Smith A O Corp DEF 14A, filed Feb 29, 2024
Smith A O Corp (AOS)
About this DEF 14A
Smith A O Corp filed this DEF 14A on February 29, 2024.
Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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Confidential, for the Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
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Definitive Proxy Statement |
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Definitive Additional Materials |
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
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No fee required |
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials |
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Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
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February 29, 2024 |
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| DEAR FELLOW A. O. SMITH STOCKHOLDER:
We are pleased to invite you to our Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be held on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. This year’s Annual Meeting will be held at the Carnegie Hotel, 1216 W. State of Franklin Road, Johnson City, Tennessee. The attached Notice of our 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement will serve as your guide to the business we will address at the meeting. You can also review our 2023 Annual Report, which incorporates our Form 10-K, to learn more about our financial performance.
2024 will mark a milestone for us. We will celebrate 150 years in business; 150 years of growth and innovation, built upon an unwavering commitment to integrity toward our employees, customers and stockholders. We are proud to be an innovative water technology company and our performance this year reflects our commitment to profitable growth through innovation in a sustainable manner. To our employees worldwide, thank you for your hard work during another challenging, but successful year.
Thank you for being a stockholder and for your ongoing support of our company. We hope you will attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Whether or not you choose to attend, your vote is important. We encourage you to sign and return your proxy or vote by telephone or through the Internet as soon as possible so that your shares will be represented and voted at the meeting. Even if you submit a proxy, you can revoke it at any time before the meeting if you choose to attend and vote during the meeting.
Sincerely,
Kevin J. Wheeler Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
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February 29, 2024 |
NOTICE OF 2024 ANNUAL MEETING
OF STOCKHOLDERS
The 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of A. O. Smith Corporation will be held at the Carnegie Hotel, 1216 W. State of Franklin Road, Johnson City, Tennessee, on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) for the following purposes:
| (1) | To elect our Board of Directors; |
| (2) | To approve, by advisory vote, the compensation of our named executive officers; |
| (3) | To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024; |
| (4) | To consider a stockholder proposal, if properly presented at the meeting, requesting a Board report on our hiring practices with respect to formerly incarcerated people; and |
| (5) | To consider and act upon such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting. |
Stockholders of record as of February 20, 2024, are entitled to attend and vote at the Annual Meeting. The list of stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting will be available by appointment at our offices at 11270 West Park Place, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as of March 29, 2024, for examination by stockholders.
All stockholders must pre-register in order to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of A. O. Smith Corporation. To pre-register, please contact us by email at jstern@aosmith.com or by telephone at 414-359-4000 and provide your name, address, telephone number and indicate that you plan to attend the Annual Meeting. We will respond to all pre-registration requests and will maintain a list of verified stockholders at the Annual Meeting. In addition to ownership confirmation, you must also present a government-issued photo identification showing your name, address and signature for admission. Annual Meeting pre-registration requests must be received by the end of business on Friday, April 5, 2024.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
James F. Stern
Executive Vice President,
General Counsel and Secretary
A. O. Smith Corporation
11270 West Park Place
Milwaukee, WI 53224
| Meeting Information | ||
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Date: Tuesday, April 9, 2024 | |
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Time: 8:00 a.m. (EDT) | |
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Place: Carnegie Hotel 1216 W. State of Franklin Road Johnson City, Tennessee
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Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, we encourage you to vote your shares. You may vote your shares over the Internet, as we describe in the accompanying materials and the Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials. As an alternative, if you received a paper copy of the Proxy Card by mail, you may sign, date and mail the Proxy Card in the envelope provided or use the toll-free telephone number on the Proxy Card. No postage is necessary if mailed in the United States. Voting over the Internet, voting via the toll-free telephone number or mailing a Proxy Card will not limit your right to attend and vote at the Annual Meeting.
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING TO BE HELD ON APRIL 9, 2024:
The Notice of 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, this Proxy Statement and our 2023 Annual Report are also available at www.proxydocs.com/aos.
PROXY STATEMENT FOR 2024 ANNUAL MEETING
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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| Our Commitment to Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability |
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| Public Policy and Regulatory Advocacy | 22 | |||
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| Security Ownership of Directors and Management | 25 | |||
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| Compensation Discussion and Analysis | 26 | |||
PROXY STATEMENT
2023 ANNUAL MEETING
GENERAL INFORMATION
This Proxy Statement is furnished to stockholders of A. O. Smith Corporation in connection with the solicitation by its Board of Directors of proxies for use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of our company to be held on April 9, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. (EDT). The Annual Meeting will be at the Carnegie Hotel, 1216 W. State of Franklin Road, Johnson City, Tennessee.
Under rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or “SEC”, we are furnishing proxy materials, which include our Proxy Statement and Annual Report, to our stockholders over the Internet and providing an Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) by mail. You will not receive a printed copy of the proxy materials unless you request to receive these materials in hard copy by following the instructions provided in the Notice. Instead, the Notice will instruct you how you may access and review all of the important information contained in the proxy materials. The Notice also instructs you how you may submit your proxy via the Internet. If you received a Notice by mail and would like to receive a printed copy of our proxy materials, you should follow the instructions for requesting such materials included in the Notice.
The company is mailing the Notice on or about February 29, 2024, to each stockholder at the holder’s address of record.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Stockholders’ Meeting to be held on April 9, 2024: The Notice of 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, this Proxy Statement and our 2023 Annual Report are also available at www.proxydocs.com/aos.
Record Date
The record date for stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting is the close of business on February 20, 2024 (the “Record Date”). As of the Record Date, we had issued 26,017,732 shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $5 per share, 25,887,352 shares of which were outstanding and entitled to one (1) vote each for Class A Common Stock directors and other matters. As of the Record Date, we had issued 164,689,862 shares of Common Stock, par value $1 per share, 121,175,713 shares of which were outstanding and entitled to one (1) vote each for Common Stock directors and one-tenth (1/10th) vote each for other matters.
Class Voting for Directors
Under our Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as long as the number of outstanding shares of our Common Stock is at least 10% of the aggregate number of outstanding shares of our Class A Common Stock and Common Stock, the holders of the Class A Common Stock and holders of the Common Stock vote as separate classes in the election of directors. The holders of our Common Stock are entitled to elect, as a class, 33 1/3% of our entire Board of Directors, rounded up to the next whole director, and the holders of our Class A Common Stock are entitled to elect the remainder of the Board. The holders of our Class A Common Stock have the right to elect the remainder of the directors of the Board pursuant to the preceding sentence as long as the number of outstanding shares of our Class A Common Stock is 12.5% or more of the aggregate number of outstanding shares of our Class A Common Stock and Common Stock. Stockholders are entitled to one (1) vote per share in the election of directors for their class of stock. As a result of these provisions and the shares of the two classes of our stock that are outstanding, holders of Common Stock will elect four directors at the Annual Meeting and holders of Class A Common Stock will elect six directors.
Quorum
A majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote must be represented in person or by proxy at the meeting in order to constitute a quorum for purposes of holding the Annual Meeting. The voting by stockholders at the
2024 Proxy Statement 1
Proxy Statement 2024 Annual Meeting
meeting is conducted by the inspectors of election. Abstentions and broker non-votes, if any, are counted as present in determining whether the quorum requirement is met.
Required Vote
Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast, by proxy (whether by Internet, telephone or mail) or in person, with the holders voting as separate classes. This means that the nominees who receive the greatest number of votes cast are elected as directors. Consequently, any shares that are not voted, whether by abstention, broker non-votes or otherwise, will have no effect on the election of directors.
For all other matters considered at the meeting, both classes of stock vote together as a single class, with the Class A Common Stock entitled to one (1) vote per share and the Common Stock entitled to one-tenth (1/10th) vote per share. The proposal to approve the compensation of our named executive officers by advisory vote, the proposal to ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm and the stockholder proposal, if properly presented at the meeting, requesting a Board report on our hiring practices with respect to formerly incarcerated people will be approved if a majority of the votes present or represented at the meeting and entitled to vote on the matter are cast in favor of the matter. On all such other matters, an abstention will have the same effect as a vote “against” but, because shares held by brokers will not be considered entitled to vote on matters as to which the beneficial owners withhold authority, a broker non-vote will have no effect on the vote.
Cost of Soliciting Proxies
The cost of soliciting proxies, including preparing, assembling and mailing the Proxy Statement, form of proxy and other soliciting materials, as well as the cost of forwarding such material to the beneficial owners of stock, will be paid by us, except for some costs associated with individual stockholders’ use of the Internet or telephone. In addition to solicitation by mail, directors, officers, regular employees and others may also, but without compensation other than their regular compensation, solicit proxies personally or by telephone or other means of electronic communication. We may reimburse brokers and others holding stock in their names or in the names of nominees for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in sending proxy materials to principals and beneficial owners.
How to Vote
Via the Internet – Stockholders of record can simplify their voting by voting their shares via the Internet as instructed in the Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials. The Internet procedures are designed to authenticate a stockholder’s identity to allow stockholders to vote their shares and confirm that their instructions have been properly recorded. Internet voting for stockholders of record is available 24 hours a day and will close at 11:59 p.m. (CDT) on April 8, 2024.
By Telephone – Stockholders of record who received a paper Proxy Card can vote their shares by a toll-free telephone number on the Proxy Card or in the voting instruction form sent by their broker, bank or other agent. Telephone voting for stockholders of record is available 24 hours a day and will close at 11:59 p.m. (CDT) on April 8, 2024.
By Mail – Stockholders of record who have received a paper Proxy Card may vote by completing, signing and dating their Proxy Card and mailing it in the pre-addressed envelope. Proxy Cards submitted by mail must be received by April 8, 2024, for your shares to be voted. Stockholders who hold shares beneficially in street name and received a voting instruction form from their broker, bank or other agent may vote by completing, signing and dating the instruction form provided by the broker, bank or other agent and mailing it in the pre-addressed envelope provided.
If you vote via the Internet, by telephone or by mailing a Proxy Card, we will vote your shares as you direct. For the election of directors, you can specify whether your shares should be voted “for” all or some of the nominees for
2 A. O. Smith Corporation
Proxy Statement 2024 Annual Meeting
director listed or you may “withhold” your vote from all or some of the nominees for director. With respect to the proposal to approve the compensation of our named executive officers by advisory vote, the proposal to ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm and the stockholder proposal, if properly presented at the meeting, requesting a Board report on our hiring practices with respect to formerly incarcerated people, you may vote “for” or “against” any proposal or you may “abstain” from voting on any proposal.
If you submit a proxy via the Internet, by telephone or by mailing a Proxy Card without indicating your instructions, we will vote your shares consistent with the recommendations of our Board of Directors as stated in this Proxy Statement. Specifically, we will vote in favor of our nominees for directors, in favor of approving the compensation of our named executive officers, in favor of the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm, and against the stockholder proposal, if properly presented at the meeting, requesting a Board report on our hiring practices with respect to formerly incarcerated people. If any other matters are properly presented at the Annual Meeting for consideration, then our officers named on your proxy will have discretion to vote for you on those matters. As of the date of the Notice of 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, we knew of no other matters to be presented at the Annual Meeting.
At the Annual Meeting – Shares held in your name as the stockholder of record may be voted by you at the Annual Meeting. Shares held beneficially in street name may be voted by you at the Annual Meeting only if you obtain a legal proxy from the broker or other agent that holds your shares giving you the right to vote the shares. Whether you hold stock in your name or as a beneficial owner, you will need to register in advance to vote at the Annual Meeting as described below under “Attendance at Annual Meeting.”
Revocation of Proxies
You may revoke your proxy at any time before the Annual Meeting by delivering written notice of revocation or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date to the Corporate Secretary of our company or by registering in advance to vote at the Annual Meeting as described below under “Attendance at Annual Meeting” and voting at that time.
Stockholders Sharing the Same Address
SEC rules permit us to deliver only one copy of a single set of proxy materials to multiple stockholders sharing the same address. Upon written or oral request, we will promptly deliver a separate copy of our Annual Report and/or this Proxy Statement to any stockholder at a shared address to which a single copy of each document was delivered. Stockholders may notify our company of their requests by calling or writing Helen E. Gurholt, Vice President – Investor Relations and Financial Planning & Analysis, A. O. Smith Corporation, P.O. Box 245008, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53224-9508; 414-359-4000.
Attendance at Annual Meeting
All stockholders as of the Record Date, or their duly appointed proxies, may attend the Annual Meeting. You must pre-register in order to attend. To pre-register, please contact us by email at jstern@aosmith.com or by telephone at 414-359-4000 and provide your name, address, telephone number, and indicate that you plan to attend the Annual Meeting.
We will respond to all pre-registration requests and will maintain a list of verified stockholders at the Annual Meeting. To gain admission at the meeting, you must present a government-issued photo identification showing your name, address and signature for admission.
Annual Meeting pre-registration requests must be received by the end of business on Friday, April 5, 2024.
2024 Proxy Statement 3
PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS
The following table shows persons who may be deemed to be beneficial owners (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) of more than 5% of any class of our stock. Unless otherwise noted, the table reflects beneficial ownership as of December 31, 2023.
| Title of Class |
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner | Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership |
Percent of Class | |||
| Class A Common Stock |
Smith Family Voting Trust 11270 West Park Place Milwaukee, WI 53224 |
25,077,3731 | 96.90% | |||
| Common Stock |
The Vanguard Group 100 Vanguard Blvd. Malvern, PA 19355 |
14,253,9132 | 11.60% | |||
| Common Stock |
BlackRock, Inc. 55 East 52nd Street New York, NY 10055 |
10,074,0343 | 8.20% | |||
| Common Stock |
State Street Corporation State Street Financial Center One Lincoln Street Boston, MA 02111 |
7,415,7704 | 6.04% | |||
| 1 | The Smith Family Voting Trust (the “Voting Trust”) owned 25,077,373 shares of Class A Common Stock and 1,134,353 shares of Common Stock as of December 31, 2023. Pursuant to our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, Class A Common Stock is convertible at any time at the option of the holder into Common Stock on a share-for-share basis. As a result, a holder of shares of Class A Common Stock is deemed to beneficially own an equal number of shares of Common Stock. However, to avoid overstatement of the aggregate beneficial ownership of both classes of our outstanding capital stock, the shares of Class A Common Stock listed in the table do not include shares of Common Stock that may be acquired upon the conversion of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock. The trustees of the Voting Trust are Bruce M. Smith, Mark D. Smith and Robert L. Smith. Bruce M. Smith and Robert L. Smith are brothers, and Mark D. Smith is their cousin. The trustees do not have beneficial ownership of shares of Class A Common Stock or Common Stock owned by the Voting Trust. The Voting Trust has sole voting power, exercised by a majority of the three trustees, with respect to shares in the Voting Trust. Whenever beneficiaries of the Voting Trust possessing trust interests representing in the aggregate at least 75% of all the votes represented in the Voting Trust direct the sale of shares in the Voting Trust, the trustees must make the sale. If the trustees unanimously authorize a sale of shares in the Voting Trust, with the written consent of beneficiaries of the Voting Trust possessing trust interests representing in the aggregate a majority of all of the votes represented in the Voting Trust, the trustees may make the sale. The Voting Trust will exist until April 23, 2039, and thereafter for additional 30-year renewal periods unless earlier terminated by a vote of beneficiaries holding 75% or more of the votes in the Voting Trust or by applicable law. |
| 2 | Based on the Schedule 13G/A The Vanguard Group filed with the SEC on February 13, 2024. The Vanguard Group has sole voting power over 0 shares, shared voting power over 140,642 shares, sole dispositive power over 13,840,445 shares and shared dispositive power over 413,468 shares. |
| 3 | Based on the Schedule 13G/A BlackRock Inc. filed with the SEC on January 25, 2024. BlackRock Inc. has sole voting power over 8,940,984 and sole dispositive power over 10,074,034 shares. |
| 4 | Based on the Schedule 13G State Street Corporation filed with the SEC on January 29, 2024. State Street Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, has shared voting power over 5,376,522 and shared dispositive power over 7,406,573 shares. |
Information on beneficial ownership is based upon Schedules 13D or 13G filed with the SEC and any additional information that any beneficial owners may have provided to us.
The Smith family has a special interest in the long-term success of our company and their interest provides stability in the face of short-term market pressures and outside influences. As we celebrate 150 years of our company’s existence, the Smith family has remained steadfastly committed to our company’s long-term success. The Smith family and other Class A Common stockholders have shepherded our company from its beginnings as an auto frame supplier, to a diversified manufacturer, and then to a leading global water technology company. We believe the long history of Smith family involvement and ownership in the company is one of our company’s greatest strengths, allowing us to thrive for 150 years. At the same time, the role of the Smith family is limited to guidance and support. For more than 40 years, the company’s chief executive officer has not been a Smith family member. In addition, the company’s Board committees are comprised of independent directors and the company has not sought to utilize the “controlled company exemption” under the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) rules in any respect.
4 A. O. Smith Corporation
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors reflects the company’s unique history and structure. In addition to a member of the Smith family (who is independent), our Board is carefully balanced with a majority of independent directors who reflect the global strength and diversity of our business, including two new directors in 2021, one new director in 2023, and an additional two new directors in 2024, if elected at the Annual Meeting, all of whom bring fresh perspectives to the Board. Earl E. Exum also joined our Board as a new director in 2022, but died on October 1, 2023. Further, with the retirement of current director Idelle K. Wolf1, Ajita G. Rajendra has agreed to remain on our Board beyond the normal retirement date, assuming he is re-elected at the Annual Meeting, so as to provide balance and the perspective of a seasoned Board member. Finally, the Board is rounded out with our current Chief Executive Officer, who ensures consistency in the oversight of the business and complements the perspectives of our independent directors.
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Age | Director Since |
Director Category |
Independent | Audit | Personnel and Compensation |
Nominating and Governance | |||||||
| Ronald D. Brown Retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Milacron, Inc. |
70 | 2001 | Class A | ✓ Presiding2 |
Chair | · | ||||||||
| Todd W. Fister Chief Financial Officer Owens Corning |
49 | 2024 | Class A | ✓ | ·2 | |||||||||
| Victoria M. Holt Retired President and Chief Executive Officer Proto Labs, Inc. |
66 | 2021 | Common | ✓ | · | Chair | ||||||||
| Dr. Ilham Kadri Chief Executive Officer and Director Syensqo S.A. |
55 | 2016 | Common | ✓ | · | · | ||||||||
| Michael M. Larsen Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Illinois Tool Works, Inc. |
55 | 2021 | Common | ✓ | Chair | |||||||||
| Lois Martin Chief Financial Officer M.A. Mortenson Companies, Inc. |
61 | 2024 | Class A | ✓ | ·2 | |||||||||
| Christopher L. Mapes Executive Chairman Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. |
62 | 2023 | Common | ✓ | · | |||||||||
| Ajita G. Rajendra Retired Executive Chairman of the Board A. O. Smith Corporation |
72 | 2011 | Class A | ✓ | ||||||||||
| Mark D. Smith Retired Business Manager Strattec Security Corporation |
62 | 2001 | Class A | ✓ | · | · | ||||||||
| Kevin J. Wheeler Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer A. O. Smith Corporation |
64 | 2017 | Class A | |||||||||||
| 1 | Presiding Director for the period from April 2022 to April 2024 |
| 2 | Starting after the Annual Meeting assuming elected at the Annual Meeting. |
2024 Proxy Statement 5
Election of Directors
The Board of Directors currently consists of nine directors. At the 2024 Annual Meeting, ten directors are to be elected to serve until the next succeeding Annual Meeting of Stockholders and thereafter until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified. Owners of Common Stock are entitled to elect four directors, and owners of Class A Common Stock are entitled to elect the six remaining directors.
It is intended that proxies we are soliciting will be voted for the election of the nominees named below. Proxies will not be voted for a greater number of persons than the ten nominees named below. All nominees have consented to being named in this Proxy Statement and to serve if elected. If any nominee for election as a director shall become unavailable to serve as a director, then proxies will be voted for such substitute nominee as the Board of Directors may nominate.
The Board of Directors has nominated Mr. Todd W. Fister and Ms. Lois Martin, neither of whom has previously served as a director on our Board, for election at the Annual Meeting as Class A Common Stock directors. Ms. Wolf, who is currently a director, has reached the mandatory director retirement age under our Corporate Governance Guidelines and, therefore, will not be nominated for re-election at the Annual Meeting and is retiring as a result. Our company and the Board would like to thank Ms. Wolf for her many contributions, including her insight, direction, steady guidance and unwavering commitment to accounting compliance at our company. During her 19 years on our Board, our company has transformed itself into a global water technology company while meeting the challenge of fundamental accounting and regulatory changes. Her impact on our company is long-lasting.
Set forth below is information regarding the business experience of each nominee for director that has been furnished to us by the respective nominee. Each nominee has been principally engaged in the employment indicated for the last five years unless otherwise stated. Also set forth below for each nominee is a discussion of the experience, qualifications, attributes or skills that led to the conclusion that the nominee should serve as a director.
6 A. O. Smith Corporation
Election of Directors
NOMINEES – CLASS A COMMON STOCK
| RONALD D. BROWN
Retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Milacron, Inc. | ||||
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Director since: 2001 Age: 70 Committees: • Personnel and Compensation (Chair) • Nominating and Governance |
Director Biography: Mr. Brown served as interim president and chief executive officer of Cincinnati Incorporated, a privately held U.S.-based machine tool manufacturer, from July 2020 to December 2020 and interim chief executive officer of LSI Industries Inc., a U.S.-based manufacturer of lighting and graphics, from April 2018 to October 2018. Mr. Brown served from March 2017 to April 2018 as vice chairman of The Armor Group, Inc., which he joined in 2013 as chief operating officer. The Armor Group, Inc. is a certified woman-owned corporation that manufactures equipment and products for a variety of industrial markets. Mr. Brown was chairman and chief executive officer of Milacron Inc. from 2001 to 2008. Milacron Inc. is a supplier of plastic processing and metalworking fluid technologies. Mr. Brown serves on the board of LSI Industries, Inc., where he is chair of the Compensation Committee and a member of its Executive Committee. Mr. Brown served on the board of Zep Inc., where he was chairman of the Compensation Committee and a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, from 2010 until it was acquired by New Mountain Capital in 2015. In addition, Mr. Brown was appointed by then Governor Kasich to the University of Cincinnati Board of Trustees in 2013 and was its chairman from 2019 to 2021. |
Skills and Qualifications: Mr. Brown’s broad executive-level financial and operating experience with several publicly traded companies provides valuable insight for us as to the issues and opportunities facing our company. He has experience as a chief executive officer, chief financial officer and a corporate attorney. Further, he has international and manufacturing experience with LSI Industries, The Armor Group and Milacron. In addition, his experience as a director of other publicly traded companies brings a different perspective to our Board. | ||
| TODD W. FISTER
Chief Financial Officer, Owens Corning | ||||
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Director Nominee Age: 49 Committee: • Audit (starting after the Annual Meeting) |
Director Biography: Mr. Fister became chief financial officer of Owens Corning, a global manufacturer of building and composite material systems, in September 2023. Since joining Owens Corning in 2014, Mr. Fister has held several executive-level positions, including president of Owens Corning’s insulation segment from 2019 to 2023; vice president of global insulation and strategy, and managing director of Foamglas and European insulation. He also serves as a member of Owens Corning’s Executive Committee. Prior to joining Owens Corning, Mr. Fister spent seven years at Mead/Westuaco (now known as WestRock) in roles of increasing responsibility. A third-party search firm recommended Mr. Fister to the Nominating and Governance Committee, which considered Mr. Fister and recommended to the Board that Mr. Fister be nominated as a director. |
Skills and Qualifications: Mr. Fister is a seasoned executive with broad financial, operational and strategic experience at Fortune 500 companies. He brings both a global and customer perspective. Further, with his strong financial background, Mr. Fister is qualified as an audit committee financial expert under SEC regulations. | ||
2024 Proxy Statement 7
Election of Directors
| LOIS MARTIN
Chief Financial Officer, M.A. Mortenson Companies, Inc. | ||||
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Director Nominee Age: 61 Committee: • Audit (starting after the Annual Meeting) |
Director Biography: Since 2017, Ms. Martin has been the chief financial officer of M.A. Mortenson Companies, a privately held general contractor engaged in major construction projects nationwide. Ms. Martin has more than 30 years of financial experience. Prior to M.A. Mortenson Companies, she was executive vice president and chief financial officer at Ceridian Corporation from 2012 to 2017; chief financial officer at Capella University from 2004 to 2008; executive vice president and chief financial officer at World Data Products from 2002 to 2004; and senior vice president and chief financial officer at Deluxe Corporation from 2000 to 2001. Ms. Martin joined Deluxe in 1993 and served as chief financial officer from 1993 to 2001, along with various executive positions.
Ms. Martin has been a director of Donnelley Financial Solutions, Inc. since 2016 and serves as chair of its Audit Committee. She previously served as a director of Raven Industries, Inc. from 2018 to 2021, ADC Telecommunications from 2004 to 2010 and MTS Systems from 2006 to 2010. Ms. Martin began her career in public accounting as an auditor at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. A third-party search firm recommended Ms. Martin to the Nominating and Governance Committee, which considered Ms. Martin and recommended to the Board that Ms. Martin be nominated as a director. |
Skills and Qualifications: Ms. Martin brings extensive executive-level financial experience to our company. With her extensive financial experience, including at publicly traded companies, she qualifies as an audit committee financial expert under SEC regulations. In addition, Ms. Martin brings gender diversity to our board. | ||
| AJITA G. RAJENDRA
Retired Executive Chairman of the Board, A. O. Smith Corporation | ||||
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Director since: 2011 Age: 72 |
Director Biography: Mr. Rajendra was executive chairman of our company from 2018 until his retirement in 2020. Mr. Rajendra previously served as chairman and chief executive officer from 2017 to 2018; chairman, president and chief executive officer from 2014 to 2017; president and chief executive officer from 2013 to 2014; and president and chief operating officer from 2011 to 2012. Mr. Rajendra joined the company as president of A. O. Smith Water Products Company in 2005 and was named executive vice president of the company in 2006. Prior to joining the company, Mr. Rajendra was senior vice president at Kennametal, Inc., a manufacturer of cutting tools, from 1998 to 2004. Mr. Rajendra also serves on the board of Donaldson Company, Inc., where he is chair of the Human Resources Committee, and on the board of The Timken Company, where he serves on the Audit Committee and chairs the Compensation Committee. In recognition of Mr. Rajendra’s extensive experience and contributions, the Board has waived the normal director retirement age of 72 in our Corporate Governance Guidelines so that Mr. Rajendra may stand for re-election and continue to serve if elected at the Annual Meeting. |
Skills and Qualifications: Mr. Rajendra’s extensive manufacturing and international experience and service to our company as our former chairman and chief executive officer, and in various other senior executive positions, brings to the Board knowledge and insight as to our company’s global operations and a thorough understanding of our products and markets. Further, Mr. Rajendra has experience as a director of other publicly traded companies. As an added benefit, Mr. Rajendra brings ethnic diversity to our Board. | ||
8 A. O. Smith Corporation
Election of Directors
| MARK D. SMITH
Retired Business Manager, Strattec Security Corporation | ||||
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Director since: 2001 Age: 62 Committees: • Nominating and Governance • Personnel and Compensation |
Director Biography: Mr. Smith served as a product business manager for Strattec Security Corporation from 1997 until his retirement in 2019. Strattec Security Corporation designs, develops, manufactures and markets automotive access control products, including mechanical locks and keys, electronically enhanced locks and keys, steering column and instrument panel ignition lock housings, latches and related access control products for major automotive manufacturers. In 2019, Mr. Smith was appointed one of three trustees of the Smith Family Voting Trust, which holds a controlling position in the stock of our company. Mr. Smith is also a first cousin of Robert L. Smith and Bruce M. Smith, who are trustees of the Smith Family Voting Trust. |
Skills and Qualifications: Mr. Smith is experienced in managing the operations of a manufacturing business, both at Strattec and previously with our company. Further, an important aspect of his position at Strattec was managing key customer relationships, and he brings this orientation to his service on our Board. Based on his long service to our company, both as a director and as an employee early in his career, Mr. Smith is knowledgeable of company history and culture, and understands our long-term strategic and tactical plans. Mr. Smith is also a member of the Smith family, which holds a controlling interest in the stock of our company. | ||
| KEVIN J. WHEELER
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, A. O. Smith Corporation | ||||
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Director since: 2017 Age: 64 |
Director Biography: Mr. Wheeler became chairman of our company in 2020 and president and chief executive officer of our company in 2018. From 2017 to 2018, he was president and chief operating officer of our company. From 2013 to 2017, Mr. Wheeler held the position of senior vice president of A. O. Smith Corporation and president and general manager of its North America, India, Europe Water Heating and Export business, which was then the company’s largest operating unit. Mr. Wheeler previously served as managing director of our company’s European operations, where he had responsibility for water heater business in Europe and the Middle East, and upon his return to the United States from the Netherlands, served as vice president-international, with responsibility for all European and Asian operations, including China. Mr. Wheeler joined the company in 1994 as a regional sales manager and has held positions of increasing responsibility. Mr. Wheeler also serves on the board of Graco Inc., where he is a member of the Audit Committee and the Management Organization and Compensation Committee. |
Skills and Qualifications: Mr. Wheeler has extensive sales, manufacturing and international experience in various executive positions with our company, most recently as our chief executive officer, and brings to the Board a thorough understanding of our people, products and markets worldwide. Mr. Wheeler has cybersecurity experience. Further, Mr. Wheeler has experience as a director of another publicly traded company, which brings a different perspective to our Board. | ||
2024 Proxy Statement 9
Election of Directors
NOMINEES – COMMON STOCK
| VICTORIA M. HOLT
Retired Director, President and Chief Executive Officer, Proto Labs, Inc. | ||||
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Director since: 2021 Age: 66 Committees: • Nominating and Governance (Chair) • Personnel and Compensation |
Director Biography: Ms. Holt served as the president and chief executive officer of Proto Labs, Inc., a manufacturer of custom prototypes and on-demand product parts with manufacturing facilities in five countries, until her retirement in 2021. Ms. Holt previously served as president and chief executive officer of Spartech Corporation, a leading provider of plastic sheet, compounds and packaging products, from 2010 until its sale to PolyOne in 2013. Prior to Spartech, Ms. Holt was the senior vice president, Glass & Fiberglass at PPG Industries, Inc., a leading coatings and specialty products company, from 2003 to 2010. She also served as a director of Proto Labs, Inc. from 2014 to 2021, when she retired from the company. Ms. Holt serves on the board of Waste Management, Inc., where she is a member of the Audit Committee and the Nominating and Governance Committee. She is also a director of Piper Sandler Companies, where she is a member of the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee. Ms. Holt was an independent director of Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company, a private company, until its sale to Tinicum in January 2021. |
Skills and Qualifications: Ms. Holt’s extensive experience as a chief executive officer of a growth-oriented, publicly traded company provides valuable perspective to our Board and management, particularly with respect to strategy and operation of a growth-oriented company as well as cybersecurity experience. Ms. Holt has completed the National Association of Corporate Director (NACD) Cyber Risk Oversight Program and earned the CERT Certificate in Cybersecurity Oversight. In addition, she has many years of experience serving on public company boards of directors. As an added benefit, Ms. Holt brings gender diversity to our Board. | ||
| DR. ILHAM KADRI
Chief Executive Officer and Director, Syensqo S.A. | ||||
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Director since: 2016 Age: 55 Committees: • Nominating and Governance • Personnel and Compensation |
Director Biography: Dr. Kadri became the chief executive officer of Syensqo S.A. in December 2023 when Solvay S.A. split into two separate publicly traded entities with worldwide operations: Syensqo S.A. and Solvay S.A., both headquartered in Brussels, Belgium. Dr. Kadri led this transaction and, in addition to being named chief executive officer, she serves on the Syensqo board of directors as well as its Finance and ESG Committees. Syensqo is a pure play science company focused on “clean” technology such as lightweighting, electrification, digitalization, resource efficiency and biomaterials. Prior to this transaction, Dr. Kadri was chief executive officer of Solvay S.A. from 2019 to December 2023 as well as chairman of its Executive Committee, a member of its board of directors and its Finance and ESG Committees. Solvay continues to be an advanced materials and specialty chemical company. From 2017 to 2018, Dr. Kadri was president and chief executive officer of Diversey, Inc., a global leader in hygiene and cleaning sectors. Dr. Kadri led the spin-off of Diversey, Inc. from Sealed Air Corporation. Prior to the spin-off, she was vice president of Sealed Air Corporation and president of its Diversey division from 2013 to 2017. She also led the digital strategy and launched the Internet of Clean (IoC) at Diversey, Inc. Prior to joining Sealed Air Corporation, Dr. Kadri held positions of increasing responsibility with Dow Chemical Company from 2007 until 2012, including general manager of its Advanced Materials Division, a specialty materials provider in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe, and the commercial director for Dow Water & Process Solutions, a global leader in water desalination and purification technology. Dr. Kadri also is on the board of directors of L’Oréal S.A., where she serves on the Audit Committee. |
Skills and Qualifications: Dr. Kadri has extensive international experience, having held executive leadership roles in Europe, the U.S., Middle East and Africa regions. In addition, as a chemical engineer, with a master’s degree in physics and chemistry, and a doctorate degree in reactive extrusion, Dr. Kadri brings a unique perspective on manufacturing, research and development, with a focus on sustainability and water technology that are directly applicable to our industry. Her extensive experience as a sitting chief executive officer, as well as a board member at L’Oréal brings unique perspectives. She also has extensive digital/e-commerce, cybersecurity and merger/acquisition experiences that benefit our company. Dr. Kadri also brings gender and ethnic diversity to our Board. | ||
10 A. O. Smith Corporation
Election of Directors
| MICHAEL M. LARSEN
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Illinois Tool Works, Inc. | ||||
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Director since: 2021 Age: 55 Committee: • Audit |
Director Biography: Since 2013, Mr. Larsen has served as senior vice president and chief financial officer of Illinois Tool Works, Inc., a publicly traded, global, multi-industrial manufacturing leader. He previously served as president and chief executive officer of Gardner Denver, Inc. from 2012 to 2013, and its vice president and chief financial officer from 2010 to 2013. Prior to that, Mr. Larsen was chief financial officer at General Electric (“GE”) Water and Process Technologies from 2009 to 2010 and held a number of global finance leadership roles of increasing responsibility at GE from 1995 to 2009. Mr. Larsen was a director of Gardner Denver, Inc. from 2012 until its acquisition by KKR & Co. Inc. in 2013. |
Skills and Qualifications: Mr. Larsen has extensive executive, financial and operating experience at companies with worldwide manufacturing operations, like our company. He has a thorough knowledge and understanding of generally accepted accounting principles and auditing standards and how they apply to budgeting and financial reporting systems. He has significant experience with mergers and acquisitions, information technology, including cybersecurity, and ESG. Mr. Larsen is qualified as an audit committee financial expert under SEC regulations. | ||
| CHRISTOPHER L. MAPES
Executive Chairman, Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. | ||||
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Director since: 2023 Age: 62 Committee: • Audit |
Director Biography: Mr. Mapes has been with Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc., a global manufacturer of welding, cutting and joining products, since 2011. Most recently, he assumed the role of executive chairman in January 2024. Previously, Mr. Mapes served as president and chief executive officer from 2012 to December 2023, after serving as chief operating officer beginning in 2011. From 2004 to 2011, Mr. Mapes served as executive vice president of A. O. Smith Corporation and president of A. O. Smith Electrical Products Company until the divestiture of this division in 2011. Mr. Mapes serves as a director of Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. and a director of The Timken Company, where he is on its Audit and Nominating and Governance Committees. |
Skills and Qualifications: Mr. Mapes is a seasoned executive with extensive experience leading manufacturing and distribution companies. He understands the challenges of global growth and the complexity of managing international operations. His broad experience includes cybersecurity. In addition to his management experience, Mr. Mapes has both an MBA and a law degree, as well as public company director experience. | ||
2024 Proxy Statement 11
GOVERNANCE OF OUR COMPANY
The Board of Directors
Our business is managed under the direction and oversight of the Board of Directors, who are elected by the stockholders. Directors meet their responsibilities by participating in meetings of the Board of Directors and Board Committees on which they sit, through communication with our chairman and chief executive officer and other officers and employees, by consulting with our independent registered public accounting firm and other third parties, by reviewing materials provided to them and by visiting our offices and plants. During 2023, the Board held eight meetings, five of which were regular Board meetings and three of which were special meetings. The standing Committees of the Board of Directors held a total of 19 meetings, including three special meetings. All directors attended all of the meetings of the Board and Committees on which they served during 2023, with the sole exception of one director who had an unavoidable business conflict with one meeting. Although we have no formal policy on director attendance, all continuing directors attended our 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
The nonmanagement directors of the Board met in executive session without management present five times in 2023 in conjunction with each of its regular meetings. In 2023, the Nominating and Governance Committee modified its Corporate Governance Guidelines with respect to selection of the Presiding Director who presides at such meetings. To provide continuity, particularly considering the recent addition of several new Board members, the Presiding Director serves for a two-year term and rotates among the chairpersons of the following Committees in the following order: Audit Committee, Personnel and Compensation Committee and Nominating and Governance Committee. The Presiding Director from April 2022 to April 2024 was Idelle K. Wolf, the chairperson of the Audit Committee. Ronald D. Brown, the chairperson of the Personnel and Compensation Committee will serve as the Presiding Director from April 2024 to April 2026. Any party wishing to communicate with the Presiding Director may send correspondence to the Presiding Director, c/o James F. Stern, Corporate Secretary, A. O. Smith Corporation, 11270 West Park Place, P.O. Box 245008, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53224-9508.
Director Independence and Financial Literacy. The Smith Family Voting Trust has the power to elect a majority of our Class A Directors, who make up a majority of the Board. As of December 31, 2023, the Smith Family Voting Trust directly or beneficially owned 96.9% of Class A Common Stock and therefore 96.9% of voting power with respect to the election of the Class A Directors. Since the Board is currently composed of six Class A Directors and four Common Stock Directors, the Smith Family Voting Trust effectively exercises control over voting power for a majority of the members of our Board of Directors, and therefore, we have qualified as a “controlled company” under the NYSE rules. As a controlled company, under NYSE rules, we may choose to not have a majority of independent directors or compensation or governance committees consisting solely of independent directors. Notwithstanding our status as a controlled company, the Board has not elected to utilize the “controlled company” exemption in any respect because, as described below, we have a Board in which a majority of our members consist of independent directors, and all members of the Audit Committee, Personnel and Compensation Committee, and Nominating and Governance Committee are independent for SEC and NYSE purposes.
As described in the Corporate Governance Guidelines available on our website, www.aosmith.com, we apply the NYSE rules to determine director independence. The Nominating and Governance Committee (“Committee”) annually evaluates the independence of each director and makes recommendations to the Board. As part of this process, the Committee evaluates any related party transactions disclosed by directors in the detailed Directors’ and Officers’ Questionnaires completed annually by each director. There were no transactions above the reporting threshold for related party transactions under SEC rules. In making its recommendations, the Committee also applied the NYSE rules and evaluated any other legal, accounting and family relationships between directors and our company. In particular, the Board and Committee considered that Christopher Mapes is the executive chairman of Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. Our company has a longstanding contractual relationship with Lincoln Electric subsidiaries to purchase welding supplies, which was entered into in arms’ length transactions following competitive bidding and commenced before he joined our Board. The Board and Committee determined that this relationship is not material and does not affect his independence. The Committee also considered that two directors, Victoria Holt and Ajita Rajendra, are directors of Waste Management, Inc. and Donaldson Company, Inc.,
12 A. O. Smith Corporation
Governance of Our Company
respectively, from which we purchase services and supplies in arm’s length transactions in the ordinary course of business. Since their interests arise solely from their director positions, the Board and the Committee determined that these relationships are not material and do not affect their independence.
The Committee and the Board also considered that Mark Smith is a trustee of the Smith Family Voting Trust and that he and his descendants are also beneficiaries of material economic interests associated with the Class A Common Stock subject to this Trust. The members of the Committee and Board (other than Mr. Smith) concluded that such voting power and interests do not impair the independence of Mr. Smith and that the economic interests in stock of the company of which he and his descendants are beneficiaries align his interests with those of stockholders generally, consistent with NYSE Commentary to Rule 303A.02 (Independence Tests) which states that “the Exchange does not view ownership of even a significant amount of stock, by itself, as a bar to an independence finding.”
The Board has determined that Messrs. Brown, Larsen, Mapes, Rajendra and Smith, Dr. Kadri and Ms. Holt meet the NYSE independence requirements. With respect to Mr. Fister and Ms. Martin, new director nominees, the Board determined that both meet the NYSE independence requirements. Finally, Mr. Wheeler is considered a management director by virtue of his current position as an executive officer of our company.
The Board recognizes that the NYSE rules require financial literacy of Audit Committee members only. Notwithstanding that, as a best practice, the Board has reviewed the qualifications and experience of all of the Board members and determined that each director is financially literate within the meaning of the NYSE rules.
Board Composition. We believe that the makeup of the Board should be tailored to our company’s evolving needs. Our goal is a mix of tenure, diversity, skills and experience on the Board, with a balance of longer-tenured, experienced directors and newer directors with fresh perspectives. Our Nominating and Governance Committee regularly reviews the experience and expertise of our Board and considers the ongoing and evolving needs of the company as well as appropriate changes based on those needs and the requirements of our Corporate Governance Guidelines, including those mandating that, absent a waiver by the Board, directors not stand for election beyond age 72. The addition of Ms. Holt and Mr. Larsen in 2021 and Mr. Mapes in 2023 brought fresh perspectives to our Board, as will Mr. Fister and Ms. Martin, assuming they are elected by our stockholders at our 2024 Annual Meeting. Further, to provide balance, in light of his extensive experience at our company and knowledge of our business, we have asked Mr. Rajendra to stand for re-election this year, and he has agreed to do so.
We believe that we have an appropriate mix of shorter-tenured directors who bring a fresh perspective and longer-tenured directors with experience and institutional knowledge. Our commitment to Board refreshment is reflected in the fact that the average director tenure has been reduced from 14.1 in 2020 to 8.1 this year, presuming our director nominees are elected by our stockholders at our 2024 Annual Meeting. With respect to our longer-tenured directors, we believe their long-term perspective has been an advantage to us as we entered new markets, providing both historical perspective and a better understanding of upcoming challenges. Further, we believe that long-term service does not adversely affect director independence. With their in-depth knowledge of the company, these directors are comfortable speaking up and asking probing questions, which we believe improves the ability of the Board to provide constructive guidance and informed oversight. Further, given the voting power exercised by the Smith Family Voting Trust, representation of Mark Smith on our Board works to align the interests of our largest stockholder with those of the Board, through his exposure to the company’s strategic and operational planning and decision-making, and his active participation in the governance of the company. To balance our three longer-tenured independent directors, we will have six independent directors (assuming Mr. Fister and Ms. Martin, the new director nominees, are elected at the Annual Meeting) who joined our Board within the last seven years. They have brought new skills, fresh perspectives and diversity to our Board. For all these reasons, we believe that our Board has struck the right balance as to director tenure.
We also have a former chief executive officer, Mr. Rajendra, serving on our Board, who, in accordance with NYSE rules, is considered an independent director as of May 1, 2023, three years after his retirement from our
2024 Proxy Statement 13
Governance of Our Company
company. We believe Mr. Rajendra’s participation on our Board provides a significant benefit to our company, complementing the perspectives of our executive leadership and the members of our Board who have joined us in the past several years. Mr. Rajendra presided over a period of highly profitable growth for our company and provides an invaluable perspective.
Board Information and Stockholder Communications. We are committed to making our corporate governance information accessible to stockholders and other interested parties. Accordingly, on our website, www.aosmith.com, under the “Investors” heading, and then “Governance” subheading, we have published the A. O. Smith Corporation Guiding Principles and the Financial Code of Ethics and provided a link entitled “Stockholder Contacts” to communicate with directors. Likewise, under “Investors,” “Governance,” and then “Board of Directors,” we have provided a list of the members of our Board of Directors. Further, under the “Board Committees and Charters” subheading, we have Committee Assignments, the Charters for the Audit, Nominating and Governance, and Personnel and Compensation Committees, Corporate Governance Guidelines and Criteria for Selecting Board of Director Candidates. Finally, SEC filings, including our Form 10-K, Forms 10-Q, Forms 8-K, Proxy Statement and Section 16 filings, are available for review on this website under the heading “Investors,” and then “SEC Filings” subheading. Stockholders may also request that these documents be mailed by sending their request to the address provided below.
We encourage communication with our directors. Any interested party may communicate with a particular director, all directors, nonmanagement or independent directors as a group or the Presiding Director by mail or courier addressed to him/her or the entire Board in care of the Corporate Secretary at the following address:
c/o James F. Stern, Corporate Secretary
A. O. Smith Corporation
11270 West Park Place
P.O. Box 245008
Milwaukee, WI 53224-9508
The Corporate Secretary will forward this communication unopened to the addressed director.
Procedure for Review of Related Party Transactions. Potential conflicts of interest must be approved in advance, including related party transactions reportable under SEC rules, or related to the Smith family, in accordance with
14 A. O. Smith Corporation
Governance of Our Company
our Corporate Governance Guidelines. We have a detailed code of conduct, the A. O. Smith Corporation Guiding Principles, which applies to all employees, officers and directors, and specifically addresses conflicts of interest. There has been no waiver of the code of conduct, requested or granted, for any directors or officers. Further, the Corporate Governance Guidelines provide the procedure for review of related party transactions reportable under SEC rules, with approval by the Nominating and Governance Committee required if any such transaction involves a director, executive officer or his/her immediate family members. Other than the matters identified in “Director Independence and Financial Literacy,” each of which was reviewed by the Nominating and Governance Committee and the Board and determined to not be material, there have been no related party transactions.
Potential Director Candidates. The Nominating and Governance Committee will consider any candidate recommended by stockholders, directors, officers, third-party search firms and other sources for nomination as a director. The Committee considers the needs of the Board and evaluates each director candidate in light of, among other things, the candidate’s qualifications. All candidates’ minimum qualifications are identified in the Corporate Governance Guidelines and the Criteria for Selecting Board of Director Candidates, both of which can be found on our website by clicking on “Investors,” then “Governance,” followed by “Board Committees and Charters.” To summarize, all nonmanagement candidates should be independent and possess substantial and significant experience which would be of value to our company in the performance of the duties of a director. Recommended candidates must be of the highest character and integrity, free of any conflicts of interest, have an inquiring mind and vision, and possess the ability to work collaboratively with others. Further, directors should have diverse backgrounds and expertise, including diversity of gender and race, required for the Board to fulfill its duties. Each candidate must have the time available to devote to Board activities and be of an age that, if elected, the candidate could serve on the Board for at least five years before reaching the mandatory retirement age, which is 72, absent a waiver approved by the Board. Finally, we believe it appropriate for certain key members of our management to participate as members of the Board, while recognizing that a majority of independent directors must be maintained at all times. All candidates will be reviewed in the same manner, regardless of the source of the recommendation. Although not part of any formal policy, our goal is a balanced and diverse Board, with members whose skills, background and experience are complementary and, together, cover the spectrum of areas that impact our business.
A stockholder recommendation of a director candidate must be received no later than the date for submission of stockholder proposals. Please see the section of this Proxy Statement entitled “Dates for Stockholder Proposals.” The recommendation letter should be sent by mail to the Chairperson, Nominating and Governance Committee, c/o James F. Stern, Corporate Secretary, A. O. Smith Corporation, 11270 West Park Place, P.O. Box 245008, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53224-9508.
The recommendation letter must, at a minimum, provide the stockholder’s name, address, the number and class of shares owned; the candidate’s biographical information, including name, residential and business addresses, telephone number, age, education, accomplishments, employment history (including positions held and current position), and current and former directorships; and the stockholder’s opinion as to whether the stockholder recommended candidate meets the definitions of “independent” and “financially literate” under the NYSE rules. In addition, the recommendation letter must provide the information that would be required to be disclosed in the solicitation of proxies for election of directors under federal securities laws. The stockholder must include the candidate’s statement that he/she meets these requirements and those identified on our website; is willing to promptly complete the Questionnaire required of all officers, directors and candidates for nomination to the Board; will provide such other information as the Committee may reasonably request; and consents to serve on the Board if elected.
A stockholder who desires to nominate a candidate for election as a director must comply with the provisions of our By-laws described under the section of this Proxy Statement entitled “Dates for Stockholder Proposals.”
2024 Proxy Statement 15
Governance of Our Company
Board Committees
The Board of Directors has delegated some of its authority to Committees of the Board. There are three standing Committees: the Audit Committee, the Personnel and Compensation Committee, and the Nominating and Governance Committee. Each standing committee is discussed below. The Board has approved changes in Committee membership and chairpersons assuming the director nominees are elected by stockholders at the Annual Meeting. These anticipated committee assignments are also discussed below.
| Audit Committee | ||
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Proposed 2024 Membership:
• Mr. Fister • Mr. Larsen (Chairperson) • Mr. Mapes • Ms. Martin |
The Audit Committee oversees our financial reporting process and the activities of our internal audit function, and appoints the firm that will act as our independent registered public accounting firm. In appointing our independent registered public accounting firm, the Committee reviews its qualifications and its independence. As part of its oversight, the Committee considers the performance of our internal audit function and the independent registered public accounting firm, and reviews our enterprise risk management policies and procedures as well as our process for compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. The Committee is empowered to investigate any matter that comes to its attention and may retain independent legal counsel, advisors, or other experts for advice and assistance as the Committee deems appropriate. As part of its responsibilities, the Committee ensures there is free and open communication among the Committee, our internal audit function, our independent registered public accounting firm and management regarding these matters. The Audit Committee’s duties and responsibilities are set forth in its Charter, which has been approved by the Board and is available on our website.
The Audit Committee members are Mr. Larsen, Chairperson, Mr. Mapes and will include Mr. Fister and Ms. Martin, the two director nominees, if elected at the Annual Meeting. Ms. Idelle Wolf, the current Chairperson of the Audit Committee, is retiring from our Board at the Annual Meeting. The Committee consists of at least three directors, all of whom are independent and financially literate under NYSE rules and have been determined to be independent of any conflict with respect to the independent registered public accounting firm. The Board of Directors has determined that Messrs. Fister and Larsen and Mses. Martin and Wolf each qualifies as audit committee financial experts as defined under SEC rules. The Committee held nine meetings during 2023. The Audit Committee Report is included as part of this Proxy Statement.
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16 A. O. Smith Corporation
Governance of Our Company
| Personnel and Compensation Committee | ||
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Proposed 2024 Membership:
• Mr. Brown (Chairperson) • Ms. Holt • Dr. Kadri • Mr. Smith |
The Personnel and Compensation Committee is responsible for establishing and administering our compensation and benefit plans for officers, executives and management employees, including the determination of eligibility for participation in such plans. It determines the compensation to be paid to officers and certain other selected executives and evaluates the performance of the chairman and chief executive officer in light of established goals and objectives. As it deems appropriate, the Committee may retain independent consultants to provide recommendations as to executive compensation. The Committee reviews the recommendation of the Nominating and Governance Committee concerning any conflicts involving such consultants and makes a determination as to their independence prior to their retention. The Committee directs the senior vice president – human resources and public affairs to prepare computations for its consideration and considers recommendations of the chief executive officer as to compensation of executives other than the chief executive officer. The Committee also provides oversight to the company’s management with respect to the company’s pension and savings plans. Further, the Committee provides oversight of our recoupment (“clawback”) policy for incentive compensation. The Personnel and Compensation Committee’s duties and responsibilities are set forth in its Charter, which has been approved by the Board and is available on our website.
The Personnel and Compensation Committee members are Mr. Brown, Chairperson, Ms. Holt, Dr. Kadri and Mr. Smith. The Committee consists of four directors, all of whom are independent under SEC and NYSE rules and have been determined to be independent of any conflict with respect to the Committee’s compensation consultant. The Committee held four meetings during 2023. The Personnel and Compensation Committee Report is included as part of this Proxy Statement.
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2024 Proxy Statement 17
Governance of Our Company
| Nominating and Governance Committee | ||
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Proposed 2024 Membership:
• Ms. Holt (Chairperson) • Mr. Brown • Dr. Kadri • Mr. Smith |
The Nominating and Governance Committee oversees our governance processes and procedures, assists the Board in identifying qualified candidates for election as Board members, and establishes and periodically reviews criteria for selection of directors. This Committee reviews our company’s and the Board Committees’ structures to ensure appropriate oversight of risk. Further, the Committee provides direction to the Board as to the independence, financial literacy and financial expertise of directors, and the composition of the Board and its Committees. As part of its responsibilities, the Committee reviews the independence of consultants to the Personnel and Compensation Committee and makes recommendations to the Personnel and Compensation Committee as to their independence. The Committee also is responsible for reviewing and making recommendations to the Board as to director compensation. In addition, the Committee provides oversight to the Board with respect to our ongoing Environmental, Social and Governance program to ensure program milestones are met. The responsibilities and duties of the Nominating and Governance Committee are set forth in its Charter, which has been approved by the Board and is available on our website.
The Nominating and Governance Committee members are Ms. Holt, Chairperson, Mr. Brown, Dr. Kadri and Mr. Smith. The Committee consists of four directors, all of whom are independent under the NYSE rules. The Nominating and Governance Committee met six times during 2023, including three special meetings. The Report of the Nominating and Governance Committee is included as part of this Proxy Statement.
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Our Leadership Structure
Kevin J. Wheeler holds the combined position of chairman and chief executive officer. He assumed the role of chairman in 2020 in addition to president and chief executive officer, which he became in 2018. This structure completed a long planned and orderly succession process of our company leadership, as a result of which we have a single strong leader who represents our company. We have traditionally used this leadership structure, which we believe benefits our stockholders, customers and other key stakeholders by having a single well-recognized and regarded leader.
While we realize that the chairman position is held by an executive officer, we believe the independent members of our Board and the three standing Board Committees provide appropriate oversight. In this regard, the Audit Committee oversees the accounting and financial reporting processes, as well as legal and compliance matters. The Personnel and Compensation Committee oversees the annual performance of our chairman and chief executive officer, as well as our executive compensation program, and oversees our retirement and savings plans. The Nominating and Governance Committee evaluates independence issues and monitors matters such as the composition and performance of the Board and its Committees, as well as the company’s Environmental, Social and Governance program. Each Committee is led by an independent chairperson other than the chairman and chief executive officer and, as discussed in more detail in this Proxy Statement, the entire Board of Directors is actively involved in overseeing our risk management. Altogether, we believe this framework strikes a sound balance with appropriate oversight.
Further, we have a Presiding Director who is an independent director and chairs meetings of all nonmanagement directors in executive session, and consults with the chairman on Board agendas, materials and topics, as well as provides feedback from the meeting of the independent directors. In 2023, each regular Board meeting included a
18 A. O. Smith Corporation
Governance of Our Company
nonmanagement directors’ session. This allows directors to speak candidly on any matter of interest, without the chairman and chief executive officer or other management present. In accordance with our Corporate Governance Guidelines, the role of Presiding Director rotates among committee chairs every two years, to provide continuity in director oversight. We believe this structure provides consistent and effective oversight of our management and our company.
Our directors bring a broad range of leadership experience to the boardroom and regularly contribute to the thoughtful discussion involved in overseeing the affairs of our company. We believe all Board members are well-engaged in their responsibilities, and all Board members express their views and are open to the opinions expressed by other directors. We conduct a robust evaluation of our Board annually to help ensure that the Board is open and well-functioning and to identify and address any director concerns. We do not believe that appointing an independent board chairman, or a permanent Presiding Director, would improve the performance of the Board.
Consideration of Risk
Our Board is actively involved in overseeing our risk management. In 2023, areas of particular focus for the Board included oversight of the company’s assessment of the risk of doing business in China, including marketplace, operational and geopolitical considerations, as well as oversight of the company’s Environmental, Social and Governance program, global privacy program and cybersecurity matters.
We seek to identify and address significant and material risks through our Enterprise Risk Management (“ERM”) process. Our ERM process assesses, manages and monitors risks consistent with the integrated risk framework in the Enterprise Risk Management – Integrated Framework (2017) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). We believe that risk-taking is an inherent aspect of the pursuit of our strategy. Our goal is to avoid risks and, if not, to prudently manage such risks.
Senior management prioritizes identified risks and assigns an executive to address each major identified risk area and lead action plans to manage risks. Senior management presents on these risks to the Board at a majority of meetings each year. Our Board of Directors provides oversight of the ERM process and reviews and actively engages in discussion of significant identified risks to the company.
In addition, each of our Board Committees considers risk within its area of responsibility. For instance, our Audit Committee asks management to address a specific critical accounting issue at most of its meetings and considers the overall impact that the issue has on our financial position and risk profile. In addition, they discuss legal and compliance matters and assess the adequacy of our risk-related internal controls. The Audit Committee oversees the frequency and creation of surveys by management of ERM matters and reviews with the Board and management the company’s ERM program, including specific risk topics that are addressed in presentations to the Board, including information security risk and privacy compliance. Likewise, the Nominating and Governance Committee annually reviews governance practices with respect to risk and oversight. The Nominating and Governance Committee also provides oversight for risks related to environmental, social and governance matters. Additionally, on an annual basis, the Nominating and Governance Committee reviews our company’s and Board Committees’ structures to ensure appropriate oversight of risk. The Personnel and Compensation Committee considers risk and structures our executive compensation programs with an eye to providing incentives to appropriately reward executives for profitable revenue growth without undue risk-taking. Each year, the Personnel and Compensation Committee also performs a risk assessment with respect to all of our incentive compensation programs globally and reviews the executive succession process. The Personnel and Compensation Committee also provides oversight on the risk and return of our investments for retirement plans and our recoupment (“clawback”) policy for incentive compensation.
Further, our approach to compensation practices and policies applicable to employees throughout our organization is consistent with that followed for executives. In this regard, the Personnel and Compensation Committee analyzed our compensation and, among other things, concluded that no individual business segment carries a
2024 Proxy Statement 19
Governance of Our Company
significant portion of our risk profile; has significantly different compensation structure from the others; pays compensation expenses as a significant percentage of its revenue; or varies significantly from the overall risk and reward structure of our company. Accordingly, we believe that risks arising from our operating environment and our incentive programs are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our company.
We typically benchmark our compensation and benefits packages at all levels of the organization every year. Base pay, bonus targets and long-term incentives are targeted to market median for each position. Most exempt salaried positions are eligible for participation in a bonus program. For employees in a corporate function, 2023 annual incentive programs were based upon attainment of the same net sales and earnings before interest and taxes (“EBIT”) targets as our executives. Annual incentive programs at our business segments are based upon attainment of business unit net sales and earnings before interest and taxes (“PEBIT”), financial and strategic objectives established and approved annually. A limited number of key managers below the executive level are eligible to participate in a long-term incentive program that awards restricted stock units in varying amounts based upon position and market comparisons. However, awards normally are subject to at least a three-year cliff vesting or pro rata vesting period. We feel this combination of base salary, bonus plans tied to critical financial measurements and long-term incentives with three-year vesting periods is balanced and serves to motivate our employees to accomplish our company objectives and retain key employees while avoiding unreasonable risk-taking.
Cybersecurity Risk Assessment and Oversight
Our company analyzes and assesses information security risks associated with our business on an ongoing basis. As part of our program, our company routinely tests our controls and information systems. We also provide information security training for our salaried employees annually, conduct monthly phishing simulations, and provide periodic cybersecurity communications to all salaried employees.
Our Board recognizes the importance of maintaining the trust and confidence of our customers, employees, and suppliers with respect to our information security and, as a part of its oversight, devotes considerable time and attention to cybersecurity. The Board received one comprehensive briefing on information systems and cybersecurity in 2023, including outside legal experts in the field. In addition, at every meeting, the Audit Committee meets with management to review and oversee risk exposures related to information security, cybersecurity and data protection, and the steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures. This includes Committee review of training, risk assessment, internal controls, security software, incident response plans and forward-looking information security strategies. The company also performs periodic cybersecurity assessments against nationally recognized industry standards. Additionally, our procedures require our Board to be notified of any material breach of our information systems. While the company has experienced information security incidents and attacks, and may in the future, the company has not experienced any material information security incidents or breaches.
20 A. O. Smith Corporation
Governance of Our Company
Our Commitment to Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability
| We are committed to growing our business in a sustainable and socially responsible manner consistent with our Guiding Principles. This commitment has driven us to design, engineer and manufacture highly innovative and efficient products in an environmentally responsible manner that helps reduce energy consumption, conserve water and improve drinking water quality and public health. Consistent with this commitment, we issue our sustainability report biennially detailing our company’s historical and current efforts. We issued our third report, the 2022 Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) Report in December 2022, documenting our ESG activities over the two years prior to the report, and plan to issue our fourth report later in 2024. These reports detail the positive impact of our highly efficient products, highlight our company’s commitment to employees and the communities in which we operate, and report on our progress toward our goals. In 2024, we will continue to report on our greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal of 10% by 2025 and will also discuss our water stewardship goal. Our scorecard reflecting our progress is available on our website.
To hold ourselves accountable, we have established ESG oversight at the Board and management levels. In 2018, we formed an ESG Council comprised of a cross-section of leaders from operations; product engineering; environment, health and safety; legal affairs; investor relations; human resources and supply chain. In 2023, we assessed and expanded where appropriate Council membership. The Council makes recommendations about ESG priorities and goals, key performance indicators and potential reporting enhancements, while also identifying improvement areas regarding our ESG activities. Our director of ESG manages the Council and reports directly to our executive vice president and chief financial officer, who chairs the ESG Council. Our ESG Council is accountable to our chief executive officer and our Board. The Board provides oversight of the company’s ESG efforts, receives annual sustainability updates, and reviews the company’s ESG efforts including its periodic ESG reports. In 2023, the Board received one comprehensive briefing on ESG reporting and initiatives.
In 2023, the Board added an element to the executive long-term incentive compensation program to reward our executives for performance against critical strategic issues facing our company. For 2023, that measure was the greenhouse gas emission reduction goal established in our 2020 ESG report.
Our ESG reports are available on our website, www.aosmith.com, the contents of which are not incorporated by reference into this Proxy Statement. |
||
2024 Proxy Statement 21
Governance of Our Company
Public Policy and Regulatory Advocacy
As a leading, global water technology manufacturing company, we believe we have a responsibility as a good corporate citizen to participate in the public policy and regulatory process. Accordingly, we engage and advocate on public policy and regulatory issues that are core to our businesses through ongoing, constructive, and transparent interactions with government officials, policymakers, industry and trade associations and other stakeholder groups. These engagements are grounded in and guided by our commitment to strong corporate governance, compliance with our Guiding Principles, and respect and adherence to applicable laws in the jurisdictions in which we operate globally.
We believe that involvement in industry and trade associations is beneficial to our business, and, therefore, we participate as a member in a number of these organizations. Our participation in an organization may be, in whole or in part, to advance collaborative and constructive approaches to industry engagement with policymakers and other stakeholders to help advance the company’s business goals. We pay membership dues to a number of trade associations and industry groups that may use these funds at their discretion to fund political activities. However, our membership in an organization does not imply our endorsement of all of the policy positions of that particular group. We review these memberships annually to assess their business value and alignment with the company’s overall public policy agenda.
We also maintain and administer the A. O. Smith Political Action Committee (“AOSPAC”). The AOSPAC was created to allow our eligible employees and directors to act together in supporting candidates who seek to advance public policies that are supportive of our employees, products and the communities in which we live and work. Governed by a board of directors and a set of bylaws, the AOSPAC complies with applicable laws, including with respect to registration and the filing of required information with the Federal Election Commission.
22 A. O. Smith Corporation
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
Overview
The Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board of Directors is responsible for reviewing and making recommendations to the Board as to director compensation, which is reviewed annually. Nonemployee directors are compensated in the form of cash and shares of Common Stock. Management directors receive no compensation for their service on our Board.
For 2023, the Board approved the Committee’s recommendation to make no changes in its director compensation program. Current director compensation is set forth below. All cash retainers are paid quarterly. The equity retainer is paid in the form of shares of our Common Stock upon a director’s election to the Board after each annual meeting of stockholders.
NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTOR COMPENSATION STRUCTURE
| Pay Element |
Committee | Amount | ||
| Board Cash Retainer |
$103,500 | |||
| Board Equity Retainer |
$140,000 | |||
| Committee Chair Cash Retainers |
Audit Committee | $ 20,000 | ||
| Personnel and Compensation Committee |
$ 15,000 | |||
| Nominating and Governance Committee |
$ 15,000 | |||
| Presiding Independent Director Cash Retainer |
$ 30,000 | |||
Director Compensation
| Name1 |
Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($)2 |
Stock Awards ($)3,4 |
Option Awards ($) |
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($) |
Change in Pension Value and Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Earnings ($) |
All Other Compensation ($)5 |
Total ($) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Ronald D. Brown |
$ | 118,500 | $ | 140,018 | — | — | — | — | $ | 258,518 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Earl E. Exum6 |
103,500 | 140,018 | — | — | — | — | 243,518 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Victoria M. Holt |
118,500 | 140,018 | — | — | — | — | 258,518 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Dr. Ilham Kadri |
103,500 | 140,018 | — | — | — | — | 243,518 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Michael M. Larsen |
103,500 | 140,018 | — | — | — | — | 243,518 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Christopher Mapes |
77,625 | 140,018 | — | — | — | — | 217,643 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Ajita G. Rajendra |
103,500 | 140,018 | — | — | — | — | 243,518 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Mark D. Smith |
103,500 | 140,018 | — | — | — | — | 243,518 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Idelle K. Wolf |
153,500 | 140,018 | — | — | — | — | 293,518 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Gene C. Wulf7 |
25,875 | — | — | — | — | — | 25,875 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Mr. Wheeler, as an employee director, receives no compensation for his service as a director. |
| 2 | Includes amounts earned during 2023, even if deferred. Mr. Exum deferred 100% of his cash retainer fees in 2023. |
2024 Proxy Statement 23
Director Compensation
| 3 | Reflects the grant date fair value of stock awards calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. For a discussion of valuation assumptions, see Note 12 to our 2023 Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. Directors receive a stock award of Common Stock as part of their annual retainer. On April 11, 2023, each then serving director except for Mr. Wheeler received a stock award worth $140,018, or 2,126 shares valued at $65.86 per share, which was the adjusted average of the high and low prices on the grant date rounded up to the next whole share. Mr. Brown has deferred his receipt of 69,762 shares until his separation from service as a director. Ms. Holt has deferred her receipt of 6,542 shares until her separation from service as a director. Mr. Larsen has deferred his receipt of 6,542 shares until his separation from service as a director. Ms. Wolf has deferred her receipt of 9,981 shares until her separation from service as a director, which will be April 9, 2024. Deferred stock holdings include dividends on deferred stock which are paid in the form of restricted stock units. |
| 4 | Each director as of December 31, 2023, owned the following aggregate number of shares or restricted stock units in connection with service as a director: Mr. Brown, 74,493; Ms. Holt, 6,542; Dr. Kadri, 17,223; Mr. Larsen, 17,967; Mr. Mapes, 12,134; Mr. Rajendra, 8,145; Mr. Smith, 114,548; and Ms. Wolf, 56,935. Please see the “Security Ownership of Directors and Management” Table for additional information. |
| 5 | None of the directors received perquisites or other personal benefits in an aggregate amount of $10,000 or more. We reimburse directors for transportation, lodging and other expenses actually incurred in attending Board and Committee meetings. |
| 6 | Mr. Exum died on October 1, 2023. Reflects compensation paid prior to his death. |
| 7 | Mr. Wulf did not stand for re-election at the April 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Reflects compensation paid to him prior to his retirement. |
The Board requires that every new director participate in a detailed orientation, including visits to our key operations. This encompasses a review of business and financial operations, meetings with business executives and others, and an overview of our corporate governance policies and procedures. New directors receive no additional compensation for their participation in orientation matters.
The stock ownership requirement for directors is five times the applicable cash retainer received by the director in the last year. Each director is required to acquire beneficial ownership of A. O. Smith Corporation Common Stock having an aggregate value equal to this stock ownership requirement within five years of his or her election as a new director. All directors have met this requirement, except Ms. Holt, who joined our Board three years ago and Mr. Mapes, who joined last year. Both are on track to meet this requirement.
Certain directors have elected to defer the payment of their fees and receipt of Common Stock shares under the A. O. Smith Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Plan (the “Deferred Compensation Plan”). The Deferred Compensation Plan allows directors to defer all or a portion (not less than 25%) of their fees until a later date, but not later than the year in which the director ceases service as a director. Payments can be made in a lump sum or in not more than 10 annual installments. This is handled as a bookkeeping entry, with gains and losses credited to the director’s account each month based on the director’s crediting election. The crediting election is used to designate the investment fund(s) as the basis for calculating the rate of return equivalent for the director’s account. Mr. Exum elected to defer payment of his director fees during 2023. Mr. Brown, Ms. Holt and Mr. Larsen have deferred receipt of their stock awards in 2023, which consequently are treated as restricted stock units. Dividends on stock which have been deferred as restricted stock units are also received in the form of restricted stock units based on the average of the high and low price of our Common Stock on the date of the dividend.
24 A. O. Smith Corporation
STOCK OWNERSHIP
Security Ownership of Directors and Management
The following table shows, as of December 31, 2023, the Class A Common Stock and Common Stock of our company beneficially owned by each director, each nominee for director, each named executive officer in the “Summary Compensation Table” and by all directors and executive officers as a group.
| Name |
Class A Common Stock1,2 |
Percent of Class A Common Stock |
Common Stock1,2 |
Restricted Stock Units |
Options Exercisable Within 60 Days |
Percent of Common Stock |
||||||||||||||||||
| Ronald D. Brown |
0 | 0 | 4,731 | 69,762 | 0 | * | ||||||||||||||||||
| Todd W. Fister |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | * | ||||||||||||||||||
| Victoria M. Holt |
0 | 0 | 0 | 6,542 | 0 | * | ||||||||||||||||||
| Dr. Ilham Kadri |
0 | 0 | 17,223 | 0 | 0 | * | ||||||||||||||||||
| Michael M. Larsen |
0 | 0 | 11,425 | 6,542 | 0 | * | ||||||||||||||||||
| Charles T. Lauber |
0 | 0 | 33,166 | 20,760 | 101,098 | * | ||||||||||||||||||
| Christopher L. Mapes |
0 | 0 | 12,134 | 3 | 0 | 0 | * | |||||||||||||||||
| Lois Martin |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | * | ||||||||||||||||||
| Mark A. Petrarca |
0 | 0 | 85,671 | 11,575 | 59,273 | * | ||||||||||||||||||
| Ajita G. Rajendra |
0 | 0 | 288,356 | 4 | 0 | 153,395 | * | |||||||||||||||||
| Mark D. Smith |
274,452 | 5 | 1.06 | % | 130,277 | 6 | 0 | 0 | * | |||||||||||||||
| James F. Stern |
0 | 0 | 120,000 | 14,865 | 101,308 | * | ||||||||||||||||||
| David R. Warren |
0 | 0 | 11,104 | 12,270 | 48,551 | * | ||||||||||||||||||
| Kevin J. Wheeler |
0 | 0 | 71,463 | 79,275 | 433,211 | * | ||||||||||||||||||
| Idelle K. Wolf |
0 | 0 | 46,954 | 7 | 9,981 | 0 | * | |||||||||||||||||
| All 23 Directors, Nominees and Executive Officers as a Group |
274,452 | 1.06 | % | 848,234 | 276,182 | 1,000,939 | 1.75 | % | ||||||||||||||||
| * | Represents less than one percent. |
| 1 | Except as otherwise noted, all securities are held with sole voting and sole dispositive power. |
| 2 | Shares of Class A Common Stock are convertible on a share-for-share basis into shares of Common Stock at any time at the discretion of each holder. As a result, a holder of shares of Class A Common Stock is deemed to beneficially own an equal number of shares of Common Stock. However, to avoid overstatement of the aggregate beneficial ownership of both classes of our outstanding capital stock, the shares of Class A Common Stock listed in the table do not include shares of Common Stock that may be acquired upon the conversion of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock. Similarly, the percentage of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned is determined with respect to the total number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, excluding shares of Common Stock that may be issued upon conversion of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock. |
| 3 | Included in this total are 10,000 shares beneficially owned because they are held in his spousal lifetime access trust and 2,134 shares held directly by Mr. Mapes. |
| 4 | Included in this total are 231,405 shares beneficially owned because they are held in his spouse’s revocable trust or grantor revocable annuity trust and 56,951 shares held directly by Mr. Rajendra. |
| 5 | Included in this total are 270,776 shares beneficially owned as a settlor of a revocable family trust and 3,676 shares beneficially owned because they are held by his spouse. |
| 6 | Included in this total are 8,956 shares beneficially owned because they are held by his spouse, 6,773 shares beneficially owned as a settlor of a revocable family trust and 114,548 shares held directly by Mark D. Smith. |
| 7 | All shares are held by Idelle K. Wolf in a revocable living trust. |
2024 Proxy Statement 25
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
| 1 | In January 2024, Mr. Warren advised us of his retirement effective April 1, 2024. |
26 A. O. Smith Corporation
Executive Compensation
Compensation Philosophy
We believe that effective executive compensation programs are critical to our long-term success. We have developed compensation programs with the following objectives:
| • | attracting and retaining world-class executives through a total compensation opportunity that is competitive within the various markets in which we compete for talent; |
| • | encouraging a pay-for-performance mentality by directly relating variable compensation elements to the achievement of financial and strategic objectives without encouraging undue risk-taking. Incentive plans are designed to recognize and reward accomplishing individual and organizational goals, as well as our long-term objectives; and |
| • | promoting a direct relationship between executive compensation and our stockholder interests. |
Our long-term incentive opportunities link a significant portion of executive compensation to our performance through restricted stock unit and performance stock awards. Executive officers also are expected to comply with established stock ownership guidelines which require acquisition and retention of specific levels of our Common Stock. Our view is that this stock ownership aligns the interests of our management team with our stockholders and encourages executive performance but discourages executives from taking undue risk.
We believe executive total compensation opportunity should increase commensurate with responsibility and capacity to influence our results. Additionally, as responsibility and accountability increase, so should the portion of compensation which is at risk. Therefore, not only do base salaries increase with position and responsibility, but short-term and long-term incentive opportunities as a percentage of total compensation increase as well.
Our executive compensation package is designed to strike a balance between short-term cash compensation in the form of fixed salaries and variable annual incentive plans and long-term compensation in the form of cash-based performance units and equity awards with three-year vesting periods. For the chairman and chief executive officer, approximately 15% of 2023 total target compensation was comprised of base salary, with the remaining 85% being variable compensation dependent on our company performance. The variable compensation was divided so that approximately 18% of total target compensation was attributable to annual incentive bonus and approximately 67% was long-term incentive compensation.
For the other named executive officers, approximately 25-35% of total target compensation was comprised of base salary, with the remaining 65-75% being based on our company performance. The variable compensation is structured so that approximately 20% of total target compensation represents annual incentive bonus, with roughly 45-55% attributable to long-term incentive compensation.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION MIX
| Compensation Component | CEO | Other NEOs | ||||||
| Salary | 15% | 25-35% | ||||||
| Annual Incentives & Bonus | 18% | 20% | ||||||
| Long-Term Incentives | 67% | 45-55% | ||||||
The Personnel and Compensation Committee (“PCC”) approved a long-term incentive plan for 2023 which targeted 65% of the chairman and chief executive officer’s long-term incentives, or approximately 44% of total compensation, as equity-based awards. The PCC targeted 65% of the long-term incentives, or approximately 30-35% of total target compensation, as equity-based awards for the other named executive officers.
2024 Proxy Statement 27
Executive Compensation
EXECUTIVE CASH / EQUITY MIX
| Compensation Component | CEO | Other NEOs | ||||||
| Cash-Based Compensation | 56% | 65 - 70% | ||||||
| Equity-Based Compensation | 44% | 30 - 35% | ||||||
We believe this combination results in a competitive compensation package that provides an incentive for our executives to lead with a focus on short-term results, while positioning us for long-term sustained performance. With approximately 30-44% of their total compensation tied to equity awards, we believe the decisions of named executive officers are aligned with the best interests of our stockholders. We believe this combination of base pay and short-term and long-term incentives supports our objectives of pay-for-performance, while mitigating the potential for undue risk-taking because it ties a significant portion of the executive officer’s compensation to sustained, long-term performance.
Outside Consultants
Just as we compete for market share in highly competitive global markets, we compete for talent in equally competitive labor environments. In order to attract and retain critical leadership in these competitive environments, we strive to provide a comprehensive and competitive total compensation package. We utilize the resources of an independent compensation consultant to aid in establishing our programs and to monitor how they compare with the marketplace. Specifically, the PCC has retained Willis Towers Watson, a leading global executive compensation consulting group, to advise the PCC on market trends relative to executive compensation, provide market data, as requested, and share input and views on issues being discussed by the PCC.
The PCC has sole authority to approve the independent compensation consultant’s fees and terms of engagement on executive compensation matters. The PCC annually reviews its relationship with Willis Towers Watson to ensure its independence on executive compensation matters, taking into account the independence analysis and recommendation of the Nominating and Governance Committee (“NGC”). In making its recommendation, the NGC reviewed the independence of Willis Towers Watson and the individual representatives of Willis Towers Watson who served as the PCC’s advisors, considering the following specific factors: (i) other services provided to us by Willis Towers Watson; (ii) fees paid by us to Willis Towers Watson as a percentage of Willis Towers Watson’s total revenue; (iii) policies and procedures maintained by Willis Towers Watson that are designed to prevent a conflict of interest; (iv) any business or personal relationships between the individual representatives of Willis Towers Watson who advised the PCC and any member of the PCC; (v) any shares of our company’s Common Stock owned by the individual representatives; and (vi) any business or personal relationships between our executive officers and Willis Towers Watson or the individual representatives.
We paid Willis Towers Watson $93,260 in fees in 2023 for consulting services provided to the PCC regarding executive compensation matters, including consulting on our long-term incentive plans. Management subscribes to various Willis Towers Watson compensation databases. Additionally, management utilizes Willis Towers Watson in various consulting capacities related to employee benefits programs and nonexecutive salaried employee compensation. The following table sets forth the fees we paid to Willis Towers Watson in 2023 for services other than those provided to the PCC.
|
Service
|
Fees
|
|||
| Management Compensation Surveys and Benchmarking |
$16,700 | |||
| Benefits Consulting Services |
$546,237 in health and welfare plan consulting paid through credits against commissions earned as broker for life and disability group insurance plans. 2023 year-end credit balance: $66,130; $46,460 for retirement benefits consulting in Canada. | |||
| Health Plan program fees |
$115,000 for participation in Rx Collaborative, Willis Towers Watson’s pharmacy purchasing coalition and $92,557 for the Custom Care Management Unit, which provides personalized care for families with a member having a serious health condition. | |||
28 A. O. Smith Corporation
Executive Compensation
Willis Towers Watson has informed us that the Willis Towers Watson personnel who provide advice to us on executive and director compensation matters are separate from and do not provide other compensation services to our company, nor do they serve as our account manager. The PCC does not approve the services provided by Willis Towers Watson outside the executive compensation advisory role to the PCC but is aware these services are provided.
The PCC concluded, based on the evaluation described above and recommendation from the NGC, that these nonexecutive compensation services performed by Willis Towers Watson did not raise a conflict of interest or impair Willis Towers Watson’s ability to provide independent advice to the PCC regarding executive compensation matters. The PCC’s conclusion was based on a representation letter provided by Willis Towers Watson, the limited scope of the other services provided to us by Willis Towers Watson, the small percentage of Willis Towers Watson’s revenues represented by the fees paid by us, the separation within Willis Towers Watson between its compensation consulting business and its other businesses, the absence of any conflicting relationships between the individual representatives of Willis Towers Watson who provided advice to the PCC or Willis Towers Watson, on the one hand, and members of the PCC or our executive officers, on the other, and review of director and executive officer responses to our annual Directors’ and Officers’ Questionnaire.
Benchmarking
We endeavor to benchmark our executive compensation against similarly situated executives in comparably sized organizations. We believe we compete for executive resources with other nonfinancial institutions across multiple industrial segments. With that in mind, our consultants utilize broad-based, general industry salary surveys and regress their data to organizations with revenues similar to A. O. Smith. We believe market median is an appropriate target for our total compensation program. We attempt to design both short-term and long-term incentives to produce rewards in excess of median market levels when company performance is better than target. The PCC authorized Willis Towers Watson to perform a detailed analysis of our executive compensation levels in 2023, as we do each year.
As we describe below, the PCC asked Willis Towers Watson to provide input on marketplace trends in executive compensation, and overall compensation and components of compensation for 13 executive positions.
We utilize Willis Towers Watson because we believe its survey resources ensure consistent and statistically valid data that is representative of the market in which we compete for executive talent. Its database includes a broad array of over 800 companies. We did not rely on a specific subgroup of peer companies within that database. In working with Willis Towers Watson, we played no role in selecting the companies for which the data was obtained.
For 2023 compensation, Willis Towers Watson performed a regression analysis to reflect base pay levels of an organization with $3.5 billion in revenue and reported its findings to the PCC in October 2022. Its comparison focused on overall compensation, as well as base salary, annual incentive bonus, equity awards and each of the other compensation elements discussed below. We believe its methodology provides appropriate comparisons by utilizing industrial companies of comparable size and referencing databases with comparable executive officer positions.
For 2023, the PCC targeted our overall compensation and benefits programs and each element of compensation at the median level of the surveyed companies. Since a number of variables can influence the relationship of an individual executive’s pay components to the survey median data, the PCC considers a range of 80% to 120% of median to be appropriate when reviewing total compensation. Although the PCC attempts to have each component of compensation in this target range, the PCC puts greater emphasis on achieving the target at the total compensation level. Variables considered include, but are not limited to, education, position tenure, previous experience, level of performance, additional responsibilities and, as appropriate, recruitment considerations.
For 2024, we compared ourselves to the market median of other companies with revenues of $3.75 billion, which represents our reported revenues in 2022.
2024 Proxy Statement 29
Executive Compensation
Consideration of Stockholder Vote on Executive Compensation
At our 2023 Annual Meeting, our stockholders approved the compensation of our named executive officers by approximately 95% of the votes cast, which was consistent with previous years. The PCC considered this vote when setting 2024 compensation levels for our named executive officers and other executives and, as discussed below, made very few changes to the 2024 program.
Role of Executives in Compensation Decisions
The PCC annually reviews the chairman and chief executive officer performance and makes recommendations regarding his compensation for consideration by the full Board. The chairman and chief executive officer is not present during discussions regarding his compensation and he does not play any role in determining his own compensation. As it deems appropriate, the PCC utilizes the Willis Towers Watson compensation data and directs the senior vice president – human resources and public affairs to prepare computations for its consideration. With respect to other executives, the chairman and chief executive officer annually reviews performance and makes compensation recommendations to the PCC. The chairman and chief executive officer reviews compensation data provided by Willis Towers Watson, consults with the senior vice president – human resources and public affairs and considers the individual factors listed above before making his recommendations. The PCC can exercise its discretion to modify any recommended compensation to such executives.
Compensation Elements
The PCC takes a balanced approach to executive compensation. Our executive compensation package is comprised of several key components which are designed to work together to provide executives with a total compensation package that is competitive with industry norms. For 2023, total compensation included:
| • | Annual Base Salary |
| • | Incentives |
| • | Short-Term – annual incentive bonus |
| • | Long-Term – restricted stock units, performance cash and performance stock |
| • | Benefits |
| • | Executive retirement plan and 401(k) savings plan |
| • | Executive life insurance and post-retirement life insurance (grandfathered for executives serving prior to 2019 only) |
| • | Perquisite allowance (grandfathered for executives serving prior to 2016 only) |
Each of these components of the executive compensation package is discussed below.
Base Salary
Base salary provides the executive with a consistent, market competitive stream of income on a semimonthly basis. Absent unusual circumstances, we review base salary levels annually, with adjustments effective January 1. The chairman and chief executive officer considers each senior executive individually for base salary actions and recommends appropriate adjustments. The PCC annually evaluates the appropriate base salary for the chairman and chief executive officer and reviews and approves the chairman and chief executive officer’s recommendations for the other named executive officers. When considering base salary increases, consideration is given to experience, individual performance, level of contribution, pay levels relative to market pay practices, as well as our overall financial condition. While the chairman and chief executive officer recommends compensation adjustments for the other named executive officers, his recommendations must be approved and authorized by the PCC. The chairman and chief executive officer and the PCC rely upon competitive survey data from Willis Towers Watson and their own diverse experiences with executive compensation when making compensation decisions.
30 A. O. Smith Corporation
Executive Compensation
In reviewing and approving individual base salary adjustments for the named executive officers for 2023, the PCC relied upon salary data for comparable positions from the 2022 Willis Towers Watson Executive Compensation Database, which was aged 4.0% to reflect anticipated market movement from the 2022 survey through year-end 2023. Effective January 1, 2023, the PCC authorized increases of 4.0% to Messrs. Wheeler, Lauber and Stern; 4.3% for Mr. Warren and 4.1% for Mr. Petrarca.
In reviewing 2024 base salaries at its December 2023 meeting, the PCC approved increases of 4.0% for Messrs. Wheeler, Lauber, Stern, Warren and Petrarca. Based upon input from Willis Towers Watson, we believe that the 2024 base salaries for our named executive officers are in the aggregate approximately 105% of the projected market median. This is within our desired target range of 80% to 120%. Further, we anticipate the market increase for base salaries to average 4.0% in 2024, which we took into account in determining 2024 salaries.
| Name |
2023 Base Salary |
2023 Base Salary % to Market Median |
January 1, 2024 Base Salary |
2024 Base Salary % to Market Median | ||||||||
| Kevin J. Wheeler |
$ | 1,076,500 | 101% | $ | 1,120,000 | 103% | ||||||
| Charles T. Lauber |
626,000 | 104% | 651,000 | 104% | ||||||||
| James F. Stern |
621,000 | 112% | 646,000 | 109% | ||||||||
| David R. Warren |
500,000 | 103% | 520,000 | 101% | ||||||||
| Mark A. Petrarca |
537,000 | 107% | 558,500 | 106% | ||||||||
Executive Incentive Compensation
We include both annual and long-term incentives in our executive compensation package. The goal of our incentive plans is to focus executives on both short-term financial and strategic objectives, while ensuring their commitment to our long-term growth and stability. Our incentive plans tie financial awards to our financial and strategic success and the interests of our stockholders, and provide compensation in addition to annual base salary when warranted by corporate financial performance.
Annual Incentive Compensation
Each year, the PCC reviews and approves our financial objectives for both the company and its business units. The executive annual incentive bonus is tied to achieving those objectives. The better we perform relative to these objectives, the higher the incentive bonus payment.
The annual target incentive bonus typically is calculated as a percent of annual base pay for the performance year. The target percent for incentive compensation, like base salary, is determined through periodic benchmarking and review of the median level survey data provided by Willis Towers Watson. Annual incentive compensation represents an “at risk” component of the executive compensation package. Actual incentive bonus amounts are dependent upon performance against specific measurements and may vary from 0% to 200% of targeted amounts.
As a general principle, the portion of an executive’s compensation tied to incentive compensation increases with the executive’s level of responsibility. Thus, the chairman and chief executive officer’s annual incentive opportunity is greater than that of the other named executive officers. We targeted an annual incentive opportunity for the chairman and chief executive officer at 120% of base pay in 2023 based upon Willis Towers Watson survey data for comparably situated executives. The relationship of our incentive targets to market median comparisons as of year end is illustrated in the following table.
| Name |
2023 Target % of Base Salary |
Target Incentive % to Market Median | ||
| Kevin J. Wheeler |
120% | 96% | ||
| Charles T. Lauber |
75% | 99% | ||
| James F. Stern |
67% | 96% | ||
| David R. Warren |
67% | 99% | ||
| Mark A. Petrarca |
60% | 91% | ||
2024 Proxy Statement 31
Executive Compensation
For 2023, the PCC again aligned our incentives with our focus on improving growth of stockholder value through profitable revenue growth. Our 2023 annual incentive plan for corporate executives was based on achieving a combination of two financial measures, corporate EBIT of $733.5 million and corporate net sales of $3.853 billion. The goal of the plan was to keep our management focused on providing value to stockholders by incorporating both a profitability measure and a growth measure. Eighty percent (80%) of the incentive opportunity was based on EBIT and twenty percent (20%) on net sales. EBIT is calculated by subtracting our cost of goods sold and operating expenses from revenue before interest and taxes. Net sales is calculated by subtracting returns, allowances and discounts from gross sales. The PCC took into account market practice in the choice and number of measures, and we believe that limiting the net sales measure to twenty percent (20%) of the total incentive opportunity mitigates the risk of executives focusing on growth at the expense of profitability. We expect to use these financial measures for 2024.
We followed a similar approach for our business unit executives. As a business unit executive, seventy percent (70%) of Mr. Warren’s annual incentive will be based on two business unit-based measures: business unit PEBIT weighted at eighty percent (80%) and business unit net sales weighted at twenty percent (20%) of this portion. The balance of Mr. Warren’s annual incentive was linked to our corporate EBIT and corporate net sales goals.
We achieved 157.3% of the corporate EBIT incentive bonus target and 122.2% of the corporate net sales incentive bonus target, for an overall corporate bonus achievement of 150.3%. The North America Water Heating business unit achieved 177.9% of its PEBIT incentive bonus target and 154.5% of its net sales incentive target, with an overall achievement of 173.3%. Accordingly, the named executive officers were awarded incentive compensation bonuses set forth in the table below.
2023 Annual Incentive Awards
| Name |
Amount | |||
| Kevin J. Wheeler |
$ | 1,942,000 | ||
| Charles T. Lauber |
753,000 | |||
| James F. Stern |
626,000 | |||
| David R. Warren |
558,000 | |||
| Mark A. Petrarca |
485,000 | |||
Long-Term Incentive Compensation
Long-term incentive compensation consists of restricted stock units, performance cash and performance stock, all of which are focused on ensuring sustained performance or achievement of strategic goals over a multi-year period. We believe strongly that equity-based long-term incentives effectively link the interests of senior management to the interests of our stockholders. The allocation of total value between each of the long-term incentive components may vary from year-to-year based on our focus, as determined by the PCC. The long-term incentive portion of an executive’s compensation is “at risk” and is dependent upon corporate performance and growth in stock value.
The stated purpose of the Combined Incentive Compensation Plan, which is the vehicle for awarding long-term incentives, is to provide compensation as an incentive to induce key employees to remain in our employ and to encourage them to secure or increase their stock ownership in our company or to otherwise align their interests with our stockholders. The Combined Incentive Compensation Plan motivates behavior through growth-related incentives to achieve long-range revenue and profitability goals.
The total target value of all long-term incentive components is compared to comparable positions in the marketplace. Again, the PCC utilizes Willis Towers Watson to assist in benchmarking against the median level of surveyed companies to determine market competitive long-term incentive targets for executive positions.
32 A. O. Smith Corporation
Executive Compensation
Based upon the analysis provided by Willis Towers Watson in October 2022, long-term incentive grants to our named executive officers were valued in the aggregate at 99% of market median.
The following table shows long-term incentive grants to named executive officers in 2023, and compares such grants to market median.
| Name |
2023 Long-Term Incentives Target Value |
Projected Market Median | ||||
| Kevin J. Wheeler |
$ | 4,840,000 | 100% | |||
| Charles T. Lauber |
1,270,000 | 95% | ||||
| James F. Stern |
920,000 | 100% | ||||
| David R. Warren |
740,000 | 102% | ||||
| Mark A. Petrarca |
700,000 | 99% | ||||
Emphasis on Performance-Based Awards
Prior to 2023, our long-term incentive awards consisted of stock options, restricted stock units and performance cash. In 2023, the PCC decided to align the makeup of the awards more closely with the market, which showed a decline in the prevalence of stock options in favor of performance-based awards. As such, we did not grant stock options and we introduced performance stock awards in 2023. Our approach is to structure our awards so that restricted stock units represent 50% of our long-term incentive awards, performance cash 35% and performance stock 15%. All three components have a financial or strategic performance metric associated with them.
Restricted stock units entitle the executive to receive a share of Common Stock for each unit when the restricted stock unit vests. Restricted stock units are time-based, but have a minimum performance threshold based on average Return on Equity that must be achieved in order to vest. The average Return on Equity is calculated by dividing net income by stockholder equity, adjusted to exclude certain extraordinary and nonrecurring items, averaged over the three-year vesting period. We use average Return on Equity because we believe it represents a sound measure of our performance that is easily recognized and readily used by investors and that links executive performance to stockholder interest over the three-year performance period of the award. The value to the executive of restricted stock units is dependent upon the value of our Common Stock at the time of vesting. Restricted stock units are used to provide a combination of retention value and incremental performance incentives. For 2023, the minimum average Return on Equity for restricted stock unit payouts was 5%.
Performance cash is valued at $100 per unit at the time of grant. The value to the executive is dependent upon ROIC performance over a three-year vesting period. The 2023 performance cash award uses ROIC to measure how effectively executives manage capital. The goal for achieving 100% of target is based on an average of the company’s last five years of ROIC achievement. The threshold and maximum performance levels are based on a market reference point: the five-year average of median ROIC for the S&P 500 Industrials Index. The threshold for achieving any payout is 125% of this reference point, and the maximum payout is achieved at 225% of the reference point. Target value payouts will be earned at 30.8% performance over the course of the measurement period and a maximum payout of 200% of target will be earned should we return 36% ROIC as a percent of the Cost of Capital between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2025. As with annual incentive compensation objectives, the PCC sets targets at levels that are difficult to achieve, but with the expectation they are attainable.
|
ROIC Achieved
|
2023 Plan Payout
| |
| 20.0% |
0% – Minimum | |
| 30.8% |
100% – Target | |
| 36.0% |
200% – Maximum | |
2024 Proxy Statement 33
Executive Compensation
Through December 2023, which includes one year of the three-year performance period, the performance cash granted in February 2023 had an estimated value of approximately 200% of target value. Through December 2023, which includes two years of the three-year performance period, the performance cash granted in February 2022 had an estimated value of approximately 121.8% of target value. Payout of the 2022 performance cash award will be based on performance of ROIC as a percent of cost of capital set for the three-year period of 2022-2024.
The 2023 performance stock has a three-year performance and vesting period with payout based on achievement of the company’s strategic greenhouse gas intensity reduction goal. This goal of a 10% reduction in intensity from the baseline set in 2019 by year-end 2025 was established in the company’s 2020 Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability Report. The threshold for receiving any shares is a 5% reduction in greenhouse gas intensity from the baseline, which provides 50% of the target shares. Achievement of a 10% reduction provides 100% of the target shares, and a reduction of 25% will provide the maximum number of shares at 150% of target. Recognizing that performance stock and the use of a strategic ESG goal are new to the executive team, the PCC set the value of this component at 15% of the total long-term incentive award amount.
|
Greenhouse Gas Intensity Reduction
|
2023 Plan Payout
| |
| 5% |
50% – Minimum | |
| 10% |
100% – Target | |
| 25% |
150% – Maximum | |
Through December 2023, which includes one year of the three-year performance period, the performance stock granted in February 2023 had an estimated value of approximately 149.1% of shares granted.
At target, the combined value of the three components of executive long-term incentives (restricted stock units, performance cash and performance stock) should represent market median long-term incentive awards consistent with the Willis Towers Watson survey. Based upon the PCC’s October 2022 analysis, target long-term incentives for our named executive officers compared to market median are reflected on the table in the Long-Term Incentive Compensation discussion above.
2024 Long-Term Incentive Award
In 2024, the PCC will follow the same structure for the long-term incentive award as in 2023. The restricted stock unit and performance cash components of the 2024 long-term incentive award will comprise 50% and 35% of the award, respectively, with performance criteria set following the process outlined for the 2023 award.
The 2024 performance stock will again have a three-year performance period based on a strategic ESG goal and will constitute 15% of the total long-term incentive. The 2024 award will have a three-year performance period with payout based on achievement of the company’s water savings target. This target, defined as a 20-million-gallon savings in water usage by third quarter of 2026 from the baseline set using the 12 months ending September 30, 2023, is part of a longer-term water reduction target that will be outlined in the company’s 2024 ESG report. Water savings is reduction in water usage plus water recycled. Achievement of a 16-million-gallon reduction provides 100% of the target shares, and a reduction of 20-million-gallons will provide the maximum number of shares at 150% of target.
Payout of 2021-2023 Performance Cash
Performance cash awarded in February 2021 for the period 2021-2023 was paid in February 2024. This award was based upon ROIC as a percent of the Cost of Capital for the three-year period (2021-2023). The cash units originally were valued at $100 per unit. Based upon our performance during the measurement period, our ROIC exceeded the Cost of Capital by 535.1%, which resulted in the performance cash being paid out at 164.9% of the target value.
34 A. O. Smith Corporation
Executive Compensation
Timing of Awards
Long-term incentive grants are awarded annually in February, shortly after earnings are released for the prior year. The chairman and chief executive officer has the authority to implement midyear equity grants as they relate to senior management employee promotions and new hires in order to align them as quickly as possible to stockholder interests and to make equity adjustments if circumstances warrant. This authority does not include midyear grants for executive officers.
Share Ownership Guidelines
We have developed share ownership guidelines requiring minimum levels of Common Stock accumulation and ownership, depending on the executive’s position. Current ownership guidelines applicable to current named executive officers are as follows, based on the average stock price in the prior year:
| Executive |
Guideline (Multiple of salary) | |
| Kevin J. Wheeler |
5 | |
| Charles T. Lauber |
3 | |
| James F. Stern |
3 | |
| David R. Warren |
3 | |
| Mark A. Petrarca |
3 | |
These ownership guidelines are targeted to be competitive with comparable positions in the marketplace. They also are intended to align executive interests with those of our stockholders. The PCC periodically monitors ownership guidelines to ensure they are consistent with the market and makes adjustments, as appropriate. Executives are expected to achieve these ownership guidelines within a reasonable period of time after becoming an executive at our company. Once achieved, the level of ownership must be maintained. Including granted but unvested restricted stock units, all named executive officers are in compliance with the ownership guidelines.
Consideration of Risk in Executive Compensation Plans
We believe our total compensation package mitigates unreasonable risk-taking by our senior executives. In this regard, we strike a balance between short-term and long-term cash and equity awards. A significant portion of our executives’ pay is linked to the achievement of financial goals directly aligned to stockholder interests: EBIT, net sales and ROIC as a Cost of Capital through 2022 awards and EBIT, net sales and ROIC beginning with 2023 awards. The competitive annual incentive plan rewards executives for achieving short-term performance targets, which keeps them focused on day-to-day business fundamentals. On the other hand, our long-term cash and equity awards incent executives to take a long-term view of our company and to assume reasonable risks to develop new products, explore new markets and expand existing businesses.
Further, our executives are stockholders with established share ownership guidelines requiring them to acquire and hold A. O. Smith stock. Their stock grants vest over three-year periods so they are incented to build stockholder value over time. Their performance cash awards also are subject to vesting over a three-year period, and their payout is tied to ROIC over the same period of time.
Our performance-based pay components are tied to company-wide results. We have implemented caps on our annual cash incentive plan, long-term performance cash and performance stock. Our equity programs limit and define the number of shares, but the value of the award is determined by the stock market at the time they vest or are exercised, which we believe provides a strong connection with stockholder interests.
The PCC reviewed the company’s annual and long-term incentive plans at the PCC’s July 2023 meeting. As a result of its review, the PCC concluded that our program is unlikely to place the company at material risk. In this regard, several of our current practices effectively mitigate risk and promote performance.
2024 Proxy Statement 35
Executive Compensation
As part of this process, the PCC reviewed the risk assessment conducted by management using the Willis Towers Watson methodology and discussed any changes over the last year that could impact risk. The PCC concluded that no plan changes were implemented in 2023 that would affect the existing risk profile of any of the plans.
In addition, we have implemented the Recoupment Policy for Incentive Compensation, which complies with the SEC’s and the NYSE’s clawback policy requirements and requires us to recover from executive officers incentive compensation erroneously awarded in the event of a material accounting restatement. We believe this policy, discussed in greater depth in the section of the Compensation Discussion and Analysis entitled, “Clawbacks – Recoupment Policy for Incentive Compensation,” mitigates the risk of a financial restatement by helping to ensure that our executive officers monitor and maintain the accuracy of our reported financial results and adhere to our Guiding Principles.
Executive Life Insurance
The A. O. Smith Executive Life Insurance Plan is a program intended to provide income security for a named beneficiary in the event of death. The plan generally provides a life insurance benefit equal to three times the executive’s annual base salary during employment and one times the annual base salary after retirement. We may at our discretion transfer ownership of the post-retirement policy equivalent of one times annual base salary to an executive upon retirement.
In 2019, the PCC reviewed and approved freezing and grandfathering the value of the active and post-retirement life insurance at the three times and one times levels described above for executives currently in the life insurance program. All new executives will be eligible for a life insurance benefit equal to two times annual base salary during employment.
Executive Retirement Benefits
The retirement plans provided to our executives are consistent with our philosophy of providing competitive retirement benefits for all employees in order to attract and retain critical talent, as well as ensure a secure retirement for employees who contributed to our success over a sustained period of time.
Executive retirement benefits are provided in one of two ways, depending on when the executive became eligible. Executives hired or promoted into a qualifying executive position prior to July 2010, are covered by a non-qualified supplemental executive retirement plan. This plan was intended to supplement a defined benefit plan that was closed to new entrants in 2010, stopped accruing benefits in 2014, and terminated in 2021. The non-qualified executive retirement plan was not terminated and benefits under the non-qualified plan will be paid following an executive participant’s termination of employment. The only executives in the non-qualified supplemental executive retirement plan are Messrs. Stern and Petrarca. Executives hired or promoted into a qualifying executive position after July 2010 do not participate in the supplemental executive retirement plan, but are eligible to participate in a defined contribution restoration plan described in the “Defined Contribution Retirement Savings Plan” section below. Messrs. Wheeler, Lauber and Warren participate in the defined contribution restoration plan.
A detailed discussion of terms of the defined benefit plans follows the “Pension Benefits” Table.
Defined Contribution Retirement Savings Plan
We have a defined contribution 401(k) plan, the A. O. Smith Retirement Security Plan, for all U.S. salaried employees, including the named executive officers. We contribute a 100% match on the first 1% of employee savings and a 50% match on the next 5% of employee savings. We also provide a company contribution under the A. O. Smith Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Plan to executives who contributed the maximum eligible tax-deferred employee contributions allowed by law to the 401(k) plan. The amount of the company contribution to the eligible executives under the Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Plan is the difference between the match the executive would have received without the restrictions placed on compensation eligible for contributions to the 401(k) plan by the Internal Revenue Code and the actual match received under the 401(k) plan.
36 A. O. Smith Corporation
Executive Compensation
Under the A. O. Smith Retirement Security Plan, we also make an annual nonmatching company contribution to eligible employees of 3% of employee base salary and bonus up to the compensation limits specified in the Internal Revenue Code. Additionally, the A. O. Smith Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Plan includes a defined contribution restoration component for executives who are not eligible for the supplemental executive retirement plan. They receive an annual company contribution under the A. O. Smith Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Plan of 3% of pay (base plus bonus) based on pay above the Internal Revenue Code pay limit. Messrs. Wheeler, Lauber and Warren participate in this defined contribution restoration component.
A discussion of the A. O. Smith Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Plan, under which executives may elect to defer all or part of their salary, annual incentive bonus or restricted stock units, follows the “Non-qualified Deferred Compensation” table.
Executive Perquisites
We provide a perquisite allowance to our senior executives, paid semimonthly. In 2016, the PCC reviewed and approved freezing and grandfathering the value of the perquisite allowance at the current amount for executives currently in the perquisite allowance program. All new executives will be eligible for the executive physical program and reimbursement for tax planning and preparation services, but will not receive a semimonthly perquisite allowance. Perquisite allowances for the named executive officers are:
|
Executive
|
Annual Allowance
|
|||
| Kevin J. Wheeler |
$ | 40,000 | ||
| Charles T. Lauber |
35,000 | |||
| James F. Stern |
40,000 | |||
| David R. Warren |
16,800 | |||
| Mark A. Petrarca |
35,000 | |||
In addition to the grandfathered perquisite allowance, executives may receive executive physicals, reimbursement for spousal travel to Board or executive meetings, including, on an infrequent basis, spousal travel on the corporate aircraft for such purpose, occasional tickets to sporting events and other items of incidental value.
Severance Plan
The named executive officers participate in the A. O. Smith Senior Leadership Severance Plan (the “Plan”), which protects executives financially in the event of employment termination in circumstances identified in the Plan, including a change in control of our company. These protections help to ensure that executives will remain focused on managing our company in the event of a pending change in control or other circumstances. Furthermore, this Plan provides a more attractive compensation package when recruiting key talent. Lastly, instead of negotiating individual separation arrangements upon a termination, the PCC can ensure consistent and equitable treatment for all executives.
The Plan provides each executive with a cash severance (represented as a multiple of their annual cash compensation), medical benefit continuation and outplacement services. Additionally, vesting of long-term incentive awards is accelerated in certain cases. To be covered by the Plan, an executive must sign a noncompete, non-solicitation, assignment of inventions and confidentiality agreement. To receive these benefits, an executive must sign a release from future claims against our company. The Plan also provides for enhanced cash severance benefits upon a change in control, as discussed below. We do not have any individual employment agreements with named executive officers.
Tax Considerations
The PCC considers its primary goal to be the design of compensation strategies that further the economic interests of our company and stockholders.
2024 Proxy Statement 37
Executive Compensation
Under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, any compensation that we pay pursuant to compensation arrangements, even if performance-based, counts towards the $1,000,000 deduction limit. To maintain flexibility in compensating executive officers in a manner designed to promote varying corporate goals, we anticipate that some of the compensation that we provide to our executive officers may not be deductible.
Prohibition on Hedging and Pledging
We have a policy that prohibits all directors, officers and employees from entering into transactions that hedge or pledge our company’s securities. Without limitation, the prohibition on hedging includes the purchase of any financial instruments (including prepaid variable forward contracts, equity swaps, collars, and exchange funds), or otherwise engaging in transactions, that hedge or offset, or are designed to hedge or offset, any decrease in the market value of our company’s securities.
Clawbacks – Recoupment Policy for Executive Compensation
On October 9, 2023, the PCC approved a Recoupment Policy for Incentive Compensation that complies with the SEC’s and NYSE’s clawback policy requirements under section 954 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (“Dodd-Frank Act”) by requiring us to recover incentive-based compensation erroneously awarded to executive officers due to material accounting restatements. The policy also provides the company with discretion to recover incentive compensation beyond SEC and NYSE requirements in two ways: (i) it can be applied globally to all employees who receive equity-based incentive compensation under the company’s Combined Incentive Compensation Plan in the event of a material accounting restatement, and (ii) it can be applied globally to all employees who engage in any conduct or have direct knowledge that another person has engaged in any conduct that is materially adverse to the company and fails to take appropriate action on the basis of such knowledge. The conduct described in (ii) includes, but is not limited to, conduct that warrants or could warrant the covered employee’s dismissal; or is a violation of the company’s Guiding Principles, or any law, regulation or listing standard, whether or not such detrimental conduct results in criminal prosecution or sanctions against the covered employee.
The PCC believes that implementing this policy for all awards issued under our various incentive plans, including our Combined Incentive Compensation Plan, is important to help ensure that our executive officers monitor and maintain the accuracy of our reported financial results and comply with all regulations and our code of conduct. Further, the PCC believes that this policy aligns our executive officers’ compensation with our interests in ensuring full compliance with financial reporting requirements to which we are subject as a public company and our commitment to conduct business in compliance with all legal requirements and our Guiding Principles. We believe this policy will further align our executive compensation programs with our core compensation philosophy and objectives by tying payments on performance awards and annual incentive compensation to actual achieved financial results of our company and our culture of compliance, which will further serve our long-term objective of aligning compensation of our executive officers with the interests of our stockholders.
38 A. O. Smith Corporation
Executive Compensation
Summary Compensation Table
The Summary Compensation Table reflects information concerning compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to our chairman and chief executive officer, chief financial officer and other named executive officers during fiscal years 2023, 2022 and 2021.
| Name and Principal Position |
Year | Salary ($)1 |
Bonus ($) |
Stock Awards ($)2 |
Option Awards ($) |
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($)3 |
Change in Pension Value and Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Earnings ($)4 |
All Other Compensation ($)5 |
Total ($) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kevin J. Wheeler Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer |
|
2023 2022 2021 |
$ |
1,076,500 1,035,000 1,000,000 |
$ |
0 146,000 0 |
$ |
3,146,180 1,517,977 1,386,088 |
$ |
0 1,518,003 1,385,968 |
$ |
4,297,000 2,122,000 2,917,000 |
$ |
0 42,393 0 |
$ |
236,976 258,674 208,926 |
$ |
8,756,656 6,640,047 6,897,982 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Charles T. Lauber Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
|
2023 2022 2021 |
|
626,000 602,000 556,000 |
|
0 49,000 0 |
|
825,486 395,832 363,095 |
|
0 396,043 |
|
1,370,000 574,000 778,000 |
|
0 0 0 |
|
115,753 119,842 99,830 |
|
2,937,239 2,136,717 2,159,950 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| James F. Stern Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary |
|
2023 2022 2021 |
|
621,000 597,000 577,000 |
|
0 47,000 0 |
|
597,882 288,891 250,883 |
|
0 288,783 |
|
1,053,000 491,000 901,000 |
|
613,108 0 416,735 |
|
100,126 94,454 90,241 |
|
2,985,116 1,807,128 2,486,656 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| David R. Warren Senior Vice President, President and General Manager – North America Water Heating |
|
2023 2022 2021 |
|
500,000 479,500 421,875 |
|
0 47,000 0 |
|
481,058 232,078 197,961 |
|
0 232,118 |
|
934,000 381,000 689,000 |
|
0 0 0 |
|
76,270 77,140 73,151 |
|
1,991,328 1,448,836 1,579,967 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mark A. Petrarca Sr. Vice President – Human Resources and Public Affairs |
|
2023 2022 2021 |
|
537,000 516,000 498,500 |
|
0 37,000 0 |
|
455,209 218,339 208,004 |
|
0 218,303 |
|
838,000 348,000 666,000 |
|
644,160 0 407,761 |
|
85,964 81,299 76,640 |
|
2,560,333 1,418,941 2,064,828 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Includes amounts earned in 2023, even if deferred. |
| 2 | The amounts included in the “Stock Awards” column are the aggregate grant date fair value of stock awards granted during a year calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. For 2021 and 2022, the values reflect the grant date fair value of restricted stock units. For 2023, the values reflect the grant date fair value of restricted stock units and the grant date fair value of performance stock at target performance, which, respectively, for each named executive officer are as follows: Mr. Wheeler, $2,420,061 and $726,119; Mr. Lauber, $635,144 and $190,342; Mr. Stern, $459,909 and $137,973; Mr. Warren, $369,941 and $111,117 and Mr. Petrarca, $350,135 and $105,074. With respect to the 2023 performance stock grant, the maximum performance level values at the grant date fair value are: Mr. Wheeler, $1,089,179; Mr. Lauber, $285,513; Mr. Stern, $206,960; Mr. Warren, $166,676 and Mr. Petrarca, $157,611. For a discussion of valuation assumptions, see Note 12 to our 2023 Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. See the Grants of Plan-Based Awards table for more information on stock awards granted in 2023. |
| 3 | Reflects the annual incentive bonus for 2023 and performance units for the period 2021 to 2023, which, respectively, for each named executive officer are as follows: Mr. Wheeler, $1,942,000 and $2,355,000; Mr. Lauber, $753,000 and $617,000; Mr. Stern, $626,000 and $427,000; Mr. Warren, $558,000 and $376,000.and Mr. Petrarca, $485,000 and $353,000. |
| 4 | Reflects the net change in the actuarial present value of the pension benefit for Messrs.Stern and Petrarca who participate in the Executive Supplemental Pension Plan. Messrs Wheeler, Lauber and Warren do not participate in a pension plan. |
| 5 | Additional information regarding other compensation as provided in the “Components of 2023 All Other Compensation” table below. |
2024 Proxy Statement 39
Executive Compensation
Components of 2023 All Other Compensation
| Name |
Company Contributions to Retirement and 401(k) Plans ($)1 |
Dividends on Restricted Stock and Stock Units |
Perquisite ($)3 |
Other ($)4 |
Total ($) |
|||||||||||||||
| Kevin J. Wheeler |
$ | 94,213 | $ | 95,244 | $ | 40,000 | $ | 7,519 | $ | 236,976 | ||||||||||
| Charles T. Lauber |
49,510 | 24,615 | 35,000 | 6,628 | 115,753 | |||||||||||||||
| James F. Stern |
31,635 | 17,855 | 40,000 | 10,636 | 100,126 | |||||||||||||||
| David R. Warren |
37,920 | 14,717 | 16,800 | 6,833 | 76,270 | |||||||||||||||
| Mark A. Petrarca |
28,695 | 13,724 | 35,000 | 8,545 | 85,964 | |||||||||||||||
| 1 | Amounts shown are company 401(k) plan matching contribution and contribution to the A. O. Smith Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Plan. For 2023, each officer received an $11,550 company 401(k) plan matching contribution, a $9,900 company 401(k) plan nonmatching contribution and the following Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Plan contributions: Mr. Wheeler, $72,763; Mr. Lauber, $28,060; Mr. Stern, $10,185; Mr. Warren, $16,470 and Mr. Petrarca, $7,245. |
| 2 | Dividends on deferred restricted stock and restricted stock units are credited to the executive officer’s account in the A. O. Smith Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Plan. |
| 3 | Executive officers receive a single perquisite allowance, as discussed in greater depth in the “Executive Perquisites” section of the Compensation Discussion and Analysis. |
| 4 | Amounts shown include payments for life insurance premiums for all named executive officers and executive physicals, if taken. |
40 A. O. Smith Corporation
Executive Compensation
Grants of Plan-Based Awards
The table below reflects the plan-based awards made under the Combined Incentive Compensation Plan to each of the named executive officers during 2023.
|
Estimated Future Payouts |
Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards 1 |
All Other Stock Awards: Number of Shares of Stock or Units (#)2 |
Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and Option Awards ($)3 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Name |
Grant Date |
Threshold ($) |
Target ($) |
Maximum ($) |
Threshold (#) |
Target (#) |
Maximum (#) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kevin J. Wheeler |
2/13/2023 | 4 | 0 | $ | 1,291,800 | $ | 2,583,600 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2/13/2023 | 5 | 0 | 1,694,000 | 3,388,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2/13/2023 | 0 | 10,815 | 16,223 | $ | 726,119 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2/13/2023 | 36,045 | 2,420,061 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Charles T. Lauber |
2/13/2023 | 4 | 0 | 500,800 | 1,001,600 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2/13/2023 | 5 | 0 | 444,500 | 889,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2/13/2023 | 0 | 2,835 | 4,253 | 190,342 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2/13/2023 | 9,460 | 635,144 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| James F. Stern |
2/13/2023 | 4 | 0 | 416,070 | 832,140 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2/13/2023 | 5 | 0 | 322,000 | 644,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2/13/2023 | 0 | 2,055 | 3,083 | 137,973 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2/13/2023 | 6,850 | 459,909 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| David R. Warren |
2/13/2023 | 4 | 0 | 335,000 | 644,400 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2/13/2023 | 5 | 0 | 259,000 | 456,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2/13/2023 | 0 | 1,655 | 2,483 | 111,117 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2/13/2023 | 5,510 | 369,941 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mark A. Petrarca |
2/13/2023 | 4 | 0 | 322,200 | 644,400 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2/13/2023 | 5 | 0 | 245,000 | 490,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2/13/2023 | 0 | 1,565 | 2,348 | 105,074 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2/13/2023 | 5,215 | 350,135 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Amounts reflect the threshold, target and maximum number of shares of performance stock that each named executive officer can earn under the Combined Incentive Compensation Plan for the period 2023-25. The grant date fair value of these awards was $67.14 for the February 13, 2023, grant per share of performance stock, based upon the average of the highest and lowest price on the date of grant. No dividends are paid on unvested performance stock. The actual number of stock units vesting is dependent upon company performance on a greenhouse gas intensity reduction goal over the three-year vesting period as more fully explained under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Long-Term Incentive Compensation.” |
| 2 | Shows the number of restricted stock units granted to each named executive officer in 2023 under the Combined Incentive Compensation Plan. Restricted stock units vest on February 13, 2026, except in the event of dismissal or voluntary resignation prior to vesting, if not retirement eligible. The grant date fair value of these awards was $67.14 for the February 13, 2023, grant per restricted stock unit, based upon the average of the highest and lowest price on the date of grant. Dividends on restricted stock units are credited to the named executive officer’s account in the A. O. Smith Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Plan. |
| 3 | The value of the restricted stock units and performance stock are the aggregate grant date fair value of restricted stock units and performance stock granted during a year calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. |
| 4 | Amounts reflect the threshold, target and maximum awards that each named executive officer can earn under the Combined Incentive Compensation Plan for annual incentive bonus for 2023. |
| 5 | Amounts reflect the threshold, target and maximum awards that each named executive officer can earn under the Combined Incentive Compensation Plan as performance cash units for the period 2023 to 2026. Performance cash units have a value of $100 per unit at time of grant. The actual value of performance cash units is dependent upon ROIC performance over the three-year vesting period, as more fully explained under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Long-Term Incentive Compensation.” |
2024 Proxy Statement 41
Executive Compensation
Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2023
The table below reflects all outstanding equity awards made under the Combined Incentive Compensation Plan to each of the named executive officers.
| Option Awards | Stock Awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Name |
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable |
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable1 |
Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Unearned Options (#) |
Option Exercise Price ($) |
Option Expiration Date |
Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#)2 |
Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested ($)3 |
Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (#)4 |
Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested ($)3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Kevin J. Wheeler |
|
19,220 22,200 14,675 24,435 16,755 79,240 161,985 65,947 28,754 |
|
|
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
|
0 | $ |
30.765 31.670 50.160 61.760 57.465 49.420 42.390 60.820 74.265 |
|
|
02/09/25 02/08/26 02/13/27 02/12/28 09/01/28 02/11/29 02/10/30 02/08/31 02/07/32 |
|
|
22,790 20,440 36,045 |
|
$ |
1,878,808 1,685,074 2,971,550 |
|
16,223 | $1,337,383 | |||||||||
| Charles T. Lauber |
|
2,933 7,590 7,775 12,190 8,985 36,850 17,274 7,502 |
|
|
0 0 0 0 0 0 |
|
0 | |
31.670 50.160 61.760 49.420 52.680 42.390 60.820 74.265 |
|
|
02/08/26 02/13/27 02/12/28 02/11/29 05/01/29 02/10/30 02/08/31 02/07/32 |
|
|
5,970 5,330 9,460 |
|
|
492,167 439,405 779,882 |
|
4,253 | 350,576 | |||||||||
| James F. Stern |
|
15,180 15,550 22,400 30,775 11,934 5,470 |
|
|
0 0 0 0 |
|
0 | |
50.160 61.760 49.420 42.390 60.820 74.265 |
|
|
02/13/27 02/12/28 02/11/29 02/10/30 02/08/31 02/07/32 |
|
|
4,125 3,890 6,850 |
|
|
340,065 320,692 564,714 |
|
3,083 | 254,121 | |||||||||
| David R. Warren |
|
3,755 7,995 5,688 16,196 10,520 4,397 |
|
|
0 0 0 0 |
|
0 | |
50.160 61.760 49.420 42.390 60.820 74.265 |
|
|
02/13/27 02/12/28 02/11/29 02/10/30 02/08/31 02/07/32 |
|
|
3,635 3,125 5,510 |
|
|
299,669 257,625 454,244 |
|
2,483 | 204,657 | |||||||||
| Mark A. Petrarca |
|
10,215 14,780 20,250 9,894 4,135 |
|
|
0 0 0 |
|
0 | |
61.760 49.420 42.390 60.820 74.265 |
|
|
02/12/28 02/11/29 02/10/30 02/08/31 02/07/32 |
|
|
3,420 2,940 5,215 |
|
|
281,945 242,374 429,925 |
|
2,348 | 193,528 | |||||||||
| 1 | Mr. Wheeler will have the right to exercise an option for 32,973 shares at the exercise price of $60.82 on February 8, 2024; 28,753 shares at the exercise price of $74.265 on February 7, 2024; and 28,753 shares at the exercise price of $74.265 on February 7, 2025. Mr. Lauber will have the right to exercise an option for 8,636 shares at the exercise price of $60.82 on February 8, 2024; 7,502 shares at the exercise price of $74.265 on February 7, 2024; and 7,501 shares at the exercise price of $74.265 on February 7, 2025. Mr. Stern will have the right to exercise an option for 5,966 shares at the exercise price of $60.82 on February 8, 2024; 5,470 shares at the exercise price of $74.265 on February 7, 2024; and 5,470 shares at the exercise price of $74.265 on February 7, 2025. Mr. Warren will have the right to exercise an option for 5,260 shares at the exercise price of $60.82 on February 8, 2024; 4,397 shares at the exercise price of $74.265 on February 7, 2024; and 4,396 shares at the exercise price of $74.265 on February 7, 2025. Mr. Petrarca will have the right to exercise an option for 4,946 shares at the exercise price of $60.82 on February 8, 2024; 4,135 shares at the exercise price of $74.265 on February 7, 2024; and 4,135 shares at the exercise price of $74.265 on February 7, 2025. No stock options were granted in 2023. |
42 A. O. Smith Corporation
Executive Compensation
| 2 | Mr. Wheeler will vest in 22,790 restricted stock units on February 8, 2024; 20,440 restricted stock units on February 7, 2025; and 36,045 restricted stock units on February 13, 2026. Mr. Lauber will vest in 5,970 restricted stock units on February 8, 2024 and 5,330 restricted stock units on February 7, 2025; and 9,460 restricted stock units on February 13, 2026. Mr. Stern will vest in 4,125 restricted stock units on February 8, 2024; 3,890 restricted stock units on February 7, 2025; and 6,850 restricted stock units on February 13, 2026. Mr. Warren will vest in 3,635 restricted stock units on February 8, 2024; 3,125 restricted stock units on February 7, 2025; and 5,510 restricted stock units on February 13, 2026. Mr. Petrarca will vest in 3,420 restricted stock units on February 8, 2024; 2,940 restricted stock units on February 7, 2025; and 5,215 restricted stock units on February 13, 2026. |
| 3 | Market value determined by the NYSE closing market price of $82.44 on December 29, 2023, the last trading day of the fiscal year. |
| 4 | The number of shares of performance stock shown in this column reflects the maximum performance level for the 2023-2025 award. At target, the number of units that would vest on December 31, 2025 are: Mr. Wheeler, 10,815; Mr. Lauber, 2,835; Mr. Stern, 2,055; Mr. Warren, 1,655 and Mr. Petrarca, 1,565. |
Option Exercises and Stock Vested
The following table provides information related to options exercised and stock vested for each of the named executive officers during fiscal year 2023.
| Option Awards | Stock Awards | |||||||||||||||||||
| Name |
Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise (#) |
Value Realized on ($) |
Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting (#) |
Value Realized on Vesting ($)1 | ||||||||||||||||
| Kevin J. Wheeler |
19,900 | $912,445 | 31,140 | $ | 2,049,012 | |||||||||||||||
| Charles T. Lauber |
0 | 0 | 7,085 | 466,193 | ||||||||||||||||
| James F. Stern |
0 | 0 | 5,915 | 389,207 | ||||||||||||||||
| David R. Warren |
0 | 0 | 4,670 | 307,286 | ||||||||||||||||
| Mark A. Petrarca |
11,005 | 253,585 | 3,890 | 255,962 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Based on NYSE closing price of the Common Stock on the vesting date. |
Pension Benefits
| Name |
Plan Name | Number of Years Credited Service |
Present Value of Accumulated Benefit ($) |
Payments During Last Fiscal Year ($) |
||||||||
| James F. Stern |
Executive Supplemental Pension Plan | 16.59 | $ | 3,084,097 | $ | 0 | ||||||
| Mark A. Petrarca |
Executive Supplemental Pension Plan | 24.57 | 3,362,975 | 0 | ||||||||
Executive retirement benefits are provided in one of two ways, depending on when the executive became eligible. Executives hired or promoted to a qualifying position after July 2010 participate in the defined contribution component under the A. O. Smith Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Plan that provides an annual contribution of 3% of pay (base salary plus annual bonus) based on compensation above the Internal Revenue Code limit that applies to qualified retirement plans. Messrs. Wheeler, Lauber and Warren participate in this defined contribution restoration component.
Executives hired or promoted into a qualifying executive position prior to July 2010, are covered by the A. O. Smith Corporation Executive Supplemental Pension Plan, a non-qualified supplemental executive retirement plan. This plan was intended to supplement a defined benefit plan that was closed to new entrants in 2010, stopped accruing benefits in 2014, and terminated in 2021. Messrs. Stern and Petrarca are the only remaining participants in the Executive Supplemental Pension Plan.
2024 Proxy Statement 43
Executive Compensation
The Executive Supplemental Pension Plan provides a benefit equivalent to 1.65% of the executive’s five-year final average pay times years of credited service up to a 40-year maximum, less the qualified plan benefit as calculated under the closed, and now terminated, A. O. Smith Retirement Plan, and also reduced by the amount of the monthly benefit that would have accrued under the A. O. Smith Retirement Plan had benefits not stopped accruing on December 31, 2014. The termination of the A. O. Smith Retirement Plan does not affect the amount, or timing of payment, of benefits under the A. O. Smith Corporation Executive Supplemental Pension Plan.
To be eligible for benefits under the Executive Supplemental Pension Plan, the executive must remain employed until at least age 57 and must have 10 years of service. Both Messrs. Stern and Petrarca are currently eligible for benefits once they retire. If the executive retires before age 65, then the benefit payable is reduced by 6.67% per year between the age at retirement and age 64 (also called the unreduced retirement age). The retirement benefit under the Executive Supplemental Pension Plan is paid as a single lump-sum to the executive upon retirement. The lump-sum amount is calculated by determining the amount necessary (on an after-tax basis to the executive) to purchase a commercial annuity that will provide a monthly amount equivalent to the after-tax amount the executive would receive if the monthly pension would be paid directly by us. If an executive retires early, the single lump-sum amount to be paid from the Executive Supplemental Pension Plan is calculated based upon the unreduced benefit commencing at the unreduced retirement age discounted for interest between the unreduced retirement age and the executive’s age at early retirement using the after-tax yield on the Bloomberg Barclays Capital U.S. Corporate Index. To calculate the “Present Value of Accumulated Benefit” for the benefit under the Executive Supplemental Pension Plan, assumptions are made regarding the executive’s tax rate at retirement and post-retirement tax rate and an annuity purchase interest rate (currently 4.8%). As an offset to a portion of the lump-sum payment obligation to the executive, we may transfer life insurance policies to the executive valued at the cash surrender value of the life insurance policies.
The “Present Value of Accumulated Benefit” set forth in the table above is based on assumptions and valuation dates that are the same as those used for the valuation of pension liabilities in the company’s most recent annual report. Retirement age under the Executive Supplemental Pension Plan is assumed to be the earliest age that an executive can retire with an unreduced benefit, which is age 64 for Messrs. Stern and Petrarca. Post-retirement mortality rates are based on the Pri-2012 Retiree Mortality Table (white collar variant), including generational improvements using scale MP2021. The assumption is made that there is no probability of preretirement death or termination by any other cause.
We do not have a policy to grant extra years of service. No current executive officer has additional service granted under a retirement plan.
Non-qualified Deferred Compensation
| Name |
Executive Contributions in 2023 ($) |
Registrant Contributions in 2023 ($)1 |
Aggregate Earnings in 2023 ($) |
Aggregate Withdrawals/ Distributions ($) |
Aggregate Balance at December 31, 2023 ($) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Kevin J. Wheeler |
$ | 0 | $ | 168,007 | $ | 381,492 | $ | 0 | $ | 3,128,626 | |||||||||||||||
| Charles T. Lauber |
0 | 52,675 | 28,151 | 0 | 326,140 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| James F. Stern |
0 | 28,040 | 741,151 | 0 | 4,825,140 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| David R. Warren |
0 | 31,187 | 10,464 | 0 | 185,365 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Mark A. Petrarca |
0 | 20,969 | 64,114 | 0 | 518,174 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | All registrant contributions under the A. O. Smith Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Plan in 2023 are also reported in the “Summary Compensation Table.” |
Each executive has an account in the A. O. Smith Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Plan, which each year is credited with supplemental company contributions and notional dividend equivalents on restricted stock and
44 A. O. Smith Corporation
Executive Compensation
restricted stock units. The executive’s account is a bookkeeping entry only. Amounts credited to the executive’s account are credited with gains and losses each month based on the executive’s crediting election. The crediting election is used to designate the investment fund(s) as the basis for calculating the rate of return equivalent for the executive’s account. The investment funds available under the Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Plan are similar to those available under our 401(k) plan. There are no above-market or preferential earnings under the Deferred Compensation Plan in 2023.
The Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Plan also allows executives to defer payment of all or a part of their base salary, annual incentive bonus or restricted stock units to a future date. Deferred amounts are credited to the executive’s account in the Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Plan, and gains and losses on the deferred amounts are credited in the same manner as described above for supplemental company contributions and notional dividend equivalents, except that deferrals of restricted stock units are deemed invested in shares of our Common Stock for purposes of determining gains and losses, and dividend equivalents on such restricted stock units are credited in the form of additional restricted stock units.
Executives are eligible to receive payment of amounts in their accounts under the Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Plan beginning upon termination of employment (six months after termination in the case of the amounts credited to accounts on or after January 1, 2005). They may also elect in-service distributions scheduled for a specific date or series of dates.
Termination of Employment and Change in Control Arrangements
No named executive officer at our company has an individual employment contract for a specific period of time. Rather, all executives serve at the pleasure of the Board.
We have a Senior Leadership Severance Plan, in which all of the named executive officers participate. The Board implemented the Senior Leadership Severance Plan to establish financial protection for our executives upon various employment termination scenarios, including a change in control of our company. We believe the Senior Leadership Severance Plan assists in retention of executives and provides a more attractive compensation package when recruiting key talent. Furthermore, instead of negotiating individual separation arrangements upon a termination, the Board can ensure consistent and equitable treatment for all executives through the Senior Leadership Severance Plan.
The Senior Leadership Severance Plan provides that each named executive officer will receive severance benefits upon a “Qualifying Termination” and provides for vesting of certain equity awards upon a “Change in Control.” Under the Senior Leadership Severance Plan:
| • | A “Qualifying Termination” is an involuntary termination of employment without “Cause” or a voluntary termination of employment with “Good Reason.” |
| • | “Cause” means any of the following: conviction or plea of nolo contendere to a felony or crime involving moral turpitude; the executive’s willful and continuing refusal to substantially perform his duties; the executive engages in conduct that constitutes willful gross neglect or willful gross misconduct, or any other material breach of the Confidentiality and Loyalty Agreement by the executive. |
| • | “Good Reason” means any of the following, without the executive’s consent: our company materially reduces the executive’s base salary; our company requires the executive to be based at a location in excess of 50 miles from his principal job location; material diminution in the executive’s title, authority, duties or responsibilities; the failure of our company or its business unit, as applicable, to obtain the written commitment of a purchaser of substantially all assets of our company or the business unit, to be bound to the terms of the Senior Leadership Severance Plan; or any action or inaction by our company that constitutes a material breach of the Senior Leadership Severance Plan. |
2024 Proxy Statement 45
Executive Compensation
| • | A “Change in Control” is deemed to have occurred upon: the acquisition of 50% or more of our company’s or relevant business unit’s capital stock entitled to vote in the election of directors (other than acquisitions by certain members of the Smith family); a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of our company as of August 1, 2009, (or succeeding directors elected or nominated by 2/3 of the existing directors) ceasing to be continuing directors at any time; or the consummation of a reorganization, merger, or consolidation resulting in a change in ownership with respect to 50% or more of the relevant entity’s voting securities, or a sale or other disposition of more than 40% of our company’s or the relevant business unit’s assets. |
In order to be covered by the Senior Leadership Severance Plan, named executive officers must sign a noncompete, non-solicitation, assignment of inventions and confidentiality agreement. In order to receive severance benefits, the named executive officers must sign a release of all claims against our company and its affiliates.
The Senior Leadership Severance Plan had an initial irrevocable term through July 31, 2013, and automatically renews for successive one-year periods. The Plan will automatically renew for two years upon a Change in Control.
In the event of a Qualifying Termination, Mr. Wheeler will receive 24 months of continuation of pay. Messrs. Lauber, Stern, Warren and Petrarca will receive continuation of pay for 18 months. The continuation of pay will be equal to the executive’s annual salary and target bonus during the year of termination. Each named executive officer will also receive within 2 1/2 months after the end of the year in which the termination occurred a lump-sum payment of the actual bonus based on performance that would have been payable for the year of termination adjusted on a pro rata basis based on days employed during the bonus plan year. Each named executive officer will also receive medical benefit continuation and outplacement (capped at 25% of the executive’s annual base salary) through the Severance Period (the period during which the executive receives salary continuation).
Upon a Qualifying Termination without a Change in Control, long-term incentive awards are treated as follows: (i) any unvested or unearned long-term incentive awards that were granted during the calendar year of the termination date will be forfeited; (ii) unvested stock options become vested on a pro rata basis; (iii) unvested shares of restricted stock and unvested restricted stock units that vest solely on the passage of time that were granted in any calendar year before the termination become vested on a pro rata basis; and (iv) unearned performance shares and performance units, and unearned shares of restricted stock and restricted stock units that vest based on the achievement of performance goals will be paid at the end of the actual performance period on a pro rata basis based on actual performance.
Upon a Qualifying Termination within two years following a Change in Control, the named executive officers will be eligible for an enhanced benefit. The named executive officers, other than Mr. Wheeler, will receive a lump-sum severance payment equal to 15 months of base salary and target bonus, and a lump-sum payment equal to 9 months of base pay and target bonus in consideration for the noncompete provisions. Mr. Wheeler will receive a lump-sum payment equal to 24 months of base salary and target bonus, and a lump-sum payment equal to 12 months of base pay and target bonus in consideration for the noncompete provisions. Each named executive officer will also receive a lump-sum payment of the target bonus that would have been payable for the year of termination adjusted on a pro rata basis based on days employed during the bonus plan year. The named executive officers also will be eligible to receive continued medical and outplacement benefits during the Severance Period.
Furthermore, upon a Change in Control, long-term incentive awards are treated as follows: (i) unvested stock options become fully vested; (ii) unvested shares of restricted stock and unvested restricted stock units that vest solely on the passage of time become fully vested; and (iii) unearned performance shares and performance units, and unearned shares of restricted stock and restricted stock units that vest based on the achievement of performance goals are paid out at the target amount, adjusted on a pro rata basis based on the time the executive was employed during the relevant performance period. However, if the Change in Control is the result of a sale of our company’s or a relevant business unit’s assets, then the executive will only receive such treatment with respect to his long-term incentive awards if the executive experiences a Qualifying Termination within 24 months of such Change in Control.
46 A. O. Smith Corporation
Executive Compensation
We will reimburse the named executive officer for excise tax liability resulting from payments received in connection with his termination following a Change in Control if the executive’s Parachute Payments (as defined under Internal Revenue Code Section 280G) exceed the executive’s safe harbor (as defined under Internal Revenue Code Section 280G) by more than 10%. The company will cap the executive’s total payment if his total net benefit is less than 110% of the executive’s respective safe harbor amount, which we refer to as “Effect of Modified Gross-up Provision” in the table below.
Set forth below are tables showing payments and benefits to each named executive officer upon a Qualifying Termination or a Change in Control and a Qualifying Termination under the Senior Leadership Severance Plan.
We list the estimated amount of compensation payable to each of our named executive officers in each situation in the tables below assuming that a Qualifying Termination or Change in Control and Qualifying Termination occurred at December 31, 2023, and that our Common Stock had a value of $82.44, which was the closing market price for our Common Stock on December 29, 2023. The actual amount of payments and benefits can only be determined at the time of such a Qualifying Termination or Change in Control, and therefore the actual amounts would vary from the estimated amounts in the tables below.
Payments Resulting from a Qualifying Termination December 31, 2023
| Name |
Severance | Pro rata Bonus1 |
Stock Options |
Restricted Stock Units |
Performance Units2 |
Performance Stock |
Medical Coverage3 |
Outplacement4 | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kevin J. Wheeler |
$ | 4,736,600 | $ | 1,942,000 | $ | 1,183,000 | $ | 6,535,432 | $ | 3,962,000 | $ | 294,228 | $ | 32,508 | $ | 269,125 | $ | 18,954,893 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Charles T. Lauber |
1,690,200 | 753,000 | 309,377 | 1,711,454 | 1,038,000 | 77,164 | 6,966 | 156,500 | 5,742,661 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| James F. Stern |
1,555,605 | 626,000 | 218,434 | 1,225,471 | 734,000 | 55,894 | 20,073 | 155,250 | 4,590,727 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| David R. Warren |
1,252,500 | 558,000 | 185,607 | 1,011,538 | 623,000 | 45,012 | 14,376 | 125,000 | 3,815,033 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mark A. Petrarca |
1,288,800 | 485,000 | 174,554 | 954,244 | 585,000 | 42,539 | 14,341 | 134,250 | 3,678,728 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Upon a Qualifying Termination or retirement, pro rata bonus is based upon actual performance. The amounts in the table are based on the actual bonus for 2023. |
| 2 | Upon a Qualifying Termination, payout is based upon actual performance. The amounts in the table assume the 2021-2023 award will pay out at 164.9% of target and awards for other performance periods will pay out at target. |
| 3 | Calculated based on the employer-paid portion of medical and dental insurance for the Severance Period. |
| 4 | Calculated at the maximum under the Senior Leadership Severance Plan, 25% of the named executive officer’s base salary. |
Payments Resulting from a Change in Control and Qualifying Termination of Employment December 31, 2023
| Name |
Severance | Pro rata Bonus |
Stock Options |
Restricted Stock Units |
Performance Units |
Performance Stock |
Medical Coverage1 |
Outplace- ment2 |
Effect of Modified Gross-up Provision3 |
Excise Tax Gross-up |
Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kevin J. Wheeler |
$7,104,900 | $1,291,800 | $1,182,988 | $6,535,432 | $3,035,000 | $294,228 | $0 | $48,762 | $0 | -$3,004,152 | $16,488,958 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Charles T. Lauber |
2,253,600 | 500,800 | 309,360 | 1,711,454 | 795,000 | 77,164 | 0 | 9,288 | 0 | -1,169,399 | 4,487,267 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| James F. Stern |
2,074,140 | 416,070 | 218,419 | 1,225,471 | 566,000 | 55,894 | 0 | 26,764 | 0 | 0 | 4,582,758 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| David R. Warren |
1,670,000 | 335,000 | 185,604 | 1,011,538 | 475,000 | 45,012 | 0 | 19,168 | 0 | 0 | 3,741,322 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mark A. Petrarca |
1,718,400 | 322,200 | 174,540 | 954,244 | 446,000 | 42,539 | 0 | 19,122 | 0 | 0 | 3,677,045 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Calculated based on the employer paid portion of medical and dental insurance for the Severance Period. |
| 2 | Calculated at the maximum under the Senior Leadership Severance Plan, 25% of the named executive officer’s base salary. |
| 3 | Reflects the amount by which payments to an executive will be reduced so that the executive is not required to pay excise tax. |
2024 Proxy Statement 47
Executive Compensation
The A. O. Smith Combined Incentive Compensation Plan allows executives who retire to continue to vest stock options, restricted stock units and performance awards on their original vesting schedule. Upon an executive’s retirement, outstanding stock options receive an accelerated expiration of the earlier of the original expiration date or five years from the date of retirement. A retiring executive is entitled to receive a pro rata portion of performance stock and performance cash based on the period of his employment during the three-year performance period based on achievement of the performance goals. A retiring executive is also entitled to receive a pro rata portion of annual incentive compensation, based on his period of employment during the performance period and actual performance achieved.
Please refer to the “Pension Benefits” and “Non-qualified Deferred Compensation” Tables above and related narrative for additional information on the present value of accumulated benefits for our named executive officers.
In addition, each of our named executive officers is provided life insurance as discussed in the section, “Executive Life Insurance.” The death benefits payable as of December 31, 2023, are: $3,229,500 for Mr. Wheeler; $1,878,000 for Mr. Lauber; $1,863,000 for Mr. Stern; $1,500,000 for Mr. Warren and $1,611,000 for Mr. Petrarca. The death benefits payable after retirement are: $1,076,500 for Mr. Wheeler; $626,000 for Mr. Lauber; $621,000 for Mr. Stern; $500,000 for Mr. Warren and $537,000 for Mr. Petrarca.
48 A. O. Smith Corporation
REPORT OF THE PERSONNEL AND COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
The Personnel and Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the foregoing “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” with management. Based on the Committee’s review and discussion with management, the Committee has recommended to the Board of Directors that the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” be included in this Proxy Statement and incorporated by reference in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Ronald D. Brown, Chairperson
Victoria M. Holt, Committee Member
Dr. Ilham Kadri, Committee Member
Mark D. Smith, Committee Member
2024 Proxy Statement 49
Value of Initial Fixed $ Investment Based on: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year |
Summary Compensation Table Total for CEO ($) 1 |
Compensation Actually Paid to CEO ($) 2 |
Average Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-CEO NEOs 3 |
Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-CEO NEOs ($) 4 |
Total Shareholder Return ($) |
Peer Group Total Shareholder Return ($) 5 |
Net Income (millions) ($) |
Earnings before Interest and Taxes (millions)($) 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 |
$ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2022 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | The dollar amounts reported in this column are the amounts of total compensation reported for |
| 2 | The dollar amounts reported in this column represent the amount of “Compensation Actually Paid” to Mr. Wheeler as computed in accordance with Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K. The dollar amounts do not reflect the actual amount of compensation earned by or paid to Mr. Wheeler during the applicable year. In accordance with the requirements of Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K, the following adjustments were made to Mr. Wheeler’s total compensation for each year to determine the compensation actually paid: |
Adjustments to Determine Compensation Actually Paid for CEO |
2023 |
2022 |
2021 |
2020 |
||||||||||||
Deduction for Change in the Actuarial Present Values reported under the “Change in Pension Value and Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Earnings” Column of the SCT |
$ | ( |
) | — | $ | ( |
) | |||||||||
Increase for “Service Cost” for Pension Plans |
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
Deduction for Amounts Reported under the “Stock Awards” Column in the SCT |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
Deduction for Amounts Reported under the “Option Awards” Column in the SCT |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||
Increase for Fair Value of Awards Granted during year that Remain Unvested as of Year End |
||||||||||||||||
Increase/deduction for Change in Fair Value from prior Year End to current Year End of Awards Granted Prior to year that were Outstanding and Unvested as of Year End |
( |
) | ||||||||||||||
Increase/deduction for Change in Fair Value from Prior Year End to Vesting Date of Awards Granted Prior to year that Vested during year |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||
Total Adjustments |
$ | $ | ( |
) | $ | $ | ||||||||||
| 3 | The dollar amounts reported in this column represent the average of the amounts reported for the company’s named executive officers as a group (excluding Mr. Wheeler) in the “Total” column of the Summary Compensation Table in each applicable year. |
| 4 | The dollar amounts reported in this column represent the average amount of “compensation actually paid” to the named executive officers as a group (excluding Mr. Wheeler), as computed in accordance with Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K. The dollar amounts do not reflect the actual average amount of compensation earned by or paid to the named executive officers as a group (excluding Mr. Wheeler) during the applicable year. In accordance with the requirements of Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K, the following adjustments were made to average total compensation for the named executive officers as a group (excluding Mr. Wheeler) for each year to determine the compensation actually paid, using the same methodology described above in Note 2: |
Adjustments to Determine Compensation Actually Paid for Non-CEO NEOs |
2023 |
2022 |
2021 |
2020 |
||||||||||||
Deduction for Change in the Actuarial Present Values reported under the “Change in Pension Value and Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Earnings” Column of the SCT |
( |
) | — | $ | ( |
) | $ | ( |
) | |||||||
Increase for “Service Cost” for Pension Plans |
||||||||||||||||
Deduction for Amounts Reported under the “Stock Awards” Column in the SCT |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
Deduction for Amounts Reported under the “Option Awards” Column in the SCT |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||
Increase for Fair Value of Awards Granted during year that Remain Unvested as of Year End |
||||||||||||||||
Increase/deduction for Change in Fair Value from prior Year End to current Year End of Awards Granted Prior to year that were Outstanding and Unvested as of Year End |
( |
) | ||||||||||||||
Increase/deduction for Change in Fair Value from Prior Year End to Vesting Date of Awards Granted Prior to year that Vested during year |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||
Total Adjustments |
$ | $ | ( |
) | $ | $ | ||||||||||
| 5 |
| 6 |
| • | the median of the annual total compensation of all employees of our company was reasonably estimated to be $49,422; |
| • | the annual total compensation of our chairman and chief executive officer was $8,756,656; and |
| • | based on this information, the ratio of the annual total compensation is estimated to be 177:1. |
ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
As required by Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, we are asking our stockholders to vote, on a nonbinding advisory basis, on a resolution approving the compensation of our named executive officers, as disclosed pursuant to the executive compensation disclosure rules of the SEC, including in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section and the accompanying compensation tables and narrative discussion contained in this Proxy Statement.
As we describe in detail in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section and the accompanying compensation tables and narrative discussion contained in this Proxy Statement, we have designed our executive compensation programs to drive our long-term success and increase stockholder value. We utilize our executive compensation programs to provide competitive compensation that will attract and retain our named executive officers, encourage our named executive officers to perform at their highest levels by linking compensation with financial and performance milestones and directly align our executive compensation with stockholders’ interests through the use of equity-based incentive awards.
The Personnel and Compensation Committee has overseen the development and implementation of our executive compensation programs in line with these core compensation principles. The Personnel and Compensation Committee also continuously reviews, evaluates and updates our executive compensation programs to help ensure that we provide competitive compensation that motivates our named executive officers to perform at their highest levels, while increasing long-term value to our stockholders. With these core compensation principles in mind, the Personnel and Compensation Committee took the following compensation actions in 2023 to align our programs with stockholder interests:
| • | maintained the structure of our compensation programs and incentive awards generally to provide compensation at targeted levels based on benchmark studies; |
| • | eliminated stock options and implemented performance stock units; |
| • | conducted an annual risk assessment with respect to our executive compensation program; and |
| • | maintained the maximum cap in our annual incentive compensation plan at 200% of target, which aligns with market practices and rewards management for building extraordinary value for stockholders. |
We believe the Personnel and Compensation Committee’s compensation actions, like those described above, demonstrate our continued commitment to align our executive compensation with stockholders’ interests, while providing competitive compensation to attract, motivate and retain our named executive officers and other key talent. We will continue to review and adjust our executive compensation programs with these goals in mind to help ensure the long-term success of our company and generate increased long-term value to our stockholders.
The Board of Directors requests the support of our stockholders for the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section and the accompanying compensation tables and narrative discussion in this Proxy Statement. This advisory vote on the compensation of our named executive officers gives our stockholders another means to make their opinions known on our executive compensation programs. For the reasons we discuss above, the Board recommends that stockholders vote in favor of the following resolution:
“RESOLVED, that the stockholders approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the named executive officers, as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, including in the ‘Compensation Discussion and Analysis’ section and compensation tables and narrative discussion contained in this Proxy Statement.”
This vote on the compensation of our named executive officers is advisory and not binding on us, our Board of Directors or the Personnel and Compensation Committee. Although the outcome of this advisory vote on the compensation of our named executive officers is nonbinding, the Personnel and Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors will review and consider the outcome of this vote when making future compensation decisions for our named executive officers.
56 A. O. Smith Corporation
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
The Audit Committee is primarily responsible on behalf of the Board to oversee our financial reporting process, to oversee the activities of our internal audit function, and to appoint the independent registered public accounting firm, Ernst & Young LLP (E&Y). Management has the primary responsibility for the financial statements and reporting process, including the systems of internal control. E&Y is responsible for auditing and reporting on those financial statements and our internal control structure. The Committee reviewed and discussed with management and E&Y our audited financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2023.
The Audit Committee’s roles and responsibilities are set forth in a written Charter adopted by the Board, which is available on our website. We review and reassess the Charter annually, and more frequently as necessary to address any changes in the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules regarding audit committees, and recommend any changes to the Board for approval.
The Committee each quarter reviewed and commented on the earnings news release and SEC Form 10-Qs, including the interim statements included therein, and met and discussed our draft Annual Report on SEC Form 10-K with the chief financial officer, general counsel, controller and E&Y prior to filing and public release.
The Committee discussed with E&Y the matters required to be discussed by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) and the SEC. Both the director of internal audit and E&Y have direct access to the Audit Committee at any time on any issue of their choosing, and the Committee has the same direct access to the director of internal audit and E&Y. The Committee met quarterly with the director of internal audit and E&Y, with and without management present, to discuss the results of their examinations, their evaluations of our internal controls, and the overall quality of our financial reporting. The Committee also met separately each quarter with the company’s chief financial officer and controller regarding financial reporting, and met separately with the company’s general counsel on compliance matters. The Committee considered the status of pending litigation, taxation and other areas of oversight relating to financial reporting and audit processes as the Committee determined to be appropriate. The Committee reviewed with the Board and management the company’s ERM program, including specific risk topics that are addressed in presentations to the Board. The Committee also reviewed with management regulatory developments that might affect financial reporting, including ESG and cybersecurity disclosure.
The Committee received and reviewed the written disclosures and the letter from E&Y required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB for the independent registered public accounting firm’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence and has discussed with E&Y its independence. In addition, the Committee considered the compatibility of non-audit services with E&Y’s independence.
The Audit Committee has procedures for pre-approving all audit and non-audit services provided by its independent registered public accounting firm. These procedures include reviewing and approving a budget for audit and permitted non-audit services. Audit Committee approval is required to exceed the amount of the budget for a particular category of non-audit services. The Audit Committee may delegate pre-approval authority to one or more members of the Audit Committee, which is later ratified by the full Committee. The Audit Committee concluded the provision of E&Y’s non-audit services is compatible with E&Y maintaining its independence.
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, E&Y was employed principally to perform the annual audit, and to render non-audit services. Fees paid to E&Y for each of the last two fiscal years are listed in the following table:
| Year Ended December 31 | ||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
| Audit Fees |
$ | 2,153,000 | $ | 2,008,000 | ||||
| Audit-Related Fees |
8,000 | 8,000 | ||||||
| Tax Fees |
94,000 | 91,000 | ||||||
| All Other Fees |
0 | 773,000 | ||||||
| Total Fees |
$ | 2,255,000 | $ | 2,880,000 | ||||
2024 Proxy Statement 57
Report of the Audit Committee
Audit fees consist of fees for the annual audit of our company’s financial statements and internal controls over financial reporting, reviews of financial statements included in our Form 10-Q and Form 10-K filings, statutory audits for certain of our company’s foreign locations and other services related to regulatory filings.
In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC. The Committee appointed Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2024, subject to stockholder ratification, and provisionally approved its estimated fees for first and second quarter reviews, audit related and tax services.
Idelle K. Wolf, Chairperson
Michael M. Larsen, Committee Member
Christopher L. Mapes, Committee Member
58 A. O. Smith Corporation
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of our company has appointed Ernst & Young LLP as our company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2024. Representatives of Ernst & Young LLP have been invited to be present at the 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to provide a statement and respond to stockholder questions. Although not required to be submitted to a vote of the stockholders, the Board of Directors believes it appropriate to obtain stockholder ratification of the Audit Committee’s action in appointing Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm. The Board of Directors has itself ratified the Audit Committee’s action. Should such appointment not be ratified by the stockholders, the Audit Committee will reconsider the matter. Even if the appointment is ratified, the Audit Committee, in its discretion, may select a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the fiscal year if it determines that such a change would be in the best interest of our company and our stockholders.
2024 Proxy Statement 59
REPORT OF THE NOMINATING AND GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE
The Nominating and Governance Committee met six times during the year, three of which were special meetings. The Committee monitored the status of legislation impacting corporate governance and reviewed a governance best practice or SEC topic at its three regular meetings. Further, the Committee reviewed and ratified its Charter, which provides that the Committee is responsible for the nomination of directors, review of director independence and compensation committee consultant independence, review of compensation to be paid to directors and our company’s corporate governance practices, especially in light of SEC and NYSE rules and governance trends. The Nominating and Governance Committee’s roles and responsibilities are set forth in a written Charter adopted by the Board, which is available on our website. We review and reassess the Charter annually, and more frequently as necessary to address any changes.
As part of its responsibilities, the Committee monitored and advised the full Board regarding our regulatory governance and corporate governance trends. It recommended to the Board of Directors updates to the Corporate Governance Guidelines, which the Board adopted. It reviewed the updated version of our code of business conduct, called the “Guiding Principles,” which the Board previously adopted. These and other corporate governance documents, including Board Committees’ Charters, are available via our website. No waivers were sought or granted from our code of conduct. The Committee also monitored director education programs in which directors participated. Finally, the Committee reviewed and made recommendations to the Board regarding the company’s processes for governance and oversight of certain risks, including its enterprise risk, ESG, privacy and cybersecurity programs.
As part of its responsibilities, the Committee oversaw a director search and recruitment process, as a result of which the Committee recommended to the Board the nomination of Mr. Mapes as a new director at the 2023 Annual Meeting, and the nomination of Todd W. Fister and Lois Martin as new directors, pending their election by our stockholders at the Annual Meeting.
The Committee also is responsible for reviewing director compensation. For 2023, the Committee reviewed director compensation and recommended no changes.
The Committee reviewed Board Committee member qualifications and independence and made recommendations to the Board on member appointments to Committees. The Committee reviewed the Board’s Committee structure and operations and reported to the Board regarding them. Further, the Committee reviewed the independence of compensation consultants and made recommendations to the Personnel and Compensation Committee as to their independence.
The Committee also conducted an annual review of the process implemented by the Board and each Board Committee to review best practices and how they addressed risk oversight, as well as verified that all Committees’ Charters were in place and were reviewed by the Committees. The Committee also conducted a review of our Financial Code of Ethics, officers’ outside board memberships, minimum qualifications for directors, the process and procedure for stockholder recommendation of director candidates and stockholder communications with the Board. Finally, the Committee also conducted an evaluation of its performance and oversaw the evaluation process to ensure that the Board and each of the other Committees performed its own self-evaluation and reported on it to the Board of Directors. The directors also evaluated the performance of each of their fellow directors.
Victoria M. Holt, Chairperson
Ronald D. Brown, Committee Member
Dr. Ilham Kadri, Committee Member
Mark D. Smith, Committee Member
60 A. O. Smith Corporation
DATES FOR STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
Proposals of stockholders pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Rule 14a-8”) intended to be presented at the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders must be received by us no later than November 1, 2024, to be considered for inclusion in our proxy materials for the 2025 Annual Meeting.
A stockholder who intends to present business, other than a stockholder proposal pursuant to Rule 14a-8, or to nominate a director at the 2025 Annual Meeting must comply with the requirements set forth in our By-laws. Among other matters, a stockholder must give written notice to our Secretary between December 10, 2024 and January 9, 2025 and must otherwise comply with applicable By-law provisions. If a stockholder does not provide written notice within that timeframe, then the matter of business or nomination will be untimely and we are not required to permit the business or the nomination to be presented at the 2025 Annual Meeting. If our board of directors permits a matter of business or a nomination for which written notice is received after January 9, 2025 to be presented at the 2025 Annual Meeting, the proxies will be able to vote on the proposal in their discretion to the extent allowed by SEC rules. In addition to satisfying the foregoing requirements under our By-Laws, stockholders who intend to include director nominees in the form of proxy for the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders must provide written notice to us that meets all the requirements set forth in Rule 14a-19(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and must otherwise comply with that rule.
2024 Proxy Statement 61
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL REQUESTING A BOARD REPORT ON OUR HIRING PRACTICES WITH RESPECT TO FORMERLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE
The following stockholder proposal will be voted on at the 2024 Annual Meeting, if properly presented by the stockholder.
A. O. Smith has been notified that the NorthStar Asset Management, Inc. Funded Pension Plan, PO Box 301840 Boston, Massachusetts 02130, the beneficial owner for at least three years of shares of A. O. Smith Common Stock having a value of at least $2,000, intends to present the following proposal for consideration at the annual meeting:
Eliminating Discrimination through Inclusive Hiring
WHEREAS:
In recent decades, U.S. incarceration rates have increased rapidly, and people of color are disproportionately affected. For people who have been in prison, the unemployment rate is 27% – higher than the total U.S. unemployment rate during any historical period – while formerly incarcerated Black women experience an unemployment rate of 43.6%. At the same time, studies predict a skilled labor shortage by 2030 – linking an untapped talent pool with an increasingly critical corporate need, especially for a company like A.O. Smith that engineers and manufactures products;
Recruiting formerly incarcerated people (“fair chance hires”) widens the candidate pool for employers and benefits the economy at large. Case studies show that fair chance hires can have excellent attendance records and help decrease turnover (and associated expenses) while increasing productivity;
Fair chance employment best practices include:
| • | Resolving technical barriers in job applications; |
| • | Creating internship and training programs with direct hire opportunities; |
| • | Hosting job fairs targeting fair chance jobseekers; |
| • | Removing blanket exclusions on specific crimes beyond legal requirements; |
| • | Ensuring that criminal records reviewers use best practice standards for individualized reviews; |
| • | Partnering with advocacy organizations that specialize in job preparation for incarcerated people; |
| • | Destigmatizing the issue throughout the entire workforce; |
| • | Creating employee support structures for justice-involved individuals; |
| • | Examining anonymized data on fair chance hires to ensure racial and gender equity; |
Fair chance employers are not blind to criminal records but commit to hiring practices that consider the effects of related stigma and bias. People with criminal records face thousands of collateral consequences after conviction that result in reduced employment opportunities and can lead to recidivism. The cost of recidivism on the U.S. economy is an estimated $65 billion annually;
Because people of color are disproportionately incarcerated, pursuing fair chance employment can also advance company diversity goals. In its 2022 Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability Report, A.O. Smith describes that “diversity has been empirically shown to promote creativity and innovation and is a priority within [the] company.” However, only 28% of U.S.-based employees identify as people of color which stands in contrast to the diversity levels of Milwaukee, where A.O. Smith is headquartered, where 66% of residents identify as people of color;
62 A. O. Smith Corporation
Stockholder Proposal Requesting A Board Report On Our Hiring Practices With Respect To Formerly Incarcerated People
Excluding qualified individuals because of criminal records could harm the company’s competitive advantage and reputation. Shareholders believe that company value would be well-served by examining whether revisions to company practices related to recruiting formerly incarcerated individuals could decrease future risks related to discriminatory hiring.
RESOLVED: Shareholders request that the Board of Directors prepare a report, at reasonable cost, omitting proprietary information, and published publicly within one year from the annual meeting date, analyzing whether A.O. Smith’s hiring practices related to people with arrest or incarceration records are aligned with publicly stated diversity commitments, and whether those practices may pose reputational or legal risk due to potential discrimination (including racial discrimination) claims.
Board of Directors’ Response
Our Board of Directors and its Nominating and Governance Committee has considered this proposal, concluded that it is not in the best interests of our stockholders or employees, and recommends a vote against it. Our Board believes that A. O. Smith provides an inclusive workplace where discrimination of any kind is not tolerated, and an environment free of undue barriers to those with criminal records. Our inclusive workplace is grounded in our Values and Guiding Principles, which serve as our guiding force on how we conduct business. As described in more detail below, our Values and Guiding Principles directly impact on the company’s approach to workplace inclusion generally and hiring practices specifically. Simply put, the company is committed to making A. O. Smith an inclusive and welcoming workplace where our employees feel a sense of belonging, and this is fundamental to our Values.
Our Commitment to Inclusion in Our Values and Guiding Principles
A. O. Smith developed its Guiding Principles to reinforce our Values when conducting our business and interacting with our customers, our employees and the communities in which we do business. Our success depends upon all of our employees, officers and directors sharing the same fundamental values and working towards the same goals.
One of our five key Values is to make A. O. Smith a good place to work, and inclusion is at the heart of this Value. This key Value, incorporated into our Guiding Principles, states: “In operating our company, we will attract imaginative and highly capable people. We will emphasize teamwork and promote diversity in seeking our objectives.” It further provides that our objectives are to “[c]reate a climate where respect for the individual is fundamental; [e]ncourage the freedom and personal growth that comes from hard work, passion for continuous improvement and uncompromising ethical values; [t]reat each other fairly and without discrimination; [p]ay individuals equitably according to their contributions; and [p]rovide equipment, materials and training to ensure a safe working environment.”
The Guiding Principles incorporates this Value by providing “[w]e operate in a global environment and will strive to create a workplace where men and women from diverse backgrounds can thrive and achieve their fullest potential.” The Guiding Principles are available at https://www.aosmith.com/About/Governance/ (which is not incorporated by reference in this Proxy Statement).
Safeguards to Prevent Hiring Discrimination
Our company has multiple safeguards to prevent hiring discrimination, including measures to prevent disqualifying job candidates because of their criminal record or prior incarceration where not directly relevant to the position or consistent with business necessity.
2024 Proxy Statement 63
Stockholder Proposal Requesting A Board Report On Our Hiring Practices With Respect To Formerly Incarcerated People
For instance:
| • | A. O. Smith does not have any automatic, across-the-board exclusions for job applicants with criminal convictions that disqualify them from employment or limit their employment opportunities. Furthermore, the company’s job application forms do not include questions about criminal convictions, nor does the company ask any questions about criminal convictions prior to a conditional offer of employment (unless otherwise legally required to do so). |
| • | A. O. Smith works with an accredited third-party vendor to conduct comprehensive background checks on all candidates. There is no automatic, blanket exclusion from consideration for any conviction. Rather, we review each case individually and take into account the context, recentness and severity of the crime, and its relevance to the job. We also give the candidate an opportunity to respond to the information contained in the background check. The same process is followed for all candidates. |
| • | A. O. Smith has successfully hired numerous employees with conviction records through this process. Further, related to NorthStar’s statements regarding the demographic makeup of formerly incarcerated individuals, the company notes that many of its locations have established relationships with local felony re-entry programs. In addition, local human resource teams make routine use of minority hiring agencies and minority job posting sites as part of its commitment to diverse and inclusive hiring. |
Board Recommendation
In summary, our Board has concluded that devoting additional time and resources to further assess and report on hiring practices is unnecessary, would distract from the ongoing efforts underway at A. O. Smith, and is not in the best interests of our stockholders or employees. Accordingly, the Board recommends that our stockholders vote AGAINST this proposal.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “AGAINST” THIS PROPOSAL.
64 A. O. Smith Corporation
| Shareowner Services P.O. Box 64945 St. Paul, MN 55164-0945 |
| A. O. SMITH CORPORATION | ||
| NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS | ||
| Tuesday, April 9, 2024 | ||
| 8:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) | ||
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the
Stockholders’ Meeting to be Held on April 9, 2024.
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of A. O. Smith Corporation will be held on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. (EDT) at the Carnegie Hotel, 1216 W. State of Franklin Road, Johnson City, Tennessee.
This communication presents only an overview of the more complete proxy materials that are available to you on the Internet. We encourage you to access and review all of the important information contained in the proxy materials before voting. The Proxy Statement and Annual Report are available at www.proxydocs.com/aos.
If you want to receive a paper copy or an email with links to the electronic materials, you must request one. There is no charge to you for requesting a copy. Please make your request for a copy as instructed on the reverse side of this notice on or before March 26, 2024, to facilitate timely delivery.
Admission to the Annual Meeting
All stockholders must pre-register in order to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of A. O. Smith Corporation. To pre-register, please contact us by email at jstern@aosmith.com or by telephone at 414-359-4000 and provide your name, address, telephone number and indicate your request to attend. We will respond to all pre-registration requests and will maintain a list of verified stockholders at the Annual Meeting. In addition to ownership confirmation, you must also present government-issued photo identification showing your name, address and signature for admission. Annual Meeting pre-registration requests must be received by the end of business on Friday, April 5, 2024.
Matters intended to be acted upon at the meeting are listed below.
The Board of Directors recommends that you vote FOR proposals 1, 2 and 3, and AGAINST proposal 4:
| 1. | Election of our Directors; |
| 2. | Approve, by nonbinding advisory vote, the compensation of our named executive officers; |
| 3. | Ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm; and |
| 4. | Stockholder proposal requesting a Board report on our hiring practices with respect to formerly incarcerated people, if properly presented at the Annual Meeting. |
THIS IS NOT A FORM FOR VOTING
You may immediately vote your proxy on the Internet at:
www.proxypush.com/aos
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Use the Internet to vote your proxy 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. | |
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Please have this Notice available. Follow the instructions to vote your proxy. | |
| Your Internet vote authorizes the Named Proxies to vote your shares in the same manner as if you marked, signed and returned your Proxy Card. | ||
To request paper copies of the proxy materials, which include the Proxy Card,
Proxy Statement and Annual Report, please contact us via:
| Internet/Mobile - Access the Internet and go to www.investorelections.com/aos. Follow the instructions to log in and order copies. | ||
| Telephone - Call us free of charge at 866-870-3684 in the U.S. or Canada, using a touch-tone telephone, and follow the instructions to log in and order copies. | ||
| Email - Send us an email at paper@investorelections.com with “aos Materials Request” in the subject line. The email must include: | ||
| • | The 11-digit Control Number located in the box in the upper right-hand corner on the front of this Notice. |
| • | Your preference to receive printed materials via mail -or- to receive an email with links to the electronic materials. |
| • | If you choose email delivery, you must include your email address. |
| • | If you would like this election to apply to delivery of material for all future meetings, write the word “Permanent” and include the last four digits of your Social Security Number or Tax Identification Number in the email. |
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials
This Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials (“Notice”) is provided to stockholders in place of the printed materials for the upcoming Stockholders’ Meeting.
Information about the Notice:
The Securities and Exchange Commission has adopted a voluntary rule permitting Internet-based delivery of proxy materials. Companies can now send Notices, rather than printed proxy materials to stockholders. This may help lower mailing, printing and storage costs for the company, while minimizing environmental impact. This Notice contains specific information regarding the meeting, proposals and the Internet site where the proxy materials may be found.
To view the proxy materials online:
Please refer to the instructions in this Notice on how to access and view the proxy materials online, including the Proxy Card, Proxy Statement and Annual Report.
To receive paper copies of the proxy materials:
Please refer to the instructions in this Notice on how to request hard copies of proxy materials via telephone, email or Internet.
Directions to Annual Meeting of Stockholders on April 9, 2024:
| Location: | Carnegie Hotel 1216 W. State of Franklin Road Johnson City, Tennessee
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| Directions: | From Tri-Cities Airport in Blountville, Tennessee: Head north on Airport Circle toward Aviation Drive. Turn left onto TN-75 South. In approximately 7 miles, merge onto I-26 East and follow for 9.4 miles. Take Exit 23 to merge onto TN-91 South. Continue straight onto Market Drive. Turn left onto Colonial Way, then right onto E. State of Franklin Road for approximately 1.5 miles to hotel. |
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Shareowner Services | |||
| P.O. Box 64945 St. Paul, MN 55164-0945
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| Vote by Internet, Telephone or Mail 24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week | ||||
| Please have available the Control Number located at the top of this page. | ||||
| Your phone or Internet vote authorizes the named proxies to vote your shares in the same manner as if you marked, signed and returned your Proxy Card.
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| INTERNET/MOBILE – www.proxypush.com/aos Use the Internet to vote your proxy until 11:59 pm (EDT) on April 8, 2024.
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| PHONE – 1-866-883-3382 Use a touch-tone telephone to vote your proxy until 11:59 pm (EDT) on April 8, 2024.
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| MAIL – Mark, sign and date your Proxy Card and return it in the postage-paid envelope provided or return it to A. O. SMITH CORPORATION, c/o Shareowner Services, P.O. Box 64873, St. Paul, MN 55164-0873. Your proxy must be received by April 8, 2024. |
IF YOU VOTE BY INTERNET OR TELEPHONE, PLEASE DO NOT MAIL YOUR PROXY CARD.
Detach here
A. O. SMITH CORPORATION 2024 ANNUAL MEETING
PROXY - COMMON STOCK
This proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned. If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted FOR proposals 1, 2 and 3, and AGAINST proposal 4.
| 1. | Election of directors: | 01 | Victoria M. Holt | 03 | Michael M. Larsen | ☐ Vote FOR | ☐ Vote WITHHELD | |||||||||||||||
| 02 | Dr. Ilham Kadri | 04 | Christopher L. Mapes | all nominees | from all nominees | |||||||||||||||||
| (except as marked)
|
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| (Instructions: To withhold authority to vote for any indicated nominee, write the number(s) of the nominee(s) in the box provided to the right.) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2. | Proposal to approve, by nonbinding advisory vote, the compensation of our named executive officers: | ☐ For | ☐ Against | ☐ Abstain | ||||||||||||||||||
| 3. | Proposal to ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of the corporation: | ☐ For | ☐ Against | ☐ Abstain | ||||||||||||||||||
| 4. | Stockholder proposal requesting a Board report on our hiring practices with respect to formerly incarcerated people, if properly presented at the Annual Meeting. | ☐ For | ☐ Against | ☐ Abstain | ||||||||||||||||||
| Date | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Address change? Mark box, sign, and indicate changes below: ☐ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Signature(s) in Box | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Please sign exactly as your name(s) appears on the Proxy. If held in joint tenancy, all persons should sign. Trustees, administrators, etc. should include title and authority. Corporations should provide full name of corporation and title of authorized officer signing the Proxy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
Tuesday, April 9, 2024
8:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
A. O. SMITH CORPORATION
PROXY - COMMON STOCK
This Proxy is Solicited on Behalf of the Board of Directors
The undersigned hereby appoints KEVIN J. WHEELER, CHARLES T. LAUBER and JAMES F. STERN, or any one of them, with full power of substitution, as proxy or proxies of the undersigned to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of A. O. Smith Corporation to be held at the Carnegie Hotel, 1216 W. State of Franklin Road, Johnson City, Tennessee, on April 9, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. (EDT), or at any adjournment thereof, and to vote all shares of Common Stock which the undersigned would be entitled to vote if personally present as specified upon the following matters and in their discretion upon such other matters as may properly come before the meeting.
This proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned.
If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted FOR proposals 1, 2 and 3,
and AGAINST proposal 4.
PLEASE VOTE BY INTERNET OR TELEPHONE OR MARK, SIGN, DATE
AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
See reverse for voting instructions.
| Shareowner Services | ||||
| P.O. Box 64945 St. Paul, MN 55164-0945 |
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Vote by Internet, Telephone or Mail 24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week | ||||
| Please have available the Control Number located at the top of this page. | ||||
| Your phone or Internet vote authorizes the named proxies to vote your shares in the same manner as if you marked, signed and returned your Proxy Card. | ||||
| INTERNET/MOBILE – www.proxypush.com/aos Use the Internet to vote your proxy until 11:59 pm (EDT) on April 8, 2024.
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| PHONE – 1-866-883-3382 Use a touch-tone telephone to vote your proxy until 11:59 pm (EDT) on April 8, 2024.
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| MAIL – Mark, sign and date your Proxy Card and return it in the postage-paid envelope provided or return it to A. O. SMITH CORPORATION, c/o Shareowner Services, P.O. Box 64873, St. Paul, MN 55164-0873. Your proxy must be received by April 8, 2024. |
IF YOU VOTE BY INTERNET OR TELEPHONE, PLEASE DO NOT MAIL YOUR PROXY CARD.
Detach here
A. O. SMITH CORPORATION 2024 ANNUAL MEETING
PROXY - CLASS A COMMON STOCK
This proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned. If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted FOR proposals 1, 2 and 3, and AGAINST proposal 4.
| 1. | Election of directors: | 01 02 03 |
Ronald D. Brown Todd W. Fister Lois Martin |
04 05 06 |
Ajita G. Rajendra Mark D. Smith Kevin J. Wheeler |
☐ Vote FOR all nominees (except as marked) |
☐ Vote WITHHOLD from all nominees | |||||||||||||||
| (Instructions: To withhold authority to vote for any indicated nominee, write the number(s) of the nominee(s) in the box provided to the right.) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2. | Proposal to approve, by nonbinding advisory vote, the compensation of our named executive officers: | ☐ For | ☐ Against | ☐ Abstain | ||||||||||||||||||
| 3. | Proposal to ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of the corporation: | ☐ For | ☐ Against | ☐ Abstain | ||||||||||||||||||
| 4. | Stockholder proposal requesting a Board report on our hiring practices with respect to formerly incarcerated people, if properly presented at the Annual Meeting. | ☐ For |
☐ Against |
☐ Abstain | ||||||||||||||||||
| Date | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Address change? Mark box, sign and indicate changes below: ☐ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Signature(s) in Box | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Please sign exactly as your name(s) appears on the Proxy. If held in joint tenancy, all persons should sign. Trustees, administrators, etc. should include title and authority. Corporations should provide full name of corporation and title of authorized officer signing the Proxy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
Tuesday, April 9, 2024
8:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
A. O. SMITH CORPORATION
PROXY – CLASS A COMMON STOCK
This Proxy is Solicited on Behalf of the Board of Directors
The undersigned hereby appoints KEVIN J. WHEELER, CHARLES T. LAUBER and JAMES F. STERN, or any one of them, with full power of substitution, as proxy or proxies of the undersigned to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of A. O. Smith Corporation to be held at the Carnegie Hotel, 1216 W. State of Franklin Road, Johnson City, Tennessee, on April 9, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. (EDT), or at any adjournment thereof, and to vote all shares of Class A Common Stock which the undersigned would be entitled to vote if personally present as specified upon the following matters and in their discretion upon such other matters as may properly come before the meeting.
This proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned.
If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted FOR proposals 1, 2 and 3,
and AGAINST proposal 4.
PLEASE VOTE BY INTERNET OR TELEPHONE OR MARK, SIGN, DATE
AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
See reverse for voting instructions.