UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
(RULE 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
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CDW CORPORATION
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Dear Fellow Stockholder,
I am writing this letter during extraordinary times, when the world is experiencing tremendous disruption due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic. The scope of this crisis is universal – there is no continent, country, industry or individual that is not impacted, and we are all now united by these unprecedented circumstances that are affecting every part of our lives. I am extremely grateful to our coworkers, customers, partners and communities, who are managing through this crisis on our frontlines. And we will forever be grateful to our healthcare heroes and essential product and services providers, who are demonstrating courage, strength, stamina and compassion and inspire us to demonstrate the very best of the human spirit.
Our mission at CDW has always been to help our customers navigate and be successful in a changing world. Today, that mission feels even more relevant and pressing to me, as the technology that we provide has become essential to the fundamental operations of every sector that we support – from vital healthcare, education and government entities to businesses of all sizes that are working in new ways. The work that our customers are doing is inspiring our coworkers, who are working tirelessly to support these customers’ mission-driven technology needs.
Annual Meeting Invitation
On behalf of our Board of Directors, I would like to invite you to CDW’s 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The meeting will be held on Thursday, May 21, 2020, at 7:30 a.m. CDT at CDW Center, located at 200 Tri-State International in Lincolnshire, Illinois. The attached Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement will serve as your guide to the business conducted at the meeting.
Your vote is very important. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we urge you to vote either via the Internet, by telephone, or by signing and returning a proxy card. Please vote as soon as possible so that your shares will be represented. For more information on CDW and to take advantage of our many stockholder resources and tools, we encourage you to visit our Investor Relations website atinvestor.cdw.com.
Thank you for your continued trust in CDW and investment in our business.
Christine A. Leahy
President and Chief Executive Officer
April 10, 2020
2020 Proxy Statement 1
When:
THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2020
7:30 a.m. CDT
Where:
CDW Center
200 Tri-State International
Lincolnshire, Illinois 60069
| REVIEW YOUR PROXY STATEMENT AND VOTE IN ADVANCE OF THE ANNUAL MEETING IN ONE OF FOUR WAYS: | |
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| NOTICE |
| of Annual Meeting of Stockholders |
| WE ARE PLEASED TO INVITE YOU TO THE CDW CORPORATION ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS. | ||
| Items of business: | ||
| 1. | To elect the seven director nominees named in this proxy statement for a term expiring at the 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders; | |
| 2. | To approve, on an advisory basis, named executive officer compensation; | |
| 3. | To ratify the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2020; and | |
| 4. | To consider any other matters that may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments or postponements of the meeting. | |
RECORD DATE
Holders of our common stock at the close of business on March 25, 2020 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting.
HOW TO VOTE
Your vote is important to us. Please see “Voting Information” on page 5 for instructions on how to vote your shares.
These proxy materials are first being distributed on or about April 10, 2020.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
Frederick J. Kulevich
Senior Vice President, General Counsel
and Corporate Secretary
April 10, 2020
| Important Notice Regarding Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting to be Held on May 21, 2020: The proxy materials relating to our 2020 Annual Meeting (notice, proxy statement and annual report) are available at www.proxyvote.com. |
We currently intend to hold the Annual Meeting in person. However, we are sensitive to concerns related to public health and travel that our stockholders may have and are monitoring the protocols that federal, state, and local governments may recommend or require in light of the evolving coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. As a result, we are planning for the possibility that the Annual Meeting may be held solely by means of remote communication (i.e., a virtual-only meeting). If we take this step, we will announce this decision in advance, and details will be posted on our Investor Relations website atinvestor.cdw.com and filed as additional proxy soliciting material with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
2020 Proxy Statement 2
2020 Proxy Statement 3
2020 Proxy Statement 4
You are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting if you were a stockholder of CDW Corporation (the “Company” or “CDW”) as of the close of business on March 25, 2020, the record date for the Annual Meeting.
Participate in the Future of CDW—Vote Today
Please cast your vote as soon as possible on all of the proposals listed below to ensure that your shares are represented.
| Proposal | Topic | More Information | Board Recommendation |
| Proposal 1 | Election of Directors | Page 19 | FOR each Director Nominee |
| Proposal 2 | Advisory Vote to Approve Named Executive Officer Compensation | Page 30 | FOR |
| Proposal 3 | Ratification of Selection of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | Page 52 | FOR |
Voting in Advance of the Annual Meeting
Even if you plan to attend our Annual Meeting in person, please read this proxy statement with care and vote right away as described in the Notice on p. 2 of this proxy statement. For stockholders of record, have your notice and proxy card in hand and follow the instructions. If you hold your shares through a broker, bank or other nominee, you will receive voting instructions from your broker, bank or other nominee, including whether telephone or Internet options are available.
You may vote in person at the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which will be held on Thursday, May 21, 2020, at 7:30 a.m. CDT, at CDW Center, 200 Tri-State International, Lincolnshire, Illinois 60069. If you hold your shares through a broker, bank or other nominee and would like to vote in person at the Annual Meeting, you must first obtain a proxy issued in your name from the institution that holds your shares.
We provide answers to many frequently asked questions about the meeting and voting under “Frequently Asked Questions Concerning the Annual Meeting” beginning on p. 55 of this proxy statement.
2020 Proxy Statement 5
This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this proxy statement. This summary does not contain all of the information that you should consider, and you should read the entire proxy statement and our 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K carefully before voting at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Measures used in this proxy statement that are not based on accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“non-GAAP”) are each defined and reconciled to the most directly comparable GAAP measure in Appendix A.
Business Overview
We are a leading provider of integrated information technology (“IT”) solutions to over 250,000 small, medium and large business, government, education and healthcare customers in the United States (“US”), the United Kingdom (“UK”) and Canada. We are a Fortune 500 company and member of the S&P 500 Index. Our broad array of offerings range from discrete hardware and software products to integrated IT solutions such as mobility, security, data center optimization, cloud computing, virtualization and collaboration.
We are technology “agnostic,” with a solutions portfolio including more than 100,000 products and services from over 1,000 leading and emerging brands. Our solutions are delivered in physical, virtual and cloud-based environments through approximately 6,800 customer-facing coworkers, including sellers, highly-skilled technology specialists and advanced service delivery engineers. We are a leading sales channel partner for many original equipment manufacturers, software publishers and cloud providers (collectively, our “vendor partners”), whose products we sell or include in the solutions we offer. We provide our vendor partners with a cost-effective way to reach customers and deliver a consistent brand experience through our established end-market coverage, technical expertise and extensive customer access.
We simplify the complexities of technology across design, selection, procurement, integration and management for our customers. Our goal is to have our customers, regardless of their size, view us as a trusted adviser and extension of their IT resources. We do not manufacture products. Our multi-brand offering approach enables us to identify the products or combination of products from our vendor partners that best address each customer’s specific IT requirements.
We have capabilities to provide integrated IT solutions in more than 150 countries for customers with primary locations in the US, UK, and Canada, which are large and growing markets. According to the International Data Corporation, the total US, UK, and Canadian IT market generated approximately $1.1 trillion in sales in 2019. We believe our addressable markets in the US, UK and Canada represent approximately $360 billion in annual sales. These are highly fragmented markets served by thousands of IT resellers and solutions providers. We believe that demand for IT will continue to outpace general economic growth in the markets we serve, fueled by new technologies, including cloud computing, virtualization and mobility as well as growing end-user demand for security, efficiency and productivity.
As we have evolved with the IT market, we have built an organization with significant scale, reach and deep intimate knowledge of customer and partner needs. When coupled with our market presence, our solutions set that addresses the entire IT lifecycle, and our large and highly-skilled sales and technical organization, we deliver unique value – for both our customers and our vendor partners.
| 2020 Proxy Statement | 6 |
Our Business Performance
2019 Business Highlights
Our 2019 performance demonstrated the strength of our business model as we profitably captured market share while continuing to invest in our future.
| GAAP | ||
| Net sales | Operating income | Net income per diluted share |
 11%$18.0 billion | 14.8% $1.13 billion | 19.1% $4.99 |
| Non-GAAP | ||
| Net sales | Operating income | Net income per diluted share |
| 11% $18.0 billion | 12.5% $1.37 billion | 18.0% $6.10 |
Percentages are year-over-year. See Appendix A for reconciliation of each non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable GAAP measure.
There were three main drivers of performance in 2019:
| • | First, our balanced portfolio of customer end-markets,including five US channels, each with over $1.5 billion in annual net sales, and combined sales from UK and Canadian operations of over $2.0 billion. In 2019, our US reporting segments, Corporate, Small Business and Public, increased net sales 9.6 percent, 11.1 percent and 11.5 percent, respectively. In addition, net sales for our Other segment, which is comprised of our UK and Canadian operations, increased 14.6 percent in US dollars and both were up double digits in local currency. |
| • | Second, the breadth of our product and solutions portfolioof more than 100,000 products from over 1,000 leading and emerging brands. This breadth ensures we are well-positioned to meet our customers’ needs – whether transactional or highly complex solutions. In 2019, we saw balanced performance across sales of hardware, software and services for total CDW. Hardware net sales increased 9.7 percent, driven by success meeting customer demand for client devices. Software net sales increased 13.1 percent, driven by success helping customers adopt new architectures, refresh infrastructure and secure their environments. Services net sales increased 30.4 percent, driven by helping customers implement integrated solutions. We continued to work closely with our customers to maximize the return on their IT investment – whether it be hardware, software, or services. |
| • | Finally, ongoing execution against our three-part strategy.We have made excellent progress against our three-part strategy: (1) to acquire new customers and capture share, (2) to enhance our solutions capabilities, and (3) to expand our services capabilities. Importantly, these three pillars of our strategy work in tandem. The first pillar focuses on productivity improvement through enhanced systems and data, sales force productivity initiatives, and investments in our brand and marketing. The second pillar ensures we remain relevant by investing in solutions capabilities that enable us to be a trusted partner for our customers. And, the third pillar ensures we have value-added service capabilities to deliver integrated, end-to-end solutions. The combination of these three interconnected pillars, with our scope and scale, creates powerful differentiation in the market. |
We also made progress against our four 2019 capital allocation priorities. These priorities are designed to provide stockholders with a balance between receiving short-term capital returns and long-term value creation by providing us with the flexibility required to execute our long-term growth strategy.
| 2020 Proxy Statement | 7 |
| 2019 CAPITAL ALLOCATION PRIORITIES | |||
| PRIORITIES | OBJECTIVES | ACTIONS | |
| Increase Dividends Annually | Target ~25% payout of Non-GAAP net income; grow in line with earnings | 28.8% increase to $1.52/share annually(2) | |
| Maintain Net Leverage Ratio(1) | ~2.5 to 3.0 times Net leverage ratio | Ended 2019 at 2.2 times | |
| Supplement Organic Growth with M&A | Expand CDW’s strategic capabilities | Scalar Decisions Inc. and Aptris Inc. acquisitions(3) | |
| Return Excess Free Cash Flow after Dividends & M&A Through Share Repurchases | Offset to incentive plan dilution and to supplement earnings per share growth | $657 million in share repurchases in 2019 | |
| (1) | Defined as the ratio of total debt at period-end excluding any unamortized discount and/or premium and deferred financing costs, less cash and cash equivalents, to trailing twelve months Non-GAAP operating income plus depreciation and amortization in selling, general and administrative expenses (excluding amortization expenses for acquisition-related intangible assets). | |
| (2) | Increased in November 2019. | |
| (3) | CDW acquired Scalar Decisions Inc., a Canadian IT solutions and service provider, on February 1, 2019, and Aptris Inc., an IT service management solutions provider, on October 1, 2019. |
For further details about our performance in 2019, please see the Company’s 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Long-Term Performance
Over the past 5 years, our cumulative total shareholder return has far outpaced the S&P 500 Index and our 2019 compensation peer group set forth in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis — Comparison to Relevant Peer Group” section of this proxy statement, and we have returned $2.9 billion of cash to shareholders.
| |
| (1) | The cumulative total shareholder return chart compares the cumulative total shareholder return, including reinvestment of dividends, on $100 invested in CDW common stock for the period from market close on December 31, 2014 through market close on December 31, 2019, with the cumulative total return for the same time period of the same amount invested in the S&P 500 Index and our 2019 compensation peer group set forth in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis — Comparison to Relevant Peer Group” section of this proxy statement. |
| 2020 Proxy Statement | 8 |
Corporate Governance Highlights
|
Board of Directors Highlights
Our Board strives to maintain a highly independent, balanced and diverse group of directors that collectively possess the expertise to ensure effective oversight.
| Board Diversity | |||
 |
| Key Director Skills | ||||
| Technology/Digital Solutions | Operations | Legal | ||
| International | Distribution | Economic/Business Trends | ||
| Strategic Planning/Leadership of Complex Organizations | Finance | Healthcare | ||
| Board Practices of Major Corporations | Sales and Marketing | Capital Market Transactions | ||
| 2020 Proxy Statement | 9 |
Our Board of Directors
The chart below provides summary information regarding each of our current directors.
| Name | Age | Director Since(1) | Primary Occupation | Independent | Committee Memberships | Other Public Company Boards | ||||||
| Virginia C. Addicott | 56 | 2016 | Retired President & Chief Executive Officer, FedEx Custom Critical |  | • Audit (Chair) • Nominating & Corporate Governance | — | ||||||
| Steven W. Alesio* | 66 | 2009 | Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dun & Bradstreet Corporation | | • Compensation • Nominating & Corporate Governance | — | ||||||
| Barry K. Allen* | 71 | 2009 | Operating Partner, Providence Equity Partners L.L.C.; President, Allen Enterprises, LLC | | • Compensation • Nominating & Corporate Governance | 2 | ||||||
| James A. Bell | 71 | 2015 | Retired Executive Vice President, Corporate President and Chief Financial Officer, The Boeing Company | | • Audit • Nominating &Corporate Governance | 3 | ||||||
| Benjamin D.Chereskin | 61 | 2007 | President, Profile Capital Management LLC | | • Audit • Nominating & Corporate Governance | 1 | ||||||
| Lynda M. Clarizio* | 59 | 2015 | Former Executive Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, The Nielsen Company (US), LLC | | • Compensation • Nominating & Corporate Governance | — | ||||||
| Paul J. Finnegan | 67 | 2011 | Co-Chief Executive Officer, Madison Dearborn Partners, LLC | | • Compensation • Nominating & Corporate Governance | — | ||||||
| Christine A. Leahy* | 55 | 2019 | President & Chief Executive Officer, CDW Corporation | — | — | — | ||||||
| David W. Nelms* (Independent Chairman) | 59 | 2014 | Retired Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Discover Financial Services, Inc. | | • Audit • Nominating & Corporate Governance (Chair) | — | ||||||
| Joseph R. Swedish* | 68 | 2015 | Retired Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer; Senior Adviser (through May 2020), Anthem, Inc. | | • Compensation (Chair) • Nominating & Corporate Governance | 2 | ||||||
| Donna F. Zarcone* | 62 | 2011 | President and Chief Executive Officer, The Economic Club of Chicago | | • Audit • Nominating & Corporate Governance | 1 |
| *Nominee for election to the Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting. | ||
| (1) | The time period for service as a director of CDW includes service on the Board of Managers of CDW Holdings LLC, our parent company prior to our initial public offering in 2013. | |
Executive Compensation Highlights
CEO Pay for Performance
Our executive compensation program is focused on driving sustained meaningful profitable growth and stockholder value creation. The Compensation Committee seeks to foster these objectives through a compensation system that focuses heavily on variable, performance-based incentives that create a balanced focus on our short-term and long-term strategic and financial goals. As shown in the chart to the right, in 2019, approximately 85% of the target compensation of our President and Chief Executive Officer was variable and is realized only if the applicable financial performance goals are met and/or our stock price increases.
| 2020 Proxy Statement | 10 |
Our Executive Compensation Practices
Our executive compensation practices include the following, each of which the Compensation Committee believes reinforces our executive compensation objectives:
| Our Executive Compensation Practices |
*Excludes tax reimbursements made to Mr. Kebo in connection with an expatriate assignment prior to his appointment as an executive officer. |
Significant percentage of target annual compensation delivered in the form of variable compensation tied to performance
We do not have tax gross-ups*
Extensive information regarding our executive compensation programs in place for 2019 can be found in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section of this proxy statement.
2019 Say-on-Pay Vote
Stockholders continued to show strong support of our executive compensation program, with approval by approximately 95% of the votes cast for the Company’s say-on-pay vote at our 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
| 2019 Say-on-Pay Vote |
 |
| 2020 Proxy Statement | 11 |
Our success is built on the trust we have earned from our customers, coworkers, business partners, investors and communities, and that trust sustains our success. Part of this trust stems from our commitment to good corporate governance. Our Company is governed by our Board of Directors (“Board of Directors” or “Board”). The Board is responsible for providing oversight of the strategic and operational direction of the Company and supporting the Company’s long-term interests.
To provide a framework for effective governance, our Board of Directors (“Board of Directors” or “Board”) has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines, which outline the operating principles of our Board and the composition and working processes of our Board and its committees. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee periodically reviews our Corporate Governance Guidelines and developments in corporate governance and recommends proposed changes to the Board for approval.
Our Corporate Governance Guidelines, along with other corporate governance documents such as committee charters and The CDW Way Code (our code of business conduct and ethics), are available on our website atwww.cdw.com by clicking on Investor Relations and then Corporate Governance.
Corporate Governance Highlights
 | Independent Chairman. David W. Nelms serves as our independent Chairman of the Board. |
| Annual Election of Full Board Beginning in 2021. As approved by our Board of Directors and stockholders in 2018, we are transitioning to a declassified Board, with all directors elected annually as of the 2021 Annual Meeting. |
| Independent Board. Our Board of Directors is comprised entirely of independent directors, other than our President and Chief Executive Officer. The independent members of our Board of Directors regularly meet in executive session. |
| Independent Board Committees. All members of our Audit, Compensation, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees are independent directors. |
| Audit Committee Financial Experts. All members of our Audit Committee qualify as “audit committee financial experts” as defined under SEC rules. |
| Board Term Limit. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that a director will not be renominated at the next annual meeting of stockholders after 12 years of service on our Board of Directors, absent special circumstances. |
| Proxy Access. In 2019, our Board adopted amendments to our Amended and Restated Bylaws (“Bylaws”) to implement proxy access. The amendments permit a stockholder, or a group of up to 20 stockholders, owning at least 3% of our outstanding common stock continuously for at least 3 years to nominate and include in our proxy materials director nominees constituting up to 2 individuals or 20% of the Board, whichever is greater, as further detailed in our Bylaws. |
| Majority Vote. Directors are elected by majority vote of our stockholders in uncontested elections. We have a resignation policy that applies if a director fails to receive a majority of the votes cast. |
| Restrictions on Other Board Service. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines restrict the number of public company boards on which our directors may serve. A director who is currently an executive officer of a public company may serve on a total of 2 public company boards (including our Board) and a director who is not currently an executive officer of a public company may serve on a total of 4 public company boards (including our Board). |
| Annual Board and Committee Evaluations. Our Chairman leads the annual Board evaluation process by conducting a one-on-one interview with each director to obtain feedback on and discuss Board performance and effectiveness. The results are then discussed by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, which consists of all of our independent directors. Each Committee also conducts an annual self-evaluation to discuss Committee performance and effectiveness. |
| 2020 Proxy Statement | 12 |
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) at CDW
CDW has a long history of providing great returns to stockholders, rewarding careers to our coworkers, and value to the communities where we work and live. We have achieved this success by running our business with passion, integrity and an engrained commitment to excellence.
Formalizing our ESG program in 2019 was a natural next step in furthering our long-held commitment to our stakeholders. Our approach to ESG is an extension of our CDW Way values and a framework for delivery on what matters most to all of our stakeholders, categorized into three focus areas under the unifying banner of IT MATTERS:
| IT | ||||||||
| MATTERS Environmental, Social, Governance Framework: |  |  |  | |||||
| Sustaining | Engaging | Inspiring | ||||||
| A Successful Business and a Healthy Planet | Our Coworkers, Communities and Partners | Trust and Confidence in All Our Stakeholders | ||||||
Our Board of Directors oversees our ESG program and related topics, receiving updates throughout the year. Our Environmental, Social and Governance report is available on our website atwww.cdw.com.
| 2019-2020 Recognition Snapshot | ||||
2020 Best Places to Work by Glassdoor America’s Most JUST Companies 2020 by JUST Capital America’s Best Employers for Diversity 2020 by Forbes Best Companies for Women by Fairygodboss | Best for Vets Employer by Military Times Best Place to Work in IT by Computerworld Best of the Best Supplier Diversity Program by U.S. Veteran’s Magazine Best Technology Companies for Women by Fairygodboss | Corporate Equality Index Perfect Score by Human Rights Campaign Military Friendly Silver Employer by Military Friendly Most Powerful Women in Business (President & CEO Christine Leahy) by Fortune The Future 50 by Fortune | ||
| 2020 Proxy Statement | 13 |
Independence of Our Board of Directors
Under our Corporate Governance Guidelines and the listing standards of the Nasdaq Global Select Market (“Nasdaq”), a majority of our Board members must be independent. The Board of Directors annually determines whether each of our directors is independent. In determining independence, the Board follows the independence criteria set forth in the Nasdaq listing standards and considers all relevant facts and circumstances.
Under the Nasdaq independence criteria, a director cannot be considered independent if he or she has one of the relationships specifically enumerated in the Nasdaq listing standards. In addition, the Board must affirmatively determine that a director does not have a relationship that, in the opinion of the Board, would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. The Board has affirmatively determined that each of our current directors is independent under the applicable listing standards of Nasdaq, other than our President and Chief Executive Officer, Christine A. Leahy.
Board of Directors Leadership Structure
Christine A. Leahy currently serves as our President and Chief Executive Officer. Effective January 1, 2020, David W. Nelms, previously our Lead Director, became our non-executive Chairman. The Board presently believes that separating the roles of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer aids in the Board’s oversight responsibility. However, the Board does not believe that a single leadership structure is right for all companies at all times, so the Board periodically reviews its leadership structure to determine, based on the circumstances at such time, what leadership structure would be most appropriate.
Under our Corporate Governance Guidelines, our directors are expected to attend meetings of the Board and applicable committees and our annual meetings of stockholders.
In 2019, the Board held eight meetings. In 2019, each of the directors attended at least 75% of the aggregate of all meetings of the Board and the committees on which he or she served (during the periods for which he or she served on the Board and such committees). In addition, each of our directors attended our 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Our Board has three committees: the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Our Board has adopted charters for each of these committees, which are available on our website atwww.cdw.com. Under the committees’ charters, the committees report regularly to the Board and as the Board requests. Additional information on each of these committees is set forth below.
| 2020 Proxy Statement | 14 |
Audit Committee
Chairperson:Virginia C. Addicott
Other Members of the Committee:James A. Bell, Benjamin D. Chereskin, David W. Nelms, Donna F. Zarcone
Meetings Held in 2019:8
Primary Responsibilities:
Our Audit Committee is responsible for, among other things: (1) appointing, compensating, retaining, evaluating, terminating and overseeing our independent registered public accounting firm; (2) discussing with our independent registered public accounting firm its independence from management; (3) reviewing with our independent registered public accounting firm the scope and results of its audit; (4) preapproving all audit and permissible non-audit services to be performed by our independent registered public accounting firm; (5) overseeing the accounting and financial reporting process and discussing with management and our independent registered public accounting firm the interim and annual financial statements that we file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”); (6) reviewing and monitoring our accounting principles, accounting policies and financial and accounting controls; (7) establishing procedures for the confidential and anonymous submission of concerns regarding questionable accounting, internal controls or auditing matters; (8) reviewing and approving or ratifying related person transactions; (9) overseeing our business process assurance function (internal audit); and (10) reviewing the Company’s compliance and ethics and risk management programs, including with respect to cybersecurity.
Independence:
Each member of the Audit Committee meets the audit committee independence requirements of Nasdaq and the rules under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”).
The Board has designated each member of the Audit Committee as an “audit committee financial expert.” Each member of the Audit Committee is financially literate, knowledgeable and qualified to review financial statements.
Compensation Committee
Chairperson:Joseph R. Swedish
Other Members of the Committee:Steven W. Alesio, Barry K. Allen, Lynda M. Clarizio, Paul J. Finnegan
Meetings Held in 2019:7
Primary Responsibilities:
Our Compensation Committee is responsible for, among other things: (1) reviewing and approving the compensation of our chief executive officer and other executive officers; (2) reviewing and approving employment agreements and other similar arrangements between CDW and our executive officers; (3) administering our stock plans and other incentive compensation plans; (4) periodically reviewing and recommending to the Board any changes to our incentive compensation and equity-based plans; and (5) reviewing trends in executive compensation. The Compensation Committee may form, and delegate authority to, subcommittees when it deems appropriate.
Independence:
Each member of the Compensation Committee meets the compensation committee independence requirements of Nasdaq and the rules under the Exchange Act.
| 2020 Proxy Statement | 15 |
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
Chairperson:David W. Nelms
| Other Members of the Committee: | Virginia C. Addicott, Steven W. Alesio, Barry K. Allen, James A. Bell, Benjamin D. Chereskin, Lynda M. Clarizio, Paul J. Finnegan, Joseph R. Swedish, Donna F. Zarcone |
Meetings Held in 2019:4
Primary Responsibilities:
Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for, among other things: (1) identifying individuals qualified to become members of our Board of Directors, consistent with criteria approved by our Board; (2) evaluating potential nominees for our Board of Directors recommended by our stockholders and maintaining procedures for the submission of stockholder nominees; (3) overseeing the organization of our Board to discharge the Board’s duties and responsibilities properly and efficiently; (4) identifying best practices and recommending corporate governance principles; (5) developing and recommending to our Board a set of corporate governance guidelines and principles applicable to us; (6) reviewing compliance with The CDW Way Code, our code of business conduct and ethics; (7) reviewing and approving the compensation of our directors; (8) setting performance goals for and reviewing the performance of our chief executive officer; and (9) executive succession planning.
Independence:
Each member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee meets the nominating and corporate governance committee independence requirements of Nasdaq.
One of the primary responsibilities of the Board is to oversee management’s development and execution of the Company’s long-term strategy. Strategy is a recurring topic of discussion at Board meetings, with periodic additional in-depth strategic planning sessions. Discussions on strategy include updates on the ongoing strategic planning process, progress against various strategic initiatives, the competitive landscape and potential risks to the Company’s long-term strategy.
Enterprise Risk Management Program
Our Board of Directors, as a whole and through the Audit Committee, oversees our Enterprise Risk Management Program (“ERM Program”), which is designed to drive the identification, analysis, discussion and reporting of our high priority enterprise risks. The ERM Program facilitates constructive dialog at the senior management and Board levels to proactively identify and manage enterprise risks. Under the ERM Program, senior management develops a holistic portfolio of enterprise risks by facilitating business and supporting function assessments of strategic, operational, financial reporting and compliance risks, and helps to ensure appropriate response strategies are in place.
Our Audit Committee is primarily responsible for overseeing our risk management processes on behalf of the full Board. Enterprise risks are considered in business decision making and as part of our overall business strategy. Our management team, including our executive officers, is primarily responsible for managing the risks associated with the operation and business of our company. Senior management provides regular updates to the Audit Committee and periodic updates to the full Board on the ERM Program, and reports to both the Audit Committee and the full Board on any identified high priority enterprise risks. This includes risk assessments from management with regard to cybersecurity, including assessments of the overall threat landscape and strategies and infrastructure investments to monitor and mitigate such threats. In addition, management provides regular updates to the full Board and/or the Audit Committee relating to newly-identified and evolving high priority risks, such as those presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Compensation Risk Assessment
We conducted an assessment of the risks associated with our compensation practices and policies, and determined that risks arising from such policies and practices are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. In conducting the assessment, we undertook a review of our compensation philosophies, our compensation governance structure and the design and oversight of our compensation programs. Overall, we believe that our programs include an appropriate mix of fixed and variable features, and short- and long-term incentives with compensation-based goals aligning with corporate goals. Centralized oversight helps ensure compensation programs align with the Company’s goals and compensation philosophies and, along with other factors, operate to mitigate against the risk that such programs would encourage excessive risk-taking.
| 2020 Proxy Statement | 16 |
Oversight of Human Capital Management
Cultivating a welcoming work environment and inclusive culture that allows all coworkers to feel a sense of belonging, be valued and have the confidence to do great things is fundamental to CDW. We’re a unified team of diverse perspectives, driven by our desire to succeed together. Our Board understands the importance of our inclusive, performance-driven culture to our ongoing success and is actively engaged with our President and Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Human Resources Officer across a broad range of human capital management topics. On an annual basis, the Board reviews the results of our annual talent review process and succession plans for our President and Chief Executive Officer and our other executive officers. In addition, talent strategy is regularly discussed with the Board, including culture, diversity and inclusion, recruiting, retention, engagement and talent development. The Compensation Committee also annually reviews compensation trends and developments and the results of a review of our compensation practices and policies regarding risk.
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
We have adopted The CDW Way Code, our code of business conduct and ethics, that is applicable to all of our coworkers and directors. A copy of this code is available on our website atwww.cdw.com. Within The CDW Way Code is a Financial Integrity Code of Ethics that sets forth an even higher standard applicable to our executives, officers, members of our internal disclosure committee and all managers and above in our finance department. We intend to disclose any substantive amendments to, or any waivers from, The CDW Way Code by posting such information on our website or by filing a Form 8-K, in each case to the extent such disclosure is required by rules of the SEC or Nasdaq.
Hedging, Short Sales and Pledging Policies
Our Policy on Insider Trading, which applies to all coworkers, Board members and consultants, includes policies on hedging, short sales and pledging of our securities. Our policy prohibits hedging or monetization transactions involving Company securities, such as prepaid variable forwards, equity swaps, collars and exchange funds. It also prohibits short sales of our securities, including sales of securities that are owned with delayed delivery. In addition, it prohibits holding Company securities in a margin account or pledging Company securities as collateral for a loan except in limited circumstances with pre-approval from our General Counsel, which pre-approval will only be granted when such person clearly demonstrates the financial capacity to repay the loan without resort to any pledged securities.
Executive Compensation Policies and Practices
See the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” for a discussion of the Company’s executive compensation policies and practices.
Communications with the Board of Directors
Stockholders who would like to communicate with the Board of Directors or its committees may do so by writing to them via the Company’s Corporate Secretary by email at board@cdw.com or by mail at CDW Corporation, 200 North Milwaukee Avenue, Vernon Hills, Illinois 60061. Correspondence may be addressed to the collective Board of Directors or to any of its individual members or committees at the election of the sender. Any such communication is promptly distributed to the director or directors named therein unless such communication is considered, either presumptively or in the reasonable judgment of the Company’s Corporate Secretary, to be improper for submission to the intended recipient or recipients. Examples of communications that would presumptively be deemed improper for submission include, without limitation, solicitations, communications that raise grievances that are personal to the sender, communications that relate to the pricing of the Company’s products or services, communications that do not relate directly or indirectly to the Company and communications that are frivolous in nature. In addition, when appropriate, the Chairman of the Board is available for engagement with stockholders.
| 2020 Proxy Statement | 17 |
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
During 2019, our Compensation Committee consisted of Steven W. Alesio, Barry K. Allen, Lynda M. Clarizio, Paul J. Finnegan and Joseph R. Swedish. No member of the Compensation Committee was, during 2019 or previously, an officer or employee of the Company or its subsidiaries. In addition, during 2019, there were no compensation committee interlocks required to be disclosed.
Related Person Transactions Approval/Ratification Procedures
The Company has written procedures regarding the approval and ratification of related person transactions. Under these procedures, our Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing and approving or ratifying all related person transactions. If the Audit Committee determines that approval or ratification of a related person transaction should be considered by the Board, such transaction will be submitted for consideration by all disinterested members of the Board. The Chair of the Audit Committee has the authority to approve or ratify any related person transaction in which the aggregate amount involved is expected to be less than $300,000 and in which the Chair of the Audit Committee has no direct or indirect interest.
For these purposes, a related person transaction is considered to be any transaction that is required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of the SEC’s Regulation S-K, including transactions between us and our directors, director nominees or executive officers, 5% record or beneficial owners of our common stock or immediate family members of any such persons, when such related person has a direct or indirect material interest in such transaction.
Potential related person transactions are identified based on information submitted by our officers and managers and then submitted to our Audit Committee for review. The CDW Way Code, our code of business conduct and ethics, requires that our directors and coworkers identify and disclose any material transaction or relationship that could reasonably be expected to create a conflict of interest and interfere with their impartiality or loyalty to the Company. Further, at least annually, each director and executive officer is required to complete a detailed questionnaire that asks questions about any business relationship that may give rise to a conflict of interest and all transactions in which we are involved and in which the executive officer, a director or a related person has a direct or indirect material interest.
When deciding to approve or ratify a related person transaction, our Audit Committee takes into account all relevant considerations, including without limitation the following:
| • | the size of the transaction and the amount payable to or by the related person; | |
| • | the nature of the interest of the related person in the transaction; | |
| • | whether the transaction may involve a conflict of interest; | |
| • | whether the transaction is at arm’s-length, in the ordinary course or on terms no less favorable than terms generally available to an unaffiliated third party under the same or similar circumstances; and | |
| • | the purpose of the transaction and any potential benefits to us. |
Related Person Transactions
There have been no transactions since January 1, 2019 for which disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K is required.
| 2020 Proxy Statement | 18 |
PROPOSAL 1—Election of Directors
Under our Fifth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (as amended, our “Certificate of Incorporation”), the number of Board members is set from time to time by the Board. Our Board presently consists of eleven directors.
Our Board currently is divided into three classes of directors—Class I, Class II and Class III. As approved by our Board of Directors and stockholders at our 2018 Annual Meeting, the classification of our Board is being eliminated over a three-year period that commenced with the 2019 Annual Meeting. The Class I and III directors standing for election at the 2020 Annual Meeting will be elected to one-year terms. The Class II directors standing for election at our 2021 Annual Meeting will be elected to one-year terms following the expiration of their existing three-year terms, and thus all directors will be elected annually beginning at the 2021 Annual Meeting.
The terms of our four current Class I directors and our three current Class III directors expire on the date of the 2020 Annual Meeting, subject to the election and qualification of their successors. Upon the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the Board has nominated our four current Class I directors and our three current Class III directors for election to terms expiring at the 2021 Annual Meeting, subject to the election and qualification of their successors.
The Board of Directors is responsible for nominating individuals for election to the Board and for filling vacancies on the Board that may occur between annual meetings of stockholders. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for identifying and screening potential candidates and recommending qualified candidates to the Board for nomination. Third-party search firms may be and have been retained to identify individuals that meet the criteria of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider director candidates recommended by stockholders in the same manner in which it evaluates candidates it identified, if such recommendations are properly submitted to the Company. Stockholders wishing to recommend nominees for election to the Board should submit their recommendations in writing to our Corporate Secretary by email at board@cdw.com or by mail at CDW Corporation, 200 North Milwaukee Avenue, Vernon Hills, Illinois 60061. Nominations for the 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders must be received no earlier than January 21, 2021 and no later than February 20, 2021. See “Stockholder Proposals for the 2021 Annual Meeting” for additional information regarding the process for submitting nominations.
Our Amended and Restated Bylaws also permit qualified stockholders, or groups of up to 20 stockholders, to nominate and include in our proxy materials director nominees, provided that the stockholder(s) and nominee(s) satisfy the requirements specified in our Amended and Restated Bylaws. Notice of a proxy access nomination must be received no earlier than November 11, 2020 and no later than December 11, 2020. See “Stockholder Proposals for the 2021 Annual Meeting” for additional information regarding including director nominees in our proxy materials.
In selecting director candidates, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Board of Directors consider the qualifications and skills of the candidates individually and the composition of the Board as a whole. Under our Corporate Governance Guidelines, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Board review the following for each candidate, among other qualifications deemed appropriate, when considering the suitability of candidates for nomination as director:
| • | Principal employment, occupation or association involving an active leadership role | |
| • | Qualifications, attributes, skills and/or experience relevant to the Company’s business | |
| • | Ability to bring diversity to the Board, including complementary skills and viewpoints | |
| • | Other time commitments, including the number of other boards on which the potential candidate may serve | |
| • | Independence and absence of conflicts of interest as determined by the Board’s standards and policies, the listing standards of Nasdaq and other applicable laws, regulations and rules | |
| • | Financial literacy and expertise | |
| • | Personal qualities, including strength of character, maturity of thought process and judgment, values and ability to work collegially |
| 2020 Proxy Statement 19 |
Our Board strives to maintain a highly independent, balanced and diverse group of directors that collectively possess the expertise to ensure effective oversight.
| Board Diversity | |||
 |
| Key Director Skills | ||
| Technology/Digital Solutions | Operations | Legal |
| International | Distribution | Economic/Business Trends |
| Strategic Planning/Leadership of Complex Organizations | Finance | Healthcare |
| Board Practices of Major Corporations | Sales and Marketing | Capital Market Transactions |
2020 Nominees for Election to the Board of Directors
Each of the four Class I director nominees and the three Class III director nominees listed below is currently a director of the Company. Each of the director nominees, other than Christine A. Leahy, our President and Chief Executive Officer, has been determined by the Board to be independent.
The following biographies describe the business experience of each director nominee. Following the biographical information for each director nominee, we have listed the specific experience and qualifications of that nominee that strengthen the Board’s collective qualifications, skills and experience. The time period for each of Messrs. Alesio and Allen and Ms. Zarcone’s service as a director of CDW includes service on the Board of Managers of CDW Holdings LLC, our parent company prior to our IPO.
If elected, each of the director nominees is expected to serve for a term expiring at the 2021 Annual Meeting, subject to the election and qualification of his or her successor. The Board expects that each of the nominees will be available for election as a director. However, if by reason of an unexpected occurrence one or more of the nominees is not available for election, the persons named in the form of proxy have advised that they will vote for such substitute nominees as the Board may nominate.
| PROPOSAL 1: The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the following nominees for election as directors. |
| STEVEN W. ALESIO | Compensation and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees |
 |
INDEPENDENT
Director
Age 66
Class I
|
Mr. Alesio is the former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Dun & Bradstreet Corporation and a business executive currently serving on several company boards. From 2010 to 2017, Mr. Alesio served as an Operating Partner at Providence Equity Partners L.L.C., a global asset management firm. Prior to joining Providence Equity, Mr. Alesio served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Dun & Bradstreet Corporation, a provider of credit information on businesses and corporations, a position he held from 2005 to 2010. Mr. Alesio joined Dun & Bradstreet in 2001 as Senior Vice President, was named President and Chief Operating Officer and elected to the board of directors in 2002, and became Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in 2005. Prior to joining Dun & Bradstreet, Mr. Alesio spent 19 years with the American Express Company, where he served in marketing and general management roles.
Other Public Company Directorships: • None
| Selected Directorships and Positions: • Chair, Board of Directors, Alfresco Software • Chair, Board of Directors, Teaching Strategies • Senior Fellow, Jobs for the Future • Founding Sponsor, All Stars Project of New Jersey |
Director Qualification Highlights: • Strategic planning and leadership of complexorganizations • Board practices of other major corporations |
• Operations • International |
| 2020 Proxy Statement 20 |
| BARRY K. ALLEN | Compensation and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees |
 |
INDEPENDENT
Director
Age 71
Class I
|
Mr. Allen serves as an Operating Partner at Providence Equity Partners L.L.C., a global asset management firm. Prior to joining Providence Equity in 2007, Mr. Allen was Executive Vice President of Operations at Qwest Communications International Inc., a broadband Internet-based communications company. Previously, he served as President of Chicago-based Ameritech Corp., where he began his career in 1974 and held a variety of executive appointments including President and Chief Executive Officer of Wisconsin Bell and President and Chief Executive Officer of Illinois Bell. Mr. Allen also is President of Allen Enterprises, LLC, a private equity investment and management company he founded in 2000.
Other Public Company Directorships: • Bell Canada Enterprises • Fiduciary Management, Inc.
Former Public Company Directorships • Harley-Davidson, Inc. | Selected Directorships and Positions: • Board of Directors, TAIT • Chair, Board of Directors, Vistage Worldwide, Inc. |
Director Qualification Highlights: • Strategic planning and leadership of complexorganizations • Technology/Digital Solutions |
• Operations • Board practices of other major corporations |
| LYNDA M. CLARIZIO | Compensation and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees |
 |
INDEPENDENT
Director
Age 59
Class III
|
Ms. Clarizio served as Executive Vice President, Strategic Initiatives (September 2017 to January 2018) and President of U.S. Media (August 2013 to September 2017) at The Nielsen Company (US), LLC, a global performance management company that provides a comprehensive understanding of what consumers watch and buy. Prior to joining Nielsen, Ms. Clarizio served as Executive Vice President, Corporate Development and Operations of AppNexus, Inc., a programmatic advertising platform, from November 2012 to April 2013. From 2009 to 2012, Ms. Clarizio served as Chief Executive Officer and President of INVISION, Inc., a provider of multiplatform advertising solutions to the media industry. From 1999 to 2009, she held a variety of executive positions with AOL Inc., a media technology company, including most recently President of Platform-A (AOL’s consolidated advertising businesses) and President of Advertising.com (an AOL subsidiary). Prior to joining AOL, Ms. Clarizio was a partner at the Washington, DC law firm of Arnold & Porter, where she practiced law from 1987 through 1999.
Other Public Company Directorships: • None
| Selected Directorships and Positions: • Advisory Board, Adjust GmbH • Board of Directors, OpenSlate • Board of Directors, Resonate • Board of Directors, Human Rights First • Leadership Council, Princeton University School of Engineering and Applied Science |
Director Qualification Highlights: • Strategic planning and leadership of complexorganizations • Technology/Digital Solutions |
• Sales and marketing • Legal |
| CHRISTINE A. LEAHY |
 |
Director
Age 55
Class III
|
Ms. Leahy is our President and Chief Executive Officer, a position she has held since January 2019. Prior to her current role, Ms. Leahy served as our Chief Revenue Officer from July 2017 to December 2018 and was responsible for all customer-facing units of the Company, including its corporate, public, small business, international and integrated technology solutions organizations. Prior to that role, Ms. Leahy served as our Senior Vice President-International from May 2016 to July 2017, where she led the development of the Company’s international strategy and was responsible for the performance of the Company’s international business. Ms. Leahy also was Chief Legal Officer/General Counsel and Corporate Secretary from January 2002 to July 2017. Prior to joining CDW as the Company’s first general counsel, Ms. Leahy was a corporate partner in the Chicago office of Sidley Austin, an international business law firm, where she practiced law from 1991 to 2002.
Other Public Company Directorships: • None
| Selected Directorships and Positions: • Board of Trustees, Children’s Home & Aid • Board of Directors, Northwestern Memorial Hospital • Board of Directors, Junior Achievement of Chicago |
Director Qualification Highlights: • Strategic planning and leadership of complexorganizations • Technology/Digital Solutions |
• International • Operations/Distribution |
| 2020 Proxy Statement 21 |
| DAVID W. NELMS | Audit and Nominating and Corporate Governance (Chair) Committees |
 |
CHAIRMAN INDEPENDENT
Director
Age 59
Class I
|
Mr. Nelms is the retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Discover Financial Services, Inc., a direct banking and payment services company. Mr. Nelms was named Chief Executive Officer of Discover in 2004 and was elected Chairman in 2009. He retired in September 2018 and continued as Executive Chairman of Discover until December 2018 and as an advisor until March 2019. Mr. Nelms joined Discover in 1998 as President and Chief Operating Officer. Prior to joining Discover, Mr. Nelms was with MBNA America Bank from 1991 to 1998, most recently as Vice Chairman. From 1990 to 1991, Mr. Nelms was a senior product manager for Progressive Insurance and from 1986 to 1990 he was a management consultant with Bain & Company.
Other Public Company Directorships: • None
Former Public Company Directorships • Discover Financial Services, Inc. | Selected Directorships and Positions: • Board of Directors, Junior Achievement of Chicago |
Director Qualification Highlights: • Strategic planning and leadership of complexorganizations • Finance |
• Technology/Digital Solutions • Board practices of other major corporations |
| JOSEPH R. SWEDISH | Compensation (Chair) and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees |
 |
INDEPENDENT
Director
Age 68
Class III
|
Mr. Swedish is the retired Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Anthem, Inc., a health benefits provider. Mr. Swedish became a Senior Advisor to Anthem upon his retirement in May 2018, a role he will hold through May 2020. Mr. Swedish served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Anthem from 2013 to November 2017, became Chairman in 2015 and became Executive Chairman in November 2017. Prior to joining Anthem, Mr. Swedish was President and Chief Executive Officer of Trinity Health, an eighteen-state integrated health care delivery system, from 2004 to 2013. Mr. Swedish also has held CEO and senior leadership positions with Centura Health, Hospital Corporation of America and other healthcare enterprises. Mr. Swedish also is the co-founder and partner of Concord Health Partners, LLC, a private equity firm focused on strategic investing in healthcare portfolio companies.
Other Public Company Directorships: • IBM Corporation • Chair, Mesoblast Limited
Former Public Company Directorships • Anthem, Inc. | Selected Directorships and Positions: • Board of Directors, Centrexion Therapeutics Corporation • Board of Directors, Proteus Digital Health, Inc. • Board of Visitors, Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business |
Director Qualification Highlights: • Strategic planning and leadership of complexorganizations • Healthcare and Technology/Digital Solutions |
• Finance • Board practices of other major corporations
|
| 2020 Proxy Statement 22 |
| DONNA F. ZARCONE | Audit and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees |
 |
INDEPENDENT
Director
Age 62
Class I
|
Ms. Zarcone is the President and Chief Executive Officer of The Economic Club of Chicago, a civic and business leadership organization, a position she has held since February 2012. In January 2020, Ms. Zarcone announced her retirement from The Economic Club of Chicago, effective upon the transition of her successor. Ms. Zarcone served as Interim President of The Economic Club of Chicago from October 2011 to February 2012. From January 2007 to February 2012, she served as the President, CEO and founder of D.F. Zarcone & Associates LLC, a strategy advisory firm. Prior to founding D.F. Zarcone & Associates, Ms. Zarcone was President and Chief Operating Officer of Harley-Davidson Financial Services, Inc., a provider of wholesale and retail financing, credit card and insurance services for dealers and customers of Harley-Davidson. After joining Harley-Davidson Financial Services, Inc. in 1994 as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Ms. Zarcone was named President and Chief Operating Officer in 1998 and served in that role until 2006. Prior to joining Harley-Davidson Financial Services, Inc., Ms. Zarcone served as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Chrysler Systems Leasing, Inc. from 1982 through 1994 and in various management roles at KPMG/Peat Marwick from 1979 through 1982. Ms. Zarcone is a certified public accountant.
Other Public Company Directorships: • Cigna Corporation
| Selected Directorships and Positions: • Board of Directors, The Economic Club of Chicago • Board of Directors, The Duchossois Group • Board of Directors, The University of Chicago Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation • Governance Fellow and Directorship Certification, National Association of Corporate Directors |
Director Qualification Highlights: • Strategic planning and leadership of complexorganizations • Finance |
• National and global economic and business trends • Board practices of other major corporations |
Other Members of the Board of Directors
Set forth below are the biographies of our continuing directors who are not nominees for election at the 2020 Annual Meeting. Virginia C. Addicott, James A. Bell, Benjamin D. Chereskin and Paul J. Finnegan are Class II directors whose terms will expire at the 2021 Annual Meeting. Following the biographical information for each director, we have listed the specific experience and qualifications of that director that strengthen the Board’s collective qualifications, skills and experience. The time period for each of Messrs. Chereskin and Finnegan’s service as a director of CDW includes service on the Board of Managers of CDW Holdings LLC, our parent company prior to our IPO.
| VIRGINIA C. ADDICOTT | Audit (Chair) and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees |
 |
INDEPENDENT
Director
Age 56
Class II
|
Ms. Addicott is the retired President and Chief Executive Officer of FedEx Custom Critical, a North American expedited freight carrier, a position she held from June 2007 to December 2019. Ms. Addicott joined FedEx Custom Critical in 1999 as Division Managing Director, Service and Safety, and in 2001 became Division Vice President, Operations and Customer Service. Prior to joining FedEx Custom Critical, Ms. Addicott spent thirteen years at Roberts Express, Inc. (acquired by FedEx Custom Critical in 1999) in various operations roles.
Other Public Company Directorships: • None
| Selected Directorships and Positions: • Board of Directors, Akron Children’s Hospital • Board of Directors, FIRST (Robotics) • Board of Trustees, Kent State University |
Director Qualification Highlights: • Strategic planning and leadership of complexorganizations • Finance |
• Operations/Distribution • Technology/Digital Solutions |
| 2020 Proxy Statement 23 |
| JAMES A. BELL | Audit and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees |
 |
INDEPENDENT
Director
Age 71
Class II
|
Mr. Bell is the retired Executive Vice President, Corporate President and Chief Financial Officer of The Boeing Company, an aerospacecompany and manufacturer of commercial jetliners and military aircraft. Mr. Bell served in that role at Boeing from 2008 to 2012.Previously, he served as Boeing’s Executive Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer from 2003 to 2008; Senior VicePresident of Finance and Corporate Controller from 2000 to 2003; and Vice President of Contracts and Pricing for Boeing Spaceand Communications from 1996 to 2000.
Other Public Company Directorships: • Apple, Inc. • Dow Inc. • JPMorgan Chase & Co. (Through May 2020)
Former Public Company Directorships • DowDupont Inc. | |
Director Qualification Highlights: • Strategic planning and leadership of complexorganizations • Finance |
• Technology/Digital Solutions • Board practices of other major corporations |
| BENJAMIN D. CHERESKIN | Audit and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees |
 |
INDEPENDENT
Director
Age 61
Class II
|
Mr. Chereskin is President of Profile Capital Management LLC, an investment management firm. Prior to founding Profile Capitalin 2009, Mr. Chereskin was a Managing Director of Madison Dearborn Partners, LLC, a private equity investment firm, havingco-founded the firm in 1992. Prior to the founding of Madison Dearborn, Mr. Chereskin was with First Chicago Venture Capitalfor nine years.
Other Public Company Directorships: • Cinemark, Inc.
Former Public Company Directorships • Boulder Brands, Inc. | Selected Directorships and Positions: • Board of Directors, Advanced Micro Instruments, Inc. • Board of Directors, FedData Holdings, LLC • Chairman, Board of Directors, Little Dish Holdings Limited • Board of Directors, Solis Mammography • Board of Directors, KIPP-Chicago Schools |
Director Qualification Highlights: • Strategic planning and leadership of complexorganizations • Finance |
• Capital market transactions • Board practices of other major corporations |
| PAUL J. FINNEGAN | Compensation and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees |
 |
INDEPENDENT
Director
Age 67
Class II
|
Mr. Finnegan is the Co-Chief Executive Officer of Madison Dearborn Partners, LLC, a private equity investment firm. Prior toco-founding Madison Dearborn in 1992, Mr. Finnegan was with First Chicago Venture Capital for ten years. Previously, he held avariety of marketing positions in the publishing industry, both in the United States and Southeast Asia.
Other Public Company Directorships: • None
| Selected Directorships and Positions: • Board of Directors, AIA Corporation • Chair, Board of Directors, Government Sourcing Solutions, LLC • Board of Directors, Chicago Council on Global Affairs • Treasurer, Harvard Corporation • Chair, Board of Directors, Harvard Management Company • Advisory Board, Teach for America Chicago-Northwest Indiana |
Director Qualification Highlights: • Strategic planning and leadership of complexorganizations • Finance |
• Capital market transactions • Board practices of other major corporations |
| 2020 Proxy Statement 24 |
Elements of Director Compensation
In 2019, each non-employee director received annual compensation in the form of a $102,500 annual cash retainer and a $152,500 restricted stock unit award, as well as additional retainers for committee chairs. Christine A. Leahy, our President and Chief Executive Officer, and Thomas E. Richards, our Executive Chairman during 2019, did not receive any additional compensation for serving as directors in 2019.
| 2019 Director Compensation | |
| Annual Director Compensation | Annual Committee Chair Retainers |
 | • $20,000 Audit Committee Chair Retainer • $15,000 Compensation Committee Chair Retainer • $20,000 Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee/Lead Director Retainer
|
All retainers are paid quarterly in arrears and, if applicable, are prorated based upon Board or chair service during the calendar year.
The annual restricted stock unit grant vests on the first anniversary of the grant date and entitles the director to receive shares of our common stock upon vesting. Directors may elect to defer receipt of common stock upon vesting in five-year increments. In the year of appointment to the Board, a director receives a prorated portion of the annual restricted stock unit grant value based upon the number of months between appointment and the vesting date of the most recent annual grant to incumbent directors, which prorated award vests on the same vesting date as the most recent annual grant to incumbent directors. The annual restricted stock unit grant vests on a prorated basis if a director does not stand for re-election or is not re-nominated for election at an annual meeting during the vesting period.
The Board believes that, in order to more closely align the interests of directors with the interests of the Company’s other stockholders, each non-employee director should maintain a minimum level of equity interests in the Company’s common stock. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for periodically reviewing the stock ownership guidelines for non-employee directors and making recommendations to the Board.
Pursuant to our Corporate Governance Guidelines, each non-employee director must hold equity interests in the Company’s common stock equal to at least five times the Board’s annual cash retainer. Until such guidelines are met, a director is required to retain 100% of the after-tax value of all vested equity awards earned under the Company’s non-employee director compensation program. As of the record date, all of our non-employee directors were in compliance with the Company’s stock ownership guidelines.
| 2020 Proxy Statement 25 |
At the end of 2018, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, in consultation with the Compensation Committee, reviewed the design and competitiveness of our non-employee director compensation program. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considered input from the Compensation Committee’s independent compensation consultant and market data for the peer group of companies that the Compensation Committee uses for evaluating executive compensation as set forth in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis -Comparison to Relevant Peer Group” section of this proxy statement. Upon review, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee determined that the design of the Company’s non-employee director compensation program continued to be aligned with market trends, but the total compensation was below the median of the peer group. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee approved the following increases for 2019 to align director compensation with the market median range: (1) the cash retainer for Board service was increased by $15,000 to $102,500; (2) the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Chair retainer was increased by $10,000 to $20,000 to recognize concurrent service as Lead Director; and (3) the annual restricted stock unit grant value was increased by $15,000 to $152,500, with pro rata vesting if a director does not stand for re-election or is not re-nominated for election at an annual meeting during the vesting period. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee also recommended, and the Board approved, an increase in the Board stock ownership guidelines from $500,000 to five times the Board’s annual cash retainer (equal to $512,500 for 2019).
Independent Chairman Compensation
David W. Nelms served as our independent Lead Director in 2019 and was appointed as independent Chairman of the Board effective January 1, 2020. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, in consultation with the Compensation Committee, approved an additional annual restricted stock unit award of $150,000 for the Chairman, subject to the same terms as the annual restricted stock unit award for all Board members and with vesting on a prorated basis if service as Chairman terminates. This award is in lieu of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Chair/Lead Director retainer above. In determining this compensation, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considered input from the Compensation Committee’s independent compensation consultant and market data for the peer group of companies that the Compensation Committee uses for evaluating executive compensation as set forth in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis - Comparison to Relevant Peer Group” section of this proxy statement.
Hedging, Short Sales and Pledging Policies
Our directors are prohibited from hedging and short sales transactions with respect to our securities. In addition, our directors are prohibited from pledging our securities except in limited circumstances with pre-approval. For a further description of these policies, please see “Corporate Governance – Hedging, Short Sales and Pledging Policies.”
| 2020 Proxy Statement 26 |
2019 Director Compensation Table
The table below summarizes the compensation paid by the Company to our non-employee directors for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.
| Fees earned | |||
| or paid in cash | Stock Awards | Total | |
| Name | ($) | ($)(1)(2) | ($) |
| Virginia C. Addicott | 122,500 | 152,500 | 275,000 |
| Steven W. Alesio | 117,500 | 152,500 | 270,000 |
| Barry K. Allen | 102,500 | 152,500 | 255,000 |
| James A. Bell | 102,500 | 152,500 | 255,000 |
| Benjamin D. Chereskin | 102,500 | 152,500 | 255,000 |
| Lynda M. Clarizio | 102,500 | 152,500 | 255,000 |
| Paul J. Finnegan(3) | 102,500 | 152,500 | 255,000 |
| David W. Nelms | 122,500 | 152,500 | 275,000 |
| Joseph R. Swedish | 102,500 | 152,500 | 255,000 |
| Donna F. Zarcone | 102,500 | 152,500 | 255,000 |
| (1) | Stock Awards. The amounts reported represent the grant date fair value of restricted stock units granted in 2019, calculated based on the closing stock price on the date of grant in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”). |
| (2) | Outstanding Stock Awards. The following table summarizes outstanding stock awards held by each above director on December 31, 2019, including restricted stock units on which settlement has been deferred and restricted stock units acquired through the deemed reinvestment of dividend equivalents: |
| Restricted Stock Units Outstanding | |
| Name | (#) |
| Virginia C. Addicott | 9,550 |
| Steven W. Alesio | 16,573 |
| Barry K. Allen | 18,486 |
| James A. Bell | 12,772 |
| Benjamin D. Chereskin | 5,940 |
| Lynda M. Clarizio | 1,614 |
| Paul J. Finnegan | 3,527 |
| David W. Nelms | 18,486 |
| Joseph R. Swedish | 1,614 |
| Donna F. Zarcone | 18,486 |
| (3) | In 2019, Mr. Finnegan’s cash compensation for Board service was paid to Madison Dearborn Partners, LLC. |
| 2020 Proxy Statement 27 |
The following tables show information regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock by:
| • | each member of our Board of Directors, each director nominee and each of our named executive officers; |
| • | all members of our Board and our executive officers as a group; and |
| • | each person or group who is known by us to own beneficially more than 5% of our common stock. |
Beneficial ownership of shares is determined under the rules of the SEC and generally includes any shares over which a person exercises sole or shared voting or investment power. Shares of common stock subject to options currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of March 2, 2020 and restricted stock units that are currently vested but deferred or that will be settled into shares within 60 days of March 2, 2020 are deemed to be outstanding and beneficially owned by the person. Except as noted by footnote, and subject to community property laws where applicable, we believe based on the information provided to us that the persons and entities named in the table below have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of our common stock shown as beneficially owned by them.
Except as otherwise indicated, all stockholdings are as of March 2, 2020 and the percentage of beneficial ownership is based on 142,723,403 shares of common stock outstanding as of March 2, 2020.
Directors and Executive Officers
| Name | Aggregate Number of Shares Beneficially Owned | Percent of Outstanding Shares | Additional Information | |||
| Christine A. Leahy | 265,656 | * | Includes 184,804 shares subject to options currently exercisable or exercisablewithin 60 days of March 2, 2020. | |||
| Collin B. Kebo | 114,020 | * | Includes 75,620 shares subject to options currently exercisable or exercisablewithin 60 days of March 2, 2020. Also includes 33,713 shares held by TheCollin B. Kebo Revocable Trust which are deemed to be beneficially ownedby Mr. Kebo. | |||
| Christina M. Corley | 198,700 | * | Includes 147,229 shares subject to options currently exercisable or exercisablewithin 60 days of March 2, 2020. | |||
| Mark C. Chong | 79,038 | * | Includes 67,041 shares subject to options currently exercisable or exercisablewithin 60 days of March 2, 2020. | |||
| Douglas E. Eckrote | 246,873 | * | Includes 100,340 shares subject to options currently exercisable or exercisablewithin 60 days of March 2, 2020. | |||
| Virginia C. Addicott | 9,550 | * | Includes 9,550 vested restricted stock units on which settlement into shares ofCDW Corporation common stock has been deferred. | |||
| Steven W. Alesio | 18,470 | * | Includes 9,506 vested restricted stock units on which settlement into sharesof CDW Corporation common stock has been deferred. Also includes7,067 restricted stock units that will be settled into shares within 60 days ofMarch 2, 2020. | |||
| Barry K. Allen | 32,813 | * | Includes 18,486 vested restricted stock units on which settlement into sharesof CDW Corporation common stock has been deferred. Also includes 1,854shares held by Allen Enterprises LLC, a limited liability company of which Mr. Allen is the sole member. | |||
| James A. Bell | 16,357 | * | Includes 12,772 vested restricted stock units on which settlement into sharesof CDW Corporation common stock has been deferred. |
2020 Proxy Statement 28
| Name | Aggregate Number of Shares Beneficially Owned | Percent of Outstanding Shares | Additional Information | |||
| Benjamin D. Chereskin | 207,823 | * | Includes 5,940 vested restricted stock units on which settlement into shares of | |||
| CDW Corporation common stock has been deferred. Also includes 175,163shares held by the Chereskin Family Dynasty Trust and 6,936 shares held bythe Benjamin D. Chereskin Dynasty Trust which are deemed to be beneficially owned by Mr. Chereskin. | ||||||
| Lynda M. Clarizio | 9,273 | * | Includes 1,614 restricted stock units that will be settled into shares within 60 days of March 2, 2020. | |||
| Paul J. Finnegan | 22,176 | * | Includes 3,527 vested restricted stock units on which settlement into sharesof CDW Corporation common stock has been deferred. Also includes 8,141shares indirectly owned by Glen Lake Partners LP. Mr. Finnegan is the trusteeof Glen Lake Partners Management Trust I, a general partner of Glen LakePartners, L.P. Mr. Finnegan’s wife, Mary M. Finnegan, is the trustee of GlenLake Partners Management Trust II, the other general partner of Glen Lake Partners, L.P. | |||
| David W. Nelms | 18,486 | * | Includes 18,486 vested restricted stock units on which settlement into sharesof CDW Corporation common stock has been deferred. | |||
| Joseph R. Swedish | 10,974 | * | Includes 1,614 restricted stock units that will be settled into shares within 60 days of March 2, 2020. | |||
| Donna F. Zarcone | 25,492 | * | Includes 18,486 vested restricted stock units on which settlement into sharesof CDW Corporation common stock has been deferred. | |||
| All directors andexecutive officersas a group(23 persons) | 1,915,798 | 1.33% | Includes 96,754 vested restricted stock units held by directors on whichsettlement into shares of CDW Corporation common stock has been deferred,and 10,295 restricted stock units held by directors that will be settled intoshares within 60 days of March 2, 2020. Also includes 903,697 shares subjectto options held by executive officers currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of March 2, 2020. |
* Denotes less than 1.0%
Principal Stockholders
| Name | Aggregate Number of Shares Beneficially Owned | Percent of Outstanding Shares | |
| The Vanguard Group(1) | 17,145,901 | 11.93% | |
| 100 Vanguard Boulevard | |||
| Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355 | |||
| BlackRock, Inc.(2) | 11,791,725 | 8.2% | |
| 55 East 52ndStreet | |||
| New York, New York 10055 |
| (1) | This information is based on a Schedule 13G filed by The Vanguard Group with the SEC on February 12, 2020 reporting beneficial ownership as of December 31, 2019. The Vanguard Group reported that it has sole voting power with respect to 220,644 shares of our common stock, shared voting power with respect to 41,365 shares of our common stock, sole dispositive power with respect to 16,895,108 shares of our common stock and shared dispositive power with respect to 250,793 shares of our common stock. |
| (2) | This information is based on a Schedule 13G filed by BlackRock, Inc. with the SEC on February 5, 2020 reporting beneficial ownership as of December 31, 2019. BlackRock, Inc. reported that it has sole voting power with respect to 10,148,920 shares of our common stock and sole dispositive power with respect to 11,791,725 shares of our common stock. |
2020 Proxy Statement 29
PROPOSAL 2—Advisory Vote to Approve Named Executive Officer Compensation
We are offering our stockholders an opportunity to cast an advisory vote to approve the compensation of our named executive officers, as disclosed in this proxy statement, pursuant to Section 14A of the Exchange Act (commonly referred to as a “say-on-pay” vote). Although the vote is non-binding, we value continuing and constructive feedback from our stockholders on compensation and other important matters and we expect to hold this vote on an annual basis for the foreseeable future. The Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee will consider the voting results when making future compensation decisions. At our 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, approximately 95% of votes cast by our stockholders approved the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in the 2019 proxy statement.
In deciding how to vote on this proposal, we encourage you to review the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” and “2019 Executive Compensation” sections of this proxy statement for a detailed description of our executive compensation program.
As described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the Compensation Committee has designed our executive compensation program with the objective of driving sustained meaningful profitable growth and stockholder value creation through its focus on three long-standing CDW compensation philosophies:
| • | Attract and Retain the Right Talent. Executive compensation should be market-competitive in order to attract and retain highly motivated talent with a performance- and service-driven mindset. |
| • | Pay for Performance. A significant percentage of an executive’s compensation should be directly aligned with Company performance, with a balance between short-term and long-term performance. |
| • | Align with Stockholder Interests. Executives’ interests should be aligned with stockholder interests through the risks and rewards of CDW equity ownership. |
PROPOSAL 2: The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR approval on an advisory basis of the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the Summary Compensation Table and the other related disclosure and tables in this proxy statement.
2020 Proxy Statement 30
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
 |  |  |  |  | ||||
| Christine A. Leahy | Collin B. Kebo | Christina M. Corley* | Mark C. Chong | Douglas E. Eckrote | ||||
| President and Chief | Senior Vice President and | Chief Commercial and | Senior Vice President, | Senior Vice President, | ||||
| Executive Officer | Chief Financial Officer | Operating Officer | Strategy and Marketing | Small Business Sales and eCommerce |
| * | During 2019, Ms. Corley served as our Chief Operating Officer. Effective January 1, 2020, Ms. Corley assumed the additional role of Chief Commercial Officer. |
Our CD&A is divided into three sections:
| Overview | • | 2019 Business Highlights | |
| • | Long-Term Performance | ||
| • | Our Executive Compensation Program | ||
| • | Our Executive Compensation Practices | ||
| • | 2019 Say-on-Pay Vote | ||
| What We Pay and Why | • | 2019 Executive Compensation Decisions | |
| • | Alignment of Executive Compensation Program with Operational Performance | ||
| • | Base Salary | ||
| • | Annual Cash Incentive Awards | ||
| • | Long-Term Incentive Program | ||
| • | Other Elements of Our 2019 Executive Compensation Program | ||
| • | Management Transition Compensation | ||
| How We Make Executive Compensation Decisions | • | Our Executive Compensation Philosophies and Objectives | |
| • | Role of the Board, Compensation Committee and our Executive Officers | ||
| • | Guidance from Independent Compensation Consultant | ||
| • | Comparison to Relevant Peer Group |
2020 Proxy Statement 31
Our 2019 performance demonstrated the strength of our business model as we profitably captured market share while continuing to invest in our future.
For additional information regarding 2019 business highlights, please see the “Proxy Summary.”
The Company’s strong performance in 2019 contributed to above target results under the Company’s 2019 annual cash bonus program and 2017 performance-based equity awards. Please see the “Annual Cash Incentive Awards” and “Long-Term Incentive Programs” sections of this CD&A for further information regarding these programs, including the award opportunities, performance measures and program results.
Over the past 5 years, our cumulative total shareholder return has far outpaced the S&P 500 Index and our 2019 compensation peer group set forth in the “Comparison to Relevant Peer Group” section of this CD&A, and we have returned $2.9 billion of cash to shareholders.
 | |
| (1) | The cumulative total shareholder return chart compares the cumulative total shareholder return, including reinvestment of dividends, on $100 invested in CDW common stock for the period from market close on December 31, 2014 through market close on December 31, 2019, with the cumulative total return for the same time period of the same amount invested in the S&P 500 Index and our 2019 compensation peer group set forth in the “Comparison to Relevant Peer Group” section of this CD&A. |
2020 Proxy Statement 32
Our Executive Compensation Program
Our executive compensation program is designed to drive above-market results and is built upon our performance-driven culture and long-standing executive compensation philosophies and objectives, as described below under “Our Executive Compensation Philosophies and Objectives,” which we believe have been key contributors to our long-term success. The table below outlines each of the principal elements of the Company’s executive compensation program:
The chart below illustrates the pay-for-performance design of our 2019 executive compensation program. For 2019, approximately 85% of the target compensation of our President and Chief Executive Officer was variable and is realized only if the applicable financial performance goals are met and/or our stock price increases.
2020 Proxy Statement 33
Our Executive Compensation Practices
The Compensation Committee reviews on an ongoing basis the Company’s executive compensation program to evaluate whether it supports the Company’s executive compensation philosophies and objectives and is aligned with stockholder interests. Our 2019 executive compensation practices include the following, each of which the Compensation Committee believes reinforces our executive compensation objectives:
| Our Executive Compensation Practices | |
 | Significant percentage of target annual compensation delivered in the form of variable compensation tied to performance |
| Long-term objectives aligned with the creation of stockholder value |
| Target total compensation at the competitive market median |
| Market comparison of executive compensation against a relevant peer group |
| Use of an independent compensation consultant reporting directly to the Compensation Committee and providing no other services to the Company |
| Double-trigger vesting for equity awards in the event of a change in control under our long-term incentive plan |
| Robust stock ownership guidelines |
| Clawback policy |
| Annual say-on-pay vote |
| Limited perquisites |
 | We do not have tax gross-ups* |
| We do not have an enhanced severance multiple upon a change in control |
| We do not have excessive severance benefits |
| We do not allow dividends or dividend equivalents on unearned performance-based awards under our long-term incentive plan |
| We do not allow repricing of underwater stock options under our long-term incentive plan without stockholder approval |
| We do not allow hedging or short sales of our securities, and we do not allow pledging of our securities except in limited circumstances with pre-approval |
| * Excludes tax reimbursements made to Mr. Kebo in connection with an expatriate assignment prior to his appointment as an executive officer. | |
As noted above, in its compensation review process, the Compensation Committee considers whether the Company’s executive compensation program is aligned with the interests of the Company’s stockholders. In that respect, as part of its review of the Company’s executive compensation program, the Compensation Committee considered the approval by approximately 95% of the votes cast for the Company’s say-on-pay vote at our 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The Compensation Committee determined that the Company’s executive compensation philosophies and objectives and compensation elements continued to be appropriate and did not make any changes to the Company’s executive compensation program in response to the 2019 say-on-pay vote.
| 2019 Say-on-Pay Vote |
|
2020 Proxy Statement 34
2019 Executive Compensation Decisions
Consistent with our pay-for-performance philosophy and executive compensation program objectives described below under “Our Executive Compensation Philosophies and Objectives,” in determining the 2019 adjustments to executive compensation levels and the mix of compensation elements for each Named Executive Officer, the Compensation Committee and our President and Chief Executive Officer (in making recommendations regarding Named Executive Officer compensation other than her own) considered each Named Executive Officer’s prior performance, Company performance, the compensation levels paid to similarly situated executive officers at the Company, the competitive median of the market data to provide a perspective on external practices, and input from the Compensation Committee’s independent compensation consultant. In approving 2019 compensation adjustments, the Compensation Committee in particular made compensation adjustments designed to support executive succession planning in connection with Ms. Leahy’s assumption of the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and Ms. Corley’s assumption of the position of Chief Operating Officer, each effective as of January 1, 2019, as well as to further align Named Executive Officer compensation with the competitive median. Finally, consistent with the Company’s long-standing compensation philosophy of aligning executive officers’ interests with stockholders through the risks and rewards of equity ownership, in general, the Compensation Committee allocated the majority of the total target direct compensation increases to the Named Executives Officers’ target equity grant levels.
Alignment of Executive Compensation Program with Operational Performance
Our executive compensation program is designed to drive sustained meaningful profitable growth and shareholder value creation by aligning all members of senior management around common performance goals. The Compensation Committee selects performance goals that it believes are core drivers of the Company’s operational performance and shareholder value creation. By using performance goals under the Company’s incentive programs that are based on operating income, earnings per share and free cash flow, as adjusted in accordance with the terms of the awards, as well as market share gains, the Compensation Committee believes that the program reflects an appropriate balance with respect to incentivizing profitability, top-line growth and cash flow generation.
To drive performance against our program goals, when communicating the goals to the senior management team, the Company includes extensive communications on what members of senior management, together with their teams, can do on a daily basis to impact achievement of these goals. We believe this understanding of the link between individual/team performance and the achievement of the Company’s financial performance goals helps the entire organization focus on those actions that have the greatest potential to drive sustained meaningful profitable growth and stockholder value creation.
The Compensation Committee generally sets base salaries for executives, including our Named Executive Officers, below the competitive market median of salaries for executives in similar positions. Aligned with our compensation philosophies and objectives, a significant portion of each Named Executive Officer’s annual target cash compensation is at risk, to provide a strong connection between pay and performance. Accordingly, in 2019, our President and Chief Executive Officer’s annual target cash compensation was weighted 42% base salary and 58% annual incentive target. The table below sets forth the 2019 base salary level for each of our Named Executive Officers:
| Named Executive Officer | 2019 Base Salary | |||
| Christine A. Leahy | $ | 850,000 | ||
| Collin B. Kebo | $ | 500,000 | ||
| Christina M. Corley | $ | 500,000 | ||
| Mark C. Chong | $ | 425,000 | ||
| Douglas E. Eckrote | $ | 447,188 | ||
2020 Proxy Statement 35
We provide our senior management with short-term incentive compensation through our annual cash bonus program, the Senior Management Incentive Plan (“SMIP”). In general, short-term incentive compensation under SMIP represents a majority of a Named Executive Officer’s total target cash compensation opportunity.
Setting the Target Opportunity under SMIP
Because our Named Executive Officer base salary levels historically have been targeted to be below the competitive market median, the Compensation Committee uses an above-median target SMIP opportunity to bring targeted total cash compensation within the median range.
2019 SMIP Pay for Performance Alignment
The Compensation Committee undertakes a rigorous review and analysis to establish annual performance goals under SMIP that require above-market performance. Factors considered by the Compensation Committee in establishing the performance goals include U.S. IT market growth rate expectations and our market share gain expectations, as well as assumptions regarding our productivity gains and investments.
The Compensation Committee established the following goals and payout levels under the 2019 SMIP:
| • | The Compensation Committee chose Non-GAAP operating income and market share growth (based upon sales) as the 2019 SMIP performance goals. In 2019, Non-GAAP operating income replaced adjusted EBITDA, which was the primary SMIP metric for 2018. The Compensation Committee believes that Non-GAAP operating income is currently more representative of the Company’s performance as it more fully recognizes the costs of operating the Company’s business and providing services to the Company’s customers. In addition, Non-GAAP operating income is consistent with the Company’s externally provided targets and allows for better comparability with the Company’s peers, which the Compensation Committee believes simplifies and increases the transparency of the Company’s executive compensation program. The Compensation Committee chose this combination of Non-GAAP operating income and market share growth as performance goals because together they take into account not only the Company’s absolute performance but also performance relative to the market. | |
| • | The Non-GAAP operating income performance goal was set at $1,298 million, which was based on a growth rate above U.S. IT market growth rate expectations. When establishing the performance goals under SMIP, the Compensation Committee determined to exclude the items set forth in the Non-GAAP operating income reconciliation included in Appendix A. In addition, the Compensation Committee determined to exclude the effect of currency fluctuations from the payout calculations as the Compensation Committee believed that compensation should not be based on factors outside of the control of the SMIP participants. Under this plan design, performance goals and results are calculated using exchange rates determined at the time the performance goals were established. | |
| • | No payout unless 2019 Non-GAAP operating income at or above final 2018 Non-GAAP operating income results. | |
| • | Payout range from 0% to 200% of target awards for performance against the Non-GAAP operating income performance goal. | |
| • | Market share governor would reduce operating income-based payouts at all performance levels unless the Company gained market share. |
The threshold, target and maximum payout opportunities under the SMIP payout curve are set forth below:
| Non-GAAP Operating Income performance goal(2) | Market share governor(3) | ||||||||||||||
| Payout opportunity(1) | Non-GAAP Operating Income (in millions) | % attainment of performance goal | Grow (% of target bonus) | Constant/Decline (% of target bonus) | |||||||||||
| Maximum | $ | 1,427 | 110% | 200% | 180% | ||||||||||
| Target | $ | 1,298 | 100% | 100% | 90% | ||||||||||
| Threshold | $ | 1,217 | 93.7% | 25% | 15% | ||||||||||
| (1) | Payouts are determined based on various performance achievement levels for Non-GAAP operating income and market share changes. Payouts for performance between these various performance achievement levels are calculated using straight line interpolation. |
| (2) | See Appendix A for a reconciliation of Non-GAAP operating income to operating income. |
| (3) | Market share changes were measured internally based on data from three industry surveys and reports. |
2020 Proxy Statement 36
2019 SMIP Results and Payouts
Our 2019 Non-GAAP operating income measured on a constant currency basis was $1,366 million, and the Compensation Committee determined that we had achieved 105.29% of our Non-GAAP operating income performance goal. In addition, based upon industry surveys and reports (see footnote (3) above), the Compensation Committee determined that our market share grew. The SMIP payout percentage for the Named Executive Officers therefore was 152.9% of their 2019 SMIP targets.
The table below sets forth the SMIP bonus targets and payouts to each of our Named Executive Officers based upon 2019 performance:
| 2019 SMIP | ||||||||
| Named Executive Officer | SMIP Bonus Target | Payout | ||||||
| Christine A. Leahy | $ | 1,190,000 | $ | 1,819,510 | ||||
| Collin B. Kebo | $ | 600,000 | $ | 917,400 | ||||
| Christina M. Corley | $ | 700,000 | $ | 1,070,300 | ||||
| Mark C. Chong | $ | 425,000 | $ | 649,825 | ||||
| Douglas E. Eckrote | $ | 592,211 | $ | 905,491 | ||||
Under our long-term incentive program, the Compensation Committee has the authority to award various forms of long-term incentive grants, including stock options, performance-based awards and restricted stock units. The Compensation Committee’s objectives for the 2019 long-term incentive awards were to:
| • | Focus executives on key performance metrics aligned with long-term stockholder value creation and the Company’s long-term strategic plan and capital allocation plan. |
| • | Establish a direct link between compensation and the achievement of longer-term financial objectives. |
| • | Retain the services of executives through multi-year vesting provisions. |
For 2019, the annual long-term incentive grant was delivered in the form of performance share units (“PSUs”) and stock options, with the following key elements to drive Company performance and align with stockholder interests:
| Performance Share Units | • | 50% of target long-term incentive opportunity |
| • | 2019-2021 performance period with 0% - 200% payout curve (threshold payout of 50%) | |
| • | Vest at the end of the performance period based upon attainment of (1) cumulative annual adjusted free cash flow (“adjusted FCF”) and (2) cumulative annual Non-GAAP net income per diluted share (“adjusted EPS”) performance goals, each calculated as described below and weighted equally | |
| Stock Options | • | 50% of target long-term incentive opportunity |
| • | Only have value if CDW stock price increases | |
| • | Vest in 1/3 annual increments with 10 year maximum term |
2019 Long-Term Incentive Program Pay for Performance Alignment
For 2019, 100% of the long-term incentive awards granted to the Named Executive Officers consisted of performance-based equity awards. Stock options have value to an award recipient only if our stock price appreciates, while PSUs have value if and only to the extent that the pre-established quantitative performance metrics relating to adjusted FCF and adjusted EPS, as described below and weighted equally, are achieved during the three-year performance period. The Compensation Committee selected adjusted FCF and adjusted EPS as the metrics for the PSUs because it believes successful performance against these measures promotes the creation of long-term stockholder value. In selecting these metrics, the Compensation Committee focused on cash flow and earnings as critical measures of operational success and value creation, but distinguished the PSU metrics from the SMIP metric (Non-GAAP operating income). By including interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization in the measure of earnings, and including interest, taxes and working capital in the measure of cash flow, the Compensation Committee intends to provide a stronger linkage to longer-term growth in stockholder value. Consistent with the SMIP design, the performance goals under the 2019 PSU awards will be determined on a constant currency basis as the Compensation Committee believed that compensation should not be based on factors outside of the control of program participants. Under this plan design, the performance goals and results will be calculated
2020 Proxy Statement 37
using exchange rates determined at the time the performance goals were established. The Committee established the payout curves for the PSUs to encourage strong, focused performance. Given the economic and market conditions at the time the targets were set, the target payout levels were designed to be challenging but achievable, while payouts at the maximum levels were designed to be stretch goals.
Under the PSU agreements, adjusted EPS and adjusted FCF are generally calculated as follows:
| (1) | Non-GAAP net income is defined as net income, adjusted for the items set forth in the Company’s earnings releases which may include, among other items, amortization of intangibles, non-cash equity-based compensation and associated taxes, losses or gains from the extinguishment of debt and acquisition and integration expenses. Free cash flow is defined as net cash from operating activities minus capital expenditures plus or minus net change in accounts payable–inventory financing each year during the performance period. |
| (2) | The impact of extraordinary, unusual, infrequently occurring, non-recurring and unanticipated events will be excluded, such as severance expenses attributable to a reduction in force, asset impairments, reserves for uncertain tax positions and reserves for loss contingencies (or payments for settlements or judgments), each as determined under GAAP; and the effect of any change in tax laws, accounting principles or other laws or regulations affecting results. |
Setting Award Levels under 2019 Long-Term Incentive Program
In determining the 2019 long-term incentive award levels for Named Executive Officers, the Compensation Committee compared the target total direct compensation of each Named Executive Officer to the competitive market median. Consistent with the Company’s long-standing compensation philosophy of aligning executive officers’ interests with stockholders through the risks and rewards of equity ownership, in general, the Compensation Committee allocated the majority of the total target direct compensation increases to the Named Executives Officers’ target equity grant levels. The table below sets forth the target award value, as of the date of grant, of the long-term incentive award received by each Named Executive Officer under our 2019 long-term incentive program, which was delivered 50% in PSUs and 50% in stock options:
| Executive | Amount | |||
| Christine A. Leahy | $ | 3,500,000 | ||
| Collin B. Kebo | $ | 1,200,000 | ||
| Christina M. Corley | $ | 1,800,000 | ||
| Mark C. Chong | $ | 900,000 | ||
| Douglas E. Eckrote | $ | 600,000 |
2017 Long-Term Incentive Program Results and Payouts
Under the terms of the PSUs granted as part of the 2017 long-term incentive program, 2019 represented the final year of the three-year performance period for the 2017 PSUs. The 2017 PSUs vested based on the attainment of cumulative performance goals relating to adjusted FCF and adjusted EPS during the 2017-2019 performance period, with each goal weighted equally in the determination of the vesting level. These performance goals were set in 2017 based on the Company’s strategic plans at the time. Based on performance, participants were eligible to receive a payout ranging from 0% - 200% of target, with a threshold payout opportunity equal to 50% of target.
2020 Proxy Statement 38
The threshold, target and maximum payout opportunities under the 2017 PSU payout curve are set forth below:
| 2017-2019 Performance Goals(1) | |||||||||
| Adjusted Earnings Per Share | Adjusted Free Cash Flow | ||||||||
| Payout opportunity(2) | Payout (% of target) | Adjusted Earnings Per Share | % attainment of performance goal | Adjusted Free Cash Flow (in millions) | % attainment of performance goal | ||||
| Maximum | 200% | $ | 14.26 | 115% | $ | 1,882 | 115% | ||
| Target | 100% | $ | 12.40 | 100% | $ | 1,636 | (3) | 100% | |
| Threshold | 50% | $ | 11.12 | 89.7% | $ | 1,391 | 85% | ||
| (1) | Under the terms of the 2017 PSU agreements, adjusted EPS and adjusted FCF were each weighted equally and calculated as described above with respect to the 2019 PSU awards. |
| (2) | Payouts are determined based on various performance achievement levels for adjusted EPS and adjusted FCF. Payouts for performance between these various performance achievement levels are calculated using straight line interpolation. |
| (3) | Under the payout curve, the Compensation Committee established a range of $1,587 million to $1,685 million for the achievement levels that would have resulted in a target payout for the adjusted FCF performance goal. |
For the 2017-2019 performance period, the Company achieved cumulative adjusted EPS and cumulative adjusted FCF of $13.34 and $1,910 million, respectively, resulting in the vesting level for the 2017 PSU awards at approximately 175% of target. The table below sets forth the target number of 2017 PSUs and the number of shares earned based on actual performance during the 2017-2019 performance period:
| 2017 Target | Shares Earned under | |
| Named Executive Officer | PSUs (#) | 2017 PSUs (#)(1) |
| Christine A. Leahy | 8,489 | 14,878 |
| Collin B. Kebo | 4,690 | 8,220 |
| Christina M. Corley | 7,216 | 12,647 |
| Mark C. Chong | 6,763 | 11,853 |
| Douglas E. Eckrote | 4,244 | 7,438 |
| (1) | Pursuant to the terms of the award agreements, participants are eligible to receive dividend equivalents with respect to dividends paid prior to the settlement of the award. The earned shares reported in this table do not include additional shares acquired through the deemed reinvestment of dividend equivalents prior to settlement of the award. The earned shares, including shares acquired through the deemed reinvestment of dividends through December 31, 2019, are reported in the 2019 Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table. PSU award recipients receive fractional shares upon settlement; however, for purposes of this table, share numbers have been rounded to the nearest whole share. |
Other Elements of Our 2019 Executive Compensation Program
Severance Arrangements
During 2019, the Named Executive Officers were each subject to a compensation protection agreement that provided for severance benefits upon certain qualifying terminations of employment with the Company (the “Compensation Protection Agreements”). The Compensation Committee believes that these severance benefits: (1) help secure the continued employment and dedication of our Named Executive Officers; (2) enhance the Company’s value to a potential acquirer because our Named Executive Officers have noncompetition, nonsolicitation and confidentiality provisions that apply after any termination of employment, including after a change in control of the Company; and (3) are important as a recruitment and retention device, as many of the companies with which we compete for executive talent have similar agreements in place for their senior management. Consistent with market practices, the Compensation Protection Agreements do not include change in control-related tax gross-ups and are for a three-year fixed term, with certain term extensions in the event of a “potential change in control” or “change in control” during the term.
In connection with her promotion to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and her appointment to the Board, Ms. Leahy’s Compensation Protection Agreement was amended to reflect her assumption of these new positions, in each case effective as of January 1, 2019. In particular, the agreement was amended to (i) specify that the Company will propose Ms. Leahy for re-election to the Board at such times as are necessary for Ms. Leahy to remain a member of the Board during the term of the agreement, and (ii) provide that if Ms. Leahy’s employment is terminated for any reason other than a termination by the Company for “cause,” then upon the expiration of any continued medical coverage period under her Amended and Restated Compensation Protection Agreement and the COBRA continuation coverage period, Ms. Leahy and her spouse and dependents are entitled to continued access to the Company’s medical plan until Ms. Leahy and her spouse become eligible for Medicare (or the earlier occurrence of certain other events specified in the Amended and Restated Compensation Protection Agreement), with the full cost of such continued coverage to be paid by Ms. Leahy.
2020 Proxy Statement 39
On March 8, 2019, the Company entered into amended and restated Compensation Protection Agreements with each of our Named Executive Officers, the sole purpose of which was to extend the expiration date of each such agreement by three years – from January 1, 2020 to January 1, 2023.
Additional information regarding the employment arrangements with each of our Named Executive Officers, including a quantification of benefits that would have been received by each Named Executive Officer had his or her employment terminated on December 31, 2019, is provided under “2019 Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control.”
Other Benefits
Our Named Executive Officers participate in our corporate-wide benefit programs. Our Named Executive Officers are offered benefits that generally are commensurate with the benefits provided to all of our full-time coworkers, which includes participation in our qualified defined contribution plan. Consistent with our performance-based culture, we do not offer a service-based defined benefit pension plan or other similar benefits to our coworkers. Similarly, we do not provide nonqualified retirement programs or perquisites that are often provided at other companies to executive officers.
Clawback Policy
The Compensation Committee adopted a clawback policy in the event the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to material non-compliance with a financial reporting requirement under the federal securities laws. If a current or former executive officer engaged in intentional misconduct that caused or partially caused the need for the restatement, the Compensation Committee may, in its discretion and to the full extent permitted by governing law, require reimbursement of that portion of any cash bonus paid to, or PSUs earned by, such executive officer during the three-year period preceding the date on which the Company is required to prepare the restatement, which is in excess of what would have been paid or earned by such executive officer had the financial results been properly reported.
Stock Ownership Guidelines
The Compensation Committee believes that, in order to more closely align the interests of executives with the interests of the Company’s other stockholders, all executives should maintain a minimum level of equity interests in the Company’s common stock. The Compensation Committee has adopted stock ownership guidelines requiring ownership of six times base salary for our President and Chief Executive Officer, five times base salary for our Chief Commercial and Operating Officer and our Chief Growth and Innovation Officer and three times base salary for our other executive officers. Until the guideline is met, an executive officer is required to retain 50% of the after-tax shares acquired upon exercise of stock options and vesting of PSUs and restricted share units. As of the record date, all of our Named Executive Officers were in compliance with the Company’s stock ownership guidelines.
Hedging, Short Sales and Pledging Policies
Our executive officers are prohibited from hedging and short sales transactions with respect to our securities. In addition, our executive officers are prohibited from pledging our securities except in limited circumstances with pre-approval. For a further description of these policies, please see “Corporate Governance - Hedging, Short Sales and Pledging Policies.”
Management Transition Compensation
In connection with Ms. Leahy’s promotion to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company on January 1, 2019, Ms. Leahy’s annual base salary and 2019 target annual bonus were increased to $850,000 and $1,190,000, respectively, and she was eligible to receive a 2019 target annual long-term incentive award equal to $3,500,000. Upon Ms. Corley’s promotion to Chief Operating Officer on January 1, 2019, Ms. Corley’s annual base salary and 2019 target annual bonus were increased to $500,000 and $700,000, respectively, and she was eligible to receive a 2019 target annual long-term incentive award equal to $1,800,000. Consistent with the Compensation Committee’s approach in setting annual compensation levels, in determining these compensation adjustments, the Compensation Committee considered each Named Executive Officer’s prior performance and experience, Company performance, the compensation levels paid to similarly situated executive officers at the Company, the competitive median of the market data to provide a perspective on external practices, and input from the Compensation Committee’s independent compensation consultant. In addition, consistent with the Company’s long-standing compensation philosophy of aligning executive officers’ interests with stockholders through the risks and rewards of equity ownership, the Compensation Committee allocated the majority of the total target direct compensation increases for Ms. Leahy and Ms. Corley to their target equity grant levels.
2020 Proxy Statement 40
HOW WE MAKE EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION DECISIONS
Our Executive Compensation Philosophies and Objectives
The Compensation Committee believes that our executive compensation program should reward actions and behaviors that drive sustained meaningful profitable growth and stockholder value creation. The Compensation Committee seeks to foster these objectives through a compensation system that focuses heavily on variable, performance-based incentives that create a balanced focus on our short-term and long-term strategic and financial goals. The Compensation Committee’s goal has been to implement an executive compensation program that continues to drive above-market results and that is built upon our long-standing executive compensation philosophies and objectives, as outlined below, which we believe have been key contributors to our long-term success:
Role of the Board, Compensation Committee and our Executive Officers
The Compensation Committee is responsible for determining the compensation of our President and Chief Executive Officer and each of our other executive officers. In setting the compensation of our President and Chief Executive Officer, the Compensation Committee takes into account the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s review of our President and Chief Executive Officer’s performance. In setting the compensation of our other executive officers, the Compensation Committee takes into account our President and Chief Executive Officer’s review of each executive officer’s performance and her recommendations with respect to their compensation. The Compensation Committee’s responsibilities regarding executive compensation are further described in the “Corporate Governance” section of this proxy statement.
Guidance from Independent Compensation Consultant
Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc. (the “Compensation Consultant”) provides executive compensation consulting services to the Compensation Committee. With respect to 2019, the Compensation Consultant provided services related to the review of 2019 compensation adjustments, including a review of peer group compensation data, awards under our long-term incentive program, the setting of performance goals in our variable incentive plans including the payout leverage for results above and below the target performance levels, trends and tax and regulatory developments with respect to executive compensation, our compensation peer group, the compensation adjustments made in connection with the 2019 management transition discussed above and our Compensation Protection Agreements and assistance with this CD&A. The Compensation Consultant is retained by and reports to the Compensation Committee and, at the request of the Compensation Committee, participates in committee meetings. Other than services provided to the Compensation Committee, the Compensation Consultant did not provide any services to the Company with respect to 2019. The Compensation Committee reviewed the independence of the Compensation Consultant under Nasdaq and SEC rules and concluded that the work of the Compensation Consultant has not raised any conflict of interest.
2020 Proxy Statement 41
Comparison to Relevant Peer Group
To obtain a broad view of competitive practices among industry peers and competitors for executive talent, the Compensation Committee reviews market data for peer group companies as well as a general industry survey. In selecting companies for our peer group, the Compensation Committee considers companies that meet one or more of the following peer group selection criteria established by the Compensation Committee:
 | Similar size in terms of revenue and/or enterprise value |
| Operates in a business-to-business distribution environment |
| Member of the technology industry |
| Similar customers (i.e., business, government, healthcare, and education) |
| Services and/or solutions provider |
| Similar margins |
| Similar percentage of international sales |
| The Company is frequently identified as a peer by the other peer companies or the leading proxy advisory firms |
| Identified by the Company as a competitor |
For 2019 compensation decisions, the Compensation Committee utilized the peer group set forth below. Based on data compiled by the Compensation Consultant at the time of the peer group review, our revenues, EBITDA and market capitalization were between the median and 75thpercentile of our peer group.
| 2019 Compensation Peer Group(1) | |
| Anixter International, Inc. | Insight Enterprises, Inc. |
| Arrow Electronics, Inc. | LKQ Corporation |
| Avnet, Inc. | Patterson Companies, Inc. |
| CGI Group Inc. | SYNNEX Corporation |
| Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation | Tech Data Corporation |
| DXC Technology Corporation | W.W. Grainger, Inc. |
| Genuine Parts Company | Wesco International, Inc. |
| Henry Schein, Inc. | |
| (1) | During 2018, the Compensation Consultant presented, and the Compensation Committee approved, a revised peer group to better reflect the Company’s evolving business model as a distributor with a significant services and solutions presence and to better align the peer companies with the size of the Company. This revised peer group consists of the same peer group that was used to establish the initial 2018 compensation levels, but with (i) the addition of Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation, DXC Technology Company, LKQ Corporation and Tech Data Corporation and (ii) the deletion of Accenture plc, Essendant, Inc. and Owens & Minor, Inc. |
The Compensation Consultant provides competitive data utilizing peer group proxy data and Aon Hewitt provides revenue size-adjusted competitive data from its general industry database. In reviewing the size-adjusted data from the Aon Hewitt general industry database, the Compensation Committee does not review data from the specific companies included in the database. For Ms. Leahy, the peer group was the primary market data source for evaluating 2019 base salary, annual cash incentive award opportunity and long-term incentive opportunity, given the availability of chief executive officer compensation data in public filings, with the compensation survey data providing a supplemental viewpoint. For our other Named Executive Officers, the Compensation Committee reviewed both peer group data and compensation survey data when evaluating the 2019 base salary, annual cash incentive opportunities and long-term incentive opportunities. For purposes of this CD&A, the peer group data and compensation survey data are collectively referred to as “market data.”
2020 Proxy Statement 42
Our Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the section entitled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” with our management. Based upon this review and discussion, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the section entitled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” be included in this proxy statement, which will be incorporated by reference into our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.
Respectfully submitted by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.
Steven W. Alesio
Barry K. Allen
Lynda M. Clarizio
Paul J. Finnegan
Joseph R. Swedish, Chair
2020 Proxy Statement 43
2019 Summary Compensation Table
The following table provides information regarding the compensation earned by our President and Chief Executive Officer, our Chief Financial Officer and our three other most highly compensated executive officers, whom we collectively refer to as our “Named Executive Officers” for fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 and, to the extent required under the SEC executive compensation disclosure rules, the fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017.
| Non-equity | ||||||||||||||
| Stock | Option | Incentive Plan | All Other | |||||||||||
| Name and principal position | Year | Salary ($) | Awards ($)(1) | Awards ($)(2) | Compensation ($)(3) | Compensation ($)(4) | Total ($) | |||||||
| Christine A. Leahy President and Chief Executive Officer | 2019 | 842,160 | 1,749,982 | 1,761,389 | 1,819,510 | 18,756 | 6,191,797 | |||||||
| 2018 | 506,188 | 599,972 | 608,967 | 1,029,480 | 9,755 | 2,754,362 | ||||||||
| 2017 | 481,847 | 500,002 | 501,642 | 530,625 | 11,422 | 2,025,538 | ||||||||
| Collin B. Kebo Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | 2019 | 483,038 | 599,988 | 603,898 | 917,400 | 76,838 | 2,681,162 | |||||||
| 2018 | 408,846 | 299,986 | 304,484 | 668,026 | 51,143 | 1,732,485 | ||||||||
| Christina M. Corley Chief Commercial and Operating Officer | 2019 | 497,032 | 899,983 | 905,856 | 1,070,300 | 15,731 | 3,388,902 | |||||||
| 2018 | 369,551 | 449,979 | 456,733 | 766,961 | 9,453 | 2,052,677 | ||||||||
| 2017 | 355,183 | 425,022 | 426,391 | 394,841 | 11,120 | 1,612,557 | ||||||||
| Mark C. Chong Senior Vice President, Strategy and Marketing | 2019 | 421,231 | 450,039 | 452,928 | 649,825 | 13,784 | 1,987,807 | |||||||
| Douglas E. Eckrote Senior Vice President, Small Business Sales and eCommerce | 2019 | 447,188 | 299,994 | 301,958 | 905,491 | 14,086 | 1,968,717 | |||||||
| 2018 | 442,757 | 262,506 | 266,421 | 937,470 | 9,755 | 1,918,909 | ||||||||
| 2017 | 419,222 | 249,972 | 250,815 | 565,664 | 11,422 | 1,497,095 |
| (1) | Stock awards.The amounts reported in this column represent the grant date fair value of PSUs granted in the applicable year, calculated in accordance with ASC 718. The amount included in 2019 for the PSU awards are calculated based on the closing stock price and the probable satisfaction of the performance conditions for such awards as of the date of grant. Assuming the highest level of performance is achieved for the 2019 PSU awards, the maximum value of these awards at the grant date would be as follows: Ms. Leahy-$3,499,964; Mr. Kebo-$1,199,976; Mr. Chong-$900,078; Ms. Corley-$1,799,966; and Mr. Eckrote-$599,988. See Note 13 to the Audited Financial Statements included in our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 (the “Audited Financial Statements”) for a discussion of the relevant assumptions used in calculating these amounts. |
| (2) | Option awards.The amounts reported in this column represent the grant date fair value of stock option awards granted in the applicable year, calculated in accordance with ASC 718. See Note 13 to the Audited Financial Statements for a discussion of the relevant assumptions used in calculating these amounts. |
| (3) | Non-equity incentive plan compensation. The amounts reported for 2019 represent cash awards paid to the Named Executive Officers under the SMIP. Please see the CD&A for further information regarding the 2019 SMIP. |
| (4) | All other compensation. “All Other Compensation” for 2019 consists of (i) Company-paid supplemental disability premiums for each of the Named Executive Officers, (ii) matching and profit sharing contributions to the 401(k) accounts of each of the Named Executive Officers, (iii) legacy payments for tax preparation, tax equalization and the related tax gross-ups on these payments ($27,595) for Mr. Kebo in connection with an expatriate assignment prior to his appointment as an executive officer, and (iv) spousal travel for Ms. Leahy and Ms. Corley for attendance at the President’s Trip, a recognition trip for certain of the Company’s sales-based coworkers. |
| 2020 Proxy Statement | 44 |
2019 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table
The following table provides information regarding the possible payouts to our Named Executive Officers in 2019 under the SMIP and the annual equity awards received by our Named Executive Officers in 2019 under the CDW Corporation Amended and Restated 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan (“2013 LTIP”).
| Estimated Possible Payouts Under Non-equity Incentive Plan Awards(1) | Estimated Possible Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards(2) | All Other Option Awards: Number of | Exercise or Base | Grant Date Fair Value of Stock | ||||||||||||||||
| Securities Underlying | Price of Option | and Option | ||||||||||||||||||
| Name | Grant date | Threshold ($) | Target ($) | Maximum ($) | Threshold (#) | Target (#) | Maximum (#) | Options (#)(3) | Awards ($) | Awards ($)(4) | ||||||||||
| Christine A. Leahy | — | 178,500 | 1,190,000 | 2,380,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| 2/25/2019 | — | — | — | 9,156 | 18,311 | 36,622 | — | — | 1,749,982 | |||||||||||
| 2/25/2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 91,739 | 95.57 | 1,761,389 | |||||||||||
| Collin B. Kebo | — | 90,000 | 600,000 | 1,200,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| 2/25/2019 | — | — | — | 3,139 | 6,278 | 12,556 | — | — | 599,988 | |||||||||||
| 2/25/2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 31,453 | 95.57 | 603,898 | |||||||||||
| Christina M. Corley | — | 105,000 | 700,000 | 1,400,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| 2/25/2019 | — | — | — | 4,709 | 9,417 | 18,834 | — | — | 899,983 | |||||||||||
| 2/25/2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 47,180 | 95.57 | 905,856 | |||||||||||
| Mark C. Chong | — | 63,750 | 425,000 | 850,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| 2/25/2019 | — | — | — | 2,355 | 4,709 | 9,418 | — | — | 450,039 | |||||||||||
| 2/25/2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 23,590 | 95.57 | 452,928 | |||||||||||
| Douglas E. Eckrote | — | 88,832 | 592,211 | 1,184,422 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| 2/25/2019 | — | — | — | 1,570 | 3,139 | 6,278 | — | — | 299,994 | |||||||||||
| 2/25/2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 15,727 | 95.57 | 301,958 | |||||||||||
| (1) | These amounts represent threshold, target and maximum cash award levels set in 2019 under the SMIP. The amount actually paid to each Named Executive Officer under SMIP is reported as Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation in the 2019 Summary Compensation Table. |
| (2) | These amounts represent the threshold, target and maximum PSUs granted under the 2013 LTIP. For actively employed executives, these PSUs are scheduled to vest on December 31, 2021, subject to the achievement of the threshold performance goals relating to adjusted FCF and adjusted EPS over the 2019-2021 performance period. The number of units subject to a PSU award increases as a result of the deemed reinvestment of dividend equivalents prior to settlement of the award and such additional units are subject to the same vesting conditions as the underlying PSUs. Please see the CD&A for further information regarding this award. |
| (3) | These amounts represent stock options granted under the 2013 LTIP. For actively employed executives, these options vest in one-third increments on each of the first through third year anniversaries of the date of grant. |
| (4) | The amounts reported represent the grant date fair value associated with the grant of these PSUs and stock option awards, as computed in accordance with ASC 718. In the case of the PSUs, the grant date fair value is calculated based on the closing stock price on the date of grant and the probable satisfaction of the performance conditions for such awards as of the date of grant. See Note 13 to the Audited Financial Statements for a discussion of the relevant assumptions used in calculating these amounts. |
| 2020 Proxy Statement | 45 |
2019 Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End Table
The following table summarizes outstanding option awards and unvested stock awards held by each Named Executive Officer on December 31, 2019.
| Option Awards | Stock Awards | ||||||||||||||||
| Name | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options Exercisable (#) | Equity Plan Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Unearned Options (#) | Option Exercise Price ($) | Option Expiration Date | Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#) | Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested ($) | Equity Incentive Number of Unearned Shares, Units, or Other Rights that Have Not Vested (#)(5) | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Units or Other Rights that Have Not Vested ($)(8) | |||||||||
| Christine A. Leahy | 20,140 | — | 24.29 | 2/25/2024 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||
| 31,754 | — | 37.79 | 2/19/2025 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| 33,928 | — | 39.79 | 3/2/2026 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| 27,278(1) | 13,639(1) | 58.90 | 2/28/2027 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| 13,743(2) | 27,487(2) | 73.49 | 2/27/2028 | — | — | 8,347(6) | 1,192,291 | ||||||||||
| — | 91,739(3) | 95.57 | 2/25/2029 | — | — | 18,519(7) | 2,645,240 | ||||||||||
| Collin B. Kebo | 10,807 | — | 24.29 | 2/25/2024 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||
| 8,534 | — | 37.79 | 2/19/2025 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| 1,582 | — | 42.68 | 12/14/2025 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| 11,309 | — | 39.79 | 3/2/2026 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| 8,183(1) | 4,092(1) | 58.90 | 2/28/2027 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| 6,886(4) | 3,443(4) | 70.00 | 11/2/2027 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| 6,871(2) | 13,744(2) | 73.49 | 2/27/2028 | — | — | 4,174(6) | 596,148 | ||||||||||
| — | 31,453(3) | 95.57 | 2/25/2029 | — | — | 6,350(7) | 906,931 | ||||||||||
| Christina M. Corley | 27,789 | — | 24.29 | 2/25/2024 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||
| 23,816 | — | 37.79 | 2/19/2025 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| 24,504 | — | 39.79 | 3/2/2026 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| 23,186(1) | 11,593(1) | 58.90 | 2/28/2027 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| 10,307(2) | 20,616(2) | 73.49 | 2/27/2028 | — | — | 6,260(6) | 894,218 | ||||||||||
| — | 47,180(3) | 95.57 | 2/25/2029 | — | — | 9,524(7) | 1,360,394 | ||||||||||
| Mark C. Chong | 8,607 | — | 51.70 | 11/28/2026 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||
| 21,731(1) | 10,866(1) | 58.90 | 2/28/2027 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| 11,987(2) | 23,975(2) | 73.49 | 2/27/2028 | — | — | 7,281(6) | 1,039,967 | ||||||||||
| — | 23,590(3) | 95.57 | 2/25/2029 | — | — | 4,762(7) | 680,273 | ||||||||||
| Douglas E. Eckrote | 27,789 | — | 24.29 | 2/25/2024 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||
| 17,862 | — | 37.79 | 2/19/2025 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| 16,964 | — | 39.79 | 3/2/2026 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| 13,638(1) | 6,820(1) | 58.90 | 2/28/2027 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| 6,012(2) | 12,026(2) | 73.49 | 2/27/2028 | — | — | 3,652(6) | 521,669 | ||||||||||
| — | 15,727(3) | 95.57 | 2/25/2029 | — | — | 3,175(7) | 453,466 | ||||||||||
| (1) | These stock options were awarded on February 28, 2017, and vest in one-third increments on each of the first through third year anniversaries of the date of grant. |
| (2) | These stock options were awarded on February 27, 2018, and vest in one-third increments on each of the first through third year anniversaries of the date of grant. |
| (3) | These stock options were awarded on February 25, 2019, and vest in one-third increments on each of the first through third year anniversaries of the date of grant. |
| (4) | These stock options were awarded on November 2, 2017, and vest in one-third increments on each of the first through third year anniversaries of the date of grant. |
| (5) | PSU award recipients receive fractional shares upon settlement; however, for purposes of this table, share numbers have been rounded to the nearest whole share. |
| (6) | These PSUs were awarded on February 27, 2018 and vest on December 31, 2020, subject to the achievement of the threshold performance goals relating to adjusted FCF and adjusted EPS over the 2018-2020 performance period. The amounts reported in this column are based on target achievement of the applicable performance goals and include PSUs acquired through the deemed reinvestment of dividend equivalents. |
| (7) | These PSUs were awarded on February 25, 2019 and vest on December 31, 2021, subject to the achievement of the threshold performance goals relating to adjusted FCF and adjusted EPS over the 2019-2021 performance period. The amounts reported in this column are based on target achievement of the applicable performance goals and include PSUs acquired through the deemed reinvestment of dividend equivalents. |
| (8) | The market value of shares or units of stock that have not vested reflects a stock price of $142.84, our closing stock price on December 31, 2019. |
| 2020 Proxy Statement | 46 |
2019 Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table
The following table provides information concerning the exercise of stock options and vesting of stock awards during 2019 for each of the Named Executive Officers.
| Option Awards | Stock Awards | |||||||
| Name | Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise (#) | Value Realized on Exercise ($) | Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting (#)(1) | Value Realized on Vesting ($)(2) | ||||
| Christine A. Leahy | — | — | 15,380 | 2,196,828 | ||||
| Collin B. Kebo | — | — | 8,466 | 1,209,283 | ||||
| Christina M. Corley | 33,367 | 2,369,101 | 13,073 | 1,867,384 | ||||
| Mark C. Chong | — | — | 12,253 | 1,750,161 | ||||
| Douglas E. Eckrote | — | — | 7,689 | 1,098,280 | ||||
| (1) | The shares reported in this column represent shares acquired upon the vesting of PSU awards granted on February 28, 2017 and which vested on December 31, 2019 based on the achievement of performance goals relating to adjusted FCF and adjusted EPS over the 2017-2019 performance period, including shares acquired through the deemed reinvestment of dividend equivalents through December 31, 2019. PSU award recipients receive fractional shares upon settlement; however, for purposes of this table, share numbers have been rounded to the nearest whole share. |
| (2) | The market value for the 2017 PSU awards that vested on December 31, 2019 is based on a stock price of $142.84, our closing stock price on December 31, 2019. |
2019 Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control
During 2019, the Named Executive Officers were each subject to a compensation protection agreement that provided for certain severance benefits upon a qualifying termination of employment (the “Compensation Protection Agreements”). These severance arrangements have a three-year fixed term, with certain term extensions in the event of a “potential change in control” or “change in control” during the term. As noted above, on March 8, 2019, the Company entered into amended and restated Compensation Protection Agreements with each of our Named Executive Officers, the sole purpose of which was to extend the expiration date of such agreement by three years (from January 1, 2020 to January 1, 2023). Each Named Executive Officer is also a participant in the Company’s equity award program, which provides for accelerated vesting of outstanding equity awards upon certain termination events or a sale of the Company.
A description of the material terms of each of the employment arrangements that were in effect on December 31, 2019 and the equity award program as well as estimates of the payments and benefits each Named Executive Officer would receive upon a termination of employment or sale of the Company, are set forth below. The estimates have been calculated assuming a termination date on December 31, 2019 and the closing price of a share of our common stock on December 31, 2019. The amounts reported below are only estimates and actual payments and benefits to be paid upon a termination of a Named Executive Officer’s employment with the Company or sale of the Company under these arrangements can only be determined at the time of termination or sale of the Company.
Compensation Protection Arrangements
This section describes the Compensation Protection Agreements in effect for Named Executive Officers in 2019.
For purposes of determining severance benefits under the Named Executive Officers’ Compensation Protection Agreements, a qualifying termination means termination of the Named Executive Officer’s employment (1) by the Company other than (A) for “cause,” (B) the Named Executive Officer’s death or (C) the Named Executive Officer’s disability, or (2) by the Named Executive Officer for “good reason.”
If the employment of a Named Executive Officer is terminated for any reason other than a qualifying termination of employment, the Named Executive Officer is entitled to receive his or her “accrued obligations.” Accrued obligations include the following: (1) accrued and unpaid base salary; (2) any SMIP bonus, deferred compensation and other cash compensation accrued by the Named Executive Officer to the extent not paid as of the date of termination; and (3) vacation pay, expense reimbursements and other cash entitlements accrued by the Named Executive Officer to the extent not paid as of the date of termination.
If the employment of a Named Executive Officer is terminated due to the Named Executive Officer’s death or disability, the Named Executive Officer or his or her estate, as applicable, is entitled to receive the following payments under his or her Compensation Protection Agreement: (1) accrued obligations as defined above and (2) an annual incentive bonus (based on the target bonus under the Company’s SMIP), prorated through the effective date of the Named Executive Officer’s termination of employment.
| 2020 Proxy Statement | 47 |
If the employment of a Named Executive Officer is terminated due to a qualifying termination, the Named Executive Officer is entitled to receive the following payments and benefits under his or her Compensation Protection Agreement: (1) accrued obligations as defined above; (2) the portion of the unpaid SMIP bonus that the Named Executive Officer would have received had he or she remained employed by the Company for the full year in which the termination occurs, based on actual performance and prorated through the date of termination; (3) continuation in accordance with the Company’s regular payroll practices of two times the Named Executive Officer’s base salary; (4) payment of two times the Named Executive Officer’s SMIP bonus that would have been earned had the Named Executive Officer remained employed by the Company for the full year in which the termination occurs, based on actual performance (provided that if the termination occurs after a change in control, the SMIP bonus will be equal to two times the Named Executive Officer’s average SMIP bonus for each of the three fiscal years ending prior to the change in control); (5) continuation of certain health and welfare benefits for two years or, if earlier, the date that the Named Executive Officer becomes eligible for each such type of insurance coverage from a subsequent employer (provided, however, that if the Company is unable to provide such continuation benefits to the Named Executive Officer, the Company will instead provide a cash payment, subject to any applicable withholding taxes, that is sufficient to purchase comparable benefits); and (6) outplacement services of up to $20,000. The receipt of all of the payments and benefits above, except payment of accrued obligations, is conditioned upon the Named Executive Officer’s execution of a general release agreement in which he or she waives all claims that he or she might have against the Company and certain associated individuals and entities.
Ms. Leahy’s Compensation Protection Agreement was amended to provide that if Ms. Leahy’s employment is terminated for any reason other than a termination by the Company for “cause,” then upon the expiration of any continued medical coverage period under her Amended and Restated Compensation Protection Agreement and the COBRA continuation coverage period, Ms. Leahy and her spouse and dependents are entitled to continued access to the Company’s medical plan until Ms. Leahy and her spouse become eligible for Medicare (or the earlier occurrence of certain other events specified in the Amended and Restated Compensation Protection Agreement), with the full cost of such continued coverage to be paid by Ms. Leahy.
Under the terms of the Compensation Protection Agreements, if the payments and benefits to a Named Executive Officer under his or her respective Compensation Protection Agreement or another plan, arrangement or agreement would subject the Named Executive Officer to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code, then such payments will be reduced by the minimum amount necessary to avoid such excise tax, but only if such reduction will result in the Named Executive Officer receiving a higher net after-tax amount.
Outstanding Equity Awards
Under the terms of the 2019, 2018 and 2017 option awards, the options will become 100% vested upon (i) a termination of employment due to death or disability, (ii) a termination of employment by the Company without cause or by the Named Executive Officer for good reason within two years following a change in control or (iii) a change in control pursuant to which the option awards are not effectively assumed or continued in such transaction. In addition, in the event of the Named Executive Officer’s retirement, the options will continue to vest in accordance with the vesting schedule set forth in the award agreement so long as the Named Executive Officer continues to comply with restrictive covenants relating to non-competition, non-solicitation and confidentiality through the vesting period.
With respect to the outstanding PSU awards, upon a termination of employment due to death, disability or retirement, the Named Executive Officer will be entitled to a prorated award based on actual performance through the end of the performance period, subject to the Named Executive Officer’s continued compliance with restrictive covenants relating to non-competition, non-solicitation and confidentiality. In the event of a change in control prior to the 24-month anniversary of the first day of the performance period, the performance goals will be deemed to have been satisfied at target performance. If, however, the change in control occurs on or after the 24-month anniversary of the first day of the performance period, the performance goals will be determined by the Compensation Committee based on the projected level of performance through the end of the performance period. In the event of a change in control in which the awards are not effectively assumed, the awards will be settled within 70 days of such change in control. For awards effectively assumed in a change in control, the settlement of the awards will be accelerated if the Named Executive Officer’s employment is terminated without cause or due to good reason within 24 months following the change in control.
For purposes of the 2013 LTIP, a change in control generally occurs upon (1) an unapproved change in the majority composition of the Board during a 24-month period, (2) certain acquisitions of 35% or more of the Company’s outstanding voting securities, or (3) certain corporation transactions, including certain mergers, dissolutions, liquidations or the sale of substantially all of the Company’s assets.
| 2020 Proxy Statement | 48 |
Potential Payments Upon a Qualifying Termination of Employment Absent a Change in Control(1)
| Value of | ||||||||||
| Severance | Accelerated | Welfare | Aggregate | |||||||
| Payment | Equity Awards | Benefits | Outplacement | Payments | ||||||
| Name | ($)(2) | ($) | ($)(3) | ($)(4) | ($) | |||||
| Christine A. Leahy | 5,339,020 | — | 34,772 | 20,000 | 5,393,792 | |||||
| Collin B. Kebo | 2,834,800 | — | 32,356 | 20,000 | 2,887,156 | |||||
| Christina M. Corley | 3,140,600 | — | 34,456 | 20,000 | 3,195,056 | |||||
| Mark C. Chong | 2,149,650 | — | 34,456 | 20,000 | 2,204,106 | |||||
| Douglas E. Eckrote | 2,705,357 | — | 31,556 | 20,000 | 2,756,913 |
| (1) | A qualifying termination means termination of the Named Executive Officer’s employment (1) by the Company other than (A) for “cause,” (B) the Named Executive Officer’s death or (C) the Named Executive Officer’s disability, or (2) by the Named Executive Officer for “good reason.” |
| (2) | Amounts reported in this column represent two times the sum of (i) the Named Executive Officer’s base salary and (ii) the Named Executive Officer’s annual incentive bonus target for 2019 multiplied by the 2019 SMIP payout percentage. Under the Compensation Protection Agreements, the Named Executive Officers are also entitled to a pro rata bonus based on the Company’s actual performance for the year in which termination occurs. Because the SMIP bonus is considered earned as of December 31, 2019, amounts related to the pro rata bonus have been excluded from this table and are reported in the 2019 Summary Compensation Table as 2019 compensation. |
| (3) | Represents the estimated value of continued welfare benefits that all Named Executive Officers would be entitled to receive upon a qualifying termination of employment. |
| (4) | Represents the maximum value of outplacement services that all Named Executive Officers would be entitled to receive upon a qualifying termination of employment. |
Potential Payments Upon Death, Disability or Retirement Table(1)
| Value of | ||||||
| Severance | Accelerated | Aggregate | ||||
| Payment | Equity Awards | Payments | ||||
| Name | ($)(2) | ($)(3) | ($) | |||
| Christine A. Leahy | — | 9,064,191 | 9,064,191 | |||
| Collin B. Kebo | — | 3,733,943 | 3,733,943 | |||
| Christina M. Corley | — | 5,682,645 | 5,682,645 | |||
| Mark C. Chong | — | 4,609,926 | 4,609,926 | |||
| Douglas E. Eckrote | — | 2,648,824 | 2,648,824 |
| (1) | As noted above, the terms of our outstanding equity awards include retirement vesting provisions and, as of December 31, 2019, Mr. Eckrote was our only Named Executive Officer eligible for retirement vesting under such equity awards. Under the terms of the 2019, 2018 and 2017 equity awards, Mr. Eckrote would continue to vest in his option grants and receive a prorated payout based upon actual performance with respect to his PSU awards upon retirement, provided that he continued to comply with non-competition, non-solicitation and confidentiality restrictive covenants during the vesting period. |
| (2) | The Named Executive Officers are entitled to a pro rata bonus based on target for the year in which termination occurs upon death or a termination due to disability and may receive, at the Compensation Committee’s discretion, a pro rata bonus for the year of retirement. Because the SMIP bonus is considered earned as of December 31, 2019, amounts related to the pro rata bonus have been excluded from this table and are reported in the 2019 Summary Compensation Table as 2019 compensation. |
| (3) | Represents the value of the accelerated vesting in the case of death or disability and continued vesting in the case of retirement of the 2019, 2018 and 2017 stock option awards and the pro rata vesting of the 2019 and 2018 PSUs, assuming target achievement of the applicable performance goals. The value of the accelerated vesting of the equity awards reported in this table is based upon our closing stock price of $142.84 on December 31, 2019. |
| 2020 Proxy Statement | 49 |
Potential Payments Upon a Qualifying Termination of Employment Following a Change in Control(1)
| Value of | ||||||||||
| Severance Payment | Accelerated Equity Awards | Welfare Benefits | Outplacement | Aggregate Payments | ||||||
| Name | ($)(2) | ($)(3) | ($)(4) | ($)(5) | ($) | |||||
| Christine A. Leahy | 3,075,081 | 11,225,115 | 34,772 | 20,000 | 14,354,968 | |||||
| Collin B. Kebo | 1,877,265 | 4,537,280 | 32,356 | 20,000 | 6,466,901 | |||||
| Christina M. Corley | 2,029,497 | 6,887,647 | 34,456 | 20,000 | 8,971,600 | |||||
| Mark C. Chong | 1,467,835 | 5,410,097 | 34,456 | 20,000 | 6,932,388 | |||||
| Douglas E. Eckrote | 2,338,966 | 3,125,024 | 31,556 | 20,000 | 5,515,546 |
| (1) | A qualifying termination means termination of the Named Executive Officer’s employment following a change in control (1) by the Company other than (A) for “cause,” (B) the Named Executive Officer’s death or (C) the Named Executive Officer’s disability, or (2) by the Named Executive Officer for “good reason.” Under the terms of the Compensation Protection Agreements, if the payments and benefits to a Named Executive Officer under his or her respective Compensation Protection Agreement or another plan, arrangement or agreement would subject the Named Executive Officer to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code, then such payments will be reduced by the minimum amount necessary to avoid such excise tax, if such reduction would result in the Named Executive Officer receiving a higher net after-tax amount. The amounts reflected in this table do not reflect the application of any reduction in compensation or benefits pursuant to the terms of the Compensation Protection Agreements. |
| (2) | Amounts reported in this column represent two times the sum of (i) the Named Executive Officer’s base salary and (ii) the Named Executive Officer’s average SMIP bonus for each of the three fiscal years ending prior to the change in control (or such shorter period of time if the Named Executive Officer has been employed by the Company for less than three full calendar years). Under the Compensation Protection Agreements, the Named Executive Officers are also entitled to a pro rata bonus based on the Company’s actual performance for the year in which termination occurs. Because the SMIP bonus is considered earned as of December 31, 2019, amounts related to the pro rata bonus have been excluded from this table and are reported in the 2019 Summary Compensation Table as 2019 compensation. |
| (3) | Represents the value of equity awards that would become vested upon a qualifying termination of employment within two years following a change in control or upon a change in control in which the outstanding awards are not effectively assumed, assuming target achievement of the applicable performance goals. The value of the accelerated vesting of the equity awards reported in this table is based upon our closing stock price of $142.84 on December 31, 2019. |
| (4) | Represents the estimated value of continued welfare benefits that all Named Executive Officers would be entitled to receive upon a qualifying termination of employment. |
| (5) | Represents the maximum value of outplacement services that all Named Executive Officers would be entitled to receive upon a qualifying termination of employment. |
As required by Section 953(b) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the Company is providing the following disclosure about the relationship of the annual total compensation of our coworkers to the annual total compensation of Ms. Leahy, our President and Chief Executive Officer during 2019. SEC rules for identifying the median employee and calculating the pay ratio allow companies to apply various methodologies and assumptions and, as a result, the pay ratio reported by us may not be comparable to the pay ratio reported by other companies. Given the leverage of our executive compensation program towards performance-based elements, we expect that our pay ratio disclosure will fluctuate year-to-year based on the Company’s performance against the pre-established performance goals.
Ratio
For 2019,
| • | The median of the annual total compensation of all of our coworkers, other than Ms. Leahy, was $93,452. |
| • | Ms. Leahy’s annual total compensation, as reported in the Total column of the 2019 Summary Compensation Table, was $6,191,797. |
| • | Based on this information, the ratio of the annual total compensation of Ms. Leahy to the median of the annual total compensation of all coworkers is estimated to be 66 to 1. We believe this ratio is a reasonable estimate calculated in a manner consistent with Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K. |
Identification of Median Coworker
As permitted under the SEC executive compensation disclosure rules, we are electing to use the same median employee that we used for purposes of preparing our 2017 and 2018 pay ratio disclosures. Since December 1, 2017 (the date used to select the 2017 median employee), there have been no changes in the Company’s employee population or employee compensation arrangements that we believe would significantly impact the pay ratio disclosure. For purposes of identifying the median coworker from our 2017 coworker population base of approximately 8,750 coworkers, we considered the gross cash compensation of all of our coworkers, as compiled from our payroll records. We selected gross cash compensation as it represents the principal form of compensation delivered to all of our coworkers and is readily available in each country. In addition, we measured compensation for purposes of determining the median coworker using the 12-month period ending December 1, 2017. Compensation paid in foreign currencies was converted to U.S. dollars based on a weighted average exchange rate for the relevant period.
| 2020 Proxy Statement | 50 |
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
The following table provides information as of December 31, 2019 regarding the number of shares of our common stock that may be issued under our equity compensation plans.
| December 31, 2019 | A | B | C | ||||
| Plan Category | Number of Securities to be Issued upon Exercise of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights | Weighted Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights | Number of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans (Excluding Securities Reflected in Column A) | ||||
| Equity Compensation Plans Approved by Stockholders | 5,604,099(1) | $ | 59.39(2) | 4,499,051(3) | |||
| Equity Compensation Plans Not Approved by Stockholders | — | — | — | ||||
| Total | 5,604,099 | $ | 59.39 | 4,499,051 | |||
| (1) | Includes 4,138,242 shares issuable pursuant to outstanding stock options, 300,802 shares issuable pursuant to outstanding restricted stock units (includes 90,908 vested restricted stock units on which settlement into shares has been deferred by certain members of our non-employee directors and shares issuable pursuant to restricted stock units required through the deemed reinvestment of dividend equivalents) and 1,165,055 shares issuable pursuant to outstanding performance share units (assumes maximum achievement of the applicable performance goals (equivalent to 603,223 performance share units at target) and includes shares issuable pursuant to performance share units acquired through the deemed reinvestment of dividend equivalent) under our 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan. |
| (2) | Excludes restricted stock units and performance share units that convert to shares of common stock from determination of Weighted Average Exercise Price. |
| (3) | Includes 518,997 shares available under our Coworker Stock Purchase Plan (“CSPP”). The CSPP provides the opportunity for eligible coworkers to acquire shares of our common stock at a 5% discount. There’s no compensation expense associated with the CSPP. |
2020 Proxy Statement 51
PROPOSAL 3—Ratification of Selection of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Engagement of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors is responsible for the appointment, compensation, evaluation, retention and oversight of the work performed by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm (“Independent Auditor”). The Audit Committee approved the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP (“EY”) as the Company’s Independent Auditor for 2020. EY has served as the Company’s Independent Auditor since 2011. The Audit Committee reviews the performance and independence of the Independent Auditor annually.
The Audit Committee and the Board believe that the continued retention of EY to serve as the Company’s Independent Auditor is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. Although the Company is not required to seek stockholder approval or ratification of this appointment, the Board believes that doing so is consistent with good corporate governance practices. If the appointment is not ratified, the Audit Committee will explore the reasons for stockholder rejection and will reconsider the appointment. Even if the appointment is ratified, the Audit Committee may, in its discretion, direct the appointment of a different Independent Auditor if the Audit Committee determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. Representatives of EY are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting, will have an opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so, and will be available to respond to questions.
| In determining whether to reappoint the Independent Auditor, the Audit Committee annually considers several factors, including: | |
| • | Technical expertise; |
| • | The quality and efficiency of work performed; |
| • | The quality of discussions and feedback; |
| • | The results of a management survey of EY’s overall performance; |
| • | Data related to audit quality and performance, including recent PCAOB inspection reports on the firm; |
| • | Independence and objectivity; and |
| • | Reasonableness of fees |
In conjunction with the mandated rotation of the Independent Auditor’s lead engagement partner, the Audit Committee chair and management are involved in the selection of EY’s lead engagement partner.
2020 Proxy Statement 52
The following is a summary and description of fees for services provided by EY in 2019 and 2018.
Global Fees (In thousands)
| Years Ended December 31, | ||||||
| Service | 2019 | 2018 | ||||
| Audit fees | $ | 3,264 | $ | 2,865 | ||
| Audit-related fees | 28 | 368 | ||||
| Tax fees | 212 | 532 | ||||
| Total fees | $ | 3,504 | $ | 3,765 | ||
Audit Fees. Consists principally of fees related to the integrated audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements and internal control over financial reporting, and the review of the consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Also includes services and procedures performed in connection with the Company’s SEC filings related to securities offerings as well as other SEC filings.
Audit-Related Fees. Consists principally of fees related to employee benefit plans and financial due diligence.
Tax Fees. Consists principally of fees related to tax advice, tax compliance and tax due diligence.
Audit Committee Approval Policies and Procedures
Pursuant to its charter, the Audit Committee is responsible for pre-approving all audit and permissible non-audit services provided to the Company by its independent registered public accounting firm, subject to any exceptions in the Exchange Act. The Audit Committee may delegate to one or more of its members the authority to grant such pre-approvals, provided that any decisions of such member or members to grant pre-approvals must be presented to the full Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting.
The services provided by EY were pre-approved by the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee has considered whether the provision of the above-noted services is compatible with maintaining the independence of the Independent Auditor and has determined, consistent with advice from EY, that the provision of such services has not adversely affected EY’s independence.
| PROPOSAL 3: The Board of Directors and the Audit Committee recommend a vote FOR ratification of the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2020. |
2020 Proxy Statement 53
The Audit Committee is comprised of five independent directors. The Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board, which is available on the Company’s website atwww.cdw.com. The Board of Directors has determined that all Audit Committee members qualify as “audit committee financial experts” as defined under SEC rules.
Management is responsible for the Company’s financial statements and overall financial reporting process, including the Company’s internal controls. Management also is responsible for reporting on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The Independent Auditor is responsible for conducting an independent audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and issuing an opinion on the accuracy of the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The independent registered public accounting firm also is responsible for issuing an attestation report on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based upon its audit. The Audit Committee is responsible for monitoring and oversight of these processes.
As part of its oversight responsibilities, the Audit Committee discusses with, and receives regular status reports from, the Independent Auditor and the head of the Company’s internal audit function (the “Internal Auditor”) on the overall scope and plans for their audits of the Company, including their scope and plans for evaluating the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. The Audit Committee meets with the Independent Auditor, with and without management present, and with the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer, Internal Auditor, General Counsel, and Chief Information Officer to discuss, among other things, the items noted below; the results of EY and the Internal Auditor’s audits of the Company; the quality of the financial reporting process; the performance of the Independent Auditor and the Internal Auditor; the Company’s compliance and ethics programs; enterprise risk management; and cybersecurity.
Prior to the filing of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 with the SEC, the Audit Committee:
| • | Reviewed and discussed with management the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements included in the Form 10-K and considered management’s view that the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the Company’s financial condition and results of operations. |
| • | Reviewed and discussed with management and the Independent Auditor, the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, including management’s report and the Independent Auditor’s attestation report on that topic. |
| • | Discussed with the Independent Auditor the matters related to the conduct of its audit that are required to be communicated by auditors to audit committees and matters related to the fair presentation of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations, including critical accounting estimates and judgments. |
| • | Received the required written communications from the Independent Auditor that disclose all relationships that may reasonably be thought to bear on its independence and to confirm its independence from the Company. Based upon these communications, the Audit Committee discussed with the Independent Auditor its independence from the Company. In considering the independence of the Independent Auditor, the Audit Committee took into consideration the amount and nature of the fees paid to the firm for non-audit services, as described above. |
In reliance on the review and discussions described above, the Audit Committee has recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited consolidated financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, for filing with the SEC.
Respectfully submitted by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.
Virginia C. Addicott, Chair
James A. Bell
Benjamin D. Chereskin
David W. Nelms
Donna F. Zarcone
2020 Proxy Statement 54
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE ANNUAL MEETING
Why did I receive these proxy materials?
These proxy materials are first being distributed on or about April 10, 2020 to stockholders of the Company in connection with the solicitation by our Board of Directors of proxies to be voted at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders on May 21, 2020, at 7:30 a.m. CDT, at CDW Center, 200 Tri-State International, Lincolnshire, Illinois 60069, and any postponement or adjournment thereof. This proxy statement describes the matters on which you, as a stockholder of the Company, are entitled to vote. It also includes information that we are required to provide to you under SEC rules and that is designed to assist you in voting your shares.
Why did I receive a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials instead of printed proxy materials?
The SEC permits companies to furnish proxy materials to stockholders by providing access to these documents over the Internet instead of mailing printed copies, which can reduce costs of printing and impact on the environment. Accordingly, we mailed a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (a “Notice”) to our stockholders. All stockholders may access our proxy materials on the Internet website referred to in the Notice. If you received a Notice by mail and would like to receive a printed copy of our proxy materials, you should follow the instructions for obtaining such materials included in the Notice. If you own shares of our common stock in more than one account, such as individually and also jointly with your spouse, you may receive more than one Notice relating to these proxy materials.
What is “householding” and how does it affect me?
In addition to furnishing proxy materials over the Internet, the Company takes advantage of the SEC’s “householding” rules to reduce the costs of printing and delivery and impact on the environment. Under such rules, only one Notice or, if paper copies are requested, only one proxy statement and annual report, will be delivered to multiple stockholders sharing an address unless the Company has received contrary instructions from one or more of the stockholders. If you are a stockholder who resides in the same household with another stockholder and you wish to receive a separate proxy statement and annual report or Notice for each account, please contact Broadridge Financial Solutions toll free at 1-866-540-7095. You may also write to Broadridge Financial Solutions, Householding Department, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, New York 11717. Any stockholder making such request will promptly receive a separate copy of the proxy materials, and separate copies of all future proxy materials. Any stockholder currently sharing an address with another stockholder, but nonetheless receiving separate copies of the materials, may request delivery of a single copy in the future by contacting Broadridge by telephone or mail as indicated above.
What is the purpose of the Annual Meeting?
At the Annual Meeting of Stockholders, stockholders will be asked to vote (1) to elect the seven director nominees named in this proxy statement for a term expiring at the 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, (2) to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers, and (3) to ratify the selection of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. See the sections entitled “Proposal 1—Election of Directors,” “Proposal 2—Advisory Vote to Approve Named Executive Officer Compensation,” and “Proposal 3—Ratification of Selection of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.” The Board of Directors does not know of any matters to be brought before the meeting other than as set forth in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
2020 Proxy Statement 55
Who can attend the Annual Meeting?
Only holders of our common stock as of the close of business on the record date, which was March 25, 2020, or their duly appointed proxies, may attend the Annual Meeting. If you hold your shares through a broker, bank or other nominee, you will be required to show the notice or voting instructions form you received from your broker, bank or other nominee or a copy of a statement (such as a brokerage statement) from your broker, bank or other nominee reflecting your stock ownership as of March 25, 2020 in order to be admitted to the Annual Meeting. All attendees must bring a government-issued photo ID to gain admission to the Annual Meeting. Please note that recording devices, photographic equipment, large bags and packages will not be permitted in the meeting room.
If I cannot attend the Annual Meeting in person, how can I view the live webcast of the meeting?
You can access a live, listen-only webcast of the Annual Meeting on our Investor Relations website atinvestor.cdw.com. Listening to our webcast of the Annual Meeting will not represent attendance at the meeting, and you will not be able to cast your vote as part of the webcast. Should you decide to listen to the webcast, we encourage you to visit our Investor Relations website to test for compatibility and register at least 10 minutes prior to the start time of the meeting.
Who is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting?
Holders of our common stock as of the close of business on the record date, which was March 25, 2020, are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting. As of March 25, 2020, there were 142,257,757 shares of our common stock outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, with each share entitled to one vote.
How do I vote at the Annual Meeting?
Stockholders of record can vote in one of four ways:
| • | By telephone—You may use the toll-free telephone number shown on your Notice or proxy card; |
| • | Via the Internet—You may visit the Internet website indicated on your Notice or proxy card and follow the on-screen instructions; |
| • | By mail—You may date, sign and promptly return your proxy card by mail in a postage prepaid envelope; or |
| • | In person—You may deliver a completed proxy card at the meeting or vote in person. |
Voting instructions for stockholders of record (including instructions for both telephonic and Internet voting) are provided on the Notice and the proxy card. The telephone and Internet voting procedures are designed to authenticate stockholder identities, to allow stockholders to give voting instructions and to confirm that stockholders’ instructions have been recorded properly. A control number, located on the Notice and the proxy card, will identify stockholders and allow them to submit their proxies and confirm that their voting instructions have been properly recorded. Costs associated with telephone and electronic access, such as usage charges from telephone companies and Internet access providers, must be borne by the stockholder. If you submit your proxy by telephone or via the Internet, it will not be necessary to return your proxy card. The deadline for voting by telephone or via the Internet is 11:59 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, May 20, 2020.
If your shares are held through a broker, bank or other nominee, please follow the voting instructions on the form you receive from such institution. In such situations, the availability of telephone and Internet voting will depend on your institution’s voting procedures. If you wish to vote in person at the Annual Meeting, you must first obtain a proxy issued in your name from the institution that holds your shares.
2020 Proxy Statement 56
What if I do not vote or do not indicate how my shares should be voted on my proxy card?
If a stockholder of record does not return a signed proxy card or submit a proxy by telephone or via the Internet, and does not attend the meeting and vote in person, his or her shares will not be voted. Shares of our common stock represented by properly executed proxies received by us or proxies submitted by telephone or via the Internet, which are not revoked, will be voted at the meeting in accordance with the instructions contained therein.
If you submit a properly completed proxy but do not indicate how your shares should be voted on a proposal, the shares represented by your proxy will be voted as the Board of Directors recommends on such proposal.
How can I change my votes or revoke my proxy after I have voted?
Any proxy signed and returned by a stockholder or submitted by telephone or via the Internet may be revoked or changed at any time before it is exercised at the Annual Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof by:
| • | Mailing written notice of revocation or change to our Corporate Secretary at CDW Corporation, 200 North Milwaukee Avenue, Vernon Hills, Illinois 60061; |
| • | Delivering a later-dated proxy (either in writing, by telephone or via the Internet); or |
| • | Voting in person at the meeting. |
Attendance at the meeting will not, in and of itself, constitute revocation of a proxy.
Will my votes be publicly disclosed?
No. As a matter of policy, stockholder proxies, ballots and tabulations that identify individual stockholders are not publicly disclosed and are available only to the inspector of election and certain employees, who are obligated to keep such information confidential.
Who will count the votes?
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A representative of Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions will serve as the inspector of election for the Annual Meeting and will count the votes.
What if other matters come up during the Annual Meeting?
If any other matters properly come before the meeting, including a question of adjourning or postponing the meeting, the persons named in the proxies or their substitutes acting thereunder will have discretion to vote on such matters in accordance with their best judgment.
What constitutes a quorum at the Annual Meeting?
The presence at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders, in person or represented by proxy, of the holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding capital stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting is required to constitute a quorum to transact business at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted toward the establishment of a quorum.
2020 Proxy Statement 57
What if my shares of the Company’s common stock are held for me by a broker?
If you are the beneficial owner of shares held for you by a broker, your broker must vote those shares in accordance with your instructions. If you do not provide voting instructions to your broker, it will depend on the type of item being considered for vote, as to whether your broker can vote your shares:
| • | Non-Discretionary Items.The election of directors and the advisory vote to approve named executive officer compensation may not be voted on by your broker if it has not received voting instructions. |
| • | Discretionary Items.The ratification of the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm is a discretionary item. Generally, brokers that do not receive voting instructions from beneficial owners may vote on this proposal in their discretion. |
How many votes are required to approve each matter to be considered at the Annual Meeting?
Proposal 1: Election of seven director nominees named in this proxy statement.A majority of the votes cast at the meeting, in person or by proxy, and entitled to vote thereon is required to elect each director nominee, which means that a nominee for director will be elected to the Board of Directors if the votes cast “FOR” the nominee’s election exceed the votes cast “AGAINST” such nominee’s election. Abstentions and broker non-votes are not considered votes cast for the foregoing purpose, and will have no effect on the election of nominees. If a director nominee fails to receive “FOR” votes representing at least a majority of votes cast and is an incumbent director, our Certificate of Incorporation requires the director to promptly tender his or her resignation to our Board of Directors, subject to acceptance by our Board. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of our Board will then recommend to our Board, and our Board will decide, whether to accept or reject the tendered resignation, or whether other action should be taken.
Proposal 2: Advisory vote to approve named executive officer compensation.The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of common stock present, in person or by proxy, and entitled to vote thereon is required to approve, on an advisory, non-binding basis, the compensation paid to our named executive officers. Abstentions will be counted as present and entitled to vote on the proposal and will therefore have the effect of a negative vote. Broker non-votes will not be counted as present and entitled to vote on the proposal and will therefore have no effect on the outcome of the proposal.
Proposal 3: Ratification of the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of common stock present, in person or by proxy, and entitled to vote thereon is required to ratify the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2020. Abstentions will be counted as present and entitled to vote on the proposal and will therefore have the effect of a negative vote. We do not expect there to be any broker non-votes with respect to the proposal.
Who pays to prepare, mail and solicit the proxies?
We will bear the costs of solicitation of proxies for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders, including preparation, assembly, printing and mailing of the Notice, this proxy statement, the annual report, the proxy card and any additional information furnished to stockholders. We may reimburse persons representing beneficial owners of common stock for their costs of forwarding any solicitation materials to such beneficial owners. However, we do not reimburse or pay additional compensation to our own directors, officers or other employees for soliciting proxies.
2020 Proxy Statement 58
The Board of Directors has no knowledge of any other matter to be submitted at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders. If any other matter shall properly come before the Annual Meeting, including a question of adjourning or postponing the meeting, the persons named in the proxy card or their substitutes acting thereunder will have discretionary authority to vote the shares thereby represented in accordance with their best judgment.
Additional Company Information
A copy of our 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K is being furnished to stockholders concurrently herewith.
Stockholder Proposals for the 2021 Annual Meeting
Proposals that stockholders wish to submit for inclusion in our proxy statement for our 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act must be received by our Corporate Secretary at CDW Corporation, 200 North Milwaukee Avenue, Vernon Hills, Illinois 60061 no later than December 11, 2020, unless the date of our 2021 Annual Meeting is more than 30 days before or after May 21, 2021, in which case the proposal must be received a reasonable time before we begin to print and mail our proxy materials for our 2021 Annual Meeting. Any stockholder proposal submitted for inclusion in our proxy statement must be eligible for inclusion in our proxy statement in accordance with the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC.
With respect to proposals submitted by a stockholder for consideration at our 2021 Annual Meeting but not for inclusion in our proxy statement for such Annual Meeting, timely notice of any stockholder proposal must be received by us in accordance with our Amended and Restated Bylaws no earlier than January 21, 2021 nor later than February 20, 2021, unless the date of our 2021 Annual Meeting is more than 30 days before or after May 21, 2021, in which case notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered by the later of (1) the tenth day following the first public announcement of the date of the 2021 Annual Meeting and (2) the date which is 90 days prior to the date of the 2021 Annual Meeting. Such notice must contain the information required by our Amended and Restated Bylaws.
Our Amended and Restated Bylaws permit a stockholder, or a group of up to 20 stockholders, who have held at least 3% of our outstanding common stock continuously for at least 3 years to nominate and include in our proxy materials director nominees, constituting up to two individuals or 20% of our Board, whichever is greater, if the stockholder(s) and nominee(s) satisfy the requirements specified in our Amended and Restated Bylaws. With respect to nominations submitted by a stockholder for inclusion in our proxy materials for our 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, timely notice of a proxy access nomination must be received by us in accordance with our Amended and Restated Bylaws no earlier than November 11, 2020 and no later than December 11, 2020, unless the date of our 2021 Annual Meeting is more than 30 days before or after May 21, 2021, in which case notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered by the later of (1) the tenth day following the first public announcement of the date of the 2021 Annual Meeting and (2) the date which is 150 days prior to the date of the 2021 Annual Meeting. Such notice must contain the information required by our Amended and Restated Bylaws.
It is important that your proxy be returned promptly, whether by mail, by telephone or via the Internet. The proxy may be revoked at any time by you before it is exercised as described in this proxy statement. If you attend the meeting in person, you may withdraw any proxy (including a telephonic or Internet proxy) and vote your own shares as described in this proxy statement.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
Frederick J. Kulevich
Senior Vice President, General Counsel
and Corporate Secretary
April 10, 2020
 | 2020 Proxy Statement | 59 |
CDW CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURE RECONCILIATIONS
We have included reconciliations of Non-GAAP operating income, Non-GAAP operating income margin, Non-GAAP income before income taxes, Non-GAAP net income, Non-GAAP net income per diluted share and Free cash flow for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 below. Non-GAAP operating income excludes, among other things, charges related to the amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets, equity-based compensation and the associated payroll taxes, and acquisition and integration expenses. Non-GAAP operating income margin is defined as Non-GAAP operating income as a percentage of Net sales. Non-GAAP income before income taxes and Non-GAAP net income exclude, among other things, charges related to acquisition-related intangible asset amortization, equity-based compensation, acquisition and integration expenses, and the associated tax effects of each. With respect to Non-GAAP net income per diluted share, the numerator is Non-GAAP net income and the denominator is the weighted average number of shares outstanding as adjusted to give effect to dilutive securities. Free cash flow is defined as net cash provided by operating activities, minus capital expenditures, plus/minus the net change in accounts payable - inventory financing. Non-GAAP operating income, Non-GAAP operating income margin, Non-GAAP income before income taxes, Non-GAAP net income, Non-GAAP net income per diluted share and Free cash flow are considered non-GAAP financial measures. Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company’s performance, financial position, or cash flows that either excludes or includes amounts that are not normally included or excluded in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. Non-GAAP measures used by the Company may differ from similar measures used by other companies, even when similar terms are used to identify such measures. We believe that Non-GAAP operating income, Non-GAAP operating income margin, Non-GAAP income before income taxes, Non-GAAP net income, Non-GAAP net income per diluted share and Free cash flow provide helpful information regarding the underlying operating performance of our business and cash flows, including our ability to meet our future debt service, capital expenditures and working capital requirements. Our 2020 annual targets are provided on a non-GAAP basis because certain reconciling items are dependent on future events that either cannot be controlled, such as currency impacts or interest rates, or reliably predicted because they are not part of the Company’s routine activities, such as refinancing activities or acquisition and integration expenses.
NON-GAAP OPERATING INCOME
| (dollars in millions) | Year Ended December 31, | |||||||
| (unaudited) | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||
| GAAP, as reported | $ | 1,133.6 | $ | 987.3 | ||||
| Amortization of intangibles(a) | 178.5 | 182.7 | ||||||
| Equity-based compensation | 48.5 | 40.7 | ||||||
| Scalar acquisition and integration expenses | 3.0 | 1.5 | ||||||
| Other adjustments(b) | 4.8 | 4.4 | ||||||
| Non-GAAP operating income | $ | 1,368.4 | $ | 1,216.6 | ||||
| Non-GAAP operating income margin | 7.6 | % | 7.5 | % | ||||
| (a) | Includes amortization expense for acquisition-related intangible assets, primarily customer relationships, customer contracts and trade names. |
| (b) | Includes other expenses such as payroll taxes on equity-based compensation. |
| 2020 Proxy Statement | 60 |
NON-GAAP NET INCOME
| Year Ended December 31, 2019 | Year Ended December 31, 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (dollars in millions) (unaudited) | Income before income taxes | Income tax expense(a) | Net income | Effective tax rate | Income before income taxes | Income tax expense(a) | Net income | Effective tax rate | |||||||||||||||||
| GAAP, as reported | $ | 949.7 | $ | (212.9 | ) | $ | 736.8 | 22.4% | $ | 840.5 | $ | (197.5 | ) | $ | 643.0 | 23.5% | |||||||||
| Amortization of intangibles(b) | 178.5 | (44.6 | ) | 133.9 | 182.7 | (45.7 | ) | 137.0 | |||||||||||||||||
| Equity-based compensation | 48.5 | (36.6 | ) | 11.9 | 40.7 | (29.2 | ) | 11.5 | |||||||||||||||||
| Net Loss on extinguishments of long-term debt | 22.1 | (5.5 | ) | 16.6 | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| Scalar acquisition and integration expenses(c) | 3.0 | (3.7 | ) | (0.7 | ) | 1.5 | — | 1.5 | |||||||||||||||||
| Other adjustments(d) | 4.8 | (1.2 | ) | 3.6 | 4.4 | (3.1 | ) | 1.3 | |||||||||||||||||
| Non-GAAP | $ | 1,206.6 | $ | (304.5 | ) | $ | 902.1 | 25.2% | $ | 1,069.8 | $ | (275.5 | ) | $ | 794.3 | 25.7% | |||||||||
| (a) | Income tax on non-GAAP adjustments includes excess tax benefits associated with equity-based compensation and the impact of global intangible low tax income (“GILTI”) due to equity-based compensation and amortization of intangibles. |
| (b) | Includes amortization expense for acquisition-related intangible assets, primarily customer relationships, customer contracts and trade names. |
| (c) | Includes a $3 million discrete tax benefit related to CDW Canada’s acquisition of Scalar. |
| (d) | Includes other expenses such as payroll taxes on equity-based compensation. |
NET INCOME AND NON-GAAP NET INCOME PER DILUTED SHARE
| (dollars in millions, except per share amounts) | Year Ended December 31, | |||||||
| (unaudited) | 2019 | 2018 | % Change | |||||
| Net income | $ | 736.8 | $ | 643.0 | 14.6% | |||
| Weighted-average common shares outstanding - Diluted | 147.8 | 153.6 | ||||||
| Net income per diluted share | $ | 4.99 | $ | 4.19 | 19.1% | |||
| Non-GAAP net income | $ | 902.1 | $ | 794.3 | 13.6% | |||
| Weighted-average common shares outstanding - Diluted | 147.8 | 153.6 | ||||||
| Non-GAAP net income per diluted share | $ | 6.10 | $ | 5.17 | 18.0% | |||
FREE CASH FLOW
| (dollars in millions) | Year Ended December 31, | |||||||
| (unaudited) | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 1,027.2 | $ | 905.9 | ||||
| Capital expenditures | (236.3 | ) | (86.1 | ) | ||||
| Net change in accounts payable - inventory financing | (1.3 | ) | (67.4 | ) | ||||
| Free cash flow | $ | 789.6 | $ | 752.4 | ||||
| 2020 Proxy Statement | 61 |
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This proxy statement includes forward-looking statements regarding management’s expectations for our future performance that are within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in such statements. For a discussion of forward-looking statements and factors that could cause our actual performance to differ materially from these expectations, see the sections entitled “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 and in CDW’s subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. CDW undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law.
| 2020 Proxy Statement | 62 |
CDW LEADERSHIP
Board of Directors
Virginia C. Addicott
Retired President and Chief Executive Officer,
FedEx Custom Critical
Steven W. Alesio
Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,
Dun & Bradstreet Corporation
Barry K. Allen
Operating Partner,
Providence Equity Partners L.L.C.;
President,
Allen Enterprises, LLC
James A. Bell
Retired Executive Vice President, Corporate
President and Chief Financial Officer,
The Boeing Company
Benjamin D. Chereskin
President,
Profile Capital Management LLC
Lynda M. Clarizio
Former Executive Vice President, Strategic Initiatives,
The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
Paul J. Finnegan
Co-Chief Executive Officer,
Madison Dearborn Partners, LLC
Christine A. Leahy
President and Chief Executive Officer,
CDW Corporation
David W. Nelms
Chairman of the Board;
Retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,
Discover Financial Services, Inc.
Joseph R. Swedish
Retired Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer; Senior Advisor,
Anthem, Inc.
Donna F. Zarcone
President and Chief Executive Officer,
The Economic Club of Chicago
Executive Committee
Christine A. Leahy
President and Chief Executive Officer
Jill M. Billhorn
Senior Vice President, Corporate Sales
Sona Chawla
Chief Growth and Innovation Officer
Mark C. Chong
Senior Vice President, Strategy and Marketing
Elizabeth H. Connelly
Chief Human Resources Officer and
Senior Vice President, Coworker Services
Christina M. Corley
Chief Commercial and Operating Officer
Douglas E. Eckrote
Senior Vice President, Small Business Sales and eCommerce
Collin B. Kebo
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Robert F. Kirby
Senior Vice President, Public Sales
Frederick J. Kulevich
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Christina V. Rother
Senior Vice President, Integrated Technology Solutions
Jonathan J. Stevens
Senior Vice President, Operations and Chief Information Officer
Matthew A. Troka
Senior Vice President, Product and Partner Management
