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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.    )

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

Check the appropriate box:

 

   Preliminary Proxy Statement
   Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
   Definitive Proxy Statement
   Definitive Additional Materials
   Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

Graphic Packaging Holding Company

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
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   Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
   Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
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LOGO

 

 

March 30, 2018

 

Dear Graphic Packaging Holding Company Stockholders:

It is my pleasure to invite you to Graphic Packaging Holding Company’s 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be held at our offices located at 1500 Riveredge Parkway, Suite 100, Atlanta, Georgia 30328, on Wednesday, May 23, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. local time.

The formal Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement are enclosed with this letter. The Proxy Statement describes the matters to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting. It also describes how our Board of Directors operates and provides compensation and other information about the management and Board of Directors of Graphic Packaging Holding Company.

Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, your vote is important, and I hope you will vote as soon as possible. You may vote over the internet, by telephone or by mailing a proxy or voting instruction card. Voting over the internet, by telephone or by written proxy will ensure your representation at the Annual Meeting, regardless of whether you attend in person. If you hold your shares in your own name and choose to attend the Annual Meeting, you may revoke your proxy and personally cast your votes at the Annual Meeting. If you hold your shares through an account with a brokerage firm, bank or other nominee, please follow instructions from such firm to vote your shares.

Sincerely yours,

 

 

LOGO

Michael P. Doss

President and

Chief Executive Officer


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LOGO

 

 

Notice

of

Annual Meeting of Stockholders

of

Graphic Packaging Holding Company

 

 

 

Date:   May 23, 2018
Time:   10:00 a.m. local time
Place:  

Graphic Packaging Holding Company

1500 Riveredge Parkway, Suite 100

Atlanta, Georgia 30328

The purposes of the Annual Meeting of Stockholders are to:

 

   

Elect three Class II Directors to serve until the 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders;

 

   

Ratify the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm;

 

   

Seek approval of the compensation paid to Graphic Packaging Holding Company’s named executive officers as set forth in this Proxy Statement; and

 

   

Transact any other business that may be properly brought before the Annual Meeting.

Only stockholders of record at the close of business on March 26, 2018 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and at any adjournment thereof.

By order of the Board of Directors,

 

LOGO

Lauren S. Tashma

Senior Vice President, General Counsel

and Secretary

1500 Riveredge Parkway, Suite 100

Atlanta, Georgia 30328

March 30, 2018

YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT.

EVEN IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS IN PERSON, PLEASE AUTHORIZE YOUR PROXY OR DIRECT YOUR VOTE BY INTERNET OR TELEPHONE, AS DESCRIBED IN THE ENCLOSED PROXY STATEMENT, OR COMPLETE, SIGN AND DATE THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD OR VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY BY MAIL IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED. IF YOU MAIL THE PROXY CARD, NO POSTAGE IS REQUIRED IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.


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GENERAL INFORMATION

     1  

Annual Meeting and Voting Information

     1  

Annual Report

     3  

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE MATTERS

     4  

Information Regarding the Board of Directors

     4  

Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions

     9  

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

     10  

PROPOSAL 1 — ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

     10  

AUDIT MATTERS

     15  

Report of the Audit Committee

     15  

PROPOSAL 2 — RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

     17  

COMPENSATION MATTERS

     18  

Compensation and Benefits Committee Report

     18  

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

     18  

Compensation of Executive Officers

     29  

PROPOSAL 3 — ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION (SAY-ON-PAY)

     38  

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

     39  

Proxy Solicitation and Householding

     39  

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

     39  

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

     40  

Stockholder Proposals and Nominations

     40  

 


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LOGO

 

 

Proxy Statement

for the

Annual Meeting of Stockholders

on

May 23, 2018

 

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

Annual Meeting and Voting Information

This Proxy Statement is being furnished in connection with the solicitation by the Board of Directors (the “Board of Directors” or “Board”) of Graphic Packaging Holding Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), of proxies to be voted at the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at the Company’s offices, located at 1500 Riveredge Parkway, Suite 100, Atlanta, Georgia 30328, on Wednesday, May 23, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. local time (the “Annual Meeting”). This Proxy Statement and the enclosed proxy card or notice of their availability on the Internet will first be sent on or before March 30, 2018 to the Company’s stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 26, 2018 (the “Record Date”). References in this Proxy Statement to “Graphic Packaging,” “GPHC,” “we,” “us,” and “our” or similar terms are to Graphic Packaging Holding Company.

Outstanding Shares

As of the close of business on the Record Date, there were 310,279,527 shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding and entitled to vote. Stockholders are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters to come before the Annual Meeting.

Who May Vote

Only stockholders who held shares of the Company’s common stock at the close of business on the Record Date are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof.

How to Vote in Person

If your shares are registered directly in your name, you are considered a stockholder of record and you may vote in person at the Annual Meeting. If your shares are registered through a bank or brokerage firm, your shares are considered to be held beneficially in street name. If your shares are held beneficially in street name and you wish to vote in person at the Annual Meeting, you will need to obtain a proxy from the bank or brokerage firm that holds your shares. Please note that even if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting in person, the Company recommends that you vote before the Annual Meeting.

How to Vote by Proxy

Whether you hold shares directly as a stockholder of record or beneficially in street name, you may direct how your shares are voted without attending the Annual Meeting. If you are a stockholder of record, you may vote by any of the methods described below. If you hold shares beneficially in street name, you may vote by submitting voting instructions to your broker, trustee or nominee. For directions on how to vote, please refer to the instructions below and those included on your proxy card or, for shares held beneficially in street name, the voting instruction card provided by your bank or brokerage firm.

 

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Voting over the Internet. Stockholders of record of the Company’s common stock with Internet access may submit proxies by following the “Vote by Internet” instructions on their proxy cards. In addition, most of the Company’s stockholders who hold shares beneficially in street name may vote by accessing the website specified on the voting instruction card provided by their bank or brokerage firm. Please check the voting instruction card to determine Internet voting availability.

Voting by Telephone. Stockholders of record of the Company’s common stock may submit proxies by following the “Vote by Phone” instructions on their proxy cards. Most of the Company’s stockholders who hold shares beneficially in street name may vote by phone by calling the number specified on the voting instruction card provided by their bank or brokerage firm. Please check the voting instruction card to determine telephone voting availability.

Voting by Mail. Stockholders of record of the Company’s common stock may submit proxies by completing, signing and dating the enclosed proxy card and mailing it in the accompanying pre-addressed envelope. The Company’s stockholders who hold shares beneficially in street name may vote by mail by completing, signing and dating the voting instruction card provided by their bank or brokerage firm and mailing it in the accompanying pre-addressed envelope.

How Proxies Work

The Board of Directors is asking for your proxy. By giving the Board your proxy, your shares will be voted at the Annual Meeting in the manner you direct. If you do not specify how you wish to vote your shares, your shares will be voted “FOR” the election of each of the Director nominees, “FOR” the approval of the ratification of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, and “FOR” the proposal to approve the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers, every year. The proxyholders will vote shares according to their discretion on any other matter properly brought before the Annual Meeting.

If for any reason any nominee for election as Director is unable or declines to serve as a Director, discretionary authority may be exercised by the proxyholders to vote for a substitute proposed by the Board.

If the shares you own are held beneficially in street name by a bank or brokerage firm, such firm, as the record holder of your shares, is required to vote your shares according to your instructions. To vote your shares, you will need to follow the directions your bank or brokerage firm provides to you. Under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”), if you do not give instructions to your bank or brokerage firm, it will still be able to vote your shares with respect to certain “discretionary” items, but will not be allowed to vote your shares with respect to certain “non-discretionary” items. In the case of non-discretionary items, the shares will be treated as “broker non-votes.” Banks and brokerage firms are allowed to exercise discretionary voting authority for beneficial owners who have not provided voting instructions only with respect to Proposal 2 set forth in this Proxy Statement and not with respect to any other proposal to be voted on at the Annual Meeting.

How to Vote Your 401(k) Plan Shares

If you participate in the Company’s 401(k) Savings Plan or in the Company’s Hourly 401(k) Savings Plan (the “401(k) Plans”), you may give voting instructions as to the number of share equivalents held in your account as of the Record Date to the trustee of the 401(k) Plans. You provide voting instructions to the trustee, Fidelity Management Trust Company, by completing and returning the proxy card accompanying this Proxy Statement. The trustee will vote your shares in accordance with your duly executed instructions if received by 12:00 midnight on May 20, 2018. If you do not send instructions, the trustee will not vote the number of share equivalents credited to your account.

You may also revoke voting instructions previously given to the trustee by filing either a written notice of revocation or a properly completed and signed proxy card bearing a later date with the trustee no later than 12:00 midnight on May 20, 2018. Your voting instructions will be kept confidential by the trustee.

 

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Quorum

In order to carry out the business of the Annual Meeting, there must be a quorum. This means that at least a majority of the outstanding shares eligible to vote must be represented at the Annual Meeting, either by proxy or in person. Proxies received but marked as abstentions and broker non-votes will be included in the calculation of the number of votes present at the Annual Meeting for purposes of calculating whether a quorum is present.

Votes Needed

The Director nominees receiving the largest number of votes cast are elected, up to the maximum number of Directors fixed by the Board to be elected at the Annual Meeting. As a result, any shares not voted, whether by abstention, broker non-vote or otherwise, have no effect on the election of Directors, except to the extent that the failure to vote for a particular nominee may result in another nominee receiving a larger number of votes. However, under the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, a nominee for director who receives a greater number of votes “withheld” than “for” is expected to tender his or her resignation to the Board promptly following certification of the election results. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider any resignation tendered under this policy and recommend to the Board whether to accept or reject it. The Board will act on such resignation within 90 days following the certification of election results. A Director who tenders his or her resignation will not participate in the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s recommendation or in the Board’s decision regarding whether to accept such resignation. Approval of Proposals 2 and 3 requires the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the shares present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote on such matter at the Annual Meeting. An abstention with respect to these matters will have the effect of a vote against such proposal and broker non-votes will have no effect, as broker non-votes are not treated as shares entitled to vote.

Changing Your Vote

Shares of the Company’s common stock represented by proxy will be voted as directed unless the proxy is revoked. Any proxy may be revoked before it is exercised by sending an instrument revoking the proxy or a proxy bearing a later date to the Company’s Corporate Secretary. Any notice of revocation should be sent to: Graphic Packaging Holding Company, 1500 Riveredge Parkway, Suite 100, Atlanta, Georgia 30328, Attention: Corporate Secretary. Any proxy submitted over the Internet or by telephone may also be revoked by submitting a new proxy over the Internet or by telephone. A proxy is also revoked if the person who executed the proxy is present at the Annual Meeting and elects to vote in person.

Attending in Person

Only stockholders, their designated proxies and guests of the Company may attend the Annual Meeting. If your shares are held beneficially in street name, you must bring an account statement or letter from your brokerage firm or bank showing that you are the beneficial owner of shares of the Company’s common stock as of the Record Date in order to be admitted to the Annual Meeting.

Internet Availability of this Proxy Statement and Form 10-K

The Company’s Proxy Statement, 2017 Annual Report to Stockholders and 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K are available on the Company’s website at www.graphicpkg.com in the Investors section.

Annual Report

The Company’s 2017 Annual Report accompanies this Proxy Statement. The Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 for GPHC is included in the Annual Report and is available without charge upon written request addressed to Graphic Packaging Holding Company,

 

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Investor Relations, 1500 Riveredge Parkway, Suite 100, Atlanta, Georgia 30328. The Company will also furnish any exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, if specifically requested.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE MATTERS

Information Regarding the Board of Directors

Who are Graphic Packaging’s Directors?

The Board of Directors currently consists of Messrs. David D. Campbell, Paul D. Carrico, Michael P. Doss (who serves as President and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of the Company), Robert A. Hagemann, Peter Kelly, Philip R. Martens (who serves as Chairman of the Board), Larry M. Venturelli and Ms. Lynn A. Wentworth. Mr. G. Andrea Botta resigned from the Board effective February 21, 2018 and Mr. Harold R. Logan, Jr. retired effective May 23, 2017. Mr. Peter Kelly joined the Board on May 24, 2017.

How does Graphic Packaging determine which Directors are independent?

For purposes of this Proxy Statement, “independent” and “independence” have the meanings set forth under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), the rules and regulations adopted thereunder by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), the corporate governance listing standards of the NYSE, and the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, all as in effect from time to time. A Director will not qualify as independent unless the Board affirmatively determines that the Director has no material relationship with the Company (either directly or as a partner, stockholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the Company). In addition, in accordance with the corporate governance listing standards of the NYSE, the Company will also apply the following standards in determining whether a Director is independent:

 

   

A Director who is an employee of the Company, or whose immediate family member serves as one of the Company’s executive officers, may not be deemed independent until three years after the end of such employment relationship.

 

   

A Director who receives, or whose immediate family member receives, more than $120,000 per year in direct compensation from the Company, other than Board 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), may not be deemed independent until three years after he or she ceases to receive more than $120,000 per year in such compensation. Compensation received by a director for former service as an interim Chairman or Chief Executive Officer or other executive officer or compensation received by an immediate family member for service as one of the Company’s non-executive employees will not be considered in determining independence under this test.

 

   

A Director who is a partner or employee of a firm that is the Company’s internal or external auditor or whose immediate family member is a partner of such a firm or is a current employee of such a firm and personally works on the Company’s audit may not be deemed independent until three years after the end of the affiliation or the employment or auditing relationship.

 

   

A Director who is employed, or whose immediate family member is employed, as an executive officer of another company where any of the Company’s current executive officers at the same time serve on that company’s compensation committee may not be deemed independent until three years after the end of such service or the employment relationship.

 

   

A Director who is an employee, or whose immediate family member is an executive officer of a company that makes payments to, or receives payments from the Company for property or services in an amount which, in any single fiscal year, exceeds the greater of $1 million or 2% of such other entity’s consolidated gross revenues, may not be deemed independent until three years after falling below that threshold.

 

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Applying these standards, the Board of Directors determined that all of the Company’s current Directors, except Mr. Doss, were independent in 2017. Mr. Doss is not considered independent because he serves as an executive officer of the Company.

What is the leadership structure of the Board of Directors?

Pursuant to the Company’s By-Laws, the Chairman of the Board of Directors is elected from time to time by the members of the Board of Directors. The By-Laws do not require, and the Board of Directors does not have a specific policy with respect to, the separation of the roles of the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer. The By-Laws provide that the Chairman of the Board shall preside over each meeting of the stockholders of the Company and the Board of Directors, and may have other duties and powers as conferred upon the Chairman by the Board of Directors. In accordance with the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, if the Chairman of the Board is the Chief Executive Officer, the independent directors are required to elect one independent director to serve as Lead Director. The Lead Director is responsible for, among other duties, assisting the Chairman in providing Board leadership and presiding over the regular executive sessions of the Board at which non-management Directors meet without management participation.

Mr. Philip A. Martens was elected by the Board to serve as Chairman on May 25, 2016 and served as Chairman throughout 2017. The Board believes that having an independent Board member serve as Chairman currently is in the best interests of stockholders. The Board believes that separating the roles of the Chairman and CEO is beneficial in part because it provides additional resources for managing the Board’s functions, as well as experienced, independent oversight of management. In general, our Chairman of the Board will work with our CEO and other Board members to determine the Board’s strategic priorities, while the CEO will be responsible for communicating the Board’s guidance to management and implementing the Company’s key strategic initiatives.

What is the Board of Directors’ Role in Risk Oversight?

As set forth in the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, the Board is responsible for reviewing, approving and monitoring business strategies and financial performance, and ensuring processes are in place for maintaining the integrity of the Company in financial reporting, legal and ethical compliance matters, and in relationships with customers, suppliers, employees, the community and stockholders. The Board fulfills these responsibilities through a number of different practices, including the approval of each annual operating plan and long-term strategic plan, the review of actual results against such plans at each regular Board meeting, and specific review and approval of significant corporate actions such as acquisitions and divestitures, plant rationalizations and major projects involving significant capital spending. In addition, the Board oversees areas of particular risk through its Audit and Compensation and Benefits Committees, each of which provides a report to the full Board of Directors at each regular Board meeting.

Pursuant to its Charter, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has oversight responsibility for the quality and integrity of the Company’s financial statements, the performance of the Company’s internal audit function and the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. To fulfill these responsibilities, the Audit Committee routinely discusses and evaluates (i) audit findings and issues with the Company’s Chief Financial Officer and independent auditors, (ii) internal controls, processes and issues with the Company’s Vice President of Internal Audit and Chief Audit Executive (who reports directly to the Chairman of the Audit Committee and the Chief Financial Officer), and (iii) legal and regulatory compliance issues with the Company’s Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary. The Committee also periodically reviews and evaluates the Company’s policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management, including discussion of the Company’s major financial risk exposures and the steps that management has taken to monitor and control such exposures. In addition to these activities, the Audit Committee reviews each of the Company’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and has the opportunity to discuss such reports with management of the Company and the Company’s independent auditors prior to the filing of such reports with the SEC.

 

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The Compensation and Benefits Committee of the Board of Directors has oversight responsibility for any risks inherent in the structure of the Company’s compensation programs for its employees. Pursuant to its Charter, the Compensation and Benefits Committee reviews and approves the Company’s general compensation philosophy, incentive and equity compensation plans, health and welfare plan offerings and retirement and savings plans for all employees. In addition, the Compensation and Benefits Committee reviews and approves all compensation arrangements and awards relating to the Company’s executive officers, with all compensation arrangements of the President and CEO of the Company being reviewed and approved for recommendation to the full Board of Directors for final approval. Through its review of these programs and arrangements, the Compensation and Benefits Committee and the Board has visibility into and exercises oversight over the financial and other risks, such as retention of key management and ability to recruit necessary talent, affected by the Company’s compensation and benefits programs.

How many times did the Board of Directors meet last year?

The Board of Directors met ten times in 2017.

Did any of GPHC’s Directors attend fewer than 75% of the meetings of the Board and their assigned committees?

All of the Directors of GPHC attended at least 75% of the meetings of the Board and their assigned committees during 2017.

What is GPHC’s policy on Director attendance at annual meetings of stockholders?

Directors are expected to attend each annual meeting of stockholders, but are not required to do so. All of GPHC’s current Directors attended the 2017 annual meeting of stockholders, except for Mr. Kelly, who had not yet been elected to the Board of Directors.

Do the non-management Directors meet during the year in executive session?

Yes, the non-management Directors of GPHC met separately at regularly scheduled executive sessions during 2017 without any member of management being present. Mr. Martens, as Chairman, acted as the presiding Director at each executive session held by the GPHC Board.

Can stockholders and other interested parties communicate directly with the Directors of Graphic Packaging or with the non-management Directors of Graphic Packaging?

Yes. If you wish to communicate with the Board or any individual Director, you may send correspondence to Graphic Packaging Holding Company, 1500 Riveredge Parkway, Suite 100, Atlanta, Georgia 30328, Attention: Corporate Secretary. The Corporate Secretary will submit your correspondence to the Board, the appropriate committee or the appropriate Director, as applicable. You may also communicate directly with the Chairman of the Board or the non-management Directors as a group by sending correspondence to Graphic Packaging Holding Company, 1500 Riveredge Parkway, Suite 100, Atlanta, Georgia, Attention: Chairman of the Board.

Does Graphic Packaging’s Board of Directors have any separately-designated standing committees?

The Board currently has three separately-designated standing committees: the Audit Committee, the Compensation and Benefits Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

 

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What does the Audit Committee do?

The Audit Committee is responsible for, among other things, assisting the Board in its oversight of:

 

   

the integrity of the Company’s financial statements;

 

   

compliance with legal and regulatory requirements;

 

   

systems of internal accounting and financial controls;

 

   

the performance of the annual independent audit of the Company’s financial statements;

 

   

the Company’s independent auditor’s qualifications and independence;

 

   

the performance of the internal audit function; and

 

   

the review and approval or ratification (if appropriate) of transactions with related parties.

The Audit Committee is also responsible for preparing the Report of the Audit Committee in conformity with the rules of the SEC to be included in the proxy statement for the annual meeting of stockholders.

Who are the members of the Audit Committee?

The members of GPHC’s Audit Committee are currently Messrs. Carrico, Hagemann, Kelly, Venturelli and Ms. Wentworth, with Ms. Wentworth serving as the Chair. Mr. Logan served on the Committee until his retirement on May 23, 2017 and Mr. Campbell served on the Committee until May 24, 2017. Mr. Kelly joined the Audit Committee on May 24, 2017.

How many meetings did the Audit Committee have last year?

The Audit Committee held six meetings during 2017.

Does Graphic Packaging have an Audit Committee Financial Expert?

Yes. The Board has examined the SEC’s definition of “audit committee financial expert” and determined that each of Messrs. Carrico, Hagemann, Kelly, Venturelli and Ms. Wentworth met these standards and are each “independent directors,” as defined by Section 303A of the NYSE’s Listed Company Manual. Accordingly, each of Messrs. Carrico, Hagemann, Kelly, Venturelli and Ms. Wentworth has been designated by the Board as an audit committee financial expert.

What does the Compensation and Benefits Committee do?

The Compensation and Benefits Committee oversees the compensation and benefits of the Company’s management and employees and is responsible for, among other things:

 

   

evaluating the President and CEO’s performance relative to specific goals and objectives relevant to his compensation and making recommendations to the full Board as to his compensation;

 

   

reviewing and approving all elements of the compensation of the senior executives of the Company;

 

   

approving all equity compensation awards to employees (and recommending equity grants to the President and CEO to the full Board for final approval);

 

   

administering the Company’s short term and long-term incentive plans;

 

   

reviewing and evaluating any changes to the Company’s health and welfare plans available only to senior executives of the Company;

 

   

reviewing the Company’s retirement and savings plans; (with authority to delegate responsibility for implementation and administration of such plans to the Company’s retirement committee); and

 

   

directing the process for succession planning (except for the CEO) and facilitating the Board’s review and approval of succession plans.

 

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Who are the members of the Compensation and Benefits Committee?

The members of GPHC’s Compensation and Benefits Committee are currently Messrs. Campbell, Hagemann, Kelly and Venturelli, with Mr. Hagemann serving as Chairman. Mr. Botta served as Chairman and a member of the Committee until his resignation on February 21, 2018. Messrs. Campbell, Hagemann, Kelly and Venturelli joined the Committee on May 24, 2017. Messrs. Carrico and Martens served on the Committee until May 24, 2017. Messrs. Botta, Campbell, Carrico, Hagemann, Kelly, Martens and Venturelli are each “independent directors,” as defined by Section 303A of the NYSE’s Listed Company Manual.

How many meetings did the Compensation and Benefits Committee have last year?

The Compensation and Benefits Committee held five meetings during 2017.

Did the Compensation and Benefits Committee engage a compensation consultant to assist it in making recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding the amount or form of compensation paid to non-employee directors or executive officers?

Yes, the Compensation and Benefits Committee engaged Meridian Compensation Partners, LLC (“Meridian”) to serve as an independent compensation advisor to the Compensation and Benefits Committee. Representatives from Meridian attended Compensation and Benefits Committee meetings and advised the Compensation and Benefits Committee on compensation trends, best practices and regulatory compliance issues, in addition to providing executive compensation benchmarking analysis. While representatives from Meridian work with members of management to collect information and prepare materials for the Compensation and Benefits Committee, such representatives report directly to the Compensation and Benefits Committee and the decision to retain Meridian is made solely by the Compensation and Benefits Committee. Fees paid to Meridian for executive compensation advisory services in 2017 totaled approximately $152,000.

Did Meridian Compensation Partners, LLC provide any services other than executive compensation advisory services to the Compensation and Benefits Committee to the Company in 2016?

No, Meridian was hired solely to assist the Compensation and Benefits Committee in its review of executive compensation practices, including regulatory compliance issues.

Does the Company have compensation policies and practices that create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company?

No, the Company does not believe its compensation policies and practices for its employees create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. The Company uses performance measures in its short-term and long-term incentive programs that encourage employees to focus on achieving Company-wide profitability and strategic goals. In addition, the design and payout of the Company’s incentive programs are subject to the review and approval of the Compensation and Benefits Committee and, with respect to the President and CEO, the full Board of Directors.

What does the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee do?

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for, among other things, identifying qualified individuals for nomination to the Board, recommending new members to the Board, and developing and recommending a set of corporate governance principles to the Board.

Who are the members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee?

The members of GPHC’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are currently Messrs. Campbell, Carrico, Martens and Ms. Wentworth, with Mr. Martens serving as Chairman. Mr. Logan served on

 

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the committee until his retirement on May 23, 2017 and Mr. Botta served until his resignation on February 21, 2018. Messrs. Botta, Campbell, Carrico, Logan, Martens and Ms. Wentworth are each “independent directors,” as defined by Section 303A of the NYSE’s Listed Company Manual.

How many meetings did the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee hold last year?

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee held three meetings during 2017.

Does Graphic Packaging have Corporate Governance Guidelines?

Yes, the Board has formally adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines to assure that it will have the necessary authority and practices in place to review and evaluate the Company’s business operations as needed and to assure that the Board is focused on increasing stockholder value. The Corporate Governance Guidelines set forth the practices the Board will follow with respect to Board composition and selection, Board meetings and involvement of senior management, evaluation of the CEO’s performance and senior management succession planning, and Board committees and compensation. You may find a copy of the Corporate Governance Guidelines on the Company’s website at www.graphicpkg.com in the Investors section.

Does Graphic Packaging have a code of ethics and conduct, and, if so, where can I find a copy?

Yes, the Board has formally adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, which applies to all of the Company’s employees, officers and Directors. A copy of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is available on the Company’s website at www.graphicpkg.com in the Investors section.

Does Graphic Packaging have a policy governing related-party transactions, and, if so, where can I find a copy?

Yes, the Board has delegated authority to the Audit Committee to review and approve related-party transactions. The Audit Committee has adopted a Policy Regarding Related Party Transactions that is available on the Company’s website at www.graphicpkg.com in the Investors section.

Have the Board’s standing committees adopted charters and, if so, where can I find copies?

Yes, the Audit Committee, Compensation and Benefits Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee have each adopted charters, copies of which can be found on the Company’s website at www.graphicpkg.com in the Investors section.

How can I obtain printed copies of the information described above?

The Company will provide printed copies of the charters of the Audit Committee, Compensation and Benefits Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, as well as the Policy Regarding Related Party Transactions, the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and Corporate Governance Guidelines to any person without charge upon request.

Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions

The Board recognizes that Related Party Transactions (as defined below) can present potential or actual conflicts of interest and create the appearance that Company decisions are based on considerations other than the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. In March 2007, the Board of Graphic Packaging Corporation (the publicly-traded predecessor to the Company, “GPC”) delegated authority to the Audit Committee to review and approve Related Party Transactions, and the Audit Committee has adopted a Policy Regarding Related Party Transactions.

 

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The Policy Regarding Related Party Transactions defines a “Related Party Transaction” as any transaction, arrangement or relationship (including any indebtedness or guarantee of indebtedness) in which (a) the aggregate amount involved will or may be expected to exceed $120,000 in any fiscal year, (b) the Company is a participant, and (c) any Related Party (as defined below) has or will have a direct or indirect interest, other than an interest that arises solely as a result of being a director or beneficial owner of less than 10% of another entity. The policy defines a “Related Party” as any (a) person who is or was since the beginning of the last fiscal year an executive officer, director or nominee for election as a director of the Company, (b) any beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Company’s common stock, (c) an immediate family member of any of the foregoing, or (d) any firm, corporation or other entity in which any of the foregoing is employed, is a principal or serves in a similar position, or has a beneficial ownership of more than 5%.

The Policy Regarding Related Party Transactions provides that the Audit Committee shall review all of the material facts and circumstances of all Related Party Transactions and either approve, ratify or disapprove of the entry into the Related Party Transaction. In determining whether to approve a Related Party Transaction, the Audit Committee will take into account, among other factors it deems appropriate, whether the Related Party Transaction is on terms no less favorable than terms generally available to an unaffiliated third-party under the same or similar circumstances, the benefits to the Company, the extent of the Related Party’s interest in the transaction, and if the Related Party is a director or a nominee for director, the impact on such director’s independence. The policy provides that certain Related Party Transactions, including certain charitable contributions, transactions involving competitive bids and transactions in which all stockholders receive proportional benefits, are pre-approved and do not require an individual review by the Audit Committee. You may find a copy of the Policy Regarding Related Party Transactions on the Company’s website at www.graphicpkg.com in the Investors section under Corporate Governance.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

Messrs. Botta, Campbell, Carrico, Hagemann, Kelly, Martens and Venturelli served as members of the Compensation and Benefits Committee during 2017. None of the members is or has ever been an officer or employee of the Company. No member had any relationship requiring disclosure as a compensation committee interlock during 2017.

PROPOSAL 1 — ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

The Company’s Board of Directors currently has eight members divided into three classes, with one class being elected each year for a three-year term. The three nominees standing for election as Class II Directors are: Messrs. Carrico and Martens and Ms. Wentworth.

If elected, each Class II nominee will serve three consecutive years with the term expiring in 2021, and until a successor is elected and qualified. The election of the Director nominees is by plurality vote, which means that the three nominees receiving the highest number of affirmative votes will be elected. If at the time of the Annual Meeting, any of these nominees is unable or unwilling to serve as a Director for any reason, which is not expected to occur, the persons named as proxies will vote for such substitute nominee or nominees, if any, as shall be designated by the Board.

Set forth below is certain information regarding the Director nominees and each of the incumbent Directors whose term will continue after the Annual Meeting, including the particular experience, qualifications and skills that led the Board to conclude that the Director nominee or incumbent Director is qualified to serve as a Director of the Company. There are no family relationships among any Directors or executive officers of the Company.

 

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Information Concerning the Nominees

Class II Directors — Term to Expire in 2021

Paul D. Carrico, 67, joined Graphic Packaging Holding Company’s Board on September 18, 2014. In 2015, Mr. Carrico retired as President and Chief Executive Officer of Axiall Corporation (“Axiall”), a manufacturer and international marketer of chemicals and vinyl-based building products. Mr. Carrico joined a predecessor company of Axiall, Georgia Gulf Corporation, in 1999, and held a variety of positions before being named President and Chief Executive Officer of Georgia Gulf Corporation in 2008. Prior to joining Georgia Gulf Corporation, Mr. Carrico was employed by Condea Vista, Conoco Chemicals Company and American Air Filters in various management, manufacturing and engineering positions, respectively. Mr. Carrico holds a Masters of Engineering, specialized in Chemical Engineering from the University of Louisville and a Masters in the Science of Management from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The Board concluded that Mr. Carrico is qualified to serve as a director of the Company because of his experience as a director and the Chief Executive Officer of a global manufacturing company similar in size to Graphic Packaging Holding Company. In addition, he has significant financial restructuring and international marketing experience.

Philip R. Martens, 57, was appointed Chairman of the Graphic Packaging Holding Company Board on May 25, 2016. He joined Graphic Packaging Holding Company’s Board on November 21, 2013. Mr. Martens is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of Novelis Inc., a rolled aluminum manufacturing company and he served in this capacity from 2009 to 2015. Prior to his employment with Novelis, Mr. Martens served as Senior Vice President of light vehicle systems for ArvinMeritor Inc., a distributor for engine and transmission parts and President and Chief Executive Officer designate of Arvin Innovation, a leading global provider of dynamic motion and control automotive systems. Prior to that, Mr. Martens served as President and Chief Operations Officer of Plastech Engineered Products. From 1987 to 2005, he held various engineering and leadership positions at Ford Motor Company, most recently serving as group Vice President of product creation. Mr. Martens currently serves on the Board of Directors for Trinseo Corporation. In addition, Mr. Martens is a member of the Board of Directors for Make-A-Wish Georgia.

The Board concluded that Mr. Martens is qualified to serve as a director of the Company because he has over 25 years of senior management experience, including serving as Chief Executive Officer of two public manufacturing companies, including a company which is significantly larger than Graphic Packaging Holding Company. Mr. Martens also has extensive experience in international operations and business in Europe, South America and Asia where the Company currently has operations.

Lynn A. Wentworth, 59, joined Graphic Packaging Holding Company’s Board on November 18, 2009. Ms. Wentworth is the former Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of BlueLinx Holdings, Inc., a building products distributor, where she served from January 2007 until February 2008. Prior to joining BlueLinx, she was, most recently, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for BellSouth Corporation’s Communications Group and held various other positions there from 1985 until 2007. She is a certified public accountant. She is on the Board of Directors for Cincinnati Bell, Inc. where she chairs the Audit and Finance Committee and is a member of the Executive and Compensation Committees. Ms. Wentworth was also appointed to the Board of Directors for CyrusOne, Inc. in May 2014, where she serves as Chair of the Audit and Finance Committee and as a member of the Compensation Committee.

The Board concluded that Ms. Wentworth is qualified to serve as a director of the Company because she has over 30 years of public accounting and corporate finance experience, including her service as the Chief Financial Officer of BlueLinx Holdings, Inc., a public company, and the Communications Group of Bellsouth Corporation.

 

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Information Concerning Continuing Directors

Class I Directors — Term to Expire in 2020

Michael P. Doss, 51, is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Graphic Packaging Holding Company. Prior to January 1, 2016, Mr. Doss held the position of President and Chief Operating Officer from May 20, 2015 through December 31, 2015 and Chief Operating Officer from January 1, 2014 until May 19, 2015. Prior to these positions he served as the Executive Vice President, Commercial Operations of Graphic Packaging Holding Company. Prior to this Mr. Doss held the position of Senior Vice President, Consumer Packaging Division. Prior to March 2008, he had served as Senior Vice President, Consumer Products Packaging of Graphic Packaging Corporation since September 2006. From July 2000 until September 2006, he was the Vice President of Operations, Universal Packaging Division. Mr. Doss was Director of Web Systems for the Universal Packaging Division prior to his promotion to Vice President of Operations. Since joining Graphic Packaging International Corporation in 1990, Mr. Doss has held positions of increasing management responsibility, including Plant Manager at the Gordonsville, TN and Wausau, WI plants.

The Board concluded that Mr. Doss is qualified to serve as a director of the Company because of his detailed knowledge of the Company and its business, having served in various senior management and operational roles with the Company or its predecessors since 1990. Mr. Doss also has financial management training, as he received a Master of Business Administration degree in Finance from Western Michigan University and has had supervisory responsibility for the Chief Financial Officer since becoming the President and Chief Executive Officer of Graphic Packaging Holding Company in January 2016.

Larry M. Venturelli, 57, joined Graphic Packaging Holding Company’s Board on May 25, 2016. Mr. Venturelli is the former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Whirlpool Corporation, the world’s leading global manufacturer of home appliances and he served in this capacity from January 2012 to August 2016, retiring from the company in February 2017. He joined Whirlpool as Assistant Corporate Controller in 2002. He held a number of positions of increasing leadership accountability in the Investor Relations and Global Finance organizations, serving as Senior Vice President, Corporate Controller, Chief Accounting Officer and Chief Financial Officer for Whirlpool International. Prior to joining Whirlpool, Mr. Venturelli held various financial positions at Royal Caribbean Cruises, Campbell Soup Company and Quaker Oats. Mr. Venturelli earned a master’s degree in management from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Business and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from DePaul University.

The Board concluded that Mr. Venturelli is qualified to serve as a director of the Company because he has over 30 years of corporate finance experience, including five years of experience as the Chief Financial Officer and four years of experience as the Corporate Controller of Whirlpool Corporation, a U.S. manufacturing company with revenues exceeding $20 billion. In addition, Mr. Venturelli has 16 years of experience working for U.S. food products companies and has served as the head of Investor Relations.

Class III Directors — Term to Expire in 2019

David D. Campbell, 68, joined Graphic Packaging Holding Company’s Board on February 17, 2012. Mr. Campbell is the retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ACCO Brands Corporation, a manufacturer of office and computer accessories, a position he held from 2005 through 2008. Prior to 2005 when ACCO Brands Corporation was spun off from Fortune Brands, Inc., Mr. Campbell served in senior management positions in several other divisions of Fortune Brands, Inc., including serving as the President and Chief Executive Officer, Office Products Group, ACCO World, Inc. from 2000 through 2005; the President and Chief Executive Officer, Hardware Group, Master Lock Corporation from 1997 to 2000; the Senior Vice President, North America, Office Products Group from 1993 through 1997; and the President, ACCO Canada from 1989 through 1993. Mr. Campbell currently serves on the Board of Directors of Little Rapids Corporation.

 

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The Board concluded that Mr. Campbell is qualified to serve as a director of the Company because he has over 20 years of executive management experience, including management and operational experience at several manufacturing companies. He also has significant transactional experience, including mergers, acquisitions and dispositions of businesses.

Robert A. Hagemann, 61, joined Graphic Packaging Holding Company’s Board on May 21, 2014. Mr. Hagemann, who is currently retired, was most recently Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (“Quest”) from May 2003 to July 2013. Prior to that, Mr. Hagemann served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Quest from August 1998. Mr. Hagemann joined a predecessor company, Corning Life Sciences, Inc. (“Corning”), a subsidiary of Quest’s former parent, Corning Incorporated, in 1992, and held a variety of senior financial positions before being named Vice President and Corporate Controller of Quest in 1996. Prior to joining Corning, Mr. Hagemann was employed by Prime Hospitality, Inc. and Crompton & Knowles, Inc. in senior financial positions. He was also previously employed by Arthur Young & Co., a predecessor company to Ernst & Young. Mr. Hagemann holds a B.S. in accounting from Rider University and an MBA in finance from Seton Hall University. Mr. Hagemann serves on the Board of Directors of Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. and Ryder System, Inc.

The Board concluded that Mr. Hagemann is qualified to serve as a director of the Company because of his 15 years of experience as the Chief Financial Officer of Quest, as well as his experience as a board member of both Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. and Ryder System, Inc. Mr. Hageman serves as Chairman of the Audit Committee and a member of the Research, Innovation and Technology Committee for Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. In addition, Mr. Hagemann serves as Chairman of the Audit Committee and is a member of the Finance Committee for Ryder System, Inc. Mr. Hagemann also has extensive acquisition experience, having completed and integrated numerous acquisitions over the course of his career.

Peter Kelly, 61, was appointed to Graphic Packaging Holding Company’s Board on May 24, 2017. He has worked for NXP Semiconductors, B.V., a Netherlands-based designer and manufacturer of semiconductors since 2011, initially serving as General Manager of Operations, then as Chief Financial Officer. From 2007 to 2011, Mr. Kelly served as Chief Financial Officer for UGI Corporation, a distributor and marketer of energy products and services. Prior to joining UGI, Mr. Kelly worked for Agere Systems from 2000 to 2007, where he served as Executive Vice President of Operations, and then as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Kelly has a BS from the University of Manchester (UK) Institute of Science and Technology, he is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and he has served on the Board of Directors of Plexus (PLXS) since 2005, currently serving as the company’s Chair of the Audit Committee.

The Board concluded that Mr. Kelly is qualified to serve as a director of the Company because he has over 17 years of executive management experience, including over 10 years of corporate finance experience as the Chief Financial Officer of Agere Systems, UGI Corporation and NXP Semiconductors B.V. He also has significant international and transactional experience, including mergers, acquisitions and dispositions of businesses.

Criteria for Potential Directors

The Company’s Board is responsible for selecting nominees for election as Directors by stockholders and for filling vacancies on the Board. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for identifying and recommending to the Board individuals for nomination as members of the Board and its committees and, in this regard, reviewing with the Board on an annual basis the current skills, background and expertise of the members of the Board, as well as the Company’s future and ongoing needs. This assessment is used to establish criteria for identifying and evaluating potential candidates for the Board. However, as a general matter, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee seeks individuals with significant and relevant business experience who demonstrate:

 

   

the highest personal and professional integrity;

 

   

commitment to driving the Company’s success;

 

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an ability to provide informed and thoughtful counsel on a range of issues; and

 

   

exceptional ability and judgment.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee does not have a specific diversity policy used in identifying nominees for director. As described above, however, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee regularly assesses the skills, background and expertise of the members of the Board and identifies the Company’s needs. As part of this process, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee strives to select nominees with relevant business experience, the personal characteristics described above and a wide variety of skills and viewpoints. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee also recognizes the importance of selecting directors from a range of backgrounds and professions to provide the Board a wealth of experiences and perspectives to inform its decisions and enhance its cognitive diversity. Consistent with this philosophy, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee evaluates the ability of a potential director to contribute to the Board by leveraging a broad range of experiences, as well as the potential director’s ethnic, gender, generational and racial diversity.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers candidates recommended by its members and other Directors, as well as those identified by a third-party search firm retained to assist in identifying candidates. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will also consider whether to nominate any person recommended by a stockholder pursuant to the provisions of the Company’s By-Laws relating to stockholder nominations as described in “Stockholder Proposals and Nominations,” below. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee uses the same criteria to evaluate proposed nominees that are recommended by Directors or a search firm as it does for stockholder-recommended nominees.

Compensation of Directors

The following table sets forth information regarding the compensation of the non-employee Directors of GPHC in 2017.

Director Compensation

 

Name

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

G. Andrea Botta

     102,522        110,000        212,522  

David D. Campbell

     87,522        110,000        197,522  

Paul D. Carrico

     87,522        110,000        197,522  

Robert A. Hagemann

     87,522        110,000        197,522  

Peter Kelly(2)

     54,132        110,000        164,132  

Harold R. Logan, Jr(3).

     33,082        0        33,082  

Philip R. Martens

     237,522        110,000        347,522  

Larry M. Venturelli

     87,522        110,000        197,522  

Lynn A. Wentworth

     107,522        110,000        217,522  

 

(1) 

The dollar value of fees earned or paid in cash does not include a $8.30 cash payment in lieu of a fractional share. The dollar value of stock awards is equal to the aggregate fair value of stock awards as of the date of grant, plus the $8.30 cash payment in lieu of a fractional share.

(2)

Mr. Kelly joined the Board of Directors on May 24, 2017.

(3)

Mr. Logan retired from the Board of Directors on May 23, 2017.

 

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During 2017, each non-employee Director of the Company was eligible to receive an annual cash retainer fee payable in quarterly installments. Such retainer was raised in February 2017 from $75,000 to $90,000. Each of the Audit Committee and the Compensation and Benefits Committee Chairs are eligible to receive a further retainer fee of $20,000 and $15,000, respectively, and the Chairman of the Board and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Chairman was eligible to receive a further retainer of $150,000, all payable in quarterly installments. In addition to the cash retainers, each non-employee Director (except for Mr. Logan who retired effective May 23, 2017) received an annual grant of shares of the Company’s common stock with a value of approximately $110,000 on the date of grant. The Company no longer pays Board or committee meeting fees, but continues to reimburse all Directors for reasonable and necessary expenses they incur in performing their duties as Directors.

Board Recommendation

The Board believes that voting for each of the three nominees for Director selected by the Board is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. The Board recommends a vote “FOR” each of the three nominees for Director.

AUDIT MATTERS

Report of the Audit Committee

This report by the Audit Committee is required by the rules of the SEC. It is not to be deemed incorporated by reference by any general statement that incorporates by reference this Proxy Statement into any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, and it is not to be otherwise deemed filed under either such Act.

The Audit Committee is currently comprised of five members, each of whom is an “independent director,” as defined by Section 303A of the NYSE Listed Company Manual. Each of the members of the Audit Committee is financially literate and qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” under federal securities laws. The Audit Committee’s purposes are to assist the Board in overseeing: (a) the quality and integrity of our financial statements; (b) the qualifications and independence of our independent auditors; and (c) the performance of our internal audit function and independent auditors.

In carrying out its responsibilities, the Audit Committee has:

 

   

reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements with management;

 

   

discussed with the independent auditors the matters required to be discussed with audit committees by the Statement on Auditing Standards No. 16, as amended, as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board in Rule 3200T; and

 

   

received the written disclosures regarding the auditors’ independence required by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Ethics and Independence Rule 3526, Communications with Audit Committees Concerning Independence, and has discussed with our independent auditors their independence.

Based on the review and discussions noted above and our independent auditors’ report to the Audit Committee, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that our audited financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017.

Lynn A. Wentworth (Chair)

Paul D. Carrico

Robert A. Hagemann

Peter Kelly

Larry M. Venturelli

 

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Audit Fees

Aggregate fees billed to us for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 by our independent auditors, Ernst & Young LLP, are as follows:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
         2017              2016      
     (in millions)  

Audit Fees

   $ 3.7      $ 4.2  

Audit-Related Fees

     .3        .1  

Tax Fees

     .1        .1  

All Other Fees

     —          —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 4.1      $ 4.4  

Audit Fees. This category includes the aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered for the audit of our consolidated financial statements and internal control over financial reporting for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, for the reviews of the financial statements included in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q during 2017 and 2016, and for services that are normally provided by the independent auditors in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for the relevant fiscal years.

Audit-Related Fees. This category includes the aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for assurance and related services by the independent auditors that are reasonably related to the performance of the audits or reviews of the financial statements and are not reported above under “Audit Fees,” and generally consist of fees for accounting consultation and audits of employee benefit plans.

Tax Fees. This category includes the aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by the independent auditors for tax compliance, tax planning and tax advice.

All Other Fees. This category includes the aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for products and services provided by the independent auditors that are not reported above under “Audit Fees,” “Audit-Related Fees,” or “Tax Fees.”

The Audit Committee reviews and pre-approves audit and non-audit services performed by the Company’s independent auditors as well as the fees charged for such services. The Audit Committee has considered whether the provision of non-audit services by Ernst & Young LLP is compatible with maintaining the firm’s independence. The Audit Committee may delegate pre-approval authority for such services to one or more members, whose decisions are then presented to the full Audit Committee at its scheduled meetings. In 2017 and 2016, all of the audit and non-audit services provided by our independent auditors were pre-approved by the Audit Committee in accordance with the Audit Committee Charter.

 

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PROPOSAL 2 — RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has evaluated the qualifications, performance and independence of Ernst & Young LLP and has appointed Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2018. Ernst & Young has served as the Company’s registered public accounting firm continuously since 2008. To assure continuing auditor independence, the Audit Committee periodically considers whether there should be a rotation of the independent external audit firm. Further, in connection with the mandated rotation of the audit firm’s lead engagement partner, the Audit Committee and its chair were directly involved in the selection of the new lead engagement partner. Although the Company is not required to submit the appointment of its independent registered public accounting firm to the stockholders for ratification, the Board of Directors believes that it is important to do so as a matter of good corporate governance. This proposal asks you to ratify this selection. Representatives of Ernst & Young LLP are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting and will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so. In addition, they will be available to respond to appropriate questions from stockholders.

Pursuant to its charter, the Audit Committee has sole and direct responsibility for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the work of the independent registered public accounting firm engaged by the Company. The Audit Committee will consider the results of the stockholder vote on ratification, but will exercise its judgment, consistent with its responsibilities under its charter, with respect to the appointment and retention of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. Additionally, the engagement of Ernst & Young LLP will be subject to the Audit Committee and Ernst & Young LLP reaching agreement on satisfactory terms of the engagement.

Board Recommendation

The Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR” ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.

 

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COMPENSATION MATTERS

Compensation and Benefits Committee Report

The members of GPHC’s Compensation and Benefits Committee listed below reviewed and discussed the following Compensation Discussion and Analysis with management of the Company. Based on such review and discussion, the Compensation and Benefits Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement and incorporated by reference into the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.

Compensation and Benefits Committee

Robert A. Hagemann, Chairman

David D. Campbell

Peter Kelly

Larry M. Venturelli

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

This Compensation Discussion and Analysis section (“CD&A”) describes the Company’s compensation principles, policies and practices, as well as the specific factors considered by the Compensation and Benefits Committee (referred to in this CD&A as the “Committee”) in making compensation decisions. This CD&A focuses on the compensation of our Named Executive Officers (referred to herein as our “Executives”), who are set forth below and included in the Summary Compensation Table and other tables in this Proxy Statement:

 

Name

 

Position with Company at December 31, 2016

Michael P. Doss

  President and Chief Executive Officer

Stephen R. Scherger

  Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Alan R. Nichols

  Senior Vice President, Mills Division

Lauren S. Tashma

  Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Joseph P. Yost

  Senior Vice President and President, Americas

Executive Summary

The goal of our compensation program is to align the interests of our key employees with those of our stockholders by implementing compensation practices designed to attract, retain, motivate and reward key members of management. A significant portion of the compensation packages of our Executives is intended to be at-risk pay for performance earned based on specific financial and operational achievements. During 2017, the Company was successful in:

 

   

increasing both Net Sales by 2.5% and paper board production and converting volumes (not including volume attributable to acquisitions) by .5% in the face of sluggish food and beverage markets;

 

   

effectively deploying capital and expanding its core business through the acquisitions of: Carton Craft Corporation and its affiliate Lithocraft, Inc.; Norgraft Packaging, N.A.; and Seydaco Packaging Corp. and its affiliates National Carton and Coating Co. and Ecco Boites Pliantes Ltée;

 

   

completing the work to close the transformative combination with International Paper Company’s North America Consumer Packaging business (announced on October 24, 2017) on January 1, 2018; and

 

   

returning value to stockholders by repurchasing $58 million of the Company’s outstanding shares and paying approximately $93.4 million in quarterly cash dividends.

 

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Throughout 2017, our compensation program performed as designed, allowing the Company to attract new talent, retain important members of management and reward key members of management appropriately for performance. As demonstrated below, the aggregate total compensation of our five most highly paid executives for each of the past five years (as set forth in the Summary Compensation Table each year, but excluding changes in pension value and above-market non-qualified deferred compensation earnings, “Top Five Compensation”) remains aligned with the performance and value of the Company as reflected in the price of its common stock at year end, while also reflecting the retirement of David W. Scheible as President and CEO and Mr. Doss’ promotion into that role as of January 1, 2016.

Top Five Compensation* v. Stock Price Performance

 

LOGO

 

* For comparability purposes, Mr. David W. Scheible’s compensation is not included in the Top Five Compensation for 2016 in this chart because he appears as the sixth officer in the Summary Compensation Table for that year in the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

Guiding Principles and Policies

The Committee’s objective is to set each of the primary components of the Company’s executive compensation program, (base salary, short-term cash incentive and long-term equity-based incentives), at a market-competitive rate, which is determined by reference to the 50th percentile of the comparator group, resulting in each Executive’s total compensation opportunity being set at approximately the 50th percentile of the comparator group’s total pay for executives with similar positions and responsibilities. The Committee does not employ a mechanical process based on external compensation data, however, as other considerations such as time in position, tenure, position and succession with the Company are considered. As data for the comparator group fluctuates or the comparator group members are updated to reflect changes in the market, the Committee may make adjustments in one or more components of compensation to more closely align with market. The Committee and, with respect to the President and CEO, the Board of Directors, have full discretion to choose the elements of executive compensation that the Executives will be paid or will be eligible to earn each year and to adjust the proportion of total compensation opportunity that each element provides. Company performance, market data, individual performance, executive succession, retention needs and internal equity among our Executives’ compensation packages have been the primary factors considered in decisions to change compensation materially.

 

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Peer Group and Market Data

Annually we obtain an analysis of compensation market data to assist in setting pay opportunities for our Executives for the following year. Compensation of the Executives is compared to the pay opportunities provided to executives holding comparable positions at companies with which we compete for business and for talent. The companies used for this comparison are recommended by the Company and the Committee’s compensation consultant and approved by the Committee. The companies selected and shown below under the Industry Specific Peer Group heading consist of a group of public companies with revenues approximately one-half to double the revenues of the Company or its immediate competitors. The Industry Specific Peer Group served in 2017 as the primary reference point for comparing the compensation paid to the Company’s President and CEO and Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. The Survey Peer Group, comprised of a broader set of industrial companies, served in 2017 as the primary reference point for executive officers other than the President and CEO and Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Both peer groups are reviewed annually and updated, if necessary, to ensure their appropriateness given any market changes. The companies used to develop 2017 compensation are listed below.

Industry Specific Peer Group

 

AptarGroup, Inc.   Crown Holdings, Inc.   Sealed Air Corporation
Avery Dennison Corporation   Greif, Inc.   Silgan Holdings, Inc.
Ball Corporation   Owens-Illinois Inc.   Sonoco Products Company
Bemis Company, Inc.   Packaging Corporation of America   WestRock Company

Survey Peer Group

 

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.   Energizer Holdings, Inc.   Rockwell Automation, Inc.
Armstrong World Industries, Inc.   FMC Technologies, Inc.   Sealed Air Corporation
Avery Dennison Corporation   Herman Miller, Inc.   Sonoco Products Company
Ball Corporation   ITT Corporation   Steelcase, Inc.
Borg Warner Inc.   Masco Corp.   The Scott’s Miracle-Gro Company
Cameron International Corporation   Molson Coors Brewing Company   Tupperware Brands Corporation
Dover Corporation   Newell Brands, Inc.   USG Corporation
Eastman Chemical Company   Owens-Illinois Inc.   Vulcan Materials Company
Ecolab Inc.   Packaging Corporation of America   WestRock Company

Role of the Compensation and Benefits Committee

The Committee is responsible for establishing the Company’s general compensation philosophy and working with management to develop all equity compensation plans or programs and other compensation programs in which the CEO and other executive officers participate. Annually the Committee reviews market data provided by the Committee’s compensation consultant, reviews and approves all of the compensation arrangements of the Company’s executive officers and directs the Board’s process for evaluating the performance and compensation of the President and CEO. From time to time the Committee also reviews, evaluates and approves the Company’s health and welfare plan offerings and the Company’s retirement and savings plans. The Committee is also responsible for directing the annual succession planning (except for the CEO) and facilitating the Board’s review and approval of all succession matters.

Role of Compensation Consultants

The Committee retained Meridian to act as the Committee’s independent advisor on executive compensation and benefits throughout 2017. The mandate of the compensation consultant is to work for the Committee in its review of executive compensation practices and programs, including assessing the overall competitiveness of pay levels and program design, and providing updates on market trends and technical considerations. The Committee instructed the compensation consultant to compile and provide data on both total

 

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pay and individual elements of compensation among companies in the peer groups, as well as trends in compensation practices that they observed within the peer groups and generally among public companies. The Committee does not rely on the compensation consultant to recommend specific levels of total pay or any specific element of compensation to our Executives; such recommendations are developed by management based on information provided by the compensation consultant and then presented to the Committee for consideration. The compensation consultant attended all of the five Committee meetings in 2017 at the Committee’s request and were available to provide information to the Committee as questions and issues arose. The Committee determined that the compensation consultant is independent after consideration of the SEC’s independence factors.

Role of Executive Officers

The President and CEO and Senior Vice President, Human Resources recommend to the Committee the compensation program design and award amounts for the Executives (other than themselves).

Pay and Performance

As noted above, target compensation for each of our Executives is established at the beginning of each year with reference to the 50th percentile of the comparator group. Each Executive’s actual compensation each year may be above or below the target level based on individual, business unit and overall Company performance, as well as changes in the price of the Company’s common stock. The chart below illustrates the relationship between the Top Five Compensation and the Company’s Adjusted EBITDA and also reflects the retirement of David Scheible as President and CEO and Mr. Doss’ promotion into that role as of January 1, 2016. The Company calculates Adjusted EBITDA for purposes of its incentive plans as consolidated net income before equity income of unconsolidated subsidiaries, interest expense, income tax expense, and depreciation and amortization, as adjusted for: expenses related to merger, acquisition and disposition activities; refinancing or early retirement of debt; acquisition integration costs; and asset or goodwill write-downs; as well as other adjustments for unusual items all as approved by the Compensation and Benefits Committee (“Adjusted EBITDA”). Adjusted EBITDA is used by the Company as a performance measure for both the short-term cash incentive program and the long-term equity incentive program.

Top Five Compensation* v. Adjusted EBITDA Performance

 

LOGO

 

* For comparability purposes, Mr. David W. Scheible’s compensation is not included in the Top Five Compensation for 2016 in this chart because he appears as a sixth officer in the Summary Compensation Table for that year in the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

 

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Key Compensation Practices

Listed below are certain of the Company’s executive compensation practices that we believe are instrumental in achieving the Company’s compensation goals of attracting, retaining, motivating and rewarding key members of management, while mitigating risk and maintaining sound compensation practices.

 

   

Benchmark compensation with reference to the 50th percentile of comparator companies with which we may compete for talent;

 

   

Maintain a compensation mix that includes both short and long-term performance-based elements that encourage employees to focus on achieving Company-wide profitability and strategic goals;

 

   

Retain an independent compensation consultant that is engaged by and reports directly to the Committee;

 

   

Include a claw back provision in our equity compensation plans requiring participants who knowingly or grossly negligently engage in conduct resulting in a restatement of the Company’s financial statements to reimburse the Company for awards earned or accrued as a result of such conduct;

 

   

Provide very limited perquisites to our Executives, primarily Company-requested international assignment and relocation benefits and tax gross-ups with respect thereto, and executive physicals;

 

   

Prohibit hedging, pledging or short-sale transactions by all of our employees and members of our Board of Directors under the Company’s insider trading policy;

 

   

Require executive officers and members of our Board of Directors to maintain minimum equity ownership levels; and

 

   

Pay no dividends on unvested RSU awards.

Overview of Executive Compensation Components

Our executive compensation program currently consists of the following compensation elements:

 

   

Base salary;

 

   

Short-term cash incentive;

 

   

Long-term incentives, consisting of service-based restricted stock units (“Service RSUs”) and performance-based restricted stock units (“Performance RSUs”);

 

   

Health and welfare benefits, including executive physicals;

 

   

Retirement benefits; and

 

   

Termination pay.

Each of these elements is discussed below, as well as the methodology used for setting the amount of each type of compensation.

Base Salary

Philosophy. The purpose of base salaries is to compensate our Executives for their role and level of responsibility within the Company. Increases in base salary also serve to reward performance and recognize significant increases in the scope of an Executive’s position and responsibilities. Our philosophy is to set salaries for our Executives at approximately the 50th percentile of the comparator group’s salaries for executives with

 

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similar positions and responsibilities (with adjustments made to reflect the various sizes of the companies in such group). Changes to base salaries occur in connection with changes in position and on a periodic basis that is generally twelve months after the most recent adjustment for the Executive. Base salary changes take into account market data for similar positions, the Executive’s experience and time in position, any changes in responsibilities and individual performance. Individual performance is determined by considering achievement against each Executive’s specific performance goals established at the beginning of each year. Generally, such individual performance goals are established to support the financial and operational goals established by the Board for the Company, and may include earnings before income taxes, depreciation, amortization and other non-cash charges, debt reduction, new product innovation targets, business unit revenue, profitability and cost-saving goals and certain more subjective goals such as improvement in culture, succession planning and implementation of compliance initiatives and management effectiveness.

In 2017, the Committee approved base salary increases for the Executives ranging from 3.0% to 8.0%, based upon each Executive’s performance, scope of position and market data for executives with similar positions and responsibilities. Such increases became effective as of January 1, 2017.

Short-Term Cash Incentive

The Company provides a short-term cash incentive opportunity under the Management Incentive Plan (“MIP”). The purpose of the MIP is to provide a meaningful short-term cash incentive that rewards the achievement of specified annual financial goals. For 2017, the financial measures used to set such financial goals or targets were Adjusted EBITDA and Cash Flow Before Debt Reduction. The Company calculates Cash Flow Before Debt Reduction as the year-over-year change in net debt, as adjusted for merger, acquisition, disposition, share repurchase, dividend and capital market activities, as well as other adjustments for unusual items (such as restructuring or reorganization activities, weather, or disaster-related expenses), all as specifically approved by the Compensation and Benefits Committee.

Target Opportunities. We set the MIP target percentage for each Executive at approximately the 50th percentile of comparator group companies. Adjustments to MIP target levels are made periodically, taking into consideration the comparator group, the CEO’s recommendations (for Executives other than himself) and input from Meridian. The annual incentive target (as a percentage of salary) for each of the Executives for 2017 is set forth below:

 

Name                                 

   Incentive Target  

Michael P. Doss

     110.0

Stephen R. Scherger

     70.0

Alan R. Nichols

     70.0

Lauren S. Tashma

     60.0

Joseph P. Yost

     70.0

Performance Goals. We set performance goals for the MIP so that achievement of such goals at target is aligned with our annual operating plan. The degree to which MIP pays out varies both up and down based on business performance. If the threshold performance goal of 85% of our Adjusted EBITDA goal is not met or the Company fails to meet any of its quarterly financial covenant measures during the year, no payout under the MIP is earned. Our performance goals for 2017 were Adjusted EBITDA of $780.0 million (weighted at 50% in the calculation) and Cash Flow Before Debt Reduction of $400.0 million (weighted at 50% in the calculation). Achieving these performance goals would present an opportunity for a MIP award at target. The payout for performance at 95% of our Adjusted EBITDA and 90% of Cash Flow Before Debt Reduction goals was set at 50% of the MIP target, and no payout would be earned for performance at or below 85% of our Adjusted EBITDA and Cash Flow Before Debt Reduction performance goals. The payout for performance at 105% or more of our Adjusted EBITDA and 110% of Cash Flow Before Debt Reduction goals (after appropriate accrual for the greater compensation expense) was set at a maximum of 200% of the MIP target.

 

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Actual Short-Term Cash Incentive Payouts for 2017. Actual short-term cash incentive payouts for 2017 for the Executives are shown in the Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation column of the Summary Compensation Table. The Company’s performance with respect to both its Adjusted EBITDA and Cash Flow Before Debt Reduction performance goals, were achieved at 91.9% and 93.9% of target, respectively, resulting in a calculated MIP payout at 52.1% of target. As a result, the Committee and the Board of Directors approved payouts under the MIP at up to 50.0% of the target level.

For more information on the 2017 annual incentive opportunities for the Executives, refer to the “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” table in this Proxy Statement. The column titled “Estimated Possible Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards” provides the estimated payouts for the Executives at threshold, target and maximum performance levels for 2017.

Long-Term Incentives

The Company’s long-term incentive program has two elements: Service RSUs and Performance RSUs. Service RSUs make up one-third of the total long-term incentive value that the Company grants to its Executives and Performance RSUs make up two-thirds of such total value. A greater proportion of Performance RSUs is consistent with the Company’s desire to tie a larger percentage of the Executives’ compensation to Company performance. Both Service RSU and Performance RSU grants are intended to retain Executives during a multi-year vesting period, align the long-term interests of Executives with our stockholders and provide stock compensation.

Service RSUs represent the right to receive one share of the Company’s common stock for each vested Service RSU granted. The Performance RSUs represent the right to earn from 0% to 200% of the target award based upon the Company’s achievement of specific performance goals established for a three-year performance period. Service RSUs and Performance RSUs are payable solely in shares of the Company’s common stock.

Service RSUs and Performance RSUs granted under the long-term incentive program generally vest in full on the third anniversary of the date of grant (assuming the Executive has continued in his or her employment by the Company through such date). Upon death, disability, retirement (as defined in the grant agreement) or involuntary termination without cause, a proportion of the RSUs vests. In the event of a change of control (as defined in both the Graphic Packaging Holding Company Amended and Restated 2004 Stock and Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2004 Plan”) and the Graphic Packaging Holding Company 2014 Omnibus Stock and Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2014 Plan”)), all Service RSUs and earned Performance RSUs vest in full. The number of Performance RSUs considered earned in the event of a change of control is determined based on assumed target performance for the performance period.

Payout of 2014 Grants. In January 2017, the Committee approved the payout of the Performance RSUs granted in 2014 at 107.0% of target, based the achievement of the performance goals for the three-year performance period. For the three year performance period ending on December 31, 2016, the performance goals were aggregate Adjusted EBITDA of $2,250.00 million and Return on Invested Capital of 12.50%.

2017 Grants. In February 2017, the Company granted both Service RSUs and Performance RSUs to each Executive, under the long-term incentive program. For Executives, the total number of RSUs granted was set based on a value delivered as a percentage of salary formula, with the percentage established based on a review of responsibilities, market data and internal equity considerations. The value of RSUs granted under the long-term incentive program (as a percentage of salary) during 2017 for each of our Executives is set forth below:

 

Michael P. Doss

     425

Stephen R. Scherger

     215

Alan R. Nichols

     185

Lauren S. Tashma

     155

Joseph P. Yost

     185

 

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For the Performance RSUs, the performance goals are achievement of a minimum aggregate Adjusted EBITDA amount and a minimum return on invested capital percentage. Each performance goal is weighted in the calculation of the Company’s annual achievement at 50%.

Health and Welfare Benefit Plans

The Company provides the Executives and other employees with health and welfare benefits comparable to those they would receive at other companies and that are necessary for the Company to remain competitive in the marketplace for high-performing talent. Executives participate in employee benefit plans available to all salaried employees, including medical, dental, vision, accidental death and dismemberment, business travel accident, prescription drug, life and disability insurance. Senior executives of the Company, including the Executives, are eligible for an executive physical benefit in which the Company pays for an annual physical exam through a specified provider under the Company’s medical plan. Continuation of health and welfare benefits for a limited time may occur as part of severance upon certain terminations of employment.

Perquisites

The Company does not provide significant perquisites to its Executives, other than Company-requested international assignment and relocation benefits and tax gross-ups with respect thereto, executive physicals, and certain other perquisites specifically approved by the Chairman of the Board.

Retirement Benefits

The Company maintains qualified defined benefit and defined contribution retirement plans for our employees in which certain of the Executives participate. These plans provide retirement benefits to retain eligible employees and Executives and encourage and reward tenure with the Company. In addition to the qualified defined benefit and defined contribution plans, the Company maintains non-qualified defined benefit and defined contribution plans in which certain of the Executives also participate. The qualified benefit plans have a maximum compensation limit and a maximum annual benefit limit, which restrict the benefit to participants whose compensation exceeds these limits. To provide retirement benefits commensurate with pay levels, the non-qualified plans provide benefits to key salaried employees, including the Executives, using substantially the same formula for calculating benefits as used in the qualified plans, but on compensation in excess of the compensation limitation and maximum annual benefit.

Qualified and Non-Qualified Defined Benefit Plans. Executives and other employees hired before January 1, 2008, participate in either the Riverwood International Employees Retirement Plan or the Graphic Packaging Retirement Plan and the Graphic Packaging Excess Benefit Plan (together, the “Pension Plans”). As of June 30, 2011, the Company froze the Pension Plans and no longer makes pension contributions for future service on behalf of any employees who were not at least 50 years old with five years of completed service to the Company as of such date. As a result, the Company no longer makes pension contributions on behalf of any of the Executives, although Messrs. Doss and Yost have frozen benefits thereunder.

The Executives who participate in the Pension Plans also participate in either the Riverwood International Supplemental Retirement Plan or the Graphic Packaging Supplemental Retirement Plan (together, the “Supplemental Plans”). Mr. Doss participated in the Graphic Packaging Retirement Plan and the Graphic Packaging Supplemental Plan until January 1, 2005, the date he transferred into the Riverwood International Employees Retirement Plan and the Riverwood International Supplemental Retirement Plan. The Supplemental Plans provide a benefit based upon compensation that exceeds the limits set by the IRS for the Pension Plans and makes total retirement benefits under the Company’s defined benefit plans for the Executives commensurate with those available to other employees as a percent of pay. When the Company froze the Pension Plans, it also froze the Supplemental Plans for those employees who were not at least 50 years old with five years of completed service to the Company as of such date, so the Company no longer makes contributions to the Supplemental Plans on behalf of any of the Executives, although Messrs. Doss and Yost have frozen benefits thereunder.

 

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Qualified and Non-Qualified Defined Contribution Plans. Executives and all other non-union employees who meet certain service requirements are eligible to participate in the Graphic Packaging International, Inc. Savings Plan (the “401(k) Plan”), which is a qualified defined contribution plan under the rules of the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”). Employees who choose to contribute to the 401(k) Plan receive matching contributions from the Company equal to 100% of the first three percent (3%) of employee contributions and 50% of the next two percent (2%) of employee contributions. Employees hired on or after January 1, 2008 are eligible for an annual supplemental contribution by the Company to their 401(k) Plan account equal to 3% of eligible earnings.

In 2011, the Company implemented a deferred compensation and 401(k) restoration plan that permits Executives and other eligible senior employees to contribute to and receive contributions from the Company on a basis that would be commensurate with other employees as a percent of pay. This plan, the Graphic Packaging International, Inc. Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan (the “NQDCP”), permits participants to defer and contribute from 1% to 50% of their base salary and up to 100% of their payment under the MIP to the plan. The plan offers investment options that generally mirror those available under the Company’s 401(k) Plan. Annually, the Company makes a 401(k) restoration matching contribution on behalf of those participants who do not participate in or receive future service accruals under the Company’s Pension Plans equal to a percentage of their annual deferral amount divided by compensation over the annual IRS limit, up to a maximum of 4%. The Company also makes a supplemental contribution equal to 3% of eligible pay over the annual IRS limit for those Executives and senior executives of the Company who do not participate in or receive future service accruals to one of the Company’s Pension Plans or Supplemental Plans and who have met the one year of service eligibility requirement. The NQDCP also provides an employer contribution equal to 3% of total pay for eligible senior executives (including Messrs. Doss, Scherger, Nichols, Yost and Ms. Tashma) who do not receive contributions to one of the Company’s Pension Plans.

Employment Agreements and Potential Payments on Termination

Executive officers serving prior to January 2014 (Messrs. Doss, Scherger and Nichols) have employment agreements with generally uniform provisions, including non-competition and non-solicitation covenants as well as claims releases and severance provisions. The employment agreements specify current position, base salary and aggregate annual bonus opportunity (as a percentage of base salary) for each Executive at the time the Agreement was entered into, as well as severance arrangements under different circumstances. Executives may receive severance benefits if they are terminated involuntarily or terminate voluntarily for Good Reason (as defined below) within 30 days of the Good Reason event. The Executive must deliver written notice of intention to terminate for Good Reason, specifying the applicable provision, and provide the Company a reasonable opportunity to cure. The Good Reason provision in the agreements was designed to equalize the treatment of voluntary terminations for Good Reason with involuntary terminations without cause. Doing so enables the contracts to fulfill their purpose of promoting retention during times of uncertainty and transition. “Good Reason” as defined in the agreements includes material reduction in position, responsibilities or duties, failure by the Company to obtain the assumption of the agreement by a successor company, reduction in base salary (unless the reduction does not exceed 10% and is applied uniformly to all similarly situated executives), breach of agreement or mandatory relocation (other than in connection with promotion) of more than 50 miles.

For Mr. Doss, the severance benefit is an amount equal to one year’s base salary, his target bonus for the year in which termination occurs and his actual bonus based on the plan targets, prorated for the number of days Mr. Doss is employed during the year in which termination occurs. For Messrs. Scherger, Nichols and Yost, the severance benefit is one times base salary. Executives also receive health and welfare benefits for one year after termination and a pro-rata bonus payout. Mr. Doss also vests in any unvested equity awards on the date of his termination as if he were retirement eligible (daily pro-rata vesting) without regard to his actual age or years of service on the date of termination. In addition, if an Executive is separated from service without cause or for Good Reason within one year of a change in control, the Executive receives (i) an additional 1/2 year of base

 

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salary (one year for Mr. Doss) and (ii) instead of the pro-rata bonus, a bonus equal to the Executive’s target level bonus for the year in which the separation occurs (assuming that all performance targets had been achieved) multiplied by 1.5 (multiplied by 2 for Mr. Doss). All benefit payments under the employment agreements are conditioned upon the Executive executing and returning a claims release to the Company.

Executives who do not have employment agreements are eligible to participate in the Graphic Packaging International, Inc. Executive Severance Plan. Similar to the provisions in the employment agreements, the Executive Severance Plan provides severance benefits equal to one year’s base salary and a pro-rata bonus if the Executive is terminated involuntarily without cause or terminates his or her employment for Good Reason. If such a termination occurs within one year after a change in control, Executives receive an additional one-half year’s base salary and an amount equal to his or her bonus at target level as if he or she had been employed for the entire year multiplied by 1.5. Payments under the Executive Severance Plan are conditioned upon the participant executing a release that includes a general release of claims against the Company and an agreement to certain confidentiality, non-competition and non-solicitation of employee and customer provisions.

In addition to the change in control provisions in the employment agreements and the Executive Severance Plan, the award agreements for Service RSUs and Performance RSUs provide for accelerated vesting and payout in the event of a change in control. A “change-in-control” means any of the following events:

 

   

The acquisition by any person of beneficial ownership of thirty percent (30%) or more of the combined voting power or outstanding shares of common stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, except if such acquisition is by a person who, prior to such acquisition, is the beneficial owner of thirty percent (30%) or more of such securities, or is such acquisition is by any employee benefit plan or related trust;

 

   

Individuals of the incumbent Board (other than those whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest relating to the election or removal of directors of the Company) do not constitute at least a majority of the Board;

 

   

Consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation to which the Company is a party unless (i) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the Beneficial Owners of the Company’s outstanding securities prior to such transaction beneficially own more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the corporation resulting from the transaction, and (ii) no person (excluding successors to current stockholders or any employee benefit plan or related trust) beneficially owns thirty percent (30%) or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities, except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the transaction, and (iii) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the resulting entity were members of the incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement or of the action of the Board providing such reorganization, merger or consolidation;

 

   

The sale, transfer or disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; or

 

   

The approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

The forgoing events were chosen to trigger the vesting and payout of RSUs because they constitute a fundamental change in the ownership or control of the Company, which materially alters the prospects and future of the Company and, therefore, the employment conditions and opportunities for the members of management who receive RSUs.

Timing of Compensation

Base salary adjustments, annual incentive payments and annual RSU grants are generally approved at the first or second Committee meeting and first Board meeting of the year. Our policy is that for awards of equity compensation the date of grant is no earlier than the date upon which the grant is approved by the Committee or the Board, as appropriate.

 

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Tax Issues

Favorable accounting and federal corporate income tax treatment of the various elements of our compensation program is a consideration in its design, but because of the Company’s net operating loss carry-forwards, which are expected to offset the Company’s federal income tax obligations for several years and because the Committee’s policy is to maximize long-term stockholder value, it is not a primary consideration.

Consideration of Most Recent Advisory Stockholder Vote on Executive Compensation

At the Annual Meeting of Stockholders on May 24, 2017, 91.5% of the shares represented and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting were voted to approve the compensation of the Company’s Named Executive Officers, as discussed and disclosed in the 2017 Proxy Statement. In considering the results of this advisory vote on executive compensation, the Committee concluded that the compensation paid to our named executive officers and the Company’s overall pay practices enjoy strong stockholder support. Going forward, future advisory votes on executive compensation, including the vote on the executive compensation described in this Proxy Statement will serve as an additional tool to guide the Board and the Committee in evaluating the alignment of the Company’s executive compensation program with the interests of the Company and its stockholders.

At the Annual Meeting of Stockholders on May 24, 2017, our stockholders expressed a preference that advisory votes on executive compensation occur every year. Consistent with this preference, the Board has implemented an advisory vote on executive compensation once every year. The next required vote on the frequency of stockholder votes will occur at the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. See Proposal 3 in this Proxy Statement.

 

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Compensation of Executive Officers

The following table sets forth the compensation paid to or earned by the Company’s Principal Executive Officer (Mr. Doss), Principal Financial Officer (Mr. Scherger), and the Company’s three other most highly paid executive officers who were serving as executive officers on December 31, 2017, (collectively, the “Named Executive Officers”) for each of the three fiscal years ended December 31, 2017.

Summary Compensation Table

 

Name and Principal Position

  Year     Salary
($)
    Stock
Awards
($)(1)
    Non-Equity
Incentive
Plan
Compensation
($)
    Change in
Pension
Value and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($)(2)
    All Other
Compensation
($)
    Total
($)
 

Michael P. Doss

    2017       927,000       4,180,965       509,850       200,164       158,261 (3)      5,976,240  

President and

    2016       900,000       3,666,438       544,500       110,215       169,188       5,390,341  

Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

    2015       715,500       2,117,519       773,595       —         133,568       3,740,182  

Stephen R. Scherger

    2017       571,568       1,304,112       200,049       —         78,870 (4)      2,154,600  

Senior Vice President and

    2016       552,240       1,209,229       212,612       —         96,355       2,070,436  

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

    2015       531,000       1,220,947       417,791       —         96,448       2,266,186  

Alan R. Nichols

    2017       510,211       1,001,683       178,574       —         70,758 (5)      1,761,226  

Senior Vice President,

    2016       474,900       856,246       190,711       —         82,324       1,604,181  

Mills Division

    2015       441,584       916,989       347,438       —         81,766       1,787,777  

Lauren S. Tashma

    2017       461,670       759,405       138,501       —         64,273 (6)      1,423,849  

Senior Vice President,

General Counsel and Secretary

             

Joseph P. Yost

    2017       480,816       943,966       168,286       95,325       327,680 (7)      2,016,073  

Senior Vice President and

    2016       432,600       791,334       171,402       54,035       381,601       1,830,972  

President, Americas

    2015       377,712       586,654       268,920       —         312,626       1,515,409  

 

(1) 

Amounts shown in this column represent the aggregate grant date fair value of Service RSUs and Performance RSUs as of the date of grant, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. The value of Performance RSUs assumes performance occurs at target level. The value of 2017 Stock Awards assuming payout of Performance RSUs at the maximum level is as follows: Mr. Doss: $6,968,276; Mr. Scherger: $2,173,529; Mr. Nichols: $1,669,477; Ms. Tashma: $1,265,675; and Mr. Yost: $1,573,282.

(2) 

The amounts set forth in this column for Messrs. Doss and Yost reflect the aggregate increase in the present value of accumulated benefits under our Pension Plans during the respective year. The present value of Mr. Doss and Mr. Yost’s accumulated benefits under our Pension Plans decreased by $57,280 and $30,503, respectively, during 2015. Mr. Scherger, Mr. Nichols and Ms. Tashma do not participate in the Company’s Pension Plans. None of the Named Executive Officers realized above market or preferential earnings on deferred compensation.

(3) 

The amount shown for Mr. Doss includes: (i) $18,971 of Company matching and supplemental contributions to the Company’s 401(k) Plan; (ii) $128,250 of Company matching and supplemental contributions to the NCDCP; and (iii) $8,545 for spousal travel specifically approved by the Chairman of the Board; and (iv) $2,495 for Mr. Doss’ executive physical.

(4) 

The amount shown for Mr. Scherger represents: (i) $19,352 of Company matching and supplemental contributions to the Company’s 401(k) Plan; and (ii) $59,518 of Company matching and supplemental contributions to the NQDCP.

(5) 

The amount shown for Mr. Nichols includes: (i) $19,566 of Company matching and supplemental contributions to the Company’s 401(k) Plan; and (ii) $51,192 of Company matching and supplemental contributions to the NQDCP.

 

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(6) 

The amount shown for Ms. Tashma includes: (i) $18,961 of Company matching and supplemental contributions to the Company’s 401(k) Plans; (ii) $42,058 of Company matching and supplemental contributions to the Company’s NQDCP; and (iii) the cost of Ms. Tashma’s executive physical.

(7) 

The amount shown for Mr. Yost includes (i) $18,693 of Company matching and supplemental contributions to the Company’s 401(k) Plan; (ii) $46,322 of Company matching and supplemental contributions to the Company’s NQDCP; (iii) $43,610 of relocation benefits and (iv) $219,055 of tax equalization payments related to his previous international assignment.

 

CEO Pay Ratio Information

In accordance with Section 953(b) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 and Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Exchange Act, the Company is required to determine and disclose the total annual compensation of the Company’s Principal Executive Officer (who is Michael P. Doss, the Company’s President and CEO) and the total annual compensation of the employee with the median of the total annual compensation of all employees of the Company (excluding Mr. Doss) and then express these amounts as a ratio.

To determine the employee with the median total annual compensation, the Company chose all cash compensation paid during 2017 to each of its domestic and international employees as of December 31, 2017 as its consistently applied compensation measure. The Company did not annualize salaries for those employees who started working for the Company during 2017 or those employees who were on leave for a portion of 2017. For those international employees paid in a different currency, the Company converted the total of all cash compensation paid to such employees to U.S. dollars, based on the exchange rate in effect on December 31, 2017. Using this methodology, the Company determined the median employee’s total annual compensation was $54,695. The total annual compensation of our President and CEO was $5,976,240. The ratio of the total annual compensation of our President and CEO to the median employee’s total annual compensation was 109:1.

 

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The following table sets forth information regarding the grants of annual cash incentive compensation and annual equity compensation during 2017 to the Named Executive Officers.

Grants of Plan-Based Awards in Fiscal 2017

 

Name

  Grant
Date
    Estimated Future Payouts Under
Non-Equity Incentive
Plan Awards(1)
    Estimated Future Payouts
Under Equity Incentive
Plan Awards
    All Other
Stock
Awards;
Number
of Shares
of Stock
or Units
(#)(5)
    Grant
Date Fair
Value of
Stock
Awards
($)(6)
 
    Threshold
($)
    Target
($)
    Maximum
($)
    Threshold
(#)(2)
    Target
(#)(3)
    Maximum
(#)(4)
     

Michael P. Doss

      0       1,019,700       2,039,400            
    2/23/17             0       206,162       412,324         2,787,310  
    2/23/17                   103,081       1,393,655  

Stephen R. Scherger

      0       400,098       800,195            
    2/23/17             0       64,306       128,612         869,417  
    2/23/17                   32,152       434,695  

Alan R. Nichols

      0       357,148       714,295            
    2/23/17             0       49,393       98,786         667,793  
    2/23/17                   24,696       333,890  

Lauren S. Tashma

      0       277,002       554,004            
    2/23/17             0       37,446       74,892         506,270  
    2/23/17                   18,723       253,135  

Joseph P. Yost

      0       336,571       673,142            
    2/23/17             0       46,547       93,094         629,315  
    2/23/17                   23,273       314,651  

 

(1) 

The amounts set forth in these columns reflect the threshold, target and maximum cash payments that could have been earned during 2017 under the MIP.

(2) 

Amounts in this column represent the threshold number of Performance RSUs that will be paid out assuming Company performance occurs at 90% or less of the Adjusted EBITDA performance measure and 95% or less of the Return on Invested Capital performance measure under the 2017 long-term incentive program (the “2017 LTIP”).

(3) 

Amounts in this column represent the number of Performance RSUs granted to each of the Named Executive Officers. This is the number of Performance RSUs that will be paid out assuming Company performance at the target levels under the 2017 LTIP.

(4) 

Amounts in this column represent the maximum number of Performance RSUs that will be paid out to each of the Named Executive Officers under the 2017 LTIP, which is 200% of the target level grant.

(5) 

Amounts in this column represent the number of Service RSUs granted to each of the Named Executive Officers under the 2017 LTIP.

(6) 

Amounts in this column represent the aggregate grant date fair value of Performance RSUs and Service RSUs, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. The value of the Performance RSUs assumes performance occurs at target level.

Additional Information regarding the Summary Compensation Table and the Grants of Plan-Based Awards in Fiscal 2017 Table

Salary. The amounts shown as salaries in the Summary Compensation Table for 2017 represent amounts actually paid during 2017 and may not be the same as current base salary levels. The salaries shown include amounts contributed to the Company’s NQDCP by the Executive.

Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation. The Company’s MIP is designed to provide short-term incentive awards based upon the accomplishment by the Company of performance goals established at the beginning of

 

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each year. Awards are paid in cash during the first quarter of the following year. The amounts shown in the Summary Compensation Table represent amounts earned in 2017 and paid during the first quarter of 2018.

Stock Awards. In 2017, the Compensation and Benefits Committee and the Board approved grants of RSUs under the 2014 Plan to our Named Executive Officers. These grants were made up of Service RSUs (1/3 of total grant) and Performance RSUs (2/3 of total grant). The number of shares paid out pursuant to the Performance RSUs is determined by the accomplishment of certain performance metrics established by the Board of Directors. Specifically, the performance metrics are Adjusted EBITDA for the three-year period ending December 31, 2019 (50% weight) and return on invested capital for the three-year period ending December 31, 2019 (50% weight). All of the RSUs vest on the third anniversary of the date of grant and are payable in shares of the Company’s common stock.

Change in Pension Value and Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Earnings. Amounts shown in the Change in Pension Value and Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation column of the Summary Compensation Table represent only the aggregate increase in the present value of accumulated benefits under our Pension Plans and Supplemental Plans. None of the named Executive Officers realized above-market or preferential earnings on deferred compensation.

The following table sets forth the aggregate outstanding RSUs held by the Named Executive Officers at the end of fiscal 2017. None of the Named Executive Officers held any stock options at the end of fiscal 2017.

Outstanding Equity Awards at 2017 Fiscal Year End

 

Name

   Stock Awards  
   Numbers of Shares or
Units of Stock that
have not Vested
(#)(1)
    Market Value of
Shares or Units of
Stock that have not
Vested
($)(2)
     Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number of
Unearned
Shares,
Units
or Other
Rights
That Have
Not Vested
(#)(3)
    Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Market
or Payout
Value of
Unearned
Shares,
Units
or Other
Rights That
Have Not
Vested ($)(2)
 

Michael P. Doss

     250,426 (4)      3,869,082        501,156 (4)      7,742,860  

Stephen R. Scherger

     92,291 (5)      1,425,896        184,685 (5)      2,853,383  

Alan R. Nichols

     68,439 (6)      1,057,383        136,949 (6)      2,115,862  

Lauren S. Tashma

     55,823 (7)      862,465        111,704 (7)      1,725,827  

Joseph P. Yost

     57,938 (8)      895,142        115,943 (8)      1,791,319  

 

(1) 

The numbers in this column represent the aggregate number of Service RSUs held by each of the Named Executive Officers as of December 31, 2017.

(2) 

Amounts in this column are calculated based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on December 31, 2017 of $15.45.

(3) 

The numbers in this column represent the number of Performance RSUs held by each of the Named Executive Officers as of December 31, 2017.

(4)

Mr. Doss’ RSUs vest as follows: 140,326 on February 27, 2018; 302,013 on February 25, 2019; and 309,243 on February 23, 2020.

 

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(5) 

Mr. Scherger’s RSUs vest as follows: 80,911 on February 27, 2018; 99,607 on February 25, 2019; and 96,458 on February 23, 2020.

(6) 

Mr. Nichols’ RSUs vest as follows: 60,768 on February 27, 2018; 70,531 on February 25, 2019; and 74,089 on February 23, 2020.

(7) 

Ms. Tashma’s RSUs vest as follows: 51,440 on February 27, 2018; 59,918 on February 25, 2019; and 56,169 on February 23, 2020.

(8) 

Mr. Yost’s RSUs vest as follows: 38,877 on February 27, 2018; 65,184 on February 25, 2019; and 69,820 on February 23, 2020.

The following table sets forth information regarding RSUs held by the Named Executive Officers that vested and were paid out during 2017.

Option Exercises and Stock Vested

 

     Stock Awards(1)  

Name

   No. of Shares
Acquired on
Vesting
     Value Realized on
Vesting ($)(2)
 

Michael P. Doss

     155,018        2,095,843  

Stephen R. Scherger

     101,647        1,374,267  

Alan R. Nichols

     84,030        1,136,086  

Lauren S. Tashma

     69,628        941,371  

Joseph P. Yost

     59,811        808,645  

 

(1) 

Only Stock Awards are included in the table because none of the Named Executive Officers held or exercised any stock options during 2017. The numbers in this column show the aggregate number of Performance RSUs and Service RSUs vested and paid out during 2017.

(2) 

Value realized represents the fair market value of the shares on the vesting date.

Pension Benefits at 2017 Fiscal Year End

 

Name

   Plan Name    Number
of Years
Credited
Service
(#)
     Present
Value of
Accumulated
Benefit
($)(1)
     Payments
During
Last
Fiscal
Year
($)
 

Michael P. Doss(2)

   Riverwood International Employees
Retirement Plan
     11        349,370        0  
   Riverwood International Supplemental
Retirement Plan
     11        872,770        0  
   GPIC Plan      5        142,765        0  
   Graphic Packaging Supplemental
Retirement Plan
     5        12,121        0  

Stephen R. Scherger

   —        —          —          —    

Alan R. Nichols

   —        —          —          —    

Lauren S. Tashma

   —        —          —          —    

Joseph P. Yost(2)

   Riverwood International Employees
Retirement Plan
     11        326,040        0  
   Riverwood International Supplemental

Retirement Plan

     11        319,201        0  

 

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(1) 

The valuation method and assumptions used in calculating the present value of the accumulated benefits are set forth in Note 7 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.

(2) 

Mr. Doss was transferred to the Riverwood International Employees Retirement Plan and Riverwood International Supplemental Retirement Plan as of January 1, 2005. Benefit service was frozen on December 31, 2004 for both the Graphic Packaging Retirement Plan and the Graphic Packaging Supplemental Retirement Plan. Mr. Doss and Mr. Yost’s benefit service for the Riverwood International Employees Retirement Plan and the Riverwood International Supplemental Retirement Plan was frozen as of June 30, 2011.

Additional Information regarding the Pension Benefits at 2016 Fiscal Year End Table

The Riverwood International Employees Retirement Plan and Riverwood International Supplemental Retirement Plan. All U.S. salaried employees hired prior to January 1, 2008, who satisfied the service eligibility criteria and who were not participants in the Graphic Packaging International Corporation Retirement Plan (the “GPIC Retirement Plan”) are participants in the Riverwood International Employees Retirement Plan (the “Employees Retirement Plan”). Pension benefits under this plan are limited in accordance with the provisions of the Code governing tax-qualified pension plans. The Company also maintains the Riverwood International Supplemental Retirement Plan for participants in the Employees Retirement Plan that provides for payment to participants of retirement benefits equal to the excess of the benefits that would have been earned by each participant had the limitations of the Code not applied to the Employees Retirement Plan and the amount actually earned by such participant under such plan. Service benefits were frozen under the plan for all participants other than those who were 50 years old and had 5 years of service (the “Grandfathered Participants”) as of June 30, 2011. Benefits under the Riverwood International Supplemental Retirement Plan are not pre-funded; such benefits are paid by the Company.

Annual remuneration, defined as “Salary” in the Employees Retirement Plan, includes annual salary paid, amounts paid as bonuses under the annual incentive compensation plan and certain other bonus awards, but excludes payments in lieu of perquisites and payments under any equity incentive plan or long-term incentive plan.

As of December 31, 2017, Mr. Doss and Mr. Yost had the completed years of credited service set forth above in the Pension Benefit Table. Estimated benefits are not subject to a reduction to reflect the payment of Social Security benefits or other offset amounts. The years of service calculated for Mr. Doss include years of service credited under the GPIC Retirement Plan described below. Mr. Doss participated in the GPIC Retirement Plan until January 1, 2005 when he was transferred into the Employees Retirement Plan.

GPIC Retirement Plan. The Company’s U.S. salaried employees who (i) were previously employed by Graphic Packaging International Corporation (“GPIC”), (ii) satisfied the service eligibility criteria and (iii) did not participate in the Employees Retirement Plan participate in the GPIC Retirement Plan. Pension benefits under the GPIC Retirement Plan are limited in accordance with the provisions of the Code governing tax qualified pension plans. GPIC also maintained the Graphic Packaging Supplemental Retirement Plan that provided the benefits that were not payable from the qualified retirement plan because of limitations under the Code. None of the Company’s Named Executive Officers participated in the GPIC Retirement Plan during 2017.

 

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The following table sets forth information regarding the Named Executive Officers’ participation in the Company’s NQDCP.

2017 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

 

Name

   Executive
Contributions
in Last FY
($)(1)
     Registrant
Contributions
in Last FY
($)(2)
     Aggregate
Earnings in
Last FY
($)
     Aggregate
Withdrawals/
Distributions
($)
     Aggregate
Balance at Last
FYE
($)(3)
 

Michael P. Doss

     64,305        128,250        42,379        —          1,311,817  

Stephen R. Scherger

     31,367        59,518        40,654        —          2,415,751  

Alan R. Nichols

     70,092        51,192        12,237        —          562,467  

Lauren S. Tashma

     24,563        42,058        5,102        —          262,843  

Joseph P. Yost

     22,995        46,322        22,009        —          577,413  

 

(1) 

These amounts were included as 2017 compensation in the “Salary” or “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” columns in the Summary Compensation Table.

(2) 

These amounts, which were earned as of fiscal year end but not contributed until 2018, were included in compensation in the “All Other Compensation” column for 2017 in the Summary Compensation Table and are reflected in the “Aggregate Balance at Last FYE” column of this table.

(3) 

In previous years the amounts shown below have been included in the Company’s Summary Compensation Table as compensation to the following Named Executive Officers:

 

Michael P. Doss

   $ 574,839  

Stephen R. Scherger

   $ 1,363,938  

Alan R. Nichols

   $ 249,754  

Lauren S. Tashma

   $ —    

Joseph P. Yost

   $ 39,870  

Deferred Compensation. In 2011, the Company implemented the NQDCP, a nonqualified deferred compensation plan to which Executives and other eligible senior employees may defer a portion of their annual base salary and/or payment under the MIP, and to which the Company may also make additional contributions. Contributions to the NQDCP were first made during 2012. The NQDCP permits participants to defer and contribute from 1% to 50% of their base salary and up to 100% of their payment under the MIP to the plan. The NQDCP offers deemed investment options that generally mirror those available under the Company’s 401(k) Plan. The Company may, in its discretion, make contributions to the NQDCP, such as 401(k) restoration matching contributions and other supplemental contributions for Executives and eligible senior employees who do not participate in or receive future service accruals to one of the Company’s Pension Plans or Supplemental Plans. NQDCP distributions will be made or commence on the earlier of the six month anniversary of a participant’s separation from service with the Company, a change in control of the Company or, if elected by the participant, on a specified date. Payment will be made in a lump sum or in annual installments (up to 10) as elected by the participant.

 

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The following table provides information as of December 31, 2017, with respect to the Company’s compensation plans under which equity securities are authorized for issuance:

2017 Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

Plan Category

   Number of Securities
to be Issued Upon
Exercise of
Outstanding Options,
Warrants and Rights
(#)
    Weighted-Average
Exercise Price of
Outstanding Options,
Warrants and Rights
($)
     Number of Securities Remaining
Available for Future Issuance
Under Equity Compensation
Plans (Excluding Securities
Reflected in Column(a))
(#)
 

Equity compensation plans approved by stockholders(1)

     4,021,137 (2)      N/A        11,867,092 (3) 

Equity compensation plans not approved by stockholders

     N/A       N/A        N/A  

Total

     4,021,137 (2)      N/A        11,867,092 (3) 

 

(1) 

The plans with outstanding awards thereunder are the 2004 Plan and the 2014 Plan.

(2) 

Includes no stock options, 156,623 shares of Phantom Stock and 3,864,514 RSUs. Does not include up to 2,470,145 additional shares that may be issued if the Performance RSUs are paid out at a level above target.

(3) 

All of these securities are available for issuance under the 2014 Plan and may be granted as full-value awards. This number does not include up to 8,281,355 shares previously subject to awards under the 2004 Plan that ceased to be subject to such awards (other than by reason of settlement of the award in vested and non-forfeitable shares) and may subsequently be added to the shares available under the 2014 Plan. The number also does not reflect up to 2,470,145 additional shares that may be issued if Performance RSUs are paid out at a level above target.

Potential Payments Upon Termination

The table below reflects the amount of compensation that would become payable to each of the Named Executive Officers under existing plans and arrangements if the Named Executive Officer’s employment was terminated (i) because of death; (ii) because of disability; (iii) by the Company without cause or by the Named Executive Officer for Good Reason (as described in such Named Executive Officer’s employment agreement or, with respect to Ms. Tashma and Mr. Yost, the Executive Severance Plan); or (iv) by the Company without cause or by the Named Executive Officer for Good Reason within one year following a change in control of the Company, in each such case as of December 31, 2017, given the Named Executive Officer’s compensation and service levels as of such date and, if applicable, based on the Company’s closing stock price on that date. These benefits are in addition to benefits available prior to the occurrence of any termination of employment and benefits available to all salaried employees, such as distributions of employee contributions and Company matching contributions under the Company’s 401(k) Plans and any accrued untaken vacation pay. These benefits are also in addition to the benefits described above in the Pension Benefits table.

In the event that a Named Executive Officer is terminated for cause, no cash severance is payable and the Named Executive Officer forfeits all unvested equity awards. In addition, no continued welfare benefits or outplacement services are provided to the Named Executive Officer.

The actual amounts that would be paid upon a Named Executive Officer’s termination of employment can be determined only at the time of an executive’s actual separation from the Company. Due to the number of factors that affect the nature and amount of any benefits provided upon the events shown below, actual amounts paid or distributed may be higher or lower than reported below. Factors that could affect these amounts include the timing during the year of any such event, the maximum payouts under any incentive plans and the executive’s age.

 

 

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     Termination following
Death
    Termination following
Disability
    Termination Without
Cause or for Good Reason(1)(2)
    Termination following a
Change in Control(2)
 

Name

  Cash
($)
    Equity
($)
    Total
($)
    Cash
($)
    Equity
($)
    Total
($)
    Cash
($)
    Equity
($)
    Total
($)
    Cash
($)
    Equity
($)
    Total
($)
 

Michael P. Doss

    2,416,867       6,288,527       8,705,394       2,339,617       3,000,725       5,340,342       4,286,317       6,288,527       10,574,844       7,252,717       11,611,942       18,864,659  

Stephen R. Scherger

    2,871,578       2,554,976       5,426,554       2,823,948       1,346,359       4,170,307       3,395,516       1,346,359       4,741,875       4,281,446       4,279,279       8,560,725  

Alan R. Nichols

    970,233       1,885,412       2,855,645       927,716       989,145       1,916,861       1,437,927       989,145       2,427,072       2,228,754       3,173,245       5,401,998  

Lauren S. Tashma

    547,994       1,569,301       2,117,295       509,521       838,410       1,347,931       956,561       838,410       1,794,970       1,337,287       2,588,292       3,925,579  

Joseph P. Yost

    962,153       1,495,484       2,457,637       922,085       736,131       1,658,216       1,402,901       736,131       2,139,032       1,811,595       2,686,461       4,498,056  

 

(1) 

In the event that the Named Executive Officer’s employment is terminated because of his retirement, such Named Executive Officer receives no cash severance and the same equity payout as if his employment had been terminated as a result of his death.

(2) 

In addition to the amounts shown, each Named Executive Officer receives life, medical, dental and prescription drug benefits for one year following the date of termination, as well as outplacement and career counseling services with a cost up to $25,000. The maximum annual amount of such continued life, medical, dental and prescription drug benefits for each of the Named Executive Officers is:

 

Michael P. Doss

   $ 25,157  

Stephen R. Scherger

   $ 17,775  

Alan R. Nichols

   $ 23,576  

Lauren S. Tashma

   $ 13,731  

Joseph P. Yost

   $ 22,546  

 

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PROPOSAL 3 — ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

(“SAY-ON-PAY”)

Section 14A of the Exchange Act requires that the Company include in this Proxy Statement a non-binding stockholder vote on the executive compensation described in this Proxy Statement (commonly referred to as a “Say-on Pay” vote). The Company encourages stockholders to review the Compensation Discussion and Analysis on pages 18 to 28, as well as the additional executive compensation information found on pages 29 to 38 of this Proxy Statement. The Board of Directors believes that the Company’s compensation program appropriately balances the need to incentivize our executives to achieve the Company’s objectives with responsible pay practices, thereby aligning the interests of our executives with those of our stockholders.

The Board of Directors strongly endorses the Company’s executive compensation program and recommends that the stockholders vote in favor of the following resolution:

RESOLVED, that the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers as described in this Proxy Statement under “Compensation Matters,” including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis and the tabular and narrative disclosure contained in this Proxy Statement is hereby approved.

This vote is advisory and will not be binding upon the Board of Directors or the Compensation and Benefits Committee and neither the Board nor the Compensation and Benefits Committee will be required to take any action as a result of the outcome of the vote on this proposal. The Compensation and Benefits Committee will, however, carefully consider the outcome of this vote when considering future executive compensation arrangements.

Board Recommendation

The Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR” approval of the Company’s executive compensation.

 

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Proxy Solicitation and Householding

The Company will bear the entire cost of proxy solicitation, including the preparation, Internet posting, assembly, printing, mailing and distribution of proxy materials. In addition to the use of the mail, proxies may be solicited personally by telephone by certain employees. The Company will reimburse brokers or other persons holding stock in their names or in the names of nominees for their expense in sending proxy materials to beneficial holders and obtaining their proxies.

Some banks, brokers or other nominee record holders of the Company’s common stock may be participating in the practice of “householding” proxy statements and annual reports. This means that only one copy of the Company’s Proxy Statement and Annual Report may be sent to multiple stockholders in the same household. The Company will promptly deliver a separate copy of either document to any stockholder upon request submitted in writing to the Company at the following address: Graphic Packaging Holding Company, 1500 Riveredge Parkway, Suite 100, Atlanta, Georgia 30328, Attention: Corporate Secretary or by calling (770) 240-7200. Any stockholder who wants to receive separate copies of the Annual Report and Proxy Statement in the future, or who is currently receiving multiple copies and would like to receive only one copy for his or her household, should contact his or her bank, broker or other nominee record holder.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

The following table sets forth information concerning the beneficial ownership of the Company’s common stock by (i) each stockholder that is known by the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Company’s common stock, (ii) each Director, (iii) each Named Executive Officer and (iv) the Directors and executive officers as a group. Unless otherwise noted, such information is provided as of March 15, 2018, and the beneficial owners listed have sole voting and investment power with respect to the number of shares shown. An asterisk in the percent of class column indicates beneficial ownership of less than one percent.

 

Name

   Number of
Shares
     Percentage  

5% Stockholders:

     

Boston Partners(1)

     24,700,350        8.0

FMR LLC(2)

     34,951,791        11.3

The Vanguard Group(3)

     25,610,679        8.3

Directors and Named Executive Officers:

     

David D. Campbell

     59,823        *  

Paul D. Carrico

     22,440        *  

Michael P. Doss

     844,133        *  

Robert A. Hagemann

     43,011        *  

Peter Kelly

     8,190        *  

Philip R. Martens

     31,011        *  

Larry M. Venturelli

     15,675        *  

Lynn A. Wentworth

     88,198        *  

Stephen R. Scherger

     258,851        *  

Alan R. Nichols

     144,638        *  

Lauren S. Tashma

     39,807        *  

Joseph P. Yost

     306,926        *  

All Directors and executive officers as a group (14 persons)(5)

     1,938,580        *  

 

(1) 

Pursuant to Amendment No. 6 to a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 12, 2018, as of December 31, 2017, Boston Partners may be deemed to beneficially own 24,700,350 shares of the

 

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  Company’s common stock. Boston Partners shares voting power with respect to 72,269 of such shares. The business address of Boston Partners is One Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108.
(2) 

Pursuant to Amendment No. 3 to a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 13, 2018, as of December 31, 2017, FMR LLC may be deemed to beneficially own 34,951,791 shares of the Company’s common stock. The business address of FMR LLC is 245 Summer Street, Boston, MA, 02210.

(3) 

Pursuant to Amendment No. 3 to a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 9, 2018, as of December 31, 2017, The Vanguard Group may be deemed to beneficially own 25,610,679 shares of the Company’s common stock. The Vanguard Group shares voting power with respect to 38,100 of such shares and shares dispositive power with respect to 184,299 of such shares. The business address of The Vanguard Group is 100 Vanguard Boulevard, Malvern, PA 19355.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Based solely upon a review of Forms 3 and 4 and amendments thereto furnished to or filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 16a-3(e) of the Exchange Act during 2017 and Forms 5 and amendments thereto furnished to the Company with respect to 2017, and written representations from the Company’s reporting persons, the Company believes that its officers, Directors and beneficial owners have complied with all filing requirements under Section 16(a) applicable to such persons, except that Ms. Deborah R. Frank filed two late Form 4s.

Stockholder Proposals and Nominations

If you intend to present a proposal at the 2018 annual meeting of stockholders, and you wish to have the proposal included in the proxy statement for that meeting, you must submit the proposal in writing to the Company’s Corporate Secretary 1500 Riveredge Parkway, Suite 100, Atlanta, Georgia 30328. The Corporate Secretary must receive this proposal no later than December 1, 2017. If you want to present a proposal at the 2018 annual meeting of stockholders, without including the proposal in the proxy statement, or if you want to nominate one or more Directors, you must provide written notice to the Company’s Corporate Secretary at the address above. The Corporate Secretary must receive this notice not earlier than January 24, 2018, and not later than February 23, 2018. However, if the date of the 2018 annual meeting of stockholders is advanced by more than 30 days or delayed by more than 70 days from the anniversary date of the 2017 Annual Meeting, then such proposal must be submitted by the later of the 90th day before such annual meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made.

Notice of a proposal or nomination must include:

 

   

as to each proposed nominee for election as a Director, all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of Directors, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act and Rule 14a-8 thereunder, including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a Director if elected;

 

   

as to any other proposal, a brief description of the proposal (including the text of any resolution proposed for consideration), the reasons for such proposal and any material interest in such proposal of such stockholder and of any beneficial owner on whose behalf the proposal is made; and

 

   

as to the stockholder giving the notice and any beneficial owner on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made:

 

   

the name and address of such stockholder and beneficial owner, as they appear on the Company’s books;

 

   

the number of shares of the Company’s common stock that are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner;

 

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a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of the Company’s common stock entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such business or nomination; and

 

   

a representation whether the stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, intends or is part of a group that intends: (a) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Company’s outstanding capital stock required to approve or adopt the proposal or elect the nominee; and/or (b) otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such proposal or nomination.

Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures described above will be eligible for election as Directors and only such other proposals as were brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures described above will be presented at the meeting. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation or Amended and Restated By-Laws, the Chairman of the meeting will have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any other proposal was made or proposed in accordance with these procedures. If any proposed nomination or proposal is not made or proposed in compliance with these procedures, it will be disregarded. A proposed nomination or proposal will also be disregarded if the stockholder or a qualified representative of the stockholder does not appear at the annual meeting of stockholders to present the nomination or proposal, notwithstanding that the Company may have received proxies with respect to such vote.

The foregoing notice requirements will be deemed satisfied by a stockholder if the stockholder has notified the Company of his or her intention to present a proposal at an annual meeting in compliance with Rule 14a-8 (or any successor thereof) promulgated under the Exchange Act and such stockholder’s proposal has been included in a proxy statement that the Company has prepared to solicit proxies for such annual meeting. The Company may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as it may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a Director.

By order of the Board of Directors,

 

LOGO

Lauren S. Tashma

Senior Vice President, General Counsel

and Secretary

Atlanta, Georgia

March 30, 2018

 

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     LOGO

   LOGO  

 

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   VOTE BY INTERNET - www.proxyvote.com  
   Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information. Vote by 11:59 P.M. ET on 05/22/2018 for shares held directly and by 11:59 P.M. ET on 05/20/2018 for shares held in a 401K Plan. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form.  
  

 

ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF FUTURE PROXY MATERIALS

 
   If you would like to reduce the costs incurred by Graphic Packaging Holding Company for mailing proxy materials, you can consent to receiving all future proxy statements, proxy cards and annual reports electronically via e-mail or the Internet. To sign up for electronic delivery, please follow the instructions above to vote using the Internet and, when prompted, indicate that you agree to receive or access proxy materials electronically in future years.  
  

 

VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903

 
   Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions. Vote by 11:59 P.M. ET on 05/22/2018 for shares held directly and by 11:59 P.M. ET on 05/20/2018 for shares held in a 401K Plan. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions.  
  

 

VOTE BY MAIL

 
  

Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717.

 

 

LOGO

TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS:       
      KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS

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DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY

THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED.

 

 

    The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR the following:  

 

For All

 

 

Withhold All

 

 

For All Except

   

 

To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark “For All Except” and write the number(s) of the nominee(s) on the line below.

  LOGO  

 

  LOGO

             

 

   
    1.   Election of Directors              
     

 

Nominees

                   
   

 

01

 

 

Paul D. Carrico                    02 Philip R. Martens                    03 Lynn A. Wentworth

         
   

 

The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR the following proposals:

    For   Against   Abstain  
   

 

2.

 

 

Ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.

.

   

 

 

 

 

 

 
   

 

3.

 

 

Approval of compensation paid to Named Executive Officers (Say-on Pay).

   

 

 

 

 

 

 
   

 

NOTE: The shares represented by this proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned Stockholder(s). If no direction is given, this proxy will be voted FOR all nominees in item 1 and FOR the proposals in items 2 and 3. If any other matters properly come before the meeting, or if cumulative voting is required, the person named in this proxy will vote in their discretion.

         
   

 

For address change/comments, mark here.

                   
 

LOGO

  (see reverse for instructions)   Yes   No                
   

 

Please indicate if you plan to attend this meeting

 

 

 

 

               
                         
                         
   

Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) hereon. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, or other fiduciary, please give full title as such. Joint owners should each sign personally. All holders must sign. If a corporation or partnership, please sign in full corporate or partnership name,

by authorized officer.

LOGO

 


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LOGO

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting: The Notice & Proxy Statement, Annual Report (including Form 10-K) is/are available at www.proxyvote.com .

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LOGO

 

 

GRAPHIC PACKAGING HOLDING COMPANY

   This proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors

     Annual Meeting of Stockholders May 23, 2018

       
   

 

The undersigned stockholder(s) hereby appoint(s) Lauren S. Tashma and Stephen R. Scherger, or either of them, as proxies, each with the power to appoint a substitute, and hereby authorizes them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse side of this ballot, all of the shares of Common Stock of GRAPHIC PACKAGING HOLDING COMPANY that the stockholder(s) is/are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholder(s) to be held at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time on May 23, 2018, at Graphic Packaging Holding Company, 1500 Riveredge Parkway, Suite 100, Atlanta, Georgia 30328, and any adjournment or postponement thereof. If such undersigned stockholder(s) hold(s) shares of GRAPHIC PACKAGING HOLDING COMPANY in a 401(k) Plan, such stockholder(s) hereby authorize(s) and direct(s) the trustee of such 401(k) Plan to vote all shares in the undersigned stockholder(s) account under the 401(k) Plan in the manner indicated on the reverse side of this proxy at the Annual Meeting and at any adjournment or postponement thereof.

 

THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED BY THE STOCKHOLDER(S). IF NO SUCH DIRECTIONS ARE GIVEN, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF ALL OF THE NOMINEES LISTED ON THE REVERSE SIDE FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND FOR APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSALS SET FORTH IN ITEMS 2 AND 3. IF SHARES ARE HELD IN A 401(K) PLAN AND NO DIRECTIONS ARE GIVEN, THE TRUSTEE WILL NOT VOTE THE SHARES CREDITED TO YOUR ACCOUNT.

 

                             Address change/comments:

   
 

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(If you noted any Address Changes and/or Comments above, please mark corresponding box on the reverse side.)

 

PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED REPLY ENVELOPE