UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

(Rule 14a -101)

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.      )

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Check the appropriate box:

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Definitive Proxy Statement  

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Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

Preliminary Proxy Statement

Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

Definitive Proxy Statement

Definitive Additional Materials

Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

Ryerson Holding 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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(1)

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(4) Date Filed: March 10, 2023


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RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


Ryerson 2020 2023 Proxy Statement Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders


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227 W. Monroe St., 27th Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60606

Notice of Annual Stockholders’ Meeting

Tuesday,Wednesday, April 28, 2020 2:26, 20231:00 p.m.Central Daylight Time

The FranklinVirtual Meeting via a live audio-only webcast at www.proxydocs.com/RYI

222 West Adams Street, 2nd FloorMarch 10, 2023

Chicago, Illinois 60606

Room: Franklin B

March 13, 2020

To our Stockholders:

You are cordially invited to the 20202023 annual meeting of stockholders of Ryerson Holding Corporation scheduled to be held on Tuesday,Wednesday, April 28, 2020,26, 2023, at 2:1:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time via a live audio-only webcast at The Franklin, 222 West Adams Street, 2nd Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60606, Room: Franklin B.www.proxydocs.com/RYI. There is no physical location for the 2023 annual meeting. At the meeting, we will consider:

Ο

The election of two directors;

Ο

The ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2020; and

Ο

Such other business as may properly come before the meeting.

ΟThe election of three directors;

ΟThe ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2023;

ΟThe approval of the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan;and

ΟSuch other business as may properly come before the meeting.

Stockholders who owned shares of our stock at the close of business on March 2, 20203, 2023 can vote on these proposals.

Our 2023 annual meeting of stockholders will be a virtual meeting. In order to attend the annual meeting, you must register in advance at www.proxydocs.com/RYI. Upon completing your registration, you will receive further instructions via email, including your unique links that will allow you access to the meeting and will also permit you to submit questions.

Your vote is important regardless of the number of shares of stock you own. Whether you plan to attend or not, please review our proxy materials and request a proxy card to sign, date and return, or submit your voting instructions by telephone or through the Internet.On or about the date of this letter, we began mailing a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”). Instructions for each type of voting are included in the Notice that you received and in this proxy statement. If you plan to attend the meeting and prefer to vote at that time, you may do so. If you hold your shares through a broker, bank, or other institution, please be sure to follow the voting instructions that you receive from the holder. The holder will not be able to vote your shares on any of the proposals except the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP unless you have provided voting instructions.

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Mark S. Silver

Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Chief Human Resources Officer

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE

STOCKHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON APRIL 28, 2020:26, 2023: THIS PROXY STATEMENT AND THE

ANNUAL REPORT ARE AVAILABLE AT http://www.proxyvote.comwww.proxydocs.com/RYI.

RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


Table of Contents

RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION

1

ANNUAL MEETING INFORMATION

2

Who May Vote?

2

Who May Attend the Meeting?

2

What Am I Voting On?

2

How Do I Vote?

2

Stockholders of Record

23

Stockholders of Record Can Vote By:

3

Stock Held in Street Name

3

What If I Do Not Provide Voting Instructions?

3

Can I Revoke or Change My Vote?

3

Who Are the Proxies and What Do They Do?

34

Is My Vote Confidential?

4

What Is the Quorum Requirement for the Annual Meeting?

4

How Are Abstentions, Withheld Votes and Broker Non-Votes Treated?

4

What Vote Is Required to Approve a Proposal?

4

Who Solicits Proxies and How Are They Paid?

4

How Do You Determine Whether I Get One or More Paper Copies of the Proxy Materials?

4

ITEMS YOU MAY VOTE ON

56

1. Election of Directors

56

2. Ratification of the Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

67

3. Approval of the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan

8

Such Other Business as May Properly Come Before the Annual Meeting

616

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

717

Composition of the Board of Directors

717

Board Diversity

717

BiographiesTerms and Classes of Directors

817

Biographies

19

Meetings of the Board and Board Committees

1021

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE MATTERS

1122

Board Leadership Structure

1122

Director Independence

1122

BOARD OVERSIGHT OF RISK

1224

Committee Roles

1324

Internal Audit

1324

Governance Guidelines and Committee Charters

1325

Code of Ethics

1325

Communications with the Board

1425

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEEBOARD COMMITTEES

1425

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

25

TRANSACTION COMMITTEE

25

NOMINATING AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE

1425

Qualifications for Directors

1426

AUDIT COMMITTEE

1526

Audit, Audit-related and Other Non-Audit Services

1627

Pre-approval Policies

1627

Other Policies

1628

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT – FINANCIAL STATEMENTS RECOMMENDATION

1729

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

1830

Committee Resources and Authority

1931

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

1931

img213417804_3.jpg2023 Proxy StatementI


COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

1931

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

2032

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

2032

Biographies

2032

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

2234

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

2234

Overview

2234

Executive Compensation Philosophy

2234

Consideration of Results of Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation

2234

Determination of Compensation

2335

Use of Peer Groups for Compensation Matters

2335

Components of Compensation

2335

Relationship Among the Different Components of Compensation

2436

Base Salary

2436

Annual Bonus

2537

Long-TermAnnual Incentive Plan

2738

Retirement BenefitsActual Payout under the 2022 AIP

3039

AIP and Discretionary Bonuses

40

Long-Term Incentive Plan

40

Retirement Benefits

44

Qualified Pension Plan

45

Supplemental Pension Plan

45

Perquisites and Other Benefits

3145

Employment Agreements

3145

Compensation Risk Management

3145

Tax Considerations and Deductibility of Compensation

3146

Executive Stock Ownership Guidelines

3146

Prohibition on Speculative Stock Transactions

3246

Recommendation

3246

COMPENSATION TABLES

3347

Summary Compensation Table

3347

Pay RatioGrants of Plan-Based Awards

3448

Grants of Plan-Based Awards

34

Narrative Relating to Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based Awards

3548

Employment Agreements

3549

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

3751

20192022 Option Exercises and Stock Vested

3852

Pension Benefits

3953

Qualified Pension Plan

39

Supplemental Pension Plan

39

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

40

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control

4153

STOCK OWNERSHIPPay Ratio

4254

Pay Versus Performance

55

STOCK OWNERSHIP

59

Directors and Executive Officers

4259

Ownership of More Than 5% of Ryerson Stock

43

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

60

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

4461

Investor Rights Agreement

4461

Policies and Procedures Regarding Transactions with Related Persons

4462

OTHER INFORMATION

4563

Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations for the 20212023 Annual Meeting

4563

Stockholder Nominations for Directors

4563

Ryerson’s Annual Report on Form 10-K

4564

    2020 Proxy StatementI


Ryerson Holding Corporation

From its modest start in 1842, Ryerson has grown into an intelligent network of service centers with leading capabilities to serve customers’ industrial metal supply chain needs. Ryerson has survived the Great Chicago Fire, weathered economic downturns, and evolved with changing markets. Ryerson is passionate about profitably providing consistently great customer experiences.

img213417804_4.jpg2023 Proxy Statement    I


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Ryerson Holding Corporation

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From its modest start in 1842, Ryerson has grown into an intelligent network of service centers with leading capabilities to serve customers’ industrial metal supply chain needs. Ryerson has survived the Great Chicago Fire, weathered economic downturns, and evolved with changing markets. Ryerson is passionate about profitably providing consistently great customer experiences. Ryerson Holding Corporation (“Ryerson,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our”) is furnishing this proxy statement to the holders of our common stock in connection with the solicitation of proxies on behalf of our board of directors (the “Board”) for use at our 20202023 annual meeting of stockholders, which will be held on Tuesday,Wednesday, April 28, 2020,26, 2023, via a live audio-only webcast at The Franklin, 222 West Adams Street, 2nd Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60606, Room: Franklin B.

www.proxydocs.com/RYI. There is no physical location for the 2023 annual meeting. We will begin sending notice of the availability of these Our common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the ticker symbol ‘RYI’. The Company’s fiscal year ends on December 31 of each calendar year. Our corporate headquarters is located at 227 W. Monroe St., 27th Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60606, and our website address is www.ryerson.com.www.ryerson.com. Please note that the information on our website is not, and shall not be deemed to be, a part of this proxy statement nor, by reference or otherwise (except to the extent we specifically incorporate it by reference), incorporated into any other filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

On August 13, 2014, we completed an initial public offering of 11 million shares of our common stock (the “IPO”). Prior to that time, all of our common stock was held by affiliates of Platinum Equity, LLC (together with such affiliates, “Platinum”), which still own approximately 56%34% of Ryerson’s common stock. For additional information regarding Platinum’s ownership, see below under “Ownership of More Than 5% of Ryerson Stock,” on page 43.

As the context requires, “Ryerson,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” may also include the direct and indirect subsidiaries of Ryerson Holding Corporation.

1    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION

    2020 Proxy Statement    1


Annual Meeting Information

This proxy statement contains information we must provide to you under the rules of the SEC and the NYSE in connection with the solicitation of proxies by our Board for the 20202023 annual meeting of stockholders. It is designed to assist you in voting your shares of our stock. We will begin sending notice of the availability of these proxy materials on or about March 13, 2020.

Who May Vote?

You may vote if you were the holder of record of shares of our common stock at the close of business on March 2, 2020.3, 2023. You are entitled to one vote on each matter presented at the 20202023 annual meeting of stockholders for each share of our stock you owned at that time. If you held stock at that time in “street name” through a broker, bank or other institution, you must either provide voting instructions to the holder or obtain a proxy, executed in your favor, from the holder to be able to vote those shares at the meeting.

Each share of Ryerson common stock is entitled to one vote. As of the close of business on March 2, 20203, 2023 (the record date for determining stockholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting), we had 37,453,08035,475,124 shares of common stock outstanding and entitled to vote.

Who May Attend the Meeting?

You are entitled to attend our 20202023 annual meeting if you were the holder of record of shares of our common stock at the close of business on March 2, 20203, 2023 or if you hold a valid proxy for the annual meeting.  You should be prepared to present photo identification (a driver’s license or passport is preferred) for admittance.  In addition, if you are a stockholder of record, your name is subject to verification against the list of stockholders of record on the record date prior to being admitted to the meeting.  If you are not a stockholder of record but hold shares through a broker, bank or other nominee (i.e., in “street name”), you also may attend our 2020 annual meeting if you provide proof of beneficial ownership on the record date, such as your most recent account statement or similar evidence of ownership.  If you do not provide photo identification or comply with the other procedures outlined above upon request, you may not be admitted to the meeting.

TheThis year’s annual meeting will occurbe accessible through the Internet via a live audio-only webcast. You are invited to attend the annual meeting via audio-only webcast to vote on the proposals described in this proxy statement so long as you register to attend the annual meeting at The Franklin, 222 West Adams Street, 2nd Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60606, Room: Franklin B, and will begin promptly at 2:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time, and you should allow ample time for check-in procedures.  No cameras, recording equipment, electronic devices, large bags, briefcases or packageswww.proxydocs.com/RYI. You will be permitted intoasked to provide the control number located inside the shaded gray box on your notice or proxy card (the “Control Number”) as described in the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Internet Availability Notice”) or proxy card. After completion of your registration, further instructions, including a unique link to access the annual meeting of stockholders, will be emailed to you. If you request a printed copy of our proxy materials by mail, your broker or nominee will provide a voting instruction card for you to use. This year’s stockholder question and answer session will include questions submitted in advance of the annual meeting. You may submit a question in advance of the meeting or adjacent areas.  All items may be subject to search.at www.proxydocs.com/RYI after logging in with your Control Number.

What Am I Voting On?

You are voting on:

Ο

The election of two directors;

Ο

The ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2020; and

Ο

Such other business as may properly come before the meeting.

ΟThe election of three directors;

ΟThe ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2023

ΟThe approval of the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan; and

ΟSuch other business as may properly come before the meeting.

How Do I Vote?

If your shares of stock are registered directly in your name, you are considered a stockholder of record and you will receive your Notice directly from us. Stockholders of record can vote in advance of our annual meeting by requesting a proxy card to sign, date and return or by submitting voting instructions by telephone or through the Internet. Please see the Notice you received or this proxy statement for specific instructions on how to cast your vote by any of these methods.  You may obtain directions

To vote during the annual meeting, you must do so through www.proxydocs.com/RYI. To be admitted to the location of our 2020 annual meeting by contacting us at Investor Relations, 227 W. Monroe St., 27th Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60606, email: investorinfo@ryerson.com,and vote your shares, you must register and provide the Control Number as described in the Internet Availability Notice or telephone: 312-292-5130.Proxy Card. After completion of your registration, further instructions, including a link a unique link to access the annual meeting, will be emailed to you.

If you hold your shares of stock through a broker, bank or other institution, you are considered the beneficial owner of stock held in “street name” and you will receive your notice from your broker, bank or other institution.

2    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


Stockholders of Record

For stockholders of record, voting instructions submitted via mail, telephone or the Internet must be received by Broadridge, our independent tabulator, Mediant, by 11:59 p.m. Central Daylight Time on April 27, 2020.the closing of the polls at the annual meeting. Submitting your voting instructions prior to the annual meeting will not affect your right to vote in person should you decide to attend the meeting.

2    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


Stockholders of Record Can Vote By:

Ο

Requesting and returning a completed proxy card by mail to our independent tabulator, Broadridge, by 11:59 p.m. Central Daylight Time on April 27, 2020;

Ο

Submitting voting instructions via the Internet or telephone by 11:59 p.m. Central Daylight Time on April 27, 2020; or

Ο

Completing a ballot and returning it to the inspector of election during the annual meeting.

ΟRequesting and returning a completed proxy card by mail to our independent tabulator, Mediant, by the closing of the polls at the annual meeting;

ΟSubmitting voting instructions via the internet or telephone by the closing of the polls at the annual meeting; or

ΟVoting at the annual meeting after registering at www.proxydocs.com/RYI by providing the Control Number as described in the Internet Availability Notice or Proxy Card.

Instructions and contact information for each of these voting options can be found in our.our Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials.

The Internetinternet and telephone voting procedures available to you are designed to authenticate stockholders’ identities, to allow stockholders to submit voting instructions and to confirm that stockholders’ voting instructions have been recorded properly. We have been advised that the Internetinternet and telephone voting procedures are consistent with the requirements of applicable law. Stockholders voting via the Internetinternet or telephone should understand that there may be costs associated with voting in this manner, such as usage charges from Internetinternet access providers and telephone companies, which must be borne by the stockholder.

Stock Held in Street Name

If you hold your stock in street name, you can vote by submitting a voting instruction card to your broker, bank or other institution that sent your Notice to you in accordance with their procedures. Please note that if you hold your stock in street name, the broker, bank or other institution that holds the stock will not be able to vote your shares on any proposal other than the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP unless you have provided voting instructions. If you hold your stock in street name and wish to vote at the meeting, you must obtain a proxy, executed in your favor, from the holder of record of the stock as of the record date.

What If I Do Not Provide Voting Instructions?

If you submit a valid proxy card, or validly submit voting instructions via the telephone or Internet,internet, but you do not indicate your vote, your shares of stock will be voted FOR:

Ο

The election of the two directors named herein; and

Ο

The ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2020.

ΟThe election of the three directors named herein

ΟThe approval of the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan; and

ΟThe ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2023.

You also give the proxies discretionary authority to vote on any other business that may properly be presented at the annual meeting.

Can I Revoke or Change My Vote?

If you are a stockholder of record, you may revoke or change your proxy and voting instructions at any time prior to the vote at the annual meeting. To do so:

Ο

Submit a new proxy card or voting instructions to the independent tabulator by mail, telephone or through the Internet by 11:59 p.m. Central Daylight Time on April 27, 2020; or

Ο

Attend the annual meeting and vote in person by ballot.

ΟSubmit a new proxy card or voting instructions to the independent tabulator, Mediant, by mail, telephone or through the Internet by the closing of the polls at the annual meeting; or

ΟAttend the annual meeting and submit an electronic ballot.

If you hold your stock in street name, you may revoke or change your proxy instructions prior to the vote at the annual meeting by submitting new voting instructions to your broker, bank or other institution in accordance with their procedures.

3    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


Who Are the Proxies and What Do They Do?

When you vote in advance of the annual meeting, you appoint Mr. Mark S. Silver, our Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Chief Human Resources Officer, and Ms. Camilla R. Merrick, our Corporate Secretary, as proxies, each with the power to appoint a substitute. You direct them to vote all of the shares of stock you held on the record date at the annual meeting and at any adjournment or postponement of that meeting. If you submit a valid proxy card or validly submit voting instructions via the telephone or Internet,internet, and you do not subsequently revoke your proxy or vote, the individuals named on the card as your proxies will vote your shares of stock in accordance with your instructions. If you submit a valid proxy card or voting instructions but you do not indicate your vote, your shares of stock will be voted as described above under “What If I Do Not Provide Voting Instructions?” on this page 3.page.

    2020 Proxy Statement    3


Is My Vote Confidential?Confidential?

We have a confidential voting policy. Stockholders’ votes will not be disclosed to us other than in limited situations. The independent tabulator will collect, tabulate and retain all proxies and will forward any comments written on the proxy cards or otherwise received by the independent tabulator to management. Our confidential voting policy will not apply in the event of a contested solicitation.

What Is the Quorum Requirement for the Annual Meeting?

A quorum is necessary to hold a valid meeting. A quorum will exist if stockholders holding a majority of the shares of stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the meeting are present in person or represented by proxy.

How Are Abstentions, Withheld Votes and Broker Non-Votes Treated?

The election inspector will treat abstentions, withholds and “broker non-votes” as shares of stock that are present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum. A “broker non-vote” occurs when a broker holding stock for a beneficial owner does not vote on a particular proposal because the broker does not have discretionary voting power for that particular item and has not received instructions from the beneficial owner. Brokers will have discretionary voting power with respect to proposal two (the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP), but not with respect to any other proposal. Abstentions and broker non-votes do not count as votes cast either for or against any of the proposals. A “withhold” vote with respect to any director nominee will have the effect of a vote against such nominee.

What Vote Is Required to Approve a Proposal?

Proposal One: A director nominee will be elected to the Board if the number of votes cast “for” the nominee’s election exceeds the number of votes “withheld” from or cast “against” the nominee’s election.

Proposal Two: The ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 20202023 will be approved if holders of a majority of the stock present in person at the meeting or represented by proxy vote in favor of the proposal.

Proposal Three: The Second Amended and Restated 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan will be approved if holders of a majority of the stock present in person at the meeting or represented by proxy vote in favor of the proposal.

Who Solicits Proxies and How Are They Paid?

The proxy accompanying this proxy statement is solicited on behalf of our Board for use at the annual meeting and Ryerson pays the expenses of soliciting the proxies. In addition to this solicitation by mail, our directors, officers and other employees may contact you by personal interview, telephone, electronic mail, facsimile, Internet or otherwise to obtain your proxy. These persons will not receive any additional compensation for these activities. Brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries will be requested to forward solicitation material to the beneficial owners of stock. We will reimburse these entities and our transfer agent for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in forwarding solicitation material. We have not retained the services of a proxy solicitor.

How Do You Determine Whether I Get One or More Paper Copies of the Proxy Materials?

To reduce the costs of printing and distributing proxy materials we are taking advantage of the SEC rule that allows companies to furnish their proxy materials over the Internet. As a result, we send many stockholders a notice regarding the Internet availability of the proxy materials instead of a paper copy of our proxy materials. This notice explains how you can access the proxy materials over the Internet, and also describes how to request to receive a paper copy of the proxy materials. If you have requested paper copies of the proxy materials, you may have received one copy of our proxy statement, annual report or Notice for multiple stockholders in your household. This is because we and some brokers, banks and other record holders participate in the practice of “householding” proxy statements, annual reports and Notices

4    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials and deliver only one copy to stockholders at one address unless we or they receive other instructions from you.

If these materials were delivered to an address that you share with another stockholder, we will promptly deliver a separate copy if you make a written or verbal request to Ryerson Holding Corporation, Investor Relations, 227 W. Monroe St., 27th Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60606, email: investorinfo@ryerson.com, or telephone: 312-292-5130.

If you are receiving multiple copies and would like to receive only one copy for your household, you may make such request as follows:

Ο

If you are a stockholder of record, by contacting Broadridge Householding Department, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, New York 11717 or call Broadridge toll free: 1-866-540-7095; and

Ο

If you are a beneficial owner of stock, by contacting your broker, bank or other holder of record.

ΟIf you are a stockholder of record, by contacting Ryerson Holding Corporation, c/o Mediant Communications, P.O. Box 8016, Cary, NC 27512-9903, or call Mediant at: 1-866-648-8133; and

ΟIf you are a beneficial owner of stock, by contacting your broker, bank or other holder of record.

The Company’s proxy materials are also available at ir.ryerson.com.

45    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


Items You MayMay Vote on

1.

Election of Directors

1.Election of Directors

Our Board presently consists of seveneight directors, threeseven of whom areour Board has determined to be independent under the NYSE Listed Company Manual and other NYSE rules and requirements (together, “NYSE rules”), and four of whom are affiliated with Platinum, which owns a majority of our outstanding common stock.  Because Platinum owns more than 50% of the voting power of our common stock, we are considered to be a “controlled company” for purposes of the NYSE rules. As such, we are permitted, and have elected, to opt out of the NYSE rules that would otherwise require our Board to be comprised of a majority of independent directors..

The Board is divided into three separate classes, with one class being elected each year to serve a staggered three-year term. The terms of the Class III Directors expire at the 20202023 annual meeting, and twothree directors will be elected at the annual meeting to serve as Class III Directors for a three-year term expiring at the 20232026 annual meeting or until their successors are duly elected and qualified.

For the 20202023 annual meeting, the Board has proposed the following director nominees for election: Kirk K. Calhoun, Jacob Kotzubei and Jacob Kotzubei.Edward J. Lehner.

Detailed information on each director nominee and continuing director is provided below under “Biographies” on page 8.19. If you submit valid voting instructions, the proxies will vote your shares of stock for the election of each of the nominees, unless you indicate that you wish to vote against a nominee or withhold your vote on a nominee. If at the time of the annual meeting any of the nominees is unable or declines to serve, the persons named in the proxy will, at the direction of the Board, either vote for the substitute nominee or nominees that the Board recommends, or the Board may reduce the number of directors to be elected at the meeting. The Board has no reason to believe that any nominee will be unable or will decline to serve as a director if elected.

Vote Required

Under our Bylaws, our directors are elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote in the election of directors. In an uncontested election, a director is elected if the votes cast “for” the director’s election exceed the votes “withheld” from or cast “against” the director’s election.

Recommendation of the Board

OUR BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT OUR STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” the election of KirkKIRK K. CalhounCALHOUN, JACOB KOTZUBEI and Jacob KotzubeiEDWARD J. LEHNER to serve as directors of the Company.

6    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION

    2020 Proxy Statement    5


2.

Ratification of the Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

2.Ratification of the Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Our Audit Committee has selected Ernst & Young LLP to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2020.2023. Ernst & Young has served as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company since 2006. Representatives of Ernst & Young will be present at the annual meeting to answer questions. They will also have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so.

The Audit Committee is responsible for recommending, for stockholder approval, our independent registered public accounting firm. Should stockholders fail to approve the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young, the Audit Committee would undertake the task of reviewing the appointment. Nevertheless, given the difficulty and expense of changing independent accountants mid-way through the year, there is no assurance that a firm other than Ernst & Young could be secured to deliver any or all of the Company’s independent auditing services required in 2020.2023. The Audit Committee, however, would take the lack of stockholder approval into account when recommending an independent registered public accounting firm for 2021.2024.

The following table sets outforward the various fees for services provided by Ernst & Young for 20192022 and 2018.2021. The Audit Committee pre-approved all of these services. For additional information, see the description of the pre-approval policies and procedures of the Audit Committee under “Pre-approval Policies,” below on page 16.27.

Annual Fees for 20192022 and 20182021

 

Amounts

 

 

Amounts

Description

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

2022

 

2021

Audit Fees(1)

 

$

4,282,240

 

 

$

5,000,460

 

 

$4,205,760

 

$3,649,440

Audit-related Fees(2)

 

 

 

 

$

1,995

 

Tax Fees(3)(2)

 

$

454,925

 

 

$

299,315

 

 

���

 

$38,778

Other Fees(4)(3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$3,600

 

$152,125

Total

 

$

4,737,165

 

 

$

5,301,770

 

 

$4,209,360

 

$3,840,343

(1)

Audit fees related to professional services rendered in conjunction with the audit of our annual financial statements, the audit of our internal control over financial reporting, the review of our quarterly financial statements, comfort letters, consents, and the audit of our statutory filings, and other services pertaining to SEC matters.

(2)

Audit-related fees related to professional services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Company’s financial statements, including compliance-related matters, which are not specifically classified as audit fees, including such fees related to subscription fees for the audit firm’s online research tool.

(3)

Tax fees related to professional services performed by the independent auditor’s tax personnel and not included in audit fees or audit related fees, such as services related to tax audits, tax compliance and tax consulting and planning services.  Tax fees primarily related to tax consulting and planning services related to international corporate structuring and transfer pricing relative to service charges from our U.S. operations to our Canadian subsidiary.

(4)

For 2019 and 2018, there were no fees billed by EY for services provided other than those described in the three preceding footnotes.

(1) Audit fees related to professional services rendered in conjunction with the audit of our annual financial statements, the audit of our internal control over financial reporting, the review of our quarterly financial statements, comfort letters, consents, the audit of our statutory filings and other services pertaining to SEC matters.

(2) Tax fees related to professional services performed by the independent auditor’s tax personnel and not included in audit fees or audit related fees, such as services related to tax audits, tax compliance and tax consulting and planning services. Tax fees primarily related to tax consulting and planning services related to international corporate structuring and transfer pricing relative to service charges from our U.S. operations to our Canadian subsidiary.

(3) For 2022, other fees are related to the subscription of the audit firm’s online research tool. For 2021, other fees include certain advisory services related to the Company’s Environmental, Social and Governance report and subscription of the audit firm’s online research tool.

Ernst & Young LLP’sYoung’s full-time, permanent employees conducted a majority of the audit of the Company’s 20192022 financial statements. Leased personnel were not employed with respect to the domestic audit engagement.

Vote Required

The approval of this proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon at the 20202023 annual meeting, assuming that a quorum is present.

Recommendation of the Board

OUR BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT OUR STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2020.2023.

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3.Approval of the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan

Overview of Proposal

Our 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan, or 2014 Plan, was originally adopted by our Board on August 6, 2014. On February 20, 2019 our Board approved the amendment and restatement of the 2014 Plan, which we refer to as the Amended and Restated 2014 Plan. On February 16, 2023, our Board approved the further amendment and restatement of the Amended and Restated 2014 Plan, which we refer to as the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan, subject to approval by our stockholders. The Amended and Restated 2014 Plan has been an important factor in attracting, retaining, motivating, and rewarding certain employees, officers, directors and consultants by closely aligning the interests of such individuals with those of our stockholders. We are asking our stockholders to approve the amendment and restatement of our Amended and Restated 2014 Plan at the 2023 annual meeting that would:


ΟIncrease the number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance by 2,000,000, subject to adjustment as provided in the plan and an equivalent increase to the number of shares of common stock available for grant pursuant to incentive stock options;

ΟExtend the expiration date of the plan to February 20, 2033; and

ΟA clarification allowing the Company, in the event that it acquires a company that has shares available to grant pursuant to a pre-existing plan, on certain terms to use such shares for awards under the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan to the extent permitted by NYSE Listed Company Manual Section 303A.08 or other applicable stock exchange rules.

We believe that increasing the share reserve under the Amended and Restated 2014 Plan and extending the expiration date to facilitate continued use of the Amended and Restated 2014 Plan will allow us to further the purpose of the plan and our compensation philosophy.

If our stockholders approve this proposal, the second amended and restated plan will become effective as of the date of the stockholder approval. If our stockholders do not approve this proposal, the second amendment and restatement of the Amended and Restated 2014 Plan described in this proposal will not take effect and our Amended and Restated 2014 plan will continue to be administered in its current form. Further, if stockholders do not approve this proposal, our ability to attract, reward and retain valuable employees will be restricted as we would not have a sufficient number of shares of common stock to make future equity grants.

Rationale for Approving the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan

Our Board believes that approval of the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan is essential to our continued success. The additional 2,000,000 shares of common stock our Board has reserved for issuance under the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan represent approximately 5.6% of our outstanding shares of common stock on a fully diluted basis as of the record date, March 3, 2023. Our Board believes that equity compensation of the type available for grant under the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan, a stock-based incentive plan, furthers our goal of creating long-term value for our stockholders by fostering an ownership culture that encourages a focus on long-term performance, retention, and stockholder value-creation, and exposes participants to economic diminishment if our share performance lags.

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Alignment of the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan with the Interests of the Company and our Stockholders

Our Board believes that using long-term incentive compensation, including equity compensation to retain and motivate our key employees is critical to the achievement of our long-term goals and it considered the following factors, among other things, when adopting the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan:

Ο our belief that the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan will serve a critical role in attracting, retaining and motivating high caliber employees, officers, directors and other service providers essential to our success and in motivating these individuals to enhance our growth and profitability;

Ο our belief that share ownership by employees provides performance incentives and fosters long-term commitment to our benefit and to the benefit of our stockholders; and

Ο our belief that equity compensation, by its very nature, is performance-based compensation, and that the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan reflects our pay-for performance philosophy and motivates our employees to enhance our growth and profitability.

Key Features of the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan

The Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan and our related governance practices and policies include many features that are designed to protect stockholder interests. A summary of these features follows, and a more detailed description of the features is included under the heading “Summary of the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan” below. The summaries in this proposal do not provide a complete description of all the provisions of the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan, which is attached to this proxy statement as Appendix B.

Ο Fixed Reserve of Shares. The number of shares of common stock available for grant under the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan is fixed and will not automatically increase because of an “evergreen” feature; meaning stockholder approval is required to issue any additional shares, allowing our stockholders to have direct input on our equity compensation program.

Ο No Repricing. The Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan prohibits the repricing of awards without stockholder approval.

Ο No Liberal Definition of “Change in Control.” The change in control definition contained in the Amended and Restated 2014 Plan is not a “liberal” definition that would be triggered on stockholder approval of a transaction.

Ο Limitation on Term of Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights. The maximum term of a stock option or stock appreciation right under the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan is 10 years.

Ο No Dividends or Dividend Equivalents on Unearned Awards. Generally, any cash dividends and share dividends paid on shares of restricted stock will be withheld by the Company and will be subject to vesting and forfeiture to the same degree as the shares of restricted stock to which such dividends relate. No dividends or dividend equivalents shall be paid on stock options or stock appreciation rights.

Ο Clawback. Awards granted under the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan will be subject to any Company’s clawback and/or recoupment policies in effect or as otherwise required by applicable law.

Ο Limitation on Amendments. Amendments to the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan must be approved by our stockholders if stockholder approval is required by applicable law or the applicable rules of the national securities exchange on which our shares are principally listed or if the amendment would diminish the prohibitions on repricing stock options or stock appreciation rights.

Ο No Automatic Grants. The Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan does not provide for automatic grants to any participant.

Ο No Tax Gross-Ups. The Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan does not provide for any tax gross-ups.

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Key Data

The following table includes information regarding our outstanding awards and shares of common stock available for future awards under the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan as of March 3, 2023:

Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan

Total shares of common stock underlying outstanding stock options

35,475,124

Total unvested shares of restricted stock outstanding

  —

Total unvested restricted stock units outstanding(1)

1,110,072

Shares of common stock available for future issuances

2,549,818

(1) Includes performance- and time-vested restricted stock units. Shares subject to restricted stock units are not included in our outstanding common stock until vested. Performance-vested restricted stock units are assumed to vest at the maximum potential payout.

The Compensation Committee carefully monitors our annual burn rate and total dilution by granting only the number of stock-based awards that it believes is necessary to attract, reward and retain key employees, officers and other service providers. Burn rate, or run rate, refers to how fast a company uses the supply of shares authorized for issuance under its stock incentive plan. Over the last three years, we have maintained an average burn rate of 1.23% of common stock outstanding per year. Dilution measures the degree to which our stockholders’ ownership has been diluted by stock-based compensation awarded under our stock plans. The following table shows our burn rate and dilution percentages over the past three years:

Key Equity Metrics

2020

2021

2022

Burn Rate(1)

1.01%

1.42%

1.27%

Dilution(2)

2.51%

2.61%

2.97%

(1) Burn rate is calculated by dividing the number of shares of common stock subject to equity awards granted during the fiscal year by the number of shares of common stock outstanding at the end of the fiscal year.

(2) Dilution is calculated by dividing the number of shares of common stock subject to equity awards outstanding at the end of the fiscal year by the number of shares of common stock outstanding at the end of the fiscal year.

Summary of the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan

The following is a summary of certain material features of the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan.

Purpose. The purpose of the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan is to give us the ability to attract, retain, motivate and reward certain officers, employees, directors and consultants and to provide a means whereby officers, employees, directors and/or consultants can acquire and maintain ownership of our common stock or be paid incentive compensation measured by reference to the value of our common stock, thereby strengthening their commitment to our welfare and that of our affiliates and promoting an identity of interest between our stockholders and these persons and encouraging such eligible persons to expend maximum effort in the creation of stockholder value.

The following summary is not a complete description of all provisions of the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan, the final version of which is attached to this proxy statement as Appendix B.

Plan Administration. The Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan will be administered by our Board or the Compensation Committee (which together with our Board is hereinafter referred to as the “Committee”). The Committee have the authority, among other things, to select participants, grant awards, determine types of awards and terms and conditions of awards for participants, prescribe rules and regulations for the administration of the plan and make all decisions and determinations as deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan. The Committee may delegate certain of its authority as it deems appropriate, pursuant to the terms of the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan and to the extent permitted by applicable law, to our officers or employees, although any award granted to any person who is not our employee or who is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, must be expressly approved by the Committee. The Committee’s actions will be final, conclusive and binding.

Authorized Stock. An additional 2,000,000 shares of our common stock have been reserved and made available for issuance under the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan, such that a total of 5,495,000 shares of common stock have been reserved and made available for issuance under the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan since its adoption, subject to adjustment in accordance with the terms of the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan. Prior to the adoption of the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan, most of the shares previously reserved for issuance under the plan had been utilized for outstanding or previously outstanding awards and were no longer available for future awards. The number of shares of common stock reserved and available for issuance under the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan is subject to adjustment, as described below. The maximum number of shares of common stock that

10    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


may be issued in respect of incentive stock options will be no more than shares of common stock available under the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan. Common stock issued under the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan may consist of authorized but unissued stock or previously issued common stock. Common stock underlying awards that are settled in cash, expire or are canceled, forfeited, or otherwise terminated without delivery to a participant will again be available for issuance under the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan. Common stock withheld or surrendered in connection with the payment of an exercise price of an award or to satisfy tax withholding will again become available for issuance under the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan.

To the extent permitted by NYSE Listed Company Manual Section 303A.08 or other applicable stock exchange rules, subject to applicable law, in the event that a company acquired by us or with which we combines has shares available under a pre-existing plan approved by stockholders and not adopted in contemplation of such acquisition or combination, the shares available for grant pursuant to the terms of such pre-existing plan (as adjusted, to the extent appropriate, using the exchange ratio or other adjustment or valuation ratio of formula used in such acquisition or combination to determine the consideration payable to the holders of common stock of the entities party to such acquisition or combination) may be used for awards under the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan and will not reduce the number of shares of common stock reserved and available for delivery in connection with awards under the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan; provided that awards using such available shares shall not be made after the date awards could have been made under the terms of such pre-existing plan, absent the acquisition or combination, and will only be made to individuals who were not employed by us or any of our subsidiaries immediately prior to such acquisition or combination.

Individual Limits. The maximum number of shares of common stock that may be subject to awards granted to any non-employee director in any one calendar year may not exceed 20,000.

Types of Awards. The types of awards that may be available under the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan are described below. All of the awards described below will be subject to the terms and conditions determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, subject to certain limitations provided in the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan. Each award granted under the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan will be evidenced by an award agreement, which will govern that award’s terms and conditions.

Non-qualified Stock Options. A non-qualified stock option is an option that is not intended to meet the qualifications of an incentive stock option, as described below. An award of a non-qualified stock option grants a participant the right to purchase a certain number of shares of our common stock during a specified term in the future, or upon the achievement of performance or other conditions, at an exercise price set by the Committee on the grant date. The term of a non-qualified stock option will be set by the Committee but may not exceed 10 years from the grant date. The exercise price may be paid using any of the following payment methods: (i) immediately available funds in U.S. dollars or by certified or bank cashier’s check, (ii) by delivery of stock having a value equal to the exercise price, (iii) a broker assisted cashless exercise, or (iv) by any other means approved by the Committee. The Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan also provides that participants terminated for “cause” (as such term is defined in the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan) will forfeit all of their non-qualified stock options, whether or not vested. Participants terminated for any other reason will forfeit their unvested non-qualified stock options, retain their vested non-qualified stock options, and will have one year (in the case of a termination by reason of death or disability) or 90 days (in all other cases) following their termination date to exercise their vested non-qualified stock options, unless such nonqualified stock options expire sooner. The Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan authorizes the Committee to provide for different treatment of non-qualified stock options upon termination than that described above, as determined in its discretion.

Incentive Stock Options. An incentive stock option is a stock option that meets the requirements of Section 422 of the Code. Incentive stock options may be granted only to our employees or employees of certain of our subsidiaries and must have an exercise price of no less than 100% of the fair market value (or 110% with respect to a 10% stockholder) of a share of common stock on the grant date and a term of no more than 10 years (or 5 years with respect to a 10% stockholder). The aggregate fair market value, determined at the time of grant, of our common stock subject to incentive stock options that are exercisable for the first time by a participant during any calendar year may not exceed $100,000. The Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan also provides that participants terminated for “cause” will forfeit all of their incentive stock options, whether or not vested. Participants terminated for any other reason will forfeit their unvested incentive stock options, retain their vested incentive stock options, and will have one year (in the case of a termination by reason of death or disability) or 90 days (in all other cases) following their termination date to exercise their vested incentive stock options, unless such incentive stock option expires sooner. The Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan authorizes the Committee to provide for different treatment of incentive stock options upon termination than that described above, as determined in its discretion.

Stock Appreciation Rights. A stock appreciation right entitles the participant to receive an amount equal to the difference between the fair market value of our common stock on the exercise date and the base price of the stock appreciation right that is set by the Committee on the grant date, multiplied by the number of shares of common stock subject to the stock

11    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


appreciation right. The term of a stock appreciation right will be set by the Committee but may not exceed 10 years from the grant date. Payment to a participant upon the exercise of a stock appreciation right may be either in cash, stock or property as specified in the award agreement or as determined by the Committee. The Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan provides that participants terminated for “cause” will forfeit all of their stock appreciation rights, whether or not vested. Participants terminated for any other reason will forfeit their unvested stock appreciation rights, retain their vested stock appreciation rights, and will have one year (in the case of a termination by reason of death or disability) or 90 days (in all other cases) following their termination date to exercise their vested stock appreciation rights, unless such appreciation rights expire sooner. The Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan authorizes the Committee to provide for different treatment of stock appreciation rights upon termination than that described above, as determined in its discretion.

Restricted Stock. A restricted stock award is an award of restricted common stock that does not vest until a specified period of time has elapsed, and/or upon the achievement of performance or other conditions determined by the Committee, and which will be forfeited if the conditions to vesting are not met. During the period that any restrictions apply, transfer of the restricted common stock is generally prohibited. Unless otherwise specified in their award agreement, participants generally have all of the rights of a stockholder as to the restricted common stock, including the right to vote such common stock, provided, that any cash or stock dividends with respect to the restricted common stock will be withheld by us and will be subject to forfeiture to the same degree as the restricted common stock to which such dividends relate. Except as otherwise provided by the Committee, in the event a participant is terminated for any reason, the vesting with respect to the participant’s restricted stock will cease, and as soon as practicable following the termination, we will repurchase all of such participant’s unvested restricted stock at a purchase price equal to the lesser of (A) the original purchase price paid for the restricted stock (as adjusted for any subsequent changes in the outstanding common stock, or in the capital structure of the Company) less any dividends or other distributions or bonus received or to be received) by the participant in respect of such restricted stock prior to the date of repurchase and (B) the fair market value of the common stock on the date of such repurchase, provided that, if the original purchase price paid for the restricted stock is equal to $0, the unvested restricted stock will be forfeited by the participant to us for no consideration.

Restricted Stock Units. A restricted stock unit is an unfunded and unsecured obligation to issue common stock (or an equivalent cash amount) to the participant in the future. Restricted stock units become payable on terms and conditions determined by the Committee and will vest and be settled at such times in cash, common stock, or other specified property, as determined by the Committee. Participants have no rights of a stockholder as to the restricted stock units, including no voting rights or, unless otherwise provided in the applicable award agreement, rights to dividends (or dividend equivalents), until the underlying common stock is issued or becomes payable to the participant. Except as otherwise provided by the Committee, in the event a participant is terminated for any reason, the vesting with respect to the participant’s restricted stock units will cease, each of the participant’s outstanding unvested restricted stock units will be forfeited for no consideration as of the date of such termination, and any stock remaining undelivered with respect to the participant’s vested restricted stock units will be delivered on the delivery date specified in the applicable award agreement.

Other Stock-Based Compensation. Under the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan, the Committee may grant other types of equity-based awards subject to such terms and conditions that the Committee may determine. Such awards may include the grant of dividend equivalents, which generally entitle the participant to receive amounts equal to the dividends that are paid on the stock underlying the award.

Adjustments. The aggregate number of shares of common stock reserved and available for issuance under the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan, the individual limitations, the number of shares of common stock covered by each outstanding award, and the price per share of common stock underlying each outstanding award will be equitably and proportionally adjusted or substituted, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, as to the number, price or kind of stock or other consideration subject to such awards in connection with stock dividends, extraordinary cash dividends, stock splits, reverse stock splits, recapitalizations, reorganizations, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations, combinations, exchanges, or other relevant changes in our capitalization affecting our common stock or our capital structure which occurs after the date of grant of any award, in connection with any extraordinary dividend declared and paid in respect of stock or in the event of any change in applicable law or circumstances that results in or could result in, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, any substantial dilution or enlargement of the rights intended to be granted to, or available for, participants in the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan.

Corporate Events. In the event of a merger, amalgamation, or consolidation involving us in which we are not the surviving corporation or in which we are the surviving corporation but the holders of our common stock receive securities of another corporation or other property or cash, a “change in control” (as defined in the Amended and Restated 2014 Plan), or a reorganization, or liquidation of us, the Committee may, in its discretion, provide for the assumption or substitution of outstanding awards, accelerate the vesting of outstanding awards, cash-out outstanding vested awards and cancel all unvested awards or replace outstanding awards with a cash incentive program that preserves the value of the awards so replaced. The Committee is not required to take the same action or actions with respect to all awards or with respect to all

12    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


participants. If the vesting of any awards subject to the achievement of performance criteria are accelerated in connection with one of the events listed above, the performance awards will be deemed earned at the target level (or if no target is specified, the maximum level) with respect to all unexpired performance periods .

Transferability. Unvested awards under the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan may not be sold, transferred, pledged, or assigned other than by will or by the applicable laws of descent and distribution, unless (for awards other than incentive stock options) otherwise provided in an award agreement or determined by the Committee.

Amendment. Our Board or our Compensation Committee may amend the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan or outstanding awards at any time. Our stockholders must approve any amendment if their approval is required pursuant to applicable law or the applicable rules of each national securities exchange on which our common stock is traded. No amendment to the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan or outstanding awards which materially impairs the right of a participant is permitted unless the participant consents in writing.

Termination. The Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan will terminate on February 16, 2033. In addition, our Board or our Compensation Committee may suspend or terminate the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan at any time. Following any such suspension or termination, the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan will remain in effect to govern any then outstanding awards until such awards are forfeited, terminated or otherwise canceled or earned, exercised, settled or otherwise paid out, in accordance with their terms.

Clawback; Sub-Plans. All awards under the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan will be subject to any incentive compensation clawback or recoupment policy currently in effect, or as may be adopted by our Board (or any committee or subcommittee thereof) and, in each case, as may be amended from time to time. In addition, the Committee may adopt such procedures and sub-plans as are necessary or appropriate to permit participation in the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan by individuals who are non-U.S. nationals or are primarily employed or providing services outside the U.S., and may modify the terms of any awards granted to such participants in a manner deemed by the Committee to be necessary or appropriate in order that such awards conform with the laws of the country or countries where such participants are located.

No-Repricing of Awards. No awards under the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan may be repriced without stockholder approval. For purposes of the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan, “repricing” means any of the following (or any other action that has the same effect as any of the following): (i) changing the terms of the award to lower its exercise price or base price (other than on account of capital adjustments resulting from stock splits), (ii) any other action that is treated as a repricing under generally accepted accounting principles and (iii) repurchasing for cash or canceling an award in exchange for another award at a time when its exercise price or base price is greater than the fair market value of the underlying stock.

Change in Time Commitment. In the event a participant’s regular level of time commitment is reduced after the date of grant of any award to the participant, the Committee has the right in its sole discretion to (i) make a corresponding reduction in the number of shares of common stock subject to any portion of such award that is scheduled to vest or become payable after the date of such change in time commitment, and (ii) in lieu of or in combination with such a reduction, extend the vesting or payment schedule applicable to such award. In the event of such reduction, the participant will have no right with respect to any portion of the award that is so reduced or extended.

Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences

The following is a brief discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences for awards granted under the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan. The Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan is not subject to the requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and it is not, nor is it intended to be, qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code. This discussion is based on current law, is not intended to constitute tax advice, and does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to a particular participant in light of his or her personal circumstances and does not describe foreign, state, or local tax consequences, which may be substantially different. Holders of awards under the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan are encouraged to consult with their own tax advisors.

Non-Qualified Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights. With respect to non-qualified stock options and stock appreciation rights, (i) no income is realized by a participant at the time the award is granted; (ii) generally, at exercise, ordinary income is realized by the participant in an amount equal to the difference between the exercise or base price paid for the shares and the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise (or, in the case of a cash-settled stock appreciation right, the cash received), and the participant’s employer is generally entitled to a tax deduction in the same amount subject to applicable tax withholding requirements; and (iii) upon a subsequent sale of the stock received on exercise, appreciation (or depreciation) after the date of exercise is treated as either short-term or long-term capital gain

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(or loss) depending on how long the shares have been held, and no deduction will be allowed to such participant’s employer.

Incentive Stock Options. No income is realized by a participant upon the grant or exercise of an incentive stock option, however, such participant will generally be required to include the excess of the fair market value of the shares at exercise over the exercise price in his or her alternative minimum taxable income. If shares are issued to a participant pursuant to the exercise of an incentive stock option, and if no disqualifying disposition of such shares is made by such participant within two years after the date of grant or within one year after the transfer of such shares to such participant, then (i) upon sale of such shares, any amount loss sustained will be a long-term capital loss, and (ii) no deduction will be allowed to the participant’s employer for federal income tax purposes.

If shares acquired upon the exercise of an incentive stock option are disposed of prior to the expiration of either holding period described above, generally (i) the participant will realize ordinary income in the year of disposition in an amount equal to the excess (if any) of the fair market value of such shares at exercise (or, if less, the amount realized on the disposition of such shares) over the exercise price paid for such shares and (ii) the participant’s employer will generally be entitled to deduct such amount for federal income tax purposes. Any further gain (or loss) realized by the participant will be taxed as short-term or long-term capital gain (or loss), as the case may be, and will not result in any deduction by the employer.

Subject to certain exceptions for disability or death, if an incentive stock option is exercised more than three months following termination of employment, the exercise of the stock option will generally be taxed as the exercise of a non-qualified stock option.

Other Stock-Based Awards. The tax effects related to other stock-based awards under the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan are dependent upon the structure of the particular award.

Withholding. At the time a participant is required to recognize ordinary compensation income resulting from an award, such income will be subject to federal (including, except as described below, Social Security and Medicare tax) and applicable state and local income tax and applicable tax withholding requirements. If such participant’s year-to-date compensation on the date of exercise exceeds the Social Security wage base limit for such year ($160,200 in 2023), such participant will not have to pay Social Security taxes on such amounts.

The Company is required to report to the appropriate taxing authorities the ordinary income received by the participant, together with the amount of taxes withheld to the Internal Revenue Service and the appropriate state and local taxing authorities.

Section 162(m). In general, Section 162(m) of the Code generally denies a publicly held corporation a deduction for federal income tax purposes for compensation in excess of $1 million per year paid per person paid to certain “covered employees.” The Committee is authorized to grant awards that are not qualified under Section 162(m) of the Code; however, the Committee will continue to monitor the applicability of Section 162(m) of the Code on our ongoing compensation arrangements and intends to continue to compensate our employees in a manner consistent with the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.

Section 409A. Certain awards under the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan may be subject to Section 409A of the Code, which regulates “nonqualified deferred compensation” (as defined in Section 409A of the Code). If an award under the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan (or any other Company plan) that is subject to Section 409A of the Code is not administered in compliance with Section 409A of the Code, then all compensation under the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan that is considered “nonqualified deferred compensation” (and awards under any other Company plan that are required pursuant to Section 409A of the Code to be aggregated with the award under the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan) will be taxable to the participant as ordinary income in the year of the violation, or if later, the year in which the compensation subject to the award is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. In addition, the participant will be subject to an additional tax equal to 20% of the compensation that is required to be included in income as a result of the violation, plus interest from the date that the compensation subject to the award was required to be included in taxable income.

Certain Rules Applicable to “Insiders.” As a result of the rules under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, depending upon the particular exemption from the provisions of Section 16(b) utilized, “insiders” (as defined in Section 16(b)) may not receive the same tax treatment as set forth above with respect to the grant and/or exercise or settlement of awards. Generally, insiders will not be subject to taxation until the expiration of any period during which they are subject to the

14    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


liability provisions of Section 16(b) with respect to any particular award. Insiders should check with their own tax advisors to ascertain the appropriate tax treatment for any particular award.

New Plan Benefits

Because awards to be granted in the future under the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan are at the discretion of the Committee, it is not possible to determine the benefits or the amounts that have been or will be received by eligible participants under the Second Amended and Restated 2014 Plan.



15    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans as of December 31, 2022



The following table sets forth, as of December 31, 2022, information concerning equity compensation plans under which our securities are authorized for issuance. The table does not reflect grants, awards, exercises, terminations or expirations since that date.

Plan Category

Number of

Securities to be

Issued Upon

Exercise of

Outstanding

Options, Warrants

and Rights (1)

(a)

Weighted

Average

Exercise Price

of Outstanding

Options,

Warrants and

Rights (2)

(b)

Number of Securities

Remaining Available for

Future Issuance Under

Equity Compensation

Plans (excluding

securities reflected in

first column) (3)

(c)

Equity compensation plans approved by

1,110,576

$16.50

549,318

Equity compensation plans not approved

Total

1,110,576

549,318

(1) Includes (i) 739,500 shares of our common stock subject to performance units, which vest depending on continued employment or service with the level of attainment of certain performance metrics, (ii) 358,576 shares of our common stock subject to restricted stock units, which vest depending on continued employment or service and (iii) 12,500 shares of our common stock subject to stock options, which vest over a 5-year period depending on continued employment or service and the level of attainment of certain stock market metrics.

(2) Once vested, each stock option can be exercised at a price of $16.50 in exchange for one share of the Company’s

common stock.

(3) All of the shares of common stock that remained available for future issuance as of December 31, 2022, were available under the Amended and Restated 2014 Plan. Subject to certain express limits of the 2014 Plan, shares available for award purposes under the Amended and Restated 2014 Plan generally may be used for any type of award authorized under that plan including options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units and other stockbased awards. The number of common shares reserved and available for delivery under the Amended and Restated 2014 Plan is subject to adjustment, as described above.

Vote Required

The approval of this proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon at the 2023 annual meeting, assuming that a quorum is present.

Recommendation of the Board

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT OUR STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” APPROVAL of the second amended and restated 2014 omnibus incentive plan.

4. Such Other Business as May ProperlyProperly Come before the Annual Meeting

We do not know of any other matters to be voted on at the meeting. If, however, other matters are properly presented for a vote at the meeting, the persons named as proxies will vote your properly submitted proxy according to their judgment on those matters.

616    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


Board of Directors

Composition of the Board of Directors

Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws provide that the authorized number of directors shall be fixed from time to time by a resolution of the majority of our Board. Our Board is currently comprised of the following seveneight members: Kirk K. Calhoun, Court D. Carruthers, Eva M. Kalawski, Jacob Kotzubei, Stephen P. Larson, Edward J. Lehner, Philip E. Norment and Mary Ann Sigler.

In connection with the IPO, the Company and Platinum entered into an amended and restated investor rights agreement (the “Investor Rights Agreement”) in August 2014 that provided, among other things, that for so long as Platinum collectively beneficially owns (i) at least 30% of the voting power of the outstanding capital stock of the Company, Platinum will have the right to nominate for election to the Board no fewer than that number of directors that would constitute a majority of the number of directors if there were no vacancies on the Board, (ii) at least 15% but less than 30% of the voting power of the outstanding capital stock of the Company, Platinum will have the right to nominate two directors and (iii) at least 5% but less than 15% of the voting power of the outstanding capital stock of the Company, Platinum will have the right to nominate one director. The agreement also provides that if the size of the Board is increased or decreased at any time, Platinum’s nomination rights will be proportionately increased or decreased, respectively, rounded up to the nearest whole number. Under the Investor Rights Agreement, Platinum has nominated Ms. Kalawski, Mr. Kotzubei, Mr. Norment and Ms. Sigler. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that if an officer serving on our Board resigns or retires from his or her executive position with the Company or if a non-management director’s external job changes from the time such director was last elected, such individual shall offer his or her resignation from the Board at the same time; however, whether or not the individual shall continue to serve on the Board is a matter for determination on a case-by-case basis by the Board.

Board Diversity

img213417804_7.jpg 

img213417804_8.jpg 

img213417804_9.jpg 

Term and Classes of Directors

Our Board is divided into three staggered classes of directors of the same or nearly the same number. At each annual meeting of stockholders, a class of directors will be elected for a three-year term to succeed the directors of the same class whose terms are then expiring. The terms of the directors will expire upon election and qualification of successor directors at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held during the years 20202023 for the Class III directors, 20212024 for the Class I directors and 20222025 for the Class II directors.

17    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION

    2020 Proxy Statement    7


Any additional directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors will be distributed among the three classes so that, as nearly as possible, each class shall consist of one-third of the directors. The following table sets forth information as of the date of this proxy statement regarding the nominees for directors and other directors who will serve as directors in the classes and for the terms specified below:

Name

 

Age

 

 

Independent

(Yes/No)

 

Director Since

 

Expiration of

Current Term

 

Independent

 

Age

 

Director
Since

 

Executive
Committee

 

Audit
Committee

 

Compensation
Committee

 

Nominating
& Corporate
Governance
Committee

 

Transaction Committee

Nominees for Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class III

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kirk K. Calhoun

 

 

75

 

 

Yes

 

2014

 

2020*

 

yes

 

78

 

2014

 

 

 

Chair (F)

 

X

 

 

 

Chair

Jacob Kotzubei

 

 

51

 

 

No

 

2010

 

2020*

 

yes

 

54

 

2010

 

Chair

 

 

 

Chair

 

 

 

 

Edward J. Lehner

 

 

 

57

 

2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing Directors

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Court D. Carruthers

 

 

47

 

 

Yes

 

2015

 

2021

 

yes

 

50

 

2015

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

X

Eva M. Kalawski

 

 

64

 

 

No

 

2007

 

2021

 

yes

 

67

 

2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

Mary Ann Sigler

 

 

65

 

 

No

 

2010

 

2021

 

yes

 

68

 

2010

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

Chair

 

 

Class II

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stephen P. Larson

 

 

63

 

 

Yes

 

2014

 

2022

 

yes

 

66

 

2014

 

X

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

X

Philip E. Norment

 

 

60

 

 

No

 

2014

 

2022

 

yes

 

63

 

2014

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

* Current term expires at this annual meeting.

(F) Audit Committee Financial Expert

The standing committees of the Board, with the membership indicated as of February 17, 2023, are set forth in the table above. The Board has an Executive Committee, an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The Board also appoints an ad hoc Transaction Committee from time to time as needed.

*18    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION

Current term expires at this annual meeting.

Biographies


Biographies

Additional information regarding the nominees and continuing directors is set forth below and is based on information furnished to us by the nominees and directors:

Nominees for Director

The Board has nominated Mr.Messrs. Calhoun, Kotzubei and Mr. KotzubeiLehner for election at the 20202023 annual meeting, each to hold office until the annual meeting of stockholders in 20232026 (subject to the election and qualification of their successors or the earlier of their death, resignation or removal). Each is currently a director.

KIRK K. CALHOUN

Director since: August 2014

Public Company Directorships:

NantHealth, Inc. (NASDAQ: NH)

PLx Pharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: PLXP)

Kirk K. Calhoun joined the public accounting firm Ernst & Young LLP in 1965 and served as a partner of the firm from 1975 until his retirement in 2002. In addition to his public company directorships, Mr. Calhoun hascurrently serves as a B.S.member of the board of three private companies. Further, Mr. Calhoun previously served on the boards of several public companies in the life sciences industry up until the dates of their respective sales, including Abraxis Bioscience, Inc., Myogen, Inc., Aspreva Pharmaceutical Corporation, Adams Respiratory Therapeutics, Inc., and Replidyne, Inc. Mr. Calhoun received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Southern California and is a Certified Public Accountant (non-practicing) in California. He currently serves on the board of directors and audit committees of NantHealth, Inc. (NASDAQ: NH) and PLx Pharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: PLXP), as well as on the board of directors of three private companies. Mr. Calhoun has previously served on the boards and audit committees of eight other public companies. Mr. Calhoun’s experience serving on public company audit committees and boards of directors and his past work as a partner with Ernst & Young LLP has led the Board to conclude that Mr. Calhoun has the requisite expertise to serve as a director of the Company and qualifies as a financial expert for audit committee purposes.

JACOB KOTZUBEI

Director since: January 20142010

Public Company Directorships:Directorship:

KEMET Corp.Vertiv Holding Co (NYSE: KEM)

Key Energy Services, Inc. (NYSE: KEG)VRT)

Jacob Kotzubei joined Platinum in 2002 and is a PartnerCo-President at the firm. Mr. Kotzubei serves as a director or manager of a number of Platinum’s portfolio companies. Prior to joining Platinum in 2002, Mr. Kotzubei was a Vice President of theworked for Goldman SachsSachs’ Investment Banking Division – High Tech Group in New York City for four and the head of the East Coast Semiconductor Group.half years. Previously, he was an attorney at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP in New York City, specializing in mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Kotzubei serves on the board of directors of Vertiv Holdings Co (NYSE: VRT), and he served on the board of directors of KEMET Corporation, Key Energy Services, Inc. and Verra Mobility Corporation. Mr. Kotzubei received a Bachelor’s degree from Wesleyan University and holds a Juris Doctor from Columbia University School of Law. Mr. Kotzubei serveswas selected to serve on the board of directors of KEMET Corp. (NYSE: KEM), and Key Energy Services, Inc. (NYSE: KEG). Mr. Kotzubei’sdue to his experience in executive management oversight, private equity, capital markets, mergers and acquisitions and other transactional mattersmatters.

EDWARD J. LEHNER

Director since: February 2022

Edward J. Lehner has been our President & Chief Executive Officer since June 2015. Previously, he had served as our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since August 2012. Prior to joining the Company, he served as chief financial officer and chief administrative officer for PSC Metals, Inc. from 2009 to 2012. PSC Metals is a North American ferrous and non-ferrous scrap processor. Mr. Lehner is a current member, and from July 1, 2019, through June 2021 Mr. Lehner served as Chairman, of the Board of Directors of the Metals Service Center Institute, a non-profit association serving the industrial metals industry. Mr. Lehner also has served on the Board of Directors of Modumetal Inc., and The Mississippi State Workforce Investment Board. Mr. Lehner earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Cincinnati. Mr. Lehner’s substantial prior experience as a senior executive for multiple metals companies has led the Board of Directors to conclude that heMr. Lehner has the varied expertisebackground and skills necessary to serve as a director of the Company.

819    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


Continuing Directors

Mses. Kalawski and Sigler and Messrs. Carruthers, Larson and Norment and Mses. Kalawski and Sigler will remain directors after the annual meeting.

COURT D. CARRUTHERS

Director since: August 20142015

Public Company Directorships:

US Foods Holding Corp. (NYSE:

(NYSE: USFD)

Court D. Carruthers serves as President and CEO of TricorBraun, Inc., a global packaging solutions company, where he is also is a director. He is the founder and principal of CKAL Advisory Partners, LLC. He previously served as Senior Vice President and Group President, Americas, of W.W. Grainger, Inc., a broad-line supplier of maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) products, from 2013 until July 2015. Prior to that time, he had served Grainger as President, Grainger U.S., from 2012 until 2013; President, Grainger International, from 2009 until 2012; and President, Acklands-Grainger, from 2006 until 2009. He was appointed a Senior Vice President of Grainger in 2007. Mr. Carruthers serves as a directoron the board of directors, the compensation committee, and the audit committee of US Foods Holding Corp. (NYSE: USFD). He is a past director of a number of private and public companies including MonotaRO Co. Ltd.,Monotaro, PSS Companies, Shoes Forfor Crews, LLC, Follett Corp., and Foundation Building Materials, LLC.Materials. Mr. Carruthers currently serves on the boards of the Montessori School of Lake Forest, Lake Forest Winter Club,WC Hockey NFP and the GrotonGorton Community Center. He is a Chartered Professional Accountant (Canada, non-practicing), an Institute-Certified Director by the Institute of Corporate Directors, and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and a Master of Business Administration from Queens University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. His substantial prior experience as a senior executive for a large international distribution company has led the Board to conclude that Mr. Carruthers has the background and skills necessary to serve as a director of the Company.

EVA M. KALAWSKI

Director since: July 2007

Eva M. Kalawski joined Platinum in 1997, is a former Partner at Platinum and served as the firm’s General Counsel until July 2018. She currently serves as Executive Vice President, Special Counsel and Assistant Secretary of Platinum. Ms. Kalawski serves or has served as an officer and/or director of many of Platinum's portfolio companies. Prior to joining Platinum in 1997, Ms. Kalawski was Vice President of Human Resources, General Counsel and Secretary for Pilot Software, Inc. Ms. Kalawski earned a Bachelor of Political Science and French from Mount Holyoke College, Massachusetts, and a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, D.C. Ms. Kalawski’s expertise and experience managing the legal operations of many portfolio companies has led the Board to conclude that she has the background and skills necessary to serve as a director of the Company.

20    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


STEPHEN P. LARSON

Director since: October 2014

Stephen P. Larson completed a 35-year career with Caterpillar Inc. in 2014 after holding multiple positions in the areas of accounting, finance, marketing and logistics. Caterpillar is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. His senior leadership positions for Caterpillar included roles as Product Manager; Regional Manager for Canada and the Eastern United States; Vice President, Caterpillar Financial Services - Asia Pacific; Caterpillar Logistics President - Americas region; and from 2007 until his retirement, Vice President, Caterpillar Inc. and President and Chairman of Caterpillar Logistics Services, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc. From November 2015 to August 2016, Mr. Larson served as Interim Chief Executive Officer and was already a member of the board of directors of Neovia Logistics Services, LLC (formerly Caterpillar Logistics Services), a global industrial contract logistics company. Mr. Larson previously served for six years as a Commissioner on the board of the Metropolitan Airport Authority of Peoria, Illinois. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration, both from Western Illinois University. Mr. Larson’s experience in accounting, finance and other areas for a large international manufacturer has led the Board to conclude that he has the background and skills necessary to serve as a director of the Company.

    2020 Proxy Statement    9


PHILIP E. NORMENT

Director since: April 2014

Public Company Directorships:

Key Energy Services, Inc. (NYSE: KEG)

Philip E. Norment is a Partner at Platinum. He is a member of Platinum’s Investment Committee, and the President, Portfolio Operations, responsible for evaluating acquisition opportunities and integrating new acquisitions into the portfolio. Prior to joining Platinum in 1997, Mr. Norment served in a variety of management positions at Pilot Software, Inc., achieving the position of Chief Operating Officer. Over the course of 12 years, he worked in the areas of global support, operations, consultative services and sales support. Mr. Norment has served and currently serves as the chairman of the board of directors and on the audit committee of Key Energy Services Inc. (NYSE: KEG).numerous company boards. Mr. Norment earned a Bachelor of Economics and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Mr. Norment’s experience in executive management oversight, private equity and transactional matters has led the Board to conclude that he has the varied expertise necessary to serve as a director of the Company.

EVA M. KALAWSKI

Director since: July 2014

Eva M. Kalawski joined Platinum in 1997, is a former Partner at Platinum and served as the firm’s General Counsel until July 2018.  She currently serves as Special Counsel and Assistant Secretary of Platinum, and serves or has served as an officer and/or director of many of the firm’s portfolio companies. Prior to joining Platinum in 1997, Ms. Kalawski was Vice President of Human Resources, General Counsel and Secretary for Pilot Software, Inc. Ms. Kalawski earned a Bachelor of Political Science and French from Mount Holyoke College, Massachusetts, and a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, D.C. Ms. Kalawski’s expertise and experience managing the legal operations of many portfolio companies has led the Board to conclude that she has the background and skills necessary to serve as a director of the Company.

MARY ANN SIGLER

Director since: January 20142010

Public Company Directorships:

Key Energy Services, Inc. (NYSE: KEG)

Mary Ann Sigler serves as Platinum’s Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer. Ms. Sigler joined Platinum in 2004 and is responsible for overall accounting, tax and financial reporting as well as managing strategic planning projects for the firm. Prior to joining Platinum, Ms. Sigler was with Ernst & Young LLP for 25 years where she was a Partner. Ms. Sigler holds a Master of Business Taxation from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from the California State University at Fullerton. Ms. Sigler is a Certified Public Accountant in California, as well as a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the California Society of Certified Public Accountants. She currently servespreviously served on the board of directors of Key Energy Services, Inc. (NYSE: KEG). Ms. Sigler’s experience in accounting and strategic planning matters has led the Board to conclude that she has the requisite qualifications to serve as a director of the Company and facilitate its continued growth.

Meetings of the Board and Board Committees

During 2019,2022, our Board met fivefour times. In addition to the meeting of the full Board, directors also attended meetings of Board committees on which they served. All of the directors attended at least 75% of the meetings of the Board and the committees on which they served, except for Ms. Sigler and Mr. Kotzubei. While we do not have a formal policy requiring them to do so, we encourage our directors to attend our annual meeting of stockholders. Six

21    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


All of our seven directors attended our 20192022 annual meeting of stockholders.stockholders, except for Mr. Carruthers.

10    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


The standing committees of the Board (other than the Executive Committee), with the membership indicated as of February 28, 2020, are set forth in the table below. The Board has an Executive Committee, an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

Director

Executive

Committee

Audit

Committee

Compensation

Committee

Nominating and

Corporate Governance

Committee

Kirk K. Calhoun*

(F)

Court D. Carruthers*

Eva M. Kalawski

Jacob Kotzubei

(C)

(C)

Stephen P. Larson*

Philip E. Norment

Mary Ann Sigler

(C)

  *

Independent director within the definition under the NYSE rules.

(C)

Committee Chair.

(F)

Audit Committee Financial Expert

Corporate Governance Matters

Our policies and practices reflect corporate governance standards that comply with the NYSE rules and the corporate governance requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, including:

O

Our Board adopted clear corporate governance policies, including standards for determining director independence;

O

Our Board committee charters clearly establish their respective roles and responsibilities;

O

Our directors meet regularly in executive session without management present;

O

We have a code of ethics and business conduct that applies to all Ryerson directors, officers and associates;

O

Our chief executive officer, chief financial officer and other senior financial officers are subject to an additional code of ethics to promote (i) honest and ethical conduct; (ii) full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in SEC filings; and (iii) compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations;

O

Our internal audit function maintains critical oversight over the key areas of our business, compliance processes and controls, and reports regularly to the Audit Committee;

O

We have a compliance hotline service that permits employees to report violations of our code of ethics or other issues of significant concern on a confidential basis, via a toll-free telephone number or the Internet; and

O

Concerns related to the Company’s financial statements, accounting practices, or internal controls may be communicated in writing to the Company’s Audit Committee.

Ο Our Board adopted clear corporate governance policies, including standards for determining director independence, and all our directors except for Mr. Lehner, our CEO, are independent;

ΟOur Board committee charters clearly establish their respective roles and responsibilities;

ΟOur directors meet regularly in executive session without management present;

ΟWe have a code of ethics and business conduct that applies to all Ryerson directors, officers and associates;

ΟOur chief executive officer, chief financial officer and other senior financial officers are subject to an additional code of ethics to promote (i) honest and ethical conduct; (ii) full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in SEC filings; and (iii) compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations;

ΟOur internal audit function maintains critical oversight over the key areas of our business, compliance processes and controls, and reports regularly to the Audit Committee;

ΟWe have a compliance hotline service that permits employees to report violations of our code of ethics or other issues of significant concern on a confidential basis, via a toll-free telephone number or the Internet; and

ΟConcerns related to the Company’s financial statements, accounting practices, or internal controls may be communicated in writing to the Company’s Audit Committee.

Board Leadership Structure

Under our Bylaws, the Board may appoint one of the directors as Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board may be a management or a non-management director and may or may not be the same individual as our CEO (if our CEO is a director), at the option of the Board. The Board believes it should be free to make this determination depending on what it believes is best for the Company in light of all the circumstances. The Board appointed the Company’s CEO is currently not a member ofto the Board and theon February 17, 2022. The Board currently does not have a Chairman of the Board. This leadership structure also allows our CEO to focus his time and energy on operating and managing the Company, and leverages the experiences and perspectives of all of the Company’s directors.

Our directors meet at regularly scheduled executive sessions without management present, usually in conjunction with regularly scheduled Board meetings. In addition, at least once each year the independent directors meet in executive session without any other persons present. One of our independent directors is chosen by the directors at each such session of independent directors to preside over the session.

Controlled Company Status and Director Independence

As stated above, because Platinum owns more than 50% of the voting power ofAll our common stock, wedirectors except for Mr. Lehner, our CEO, are considered to be a “controlled company” for purposes of the NYSE rules. As such, we are permitted, and have elected, to opt out of the NYSE rules that would otherwise require our Board to be comprised of a majority of independent directors and require our

    2020 Proxy Statement    11


Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to be comprised entirely of independent directors.

independent. For a director to be considered independent under the NYSE rules, our Board must determine that the director nominee (or director) does not have any material relationship with the Company. To assist in making this determination, our Board adopted a policy on director independence based on the NYSE’s independence standards. A copy of the policy is available on the corporate governance page on our website, which can be found at ir.ryerson.com by clicking on “Governance.”

Under our policy on director independence, a director will be considered independent only if the Board has affirmatively determined that the director has no material relationship with the Company that would impair the director’s independent judgment. In the process of making such determinations, the Board will consider the nature, extent and materiality of the director’s relationships with the Company. When assessing the materiality of a director’s relationship with the Company, the Board should consider the issue not only from the standpoint of the director, but also from that of persons or organizations with which the director has an affiliation. The Board will consider all relevant facts and circumstances in rendering its “independence” determinations. Material relationships can include commercial, banking, consulting, legal,

22    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


accounting, charitable and familial relationships, among others. In addition, a director will not be deemed “independent” for purposes of service on the Board if such director:

1.

is, or has been within the last three years, an employee of the Company, or an immediate family member of such director is, or has been within the last three years, an executive officer of the Company;

2.

has received, or has an immediate family member who has received, during any twelve-month period within the last three years, more than $120,000 in direct compensation from the Company, other than director and committee fees and pension or other forms of deferred compensation for prior service (provided such compensation is not contingent in any way on continued service);

3.

(A) is a current partner or employee of a firm that is the Company’s internal or external auditor; (B) has an immediate family member who is a current partner of such a firm; (C) has an immediate family member who is a current employee of such a firm and personally works on the Company’s audit; or (D) was, or has an immediate family member who was, within the last three years a partner or employee of such a firm and personally worked on the Company’s audit within that time;

4.

is, or an immediate family member of such director is, or has been within the last three years, employed as an executive officer of another company where any of the Company’s present executive officers at the same time serves or served on that company’s compensation committee; or

5.

is a current employee, or has an immediate family member who is a current executive officer, of a company that has made payments to, or received payments from, the Company for property or services in an amount which, in any of the last three fiscal years, exceeds the greater of $1,000,000, or 2% of such other company’s consolidated gross revenues.

1.is, or has been within the last three years, an employee of the Company, or an immediate family member of such director is, or has been within the last three years, an executive officer of the Company;

2.has received, or has an immediate family member who has received, during any twelve-month period within the last three years, more than $120,000 in direct compensation from the Company, other than director and committee fees and pension or other forms of deferred compensation for prior service (provided such compensation is not contingent in any way on continued service);

3.(A) is a current partner or employee of a firm that is the Company’s internal or external auditor; (B) has an immediate family member who is a current partner of such a firm; (C) has an immediate family member who is a current employee of such a firm and personally works on the Company’s audit; or (D) was, or has an immediate family member who was, within the last three years a partner or employee of such a firm and personally worked on the Company’s audit within that time;

4.is, or an immediate family member of such director is, or has been within the last three years, employed as an executive officer of another company where any of the Company’s present executive officers at the same time serves or served on that company’s compensation committee; or

5.is a current employee, or has an immediate family member who is a current executive officer, of a company that has made payments to, or received payments from, the Company for property or services in an amount which, in any of the last three fiscal years, exceeds the greater of $1,000,000, or 2% of such other company’s consolidated gross revenues.

For purposes of the Company’s policy on director independence, “immediate family member” means any of the person’s spouse, parents, children, siblings, mothers- and fathers-in-law, sons- and daughters-in-law and brothers-andbrothers- and sisters-in-law and anyone (other than domestic employees) who shares the person’s home.

The Board has determined that of the nomineesMses. Kalawski and continuing directors, onlySigler, Messrs. Calhoun, Carruthers, Kotzubei, Larson, and LarsonNorment are, or during 20192022 were, independent within the meaning of the NYSE rules or our policy on director independence.

As stated above, our Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” the election of the Board’s nominees identified above.

23    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


Board Oversight of Risk

Our Board as a whole has responsibility for overseeing our risk management. The Board and the Audit Committee assess whether management has an appropriate framework to manage risks and whether that framework is operating effectively. On a regular basis, the Board and its committees engage with management on risk as part of broad strategic and operational discussions which encompass ongoing risks, as well as on a risk-by-risk basis. The Board exercises its oversight responsibility directly and through its committees.

As a general matter, the Board and its committees are informed by reports from our management team and from our internal audit department that are designed to provide visibility to the Board about the identification and assessment of key risks and our risk mitigation strategies. In carrying out this critical responsibility, the Board has designated the Audit Committee with primary responsibility for overseeing certain enterprise risk management, including financial, cybersecurity, legal and market risks. The Audit Committee reviews the steps management has taken to monitor and

12    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


mitigate these risks. With respect to financial, cybersecurity and market risks, the Audit Committee reviews quarterly reports from Ryerson’s internal audit department, General Counsel and Chief Information Officer.

The Board’s consideration of risk is not limited to discussions during Board and committee meetings. Rather, the Board may communicate with management as a group, or individually, concerning our most significant risks whenever it deems such communications to be appropriate. In addition, each Director has complete access to all of our employees to the extent the Director may have questions concerning a particular risk.

Committee Roles

Our Compensation Committee is responsible for evaluating risk arising from our compensation policies and practices, management development and succession planning, and employment benefits and policies. Our Nominating and Governance Committee manages risks related to Board composition and succession planning, Director independence, governance and corporate compliance and reporting obligations. In addition to overseeing certain enterprise risk management, our Audit Committee assists the Board in monitoring the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements as well as its ethical standards and policies. It also oversees our internal audit function. The committees provide reports to the full Board regarding these and other matters.

Internal Audit

Under its charter, the internal audit department is tasked to help the Company accomplish its objectives by bringing a systematic and disciplined approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of the Company’s risk management, control and governance processes. To promote independence of the department and ensure appropriate internal audit coverage, the internal audit director is responsible for leading the department and reports functionally to the Audit Committee, and administratively (i.e., day-to-day operations) to the chief financial officer. The internal audit services personnel have unrestricted access to all functions, records, property and personnel of the Company and full and free access to the Audit Committee. The internal audit department is currently staffed entirely by a third-party auditing firm.

The scope of the department’s internal auditing encompasses, but is not limited to, the examination and evaluation of the adequacy and effectiveness of the Company’s governance, risk management and internal controls, as well as the quality of performance in carrying out assigned responsibilities to achieve the Company’s stated goals and objectives. This includes, among other things:

Ο

partnering with other governance and monitoring groups to evaluate risk exposure relating to achievement of the Company’s strategic objectives;

Ο

monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of the Company’s risk management processes;

Ο

performing consulting and advisory services related to governance, risk management and control as appropriate for the Company; and

Ο

reporting significant risk exposures and control issues, including fraud risks, governance issues, cybersecurity risks, and other matters needed or requested by the Audit Committee.

Οpartnering with other governance and monitoring groups to evaluate risk exposure relating to achievement of the Company’s strategic objectives;

Οmonitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of the Company’s risk management processes;

Οperforming consulting and advisory services related to governance, risk management and control as appropriate for the Company; and

Οreporting significant risk exposures and control issues, including fraud risks, governance issues, cybersecurity risks and other matters needed or requested by the Audit Committee.

The internal audit department provides reports on these items to the Audit Committee at each regularly scheduled Audit Committee meeting. In addition, the internal audit department is responsible for conducting an annual risk assessment and developing a corresponding annual audit plan using a risk-based approach to monitor and report on the adequacy and effectiveness of the Company’s processes for controlling its activities and managing its risks.

24    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


Governance Guidelines and Committee Charters

We maintain a corporate governance page on our website that includes our Corporate Governance Guidelines, Code of Ethics and Business Conduct and the charters for our Audit, Compensation and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees. The corporate governance page can be found at ir.ryerson.com by clicking on “Governance.” Stockholders also may obtain copies of these materials by contacting us at Investor Relations, 227 W. Monroe St., 27th Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60606, email: investorinfo@ryerson.com, or telephone: 312-292-5130.

Code of Ethics

Our Board has adopted a code of ethics (“Code of Ethics”) that contains the ethical principles by which our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, among others, are expected to conduct themselves when carrying out their duties and responsibilities. A copy of the Code of Ethics may be found at the end of our general code of ethics and business conduct, available on our corporate governance webpage located at ir.ryerson.com. We will provide a copy of our general code of ethics and business conduct, which includes the Code of Ethics, to any person, without charge, upon request, by writing to the Chief Compliance Officer, Ryerson Holding Corporation, 227 W. Monroe St., 27th Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60606 (telephone number: 312-292-5000). We intend to satisfy the disclosure requirement under Item 5.05 of Form 8-K

    2020 Proxy Statement    13


regarding an amendment to, or waiver from, a provision of our Code of Ethics by posting such information on the corporate governance page on our website, which can be found at ir.ryerson.com by clicking on “Governance.”

Communications with the Board

An employee, officer or other interested party who has an interest in communicating with the Board may do so by directing the communication to the General Counsel of the Company. Persons who desire to communicate with the directors should send their correspondence addressed to the attention of the General Counsel, c/o Ryerson Holding Corporation, 227 W. Monroe St., 27th Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60606. The General Counsel will provide a summary of all appropriate communications to the addressed directors.

Board Committees

Executive Committee

In December 2014, the Board established an Executive Committee in accordance with our Bylaws. The Executive Committee has and may exercise all powers that the Board legally delegates to it. In addition, during the intervals between meetings of the Board, the Executive Committee has and may exercise all of the powers of the Board, other than such powers as are granted to the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee or the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, unless otherwise limited by a resolution of the Board, the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, or applicable law. The Executive Committee is convened when circumstances do not allow the time, or when it is otherwise not practicable, for the entire Board to meet. The Executive Committee consists of Messrs. Kotzubei, Larson, Lehner and Norment. In 2019,2022, the Executive Committee did not meet.

Transaction Committee

In May 2022, the Board established an ad hoc Transaction Committee in accordance with our Bylaws. The Transaction Committee had and exercised all those powers that the Board legally delegated to it. The Transaction Committee consisted of Messrs. Calhoun, Carruthers and Larson. In 2022, the Transaction Committee met twice.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (the “Governance Committee”) considers and oversees all corporate governance issues as they arise and develops appropriate recommendations for the Board regarding those issues. It is also responsible for reviewing the requisite skills and characteristics of the members of the Board. In 2019,2022, the Governance Committee met once.twice. The Governance Committee consists of Mr. Norment and Mses. Kalawski and Sigler, none of whom is independent under NYSE rules. Because Platinum owns more than 50% of the voting power of our common stock, we are considered to be a “controlled company” for the purposes of the NYSE rules. As such, we are permitted, and have elected, to opt out of the NYSE rules that would otherwise require ourSigler. Our Governance Committee to beis comprised entirely of independent directors.

Our Board has adopted aan amended and restated written charter for the Governance Committee, pursuant to which the Governance Committee has, among others, the following responsibilities:

25    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION

Ο

Oversee and assist our Board in identifying, reviewing and recommending nominees for election as directors and for appointment to Board committees;

Ο

Review and evaluate the overall effectiveness and functioning of the management and the Board and the compliance of the Board with applicable legal requirements;

Ο

Review and evaluate the composition and performance of the other Board committees, and recommend any changes to the composition, size and functions of each committee;

Ο

Develop, review and recommend corporate governance guidelines; and

Ο

Generally advise our Board on corporate governance and related matters.


ΟOversee and assist our Board in identifying, reviewing and recommending nominees for election as directors and for appointment to Board committees;

ΟReview and evaluate the overall effectiveness and functioning of the management and the Board and the compliance of the Board with applicable legal requirements;

ΟReview and evaluate the composition and performance of the other Board committees, and recommend any changes to the composition, size and functions of each committee;

ΟDevelop, review and recommend corporate governance guidelines; and

ΟGenerally advise our Board on corporate governance and related matters.

Qualifications for Directors

In selecting or recommending candidates to serve as directors, the Governance Committee takes into consideration the following criteria as approved by the Board, and as modified by the Board from time to time, and such other factors as it deems appropriate:

(i)

high personal and professional ethics, values and integrity;

(ii)

education, skill and experience that the Board deems relevant and useful, including whether such attributes or background would contribute to the diversity of the Board as a whole;

(iii)

ability and willingness to serve on any committees of the Board; and

(iv)

ability and willingness to commit adequate time to the proper functioning of the Board and its committees.

14    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


(i) High personal and professional ethics, values and integrity;

(ii) Education, skill and experience that the Board deems relevant and useful, including whether such attributes or background would contribute to the diversity of the Board as a whole;

(iii) Diversity, including, but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender, LGBTQ+, etc. that the Board deems relevant and useful, including whether such factors would contribute to the diversity of the Board as a whole;

(iv) Ability and willingness to serve on any committees of the Board; and

(v) Ability and willingness to commit adequate time to the proper functioning of the Board and its committees.

The Governance Committee will consider all candidates recommended by the Company’s stockholders in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Company’s annual proxy statement. The Governance Committee may also consider candidates proposed by management. For additional information, see “Stockholder Nominations for Directors,” below on page 45.64.

Audit Committee

Our Audit Committee oversees a broad range of issues surrounding our accounting and financial reporting processes and audits of our financial statements. In 2019,2022, the Audit Committee met four times. The Audit Committee consists of Messrs. Calhoun, Carruthers and Larson. Each of Messrs. Calhoun, Carruthers and Larson are “independent” as such term is defined in Rule 10A-3(b)(1) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and under the applicable NYSE rules. Each is “financially literate,” and Mr. Calhoun, the chair of the Audit Committee, is an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K.

Our Board has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee, pursuant to which the Audit Committee has, among others, the following responsibilities:

ΟReview and recommend to the Board the independent auditors to be selected to audit the financial statements;

ΟInquire as to the independence of the independent auditors and obtain from the independent auditors, on a periodic basis, a formal written statement delineating all relationships between the independent auditors and the Company; in addition, review the extent of non-audit services provided by the independent auditors in relation to the objectivity needed in the independent audit and recommend that the Board take appropriate action in response to the independent auditors’ written statement to satisfy the Board as to the independent auditors’ independence;

ΟPre-approve all services provided by the independent auditors to the Company;

ΟPre-approve appropriate funding for payment of (a) compensation to the Company’s independent auditors for preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review or attest services for the Company, (b) compensation to any advisors employed by the Committee and (c) ordinary administrative expenses necessary or appropriate to carry out its duties;

ΟEnsure proper audit partner rotation;

ΟMeet with the independent auditors and the financial management to review the scope of the audit proposed for the current year and the audit procedures to be utilized and at its conclusion review the audit with the Committee; upon completion of the audit and following each interim review of the Company’s financial statements, discuss with the independent auditors all matters required to be communicated to the Committee

26    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION

Ο

Review and recommend to the Board the independent auditors to be selected to audit the financial statements;

Ο

Inquire as to the independence of the independent auditors and obtain from the independent auditors, on a periodic basis, a formal written statement delineating all relationships between the independent auditors and the Company; in addition, review the extent of non-audit services provided by the independent auditors in relation to the objectivity needed in the independent audit and recommend that the Board take appropriate action in response to the independent auditors’ written statement to satisfy the Board as to the independent auditors’ independence;

Ο

Pre-approve all services provided by the independent auditors to the Company;

Ο

Pre-approve appropriate funding for payment of (a) compensation to the Company’s independent auditors for preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review or attest services for the Company, (b) compensation to any advisors employed by the Committee and (c) ordinary administrative expenses necessary or appropriate to carry out its duties;

Ο

Ensure proper audit partner rotation;

Ο

Meet with the independent auditors and the financial management to review the scope of the audit proposed for the current year and the audit procedures to be utilized and at its conclusion review the audit with the Committee; upon completion of the audit and following each interim review of the Company’s financial statements, discuss with the independent auditors all matters required to be communicated to the Committee under generally accepted auditing standards, including the judgments of the independent auditors with respect to the quality, not just the acceptability, of the Company’s accounting principles and underlying estimates in the financial statements;

Ο

Review with the independent auditors, the internal auditor (if any) and the financial and accounting personnel, the adequacy of the accounting and financial controls and elicits any recommendations for improvement or particular areas where augmented controls are desirable;

Ο

Review the internal audit function of the Company including the independence and authority of its reporting obligations, the audit plans proposed for the coming year and the coordination of such plans with the work of the independent auditors;

Ο

Receive before each meeting a summary of findings from completed internal audits and a progress report on the proposed internal audit plan with explanations for any deviations from the original plan;

Ο

Review the financial statements contained in the annual and quarterly reports with management and the independent auditors;

Ο

Review any year-to-year changes in accounting principles or practices;

Ο

Provide sufficient opportunity at each meeting for the internal and independent auditors to meet with the Committee without management present; among the items to be discussed in these meetings are the independent auditors’ evaluation of the financial, accounting and auditing personnel, and their cooperation during the audit;

Ο

Review with the independent auditors any problems or difficulties the auditors may have encountered, including any disagreements with management;

    2020 Proxy Statement    15


Ο

Review accounting and financial personnel and succession planning;

Ο

Oversee the cybersecurity program, including mitigation efforts related to cybersecurity risks;

Ο

Investigate any matter brought to its attention within the scope of its duties, with the power to retain professional advice (at the expense of the Company) for this purpose if, in its judgment, that is appropriate; and

Ο

Establish, as necessary, detailed pre-approval policies and procedures for engaging audit and non-audit services.

under generally accepted auditing standards, including the judgments of the independent auditors with respect to the quality, not just the acceptability, of the Company’s accounting principles and underlying estimates in the financial statements;

ΟReview with the independent auditors, the internal auditor (if any) and the financial and accounting personnel, the adequacy of the accounting and financial controls and elicits any recommendations for improvement or particular areas where augmented controls are desirable;

ΟReview the internal audit function of the Company including the independence and authority of its reporting obligations, the audit plans proposed for the coming year and the coordination of such plans with the work of the independent auditors;

ΟReceive before each meeting a summary of findings from completed internal audits and a progress report on the proposed internal audit plan with explanations for any deviations from the original plan;

ΟReview the financial statements contained in the annual and quarterly reports with management and the independent auditors;

ΟReview any year-to-year changes in accounting principles or practices;

ΟProvide sufficient opportunity at each meeting for the internal and independent auditors to meet with the Committee without management present; among the items to be discussed in these meetings are the independent auditors’ evaluation of the financial, accounting and auditing personnel, and their cooperation during the audit;

ΟReview with the independent auditors any problems or difficulties the auditors may have encountered, including any disagreements with management;

ΟReview accounting and financial personnel and succession planning;

ΟOversee the cybersecurity program, including mitigation efforts related to cybersecurity risks;

ΟInvestigate any matter brought to its attention within the scope of its duties, with the power to retain professional advice (at the expense of the Company) for this purpose if, in its judgment, that is appropriate; and

ΟEstablish, as necessary, detailed pre-approval policies and procedures for engaging audit and non-audit services.

The Audit Committee also reviews related party transactions. For additional information regarding our related party policy, see “Related Party Transactions,” below on page 44.62.

Audit, Audit-related and Other Non-Audit Services

Consistent with SEC policies regarding auditor independence, the Audit Committee has responsibility for appointing, setting compensation for and overseeing the work of Ernst & Young, our independent registered public accounting firm. In recognition of this responsibility, the Audit Committee has established a policy to pre-approve all audit and permissible non-audit services provided by Ernst & Young. For additional information regarding the services provided by Ernst & Young and the fees for such services, see “Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm,” above on page 6.7.

Pre-approval Policies

The Audit Committee must pre-approvehas established policies and procedures pursuant to which any audit or any permissible non-audit services to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee has established pre-approval policies and procedures. Permissible non-audit services are services allowed under SEC regulations. The Audit Committee may pre-approve certain specific categories of permissible non-audit services up to an annual budgeted dollar limit. If any permissible non-audit services do not fall within a pre-approved category, or exceed the approved fees or budgeted amount, the services and the additional fees have tofirm must be pre-approved by the Committee or its delegates. At least quarterly, the Audit Committee onreviews and, if appropriate, pre-approves services to be performed by the independent auditor, reviews a project-by-project basis.report summarizing fiscal year-to-date services provided by the independent auditor and reviews any updated projection of the fiscal year’s estimated fees. The Audit Committee may delegate to any member of the Committee the duty to pre-approve any payments of compensation to the independent registered public accounting firm, provided that the decisions of such member to grant pre-approvals shall be presented to the full Committee for ratification.

No required pre-approvals were waived or approved after the services commenced. Before approving the non-audit services described as “Tax Fees” under “Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm,” above on page 6,7, the Audit Committee reviewed whether the independent registered public accounting firm could provide those services and maintain its independence. The Audit Committee approved 100% of the audit-related fees tax fee and taxother fees for 20192022 and 2018.2021.

27    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


Other Policies

The Audit Committee has adopted policies to ensure the independence of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, including policies on employment of audit firm employees and audit partner rotation.

1628    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


Audit Committee Report – FinancialFinancial Statements Recommendation1

Management is responsible for the preparation, presentation and integrity of Ryerson’s consolidated financial statements and the reporting process including Ryerson’s internal controls over financial reporting and their effectiveness. The independent registered public accounting firm of Ernst & Young LLP (“EY”) is responsible for performing an independent audit of Ryerson’s consolidated financial statements. The Audit Committee’s responsibility is to monitor and oversee these activities and processes. In this context, the Audit Committee reports as follows:

1.

The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed with management Ryerson’s audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2019 and management has represented that the consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

2.

The Audit Committee has discussed with EY the matters required to be discussed by Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) Auditing Standard No. 1301 (Communications with Audit Committees); and

3.

The Audit Committee received the written disclosures and the letter from EY required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding EY’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence and has discussed with EY its independence.

1. The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed with management Ryerson’s audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2022 and management has represented that the consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

2. The Audit Committee has discussed with EY the matters required to be discussed by Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) Auditing Standard No. 1301 (Communications with Audit Committees) and the Securities and Exchange Commission; and

3. The Audit Committee received the written disclosures and the letter from EY required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding EY’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence and has discussed with EY its independence.

Based on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the audited financial statements referred to above be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019,2022, for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Respectfully submitted by the Audit Committee:

Kirk K. Calhoun, Chair

Court D. Carruthers

Stephen P. Larson

1 The information contained in this report shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the Commission, nor shall such information or report be incorporated by reference into any future filing by us under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate it by reference in such filing.

129    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION

The information contained in this report shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the Commission, nor shall such information or report be incorporated by reference into any future filing by us under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate it by reference in such filing.

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Compensation Committee

Compensation Committee

Our Compensation Committee reviews and recommends policies relating to compensation and benefits of our officers and employees, including reviewing and approving corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of our chief executive officer and other named executive officers, evaluating the performance of those officers in light of those goals and objectives and setting compensation of those officers based on such evaluations. In 2019,2022, the Compensation Committee met two times.twice. The Compensation Committee consists of Messrs. Calhoun and Kotzubei and Ms. Sigler, all of whom only Mr. Calhoun iswere deemed independent under NYSE rules. Because Platinum owns more than 50%as of the voting power of our common stock, we are considered to be a “controlled company” for the purposes of the NYSE rules. As such, we are permitted, and have elected, to opt out of the NYSE rules that would otherwise require our Compensation Committee to be comprised entirely of independent directors.February 2022.

Our Board has adopted a written charter for the Compensation Committee, pursuant to which the Compensation Committee has, among others, the following authority to fulfill its duties and responsibilities:

Ο

Review, revise and interpret the Company’s compensation philosophy, policies and objectives, including reviewing and approving any incentive compensation plans and equity-based plans of the Company; and the Compensation Committee shall report its determinations and any actions it takes with respect to the Company’s compensation philosophy, policies and objectives to the Board;

Ο

Review and approve annually the corporate goals and objectives applicable to the compensation of the Company’s CEO, evaluate at least annually the CEO’s performance in light of those goals and objectives, and determine and approve the CEO’s compensation level based on this evaluation; the Committee’s decisions regarding performance goals and objectives and the compensation of the CEO are reviewed and ratified by the Board; in determining the long-term incentive component of the CEO’s compensation, the Committee shall consider all relevant factors, including the Company’s performance and relative stockholder return, the value of similar awards to chief executive officers at comparable companies and the awards given to the CEO in past years;

Ο

Review and approve the compensation for executive officers, including the review and approval of the design and implementation of any incentive arrangements, equity compensation and supplemental retirement programs;

Ο

Review and approve grants and awards to officers and other participants under the Company’s compensation and participation plans, including the Company’s management incentive plans;

Ο

Review and make recommendations to the Board regarding the amount and types of compensation that should be paid to the Company’s outside directors, to ensure that such pay levels remain competitive;

Ο

Review and approve any employment, severance or termination arrangements to be made with any executive officer of the Company;

Ο

Review all equity compensation plans under the listing standards of the NYSE or such other national securities exchange or stock market on which the Company’s securities may be listed and approve such plans in the Committee’s sole discretion;

Ο

Annually assist management in drafting the Company’s Compensation Discussion and Analysis (“CD&A”) to be included in the Company’s public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission by (i) articulating the discussion and analysis to be included in the CD&A, (ii) participating in or overseeing the drafting of the CD&A and (iii) reviewing the CD&A with management and determining whether to recommend to the Board that the CD&A be included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K or proxy statement, as applicable;

Ο

Prepare a report annually to be filed with the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K or proxy statement, as applicable, to state whether the Committee has reviewed and discussed the CD&A with management and, based on such review and discussions, whether the Committee has recommended to the Board that the CD&A be included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K or proxy statement, as applicable; and

Ο

Submit a report to the Board periodically, which shall include a review of any determinations, recommendations or issues that arise with respect to Company compensation philosophy, policies and objectives, executive compensation, management succession planning and any other matters that the Committee deems appropriate or is requested to be included by the Board.

ΟReview, revise and interpret the Company’s compensation philosophy, policies and objectives, including reviewing and approving any incentive compensation plans and equity-based plans of the Company; and the Compensation Committee shall report its determinations and any actions it takes with respect to the Company’s compensation philosophy, policies and objectives to the Board;

ΟReview and approve annually the corporate goals and objectives applicable to the compensation of the Company’s CEO, evaluate at least annually the CEO’s performance in light of those goals and objectives and determine and approve the CEO’s compensation level based on this evaluation; the Committee’s decisions regarding performance goals and objectives and the compensation of the CEO are reviewed and ratified by the Board; in determining the long-term incentive component of the CEO’s compensation, the Committee shall consider all relevant factors, including the Company’s performance and relative stockholder return, the value of similar awards to chief executive officers at comparable companies and the awards given to the CEO in past years;

ΟReview and approve the compensation for executive officers, including the review and approval of the design and implementation of any incentive arrangements, equity compensation and supplemental retirement programs;

ΟReview and approve grants and awards to officers and other participants under the Company’s compensation and participation plans, including the Company’s management incentive plans;

ΟReview and make recommendations to the Board regarding the amount and types of compensation that should be paid to the Company’s outside directors, to ensure that such pay levels remain competitive;

ΟReview and approve any employment, severance or termination arrangements to be made with any executive officer of the Company;

ΟReview all equity compensation plans under the listing standards of the NYSE or such other national securities exchange or stock market on which the Company’s securities may be listed and approve such plans in the Committee’s sole discretion;

ΟAnnually assist management in drafting the Company’s Compensation Discussion and Analysis (“CD&A”) to be included in the Company’s public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission by (i) articulating the discussion and analysis to be included in the CD&A, (ii) participating in or overseeing the drafting of the CD&A and (iii) reviewing the CD&A with management and determining whether to recommend to the Board that the CD&A be included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K or proxy statement, as applicable;

ΟPrepare a report annually to be filed with the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K or proxy statement, as applicable, to state whether the Committee has reviewed and discussed the CD&A with management and, based on such review and discussions, whether the Committee has recommended to the Board that the CD&A be included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K or proxy statement, as applicable; and

ΟSubmit a report to the Board periodically, which shall include a review of any determinations, recommendations or issues that arise with respect to Company compensation philosophy, policies and objectives, executive compensation, management succession planning and any other matters that the Committee deems appropriate or is requested to be included by the Board.

In addition, the Compensation Committee reviews the results of the stockholder advisory votes on (i) executive compensation and (ii) the frequency of the stockholder votes on executive compensation.

1830    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


Committee ResourcesResources and Authority

Under the Compensation Committee’s charter, the Committee also has the resources and authority to:

Ο

Retain compensation consultants, independent counsel and other advisors;

Ο

Terminate any consulting firms and such other advisors;

Ο

Approve the consulting firms’ and other advisors’ fees and other retention terms; and

Ο

Determine the appropriate funding (at the expense of the Company) for (i) payment of compensation to any independent counsel and other advisers employed by the Committee and (ii) ordinary administrative expenses of the Committee.

ΟRetain compensation consultants, independent counsel and other advisors;

ΟTerminate any consulting firms and such other advisors;

ΟApprove the consulting firms’ and other advisors’ fees and other retention terms; and

ΟDetermine the appropriate funding (at the expense of the Company) for (i) payment of compensation to any independent counsel and other advisers employed by the Committee and (ii) ordinary administrative expenses of the Committee.

In addition, the Committee may form and delegate its authority to subcommittees or to the Committee Chair when it deems appropriate and in the best interests of the Company, although it did not do so in 2018.2022. Since 2016, Ryerson management, at the Compensation Committee’s request, has engaged Compensation Advisory Partners, (“CAP”) (formerly known as Vivient Consulting LLC prior to its acquisition by CAP), an independent executive compensation consultant, to assist in planning for the Company’s executive compensation program.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

Mr. Kotzubei, Mr. Calhoun and Ms. Sigler served on our Compensation Committee during all of the last completed fiscal year. None of our executive officers serves as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving on our Board or our Compensation Committee. None of the members of the Compensation Committee is now an employee of the Company. Prior to the IPO, Ms. Sigler served as the Company’s Vice President. She resigned her position as an officer in August 2014 in connection with the IPO and has not served as an officer of the Company since that time.

Compensation Committee Report1

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this Proxy Statement,proxy statement, set forth below. Based on such review and discussions, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statementproxy statement and be incorporated by reference into the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.2022.

Respectfully submitted by the Compensation Committee:

Jacob Kotzubei, Chair

Kirk K. Calhoun

Mary Ann Sigler

1 The information contained in this report shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the Commission, nor shall such information or report be incorporated by reference into any future filing by us under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate it by reference in such filing.

131    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION

The information contained in this report shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the Commission, nor shall such information or report be incorporated by reference into any future filing by us under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate it by reference in such filing.

    2020 Proxy Statement    19


Director CompensationCompensation

In April 2015, ourOur Board has adopted a compensation program for our directors. Under the program, only directors who have been determined by the Board to be independent directors are eligible to receive compensation for their service as Board members. The program provides for an annual cash retainer, additional annual cash retainers for committee chairs and fees for meeting attendance, as follows:

Annual retainer

 

$

130,000

 

Committee chair retainers

 

 

 

 

Audit Committee chair

 

$

15,000

 

Compensation Committee chair

 

$

10,000

 

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee chair

 

$

10,000

 

Meeting Attendance Fees

 

 

 

 

Each Board meeting

 

$

2,000

 

Each committee meeting

 

$

1,500

 

Annual retainer

$165,000

Committee chair retainers

Audit Committee chair

$15,000

Compensation Committee chair

$10,000

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee chair

$10,000

Meeting Attendance Fees

Each Board meeting

$2,000

Each committee meeting

$1,500

The following table presents information for compensation earned by themour independent directors for their service as Board members during 2019.2022.

Director Compensation Table

Name

Fees Earned or

Paid in Cash

Total

Kirk K. Calhoun(1)

 

$

164,000

 

 

 

$

164,000

 

 

Court D. Carruthers(2)

 

$

146,000

 

 

 

$

146,000

 

 

Stephen P. Larson(3)

 

$

146,000

 

 

 

$

146,000

 

 

Eva M. Kalawski

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jacob Kotzubei

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Philip E. Norment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mary Ann Sigler

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name

Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash
(1)

Total

Kirk K. Calhoun(2)

 

$200,000

 

 

$200,000

 

Court D. Carruthers(3)

 

$182,000

 

 

$182,000

 

Stephen P. Larson(4)

 

$182,000

 

 

$182,000

 

(1) Consists of the annual retainer, Audit Committee chair retainer and meeting attendance fees.

(1)

Consists of the annual retainer ($130,000), Audit Committee chair retainer ($15,000) and meeting attendance fees ($19,000).

(2)

Consists of the annual retainer ($130,000) and meeting attendance fees ($16,000).

(3)

Consists of the annual retainer ($130,000) and meeting attendance fees ($16,000).

(2) Consists of the annual retainer and meeting attendance fees.

(3) Consists of the annual retainer and meeting attendance fees.

We reimburse each member of our Board for out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with attending meetings of the Board and its committees. Cash compensation and reimbursements are paid in arrears on a quarterly basis. There is currently no formal policy in place relating to the granting of equity awards to our directors.

Executive Officers

Biographies

Our executive officers are elected by the Board of Directors and hold office until a successor is chosen or qualified or until their earlier resignation or removal. The following lists our executive officers and gives a brief description of their business experience as of February 28, 2020:2022, other than Mr. Lehner’s, whose biography can be found on page 19:

EdwardJames J. LehnerClaussen, 54,50, has been ourthe Company’s Executive Vice President & Chief ExecutiveFinancial Officer (CFO) since June 2015.January 2021. From July 2018 until that time, he had served as the president of Central Steel & Wire Company, LLC (CS&W), a subsidiary of Ryerson. Previously, he had served as our Executive Vice Presidentthe CFO of the Company's North-West Region and Chief Financial Officer since August 2012. Prior to joininggeneral manager of corporate development, and held several various leadership positions within the Company, he served as chief financial officer and chief administrative officer for PSC Metals, Inc. from 2009 to 2012. PSC Metals isCompany. Mr. Claussen has a North American ferrous and non-ferrous scrap processor. Mr. Lehner earned a bachelor’sbachelor's degree in accounting from Minnesota State University, Mankato, and an MBA from the University of Cincinnati.Minnesota Carlson School of Management.

Molly D. Kannan, 38, 41, has served as Chief Accounting Officer and Corporate Controller of the Company since January 2020. She currentlyMs. Kannan also servesserved as the Company’s Interim Principal Financial Officer of the Company.from January 2020 until January 2021. Previously, she served as our Corporate Controller since 2015, and held several various leadership positions within the Company. Ms. Kannan earned both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in accounting from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

2032    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


Michael J. Burbach, 59, 62, has been our Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Company since April 2021. Prior to his service as COO, he served as President, North-West Region since October 2013. Prior to that time, he had served the Company2013 and as its President, Midwest Region since 2007. Mr. Burbach began his metals career as an inside sales representative at Vincent Metals in 1984 and has held procurement, sales and product management roles in the metals industry as well as roles in operations and senior management. Mr. Burbach received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

Kevin D. Richardson, 58, has been our President, South-East Region since October 2007. Mr. Richardson started his metals career in 1985 and held a series of commercial and sales management roles before being named a Vice President of the Company in 2000. Mr. Richardson received a bachelor’s degree in business management and economics from North Carolina State University and an MBA from Case Western Reserve University.

John E. Orth, 53, 56, has been our Executive Vice President-Operations since January 2019. Prior to that, Mr. Orth served as Senior Vice President – Operations of the CorporationCompany since January 2018. Prior to joining the Corporation, since December 2011, Mr. Orth had served in various capacities for Morgan Advanced Materials, a global-materialsglobal materials engineering company, including as Global Managing Director (Advanced Ceramics and Metals) from March 2016 to August 2017, and as a Vice President from February 2013 to March 2016. Mr. Orth earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Vanderbilt University, and his master’s degree in materials science and engineering and doctorate’s degree in materials science and engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.

Mark S. Silver, 49, 52, has served as our Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Chief Human Resources Officer since February 2020. Previously, he served as our Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary from February 2016 to January 2020, and as Vice President & Managing Counsel from January 20122013 until February 2016. Prior to his time at the Company, from 2006 until 2012, Mr. Silver served as Vice President and Assistant General Counsel of Sara Lee Corporation, a consumer goods company. Mr. Silver earned a Bachelor’sbachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Illinois and a Juris Doctor from Harvard University.

Srini Sundarrajan, 51, has served as our Chief Information Officer since February 2019. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Sundarrajan was Chief Information Officer for BlueLine Rental, one of the ten largest equipment rental companies in North America. Prior to joining BlueLine in 2014 as Director of Business Applications, Mr. Sundarrajan served in executive positions at IBM and RSC Equipment Rental, where he managed outsourcing contracts and led the development of rental applications. Mr. Sundarrajan earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Madurai Kamaraj University and a master’s in computer applications from Bharathiar University.

33    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION

    2020 Proxy Statement    21


Executive CompensationCompensation

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

Overview

This section explains our executive compensation philosophy, objectives and design; our compensation-setting process; our executive compensation program components; and the decisions made in 20192022 with respect to the compensation of each of our named executive officers.officers (or NEO). The Company’s named executive officers for 20192022 are:

Ο

Edward J. Lehner, President & Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”);

Ο

Erich S. Schnaufer, Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”);(1)

Ο

Mark S. Silver, Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Chief Human Resources Officer;

Ο

Michael J. Burbach, President, North-West Region; and

Ο

Kevin D. Richardson, President, South-East Region.

(1)

Mr. Schnaufer stepped down from all positions with the Company and its subsidiaries, effective January 3, 2020. As a result, Mr. Schnaufer will no longer be an executive officer.  

ΟEdward J. Lehner, President & Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”);

ΟJames J. Claussen, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”);

ΟMichael J. Burbach, Chief Operating Officer (“COO”);

ΟMark S. Silver, Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Chief Human Resources Officer; and

ΟJohn E. Orth, Executive Vice President, Operations.

Executive Compensation Philosophy

The Company’s compensation decisions are based on the goals of recruiting, retaining and motivating individuals who could help us meet and exceed our financial and operational goals, for the purpose of providing meaningful returns to our stockholders.

Objectives. Ryerson’s executive compensation program is designed to:

Ο

align the interests of executive management with stockholders;

Ο

provide market competitive compensation;

Ο

attract and retain talented executives;

Ο

differentiate rewards based on individual performance;

Ο

encourage long-term value creation; and

Ο

avoid incentivizing excessive risk-taking.

Οalign the interests of executive management with stockholders;

Οprovide market competitive compensation;

Οattract and retain talented executives;

Οdifferentiate rewards based on individual performance;

Οencourage long-term value creation; and

Οavoid incentivizing excessive risk-taking.

Principles. Ryerson seeks to promote a high-performance culture and create a compensation program that recognizes and rewards superior individual and Company performance. The following key principles are applied by the Board and our Compensation Committee when determining the compensation approach for the Company’s executives:

Ο

Accountability – Performance-based compensation is tied to metrics for annual corporate results, applicable business unit results, and individual performance metrics. This ensures executives are held accountable through their compensation for the performance of the business and for achieving the Company performance objectives, thereby enhancing stockholder value.

Ο

Competitive Positioning – Ryerson seeks to provide competitive total compensation that includes significant upside and downside potential for executives, with actual pay determined based on performance. For compensation decisions made based on peer group data, target compensation will be based upon a range around the median of the defined peer group.

Ο

Market Compensation Elements – The compensation components reflect the competitive marketplace so that we can attract, motivate, reward and retain talented executives through business cycles.

ΟAccountability – Performance-based compensation is tied to metrics for annual corporate results, applicable business unit results and individual performance metrics. This ensures executives are held accountable through their compensation for the performance of the business and for achieving the Company performance objectives, thereby enhancing stockholder value.

ΟCompetitive Positioning – Ryerson seeks to provide competitive total compensation that includes significant upside potential for executives, with actual pay determined based on performance. For compensation decisions made based on peer group data, target compensation will be based upon a range around the median of the defined peer group.

ΟMarket Compensation Elements – The compensation components reflect the competitive marketplace so that we can attract, motivate, reward and retain talented executives through business cycles.

Consideration of Results of Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation

In accordance with the advisory vote on the frequency of the stockholder advisory vote on executive compensation submitted to stockholders at the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders held in April 2018, the Company will hold a stockholder advisory vote on executive compensation every three years. TheAt our most recent executive compensation advisory vote was held at the Company’s 20182021 annual meeting of stockholders. At that time,stockholders our stockholders approved, by more than 99% of the shares voted, the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in the proxy statement for that meeting. This level of support was a factor in the Compensation Committee’s continued application of the same principles when making compensation decisions for our named executive officers for 2019 and 2020.2023.

Further, in accordance with the advisory vote on the frequency of the stockholder advisory vote on executive compensation submitted to stockholders at the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders held in 2021, the Company will hold a stockholder advisory vote on executive compensation every three years. We expect that our next executive compensation advisory vote will be held at our annual meeting of stockholders in 2021.2024.

2234    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


Determination ofof Compensation

The Board established the Compensation Committee to oversee various compensation-related matters, including executive compensation. Since that time, the Compensation Committee has been responsible for executive compensation matters as further described above under “Compensation Committee,” beginning on page 18,30, and has the authority to make decisions regarding the named executive officers’ compensation. In determining the levels and mix of compensation, our Compensation Committee has not generally relied on formulaic guidelines but rather has sought to maintain a flexible compensation program that allows it to adapt components and levels of compensation to motivate and reward individual executives within the context of our desire to maximize stockholder value. Subjective factors considered in compensation determinations included an executive’s tenure with the Company, skills and capabilities, contributions as a member of the executive management team, contributions to our overall performance and whether the total compensation potential and structure were sufficient to ensure the retention of an executive when considering the compensation potential that may be available elsewhere.

Use of Peer Groups for Compensation Matters

Since 2016, Ryerson management, at the Compensation Committee’s request, has annually engaged an independent executive compensation consultant, currently Compensation Advisory Partners (“CAP,” and formerly Vivient Consulting prior to its acquisition by CAP)CAP”), to assist in planning for the Company’s executive compensation program. As an outside advisor, CAP has assisted in evaluating executive compensation programs, providing general executive compensation consulting support including a review of Ryerson’s compensation philosophy and compensation for Ryerson’s named executive officers. Specifically, CAP has completed competitive market positioning reviews of Ryerson’s named executive officers, based upon an assessment of relevant total compensation comparative data obtained from surveys and publicly reported proxy statements. The comparative reviews assessed the named executive officers’ base salaries, target annual bonuses (as a percentage of salary), total cash compensation and total direct compensation against the compensation paid to comparable positions reported in the surveys and comparable executives of the companies listed below, as reported by those companies. TheThese companies (the(our “Peer Group”) generally are competitors of Ryerson or conduct business in industries similar to Ryerson’s and, as a group, have annual sales comparable to Ryerson’s. Overall, Ryerson’s executive salaries and target annual cash compensations are at or below market median relative to our Peer Group.

AK Steel Holding CorpAllegheny Technologies Inc.

Kaman CorpMRC Global Inc.

Aleris CorpApplied Industrial Tech Inc.

MRC Global Inc

Allegheny Technologies Inc

MSC Industrial Direct Co IncInc.

Applied Industrial Tech IncCarpenter Technology Corp.

Olympic Steel IncInc.

Carpenter Technology CorpCastle (A M) & Co.

Reliance Steel & Aluminum CoCo.

Castle (A M) & CoCentury Aluminum Co.

Schnitzer Steel Industries IncInc.

Century Aluminum CoCommercial Metals Co.

Steel Dynamics IncInc.

Commercial Metals CoHaynes International Inc.

Timkensteel CorpCorp.

Haynes International IncKaiser Aluminum Corp.

Worthington Industries IncInc.

Kaiser Aluminum CorpKaman Corp.

During 2019 our Compensation Committee removed from our Peer Group NCI Building Systems Inc. following its merger with Ply Gem Building Products.

At the Compensation Committee’s request, CAP regularly attends Compensation Committee meetings. CAP presented its report on the competitiveness of the executive compensation program for 20192022 to the Compensation Committee in February 2019.December 2021. The Compensation Committee and the Board considered the reportsreport and Peer Group information in making some of its 20192022 compensation decisions, as further described below.

Components of Compensation

The compensation provided to our named executive officers in 20192022 consisted of the same elements generally available to our non-executive employees, including base salary, annual bonuses and retirement and other benefits, each of which is described in more detail below. In addition, each of our named executive officers has the opportunity to participate in an equity-based long-term incentive program. Currently, we do not view perquisites or other personal benefits as a significant component of our executive compensation program. Accordingly, except for Mr. Claussen, we do not provide perquisites or other personal benefits to our executive officers, including theour named executive officers, and do not have a formal perquisites policy, but may provide perquisites and other personal benefits in situations where we believe it is appropriate to assist an individual in the performance of his or her duties, to make our executive officers more efficient and effective, and for recruitment and retention purposes.

35    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION

    2020 Proxy Statement    23


Our named executive officers may also receive compensation in connection with the termination of their employment in some circumstances, as further described below under “Narrative Relating to Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based Awards,” on page 35,48, and under “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control,” on page 41.53.

Relationship Among the Different Components of Compensation

In order to ensure that our named executive officers are held most accountable for our performance and changes in stockholder value, management and the committee generally allocate total compensation such that the portion of compensation attributable to fixed elements, such as salary and benefits, decreases with increasingly higher levels of responsibility, and the portion attributable to variable, performance-based elements increases with increasingly higher levels of responsibility. In setting the allocation between the fixed and variable elements, we seek to ensure that sufficient fixed income is provided, while not incentivizing overly risky business strategies.

The value ofpercentage allocation between the named executive officers’ 2019 base salaries, and target annual bonus opportunities for 2019 and granted long-term incentive plan awards granted in 2019, as a percentage of those three components, arefor 2022 is set forth below.below to show the relationship between the different components. Each component is discussed in more detail in the sections below.

Named Executive Officer

 

Base Salary*

 

 

Target Annual

Bonus

 

 

Long-Term

Incentive**

 

 

Base Salary(1)

 

Target Annual
Bonus

 

Long-Term
Incentive
(2)

Edward J. Lehner

 

30.78%

 

 

38.48%

 

 

30.74%

 

 

17.39%

 

21.73%

 

60.88%

Erich S. Schnaufer

 

47.38%

 

 

28.43%

 

 

24.19%

 

James J. Claussen

 

22.35%

 

16.76%

 

60.88%

Michael J. Burbach

 

44.48%

 

 

33.36%

 

 

22.16%

 

 

23.09%

 

17.32%

 

59.59%

Kevin D. Richardson

 

44.48%

 

 

33.36%

 

 

22.16%

 

Mark S. Silver

 

48.46%

 

 

26.65%

 

 

24.88%

 

 

28.48%

 

19.94%

 

51.59%

John E. Orth

 

31.59%

 

20.53%

 

47.88%

*

The value of the base salaries is based on the named executive officers’ base salary rates as of December 31, 2019.

**

The value of the long-term incentive award (time-vesting restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and performance-vesting restricted stock units (“PSUs”)) is determined as the grant date fair value of the awards as described in footnote (3) to the Summary Compensation Table below on page 33.

(1) The value of the base salaries is based on the named executive officers’ base salary rates as of December 31, 2022.

(2) The value of the long-term incentive award (time-vesting restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and performance-vesting restricted stock units (“PSUs”) is determined based on the grant date fair value of the awards as described in footnote (3) to the Summary Compensation Table below on page 47.

Base Salary

The base salary payable to each named executive officer was intended to provide a fixed component of compensation reflecting the executive’s skill set, experience, role and responsibilities, as well as to recruit well-qualified executives. Salary is paid to ensure that we are able to attract and retain the talent necessary to lead our Company and to ensure that sufficient fixed income is provided even when variable compensation programs pay out below target (or not at all), intending to help mitigate incentive for executives to assume overly risky business strategies..

The named executive officers’ initial base salaries are generally determined in connection with the negotiation of their employment terms upon their hiring or promotion. The salary levels are then reviewed annually in connection with the Company’s salary review for all management employees. Each year, the head of the Company’s human resources department (currently our Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Chief Human Resources Officer) recommends to the CEO a salary adjustment for each officer reporting to the CEO (other than with respect to the Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Chief Human Resources Officer)Officer, which the CEO determines). This recommendation is based on a review of (i) competitive market factors (including the reports produced by CAP and the compensation practices of our compensation Peer Group and the positioning of each executive officers' compensation in a ranking of Peer Group compensation levels, taking into account each individual executive officers' skills, experience and qualifications relative to other similarly situated executives at the companies in our Peer Group), (ii) Company budget considerations and (iii) retention considerations and the officer’s performance during the prior year, including histhe CEO’s performance against histhe CEO’s personal goals determined at the beginning of the prior year. After reviewing this recommendation, the CEO may make modifications based on histhe CEO’s own assessment of individual performance and then prepares salary recommendations for the officers reporting to him.the CEO. The CEO then makes his recommendations to the Compensation Committee for each officer (other than himself)for the CEO); the Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Chief Human Resources Officer makes a recommendation directly to the Compensation Committee regarding the CEO’s salary, which recommendation is determined in the same manner as histhe recommendations to the CEO regarding the other officers’ salaries. The Compensation Committee members then review the salary recommendations and, after any adjustments, determine the officers’ base salaries on behalf of the Company.Company, except for the CEO’s base salary, which the Compensation Committee recommends to the Board for approval. In determining base salaries for our named executive officers for any particular year, the Committee generally considers, among other factors, competitive market practice, individual performance for the prior year and the mix of fixed compensation to overallvariable compensation.

2436    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


20192022 Base Salaries

With respect to our named executive officers’ base salaries in 2019, Mr. Silver, the Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Chief Human Resources Officer, considered the Peer Group information in determining his salary adjustment recommendations for our named executive officers (other than for himself and Mr. Lehner). Mr. Silver presented the Peer Group information to Mr. Lehner in connection with his recommendations regarding the salaries of the named executive officers (other than for himself and Mr. Lehner) and to the Compensation Committee with respect to his recommendation regarding the salary adjustment for Mr. Lehner. Mr. Lehner also considered the Peer Group information when presenting his recommendation regarding the salary adjustment for Mr. Silver to the Compensation Committee. In February 2019,2022, in accordance with the process described above, the Compensation Committee considered the recommendations from Mr.Messrs. Silver and Mr. Lehner, the comparable compensation reported in surveys, the Peer Group information and other factors, including market competitiveness, and modified theapproved new base salaries of the other named executive officers as follows, effective July 2019:(except for the CEO’s base salary, which was recommended to and approved by the Board).

 

 

 

 

 

2019 Base Salary

 

 

 

2022 Base Salary

Named Executive Officer

Previous

Base Salary

Base Salary

 

Effective Date

Previous
Base Salary

 

Base Salary

 

Effective Date

Edward J. Lehner

 

$

875,500

 

 

$

900,000

 

 

 

7/1/2019

 

$975,000

 

$1,100,000

 

6/27/2022

Erich S. Schnaufer

 

$

325,000

 

 

$

335,265

 

 

 

7/1/2019

James J. Claussen

 

$425,000

 

$450,000

 

6/27/2022

Michael J. Burbach

 

$

417,000

 

 

$

429,510

 

 

 

7/1/2019

 

$450,000

 

$475,000

 

6/27/2022

Kevin D. Richardson

 

$

417,000

 

 

$

429,510

 

 

 

7/1/2019

Mark S. Silver

 

$

341,000

 

 

$

375,100

 

 

 

7/1/2019

 

$412,600

 

$435,000

 

6/27/2022

John E. Orth

 

$315,000

 

$346,500

 

6/27/2022

Annual Bonus

The Company has historically maintained an annual incentive plan (“AIP”), pursuant to which its key managers (including our named executive officers) are eligible to receive performance-based cash bonuses tied to the Company’s achievement of specified financial performance targets for each year. Each year the Compensation Committee or the Board establishes objective financial performance criteria that must be met by the Company in order for bonuses to be paid (usually establishing threshold, target and maximum payout levels for each type of performance criterion)measure), and other terms and conditions of awards under the AIP. It also approves any changes to the bonus targets for the named executive officers (other than the CEO’s, which is recommended to and approved by the Board), which are expressed as a percentage of annual salary base rates in effect at July 1 of the applicable AIP plan year. NoUnder the AIP, no cash AIP bonuses are payable unless we achievethe Company achieves the performance thresholds set for the performance period. The Compensation Committee and our Board generally view the use of cash AIP bonuses as an effective means to compensate our named executive officers for achieving our annual financial goals. In general, a participant must be employed by the Company or its subsidiaries through the end of the AIP plan year in order to receive an AIP bonus payment, although some exceptions exist for circumstances such as retirement, death or position elimination. Additional information regarding AIP bonus payments in these circumstances is included below under “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control,” below on page 41.53.

The named executive officers’ target AIP bonus percentages are generally determined in connection with the negotiation of their employment terms upon their hiring or promotion. The target bonus percentages are then reviewed annually by the head of the Company’s human resources department (currently our Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Chief Human Resources Officer) who makes a recommendation to the CEO regarding any percentage adjustments for each officer reporting to the CEO (other than himself, which the CEO determines). This recommendation is based on a review of competitive marketthe same factors and retention considerations.he uses in determining base salary adjustments. After reviewing this recommendation, the CEO may make modifications based on his own assessment, and then prepares recommendations for the officers reporting to him. The CEO then makes his recommendations to the Compensation Committee for each officer (other than himself); the Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Chief Human Resources Officer makes a recommendation directly to the Compensation Committee regarding the CEO’s percentage, which recommendation is determined in the same manner as his recommendations to the CEO regarding the other officers’ bonus opportunities.target percentages. The Compensation Committee members then review the target bonus percentage recommendations and, after any adjustments, determine each officer’s target bonus percentage on behalf of the Company.Company,except for the CEO’s bonus targets, which the Compensation Committee recommends to the Board for approval. In determining target bonus percentages for our named executive officers for any particular year, the Committee generally considers the same factors it uses in determining base salary rate adjustments. The Compensation Committee may make the target bonus percentage change effective for the full year or make it effective on some date later in the plan year. If a participant’s target bonus percentage is changed effective during a plan year, then the effective target bonus percentage for the plan year is a weighted average of the two percentages, based on the time during the year that each of the two percentages was in effect unless determined otherwise by the Compensation Committee.

37    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION

    2020 Proxy Statement    25


2019

2022 Annual Incentive Plan

In 2019,February 2022, the Company’s 20192022 annual incentive plan (the “2019“2022 AIP”) was approved by our Compensation Committee, and the target 20192022 AIP bonusesbonus targets for our named executive officers were expressed as a percentage of their annual base salary rates in effect on July 1, 2019.November 30, 2022. Each such target was determined in accordance with the process described above.

With respect to the named executive officers’ target bonus percentages for 2019, Mr. Silver considered the Peer Group information in determining his target bonus percentage adjustment recommendations for our named executive officers (other than for himself). Mr. Silver also presented this information to Mr. Lehner in connection with his recommendations regarding the target bonus percentages of such named executive officers (other than for himself and Mr. Lehner) and to the Compensation Committee with respect to his recommendations regarding the target bonus percentage for Mr. Lehner to the Compensation Committee. Mr. Lehner presented his recommendation regarding the target bonus percentage for Mr. Silver. In February 2019,2022, the Compensation Committee considered the recommendations of Messrs. Lehner and Silver, the comparable compensation reported in surveys, the Peer Group information and other factors, including the factors it considered in making base salary rate adjustments, and it set the target bonus percentages of the other named executive officers as set forth in the below table effective January 2019.for the fiscal year 2022 (except for the CEO’s target, which was recommended to and approved by the Board). The target AIP bonus levels were set to reflect the relative responsibility for our performance and to allocate appropriately the total cash opportunity between base salary and incentive-based compensation.

Named Executive Officer

20192022 target bonus


   
percentage

Edward J. Lehner

125%

Erich S. SchnauferJames J. Claussen

60%

75%

Michael J. Burbach

75%

Kevin D. RichardsonMark S. Silver

75%

70%

Mark S. SilverJohn E. Orth

55%

65%

For the 20192022 AIP, it was determined that a combination of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization reorganization, and other adjustments (“EBITDAR”Adj. EBITDA, excl. LIFO”), and “economic value added” (“EVA”) should be used as the performance measures for determining the cash AIP bonus payable to our named executive officers. EBITDARAdj. EBITDA, excl. LIFO and EVA were chosen as the appropriate performance measures to motivate our key executives, including the named executive officers, to both maximize earnings and increase our working capital.enterprise value. These performance measures’ thresholds and targets are set such that they exceed fixed cash commitments.

EBITDARAdj. EBITDA, excl. LIFO is calculated as our net income excluding interest and other expense on debt, provision for income taxes, depreciation, amortization, reorganization, net last-in first-out inventory expenses or income, asset impairment expenses, and other charges (as reported in the Company’s annual audited financial statements included in the Company’s Form 10-K and other SEC filings).

EVA is the amount by which EBITDARAdj. EBITDA, excl. LIFO exceeded a carrying cost of capital applied to certain of our assets (“Cost of Capital”). Cost of Capital is equal to our net operating assets (accounts receivable plus average cost inventory plus property, plant & equipment, plus prepaid expenses &and other assets, minus accounts payable, minus salaries & wages payable, and minus other current liabilities) (as reported in the Company’s annual audited financial statements included in the Company’s Form 10-K and other SEC filings) multiplied by the “cost of capital rate” of 15%. In summary, EVA is calculated as EBITDARAdj. EBITDA, excl. LIFO minus the Cost of Capital.

For Messrs. Lehner, Schnaufer and Silverour named executive officers, 50% of their bonus opportunity for 20192022 was based on Company (“corporate”) EBITDAR during 2019Adj. EBITDA, excl. LIFO and the remaining 50% was based on corporate EVA during 2019. For Messrs. Burbach and Richardson, 30%for 2022.

A reconciliation of their bonus opportunity for 2019 was split equally between corporate 2019 EBITDAR and EVA, andthese non-GAAP financial measures to the remaining 70% was split equally between their respective assigned region’s 2019 EBITDAR and EVA.most comparable GAAP measure is included in Appendix A to this proxy statement.

2638    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


Actual Payouts under the 20192022 AIP

In 2019,2022, the Company’s financial performance fell belowexceeded the thresholdmaximum payout level under the 20192022 AIP for corporate performance and resulted in the maximum payout of 200% under the 2022 AIP for certainall named executive officers. The Company’s financial performance resulted in a payout under the 2019 AIP for Mr. Burbach. Information on the achievement of the targets applicable to the named executive officers for 20192022 AIP purposes isand actual 2022 AIP payout are shown in the tabletables below.

Performance

Criteria

(Corporate)

Threshold

(50% payout)

Target

(100% payout)

Maximum

(200% payout)

2019

Performance*

Payout

Percentage

Performance

2019 EBITDAR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Company Group(1)

 

200.0

 

 

260.0

 

 

325.0

 

 

190.1

 

 

0.0%

North-West Region(2)

 

110.4

 

 

135.2

 

 

160.6

 

 

124.1

 

 

77.9%

South-East Region(3)

 

111.1

 

 

136.8

 

 

161.9

 

 

109.5

 

 

0.0%

2019 EVA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Company Group(1)

 

(25.0)

 

 

30.0

 

 

80.0

 

 

(37.4)

 

 

0.0%

North-West Region(2)

 

34.8

 

 

58.1

 

 

77.5

 

 

45.9

 

 

74.1%

South-East Region(3)

 

24.2

 

 

48.3

 

 

69.6

 

 

18.9

 

 

0.0%

Performance
   Criteria
   (Corporate)

Threshold
(50% payout)

Target
(100% payout)

Maximum
(200% payout)

2022
Performance

Payout
Percentage
Performance

2022 EBITDA excl. LIFO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Company Group(1)

 

175.0

 

 

225.0

 

 

325.0

 

 

582.0

 

 

200.0%

2022 EVA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Company Group(1)

 

5.0

 

 

35.0

 

 

115.0

 

 

313.3

 

 

200.0%

(1) Equal weighting is generally given with respect to each of Adj. EBITDA, excl. LIFO and EVA in determining AIP bonuses actually earned.

Named Executive Officer

Base Salary

Target 2022
AIP Bonus
(as a percentage
of Base Salary)

Target 2022
AIP Bonus
(dollar amount)

Actual 2022
AIP Award
Paid

Edward J. Lehner

 

$1,100,000

 

 

125%

 

 

$1,375,000

 

 

$2,750,000

 

James J. Claussen

 

$450,000

 

 

75%

 

 

$337,500

 

 

$675,000

 

Michael J. Burbach

 

$475,000

 

 

75%

 

 

$356,250

 

 

$712,500

 

Mark S. Silver

 

$435,000

 

 

70%

 

 

$304,500

 

 

$609,000

 

John E. Orth

 

$346,500

 

 

65%

 

 

$225,225

 

 

$450,450

 

(1)39    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION

Other than with respect to Messrs. Burbach and Richardson, equal weighting is generally given with respect to each of EBITDAR and EVA in determining AIP bonuses actually earned.

(2)

For Mr. Burbach, 70% of his


AIP bonus opportunity was tied to EBITDAR and EVA in the North-West, his assigned region, with equal weighting given to each metric.

(3)

For Mr. Richardson, 70% of his AIP bonus opportunity was tied to EBITDAR and EVA in the South-East, his assigned region, with equal weighting given to each metric.

Named Executive Officer

Base Salary(1)

Target 2019

AIP Bonus

(as a percentage

of Base Salary)

Target 2019

AIP Bonus

(dollar amount)

Actual 2019

AIP Award

Paid

Edward J. Lehner

 

$

900,000

 

 

 

 

125

%

 

 

$

1,125,000

 

 

 

$

-

 

 

Erich S. Schnaufer

 

$

335,265

 

 

 

 

60

%

 

 

$

201,159

 

 

 

$

-

 

 

Michael J. Burbach

 

$

429,510

 

 

 

 

75

%

 

 

$

322,133

 

 

 

$

168,174

 

 

Kevin D. Richardson

 

$

429,510

 

 

 

 

75

%

 

 

$

322,133

 

 

 

$

-

 

 

Mark S. Silver

 

$

375,100

 

 

 

 

55

%

 

 

$

206,305

 

 

 

$

-

 

 

(1)

As of July 1, 2019.

Discretionary Bonuses

RecognizingIn the needbeginning of the fiscal year, we establish performance measures for determining the payable AIP bonus. The Compensation Committee and our Board generally view the use of AIP bonuses as an effective means to address employee retention as it pertains to certaincompensate our named executive officers as well asfor rewarding performance and achieving our annual financial goals. The Compensation Committee believes that unexpected industry conditionswhere the performance measure thresholds for AIP payout do not yield bonus payout amounts that appropriately reward the level of achievement of the Company’s fiscal performance goals, it may take into consideration such facts and circumstances, and pay a discretionary bonus in order to reward performance and motivate. The Board has approved a one-time discretionary bonus for Mr. Lehner in the amount of $1.2 million on March 6, 2023, to reward Mr. Lehner’s leadership and the Company’s strong financial results in 2021 and 2022. Mr. Lehner would be required to repay 100% of the bonus if he resigns without good reason or his employment is terminated by the Company for “cause” prior to December 31, 2023, 66.67% if he resigns without good reason or his employment is terminated by the Company for “cause” after December 31, 2023, but prior to December 31, 2024, and 33.33% if he resigns without good reason or his employment is terminated by the Company for “cause” after December 31, 2024, but before December 31, 2025. The Board believes that providing this bonus, subject to the clawback upon any resignation, will assist with retaining Mr. Lehner’s continued service with the Company. This disclosure is being provided in part caused the corporate and South-East Region financial performancein lieu of a separate Form 8-K pursuant to fall below the payout threshold set for the 2019 AIP, the Compensation Committee approved one-time discretionary bonuses for certain named executive officersItem 5.02 of the Company in the following amounts: Mr. Lehner, $562,500; Mr. Richardson, $161,067; and Mr. Silver, $103,152.Form 8-K.

Long-Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”)

In March 2019, the Company granted equity awards to some of its employees, including its named executive officers. The Compensation Committee expects that the Company will grant equity awards to select employees on an annual basis under an LTIP in order to serve several compensation objectives. First, the Compensation Committee believes that equity awards, in tandem with our executive stock ownership guidelines described below under “Executive Stock Ownership Guidelines,” on page 31,46, encourage ownership of our common stock by our executive officers, which aligns the interests of those officers with those of our stockholders. In addition, the vesting provisions applicable to the awards are structured to help retain executive officers and reward the achievement of long-term business objectives that benefit our stockholders. The Compensation Committee believes that performance metrics applicable to long-term incentive awards are particularly critical to encourage forward planning for our success. The Compensation Committee intends to continue to align the metrics for future long-term incentive compensation programs with the Company’s strategic goals as they evolve.

The equity awards are issued under the Amended and RestatedCompany’s Omnibus Incentive Plan, which was approved in its amended and restated form by our stockholders at the Company’s 2019 annual meeting.meeting and the further amendment and restatement of which is the subject of Proposal 3 included elsewhere in this proxy statement (the “Amended and Restated Omnibus Plan”). The Amended and Restated Omnibus Plan permits the grant of various types of awards which allows the Compensation Committee to choose awards it believes will provide competitive long-term incentive compensation.

    2020 Proxy Statement    27


The Compensation Committee expects to approve annually the design of the LTIP annually for the upcoming year and to make LTIP equity awards to named executive officers on an annual basis.officers. Management, including the President & CEO, the CFO and the head of the Company’s human resources department, currently our Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Chief Human Resources Officer, initially discuss and determine the initialannual LTIP program elements for recommendation to the Compensation Committee. This includes the type of equity award to be granted as well as the aggregate size of the awards for all selected employees. After considering management’s recommendation and other factors, the Compensation Committee then determines the design of the LTIP for the upcoming year, as well as the types and sizes of awards to the named executive officers.

In determining the type and aggregate size of all awards to be provided in general and the type and size of awards to the named executive officers, as well as the performance metrics that may apply, the Compensation Committee may consider factors including the strategic goals of the Company, trends in corporate governance, accounting impact, tax-deductibility, the Company’s aggregate budget for long-term incentive compensation, cash flow, the impact on the Company’s earnings per share and the number of shares of common stock that would be required to be allocated. The Compensation Committee may also consider some or all of the following: the officer’s original terms of hire, performance against annual performance goals and considerations of fairness and comparability within the Company. The Compensation Committee also reviews and may adjust the target long-term incentive award at the time of promotions or other significant increases in executive responsibilities.

20192022 LTIP – Type of Equity Granted and Performance Metrics

Ryerson management presented Peer Group dataIn March 2022, the Company granted LTIP awards in the form of RSUs and other general survey data from CAP regarding long-term incentive awardsPSUs to the Compensation Committee. This data included information regarding award types, mixsome of awards and award vesting periods. After consideration of the information and management’s recommendations, in February 2019 the Board approved the 2019 LTIP and the named executive officers’ LTIP awards.

Under the 2019 LTIP, ourits employees, including its named executive officers, received a combinationas part of RSUs and PSUs. its regular grant cycle. No other form of LTIP award was granted.

40    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


Each of our named executive officer’s 20192022 LTIP award was allocated such that two-thirds of the total number of awards consisted of PSUs and one-third of the total number consisted of RSUs. More PSUs were granted than RSUs in order to place greater emphasis on successful financial performance.

The RSUs and PSUs awarded underperformance of the 2019 LTIP were granted in March 2019.Company. All of the RSU and PSU awards were subject to award agreements and the terms of the Amended and Restated Omnibus Plan.

The LTIPs were granted following Ryerson management presenting Peer Group data and other general survey data from CAP regarding long-term incentive awards to the Compensation Committee. This data included information regarding award types, mix of awards and award-vesting periods. After consideration of the information presented and the Compensation Committee's recommendations, the Board approved the 2022 LTIP design and the named executive officers’ LTIP awards in February 2022.

Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”)

A restricted stock unitAn RSU is a right to receive a share of Ryerson common stock (or cash based on the value of a share of stock) on a specified vesting date in the future. The RSUs will vest on each of the first three anniversaries of the RSU grant date, provided that the recipient remains employed by the Company through the applicable vesting date (unless otherwise determined by the Compensation Committee).

RSUs granted to our named executive officers accrue dividend equivalents in the event the Company declares a cash dividend on its common stock, but the holders of the RSUs have no other rights as stockholders with respect to the RSUs (e.g., no voting rights). Holders of the RSUs may not sell, assign or otherwise transfer the RSUs, and any unvested RSUs are forfeited if the holder’s employment is terminated for any reason.

Performance Units (“PSUs”)

A performance unitPSU is a right to receive a share of Ryerson common stock (or cash based on the value of a share of stock) on a specified vesting date in the future, subject to the level of achievement of predetermined organizational performance goals over a specified period of time. The PSUs awarded under the 20192022 LTIP will vest, if at all, on the later to occur of (x) the third anniversary of the PSU grant date, and (y) the date the Compensation Committee certifies the Company’s achievement of applicable performance objectives. Vesting of the PSUs is subject to the recipient remaining employed by the Company through the vesting date (unless otherwise determined by the Compensation Committee), and the portion of the PSUs that vest will depend on the level of the Company’s performance over the three-year period from 20192022 through 20212024 (the “PSU Performance Period”) against certain performance objectives. The actual number of shares of Ryerson common stock (or cash based on the value of such number of shares) received with respect to a PSU award might not equal the targeted number of shares, depending on the Company’s performance. The three-year performance period was chosen to emphasize the importance of achieving longer-term goals in creating value for stockholders, and to diminish the effect of short-term macroeconomic volatility on achievement of longer-term objectives of the 20192022 LTIP.

28    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


PSUs granted to our named executive officers under the 20192022 LTIP do not provide the holder with any rights as stockholders with respect to the PSUs (e.g., no voting rights) and do not accrue any dividend equivalent rights. Holders of the PSUs may not sell, assign or otherwise transfer the PSUs, and any unvested PSUs are forfeited if the holder’s employment is terminated for any reason (unless otherwise determined by the Compensation Committee).

PSU Performance Objectives

Payment under the PSUs granted to our named executive officers under the 20192022 LTIP is subject to the achievement of the following two PSU performance objectives –objectives: (i) a “Cumulative Adjusted EBITDA” performance objective, and (ii) a “Cumulative Managerial Controllable Free Cash Flow” performance objective.

For these purposes, “Cumulative Adjusted EBITDA” means the sum of Adjusted EBITDA and net last-in first-out inventory expense or income (as reported in the Company’s SEC filings for the applicable period) over the entire PSU Performance Period.

In addition, for these purposes, “Cumulative Managerial Controllable Free Cash Flow” means the sum of Adjusted EBITDA, net last-in first-out inventory expense or income (as reported in the Company’s SEC filings for the applicable period), plus or minus changes in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for inventory, accounts receivable, accounts payable, capital expenditures and proceeds from asset sales, for the PSU Performance Period (as reported in the Company’s Forms 10-K) combined.

A reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable GAAP measure is included in Appendix A to this proxy statement.

PSU grants made prior to 2019 are subject to the achievement of a “Relative Free Cash Flow Yield” objective in addition to Cumulative Managerial Controllable Free Cash Flow.  For these purposes, Relative Free Cash Flow Yield determination begins by calculating the Company’s “Free Cash Flow Yield,” which is defined as (A) divided by (B), where (A) is cash flow from operating activities, less capital expenditures, plus proceeds from the sale of assets (“Free Cash Flow”) for a fiscal year during the performance period (all as reported on the Company’s Form 10-K), and (B) is stock market capitalization for the last day of such fiscal year. The same calculation for each comparative fiscal year during the performance period is performed for a group of the Company’s publicly traded direct competitors (the “LTIP Competitors Group”) by summing the LTIP Competitors Group’s Free Cash Flows and dividing by their aggregate equity market capitalizations on the last day of such fiscal year to compute a LTIP Competitors Group equity market capitalization weighted Free Cash Flow Yield. Relative Free Cash Flow Yield is determined by comparing the Company’s Free Cash Flow Yield metric against the LTIP Competitors Group’s for each fiscal year during the applicable performance period. A positive Relative Free Cash Flow Yield exists for a fiscal year if the Company’s Free Cash Flow Yield for that year is greater than that of the LTIP Competitors Group for the same year.  

41    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


The Compensation Committee selected Cumulative Adjusted EBITDA as a new performance metric in place of Relative Free Cash Flow Yield to better reflect the Company performance relative to our business plan.

Determining PSUs Earned and Award Range

The actual number of PSUs granted to our named executive officers under the 20192022 LTIP if any, that are earned, if any, will be based on the Company’s achievement of the two performance objectives, Cumulative Adjusted EBITDA and Cumulative Managerial Controllable Free Cash Flow measured in total during the PSU Performance Period against established targets for each objective, each as set forth below. The performance objectives are weighted 50% each such that half of the PSUs granted vest based on achievement of the Cumulative Adjusted EBITDA metric and half based on achievement of the Cumulative Managerial Controllable Free Cash Flow metric. The performance objectives provide that vesting of its respective 50% of the total PSU award is subject to the Company achieving an amount equal to or greater than a specified threshold dollar amount for such performance objective for the Performance Period. If a performance objective is achieved at threshold but not exceeded, half of the PSUs relating to that performance objective will vest. If the target for a performance objective is achieved or exceeded, 100% of the PSUs relating to that performance objective will vest. If an amount in between the threshold and target dollar amount for a performance objective is achieved, the vesting percentage will be interpolated on a straight-line basis. If performance for either objective is below the applicable threshold, none of the corresponding PSUs will be earned.

Performance


Criteria

Threshold


(50% Vesting)(1)(2)

Target


(100% Vesting)(1)

Cumulative Adjusted EBITDA (50%)

$675.0M650.0M

$825.0M

Cumulative Managerial Controllable Free Cash Flow (50%)

$550.0M425.0M

$750.0M575.0M

(1)
Performance between the threshold and target levels will be interpolated on a straight-line basis.
(2)
None of the corresponding PSUs vest if performance for the applicable target is below threshold.

(1)

Performance between the threshold and target levels will be interpolated on a straight-line basis.

(2)

None of the corresponding PSUs vest if performance for the applicable target is below threshold.

    2020 Proxy Statement    29


The level of difficulty of attaining the Cumulative Adjusted EBITDA and Cumulative Managerial Controllable Free Cash Flow performance objectives is moderate, based on projected results over the performance period. When granted, the company expects that performance results will be in the range between threshold and target levels.

PSU Achievement for 2022

The PSUs granted on March 31, 2020 to certain employees, including the named executive officers, were originally awarded with vesting based on the achievement of Cumulative Adjusted EBITDA and Cumulative Managerial Controllable Free Cash Flow in the three-year performance period beginning on January 1, 2020 and ending December 31, 2022. On February 16, 2023, the Board certified that the Cumulative Adjusted EBITDA and Cumulative Managerial Controllable Free Cash Flow goals for such performance period had been achieved at target level. Accordingly, the PSUs granted on March 31, 2020 will fully vest on March 31, 2023, subject to the recipient remaining employed by the Company through the vesting date. For additional detail on the RSUs and PSUs (both performance-based and service-based) held by our named executive officers, see the “Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End Table” below.

42    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


Nonqualified Stock Options (“NSOs”)

In addition to RSUs and awards granted during the Company’s regular grant cycle, the Company may also grant NSOs.

NSOs granted to our named executive officers under the LTIP do not provide the holder with any rights a stockholder with respect to the NSOs (e.g., no voting rights) and do not accrue any dividend equivalent rights. Holders of the NSOs may not sell, assign or otherwise transfer the NSOs, and any unvested NSOs are forfeited if the holder’s employment is terminated for any reason (unless otherwise determined by the Compensation Committee).NSOs that are not exercised within the exercise period are also forfeited.

NSOs Performance Objectives

In February 2021 the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board, and the Board approved, a special LTIP grant of NSOs (the "2021 NSOs") in the form of performance-vesting stock options to the Company’s key employees, including each of its named executive officers, who received 7,500 such options (other than our CEO, Mr. Lehner, who received 12,500).

These NSOs will vest, if at all, in specific increments on each of the first four anniversaries of the grant date if the average closing price of the Ryerson stock is equal to or exceeds the target price during any consecutive forty-five day window during the corresponding year based on schedule below. Any NSOs that do not vest on its vesting date remain eligible to vest on the fifth anniversary of the grant date if the average closing price of the Ryerson stock is equal to or exceeds the target price during any consecutive forty-five day window during the corresponding year. In all events, the vesting of the NSOs is subject to the holder’s continued employment with the Company through the applicable vesting date. The 2021 NSOs give our employees the right, following vesting and within a designated timeframe, to exercise the vested NSOs into Company common stock at a preset exercise price per share. The exercise price for the 2021 NSOs is $16.50, which exercise price was set based on the Company’s average share closing price over the five business days preceding the grant date of March 31, 2021.

The first tranche of the 2021 NSO grants, representing 10% of the overall grants, has already vested and the second tranche of the 2021 NSO grants, representing 20% of the overall grants, will vest on March 31, 2023. The remaining third and fourth tranche of the 2021 NSOs, representing 30% and 40% respectively of the overall grants, are eligible to vest on the third and fourth anniversaries of the grant date, provided that any of the 2021 NSOs that do not vest on its initial vesting date remain eligible to vest on the fifth anniversary of the grant date.

Year(1)

Target Price

Annual Vesting(1)

Vesting Year

1

$18.15(2)

10%

April 1, 2021 – March 31, 2022

2

$19.96(3)

20%

April 1, 2022 – March 31, 2023

3

$21.96

30%

April 1, 2023 – March 31, 2024

4

$24.15

40%

April 1, 2024 – March 31, 2025

5

$26.57

-

April 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026

(1)
Options that fail to vest during the first four years may vest on the fifth anniversary if the average closing price of the Company stock is equal to or exceeds the target price of $26.57 during any consecutive forty-five day window during the fifth year.
(2)
Year 1 achievement occurred from July 1, 2021 – September 2, 2021 when the average forty-five day closing price reached $18.27.
(3)
Year 2 achievement occurred from April 1, 2022 – June 6, 2022 when the average forty-five day closing price was $33.42.

43    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


Named Executive Officer 20192022 LTIP Awards

In March 2019,February 2022, after review of management’s recommendations regarding the type and size of 20192022 LTIP awards to the named executive officers, the Board awarded the named executive officers the following 20192022 LTIP awards, which were granted in March 2019.2022:

Named Executive Officer

PSUs
(units)

RSUs
(units)
(1)

Edward J. Lehner

 

  73,700

 

 

  36,300

 

James J. Claussen

 

  23,450

 

 

  11,550

 

Michael J. Burbach

 

  23,450

 

 

  11,550

 

Mark S. Silver

 

  15,075

 

 

    7,425

 

John E. Orth

 

  10,050

 

 

    4,950

 

Named Executive Officer

PSUs

(units)

RSUs

(units)*

Edward J. Lehner

 

 

70,350

 

 

 

 

34,650

 

 

Erich S. Schnaufer(1)

 

 

13,400

 

 

 

 

6,600

 

 

Michael J. Burbach

 

 

16,750

 

 

 

 

8,250

 

 

Kevin D. Richardson

 

 

16,750

 

 

 

 

8,250

 

 

Mark S. Silver

 

 

15,075

 

 

 

 

7,425

 

 

(1)
One-third of such RSUs will vest on each of the first three anniversaries of the RSU grant date.

*

One-third of such RSUs will vest on each of the first three anniversaries of the RSU grant date.

(1)

While Mr. Schnaufer stepped down from all positions with the Company and its subsidiaries effective January 3, 2020, the Compensation Committee determined that Mr. Schnaufer’s unvested LTIP grants including the 2019 LTIP grant will continue to vest in accordance with the corresponding vesting schedule and subject to achievement of the applicable performance objectives, as applicable, as though Mr. Schnaufer did not experience a termination of employment.

The Board approved 2019the 2022 LTIP awards to the named executive officers after considering Peer Group data, comparable compensation data obtained from surveys, the officers’ positions and shares available for allocation under the Amended and Restated Omnibus Plan.

Additional information regarding the 20192022 LTIP equity awards granted to our named executive officers, including the threshold and target award amounts for the PSUs, granted to each of our named executive officers, is included in the table below under “Grants of Plan-Based Awards,” on page 34.48.

Retirement Benefits

Defined ContributionQualified Savings Plans

Our tax-qualified employee savings and retirement plan (the “401(k) Plan”) covers certain full- and part-time non-union employees, including our named executive officers. Under the 401(k) Plan, employees may elect to reduce their current compensation up to the statutorily prescribed annual limits and have the amount of such reduction contributed to the 401(k) Plan. Our Board believes that the 401(k) Plan provides an important and highly valued means for employees to save for retirement.

Our Board reviewed the basic employee matching contribution policy underAll of our named executive officers participated in the 401(k) Plan on the same basis as our other employees in 2013 and concluded that it was competitive as compared to that of other employers. With respect to the 401(k) Plan, in 2019,2022. From January 1, 2022, through December 31, 2022, under this plan, we matched 100% of the first 4% of each employee’s contributed base salary and 50% of the contributions from 4% to 6% of the employee’s contributed base salary. All of our named executive officers participated in the 401(k)

Nonqualified Savings Plan on the same basis as our other employees in 2019.

We also maintain a nonqualified savings plan, which is an unfunded, nonqualified plan that allows a select group of management and highly compensated employees who make the maximum annual contributions allowed by applicable law to the 401(k) Plan to make additional deferrals in excess of the statutory limits. Under this plan, participants may contribute from 1% to 10% of their base salary. Just as we do for the 401(k) Plan, under this plan we match 100% of the first 4% of each participant’s contributed base salary contributed and 50% of the contributions from 4% to 6% of the participant’s contributed base salary. Our named executive officers will be entitled to the vested balance of their respective accounts when they retire or otherwise terminate employment. Participants are generally permitted to choose whether the benefits paid following their retirement will be paid in a lump sum or installments, with all amounts to be paid by the end of the calendar year in which the employee reaches age 75. For participants terminating employment for reasons other than retirement, the account balance is payable in a lump sum by no later than 60 days after the one-year anniversary of the termination of employment. None of our named executive officers made contributions to the nonqualified savings plan during 2022.Our nonqualified savings plan allows deferred amounts to be notionally invested in the Managed Income Portfolio Fund II (or any successor fund) that is available to the participants in our 401(k) Plan.

Our Board believes that our nonqualified savings plan provides an enhanced opportunity for our eligible employees, including our named executive officers, to plan for and meet their retirement savings needs. In 2019,2022, none of our named executive officers contributed to the nonqualified savings plan and we did not make any contributions to it on behalf of any of them. As of December 31, 2019, Messrs.2022, Mr. Burbach and Richardson each had an aggregate account balance under the nonqualified savings plan, equal to $11,619 and $37,817, respectively. For additional information, see “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation,” below on page 40.$12,099.

44    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


Qualified Pension PlansPlan

WeThe Company currently sponsorsponsors the Ryerson Pension Plan, a qualified defined benefit pension plan. Of our named executive officers, only Messrs.Mr. Burbach and Richardson werewas eligible to participate in the Ryerson Pension Plan. Mr. Burbach was eligible to participate in the Ryerson Pension Plan under the Ryerson Pension Plan Supplement for Former Participants in

30    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


the Integris Metals, Inc. Pension Plan, which was frozen as of December 31, 2005, and Mr. Richardson wasunder which full pension benefits are payable to eligible employees who, as of the date of separation from employment, are at least age 62 with 10 years of vesting service. Reduced benefits are payable to participateeligible employees who, as of the date of separation from employment, are at least age 55 but less than age 62 with 10 years of vesting service. Accrued benefits are reduced by 7% for each year benefits commencement precedes age 62. Under this supplement, in general, benefits for eligible employees are based on two factors: (i) years of benefit service prior to the December 31, 2005 freeze date of this supplement, and (ii) the average annual earnings in the Ryersonhighest five consecutive paid calendar years during the ten-year period prior to December 31, 2005.

Supplemental Pension Plan under the Ryerson Pension Plan Supplement for Salaried Employees of Ryerson Inc. and Certain Subsidiaries, which was frozen as of December 31, 1997.

We also sponsor the Integris Metals, Inc. Excess Retirement Benefit Plan, a nonqualified supplemental pension plan, in which only Mr. Burbach is eligible to participate.plan. This plan was frozen as of December 31, 2005. The Code imposes annual limits on contributions to and benefits payable from our qualified pension plan. The Integris Metals, Inc. Excess Retirement Benefit Plan provides benefits to highly compensated employees (including our named executive officers) in excess of the limits imposed by the Code. Mr. Burbach is eligible for the Integris Excess Benefit Retirement Plan. Under this plan, payments are made on a monthly basis following retirement, along with the qualified plan monthly payments. The amount of benefit payable is an amount equal to the excess of the amount of pension plan benefit to which he would be entitled if such benefit were computed without giving any effect to the limitations imposed from time to time by Sections 401(a)(17) and 415 of the Code, less the amount of the qualified pension plan benefit to which he is entitled. Participants are fully vested in this supplemental plan after the earlier of attaining (i) age 65, or (ii) five years of vesting service, as defined in the qualified pension plan. If a participant’s termination occurs for reasons of cause, the participant’s or beneficiary’s supplemental benefit from this plan is permanently forfeited.

Mr. Burbach’s combined frozen pension benefit from these pension plans is approximately $74,949 annually upon his retirement upon reaching retirement age under the plans, which is 62 years. Mr. Richardson’s frozen pension benefit from the Ryerson Pension Plan is approximately $13,227 annually upon his retirement; due to the length of his service at the Company, Mr. Richardson could retire at any time and receive this benefit. These plans are described in further detail below under “Pension Benefits,” on page 39.53.

Perquisites and Other Benefits

All of our named executive officers were eligible for coverage under our health insurance programs, as well as group life insurance, short-term disability and long-term disability benefits, on the same terms as our other employees.Additionally, Mr. Claussen’s amended and restated employment agreement, executed in 2021, provides for Company payments for Mr. Claussen's housing in Chicago. The Company’s reimbursed Mr. Claussen an amount equal to $23,253 in the aggregate for his apartment rent for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022.

Employment Agreements

Our Compensation Committee believes that employment agreements with our named executive officers are valuable tools to both enhance our efforts to retain these executives and protect our competitive and confidential information. We are party to agreements with each of our named executive officers that govern their employment with the Company. Mr. Lehner’sThe Employment Agreement and the otherAgreements with our named executive officers’ employment agreementsofficers are described in more detail under “Narrative Relating to Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based Awards,” below on page 35.48. The estimates of the value of the benefits potentially payable under these agreements (if any) upon certain terminations of employment or change of control are included under “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control,” below on page 41.53.

Compensation Risk Management

The Company’s management conducts a risk-assessment annually related to the Company’s compensation programs and presents to the Compensation Committee its assessment of the related risks. The Company’s assessment included a review and assessment of risks related to Company’s AIP and LTIP discussed in this proxy statement as well as sales incentive plans applicable to the Company’s sales employees. We have reviewed our compensation policies and practices and have determined that those policies and practices are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.

45    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


Tax Considerations and Deductibility of Compensation

In general, Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) generally denies a publicly held corporation a deduction for federal income purposes for compensation in excess of $1 million per year paid to certain “covered employees.” The Compensation Committee may, from time to time, design programs that are intended to further our success, including by enabling us to continue to attract, retain, reward and motivate highly-qualified executives that may not be deductible as a result of the limitations on deductibility under Section 162(m) of the Code.

Executive Stock Ownership Guidelines

In June 2015, theOur Board has established stock ownership guidelines for our executive officers, including all named executive officers. The guidelines are intended to increase the stake these officers hold in the Company and to more closely align their interests with those of our stockholders. The guidelines provide that officers meet the following stock ownership requirements:

Ο

The President & CEO should acquire and maintain stock ownership equal in value to five times his/her base salary;

Ο

The CFO should acquire and maintain stock ownership equal in value to three times his/her base salary;

Ο

Each Regional President should acquire and maintain stock ownership equal in value to three times his/her base salary; and

Ο

Other executive officers should acquire and maintain stock ownership equal in value to one time his/her base salary.

ΟThe President & CEO should acquire and maintain stock ownership equal in value to five times his/her base salary;

    2020 Proxy Statement    31

ΟThe CFO should acquire and maintain stock ownership equal in value to three times his/her base salary;


ΟAny Regional President should acquire and maintain stock ownership equal in value to three times his/her base salary; and

ΟOther executive officers should acquire and maintain stock ownership equal in value to one time his/her base salary.

Executive officers have five years to achieve the above ownership requirements from the date the ownership guidelines were adopted. Newly hired and promoted executive officers will have five years from the date they are appointed to achieve their ownership requirements. Shares purchased by the executive officer and vested RSUs and PSUs are included in the calculation of stock ownership levels.

Based on All our executives were in compliance with the closing price per shareguidelines at the end of our common stock on the NYSE on December 31, 2019, of $11.83 per share, the last trading day of fiscal year 2019, as of that date our named executive officers held the following percentages of their base salaries at that date: Mr. Lehner, 443%; Mr. Schnaufer, 216%; Mr. Silver, 148%; Mr. Burbach, 321%; and Mr. Richardson, 337%.2022.

Prohibition on Speculative Stock Transactions

The Company considers it improper and inappropriate for our employees, officers and directors to engage in speculative transactions in Ryerson securities. Therefore, oursecurities, and maintains an insider trading policy designed to promote compliance by such personnel with both federal and state insider trading laws and applicable NYSE standards. The policy prohibits certain persons who are aware of material non-public information about the Company from: (i) trading in securities of the Company or (ii) providing material non-public information to other persons who may trade on the basis of that information. When material non-public information about us may exist and may have an influence on the marketplace, a trading blackout period is placed in effect by management. In addition, the policy also applies to family members, other members of a person's household and entities controlled by a person covered by the policy.

Our insider trading policy prohibits such personsdirectors, officers and other employees from engaging in hedging, pledging, short salesselling or option trading of our securities and certain other inherently speculative transactions in our securities.

Recommendation

As set forth in the “Compensation Committee Report” above on page 19,31, the committee has reviewed this Compensation Discussion and Analysis and recommended its inclusion in this proxy statement.

3246    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


CompensationCompensation Tables

The following table presents compensation information for Mr. Lehner, our President & CEO; Mr. Schnaufer, ourClaussen, EVP and CFO; and Messrs. Burbach, RichardsonOrth and Silver, our three next most highly compensated executive officers serving on December 31, 2019. It presents compensation information for Messrs. Lehner, Schnaufer, Burbach, Richardson and Silver for the last three years.2022.

Summary Compensation Table

For Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 20192022

Name and Principal
Position

 

Year

 

Salary
($)
(1)

Bonus
($)
(2)

Stock Awards
($)
(3)

Option Awards
($)

Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)
(4)

Change in
Pension Value
and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($)
(5)

All Other
Compensation
($)
(6)

Total
($)

Edward J. Lehner

 

2022

 

1,037,500

 

1,200,000

 

3,852,200

 

 

2,750,000

 

 

 

 

58,412

 

8,898,112

President & CEO

 

2021

 

937,500

 

 

1,789,200

 

135,750

 

2,437,500

 

 

 

 

19,504

 

5,319,454

 

 

2020

 

754,615

 

506,250

 

558,600

 

 

 

 

 

 

16,842

 

1,836,307

James J. Claussen

 

2022

 

437,500

 

 

1,225,700

 

 

675,000

 

 

 

 

52,922

 

2,391,122

EVP & CFO(9)

 

2021

 

420,682

 

 

596,400

 

81,450

 

631,126

 

 

 

 

38,894

 

1,768,552

Michael J. Burbach

 

2022

 

462,500

 

 

1,225,700

 

 

712,500

 

 

 

 

32,054

 

2,432,754

COO(8)(10)

 

2021

 

444,483

 

 

596,400

 

81,450

 

675,000

 

 

17,539

 

 

19,382

 

1,834,254

 

 

2020

 

371,691

 

144,960

 

133,000

 

 

8,506

 

 

122,090

 

 

11,807

 

792,054

Mark S. Silver

 

2022

 

423,800

 

 

787,950

 

 

609,000

 

 

 

 

24,986

 

1,845,736

EVP, General Counsel &

 

2021

 

393,850

 

 

383,400

 

81,450

 

577,640

 

 

 

 

15,986

 

1,452,326

Chief Human Resources Officer(8)

 

2020

 

324,606

 

101,277

 

119,700

 

 

 

 

 

 

9,188

 

554,771

John E. Orth

 

2022

 

330,750

 

 

525,300

 

 

450,450

 

 

 

 

22,564

 

1,329,064

EVP, Operations(11)

 

2021

 

301,875

 

 

255,600

 

81,450

 

378,000

 

 

 

 

16,026

 

1,032,951

(1) Base salary increases, if any, were implemented during the year; therefore, amounts shown in this column may not exactly match the base salaries disclosed as 2022 base salaries in the CD&A. For additional information on when base salary increases where implemented, please see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis - 2022 Base Salaries” above on page 37.

Name and Principal

Position

 

Year

 

Salary

($)(1)

 

 

Bonus

($)(2)

 

Stock

($)(3)

Non-Equity

Incentive Plan

Compensation

($)(4)

Change in

Pension Value

and

Nonqualified

Deferred

Compensation

Earnings

($)(5)

All Other

Compensation

($)(6)

 

Total

($)

 

Edward J. Lehner

 

2019

 

 

900,000

 

 

 

 

562,500

 

 

 

 

 

898,800

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16,475

 

 

 

 

2,377,775

 

President & CEO

 

2018

 

 

862,750

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

827,225

 

 

 

 

2,503,711

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16,425

 

 

 

 

4,210,111

 

 

 

2017

 

 

835,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,197,000

 

 

 

 

1,022,720

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16,223

 

 

 

 

3,070,843

 

Erich S. Schnaufer,

 

2019

 

 

335,265

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

171,200

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15,284

 

 

 

 

521,749

 

CFO(5)

 

2018

 

 

317,750

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

183,375

 

 

 

 

436,790

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14,976

 

 

 

 

952,891

 

 

 

2017

 

 

302,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

315,000

 

 

 

 

202,191

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14,709

 

 

 

 

834,300

 

Michael J. Burbach,

 

2019

 

 

429,510

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

214,000

 

 

 

 

168,174

 

 

 

 

187,351

 

 

 

 

17,022

 

 

 

 

1,016,057

 

President, North-West

 

2018

 

 

411,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

203,750

 

 

 

 

885,363

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16,728

 

 

 

 

1,516,841

 

Region

 

2017

 

 

397,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

315,000

 

 

 

 

450,013

 

 

 

 

108,002

 

 

 

 

16,321

 

 

 

 

1,286,836

 

Kevin D. Richardson,

 

2019

 

 

429,510

 

 

 

 

161,067

 

 

 

 

 

214,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31,981

 

 

 

 

17,072

 

 

 

 

853,630

 

President, South-East

 

2018

 

 

413,150

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

203,750

 

 

 

 

893,217

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16,728

 

 

 

 

1,526,845

 

Region

 

2017

 

 

395,350

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

315,000

 

 

 

 

586,745

 

 

 

 

18,306

 

 

 

 

16,356

 

 

 

 

1,331,707

 

Mark S. Silver

 

2019

 

 

375,100

 

 

 

 

103,152

 

 

 

 

 

192,600

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14,929

 

 

 

 

685,781

 

EVP, General Counsel &

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chief Human Resources Officer(7)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

While Mr. Schnaufer stepped down from all positions with the Company and its subsidiaries effective January 3, 2020, the Compensation Committee determined that Mr. Schnaufer’s unvested LTIP grants including the 2019 LTIP grant shall continue to vest in accordance with the corresponding vesting date or performance period, as applicable.

(2) RepresentsFor 2022, the amount in this column reflects a discretionary, cashone-time bonus awarded byto Mr. Lehner, which is subject to forfeiture in the event

his employment with the Company terminates due to a voluntary resignation or an involuntary resignation for “cause” prior to December 31,

2025 but otherwise was fully earned in 2022. For additional information regarding Mr. Lehner’s bonus see “-
Compensation CommitteeDiscussion and

Analysis – AIP and Discretionary Bonuses”, above on page 40.

(3) The amounts in this column reflect the aggregate grant date fair values of the RSUs and the PSUs awarded to certainthe named executive officers.officers on March 31, 2022, under the 2022 LTIP, as further described above under “Long-Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”),” on page 40, and below under “Grants of Plan-Based Awards,” on page 48. The grant date fair value of these awards was computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 and the per-unit grant date fair value of each award was determined to be the closing price per share of our common stock on the day of grant. This determination with respect to the PSUs assumes that the PSUs will be earned at target performance levels, which is also the highest level of performance for such awards, and is consistent with the estimate of aggregate compensation cost to be recognized over the performance period determined as of the grant date. For additional information, including a discussion of the assumptions used to calculate these values, please see Note 12 of the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in our Fiscal Year 2022 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

(3)

The amounts in this column reflect the aggregate grant date fair values of the restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and performance units (“PSUs”) awarded to the named executive officers on March 31, 2019, under the 2019 LTIP, as further described above under “Long-Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”),” on page 27, and below under “Grants of Plan-Based Awards,” on page 34. The grant date fair value of the RSU and PSU awards was computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 and the per-unit grant date fair value of each award was determined to be the closing price per share of our common stock on the day of grant. This determination with respect to the PSUs assumes that the PSUs will be earned at target performance levels, which is also the highest level of performance for such awards, and is consistent with the estimate of aggregate compensation cost to be recognized over the performance period determined as of the grant date. For additional information, including a discussion of the assumptions used to calculate these values, please see “- Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End Table” below on page 37.

(4)

The amounts reported as earned in this column represent the amounts earned with respect to 2019 by each executive officer under our 2019 AIP.  For additional information regarding our 2019 AIP see “- Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Annual Bonus – 2019 Annual Incentive Plan”, above on Page 26.

(5)

For 2019, there was an increase in the actuarial present value of Mr. Burbach and Mr. Richardson’s accumulated benefits under our pension plans. Due to a decrease in the discount rate used in the actuarial present value calculation over the prior fiscal year-end measurement date, the value of Mr. Burbach’s accumulated benefits increased by $187,351 and the value of Mr. Richardson’s accumulated benefits increased by $31,981.. For additional information, see “- Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Retirement Benefits – Pension Plans,” above on page 30, and “-Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Retirement Benefits – Pension Benefits,” below on page 39. For 2019, our named executive officers did not earn any above-market or preferential earnings on any deferred compensation. For additional information regarding our nonqualified savings plan, see “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation” below on page 40.

(6)

The amounts reported as earned in this column represent the following for 2019 for each executive:

(4) The amounts reported as earned in this column represent the amounts earned by each named executive officer under our 2022 AIP. For additional information regarding our 2022 AIP see “- Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Annual Bonus – 2022 Annual Incentive Plan”, above on page 38.

(5) For 2022, there was a decrease in the actuarial present value of Mr. Burbach accumulated benefits under our pension plans. Due to a decrease in the discount rate used in the actuarial present value calculation over the prior fiscal year-end measurement date, the value of Mr. Burbach’s accumulated benefits decreased by $290,534. For additional information, see “- Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Retirement Benefits – Qualified Pension Plan and Nonqualified Pension Plan,” above on page 44. For 2022, our named executive officers did not earn any above-market or preferential earnings on any deferred compensation. For additional information regarding our nonqualified savings plan, see “Nonqualified Savings Benefits” below on page 53.

(6) The amounts reported as earned in this column represent the following for 2022 for:

Mr. Lehner. $13,753$15,250 of matching contributions under our 401(k) Plan, $2,622$4,902 for life insurance premiums for coverage in excess of $50,000, $38,160 for dividends declared in 2022, and $100 for an annual physical.

    2020 Proxy Statement    33


Mr. Schnaufer. $14,003 of matching contributions under our 401(k) Plan, $1,231 for life insurance premiums for coverage in excess of $50,000 and $50 for an annual physical.

Mr. BurbachClaussen. $14,001$14,081 of matching contributions under our 401(k) Plan, and $3,021 for life insurance premiums for coverage in excess of $50,000.

Mr. Richardson. $14,001 of matching contributions under our 401(k) Plan, $3,021$1,092 for life insurance premiums for coverage in excess of $50,000, $10,806 for dividends declared in 2022, and $50 for an annual physical. Also includes $26,893 for apartment rent reimbursed by the Company.

47    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


Mr. SilverBurbach. $14,001$15,243 of matching contributions under our 401(k) Plan, and $878$5,100 for life insurance premiums for coverage in excess of $50,000, $11,661 for dividends declared in 2022, and $50 for an annual physical.

(7)

Mr. Silver was not a named executive officer in 2017 and 2018.

Pay Ratio

For 2019, we estimate that the ratioMr. Silver. $15,246 of matching contributions under our 401(k) Plan, $1,617 for life insurance premiums for coverage in excess of $50,000, $8,023 for dividends declared in 2022, and $100 for an annual physical.

Mr. Orth. $15,249 of matching contributions under our 401(k) Plan, $2,304 for life insurance premiums for coverage in excess of $50,000, $4,911 for dividends declared in 2022, and $100 for an annual physical.

(7) Mr. Claussen was appointed as EVP & CFO of the annual total compensation of our “median employee” ($56,347.84) to the annual total compensation of our CEO ($2,377,775)Company effective January 11, 2021,and he was 42:1 on December 31, 2019.  In calculating the annual total compensation for the median employee, we included each element of compensation listednot a named executive officer in the Summary Compensation Table above, including the Company’s matching contribution to our 401(k) plan for such median employee.2020.

The median employee for 2019(8) Mr. Burbach was identified as of December 31, 2019 by taking the following steps:

Ο

Identifying the employees to be included in the calculation (employees based in Mexico were excluded from the calculation as de minimis).  

Ο

Calculating the compensation of each of the employees in the employee pool for the 12 months ending December 31, 2019.

Ο

Ordering the gross earnings of all employees in the employee pool from lowest to highest and identifying the median employee based on gross earnings.

As of December 31, 2019, we had 4,939 employees globally.  As noted above, in determining the employee population to be used to calculate the compensationappointed COO of the median employee, we included employeesCompany effective April 2, 2021, prior to which he served as Regional President, North-West Region.

(9) Mr. Orth was not a named executive officer in all countries except for 91 employees in Mexico, who represented less than 5% of our total employees, as permitted under the applicable SEC de minimis rule. As a result, the employee population that we used for purposes of determining the compensation of our median employee was 4,848 employees.2020.

Grants of Plan-Based Awards

ForThe table below presents the potential payouts under the RSUs and PSUs awarded February 2022, and the 2022 AIP for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 20192022.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Estimated Future Payouts Under

Non-Equity

Incentive Plan Awards

 

 

 

Estimated Future Payouts Under

Equity Incentive Plan Awards

 

 

All Other

Stock

Awards:

Number of

Shares of

 

Grant Date

Fair Value

of Stock and

 

Name

 

Plan

 

Grant

Date

 

Date of

Approval

Action(1)

Threshold

($)(2)

Target

($)(2)

Maximum

($)(2)

Threshold

(#)(3)

Target

(#)(3)

Maximum

(#)(3)

Stock or

Units

(#)(4)

(i)

 

Option

Awards

($)(5)

(l)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Estimated Future Payouts Under
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan Awards

 

 

Estimated Future Payouts Under
Equity Incentive Plan Awards

 

All Other
Stock
Awards:
Number of
Shares of

Grant Date
Fair Value
of Stock and
Option
Awards

Name
(a)

 

Plan
(b)

 

Grant
Date
(c)

 

Date of
Approval
Action
(1)
(d)

Threshold
($)
(2)
(e)

Target
($)
(2)
(f)

Maximum
($)(2)
(g)

Threshold
(#)
(3)
(h)

Target
(#)
(3)
(i)

Maximum
(#)(4)
(j)

Stock or
Units
(#)(5)
(k)

($)(6)
(n)

Edward J. Lehner

 

2019 AIP

 

2/20/19

 

2/20/19

 

 

562,500

 

 

 

 

1,125,000

 

 

 

 

2,250,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2022 AIP(2)

 

 

 

 

 

687,500

 

1,375,000

 

2,750,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2019 LTIP RSU

 

3/31/19

 

2/20/19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

34,650

 

 

 

 

296,604

 

 

2022 LTIP RSU(1)(4)

 

3/31/22

 

2/17/22

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

36,300

 

 

1,271,226

 

2019 LTIP PSU

 

3/31/19

 

2/20/19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

35,175

 

 

 

 

70,350

 

 

 

 

70,350

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

602,196

 

 

2022 LTIP PSU(1)(3)

 

3/31/22

 

2/17/22

 

 

 

 

 

36,850

 

 

73,700

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,580,974

Erich S. Schnaufer

 

2019 AIP

 

2/20/19

 

2/20/19

 

 

100,580

 

 

 

 

201,159

 

 

 

 

402,318

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

James J. Claussen

 

2022 AIP(2)

 

 

 

 

 

157,782

 

315,563

 

631,126

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2019 LTIP RSU

 

3/31/19

 

2/20/19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,600

 

 

 

 

56,496

 

 

2022 LTIP RSU(1)(4)

 

3/31/22

 

2/17/22

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11,550

 

 

404,481

 

2019 LTIP PSU

 

3/31/19

 

2/20/19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,700

 

 

 

 

13,400

 

 

 

 

13,400

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

114,704

 

 

2022 LTIP PSU(1)(3)

 

3/31/22

 

2/17/22

 

 

 

 

 

11,725

 

 

23,450

 

 

 

 

 

 

821,219

Michael J. Burbach

 

2019 AIP

 

2/20/19

 

2/20/19

 

 

161,067

 

 

 

 

322,133

 

 

 

 

644,266

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2022 AIP(2)

 

 

 

 

 

178,125

 

356,250

 

712,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2019 LTIP RSU

 

3/31/19

 

2/20/19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8,250

 

 

 

 

70,620

 

 

2022 LTIP RSU(1)(4)

 

3/31/22

 

2/17/22

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11,550

 

 

404,481

 

2019 LTIP PSU

 

3/31/19

 

2/20/19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8,375

 

 

 

 

16,750

 

 

 

 

16,750

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

143,380

 

 

2022 LTIP PSU(1)(3)

 

3/31/22

 

2/17/22

 

 

 

 

 

11,725

 

 

23,450

 

 

 

 

 

 

821,219

Kevin D. Richardson

 

2019 AIP

 

2/20/19

 

2/20/19

 

 

161,067

 

 

 

 

322,133

 

 

 

 

644,266

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2019 LTIP RSU

 

3/31/19

 

2/20/19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8,250

 

 

 

 

70,620

 

 

2019 LTIP PSU

 

3/31/19

 

2/20/19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8,375

 

 

 

 

16,750

 

 

 

 

16,750

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

143,380

 

Mark S. Silver

 

2019 AIP

 

2/20/19

 

2/20/19

 

 

103,153

 

 

 

 

206,305

 

 

 

 

412,610

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2022 AIP(2)

 

 

 

 

 

152,250

 

304,500

 

609,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2019 LTIP RSU

 

3/31/19

 

2/20/19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7,425

 

 

 

 

63,558

 

 

2022 LTIP RSU(1)(4)

 

3/31/22

 

2/17/22

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7,425

 

 

260,024

 

2019 LTIP PSU

 

3/31/19

 

2/20/19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7,538

 

 

 

 

15,075

 

 

 

 

15,075

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

129,042

 

 

2022 LTIP PSU(1)(3)

 

3/31/22

 

2/17/22

 

 

 

 

 

7,538

 

 

15,075

 

 

 

 

 

 

527,927

John E. Orth

 

2022 AIP(2)

 

 

 

 

 

112,613

 

225,225

 

450,450

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2022 LTIP RSU(1)(4)

 

3/31/22

 

2/17/22

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,950

 

 

173,349

 

2022 LTIP PSU(1)(3)

 

3/31/22

 

2/17/22

 

 

 

 

 

5,025

 

 

10,050

 

 

 

 

 

 

351,951

(1) With respect to the 2022 LTIP Awards, on February 17, 2022, the Board approved the number of RSUs and PSUs to be granted to each named executive officer and directed that the awards be granted at a later date determined administratively appropriate by the Company’s CEO. For more information regarding the 2022 LTIP awards, see the discussion under “Long-Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”),” above on page 40. With respect to the 2022 AIP awards, on February 16, 2022, the Compensation Committee approved the AIP, and affirmed the performance measures on which the cash AIP bonus payments were based. For more information regarding the 2022 AIP awards and the determination of the AIP target bonus percentages, see the discussion under “2022 Annual Incentive Plan,” above on page 38.

(1)

With respect to the 2019 LTIP Awards, on February 20, 2019, the Board approved the number of RSUs and PSUs to be granted to each named executive officer and directed that the awards be granted at a later date determined administratively appropriate by the Company’s CEO. For more information regarding the 2019 LTIP awards, see the discussion under “Long-Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”),” above on page 27. With respect to the 2019 AIP awards, on February 20, 2019, the Compensation Committee approved the AIP, including the performance measures on which the cash AIP bonus payments would be based. For more information regarding the 2019 AIP awards and the determination of the AIP target bonus percentages, see the discussion under “2019 Annual Incentive Plan,” above on page 26.

(2) The 2022 AIP awards consist of annual incentive bonus opportunities for each of the named executive officers awarded under the 2022 AIP. The threshold, target and maximum amounts shown are equal to 50%, 100% and 200%, respectively, of the named executive officers’ bonus target percentage. See the description of the 2022 AIP under “2022 Annual Incentive Plan,” above on page 38. The award amounts paid are calculated based on the named executive officers’ annualized salaries in effect on November 30, 2022. For more information regarding the named executive officers’ 2022 Base Salaries, see the discussion under “Executive Compensation – 2022 Base Salaries” above on page 37. Actual 2022 AIP award payments are listed under “Actual Payouts under the 2022 AIP,” above on page 39.

34    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION

(3) Reflects the range of the LTIP awards in the form of performance-based PSUs (which are earned based upon performance against pre-established metrics over a three-year performance period) granted to the named executive officers under the 2022 LTIP on March 31, 2022, in accordance with the Amended and Restated Omnibus Plan as discussed under “Long-Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”),” beginning on page 40. These awards are also reported on the “Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End” table on page 51 and the aggregate grant date fair value is included in the Stock column of the “Summary Compensation Table,” on page 47.


(4) The maximum number of shares that may be earned with respect to the PSUs is equal to the number of shares earned at target level performance.

(2)

2019 AIP awards consist of annual incentive bonus opportunities for each of the named executive officers awarded under the 2019 AIP. See the description of the 2019 AIP under “2019 Annual Incentive Plan,” above on page 26. The award amounts paid are based on a percentage of the named executive officers’ annualized salaries in effect on July 1, 2019. Actual 2019 AIP award payments for the fiscal year reported are listed under “Actual Payouts under the 2019 AIP,” above on page 27.

(3)

Reflects long-term incentive awards in the form of performance-based PSUs granted to the named executive officers under the 2019 LTIP on March 31, 2019, in accordance with the Amended and Restated Omnibus Plan as discussed under “Long-Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”),” beginning on page 27. These awards are also reported on the “Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End” table on page 37 and the aggregate grant date fair value is included in the Stock column of the “Summary Compensation Table,” on page 33. The maximum number of shares that may be earned with respect to the PSUs is equal to the number of shares earned at target level performance.

(4)

Reflects long-term incentive awards in the form of time-based RSUs granted to the named executive officers under the 2019 LTIP on March 31, 2019, in accordance with the Amended and Restated Omnibus Plan as discussed under “Long-Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”),” beginning on page 27. These awards are also reported on the “Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End” table on page 37, and the aggregate grant date fair value is included in the Stock column of the “Summary Compensation Table,” on page 33.

(5)

The grant date fair value of the RSUs and PSUs described in notes 3 and 4 to this table, which were granted to the named executive officers on March 31, 2019, under the 2019 LTIP, as further described above under “Long-Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”),” on page 27. The grant date fair value of the RSU and PSU awards was computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, excluding the effect of estimated forfeitures and as further described above in footnote (3) to the Summary Compensation Table on page 33. This determination with respect to the PSUs is calculated based on probable performance (or target performance) achievement.

(6)

While Mr. Schnaufer stepped down from all positions with the Company and its subsidiaries effective January 3, 2020, the Compensation Committee determined that Mr. Schnaufer’s unvested LTIP grants including the 2019 LTIP grant will continue to vest in accordance with the corresponding vesting date or performance period, as applicable.

(5) Reflects the LTIP awards in the form of time-based RSUs (which vest ratably over three years, beginning on March 1, 2023, and annually thereafter) granted to the named executive officers under the 2022 LTIP on March 31, 2022 in accordance with the Amended and Restated Omnibus Plan as discussed under “Long-Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”),” beginning on page 40. These awards are also reported on the “Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End” table on page 51, and the aggregate grant date fair value is included in the Stock column of the “Summary Compensation Table,” on page 47.

(6) The grant date fair value of the RSU and PSU awards was computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, excluding the effect of estimated forfeitures and as further described above in footnote (3) to the Summary Compensation Table on page 47. This determination with respect to the PSUs is calculated based on probable performance (or target performance) achievement, which is also the highest level of achievement.

Narrative Relating to Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based Awards

In 2019,2022, each of our named executive officers was a participant in the 2019 Long-Term Incentive Plan,2022 LTIP and the 2019 Annual Incentive Plan. In addition, certain of our named executive officers were granted discretionary bonuses.2022 AIP. For additional information on the 20192022 LTIP, please see “Long-Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”),” above on page 27,40, for additional information on the 2019 Annual Incentive Plan,2022 AIP, please see “2019“2022 Annual Incentive Plan,” above on page 26, and for additional information on the discretionary bonuses, please see “Discretionary Bonuses,” above on page 27.38.

48    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


Employment Agreements

Mr. Lehner

Mr. Lehner’s 2015 Employment Agreement and Non-Competition Agreement

In May 2015, theThe Company and Mr. Lehner entered into a newan employment agreement for Mr. Lehner pursuant to servewhich he serves as our President & CEO. Mr. Lehner’s Employment Agreement provides for at-will employment, payment of a base salary, a target annual bonus opportunity equal to a certain percentage of Mr. Lehner’s base salary based on the achievement of targets established pursuant to the AIP, and four weeks of paid vacation. It provided for an initial long-term incentive award grant of performance share units and time-vesting restricted stock units. The Board subsequently has increased Mr. Lehner’s annual base salary, increased the target annual bonus opportunity and awarded additional grants of performance share units and time-vesting restricted stock units.

In connection with the execution of Mr. Lehner’s Employment Agreement, Mr. Lehner and the Company also entered into a confidentiality, non-competition and non-solicitation agreement (“Non-Competition Agreement”) effective on the date of his appointment as our President & CEO. Its confidentiality provisions require Mr. Lehner to keep confidential and not disclose confidential information relating to the Company, its subsidiaries and affiliates, its customers and/or vendors and suppliers. Under the agreement’s non-competition and non-solicitation provisions, during Mr. Lehner’s employment and for a period of 18 months after the termination of his employment for any reason, Mr. Lehner may not (a) own, operate, manage, control, participate, consult with, advise or have any financial interest in any a person or entity engaged in the metal service center processing and/or distribution business, (b) engage in the start-up of a business in competition with the Company’s business, (c) call upon, solicit business from or sell any products sold or distributed by the Company to any customer or prospective customer of the Company with whom employees of the Company had contact during Mr. Lehner’s employment with the Company, (d) encourage any employees of the Company to seek or accept an employment or business relationship with a person or entity other than the Company, or in any way interfere with the relationship of the Company and any of its employees, or (e) encourage any supplier, distributor, franchisee, licensee or other business relation of the Company to cease or curtail doing business with the Company, or in any way interfere with the relationship between any such customer, supplier, distributor, franchisee, licensee or business relation and the Company.

The Non-Competition Agreement also contains provisions regarding Mr. Lehner’s rights and payments owed to him upon his termination. In the event that Mr. Lehner’s employment is terminated by the Company without “cause” or by him for “good reason” (each as defined in the Non-Competition Agreement), he will, subject to his execution of a release in favor of the Company and certain other conditions, be entitled to an amount equal to eighteen months of his then current base salary and subsidized COBRA continuation of his medical and dental benefits coverage.

    2020 Proxy Statement    35


Messrs. Schnaufer, Burbach and RichardsonClaussen

We entered into an employment agreementsagreement with Messrs. Schnaufer,Mr. Burbach and Richardson in September 2005, January 2005 and December 2004, respectively, in connection with their respective positions at those times.2005. The employment agreements haveagreement has remained in effect since that time, although provisions regarding compensation items such as annual base salary, target annual bonus opportunity as a percentage of salary and other compensation elements have been modified, including by a most recent amendment in April 2009.modified. The ongoing terms of the three agreements areMr. Burbach’s employment is substantially the same and areis described below. We amended and restated Mr. Claussen’s employment agreement upon his appointment as EVP & CFO of the Company.

Each employment agreement provides that the Company and the officer may each terminate the agreement for any or no reason on 30 days’ prior notice. In the event that the officer’s employment is terminated by us without “cause” or by himthe executive for “good reason” (each as defined in the applicable employment agreement), hethe executive will be entitled to continue to receive histhe executive’s base salary, payable in installments in accordance with normal payroll practices and

continued medical and dental benefits at active employee rates for the period
commencing on histhe executive’s termination date and ending on the earlier of (i) the twelfth month after the termination date, (ii) the date hethe executive violates or initiates any legal challenge to certain provisions of the agreement including confidentiality, non-compete and non-solicitation obligations imposed by the employment agreement, or (iii) the date of histhe executive’s death or the date hethe executive is determined to be eligible for benefits under our long-term disability plan. Additionally, the officer would also receive a payment equal to the average of the Annual Incentive Plan awards paid to himthe executive in the three years immediately preceding histhe executive’s termination date, payable in the first quarter of the year following the year of histhe executive’s termination. Further, hethe executive may be eligible for a pro-rated portion of the Annual Incentive Plan award for the year of histhe executive’s termination, based on the number of months during that year that elapsed prior to histhe executive’s termination date, and depending on the Company’s attainment of the applicable performance measures for that year, which pro-rated amount would be payable in the first quarter of the year following the year of histhe executive’s termination.

49    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


Each employment agreement contains confidentiality, non-compete and non-solicitation provisions. The confidentiality provisions require the officer to keep confidential and not disclose confidential information relating to the Company, its subsidiaries and affiliates, its customers and/or vendors and suppliers. Under the non-solicitation and non-competition provisions, beginning on the date of the employment agreement and ending twelve months after histhe executive’s employment termination date, the officer may not (a) own, operate, manage, control, participate, consult with, advise or have any financial interest in (including as a stockholder, agent, director, officer, employee or consultant or contractor) any competitor (as defined below), or in any manner engage in the start-up of a business in competition with the Company’s business (subject to an exception permitting the officer’s ownership of one percent or less of the outstanding stock of certain publicly-listed corporations), (b) call upon, solicit business from or sell any products sold or distributed by the Company to any customer or prospective customer of the Company with whom employees of the Company had contact during histhe executive’s employment with the Company, (c) encourage any employees of the Company to seek or accept an employment or business relationship with a person or entity other than the Company, or in any way interfere with the relationship of the Company and any of its employees, or (d) encourage any supplier, distributor, franchisee, licensee, or other business relation of the Company to cease or curtail doing business with the Company, or in any way interfere with the relationship between any such customer, supplier, distributor, franchisee, licensee or business relation and the Company. A “competitor” under each of Mr. Schnaufer’s, Mr.Messrs. Burbach’s and Mr. Richardson’sClaussen’s employment agreements refers to a person or entity, including metals-related Internet marketplaces, engaged in the metal service center processing and/or distribution business.

In connection with Mr. Schnaufer’s termination of employment, effective January 3, 2020, the Company will provide Mr. Schnaufer the severance benefits described above.  In addition, in January 2020, the Compensation Committee agreed to allow Mr. Schnaufer to retain his outstanding LTIP grants, with each of the RSU and PSU awards subject to his LTIP grants as of his last date of employment vesting and settling on such dates as such awards would have vested and settled had no termination of employment occurred, subject, with respect to any PSUs, the Company’s achievement of the applicable performance objectives.

Mr. Silver

In January 2013, we entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Silver in connection with his initial employment as Vice President and Managing Counsel. The agreement has remained in effect since that time, although provisions regarding position title, and duties and compensation provisions such as annual base salary and other compensation items have been modified. The agreement provides that either Mr. Silver or the Company may terminate his employment at any time, with or without cause. In the event his employment is terminated by the Company without cause, Mr. Silver will be entitled to (i) 12 months of medical and dental benefits continuation subsidized at the active employee rate, and (ii) continue to receive his base salary for fifty-two weeks, payable in installments in accordance with normal payroll practices, for twenty-six weeks, provided that he executeexecutes a mutual release acceptable to both the Company and Mr. Silver through which he will release the Company and its affiliates from any and all claims and the Company and its affiliates will release him from any and all claims.  Mr. Silver is also subject toclaims, and a non-compete agreement which shall limit him from competing with the Company during the twenty-sixfifty-two week severance period, to the extent allowed by applicable law.

Mr. Orth

In December 2017, we entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Orth in connection with his initial employment as Senior Vice President - Operations. The agreement has remained in effect since that time, although provisions regarding position title, and duties and compensation provisions such as annual base salary and other compensation items have been modified. The agreement provides that either Mr. Orth or the Company may terminate his employment at any time, with or without “cause” (as defined in the employment agreement). In the event his employment is terminated by the Company without cause, Mr. Orth will be entitled to continue to receive his base salary, payable in installments in accordance with normal payroll practices, for the period commencing on the executive’s termination date and ending on the earlier of (i) 52 weeks after the termination date and (ii) the date Mr. Orth secures employment, either as an employee or an independent contractor, with Platinum Equity LLC or one of its affiliates, provided that he executes a mutual release acceptable to both the Company and Mr. Orth through which he will release the Company and its affiliates from any and all claims and the Company and its affiliates will release him from any and all claims, and a non-compete agreement which shall limit him from competing with the Company during the 52 week severance period, to the extent allowed by applicable law.


3650    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


Outstanding Equity AwardsAwards at Fiscal Year-End

The table below shows the outstanding equity awards for each named executive officer on December 31, 2022.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock Awards

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name

(a)

Grant Date

Number of Shares

or Units of

Stock That Have

Not Vested

(#)(1)

(g)

Market Value of

Shares or Units of

Stock That Have

Not Vested

($)(2)

(h)

Equity Incentive

Plan Awards:

Number of

Unearned Shares,

Units or Other

Rights That Have

Not Vested

(#)(3)

(i)

Equity Incentive Plan

Awards: Market or

Payout Value of

Unearned Shares,

Units or Other

Rights That Have

Not Vested

($)(2)

(j)

Edward J. Lehner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017 RSU Award(2)

3/31/2017

 

 

10,450

 

 

 

 

131,670

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017 PSU Award(3)(4)

3/31/2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

63,650

 

 

 

 

801,990

 

 

2018 RSU Award(2)

3/31/2018

 

 

22,330

 

 

 

 

181,990

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2018 PSU Award(3)(5)

3/31/2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

68,005

 

 

 

 

554,241

 

 

2019 RSU Award

3/31/2019

 

 

34,650

 

 

 

 

296,604

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2019 PSU Award

3/31/2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

70,350

 

 

 

 

602,196

 

 

Erich S. Schnaufer(6)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017 RSU Award(2)

3/31/2017

 

 

2,750

 

 

 

 

34,650

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017 PSU Award(3)(4)

3/31/2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16,750

 

 

 

 

211,050

 

 

2018 RSU Award(2)

3/31/2018

 

 

4,950

 

 

 

 

40,343

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2018 PSU Award(3)(5)

3/31/2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15,075

 

 

 

 

122,861

 

 

2019 RSU Award

3/31/2019

 

 

6,600

 

 

 

 

56,496

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2019 PSU Award

3/31/2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13,400

 

 

 

 

114,704

 

 

Michael J. Burbach

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017 RSU Award(2)

3/31/2017

 

 

2,750

 

 

 

 

34,650

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017 PSU Award(3)(4)

3/31/2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16,750

 

 

 

 

211,050

 

 

2018 RSU Award(2)

3/31/2018

 

 

5,500

 

 

 

 

44,825

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2018 PSU Award(3)(5)

3/31/2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16,750

 

 

 

 

136,512

 

 

2019 RSU Award

3/31/2019

 

 

8,250

 

 

 

 

70,620

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2019 PSU Award

3/31/2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16,750

 

 

 

 

143,380

 

 

Kevin D. Richardson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017 RSU Award(2)

3/31/2017

 

 

2,750

 

 

 

 

34,650

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017 PSU Award(3)(4)

3/31/2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16,750

 

 

 

 

211,050

 

 

2018 RSU Award(2)

3/31/2018

 

 

5,500

 

 

 

 

44,825

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2018 PSU Award(3)(5)

3/31/2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16,750

 

 

 

 

136,512

 

 

2019 RSU Award

3/31/2019

 

 

8,250

 

 

 

 

70,620

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2019 PSU Award

3/31/2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16,750

 

 

 

 

143,380

 

 

Mark S. Silver

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017 RSU Award(2)

3/31/2017

 

 

2,200

 

 

 

 

27,720

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017 PSU Award(3)(4)

3/31/2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13,400

 

 

 

 

168,840

 

 

2018 RSU Award(2)

3/31/2018

 

 

4,950

 

 

 

 

40,343

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2018 PSU Award(3)(5)

3/31/2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15,075

 

 

 

 

122,861

 

 

2019 RSU Award

3/31/2019

 

 

7,425

 

 

 

 

63,558

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2019 PSU Award

3/31/2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15,075

 

 

 

 

129,042

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Option Awards

 

 

Stock Awards

 

Name
(a)

 

Plan
(b)

 

Grant Date
(c)

Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#) Exercisable
(d)

Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#) Unexercisable
(e)

 

Equity incentive
plan awards:
number of
securities
underlying
unexercised
unearned options (#)
(f)

 

Option
Exercise Price
($)
(1)
(g)

Option
Expiration Date
(h)

Number of Shares
or Units of
Stock That Have
Not Vested
(#)
(i)

Market Value of
Shares or Units of
Stock That Have
Not Vested
($)
(2)
(j)

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

Equity Incentive Plan
Awards: Market or
Payout Value of
Unearned Shares,
Units or Other
Rights That Have
Not Vested
($)
(2)
(l)

Edward J. Lehner

 

2020 RSU Award(3)

 

3/31/2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11,550

 

 

349,503

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2020 PSU Award(4)(5)

 

3/31/2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

70,350

 

 

2,128,791

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2021 RSU Award(3)

 

3/31/2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

23,100

 

 

699,006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2021 PSU Award(4)(6)

 

3/31/2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

70,350

 

 

2,128,791

 

 

 

2022 RSU Award(3)

 

3/31/2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

36,300

 

 

1,098,438

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2022 PSU Award(4)(7)

 

3/31/2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

73,700

 

 

2,230,162

 

 

 

2021 NSO Award(8)

 

3/31/2021

 

1,250

 

 

2,500

 

 

8,750

 

 

16.50

 

 

3/31/2031

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

James J. Claussen

 

2020 RSU Award(3)

 

3/31/2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,168

 

 

35,344

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2020 PSU Award(4)(5)

 

3/31/2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,000

 

 

151,300

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2021 RSU Award(3)

 

3/31/2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7,700

 

 

233,002

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2021 PSU Award(4)(6)

 

3/31/2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

23,450

 

 

709,597

 

 

 

2022 RSU Award(3)

 

3/31/2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11,550

 

 

349,503

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2022 PSU Award(4)(7)

 

3/31/2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

23,450

 

 

709,597

 

 

 

2021 NSO Award(8)

 

3/31/2021

 

750

 

 

1,500

 

 

5,250

 

 

16.50

 

 

3/31/2031

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michael J. Burbach

 

2020 RSU Award(3)

 

3/31/2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,750

 

 

83,215

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2020 PSU Award(4)(5)

 

3/31/2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16,750

 

 

506,855

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2021 RSU Award(3)

 

3/31/2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7,700

 

 

233,002

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2021 PSU Award(4)(6)

 

3/31/2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

23,450

 

 

709,597

 

 

 

2022 RSU Award(3)

 

3/31/2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11,550

 

 

349,503

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2022 PSU Award(4)(7)

 

3/31/2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

23,450

 

 

709,597

 

 

 

2021 NSO Award(8)

 

3/31/2021

 

750

 

 

1,500

 

 

5,250

 

 

16.50

 

 

3/31/2031

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mark S. Silver

 

2020 RSU Award(3)

 

3/31/2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,475

 

 

74,894

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2020 PSU Award(4)(5)

 

3/31/2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15,075

 

 

456,170

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2021 RSU Award(3)

 

3/31/2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,950

 

 

149,787

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2021 PSU Award(4)(6)

 

3/31/2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15,075

 

 

456,170

 

 

 

2022 RSU Award(3)

 

3/31/2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7,425

 

 

224,681

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2022 PSU Award(4)(7)

 

3/31/2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15,075

 

 

456,170

 

 

 

2021 NSO Award(8)

 

3/31/2021

 

750

 

 

1,500

 

 

5,250

 

 

16.50

 

 

3/31/2031

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John E. Orth

 

2020 RSU Award(3)

 

3/31/2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,100

 

 

33,286

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2020 PSU Award(4)(5)

 

3/31/2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,700

 

 

202,742

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2021 RSU Award(3)

 

3/31/2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7,700

 

 

233,002

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2021 PSU Award(4)(6)

 

3/31/2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10,050

 

 

304,113

 

 

 

2022 RSU Award(3)

 

3/31/2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11,550

 

 

349,503

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2022 PSU Award(4)(7)

 

3/31/2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10,050

 

 

304,113

 

 

 

2021 NSO Award(8)

 

3/31/2021

 

750

 

 

1,500

 

 

5,250

 

 

16.50

 

 

3/31/2031

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1) The original exercise price for the NSOs was set based on the Company’s average share closing price over the five business days preceding the grant date of March 31, 2022.

(2) Based on the closing price per share of our common stock on the NYSE on December 30, 2022, of $30.26 adjusted for splits and dividend and/or capital gain distributions, the last trading day of fiscal year 2022.

(3) Each of these time-based awards will vest with respect to one-third of the award on each of the first three anniversaries of the RSU grant date if service requirements are met.

(4) Each of these performance-based awards will vest, if at all, on the later to occur of (x) the third anniversary of the grant date and, (y) the date Compensation Committee certifies the achievement of the applicable performance objectives.The number and market value of unearned PSUs reported in the table above assumes achievement of threshold level of performance other than with respect to the 2020 PSU awards, which were achieved at target, in accordance with SEC requirements. The number of units earned increases or decreases based on the Company’s achievement of the performance measure.

(5) The portion of the PSUs that vest depended on the Company’s actual Cumulative Adjusted EBITDA excluding LIFO and Cumulative Managerial Controllable Free Cash Flow during the three-year period from 2020 through 2022 against established targets for each objective, each as set forth below.

(1)

Based on the closing price per share of our common stock on the NYSE on December 31, 2019, of $11.83 per share, the last trading day of fiscal year 2019.

(2)

Each of these time-based awards will vest with respect to one-third of the award on each of the first three anniversaries of the RSU grant date if service requirements are met.

(3)

Each of these performance-based awards will vest, if at all, on the later to occur of (x) the third anniversary of the grant date and, (y) the date Compensation Committee certifies the applicable performance objectives. The number and market value of unearned PSUs reported in the table above assumes achievement of threshold level of performance, in accordance with SEC requirements. The number of units earned can increase or decrease based on the Company’s achievement of the performance measure.

(4)

The portion of the PSUs that vest will depend on the Company’s Cumulative Managerial Controllable Free Cash Flow and Relative Free Cash Flow Yield for performance over the three-year period from 2017 through 2019 for the PSUs granted in 2017 and from 2018 through 2021 for the PSUs granted in 2018 (the “Performance Period”). In order for any PSUs to be earned for the Performance Period, both (i) Cumulative Managerial Controllable Free Cash Flow must be achieved at a level at least equal to the threshold performance level, and (ii) Relative Free Cash Flow Yield must be positive in at least one of the three years measured during the Performance Period. If both such conditions are met, the number of PSUs earned will be equal to one-third of the target number of PSUs, multiplied by (i) the number of years during the Performance Period (out of three) that the Relative Free Cash Flow Yield was positive, multiplied by (ii) the Percent of Shares Earned based on Cumulative Managerial Controllable Free Cash Flow. The Percent of Shares Earned based on Cumulative Managerial Controllable Free Cash Flow is 50% for performance at the threshold level and increases up to 100% for performance at a target level. Performance at a level above a target level does not result in shares earned in excess of the target number of PSUs awarded. The number of unearned PSUs is reported in the “Equity Inventive Plan Awards: Market Value of Unearned Units That Have Not Vested” column based on achieving threshold performance goals.

    2020 Proxy Statement    37


(5)

The portion of the PSUs that vest will depend on the Company’s actual Cumulative Adjusted EBITDA and Cumulative Managerial Controllable Free Cash Flow during the three-year period from 2019 through 2022 against established targets for each objective, each as set forth below.

Performance

Criteria

Threshold

(50% Vesting)(1)(2)

Target

(100% Vesting)(1)

51    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


Performance

Criteria

Threshold

(50% Vesting)(1)(2)

Target

(100% Vesting)(1)

Cumulative Adjusted EBITDA (50%)

$675.0M575.0M

$825.0M750.0M

Cumulative Managerial Controllable Free Cash Flow (50%)

$550.0M450.0M

$750.0M650.0M

(1)Performance between the above referenced threshold and target levels will (1) be interpolated on a straight-line basis.

(2)None of the corresponding PSUs vest if performance for the applicable target is below threshold.

On February 16, 2023, our Board certified that the Cumulative Adjusted EBITDA and Cumulative Managerial Controllable Free Cash Flow

for the three-year performance period commencing January 1, 2020 had been achieved at target.

(6) The portion of the PSUs that vest will depend on the Company’s actual Cumulative Adjusted EBITDA excluding LIFO and Cumulative Managerial Controllable Free Cash Flow during the three-year period from 2021 through 2023 against established targets for each objective, each as set forth below.

(6)Performance

Criteria

While Mr. Schnaufer stepped down from all positions with the Company and its subsidiaries effective January 3, 2020, the Compensation Committee determined that Mr. Schnaufer’s unvested LTIP grants including the 2019 LTIP grant shall continue to vest in accordance with the corresponding vesting date or performance period, as applicable.Threshold

(50% Vesting)(1)(2)

Target

(100% Vesting)(1)

Cumulative Adjusted EBITDA (50%)

$500.0M

$650.0M

Cumulative Managerial Controllable Free Cash Flow (50%)

$300.0M

$425.0M

(1) Performance between the above referenced threshold and target levels will be interpolated on a straight-line basis.

(2) None of the corresponding PSUs vest if performance for the applicable target is below threshold.

(7) The numberportion of unearnedthe PSUs that vest will depend on the Company’s actual Cumulative Adjusted EBITDA excluding LIFO and Cumulative Managerial Controllable Free Cash Flow during the three-year period from 2022 through 2024 against established targets for each objective, each as set forth below.

Performance

Criteria

Threshold

(50% Vesting)(1)(2)

Target

(100% Vesting)(1)

Cumulative Adjusted EBITDA (50%)

$650.0M

$825.0M

Cumulative Managerial Controllable Free Cash Flow (50%)

$425.0M

$575.0M

(1) Performance between the above referenced threshold and target levels will be interpolated on a straight-line basis.

(2) None of the corresponding PSUs vest if performance for the applicable target is reported inbelow threshold.

(8) NSOs, representing 20% of the “Equity Inventive Plan Awards: Market Valueinitial NSO grant, will vest and become exercisable on March 31, 2023, since the average closing price of Unearned Units That Have Not Vested” column basedthe Company’s stock exceeded the target price of $19.96 during a consecutive forty-five day window during the vesting year. NSOs representing 30% of the initial NSO grant will vest if the average closing price of the Company’s stock is equal to or exceeds the target price of $21.96 during any consecutive forty-five day window from April 1, 2023 through March 31, 2024. NSOs representing 40% of the initial NSO grant will vest if the average closing price of the Company’s stock is equal to or exceeds the target price of $24.15 during any consecutive forty-five day window from April 1, 2024 through March 31, 2025. Any options that do not vest on achieving threshold performance goals.schedule remain eligible to vest on the fifth anniversary of the March 31, 2022 grant date if the target price of $26.57 is achieved during any consecutive forty-five day window during the fifth year of the grant date.

20192022 Option Exercises and Stock Vested

The following table presents, for each of the named executive officers, the number of shares of our common stock acquired and the value realized upon the exercise of any stock options and the vesting and settlement of RSUs and PSUs during 20192022.Stock awards vested in 2022 are comprised of RSUs and PSUs granted under the LTIP for the periods ended March 31, 2020, March 31, 2021 and March 31, 2022.

 

 

Option Awards

 

 

 

Stock Awards

 

Name
(a)

Number of
Shares Acquired
on Exercise
   (#)
(b)

Value Realized
on Exercise
   ($)
(1)
(c)

 

Number of Shares
Acquired on
Vesting
(#)
(d)

Value Realized on
   Vesting
   ($)
(2)
(e)

Edward J. Lehner

 

 

 

 

 

 

       56,308

 

 

$1,971,906

 

James J. Claussen

 

 

 

 

 

 

         6,747

 

 

$236,280

 

Michael J. Burbach

 

 

 

 

 

 

       15,643

 

 

$547,818

 

Mark S. Silver

 

 

 

 

 

 

       14,385

 

 

$503,763

 

John E. Orth

 

 

 

 

 

 

         7,547

 

 

$264,296

 

(1)
No NSOs held by our named executive officers were exercised in 2022.
(2)
The value realized is calculated by multiplying the number of shares of stock received by the closing price per share of our common stock on the NYSE on the applicable vesting date or, if such date was not a trading date, on the last trading day immediately preceding the vesting date. In 2022, certain PSUs and RSUs held by our named executive officers vested on March 31, 2022, and the aggregate value realized upon the exerciseclosing price per share of our common stock optionswas $35.02 adjusted for splits, and the vesting$34.51 adjusted for splits and settlement of RSUs.

 

 

Stock awards

 

 

Name

Number of shares

Acquired on

Vesting

(#)

Value Realized on

Vesting

($) (1)

Edward J. Lehner

 

 

103,515

 

 

 

$

886,088

 

 

Erich S. Schnaufer

 

 

24,725

 

 

 

$

211,646

 

 

Michael J. Burbach

 

 

25,000

 

 

 

$

214,000

 

 

Kevin D. Richardson

 

 

25,000

 

 

 

$

214,000

 

 

Mark S. Silver

 

 

20,275

 

 

 

$

173,554

 

 

dividend and/or capital gain distributions.

(1)

The value realized is calculated by multiplying the number of shares of stock received by the closing price per share of our common stock on the NYSE on the applicable vesting date or, if such date was not a trading date, on the last trading day immediately preceding the vesting date.  In 2019, certain RSUs held by our named executive officers vested on March 31, 2019, which was not a trading day, and the closing price per share of our common stock on March 29, 2019, which was the trading day immediately preceding such vesting date, was $8.56.

3852    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


Pension Benefits

The following table reflects the pension benefits of Messrs. BurbachMr. Burbach.

Name

 

Plan Name

Number of
Years
Credited
Service
(#)

Present Value of
Accumulated
Benefit
($)
(1)

Payments
During
Last Fiscal Year
($)

Michael J. Burbach

 

Ryerson Pension Plan

 

21.67

 

 

$811,992

 

 

 

 

 

Integris Metals, Inc.
Excess Retirement Benefit Plan

 

21.67

 

 

$144,400

 

 

 

(1) The actuarial present value of Mr. Burbach’s accumulated benefit under the relevant plan assumes retirement at age 62 with at least 10 years of credited service, which is the earliest he would be eligible to receive unreduced benefits. The value is computed as of December 31, 2022, the same pension plan measurement date used for financial statement reporting purposes with respect to our audited financial statements for the last completed fiscal year. See Note 11 “Employee Benefits—Summary of Assumptions and Richardson.Activity” of the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, for information regarding the valuation method and assumptions used in quantifying these amounts.

Name

 

Plan Name

Number of

Years

Credited

Service

(#)

Present Value of

Accumulated

Benefit

($)(1)

Payments

During

Last Fiscal Year

($)

Michael J. Burbach

 

Ryerson Pension Plan

 

 

21.67

 

 

 

$

938,641

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Integris Excess Benefit Retirement Plan

 

 

21.67

 

 

 

$

168,656

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kevin D. Richardson

 

Ryerson Pension Plan

 

 

12.75

 

 

 

$

164,390

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

The actuarial present value of Mr. Burbach’s accumulated benefit under the relevant plan assumes retirement at age 62 with at least 10 years of credited service, which is the earliest he would be eligible to receive unreduced benefits. The actuarial present value of Mr. Richardson’s accumulated benefit under the relevant plan assumes retirement at age 65 and at least 5 years of credited service, at which time he would be eligible for the maximum benefit. Both are computed as of December 31, 2019, the same pension plan measurement date used for financial statement reporting purposes with respect to our audited financial statements for the last completed fiscal year. See Note 10. “Employee Benefits—Summary of Assumptions and Activity” of the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, for information regarding the valuation method and assumptions used in quantifying these amounts.

Of our named executive officers, only Messrs.Mr. Burbach and Richardson werewas eligible to participate in the Ryerson Pension Plan and only Mr. Burbach was eligible to participate in the Integris Metals, Inc. Excess Retirement Benefit Retirement Plan, in each case, by virtue of theirhis service with the Company prior to the applicable plan supplements being frozen. Our named executive officers no longer accrue any benefit under the plan.these plans. For additional information regarding their participation, see “Pension Plans,“Qualified Pension Plan, and Supplemental Pension Plan above on page 30.44.

Qualified Pension PlanNonqualified Savings Benefits

Mr. Burbach participates in the Ryerson Pension Plan under the Ryerson Pension Plan Supplement for Former Participants in the Integris Metals, Inc. Pension Plan, under which full pension benefits are payable to eligible employees who, as of the date of separation from employment, are at least age 62 with 10 years of vesting service. Reduced benefits are payable to eligible employees who, as of the date of separation from employment, are at least age 55 but less than age 62 with 10 years of vesting service. Accrued benefits are reduced by 7% for each year benefits commencement precedes age 62. Under this supplement, in general, benefits for eligible employees are based on two factors: (i) years of benefit service prior to the December 31, 2005 freeze date of this supplement, and (ii) the average annual earnings in the highest five consecutive paid calendar years during the ten-year period prior to December 31, 2005.

Mr. Richardson participates in the Ryerson Pension Plan under the Ryerson Pension Plan Supplement for Salaried Employees of Ryerson Inc. and Certain Subsidiaries, under which pension benefits are payable to eligible employees who, as of the date of separation from employment, are (i) age 65 or older with at least 5 years of vesting service, (ii) age 55 or older with at least 10 years of vesting service, or (iii) any age with at least 30 years of vesting service. Benefits may be reduced depending on age and the type of benefit for which the participant qualifies when an individual retires and/or chooses to have benefit payments begin. Benefits are reduced under (ii) above if voluntary retirement commences prior to the employee reaching age 62 with at least 15 years of vesting service. Benefits are not reduced if the age and vesting service conditions under (i) or (iii) above are met. Under this supplement, in general, benefits for salaried employees are based on two factors: (i) years of benefit service prior to the December 31, 1997 freeze date of the pension benefit, and (ii) average monthly earnings, based on the highest consecutive 36 months of earnings during the participant’s last ten years of benefit service prior to the December 31, 1997 freeze date.

Supplemental Pension Plan

The Code imposes annual limits on contributions to and benefits payable from our qualified pension plan. Our nonqualified supplemental pension plans provide benefits to highly compensated employees (including our named executive officers) in excess of the limits imposed by the Code. Mr. Burbach is eligible for the Integris Excess Benefit Retirement Plan. Under this plan, payments are made on a monthly basis following retirement, along with the qualified plan monthly payments. The amount of benefit payable is an amount equal to the excess of the amount of pension plan benefit to which he would be entitled if such benefit were computed without giving any effect to the limitations imposed from time to time by Sections 401(a)(17) and 415 of the Code, less the amount of the qualified pension plan benefit to which he is entitled. Participants are fully vested in this supplemental plan after the earlier of attaining (i) age 65, or (ii) five years of vesting service, as defined in the qualified pension plan. If a participant’s termination occurs for reasons of cause, the participant’s or beneficiary’s supplemental benefit from this plan is permanently forfeited.

    2020 Proxy Statement    39


Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

The following table reflects information regarding our named executive officers’ participation in our nonqualified savings plan.

Name

Executive
Contributions
in Last Fiscal
Year ($)

Registrant
Contributions
in Last Fiscal
Year ($)

Aggregate
Earnings in
Last Fiscal
Year
($)
(1)

Aggregate
Withdrawals/
Distributions
($)

Aggregate
Balance at
Last Fiscal
Year End
($)
(2)

Michael J. Burbach

 

 

 

 

 

$142

 

 

 

 

$12,099

 

James J. Claussen

 

 

 

 

 

$10

 

 

 

 

$859

 

(1) Earnings reported are not above-market or preferential, and as a result they are not reported as compensation in the Change In Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings column of the Summary Compensation Table above.

Name

Executive

Contributions

in Last Fiscal

Year ($)

Registrant

Contributions

in Last Fiscal

Year ($)

Aggregate

Earnings in

Last Fiscal

Year

($)(1)

Aggregate

Withdrawals/

Distributions

($)

Aggregate

Balance at

Last Fiscal

Year End

($)(2)

Michael J. Burbach

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

242

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

11,619

 

 

Kevin D. Richardson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

786

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

37,817

 

 

(1)

Earnings reported are not above-market or preferential, and as a result they are not reported as compensation in the Change In Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings column of the Summary Compensation Table above.

(2)

(2) All account balances are deferred to a cash account which is credited with interest at the monthly rate paid by our 401(k) savings plan’s Managed Income Portfolio Fund II fund, which in 2019 ranged from 0.15% to 0.19% per month, compounded monthly. The amounts reported in this column consist of interest earned on such deferred cash accounts.

The Code imposes annual limits on employee contributions to our 401(k) Plan. Our nonqualified savings plan is an unfunded, nonqualified plan that allows highly compensated employees who make the maximum annual 401(k) contributions to defer, on a pre-tax basis, amounts in excess of the limits applicable to deferrals under our 401(k) Plan. Participants may contribute up to a maximum of 10% of their base compensation to our nonqualified savings plan when eligible. Our nonqualified savings plan allows deferred amounts to be notionally invested in the Managed Income Portfolio Fund II (or any successor fund) that is availablefund, which in 2022 ranged from 0.07% to the participants0.12% per month, compounded monthly. The amounts reported in our 401(k) Plan.this column consist of interest earned on such deferred cash accounts.

Generally, each of

Of our named executive officers, is eligible foronly Messrs. Burbach and Claussen participated in our nonqualified savings plan. Our named executive officers will be entitled to the vested balance ofFor additional information regarding their respective accounts when they retire or otherwise terminate employment. Participants are generally permitted to choose whether the benefits paid following their retirement will be paid in a lump sum or installments, with all amounts to be paid by the end of the calendar year in which the employee reaches age 75. For participants terminating employment for reasons other than retirement, the account balance is payable in a lump sum by no later than 60 days after the 1-year anniversary of the termination of employment. None of our named executive officers made contributions to the nonqualified savings plan during 2019.participation, see “Nonqualified Savings Plan” above on page 44.

40    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


Potential Payments Upon TerminationTermination or Change in Control

Each of our named executive officers has entered into employment agreements, the material terms of which have been summarized under “Narrative Relating to Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based Awards,” above on page 35.48. Upon certain terminations of employment, our named executive officers (employed as of December 31, 2019)2022) are entitled to payments of compensation and certain benefits. The table below reflects the amount of compensation and benefits payable to each named executive officer who was employed as of December 31, 20192022 in the event of (i) termination other than with respect to each of Messrs, Lehner, Claussen and Burbach for “cause” or termination with “good reason” (“involuntary termination”), or (ii) termination by reason of an executive’s death or disability. The amounts shown assume that the applicable triggering event occurred on December 31, 2019,2022, and therefore, are estimates of the amounts that would be paid to the named executive officers upon the occurrence of such triggering event. Note that all unvested RSUs, PSUs and PSUsNSOs are forfeited upon termination for any reason.reason unless otherwise determined by the Compensation Committee. In addition to the amounts reflected below, Messrs.Mr. Burbach and Richardson would also be eligible to receive amounts in connection with their terminations,his termination, based on their participation in the Company’s pension plans and nonqualified

53    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


savings plan, which are further described above under “Pension Benefits,” on page 39,above, and under “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation,Savings Benefits,” on page 40.53.

Since the Compensation Committee has discretion as to whether or not to accelerate the vesting of unvested equity awards granted under the Amended and Restated Omnibus Plan upon a change in control of the Company, the financial effect of such event has not been included in this table.

Name

 

 

Severance
($)
(1)

Annual
Incentive Plan
($)
(2)

3-Year AIP
Average
($)
(3)

Benefits
Continuation
($)
(4)

 

Total
($)

 

Edward J. Lehner

 

Involuntary

 

1,650,000

 

 

2,750,000

 

 

 

 

25,693

 

4,425,693

 

 

 

Death or Disability

 

84,615

 

 

2,750,000

 

 

 

 

 

2,834,615

 

James J. Claussen

 

Involuntary

 

450,000

 

 

675,000

 

 

458,830

 

 

17,129

 

1,600,959

 

 

 

Death or Disability

 

34,615

 

 

675,000

 

 

 

 

 

709,615

 

Michael J. Burbach

 

Involuntary

 

475,000

 

 

712,500

 

 

513,655

 

 

411

 

1,701,566

 

 

 

Death or Disability

 

36,538

 

 

712,500

 

 

 

 

 

749,038

 

Mark S. Silver

 

Involuntary

 

435,000

 

 

609,000

 

 

 

 

2,934

 

1,046,934

 

 

 

Death or Disability

 

33,462

 

 

609,000

 

 

 

 

 

642,462

 

John E. Orth

 

Involuntary

 

346,500

 

 

450,450

 

 

 

 

 

796,950

 

 

 

Death or Disability

 

26,654

 

 

450,450

 

 

 

 

 

477,104

 

(1) In the event of an involuntary termination, consists of (i) 52 weeks or 12 months of base salary payment in the case of each of Messrs. Burbach, Claussen, Orth and Silver, and (ii) 18 months of base salary payment in the case of Mr. Lehner. In the event of an executive’s termination due to death (but not disability), under the Ryerson Severance Plan, employees, including our named executive officers, are entitled to a payment equal to four weeks of base pay. The named executive officers’ receipt of payments after their terminations is subject to execution of a release, and the execution of a non-compete agreement in the case of Messrs, Orth and Silver, continued compliance with existing confidentiality, non-compete and non-solicitation provisions in their employment agreements in the case of Messrs. Burbach and Claussen, and with compliance with the executed confidentiality, non-competition and non-solicitation agreement in the case of Mr. Lehner.

(2) If a named executive officer’s termination is due to an involuntary termination due to position elimination, death, permanent disability or retirement, the executive will be entitled to a pro-rated portion of the AIP payment to which the executive would have been entitled (based on Company performance) had he or she remained an employee through December 31, 2022. Actual 2022 AIP award payments for the fiscal year are reported in the table.

(3) Under each of Messrs. Burbach’s and Claussen’s employment agreements, if the executive is terminated involuntarily, the executive will receive a payment equal to the average of the AIP awards paid to the executive in the three years immediately preceding the executive’s termination date. For additional information, see “Narrative Relating to Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based Awards – Messrs. Burbach and Claussen” above starting on page 49.

(4) Mr. Lehner is eligible for 18 months of medical and dental benefits continuation subsidized at the active employee rate as provided by his confidentiality, non-competition and non-solicitation agreement. Messrs. Burbach, Claussen and Silver are eligible for 12 months of medical and dental benefits continuation subsidized at the active employee rate as provided by their employment agreements. They are not eligible for medical insurance benefits under the terms of their employment agreements because both are eligible for the retiree medical benefits under the Ryerson Retiree Comprehensive Health Care Plan.

2022 Pay Ratio

We estimate that the ratio of the annual total compensation of our “median employee” of $67,363 to the annual total compensation of our CEO of $8,898,112 was 132:1 on December 31, 2022. In calculating the annual total compensation for the median employee, we included each element of compensation listed in the Summary Compensation Table above, including the Company’s matching contribution to a 401(k) plan or similar plan for such median employee.

The median employee was identified as of December 31, 2022 by taking the following steps:

ΟIdentifying the employees to be included in the calculation.

ΟCalculating the compensation of each of the employees in the employee pool for the 12 months ending December 31, 2022.

ΟOrdering the gross earnings of all employees in the employee pool from lowest to highest and identifying the median employee based on gross earnings.

As of December 31, 2022, we had 4,157 employees globally. In determining the compensation of our median employee, we excluded our 101 employees in Mexico and the approximately 189 employees who became Ryerson employees in 2022 in the following business acquisitions: Ford Tool Steel, Inc., Howard Precision Metals, Inc. and Excelsior, Inc. As a result, the employee population that we used for purposes of determining the compensation of our median employee was 3,867 employees.

54    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


Pay Versus Performance

As required by Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K, we are providing the following information regarding the relationship between executive compensation and our financial performance for each of the last three completed calendar years. In determining the “compensation actually paid” to our named executive officers, we are required to make various adjustments to amounts that have been previously reported in the Summary Compensation Table in previous years, as the SEC’s valuation methods for this section differ from those required in the Summary Compensation Table. The table below summarizes compensation values both previously reported in our Summary Compensation Table, as well as the adjusted values required in this section for the 2020, 2021 and 2022 calendar years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment Based on:

 

 

 

 

Year

Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO(1)
($)

Compensation Actually Paid to
PEO
(1)(2)(3)
($)

Average Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-PEO NEOs(4)
($)

Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO NEOs(2)(3)(4)
($)

Company Total Shareholder Return
($)

Peer Group Total Shareholder Return(5)
($)

Net Income
($ in millions)

Adj. EBITDA excl. LIFO(6)
($ in millions)

2022

$8,898,112

 

$10,124,161

 

$1,999,669

 

 

$2,480,774

 

$257.14

$162.14

 

391.0

 

582.0

2021

$5,319,454

 

$8,913,561

 

$1,405,832

 

 

$2,029,082

 

$217.73

$140.10

 

295.4

 

860.6

2020

$1,836,307

 

$2,493,004

 

$573,271

 

 

$561,577

 

$113.29

$106.01

 

(65.3)

 

125.7

(1) Edward J. Lehner (President & CEO) served as the principal executive officer ("PEO") for the full year of each year shown.

(2) Compensation Actually Paid (CAP) is an amount calculated using a formula prescribed by the SEC based on total compensation as disclosed in the “Summary Compensation Table (SCT)”, with specified adjustments for pensions and stock-based compensation. To calculate CAP, the following amounts were deducted from and added to SCT total compensation:

PEO SCT Total to CAP Reconciliation:

Year

Salary

Bonus and Non- Equity Incentive Compensation(i)

Other Compensation(ii)

SCT Total

Deductions from SCT
Total
(iii)

Additions to SCT
Total
(iv)

CAP

2022

$1,037,500

$3,950,000

$58,412

$8,898,112

-$3,852,200

$5,078,249

$10,124,161

2021

$937,500

$2,437,500

$19,504

$5,319,454(v)

-$1,924,950

$5,519,057

$8,913,561

2020(vi)

$754,615

$506,250

$16,842

$1,836,307

-$558,600

$1,215,297

$2,493,004

Average Non-PEO NEOs SCT Total to CAP Reconciliation:

Year

Salary

Bonus and Non- Equity Incentive Compensation(i)

Other Compensation(ii)

SCT Total

Deductions from SCT
Total
(iii)

Additions to SCT
Total
(iv)

CAP

2022

$426,625

$611,738

$33,132

$1,999,669

-$941,163

$1,422,268

$2,480,774

2021

$377,170

$514,668

$20,928

$1,405,832

-$516,469

$1,139,720

$2,029,082

2020(vi)

$363,542

$114,007

$107,052(vii)

$573,271

-$159,553

$147,859

$561,577

(i) RSUs and PSUs that vested on March 31, 2020, March 31, 2021, and March 31, 2022, vested at the closing price per share of our common stock of $5.32, $17.04, and $35.02, respectively.

(ii) Reflects “All Other Compensation” reported in the SCT for each year shown.

(iii) Includes (a) the grant date fair value of equity-based awards granted in each year reflected in the table and (b) the changes in the actuarial present value of accumulated pension benefits in the covered yeainr.

(iv) Includes the value of equity and accumulated pension benefits calculated in accordance with the SEC methodology for determining CAP for each year shown. The equity and pension components of CAP for FY 2022 are further detailed in the supplemental tables below.

(v) In addition to the awards granted during the Company’s regular grant cycle, certain key employees were granted NSOs under the 2021 LTIP to retain key employees and reward performance. All of our named executive officers were granted NSOs.

(vi) In April 2020, the named executive officers' annual base salaries were reduced for a period of approximately six months and all scheduled annual base salary increases were cancelled due to Covid-19. In addition, compensation in 2021 reflects one-time discretionary bonuses paid to our named executive officers due to the metrics relating to the 2020 AIP being achieved below threshold, given that it was Covid-19 that caused the Company’s financial performance to fall below the 2020 AIP payout threshold, which were established before the onset of Covid-19, and in light of the Company’s extraordinary efforts against an extremely challenging backdrop as well as the need to address employee retention as it pertains to our named executive officerss.

(vi) Mr. Schnaufer stepped down from all positions with the Company and its subsidiaries effective January 3, 2020. Consequently, the amount for 2020 includes Mr. Schnaufer's severance payment and base salary for 2020, which salary was prorated based on days worked.

55    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


SUPPLEMENTAL: CEO Equity Component of CAP for FY2022:

 

Name

 

 

Severance

($)(1)

Annual

Incentive Plan

($)(2)

3-Year AIP

Average

($)(3)

Benefits

Continuation

($)(4)

 

 

Total

($)

Edward J. Lehner

 

Involuntary

 

 

1,350,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

24,685

 

 

 

 

1,374,685

 

 

 

 

Death or Disability

 

 

69,231

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

69,231

 

 

Erich S. Schnaufer

 

Involuntary

 

 

335,265

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

160,500

 

 

 

 

17,878

 

 

 

 

513,643

 

 

 

 

Death or Disability

 

 

25,790

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

25,790

 

 

Michael J. Burbach

 

Involuntary

 

 

429,510

 

 

 

 

168,174

 

 

 

 

404,720

 

 

 

 

397

 

 

 

 

1,002,801

 

 

 

 

Death or Disability

 

 

33,039

 

 

 

 

168,174

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

201,213

 

 

Kevin D. Richardson

 

Involuntary

 

 

429,510

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

388,347

 

 

 

 

693

 

 

 

 

818,550

 

 

 

 

Death or Disability

 

 

33,039

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

33,039

 

 

Mark S. Silver

 

Involuntary

 

 

187,550

 

 

��

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,776

 

 

 

 

190,326

 

 

 

 

Death or Disability

 

 

28,854

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

28,854

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjustments to Determine Compensation "Actually Paid" for CEO

2022

 

2021

 

2020

 

Deduction for Change in the Actuarial Present Values reported under the "Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings" Column of the SCT

 

 

 

 

 

 

Increase for "Service Cost" for Pension Plans

 

 

 

 

 

 

Increase for "Prior Service Cost" for Pension Plans

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deduction for Amounts Reported under the "Stock Awards" Column in the SCT

$

(3,852,200

)

$

(1,789,200

)

$

(558,600

)

Deduction for Amounts Reported under the "Option Awards" Column in the SCT

 

 

$

(135,750

)

 

 

Increase for Fair Value of Awards Granted during year that Remain Unvested as of Year end

$

3,328,600

 

$

2,946,552

 

$

1,436,292

 

Increase for Fair Value of Awards Granted during year that Vest during year

 

 

 

 

 

 

Increase/deduction for Change in Fair Value from prior Year-end to current Year-end of Awards Granted Prior to year that were Outstanding and Unvested as of Year-end

$

784,149

 

$

2,213,331

 

$

409,271

 

Increase/deduction for Change in Fair Value from Prior Year-end to Vesting Date of Awards Granted Prior to year that Vested during year

$

965,500

 

$

347,718

 

$

(630,266

)

Deduction of Fair Value of Awards Granted Prior to year that were Forfeited during year

 

 

 

 

 

 

Increase based upon Incremental Fair Value of Awards Modified during year

 

 

 

 

 

 

Increase based on Dividends or Other Earnings Paid during year prior to Vesting Date of Award

 

 

$

11,456

 

 

 

Total Adjustments

$

1,226,049

 

$

3,594,107

 

$

656,697

 

 

Adjustments to Determine Compensation "Actually Paid" for Non-CEO NEOs

2022

 

2021

 

2020

 

Deduction for Change in the Actuarial Present Values reported under the "Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings" Column of the SCT

 

 

 

(17,539

)

 

(71,773

)

Increase for "Service Cost" for Pension Plans

 

 

 

 

 

 

Increase for "Prior Service Cost" for Pension Plans

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deduction for Amounts Reported under the "Stock Awards" Column in the SCT

$

(941,163

)

$

(417,480

)

$

(87,780

)

Deduction for Amounts Reported under the "Option Awards" Column in the SCT

 

 

$

(81,450

)

 

 

Increase for Fair Value of Awards Granted during year that Remain Unvested as of Year end

$

813,238

 

$

760,318

 

$

225,060

 

Increase for Fair Value of Awards Granted during year that Vest during year

 

 

 

 

 

 

Increase/deduction for Change in Fair Value from prior Year-end to current Year-end of Awards Granted Prior to year that were Outstanding and Unvested as of Year-end

$

443,731

 

$

331,842

 

$

55,896

 

Increase/deduction for Change in Fair Value from Prior Year-end to Vesting Date of Awards Granted Prior to year that Vested during year

$

165,299

 

$

45,356

 

$

(133,097

)

Deduction of Fair Value of Awards Granted Prior to year that were Forfeited during year

 

 

 

 

 

 

Increase based upon Incremental Fair Value of Awards Modified during year

 

 

 

 

 

 

Increase based on Dividends or Other Earnings Paid during year prior to Vesting Date of Award

 

 

$

2,204

 

 

 

Total Adjustments

 

481,105

 

 

623,251

 

 

(11,694

)


(3) The assumptions used in calculating the fair value of unvested stock-based awards and outstanding option awards as of December 31st of each year (or the vest date if earlier) were consistent with those used to calculate the grant date fair value, except that the expected level of achievement of any performance criteria applicable to outstanding PSUs was updated based on then-current projections taking into account actual performance through the December 31st of the applicable year (or the vest date if earlier) and the stock price was determined for all equity compensation based on the value on December 31st of the applicable year (or the vest date if earlier). The amounts shown do not constitute a promise or commitment by the Company to pay and final outcomes are likely to differ.

(4) The non-PEO named executive officers included in 2020, 2021 and 2022 average compensation are: 2022: James J. Claussen, Michael J. Burbach, Mark S. Silver, and John E. Orth; 2021: James J. Claussen, Molly D. Kannan, Michael J. Burbach, Mark S. Silver, and John E. Orth and 2020: Molly D. Kannan, Michael J. Burbach, Kevin D. Richardson, Mark S. Silver and Erich S. Schnaufer. Mr. Schnaufer stepped down from all positions with the Company and its subsidiaries effective January 3, 2020. Consequently, his base salary for 2020 was prorated based on the number of days worked. Ms. Kannan was a named executive officer for 2021 and 2020 due to her service as interim PFO. Mr. Claussen was appointed EVP & CFO of the Company effective January 11, 2021.

(5) The peer group is the S&P 500 and a metals service center peer group (the “Peer Group”), which were the indices shown in the performance graph in Item 5 of the Company’s most recent Annual Report filed on Form 10-K. While there is no nationally-recognized industry index consisting of metals service center companies, Ryerson considers its Peer Group to consist of Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co., Olympic Steel Inc. and Worthington Industries, Inc., each of which has securities listed for trading on the NASDAQ; and Russel Metals Inc., which has securities listed for trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

(6) As an additional performance measure, the Company has included Adj. EBITDA, excl. LIFO, which is used by the Company to evaluate performance and allocate resources. A reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to the most comparable GAAP measure is included in Appendix A to this proxy statement.

(1)56    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION

In the event of an involuntary termination, consists of (i) 52 weeks or 12 months of base salary payment in the case of Messrs. Burbach, Richardson and Schnaufer, (ii) 18 months of base salary payment in the case of Mr. Lehner, and (iii) 26 weeks of base salary payment in the case of Mr. Silver. In the event of an executive’s termination due to death (but not disability), under the Ryerson Severance Plan, employees, including our named executive officers, are entitled to a payment equal to four weeks of base pay. The named executive officers’ receipt of payments after their terminations is subject to execution of a release, and continued compliance with existing confidentiality, non-compete and non-solicitation provisions in their employment agreements in the case of Messrs. Burbach, Richardson and Schnaufer and with compliance with the executed confidentiality, non-competition and non-solicitation agreement in the case of Mr. Lehner.


The following graphs show the relationships between compensation actually paid to our CEO and non-CEO named executive officers versus select measures:

Net Income:

img213417804_10.jpg 

(1) Net income is not used by management to evaluate business or executive performance or allocate resources.

Adj. EBITDA, excl. LIFO(1):

img213417804_11.jpg 

(1) Adj. EBITDA, excl. LIFO is used by management to evaluate performance and allocate resources. The Company believes that the presentation of Adj. EBITDA, excl. LIFO, as the Company measures it for management purposes, enhances the understanding of its performance by highlighting the results of operations and the underlying profitability drivers of the business. For our named executive officers, 50% of their bonus opportunity for 2022 was based on Company (“corporate”) Adj. EBITDA, excl. LIFO and the remaining 50% was based on corporate EVA for 2022. A reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable GAAP measure is included in Appendix A to this proxy statement.

(2)57    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION

If a named executive officer’s termination is due to an involuntary termination due to position elimination, death, permanent disability or retirement, he will be entitled to a pro-rated portion of the AIP payment to which he would have been entitled (based on Company performance) had he remained an employee through December 31, 2019. Actual 2019 AIP award payments for the fiscal year are reported in the table.


Cumulative TSR:

img213417804_12.jpg 

Cumulative TSR vs Peer Group TSR:

img213417804_13.jpg 

The following table lists the most important performance measures that the Committee used to link compensation actually paid to the named executive officers to Company performance for the most recently completed fiscal year.

(3)Most Important Performance Measures

Cumulative Adjusted EBITDA(1)(2)

Cumulative Managerial Controllable Free Cash Flow(1)

Economic Value Added (EVA)(2)

(1) Cumulative Adjusted EBITDA and Cumulative Managerial Controllable Free Cash Flow are the performance measures used for performance units (PSUs), which represents at least two-thirds of each named executive officers' LTI awards, as discussed in “Long-Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”).

(2) For our named executive officers, 50% of their bonus opportunity for 2022 was based on Company (“corporate”) Adj. EBITDA, excl. LIFO and the remaining 50% was based on corporate EVA for 2022.

58    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION

Under each of Messrs. Schnaufer’s, Burbach’s and Richardson’s employment agreements, if the executive is terminated involuntarily, he will receive a payment equal to the average of the AIP awards paid to him in the three years immediately preceding his termination date. For additional information, see “Narrative Relating to Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based Awards – Messrs. Schnaufer, Burbach and Richardson,” above on page 36.

(4)

Mr. Lehner is eligible for 18 months of medical and dental benefits continuation subsidized at the active employee rate as provided by his confidentiality, non-competition and non-solicitation agreement. Mr. Silver is eligible for 26 weeks at the active employee rate under his employment agreement. Messrs. Burbach and Richardson are eligible for 12 months of dental benefits continuation subsidized at the active employee rate as provided by their employment agreements. They are not eligible for medical insurance benefits under the terms of their employment agreements because both are eligible for the retiree medical benefits under the Ryerson Retiree Comprehensive Health Care Plan. Mr. Schnaufer is eligible for 12 months of medical and dental benefits continuation subsidized at the active employee rate as provided by his employment agreement.

    2020 Proxy Statement    41


Stock OwnershipOwnership

Directors and Executive Officers

The following table shows information as of February 28, 202024, 2023 (the “Table Date”), unless otherwise indicated, regarding the beneficial ownership of Ryerson’s common stock by: (i) each director and nominee; (ii) each named executive officer listed in the table entitled “Summary Compensation Table – 2019, 2018,2022, 2021 and 2017”2020” under the section entitled “Executive Compensation”; and (iii) all current directors and named executive officers as a group. As of the Table Date, 37,453,08035,475,124 shares of Ryerson’s common stock were issued and outstanding.

Name of Beneficial Owner

Amount and Nature of

Beneficial Ownership

(Number of Shares)

 

Percent

of Class

 

Amount and Nature of
Beneficial Ownership
(Number of Shares)

 

Percent
of Class

Directors

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kirk K. Calhoun

 

 

500

 

 

 

 

*

 

 

500

 

 

 

*

 

Court D. Carruthers

 

 

2,000

 

 

 

 

*

 

 

2,000

 

 

 

*

 

Eva M. Kalawski(1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jacob Kotzubei(1)

 

 

50,000

 

 

 

 

*

 

Eva M. Kalawski(1)

 

 

 

 

 

Jacob Kotzubei(1)

 

50,000

 

 

 

*

 

Stephen P. Larson

 

 

40,000

 

 

 

 

*

 

 

75,000

 

 

 

*

 

Philip E. Norment(1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mary Ann Sigler(1)(2)

 

 

7,500

 

 

 

 

*

 

Philip E. Norment(1)

 

 

 

 

 

Mary Ann Sigler(1)(2)

 

7,500

 

 

 

*

 

Named Executive Officers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edward J. Lehner(3)

 

 

360,665

 

 

 

 

*

 

Erich S. Schnaufer(4)

 

 

59,247

 

 

 

 

*

 

Edward J. Lehner(3)

 

623,826

 

 

 

*

 

Michael J. Burbach(5)(4)

 

 

121,340

 

 

 

 

*

 

 

212,434

 

 

 

*

 

Kevin D. Richardson(6)

 

 

127,290

 

 

 

 

*

 

Mark Silver(7)

 

 

49,922

 

 

 

 

*

 

All current directors, nominees for director and executive

officers as a group (13 persons)(8)

 

 

834,417

 

 

 

 

2.23

 

James J. Claussen(5)

 

54,434

 

 

 

*

 

Mark S. Silver(6)

 

124,207

 

 

 

*

 

John E. Orth(7)

 

60,860

 

 

 

*

 

All current directors, nominees for director and executive officers as a group (14 persons)(8)

 

1,263,326

 

 

 

3.56

 

(1) Mses. Kalawski and Sigler and Messrs. Kotzubei and Norment are directors and each disclaims beneficial ownership of any shares of our common stock that they may be deemed to beneficially own because of their affiliation with Platinum, except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein. Platinum’s ownership of shares of our common stock is set forth in the table below under “Ownership of More Than 5% of Ryerson Stock,” on page 44.

(2) Includes 7,500 shares held by a family trust of which Ms. Sigler and her spouse are each beneficiaries and trustees.

(3) Includes 87,000 shares held jointly by Mr. Lehner and his spouse. Includes 35,200 shares of RSUs, 70,350 shares of PSUs and 2,250 shares of NSOs, each of which vests on March 31, 2023.

(4) Includes 58,850 shares held jointly by Mr. Burbach and his spouse. Includes 10,450 shares of RSUs, 16,750 shares of PSUs and 1,500 shares of NSOs, each of which vests on March 31, 2023.

(5) Includes 31,818 shares held jointly by Mr. Claussen and his spouse. Includes 9,368 shares of RSUs, 5,000 shares of PSUs and 1,500 shares of NSOs, each of which vests on March 31, 2023.

(6) Includes 7,425 shares of RSUs, 15,075 shares of PSUs and 1,500 shares of NSOs, each of which vests on March 31, 2022.

(7) Includes 39,625 shares held jointly by Mr. Orth and his spouse. Includes 4,400 shares of RSUs, 6,700 shares of PSUs and 1,500 shares of NSOs, each of which vests on March 31, 2023.

(8) Our named executive officers at February 28, 2022 consisted of Messrs. Lehner, Burbach, Claussen, Silver, and Orth. The total number of shares includes each current executive officers’ shares of RSUs, PSUs and NSOs that will vest on March 31, 2023. It does not take into account any net vesting settlement of settlement of dividend equivalents.

(1)

Mses. Kalawski and Sigler and Messrs. Kotzubei and Norment are directors and each disclaims beneficial ownership of any shares of our common stock that they may be deemed to beneficially own because of their affiliation with Platinum, except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein. Platinum’s ownership of shares of our common stock is set forth in the table below under “Ownership of More Than 5% of Ryerson Stock,” on page 43.

(2)

Includes 7,500 shares held by a family trust of which Ms. Sigler and her spouse are each beneficiaries and trustees.

(3)

Includes 37,000 shares held jointly by Mr. Lehner and his spouse. Includes 11,055 shares of RSUs that will vest on March 31, 2020.  

(4)

Share information as of January 3, 2020, when Mr. Schnaufer stepped down as an executive officer of the Company.

(5)

Includes 46,850 shares held jointly by Mr. Burbach and his spouse. Includes 8,250 shares of RSUs that will vest on March 31, 2020.  

(6)

Includes 45,000 shares held jointly by Mr. Richardson and his spouse. Includes 8,250 shares of RSUs that will vest on March 31, 2020.  

(7)

Includes 7,150 shares of RSUs that will vest on March 31, 2020.  

(8)

Our executive officers at February 28, 2020 consisted of Ms. Kannan, and Messrs. Lehner, Burbach, Richardson, Silver and Orth.  Mr. Schnaufer stepped down as an executive officer of the Company effective January 3, 2020.  Accordingly, Mr. Schnaufer is not included in this group. The total number of shares includes each current executive officers’ shares of RSUs that will vest on March 31,2020.  

4259    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


Ownership of More Than 5% of Ryerson Stock

The table below describes each person or entity that we know (based on filings on Schedule 13G or 13D with the SEC) to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of Ryerson common stock as of February 28, 2020.2023.

Name of Beneficial Owner

Amount and Nature of

Beneficial Ownership

(Number of Shares)

 

Percent of

Class(1)

 

Joint filing by:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tom Gores, Platinum Equity, LLC and the other reporting

   persons identified in the applicable Schedule 13G/A(2)

 

 

21,037,500

 

 

 

 

 

55.68

%

Towle & Co

 

 

2,127,669

 

 

 

 

 

5.63

%

(1)

The percentages in the table are based on the 37,783,761 shares of common stock outstanding as of February 28, 2020.

(2)

Beneficial ownership information is based on information contained in a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 12, 2016, by each of the following reporting persons (i) RYPS, LLC (“RYPS”), (ii) Platinum Equity Capital Partners, L.P. (“PECP”), (iii) Platinum Equity Capital Partners-PF, L.P. (“PECP-PF”), (iv) Platinum Equity Capital Partners-A, L.P. (“PECP-A”), (v) Platinum Equity Capital Partners II, L.P. (“PECP II”), (vi) Platinum Equity Capital Partners-PF II, L.P. (“PECP-PF II”), (vii) Platinum Equity Capital Partners-A II, L.P. (“PECP-A II”), (viii) Platinum Rhombus Principals, LLC (“PRP”), (ix) Platinum Equity Partners, LLC (“PEP”), (x) Platinum Equity Investment Holdings, LLC (“PEIH”), (xi) Platinum Equity Partners II, LLC (“PEP II”), (xii) Platinum Equity Investment Holdings II, LLC (“PEIH II”), (xiii) Platinum Equity, LLC (“Platinum Equity”), and (xiv) Tom Gores, an individual. The business address of each of the reporting persons identified in this footnote is 360 North Crescent Drive, South Building, Beverly Hills, California 90210.

Name of Beneficial Owner

Amount and Nature of
Beneficial Ownership
(Number of Shares)

 

Percent of
Class
(1)

Joint filing by Tom Gores, Platinum Equity, LLC and the other reporting persons identified in the applicable Schedule 13G/A(2)

 

11,924,478

 

 

 

33.61%

 

BlackRock, Inc.(3)

 

1,993,973

 

 

 

5.56%

 

(1) The percentages in the table are based on the 35,475,124 shares of common stock outstanding as of February 28, 2023.

(2) Beneficial ownership information is based on information contained in a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 9, 2023, by each of the following reporting persons (i) RYPS, LLC (“RYPS”), (ii) Platinum Equity Partners II, LLC, (iii) Platinum Equity InvestCo, L.P., (iv) Platinum Equity Investment Holdings IC (Cayman), LLC, (v) Platinum Equity Investment Holdings, LLC, (vi) Platinum Equity, LLC, and (vii) Tom Gores, an individual. The business address of each of the reporting persons identified in this footnote is 360 North Crescent Drive, South Building, Beverly Hills, California 90210.

According to the Schedule 13G/A, of these 21,037,500 shares, (i) RYPS, had sole voting and dispositive power with respect to 21,037,500 shares, (ii) PECP had shared voting and dispositive power with respect to 3,022,756.57 shares, (iii) PECP-PF had shared voting and dispositive power with respect to 564,690.79 shares, (iv) PECP-A had shared voting and dispositive power with respect to 830,427.65 shares, (v) PECP II had shared voting and dispositive power with respect to 9,399,614.5 shares, (vi) PECP-PF II had shared voting and dispositive power with respect to 1,523,055.5 shares, (vii) PECP-A II had shared voting and dispositive power with respect to 1,489,455 shares, (viii) PRP had shared voting and dispositive power with respect to 4,207,500 shares, (ix) PEP had shared voting and dispositive power with respect to 4,417,875 shares, (x) PEIH had shared voting and dispositive power with respect to 4,417,875 shares, (xi) PEP II had shared voting and dispositive power with respect to 12,412,125 shares, (xii) PEIH II had shared voting and dispositive power with respect to 16,619,625 shares, (xiii) Platinum Equity had shared votingPartners II, LLC, Platinum Equity Investment Holdings II, LLC, Platinum Equity InvestCo, L.P., Platinum Equity Investment Holdings IC (Cayman), LLC, Platinum Equity Investment Holdings, LLC, Platinum Equity, LLC and dispositive power with respect to 21,037,500 shares, and (xiv) Tom Gores had shared voting and dispositive power with respect to 21,037,500 shares. According to a Form 4 filed by Tom Gores on August 15, 2014, an additional 50,000 shares not reflected in the above table are held by a trust for his benefit and such shares may be deemed to have shared dispositive voting power with regard to these 15,924,478 shares.

(3) Beneficial ownership information is based on information contained in a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 3, 2023 by BlackRock,

Inc. The business address of BlackRock, Inc. is 55 East 52nd Street, New York, New York 10055. According to the Schedule 13G, BlackRock,

Inc. may
be beneficially owned by him.deemed to have sole dispositive power regarding these 1,973,993 shares.

60    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION

(3)

Beneficial ownership information is based on information contained in a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 14, 2020, by Towle & Co.

    2020 Proxy Statement    43


Investor Rights Agreement

Ryerson Holding Corporation and Platinum entered into an investor rights agreement (the “Investor Rights Agreement”) in connection with the IPO that provides for, among other things, demand, piggyback and Form S-3 registration rights and board nomination rights.

The Investor Rights Agreement provides that Platinum may make written demands of us to require us to register the shares of our common stock owned by Platinum; provided, however that we will not be obligated to effect more than two such demand registrations. In addition, Platinum has piggyback registration rights entitling them to require us to register shares of our common stock owned by them in connection with any registration statements filed by us after the completion of the IPO, subject to certain exceptions. We have also agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to qualify for registration on Form S-3 for secondary sales. After we have qualified for the use of Form S-3, Platinum will, subject to certain exceptions, have the right to request an unlimited number of registrations on Form S-3. We are not obligated to effect a registration unless certain pricing or timing conditions are first satisfied.

On December 20, 2016,January 29, 2021, we filed a Registration Statement on Form S-3, afterwhich allows for Platinum exercised its right to request a registration on Form S-3.offer and sell up to an aggregate maximum amount of 21,037,500 shares of our common stock. The Form S-3 was declared effective on January 15, 2017,February 12, 2021, and expiredexpires three years thereafter.

The Investor Rights Agreement provides that we will indemnify Platinum against losses suffered by it in connection with any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any prospectus, offering circular, or other document delivered or made available to investors (or in any related registration statement or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statement therein not misleading, except insofar as the same may be caused by or contained in any information furnished in writing to us by Platinum for use therein.

The Investor Rights Agreement provides that for so long as Platinum collectively beneficially owns at least (i) 30% of the voting power of the outstanding capital stock of the Company, Platinum will have the right to nominate for election to the Board no fewer than that number of directors that would constitute a majority of the number of directors if there were no vacancies on the Board, (ii) at least 15% but less than 30% of the voting power of the outstanding capital stock of the Company, Platinum will have the right to nominate two directors and (iii) at least 5% but less than 15% of the voting power of the outstanding capital stock of the Company, Platinum will have the right to nominate one director. The agreement also provides that if the size of the Board is increased or decreased at any time, Platinum’s nomination rights will be proportionately increased or decreased, respectively, rounded up to the nearest whole number.

The Investor Rights Agreement was negotiated among management and Platinum, and we believe the Investor Rights Agreement is on arm’s-length terms.

Related Party Transactions with RYPS

On August 4, 2021, the Board authorized a share repurchase program that permitted the purchase of up to $50 million of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock. The Company repurchased 1,613,022 shares of its common stock from RYPS, a then-greater than 5% beneficial owner of the Company’s common stock, for $47,680,940, pursuant to a share repurchase agreement, dated May 10, 2022 (the “Initial Share Repurchase”). At the time of the Initial Share Repurchase, RYPS was a greater than 5% beneficial owner of the Company’s common stock and thus a “Related Party” as such term is defined in item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.



On August 3, 2022, the Board authorized a new $75 million share repurchase program, effective through August 4, 2024, unless terminated, after the exhaustion of the previous share repurchase program. The Company repurchased 2,486,580 shares of its common from RYPS, a then-greater than 5% beneficial owner of the Company’s common stock, for $53,000,000, pursuant to a share repurchase agreement, dated February 24, 2023 (the “Second Share Repurchase” and together with the Initial Share Repurchase, the “Share Repurchases”). At the time of the Second Share Repurchase, RYPS was a greater than 5% beneficial owner of the Company’s common stock and thus a “Related Party” as such term is defined in item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.



61    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


The Transaction Committee is responsible for approving potential share repurchases from RYPS. The Transaction Committee reviewed the relevant facts and circumstances of the Share Repurchases and determined that the Share Repurchases were in the best interest of the Company. Following such assessment, the Transaction Committee authorized the Share Repurchases.

Policies and Procedures Regarding Transactions with Related Persons

Our Board has adopted a written policy regarding related person transactions that contains procedures for the review and approval/disapproval of such transactions. Related person transactions are transactions between the Company and/or its subsidiaries and affiliates on the one hand and “related persons” on the other hand. The policy requires the Audit Committee (which is comprised solely of independent directors) to review the material facts of all related party transactions that require approval and approve or disapprove the entry by us into certain transactions with related persons. The policy only applies to transactions, arrangements and relationships where the aggregate amount involved could reasonably be expected to exceed $120,000 in any calendar year and in which a related person has a direct or indirect interest. In addition, the policy lists certain transactions that are deemed to be pre-approved. A “related person” is: (i) any director, nominee for director or executive officer of the Company; (ii) any immediate family member of a director, nominee for director or executive officer; and (iii) any holder of 5% or more of any class of our voting securities, and any immediate family member of such holder. In addition to the above, the Audit Committee being fully independent from Platinum reviews, and approves or disapproves any transactionbetween the Company and/or its subsidiaries and affiliates on the one hand and any entity affiliated with Platinum on the other hand.

The policy provides that if advance approval of a transaction subject to the policy is not feasible or obtained, (a) if the transaction mustis pending or ongoing, it will be promptly submitted to the NominatingAudit Committee or the Board for consideration and Corporate Governanceevaluation of all options, including but not limited to, approval, ratification, amendment or termination of the related party transaction and (b) of the transaction is completed, the Audit Committee for possibleor the Board will consider the transaction to determine ratification approval, amendment, termination or rescission.rescission of the transaction and if any further action is appropriate. In reviewing any transaction, the Audit Committee will take into account, among other factors the Audit Committee deems appropriate, whether the transaction is on terms no less favorable than terms generally available to a third party in similar circumstances on an arm’s length basis and the extent of the related person’s interest in the transaction.

Any member of the Audit CommitteeA director who is a related person with respect to a transaction under review may not participate in any discussion or vote on the approval or ratification of the transaction.transaction,except that the director will provide all material information concerning the related party transaction to the Audit Committee or the Board. However, such a director may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Audit Committee that considers the transaction.

If a related party transaction will be ongoing, the Audit Committee or the Board may establish guidelines for the Company’s management to follow in its ongoing dealings with the related person.

4462    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


Other InformationInformation

Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations for the 20212024 Annual Meeting

Stockholders may present proposals for action at a future meeting or submit nominations for election of directors only if they comply with the requirements of the proxy rules established by the SEC and our amended and restated Bylaws, as applicable. Each proposal submitted must be a proper subject for stockholder action at the meeting.

In order for a stockholder proposal or nomination for director to be considered for inclusion in our proxy statement and form of proxy relating to our annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2021,2024, the proposal or nomination must be received by us at our principal executive offices no later than November 13, 202011, 2023, and it must comply with the requirements of the proxy rules established by the SEC and our amended and restated Bylaws, as applicable. In particular, all proposals must comply with Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, which lists the requirements for the inclusion of stockholder proposals in company-sponsored proxy materials. Stockholders wishing to bring a proposal or nominate a director before the annual meeting to be held in 20202024 (but not include it in our proxy materials) must provide written notice of such proposal to our Secretary at our principal executive offices (227 W. Monroe St., 27th Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60606) no later than January 24, 202127, 2024 and no earlier than December 25, 2020,28, 2023, and must comply with the other provisions of our amended and restated Bylaws. The notice must be submitted by a stockholder of record and must set forth the information required by the SEC proxy rules and the Company’s Bylaws with respect to each director nomination or other proposal that the stockholder intends to present at the 20212023 annual meeting of stockholders, including:

Ο

The nature of the proposed business, the text of any proposal to be presented for adoption, and the reasons for conducting that business at the annual meeting;

Ο

The stockholder’s name, address and other personal information;

Ο

The class and number of shares of our stock beneficially owned by the stockholder;

Ο

A description of any material interest of the stockholder in the proposed business;

Ο

A description of all arrangements or understandings between the stockholder and others in connection with the proposal of the business; and

Ο

With respect to a director nomination, additional information regarding the proposed nominee.

ΟThe nature of the proposed business, the text of any proposal to be presented for adoption, and the reasons for conducting that business at the annual meeting;

ΟThe stockholder’s name, address and other personal information;

ΟThe class and number of shares of our stock beneficially owned by the stockholder;

ΟA description of any material interest of the stockholder in the proposed business;

ΟA description of all arrangements or understandings between the stockholder and others in connection with the proposal of the business; and

ΟWith respect to a director nomination, additional information regarding the proposed nominee.

In addition, to comply with the universal proxy rules, stockholders who intend to solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than our nominees must provide notice that sets forth the information required by Rule 14a-19(b) under the Exchange Act, which must be postmarked or transmitted electronically to our principal executive office no later than February 26, 2024.

The chairperson of the meeting may disregard (i) any business not properly brought before the meeting according to our Bylaws and other applicable requirements, and (ii) any nomination not made in accordance with the above procedures.

Stockholder Nominations for Directors

If a stockholder wishes to suggest a director nominee for the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s consideration, it may do so in writing by mailing the suggestion to Ryerson Holding Corporation, Attention: Secretary, 227 W. Monroe St., 27th Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60606. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider director nominees suggested by stockholders for election at the annual stockholders meeting if our corporate secretary receives the suggestion not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days in advance of the anniversary of the prior year’s meeting. The suggestion must describe in detail the proposed director nominee’s qualifications and other relevant biographical information. It also must include:

Ο

The stockholder’s name, address and contact information;

Ο

The class and number of shares of our stock beneficially owned by the stockholder;

Ο

A description of all arrangements or understandings between the stockholder, the suggested director nominee and/or any others in connection in connection with the suggested nomination;

Ο

Our Bylaws, including the procedures outlined above;

Ο

Any other information that must be disclosed about director nominees in proxy solicitations under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act; and

Ο

A representation that such stockholder intends to appear in person or be present by proxy at the meeting to nominate the person named in its notice.

ΟThe stockholder’s name, address and contact information;

ΟThe class and number of shares of our stock beneficially owned by the stockholder;

ΟA description of all arrangements or understandings between the stockholder, the suggested director nominee and/or any others in connection in connection with the suggested nomination;

ΟOur Bylaws, including the procedures outlined above;

ΟAny other information that must be disclosed about director nominees in proxy solicitations under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act; and

ΟA representation that such stockholder intends to appear in person or be present by proxy at the meeting to nominate the person named in its notice.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may disregard any nomination not made in accordance with the above procedures.

63    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


Ryerson’s Annual Report on Form 10-K

We made our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019,2022, available online with this proxy statement. Paper copies of our Annual Report on Form 10-K can be obtained at no charge by contacting us at Investor Relations, 227 W. Monroe St., 27th Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60606, email: investorinfo@ryerson.com, or telephone: 312-292-5130. Our SEC filings, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K, can be found on our website http://ir.ryerson.com/ by clicking on “SEC Filings,” or through the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

We request that you promptly request a proxy card to sign, date and return or provide voting instructions over the telephone or through the Internet so that your vote will be included at the meeting.

64    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION

    2020 Proxy Statement    45


Appendix A

Non-GAAP Financial Information for Compensation Discussion and Analysis

The following table sets forth the reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA and Managerial Controllable Free Cash Flow to the most comparable GAAP measures for the year ended December 31, 2019.2022.

Reconciliation of Net income to Adjusted EBITDA, excluding LIFO and Managerial Controllable Free Cash Flow, non-GAAP measures

(in millions)

Fiscal Year

Ended

December 31, 20192022

($)

Net income attributable to Ryerson Holding Corporation

82.4391.0

Interest and other expense on debt

93.233.2

Provision for income taxes

32.5131.4

Depreciation and amortization expense

58.459.0

EBITDA

266.5614.6

Gain on sale of assets

(20.6(3.8)

)

Gain on insurance settlementbargain purchase

(1.5(0.6)

)

Reorganization

9.36.9

Foreign currency transaction lossesgains

1.11.3

Loss on retirement of debt

0.221.3

Purchase consideration and other transaction costs

4.10.2

Other adjustments

0.10.2

Adjusted EBITDA

259.2640.1

LIFO incomeexpense (income)

(69.1(58.1)

)

Adjusted EBITDA, excluding LIFO Expense

190.1582.0

Changes in Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow for:

Inventories

65.939.9

Receivables

92.5126.7

Accounts Payable

(78.2(72.1)

)

Capital Expenditures

(45.8105.1

)

Proceeds from Sale of Property, Plant and Equipment

70.48.0

Managerial Controllable Free Cash Flow

294.9579.4

65    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION

    2020 Proxy Statement    A-1


Appendix B

RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
2014 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

Effective August 6, 2014

First Amendment and Restatement Date February 21, 2019
Second Amendment and Restatement Date February [__], 2023

1.
Purpose.

The purpose of the Plan is to assist the Company in attracting, retaining, motivating, and rewarding certain employees, officers, directors, and consultants of the Company and its Affiliates and promoting the creation of long-term value for stockholders of the Company by closely aligning the interests of such individuals with those of such stockholders. The Plan authorizes the award of Stock-based incentives to Eligible Persons to encourage such persons to expend maximum effort in the creation of stockholder value. The Plan was originally adopted on August 6, 2014, and amended and restated on February 21, 2019 and was further amended and restated in its present form on February [__], 2023 (the “Second Restatement Date”), subject to the approval of the Company’s stockholders, to, among other things, increase the number of shares of Stock reserved and available for delivery in connection with Awards under the Plan and to extend the termination date of the Plan to the tenth anniversary of the Second Restatement Date.

2.
Definitions.

For purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall be defined as set forth below:

a.
Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person.
b.
Award” means any Option, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Stock Appreciation Right, or other Stock-based award granted under the Plan.
c.
Award Agreement” means an Option Agreement, a Restricted Stock Agreement, an RSU Agreement, a SAR Agreement, or an agreement governing the grant of any other Stock-based Award granted under the Plan.
d.
Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
e.
Cause” means, with respect to any Participant and in the absence of an Award Agreement or Participant Agreement otherwise defining Cause, (1) the Participant’s conviction of or indictment for any crime (whether or not involving the Company or its Affiliates) (i) constituting a felony or (ii) that has, or could reasonably be expected to result in, an adverse impact on the performance of the Participant’s duties to the Service Recipient, or otherwise has, or could reasonably be expected to result in, an adverse impact on the business or reputation of the Company or its Affiliates, (2) conduct of the Participant, in connection with his employment or service, that has resulted, or could reasonably be expected to result, in material injury to the business or reputation of the Company or its Affiliates, (3) any material violation of the policies of the Company or its Affiliates, including but not limited to those relating to sexual harassment or the disclosure or misuse of confidential information, or those set forth in the manuals or statements of policy of the Company or its Affiliates, (4) willful neglect in the performance of the Participant’s duties for the Service Recipient or willful or repeated failure or refusal to perform such duties; (5) misappropriation by the Participant of any assets or business opportunities of the Company or its Affiliates; or (6) embezzlement or fraud committed by the Participant, at the Participant’s direction, or with the Participant’s prior actual knowledge;provided, however, that if, subsequent to the Participant’s voluntary Termination for any reason or involuntary Termination by the Service Recipient without Cause, it is discovered that the Participant’s employment could have been terminated for Cause, such Participant’s employment shall be deemed to have been terminated for Cause. In the event that there is an Award Agreement or Participant Agreement defining Cause, “Cause” shall have the meaning provided in such agreement, and a Termination by the Service Recipient for Cause hereunder shall not be deemed to have occurred unless all applicable notice and cure periods in such Award Agreement or Participant Agreement are complied with.
f.
Change in Control” means:
i.
a change in ownership or control of the Company effected through a transaction or series of transactions (other than an offering of Stock to the general public through a registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or pursuant to a Non-Control Transaction) whereby any “person” (as defined in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act) or any two or more persons deemed to be one

66    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


“person” (as used in Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act), other than the Company or any of its Affiliates, an employee benefit plan sponsored or maintained by the Company or any of its Affiliates (or its related trust), or any underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, directly or indirectly acquire “beneficial ownership” (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of securities of the Company possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Company’s securities eligible to vote in the election of the Board (the “Company Voting Securities”);
ii.
the date, within any consecutive twenty-four (24) month period commencing on or after the Effective Date, upon which individuals who constitute the Board as of the Effective Date (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual who becomes a director subsequent to the Effective Date whose election or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then constituting the Incumbent Board (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such individual is named as a nominee for director, without objection to such nomination) shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest (including but not limited to a consent solicitation) with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a person other than the Board;
iii.
the consummation of a merger, consolidation, share exchange, or similar form of corporate transaction involving the Company or any of its Affiliates that requires the approval of the Company’s stockholders (whether for such transaction or the issuance of securities in the transaction or otherwise) (a “Reorganization”), unless immediately following such Reorganization (i) more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of (A) the corporation resulting from such Reorganization (the “Surviving Company”) or (B) if applicable, the ultimate parent corporation that has, directly or indirectly, beneficial ownership of one hundred percent (100%) of the voting securities of the Surviving Company (the “Parent Company”), is represented by Company Voting Securities that were outstanding immediately prior to such Reorganization (or, if applicable, is represented by shares into which such Company Voting Securities were converted pursuant to such Reorganization), and such voting power among the holders thereof is in substantially the same proportion as the voting power of such Company Voting Securities among holders thereof immediately prior to the Reorganization, (ii) no person, other than an employee benefit plan sponsored or maintained by the Surviving Company or the Parent Company (or its related trust), is or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of fifty percent (50%) or more of the total voting power of the outstanding voting securities eligible to elect directors of the Parent Company, or if there is no Parent Company, the Surviving Company, and (iii) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the Parent Company, or if there is no Parent Company, the Surviving Company, following the consummation of the Reorganization are members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the Board’s approval of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such Reorganization (any Reorganization which satisfies all of the criteria specified in (i), (ii), and (iii) above shall be a “Non-Control Transaction”); or
iv.
the sale or disposition, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to any “person” (as defined in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act) or to any two or more persons deemed to be one “person” (as used in Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) other than the Company’s Affiliates.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) a Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur solely because any person acquires beneficial ownership of fifty percent (50%) or more of the Company Voting Securities as a result of an acquisition of Company Voting Securities by the Company that reduces the number of Company Voting Securities outstanding; provided that if after such acquisition by the Company such person becomes the beneficial owner of additional Company Voting Securities that increases the percentage of outstanding Company Voting Securities beneficially owned by such person, a Change in Control shall then occur, and (y) with respect to the payment of any amount that constitutes a deferral of compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code payable upon a Change in Control, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to have occurred, unless the Change in Control constitutes a change in the ownership or effective control of the Company or in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company under Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(v) of the Code.

g.
Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, including regulations thereunder and successor provisions and regulations thereto.

67    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


h.
Committee” means the Board or such other committee consisting of two or more individuals appointed by the Board to administer the Plan and each other individual or committee of individuals designated to exercise authority under the Plan.
i.
Company” means Ryerson Holding Corporation, a Delaware corporation.
j.
Company Voting Securities” has the meaning set forth in 2(f)(i) above.
k.
Corporate Event” has the meaning set forth in Section 10(b) below.
l.
Data” has the meaning set forth in Section 20(c) below.
m.
Disability” means, in the absence of an Award Agreement or Participant Agreement otherwise defining Disability, the permanent and total disability of such Participant within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code. In the event that there is an Award Agreement or Participant Agreement defining Disability, “Disability” shall have the meaning provided in such Award Agreement or Participant Agreement.
n.
Disqualifying Disposition” means any disposition (including any sale) of Stock acquired upon the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option made within the period that ends either (i) two years after the date on which the Participant was granted the Incentive Stock Option or (ii) one year after the date upon which the Participant acquired the Stock.
o.
Effective Date” means August 6, 2014.
p.
Eligible Person” means (1) each employee and officer of the Company or of any of its Affiliates, including each such employee and officer who may also be a director of the Company or any of its Affiliates, (2) each non-employee director of the Company or any of its Affiliates, (3) each other natural person who provides substantial services to the Company or any of its Affiliates as a consultant or advisor and who is designated as eligible by the Committee, and (4) each natural person who has been offered employment by the Company or any of its Affiliates; provided that such prospective employee may not receive any payment or exercise any right relating to an Award until such person has commenced employment or service with the Company or its Affiliates;provided further, however, that (i) with respect to any Award that is intended to qualify as a “stock right” that does not provide for a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, the term Affiliate as used in this Section 2(p) shall include only those corporations or other entities in the unbroken chain of corporations or other entities beginning with the Company where each of the corporations or other entities in the unbroken chain other than the last corporation or other entity owns stock possessing at least fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations or other entities in the chain, and (ii) with respect to any Award that is intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, the term “Affiliate” as used in this Section 2(p) shall include only those entities that qualify as a “subsidiary corporation” with respect to the Company within the meaning of Code Section 424(f). An employee on an approved leave of absence may be considered as still in the employ of the Company or its Affiliates for purposes of eligibility for participation in the Plan.
q.
Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, including rules and regulations thereunder and successor provisions and rules and regulations thereto.
r.
Expiration Date” means the date upon which the term of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right expires, as determined under Section 5(b) or 8(b) hereof, as applicable.
s.
Fair Market Value” means, as of any date when the Stock is listed on one or more national securities exchanges, the closing price reported on the principal national securities exchange on which such Stock is listed and traded on the date of determination, or if the closing price is not reported on such date of determination, the closing price reported on the most recent date prior to the date of determination. If the Stock is not listed on a national securities exchange, the Fair Market Value shall mean the amount determined by the Board in good faith, and in a manner consistent with Section 409A of the Code, to be the fair market value per share of Stock.
t.
Incentive Stock Option” means an Option intended to qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.
u.
Incumbent Board” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(f)(ii) above.
v.
Non-Control Transaction” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(f)(iii) above.
w.
Nonqualified Stock Option” means an Option not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.

68    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


x.
Option” means a conditional right, granted to a Participant under Section 5 hereof, to purchase Stock at a specified price during a specified time period.
y.
Option Agreement” means a written agreement (including an electronic writing to the extent permitted by applicable law) between the Company and a Participant evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Option grant.
z.
Parent Company” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(f)(iii) above.
aa.
Participant” means an Eligible Person who has been granted an Award under the Plan, or if applicable, such other Person who holds an Award.
bb.
Participant Agreement” means an employment or services agreement between a Participant and the Service Recipient that describes the terms and conditions of such Participant’s employment or service with the Service Recipient and is effective as of the date of determination.
cc.
Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, firm, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, or other entity.
dd.
Plan” means this Ryerson Holding Corporation 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended and restated on February 21, 2019, and further amended and restated on February [__], 2023 and as further amended from time to time.
ee.
Qualified Member” means a member of the Committee who is a “Non-Employee Director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act and an “independent director” as defined under, as applicable, the NASDAQ Listing Rules, the NYSE Listed Company Manual or other applicable stock exchange rules.
ff.
Qualifying Committee” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(b) hereof.
gg.
Reorganization” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(f)(iii) above.
hh.
Restricted Stock” means Stock granted to a Participant under Section 6 hereof that is subject to certain restrictions and to a risk of forfeiture.
ii.
Restricted Stock Agreement” means a written agreement (including an electronic writing to the extent permitted by applicable law) between the Company and a Participant evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Restricted Stock grant.
jj.
Restricted Stock Unit” means a notional unit, granted to a Participant under Section 7 hereof, representing the right to receive one share of Stock (or the cash value of one share of Stock, if so determined by the Committee) on a specified settlement date.
kk.
RSU Agreement” means a written agreement (including an electronic writing to the extent permitted by applicable law) between the Company and a Participant evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual grant of Restricted Stock Units.
ll.
SAR Agreement” means a written agreement (including an electronic writing to the extent permitted by applicable law) between the Company and a Participant evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual grant of Stock Appreciation Rights.
mm.
Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, including rules and regulations thereunder and successor provisions and rules and regulations thereto.
nn.
Service Recipient” means, with respect to a Participant holding a given Award, either the Company or an Affiliate of the Company by which the original recipient of such Award is, or following a Termination was most recently, principally employed or to which such original recipient provides, or following a Termination was most recently providing, services, as applicable.
oo.
Stock” means the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and such other securities as may be substituted for such stock pursuant to Section 10 hereof.
pp.
Stock Appreciation Right” means a conditional right, granted to a Participant under Section 8 hereof, to receive an amount equal to the value of the appreciation in the Stock over a specified period. Except in the event of extraordinary circumstances, as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, or pursuant to Section 10(b) below, Stock Appreciation Rights shall be settled in Stock.
qq.
Surviving Company” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(f)(iii) above.

69    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


rr.
Termination” means the termination of a Participant’s employment or service, as applicable, with the Service Recipient;provided, however, that, if so determined by the Committee at the time of any change in status in relation to the Service Recipient (e.g., a Participant ceases to be an employee and begins providing services as a consultant, or vice versa), such change in status will not be deemed a Termination hereunder. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, in the event that any Service Recipient ceases to be an Affiliate of the Company (by reason of sale, divestiture, spin-off, or other similar transaction), unless a Participant’s employment or service is transferred to another entity that would constitute a Service Recipient immediately following such transaction, such Participant shall be deemed to have suffered a Termination hereunder as of the date of the consummation of such transaction. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, a Participant’s change in status in relation to the Service Recipient (for example, a change from employee to consultant) shall not be deemed a Termination hereunder with respect to any Awards constituting nonqualified deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code that are payable upon a Termination unless such change in status constitutes a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code. Any payments in respect of an Award constituting nonqualified deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code that are payable upon a Termination shall be delayed for such period as may be necessary to meet the requirements of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code. On the first business day following the expiration of such period, the Participant shall be paid, in a single lump sum without interest, an amount equal to the aggregate amount of all payments delayed pursuant to the preceding sentence, and any remaining payments not so delayed shall continue to be paid pursuant to the payment schedule applicable to such Award.
3.
Administration.
a.
Authority of the Committee. Except as otherwise provided below, the Plan shall be administered by the Committee. The Committee shall have full and final authority, in each case subject to and consistent with the provisions of the Plan, to (1) select Eligible Persons to become Participants, (2) grant Awards, (3) determine the type, number of shares of Stock subject to, other terms and conditions of, and all other matters relating to, Awards, (4) prescribe Award Agreements (which need not be identical for each Participant) and rules and regulations for the administration of the Plan, (5) construe and interpret the Plan and Award Agreements and correct defects, supply omissions, and reconcile inconsistencies therein, (6) suspend the right to exercise Awards during any period that the Committee deems appropriate to comply with applicable securities laws, and thereafter extend the exercise period of an Award by an equivalent period of time, and (7) make all other decisions and determinations as the Committee may deem necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan. Any action of the Committee shall be final, conclusive, and binding on all persons, including, without limitation, the Company, its Affiliates, Eligible Persons, Participants, and beneficiaries of Participants. For the avoidance of doubt, the Board shall have the authority to take all actions under the Plan that the Committee is permitted to take.
b.
Manner of Exercise of Committee Authority.At any time that a member of the Committee is not a Qualified Member, any action of the Committee relating to an Award granted or to be granted to a Participant who is then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act in respect of the Company, must be taken by a subcommittee, designated by the Committee or the Board, composed solely of two or more Qualified Members or the full Board (a “Qualifying Committee”). Any action authorized by such a Qualifying Committee shall be deemed the action of the Committee for purposes of the Plan. The express grant of any specific power to the Qualifying Committee, and the taking of any action by the Qualifying Committee, shall not be construed as limiting any power or authority of the Committee.
c.
Delegation. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Committee may delegate to officers or employees of the Company or any of its Affiliates, or committees thereof, the authority, subject to such terms as the Committee shall determine, to perform such functions under the Plan, including, but not limited to, administrative functions, as the Committee may determine appropriate. The Committee may appoint agents to assist it in administering the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, any Award granted under the Plan to any Eligible Person who is not an employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates (including any non-employee director of the Company or any Affiliate) or to any Eligible Person who is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act must be expressly approved by the Committee or Qualifying Committee in accordance with subsection (b) above.
d.
Section 409A. The Committee shall take into account compliance with Section 409A of the Code in connection with any grant of an Award under the Plan, to the extent applicable. While the Awards granted hereunder are intended to be structured in a manner to avoid the imposition of any penalty taxes under Section 409A of the Code, in no event whatsoever shall the Company or any of its Affiliates be liable for any

70    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


additional tax, interest, or penalties that may be imposed on a Participant as a result of Section 409A of the Code or any damages for failing to comply with Section 409A of the Code or any similar state or local laws (other than for withholding obligations or other obligations applicable to employers, if any, under Section 409A of the Code).
4.
Shares Available Under the Plan.
a.
Number of Shares Available for Delivery. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 10 hereof, the total number of shares of Stock reserved and available for delivery in connection with Awards under the Plan shall equal 5,495,000. Shares of Stock delivered under the Plan shall consist of authorized and unissued shares or previously issued shares of Stock reacquired by the Company on the open market or by private purchase.Notwithstanding the foregoing, the number of shares of Stock available for issuance hereunder shall not be reduced by shares issued pursuant to Awards issued or assumed in connection with a merger or acquisition as contemplated by, as applicable, NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c) and IM-5635-1, NYSE Listed Company Manual Section 303A.08, AMEX Company Guide Section 711, or other applicable stock exchange rules, and their respective successor rules and listing exchange promulgations (each such Award, a “Substitute Award”).
b.
Share Counting Rules. The Committee may adopt reasonable counting procedures to ensure appropriate counting, avoid double-counting (as, for example, in the case of tandem awards or Substitute Awards) and make adjustments if the number of shares of Stock actually delivered differs from the number of shares previously counted in connection with an Award. Other than with respect to a Substitute Award, to the extent that an Award expires or is canceled, forfeited, settled in cash, or otherwise terminated without a delivery to the Participant of the full number of shares to which the Award related, the undelivered shares will again be available for grant. Shares withheld in payment of the exercise price or taxes relating to an Award and shares equal to the number surrendered in payment of any exercise price or taxes relating to an Award shall be deemed to constitute shares not delivered to the Participant and shall be deemed to again be available for Awards under the Plan; provided, however, that such shares shall not become available for issuance hereunder if either (1) the applicable shares are withheld or surrendered following the termination of the Plan or (2) at the time the applicable shares are withheld or surrendered, it would constitute a material revision of the Plan subject to stockholder approval under any then-applicable rules of the national securities exchange on which the Stock is listed.
c.
Incentive Stock Options. No more than 5,495,000 shares of Stock (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 10 hereof) reserved for issuance hereunder may be issued or transferred upon exercise or settlement of Incentive Stock Options.
d.
Limitation on Awards to Non-Employee Directors. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the maximum number of shares of Stock that may be subject to Awards granted to any non-employee director of the Company in any one calendar year shall not exceed 20,000 shares of Stock (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 10 hereof); provided, that the Committee may make exceptions to this limit, provided that the non-employee director receiving such Award relating to the shares that exceed such limit may not participate in the decision to grant such Award.
e.
Shares Available Under Acquired Plans. To the extent permitted by NYSE Listed Company Manual Section 303A.08, NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c) or other applicable stock exchange rules, subject to applicable law, in the event that a company acquired by the Company or with which the Company combines has shares available under a pre-existing plan approved by stockholders and not adopted in contemplation of such acquisition or combination, the shares available for grant pursuant to the terms of such pre-existing plan (as adjusted, to the extent appropriate, using the exchange ratio or other adjustment or valuation ratio of formula used in such acquisition or combination to determine the consideration payable to the holders of common stock of the entities party to such acquisition or combination) may be used for Awards under the Plan and shall not reduce the number of shares of Stock reserved and available for delivery in connection with Awards under the Plan; providedthat Awards using such available shares shall not be made after the date awards could have been made under the terms of such pre-existing plan, absent the acquisition or combination, and shall only be made to individuals who were not employed by the Company or any subsidiary of the Company immediately prior to such acquisition or combination.
5.
Options.
a.
General. Certain Options granted under the Plan are intended to qualify as Incentive Stock Options. Options may be granted to Eligible Persons in such form and having such terms and conditions as the Committee shall

71    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


deem appropriate; provided, however, that Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Eligible Persons who are employees of the Company or an Affiliate (as such definition is limited pursuant to Section 2(p) above) of the Company. The provisions of separate Options shall be set forth in separate Option Agreements, which agreements need not be identical. No dividends or dividend equivalents shall be paid on Options.
b.
Term. The term of each Option shall be set by the Committee at the time of grant; provided, however, that no Option granted hereunder shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date it was granted.
c.
Exercise Price. The exercise price per share of Stock for each Option shall be set by the Committee at the time of grant; provided, however, that if an Option is intended to qualify as either (1) a “stock right” that does not provide for a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, or (2) an Incentive Stock Option, then in each case the applicable exercise price shall not be less than the Fair Market Value on the date of grant, subject to subsection (g) below in the case of any Incentive Stock Option. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Option that is a Substitute Award, the exercise price per share of Stock for such Option may be less than the Fair Market Value on the date of grant; provided, that such exercise price is determined in a manner consistent with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code and, if applicable, Section 424(a) of the Code.
d.
Payment for Stock. Payment for shares of Stock acquired pursuant to Options granted hereunder shall be made in full upon exercise of an Option in a manner approved by the Committee, which may include any of the following payment methods: (1) in immediately available funds in United States dollars, or by certified or bank cashier’s check, (2) by delivery of shares of Stock having a value equal to the exercise price, (3) by a broker-assisted cashless exercise in accordance with procedures approved by the Committee, whereby payment of the Option exercise price or tax withholding obligations may be satisfied, in whole or in part, with shares of Stock subject to the Option by delivery of an irrevocable direction to a securities broker (on a form prescribed by the Committee) to sell shares of Stock and to deliver all or part of the sale proceeds to the Company in payment of the aggregate exercise price and, if applicable, the amount necessary to satisfy the Company’s withholding obligations, or (4) by any other means approved by the Committee (including, by delivery of a notice of “net exercise” to the Company, pursuant to which the Participant shall receive the number of shares of Stock underlying the Option so exercised reduced by the number of shares of Stock equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Option divided by the Fair Market Value on the date of exercise). Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, if the Committee determines that any form of payment available hereunder would be in violation of Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, such form of payment shall not be available.
e.
Vesting. Options shall vest and become exercisable in such manner, on such date or dates, or upon the achievement of performance or other conditions, in each case as may be determined by the Committee and set forth in an Option Agreement; provided, however, that notwithstanding any such vesting dates, the Committee may in its sole discretion accelerate the vesting of any Option at any time and for any reason. Unless otherwise specifically determined by the Committee, the vesting of an Option shall occur only while the Participant is employed by or rendering services to the Service Recipient, and all vesting shall cease upon a Participant’s Termination for any reason. If an Option is exercisable in installments, such installments or portions thereof that become exercisable shall remain exercisable until the Option expires.
f.
Termination of Employment or Service. Except as provided by the Committee in an Option Agreement or otherwise:
i.
In the event of a Participant’s Termination for any reason other than (i) by the Service Recipient for Cause, or (ii) by reason of the Participant’s death or Disability, (A) all vesting with respect to such Participant’s outstanding Options shall cease, (B) each of such Participant’s outstanding unvested Options shall expire as of the date of such Termination, and (C) each of such Participant’s outstanding vested Options shall remain exercisable until the earlier of the applicable Expiration Date and the date that is ninety (90) days after the date of such Termination.
ii.
In the event of a Participant’s Termination by reason of such Participant’s death or Disability, (i) all vesting with respect to such Participant’s outstanding Options shall cease, (ii) each of such Participant’s outstanding unvested Options shall expire as of the date of such Termination, and (iii) each of such Participant’s outstanding vested Options shall remain exercisable until the earlier of the applicable Expiration Date and the date that is twelve (12) months after the date of such Termination. In the event of a Participant’s death, such Participant’s Options shall remain exercisable by the person or persons to whom a Participant’s rights under the Options pass by will or by the applicable laws of descent and

72    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


distribution until their expiration, but only to the extent that the Options were vested by such Participant at the time of such Termination.
iii.
In the event of a Participant’s Termination by the Service Recipient for Cause, all of such Participant’s outstanding Options (whether or not vested) shall immediately expire as of the date of such Termination.
g.
Special Provisions Applicable to Incentive Stock Options.
i.
No Incentive Stock Option may be granted to any Eligible Person who, at the time the Option is granted, owns directly, or indirectly within the meaning of Section 424(d) of the Code, stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of any parent or subsidiary thereof, unless such Incentive Stock Option (i) has an exercise price of at least one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value on the date of the grant of such Option and (ii) cannot be exercised more than five (5) years after the date it is granted.
ii.
To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the date of grant) of Stock for which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by any Participant during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and its Affiliates) exceeds $100,000, such excess Incentive Stock Options shall be treated as Nonqualified Stock Options.
iii.
Each Participant who receives an Incentive Stock Option must agree to notify the Company in writing immediately after the Participant makes a Disqualifying Disposition of any Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option.
6.
Restricted Stock.
a.
General. Restricted Stock may be granted to Eligible Persons in such form and having such terms and conditions as the Committee shall deem appropriate. The provisions of separate Awards of Restricted Stock shall be set forth in separate Restricted Stock Agreements, which agreements need not be identical. Subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 6(b), and except as otherwise set forth in the applicable Restricted Stock Agreement, the Participant shall generally have the rights and privileges of a stockholder as to such Restricted Stock, including the right to vote such Restricted Stock. Unless otherwise set forth in a Participant’s Restricted Stock Agreement, cash dividends and stock dividends, if any, with respect to the Restricted Stock shall be withheld by the Company for the Participant’s account, and shall be subject to forfeiture to the same degree as the shares of Restricted Stock to which such dividends relate. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, no interest will accrue or be paid on the amount of any cash dividends withheld.
b.
Vesting and Restrictions on Transfer. Restricted Stock shall vest in such manner, on such date or dates, or upon the achievement of performance or other conditions, in each case as may be determined by the Committee and set forth in a Restricted Stock Agreement; provided, however, that notwithstanding any such vesting dates, the Committee may in its sole discretion accelerate the vesting of any Award of Restricted Stock at any time and for any reason. Unless otherwise specifically determined by the Committee, the vesting of an Award of Restricted Stock shall occur only while the Participant is employed by or rendering services to the Service Recipient, and all vesting shall cease upon a Participant’s Termination for any reason. In addition to any other restrictions set forth in a Participant’s Restricted Stock Agreement, until such time as the Restricted Stock has vested pursuant to the terms of the Restricted Stock Agreement, the Participant shall not be permitted to sell, transfer, pledge, or otherwise encumber the Restricted Stock.
c.
Termination of Employment or Service. Except as provided by the Committee in a Restricted Stock Agreement or otherwise, in the event of a Participant’s Termination for any reason prior to the time that such Participant’s Restricted Stock has vested, (1) all vesting with respect to such Participant’s Restricted Stock shall cease, and (2) as soon as practicable following such Termination, the Company shall repurchase from the Participant, and the Participant shall sell, all of such Participant’s unvested shares of Restricted Stock at a purchase price equal to the lesser of (A) the original purchase price paid for the Restricted Stock (as adjusted for any subsequent changes in the outstanding Stock or in the capital structure of the Company) less any dividends or other distributions or bonus received (or to be received) by the Participant (or any transferee) in respect of such Restricted Stock prior to the date of repurchase and (B) the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the date of such repurchase; provided that, if the original purchase price paid for the Restricted Stock is equal to zero dollars ($0), such unvested shares of Restricted Stock shall be forfeited to the Company by the Participant for no consideration as of the date of such Termination.
7.
Restricted Stock Units.

73    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


a.
General. Restricted Stock Units may be granted to Eligible Persons in such form and having such terms and conditions as the Committee shall deem appropriate. The provisions of separate Restricted Stock Units shall be set forth in separate RSU Agreements, which agreements need not be identical.
b.
Vesting. Restricted Stock Units shall vest in such manner, on such date or dates, or upon the achievement of performance or other conditions, in each case as may be determined by the Committee and set forth in an RSU Agreement; provided, however, that notwithstanding any such vesting dates, the Committee may in its sole discretion accelerate the vesting of any Restricted Stock Unit at any time and for any reason. Unless otherwise specifically determined by the Committee, the vesting of a Restricted Stock Unit shall occur only while the Participant is employed by or rendering services to the Service Recipient, and all vesting shall cease upon a Participant’s Termination for any reason.
c.
Delivery of Stock. Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to a deferral period as set forth in the applicable RSU Agreement, which may or may not coincide with the vesting period, as determined by the Committee in its discretion. Delivery of Stock, cash, or property, as determined by the Committee, will occur upon a specified delivery date or dates upon the expiration of the deferral period specified for the Restricted Stock Units in the RSU Agreement. Unless otherwise set forth in a Participant’s RSU Agreement, a Participant shall not be entitled to dividends (or dividend equivalents), if any, with respect to Restricted Stock Units prior to the actual delivery of shares of Stock.
d.
Termination of Employment or Service. Except as provided by the Committee in an RSU Agreement or otherwise, in the event of a Participant’s Termination for any reason prior to the time that such Participant’s Restricted Stock Units have been settled, (1) all vesting with respect to such Participant’s Restricted Stock Units shall cease, (2) each of such Participant’s outstanding unvested Restricted Stock Units shall be forfeited for no consideration as of the date of such Termination, and (3) any shares remaining undelivered with respect to vested Restricted Stock Units then held by such Participant shall be delivered on the delivery date or dates specified in the RSU Agreement.
8.
Stock Appreciation Rights.
a.
General. Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted to Eligible Persons in such form and having such terms and conditions as the Committee shall deem appropriate. The provisions of separate Stock Appreciation Rights shall be set forth in separate SAR Agreements, which agreements need not be identical. No dividends or dividend equivalents shall be paid on Stock Appreciation Rights.
b.
Term. The term of each Stock Appreciation Right shall be set by the Committee at the time of grant; provided, however, that no Stock Appreciation Right granted hereunder shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date it was granted.
c.
Base Price. The base price per share of Stock for each Stock Appreciation Right shall be set by the Committee at the time of grant; provided, however, that if a Stock Appreciation Right is intended to qualify as a “stock right” that does not provide for a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, then the applicable base price shall not be less than the Fair Market Value on the date of grant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of a Stock Appreciation Right that is a Substitute Award, the base price per share of Stock for such Stock Appreciation Right may be less than the Fair Market Value on the date of grant; provided, that such base price is determined in a manner consistent with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code.
d.
Vesting. Stock Appreciation Rights shall vest and become exercisable in such manner, on such date or dates, or upon the achievement of performance or other conditions, in each case as may be determined by the Committee and set forth in a SAR Agreement; provided, however, that notwithstanding any such vesting dates, the Committee may in its sole discretion accelerate the vesting of any Stock Appreciation Right at any time and for any reason. Unless otherwise specifically determined by the Committee, the vesting of a Stock Appreciation Right shall occur only while the Participant is employed by or rendering services to the Service Recipient, and all vesting shall cease upon a Participant’s Termination for any reason. If a Stock Appreciation Right is exercisable in installments, such installments or portions thereof that become exercisable shall remain exercisable until the Stock Appreciation Right expires.
e.
Payment upon Exercise. Payment upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right may be made in cash, Stock, or property as specified in the SAR Agreement or determined by the Committee, in each case having a value in respect of each share of Stock underlying the portion of the Stock Appreciation Right so exercised, equal to the difference between the base price of such Stock Appreciation Right and the Fair Market Value of one (1) share of Stock on the exercise date. For purposes of clarity, each share of Stock to be issued in settlement of a

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Stock Appreciation Right is deemed to have a value equal to the Fair Market Value of one (1) share of Stock on the exercise date. In no event shall fractional shares be issuable upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, and in the event that fractional shares would otherwise be issuable, the number of shares issuable will be rounded down to the next lower whole number of shares, and the Participant will be entitled to receive a cash payment equal to the value of such fractional share.
f.
Termination of Employment or Service. Except as provided by the Committee in a SAR Agreement or otherwise:
i.
In the event of a Participant’s Termination for any reason other than (i) by the Service Recipient for Cause, or (ii) by reason of the Participant’s death or Disability, (A) all vesting with respect to such Participant’s outstanding Stock Appreciation Rights shall cease, (B) each of such Participant’s outstanding unvested Stock Appreciation Rights shall expire as of the date of such Termination, and (C) each of such Participant’s outstanding vested Stock Appreciation Rights shall remain exercisable until the earlier of the applicable Expiration Date and the date that is ninety (90) days after the date of such Termination.
ii.
In the event of a Participant’s Termination by reason of such Participant’s death or Disability, (i) all vesting with respect to such Participant’s outstanding Stock Appreciation Rights shall cease, (ii) each of such Participant’s outstanding unvested Stock Appreciation Rights shall expire as of the date of such Termination, and (iii) each of such Participant’s outstanding vested Stock Appreciation Rights shall remain exercisable until the earlier of the applicable Expiration Date and the date that is twelve (12) months after the date of such Termination. In the event of a Participant’s death, such Participant’s Stock Appreciation Rights shall remain exercisable by the person or persons to whom a Participant’s rights under the Stock Appreciation Rights pass by will or by the applicable laws of descent and distribution until their expiration, but only to the extent that the Stock Appreciation Rights were vested by such Participant at the time of such Termination.
iii.
In the event of a Participant’s Termination by the Service Recipient for Cause, all of such Participant’s outstanding Stock Appreciation Rights (whether or not vested) shall immediately expire as of the date of such Termination.
9.
Other Stock-Based Awards.

The Committee is authorized, subject to limitations under applicable law, to grant to Eligible Persons such other Awards that may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based upon or related to Stock, as deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan. The Committee may also grant Stock as a bonus (whether or not subject to any vesting requirements or other restrictions on transfer), and may grant other awards in lieu of obligations of the Company or an Affiliate to pay cash or deliver other property under this Plan or under other plans or compensatory arrangements, subject to such terms as shall be determined by the Committee. The terms and conditions applicable to such Awards shall be determined by the Committee and evidenced by Award Agreements, which agreements need not be identical.

10.
Adjustment for Recapitalization, Merger, etc.
a.
Capitalization Adjustments. The aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be granted or purchased pursuant to Awards (as set forth in Section 4 above), the number of shares of Stock covered by each outstanding Award, and the price per share of Stock underlying each such Award shall be equitably and proportionally adjusted or substituted, as determined by the Committee, as to the number, price, or kind of a share of Stock or other consideration subject to such Awards (1) in the event of changes in the outstanding Stock or in the capital structure of the Company by reason of stock dividends, extraordinary cash dividends, stock splits, reverse stock splits, recapitalizations, reorganizations, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations, combinations, exchanges, or other relevant changes in capitalization occurring after the date of grant of any such Award (including any Corporate Event); (2) in connection with any extraordinary dividend declared and paid in respect of shares of Stock, whether payable in the form of cash, stock, or any other form of consideration; or (3) in the event of any change in applicable laws or circumstances that results in or could result in, in either case, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, any substantial dilution or enlargement of the rights intended to be granted to, or available for, Participants in the Plan.
b.
Corporate Events. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as provided by the Committee in an Award Agreement or otherwise, in connection with (i) a merger, amalgamation, or consolidation involving the Company in which the Company is not the surviving corporation, (ii) a merger, amalgamation, or consolidation involving the Company in which the Company is the surviving corporation but the holders of shares of Stock receive securities of another corporation or other property or cash, (iii) a Change in Control,

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or (iv) the reorganization or liquidation of the Company (each, a “Corporate Event”), the Committee may, in its discretion, provide for any one or more of the following:
i.
The assumption or substitution of any or all Awards in connection with such Corporate Event, in which case the Awards shall be subject to the adjustment set forth in subsection (a) above, and to the extent that such Awards are Awards that vest subject to the achievement of performance objectives or criteria, such performance objectives or criteria shall be adjusted appropriately to reflect the Corporate Event;
ii.
The acceleration of vesting of any or all Awards, subject to the consummation of such Corporate Event, with any Awards that vest subject to the achievement of performance objectives or criteria deemed earned at the target level (or if no target is specified, the maximum level) with respect to all unexpired performance periods;
iii.
The cancellation of any or all Awards (whether vested or unvested) as of the consummation of such Corporate Event, together with the payment to the Participants holding vested Awards (including any Awards that would vest upon the Corporate Event but for such cancellation) so canceled of an amount in respect of cancellation equal to an amount in respect of cancellation based upon the per-share consideration being paid for the Stock in connection with such Corporate Event, less, in the case of Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, and other Awards subject to exercise, the applicable exercise or base price; provided, however, that holders of Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, and other Awards subject to exercise shall be entitled to consideration in respect of cancellation of such Awards only if the per-share consideration less the applicable exercise or base price is greater than zero dollars ($0), and to the extent that the per-share consideration is less than or equal to the applicable exercise or base price, such Awards shall be canceled for no consideration; and
iv.
The replacement of any or all Awards (other than Awards that are intended to qualify as “stock rights” that do not provide for a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) with a cash incentive program that preserves the value of the Awards so replaced (determined as of the consummation of the Corporate Event), with subsequent payment of cash incentives subject to the same vesting conditions as applicable to the Awards so replaced and payment to be made within thirty (30) days of the applicable vesting date.

Payments to holders pursuant to paragraph (iii) above shall be made in cash or, in the sole discretion of the Committee, in the form of such other consideration necessary for a Participant to receive property, cash, or securities (or a combination thereof) as such Participant would have been entitled to receive upon the occurrence of the transaction if the Participant had been, immediately prior to such transaction, the holder of the number of shares of Stock covered by the Award at such time (less any applicable exercise or base price). In addition, in connection with any Corporate Event, prior to any payment or adjustment contemplated under this subsection (b), the Committee may require a Participant to (A) represent and warrant as to the unencumbered title to his Awards, (B) bear such Participant’s pro-rata share of any post-closing indemnity obligations, and be subject to the same post-closing purchase price adjustments, escrow terms, offset rights, holdback terms, and similar conditions as the other holders of Stock, and (C) deliver customary transfer documentation as reasonably determined by the Committee. The Committee need not take the same action or actions with respect to all Awards or portions thereof or with respect to all Participants. The Committee may take different actions with respect to the vested and unvested portions of an Award.

c.
Fractional Shares. Any adjustment provided under this Section 10 may, in the Committee’s discretion, provide for the elimination of any fractional share that might otherwise become subject to an Award.
11.
Use of Proceeds.

The proceeds received from the sale of Stock pursuant to the Plan shall be used for general corporate purposes.

12.
Rights and Privileges as a Stockholder.

Except as otherwise specifically provided in the Plan, no person shall be entitled to the rights and privileges of Stock ownership in respect of shares of Stock that are subject to Awards hereunder until such shares have been issued to that person.

13.
Transferability of Awards.

Awards may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the applicable laws of descent and distribution, and to the extent subject to exercise, Awards may not be exercised during the lifetime of the grantee other than by the grantee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except with respect to Incentive Stock Options, Awards and a Participant’s rights under the Plan shall be transferable for no value to the extent provided in an Award Agreement or otherwise determined at any time by the Committee.

14.
Employment or Service Rights.

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No individual shall have any claim or right to be granted an Award under the Plan or, having been selected for the grant of an Award, to be selected for the grant of any other Award. Neither the Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as giving any individual any right to be retained in the employ or service of the Company or an Affiliate of the Company.

15.
Compliance with Laws.

The obligation of the Company to deliver Stock upon vesting, exercise, or settlement of any Award shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by governmental agencies as may be required. Notwithstanding any terms or conditions of any Award to the contrary, the Company shall be under no obligation to offer to sell or to sell, and shall be prohibited from offering to sell or selling, any shares of Stock pursuant to an Award unless such shares have been properly registered for sale with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Act or unless the Company has received an opinion of counsel, satisfactory to the Company, that such shares may be offered or sold without such registration pursuant to an available exemption therefrom and the terms and conditions of such exemption have been fully complied with. The Company shall be under no obligation to register for sale or resale under the Securities Act any of the shares of Stock to be offered or sold under the Plan or any shares of Stock to be issued upon exercise or settlement of Awards. If the shares of Stock offered for sale or sold under the Plan are offered or sold pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act, the Company may restrict the transfer of such shares and may legend the Stock certificates representing such shares in such manner as it deems advisable to ensure the availability of any such exemption.

16.
Withholding Obligations.

As a condition to the vesting, exercise, or settlement of any Award (or upon the making of an election under Section 83(b) of the Code), the Committee may require that a Participant satisfy, through deduction or withholding from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the Participant, or through such other arrangements as are satisfactory to the Committee, the minimum amount of all federal, state, and local income and other taxes of any kind required or permitted to be withheld in connection with such vesting, exercise, or settlement (or election). The Committee, in its discretion, may permit shares of Stock to be used to satisfy tax withholding requirements, and such shares shall be valued at their Fair Market Value as of the vesting, exercise, or settlement date of the Award, as applicable. Depending on the withholding method, the Company may withhold by considering the applicable minimum statutorily required withholding rates or other applicable withholding rates in the applicable Participant’s jurisdiction, including maximum applicable rates that may be utilized without creating adverse accounting treatment under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (or any successor pronouncement thereto) and is permitted under applicable withholding rules promulgated by the Internal Revenue Service or another applicable governmental entity.

17.
Amendment of the Plan or Awards.
a.
Amendment of Plan. The Board or the Committee may amend the Plan at any time and from time to time.
b.
Amendment of Awards. The Board or the Committee may amend the terms of any one or more Awards at any time and from time to time.
c.
Stockholder Approval; No Material Impairment. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no amendment to the Plan or any Award shall be effective without stockholder approval to the extent that such approval is required pursuant to applicable law or the applicable rules of each national securities exchange on which the Stock is listed. Additionally, no amendment to the Plan or any Award shall materially impair a Participant’s rights under any Award unless the Participant consents in writing (it being understood that no action taken by the Board or the Committee that is expressly permitted under the Plan, including, without limitation, any actions described in Section 10 hereof, shall constitute an amendment to the Plan or an Award for such purpose). Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to the limitations of applicable law, if any, and without an affected Participant’s consent, the Board or the Committee may amend the terms of the Plan or any one or more Awards from time to time as necessary to bring such Awards into compliance with applicable law, including, without limitation, Section 409A of the Code.
d.
No Repricing of Awards without Stockholder Approval. Notwithstanding subsection (a) or (b) above, or any other provision of the Plan, the repricing of Awards shall not be permitted without stockholder approval. For this purpose, a “repricing” means any of the following (or any other action that has the same effect as any of the following): (1) changing the terms of an Award to lower its exercise or base price (other than on account of capital adjustments resulting from share splits, etc., as described in Section 10(a)), (2) any other action that is treated as a repricing under generally accepted accounting principles, and (3) repurchasing for cash or canceling an Award in exchange for another Award at a time when its exercise or base price is greater than the Fair Market Value of the underlying Stock, unless the cancellation and exchange occurs in connection with an event set forth in Section 10(b).
18.
Termination or Suspension of the Plan.

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The Board or the Committee may suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. Unless sooner terminated, the Plan shall terminate on the day before the tenth (10th) anniversary of the Second Restatement Date. No Awards may be granted under the Plan while the Plan is suspended or after it is terminated; provided,however, that following any suspension or termination of the Plan, the Plan shall remain in effect for the purpose of governing all Awards then outstanding hereunder until such time as all Awards under the Plan have been terminated, forfeited, or otherwise canceled, or earned, exercised, settled, or otherwise paid out, in accordance with their terms.

19.
Effective Date of the Plan.

The Plan, as amended and restated, is effective as of the Second Restatement Date, subject to stockholder approval.

20.
Miscellaneous.
a.
Certificates. Stock acquired pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan may be evidenced in such a manner as the Committee shall determine. If certificates representing Stock are registered in the name of the Participant, the Committee may require that (1) such certificates bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to such Stock, (2) the Company retain physical possession of the certificates, and (3) the Participant deliver a stock power to the Company, endorsed in blank, relating to the Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may determine, in its sole discretion, that the Stock shall be held in book-entry form rather than delivered to the Participant pending the release of any applicable restrictions.
b.
Clawback/Recoupment Policy. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, all Awards granted under the Plan shall be and remain subject to any incentive compensation clawback or recoupment policy currently in effect or as may be adopted by the Board and, in each case, as may be amended from time to time. No such policy adoption or amendment shall in any event require the prior consent of any Participant.
c.
Data Privacy. As a condition of receipt of any Award, each Participant explicitly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use, and transfer, in electronic or other form, of personal data as described in this Section by and among, as applicable, the Company and its Affiliates for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering, and managing the Plan and Awards and the Participant’s participation in the Plan. In furtherance of such implementation, administration, and management, the Company and its Affiliates may hold certain personal information about a Participant, including, but not limited to, the Participant’s name, home address, telephone number, date of birth, social security or insurance number or other identification number, salary, nationality, job title(s), information regarding any securities of the Company or any of its Affiliates, and details of all Awards (the “Data”). In addition to transferring the Data amongst themselves as necessary for the purpose of implementation, administration, and management of the Plan and Awards and the Participant’s participation in the Plan, the Company and its Affiliates may each transfer the Data to any third parties assisting the Company in the implementation, administration, and management of the Plan and Awards and the Participant’s participation in the Plan. Recipients of the Data may be located in the Participant’s country or elsewhere, and the Participant’s country and any given recipient’s country may have different data privacy laws and protections. By accepting an Award, each Participant authorizes such recipients to receive, possess, use, retain, and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, for the purposes of assisting the Company in the implementation, administration, and management of the Plan and Awards and the Participant’s participation in the Plan, including any requisite transfer of such Data as may be required to a broker or other third party with whom the Company or the Participant may elect to deposit any shares of Stock. The Data related to a Participant will be held only as long as is necessary to implement, administer, and manage the Plan and Awards and the Participant’s participation in the Plan. A Participant may, at any time, view the Data held by the Company with respect to such Participant, request additional information about the storage and processing of the Data with respect to such Participant, recommend any necessary corrections to the Data with respect to the Participant, or refuse or withdraw the consents herein in writing, in any case without cost, by contacting his local human resources representative. The Company may cancel the Participant’s eligibility to participate in the Plan, and in the Committee’s discretion, the Participant may forfeit any outstanding Awards if the Participant refuses or withdraws the consents described herein. For more information on the consequences of refusal to consent or withdrawal of consent, Participants may contact their local human resources representative.
d.
Participants Outside of the United States. The Committee may modify the terms of any Award under the Plan made to or held by a Participant who is then a resident, or is primarily employed or providing services, outside of the United States in any manner deemed by the Committee to be necessary or appropriate in order that such Award shall conform to laws, regulations, and customs of the country in which the Participant is then a resident or primarily employed or providing services, or so that the value and other benefits of the

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Award to the Participant, as affected by non–United States tax laws and other restrictions applicable as a result of the Participant’s residence, employment, or providing services abroad, shall be comparable to the value of such Award to a Participant who is a resident, or is primarily employed or providing services, in the United States. An Award may be modified under this Section 20(d) in a manner that is inconsistent with the express terms of the Plan, so long as such modifications will not contravene any applicable law or regulation or result in actual liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act for the Participant whose Award is modified. Additionally, the Committee may adopt such procedures and sub-plans as are necessary or appropriate to permit participation in the Plan by Eligible Persons who are non–United States nationals or are primarily employed or providing services outside the United States.
e.
No Liability of Committee Members. Neither any member of the Committee nor any of the Committee’s permitted delegates shall be liable personally by reason of any contract or other instrument executed by such member or on his behalf in his capacity as a member of the Committee or for any mistake of judgment made in good faith, and the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each member of the Committee and each other employee, officer, or director of the Company to whom any duty or power relating to the administration or interpretation of the Plan may be allocated or delegated, against all costs and expenses (including counsel fees) and liabilities (including sums paid in settlement of a claim) arising out of any act or omission to act in connection with the Plan, unless arising out of such person’s own fraud or willful misconduct; provided, however, that approval of the Board shall be required for the payment of any amount in settlement of a claim against any such person. 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 or articles of incorporation or bylaws, each as may be amended from time to time, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.
f.
Payments Following Accidents or Illness. If the Committee shall find that any person to whom any amount is payable under the Plan is unable to care for his affairs because of illness or accident, or is a minor, or has died, then any payment due to such person or his estate (unless a prior claim therefor has been made by a duly appointed legal representative) may, if the Committee so directs the Company, be paid to his spouse, child, relative, an institution maintaining or having custody of such person, or any other person deemed by the Committee to be a proper recipient on behalf of such person otherwise entitled to payment. Any such payment shall be a complete discharge of the liability of the Committee and the Company therefor.
g.
Governing Law. The Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware without reference to the principles of conflicts of laws thereof.
h.
Funding. No provision of the Plan shall require the Company, for the purpose of satisfying any obligations under the Plan, to purchase assets or place any assets in a trust or other entity to which contributions are made or otherwise to segregate any assets, nor shall the Company be required to maintain separate bank accounts, books, records, or other evidence of the existence of a segregated or separately maintained or administered fund for such purposes. Participants shall have no rights under the Plan other than as unsecured general creditors of the Company, except that insofar as they may have become entitled to payment of additional compensation by performance of services, they shall have the same rights as other employees and service providers under general law.
i.
Reliance on Reports. Each member of the Committee and each member of the Board shall be fully justified in relying, acting, or failing to act, and shall not be liable for having so relied, acted, or failed to act in good faith, upon any report made by the independent public accountant of the Company and its Affiliates and upon any other information furnished in connection with the Plan by any Person or Persons other than such member.
j.
Electronic Delivery. Any reference herein to a “written” agreement or document or “writing” will include any agreement or document delivered electronically or posted on the Company’s intranet (or other shared electronic medium controlled or authorized by the Company to which the Participant has access) to the extent permitted by applicable law.
k.
Change in Time Commitment. In the event a Participant’s regular level of time commitment in the performance of his or her services for the Company or any of its Affiliates is reduced (for example, and without limitation, if the Participant is an employee of the Company and the employee has a change in status from a full-time employee to a part-time employee) after the date of grant of any Award to the Participant, the Committee has the right in its sole discretion to (i) make a corresponding reduction in the number of shares of Stock subject to any portion of such Award that is scheduled to vest or become payable after the date of such change in time commitment, and (ii) in lieu of or in combination with such a reduction, extend the vesting or

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payment schedule applicable to such Award. In the event of any such reduction, the Participant will have no right with respect to any portion of the Award that is so reduced or extended.
l.
Titles and Headings. The titles and headings of the sections in the Plan are for convenience of reference only, and in the event of any conflict, the text of the Plan, rather than such titles or headings, shall control.

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81    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


ation 227 w. Monroe st., 27th floor Chicago, il 60606 investor address line 1 investor address line 2 investor address line 3 investor address line 4 investor address line 5 john sample 1234 anywhere street any city, on a1a 1a1 1of 2 1 1 vote by internet-www.proxyvote.com use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information up until 11:59 Central Time on April 23, 2019.2020. 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 our Company in mailing proxy materials, you can consent to receiving all future notices, proxy statements, proxy cards and annual reports electronically via e-mail or the Internet. To sign up for electronic delivery, 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 Central Time on April 23, 2019.2020. 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.the company name inc. – common the company name inc. – class a the company name inc. – class b the company name inc. – class c the company name inc. – class d the company name inc. – class d the company name inc. – class e the company name inc. – class f the company name inc. – 401k CONTROL # 0000000000000000 SHARES 123,456,789,012.12345 123,456,789,012.12345 123,456,789,012.12345 123,456,789,012.12345 123,456,789,012.12345 123,456,789,012.12345 123,456,789,012.12345 123,456,789,012.12345 page 1 of 2 TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS: KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED. The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR the following: For Withhold For All All All Except To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark “For All Except” and write the number(s) of the nominee(s) on the line below. 1. Election of Directors Nominees 01 Stephen P. Larson 02 Philip E. Norment The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR proposals 2. and 3. 2. Ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2019.2020. 3. Approval of the Amended and Restated 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan. NOTE: Such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting For Against Abstain 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 JOB # Signature (Joint Owners) Date SHARES CUSIP # SEQUENCE # 0000400432_1 R1.0.1.18 02 0000000000

82    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting: The Notice & Proxy Statement, 10K Wrap are available at www.proxyvote.com RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION Annual Meeting of Stockholders April 24, 20192020 2:00 PM Central Time This proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors. The stockholder(s) hereby appoint(s) Mark S. Silver and Camilla R. Merrick, or either of them, as proxies, each with the power to appoint his or her he

83    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


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84    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION


substitute, and hereby authorize(s) them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse side of this ballot, all of the shares of Common Stock of RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION that the stockholder(s) is/are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at 2:00 p.m., Central Daylight Time on April 24, 2019,2020, at 2:00 p.m. Central Time, JW Marriott Houston Downtown, 806 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77002, and at any adjournment or postponement thereof. This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein. If no such direction is made, this proxy will be voted in accordance with the Board of Directors’ recommendations. 0000400432 2 R1.0.1.18 Continued and to be signed on reverse side

85    RYERSON HOLDING CORPORATION