UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.                )

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Edwards Lifesciences Corporation

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

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LOGO

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation 2020 Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement


ew-20230314_g1.jpg



    LOGO

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation

One Edwards Way

Irvine, California 92614

Phone: 949.250.2500

www.edwards.com

     LOGO
ew-20230314_g2.jpg

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
One Edwards Way
Irvine, California 92614
Phone: 949.250.2500
www.edwards.com
ew-20230314_g3.jpg
March 25, 2020

28, 2023


Dear Fellow Stockholders:


On behalf of the Edwards Board of Directors, it is my pleasure to invite you to attend our 20202023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The meeting

After careful consideration and the completion of a rigorous succession process overseen by our Board, Edwards announced in December that I have made the decision to retire as CEO. Bernard Zovighian will assume the role of CEO effective as of our Annual Meeting. Bernard has a strong track record of success, previously leading our Transcatheter Mitral and Tricuspid Therapy (TMTT) business, and most recently serving as President of Edwards. During his career, he has launched breakthrough therapies for patients and developed deep management experience across multiple disciplines. We are working together closely, along with our Executive Leadership Team, to ensure a smooth transition.

I am proud of the immense contributions Edwards Lifesciences has made towards helping millions of patients around the world over my tenure, and I look forward to continuing the work we do for patients in the role of non-executive Chairman of our Board. I am retiring as CEO with confidence that, under Bernard’s leadership, our Company will continue to be defined by our "patients-first" mission and culture as well as a commitment to innovation and excellence that positions all stakeholders for an even brighter future.

While our business has grown and innovated over my tenure, our formula for success remains the same: strive for breakthrough innovation, be a leader in the work we do, and focus on the tremendous number of underserved patients with structural heart disease and the critically ill. Our evolution has been guided by our Credo and Aspirations, and I am confident our leadership team will continue to build long-term success from these values.

Despite a challenging environment over the past year, we grew as a business, met our commitments, and advanced our long-term strategy. Hospital staffing challenges and the impacts of COVID-19 created headwinds, but we made meaningful strides in approvals, trials and adoptions of our breakthrough technologies that create a record of long-term performance. We continue to outperform the market over the long-term, with total stockholder returns of 99% and 396% on five- and ten-year bases, respectively.

We look forward to reviewing our 2022 performance and our long-term growth strategy further at our Annual Meeting, which will be held in-person at our corporate headquarters, located at One Edwards Way, Irvine, California on Thursday, May 7, 2020,92614 and by webcast, beginning at 10:00 a.m. PT. RegistrationPT on Thursday, May 11, 2023. The webcast, a replay and a transcript of the Annual Meeting will beginbe available at 9:00 a.m.

http://ir.edwards.com.


Details of the business to be conducted at the Annual Meeting are included in the attached Notice of 20202023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement. Stockholders may also may access the Notice of 20202023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and the Proxy Statement via the Internet at www.edwards.com.

At the Annual Meeting, I look forward to reviewing our exceptional 2019 performance, as our focused innovation strategy and long-term investments continue to deliver strong results.

2019 was another successful year for Edwards Lifesciences — sales and profitability grew by double digits, and this year’s medical breakthroughs and continued enhancements to the patient experience build our confidence for what’s ahead. These achievements have continued to translate into strong returns for our stockholders as well: in 2019 we achieved total stockholder returns of 52%, bringing3-year and5-year returns to 149% and 266%, respectively, well outpacing the broader market.

Sustainability is essential to our long-term success, and it is integrated within our business’ core strategy. This integration has enabled us to deliver on our sustainability commitments, while driving further growth and innovation in our efforts in combating structural heart disease.

We remain laser-focused on structural heart disease and critical care, and we believe this approach is a key differentiator for Edwards. We believe there is an incredible amount of growth possible within this space, and our focused strategy provides for a tremendous opportunity for Edwards Lifesciences to continue to create value and improve the quality of life for patients around the world.


Thank you for your continued interest insupport of Edwards. We look forward to seeing youyour attendance at thethis year’s Annual Meeting.


Sincerely,

ew-20230314_g4.jpg

Michael A. Mussallem

Chairman of the Board and

Chief Executive Officer




     LOGO




ew-20230314_g5.jpg


Dear Fellow Stockholders:


On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to thank you for your continued investmentsupport of Edwards.

Choosing the right leadership for Edwards is one of the Board’s primary responsibilities. As we previously announced, we are pleased that Bernard Zovighian will be Edwards’ next CEO following Mike Mussallem’s retirement as our CEO. Mike will move to the role of non-executive Chairman, as of the Annual Meeting. On behalf of the Board, I would like to recognize Mike’s dedicated, focused and valuable leadership over many years of long-term growth and innovation, and we look forward to his continued leadership in Edwards.

Itthe role of Chairman of the Board.

Our recent leadership changes reflect the Board’s long-term approach to succession planning. As an internal candidate, Bernard has truly been an honordemonstrated his alignment with Edwards’ patient focused innovation strategy and also his deep operational expertise, having run both the Surgical and TMTT global businesses during his eight years at Edwards. We look forward to serveworking with Bernard to continue to drive Edwards’ success, growth and innovation. I am also honored to continue my service as Lead Independent Director, working closely with Mike as non-executive Chairman and Bernard as CEO. As a Board, we believe this leadership structure provides the Company with robust oversight and guidance as we look toward our next chapter.

Our Board is comprised of Edwards’ Board. I will be retiring at the 2020 Annual Meeting,diverse and the Board has appointed Martha Marsh to serve as its next Lead Independent Director. Martha is a strong leader, with over 30 years of experience in an increasingly complex and evolving healthcare system, and wedeeply qualified directors that are confident that she is well-positioned to provide the independent leadership that best serves theoversee Edwards’ long-term interests of Edwardsstrategy. Our comprehensive director evaluation and its stockholders.

The Board maintains a thoughtful and deliberate refreshment process toprocesses ensure that we have the independence, diversityright mix of skills, experience, tenure, and deep industrydiversity. Annual self- and peer-evaluations, along with one-on-one feedback sessions with each director, ensure our Board’s and Committees’ efficacy. I am confident that our Board nominees collectively possess the expertise necessaryneeded for robust oversight of Edwards and its long-term strategy.


At Edwards, we are defined by how we serve others in our multi-stakeholder model, from patients to continuestockholders. As part of this commitment, our Board continued a robust stockholder engagement program in 2022, with outreach to effectively oversee Edwards’ differentiated strategy. As a resultstockholders representing nearly 55% of shares outstanding. I enjoy participating in many of these outreach calls and ensure that feedback gathered during these meetings informs our robust evaluation and refreshment process, since 2014, we have appointed five new directors to the Board. In addition, Ramona Sequeira, a new director nominee, will be standing for election at this year’s Annual Meeting for the first time.

Our directors greatly value the perspectives of our stockholders, and our engagement team has reached out to a significant portion of our investor base each year to solicit feedback on key topics of interest. I have been a regular participant in these conversations, and the feedback that we’ve received has driven a number of meaningful changes to our governance practices over the years, including the recent expansion of the formal Lead Independent Director role in early 2019.

This past year, the company has continued to deliver strong results — a testament to the strength of Edwards’ patient-focused culture and corporate strategy. By focusing on structural heart disease and critical care technologies and making significant long-term investments, Edwards has enjoyed years of double-digit sales growth. Looking towards the future, the company continues to be focused on transforming patients’ lives through breakthrough medical technologies, and we believe this determination will create value for all of the company’s stakeholders.

It has been my pleasure to serve on Edwards’ Board. Board discussions.


Thank you for your trustongoing support and continued support.

for being an Edwards Lifesciences stockholder.



Sincerely,

LOGO

Wesley W. von Schack

ew-20230314_g6.jpg
Martha H. Marsh
Lead Independent Director





EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION
NOTICE OF 20202023 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

Date and Time:TimeLocationPlace:Record Date
May 7, 202011, 2023Edwards Lifesciences CorporationMarch 13, 2023
10:00 a.m. PTOne Edwards Way, Irvine, CA 92614


Matters to be voted on at the 20202023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”):

Proposal 1.

Election of eight director nominees named in the attached Proxy Statement to serve until our next annual meeting of stockholders and until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified

Proposal 2.

Approval, on an advisory basis, of the named executive officer compensation disclosed in the attached Proxy Statement

Proposal 3.

Approval of the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Stock Incentive Program

Proposal 4.

Approval of amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock for the purpose of effecting athree-for-one stock split

Proposal 5.

1.    Election of nine director nominees named in the attached Proxy Statement to serve until our next annual meeting of stockholders and until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified
2.Approval, on an advisory basis, of the named executive officer compensation disclosed in the attached Proxy Statement
3.Approval, on an advisory basis, of the frequency of future advisory votes on the compensation of our named executive officers
4.Ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023
5.Approval of an amendment to the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to provide for exculpation of officers as permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law
6.Consider a stockholder proposal, if properly presented at the Annual Meeting
7.Other business as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020

Proposal 6.

A stockholder proposal, if properly presented at the Annual Meeting

We will also vote on any other business that may properly come before the Annual Meeting, orand any postponement or adjournment of the meeting.

Annual Meeting

The Proxy Statement accompanying this notice describes each of the items of business in more detail.

Record Date:If you were a holder of record of the common stock of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation at the close of business on March 13, 2020,2023, you are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting.

Your vote is very important. Please submit your proxy or voting instructions as soon as possible to ensure that your shares will be represented at the Annual Meeting, whether or not you expect to attend the Annual Meeting.


How to Vote Your Shares
ew-20230314_g7.jpg
By Internet
Go to www.proxypush.com/EWand follow the instructions

Via

ew-20230314_g8.jpg
By Telephone
Call 1-866-892-1604 and follow the Internet

Visit the website listed on your proxy card, notice, or voting instruction form

LOGO

By Phone

Call the phone number listed on your proxy card or voting instruction form

instructions
ew-20230314_g9.jpg

By Mail

Complete, sign, date, and return your proxy card or voting instruction form in the envelope provided

ew-20230314_g10.jpg
LOGO

In Person

Attend our Annual Meeting and vote by ballot

Important Notice - Contingent Virtual Meeting

We are closely monitoring the developments regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19). Although we currently intend to hold our Annual Meeting in person, we are sensitive to the public health and travel concerns stockholders may have and the protocols that federal, state, and local governments may impose. In the event we determine that we need to conduct our Annual Meeting by means of remote communication, we will announce the change and provide instructions on how stockholders can participate in the Annual Meeting via the filing of additional soliciting materials with the Securities and Exchange Commission and via our website. Please check our website atwww.edwards.comunder “Investor Relations” one week prior to the Annual Meeting.

By Order of the Board of Directors,

LOGO

ew-20230314_g11.jpg
Linda J. Park

Senior Vice President, Associate General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary

March 25, 2020

28, 2023

Important notice regarding the availability of proxy materials for our

2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 7, 2020:

Our Proxy Statement and 2019 Annual Report to stockholders are available on the Internet at

www.proxyvote.com.


Important notice regarding the availability of proxy materials for
our 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 11, 2023:
Our Proxy Statement and 2022 Annual Report to stockholders are available on the Internet at
www.proxydocs.com/EW.
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation   One Edwards Way, Irvine, CA 92614     www.edwards.com











TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

Page
i

GENERAL MEETING AND VOTING INFORMATION

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MATTERS

PROPOSAL 1 – ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

12

Corporate Governance Highlights

12

Active Stockholder Engagement Program

12
Director Independence

Director Independence

13

Corporate Governance Guidelines

13

Board Leadership Structure

Lead Independent Director’s Role and Responsibilities

Risk Oversight

Meetings of our Board Role In Risk Oversight

15
Board Composition

MeetingsCommittees of theour Board

15
Succession Planning

Communications with our Board Composition

of Directors
16

Committees of the Board

16

Succession Planning

18

Communications with the Board

18

Corporate Social Responsibility

21

Director Compensation Table – 2019

2022
21

Retainers and Fees

21

Nonemployee Directors Stock Incentive Program

Deferral Election Program

22

Directors’ Stock Ownership Guidelines and Holding Requirement

22

Expense Reimbursement Policy

Outstanding Nonemployee Director Equity Awards

23

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION

Executive Officers

25

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

Executive Summary

Executive Summary

27

Compensation Philosophy and Objectives for NEOs

Compensation Process

Compensation Process

31

Independent Compensation Consultant

31

Use of Competitive Data

Elements of Compensation

34

Stock Ownership Guidelines and Holding Requirement

Prohibition on Pledging and Hedging

Market Timing of Equity Awards

Benefits and Perquisites

Deferred Compensation

Deferred Compensation

43

Employment and Post-Termination Agreements

Tax Implications – Policy Regarding Section 162(m)

44



Page

Executive Compensation and Governance Committee Report

44

Executive Compensation

45

2019

Summary Compensation Table

Fiscal Year 2020-2022
45

Grants of Plan-Based Awards in Fiscal Year 2019

2022

Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards

48

Equity Incentive Plan Awards

49

Outstanding Equity Awards at 20192022 FiscalYear-End

Option Exercises and Stock Vested in Fiscal Year 2019

2022
54

54

2019 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans

55

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control

55

CEO Pay Ratio

60

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

62

PROPOSAL 3 –  APPROVAL OF THE 2020 NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTORS STOCK INCENTIVE PROGRAM

AUDIT MATTERS
63

Audit Committee Report
OTHER MATTERS AND BUSINESS
68

AUDIT MATTERS

71

PROPOSAL 5 –  RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

71

Audit Committee Report

72

OTHER MATTERS AND BUSINESS

74

74

Additional Information

79

Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports

79

Related Persons Transactions

79

Indemnification of Directors and Officers

79

79

Annual Report onForm 10-K

80
Delivery of the Proxy Materials

Delivery of Proxy Materials

80

A-1
A-3

APPENDIX B – 2020 Nonemployee Directors Stock Incentive Program

B-1

APPENDIX C – Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation

C-1







This Proxy Statement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.1934, as amended. We intend the forward-looking statements contained in this Proxy Statement to be covered by the safe harbor provisions of such Acts. AllSome statements other than statements of historical fact in this Proxy Statement or referred to or incorporated by reference into this Proxy Statement are “forward-looking statements” for purposes of these sections. These statements include, among other things, the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, any predictions, of earnings, revenues, expenses, or other financial items, plans, oropinions, expectations, with respect to development activities, clinical trials, or regulatory approvals, any statements of plans, strategies, and objectives of management for future operations, any statements concerning our future operations, financial conditions, and prospects, and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing.foregoing relating to our current and future business and operations, including, but not limited to, financial matters, development activities, clinical trials and regulatory matters, manufacturing and supply operations, and product sales and demand. These statements can sometimes be identified by the use of the forward-looking words, such as “may,” “believe,” “will,” “expect,” “project,” “estimate,” “should,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “goal,” “continue,” “seek,” “pro forma,” “forecast,” “intend,” “guidance,” “optimistic,” “aspire,” “confident,” other forms of these words, or similar words or expressions or the negative thereof. Statements of past performance, efforts or results about which inferences or assumptions may be made can also be forward-looking statements and are not indicative of future performance or results; these statements can be identified by the use of words such as “preliminary,” “initial,” “diligence,” “industry-leading,” “compliant,” “indications,” or “early feedback” or other forms of these words or similar words or expressions or the negative thereof. Investors are cautioned not to unduly rely on such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause our results or future business, financial condition, results of operations, or performance to differ materially from our historical results or experiences or those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements contained in this Proxy. Factors that could cause actual results or experiences to differ materially from that expressed or implied by the forward-looking statementsProxy Statement. These risks and uncertainties include, uncertainties associated withbut are not limited to: our success in developing new products and avoiding manufacturing and quality issues; clinical trial or commercial results or new product approvals and therapy adoption, particularlyadoption; the impact of public health crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic; the impact of domestic and global economic conditions; competitive dynamics in Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacementthe markets in which we operate; our reliance on vendors, suppliers and Transcatheter Mitral and Tricuspid Therapies; unpredictabilityother third parties; damage, failure or interruption of our information technology systems; consolidation in the healthcare industry; our ability to protect our intellectual property; our compliance with applicable regulations; our exposure to product launches; competitive dynamics;liability claims; use of our products in unapproved circumstances; changes to reimbursement for the company’sour products; the company’s success in developing new products and avoiding manufacturing and quality issues; the impact of currency exchange rates; the timing or results of R&D and clinical trials; unanticipated actions by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other regulatory agencies; changes to tax laws; unexpected litigation impacts or expenses;expenses of litigation or internal or government investigations and other risks listed in Edwards’ Annual Report on Form10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 20192022, and our othersubsequent reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, to which your attention is directed. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and we do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of the statement. If we do update or correct one or more of these statements, investors and others should not conclude that we will make additional updates or corrections.

Edwards, Edwards Lifesciences, the stylized E logo, HemoSphere,ALLIANCE, EARLY TAVR, INSPIRIS, INSPIRIS RESILIA, PARTNER, PARTNER 3,KONECT, KONECT RESILIA, MITRIS, MITRIS RESILIA, PASCAL, PASCAL Precision, PROGRESS, RESILIA, SAPIEN, SAPIEN 3, SAPIEN 3 Ultra, and SAPIEN 3X4 are trademarks of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.





PROXY SUMMARY

This summary contains highlights about Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (“Edwards”) and theits upcoming 2020 annual meeting2023 Annual Meeting of stockholdersStockholders (the “Annual Meeting”). This summary does not contain all of the information that you should consider. Please read the entire Proxy Statement prior to voting.

STOCKHOLDER VOTING MATTERS(Page 1)

Proposal

Board’s Voting
Recommendation
2023 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders
Date and TimeLocationRecord Date

Proposal 1:

Election of Directors

May 11, 2023Edwards Lifesciences Corporation

LOGO     FOR

each nominee

March 13, 2023

Date and Time:

May 7, 2020

10:00 a.m. PT

Place:*

Edwards Lifesciences

One Edwards Way,

Irvine, CA 92614

Record Date:

If you were a holder of record of the common stock of Edwards at the close of business on March 13, 2020

Proposal 2:

Advisory Vote2023, you are entitled to Approve Named Executive Officer Compensation

LOGO     FOR

Proposal 3:

Approvalnotice of, the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Stock Incentive Program

LOGO     FOR

Proposal 4:

Approval of Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporationand to Increase the Number of Authorized Shares of Common Stock for the Purpose of Effecting aThree-For-One Stock Split

LOGO     FOR

Proposal 5:

Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

LOGO     FOR

Proposal 6:

Advisory Vote on a Stockholder Proposal Regarding Action By Written Consent

     AGAINST

*

We are closely monitoring the developments regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19). In the event we determine that we need to conduct our Annual Meeting by means of remote communication, we will announce the change and provide instructions on how stockholders can participate invote at, the Annual Meeting via the filing of additional soliciting materials with the Securities and Exchange Commission and via our website atwww.edwards.com.

Meeting.

STOCKHOLDER VOTING MATTERS (Page 1)

ProposalBoard’s Voting
Recommendation
Proposal 1:Election of Directors
ew-20230314_g12.jpg    FOR
each nominee
Proposal 2:LOGOAdvisory Vote to Approve Named Executive Officer Compensation
ew-20230314_g13.jpg    FOR
Proposal 3:Advisory Vote to Approve Frequency of Future Advisory Votes on Named Executive Officer CompensationONE YEAR
Proposal 4:Edwards Lifesciences CorporationRatification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
ew-20230314_g13.jpg    FOR
Proposal 5:Approval of Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation to Provide for Exculpation of Officers2020 Proxy Statement
ew-20230314_g12.jpg    FOR
Proposal 6:Stockholder Proposal Regarding Independent Board Chairmani
  AGAINST


i



BOARD OF DIRECTOR NOMINEES(Page 5)

The8)

Our Board of Directors (the(our “Board”) has selected the following eightnine persons as its nominees for election for aone-year term to theour Board at the Annual Meeting. The following chart provides key information on each of our director nominees as of the date of this Proxy Statement.In accordance with Other than Bernard Zovighian, who will succeed Mike Mussallem as the retirement policy in our Corporate Governance Guidelines,CEO of Edwards and has been nominated as a director of our Board did not nominate Wesley von Schack, our current Lead Independent Director, for electionin connection with his appointment as CEO at the Annual Meeting; Martha Marsh will assume the role of Lead Independent Director.Ramona Sequeira is not currently a member of our Board and is standing for election for the first time at the Annual Meeting.

 
         

Committee Memberships

  

Name

 Age Director
Since
 Independent Audit
Committee*
 

Compensation

and Governance
Committee

 

Other Public  

Company
   Boards  

Kieran T. Gallahue

Former Chairman and CEO

CareFusion Corporation

 56 2015 Yes LOGO  3

Leslie S. Heisz

Former Managing Director

Lazard Frères & Co

 59 2016 Yes LOGO  2

William J. Link, Ph.D.

Managing Director and

Co-Founder Versant Ventures

 73 2009 Yes  LOGO 2

Steven R. Loranger

Former Chairman, President, and

CEO ITT Corporation

 68 2016 Yes  LOGO 1

Martha H. Marsh**

Retired President and CEO

Stanford Hospital & Clinics

 71 2015 Yes  LOGO 1

Michael A. Mussallem

Chief Executive Officer and Chairman

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation

 67 2000 No   0

Ramona Sequeira***

President

Takeda Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.

 54 N/A Yes   0

Nicholas J. Valeriani

Former CEO, West Health Institute

Former EVP, Johnson & Johnson

 63 2014 Yes   LOGO 1

*

Each member of the Audit Committee is an audit committee financial expert. Wesley von Schack currently serves on the Audit Committee and another Board member will be added to the Audit Committee upon his retirement from the Board.

**

Martha Marsh will assume the role of Lead Independent Director at the Annual Meeting.

***

The Board will determine the Board committee(s) to which Ms. Sequeira will be appointed at a later date if elected at the Annual Meeting.

C  =

Chairperson

EachMeeting, each director nominee other than Ms. Sequeira, was elected as a director at the Company’sour annual meeting held on May 8, 2019,3, 2022, to hold office until the next annual meeting.


    
Committee Memberships
 
 
       
NameAgeDirector
Since
IndependentAudit
Committee*
Compensation
and Governance
Committee
Other Public
Company
Boards
Kieran T. Gallahue
Former Chairman and CEO,
CareFusion Corporation
592015Yes
ew-20230314_g14.jpg
 1
Leslie S. Heisz
Former Managing Director,
Lazard Frères & Co
622016Yes
ew-20230314_g15.jpg
 2
Paul A. LaViolette
Managing Partner and
COO, SV Health Investors LLC
652020Yes 
ew-20230314_g14.jpg
0
Steven R. Loranger
Former Chairman, President and
CEO ITT Corporation
712016Yes
ew-20230314_g16.jpg
 1
Martha H. Marsh**
Retired President and CEO,
Stanford Hospital & Clinics
742015Yes 
ew-20230314_g14.jpg
1
Michael A. Mussallem
Chief Executive Officer+ and Chairman,
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
702000No  0
Ramona Sequeira
President of the U.S. Business Unit and
Global Portfolio Commercialization,
Takeda Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.
572020Yes
ew-20230314_g17.jpg
 0
Nicholas J. Valeriani
Former CEO, West Health Institute
Former EVP, Johnson & Johnson
662014Yes
ew-20230314_g18.jpg
1
Bernard J. Zovighian
President and incoming CEO,
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
55NominatedNo0

iiLOGOEdwards Lifesciences Corporation2020 Proxy Statement
*    Each member of our Audit Committee is an audit committee financial expert


**    Lead Independent Director
C    Chairperson
+    As previously disclosed, Mr. Mussallem will retire from his position as Chief Executive Officer of Edwards at the Annual Meeting. Accordingly, if elected at the Annual Meeting, Mr. Mussallem will serve as non-executive Chairman of the Board.

ii



Our Board strives to maintain a highly independent, balanced and diverse setgroup of directors that collectively possesspossesses the expertise to ensure effective oversight of management. Our director nominees are:


ew-20230314_g19.jpgew-20230314_g20.jpgew-20230314_g21.jpgew-20230314_g22.jpgew-20230314_g23.jpg
LOGOLOGOLOGOLOGO

Diverse Range of Qualifications and Skills Represented by Our Directors

Medical Technology

Industry Experience

Executive International

Experience

Corporate Governance

Regulatory and

Compliance

Senior LeadershipOperations Management
Innovation/TechnologyRisk ManagementRisk Oversight

Finance and Financial

Industry

Human ResourcesFinancial Reporting


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Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
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Human Capital Resources2020 Proxy StatementFinancial Reporting
IT and CybersecurityCorporate StrategyiiiCorporate Responsibility



iii



CORPORATE GOVERNANCE HIGHLIGHTS(Page 12)

13)

Our commitment to good corporate governance practices and accountability to stockholders is described below.

LOGO

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WHAT WE DO

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Lead Independent Director provides strong independent leadership of our Board
LOGO
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Independent Board, all but Mr. Mussallem, who will retire as our Chief Executive Officer at the Annual electionMeeting, and Mr. Zovighian, who will be appointed as our CEO and nominated to be a director of directorsour Board at the Annual Meeting
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LOGOBoard refreshment and director skill set aligned with corporate strategy
LOGOMajority vote standard in uncontested elections, with director resignation policy
LOGO
Special stockholdersstockholders’ meetings can be called by stockholders owning at least 15% of our outstanding shares
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LOGO
Proxy access right to permit a stockholder, or a group of up to 30 stockholders, owning at least 3% of our outstanding shares continuously for at least 3 years, to nominate up to the greater of 2 directors or 20% of our Board for inclusion in our annual meeting proxy statement
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Annual election of directors
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IndependentOngoing Board all but our Chief Executive Officer refreshment and director skill set aligned with corporate strategy
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Majority vote standard in uncontested elections, with director resignation policy
LOGO
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Commitment to Board diversity
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Executive session of independent directors held at eachin-person regularly scheduled Board and committee meeting
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LOGOLead Independent Director provides strong independent leadership of our Board
LOGORetirement policy for directors
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LOGOAnnual Board and committee self-evaluations and peer reviews
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LOGOEncourage continuing director education with designated annual reimbursement policy
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LOGOFormal director orientation and continuing education program
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LOGO
Nonemployee directors expected to own Edwards’ stock equal to $500,000 and also hold 50% of net shares received upon vesting or exercise of equity awarded after 2011awards until Board service ends
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LOGO
Senior management succession planning regularly considered at each regularly scheduled Board meetingmeetings
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Active stockholder outreach and engagement
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Active stockholder engagement
LOGORobust code of ethics in our Global Business Practice Standards
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LOGOActive Board oversight of enterprise risks and risk management
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LOGOCorporate sustainability reportDedicated Board oversight and receiptannual disclosure of numerous recognitions for our sustainability practices
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LOGO
“Clawback” policy for performance-based compensation

LOGO

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WHAT WE DON’T DO

No pledging or hedging of Edwards’ securities by members of theour Board, executives, employees with a title of “vice president” equivalent or above, and any other employees designated as “Designated Insiders” under our insider trading policy
No stockholder rights plan (“poison pill”)
No supermajority voting provisions in the Company’sour organizational documents

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ACTIVE STOCKHOLDER ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM (Page 13)
Edwards’ Board and management are committed to engaging with our stockholders and incorporating feedback into their decision-making processes. Throughout the year, our CEO, CFO, and Vice President of Investor Relations meet, by phone and in-person, with current and prospective stockholders to discuss Edwards’ strategy, business, and financial results. Our CFO, Corporate Secretary, and Senior Vice President of Investor Relations, and our Lead Independent Director, when appropriate, engage stockholders to solicit their views and feedback on issues that matter most to our stockholders, including, among other things, corporate governance, compensation, sustainability, corporate social responsibility, human capital management, diversity, inclusion and belonging, succession planning, and other related matters. Stockholder feedback is shared with our Board and its committees, which enhances our corporate governance practices, facilitates future dialogue between stockholders and our Board, and provides additional transparency to our stockholders. Since our 2022 annual meeting of stockholders, we contacted our top stockholders representing approximately 55% of our outstanding shares and engaged with stockholders representing approximately 33% of our outstanding shares.
ivLOGOEdwards Lifesciences Corporation2020 Proxy Statement
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ACTIVE STOCKHOLDER ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM (Page 12)

Edwards’ Board and management are committed to engaging with Edwards’ stockholders and incorporating feedback into their decision-making processes. Throughout the year, our CEO, CFO, and Vice President of Investor Relations meet, by phone andface-to-face, with current and prospective stockholders to discuss Edwards’ strategy, business, and financial results. Our CFO, Corporate Secretary and Vice President of Investor Relations, together with other members of management and, from time to time, our Lead Independent Director, engage stockholders to solicit their views and feedback on corporate governance, compensation and other related matters and to discuss the issues that matter most to our stockholders. Stockholder feedback is shared with the Board and its committees, which enhances our corporate governance practices, facilitates future dialogue between stockholders and the Board and provides additional transparency to our stockholders. Since the 2019 annual meeting of stockholders, our CFO, Corporate Secretary and Vice President of Investor Relations contacted our top stockholders representing approximately 56% of our outstanding shares and engaged with stockholders representing approximately 32% of our outstanding shares. In this engagement, we received feedback from stockholders on a range of topics including corporate governance, compensation and sustainability.

Over time, we have amended our Charter and Bylaws to adopt various stockholder rights andor taken other actions to align our corporate governance practices with our stockholders’ interests.

Topic
TopicAction Taken in Response to Stockholder Feedback

Lead Independent

Director

Responsibilities

Expanded the role of the Presiding Director position, and, in light of the additional responsibilities, designated the position, Lead Independent Director

Proxy Access

  Amended our Bylaws to provide for proxy access at 3% and3-year ownership and holding period duration thresholds

Right to Call

Special Meetings

Amended our Bylaws to permit stockholders to call a special meeting

In response to anon-binding stockholder proposal requesting the right to act by written consent, engaged with stockholders representing over 50% 50% of shares then outstanding to better understand investor views and, in response to feedback received, reduced the minimum ownership threshold to call a special meeting from 25% to 15%

Proxy Access
Amended our Bylaws to provide for proxy access at 3% and 3-year ownership and holding period duration thresholds
Disclosure of
EEO-1 Data
Disclosed our EEO-1 data and relevant infographics on our website
Declassified Board

Amended our Charter to eliminate the classified board

No Supermajority

Voting

Amended our Charter to eliminate supermajority voting

Poison Pill

Did not renew poison pill when it expired in March 2010

Majority Voting

in Director

Elections

Amended our Bylaws to provide for majority voting in uncontested director elections



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v



CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (Page 19)

Our Board recognizes20)

At Edwards, our commitment to corporate responsibility and sustainability is foundational, and expressed in the importancewords of our sustainability initiativesCredo: “Through our actions, we will become trusted partners with customers, colleagues and patients—creating a community unified in its mission to improve the need to provide effective oversightquality of those initiatives.life around the world. Our results will benefit customers, patients, employees and shareholders.” Our Compensation and Governance Committee of theour Board (the(our “Compensation and Governance Committee”) maintains formal oversight responsibilities for our Sustainability program, with regular discussions at meetings of the full Board. Through a well-established framework and cross-functional Sustainability Council with leaders from across the organization, we continue to incorporate sustainability into our businesses’ core strategy — reflecting our belief that sustainability is essential to long-term growth. We also believe in transparency, and reportMore details on our sustainability effortsapproach and performance can be found in an annualour Sustainability Report.

Report posted on our website at www.edwards.com/sustainability.

We receivedwere recognized by numerous recognitionsorganizations for our sustainability and environmental responsibilities practices in 2019,2022, some of which are highlighted below:

Named    For the third consecutive year, Edwards appeared on Barron’s fifth annual list of the 100 Most Sustainable Companies in the United States. Significant performance indicators included increased efforts to mitigate our impact on the environment, as well as initiatives undertaken to bolster employee welfare, community health and customer satisfaction.

    Edwards was named as one of the top 15America’s Most JUST Companiesfrom Forbes and JUST Capital — United States largest publicly traded companies are ranked on the issues Americans care about most;

Named as one of theManagement Top 250 by the Wall Street Journal in partnership with the Drucker Institute for the sixth year in a row—listed #25#87 out of 820902 companies ranked. Within this list,ranked according to their overall effectiveness of “doing the right things well.” The evaluation aims to recognize firms that are particularly good at balancing a wide range of competing management priorities. Edwards was also cited as one of 8 “all stars” foracross-the-board rankings, achievingachieved high marks in all five dimensions of corporate performance: Customer Satisfaction, Employee Engagement and Development, Innovation, Social Responsibility and Financial Strength;

Strength.

Recognized    For the second consecutive year, Edwards was recognized as #1 on the Investor’s Business Daily inaugural50 Best ESG Companies in 2019 for superior Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) ratings in addition to strong fundamental and technical performance highlighting Edwards’ “comprehensive product quality and safety controls” and its “ability to deliver exceptional shareholder value”; and

Constituentone of the World’s Top Female-Friendly Companies. Forbes ranked Edwards #156 out of 400 companies included in the list. Forbes’ partner, Statista, surveyed 85,000 women in 36 countries. Honorees were selected in part due to their competitive pay and strong career advancement opportunities, along with flexible work arrangements, which are considered critical to correct gender inequities. They also assessed female representation at the executive and board levels.

•    Edwards was again a constituent of the DJSI ESG Worldand North America Indices — Indices—the Dow Jones Sustainability World index tracks the performance of the top 10% of the 2,500 largest companies in the S&P Global Broad Market Index that lead the field in sustainability.


    Edwards was recognized for its industry leadership on Environmental issues by Forbes and JUST Capital. This is an evaluation of the largest publicly traded U.S. companies, which are ranked on the issues Americans care about most, according to JUST Capital's polling of the American public.
    For the seventh consecutive year, Edwards Lifesciences was honored as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies® by the Ethisphere Institute, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices. Honorees represent the individuals and leaders diligently working to build world-class programs and advance corporate cultures defined by integrity and those companies contributing to broader societal imperatives and the greater good. In 2023, 135 honorees were recognized, spanning 19 countries and 48 industries.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION(Page 25)

26)


Executive Summary.    Edwards is the global leader in patient-focused medical innovations for structural heart disease as well asand critical care and surgical monitoring. Driven by a passion to help patients, we partner with the world’s leading clinicians and researchers and invest in research and development (or “R&D”) to transform care for those impacted by structural heart disease or who require hemodynamic monitoring during surgery or in intensive care. Edwards Lifesciences has been a leader in these areas for over six decades. Since our founder, Miles Lowell Edwards, first dreamed of using engineering to address diseases of the human heart, we have steadily built a company on the premise of imagining, building, and realizing a better future for patients.

hospital setting.

Pay-for-Performance Philosophy.    The    Our Compensation and Governance Committee strives to create apay-for-performance culture and strongly believes that executive compensation should be tied not only to financial and operating performance, but also directly to the long-term successful implementation of our long-term corporate strategy. As a direct result of our strategy, we have introduced therapies such as transcatheter aortic valve replacement, rapid-deploymentnovel resilient surgical heart valves and noninvasive advanced hemodynamic monitoring, all while achievingmonitoring. Successfully managing our stated financial and operating objectives. Managing our business well in a challenging, highly regulated, dynamic environment requires talented and energetic leaders who champion our strategy and deliver on our commitments.




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vi



EDWARDS’ CORPORATE STRATEGY INFORMS PAY DESIGN

LOGO

2019

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2022Financial and Operating Performance.    Overall,Despite the outbreak of COVID-19 and macroeconomic headwinds through the 2022 fiscal year, we achieved strongcontinued to remain fully committed to our patient-focused innovation strategy, and our teams were relentless in doing the right thing for patients. Guided by our Credo, our priorities during the pandemic have been to protect the health and well-being of our employees, to continue to serve our patients, hospitals and clinical partners, and to support our communities.

As noted in the chart above, the financial component of our Company’s Annual Cash Incentive compensation was reintroduced for the 2022 year after having been suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our financial results and operating performance in 2019, exceeding2022 continued to be impacted by the pandemic. Procedure rates were highly variable around the globe, leading to a decline in sales compared to expectations. Treatments were delayed due to hospital prioritization of COVID-19 patients, hospital staffing shortages and patients deferring treatment. Although we saw recovery during 2022, we faced significant headwinds in the second and third quarters of 2022 due to hospital staffing shortages and surges in COVID-19 outbreaks globally. Despite the impact of the pandemic, 2022 was a year of significant milestones and investments for Edwards. Our total sales for fiscal year 2022 were $5.4 billion, an increase in underlying revenue growth for the year of approximately 8% over the prior year. We achieved approximately 12% growth in adjusted earnings per share while also increasing R&D by 5%.1 The significant increase in R&D and infrastructure investments in fiscal 2022 helped strengthen our target goals for sales growth, net income growth, and free cash flow generation. We also madelonger-term outlook.
Even with the challenges we faced during the global pandemic, we continued to make important progress on future advancements for patients.

Strong underlyingpatients:

    Invested in increasing disease and therapy awareness, pursued further therapy expansion, and advanced new technologies in transcatheter aortic valve replacement. We completed enrollment in EARLY TAVR, a pioneering pivotal trial studying the treatment of severe aortic stenosis (AS) patients before their symptoms develop.  Separately, we initiated enrollment in our PROGRESS pivotal trial for moderate AS patients and we received FDA approval for our ALLIANCE pivotal trial to study our next generation TAVR technology, the SAPIEN X4 system;
    Achieved our significant 2022 milestones in transcatheter mitral and tricuspid therapies, as we continued to make meaningful progress on advancing our three key value drivers: a portfolio of pioneering therapies for patients, positive pivotal trial results to support approvals and adoption, and favorable real-world clinical outcomes;
1 sales     “Underlying growth of 15% was driven by:

Groundbreaking PARTNER 3 clinical results which demonstrated superiority over surgery of our SAPIEN 3 valve technologyrate” and led“adjusted earnings per share” are non-GAAP items. Refer to Appendix A for reconciliation to the U.S. regulatory approval ofmost directly comparable GAAP financial measures.

vii


    Extended our transcatheter heart valve technology for patients at lowleadership in surgical risk;

The European launch ofaortic valves through the PASCAL system, an important early addition to our portfolio of Transcatheter Mitral and Tricuspid Therapies (“TMTT”) ;

Continuedcontinued adoption of our newest premiumtechnologies, the INSPIRIS RESILIA aortic surgical valve, INSPIRIS RESILIA;the KONECT RESILIA aortic tissue valved conduit, and

Broad use the launch of our MITRIS RESILIA valve; and

    Advanced leadership in critical care technologies, includingwith the ongoing rolloutcontinued introduction of our HemoSphere smartmonitoring platform.

Profitability was also strong in 2019, even as we continued to invest aggressively to fuel important breakthrough innovations to strengthen our longer-term outlook. Utilizing significant savings in the reduction of our effective tax rate resulting from the Tax Cutsadvanced monitoring technology and Jobs Act of 2017, we hired new employees, accelerated research and development initiatives, and contributed more to employee retirement accounts. We directed a significant portion of our infrastructure investment to growing our dedicated commercial and clinical teams in Europe to support our TMTT business.

1

“Underlying” amount is anon-GAAP item. Refer to the Appendix A for a reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.

Smart Recovery algorithms for patients.


LOGOEdwards Lifesciences Corporation2020 Proxy Statementvii


Stock Performance.    As a general indicator of ourpay-for-performance culture, theour Compensation and Governance Committee considers how Edwards’ cumulative total return to stockholders (“TSR”) compares to both the S&P 500 Index and the S&P Healthcare Equipment Select Industry Index (the “SPSIHE”). The table below illustrates our5-year cumulative TSR on common stock with the cumulative total returns of the S&P 500 Index and the SPSIHE.

COMPARISON OF5-YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN*

LOGO

*

$100 invested on December 31, 2014 in stock or index, including reinvestment of dividends. Fiscal year ending December 31. The stock price performance included in this graph is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.

2019

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*    $100 invested at market close on December 31, 2017, in stock or index, including reinvestment of dividends. The stock price performance included in this graph is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.


2022 Annual Incentive Plan Outcomes and Long-Term Incentives.    The three measures used to evaluate financial achievement under our annual cash incentive plan were revenue growth, net incomeearnings per share and free cash flow, all computed on anon-GAAP basis. Our financial performance resulted in financial achievement at 151%61% of target under the cash incentive plan. In addition, our overall achievement of Key Operating Driverskey operating drivers (“KODs”) for 20192022 was 97%113%. Accordingly, our cash incentive plan for corporate employees funded at 146%69% of target. Final incentive amounts for the Named Executive Officers (“NEOs”) for 20192022 also took into account each employee’s individual performance. The Performance-BasedPerformance Based Restricted Stock Units (“PBRSU”PBRSUs”) that vested in 20192022 were based on Edwards’ TSR compared to that of companies in a subset of the S&P HealthcareHealth Care Equipment Select Industry Index (the “SPSIHE Subset”) as discussed in more detail in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this Proxy Statement. These PBRSUs were paid out in May 2022 at 75.77%175% of target.

target, reflecting the strong performance of our stock over the three-year performance period.



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viii



COMPENSATION PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS(Page 30)

31)

Compensation Program Highlights.    The    Our Compensation and Governance Committee believes that its executive compensation and benefits philosophy and objectives have resulted in programs that align executives with stockholder interests.

LOGO

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WHAT WE DO

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LOGO
Pay-for-Performance.Approximately 90%92% of the target total direct compensation of our CEO, and an average of 78%80% of the target total direct compensation of our other NEOs, was performance-based in 2019.2022.
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LOGO
Linkage Between Performance Measures and Strategic Imperatives.Performance measures for incentive compensation are linked to our Strategic Imperatives through achievement of KODs and are designed to create long-term stockholder value and hold executives accountable for their individual and Edwards’ performance.
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LOGO
Performance-Based Equity.Our PBRSUs vest based on our relative TSR over a three-year period.
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LOGO
Minimum Three-Year Vesting.Equity compensation is structured to vest over a minimum period of three years, subject to limited exceptions.
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LOGO
Robust Executive Stock Ownership Guidelines with Holding Period Requirements.Executives are required to hold Edwards’ stock with a value not less thansix-times salary for our CEO and three-times salary for each other NEO. Fifty percent of net shares received as equity compensation must be retained until the guideline has been met.
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LOGO
CEO Stock Ownership.Our CEO far exceeds histhe six-times salary ownership guideline and has continued to increase his ownership of Edwards’ stock each year.
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Modest Perquisites.We provide modest perquisites and have a business rationale for the perquisites that we do provide.
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LOGO
“Double Trigger” in the Event of a Change in Control.Control. Severance benefits are paid, and our equity compensation awarded starting in May 2015 accelerates, in connection with a severance, only upon a “double trigger” in connection with a change in control only upon a “double trigger” (meaning a termination ofthat in order for the executive’s employment is required,benefits to be triggered, in addition to the occurrence of a change in control, the executive’s employment must be terminated or, in order for the benefits to be triggered)case of equity acceleration, the awards terminated in connection with the transaction).
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LOGO
Use of Tally Sheets. TheSheets. Our Compensation and Governance Committee annually reviews summaries of prior and potential future compensation levels (referred to as “tally sheets”) when making compensation decisions.
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LOGO
“Clawback” Policy.Policy. We maintain a recoupment policy for performance-based compensation.compensation.
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LOGO
Independent Compensation Consultant. TheConsultant. Our Compensation and Governance Committee engages an independent compensation consulting firm that provides us with no other services.

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WHAT WE DON’T DO

No excise taxgross-ups for executive officers.
No repricing or buyout of underwater stock options.
No pledging of Edwards’ securities by members of theour Board, executives, employees with a title of “vice president” equivalent or above, and any other employees designated as “Designated Insiders” under our insider trading policy.
No hedging of Edwards’ securities by members of theour Board, executives, employees with a title of “vice president” equivalent or above, and any other employees designated as “Designated Insiders” under our insider trading policy.

We align executive compensation

with the interests of our

stockholders.

Executive compensation programs

are designed to avoid excessive risk

and foster long-term value creation.

We adhere to strong executive

compensation and corporate governance practices.



We ALIGN executive compensation
with the interests of our stockholders.
We DESIGN executive compensation programs to avoid excessive risk and foster long-term value creation.We ADHERE to strong executive compensation and corporate governance practices.
ix


EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION
LOGOEdwards Lifesciences Corporation2020 Proxy Statementix________________________________



EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION

PROXY STATEMENT FOR THE

2020

2023 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

GENERAL MEETING AND VOTING INFORMATION

Our Board is soliciting your proxy for use at the Annual Meeting to be held at 10:00 a.m. PT, on Thursday, May 7, 2020,11, 2023, at our corporate headquarters, located at One Edwards Way, Irvine, California 92614.

Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this Proxy Statement to “Edwards,” “the Company,” “we,” “our,” “us,” and similar terms refer to Edwards Lifesciences Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for theOur 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders Meeting to be Held on May 7, 2020

11, 2023

We are pleased to take advantage of U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) rules that allow us to furnish our proxy materials, including our 20192022 Annual Report and this Proxy Statement (the(together, the “Proxy Materials”), over the Internet. As a result, we are mailing to most of our stockholders a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) instead of a paper copy of the Proxy Materials. The Notice contains instructions on how to access those documents over the Internet and how to submit your proxy via the Internet. The Notice also contains instructions on how to request a paper copy of the Proxy Materials. All stockholders who do not receive athe Notice will receive a paper copy of the Proxy Materials by mail or an electronic copy of the Proxy Materials bye-mail. This process allows us to provide our stockholders with the information they need in a more timely manner, while reducing the environmental impact and lowering the costs of printing and distributing the Proxy Materials. This Proxy Statement and our 20192022 Annual Report are available athttp:https://ir.edwards.com/annuals-proxies.cfmfinancials/annual-reports-proxies/default.aspx.

The Notice and the Proxy Materials are first being made available to stockholders on or about March 25, 2020.

Important Notice - Contingent Virtual Meeting

We are closely monitoring the developments regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19). Although we currently intend to hold our Annual Meeting in person, we are sensitive to the public health and travel concerns stockholders may have and the protocols that federal, state, and local governments may impose. In the event we determine that we need to conduct our Annual Meeting by means of remote communication, we will announce the change and provide instructions on how stockholders can participate in the Annual Meeting via the filing of additional soliciting materials with the Securities and Exchange Commission and via our website. Please check our website atwww.edwards.comunder “Investor Relations” one week prior to the Annual Meeting.

28, 2023.

Voting Matters and the Recommendations of theour Board

The items of business scheduled to be voted on at the Annual Meeting and our Board’s recommendation on each item are as follows:

Proposal

Board Vote
Recommendation

Proposal 1.

Election of Directors

LOGO     FOR

each nominee

Proposal 2.

Advisory Vote to Approve Named Executive Officer Compensation

LOGO     FOR

Proposal 3.

Approval of the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Stock Incentive Program

LOGO     FOR

Proposal 4.

Approval of Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation to Increase the Number of Authorized Shares of Common Stock for the Purpose of Effecting aThree-For-One Stock Split

LOGO     FOR

Proposal 5.

Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

LOGO     FOR

Proposal 6.

Advisory Vote on a Stockholder Proposal Regarding Action By Written Consent

     AGAINST

ProposalBoard’s Voting
Recommendation
Proposal 1.LOGOElection of Directors
ew-20230314_g12.jpg    FOR
each nominee
Proposal 2.Advisory Vote to Approve Named Executive Officer Compensation
ew-20230314_g30.jpg    FOR
Proposal 3.Edwards Lifesciences CorporationAdvisory Vote to Approve Frequency of Future Advisory Votes on Named Executive Officer CompensationONE YEAR
Proposal 4.Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm2020 Proxy Statement
ew-20230314_g30.jpg    FOR
Proposal 5.Approval of Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation to Provide for Exculpation of Officers
ew-20230314_g31.jpg    FOR
Proposal 6.1Stockholder Proposal Regarding an Independent Board Chairman Policy
   AGAINST



GENERAL MEETING AND VOTING INFORMATION

Stockholders will also be asked to consider and transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof. Pursuant to our Bylaws, the chairmanchair of the Annual Meeting will determine whether any business proposed to be brought before the Annual Meeting has been properly presented. If the chairmanchair determines that the business was not properly brought before the Annual Meeting, the chairmanchair will declare at the Annual Meeting that such business was not properly brought and such business will not be transacted.





1


Record Date and Stockholders List

The

Our Board has fixed the close of business on March 13, 20202023, as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting. A list of stockholders of record entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting will be available for inspection by any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during normal business hours, for a period of ten days prior to and including the date of the meeting, at our corporate headquarters located at One Edwards Way, Irvine, California 92614.


Who Can Vote

You are entitled to vote your shares at the Annual Meeting if our records show that you held your shares as of the close of business on the record date, March 13, 2020.2023. At the close of business on that date, 207,325,907606,100,254 shares of our common stock were outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. We have no other class of voting securities outstanding. Each stockholder is entitled to one vote per share on each proposal to be voted upon at the Annual Meeting.


How to Vote

You may hold Edwards’ shares in multiple accounts and therefore receive more than one set of the Proxy Materials. To ensure that all of your shares are voted, please submit your proxy or voting instructions for each account for which you have received a set of proxy materials.

the Proxy Materials.

Shares Held of Record.    If you hold your shares in your own name as a holder of record with our transfer agent, Computershare, you may authorize that your shares be voted at the Annual Meeting in one of the following ways:

By Internet

If you received athe Notice or a printed copy of the Proxy Materials, follow the instructions in the Notice or on the proxy card.

By Telephone

If you received a printed copy of the Proxy Materials, follow the instructions on the proxy card.

By Mail

If you received a printed copy of the Proxy Materials, complete, sign, date, and mail your proxy card in the enclosed, postage-prepaid envelope.

In Person

You may also vote in person if you attend the Annual Meeting.

Shares Held in Street Name.    If you hold your shares through a broker, bank or other nominee (that is, in street name), you will receive instructions from your broker, bank or nominee that you must follow in order to submit your voting instructions and have your shares voted at the Annual Meeting. If you want to vote in person at the Annual Meeting, you must obtain a legal proxy from your broker, bank or other nominee, and bring it to the meeting.

Shares Held in Our 401(k) Plan.    If you participate in the Edwards Lifesciences Corporation 401(k) Savings and Investment Plan or the Edwards Lifesciences Technology SarlSARL Retirement Savings Plan, you will receive a request for voting instructions with respect to the shares allocated to your plan account. You are entitled to direct the plan trustee how to vote your plan shares. If the plan trustee does not receive voting instructions for shares in your plan account, the shares attributable to your account will be voted in the same proportion as the allocated shares for which voting instructions have been received.

Even if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we recommend that you submit your proxy or voting instructions in advance of the Annual Meeting as described above so that your vote will be counted if you later decide not to attend or are unable to attend the Annual Meeting.

2LOGOEdwards Lifesciences Corporation2020 Proxy Statement


GENERAL MEETING AND VOTING INFORMATION

Deadline to Vote

If you are a stockholder of record, your proxy must be received by telephone or the Internet by 11:59 p.m. ET on May 6, 202010, 2023 in order for your shares to be voted at the Annual Meeting. If you are a stockholder of record and you received a printed copy of the Proxy Materials, you may instead mark, sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card, which must be received before the polls close at the Annual Meeting.

If you hold your shares in street name through a broker, bank or other nominee, please follow the instructions provided by the broker, bank or other nominee who holds your shares. If you hold shares in one of our 401(k) plans, to allow sufficient time for voting by the plan trustees, your voting instructions must be received by telephone or the Internet by 11:59 p.m. ET on May 4, 2020.

5, 2023.


Appointment of Proxies

The

Our Board has appointed William J. LinkMartha H. Marsh and Michael A. Mussallem to serve as proxy holders to vote your shares according to the instructions you submit. If you properly submit a proxy, but do not indicate how you want your shares to be voted on one or more items, your shares will be voted on such items in accordance with the recommendations of our Board, as set forth above under “Voting Matters and the Recommendations of theour Board.” With respect to any other matter properly presented at the Annual Meeting, your proxy, if properly submitted, gives authority to the proxy holders to vote your shares on such matter in accordance with their best judgment.

2


Revocation of Your Proxy

If you are a holder of record, you may revoke your proxy at any time before it is voted at the Annual Meeting by delivering written notice of revocation to the Corporate Secretary of the Company by submitting a subsequently dated proxy by mail, telephone or the Internet in the manner described above under “How to Vote,” or by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person. Attendance at the Annual Meeting will not itself revoke an earlier submitted proxy. If you hold your shares in street name, you must follow the instructions provided by your broker, bank or nominee to revoke your voting instructions, or, if you have obtained a legal proxy from your broker, bank or other nominee giving you the right to vote your shares at the Annual Meeting, by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person.

Any change to your proxy or voting instructions that is provided by telephone or the Internet must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. ET on May 6, 2020,10, 2023, except that if you are voting shares held in one of our 401(k) plans, the deadline is 11:59 p.m. ET on May 4, 2020.

5, 2023.

Broker Voting

Brokers

Certain brokers holding shares of record for their customers are entitled to vote on certain routine matters, such as the approval of the amendment of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (“Certificate of Incorporation”) to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock for the purpose of effecting a three-for-one stock split (Proposal 4) and ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”), our independent registered public accounting firm (Proposal 5)4), without instructions from their customers. However, these brokers are generally not entitled to vote on certainnon-routine matters, including the election of directors, matters relating to equity compensation plans or executive compensation, and certain corporate governance proposals, unless their customers submit voting instructions. If you hold your shares in street name through a broker and the broker does not receive your voting instructions, the broker will not be permitted to vote your shares in its discretion on any of the proposals at the Annual Meeting other than the proposal to approve the amendment of our Certificate of Incorporation (Proposal 4) and the proposal to ratify the appointment of PwC (Proposal 5)4). If you do not submit voting instructions and your broker votes your shares on Proposal 4 or Proposal 5 in its discretion, your shares will constitute “brokernon-votes” on each of the other proposals.

Quorum

The presence at the Annual Meeting, in person or by proxy, of holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote is necessary to constitute a quorum to transact business at the Annual Meeting. Shares represented at the Annual Meeting are counted toward a quorum even if the holder of such shares abstains from voting. Shares held through brokers are not counted toward a quorum unless the broker has authority to vote, and votes such shares, upon at least one matter at the Annual Meeting.

3


Vote Required on Proposals
The following summary describes the vote required to approve each of the proposals at the Annual Meeting.
LOGOEdwards Lifesciences Corporation2020 Proxy Statement3


GENERAL MEETING AND VOTING INFORMATION

Vote Required on Proposals

The following summary describes the vote required to approve each of the proposals at the Annual Meeting.

Voting Item

Voting Item

Vote Standard

Treatment of Abstentions and
Broker

Non-Votes

Proposal 1.

Election of Directors

Majority of votes cast

Abstentions and brokernon-votes will not be counted as votes cast

Proposal 4.

Approval of Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation to Increase the Number of Authorized Shares of Common Stock for the Purpose of Effecting aThree-For-One Stock Split

  Majority of outstanding shares

  Abstentions will have the effect of votes “against”; we do not expect any broker non-votes on this matter

Proposal 2.

Proposal 3.

Proposal 5.

Proposal 6.

Advisory Vote to Approve Named Executive Officer Compensation

Approval of the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Stock Incentive Program

Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Advisory Vote on a Stockholder Proposal Regarding Action By Written Consent

Majority of shares represented at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on the proposal

Abstentions will have the effect of votes “against”

“against"


Brokernon-votes will not be counted as shares entitled to vote on the proposal

Proposal 3.Advisory Vote to Approve Frequency of Future Advisory Votes on Named Executive Officer Compensation
Proposal 4.Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Proposal 5.Approval of Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation to Provide for Exculpation of Officers
Majority of outstanding shares entitled to vote on the proposal
Abstentions and broker non-votes will have the effect of votes “against”
Proposal 6.Stockholder Proposal Regarding an Independent Board Chairman Policy
Majority of shares represented at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on the proposal
Abstentions will have the effect of votes “against”

Broker non-votes will not be counted as shares entitled to vote on the proposal


Proxy Solicitation Costs

Your proxy for the Annual Meeting is being solicited on behalf of our Board, and weour Company will paybear the cost of solicitation. At our expense, we will also request brokers and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to forward proxy soliciting materials to the beneficial owners of shares held of record by such persons. In addition, we have retained Georgeson Inc.LLC (“Georgeson”) to assist with the distribution and solicitation of proxies for a fee of $20,000, plus expenses for these services. We also agreed to indemnify Georgeson against liabilities and expenses arising in connection with the proxy solicitation unless caused by Georgeson’s gross negligence or intentional misconduct. Georgeson and our officers, directors and regular employees may also solicit proxies by telephone, facsimile,e-mail and personal solicitation. We will not pay additional compensation to our officers, directors and regular employees for these activities.

4


BOARD OF DIRECTORS MATTERS

PROPOSAL 1 – ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
4
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LOGOEdwards Lifesciences Corporation2020 Proxy StatementTHE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR.



BOARD OF DIRECTORS MATTERS

PROPOSAL 1 – ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE“FOR” THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR.

General.    Our Board currently consists of eightnine directors forming onea single class of directors.

The

Our Board has nominated the eightnine individuals identified below for election to theour Board at the Annual Meeting, to serve for aone-year term until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their respective successors are elected and qualified, or until their earlier resignation or removal.

The Board has nominated seven of our incumbent directors for election to the Board at the Annual Meeting. In accordance with the retirement policy in our Corporate Governance Guidelines, our Board did not nominate Wesley von Schack for election at the Annual Meeting. The Board also nominated Ms. Ramona Sequeira for election at the Annual Meeting. Ms. Sequeira is not currently a member of our Board and is standing for election to the Board for the first time at the Annual Meeting.

Each of the nominees standing for election is currently a director and was previously elected to our Board by our stockholders, except Bernard Zovighian, who is being nominated as a director by our Board in conjunction with his appointment as our Chief Executive Officer, effective May 11, 2023. Each of the director nominees has consented to serve as a director, if elected. However, if any nominee becomes unable or unwilling for good cause to serve before the election, the shares represented by proxy may be voted for a substitute nominee designated by theour Board. No arrangement or understanding exists between any nominee and any other person or persons pursuant to which any nominee was or is to be selected as a director or nominee, and none of our directors has any family relationship with any other director or with any of our executive officers. More information regarding theour Board, the committees of theour Board, director independence, and related matters follows this Proposal 1.

Identification and Evaluation of Director Candidates.    Our Board carefully considers the skills, experiences, and diversity of its members as part of its robust director evaluation and Board refreshment process. Even though our Compensation and Governance Committee makes recommendations to theour Board regarding candidates for election as directors of theour Company, all members of theour Board are very engaged in the process of, and discussions regarding, refreshment.

The

Our Compensation and Governance Committee maintains formal criteria for selecting director nominees who will best serve the interests of theour Company and itsour stockholders. These criteria are described in more detail below under “Board Criteria and Diversity Policy.” In addition to these requirements, theour Compensation and Governance Committee also evaluates whether the candidate’s skills and experience are complementary to the existing Board members’ skills and experience, recognizing that theour Board’s skills evolve in order to align with theour Company’s strategy as well as emerging risks and opportunities. Some or all of the members of theour Compensation and Governance Committee interview candidates that meet the criteria, and theour Compensation and Governance Committee selects nominees that it believes best suit the needs of theour Board. As a result of theour Board’s thoughtful and deliberate process of refreshment, the Board has appointed fiveeight new directors have been added to our Board since 2014. In addition,2014, including two new directors in 2020 and the Board has identified Ms. Sequeira,newest director nominee, our Company’s new Chief Executive Officer, who as a Board nominee will stand for election fortransition into the first time atrole in conjunction with the Annual Meeting. This process has involved the participation of all directors, taking advantage of their broad range of expertise and experience as part of the decision-making process.

The Board retained Spencer Stuart to commence a director search in 2018. Spencer Stuart identified potential candidates


Our Compensation and provided the Board with background information and its assessment of the qualifications of potential candidates, which included Ms. Sequeira. The Board then followed the evaluation and screening process discussed above, including reviewing the candidates against the formal criteria for selecting director nominees, and then discussed the potential candidates. The Board then met, discussed and selected Ms. Sequeira as a director nominee for the Annual Meeting.

The CompensationGovernance Committee will consider qualified candidates for director nominees suggested by theour Company’s stockholders. Stockholders can suggest qualified candidates for director nominees by writing to the Corporate Secretary of theour Company at One Edwards Way, Irvine, California 92614. Submissions should include the information about the director candidate and the stockholder making the submission that would otherwise be required by Article I, Section 2(f) of our Bylaws if the stockholder was nominating the individual for election to our Board. Submissions received that meetinclude such information, and provided that the recommended candidate meets the criteria described below, are forwarded to theour Compensation and Governance Committee for further review and consideration. TheOur Compensation and Governance Committee may also request additional information concerning the director candidate that it deems reasonably required to determine the eligibility and qualification of the director candidate to serve on our Board. Stockholders suggesting director candidates for consideration by our Board in connection with the next annual meeting of stockholders should provide their submission no earlier than January 12, 2024, and no later than February 11, 2024. Our Compensation and Governance Committee does not intend to evaluate candidates proposed by stockholders any differently thanfrom other candidates.

LOGOEdwards Lifesciences Corporation2020 Proxy Statement5


PROPOSAL 1 — ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Board Criteria and Diversity Policy.    Our Board, led by theour Compensation and Governance Committee, is responsible for assessing, identifying, evaluating, and, ultimately, recommending to the stockholders individuals qualified to be directors of theour Company. We believe that diverse backgrounds and experiences strengthen Board performance and promote long-term stockholder value creation.

The


Our Compensation Committee’sand Governance Committee charter sets forth the membership criteria against which potential director candidates are evaluated. These written membership criteria state that theour Company “seeks a boardBoard with diversity of background among its members includingas determined by our Board in its business judgment, which may include diversity of
5


experience, gender, race, ethnic or national origin, and age.age or other factors as our Board determines appropriate.” In performing this responsibility, theour Compensation and Governance Committee considers women and minority candidates, consistent with the membership criteria and theour Company’snon-discrimination policies.

The


Our Compensation and Governance Committee also seeks director candidates and nominees with the following qualities:

qualities, among other characteristics:

intelligence,

    intelligence;

honesty,

    honesty;

perceptiveness,

    perceptiveness;

good judgment,

judgment;

maturity,

    maturity;

high ethics and standards,

standards;

integrity,

    integrity;

fairness and responsibility,

    fairness;

    responsibility;

a background that demonstrates an understanding of business and financial affairs and the complexities of a large, multifaceted, global business, governmental or educational organization,organization; and

the ability to hold    independent opinions and expressthe willingness to state them in a constructive manner.


Of significant importance, theour Compensation and Governance Committee and theour Board seek individuals who are compatible and able to work well with other directors and executives. The satisfaction of these criteria is implemented and assessed through ongoing consideration of directors and potential nominees by theour Compensation and Governance Committee and theour Board, with a discussion of Board succession planning held at regularly scheduled meetings of theour Board and certain specially called meetings. These discussions have included reviews of current director skills against an established skills matrix and consideration of each director’s retirement horizon, as well as theour Board’s self-evaluation and peer evaluation processes, as described below under “Board Evaluations.” Based upon these activities and its review of the current composition of theour Board, theour Compensation and Governance Committee and theour Board believe that the nominating criteria have been satisfied. As a result, theour Board believes its members represent diverse backgrounds and experience that are aligned with our Company’s strategy, including financial, industrial, entrepreneurial and international experience.

Board Evaluations.    The    Our Board conducts an annual Board and Committee self-evaluation every July or August, soliciting each director’s views on, among other things, Board and Committee performance and effectiveness, size, composition, agenda, processes and schedule. In addition, theour directors conduct annual peer evaluations focusing on each individual director’s personal interactions and skills. This is a robust process that culminates inone-on-one meetings during which peer feedback is provided to each director by the General Counsel. Our Board views the self- and peer-evaluation processes as an integral part of its commitment to cultivating excellence and best practices in its performance.

Further, before a Board member accepts a position on another public company’s board of directors, the Board member informs the Chairman and CEO as well as the Lead Independent Director.

In addition to confirming there are no conflicts of interest with the internal legal and compliance functions, the Chairman and Lead Independent Director discuss with the other members of our Board whether there would be any reason for the Board member not to accept the position. Our Board considers, among other things, the engagement of such Board member on our Board and reviews the aforementioned Board evaluations and peer reviews. In light of how critical a Board member’s focused engagement and time commitment is to the director’s ability to contribute and add value to our Company’s business and strategy, this process is intentionally comprehensive and rigorous.
Board Retirement Policy.    As set forth in theour Corporate Governance Guidelines, theour Board has adopted a retirement policy that no director shall stand for election to theour Board after reaching the age of 75. As a result of this retirement policy, Mr. von Schack will not stand for election to the Board at the Annual Meeting.

6LOGOEdwards Lifesciences Corporation2020 Proxy Statement


PROPOSAL 1 — ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

75, except in special circumstances specifically approved by our Board. In light of the robust process described above, our Board believes our nominees’

6


skills, expertise, and experience and their mix of qualifications and attributes strengthen our Board’s independent leadership and effective oversight of management.


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LOGOLOGOLOGOLOGO

Diverse Range of Qualifications and Skills Represented by Our NomineesDirectors
Medical Technology
Industry Experience
International Executive
Experience
Corporate Governance

Medical Technology

Industry Experience

Regulatory and
Compliance
Senior Leadership

Executive International

Experience

Corporate GovernanceOperations Management

RegulatoryInnovation and

Compliance

Technology
Risk ManagementSenior LeadershipOperations ManagementRisk Oversight
Innovation/TechnologyRisk ManagementRisk Oversight

Finance and Financial

Industry

Human Capital ResourcesHuman ResourcesFinancial Reporting
IT and CybersecurityCorporate StrategyCorporate Responsibility


Our Board strives to maintain a highly independent, balanced, and diverse setgroup of directors that collectively possesspossesses the expertise to ensureprovide proper oversight.

7


BOARD OF DIRECTOR NOMINEES


ew-20230314_g3.jpg
LOGO
Michael A. Mussallem
Chief Executive Officer* and Chairman,
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
2020 Proxy Statement7


PROPOSAL 1 — ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

LOGO

Michael A. Mussallem


Age:    67

70

Director Since:2000

Edwards Board Roles:

Role:

Chairman of the Board

Select Professional Experience and Highlights:

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation

Chairman and CEO,Chief Executive Officer, since 2000

Baxter International Inc.

Group Vice President, Cardiovascular businesses, from 1994 to 2000

Group Vice President, Biopharmaceutical business, from 1998 to 2000

Held a variety of positions with increasing responsibility in engineering andproduct development, from 1979 to 1994

Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed)

Member of the Board, since 2001

Member of the Executive Committee, since 2006

Chairman, from 2008 to 2010

University of California, Irvine Foundation

Member of the Board of Trustees, since 2008

Leonard D. Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics at the University of Southern California

Advisory Member of the Board, since 2014

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

Member of the Board of Trustees, since 2017

  California Healthcare Institute

CEO Leadership Alliance

  MemberVice Chairman, since 2017
Elected as a member of the Board,National Academy of Engineering, 2022
* As previously disclosed, Mr. Mussallem will retire from 1996 to 2014

–  Chairman, from 2004 to 2005

his position as Chief Executive Officer of the Company at the Annual Meeting.



Forum for Corporate Directors Hall of Fame

University of California Irvine Medal Award

The Phoenix Conference Lifetime Achievement Award

WomenHeart Excellence in Corporate Leadership Wenger Award


Select Skills and Qualifications:

Mr. Mussallem has an extensive knowledge of, and deep expertise in, the medical technology industry, in general, and of the people, operations, processes and products of the Company in particular, and heparticular. He has built an over a40-year career with the Company and its predecessor.predecessor from which he has developed experiences and expertise in a wide range of areas, including innovation and technology, risk management and oversight, operations management, corporate strategy, and corporate governance. In addition, in his roles with AdvaMed and other healthcare-related organizations, he has become a recognized leader in the medical technology industry, making important contributions to healthcare policy discussions in California, the United States and the key global markets that the Company serves. These experiences have established relationships, which are helpful in developing our Board’s strategic perspective, and enhanced his leadership of the Company and contributions to our Board.

LOGO
ew-20230314_g5.jpg

Martha H. Marsh

Retired President and CEO,
Stanford Hospital & Clinics

Age:    71

74

Director Since:2015

Edwards Board Roles:

  Future Lead Independent Director

Compensation and Governance Committee Member

Other Current Public Company Directorships:

AMN Healthcare Services, Inc., since 2010

–  Member of the Compensation and Corporate Governance Committees, since 2010

– Chair of the Compensation Committee, since 2012

– Member of the Compensation Committee, since 2010
– Member of the Corporate Governance Committee, from 2010 to 2019

Other Public Company Directorships in Past Five Years:

Previously Held:

Owens & Minor, Inc., from 2012 to 2019

Thoratec Corporation, from 2014 to 2015


Select Professional Experience and Highlights:

Stanford Hospital & Clinics

– President and Chief Executive Officer, from 2002 until her retirement in 2010

University of California Davis Medical Center

– Chief Executive Officer, from 1999 to 2002


University of California Davis Health System

– Chief Operating Officer, from 1999 to 2002

University of Pennsylvania Health System

– Senior Vice President for Professional Services and Managed Care, from 1996 to 1998

– Vice President for Managed Care, from 1994 to 1996


Select Skills and Qualifications:

Ms. Marsh’s experience of more than 30 years in an increasingly complex and evolving healthcare system as a president and chief executive officer, combined with years of board experience that includes corporate governance chairmanships, provide a unique perspective as our Board considers the execution of our patient-focused innovation strategy.

In her role as the Lead Independent Director, Ms. Marsh has been invaluable in partnering with the Chairman and representing the viewpoints and perspectives of our independent directors. She has also been instrumental as a member of the engagement team, communicating with shareholders regarding the Company, including board structure, governance, compensation and sustainability topics.



8



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8LOGOEdwards Lifesciences Corporation2020 Proxy Statement


PROPOSAL 1 — ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

LOGO

Kieran T. Gallahue

Former Chairman and CEO,
CareFusion Corporation

Age:    56

59

Director Since:2015

Edwards Board Roles:

Role:

Audit Committee Member

Other Current Public Company Directorships:

Envista Holdings Corporation, since 2019

Chairman,Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee, since 2019


Other Public Company Directorships Previously Held:
Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc., sincefrom 2018

to 2022

– Member of the Audit Committee, sincefrom 2018

to 2022

  intersect Intersect ENT, Inc., sincefrom 2015

to 2022

  Executive Chairman of the Board, since 2019

from 2020 to 2022

– Member of the Audit Committee, sincefrom 2015

Other Public Company Directorships in Past Five Years:

to 2022

CareFusion Corporation, from 2011 to 2015

Volcano Corporation, from 2007 to 2015

ResMed, Inc., from 2008 to 2011

Select Professional Experience and Highlights:

  Signifier Medical Technology, a sleep disordered, breathing-focused medical technology company

–  Member of the Board, since 2019

CareFusion Corporation, a global medical technology company (acquired by Becton, Dickinson and Company in March 2015)

– Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, from 2011 until his retirement in 2015

ResMed, Inc.

–  Member of the Board, from 2008 to 2011

– Chief Executive Officer, from 2008 to 2011

– President, from 2004 to 2011

– President and COO,Chief Operating Officer, Americas, from 2003 to 2004



Nanogen, Inc.

– Various positions, including President and Chief Financial Officer, from 1998 to 2002

Prior to 1998, various marketing, sales, and financial positions within Instrumentation Laboratory, the Procter & Gamble Company, and the General Electric Company

Served on the Board and Executive Committee, and as Chairman of the International Committee and Treasurer of Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed)


Select Skills and Qualifications:

Mr. Gallahue provides valuable insights and direction to our Board gained through extensive executive management experience at medical technology companies. His leadership roles on other public company boards and committees and prior experience as a public company chief financial officer also enablesenable him to contribute valuableinformed financial and accounting perspectives to our Board and Audit Committee.

Throughout his career, Mr. Gallahue has gained expertise and experience in areas that we believe are important to the success of our Company as we execute on our patient-focused innovation strategy, including experience in the medical technology industry, as a senior executive managing global operations, risk management and oversight, marketing and corporate strategy.
LOGO
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Leslie S. Heisz

Former Managing Director,
Lazard Frères & Co

Age:    59

    62

Director Since:    2016











Edwards Board Roles:

Role:

Chair of the Audit Committee

Other Current Public Company Directorships:

  Capital Group Private Client Services and certain American Funds,Public Storage, Independent Trustee, since January 2019

2017

– Member of the Audit Committee, since January 2019

from 2017 to 2020

– Member of the ContractsNominating, Governance and Sustainability Committee, since January 2019

2017

– Member of the Long-Term Planning Committee, from 2020 to 2021
  Public Storage, Independent Trustee,Capital Group/American Funds
– American Funds ETF board, since 2017

2021 (Audit Committee Chair, member of Contracts and Nominating Committees)

American Funds AFIS/FoF/Fixed Income boards, since 2022 (Member of Fixed Income Review, Audit and Contracts Committees)
– Private Client Services mutual fund board, from 2019-2022, Member of the Audit Committee, since 2017

–  Member of the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee, since 2017

from 2019-2022, and Chair, from 2021-2022


Other Public Company Directorships in Past Five Years:

Previously Held:

  Ingram Micro Inc., from 2007 to 2016

Towers Watson & Co., from 2012 to 2016

HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc., from 2010 to 2014


Select Professional Experience and Highlights:

Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., since 2015

– Member of the Audit and Compliance Committee, since 2015

– Member of the Finance Committee, since 2018

– Member of the Governance and Community BenefitHealth Committees, from 2015 to 2017

Lazard Freres & Co., from 2003 to 2010

  Served as Senior Advisor thenand Managing Director for six years

Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein (and its predecessor Wasserstein Perella & Co.), Mergers & Acquisitions and Corporate Finance, from 1995 to 2002

Served as Director thenand Managing Director for six years

Salomon Brothers Inc., from 1987 to 1995

Served as Associate thenand Vice President, Corporate Finance for four years

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, from 1982 to 1986

  Served as Staff Consultant thenand Senior Consultant for two years

National Association of Corporate Directors’ Directorship 100 Award


Select Skills and Qualifications:

Ms. Heisz’s career in the banking industry, in-depth knowledge of capital markets, and previous public company board and audit committee experience enhances our Board’s ability to effectively oversee financial reporting, enterprise and operational risk management, as well as corporate finance, tax, treasury, and governance matters.

Serving as a director for global companies and having led a global team, Ms. Heisz also brings with her international experience as well as experience in areas including finance and the financial industry, mergers and acquisitions in addition to regulatory and compliance. Ms. Heisz’s many years of experience as a senior executive and board member has demonstrated invaluable contributions as not only a member of the Board but also in her leadership as Chairperson of the Audit Committee.

9


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LOGOEdwards Lifesciences Corporation2020 Proxy Statement9


PROPOSAL 1 — ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

LOGO

William J. Link, Ph.D.

Paul A. LaViolette
Managing Partner and
COO, SV Health Investors LLC

Age:73

65

Director since:2009

2020

Edwards Board Roles:

Role:

  Chair of the Compensation and Governance Committee

Member

Other Current Public Company Directorships:

Directorships Previously Held:

  Second Sight Medical Products,Misonix, Inc., since 2003

–  Member of the Audit and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees, since 2003

–  Chair of the Compensation Committee, sincefrom 2019 to 2021

Asensus Surgical, Inc. (formerly known as TransEnterix, Inc.), from 2014

to 2021

  Glaukos Corporation, since 2001 (became a public company in July 2015)

–  Chairman, and Member of the Compensation, Nominating and Governance Committee, since 2001

Thoratec, from 2009 to 2015


Select Professional Experience and Highlights:

  Versant Ventures,SV Health Investors LLC, a venture capital firm investing in early-stagespecialist healthcare companies

fund management company, since 2009

Managing DirectorPartner and Co-Founder,Chief Operating Officer, since 1999

2014

  Brentwood Venture Capital, since 1998

–  General Partner

  Chiron Vision (acquired by Bausch & Lomb, Inc.)Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed), from 19861998 to 1997

2008

Boston Scientific Corporation, from 1994 to 2008
  Founder, Chairman, andVarious executive positions, including serving as Chief ExecutiveOperating Officer,

from 2004 to 2008

  Advanced Medical Optics,C.R. Bard Inc. (acquired by Allergan, Inc.), from 19781984 to 1986

1993

Various marketing and general management positions
Kendall, Inc., from 1980 to 1984
Founder and President

Various marketing positions

  Before enteringMedical Device Manufacturers Association
– Chairman of the healthcare industry, was an assistant professor inBoard, from 2016 to 2019
Innovation Advisory Board for the DepartmentMass General Brigham Health System
– Chairman of Surgery at the Indiana University School of Medicine

Board, since 2015


Select Skills and Qualifications:

Dr. Link’s corporate leadership and long history successfully commercializing products

As a result of his over 40 years in the medical technology industry, provideMr. LaViolette brings extensive global executive experience. His many years of working with large, global organizations and start-ups, which he continues to do today, provides him with a unique perspective on strategy and innovation as well as corporate development. Mr. LaViolette also has experience in many other areas, including operations management, human capital resources, marketing and communications, corporate strategy and corporate governance. In addition, Mr. LaViolette’s service on other boards, including numerous chairmanships, has enabled him to be a valuable contributor, offering astute insight in the strategic discussions at our Board with a valuable perspective in evaluating the prospects of, and risks associated with, existing business operations. In addition, his extensive experience in identifying new business opportunities and his strong technical and engineering background have proven beneficial in assessing the potential for future innovations.

LOGO

Steven R. Loranger

Age:68

Director Since:2016

Edwards Board Roles:

Compensation and Governance Committee Member

meetings.
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Steven R. Loranger
Former Chairman, President and
CEO ITT Corporation

Age:    71
Director Since:    2016










Edwards Board Role:
Audit Committee Member

Other Current Public Company Directorships:

Xylem Inc., since 2011

– Member of the CompensationLeadership Development and Personnel CompensationCommittee, since 2018

– Chair of the Finance Innovation, and Technology Committee, since 2017

– Member of the Audit Committee, from 2011 to 2018

– Member of the Nominating and Governance Committee, from 2011 to 2017,

Chair since 2023


Other Public Company Directorships in Past Five Years:

Previously Held:

FedEx Corporation, from 2006 untilto 2014

ITT Exelis, Inc., from 2011 untilto 2013


Select Professional Experience and Highlights:

Xylem Inc., a global water technology provider

– Interim CEOChief Executive Officer and President, from 2013 until his retirement in 2014

ITT Corporation

– Chairman, President and CEO,Chief Executive Officer, from 2004 to 2011

Textron, Inc.

– Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, from 2002 to 2004

Honeywell International Inc. and its predecessor company, AlliedSignal, Inc.

– Various executive positions, including serving as President and Chief Executive Officer of its Engines, Systems and Services businesses, from 1981 to 2002

  Senior Advisor to the CEO of FlightSafety International and serves on the Boards of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation (Emeritus)


Select Skills and Qualifications:

Mr. Loranger is a seasoned executive with global manufacturing and operational experience in highly regulated, high-tech industries. His decades of experience leading large, global innovation-focused corporations with intensive data privacy components is particularly valuable to our Board.

Through his many years of experience as an international executive and as a member of other public company boards, Mr. Loranger also brings expertise and experience in many other critical areas for our Company, including operations management, financial reporting, finance and the financial industry, innovations and technology and corporate strategy. His expertise in risk management and oversight as well as cybersecurity and information technology has allowed for engaged contributions to the Board and the Audit Committee.

10



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Ramona Sequeira
President, Global Portfolio Division,
Takeda Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.

Age:    57
Director Since:    2020
Edwards Board Role:
Audit Committee Member
10LOGOEdwards Lifesciences Corporation2020 Proxy Statement


PROPOSAL 1 — ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

LOGO

Ramona Sequeira

Age:    54

Director Since:    2020 Nominee

Edwards Board Roles:

  To be determined by Board

Other Current Public Company Directorships:

  None

Other Public Company Directorships in Past Five Years:

  None

Select Professional Experience and Highlights:

Takeda Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, since 2015

 – President, Global Portfolio Division, since 2022
 – Chair of the Commercialization and Launch Committee, since 2020
 – President of the U.S. Business Unit and Global Portfolio Commercialization, since 2020
– President, sincefrom 2015

to 2020

– Business Review Committee and Co-Chair of Pipeline Review Committee, since 2015

  MemberPharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), since 2015
– Chair of the Board, of PhRMA,since 2021, and member, since 2015

Director, since 2015

Vice Chair, 2020

– Treasurer, since 2019

Eli Lilly & Company

– Vice President – Lilly USA, from 2013 to 2015

– General Manager, UK/Northern Europe, from 2010 to 2012

– Vice President, Sales – Lilly Canada, from 2005 to 2009

– Associate Director, Neuroscience Marketing, from 2003 to 2005

Member of the Board of Trustees for Lake Forest Academy,Harvey Mudd College, since 2017

  Member of the Board of Matter

–  Director, from 2017 to 2020

  Member of the Board of Chicago Executives Club

–  Director, from 2017 to 2019


Select Skills and Qualifications:

Ms. Sequeira has over 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry through her work with Takeda and, prior to that, with Eli Lilly. She is a seasoned executive, currently leadingleads Takeda’s Global Portfolio Division, and, in this role, she oversees roughly 11,000 employees across Takeda's global Vaccines business including manufacturing, research and development and commercial; the multi-billion dollar U.S. business for Takeda. She has led businesses in Canada,Global Commercial and Medical organizations, and all of Takeda's markets across Europe and the U.S.Canada, Growth and Emerging Markets, and China. Her experience in leadership roles in multiple markets, across cultures and within different healthcare systems where she has successfully launched products, transformed businesses, and delivered sustainable growth is particularly valuable for our global business. Also,In addition, throughout her career, she has developed experience in other areas, including finance and mergers and acquisitions, innovation and technology, risk management and oversight, artificial intelligence and data, corporate responsibility, sustainability and human capital resources, all of which allow her to provide valuable contributions to our Board and the Audit Committee. Ms. Sequeira’s industry role onexperience with pharmaceutical innovation and patient access aligns with the execution ofprovides important expertise to our Board as Edwards executes on its patient-focused innovation strategy.

LOGO
ew-20230314_g41.jpg

Nicholas J. Valeriani

Former CEO, West Health Institute
Former EVP, Johnson & Johnson

Age:    63

66

Director Since:2014

Edwards Board Roles:

Role:

Chair of Compensation and Governance Committee Member

Other Current Public Company Directorships:

Surgalign Holdings, Inc. (formerly known as RTI Surgical Holdings, Inc.,)
– Chair of the Compensation Committee, since 2019 and Member, since 2016

– Member of the Nominating and Governance Committee, since 2019

– Member of the Sciences and Technology Committee, from 2016 to 2020

Other Public Company Directorships in Past Five Years:

Previously Held:

Roka Bioscience, Inc., from 2015 to January 2018


Select Professional Experience and Highlights:

Gary and Mary West Health Institute, an independent, nonprofit medical research organization that works to create new, more effective ways of delivering care at lower costs

– Chief Executive Officer, from 2012 until his retirement in 2015

Johnson & Johnson

– Company Group Chairman, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, from 2009 to 2012

– Member of the Executive Committee

– Vice President, Office of Strategy and Growth, from 2007 to 2009

– Served 34 years in key positions, including Worldwide Chairman, Medical Devices and Diagnostics, and Corporate Vice President, Human Resources

Member of the Boards of the Gary and Mary West Health Institute and the Gary and Mary West Health Policy Center,

since 2012

Member of the Board of AgNovos Healthcare, LLC, since 2016

Member of the Board of SPR Therapeutics, Inc., since 2018

Served on the Boards of the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, untilfrom 2008 to 2016, and the Center for Medical Interoperability, untilfrom 2013 to 2015


Select Skills and Qualifications:

Mr. Valeriani’s

With 40 years of medical technology industry experience in a large and complex global company and experience directing corporate strategy, informs his contributionMr. Valeriani provides critical perspectives to our Board’s oversight of the development of our patient-focused innovation strategy and assessment of future business investments and opportunities. His deep operational experience provides invaluable insights to our Board. In addition, through his backgroundprofessional career as well as his service on other public company boards, Mr. Valeriani has extensive experience in human capital resources at a global company which enables him to contribute valuable insights toperspectives and provide strong leadership and direction as the Chairperson of our Board’s Compensation and Governance Committee.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE“FOR” THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR.

11


ew-20230314_g42.jpg
Bernard J. Zovighian
President and incoming CEO,
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation

Age: 55
Director Since: Nominated
Edwards Board Roles:
Board Member

Select Professional Experience and Highlights:
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation, since 2015
– Chief Executive Officer, expected May 2023
– President, since January 2023
– Corporate Vice President, Transcatheter Mitral and Tricuspid Therapies (TMTT), from January 2018 to January 2023
– Vice President then Corporate Vice President, Surgical Structural Heart, from 2015 to January 2018
Johnson & Johnson
– Held a variety of roles with increasing levels of responsibility for nearly 20 years, in roles such as regional leadership outside of the United States and Worldwide President of Sterilization & Infection preventions division


Select Skills and Qualifications:
Mr. Zovighian has a nearly 30-year career in medical technology, including 12 years leading three different global businesses across two world-class medical technology companies. He has lived in several countries and, as a senior leader, led teams globally and blends this global mindset and a team-based approach to leadership with his strengths in strategy development, the innovation and adoption of disruptive technologies that elevate the standard of care and establishing trusted partnerships. As the global leader for TMTT at Edwards the last five years, Mr. Zovighian established a global organization focused on developing and delivering a portfolio of therapies designed to change the standard of care for mitral and tricuspid patients.

ew-20230314_g24.jpg
LOGOEdwards Lifesciences Corporation2020 Proxy Statement11THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR.


BOARD OF DIRECTORS MATTERS

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE POLICIES AND PRACTICES

Corporate Governance Highlights.    The


Our Company and theour Board take seriously our commitment to good corporate governance. We believe the regular review of our corporate governance practices with current issues and trends in mind, the discussions we hold with our stockholders and advisersadvisors, and the practice enhancements we consider as a result help us to compete more effectively, sustain our successes and build long-term value for our stockholders. Our commitment to good corporate governance practices and accountability to stockholders is described in the following chart.

LOGO

WHAT WE DO

LOGOAnnual election of directors
LOGOBoard refreshment and director skill set aligned with corporate strategy
LOGOMajority vote standard in uncontested elections, with director resignation policy
LOGOSpecial stockholders meetings can be called by stockholders owning at least 15% of our outstanding shares
LOGOProxy access right to permit a stockholder, or a group of up to 30 stockholders, owning at least 3% of our outstanding shares continuously for at least 3 years, to nominate up to the greater of 2 directors or 20% of our Board for inclusion in our annual meeting proxy statement
LOGOIndependent Board, all but our Chief Executive Officer
LOGOExecutive session of independent directors held at eachin-person Board and committee meeting
LOGOLead Independent Directorprovides strong independent leadership of our Board
LOGORetirement policy for directors
LOGOAnnual Board and committee self-evaluations and peer reviews
LOGOEncourage continuing director education with designated annual reimbursement policy
LOGOFormal director orientation and continuing education program
LOGONonemployee directors expected to hold net shares upon vesting or exercise of equity awarded after 2011 until Board service ends
LOGOSenior management succession planning considered at each regularly scheduled Board meeting
LOGOActive stockholder engagement
LOGORobust code of ethics in our Global Business Practice Standards
LOGOBoard oversight of risk management
LOGOCorporate sustainability reportand receipt of numerous recognitions for our sustainability practices
LOGO“Clawback” policy for performance-based compensation

LOGO

WHAT WE DON’T DO

No pledging or hedging of Edwards’ securities by members of the Board, executives, employees with a title of “vice president” equivalent or above and employees designated as “Designated Insiders” under our insider trading policy
No stockholder rights plan (“poison pill”)
No supermajority voting provisions in the Company’s organizational documents


Active Stockholder Engagement Program.    TheOur Board and management are committed to engaging with Edwards’ stockholders and incorporating feedback into their decision-making processes. Throughout the year, our CEO, CFO and Senior Vice President of Investor Relations meet, by phone andface-to-face, in-person, with current and prospective stockholders to discuss Edwards’ strategy, business and financial results. Our CFO, Corporate Secretary, and Senior Vice President of Investor Relations, together with other members of management and from time to time, our Lead Independent Director, when appropriate, engage

12LOGOEdwards Lifesciences Corporation2020 Proxy Statement


BOARD OF DIRECTORS MATTERS

stockholders to solicit their views and feedback on corporate governance, compensation and other related matters and to discuss the issues that matter most to our stockholders.stockholders, including, among other things, corporate governance, compensation, sustainability, corporate social responsibility, human capital management, diversity, inclusion and belonging, succession planning, and other related matters. Stockholder feedback is shared with theour Board and its committees, which enhances our corporate governance practices, facilitates future dialogue between stockholders and theour Board and provides additional transparency to our stockholders. Since the 20192022 annual meeting of stockholders, our CFO, Corporate Secretary and Vice President of Investor Relationswe contacted our top stockholders representing approximately 56%55% of our outstanding shares and engaged with stockholders representing approximately 32%33% of our outstanding shares. In this engagement, we received feedback from stockholders on a range of topics including corporate governance, executive compensation, and sustainability.

corporate social responsibility.

Over time, we have amended our Charter and Bylaws to adopt various stockholder rights andor taken other actions to align our corporate governance practices with our stockholders’ interests.

TopicAction Taken in Response to Stockholder Feedback
Lead Independent
Director
Responsibilities

Expanded the role of the Presiding Director position, and, in light of the additional responsibilities, designated the position, Lead Independent Director

Proxy Access

  Amended our Bylaws to provide for proxy access at 3% and 3 year ownership and holding period duration thresholds

Right to Call
Special Meetings

Amended our Bylaws to permit stockholders to call a special meeting

In response to anon-binding stockholder proposal requesting the right to act by written consent, engaged with stockholders representing over 50% 50% of shares then outstanding to better understand investor views and, in response to feedback received, reduced the minimum ownership threshold to call a special meeting from 25% to 15%

Proxy Access
Amended our Bylaws to provide for proxy access at 3% and 3-year ownership and holding period duration thresholds
Disclosure of
EEO-1 Data
Disclosed our EEO-1 data and relevant infographics on our website
Declassified Board

Amended our Charter to eliminate the classified board

No Supermajority

Voting

Amended our Charter to eliminate supermajority voting

Poison Pill

Did not renew poison pill when it expired in March 2010

Majority Voting

in Director

Elections

Amended our Bylaws to provide for majority voting in uncontested director elections


Director Independence.    Under the corporate governance rules of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), a majority of the members of theour Board must satisfy the NYSE criteria for independence. No director qualifies as independent unless theour Board affirmatively determines that the director has no material relationship with theour Company (either directly or as a partner, stockholder, or officer of an organization that has a relationship with theour Company). TheAfter review of information supplied in the director questionnaires that are provided on an annual basis, our Board has determined that each of Mr. Gallahue, Ms. Heisz, Dr. Link,Mr. LaViolette, Mr. Loranger, Ms. Marsh, Ms. Sequeira and Mr. Valeriani, and Ms. Sequeirathe nominees for election at the Annual Meeting, is independent under the NYSE rules. Mr. Von Schack, who is not standing for election at the Annual Meeting, is also independent under the NYSE rules.Mussallem and Mr. Mussallem isZovighian are not independent as a result of their employment as executive officers of our Company.
In assessing the directors’ independence, our Board took into account certain relationships involving Mr. LaViolette and each of Corvia Medical, Inc. and Endotronix, Inc. (entities in which our Company currently has investments). Our Board considered (i) Mr. LaViolette’s position as the chairman of the board of Corvia Medical and his less than 1% interest in Corvia Medical, Inc., and (ii) Mr. LaViolette’s position as chairman of the board of Endotronix, Inc., and his position as ourManaging Partner and Chief Executive Officer.

Operating Officer of SV Health Investors, LLC, which has a less than 10% investment interest in Endotronix, Inc., and concluded that the foregoing did not impair Mr. LaViolette’s independence.

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Corporate Governance Guidelines.    Our Board has adopted a set of Corporate Governance Guidelines (the “Governance Guidelines”) to assist theour Board and its committees in performing their duties and serving the best interests of theour Company and its stockholders. The Corporate Governance Guidelines cover topics including, but not limited to, director selection and qualification, director responsibilities and operation of theour Board, director access to management and independent advisors, director compensation, director orientation and continuing education, risk oversight, succession planning, recoupment of performance-based compensation and the annual evaluations of theour Board. TheOur Corporate Governance Guidelines are available on our website atwww.edwards.com under “Investors—Corporate Governance.Governance & Sustainability—Governance—Governance Documents.

LOGOEdwards Lifesciences Corporation2020 Proxy Statement13



BOARD OF DIRECTORS MATTERS

Board Leadership Structure.    Our Board appreciates the importance of having an active, engaged and independent Board. The independent directors, under the leadership of our Lead Independent Director, evaluate theour Board’s overall leadership structure at least on a regularan annual basis to ensure that the approach continues to provideprovides independent oversight of theour Company and serves the best interests of stockholders.

In addition, our Compensation and Governance Committee annually reviews and evaluates our Board’s committee membership and recommends changes to our Board in the number, authority, and duties of our committees as well as any recommended changes in the leadership and membership of our committees. Our Compensation and Governance Committee considers input from the full Board, including the Chairman of the Board and our Lead Independent Director, in making its recommendations.


Our Board evaluates its leadership structure in accordance with our Company’s developing needs and circumstances, including Board dynamics, management structure and current Company business and financial performance considerations. Our Board believes that flexibility to choose separated or combined Chief Executive Officer and Chairman roles based on these needs and circumstances is a critical decision that must be made by our Board, which is best positioned to make such a decision, informed by its regular discussions on succession as well as its knowledge of our Company and the skills, experience and relationships among directors and having thoughtfully considered all of the relevant facts and circumstances.

Under our current model, which has been in place for the past 23 years, Mr. Mussallem, our current Chief Executive Officer until the Annual Meeting, also serves as the Chairman of the Board.Board; in addition, since 2003, one of our independent directors has served as the presiding director of our non-management directors. The responsibilities of our presiding director position have expanded since that time and, in 2019, we formally designated this position as our Lead Independent Director. Ms. Marsh, one of our independent directors, currently serves as our Lead Independent Director, and has the responsibilities further described below. We believe this leadership structure contributed to tremendous shareholder value creation at our Company, outperforming the S&P 500 and our peer index, and growing Edwards’ market capitalization from $961.5 million to $50,375.9 million (from March 27, 2000 to February 1, 2023, respectively), which is an increase of 5,140%. Our Board believes it has been and continues to be effective for our Company. Under this model, the Company has experienced strong financial and operational growth over its 20 years as a public company, most recently providing a cumulative TSR of 266% to stockholders from 2014 to 2019. Ourcurrent Chairman and Chief Executive Officer is seen by our stakeholders, including our customers, physicians, business partners, investors and others, as providing strong leadership for theour Company in our industry and the communities we serve.

Effective at the Annual Meeting, Mr. Bernard J. Zovighian, our Company’s current President, will succeed Mr. Mussallem as Chief Executive Officer and will also become a member of our Board. In connection with the planned succession, our Board has determined it is appropriate to separate the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman roles. With Mr. Mussallem serving as non-executive Chairman of the Board following his retirement as Chief Executive Officer. Because Mr. Mussallem will not be considered an independent director following his retirement, the independent directors of our Board have determined that Ms. Marsh will continue to serve andas our Lead Independent Director. All of the foregoing changes expected to occur in our industry. conjunction with the Annual Meeting are contingent on the named directors being elected at the Annual Meeting.

Our Board believes that, our current leadership structure is effective because it fosters a constructiveunder these circumstances, separating the Chief Executive Officer and cooperative relationship betweenChairman roles will allow the independent directors and management that allows our BoardCompany to most effectively carry out its oversight duties. Our Board also believes that, given its size and constructive working relationships, changing the existing structure would not improve the Board’s performance. The directors bring a broad range of leadership experience to the boardroom and regularly contribute to the thoughtful discussion involved in overseeing the affairsleverage Mr. Mussallem’s extensive knowledge of the Company. AllCompany and the medical technology industry, while transitioning management of the Company’s strategic initiatives and business and operating plans to Mr. Zovighian.

Our directors are well-engaged in their responsibilities, regularly contribute and express their views, challenge the Chief Executive Officer and management with alternate considerations, and are open to the opinions expressed by other directors.

Our Board believes that it is important to have an active, engaged Ms. Marsh’s continuation as our Lead Independent Director—even while the Chief Executive Officer and independent Board. Our Governance Guidelines provide that a substantial majority of our Board and all members of our Audit Committee and Compensation Committee will be independent under the applicable rules of the NYSE. All members of our Board, other than the Chairman are independent. In order to assure that the independent directors are not inappropriately influenced by management, thenon-management members of the Board meet in executive session, without management, in conjunction with each regularly scheduledin-person meetingpositions are separate—will facilitate open communication by our independent directors and safeguard the continued independent oversight of the Board and each committee, and otherwise as deemed necessary. These executive sessions allow directors to speak candidly on any matter of interest, without the CEO or other members of management present.

our Company by our Board.


Lead Independent Director’s Role and Responsibilities.    Our Lead Independent Director plays an important role in maintaining effective independent oversight of our Company. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that if our Chairman is not independent, our independent directors shall annually select an independent director to serve as the Lead Independent Director (formerly referred to as our presiding director).Director. Each year, the Lead Independent Director’s performance is assessed. As part of this review, theour Compensation and Governance Committee evaluates the criteria for nominees for the Lead Independent Director role and assesses any needednecessary changes. In selecting the Lead Independent Director, theour Compensation and Governance Committee considers relevant leadership, operational and corporate governance experience, relationships with other Board members and external commitments. In addition, the Lead Independent Director is expected to have a thorough understanding of theour Company’s business operations and history.

Mr. von Schack


As described above, Ms. Marsh is currently designated as the Lead Independent Director until his retirementand is expected to continue in that role if elected as a director at the Annual Meeting, at which time Ms. Marsh will assume this role. TheMeeting. In her role as Lead Independent Director, Ms. Marsh presides at
14


the executive sessions of our Board and also represents our Company from time to time in communications with our stockholders and other stakeholders. For example, Ms. Marsh participates in our engagement outreach calls with our stockholders to discuss a variety of topics, including compensation, governance, and sustainability. In addition, when our Board visits with clinicians and patients, Ms. Marsh is oftentimes asked to speak on behalf of the entire Board.

In addition, in discharging responsibilities under our Corporate Governance Guidelines, the Lead Independent Director:

reviews and approves Board meeting agendas and relevant information provided to theour Board;

reviews and approves Board meeting schedules to assureensure there is sufficient time for discussion of allagendaall agenda items;

serves as a liaison between the independent members of the Boarddirectors and the Chairman and other members of management;

provides feedback to management from the Board’s executive sessions;

coordinates the activities of the independent directors, including calling meetings of the independent directors as necessary and appropriate to address their responsibilities;

provides advice and counsel to the Chairman;Chairman and

the Chief Executive Officer; and

consults and directly communicates with major stockholders and other stakeholders on behalf of our Board, as appropriate, including participation in theour Company’s stockholder outreach efforts.

14LOGOEdwards Lifesciences Corporation2020 Proxy Statement


BOARD OF DIRECTORS MATTERS

While our Board Roleas a whole works together to oversee management’s execution of our Company’s operations, our Company’s risk exposure and risk management plans, and our Company’s overall strategic direction, the Lead Independent Director, who applies her many years of board governance experience, works closely with the Chairman of the Board and takes action as determined necessary or appropriate to ensure there is critical independent oversight in these key areas of focus. These additional actions include, but are not limited to:

requesting information from management,
proposing executive sessions of the independent directors,
proposing separate meetings of our Board,
proposing meetings with individual members of our Board or of management, and
collaborating with the Chairman in suggesting agenda items to be presented by management or actions to be taken by our Board in response to information obtained from management, the independent directors and other stakeholders.

Further, to ensure independent oversight of our Board, our Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that a substantial majority of our Board and all members of our Audit Committee and Compensation and Governance Committee will be independent under the applicable rules of the NYSE. All members of our Board, other than our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, are independent. In order to assure that the independent directors are not inappropriately influenced by management, the independent directors meet in executive sessions led by our Lead Independent Director, without management, in conjunction with each regularly scheduled meeting of our Board and each committee, and otherwise as deemed necessary by the Lead Independent Director or our other independent directors. These executive sessions allow independent directors to speak candidly on any matter of interest, without our Chairman, Chief Executive Officer or other members of management present.
Risk Oversight.    Effective risk oversight is an importanta priority of thefor our Board. Its role includes understanding the critical risks in the business, including the severity and immediacy of such risks, allocating the responsibilities for risk oversight among the full Board and its committees, evaluating theour Company’s risk management processes and facilitating open communication between management and theour directors.


While theour Board oversees risk management, theour Company’s management is charged with managing risk and bringing to theour Board’s attention emerging risks as well as discussing the most material risks. We have internalstatus of the long-term risks facing our Company. Our strategic planning processes are designed to facilitate the identification and management of such risks and assureensure regular communication with theour Board and its committees. Our Board, with independent leadership from the Audit Committee.Lead Independent Director and working through its committees, proactively participates in the oversight of management’s actions. At each regularly scheduled Board meeting, and at least once per quarter, theour Company’s management provides the full Board with an analysis and assessment of the key risks facing our Company. Our Lead Independent Director and the Chairpersons of our two committees review and approve the agendas for, and information provided in, such meetings, and, after consulting with the Chairman of our Board, may call for additional meetings or executive sessions of our Board or its committees to discuss risk-related topics as they may, individually or collectively, determine necessary or appropriate. Our Board also regularly engages with outside advisors and experts as it deems appropriate from time to time to evaluate and anticipate current key risk areas and consider strategies to respond. These advisors and experts provide valuable information, including clinicians’ perspectives, and best practices, landscape overview, industry trends and peer data in areas such as the global regulatory environment, governance, compensation, global operations and sustainability, to facilitate our Board’s fulsome review and discussion of these risk areas with the management team, which then informs action and strategy.

Additionally, our Audit Committee, the Chief Financial Officer, and the Chief Responsibility Officer (our Company’s mostchief compliance officer) meet at least annually, and more often as needed, to review various potential risks to our Company,
15


including those related to financial reporting, product development, continuity of operations, regulatory compliance, succession planning, physical facilities and other topics. Our Chief Responsibility Officer reports directly to our Audit Committee and is responsible for the management of compliance risks through implementation and oversight of a comprehensive global program designed to ensure adherence to laws and regulations, including but not limited those covering anti-corruption, healthcare fraud and abuse, public procurement and antitrust. Further, the Senior Vice President of Enterprise Risk Management also reviews and discusses with the full Board potential risks related to our strategic plan in connection with an annual strategic review of our Company.

Management assesses and prioritizes risks over a seven-year time horizon using quantitative and qualitative inputs on multiple key dimensions of enterprise risk, including, among other things, (i) patient safety, (ii) business and financial metrics, (iii) operational risks (disruptive events), (iv) reputation and brand, (v) legal and regulatory, and (vi) talent and employee well- being. We consider the immediacy and severity of enterprise risks as part of our assessment process. Through our business continuity program, we have also implemented standardized plans across our global manufacturing sites, and we routinely run exercises to test readiness.

Our Board committees each play a significant risks. The Board implements its risk oversight function both as a whole and through delegation to its committees. Both committees play significant rolesrole in carrying out theour Board’s risk oversight function.

The Our Audit Committee oversees risks related to theour Company’s financial statements and the financial reporting process, including our internal control over financial reporting, disclosure controls and procedures and accounting matters. In its oversight of our controls and procedures, our Audit Committee may receive reports or recommendations for the improvement of such controls and procedures from our Senior Vice President of Global Internal Audit, other members of management or our Company’s independent auditor to help mitigate risk. Our Audit Committee may engage such other advisors as it deems appropriate to assess our Company’s management of risk. It also regularly reviews Edwards’our risk management processes and enterprise-wide risk management, focusing on manufacturing processes and supplier quality, product development processes and systems, continuity of our operations and regulatory compliance. TheOur Audit Committee also regularly reviews treasury risks (insurance, credit, debt, currency risk and hedging programs), legal and compliance risks, and other risk management functions; senior leaders of our Company present at least twice a year, and sometimes more frequently as applicable, on information technology infrastructure and cyber-security risk,cybersecurity and other risk management functions.information security risks. In addition, theour Audit Committee considersregularly reviews the corporate compliance program to assess its effectiveness at identifying and managing compliance risks, including but not limited to the Company’s reputationmechanisms and relatedchannels for compliance concerns to the maintenance of a confidential anonymous reporting hotline for ethical and compliance issues. Thebe reported. Our Audit Committee periodically receives reports on, and discusses, the risk management and escalation process, and reviews significant risks and exposures with the subject matter experts inidentified by management, the internal auditors, or the independent public accountants, who identityincluding the steps management has taken to monitor and control such risks and report them to the Audit Committee.

Theexposures.

Our Compensation and Governance Committee considers risks related to succession planning, human capital management, including diversity, inclusion and belonging, the attraction and retention of talent, and risks relating to the design of compensation programs and arrangements. As part of its normal review of these risks, theour Compensation and Governance Committee considers theour Company’s compensation policies and practices to determine if their structure or implementation provides incentives to employees to take unnecessary or inappropriate risks that could have a material adverse effect on theour Company. TheOur Compensation and Governance Committee also reviews compensation and benefits plans affecting employees, in addition to those applicable to executive officers. TheOur Compensation and Governance Committee has determined that the implementation and structure of the compensation policies and practices do not encourage unnecessary and inappropriate risks that could have a material adverse effect on theour Company. TheOur Compensation and Governance Committee further determined that theour Company’s compensation programs and practices appropriately encourage employees to maintain a strong balance sheet, improve operating performance and create value for stockholders, without encouraging unreasonable or unrestricted risks. In making these determinations, theour Compensation and Governance Committee considered the views of theour Company’s compensation staff, legal counsel and internal audit team, as well as its Compensation Consultant (as defined below). In addition, theour Compensation and Governance Committee oversees risks associated with theour Company’s political activities and expenditures, as well as risks related to sustainabilitycorporate social responsibility principles, programs and practices, including environmental and social affairs.

The Moreover, our Compensation and Governance Committee oversees our Company’s program for engaging with stockholders on corporate governance and other matters relating to meetings of the Company’s stockholders.

Each committee reports regularly to the full Board considers strategic risks and opportunities and regularly receives reports from the committees regarding risk oversight in their areas of responsibility.on its activities. Our Board believes that the processes it has established for overseeing risk would be effective under a variety of leadership frameworks and therefore do not materially affect its choice of leadership structure as described under “Board Leadership Structure” above.

above, facilitates effective risk oversight by our Board by ensuring independent director review, led by our Lead Independent Director and working through our independent Board committees, of key risk areas and management’s risk management actions and priorities. We further believe that Mr. Mussallem, in his role as non-executive Chairman of the Board following the Annual Meeting, will be instrumental in guiding our independent directors’ understanding of the most critical risks facing our Company and in helping them challenge members of management to reinforce the effectiveness of the Company’s enterprise risk management.

Meetings of theour Board.    During the year ended December 31, 2019, the2022, our Board held sevennine meetings. Each director attended at least 75%100% of the total of all meetings of theour Board and any applicable committee held during the period of his or her tenure in 2019.

The2022.

Our Company encourages, but does not require, itsour directors to attend our annual meetings of stockholders. All of our then-current directors attended the 2019our 2022 annual meeting.

LOGOEdwards Lifesciences Corporation2020 Proxy Statement15
meeting of stockholders.



BOARD OF DIRECTORS MATTERS

16



Board Composition.    The current Board size is fixed at eight directors and will be increased to nine directors immediately prior to the Annual Meeting in connection with the proposed election of the nine director nominees named in this Proxy Statement, including Bernard J. Zovighian, who will succeed Mike Mussallem as our Chief Executive Officer effective as of the Annual Meeting.

Our Board has fixed the numberregularly assesses its composition, including in connection with our Board evaluation process, as further described above in “Identification and Evaluation of directors at eight.

Director Candidates.” The ages of our director nominees range from 5455 to 73,74, with an average age of approximately 64. We believe in a balanced approach to director tenure that allows theour Board to benefit from a mix of newer directors who bring fresh perspectives and seasoned directors who bring continuity and a deep understanding of our business. For our nominees, lengths of service on our Board range from 0 years to approximately 1123 years, with an average tenure of approximately 78 years. In addition, 37.5%33.3% of our nominees are female.female, and 22% of our nominees are ethnically or racially diverse. None of the nominees currently serve on the boards of directors of more than threetwo other public companies.

Committees of theour Board.    To facilitate independent director review, and to make the most effective use of the directors’ time and capabilities, we have established theour Audit Committee and theour Compensation and Governance Committee. TheOur Board is permitted to establish other committees from time to time as it deems appropriate.

Audit Committee

Audit Committee Membership
Leslie S. Heisz, Chair
Kieran T. Gallahue
Steven R. Loranger
Wesley von Schack*Ramona Sequeira

*  Not standing for election at the Annual Meeting. Another Board member will be added to the

Key Highlights.
    Our Board has determined that each member of our Audit Committee upon Mr. von Schack’s retirement from the Board.

Key Highlights:

Each member is “independent,” “financially literate,” and an “audit committee financial expert” under applicable rules of the NYSE and the SEC.

The    Our Audit Committee held nine meetings in 2019.

2022.

Purpose.    The    Our Audit Committee assists theour Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities relating to, among other things:

the integrity of theour Company’s financial statements;

compliance with legal and regulatory requirements;

monitoring the independent registered public accounting firm’s qualifications, performance and independence;

the performance of theour Company’s internal audit function;

the    our Company’s investment and hedging activities; and

enterprise-wide riskrisks and management practices.

practices related to those risks, including, but not limited to, manufacturing processes and supplier quality, product development processes and systems, continuity of our operations and information technology infrastructure and cybersecurity and information security risks.

The

Our Company has a full-time internal audit function that reports to theour Audit Committee and to the CFO, and is responsible for, among other things, objectively reviewing and evaluating the adequacy, effectiveness and quality of theour Company’s system of internal controls. TheOur Company also has a Chief Responsibility Officer who manages theour Company’s ethics and compliance programs reportingand reports directly to theour Audit Committee and the CEO.

TheCommittee.

Our Audit Committee appoints, retains, terminates, determines compensation for, and oversees the independent registered public accounting firm, reviews the scope of the audit by the independent registered public accounting firm and inquiries into the effectiveness of theour Company’s accounting and internal control functions. TheOur Audit Committee also assists theour Board in establishing and monitoring ethics and compliance with the Global Business Practice Standards of theour Company. TheOur Company’s Global Business Practice Standards are posted on our website atwww.edwards.com under “About Us—Corporate Responsibility.” TheOur Audit Committee also reviews, with the Company’s management and the

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independent registered public accounting firm, theour Company’s policies and procedures with respect to risk assessment and risk management and reviews and approves or ratifies any related party transactions, as described under “Other Matters and Business—Related PartyPersons Transactions” below.

The full responsibilities of theour Audit Committee are included in its written charter, which is posted on our website atwww.edwards.com under “Investors—Corporate Governance.Governance & Sustainability—Governance—Governance Documents.

17


Compensation and Governance Committee

Compensation and Governance

Committee Membership
Nicholas J. Valeriani, Chair
William J. Link, Ph.D., ChairPaul A. LaViolette
Steven R. Loranger
Martha H. Marsh
Nicholas J. Valeriani

Key Highlights:

Highlights.

Each    Our Board has determined that each member of our Compensation and Governance Committee is “independent” under the rules of the NYSE and a “nonemployee director” underRule 16b-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

The    Our Compensation and Governance Committee held five meetings in 2019.

2022.

Purpose.    The    Our Compensation and Governance Committee’s responsibilities include, among other things:

determining the compensation of executive officers and recommending to theour Board the compensation of outside directors;

directors who are not employed by us or any of our subsidiaries (“non-employee directors”);

overseeing management of succession planning, attraction and retention of talent, and risks related to the design of executive compensation programs and arrangements;

developing and recommending to theour Board corporate governance guidelines for theour Company;

identifying, evaluating and recommending individuals qualified to be directors to the Board; and

overseeing the evaluation of theour Board and management.

management;

    overseeing our Company’s principles, programs and practices on sustainability topics, including environmental and social affairs; and
    overseeing our Company’s program for engaging with stockholders on corporate governance and other matters relating to meetings of our Company’s stockholders.
In making its decisions theregarding compensation of our NEOs (other than our CEO), our Compensation and Governance Committee considers recommendations provided by our CEO and Corporate Vice President of Human Resources, regarding compensation of the NEOs (other than the CEO), as further described under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Compensation Process” below. TheOur Compensation and Governance Committee has also delegated to (i) theour CEO the authority to grant stock options or other equity awards to eligible employees who are not executive officers, and (ii) the Administrative and Investment Committee the administrative and fiduciary functions related to theour Company’s employee benefit plans, including the review of funding and investment of plan funds, and the authority to approve amendmentamendments to the plans, appoint trustees and enter into trust agreements.

In 2019, the2022, our Compensation and Governance Committee retained the services of Semler Brossy Consulting Group as its independent compensation consultant (“Compensation Consultant”). See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Independent Compensation Consultant” for additional information regarding theour Compensation and Governance Committee’s engagement of its Compensation Consultant.

The

Our Compensation and Governance Committee also advises theour Board on Board committee structure and membership and corporate governance matters. It evaluates the governance environment, receives feedback from management interactions with stockholders, and reviews and recommends to theour Board corporate governance enhancements that are in the best interest of theour Company and itsour stockholders.

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TheOur Compensation and Governance Committee also oversees Edwards’ political activities, including the periodic review of its policy on political expenditures and its payments that may be used for political purposes, and confirms that political expenditures from corporate funds are consistentreceives reports regarding compliance with the policy. In addition, theour Compensation and Governance Committee reviews and oversees Edwards’ principles, programs and practices on sustainability topics, including environmental and social affairs.affairs, as well as our Company’s public reporting on these topics. Reports concerning political activities and sustainability efforts and metrics are presented periodically to theour Compensation and Governance Committee.

The full responsibilities of theour Compensation and Governance Committee are included in its written charter, which is posted on our website atwww.edwards.com under “Investors—Corporate Governance.Governance & Sustainability—Governance—Governance Documents.


Succession Planning.    Our Board is actively engaged and involved in talent management to identify and cultivate our future leaders. At everyregularly scheduled Board meeting,meetings, directors discuss theour Company’s leadership and talent development. Our directors also have an opportunity to meet with Company leaders, including executive officers,
18


business group leaders and functional leaders through regular reports to theour Board from senior management, technology showcases and mealsother gatherings with management. In addition, Board members have freedom of access to all employees, and have maderegularly make site visits to meet local management.

The planned retirement of Mr. Mussallem as our Chief Executive Officer and the transition of Mr. Zovighian into the role took many months of thoughtful discussion and planning. As part of the process, both internal and external candidates were evaluated for the CEO role.Our Board, understanding the importance of this decision, was fully engaged in the process of evaluating candidates for the CEO role and selecting Mr. Zovighian as the successor to Mr. Mussallem. Our Board continues to be engaged to support a successful leadership transition.

We maintain a robustmid-year and annual performance review process for our employees, as well as amany programs focused on leadership development programand growth that cultivatesare designed to cultivate leadership principles in our future leaders. Management develops leadership at lower levels of the organization by identifying both high potentials and key talent and exposing them to the skills and capabilities that will allow these individuals to become future leaders.

Communications with the Board.our Board of Directors.    Stockholders and other interested parties who desire to contact any member of theour Board, including the Lead Independent Director or thenon-management members of theour Board as a group, may write to any member or members of theour Board at: Board of Directors, c/o Corporate Secretary, Edwards Lifesciences Corporation, One Edwards Way, Irvine, California 92614. Communications will be received by the Corporate Secretary of theour Company and, after initial review and determination of the nature and appropriateness of such communications, will be distributed to the appropriate members of theour Board depending on the facts and circumstances described in the communication.

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19



CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Our Board recognizes

At Edwards, our commitment to corporate responsibility and sustainability is foundational, and expressed in the importancewords of our sustainability initiativesCredo: Through our actions, we will become trusted partners with customers, colleagues and patients – creating a community unified in its mission to improve the need to provide effective oversightquality of those initiatives.life around the world. Our results will benefit customers, patients, employees, and shareholders.” Our Compensation and Governance Committee maintains formal oversight responsibilities for our Sustainability program, with regular discussions at meetings of the full Board. Through a well-established framework and cross-functional Sustainability Council with leaders from across the organization, we continue to incorporate sustainability into our businesses’ core strategy—reflecting our belief that sustainability is essential to long-term growth. We also believe in transparency, and report on our sustainability efforts in an annual Sustainability Report.

Board Oversight Over Environmental, Sustainability, and Corporate Social Responsibility

Board Oversight Over Environmental, Sustainability, and Corporate Social Responsibility

Our Board has designed robust internal processes to oversee our

Company’s sustainability principles, strategies, and initiatives

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initiatives.

ew-20230314_g43.jpg

Edwards’ Sustainability Report discusses our programs and practices that are designed to promote ethical business practices, good corporate governance, and the well-being and health of the environment, our environment, employees, and the communities in which we live and work. We continue to align our sustainability efforts with our aspirationsCredo and Aspirations and patient-focused innovation strategy. In 2019,2022, we further integrated sustainability factors into our strategic planning process to ensureso that future sustainability goals continue tomay be more closely aligned with our business strategy. We conducted a comprehensive materiality assessment refresh through engagement with internalstrategy, Credo and external stakeholders that identified the sustainability topics that matter most for the Company. Sustainability targets were set that align with our Company’s aspirations.Aspirations. Our team continues to assess and report progress on our targets annually. goals annually, and has organized its structure within Edwards to further align sustainability initiatives to Edwards’ corporate strategy and overall goals.
20


We also expanded our Sustainability Metricsat-a-Glance, a snapshot of our ESG data, to provide additional data, and we expanded our Governance Maps that show the process used to establish accountability in one overarching, interactive graphic to illustrate Edwards’ internal responsibility structures for managing our material topics. Each section describes who is involved when we set, execute, and communicate our strategy.

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We receivedwere recognized by numerous recognitionsorganizations for our sustainability and environmental responsibilities practices in 2019,2022, some of which are highlighted below:

Named    For the third consecutive year, Edwards appeared on Barron’s fifth annual list of the 100 Most Sustainable Companies in the United States. Significant performance indicators included increased efforts to mitigate our impact on the environment, as well as initiatives undertaken to bolster employee welfare, community health and customer satisfaction.

    Edwards was named as one of the top 15Americas Most JUST Companiesfrom Forbes and JUST Capital—United States largest publicly traded companies are ranked on the issues Americans care about most;

Named as one of theManagement Top 250 by the Wall Street Journal in partnership with the Drucker Institute—Institute for the sixth year in a row—listed #25#87 out of 820902 companies ranked. Within this list,ranked according to their overall effectiveness of “doing the right things well.” The evaluation aims to recognize firms that are particularly good at balancing a wide range of competing management priorities. Edwards was also cited as one of 8 “all stars” foracross-the-board rankings, achievingachieved high marks in all five dimensions of corporate performance: Customer Satisfaction, Employee Engagement and Development, Innovation, Social Responsibility and Financial Strength;

Strength.

Recognized    For the second consecutive year, Edwards was recognized as #1 onone of the Investor’s Business Daily inaugural50 Best ESG CompaniesWorld’s Top Female-Friendly Companies. Forbes ranked Edwards #156 out of 400 companies included in 2019 for superior Environmental, Socialthe list. Forbes’ partner, Statista, surveyed 85,000 women in 36 countries. Honorees were selected in part due to their competitive pay and Governance (ESG) ratings in additionstrong career advancement opportunities, along with flexible work arrangements, which are considered critical to strong fundamentalcorrect gender inequities. They also assessed female representation at the executive and technical performance highlighting Edwards’ “comprehensive product quality and safety controls” and its “ability to deliver exceptional shareholder value”; and

board levels.

Constituent•    Edwards was again a constituent of theDJSI ESG Worldand North America Indices—the Dow Jones Sustainability World index tracks the performance of the top 10% of the 2,500 largest companies in the S&P Global Broad Market Index that lead the field in sustainability.


    Edwards was recognized for its industry leadership on Environmental issues by Forbes and JUST Capital. This is an evaluation of the largest publicly traded U.S. companies, which are ranked on the issues Americans care about most, according to JUST Capital's polling of the American public.
    For the seventh consecutive year, Edwards Lifesciences was honored as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies® by the Ethisphere Institute, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices. Honorees represent the individuals and leaders diligently working to build world-class programs and advance corporate cultures defined by integrity and those companies contributing to broader societal imperatives and the greater good. In 2023, 135 honorees were recognized, spanning 19 countries and 48 industries.
More details on our ESG effortssustainability approach and performance can be found in our Sustainability Report posted on our website atwww.edwards.comunder “About Us—Corporate Responsibility.”www.edwards.com/sustainability. A complete list of recognitions can be found on our website at www.edwards.comunder “About Us—“Newsroom—Awards & Recognitions.and recognitions.

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21





DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

Director Compensation Table – 2019

2022

The following table presents the 20192022 compensation paid or awarded to each individual who served as a nonemployee director at any time during 2019.2022. The compensation paid to Mr. Mussallem is presented in the “Executive Compensation” disclosures beginning on page 45.46. Mr. Mussallem does not receive additional compensation for his service as a director.

Name

  Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash
($)(1)
  Stock
Awards
($)(2)
  Option
Awards
($)(2)
  

Total

($)

Mr. Gallahue

   $80,075   $239,913       $319,988    

Ms. Heisz

    100,147    239,913        340,060

Dr. Link

    93,075    239,913        332,988

Mr. Loranger

    75,075    239,913        314,988

Ms. Marsh

    75,000    239,913        314,913

Mr. von Schack

    115,075    239,913        354,988

Mr. Valeriani

    75,000    239,913        314,913

(1)

Consists of annual retainer fees and meeting fees for service as a director and a member of Board committees. Please see the “Retainers and Fees” section below. Director fees that would have been paid in cash, but, at the election of the director, converted to stock or option awards are included in this “Fees Earned or Paid in Cash” column.

(2)

Amounts disclosed in these columns reflect the aggregate grant-date fair value of the stock award or option award, as applicable, granted to our nonemployee directors during 2019 as determined under the principles used to calculate the grant-date fair value of equity awards for purposes of our financial statements in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718. For a discussion of the assumptions and methodologies used to value the awards reported in these columns, please see the discussion of stock awards and option awards contained in Note 14 of the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” in the 2019 Annual Report.

Please see the information under “Nonemployee Directors Stock Incentive Program” and “Outstanding Nonemployee Director Equity Awards” below for the grant-date fair value of each stock and option award granted to our nonemployee directors in 2019 as well as the stock and option awards held by each nonemployee director at the end of 2019.

Name
Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash
($)
(1)
Stock
Awards
($)
(2)
Option
Awards
($)
(2)
Total
($)
Mr. Gallahue$ 85,075$ 249,895$ 334,970
Ms. Heisz102,492249,895352,387
Mr. LaViolette80,000249,895329,895
Mr. Loranger85,075249,895334,970
Ms. Marsh115,000249,895364,895
Ms. Sequeira85,000249,895334,895
Mr. Valeriani98,000249,895347,895
(1)    Consists of annual retainer fees and meeting fees for service as a director and a member of Board committees. Please see the section “Retainers and Fees” below. Director fees that would have been paid in cash, but, at the election of the director, converted to restricted stock or option awards are included in this “Fees Earned or Paid in Cash” column.
(2)    Amounts disclosed in these columns reflect the aggregate grant-date fair value of the restricted stock award or option award, as applicable, granted to our nonemployee directors during 2022 (excluding restricted stock and option awards granted in lieu of cash and as to which the corresponding retainer fees have been included in the “Fees Earned or Paid in Cash” column), as determined under the principles used to calculate the grant-date fair value of equity awards for purposes of our financial statements in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718. For a discussion of the assumptions and methodologies used to value the awards reported in these columns, please see the discussion of restricted stock awards and option awards contained in Note 14 of the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” in the 2022 Annual Report.
     Please see the information under “Nonemployee Directors Stock Incentive Program” and “Outstanding Nonemployee Director Equity Awards” below for the grant-date fair value of each restricted stock and option award granted to our nonemployee directors in 2022 as well as the restricted stock and option awards held by each nonemployee director at the end of 2022.
Retainers and Fees.    Nonemployee directors received the following retainers and fees in 2019:

Nonemployee Director Retainers and Fees

   

Annual Retainers

   

Nonemployee Director

   $75,000    

Lead Independent Director

   $35,000

Audit Committee Chair

   $25,000

Audit Committee Member

   $5,000

Additional Meeting Fees if meetings exceed the following:

   $1,500*

– 10 meetings for the Board

   

– 10 meetings for the Audit Committee

   

– 7 meetings for the Compensation and Governance Committee

   

Compensation Committee Chair

   $18,000

2022:
*

Per meeting; meeting fees cannot be deferred.

Nonemployee Director Retainers and Fees
Annual Retainers
Nonemployee Director$80,000
Lead Independent Director$35,000
Audit Committee Chair$25,000
Audit Committee Member$5,000
Additional Meeting Fees if meetings exceed the following:$1,500*
– 10 meetings for the Board
– 10 meetings for the Audit Committee
– 7 meetings for the Compensation and Governance Committee
Compensation and Governance Committee Chair$18,000

*    Per meeting; meeting fees cannot be deferred.
A director may elect to receive stock options or restricted shares in lieu of the annual cash retainers as described in “Deferral Election Program” below. Meeting fees, however, cannot be deferred. Retainers are paid in advance. Directors beginning service during the year receive a prorated amount of the retainer.

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Nonemployee Directors Stock Incentive Program.   In order to align the nonemployee directors’ interests more closely with the interests of our stockholders, we have implementedmaintain our Nonemployee Directors Stock Incentive Program (the “Nonemployee“2020 Nonemployee Directors Stock Incentive Program”), pursuant to which each nonemployee director receives an annual grant of options for up to 40,000120,000 shares of our common stock, or Restricted Stock Units (“RSU”) for up to 16,00048,000 shares of our common stock, or a combination of options and RSUs with a maximum grant-date value asestablished by our Compensation and Governance Committee or our Board. The annual equity award is typically granted on the day after our annual meeting. Our Board has discretion to determine whether an award will be granted to a director who joins our Board mid-year and to determine the terms and conditions of 2019 of approximately $240,000. Theany such award. Our Compensation and Governance Committee recommends to theour Board for its approval the actual amount and type of award for each year.

The For 2022, our Board provided that each nonemployee director in office following our 2022 annual equity award ismeeting would be granted on the day after our annual meeting. The option exercise price is the closing price of our common stock on the grant date. Options are valued as of theRSUs having a grant date using the Black-Scholes valuation model, and the RSUs are valued at the fair market value of $250,000, rounded to the common stock on the grant date.

nearest whole share.

22


On May 9, 2019,4, 2022, each nonemployee director who was serving on that date received 1,3232,300 RSUs as an annual grant (the grant-date fair value of such award was $239,913,$249,895, determined as noted in footnote 2 to the Director Compensation Table above).

These RSUs vest 100% upon the earlier of the completionone-year anniversary of one year of service on the Board measured from the grant date orand the date of the next regular annual meeting of stockholders at which members of our Board are to be elected, subject to earlier vesting in the event of the nonemployee director’s death or disability.disability or in connection with a change of control of Edwards. Once the RSUs vest, the shares must be held until the nonemployee director no longer serves on the Board.

Prior to 2017, upon a nonemployee director’s initial election to the Board, the new nonemployee director received a grant of the numbers of RSUs or stock options determined by dividing $200,000 by the fair value of a share on the grant date for RSUs, or the fair value of an option on the grant date, estimated using the Black-Scholes valuation model, and in either case rounding up to the nearest whole share, provided that in no event shall such number exceed twenty thousand (20,000) shares. Initial stock option awards vestone-third each year over three years from the grant date, subject to the nonemployee director’s continued service on the Board,requirements described in “Directors’ Stock Ownership Guidelines and subject to earlier vesting in the event of the nonemployee director’s death or disability. The exercise price of an option is the closing price of our common stock on the date of the award. With respect to initial stock option awards granted after May 14, 2013, the shares of our common stock issued upon exercise of the options must be held until the nonemployee director no longer serves on the Board.

Holding Requirement” below.

Deferral Election Program.    In lieu of all or part of a nonemployee director’s annual cash retainer, the director may elect to receive either stock options or restricted stock awards under the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Stock Incentive Program. If a director makes a timely election to receive stock options, such options are granted on the date the cash retainer would otherwise have been paid, and the number of shares subject to the option is equal to four times the number of shares that could have been purchased on the grant date with the amount of the director’s cash retainer that was foregone to receive the award. The options are exercisable and vested in full on the grant date, and the exercise price per share is the fair market value of the common stock on the grant date. If a director makes a timely election to receive a restricted share award, the shares are granted on the date the cash retainer would otherwise have been paid, and the number of shares granted is equal to the portion of the cash retainer to be paid in the form of restricted shares divided by the fair market value per share of the common stock on the grant date. The restrictions on the restricted shares lapse upon the earlier of (1) theone-year anniversary of the grant date or (2)and the date of the next regular annual meeting of stockholders at which members of theour Board are to be elected.

elected, subject to earlier vesting in the event of the nonemployee director’s death or disability or in connection with a change in control of Edwards.

On May 9, 2019,4, 2022, Ms. Heisz received 311 restricted2,209 stock option shares in lieu of the portion of her annual cash retainer she deferred (the grant-date fair value of each such award was $56,397,$57,492, determined as noted in footnote 2 to the Director Compensation Table above). On the same date, Messrs. Gallahue Loranger and von Schack, and Dr. Link eachLoranger received a grant of 414737 restricted shares in lieu of histheir annual cash retainer (the grant-date fair value of each such award was $75,075,$80,075, determined as noted in footnote 2 to the Director Compensation Table above).

Directors’ Stock Ownership Guidelines and Holding Requirement.    Under the stock ownership guidelines, each nonemployee director is expected to own shares of our common stock equal towith a value of at least $500,000. This amount equals almostmore than six times the base annual cash retainer received byfor each nonemployee director. StockShares that is countedcount toward meeting the guideline includes any sharesinclude common stock owned outright, restricted stock, RSUs and 25%RSUs. Once the stock ownership guideline of the value of vested,in-the-money stock options. Upon vesting or exercise of equity awarded after 2011,$500,000 is met, each nonemployee director is required to hold 50% of the underlyingnet remaining shares of the common stock, (netwhether owned outright and/or acquired in connection with the vesting of any shares soldrestricted stock and/or restricted stock units, after satisfaction of applicable taxes (and in the case of stock options granted prior to coverJuly 2021, after satisfaction of applicable taxes and payment of the exercise price and applicable taxes)price) until the director’s Board service ends. The holding requirement does not apply to equity awards directors elect to receive in lieu of their cash retainers.

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Expense Reimbursement Policy.    Directors are reimbursed for travel expenses related to their attendance at Board and committee meetings as well as for the costs of attending director continuing education programs.

The Our Board may change compensation and reimbursement arrangements for nonemployee directors from time to time.

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Outstanding Nonemployee Director Equity Awards

The following table sets forth, as of December 31, 2019,2022, the stock options and unvested stock awards (RSUs and restricted shares) held by each nonemployee director who served on theour Board in 2019.

      Option Awards  Stock Awards  

Name

  Grant Date  Exercise
Price
($)
  Unvested
Option
Awards
(#)
  Option Awards
Vested and
Outstanding
(#)
  Stock Awards
Not Vested
(#)
  

Mr. Gallahue

    02/19/2015    66.860        10,752      
    05/12/2017    110.590        2,352      
    05/09/2019                1,323(1)   
    05/09/2019                414(2)   
         

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

Total

                  —    13,104    1,737  
         

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

Ms. Heisz

    07/14/2016    107.030        6,557      
    05/12/2017    110.590        2,352      
    05/18/2018    135.950        1,913      
    05/09/2019                1,323(1)   
    05/09/2019                311(2)   
         

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

Total

              10,822    1,634  
         

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

Dr. Link

    05/09/2019                1,323(1)   
    05/09/2019                414(2)   
         

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

Total

                  1,737  
         

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

Mr. Loranger

    05/12/2016    105.590        6,599      
    05/18/2018    135.950        1,913      
    05/09/2019                1,323(1)   
    05/09/2019                414(2)   
         

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

Total

              8,512    1,737  
         

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

Ms. Marsh

    11/19/2015    77.965        9,574      
    05/09/2019                1,323(1)   
         

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

Total

              9,574    1,323  
         

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

Mr. von Schack

    05/09/2019                1,323(1)   
    05/09/2019                414(2)   
         

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

Total

                  1,737  
         

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

Mr. Valeriani

    11/13/2014    62.275        7,536      
    05/09/2019                1,323(1)   
         

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

Total

              7,536    1,323  
         

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   
                                    

(1)

Annual awards vest on the earlier of (i) theone-year anniversary of the grant date or (ii) the date of the next regular annual meeting of stockholders at which members of the Board are to be elected.

(2)

Annual retainer fees deferred into restricted shares under the Deferral Election Program vest on March 15, 2020.

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2022.


  
Option Awards
 
Stock Awards
 
NameGrant DateExercise
Price
($)
Unvested
Option
Awards
(#)
Option Awards
Vested and
Outstanding
(#)
Stock Awards
Not Vested
(#)
     
Mr. Gallahue05/12/201736.86337,056
 05/04/2022
2,300(1)
 05/04/2022
737(2)
     
Total  7,0563,037
     
     
Ms. Heisz07/14/201635.67679,671
 05/12/201736.86337,056
 05/18/201845.31675,739
 05/08/202072.61333,099
 05/04/2022
2,300(1)
05/04/2022108.6500
2,209(3)
     
Total  27,7742,300
     
     
Mr. LaViolette05/04/2022
2,300(1)
     
Total  2,300
     
     
Mr. Loranger05/18/201845.31675,739
 05/08/202072.61334,134
 05/05/202191.77003,270
05/04/2022
2,300(1)
 05/04/2022
737(2)
     
Total  13,1433,037
     
     
Ms. Marsh05/04/2022
2,300(1)
     
Total  2,300
     
     
Ms. Sequeira05/04/2022
2,300(1)
     
Total  2,300
     
     
Mr. Valeriani05/04/2022
2,300(1)
     
     
Total  2,300
     
(1)    Annual awards vest on the earlier of the one-year anniversary of the grant date and the date of the next regular annual meeting of stockholders at which members of our Board are to be elected, subject to earlier vesting in the event of the nonemployee director’s death or disability or in connection with a change in control of Edwards.
(2)    Annual retainer fees deferred into restricted shares under the Deferral Election Program vest on the earlier of the one-year anniversary of the grant date and the date of the next regular annual meeting of stockholders at which members of our Board are to be elected, subject to earlier vesting in the event of the nonemployee director’s death or disability or in connection with a change in control of Edwards.
(3)    Annual retainer fees deferred into stock options under the Deferral Election Program are vested upon grant.

24



SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth certain information regarding beneficial ownership of theour Company’s common stock as of January 31, 2020 by each stockholder known by theour Company to own beneficially more than 5% of the Company’s common stock. Percent of beneficial ownership is based upon 209,122,578 shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding as of January 31, 2020.

Principal Stockholder Name and Address

Total Shares

Beneficially

Owned

    Percentage    

of Class

The Vanguard Group(1)

100 Vanguard Blvd.

Malvern, PA 19355

 16,261,702 7.78%    

BlackRock, Inc.(2)

55 East 52nd Street

New York, NY 10055

 18,200,799 8.70%

(1)

Based solely on information contained in the Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC by The Vanguard Group, on its own behalf, on February 12, 2020. The Schedule 13G/A indicates The Vanguard Group has sole voting power for 321,883 shares, shared voting power for 56,723 shares, sole dispositive power for 15,901,051 shares and shared dispositive power for 360,651 shares. The number of shares reported as beneficially owned by The Vanguard Group in its Schedule 13G/A includes 248,789 shares beneficially owned by Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company (“VFTC”), and 181,462 shares beneficially owned by Vanguard Investments Australia, Ltd. (“VIA”). VFTC and VIA are wholly owned subsidiaries of The Vanguard Group. VFTC serves as investment manager of collective trust accounts and VIA serves as investment manager of Australian investment offerings.

(2)

Based solely on information contained in the Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC by BlackRock, Inc. on its own behalf, on February 5, 2020. The Schedule 13G/A indicates BlackRock, Inc. has sole voting power for 15,871,545 shares and sole dispositive power for 18,200,799 shares.

2023.

Principal Stockholder Name and AddressTotal Shares Beneficially OwnedPercentage of Class
The Vanguard Group(1)
100 Vanguard Blvd.
Malvern, PA 19355
51,559,3918.34 %
BlackRock, Inc.(2)
55 East 52nd Street
New York, NY 10055
53,060,5088.60 %
(1)    Based solely on information contained in the Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC by The Vanguard Group, on its own behalf, on February 9, 2023. The Schedule 13G/A indicates The Vanguard Group had shared voting power for 919,995 shares, sole dispositive power for 48,970,628 shares and shared dispositive power for 2,588,763 shares as of December 31, 2022.
(2)    Based solely on information contained in the Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC by BlackRock, Inc. on its own behalf, on February 7, 2023. The Schedule 13G/A indicates BlackRock, Inc. had sole voting power for 47,532,373 shares and sole dispositive power for 53,060,508 shares as of December 31, 2022.
The following table sets forth certain information regarding beneficial ownership of theour Company’s common stock as of January 31, 20202023, by (i) each of theour NEOs (as named below); (ii) each of our current directors and director nominees; and (iii) all of our current directors and executive officers as a group. Percent of beneficial ownership is based upon 209,122,578608,313,396 shares of theour Company’s common stock outstanding as of January 31, 2020.

2023.

Under the column “RSUs and Shares Underlying Options,” we include the number of shares that could be acquired within 60 days of January 31, 20202023, pursuant to the exercise of stock options or the vesting of stock unit awards. These shares are not deemed outstanding for purposes of computing the beneficial ownership of any other person. Unless otherwise indicated, we believe that the stockholders listed have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares, subject to applicable community property laws.

Named Executive Officers, Executive Officers and Directors:

Outstanding
Shares
Beneficially
Owned(1)
RSUs and
Shares
Underlying
Options
Total
Shares
Beneficially
Owned

    Percentage    

of Class

Mr. Mussallem

 975,116 988,838 1,963,954 *

Mr. Ullem

 71,588 118,900 190,488 *

Mr. Bobo

 66,052 179,309 245,361 *

Mr. Lemercier

 36,843 69,883 106,726 *

Mr. Wood

 108,744 73,443 182,187 *

Mr. Gallahue

 16,148 13,518 29,666 *

Ms. Heisz

 4,000 11,133 15,133 *

Dr. Link

 19,352 414 19,766 *

Mr. Loranger

 11,632 8,926 20,558 *

Ms. Marsh

 5,630 9,574 15,204 *

Ms. Sequeira

    

Mr. Valeriani

 12,672 7,536 20,208 *

Mr. von Schack

 38,157 414 38,571 *

All current directors and executive officers as a group (15 persons)

 1,402,158 1,698,658 3,100,816 1.48%

*

Less than 1%

(1)

Includes shares held by family trust, members of his or her household, or jointly as follows: Mr. Mussallem, 851,194; Mr. Ullem, 71,588; Mr. Bobo, 41,408; Mr. Lemercier, 15,000; Mr. Gallahue, 15,734; Mr. Loranger, 5,000; Dr. Link, 10,772; and Mr. von Schack, 37,743.

24LOGOEdwards Lifesciences Corporation2020 Proxy Statement


Named Executive Officers, Executive Officers and Directors
Outstanding
Shares
Beneficially
Owned
(1)
RSUs and
Shares
Underlying
Options
Total
Shares
Beneficially
Owned
    Percentage of Class
Mr. Mussallem3,941,1281,386,8985,328,026*
Mr. Zovighian8,45185,40093,851*
Mr. Ullem257,822311,925569,747*
Mr. Wood189,093163,651352,744*
Mr. Lemercier154,212209,854364,066*
Mr. Gallahue60,1847,05667,240*
Mr. Loranger64,58013,14377,723*
Mr. Valeriani63,81163,811*
Ms. Marsh26,77726,777*
Ms. Heisz25,18027,77452,954*
Ms. Sequeira5,9185,918*
Mr. LaViolette2,6152,615*
All current directors and executive officers as a group
(15 persons)
5,029,0782,843,6107,872,6881.29%
*    Less than 1%
(1)    Includes shares held by family trust, members of his/her household, in the 401(k) Plans, or jointly, as follows: Mr. Mussallem, 3,844,722; Mr. Ullem, 257,822; Mr. Wood, 496; Mr. Lemercier, 45,000; Mr. Bobo, 155,587; Mr. Gallahue, 60,184; Mr. Loranger, 15,000; and Ms. Sequeira, 5,918.

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Set forth below is the biographical information regarding our current executive officers, other than Mr.Messrs. Mussallem and Zovighian, whose biographical information is set forth under “Proposal 1—Election of Directors—Director Nominees” above. None of the executive officers has any family relationship with any other executive officer or any of our directors.

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Donald E. Bobo, Jr., age 58.61. Mr. Bobo has been Corporate Vice President since 2007 and is currently responsible for Edwards’ corporate strategy and corporate development functions. In addition, Mr. Bobo has executive responsibility for the Company’s disease awareness and heart failure initiatives, as well as the U.S. healthcare solutions and commercial services team. Mr. Bobo has more than 3035 years of experience in the medical productstechnology and healthcare industry and has served in various operating roles at Edwards.Edwards, including, most recently, the development of the Company’s Transcatheter Mitral and Tricuspid Therapies strategy, Vice President and General Manager of the Surgical Structural Heart business and global valve manufacturing operations. Prior to joining Edwards in 1995, Mr. Bobo held a variety of roles with increasing levels of responsibility with American Hospital Supply and Baxter Healthcare Corporation, including research and development, business development, operations and general management. He has served on the Boardboard and Executive Committeeexecutive committee of the California Life Sciences Association since 2015 and served as its Chairmanchairman of the Boardboard from May 2017 to May 2018.

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Daveen Chopra,age 41.44. Mr. Chopra has been Corporate Vice President, Transcatheter Mitral and Tricuspid Therapies (TMTT) since January 2023. Mr. Chopra previously served as Corporate Vice President, Surgical Structural Heart, since JuneMay 2018. Mr. Chopra has broad experience in the medical technology industry, including global leadership in strategy, marketing, commercial operations, research and development, and program management. Prior to joining Edwards, Mr. Chopra held various roles with increasing levels of responsibility at Medtronic plc, a medical technology, services and solutions company, from 2005 to 2018. He was the2018, culminating in a global leader, servingleadership role as vice presidentVice President and general manager,General Manager of Medtronic’s aortic franchise.Aortic Franchise. Mr. Chopra previously served as vice presidentChopra’s previous roles at Medtronic include Vice President of global marketingGlobal Marketing, leading Medtronic’s endovascular therapies business.Endovascular Therapies Business. While in Medtronic’s endovascular therapies business,Endovascular Therapies Business, he served as vice president,Vice President, U.S. commercial operations, directorCommercial Operations, Director of program management office, senior business managerProgram Management Office, Senior Business Manager for the endovascularEndovascular and peripheral businessPeripheral Business in Asia-Pacific, global group product managerGlobal Group Product Manager for thoracic stent grafts,Thoracic Stent Grafts, and international aortic product manager.International Aortic Product Manager. Prior to Medtronic, Mr. Chopra served as an international strategy consultant at The Parthenon Group supporting clients in various industries ranging from education to industrial manufacturing.

In 2020, he joined the board of the Edwards Lifesciences Foundation, and, in 2021, he joined the board of Octane.
ew-20230314_g46.jpg

Jean-Luc Lemercier,age 62.65. Mr. Lemercier has been Corporate Vice President, EMEAEMEACLA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa),Africa, Canada and Latin AmericaAmerica) since July 2017.2017, and assumed leadership of JAPAC (Japan, Asia Pacific and Greater China) in August 2022. Prior to assuming his current role, Mr. Lemercier served as Vice President of Transcatheter Heart Valves EMEA, from 2008 to 2017. Under his leadership, Edwards has successfully built its leadership position in Europe. BeforePrior to joining Edwards, Mr. Lemercier served in various leadership roles with Johnson & Johnson Cordis from 1996 to 2008, including leader of the structural heart disease group in the United States;States, Vice President of New Business Development in Europe;Europe, Vice President of the Cordis Cardiology Division in Belgium;Belgium, and General Manager of Cordis France. Mr. Lemercier has more than 30 years of medical technology experience, beginning with Baxter in France, and held several sales and marketing management positions within Baxter in both Europe and the United States. Mr. Lemercier has served on the Boardboard of CARMAT since January 2017.

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION

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Catherine M. Szyman,age 53.56. Ms. Szyman has been Corporate Vice President, Critical Care, since 2015.2015 and is currently responsible for the Company’s global critical care and vascular business. Under her leadership, Edwards has experienced successful sales growth in the Critical Care business unit. Prior to 2015, she was employed for more than 20 years at Medtronic LLC,plc, where she served as its Senior Vice President and President of Medtronic’s global diabetesGlobal Diabetes business from 2009 to 2014, overseeing research, development, operations, sales and marketing for Medtronic’s insulin infusion pumps and continuous glucose monitoring systems. Prior to that, she held a variety of leadership roles at Medtronic, including Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Business Development, General Manager of Endovascular Innovations and Vice President of Finance for the Cardiovascular Business. Ms. Szyman currently serves on the boards of Endotronix, Octane OC andOutset Medical Inc., Inari Medical Inc., and the American Heart Association of Orange County, and joined the board of the Edwards Lifesciences Foundation in 2015. Ms. Szyman previously served on the boards of Octane, Tornier, Inspire Medical Systems, and the California Healthcare Institute.

Institute and the Edwards Lifesciences Foundation.
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Scott B. Ullem,age 53.56. Mr. Ullem becamehas been Corporate Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, insince January 2014. In addition, Mr. Ullem has executive responsibility for the Company’s information technology, information security, risk management, indirect sourcing, and corporate services teams. Prior to joining Edwards, he served from May 2010 to December 2013 as Chief Financial Officer of Bemis Company Inc., a Fortune 500 publicly traded global supplier of packaging and pressure sensitive materials used in leading food, consumer, and healthcare products.products, from May 2010 to December 2013. Mr. Ullem also had leadership responsibility for one of Bemis’ three business segments and the company’s information technology function. Before joiningPrior to Bemis, Mr. Ullem spent 17 years in investment banking, serving as Managing Director at Goldman Sachs and later at Bank of America. HeSince 2016, he has served on the Board and Compensation Committeeboard of directors of Berry Global Inc. since 2016 and is a member of the compensation committee, the audit committee and the capital allocation committee. He is also a Henry Crown Fellow at the Aspen Institute.

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Huimin Wang, M.D., age 63. Dr. Wang has been Corporate Vice President, Japan, Asia and Pacific since 2010. From 2004 to 2010, he served as Corporate Vice President, Japan and Intercontinental Regions and was Corporate Vice President, Japan from 2000 to 2004. Previously, he served in a number of roles with Baxter Healthcare Corporation, including Senior Manager of Strategy Development, Director of Product/Therapy for the Renal Division in Japan, President of Medical Systems and Devices in Japan, and was a representative director of Baxter Limited, a Japan corporation, through September 2002. Before joining Baxter, Dr. Wang was a senior associate with Booz, Allen & Hamilton in Chicago, Vice President of Integrated Strategies, a consulting and venture management firm heco-founded, and an associate with McKinsey & Company. Prior to that, Dr. Wang was a resident and staff physician in anesthesiology at Keio University Hospital in Tokyo.

ew-20230314_g49.jpg
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Larry L. Wood,age 54.57. Mr. Wood has been Corporate Vice President and Group President, Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (“TAVR”)(TAVR) and Surgical Structural Heart, since January 2023. Mr. Wood previously served asCorporate Vice President, TAVR, since 2007. Under his leadership, Edwards has experienced extraordinary growth in the global TAVR business, and the Edwards SAPIEN heart valve has won numerous awards, including the Prix Galien “Best Medical Technology Product” award. Most recently priorbusiness. Prior to assuming his current role, from March 2004 to February 2007, he served as Vice President and General Manager, Percutaneous Valve Interventions.Interventions, from 2004 to 2007. Mr. Wood has more than 3035 years of experience in the medical technology industry at both Edwards and Baxter Healthcare Corporation in positions including manufacturing management, regulatory affairs and strategic and clinical marketing, primarily for the surgical heart valve therapy business. Mr. Wood is a frequently invited faculty member at key interventional cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery scientific congresses. He previously held key positions in manufacturing management, regulatory affairs, and strategic and clinical marketing, primarily in the Company’s leading surgical heart valve franchise. Mr. Wood is also a passionate supporter of the United Way Orange County’s Destination Graduation Program which encouragesat-risk high school students to graduate and pursue higher education.

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION

27



COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

This Compensation Discussion and Analysis describes and provides disclosure about the objectives and policies underlying our executive compensation programs.

Edwards’ 2022 NEOs are as follows:
NEO Names and Current Positions
Michael A. Mussallem
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Scott B. Ullem
Corporate Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
Jean-Luc Lemercier
Corporate Vice President, EMEACLA (Europe, Middle East, Africa, Canada and Latin America) and JAPAC (Japan, Asia Pacific and Greater China)1
Larry L. Wood
Corporate Vice President and Group President, Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement and Surgical Structural Heart2
Bernard J. Zovighian
President3
(1) Transitioned from Corporate Vice President, EMEACLA, to this position on August 1, 2022.
(2) Transitioned from Corporate Vice President, Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement, to this position on January 1, 2023.
(3) Transitioned from Corporate Vice President, Transcatheter Mitral and Tricuspid Therapies (TMTT), to this position on January 1, 2023.
Executive Summary

Edwards is the global leader in patient-focused medical innovations for structural heart disease as well asand critical care and surgical monitoring. Driven by a passion to help patients, we partner with the world’s leading clinicians and researchers and invest in research and development to transform care for those impacted by structural heart disease or who require hemodynamic monitoring during surgery or in intensive care.

the hospital setting.

Pay-for-Performance Philosophy.    The    Our Compensation and Governance Committee strives to create apay-for-performance culture and strongly believes that executive compensation should be tied not only to performance but also directly to the successful implementation of our long-term corporate strategy.

We embrace a corporate strategyare driven by our culture that puts patients first and our long-term corporate strategy that creates value with therapies that transform care. We executecare and focuses on large, under-treated diseases. Our annual plan is essential to executing our strategy by focusing onand seeks to do the right thing for patients, identifying unmet clinical needs and developing breakthrough therapies, doing so in a way that establisheswhile maintaining trusted relationships with our stakeholders. As a direct result of our strategy, we have introduced new therapies, such as transcatheter aortic valve replacement, rapid-deploymentnovel resilient surgical heart valves and noninvasive advanced hemodynamic monitoring, all while achieving our stated financial and operating objectives, and strengtheningwe have strengthened our leadership positions. ManagingSuccessfully managing our business well in a challenging, highly regulated, dynamic environment requires talented and energetic leaders who champion our strategy and deliver on our commitments.

Our executive compensation programs are designed to emphasize performance-based compensation, reward financial performance and the implementation of our corporate strategy and align the financial interests of our executives with those of our long-term stockholders.



28


EDWARDS’ CORPORATE STRATEGY INFORMS PAY DESIGN

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LOGOEdwards Lifesciences Corporation2020 Proxy Statement27


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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION


Long-term incentive awards are designed to align the financial interests of our executives with those of our stockholders. Awards granted to our NEOs in 2019 included stock options, PBRSUs and time-based RSUs. We believe our equity compensation mix provides a balance of incentives that serve to retain executive talent while reinforcing our long-term growth strategy, as a company focused on exceptional revenue growth, strong profitability, and long-term stockholder returns.

Edwards’ 2019 NEOs are as follows:

NEO NAMES AND POSITIONS

Michael A. Mussallem

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Scott B. Ullem

Corporate Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

Donald E. Bobo

Corporate Vice President, Strategy and Corporate Development

Jean-Luc Lemercier

Corporate Vice President, EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa), Canada and Latin America

Larry L. Wood

Corporate Vice President, Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

2019

2022 Financial and Operating Performance.    Overall, we achieved strong    As noted in the chart above, the financial component of our Company’s Annual Cash Incentive compensation was reintroduced for the 2022 year after having been suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our financial results and operating performance in 2019, exceeding2022 were significantly impacted by the pandemic. Procedure rates were highly variable around the globe, leading to lower full Company sales compared to expectations. Treatments were delayed due to hospital prioritization of COVID-19 patients, hospital staffing shortages and patients deferring treatment. Although we saw recovery during 2022, we faced significant headwinds in December 2022 due to a surge in COVID-19 outbreaks, and our target goalsfinancial performance was below original expectations. Despite the impact of these headwinds, 2022 was a year of significant milestones and investments for Edwards. Our total sales for fiscal year 2022 were $5.4 billion, an increase in underlying revenue growth net incomefor the year of approximately 8% over the prior year. We achieved 12% growth in adjusted earnings per share while also increasing R&D by 5%.2 The significant increase in R&D and free cash flow generation. We also madeinfrastructure investments in fiscal 2022 helped strengthen our longer-term outlook.
Even with the challenges we faced during the global pandemic, we continued to make important progress on future advancements for patients.

Strong underlying1 sales growthpatients:


    Invested in increasing disease and therapy awareness, pursued further therapy expansion, and advanced new technologies in transcatheter aortic valve replacement. In 2022, we received approval of 15% was driven by:

Groundbreaking PARTNER 3 clinical results which demonstrated superiority over surgery of ourthe SAPIEN 3 Ultra RESILIA valve in the U.S. incorporating Edwards’ breakthrough RESILIA tissue technology in the industry-leading SAPIEN 3 Ultra transcatheter aortic valve.  Separately, we continued to advance enrollment in our PROGRESS pivotal trial for moderate AS patients and ledour ALLIANCE pivotal trial to study our next-generation TAVR technology, the SAPIEN X4 system;

    Achieved our significant 2022 milestones in transcatheter mitral and tricuspid therapies, as we continued to make meaningful progress on advancing our three key value drivers: a portfolio of pioneering therapies for patients, positive pivotal trial results to support approvals and adoption, and favorable real-world clinical outcomes. We received European regulatory approval for PASCAL Precision, a unique system designed for transcatheter-based edge-to-edge leaflet repair in patients suffering from mitral and tricuspid regurgitation. We also received U.S. FDA approval for the PASCAL Precision system for the treatment of patients with degenerative mitral regurgitation;
2     “Underlying growth rate” and “adjusted earnings per share” are non-GAAP items. Refer to Appendix A for reconciliation to the U.S. regulatory approval ofmost directly comparable GAAP financial measures.
29


    Extended our transcatheter heart valve technology for patients at lowleadership in surgical risk;

The European launch ofaortic valves through the PASCAL system, an important early addition to our TMTT portfolio;

Continuedcontinued adoption of our newest premiumtechnologies, the INSPIRIS RESILIA aortic surgical valve, INSPIRIS RESILIA;the KONECT RESILIA aortic tissue valved conduit, and

Broad use the launch of our critical care technologies, includingMITRIS RESILIA valve; and

    Advanced leadership in Critical Care with the ongoing rolloutcontinued introduction of our HemoSphere smartmonitoring platform.

Profitability was also strong in 2019, even as we continued to invest aggressively to fuel important breakthrough innovations to strengthen our longer-term outlook. Utilizing significant savings in the reduction of our effective tax rate resulting from the Tax Cutsadvanced monitoring technology and Jobs Act of 2017, we hired new employees, accelerated research and development initiatives, and contributed more to employee retirement accounts. We directed a significant portion of our infrastructure investment to growing our dedicated commercial and clinical teams in Europe to support our TMTT business.

1

“Underlying” amount is anon-GAAP item. Refer to the Appendix A for a reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.

28LOGOEdwards Lifesciences Corporation2020 Proxy Statement
Smart Recovery algorithms for patients.



EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION

Stock Performance.    One indicator of ourpay-for-performance culture is the relationship of our NEOs’ target total direct compensation to total stockholder return. Over the past five years, on average, 89%90% of theour CEO’s target total direct compensation has been performance-based, and 74% is76% has been tied to the performance of Edwards’ stock. As a general indicator, theour Compensation and Governance Committee considers Edwards’ total return to stockholders as well as how Edwards’ cumulative total return to stockholders compares to both the S&P 500 Index and the SPSIHE.SPSIHE when determining compensation. The table below illustrates our Company’s5-year cumulative total stockholder return on common stock with the cumulative total returns of the S&P 500 Index and the SPSIHE. The cumulative total return listed below assumes an initial investment of $100 at the market close on December 31, 20142017, and reinvestment of dividends. Stockholder returns over the indicated period should not be considered indicative of future stockholder returns.

COMPARISON OF5-YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN*

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* $100 invested on 12/31/14 in stock or index, including reinvestment of dividends. Fiscal year ending December 31.

     The stock price performance included in this graph is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.

ew-20230314_g28.jpg

2019

*    $100 invested at market close on December 31, 2017, in stock or index, including reinvestment of dividends. The stock price performance included in this graph is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.

2022 Annual Incentive Plan.    As the pandemic eased, our Board expected 2022 to return to pre-COVID-19 normalcy. In January 2022, our Board approved the 2022 Annual Incentive Plan, Outcomes and Long-Term Incentives.    Thereturning to the historical plan that includes the following three measures used to evaluateelements:
    the corporate financial achievement under our annual cash incentive plan weremeasurement (based on underlying revenue growth, net incomeadjusted earnings per share and adjusted free cash flow all computed ontargets);
    the Key Operating Drivers (“KODs”) (quantifiable strategic milestones that include financial objectives and are tracked using anon-GAAP basis. points system across our entire organization); and
    individual performance.
2022 Corporate Annual Incentive Plan Outcomes.   In January 2023, our Board of Directors approved the 2022 KOD achievement at 113% of target. Our financial resultsperformance resulted in financial achievement at 151%61% of target under the cash incentive plan. In addition, our overall achievement of KODs for 2019 was 97%.target. Accordingly, our cash incentive plan for corporate employees funded at 146%69% of target. Final incentive amounts for theour NEOs for 20192022 also took into account each employee’s individual performance, as more fully described below underperformance. See “Elements of Compensation—Annual Cash Incentive Payment.”

The PBRSUs awarded to NEOs in 2016 that vested in 2019 were based on Edwards’ TSR over a three-year performance period relative toPayment” below for additional information regarding the TSRannual cash incentive payment.

Consideration of the SPSIHE subset for that same period. These PBRSUs paid out at 75.77% of target, as more fully described under “Elements of Compensation—Determination as to 2016 PBRSU Awards.”

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION

Compensation Program Highlights.    The Compensation Committee believes that its executive compensation and benefits philosophy and objectives have resulted in programs that align executives with stockholder interests.

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WHAT WE DO

LOGOPay-for-Performance. Approximately 90% of the total direct compensation of our CEO, and an average of 78% of the total direct compensation of our other NEOs, was performance-based in 2019.
LOGOLinkage Between Performance Measures and Strategic Imperatives. Performance measures for incentive compensation are linked to our Strategic Imperatives through achievement of KODs and are designed to create long-term stockholder value and hold executives accountable for their individual and Edwards’ performance.
LOGOPerformance-Based Equity. Our PBRSUs vest based on our relative TSR over a three-year period.
LOGOMinimum Three-Year Vesting. Equity compensation is structured to vest over a minimum period of three years, subject to limited exceptions.
LOGORobust Executive Stock Ownership Guidelines with Holding Period Requirements. Executives are required to hold Edwards’ stock with a value not less thansix-times salary for our CEO and three-times salary for each other NEO. Fifty percent of net shares received as equity compensation must be retained until the guideline has been met.
LOGOCEO Stock Ownership. Our CEO far exceeds hissix-times salary ownership guideline and has continued to increase his ownership of Edwards’ stock each year.
LOGOModest Perquisites. We provide modest perquisites and have a business rationale for the perquisites that we do provide.
LOGO“Double Trigger” in the Event of a Change in Control. Severance benefits are paid, and equity compensation awarded starting in May 2015 accelerates in connection with a severance, only upon a “double trigger” in connection with a change in control (meaning a termination of the executive’s employment is required, in addition to the occurrence of a change in control, in order for the benefits to be triggered).
LOGOUse of Tally Sheets. The Compensation Committee annually reviews summaries of prior and potential future compensation levels (referred to as “tally sheets”) when making compensation decisions.
LOGO“Clawback” Policy. We maintain a recoupment policy for performance-based compensation.
LOGOIndependent Compensation Consultant. The Compensation Committee engages an independent compensation consulting firm that provides us with no other services.

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WHAT WE DON’T DO

No excise taxgross-ups for executive officers.
No repricing or buyout of underwater stock options.
No pledging of Edwards’ securities by members of the Board, all employees with a title of “vice president” equivalent or above, and employees designated as “Designated Insiders” under our insider trading policy.
No hedging of Edwards’ securities by members of the Board, executives, employees with a title of “vice president” equivalent or above, and employees designated as “Designated Insiders” under our insider trading policy.

Consideration ofSay-on-Pay Vote Results.    At our 20192022 annual meeting, our stockholders cast an advisory vote on the compensation of our NEOs (a“say-on-pay” “say-on-pay” vote). Approximately 95%90% of the votes cast on this proposal voted in favor of

30


our NEO compensation. We believe this vote reflects stockholders’ continued strong support of our compensation programs for our NEOs. TheOur Compensation and Governance Committee will continue to consider the results ofsay-on-pay votes along with the feedback received from stockholders received through the stockholder outreach program when making future compensation decisions for theour NEOs.

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION

Compensation Philosophy and Objectives for NEOs.    Our compensation programs are designed to attract, retain, motivate and engage executives with superior leadership and management capabilities to enhance stockholder value. Within this overall philosophy, our objectives are to:

offer programs that place a higher emphasis on performance-based compensation than fixed compensation;

align the financial interests of executives with those of our long-term stockholders; and

provide compensation that is competitive.

We strongly believe that a significant amount of compensation for theour NEOs should be composed of short-term and long-term incentives, orat-risk pay, to focus the executives on near-term goals and strategic initiatives. The amount of such short-term and long-term incentive compensation is dependent on achievement of our annual goals, individual performance, and long-term increases in the value of our stock. The targetIn this Proxy Statement, “target total direct compensationcompensation” for each NEO consists of (i) base salary, (ii) Incentive Pay Objective (as defined under “Elements of Compensation—Annual Cash Incentive Payment” below), and (iii) long-term incentive awards (presented in the charts below using their target equity mix values).

The charts below illustrate the percentage weighting of each compensation vehicle that comprise the 20192022 target total direct compensation for theour CEO and the average for the other NEOs.

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ew-20230314_g50.jpgew-20230314_g51.jpg
Compensation Process.    The    Our Compensation and Governance Committee is responsible for discussing, evaluating and approving the compensation of theour CEO and theour other NEOs, including the specific objectives and target performance levels to be included in our executive compensation plans. TheOur CEO and other members of the executive leadership team develop our Strategic Imperatives as well as the KODs that measure our achievement of these imperatives. TheOur Board reviews and approves the Strategic Imperatives and KODs at the start of every year. TheOur CEO provides input to theour Compensation and Governance Committee afteryear-end regarding achievement of our Strategic Imperatives and KODs. In addition, theour CEO and theour Corporate Vice President of Human Resources provide recommendations to theour Compensation and Governance Committee regarding compensation of theour NEOs (other than theour CEO). TheOur Compensation and Governance Committee then determines the compensation of theour CEO and reviews and approves the compensation of theour other NEOs.

The

Our CEO and theour Corporate Vice President of Human Resources are invited to, and regularly attend, Compensation and Governance Committee meetings asnon-voting guests. TheOur Compensation and Governance Committee regularly meets in executive session without participation by theour CEO or other management representatives. In addition, our CEO and Corporate Vice President of Human Resources meet with theour Compensation Consultant as well as the Chair of our Compensation and Governance Committee in preparation for Compensation and Governance Committee meetings, and the Compensation Consultant also regularly attends Compensation and Governance Committee meetings and participates in executive sessions with theour Compensation and Governance Committee.

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Independent Compensation Consultant.    The    Our Compensation Consultant, Semler Brossy Consulting Group, has been retained by and reports to theour Compensation and Governance Committee and provides executive and director compensation consulting services to theour Compensation and Governance Committee.

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION

Semler Brossy’s responsibilities for fiscal 20192022 generally included:

Annual and periodic reviews of executive total compensation relative to peers;

Annual and periodic reviews of Directordirector total compensation;

Annual and periodic reviews of theour Company’s comparator group;

Report on proxy advisory firms aroundsay-on-pay and other compensation matters;

Presentations on specialized topics, as requested or applicable;

Reports to theour Compensation and Governance Committee on market trends and best practices in compensation; and

Attendance and participation in all Compensation and Governance Committee meetings and stockholder consultations, as requested.

The Compensation Consultant does not provide any other services to theour Board or theour Company. TheOur Compensation and Governance Committee has assessed the independence of the Compensation Consultant pursuant to the NYSE rules and determined that the Compensation Consultant is independent, and free of conflicts of interest with us or any of our directors or executive officers.

Use of Competitive Data.    We do not target any one specific percentile but instead consider the market data along with factors like the individual’s performance and context from the talent market more broadly to determine our target total direct compensation and the elements of compensation for our NEOs.    In determining the appropriate positioning level of each NEO’s target total direct compensation and each component of compensation for an NEO, theour Compensation and Governance Committee also takes into account its assessment of theour Company’s or business unit’s general performance, as applicable for each executive, and the executive’s tenure, experience, level of individual performance and potential to contribute to our future growth. Accordingly, an NEO’s actual compensation may be higher or lower than the median for the position based on theour Compensation and Governance Committee’s assessment of these other factors. If theour Compensation and Governance Committee determines that changes are appropriate, it has the flexibility to make adjustments for one or more executives.

Consistent with our philosophy of emphasizing pay for performance, annual cash incentive payments are designed to be above Incentive Pay Objectives when we exceed our goals and below the Incentive Pay Objectives when we do not achieve our goals. In the event threshold levels of performance are not attained, no annual incentive payment is earned.

generally awarded.

For purposes of establishing the value of equity awards, stock options are valued as of the grant date using the Black-Scholes valuation model. RSUs and PBRSUs are valued at the fair market value of the underlying shares on the grant date. Except as otherwise noted above or described below, theour Compensation and Governance Committee’s executive compensation determinations are subjective and the result of theour Compensation and Governance Committee’s business judgment, which is informed by the experiences of the members of theour Compensation and Governance Committee as well as the input from the Compensation Consultant and peer group data provided by the Compensation Consultant. In order to establish competitive compensation market data for theour NEOs, the Compensation Consultant uses public proxy information from companies primarily in the medical technology industry. These peer companies are chosen based on theour Compensation and Governance Committee’s assessment of their market capitalization, revenue, business focus, complexity, geographic location and the extent to which theour Compensation and Governance Committee believes they compete with us for executive talent (the “Comparator Group”). The composition of the Comparator Group is reviewed periodicallyannually to monitor the appropriateness of the profiles of the companies included so that the group continues to reflect our competitive market and provides statistical reliability.

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION

The review of the Comparator Group for pay decisions in 20192022 was conducted in July 2018.2021. After evaluating a series of qualitative and quantitative factors among other publicly traded U.S. companies in our industry, including scale, talent, business, and operational characteristics and overlap among peers, our Compensation and Governance Committee selected the Compensation Committee updatedbelow companies as the Comparator Group used to make 2019 executive compensation decisions by adding Baxter International Inc., Align Technology, Inc. and ABIOMED, Inc. and removing PerkinElmer, Inc. and Integra Lifesciences Holdings Corporation. C.R. Bard Inc.for 2022. The group was acquired by Becton, Dickinson and Company and, therefore, it was also removed from the Comparator Group. For 2019,same as the Comparator Group consisted of the following companies:

for 2021, except that Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Varian Medical Systems, Inc. were acquired in 2021 and therefore removed.
32


Edwards’ 20192022 Comparator Group
Abbott LaboratoriesHologic, Inc.

Abbott Laboratories

ABIOMED, Inc.

IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.

ABIOMED, Inc.

Illumina, Inc.

Agilent Technologies, Inc.

Illumina, Inc.
Align Technology, Inc.

Intuitive Surgical, Inc.

Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Medtronic plc

Align Technology, Inc.

ResMed Inc.

Baxter International Inc.

Stryker Corporation

Medtronic plc

Becton, Dickinson and Company

Teleflex,ResMed Inc.

Boston Scientific Corporation

Varian Medical Systems, Inc.

Stryker Corporation

The Cooper Companies, Inc.

Waters Corporation

Teleflex, Inc.
DexCom, Inc.

DENTSPLY SIRONA, Inc.

Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.

Hologic, Inc.

As of June 30, 2018,May 15, 2021, Edwards ranked at the 61st63rd percentile of this group in terms of market capitalization. Compensation data are generally regressed for market capitalization to ensure that the data are not distorted by larger companies. Regression analysis is a commonly used technique tosize-adjust data, which allows for more statistically valid comparisons. The key measure used in our regression model is market capitalization. Based on this measure, the regression formula correlates and adjusts the raw data for base salary, total cash compensation and total direct compensation to predict those items based on the market capitalization for each of the Comparator Group companies.

Although data from the Comparator Group are the primary data input for compensation decisions for theour NEOs, consideration is given to compensation data for companies in healthcare-related industries as reported in nationally recognized Radford Global Technology and Global Lifesciences Compensation Surveys. TheOur Compensation and Governance Committee considers both survey data that is healthcare-specific and also general industry data for companies within a similar size scope to Edwards. TheOur Compensation and Governance Committee believes it is appropriate to refer to these additional data because we compete with these types of companies for executive talent.

We do not target any one specific percentile but instead consider the market data along with factors like the individual’s performance and context from the talent market more broadly to determine our target total direct compensation and the elements of compensation for our NEOs.

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION

33



Elements of Compensation.    The compensation package for each NEO consists primarily of (a)(i) base salary; (b)salary, (ii) an annual cash incentive payment based on attainment ofpre-established financial measures, operating goals, and individual performance;performance, and (c)(iii) long-term stock-based incentive awards. Each of these three components of compensation is intended to promote one or more of our objectives of designing executive compensation that is performance-based, is competitive, and aligns the interests of the executives with our stockholders, as further described in the Elements of Compensation Summary chart below.

Elements of Compensation Summary

Element of Compensation

Why We Pay this ElementCompensation and Governance Committee’s Evaluation Criteria

Base Salary

Provides fixed compensation component payable in cash

Provides a certain level of security and continuity from year to year

Helps attract and retain qualified executives

In addition to competitive data, the executive’s responsibilities, tenure, prior experience and expertise, individual performance, future potential, and internal equity are considered

Annual Cash Incentive Payment

(see “Annual Cash Incentive Payment” section below)

Payment*


Provides variable compensation component payable in cash to motivate and reward executives for annual performance against established corporate financial measures, operating and strategic goals, and individual objectives

Recognizes executives based on their individual contributions

Is performance-based and not guaranteed

  IncentiveHistorically, incentive plan funding iswas determined by multiplying:

Financial Measurement Achievement

(based on underlying revenue growth, net income,
adjusted earnings per share, and adjusted free cash flow targets set at the

beginning of the year)

Xyear)

The financial measurement multiplier may not exceed 175%
X

KOD Achievement

(based on strategic, corporate, and

business unit objectives determined at

the beginning of the year)

Xyear)
The aggregate KOD multiplier
may not exceed 150%
X

Individual Performance
Objective Achievement

(determined at the beginning of the year)

year)

Up to a maximum of 200% of

pre-established
Incentive Pay Objective

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION

Element of Compensation

Why We Pay this ElementCompensation Committee’s Evaluation Criteria

Long-Term Incentive Awards

55% Stock Options

20% RSUs

25% PBRSUs


Aligning executives’ interests directly with those of stockholders; provides executives with an incentive to manage theour Company from the perspective of an owner

Stock options tie executive pay directly to stockholder value creation over the long term, promote executive retention, and are consistent with our focus ontop-line growth, innovation and our longer-term investment horizon and product pipeline

RSUs promote stability and retention of our executives over the long term

PBRSUs are measured against relative TSR, which links compensation to our performance over a three-year period against the performance of other companies

Since RSUs and PBRSUs are paid in shares of Edwards stock, these awards also further link executives’ interests with those of our long-term stockholders

Retains qualified employees

Is performance- or stock price-based and value is not guaranteed

The size and composition of long-term incentive awards are determined annually by theour Compensation and Governance Committee, taking into account competitive total direct compensation pay positioning guidelines using market reference data from the Comparator Group, along with the individual executive’s level of responsibilities, ability to contribute to and influence our long-term results, and individual performance

Benefits

  Provides a safety net to protectProtects against financial catastrophes that can result from illness, disability or death

A benefit program that is competitive with companies with which we compete for executive talent supports recruitment and retention of executives

Executives are eligible to participate in benefit programs on terms as are generally offered to other Company employees

Perquisites

Assists in attracting and retaining executives by enhancing the competitiveness of the executive’s compensation in a relatively inexpensive way

Enables executives to perform their responsibilities efficiently, maximize their working time, and minimize distractions

Modest perquisites, consistent with market practices


Base Salary.    The    Our Compensation and Governance Committee generally reviews each NEO’s base salary in February and any approved changes are effective with the first pay period in April. The base salary for theour CEO is established in a similar manner and is described more fully under “Employment and Post-Termination Agreements” below. Base salaries paid to theour NEOs for 2022 increased between 2.0%3.0% and 5.5%4.5% in 20192022 over the level in effect in 20182021 to help maintain market competitiveness and based on theour Compensation and Governance Committee’s assessment of internal rolesandroles and contributions.

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION

Annual Cash Incentive Payment.    All of theour NEOs and many other management andnon-management-level employees (approximately 12,13316,905 employees) participated in the 20192022 Edwards Incentive Plan (the “Incentive Plan”).

The Our Compensation and Governance Committee establishes for each NEO the amount of incentive payment that will be earned for targeted performance, referred to as the “Incentive Pay Objective.” TheOur Compensation and Governance Committee utilizesgenerally sets the Incentive Pay Objective at a level so that the total cash compensation (base salary plus incentive payment for expected performance) for theour NEOs will be at approximately the median of executives at comparable positions in the Comparator Group. TheOur Compensation and Governance Committee then considers performance results to determine the actual cash incentive payments.


As described above, and discussed in more detail below, in applying its discretion, the Compensation Committee may reduce, but may not increase,actual Incentive Plan amount earned by each NEO is determined based on our financial performance, KOD achievement, and the cash incentive payment.

executive's individual performance.

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The accompanying “Grants of Plan-Based Awards in Fiscal Year 2019”2022” table below reports the maximum amounts payable and the Incentive Pay Objective (called the “Target” in the table) established for each NEO.

TheNEO for 2022 as well as the maximum amount that could have been earned by each NEO under the Incentive Plan for NEOs in 2019 provided that achievement at2022 had the thresholdmaximum performance levels been attained (which for each NEO is 200% of any one of three Company financial measures (revenue growth, net incomethe NEO’s Incentive Pay Objective).


Incentive Plan Funding—Components and free cash flow) would result in initial funding for the Incentive Plan. Then, thePerformance Measures

Our Compensation Committee applied its discretion in atwo-step process to determine the final annual cash incentive payments for the NEOs. Each of these two steps is discussed below:

(1)

Incentive Plan Funding

The Compensationand Governance Committee, after consultation with management, sets annual incentive performance goals each year for achievement of financial measures and KODs. Financial measures arenon-GAAP calculations generally on the same basis as contained in our financial guidance, subject to further adjustment to account for material developments during the year. In February 2019, the2022, our Compensation and Governance Committee initially establishedselected revenue growth (50% weighting); earnings per share (30% weighting); and free cash flow (20% weighting) as the financial measures atunder the Incentive Plan for 2022 and initially established the minimum, target, and maximum financial measure performance levels set forth in the chart below.

Incentive Plan funding is determined after results of achievement of the predetermined Our Compensation and Governance Committee chooses financial measures that are tied to our performance which is intended to motivate and KODs are known.

The following illustration shows how the Incentive Plan is funded.

Financial

Measure

Achievement (%)

X

Key Operating

Driver

Achievement (%)

=

Actual

Incentive Plan

Funding (%)

Initially, the Board assesses the percentage of achievement ofpre-established Company financial measures. reward executives for our Company’s annual performance. No funding is earned if actual performance associated with at least one of the financial goals does not exceed thepre-established minimum threshold. All three thresholds were exceeded in 2019. Achievement of the maximum level specified for each financial goal would result in fundinga financial achievement multiplier of 175%.


Our Compensation and Governance Committee also established the Key Operating Drivers, or KODs, used under the Incentive Plan for this measure2022.The KODs are a rigorous set of milestones and metrics that are used throughout our Company to manage annual objectives at 175%.

For 2019,a more granular level. Annually, our financial goals, and the corresponding weightings, were as follows: revenue growth (50% weighting); net income (30% weighting); and free cash flow (20% weighting). The following table sets forth the target level for each goal as well as the level of achievement required to reach the various levels of financial measure achievement. Interpolation is applied for results between the levels shown in the chart.

Based on the performance levels in the chart below,Board approves our financial measures funded at 151%.

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION

2019 Company Financial Performance Measures*

   Percentage of Financial Measure Achievement  
   Minimum
(25%)
  Target
(100%)
  Maximum
(175%)
  Actual
(%)
  

Underlying Revenue Growth – 50% Weight

    8.0%    10.5%    15.5%    15.3%  

Adjusted Net Income ($M) – 30% Weight

   $  995   $  1,048   $  1,100   $  1,048  

Adjusted Free Cash Flow ($M) – 20% Weight

   $752   $827   $902   $991     

*

“Underlying Revenue Growth” is a non-GAAP item. Refer to Appendix A for a reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. Adjusted Net Income used in setting and determining compensation is not calculated in accordance with GAAP and excludes intellectual property litigation expenses, amortization of intangible assets, fair value adjustments to contingent consideration liabilities, the purchase of intellectual property, impairment of long-lived assets, and the tax benefit from stock based compensation. Adjusted Free Cash Flow is also a non-GAAP financial measure that is defined as cash flows from operating activities less capital expenditures and excluding the tax benefit from stock based compensation and payments related to a litigation settlement, net of the associated tax benefit. As to each measure, the percentage of achievement is determined on a straight-line basis for actual performance between the minimum and target, or between the target and maximum, levels.

The financial measure achievement is multiplied by the level of achievement ofpre-established KODs. Management proposes and the Board reviews and approves the KODs each year to address specific business initiatives derived from ourCompany’s Strategic Imperatives, and operating plans.it is from these Strategic Imperatives that the KODs are derived. The KODs addresscontemplate near and long-term objectives of our multi-year strategy, and the KODs are how we translate these strategic goals into specific tangible and measurable progress towardquantifiable metrics to be achieved in any given year, holding all employees, including executives, accountable for our Company’s and their own performance.


For 2022, there were four Strategic Imperatives approved by our Board of Directors from which the KODs were derived:

Lead the global expansion of TAVR and focusestablish TAVR as the executive team onstandard of care for aortic stenosis
Transform the areastreatment of mitral and strategictricuspid valve disease
Strengthen and expand global presence in surgical heart valves and critical care
Prioritize culture, talent, and capabilities that support execution of the strategy

Underlying these Strategic Imperatives are approximately 80 specific KOD metrics and milestones relating to, among other things, research and development, commercial and financial milestones in each of the four business units, key initiatives most importantto increase patient access to our future success.therapies and specific milestones for global supply chain as it relates to launches of products, supply, capacity, quality, productivity, service and capabilities. We have establisheddo not disclose our KODs in detail because we believe doing so would cause a rangemeaningful competitive disadvantage.Approximately 25% of performance for each KOD with the expectation that the target range should be achievable with the expected level of performance.KODs include a financial component. Performance within the expected range results in a multiplier of 100%. Performance below the range is consideredsub-optimal and will result in a discount to the financial measure. Performance above the range is considered extraordinary and results in a multiplier above 100%. The aggregate KOD multiplier may not exceed 150%.

In 2019, there were four KODs:

Lead

Incentive Plan funding is determined after results of achievement of the expansionpredetermined financial measures and KODs are known.

The following illustration shows how the Incentive Plan is funded.

Financial
Measure
Achievement (%)

X

Key Operating
Driver
Achievement (%)

=

Actual
Incentive Plan
Funding (%)

Incentive Plan Funding—2022 Actual Incentive Plan Funding Results

The following table shows the target level for each financial goal under the 2022 Incentive Plan, the level of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacementachievement required to reach the minimum and acceleratemaximum achievement levels, and our actual 2022 performance against the treatmentgoal. Interpolation is applied for results between the levels shown in the chart and no portion of aortic stenosis

Transform the treatmentincentive corresponding to a particular goal will be earned if actual performance falls short of mitralthe threshold minimum level for that goal.






36


2022 Company Financial Performance Measures*

Percentage of Financial Measure Achievement
Minimum (25%)Target
(100%)
Maximum (175%)Actual
(%)
Revenue Growth – 50% Weight4%12%20%8%
Earnings per Share ($) – 30% Weight$2.06$2.58$3.09$2.48
Free Cash Flow ($M) – 20% Weight$1,100$1,350$1,600$1,100

*     Earnings per share used in setting and tricuspid valve disease

Strengthen global leadershipdetermining compensation is not calculated in surgical heart valve, critical careaccordance with GAAP and adjacent opportunities

Strengthen capabilitiesreflects adjustments for items such as intellectual property litigation expenses, amortization of intangible assets, fair value adjustments to contingent consideration liabilities arising from acquisitions, and talenta significant program discontinuation. Free Cash Flow is also a non-GAAP financial measure that is defined as cash flows from operating activities less capital expenditures and, on a non-GAAP basis, Free cash flow was determined excluding the impact of two non-recurring items: (i) a prepayment of property taxes due in 2023 and (ii) a one-time IP settlement amount; this adjustment resulted in a payout increase from 63% to execute key initiatives

the actual funding of 69%.


Based on actual performance against the financial goals, our overall financial measure achievement multiplier for 2022 was 61%. The financial measure achievement is then multiplied by the KOD level of achievement. After evaluating actual achievement of approximately 80 different metrics and milestones underlying these KODs, theour Board determined in its judgment that the overall KOD performanceachievement multiplier for 20192022 was 97%113%.

Based on the formula above, combining financial performance of 151%61% with KOD performance of 97%113%, theour Compensation and Governance Committee arrived at a corporatean actual calculated Incentive Plan funding of 146%69%.

(2)

Individual Performance


Incentive Plan Funding—Individual Performance

Individual performance objectives for theour CEO are established collaborativelyapproved by the CEOour Compensation and the CompensationGovernance Committee, and the individual performance objectives for theour other NEOs are established collaboratively by theour CEO and each such executive. TheOur Compensation and Governance Committee believes each executive has an appropriate number of meaningful individual performance objectives. The individual performance objectives are chosen to create goals, the attainment of which is designed to implement our strategic and operating plans, with a focus on the achievement of the financial measures and operational goals within each executive’s individual area of responsibility.


These objectives are considered in the aggregate to determine an overall performance assessment for each NEO for the purposes of determining compensation. Although some of the individual performance objectives are expressed in qualitative terms that require subjective evaluation, objectives also include several quantitative measures. However, the assessment of the overall performance for each NEO involves a subjective process. TheOur CEO reviews the performance of each NEO (other than theour CEO) with theour Compensation and Governance Committee and recommends a performance assessment for each executive. TheOur Compensation and Governance Committee assesses theour CEO’s performance. TheOur Compensation and Governance Committee then exercises subjective judgment, reviewing the individual performance objectives, the overall performance of the individual executive

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION

against all of his or her individual objectives, taken together, and the executive’s performance relative to the environment and to other executives. There is no formal weighting of the individual performance objectives. Individual performance may impact an executive’s cash incentive payment, subject to an overall cap on incentive payments of 200% of the Incentive Pay Objective.



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The individual performance objectives for theour CEO and theour other NEOs and the factors considered by theour Compensation and Governance Committee for 20192022 are described below.


NEO

NEO

2019

2022 Performance Objectives and Factors Considered
by theour Compensation and Governance Committee

Mr. Mussallem

Develop and deploy strategy; drive our strategic imperatives through KOD achievement; achieve Company financial goals; increase long-term shareholder value; attract and retain a diverse, talented team; promote a strong culture consistent with our Credo and Aspirations; and provide leadership as Board Chairman.

  TheOur Compensation and Governance Committee found that Mr. Mussallem broadly achieved all of his objectives, noting that Edwards’ financial results demonstrated impressive growth, and that he had overseenled a remarkable patient-focused strategy with continued focus on important therapy innovations and infrastructure-relatedinnovations. Infrastructure-related strategic initiatives intended to drive longer term growth and success. Thesuccess were executed as our Company was recognized for our sustainability program and significant community engagement. Our Company fortified our strong patient-focused culture sustainability program and community engagement. Overall, Mr. Mussallem delivered above-expectation financial results highlighted by strong profitability despite product launch delays. Theexpanded our diversity and inclusion initiatives to strengthen our innovation strategy. Our Company continued to deliver superiorfocus on delivering long-term shareholder returns compared to benchmarks while investing aggressively in our technology pipeline and infrastructure necessary to support future initiatives.

growth. Mr. Mussallem led our Company’s rigorous CEO succession plan to establish and announce a thoughtful executive leadership transition.

Mr. Ullem

Zovighian

  EnsureDevelop, evolve and execute the Company’s financial reporting maintainsstrategy for the highest integrity;Transcatheter Mitral and Tricuspid business to drive tonew product introductions, deliver sales growth and achieve 2019 strategic imperatives, KODs and financial goals; maintain a high standard of investor relations; optimize capital deployment and; enhance stockholder returns; execute company-wide Information Technologydrive innovation and enterprise risk management initiatives;2022 product development KODs; attract and retain a diverse, talented team; and promote a strong culture consistent with our Credo and Aspirations.

  TheOur Compensation and Governance Committee noted that under Mr. Ullem demonstrated strong overall performanceZovighian’s leadership, our Company maintained focus on TMTT key value drivers, developing best-in-class innovation, building a body of evidence to support approval and adoption, and delivering superior real world patient outcomes. Most noteworthy, our Company achieved early approval of the PASCAL technology in both Europe and the role of Chief Financial Officer. Specifically, he led the continuedUnites States. Under his leadership, his team achieved 2022 product development of solid financial planning and issuance of timely and accurate financial reports,KODs; continued to build investor confidence, implemented strategic changes to facilitate favorable impact from the “Tax Cutsa diverse, industry-leading team; and Jobs Act”promoted a strong culture consistent with our Credo and optimized the Company’s capital structure to enhance shareholder returns, improved risk mitigation through enterprise risk management, deployed several global information technology enhancements to strengthen Edwards’ infrastructure, and focused on global talent development.

Aspirations.

Mr. Bobo

Ullem

  DevelopEnsure the integrity of Edwards’ financial reporting; drive to achieve 2022 strategic imperatives, KODs and implement Edwards’ corporate strategy, establish and execute business development goals that advance our strategy, provide leadershipfinancial goals; maintain a high standard of investor relations; optimize capital deployment; expand Information Technology’s capabilities to our Healthcare solution team, develop and advance our emerging heart failure and disease awareness initiatives;support growth; actively manage enterprise risks; attract and retain a diverse, talented team; and promote a strong culture consistent with our Credo and Aspirations.

  TheOur Compensation and Governance Committee noted that even under continued difficult circumstances of the pandemic, Mr. Bobo’s leadershipUllem demonstrated strong overall performance in the strengtheningrole of Chief Financial Officer. Specifically, despite the significant stock price decline, he advanced efforts to increase engagement with stockholders, led effective financial planning and executionthe issuance of our innovation-driven strategy including advancing ourtimely and accurate financial reports, improved risk mitigation through enterprise risk management, deployed key global disease awareness initiatives; the successful executioninformation technology enhancements to strengthen Edwards’ management of business development transactions that advanced our pipeline, strengthened key initiativesdata, and complemented our internal investments;expanded diversity and leadership of our heart-failure and CardioCare initiatives.

inclusion programs.

Mr. Lemercier

Develop, evolve and execute the regional business strategy for Europe, Canada, and Latin America;America as well as the Japan and Asia Pacific regions beginning August 1, 2022; drive new product introductions, consistently deliver sales growth and achieve financial goals for Europe, Eastern Europe, Middle East, Africa, Canada, and Latin America;global regions excluding the United States; drive innovation and enhance leadership in key franchises; ensure the proper funding from the different healthcare systems supporting our innovative technologies across the Region; attract and retain a diverse, talented team; and promote a strong culture consistent with our Credo and Aspirations.

  TheOur Compensation and Governance Committee noted that despite recurring significant circumstances of the pandemic, Mr. Lemercier’s leadership abilities to continually achieve strongachieved solid regional results, specifically driven by multiplenew product indications, product launches, geography expansion, a focus on regulatory and government affairs and regulatory, and patient engagement. In particular, there was expanded adoption and new indication achieved for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement as well asImportantly, he led the continued introduction of newtransformative Transcatheter Mitral and Tricuspid Therapies.therapies, pursuing leadership in this emerging field, as well as driving strong transcatheter aortic heart valve, surgical structural heart and critical care initiatives. His team also enhanced customer operations, prepared for EU MDR readinessEdwards’ participation within the MedTech European trade association with a focus on cardiovascular disease awareness in Europe and had continued focus on talent development and community philanthropy across all geographies.

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION

NEO

2019 Performance Objectives and Factors Considered by the Compensation Committee (Continued)

Mr. Wood

Develop, evolve and execute the strategy for the Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement business to strengthen our leadership position; consistently deliver sales growth and achieve the financial goals for the Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement business; drive innovation and 20192022 product development KODs; attract and retain a diverse, talented team; and promote a strong culture consistent with our Credo and Aspirations.

  The Our Compensation and Governance Committee noted that under Mr. Wood’s leadership, Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement financial results wereour Company delivered solid revenue growth in 2022 in spite of the challenging environment that included hospital staffing challenges and COVID related lockdowns. Edwards continued our strong patient focus with on-site case support globally and significantly exceeded the original 2019 expectations. In addition, Edwards was the first company to receive both FDA approval and CE Mark for TAVRpresent in the treatment of patients at low risk for surgery as a resultgreat majority of the randomized PARTNER 3 Trial results published in The New England Journal of Medicine.cases. His team also advancedlaunched the SAPIEN 3 Ultra valve, introducing it to cliniciansRESILIA platform in the U.S.US which strengthened our leadership position. Our Company also received regulatory approval in Japan for SAPIEN 3 Ultra RESILIA. Mr. Wood continued to advance two ground-breaking indication expansion trials, early TAVR studying severe AS patients without symptoms, and Europe. In summary, 2019 was marked by meaningful indication expansions for patients, increased awareness among clinicians and patients about TAVR, and continued technology leadership that is demonstrating improved patient outcomes.

the Progress Trial studying moderate AS patients.


Incentive Plan Funding—Amounts Earned

Each NEO’s actual Incentive Plan amount earned for 2022 was determined by multiplying the NEO’s target Incentive Plan Objective by the financial achievement at 61% of target, the KOD achievement at 113% of target, and the individual performance percentage modifier for the executive (subject to the overall maximum Incentive Plan payment of 200% of the NEO’s Incentive Plan Objective). Each NEO’s actual Incentive Plan amount earned for 2022 is included in the “Summary Compensation Table” below.
Committee Review Process.    The    Our Compensation and Governance Committee generally meets each January and February to review and approve annual incentive payments for the prior year and to set incentive performance targets for the current year. The Compensation Committee may adjust the incentive payment levels based on financial measure achievement, KOD achievement, individual performance, and TSR. In February 2020, after reviewing the Company’s 2019 performance versus financial2023, our Compensation and operational goals, TSR performance, and business unit performance, the CompensationGovernance Committee awardeddetermined incentive payments to the NEOs that ranged from 139%48.3% to 158%69.0% of the Incentive Pay Objectives for theour NEOs. The payout for our CEO was 48.3% of target and the average payout for our other NEOs was 63.5% of target which supports our Compensation and Governance Committee’s recognition of our Company’s long-term achievements in 2022 but also an appreciation of it having been a challenging year for our Company. The amount awarded toapproved for each NEO for 20192022 is reported in the accompanying “Summary Compensation” table.Compensation Table.” The incentive payments were paid in March 2020.

(3)

Long-Term Incentive Awards.

2023.

Long-Term Incentive Awards.    The mix of long-term incentive awards granted to our NEOs in 20192022 included stock options, PBRSUs and RSUs. TheOur Compensation and Governance Committee views stock options as performance-based equity compensation, tying our executives’ pay directly to stockholder value creation over the long term because the value of our common stock must increase after the date of grant of the options in order for the options to have any value. Having a seven-year time horizon, stock options also promote the retention of our executives and are consistent with our focus ontop-line growth, innovation and our longer-term investment horizon and product pipeline. PBRSU awards measurevest based on relative TSR, which theour Compensation and Governance Committee believes is a straightforward and objective metric for our stockholders to evaluate our performance against the performance of other companies and to align with stockholder interests. As the RSU awards have value regardless of stock price performance, they help promote the stability and retention of a strong executive team over the longer term (vesting schedules generally require continuous service over multiple years, as described below).

Of the total 20192022 long-term incentive awards granted to each of our NEOs, the grant values ofapproved by our Compensation and Governance Committee were weighted 55% stock options, were weighted 55%,25% PBRSUs, were weighted 25%, and 20% time-based RSUs were weighted 20%.RSUs. We believe measuringrewarding a combination of absolute TSR (through stock options) and relative TSR (through PBRSUs), and providing stock-denominated time-based vesting RSUs, results in a balance between these incentives that appropriately aligns our executives’ pay with stockholder value while promoting the stability and retention of the executive team. Given the different risk and reward characteristics of these three types of awards and our executive compensation philosophy, theour Compensation and Governance Committee believes that the equity awards granted to executives should compriseinclude a greater proportion of stock options and PBRSUs relative to RSUs.

Stock Options.Stock options granted in 20192022 to Mr. UllemMessrs. Mussallem, Lemercier and Mr. Wood vest annually over four years and have a seven-year term. Stock options granted to Mr. Mussallem, Mr. Lemercierterm and Mr. Bobo vest monthly over 36 months, consistent with the vesting standards established by theour Company for its stock option grants to executives who are retirement-eligible which refers to those employees who are 55 years or older with 10 years of service. Stock options granted to Messrs. Ullem and Zovighian have a seven-year term.term and vest annually over four years as they were not retirement-eligible at the time of grant. Stock options granted during 20192022 have an exercise price equal to the closing price on the day of the regular Board meeting held on the next day following Compensation and Governance Committee approval.

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approval as that was the effective date of grant for these options.


EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION

39



PBRSUs.PBRSUs awarded in 20192022 are based on relative TSR performance as measured for the performance period beginning April 30, 20192022 and ending April 30, 2022.2025. The percentage of the target PBRSU awards that will vest at the end of the three-year performance period depends on the percentage by which our annualized TSR exceeds or falls short of the median annualized TSR (calculated assuming dividend reinvestment) of the SPSIHE Subset (as defined below). The chart below illustrates the maximum, target and threshold performance levels and the PBRSU payout at each level.

level (with the payout level determined on a pro-rata basis for actual performance between the levels shows in the chart).

2019

2022 PBRSU

Performance

Levels

Annualized TSR vs Median of
SPSIHE Subset

Payout as a

Percentage of

Target Award

Maximum    +7.5% or more points from median175%

Maximum

Target
    Median

    +7.5%100%

Threshold    -7.5% points from median

175%    
25%

Target

No Payout

    Median

100%

Threshold

    More than -7.5% points from median

25%
0%

No Payout

    More than-7.5% points from median

0%

The maximum and threshold performance levels applicable to the awards were set at levels that theour Compensation and Governance Committee believed were consistent with the historical 75th and 25th percentile levels, respectively, for the TSRs of the SPSIHE Subset. The “SPSIHE Subset” is a subset of 25 companies in the S&P Healthcare Equipment Select Industry Index that are also onin the S&P 500 Index or S&P 400 Midcap Index. We believe this group is a strong comparator for performance purposes as it includes companies of comparable in size to our Company with similar business models.

RSUs.RSUs awarded in 20192022 to our NEOs vest 25% annually over four years on each anniversary of the NEOsaward date, subject to continued employment of the award recipient through the applicable vesting date. RSUs awarded prior to February 2020 vest 50% on the third and fourth anniversaries of the award date, subject to continued employment of the award recipient through the applicable vesting date.

At theour Compensation and Governance Committee meeting immediately preceding the stockholder meeting in May of each year, theour Compensation and Governance Committee generally determines the size of the long-term incentive award for each NEO. In keeping with our commitment to provide a total compensation package that emphasizesat-risk components of pay, long-term incentives for 20192022 comprised, on average, 68%72% of the value of theour NEO’s target total direct compensation package.

For 2019, the2022, our CEO evaluated each NEO’s performance (other than his own), as discussed previously (see “Compensation Process” above), and establishedmade specific recommendations as to their equity award levels for theour Compensation and Governance Committee’s consideration. Accordingly, theOur Compensation and Governance Committee establishedapproved awards for theour NEOs (other than theour CEO) based on, taking into account these recommendations and theour Compensation and Governance Committee’s assessment of the factors noted above for each executive. TheOur Compensation and Governance Committee, with input from the full Board, evaluated theour CEO’s performance using the same criteria as discussed above in “Compensation Process” to establish the appropriate award for theour CEO. Equity awards are granted under the Company’s Long-Term Stock Incentive Compensation Program (the “Long-Term Stock Program”), which was lasthas been approved by the stockholders in May 2017. The equity awards granted to the NEOs for 2019 are set forth in the accompanying “Grants of Plan — Based Awards in Fiscal Year 2019” table below.

stockholders.

Value of Equity Awarded in 2019.    In granting equity awards, the Compensation Committee values stock2022.    Stock options are valued as of the grant date using the Black-Scholes valuation model,model. The Black-Scholes valuation used by our Compensation and Governance Committee in granting the equity awards, is the same valuation used by our Company in measuring and recognizing compensation expense.  RSUs and PBRSUs are valued at the fair market value of the underlying shares on the grant date, with the value of PBRSUs based on the “target” level of performance. Under applicable accounting rules, however, the grant-date fair value of the PBRSUs awarded to our NEOs is calculated for purposes of our financial reporting using a Monte Carlo simulation pricing model. The PBRSUs are included as compensation for our NEOs in the “Summary Compensation Table” based on this valuation methodology. For information on the assumptions used in this fair value computation, refer to Note 14 of the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” in the 2019our 2022 Annual Report. TheOur Compensation and Governance Committee does not apply the Monte Carlo simulation when it determines the number of PBRSUs to be awarded to an executive (instead basing the value of a PBRSU on the fair market value of the underlying “target” number of shares on the grant date) to simplify the award process and provide more consistent award sizing (based on the number of shares subject to the awards) from year to year.

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION

The following chart shows the values of the PBRSU awards approved by theour Compensation and Governance Committee in 20192022 that were used to determine the number of shares subject to the awards (based on the $177.77$105.93 closing price per share of our common stock on May 3, 2022, the grant date for the PBRSUs, and calculated at the “target” level of performance and without taking the Monte Carlo simulation pricing model into account), as well as the accounting grant-dategrant-

40


date fair value of the PBRSUs we are required to use under applicable SEC rules to report in the “Summary Compensation Table” (calculated as noted in the footnotes to the “Summary Compensation Table,” and including the impact of the Monte Carlo simulation pricing model).

   2019 PBRSU Awards  

Name

  Value
Based on
May 8, 2019
Stock Price
  

Value Required

to be Included

in Summary

    Compensation    

Table

  

Mr. Mussallem

   $1,924,360   $2,099,509  

Mr. Ullem

    502,200    547,909  

Mr. Bobo

    426,648    465,480  

Mr. Lemercier

    288,876    315,169  

Mr. Wood

    448,869    489,724     


 2022 PBRSU Awards
NameValue Based on Grant Date Fair Market ValueValue Required
to be Included
in Summary Compensation
Table
Mr. Mussallem$ 2,812,4423,332,025
Mr. Ullem  662,063784,375
Mr. Lemercier (1)
  1,113,3391,337,137
Mr. Wood  587,912696,525
Mr. Zovighian550,836652,600
(1)    These amounts for Mr. Lemercier include both his annual equity award in May 2022 and the additional grant he received in July 2022 described below under “Recent Compensation Decisions” as disclosed in the Grant of Plan-Based Awards tablebelow.

The equity awards granted to our NEOs in 2022, and the grant-date fair value of all the long-term incentivethese awards, granted by the Company to the NEOs in 2019 is includedset forth in the “Grants of Plan-Based Awards in Fiscal Year 2019”2022” table below.


Determination as to 20162019 PBRSU Awards.    In May 2016, the2019, our Compensation and Governance Committee granted awards of PBRSUs to certain of our executives. For these awards to vest, Edwards’ TSR for the three-year performance period ending April 30, 2022 had to reachbe at or above -7.5% points from the 25th percentile relative to thatmedian TSR of the other companies that were listed in the SPSIHE Subset on the grant date and were still publicly traded on April 30, 2019,2022. Edwards’ TSR for that performance period, and the last day of the three-year performance period. Edwards’ percentile ranking compared toTSR levels that would have resulted in payout at the threshold, target, and maximum percentile ranks of the SPSIHE Subset as of April 30, 2019, as well as the3-year TSRs relative to each levellevels, are as follows:

2016 PBRSU

Performance

Levels

  Rank of SPSIHE
Subset
  

TSR Over

Three-Year

Period

  

Payout as a

    Percentage of    

Target Award

Maximum

  75th Percentile    30.17%    175%

Target

  50th Percentile    22.59%    100%

Threshold

  25th Percentile    15.15%    25%

Edwards

  38th Percentile    20.25%    75.77%

The

2019 PBRSU
Performance
Levels
Company’s TSR vs
Median of SPSIHE Subset
TSR Over
Three-Year
Period
Payout as a
Percentage of
Target Award
Maximum+7.5% points from Median17.81%175%
TargetMedian10.31%100%
Threshold-7.5% points from Median2.81%25%
Edwards +14.55% points from Median24.86%175%
Our Compensation and Governance Committee determined that as of April 30, 20192022 our relative TSR was at +14.55% points above the 38th percentilemedian and, accordingly, 75.77%175% of the target award for each executive vested. Amounts realized by our NEOs attributable to these awards can be found in the “Option Exercises and Stock Vested in Fiscal Year 2019”2022” table below.


Recent Compensation Decisions. On July 7, 2022, in connection with our Board’s appointment of Mr. Lemercier to an expanded leadership role to include Japan, Asia Pacific and Greater China in addition to Europe, Middle East, Africa, Canada and Latin America and in lieu of receiving the Company’s May 2023 annual grant, our Board approved the following equity grants: 54,500 stock options, 6,100 RSUs and 7,625 PBRSUs. For additional information on these grants see “Recent Compensation Decisions” as disclosed in the Grant of Plan-Based Awards table below. In addition, Mr. Lemercier's incentive pay objective under our Company's annual cash incentive plan was increased to $561,957.

In December 2022, in connection with Mr. Zovighian being named as Mr. Mussallem's successorre and being appointed President during the transition, our Board approved an increase to Mr. Zovighian’s base salary level to $800,000 annually and increased his incentive pay objective under our Company’s annual cash incentive plan to $800,000, in each case effective January 1, 2023.In connection with the Board’s appointment of Larry Wood to an expanded role as corporate vice president and group president, Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement and Surgical Structural Heart effective January 1, 2023, our Board approved an increase in Mr. Wood’s base salary level to $750,000 annually and increased his incentive pay objective under our Company’s annual cash incentive plan to $750,000, in each case effective January 1, 2023.

Stock Ownership Guidelines and Holding Requirement.    Under our guidelines, executives are expected to own shares of Edwards’ stock as follows:

41


CEO

Other NEOs

CEOOther NEOs
6 times base salary3 times base salary

All of theour NEOs are in compliance with the


ownership guidelines.

guidelines and/or the holding requirements as of the date of the filing of this proxy statement.

Stock ownership guidelines were established to create additional owner commitment and to emphasize stockholder value creation. Expected ownership levels are adjusted as the executives’ annual base salaries change. Executives who have not met the guidelines must hold 50% of the net shares of our common stock acquired in connection with the exercise of stock options and the vesting of restricted stock, RSU awards, and RSUPBRSU awards (after satisfaction of applicable taxes and, in the case of

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION

options, payment of the exercise price) until the guidelines are met. In the event an executive achieved the guideline but was unable to maintain the ownership level due to a decline in the price of our common stock, the 50% holding requirement is reinstated.

Prohibition on Pledging and Hedging.    We have adopted a policy prohibiting all members of theour Board, all employees with a title of “vice president” equivalent or above, and any other employee designated as a “Designated Insider” from time to time under our insider trading policy, from pledging or hedging theour Company’s securities. Pledging includes holding theour Company’s securities in a margin account or otherwise pledging theour Company’s securities as collateral for a loan. Hedging includes entering into short sales, options, puts, calls and sales against the box, as well as hedging of theour Company’s securities or derivative transactions including equity swaps, forwards, futures, collars and exchange funds. To our knowledge, none of our NEOs have engaged in hedgingpledging or pledginghedging with respect to our common stock.

Market Timing of Equity Awards.    We do not have any program, plan or practice to time equity grants in coordination with the release of material information. Annual equity awards for theour NEOs are generally approved at theour Compensation and Governance Committee meeting in May of each year and awarded on the date of theour Board meeting immediately following that Committee Meeting.meeting. Any other equity awards to theour NEOs, including grants to new hires, are generally made on the date of the next regularly scheduled Board meeting.

Benefits and Perquisites.    The    Our NEOs are eligible to participate in employee benefit programs generally offered to other of our employees employed in the same jurisdiction as theour NEO including, for all NEOs employed in the United States, the Edwards Lifesciences Corporation 401(k) Savings and Investment Plan (“401(k)”), which provides for a Company matching contribution. Beginning in 2018, theOur Company matches employee 401(k) contributions dollar for dollar up to the first 4% of a participant’s eligible cash compensation, and 50% onof the next 2%. of eligible cash compensation. In addition, we provide certain other perquisites to our NEOs described below that are not generally available to our employees.

The

Our Compensation and Governance Committee conducts an annual review of the competitiveness of our perquisite program, including its individual components and levels, against the perquisite programs of companies in the Comparator Group. As a result of these reviews, theour Compensation and Governance Committee may make adjustments from time to time in the benefits and perquisites provided as it determines to be appropriate.

We believe that providing perquisites enhances the competitiveness of the executive’s compensation in a relatively inexpensive way. These perquisites are described below and reported in the “Summary Compensation Table.”

Our perquisite program for theour NEOs includes the following:

Car Allowance.    An annual


Allowances. Effective January 1, 2022, perquisite allowances were removed from our perquisite program, except that certain payments were made to Mr. Lemercier as we believe they are competitive for similar positions in the Swiss market. These include a car allowance is paid as follows: $13,200of $27,638 and a housing allowance of $31,512 for the CEO, and $10,800 for the other U.S.-based NEOs. An executive residing outside of the U.S. is entitled to an amount in local currency that provides the executive with similar car benefits as those received by an executive in the U.S. The car allowance is intended to cover expenses related to the lease, purchase, insurance, and maintenance of a vehicle, and mileage for business use. It is provided in recognition of the need to have executives visit customers, business partners, and other stakeholders in order to fulfill their job responsibilities.

2022.


Executive Physical Examination.    The    Our Company paid up to $2,149 for each annual executive physical examination received by a NEO. This benefit encourages the proactive management of the executive’s health, helping best position the executive team to be able to address the ongoing andday-to-day issues we face.

Perquisite Allowance.    NEOs receive a fixed annual allowance for certain expenses. The CEO receives $40,000 (including one club membership that is being used for corporate business purposes, at a cost of $6,190 in 2019), and the other NEOs each receive $20,000. This benefit recognizes the diverse nature of expenses that have a business nexus that may be incurred by our executives. The allowance may also be used to cover certain personal financial, estate and tax planning costs, as we believe that it is appropriate for the executives to have professional assistance in managing their total compensation, permitting them to focus their full attention on growing and managing our business.

Pension. Mr. Lemercier participates in our pension plan applicable to our salaried employees at our Nyon, Switzerland facility (see the section “Pension Benefits” below). WeOther than our 401(k) plan described above, we do not have any pension plans in which any of the other NEOs participate.

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION

42



Deferred Compensation.    We have adopted a deferred compensation plan for theour NEOs and certain other management employees to enable them to save for retirement by deferring their income and the associated tax to a future date or termination of employment. Under the Executive Deferred Compensation Plan (the “EDCP”), return on compensation deferred by participants is based on investment alternatives selected by the participant. We believe that the EDCP is comparable to similar plans offered by companies in the Comparator Group.

The amounts deferred and accrued under the EDCP for theour NEOs are reported below in the “Summary Compensation Table” and the “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans” table.

Employment and Post-Termination Agreements.    We have entered into an employment agreement with theour CEO, as well aschange-in-control severance agreements (the“change-in-control “change-in-control severance agreements”) with theour CEO and our other NEOs as discussed below. Mr. Bobo, Mr. Lemercier, Mr.Messrs. Ullem, Wood, and Mr. WoodZovighian are eligible to participate in a general severance plan for eligible U.S. employees, and Mr. Lemercier is eligible to receive severance benefits, in each case upon an involuntarya qualifying termination of employment due to the elimination of their position or a reduction in workforce.

employment.

Chief Executive Officer Employment Agreement.    We entered into an amended and restated employment agreement with Mr. Mussallem on March 9, 2009, which was approved by theour Compensation and Governance Committee and provides for, among other things, his appointment as Chief Executive Officer, an annual base salary, bonus and long-term incentive awards as determined by theour Board, and, in certain circumstances, severance payments upon termination of employment. The agreement renews automatically for successiveone-year terms.

Mr. Mussallem’s base salary is reviewed and may be adjusted annually based on theour Compensation and Governance Committee’s review of the Comparator Group data in consultation with the Compensation Consultant, and Mr. Mussallem’s performance. TheOur Compensation and Governance Committee followed the same philosophy and programs described above for executives in determining 20192022 compensation for Mr. Mussallem. In addition, theour Compensation and Governance Committee reviewed a tally sheet, which affixed a dollar amount to all components of Mr. Mussallem’s compensation, including current compensation, equity awards and benefits.

The

Our Compensation and Governance Committee believes, after reviewing Mr. Mussallem’s target total direct compensation, individual performance, and contribution to our financial results during 2019,2022, that Mr. Mussallem’s total compensation and each component thereof were in line with our compensation philosophy and objectives.

If Mr. Mussallem’s employment is involuntarily terminated by us without “cause,” as defined in the employment agreement, we are required to pay certain severance benefits, provided he is not receiving the severance benefits under hischange-in-control severance agreement. The material terms of the severance arrangement are described in the section “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control” below.

Change-in-Control Severance Agreements.    We have entered into agreements with theour NEOs pursuant to which such individuals will be provided certain payments and benefits in the event of termination of employment following a change in control of theour Company. We believe that these agreements enhance the likelihood of retaining the services of the executives in the event we were to become an acquisition target and allow theour NEOs to continue to focus their attention on our business operations, stockholder value and the attainment of long-term and short-term objectives without undue concern over their employment or financial situations. The material terms of the agreements are described in the section “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control,”Control” below.

We believe that the level of severance payments provided under these agreements is fair and reasonable based on the value we would derive from the services provided by the executives withchange-in-control severance agreements prior to, and following, a change in control.

Tax Implications – Policy Regarding Section 162(m).Federal income tax law generally prohibits a publicly-held company from deducting compensation paid to a current or former NEO that exceeds $1 million during the tax year. Certain awards granted by theour Company before November 2, 2017 that were based upon attainingpre-established performance measures set by theour Compensation and Governance Committee, as well as amounts payable to former executives pursuant to a written binding contract that was in effect on November 2, 2017, may qualify for an exception to the $1 million deductibility limit. There can be no assurance that any compensation theour Compensation and Governance Committee intended to be deductible will in fact be deductible.

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION

Although the potential deductibility of compensation is one of the factors theour Compensation and Governance Committee notes when designing theour Company’s executive compensation program, theour Compensation and Governance Committee has the flexibility to take any compensation-related actions it determines are in the best interests of theour Company and itsour stockholders, including awarding compensation that will not be deductible for tax purposes.

The

43


Our Compensation and Governance Committee recognizes the importance of preserving our ability to design compensation programs to attract and retain skilled and qualified individuals in a highly competitive market. TheOur Compensation and Governance Committee will continue to design salary, annual incentive bonuses and long-term incentive compensation in a manner that theour Compensation and Governance Committee believes prudent or necessary to hire and retain our NEOs, and may approvenon-deductible compensation arrangements for our executive officers from time to time when it believes that these other considerations outweigh the benefit of the tax deductibility of the compensation.

2020 Compensation Decisions.    At its February 2020 meeting, the Compensation Committee approved average base salary increases of approximately 3.6% for the NEOs to maintain market competitiveness. The Compensation Committee also approved other base salary increases to recognize performance for other executives. In addition, the Compensation Committee established the Incentive Pay Objectives and the maximum bonus for each NEO, and established the Company’s 2020 financial measures and operational goals under the Incentive Plan.


44


COMPENSATION AND GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE REPORT

The Compensation and Governance Committee has reviewed and discussed the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” disclosurecontained in this Proxy Statement with management. Based on thisits review and discussion,discussions, the Compensation and Governance Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” be included in thethis Proxy Statement distributed in connection withand incorporated by reference into the Company’s 2022 Annual Meeting.

Report on Form 10-K.

The Compensation and Governance Committee:

William

Nicholas J. Link, Ph.D.Valeriani (Chair)

Steven R. Loranger

Martha H. Marsh

Nicholas J. Valeriani

Paul A. LaViolette
This report shall not be deemed soliciting material or to be filed with the SEC, or incorporated by reference in any document so filed, whether made before or after the date hereof, except to the extent we specifically request that it be treated as soliciting material or it is specifically incorporated by reference therein.

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The “Summary Compensation Table” quantifies the value of the different forms of compensation earned by or awarded to our NEOs for 2019.2022. The primary elements of each NEO’s total compensation reported in the table are base salary, annual bonus and long-term equity incentives, consisting of stock options, PBRSUs and RSUs. NEOs also received the other benefits listed in the “All Other Compensation” column of the “Summary Compensation Table,” as further described in the footnotes to the table.


The “Summary Compensation Table” should be read in conjunction with the tables and narrative descriptions that follow. A description of the material terms of each NEO’s base salary and annual bonus is provided immediately following the “Summary Compensation Table.” The “Grants of Plan-Based Awards in Fiscal Year 2019”2022” table, and the accompanying description of the material terms of the stock options, PBRSUs, and RSUs granted in 2019,2022, provides information regarding the long-term equity incentives awarded to our NEOs in 2019.2022. The “Outstanding Equity Awards at 20192022 FiscalYear-End” and “Option Exercises and Stock Vested in Fiscal Year 2019”2022” tables provide further information on theour NEOs’ potential realizable value and actual value realized with respect to their equity awards.

2019 Post-termination benefits for our NEOs are discussed in the section “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control” below.

Summary Compensation Table

– Fiscal 2020-2022


The following table sets forth a summary, for the years indicated, of the compensation of the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer and our three other most highly compensated executive officers whose total compensation for 2019 was in excess of $100,000 and who were serving as executive officers at the end of 2019.2022. No other executive officers that would have otherwise been includable in the table on the basis of total compensation for 20192022 have been excluded by reason of their termination of employment or change in executive status during that year.

Name and

Principal Position

 Year Salary $(1) 

Bonus

$(2)

 Stock
Awards
$(3)
 Option
Awards
$(3)
 Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
$(4)
 Change in
Pension Value
and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
$(5)
 All Other
Compensation
$(6)
         Total $        

Mr. Mussallem

   2019   1,072,240      3,641,664   4,235,402   2,381,117      190,550   11,520,973

Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer

   2018   1,034,769      3,391,586   3,631,053   2,597,000      183,294   10,798,318
   2017   995,385      2,943,863   3,409,180   2,228,226      176,099   9,734,099

Mr. Ullem

   2019   619,760      1,047,907   1,098,595   756,864      47,945   3,571,071

Corporate Vice President,

Chief Financial Officer

   2018   593,628      843,514   975,537   559,944      49,207   3,021,830
   2017   569,826      855,664   914,598   800,400      44,082   3,184,570

Mr. Bobo

   2019   615,455   2,000   807,687   935,153   671,600      73,546   3,105,441

Corporate Vice President

   2018   592,999   4,000   772,062   891,964   563,790      78,584   2,903,399
   2017   573,506   2,000   821,135   881,474   802,473      68,501   3,149,089

Mr. Lemercier

   2019   576,854      546,270   633,331   555,287   804,765   197,453   3,313,960

Corporate Vice President

                  

Mr. Wood

   2019   605,791   4,000   849,708   988,184   756,864      88,736   3,293,283

Corporate Vice President

   2018   574,430   4,000   804,231   936,516   507,683         2,918,403
   2017   550,506   2,000   821,135   880,215   780,318      87,602   3,121,776

(1)

Amounts shown for 2019 include amounts that were deferred into the EDCP as follows: Mr. Mussallem – $122,611; Mr. Ullem – $0; Mr. Bobo – $27,789; Mr. Lemercier – $0, and Mr. Wood – $41,440 The EDCP is more fully described in the section following the “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans” table below.

Mr. Lemercier’s salary is paid in Swiss Francs. Mr. Lemercier’s salary is reported in this table by converting Swiss Francs to United States dollars using an exchange ratio of 1.006404 (which is the average monthly intercompany exchange rate for the year).

(2)

Amounts shown for Messrs. Bobo and Wood include awards received through our Innovation Rewards Program which compensates active employee inventors for their patent contributions to our Company.

LOGOEdwards Lifesciences Corporation2020 Proxy Statement45


Name and
Principal Position
Year
Salary $(1)
Bonus
$(2)
Stock
Awards
$
(3)
Option
Awards
$
(3)
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
$
(4)
Change in
Pension Value
and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
$
(5)
All Other
Compensation
$
(6)
Total $
        
Mr. Mussallem20221,213,0385,583,0386,186,115869,400140,55413,992,145
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer20211,153,0405,230,1755,501,1181,581,770147,20213,613,305
20201,121,2993,731,4094,232,880734,993230,35210,050,933
Mr. Ullem2022704,8161,314,0251,457,589319,64365,3263,861,399
Corporate Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer
2021664,6881,244,4511,306,053573,03681,1753,869,403
2020647,07949,5831,091,0841,236,859262,50098,8603,385,965
Mr. Lemercier2022665,635
2,228,867 (7)
2,446,507 (7)
361,414(5)208,6895,911,112
Corporate Vice President2021654,236693,922728,243532,209433,522239,5173,281,649
2020625,360604,174688,517254,7461,925,308246,8104,344,915
Mr. Wood2022695,3362,0001,165,2651,293,106337,23865,8763,558,821
Corporate Vice President2021658,0632,0001,114,0851,170,952567,41877,7263,590,244
2020639,273968,3691,097,961273,000101,1143,079,717
Mr. Zovighian2022641,9221,092,2101,209,870344,86249,5633,338,427
Corporate Vice President
(1)    The amounts shown for 2022 include amounts that were deferred into the EDCP as follows: Mr. Mussallem – $173,521; Mr. Ullem – $57,566; Mr. Lemercier – $0; Mr. Wood – $56,672, and Mr. Zovighian – $139,603. The EDCP is more fully described in the section following the “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans” table below. Mr. Lemercier’s salary is paid in Swiss Francs and reported in this table by converting Swiss Francs to United States dollars using an exchange ratio of 1.0504, 1.0917 and 1.0657 (each of which is our average monthly intercompany Swiss Franc to United States dollar exchange rate for the year), for years 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
(2)    The amounts shown for Mr. Wood include awards received through our Innovation Rewards Program which compensates active employee inventors for their patent contributions to our Company.
(3)    The amounts reported in these columns reflect the aggregate grant-date fair value of the stock awards and option awards during the applicable year. These values have been determined under the principles used to calculate the grant-date fair value of equity awards for purposes of our financial statements in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718. PBRSUs have been valued for this purpose based on a Monte Carlo simulation pricing model. For a discussion of the assumptions and methodologies used to value

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION

46

(3)

The amounts reported in these columns reflect the aggregate grant-date fair value of the stock awards and option awards during the applicable year. These values have been determined under the principles used to calculate the grant-date fair value of equity awards for purposes of our financial statements in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718. For a discussion of the assumptions and methodologies used to value the awards reported in these columns, please see the discussion of stock awards and option awards contained in Note 14 of the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” in the 2019 Annual Report.

The table below sets forth the grant-date fair value determined in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 for the PBRSUs awarded in fiscal 2019, 2018, and 2017 based upon the probable outcome of the performance-related vesting conditions as of the grant date (we judged the “target” level of performance to be the probable outcome as of the grant date of the awards), and the grant-date fair value of these awards determined on that basis but assuming that the maximum level of performance was achieved.

Name

  Year  

Probable Outcome of

Performance Conditions

Grant-Date Fair Value

($)

  

Maximum Outcome of

    Performance Conditions    

Grant-Date Fair Value

($)

Mr. Mussallem

    2019     2,099,509    3,674,140
    2018     1,970,143    3,447,749
    2017     2,071,342    3,624,849

Mr. Ullem

    2019     547,909    958,840
    2018     486,960    852,180
    2017     522,158    913,777

Mr. Bobo

    2019     465,480    814,590
    2018     446,070    780,623
    2017     501,410    877,468

Mr. Lemercier

    2019     315,169    551,545

Mr. Wood

    2019     489,724    857,017
    2018     464,656    813,148
     2017     501,410    877,468

(4)

Amounts shown in this column for 2019 were earned under the Incentive Plan based on achievement of performance criteria for 2019, as described in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” above. Amounts shown for Mr. Bobo include $221,628 deferred into the EDCP. Amounts earned but not deferred were paid to the executives for 2019 performance.

(5)

Mr. Lemercier participates in our pension plan for salaried employees at our Nyon, Switzerland facility (see the section, “Pension Benefits” below). The amounts shown include employer contributions and investment earnings, and do not include regular employee contributions of approximately $113,248 in 2019. The amount of Mr. Lemercier’s regular employee contributions to the Nyon pension plan is reflected in the total amount included in the “Base Salary” column of the “Summary Compensation Table”.

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION


(6)

The “All Other Compensation” column includes the following amounts paid to the NEOs for the year ended December 31, 2019. The amounts disclosed are the actual costs to us of providing these benefits.

 

Type of

Compensation

 

 

 

    Mr. Mussallem    

 

 

 

    Mr. Ullem    

 

 

 

    Mr. Bobo    

 

 

 

    Mr. Lemercier    

 

 

 

    Mr. Wood    

 

401(k) Company Match

  $14,000  $14,000  $14,000  $  $14,000

EDCP Company Contribution

   122,611      27,789      41,440

Company Contribution – Zurich vita Pension Plan (saving)

            153,232   

Car Allowance or Company Car Lease Payments

   13,200   10,800   10,800   24,094   10,800

Officer Perquisites (Flexible Allowance, including, among other things, financial planning expenses, airline club dues, club membership dues, home office supplies, personal travel expenses; Annual Physical Examination Expenses and Life Insurance Premiums)

   40,739   23,145   20,957   20,127*   22,496

Totals

  $190,550  $47,945  $73,546  $197,453  $88,736

*

Converted from 19,999 Swiss Francs to United States dollars. The conversion rate was determined by averaging the monthly intercompany exchange rate for the year.

the awards reported in these columns, please see the discussion of stock awards and option awards contained in Note 14 of the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” in our 2022 Annual Report.

     Under the terms of our PBRSU awards at grant, between 0% and 175% of the target number of shares subject to the awards can vest based on performance and the other vesting conditions applicable to the awards. For the PBRSUs awarded to our NEOs in 2022, 2021 and 2020, the table below sets forth (i) the grant-date fair value of the awards determined in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, with these values determined based on a Monte Carlo simulation pricing model (included in the “Probable Outcome” column below), and (ii) the grant-date fair value of these awards assuming that the maximum level of performance was achieved.
    
Name  Year  
Probable Outcome of
Performance Conditions
Grant-Date Fair Value
($)
  
Maximum Outcome of
    Performance Conditions    
Grant-Date Fair Value
($)
    
Mr. Mussallem  
     2021    3,231,008    5,654,264
     2020    2,188,776    3,830,357
Mr. Ullem    2022784,375 1,372,656
     2021    768,570    1,344,998
     2020    638,651    1,117,640
Mr. Lemercier  20221,337,137 2,339,989
     2021    427,988    748,979
     2020    353,428    618,500
Mr. Wood2022696,525 1,218,919

    2021    687,192    1,202,586

2020    570,446    998,280
Mr. Zovighian    2022652,600 1,142,050
 
 
            
(4)    Amounts shown in this column for 2022 were earned under the Incentive Plan based on achievement of performance criteria for 2022, as described in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” above. Amounts shown for Mr. Zovighian include $137,945 deferred into the EDCP.
(5)    Mr. Lemercier participates in our pension plan for salaried employees at our Nyon, Switzerland facility. The amounts shown include employer contributions and investment earnings, and do not include regular employee contributions of approximately $120,170 in 2022. The amount of Mr. Lemercier’s regular employee contributions to the Nyon Pension Plan (as defined below) are reflected in the total amount included in the “Salary” column of the “Summary Compensation Table.” In 2022, the present value of Mr. Lemercier's accumulated pension benefit decreased by $1,447,529. In accordance with SEC rules, this amount is not included in the Summary Compensation Table above because it is a negative number. See the “Pension Benefits” section below.
(6)    The “All Other Compensation” column includes the following amounts paid to our NEOs for the year ended December 31, 2022. The amounts disclosed are the actual costs to us of providing these benefits.

 
Type of
Compensation
 
 
 
    Mr. Mussallem    
 
 
 
    Mr. Ullem    
 
 Mr. Lemercier 
 
    Mr. Wood 
 
 
Mr. Zovighian 
401(k) Company Match  $15,250  $15,250  $ $15,250  $15,250
EDCP Company Contribution   123,336   47,972      47,226   30,193
Company Contribution – Zurich vita Pension Plan (saving)         149,539      
Company Car Payments27,638
Officer Perquisites (Mobile Allowance, Gifts, Annual Physical Examination Expenses and Life Insurance Premiums)   1,968   2,104      3,400   4,120
Housing Allowance31,512
Totals  $140,554  $65,326  $208,689*  $65,876  $49,563
*    Converted from Swiss Francs to United States dollars, using an exchange ratio of 1.0504 (which is our average monthly intercompany Swiss Franc to United States dollar exchange rate for the year).
(7) On July 7, 2022, in recognition of Mr. Lemerciers expanded role, overseeing Japan, Asia Pacific and Greater China in addition to Europe, Middle East, Asia and Latin America and in lieu of receiving May 2023 grant awards, he was awarded 54,500 stock options, 6,100 restricted stock units and 7,625 PBRSUs (based on the $98.43 closing price per share of our common stock on July 7, 2022).
Employment Agreements.    We entered into an amended and restated employment agreement with Mr. Mussallem on March 9, 2009, as described in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section above. We do not have employment
47


agreements with the other NEOs. Post-termination benefits for our NEOs are discussed in the section “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control” section below.

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION

48



Grants of Plan-Based Awards in Fiscal Year 2019

2022


The following table provides certain summary information concerning each grant of an incentive award made to NEOs in 20192022 under a compensation plan.

      

 

Estimated Future Payouts Under
Non-Equity Incentive Plan
Awards(2)

 

 

Estimated Future Payouts
Under Equity Incentive
Plan Awards(4)

 

All Other
Stock
Awards:
Number of
Shares of
Stock/

Units (#)

 All Other
Option
Awards;
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options
(#)
 Exercise
or Base
Price of
Option
Awards
($/Share)
 Closing
Price on
Grant
Date
($)
 

Grant-Date  

Fair Value
of Stock
and
Option
Awards
($)(8)

Name

 Grant
Date(1)
 Approval
Date
 Threshold
($)
 Target
($)
 Maximum
($)
 Threshold
(#)
 Target
(#)
 Maximum
(#)

Mr. Mussallem

      02/20/2019      1,553,240(3)    3,106,480                        
   05/08/2019   05/07/2019                        85,600(6)    177.77   177.77   4,235,402
   05/08/2019   05/07/2019                     8,675(5)             1,542,155
   05/08/2019   05/07/2019               10,825   18,943               2,099,509

Mr. Ullem

      02/20/2019      480,000(3)    960,000                        
   02/21/2019   02/20/2019                     575(5)             100,016
   05/08/2019   05/07/2019                        19,900(7)    177.77   177.77   1,098,595
   05/08/2019   05/07/2019                     2,250(5)             399,983
   05/08/2019   05/07/2019               2,825   4,943               547,909

Mr. Bobo

      02/20/2019      460,000(3)    920,000                        
   05/08/2019   05/07/2019                        18,900(6)    177.77   177.77   935,153
   05/08/2019   05/07/2019                     1,925(5)             342,207
   05/08/2019   05/07/2019               2,400   4,200               465,480

Mr. Lemercier

      02/20/2019      391,507(3)    783,014                        
   05/08/2019   05/07/2019                        12,800(6)    177.77   177.77   633,331
   05/08/2019   05/07/2019                     1,300(5)             231,101
   05/08/2019   05/07/2019               1,625   2,843               315,169

Mr. Wood

      02/20/2019      480,000(3)    960,000                        
   05/08/2019   05/07/2019                        17,900(7)    177.77   177.77   988,184
   05/08/2019   05/07/2019                     2,025(5)             359,984
    05/08/2019   05/07/2019               2,525   4,418               489,724

(1)

Our practice is to grant equity-based awards on the date of the Board meeting following the Compensation Committee’s approval of the grants.

(2)

These are awards payable under the Incentive Plan for 2019. See the discussion on “Annual Cash Incentive Payment” beginning at page 36 for additional information. Amounts for Mr. Lemercier were converted from Swiss Francs to United States dollars using an exchange rate of 1.004576 CHF/USD (reflects the exchange rate as of January 2019).

(3)

See the discussions beginning at page 36 on “Annual Cash Incentive Payment” and on “Incentive Pay Objective” for additional information. The amounts set forth above represent the Incentive Pay Objective anticipated to be paid for performance meeting thepre-established objectives at the “target” and “maximum” performance levels.

(4)

 
 
Estimated Future Payouts Under
Non-Equity Incentive Plan
Awards
(2)

 
Estimated Future Payouts
Under Equity Incentive
Plan Awards
(4)
 
All Other
Stock
Awards:
Number of
Shares of
Stock/
Units (#)
All Other
Option
Awards;
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options
(#)
Exercise
or Base
Price of
Option
Awards
($/Share)
Closing
Price on
Grant
Date
($)
Grant-Date  
Fair Value
of Stock
and
Option
Awards
($)
(8)
Name
Grant
Date
(1)
Approval DateThreshold
($)
Target
($)
Maximum
($)
Threshold
(#)
Target
(#)
Maximum
(#)
Mr. Mussallem__02/17/2022
 1,800,000 (3)
 3,600,000
 05/03/202205/02/2022
190,400 (6)
105.93105.936,186,115
 05/03/202205/02/2022
21,250 (5)
2,251,013
 05/03/202205/02/202226,55046,4623,332,025
 
Mr. Ullem__02/17/2022
 545,000 (3)
 1,090,000
 05/03/202205/02/2022
40,600 (7)
105.93105.931,457,589
 05/03/202205/02/2022
5,000 (5)
529,650
 05/03/202205/02/20226,25010,937784,375
           
Mr. Lemercier__02/17/2022
 480,349 (3)
 960,698
05/03/202205/02/2022
24,500 (6)
105.93105.93796,007
05/03/202205/02/2022
2,750 (5)
291,308
05/03/202205/02/20223,4255,993429,838
 
07/07/2022 (9)
07/06/2022
54,500 (6)
98.4398.431,650,500
 
07/07/2022 (9)
07/06/2022
6,100 (5)
600,423
 
07/07/2022 (9)
07/06/20227,62513,343907,299
           
Mr. Wood__02/17/2022
 575,000 (3)
 1,150,000
 05/03/202205/02/2022
39,800 (6)
105.93105.931,293,106
 05/03/202205/02/2022
4,425 (5)
468,740
 05/03/202205/02/20225,5509,712696,525
           
Mr. Zovighian__02/17/2022
 510,000 (3)
 1,020,000
 05/03/202205/02/2022
33,700 (7)
105.93105.931,209,870
 05/03/202205/02/2022
4,150 (5)
439,610

05/03/202205/02/20225,2009,100652,600
(1)    Our practice is to grant equity-based awards on the date of the Board meeting following our Compensation and Governance Committee’s approval of the grants.
(2)    These are awards payable under the Incentive Plan for 2022. See the discussion on “Annual Cash Incentive Payment” beginning at page 30 for additional information. Amounts for Mr. Lemercier were converted from Swiss Francs to United States dollars using an exchange rate of 1.086762 CHF/USD (reflects the exchange rate as of January 2022).
(3)    See the discussions beginning at page 30 on “2022 Annual Incentive Plan” and page 35 on “Annual Cash Incentive Payment” and on “Incentive Pay Objective” for additional information.
(4)    These are PBRSUs granted under the Long-Term Stock Program that vest based on a combination of certain length of service and market conditions. The material terms of the PBRSUs are described in the section “Equity Incentive Plan Awards—Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units” below.

(5)

RSUs with respect to shares of common stock are granted under the Long-Term Stock Program. RSUs become vested as to 50% of the total number of units subject to the award on each of the third and fourth anniversaries of the award date and are subject to the executive’s continued employment with the Company. The material terms of the RSUs are described in the section “Equity Incentive Plan Awards—Restricted Stock Units” below.

(6)

Options to acquire common stock are granted under the Long-Term Stock Program. Consistent with vesting standards established by the Company for its stock option grants to executives who are retirement-eligible, options vest and become exercisable in 36 equal monthly installments beginning one month after the award date, and are subject to the executive’s continued employment with the Company. The material terms of the options are described in the section “Equity Incentive Plan Awards—Stock Options” below.

(7)

Options to acquire common stock are granted under the Long-Term Stock Program. The options vest and become exercisable in four equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date. The material terms of the options are described in the section “Equity Incentive Plan Awards—Stock Options” below.

(8)

The amounts reported in this column reflect the grant-date fair value of the stock award or option award determined under the principles used to calculate the grant-date fair value of equity awards for purposes of our financial statements. For the assumptions and methodologies used to value the awards, see footnote 3 to the “Summary Compensation Table” above.

Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards. The material terms of the PBRSUs are described in the section “Equity Incentive Plan Awards—Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units” below.

(5)    These are RSUs granted under the Long-Term Stock Program. RSUs granted in 2022 become vested in four equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date and are subject to the executive’s continued employment with our Company. The material terms of the RSUs are described in the section “Equity Incentive Plan Awards—Restricted Stock Units” below.
(6)    These are options to acquire common stock granted under the Long-Term Stock Program. Consistent with vesting standards established by our Company for its stock option grants to executives who are retirement-eligible, these options vest and become exercisable in 36 equal monthly installments beginning one month after the award date, and are subject to the executive’s continued employment with our Company. The material terms of the options are described in the section “Equity Incentive Plan Awards—Stock Options” below.
(7)    These are options to acquire common stock granted under the Long-Term Stock Program. Consistent with vesting standards established by our Company for its stock option grants to executives who are not retirement-eligible, this option vests and becomes exercisable in four equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date. The material terms of the options are described in the section “Equity Incentive Plan Awards—Stock Options” below.
(8)    The amounts reported in this column reflect the grant-date fair value of the stock award or option award determined under the principles used to calculate the grant-date fair value of equity awards for purposes of our financial statements. For the assumptions and methodologies used to value the awards, see footnote 3 to the “Summary Compensation Table” above
(9) These are awards to Mr. Lemercier in recognition of his expanded role, overseeing Japan, Asia Pacific and Greater China in addition to Europe, Middle East, Asia and Latin America and in lieu of receiving May 2023 grant awards.
49


Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards.    The material terms of the non-equity incentive plan awards reported in the table above are described in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section under the heading, “2022 Annual Incentive Plan” and “Elements of Compensation—Annual Cash Incentive Payment.”

48LOGOEdwards Lifesciences Corporation2020 Proxy Statement


EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION

Equity Incentive Plan Awards.    Each of the equity incentive awards reported in the table above was granted under, and is subject to, the terms of the Long-Term Stock Program. TheOur Compensation and Governance Committee administers the Long-Term Stock Program and has authority to interpret the plan provisions and make all required determinations thereunder. Additional terms of the equity incentive awards reported in the table above are described in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section under the heading, “Elements of Compensation—Long-Term Incentive Awards” and in the footnotes accompanying the table above. The terms of the accelerated vesting provisions for equity incentive awards are described in this section and in the section titled “Potential Payments Upon a Termination or Change in Control.”

The table above reports awards of stock options granted to our NEOs in 2019.2022. Each option represents a contractual right to receive one share of Companyour common stock if the option becomes vested and is exercised, subject to payment of the exercise price of the option by the award holder. The terms of each option are summarized in the chart below.

STOCK OPTIONS

Maximum Term (Expiration Date)

(expiration date)

Seven years from grant date

Exercise Price Per Share

Fair market value of a share of common stock on the grant date

Vesting Schedule—Regular (all option grants in the chart above awarded to Mr.(Messrs. Ullem and Mr. Wood)

Zovighian)

25% annually over four years following the grant date

Vesting Schedule—Retirement-Eligible (awards granted since May 2015 to all retirement-eligible executives, including Mr.(Messrs. Mussallem, Mr. BoboLemercier and Mr. Lemercier)

Wood)

Monthly over 36 months following the grant date

Vesting Schedule—Retirement-Eligible (awards granted before May 2015 to certain retirement-eligible executives, including Mr. Mussallem and Mr. Lemercier)

Monthly over 24 months following the grant date

Effect of Change in Control (awards granted before May 2015)

Accelerated vesting upon a change in control of
the Company

Effect of Change in Control (awards granted since May 2015)

�� No automatic acceleration upon a change in control of theour Company

Accelerated vesting upon a change in control with either (1) a specified termination of employment (a “double-trigger”) under the NEO’schange-in-control severance agreement, or (2) termination of the awards in connection with the change in control

Effect of Termination of Employment of Retirement-Eligible NEOs (Mr.(Messrs. Mussallem, Mr. BoboLemercier and Mr. Lemercier)

Wood)

Unvested options held by the NEO will immediately terminate and be forfeited

Vested options held by the NEO will remain exercisable and will terminate on the earlier of five years from termination date or the normal expiration date

Effect of Termination of Employment ofNon-Retirement-Eligible NEOs (Mr. (Messrs.Ullem and Mr. Wood)

Zovighian)

Unvested options held by the NEO will immediately terminate and be forfeited

Vested options held by the NEO will remain exercisable and will terminate on the earlier of 90 days from termination date or the normal expiration date

Effect of Termination of Employment due to Death or Disability
Unvested options held by the NEO will immediately vest

Dividend Rights

No dividend rights

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION

50



The “Grant of Plan-Based Awards in Fiscal Year 2019”2022” table above reports awards of RSUs granted to our NEOs in 2019.2022. Each RSU represents a contractual right to receive one share of our common stock if the time-based vesting requirements applicable to the award are satisfied, as summarized in the chart below.

RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

Vesting Schedule

50%

25% of the total number of units subject to the award on the first, second, third and fourth anniversaries of the award date

Effect of Change in Control (awards granted before May 2015)

Accelerated vesting upon a change in control of the Company

Effect of Change in Control (awards granted since May 2015)

No automatic acceleration upon a change in control of theour Company; accelerated vesting upon a change in control with either (1) a specified termination of employment (a “double-trigger”) under the NEO’schange-in-control severance agreement, or (2) termination of the awards in connection with the change in control

Effect of Termination of Employment of Retirement- Eligible NEOs (including Mr.(Messrs. Mussallem, Mr. BoboLemercier and Mr. Lemercier)

Wood)

If the grant would otherwise vest less frequently than annually, RSUs held by the NEO will vest 25% for each full year of employment from the grant date

Any remaining unvested RSUs held by the NEO and not earned as mentioned above will terminate and be forfeited

Effect of Termination of Employment ofNon-Retirement-Eligible NEOs (including Mr.(Messrs. Ullem and Mr. Wood)

Zovighian)

Unvested RSUs held by the NEO will immediately terminate and be forfeited

Effect of Termination of Employment due to Death or Disability
Unvested RSUs held by the NEO will immediately vest

Dividend Rights

Dividend equivalent units may be paid or credited, either in cash or in actual or phantom shares of common stock, on outstanding RSUs; however, to date we have never paid a dividend on our common stock

51


The “Grant of Plan-Based Awards in Fiscal Year 2019”2022” table above reports awards of PBRSUs granted to our NEOs in 2019.2022. Each PBRSU represents a contractual right to receive one share of our common stock if the performance-based and time-based vesting requirements applicable to the award are satisfied, as summarized in the chart below.

PERFORMANCE-BASED RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

Vesting Provisions

Right and Vesting Schedule

Receive

0% to 175% of the target number of shares subject to the award will vest based on our Company's TSR measured over a3-year performance period compared to comparator companies, generally subject to continued employment through the applicable vesting date

TSR Definition

 • The average of the closing price of a share for each trading day during the one month ending on the first day of the performance period compared to the average of the closing price of a share for each trading day during the one month ending on the last day of the performance period

Effect of Change in Control (awards granted before May 2015)

Upon a change in control:

  during the performance period, the PBRSUs will accelerate and immediately vest at 100% of the target level, or

  after the last day of the performance period and prior to the applicable scheduled time-based vesting date, subject to the executive’s continued employment, will vest as to the number of units that otherwise would have become vested on the vesting date based on actual performance

50LOGOEdwards Lifesciences Corporation2020 Proxy Statement


EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION

PERFORMANCE-BASED RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS (Continued)

Effect of Change in Control
(awards granted since May
2015)

No automatic acceleration upon a change in control of theour Company; accelerated vesting upon a change in control with either (1) a specified termination of employment (a “double-trigger”) under the NEO’schange-in-control severance agreement (with vesting at the “target” level if such a termination of employment occurs and the change in control occurred during the performance period), or (2) termination of the awards in connection with the change in control

Effect of Termination due to
Death, Disability,
Retirement or Termination
Without “Cause” or for
“Good Reason”

 • Any unvested PBRSUs will remain eligible to vest at the end of the performance period based on actual attainment of the performance goals, and, for termination due to retirement, the NEO will receive apro-rata portion of the shares subject to the award (after giving effect to the performance conditions) based on the NEO’s whole months of service during the performance period

Effect of any Other
Termination of
Employment

 • Any unvested PBRSUs held by the NEO will terminate and be forfeited

Compensation and Governance Committee
Determination, Vesting
Date

 • At the meeting of theour Compensation and Governance Committee in May after the end of the performance period, theour Compensation and Governance Committee will determine the exact number of shares issuable; payout will be interpolated on a linear basis between the points indicated in the table under “Performance Criteria” below

Dividend Rights

 • Dividend equivalent units may be paid or credited, either in cash or in actual or phantom shares of common stock, on outstanding RSUs; however, to date we have never paid a dividend on our common stock

Performance Period

 • Begins April 30 of the grant year and ends on April 30 in the third year following the grant year

Comparator Companies

 • Companies that were listed in the SPSIHE Subset on the grant date that are still publicly traded companies on the last day of the performance period

Performance Criteria

Performance Levels

Company’s TSR vs Median

of SPSIHE Companies

Subset

Payout as a Percentage of Target Award

Maximum#VALUE!175%
TargetMedian100%
Threshold-7.5% points from Median25%
No Payout
Maximum

+7.5% points from median

175%

Target

Median

100%

Threshold

More than -7.5% points
from median

Median

25%

No Payout

More than-7.5% points
from median

0%

LOGOEdwards Lifesciences Corporation2020 Proxy Statement51




EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION

52



Outstanding Equity Awards at 20192022 FiscalYear-End

The following table provides certain summary information concerning outstanding equity awards held by our NEOs as of December 31, 2019,2022, including the vesting schedules for the portions of these awards that had not vested as of that date.

    

 

Option Awards

 

 

Stock Awards

  

Name

 Award
Date
 Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable
 Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable
 

Option
Exercise
Price

($)

 Option
Expiration
Date
 Number of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested (#)
 

Market Value
of Shares
or Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested

($)(1)

 Equity
Incentive
Plan Awards:
Number of
Unearned
Shares, Units
or Other
Rights That
Have Not
Vested (#)
 

Equity
Incentive
Plan Awards:
Market or
Payout
Value
of Unearned
  Shares, Units  

or Other
Rights That
Have Not
Vested

($)(1)

  

Mr. Mussallem

   05/14/2013   164,250      35.785   05/13/2020              
   05/08/2014   383,200      41.940   05/07/2021              
   05/14/2015   191,200      65.280   05/13/2022              
   05/12/2016   117,500      105.590   05/11/2023              
   05/11/2017   101,091   16,309(2)    110.250   05/10/2024              
   05/17/2018   55,045   49,255(2)    135.830   05/16/2025              
   05/08/2019   16,643   68,957(2)    177.770   05/07/2026              
   05/12/2016               5,875   1,370,579(3)         
   05/11/2017               11,975   2,793,648(3)         
   05/11/2017                     14,975(4)    3,493,518  
   05/17/2018               10,600   2,472,874(3)         
   05/17/2018                     13,250(4)    3,091,093  
   05/08/2019               8,675   2,023,791(3)         
    05/08/2019                     10,825(4)    2,525,364     

Total

        1,028,929   134,521             37,125   8,660,891   39,050   9,109,975     

Mr. Ullem

   05/08/2014   43,100      41.940   05/07/2021              
   05/14/2015   44,200      65.280   05/13/2022              
   05/12/2016   20,175   6,725(5)    105.590   05/11/2023              
   05/11/2017   13,300   13,300(5)    110.250   05/10/2024              
   05/17/2018   5,625   16,875(5)    135.830   05/16/2025              
   05/08/2019      19,900(5)    177.770   05/07/2026              
   05/12/2016               1,463   341,303(3)         
   05/11/2017               3,025   705,702(3)         
   05/11/2017                     3,775(4)    880,670  
   05/17/2018               2,625   612,386(3)         
   05/17/2018                     3,275(4)    764,025  
   02/21/2019               575   134,142(3)         
   05/08/2019               2,250   524,903(3)         
    05/08/2019                     2,825(4)    659,044     

Total

        126,400   56,800             9,938   2,318,436   9,875   2,303,739     

Mr. Bobo

   05/14/2013   26,848      35.785   05/13/2020              
   05/08/2014   52,300      41.940   05/07/2021              
   05/14/2015   44,200      65.280   05/13/2022              
   05/12/2016   20,175   6,725(5)    105.590   05/11/2023              
   05/11/2017   24,540   3,960(2)    110.250   05/10/2024              
   05/17/2018   12,402   11,098(2)    135.830   05/16/2025              
   05/08/2019   3,674   15,226(2)    177.770   05/07/2026              
   05/12/2016               1,463   341,303(3)         
   05/11/2017               2,900   676,541(3)         
   05/11/2017                     3,625(4)    845,676  
   05/17/2018               2,400   559,896(3)         
   05/17/2018                     3,000(4)    699,870  
   05/08/2019               1,925   449,083(3)         
    05/08/2019                     2,400(4)    559,896     

Total

        184,139   37,009             8,688   2,026,824   9,025   2,105,442��    

52LOGOEdwards Lifesciences Corporation2020 Proxy Statement


    
  
Option Awards
 
Stock Awards
 
NameAward
Date
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable
Option
Exercise
Price
($)
Option
Expiration
Date
Number of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested (#)
Market Value
of Shares
or Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested
($)(1)
Equity
Incentive
Plan Awards:
Number of
Unearned
Shares, Units
or Other
Rights That
Have Not
Vested (#)
Equity
Incentive
Plan Awards:
Market or
Payout
Value
of Unearned
Shares, Units
or Other
Rights That
Have Not
Vested
($)(1)
 Date        
Mr. Mussallem05/12/2016146,87535.196705/11/2023
 05/11/2017352,20036.750005/10/2024
 05/17/2018312,90045.276705/16/2025
 05/08/2019256,80059.256705/07/2026
 05/07/2020182,634
29,466 (2)
72.680005/06/2027
 05/04/2021110,830
99,170 (2)
93.310005/03/2028
 05/03/202237,021
153,379 (2)
105.930005/02/2029
 05/08/2019
13,014 (3)
970,975
 05/07/2020
10,614 (4)
791,911
 05/07/2020
26,475 (5)
1,975,300
 05/04/2021
16,069 (4)
1,198,908
 05/04/2021
26,800 (5)
1,999,548
 05/03/2022
21,250 (4)
1,585,463
05/03/2022
26,550 (5)
1,980,896
         
Total1,399,260282,01560,9474,547,25779,8255,955,744
         
Mr. Ullem05/12/201680,70035.196705/11/2023
 05/11/201779,80036.750005/10/2024
 05/17/201867,50045.276705/16/2025
 05/08/201944,775
14,925 (6)
59.256705/07/2026
 05/07/202028,050
28,050 (6)
72.680005/06/2027
05/04/202111,100
33,300 (6)
93.310005/03/2028
05/03/2022
40,600 (6)
105.930005/02/2029
 02/21/2019
864 (3)
64,463
 05/08/2019
3,375 (3)
251,809
 05/07/2020
3,114 (4)
232,336
 05/07/2020
7,725 (5)
576,362
 05/04/2021
3,825 (4)
285,383
 05/04/2021
6,375 (5)
475,639
 05/03/2022
5,000 (4)
373,050
05/03/2022
6,250 (5)
466,313
         
Total311,925116,87516,1781,207,04120,3501,518,314





EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION

53

    

 

Option Awards

 

 

Stock Awards

  

Name

 Award
Date
 Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable
 Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable
 

Option
Exercise
Price

($)

 Option
Expiration
Date
 Number of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested (#)
 

Market Value
of Shares
or Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested

($)(1)

 Equity
Incentive
Plan Awards:
Number of
Unearned
Shares, Units
or Other
Rights That
Have Not
Vested (#)
 

Equity
Incentive
Plan Awards:
Market or
Payout
Value
of Unearned
    Shares, Units    

or Other
Rights That
Have Not
Vested

($)(1)

  

Mr. Lemercier

   05/14/2013   13,880      35.785   05/13/2020              
   02/20/2014   5,002      34.050   02/19/2021              
   05/08/2014   17,360      41.940   05/07/2021              
   05/14/2015   11,660      65.280   05/13/2022              
   05/12/2016   4,980   1,660(5)    105.590   05/11/2023              
   05/11/2017   7,200   7,200(5)    110.250   05/10/2024              
   05/17/2018   8,391   7,509(2)    135.830   05/16/2025              
   05/08/2019   2,488   10,312(2)    177.770   05/07/2026              
   05/12/2016               425   99,148(3)         
   05/11/2017               1,625   379,096(3)         
   05/11/2017                     2,050(4)    478,245  
   05/17/2018               1,625   379,096(3)         
   05/17/2018                     2,025(4)    472,412  
   05/08/2019               1,300   303,277(3)         
    05/08/2019                     1,625(4)    379,096     

Total

        70,961   26,681             4,975   1,160,618   5,700   1,329,753     

Mr. Wood

   02/20/2014   5,002      34.050   02/19/2021              
   05/14/2015   42,800      65.280   05/13/2022              
   05/12/2016   19,575   6,525(5)    105.59   05/11/2023              
   05/11/2017   12,800   12,800(5)    110.250   05/10/2024              
   05/17/2018   5,400   16,200(5)    135.830   05/16/2025              
   05/08/2019      17,900(5)    177.770   05/07/2026              
   05/12/2016               1,425   332,438(3)         
   05/11/2017               2,900   676,541(3)         
   05/11/2017                     3,625(4)    845,676  
   05/17/2018               2,500   583,225(3)         
   05/17/2018                     3,125(4)    729,031  
   05/08/2019               2,025   472,412(3)         
    05/08/2019                     2,525(4)    589,057     

Total

        85,577   53,425             8,850   2,064,617   9,275   2,163,765     

(1)

The dollar amounts shown in this column are determined by multiplying the number of shares or units reported in the “Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested” column by $233.29, the closing price of our common stock on the last trading day of 2019.

(2)

Options to acquire common stock granted under the Long-Term Stock Program. Consistent with vesting standards established for executives who are retirement eligible, including Mr. Mussallem, Mr. Bobo and Mr. Lemercier, options granted since May 2015 vest and become exercisable in 36 equal monthly installments beginning one month after the award date, and are subject to the executive’s continued employment.

(3)

RSUs under the Long-Term Stock Program. RSUs become vested as to 50% of the total number of units subject to the award on each of the third and fourth anniversaries of the award date, and are subject to the executive’s continued employment.

(4)

Target number of PBRSUs under the Long-Term Stock Program. PBRSUs vest on the third anniversary of the award date, and are subject to the executive’s continued employment. The number of shares issuable upon vesting of these PBRSUs will range from 0% to 175% of the target number of shares subject to the award and depend on satisfaction of applicable performance requirements over a three-year performance period.

(5)

Options to acquire common stock granted under the Long-Term Stock Program. The options vest and become exercisable in four equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the award date, and are subject to the executive’s continued employment.

LOGOEdwards Lifesciences Corporation2020 Proxy Statement53


EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION


  
Option Awards
 
Stock Awards
 
NameAward
Date
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable
Option
Exercise
Price
($)
Option
Expiration
Date
Number of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested (#)
Market Value
of Shares
or Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested
($)(1)
Equity
Incentive
Plan Awards:
Number of
Unearned
Shares, Units
or Other
Rights That
Have Not
Vested (#)
Equity
Incentive
Plan Awards:
Market or
Payout
Value
of Unearned
Shares, Units
or Other
Rights That
Have Not
Vested
($)(1)
          
Mr. Lemercier05/12/201619,92035.196705/11/2023
 05/11/201743,20036.750005/10/2024
 05/17/201847,70045.276705/16/2025
 05/08/201938,40059.256705/07/2026
 05/07/202029,706
4,794 (2)
72.680005/06/2027
 05/04/202114,671
13,129 (2)
93.310005/03/2028
 05/03/20224,763
19,737 (2)
105.930005/02/2029
07/07/2022 (7)
7,569
46,931 (2)
98.430007/06/2029
 05/08/2019
1,950 (3)
145,490
 05/07/2020
1,725 (4)
128,702
 05/07/2020
4,275 (5)
318,958
 05/04/2021
2,138 (4)
159,516
 05/04/2021
3,550 (5)
264,866
 05/03/2022
2,750 (4)
205,178
05/03/2022
3,425 (5)
255,539
07/07/2022 (7)
6,100 (4)
455,121
07/07/2022 (7)
7,625 (5)
568,901
          
Total205,92984,59114,6631,094,00718,8751,408,264
          
Mr. Wood05/17/201864,80045.276705/16/2025
 05/08/201940,275
13,425 (6)
59.256705/07/2026
 05/07/202024,900
24,900 (6)
72.680005/06/2027
 05/04/202123,591
21,109 (2)
93.310005/03/2028
 05/03/20227,738
32,062 (2)
105.930005/02/2029
 05/08/2019
3,039 (3)
226,740
 05/07/2020
2,739 (4)
204,357
 05/07/2020
6,900 (5)
514,809
 05/04/2021
3,432 (4)
256,062
 05/04/2021
5,700 (5)
425,277
 05/03/2022
4,425 (4)
330,149
05/03/2022
5,550 (5)
414,086
          
Total161,30491,49613,6351,017,30818,1501,354,172
Mr. Zovighian05/17/201814,92545.276705/16/2025
05/08/201938,025
12,675 (6)
59.256705/07/2026
05/07/202023,100
23,100 (6)
72.680005/06/2027
05/04/20219,350
28,050 (6)
93.310005/03/2028
05/03/2022
33,700 (6)
105.930005/02/2029
05/08/2019
2,889 (3)
215,548
05/07/2020
2,550 (4)
190,256
05/07/2020
6,375 (5)
475,639
05/04/2021
3,207 (4)
239,274
05/04/2021
5,350 (5)
399,164
05/03/2022
4,150 (4)
309,632
05/03/2022
5,200 (5)
387,972
Total85,40097,52512,796954,71016,9251,262,775
(1)    The dollar amounts shown in this column are determined by multiplying the number of shares or units reported in the “Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested” column by $74.61, the closing price of our common stock on the last trading day of 2022.
54


(2)    Options to acquire common stock granted under the Long-Term Stock Program. Consistent with vesting standards established for executives who are retirement eligible, including Messrs. Mussallem, Lemercier, and Wood, options granted since May 2015 vest and become exercisable in 36 equal monthly installments beginning one month after the award date, and are subject to the executive’s continued employment.
(3)    RSUs under the Long-Term Stock Program. RSUs become vested as to 50% of the total number of units subject to the award on each of the third and fourth anniversaries of the award date, and are subject to the executive’s continued employment.
(4)    RSUs under the Long-Term Stock Program. RSUs granted since February 2020 become vested as to 25% of the total number of units subject to the award on each anniversary of the award date, and are subject to the executive’s continued employment.
(5)    Target number of PBRSUs under the Long-Term Stock Program. PBRSUs vest on the third anniversary of the award date and are subject to the executive’s continued employment. The number of shares issuable upon vesting of these PBRSUs will range from 0% to 175% of the target number of shares subject to the award and depend on satisfaction of applicable performance requirements over a three-year performance period.
(6)    Options to acquire common stock granted under the Long-Term Stock Program. The options vest and become exercisable in four equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the award date, and are subject to the executive’s continued employment.
(7) On July 7, 2022, in recognition of Mr. Lemerciers expanded role, overseeing Japan, Asia Pacific and Greater China in addition to Europe, Middle East, Asia and Latin America and in lieu of receiving May 2023 grant awards, he was awarded 54,500 stock options, 6,100 restricted stock units and 7,625 PBRSUs (based on the $98.43 closing price per share of our common stock on July 7, 2022).
Option Exercises and Stock Vested in Fiscal Year 2019

2022

The following table sets forth for each of theour NEOs the number of shares of our common stock acquired under the NEO’s RSU and PBRSU awards that vested during the year ended December 31, 20192022, and the value realized on each exercise of stock options by the NEO during the year ended December 31, 2019.2022. No stock appreciation rights have been granted to our NEOs.
 
Option Awards
 
Stock Awards
 
Name
Number of
Shares
    Acquired on    
Exercise(#)
    Value Realized
on Exercise
($)
(1)
    Number of Shares    
Acquired on
Vesting(#)
Value Realized
on Vesting
($)
(2)
Mr. Mussallem
430,875 (3)
 30,341,818 96,405 9,646,625
Mr. Ullem 25,838 2,590,444
Mr. Lemercier
34,880 (4)
 3,050,413 14,496 1,449,795
Mr. Wood
76,800 (5)
 4,476,145 22,553 2,255,999
Mr. Zovighian 21,279 2,128,907
(1)    The dollar amounts shown are determined by multiplying (i) the NEOs.

  Option Awards Stock Awards  

Name

 

Number of
Shares
    Acquired on    

Exercise(#)

 

    Value Realized    

on Exercise
($)(1)

 

    Number of Shares    

Acquired on
Vesting(#)

 

    Value Realized    

on Vesting
($)(2)

  

Mr. Mussallem

   393,950(3)    62,849,542   25,794   4,645,509  

Mr. Ullem

   37,500(4)    6,997,050   6,472   1,165,557  

Mr. Bobo

   91,552(5)    15,285,462   6,472   1,165,557  

Mr. Lemercier

   12,560(6)    1,778,584   1,115   199,905  

Mr. Wood

   80,600(7)    12,358,576   6,264   1,128,111     

(1)

The dollar amounts shown in the “Value Realized on Exercise” column are determined by multiplying (i) the number of shares of our common stock to which the exercise of the option related, by (ii) the difference between theper-share closing price of our common stock on the date of exercise and the exercise price of the options.

(2)

The dollar amounts shown in the “Value Realized on Vesting” column are determined by multiplying (i) the number of shares or units, as applicable, that vested, by (ii) theper-share closing market price of our common stock on the day prior to vesting.

(3)

All 393,950 options exercised by Mr. Mussallem were exercised pursuant to apre-arranged stock trading plan established under Rule10b5-1 of the Exchange Act (a “Rule10b5-1 Plan”).

(4)

All 37,500 options exercised by Mr. Ullem were exercised pursuant to a Rule10b5-1 Plan.

(5)

All 60,052 options exercised by Mr. Bobo were exercised pursuant to a Rule10b5-1 Plan.

(6)

All 12,560 options exercised by Mr. Lemercier were exercised pursuant to a Rule10b5-1 Plan.

(7)

All 80,600 options exercised by Mr. Wood were exercised pursuant to a Rule10b5-1 Plan.

number of shares of our common stock to which the exercise of the option related, by (ii) the difference between the per-share sale price of our common stock on the date of exercise and the exercise price of the options.

(2)    The dollar amounts shown are determined by multiplying (i) the number of shares or units, as applicable, that vested, by (ii) the per-share closing market price of our common stock on the day prior to vesting.
(3)    All 430,875 options exercised by Mr. Mussallem were exercised pursuant to a pre-arranged stock trading plan established under Rule 10b5-1 of the Exchange Act (a “Rule 10b5-1 Plan”).
(4)    All 34,880 options exercised by Mr. Lemercier were exercised pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 Plan.
(5)    All 76,800 options exercised by Mr. Wood were exercised pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 Plan.
Pension Benefits

Mr. Lemercier participates in our pension plan applicable to salaried employees at our Nyon, Switzerland facility. None of our other NEOs participates in any Company pension plan. The following table sets forth the actuarial present value of Mr. Lemercier’s accumulated benefit under the Nyon pension plan (the “Nyon Pension Plan”).

Name

 Plan Name Number of Years
of
Credited Service
(#)
 Present Value of
Accumulated
Benefit
($)(1)
 

    Payments During    

Last Fiscal Year
($)

Mr. Mussallem

          

Mr. Ullem

          

Mr. Bobo

          

Mr. Lemercier

   Nyon Plan    $10,700,576(2)  

Mr. Wood

          

(1)

See Note 13

NamePlan NameNumber of the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” in our 2019 Annual Report for a discussion Years
of the assumptions and methodologies used to determine the present value
Credited Service
(#)
Present Value  of accumulated benefits under the
Accumulated
Benefit
($)
(1)
Payments During
Last Fiscal Year
($)
Mr. Mussallem
Mr. Ullem
Mr. LemercierNyon Pension Plan.

Plan
$11,976,809(2)
Mr. Wood
Mr. Zovighian

(2)

The conversion ratereflects the average monthly intercompany exchange rate for December 2019 (1.019371 CHF/USD).

(1)    See Note 13 of the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” in our 2022 Annual Report for a discussion of the assumptions and methodologies used to determine the present value of accumulated benefits under the Nyon Pension Plan.
(2)    Reported in this table by converting Swiss Francs to United States dollars using an exchange ratio of 1.076915 as of December 31, 2022.
The Nyon Pension Plan is a cash balance plan under which each participant has an account balance consisting of savings and interest credits earned each year. Interest credits are determined annually. Savings credits are equal to a percentage of “insured salary” based upon the age of the participant (ranging from 15% at age 18 to 28% at age 55 or older for managers opting for an additional optional contribution of 4%). Insured salary includes salary, temporary income
55


and bonus reduced by social security offsets. The plan is funded by both employee and employer contributions, which are fully vested at all times.

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION

Mr. Lemercier made a regular employee contribution of approximately $113,248$120,170 in 2019.2022. Normal retirement age is 65. At normal retirement, a participant may choose to receive the accumulated account balance as either a lump sum or in the form of a pension annuity.

2019

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans

Executive Deferred Compensation Plan.    The following table sets forth information relating to our nonqualified deferred compensation plan (“EDCP”) for 20192022 for our NEOs.

Name
Executive Contributions in Last Fiscal Year ($) (1)
Registrant
Contributions in Last Fiscal Year ($)
(2)
Aggregate Earnings
in Last Fiscal Year
($)
(3)
Aggregate
Withdrawals/
Distributions
($)
 Aggregate Balance  
at Last Fiscal Year End
($)
(4)
Mr. Mussallem173,521123,337(2,783,768)7,927,288
Mr. Ullem57,56647,972(48,220)359,410
Mr. Lemercier
Mr. Wood56,67247,226(326,831)1,450,185
Mr. Zovighian139,60330,193(209,317)1,170,769
(1)    Executive contributions for 2022 are included in the “Salary” column of the “Summary Compensation Table” above.
(2)    Company contributions for 2022 are included in the “All Other Compensation” column of the “Summary Compensation Table” above.
(3)    “Earnings” is defined to reflect the difference in the account balance between the beginning and end of the year, less any executive or Company contributions and any amounts withdrawn or distributed. Earnings include realized and unrealized gains and losses, capital gains and losses, and dividends paid.
(4)    The vested balance at the end of 2022 reflects the following aggregate amounts that were previously reported as compensation in the appropriate columns of the “Summary Compensation Table” for years through and including 2022 to the extent the executive was an NEO for the NEOs.

Name

 Executive
Contributions in Last
Fiscal Year
($)(1)
 Registrant
Contributions in Last
Fiscal Year
($)(2)
 Aggregate Earnings
in Last Fiscal Year
($)(3)
 Aggregate
Withdrawals/
Distributions
($)
 

  Aggregate Balance  

at Last FYE
($)(4)

Mr. Mussallem

   172,256   122,611   1,485,908      6,460,729

Mr. Ullem

               

Mr. Bobo

   421,589   27,789   1,275,857   -4,405   7,338,345

Mr. Lemercier

               

Mr. Wood

   49,728   41,440   229,620      1,019,932

(1)

Executive contributions for 2019 are included in the “Salary” column of the “Summary Compensation Table” above.

(2)

Company contributions for 2019 are included in the “All Other Compensation” column of the “Summary Compensation Table” above.

(3)

“Earnings” is defined to reflect the difference in the account balance between the beginning and end of the year, less any executive or Company contributions and any amounts withdrawn or distributed. Earnings include realized and unrealized gains and losses, capital gains and losses, and dividends paid.

(4)

The vested balance at the end of 2019 reflects the following aggregate amounts that were previously reported as compensation in the appropriate columns of the “Summary Compensation Table” for years through and including 2017 to the extent the executive was an NEO for the applicable year: $4,679,953 for Mr. Mussallem, $0 for Mr. Ullem, $5,431,464 for Mr. Bobo, $0 for Mr. Lemercier, and $699,145 for Mr. Wood. In addition, Mr. Bobo deferred $186,051 from his 2018Non-Equity Incentive payout into the EDCP.

applicable year: $10,414,198 for Mr. Mussallem, $302,092 for Mr. Ullem, $0 for Mr. Lemercier, $1,673,118 for Mr. Wood, and $994,792 for Mr. Zovighian. In addition, Mr. Zovighian deferred $215,498 from his 2021 Non-Equity Incentive payout into the EDCP.

The EDCP provides theour NEOs and certain other employees with the opportunity to defer specified percentages (up to 25%) of their cash compensation and receive matching employer contributions that could not be deferred or contributed to the 401(k) because of the limitations under such plan imposed by the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”). The EDCP also permits the participants to defer up to 100% of their annual cash incentive bonus and an additional 55% of their base pay, but we do not match the employee contribution above 25%. Participants may elect deferred amounts to be paid either in the form of a lump sum or in up to 15 annual installments upon either separation from service, a specified date, or death. Deferrals are credited with gains or losses based on the performance of one or more investment alternatives selected by the participant from among investment funds chosen by theour Compensation and Governance Committee or its delegate. Investment elections made for each plan year may not be revoked, changed or modified except as permitted under the EDCP, and subject to applicable law. No actual investments will be held in the participants’ accounts and participants will at all times remain general unsecured creditors of theour Company with respect to their account balances.

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control


Included below is a summary of the material terms and conditions of the onlyplans and agreements we have entered into with our NEOsmaintain that provide for certain payments and benefits in connection with a termination of theirour NEOs employment, other than benefits that are part of employee benefit plans that apply on the same terms to all salaried employees. Also described below are the terms of the Long-Term Stock Program with respect to outstanding equity awards that may apply in the event of a change in control of theour Company.

Change-in-Control Severance Agreements.    We have entered intochange-in-control severance agreements with each of theour NEOs and certain other executives. Thechange-in-control severance agreements entered into with Messrs. Mussallem, Bobo and Wood were subject to an initial term ending December 31, 2013, and thechange-in-control severance agreements entered into with Mr. Ullem and Mr. Lemercier were subject to initial terms ending December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2017, respectively. Thechange-in-control severance agreements are subject to automaticone-year extensions each year unless we provide notice that the agreement will not be extended. Under the terms of the

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION

change-in-control severance agreement, each executive is entitled to receive certain severance payments if, at any time during the period commencing six months prior to and ending on the date that is 24 months following a change in control, the executive incurs a “qualifying termination” of employment. For these purposes, a “qualifying termination” means (i) the executive is involuntarily terminated by us without cause or (ii) the executive voluntarily terminates employment for good reason.

For purposes of thechange-in-control severance agreements, “cause” generally includes (1) certain willful and deliberate material breaches by the executive of the executive’s duties and responsibilities that are not timely remedied; (2) the executive engaging in conduct that is willfully, demonstrably and materially injurious to theour Company that is not timely remedied; or (3) the executive being convicted of, or pleading guilty ornolo contendere to, a felony that adversely affects the reputation of the executive or theour Company.

56


For theour NEOs other than Mr. Mussallem, “good reason” generally includes (1) a material change of the executive’s responsibilities or status or the assignment of the executive to duties materially inconsistent with such responsibilities or status; (2) a relocation in excess of 50 miles of the executive’s principal job location; (3) a reduction of the executive’s base salary, incentive plans or benefits; (4) our failure to require any successor company to assume the obligations under the agreement; or (5) a material breach by theour Company of the material terms of the agreement. For Mr. Mussallem, “good reason” generally has the same meaning described above, except that the definition also includes that following a change in control (1)(i) Mr. Mussallem is no longer a member of theour Board or fails to be nominated for reelection to theour Board; or (2)(ii) Mr. Mussallem and theour Company (or any successor company) have not mutually agreed (within five business days following a change in control) on the terms and conditions of his continued employment.


In the event of a qualifying termination, the executive would be entitled under the change-in-control severance agreement to receive a lump sum payment equal to the sum of (1) two times (three times in the case of Mr. Mussallem) the executive's annual base salary as of the time of termination (or during the 12 months preceding the change in control, if higher); (2) two times (three times in the case of Mr. Mussallem) the executive's Incentive Pay Objective for the year of termination (or the dollar amount of the actual bonus paid in the preceding year, if higher); (3) apro-rated bonus for the year of termination; (4) allaccelerated vesting of the executive’s then-outstanding and unvested long-term incentive awards would generally be subject to accelerated vesting;awards; and (5) continued participation in our medical and dental plans for three years following termination of employment. In addition, the executive would be entitled to reasonable outplacement services. If any such payments or benefits would constitute a parachute payment under Section 280G of the Code, then such payments and benefits would either (i) be reduced to the extent necessary to assureso that the executive receives only the greater of (1) the amountnone of the payments which would not constitute a parachute payment, or (2)(ii) paid to the amount whichexecutive in full, whichever yields the greatestafter-tax benefit after taking into account any excise taxes imposed under Section 4999 of the Code. Thechange-in-control severance agreements do not provide for taxgross-up payments. Receipt of these severance benefits is conditioned upon the executive executing and not revoking a general release of any claims in favor of theour Company.

Thechange-in-control severance agreements for theour NEOs other than Mr. Mussallem provide that, in the event the executive is entitled to benefits under our Severance Pay Plan (the “Severance Plan”), which is described below, and the executive also has a qualifying termination under thechange-in-control severance agreement, the executive will be entitled to the benefits under thechange-in-control severance agreement only, and installment payments under the Severance Plan will immediately terminate without offset or reduction for any benefits already received under the Severance Plan. In the event Mr. Mussallem becomes entitled to the benefits under hischange-in-control severance agreement following the time at which he became entitled to certain severance benefits under the terms of his employment agreement (which is described below), any then-remaining severance benefits under his employment agreement will immediately terminate and he will only be entitled to benefits under hischange-in-control severance agreement, and the amount of certain severance benefits payable under hischange-in-control severance agreement will be reduced by the amount of the severance benefits previously paid under his employment agreement.

Employment Agreement with CEO.    On March 9, 2009, theour Company entered into an amended and restated employment agreement with Mr. Mussallem pursuant to which he is eligible to receive benefits in connection with certain termination circumstances. If Mr. Mussallem’s employment is terminated without cause, we will pay him the sum of (1) two times his highest base salary in the preceding 12 months; (2) the higher of one times his maximum target bonus for the year of termination, or two times the actual bonus paid in the preceding year; (3) apro-rated bonus for the year of termination; and (4) an amount equal to the cost of continued medical and dental coverage for up to 24 months. Mr. Mussallem will

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION

not be entitled to receive any such payments if he receives payments under hischange-in-control severance agreement and, as described above, any severance benefits Mr. Mussallem may receive under hischange-in-control severance agreement will be offset by any benefits he received under his employment agreement. For purposes of Mr. Mussallem’s employment agreement, “cause” generally includes (1)(i) the executive willfully engaging in conduct that is demonstrably and materially injurious to theour Company; or (2)(ii) the executive’s conviction of a felony.

If Mr. Mussallem’s employment is terminated due to retirement, disability or death, he will receive hispro-rated bonus for the year of termination and additional benefits as determined in accordance with our benefit plans.

For a period of 24 months following his termination of employment, Mr. Mussallem may not employ or solicit for employment any of our employees or consultants.


Severance Pay Plan.    We maintain the Severance Plan, under which theour NEOs (other than Mr.Messrs. Mussallem and Mr. Lemercier) and certain other U.S. employees are eligible to receive severance benefits in connection with a termination of the individual’s employment due to elimination of his or her position or a reduction in the size of our workforce. Benefits paid toIf an NEO (other than Mr.Messrs. Mussallem and Mr. Lemercier) becomes entitled to benefits under the Severance Plan, the NEO’s benefits will consist of cash severance equal to one andone-half times the executive’s “monthly compensation” (as defined in the Severance Plan), plus 4% of the executive’s monthly compensation multiplied by the number of whole months of service completed as of the date of termination. In no event will this cash severance exceed two times the executive’s annual compensation received in the preceding 12 months. Receipt of these severance benefits is conditioned upon the executive executing and not revoking a general release of any claims in favor of our Company.See“Change-in-Control “Change-in-Control Severance Agreements” section above for a description of the treatment of Severance Plan benefits if an NEO is also entitled to severance benefits under thechange-in-control severance agreement.

57


Severance Benefits for Mr. Lemercier.    Mr. Lemercier is eligible to receive severance benefits if his employment is terminated by our Company for any reason other than for cause. These benefits will consist of cash severance equal to one month of his monthly base salary for every year of service, capped at two years of his annual base salary. In addition, he will be entitled to six months advance notice of a termination of employment or pay in lieu of notice of an amount equal to six months of his monthly base salary. Receipt of these severance benefits is conditioned upon the executive executing and not revoking a general release of any claims in favor of our Company. Mr. Lemercier will not be entitled to receive any such payments if he receives payments under his change-in-control severance agreement.
Acceleration of Equity Awards.    None of our outstanding unvested equity awards will vest automatically upon a change in control (i.e., we have no “single trigger” vesting arrangements). Pursuant to the terms of the Long-Term Stock Program, applicable toall unvested equity awards granted prior to May 2015, in the event of a change in control of the Company, all outstanding stock options, restricted stock, RSUs and PBRSUs held by all employees (including the NEOs)our NEOs will vest in full. This provision was amended as to awards granted since May 2015 such thatfull if there is both a change in control and a specified termination of employment (a “double-trigger”) are required,, or if the awards must beare terminated in thechange-in-control transaction, in order for vesting of the awards to accelerate in connection with thechange-in-control transaction.

Estimated Payments.    The following tables set forth the estimated payments and benefits that would have been payable to theour NEOs under the terms of their agreements as described above had their employment been terminated on December 31, 20192022 under the termination circumstances indicated below. Unless otherwise noted, all cash payments would be made in a lump sum and would be paid by us or our successor. The amounts set forth in these tables represent estimates and forward-looking information that isare subject to substantial variation based on the timing of the applicable triggering event. We caution the reader to consider these limitations in reviewing the following tables.

For purposes of estimating the amount of payments and benefits payable as a result of a termination of the executive’s employment following a change in control, we have made the following assumptions where applicable:

the change in control occurred on December 31, 2019;

2022;

the stock price was $233.29$74.61 per share, which was the closing price of our common stock on December 31, 2019;

30, 2022, the last trading day in fiscal year 2022;

all NEOs were terminated on the date of the change in control; and

the NEOs received continued participation in our medical and dental plans for three years following termination of employment.

We have also assumed that outstanding and unvested stock options, RSUs and PBRSUs held by the executive accelerated and became vested (to the extent required in the circumstances) on the applicable event. If the awards were accelerated in connection with a change in control pursuant to which the awards were to be terminated, the value of the acceleration would be the same as the applicable value indicated below for “Qualifying Termination in Connection with a Change in Control” assuming that the change in control occurred on December 31, 2019.2022. In these circumstances, there would be no additional value for the accelerated vesting of the awards in connection with a termination of employment if the awards had previously accelerated because of the change in control.

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION

Executive Benefits and Payments upon Termination: Mr. Mussallem

 

 

Qualifying
Termination
in
Connection
with a
Change in
Control(1)

(a)

 

 

Termination
Due to
Retirement(2)

(b)

 

 

Termination
Due to
Disability or
Death(2)

(c)

 

 

Involuntary
    Termination    

by the

Company
Without

Cause(2)

(d)

 

Salary Severance

$3,213,600  $2,142,400

Bonus Severance

 5,004,681   3,336,454

Pro Rata Bonus – 2019

 1,553,240$1,553,240$1,553,240 1,553,240

Stock Option Acceleration

 10,634,824  10,634,824 

Restricted Stock Unit Acceleration

 5,960,560 2,700,332 5,960,560 

Performance-Based Stock Unit Acceleration

 9,109,975 5,297,951 5,297,951 5,297,951

Medical and Dental Coverage Continuation(2)

 34,812   23,208

Outplacement

 50,000   

Total

$35,561,692$9,551,523$23,446,575$12,353,253

(1)

Pursuant to the terms of Mr. Mussallem’schange-in-control severance agreement. Mr. Mussallem’s payments and benefits will be reduced to the extent necessary to ensure that he receives only the greater of (1) the amount of the payments which would not constitute a parachute payment, or (2) the amount which yields the executive the greatestafter-tax amount of benefits after taking into account any excise taxes imposed on the executive under Section 4999 of the Code. The value of Mr. Mussallem’s severance benefits presented in the table assumes that no such reduction in his benefits would be required.

(2)

Pursuant to the terms of Mr. Mussallem’s amended and restated employment agreement, and assuming that the termination of employment is not in connection with a change in control.

 
Qualifying Termination in Connection with a Change in Control(1)
Termination Due to Retirement(2)
Termination
Due to Disability or Death(2)
Involuntary
Termination by the Company Without Case(2)
Salary Severance$ 3,600,000$ __$ __$ 2,400,000
Bonus Severance5,400,000____3,163,540
Pro Rata Bonus – 20221,800,0001,800,0001,800,0001,800,000
Stock Option Acceleration56,855__56,855__
Restricted Stock Unit Acceleration4,547,013485,4314,547,013485,431
Performance-Based Stock Unit Acceleration5,955,7443,306,8815,955,7443,306,881
Medical and Dental Coverage Continuation41,534____27,689
Outplacement50,000______
 
Total$ 21,451,146$ 5,592,312$ 12,359,612$ 11,183,541
(1)    Represents benefits that would be provided pursuant to the terms of Mr. Mussallem’s change-in-control severance agreement. Mr. Mussallem’s payments and benefits will be reduced to the extent necessary to ensure that he receives only the greater of (1) the amount of the payments which would not constitute a parachute payment, and (2) the amount which yields the executive the greatest after-tax amount of benefits after taking into account any excise taxes imposed on the executive under Section 4999 of the Code. The value of Mr. Mussallem’s severance benefits presented in the table assumes that no such reduction in his benefits would be required.
(2)    Represents benefits that would be provided pursuant to the terms of Mr. Mussallem’s amended and restated employment agreement and taking into account that Mr. Mussallem is retirement-eligible.



58


Executive Benefits and Payments upon Termination: Qualifying Termination in

Connection with a Change in Control(1)

 

Mr. Ullem

Mr. Bobo

Mr. Lemercier

      Mr. Wood      

Salary Severance

$1,240,988$1,231,048$1,159,433$1,216,862

Bonus Severance

 1,119,888 1,127,580 784,468 1,015,366

Pro Rata Bonus – 2019

 480,000 460,000 392,950 480,000

Stock Option Acceleration

 5,244,700 3,272,643 2,402,105 4,980,815

Restricted Stock Unit Acceleration

 2,318,319 1,548,462 1,065,844 2,064,617

Performance-Based Stock Unit Acceleration

 2,303,739 2,105,442 1,329,753 2,163,764

Medical and Dental Coverage Continuation

 123,338 48,154 912,445 96,028

Outplacement

 50,000 50,000 50,000 50,000

Total

$12,880,972$9,843,329$8,096,998$12,067,452

(1)

Under thechange-in-control severance agreements, payments and benefits will be reduced to the extent necessary to ensure that the executive receives only the greater of (1) the amount of the payments which would not constitute a parachute payment or (2) the amount which yields the executive the greatestafter-tax amount of benefits after taking into account any excise taxes imposed on the executive under Section 4999 of the Code. The value of each executive’s severance benefits presented on the table assumes that no such reduction in benefits would be required.


 Mr. UllemMr. LemercierMr. WoodMr. Zovighian
Salary Severance$ 1,395,794$ 1,362,108$ 1,375,568$ 1,272,632
Bonus Severance1,146,0721,121,1191,150,0001,077,490
Pro Rata Bonus – 2022545,000560,560575,000510,000
Stock Option Acceleration283,2859,248254,175239,186
Restricted Stock Unit Acceleration1,206,8171,093,9691,017,028954,542
Performance-Based Stock Unit Acceleration1,518,3141,408,2641,354,1721,262,775
Medical and Dental Coverage Continuation (2)
132,9001,514,42434,30257,767
Outplacement50,00050,00050,00050,000
Total$6,278,182$7,119,692$5,810,245$5,424,392
(1)    Represents benefits that would be provided pursuant to the terms of our NEO’s change-in-control severance agreement. Under the change-in-control severance agreements, payments and benefits that would be subject to excise taxes imposed on the executive under Section 4999 of the Code may be reduced as described above. The value of each executive’s severance benefits presented on the table assumes that no such reduction in benefits would be required.
(2) The Medical Coverage Continuation amount includes medical, dental, vision and Employee Assistance Program (and other welfare benefit plans coverage based upon country of employment) for 36 months following the date of termination.
Executive Benefits and Payments upon Involuntary Termination:

Not in Connection with a Change in Control

 

Mr. Ullem

Mr. Bobo

Mr. Lemercier

  Mr. Wood  

Cash Severance

$224,412$671,947$857,467$913,661

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 Mr. UllemMr. LemercierMr. WoodMr. Zovighian
Cash Severance$336,154
$1,180,458(1)
$1,115,356$281,040

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION

(1)    Mr. Lemercier’s cash severance is reported in this table by converting Swiss Francs to United States dollars using an exchange ratio of 1.0504 (which is our average monthly intercompany Swiss Franc to United States dollar exchange rate for the year), and assumes that he was entitled to pay in lieu of six months advance notice of termination.

Death and Disability Benefits for Mr. Lemercier.    As a member of our European Management Team, Mr. Lemercier is entitled to receive death and disabilityrisks related benefits as part of his pension plan rules. In the event of the termination of his employment due to disability,As Mr. Lemercier has now reached the normal retirement age of 65, he is not eligible to receive disability nor death benefits as an active plan participant. In exchange he would be entitled to a benefit under the Nyonreceive his regular retirement pension plan equal to 60% of his qualifying risk salary payable at 65. Assuming termination of his employment as of December 31, 2019 becausein case of disability Mr. Lemercier would have been entitled to receive $506,616 per year until age 65. Inoccurs and a spouse pension in the event of his death while employed by us, Mr. Lemercier would be entitled to a lump sum payment equal to 200%(60% of his insured salary as well as a spouse pension. Assuming his death as of December 31, 2019, Mr. Lemercier’s death benefit would have been a lump sum of $1,688,721 and a spouse’s pension of $337,744 per year payable for life. An exchange rate of 1.019371 CHF/USD has been used to convert payments in Swiss Francs into United States Dollars.

retirement pension).

CEO Pay Ratio

Pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, we are required to disclose in this proxy statementProxy Statement the ratio of the total annual compensation of our CEO to the median of the total annual compensation of all of our employees (excluding our CEO). Based on SEC rules for this disclosure and applying the methodology described below, we have determined that our CEO’s total compensation for 20192022 was $11,520,973,$13,992,145, and the median of the total 20192022 compensation of all of our employees (excluding our CEO) was $64,517.$50,997. Accordingly, we estimate the ratio of our CEO’s total compensation for 20192022 to the median of the total 20192022 compensation of all of our employees (excluding our CEO) to be 179274 to 1.

The median employee that was used for purposes of calculating the ratio above was the same employee (the “2018 median employee”) that was

We identified as the median employee (the “2020 median employee”) for purposes of the CEO pay ratio disclosure included in the Proxy Statement for our 20182021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. ThereStockholders (the “2020 Pay Ratio Disclosure”), and there has been no change in our employee population or employee compensation arrangements since the 20182020 median employee was identified that we believe would significantly impact our pay ratio disclosure.

The total 2022 annual compensation for 2019 for thatthe median employee and the total compensation for 2019 for our CEO, as included in the first paragraph of this pay ratio disclosure werewas determined using the same rules that apply to reporting the compensation of our Named Executive OfficersNEOs (including our CEO) in the “Total” column of the Summary Compensation Table. The total compensation amounts included in the first paragraph of this pay-ratio disclosure were determined based on that methodology. The SEC’s pay ratio disclosure rules permit the use of estimates, assumptions, and adjustments, and the SEC has acknowledged that pay ratio disclosures may involve a degree of imprecision. We believe that the foregoing pay ratio is a reasonable estimate calculated in a manner consistent with the SEC’s pay ratio disclosure rules.

The SEC rules for identifying the median compensated employee and calculating the pay ratio based on that employee’s total annual compensation allow companies to adopt a variety of methodologies, to apply certain exclusions, and to make reasonable estimates and assumptions. As such, the pay ratio reported by other companies may not be comparable to the pay ratio reported above, as other companies may have different employment and compensation practices and may utilize different methodologies, exclusions, estimates and assumptions in calculating their own pay ratios.
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Pay Versus Performance Disclosure

The following table sets forth additional compensation regarding the relationship between our CEO’s and our other NEOs’ compensation and our financial performance for the years shown in the table (in this discussion, our NEOs other than our CEO are referred to as our “Non-CEO NEOs”). The calculations and analysis below do not necessarily reflect our Company’s approach to aligning compensation with performance. For information concerning the Company’s compensation philosophy and how our Company’s executive compensation program is designed to align compensation with performance, refer to the Compensation Discussion Analysis section of this Proxy Statement.

Value of Initial Fixed $100
Investment Based On4:
Year1
Summary Compensation Table Total for CEO2
Compensation Actually Paid to CEO3
Average Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-CEO NEOs2
Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-CEO NEOs3
Total Shareholder ReturnPeer Group Total Shareholder Return
Net Income
(millions)5
Underlying Revenue Growth6
2022$13,992,145 $(10,537,711)$4,167,440 $(2,605,075)$95.94 $113.92 $1,521.9 7.7 %
202113,613,305 31,516,279 3,501,702 8,147,117 166.60 140.40 1,503.1 17.8 %
202010,050,933 15,035,705 3,403,465 4,444,991 117.32 117.63 823.4 0.6 %
(1)    Mr. Mussallem was our CEO for each of the three years included in the table. For each year included in the table, our executive officers included in the Non-CEO NEO group for that year are listed below:
YearNon-CEO NEOs
2022Scott Ullem, Jean-Luc Lemercier, Larry Wood, Bernard Zovighian
2021Scott Ullem, Donald Bobo Jr, Jean-Luc Lemercier, Larry Wood
2020LOGOEdwards Lifesciences Corporation2020 Proxy Statement59Scott Ullem, Donald Bobo Jr, Jean-Luc Lemercier, Larry Wood


(2)    See the Summary Compensation Table above for detail on the Summary Compensation Table total compensation for our CEO for each year covered in the table. The average compensation for the Non-CEO NEOs for 2022 was calculated from the Summary Compensation Table above. The average compensation for the Non-CEO NEOs for each of 2021 and 2020 was calculated from the Summary Compensation Table as disclosed in our Proxy Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2022 or 2021, respectively.
(3)    Fair value or change in fair value, as applicable, of equity awards in the "Compensation Actually Paid" columns was determined by reference to (1) for RSU awards (excluding Total Shareholder Return “TSR” awards and other performance-based awards), closing price on applicable year-end date(s) or, in the case of vesting dates, the actual vesting date price, (2) for TSR-based awards, the fair value calculated by a Monte Carlo simulation model as of the applicable year-end date(s), and (3) for stock options, a Black Scholes value as of the applicable year-end or vesting date(s), determined based on the same methodology as used to determine grant date fair value but using the closing stock price on the applicable revaluation date as the current market price and with an expected life set equal to the remaining life of the award in the case of underwater stock options and, in the case of in the money options, an expected life equal to the original ratio of expected life relative to the seven year contractual life multiplied times the remaining life as of the applicable revaluation date, and in all cases based on volatility and risk free rates determined as of the revaluation date based on the expected life period and based on an expected dividend rate of 0%.

For purposes of this table, the compensation actually paid (also referred to as “CAP”) to each of our NEOs (including, for purposes of this table, former named executive officers who are included in the Non-CEO NEO group for the applicable year) means the NEO’s total compensation as reflected in the Summary Compensation Table for the applicable year and adjusted for the following with respect to each NEO:

Less the amounts reported in the “Stock Awards” and “Option Awards” columns of the Summary Compensation Table for the applicable year,
Less the NEO’s aggregate change in the actuarial present value of the accumulated benefit under pension plans included in the “Change in Pension Value and Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Earnings” column of the Summary Compensation Table for the applicable year,
Plus the pension service cost for the NEO for the applicable year,
Plus the year-end value of Edwards option and stock awards granted in the covered year which were outstanding and unvested at the end of the covered year,
Plus/(less) the change in value as of the end of the covered year as compared to the value at the end of the prior year for Edwards option and stock awards which were granted in prior years and were outstanding and unvested at the end of the covered year,
Plus the vesting date value of Edwards option and stock awards which were granted and vested during the same covered year,
Plus/(less) the change in value as of the vesting date as compared to the value at the end of the prior year for Edwards option and stock awards which were granted in prior years and vested in the covered year,
Less, as to any Edwards option and stock awards which were granted in prior years and were forfeited during the covered year, the value of such awards as of the end of the prior year,
Plus the dollar value of any dividends or other earnings paid during the covered year on outstanding and unvested Edwards option and stock awards (no dividends were paid on unvested awards during the applicable years; the crediting of dividend equivalents on stock awards is taken into account in determining the applicable vesting or year-end date of the award),
Plus, as to an Edwards option or stock award that was materially modified during the covered year, the amount by which the value of the award as of the date of the modification exceeds the value of the original award on the modification date (none of the Edwards option or stock awards held by the NEOs were materially modified during the years covered by the table).

In making each of these adjustments, the “value” of an option or stock award is the fair value of the award on the applicable date determined in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 using the valuation assumptions we then used to calculate the fair value of our equity awards. For more information on the valuation of our equity awards, please see the notes to our financial statements that appear in our Annual Report on Form 10 K each year and the footnotes to the Summary Compensation Table that appears in our annual Proxy Statement.

The table above reflects the CAP (determined as noted above) for our CEO and, for our Non-CEO NEOs, the average of the CAPs determined for the Non-CEO NEOs for each of the years shown in the table. Compensation Actually Paid to Mr. Mussallem reflects the following adjustments from Total compensation reported in the Summary Compensation Table.
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Compensation Actually Paid to Mr. Mussallem reflects the following adjustments from Total compensation reported in the Summary Compensation Table:
202220212020
Total Reported in 2022 Summary Compensation Table (SCT)$13,992,145 $13,613,305 $10,050,933 
Less, value of Stock Awards reported in SCT(11,769,153)(10,731,293)(7,964,289)
Less, change in Pension Value reported in SCT— — — 
Plus, Annual Service Cost (Pension)— — — 
Plus, Year-End value of Awards Granted in Fiscal Year that are Unvested and Outstanding5,096,973 16,872,757 9,943,132 
Plus, Change in Fair Value of Prior Year awards that are Outstanding and Unvested(4,858,706)1,252,507 (671,244)
Plus, FMV of Awards Granted this Year and that Vested this Year826,186 1,466,945 931,746 
Plus, Change in Fair Value (from prior year-end) of Prior Year awards that Vested this year(13,825,155)9,042,058 2,745,426 
Less Prior Year Fair Value of Prior Year awards that Failed to vest this year— — — 
Total Adjustments$(24,529,856)$17,902,974 $4,984,772 
Actual Compensation Paid for Fiscal Year 2022$(10,537,711)$31,516,279 $15,035,705 
The average Compensation Actually Paid to the non-CEO NEOs reflects the following adjustments from Total compensation reported in the Summary Compensation Table for the applicable year:
202220212020
Total Reported in 2022 Summary Compensation Table (SCT)$4,167,440 $3,501,702 $3,403,465 
Less, value of Stock Awards reported in SCT(3,051,860)(2,065,155)(1,879,854)
Less, change in Pension Value reported in SCT— (108,381)(481,327)
Plus, Annual Service Cost (Pension)73,920 284,557 211,352 
Plus, Year-End value of Awards Granted in Fiscal Year that are Unvested and Outstanding1,186,590 3,325,850 2,502,007 
Plus, Change in Fair Value of Prior Year awards that are Outstanding and Unvested(1,392,945)97,694 (302,943)
Plus, FMV of Awards Granted this Year and that Vested this Year370,095 195,064 91,597 
Plus, Change in Fair Value (from prior year-end) of Prior Year awards that Vested this year(3,958,314)2,915,787 900,694 
Less Prior Year Fair Value of Prior Year awards that Failed to vest this year— — — 
Total Adjustments$(6,772,514)$4,645,415 $1,041,526 
Actual Compensation Paid for Fiscal Year 2022$(2,605,075)$8,147,117 $4,444,991 
(4)    Edwards Total Shareholder Return represents cumulative total shareholder return on a fixed investment of $100 in our common stock for the period beginning on the last trading day of 2019 through the end of the applicable year, and is calculated assuming the reinvestment of dividends. Peer Group Total Shareholder Return represents cumulative total shareholder return on a fixed investment of $100 in the S&P Health Care Equipment Index for the period beginning on the last trading day of 2019 through the end of the applicable year and is calculated assuming the reinvestment of dividends.

The following chart illustrates the CAP for our CEO and the average CAP for our Non-CEO NEOs for each of the last three years against our Company’s total shareholder return and the total shareholder return for the S&P 500 Health Care Equipment Index (each calculated as described above) over that period of time.

ew-20230314_g52.jpg
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(5)    This column shows our net income for each year covered by the table. The following chart illustrates the CAP for our CEO and the average CAP for our Non-CEO NEOs for each of the last three years against our net income for each of those years. While no portion of NEO compensation is directly dependent upon our net income, SEC rules require that net income be presented as a performance measure in this table.

ew-20230314_g53.jpg

(6)    This column shows our underlying revenue growth for each year covered by the table. We consider underlying revenue growth to be a key metric in our executive compensation program as underlying revenue growth is used in determining payouts under our Annual Incentive Plan. See the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this Proxy Statement for more information regarding the use of this performance measure in our executive compensation program. The following chart illustrates the CAP for our CEO and the average CAP for our Non-CEO NEOs for each of the last three years against our underlying revenue growth for each of those years.
ew-20230314_g54.jpg
Following is an unranked list of the financial performance measures we consider most important in linking the compensation actually paid to our NEOs for 2022 with our performance.

Relative TSR (used in our PBRSUs)
Underlying Revenue Growth (used in our Incentive Plan)
Adjusted Earnings Per Share (used in our Incentive Plan)
Adjusted Free Cash Flow (used in our Incentive Plan)
KOD Measurement

See the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this Proxy Statement for more information regarding the use of these performance measures in our executive compensation program.

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In addition to the financial performance measures listed above, we view our stock price, upon which the value of all of our equity awards is dependent, as a key performance-based component of our executive compensation program in order to further align the interests of our senior management with the interests of our stockholders.

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PROPOSAL 2 – ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE“FOR” THE APPROVAL OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NEOS.

ew-20230314_g24.jpg
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NEOS.
In accordance with Section 14A of the Exchange Act and the related rules of the SEC, we are providing our stockholders with the opportunity to vote, on an advisory,non-binding basis, on the executive compensation of our NEOs as disclosed in this Proxy Statement (including in the compensation tables and narratives accompanying those tables as well as in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis”).

As described more fully in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” our executive compensation programs are designed to attract, retain, motivate, and engage executives with superior leadership and management capabilities. High-caliber talent is critical to our success and we strive to provide compensation that is competitive. Our strongpay-for-performance culture is reflected below:

A significant portion of executive compensation is performance based;

Our performance goals consist of a mix of company-wideCompany-wide financial, operating, and strategic measures as well as personal objectives designed to further theour Company’s annual and long-term business performance; and

We strive to align the interests of our executives with the interests of our stockholders, with a significant portion of executive compensation being in the form of equity awards with a value dependent upon our stock price.

We urge stockholders to read the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” beginning on page 27,28, which describes in more detail how our executive compensation policies and procedures are designed and operate to achieve our compensation and strategic objectives, as well as the “Summary Compensation Table” and other related compensation tables and narrative appearing on pages 4546 through 59. The63. Our Compensation and Governance Committee and theour Board believe that the policies, procedures, and compensation programs described in these sections have contributed to theour Company’s long-term performance.

In the advisory vote at our 20192022 annual meeting, approximately 95%90% of the votes cast by our stockholders supported our executive compensation policies and procedures.

Even though we have regularly received strong support for our executive pay practices, theour Compensation and Governance Committee continues to engage in periodic reviews of our executive compensation and benefits programs and makes changes as appropriate to reflect our compensation philosophy and objectives, and to take into account stockholder feedback.


In 2019, we achieved significant growthJanuary 2023, our Board of Directors approved the 2022 KOD achievement at 113% of target. Our financial performance resulted in financial achievement at 61% of target. Accordingly, our cash incentive plan for corporate employees funded at 69% of target. Final incentive amounts for our NEOs for 2022 also took into account each employee’s individual performance. See “Elements of Compensation—Annual Cash Incentive Payment” in the “Compensation Discussion and exceeded our financial goals, includingnon-GAAP revenue, net income and free cash flow,Analysis” above for additional information regarding the three measures of achievement under our annual cash incentive plan. In February 2020, after reviewing the Company’s 2019 performance versus financial and operational goals, TSR performance, and business unit performance, the Compensation Committee awarded incentive payments to the NEOs that ranged from 139% to 158% of the Incentive Pay Objectives for the NEOs.

payment.

Another indicator of ourpay-for-performance culture is the relationship of theour NEOs’ target total direct compensation to TSR. Over the past five years, on average, 89%90% of theour CEO’s target total direct compensation is performance-based, and 74%76% is tied to the performance of Edwards’ stock. Our stock price has increased 266%99% over the past five years, 149%25% over the past three years, and 52%declined 42% over the past year.

We are asking our stockholders to indicate their support for our NEO compensation programs as described in thethis Proxy Statement. This proposal, commonly known as a“say-on-pay” “say-on-pay” proposal, gives our stockholders the opportunity to express their views on our NEOs’ compensation. This vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of our NEOs and the philosophy, policies and practices described in thethis Proxy Statement.

60LOGOEdwards Lifesciences Corporation2020 Proxy Statement


PROPOSAL 2 – ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION

Accordingly, we ask our stockholders to vote “FOR”FOR the following resolution at the Annual Meeting:

“RESOLVED, that the Company’s stockholders approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the NEOs, as disclosed in the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 20202023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the Summary Compensation Table and the other related tables and disclosure included in the Proxy Statement.”

Thesay-on-pay vote is advisory, and therefore not binding on theour Company, theour Compensation and Governance Committee or theour Board, and it will not be construed as overriding a decision by theour Company, theour Compensation and
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Governance Committee or theour Board, or creating or implying any additional fiduciary duty. However, theour Board and our Compensation and Governance Committee value the opinions of our stockholders and will consider the voting results when making future decisions regarding executive compensation. Our current policy is to provide our stockholders with an opportunity to approve the compensation of theour NEOs each year at the annual meeting. It is expected that the next such vote will occur at the 20212024 annual meeting.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE“FOR” THE APPROVAL OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NEOS.

ew-20230314_g55.jpg
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NEOS.

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PROPOSAL 3 – ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE FREQUENCY OF FUTURE ADVISORY VOTES ON NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION
ew-20230314_g24.jpg
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE TO HOLD FUTURE ADVISORY VOTES ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION EVERY “ONE YEAR”.

As described in Proposal 2 above, our stockholders are being provided the opportunity to cast an advisory vote on our NEO compensation (referred to as a say-on-pay vote).

In 2017, our stockholders had the opportunity to cast an advisory vote on how often we should include a say-on-pay vote in the Proxy Materials for our annual meetings of stockholders or special stockholder meetings for which we must include executive compensation information in the proxy statement for that meeting (referred to as a “say-on-pay frequency vote”). At our 2017 annual meeting, stockholders voted to have the say-on-pay vote every year. Our Board accepted the stockholders’ preference and implemented annual say-on-pay advisory votes.

Under SEC rules, we are required to hold a new say-on-pay frequency vote at least every six years. Accordingly, this Proposal 3 affords our stockholders the opportunity to cast an advisory vote on how often we should include a say-on-pay vote in the proxy materials for future annual or special stockholders meetings, as applicable. Under this Proposal 3, our stockholders may vote to have future advisory votes on executive compensation every year, every two years, every three years, or abstain from voting.

We believe that advisory votes on executive compensation should be conducted every year so that our stockholders may annually express their views on our executive compensation program. Over the past six years, stockholders have come to expect, and are accustomed to having, the opportunity to review and vote on executive compensation every year. Also, if investors do have concerns about our Company's executive compensation program, it can be a benefit to allow them to express those concerns through the annual say-on-pay vote.

Like the say-on-pay vote, this say-on-pay frequency vote is advisory and will not be binding on our Company, our Compensation and Governance Committee or our Board. However, our Board and our Compensation and Governance Committee value the opinions expressed by our stockholders and will take the outcome of this vote into account when determining the frequency of future say-on-pay votes.

It is expected that the next vote on a say-on-pay frequency proposal will occur at the 2029 annual meeting of stockholders.
ew-20230314_g55.jpg
LOGOEdwards Lifesciences Corporation2020 Proxy Statement61THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE TO HOLD FUTURE ADVISORY VOTES ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION EVERY “ONE YEAR”.




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EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

The following table sets forth, for each of our fourfive equity compensation plans, which include the Long-Term Incentive Compensation Stock Program, the Nonemployee Directors Program, the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Stock Incentive Program, the 2001 Employee Stock Purchase Plan for United States Employees (the “U.S. ESPP”) and the 2001 Employee Stock Purchase Plan for International Employees (the “International ESPP”), the number of shares of our common stock subject to outstanding awards, the weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, and the number of shares remaining available for future award grants as of December 31, 2019.2022. These plans have each been approved by our stockholders.

Plan Category

  

Number of Securities
to be Issued Upon
Exercise of
Outstanding Options,
Warrants and Rights(#)

(a)

  

Weighted-Average
Exercise Price of
Outstanding Options,
Warrants and Rights($)(1)

(b)

  

Number of Securities
Remaining Available
for Future Issuance
Under Equity
Compensation Plans(#)  
(excluding securities
reflected in column

(a)(c)

Equity Compensation Plans Approved by Stockholders

    6,625,353(2)    $96.53    9,228,578(3) 
    

Equity Compensation Plans Not Approved by Stockholders

            

(1)

The weighted-average exercise price is calculated without taking into account 919,950


Plan CategoryNumber of Securities
to be Issued Upon
Exercise of
Outstanding Options,
Warrants and Rights(#)
  Weighted-Average
  Exercise Price of
  Outstanding Options,
  Warrants and Rights($)
(1)
Number of Securities
Remaining Available
for Future Issuance
Under Equity
Compensation Plans(#)
(2) 
    
Equity Compensation Plans Approved by Stockholders
13,533,912 (3)
  $    63.66
 27,129,636 (4)
    
Equity Compensation Plans Not Approved by Stockholders  —
    
Total 13,533,912 27,129,636
(1)The weighted-average exercise price is calculated without taking into account 1,962,316 shares of common stock subject to outstanding RSUs and PBRSUs (with PBRSUs taken into account at the targeted level of performance) that will become issuable as those units vest, without any cash consideration or other payment required for such shares.

(2)

This amount includes (a) 5,705,403 shares of common stock subject to outstanding stock options, (b) 799,809 shares of common stock subject to RSU awards that will entitle the holder to one share of our common stock for each such unit that vests over the holder’s period of continued service, 120,141 shares subject to PBRSUs granted to executives (at the targeted level of performance; actual payout could range from 0% to 175% of the targeted level based on relative total stockholder return). This amount does not include 1,967 restricted shares granted to nonemployee directors that were outstanding and unvested as of December 31, 2019.

(3)

As of December 31, 2019, the following number of shares of common stock remain available for future issuance under equity compensation programs approved by our stockholders: (a) Long-Term Stock Program — 8,461,928; (b) Nonemployee Directors Program – 766,650 and (the current Nonemployee Directors Program will terminate in accordance with its terms on April 1, 2020 and no new awards may be granted under the plan after that date; an equal 766,650 shares that will be available under the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Stock Incentive Program if our stockholders approve Proposal 3; (c) U.S. ESPP – 1,243,273 and (d) the International ESPP 363,366. The shares available under the Long-Term Stock Program may be used for any type award authorized under the Long-Term Stock Program including stock options, restricted stock, RSUs, and PBRSUs. The shares available under the Nonemployee Directors Program may be used for any type of award authorized under the Nonemployee Directors Program including stock options, stock issuances, restricted stock, RSUs and stock appreciate rights.

62LOGOEdwards Lifesciences Corporation2020 Proxy Statement



PROPOSAL 3 – APPROVAL OF THE 2020 NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTORS STOCK INCENTIVE PROGRAM

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE“FOR” THE APPROVAL OF THE 2020 NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTORS PROGRAM.

The Company is requesting that stockholders approve the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Stock Incentive Program (the “2020 Nonemployee Directors Program”), which was adopted, subject to stockholder approval, by the Board on February 20, 2020. The 2020 Nonemployee Directors Program will allow us to continue to grant equity awards to our nonemployee directors in order to align the nonemployee directors’ interests more closely with the interests of our stockholders.

The 2020 Nonemployee Directors Program will replace the current Nonemployee Directors Program that will expire according to its terms on April 1, 2020. As of January 31, 2020, there were 766,650 shares of our common stock available for new awards under the current Nonemployee Directors Program. The Company will not grant any new awards under the current Nonemployee Directors Program after April 1, 2020. Under the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Program, 766,650 shares of common stock would be available for award grants, which reflects the number of shares available for new award grants under the current Nonemployee Directors Program (which will expire) with no proposed increase in the share limit.

If stockholder approval for this proposal is not obtained, the Company will not be able to grant equity awards to nonemployee directors after the expiration of the current Nonemployee Directors Program, and we would be unable to continue thelong-term equity component of our nonemployee director compensation program. Our nonemployee directors are not eligible to receive award grants under the Long-Term Stock Incentive Program. Without the ability to use stock, we would be required to replace the long-term equity component of our nonemployee director compensation program with additional cash compensation for our nonemployee directors in order to maintain a competitive nonemployee director compensation program. We believe that additional cash compensation would offer less of an opportunity to further the link between nonemployee director interests and stockholder interests.

The Company encourages stockholders to consider the following factors that support this request:

The Company grantslong-term incentive awards (stock options and RSUs) to its nonemployee directors to further align their interests with those of our stockholders. The size of these incentive award grants has been limited under the Nonemployee Directors Program, and will continue to be limited under the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Program. As a result, the Company has achieved a low burn rate for the Nonemployee Directors Program while providing what we believe to be adequate compensation for our nonemployee directors.

   2016  2017  2018  2019

Annual Burn Rate(1)

    0.01%    0.01%    0.01%    0.01

(1) BurnRate =

(a) shares subject to awards granted under the Nonemployee Directors Program less shares subject to Nonemployee Directors Program awards cancelled, divided by (b) shares of Company common stock outstanding as of year end

The 766,650 shares that would be available for award grants under the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Program if stockholders approve this proposal represent 0.37% of our outstanding shares at December 31, 2019.

The total number of shares of our common stock subject to awards granted under the Nonemployee Directors Program over the last three years, and through January 31, 2020, are as follows:

   2017  2018  2019  2020 Through  
January 31

Stock Options

    4,704    3,826        

RSAs

    1,764    1,437    1,967    

RSUs

    14,238    11,585    9,261    

Total

    20,706    16,848    11,228    

LOGOEdwards Lifesciences Corporation2020 Proxy Statement63


PROPOSAL 3 – APPROVAL OF THE 2020 NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTORS STOCK INCENTIVE PROGRAM

As additional context, the total number of shares of our common stock subject to awards granted under the Long-Term Stock Program over the last three years, and through January 31, 2020, are as follows (in each case with PBRSUs taken into account at the targeted level of performance): 1,385,735 that will become issuable as those units vest, without any cash consideration or other payment required for such shares.

(2)Excludes securities reflected in 2017, 1,222,603 in 2018, 1,032,244 in 2019, and 0 in 2020 through January 31, 2020.

Each year since 2008, we have actively repurchased shares of our common stock through various stock repurchase programs. The Board has approved stock repurchase programs authorizing us to purchase our common stock on the open market, including pursuant to aRule 10b5-1 plan and in privately negotiated transactions. As of December 31, 2019, we had remaining authority to purchase $1.2 billion of common stock.

To help assess the potential dilutive impactcolumn 1 of the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Program proposal, the numbertable (Number of sharesSecurities to be Issued Upon Exercise of our common stock issuedOutstanding Options, Warrants and outstanding in each of the last four fiscal years is as follows:

 2016201720182019  

Shares Outstanding at Fiscal Year End (in millions)

 211.6 209.8 207.7 209.0 

On January 31, 2020, the Company had outstanding 209,122,578Rights).

(3)    This amount includes (a) 11,571,596 shares of common stock.

As of January 31, 2020, a total of 60,776 shares werestock subject to outstanding stock options, (b) 1,707,729 shares of common stock subject to RSU awards, and stock awards under the Nonemployee Directors Program (referred to as “overhang”). These included 49,548(c) 254,587 shares subject to outstanding options and 1,967 shares subject to outstanding RSAs and 9,261 shares subject to outstanding RSUs. As of that date, a total of 766,650 shares were available for new award grants under the Nonemployee Directors Program. In addition, as of that date, 5,533,228 shares were subject to outstanding options under the Long-Term Stock Program, 781,179 shares were subject to RSUs outstanding under the Long-Term Stock Program, 120,141 shares were subject to PBRSUs outstanding under the Long-Term Stock Program (atPBRSU awards (determined at the targeted level of performance; actual payout could range from 0% to 175% of the targeted level),level based on relative total stockholder return over the performance period). This amount does not include 1,474 restricted stock awards (RSA) granted to nonemployee directors that were outstanding and 8,507,117unvested as of December 31, 2022; these RSAs are grants in lieu of cash retainers under the non-employee director “Deferral Election Program."

(4)    As of December 31, 2022, the following number of shares were thenof common stock remain available for future issuance under equity compensation programs approved by our stockholders: (a) Long-Term Stock Program — 18,785,343; (b) 2020 Nonemployee Directors Stock Incentive Program – 2,225,350 (no new award grantsawards may be granted under the predecessor plan, the Nonemployee Directors Program); (c) U.S. ESPP – 4,675,100; and (d) the International ESPP – 1,443,843. The shares available under the Long-Term Stock Program.

We are committed to maintaining strong corporate governance practices and noteProgram may be used for any type of award authorized under the following important factors that pertain to our 2020 Nonemployee DirectorsLong-Term Stock Program, and ourlong-term equity compensation practices:

The Company has adopted stock ownership guidelines and a holding requirement for its nonemployee directors to create additional owner commitment and to emphasize stockholder value creation. (See “Director Compensation—Directors’ Stock Ownership Guidelines and Holding Requirement.”) All current nonemployee directors have met their ownership targets;

The maximum term of options is seven years;

We do not have any program, plan or practice to time equity awards in coordination with the release of material information;

Our practice is to grant equity awards to the nonemployee directors each year on the day following our annual meeting of stockholders; and

We have never engaged in a repricing ofincluding stock options, restricted stock, RSUs and our 2020 Nonemployee Directors Program would require stockholder approval for any repricing actions.

PBRSUs. The principal terms of the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Program are summarized below. The following summary is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Program, which has been filed as Appendix B to this Proxy Statement.

Administration.    The 2020 Nonemployee Directors Program will be administered by the Compensation Committee, or by another committee appointed by the Board (which shall consist of entirely of directors) or by the Board itself. The administrator of the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Program may also delegate administrative duties under the plan to officers, employees and directors of the Company, except that it may not delegate its authority with respect to granting awards under the plan. The administrator of the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Program (the Board or a committee of directors) will have broad authorityshares available under the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Stock Incentive Program including the authority to select participants and determine awards; establish terms and conditionsmay be used for any type of awards, make certain adjustments to awards and construe and interpret the program.

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PROPOSAL 3 – APPROVAL OF THE 2020 NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTORS STOCK INCENTIVE PROGRAM

Eligibility.    Only nonemployee directors of the Company will be eligible to participate in the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Program. As of January 31, 2020, the Company had seven nonemployee directors. The Company’s employees and independent contractors are not eligible to participate in the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Program.

Share Reserve.    Subject to adjustment for certain changes in the Company’s capitalization or other events referred to under “Adjustments in Authorized Shares” below, and subject to approval of Proposal 3 by stockholders, a total of 766,650 shares of our common stock will beaward authorized for issuance under the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Stock Incentive Program, which represents the number of shares that were available for new award grants under the current Nonemployee Directors Program as of January 31, 2020. In general, shares subject to outstanding options or other awards under the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Program that expire or otherwise terminate prior to the issuance of the shares subject to those options or awards will be available for subsequent issuance under the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Program. Unvested shares issued under the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Program and subsequently forfeited to or reacquired by the Company will be added back to the number of shares reserved for issuance under the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Program and will accordingly be available for subsequent issuance. In addition, upon exercise of a stock appreciation right, the number of shares reserved for issuance under the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Program shall be reduced by the gross number of shares as to which such stock appreciation right is exercised.

As of January 31, 2020, 49,548 options, 1,967 RSAs, and 9,261 RSUs were outstanding under the current Nonemployee Directors Program. As of the same date, 956,088 shares had been issued pursuant to the exercise of outstanding options and 1,016,486 shares had been issued upon vesting of RSUs and the grant of restricted stock awards, and 766,650 shares remained available for future awards under the current Nonemployee Directors Program. As noted above, the current Nonemployee Directors Program will expire according to its terms on April 1, 2020 and we will not grant any new awards under the current Nonemployee Directors Program after April 1, 2020.

Types of Awards.    The following types of awards may be granted to eligible participants under the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Program:including stock options, stock issuances, restricted stock, awards, RSUs and stock appreciation rights.

Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights.    Nonqualified stock options and stock appreciation rights (“SARs”) may be granted under the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Program. A nonqualified stock option is an option that is not intended to be a qualified stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code and is the right to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock at a future date at a specified price per share (the “exercise price”). A SAR is the right to receive payment of an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of share of the Company’s common stock on the date of exercise of the SAR over the base price of the SAR. The Compensation Committee has the discretion to select eligible participants to receive options or SARs, and determine the number of shares, exercise price, and other terms of options or SARs granted under the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Program. The maximum term of an option granted under the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Program is seven years.No option or SAR may be granted with an exercise or base price less than the closing price of our common stock on the grant date. The closing price of our common stock as of January 31, 2020 was $219.86 per share.

Share Issuances, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units.    Shares of our common stock may be issued under the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Program to eligible participants, and such shares may or may not have restrictive conditions. The Compensation Committee has the discretion to select eligible participants to receive common stock, and determine the number of shares, purchase price (if any), any conditions of restriction (if any), and other terms of stock issued under the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Program. A plan participant who receives an award of common stock will have stockholder rights, including voting and dividend rights, for those shares unless the Compensation Committee determines otherwise.

The Compensation Committee may issue RSUs under the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Program, which entitle the participant to receive shares of our common stock underlying the units upon attainment of designated performance goals, the satisfaction of specified service requirements or upon the expiration of a designated time period following the vesting of the units. The Compensation Committee has the discretion to select eligible participants to receive RSUs, and to determine the number of shares, any vesting and other terms and conditions of the RSUs. The holders of RSUs will not have any stockholder rights until the underlying shares are actually issued to the holder. However, dividend equivalent units may be paid or credited, either in cash or in actual or phantom shares of our common stock, on outstanding restricted units, subject to such terms and conditions as the Compensation Committee deems appropriate.

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PROPOSAL 3 – APPROVAL OF THE 2020 NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTORS STOCK INCENTIVE PROGRAM

Annual Awards.    The 2020 Nonemployee Directors Program provides that each nonemployee director will receive an annual grant of options for up to 40,000 shares of our common stock, or a RSU award for up to 16,000 units with respect to shares of our common stock, or a combination of options and RSUs with a maximum grant date value of approximately $240,000. The Board or Compensation Committee may, from time to time and without stockholder approval, change the grant date value (currently, $240,000) for awards that are to be granted in a combination of options and RSUs, so long as the total number of options granted to a nonemployee director in any one year under the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Program does not exceed 40,000 shares and so long as the total number of RSUs granted to a nonemployee director in any one year under the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Program does not exceed 16,000. As described in “Director Compensation” above, for 2019 each nonemployee director who was serving on the day after our 2019 annual meeting was granted an annual award of 1,323 RSUs. The Compensation Committee recommends to the Board for its approval the actual amount and type of award for each year. The annual equity award is granted on the day after our annual meeting. The option exercise price is the closing price of our common stock on the grant date. The annual awards vest upon the first to occur of (i) the first anniversary of the award date or (ii) the next annual meeting of the Company that occurs in the calendar year after the award date. The annual awards also fully vest upon the director’s death or disability.

Equity Awards in Lieu of Cash.    Directors may also elect to receive all or a portion of their annual cash retainer in the form of options or restricted stock granted under the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Program (for more information, see “Director Compensation — Deferral Election Program” above).

Amendment of the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Program; No Limit on Other Authority.    The Board may alter, amend, suspend or terminate the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Program at any time, and the Compensation Committee may amend awards previously granted. Stockholder approval will be required for any amendment of the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Program only to the extent required by applicable law. In addition, and except for adjustments made in connection with changes in the Company’s capitalization or other events referred to under “Adjustments in Authorized Shares” below or any repricing that may be approved by our stockholders, the Compensation Committee may not (1) amend an outstanding option for the sole purpose of lowering the exercise price of the option, (2) cancel, exchange or surrender an outstanding option in exchange for cash or other awards for the purpose of repricing the award, or (3) cancel, exchange or surrender an outstanding option for the purposes of reissuing such option at a lower exercise price, without stockholder approval. Further, no termination, amendment or modification of the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Program or amendment of previously granted awards may adversely affect in any material way a previously granted award, without the consent of the participant holding the award. The 2020 Nonemployee Directors Program does not limit the authority of the Company, the Board, or the Compensation Committee to grant awards or authorize any other compensation, with or without reference to the Company’s common stock, under any other plan or authority.

Acceleration upon Change in Control.    Awards granted under the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Program will generally become 100% vested and exercisable upon a change in control of the Company.

Adjustments in Authorized Shares.    In the event of any change in corporate capitalization, such as a stock split, or a corporate transaction, such as any merger, consolidation, separation, including aspin-off, or other distribution of stock or property of the Company, any reorganization or any partial or complete liquidation of the Company, adjustments will be made to: (i) the maximum number and class of shares issuable under the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Program, (ii) the number and class of shares subject to the annual awards to directors under the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Program, and (iii) the number and class of and price of shares subject to outstanding awards granted under the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Program. Such adjustments will be made as deemed to be appropriate and equitable by the Compensation Committee, in its sole discretion, to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights.

New Plan Benefits.    No options have been granted, and no direct stock issuances or RSUs have been awarded, on the basis of the approval of this Proposal 3. If the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Program had been in effect in 2019, we expect that our award grants for 2019 would not have been different from those actually made in that year under the current Nonemployee Directors Program.

As described under “Director Compensation — Nonemployee Directors Stock Incentive Program” above, our current compensation practice is to grant each nonemployee director who is serving on the day after our annual meeting an annual equity award of RSUs, with the number of shares subject to each award to be determined by dividing $240,000 by the closing price of our common stock on the grant date (or the immediately preceding trading day if the grant date is not a trading day). Assuming, for illustrative purposes only, that the price of the common stock used for the conversion of the

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PROPOSAL 3 – APPROVAL OF THE 2020 NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTORS STOCK INCENTIVE PROGRAM

dollar amount set forth above into shares is $220, each nonemployee director would receive an annual RSU award with respect to 1,091 shares (after rounding down to the nearest whole share) and 7,637 shares per year would be allocated to the Company’s seven nonemployee directors as a group for the annual grants. This calculation assumes that there are no new eligible directors, no changes in the value of a share, there continues to be seven eligible directors seated and there are no changes to the awards granted under the director equity grant program. This calculation also does not take into account any shares that may be issued under the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Program if directors elect to receive all or a portion of their cash retainer fees in the form of awards under the plan, since it cannot be predicted whether and the extent to which any directors would make this election in the future.

Summary of Federal Income Tax Consequences.    The following summary describes the United States federal income taxation treatment applicable to the Company and the participants who receive awards under the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Program. The following summary is not intended to be exhaustive and, among other considerations, does not describe the deferred compensation provisions of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code to the extent an award is subject to and does not satisfy those rules, nor does it describe state, local, or international tax consequences.

Option and SAR Grants.    Options granted under the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Program may only benon-statutory options which are not intended to be incentive stock options within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code. No taxable income is recognized by a recipient upon the grant of anon-statutory option or SAR. The recipient will generally recognize ordinary income in the year in which the option or SAR is exercised equal to the excess of the fair market value of the exercised shares on the exercise date over the exercise or base price of the shares, and the recipient will be required to satisfy the tax withholding requirements applicable to such income, if any. The Company will be entitled to an income tax deduction equal to the amount of ordinary income recognized by the recipient with respect to the exercised stock option or SAR. The deduction will generally be allowed for the Company’s taxable year in which such ordinary income is recognized by the recipient.

Share Issuances.    A recipient of fully vested common stock will generally recognize ordinary income based on the then- fair market value of the shares at the time of grant. The recipient will be required to satisfy the tax withholding requirements applicable to such income, if any. The Company will be entitled to an income tax deduction equal to the amount of ordinary income recognized by the recipient.

Restricted Stock.    A recipient of restricted stock will generally recognize ordinary income when his or her shares vest, based on thethen- fair market value of the shares. The recipient may, however, elect under Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code to include as ordinary income in the year of issuance of the shares the fair market value of the shares at that time. The recipient will be required to satisfy the tax withholding requirements applicable to such income, if any. The Company will be entitled to an income tax deduction equal to the amount of ordinary income recognized by the recipient. The deduction will be allowed for the taxable year in which such ordinary income is recognized by the recipient.

Restricted Stock Units.    No taxable income is recognized upon receipt of a RSU. The holder will recognize ordinary income in the year in which the shares subject to that unit are actually issued. The amount of that income will be equal to the fair market value of the shares on the date of issuance. The holder will be required to satisfy the tax withholding requirements applicable to such income, if any. The Company will be entitled to an income tax deduction equal to the amount of ordinary income recognized by the holder. The deduction will, in general, be allowed for the taxable year in which such ordinary income is recognized by the holder.

Other Tax Considerations.    If an award is accelerated for a “change in control” under the Internal Revenue Code, the Company may not be permitted to deduct the portion of the compensation attributable to the acceleration if it exceeds certain threshold limits under the Internal Revenue Code (and certain related excise taxes may be triggered).

Board Recommendation.    The Board believes that it is in our best interests to continue to align the nonemployee directors’ interests more closely with the interests of our stockholders through annual equity awards under the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Program.

All of our nonemployee directors are eligible for awards under the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Program and thus have a personal interest in the approval of this Proposal 3.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE“FOR” THE APPROVAL OF THE 2020 NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTORS PROGRAM.

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AUDIT MATTERS
PROPOSAL 4 – APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT OF THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED SHARES OF COMMON STOCK FOR THE PURPOSE OF EFFECTING ATHREE-FOR-ONE STOCK SPLIT

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE“FOR” THE ADOPTION AND APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT OF THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED SHARES OF COMMON STOCK FOR THE PURPOSE OF EFFECTING A THREE-FOR-ONE STOCK SPLIT.

Description of the Proposed Amendment

Our Certificate of Incorporation currently authorizes the issuance of up to 350 million shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, and 50 million shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share.

On February 20, 2020, our Board adopted resolutions approving an amendment (the “Amendment”) to the Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock from 350 million shares to 1.05 billion shares for the purpose of effecting athree-for-one forward split (the “Stock Split”) of our issued and outstanding common stock following the effectiveness of such Amendment and providing for a proportional increase in our authorized but unissued shares of common stock. The Board determined that the Amendment is advisable and in the best interests of the Company and directed that the proposed Amendment be submitted for adoption and approval by stockholders at the Annual Meeting.

The full text of the Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation is set forth in Appendix C to this Proxy Statement. The Amendment would not affect the number of authorized shares of preferred stock. Currently, there are no shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding.

Purposes and Effects of the Proposed Amendment

As of March 13, 2020, we have 207,325,907 shares of common stock outstanding and the number of authorized shares of our common stock is 350 million. Based on the number of shares of common stock outstanding as of March 13, 2020, following filing of the Amendment and after giving effect to the Stock Split and a proportional increase in our authorized but unissued shares of common stock, we will have approximately 621,977,721 shares of common stock outstanding and the number of authorized shares of our common stock will be increased to 1.05 billion. Our Board is recommending the proposed increase in the number of authorized shares of common stock to provide adequate shares of common stock for the Stock Split, including to provide for a proportional increase in our authorized but unissued shares of common stock.

Our Board intends to approve, subject to and contingent upon stockholder adoption and approval and the effectiveness of the Amendment, the Stock Split, which would be effected pursuant to a stock dividend (the “Stock Dividend”) of two shares of our common stock to the holders of record of each share of our common stock. The Board anticipates approving a record date as of the close of business on May 18, 2020 (the “Record Date”) for determining the stockholders of record entitled to receive the Stock Dividend and a payment date for the Stock Dividend of May 29, 2020 (the “Payment Date”). If our stockholders adopt and approve the Amendment, the Amendment will become effective on the date that it is filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. Upon declaration of the Stock Dividend by the Board and approval of the Record Date and Payment Date therefor, each stockholder of record at the close of business on the Record Date will become the record owner of, and be entitled to receive, two additional shares of common stock for each share of common stock then owned of record by such stockholder. If the Amendment is adopted and approved by the stockholders, the Company currently anticipates filing the Amendment with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on May 8, 2020. If the Amendment is not adopted and approved by the stockholders or is subsequently abandoned by the Board, the Stock Split will not be effected and the Stock Dividend will not be made to the stockholders. Further, if the Board subsequently determines not to proceed with the currently anticipated Stock Split, the Amendment, even if it is approved by stockholders, will not be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

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PROPOSAL 4 – APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT OF THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

The Stock Split and its Effects.    The trading price of our common stock has risen significantly over the past several years. Our Board has evaluated the data demonstrating that our employees have a high level of interest and ownership in Edwards’ common stock as well as the feedback from those employees that a higher stock price can limit those who desire to invest in Edwards’ stock, especially those who are earlier in their careers. The Board also reviewed the effect of the trading price of our common stock, reviewing our history of stock splits and other relevant factors. The closing market price of our common stock on March 13, 2020, was $185.50 as reported on the NYSE. The Board believes in the Company’s long-term strategy and the continued growth of the Company and, in consideration of the factors above, the Board believes that effecting the Stock Split would be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.

Following the Payment Date of the Stock Dividend, each stockholder will own three times the number of shares of our common stock such stockholder held prior to the Stock Split. The Stock Split will affect all of our stockholders uniformly and will not affect any stockholder’s percentage ownership of our common stock. Proportionate voting rights and other rights and preferences of the holders of our common stock will not be affected by the Stock Split. The number of stockholders of record will also not be affected by the Stock Split.

The Stock Split will also result in a proportionate increase in the number of shares of common stock available for issuance under our equity compensation plans due to the adjustment provisions set forth in such plans. With respect to outstanding stock options to purchase shares of our common stock, the Stock Split would result in an increase in the number of shares subject to such outstanding stock options proportional to thethree-for-one ratio of the Stock Split and would also result in a proportionate decrease in the exercise price of such outstanding stock options (rounded up to the nearest whole cent) due to the adjustment provisions set forth in such options. With respect to other outstanding awards to acquire shares of our common stock, the Stock Split would result in an increase in the number of shares subject to such outstanding awards proportional to thethree-for-one ratio of the Stock Split due to the adjustment provisions set forth in such awards.

Accounting Consequences of Stock Split.    The par value per share of our common stock will remain unchanged at $1.00 per share after the Stock Split. As a result, on the Payment Date of the Stock Dividend, the stated capital on our consolidated balance sheet attributable to common stock will be increased proportionately and the additionalpaid-in-capital account will be decreased by the amount by which the stated capital is increased. Per share net income or loss will be decreased for current and prior periods because there will be additional shares of our common stock outstanding. We do not anticipate that any other accounting consequences, including changes to the amount of stock-based compensation expense to be recognized in any period, will arise as a result of the Stock Split.

Other Purposes and Effects of the Amendment.    As a general matter, the additional proportional increase in our authorized but unissued shares of common stock as a result of the Amendment would enable the Board to issue additional shares of common stock in its discretion from time to time without further action or approval of our stockholders, subject to and as limited by any rules or listing requirements of the NYSE or of any other applicable rules or regulations. However, the proportion of such additional shares of authorized common stock in relation to our issued and outstanding common stock will be the same both before and after the Stock Split. The corporate purposes for which our Board may issue additional shares of common stock include future acquisitions, capital-raising or financing transactions involving common stock, convertible securities or other equity securities, stock splits, stock dividends and current or future equity compensation plans. Our Board believes the proportionate increase in our authorized but unissued common stock is appropriate to maintain the flexibility currently available to the Company to issue shares in the future without the potential expense or delay incident to obtaining stockholder approval for any particular issuance. Except for shares of common stock reserved for grant(s) pursuant to our equity compensation plans and shares of common stock expected to be distributed to stockholders to effect the planned Stock Split, the Company does not currently have any other plans, agreements, commitments or understandings with respect to the issuance of the additional shares (or the currently authorized but unissued shares) of common stock, nor does the Company currently have any plans, arrangements, commitments or understandings with respect to the issuance of any shares of preferred stock.

The Stock Split will affect all of our stockholders uniformly and will not affect any stockholder’s percentage ownership of our common stock. However, other future issuances of shares of common stock or securities convertible into shares of common stock could, under certain circumstances, be construed as having an anti-takeover effect (for example, by diluting the stock ownership of a person seeking to effect a change in the composition of the Board or contemplating a tender offer or other transaction for the combination of our Company with another company). While we do not intend

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PROPOSAL 4 – APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT OF THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

the Amendment to deter or to prevent a change in control, we could use the additional shares of common stock (as we could use the currently authorized but unissued shares of our common stock) to hinder persons seeking to acquire or take control of our Company or to dilute voting power of the outstanding shares. We are not aware of any efforts to obtain control of our Company and we have not made this Proposal 4 in response to any such efforts.

Rights of Additional Authorized Shares of Common Stock

Any additional authorized shares of common stock, if and when issued, would be part of our existing class of common stock, and would have the same rights and privileges as the currently outstanding shares of common stock. The holders of common stock are not entitled to preemptive rights or cumulative voting.

Procedure for Implementing Stock Split

Subject to and contingent upon stockholder adoption and approval and the effectiveness of the Amendment, our Board intends to approve the Stock Split, and establish the Record Date and Payment Date for the Stock Dividend. Accordingly, the Board anticipates that the Stock Dividend will be payable on May 29, 2020 to the record holders of each share of our common stock as of the close of business on May 18, 2020. All shares issued as a result of the proposed Stock Split will be uncertificated, issued in book-entry form, either through the Direct Registration System or as a credit to an existing account of a stockholder of record. Consequently, certificates representing shares of common stock currently issued will remain valid for the number of shares shown and should be retained by each stockholder and should not be returned to the Company or to its transfer agent, as it will not be necessary to submit outstanding certificates for exchange. You will receive information about the additional shares to which you are entitled on or around the payment date. PLEASE DO NOT DESTROY OR RETURN YOUR EXISTING STOCK CERTIFICATES. CERTIFICATES REPRESENTING SHARES OF COMMON STOCK ISSUED PRIOR TO THE STOCK SPLIT WILL CONTINUE TO REPRESENT THE SAME NUMBER OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE STOCK SPLIT.

Effective Date of Proposed Amendment

If the Amendment is adopted by the required vote of stockholders, such Amendment will become effective on the date the Amendment is filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. If the Amendment is adopted and approved and becomes effective, we anticipate the Stock Dividend will be paid on May 29, 2020 to the record holders of each share of our common stock as of the close of business on the Record Date.

Reservation of Right to Abandon Amendment and Stock Split.

Our Board reserves the right to not proceed with the Amendment and to abandon the Amendment without further action by our stockholders at any time before the effectiveness of the filing of the Amendment with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, even if the Amendment is adopted and approved by our stockholders at the Annual Meeting. By voting in favor of the Amendment, you are expressly also authorizing our Board to delay, not proceed with, and abandon, the proposed Amendment if it should so decide, in its sole discretion, that such action is in the best interests of our Company and its stockholders. If the Board elects to abandon the Amendment, the number of authorized shares of common stock will remain 350 million and the Stock Dividend will not be paid and the Stock Split will not be effected.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE“FOR” THE ADOPTION AND APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT OF THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED SHARES OF COMMON STOCK FOR THE PURPOSE OF EFFECTING A THREE-FOR-ONE STOCK SPLIT.

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AUDIT MATTERS

PROPOSAL 5 – RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE“FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF THE INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM.

The

ew-20230314_g24.jpg
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF THE INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM.
Our Audit Committee has appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020.2023. Representatives of PwC are expected to attend the Annual Meeting and will be available to respond to appropriate questions and to make a statement if they so desire. In addition to the annual audit services, PwC performs certainnon-audit services for us. Although we are not required to seek stockholder approval of the appointment of PwC, theour Board believes that it is consistent with good corporate governance practices to ask stockholders to ratify the appointment. If the appointment is not ratified, theour Audit Committee will explore the reasons for stockholder rejection and will reconsider the appointment. In addition, even if stockholders ratify theour Audit Committee’s appointment of PwC, theour Audit Committee, in its discretion, may still appoint a different independent registered public accounting firm if it believes that such a change would be in the best interests of theour Company and our stockholders.

PwC has been our independent registered public accounting firm since 1999, serving in that capacity and reporting on our consolidated financial statements and the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting continuously throughsince that time, including for the 20192022 fiscal year.

In considering whether to reappoint PwC, theour Audit Committee evaluated PwC’s performance and considered factors, including, but not limited to, the following factors:

following:

PwC’s qualifications and global capabilities;

capabilities, including its experience in the medical technology industry;

the results of theour Company’s annual assessment of PwC’s performance;

PwC’s and the audit engagement team’s independence, including whether the provision of non-audit services provided by PwC, individually and in aggregate, to our Company during 2022 was compatible with their independence;

the quality, timeliness, and candor of PwC’s communications with theour Audit Committee and management;

the appropriateness of PwC’s fees;

PwC’s tenure as our independent registered public accounting firm;

the controls and processes in place that help ensure PwC’s continued independence;

any Public Company Accounting Oversight Board’s firm inspection reports; and

whether    the provisionpotential impact ofnon-audit services provided by PwC to the Company during 2019 was compatible with their independence.

appointing a new independent registered public accounting firm.

The

Our Audit Committee maintains oversight over PwC by holding regular private sessions with PwC, performing annual evaluations, and being directly involved in the selection of new lead audit partners pursuant to SEC rules requiring that a new lead audit partner be designated in the normal course every five years to bring a fresh perspective to the audit engagement. A new partner was so designated in advance of the 2020 audit.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE“FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF THE INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM.

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LOGOEdwards Lifesciences Corporation2020 Proxy Statement71THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF THE INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM.



AUDIT MATTERS

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Fees Paid to Principal Accountants.    During 20192022 and 2018,2021, PwC was retained to provide services in the following categories and amounts (in millions):

   2019  2018

Audit Fees

   $3.5   $3.4

Audit-Related Fees

    0.3    0.3

Tax Fees

    1.5    1.3

All Other Fees

    (1)    (1)

(1)

In 2019 and 2018, there were $15,000 and $46,000, respectively, in “All Other Fees”.

 20222021
Audit Fees$4.0$3.8
Audit-Related Fees0.20.1
Tax Fees2.01.8
All Other Fees(1)(1)
(1)    In both 2022 and 2021, there were $15,000 in “All Other Fees”.
Audit Fees.   Amounts paid under “Audit Fees” include aggregate fees for the audit of our consolidated financial statements and the effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting, the three quarterly reviews of theour Company’s reports onForm 10-Q and other SEC filings, and services in connection with statutory and regulatory filings.

Audit-Related Fees.   Amounts paid under “Audit-Related Fees” were for miscellaneous audit and consulting services.

Tax Fees.   Amounts paid under “Tax Fees” in 20192022 were for tax compliance ($1.1 million) and other tax services ($0.9 million), and in 2021 were for tax compliance ($1.2 million) and other tax services ($0.6 million), and in 2018 were for tax compliance ($0.7 million) and other tax services ($0.6 million).


All Other Fees.   There were $15,000 and $46,000 in “All Other Fees” in 2019both 2022 and 2018, respectively.

2021, which related to license fees.

Pre-Approval of Services.    The    Our Audit Committee is required topre-approve the audit andnon-audit services performed by our independent registered public accounting firm in order to assure that the provision of such services does not impair the auditor’s independence. Any proposed services exceedingpre-approved cost levels require specificpre-approval by theour Audit Committee.

The

Our Audit Committee at least annually reviews and provides generalpre-approval for the services that may be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm; the term of the generalpre-approval is 12 months from the date of approval, unless theour Audit Committee specifically provides for a different period. If theour Audit Committee has not provided generalpre-approval, then the type of service requires specificpre-approval by theour Audit Committee.

The

Our Audit Committee does not delegate to management its responsibilities topre-approve services performed by the independent registered public accounting firm, but may delegatepre-approval authority to one or more of its members. The member or members to whom such authority is delegated must report anypre-approval decisions to theour Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting. The annual audit services, engagement terms, and fees are subject to the specificpre-approval of theour Audit Committee. One hundred percent (100%) of audit andnon-audit services performed by PwC in 20192022 and 20182021 were approved by theour Audit Committee.

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

The Audit Committee comprises the threefour directors named below, each of whom meets the enhanced independence standards for Audit Committee members as set forth in applicable rules of the NYSE and the SEC. The Board has designated each member of the Audit Committee as an “audit committee financial expert” under applicable rules of SEC. Additional information regarding the Audit Committee, its responsibilities and meetings are described above in the section entitled “Board of Directors Matters – Matters—Corporate Governance Policies and Practices – Practices—Committees of the Board.”

Management is responsible for our internal controls, financial reporting process and compliance with laws, regulations and ethical business practices. Our independent registered public accounting firm, PwC, is responsible for performing an independent audit of our annual consolidated financial statements and expressing an opinion on the conformity of those financial statements with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, as well as expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. The Audit Committee’s responsibility is to monitor and oversee these processes.

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In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.2022. The Audit Committee has discussed with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm the matters required to be discussed by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.Board and the SEC. The Audit Committee has received and reviewed the written disclosures and the letter from the independent registered public accounting firm under applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent accountant’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and has discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm its independence.

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Based on the reviews and discussions referred to above, and relying thereon, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the financial statements referred to above be included in the Company’s 2022 Annual Report onForm 10-K for filing with the SEC.

The Audit Committee:

Leslie S. Heisz (Chair)

Kieran T. Gallahue

Wesley W. von Schack

Steven R. Loranger
Ramona Sequeira
This report shall not be deemed soliciting material or to be filed with the SEC, or incorporated by reference in any document so filed, whether made before or after the date hereof, except to the extent we specifically request that it be treated as soliciting material or it is specifically incorporated by reference therein.


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PROPOSAL 5 – APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT OF THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO PROVIDE FOR EXCULPATION OF OFFICERS
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LOGOEdwards Lifesciences Corporation2020 Proxy Statement73THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE ADOPTION AND APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT OF THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO PROVIDE FOR EXCULPATION OF OFFICERS AS PERMITTED BY THE DELAWARE GENERAL CORPORATION LAW



Description of the Proposed Amendment


Article Ninth of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) currently provides for our Company to limit the monetary liability of directors in certain circumstances pursuant to and consistent with Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”).

OTHER MATTERS AND BUSINESS

PROPOSAL 6 – STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL REGARDING ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE“AGAINST” THIS PROPOSAL REGARDING ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT.


A stockholderEffective August 1, 2022, Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL was amended to permit a corporation’s certificate of incorporation to include a provision eliminating or limiting monetary liability for certain senior corporate officers for breach of the duty of care, subject to certain exceptions.


Our Board has determined that it is advisable and in the best interests of our Company to approve an amendment (the “Proposed Amendment”) to our Certificate of Incorporation to provide for exculpation of our officers as now permitted by the DGCL, and has directed that the Proposed Amendment be submitted for adoption and approval by the proposal and supporting statementstockholders at the Annual Meeting.

The full text of the Proposed Amendment is set forth below in accordanceAppendix B to this Proxy Statement.

Purposes and Effects of the Proposed Amendment

Our Board desires to amend our Company’s Certificate of Incorporation to maintain provisions consistent with the rulesDGCL and believes that the Proposed Amendment, which would add officers to the exculpation provision in our Certificate of Incorporation and provide officers with similar protections to those currently afforded members of our Board, subject to the additional limitations of the SEC.

TheDGCL, is necessary in order to continue to attract and retain experienced and qualified officers. Our Board and management prioritizes attracting and retaining top industry talent as a key driver of our long-term strategy and continued stockholder value creation.


Officers are required to make decisions on crucial matters, often in response to time-sensitive opportunities and challenges. Such decisions can create risk of investigations, claims, actions, suits or proceedings seeking to impose liability on the basis of hindsight, especially in the current litigious environment and regardless of merit. Limiting the economic impact of this type of litigation to our Company disclaim any responsibility for its content. We will furnish, orally orwould empower officers to best exercise their business judgment in writing as requested, the name, address and claimed share ownershipfurtherance of the stockholder that submitted this proposal promptly upon oral or written request to the Company’s Corporate Secretary.

Proposal 6 – Adopt a New Shareholder Right – Written Consent

Shareholders request thatinterests. Further, our board of directors take the steps necessary to permit written consent by shareholders entitled to cast the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize the action at a meeting at which all shareholders entitled to vote thereon were present and voting. This written consent is to give shareholders the fullest power to act by written consent consistent with applicable law. This includes shareholder ability to initiate any appropriate topic for written consent.

Hundreds of major companies enable shareholder action by written consent. This proposal topic won majority shareholder support at 13 large companies in a single year. This included 67%-support at both Allstate and Sprint. This proposal topic also won 63%-support at Cigna Corp. (CI) in 2019. This proposal topic would have received higher votes that 63% to 67% at these companies if more shareholders had access to independent proxy voting advice.

Edwards Lifesciences shareholders already gave 51%-support to the written consent topic in 2015. This 51% vote can means close to 60% support from shareholders who had access to independent proxy voting advice.

This 51%-vote apparently triggered a sort of engagement redirection lead by Wesley von Schack, presiding director. After Mr. von Schack did his sort of engagement redirection it was somehowBoard has determined that the 51%proposed provision would not negatively impact stockholder rights.


As amended, effective August 1, 2022, Section 102(b)(7) of Edwards Lifesciences shareholdersthe DGCL provides that only certain officers may be entitled to exculpation; namely: (i) a corporation’s president, chief executive officer, chief operating officer, chief financial officer, chief legal officer, controller, treasurer or chief accounting officer; (ii) an individual identified in public filings as one of the most highly compensated officers of our Company; and (iii) an individual who, votedby written agreement with our Company, has consented to be identified as an officer for written consent purportedly really wantedpurposes of Delaware’s long-arm jurisdiction statute.

Similar to tinkerthe existing exculpation provided members of our Board under o Company’s current Certificate of Incorporation, the Proposed Amendment would not limit the liability of officers for any breach of the duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, any acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law, or any transaction from which the officer derived an improper personal benefit. Furthermore, pursuant to Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL, the Proposed Amendment would allow for the exculpation of the officers specified above only in connection with direct claims brought by stockholders, including class actions, but would not eliminate such officers’ monetary liability for breach of fiduciary duty claims brought by the corporation itself or for derivative claims brought by stockholders in the name of the corporation.

Other than the amendment of the existing Article Ninth by the Proposed Amendment, the remainder of the Certificate of Incorporation will remain unchanged. If the Proposed Amendment is approved by the stockholders, the Proposed Amendment will become effective upon filing of the Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation with the special meeting provisions.

Mr. von Schack is apparently a lesson in how management “engagement” can be usedDelaware Secretary of State, which our Company intends to negatively redirectfile promptly following the purported meaning of a shareholder vote.

Annual Meeting if the requisite votes are obtained.


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The right for shareholders to act by written consent is gaining acceptance as a more important right than the right to call a special meeting. This seems to be the conclusiongeneral description of the Intel Corporation (INTC) shareholder vote atProposed Amendment set forth above is qualified in its entirety by reference to the 2019 Intel annual meeting.

The directors at Intel apparently thought they could divert shareholder attention away from written consent by making it less difficult for shareholdersfull text of the Proposed Amendment as set forth in Appendix B to call a special meeting. However Intel shareholders responded with greater support for written consent in 2019 compared to 2018.

Written consent support at Flowserve Corporation increased from 43% to 51% inone-year. Written consent also received 45%-support at The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (BK) in 2018 and BK said it adopted written consent in 2019. And a proxy advisor has set certain minimum requirements for a company adopting written consent in case management is tempted to adopt a “fig leaf” version of written consent.

Please vote yes:

Adopt a New Shareholder Right – Written Consent — Proposal 6

this Proxy Statement.

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THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE ADOPTION AND APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT OF THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO PROVIDE FOR EXCULPATION OF OFFICERS AS PERMITTED BY THE DELAWARE GENERAL CORPORATION LAW

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PROPOSAL 6 – STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL REGARDING INDEPENDENT BOARD CHAIRMAN
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LOGOTHE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE “AGAINST” THIS PROPOSAL REGARDING AN INDEPENDENT BOARD CHAIRMAN.
John Chevedden, 2215 Nelson Avenue, No. 205, Redondo Beach, California 90278, owner of 100 shares of our common stock, has informed the Company in writing that he intends to offer the following resolution for consideration at the Annual Meeting.
The Board and the Company disclaim any responsibility for its content. We will furnish, orally or in writing, as requested, the name, address and claimed share ownership of the stockholder that submitted this proposal promptly upon oral or written request to the Company’s Corporate Secretary.
Proposal 6 – Independent Board Chairman

Shareholders request that the Board of Directors adopt an enduring policy, and amend the governing documents as necessary in order that 2 separate people hold the office of the Chairman and the office of the CEO.

Whenever possible, the Chairman of the Board shall be an Independent Director.

The Board has the discretion to select a Temporary Chairman of the Board who is not an Independent Director to serve while the Board is seeking an Independent Chairman of the Board.

Although it is best practice to adopt this policy soon this policy could be phased in where there is a contract renewal for our current CEO or for the next CEO transition.

This proposal topic won 52% support at Boeing and 54% support at Baxter International in 2020. Boeing then adopted this proposal topic. The roles of Chairman and CEO are fundamentally different and should be held by 2 directors, a CEO and a Chairman who is completely independent of the CEO and our company.

A lead director is no substitute for an independent Board Chairman. According to the Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
2020 Proxy Statementannual meeting proxy the EW Lead Directors has hardly any exclusive powers:
•    serves as the principal liaison, but not the only liaison, between the independent Board members and the Chairman.
•    okays, but does not initiate, Board meeting agendas.
•    okays, but does not initiate, Board meeting schedules to only to ensure there is sufficient time
•    is one of the coordinators of the activities of the independent directors
•    is one of the persons providing feedback to management from the Board’s executive sessions.
•    is one of the persons providing advice, counsel and support to the Chairman.
•    is one of the persons communicating with major stockholders, but only as appropriate.

When the Lead Director shares roles with others it means that the Lead Director may need to do little or nothing in those roles in a given year.    

Plus management fails to give shareholders enough information on this topic to make an informed decision. There is no comparison of the exclusive powers of the Office of the Chairman and the exclusive powers of the Lead Director.

The ascending complexities of a company with $50 Billion in market capitalization, like Edwards Lifesciences, increasingly demand that 2 persons fill the 2 most important jobs at EW on an enduring basis – Chairman and CEO

Please vote yes:
Independent Board Chairman – Proposal 6



OTHER MATTERS AND BUSINESS

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The Board has carefully considered the above stockholder proposal and believes that it is unnecessary and not in the best interests of our stockholders. The Board recommends thatunanimously urges stockholders to vote “AGAINST”“AGAINST” this proposal for the following reasons which are further discussed below:

reasons:

The same stockholder proposal was submitted by

Our independent directors should have the same stockholderflexibility to determine the Company’s leadership structure in 2018, and that proposal received support from only 23.7%light of the votes cast, confirming what we heardcircumstances at the time and should not be restricted to a single rigid approach.
The Company’s leadership structure and corporate governance practices, both as recently constructed and from a historical perspective, provide strong independent oversight and have been expanded in the course of our active stockholder engagement efforts—most stockholders support the Board’s position on this proposal.

The stockholder proposal would deprive all stockholders of the right to be consulted on key matters impacting their investment.

The Board expanded the right of stockholders to call special meetings in direct response to feedback received through extensive stockholder outreach led by our Lead Independent Director in 2015-2016 on this exact topic. In those conversations, stockholders overwhelmingly indicated that expansion of our existing special meeting right was superior to implementing a right for stockholders to act by written consent.

feedback.

The existing right to call a special meetingBoard’s independent leadership structure is preferable and is set at an appropriate threshold.

We have a strong corporate governance structure and record of accountability.

The same stockholder proposal was submitted by the same stockholder in 2018, and that proposal received support from only 23.7% of the votes cast, confirming what we heard in the course of our active stockholder engagement efforts—most stockholders support the Board’s position on this proposal.

Ongoing active stockholder engagement efforts, and a vote on the same proposal in 2018, further affirm that most stockholders are comfortable with our existing practices. The Company Board and management have remained committed to engaging with stockholders. Among other engagement efforts, our Corporate Secretary and Investor Relations teams, together with other members of management and, from time to time, our Lead Independent Director, engage stockholders to solicit their views and feedback on corporate governance and other related matters and to discuss the issues that matter most to our stockholders. For the past several years, we have reached out to over 50% of our outstanding stock annually to discuss areas of interest. Stockholder feedback is shared with the Board and its committees to directly inform decisions.

In these engagement discussions, we received feedback from stockholdersevaluated on a range of topics including corporate governance.Although stockholders possess a variety of views,regular basis to ensure that the feedback we have received affirms that most of our stockholders are supportive of the Company’s existing stockholder rights, including our special meeting threshold of 15%, and recognize that a written consent right would deprive stockholders of the rightapproach continues to be consulted on key matters impacting their investment.

The stockholder proposal would deprive all stockholders of the right to be consulted on key matters impacting their investment.

Our governing documents require that actions on which stockholders will be asked to vote be considered at a meeting of stockholders. This requirement assures that all stockholders receive advance notice of the proposed action, have an opportunity to discuss it, and consider all points of view. In contrast, the proposal would allow critical actions to be approved without notice to other stockholders and without an opportunity for discussion at a stockholder meeting. This proposal, if adopted, could disenfranchise stockholders and may deprive them of these rights, while enabling other short-term or special interest investors with no fiduciary duties to stockholders or to the Company to approve proposals that are not in the best interestprovide effective independent oversight of the Company and allserves the best interests of stockholders. Accordingly,


Our independent directors should have the Board believes that the written consent process is not appropriate for a widely held public company. This belief has been affirmed by stockholders through our robust stockholder outreach efforts over the past few years, including extensive outreach conducted during 2015-2016 on this topic, which we discuss in more detail below.

The Board expanded the right of stockholdersflexibility to call special meetings in direct response to feedback received through extensive stockholder outreach led by our Lead Independent Director in 2015-2016 on this exact topic. In those conversations, stockholders overwhelmingly indicated that expansion of our existing special meeting right was superior to implementing a right for stockholders to act by written consent.

The above stockholder proposal was submitted by the same stockholder in 2014 and then again in 2015. Following the vote on this proposal in 2015 (the “2015 proposal”), which was approved by 50.8% of the votes cast (39% of the shares

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then outstanding), we, including Mr. von Schack, the Board’s Lead Independent Director (then-Presiding Director), engaged in substantial stockholder outreach in order to be able to inform the Board of our stockholders’ current views on this matter. The feedback provided by stockholders during these meetings was provided to the full Board for consideration.

2015 Outreach.    During 2015, our management contacted 26 of our largest stockholders representing approximately 54% of our outstanding shares to, among other things, seek their feedback on the 2015 proposal that was narrowly approved at the 2015 Annual Meeting. This outreach resulted in conversations with 13 stockholders representing approximately 43% of our outstanding shares. The engagement included extensive discussions of the positive and negative aspects of the special meeting versus the written consent rights, both generally and specifically as it relates to the Company.

Overall, stockholders were pleased to be consulted and, among other things, voiced two consistent themes:

Our stockholders strongly favored the right to call a special meeting over the right to act by written consent. Many of these stockholders said they preferred the right to call a special meeting over the right to act by written consent because while both provide stockholders an avenue to be heard outside the annual meeting cycle, special meetings provide additional protections for all stockholders and avoid the logistical issues that some stockholders have experienced when presented with a consent solicitation.

Regardless of their views on the right to act by written consent, stockholders believed it was important that the Board be responsive to the vote on the 2015 proposal.

Based on this feedback, the Board evaluated various alternatives. After careful deliberation and consideration ofdetermine the Company’s specific circumstances, including its history of having a concentrated stockholder base, the Board determined that lowering the threshold for the special meeting right from 25% to 15% likely was the most responsive and appropriate course of action. Before doing so, however, the Board wanted to understand how our stockholders would view that action and whether they would consider it superior to the adoption of a right to act by written consent.

2016 Outreach.    To obtain feedback specific to this proposed action,leadership structure in early 2016, we contacted 20 stockholders representing approximately 51% of our outstanding shares and spoke with 18 stockholders representing just over 50% of our shares, including many stockholders who had provided their views during our initial outreach. Mr. von Schack led conversations with five of our top six stockholders. The remaining calls were conducted by the management team that participated on the calls with Mr. von Schack, which included the CFO, the Corporate Secretary and the Vice President of Investor Relations.

The results of these conversations were as follows:

All of these stockholders approved of the Board’s engagement process and efforts to incorporate stockholders’ perspectives into its decision-making process.

All but one of these stockholders said they considered the Board lowering the special meeting threshold in lieu of adopting a written consent right to be responsive to the vote on the 2015 proposal.

During our 2016 outreach, the one stockholder who said that it had voted for the 2015 proposal and would still prefer to have both special meeting and written consent rights indicated that it appreciated the Board’s thoughtful process to address the feedback received during the 2015 outreach conversations. This stockholder believed the Board was responsive to the vote on the 2015 proposal.

In light of the feedback received duringcircumstances at the outreach, indicating that lowering the threshold requiredtime and not be restricted to call a special meeting is superior to the adoption of a right to act by written consent and also having considered the factors listed below, in February 2016,single rigid approach.


Under our Corporate Governance Guidelines, the Board amended our Bylaws to lower the threshold for the special meeting right from 25% to 15% of our outstanding shares, which remains the current threshold.

The existing right to call a special meetingmay change its leadership structure if it determines that doing so is preferableappropriate and is set at an appropriate threshold.

Our existing stockholder right to call special meetings allows stockholders to propose actions without waiting for the Company’s next Annual Meeting. A special meeting set at an appropriate threshold is preferable to action by written consent because a meeting allows all stockholders to participate in and discuss the merits of, a proposed action, and

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allows the Board to make a thoughtful recommendation about the action. As a result, a strong stockholder special meeting right is better suited to a culture of transparency and good corporate governance.

The Board continues to believe that having a special meeting right at 15% strikes the right balance for the Company, as it is a low enough threshold to provide a meaningful right for stockholders to act between annual meetings yet high enough to prevent a single stockholder (or small group of stockholders) from acting without broad stockholder support. The Company has a history of having significant concentration amongst its top stockholders. Over the past decade, the Company has always had at least one stockholder with ownership at or above approximately 8%, and approximatelytwo-thirds of the time, the Company has had at least one stockholder with ownership above 10%. Four different institutions have owned at least 10% of the Company’s stock at some point during that same period.

In addition, at the present time, only 18% of S&P 500 companies maintain a special meeting right with a threshold at or below 15%, providing additional confidence to the Board that a special meeting right with a threshold of 15% is in line with the Company’s strong corporate governance structures.

We have a strong corporate governance structure and record of accountability.

Our current corporate governance structure reflects a significant and ongoing commitment to strong and effective governance practices and a willingness to be responsive and accountable to our stockholders. We regularly assess and refine our corporate governance policies and procedures to take into account evolving best practices and to address feedback provided by our stockholders during our regular engagement with them. The Board firmly believes that the company’s strong corporate governance practices are a key enabler of the exceptional and sustainable value that the Company has created for stockholders.

In addition to adopting a special meeting right in 2014, and expanding that right in 2016, we have implemented numerous other corporate governance measures to ensure the Board remains accountable to stockholders, provide our stockholders with a meaningful voice in the nomination and election of directors, ensure the ability to communicate with directors, and promote the consideration of stockholder views. For example:

Annual Election of Directors and Majority Voting in Director Elections – All of our directors stand forre-election at each annual meeting. Directors must be elected by a majority vote in an uncontested election, and a director who fails to receive the required number of votes forre-election must tender his or her written resignation for consideration by the Board.

Substantial Majority of the Board is Independent – The Board is composed entirely of independent directors, other than the Chief Executive Officer.

Lead Independent Director – We have a Lead Independent Director with defined and significant responsibilities. Based on feedback from stockholders, in 2019 the responsibilities of the Presiding Director position were further expanded and the position was renamed Lead Independent Director. Our Lead Independent Director provides strong independent leadership of our Board by, among other things, presiding at executive sessions in connection with every Board meeting and approving Board meeting agendas and meeting schedules.

Board Refreshment – The Board has added five new directors over the past six years. These additions are the result of a thoughtful process that has involved the participation of all directors and occasionally an executive search firm to assist in evaluating candidates. This process is designed to ensure that our Board benefits from fresh perspectives, diversity of thought and a collective skill set that is aligned with the needs of our business.

Proxy Access – In 2016, the Board amended our Bylaws to implement proxy access. Under our Bylaws, a stockholder or a group of up to 30 stockholders owning at least 3% of our outstanding common stock continuously for at least three years may nominate and include in our proxy materials up to the greater of two director candidates or 20% of the Board. This right provides an avenue for stockholder action that is incremental to our special meeting right and further reduces the need for stockholders to act by written consent.

Eliminating Supermajority Voting – In 2013, in response to anon-binding stockholder proposal at the 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the Board recommended and stockholders approved amendments to our Certificate of Incorporation to eliminate the supermajority voting provision. The Board subsequently eliminated the supermajority voting provision from our Bylaws as well.

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No Stockholder Rights Plan – We do not have a stockholder rights plan, orso-called “poison pill.”

Stockholder Engagement – Stockholders can communicate directly with the Board and/or individual directors, and we regularly engage with our investors to solicit views on important issues such as our governance practices, executive compensation program, and our stockholders’ rights. For the past several years, we have reached out to over 50% of our outstanding stock annually to discuss areas of interest, with feedback reported back to the Board to directly inform Board decisions.

Consistent with its current practice, the Board will continue to engage with its stockholders on corporate governance measures and evaluate appropriate changes to our governance structure, policies, and practices that will serve the best interests of the Company and our stockholders at any given time. We believe that this approach is in the stockholders’ best interests as it provides the Board with the necessary flexibility to intentionally and thoughtfully determine the leadership needs of the Company at any particular time; the Board is in the best position to make this decision, informed by its regular discussions on succession as well as its knowledge of Company dynamics.Limiting this critical decision to the rigid requirements of the stockholder proposal would be detrimental to our Company’s stockholders.


For the past 23 years, the roles of Chairman and CEO have been held by one individual, which has provided consistent communication and coordination through the Company and has allowed for an effective and efficient implementation of our corporate strategy. It is under this model that the Company has experienced strong financial and operational growth. More specifically, this leadership structure contributed to tremendous shareholder value creation at our Company, outperforming the S&P 500 and our peer index, and growing Edwards’ market capitalization from $961.5 million to $50,375.9 million (from March 27, 2000, to February 1, 2023, respectively), which is an increase of 5,140%.

On December 6, 2022, we announced that following regular succession planning discussions with the Board, Michael Mussallem will be retiring as CEO and Bernard Zovighian would be succeeding Mr. Mussallem in the role of CEO, effective as of the Annual Meeting. Mr. Mussallem will remain engaged with the Company as non-executive Chairman. Additionally, the Board determined that Martha Marsh would remain the Board’s Lead Independent Director. In summary,order to build upon the Company’s historical success under the existing leadership structure, the Board strongly believes this separation of roles will allow the Company to leverage Mr. Mussallem’s extensive knowledge of the Company and the medical technology industry. This shareholder proposal would prohibit Mr. Mussallem from serving as Chairman and would impair the planned transition of the management of the Company’s strategic initiatives and business and operating plans to Mr. Zovighian. As our CEO, effective as of the 2023 Annual Meeting, Mr. Zovighian has valuable institutional knowledge and is a leader within the industry, making him the best person to continue the Company’s legacy as a global leader in the medical technology industry.

The Board strives to maintain a highly independent, balanced and diverse set of directors and leadership with the collective skills, expertise and experience to ensure proper oversight of the Company.We believe that selecting an appropriate leadership structure is one of the most important tasks of any board of directors.Therefore, the Board follows a comprehensive process, including regular discussions regarding Board and management succession as well as Board structure and governance and evaluations of the Lead Independent Director, Chairman and other directors.Stockholders benefit from a highly engaged Board who appreciates their role in Board governance and holds themselves accountable to making decisions informed by these robust discussions.

In light of the above, rather than imposing an artificial constraint upon our Board’s fundamental decisions on the Board and Company’s leadership, we believe our Board is best positioned to evaluate and consider its leadership structure as the Company’s and the industry’s circumstances evolve over time.


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The Company’s leadership structure and corporate governance practices, both as recently constructed and from a historical perspective, provide strong independent oversight and have been expanded in response to stockholder feedback.

Our Board firmly believes it is essential to have an active, engaged and independent Board, and our Board maintains strong governance practices to ensure that it continues to provide effective independent oversight in order to serve the best interests of our stockholders.Our Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that if our Chairman is not independent, our independent directors will annually select an independent director to serve as Lead Independent Director. Martha Marsh currently serves as Lead Independent Director and brings extensive leadership and board experience in the healthcare industry to the role.

The Board believes that leveraging Mr. Mussallem’s experience in leading our Company for the past over 23 years makes him the best choice for Chairman of the Board, especially as we transition the CEO role.This shareholder proposal would prohibit putting the CEO transition plan into effect.

Additionally, our Board prides itself on its strong commitment to stockholder engagement, and the Board and our executive management continually listen to and evaluate feedback from our stockholders.In particular, Mr. Chevedden presented the same proposal in 2019 and it was opposed by a significant majority of our stockholders.Following receipt of Mr. Chevedden’s prior proposal, and in connection with our regular stockholder outreach engagement program, we engaged with our stockholders and received valuable feedback which led the Board to expand the role of the Presiding Director position and, in light of the existingadditional responsibilities, renamed the position Lead Independent Director.We also disagree with Mr. Chevedden’s suggestion that the Lead Independent Director has hardly any exclusive powers.As the proposal states, pursuant to our Corporate Governance Guidelines, the Lead Independent Director has a robust set of clearly defined duties and carefully considered specialresponsibilities which include, but are not limited to:

serving as a liaison between the independent members of the Board and the Chairman and other members of management;
approving Board meeting right,agendas and relevant information provided to the Board;
approving Board meeting schedules to ensure there is sufficient time for discussion of all agenda items;
coordinating the activities of the independent directors, including calling meetings of the independent directors as wellnecessary and appropriate to address their responsibilities; and
providing advice, counsel and support to the Chairman.

While the Board as a whole works together to oversee management’s execution of our Company’s operations, our Company’s risk exposure and risk management plans, and our Company’s overall strategic direction, the Lead Independent Director, who applies her many years of board governance experience, works closely with the Chairman of the Board and takes action as determined necessary or appropriate to ensure there is critical independent oversight over these key areas of focus.These additional actions include, but are not limited to:

requesting information from management;
proposing executive sessions of the independent directors;
proposing separate meetings of the Board;
proposing meetings with individual members of the Board or of management; and
collaborating with the Chairman of the Board in determining agenda items to be presented by management or actions to be taken by the Board in response to information obtained from management, the independent directors and other stakeholders.

In addition to establishing the role of Lead Independent Director to ensure independent oversight of our Board, our Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that a substantial majority of our Board and all members of our Audit Committee and Compensation and Governance Committee will be independent under the applicable rules of the NYSE. All members of our Board, other than our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, are independent.These independent directors bring a broad range of leadership experience to the Company and thoughtfully contribute to the discussions involved in overseeing the affairs of the Company.Consequently, our independent directors directly oversee critical matters such as the Board’s continuing commitment to ensuring effectiveintegrity of the Company’s financial statements, the compensation of key executive management, including Mr. Mussallem and Mr. Zovighian, the selection and evaluation of directors, and the development and implementation of corporate governance programs.In order to assure that the independent directors are not inappropriately influenced by management, the independent directors meet in executive sessions led by our Lead Independent Director, without management, in conjunction with each regularly scheduled meeting of the Board and each committee, and otherwise as deemed necessary by the Lead Independent Director or our other independent directors. These executive sessions allow independent directors to speak candidly on any matter of interest, without our Chairman, Chief Executive Officer or other members of management present. All of our directors are highly engaged in their responsibilities, freely express their views, and are open to the opinions expressed by other directors.

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The Board’s independent leadership structure is evaluated on a regular basis to ensure that the approach continues to provide effective independent oversight of the Company and serves the best interests of stockholders.

Our independent directors regularly evaluate the Board’s leadership structure and incorporate stockholder feedback into their deliberations. Additionally, the Lead Independent Director’s performance is assessed on an annual basis.As part of this review, the Compensation and Governance Committee evaluates the criteria for nominees for the Lead Independent Director role and assesses any necessary changes. In selecting the Lead Independent Director, the independent directors consider relevant leadership, operational and corporate governance experience, relationships with other directors and external commitments. In addition, the Lead Independent Director is expected to have a thorough understanding of the Company’s business operations and history.

Our plans to update our leadership structure as of the Annual Meeting reflect extensive deliberation and a tailored approach to the Company’s current and upcoming needs. The Board believes that this proposal is unnecessarystructure will be effective for our Company and notwill be in the best interests of our stockholders.

This shareholder proposal would prohibit this structure. As we have done in the past, we will maintain a Lead Independent Director with robust and clearly defined responsibilities to provide strong independent oversight. Our Chairman will provide the Company and the Board with deep knowledge of the Company and the industry, and continuity of expertise in the oversight of the Company’s business operations and corporate governance practices.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE“AGAINST” THIS PROPOSAL REGARDING ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT.


Our Board also believes that the current leadership model, when combined with our independent board governance structure, strikes an appropriate and effective balance between strong and consistent leadership and independent and effective oversight of the Company’s business and affairs.It is this constructive and cooperative relationship between our independent directors and management that has allowed the Board to most effectively carry out its duties.

78LOGOEdwards Lifesciences Corporation2020 Proxy Statement
FOR THESE REASONS, THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY URGES STOCKHOLDERS TO VOTE “AGAINST” THIS PROPOSAL REGARDING INDEPENDENT BOARD CHAIRMAN.



OTHER MATTERS AND BUSINESS

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Additional Information.    Our Bylaws, Corporate Governance Guidelines and charters of each of theour Audit Committee and Compensation and Governance Committee are posted on our website atwww.edwards.com under “Investors—Corporate Governance.Governance & Sustainability—Governance—Governance Documents.” Our Global Business Practice Standards (applicable to all of theour Company’s employees, executive officers and directors) are posted atwww.edwards.comunder “About Us—Corporate Responsibility.” In addition, our Sustainability Report is posted on our website atwww.edwards.com under “About Us—Corporate Responsibility.” References to our website throughout this Proxy Statement are provided for convenience only and the content on our website does not constitute a part of this Proxy Statement.

Delinquent


Section 16(a) Reports.Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance.    To our knowledge, all reports that were required to be filed during 20192018 by our executive officers, directors and beneficial owners of more than 10% of our common stock under Section 16 of the Exchange Act were filed on a timely basis, except for aone Form 4 for Mr. UllemGallahue relating to a specialthe annual equity grant of RSUs that occurred on February 21, 2019.

to the directors in May 2022 due to an administrative error.


Related Persons Transactions.    Under theour Audit Committee charter, theour Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing and approving or ratifying all transactions with related persons that are required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) ofRegulation S-K adopted by the SEC. Related persons include our executive officers and directors, nominees for directors, 5% or more beneficial owners of our common stock, and immediate family members of these persons. Transactions involving amounts paid by theour Company or its subsidiaries in excess of $120,000 and in which the related person has a direct or indirect material interest are referred to as “related person transactions.” TheOur Audit Committee will generally consider all relevant factors when determining whether to approve or ratify a related person transaction. The Audit Committee reviewed and approved the following related person transaction: Mr. Bobo’sBobo's son, has been working for theDaniel Bobo, is employed by our Company forin a number of years,non-executive position in a business unit not under Mr. Bobo’s direction. In 2019,Bobo's direction and his total compensation, surpassed the $120,000 reporting threshold.

including salary and bonus, for 2022 was approximately $134,519.

Indemnification of Directors and Officers.    Pursuant to our Certificate of Incorporation, we indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by law. We have also entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers that contractually commit us to provide this indemnification to him or her.

Deadline for Receipt of Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations for the 20212024 Annual Meeting

Proposals for Inclusion in the Proxy Materials.    In order for a stockholder proposal to be eligible for inclusion in our proxy statement for the 20212024 annual meeting, the written proposal must be received by the Corporate Secretary of theour Company at its principal executive offices at the address below no later than November 25, 202029, 2023 and must comply with the requirements of theRule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.

Director Nominations for Inclusion in the Proxy Materials.    Under theour Company’s proxy access right, a stockholder, or a group of up to 30 stockholders, owning at least 3% of our outstanding shares continuously for at least three years, is permitted to nominate up to the greater of two directors or 20% of our Board for inclusion in our proxy statement, provided that the stockholder(s) and the nominee(s) satisfy the requirements in our Bylaws. In order for a stockholder to nominate a director for election to our Board for inclusion in our proxy statement for the 20212024 annual meeting, written notice must be received by the Corporate Secretary of theour Company at its principal executive offices at the address below no earlier than October 26, 202030, 2023, and no later than November 25, 2020.29, 2023. Other specifics regarding the content of the notice and certain other eligibility and procedural requirements, can be found in Section 10 of Article I of our Bylaws.

Proposals and Director Nominations Not Intended for Inclusion in the Proxy Materials.    In order for a stockholder to present a proposal or nominate a director for election to our Board at our 20212024 annual meeting, but not have such proposal or nomination included in the proxy statement for our 20212024 annual meeting, written notice of the proposal or director nomination(s) must be received by the Corporate Secretary of theour Company at its principal executive offices at the address below no earlier than January 7, 202112, 2024 and no later than February 6, 2021.11, 2024. However, if the date of the 20212024 annual meeting is a date that is not within 25 days before or after May 7, 202111, 2024 (the anniversary date of the Annual Meeting), written notice must be received no later than the close of business on the 10th calendar day after the first to occur of the day on which notice of the 20212024 annual meeting is mailed or public disclosure of the date of the 20212024 annual meeting is made. Other specifics regarding the notice procedures, including the required content of the notice, can be found in Section 9 of Article I (with respect to stockholder proposals) and Section 2 of Article I (with respect to director nominations) of our Bylaws.

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OTHER MATTERS AND BUSINESS

Our Bylaws require that a stockholder must provide certain information concerning the proposing person, the nominee and the proposal, as applicable. Nominations and proposals not meeting the requirements set forth in our Bylaws will not be entertained at the 20212024 annual meeting. Stockholders should contact the Corporate Secretary of theour Company in writing at One Edwards Way, Irvine, California 92614 to obtain additional information as to the proper form and content of stockholder nominations or proposals.

In addition, a stockholder who intends to solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than our Board’s nominees at the 2024 annual meeting must deliver written notice to our Company setting forth the information required by Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act no later than March 12, 2024. However, if the date of the 2024 annual meeting is a date before April 11, 2024, or after June 10, 2024, written notice must be received by the later of 60 days prior to the date of the 2024 annual meeting of the 10th calendar day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the 2024 annual
77


meeting of stockholder is first made. The notice requirement under Rule 14a-19 is in addition to the applicable notice requirements under our Bylaws as described above.
Annual Report onForm 10-K.    The10-K.    Our Company will furnish without charge to each person whose proxy is solicited, upon the written request of such person, a copy of the 2019our 2022 Annual Report as filed with the SEC, including the financial statements and financial statement schedules (upon request, exhibits thereto will be furnished subject to payment of a specified fee). Requests for copies of such report should be directed to: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation, Attention: Corporate Secretary, One Edwards Way, Irvine, California 92614.

Delivery of the Proxy Materials.    We have adopted a procedure called “householding,” which the SEC has approved. Under this procedure, stockholders of record who have the same address and last name and did not receive athe Notice or otherwise receive their Proxy Materials electronically will receive only one copy of the Proxy Materials unless we receive contrary instructions from one or more of such stockholders. Upon oral or written request, we will deliver promptly a separate copy of the Proxy Materials to a stockholder at a shared address to which a single copy of the Proxy Materials was delivered. If you are a stockholder of record at a shared address to which we delivered a single copy of the Proxy Materials and you desire to receive a separate copy of the Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting or for our future meetings, or if you are a stockholder at a shared address to which we delivered multiple copies of the Proxy Materials and you desire to receive one copy in the future, please submit your request to Computershare at P.O. Box 30170, College Station, Texas 77842-3170,505000, Louisville, Kentucky 40233-5000, (800) 446-2617. If you are a beneficial stockholder, please contact your bank, broker or other nominee directly if you have questions, require additional copies of the Proxy Materials, wish to receive multiple reports by revoking your consent to householding or wish to request single copies of the Proxy Materials in the future.

By Order of the Board of Directors,

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ew-20230314_g57.jpg
Linda J. Park

Senior Vice President, Associate General Counsel,

and Corporate Secretary

ALL STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO SUBMIT THEIR PROXIES PROMPTLY.

80LOGOEdwards Lifesciences Corporation2020 Proxy Statement


78



APPENDIX A

EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION

Non-GAAP Financial Information

We report our

To supplement the consolidated financial results prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”). We also, we usenon-GAAP historical financial measures. The Company usesManagement makes adjustments to the GAAP measures for items (both charges and gains) that (a) do not reflect our core operational activities, (b) are commonly adjusted within our industry to enhance comparability of our financial results with those of our peer group, or (c) are inconsistent in amount or frequency between periods (albeit such items are monitored and controlled with equal diligence relative to core operations). We use the term “adjusted sales” or “underlying growth rate”“underlying" when referring tonon-GAAP sales and sales growth information, which excludes foreigncurrency exchange fluctuations,rate fluctuations. We use the conversionterm “adjusted” to also exclude intellectual property litigation expenses, amortization of intangible assets, fair value adjustments to contingent consideration liabilities arising from acquisitions, and a consignment inventory system for surgical structural heart (“Surgical”), the positive impact of TAVR stocking sales in Germany and the negative impact ofde-stocking, and includes the prior year sales results of a business acquired in the current year.

significant program discontinuation.

Management usesnon-GAAP financial measures internally for strategic decision making, forecasting future results, and evaluating current performance. Thesenon-GAAP financial measures are used in addition to, and in conjunction with, results presented in accordance with GAAP and reflect an additional way of viewing aspects of the Company’sour operations by investors that, when viewed with its GAAP results, provide a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting the Company’sour business and facilitate comparability tohistoricalto historical periods.

Non-GAAP financial measures are not prepared in accordance with GAAP; therefore, the information is not necessarily comparable to other companies and should be considered as a supplement to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, the corresponding measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of thenon-GAAP historical financial measure used herein to the most comparable GAAP measure is provided in the table below.

Fluctuations in exchange rates impact the comparative results and sales growth rates of the Company’sour underlying business. Management believes that excluding the impact of foreign exchange rate fluctuations from its sales growth provides investors a more useful comparison to historical financial results. The impact of foreign exchange rate fluctuations has been detailed in the “Reconciliation of Sales” table below.

The items described below are adjustments to the GAAP financial results in the reconciliationreconciliations that follows:

Surgical Consignment Conversion.    In 2018,follow:

Intellectual Property Litigation Expenses, net - Our Company incurred net intellectual property litigation expenses of $15.8 million and $20.6 million in 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Change in Fair Value of Contingent Consideration Liabilities - Our Company recorded income of $35.8 million and income of $124.1 million in 2022 and 2021, respectively, related to changes in the fair value of its contingent consideration liabilities arising from acquisitions.
Amortization of Intangible Assets - Our Company recorded amortization expense related to developed technology and patents in the amount of $5.7 million and $7.7 million in 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Program Discontinuation - Our Company recorded a sales return reserve$62.3 million charge in 2022 as a result of $82.5 million,its decision to exit its HARPOON surgical mitral repair system program. The charge primarily related to its conversionthe impairment of intangible assets associated with the technology and other related exit costs.


A-1


Unaudited Reconciliation of GAAP to a consignment inventory system for surgical heart valves.

TAVR Germany StockingNon-GAAP Financial Information

(in millions, except per share and percentage data)
20222021
GAAP diluted earnings per share$2.44 $2.38 
Non-GAAP adjustments:
Intellectual property litigation expenses, net0.03 0.02 
Change in fair value of contingent consideration liabilities(0.06)(0.19)
Amortization of intangible assets— 0.01 
Program discontinuation0.07 — 
Adjusted diluted earnings per share$2.48 $2.22 
Adjusted growth rate11.7 %
Reconciliation of Sales.    In 2017, the Company recorded $61.8 million in net stocking sales to customers in Germany, as these customers elected to purchase additional inventory in anticipation of a potential supply interruption resulting from intellectual property litigation. In 2018, these customers consumed on a net basis $8.0 million of their stocking inventory.

RECONCILIATION OF SALES

(in millions, except percentage data)

          2018 Adjusted  

Sales (YTD)

 YTD
4Q 2019
 YTD
4Q 2018
 Change 

GAAP

Growth
Rate*

 

CASMED

Acquisition

 Surgical
Consignment
Conversion
 Germany
Stocking
 

FX

Impact

 YTD 4Q
2018
Adjusted
Sales
 

Underlying 

Growth

Rate*

Total

  $4,348.0  $3,722.8  $625.2   16.8%  $15.3  $82.5  $8.0  $(56.4)  $3,772.2   15.3%

*

Numbers may not calculate due to rounding.

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     2021 Adjusted 
Sales (YTD)Full Year 2022Full Year 2021ChangeGAAP
Growth
 Rate*
FX
Impact
Full Year 2021 Adjusted SalesUnderlying
Growth
 Rate *
Total$5,382.4 $5,232.5 $149.9 2.9 %$(233.6)$4,998.9 7.7 %
* Numbers may not calculate due to rounding.

A-2



APPENDIX B

EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION

2020 Nonemployee Directors Stock Incentive Program

Article 1.

Establishment, Objectives, and Duration

1.1.

Establishment of the Program. Edwards Lifesciences Corporation, a Delaware corporation (hereinafter referred to as the “Company”), hereby adopts the 2020 Nonemployee Directors Stock Incentive Program (hereinafter referred to as the “Program”), as set forth in this document, effective as of February 20, 2020 (the “Effective Date”). The Program permits the grant of Nonqualified Stock Options, Stock Issuances, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units and Stock Appreciation Rights.

1.2.

Objectives of the Program. The objectives of the Program are to optimize the profitability and growth of the Company through long-term incentives which are consistent with the Company’s goals and which link the personal interests of Participants to those of the Company’s stockholders. The Program is further intended to provide flexibility to the Company in its ability to motivate, attract, and retain the services of Participants who make significant contributions to the Company’s success and to allow Participants to share in the success of the Company.

1.3.

Duration of the Program. The Program shall commence on the Effective Date, as described in Section 1.1 hereof, and shall remain in effect, subject to the right of the Board to amend or terminate the Program at any time pursuant to Article 16 hereof, until all Shares subject to it shall have been purchased or acquired according to the Program’s provisions.

Article 2.

Definitions

Whenever used in the Program, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below, and when the meaning is intended, the initial letter of the word shall be capitalized:

2.1.

Annual Retainer means the fixed annual fee of a Nonemployee Director in effect on the first day of the year in which such Annual Retainer is payable for services to be rendered as a Nonemployee Director of the Company. The Annual Retainer does not include meeting or chairmanship fees.

2.2.

Award means, individually or collectively, a grant under this Program of Nonqualified Stock Options, Stock Issuances, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, or Stock Appreciation Rights.

2.3.

Award Agreement means an agreement entered into by the Company and each Participant setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to Awards granted under this Program.

2.4.

Board orBoard of Directors means the Board of Directors of the Company.

2.5.

Change in Control of the Company shall mean the occurrence of any one of the following events:

(a)

Any “Person”, as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act (other than the Company, any corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company, and any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or such proportionately owned corporation), is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing thirty percent (30%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities; or

(b)

During any period of not more than twenty-four (24) months, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board of Directors of the Company, and any new director (other than a director designated by a Personwho has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in Sections 2.5(a), 2.5(c), or 2.5(d) of this Section 2.5) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at leasttwo-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of

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Proposed Amendment

APPENDIX B


the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof; or

(c)

The consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other entity, other than: (i) a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than sixty percent (60%) of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation; or (ii) a merger or consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of the Company (or similar transaction) in which no Person acquires more than thirty percent (30%) of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities; or

(d)

The Company’s stockholders approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company, or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets (or any transaction having a similar effect.

2.6.

Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

2.7.

Committee means the Compensation and Governance Committee and any successor thereto or any other committee appointed by the Board to administer Awards to Participants, as specified in Article 3 herein. To the extent the Board determines it will administer this Program, references to the Committee shall mean the Board.

2.8.

Company means Edwards Lifesciences Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and any successor thereto as provided in Article 19 herein.

2.9.

“Disability” means the inability of the Participant to attend any meetings of the Board or a Committee thereof for a period oftwenty-six (26) weeks by reason of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment or the resignation or replacement of the Participant as a member of the Board by reason of such impairment.

2.10.

Effective Date shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 1.1 hereof.

2.11.

Employee means an employee of the Company or of a Subsidiary of the Company.

2.12.

Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, or any successor act thereto.

2.13.

Fair Market Value means the closing price of a Share on the New York Stock Exchange (or the principal exchange on which the Shares are then traded, if not the New York Stock Exchange) on the date as of which such value is being determined or, if there shall be no reported transactions in the Shares on such exchange for such date, on the next preceding date for which such transactions were reported on such exchange.

2.14.

Nonemployee Director means a member of the Company’s Board who is not an Employee of the Company.

2.15.

Nonqualified Stock Option orOption means an option to purchase Shares granted under Article 6 or Article 11 herein and which is not intended to meet the requirements of Code Section 422.

2.16.

Option Price means the price at which a Share may be purchased by a Participant pursuant to an Option.

2.17.

Participant means a Nonemployee Director who has been selected to receive an Award or who has outstanding an Award granted under the Program.

2.18.

Period of Restriction means the period during which the transfer of Shares of Restricted Stock is limited in some way (based on the passage of time, the achievement of performance goals, or upon the occurrence of other events as determined by the Committee, in its discretion), and the Shares are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, as provided in Article 8 herein.

2.19.

Restricted Stock means an Award granted to a Participant pursuant to Article 8 herein.

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CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT


OF

APPENDIX B

AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

2.20.

Restricted Stock Unit” means an Award granted to a Participant pursuant to Article 9 herein.

2.21.

Shares means the shares of common stock of the Company.

2.22.

Stock Appreciation Right means an Award granted to a Participant pursuant to Article 10 herein.

2.23.

Stock Issuance means an Award granted to a Participant pursuant to Article 7 herein.

2.24.

Subsidiary means any business, whether or not incorporated, in which the Company beneficially owns, directly or indirectly through another entity or entities, securities or interests representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the voting securities or voting interests of such business.

Article 3.

Administration

3.1.

General. The Program shall be administered by the Compensation and Governance Committee of the Board, or by any other Committee appointed by the Board for such purpose (or the Board itself if the Board elects to administer this Program). Any Committee administering the Program shall be comprised entirely of directors. The members of the Committee shall be appointed in accordance with the bylaws of the Company and the charter of such Committee. Members of the Committee may participate in the Program. The Committee shall have the authority to delegate administrative duties to officers, Employees, or directors of the Company; provided that the Committee shall not be able to delegate its authority with respect to granting Awards.

3.2.

Authority of the Committee. Except as limited by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company, and subject to the provisions of the Program, the Committee shall have the authority to: (a) interpret the provisions of the Program, and prescribe, amend, and rescind rules and procedures relating to the Program; (b) grant Awards under the Program, in such forms and amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate, including, without limitation, Awards which are made in combination with or in tandem with other Awards (whether or not contemporaneously granted) or compensation or in lieu of current or deferred compensation; (c) subject to Article 16, modify the terms of, cancel and reissue, or repurchase outstanding Awards; (d) prescribe the form of agreement, certificate or other instrument evidencing any Award under the Program; (e) correct any defect or omission and reconcile any inconsistency in the Program or in any Award hereunder; (f) design Awards to satisfy requirements to make such Awardstax-advantaged to Participants in any jurisdiction or for any other reason that the Company desires; and (g) make all other determinations and take all other actions as it deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Program; provided, however, that no outstanding Option will be (i) amended to lower the exercise price, (ii) canceled, exchanged or surrendered in exchange for cash or other awards for the purpose of repricing the Option, or (iii) canceled, exchanged or surrendered for the purpose of reissuing such Option to a Participant at a lower exercise price (other than, in each case, pursuant to Section 5.4) without the approval of the Company’s stockholders. The determination of the Committee on matters within its authority shall be conclusive and binding on the Company and all other persons. The Committee shall comply with all applicable laws in administering the Program. If and to the extent permitted by law (and subject to Section 3.1 herein), the Committee may delegate its authority as identified herein.

3.3.

Decisions Binding. All determinations and decisions made by the Committee pursuant to the provisions of the Program and all related orders and resolutions of the Board shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons, including the Company, its stockholders, directors, Participants, and their estates and beneficiaries.

Article 4.

Eligibility and Participation

4.1.

Eligibility. Persons eligible to participate in this Program shall be all Nonemployee Directors.

4.2.

Actual Participation. Subject to the provisions of the Program, the Committee may, from time to time, select from all eligible Nonemployee Directors those to whom Awards shall be granted and shall determine the nature and amount of each Award.

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OF


APPENDIX B

Article 5.

Shares Subject to the Program

5.1.

Number of Shares Available for Grants. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 5.4 herein, the number of Shares hereby reserved for delivery to Participants under the Program shall be Seven Hundred Sixty Six Thousand Six Hundred Fifty (766,650) Shares. Subject to the restrictions for Nonemployee Directors set forth in Article 11, the Committee shall determine the appropriate methodology for calculating the number of Shares issued pursuant to the Program.

5.2.

Type of Shares. Shares issued under the Program in connection with Awards may be authorized and unissued Shares or issued Shares held as treasury Shares.

5.3.

Reuse of Shares.

(a)

General. In the event of the expirationor termination (by reason of forfeiture, expiration, cancellation, surrender, failure to vest or otherwise) of any Award under the Program, that number of Shares that was subject to the Award but not delivered shall again be available for subsequent Awards under the Program.

(b)

Restricted Stock. In the event that Shares are delivered under the Program as Restricted Stock and are thereafter forfeited or reacquired by the Company pursuant to rights reserved upon the grant thereof, such forfeited or reacquired Shares shall again be available as Awards under the Program.

(c)

Stock Appreciation Rights.Upon exercise of any Stock Appreciation Right, the Share reserve under Section 5.1 shall be reduced by the gross number of Shares as to which such Stock Appreciation Right is exercised.

5.4.

Adjustments in Authorized Shares. In the event of any change in corporate capitalization, such as a stock split, or a corporate transaction, such as any merger, consolidation, separation, including aspin-off, or other distribution of stock or property of the Company, any reorganization (whether or not such reorganization comes within the definition of such term in Code Section 368) or any partial or complete liquidation of the Company, such adjustment shall be made in the number and class of Shares which may be delivered under Section 5.1, in the number and class of and/or price of Shares subject to outstanding Awards granted under the Program and in the number and/or class of Shares subject to Awards to be granted to Nonemployee Directors under Article 11 (including the applicable limits set forth in Article 11), as shall be determined to be appropriate and equitable by the Committee, in its sole discretion, to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights; provided, however, that the number of Shares subject to any Award shall always be a whole number. In astock-for-stock acquisition of the Company, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, substitute securities of another issuer for any Shares subject to outstanding Awards.

Article 6.

Stock Options

6.1.

Grant of Options.

(a)

Subject to the terms and provisions of the Program, Options may be granted to Participants in such number, and upon such terms, and at any time and from time to time as shall be determined by the Committee.

(b)

All Options under the Program shall be granted in the form of nonqualified stock options as no Option under the Program may be granted in the form of an incentive stock option as defined under the provisions of Code Section 422.

6.2.

Award Agreement. Each Option grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the Option Price, the duration of the Option, the number of Shares to which the Option pertains, and such other provisions as the Committee shall determine.

6.3.

Option Price. The Option Price for each grant of an Option under this Program shall be at least equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the Option is granted.

6.4.

Duration of Options.Unless the Committee determines otherwise, the term of each Option shall expire on the seventh (7th) anniversary date of its grant, subject to such provisions for earlier expiration as the Committee may specify in accordance with Section 6.8 (relating to termination of directorship) or otherwise.

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APPENDIX B

6.5.

Exercise of Options. Options granted under this Article 6 shall be exercisable at such times and be subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Committee shall in each instance approve, which need not be the same for each grant or for each Participant.

6.6.

Payment. Options granted under this Article 6 shall be exercised by the delivery of a written notice of exercise (or such other form of notice as the Company may specify) to the Company, setting forth the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is to be exercised, or compliance with such procedures as the Company may establish for notifying the Company, either directly or through anon-line internet transaction with a brokerage firm authorized by the Company to effect such option exercise, of the exercise of the Option for one or more Shares. Exercise of an Option must be accompanied by full payment for the Shares for which the Option is exercised (or a satisfactory “cashless exercise” notice).

The Option Price upon exercise of any Option shall be payable to the Company in full either: (a) in cash or its equivalent; (b) by tendering previously acquired Shares (by either actual delivery or attestation) having an aggregate Fair Market Value at the time of exercise equal to the total Option Price; (c) by a cashless exercise as permitted under Federal Reserve Board’s Regulation T, subject to applicable securities law restrictions and such procedures and limitations as the Company may specify from time to time; (d) by any other means which the Committee determines to be consistent with the Program’s purpose and applicable law; or (e) by a combination of two or more of (a) through (d).

Subject to any governing rules or regulations, including cashless exercise procedures, as soon as practicable after receipt of a notification of exercise and full payment (or a satisfactory “cashless exercise” notice), the Company shall cause to be issued and delivered to the Participant, in certificate form or otherwise, evidence of the Shares purchased under the Option(s).

6.7.

Restrictions on Share Transferability. The Committee may impose such restrictions on any Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Option granted under this Article 6 as it may deem advisable, including, without limitation, restrictions under applicable federal securities laws, under the requirements of any stock exchange or market upon which such Shares are then listed and/or traded, and under any blue sky or state securities laws applicable to such Shares.

6.8.

Termination of Directorship. Each Participant’s Option Award Agreement shall set forth the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to exercise the Option following termination of the Participant’s service to the Company as a Nonemployee Director. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, shall be included in the Award Agreement entered into with each Participant, need not be uniform among all Options issued pursuant to this Article 6, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination.

6.9.

Nontransferability of Options. Except as otherwise provided in a Participant’s Award Agreement, no Option granted under this Article 6 may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Further, except as otherwise provided in a Participant’s Award Agreement, all Options granted to a Participant under this Article 6 shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Participant.

6.10.

Substitution of Cash. Unless otherwise provided in a Participant’s Award Agreement, and notwithstanding any provision in the Program to the contrary (including but not limited to Section 16.2), in the event of a Change in Control in which the Company’s stockholders holding Shares receive consideration other than shares of common stock that are registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, the Committee shall have the authority to require that any outstanding Option be surrendered to the Company by a Participant for cancellation by the Company, with the Participant receiving in exchange a cash payment from the Company within ten (10) days of the Change in Control. Such cash payment shall be equal to the number of Shares under Option, multiplied by the excess, if any, of the fair market value of a Share on the date the Change in Control occurs, over the Option Price.

Article 7.

Stock Issuances

7.1.

Stock Issuance Awards. Subject to the terms and provisions of the Program, the Committee may issue Shares as fully vested shares (“Stock Issuances”) in such number and upon such terms as shall be determined by the Committee.

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APPENDIX B

7.2.

Consideration. A Stock Issuance may be awarded in consideration for cash, past services rendered to the Company or an affiliate or for such other consideration as determined by the Committee.

Article 8.

Restricted Stock

8.1.

Grant of Restricted Stock. Subject to the terms and provisions of the Program, the Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant Shares of Restricted Stock to Participants in such amounts as the Committee shall determine.

8.2.

Restricted Stock Agreement. Each Restricted Stock grant shall be evidenced by a Restricted Stock Award Agreement that shall specify the Period(s) of Restriction, the number of Shares of Restricted Stock granted, and such other provisions as the Committee shall determine.

8.3.

Restriction on Transferability. Except as provided in this Article 8, the Shares of Restricted Stock granted herein may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated until the end of the applicable Period of Restriction established by the Committee and specified in the Restricted Stock Award Agreement, or upon earlier satisfaction of any other conditions, as specified by the Committee in its sole discretion and set forth in the Restricted Stock Award Agreement. All rights with respect to the Restricted Stock granted to a Participant under the Program shall be available during his or her lifetime only to such Participant.

8.4.

Other Restrictions. The Committee shall impose such other conditions and/or restrictions on any Shares of Restricted Stock granted pursuant to the Program as it may deem advisable including, without limitation, any or all of the following:

(a)

A required period of service with the Company, as determined by the Committee, prior to the vesting of Shares of Restricted Stock.

(b)

A requirement that Participants forfeit (or in the case of Shares sold to a Participant, resell to the Company at his or her cost) all or a part of Shares of Restricted Stock in the event of termination of his or her service as a Nonemployee Director during the Period of Restriction.

(c)

A prohibition against such Participants’ dissemination of any secret or confidential information belonging to the Company, or the solicitation by Participants of the Company’s Employees for employment by another entity.

Shares of Restricted Stock awarded pursuant to the Program shall be registered in the name of the Participant and if such Shares are certificated, in the sole discretion of the Committee, such certificate may be deposited in a bank designated by the Committee or with the Company. The Committee may require a stock power endorsed in blank with respect to Shares of Restricted Stock whether or not certificated.

Except asotherwise provided in this Article 8, Shares of Restricted Stock covered by each Restricted Stock grant made under the Program shall become freely transferable (subject to any restrictions under any applicable securities law) by the Participant after the last day of the applicable Period of Restriction.

8.5.

Voting Rights. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, Participants holding Shares of Restricted Stock issued hereunder shall be entitled to exercise full voting rights with respect to those Shares during the Period of Restriction.

8.6.

Dividends and Other Distributions. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, during the Period of Restriction, Participants holding Shares of Restricted Stock issued hereunder shall be entitled to regular cash dividends paid with respect to such Shares. The Committee may apply any restrictions to the dividends that the Committee deems appropriate.

8.7.

Termination of Directorship. Each Restricted Stock Award Agreement shall set forth the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to vest in previously unvested Shares of Restricted Stock following termination of the Participant’s service to the Company as a Nonemployee Director. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, shall be included in the Award Agreement entered into with each Participant, need not be uniform among all Shares of Restricted Stock issued pursuant to the Program, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination.

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APPENDIX B

Article 9.

Restricted Stock Units

9.1.

Restricted Stock Units Awards. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Program, the Committee may, at any time and from time to time, issue Restricted Stock Units which entitle the Participant to receive the Shares underlying those units following the lapse of specified restrictions (whether based on the achievement of designated performance goals or the satisfaction of specified services or upon the expiration of a designated time period following the vesting of the units).

9.2.

Restricted Stock Units Award Agreement. Each Restricted Stock Units award shall be evidenced by a Restricted Stock Units Award Agreement that shall specify the vesting restrictions, the number of Shares subject to the Restricted Stock Units award, and such other provisions as the Committee shall determine.

9.3.

Restrictions. The Committee shall impose such other conditions and/or restrictions on the issuance of any Shares under the Restricted Stock Units granted pursuant to the Program as it may deem advisable including, without limitation, any or all of the following:

(a)

A required period of service with the Company, as determined by the Committee, prior to the issuance of Shares under the Restricted Stock Units award.

(b)

A requirement that the Restricted Stock Units award be forfeited in whole or in part in the event of termination of the Participant’s services as a Nonemployee Director during the vesting period.

(c)

A prohibition against such Participants’ dissemination of any secret or confidential information belonging to the Company, or the solicitation by Participants of the Company’s Employees for employment by another entity.

Except asotherwise provided in this Article 9, Shares subject to Restricted Stock Units under the Program shall be freely transferable (subject to any restrictions under applicable securities law) by the Participant after receipt of such shares.

9.4.

Stockholder Rights. Participants holding Restricted Stock Units issued hereunder shall not have any rights with respect to Shares subject to the award until the award vests and the Shares are issued hereunder. However, dividend-equivalent units may be paid or credited, either in cash or in actual or phantom Shares, on outstanding Restricted Stock Units awards, subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may deem appropriate.

9.5.

Termination of Directorship. Each Restricted Stock Units Award Agreement shall set forth the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to vest in previously unvested Shares subject to the Restricted Stock Units award following termination of the Participant’s service to the Company as a Nonemployee Director. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, shall be included in the Award Agreement entered into with each Participant, need not be uniform among all Restricted Stock Unit awards issued pursuant to the Program, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination.

Article 10.

Stock Appreciation Rights

10.1.

Stock Appreciation Rights Awards. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Program, the Committee may issue a Stock Appreciation Rights award which shall entitle the Participant to receive upon exercise a payment in cash or Shares underlying the exercised award equal to the excess (if any) of (a) the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date of exercise over (b) the aggregate base price in effect for such Shares. A Stock Appreciation Right shall become exercisable during such times and subject to such conditions as shall be determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion.

10.2.

Stock Appreciation Rights Agreement. Each Stock Appreciation Rights award shall be evidenced by a Stock Appreciation Rights Award Agreement that shall specify the vesting restriction, the number of Shares subject to the award and such additional terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine.

10.3.

Base Price. The base price for each grant of a Stock Appreciation Right under this Program shall be at least equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the award is granted.

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APPENDIX B

10.4.

Nontransferability of Stock Appreciation Rights. Except as otherwise provided in a Participant’s Award Agreement, no Stock Appreciation Right granted under this Article 10 may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Further, except as otherwise provided in a Participant’s Award Agreement, all Stock Appreciation Rights granted to a Participant under this Article 10 shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Participant.

Article 11.

Automatic Awards to Nonemployee Directors

11.1.

[Intentionally Omitted.]

11.2.

Annual Awards.

(a)

Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, each Nonemployee Director shall receive annually, effective as of the day following each annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders an award as follows (the “Annual Award”):

(i)

An Option for up to forty thousand (40,000) Shares, or

(ii)

A Restricted Stock Units award for up to sixteen thousand (16,000) Shares, or

(iii)

A combination of an Option and Restricted Stock Units award, provided that in no event may the total value of the Option and Restricted Stock Units award subject to such combined award exceed two hundred forty thousand dollars ($240,000). The Committee shall have the sole discretion to determine the amount and type of award for each year and to change the maximum grant date value set forth in the preceding sentence from year to year if it determines that a change is advisable; provided, however, that in the event of a combined Annual Award to a Nonemployee Director for a particular year in no event shall the total number of shares subject to the Option component of such award for the Nonemployee Director for that year exceed the limit in clause (i) above and in no event shall the total number of shares subject to the Restricted Stock Units component of such award for the Nonemployee Director for that year exceed the limit in clause (ii) above. For such purposes, the value of the Annual Award shall be calculated as follows: (A) the value of an Option shall be equal to the fair value of an option share as estimated on the date of grant under a valuation model approved by Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) for purposes of the Company’s financial statements under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (or any successor provision); and (B) the value of a Restricted Stock Unit shall be equal to the Fair Market Value of the Share on the award date.

(b)

Each Annual Award shall vest upon the first to occur of (i) the Participant’s completion of one (1) year of Board service measured from the award date or (ii) the next annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders that occurs after the calendar year in which the Annual Award is granted (or such longer period as determined by the Committee). Each Annual Award shall become fully vested in the event of the Participant’s death or Disability.

(c)

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Program to the contrary, the Shares acquired under an Annual Award (net of any Shares sold to cover the exercise price and applicable taxes due in connection with the exercise or settlement of the award) may not be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of prior to the Participant’s cessation of Board service.

(d)

All additional terms of an Annual Award will be as set forth in Articles 6 and 9, as applicable, or as set forth in the specific Award Agreement governing such award.

11.3.

Annual Retainer Election.

(a)

Subject to the terms and provisions of the Program and any other restrictions set out by the Committee in its sole discretion, the Committee may permit each Nonemployee Director to elect to receive all or a portion of his or her Annual Retainer in the form of Options or Restricted Stock to be issued as of the first day on which such Annual Retainer is otherwise due and payable (the “Conversion Date”) and using the Fair Market Value of a Share as of the Conversion Date as the Option Price of the Options.

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(b)

If conversion elections are permitted by the Committee, each irrevocable election shall be made in accordance with such rules as the Committee may determine in its sole discretion which shall be consistent with the requirements of Code Section 409A and the Treasury Regulations and rulings promulgated thereunder. Except as may otherwise be determined by the Committee, in the event of a Participant’s election to receive an Option in lieu of his Annual Retainer, the number of shares subject to the Option shall be determined by dividing that portion of the Annual Retainer to be paid in the form of the Option by the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Conversion Date and multiplying the quotient by four (4). In the event of a Participant’s election to receive Restricted Stock in lieu of an Annual Retainer, the number of Shares of such Restricted Stock shall be determined by dividing that portion of the Annual Retainer to be paid in the form of Shares of Restricted Stock by the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Conversion Date. In the event the preceding formula would result in a fractional Share being issued or subject to an Option, the number of Shares subject to the issuance or Option shall be rounded up to the nearest whole Share.

(c)

Restricted Stock granted pursuant to this Section 11.3 shall vest upon the first to occur of (i) the Participant’s completion of one (1) year of Board service measured from the grant date or (ii) the next annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders at which Board members are to be elected. Each Annual Award shall become fully vested in the event of the Participant’s death or Disability.

(d)

Any portion of a Nonemployee Director’s Annual Retainer for which an election has not been made pursuant to this Section 11.3, shall be paid in cash to such Nonemployee Director at such time or times as payments thereof are customarily made by the Company.

(e)

All additional terms of an Award received as a result of the election described herein will be asset-forth in Sections 6 and 7, as applicable, or as set forth in the specific Award Agreement governing such Award.

Article 12.

Beneficiary Designation

Each Participant under the Program may, from time to time, name any beneficiary or beneficiaries (who may be named contingently or successively) to whom any benefit under the Program is to be paid in case of his or her death before he or she receives any or all of such benefit. Each such designation shall revoke all prior designations by the same Participant, shall be in a form prescribed by the Company, and will be effective only when filed by the Participant in writing with the Company during the Participant’s lifetime. In the absence of any such designation, benefits remaining unpaid at the Participant’s death shall be paid to the Participant’s estate.

Article 13.

Deferrals

The Committee may permit or require a Participant to defer such Participant’s receipt of the payment of cash or the delivery of Shares that would otherwise be due to such Participant by virtue of the exercise of an Option, or Stock Appreciation Right or the lapse or waiver of restrictions with respect to Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units. If any such deferral election is required or permitted, the Committee shall, in its sole discretion, establish rules and procedures for such payment deferrals which shall be consistent with the requirements of Code Section 409A and the Treasury Regulations and rulings promulgated thereunder.

Article 14.

Rights of Participants

14.1.

Directorship. Nothing in the Program or any Award Agreement shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company to terminate at any time any Participant’s service to the Company as a Nonemployee Director, nor confer upon any Participant any right to continue in the service of the Company.

14.2.

Participation. No Nonemployee Director shall have the right to be selected to receive an Award under this Program, or, having been so selected, to be selected to receive a future Award.

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APPENDIX B

Article 15.

Change in Control

Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control and notwithstanding the terms of any Award Agreement, unless otherwise specifically prohibited under applicable laws, or by the rules and regulations of any governing governmental agencies or national securities exchanges:

(a)

Any and all Options granted hereunder shall become immediately exercisable, and shall terminate upon the earlier of (i) the third anniversary of the Participant’s date of termination of service or (ii) expiration of the Option term.

(b)

Any restriction periods and restrictions imposed on Awards shall lapse.

Article 16.

Amendment, Modification, and Termination

16.1.

Amendment, Modification, and Termination. Subject to the terms of the Program including Section 16.2, the Board may at any time and from time to time, alter, amend, suspend or terminate the Program in whole or in part. However, stockholder approval shall be required for any amendment of the Program only to the extent required by applicable law.

16.2.

Awards Previously Granted. Notwithstanding any provision of the Program or of any Award Agreement to the contrary (but subject to Section 6.10 hereof), no termination, amendment, or modification of the Program or amendment of an Award previously granted under the Program shall adversely affect in any material way any Award previously granted under the Program, without the express consent of the Participant holding such Award.

Article 17.

Compliance with Applicable Law and Withholding

17.1.

General. The granting of Awards and the issuance of Shares under the Program shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or national securities exchanges as may be required. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Program or any Award Agreement, the following shall apply:

(a)

The Company shall have no obligation to issue any Shares under the Program if such issuance would violate any applicable law or any applicable regulation or requirement of any securities exchange or similar entity.

(b)

Prior to the issuance of any Shares under the Program, the Company may require a written statement that the recipient is acquiring the Shares for investment and not for the purpose or with the intention of distributing the Shares and that the recipient will not dispose of them in violation of the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933.

(c)

With respect to any Participant who is subject to Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, the Committee may, at any time, add such conditions and limitations to Award or payment under the Program or implement procedures for the administration of the Program which it deems necessary or desirable to comply with the requirements of Rule16b-3 of the Exchange Act.

(d)

If, at any time, the Company, determines that the listing, registration, or qualification (or any updating of any such document) of any Award, or the Shares issuable pursuant thereto, is necessary on any securities exchange or under any federal or state securities or blue sky law, or that the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory body is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, any Award, the issuance of Shares pursuant to any Award, or the removal of any restrictions imposed on Shares subject to an Award, such Award shall not be granted and the Shares shall not be issued or such restrictions shall not be removed, as the case may be, in whole or in part, unless such listing, registration, qualification, consent, or approval shall have been effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Company or the Committee otherwise provides.

17.2.

Securities Law Compliance. Transactions under this Program are intended to comply with all applicable conditions of Rule16b-3 or its successors under the 1934 Act.

17.3.

Tax Withholding. The Company shall have the power and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, and local taxes,

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APPENDIX B

domestic or foreign, required or permitted by law or regulation to be withheld with respect to any taxable event arising as a result of this Program.

17.4.

Share Withholding. Awards payable in Shares may provide that with respect to withholding required upon any taxable event arising thereunder, Participants may elect to satisfy the withholding requirement (or the Committee may require that the tax withholding requirement be satisfied), in whole or in part, by having the Company withhold Shares to satisfy their withholding tax obligations. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, all elections shall be irrevocable, made in writing, signed by the Participant, and shall be subject to any restrictions or limitations, including prior Committee approval, that the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.

Article 18.

Indemnification

Each person who is or shall have been a member of the Committee, or of the Board, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any action taken or failure to act under the Program and against and from any and all amounts paid by him or her in settlement thereof, with the Company’s approval, or paid by him or her in satisfaction of any judgment in any such action, suit, or proceeding against him or her, provided he or she shall give the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled under the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.

Article 19.

Successors

All obligations of the Company under the Program with respect to Awards granted hereunder shall, to the extent legally permissible, be binding on any successor to the Company, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company.

Article 20.

Legal Construction

20.1.

Gender and Number. Except where otherwise indicated by the context, any masculine term used herein also shall include the feminine; the plural shall include the singular and the singular shall include the plural.

20.2.

Severability. In the event any provision of the Program shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of the Program, and the Program shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.

20.3.

Governing Law. To the extent not preempted by federal law, the Program, and all Award or other agreements hereunder, shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the state of Delaware without giving effect to principles of conflicts of laws.

20.4.

Non-Exclusivity of the Program; No Corporate Action Restriction. Nothing in this Program shall limit or be deemed to limit the authority of the Board or the Committee to grant awards or authorize any other compensation, with or without reference to the Shares, under any other plan or authority. The existence of this Program, the award agreements and the awards granted hereunder shall not limit, affect, or restrict in any way the right or power of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (or any of their respective shareholders, boards of directors or committees thereof (or any subcommittees), as the case may be) to make or authorize: (a) any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the capital structure or business of the Company or any subsidiary, (b) any merger, amalgamation, consolidation or change in the ownership of the Company or any subsidiary, (c) any issue of bonds, debentures, capital, preferred or prior preference stock ahead of or affecting the capital stock (or the rights thereof) of the Company or any subsidiary, (d) any dissolution or liquidation of the Company or any subsidiary, (e) any sale or transfer of all or any part of the assets or business of the Company or any subsidiary, (f) any other

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APPENDIX B

award, grant, or payment of incentives or other compensation under any other plan or authority (or any other action with respect to any benefit, incentive or compensation), or (g) any other corporate act or proceeding by the Company or any subsidiary. No participant, beneficiary or any other person shall have any claim under any award or award agreement against any member of the Board or the Committee, or the Company or any employees, officers or agents of the Company or any subsidiary, as a result of any such action. Awards need not be structured so as to be deductible for tax purposes.

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APPENDIX C

EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION

AMENDMENT OF THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT OF

AMENDED AND RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION


Pursuant to Section 242
of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation, (the “Corporation”), a corporation duly organized and existing under the lawsGeneral Corporation Law of the stateState of Delaware (the DGCL“Corporation”), does hereby certify that:

1.

The name under which the Corporation was originally incorporated was CVG Controlled Inc. and the original certificate

1. The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation is hereby amended by deleting Article NINTH thereof and inserting the following in lieu thereof:
NINTH: To the fullest extent that the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as it exists on the date hereof or as it may hereafter be amended, permits the limitation or elimination of the liability of directors or officers, no person who is, or was at any time but is no longer serving as, a director or officer of incorporation of the Corporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on September 10, 1999.

2.

This Certificate of Amendment amends the provisions of the Corporation’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on May 16, 2013.

3.

The Certificate of Amendment was duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation and by the stockholders of the Corporation in accordance with Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

4.

The first sentence of Article FOURTH of the Certificate of Incorporation be and hereby is amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

“The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation shall have authoritybe personally liable to issuethe Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty by such person as a director or officer. If the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware is One Billion One Hundred Million (1,100,000,000) shares,amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of which Fifty Million (50,000,000) shares, par value $.01 per share,directors or officers, then the liability of a director or officer of the Corporation shall be preferred stock (“Preferred Stock”) andeliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of which One Billion Fifty Million (1,050,000,000) shares, par value $1.00 per share,the State of Delaware, as so amended. No amendment to or repeal of this Article NINTH shall be common stock (the “Common Stockhave the effect of increasing the liability or alleged liability of any director or officer of the Corporation for or with respect to any act or omission of such director or officer occurring prior to such amendment or repeal.).”

5.

This Certificate of Amendment shall become effective immediately upon filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.


2. The foregoing amendment was duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Sections 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF,, the Edwards Lifesciences Corporation has caused this Certificate of Amendment to be executed onby its behalfduly authorized officer on this ��__ day of May 2020.

______, 2023.

EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION

By:

Name:

Title:


LOGOEdwards Lifesciences Corporation2020 Proxy StatementC-1


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EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION ONE EDWARDS WAY IRVINE, CA 92614 ATTN: LINDA J. PARK VOTE BY INTERNET: www.proxyvote.com Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information up until 11:59 p.m., ET the day before the cut-off date or meeting date. 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. ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF FUTURE PROXY MATERIALS If you would like to reduce the costs incurred by Edwards in mailing proxy materials, you can consent to receiving all future proxy statements, proxy cards and annual reports electronically via e-mail or the Internet. To enroll in electronic delivery of proxy materials, please follow the instructions above to vote using the Internet and, when prompted, indicate that you agree to receive or access proxy materials electronically in future years. VOTE BY PHONE: 1-800-690-6903 Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 p.m., ET the day before the cut-off date or meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions. 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. You may hold Edwards shares in multiple accounts and therefore receive more than one proxy card or voting instruction form and related materials. Please vote EACH proxy card and voting instruction form that you receive. TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS: E95773-P34055-Z76409 KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED. DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR the following nominees: 1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS For Against Abstain 1a. Michael A. Mussallem 1b. Kieran T. Gallahue 1c. Leslie S. Heisz 1d. William J. Link, Ph.D. 1e. Steven R. Loranger 1f. Martha H. Marsh 1g. Ramona Sequeira 1h. Nicholas J. Valeriani Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) hereon. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, or other fiduciary, please give full title as such. Joint owners should each sign personally. All holders must sign. If a corporation or partnership, please sign in full corporate or partnership name by authorized officer. Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX] Date The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR Proposals 2, 3, 4, and 5. 2. ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE COMPENSATION OF NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS 3. APPROVAL OF THE 2020 NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTORS STOCK INCENTIVE PROGRAM 4. APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT OF THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED SHARES OF COMMON STOCK FOR THE PURPOSE OF EFFECTING A THREE-FOR-ONE STOCK SPLIT 5. RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM The Board of Directors recommends you vote AGAINST Proposal 6. 6. ADVISORY VOTE ON A STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL REGARDING ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT NOTE: In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof. Signature (Joint Owners) Date For Against Abstain For Against Abstain



By:____________________________________
Name:
Office:
A-3

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Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting: The Notice and Proxy Statement and Annual Report are available at www.proxyvote.com. E95774-P34055-Z76409 EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION Annual Meeting of Stockholders May 7, 2020 10:00 a.m., PT This proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors The undersigned hereby appoints William J. Link and Michael A. Mussallem as proxies, each with the power to appoint his substitute and with authority in each to act in the absence of the others, to represent and to vote all shares of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation to be held at the corporate headquarters of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation, One Edwards Way, Irvine, California 92614, on Thursday, May 7, 2020, at 10:00 a.m., PT, and any adjournments thereof, on the proposals described in the Proxy Statement in accordance with the instructions on the reverse side, and all other matters properly coming before the meeting. This proxy revokes all proxies previously given by the undersigned to vote at such meeting and any adjournments thereof. This proxy will also serve to instruct the trustee of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation 401(k) Savings and Investment Plan and the Edwards Lifesciences Technology Sarl Retirement Savings Plan (formerly known as the Edwards Lifesciences Corporation of Puerto Rico Savings and Investment Plan) (collectively, the "Plans") to vote in accordance with the instructions on the reverse side all shares held for the undersigned in the Plans. For shares held in the Plans, voting instructions submitted over the Internet, by telephone, or by mail must be received by the Plans' trustee by 11:59 p.m., ET, on Monday, May 4, 2020. The Plans' trustee will vote allocated shares for which it receives no written instructions in the same proportion as the allocated shares for which voting instructions have been received. IMPORTANT This Proxy must be signed and dated on the reverse side if voting by mail. (continued and to be signed on reverse side)