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DEF 14A Filing
AptarGroup (ATR) DEF 14ADefinitive proxy
Filed: 25 Mar 22, 6:05am
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
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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 under §240.14a-12 |
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AptarGroup, Inc. | |||
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter) | |||
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(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant) | |||
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Payment of Filing Fee (Check all boxes that apply): | |||
☒ | No fee required. | ||
☐ | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. | ||
☐ | Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
Notice of 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
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DATE AND TIME | PLACE | RECORD DATE | ||
9:00 a.m. CDT on Wednesday, | Live webcast online at | March 11, 2022 |
To Our Stockholders:
It is my pleasure to invite you to attend our annual meeting of stockholders of AptarGroup, Inc. (“Aptar”) on May 4, 2022. At the meeting, we will review Aptar’s performance for fiscal year 2021 and vote on the following matters:
ITEMS OF BUSINESS
| Board Voting | |
Proposal No. 1: To elect the three director nominees named in the proxy statement to terms of office expiring at the annual meeting in 2025 | FOR each | |
Proposal No. 2: To approve, on an advisory basis, Aptar’s executive compensation | FOR | |
Proposal No. 3: To ratify the appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm for 2022 | FOR |
We will also transact any other business that is properly raised at the meeting or any postponements or adjournments of the meeting.
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
The vote of each stockholder is important to us. Whether or not you expect to attend the virtual annual meeting, I urge you to vote by the Internet or by telephone as soon as possible. If you received a printed copy of the proxy materials, you may also complete, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the envelope that was included with the printed materials.
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Internet |
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| Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the pre-addressed postage paid envelope we have provided or return it to: | ||||
Visit www.proxyvote.com up until 11:59 pm Eastern Time, | Call the telephone number on your proxy card | Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge |
We look forward to your attendance at the virtual annual meeting on May 4, 2022 and addressing your questions and comments.
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Sincerely, Kimberly Y. Chainey Executive Vice President, |
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Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to Be Held on May 4, 2022: The Proxy Statement and the 2021 Annual Report/Form 10‑K are available at www.proxyvote.com. In light of public health concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, the Board of Directors has determined that it is prudent to again hold this year's annual meeting in a virtual-only format via live audio webcast. You may attend the virtual annual meeting at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/ATR2022. To participate in the annual meeting, you will need the 16-digit control number that appears on your Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, proxy card or the instructions that accompanied your proxy materials. Refer to the "Frequently Asked Questions" section of the proxy statement for detailed procedures regarding attending, submitting questions and voting at the virtual annual meeting. A list of stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting will be available for examination during normal business hours for ten days prior to the meeting for any purpose germane to the meeting at Aptar's corporate headquarters at 265 Exchange Drive, Suite 100, Crystal Lake, Illinois 60014. The stockholder list will also be available during the meeting at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/ATR2022. |
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2022 Proxy Statement | 1 |
Electronic Delivery of Materials
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Help us “go green” and reduce costs. For those stockholders who are still receiving paper copies of our proxy statement and annual report, please consider requesting electronic delivery or a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (“Notice”), which will reduce the amount of paper materials needed to conduct our annual meeting. You may do so by following the instructions below. | |
AptarGroup, Inc. (“Aptar” or “Company”) is pleased to take advantage of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") rule allowing companies to furnish proxy materials to their stockholders over the Internet. We believe that this e-proxy process expedites stockholders’ receipt of proxy materials, while also lowering the costs and reducing the environmental impact of our annual meeting. On March 25, 2022, we mailed to most of our stockholders a Notice containing instructions on how to access our proxy statement and annual report and vote online. On the same date, we mailed to all other stockholders a copy of the proxy statement and annual report by mail unless they have elected to receive the annual meeting materials over the Internet. |
HOW TO ENROLL |
Stockholders of Record Visit www.proxyvote.com or scan the QR code above to vote your shares. When prompted, indicate that you agree to receive or access proxy materials electronically in the future. Beneficial Owners Follow the instructions provided by your broker, bank or other intermediary to opt into electronic delivery. |
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2 | 2022 Proxy Statement |
This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this proxy statement. This summary does not contain all of the information that you should consider, and you should read the entire proxy statement carefully before voting.
BOARD AND GOVERNANCE HIGHLIGHTS
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| Board Independence | | | | Tenure | | ||
| 90% | | | | LESS THAN FIVE YEARS | 6 YR | | |
| | | | | | MORE THAN FIVE YEARS | | |
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| Board Diversity | |
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Best Practices
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Separate independent Chairman & CEO |
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| Majority of Committees are chaired by women |
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| Director age limits |
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Directors and executive officers are prohibited from hedging or pledging stock | | | Stock ownership requirements for directors and executive officers | | | Majority voting for directors and director resignation policy in uncontested elections |
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Annual ‘‘Say-on-Pay Vote’’ on executive compensation | | | Independent directors meet regularly in executive session | | | Annual Board and Committee self-evaluations |
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2022 Proxy Statement | 3 |
Our Nominees at a Glance
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Committees | |||||||||||||
Name and Primary |
| Age |
| Director |
| Other |
| Audit |
| Management |
| Corporate Governance | |
GIOVANNA KAMPOURI MONNAS Independent Director Former President of Benckiser International | 66 | 2010 | 0 | | | C | | | |||||
ISABEL MAREY-SEMPER Independent Director Senior Advisor to Jolt Capital | 54 | 2019 | 0 | | | | | M | |||||
STEPHAN B. TANDA Executive Director President and CEO of AptarGroup, Inc. | | 56 | | 2017 | | 1 | | | | | | |
C= Committee Chair; M = Committee Member
OUR EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION PHILOSOPHY AND OBJECTIVES
Our compensation philosophy is designed to fairly reward our executives for growing our business and increasing value for stockholders, and to retain our experienced management team. | | Significant amount of pay that is performance-based and/or at-risk, with emphasis on performance-based pay to reward short- and long-term performance measured against pre-established objectives and a substantial amount provided in equity; | ||
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| | Employment and change‑in‑control agreements that are designed to be competitive in markets in which we compete for executive talent | | Absence of tax gross‑up agreements with named executive officers, other than those related to relocation benefits or expatriate assignments |
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Stock ownership guidelines, limits on executive officer stock trading and prohibition of hedging or pledging Aptar equity securities | | Use of an independent compensation consultant | | Limited perquisites other than common perquisites provided in the context of expatriate assignments or related to relocation |
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4 | 2022 Proxy Statement |
BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS
In 2021, our total shareholder return over the past five years lagged slightly behind the S&P 500 index, the S&P Midcap 400 Index, and our peer group primarily due to the negative impacts we experienced stemming from the global COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2021, we achieved the following financial and operational metrics.
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$3.2 billion Record Reported Annual Sales | 28th year 28th consecutive year of paying an increased aggregate annual dividend | $244 million Annual Net Income | $3.61 Annual Diluted Earnings per Share |
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Forward-Looking Statements This proxy statement contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and are based on our beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to us. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “future,” “potential” and other similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “should,” “would” and “could” are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Our actual results or other events may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements due to known or unknown risks and uncertainties that exist in our operations and business environment. For additional information on these and other risks and uncertainties, please see our filings with the SEC, including the discussion under “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Form 10-K and Form 10-Qs. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Website Information This proxy statement includes several website addresses and references to additional materials found on those websites. These websites and materials are provided for convenience only, and the content on the referenced websites is not incorporated by reference herein and does not constitute a part of this proxy statement. |
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2022 Proxy Statement | 5 |
Our Commitment to the Environment, Our Society, and Good Corporate Governance
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We believe that strong governance and responsible corporate behavior are essential to long-term success. That is why our business practices are based on responsibility and accountability in order to protect the long-term mutual interests of all stakeholders. To that end, we have a profound respect for the environment that drives our goals for lower energy consumption, landfill free facilities and sustainable product designs. We are also taking steps to lead in gender diversity and equity in the workplace, by enabling a culturally diverse workforce and nurturing an inclusive and welcoming culture. Stephan Tanda, Aptar President and CEO | |
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THE ENVIRONMENT | |
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Circular Economy |
| Solutions |
We believe that the packaging industry must move beyond the make/use/dispose behaviors of the past and actively work toward, and advocate for, a circular economy. By circulating used plastic and packaging, we keep it in the economy and out of the environment. Collaboration is essential to achieving a more circular economy, so we engage with partners, suppliers and customers who share our vision. Aptar is an active member of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Circular Economy 100 (CE100) Network. Through the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, we have also signed the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment to address plastic waste and pollution at its source. | | Our Product Sustainability Strategy addresses recyclability and reusability, resin conversion and sustainable design. Much of this work is aligned with that of our partners. We offer a range of products made from post-consumer resin (“PCR”). We are committed to seeking additional opportunities for more sustainable resins and recyclability of our products. We are actively working to identify new materials, such as PCR, that can be approved and used for food contact. This is in part why we have partnered with PureCycle Technologies, a leading innovator in the field of Ultra-Pure Recycled Polypropylene (UPRP). We continue to explore opportunities to source other sustainable resins and we are actively collaborating with our customers on refillable products by supporting our customers’ participation in circular e-commerce platforms such as TerraCycle’s refillable initiative called “Loop.” |
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6 | 2022 Proxy Statement |
Operations
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We Are Reducing |
| We Are Acting Now | ||
We continue to take steps to make our operations more energy efficient and reduce our impact on the environment. We are proud of our grass-roots initiative to certify our operating sites as “landfill free” (“LFF”). Our internal LFF Program was one of our first established operational sustainability programs and was developed based on the Zero Waste International Alliance (ZIWA) protocol. This program recognizes sites that reuse or recycle over 90% of their operational wastes. We use an independent third party to audit the waste management processes in each location and to verify the certification. At year-end 2021, more than 60% of Aptar facilities had achieved LFF certification and, globally, Aptar avoided sending more than 80% of operational wastes to landfill. We have LFF certified sites in Europe, North America, Latin America and Asia. | | We are committed to sourcing 100% of our electricity from renewable sources by 2030. Aptar has validated science-based targets to do its part to keep global temperature increase to well-below 2° Celsius compared to pre-industrial temperatures by 2030. At year-end 2020 we surpassed our Scope 1 + Scope 2 science-based target[s], reducing this total by more than 50% from our 2019 baseline. Our Scope 3 emissions make up more than 80% of our total emissions and, of that, emissions from our raw materials, such as resins, are the major contributor. Aptar has committed to increase annual sourcing of renewable electricity from 85% of total consumption in 2019 to 100% by 2030. Thanks to new contracts added in Mexico and China, we were sourcing more than 95% renewable electricity at year-end 2021. |
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2022 Proxy Statement | 7 |
Our Sustainability Efforts
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Memberships* | ||||||
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* This list does not include all Aptar memberships. | ||||||
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Partnerships* | ||||||
* This list does not include all Aptar partnerships. | ||||||
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Commitments | ||||||
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8 | 2022 Proxy Statement |
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OUR SOCIETY | |
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
We are taking steps to lead in gender diversity and equity in the workplace, by enabling a culturally diverse workforce.
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| Our Board of Directors is comprised of 40% women and 30% persons of color; a majority of Board Committees are chaired by women. |
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| We have been recognized by the Women’s Forum of New York as a Corporate Champion for leading the way toward gender balance on corporate boards. |
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| We are committed to promoting and sustaining a sense of belonging for all individuals; by 2025, at least 30% of all Aptar leaders at the Vice President level and above will be women. |
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| We launched our first Employee Resource Group, ALIGN in 2021 in conjunction with International Women’s Day; ALIGN leadership is comprised of women across all regions/countries. | | | | We are included in the SPDR® SSGA Gender Diversity Index ETF (SHE), which invests in U.S. large-capitalization companies that rank among the highest in their sector in terms of gender diversity within senior leadership positions. | | | | Along with over 70 other leading global companies and organizations, we are part of the Catalyst CEO Champions For Change movement through a commitment to furthering gender equality, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace. | |
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| We are proud to join more than 70 companies and organizations in the Gender and Diversity KPI Alliance, whose aim is to support the use of key performance indicators (KPIs) or high-level internal measurements that provide an overview of the diversity of the workforce and allow the evaluation of results, not efforts. | |
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2022 Proxy Statement | 9 |
Supporting our Communities
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Aptar has partnered with CARE®, a 501(c) organization that works around the globe to save lives, defeat poverty and achieve social justice. CARE’s mission aligns with our purpose, values and mission to further diversity and inclusion, to empower women and to support the communities where we live and work, along with global communities that are the most marginalized and the most in need. |
Through our ongoing global partnership, Aptar will support CARE’s mission, including education programming, women’s economic empowerment efforts and CARE’s Crisis Response Campaign, sponsoring the Fast + Fair COVID-19 Vaccine Response Campaign in 2021.
Our Charitable Foundation in the United States continues to recognize the importance of giving back to local communities. Through a Corporate Grant Program and an Employee Matching Gift Program, the Foundation supports eligible 501(c)(3) organizations in our communities with a focus on the health and human services, culture and the arts.
We also give back to communities outside the United States. We support the Vatsalya Foundation, which is a pioneer agency working with street children in Mumbai, India through its multilevel approach of outreach, child-to-child contact, contact centers and a shelter home. Our leadership team often visits the foundation and the children are often invited to visit our local offices for a day filled with fun activities such as a hand painting competition, traditional games and more.
Responsible Workplaces
A safe working environment for our employees is a top priority. That is why we implemented a global environmental, health and safety (EHS) management system. The Aptar EHS management system includes a digital platform to report incidents as well as track corrective actions. Aptar’s EHS management system includes an Ergonomics program and Behavior Based Safety (BBS) program, which promotes a culture of caring through accountability to self and to the team. Aptar achieved a year-over-year Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) reduction of 19% and Lost Time Frequency Rate (LTFR) reduction of 15% in 2021.
At the beginning of the pandemic, we implemented a COVID-19 Global Action Team that continues to meet regularly to identify and mitigate potential risks. We are following public and private sector policies and initiatives to reduce the transmission of COVID-19, such as the imposition of travel restrictions, the promotion of social distancing and enhanced safety protocols and the adoption of work-from-home arrangements.
We are also a proud member of Sedex, one of the world’s leading ethical trade service providers, striving to improve working conditions in global supply chains. Sedex provides for a global platform to report on labor standards and health and safety practices in order to share that information with key stakeholders, including our customers. All of our manufacturing sites completed a site-level social assessment through the Sedex platform as of 2021.
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10 | 2022 Proxy Statement |
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GOOD CORPORATE GOVERNANCE | |
Board Governance Highlights
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| Board Independence | | | | Tenure | | ||
| 90% | | | | LESS THAN FIVE YEARS | 6 YR | | |
| | | | | | MORE THAN FIVE YEARS | | |
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2022 Proxy Statement | 11 |
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RECOGNITIONS |
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Recognitions |
| Our Performance 2021-2022 |
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3BL Media | | Named to 3BL Media’s 100 Best Corporate Citizens ranking for our leadership and transparency in environmental, social and governance (ESG). | | |
Barron’s | | Included on Barron’s 2022 list of 100 Most Sustainable Companies in the U.S., marking our 4th consecutive year on the list. | | |
Ecovadis | | Awarded the coveted top 1% Platinum scoring for our achievements in the areas of environment, labor and human rights; ethics and sustainable procurement. | | |
Forbes | | Ranked in the top 10 of Forbes 2021 World’s Top Female-Friendly Companies. | | |
Forbes | | Ranked #1 on the Forbes’ Green Growth 50 2021 List. | | |
JUST Capital | | Named to JUST Capital’s America’s Most JUST Companies 2022, and ranked in the top 20 overall and first in our industry for the category of Leading on Environmental Impact. | | |
Le Point | | Named to Le Point Magazine’s 2022 Most Responsible Companies in France. | | |
Newsweek | | Ranked #10 on Newsweek’s America’s Most Responsible Companies 2022 list and #1 in our industry category. | |
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Aptar believes transparency is necessary for a responsible company. We publish an annual sustainability report, highlighting our efforts toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) according to the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards, and we provide a supplemental overview according to the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) standards as well. We include our climate-related financial disclosures within our annual CDP (formerly Carbon Disclosure Project) responses. We also publish an annual overview of our progress according to the United Nations Global Compact requirements. These disclosures can be found on the Sustainability page of the Aptar website at www.aptar.com. |
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12 | 2022 Proxy Statement |
Proposal 1: Election of Directors
The Board of Directors is currently comprised of ten members divided into three classes, with one class of directors elected each year for a three year term. The Board of Directors proposes the following nominees, all of whom are currently serving as directors, to be elected to a term expiring at the 2025 annual meeting.
If any of the director nominees is unable or fails to stand for election, the persons named in the proxy intend to vote for a substitute nominee nominated by the Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors.
We believe all of the members of the Board of Directors are individuals of outstanding character and sound judgment that have the business experience and acumen necessary to work together effectively and to make valuable contributions to the Board of Directors and management. As a U.S.‑based company with significant international operations, particularly in Europe, we seek to maintain a balanced Board consisting of directors that are U.S. citizens and directors that are citizens from countries other than the U.S. Additionally, we value the following attributes: operating experience in packaging or packaging-related businesses; skill sets which may include experience in finance, strategic planning, marketing, pharmaceutical products and manufacturing; diversity, including a mix of genders and multi‑cultural viewpoints; and previous board of directors experience.
Set forth below is biographical and other background information concerning each director nominee and each continuing director. This information includes each person’s principal occupation as well as a discussion of the specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills of each person that led to the Board of Directors’ conclusion that he or she should continue to serve as a director. In addition, set forth below is the year during which each person began serving on the Board of Directors and his or her age.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR each of the following nominees for director. |
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2022 Proxy Statement | 13 |
NOMINEES FOR ELECTION AT THIS MEETING TO TERMS EXPIRING 2025
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GIOVANNA KAMPOURI MONNAS Age: 66 Committees: Management Development & Compensation (Chair) | |
Career Highlights Ms. Kampouri Monnas is an advisor and serves on the boards of several global companies. She is a member of the board of directors and chair of the Governance Committee for the Hellenic Corporation of Assets and Participations S.A. (the enterprise that oversees all Greek state owned companies, services and assets), since February 2021. She currently serves as a director of Exea Ventures BV in Spain (a global family investment company with diverse holdings in fragrances, fashion, skin care, real estate and venture funds),and from 2019 to 2021 also served as its Chairman. Since 2006, Ms. Kampouri Monnas is also a director of Puig S.L. (a fashion, fragrance, cosmetics and skincare business). From 2006 to 2018, Ms. Kampouri Monnas was a member of the supervisory board and Chairman of the Compensation Committee of Randstad Holding NV (the global world leader in the HR services industry, based in Amsterdam). From 2015 to 2018, Ms. Kampouri Monnas was a director of Imerys S.A. (a Euronext-listed producer of industrial minerals, based in France). Her final executive role was President of Benckiser International, the German company that later was divided into Reckitt-Benckiser and Coty Inc. The Board of Directors concluded that Ms. Kampouri Monnas should continue to serve as a director of Aptar in part due to her senior leadership positions in leading global consumer goods companies, The Procter & Gamble Company and Joh. Benckiser GmbH, her expertise in the fragrance and cosmetic markets, which are particularly important to Aptar, and her global marketing experience. |
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ISABEL MAREY-SEMPER Age: 54 Committees: Corporate Governance | |
Career Highlights Ms. Marey-Semper currently serves as a senior advisor to Jolt Capital (a technology related private equity firm). She was a member of the Executive Committee of L’Oréal S.A. (a personal care company and world’s largest cosmetic company) in charge of Communications and Public Affairs from July 2015 to December 2017. Prior to this, Ms. Marey-Semper served from 2011 to 2015 as Vice President and Head, Advanced Research at L’Oréal. Prior to joining L’Oréal, Ms. Marey-Semper served in executive positions at established industrial companies such as Compagnie de Saint Gobain S.A. (a Euronext-listed French multinational manufacturer and distributor of building materials) and Stellantis N.V. (formerly Group PSA Peugeot Citroën, a Euronext-listed French multinational manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles). Ms. Marey-Semper is a director of the Imagine Institute (institute for medical research and treatment of genetic diseases), the Inria Foundation (research foundation dedicated to digital science and technology) and Damae Medical (a medical company focused on diagnosing skin tumors without the need for a biopsy). Ms. Marey-Semper was a director of Rexel (a Euronext-listed French distributor of electrical supplies) from 2014 to 2016. Ms. Marey-Semper has a PhD in neuropharmacology. The Board of Directors concluded that Ms. Marey-Semper should continue to serve as a director of Aptar in part due to her experience from holding senior executive positions at L’Oréal and her Board level experience with various medical companies, as well as her diverse and comprehensive experience in research, strategy, transformative programs and finance. | |
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14 | 2022 Proxy Statement |
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STEPHAN B. TANDA Age: 56 Committees: None | |
Career Highlights Mr. Tanda became President and Chief Executive Officer of Aptar in February 2017. Prior to this, Mr. Tanda served from 2007 to 2017 as an Executive Managing Board Director at Royal DSM NV (leading global supplier of ingredients and material solutions for the food, dietary supplement, personal care, medical device, automotive, paint, electronic and bio-material markets), where he was responsible for DSM’s Nutrition and Pharma activities, as well as DSM’s presence in the Americas and various corporate duties. Mr. Tanda is a director of Ingredion Incorporated (a NYSE-listed global supplier of high-quality food and industrial ingredient solutions). Mr. Tanda was a director of Patheon NV (formerly a NYSE-listed company that provided pharmaceutical development and manufacturing services) from March 2016 until the company was sold to Thermo Fisher Scientific in August 2017. The Board of Directors concluded that Mr. Tanda should continue to serve as a director of Aptar due in part to his role as President and Chief Executive Officer, his extensive global experience leading and building successful business-to-business organizations in several markets currently served by Aptar, as well as his transaction and integration experience. |
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2022 Proxy Statement | 15 |
DIRECTORS WHOSE PRESENT TERMS CONTINUE UNTIL 2023
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GEORGE L. FOTIADES Age: 68 Committees: Corporate Governance (Chair) | |
Career Highlights Mr. Fotiades has been Chairman of the Board since 2018. Mr. Fotiades was the President and CEO of Cantel Medical Corp. (a NYSE-listed manufacturer of infection prevention and control products) from March 2019 until its acquisition by STERIS plc in June 2021. Previously, he was Operating Partner in the healthcare practice of Five Arrows Capital Partners (Rothschild Merchant Banking) from April 2017 to March 2019. From 2007 to April 2017, he was Chairman and Operating Partner of Healthcare Investments at Diamond Castle Holdings LLC (private equity investing). He is currently a director of Prologis, Inc. (a NYSE-listed integrated distribution facilities and services) and previously was a director of Cantel Medical Corp. The Board of Directors concluded that Mr. Fotiades should continue to serve as a director of Aptar due to his extensive experience from previously held senior executive positions at leading healthcare and consumer product companies including Cardinal Health, Inc., Catalent Pharma Solutions, the former Warner-Lambert’s Consumer Health Products Group (now part of Johnson & Johnson) and Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Consumer Products, Japan division. The Board also considered his present and past board level experience with global organizations. |
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CANDACE MATTHEWS Age: 63 Committees: Corporate Governance | |
Career Highlights Ms. Matthews is the former Chief Reputation Officer for Amway Corp. (a company that sells health, beauty and home care products), having served in that role from June 2020 to June 2021, responsible for overseeing Amway’s global reputation strategy and corporate social responsibility. Ms. Matthews was also the executive sponsor of Amway’s Diversity & Inclusion employee networks. Prior to those roles, Ms. Matthews spent six years as Regional President of the Americas at Amway, heading all operations in North, Central and South America. Prior to joining Amway in 2007 as Chief Marketing Officer, Ms. Matthews served in executive positions at established multinational beauty companies, served as President of the SoftSheen-Carson, Consumer Products Division of L’Oréal USA, held a leadership role at The Coca-Cola Company and an innovation role at CIBA Vision Corporation. She also worked for several other notable companies such as Bausch + Lomb, Procter & Gamble and General Mills. Ms. Matthews currently serves on the board of directors of MillerKnoll, Inc. (formerly Herman Miller, Inc.) (a modern furniture design company), Société BIC S.A. (a consumer product manufacturer) and Spectrum Health Foundation. Ms. Matthews is a former director of Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen Inc. (a U.S. restaurant chain). The Board of Directors concluded that Ms. Matthews should continue to serve as a director of Aptar in part due to her executive background as a senior marketing executive of leading beauty and consumer products organizations, her public company director experience, her knowledge of and background in the beauty and consumer goods industry, which is particularly relevant for Aptar’s Beauty + Home business, and her strategic planning, governance, finance and senior management experience. |
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16 | 2022 Proxy Statement |
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B. CRAIG OWENS Age: 67 Committees: Audit, Management Development & Compensation | |
Career Highlights Mr. Owens was the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer of Campbell Soup Company (global producer and seller of canned soups and related products) from 2008 to 2014. Mr. Owens is a director of Crown Holdings, Inc. (a NYSE-listed designer, manufacturer and seller of packaging products and equipment for consumer goods and industrial products). He is a former director of Dean Foods Company (a U.S. food and beverage company) and J. C. Penney Company, Inc. (a U.S. department store chain). The Board of Directors concluded that Mr. Owens should continue to serve as a director of Aptar due to his extensive experience in the consumer food and beverage industries, which is particularly relevant for Aptar’s Food + Beverage business, as well as his significant expertise in financial reporting, accounting, corporate finance and capital markets. This experience has also led the Board to determine that Mr. Owens is an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by the SEC. |
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2022 Proxy Statement | 17 |
DIRECTORS WHOSE PRESENT TERMS CONTINUE UNTIL 2024
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ANDREAS C. KRAMVIS Age: 69 Committees: Audit | |
Career Highlights Mr. Kramvis is an operating partner at AEA Investors (a private equity firm). Mr. Kramvis was Vice Chairman of Honeywell International (a multi-industry company with presence in Aerospace, Automation and Controls, Chemicals and Automotive Industries) from April 2014 to February 2017. From 2008 to 2014, Mr. Kramvis was President and Chief Executive Officer of the Honeywell Performance Materials and Technologies group (a developer of processes and chemicals for oil refining, petrochemicals and a variety of high-purity, high-quality performance chemicals and materials). Mr. Kramvis is also a director of several privately held companies. From 2014 to 2019, Mr. Kramvis was a director of Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. (a NYSE-listed developer, manufacturer and seller of liquid and powder coatings). The Board of Directors concluded that Mr. Kramvis should continue to serve as a director of Aptar in part due to his experience from holding senior executive positions at Honeywell, as well as his management of several companies with global businesses across five different industries. This experience has also led the Board to determine that Mr. Kramvis is an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by the SEC. |
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MARITZA GOMEZ MONTIEL Age: 70 Committees: Audit (Chair) | |
Career Highlights Ms. Montiel served as Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman of Deloitte LLP from 2011 through her retirement in May 2014. During Ms. Montiel’s tenure at Deloitte, she was the Advisory Partner for many engagements in which Deloitte was the principal auditor. Ms. Montiel has over 30 years of experience in leading and performing audits of various entities. Ms. Montiel is a director of McCormick & Company, Inc. (a NYSE-listed spice, herb and flavoring manufacturer); Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (a NYSE-listed global cruise company) and Comcast Corporation (a Nasdaq-listed telecommunications company) and serves on the board of trustees of Baptist Health South Florida Inc. The Board of Directors concluded that Ms. Montiel should continue to serve as a director of Aptar due to her experience from holding senior management positions in a global accounting and consulting firm, and her years of experience in leading and performing audit engagements. This experience has also led the Board to determine that Ms. Montiel is an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by the SEC. |
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18 | 2022 Proxy Statement |
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JESSE WU Age: 65 Committees: Management Development & Compensation | |
Career Highlights Mr. Wu is an advisor to private equity firms. From 2003 through 2016, Mr. Wu held senior leadership roles at Johnson & Johnson (multinational medical devices, pharmaceutical and consumer packaged goods manufacturing company), including Chairman of Johnson & Johnson China and Worldwide Chairman of the company’s Consumer Healthcare Group. Mr. Wu is currently a director at LianBio (a Nasdaq-listed biotechnology company dedicated to bringing innovative medicines to patients in China and other major Asian markets) having served on the board of directors since October 2021. Mr. Wu was a director of The a2 Milk Company Limited (an ASX – and NZX-listed company that markets a2 milk and infant nutritional products globally) from May 2017 to February 2021, Shanghai Kehua Bio-Engineering Co. Ltd. (a SZSE-listed manufacturer of in vitro diagnostic products) from May 2017 to June 2020, and Li-Ning Company Limited (an HKSE-listed athletic shoes and sporting goods company) from August 2015 to March 2018. The Board of Directors concluded that Mr. Wu should continue to serve as a director of Aptar due to his knowledge of and background in the pharma industry and in consumer products and his international experience, including his extensive experience working in China. |
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RALF K. WUNDERLICH Age: 55 Committees: Corporate Governance | |
Career Highlights Mr. Wunderlich is an independent consultant and a senior advisor to private equity firms. He is currently a director of Essentra PLC (a LSE-listed supplier of plastic and fibre products), Huhtamaki Oyj (a Nasdaq Helsinki-listed global food packaging company) and Shepherd Building Group Ltd. (a privately held U.K. construction company). He is a former member of Amcor Limited’s Global Executive Team and former President of the business group Amcor Flexibles Asia Pacific (packaging solutions including healthcare and pharma packaging). Mr. Wunderlich also formerly served as a director of LINPAC Group and AMVIG Group. The Board of Directors concluded that Mr. Wunderlich should continue to serve as a director of Aptar in part due to his senior executive positions at leading global packaging companies, his knowledge of and background in the packaging industry and his international experience in working with and from various European, American and Asian countries. |
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2022 Proxy Statement | 19 |
Corporate Governance Principles Code of Conduct Director Independence Standards Board Committee Charters | | Director access to management and independent advisors Director orientation and continuing education Succession planning Director responsibilities Director qualification standards Annual evaluations of the Board & committees Board & committee composition Director compensation |
Our Corporate Governance Documents Aptar’s corporate governance documents are available through the Corporate Governance link on the Investor Relations page of the Aptar website at: investors.aptar.com, and include the following: · Corporate Governance Principles · Code of Conduct · Director Independence Standards · Board Committee Charters The information provided on our website is not part of this proxy statement and is therefore not incorporated herein by reference. |
| Corporate Governance Principles The Board has adopted a set of Corporate Governance Principles to provide guidelines for Aptar and the Board to promote effective corporate governance. The Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for overseeing and reviewing the Corporate Governance Principles and recommending any changes to the Board. The Corporate Governance Principles cover topics including, but not limited to: · Director access to management and independent advisors · Director orientation and continuing education · Succession planning · Director responsibilities · Director qualification standards · Annual evaluations of the Board & committees · Board & committee composition · Director compensation |
‑standing principles of conduct that Aptar follows to ensure that business is conducted with integrity and in compliance with the law, including, but not limited to: ● ● ● ● ● ● | | |
Code of Conduct Ethical business conduct is a shared value of our Board, management and employees. Aptar’s Code of Conduct applies to our Board as well as our employees and officers, including our principal executive officer and our principal financial and accounting officer. The Code of Conduct summarizes the long‑standing principles of conduct that Aptar follows to ensure that business is conducted with integrity and in compliance with the law, including, but not limited to: ● Conflicts of interest and fair dealing ● Disclosure obligations ● Confidentiality obligations ● Prohibition of insider trading ● Compliance with all laws, rules and regulations ● Confidential, anonymous submission of concerns |
| Code of Conduct Aptar encourages all employees, officers and directors to promptly report any violations of the Code of Conduct to the appropriate persons identified in the Code of Conduct. In the event that an amendment to, or a waiver from, a provision of the Code of Conduct that applies to any of our directors or executive officers is necessary, Aptar intends to post such information on its website as and when required by the SEC and the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”). Policy Against Hedging and Pledging Our Board has adopted a policy that prohibits executive officers and directors, and discourages employees, from engaging in hedging or pledging transactions involving any equity security of Aptar. |
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20 | 2022 Proxy Statement |
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Human Capital | | Diversity, Equity & Inclusion |
Our key human capital management objectives are to attract, retain and develop the highest quality talent. To support these objectives, our human resources programs are designed to develop talent to prepare them for critical roles and leadership positions for the future; reward and support employees through competitive pay, benefit, and incentive programs; enhance our culture through efforts aimed at making the workplace more engaging and inclusive; acquire talent and facilitate internal talent mobility to create a high-performing, diverse workforce; and evolve and invest in technology, tools, and resources to enable employees at work. | | At Aptar, our goal is to promote a diverse and inclusive culture. We appointed a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion ("DE&I") Global Leader in 2020 and developed a DE&I network of Aptar employees to assist in the implementation of DE&I initiatives within their respective regions. Under the DE&I network, ALIGN, a global Women's Network, was launched and Aptar is continuing to identify and develop other employee resource groups in the future. |
Common Stock Ownership Guidelines
The Board has adopted stock ownership guidelines that require all non-executive directors to hold shares of Aptar common stock having a value of at least five times the annual cash retainer for a non-executive director.
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Board Member: | | Requirement: | | Current | ||
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Non-Executive | | 5 | × | Annual | = | $500,000 |
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Under the stock ownership guidelines, directors must achieve the required level of ownership within five years from becoming a director. As of March 11, 2022, the record date, every non-employee director (including the Chairman of the Board) is either in compliance with the guidelines or within the five-year phase-in period.
Board and Committee Structure
The Chairman of the Board is an independent director who is not an executive officer or employee of the Company. The Company believes that having an independent Chairman enhances the oversight ability of the Board. An independent Chairman can also provide stability and continuity during senior management transitions.
Audit |
| The Board has three primary committees, all with the following characteristics: · Gender and ethnically diverse · Governed by a written charter approved by the Board · Comprised solely of independent directors · Decisions and actions reported to the full Board following each meeting An affirmative vote of at least 70% of the Board is required to change the size, membership or powers of these committees, to fill vacancies in them, or to dissolve them. |
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Management Development & Compensation | | |
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Corporate | | |
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Audit | |
Members: | Meetings held in 2021: 8 |
M. Gomez Montiel, Chair | |
Key Characteristics: ● Each member satisfies the heightened independence standards applicable to audit committee service ● Each member is an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by the SEC ● Oversees the financial reporting process, system of internal controls and audit process ● Reviews annual and interim financial statements | ● Reviews the qualifications, independence and audit scope of the independent registered public accounting firm ● Responsible for the appointment, retention, termination, compensation and oversight of the independent registered public accounting firm ● Reviews process for monitoring compliance with laws, regulations and the Code of Conduct and compliance risks, including related to cybersecurity and business continuity ● Approves all related person transactions in accordance with the Related Person Transactions Policy |
Under the corporate governance requirements of the NYSE listing standards, if an audit committee member simultaneously serves on the audit committee of more than three public companies, the board must determine that such simultaneous service would not impair the ability of such member to effectively serve on the listed company’s audit committee. The Board has determined that the service of Ms. Montiel on the audit committee of more than three public companies does not impair her ability to serve effectively as a member of our Audit Committee.
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22 | 2022 Proxy Statement |
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Management Development and Compensation Committee | |
Members: | Meetings held in 2021: 6 |
G. Kampouri Monnas, Chair | |
Key Characteristics: ● Each member satisfies the heightened independence standards applicable to compensation committee service ● Discharges the Board’s responsibilities relating to compensation of the Company’s executives ● May not delegate its authority other than to subcommittees ● Reviews and recommends to the Board compensation plans, policies and programs ● Approves CEO and executive officer compensation, and employment and severance agreements, including change‑in‑control provisions ● Provides input and recommendations to the Board regarding the performance objectives for the CEO and other executive officers and their actual performance against such objectives ● Annually reviews the succession plans affecting corporate and other key management positions ● Reviews periodically the Company’s key human resources policies and practices relating to talent sourcing, talent development programs, and organizational engagement and effectiveness | ● Monitors the Company’s policies, objectives and programs related to diversity, and reviews periodically the Company’s diversity performance in light of appropriate measures ● Reviews changing legislation and trends relating to compensation and broader management practices and evaluates impact on the Company ● Approves grants and/or awards of stock options, restricted stock units, long-term performance incentives based on total shareholder return, and other forms of equity-based compensation ● Receives recommendations annually from the CEO regarding the compensation levels of our other executive officers, including salary, annual performance incentives and equity compensation ● None of the members in 2021 had interlocking relationships within the meaning of SEC rules |
For further information on this committee’s procedures for consideration of executive compensation, see our “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.”
Under the Management Development and Compensation Committee charter, this committee has the authority to retain compensation consultants, independent legal counsel and other outside advisers as deemed necessary. For 2021, the Management Development and Compensation Committee engaged Pay Governance to be the Management Development and Compensation Committee’s compensation consultant. The Management Development and Compensation Committee has determined that Pay Governance is independent according to the adviser independence factors outlined by the NYSE and the SEC.
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2022 Proxy Statement | 23 |
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Corporate Governance Committee | |
Members: | Meetings held in 2021: 4 |
G. Fotiades, Chair | |
Key Characteristics: ● Comprised solely of independent directors ● Identifies, evaluates and recommends to the Board individuals qualified to stand for election as directors, including nominations received from Board members, stockholders or outside parties ● Develops and recommends to the Board, Aptar’s corporate governance principles and standards to be applied in determining director independence ● Oversees annual evaluations of the Board, its committees and management, and the effectiveness of the Board as a working group | ● Reviews and recommends to the Board appropriate compensation for non-employee directors, taking into consideration, among other items, director compensation levels of companies with similar annual revenues as Aptar ● Makes recommendations to the Board regarding changes to the size and composition of the Board or any Board committee ● Reviews the Company's efforts with regard to environmental, social, and governance matters, including with respect to the Company's annual sustainability report |
For further information on this committee’s procedures for director nominations, see “Nomination of Directors.”
Risk Oversight Areas ● Operational Risk ● Compensation Risk ● Reputational Risk ● Cybersecurity Risk ● ESG Risk ● Macro and Economic Factors Risk |
| The Board is responsible for the Company’s risk oversight, which is designed to drive the identification, analysis, discussion and reporting of our high priority enterprise risks. The risk oversight program facilitates constructive dialog at the senior management and Board levels to proactively identify and manage enterprise risks. In connection with this process, the Board receives, analyzes and discusses a presentation annually that is prepared by senior management. This presentation includes an assessment and discussion of various risks, including but not limited to: operational risk, compensation risk, reputational risk, cybersecurity risk as well as risks related to macro and economic factors. In addition, during 2021, the Board and the Corporate Governance Committee reviewed and discussed the Company’s material disclosures regarding ESG matters and the Company’s controls, procedures and processes for tracking and monitoring such disclosures. |
Risk Assessment of Cybersecurity Threats to Operations
Increased global cybersecurity threats and more sophisticated, targeted computer crime could pose a risk to our operations. Aptar places great importance on information security, including cybersecurity, to protect against external threats and malicious insiders. Our cybersecurity strategy prioritizes detection, analysis and response to known, anticipated or unexpected cyber threats, effective management of cyber risks and resilience against cyber incidents. We maintain an information security program consisting of organizational, operational, administrative, physical and technical safeguards appropriate to the scope and nature of our business. We continue to assess potential threats and make investments seeking to reduce the risk of these threats by implementing a broad set of security measures, including comprehensive monitoring of our networks and systems, rapid detection, response and threat management capabilities and ensuring strong data protection standards are in place to safeguard our critical information assets.
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24 | 2022 Proxy Statement |
Security and Data Privacy awareness and training is provided at least annually for Aptar employees, which is designed to help employees recognize information security and cybersecurity concerns and respond appropriately. Management briefed the Audit Committee on a quarterly basis in 2021 regarding our information security programs and intends to continue those quarterly briefings in 2022. As part of its oversight responsibilities, the Audit Committee regularly discusses and reviews with management, among other items, Aptar’s compliance and cybersecurity programs. We also periodically test our systems for vulnerabilities and regularly rely on third parties to conduct such tests. An independent review of our cybersecurity program has been assessed against the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) cybersecurity framework. In addition, we maintain cybersecurity insurance as part of our overall insurance portfolio.
Risk Assessment of Compensation Policies and Practices
The Company has concluded that there are not any compensation policies or practices that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. The Board concurred with this conclusion. In conducting its risk assessment related to compensation policies and practices, the Company considered, among other things: that the policies and practices do not offer the opportunity for excessive awards; the Company has reasonable stock ownership guidelines; the policies and practices are reviewed and approved by the Management Development and Compensation Committee; the Company has an established, robust control environment; and the Company conducts a regular monthly business review that monitors quality of reporting and prevents excessive risk taking.
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| Independence of Directors Our Corporate Governance Principles provide that the Board must be composed of a substantial majority of independent directors with an objective of having the Board consist entirely of independent directors (other than the CEO). No director qualifies as independent unless the Board affirmatively determines that the director has no material relationship with Aptar either directly or indirectly as a partner, stockholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with Aptar. |
9 of 10 current directors are independent in accordance with the NYSE listing standards
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Director | Independent |
G. Fotiades | ✔ |
M. Gomez Montiel | ✔ |
G. Kampouri Monnas | ✔ |
A. Kramvis | ✔ |
I. Marey-Semper | ✔ |
C. Matthews | ✔ |
B. Owens | ✔ |
J. Wu | ✔ |
R. Wunderlich | ✔ |
S. Tanda* | |
* | Current President and CEO |
In addition, the Board determined that Dr. Smith, who served as a director during 2021, was independent. The Board has made its independence determination based on the following categorical standards, in addition to any other relevant facts and circumstances. These standards provide that a director generally will not be independent if:
● | The director is or has been an employee of the Company within the last three years or has an immediate family member who is or has been an executive officer of the Company within the last three years. |
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2022 Proxy Statement | 25 |
● | The director has received or an immediate family member has received, during any twelve‑month period within the last three years, more than $120,000 in direct compensation from the Company other than director and committee fees and pension or other forms of deferred compensation for prior service (provided such compensation is not contingent in any way on continued service). |
● | The director is, or has an immediate family member who is, a current partner of a firm that is the Company’s internal or external auditor (“Firm”). |
● | The director is a current employee of such Firm. |
● | The director has an immediate family member who is a current employee of such Firm and who personally works on the Company’s audit. |
● | The director was, or has an immediate family member who was, within the last three years but is no longer a partner or employee of such Firm and personally worked on the Company’s audit within that time. |
● | The director or an immediate family member is, or has been within the last three years, employed as an executive officer of another company where any of the Company’s present executive officers at the same time serves or served on that company’s compensation committee. |
● | The director is a current employee or an immediate family member is a current executive officer of another company that has made payments to, or received payments from, the Company for property or services in an amount which, in any of the last three fiscal years, exceeds the greater of $1 million, or 2% of such other company’s consolidated gross revenues. |
● | The director or an immediate family member is, or has been within the last three years, a director or executive officer of another company that is indebted to the Company, or to which the Company is indebted, if the total amount of either company’s indebtedness for borrowed money to the other is or was 2% or more of the other company’s total consolidated assets. |
● | The director or an immediate family member is currently an officer, director or trustee of a charitable organization that in any of the last three fiscal years received from the Company, or any executive officer of the Company, annual charitable contributions to the organization that exceeded the greater of $1 million, or 2% of such charitable organization’s gross revenue for the last completed fiscal year. |
● | The Board considers the following to be immaterial when making independence determinations: |
● | If a director is an officer, director or trustee of a charitable organization or entity to which the Company has made grants or contributions in the past year of less than $100,000. |
Executive Sessions
Independent directors meet regularly in executive sessions without management. The non-executive Chairman of the Board, Mr. Fotiades, presides over these sessions. An executive session is held in conjunction with each regularly scheduled Board meeting and other sessions may be held from time to time as required.
Nomination of Directors
In identifying and evaluating nominees for director, the Corporate Governance Committee takes into account the applicable requirements for directors under the Exchange Act, and the listing standards of the NYSE. The Corporate Governance Committee also takes into account the outside positions of the director nominees, together with their contributions to Aptar’s Board and their other business and professional commitments, to ensure that each director had, and will have, sufficient capacity to serve on Aptar’s Board.
The Board has established a maximum age limit for director nominees. Nominees must be 74 years old or younger at the time of election or re-election.
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26 | 2022 Proxy Statement |
Nominee Criteria In addition to the factors described above, the Corporate Governance Committee may take into consideration such factors and criteria as it deems appropriate, including, but not limited to: | | ||
● Character ● International Perspectives & Cultural Diversity | ● Judgment ● Gender Diversity | ● Overall Board Diversity ● Business Experience & Acumen | |
In addition to candidates recommended by members of the Board or management, the Corporate Governance Committee also considers individuals recommended by stockholders. The Corporate Governance Committee evaluates candidates recommended for director by stockholders in the same way that it evaluates any nominee recommended by members of the Board or management. In order to recommend a candidate, stockholders must submit the individual’s name and qualifications in writing to the Corporate Governance Committee (in care of the Secretary at Aptar’s principal executive offices at 265 Exchange Drive, Suite 100, Crystal Lake, Illinois 60014) and otherwise in accordance with all of the procedures outlined under “Other Matters—Stockholder Proposals and Nominations” for a director nomination.
The Corporate Governance Committee may engage outside advisers to identify potential director candidates from time to time. The effectiveness of the nomination process is evaluated by the Board each year as part of its annual self‑evaluation and more formally by the Corporate Governance Committee as it evaluates and identifies director candidates.
Majority Voting Policy
Our amended and restated by-laws require majority voting for the election of directors in uncontested elections. This means that a director nominee in an uncontested election must receive a number of votes “FOR” that director’s election that exceeds the number of votes cast “AGAINST” that director’s election. Our Corporate Governance Principles further provide that any incumbent director who does not receive a majority of “FOR” votes will promptly tender to the Board his or her resignation from the Board. The Corporate Governance Committee will consider the tendered resignation and recommend to the Board whether to accept or reject the tendered resignation, or whether other action should be taken. The Board will consider the recommendation and publicly disclose its decision within 120 days after the annual meeting. The director who tenders his or her resignation will not participate in the recommendation of the Corporate Governance Committee or the decision of the Board with respect to his or her resignation.
Communications with the Board of Directors
The Board has established a process for stockholders and other interested parties to communicate with the Board or an individual director, including the non-executive Chairman or the independent directors as a group. A stockholder or other interested party may contact the Board or an individual director by writing to their attention at Aptar’s principal executive offices at 265 Exchange Drive, Suite 100, Crystal Lake, Illinois 60014. Communications received in writing are distributed to the Board or to individual directors as appropriate in accordance with procedures approved by Aptar’s independent directors.
The Board met 8 times in 2021. During 2021, no current director attended fewer than 75% of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board held during such director’s term and the committees on which each director then served. Aptar does not have a formal policy regarding director attendance at the annual meeting of stockholders. Messrs. Fotiades and Tanda attended the 2021 annual meeting.
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2022 Proxy Statement | 27 |
Current Committee Membership and Meetings Held in 2021
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Name | Audit | Management Development and Compensation | Corporate Governance |
G. Fotiades (I) | | | C |
M. Gomez Montiel (I) | C | | |
G. Kampouri Monnas (I) | | C | |
A. Kramvis (I) | M | | |
I. Marey-Semper (I) | | | M |
C. Matthews (I) | | | M |
B. Owens (I) | M | M | |
S. Tanda | | | |
J. Wu (I) | | M | |
R. Wunderlich (I) | | | M |
Number of Meetings in 2021 | 8 | 6 | 4 |
I = Independent; C= Committee Chair; M = Committee Member
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28 | 2022 Proxy Statement |
Annual Independent Director Compensation |
| Additional Annual Cash Retainers for Committee Service |
| Audit Committee ● Chair: $17,000 ● Member: $11,000 Management Development & Compensation Committee ● Chair: $15,000 ● Member: $7,000 Corporate Governance Committee ● Chair: $10,000 ● Member: $7,000 |
Cash
● | Each non-employee Board member received an annual retainer of $100,000. |
● | The Chairman, who is not an executive of Aptar, received an annual retainer of $205,000. |
● | These amounts are paid to directors after they are elected by shareholders at our annual meeting |
Equity
● | Each non-employee Board member received an equity grant under the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan with a grant date fair value equal to approximately $150,000, except for the Chairman of the Board, who received an equity grant with a grant date fair value equal to approximately $170,000. |
● | Accordingly, on May 5, 2021, each then-serving non‑employee director (other than the Chairman of the Board) was granted 983 RSUs and the Chairman of the Board was granted 1,114 RSUs and, on May 28, 2021, Ms. Matthews was granted 1,029 RSUs in connection with her appointment to the Board. The 2021 RSUs vest on May 3, 2022, subject to the non‑employee director’s continued service through such date. |
Other
● | Each director is eligible to participate in Aptar’s matching gift program, which matches eligible charitable donations by employees and non‑employee directors up to an aggregate of $6,000 annually per person. |
● | Employees of Aptar do not receive any additional compensation for serving as members of the Board or any of its committees. Each director is reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses incurred while attending Board and committee meetings. No retirement benefits or perquisites are provided to non-employee directors. |
The non-employee director compensation program is designed to facilitate the continued attraction and retention of directors with the skills, expertise and experience valued by Aptar and position the total compensation for directors near the market median for the general industry survey data and Aptar’s peer group used to evaluate executive compensation (described below under “Compensation Determination” in the
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2022 Proxy Statement | 29 |
“Compensation Discussion and Analysis” discussion). No changes in compensation levels or design were made to the non-employee director compensation program as compared to 2020, except that (i) the annual equity grant for each non-employee director increased by $10,000 in grant date fair value and (ii) the Chairman’s cash retainer increased by $15,000, based on a review of the Company’s Peer Group and other relevant market data.
The following table includes fees paid in cash with respect to 2021 and the grant date fair value of RSUs granted during 2021 to each non-employee director. Mr. Tanda, our Chief Executive Officer, does not receive additional compensation for his service as a director of Aptar. Please see the 2021 Summary Compensation Table for the compensation received by Mr. Tanda in his capacity as Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
2021 Director Compensation
| | | | | | | | |
| | Fees Earned | | | | All Other | | |
| | or Paid in Cash | | Stock Awards | | Compensation | | Total |
Name |
| ($) |
| ($)(1)(2) |
| ($)(3) |
| ($) |
G. Fotiades | | 205,000 | | 170,000 | | 2,000 | | 377,000 |
M. Gomez Montiel | | 128,000 | | 150,000 | | — | | 278,000 |
G. Kampouri Monnas |
| 122,000 |
| 150,000 |
| — |
| 272,000 |
A. Kramvis |
| 111,000 |
| 150,000 |
| 4,000 |
| 265,000 |
I. Marey-Semper | | 107,000 | | 150,000 | | — | | 257,000 |
C. Matthews |
| 107,000 |
| 150,000 |
| — |
| 257,000 |
B. Owens |
| 118,000 |
| 150,000 |
| 6,000 |
| 274,000 |
J. Smith |
| 117,000 |
| 150,000 |
| — |
| 267,000 |
J. Wu |
| 107,000 |
| 150,000 |
| — |
| 257,000 |
R. Wunderlich |
| 107,000 |
| 150,000 |
| — |
| 257,000 |
(1) | The amounts reported in this column represent the grant date fair value of RSUs granted during 2021, calculated using the closing market price of our common stock on May 5, 2021 ($152.64) for each then-serving director and on May 28, 2021 ($145.78) for Ms. Matthews. As of December 31, 2021, Mr. Fotiades held 1,114 RSUs, Ms. Matthews held 1,029 RSUs and each other non-employee director held 983 RSUs. Dr. Smith did not hold any RSUs at December 31, 2021. |
(2) | The aggregate number of options which were granted prior to May 6, 2015 and which remained outstanding as of December 31, 2021 for each non-employee director is as follows: G. Fotiades—9,500; A. Kramvis—9,500; and J. Smith’s surviving spouse—19,000. None of the other non-employee directors held outstanding options as of December 31, 2021. |
(3) | Amounts reported include charitable contributions by Aptar under Aptar’s matching gift program. |
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Proposal 2—Advisory Vote to Approve Executive Compensation
Pursuant to Section 14A of the Exchange Act, Aptar stockholders are being offered the opportunity to cast a non-binding advisory vote at the annual meeting to approve the compensation of Aptar’s Named Executive Officers (“NEOs”) as disclosed in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis (“CD&A”) and tabular disclosures of this proxy statement. This is not a vote on the Company’s general compensation policies or the compensation of the Board. We currently intend to submit an advisory vote on the compensation of our NEOs to our stockholders annually.
Aptar’s compensation philosophy and objectives are to fairly reward our executives for growing our business and increasing value to stockholders and to retain our experienced management team.
The overall compensation program for NEOs includes an annual performance incentive element that rewards the NEOs for the Company’s short-term performance and improvement in Company performance from the prior year, as well as equity-based elements (RSUs and long-term performance incentive awards in the form of performance-based RSUs, or PRSUs) that provide for long-term compensation that is driven by our share performance and, therefore, is aligned with our stockholders’ interests. The specific objectives of our compensation program are that a substantial portion of the NEOs’ compensation should be performance-based and should be delivered in the form of equity-based awards. Our CD&A describes our compensation philosophy and objectives in more detail.
The Board of Directors values the opinions of our stockholders. Although the resolution is advisory and non-binding, the Board will consider the outcome of the advisory vote when making future compensation decisions.
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The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the following non-binding resolution: “Resolved, that the compensation of the Company’s NEOs, as disclosed pursuant to the executive compensation disclosure rules of the SEC, including the CD&A, tabular disclosures, and other narrative executive compensation disclosures in this proxy statement, is hereby approved.” |
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Proposal 3—Ratification of the Appointment of PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP as the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for 2022
Aptar is asking stockholders to ratify the Audit Committee’s appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) as Aptar’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP has audited Aptar’s consolidated financial statements annually for over 25 years.
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The Board of Directors and the Audit Committee recommend a vote FOR the ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for 2022. |
As described in its charter, the Audit Committee is responsible for the appointment, retention, termination, compensation and oversight of Aptar’s independent registered public accounting firm. On an annual basis, the Audit Committee considers the engagement of the independent registered public accounting firm. In selecting PwC as Aptar’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2022, the Audit Committee evaluated, among other factors:
● | PwC’s performance during fiscal year 2021 and in previous fiscal years, including the quality of PwC’s services, the sufficiency of PwC’s resources and the quality of the Audit Committee’s ongoing discussions with PwC; |
● | PwC’s tenure as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and the depth of its understanding of our business, accounting policies and practices and internal control over financial reporting; |
● | the professional qualifications of PwC, the lead audit engagement partner and other key engagement partners; |
● | the scope of PwC’s independence program and its processes for maintaining its independence; |
● | the scope of PwC's internal quality control program and the result of its most recent quality control reviews, including reviews by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board; |
● | the appropriateness of PwC’s fees for audit and non-audit services (on both an absolute basis and as compared to its peer firms); and |
● | the relative benefits, challenges, overall advisability and potential impact of selecting a different independent registered public accounting firm. |
PwC rotates its lead audit engagement partner every five years; the Audit Committee interviews proposed candidates and selects the lead audit engagement partner.
Representatives of PwC are expected to attend the annual meeting and will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so. It is also expected that those representatives will be available to respond to appropriate questions.
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32 | 2022 Proxy Statement |
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FEES
The following table sets forth the aggregate fees (rounded to the nearest thousand) charged to Aptar by PwC for audit services rendered in connection with the audited consolidated financial statements and reports for the 2021 and 2020 fiscal years and for other services rendered during the 2021 and 2020 fiscal years to Aptar and its subsidiaries.
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Fee Category |
| 2021 |
| % of Total |
| 2020 |
| % of Total | ||||
Audit Fees |
| $ | 4,014,000 |
| 92 | % |
| $ | 3,944,000 |
| 85 | % |
Audit-Related Fees | | | 5,000 |
| 1 | % | | | 153,000 |
| 3 | % |
Tax Fees | | | 192,000 |
| 4 | % | | | 295,000 |
| 6 | % |
All Other Fees | | | 145,000 |
| 3 | % | | | 273,000 |
| 6 | % |
Total Fees |
| $ | 4,356,000 |
| 100 | % |
| $ | 4,665,000 |
| 100 | % |
Audit Fees primarily represent amounts billed for the audit of Aptar’s annual financial statements, including statutory audits of the financial statements at certain non-U.S. locations, the audit of our internal control over financial reporting, reviews of our quarterly financial statements, providing consents and reviewing documents to be filed with the SEC.
Audit-Related Fees primarily represent amounts billed for services rendered in connection with the preparation of Aptar’s Form S-3 registration statement.
Tax Fees primarily represent amounts billed for services related to tax advice on the Company’s global tax structure, which includes U.S./international tax advisory and transfer pricing related services. Tax Fees also include tax compliance and preparation services including federal, state and international tax compliance and assistance with tax audits and appeals. Lastly, Tax Fees includes tax due diligence services in support of the Company's acquisition related activity.
All Other Fees primarily represent financial due diligence services performed in connection with the Company’s acquisition activity and for subscriptions to virtual accounting services.
The Audit Committee’s policies and procedures require pre‑approval for all audit and permissible non-audit services to be performed by Aptar’s independent registered public accounting firm. These services are pre‑approved by the entire Audit Committee; however, the Audit Committee may delegate to one or more of its members the authority to grant such pre‑approvals provided that any such decision of such member or members must be presented to the full Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting.
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2022 Proxy Statement | 33 |
Executive Officer Compensation
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Executive Summary
Following is a discussion and analysis of our compensation programs as they apply to our NEOs for 2021, namely:
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|
|
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| |||||
Stephan B. Tanda President and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) | | Robert W. Kuhn Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) | | Gael Touya President of Aptar Pharma segment | | Marc Prieur President of Aptar Beauty + Home Segment | | Xiangwei Gong President of Aptar Asia |
Financial and Operational Highlights
In 2021, Aptar achieved the following:
| | | | | | | | | |
$3.2 billion Record Reported Sales | | | 28th year 28th consecutive year of paying an increased aggregate annual dividend | | | $244 million Annual net income | | | $3.61 Annual diluted earnings per share |
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34 | 2022 Proxy Statement |
Executive Compensation Highlights
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| Independent Management Development and Compensation Committee | | Compensation Consultant retained by and reporting directly to the Management Development and Compensation Committee | | Pay that is designed to be competitive, with a significant portion delivered as performance-based or at‑risk compensation. | | Emphasis on future pay opportunity vs. current pay | | Mix of performance metrics supportive of our business strategy and compensation objectives | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| TARGET PAY “AT-RISK” | | TARGET PAY IS LONG-TERM | | ||
| | | ||||
| A significant portion of our targeted annual compensation is performance-based and/or subject to forfeiture (“at-risk”) (defined as short-term incentives + time and performance-based long-term incentives), with emphasis on variable pay to reward short- and long-term performance measured against pre-established objectives determined by our Company’s strategy and aligned with stockholder value creation. | | Our long-term incentive awards are equity-based and have multi-year vesting provisions to encourage retention. | | ||
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2022 Proxy Statement | 35 |
The following table lists the material elements of Aptar’s 2021 executive compensation program applicable to the NEOs. The Management Development and Compensation Committee believes that the design of Aptar’s executive compensation program balances fixed and variable compensation elements, provides alignment with Aptar’s short and long‑term financial and strategic priorities through the annual and long-term incentive programs, and provides alignment with stockholder interests. Because this table represents elements of our annual direct compensation program, it does not include any one-time awards, such as retention awards, promotion grants, or performance recognition awards.
| Element | Description | Purpose | Factors Influencing Amount |
| Salary | ● Fixed cash compensation ● Reviewed annually and adjusted if appropriate | ● Facilitate attraction and retention ● Recognize individual’s skills, competencies and experience | ● Experience, the executive’s local market data, individual role and responsibilities and individual performance |
At-Risk | Annual Short-Term Incentives (“STI”) | ● Variable cash incentive compensation based on improvements in performance from the prior year, with the performance goals the same as used in prior years to enhance focus ● Company and Segment/unit performance measured by improvements in two indicators: Adjusted EBITDA and core sales (1) ● Emphasizes profit (65%) over sales (35%) ● Capped payouts if maximum goals are met ● Participants may elect to receive up to 50% of STI in RSUs, with additional RSUs granted equal to 20% of elected amount. | ● Provide an incentive to achieve performance goals that are deemed critical to the business, our strategy and aligned with stockholder value creation ● Motivate improvement in Company performance from the prior year | ● Annual target opportunity determined annually based on market data, individual role and responsibilities; ● Payout based on Company and Segment/unit performance compared to prior year |
| Long-term Incentives (“LTI”) | PRSUs vest based on Company performance over 3 years in two areas: ● Adjusted ROIC based on internally established objectives (2) ● TSR relative to the S&P 400 Mid Cap companies (3) ● Emphasizes TSR (65%) over ROIC (35%) | ● Build ownership and align with stockholders’ interests ● Provide an incentive to achieve performance goals that are deemed critical to the business, our strategy and aligned with stockholder value creation | ● Intended target amount of all LTI awards is based on individual role and responsibilities and U.S. market data; for PRSUs, vesting only occurs if a threshold level of achievement is attained |
| | RSUs | ● Build ownership and align with stockholders’ interests ● Facilitate retention ● Reward long term success and growth | ● Intended target amount of all LTI awards is based on individual role and responsibilities and market data; vesting of RSU awards over a three year term. |
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36 | 2022 Proxy Statement |
(1) | For Touya, Prieur and Gong, a portion of their STI is based on the Adjusted EBITDA improvement and core sales growth in the NEOs’ areas of responsibility. See “Short-Term Incentives” below. |
(2) | Adjusted return on invested capital (or Adjusted ROIC) is defined as (i) adjusted earnings before net interest (but after taxes), which excludes the business transformation charges (restructuring initiatives), acquisition-related costs, purchase accounting adjustments related to acquisitions and investments and net unrealized investment gains and losses related to observable market price changes on equity securities, divided by (ii) the Company's average capital (i.e., equity excluding currency effects + net debt). The target is adjusted down for 0.2% for every $100M in acquisitions over the 3-year performance period. The 0.2% adjustment assumes that over the performance period, the acquisition will become accretive to returns. |
(3) | Total shareholder return (or TSR) is measured by price appreciation of the Company's common stock over a three year performance period and reinvestment of dividends, and is compared to the TSR of the S&P 400 MidCap Index over such three year performance period. |
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2022 Proxy Statement | 37 |
Compensation Philosophy and Objectives
|
Our compensation philosophy and objectives are, first and foremost, to fairly and competitively compensate our executives for growing our business and increasing value for stockholders and, secondly, to retain our experienced management team. |
We believe that the following factors are supportive of our compensation objectives:
| | | | ||
What We Do | What We Do Not Do | ||||
| ● Pay program designed to be reasonable, performance-based and supportive of our business strategy and compensation objectives ● Significant amount of pay that is at-risk (both annual and long-term), with a substantial amount provided in equity (and therefore aligned with stockholders) ● Stock ownership guidelines, limits on executive officer stock trading and prohibition of hedging or pledging Aptar equity securities ● Employment and change‑in‑control agreements that are designed to be competitive in markets in which we compete for executive talent ● Beginning with the 2022 annual equity awards, our annual equity grants contain double trigger vesting provisions in the event of a change in control ● Effective February 2022, we maintain a stand-alone claw back policy allowing for the recoupment of compensation in the event of a financial statement restatement | | ● Tax gross‑up agreements with NEOs, other than those related to relocation benefits or expatriate assignments ● Significant perquisites other than common perquisites provided in the context of expatriate assignments or related to relocation ● Practices or design features that encourage excessive risk taking |
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38 | 2022 Proxy Statement |
Stockholder Feedback on Compensation Practices
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| The Management Development and Compensation Committee considered the continued support that our proposal on executive compensation received from stockholders at our 2021 annual meeting of stockholders, at which approximately 97% of votes cast (excluding abstentions and broker non-votes) were in favor of our compensation policies and practices. Overall, we achieved a 5-year average vote of 98% of votes cast. The Management Development and Compensation Committee determined that the Company's executive compensation philosophy and objectives and compensation elements continued to be appropriate and no changes were made to our executive compensation program in response to the advisory vote. However, in connection with its ongoing review of the Company’s executive compensation program, in 2022, the Management Development and Compensation Committee modified the Company’s executive compensation program to incorporate into its equity awards double trigger vesting provisions in the event of a change in control, beginning with the 2022 annual equity awards, and adopted a stand-alone claw back policy allowing for the recoupment of incentive compensation in the event of a financial statement restatement. |
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Factors Considered when Determining Compensation Levels: |
Industry Data ● We benchmark against size-appropriate published general industry survey data for all roles. |
Peer Data Review ● We review proxy data from the Company’s compensation peer group for the CEO and CFO roles. |
Individual ● We understand the importance of retaining a talented senior management team, which manages a globally diverse business while balancing a unified, single management team with a high focus on delivering results. We review past compensation levels and place a high value on the experience of senior managers. |
The Management Development and Compensation Committee has historically intended to create a compensation program for NEOs that generally targets cash compensation at the median and long-term compensation between the 50th and 75th percentiles compared to the relevant market data. The Management Development and Compensation Committee may deviate from its targeted positioning based on circumstances such as executive tenure, Company/Segment performance or individual performance. The benchmarking study conducted by Pay Governance used for evaluating Aptar’s 2021 executive compensation program, described in further detail below, noted the following high-level findings for our executive officers, including NEOs, as compared to general industry survey data:
● | Base salaries generally fell between the 35th and 65th percentiles; |
● | Target cash compensation levels generally ranked between the 45th and 65th percentiles; |
● | Long-term performance incentives were generally between the 50th and 75th percentiles; and |
● | Target total direct compensation levels (salary + target bonus + target LTI values) were generally between the 50th and 75th percentiles. |
For 2021, the Management Development and Compensation Committee confirmed the compensation peer group (“Peer Group”) which serves as part of the basis for the Management Development and Compensation Committee's decisions regarding the pay of the CEO and CFO. Peer group data were developed from proxies and supplemental information reported by several compensation surveys for CEOs and CFOs at industrial companies comparable in size to Aptar. In consultation with Pay Governance, the Management Development
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2022 Proxy Statement | 39 |
and Compensation Committee and management used the following characteristics to assess the Company's current peers as well as to identify any potential replacements:
● | Compete with Aptar for market share, operate in similar industries (e.g., packaging, specialty chemicals, specialty materials) and are based in the U.S.; |
● | Provide similar intermediate products (e.g., structured materials, packaging, closures, spray products) to similar end-use markets (e.g., consumer, beauty, home, pharmaceutical, medical, healthcare, food, beverage); |
● | Fall within a reasonable range of Aptar's size and scale based on several factors (e.g., revenue, assets, invested capital, number of employees, market capitalization); |
● | Earn a considerable amount of their revenue outside of the U.S.; |
● | Appear to be valued like Aptar by the stock market based on their market capitalization to revenue vs. Aptar's; and |
● | Compete with Aptar for senior executive talent (companies Aptar potentially would recruit senior talent from, and possibly lose senior talent to). |
The Peer Group is not a comprehensive list of all of Aptar’s competitors. Rather, it includes a set of companies that meet most, but not necessarily all, of the peer group selection criteria noted above. The Management Development and Compensation Committee approved the Peer Group for evaluating target pay levels of the CEO and CFO as well as for assessing Aptar's executive pay practices and policies. The following companies were included in the Peer Group for 2021, which was the same Peer Group used to evaluate 2020 compensation decisions:
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2021 Peer Group Companies: | |
Albemarle Corp. Ashland Global Holdings Inc. Berry Global Group, Inc. Catalent, Inc. CCL Industries, Inc. Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. ICU Medical, Inc. Ingredion Inc. International Flavors & Fragrances | McCormick & Company Sealed Air Corp Sensient Technologies, Inc. Silgan Holdings Inc. Sonoco Products Co. Stericycle, Inc. STERIS plc Teleflex Inc. West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. |
The Management Development and Compensation Committee reviews compensation survey information prepared by its compensation consultant for the CEO and other executive officer positions annually. Consistent with prior years, the compensation elements evaluated by Pay Governance in 2021 were base salary, target annual cash incentives, target total cash compensation (the sum of base salaries and target cash incentives), target LTI, and target total direct compensation (the sum of target total cash compensation and target LTI). In considering compensation for the CEO and CFO, the Management Development and Compensation Committee considered proxy peer group compensation data in addition to the compensation survey information prepared by Pay Governance. When determining the 2021 compensation opportunities of executive officers other than Mr. Tanda, the Management Development and Compensation Committee also reviewed recommendations furnished by Mr. Tanda, including salary, target annual cash incentive and target LTI recommendations. In 2021, Mr. Tanda, participated in all discussions regarding salaries and incentive compensation for all of our executive officers, except during discussions regarding his own compensation. Mr. Tanda made suggestions or recommendations during these discussions; however, all deliberations and determinations regarding the compensation of our executive officers were made solely by the Management Development and Compensation Committee.
Targeted base salary, annual incentive opportunities and long-term incentive grant values were provided by Pay Governance from several compensation surveys covering U.S. and non-U.S. executives and included
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40 | 2022 Proxy Statement |
general industry data for hundreds of companies . Wherever possible, the market data was adjusted to Aptar’s revenue size or the size of the position's operating unit. The same compensation elements also were reviewed by Pay Governance in the analysis of peer group data for Messrs. Tanda and Kuhn.
As noted earlier, based on Pay Governance's benchmarking analysis that was furnished to the Management Development and Compensation Committee, Aptar’s 2021 total direct compensation for the NEOs, in aggregate was generally positioned between the 50th and 75th percentiles of the published survey data. Specifically, most elements of total direct compensation for the CEO and CFO were positioned within +/- 10% of the 50th percentile with respect to the 2021 Peer Group.
Elements of Our Executive Compensation Program
There are three main elements of our compensation program which are described below.
Salary. The salary level of the CEO is established by the Management Development and Compensation Committee each January after evaluating individual performance and discussing the market data provided by Pay Governance. The salary levels of the other NEOs are also set each January after evaluating and discussing the recommendations of the CEO and reviewing the market data provided by Pay Governance for the other NEO positions. In 2021, the Management Development and Compensation Committee increased the salaries of our NEOs from the 2020 levels as follows:
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Name |
| 2021 Salary |
| 2020 Salary |
| % Increase | |||
Tanda(1) |
| $ | 1,118,500 |
| $ | 1,105,000 |
| 1 | % |
Kuhn |
| $ | 645,216 |
| $ | 624,000 |
| 3 | % |
Touya(2) |
| $ | 607,043 |
| $ | 570,544 |
| 6 | % |
Prieur(3) |
| $ | 598,635 |
| $ | 568,757 |
| 5 | % |
Gong |
| $ | 477,920 | | $ | 464,000 |
| 3 | % |
(1) | Mr. Tanda’s 2021 base salary considers the elimination of the annual car allowance effective 2021. |
(2) | Mr. Touya’s compensation is denominated in Euros and was translated to U.S. dollars using the average exchange rate for the year. His 2021 salary in Euros is 513,000, which represents a 3% increase over his 2020 salary. A portion of Mr. Touya's increase is due to exchange rate fluctuations. |
(3) | Mr. Prieur's compensation is denominated in Swiss Francs and was translated to U.S. dollars using the average exchange rate for the year. His 2021 salary in Swiss Francs is 547,000, which represents a 3% increase over his 2020 salary. A portion of Mr. Prieur’s increase is due to exchange rate fluctuations. |
Short-term Incentives (“STI”).
As in prior years, the Management Development and Compensation Committee continues to maintain the Company's historical approach to linking pay to performance for the STI for the year. The STI plan is based on STI Adjusted EBITDA and core sales growth, with the STI design placing nearly twice as much emphasis on profitability rather than top-line growth and emphasizing segment results with different goals for each segment. The Management Development and Compensation Committee chose STI Adjusted EBITDA and core sales growth as performance measures because they are viewed as being directly tied into goals that we believe are critical to our business strategy and the creation of shareholder value.
Despite the economic volatility due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, for 2021, the Company maintained its guiding principle for setting Company goals under the STI, which emphasize continuous improvement over the prior year’s results. NEOs earn no STI payout if results are less than prior year performance, with results equal to the prior year producing a threshold payout (50% of target). Further, the Company continues to use year-over-year consistency for determining target and maximum payouts. Under this approach, the Management Development and Compensation Committee approved growth rates in EBITDA and core sales, which do not change from year to year because they are based on the Company’s long-term expectations of the business. For 2021, the amount of our NEOs' STI was calculated based on (i) target STI opportunity and (ii) improvement in Company performance (and segment results where appropriate) from the prior year. For Messrs. Touya and Prieur and Ms. Gong, the performance factors are further weighted 40% Company performance and 60% on their respective areas of responsibility.
The target STI opportunity is a percentage of each NEO's base salary, and is determined annually based on market data, the Company's historical pay practices, and individual role and responsibilities. For 2021, the
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2022 Proxy Statement | 41 |
target STI opportunities, as a percentage of base salary, did not increase for the NEOs other than Mr. Tanda. Mr. Tanda’s target STI opportunity increased from 115% to 120% based on a review of the Company’s Peer Group and other relevant market data.
The following illustrates how the 2021 STI payouts were calculated:
At the beginning of 2021, the Management Development and Compensation Committee established the following growth in Company performance and weightings for 2021 to be used to determine the amount of each NEO's 2021 STI. These growth objectives are consistent with prior years, as well as with the Company’s continuous improvement mindset.
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2021 STI Performance for Corporate and Segments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate and | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||||||||||
Segments STI Adjusted | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||||||||||
EBITDA(1) Growth vs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||||||||||
Prior Year (Weighted | | Corporate and Segments Core Sales(2) Growth vs Prior Year | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
65% of Target)(3) | | (Weighted 35% of Target)(3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | Beauty + | | | | Performance | | | | | Beauty + | | | | | | Performance | |||||||||
Corp |
| Home |
| Pharma | Asia | Factor |
| Corp |
| Home |
| Pharma |
| Asia(3) |
| Factor | ||||||||||
<0 | % |
| <0 | % |
| <0 | % | <0 | % | 0 | % |
| <0 | % |
| <0 | % |
| <0 | % |
| <3 | % | | 0 | % |
0 | % |
| 0 | % |
| 0 | % | 3 | % | 50 | % |
| 0 | % |
| 0 | % |
| 0 | % |
| 3 | % | | 50 | % |
5 | % |
| 5 | % |
| 5 | % | 10 | % | 100 | % |
| 4 | % |
| 3 | % |
| 6 | % |
| 10 | % | | 100 | % |
7 | % |
| 7 | % |
| 7 | % | 12 | % | 125 | % |
| 5 | % |
| 4 | % |
| 7 | % |
| 11.25 | % | | 125 | % |
10 | % |
| 10 | % |
| 8 | % | 14 | % | 150 | % |
| 6 | % |
| 5 | % |
| 8 | % |
| 12.5 | % | | 150 | % |
13 | % |
| 13 | % |
| 9 | % | 16 | % | 175 | % |
| 6.5 | % |
| 5.5 | % |
| 9 | % |
| 13.75 | % | | 175 | % |
15 | % |
| 15 | % |
| 10 | % | 18 | % | 200 | % |
| 7 | % |
| 6 | % |
| 10 | % |
| 15 | % | | 200 | % |
| | | | | | |
| | Corporate and Segments STI Adjusted | | Corporate and Segments STI Core | ||
| | EBITDA Growth vs Prior Year | | Sales Growth vs Prior Year | ||
Actual Growth Rates |
| (Weighted 65% of Target) |
| (Weighted 35% of Target) | ||
Corporate |
| 7.5 | % | | 6.9 | % |
Beauty + Home |
| 49.0 | % | | 6.7 | % |
Pharma |
| (3.9) | % | | 0.5 | % |
Asia |
| 55.2 | % | | 9.3 | % |
(1) | STI Adjusted EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, excluding acquisition costs, impact of acquisitions in the year acquired and a portion of transformation costs. |
(2) | Core sales growth is defined as organic sales growth that excludes currency effects and acquisition effects in the past 12 months. |
(3) | For performance between performance levels, payout levels will be determined based on straight line interpolation. |
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42 | 2022 Proxy Statement |
For Messrs. Touya and Prieur and Ms. Gong, the performance factors are further weighted 40% Company performance and 60% on their respective areas of responsibility. Based on actual performance in 2021 and applying the weighting described above, the following performance factors were determined for 2021 and resulted in the following 2021 STI (adjusted for rounding):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2021 Base | | | | | | | | Performance | | |
| ||
NEO |
| Salary |
| Target % |
| Target $ |
| Factor(3) |
| 2021 STI | |||||
Tanda |
| $ | 1,118,500 |
| 120 | % |
| $ | 1,342,200 |
| 152.2 | % |
| $ | 2,042,940 |
Kuhn |
| $ | 645,216 |
| 85 | % |
| $ | 548,434 |
| 152.2 | % |
| $ | 834,762 |
Touya(1) |
| $ | 607,043 |
| 75 | % |
| $ | 455,282 |
| 72.3 | % |
| $ | 312,946 |
Prieur(2) |
| $ | 598,635 |
| 75 | % |
| $ | 448,976 |
| 180.9 | % |
| $ | 800,626 |
Gong |
| $ | 477,920 |
| 75 | % |
| $ | 358,440 |
| 158.8 | % |
| $ | 569,322 |
(1) | Mr. Touya’s 2021 Base Salary, Target STI and Payment were denominated in Euros based on the average exchange rate for the year, while his actual formulaic payout was calculated based on a combination of the Performance Factor and the spot rate on the payment date of the award, which was February 25, 2022. |
(2) | Mr. Prieur's 2021 Base Salary, Target STI and Payment were denominated in Swiss Francs based on the average exchange rate for the year, while his actual formulaic payout was calculated based on a combination of the Performance Factor and the spot rate on the payment date of the award, which was February 24, 2022. |
(3) | Slight variance in the calculation is due to rounding in the displayed Performance Factor. |
The table below highlights historical weighted payouts by business segment
Business Segment |
| 2021 |
| 2020* |
| 2019 | |||
ATR | | 152.2 | % | | 23.3 | % | | 78.7 | % |
Beauty + Home | | 200 | % | | 0 | % | | 31.5 | % |
Pharma | | 19 | % | | 134.0 | % | | 118.3 | % |
Asia | | 163.3 | % | | 55.3 | % | | 31.5 | % |
* Includes the impact of the waiver of the cliff threshold with respect to the 2020 STI due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Management Development and Compensation Committee believes it is important to encourage executive officer stock ownership and provide opportunities to increase equity ownership. For those reasons, an executive officer may elect to receive up to 50% of his or her STI in the form of RSUs. If an executive elects to receive a portion of his or her STI in RSUs, the executive will also receive an additional 20% of the elected amount in the form of RSUs to recognize the difference in earned cash STI payouts and RSUs that remain at risk. The value of each RSU is determined by the closing share price on the NYSE on the day preceding the date of grant. RSUs vest over a three-year period, with one third vesting on each of the first three anniversaries of the grant date, and the RSUs converting into our common stock following the vesting date. Recipients of RSUs may not vote the units in stockholder votes and they do not earn or receive any dividend payments on the units. Messrs. Tanda, Kuhn and Touya elected to receive a portion of their 2021 STI in RSUs, which election applied to the payouts described above.
As disclosed in the prior year, the Management Development and Compensation Committee approved grants of time-based RSUs equal to 15% of each NEO's target 2020 STI opportunity to recognize their outstanding leadership during the extended COVID-19 pandemic crisis. To encourage retention and continuity of leadership during the extended crisis, the RSUs are subject to 3-year cliff vesting, which differs from the one-third annual vesting of our regular RSU awards and recognizes the unique nature of this grant. Because these additional RSUs were granted in 2021, these additional RSUs were excluded from the 2020 Summary Compensation Table and are reflected as 2021 compensation in the 2021 Summary Compensation Table.
Long-term Performance Incentives (“LTIs”).
We manage our business for the long-term benefit of all stakeholders and consequently we believe that it is important that our NEOs receive a substantial portion of their compensation in the form of long-term incentives (LTI). Additionally, LTI compensation in the form of equity awards provide a strong alignment
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2022 Proxy Statement | 43 |
between the interests of our NEOs and our stockholders. The Management Development and Compensation Committee also believes that long-term equity awards are an essential tool in promoting executive retention. Consistent with our 2020 LTI grants, in 2021, the annual LTI grants consisted of RSUs that vest based on continued service and PRSUs that vest based on achieving pre-established performance objectives. Dividends are not declared or paid with respect to RSUs or PRSUs.
Setting Award Value:
In early 2021, the Management Development and Compensation Committee granted the NEOs LTI awards. In approving the 2021 LTI awards and based on a review of market data, as reported by Pay Governance, the Management Development and Compensation Committee also approved a market-based approach to determining LTI values, which calculates the grant value delivered to award recipients based on current market price rather than accounting values. The Management Development and Compensation Committee believes that the use of a market-based approach to determine the number of shares to grant aligns with prevalent market practice and is more representative of the intended targeted value of compensation to be granted to participants. Target amounts of the LTI awards are also based on individual roles and responsibilities and market data. The target LTI amount for Mr. Tanda was increased from 400% to 450%, based on a review of the Company's Peer Group and other relevant market data. The target LTI amount, as a percentage of base salary, for the other NEOs did not change as compared to 2020. Once the LTI target award value was determined for each NEO, the award was divided between PRSUs and RSUs, weighted 60% and 40%, respectively. The weights between LTI elements are intended to strike a reasonable balance between performance-based grants (PRSUs) and time or service-based grants (RSUs), consistent with the Company’s pay philosophy and principles.
The following table sets forth the target award value, as of the date of grant, of the 2021 LTI awards received by each NEO.
| | | |
NEO |
| Target Value of LTI award(1) | |
Tanda |
| $ | 5,033,250 |
Kuhn |
| $ | 1,290,432 |
Touya |
| $ | 1,071,285 |
Prieur | | $ | 1,036,740 |
Gong | | $ | 836,360 |
(1) | Because the amounts reported in this column represent the market-based targeted grant values, they differ from the amounts reported in the 2021 Summary Compensation Table, which are determined in accordance with applicable accounting rules based on the stock price at the date of grant. |
PRSUs.
For 2021, the Management Development and Compensation Committee granted PRSUs as 60% of the target LTI award, which vest based on the Company’s Adjusted ROIC and relative TSR performance, with potential vesting ranging from 0% to 200% of the target number of shares subject to the award (the “Target Shares”) as follows:
● | Adjusted ROIC over the three-year performance period, which consists of 35% of the Target PRSUs. Adjusted ROIC is defined as (i) adjusted earnings before net interest (but after taxes), which excludes the business transformation charges (restructuring initiatives), acquisition-related costs, purchase accounting adjustments related to acquisitions and investments and net unrealized investment gains and losses related to observable market price changes on equity securities, divided by (ii) the Company’s average capital (i.e., equity excluding currency effects + net debt). The target is reduced by 0.2% for every $100M in acquisitions which is weighted for time outstanding in the performance period. The 0.2% adjustment assumes that over the performance period, the acquisition will become accretive to returns The Management Development and Compensation Committee established the Adjusted ROIC performance levels to be achievable, but required the strong and consistent performance of the Company over the three-year performance period. |
● | TSR relative to the S&P 400 MidCap Index over the three-year performance period, which consists of 65% of the Target PRSUs. TSR is measured by share price appreciation of the Company’s common stock over the three-year performance period and reinvestment of dividends, as compared to the |
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44 | 2022 Proxy Statement |
TSR of the S&P 400 MidCap Index over the performance period. For the TSR component, the vesting will be determined in accordance with the following schedule: |
Performance Level | Company TSR Percentile Rank as compared to the S&P 400 MidCap | % of Target Shares to Vest* | |||||
Below Threshold | Below 25th percentile | —% | |||||
Threshold | 25th percentile | 50% | |||||
Target | 50th percentile | 100% | |||||
Maximum | 75th percentile | 200% | |||||
* If the Company’s TSR for the Performance Period is negative, the vesting level will not exceed the target level of vesting. |
RSUs.
The remaining component of the 2021 LTI program consisted of time-based RSUs, which vest over a three-year service period, subject to the NEO’s continued employment through the applicable vesting date except to the extent an event triggers accelerated vesting of the 2021 RSUs under the terms of the award agreement or his or her employment or other agreement, as applicable. RSUs are included as a component under the annual LTI program to further enhance the retentive aspect of the Company’s executive compensation program and further align the interests of our NEOs with the long-term interests of the Company’s stockholders as the value of the RSUs remains at-risk and fluctuates based on our stock price performance.
2021 Retention/Recognition Grants.
The Management Development and Compensation Committee granted Mr. Prieur a $500,000 PSU award that will vest on December 31, 2023, based on: Beauty + Home Adjusted ROIC and Adjusted EBITDA margin improvement each measured over the 2021-2023 performance period and weighted 50%. Adjusted ROIC is defined as (i) Beauty + Home adjusted earnings before net interest (but after taxes), which excludes the business transformation charges (restructuring initiatives), acquisition-related costs, purchase accounting adjustments related to acquisitions and investments and net unrealized investment gains and losses related to observable market price changes on equity securities, divided by (ii) Beauty + Home average capital (i.e, equity excluding currency effects + net debt). Adjusted EBITDA for purposes of the PSU award is defined as Beauty + Home earnings before net interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, adjusted to exclude the business transformation charges (restructuring initiatives), acquisition-related costs, purchase accounting adjustments related to acquisitions and investments and net unrealized investment gains and losses related to observable market price changes on equity securities. In addition, he also received a $300,000 RSU award that will vest on January 14, 2024. The grants were given to him as an incentive to improve the long-term focus of the Beauty + Home business and to improve retention.
Post‑Termination compensation.
The employment agreements of our NEOs provide for guaranteed minimum salary levels, death benefits, non-competition clauses and post-termination commitments. The post-termination commitments do not significantly affect the Management Development and Compensation Committee’s decisions concerning other compensation elements. We believe that the post-termination commitments included in the NEOs’ agreements are not substantially different from what is typical at other companies with revenues similar to those of Aptar. Additional information about the employment agreements, including definitions of key terms and a quantification of benefits that would have been received by our NEOs had termination occurred on December 31, 2021, is found under “Potential Payments Upon Termination of Employment.”
Retirement Plan Arrangements.
We also offer pension plans to our employees, including NEOs. Additional information regarding our pension plans is found under “Pension Benefits.”
We maintain profit sharing and savings plans for our employees, including NEOs. These plans permit employees to make such savings in a manner that is relatively tax efficient.
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2022 Proxy Statement | 45 |
Perquisites.
Perquisites have historically been an insignificant percentage of overall NEO compensation and therefore generally do not affect the decisions of the Management Development and Compensation Committee when determining other elements of compensation. These perquisites can include a company‑provided automobile and supplemental life insurance, among others. Beginning in 2021, the Company began eliminating the automobile benefit for U.S. NEOs, with such benefit being phased out as leases expire. The Company provides competitive perquisites for NEOs on an expatriate assignment, which it believes are consistent with local market practices. For example, pursuant to the terms of her employment agreement, Ms. Gong will receive expatriate benefits relating to her current international assignment in China, which began in October 2018. The additional benefits that she receives are directly related to the additional expenses Ms. Gong incurs as a result of her China assignment. Her benefits include (i) automobile and driver (including insurance, maintenance, reasonable fuel, taxes and vehicle registration costs), (ii) educational assistance, (iii) international health insurance, (iv) travel for two (2) annual trips to the United States for Ms. Gong and her immediate family, (v) housing allowances, (vi) tax equalization payments and preparation services, and (vii) reimbursement for repatriation to the United States upon certain termination events. Similarly, on January 25, 2022, the Company and Mr. Touya entered into an Expatriate Letter Agreement pursuant to which (i) Mr. Touya’s existing employment agreement will be suspended while he is on assignment with the Company in the United States and (ii) Mr. Touya will receive compensation and benefits consistent with similarly-situated employees of the Company on an expatriate assignment or as otherwise approved by the Management Development and Compensation Committee of the Board, which includes, among other items, a company car, educational assistance, a housing allowance and tax equalization payments. The Management Development and Compensation Committee believes it is necessary to provide NEOs with perquisites similar to those provided by other companies in order to recruit and retain the best executive talent. The Management Development and Compensation Committee reviews the perquisites provided to its NEOs on a regular basis.
Stock Ownership
Under the Company's stock ownership guidelines, the executive officers must own Company common stock and/or hold RSUs representing a value that is as follows: for the CEO, six times his or her base salary and for the remaining executive officers, three times their base salary. The Committee approved increases in these guidelines during 2020, and they became effective as of January 1, 2021. Under the guidelines, executive officers must retain 50% of net after taxes shares from any equity vesting until the stock ownership guidelines are met. As of the Record Date, each NEO was in compliance with the guidelines as presented in the table below.
| | | | |
|
| Ownership |
| Ownership Level |
Executive Officer | | Requirement | | Requirement Status |
Tanda |
| 6 X Base Salary |
| Exceeds Guideline |
Kuhn |
| 3 X Base Salary |
| Exceeds Guideline |
Touya |
| 3 X Base Salary |
| Exceeds Guideline |
Prieur |
| 3 X Base Salary |
| Exceeds Guideline |
Gong |
| 3 X Base Salary |
| Exceeds Guideline |
Management Development and Compensation Committee’s Use of Consultants and Consultant’s Independence
The Management Development and Compensation Committee has responsibility for approving the compensation programs for our NEOs and acts pursuant to a charter that has been approved by our Board and is available through the Corporate Governance link on the Investor Relations page of the Aptar website located at: investors.aptar.com. Under this charter, the Management Development and Compensation Committee has the authority to retain outside advisers as deemed necessary, and in 2021 the Management Development and Compensation Committee retained Pay Governance LLC as its independent compensation consultant. The Management Development and Compensation Committee has determined that Pay Governance LLC is independent according to the advisor independence factors outlined by the NYSE and its services to the committee do not raise any conflicts of interest.
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46 | 2022 Proxy Statement |
Stock Trading Guidelines
We have an Insider Trading Policy that applies to senior management, including our NEOs. The Insider Trading Policy prohibits our senior management from engaging in selling short our common stock or engaging in hedging, pledging or offsetting transactions regarding our common stock.
Clawback Policy
Effective February 3, 2022, the Management Development and Compensation Committee adopted a clawback policy in the event the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to material non-compliance with a financial reporting requirement under the federal securities laws. Under the policy, the Management Development and Compensation Committee shall, to the extent legally permitted, require reimbursement of that portion of any incentive compensation earned by an executive officer during the three-year period preceding the date on which the Company is required to prepare the restatement, which is in excess of what would have been paid or earned by such executive officer had the financial results been properly reported.
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2022 Proxy Statement | 47 |
The Management Development and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors oversees Aptar’s compensation program on behalf of the Board. In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the Management Development and Compensation Committee reviewed and discussed with management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis set forth in this proxy statement.
In reliance on the review and discussions referred to above, the Management Development and Compensation Committee recommended to the Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 and this proxy statement.
| |
| Management Development and Compensation Committee Giovanna Kampouri Monnas (Chair) Craig Owens Jesse Wu |
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48 | 2022 Proxy Statement |
2021 Summary Compensation Table
The table below contains compensation information for the NEOs of Aptar. For information concerning the objectives of our compensation program, including an analysis of individual compensation elements awarded in 2021, see our “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.”
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Changes in | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Pension Value | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | and | | | |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | Nonqualified | | | |
|
| | | | | | | | | | Non‑Equity | | Deferred | | | |
|
| | | | | | | | Stock | | Incentive Plan | | Compensation | | All Other | |
|
| | | | Salary | | Bonus | | Awards | | Compensation | | Earnings | | Compensation | | Total |
Name and Principal Position |
| Year |
| ($) |
| ($) |
| ($)(1) |
| ($)(2) |
| ($)(3) |
| ($)(4) |
| ($) |
Stephan B. Tanda |
| 2021 |
| 1,118,500 |
| — |
| 6,940,397 |
| 1,021,470 |
| 234,245 |
| 64,871 |
| 9,379,483 |
President and |
| 2020 |
| 1,105,000 |
| — |
| 4,929,983 |
| 148,280 |
| 763,195 |
| 72,364 |
| 7,018,822 |
Chief Executive Officer | | 2019 |
| 1,071,200 |
| — |
| 4,577,547 |
| 484,976 |
| 773,896 |
| 1,540,290 |
| 8,447,909 |
Robert W. Kuhn |
| 2021 |
| 645,000 |
| — |
| 1,996,637 |
| 417,381 |
| 102,032 |
| 28,037 |
| 3,189,087 |
Executive Vice President |
| 2020 |
| 624,000 |
| — |
| 1,416,049 |
| 61,891 |
| 669,345 |
| 22,856 |
| 2,794,141 |
and Chief Financial Officer |
| 2019 |
| 600,246 |
| — |
| 2,101,520 |
| 200,864 |
| 745,315 |
| 21,612 |
| 3,669,557 |
Gael Touya(5) |
| 2021 |
| 607,043 |
| — |
| 1,320,041 |
| 251,324 |
| 853,015 |
| 560,109 |
| 3,591,532 |
President, |
| 2020 |
| 570,544 |
| — |
| 1,756,116 |
| 288,187 |
| — |
| 49,245 |
| 2,664,092 |
Aptar Pharma |
| 2019 |
| 523,966 |
| — |
| 1,143,546 |
| 271,009 |
| 1,335,794 |
| 36,379 |
| 3,310,694 |
Marc Prieur(6) |
| 2021 |
| 598,635 |
| — |
| 2,003,711 |
| 800,626 |
| 128,777 |
| 11,220 |
| 3,542,969 |
President, Aptar Beauty + Home | | 2020 |
| 568,757 |
| — |
| 1,767,645 |
| 40,985 |
| 119,317 |
| 20,924 |
| 2,517,628 |
Xiangwei Gong |
| 2021 |
| 478,000 |
| — |
| 970,046 |
| 569,322 |
| 106,503 |
| 325,289 |
| 2,449,160 |
President, Aptar Asia |
| 2020 |
| 464,000 |
| — |
| 1,561,666 |
| 73,924 |
| 132,373 |
| 383,214 |
| 2,615,177 |
| | 2019 |
| 450,000 |
| — |
| 787,500 |
| 106,313 |
| 45,639 |
| 179,537 |
| 1,568,989 |
(1) | Stock Award compensation for each NEO includes the fair value of RSUs granted in lieu of a portion of the executive’s annual short-term incentive for that year, at the executive’s election, and additional RSUs granted to an executive officer who made such election. The value of the additional RSUs granted represents 20% of the value of the annual performance incentive (non-equity incentive compensation plan amount) that was taken in the form of RSUs in lieu of cash. RSUs vest over a three-year period. The number of RSUs granted was determined by dividing the amount of the annual performance incentive taken in RSUs and the additional 20% on that amount by the market price of our common stock on February 25, 2022, discounted for dividends not received during the vesting period. Stock Award compensation also includes a one-time RSU grant equal to 15% of the 2020 STI target, as described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Amounts Included In | | Amounts Included In | | | | |
| ||||||
| | Amounts Included In | | Stock Awards Column | | Stock Awards Column | | | | |
| |||||||||
| | Stock Awards Column | | For Additional 20% | | For Additional Grant | | | | |
| |||||||||
| | Above Taken In | | On Amounts Taken In | | Of 15% of 2020 STI | | | | |
| |||||||||
| | Lieu Of Cash | | Lieu of Cash | | Target | | Combined Total | ||||||||||||
|
| ($)/(# RSUs) |
| ($)/(# RSUs) |
| ($)/(# RSUs) |
| ($)/(# RSUs) | ||||||||||||
Tanda |
| $ | 1,021,470 | / | 8,655 |
| $ | 204,294 | / | 1,731 | | $ | 190,653 | / | 1,513 |
| $ | 1,416,417 | / | 11,899 |
Kuhn |
| $ | 417,381 | / | 3,537 |
| $ | 83,476 | / | 707 | | $ | 79,512 | / | 631 |
| $ | 580,369 | / | 4,875 |
Touya |
| $ | 62,589 | / | 530 |
| $ | 12,518 | / | 106 | | $ | 68,801 | / | 546 |
| $ | 143,908 | / | 1,182 |
Prieur | | $ | — | / | — | | $ | — | / | — | | $ | 65,839 | / | 529 |
| $ | 65,839 | / | 529 |
Gong |
| $ | — | / | — |
| $ | — | / | — | | $ | 52,168 | / | 414 |
| $ | 52,168 | / | 414 |
Stock Award Compensation also includes RSUs and PRSUs that are granted in connection with NEOs’ 2021 LTI, as described above under “Long-term Performance Incentives”. RSUs in connection with 2021 LTI grants were granted on March 22, 2021 at the closing market price on that day of $138.73.
| | | | | |
|
| # RSUs |
| $ | |
Tanda |
| 14,512 | | $ | 2,013,250 |
Kuhn |
| 3,721 | | $ | 516,214 |
Touya |
| 3,089 | | $ | 428,537 |
Prieur |
| 2,989 | | $ | 414,664 |
Gong |
| 2,411 | | $ | 334,478 |
PRSUs in connection with 2021 LTI grants were granted on March 22, 2021. Amounts shown in the column regarding PRSUs do not reflect dollar amounts actually received by the NEOs. Instead, these amounts represent the aggregate grant date fair value of the PRSUs granted in the year indicated computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718. The grant date fair value of the TSR portion of the PRSUs is determined using a Monte‑Carlo simulation model and based upon a discounted cash flow analysis of the probability‑weighted payoffs of a share-based payment assuming a variety of possible stock price
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2022 Proxy Statement | 49 |
paths and represents the estimate of aggregate compensation cost to be recognized over the requisite service period determined as of the grant date under ASC Topic 718. The grant date fair value of the ROIC portion of the PRSUs is determined based on the probable satisfaction of the performance conditions at the time of grant and the closing stock price on such date in accordance with ASC Topic 718.
| | | | | |
|
| # PRSUs |
| $ | |
Tanda | | 21,995 | | $ | 3,510,730 |
Kuhn | | 5,639 | | $ | 900,054 |
Touya | | 4,682 | | $ | 747,305 |
Prieur | | 4,531 | | $ | 723,208 |
Gong | | 3,655 | | $ | 583,400 |
The amounts included in the Stock Awards column for the PRSUs granted during 2021 are calculated based on the probable satisfaction of the performance conditions for such awards as of the date of grant. Assuming the highest level of performance is achieved for the portion of the PRSUs relating to the ROIC component, the maximum grant date fair value for the ROIC component would be as follows: Mr. Tanda—$2,113,871; Mr. Kuhn—$542,060; Mr. Touya—$450,069; Mr. Prieur—$435,516; and Ms. Gong—$351,213. Under FASB ASC Topic 718, the vesting condition related to the TSR portion of the PRSUs is considered a market condition and not a performance condition. Accordingly, there is no grant date fair value below or in excess of the amount reflected in the table above for the NEOs that could be calculated and disclosed based on achievement of the underlying market condition. Assumptions used in the calculation of the expense related to the stock awards can be found in Note 16, “Stock-Based Compensation” to Aptar’s audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021, included in Aptar’s Annual Report on Form 10‑K filed with the SEC on February 18, 2022 (“Aptar’s Financial Statements”).
With respect to Mr. Prieur, the amounts included in the Stock Awards column for 2021 include an award of RSUs with a grant date value of $300,000, which is described under “Retention/Recognition Grants”. In addition, Mr. Prieur also received a $500,000 award of PRSUs granted based on achievement of Adjusted ROIC and Adjusted EBITDA improvement for the Beauty + Home business segment over the 2021-2023 performance period. The grant date fair value of both the Adjusted ROIC and EBITDA components were determined based on the probable satisfaction of the performance conditions at the time of grant and closing stock price on such date in accordance with ASC Topic 718. Assuming the highest level of performance is achieved, the aggregate grant date fair value for these PRSU awards would be $1,000,000. For a detailed description, see "2021 Retention/Recognition Grants."
(2) | Amounts reported in this column represent the cash portion received under the STI and are presented in the fiscal year in which they were earned. These amounts were paid in February of the following year once the consolidated financial results of Aptar were completed. Please see footnote 1 above for a summary of the RSU component of the STI, which was awarded in early 2022 and is reflected in the table above as 2021 compensation. |
(3) | All of these amounts relate to changes in pension values. Assumptions used to calculate the change in the present value of accrued benefits were the same as those disclosed in Note 9, “Retirement and Deferred Compensation Plans” to Aptar’s Financial Statements. |
(4) | The amount of other compensation in 2021 includes Company contributions to profit sharing and savings plans, premiums related to Company‑ provided term life insurance and supplemental disability insurance, and amounts related to a Company‑ provided automobile for all NEOs. The amount of other compensation in 2021 for Mr. Tanda includes approximately $46,000 related to Company provided disability insurance. The amount of other compensation in 2021 for Mr. Touya includes expatriate assignment related costs including approximately $46,000 in tuition, $54,000 in realtor fees, $120,000 in rent, and $277,000 in estimated tax reimbursement obligations related to the tax impact based on his expatriate assignment. The amount of other compensation for Mr. Touya also includes Company contributions related to a profit share program of approximately $37,000. The amount of other compensation for Ms. Gong includes payments for Company provided auto of approximately $55,000, housing of approximately $85,000 and approximately $196,000 in tax reimbursement payments related to the tax impact based on her expatriate assignment. The amounts paid with respect to Mr. Touya and |
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50 | 2022 Proxy Statement |
Ms. Gong are valued based on the aggregate incremental cost to the Company and represents the amounts paid to, or on behalf of, the executive. |
(5) | Mr. Touya’s compensation is denominated in Euros and was translated to U.S. dollars using the average exchange rate for the year, except for the annual performance incentive amount which was translated using the spot exchange rate on the date the amount was determined. |
(6) | Mr. Prieur was not an NEO prior to 2020. His compensation is denominated in Swiss Francs and was translated to U.S. dollars using the average exchange rate for the year, except for the annual performance incentive amount which was translated using the spot exchange rate on the date the amount was determined. |
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2022 Proxy Statement | 51 |
2021 Grants of Plan-Based Awards
The table below sets forth all plan-based awards granted to NEOs in 2021.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | All Other | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Stock | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Awards: | | |
| | | | | | | | Estimated Possible Payouts | | Estimated Possible Payouts | | Number of | | Grant Date | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | Under Non-Equity Incentive | | Under Equity Incentive | | Shares of | | Fair Value of | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | Plan Awards(2) | | Plan Awards(3) | | Stock or | | Stock | ||||||||
| | Grant | | Approval | | Grant | | Threshold | | Target | | Maximum | | Threshold | | Target | | Maximum | | Units | | Awards |
Name |
| Date |
| Date |
| Type(1) |
| ($) |
| ($) |
| ($) |
| (#) |
| (#) |
| (#) |
| (#)(4) |
| ($)(5) |
S. Tanda | | 2/25/2021 | | 2/4/2021 | | RSU | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | 1,396 | | 177,937 |
| | 3/22/2021 | | 2/4/2021 | | RSU | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | 14,512 | | 2,013,250 |
| | 3/22/2021 | | 2/4/2021 | | PRSU | | — | | — | | — | | 10,998 | | 21,995 | | 43,990 | | — | | 3,510,730 |
| | — | | — | | STI | | — | | 1,342,200 | | 2,684,400 | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — |
R. Kuhn | | 2/25/2021 | | 2/4/2021 | | RSU | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | 583 | | 74,269 |
| | 3/22/2021 | | 2/4/2021 | | RSU | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | 3,721 | | 516,214 |
| | 3/22/2021 | | 2/4/2021 | | PRSU | | — | | — | | — | | 2,820 | | 5,639 | | 11,278 | | — | | 900,054 |
| | — | | — | | STI | | — | | 548,434 | | 1,096,868 | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — |
G. Touya | | 2/25/2021 | | 2/4/2021 | | RSU | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | 1,163 | | 148,209 |
| | 3/22/2021 | | 2/4/2021 | | RSU | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | 3,089 | | 428,537 |
| | 3/22/2021 | | 2/4/2021 | | PRSU | | — | | — | | — | | 2,341 | | 4,682 | | 9,364 | | — | | 747,305 |
| | — | | — | | STI | | — | | 455,282 | | 910,564 | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — |
M. Prieur | | 1/14/2021 | | 12/18/2020 | | RSU | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | 2,220 | | 300,000 |
| | 1/14/2021 | | 12/18/2020 | | PRSU | | — | | — | | — | | 1,850 | | 3,700 | | 7,400 | | — | | 500,000 |
| | 3/22/2021 | | 2/4/2021 | | RSU | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | 2,989 | | 414,664 |
| | 3/22/2021 | | 2/4/2021 | | PRSU | | — | | — | | — | | 2,266 | | 4,531 | | 9,062 | | — | | 723,208 |
| | — | | — | | STI | | — | | 448,976 | | 897,952 | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — |
X. Gong | | 2/25/2021 | | 2/4/2021 | | RSU | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | 678 | | 88,709 |
| | 3/22/2021 | | 2/4/2021 | | RSU | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | 2,411 | | 334,478 |
| | 3/22/2021 | | 2/4/2021 | | PRSU | | — | | — | | — | | 1,828 | | 3,655 | | 7,310 | | — | | 583,400 |
| | — | | — | | STI | | — | | 358,440 | | 716,880 | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — |
(1) | During fiscal year 2021, NEOs received three types of plan-based awards: PRSUs, RSUs and Annual Short-Term Incentives (in cash) (“STI”). |
(2) | Amounts represent target and maximum STI opportunities under the 2021 STI. The amount actually paid to each NEO is included in the Stock Awards column and the Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation column in the 2021 Summary Compensation Table. See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Elements of Our Compensation Programs—Annual Performance Incentives” for further information regarding the 2021 STI. |
(3) | Other than the grant to Mr. Prieur on January 14, 2021, amounts represent PRSUs that vest over the 2021‑2023 performance period based on the Company’s Adjusted ROIC and TSR performance. See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Elements of Our Compensation Programs—Long-term Performance Incentives” above for more information about the PRSUs, including the pre‑established performance periods and performance measures. The award granted to Mr. Prieur on January 14, 2021 represents an award of PRSUs that vest over the 2021-2023 performance period based on the Beauty + Home business segment's Adjusted ROIC and Adjusted EBITDA performance. See "Compensation Discussion and Analysis - Elements of Our Compensation Programs - Long-term Performance Incentives - Retention/Recognition Grants" above for more information about this grant. See the footnotes to the "2021 Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End" table below for a description of the PRSU vesting schedules. |
(4) | Awards granted on February 25, 2021 represent RSUs granted to Messrs. Tanda, Kuhn, Touya and Ms. Gong at their election to receive RSUs in lieu of a portion of their 2020 annual performance incentive (paid/awarded in 2021) and an additional 20% of the elected amount granted to those officers making such election, which were previously reported as compensation in the 2020 Summary Compensation Table. The award granted to Mr. Prieur represents a retention grant awarded on January 14, 2021. Awards granted on March 22, 2021 represent time-based RSUs in connection with the 2021 LTI program. See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Elements of Our Compensation Programs—Long-term Performance Incentives” above for more information regarding the 2021 LTI RSUs, including vesting schedules, and see "Compensation Discussion and Analysis - Elements of Our Compensation Programs - Long-term Performance Incentives - Retention/Recognition Grants" above for more information about the retention grant, including the vesting schedule. |
(5) | RSUs and PRSUs reflected in this column are reported in accordance with FASB ASC 718 (excluding the effect of estimated forfeitures) and, in the case of the PRSU awards, based upon the probable outcome of certain performance conditions. |
| | |
52 | 2022 Proxy Statement |
2021 Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
The table below provides information on the holdings of stock option and stock awards by the NEOs as of December 31, 2021. The equity awards reported in the Option Awards column consist of non-qualified stock options. The equity awards in the Stock Awards column consist of RSUs and PRSUs.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Option Awards | | Stock Awards | ||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | Equity | | Equity |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | Incentive | | Incentive |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | Plan | | Plan |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | Awards | | Awards |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | Number of | | Market or |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | Unearned | | Payout |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | Shares, | | Value of |
| | | | Number of | | | | | | Number of | | Market Value | | Units | | Unearned |
| | | | Securities | | | | | | Shares or | | of Shares or | | or Other | | Shares, |
| | | | Underlying | | | | | | Units of | | Units of | | Rights | | Units or |
| | | | Unexercised | | Option | | | | Stock | | Stock That | | that | | Other Rights |
| | | | Options | | Exercise | | Option | | That Have | | Have Not | | have Not | | That Have |
| | Grant | | (#) | | Price | | Expiration | | Not Vested | | Vested | | Vested | | Not Vested |
Name |
| Date |
| Exercisable |
| ($)(1) |
| Date |
| (#)(2) |
| ($)(3) |
| (#)(4) |
| ($) |
S. Tanda | | |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 44,748 |
| 5,480,735 |
| — | | — |
| | |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 108,816 | | 13,327,784 |
|
| 2/10/2017 |
| 133,838 |
| 74.79 |
| 2/10/2027 |
| — |
| — |
| — | | — |
R. Kuhn | | |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 22,255 |
| 2,725,792 |
| — | | — |
| | |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 29,762 | | 3,645,250 |
|
| 1/16/2013 |
| 50,000 |
| 51.57 |
| 1/16/2023 |
| — |
| — |
| — | | — |
|
| 1/15/2014 |
| 50,000 |
| 68.00 |
| 1/15/2024 |
| — |
| — |
| — | | — |
|
| 1/14/2015 |
| 50,663 |
| 64.60 |
| 1/14/2025 |
| — |
| — |
| — | | — |
|
| 2/5/2016 |
| 54,390 |
| 71.12 |
| 2/5/2026 |
| — |
| — |
| — | | — |
|
| 2/10/2017 |
| 69,620 |
| 74.79 |
| 2/10/2027 |
| — |
| — |
| — | | — |
G. Touya | | | | — | | — | | — | | 18,017 | | 2,206,722 | | — | | — |
| | | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | 23,646 | | 2,896,101 |
| | 2/10/2017 | | 59,072 | | 74.79 | | 2/10/2027 | | — | | — | | — | | — |
M. Prieur | | |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 11,302 |
| 1,384,269 |
| — | | — |
| | |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 35,200 | | 4,311,296 |
|
| 2/5/2016 |
| 3,500 |
| 71.12 |
| 2/5/2026 |
| — |
| — |
| — | | — |
|
| 2/10/2017 |
| 6,500 |
| 74.79 |
| 2/10/2027 |
| — |
| — |
| — | | — |
X. Gong | | | | — | | — | | — | | 14,740 | | 1,805,355 | | — | | — |
| | | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | 19,787 | | 2,423,512 |
(1) | Stock options were granted with an exercise price equal to closing price of Aptar’s common stock on the NYSE on the date of grant. |
(2) | Stock awards represent RSUs that were granted in lieu of a portion of the annual performance incentive taken in cash awards granted at the discretion of the Management Development and Compensation Committee, or RSUs granted as part of the LTI program. RSUs granted generally vest over a three-year period, with restrictions lapsing on one third of the units on each of the first three anniversaries of the grant date. Retention awards of RSUs granted in March 2020 to Mr. Touya and Ms. Gong cliff vest on the third anniversary of the grant date. The following numbers of units vest for each respective NEO in the years indicated: |
| | | | | | | | |
| | Vesting | | Vesting | | Vesting | | |
|
| in 2022 |
| in 2023 |
| in 2024 |
| Total |
Tanda |
| 23,493 |
| 14,438 | | 6,817 |
| 44,748 |
Kuhn |
| 15,929 |
| 4,259 | | 2,067 |
| 22,255 |
Touya |
| 4,864 |
| 11,189 | | 1,964 |
| 18,017 |
Prieur |
| 5,003 |
| 2,553 | | 3,746 |
| 11,302 |
Gong |
| 3,394 |
| 9,900 | | 1,446 |
| 14,740 |
(3) | The market value of RSUs and PRSUs that have not yet vested is calculated using the closing price of Aptar’s common stock on the NYSE on December 31, 2021, which was $122.48 per share. |
(4) | Amounts represent PRSUs that vest over the 2021-2023, 2020-2022 and 2019-2021 performance periods respectively based on the Company’s Adjusted ROIC and TSR performance. In the case of Mr. Prieur, amounts also represent PRSUs that vest over the 2020-2022 and 2021-2023 performance periods respectively, based on the Beauty + Home business segment's Adjusted ROIC and Adjusted EBITDA performance. In accordance with the SEC executive compensation disclosure rules, the amounts reported related to PRSUs in this column are based on achieving maximum vesting levels for the TSR portion and threshold vesting levels for the ROIC portion. |
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2022 Proxy Statement | 53 |
2021 Option Exercises and Stock Awards Vested
The table below provides information on stock option exercises and stock awards vested in 2021.
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Stock Options | | Stock Awards Vested | ||||
| | | | Number of | | | | Number of | | |
| | | | Shares | | Value | | Shares | | Value |
| | | | Acquired on | | Realized on | | Acquired on | | Realized on |
| | Grant | | Exercise | | Exercise | | Vesting | | Vesting |
Name |
| Type(1) |
| (#) |
| ($)(2) |
| (#) |
| ($)(3) |
Tanda | | RSU |
| — |
| — |
| 25,169 |
| 3,416,739 |
Kuhn |
| RSU |
| — |
| — |
| 8,674 |
| 1,168,366 |
| | Option |
| 30,000 |
| 2,701,359 |
| — |
| — |
Touya |
| RSU |
| — |
| — |
| 5,157 |
| 701,424 |
| | Option |
| 42,735 |
| 3,156,664 |
| — |
| — |
Prieur |
| RSU |
| — |
| — |
| 4,337 |
| 576,305 |
| | Option |
| 11,500 |
| 909,126 |
| — |
| — |
Gong |
| RSU |
| — |
| — |
| 5,595 |
| 759,417 |
(1) | During fiscal year 2021, one type of stock award vested: RSUs. |
(2) | Value realized represents the difference between the closing price on the NYSE of Aptar’s common stock on the date of exercise and the exercise price of the option award. |
(3) | For vested RSUs, the value realized represents the closing price on the NYSE of Aptar’s common stock on the date of vesting multiplied by the number of shares vested. |
| | |
54 | 2022 Proxy Statement |
Tanda Employment Agreement
Mr. Tanda’s employment agreement provides for employment through December 31, 2024, unless earlier terminated, at a minimum salary of $1,118,500 (which is the 2022 salary approved by the Management Development and Compensation Committee) per year, which amount may be increased (but not decreased) over the term of the agreement. The employment agreement automatically extends for one additional year each January 1st, unless terminated, but may not be extended beyond December 31, 2030.
If Mr. Tanda’s employment ends on account of death, Mr. Tanda’s estate will receive one-half of the base salary that Mr. Tanda would have received until the second anniversary of his death and a lump sum payment in lieu of a supplemental life insurance benefit if Mr. Tanda is not covered by such insurance at the time of his death. If his employment ends due to the expiration of the employment agreement as a result of non-renewal by the Company, Mr. Tanda is entitled to receive an amount equal to one year’s base salary and his target annual performance incentive. If Mr. Tanda is terminated without “cause,” he is entitled to receive 1.5 times (i) his base salary then in effect and (ii) the greater of (x) his target annual performance incentive for the year in which he was terminated and (y) the average of the annual performance incentives paid to him for the two preceding years, paid in 18 equal monthly installments, as well as the medical, disability and life insurance benefits he would have otherwise received for a period of 18 months following the termination date and a prorated annual bonus based on actual performance.
In addition, in the event of Mr. Tanda's termination of employment other than for cause and not within two years following a change in control, Mr. Tanda would remain eligible for a prorated annual bonus based on actual performance, but only if such termination occurs during the third or fourth quarter of the Company's fiscal year and, if such termination occurs within the first five years of his employment, a lump sum payment equal to any accrued pension benefits.
After a “change in control” (as defined in the employment agreement), if Mr. Tanda’s employment is terminated by the Company or its successor other than for “cause,” disability or death, or if Mr. Tanda terminates his employment for “good reason,” in each case within two years following the change in control, Mr. Tanda is entitled to receive a lump‑sum payment equal to (i) three times his highest annualized salary during the 12 month period preceding the termination and (ii) three times the average of the annual performance incentives in respect of the three years immediately preceding the year in which the change in control occurs, plus a prorated annual performance incentive equal to an amount at least equal to the average of the annual performance incentives in respect of the three years immediately preceding the year in which the change in control occurs, the continuation of medical, disability and life insurance benefits for three years and, if such termination occurs within the first five years of his employment, a lump sum payment equal to any accrued pension benefits.
The employment agreement also contains certain noncompetition and nonsolicitation covenants prohibiting Mr. Tanda from, among other things, becoming employed by a competitor of the Company for a period of 18 months or two years following termination (depending on the nature of the termination).
Employment Agreements of Other NEOs
The employment agreements of Mr. Kuhn and Ms. Gong automatically extend for one additional year each January 1st, unless either the Company or the executive terminates such automatic extension by written notice to the other party at least 30 days prior to the automatic extension date, but in no event will the employment agreements continue later than December 31, 2023 (in the case of Mr. Kuhn) and December 31, 2034 (in the case of Ms. Gong) and (ii) that Mr. Kuhn and Ms. Gong will receive minimum annual salaries of $668,000, and $495,000 respectively (which are the 2022 salaries that were approved by the Management Development and Compensation Committee). These annual salaries may be increased (but not decreased) over the remaining terms of the agreements. In addition to participation in executive benefit programs on the same basis as other executives, Mr. Kuhn and Ms. Gong are entitled to additional term life and supplementary long-term disability insurance coverage.
If the employment of Mr. Kuhn, or Ms. Gong ends on account of death, the executive’s estate will receive one-half of the annual salary that the executive would have received until the second anniversary of the executive’s death and a lump sum payment in lieu of a supplemental life insurance benefit if the executive is not covered by such insurance at the time of death. If the employment of Mr. Kuhn, or Ms. Gong ends due to
| | |
2022 Proxy Statement | 55 |
the expiration of the agreement, the executive is entitled to receive an amount equal to one year’s base salary (based on the salary then in effect) and medical and life insurance benefits the executive would have otherwise received for a period of one year following the expiration date. If Mr. Kuhn, or Ms. Gong terminates the agreement without “good reason” (as defined in the agreement), the executive is not entitled to payments or benefits under the employment agreement (other than certain accrued amounts and plan benefits which by their terms extend beyond termination of employment and the prorated annual bonus described in the next paragraph). If Mr. Kuhn, or Ms. Gong is terminated without “cause” (as defined in the agreement), the executive is entitled to receive the executive’s base salary then in effect (at the times it would have been paid) until the date on which the agreement was scheduled to expire.
In addition, in the event of Mr. Kuhn's or Ms. Gong's termination of employment other than for cause and not within two years following a change in control, the executive would remain eligible for a prorated annual bonus based on actual performance, but only if such termination occurs during the third or fourth quarter of the Company's fiscal year.
After a change in control of the Company, if Mr. Kuhn, or Ms. Gong are terminated by the Company or its successor other than for cause, disability or death, or if Mr. Kuhn, or Ms. Gong terminates the executive’s employment for “good reason,” in each case within two years following the change in control, Mr. Kuhn and Ms. Gong are entitled to receive a lump‑sum payment equal to (x) two and one-half times the executive’s highest annualized salary during the 12 month period preceding the termination and (y) two and one-half times the average of the annual performance incentives in respect of the three fiscal years of the Company immediately preceding the fiscal year in which the change in control occurs, plus a prorated annual performance incentive equal to an amount at least equal to the average of the annual performance incentives in respect of the three fiscal years of the Company immediately preceding the fiscal year in which the change in control occurs, as well as the continuation of medical, disability, and life insurance benefits for two and one-half years.
The employment agreement for Mr. Kuhn and Ms. Gong also contains certain noncompetition and nonsolicitation covenants prohibiting the executive from, among other things, becoming employed by a competitor of the Company for a period of one year or two years following termination (depending on the nature of the termination).
In 2021, Mr. Touya was subject to an employment agreement with his French employer in accordance with the French Collective Bargaining Agreement of the Plastics Industry. The agreement of Mr. Touya was for an unlimited period; however, the Company and Mr. Touya retained the right to terminate the agreement in accordance with local law. The agreement provided for minimum annual salary to Mr. Touya of $603,300 (which is the 2022 local currency salary approved by the Management Development and Compensation Committee translated using the December 31, 2021 exchange rate). The agreement contains certain noncompetition and nonsolicitation covenants prohibiting Mr. Touya from, among other things, becoming employed by a competitor of the Company for a period of two years following termination (regardless of the reason for termination except for gross misconduct). In exchange for these covenants, Mr. Touya will receive, during the course of the non-compete period and except in the event of gross misconduct, an amount equal to 50% of the average monthly salary received by him during the 12 months prior to termination. In the event that Mr. Touya does not comply with the non-compete obligation, he will be required to pay to the Company an amount equal to two years’ salary (based on the average monthly salary received during the 12 months prior to termination). In the event of any termination of employment (including following a change in control) other than for serious or gross misconduct and dismissal for unfitness, Mr. Touya would have been entitled to six months of his average gross salary received during the 12 months prior to termination. Average gross salary consists of Mr. Touya's base salary during the 12 months prior to dismissal as well as the average short-term incentive paid to Mr. Touya during the three years prior to dismissal. Mr. Touya would also receive payments under the French Collective Bargaining agreement as further described under “Potential Payments Upon Termination of Employment.” On January 25, 2022, the Company and Mr. Touya entered into an Expatriate Letter Agreement pursuant to which Mr. Touya’s existing employment agreement is suspended while he is on assignment with the Company in the United States, provided that if Mr. Touya’s employment is terminated while he is on assignment in the United States under circumstances that would entitle him to severance under his existing employment agreement, Mr. Touya will receive severance consistent with the terms of his existing employment agreement.
The employment agreement of Mr. Prieur is in accordance with local Swiss law. The agreement of Mr. Prieur remains in effect until the end of the month in which Mr. Prieur reaches ordinary retirement age, according to
| | |
56 | 2022 Proxy Statement |
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then applicable Swiss law; however, the Company and Mr. Prieur have the right to terminate the agreement by giving six months advance written notice. The agreement may also be terminated with immediate effect for good reason in accordance with local Swiss law. The agreement provides for a minimum annual salary to Mr. Prieur of $616,300 (which is the 2022 local currency salary approved by the Management Development and Compensation Committee translated using the December 31, 2021 exchange rate). Mr. Prieur's employment agreement also entitles him to a target STI opportunity equal to 75% of his base salary, an insurance policy covering his illness or death, a previnter insurance contribution and an automobile and mobile device in accordance with the Company's applicable policies. The agreement contains certain noncompetition and nonsolicitation covenants prohibiting Mr. Prieur from, among other things, becoming employed by a competitor of the Company for a period of two years following termination (in exchange for which Mr. Prieur will receive, during the course of the noncompete and nonsolicit period and regardless of the reason for termination except for cause, monthly payments equal to 50% of the average monthly gross salary (including bonus) received by him during the 12 months prior to termination and that Mr. Prieur will receive payments as described under "Potential Payments Upon Termination of Employment." In the event Mr. Prieur breaches the noncompete covenant, he will be required to pay to the Company an amount equal to one years’ base salary (based on the average monthly salary (including short-term incentive) received during the 12 months prior to termination). In the event of Mr. Prieur's termination of employment by the Company for any reason except serious or gross negligence or dismissal for long-term sickness or disability, Mr. Prieur would be entitled to receive six months of his base salary and the prorated average annual gross bonus received by him during the three years prior to his dismissal. In the event of Mr. Prieur's termination of employment by the Company for any reason except serious or gross negligence or dismissal for long-term sickness or disability within two years following a change in control of the Company, he would be entitled to receive his annual base salary and the average annual gross bonus received by him during the three years prior to his dismissal.
For information regarding termination benefits, including benefits provided pursuant to employment agreements with the NEOs, see “Potential Payments Upon Termination of Employment.”
U.S. Employees
Substantially all of the U.S. employees of the Company and its subsidiaries are eligible to participate in the Company's Pension Plan. Employees are eligible to participate after six months of credited service and become fully vested after five years of credited service. The annual benefit payable to an employee under the Pension Plan upon retirement is computed as a straight life annuity equal to the sum of the separate amounts the employee accrues for each of his or her years of credited service under the Plan. Such separate amounts are determined as follows: for each year of credited service through 1988, 1.2% of such year’s compensation up to the Social Security wage base for such year and 1.8% (2% for years after 1986) of such year’s compensation above such wage base, plus certain increases put into effect prior to 1987; for each year after 1988 through the year in which the employee reaches 35 years of service, 1.2% of such year’s “Covered Compensation” and 1.85% of such year’s compensation above such “Covered Compensation” and for each year thereafter, 1.2% of such year’s compensation. The employee’s compensation under the Pension Plan for any year includes all salary, commissions and overtime pay and, beginning in 1989, annual performance incentives, subject to such year’s limit applicable to tax‑qualified retirement plans. The employee’s “Covered Compensation” under the Pension Plan for any year is generally the average of the Social Security wage base for each of the 35 years preceding the employee’s Social Security retirement age, assuming that such year’s Social Security wage base will not change in the future. Normal retirement under the Pension Plan is age 65 and reduced benefits are available as early as age 55 provided that the employee has completed 10 years of service. If an employee has completed 10 years of service and elects to retire and receive pension benefits before age 65, the benefit will be calculated in the same manner as under normal retirement conditions, but will be permanently reduced for each month the benefit commences prior to age 65. The reduction factors are: 1/180 for each of the first 60 months, and 1/360 for each additional month that is in advance of the normal retirement age. Benefits are not subject to reduction for Social Security benefits or other offset items.
U.S. employees of the Company and its subsidiaries participating in the Pension Plan are also eligible for the Company's non-qualified supplemental retirement plan (“SERP”). The annual benefit payable to an employee under the SERP upon retirement is computed as a straight life annuity equal to the sum of the separate amounts the employee accrues for each of his or her years of credited service under the SERP. The annual
| | |
2022 Proxy Statement | 57 |
accrued benefits are determined as follows: for each year of credited service through the year in which the participant reaches 35 years of service, 1.85% of the participant’s “Supplemental Earnings;” and for each year after 35 years of credited service, 1.2% of such year’s “Supplemental Earnings.” “Supplemental Earnings” is generally the difference between (i) the participant’s earnings calculated as if the limitation of Section 401(a)(17) of the Internal Revenue Code were not in effect and (ii) the participant’s recognized earnings under the Pension Plan. Participants who terminate service prior to being eligible for retirement (i.e., age 65 or age 55 with 10 years of credited service) will forfeit all accrued benefits under the SERP. The SERP provides for the vesting of all accrued benefits to those not already retirement eligible under the plan in the event of a change of control.
Mr. Touya is a resident of Europe and does not participate in the U.S. pension benefit plans, but as described below, is entitled to other pension benefits.
Non-U.S. Employees
Mr. Touya is entitled to certain retirement indemnity benefits in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement of the French Plastics Industry (“Collective Pension”). Such benefits are based on a formula that takes salary and years of service into consideration. In addition, Mr. Touya is eligible for benefits pursuant to a supplemental pension plan available to certain French executives (“Supplemental Pension”). This plan provides participants with an annual pension compensation for life, subject to cost of living adjustments, of up to 10% of the average annual salary and bonus paid to a participant in the five years preceding retirement, the total of the amounts received by the employee according to the Collective Pension and the Supplemental Pension being subject to a ceiling equal to 55% of the average annual salary and bonus paid to a participant in the five years preceding retirement. In the event of a participant’s death after retirement, the plan provides a surviving spouse with annual payments of 60% of the participant’s Supplemental Pension for life. Pension benefits would normally commence at age 67, which is the legal retirement age in France, but reduced benefits are available after age 62 if the employment contract is terminated by the company after age 57. The French law pertaining to supplemental pension plans has been amended in 2019 and new rules have not yet been fully enacted. The plan described above is closed for new participants, but the rights acquired by Mr. Touya under the previous regime remain unchanged.
The table below includes information relating to the defined benefit retirement plans of each NEO Assumptions used to determine the present value of accumulated benefit as of December 31, 2021 are the same as those found in Note 9, “Retirement and Deferred Compensation Plans” to Aptar’s Financial Statements.
2021 Pension Benefits
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | Number of | | Present | | |
| | | | Years of | | Value of | | Payments |
| | | | Credited | | Accumulated | | During Last |
| | | | Service | | Benefit | | Fiscal Year |
Name |
| Plan Name(1) |
| (#) |
| ($) |
| ($) |
Tanda |
| Employees’ Retirement Plan |
| 5 |
| 271,281 |
| — |
|
| Supplemental Retirement Plan |
| 5 |
| 2,141,436 |
| — |
Kuhn |
| Employees’ Retirement Plan |
| 34 |
| 1,284,144 |
| — |
|
| Supplemental Retirement Plan |
| 34 |
| 1,920,562 |
| — |
Touya |
| Retirement Indemnities |
| 27 |
| 450,624 |
| — |
|
| Pension Plan |
| 27 |
| 2,706,708 |
| — |
Prieur |
| Employees’ Retirement Plan |
| 9 |
| 561,730 |
| — |
|
| Supplemental Retirement Plan |
| 9 |
| — |
| — |
Gong | | Employees’ Retirement Plan | | 3 |
| 177,425 |
| — |
| | Supplemental Retirement Plan | | 3 |
| 148,816 |
| — |
(1) | The retirement indemnities and pension plan of Mr. Touya represent non-qualified pension plans. The AptarGroup, Inc. Employees’ Retirement Plan (Employees’ Retirement Plan) is a qualified plan and the AptarGroup, Inc. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (Supplemental Retirement Plan) is a non-qualified plan. |
| | |
58 | 2022 Proxy Statement |
Potential Payments Upon Termination of Employment
The following table provides information concerning potential payments or other compensation that could have been awarded to the NEOs if any of the various termination scenarios presented below occurred on December 31, 2021.
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Involuntary or | | | | |
| | Normal | | | | | | Good | | | | |
| | Expiration of | | | | | | Reason | | | | |
| | Employment | | Voluntary | | Involuntary | | Termination | | | | |
Name |
| Agreement |
| Termination(1) |
| Termination |
| After a CIC |
| Disability |
| Death |
Tanda | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash Payment |
| 2,731,981 |
| 271,281 |
| 3,962,331 |
| 8,836,883 |
| 745,704 |
| 1,118,500 |
Continuation of Medical/Welfare Benefits |
| — |
| — |
| 104,511 |
| 209,023 |
| — |
| — |
Acceleration of Time Vesting RSUs (Value as of 12/31/21)(2) |
| 914,067 |
| 914,067 |
| 914,067 |
| 5,480,733 |
| 5,480,733 |
| 5,480,733 |
PRSUs(3) |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 10,568,411 |
| 10,568,411 |
| 10,568,411 |
Total Termination Benefits(4) |
| 3,646,048 |
| 1,185,348 |
| 4,980,909 |
| 25,095,050 |
| 16,794,848 |
| 17,167,644 |
Kuhn | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash Payment |
| 645,000 |
| — |
| 1,290,000 |
| 3,670,674 |
| 430,022 |
| 645,000 |
Continuation of Medical/Welfare Benefits |
| 20,432 |
| — |
| — |
| 51,080 |
| — |
| — |
Acceleration of Time Vesting RSUs (Value as of 12/31/21)(2) |
| 411,044 |
| 411,044 |
| 1,429,710 |
| 2,725,792 |
| 2,725,792 |
| 2,725,792 |
PRSUs(3) |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 2,584,022 |
| 2,584,022 |
| 2,584,022 |
Total Termination Benefits(4) |
| 1,076,476 |
| 411,044 |
| 2,719,710 |
| 9,031,568 |
| 5,739,836 |
| 5,954,814 |
Touya | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash Payment |
| — |
| 607,043 |
| 1,837,881 |
| 1,837,881 |
| 404,716 |
| 607,043 |
Continuation of Medical/Welfare Benefits |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
Acceleration of Time Vesting RSUs (Value as of 12/31/21)(2) |
| 260,392 |
| 260,392 |
| 1,183,156 |
| 2,206,721 |
| 2,206,721 |
| 2,206,721 |
PRSUs(3) |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 2,044,434 |
| 2,044,434 |
| 2,044,434 |
Total Termination Benefits(4) |
| 260,392 |
| 867,435 |
| 3,021,037 |
| 6,089,036 |
| 4,655,871 |
| 4,858,198 |
Prieur | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash Payment |
| 598,635 |
| 380,698 |
| 299,318 |
| 761,395 |
| 399,110 |
| 598,635 |
Continuation of Medical/Welfare Benefits |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
Acceleration of Time Vesting RSUs (Value as of 12/31/21)(2) |
| — |
| — |
| 523,725 |
| 1,384,269 |
| 1,384,269 |
| 1,384,269 |
PRSUs(3) |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 1,806,948 |
| 1,806,948 |
| 1,806,948 |
Total Termination Benefits(4) |
| 598,635 |
| 380,698 |
| 823,043 |
| 3,952,612 |
| 3,590,327 |
| 3,789,852 |
Gong | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash Payment |
| 478,000 |
| — |
| 956,000 |
| 2,026,123 |
| 318,683 |
| 478,000 |
Continuation of Medical/Welfare Benefits |
| 18,644 |
| — |
| — |
| 46,609 |
| — |
| — |
Acceleration of Time Vesting RSUs (Value as of 12/31/21)(2) |
| 69,446 |
| 69,446 |
| 69,466 |
| 1,805,352 |
| 1,805,352 |
| 1,805,352 |
PRSUs(3) |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 1,753,725 |
| 1,753,725 |
| 1,753,725 |
Total Termination Benefits(4) |
| 566,090 |
| 69,446 |
| 1,025,466 |
| 5,631,809 |
| 3,877,760 |
| 4,037,077 |
(1) | In addition to the amounts reported in this column, Messrs. Kuhn and Prieur would vest in outstanding equity awards in accordance with the retirement vesting provisions of such awards and with an estimated value of $5,227,508 and $3,191,217, respectively, as of December 31, 2021. With respect to PRSUs in the case of retirement, vesting is prorated and based on actual performance through the end of the performance period (assumed to be at the maximum level). |
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2022 Proxy Statement | 59 |
(2) | Beginning in 2019, for RSUs deferred pursuant to the Company's annual incentive plan, in the event of a termination other than due to cause, the NEO would vest in the number of RSUs equal to his or her deferral, but would not vest in the 20% additional RSUs granted under the deferral program. |
(3) | For scenarios which provide for payments, this row assumes maximum payouts under the PRSU awards and in each case, is prorated based on the portion of the performance periods completed as of December 31, 2021. |
(4) | In the event of Mr. Tanda's, Mr. Kuhn's or Ms. Gong's termination of employment other than for cause and not within two years following a change in control, the executive would remain eligible for a prorated annual bonus based on actual performance, but only if such termination occurs during the third or fourth quarter of the Company's fiscal year. Because the annual bonus is considered earned as of December 31, 2021, amounts related to the pro rata bonus have been excluded from this table and are reported in the 2021 Summary Compensation Table as 2021 compensation. |
Normal Expiration of Employment Agreement
If his employment ends due to the expiration of the employment agreement as a result of non-renewal by the Company, Mr. Tanda is entitled to receive an amount equal to one year's base salary and his target annual performance incentive. As a condition to the employment agreements of Mr. Kuhn and Ms. Gong each would receive his/her current base salary amount as well as benefits currently provided, including current health and welfare benefits (consisting of health and term life premiums) for a period of one year following the normal expiration date of his/her agreement. Amounts would be paid and benefits would be provided on a monthly basis for twelve months. With expiration within the first five (5) years of his start date, Mr. Tanda is entitled to a lump sum payment equal to the present value of any qualified pension benefits he would lose in connection with such termination. Mr. Tanda would also receive his target annual performance incentive for the year in which he was terminated due to expiration of his employment agreement, paid on a monthly basis for the 12 months following the termination. The employment agreement of Mr. Touya has no expiration date. The employment of Mr. Prieur expires at the end of the month in which he reaches ordinary retirement age.
Voluntary or With Cause Termination
Mr. Kuhn and Ms. Gong are not entitled to additional benefits if they are terminated with cause. With voluntary termination within the first five (5) years of his start date, Mr. Tanda is entitled to a lump sum payment equal to the present value of any qualified pension benefits he would lose in connection with such termination. With voluntary termination in the third or fourth quarter of the Company's fiscal year, Messrs. Tanda and Kuhn and Ms. Gong would remain eligible for a prorated annual bonus based on actual performance. With voluntary termination, Messrs. Touya and Prieur may receive monthly payments in accordance with the non-competition clauses of their contracts equal to 50% of their former monthly salary (and annual bonus for Mr. Prieur) for a period of two years from the date of termination. Such payments would not be made in the event of a termination with cause, generally defined as gross misconduct for Mr. Touya and as defined in accordance with Swiss law for Mr. Prieur. Equity awards granted to NEOs continue to vest upon retirement (and in the case of PRSUs, are paid on a pro-rated performance period). For a description of the value of outstanding equity awards as of December 31, 2021, see the second paragraph under “Involuntary or Good Reason Termination After a Change in Control” below.
Involuntary Termination
For Mr. Kuhn and Ms. Gong amounts shown above represent their base salaries and annual performance incentive amounts. Amounts would be paid on a monthly basis for the remaining term of each respective agreement. If Mr. Tanda is terminated without “cause,” he is entitled to receive 1.5 times (i) his base salary then in effect and (ii) the greater of (x) his target annual performance incentive for the year in which he was terminated and (y) the average of the annual performance incentives paid to him for the two preceding years, paid in 18 equal installments, as well as the medical, disability and life insurance benefits he would have otherwise received for a period of 18 months following the termination date and a prorated annual bonus based on actual performance. Termination of Mr. Tanda within the first five (5) years of his start date, would also entitle Mr. Tanda to a lump sum payment equal to the present value of any qualified pension benefits he would lose in connection with such termination. Cash payment amounts shown for Mr. Touya represent payments that would be required under the Collective Bargaining Agreement of the French Plastics Industry, six months of his average gross salary (as defined in his employment agreement), and monthly payments in accordance with the non-competition clauses of his respective contracts equal to 50% of his former monthly
| | |
60 | 2022 Proxy Statement |
salary for a period of two years from the date of termination. The Collective Bargaining Agreement of the French Plastics Industry provides for an indemnity to be paid upon involuntary termination of employment that is based on the number of years of service and on the average monthly total compensation paid during the last twelve months (“Monthly Salary”). This indemnity is equal to 4.4 times the Monthly Salary in total for the first 13 years of service plus 0.5 times the Monthly Salary for each year thereafter. No payments would be made in connection with PRSUs regarding an involuntary termination. Cash payment amounts shown for Mr. Prieur represent payments equal to six months of the base gross salary as in effect at the time of the notification of termination and the prorated average annual gross bonus received by him during the three years prior to his dismissal.
For Messrs. Kuhn, Prieur and Touya with respect to certain RSU awards, if they are terminated without cause or, with respect to a retiree‑eligible participant, retire upon learning that they will be terminated without cause, such RSU awards vest in full immediately on the date of termination or retirement, as applicable.
Involuntary or Good Reason Termination After a Change in Control (“CIC”)
Cash payment amounts shown for Mr. Tanda represent, according to his employment agreements and the CIC provisions therein, three times his highest annualized salary during the 12 month period preceding the termination and three times the average of his annual performance incentive amounts earned or payable in the past three fiscal years, as well as a prorated annual performance incentive. The cash payment amounts shown for Mr. Kuhn and Ms. Gong represent, according to their employment agreements and the CIC provisions therein, two and one-half times their highest annualized salary during the 12 month period preceding the termination and two and one-half times the average of their annual performance incentive amounts earned or payable in the past three fiscal years, as well as a prorated annual performance incentive. Cash payments under this scenario would be lump sum payments that would be expected to be paid within approximately 30 days following the date of termination. The employment agreement of Mr. Tanda also provides for the continuation of health and welfare benefits currently provided, for a period of three years following the date of termination. The agreements of Mr. Kuhn and Ms. Gong also provide for the continuation of health and welfare benefits currently provided, for a period of two and one-half years following the date of termination. Cash payment amounts shown for Mr. Touya are identical to the payments described above under “Involuntary Termination” in accordance with his agreements. Cash payment amounts shown for Mr. Prieur represent payments equal to his annual base salary and the average annual gross bonus received by him during the three years prior to his dismissal.
The Company’s employee stock option agreements, RSU agreements, and PRSU agreements provide for the acceleration of vesting upon a CIC. Because all stock options held by the NEOs were vested as of December 31, 2021, no value is included with respect to the acceleration of stock options. The PRSUs amounts are based on the closing stock price of $122.48 per share on December 31, 2021 (the "Closing Price") multiplied by the number of shares subject to the PRSU awards, assuming maximum performance, and prorated based on service performed during the performance period. The accelerated RSU values included in the above table represent the Closing Price multiplied by the number of unvested RSUs. Further information regarding RSUs and PRSUs can be found under “Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year‑End.”
Disability
The employment agreements of Messrs. Tanda and Kuhn and Ms. Gong provide for payments equal to a minimum of approximately 66.67% of their base salary while they are disabled, until they reach the age of 65. A portion of the payments are covered under insurance policies paid for by the Company. The cash payment amounts included in the above table for Messrs. Tanda and Kuhn and Ms. Gong represent one year of disability payments under this scenario. In addition, the Company’s employee stock option agreements, RSU agreements and PRSU agreements provide for the acceleration of vesting in the event of disability (with prorated vesting in the case of PRSUs). Further information regarding the value of accelerated equity grants shown in the above table can be found in the preceding paragraph.
Death
Upon death, the employment agreements of Messrs. Tanda and Kuhn and Ms. Gong provide their estates with one-half of their annual salary that they would have received until the second anniversary of their death. The Company’s employee stock option, RSU agreements and PRSU agreements provide for the acceleration of vesting in the event of death (with prorated vesting in the case of PRSUs) and the values shown in the
| | |
2022 Proxy Statement | 61 |
table above for this scenario are the same as those shown under the Disability and Involuntary or Good Reason Termination After a CIC scenarios.
CIC without Termination
The NEOs are not entitled to additional benefits if there is a CIC without termination within two years of the CIC event other than the acceleration of equity award vesting. In the event of a change in control as of December 31, 2021, the NEOs would accelerate with respect to their outstanding awards as follows (assuming the maximum level of performance in the case of PRSUs): Mr. Tanda $15,866,160, Mr. Kuhn $5,227,508, Mr. Touya $4,198,978, Mr. Prieur $3,191,217, and Ms. Gong $3,545,361.
Non-compete Information
The agreements of Messrs. Tanda and Kuhn and Ms. Gong require that during the employment period and for one year thereafter in the case of either termination for good reason following a CIC or termination without cause, or for two years following termination for any other reason, that each executive will not (i) compete directly or indirectly with the Company or (ii) solicit employees or customers of the Company. The agreement of Messrs. Touya and Prieur requires that, for a period of two years following termination, each executive will not (i) compete directly or indirectly with the Company or (ii) solicit employees or customers of the Company, and that under this arrangement, each executive will receive monthly payments equal to 50% of his former monthly salary (and annual bonus, in the case of Mr. Prieur) for a period of two years from the date of termination. Payments would not be made to Messrs. Touya and Prieur if they were terminated with cause, defined as gross misconduct for Mr. Touya and as defined in applicable Swiss law in the case of Mr. Prieur.
Pension Related Benefits
Information concerning pension benefits can be found under the heading “Pension Benefits.”
As required by Section 953(b) of the Dodd‑Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, Aptar is providing the following disclosure about the relationship of the annual total compensation of our employees to the annual total compensation of Stephan Tanda, our President and CEO. To better understand this disclosure, we think it is important to give context to our operations. As a global organization, approximately 20%, or 2,400 of our employees are located in the United States, while approximately 80% or 9,600 employees are located throughout Europe, Asia and South America. We strive to create a competitive global compensation program in terms of both the position and the geographic location in which the employee is located. As a result, our compensation program varies amongst each local market in order to allow us to provide a competitive compensation package.
Pay Ratio
For 2021:
● | The median of the annual total compensation of all of our employees, other than Mr. Tanda, was $54,090. |
● | Mr. Tanda’s annual total compensation was $9,379,483. |
● | Based on this information, the ratio of the annual total compensation of Mr. Tanda to the median of the annual total compensation of all employees is estimated to be 173 to 1. |
Given the leverage of our executive compensation program towards performance-based elements, we expect that our pay ratio disclosure will fluctuate year-to-year based on the Company’s performance against the pre-established performance goals.
Identification of Median Employee
For purposes of the foregoing CEO pay ratio disclosure, we were required to identify the “median employee” of our worldwide workforce, without regard to their location, compensation arrangements or employment status (full-time versus part-time) and then determine the annual total compensation that “median employee” earned during 2021. The applicable SEC rules require us to identify a “median employee” only once every three years, as long as there have been no material changes in our employee population or employee compensation arrangements that we reasonably believe would result in a significant change to our CEO pay
| | |
62 | 2022 Proxy Statement |
ratio disclosure. Because there have been no material changes in our employee population or employee compensation arrangements that we believe would significantly impact the Company’s CEO pay ratio disclosure, we are using the same “median employee” for our 2021 CEO Pay Ratio that we used for our 2020 CEO Pay Ratio, although we have updated the calculation of the total compensation earned by that employee for 2021. We determined our “median employee” for purposes of determining our 2021 CEO pay ratio by identifying the employee whose compensation was at the median of the compensation of our employee population (other than our CEO) for 2020.
For the 2020 pay ratio, we used the following methodology:
(1) | We selected December 31, 2020 as the date on which to determine our median employee. |
(2) | As of that date, we had had approximately 12,000 employees, with approximately 2,400 employees based in the United States and 9,600 employees located outside of the United States. We applied the allowed “de minimis” exception to exclude 524 employees in the following countries: India (314); Indonesia (106); and Russia (104). If we excluded any employees from a country using this de minimis exception, all employees from that country were excluded. After taking into account the de minimis exemption, approximately 2,400 employees in the United States and approximately 9,076 employees located outside of the United States were considered for identifying the median employee. |
(3) | For purposes of identifying the median employee from our employee population base, we considered the total cash compensation earned by our employees, as compiled from our payroll records. We selected total cash compensation as it reflects the principal forms of compensation delivered to all of our employees and this information is readily available in each country. In addition, we measured compensation for purposes of determining the median employee using the 12 month period ended December 31, 2020. Compensation paid in foreign currencies was converted to U.S. dollars using the average exchange rate at December 31, 2020. |
(4) | In determining the annual total compensation of the median employee, such employee’s compensation was calculated in accordance with Item 402(c)(2)(x) of Regulation S‑K, as required pursuant to the SEC executive compensation disclosure rules. |
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2022 Proxy Statement | 63 |
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following table provides information, as of December 31, 2021, relating to Aptar’s equity compensation plans pursuant to which grants of options, restricted stock units or other rights to acquire shares may be granted from time to time. Aptar does not have any equity compensation plans that were not approved by stockholders.
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | Number of |
| | | | | | | | | Securities |
| | | | | | | | | Remaining Available |
| | Number of | | | | | | for Future Issuance | |
| | Securities to Be | | Weighted | | under Equity | |||
| | Issued Upon | | Average | | Compensation Plans | |||
| | Exercise of | | Exercise Price of | | (excluding | |||
| | Outstanding | | Outstanding | | Securities | |||
| | Options, Warrants | | Options, Warrants | | reflected in | |||
| | and Rights | | and Rights | | Column (a)) | |||
Plan Category |
| (a) |
| (b) |
| (c) | |||
Equity compensation plans approved by stockholders(1) |
| 4,260,235 | (2) |
| $ | 71.86 | (3) |
| 928,406 |
(1) | Plans approved by stockholders include director and employee equity award plans. |
(2) | Includes 485,479 RSUs and 650,553 PRSUs (assuming target level of performance). |
(3) | RSUs and PRSUs are excluded when determining the weighted average exercise price of outstanding options. |
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64 | 2022 Proxy Statement |
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners, Directors and Management
The following table contains information with respect to the beneficial ownership of common stock, as of March 11, 2022 (unless otherwise indicated) by (a) the persons known by Aptar to be the beneficial owners of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of common stock, (b) each director or director nominee of Aptar, (c) each of the executive officers of Aptar named in the Summary Compensation Table above, and (d) all directors and executive officers of Aptar as a group.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | Options |
| | | | | | Exercisable or |
| | Shares Owned | | RSUs Vesting | ||
|
| Number of |
| |
| Within 60 Days of |
Name |
| Shares(1) |
| Percentage(2) |
| March 11, 2022 |
The Vanguard Group(3) |
| 6,903,959 |
| 10.5 |
| — |
100 Vanguard Boulevard, | | | | | | |
Malvern, PA 19355 | | | | | | |
Blackrock, Inc.(4) |
| 5,639,337 |
| 8.6 |
| — |
55 East 52nd Street, | | | | | | |
New York, NY 10055 | | | | | | |
State Farm Mutual |
| 5,289,769 |
| 8.1 |
| — |
Automobile Insurance Company(5) | | | | | | |
One State Farm Plaza, | | | | | | |
Bloomington, IL 61710 | | | | | | |
Morgan Stanley(6) |
| 3,701,634 |
| 5.6 |
| — |
1585 Broadway | | | | | | |
New York, NY 10036 | | | | | | |
George L. Fotiades |
| 24,161 |
| * |
| 10,614 |
Xiangwei Gong |
| 5,364 |
| * |
| 3,169 |
Maritza Gomez Montiel |
| 4,222 |
| * |
| 983 |
Giovanna Kampouri Monnas |
| 11,467 |
| * |
| 983 |
Andreas C. Kramvis |
| 19,894 |
| * |
| 10,483 |
Robert W. Kuhn |
| 344,394 |
| * |
| 279,418 |
Isabel Marey-Semper |
| 3,594 |
| * |
| 983 |
Candace Matthews | | — | | * | | — |
B. Craig Owens |
| 5,007 |
| * |
| 983 |
Marc Prieur |
| 21,563 |
| * |
| 13,476 |
Stephan B. Tanda |
| 224,119 |
| * |
| 151,170 |
Gael Touya |
| 81,716 |
| * |
| 62,855 |
Jesse Wu |
| 5,005 |
| * |
| 983 |
Ralf K. Wunderlich |
| 12,643 |
| * |
| 983 |
All Directors and Executive Officers as a Group(17) persons) |
| 782,793 |
| 1.2 |
| 546,106 |
* | Less than one percent. |
(1) | Except as otherwise indicated below, beneficial ownership means the sole power to vote and dispose of shares. Number of shares includes options exercisable and RSUs vesting within 60 days of March 11, 2022. |
(2) | Based on 65,556,831 shares of common stock outstanding as of March 11, 2022 plus, with respect to any person, stock options and RSUs held by any such person that are exercisable or vest within 60 days of that date. |
(3) | The information as to The Vanguard Group and related entities (“Vanguard”) is derived from a statement on Schedule 13G with respect to the common stock as of December 31, 2021, filed with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act. Such statement discloses that Vanguard has the sole |
| | |
2022 Proxy Statement | 65 |
power to dispose of 6,812,321 shares, the shared power to vote 37,875 shares and the shared power to dispose of 91,638 shares. |
(4) | The information as to Blackrock, Inc. and related entities (“Blackrock”) is derived from a statement on Schedule 13G with respect to the common stock as of December 31, 2021, filed with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act. Such statement discloses that Blackrock has the sole power to vote 5,357,898 shares and the sole power to dispose of 5,639,337 shares. |
(5) | The information as to State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company and related entities ("State Farm") is derived from a statement on Schedule 13G with respect to the common stock as of December 31, 2021, filed with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act. Such statement discloses that State Farm has the sole power to vote 4,744,564 shares, the sole power to dispose of 4,744,564 shares, the shared power to vote 545,205 shares and the shared power to dispose of 545,205 shares. |
(6) | The information as to Morgan Stanley and related entities (“Morgan Stanley”) is derived from a statement on Schedule 13G with respect to the common stock as of December 31, 2021, filed with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act. Such statement discloses that Morgan Stanley has the shared power to vote 3,637,007 shares and the shared power to dispose of 3,701,634 shares. |
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66 | 2022 Proxy Statement |
Transactions with Related Persons
Aptar or one of our subsidiaries may occasionally enter into transactions with certain “related persons.” Related persons include our executive officers, directors, nominees for directors, a beneficial owner of more than 5% of our common stock and immediate family members of these persons. We refer to transactions involving amounts in excess of $120,000 and in which the related person has a direct or indirect material interest as “related person transactions.” Each related person transaction must be approved in accordance with Aptar’s written Related Person Transactions Policy by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. Each member of the Audit Committee is considered a “disinterested” director and therefore are approving related person transactions from this perspective.
The Audit Committee considers all relevant factors when determining whether to approve a related person transaction including, without limitation, the following:
● | the size of the transaction and the amount payable to a related person; |
● | the nature of the interest of the related person in the transaction; |
● | whether the transaction may involve a conflict of interest; and |
● | whether the transaction is on terms that would be available in comparable transactions with unaffiliated third parties. |
The following are not considered related person transactions:
● | executive officer or director compensation which has been approved by the Management Development and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors; |
● | indebtedness incurred with a beneficial owner of more than 5% of any class of voting securities of the Company; |
● | indebtedness incurred for the purchase of goods or services subject to usual trade terms, for ordinary business travel and expense payments, and for other transactions in the ordinary course of business; and |
● | any transaction in which a person is deemed a Related Person solely on the basis of such person’s equity ownership and all holders of that class of equity receive the same benefit on a pro rata basis. |
Pursuant to this policy, the Audit Committee approves all related person transactions, including those involving NEOs and directors. Since January 1, 2021, there have been no related person transactions for which disclosure is required under SEC rules.
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2022 Proxy Statement | 67 |
Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports
Based solely upon a review of filings with the SEC and written representations furnished to it, Aptar believes that during 2021 all filings with the SEC by its executive officers and directors and beneficial owners of more than 10% of its common stock complied with requirements for reporting ownership and changes in ownership of Aptar’s common stock pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act.
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68 | 2022 Proxy Statement |
Management is responsible for Aptar’s internal controls and the financial reporting process. The independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for performing an independent audit of Aptar’s consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, including the effectiveness of internal controls, and issuing a report thereon. The Audit Committee’s responsibility is to assist the Board in fulfilling its responsibility for overseeing the quality and integrity of the accounting, auditing and financial reporting practices of Aptar.
During the course of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, management completed the documentation, testing and evaluation of the Company’s system of internal control over financial reporting in response to the requirements set forth in Section 404 of the Sarbanes‑Oxley Act of 2002 and related regulations. Management and the independent registered public accounting firm kept the Audit Committee apprised of the progress of the documentation, testing and evaluation through periodic updates, and the Audit Committee provided advice to management during this process.
The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited consolidated financial statements with management and the independent registered public accounting firm. Management has represented to the Audit Committee that the audited consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Also, the Audit Committee has discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm the matters required to be discussed by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) and the SEC.
In addition, the Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and letter from the independent registered public accounting firm as required by the PCAOB regarding the independent registered public accounting firm’s communication with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and has discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm its independence from Aptar and Aptar’s management. In considering the independence of Aptar’s independent registered public accounting firm, the Audit Committee took into consideration the amount and nature of the fees paid to this firm for non-audit services as described under “Proposal 3—Ratification of the Appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for 2022”.
Based on the review and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors, and the Board has approved, that the audited consolidated financial statements be included in Aptar’s Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the year ended December 31, 2021, for filing with the SEC.
| |
| Audit Committee |
| Maritza Gomez Montiel (Chair) |
| | |
2022 Proxy Statement | 69 |
Aptar will pay the cost of soliciting proxies for the annual meeting. Aptar reimburses banks, brokerage firms and other institutions, nominees, custodians and fiduciaries for their reasonable expenses for sending proxy materials to beneficial owners and obtaining their voting instructions. Certain directors, officers and employees of Aptar and its subsidiaries may solicit proxies personally or by telephone, facsimile or electronic means without additional compensation.
Aptar’s Annual Report/Form 10‑K for the year ended December 31, 2021 is available on the Internet (including on the Investor Relations page of the Aptar website located at investors.aptar.com) along with this proxy statement. Stockholders can refer to the report for financial and other information about Aptar, but such report is not incorporated in this proxy statement and is not deemed a part of the proxy soliciting material. If you received a Notice by mail and would like to receive a printed copy of our proxy materials (including the Annual Report/Form 10‑K), you should follow the instructions for requesting such materials included in the Notice.
Stockholder Proposals and Nominations
The 2023 annual meeting of stockholders is expected to be held on May 3, 2023. In order to be considered for inclusion in Aptar’s proxy materials for the 2023 annual meeting of stockholders pursuant to Rule 14a‑8 under the Exchange Act, stockholder proposals must be received by our Secretary at Aptar’s principal executive offices at 265 Exchange Drive, Suite 100, Crystal Lake, Illinois 60014 by November 25, 2022. Stockholders who intend to present a proposal or nominate a director at our 2023 annual meeting of stockholders without seeking to include a proposal in our proxy statement must deliver notice of the proposal or nomination to our Secretary at Aptar’s principal executive offices on or after February 3, 2023 and on or prior to March 5, 2023. A stockholder proposal or nomination must include the information requirements set forth in Aptar’s amended and restated by-laws ("By-Laws"). Any stockholder who seeks to recommend a director for consideration by the Corporate Governance Committee for the 2023 annual meeting of stockholders must send such recommendation to the Secretary at the address set forth above no later than November 25, 2022 and include with such recommendation any information that would be required by Aptar's By-Laws if the stockholder were making the nomination directly. In addition to the requirements set forth above and in Aptar’s By-Laws, to comply with the universal proxy rules (once effective), stockholders who intend to solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than Aptar’s nominees must provide notice that sets forth the information required by Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act no later than March 5, 2023.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
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Kimberly Y. Chainey Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary Crystal Lake, Illinois March 25, 2022 | |
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This proxy statement contains information related to the business to be conducted at the virtual annual meeting of stockholders of Aptar to be held on May 4, 2022, beginning at 9:00 a.m. CDT, online at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/ATR2022. This proxy statement was prepared under the direction of Aptar’s Board of Directors to solicit your proxy for use at the annual meeting. In accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the SEC, instead of mailing a printed copy of our proxy materials to each stockholder of record or beneficial owner, we are furnishing proxy materials, which include this proxy statement, the notice of meeting and our Annual Report/Form 10‑K, to our stockholders over the Internet. If you received a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (“Notice”) by mail, you will not receive a printed copy of the proxy materials. Instead, the Notice instructs you as to how you may access and review all of the important information contained in the proxy materials. The Notice also instructs you as to how you may submit your proxy over the Internet. If you received a Notice by mail and would like to receive a printed copy of our proxy materials, you should follow the instructions for requesting such materials included in the Notice. The Notice was mailed to stockholders on or about March 25, 2022.
Why is the annual meeting being held in virtual-only format this year?
In light of public health concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, the Board of Directors has determined that it is prudent that this year’s annual meeting be held in a virtual-only format via live audio webcast. The Board of Directors has been monitoring the impact of COVID-19, including with regard to the health and well-being of our employees and stockholders, as well as the related government-imposed restrictions on travel. Hosting the annual meeting in virtual-only format protects our employees and stockholders during this time. It provides easy access for stockholders and facilitates participation without the need to travel, since stockholders can participate from any location around the world.
Stockholders of record at the close of business on March 11, 2022 and the general public may attend the virtual annual meeting at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/ATR2022. The meeting will only be conducted virtually via webcast; there will be no physical meeting location. To participate in the annual meeting, stockholders will need the 16-digit control number that appears on your Notice, proxy card or the instructions that accompanied the proxy materials. In the event that you do not have a control number, please contact your broker, bank, or other nominee as soon as possible and no later than April 19, 2022, so that you can be provided with a control number and participate in the meeting.
The annual meeting will begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. CDT. Online check-in will begin 15 minutes prior to the start of the meeting, and you should allow ample time for the online check-in procedures. We encourage our stockholders to access the virtual meeting prior to the start time.
Stockholders owning our common stock at the close of business on March 11, 2022 are entitled to vote at the annual meeting, or any postponement or adjournment of the meeting. Each stockholder has one vote per share on all matters to be voted on at the meeting. At the close of business on March 11, 2022, there were 65,556,831 shares of common stock outstanding.
May stockholders ask questions at the virtual annual meeting?
Yes. Stockholders will have the ability to submit questions during the annual meeting via the annual meeting website at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/ATR2022. As part of the annual meeting, we will hold a live question and answer session, during which we intend to answer all questions submitted during the meeting which are pertinent to Aptar and the meeting matters, as time permits. Detailed guidelines for submitting questions during the meeting will be available at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/ATR2022.
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What if I have technical difficulties or trouble accessing the virtual annual meeting?
If you encounter any difficulties accessing the virtual meeting or during the meeting time, please call the phone number posted on the date of the meeting at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/ATR2022 for general technical questions.
What am I voting on and how does the Board of Directors recommend I vote on the proposals?
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Proposal | Board recommendation | For more information |
1. To elect the three director nominees named in this proxy statement to terms of office expiring at the annual meeting in 2025 | FOR all of the nominees named in this proxy statement for election to the Board of Directors | Page 13 |
2. To approve, on an advisory basis, Aptar’s executive compensation | FOR the resolution to approve executive compensation | Page 31 |
3. To ratify the appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm for 2022 | FOR the ratification of the appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm for 2022 | Page 32 |
The Board of Directors knows of no other business that will be presented at the annual meeting. If other matters properly come before the meeting, the persons named as proxies will vote on them in accordance with their best judgment. Unless you give other instructions when voting your proxy, the persons named as proxies will vote in accordance with the recommendation of the Board.
If you are a record holder, you can vote your proxy in any of the following ways:
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4 Ways to Vote | | By Internet: Aptar encourages stockholders to vote by Internet because it is the least costly method of tabulating votes. You can vote by Internet by following the instructions on the proxy card or the Notice. | | By Telephone: You can vote by telephone by following the instructions on the proxy card. | | By Mail: If you received proxy materials by mail or if you request a paper proxy card, you may elect to vote by mail. To do so, you should sign, date and complete the proxy card you receive and return it in the envelope which accompanied that proxy card. | | During the Meeting: If you attend the virtual annual meeting using your 16-digit control number, you may vote during the annual meeting. Even if you plan to attend the virtual annual meeting, we encourage you to vote in advance by one of the methods specified above. |
3 Voting Options* | | Vote FOR a given nominee or proposal | | Vote AGAINST a given nominee or proposal | | ABSTAIN from voting on a given nominee or proposal | | |
4 Ways to Revoke your Vote | | Entering a new vote by Internet or telephone | | Submitting another signed proxy card with a later date | | Writing to Aptar’s Corporate Secretary | | Voting during the virtual annual meeting using your 16-digit control number |
* | If you return your proxy with no voting instructions marked on a nominee or proposal, your shares will be voted in the manner recommended by the Board on such nominee or proposal as presented in this proxy statement and as the proxy holders may determine in their discretion with respect to any other matters properly presented for a vote at the annual meeting. |
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A “quorum” is the presence at the meeting, virtually via webcast or represented by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Aptar’s common stock at the close of business on March 11, 2022. There must be a quorum for the meeting to be held.
How are shares in a 401(k) plan voted?
If you hold shares of Aptar through your 401(k) plan, you will be instructing the trustee how to vote your shares by voting by Internet or by telephone, or by completing and returning the proxy card. If you do not vote by Internet or telephone or if you do not return the proxy card, or if you return it with unclear voting instructions, the trustee will not vote the shares in your 401(k) plan.
How are shares held in a broker account voted?
If you own shares through a broker, you should be contacted by your broker regarding a proxy card and whether telephone or Internet voting options are available. If you do not instruct your broker on how to vote your shares, your broker, as the registered holder of your shares, may represent your shares at the annual meeting for purposes of determining a quorum. Even without instructions, your broker may exercise discretion in voting for the ratification of the appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm. Brokers have authority to vote in their discretion on “routine” matters if they do not receive voting instructions from the beneficial owner of the shares.
Other than the proposal regarding the ratification of the independent registered public accounting firm, all other proposals are not considered “routine” matters and, as a result, brokers may not vote on behalf of their clients if no voting instructions have been furnished. Broker non-votes are counted as shares present in determining whether the quorum requirement is satisfied but do not affect the outcome of whether a matter is approved.
How many votes are required to approve each proposal?
In order to be elected, a director nominee must receive the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast present virtually via webcast or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors. Stockholders do not have a right to cumulate their votes for the election of directors. Abstaining will not affect the outcome of director elections. The approval of each other proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present virtually via webcast or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on these proposals. Abstaining is the legal equivalent of voting against these proposals.
Our agent, Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc., will count the votes cast by proxy or virtually via webcast during the annual meeting.
How can I help reduce the environmental impact of the annual meeting?
We encourage you to choose electronic (e‑mail) delivery of future annual meeting materials by contacting your broker or emailing us at investorrelations@aptar.com. You may also visit www.proxyvote.com and follow the Vote By Internet instructions on the proxy card or the Notice to be provided with the opportunity to choose electronic delivery for future meeting materials.
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