DEF 14A 1 d842907ddef14a.htm PROXY STATEMENT Proxy Statement

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.    )

 

 

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Silgan Holdings Inc.

(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)

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LOGO

4 Landmark Square

Stamford, Connecticut 06901

(203) 975-7110

 

 

Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders

To be Held on June 8, 2020

 

 

YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that the annual meeting of stockholders of Silgan Holdings Inc., or the Company, a Delaware corporation, will be held at the Courtyard by Marriott—Stamford Downtown, 275 Summer Street, Stamford, Connecticut 06901 at 9:00 a.m., on Wednesday, June 8, 2020, for the following purposes:

 

  1.

To elect two directors of the Company to serve until the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders in 2023 and until their successors are duly elected and qualified;

 

  2.

To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020;

 

  3.

To hold an advisory vote to approve the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers; and

 

  4.

To transact such other business as may properly come before the annual meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the annual meeting.

The close of business on April 9, 2020 has been fixed as the record date for determining the stockholders of the Company entitled to notice of and to vote at the annual meeting. All holders of record of Common Stock of the Company at that date are entitled to vote at the annual meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the annual meeting.

We are continually monitoring the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation and the related requirements, recommendations and protocols issued by public health authorities and federal, state and local governments. If we determine that alternative arrangements for the annual meeting are advisable or required, then we will announce our decision and post additional information regarding the annual meeting on our website at www.silganholdings.com. We encourage you to vote your shares of Common Stock of the Company prior to the annual meeting.

By Order of the Board of Directors,

 

LOGO

Frank W. Hogan, III

Secretary

Stamford, Connecticut

April 28, 2020

Please complete, sign and mail the enclosed Proxy in the accompanying envelope even if you intend to be present at the annual meeting. Please sign the enclosed Proxy exactly as your name appears on it. Returning the Proxy will not limit your right to vote in person or to attend the annual meeting. If you hold shares of Common Stock of the Company in more than one name, or if your shares of Common Stock of the Company are registered in more than one way, you may receive more than one copy of the proxy materials. If so, please sign and return each of the Proxies that you receive so that all of your shares of Common Stock of the Company may be voted.

The annual meeting will be held to vote on the first three items listed above, tabulate the votes cast in respect of those items and report the results of the vote. No presentations or other business matters are planned for the annual meeting.

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE

STOCKHOLDERS MEETING TO BE HELD ON JUNE 8, 2020

This Proxy Statement and the Company’s Annual Report for 2019 are available at

www.silganholdings.com/proxyandannualreport


LOGO

4 Landmark Square

Stamford, Connecticut 06901

(203) 975-7110

 

 

PROXY STATEMENT

 

 

Annual Meeting of Stockholders

To be Held on June 8, 2020

To Stockholders of Silgan Holdings Inc.:

This Proxy Statement and the accompanying proxy card are furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of Silgan Holdings Inc., or Silgan Holdings or the Company, for use at our annual meeting of stockholders, or the Meeting, to be held at the Courtyard by Marriott—Stamford Downtown, 275 Summer Street, Stamford, Connecticut 06901, on Wednesday, June 8, 2020, at 9:00 a.m., and at any postponements or adjournments of the Meeting. If you need directions to attend the Meeting and vote in person, you should contact the Company by telephone at (203) 975-7110. This Proxy Statement and the accompanying proxy card will first be mailed to stockholders on or about April 28, 2020.

Only holders of record of our Common Stock as of the close of business on April 9, 2020, the Record Date, will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting. As of the Record Date, we had 110,871,203 shares of our Common Stock outstanding. Each share of our Common Stock is entitled to one vote. We have no other class of voting securities issued and outstanding. The presence in person or by proxy of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock will be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the Meeting.

All shares of our Common Stock represented by properly executed proxies will be voted in accordance with the instructions indicated on such proxies unless such proxies previously have been revoked. If any proxies are signed and returned but do not contain voting instructions, the shares of our Common Stock represented by such proxies will be voted FOR the election of the nominees for director listed below to serve until our annual meeting of stockholders in 2023 and until their successors are duly elected and qualified, FOR the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020 and FOR the approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers. We do not anticipate that any other matters will be brought before the Meeting. If any other matters properly come before the Meeting, the shares of our Common Stock represented by all properly executed proxies will be voted in accordance with the judgment of the persons named on such proxies. Shares of our Common Stock abstaining and shares of our Common Stock held in street name as to which a broker has not voted on some matters but has voted on other matters, or Broker Shares, will be included in determining whether a quorum exists at the Meeting. The New York Stock Exchange has adopted rules that eliminate broker discretionary voting for the election of directors and certain other corporate governance matters. These rules apply to us notwithstanding the fact that our Common Stock is traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market. Therefore, your broker is not able to vote on your behalf in any director election or with respect to the third matter specified in the Notice of Meeting, in each case without voting instructions from you.

Assuming that a quorum exists at the Meeting, approval of each of the first and second matters specified in the Notice of Meeting requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Meeting and approval, on an advisory basis, of the non-binding resolution with respect to the third matter specified in the Notice of


Meeting requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Meeting. Stockholders may not cumulate their votes. Abstentions and Broker Shares that have not been voted with respect to any matter specified in the Notice of Meeting will not be counted in determining the total number of votes cast for such matter or in determining whether such proposal has received the requisite number of affirmative votes.

You may revoke your proxy at any time before it is exercised at the Meeting by: (1) delivering to the Secretary of the Company a duly executed proxy bearing a later date; (2) filing a written notice of revocation with the Secretary of the Company; or (3) appearing at the Meeting and voting in person.

In addition to solicitations by mail, some of our directors, officers and employees may solicit proxies for the Meeting personally or by telephone without extra remuneration. We will also provide persons, banks, brokerage firms, custodians, nominees, fiduciaries and corporations holding shares in their names or in the names of nominees, which in either case are beneficially owned by others, with proxy materials for transmittal to such beneficial owners and will reimburse such record owners for their expenses in doing so. The Company will bear the costs of soliciting proxies.

THE COMPANY HEREBY UNDERTAKES TO PROVIDE WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM A COPY OF THIS PROXY STATEMENT HAS BEEN DELIVERED, UPON THE WRITTEN REQUEST OF ANY SUCH PERSON, A COPY OF OUR ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K, INCLUDING THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES THERETO, THAT HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, OR THE SEC, PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-1 UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2019. REQUESTS FOR SUCH COPIES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO SILGAN HOLDINGS INC., 4 LANDMARK SQUARE, STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT 06901 (TELEPHONE NUMBER: (203) 975-7110), ATTENTION: GENERAL COUNSEL.

 

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PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Nominees

Our Board of Directors is currently composed of nine members, divided into three classes designated as Class I, Class II and Class III. We currently have three Class I Directors, three Class II Directors and three Class III Directors, with each class of directors serving staggered three-year terms. At each annual meeting of stockholders of the Company, the term of office of one class of directors of the Company expires, and directors nominated to the class of directors whose term is expiring at such annual meeting will be elected for a term of three years and until their successors are duly elected and qualified. Our remaining directors continue in office until their respective terms expire and until their successors are duly elected and qualified. Accordingly, at each annual meeting of stockholders of the Company one class of our directors will be elected, and each of our directors will be required to stand for election once every three years. At the Meeting, the term of office for our Class II Directors expires.

Our Class II Directors currently are Messrs. Leigh J. Abramson, D. Greg Horrigan and John W. Alden. As previously announced on April 27, 2020, Mr. Alden will retire from our Board of Directors upon the expiration of his term at the Meeting and, therefore, will not stand for reelection at the Meeting. As a result, in accordance with our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, immediately following the Meeting, the Director position held by Mr. Alden will be eliminated, the number of Directors constituting our Board of Directors shall be reduced to eight and the number of Directors constituting our Class II Directors shall be reduced to two. Accordingly, only two Class II Directors will stand for election by the Company’s stockholders at the Meeting. Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement dated as of November 6, 2001, or the Stockholders Agreement, among R. Philip Silver, D. Greg Horrigan and the Company, Messrs. Abramson and Horrigan were nominated for re-election at the Meeting as Class II Directors of the Company, to serve until our annual meeting of stockholders in 2023 and until their successors have been duly elected and qualified. You should read the section in this Proxy Statement titled “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions—Stockholders Agreement” for a description of the material provisions of the Stockholders Agreement.

Each nominee for Class II Director of the Company has consented to be named in this Proxy Statement and to serve on our Board of Directors if elected. If, prior to the Meeting, any nominee should become unavailable to serve on our Board of Directors for any reason, the shares of our Common Stock represented by all properly executed proxies will be voted for such alternate individual as shall be nominated pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement.

We provide below certain information regarding each nominee for Class II Director of the Company and each Director of the Company whose term of office continues after the Meeting, including the individual’s age (as of December 31, 2019), principal occupation and business experience during at least the last five years, other directorships currently held or held during the past five years, the year in which such individual was first elected a director of the Company and the experiences, qualifications, attributes or skills that the nominee and each Director brings to our Board of Directors. We believe that each nominee and each current Director brings a strong and unique background and set of skills to our Board of Directors, giving our Board of Directors as a whole competence and experience in a wide variety of areas, including relevant industry experience, executive management experience, public company board service experience, risk management experience and finance and accounting experience.

Nominees for election as Director (Class II)—term expiring 2023

Leigh J. Abramson, age 51, has been one of our Directors since August 2018. Mr. Abramson previously served as a Director of the Company from September 1996 until July 2003. Mr. Abramson has been a Partner and Co-Head of the Industrial Growth Group of Gryphon Investors, a private equity firm, since March 2020. Mr. Abramson has been a Managing Director and Partner of Metalmark Capital, a private equity fund, since its founding in 2004. Mr. Abramson was with Morgan Stanley Capital Partners from 1992 until 2004, and he began

 

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his career in Morgan Stanley’s Investment Banking Division in 1990 until 1992. Mr. Abramson has also served, and currently serves, as a director for several private companies. Mr. Abramson brings to our Board of Directors extensive experience in corporate strategy, mergers and acquisitions and financial matters.

D. Greg Horrigan, age 76, has been one of our Directors since the Company’s inception in 1987. Mr. Horrigan was our Co-Chairman of the Board in a non-executive capacity from March 2006 through March 2019. Prior to that, Mr. Horrigan was our Co-Chief Executive Officer from March 1994 until March 2006. Mr. Horrigan was also our Co-Chairman of the Board in an executive capacity from August 2004 until March 2006 and, prior to that, our President. Mr. Horrigan is one of our co-founders. Prior to founding the Company in 1987, Mr. Horrigan was Executive Vice President and Operating Officer of Continental Can Company from 1984 to 1987. As one of our co-founders, Mr. Horrigan brings to our Board of Directors extensive knowledge of the Company and the consumer goods packaging industry and numerous years of executive management experience.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF ALL NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR (CLASS II) OF THE COMPANY.

Incumbent Directors (Class III)—term expiring 2021

Anthony J. Allott, age 55, has been one of our Directors since June 2006 and our Chairman of the Board since April 2019. Mr. Allott has also been our Chief Executive Officer since March 2006. Mr. Allott was our President from August 2004 through March 2019. Mr. Allott was also our Chief Operating Officer from May 2005 until March 2006. From May 2002 until August 2004, Mr. Allott was our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining us, Mr. Allott was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Applied Extrusion Technologies, Inc., or AET, a manufacturer of flexible packaging, since July 1996. From July 1994 until July 1996, Mr. Allott was Vice President and Treasurer of AET. From 1992 until July 1994, Mr. Allott was Corporate Controller and Director of Financial Reporting of Ground Round Restaurants. Prior to that, Mr. Allott was a certified public accountant with Deloitte & Touche LLP. Mr. Allott brings to our Board of Directors extensive executive management experience and serves as our Chief Executive Officer.

William T. Donovan, age 67, has been one of our Directors since January 2018. Mr. Donovan was Chair of the Board of Rockland Industrial Holdings, LLC, a privately held manufacturer of wood flooring products for the truck trailer and container industries, from April 2006 until December 2013. From 1997 until 2005, he served as President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of Total Logistics, Inc., a company engaged in providing integrated logistics services, facility management and industrial product manufacturing that had been a publicly traded company listed on Nasdaq prior to its acquisition by Supervalu Inc. From 1987 to 1997, Mr. Donovan served as President, Chief Financial Officer and a director of Christiana Companies, Inc., a provider of warehousing and logistic services and manufacturer of drill pipe and downhole tools that had been a publicly traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange prior to its merger with Weatherford International, Inc. From 1980 to 1998, Mr. Donovan was a Principal and Managing Director of Lubar & Co., a private investment and venture capital firm. From 1976 to 1980, Mr. Donovan was an officer with Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company, now part of JPMorgan Chase & Co., where he specialized in merger and acquisition financing. Mr. Donovan is currently a director of Precision Drilling Corporation, an onshore drilling company and service provider to the oil and natural gas industries and a publicly traded company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange, and has served in that capacity since December 2008. Prior to that, Mr. Donovan was a director of Grey Wolf, Inc., an international land-based provider of contract drilling services to the oil and natural gas industries and a publicly traded company that had been listed on the American Stock Exchange, from June 1997 until December 2008 prior to its acquisition by Precision Drilling Corporation. Mr. Donovan has also served as a director of several other private companies. Mr. Donovan brings to our Board of Directors significant executive management, merger and acquisition and finance experience, as well as experience as a public company director.

Joseph M. Jordan, age 73, has been one of our Directors since March 2014. Mr. Jordan is a retired partner of KPMG LLP, where he was employed from April 1981 until his retirement in September 2009. At KPMG,

 

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Mr. Jordan was a partner in its Financial Services practice, serving banking and insurance company clients. He served as partner-in-charge of KPMG’s New York Insurance Practice and was KPMG’s National Director of Insurance Tax Services. Mr. Jordan also served as a partner in KPMG’s Department of Professional Practice, specializing in SEC and PCAOB matters involving auditor independence and other regulatory matters. Following his retirement from KPMG, Mr. Jordan has served as an independent consultant. Prior to joining KPMG, Mr. Jordan began his professional career with the United States Department of Treasury. Mr. Jordan brings to our Board of Directors extensive experience in accounting and financial matters, particularly for public companies.

Incumbent Directors (Class I)—term expiring 2022

Kimberly A. Fields, age 50, has been one of our Directors since July 2019. Ms. Fields currently serves as Executive Vice President for the Flat Rolled Products Group of Allegheny Technologies Incorporated, a position she has held since April 2019. Allegheny Technologies Incorporated is a global manufacturer of technically advanced specialty materials and complex components, including stainless-steel sheet, specialty plate and specialty coil, and a publicly traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Previously, Ms. Fields was Group President for IDEX Corporation, a company that develops, designs and manufactures fluidics systems and specialty engineered products and a publicly traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange, from July 2015 until April 2019. Ms. Fields joined IDEX Corporation in April 2014 as President, Specialty Compression and GAST Manufacturing. Prior to that, Ms. Fields was Executive Vice President for the Flat Products Group at Evraz North America, Inc., a global vertically integrated steel making and mining company, since September 2011. Ms. Fields has also held leadership positions in operations, business development and engineering at General Electric Company, Alcoa, Inc., Metalspectrum, LLC, Boston Consulting Group and Owens Corning. Ms. Fields brings to the Company’s Board of Directors extensive executive management and manufacturing leadership experience.

Brad A. Lich, age 52, has been one of our Directors since October 2019. Mr. Lich currently serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of Eastman Chemical Company, or Eastman Chemical, a position he has held since March 2016. Eastman Chemical is a global advanced materials and specialty additives company that produces a broad range of products found in items people use every day and is a publicly traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Mr. Lich is responsible for the Advanced Materials and Fibers segments of Eastman Chemical, as well as the leadership of its marketing, sales, procurement and regional operations. Prior to his current position, Mr. Lich served as Executive Vice President, Advanced Materials & Additives & Functional Products of Eastman Chemical since January 2014. Mr. Lich joined Eastman Chemical in 2001 and has been steadily promoted to positions of increasing responsibility and leadership throughout his tenure. Prior to joining Eastman Chemical, Mr. Lich held various leadership and commercial roles with Coatingsmart, Inc., E-Chemicals, Inc., The Valspar Corporation and The Dow Chemical Company. Mr. Lich brings to the Company’s Board of Directors extensive executive management and commercial leadership experience.

R. Philip Silver, age 77, has been one of our Directors since the Company’s inception in 1987. Mr. Silver was our Co-Chairman of the Board in a non-executive capacity from March 2006 through March 2019. Prior to that, Mr. Silver was our Co-Chief Executive Officer from March 1994 until March 2006. Mr. Silver was also our Co-Chairman of the Board in an executive capacity from August 2004 until March 2006 and, prior to that, our Chairman of the Board in an executive capacity. Mr. Silver is one of our co-founders. Prior to founding the Company in 1987, Mr. Silver was a consultant to the packaging industry. Mr. Silver was President of Continental Can Company from June 1983 to August 1986. As one of our co-founders, Mr. Silver brings to our Board of Directors extensive knowledge of the Company and the consumer goods packaging industry and numerous years of executive management experience.

Mr. Horrigan was elected as a Director of the Company at our annual meeting of stockholders in 2017. Mr. Abramson was appointed a Director of the Company in August 2018 by the unanimous vote of our Board of Directors pursuant to our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, to fill the vacancy created upon an increase in size of our Board of Directors. Messrs. Allott, Donovan and Jordan were elected as

 

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Directors of the Company at our annual meeting of stockholders in 2018. Mr. Silver was elected as a Director of the Company at our annual meeting of stockholders in 2019. Ms. Fields was appointed a Director of the Company in July 2019 by the unanimous vote of our Board of Directors pursuant to our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, to fill the vacancy created upon the increase in size of our Board of Directors from seven to eight members. Mr. Lich was appointed a Director of the Company in October 2019 by the unanimous vote of our Board of Directors pursuant to our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, to fill the vacancy created upon the increase in size of our Board of Directors from eight to nine members.

Each of Leigh J. Abramson, John W. Alden, William T. Donovan, Kimberly A. Fields, Joseph M. Jordan and Brad A. Lich is an “independent director,” as defined in Rule 5605(a)(2) of the listing standards of the Nasdaq Stock Market. William C. Jennings, who served as a Director of the Company during 2019 until his retirement from our Board of Directors on June 12, 2019, the date upon which his term of office as a Director expired, was an “independent director,” as defined in Rule 5605(a)(2) of the listing standards of the Nasdaq Stock Market. The independent directors held four meetings during 2019 following regularly scheduled quarterly meetings of the Board of Directors, without the presence of management or any inside directors.

Our Board of Directors met four times and acted by written consent nine times during 2019. Each of our Directors attended at least 75 percent of the aggregate of: (1) the total number of meetings of the Board of Directors held in 2019 during which such person was a Director and (2) the total number of meetings held in 2019 by all committees of the Board of Directors on which such person served during which such person was a Director.

The Company does not have a policy with regard to director attendance at annual meetings of stockholders. One of our Directors attended last year’s annual meeting of stockholders.

Risk Oversight and Board Structure

Our Board of Directors as a whole is responsible for risk oversight for the Company. Our Board of Directors risk oversight process builds upon management’s assessment of the Company’s risks and processes for managing and mitigating such risks. At meetings of our Board of Directors, the executive officers of the Company regularly address and discuss with our Board of Directors risks of the Company and the manner in which the Company manages or mitigates its risks. While our Board of Directors has the ultimate responsibility for risk oversight for the Company, our Board of Directors works in conjunction with its committees on certain aspects of its risk oversight responsibilities. In particular, our Audit Committee focuses on financial reporting risks and related controls and procedures. Our Compensation Committee strives to create compensation practices that do not encourage excessive levels of risk taking that would be inconsistent with the Company’s strategy and objectives.

Our corporate governance documents provide our Board of Directors with flexibility to select the appropriate leadership structure for the Company. In making leadership structure determinations, our Board of Directors considers many factors. Each of the positions of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company are held by Mr. Allott. Our Board of Directors believes that at this time our Company and its stockholders are best served by this leadership structure. Our Board of Directors has determined that at this time our Chief Executive Officer is the person best suited to serve as our Chairman of the Board because of his long leadership tenure with the Company and his extensive experience in the packaging industry. Our Board of Directors also believes that Mr. Allott is the most capable in effectively identifying strategic priorities and opportunities for the Company and leading the Board of Directors in the discussion of such priorities and opportunities and the execution of the Company’s strategy. Although the Company does not have a lead Director, as part of each regularly scheduled quarterly meeting of our Board of Directors, our non-management Directors meet without the presence of management. These meetings allow our non-management Directors to discuss matters involving the Company without the presence of any member of management. Additionally, at each

 

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regularly scheduled quarterly meeting of our Board of Directors, our independent Directors meet without the presence of management or inside directors, allowing our independent Directors to discuss matters involving the Company without the presence of management or any inside director.

Committees of the Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors has two standing committees. The principal responsibilities of each of the standing committees and the members of such committees are set forth below.

1. Audit Committee. The Audit Committee has the responsibility of overseeing the Company’s financial reporting process on behalf of our Board of Directors. The functions performed by the Audit Committee are described in the section of this Proxy Statement titled “Report of the Audit Committee.” During 2019, the Audit Committee held eight meetings and acted by written consent two times. The Audit Committee currently consists of Messrs. Jordan, Abramson, Alden, Donovan and Lich and Ms. Fields, each of whom our Board of Directors has determined is independent as required by the written charter of the Audit Committee, the applicable listing standards of the Nasdaq Stock Market and the applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC. All of our “independent directors” are members of the Audit Committee. Mr. Jordan has been the Chairperson of the Audit Committee since June 2019. Mr. Jennings was a member of the Audit Committee and Chairperson of the Audit Committee until his retirement from our Board of Directors on June 12, 2019. Ms. Fields was appointed as a member of the Audit Committee in July 2019 upon her appointment as a Director of the Company, and Mr. Lich was appointed as a member of the Audit Committee in October 2019 upon his appointment as a Director of the Company. The Board of Directors has determined that each of Messrs. Jordan, Jennings, Abramson and Donovan meets the criteria of an “audit committee financial expert” under applicable rules of the SEC. Mr. Jordan’s extensive background and experience includes serving as a financial services partner at KPMG and as a partner in KPMG’s Department of Professional Practice specializing in SEC and PCAOB matters involving auditor independence and other regulatory matters. Mr. Jennings’ extensive background and experience includes leading the risk management and internal control consulting practice of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, serving as senior audit partner at Coopers & Lybrand and serving as Chief Financial Officer of Bankers Trust Company. Mr. Abramson’s extensive experience includes evaluating and analyzing financial statements and serving on various audit committees and performing functions of an audit committee for various companies. Mr. Donovan’s extensive background and experience includes serving as a principal financial officer of a public company and actively supervising a principal financial officer of a public company.

2. Compensation Committee. Pursuant to its written charter, the Compensation Committee has the responsibility of reviewing and approving matters relating to the compensation of executive officers of the Company, as further described in the section of this Proxy Statement titled “Executive Compensation.” In addition, pursuant to the terms of the Silgan Holdings Inc. Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended, or the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, the Compensation Committee is responsible for administering the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, making awards and grants under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan to officers and other key employees of the Company and its subsidiaries and setting performance goals and confirming performance levels in respect of performance awards made under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan. Historically, the Compensation Committee in its discretion has periodically consulted with outside consultants for certain matters regarding director and executive officer compensation. The Compensation Committee engaged Meridian Compensation Partners, LLC, a compensation consultant, on matters relating to director and executive compensation in 2018, which engagement resulted in certain changes to the compensation of our Directors that went into effect in 2019. The Compensation Committee continued its engagement of Meridian Compensation Partners, LLC in 2019 for certain limited matters. The compensation consultant reports to the Compensation Committee rather than to management of the Company, although the compensation consultant may meet with management periodically to gather information as needed as requested by the Compensation Committee. The compensation consultant does not provide services to management of the Company. In selecting the compensation consultant, the Compensation Committee considered factors relevant to the compensation

 

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consultant’s independence, including the factors set forth in applicable rules of the SEC. In considering these independence factors, the Compensation Committee determined that the services provided by Meridian Compensation Partners, LLC in 2019 did not raise any conflicts of interest or independence issues.

The Compensation Committee held three meetings and acted by written consent once during 2019. The Compensation Committee currently consists of Messrs. Alden, Abramson, Donovan, Jordan and Lich and Ms. Fields, each of whom is an “independent director” as required by the written charter of the Compensation Committee and the applicable listing standards of the Nasdaq Stock Market. All of our “independent directors” are members of the Compensation Committee. Mr. Alden is the Chairperson of the Compensation Committee. Ms. Fields was appointed as a member of the Compensation Committee in July 2019 upon her appointment as a Director of the Company, and Mr. Lich was appointed as a member of the Compensation Committee in October 2019 upon his appointment as a Director of the Company. Mr. Jennings served as a member of the Compensation Committee until his retirement from our Board of Directors on June 12, 2019.

In November 2001, the Company and Messrs. Silver and Horrigan, our Co-Chairmen of the Board, entered into the Stockholders Agreement, which had amended and replaced previous stockholders and organization agreements. You should read the section in this Proxy Statement titled “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions—Stockholders Agreement” for a description of the material terms of the Stockholders Agreement. Under the Stockholders Agreement, the Group (as defined in the Stockholders Agreement and generally including Messrs. Silver and Horrigan and their affiliates, family members, trusts and estates) has the contractual right to nominate for election all directors of the Company so long as the Group holds an aggregate of at least 28,612,360 shares of our Common Stock (as adjusted for the stock splits effected on September 15, 2005, May 3, 2010 and May 26, 2017). As of the date of this Proxy Statement, the Group held more than 28,612,360 shares of our Common Stock. In the very unlikely event that either of Messrs. Silver or Horrigan notifies our Board of Directors that the Group cannot agree on an individual for any nominee for director or if at least 45 days prior to our annual meeting of stockholders the Group fails to nominate for election at such annual meeting the requisite number of individuals to stand for election, then our Board of Directors has the right to nominate for director the number of individuals that the Group could not agree on as nominees or failed to nominate timely.

Accordingly, our Board of Directors does not have a nominating committee because the right to nominate all directors has been contractually granted to the Group, and our Board of Directors deems it very unlikely at this time that they would have to nominate for election any director. As a result, the Company does not have a nominating committee charter, does not have a policy to consider director candidates recommended by stockholders, does not have a policy regarding the composition or diversity of our Board of Directors and does not have a process for identifying or evaluating nominees for director. The nominees for Class II Director of the Company to be elected at the Meeting were nominated by the Group pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement.

Stockholder Communications with the Board of Directors

The Company’s Board of Directors has a formal process for security holders to send communications to it. Security holders may send written communications addressed to the Board of Directors or to any specified Director of the Company by mail to the Company’s office in Stamford, Connecticut. If the Company receives at its office in Stamford, Connecticut any such written communications, the Company will forward such written communications directly to all members of the Board of Directors or to such specified Director of the Company, as the case may be, as appropriate.

 

8


COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS

In 2019, our Directors (including any non-executive Chairman of the Board) who did not receive compensation as an officer or employee of the Company or any of its affiliates were paid as follows:

 

   

an annual retainer of $90,000 for service on our Board of Directors, plus reimbursement for business related travel and other reasonable out-of-pocket expenses;

 

   

an annual retainer fee of $50,000 for service as a Chairman of the Board for any non-executive Chairman of the Board;

 

   

an annual retainer fee of $12,000 for service on the Audit Committee for each member of the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors;

 

   

an annual retainer fee of $5,000 for service on the Compensation Committee for each member of the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors; and

 

   

an annual retainer fee of $10,000 for service as a chairperson for each chairperson of the Audit and Compensation Committees of our Board of Directors.

Additionally, each of our Directors who did not receive compensation as an officer or employee of the Company or any of its affiliates received an annual equity based director award pursuant to the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan on the first business day after our annual meeting of stockholders, having an aggregate fair market value of $110,000 as of the date of grant. For any Director elected to our Board of Directors subsequent to the annual meeting of stockholders of the Company in a particular year, such Director was also granted, on the first business day after the next annual meeting of stockholders of the Company, an additional equity based director award pursuant to the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan equal to a pro rata amount (based on the number of days that such Director served as a Director of the Company during the period from the last annual meeting of stockholders of the Company to and including the next annual meeting of stockholders of the Company) of the annual equity based director award granted to Directors following the annual meeting of the stockholders of the Company in such particular year. The equity based director awards are made in the form of restricted shares of our Common Stock or restricted stock units related to shares of our Common Stock, in the discretion of the Board of Directors, under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan.

Mr. Allott, who is an officer and an employee of the Company, does not receive any annual retainer or meeting fees or any director awards under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan.

 

9


The following table provides information concerning the compensation of Directors of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.

Director Compensation

 

    (a)    

      (b)   (c)   (d)   (e)   (f)   (g)   (h)

Name

      Fees
Earned or
Paid in
Cash($)(1)
  Stock
Awards($)(2)
  Option
Awards($)
  Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation($)
  Change in
Pension
Value  and
Non-qualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings($)
  All Other
Compensation($)(3)
  Total($)
                 

Anthony J. Allott

  $           0   $           0   $0   $0   $0   $         0   $           0

Leigh J. Abramson(4)

  $107,000   $192,206   $0   $0   $0   $         0   $299,206

John W. Alden(4)

  $117,000   $109,986   $0   $0   $0   $  1,359   $228,345

William T. Donovan(4)

  $107,000   $109,986   $0   $0   $0   $  1,359   $218,345

Kimberly A. Fields(4)(5)

  $  53,500   $           0   $0   $0   $0   $         0   $  53,500

D. Greg Horrigan(4)

  $102,500   $109,986   $0   $0   $0   $12,259   $224,745

William C. Jennings(4)(5)

  $  52,714   $           0   $0   $0   $0   $  3,659   $  56,373

Joseph M. Jordan(4)

  $112,495   $109,986   $0   $0   $0   $  1,359   $223,840

Brad A. Lich(4)(5)

  $  26,750   $           0   $0   $0   $0   $         0   $  26,750

R. Philip Silver(4)

  $102,500   $109,986   $0   $0   $0   $  1,359   $213,845

 

(1)

For each of Messrs. Abramson, Alden, Donovan, Jennings, Jordan and Lich and Ms. Fields, the amount in column (b) represents the amount paid to such person for services in 2019 as a Director and on committees of the Board of Directors as described above. For each of Messrs. Silver and Horrigan, the amount in column (b) represents the amount paid to such person for services in 2019 as a Director and, until April 1, 2019, as non-executive Co-Chairman of the Board as described above.

 

(2)

For each of Messrs. Abramson, Alden, Donovan, Horrigan, Jordan and Silver, the amount in column (c) reflects the grant date fair value of 3,676 restricted stock units (representing the right to receive 3,676 shares of Common Stock upon vesting) granted on June 13, 2019 pursuant to and under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan. For Mr. Abramson, who was appointed as a Director of the Company subsequent to the annual meeting of stockholders of the Company in 2018, the amount in column (c) also reflects the grant date fair value of an additional 2,748 restricted stock units (representing the right to receive 2,748 shares of Common Stock upon vesting) granted to him on June 13, 2019 pursuant to and under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan and as described above. These additional restricted stock units granted to Mr. Abramson reflect the pro rata amount of the annual equity based director award granted to Directors in 2018, based on the number of days that Mr. Abramson served as a Director of the Company following the annual meeting of stockholders of the Company in 2018 to and including the annual meeting of stockholders of the Company in 2019. All of these restricted stock units vest in a single installment on the date of the following annual meeting of stockholders of the Company. The grant date fair value of such restricted stock units was calculated by multiplying the average of the high and low sales prices of a share of our Common Stock on June 13, 2019 by such number of restricted stock units, in accordance with the provisions of the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation (“FASB ASC Topic 718”).

 

(3)

For each of Messrs. Alden, Donovan, Jordan and Silver, the amount in column (g) consists of dividend equivalents of $1,359 paid on unvested restricted stock units upon their vesting. For Mr. Horrigan, the amount in column (g) consists of dividend equivalents of $1,359 paid on unvested restricted stock units upon their vesting and dividend equivalents of $10,900 paid on restricted stock units that had vested but for which receipt of the underlying shares of Common Stock had been deferred. For Mr. Jennings, the amount in column (g) consists of dividend equivalents of $1,359 paid on unvested restricted stock units upon their

 

10


  vesting and dividend equivalents of $2,300 paid on restricted stock units that had vested but for which receipt of the underlying shares of Common Stock had been deferred.

 

(4)

The aggregate number of outstanding restricted stock units held by each of our non-employee Directors as of December 31, 2019 is as follows:

Mr. Abramson – 6,424 unvested restricted stock units

Mr. Alden – 3,676 unvested restricted stock units

Mr. Donovan – 3,676 unvested restricted stock units

Ms. Fields – 0 outstanding restricted stock units

Mr. Horrigan – 3,676 unvested restricted stock units and 25,273 vested but deferred restricted stock units

Mr. Jordan – 3,676 unvested restricted stock units

Mr. Lich – 0 outstanding restricted stock units

Mr. Silver – 3,676 unvested restricted stock units

There were no outstanding stock options held by any of our non-employee Directors as of December 31, 2019.

 

(5)

Mr. Jennings served as a Director of the Company until his retirement on June 12, 2019. Ms. Fields was appointed a Director of the Company and a member of the Audit and the Compensation Committees of the Board of Directors on July 1, 2019. Mr. Lich was appointed a Director of the Company and a member of the Audit and the Compensation Committees of the Board of Directors on October 1, 2019.

 

11


EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Our Board of Directors appoints the officers of the Company. The officers of our subsidiaries are appointed by the respective boards of directors of our subsidiaries. We provide below certain information concerning the current executive officers of the Company, including each individual’s age (as of December 31, 2019). Information concerning Mr. Allott, our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, is set forth in the section of this Proxy Statement titled “Election of Director.” There are no family relationships among any of the directors or executive officers of the Company.

Adam J. Greenlee, age 46, has been our President since April 2019 and our Chief Operating Officer since August 2009. From October 2007 through March 2019, Mr. Greenlee was an Executive Vice President of the Company. From January 2006 until October 2007, Mr. Greenlee was President of the North American operations of Silgan White Cap, and he was Executive Vice President of the North American operations of Silgan White Cap from March 2005 until January 2006. Prior to that, Mr. Greenlee was Vice President & General Manager of ATI Allegheny Rodney from January 2003 through February 2005 and its Director of Marketing from February 2001 until January 2003.

Robert B. Lewis, age 55, has been our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since August 2004. Previously, Mr. Lewis was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Velocity Express Inc. from January 2004 until August 2004. From December 2000 until December 2003, Mr. Lewis held a series of senior executive positions at Moore Corporation Limited, initially as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and later as President of Business Communication Services, an operating division of Moore Corporation Limited. Prior to joining Moore Corporation Limited, Mr. Lewis served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Walter Industries, Inc. and World Color Press, Inc. and in various senior financial management roles at L.P. Thebault, a U.S. based commercial printer.

Frank W. Hogan, III, age 59, has been our Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary since June 2002. From June 1997 until June 2002, Mr. Hogan was our Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary. From September 1995 until June 1997, Mr. Hogan was a partner at the law firm of Winthrop, Stimson, Putnam & Roberts (now Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP). From April 1988 to September 1995, Mr. Hogan was an associate at that firm.

B. Frederik Prinzen, age 61, has been our Senior Vice President, Corporate Development since February 2014. From July 2008 until February 2014, Mr. Prinzen was our Vice President, Corporate Development. Previously, Mr. Prinzen was Chief Operating Officer of Alcan Pharmaceutical Packaging – Americas, a division of Alcan, Inc. Prior to that, Mr. Prinzen held various management positions with Shorewood Packaging Corporation, a subsidiary of International Paper Company, since 1993, last serving as Senior Vice President, Consumer Products Business and Senior Vice President, Manufacturing. Mr. Prinzen began his career in the consumer goods packaging industry with Paperboard Industries Corporation in 1987.

Anthony P. Andreacchi, age 56, has been our Vice President, Tax since July 2006. Prior to that, Mr. Andreacchi served as Director of Taxes – U.S. for Ingersoll-Rand Company since February 2003. Previously, Mr. Andreacchi held various positions in the tax department of Ingersoll-Rand Company since 1991, and served as International Tax Counsel of Xerox Corporation in 2002. He began his career as an associate at the law firm of LeBoeuf, Lamb, Leiby & MacRae in 1987.

Kimberly I. Ulmer, age 52, has been our Vice President, Finance and Treasurer since January 2018. From March 2006 until January 2018, Ms. Ulmer was our Vice President and Controller. Previously, Ms. Ulmer was our Controller since September 2004. From May 2003 until September 2004, Ms. Ulmer was Controller, Accounting Policies and Compliance for General Electric Vendor Financial Services, a unit of General Electric Capital Corporation. Prior to that, Ms. Ulmer was employed by Quebecor World Inc. (formerly World Color Press, Inc.) from August 1997 until April 2003, last serving as Vice President, Assistant Controller.

 

12


Thomas J. Snyder, age 53, has been President of Silgan Containers, our U.S. metal container operations, since October 2007. Prior to that, Mr. Snyder was Executive Vice President of Silgan Containers from July 2006 until October 2007 and Vice President – Sales & Marketing of Silgan Containers from July 2002 until July 2006. Mr. Snyder was Director of Sales of Silgan Containers from May 2000 until July 2002 and a National Account Manager for Silgan Containers from May 1993 until May 2000.

Code of Ethics

Our Board of Directors has adopted a Code of Ethics applicable to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer or controller in order to deter wrongdoing and to promote the conduct of the Company’s business in an honest, lawful and ethical manner. A copy of this Code of Ethics was filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003.

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

Stockholders Agreement

In November 2001, Messrs. Silver and Horrigan and the Company entered into the Stockholders Agreement. The Stockholders Agreement amended and replaced in its entirety a previous stockholders agreement entered into among Messrs. Silver and Horrigan, the Company and the other parties thereto at the time of the initial public offering of shares of Common Stock of the Company on February 14, 1997. Such previous stockholders agreement had replaced prior organization and stockholders agreements entered into in December 1993 among the Company, Messrs. Silver and Horrigan and the other parties thereto, which prior agreements had replaced an organization agreement among the Company and the founding stockholders of the Company, including Messrs. Silver and Horrigan, entered into in June 1989.

Under the Stockholders Agreement, the Group (as defined in the Stockholders Agreement and generally including Messrs. Silver and Horrigan and their affiliates and related family transferees and estates) has the right to nominate for election all directors of the Company until the Group holds less than one-half of the number of shares of our Common Stock held by it in the aggregate on February 14, 1997. At least one of the Group’s nominees must be either Mr. Silver or Mr. Horrigan during the three year period covering the staggered terms of our three classes of directors. On February 14, 1997, the Group held 57,224,720 shares of our Common Stock in the aggregate (as adjusted for the stock splits effected on September 15, 2005, May 3, 2010 and May 26, 2017), and, as of the date of this Proxy Statement, the Group held more than one-half of such number of shares of our Common Stock. Additionally, the Group has the right to nominate for election either Mr. Silver or Mr. Horrigan as a member of our Board of Directors when the Group no longer holds at least one-half of the number of shares of our Common Stock held by it in the aggregate on February 14, 1997 but beneficially owns at least 5% of our Common Stock. The Stockholders Agreement continues until the death or disability of both of Messrs. Silver and Horrigan.

If either Mr. Silver or Mr. Horrigan notifies our Board of Directors that the Group cannot agree on an individual for any of its nominees under the Stockholders Agreement or if at least 45 days prior to our annual meeting of stockholders the Group fails to nominate for election at such annual meeting the requisite number of individuals to stand for election to our Board of Directors at such annual meeting, then our Board of Directors has the right to nominate for election to our Board of Directors the number of individuals that the Group could not agree on as nominees or that the Group failed to nominate timely.

The provisions of the Stockholders Agreement could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control of the Company and preventing our stockholders from receiving a premium for their shares of our Common Stock in any proposed acquisition of the Company.

 

13


Review, Approval or Ratification of Transactions with Related Persons

Pursuant to its written charter, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company is required to approve any related party transactions that are required to be disclosed under applicable securities rules. In evaluating any such proposed reportable transaction, the Audit Committee will consider the specific facts and circumstances of each transaction, which facts and circumstances will include the related person’s interest in the transaction, whether the transaction is being negotiated on an arm’s length basis, whether the terms of the transaction are fair to the Company and whether the terms of the transaction with the related person are no less favorable to the Company than could be obtained with a non-related third party under similar circumstances.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION

In 2019, the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors consisted of Messrs. Alden, Abramson, Jennings (until his retirement on June 12, 2019), Jordan, Donovan and Lich (as of October 1, 2019) and Ms. Fields (as of July 1, 2019), none of whom was an officer, former officer or employee of the Company. During 2019, none of our executive officers served as: (i) a member of the compensation committee (or other board committee performing equivalent functions or, in the absence of any such committee, the entire board of directors) of another entity, one of whose executive officers served on the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors, (ii) a director of another entity, one of whose executive officers served on the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors, or (iii) a member of the compensation committee (or other board committee performing equivalent functions or, in the absence of any such committee, the entire board of directors) of another entity, one of whose executive officers served on our Board of Directors.

 

14


SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

In the table below, we provide information, as of the Record Date, with respect to the beneficial ownership of our Common Stock by (i) each current director and each Named Executive Officer (as defined in the section of this Proxy Statement titled “Executive Compensation—Compensation Discussion and Analysis”) of the Company, (ii) each person or entity who is known by the Company to own beneficially more than 5% of our Common Stock and (iii) by all current executive officers and directors of the Company as a group. Except as otherwise described below, each of the persons named in the table below has sole voting and investment power with respect to the securities beneficially owned.

 

    Number of Shares of
Common Stock Owned
  Percentage Ownership
of Common Stock(1)
     

Anthony J. Allott(2)

      709,711           *        

Leigh J. Abramson(3)

      13,924           *        

John W. Alden(4)

      67,331           *        

William T. Donovan(5)

      11,911           *        

Kimberly A. Fields (6)

      0           *        

D. Greg Horrigan(7)

      14,220,468       12.82%  

Joseph M. Jordan(8)

      20,603           *        

Brad A. Lich (9)

      0           *        

R. Philip Silver(10)

      17,062,709       15.39%  

Adam J. Greenlee(11)

      39,741           *        

Robert B. Lewis(12)

      174,928           *        

Frank W. Hogan, III(13)

      176,304           *        

Thomas J. Snyder(14)

      24,061           *      

All current executive officers and directors as a group (16 persons)(15)

      32,564,298       29.37%  

The Vanguard Group(16)

      8,395,646       7.57%  

JPMorgan Chase & Co.(17)

      7,381,356       6.66%  

BlackRock, Inc.(18)

      7,264,327       6.55%  

 

(1)

An asterisk denotes beneficial ownership of 1% or less of our Common Stock.

 

(2)

Mr. Allott is a Director of the Company. The number of shares of our Common Stock owned by Mr. Allott consists of 709,711 shares of our Common Stock owned by him.

 

(3)

Mr. Abramson is a Director of the Company. The number of shares of our Common Stock owned by Mr. Abramson consists of 7,500 shares of our Common Stock owned by him and 6,424 shares of our Common Stock that will be issuable to him for restricted stock units granted to him pursuant to the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan that will vest within 60 days after the Record Date.

 

(4)

Mr. Alden is a Director of the Company. The number of shares of our Common Stock owned by Mr. Alden consists of 63,655 shares of our Common Stock owned by him and 3,676 shares of our Common Stock that will be issuable to him for restricted stock units granted to him pursuant to the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan that will vest within 60 days after the Record Date.

 

(5)

Mr. Donovan is a Director of the Company. The number of shares of our Common Stock owned by Mr. Donovan consists of 8,235 shares of our Common Stock owned by him and 3,676 shares of our Common Stock that will be issuable to him for restricted stock units granted to him pursuant to the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan that will vest within 60 days after the Record Date.

 

(6)

Ms. Fields is a Director of the Company.

 

(7)

Mr. Horrigan is a Director of the Company. The amount beneficially owned by Mr. Horrigan consists of 9,035,421 shares of our Common Stock owned directly by him and over which he has sole voting and dispositive power, 1,529,045 shares of our Common Stock owned by a grantor retained annuity trust of

 

15


  which he is the sole trustee with sole voting and dispositive power, 1,279,763 shares of our Common Stock owned by a grantor retained annuity trust of which he and his spouse are co-trustees with shared voting and dispositive power, 1,233,584 shares of our Common Stock owned by the Horrigan Family Limited Partnership of which he is the sole general partner with sole voting and dispositive power, 1,079,072 shares of our Common Stock owned by a family trust (of which his spouse is a trustee) over which he may be deemed to have shared voting and dispositive power, 34,634 shares of our Common Stock owned by a family trust of which he is the trustee with sole voting and dispositive power, 25,273 shares of our Common Stock that are issuable to him for vested restricted stock units granted to him pursuant to the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan for which he has deferred receipt and 3,676 shares of our Common Stock that will be issuable to him for restricted stock units granted to him pursuant to the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan that will vest within 60 days after the Record Date for which he has deferred receipt. The address for Mr. Horrigan is 4 Landmark Square, Stamford, Connecticut 06901.

 

(8)

Mr. Jordan is a Director of the Company. The number of shares of our Common Stock owned by Mr. Jordan consists of 16,927 shares of our Common Stock owned by him and 3,676 shares of our Common Stock that will be issuable to him for restricted stock units granted to him pursuant to the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan that will vest within 60 days after the Record Date.

 

(9)

Mr. Lich is a Director of the Company.

 

(10)

Mr. Silver is a Director of the Company. The amount beneficially owned by Mr. Silver consists of 51,515 shares of our Common Stock owned directly by him over which he has sole voting and dispositive power, 12,144,274 shares of our Common Stock owned by a family revocable trust of which he is the trustee with sole voting and dispositive power, 369,088 shares of our Common Stock owned by family trusts of which he is the investment trustee with sole voting and dispositive power, 4,494,156 shares of our Common Stock owned by a family trust (of which his spouse is a trustee) over which he may be deemed to have shared voting and dispositive power and 3,676 shares of our Common Stock that will be issuable to him for restricted stock units granted to him pursuant to the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan that will vest within 60 days after the Record Date. The address for Mr. Silver is 4 Landmark Square, Stamford, Connecticut 06901.

 

(11)

The number of shares of our Common Stock owned by Mr. Greenlee consists of 39,741 shares of our Common Stock owned by him.

 

(12)

The number of shares of our Common Stock owned by Mr. Lewis consists of 174,928 shares of our Common Stock owned by him.

 

(13)

The number of shares of our Common Stock owned by Mr. Hogan consists of 176,304 shares of our Common Stock owned by him.

 

(14)

The number of shares of our Common Stock owned by Mr. Snyder consists of 24,061 shares of our Common Stock owned by him.

 

(15)

The number of shares of our Common Stock owned by all current executive officers and directors of the Company as a group includes 50,077 shares of our Common Stock that are issuable related to (i) vested restricted stock units granted pursuant to the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan for which receipt has been deferred and (ii) restricted stock units granted pursuant to the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan that will vest within 60 days after the Record Date.

 

(16)

All information regarding The Vanguard Group is based solely upon the Amendment No. 4 to Schedule 13G filed by The Vanguard Group with the SEC on February 12, 2020 on behalf of itself and certain of its wholly owned subsidiaries, reporting beneficial ownership as of December 31, 2019. The Vanguard Group reported that it, along with certain of its wholly owned subsidiaries, (i) is the beneficial owner of 8,395,646 shares of our Common Stock, (ii) has sole power to vote or direct the vote for 40,319 shares of our Common Stock, (iii) has shared power to vote or direct the vote for 12,583 shares of our Common Stock, (iv) has sole power to dispose or direct the disposition of 8,353,216 shares of our Common Stock and (v) has shared

 

16


  power to dispose or direct the disposition of 42,430 shares of our Common Stock. The business address for The Vanguard Group is 100 Vanguard Boulevard, Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355, as reported in its Amendment No. 4 to Schedule 13G.

 

(17)

All information regarding JPMorgan Chase & Co. is based solely upon Amendment No. 9 to Schedule 13G filed by JPMorgan Chase & Co. with the SEC on January 21, 2020 on behalf of itself and certain of its subsidiaries, reporting beneficial ownership as of December 31, 2019. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reported that it, along with certain of its subsidiaries and affiliates, (i) is the beneficial owner of 7,381,356 shares of our Common Stock, (ii) has sole power to vote or direct the vote for 7,165,032 shares of our Common Stock, (iii) has sole power to dispose or direct the disposition of 7,375,403 shares of our Common Stock and (iv) has shared power to dispose or direct the disposition of 1,509 shares of our Common Stock. The business address for JPMorgan Chase & Co. is 383 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10179, as reported in its Amendment No. 9 to Schedule 13G.

 

(18)

All information regarding BlackRock, Inc. is based solely upon the Amendment No. 3 to Schedule 13G filed by BlackRock, Inc. with the SEC on February 6, 2020 on behalf of itself and certain of its subsidiaries, reporting beneficial ownership as of December 31, 2019. BlackRock, Inc. reported that it, along with certain of its subsidiaries, (i) is the beneficial owner of 7,264,327 shares of our Common Stock, (ii) has the sole power to vote or direct the vote for 6,925,520 shares of our Common Stock and (iii) has sole power to dispose or direct the disposition of 7,264,327 shares of our Common Stock. The business address for BlackRock, Inc. is 55 East 52nd Street, New York, New York 10055, as reported in its Amendment No. 3 to Schedule 13G.

 

17


EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

In the table below, we provide information about equity securities of the Company authorized for issuance under all of the Company’s equity compensation plans. The information is as of December 31, 2019.

 

      (a)   (b)    (c)

Plan Category

   Number of securities to
be issued upon exercise
of outstanding  options,
warrants and rights(1)
  Weighted average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants and  rights(2)
   Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance  under
equity compensation
plans (excluding securities
reflected in column (a))
       

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

       1,974,575 (3)             —              4,378,990 (4)

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

           —                   —                    —      
    

 

 

     

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total

       1,974,575             —              4,378,990

 

(1)

This column contains information regarding restricted stock units that represent the right to receive our Common Stock only. We do not have any options, warrants or other rights outstanding.

 

(2)

Our outstanding restricted stock units do not have any exercise price. We do not have any options, warrants or other rights outstanding.

 

(3)

This amount consists of restricted stock units that represent the right to receive 1,974,575 shares of our Common Stock granted under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan.

 

(4)

This amount consists of awards related to shares of our Common Stock available for future issuance under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan. As of the date hereof, there are 4,167,720 shares of our Common Stock available for future issuance under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan. In accordance with the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, each award of stock options reduces the number of shares of our Common Stock available for future issuance under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan by the same number of shares of our Common Stock subject to the award, while each award of restricted stock or restricted stock units reduces the number of shares of our Common Stock available for future issuances under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan by two shares for every one restricted share or restricted stock unit awarded.

 

18


EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

General

In this section of this Proxy Statement, we discuss the compensation for our executive officers, and we describe how we compensated each of our Chief Executive Officer, our Chief Financial Officer and our three other most highly compensated executive officers in 2019 based on total compensation, or, collectively, our Named Executive Officers. Our Named Executive Officers for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 were:

 

   

Anthony J. Allott, our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer;

 

   

Adam J. Greenlee, our President and Chief Operating Officer;

 

   

Robert B. Lewis, our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer;

 

   

Frank W. Hogan, III, our Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary; and

 

   

Thomas J. Snyder, President of Silgan Containers.

On April 1, 2019, Mr. Allott was appointed our Chairman of the Board, and he continued to serve as our Chief Executive Officer. Additionally, on April 1, 2019, Mr. Greenlee was appointed our President, and he continued to serve as our Chief Operating Officer.

Compensation Committee

The Compensation Committee is governed by a written charter approved by the Board of Directors of the Company. A copy of the written charter of the Compensation Committee is included in this Proxy Statement as Appendix A. Pursuant to the Compensation Committee’s written charter, the Board of Directors of the Company has empowered the Compensation Committee to review and approve matters relating to the compensation of executive officers of the Company. Pursuant to its charter, the Compensation Committee is also responsible for administering the Company’s equity compensation plans in which any executive officer of the Company participates (including the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan), including making awards and grants under such plans, setting performance goals for awards and grants as applicable under such plans, confirming performance levels as applicable in respect of performance awards made under such plans and interpreting and prescribing rules for administering such plans. The Compensation Committee also oversees and monitors the Company’s compensation policies, practices and programs for executive officers of the Company in light of the compensation philosophy and objectives of the Company.

As required by its charter, the Compensation Committee must review and consider the outcome of any advisory vote of the stockholders of the Company at an annual meeting of stockholders regarding the compensation of the named executive officers of the Company. In addition, the Compensation Committee is required to review and assess the adequacy of its charter annually and recommend any proposed changes to its charter to the Board of Directors of the Company. In carrying out its responsibilities, the Compensation Committee has the authority, in its sole discretion, to retain and obtain advice of compensation consultants, legal counsel and other advisers, and the Company is required to provide funding therefor.

The Compensation Committee is currently comprised of six members, John W. Alden, Leigh J. Abramson, William T. Donovan, Kimberly A. Fields, Joseph M. Jordan and Brad A. Lich. Mr. Alden is the Chairperson of the Compensation Committee. As required by its charter, all members of the Compensation Committee are (i) “independent directors” as required under the applicable rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market, (ii) “outside directors” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, and (iii) “non-employee directors” for purposes of Rule 16b-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act.

 

19


In accordance with its charter, the Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed with the Company’s management this Compensation Discussion and Analysis and has recommended to the Board of Directors of the Company that this Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement. The Compensation Committee has also reviewed and approved the Compensation Committee Report included in this Proxy Statement as required by its charter.

Compensation Philosophy

The Compensation Committee strives to establish a compensation program for the executive officers of the Company that meets the following objectives:

 

  1.

attracts and retains executive officers and provides fair compensation, taking into account responsibilities and the employment markets in which the Company and its subsidiaries compete;

 

  2.

rewards executive officers for achieving the Company’s short-term business goals and long-term creation of stockholder value while at the same time not encouraging excessive risk taking; and

 

  3.

aligns the interests of the Company’s executive officers and stockholders.

The components of the compensation program for all executive officers of the Company are base salary, annual cash incentive bonus and equity-based compensation consisting primarily of restricted stock units and performance awards of restricted stock units. The Compensation Committee believes that restricted stock units foster more balanced risk taking because they are more closely linked to direct ownership of stock than other forms of equity-based compensation. By including a combination of cash and at-risk equity compensation, the Compensation Committee believes that the Company’s executive compensation program is consistent with its business strategy and does not encourage its executive officers to take excessive risks that might threaten the long-term value of the Company. In addition, executive officers of the Company other than the Chief Executive Officer, or CEO, President, and Chief Financial Officer, or CFO, receive other benefits typically provided to officers (such as retirement benefits and medical benefits), as further described below in “—Retirement and Other Benefits.”

2019 Advisory Vote on Compensation of Named Executive Officers

At our annual meeting of stockholders in 2019, pursuant to an advisory vote our stockholders overwhelmingly approved the compensation provided to our Named Executive Officers in 2018, with approximately 97.8% of the votes cast approving such compensation. The Compensation Committee reviewed and considered the results of the advisory vote of our stockholders in 2019 on the compensation of our Named Executive Officers and did not implement any changes as a result of such advisory vote of our stockholders.

Base Salary

The Compensation Committee endeavors to set base salaries for executive officers that enable the Company to attract and retain such officers and provide fair compensation taking into account relevant employment markets. The base salary for an individual executive officer is targeted such that the total compensation for such person is at a competitive level for individuals with similar responsibilities at manufacturing companies of a similar size, including packaging related companies.

Generally, each executive officer’s salary is reviewed on an annual basis by the Compensation Committee and may be adjusted based on:

 

  (i)

a general increase associated with inflation in the cost of living;

 

  (ii)

a change in the individual’s responsibilities; and

 

  (iii)

changes in competitive pay levels.

 

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In making such determinations for our Named Executive Officers, the Compensation Committee has generally reviewed publicly available compensation data including from the following manufacturing companies: AptarGroup, Inc.; Avery Dennison Corporation; Ball Corporation; Berry Global Group, Inc.; Clearwater Paper Corporation; Crown Holdings, Inc.; Domtar Corporation; Graphic Packaging Holding Company; Greif, Inc.; Owens-Illinois, Inc.; P.H. Glatfelter Company; Packaging Corporation of America; Sealed Air Corporation; Sonoco Products Company; and Verso Corporation. Although the Compensation Committee does not use benchmarking to determine any element of compensation, the Compensation Committee believes that it is important from time to time to review compensation information from other appropriate companies to gain a general understanding of the competitiveness of the Company’s compensation program. For all other executive officers of the Company, the Compensation Committee reviews recommendations of the CEO of the Company and other information available to the Compensation Committee. For 2019, the salaries of each of Messrs. Allott and Greenlee were increased based on a general increase associated with inflation in the cost of living and as a result of their promotions in April 2019 to Chairman of the Board and President, respectively; the salaries of each of Messrs. Lewis and Snyder were increased based on a general increase associated with inflation in the cost of living; and the salary of Mr. Hogan was increased based on a general increase associated with inflation in the cost of living and based on competitive pay levels.

Annual Cash Bonuses under Incentive Programs

All executive officers of the Company are eligible to receive annual cash bonuses, which are provided to enable the Company to attract and retain such officers and provide fair compensation taking into account responsibilities and relevant employment markets. Additionally, the Compensation Committee uses annual cash bonuses to reward executive officers for achieving the Company’s financial and non-financial goals. Executive officers of the Company are eligible for an annual cash bonus based on a percentage of their annual base salary that is determined generally based on the person’s responsibilities. In addition, the Compensation Committee may provide an executive officer with a cash bonus for a special assignment or in extraordinary circumstances where warranted.

 

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The table below sets forth summary information for 2019 for our Named Executive Officers with regard to the incentive plan or program in which such individual participated, the bonus range, target bonus award and maximum bonus award as a percentage of salary for each such individual, the actual bonus award for each such individual and the actual bonus award as a percentage of salary for each such individual.

2019 Annual Cash Bonuses under Incentive Programs

 

Name

 

Name of Plan
or Program

  Bonus Range
as a
% of Salary
  Target
Bonus
Award
as a % of
Salary
  Maximum
Bonus
Award
as a % of
Salary
  Actual
Bonus
Award
($)
  Actual
Bonus
Award as a
% of Salary
             

Anthony J. Allott

  Senior Executive   0% - 100%   100%   100%   $1,135,260       100%  

(Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer)

  Performance Plan            

Adam J. Greenlee

  Holdings Executive   0% - 60%   60%   60%   $   411,687       60%  

(President and Chief
Operating Officer)

  Officer Program            

Robert B. Lewis

  Holdings Executive   0% - 60%   60%   60%   $   391,687       60%  

(Executive Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer)

  Officer Program            

Frank W. Hogan, III

  Holdings Executive   0% - 60%   60%   60%   $   300,000       60%  

(Senior Vice President, General
Counsel and Secretary)

  Officer Program            

Thomas J. Snyder

  Incentive program   0% - 60%   30%   60%   $   207,258       30.41%  

(President of Silgan Containers)

  for our U.S. metal
container operations
           

Annual cash bonuses are paid to Mr. Allott under the Company’s Senior Executive Performance Plan, as amended, or the Senior Executive Performance Plan. Currently, Mr. Allott is the only participant in the Senior Executive Performance Plan. Pursuant to the Senior Executive Performance Plan, Mr. Allott could be eligible for an annual cash bonus of up to 200% of his annual base salary, with such maximum amount of Mr. Allott’s annual cash bonus being set annually by the Compensation Committee. For 2019 and 2020, the Compensation Committee evaluated competitive data and approved a maximum annual cash bonus for Mr. Allott of up to 100% of his annual base salary. In setting the maximum amount of the annual cash bonus for Mr. Allott, the Compensation Committee bases its determination on its objective of retaining Mr. Allott and providing him with fair overall annual cash compensation taking into account his responsibilities and relevant employment markets.

For 2019, Messrs. Greenlee, Lewis and Hogan participated in a bonus program, or the Holdings Executive Officer Program, which was approved by the Compensation Committee and under which annual cash bonuses were calculated on the same basis as under the Senior Executive Performance Plan. For 2019, the Compensation Committee approved maximum annual cash bonuses of 60% of annual base salaries for each of Messrs. Greenlee, Lewis and Hogan.

Under the Senior Executive Performance Plan and the Holdings Executive Officer Program, at the beginning of each year, the Compensation Committee establishes a performance goal and a performance goal target for the Company for that year. Following such year, the Compensation Committee confirms the extent to which the performance goal target for such year was met. If the performance goal target was met, then the participants under this plan and this program would receive the maximum amount of his annual bonus for which he was eligible for that year. If the performance goal target was not met, then the participant would receive a pro

 

22


rata amount of the maximum amount of his annual bonus for which he was eligible for that year. For 2019, the performance goal established by the Compensation Committee under this plan and this program was the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and rationalization charges, acquisition termination fees (net of related costs) and the impact from any foreign currency devaluations (Adjusted EBITDA) of the Company, and the performance goal target for the maximum amount of the annual bonus was the Adjusted EBITDA level of the Company for 2018 ($610.1 million), with the amount of the annual bonus under this plan and this program calculated based on the following formula:

X multiplied by the Company’s Adjusted EBITDA for 2019; with X being equal to a percentage, the numerator of which is the maximum annual bonus for a particular person and the denominator of which is the Company’s Adjusted EBITDA for 2018.

The Company’s Adjusted EBITDA for 2019 was $624.2 million, which exceeded the performance goal target of $610.1 million. Therefore, each of Messrs. Allott, Greenlee, Lewis and Hogan received the maximum amount of his annual bonus for 2019 as noted above.

For 2020, the Compensation Committee set the performance goal for Mr. Allott under the Senior Executive Performance Plan as the earnings of the Company before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and rationalization charges, acquisition termination fees (net of related costs), costs attributable to announced acquisitions and the impact of foreign currency devaluations, subject to further adjustment as determined by the Compensation Committee for acquisitions and/or divestitures, and the performance goal target for the maximum amount of his annual bonus as the earnings of the Company in 2019 before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and rationalization charges, acquisition termination fees (net of related costs), costs attributable to announced acquisitions and the impact of foreign currency devaluations, subject to further adjustment as determined by the Compensation Committee for acquisitions and/or divestitures, with the manner for calculating the amount of his annual bonus being the same as in 2019. In setting the performance goal under the Senior Executive Performance Plan, the Compensation Committee chose earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and rationalization charges of the Company because it believes that it is an important and accepted measure of performance of the Company, and the Compensation Committee decided to exclude acquisition termination fees (net of related costs), costs attributable to announced acquisitions and the impact from any foreign currency devaluations from such calculation because such items are generally non-recurring and not indicative of the Company’s operating results. For 2020, the Compensation Committee approved an annual cash bonus program for each of Messrs. Greenlee, Lewis and Hogan pursuant to which each of them is eligible to receive an annual cash bonus in an amount up to a maximum of 60% of his annual base salary received in 2020, with the amount of such annual cash bonus being calculated on the same basis that an annual cash bonus is calculated for Mr. Allott for 2020 under the Senior Executive Performance Plan.

The Compensation Committee has established annual bonus programs applicable to Messrs. Allott, Greenlee and Lewis that are different from the annual cash bonus programs applicable to the other executive officers of the Company because they assist the Compensation Committee in establishing the annual cash bonus programs for the other executive officers of the Company, including setting financial and non-financial goals under such programs and determining whether goals were met under such programs. The Compensation Committee believes it is important that it receive an unbiased view from members of top management in establishing such programs, and believes that the best way to accomplish this objective is to not have those assessing such programs participate in them so that these individuals have no conflict of interest. Additionally, the objectives of the annual cash bonus programs for Messrs. Allott, Greenlee, Lewis and Hogan are to retain such individuals and provide them with fair overall annual compensation taking into account relevant employment markets, and such programs are not meant primarily as an award for short-term financial performance. The Compensation Committee believes that it is more advantageous for the Company that Messrs. Allott, Greenlee, Lewis and Hogan focus more on long-term creation of stockholder value rather than short-term goals. Accordingly, the Compensation Committee establishes a performance goal target with respect to annual bonuses payable to Messrs. Allott, Greenlee, Lewis and Hogan that, although not certain, should be attainable.

 

23


Annual cash bonuses are paid to participants in the incentive programs of the Company’s business operations based upon the achievement of certain financial goals and non-financial goals. Participants in those programs are viewed on a team basis for purposes of annual cash bonuses and establishing financial and non-financial goals. The Compensation Committee generally believes that a majority of the annual cash bonuses payable to managers of the Company’s business operations should be based on a financial goal. The financial goals for the Company’s business operations for a given year are established at the beginning of such year by the CEO, President and CFO of the Company, or the Holdings Executives, and reviewed by the Compensation Committee. The remaining portion of the annual cash bonuses for the managers of the Company’s business operations is based upon non-financial goals. Such non-financial goals for each of the Company’s business operations for a given year are established at the beginning of the year by the Holdings Executives in conjunction with the managers of such business operations and reviewed by the Compensation Committee. Such non-financial goals are generally items that both the Holdings Executives and the managers of the particular business operation desire additional attention during the year. In determining levels of achievement for non-financial goals, the Compensation Committee relies upon the subjective evaluations of the Holdings Executives, as well as their own observations of the Company’s business operations obtained from the reports given by the managers of such business operations at regular quarterly meetings of the Board of Directors of the Company. Participants in the incentive programs of the Company’s business operations can receive up to two times their target bonus amount if financial and non-financial goals of the applicable business operations are far exceeded. Generally, however, the Compensation Committee is of the view that non-financial goals, by their nature, are extremely hard to attain at a level warranting two times payment of the amount of the target bonus applicable to such non-financial goals, and therefore realistically participants can expect to receive generally between 50% and 150% of the amount of their target bonus applicable to such non-financial goals.

Mr. Snyder, President of the Company’s U.S. metal container operations, is the only Named Executive Officer who participated in an incentive program for one of the Company’s business operations in 2019. Under the incentive program for our U.S. metal container operations as approved by the Compensation Committee, Mr. Snyder was eligible for an annual target bonus for 2019 of 30% of his annual salary received in 2019. For 2019, the Compensation Committee approved 70% of Mr. Snyder’s annual target bonus of 30% of his annual salary, or 21% of his annual salary, being based upon the achievement of a financial goal by the Company’s U.S. metal container operations and 30% of Mr. Snyder’s annual target bonus of 30% of his annual salary, or 9% of his annual salary, being based upon the achievement of non-financial goals by the Company’s U.S. metal container operations.

The financial goal for our U.S. metal container operations for 2019, as approved by the Compensation Committee, was its budgeted earnings before interest and taxes and rationalization charges, the foreign currency impact from certain intercompany agreements and the impact from any foreign currency devaluations and subject to further adjustment as determined by the Compensation Committee for unusual gains and losses (Adjusted EBIT). The budgeted Adjusted EBIT for 2019 for our U.S. metal container operations was compared to the actual Adjusted EBIT for 2019 for our U.S. metal container operations. If the actual Adjusted EBIT of our U.S. metal container operations for 2019 was between 95% and 105% of the budgeted Adjusted EBIT for our U.S. metal container operations for 2019, then Mr. Snyder would have been entitled to 100% of the portion of his bonus payable based upon the achievement of a financial goal by our U.S. metal container operations for 2019 (i.e., 21% of his annual salary). If the actual Adjusted EBIT of our U.S. metal container operations for 2019 was

 

24


less than 95% (but more than 93%) or greater than 105% (up to 107%) of the budgeted Adjusted EBIT for our U.S. metal container operations for 2019, then the portion of Mr. Snyder’s bonus payable based upon the achievement of a financial goal by our U.S. metal container operations for 2019 would have been adjusted on a pro rata basis on a sliding scale based on the chart below, as follows:

 

Percentage of Financial

Goal Achieved

   Percentage of Annual Salary
to be Paid as a Bonus Based  on
Achievement of Financial Goal
   

93%

   0%

95%

   21%

100%

   21%

105%

   21%

107%

   42%

The non-financial goals for our U.S. metal container operations for 2019, as approved by the Compensation Committee, were the following:

 

   

market leadership;

   

operational leadership;

   

free cash flow management;

   

selling, general and administrative cost management; and

   

financial reporting and controls.

For the portion of Mr. Snyder’s bonus payable based upon non-financial goals (i.e., 30% of his annual target bonus of 30% of his annual salary, or 9% of his annual salary), the Holdings Executives determined the percentage (based on 100%) that such non-financial goals were met and recommended such percentage to the Compensation Committee for their approval. The approved percentage is then multiplied by such portion of the target bonus payable based upon non-financial goals and such amount is added to the amount of the bonus payable for the financial goal to determine the total bonus payable for 2019.

In 2019, our U.S. metal container operations achieved 98.2% of its budgeted Adjusted EBIT and 104.5% of its non-financial goals. Accordingly, the bonus amount payable to Mr. Snyder for 2019 based upon the achievement of a financial goal by our U.S metal container operations in 2019 was 21% of his annual salary received in 2019 in accordance with the chart above. The bonus amount payable to Mr. Snyder for 2019 based upon the achievement of non-financial goals by our U.S metal container operations in 2019 was 9.41% of his annual salary received in 2019, calculated as follows:

104.5% x 9% = 9.41%

Therefore, Mr. Snyder’s bonus for 2019 was the sum of the percentage payable for the financial goal and the percentage payable for the non-financial goals, or 30.41% (21% plus 9.41%) of his annual salary received in 2019 (which equates to approximately 101.36% of his annual target bonus of 30% of his annual salary received in 2019).

Equity Based Compensation

The Compensation Committee provides equity-based compensation to executive officers of the Company and its subsidiaries through awards under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan that meet the Compensation Committee’s objectives of attracting and retaining officers and aligning the interests of officers with those of the stockholders of the Company. The purpose of the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan is to promote the long-term success of the Company and the creation of stockholder value by (i) encouraging the attraction and retention of directors and officers and other key employees and (ii) linking directors and officers and other key employees of the Company directly to stockholder interests through stock ownership and appreciation.

 

25


The Compensation Committee is responsible for administering the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan. The Compensation Committee determines recipients of awards under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, approves awards, sets the terms and conditions of awards and interprets and prescribes rules for administering the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan. The 2004 Stock Incentive Plan provides for awards of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units and performance awards.

Since 2005, the Compensation Committee has granted only restricted stock units and performance awards for restricted stock units under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan. At this time, the Compensation Committee has determined to grant only restricted stock units and performance awards for restricted stock units under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan because it believes that restricted stock units are more closely linked to ownership of stock as compared to stock options and stock appreciation rights, thereby aligning the interests of award recipients more closely with those of our stockholders.

Under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, the Compensation Committee generally grants (i) restricted stock units to newly hired individuals (including from acquisitions) and to individuals who are promoted and (ii) performance awards annually to current officers and other key employees, all as described below. In addition, the Compensation Committee may grant awards under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan to officers and other key employees of the Company and its subsidiaries at other times and for other purposes, consistent with the terms of the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan.

To attract new officers and other key employees (including from acquisitions), the Compensation Committee will grant restricted stock units to such new individuals, which generally will vest ratably over a five-year period or all at once in a single installment at least one year from the date of grant. The number of restricted stock units that are granted to an individual will be determined by the Compensation Committee generally on the basis of what it believes is necessary to hire and retain such individual, taking into account the salary and bonus offered to such individual and the total nominal value of such restricted stock units. The Compensation Committee may also grant restricted stock units during the course of the year to officers who are promoted, largely on the basis of the nominal value of unvested restricted stock units of such individuals as compared to a targeted multiple of such individual’s new annual base salary. The primary purpose of such equity awards is retention of the individual, and therefore these restricted stock units will generally vest ratably over a five-year period. Typically, the Compensation Committee makes grants to newly hired or promoted individuals on only up to one business day during a fiscal quarter, generally at a regularly scheduled meeting of the Compensation Committee which generally follows the issuance by the Company of its quarterly earnings release. As a result, the general practice of the Compensation Committee is to make grants on up to four dates during each year and, in addition, as applicable, in connection with certain acquisitions.

Additionally, to retain current officers and other key employees, the Compensation Committee annually reviews the nominal value of unvested restricted stock units of such persons. For each officer and other key employee of the Company, the Compensation Committee targets a multiple of such person’s annual base salary (plus, in the case of Mr. Allott, targeted annual bonus) as the level of the nominal value of unvested restricted stock units for each such person. The multiple for each individual is determined on the basis of the individual’s anticipated long-term contribution to the Company. Within the first ninety days of each year, the Compensation Committee will fix and establish performance criteria for that year for potential grants of performance awards of restricted stock units in the following year. The minimum level of performance required to be attained for grants to be made in the following year is set by the Compensation Committee at a level that, although not certain, should be attainable because the primary purpose of these grants is retention. For the grants made in 2019, the Compensation Committee established in 2018 the Company’s Adjusted EBITDA as the performance criteria and the minimum level of performance by the Company for 2018 as 75% of the Company’s Adjusted EBITDA level in 2017. At the time the performance criteria is set for a particular year, the Compensation Committee approves a maximum number of restricted stock units that may be granted to each individual in the following year if the Company attains the minimum level of performance. Then, following the end of a particular year, if the Company attains the minimum level of performance for that year, the Compensation Committee will review the nominal value of the unvested restricted stock units previously granted to an individual and compare this to the

 

26


individual’s target multiple of salary (plus, in the case of Mr. Allott, bonus). For Mr. Allott, the target multiple is three times his salary and bonus. For each of Messrs. Greenlee, Lewis, Hogan and Snyder, the target multiple is three times such person’s salary. Generally, at its regularly scheduled meeting during the first quarter, the Compensation Committee will then consider performance awards of restricted stock units to individuals whose aggregate nominal value of unvested restricted stock units is less than their target multiple of salary (plus, in the case of Mr. Allott, bonus) so that the total nominal value of unvested restricted stock units approximates their target multiple of salary (plus, in the case of Mr. Allott, bonus). Any such restricted stock units so granted will generally vest ratably over a five-year period. In 2019, Messrs. Allott, Greenlee, Lewis, Hogan and Snyder were granted performance awards for 75,200 restricted stock units, 24,300 restricted stock units, 24,800 restricted stock units, 17,100 restricted stock units and 25,000 restricted stock units, respectively, on the basis described in this paragraph, since the Company achieved the minimum level of performance established by the Compensation Committee for such grants.

In addition to the performance awards granted annually as described in the paragraph above, the Compensation Committee has granted performance awards for restricted stock units from time to time to Messrs. Allott, Greenlee, Lewis Hogan and Snyder to supplement their total compensation. These grants vest ratably over a period of at least three years from the date of grant or all at once in a single installment at least three years from the date of grant. The primary purpose of these grants is to provide additional long-term compensation to such executive officers to keep them at competitive compensation levels and to do so in a manner that further augments the retention of such executive officers. These grants have been subject to the attainment of performance criteria as established by the Compensation Committee and are forfeitable in the event the Company does not attain such performance criteria. The performance criteria for such grants has generally been the Adjusted EBITDA of the Company for the year of or following such grant and the minimum level of performance required for such grant has been 75% of the Company’s prior year Adjusted EBITDA level. In each of March 2013 and August 2014, on the basis described in this paragraph, Messrs. Greenlee, Lewis and Hogan were granted performance awards for 100,000, 100,000 and 50,000 restricted stock units, respectively (as adjusted for the two-for-one stock split effected on May 26, 2017). Since the Company attained the applicable performance criteria for these grants, these performance awards for Messrs. Greenlee, Lewis and Hogan vested all at once in a single installment on March 1, 2019. In March 2014, on the basis described in this paragraph, Mr. Allott was granted a performance award for 400,000 restricted stock units (as adjusted for the two-for-one stock split effected on May 26, 2017) which, since the Company attained the applicable performance criteria for 2014, vested all at once in a single installment on March 1, 2019. In November 2014 and March 2017, on the basis described in this paragraph, Mr. Snyder was granted a performance award for 20,000 and 70,000 restricted stock units, respectively (as adjusted for the two-for-one stock split effected on May 26, 2017), which, since the Company attained the applicable performance criteria for such performance awards, vested all at once in a single installment on November 6, 2019 with respect to the performance award for 20,000 restricted stock units and will vest all at once in a single installment five years from the date of grant with respect to the performance award for 70,000 restricted stock units. In March 2019, on the basis described in this paragraph and in replacement of performance awards for restricted stock units that vested in March 2019, Messrs. Allott, Greenlee, Lewis and Hogan were granted performance awards for 285,000, 115,000, 115,000 and 50,000 restricted stock units, respectively, which, since the Company attained the applicable performance criteria for these grants, will vest ratably over a three year period from the date of grant. In March 2020, on the basis described in this paragraph, Messrs. Allott, Greenlee, Lewis and Hogan were granted performance awards for 79,000, 32,000, 32,000 and 14,000 restricted stock units, respectively, which so long as the Company attains the applicable performance criteria for 2020, will vest ratably over a three year period from the date of grant. The Compensation Committee views all these performance awards as additional compensation for the applicable individual spread evenly over the entire vesting period, rather than being entirely allocated to the year of grant (as required under SEC reporting rules). For example, in the case of Mr. Allott, the Compensation Committee views the compensation attributable to the performance award of 400,000 restricted stock units granted to him on March 1, 2014 over the five-year vesting period and the compensation attributable to the performance award of 285,000 restricted stock units granted to him on March 1, 2019 over the three-year vesting period. Therefore, the Compensation Committee allocates the compensation attributable to such awards equally over each year of the applicable

 

27


vesting period as opposed to all in one year as the Summary Compensation Table requires. Accordingly, the Compensation Committee views the performance award of 400,000 restricted stock units granted to Mr. Allott on March 1, 2014 as additional compensation annually of $1,927,600 (using the grant date fair value used in the Summary Compensation Table) for Mr. Allott over the five-year vesting period and the performance award of 285,000 restricted stock units granted to Mr. Allott on March 1, 2019 as additional compensation annually of $2,703,225 (using the grant date fair value used in the Summary Compensation Table) for Mr. Allott over the three-year vesting period, in each case in contrast to the total amount being recognized all in one year as required in the Summary Compensation Table.

Restricted stock units granted under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan carry with them the right to receive dividend equivalents in an amount equal to all cash dividends paid on one share of Common Stock of the Company for each restricted stock unit while such restricted stock unit is outstanding and until such restricted stock unit vests. Such dividend equivalents for a restricted stock unit are accrued as dividends and are paid to the individual only upon the vesting of such restricted stock unit. The Compensation Committee added dividend equivalent rights to restricted stock units to further align the interests of officers and other key employees of the Company and its subsidiaries with those of the stockholders of the Company.

Stock Ownership Guidelines

In 2018, the Company adopted stock ownership guidelines applicable to our Directors at five times the $90,000 annual cash retainer payable to Directors, our CEO at six times our CEO’s annual base salary, our other Named Executive Officers at three times his or her annual base salary and our other executive officers at one times his or her annual base salary. These guidelines apply to all equity holdings and are subject to a transition period of five years from the adoption date and for newly elected Directors and executive officers.

Anti-Hedging and Anti-Pledging Policy

The Company has adopted an anti-hedging and anti-pledging policy applicable to our Board of Directors and officers of the Company and subsidiaries of the Company. This policy prohibits members of our Board of Directors and officers of the Company and any subsidiary of the Company from directly or indirectly purchasing any financial instrument or engaging in any transaction (such as puts, calls, options, swaps, exchange funds, other derivative securities, collars, forward contracts, short sales or other similar monetization transactions) with respect to any equity securities of the Company held directly or indirectly by any such person (including equity securities granted as compensation), the purpose, effect or design of which is to hedge or offset any decrease in market value of the equity securities of the Company. In addition, the policy prohibits members of our Board of Directors and officers of the Company and any subsidiary of the Company from purchasing any equity securities of the Company on margin, holding any equity securities of the Company in an account on which any borrowing is outstanding, borrowing against any equity securities of the Company on margin, or pledging or borrowing against any equity securities of the Company as collateral for any loan of any kind.

Retirement and Other Benefits

The Company also provides pension, 401(k), supplemental retirement, medical, disability, life insurance and other benefits to most of its executive officers for purposes of retention.

The Company does not provide retirement and other benefits to Messrs. Allott, Greenlee and Lewis. Such individuals are eligible for group term life insurance benefits on the same general basis as all other U.S. employees of the Company and its subsidiaries, can make elective contributions to the 401(k) plan but do not receive any matching contributions from the Company and can participate in the medical benefits provided they pay 100% of their premiums. This approach allows Messrs. Allott, Greenlee and Lewis to provide unbiased assistance to the Compensation Committee in its oversight and review of these benefits.

The other officers of the Company (including Mr. Hogan) and the officers of Silgan Containers (including Mr. Snyder) participate in (i) the Silgan Containers Pension Plan for Salaried Employees, or the Silgan

 

28


Containers Pension Plan (a defined benefit plan intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code), if such officer was hired before 2007, (ii) the Silgan Containers Retirement Savings Plan, or the Containers 401(k) Plan (a 401(k) plan intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code, in which individuals can elect to participate and which provides for matching contributions and, for certain individuals, a potential profit sharing contribution), (iii) the Silgan Containers Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, as amended, or the Containers Supplemental Plan (a non-qualified defined contribution plan that provides for contributions on behalf of participating individuals which are intended to make up for benefits not payable under the pension and 401(k) plans because of limits imposed by the Code), and (iv) medical benefits and group life insurance benefits generally available to all salaried employees on the same basis as they are available to all other salaried employees.

Perquisites and Other Personal Benefits

Generally, the Company does not provide its executive officers with any perquisites or other personal benefits.

Employment Agreements

Mr. Allott, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, entered into an employment agreement with the Company in April 2004. Mr. Allott’s employment agreement provides for, among other things, a severance benefit if Mr. Allott is terminated by the Company without cause, in an amount equal to the sum of (i) his then current annual salary plus (ii) his annual bonus, calculated at the then current maximum amount payable pursuant to the Senior Executive Performance Plan as previously approved by the Compensation Committee (for 2020, 100% of his then current annual salary).

Mr. Greenlee, President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company, is entitled to a severance benefit, as provided in an employment letter from the Company dated October 1, 2007, if he is terminated by the Company without cause, in an amount equal to the sum of (i) his then current annual salary plus (ii) his annual bonus, calculated at the then current maximum bonus amount payable to him as previously approved by the Compensation Committee (for 2020, 60% of his then current annual salary).

Mr. Lewis, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, is entitled to a severance benefit, as provided in an employment letter from the Company dated June 30, 2004, if Mr. Lewis is terminated by the Company without cause, in an amount equal to the sum of (i) his then current annual salary plus (ii) his annual bonus, calculated at the then current maximum bonus amount payable to him as previously approved by the Compensation Committee (for 2020, 60% of his then current annual salary).

Tax Deductibility

For the year ended December 31, 2019, Section 162(m) of the Code disallows a federal income tax deduction to any publicly held corporation for compensation paid in excess of $1 million in any taxable year to certain executive officers, including our Named Executive Officers. The legislation commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, or the 2017 Tax Act, made significant changes to Section 162(m) of the Code, including a repeal of the “performance-based compensation” exception to Section 162(m), subject to a transition rule for certain existing compensation arrangements covered by binding contractual arrangements, not modified after November 2, 2017. The Company’s general intention is to maximize the tax deductibility of its compensation programs, including any relief available under the transition rule for performance-based compensation. However, because the Company believes that the use of prudent judgment in determining compensation levels is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, it may determine to pay amounts of compensation that may not be fully deductible. The Company reserves the right to use prudent judgment in establishing compensation policies, including the use of performance targets, to attract and retain qualified executives to manage the Company and to reward such executives for outstanding performance, while taking into consideration the financial impact of such actions on the Company.

 

29


Compensation Committee Report

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the section of this Proxy Statement titled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” with management of the Company. Based on such review and discussion, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors of the Company that the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” be included in the Proxy Statement of the Company for its 2020 annual meeting of stockholders.

 

  

By the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors:

 

John W. Alden

Leigh J. Abramson

William T. Donovan

Kimberly A. Fields

Joseph M. Jordan

Brad A. Lich

               

 

30


Summary Compensation Table

The table below summarizes the total compensation for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 paid to or earned by our Named Executive Officers, consisting of those individuals who served as Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of the Company during 2019 and the three most highly compensated executive officers of the Company for 2019 (other than those who served as CEO or CFO during 2019).

 

            (a)             

                                                               (b)     (c)   (d)   (e)     (f)   (g)   (h)   (i)   (j)  

Name and

Principal Position

        Year     Salary
($)
  Bonus
($)(1)
  Stock
Awards
($)(2)(3)
    Option
Awards
($)
  Non-Equity
Incentive
Plan
Compensation
($)(4)
  Change in
Pension  Value
and
Non-qualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($)(5)
  All Other
Compensation
($)(6)
  Total
($)(3)
 
                             

Anthony J. Allott(7)

(Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer)

     

2019

2018

2017

 

 

 

  $1,135,260  

$1,037,470  

$1,012,165  

  $0

$0

$0

   

$10,249,491  

$  1,264,765  

$     636,300  

 

 

 

      $0    

$0

$0

  $1,135,260  

$1,037,470  

$1,012,165  

  $0

$0

$0

  $744,930

$  46,418

$  40,726

   

$13,264,941  

$  3,386,123  

$  2,701,356  

 

 

 

Adam J. Greenlee(7)

(President and Chief Operating Officer)

     

2019

2018

2017

 

 

 

  $   686,145  

$   633,798  

$   618,339  

  $0

$0

$0

   

$  3,963,782  

$     442,525  

$     333,300  

 

 

 

  $0

$0

$0

  $   411,687  

$   253,519  

$   247,336  

  $0

$0

$0

  $375,295

$  18,274

$  17,305

   

$  5,436,909  

$  1,348,116  

$  1,216,280  

 

 

 

Robert B. Lewis

(Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer)

     

2019

2018

2017

 

 

 

  $   652,811  

$   633,798  

$   618,339  

  $0

$0

$0

   

$  3,978,009  

$     399,700  

$     284,820  

 

 

 

  $0

$0

$0

  $   391,687  

$   253,519  

$   247,336  

  $0

$0

$0

  $379,747

$  19,745

$  15,234

   

$  5,402,254  

$  1,306,762  

$  1,165,729  

 

 

 

Frank W. Hogan, III

(Senior Vice President, General

Counsel and Secretary)

     

2019

2018

2017

 

 

 

  $   500,000  

$   448,207  

$   437,275  

  $0

$0

$200,000

   

$  1,909,331  

$     325,470  

$     260,580  

 

 

 

  $0

$0

$0

  $   300,000  

$   179,283  

$   174,910  

  $172,101

$0

$109,464

  $249,099

$  43,518

$  49,450

   

$  3,130,531  

$     996,478  

$  1,231,679  

 

 

 

Thomas J. Snyder

(President of Silgan Containers)

     

2019

2018

2017

 

 

 

  $   681,547  

$   664,924  

$   648,707  

  $0

$0

$0

   

$     711,375  

$     433,960  

$  2,472,480  

 

 

 

  $0

$0

$0

  $   207,258  

$     68,820  

$   195,877  

  $228,470

$0

$136,601

  $163,491

$129,918

$126,195

   

$  1,992,141  

$  1,297,622  

$  3,579,860  

 

 

 

 

(1)

Bonuses for such years were paid under applicable incentive programs of the Company and its subsidiaries and are included in column (g), except as described in the following sentence. In 2017, the Compensation Committee awarded Mr. Hogan an additional discretionary bonus in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to the Company primarily related to the Company’s acquisition of the Silgan Dispensing Systems operations in 2017.

 

(2)

The amounts in column (e) reflect the grant date fair value of restricted stock units (representing the right to receive shares of Common Stock upon vesting) granted during the applicable year pursuant to and under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan. The grant date fair value of such restricted stock units for any individual was calculated by multiplying the average of the high and low sales prices of a share of our Common Stock on the grant date of such restricted stock units for any individual by the number of restricted stock units granted to such individual on such grant date in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718.

 

(3)

The amounts in column (e) consist of amounts attributable to (i) performance awards of restricted stock units granted annually for retention purposes that vest ratably over the applicable vesting period and (ii) performance awards of restricted stock units, or Supplemental Stock Awards, which are granted to certain officers of the Company and its subsidiaries to supplement their total compensation and which vest either ratably over a three year period from the date of grant or all at once in a single installment at least three years from the date of grant, in each case if the applicable performance criteria is attained. The amounts in columns (e) and (j) for 2019 for Messrs. Allott, Greenlee, Lewis and Hogan include the full amounts attributable to a Supplemental Stock Award granted to each of them in such year. The amounts in columns (e) and (j) for 2017 for Mr. Snyder include the full amounts attributable to a Supplemental Stock Award granted to him in such year. Such Supplemental Stock Awards are made to certain officers of the Company and its subsidiaries to supplement their total compensation to keep them at competitive compensation levels and in a manner that further augments their retention, and the Compensation Committee views these Supplemental Stock Awards as additional compensation for the applicable individual spread evenly over the entire vesting period. For example, in the

 

31


  case of Mr. Allott, the Compensation Committee views the compensation attributable to the Supplemental Stock Award of 285,000 restricted stock units granted to him on March 1, 2019 over the three-year vesting period, since this Supplemental Stock Award vests ratably over a three year period from the date of grant. Accordingly, the Compensation Committee views such Supplemental Stock Award as additional compensation annually of $2,703,225 (using the grant date fair value used in the Summary Compensation Table) for Mr. Allott over the three-year vesting period, in contrast to the total compensation attributable to such Supplemental Stock Award of $8,109,675 being included only in 2019 as reflected in columns (e) and (j). The Compensation Committee granted such Supplemental Stock Award to Mr. Allott in light of the fact that a previously granted Supplemental Stock Award to Mr. Allott of 400,000 restricted stock units had fully vested on March 1, 2019. On the same basis as described above, the Compensation Committee had allocated the compensation attributable to that vested Supplemental Stock Award of 400,000 restricted stock units over the five-year vesting period, and therefore had viewed that vested Supplemental Stock Award as additional compensation for Mr. Allott of $1,927,600 (using the grant date fair value used in the Summary Compensation Table) for each year during the vesting period of that vested Supplemental Stock Award. For further information on such Supplemental Stock Awards, you should read the section in this Proxy Statement titled “Executive Compensation—Total Compensation with Supplemental Stock Awards Allocated Over Vesting Period,” and for further information on equity based compensation provided by the Company, you should read the section in this Proxy Statement titled “Executive Compensation—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Equity Based Compensation.”

 

(4)

The amounts in column (g) consist of annual cash bonuses earned in such year and paid in the following year under applicable incentive programs of the Company and its subsidiaries. For 2019, the annual cash bonus for Mr. Allott was earned pursuant to the Senior Executive Performance Plan, the annual cash bonuses for Messrs. Greenlee, Lewis and Hogan were earned pursuant to the Holdings Executive Officer Program and the annual cash bonus for Mr. Snyder was earned pursuant to the incentive program for our U.S. metal container operations. An explanation as to how annual cash bonuses were calculated under such plan and programs is set forth in the section of this Proxy Statement titled “Executive Compensation—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Annual Cash Bonuses under Incentive Programs.”

 

(5)

The amounts in column (h) represent the actuarial increase in the present value of the Named Executive Officer’s benefits under the applicable pension plan. The present value of Mr. Hogan’s and Mr. Snyder’s benefits under the applicable pension plan decreased by $5,079 and $39,706, respectively, in 2018, but such decreases are represented in column (h) as a change of $0 in 2018 in accordance with the applicable rules of the SEC. The Company does not provide above-market or preferential earnings on amounts of any Named Executive Officer under any non-qualified plan.

 

(6)

In the case of Mr. Allott, the amounts in column (i) consist of payments to him of $740,028 in 2019, $43,796 in 2018 and $36,673 in 2017 for dividend equivalents in respect of restricted stock units that vested in such years and the dollar value of group term life insurance premiums paid on his behalf in the amount of $4,902 for 2019, $2,622 for 2018 and $4,053 for 2017. In the case of Mr. Greenlee, the amounts in column (i) consist of payments to him of $373,601 in 2019, $16,657 in 2018 and $16,252 in 2017 for dividend equivalents in respect of restricted stock units that vested in such years and the dollar value of group term life insurance premiums paid on his behalf in the amount of $1,694 for 2019, $1,617 for 2018 and $1,053 for 2017. In the case of Mr. Lewis, the amounts in column (i) consist of payments to him of $374,954 in 2019, $17,266 in 2018 and $12,812 in 2017 for dividend equivalents in respect of restricted stock units that vested in such years and the dollar value of group term life insurance premiums paid on his behalf in the amount of $4,793 for 2019, $2,479 for 2018 and $2,422 for 2017. In the case of Mr. Hogan, the amounts in column (i) include contributions by the Company for him in the amount of $47,256 for 2019, $20,300 for 2018 and $25,699 for 2017 to the grantor trust for the Containers Supplemental Plan and in the amount of $8,400 for 2019, $8,250 for 2018 and $8,100 for 2017 to the grantor trust for the Containers 401(k) Plan. In addition, the amounts in column (i) for Mr. Hogan also include payments to him of $189,848 in 2019, $11,764 in 2018 and $12,452 in 2017 for dividend equivalents in respect of restricted stock units that vested in such years and the dollar value of group term life insurance premiums paid on his behalf in the amount of

 

32


  $3,595 for 2019, $3,204 for 2018 and $3,199 for 2017. In the case of Mr. Snyder, the amounts in column (i) include contributions by Silgan Containers for him in the amount of $89,017 for 2019, $94,671 for 2018 and $92,388 for 2017 to the grantor trust for the Containers Supplemental Plan and in the amount of $17,760 for 2019, $16,500 for 2018 and $16,200 for 2017 to the grantor trust for the Containers 401(k) Plan. In addition, the amounts in column (i) for Mr. Snyder also include payments to him of $54,092 in 2019, $16,136 in 2018 and $15,053 in 2017 for dividend equivalents in respect of restricted stock units that vested in such years and the dollar value of group term life insurance premiums paid on his behalf in the amount of $2,622 for 2019, $2,611 for 2018 and $2,554 for 2017.

 

(7)

On April 1, 2019, Mr. Allott was appointed our Chairman of the Board, and he continued to serve as our CEO. Additionally, on April 1, 2019, Mr. Greenlee was appointed our President, and he continued to serve as our COO.

 

33


Total Compensation with Supplemental Stock Awards Allocated Over Vesting Period

The following table, which is not required under the SEC’s rules and is not a substitute for any of the tables required under the SEC’s rules, provides an alternative presentation of the total compensation of our Named Executive Officers by adjusting the total compensation amounts in column (j) of the Summary Compensation Table to reflect the Compensation Committee’s view on the compensation attributable to Supplemental Stock Awards. The amounts in the column titled “Total Compensation with Supplemental Stock Awards Allocated Over Vesting Period” consist of the total of columns (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h) and (i) of the Summary Compensation Table for the corresponding year, with the amount in column (e) for stock awards being adjusted in respect of Supplemental Stock Awards to include compensation attributable to such Supplemental Stock Awards spread evenly over the entire vesting period of such Supplemental Stock Awards. This presentation is consistent with the Compensation Committee’s view on the compensation attributable to Supplemental Stock Awards, in contrast to including the full amounts of the compensation attributable to such Supplemental Stock Awards in the year of grant as reflected in columns (e) and (j) of the Summary Compensation Table. For further information on equity based compensation provided by the Company, you should read the sections in this Proxy Statement titled “Executive Compensation—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Equity Based Compensation” and “Executive Compensation—Summary Compensation Table.”

 

Name and

Principal Position

       Year        Total Compensation
from Column (j) of
the Summary
     Compensation Table($)
   Total Compensation
with Supplemental Stock Awards
Allocated Over
Vesting  Period($)
       

Anthony J. Allott(1)

   2019    $13,264,941    $7,733,116

(Chairman of the Board and 
Chief Executive Officer)

   2018    $  3,386,123    $5,313,723
   2017    $  2,701,356    $4,628,956

Adam J. Greenlee(1)

   2019    $  5,436,909    $3,224,107

(President and Chief
Operating Officer)

   2018    $  1,348,116    $2,245,552
   2017    $  1,216,280    $2,113,716

Robert B. Lewis

   2019    $  5,402,254    $3,189,452

(Executive Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer)

   2018    $  1,306,762    $2,204,198
   2017    $  1,165,729    $2,063,165

Frank W. Hogan, III

   2019    $  3,130,531    $2,177,903

(Senior Vice President,
General Counsel and Secretary)

   2018    $     996,478    $1,445,196
   2017    $  1,231,679    $1,680,397

Thomas J. Snyder

   2019    $  1,992,141    $2,500,194

(President of

Silgan Containers)

   2018    $  1,297,622    $1,820,872
   2017    $  3,579,860    $1,913,541

 

(1)

On April 1, 2019, Mr. Allott was appointed our Chairman of the Board, and he continued to serve as our CEO. Additionally, on April 1, 2019, Mr. Greenlee was appointed our President, and he continued to serve as our COO.

 

34


Grants of Plan Based Awards

The following table provides information concerning each grant of an award made to our Named Executive Officers in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 under any plan. All awards under non-equity incentive plans were paid under the incentive plans or programs described in the section of this Proxy Statement titled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Annual Cash Bonuses under Incentive Programs,” and all equity awards were made under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan.

 

  (a)  

      (b)   (c)   (d)   (e)   (f)   (g)   (h)   (i)   (j)     (k)   (l)   (m)
         Grant
Date
  Date of
Action of
Compensation
Committee,
if  Different
from
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
(#)
    All Other
Option
Awards:
Number  of
Securities
Underlying
Options
(#)
  Exercise
or Base
Price of
Option
Awards
($/sh)
  Grant Date
Fair Value
of Stock
and  Option
Awards
($)(2)
Name                                                       Threshold
($)
  Target
($)
  Maximum
($)
  Threshold
(#)
  Target
(#)
  Maximum
(#)
                                                       

Anthony J. Allott

        $1,135,260   $1,135,260                  
  03/01/2019   02/28/2019                 75,200(3)         $2,139,816
  03/01/2019   02/28/2019                 285,000(4)         $8,109,675

Adam J. Greenlee

        $   411,687   $  411,687                  
  03/01/2019   02/28/2019                 24,300(3)         $   691,457
  03/01/2019   02/28/2019                 115,000(5)         $3,272,325

Robert B. Lewis

        $   391,687   $  391,687                  
  03/01/2019   02/28/2019                 24,800(3)         $   705,684
  03/01/2019   02/28/2019                 115,000(6)         $3,272,325

Frank W. Hogan, III

        $   300,000   $  300,000                  
  03/01/2019   02/28/2019                 17,100(3)         $   486,581
  03/01/2019   02/28/2019                 50,000(7)         $1,422,750

Thomas J. Snyder

        $   204,464   $  408,928                  
  03/01/2019   02/28/2019                 25,000(3)         $   711,375

 

(1)

The amounts in columns (e) and (f) represent the target bonus award and the maximum bonus award, respectively, for each individual under the applicable incentive plan or program in which such individual participated for 2019, which plans and programs are described in the section of this Proxy Statement titled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Annual Cash Bonuses under Incentive Programs.” There is no threshold bonus award under these plans and programs. Actual cash bonuses paid under non-equity incentive plans for 2019 are included in column (g) (Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation) of the Summary Compensation Table included in this Proxy Statement.

 

(2)

The grant date fair value in column (m) is calculated by multiplying the average of the high and low sales prices for a share of our Common Stock on the applicable grant date by the number of restricted stock units granted in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. No stock options were granted to any employees, including any Named Executive Officers, in 2019.

 

(3)

These awards are awards of restricted stock units that vest ratably over a five-year period from the grant date of March 1, 2019.

 

(4)

On February 28, 2019, the Compensation Committee approved a performance award for 285,000 restricted stock units for Mr. Allott, which performance award was subject to the attainment by the Company of certain performance criteria for 2019 established by the Compensation Committee and would have been forfeited in the event that the Company did not attain such performance criteria for 2019. The Company attained such performance criteria for 2019, and such restricted stock units will vest ratably over a three-year period from the date of grant of March 1, 2019.

 

(5)

On February 28, 2019, the Compensation Committee approved a performance award for 115,000 restricted stock units for Mr. Greenlee, which performance award was subject to the attainment by the Company of certain performance criteria for 2019 established by the Compensation Committee and would have been

 

35


  forfeited in the event that the Company did not attain such performance criteria for 2019. The Company attained such performance criteria for 2019, and such restricted stock units will vest ratably over a three-year period from the date of grant of March 1, 2019.

 

(6)

On February 28, 2019, the Compensation Committee approved a performance award for 115,000 restricted stock units for Mr. Lewis, which performance award was subject to the attainment by the Company of certain performance criteria for 2019 established by the Compensation Committee and would have been forfeited in the event that the Company did not attain such performance criteria for 2019. The Company attained such performance criteria for 2019, and such restricted stock units will vest ratably over a three-year period from the date of grant of March 1, 2019.

 

(7)

On February 28, 2019, the Compensation Committee approved a performance award for 50,000 restricted stock units for Mr. Hogan, which performance award was subject to the attainment by the Company of certain performance criteria for 2019 established by the Compensation Committee and would have been forfeited in the event that the Company did not attain such performance criteria for 2019. The Company attained such performance criteria for 2019, and such restricted stock units will vest ratably over a three-year period from the date of grant of March 1, 2019.

 

36


Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

The following table provides information concerning stock (in the form of restricted stock units) that has not yet vested for each Named Executive Officer outstanding as of December 31, 2019. No stock options were outstanding for any employee, including any Named Executive Officer, as of December 31, 2019.

 

        Option Awards   Stock Awards

   (a)   

      (b)   (c)   (d)   (e)   (f)   (g)   (h)   (i)   (j)

Name

      Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#)
Exercisable
  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#)
Unexercisable
  Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number  of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Unearned
Options
(#)
  Option
Exercise
Price
($/sh)
  Option
Expiration
Date
  Number of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have  Not
Vested
(#)
  Market
Value of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have  Not
Vested
($)(1)
  Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number of
Unearned
Shares,
Units  or
Other
Rights
That
Have Not
Vested
(#)
  Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Market or
Payout
Value  of
Unearned
Shares,
Units or
Other
Rights
That
Have Not
Vested
($)
                     

Anthony J. Allott

                                    9,200(2)       $ 285,936            —       —       
                                      42,960(3)       $ 1,335,197            —       —       
                                      12,600(4)       $ 391,608            —       —       
                                      35,440(5)       $ 1,101,475            —       —       
                                      75,200(6)       $ 2,337,216            —       —       
                                                    285,000 (7)     $ 8,857,800

Adam J. Greenlee

                                    2,640(2)       $ 82,051            —       —       
                                      7,440(8)       $ 231,235            —       —       
                                      6,600(9)       $ 205,128            —       —       
                                      12,400(10)       $ 385,392            —       —       
                                      24,300(11)       $ 755,244            —       —       
                                                    115,000 (12)     $ 3,574,200

Robert B. Lewis

                                    3,880(2)       $ 120,590            —       —       
                                      7,360(13)     $ 228,749            —       —       
                                      5,640(14)     $ 175,291            —       —       
                                      11,200(15)     $ 348,096            —       —       
                                      24,800(16)     $ 770,784            —       —       
                                                    115,000 (12)     $ 3,574,200

Frank W. Hogan, III

                                    1,680(2)         $ 52,214            —       —       
                                      4,880(17)     $ 151,670            —       —       
                                      5,160(18)     $ 160,373            —       —       
                                      9,120(19)     $ 283,450            —       —       
                                      17,100(20)       $ 531,468            —       —       
                                                    50,000 (21)     $ 1,554,000

Thomas J. Snyder

                                    3,880(2)       $ 120,590            —       —       
                                      7,920(22)       $ 246,154            —       —       
                                      70,000(23)       $ 2,175,600            —       —       
                                      6,960(24)       $ 216,317            —       —       
                                      12,160(25)       $ 377,933            —       —       
                                      25,000(26)       $ 777,000            —       —       

 

(1)

The amount in column (h) is determined based on a price per share of $31.08, the closing sales price for a share of our Common Stock on the last business day of 2019 (December 31, 2019) as quoted by the Nasdaq Global Select Market System.

 

(2)

These restricted stock units vest on March 1, 2020.

 

(3)

These restricted stock units vest as follows: 21,480 on March 1, 2020; and 21,480 on March 1, 2021.

 

37


(4)

These restricted stock units vest as follows: 4,200 on March 1, 2020; 4,200 on March 1, 2021; and 4,200 on March 1, 2022.

 

(5)

These restricted stock units vest as follows: 8,860 on March 1, 2020; 8,860 on March 1, 2021; 8,860 on March 1, 2022; and 8,860 on March 1, 2023.

 

(6)

These restricted stock units vest as follows: 15,040 on March 1, 2020; 15,040 on March 1, 2021; 15,040 on March 1, 2022; 15,040 on March 1, 2023; and 15,040 on March 1, 2024.

 

(7)

These restricted stock units vest ratably in three installments over a three year period from the date of grant as follows: 95,000 on March 1, 2020; 95,000 on March 1, 2021; and 95,000 on March 1, 2022. These restricted stock units were subject to the attainment by the Company of certain performance criteria for 2019 established by the Compensation Committee and would have been forfeited in the event that the Company did not attain such performance criteria for 2019. In 2020, it was determined that the Company attained such performance criteria for 2019, and accordingly such restricted stock units will vest as described above.

 

(8)

These restricted stock units vest as follows: 3,720 on March 1, 2020; and 3,720 on March 1, 2021.

 

(9)

These restricted stock units vest as follows: 2,200 on March 1, 2020; 2,200 on March 1, 2021; and 2,200 on March 1, 2022

 

(10)

These restricted stock units vest as follows: 3,100 on March 1, 2020; 3,100 on March 1, 2021; 3,100 on March 1, 2022; and 3,100 on March 1, 2023

 

(11)

These restricted stock units vest as follows: 4,860 on March 1, 2020; 4,860 on March 1, 2021; 4,860 on March 1, 2022; 4,860 on March 1, 2023; and 4,860 on March 1, 2024.

 

(12)

These restricted stock units vest ratably in three installments over a three year period from the date of grant as follows: 38,333 on March 1, 2020; 38,334 on March 1, 2021; and 38,333 on March 1, 2022. These restricted stock units were subject to the attainment by the Company of certain performance criteria for 2019 established by the Compensation Committee and would have been forfeited in the event that the Company did not attain such performance criteria for 2019. In 2020, it was determined that the Company attained such performance criteria for 2019, and accordingly such restricted stock units will vest as described above.

 

(13)

These restricted stock units vest as follows: 3,680 on March 1, 2020; and 3,680 on March 1, 2021.

 

(14)

These restricted stock units vest as follows: 1,880 on March 1, 2020; 1,880 on March 1, 2021; and 1,880 on March 1, 2022.

 

(15)

These restricted stock units vest as follows: 2,800 on March 1, 2020; 2,800 on March 1, 2021; 2,800 on March 1, 2022; and 2,800 on March 1, 2023.

 

(16)

These restricted stock units vest as follows: 4,960 on March 1, 2020; 4,960 on March 1, 2021; 4,960 on March 1, 2022; 4,960 on March 1, 2023; and 4,960 on March 1, 2024.

 

(17)

These restricted stock units vest as follows: 2,440 on March 1, 2020; and 2,440 on March 1, 2021.

 

(18)

These restricted stock units vest as follows: 1,720 on March 1, 2020; 1,720 on March 1, 2021; and 1,720 on March 1, 2022.

 

(19)

These restricted stock units vest as follows: 2,280 on March 1, 2020; 2,280 on March 1, 2021; 2,280 on March 1, 2022; and 2,280 on March 1, 2023.

 

(20)

These restricted stock units vest as follows: 3,420 on March 1, 2020; 3,420 on March 1, 2021; 3,420 on March 1, 2022; 3,420 on March 1, 2023; and 3,420 on March 1, 2024.

 

(21)

These restricted stock units vest ratably in three installments over a three year period from the date of grant as follows: 16,667 on March 1, 2020; 16,666 on March 1, 2021; and 16,667 on March 1, 2022. These restricted stock units were subject to the attainment by the Company of certain performance criteria for 2019 established by the Compensation Committee and would have been forfeited in the event that the Company did not attain such performance criteria for 2019. In 2020, it was determined that the Company attained such performance criteria for 2019, and accordingly such restricted stock units will vest as described above.

 

38


(22)

These restricted stock units vest as follows: 3,960 on March 1, 2020; and 3,960 on March 1, 2021.

 

(23)

These restricted stock units vest all at once in a single installment on March 1, 2022.

 

(24)

These restricted stock units vest as follows: 2,320 on March 1, 2020; 2,320 on March 1, 2021; and 2,320 on March 1, 2022.

 

(25)

These restricted stock units vest as follows: 3,040 on March 1, 2020; 3,040 on March 1, 2021; 3,040 on March 1, 2022; and 3,040 on March 1, 2023.

 

(26)

These restricted stock units vest as follows: 5,000 on March 1, 2020; 5,000 on March 1, 2021; 5,000 on March 1, 2022; 5,000 on March 1, 2023; and 5,000 on March 1, 2024.

 

39


Option Exercises and Stock Vested

The following table provides information concerning each exercise of stock options and each vesting of restricted stock units during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 for each of our Named Executive Officers on an aggregated basis.

 

         Option Awards    Stock Awards  

  (a)  

       (b)    (c)    (d)    (e)  

Name

                                                                                Number of Shares
Acquired on
Exercise(#)
   Value
Realized on
Exercise($)
   Number of Shares
Acquired on
Vesting(#)
   Value
Realized on
Vesting($)(1)
 
             

Anthony J. Allott

     —        —      448,740    $ 12,771,140  

Adam J. Greenlee

     —        —      215,060    $ 6,120,608  

Robert B. Lewis

     —        —      215,640    $ 6,137,114  

Frank W. Hogan, III

     —        —      110,480    $ 3,144,261  

Thomas J. Snyder

     —        —        35,960    $ 1,065,622  

 

(1)

The value realized represents the fair market value of the shares of our Common Stock issuable on the date of vesting. The fair market value was calculated based upon the average of the high and low sales prices for a share of our Common Stock as quoted by the Nasdaq Global Select Market System on the applicable vesting date.

Pension Benefits

The following table shows the present value of accumulated benefits payable to each of our Named Executive Officers, including the number of years of service credited to each such Named Executive Officer, under the applicable pension plan. The basic terms of this plan are generally described below. Each of Messrs. Allott, Greenlee and Lewis does not participate in and is not eligible to participate in any pension plan of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

 

  (a)  

       (b)    (c)    (d)    (e)

Name

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

Anthony J. Allott

           

Adam J. Greenlee

           

Robert B. Lewis

           

Frank W. Hogan, III

   Silgan Containers Pension
Plan for Salaried Employees
   23    $749,290    $0

Thomas J. Snyder

   Silgan Containers Pension
Plan for Salaried Employees
   30    $861,660    $0

 

(1)

The present value of accumulated benefits under the pension plan listed above was calculated as of December 31, 2019 using the following assumptions:

 

  (i)

benefit commencement at normal retirement age (age 65);

  (ii)

form of payment as a single life annuity;

  (iii)

a discount rate of 3.41% at December 31, 2019 and 4.47% at December 31, 2018;

  (iv)

post-retirement mortality determined using the Mercer Industry Longevity Experience Study male annuitant mortality for Auto, Industrial Goods and Transportation with no collar adjustment, and with the Mercer Modified 2019 generational improvements for December 31, 2019 and the Mercer Modified 2018 generational improvements for December 31, 2018; and

  (v)

benefit values calculated without pre-retirement death, termination or disability decrements.

 

40


Benefits under the Silgan Containers Pension Plan are based on the participant’s average rate of base pay (or salary) over the final three years of employment, with increases to a participant’s rate of base pay following January 1, 2007 (or the first January 1 the participant earned base pay, if later) capped at 3% per year for purposes of the Silgan Containers Pension Plan. The amount of average base pay taken into account for any year is limited by Section 401(a)(17) of the Code, which imposes a cap of $280,000 (to be indexed for inflation) on compensation taken into account for 2019. Benefits under the Silgan Containers Pension Plan are not subject to any deduction for social security or other offset amounts. The Silgan Containers Pension Plan was amended in 2006 to provide that salaried employees hired after 2006 are no longer eligible to participate in the Silgan Containers Pension Plan.

Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation

The following table provides information with respect to each defined contribution or other plan that provides for the deferral of compensation on a basis that is not tax qualified for each of our Named Executive Officers. Messrs. Hogan and Snyder participate in the Containers Supplemental Plan. Each of Messrs. Allott, Greenlee and Lewis does not participate in any non-qualified deferred compensation plan of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. You should read the section of this Proxy Statement titled “Executive Compensation—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Retirement and Other Benefits” above for further information regarding these plans.

 

  (a)  

       (b)    (c)    (d)    (e)    (f)

Name

                                                           Executive
Contributions
in Last Fiscal
Year($)(1)
   Registrant
Contributions
in Last Fiscal
Year($)(2)
   Aggregate
Earnings in Last
Fiscal Year($)(3)
   Aggregate
Withdrawals/
Distributions($)
   Aggregate
Balance at
Last Fiscal
Year End($)(4)
             

Anthony J. Allott

              

Adam J. Greenlee

              

Robert B. Lewis

              

Frank W. Hogan, III

   $23,957    $47,256    $326,851    $0    $1,588,718

Thomas J. Snyder

   $28,222    $89,017    $326,235    $0    $1,806,698

 

(1)

The amount in column (b) for each of Messrs. Hogan and Snyder represents contributions by him in 2019 to the Containers Supplemental Plan. These amounts are included in column (c) “Salary” for Messrs. Hogan and Snyder, respectively, in the Summary Compensation Table.

 

(2)

The amount in column (c) for each of Messrs. Hogan and Snyder represents contributions for 2019 by the Company (in the case of Mr. Hogan) and by Silgan Containers (in the case of Mr. Snyder) to the Containers Supplemental Plan. These amounts are included in column (i) “All Other Compensation” for Messrs. Hogan and Snyder, respectively, in the Summary Compensation Table.

 

(3)

The amount in column (d) for each of Messrs. Hogan and Snyder consists of the appreciation and earnings on his account under the Containers Supplemental Plan. Since this amount does not constitute above-market earnings, none of these amounts are included in the Summary Compensation Table.

 

(4)

The amount in column (f) for each of Messrs. Hogan and Snyder includes $377,887 and $778,657, respectively, which were reported in our Summary Compensation Tables in previous years.

 

41


Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control

Potential Payments Upon Termination

In the event that a Named Executive Officer’s employment is terminated for any reason, such person is entitled to receive amounts earned through the date of termination, including salary, amounts contributed under the applicable 401(k) plan (including, to the extent applicable, any vested contributions made by the Company or a subsidiary of the Company), unused vacation pay and, in the case of Messrs. Hogan and Snyder, accrued and vested benefits under and pursuant to the applicable pension plan and supplemental executive retirement plan.

If the termination of a Named Executive Officer’s employment is not voluntary, such person may exercise any stock options granted to him under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan (but only if such involuntary termination was without cause) that had become exercisable as of the date of termination for a period up to 90 days after the date of termination, or in the event of death or disability, for a period of up to one year after the date of termination. Since December 31, 2016, there have been no outstanding stock options held by any of our employees, including any of our Named Executive Officers. Upon termination of employment for any reason, all stock options and restricted stock units of a Named Executive Officer that are unvested are forfeited except as described in the section below titled “Potential Payments Upon Change of Control.” In addition, if such termination is not voluntary, such person is entitled to receive a pro rata amount of his bonus for the year in which such person is terminated.

In addition to the foregoing, each of our Named Executive Officers is entitled to the following in the event that his employment is terminated without cause:

 

   

Mr. Allott is entitled to a lump sum severance benefit equal to his then current annual salary plus his annual bonus (calculated at then current maximum amount payable as previously approved by the Compensation Committee).

 

   

Mr. Greenlee is entitled to a lump sum severance benefit equal to his then current annual salary plus his annual bonus (calculated at then current maximum amount payable as previously approved by the Compensation Committee).

 

   

Mr. Lewis is entitled to a lump sum severance benefit equal to his then current annual salary plus his annual bonus (calculated at then current maximum amount payable as previously approved by the Compensation Committee).

 

   

Mr. Hogan is entitled to a lump sum severance benefit equal to his then current annual salary.

 

   

Mr. Snyder is entitled to a lump sum severance benefit equal to his then current annual salary.

The following table sets forth the potential payments to each Named Executive Officer if such officer had been terminated without cause on December 31, 2019.

 

  (a)  

       (b)

Name

       Severance Payment($)(1)
     

Anthony J. Allott

   $2,337,188

Adam J. Greenlee

   $1,124,498

Robert B. Lewis

   $1,044,498

Frank W. Hogan, III

   $   500,000

Thomas J. Snyder

   $   681,547

 

(1)

The amounts in column (b) consist of base salary at each person’s annual salary rate at the end of 2019 plus in the case of each of Messrs. Allott, Greenlee and Lewis a bonus for 2019 at the maximum amount payable to him as described above.

 

42


Potential Payments Upon Change of Control

The Company does not have any agreement or other arrangement with any of our Named Executive Officers in the event of a change of control involving the Company, other than in respect of outstanding stock options and restricted stock units granted under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan. For stock options and restricted stock units granted under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, upon a change of control all such stock options shall only become exercisable and all such restricted stock units shall only become vested if the acquiring or surviving corporation does not assume such stock options and/or restricted stock units. If the acquiring company assumes such stock options and restricted stock units and the employment of a holder of any such assumed stock option or restricted stock unit, including a Named Executive Officer, is terminated without cause within 24 months of such change of control, then all such assumed stock options of such holder shall become immediately exercisable and all such assumed restricted stock units of such holder shall become immediately vested. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan provides that the applicable award agreement shall govern the treatment of an award upon a change of control, which may differ from the foregoing, and any such provision for a change of control shall be in a manner consistent with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code.

Based upon a price per share of $31.08 (the closing sales price of a share of our Common Stock on December 31, 2019, the last business day of 2019 as quoted by the Nasdaq Global Select Market System) and the number of restricted stock units held by our Named Executive Officers that were unvested as of December 31, 2019 (information concerning such unvested restricted stock units is provided in the Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End Table), we estimate the value related to the immediate vesting of these unvested restricted stock units held by each of our Named Executive Officers upon a change of control involving the Company (assuming the acquiring or surviving corporation does not assume the outstanding restricted stock units under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan) to be as follows:

 

   (a)   

       (b)

Name

                                                                                                    Value Related to Immediate Vesting of
Unvested Restricted Stock Units  ($)(1)
     

Anthony J. Allott

     $14,309,232

Adam J. Greenlee

     $  5,233,250

Robert B. Lewis

     $  5,217,710

Frank W. Hogan, III

     $  2,733,175

Thomas J. Snyder

     $  3,913,594

 

(1)

As of December 31, 2019, there were no outstanding stock options held by any of our employees, including any of our Named Executive Officers.

CEO Pay Ratio

As required by Section 953(b) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K, we are providing the ratio of the median of the annual total compensation of all of our employees to the annual total compensation of Mr. Anthony J. Allott, our Chairman of the Board and CEO. Pursuant to the instructions to Item 402(u), we are required to identify the employee that represents the median of the annual total compensation of all of our employees only once every three years if there has been no change in our employee population or employee compensation arrangements that we believe would result in a significant change to our pay ratio disclosure. Since there has been no change in our employee population or employee compensation arrangements that we believe would significantly impact our pay ratio disclosure, the median-compensated employee for this pay ratio disclosure is the same employee that we identified as the median-compensated employee in our Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on April 30, 2018, or our 2018 Proxy Statement, and our Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on April 29, 2019, or our 2019 Proxy Statement.

For 2019, our last completed fiscal year:

 

   

the median of the annual total compensation of all of our employees, not including our CEO, was $36,067; and

 

43


   

the annual total compensation of our CEO, as reported in the Summary Compensation Table included elsewhere in this Proxy Statement, was $13,264,941.

Based on this information, for 2019 the ratio of the annual total compensation of our CEO to the median of the annual total compensation of all of our employees was estimated to be 368 to 1.

The following calculation, which is not required under the SEC’s rules and is not a substitute for the presentation of the ratio above that is required under the SEC’s rules, provides the ratio of the annual total compensation of our CEO to the median of the annual total compensation of all of our employees using the total compensation of our CEO in 2019 that reflects the Compensation Committee’s view on the compensation attributable to Supplemental Stock Awards, which spreads such compensation attributable to such Supplemental Stock Awards evenly over the entire vesting period of such Supplemental Stock Awards instead of all in the year of grant. For further information on such Supplemental Stock Awards, you should read the section in this Proxy Statement titled “Executive Compensation—Total Compensation with Supplemental Stock Awards Allocated Over Vesting Period. For 2019, the annual total compensation of our CEO, reflecting the compensation attributable to the Supplemental Stock Awards granted to him spread evenly over the entire vesting period of such Supplemental Stock Awards, was $7,733,116, and the ratio of such annual total compensation of our CEO to the median of the annual total compensation of all of our employees was estimated to be 214 to 1.

As previously reported in our 2018 Proxy Statement and our 2019 Proxy Statement, we applied the following methodology and made the following material assumptions, adjustments and estimates, all as permitted by the SEC rules, to identify our median-compensated employee:

 

   

we collected for all of our employees worldwide total compensation reflected in our payroll records as reported to the various taxing authorities, generally consisting of salary, wages, overtime, bonus and other taxable compensation, as our consistently applied compensation measure;

 

   

we selected December 31, 2017 as the date on which we would identify the median-compensated employee;

 

   

all compensation that was given in a currency other than U.S. dollars was converted into U.S. dollars using the average exchange rate for 2017 for each such currency;

 

   

we annualized the compensation of all individuals that became our employees as a result of our acquisition on April 6, 2017 of the Silgan Dispensing Systems operations;

 

   

we did not exclude any employees and we did not use any statistical sampling techniques; and

 

   

we did not make any cost-of-living adjustments.

Using the median-compensated employee identified in our 2019 Proxy Statement, we calculated such employee’s annual total compensation for 2019 in accordance with the requirements of Item 402(c)(2)(x) of Regulation S-K, which are the same requirements used to calculate the annual total compensation of our CEO as reported in the Summary Compensation Table included elsewhere in this Proxy Statement. The annual total compensation of our median-compensated employee was lower in 2019 than in 2018 due primarily to a significantly lower average foreign currency exchange rate for Euros to U.S. dollars in 2019 as compared to 2018 and less overtime in 2019 as compared to 2018.

The CEO pay ratio reported above is a reasonable estimate calculated in a manner consistent with SEC rules based on our payroll and employment records and based on the methodology, assumptions, adjustments and estimates described above, which were chosen from a wide range of permissible methodologies, assumptions, adjustments and estimates. As a result, the CEO pay ratios reported by other companies, which may have employed other permitted methodologies, assumptions, adjustments and estimates and which may have a significantly different work force structure than ours, are likely not comparable to our CEO pay ratio.

 

44


REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

The Audit Committee is governed by a written charter approved by the Company’s Board of Directors. A copy of the written charter of the Audit Committee was included as Appendix A to the Company’s Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on April 29, 2019. In accordance with the written charter of the Audit Committee, the applicable listing standards of the Nasdaq Stock Market and the applicable rules of the SEC, all members of the Audit Committee are independent. The Audit Committee held eight meetings during 2019.

The Audit Committee provides assistance to the Board of Directors of the Company in fulfilling its oversight responsibility relating to the Company’s consolidated financial statements and financial reporting process, systems of internal accounting and financial controls, internal audit activities and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements relating to accounting and financial reporting matters and the annual independent audits of the Company’s consolidated financial statements and the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Management of the Company is responsible for the consolidated financial statements and reporting process of the Company, including maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and assessing the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Ernst & Young LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company, is responsible for performing an independent audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), or the PCAOB, and for issuing a report thereon. The independent registered public accounting firm is also responsible for auditing the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The Audit Committee’s responsibility is to oversee these audits and the financial reporting process of the Company.

In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the Audit Committee discussed with management, the Company’s internal auditors and the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm the overall scope and plans for the Company’s audits. The Audit Committee met with the Company’s internal auditors and independent registered public accounting firm, with and without management present, to discuss the Company’s audits, the Company’s consolidated financial statements and the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The Audit Committee also reviewed and discussed with management and the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. Additionally, the Audit Committee reviewed with management its report on its assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and the independent registered public accounting firm’s report on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

The Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm required by the applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding such firm’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and has discussed with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm such firm’s independence. The Audit Committee has also considered the compatibility of nonaudit services with such firm’s independence. Additionally, in assessing such firm’s independence, the Audit Committee reviewed the amount of fees paid to the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for audit and nonaudit services.

The Audit Committee has also discussed with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm the matters required to be discussed by Auditing Standard 1301, as adopted by the PCAOB in Rule 3200T.

In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors of the Company that the audited consolidated financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 for filing with the SEC.

The Audit Committee is also directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the work of the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company. Accordingly, the

 

45


Audit Committee has approved, subject to stockholder ratification, the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020.

The Audit Committee has adopted a formal policy, consistent with its written charter, that requires its approval in advance for any audit, audit-related, tax and other services to be performed by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. Pursuant to its formal policy, the Audit Committee approved in advance all audit, audit-related, tax and other services performed by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm in 2019. This policy provides that the Audit Committee may delegate to any of its members the authority to approve in advance any audit and nonaudit services to be performed by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, and, in such case, requires such member to report any decisions to the Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting.

 

 

By the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors:

 

Joseph M. Jordan

Leigh J. Abramson

John W. Alden

William T. Donovan

Kimberly A. Fields

Brad A. Lich

 

46


PROPOSAL 2: RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company has appointed Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020. The Board of Directors of the Company is requesting ratification of this appointment by the stockholders of the Company. It should be noted however that, even if this appointment is ratified by the stockholders of the Company, the Audit Committee in its discretion may replace the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and appoint a new independent registered public accounting firm for the Company at any time during the year if it determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company.

A representative of Ernst & Young LLP is expected to be present at the Meeting and to be available to respond to appropriate questions from those attending the Meeting, but is not otherwise expected to make a statement.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP AS THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2020.

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fee Information

Audit Fees

Fees for audit services rendered by Ernst & Young LLP in each of 2019 and 2018 totaled $4.2 million in connection with the audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements for such years, reviews of the Company’s unaudited financial statements included in its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for such years, the audit of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting for such years, the audit of the Company’s implementation of Accounting Standards Codification 842, Leases for such years and statutory audits of foreign subsidiary financial statements for such years. Services provided in 2019 also included comfort letters and audit services in connection with the Company’s issuance of its 4 1/8% Senior Notes due 2028.

Audit-Related Fees

Fees for audit-related services rendered by Ernst & Young LLP in 2019 and 2018 totaled $0.7 million and $0.1 million, respectively. Services provided in both 2019 and 2018 were in respect of audit-related services in connection with agreed upon procedures for certain contracts, the preparation of a tax certification attestation report for a foreign subsidiary and other minor audit-related services. Services provided in 2019 also included audit-related services in connection with due diligence related to corporate development activities. Services provided in 2018 also included audit-related services in connection with accounting consultations in respect of a change in law applicable to a foreign subsidiary.

Tax Fees

Fees for tax services rendered by Ernst & Young LLP in 2019 and 2018 totaled $1.3 million and $0.5 million, respectively. Such services in both 2019 and 2018 were in respect of transfer pricing documentation assistance and advice, tax compliance services, preparation and review of foreign tax returns and tax assistance and advice. Services provided in 2019 also included tax services in respect of advice and assistance in connection with a potential corporate restructuring involving certain foreign subsidiaries, due diligence related to corporate development activities and preparation of a tax certification for a foreign subsidiary.

All Other Fees

In 2019 and 2018, Ernst & Young LLP did not render any other services to the Company.

 

47


PROPOSAL 3: ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE

COMPENSATION OF NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

At our annual meeting of stockholders in 2017, for the advisory vote on the frequency of future advisory votes on the compensation of the Company’s Named Executive Officers, a frequency of every year received a majority of the votes cast at such meeting. In light of this result and other factors considered by the Board of Directors of the Company, the Board of Directors of the Company decided that the Company will hold an advisory vote on the compensation of its Named Executive Officers each year at its annual meeting of stockholders until the next required advisory vote on the frequency of the same, which is no later than the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders in 2023. Accordingly, pursuant to Section 14A of the Exchange Act, we are including in this Proxy Statement an advisory vote on the compensation of our Named Executive Officers as described in this Proxy Statement (commonly referred to as “Say-on-Pay”).

You should read the section of this Proxy Statement entitled “Executive Compensation” for a description of the compensation provided to our Named Executive Officers. The Company’s executive compensation program provides base salaries and annual cash incentive bonuses that enable the Company to attract and retain such executives and provide fair compensation to them taking into account responsibilities and relevant employment markets. The Company’s executive compensation program also provides equity-based compensation consisting primarily of performance awards of restricted stock units, which the Company believes fosters more balanced risk taking because restricted stock units are more closely linked to ownership of stock than other equity-based compensation. In addition, the Company provides modest retirement and other benefits primarily for purposes of retention to its executives other than Messrs. Allott, Greenlee and Lewis. Messrs. Allott, Greenlee and Lewis generally are not provided with any retirement or other benefits, thereby allowing them to assist the Compensation Committee in an unbiased manner in its oversight and review of such benefits.

Overall, the Board of Directors believes the compensation program for our Named Executive Officers attracts and retains them by providing fair compensation, rewards them for achieving short-term business goals and long-term creation of stockholder value while at the same time not encouraging excessive risk taking, and aligns their interests with the interests of our stockholders. The Board of Directors believes the compensation program for our Named Executive Officers strikes the appropriate balance between utilizing responsible, measured compensation practices and effectively incentivizing our executives to focus on long-term value creation for stockholders. Additionally, the Board of Directors believes that total compensation, as shown in the Summary Compensation Table, for any Named Executive Officer should be considered over a longer period of time than one year as a result of the fact that equity based awards may be granted in an uneven manner in one year as compared to another year based on the practices of the Compensation Committee in granting equity based awards as described in the section of this Proxy Statement titled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Equity Based Compensation.” Accordingly, the Board of Directors strongly endorses the Company’s compensation for our Named Executive Officers and recommends that the stockholders of the Company vote in favor of the following resolution:

RESOLVED, that the compensation provided to the Company’s Named Executive Officers, as described in this Proxy Statement
in the section entitled “Executive Compensation,” including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables
and the accompanying narrative disclosures, is hereby approved, on an advisory basis, by the stockholders of the Company.

Because this vote is advisory, it will not be binding upon the Company, and neither the Board of Directors nor the Compensation Committee will be required to take any action as a result of this vote. The Compensation Committee will consider the outcome of this vote when reviewing compensation matters in the future.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE APPROVAL, ON AN ADVISORY BASIS, OF THE COMPENSATION OF THE NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY.

 

48


DELINQUENT SECTION 16(a) REPORTS

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our directors and officers and persons holding more than ten percent of a registered class of our equity securities to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership, reports of changes in ownership and annual reports of ownership of Common Stock and other equity securities of the Company. Based solely upon a review of the copies of reports furnished to us and/or representations that no reports were required, we believe that all of our directors, officers and ten percent stockholders complied with all filing requirements under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act in 2019.

STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 2021 ANNUAL MEETING

Stockholders may submit proposals on matters appropriate for stockholder action at our annual meetings consistent with the rules and regulations adopted by the SEC. Proposals to be considered for inclusion in the Proxy Statement and the form of proxy for our annual meeting of stockholders in 2021 must be received by us at our principal executive offices not later than December 29, 2020. In accordance with the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act, proxies solicited by our Board of Directors will confer discretionary voting authority with respect to any proposal raised at our annual meeting of stockholders in 2021 as to which the proponent has not notified us by March 14, 2021. Proposals should be directed to the attention of the General Counsel, Silgan Holdings Inc., 4 Landmark Square, Stamford, Connecticut 06901.

OTHER MATTERS

As of the date of this Proxy Statement, our Board of Directors and management have no knowledge of any other business matters that will be presented for consideration at the Meeting other than those referred to in this Proxy Statement. However, persons named in the accompanying proxy card shall have authority to vote such proxy as to any other matters that properly come before the Meeting and as to matters incidental to the conduct of the Meeting in accordance with their discretion.

By Order of the Board of Directors,

 

LOGO

Frank W. Hogan, III

Secretary

Stamford, Connecticut

April 28, 2020

 

49


Appendix A

SILGAN HOLDINGS INC.

CHARTER OF THE

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

OF THE

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Purpose

This Charter governs the operations of the Compensation Committee (the “Compensation Committee”) of the Board of Directors of Silgan Holdings Inc. (the “Company”). The Board of Directors of the Company has established the Compensation Committee and has empowered the Compensation Committee to review and approve matters relating to the compensation of all executive officers of the Company, including the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Pursuant to the terms of the Company’s 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (the “2004 Stock Incentive Plan”), the Compensation Committee is also responsible for administering the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, including making awards and grants under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, setting performance goals and other terms for awards and grants under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, confirming performance levels in respect of performance awards made under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan and interpreting and prescribing rules for administering the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan. The Compensation Committee also assists the Board of Directors of the Company in establishing policies, practices, plans and programs relating to the compensation of all executive officers of the Company and in overseeing and maintaining such policies, practices, plans and programs. The Compensation Committee shall also have such other responsibilities as are set forth in this Charter or as shall be assigned to it by the Board of Directors of the Company.

Membership

The Compensation Committee shall consist of at least two (2) members of the Board of Directors of the Company and shall be comprised of such number of members of the Board of Directors of the Company as the Board of Directors of the Company shall determine from time to time. Each member of the Compensation Committee shall be appointed to such position by the Board of Directors of the Company and shall serve at the discretion of the Board of Directors of the Company.

Each member of the Compensation Committee shall be (i) “independent” under the applicable requirements of the NASDAQ Stock Market (“NASDAQ”) or otherwise eligible to serve on the Compensation Committee in accordance with the transition periods or exceptions provided by NASDAQ, in each case, as interpreted by the Board of Directors of the Company, (ii) a “non-employee director” as defined under Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and (iii) an “outside director” as defined in Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. In determining whether a director is eligible to serve on the Compensation Committee, the Board of Directors of the Company must consider the source of compensation of such director, including any consulting, advisory or other compensatory fee paid by the Company to such director, and whether such director is affiliated with the Company, a subsidiary of the Company or an affiliate of a subsidiary of the Company and determine whether such affiliation would impair such director’s judgment as a member of the Compensation Committee. It shall be the responsibility of the Board of Directors of the Company to determine, in its judgment, whether a member of the Compensation Committee is independent of management and free from any relationship or service to the Company that might interfere with his or her exercise of independent judgment in carrying out his or her responsibilities as a member of the Compensation Committee.

It shall be the responsibility of each member of the Compensation Committee to immediately disclose to the Board of Directors of the Company any relationship that, either in fact or in appearance, might impact the independent judgment of such member in his or her service as a member of the Compensation Committee.

Organization and Procedures

The Board of Directors of the Company may designate a Chairperson of the Compensation Committee. Such Chairperson shall preside over the meetings of the Compensation Committee. In the event that the Board of


Directors of the Company has not designated a Chairperson of the Compensation Committee, then at the beginning of a meeting of the Compensation Committee the members of the Compensation Committee shall chose one of the members of the Compensation Committee to preside over such meeting. A majority of the members of the Compensation Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the action of a majority of the members of the Compensation Committee present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Compensation Committee. Unless otherwise expressly stated in this Charter, the Compensation Committee shall be governed by the same procedural rules, including rules regarding meetings, actions without meetings, notices and waivers of notice as are applicable to the Board of Directors of the Company.

In order to carry out its responsibilities under this Charter, the Compensation Committee may, in its sole discretion, retain and obtain the advice of compensation consultants, legal counsel and other advisers (each a “Compensation Adviser”). The Compensation Committee shall be directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the work of any Compensation Adviser retained by the Compensation Committee. The Company must provide for appropriate funding, as determined by the Compensation Committee, for payment of reasonable compensation to a Compensation Adviser retained by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee may select, or receive advice from, a Compensation Adviser only after taking into consideration the following factors:

 

  (i)

the provision of other services to the Company by the person or entity that employs such Compensation Adviser;

 

  (ii)

the amount of fees received from the Company by the person or entity that employs such Compensation Adviser, as a percentage of the total revenue of such person or entity;

 

  (iii)

the policies and procedures of the person or entity that employs such Compensation Adviser that are designed to prevent conflicts of interest;

 

  (iv)

any business or personal relationship of such Compensation Adviser with a member of the Compensation Committee;

 

  (v)

any stock of the Company owned by such Compensation Adviser; and

 

  (vi)

any business or personal relationship of such Compensation Adviser or the person or entity employing such Compensation Adviser with any executive officer of the Company.

Nothing in this Charter shall be construed to require the Compensation Committee to implement or act consistently with the advice or recommendations of any Compensation Adviser retained by the Compensation Committee or to affect the ability or obligation of the Compensation Committee to exercise its own judgment in the fulfillment of its duties and responsibilities.

The Compensation Committee shall be required to conduct the independence assessment outlined above with respect to any Compensation Adviser that provides advice to the Compensation Committee, other than in-house legal counsel. However, nothing in this Charter requires a Compensation Adviser to be independent, only that the Compensation Committee consider the independence factors enumerated above before selecting, or receiving advice from, a Compensation Adviser. The Compensation Committee may select, or receive advice from, any Compensation Adviser it prefers, including any Compensation Adviser that is not independent, after considering the independence factors enumerated above. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Compensation Committee shall not be required to conduct an independence assessment for a Compensation Adviser that acts in a role limited to the following activities for which no disclosure is required under applicable federal securities laws: (i) consulting on any broad-based plan that does not discriminate in scope, terms or operation in favor of executive officers or directors of the Company and that is available generally to all salaried employees of the Company; and/or

 

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(ii) providing information that either is not customized for a particular issuer or that is customized based on parameters that are not developed by such Compensation Adviser and about which such Compensation Adviser does not provide advice.

Responsibilities

In addition to the other responsibilities of the Compensation Committee expressly provided for in this Charter, the Compensation Committee shall be responsible for and authorized to carry out the following:

 

  1.

Review and approve matters relating to the compensation of all executive officers of the Company, including the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

 

  2.

Administer the Company’s equity compensation plans which include as participants any executive officers of the Company (including the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan), including making awards and grants under such plans, setting performance goals and other terms for awards and grants as applicable under such plans, confirming performance levels as applicable in respect of performance awards made under such plans and interpreting and prescribing rules for administering such plans.

 

  3.

Oversee and monitor the Company’s compensation policies, practices and programs for the executive officers of the Company in light of the compensation philosophy and objectives of the Company.

 

  4.

Review and approve the annual Compensation Committee Report for inclusion in the Company’s annual proxy statement in accordance with applicable rules and regulations.

 

  5.

Review and discuss with the Company’s management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis (“CD&A”) to be included in the Company’s annual proxy statement and determine whether to recommend to the Board of Directors of the Company that the CD&A be included in the Company’s annual proxy statement.

 

  6.

Review and assess the adequacy of this Charter annually and recommend any proposed changes to this Charter to the Board of Directors of the Company for its approval.

 

  7.

Review and consider the outcome of any advisory vote of the stockholders of the Company at an annual meeting of stockholders of the Company regarding the compensation of the executive officers of the Company.

 

  8.

Discharge any other duties, responsibilities or activities delegated to the Compensation Committee by the Board of Directors of the Company from time to time.

In carrying out its responsibilities, the Compensation Committee shall have such access to members of the Company’s management and to information and records of the Company as the Compensation Committee shall require.

Meetings

The Compensation Committee shall meet as frequently as the members of the Compensation Committee in their discretion deem necessary, but at least twice a year. The Compensation Committee will cause to be kept adequate minutes of its meetings with the Company’s records and shall report to the Board of Directors regarding its meetings. The Compensation Committee may have in attendance at its meeting other members of the Board of Directors of the Company, members of the Company’s management, consultants, advisors or others as it may deem necessary; provided that the Chief Executive Officer of the Company may not be in attendance during any voting or deliberations regarding the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

This Charter may be amended or modified only by the Board of Directors of the Company.

Effective February 28, 2014

 

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LOGO

1 U P XNominees (to serve until theCompany’s Annual Meeting ofStockholders in 2023 and untiltheir successors are duly electedand qualified):*(INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for anyindividual nominee, mark the “Exceptions” box and writethat nominee’s name in the space provided below).01 Leigh J. Abramson02 D. Greg HorriganFORall nomineeslisted belowWITHHOLDAUTHORITYto vote for allnominees listedbelowEXCEPTIONS*SILGAN HOLDINGS INC.Using a black ink pen, mark your votes with an X as shown inthis example. Please do not write outside the designated areas.038T9F++Proposals — The Board of Directors recommends that you v ote FOR all nominees with respect to Proposal 1 and FOR Proposals 2 and 3.1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS (CLASS II)When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If a corporation, please provide the full name of the corporation and the signature of theauthorized officer signing on its behalf.Date (mm/dd/yyyy) — Please print date below. Signature 1 — Please keep signature within the box. Signature 2 — Please keep signature within the box.Authorized Signatures — This section must be completed for your vote to be counted. — Date and Sign BelowqIF VOTING BY MAIL, SIGN, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.qAnnual Meeting Proxy CardChange of Address—Please print new address below.2. To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as theCompany’s independent registered public accountingfirm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020.3. Advisory vote to approve the compensation of theCompany’s named executive officers.4. To consider and act upon any other business as mayproperly come before the meeting or any adjournmentor postponement thereof.For Against AbstainFor Against AbstainSILGAN HOLDINGS INC.4 LANDMARK SQUARESTAMFORD, CT 06901THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORSThe undersigned hereby appoints Anthony J. Allott, Robert B. Lewis and Frank W. Hogan, III as Proxies, each with the power of substitution, and herebyauthorizes each of them to represent and to vote, as designated below, all the shares of common stock, par value of $0.01 per share, of Silgan Holdings Inc.,or the Company, held of record by the undersigned on April 9, 2020 at an Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company to be held on June 8, 2020 or anyadjournment or postponement thereof.When properly executed, this proxy will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned stockholder. If no direction is made, this proxy will bevoted FOR all nominees with respect to Proposal 1 and FOR Proposals 2 and 3.(Continued and to be dated and signed on the reverse side.)qIF VOTING BY MAIL, SIGN, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.q


LOGO

qIF VOTING BY MAIL, SIGN, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. qSILGAN HOLDINGS INC.4 LANDMARK SQUARESTAMFORD, CT 06901THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORSThe undersigned hereby appoints Anthony J. Allott, Robert B. Lewis and Frank W. Hogan, III as Proxies, each with the power of substitution, and hereby authorizes each of them to represent and to vote, as designated below, all the shares of common stock, par value of $0.01 per share, of Silgan Holdings Inc., or the Company, held of record by the undersigned on April 9, 2020 at an Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company to be held on June 8, 2020 or any adjournment or postponement thereof.When properly executed, this proxy will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned stockholder. If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted FOR all nominees with respect to Proposal 1 and FOR Proposals 2 and 3.(Continued and to be dated and signed on the reverse side.)