shares in the case of Mr. Sourisseau).awards. Time-based restricted stock vests annually over three years from the date of the award. Accordingly, with respect to awards made in 2018,2020, the final one-third vested on January 4, 2021.9, 2023. With respect to awards made in 2019,2021, the second one-third vested on January 7, 20219, 2023 and the final one-third will vest on January 7, 2022.8, 2024. With respect to awards made in 2020,2022, the first one-third vested on January 11, 2021.5, 2023. The second one-third will vest on January 10, 20225, 2024 and the final one-third will vest on January 9, 2023.6, 2025. If a participant terminates employment due to retirement with(with Committee approval,approval), disability or death, or in the event of a “change in control” of the Company, vesting of the unvested time-based restricted stock awards accelerates to the date of termination or change in control. Included in Mr. Clothier’s totals are 2,000 time-based restricted shares that were awarded prior to his appointment as CFO and will vest in May 2023.
(2)Computed as of December 31, 2020.2022. The closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on December 31, 202030, 2022 was $100.20.$82.21.
5358 
 

 

 

(3)These amounts represent outstanding unvested performance-based restricted stock at target levels. The range of shares to be vested is 0 to 200% of the target based on the levels of performance achieved under the 2018 award from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2020, under the 2019 award from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2021 and under the 2020 award from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2022.2022, under the 2021 award from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2023 and under the 2022 award from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2024. The number reported does not include any additional shares that may be awarded after December 31, 20202022 based upon the Company’s performance but does include shares that may be forfeited based on the Company’s performance. On January 11, 2021,9, 2023, TSR performance-based shares earned pursuant to the 20182020 awards vested as follows: for Mr. Donahue – 62,96812,524 shares with a value on December 31, 20202022 of $6,309,394;$1,029,598; for Mr. KellyGifford12,8803,664 shares with a value on December 31, 20202022 of $1,290,576;$301,217; for Mr. GiffordNovaes18,7142,108 shares with a value on December 31, 20202022 of $1,875,143;$173,299; for Mr. SourisseauGoh10,6921,286 shares with a value on December 31, 20202022 of $1,071,338;$105,722 and for Mr. NovaesBourque10,6921,877 shares with a value on December 31, 20202022 of $1,071,338.$154,308. On February 25, 2021,24, 2023, ROIC performance-based shares earned pursuant to the 20182020 awards vested as follows: for Mr. Donahue – 33,39859,166 shares with a value on December 31, 20202022 of $3,346,480;$4,864,037; for Mr. KellyGifford6,83117,310 shares with a value on December 31, 20202022 of $684,466;$1,423,055; for Mr. GiffordNovaes9,9269,956 shares with a value on December 31, 20202022 of $994,585;$818,483; for Mr. SourisseauGoh5,6716,074 shares with a value on December 31, 20202022 of $568,234;$499,344; and for Mr. NovaesBourque5,6718,866 shares with a value on December 31, 2022 of $728,874. Mr. Clothier was not issued TSR or ROIC performance-based shares in 2020 of $568,234.so he had no vestings. For further information relating to performance-based share vesting, see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Long-Term Equity Incentives.” Rights to the performance-based shares are not forfeited upon death or disability and remain subject to attainment of the performance goal. Performance-based shares may not be forfeited upon retirement at the discretion of the Committee and, if not forfeited, remain subject to attainment of the performance goals. TSR performance-based shares vest upon a “change in control” of the Company based upon the Company’s TSR as compared to that of the peer group at the time of the “change in control.” ROIC performance-based shares vest upon a “change in control” of the Company based upon the ROIC of the Company compared to that of the ROIC target through the date of the “change in control.”
(4)All shares listed for Mr. Sourisseau are deferred shares. With respect to Mr. Sourisseau, all references to “vesting” above actually mean issuance of deferred shares. See note (1) on page 44.

 

 

5459 
 

Option Exercises and Stock Vested

The following table shows the number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock acquired and the actual value received during 20202022 upon the vesting of stock awards. The Company does not issue stock options to its NEOs.

 

 

Stock AwardsStock Awards

Name

Number of Shares

Acquired on

Vesting (1)

Value Realized

on Vesting (2)
($)

Number of Shares Acquired on

Vesting (1)

Value Realized

on Vesting (2)
($)

Timothy Donahue118,4448,364,126173,86819,544,294
Thomas Kelly24,6861,743,191
Kevin C. Clothier2,000200,380
Gerard Gifford36,6242,492,94151,6525,806,473
Didier Sourisseau20,0351,138,652
Djalma Novaes21,1721,494,97229,1243,273,816
Hock Huat Goh20,9162,314,612
Robert Bourque25,8532,906,042

 

(1)Amounts in this column are time-based and performance-based restricted stock that vested in 2020.2022. The 20172019 award of TSR performance-based restricted stock vested at 121.3%200.0% of target in 2020. In the case2022. The 2019 award of Mr. Sourisseau, deferredROIC performance-based restricted stock was issued.award vested at 130.0% of target in 2022. For further information relating to the vesting of performance-based share awards, see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Long-Term Equity Incentives.”
(2)The amounts in this column are the aggregate dollar amount realized upon vesting, calculated by multiplying the number of shares of stock times the market value of the Company Common Stock at the date(s) of vesting.

 

5560 
 

Pension Benefits

The following table shows the present value of estimated benefits payable upon retirement to the NEOs under the Company’s U.S. Pension Plan, Senior Executive Retirement Plan and Restoration Plan, which are the defined-benefit pension plans maintained by the Company in which the NEOs participate.

Name

Plan

Name (1)(2)

Number of Years Credited Service (3)Present Value of Accumulated Benefit (4)(5)
($)

 

Timothy Donahue

 

Pension Plan
SERP

 

30

30

 

1,294,731

20,431,092

Thomas Kelly

Pension Plan

SERP

 

29

29

 

1,313,293

8,861,125

 

Gerard Gifford

 

Pension Plan
SERP/Restoration Plan (6)

 

38

38

 

1,774,756

13,641,089

Didier SourisseauSERP

30

5,675,190

Djalma Novaes

Pension Plan

SERP

 

10

21

 

460,619

5,929,348

Name

Plan

Name (1)(2)

Number of Years Credited Service (3)Present Value of Accumulated Benefit (4)(5)
($)
Timothy DonahuePension Plan
SERP

32

32

1,061,627

17,180,155

Kevin ClothierPension Plan
Restoration Plan (6)

30

30

732,936

700,139

Gerard GiffordPension Plan
SERP/Restoration Plan (6)

40

40

1,479,999

11,494,992

Djalma NovaesPension Plan
SERP

12

23

443,597

5,114,318

Robert Bourque (7)Pension Plan
SERP

29

29

602,249

3,166,920

(1)The U.S. Pension Plan in which all U.S.-based NEOs except Mr. Sourisseau participate is designed and administered to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code. For further information, see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Retirement Benefits.”
(2)The annual benefit for thethose NEOs underwho participate in the SERP is based upon a formula equal to (i) 2.0% of the average of the five highest consecutive years of earnings during the last 10 years of service (consisting of salary and bonus, but excluding stock compensation, and determined without regard to the limits imposed on tax-qualified plans) times years of service up to twenty years plus (ii) 1.45% of such average earnings for the next fifteen years of service plus (iii) at the discretion of the Compensation Committee, 1% of such average earnings for years of service beyond thirty-five years less (iv) Social Security old-age benefits (and similar benefits provided in foreign jurisdictions) attributable to employment with the Company and the Company-funded portion of the executive’s Pension Plan benefits. In the case of Messrs.Mr. Gifford, and Sourisseau, the SERP is also reduced by theirhis benefits under the Company’s Restoration Plan and Swiss Pension Plan, respectively.Plan. For further information, see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Retirement Benefits.”
(3)Years of service are rounded to the nearest full year.
(4)The calculation of the lump-sum present value is based on assumptions that were in accordance with the guidelines of FASB ASC Topic 715 and that are discussed in Note Q,R, “Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits” to the financial statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020. 2022. Not all of the pension benefits payable to our NEOs will be paid in a lump sum. Interest rates continue to be at historic lows which inflatestrongly affect the present value of such benefits. For example, if, on December 31, 2020,Future changes in interest rates had been 100 basis points (i.e., 1%) above their actual levels, then the actuarial lump-sum present value of defined benefit retirement plans with respect to Messrs. Donahue, Kelly, Gifford, Sourisseau and Novaes would have been lower by $3,162,596, $1,241,260, $1,341,697, $1,082,957 and $832,294, respectively.  Consequently, the return to a more normal interest rate environment could cause a significant reductionchanges in the lump-sum value of such benefits.
(5)All of the benefits are vested with respect to the NEOs with the exception of Mr. Clothier’s participation in the SERP benefits for Mr. Sourisseau.Restoration Plan (which will vest in April 2023).
(6)The annual supplemental retirement benefit for Mr. Gifford and Mr. Clothier under the Restoration Plan is equal to the difference between (i) the annual benefit he would have accrued under the U.S. Pension Plan if his target bonus amount were included in compensation for purposes of calculating his benefit under such Plan and if certain statutory limitations on benefit accrual did not apply and (ii) the annual benefit he actually accrued under the U.S. Pension Plan.

(7)Mr. Bourque was vested in his benefits under the U.S. Pension Plan and the SERP at the time of his termination of employment.
(8)Mr. Goh does not participate in any of the above-listed pension plans. However, pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement, he is entitled to a retirement benefit equal to two times his base salary. Such benefit was paid to Mr. Goh in 2022 in anticipation of his upcoming retirement.
5661 
 

Employment Agreements and Potential Payments upon Termination

 

The Company has employment agreements with all of its NEOs. In addition to the compensation and benefits described above, these contracts provide for certain post-employment severance payments in the event of employment termination under certain circumstances. The Committee believes that these contracts provide an incentive to the NEOs to remain with the Company and serve to align the interests of the NEOs and Shareholders, including in the event of a potential acquisition of the Company.

 

Under his employment agreement, Mr. Donahue has agreed that, during his employment and for two years thereafter, he will not compete with the Company or solicit Company employees to terminate employment with the Company. All other NEOs are subject to a similar non-competition provision that is limited tofor a one-year post-employment period prior to a change in control and for two years following a change in control.

Under the agreement for each of the NEOs, if the executive’s employment is terminated because of a voluntary termination or retirement, the Company will pay the executive his base salary through the date of termination or retirement, a pro-rated bonus payment (which is payable at the Company’s discretion for Mr. Clothier in the case of a voluntary termination) and any vested retirement, incentive or other benefits. The pro-rated bonus payment is based on the actual bonus for all NEOs except for Mr. Gifford, whose pro-rated payment is based on his target bonus in the event of his voluntary termination or retirement, and Mr. Sourisseau, whose pro-rated payment is based on his target bonus in the event of his voluntary termination and his actual bonus in the event of his retirement. In the event of death, the compensation is identical to the above except that the pro-rated bonus payment is based on the actual bonus for Messrs. Donahue, Clothier and Sourisseau,Goh, but on the target bonus for Messrs. Kelly, Gifford and Novaes. All payments will be made to the executive’s estate in the event of death. In the case of a termination of employment due to a disability, each of the NEOs other than Mr. Donahue will be entitled to his base salary through the date of disability, a pro-rated bonus payment and any vested retirement, incentive or other benefits, plus an annual disability benefit equal to 75% of his base salary. The pro-rated bonus payment is based on the target bonus for Messrs. Kelly, Gifford and Novaes and the actual bonus for Mr. Sourisseau.Messrs. Clothier and Goh. In the case of Mr. Donahue’s disability, he will be entitled to his base salary through the date of disability, an annual disability benefit equal to 100% of his base salary plus a bonus equal to the average annual bonus paid or payable to him for the three most recently completed years, and any vested retirement, incentive or other benefits. If the employment of any of the NEOs is terminated for “Cause,” the Company will pay to the executive only the base salary owed through his date of termination and his vested retirement, incentive or other benefits.

Under the agreement for Mr. Donahue, if the employment of the executive is terminated by the Company without Cause or by the executive for “Good Reason” other than within the 12-month period following a “Change in Control,” in addition to the executive’s base salary through the date of termination, the Company will pay to the executive (i) a pro-rated actual bonus payment and (ii) a lump-sum payment equal to three times the sum of the executive’s base salary and his target bonus for the year of termination. Under the agreement for each of the other NEOs, upon the termination of the executive’s employment by the Company without Cause other than within the 12-month period following a Change in Control, the Company will pay to the executive (i) his base salary through the date of termination, (ii) a pro-rated actual (but, for Mr. Gifford, a pro-rated target) bonus payment and (iii) a lump-sum payment equal to the executive’s annual base salary.  In all such cases, the Company will also pay to the executive any vested retirement, incentive or other benefits.

5762 
 

 

 

Under the agreement for each of the NEOs, if the executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or by the executive for Good Reason, during the 12-month period following a Change in Control, the Company will pay him (i) his base salary through the date of termination plus, (ii) a lump-sum payment equal to three times the sum of the executive’s base salary and his average bonus over the three completed years prior to the year of termination. On a Change in Control, all stock options and time-based restricted stock granted to the executive by the Company will become fully vested and, in the case of stock options, immediately exercisable. In addition, on a Change in Control, performance-based restricted stock will vest based upon the Company’s performance as compared to the applicable performance goals between the start of the measurement period and the date of the Change in Control. In all such cases, the Company will also pay to the executive any vested retirement, incentive or other benefits. To the extent that the executive would be subject to the excise tax under Code Section 4999 on the amounts and benefits received on a Change in Control for purposes of Code Section 280G, either (i) such amounts and benefits will be reduced or delayed by the minimum amount necessary such that no portion of the amount or benefits is subject to the excise tax or (ii) the full amount and benefits shall be paid, whichever, after taking into account all applicable taxes, including the excise tax, results in the executive’s receipt, or an after-tax basis, of the greater amount and benefits.

On August 29, 2022, Mr. Bourque’s employment was terminated by the Company. In connection with such termination, Mr. Bourque received the following payments and benefits pursuant to a separation letter agreement he entered into with the Company: a lump-sum payment of $600,000; a pro-rated annual non-equity incentive bonus of $93,120 paid as a lump sum in the normal course; continued coverage in the Company’s health plans for 12 months in the amount of $30,360; forgiveness of repayment of relocation expenses of $85,117; and an outplacement services allowance of $25,000 paid as a lump sum. All equity awards granted to Mr. Bourque that were unvested as of the termination date were forfeited, except Mr. Bourque’s 2020 performance-based shares remained outstanding and eligible to vest on the regularly scheduled vesting date as if no termination had occurred. On the regularly scheduled vesting dates in 2023, based on the comparison of actual results versus the applicable performance goals, 10,743 shares became vested, with a total value of $883,182 based on the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on December 30, 2022 (see footnote 3 on page 59) on the vesting date. On the date of his termination of employment, Mr. Bourque was vested in his pension benefits under the U.S. Pension Plan and the SERP, and he will be eligible for benefits under the terms of the applicable plans. Mr. Bourque is subject to a non-competition provision for a one-year post-employment period.

5863 
 

The following table provides estimates of the potential severance and other post-termination benefits each NEO would receive assuming his employment was terminated as of December 31, 2020.2022.1

Name

 

Benefit

 

Termination upon

Retirement,

Disability or

Death (1)

($)

Resignation for

Good Reason

prior to a

Change in

Control

($)

Termination

without Cause prior

to a Change in

Control

($)

Termination without

Cause or

Resignation for Good

Reason after a Change

in Control (2)

($)

Timothy DonahueSalary: 3,600,0003,600,0003,600,000
 Bonus:2,880,0007,200,0007,200,0005,743,110
 Accelerated Restricted Stock Vesting: (3)7,184,641  28,110,709
 Total:10,064,64110,800,00010,800,00037,453,819
Thomas KellySalary:  710,0002,130,000
 Bonus:1,136,000 1,136,0002,286,472
 Accelerated Restricted Stock Vesting (3)

 

1,472,470

  5,761,098
 Total:2,608,470 1,846,00010,177,570
Gerard GiffordSalary:  745,0002,235,000
 Bonus:707,750 707,7502,818,322
 Accelerated Restricted Stock Vesting: (3)

 

2,122,737

  8,319,004
 Total:2,830,487 1,452,75013,372,326
Didier SourisseauSalary:  639,6401,918,921
 Bonus:1,023,424 1,023,4241,451,905
 

Accelerated Restricted Stock Vesting: (3)

987,269  3,686,700
 Total:2,010,693 1,663,0647,057,526
Djalma NovaesSalary:  600,0001,800,000
 Bonus:960,000 960,0001,835,376
 Accelerated Restricted Stock Vesting: (3)1,208,142  4,733,348
 Total:2,168,142 1,560,0008,368,724

Name

 

Benefit

 

Termination upon

Retirement,

Disability or

Death (1)

($)

Resignation for

Good Reason

prior to a

Change in

Control

($)

Termination

without Cause prior

to a Change in

Control

($)

Termination without Cause or

Resignation for Good

Reason after a Change

in Control (2)

($)

Timothy DonahueSalary: 3,945,0003,945,0003,945,000
 Bonus:599,9695,531,2195,531,2197,615,710
 Accelerated Restricted Stock Vesting: (3)3,871,104  15,588,907
 Total:4,471,0739,476,2199,476,21927,149,617
Kevin ClothierSalary:  535,0001,605,000
 Bonus:156,220 156,220679,591
 Accelerated Restricted Stock Vesting: (3)

 

449,195

  998,934
 Total:605,415 691,2203,283,525
Gerard GiffordSalary:  805,0002,415,000
 Bonus:764,750 764,7503,736,374
 Accelerated Restricted Stock Vesting: (3)

 

1,085,254

  4,421,089
 Total:1,850,004 1,569,75010,572,463
Djalma NovaesSalary:  650,0001,950,000
 Bonus:557,960 557,9602,795,692
 Accelerated Restricted Stock Vesting: (3)622,412  2,535,356
 Total:1,180,372 1,207,9607,281,048
Hock Huat GohSalary:  517,5001,552,500
 Bonus:30,222 30,2222,124,250
 Accelerated Restricted Stock Vesting: (3)872,166  2,035,848
 Total:902,388 547,7225,712,598
(1)The bonus amounts in this column assume a retirement scenario. In death or disability scenarios, the amounts for some of the NEOs would be lowerdifferent because, in these cases, bonus calculations are based on target, and not actual, bonus amounts.
(2)In addition, as indicated in the Pension Benefits table, each of our NEOs is a participantMessrs. Donahue, Gifford and Novaes are participants in the Company’s SERP. Currently, the SERP benefits of Messrs. Donahue, Gifford, Kelly and Novaes are vested and the SERP benefits of Mr. Sourisseau are unvested. However, under the terms of the SERP, in the event of a change in control,for each NEO shall become 100% vested in his SERP benefit.participant. In addition, as soon as administratively practicable but in no event more than 10 business days after a changeChange in control,Control, all benefits under the SERP will be paid to each NEO in a cash lump sum.
(3)In the case of retirement with Committee approval, disability or death, the vesting of time-based restricted stock awards (or issuance of deferred stock, in Mr. Sourisseau’s case) accelerates and the performance-based shares remain outstanding, subject to performance conditions until the performance period ends. Accordingly, no performance share compensation has been provided for terminations upon retirement, disability or death because payout cannot be assured. On a Change in Control, all time-based restricted stock will become vested, and performance-based restricted stock will vest based upon the Company’s achievement of the performance goals between the beginning of the relevant measurement period(s) and the date of the Change in Control. For termination after a Change in Control, the table assumes that the target level of performance share compensation will be achieved. For further details, refer to the Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End table above and Note V,W, “Stock-Based Compensation” to the Company’s financial statements in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.2022.

1 Mr. Bourque was not employed by the Company on December 31, 2022, and he is not included in this table. Information with respect to the payments and benefits Mr. Bourque received in connection with his termination of employment on August 29, 2022 is provided on page 63 above.

5964 
 

Pay Ratio Disclosure

 

Federal law requires that the Company disclose the ratio of its CEO’s total compensation to the total compensation of its median employee (excluding the CEO). Generally, the median employee is required to be identified only once every three years. The Company identified its median employee using salary/wages and bonus information from the Company’s payroll records as of December 31, 2021. The Company does not believe that in 2022 there were changes to the employee population or compensation arrangements that would result in a significant change to its pay ratio disclosure, and the Company has determined to use the same median employee for 2022. To determine thisthe ratio we utilized our global workforce consisting of all U.S., non-U.S., full-time, part-time and temporary employees of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries. Assubsidiaries, except that, pursuant to the resultde minimis exemption as permitted by SEC rules, we excluded all non-U.S. employees located in certain jurisdictions representing, in the aggregate, less than 5% of strong global growth together with the Signode (Transit Packaging) acquisition in 2018, approximately 80%our total employees.  The jurisdictions and numbers of non-U.S. employees excluded as of the Company’sdate of determination were: Cambodia (780 employees), Indonesia (116 employees), Kenya (33 employees), Jamaica (37 employees), Bulgaria (57 employees), Trinidad (18 employees), Barbados (37 employees) and Tunisia (121 employees).  The total number of employees now are located outsidein our global workforce (excluding the CEO) as of the date of determination, irrespective of any exemption, was 24,043 employees, 6,233 of whom were U.S. employees and 17,810 of whom were non-U.S. employees.  After application of the de minimis exemption, the total number of U.S. employees used was 6,233, and the total number of non-U.S. employees used was 16,611. No assumptions, cost-of-living adjustments or other estimates with respect to compensation were made, except that the compensation was annualized for all full-time employees who began employment during 2020. The Company identified its median employee by using total compensation from the Company’s payroll records as of December 31, 2019.2022. The Company’s median employee was based outside of the U.S. The median employee’s total compensation was calculated using the same methodology used to calculate the Total Compensation of the CEO as set forth in the Summary Compensation Table included in the Executive Compensation section of this Proxy Statement. TheIn 2022, the median employee’s total compensation was $31,565,$33,598, and the total compensation of the CEO was $17,521,039.$9,300,136. Accordingly, the ratio of the annual total compensation of the CEO to the median of the annual total compensation of all employees of the Company, except the CEO, is 555:1.276.8.

Pay Versus Performance Disclosure

In accordance with rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, we provide the following disclosure regarding executive compensation for our principal executive officer (“PEO”) and Non-PEO NEOs and Company performance for the fiscal years listed below. The Compensation Committee did not consider the pay versus performance disclosure below in making its pay decisions for any of the years shown.

YearSummary Compensation Table Total for PEO¹
($)
Compensation Actually Paid to PEO¹˒²˒³
($)
Average Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-PEO NEOs1
($)
Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO NEOs1,2,3
($)
Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment based on:4Net Income
($ Millions)
ROIC

 

 

TSR
($)

Peer Group TSR
($)
20229,300,136(6,982,448)2,229,044(650,485)115.28104.0472712.4%
202111,815,06513,384,5383,441,9163,878,831153.68128.81(560)12.5%
202017,521,03928,558,0375,185,6857,151,936138.13118.3457910.8%

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(1) Timothy Donahue was our PEO for each year presented. The individuals comprising the Non-PEO NEOs for each year presented are listed below.

202020212022
Thomas KellyThomas KellyKevin Clothier
Gerard GiffordGerard GiffordGerard Gifford
Djalma NovaesDjalma NovaesDjalma Novaes
Didier SourisseauRobert BourqueRobert Bourque
  Hock Huat Goh

(2)The amounts shown for Compensation Actually Paid have been calculated in accordance with Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K and do not reflect compensation actually earned, realized, or received by the Company’s NEOs. These amounts reflect the Summary Compensation Table Total with certain adjustments as described in footnote 3 below.
(3)Compensation Actually Paid reflects the exclusions and inclusions of certain amounts for the PEO and the Non-PEO NEOs as set forth below. Equity values are calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. Amounts in the Exclusion of Stock Awards column are the totals from the Stock Awards column set forth in the Summary Compensation Table. Amounts in the Exclusion of Change in Pension Value column reflect the amounts attributable to the Change in Pension Value reported in the Summary Compensation Table. Amounts in the Inclusion of Pension Service Cost are based on the service cost for services rendered during the listed year.

YearSummary Compensation Table Total for PEO
($)
Exclusion of Change in Pension Value for PEO
($)

 

Exclusion of Stock Awards for PEO
($)

Inclusion of Pension Service Cost for PEO
($)

 

Inclusion of Equity Values for PEO
($)

 

Compensation Actually Paid to PEO
($)

20229,300,1360(7,364,000)691,464(9,610,048)(6,982,448)
202111,815,065(1,106,979)(6,368,770)716,3078,328,91513,384,538
202017,521,039(5,714,297)(6,239,951)611,00922,380,23728,558,037

Year

 

 

Average Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-PEO NEOs
($)

Average Exclusion of Change in Pension Value for Non-PEO NEOs
($)

 

Average Exclusion of Stock Awards for Non-PEO NEOs
($)

Average Inclusion of Pension Service Cost for Non-PEO NEOs
($)

 

Average Inclusion of Equity Values for Non-PEO NEOs
($)

 

 

Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO NEOs
($)

20222,229,0440(986,390)159,674(2,052,813)(650,485)
20213,441,916(248,755)(1,287,047)294,4781,678,2393,878,831
20205,185,685(1,608,949)(1,303,529)199,1384,679,5917,151,936

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The amounts in the Inclusion of Equity Values in the tables above are derived from the amounts set forth in the following tables:

 

Year

Year-End Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted During Year That Remained Unvested as of Last Day of Year for PEO
($)
Change in Fair Value from Last Day of Prior Year to Last Day of Year of Unvested Equity Awards for PEO
($)
Vesting-Date Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted During Year that Vested During Year for PEO
($)
Change in Fair Value from Last Day of Prior Year to Vesting Date of Unvested Equity Awards that Vested During Year for PEO
($)
Fair Value at Last Day of Prior Year of Equity Awards Forfeited During Year for PEO
($)
Value of Dividends or Other Earnings Paid on Equity Awards Not Otherwise Included for PEO
($)
Total - Inclusion of
Equity Values for PEO
($)
20223,979,926(13,395,521)0(194,453)00(9,610,048)
20219,948,725(1,591,678)0(28,132)008,328,915
202014,578,7137,972,7350(171,211)0022,380,237

 

Year

Average Year-End Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted During Year That Remained Unvested as of Last Day of Year for Non-PEO NEOs
($)
Average Change in Fair Value from Last Day of Prior Year to Last Day of Year of Unvested Equity Awards for Non-PEO NEOs
($)
Average Vesting-Date Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted During Year that Vested During Year for Non-PEO NEOs
($)
Average Change in Fair Value from Last Day of Prior Year to Vesting Date of Unvested Equity Awards that Vested During Year for Non-PEO NEOs
($)
Average Fair Value at Last Day of Prior Year of Equity Awards Forfeited During Year for Non-PEO NEOs
($)
Average Value of Dividends or Other Earnings Paid on Equity Awards Not Otherwise Included for Non-PEO NEOs
($)
Total - Average Inclusion of
Equity Values for Non-PEO NEOs
($)
2022533,100(2,053,999)0(258,899)(273,015)0(2,052,813)
20212,010,515(327,022)0(5,254)001,678,239
20203,045,4711,678,9310(44,811)004,679,591
(4)The Peer Group TSR set forth in this table utilizes the Dow Jones U.S. Containers & Packaging (DJUSCP) (“Dow Jones Containers & Packaging”), which we also utilize in the stock performance graph required by Item 201(e) of Regulation S-K included in our Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2022. The comparison assumes $100 was invested for the period starting December 31, 2019, through the end of the listed year in the Company and in the Dow Jones Containers & Packaging, respectively. Historical stock performance is not necessarily indicative of future stock performance.
(5)We determined ROIC to be the most important financial performance measure used to link Company performance to Compensation Actually Paid to our PEO and Non-PEO NEOs in 2022. This performance measure may not have been the most important financial performance measure for years 2021 and 2020 and we may determine a different financial performance measure to be the most important financial performance measure in future years.

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Description of Relationship Between PEO and Other NEO Compensation

Actually Paid and Company Total Shareholder Return (“TSR”)

The following chart sets forth the relationship between Compensation Actually Paid to our PEO, the average of Compensation Actually Paid to our other NEOs, and the Company’s cumulative TSR over the three most recently completed fiscal years.

*Note the TSR above is indexed to an initial $100 investment on December 31, 2019.

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Description of Relationship Between PEO and Other NEO

Compensation Actually Paid and Net Income

The following chart sets forth the relationship between Compensation Actually Paid to our PEO, the average of Compensation Actually Paid to our other NEOs, and our net income during the three most recently completed fiscal years.

 

 

 

6069 

Description of Relationship Between PEO and Other NEO

Compensation Actually Paid and ROIC

The following chart sets forth the relationship between Compensation Actually Paid to our PEO, the average of Compensation Actually Paid to our other NEOs, and our ROIC. See the Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Calculation of ROIC (page 48) for more information on the ROIC calculation.

70 

Description of Relationship Between Company TSR and Peer Group TSR

The following chart compares our cumulative TSR over the three most recently completed fiscal years to that of the Dow Jones U.S. Containers & Packaging (DJUSCP) over the same period.

Tabular List of Most Important Financial Performance Measures

The following presents the financial performance measures that the Company considers to have been the most important in linking Compensation Actually Paid to our PEO and other NEOs for 2022 to Company performance. The measures in this list are not ranked.

Modified Operating Cash Flow
Economic Profit
Total Shareholder Return vs Peers
Return on Invested Capital

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PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

 

The firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, were the independent auditors for the most recently completed fiscal year. The Audit Committee has appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers as independent auditors to audit and report on the Company’s financial statements for 2021. PricewaterhouseCoopers perform annual audits of the Company’s financial statements and assist the Company in the preparation of various tax returns around the world.2023. A representative or representatives of PricewaterhouseCoopers are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting and will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so.Meeting. Such representatives are also expected to be available to respond to questions raised using the “Ask a Question” fieldorally at the virtual Annual Meeting or submitted in writing to the Office of the Corporate Secretary of the Company before the Annual Meeting.

The Audit Committee reviewed the fees of PricewaterhouseCoopers for the fiscal years ended December 31, 20202022 and December 31, 2019.2021. The Company paid fees in the following categories:

(1) Audit Fees were for professional services rendered for the audits of effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting and consolidated financial statements of the Company, including the U.S. integrated financial statement and internal controls audit, statutory audits, issuance of comfort letters, consents and assistance with and review of documents filed with the SEC.

(2) Audit-Related Fees were for fees for due diligence in connection with mergers and acquisitions and other assurance-related services performed in connection with statutory requirements in various countries. In 2020,2022, Audit-Related Fees consisted largely of accounting services performed in connection with the Company’s ongoing strategic review, specifically carve-out audits of certain of the Company’s business units.

(3) Tax ComplianceTax-Related Fees were for services rendered for (a) tax compliance, including the preparation of tax returns and claims for refunds.

(4) Tax Advisory Services Fees were forrefunds, and (b) tax planning and advice.

(5)(4) All Other Fees were for services rendered for assistance provided primarily to non-U.S. subsidiaries.

The amount of fees for each category in 20202022 and 20192021 are set forth below.

 20202019
Audit Fees$9,408,000$10,148,000
Audit-Related Fees6,315,000714,000
Tax Compliance Fees320,000388,000
Tax Advisory Services Fees1,148,0001,307,000
All Other Fees21,00040,000

 20222021
Audit Fees$7,923,208$8,256,000
Audit-Related Fees687,7032,685,000
Tax-Related Fees11,458,2291,677,000
All Other Fees12,30581,000

All of the services described above were approved by the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee also evaluated whether the non-audit fees paid to PricewaterhouseCoopers are compatible with maintaining their independence as auditors. The Audit Committee reviews each year the level of Audit and Audit-Related Fees in relation to all other fees paid to the independent auditors. In carrying out this responsibility, the Audit Committee may obtain input from Company management on the general level of fees. The Audit Committee pre-approves all audit and permitted non-audit services, and related fees, to be performed by the Company’s independent auditors. In addition to the Audit Committee’s annual pre-approval, under the Audit Committee Charter the Chair of the Audit Committee has the authority to review and approve other services that may arise during the year with proposed fees up to $250,000 per transaction and reports back any such approvals to the full Audit Committee. Pursuant to this authority, during 2020 the Chair reviewedDuring 2022, no such approvals were required.


1 Includes tax compliance fees and approved $350,000 of such services.tax advisory service fees.

6172 
 

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

 

 

The Audit Committee provides assistance to the Board of Directors by its oversight of the financial accounting practices and the internal controls of the Company and represents the Board in connection with the services rendered by the Company’s independent auditors, who report directly to the Audit Committee.

 

In fulfilling its responsibilities, the Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed with the Company’s management and its independent auditors the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 20202022 and the Company’s system of internal controls and its effectiveness. Management is responsible for the financial statements and the reporting process, including the system of internal controls, and has represented to the Audit Committee that such financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The Company’s independent auditors, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, are responsible for expressing an opinion as to whether the financial statements fairly present in all material respects the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. PricewaterhouseCoopers have informed the Audit Committee that they have given such an opinion with respect to the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.2022.

The Audit Committee discussed with the independent auditors the matters required to be discussed under the rules adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”). In addition, the Audit Committee discussed with the independent auditors the auditors’ independence from the Company and its management, including the matters in the written disclosures and letter which were received by the Audit Committee from the independent auditors as required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding the independent auditors’ communications with the Audit Committee regarding independence.

Based on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.2022.

This report is respectfully submitted on February 24, 202122, 2023 by the members of the Audit Committee.

 

Caesar Sweitzer,

B. Craig Owens, Chair

Andrea Funk
Josef Müller
B. Craig Owens
William Urkiel
Dwayne Wilson

Richard Fearon

Andrea Funk

Josef Müller

Angela Snyder

Caesar Sweitzer

Dwayne Wilson

6273 
 

PROPOSAL 2: RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

 

 

The Audit Committee has appointed the firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as independent auditors to audit and report on the Company’s financial statements for 2021.2023.

 

Although the submission to Shareholders of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers is not required by law or the Company’s By-Laws, the Audit Committee believes it is appropriate to submit this matter to Shareholders to allow a forum for Shareholders to express their views with regard to the Audit Committee’s selection. In the event Shareholders do not ratify the appointment, the Audit Committee may reconsider the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers.

The Board of Directors Recommends a Vote FOR the Ratification of the

Appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as Independent Auditors.

 

 

6374 
 

PROPOSAL 3: ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

 

At the Annual Meeting, the Company will conduct a Shareholder vote on an advisory resolution to approve executive compensation, commonly referred to as a “Say-on-Pay” vote. The Company currently conducts Say-on-Pay votes on an annual basis, and it expects to conduct the next Say-on-Pay vote at the Company’s 20222024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

 

The Board of Directors encourages Shareholders, in deciding whether to vote in favor of the advisory resolution below, to review the compensation-related elements of this Proxy Statement, including those in the Proxy Statement Summary, the CD&A and the tables and related narrative in the Executive Compensation section, for details regarding the Company’s executive compensation program and 20202022 compensation of Named Executive Officers.

 

The Board of Directors believes that the executive compensation program aligns the compensation of the Company’s executive management with the long-term interests of Shareholders. To align these interests, the Company compensates executive management with time-based and performance-based restricted stock and also ties a significant portion of executive cash compensation to performance-based metrics that drive Shareholdershareholder value.

 

RESOLVED, that the Shareholders approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s Named Executive Officers, as disclosed in the Compensation Discussion & Analysis, the compensation tables and the related disclosure contained in the Company’s Proxy Statement for its 20212023 Annual Meeting.

 

Although the vote is non-binding, the Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee expect to take into account the outcome of the vote when considering future executive compensation.

 

 

The Board of Directors Recommends a Vote FOR the

Approval of this Advisory Resolution on Executive Compensation.

 

 

6475 
 

PROPOSAL 4: ADVISORY VOTE ON FREQUENCY OF FUTURE SAY-ON-PAY VOTES

As described in Proposal 3 above, in accordance with the requirements of Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the related rules of the SEC, our Shareholders have the opportunity to cast an advisory vote to approve the compensation of our Named Executive Officers. This Proposal 4 affords Shareholders the opportunity to cast an advisory vote on how often we should include a Say-on-Pay vote in our proxy materials for future annual shareholder meetings or any special shareholder meeting for which we must include executive compensation information in the proxy statement for that meeting (a “Say-on-Pay frequency proposal”). Under this Proposal 4, Shareholders may vote to have the Say-on-Pay vote every year, every two years, or every three years.

Our Shareholders voted on a similar proposal in 2017 with the majority voting to hold the Say-on-Pay vote every year. We continue to believe that Say-on-Pay votes should be conducted every year so that our Shareholders may annually express their views on our executive compensation program.

As an advisory vote, this proposal is not binding on the Company, the Board or the Compensation Committee. However, the Compensation Committee and the Board value the opinions expressed by Shareholders in their votes on this proposal and will consider the outcome of the vote when making future decisions regarding the frequency of conducting a Say-on-Pay vote.

It is expected that the next vote on a Say-on-Pay frequency proposal will occur at the 2029 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

Shareholders may cast their advisory vote to conduct Say-on-Pay votes “Every Year,” “Every Two Years” or “Every Three Years” or “Abstain.”

The Board of Directors Recommends that the Shareholders

Vote for the Option of “EVERY YEAR” for

Frequency of Future Say-On-Pay Votes.

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PROPOSAL 5: CONSIDERATION OF SHAREHOLDER PROPOSAL SEEKING SHAREHOLDER RATIFICATION OF TERMINATION PAY

The Company has been advised that John Chevedden, 2215 Nelson Avenue, No. 205, Redondo Beach, CA 90278, who has indicated that he holds at least 100 shares of stock in the Company, intends to present the following proposal at the Annual Meeting. The Company is not responsible for the contents of this proposal. If the following proposal is properly presented at the Annual Meeting, the Board of Directors recommends a vote AGAINST the proposal.

Proposal 5 – Shareholder Ratification of Termination Pay

Shareholders request that the Board seek shareholder approval of any senior manager’s new or renewed pay package that provides for severance or termination payments with an estimated value exceeding 2.99 times the sum of the executive’s base salary plus target short-term bonus.

“Severance or termination payments” include cash, equity or other compensation that is paid out or vests due to a senior executive’s termination for any reason. Payments include those provided under employment agreements, severance plans, and change-in-control clauses in long-term equity plans, but not life insurance, pension benefits, or deferred compensation earned and vested prior to termination.

“Estimated total value” includes: lump-sum payments; payments offsetting tax liabilities; perquisites or benefits not vested under a plan generally available to management employees; post-employment consulting fees or office expense; and equity awards if vesting is accelerated, or a performance condition waived, due to termination.

The Board shall retain the option to seek shareholder approval after material terms are agreed upon.

Generous performance-based pay can be okay but shareholder ratification of “golden parachute” severance packages with a total cost exceeding 2.99 times base salary plus target bonus better aligns management pay with shareholder interests.

For instance at one company, that does not have this policy, if the CEO is terminated he could receive $44 million in termination pay – over 10 times his base salary plus short-term bonus. The same person could receive a whopping $124 million in accelerated equity payouts even if he remained employed in the event of a change in control.

It is in the best interest of Crown shareholders and the morale of Crown employees to be protected from such lavish management termination packages for one person.

77 

It is important to have this policy in place so that Crown management stays focused on improving company performance as opposed to seeking an ill-advised merger mostly to trigger a management golden parachute windfall. From March 2022 to October 2022 Crown stock fell from $125 to $68.

Shareholder Ratification of Excessive Termination Pay, the topic of this proposal, received between 51% and 65% support at:

AbbVie (ABBV)

FedEx (FDX)

Spirit AeroSystems (SPR)

Alaska Air (ALK)

Fiserv (FISV)

Please vote yes:

Shareholder Ratification of Termination Pay – Proposal 5

THE COMPANY’S RESPONSE TO PROPOSAL 5:

The Board has carefully considered this Shareholder proposal and believes that it is unnecessary and potentially detrimental to the Company and its Shareholders. Accordingly, the Board recommends a vote “AGAINST” Proposal 5 for the following reasons:

-it would create a competitive disadvantage in recruitment and retention of executives
-we already invite meaningful input from Shareholders on executive pay
-it would conflict with our Shareholder-approved compensation strategy
-it would unduly restrict the work of the Compensation Committee

See below for more details.

The proposal is not in the best interests of Shareholders because it could place us at a competitive disadvantage by limiting our ability to retain and attract highly qualified executives.

The container and packaging industry and the market for our products is highly competitive. To support our objective of attracting, retaining, and motivating a team of highly qualified executives, our Board of Directors and Compensation Committee believe it is necessary to provide key executives with market-competitive severance benefits upon a qualifying termination of employment, including in connection with a change in control. Our compensation consultants advise that most executive-level candidates expect market level severance benefits as part of a comprehensive compensation package. If we do not provide these benefits, our programs will be less attractive to candidates, jeopardizing our ability to attract and retain highly qualified executives to join the Company.

Moreover, if our offers to top candidates contain severance benefits that are contingent upon Shareholder ratification (which potentially could occur months after an offer is extended), these benefits likely will be viewed as too uncertain, putting us at a severe competitive disadvantage in our efforts to recruit and retain highly qualified executives.

78 

In addition, calling a special meeting of Shareholders to obtain prior approval of a severance arrangement that would provide benefits in excess of the specified cap would be expensive, time-consuming and impractical and would severely disadvantage the Company’s ability to recruit and retain highly qualified executives. Top executives, when informed that the terms of their compensation arrangements require a binding Shareholder approval, would likely be unwilling to sit on the sidelines pending such approval and may instead seek employment elsewhere, including at one of the Company’s competitors who do not face similar restrictions on their ability to offer severance protection. Even if the severance arrangement could instead be ratified by Shareholders after the fact, the potential for Shareholders to reject the severance arrangement—potentially many months after entering an agreement with the executive—would likely cause candidates to view the promised severance benefits as too uncertain to merit serious consideration. Delay and uncertainty would be injected into the hiring and compensation review process, disadvantaging the Company in its efforts to recruit and retain the best available executive talent.

The proposal is unnecessary because we provide Shareholders with significant opportunities to provide input on executive pay through the annual say-on-pay vote and our robust, year-round Shareholder outreach program.

Every year, we hold a say-on-pay advisory vote giving our Shareholders the ability to vote on our executive compensation program. Supplementing this vote, we have a robust year-round Shareholder outreach program in which we actively engage with our Shareholders to get their feedback on, among other things, our compensation practices. To date, the feedback we have heard from our Shareholders on our executive compensation program has been overwhelmingly positive.

We believe that our ongoing Shareholder engagement, along with the annual re-election by Shareholders of the Directors serving on our Compensation Committee, are the most effective method of providing Shareholders with a voice on our executive compensation program. Requiring additional, binding Shareholder approval of specific elements of our compensation program is unlikely to provide Shareholders with more effective input and, as discussed above, carries the risk of jeopardizing our ability to attract and retain highly qualified candidates.

In addition, the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission require a separate approval, on an advisory basis, by Shareholders of “golden parachute” compensation agreements or understandings payable to named executive officers in connection with change-in-control transactions. If we were to undergo a change in control, Shareholders would have the opportunity to vote on any such severance arrangements with our executives.

Our existing long-term incentive plans, under which our executives receive their equity-based compensation, have enjoyed overwhelming Shareholder support for many years and are designed to align executive compensation with maximizing Shareholder value through long-term growth and performance. The proposal is at odds with these goals.

The Company’s long-term incentive plans are designed to assist the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates in attracting and retaining management employees. The plans do so by offering —through grants of long-term equity incentive awards—a stake in the Company’s success that aligns Company executives with the interests of our Shareholders and by encouraging ownership of the Company’s Common Stock by such employees. Our Board of Directors and Compensation Committee believe these plans provide the Company with the flexibility necessary to attract and retain executive talent critical to drive the Company’s long-term strategies and growth. The Company’s Shareholders understood this last year when they overwhelmingly approved the

79 

adoption of the Company’s 2022 Stock-Based Incentive Compensation Plan. At the 2022 Annual Meeting, over 95% of the votes cast were voted in favor of approving such plan. In each of the last five years, support for the Company’s compensation strategies through the annual Say-on-Pay vote has been 93% or more.

Because the proposal, if implemented, could require Shareholder approval in order for certain management employees to realize the full value of their equity awards upon a qualifying termination, including with respect to a change-in-control transaction or in the event of the employee’s death or disability, the practical effect of Proposal 5 would be to discourage the Company from structuring executive compensation to include long-term equity incentive awards. Accordingly, Proposal 5 directly conflicts with a core objective of the Company’s long-term incentive plans—to align shareholder and executive officer interests.

We believe long-term performance is a critical measure of success at the Company. Equity incentives in the form of performance-based and time-based share awards support the achievement of our business strategies and goals, align financial rewards with the economic interests of our Shareholders, provide a performance-driven avenue for significant stock ownership by our executive officers, and promote retention of the leadership talent that is critical to our success. These long-term equity incentive awards are a fundamental element of our compensation programs and are granted to and accepted by employees with the expectation that they will be given a fair opportunity to realize the full value of these awards if the Company performs well against its strategic goals.

The proposal would unduly restrict the Compensation Committee’s ability to structure compensation programs.

We believe that the Compensation Committee, which consists solely of independent Directors subject to annual re-election by the Company’s Shareholders and which oversees all matters regarding executive compensation, is best positioned to oversee the design and structure of our executive compensation program to address our needs as a global company. Our employees are located in numerous jurisdictions and their compensation arrangements are subject to, and greatly influenced by, numerous laws, rules, and regulations of the various countries in which our operations are based. The Board of Directors believes that Shareholder interests are best protected by providing the Compensation Committee with the flexibility and discretion to approve effective compensation programs after considering factors such as regulatory complexity across jurisdictions, market competitiveness and the competition for talent, and the Company’s strategic, operational, and financial goals. Imposing the proposed 2.99 limit or otherwise requiring binding Shareholder approval over compensation decisions would unduly limit the Compensation Committee’s ability to exercise its judgment.

For the reasons set forth above, our Board of Directors and Compensation Committee do not believe that requiring a separate binding Shareholder vote on severance pay is appropriate. Accordingly, the Board of Directors recommends that you vote “AGAINST” this proposal, and if the proposal is presented your proxy will be voted against this proposal unless you specify otherwise.

The Board of Directors Recommends a Vote AGAINST the Shareholder Proposal.

80 

Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company’s directors and certain officers to file reports of holdings and transactions in Company stock with the SEC.

Based on our records and other information, we believe that in fiscal 2022 all of the Company’s Directors and Executive Officers met all applicable Section 16(a) filing requirements with one exception. On July 13, 2022, the Company’s Vice President and Corporate Controller filed a Form 4 to report a restricted stock award of 3,000 shares that was originally granted on June 20, 2022. The reporting of this award was delayed due to an administrative error.

OTHER MATTERS

 

 

The Board of Directors knows of no other matter that may be presented for Shareholder action at the Annual Meeting, but if other matters do properly come before the Annual Meeting, or if any of the persons named above to serve as Directors are unable or decline to serve, it is intended that the persons named in the Proxy or their substitutes will vote on such matters and for other nominees in accordance with their best judgment.

 ADAM J. DICKSTEIN
 Corporate Secretary
 

 Yardley, Pennsylvania 19067Tampa, Florida 33637
 March 15, 202120, 2023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CROWN HOLDINGS, INC.

770 TOWNSHIP LINE ROAD

YARDLEY, PENNSYLVANIA 19067

 

VOTE BY INTERNETShareowner Services

Before The Meeting - Go to www.proxyvote.comP.O. Box 64945

St. Paul, MN 55164-0945

Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information up until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on April 21, 2021. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form.

During The Meeting - Go to www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CCK2021
 
 

You may attend the meeting via the Internet and vote during the meeting. Have the information that is printed in the box marked by the arrow available and follow the instructions.

VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903
Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on April 21, 2021. Have your proxy card in hand when you callAddress Change? Mark box, sign, and then follow the instructions.
indicate changes below:  
 TO VOTE BY MAIL
Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717.INTERNET OR TELEPHONE, SEE REVERSE SIDE OF THIS PROXY CARD.

 

 

 

 

 

TO VOTE BY MAIL AS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS ON ALL ITEMS BELOW,
SIMPLY SIGN, DATE, AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD.

THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board of Directors Recommends a Vote FOR the Election of all Nominees.

1.Election of

01 

Timothy J. Donahue

08B. Craig OwensVote FORWITHHOLD Vote
 directors:02Richard H. Fearon09Angela M. Snyder

all nominees 

from all nominees
  03Andrea J. Funk10

Caesar F. Sweizer

(except as marked) 

 
  04Stephen J. Hagge11Andrew J. Teno  
  05Jesse A. Lynn12Marsha C. Williams   
  06James H. Miller13Dwayne A. Wilson   
  07Josef M. Müller     

 

 

TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS:(Instructions: To withhold authority to vote for any indicated nominee(s),
write the number(s) of the nominee(s) in the box provided to the right.)
  
D33408-P49191

KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS 

DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY

THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED.

CROWN HOLDINGS, INC.

The Board of Directors Recommends a Vote FOR the

Election of all Nominees.

For

All

Withhold

All

For All

Except

 To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark "For All Except" and write the number(s) of the nominee(s) on the line below.   
 1.

Election of Directors

 

Nominees:

    
  01)John W. Conway08)Josef M. Müller       
  02)Timothy J. Donahue09)B. Craig Owens       
  03)Richard H. Fearon10)Caesar F. Sweitzer       
  04)Andrea J. Funk11)Jim L. Turner       
  05)Stephen J. Hagge12)William S. Urkiel       
  06)Rose Lee13)Dwayne A. Wilson       
  07)James H. Miller         

 

The Board of Directors Recommends a Vote FOR Items 2 and 3.

ForAgainstAbstain3, “Every Year” for Item 4 and AGAINST Item 5.

2.Ratification of the appointment of independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 20202023.ForAgainstAbstain
3.

Approval by advisory vote of the resolution on executive compensation as described in the Proxy Statement.

ForAgainstAbstain
4.Approval by advisory vote on the frequency of future Say-on-Pay votes.

Every

Year

Every

Two Years

Every

Three Years

Abstain
5.Consideration of a Shareholder’s proposal seeking Shareholder ratification of termination pay.ForAgainstAbstain

THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED OR, IF NO DIRECTION IS GIVEN, WILL BE VOTED FOR ITEMS 1 THROUGH 3.3, “EVERY YEAR” FOR ITEM 4 AND AGAINST ITEM 5.

 

Date    

Signature(s) in Box

Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s)appears on the Proxy. If held in joint tenancy, all persons should sign. Trustees, administrators, etc., should include title and authority. Corporations should provide full name of corporation and title of authorized officer signing the Proxy.

Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX]DateSignature (Joint Owners)Date

 

 

 

 

CROWN HOLDINGS, INC.

The 20212023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be held

on April 22, 202127, 2023 at 9:30 a.m. at:
www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CCK2021

 

The Westin Tampa Waterside

725 South Harbour Island Boulevard

Tampa, Florida

 

Copies of the following materials are available at

www.crowncork.com/investors/governance/proxy-online

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

The Proxy Statement relating to the Annual Meeting of Shareholders
• this
Proxy Card and
• the
Annual Report to
Shareholders are available at www.crowncork.com/investors/proxy-online.

 

D33409-P49191

 

Crown Holdings, Inc.

www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CCK2021Hidden River Corporate Center Two

14025 Riveredge Drive, Suite 300

Tampa, Florida 33637

PROXY

  

Proxy for Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on April 22, 202127, 2023

This proxyProxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors.

The undersigned hereby appoints Timothy J. Donahue, Kevin C. Clothier and Adam J. Dickstein as Proxy Holders, each with the power to appoint his substitute, and hereby authorizes them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse side, all the shares of stock of Crown Holdings, Inc. held of record by the undersigned on March 7, 2023 at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held at The Westin Tampa Waterside, 725 South Harbour Island Boulevard, Tampa, Florida on April 27, 2023 at 9:30 a.m., or any adjournments thereof, for the items shown on the reverse side and, in the discretion of the Proxy Holders, on any other matter that may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments thereof.

You are encouraged to specify your choices by marking the appropriate boxes (SEE REVERSE SIDE), but you need not mark any boxes if you wish to vote in accordance with the Board of Directors’ recommendations. The Proxy Holders cannot vote your shares unless you sign and return this card or you elect to vote your shares electronically by telephone or via the Internet.

Vote by Internet, Telephone or Mail

24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week

Your phone or Internet vote authorizes the named Proxy Holders to vote your shares
in the same manner as if you marked, signed and returned your proxy card.

 

The undersigned hereby appoints Timothy J. Donahue, Thomas A. Kelly and Adam J. Dickstein as Proxy Holders, each with the power to appoint his substitute, and hereby authorizes them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse side, all the shares of stock of Crown Holdings, Inc. held of record by the undersigned on March 2, 2021 at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CCK2021 on April 22, 2021 at 9:30 a.m., or any adjournments thereof, for the items shown on the reverse side and, in the discretion of the Proxy Holders, on any other matter that may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments thereof.:

(*
INTERNET/MOBILEPHONEMAIL

You are encouraged to specify your choices by marking the appropriate boxes (SEE REVERSE SIDE), but you need not mark any boxes if you wish to vote in accordance with the Board of Directors' recommendations. The Proxy Holders cannot vote your shares unless you sign and return this card or you elect to vote your shares electronically by telephone or via the Internet.

www.proxypush.com/cck
1-866-883-3382 
 
 
See reverse for voting instructions.Use the internet to vote your proxyUse a touch-tone telephone toMark, sign and date this proxy
until 11:59 p.m. (ET) onvote your proxy until 11:59 p.m.card and return it in the
April 26, 2023(ET) on April 26, 2023postage-paid envelope provided.

 

 

 

Voting your Proxy by Internet or Telephone
• Please have your Proxy Card and control number available.
• You do NOT need to mail back your Proxy Card.