Plexus (PLXS) DEF 14A Definitive proxy

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No. )

Filed by the Registrant ☒       Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☐

Check the appropriate box:

 ☐
Preliminary Proxy Statement

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

☒
Definitive Proxy Statement

 ☐
Definitive Additional Materials

 ☐
Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

PLEXUS CORP.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

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

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
☒	No fee required.
☐	Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
	(1)	Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
	(2)	Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
	(3)	Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
	(4)	Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
	(5)	Total fee paid:
☐	Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
☐	Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
	(1)	Amount Previously Paid:
	(2)	Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
	(3)	Filing Party:
	(4)	Date Filed:

PLEXUS CORP.

2022 NOTICE OF

ANNUAL MEETING

 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

December 17, 2021

To the Shareholders of Plexus Corp.

You are invited to the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Plexus Corp., a Wisconsin corporation:

	DATE AND TIME February 16, 2022 8:00 a.m. CST	ITEMS OF BUSINESS
	ACCESS THE VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEETING This year’s annual meeting will be held virtually. Shareholders may participate in the virtual annual meeting by logging in at the following link and providing the control number found in the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials: http://www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/PLXS2022	1	Elect 10 Directors (pg. 9)
		2	Approve executive compensation by an advisory vote (pg. 68)
	RECORD DATE Shareholders of record at the close of business on December 13, 2021, are entitled to attend and vote at the annual meeting by virtual presence online. As of the Record Date, Plexus had 28,009,600 shares of common stock outstanding. Each outstanding share of common stock is entitled to one vote on each matter presented. Any shareholder entitled to vote may vote either at the virtual meeting or by duly authorized proxy.	3	Ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent auditors (pg. 71)
		4	Transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting

We call your attention to the proxy statement accompanying this notice, which contains important information about the matters to be acted upon at the meeting.

By Order of the Board of Directors,

 

Angelo M. Ninivaggi

Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer,

General Counsel and Secretary

Important notice regarding the availability of proxy materials for the shareholder meeting to be held on February 16, 2022. The proxy statement and the Company’s 2021 annual report are available at www.proxyvote.com. At www.proxyvote.com, shareholders can view the proxy material, vote and request to receive paper copies of the proxy materials by mail.

Table of Contents

Who We Are	1
Meeting & Voting Information	3
Items of Business	5
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners & Management	7
Proposal 1 – Election of Directors	9
Corporate Governance	18
Plexus Corp. Board of Directors	18
Shareholder Protections & Corporate Governance Best Practices	18
Board Composition & Structure	19
Board & Committee Responsibilities	21
Board Governance Processes	23
Director Compensation for Fiscal 2021	25
Director Fees & Arrangements	26
Stock Ownership Guidelines & Stock Compensation for Directors	26
Director Participation in Deferred Compensation Plan	27
Board’s Role in Risk Oversight	28
Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG)	29
Compensation Discussion & Analysis	31
Executive Summary	31
Executive Compensation Philosophy, Goals & Process	33
Elements & Analysis of Direct Compensation	36
Elements & Analysis of Other Compensation	48
Compensation Committee Report	51
Executive Compensation	52
Summary Compensation Table for Fiscal 2021	52
Grants of Plan-Based Awards for Fiscal 2021	55
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal 2021 Year-End	56
Option Exercises & Stock Vested in Fiscal 2021	58
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation in Fiscal 2021	58
Employment Agreements & Potential Payments	60
Pay Ratio Disclosure	66
Compensation & Risk	67
Proposal 2 – Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation	68
Certain Transactions	69
Report of the Audit Committee	70
Proposal 3 – Ratify Independent Auditors	71
Fees & Services	71
Householding & Solicitation	72

 

 

Index of frequently accessed information
Beneficial Owners	7
Board’s Role in Risk Oversight	28
Certain Transactions	69
Compensation & Risk	67
Compensation Committee Report	51
Compensation Discussion & Analysis	31
Corporate Governance	18
Director Compensation for Fiscal 2021	25
Environmental, Social & Governance	29
Executive Compensation	52
Householding & Solicitation	72
Items of Business	5
Meeting & Voting Information	3
Pay Ratio Disclosure	66
Proposal 1	9
Proposal 2	68
Proposal 3	71
Report of the Audit Committee	70
Who We Are	1

WHO WE ARE

Our Vision	Our Mission
We’ll help you create the products that build a better world.	The leader in highly complex products and demanding regulatory environments.

 

Plexus by the Numbers

$3.37B	15.4%	$4.76	$1.2M
2021 Revenue	2021 ROIC	2021 Earnings per share	Planned investment in energy use reduction technology and initiatives in F22
19,200	600	26/7	4.5M
Employees	Development Engineers	Facilities / Countries	Square Feet

Plexus Market Sectors & Subsectors

INDUSTRIAL	HEALTHCARE / LIFE SCIENCES	AEROSPACE / DEFENSE
Automation and Robotics	Medical Devices and Equipment	Aerospace
Transportation and Energy Management	Life Sciences and Diagnostics	Defense
Semiconductor and Test and Measurement	Advanced Surgical Systems and Medical Robotics	Security
		Space
Communications

1

WHO WE ARE

Our People

We recognize that a great culture is foundational to the success of our vision to create the products that build a better world. We are proud of our culture and the recognition we have received over the years as a great place to work. In building a great culture, we embrace four “non-negotiables:”

	Our Values and Leadership Behaviors - Our Values and Leadership Behaviors establish the foundation upon which our culture is built; Customer Focus, Relationships and Teamwork, Excellence, Open Communications, Integrity, Prioritize our People, Solve Problems, Be Courageous, Be Strategic and Innovate.
	Quality Begins with Me - We instill personal responsibility for quality in our employees through our Quality Begins with Me culture; a commitment to delivering zero defects and continuous improvement.
	5E’s of Customer Service Excellence - In all aspects of our engagements with both internal and external customers, we reflect the 5E’s. We are Empathetic, Entrepeneurial, Empowered, Engaged and we Ensure Accountability.
	One Plexus - One Plexus reflects our sentiment that we are stronger together than the sum of our parts. We embrace the One Plexus mentality through collaboration to ensure consistent operations, globally, and leverage the strengths and best practices of all facets of the organization to drive the best solutions for our customers.

Committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace

Diversity and Inclusion (“D&I”) Statement	Be you. Our people create our best Plexus. Ingrained in our culture of inclusion is the philosophy that each individual offers diverse perspectives, backgrounds and experiences that create great outcomes when we are united as a team. We respect our people and embrace our differences. We welcome everyone and value the ideas generated by our collective uniqueness. We aspire that all of our people reach their full potential.
Employee Resource Groups
	Plexus Young Professionals (PyP) Fosters development and collaboration for young professionals.	Women in Network (WiN) Champions the advancement of women in professional and personal development.	UnusPlexus Created to celebrate different cultures and diversity at Plexus.
D&I Highlights	• D&I Committee (including the CEO) and Board Oversight of D&I initiatives and results
	• Formal mentorship program with a specific focus on future leaders within underrepresented populations and D&I leadership training provided
	• Gender & underrepresented minorities recruitment strategy
	• Flexible workplace policy, paid parental leave & equitable pay practices
	• Community involvement, charitable match program & paid volunteer time off

Diversity by the Numbers

14	49.9%	2	3
different home countries represented in our global workforce	of our global workforce is female	of 16 of our Plexus Leadership Team members are female	of 10 directors are female or underrepresented minorities

2

PROXY STATEMENT

Plexus Corp.

Global Headquarters

One Plexus Way

Neenah, WI 54957-0156

MEETING AND VOTING INFORMATION

Plexus Corp. will hold its annual meeting of shareholders virtually on February 16, 2022 at 8 a.m. CST.

How to Access Your Proxy Materials

On or about December 20, 2021, we mailed to shareholders a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (“Notice”) containing instructions on how to access our proxy materials, including our proxy statement and annual report, and how to vote via the internet. Shareholders will not receive printed copies of the proxy materials unless requested via the procedures described in the Notice. To assure timely delivery of printed copies of the proxy materials before the annual meeting, shareholders need to request a copy no later than January 26, 2022.

How to Vote

Shareholders of record at the close of business on December 13, 2021 (the “Record Date”), are entitled to participate and vote at the virtual annual meeting. As of the Record Date, Plexus had 28,009,600 shares of common stock outstanding. If you are a shareholder of record as of the Record Date, then you may vote either at the virtual annual meeting or in advance of the meeting by authorizing—by internet, telephone or mail—the persons named as proxies on the proxy card, Dean A. Foate, Todd P. Kelsey, Patrick J. Jermain and Angelo M. Ninivaggi, to vote your shares in accordance with your directions. We encourage you to vote as soon as possible, even if you are planning to attend the virtual annual meeting (by virtual presence online), so that the vote count will not be delayed.

	By internet	Go to www.proxyvote.com. You will need your 16-digit control number included on the Notice in order to vote by Internet.
	By telephone	On a touch-tone telephone, call 1-800-690-6903. You will need your 16-digit control number included on the Notice in order to vote by telephone.
	By mail	Please request written materials by following the instructions in the Notice. Complete, sign and date the proxy card, and return it to the address indicated on the proxy card.
	Virtually	If you attend the virtual annual meeting, you will be able to cast your vote via the online meeting platform during a designated portion of the meeting. Have your Notice, proxy card or proxy form with your 16-digit control number available when you access the virtual annual meeting.

3

If for any reason you desire to revoke your proxy, you may do so at any time before it is voted, either by written notice filed with the Secretary, or Acting Secretary, of the meeting. Questions may be asked during the virtual meeting by submitting such questions in writing via the online platform.

For those investors whose shares are held by a broker or other nominee, you must complete and return the voting instruction form provided by your broker, bank or nominee to provide instruction on how to cast your vote. In the absence of your voting instructions, brokers or other nominees may or may not be able to vote your shares at their discretion depending upon the particular proposal. For example, brokers may not vote your shares at their discretion in the election of directors; therefore, you must vote your shares if you want them to be counted in the election of directors. In addition, your broker is not permitted to vote your shares at its discretion regarding matters related to executive compensation, including the advisory vote to approve named executive officer compensation. If a broker or other nominee holds your shares and you wish to change your proxy prior to the voting thereof, please contact the broker or other nominee.

Shareholders who own shares as part of Plexus’ 401(k) Retirement Plan (the “401(k) Plan”) will receive a separate means for voting the shares held in each account. Shares held by the 401(k) Plan for which participant designations are received will be voted in accordance with those designations. Those shares for which designations are not received will be voted proportionally based upon the shares for which voting directions have been received from participants in the 401(k) Plan.

Shareholder Proposals

The Secretary must receive a shareholder proposal no later than August 18, 2022 for the proposal to be considered for inclusion in our proxy materials for the 2023 annual meeting pursuant to Rule 14a-8 of the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The 2023 annual meeting of shareholders is tentatively scheduled for February 15, 2023. To bring a proposal or nomination before the 2023 annual meeting, you must comply with our bylaws, which require written notice to the Secretary between October 7, 2022 and November 1, 2022. The purpose of this requirement is to assure adequate notice of, and information regarding, any such matter as to which shareholder action may be sought. If we receive your notice after November 1, 2022, then your proposal or nomination would be untimely and it will not be presented to shareholders for action at the 2023 annual meeting of shareholders.

In addition, your proposal or nomination must comply with the procedural provisions of our bylaws. If you do not comply with these procedural provisions, your proposal or nomination can be excluded. Should the board nevertheless choose to present your proposal, the named proxies will be able to vote on the proposal using their best judgment.

4

ITEMS OF BUSINESS

	Board Recommendation
Proposal 1 The election of 10 directors named in the proxy statement to serve on Plexus’ board of directors for a one-year term.	FOR
Proposal 2 An advisory proposal to approve the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers, as disclosed under the headings “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” and “Executive Compensation.”	FOR
Proposal 3 Ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent auditors for fiscal 2022.	FOR

Voting Procedures & Votes Required

To conduct the annual meeting, more than 50% of Plexus’ outstanding shares entitled to vote must be present at the virtual meeting or by duly authorized proxy. This is referred to as a “quorum.” Abstentions and shares that are the subject of broker non-votes will be counted for the purpose of determining whether a quorum exists. Shares represented at a meeting for any purpose are counted in the quorum for all matters to be considered at the meeting. Each outstanding share of common stock is entitled to one vote on each matter presented.

If you own shares as a registered holder and you do not vote, your shares will not be represented at the meeting and will not count toward the quorum requirement. If a quorum is obtained, then the shares that you have not voted will not affect whether a proposal is approved or rejected. If you are a shareholder whose shares are not registered in your name and you do not vote, then your bank, broker or other holder of record may still represent your shares at the meeting for purposes of obtaining a quorum.

Assuming a quorum is present, directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast at the virtual meeting or by proxy by the holders of Plexus common stock entitled to vote in the election at the meeting. “Plurality” means that the individuals who receive the highest number of votes are elected as directors, up to the maximum number of directors to be chosen at the meeting. Any votes attempted to be cast “against” a candidate are not given legal effect and are not counted as votes cast in the election of directors. Therefore, any shares that are not voted, whether by withheld authority, broker non-vote or otherwise, have no effect in the election of directors except to the extent that the failure to vote for any individual results in another individual receiving a relatively larger number of votes.

Our bylaws provide that if any nominee for director does not receive, in an uncontested election, a majority of the votes cast for his or her election, the board will determine whether to accept the individual’s irrevocable, contingent resignation from the board (which must be submitted to, or on file with, the Company in order for that person to be nominated for board service).

5

Assuming a quorum is present, the results of the non-binding, advisory vote to approve the compensation of our named executive officers will also be determined by a majority of shares voting on such matter. In addition, ratification of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent auditors for 2022 will be determined by a majority of the shares voting on such matter, assuming a quorum is present. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not affect these votes, except insofar as they reduce the number of shares that are voted.

Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. will use an automated system to tabulate the votes and its representative(s) will also serve as the election inspector(s).

6

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF

CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table presents certain information as of the Record Date (December 13, 2021), regarding the beneficial ownership of Plexus common stock by each current director or nominee for director, each named executive officer appearing in the “Summary Compensation Table” included in “Executive Compensation” herein, all directors and current named executive officers as a group, and each known 5%-or-greater beneficial owner of Plexus common stock. The specified individuals and entities have sole voting and sole dispositive powers as to all shares, except as otherwise indicated.

	SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED1	PERCENTAGE OF SHARES OUTSTANDING
Stephen P. Cortinovis	27,970	*
Ronnie Darroch	11,750	*
Joann M. Eisenhart	14,617	*
Dean A. Foate	112,341	*
Steven J. Frisch	64,534	*
Patrick J. Jermain	55,122	*
Rainer Jueckstock	22,652	*
Peter Kelly	31,032	*
Todd P. Kelsey	172,456	*
Randy J. Martinez	0
Angelo M. Ninivaggi	36,856	*
Joel Quadracci	4,909	*
Karen M. Rapp	6,847	*
Paul A. Rooke	8,903	*
Michael V. Schrock	37,241	*
All directors and current named executive  officers as a group (15 persons)	607,230	2.17%
BlackRock, Inc.2	4,190,089	14.96%
The Vanguard Group, Inc.3	3,103,314	11.08%
Disciplined Growth Investors, Inc.4	2,195,197	7.84%
Dimensional Fund Advisors LP5	1,831,304	6.54%

* Less than 1%

1
The amounts reported in the table include shares subject to acquisition within 60 days of the Record Date, upon the vesting of restricted stock units (“RSUs”) granted under Plexus’ equity plans as follows: Mr. Cortinovis (2,069), Mr. Darroch (6,150), Dr. Eisenhart (2,069), Mr. Foate (2,069), Mr. Frisch (11,960), Mr. Jermain (8,970), Mr. Jueckstock (2,069), Mr. Kelly (2,069), Mr. Kelsey (31,600), Mr. Ninivaggi (7,260), Mr. Quadracci (2,069), Ms. Rapp (2,069), Mr. Rooke (2,069) and Mr. Schrock (2,069), and all directors and current named executive officers as a group (84,561).

The amounts reported in the table for Mr. Kelsey include 35,451 shares transferred to a limited liability company jointly owned by Mr. Kelsey and his spouse.

2
BlackRock, Inc. filed a report on Schedule 13G/A on December 31, 2020, reporting sole voting power as to 4,313,661 shares and sole dispositive power as to 4,349,886 shares of common stock. BlackRock subsequently filed a report on Form 13F for the quarter ended on September 30, 2021, showing sole voting power as to 4,146,433 shares and sole investment power as to 4,190,089 shares. The address of BlackRock, a parent holding company of certain institutional investment managers, is 55 East 52nd Street, New York, New York 10055.

3
The Vanguard Group, Inc. filed a report on Schedule 13G/A on December 31, 2020, reporting shared voting power as to 59,052 shares, sole dispositive power as to 2,953,460 shares and shared dispositive power as to 82,057 shares of common stock. Vanguard Group subsequently filed a report on Form 13F for the quarter

7

ended on September 30, 2021, showing shared voting power as to 54,315 shares, sole investment power as to 3,025,240 shares and shared investment power (along with Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Co., Vanguard Investment Australia, Ltd., Vanguard Advisers Inc., Vanguard Global Advisers, LLC and Vanguard Asset Management, Ltd.) as to 78,074 shares of common stock. The address of Vanguard Group, an investment adviser, is 100 Vanguard Boulevard, Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355.

4
Disciplined Growth Investors, Inc. filed a report on Schedule 13G on June 30, 2008, reporting that it held sole voting power as to 1,899,904 shares, shared voting power as to 268,950 shares and sole dispositive power as to 1,268,854 shares of common stock. Disciplined Growth Investors, Inc. filed a report on Form 13F for the quarter ended on September 30, 2021, showing sole voting power as to 1,829,407 shares and sole investment power as to 2,195,197 shares. The address of Disciplined Growth Investors, an investment advisor, is 150 South Fifth Street, Suite 2550, Minneapolis, MN 55402.

5
Dimensional Fund Advisors LP filed a report on Schedule 13G/A on December 31, 2020, reporting sole voting power as to 1,882,395 shares and sole dispositive power as to 1,944,510 shares of common stock. Dimensional Fund Advisors subsequently filed a report on Form 13F for the quarter ended on September 30, 2021, showing sole voting power as to 1,796,255 shares and sole dispositive power as to 1,831,304 shares. The address of Dimensional Fund Advisors, an investment advisor, is Building One, 6300 Bee Cave Road, Austin, Texas 78746.

8

PROPOSAL 1 –

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

	Board Recommendation
The election of 10 directors named in the proxy statement to serve on Plexus’ board of directors for a one-year term.	FOR

Plexus currently has 11 directors, listed below, as of the Record Date. Plexus’ bylaws currently authorize up to 12 directors, as determined by the board. The Plexus board may elect directors to fill empty seats, including those created by an expansion, between meetings of shareholders.

PLEXUS’ BOARD OF DIRECTORS (AS OF RECORD DATE)
Stephen P. Cortinovis	Peter Kelly	Karen Rapp
Joann M. Eisenhart	Todd Kelsey	Paul Rooke
Dean A. Foate	Randy J. Martinez	Michael Schrock
Rainer Jueckstock	Joel Quadracci

We would like to give special thanks to Mr. Stephen Cortinovis, who will be retiring from the board immediately following the annual meeting. Mr. Cortinovis has served on Plexus’ board for 18 years, leveraging his global business experience to provide invaluable advice and leadership to management over the course of his tenure.

Board Nominees

In accordance with Plexus’ bylaws, the board has set the size of the board to be 10 directors, reduced from the current board size of 11 directors, immediately following the annual meeting of shareholders, with such directors to serve until their successors are duly elected and qualified. The individuals who are nominated as directors, and for whom proxies will be voted unless a shareholder specifies otherwise, are named below. If any of the nominees should decline or be unable to act as a director, which is unforeseen, the proxies will be voted with discretionary authority for a substitute nominee designated by the board of directors.

Each of the director nominees named below was elected at the 2021 annual meeting except for Mr. Martinez, who was first identified as a possible director candidate by a non-management director. After a thorough review, our Governance and Sustainability Committee (“Governance Committee”) recommended Mr. Martinez as a nominee to the board, and he was appointed by the board on August 2, 2021.

9

Board Nominee Overview

 

The composition of the board of directors is reviewed annually to ensure that an appropriate mix of skills, experiences and backgrounds is represented; the membership mix of the board may also be changed as necessary to meet business needs. Your board nominees offer a diverse range of skills and experience in relevant areas, as set forth in the matrix below. Unless otherwise noted, all directors have been employed in their principal occupation listed for the past five years or more. Each of the attributes identified, which together with the directors’ principal occupations and business experience, as well as the Company’s board member selection criteria, outlined in the next section, provide the reasons that each individual has been nominated to serve on the board.

10

 

11

 

12

	DR. JOANN M. EISENHART
	Independent Executive VP & Chief People Officer, The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (retired)
	Age: 62 Tenure: 6 years Other Public Boards: 0 Committee Assignment: Compensation & Leadership Development (Chair)	Skills and Experience:
			Global Business		Supply Chain Management
			Technology and Cybersecurity experience		Human Capital Development and Compensation
			Manufacturing Management		Sales, Marketing or Innovation
			Environmental, Social & Governance

Dr. Eisenhart retired as Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer at The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, a financial services and insurance provider, in 2019. Prior thereto, she served as Senior Vice President – Human Resources, Facilities and Philanthropy at Northwestern Mutual from 2013 until 2018, and as Senior Vice President – Human Resources since 2011. Dr. Eisenhart previously served as Senior Vice President – Human Resources at Pfizer Inc., a global biopharmaceutical company, and held various leadership positions at Rohm and Haas Company, a manufacturer of specialty chemicals. She earned a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She also earned an M.A. and a Ph.D. in Human and Organizational Development from Fielding Graduate University.

	DEAN A. FOATE
	Chairman of the Board President & CEO Plexus Corp. (retired)
	Age: 63 Tenure: 21 years (8 as Chairman) Other Public Boards: 1	Skills and Experience:
			Public Company CEO/COO		Manufacturing Management
			Financial and Accounting		Supply Chain Management
			Global Business		Human Capital Development and Compensation
			Technology and Cybersecurity experience		Sales, Marketing or Innovation
			Environmental, Social & Governance

Mr. Foate is not an independent director and therefore is not eligible for membership on a Board committee under Nasdaq rules or the committees’ charters.

Mr. Foate has served as Plexus’ Chairman of the Board since 2013. Mr. Foate retired as President and Chief Executive Officer of Plexus in 2016 after serving in such roles since 2002. He joined Plexus in 1984 and held various other executive roles, including prior service as its Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Foate is also a director of Regal Beloit Corporation, a manufacturer of electric motors, electrical motion controls, power generation and power transmission products, as well as a member of its Corporate Governance & Director Affairs Committee. Mr. Foate earned a B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Master of Science in Engineering Management from the Milwaukee School of Engineering.

13

	RAINER JUECKSTOCK
	Independent Executive VP, Tenneco Inc.
	Age: 62 Tenure: 8 years Other Public Boards: 0 Committee Assignment: Audit (Chair)	Skills and Experience:
			Public Company CEO/COO		Manufacturing Management
			Financial and Accounting		Supply Chain Management
			Global Business		Human Capital Development and Compensation
			Technology and Cybersecurity experience		Sales, Marketing or Innovation
			Environmental, Social & Governance

Mr. Jueckstock has served as an Executive Vice President of Tenneco Inc., a producer of automotive emission control and ride control products and systems, since 2018, when Tenneco acquired Federal-Mogul LLC, an automotive and industrial equipment supplier. Mr. Jueckstock has also served as President of Federal-Mogul Powertrain since 2018, after having served as its Chief Executive Officer since 2012. Prior to the acquisition of Federal-Mogul, he also served as its co-Chief Executive Officer and as a director since 2012, and as co-Chairman of the Board since 2015. Before joining Federal-Mogul, he was a member of the German Military. Mr. Jueckstock earned a degree in Engineering from the Military College at Zittau, Germany.

	PETER KELLY
	Independent Executive VP, NXP Semiconductors N.V.
	Age: 64 Tenure: 16 years Other Public Boards: 0 Committee Assignment: Audit Governance & Sustainability	Skills and Experience:
			Public Company CEO/COO		Manufacturing Management
			Financial and Accounting		Supply Chain Management
			Global Business		Human Capital Development and Compensation
			Technology and Cybersecurity experience		Sales, Marketing or Innovation
			Environmental, Social & Governance

Mr. Kelly will serve as Executive Vice President of NXP Semiconductors N.V., a global semiconductor company and a long-standing supplier in the industry, until February 2022, when he plans to retire. Prior to announcing his retirement, he also served as the Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Kelly also previously served as Executive Vice President – Strategy and Mergers & Acquisitions since 2015, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since 2012 and Executive Vice President and General Manager of Operations prior thereto. He was a director of Graphic Packaging Holding Company, a provider of paper-based packaging solutions, as well as a member of its Audit Committee and Compensation and Benefits Committee, until 2018. Mr. Kelly earned a B.S. from the University of Manchester (U.K.) Institute of Science and Technology and is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.

14

	TODD P. KELSEY
	President & CEO Plexus Corp.
	Age: 56 Tenure: 5 years Other Public Boards: 1	Skills and Experience:
			Public Company CEO/COO		Manufacturing Management
			Financial and Accounting		Supply Chain Management
			Global Business		Human Capital Development and Compensation
			Technology and Cybersecurity experience		Sales, Marketing or Innovation
			Environmental, Social & Governance

Mr. Kelsey is not an independent director and therefore is not eligible for membership on a Board committee under Nasdaq rules or the committees’ charters.

Mr. Kelsey has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Plexus since 2016. He was previously Plexus’ Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer from 2013 until 2016, and its Executive Vice President – Global Customer Services prior thereto. Mr. Kelsey joined Plexus in 1994 as a Design Engineer in the Company’s Engineering Solutions Group, and has held various other positions with increasing responsibility since that time, including Senior Vice President – Global Customer Services and Senior Vice President – Engineering Solutions. He is also a director of Steelcase Inc., a global provider of workplace products, furnishings and services, as well as the chair of its Audit Committee. Mr. Kelsey earned a B.S. and a M.S. in electrical engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an M.B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

	RANDY J. MARTINEZ
	Independent President & CEO, MTS Systems Corp. (retired)
	Age: 66 Tenure: <1 year Other Public Boards: 0 Committee Assignment: Audit Governance & Sustainability	Skills and Experience:
			Public Company CEO/COO		Manufacturing Management
			Financial and Accounting		Supply Chain Management
			Global Business		Human Capital Development and Compensation
			Technology and Cybersecurity experience		Sales, Marketing or Innovation
			Environmental, Social & Governance

Mr. Martinez served as President and Chief Executive Officer of MTS Systems Corporation, a leading global supplier of advanced test systems, motion simulators and precision sensors, until 2021. Prior thereto, Mr. Martinez served in several leadership roles at AAR Corporation, a provider of aviation services to the worldwide commercial aviation and aerospace & defense industries, including President & CEO of the Airlift Group and Group Vice President, Aviation Services. Mr. Martinez served with distinction in the U.S. Air Force for 21 years, retiring as a Colonel and Command Pilot and having held a wide variety of leadership roles, including command and senior staff positions. Mr. Martinez also holds Master of Science degrees from the University of Arkansas and the National Defense University.

15

	JOEL QUADRACCI
	Independent Chairman, President & CEO, Quad/Graphics Inc.
	Age: 52 Tenure: 1 year Other Public Boards: 1 Committee Assignment: Compensation & Leadership Development Government & Sustainability	Skills and Experience:
			Public Company CEO/COO		Manufacturing Management
			Financial and Accounting		Supply Chain Management
			Global Business		Human Capital Development and Compensation
			Technology and Cybersecurity experience		Sales, Marketing or Innovation
			Environmental, Social & Governance

Mr. Quadracci has served as the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Quad/Graphics, Inc., a worldwide marketing solutions partner, since 2010. Mr. Quadracci joined Quad in 1991 and, prior to assuming his current role, served in various other positions with increasing responsibility including Senior Vice President of Sales & Administration and President and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Quadracci received a B.A. in Philosophy from Skidmore College in 1991.

	KAREN M. RAPP
	Independent Executive VP, CFO & Treasurer, National Instruments Corp.
	Age: 54 Tenure: 3 years Other Public Boards: 1 Committee Assignment: Audit Compensation & Leadership Development	Skills and Experience:
			Financial and Accounting		Supply Chain Management
			Global Business		Human Capital Development and Compensation
			Sales, Marketing or Innovation		Technology and Cybersecurity experience
			Environmental, Social & Governance

Ms. Rapp has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, of National Instruments Corp., a producer of automated test equipment and virtual instrumentation software, since 2017. Ms. Rapp also previously served as National Instruments' Treasurer. Prior thereto, she served as the Senior Vice President of Corporate Development at NXP Semiconductors N.V., a global semiconductor company and a long-standing supplier in the industry, where she led the integration efforts for the NXP/Freescale Semiconductor, Ltd. merger, from 2015 to 2017. Prior to the merger, Ms. Rapp held several leadership positions at Freescale with increasing responsibility, including Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Director of Operations and Finance, Global Sales and Marketing, Director of Finance, Supply Chain, and Director of Finance, Continuous Development. Ms. Rapp is also a director of Microchip Technology Incorporated, a leading provider of smart, connected and secure embedded control solutions, as well as a member of its Audit Committee. Ms. Rapp holds an M.B.A from The University of Texas at Austin and a B.S. in Finance from Northern Illinois University.

16

	PAUL A. ROOKE
	Independent Chairman & CEO Lexmark International, Inc. (retired)
	Age: 63 Tenure: 4 years Other Public Boards: 0 Committee Assignment: Governance & Sustainability (Chair)	Skills and Experience:
			Public Company CEO/COO		Manufacturing Management
			Financial and Accounting		Supply Chain Management
			Global Business		Human Capital Development and Compensation
			Technology and Cybersecurity experience		Sales, Marketing or Innovation
			Environmental, Social & Governance

Mr. Rooke retired as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, as well as a director, of Lexmark International, Inc., a provider of document imaging and enterprise software solutions, in 2016. Mr. Rooke also previously served as President of Lexmark. Prior to becoming President and CEO of Lexmark in 2010, he held several leadership positions with increasing responsibility, including Executive Vice President and President, Imaging Solutions, Executive Vice President and President, Printing Solutions and Services, and Vice President and President, Business Printer. Mr. Rooke holds an M.B.A. from the University of Kentucky and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan.

	MICHAEL V. SCHROCK
	Independent Lead Director Senior Advisor & Operating Consultant, Oak Hill Capital Partners
	Age: 68 Tenure: 15 years (8 as Lead Director) Other Public Boards: 1 Committee Assignment: Compensation & Leadership Development	Skills and Experience:
			Public Company CEO/COO		Manufacturing Management
			Financial and Accounting		Supply Chain Management
			Global Business		Human Capital Development and Compensation
			Technology and Cybersecurity experience		Sales, Marketing or Innovation
			Environmental, Social & Governance

Mr. Schrock, who has served as the Lead Director of Plexus’ board since 2013, has served as a Senior Advisor and Operating Consultant to Oak Hill Capital Partners, a private equity firm, since 2014. Prior thereto, he served as President and Chief Operating Officer at Pentair LLC, a global water, fluid, thermal management, and equipment protection company. Mr. Schrock also serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Atkore International Group Inc., a manufacturer of electrical raceway products and mechanical products and solutions; he is also the chair of Atkore’s Executive Committee. Mr. Schrock earned a B.S. from Bradley University and an M.B.A. from Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management. Mr. Schrock served as a director of MTS Systems Corporation, a global supplier of high-performance test systems and position sensors, from 2014 to 2021.

17

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Plexus Corp. Board of Directors

Plexus believes that it needs to attract and retain talented, focused and motivated leadership to develop and execute the Company’s long-term strategy and to deliver shareholder value. For Plexus, the concept of leadership is not limited to leadership within the Company; leadership also includes the individuals who serve on Plexus’ board of directors. The Company believes it is important for its board to be comprised of individuals with diverse backgrounds, skills and experiences. All board members are expected to meet Plexus’ board member selection criteria, which are listed below:

• Impeccable honesty and integrity, and conduct in accordance with the Company’s values.

• A high level of knowledge gained through formal education and/or specific practical experience.

• Broad based business acumen, including a general understanding of operations management, marketing, finance, human resources management, corporate governance and other elements relevant to the success of a large publicly-traded company.

• An understanding of the Company’s business on a technical level.

• Global thinking and focus as well as a general understanding of the world economy.

• Strategic thinking and an ability to envision future opportunities and risks.

• A willingness to engage in thoughtful debate and challenging discussions in a respectful manner.

• A network of important contacts that can bring knowledge and assistance to Plexus.

• A commitment to spend requisite time on board responsibilities.

In addition to the general criteria for each Board member, the diversity of the Board should endeavor to include those board qualifications, attributes, skills and experience set forth in the matrix above. In the selection of board members, the Governance Committee also considers the demographic diversity among members in identifying areas that could be augmented by new members.

Shareholder Protections & Corporate Governance Best Practices

We are committed to governance structures and practices that drive shareholder value and protect important shareholder rights, which are regularly reviewed and include the following:

INDEPENDENCE	BEST PRACTICES	ACCOUNTABILITY
✔8 of 10 director nominees are independent   ✔Strong independent Lead Director with clearly delineated duties   ✔All standing board committees composed entirely of independent directors   ✔Regular executive sessions of independent directors without management present   ✔Periodic rotation of committee members	✔Strategy & risk oversight by the full board and its committees   ✔Full board and committee oversight of ESG issues   ✔Stock ownership guidelines for executive officers and non-employee directors   ✔Overboarding limits   ✔No poison pill   ✔No dual class shares   ✔Director education and onboarding	✔Annual election of all directors   ✔Annual election of Chair and Independent Lead Director by independent directors   ✔Majority voting with director resignation policy (plurality voting in contested elections)   ✔Annual self-evaluation process for directors   ✔Strong investor outreach program

18

Board Composition & Structure

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS

5	100%	100%
2021 board meetings	Directors then serving attended each 2021 board meeting	Directors then serving attended the 2021 Annual Meeting

Our independent directors have the opportunity to meet in executive session, without management present, as part of each regular board and committee meeting. Mr. Schrock, the board’s Lead Director, presides at board executive sessions. Plexus generally holds a board meeting coincident with the annual meeting of shareholders to minimize director travel obligations and facilitate their attendance at the shareholders’ meeting.

DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

As a matter of good corporate governance, we believe that the board of directors should provide a strong voice in the governance of our company. Therefore, under our corporate governance policies and in accordance with Nasdaq Global Select Market rules, at least a majority of our directors must be “independent directors.”

When the board of directors makes its determinations regarding which directors are independent, it first considers and follows the Nasdaq Global Select Market rules. The board also reviews other transactions and relationships, if any, involving Plexus and its directors or their family members or related parties; see “Certain Transactions” herein for a discussion of our policy regarding such transactions. Plexus expects its directors to disclose any transaction, whether direct or indirect, such as through an immediate family member or an affiliated business entity, involving Plexus and the director; Plexus also surveys directors periodically to confirm this information. Plexus does not use any dollar amount to screen transactions that should be reported to the Company. The board reviews the information submitted by its directors for its separate determination of materiality and compliance with Nasdaq and other standards when it determines independence.

Based on the applicable standards and the board’s review and consideration, the board of directors has determined that, of the director nominees, Dr. Eisenhart and Ms. Rapp, as well as Messrs. Jueckstock, Kelly, Martinez, Quadracci, Rooke and Schrock, are each “independent” under applicable Nasdaq rules and guidelines. In reaching its determinations regarding the independence of Mr. Kelly and Ms. Rapp, the board considered that Mr. Kelly served as an executive officer of NXP Semiconductors N.V., which is a supplier to Plexus, until October 12, 2021, and that Ms. Rapp is an executive officer of National Instruments Corp. and a director of Microchip Technology, Inc., both of which are also suppliers to Plexus. The board determined that these relationships did not affect the independence of Mr. Kelly or Ms. Rapp.

Mr. Foate, our Non-Executive Chair and former Chief Executive Officer, and Mr. Kelsey, our current Chief Executive Officer, are not considered to be “independent” under applicable Nasdaq rules.

BOARD LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE

Mr. Foate has served as Chair of the Board since 2013. Pursuant to a retirement and transition agreement (the “Transition Agreement”), which is described in “Directors’ Compensation” below, Mr. Foate began serving as Non-Executive Chair (which is not an executive officer position) in fiscal year 2018.

19

Mr. Foate serves as the Chair of the Board primarily due to his in-depth knowledge of the Company and EMS industry, keen understanding of the Company’s operations and strategies, and proven leadership of, as well as vision for, Plexus, all of which position him to provide strong and effective leadership of the board. Mr. Foate joined Plexus in 1984 and served as CEO from 2002 until his retirement in 2016. In addition to his experience and long service with Plexus, the board currently believes that Mr. Foate is in the best position as Chair to lead board discussions regarding the Company’s business and strategy, and to help the board respond quickly and effectively to any challenges faced by the Company.

While currently the roles of Chair and CEO are held by Mr. Foate and Mr. Kelsey, respectively, the board does not have a policy that requires the separation of these roles and believes the Company should adopt the board leadership structure that best serves its needs at any particular time. Pursuant to the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, since Mr. Foate is not an independent director, the independent directors, meeting in executive session, elected a Lead Director from among the independent directors.

THE DUTIES OF THE BOARD’S LEAD DIRECTOR

The Company believes that the designation of an independent Lead Director, whose duties are described below, provides essentially the same benefits as having an independent chair in terms of oversight, access and an independent voice with significant input into corporate governance. Mr. Schrock currently serves as the board’s Lead Director.

  • Preside at all meetings of the board at which the Chair is not present
 
  • Serve as a liaison between the Chair and independent directors
 
  • Together with the Chair, approve agendas for board meetings and approve meeting schedules to ensure sufficient time allocation per topic
 
  • Provide input to the Chair as to the content, quality, quantity and timeliness of information from Company management to the board • Authority to call meetings of the independent directors and develop the agendas for such meetings with input from other independent directors
 
• Serve as a liaison for consultation and direct communication with major shareholders
 
• Perform such other duties as the board or Chair may from time to time delegate

20

Board and Committee Responsibilities

AUDIT COMMITTEE
MEMBERS Rainer Jueckstock, Chair Peter Kelly Randy Martinez Karen Rapp   Meetings in 2021: 8 Attendance: 100% Report page: 70   *Reflects directors then serving	The Audit Committee’s duties and responsibilities include the following:
	•	chooses and makes retention decisions related to the Company’s independent auditors,
	•	reviews the Company’s general policies and procedures to reasonably assure the adequacy and effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting,
	•	discusses the Company’s material financial risk exposures and the steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures,
	•	reviews the annual audited financial statements and quarterly financial statements of the company,
	•	generally oversees the Company’s audit process as well as the accounting, finance and tax functions,
	•	reviews the effectiveness of the Company’s governance and management of information technology risks, including those relating to business continuity, cybersecurity, regulatory compliance and data management, and
	•	oversees the Company’s ethics and whistle-blowing reporting programs in conjunction with the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

All of the members of the Audit Committee are “independent” of Plexus under SEC and Nasdaq rules. The board has determined that Mr. Kelly and Ms. Rapp are “audit committee financial experts” based on a review of each individual’s educational background and business experience. All members of the Audit Committee are “financially literate” and meet the other SEC and Nasdaq requirements for Audit Committee membership.

COMPENSATION & LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
MEMBERS Joann Eisenhart, Chair Stephen Cortinovis Joel Quadracci Karen Rapp Michael Schrock   Meetings in 2021: 6 Attendance: 100% Report page: 51   *Reflects directors then serving	The Compensation & Leadership Development Committee’s duties and responsibilities include the following:
	•	reviews Plexus’ leadership structure, talent management, diversity and inclusion efforts, leadership development strategies and programs, and the Company’s succession planning efforts, including executive succession plans,
	•	establishes the general compensation philosophies and plans for Plexus,
	•	reviews and determines the compensation of the CEO, and approves the compensation of the other executive officers as well as equity grants and awards under Plexus’ incentive compensation plans,
	•	oversees how compensation programs may incentivize risk taking and whether such risk taking is aligned with the Company’s business objectives and risk tolerance,
	•	considers and makes recommendations to the board with respect to other compensatory plans and arrangements, and
	•	reviews Plexus’ human capital management strategy, including organizational structure and leadership development.

All of the members of the Committee are “independent” under SEC and Nasdaq rules. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, retain or obtain the advice of compensation consultants, legal counsel or other advisers. The Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, termination, compensation and oversight of the work of any compensation consultant, and considers the independence of any such consultant prior to retention.

21

GOVERNANCE & SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE
MEMBERS Paul Rooke, Chair Stephen Cortinovis Peter Kelly Randy Martinez Joel Quadracci   Meetings in 2021: 6 Attendance: 100%   *Reflects directors then serving	The Governance & Sustainability Committee’s duties and responsibilities include the following:
	•	maintains oversight over the operations, structure and effectiveness of the Board and its committees,
	•	develops and maintains criteria and procedures for the identification and recruitment of candidates for election to serve as directors of the Company,
	•	reviews the structure of the Board to assure proper skills, experience, and diversity of backgrounds are represented,
	•	reviews the effectiveness of management’s enterprise risk management program that identifies, prioritizes, monitors and manages key risks facing the Company,
	•	reviews ethics and compliance risk assessments conducted by management and assesses the efficacy of the ethics and compliance program in place to monitor and control such exposures,
	•	makes recommendations to the board regarding directors’ compensation, and
	•	evaluates as well as oversees corporate governance and related issues, and
	•	oversees the Company's environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) program, including policies and initiatives, sustainability reporting and trends that could impact the Company.

All of the members of the Committee are “independent” under SEC and Nasdaq rules.

22

Board Governance Processes

DIRECTOR RECRUITMENT & THE NOMINATION PROCESS

The Governance Committee engages in a continuous process of identifying and assessing potential director candidates in light of the board’s collective set of skills and the future needs of the Company. In addition to the board member selection criteria listed above, the Governance Committee considers the diversity of backgrounds, skills and experiences among board members in identifying areas that could be augmented by new members. To help assure that directors have the time to devote to their duties, Plexus directors may not serve on the boards of more than three additional public companies. The Governance Committee may utilize a director search firm to identify candidates, but, if so, it evaluates those individuals on its own; the Governance Committee would also consider candidates suggested by outside directors, management and/or shareholders. If a qualified individual expresses a serious interest and there is a position available, the Governance Committee would review that person’s background and experience to determine whether that individual may be an appropriate addition to the board, and, if appropriate, would meet with the individual. A decision would then be made whether to nominate that person to the board. The Governance Committee’s policy is not to evaluate proposed nominees differently depending upon who has proposed the potential nominee. In addition, the Governance Committee is committed to prioritizing the inclusion of racially and ethnically diverse candidates in the pool from which director nominees are selected.

If a shareholder wishes to propose someone as a director for the Governance Committee’s consideration, the name of that nominee and related personal information should be forwarded to the Governance Committee, in care of the Secretary, at least six months before the next annual meeting of shareholders to assure time for meaningful consideration by the Governance Committee. In 2021, Plexus did not receive any candidates put forward by any shareholders.

BOARD AND COMMITTEE SELF-EVALUATION PROCESS

The Plexus board of directors conducts an annual self-evaluation, which focuses on the performance of each individual director, the board’s committees and the board as a whole, as well as the composition of each of the board’s committees. The annual self-evaluation process provides an opportunity for anonymous peer review and specific feedback, which is intended to strengthen board leadership. The Chair of the Board is responsible for providing feedback to individual directors, while the Lead Director may also provide feedback and serve as a liaison between independent directors and the Chair. We believe this process encourages actionable feedback, which provides context for decisions about board composition, committee member rotation and succession planning processes.

BOARD REFRESHMENT & SUCCESSION

The Governance Committee supervises a comprehensive, ongoing board refreshment and succession planning process to best position the board for continued success in alignment with the Company’s strategic objectives. This includes regularly assessing director skills and qualifications, reviewing director tenure, evaluating board diversity and board size, and performing annual board, committee and individual director assessments, as detailed above. In addition, the Governance Committee, with input from the Chair of the Board, reviews committee membership at least biennially and recommends committee assignments and committee rotation for approval by the entire board to ensure director skillsets are applied appropriately and to avoid director entrenchment.

The Governance Committee believes board refreshment is crucial to aligning board expertise with the Company’s evolving corporate strategy, but recognizes new directors need time to become familiar with the Company’s business and to develop relationships with other board members and management over time. As a result, the Governance Committee believes a continuum of tenure is required to enable

23

the success of the board, with new members offering fresh perspectives while longer-serving directors offer necessary continuity and a deep understanding of the Company’s business. As applied in practice, 50% of our independent director nominees have been on the board fewer than 5 years.

In furtherance of this philosophy, the Company deploys a new director onboarding process and encourages continuing education to help augment and expedite the effectiveness of its newest board members. The Company also maintains a mandatory retirement policy, which states any individual age 72 or above is not eligible for election or re-election to the board of directors, unless such candidate is also a full-time employee of Plexus at the time or the board of directors, by majority vote, waives the restriction for a particular individual prior to such person’s election or re-election.

The board’s succession oversight extends to management, as well. The board has developed and maintains an appropriate succession plan with respect to the position of CEO and other key executive positions. In addition, the Compensation and Leadership Development Committee (“Compensation Committee”) reviews and recommends to the board development plans for the CEO and other members of senior management.

COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE BOARD

Any communications to the board of directors should be sent to Plexus’ Global Headquarters in care of Plexus’ Secretary, Angelo M. Ninivaggi. Any communication sent to the board in care of the Chief Executive Officer, the Secretary or any other corporate officer also is forwarded to the board. There is no screening process and any communication will be delivered directly to the director or directors to whom it is addressed.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE WEBSITE

Information related to our corporate governance practices, in addition to any new or proposed changes to procedures, are posted on our Corporate Governance page of our website at www.plexus.com under the link titled “Investors,” then “Corporate Governance” including:

•	Plexus Leadership Team	•	Director Stock Ownership Guidelines
•	Board of Directors	•	Executive Officer Stock Ownership Guidelines
•	Committee Composition	•	Clawback Policy
•	Committee Charters	•	Plexus Code of Conduct & Business Ethics
•	Corporate Governance Guidelines

24

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION FOR FISCAL 2021

	Fees Earned or Paid in Cash1	Stock Awards2	Other Benefits3	Total
Ralf R. Böer	$40,625	$165,417	—	$206,042
Stephen P. Cortinovis	$81,250	$165,417	—	$246,667
David J. Drury	$43,750	$165,417	—	$209,167
Joann M. Eisenhart	$86,500	$165,417	—	$251,917
Dean A. Foate	$240,000	$165,417	$26,439	$431,856
Rainer Jueckstock	$92,000	$165,417	—	$257,417
Peter Kelly	$83,750	$165,417	—	$249,167
Randy J. Martinez	$16,250	—	—	$16,250
Joel Quadracci	$77,188	$165,417	—	$242,604
Karen M. Rapp	$87,500	$165,417	—	$252,917
Paul A. Rooke	$82,250	$165,417	—	$247,667
Michael V. Schrock	$105,000	$165,417	—	$270,417

1
Includes annual retainer, committee and chair fees and, in the case of Mr. Schrock, his fee for serving as Lead Director of the board. For Mr. Foate, this amount reflects his retainer for serving as Non-Executive Chair. Mr. Martinez was elected to the board of directors on August 2, 2021, and fees earned represent fees paid beginning in the fourth fiscal quarter. Mr. Böer and Mr. Drury retired from the board of directors following the annual meeting on February 17, 2021, and fees earned represent fees paid through the end of the fiscal second quarter.

2
The amounts shown represent the grant date fair value of RSUs granted in fiscal 2021 computed in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718. Generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) require us to determine compensation expense for stock related awards granted to our directors based on the estimated fair value of the equity instrument at the time of grant. Compensation expense is recognized over the vesting period. The assumptions used to determine the valuation of the awards are discussed in footnote 9 to our consolidated financial statements.

On January 25, 2021, each then-serving non-employee director was granted RSUs for 2,069 shares, with a grant date fair value of $165,417. These RSUs vested for Messrs. Böer and Drury upon their retirement from the Board following the 2021 annual meeting. For all other non-employee directors, these RSUs remained unvested as of October 2, 2021. The number of RSUs granted was determined by dividing $150,000 by the average closing price of our shares on the Nasdaq Global Select Market during the 90 calendar day period ended December 1, 2020, which was $72.507. The grant date fair value is above $150,000 because the closing price of our shares on the grant date was $79.95.

As a result of Mr. Martinez joining the board near the end of the fiscal year, he did not receive a pro-rated grant of RSUs for fiscal year 2021.

3
Includes the following amounts paid to Mr. Foate: $25,764 for the Company car benefit and $675 for the phone benefit, each as offered to Mr. Foate as a part of the Transition Agreement discussed below. The other non-employee directors do not generally receive any additional benefits, although they are reimbursed for their actual expenses of attending board, committee and shareholder meetings, as well as one external educational seminar per year.

25

Director Fees and Arrangements

The Governance Committee of the board of directors recommends, subject to board approval, compensation paid to non-employee directors, including equity awards under Company plans. In determining the compensation paid to the non-employee directors, the Governance Committee considers similar types of factors, including comparisons with the peer companies discussed below and Company performance that are considered by the Compensation Committee when determining executive compensation. The Governance Committee aims to set the compensation level of our directors and the Non-Executive Chair near the median of peer and market comparisons. Non-employee director compensation is reviewed at least biennially.

As part of the most recent review of the non-employee director compensation program in fiscal 2021, the Governance Committee approved an increase in director base compensation upon review of peer and market data and in consultation with Exequity. In addition, director retainers for individual committees were eliminated and the director retainers for committee chairs were reduced. As a result, beginning January 1, 2022, each non-employee director will be compensated per the tables below.

	2021	2022
Board Retainer1	$65,000	$90,000
Non-Executive Chair Retainer	$240,000	$250,000
Lead Director Retainer	$105,000	$120,000
RSU Grant	$150,000	$175,000

1Mr. Foate and Mr. Schrock do not receive the Board Retainer.

	AUDIT COMMITTEE		COMPENSATION COMMITTEE		GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE
	2021	2022	2021	2022	2021	2022
Committee Chair Retainer	$27,000	$10,000	$21,500	$10,000	$17,250	$10,000
Committee Member Retainer	$12,500	$0	$10,000	$0	$6,250	$0

In certain circumstances directors may be reimbursed for attending educational seminars or, in each individual’s capacity as a director, other meetings at Plexus’ behest. Directors do not receive board or committee meeting attendance fees.

For Mr. Foate’s service as Non-Executive Chair, he currently receives an annual retainer as reflected above, which was determined based upon a review of market and peer group practices, and he is eligible to receive an annual equity grant at least equal to the grants made to the Company’s other non-employee directors. In accordance with the Transition Agreement, Mr. Foate is eligible to participate in the Company’s executive car and phone programs, and he and his dependents are also eligible to participate in the Company’s health plan until he reaches age 65, subject to his payment of the required premiums. Mr. Foate is otherwise compensated in accordance with Plexus’ policies for non-employee directors.

Stock Ownership Guidelines & Stock Compensation for Directors

Plexus believes that it is important for directors to maintain an equity stake in Plexus to further align their interests with those of our shareholders. Therefore, directors must comply with stock ownership guidelines as determined by the board. The ownership guidelines currently require each director to own and maintain shares of common stock with a value equal to at least five times the director’s annual base cash retainer. The required ownership must be achieved within five years from the

26

director’s initial election or appointment. Restricted stock (including RSUs) that has yet to vest does not count toward a director’s ownership for purposes of these guidelines. Eight of our ten non-employee directors are currently in compliance with the ownership requirements of the guidelines. Mr. Quadracci has until 2025 and Mr. Martinez has until 2026 to meet these requirements.

Stock ownership guidelines for executives are discussed in “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Elements and Analysis of Direct Compensation—Equity Ownership Guidelines.”

For information regarding the Company’s anti-hedging and anti-pledging policy, which is applicable to directors as well as executive officers and other employees, see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Elements and Analysis of Director Compensation—Anti-Hedging and Anti-Pledging Policy.”

Directors participate in the 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Incentive Plan”), which permits the grant of stock options, stock appreciation rights (“SARs”), restricted stock, which may be designated as restricted stock shares or RSUs, performance stock awards (which may be settled in cash or stock and designated as performance stock shares or performance stock units (“PSUs”)), other stock awards and cash incentive awards. The Incentive Plan provides for an annual cap on the amount of awards to individual non-employee directors. The use of equity awards is designed to align directors’ interests with the long-term ownership interests of our shareholders. In the second quarter of fiscal 2021, each non-employee director serving on the grant date received a grant of RSUs worth approximately $150,000. The number of RSUs granted was determined based on the average closing price of the Company’s stock during the 90 calendar day period ended December 1, 2020. The restrictions on the RSUs generally lapse on the first anniversary of the grant date, except for Messrs. Böer and Drury, whose RSUs vested upon their retirement from the board following the 2021 annual meeting.

Director Participation in Deferred Compensation Plan

Directors are eligible to defer their cash fees, as well as stock awards (excluding options), through the Non-Employee Directors Deferred Compensation Plan. Amounts in deferred cash accounts are credited with interest, compounded monthly, at the prime rate of interest, which is determined quarterly. Directors were previously eligible to defer their cash fees through Plexus’ supplemental executive retirement plan, which is described in “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” below.

27

BOARD’S ROLE IN RISK OVERSIGHT

The Company has established a robust enterprise risk management (“ERM”) program to facilitate the identification, assessment, mitigation, monitoring and strategic integration of risks to, from or of the Company’s strategic priorities. This framework combines the organizational structure described below with the establishment of risk management policies and controls to manage the most significant risks impacting the Company’s strategic objectives. The Company also employs independent internal and external audit procedures to help validate key controls related to identified risks, the results of which are reported to the board regularly. In addition to ongoing monitoring of key risk areas, each of the functional teams completes an annual risk assessment designed to identify top enterprise risks to help management prioritize the risks that should be brought before the board.

 

This framework establishes an effective risk oversight program that successfully integrates risk management practices throughout the organization, enables open communication between management and directors and ensures all directors are actively involved in the risk oversight function. In addition, our board oversight structure expressly provides committee oversight over top areas of enterprise risk, including cybersecurity, human capital risks and ESG matters.

28

ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL & GOVERNANCE (“ESG”)

Our commitment to building a better world.

Consistent with our vision to help customers create the products that build a better world, we are committed to building a better world by the way we operate. Plexus’ ESG program strives to build strong communities, develop our team members in an inclusive and diverse culture, protect our environment, embrace strong governance practices, and set similar expectations on our partners. We recognize that by improving outcomes for society and all of our stakeholders, we maximize our ability to achieve our strategic objectives and deliver long-term value for our shareholders. We have demonstrated this commitment since our founding in 1979; it is authentic and core to our culture and long-term success. Plexus has established an ESG program that is defined by five pillars that reinforce our pledge to build a better world by being a responsible employer, a community partner, a global citizen, an industry steward and a promoter of corporate governance.

 

Our ESG program is governed by a Plexus leadership committee chaired by our CAO, which includes membership by our CEO, CFO and COO. Our board is also highly engaged on our ESG efforts and strategy. The Governance Committee of the board oversees the effectiveness of our ESG program, including ESG policies and initiatives, sustainability reporting, and trends that could impact the Company’s business operations, performance, reputation and sustainable growth. In addition, our Compensation Committee oversees our human capital strategy, including D&I efforts and global compensation policies and philosophies, while our Audit Committee ensures the effectiveness of our internal controls, oversees our whistle-blowing reporting program and oversees the effectiveness of IT governance and management.

29

 

ESG F21 Highlights

✔ Planned investment of ~$300K in energy sub-metering system to help track and reduce energy usage across Plexus’ manufacturing sites in F22
 
✔ Planned investment of ~$800K in LED lighting & technology in manufacturing facilities in F22
 
✔ Comprehensive waste assessment in progress to enhance reduction and recycling strategy ✔ Team member health & safety, including enhancements of Plexus Wellness Program
 
✔ Expanded Employee Resource Groups, including creation of an ERG focused on diversity at Plexus
 
✔ Over $750K in charitable giving from Plexus Charitable Foundation and implementation of volunteer time-off program ✔ ESG performance accountability, including F22 executive variable incentive compensation specifically tied to ESG initiatives
 
✔ Disclosure & communication enhancements

30

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS

Our continued success depends on our ability to attract, motivate, and retain critical talent dedicated to our long-term strategy. The Compensation Committee (in this section, the “Committee”) of the board of directors sets the general compensation philosophy for Plexus and ensures appropriate controls are in place to govern its application. The Committee makes decisions with respect to the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer (the “CEO”) and the Company’s other executive officers, and grants equity and other awards.   This section discusses the Committee’s executive compensation philosophy and key decisions designed to align pay to performance that drives shareholder value, in each case as they relate to the Company’s named

NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS FOR FISCAL 2021

Todd P. Kelsey President & Chief Executive Officer Patrick J. Jermain Executive VP & Chief Financial Officer Steven J. Frisch Executive VP & Chief Operating Officer Angelo M. Ninivaggi Executive VP, Chief Administrative Officer, General Counsel & Secretary Ronnie Darroch Executive VP & Regional President - EMEA

executive officers. Plexus provides further detail regarding executive compensation in the tables and other information included in the “Executive Compensation” section of this proxy statement.

Executive Summary

FISCAL 2021 COMPENSATION ACTIONS

• The Committee reviewed the Company’s ESG initiatives during 2021 and has established ESG goals for executive officers in fiscal 2022 that will comprise a portion of their personal objectives under the Variable Incentive Compensation Plan (the “VICP”), as further detailed in the “Annual Incentive Compensation (At Risk)” section of this proxy statement.

• In fiscal 2021, we continued to take steps to safeguard our employees from the COVID-19 pandemic. While these measures impacted our financial performance, as did the effects of employee infection, employee quarantine, regulatory workforce restrictions and similar impacts on our suppliers that curtailed supplier deliveries, the Committee did not adjust incentive compensation goals from original targets set at the beginning of fiscal 2021.

• As a result of our performance peer group review, we made the following two adjustments to the plan: (1) the Committee reduced the maximum payout for PSUs based on the total shareholder return (“TSR”) of Plexus stock to 150% from 200%; and (2) for purposes of calculating the vesting for PSUs based on economic return and granted in fiscal 2021, the Committee adjusted the economic return threshold to be a minimum of 0% and a maximum of 5% for any individual fiscal year during the performance period.

• Under the Committee’s equity allocation formula for fiscal 2021, annual equity awards to executive officers were granted as 50% PSUs and 50% RSUs. The equity grant allocation formula is intended to further strengthen the alignment of shareholders’ and executives’ interests, retain executive talent, and motivate our executives to succeed long-term. Consistent with prior years, PSUs granted in 2021 are weighted 50% on TSR and 50% on average economic return, which we define as the difference between return on invested capital (“ROIC”) and weighted average cost of capital (“WACC”). In 2020, the Committee reviewed the performance peer group used to benchmark relative TSR and the S&P 400 Index was chosen to replace the Russell 3000 Index starting with fiscal 2021 grants.

• The TSR of Plexus stock during the three year performance period that ended January 2021 was at the 62.5 percentile of companies in the Russell 3000 Index. Consequently, the portion of the PSUs granted in 2018 that vested based on TSR performance paid out at 150.0% of target.

31

• Average economic return for the three year performance period that ended at the conclusion of fiscal 2021 was 5.3%. As a result, the portion of the PSUs granted in 2018 that vested based on economic return performance paid out at 200% of target.

• Based on fiscal 2021 performance, total payments to named executive officers under all components of the VICP represented 104-107% of the target payout, with corporate financial performance representing 90% as compared to the target payout of 80% for such performance.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION GOVERNANCE BEST PRACTICES

WHAT WE DO		WHAT WE DON’T DO
✔	Base a majority of total compensation on compensation that is at risk through our annual and long-term performance-based and retention incentives	✘	Have excise tax gross-up provisions in any change in control agreements or compensation programs
✔	Set annual and long-term incentive targets based on clearly disclosed, objective performance measures	✘	Enter into employment contracts with executives other than our CEO
✔	Conduct annual assessments of risk associated with our executive compensation programs, policies and procedures	✘	Permit hedging transactions, pledging and short sales by our executive officers
✔	Mitigate undue risk associated with our compensation programs through a Clawback Policy
✔	Enter into “double trigger” change in control agreements with executive officers

OTHER COMPENSATION AND GOVERNANCE PRACTICES & POLICIES

Practices Relating to Compensation Consultants

• The Committee uses outside compensation consultants to assist it in analyzing Plexus’ compensation programs and in determining appropriate levels of compensation and benefits.

• The Company provides appropriate funding, as determined by the Committee, for the payment of compensation to any compensation consultant employed by the Committee.

• During fiscal 2021, the Committee retained Exequity LLP (“Exequity”) as its compensation consultant. After considering the factors set forth in SEC and Nasdaq rules, in accordance with its charter, the Committee concluded that its relationships with Exequity has not given rise to any conflict of interest.

• Exequity’s services to the Committee relating to fiscal 2021 included, among other things, providing perspective on current trends and developments in executive and director compensation as well as analysis of benchmarking data and confirmation of our peer group composition. All executive compensation services provided by Exequity were conducted under the direction or authority of the Committee, and all work performed by Exequity was pre-approved by the Committee.

Management Involvement

• Members of management, particularly the CEO and human resources personnel, regularly participate in the Committee’s meetings at the Committee’s request. Management’s role is to contribute information to the Committee and provide staff support and analysis for its discussions. However, management does not make any recommendation for the CEO’s

32

compensation, nor does management make the final determination of the CEO’s or the other executive officers’ amount or form of executive compensation. The CEO does recommend compensation for the other executive officers to the Committee, subject to the Committee’s final decision. To assist in determining compensation recommendations for the other executive officers, the CEO considers Plexus’ compensation philosophy and, in partnership with the human resources management team, utilizes the same compensation decision-making process as the Committee.

• Decisions regarding the compensation of the CEO are made in executive sessions at which the Committee members participate with Exequity to review competitive practices and overall compensation expense; the CEO and management are not present for these discussions. The sessions generally focus on the CEO’s performance achievement and the elements of CEO compensation. The Committee discusses and reviews materials comparing the CEO’s compensation to peer group and survey data as well as Plexus’ overall performance relative to competitors and companies in our peer group. Materials presented also include a pay comparison of the CEO to our other executive officers and a review of the CEO’s vested and unvested equity grants, as well as accumulated value, in an effort to assess possible retention risks.

Executive Compensation Philosophy, Goals & Process

The Committee’s philosophy is to competitively compensate all employees, including executives, for their contributions to Plexus, to appropriately motivate employees to provide value to Plexus’ shareholders and to consider the ability of Plexus to fund any compensation decisions, plans or programs. Competitive compensation must balance both short-term and long-term considerations and take into account external forces, best practices, and the performance of Plexus and the employee. Compensation packages should also motivate executives to make decisions and pursue opportunities that are aligned with the interests of our shareholders, while not exposing the Company to excessive risk. Finally, the Committee considers Plexus’ financial condition, the conditions in Plexus’ industry and end markets, Plexus’ performance compared to its competitors, and the effects of those conditions on Plexus’ sales and profitability in making compensation decisions.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES INTENDED TO MAXIMIZE SHAREHOLDER VALUE

The Company continues to emphasize annual and long-term incentive opportunities as a portion of total compensation since they are performance-based, represent compensation that is at risk, promote the creation of shareholder value and are intended to align the interests of executive officers with those of our shareholders.

The Committee and the Company believe that shareholder value is maximized through revenue growth and generating a ROIC that exceeds the Company’s WACC. We refer to the amount of excess return when comparing these measures as economic return. The importance of achieving revenue growth and economic return goals has been emphasized by making a substantial component of each executive officer’s compensation dependent on the Company’s achievement of these goals, with executives maximizing their annual incentive compensation opportunity if the Company achieves its organic revenue growth and economic return goals.

Within our long term incentive plan we use economic return as a performance measure for PSUs. Relative TSR is also used as a performance measure for PSUs. The Committee believes it is important to balance absolute and relative measures in an effort to account for both internal and external influences on Company performance. The performance measures used by the Company’s annual and long-term incentive plans are described further within the “Elements and Analysis of Direct Compensation.”

33

MEASURE	PLAN	PAYMENT	PURPOSE
Revenue Growth	Annual – VICP	Cash	Revenue growth is the result of a sound strategy effectively executed and increases shareholder value when combined with economic return.
ROIC	Annual – VICP	Cash	We deliver economic return by driving improvements in ROIC through a combination of operating margin performance and prudent capital investment.
Economic Return	Long-term PSU	Equity	Delivering economic return over the long-term generates shareholder wealth and mitigates short-termism.
Relative TSR	Long-term PSU	Equity	Relative TSR is an appropriate performance metric primarily because it is objectively determinable, provides rewards that are aligned to relative performance through varying economic cycles and reflects the delivery of value to shareholders.

Finally, the Committee recognizes that certain non-financial goals are important to position the Company for sustainable long-term success. The Committee works with management to identify these goals and they often comprise personal objectives under the VICP. These goals could include important system and process improvements, talent development priorities, and ESG initiatives, amongst others.

34

PROGRAM COMPONENTS & LINK TO BUSINESS STRATEGY AND PERFORMANCE

Below are illustrations of the performance of our compensation program measures and their relationship to creating shareholder value. To drive value, both growth and economic return are critical.

 

35

Plexus uses the following compensation reward components, which work together to create competitive compensation arrangements for our executive officers. Greater detail is described in “Elements and Analysis of Direct Compensation.”

PAY ELEMENT	DESCRIPTION	PAYOUT MEDIUM, TIMING AND AMOUNT
Base Salary (Fixed)	Market competitive base salary reflecting knowledge, skills, experience, responsibility, potential, and performance	Paid in Cash Paid Currently Fixed Amount
Annual Incentive (Variable)	Cash incentive based on the achievement of annual Company financial metrics (40% revenue growth, 40% ROIC) and personal objectives (20%)	Paid in Cash Paid Annually 0%-200% of Target
Long-Term Incentive (Variable)	25% PSUs based on TSR	Paid in Equity Paid After Three Year Performance Vesting 0%-200% of Target (for grants prior to fiscal 2021) or 0%-150% of Target (for grants in fiscal 2021 and ongoing)
	25% PSUs based on economic return	Paid in Equity Paid After Three Year Vesting Period 0%-200% of Target
	50% Restricted Stock Units	Paid in Equity Paid After Three Year Vesting Period

Plexus also offers other reward components to competitively compensate our employees:

• Health and Welfare Benefits: to promote the health and well-being of our employees and families, such as health and life insurance.

• Retirement Plans: to help our employees plan for their retirement. In addition to a 401(k) Plan, the Company also provides a supplemental executive retirement plan under which certain executives may elect to defer compensation; the Company also makes additional contributions on their behalf.

• Agreements: Only our current Chief Executive Officer has an employment agreement, which is intended to help assure the continuing availability of his services over a period of time and protect the Company from competition post-employment. All executive officers have change in control agreements to help assure that they will not be distracted by personal interests in the case of a potential acquisition of Plexus. The change in control agreements utilize a double trigger and do not include excise tax gross-up provisions.

Elements & Analysis of Direct Compensation

OVERVIEW OF DIRECT COMPENSATION

Total direct compensation for executive officers at Plexus consists of three primary components—salary, annual cash incentive payments under the VICP and long-term equity-based awards. Each of these components is complementary to the others, addressing different aspects of direct compensation and seeking to motivate employees, including executive officers, in varying ways. The Committee reviews the total compensation package of each executive officer to determine whether it is reasonable.

36

Setting Compensation Levels

The Committee uses a combination of peer company data and several published general industry and electronics industry surveys to provide insight into the competitiveness of each component of compensation offered to Plexus’ executive officers. This data is compiled and analyzed by Plexus human resources leaders, who then meet with the Committee’s compensation consultant to help the consultants understand Plexus’ business model, organizational structure and compensation philosophy. The compensation consultant, Plexus human resources personnel, and our CEO discuss the analysis, rationale and methodology, and make recommendations to the Committee. Our CEO is excluded from CEO compensation discussions.

When assessing the competitiveness of compensation and making compensation determinations, the Committee’s process includes a review and analysis of various factors, including:

• Company financial results;

• An internal calibration of base compensation as well as short-term and long-term award levels;

• Individual stock ownership and grant practices for the CEO and other officers;

• The proportion of pay between the CEO compared to those at other levels in the organization;

• Pay-for-performance and retention incentives;

• Deferred compensation arrangements and accumulated value; and

• Reasonableness of compensation as a whole.

In performing these analyses, the Committee uses tally sheets, which incorporate these factors to provide a comprehensive view of Plexus’ total compensation for each executive and payout exposure under various performance scenarios.

When determining the competitive target compensation for each executive, the Committee uses comparable pay information as a point for reference. Through this form of benchmarking, the Committee does not aim for any particular numerical or percentage tests as compared to peer company data or surveys; however, it generally views the 50th percentile of market data as a reasonable comparison and uses its judgment following the review of multiple data points to arrive at individual pay determinations. In that consideration, the Committee discusses total compensation (including outstanding equity awards) for all executive officers, the level of experience and leadership each provides, and financial and personal performance results. The Committee seeks to properly position the total target direct compensation of the Company’s executive officers and to balance different types of compensation (including equity) in order to promote retention and strong Company performance. The Committee believes this approach results in a comprehensive and thoughtful compensation review process because it allows the Committee to use discretion when appropriate in responding to particular circumstances. The Committee intends to continue these practices in the future.

Use of Peer Companies

For compensation planning purposes, the Committee has constructed a peer group in order to compare the compensation of Plexus’ executive officers with that paid by other companies. Companies were chosen for the peer group using filtering criteria such as:

• Company size and performance (revenue, assets, market capitalization, performance criteria);

• Companies identified as competitors and/or in the same industry;

• Geographic footprint;

• Company image;

37

• Organizational complexity; and

• Financial structure.

The Committee has established a group of peer companies for comparison purposes using the selection criteria discussed above. The Committee conducts reviews of the peer group and selection criteria on a periodic basis to ensure that both are appropriate. The peer group is reviewed and adjusted by the Committee annually. KYOCERA AVX Components Corp. was approved as a peer but was subsequently acquired; as such, peer compensation from that entity was not included in the analysis the Committee reviewed when determining fiscal 2021 pay or for fiscal 2022 executive compensation planning.

PEER GROUP FOR SETTING 2021 PAY

Amkor Technology, Inc.	Fabrinet	Sanmina Corporation
KYOCERA AVX Components Corp.	Flex Ltd.	Teledyne Technologies Inc.
Benchmark Electronics, Inc.	Jabil Inc.	Trimble Navigation Limited
Bruker Corporation	Keysight Technologies, Inc.	Triumph Group, Inc.
Celestica Inc.	Moog Inc.	TTM Technologies, Inc.
CommScope Holding Company, Inc.	PerkinElmer, Inc.	Vishay Intertechnology, Inc.
Curtiss-Wright Corporation	Regal Rexnord Corporation	Waters Corporation

DISTRIBUTION OF PAY COMPONENTS

The Committee believes that a majority of executive compensation should be at risk and that the CEO’s percentage at risk should be the highest. VICP targets for the named executive officers other than Mr. Kelsey ranged from 70% to 85% of base salary in fiscal 2021, with the opportunity to earn cash incentives beyond those levels if Plexus exceeded its targeted financial goals. In the case of Mr. Kelsey, the potential target compensation at risk as a percentage of base salary was 125% in fiscal 2021, reflecting his overall greater responsibility for the Company. In fiscal 2021, long-term incentives for executive officers were granted in the form of: (i) RSUs that vest based on continued service, which promotes a long-term ownership mentality; and (ii) PSUs, which represent compensation that is at risk since these awards will be forfeited if performance is below a threshold level.

Except in the case of promotions or other special circumstances, compensation adjustments and equity awards for executive officers are targeted for implementation in the second quarter of each fiscal year to align with the Company’s internal performance management cycle and changes to the compensation of its other non-executive employees. The Committee considers both individual and Company performance in making these determinations, and believes that this timing forges a strong link between performance and pay.

The resulting total targeted direct compensation mix used for fiscal 2021 for Mr. Kelsey and the average for the other named executive officers is illustrated in the charts below:

 

38

BASE SALARY

Factors Considered In Determining Base Salary

Prior to establishing the base salary level for the CEO and approving salary levels for other executive officers, the Committee takes into consideration various factors. These factors include:

• Compensation data from our peer group;

• Salary increase trends for executive base pay and other information provided in published surveys;

• An in-depth total rewards analysis with comparisons to peer group and survey data; and

• Individual executive officers’ performance, duties and responsibilities, and their relative authority within Plexus.

The Committee uses this information and meets in executive session to discuss appropriate pay positioning and pay mix based on the data gathered. The data gathered in the determination process help the Committee to test for fairness, reasonableness and competitiveness. While the Committee takes into account the Company’s compensation philosophy and goals and follows a holistic approach to executive compensation packages, its final determination may incorporate the subjective judgment of its members, as well.

Executive officer base salary changes may include the following two components:

• Competitive Adjustments. If executive officer salaries fall out of alignment with the competitive median range of our peer group and survey data, we consider changing the salaries to a more competitive level. Competitive adjustments may take place over a multi-year period and may depend on individual performance.

• Performance-Based Merit Increases. Separate merit increase may be provided based on individual performance, if appropriate.

2021 Base Salary Adjustments

Base salary adjustments for 2021 were approved by the Committee in December 2020 for all executive officers. When considering compensation adjustments, the Company has placed a greater emphasis on annual and long-term incentive opportunities, as opposed to base salary, since they are performance-based, represent compensation that is at risk, promote the creation of shareholder value and are intended to further align the interests of executive officers with those of our shareholders. Our CEO’s base salary is higher than those of our other executive officers because of the more extensive and challenging duties and responsibilities associated with that position. In addition, the CEO’s total compensation is more heavily weighted toward performance-based compensation when compared to the total compensation of our other executive officers.

For 2021, Mr. Kelsey’s base salary was set at $1,000,000, which was unchanged from his previous salary. As a result, the base salary for Mr. Kelsey is positioned near the median of peer group and market comparisons.

Increases for our other named executive officers varied from 0.9% to 7.6%. Base salary increases for 2021 for these named executive officers were due to merit increases. Variations between these named executive officers reflected competitive conditions and the Committee’s view of the named executive officers’ duties, responsibilities and performance. The Committee believed that base salaries for those named executive officers were appropriately aligned with peer group and market comparisons, and were awarded based on individual performance.

39

Presented below are the 2021 base salaries and percentage increases as compared to the prior year for our named executive officers:

EXECUTIVE OFFICER	2021 BASE SALARY	PERCENTAGE INCREASE COMPARED TO 2020*
Mr. Kelsey	$1,000,000	0%
Mr. Frisch	$605,000	4.3%
Mr. Jermain	$565,000	7.6%
Mr. Ninivaggi	$490,000	4.3%
Mr. Darroch	$465,498	0.9%

*
Percentage increase for Mr. Darroch represents the merit increase in the currency in which he is paid (GBP). Fiscal 2021 Base Salary for Mr. Darroch is represented in U.S. dollars exchanged at the spot rate of 1.3671 on the effective date of the merit increase.

ANNUAL INCENTIVE COMPENSATION (AT RISK)

The VICP provides annual cash incentives to approximately 3,850 participants, including all of our executive officers. The award opportunity levels for each participant are expressed as a percentage of base salary.

 

For executive officers, the VICP is a sub-plan of the Incentive Plan with the opportunity to earn above their targeted award opportunities based on the achievement of corporate financial goals. Higher levels of duties and responsibilities within Plexus lead to higher cash incentive opportunities under the VICP because the Committee believes that heightened responsibility leads to more influence on corporate performance. For each executive officer, 80% of the targeted award is keyed to the corporate financial goals; the remaining 20% of the targeted award is keyed to the achievement of individual objectives. Offering a greater percentage of compensation tied to performance measures is intended to more strongly link executive compensation with Company performance and shareholder returns.

The table below lists the fiscal 2021 VICP award opportunities for the named executive officers, expressed as a percentage of base salary:

EXECUTIVE OFFICER	2021 THRESHOLD AWARD (%)	2021 TARGETED AWARD (%)	2021 MAXIMUM AWARD (%)
Mr. Kelsey	0%	125%	250%
Mr. Frisch	0%	85%	170%
Mr. Jermain	0%	80%	160%
Mr. Ninivaggi	0%	70%	140%
Mr. Darroch	0%	70%	140%

40

The VICP provides for payments relating to corporate financial goals both below and above the targeted awards by establishing specific threshold levels of corporate performance at which payments begin to be earned and maximum payout levels beyond which no further payment is earned. The payout for our executive officers at the maximum payout level is 200% of the targeted award. The Committee believes that the opportunity to receive a payout above target should be based solely on achieving corporate financial goals. Therefore, to achieve the maximum payout of 200% of the targeted award, executive officers must achieve 90% payouts for each of the revenue and ROIC components of the VICP, with the individual objectives component comprising the balance at a maximum of 20%. Payments to participants are not permitted under the VICP unless the Company achieves net income for the plan year.

The VICP provides that extraordinary items or charges should be excluded from fiscal year results. In addition, the Committee has the authority to exclude non-recurring charges, when determining the achievement of the corporate financial goals. In 2021, the Company incurred restructuring charges and, in addition, COVID-19 had an impact on the Company’s financial results; however, the Committee made no adjustments to financial goals under the VICP.

2021 Plan Design – Company Financial Goals

Our financial and compensation models align with our business strategy. The specific corporate financial goals for fiscal 2021, each of which stood independently of the other with regard to award opportunities, were revenue and ROIC. The goals were chosen because they aligned performance-based compensation to the key financial metrics that the Company used internally to measure its ongoing performance and that it used in its financial plans. The fiscal 2021 targets for these goals were set as part of our annual financial planning process and continue to align with our enduring financial goals. For each of the corporate financial goals, we also established specific “threshold” and “maximum” payout levels of achievement as part of that process.

For the purposes of the VICP, ROIC is defined as tax-effected annual operating income divided by the average invested capital over a five quarter period for the fiscal year and the prior fiscal year fourth quarter. Invested capital is defined as equity plus debt and operating lease liabilities, less cash and cash equivalents. Revenue is defined as the fiscal 2021 net recognized sales of the Company for financial statement purposes. The Committee has discretion to adjust ROIC to account for the effects of extraordinary items. No award is payable to any participant under the VICP unless we have net income for the fiscal year. In the event of results that are below the revenue and the ROIC threshold levels, the VICP may pay out only in respect to the portion based on individual objectives. When determining ROIC for VICP awards, extraordinary items or charges, and non-recurring charges, are disregarded, except as otherwise determined by the Committee in its discretion. Discretion was not exercised by the Committee in fiscal 2021.

For fiscal 2021, in accordance with Plexus’ strategic plan and the Committee’s philosophy of aligning compensation with the Company’s enduring goals, the Committee established the performance goals described below:

	Threshold	Target	Maximum Payout
Revenue	Equal to prior year revenue	Midpoint between threshold and maximum payout	Equal to 12% revenue growth
ROIC	Equal to Plexus’ WACC	Midpoint between threshold and maximum payout	Equal to Plexus’ WACC plus 500 basis points

41

The Committee believes that setting the maximum payout levels for revenue and ROIC consistent with our financial goals fully aligns employees with financial results that maximize value to our shareholders, without encouraging excessive risk-taking. Threshold levels for both metrics were set at the minimum levels of performance at which Plexus believes it begins generating value for our shareholders. Target levels for revenue and ROIC, which were set between the threshold and maximum payout levels, were intended to be challenging, but achievable, based on industry conditions and Plexus’ financial plan. Awards for performance between the threshold and target level, and between the target and maximum levels, are calculated by straight-line interpolation.

The following table sets forth the fiscal 2021 financial targets and potential VICP payout amounts (as a percent of targeted VICP cash incentive) for the named executive officers, at the threshold, target and maximum payout performance levels:

	THRESHOLD		TARGET		MAXIMUM PAYOUT
Component	Goal	Payout	Goal	Payout	Goal	Payout
Revenue (in millions)	$3,390	0%	$3,593	40%	$3,797	90%
ROIC	8.1%	0%	10.6%	40%	13.1%	90%
Individual Objectives		up to 20%		up to 20%		up to 20%
Total Potential Incentive = Revenue + ROIC + Individual Objectives		up to 20%		up to 100%		up to 200%

In fiscal 2021, revenue was $3,369 million and ROIC was 15.4%. Therefore, the Company’s performance was below the threshold payout for revenue and was above the maximum payout level for ROIC. As a result, Plexus paid awards for corporate financial performance to executive officers and other employees based only on ROIC performance; total payments to executives represented 90% versus the target of 80% for corporate financial performance.

2021 Plan Design – Individual Objectives

The Committee determines and approves the individual objectives established for the CEO and the other executive officers. For fiscal 2021, common individual objectives were shared by all executive officers, including Mr. Kelsey and the other named executive officers. Attainment of the individual objectives represents 20% of the potential targeted VICP award; however, no such award may be earned based on individual objectives unless the Company achieves positive net income for the plan year. The Committee’s assessment of individual objectives is based on their likely impact on the achievement of the Company’s annual financial plan and other longer-term strategic priorities, their effect on shareholder value and their alignment with one another.

The fiscal 2021 shared individual objectives for all of our named executive officers concentrated on (a) reduction in transformation cost, which are the costs required to convert raw inventory into finished goods; (b) continued pursuit of the Company’s “zero defects” cultural journey, focused on quality improvement initiatives and goals; (c) enterprise resource planning (ERP) system enhancements and process improvements; and (d) enterprise risk management regarding business continuity. Mr. Kelsey provided the Committee with an assessment of the executive team’s performance on each shared individual objective and the Committee determined the ultimate award percentage level for each objective. Actual achievement of individual objectives for fiscal 2021 was based upon the Committee’s determination of the degree to which the objectives were completed by each member of the executive team. As a result, all named executive officers were awarded a 70-85% payout of the personal objectives portion of the VICP, or a 14-17% payout versus the target of 20% for individual objectives.

42

2021 Annual Incentive Compensation (At Risk) – Actual Payout

The following table sets forth the fiscal 2021 VICP total payout as a percentage of each named executive officer’s target award, capturing the fiscal 2021 results for the Company’s revenue and ROIC goals combined with the individual objectives payout.

	ACTUAL PAYOUT
Component	Results	Payout
Revenue (in millions)	$3,369	0%
ROIC	15.4%	90%
Individual Objectives	70-85 %	14-17%
Total Payout as a Percent of Target		104-107%

2022 – Individual Objectives

A portion of the fiscal 2022 shared individual objectives for all of our named executive officers will include goals associated with the Company’s ESG program, specifically: (a) global reduction targets in energy usage in furtherance of the Company’s environmental sustainability activities; (b) creation of a new Employee Resource Group and expansion and enhancement goals related to the Company’s existing Employee Resource Groups to support the Company’s diversity and inclusion efforts; and (c) enhancement of the Company’s cybersecurity incident response plan to address evolving cybersecurity risks and to assess the Company’s governance and oversight structure in light of the changing cybersecurity landscape.

LONG-TERM INCENTIVES

Plan Structure

Total compensation, consistent with practices in our industry, places a particular emphasis on equity-based compensation for executive officers. The shareholder-approved Incentive Plan allows, and its predecessor allowed, for various award types, including options, SARs, restricted stock awards (including RSUs), performance stock awards (including PSUs), other stock awards and cash incentive awards. Equity-based awards are intended to provide incentives to enhance corporate performance as well as to further align the interests of our executive officers with those of our shareholders. The reported values of the long-term incentive opportunities under equity plans can vary significantly from year to year as a percentage of total direct compensation because they are determined by valuing the equity-based awards on the same basis that we use for financial statement purposes; that value depends significantly on our stock price and its volatility at the time of the awards.

For fiscal 2021 grants, and in furtherance of its emphasis on at-risk performance-based compensation, the Committee’s annual equity grant allocation formula for named executive officers consisted of 50% PSUs and 50% RSUs. The Committee believes that this equity grant allocation formula promotes a strong pay-for-performance link and further enhances the alignment of the interests of our executives with those of our shareholders. The equity grant allocation formula also is intended to promote share ownership (along with our equity ownership guidelines) and motivate our executives to succeed in the long-term. The Committee intends to continue to emphasize the use of performance-based awards for executive officers in future years.

43

The Committee’s long-term incentive strategy allows for use of a portfolio approach when granting awards. Each element of the portfolio for fiscal 2021 was intended to address a different aspect of long-term incentive compensation, as set forth below:

• PSUs provide an additional incentive for executive officers to create shareholder value. 50% of the PSUs granted vest over a three year period based on average economic return performance. Economic return, which is calculated as a three-point annual average, is used as a performance measure for the PSUs because it is a key focus of the Company’s financial model and is a metric that the Committee believes, when combined with revenue growth, is highly correlated with driving shareholder value. For any individual fiscal year, the economic return performance measure will be a minimum of 0% and a maximum of 5%.

• The other 50% of PSUs granted vest based on the relative TSR performance of Plexus common stock as compared to companies in the S&P 400 Index over a three year performance period. The Committee believes that measuring TSR on a relative, rather than on an absolute, basis provides a more relevant measure of the performance of the Company’s stock. By mitigating the impact of macroeconomic factors (both positive and negative) that are beyond the control of the Company and its executives, relative TSR provides rewards that are better aligned to relative performance through varying economic cycles. PSUs also provide a retention incentive since these awards generally do not vest until the end of the three year performance period.

• RSUs provide an interest in the value of the Company’s shares, because, even though they vest over time, they provide recipients with a certain equity interest, assuming continued employment. In addition to promoting retention, RSUs align the interests of executives and other employees who receive RSU grants with the interests of shareholders by building a long-term ownership mentality and providing motivation to succeed in the long term.

Annual Award Determination and Allocation Process

Each year the Committee reviews market data, individual performance and the estimated value of the entire pool of equity awards prior to making grants to executive officers, including when making grants in connection with promotions or other increases in responsibilities. Pursuant to its portfolio approach, in fiscal 2021, the Committee distributed awards in the form of PSUs and RSUs to eligible participants, as discussed above. When making these determinations, PSUs that vest based on the relative TSR of Plexus common stock are valued using a Monte Carlo simulation model, while the values of PSUs that vest based on economic return performance and RSUs are determined based on the fair market value of Plexus common stock.

The Committee determines the grant for the CEO and approves grants for all other executive officers. The CEO provides the Committee with initial grant recommendations for each executive officer other than himself by balancing the need to provide competitive compensation with the desire to keep related compensation value and expense relatively stable from period to period. The Committee considers each executive officer’s duties, responsibilities and performance, as well as internal and external comparisons (for example, peer group comparisons and other third-party market surveys, as described above), when approving the grant value for each executive officer. Those in positions with more responsibility tend to receive larger grants to reflect their role in the Company and the market comparisons for their compensation. Also, as discussed above, for the CEO, the Committee uses the vested and unvested equity information, as well as the accumulated value analysis, to balance the level of existing awards with the desire to reward performance and to provide retention incentives.

The Committee continues its focus on increasing incentive award opportunities for our executive officers as a portion of total potential compensation in order to more strongly link executive compensation with Company performance and shareholder returns.

44

Timing of Grants

Grants of PSUs are made in the fiscal second quarter; however, the performance goals for the PSUs are set in the fiscal first quarter. Grants of RSUs are generally made once a year during the fiscal second quarter, but may also be made in connection with new hires, promotions, other increases in responsibilities or in special situations. The Committee anticipates continuing to follow this grant schedule and practice for future grants.

Fiscal 2021 Awards

Based on the Committee’s long-term incentive strategy, as well as individual responsibility and performance considerations, and reflecting all of the grants discussed above, the Committee granted the following equity awards to Mr. Kelsey and the other named executive officers in fiscal 2021.

Executive Officer	PSUs (#)	RSUs (#)
Mr. Kelsey	29,800	32,070
Mr. Frisch	10,900	11,720
Mr. Jermain	7,690	8,280
Mr. Ninivaggi	5,770	6,210
Mr. Darroch	4,610	4,970

Vesting of 50% of the PSUs granted in fiscal 2021 is based on a three-point annual average of the Company’s absolute economic return performance during the performance period; vesting of the other 50% is based on the relative TSR of Plexus stock as compared to the companies in the S&P 400 Index. Performance on these metrics will be determined following the conclusion of the relevant three year performance period.

In order to further align the Company’s financial model and business strategy to the payout of long-term incentives, the maximum payout on 50% of the PSUs is achieved when the three-point annual average economic return is at or above 5.0% over the three year performance period. If the maximum payout level is achieved, 200% of this portion of the PSUs will be earned. A target payout on this portion of the award will be achieved if the three-point annual average economic return is 2.5%; the Committee believes that this target is meaningfully difficult, but is achievable and appropriate for our industry. The Committee believes it is appropriate for a portion of these awards to vest when the three-point annual average economic return exceeds 0.0% because any positive level of economic return generates shareholder value. If the Company does not achieve a positive three-point annual average economic return, this portion of the PSUs will not pay out. Below is the payout matrix for the portion of the PSUs that may be earned based on economic return performance (if performance is between the specified levels, the payout will be interpolated):

AVERAGE ECONOMIC RETURN	PAYOUT PERFORMANCE FACTOR
0% (Threshold)	0%
2.5% (Target)	100%
5.0% (Maximum)	200%

45

The TSR calculations will be based on the percentage change from the initial price to the final price during the performance period, which is three years from the date of grant, and will reflect the reinvestment of dividends, if any. The initial price is calculated using the average closing price of common stock over the 30 calendar day period ending on the trading day immediately preceding the first day of the three year performance period. The final price is the average closing price of common stock over the 30 calendar day period ending on the last day of the three year performance period. The TSR calculations will be adjusted to reflect stock splits, recapitalizations and other similar events.

The portion of the PSUs that may be earned based on relative TSR performance will vest at target if the TSR of Plexus stock is at the 50th percentile of companies in the S&P 400 Index. A payout at maximum, which is 150% of the target award for this portion, may be achieved if the relative TSR of Plexus stock is at or above the 75th percentile of companies in the S&P 400 Index. The Committee believes that a relative TSR at or above this level would be reflective of significant achievement during the performance period. In order to receive a payout at threshold, which is 50% of the target award for this portion, the relative TSR of Plexus stock must be at or above the 25th percentile of companies in the S&P 400 Index. If the relative TSR of Plexus stock is below the 25th percentile, none of the PSUs will be earned and the awards will be forfeited.

The payout matrix for the portion of the PSUs granted in fiscal 2021 that may be earned based on relative TSR performance is presented in the table below (if performance is between the specified levels, the payout will be interpolated):

RELATIVE TSR PERCENTILE RANK	PAYOUT PERFORMANCE FACTOR
Below 25th	0%
25th (Threshold)	50%
50th (Target)	100%
75th and above (Maximum)	150%

For information regarding the performance of PSUs granted in fiscal 2021 and prior fiscal years as of October 2, 2021, see the “Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End” table below.

Annual awards of RSUs generally vest on the third anniversary of the grant, subject to early vesting on a change in control.

Fiscal 2018 PSUs

The TSR of Plexus stock during the three year performance period for the fiscal 2018 PSUs that ended in fiscal 2021 was at the 62.5 percentile of companies in the Russell 3000 Index. As a result, and according to the payout matrix applicable to this grant, this portion of the PSUs vested and paid out at approximately 150.0% of target after certification by the Committee.

46

Fiscal 2019 PSUs

The performance period with respect to the portion of the fiscal 2019 PSUs that vested based on a three-point annual average of the Company’s absolute economic return concluded at the end of fiscal 2021. Average economic return for the three year performance period was 5.3%. The three-year average for the 2019 PSUs was determined using Return on Capital Employed (ROCE), which was replaced by ROIC in the economic return calculation for the fiscal 2020 and 2021 PSU grants. ROCE is calculated by taking operating profit plus stock-based compensation and then dividing this total by average capital employed. As a result, and according to the matrix established for the fiscal 2019 PSUs, this portion of the PSUs vested and paid out at 200% of target after certification by the Committee. The Committee plans to evaluate the performance of the portion of the fiscal 2019 PSUs that vests based on relative TSR at its February 2022 meeting.

EQUITY OWNERSHIP GUIDELINES

The Company’s executive stock ownership guidelines are intended to increase the alignment between the interests of management and our shareholders. To accomplish these objectives, we require our CEO to own Plexus stock with a minimum market value equal to five times their annual base salary, our COO and CFO to own three times their annual base salary and other executive officers, including those named in the “Summary Compensation Table,” to own Plexus stock with a minimum market value equal to two times their annual base salary. Other Plexus leadership team members are required to own a value of Plexus common stock as determined by the CEO. Stock options and unvested PSUs do not count toward the satisfaction of the guidelines. Unvested RSUs will count toward the satisfaction of these guidelines. These guidelines were augmented in early fiscal 2022 based upon a review of the market and specifically our peer group.

There is no specific time requirement to meet these guidelines. However, an executive officer is generally not permitted to sell Plexus shares that were acquired or awarded while an executive officer unless the applicable ownership requirement has been met; there are exceptions, including financing the exercise of stock options and any applicable taxes when the shares will be held, in connection with any applicable tax consequence related to the vesting of an equity award or with prior approval under special circumstances. All of our named executive officers, including Mr. Kelsey, have met the ownership amounts required by the guidelines and are in compliance with the procedural requirements of the guidelines.

CLAWBACK POLICY

Pursuant to the Plexus Corp. Executive Compensation Clawback Policy, in the event of a material restatement of the Company’s financial results as a result of significant non-compliance with financial reporting requirements, the Committee will review incentive compensation that was paid to the Company’s executive officers under the VICP (or any successor plan thereto) based solely on the achievement of specific corporate financial goals (“covered compensation”) during the period of the restatement. If any covered compensation would have been lower had the covered compensation been calculated based on the Company’s restated financial results, the Committee will, as and to the extent it deems appropriate, recoup any portion of covered compensation paid in excess of what would have been paid based on the restated financial results. The Committee may seek the recovery of covered compensation for up to three years preceding the date on which the Company is required to restate its financial results.

This policy applies in addition to any right of recoupment against the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The policy does not apply in any situation where a restatement is not the result of significant non-compliance with financial

47

reporting requirements, such as any restatement due to a change in applicable accounting rules, standards or interpretations, a change in segment designations or the discontinuance of an operation.

ANTI-HEDGING AND ANTI-PLEDGING POLICY

The Company’s Insider Trading Policy explicitly prohibits directors, officers and employees from engaging in transactions designed to hedge or offset a decrease in the price of the Company’s common stock, including, but not limited to, prepaid variable forward contracts, equity swaps, collars and exchange funds. Pledges and short sales of the Company’s securities are also prohibited under the Insider Trading Policy.

Elements & Analysis of Other Compensation

In addition to direct compensation, Plexus uses several other types of compensation, some of which are not subject to annual Committee action. These include benefits, retirement plans and employment or change in control agreements. These are intended to supplement the previously described compensation methodologies by focusing on long-term employee security and retention. Certain of these plans allow employees to acquire Plexus stock.

BENEFITS

We generally provide health and welfare benefits to our executive officers on the same basis as other salaried employees in the United States, although some benefit programs, as discussed elsewhere, are specifically targeted to our executive officers’ specific circumstances. On January 1, 2020, the executive flexible perquisite benefit, valued up to $15,000 per calendar year, was eliminated; however there may be some benefit showing in the Summary Compensation Table due to the difference between the fiscal and calendar years. The flexible perquisite benefit was intended to be used for expenses such as personal financial planning, spouse travel costs in connection with business-related travel, club membership and/or tax and estate advice. The Committee also approved additional perquisites and other benefits for our CEO and the other executive officers in addition to those received by all U.S. salaried employees. The additional perquisites and other benefits for certain of our executive officers are: a company car and additional life and disability insurance due to the dollar limits of the Company’s disability insurance policies. As a result of local law and custom, different but comparable insurance programs and other benefits may apply to personnel who are located in countries outside of the United States, as well as to executive officers who may be temporarily assigned outside of the United States, if any.

RETIREMENT PLANNING - 401(K) PLAN

The 401(k) Plan, which is available to substantially all U.S. employees, allows employees to defer a portion of their annual salaries into their personal accounts maintained under the 401(k) Plan. In addition, Plexus matches a portion of each employee’s contributions, up to a maximum of $11,600 per calendar year. Employees have a choice of investment alternatives, including a Plexus stock fund.

RETIREMENT PLANNING – SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN

In response to Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) limitations on compensation that may be attributed to tax qualified retirement plans (such as the 401(k) Plan), we have also developed a supplemental executive retirement plan. Plexus’ supplemental executive retirement plan (the “SERP”) is a deferred compensation plan that allows participants to defer taxes on current income. The SERP covers our executive officers and certain other executives, and provides a retirement savings alternative to address their particular circumstances and promote a long-term commitment to Plexus until

48

retirement. All U.S.-based executive officers participate in the SERP. Under the SERP, those executive officers may elect to defer compensation and Plexus may also make discretionary contributions. The SERP allows the investment of deferred compensation amounts on behalf of the participants into individual accounts and, within these accounts, into one or more designated mutual funds or other investments. These investment choices do not include Plexus stock. Deferred amounts and any earnings that may be credited become payable upon termination, retirement from Plexus or in accordance with the executive’s individual deferral election.

Additionally, the Company may credit a participant’s account with a discretionary employer contribution. Any employer contributions to the SERP require approval of the Committee. The SERP provides a vehicle for the Company to restore the lost deferral and matching opportunity caused by tax regulation limitations on such deferrals and matched contributions for highly compensated individuals; the Committee believes these limitations make supplemental retirement plans common practice in general industry. The Committee also believes that further retirement compensation through the SERP is appropriate based on the market for executive compensation and its desire to provide an incentive for executives to remain with Plexus through retirement.

FISCAL 2021 PLAN ACTIVITY

• Contribution Formula. The SERP provides for an annual discretionary contribution of 9% of the executive’s total targeted cash compensation, and we made such a contribution in fiscal 2021. Total targeted cash compensation is defined as base salary plus the targeted annual incentive plan cash incentive at the time of the Company’s contribution.

• Employer Contributions. For fiscal 2021, the total employer contributions to the SERP accounts was $466,025 for all named executive officer participants as a group, including $202,500 for Mr. Kelsey. See footnote 6 to the “Summary Compensation Table.”

• Special Contributions. The SERP also allows the Committee to make discretionary contributions over and above the annual contribution noted above, and such contributions have been made in individual cases from time to time. However, in fiscal 2021, the Committee did not make any such contributions on behalf of the named executive officers.

EMPLOYMENT AND CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENTS

We do not generally have employment agreements with our executive officers other than our Chief Executive Officer. All executive officers, including Mr. Kelsey, have change in control agreements to help assure that these individuals will not be distracted by personal interests and will maintain their focus on shareholders in the case of a potential acquisition of Plexus, as well as to maintain their continuing loyalty.

Mr. Kelsey’s employment agreement and the change in control agreements for Mr. Kelsey and our other executive officers are described below in “Executive Compensation–Employment Agreements and Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control.” Please refer to the discussions therein for a further explanation of those agreements.

49

TAX ASPECTS OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The Committee considers the potential tax deductibility under the Code for executive compensation. However, at times and under certain circumstances, it believes that it is more important to provide appropriate incentives irrespective of tax consequences.

Section 280G of the Code imposes a 20% excise tax upon executive officers who receive “excess parachute payments” upon a change in control to the extent the payments received by them meet or exceed an amount approximating three times their average annual compensation. The excise tax applies to all payments over one times average annual compensation. Plexus would also lose its tax deduction for the “excess” payments. Excise tax gross-up provisions have been eliminated from all change in control agreements, and our agreements use a “best net” approach to minimize the possibility that an excise tax might be due or that a loss of the tax deduction might occur.

The Code also provides a surtax under Section 409A relating to various features of deferred compensation arrangements that do not comply with the requirements of Section 409A. We generally seek to structure our compensation arrangements either to comply with Section 409A or qualify for an exemption from Section 409A.

50

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

The duties and responsibilities of the Compensation Committee of the board of directors are described above under “Corporate Governance—Board Committees—Compensation and Leadership Development Committee” and are set forth in a written charter adopted by the board, which is available on the Company’s website. The Committee reviews and reassesses this charter annually and recommends any changes to the board for approval.

As part of the exercise of its duties, the Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the above “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” contained in this proxy statement. Based upon that review and those discussions, the Committee recommended to the board of directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be incorporated by reference in Plexus’ annual report to shareholders on Form 10-K and included in this proxy statement.

MEMBERS OF THE COMPENSATION AND

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE:

Joann M. Eisenhart, Chair

Stephen P. Cortinovis

Joel Quadracci

Karen M. Rapp

Michael V. Schrock

51

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

This section provides further information about the compensation paid to, and other compensatory arrangements with, our named executive officers.

Summary Compensation Table for Fiscal 2021

The following table sets forth a summary of the compensation of our named executive officers. More detailed information is presented in the other tables and explanations that follow.

Name	Year	Salary ($)1	Bonus($)2	Stock Awards ($)3	Option Awards ($)4	Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($)5	All Other Compensation ($)6	Total ($)
Todd P. Kelsey President & CEO	2021	$1,000,000	—	$5,078,974	—	$1,309,375	$234,872	$7,623,221
	2020	$1,010,481	—	$4,977,568	—	$1,979,778	$234,696	$8,202,523
	2019	$958,750	—	$3,459,586	—	$1,870,892	$230,253	$6,519,481
Patrick J. Jermain Executive VP & CFO	2021	$555,769	—	$1,310,953	—	$469,296	$120,815	$2,456,833
	2020	$531,346	—	$1,272,295	—	$624,622	$117,584	$2,545,847
	2019	$505,000	—	$981,894	—	$597,157	$112,720	$2,196,771
Steven J. Frisch Executive VP & COO	2021	$599,231	—	$1,856,954	—	$533,554	$133,447	$3,123,186
	2020	$586,779	—	$1,810,030	—	$781,757	$129,079	$3,307,645
	2019	$556,875	—	$1,309,549	—	$735,566	$124,552	$2,726,542
Angelo M. Ninivaggi Executive VP, CAO, GC & Secretary	2021	$485,385	—	$983,486	—	$363,563	$106,666	$1,939,100
	2020	$475,288	—	$989,848	—	$521,475	$100,211	$2,086,822
	2019	$450,000	—	$794,856	—	$496,640	$113,701	$1,855,197
Ronnie Darroch Executive VP & Regional President - EMEA	2021	$463,083	—	$786,412	—	$335,038	$79,051	$1,663,584
	2020	$437,369	—	$814,517	—	$485,291	$521,385	$2,258,562
	2019	$427,500	—	$672,920	—	$471,829	$106,031	$1,678,280

1
Includes amounts voluntarily deferred by the named persons under the Company’s retirement plans. The amounts deferred under the SERP are also included in the “Executive Contributions in Last FY” column of the “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation” table below.

2
The “Bonus” column, in accordance with SEC regulations, would include only discretionary bonus payments apart from VICP. Payments under the VICP, including payments for achieving individual objectives, are set forth in the “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” column. Since our named executive officers’ individual objectives are specific and performance against them is measured, we believe that payments under the VICP that relate to the achievement of individual objectives are properly reflected in the “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” column.

52

3
These columns represent the grant date fair value computed in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (“ASC 718”) of equity awards granted under the Incentive Plan and its predecessor, which are explained further below under “Grants of Plan-Based Awards.” GAAP requires us to determine compensation expense for stock options and other stock-related awards granted to our employees based on the estimated fair value of the equity instrument at the time of grant. Compensation expense is recognized over the vesting period. The assumptions that we used to determine the valuation of the awards are discussed in footnote 9 to our consolidated financial statements.

Grants of stock options and RSUs are not subject to performance conditions, although the ultimate value of stock options depend on the appreciation in the Company’s stock price. The Company has not granted stock options to its executive officers since fiscal 2017. For 2019 and 2020, vesting of 50% of the PSUs reported in each fiscal year above is based on a three-point annual average of the Company’s absolute economic return performance and vesting of the other 50% depends on the relative TSR of Plexus stock as compared to companies in the Russell 3000 Index, each over a three year performance period. The 2019 and 2020 PSUs are reported in the “Stock Awards” column at “target” performance; participants can earn twice the number of PSUs granted for performance at “maximum.” For 2021, vesting of 50% of the PSUs reported in each fiscal year above is based on a three-point annual average of the Company’s absolute economic return performance and vesting of the other 50% depends on the relative TSR of Plexus stock as compared to companies in the S&P 400 Index, each over a three year performance period. The 2021 PSUs are reported in the “Stock Awards” column at “target” performance; participants can earn twice the number of PSUs granted for performance at “maximum” for the economic return portion and one and a half times the number of PSUs granted for performance at “maximum” for the TSR portion.

The value of the fiscal 2021 PSUs at the maximum performance level would be as follows for each named executive officer: Mr. Kelsey—$4,413,265; Mr. Jermain—$1,138,946; Mr. Frisch—$1,614,163; Mr. Ninivaggi—$854,418; and Mr. Darroch—$682,728.

Please also see the “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” table below for further information about equity awards granted in fiscal 2021, and the “Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End” table below for information regarding all outstanding equity awards at the end of fiscal 2021.

4
No stock options were granted to named executive officers in fiscal 2021.

5
The “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” column represents amounts that were earned during each fiscal year under the VICP. Under the VICP, annual cash incentives for executive officers are determined by a combination of the degree to which Plexus achieves specific pre-set corporate financial goals during the fiscal year and the executive officer’s performance on individual objectives. We include more information about the VICP under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Elements and Analysis of Direct Compensation—Annual Incentive” above, as well as under “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” below.

The amounts shown in the “2021” row were earned in fiscal 2021 and were paid in fiscal 2022, the amounts shown in the “2020” row were earned in fiscal 2020 and were paid in fiscal 2021, and the amounts shown in the “2019” row were earned in fiscal 2019 and were paid in fiscal 2020.

There were no deferrals of the amounts payable in fiscal 2022 related to the VICP award earned based on fiscal 2021 performance. Mr. Frisch deferred $156,351 of the amount payable in fiscal 2021 related to the VICP award earned based on fiscal 2020 performance; Messrs. Frisch and Darroch deferred $183,892 and $47,183, respectively, of the amounts payable in fiscal 2020 related to the VICP award earned based on fiscal 2019 performance.

6
The amounts listed under the column entitled “All Other Compensation” in the table include Company contributions to the 401(k) Plan and the SERP, reimbursements made by Plexus under its executive flexible perquisite benefit (which was eliminated January 1, 2020), the value of the company car benefit provided to the executive, additional life and disability insurance coverage and relocation. Per person detail is listed in the table below:

53

Name	Year	Company Matching Contribution to 401(k) Plan	Company Contribution to SERP	Executive Flexible Perquisite Benefit	Company Car Benefit	Additional Life and Disability Insurance	Relocation	Total ($)
Todd P. Kelsey	2021	$11,600	$202,500	—	$20,383	$389	—	$234,872
	2020	$11,400	$201,822	—	$21,085	$389	—	$234,696
	2019	$11,200	$181,939	$15,000	$21,702	$412	—	$230,253
Patrick J. Jermain	2021	$11,600	$89,489	—	$19,337	$389	—	$120,815
	2020	$11,400	$80,887	$8,819	$16,089	$389	—	$117,584
	2019	$11,200	$68,387	$13,751	$18,970	$412	—	$112,720
Steven J. Frisch	2021	$11,600	$99,772	—	$21,686	$389	—	$133,447
	2020	$11,400	$94,899	$4,431	$17,779	$570	—	$129,079
	2019	$11,200	$80,962	$14,069	$17,708	$613	—	$124,552
Angelo M. Ninivaggi	2021	$11,600	$74,264	—	$20,430	$372	—	$106,666
	2020	$11,400	$69,919	$520	$17,843	$529	—	$100,211
	2019	$11,200	$57,700	$25,974	$18,255	$572	—	$113,701
Ronnie Darroch	2021	$75,725	—	—	$3,326	—	—	$79,051
	2020	$50,758	$13,648	$13,474	$14,064	$77	$429,364	$521,385
	2019	$11,200	$54,258	$14,852	$18,154	$353	$7,214	$106,031

The amounts in the “Executive Flexible Perquisite Benefit” column, above, include the reimbursements under that program prior to the cessation date of the executive flexible perquisite on January 1, 2020.

In connection with Mr. Darroch’s relocation to Wisconsin during fiscal 2015, Plexus purchased his former residence in the United Kingdom. The amount reported above in the “Relocation” column for fiscal 2019 reflects Plexus’ costs for tax adjustments related to such sale. The amount for fiscal 2020 reflects relocation benefits for Mr. Darroch’s return to the United Kingdom in 2020.

The amount reported in the “Company Matching Contribution to 401(k) Plan” for Mr. Darroch for 2020 and 2021 represent Plexus’ contribution to both the 401(k) plan and his UK Pension.

54

Grants of Plan-Based Awards for Fiscal 2021

The table below sets forth information about equity awards that were granted to the named executive officers in fiscal 2021 under the Incentive Plan, as well as information about potential cash incentive awards dependent on quantifiable corporate performance and individual goals that those executive officers could have earned for fiscal 2021 performance under the VICP. As a result of corporate performance, cash incentive awards based on these criteria were earned under the VICP for fiscal 2021, as set forth under the “Non-Equity Incentive Compensation” column in the “Summary Compensation Table” above. We provide further information about potential compensation under the VICP and awards under the Incentive Plan in fiscal 2021, as well as additional information about those plans, following the table.

	Award Type	Grant Date	Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards			Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards			All Other Stock Awards: Number of Shares of Stocks or Units (#)	Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and Option Awards ($)
Name & Principal Position			Thre- shold ($)1	Target ($)1	Maximum ($)1	Thre- shold (#)1	Target (#)1	Maximum (#)1
Todd P. Kelsey	VICP	12/17/2020	$0	$1,250,000	$2,500,000	—	—	—	—	—
	PSUs2	1/25/2021	—	—	—	6,885	29,800	52,715	—	$2,514,977
	RSUs3	1/25/2021	—	—	—	—	—	—	32,070	$2,563,997
Patrick J. Jermain	VICP	12/17/2020	$0	$438,595	$877,189	—	—	—	—	—
	PSUs2	1/25/2021	—	—	—	1,775	7,690	13,605	—	$648,967
	RSUs3	1/25/2021	—	—	—	—	—	—	8,280	$661,986
Steven J. Frisch	VICP	12/17/2020	$0	$509,360	$1,018,719	—	—	—	—	—
	PSUs2	1/25/2021	—	—	—	2,520	10,900	19,280	—	$919,940
	RSUs3	1/25/2021	—	—	—	—	—	—	11,720	$937,014
Angelo M. Ninivaggi	VICP	12/17/2020	$0	$339,778	$679,556	—	—	—	—	—
	PSUs2	1/25/2021	—	—	—	1,335	5,770	10,205	—	$486,997
	RSUs3	1/25/2021	—	—	—	—	—	—	6,210	$496,490
Ronnie Darroch	VICP	12/17/2020	$0	$322,151	$644,303	—	—	—	—	—
	PSUs2	1/25/2021	—	—	—	1,065	4,610	8,155	—	$389,060
	RSUs3	1/25/2021	—	—	—	—	—	—	4,970	$397,352

1
Amounts in the rows labeled “VICP” reflect potential cash incentive payments for fiscal 2021.

As a result of Plexus’ actual performance in fiscal 2021, overall cash incentive awards were earned based on corporate financial performance between the target and maximum payout levels, as reflected in the “Summary Compensation Table” and discussed in “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.”

2
For more information regarding these awards, see the discussion below under the caption “Equity Plans,” as well as “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Total Direct Compensation—Long-Term Incentives.”

3
The RSUs vest on January 25, 2024, assuming continued employment. See the discussion below under the caption “Equity Plans.”

55

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal 2021 Year-End

The following table sets forth information about Plexus stock awards held by the named executive officers that were outstanding as of October 2, 2021. No named executive officers held stock options at the end of fiscal 2021.

Name	Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#)	Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested ($)1	Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (#)	Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested ($)1	​
	31,6002	$2,878,128	—	—	​
Mr. Kelsey	32,5003	$2,960,100	—	—	​
	32,0704	$2,920,936	—	—	​
	—	—	54,8405	$4,994,827	​
	—	—	44,0006	$4,007,520	​
	—	—	45,8307	$4,174,196	​
	8,9702	$816,988	—	—	​
Mr. Jermain	8,3103	$756,875	—	—	​
	8,2804	$754,142	—	—	​
	—	—	15,5605	$1,417,205	​
	—	—	11,2406	$1,023,739	​
	—	—	11,8307	$1,077,476	​
	11,9602	$1,089,317	—	—	​
Mr. Frisch	11,8203	$1,076,566	—	—	​
	11,7204	$1,067,458	—	—	​
	—	—	20,760 5	$1,890,821	​
	—	—	16,0006	$1,457,280	​
	—	—	16,7607	$1,526,501	​
	7,2602	$661,241	—	—	​
Mr. Ninivaggi	6,4603	$588,377	—	—	​
	6,2104	$565,607	—	—	​
	—	—	12,6005	$1,147,608	​
	—	—	8,7506	$796,950	���
	—	—	8,8707	$807,880	​
	6,1502	$560,142	—	—	​
Mr. Darroch	5,3203	$484,546	—	—	​
	4,9704	$452,668	—	—	​
	—	—	10,6605	$970,913	​
	—	—	7,2006	$655,776	​
	—	—	7,0907	$645,757	​

1
Based on the $91.08 per share closing price of our common stock on October 1, 2021, the last trading day of fiscal 2021.

2
Consists of RSUs awarded in fiscal 2019 under the Incentive Plan. The RSUs vest on January 21, 2022, based on continued service through that date.

56

3
Consists of RSUs awarded in fiscal 2020 under the Incentive Plan. The RSUs vest on January 27, 2023, based on continued service through that date.

4
Consists of RSUs awarded in fiscal 2021 under the Incentive Plan. The RSUs vest on January 25, 2024, based on continued service through that date.

5
Consists of PSUs awarded in fiscal 2019 under the Incentive Plan. Vesting of 50% of the PSUs is based on a three-point annual average of the Company’s absolute economic return performance during the three year performance period, and vesting of the other 50% of the PSUs depends on the relative TSR of our common stock as compared to the Russell 3000 Index over a three year performance period that concludes on January 21, 2022. As of the end of fiscal 2021, the Company’s economic return performance was between the target and maximum levels; therefore, this portion of the award is reflected in the aggregate amount reported above for the fiscal 2019 PSUs at the maximum achievement level. The relative TSR of our common stock was between the target and maximum levels; therefore, this portion of the award is reflected in the aggregate amount reported above for the fiscal 2019 PSUs at the maximum achievement level.

6
Consists of PSUs awarded in fiscal 2020 under the Incentive Plan. Vesting of 50% of the PSUs is based on a three-point annual average of the Company’s absolute economic return performance during the three year performance period, and vesting of the other 50% of the PSUs depends on the relative TSR of our common stock as compared to the Russell 3000 Index over a three year performance period that concludes on January 21, 2023. As of the end of fiscal 2021, the Company’s economic return performance was between the target and maximum levels; therefore, this portion of the award is reflected in the aggregate amount reported above for the fiscal 2020 PSUs at the maximum achievement level. The relative TSR of our common stock was near the target level; therefore, this portion of the award is reflected in the aggregate amount reported above for the fiscal 2020 PSUs at the target achievement level.

7
Consists of PSUs awarded in fiscal 2021 under the Incentive Plan. Vesting of 50% of the PSUs is based on a three-point annual average of the Company’s absolute economic return performance during the three year performance period, and vesting of the other 50% of the PSUs depends on the relative TSR of our common stock as compared to the S&P 400 Index over a three year performance period that concludes on January 21, 2024. As of the end of fiscal 2021, the Company’s economic return performance was between the target and maximum levels; therefore, this portion of the award is reflected in the aggregate amount reported above for the fiscal 2021 PSUs at the maximum achievement level. The relative TSR of our common stock was near the target level; therefore, this portion of the award is reflected in the aggregate amount reported above for the fiscal 2021 PSUs at the target achievement level.

See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Elements and Analysis of Direct Compensation—Long-Term Incentives” for additional information regarding awards.

57

Option Exercises & Stock Vested in Fiscal 2021

The following table sets forth information about the Plexus stock options that were exercised by the named executive officers as well as the PSUs and RSUs that vested in fiscal 2021.

	Option Awards		Stock Awards
Name	Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise (#)	Value Realized on Exercise ($)1	Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting (#)	Value Realized on Vesting ($)2
Mr. Kelsey	0	$0	73,555	$5,780,053
Mr. Jermain	0	$0	21,630	$1,699,772
Mr. Frisch	0	$0	28,115	$2,209,303
Mr. Ninivaggi	0	$0	17,310	$1,360,230
Mr. Darroch	0	$0	15,570	$1,223,564

1
Based on the difference between the exercise prices and sale prices on the date of exercise for stock options with the exception of shares that were held upon the exercise of options; in such case, the value realized on exercise is based on the difference between the exercise prices and the average of the high and low trading prices of the Company’s common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on the exercise date.

2
Based on the average of the high and low trading prices of the Company’s common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on the vesting dates for PSUs and RSUs.

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation in Fiscal 2021

Plexus does not maintain any defined benefit pension plans. Plexus’ only retirement savings plans are defined contribution plans—the 401(k) Plan for all qualifying U.S. employees, the SERP for executive officers (and certain other executives) and certain foreign plans. Since these are defined contribution plans, Plexus’ obligations are fixed at the time contributions are made, rather than Plexus being liable for future potential shortfalls in plan assets to cover the fixed benefits that are promised in defined benefit plans.

The 401(k) Plan is open to all U.S. Plexus employees meeting specified service and related requirements. Under the plan, employees may voluntarily contribute up to 75% of their annual compensation, up to a maximum Code mandated limit of $19,500 ($26,000 if age 50 or older) in calendar year 2021; Plexus will match 100% of the first 4.0% of salary which an employee defers, up to $11,600 in calendar year 2021. There are several investment options available to participants under the 401(k) Plan, including a Plexus stock fund.

Plexus maintains the SERP as an additional deferred compensation mechanism for its executives. Under the SERP, an executive may elect to defer compensation through the plan, and Plexus may credit the participant’s account with a discretionary employer contribution. Participants are entitled to the payment of deferred amounts and any earnings which may be credited thereon upon termination or retirement from Plexus, subject to the participants’ deferral elections and Section 409A of the Code. The SERP allows the investment of deferred compensation held on behalf of the participants into individual accounts and, within these accounts, into one or more designated mutual funds or investments, which are intended to mirror the options available under the 401(k) Plan; however, the investment choices in the SERP do not include Plexus stock.

58

The SERP also allows for discretionary Plexus contributions. As discussed in “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Elements and Analysis of Other Compensation—Retirement Planning – Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan,” the Committee determined the current Company contribution to the SERP after reviewing a competitive analysis prepared by Willis Towers Watson. As a result, the discretionary contribution is 9% of the executive’s total targeted cash compensation. The Committee may also choose to make additional or special contributions from time to time; no such contributions were made in fiscal 2021 to the named executive officers.

The following table includes information regarding contributions under the SERP. Since the 401(k) Plan is a tax-qualified plan generally available to all qualified U.S. employees, contributions on behalf of the executive officers and earnings in that plan are not included in this table; however, Company contributions under both the SERP and the 401(k) plan are among the items included in the “All Other Compensation” column in the “Summary Compensation Table” above. Mr. Darroch participates in the Plexus Corp. (UK) Ltd. Group Life Assurance Scheme (the “U.K. Plan”) and no longer receives SERP contributions. Contributions on his behalf and earnings in the U.K. Plan are not included in this table; however Company contributions under the U.K. Plan are included in the “All Other Compensation” column in the “Summary Compensation Table” above.

Name	Executive Contributions in Last FY ($)1	Registrant Contributions in Last FY ($)	Aggregate Earnings in Last FY ($)	Aggregate Withdrawals/ Distributions ($)	Aggregate Balance at Last FYE ($)2
Mr. Kelsey	—	$202,500	$442,031	—	$2,312,231
Mr. Jermain	—	$89,489	$352,518	—	$1,764,792
Mr. Frisch	$156,351	$99,772	$364,493	—	$1,885,540
Mr. Ninivaggi	—	$74,264	$246,835	—	$1,194,255
Mr. Darroch	—	—	$187,897	—	$923,556

1
Includes contributions by the named executive officers related to incentive compensation related to fiscal 2020 VICP awards that was payable in fiscal 2021, but was deferred, and that are included in the “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” column in “Summary Compensation Table” for fiscal 2020 as follows: Mr. Frisch—$156,351. There were no contributions included from the “Salary” column in the “Summary Compensation Table.”

2
Of the amounts reported in the “Aggregate Balance at Last Fiscal Year End” column, the following amounts were previously reported in the Summary Compensation Tables in the Company’s Proxy Statements for its prior annual meetings of shareholders: Mr. Kelsey—$1,104,673; Mr. Jermain—$1,103,714; Mr. Frisch—$1,230,325; Mr. Ninivaggi—$315,818; and Mr. Darroch—$585,823.

59

Employment Agreements & Potential Payments

UPON TERMINATION OR CHANGE IN CONTROL

This section provides information about specific agreements with our named executive officers relating to employment and post-employment compensation.

Plexus does not generally have employment agreements with its executive officers. However, the Committee and the board continue to believe that it is important to have an employment agreement with our CEO to set forth the terms of their employment, to provide incentives for him to continue with the Company over the long term and to protect the Company from competition post-employment. The Company entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Kelsey in 2016 in connection with his appointment as our President and CEO (the “Employment Agreement”).

All of our executive officers have change in control agreements that provide, in certain circumstances, for payments to the executive officers in the event of a change in control of Plexus.

Employment Agreement with Mr. Kelsey

The Employment Agreement between the Company and Mr. Kelsey specifies when the Company may terminate Mr. Kelsey for cause, as well as when Mr. Kelsey may leave the Company for good reason, and determines the compensation payable upon termination. The definitions of “cause” and “good reason” are substantially similar to those under the Company’s change in control agreements.

If Mr. Kelsey is terminated for cause or voluntarily leaves without good reason, dies or becomes disabled, the Company is not required to make any further payments to Mr. Kelsey other than with respect to obligations accrued on the date of termination. If Mr. Kelsey’s termination is due to his death or disability, any previously granted equity awards without performance goals, such as RSUs, would automatically vest and any performance stock units would vest pro rata based on his length of service during the performance period and actual Company performance.

If the Company terminates Mr. Kelsey without cause, or he resigns with good reason, Mr. Kelsey is entitled to receive his base salary for a two year period following his separation date (the “Separation Period”), a VICP cash incentive award keyed to the actual attainment of performance targets for the year in which Mr. Kelsey is involuntarily terminated, prorated based on the number of the days in the period in which he was employed, and a payment equal to 100% of his target annual VICP cash incentive award as in effect prior to the separation date on each December 15 during the Separation Period. In addition, Mr. Kelsey would also receive an amount equal to the maximum allowable Company contributions for a full plan year under the 401(k) Plan and the Company’s deferred compensation plans during the Separation Period. Mr. Kelsey would also be eligible to participate in the Company’s medical, dental and vision plans, subject to his payment of any premiums required by such plans, for a two year period following his separation; if a non-active employee is not eligible to participate in such plans, the Company will instead provide Mr. Kelsey with the cost of premium continuation coverage. In addition, Mr. Kelsey would receive a lump-sum payment equal to the value of continued participation in the Company’s other welfare plans, company car and other similar plans and arrangements for two years. Any payments triggered by a termination of employment are to be delayed until six months after termination, as required by Section 409A of the Code (except if such payment(s) qualify for an exception thereto). The Employment Agreement does not provide for any tax gross-up payments.

60

Mr. Kelsey would also receive accrued and vested benefits under the 401(k) Plan and the SERP, and payment for accrued but unused vacation, upon a termination of employment for any reason; those amounts are not included in “Potential Benefits Table” below. See “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation” above for further information.

If Mr. Kelsey is terminated by Plexus without cause or he resigns with good reason, his equity awards would be treated in accordance with the terms of the Incentive Plan and predecessor plans, with Mr. Kelsey being deemed a continuing employee for purposes of applying the vesting and exercisability provisions of any equity awards held by him on his separation date that were granted more than one year prior to such date; see “Treatment of Equity Awards” below for more information.

Under Mr. Kelsey’s Employment Agreement, the Company is protected from competition by Mr. Kelsey after the termination of his employment. Upon termination, Mr. Kelsey agrees to not interfere with the relationships between the active customers and suppliers, as well as employees, of the Company for two years, and to not compete with the Company over the same period. Further, Mr. Kelsey has agreed to related confidentiality requirements after the termination of his employment.

Pursuant to his change in control agreement, Mr. Kelsey is eligible to receive three times salary plus benefits in the event of a termination of his employment in connection with a change in control. If both the Employment Agreement and the change in control agreement apply to a particular termination, Mr. Kelsey will receive benefits under whichever agreement provides the higher amount of benefits in the aggregate. As discussed below, the Company’s change in control agreements with its executive officers, including Mr. Kelsey, do not contain excise tax gross-up provisions.

CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENTS

Plexus has change in control agreements with its executive officers and certain other key employees. Under the terms of these agreements, if there is a change in control of Plexus, as defined in the agreement, the executive officers’ authorities, duties and responsibilities shall remain at least commensurate in all material respects with those prior to the change in control. Their compensation may not be reduced, their benefits must be commensurate with those of similarly situated executives of the acquiring firm and their location of employment must not be changed significantly as a result of the change in control.

Determination of Benefit Levels

In general, the change in control agreements with our executive officers provide that, upon termination in the event of a change in control, executive officers will receive compensation equaling three times annual base salary plus targeted bonus, and an amount equal to a continuation of health and retirement benefits for that period. Certain other key employees also have change in control agreements on substantially the same terms, although generally with multipliers of one or two times annual base salary plus targeted bonus. In determining which employees should have change in control agreements, the Committee utilizes its guidelines, which focus on position, responsibilities and compensation level in order to minimize subjectivity.

There are not any excise tax gross-up provisions in any of the change in control agreements. As discussed below, the change in control agreements with all participants allow for a reduction in payments under a “best net” approach, providing either the full amount of the total payment or an amount equal to the total payment reduced by an amount necessary to avoid adverse excise tax consequences to the executive officer.

61

In addition, under the Incentive Plan and its predecessor, upon a change in control, unvested awards will generally automatically vest for all award holders (for PSUs, the performance period will be deemed to have concluded as of the date of the change in control, performance will be calculated and vesting will be determined).

The Committee reviews the benefit levels under these agreements annually. It is the Committee’s view that the level of benefits, combined with the “double trigger” requiring both a change in control and a termination of employment, as well as the elimination of excise tax gross-up provisions, provides an appropriate balancing of the interests of the Company, its shareholders and its executives. Benefit levels are believed to be in line with competitive standards and Plexus’ overall compensation policy and level of other benefits, as well as necessary and appropriate to attract and retain executive talent. Therefore, offering a package that is consistent with market practices is appropriate to help motivate executives to focus on the Company’s shareholders, even when the circumstance might jeopardize their employment.

The Committee periodically reviews the scope and context of the change in control agreements. The Committee continues to believe that the change in control agreements will help motivate executive officers to respond appropriately, for the benefit of the Company and its shareholders, in the case of a proposed acquisition of the Company that they might perceive would jeopardize their employment.

Operation of Change in Control Agreements

Within 24 months after a change in control, in the event that any covered executive officer is terminated other than for cause, death or disability, or if an executive officer terminates his or her employment with good reason, Plexus is obligated to pay the executive officer, in a cash lump sum, an amount equal to three times (one to two times for other key employees) the executive officer’s base salary plus targeted cash incentive payment, and to continue retirement payments and certain other benefits. There are not any excise tax gross-up provisions in any of the change in control agreements. The agreements provide that a cap may apply if the total potential payments would be subject to any excise taxes imposed by Section 4999 of the Code because such potential payments would exceed three times base compensation determined under that section. In that case, total potential payments would be capped just below the excise tax threshold if the net uncapped amount that otherwise would have been retained by the executive officer (after such individual would pay the excise tax) would be less than the capped amount (with no imposed excise tax).

The agreements do not preclude termination of the executive officer, or require payment of any benefit, if there has not been a change in control of Plexus, nor do they limit the ability of Plexus to terminate these persons thereafter for cause.

Under our change in control agreements:

• A termination for “cause” would occur if the executive officer willfully and continually fails to perform substantial duties or willfully engages in illegal conduct or gross misconduct which injures Plexus.

• After a change in control, an executive may terminate for “good reason” which would include: requiring the executive to perform duties inconsistent with the duties provided under his or her agreement; Plexus not complying with provisions of the agreement or requiring the executive to move; or any attempted termination of employment which is not permitted by the agreement.

62

• A change in control would occur in the event of a successful tender offer for Plexus, other specified acquisitions of a substantial portion of the Company’s outstanding stock, a merger or other business combination involving the Company, a sale of substantial assets of the Company, a contested director’s election or a combination of these actions followed by any or all of the following actions: change in management or a majority of the board of the Company or a declaration of a “change in control” by the board of directors.

TREATMENT OF EQUITY AWARDS

None of the named executive officers’ held outstanding stock options as of the end of fiscal 2021. RSUs that have yet to vest are generally forfeited on termination of employment, but immediately vest upon a change in control. PSUs that have yet to vest are also generally forfeited on a termination of employment, but are prorated following the conclusion of the performance period on death or retirement prior to the end of such period; on a change in control, the performance period is deemed over and any PSUs earned based on performance during such period vest at that time. See “Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End” above for information as to the named executive officers’ outstanding equity awards at October 2, 2021.

SEVERANCE

Plexus does not have employment agreements with its executive officers other than Mr. Kelsey. It also does not have a formal severance plan for other types of employment termination, except in the event of a change in control as described above. Although Plexus has a general practice of providing U.S. salaried employees with two weeks’ severance pay for every year worked (generally to a maximum of 13 weeks) in the case of termination without cause, actual determinations are made on a case-by-case basis. Therefore, whether and to what extent Plexus would provide severance benefits to the named executive officers, or other executive officers, upon termination (other than due to death, permanent disability or a change in control) would depend upon the facts and circumstances at that time. As such, we are unable to estimate the potential payouts under other employment termination scenarios.

POTENTIAL BENEFITS TABLE

The following table provides information as to the amounts which will be payable (a) to Mr. Kelsey under his Employment Agreement if he is terminated by Plexus or if he resigns, (b) to the named executive officers in the event of death or permanent disability, and (c) to the named executive officers in the event they were terminated without cause, or the executive terminated with good reason, in the event of a change in control. The payments are calculated assuming a termination as of October 2, 2021, the last day of our previous fiscal year. The table includes only benefits that would result from the stated event, not vested benefits that are payable irrespective of the reason for termination.

63

Executive Officer; Context of Termination	Cash Payments1	Early Vesting of Stock Options2	Early Vesting of RSUs3	Early Vesting of PSUs4	Additional Retirement Benefits5	Other Benefits6	Total
Mr. Kelsey – Termination by Plexus for Cause or Resignation without Good Reason	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Mr. Kelsey – Termination by Plexus without Cause or Resignation with Good Reason	$5,750,000	—	—	—	$428,200	$26,566	$6,204,766
Mr. Kelsey – Death or Disability	—7	—	$8,759,164	$3,300,136	—	—	$12,059,300
Mr. Kelsey – Change in Control	$6,750,000	—	$8,759,164	$6,300,004	$642,300	$235,229	$22,686,697
Mr. Jermain – Death or Disability	—7	—	$2,328,005	$872,236	—	—	$3,200,241
Mr. Jermain – Change in Control	$3,051,000	—	$2,328,005	$1,646,726	$297,152	$257,066	$7,579,949
Mr. Frisch – Death or Disability	—7	—	$3,233,340	$1,215,898	—	—	$4,449,238
Mr. Frisch – Change in Control	$3,357,750	—	$3,233,340	$2,312,521	$334,116	$269,736	$9,507,463
Mr. Ninivaggi – Death or Disability	—7	—	$1,815,224	$681,640	—	—	$2,496,864
Mr. Ninivaggi – Change in Control	$2,499,000	—	$1,815,224	$1,271,477	$257,592	$254,913	$6,098,206
Mr. Darroch – Death or Disability	—7	—	$1,497,355	$562,416	—	—	$2,059,771
Mr. Darroch – Change in Control	$2,352,157	—	$1,497,355	$1,039,223	$212,556	$992,802	$6,094,093

1
Cash payments in the context of a termination in connection with change in control represent payments relating to the executives’ base salary and VICP cash incentive awards to the extent they would be paid after termination, based on the salary in effect at the end of fiscal 2021 and the target VICP cash incentive payment for fiscal 2021. Under the change in control agreements, this payment equals three years’ salary, as it was in effect at the time of termination, plus three times the targeted VICP compensation for the year of termination.

As discussed above, pursuant to Mr. Kelsey’s employment agreement, if he is terminated without cause, or he resigns with good reason, he is entitled to receive his base salary for a two year period following his separation date and a pro-rated VICP cash incentive award for the year of involuntary termination. In addition, Mr. Kelsey would also receive two annual payments following his termination each equal to 100% of his target annual VICP cash incentive award as in effect prior to the separation date.

2
All outstanding unvested stock options would become vested upon a change in control, as well as upon death or disability. No stock options are currently outstanding for the named executive officers.

3
All outstanding unvested RSUs would become vested upon a change in control. The amount shown is the value of the unvested RSUs based on Plexus’ closing stock price of $91.08 per share on the last trading date of fiscal 2021.

64

4
The performance period for outstanding PSUs would be deemed to end upon a change in control and vesting would be determined at that time. The amount shown is the value of all outstanding unvested PSUs, assuming target payout for fiscal year 2019 (TSR-based PSUs only), fiscal year 2020 and fiscal year 2021 performance as of the change in control date. Amounts reported for the Death and Disability scenario are pro-rated at target performance for the portions of the cycles unearned at the end of fiscal year 2021. The amounts above were calculated using Plexus’ closing stock price of $91.08 per share on the last trading day of fiscal 2021.

5
Under the change in control agreements, the Company would be required to continue payments to the 401(k) Plan and SERP for three years at the same level during the year preceding the change in control. Similar provisions for a termination without cause apply with respect to Mr. Kelsey’s Employment Agreement, with such obligations continuing for two years. This column represents the total amount of those payments. The executive officers would also receive accrued and vested benefits under the 401(k) Plan and the SERP, and payment for accrued but unused vacation, upon a termination of employment for any reason; those amounts are not included in the table. See “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation” for further information.

6
The amounts in the context of a termination in connection with a change in control include continuing payments of health and welfare benefits, company car and other benefits for three years, as provided in the agreements. Mr. Kelsey would receive similar benefits for two years in the event he is terminated without cause, or he resigns with good reason, as described above.

7
Excludes life or disability insurance payments from third party insurers.

65

PAY RATIO DISCLOSURE

Pursuant to Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K, we are providing the following information for fiscal 2021, which includes a ratio of the total annual compensation of Mr. Kelsey to the median annual total compensation of all employees other than our CEO (the “Pay Ratio”):

•	CEO total annual compensation:	$7,623,221
•	Median employee total annual compensation:	$15,087
•	Ratio of CEO to median employee compensation	505:1

In determining our median employee, a list was prepared of all of our global employees (excluding the CEO) and their annual compensation as of October 2, 2021. Annual compensation included base pay, which was determined via payroll records and annualized for those employees who were not employed for a full year at the time of the calculation. For foreign employees, we used the then-current exchange rate in order to convert such amounts into U.S. dollars. For purposes of the Pay Ratio disclosed above, the total compensation of both the CEO and the median employee for fiscal 2021 were calculated based on the definition of total compensation for purposes of the Summary Compensation Table.

SEC rules for identifying the median employee and calculating the pay ratio allow companies to adopt a variety of methodologies, to apply certain exclusions and to make reasonable estimates and assumptions. No employees were excluded when constructing the list of our global employees, but the Pay Ratio reported above may not be comparable to the pay ratio calculated by other companies, as other companies have different circumstances, employee populations and compensation practices, and may utilize different methodologies, exclusions, estimates and assumptions.

66

COMPENSATION & RISK

During fiscal 2021, the Company reviewed its compensation policies, programs and procedures, including the incentives they create and mitigating factors that may reduce the likelihood of excessive risk taking, to determine whether they present a significant risk to the Company. Management assessed risk factors associated with specific compensation programs, as well as enterprise-level compensation risk factors, and a risk rating was assigned to each factor. The program-specific risk factors assessed included payout potential, payout as a percentage of total compensation, risk of manipulation, discretion to modify awards, overall plan design and market appropriateness. Enterprise-level risk factors evaluated included the balance between performance rewarded and the sustainability of that performance, the overall compensation mix, consistency between annual and long-term objectives as well as metrics, achievability of performance goals without undue risk-taking, the relationship of long-term awards to the Company’s pay philosophy, stock ownership requirements, the weighting and duration of performance metrics, the value of severance packages, the degree to which pay programs (including retirement benefits) and/or grants may be considered disproportionate, and the interaction of compensation plans with the Company’s financial performance and strategy. The Compensation Committee reviewed management’s evaluation process as well as its results, and determined that both the process and conclusions reached were reasonable.

Based on this review, the Company has concluded that its compensation policies, programs and procedures are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.

67

PROPOSAL 2 –

ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE NAMED

EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION

	Board Recommendation
An advisory proposal to approve the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers, as disclosed under the headings “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” and “Executive Compensation”	FOR

SEC rules require publicly-traded companies like Plexus to hold an advisory vote of their shareholders at least once every three years to approve the named executive officer compensation, as disclosed in the company’s proxy statement pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K; Plexus discloses this information in “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” and “Executive Compensation” herein. Plexus currently holds these votes annually.

As described in “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” above, we design our executive compensation programs to attract, motivate and retain the talent needed to lead a complex global organization, to drive global financial and operational success, to create an ownership mindset and to appropriately balance Company performance and individual contributions towards the achievement of success. A meaningful portion of our executive officers’ compensation is at risk, reflecting the Company’s emphasis on pay that reflects performance and drives long-term shareholder value. We believe the Company’s compensation program as a whole is well suited to promote the Company’s objectives in both the short and long term.

Accordingly, the following resolution will be submitted to our shareholders for approval at the annual meeting:

“RESOLVED, that the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers, as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables and narrative discussion, is hereby approved.”

As an advisory vote, this proposal is not binding on the Company. However, the Compensation Committee, which is responsible for designing and administering the Company’s executive compensation programs, values the opinions expressed by our shareholders, and will consider the outcome of the vote when making future compensation decisions on the Company’s executive compensation programs.

The board unanimously recommends that shareholders vote FOR approval of the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers as described in this proxy statement.

68

CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS

Plexus has a written policy requiring that transactions, if any, between Plexus and its executive officers, directors or employees (or related parties) must be on a basis that is fair and reasonable to the Company and in accordance with Plexus’ Code of Conduct and Business Ethics and other policies. Plexus’ policy focuses on related party transactions in which its insiders or their families have a significant economic interest; while the policy requires disclosure of all transactions, it recognizes that there may be situations where Plexus has ordinary business dealings with other large companies in which insiders may have some role, but little, if any, stake in a particular transaction. Although these transactions are not prohibited, any such transaction involving an executive officer, director or related party must be approved by either a disinterested majority of the board of directors or by the Audit Committee.

Jacob Foate, the adult son of Mr. Foate, Plexus’ Non-Executive Chair, began working for Plexus in fiscal 2019 and is currently the Director – IT Security & Data Management. His annual base salary is $170,000. Andy Kelsey, the adult son of Todd Kelsey, Plexus’ President and Chief Executive Officer, began working for Plexus in 2015 and is currently serving as the Sr. Site Director for our Livingston Design Center. His annual base salary is $175,000. Both Jacob and Andy participate in the Company’s incentive plans, as well as its other benefit plans, on the same basis as other salaried employees.

Please see “Corporate Governance–Director Independence” for a discussion of certain transactions and relationships that the board considered when determining the independence of Plexus’ directors. There were no other transactions in an amount or of a nature that were reportable under applicable SEC rules in fiscal 2021.

69

REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

The Audit Committee of the board of directors, which was established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, oversees and monitors the participation of Plexus’ management and independent auditors throughout the financial reporting process and approves the hiring and retention of, and fees paid to, the independent auditors. The Audit Committee also generally reviews other transactions between the Company and interested parties that may involve a potential conflict of interest. No member of the Audit Committee is employed by, or has any other material relationship with, Plexus. The members are all “independent directors” as defined in Rule 5605(a)(2) of the listing standards applicable to the Nasdaq Global Select Market and relevant SEC rules. The Plexus board of directors has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee, and the current version is available on Plexus’ website.

In connection with its function to oversee and monitor the financial reporting process of Plexus, and in addition to its quarterly review of interim unaudited financial statements, the Audit Committee has done the following:

• Reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended October 2, 2021, with Plexus management;

• Discussed with PwC, Plexus’ independent auditors, those matters which are required to be discussed by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and the SEC; and

• Received the written disclosure and the letter from PwC required by the applicable standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent accountant’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and has discussed with PwC its independence.

Based on the foregoing, the Audit Committee recommended to the board of directors that the audited financial statements be included in Plexus’ annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 2, 2021. The Audit Committee further confirmed the independence of PwC.

MEMBERS OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE:

Rainer Jueckstock, Chair

Randy J. Martinez

Peter Kelly

Karen M. Rapp

70

PROPOSAL 3 –

RATIFY INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

	Board Recommendation
Ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent auditors for fiscal 2022.	FOR

PwC has served as Plexus’ independent auditors since at least 1985. Subject to ratification by shareholders, the Audit Committee intends to reappoint the firm of PwC as independent auditors to audit the financial statements of Plexus for fiscal 2022. In making its decision to reappoint PwC for fiscal 2022, the Audit Committee considered the qualifications, performance and independence of PwC and the audit engagement team, the quality of its discussions with PwC and the fees charged for the services provided. Although shareholder ratification of the independent auditors is not required by our bylaws or otherwise, we are submitting this matter for ratification to permit shareholders to participate in this important decision. If shareholders fail to ratify the selection of PwC as the Company’s independent auditors for fiscal 2022, the Audit Committee will reconsider the selection, although it will not be required to select a different independent auditor. Representatives of PwC are expected to participate at the virtual annual meeting of shareholders to respond to questions and make a statement if they desire to do so.

Fees and Services

Fees (including reimbursements for out-of-pocket expenses) paid to PwC for services in the last two fiscal years were as follows:

	2020	2021
Audit fees:	$1,591,263	$1,644,964
Audit-related fees:	—	—
Tax fees:	—	—
All other fees:	—	—

The above amounts relate to services provided in the indicated fiscal years, irrespective of when they were billed. Audit fees relate to Plexus’ annual integrated audit and quarterly professional reviews. The Audit Committee considered the compatibility of the non-audit services provided by PwC with the maintenance of that firm’s independence.

The Audit Committee generally approves all engagements of the independent auditor in advance, including approval of the related fees. The Audit Committee approves an annual budget (and may from time to time approve amendments thereto), which specifies projects and the approved levels of fees for each. To the extent that items are not covered in the annual budget or fees exceed the budget, management must have such items approved by the Audit Committee or, if necessary between Audit Committee meetings, by the Audit Committee chair on behalf of the Audit Committee. There were no services in fiscal 2020 or 2021 that were not approved in advance by the Audit Committee under this policy.

71

Householding & Solicitation

A copy (without exhibits) of Plexus’ annual report to the SEC on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 2, 2021, will be provided without charge to each record or beneficial owner of shares of Plexus’ common stock as of December 13, 2021, on the written request of that person directed to: Shawn Harrison, VP – Communications and Investor Relations, Plexus Corp., One Plexus Way, P.O. Box 156, Neenah, Wisconsin 54957-0156. See also the Notice page of this proxy statement. In addition, copies are available on Plexus’ website at www.plexus.com under the link titled “Investors,” then “Financial Info.”

To save printing and mailing costs, in some cases only one notice, annual report and/or proxy statement will be delivered to multiple holders of securities sharing an address unless Plexus has received contrary instructions from one or more of those security holders. Upon written or oral request, we will promptly deliver a separate copy of the annual report or proxy statement, as applicable, to any security holder at a shared address to which a single copy of the document was delivered. You may request additional copies by written request to the address set forth in the paragraph above or as set forth on the first page of this proxy statement. You may also contact Mr. Harrison at that address or at 1.920.969.6000 if you wish to receive a separate annual report and/or proxy statement in the future, or if you share an address with another security holder and wish for delivery of only a single copy of the annual report and/or proxy statement if you are currently receiving multiple copies.

This solicitation is being made on behalf of Plexus by its board of directors. Plexus will pay the expenses in connection with the solicitation of proxies. Upon request, Plexus will reimburse brokers, dealers, banks and voting trustees, or their nominees, for reasonable expenses incurred in forwarding copies of the proxy materials and annual report to the beneficial owners of shares which such persons hold of record. Plexus will solicit proxies by mailing a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials to all shareholders; paper copies of the proxy materials will be sent upon request as provided above as well as in the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials.

Proxies may be solicited in person, or by telephone, e-mail or facsimile, by officers and regular employees of Plexus who will not be separately compensated for those services.

SAFE HARBOR AND FAIR DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

The statements contained in this proxy statement that are not historical facts (such as statements in the future tense and statements including believe, expect, intend, plan, anticipate, goal, target and similar terms and concepts), including all discussions of periods which are not yet completed, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include the evolving effect, which may intensify, of COVID-19 on our employees, customers, suppliers, and logistics providers, including the impact of governmental actions being taken to curtail the spread of the virus. Other risks and uncertainties are described in our other SEC filings, particularly within Risk Factors in our fiscal 2021 Form 10-K and any subsequently filed Form 10-Q.

	By order of the Board of Directors
	Angelo M. Ninivaggi
Neenah, Wisconsin	Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, General Counsel and Secretary
December 17, 2021

72