UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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Proxy
Statement
and notice of annual meeting of stockholders 2018
Creating long-term value thru
Relentless Innovation
Our Vision
Building the Worlds Best Specialty Materials and Components Company
Focus on differentiated products with significant technical barriers to entry
Focus on global markets that have
long-term growth expectations and require ATIs technical and manufacturing leadership
This focus creates superior growth in shareholder
value over the long term and enhances opportunities
for our strategic customers and employees.
Dear Stockholders
I am pleased to invite you to attend Allegheny Technologies Incorporateds 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. As in prior years, we will consider matters that are important to our company.
For ATI, 2017 was a year of important progress on several key strategic initiatives that set the stage for our longer-term success and for sustainable, profitable growth.
Enabled by its innovative technologies, differentiated products and long-term agreements with key strategic customers, our High Performance Materials and Components segment continues to benefit from the transition to next-generation jet engines and aircraft that is underway in the commercial aerospace market. Additionally, we continue to develop HPMCs powder capabilities. Among other achievements in 2017, we announced our investment in a new titanium powder facility. We also formed a new joint venture with GE Aviation, named Next Gen Alloys, to further develop a novel meltless titanium alloy powder manufacturing process. We believe this technology has the potential to meaningfully change the way the industry produces titanium powder materials.
Our Flat Rolled Products business returned to full-year profitability in 2017, an important milestone in our multi-year effort to achieve sustainable profitability. In November, we announced an innovative joint venture with a Tsingshan Group company to produce 60-inch wide stainless products in the United States. We expect this business to significantly improve the utilization of our Hot-Rolling and Processing Facility, or HRPF. Also in 2017, we obtained a contract to supply high value nickel sheet products for use in a major pipeline repair project, primarily due to the world-class capabilities of the HRPF. We believe that, taken together, these and other recent FRP achievements highlight the synergies between our FRP and HPMC businesses and will provide a springboard for FRPs continued financial improvement in 2018 and beyond.
While we have made progress, more work remains. Moving forward, we believe that our ongoing emphasis on innovation, differentiation and long-term strategic planning is driving ATIs transition to sustainable profitability and long-term value creation for all of our stakeholders.
We remain committed to integrity and good corporate governance. We believe that management and Board accountability, transparency and ongoing engagement with our investors are key to the long-term success and sustainability of our business. Our corporate governance practices reflect these values, as do our extensive stockholder outreach efforts over the last several years. We value your feedback and look forward to our ongoing dialogue.
Thank you for your support in our ongoing commitment to Creating Long-Term Value Thru Relentless Innovation®.
Sincerely,
Richard J. Harshman Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer March 27, 2018 |
ATI 2018 Proxy Statement / 1
Notice of annual meeting of stockholders
Your vote is important
Please vote as soon as possible.
You can help the Company reduce expenses by voting your shares by telephone or Internet; your proxy card or voting instruction card contains the instructions. Or complete, sign and date your proxy card or voting instruction card and return it as soon as possible in the enclosed postage-paid envelope.
How to vote |
Annual Meeting Information
Date: Thursday, May 10, 2018
Time: 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time
Place: Salem Convention Center, 200 Commercial Street, SE, Salem, Oregon 97301
Record Date: March 12, 2018
Agenda
1. Election of four directors;
2. Advisory vote to approve the compensation of our named executive officers; and
3. Ratification of the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent auditors for 2018.
Admission To The Meeting
Only holders of ATI common stock or their authorized representatives by proxy may attend the meeting.
If you are a stockholder of record and plan to attend the meeting, please mark the appropriate box on the proxy card, or enter the appropriate information when voting by telephone or Internet.
If your shares are held through an intermediary such as a broker or a bank, you will need to present proof of your ownership as of the record date, March 12, 2018, for admission to the meeting. Proof of ownership could include a proxy card from your bank or broker or a copy of your account statement.
All attendees will need to present valid photo identification for admission to the meeting.
The approximate date of the mailing of this proxy statement, proxy card, and ATIs 2017 Annual Report is March 27, 2018. For further information about ATI, please visit our website at atimetals.com.
On behalf of the Board of Directors:
ELLIOT S. DAVIS
Corporate Secretary
March 27, 2018
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Via the internet: Visit the website listed on our proxy card |
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By mail: Sign, date and return your proxy card in the enclosed envelope |
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By telephone: Call the telephone number on your proxy card |
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In person: Attend the Annual Meeting in person |
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Important notice regarding the availability of proxy materials for the ATI Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on Thursday, May 10, 2018. The proxy statement, proxy card and 2017 annual report of Allegheny Technologies Incorporated are available for review at: envisionreports. com/ATI.
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2 \ ATI 2018 Proxy Statement
This summary highlights information that is contained elsewhere in this Proxy Statement. You should carefully read this Proxy Statement in its entirety before voting, as this summary does not contain all of the information that you should consider.
Director nominees Class I Term to expire in 2021
Name | Director Since | Experience and Qualifications | Board Committees | |||
Herbert J. Carlisle | 2018 | Leadership Industry Finance Technical |
Audit Technology | |||
Diane C. Creel Lead Independent Director |
1996 | Leadership Industry Finance Technical |
Nominating and Governance (Chair) Personnel and Compensation | |||
John R. Pipski | 2011 | Industry Finance M&A |
Audit (Chair) Finance | |||
James E. Rohr | 1996 | Leadership Finance M&A |
Personnel and Compensation (Chair) |
4 \ ATI 2018 Proxy Statement
PROXY STATEMENT SUMMARY | HIGHLIGHTS
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Board Composition
ATI has a diverse, highly-credentialed and highly-experienced board. Our directors possess a variety of qualifications, backgrounds, skill and experiences contributing to a Board that is well-rounded and well-positioned to effectively oversee our business and promote the interests of our stakeholders.
Highly Engaged Board Guides the Strategic Direction of our Company:
| Actively involved in long-term strategic planning including an annual, multi-day strategic planning meeting in addition to regular quarterly and other Board meetings. |
| Regularly conduct site visits at our facilities throughout the United States. We also rotate the location of our Annual Meeting to various communities in which we conduct significant operations. This allows our directors to meet with management and other employees to gain firsthand exposure to the technologies that drive our success and deeper knowledge of the strengths and challenges of our business and how they tie to our near and long-term strategic goals. |
| Actively involved in succession planning our robust process includes regular engagement with senior management. |
| 95% overall attendance rate for Board and Committee meetings over the last two years. |
| Robust stock ownership guidelines. |
Thoughtful Board Refreshment
| We have a mandatory retirement age, and our Board is actively engaged in recruitment efforts in connection with several resulting retirements anticipated over the next five years. |
| Annual Board evaluation process assesses the need to add members with experience or skill sets that may enhance Board effectiveness; the Board can appoint new members when presented with candidates who fill a particular need or otherwise would serve as an asset to the Board. |
ATI 2018 Proxy Statement / 5
PROXY STATEMENT SUMMARY | HIGHLIGHTS
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Governance Highlights
Our commitment to good corporate governance is illustrated by the following practices:
Stockholder Engagement
We value the input we receive from our stockholders. As part of our investor relations program, we regularly communicate with our investors and actively engage with them throughout the year. We solicit their feedback on corporate governance topics and ATIs executive compensation program.
Our goal is to be responsive to our stockholders and to ensure that we understand and address our stockholders concerns and observations. As a result of our stockholder engagement, we have made significant changes to our corporate governance practices and executive compensation program in recent years.
2017 Business Performance
Sales were $3.5 billion, up 13% versus prior year
High Performance Materials and Components (HPMC) segment sales increased 7% to $2.07 billion, including a 9% increase in sales to aerospace & defense
Flat Rolled Products (FRP) segment sales increased 21% to $1.46 billion, including a 51% increase in sales to the oil & gas market and an 18% increase in sales to the automotive market
Gross profit margin increased 176%, to $449 million, compared to 2016
Marked our second year of more than doubling prior years gross profit margin |
Demonstrates the benefits of our prior restructuring actions, ongoing focus on high-value products and improved utilization of our manufacturing facilities
Sales to the aerospace & defense market, our largest end-market, increased $128 million, or 8% vs. 2016
49% of consolidated ATI sales in 2017
76% of HPMC segment sales, driven by an 11% increase in commercial jet engine sales in 2017, including a 35% improvement in sales of next-generation jet engine products |
Segment operating profit was $283.4 million, or 8% of sales
HPMC segment operating profit was $246.4 million, or 12% of sales
FRP segment operating profit was $37.0 million, or 3% of sales
Net loss attributable to ATI was $91.9 million, or $(0.83) per share
Adjusted net income attributable to ATI was $54.6 million, or $0.48 per share, excluding goodwill impairment, debt extinguishment charges, and tax legislation benefits |
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6 \ ATI 2018 Proxy Statement
PROXY STATEMENT SUMMARY | PAY FOR PERFORMANCE
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Our Compensation PhilosophyPay for Performance
ATIs executive compensation program is designed to drive our long-term strategic vision and to align with our pay-for-performance philosophy. The goals of our program are to compensate executive management based on our performance, create long-term stockholder value and attract and retain key employees. Paying for performance is a key attribute of ATIs compensation philosophy. As such, a significant portion of the compensation of each named executive officer (NEO) is subject to the achievement of rigorous performance goals and, therefore, is at risk.
The following table shows target and realizable pay to the CEO over the past three-years in terms of total compensation, annual cash incentive, and long-term incentives. Each of our NEOs received annual cash incentive awards with respect to our 2017 performance.
For both 2015 and 2016, our Personnel and Compensation Committee determined that our CEO should forfeit his earned annual cash incentive due to overall Company financial performance.
Additionally, much of our CEOs target long-term incentive awards scheduled to vest over the last three years have been forfeited by their terms as a result of the Companys financial performance failing to achieve threshold performance criteria. Consequently, realized compensation is well below targeted amounts. |
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ATI 2018 Proxy Statement / 7
PROXY STATEMENT SUMMARY | TOTAL REALIZED COMPENSATION
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Total Realized Compensation
When making determinations and awards under our incentive plans, the Committee looks to the actual dollar value of awards to be delivered to the NEOs in any given year, as illustrated by the Total Realized Compensation figures below. The following comparison of target compensation to realized compensation for our NEOs demonstrates our ongoing commitment to compensating our leadership based on the Companys performance and placing a significant portion of senior executive compensation at risk:
Named Executive Officer | 2017 Target Compensation |
2017 Total Realized Compensation |
% of Target Realized |
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Harshman |
$5,989,000 | $ | 3,524,831 | 58.9% | ||||||||||
DeCourcy |
$1,824,000 | $ | 1,340,605 | 73.5% | ||||||||||
Kramer |
$1,710,000 | $ | 1,220,086 | 71.4% | ||||||||||
Sims |
$1,938,000 | $ | 1,423,376 | 73.4% | ||||||||||
Wetherbee |
$1,938,000 | $ | 1,371,768 | 70.8% |
Total Realized Compensation is calculated as follows:
Total Compensation as determined by SEC rules in the Total column of the Summary Compensation Table
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the aggregate grant date fair value of equity awards (as reflected in the Stock Awards column of the 2017 Summary Compensation Table)
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the year-over-year change in pension value and non-qualified deferred compensation (as reflected in the Change in Pension Value and Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Earnings column of the 2017 Summary Compensation Table)
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the value realized in 2017 from shares earned under the 2015-2017 Long-Term Shareholder Value (LTSV) award program and the portion of shares awarded under our 2016 Long-Term Incentive Plan that vested in 2017 (as reflected in the Options Exercised and Stock Vested Table; no shares vested under the Performance/Restricted Stock (PSRP) or Total Shareholder Return (TSR) programs for the 2015-2017 period).
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2017 Say On Pay Vote
In 2017, our Say On Pay proposal received the support of 96% of the shares voted at our Annual Meeting. Our Board believes this high level of support from our stockholders is a result of our commitment to ensure a strong link between pay and performance. | ||||
8 \ ATI 2018 Proxy Statement
Item 1 Election of Directors
Our Board of Directors has nominated four directors for election. Herbert J. Carlisle, Diane C. Creel, John R. Pipski and James E. Rohr are standing for election to the Board as Class I directors for three-year terms expiring in 2021.
Plurality Voting: Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast. This means that the four individuals nominated for election to the Board who receive the most FOR votes (among votes properly cast in person, electronically, telephonically or by proxy) will be elected.
Director Resignation Policy: While directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast, our Bylaws include a director resignation policy. This policy states that, in an uncontested election, if any director nominee receives a greater number of votes WITHHELD from his or her election, as compared to votes FOR such election, the director nominee must tender his or her resignation. The Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board is required to make recommendations to the Board regarding any such tendered resignation. The Board will act on the tendered resignation within 90 days from the certification of the vote and will publicly disclose its decision, including its rationale.
Only votes FOR or WITHHELD are counted in determining whether a plurality has been cast in favor of a director nominee; abstentions are not counted for purposes of the election of directors. If you withhold authority to vote with respect to the election of some or all of the nominees, your shares will not be voted with respect to those nominees indicated. For a WITHHOLD vote, your shares will be counted for purposes of determining whether there is a quorum and will have a similar effect as a vote against that director nominee for purposes of our director resignation policy.
If a nominee becomes unable or unwilling to serve, the proxies will vote for a Board-designated substitute or the Board may reduce the number of directors. The Company has no reason to believe that any of the nominees for election will be unable or unwilling to serve.
Our directors currently are divided into three classes, and the directors in each class generally serve for three-year terms unless unable to serve due to death, retirement or disability. The term of one class of directors currently expires each year at the annual meeting of stockholders. The Board may fill a vacancy by electing a new director to the same class as the director being replaced or by effectively reassigning a director from another class. The Board may also create a new director position in any class and elect a director to hold the newly created position. It is expected that new directors appointed by the Board will stand for election by the stockholders at the next annual meeting.
ATI 2018 Proxy Statement / 9
ITEM 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS | OUR DIRECTOR NOMINATION PROCESS
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10 \ ATI 2018 Proxy Statement
ITEM 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS | OUR DIRECTOR NOMINATION PROCESS
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In evaluating the needs of the Board, the Nominating and Governance Committee considers the qualifications of sitting directors and consults with other members of the Board (including as part of the Boards annual self-evaluation), the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, and other members of executive management. At a minimum, all recommended candidates must exemplify the highest standards of personal and professional integrity, meet any required independence standards, and be willing and able to constructively participate in and contribute to Board and committee meetings.
Additionally, the Committee conducts individual reviews of current directors whose terms are nearing expiration, but who may be proposed for re-election, in light of the considerations described above and their past contributions to the Board.
Director Skills Summary
Our 2018 Director Nominees and Continuing Directors
Our Board determined that each of the four director nominees qualifies for election under the criteria for evaluation of directors. The Board determined that Ms. Creel and Messrs. Carlisle, Pipski and Rohr qualify as independent directors under applicable rules and regulations and our categorical Board independence standards.
All of our directors bring to our Board a wealth of leadership experience derived from their service in executive and managerial roles, as well as extensive board experience. Background information about the nominees and the continuing directors, including their business experience and directorships held during the past five years, and certain individual qualifications and skills of our directors that contribute to the Boards effectiveness as a whole, are described in the following pages.
ATI 2018 Proxy Statement / 11
ITEM 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS | 2018 DIRECTOR NOMINEES
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Nominees Class I Term to Expire at the 2021 Annual Meeting
Herbert J. Carlisle | ||||
New Director in 2018 Age 62 |
General Carlisle has been President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) since March 2017, when he retired from the United States Air Force as a four-star general following a 39-year military career. His last Air Force assignment was as Commander, Air Company Command at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. Prior to that, he was the Commander of the Pacific Air Forces, the air component Commander for the U.S. Pacific Command, and served as executive director of Pacific Air Combat Operations staff, Joint Base Harbor in Hawaii, following various operational and staff assignments throughout the Air Force, including as chief of air operations, U.S. Central Command Forward in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and as director of legislative liaison at the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force.
General Carlisle is a member of the Audit Committee and the Technology Committee
SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:
The Board believes that General Carlisles qualifications include his executive leadership experience as a senior military official, his legislative and government experience and his experience and knowledge in the aerospace and defense fields. |
Diane C. Creel | ||||
Director since 1996 Age 69 Lead Independent Director |
From 2003 until her retirement in 2008, Ms. Creel served as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Ecovation, Inc., a subsidiary of Ecolab Inc. and a waste stream technology company using patented technologies. Ecovation became a subsidiary of Ecolab Inc. in 2008. Previously, Ms. Creel served as Chief Executive Officer and President of Earth Tech, an international consulting engineering firm, from 1992 to 2003.
Ms. Creel has served as Lead Independent Director since the position was established in 2011. Ms. Creel is Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee and a member of the Personnel and Compensation Committee.
SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:
The Board believes that Ms. Creels qualifications include her experience as a chief executive officer of various companies and her entrepreneurial, management and technical experience.
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CURRENT DIRECTORSHIPS:
Timken Steel Corporation
EnPro Industries, Inc. |
PAST DIRECTORSHIPS:
URS Corporation and Goodrich Corporation |
John R. Pipski | ||||
Director since 2011 Age 70 Audit Committee Financial Expert |
Mr. Pipski was a tax partner of Ernst & Young LLP, a public accounting firm, until his retirement in 2001. Thereafter, he provided business advisory and financial and tax accounting services through his own firm until 2013.
Mr. Pipski is Chair of the Audit Committee and a member of the Finance Committee.
SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:
The Board believes that Mr. Pipskis qualifications include his expertise in financial and tax accounting for public companies, including those in the metals and mining industries, and his general business experience.
PAST DIRECTORSHIPS:
CNX Gas Corporation (Chairman of its Audit Committee) |
12 \ ATI 2018 Proxy Statement
ITEM 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS | 2018 DIRECTOR NOMINEES
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James E. Rohr | ||||
Director since 1996 Age 69 |
Mr. Rohr served as Executive Chairman of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc., a diversified financial services organization, from May 2013 until his retirement in April 2014. Previously, he was Chairman from 2001 until April 2013 and Chief Executive Officer from 2000 until April 2013. He served as President of The PNC Financial Services Group from 1990 to 2002.
Mr. Rohr is Chair of the Personnel and Compensation Committee.
SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:
The Board believes that Mr. Rohrs qualifications include his significant leadership and management experience from his years of serving as a chief executive officer of a large, publicly traded company and his expertise in capital markets and financial matters.
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CURRENT DIRECTORSHIPS: EQT Corporation
Marathon Petroleum Corporation (Appointed as Lead Director beginning in April 2018)
General Electric Company (until April 2018) |
PAST DIRECTORSHIPS:
The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc., and BlackRock Inc. |
Continuing Directors Class II Term to Expire at the 2019 Annual Meeting
Richard J. Harshman | ||
Director since 2011 Age 61 |
Mr. Harshman became Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer in May 2011. He was President and Chief Operating Officer from 2010 until May 2011. Prior to that, he served as Executive Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer from 2003 to 2010. Mr. Harshman joined the Company in 1978 and served in several financial management roles for the Company.
SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS: The Board believes that Mr. Harshmans qualifications include his experience in senior leadership positions, his intimate knowledge of the industry and ATIs business given his tenure with the Company, and his financial expertise. Furthermore, the Board believes that Mr. Harshmans current position as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer provides a unified vision for ATI.
CURRENT DIRECTORSHIPS:
Ameren Corporation (Appointed as Lead Independent Director beginning in May 2018) |
Carolyn Corvi | ||||
Director since 2012 Age 66 |
Upon her retirement in 2008, Ms. Corvi concluded a 34-year career with The Boeing Company, a diversified aerospace company, where she most recently served as Vice President, General Manager of Airplane Programs, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, a position she held from 2005 until her retirement.
Ms. Corvi is a member of the Finance Committee, the Personnel and Compensation Committee, and the Technology Committee.
SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:
The Board believes that Ms. Corvis qualifications include her extensive experience in the aerospace industry (ATIs largest end-market) and her knowledge of and experience in manufacturing.
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CURRENT DIRECTORSHIPS:
Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc.
United Continental Holdings, Inc. |
PAST DIRECTORSHIPS:
Goodrich Corporation and Continental Airlines, Inc. |
ATI 2018 Proxy Statement / 13
ITEM 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS | CONTINUING DIRECTORS
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Barbara S. Jeremiah | ||||
Director since 2008 Age 66 |
Prior to her retirement in 2009, Ms. Jeremiah served as Executive Vice President of Alcoa, Inc., a leading aluminum producer, from 2002 until 2008, when she also assumed the position of Chairmans Counsel.
Ms. Jeremiah is a member of the Finance Committee and the Technology Committee.
SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:
The Board believes that Ms. Jeremiahs qualifications include her strong background in the metals industry and significant strategic development and international experience.
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CURRENT DIRECTORSHIPS:
Russel Metals, Inc.
Aggreko plc
Weir Group |
PAST DIRECTORSHIPS:
Boart Longyear Limited (Chair from 2013 to 2015), EQT Corporation and First Niagara Financial Group, Inc. |
John D. Turner | ||||
Director since 2004 Age 72 |
Mr. Turner served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Copperweld Corporation, a manufacturer of tubular and bimetallic wire products, from 2001 until his retirement in 2003.
Mr. Turner is the Chair of the Technology Committee and a member of the Finance Committee and the Nominating and Governance Committee.
SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:
The Board believes that Mr. Turners qualifications include his experience in executive oversight and senior leadership positions, background in the manufacturing sector, and familiarity with industrial and technical matters.
CURRENT DIRECTORSHIPS:
Matthews International Corporation (Chairman since 2010) |
Continuing Directors Class III Term to Expire at the 2020 Annual Meeting
James C. Diggs | ||||
Director since 2001 Age 69 |
Prior to his retirement in 2010, Mr. Diggs was Senior Vice President and General Counsel of PPG Industries, Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of a broad range of paints, coatings and specialty materials, since 1997. He held the position of Secretary from 2004 to 2009.
Mr. Diggs is Chair of the Finance Committee and is a member of the Audit Committee and the Nominating and Governance Committee.
SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:
The Board believes that Mr. Diggss qualifications include his experience with industry and legal matters, his senior leadership at a global public company, and his experience with domestic and international operations.
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CURRENT DIRECTORSHIPS:
Brandywine Realty Trust |
14 \ ATI 2018 Proxy Statement
ITEM 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS | CONTINUING DIRECTORS
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J. Brett Harvey | ||||
Director since 2007 Age 67 |
Mr. Harvey previously served as Chairman Emeritus of CONSOL Energy Inc., a leading diversified energy company in the United States, from May 2016 to May 2017. He served as Chairman of CONSOL from 2010 until his retirement in May 2016 and was Executive Chairman from May 2014 to January 2015. Mr. Harvey was Chief Executive Officer of CONSOL from 1998 until May 2014. He also served as President from 1998 until 2011. Mr. Harvey was Chairman of CNX Gas Corporation, a subsidiary of CONSOL, from 2009 to 2014 and was a Director of CNX from 2005 to 2014.
Mr. Harvey is a member of the Nominating and Governance Committee and the Personnel and Compensation Committee.
SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:
The Board believes that Mr. Harveys qualifications include his significant oversight experience from serving as chief executive officer of a public company, his industry experience in the oil and gas market (a large end-market for ATI), and his operational expertise.
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CURRENT DIRECTORSHIPS:
Barrick Gold Corporation (Lead Independent Director since 2013) Warrior Met Coal (Lead Independent Director since February 2018) |
PAST DIRECTORSHIPS:
CONSOL Energy Inc. (Chairman from 2010 to 2016) and CNX Gas Corporation (Chairman from 2009 to 2010) |
David J. Morehouse | ||||
Director since 2015 Age 57 |
Mr. Morehouse is Chief Executive Officer and President of Pittsburgh Penguins LLC, which owns and operates the Pittsburgh Penguins National Hockey League team. He was named President of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2007 and has also served as Chief Executive Officer since 2010. He joined the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2004 as a consultant for special projects, including the construction of the teams current arena.
The United Steelworkers (USW) initially proposed the nomination of Mr. Morehouse in contemplation of the 2017 retirement of former ATI director Louis J. Thomas, the previous USW nominee to our Board. The Collective Bargaining Agreement between Allegheny Ludlum, which is an ATI subsidiary, and the USW permits the International President of the USW to propose to our Chairman one nominee for election to our Board.
Mr. Morehouse is a member of the Audit Committee and the Technology Committee.
SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:
The Board believes that Mr. Morehouses qualifications include his leadership, strategic planning and development, operations, branding and marketing, and government experience. |
ATI 2018 Proxy Statement / 15
We at ATI are committed to a strong self-governance program. Our corporate governance practices are designed to maintain high standards of oversight, compliance, integrity and ethics, while promoting growth in long-term stockholder value. The role of our Board of Directors is to ensure that ATI is managed for the long-term benefit of our stockholders and other stakeholders.
Each year we review our corporate governance and compensation policies and practices and engage with our stockholders. In our ongoing effort to ensure that our governance policies and practices consistently reflect best practices, we take suggestions from our stockholders into consideration, along with developments and evolving trends reflected in the standards established by proxy advisory firms, as well as in the policies, practices and disclosures of other public companies. In this way, we affirm our commitment to RELENTLESS INNOVATION by continually evolving our programs to benefit all of our stakeholders.
Our Commitment to Integrity and Sustainability
ATI is committed to conducting its business in an honest, ethical and lawful manner. Our employees strive to satisfy the spirit and intent, as well as the technical requirements, of the contracts we enter into and the laws, regulations and rules that govern us.
We are committed to protecting the health and safety of our employees, the environment, and our communities. We support sustainable development and consistently work to improve our operations to the benefit of our stockholders, employees, customers and local communities.
We are committed to providing a workplace where employees are treated with dignity and respect, free of harassment and discrimination, and where all employees can fulfill their potential based on merit and ability.
We value our reputation. We pledge to promptly address issues in a lawful and proper manner. We strive to create value for our stakeholders while continually improving our performance as a good corporate citizen.
We are also committed to providing information in our financial reporting that is accurate, complete, objective, relevant, timely and transparent, and we have a robust system of internal controls.
We take these commitments seriously. Our management and our Board have instilled a culture, throughout our organization, that supports and honors these commitments. We expect that the actions of our employees, officers and directors comply with these principles and all polices undertaken to further these objectives.
Corporate Governance Information on our Website
The following governance documents are available on our website, www.atimetals.com, at About ATICorporate Governance:
Corporate Governance Guidelines
Corporate Guidelines for Business Conduct and Ethics (including Financial Code of Ethics)
Board Committee Charters
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws
Paper copies can be obtained by writing to the Corporate Secretary, Allegheny Technologies Incorporated, 1000 Six PPG Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15222-5479.
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16 \ ATI 2018 Proxy Statement
OUR CORPORATE GOVERNANCE | ATI CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AT A GLANCE
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ATI Corporate Governance at a Glance
Presented below are some highlights of the ATI corporate governance program. You can find details about these and other corporate governance policies and practices within this Proxy Statement.
Board Independence |
10 of our 11 directors are independent.
Our CEO is the only management director.
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Board Composition |
Currently, the Board has fixed the number of directors at 11.
Our Board regularly assesses its performance and can adjust the number of directors according to need or as the opportunity arises to enhance the overall mix of skills and experience represented on our Board.
As shown under Item 1 Election of Directors, our Board has a diverse mix of skills, experience and background.
| |
Accountability to Stockholders |
Engagement with Stockholders. We actively reach out to our stockholders through our annual engagement program and communicate with them on important compensation, governance and environmental and social sustainability issues. Also, stockholders can contact our Board, Lead Independent Director or management by email or regular mail.
Proxy Access. We allow a stockholder or group of up to 20 stockholders owning an aggregate of 3% or more of our outstanding common stock for at least three years to nominate and include in our proxy materials director nominees constituting up to 20% of the number of directors then in office or two nominees, whichever is greater, provided the stockholders and nominees otherwise satisfy the requirements of our Bylaws.
Majority Voting/Director Resignation Policy. Our director resignation policy provides that any nominee for director in an uncontested election who receives a greater number of votes withheld than votes for his or her election must promptly tender his or her resignation to the Board for the Boards consideration.
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Independent Board Committees |
We have five Board committees: Audit; Finance; Nominating and Governance; Personnel and Compensation; and Technology.
All of the Board committees are composed entirely of independent directors, and each has a written charter that is reviewed and reassessed annually and is posted on our website.
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Strong Lead Independent Director |
Diane C. Creel serves as our Lead Independent Director. We encourage open communication and strong working relationships among the Lead Independent Director, Chairman and other directors.
Our independent directors meet in regularly scheduled executive sessions, led by the Lead Independent Director, without the presence of management.
Stockholders can communicate with the independent directors through the Lead Independent Director.
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Risk Oversight | Our full Board is responsible for risk oversight, and has designated committees to have particular oversight of certain key risks. Our Board oversees management as it fulfills its responsibilities for the assessment and mitigation of risks and for taking appropriate risks.
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Succession Planning |
The Board actively monitors our management succession plans and receives regular updates on employee engagement, diversity and retention matters. At least annually, the Board reviews senior management succession and development plans.
Additionally, the Board evaluated matters related to Board succession and the processes by which additional directors with strong and diverse experience can be attracted and selected for future Board seats.
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Board/ Committee Self-evaluation |
We have an annual self-evaluation process for the Board.
We have an annual self-evaluation process for each standing committee of the Board.
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Director and NEO Stock Ownership |
Each director is expected to own at least 10,000 shares of our common stock.
Executives are expected to own ATI common stock with a value equivalent to:
CEO: 6 times base salary;
Executive Vice Presidents and the Chief Financial Officer: 3 times base salary; and
Senior Vice Presidents: 2 times base salary.
| |
Ethics/Corporate Responsibility |
Our Corporate Guidelines for Business Conduct and Ethics, as well as the Companys attention to environmental, social and governance issues, are disclosed on our website.
The Company has an active ethics and compliance program, which includes regular employee training.
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ATI 2018 Proxy Statement / 17
OUR CORPORATE GOVERNANCE | CORPORATE GOVERNANCE GUIDELINES
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Corporate Governance Guidelines
ATIs Board of Directors has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines that are designed to assist the Board in the exercise of its duties and responsibilities to the Company. The Guidelines reflect the Boards commitment to monitor the effectiveness of decision making at the Board and management levels, with a view to achieving ATIs strategic objectives. The Guidelines are subject to modification by the Board at any time.
Corporate Guidelines for Business Conduct and Ethics
Our Corporate Guidelines for Business Conduct and Ethics (our Code of Ethics) apply to all directors, officers and employees, including our principal executive officer, our principal financial officer, and our controller and principal accounting officer. We require all directors, officers and employees to adhere to our Code of Ethics in addressing legal and ethical issues encountered in their work.
Our Code of Ethics requires that our directors, officers and employees avoid conflicts of interest, comply with applicable laws, conduct business in an honest and ethical manner, and otherwise act with integrity and honesty in all of their actions by or on behalf of the Company. It includes a financial code of ethics specifically for our Chief Executive Officer, our Chief Financial Officer, and all other financial officers and employees, which supplements the general principles in the Code of Ethics and is intended to promote honest and ethical conduct, full and accurate reporting, and compliance with laws, as well as other matters.
Only the Audit Committee of the Board can amend or grant waivers from the provisions of the Code of Ethics relating to the Companys executive officers and directors, and any such amendments or waivers will be promptly posted on our website at www.atimetals.com. To date, no such amendments have been made or waivers granted.
Mandatory Employee Training
All employees are provided with a copy of the Code of Ethics. Each year, we require all officers and managers to certify as to their understanding of and compliance with the Code of Ethics. In addition, all directors, officers and other employees must annually complete an interactive online ethics course addressing the Code of Ethics. This course is part of ATIs broader ethics and compliance program, which includes online ethics training that is administered by a third party. In 2017, ATIs online ethics courses addressed cybersecurity and defending against phishing attacks, the prevention of workplace violence, financial integrity and controls, careful communication practices, information security threat awareness, workplace respect, careful use of social media, protection of product quality and protection of confidential information.
We encourage employees to communicate concerns before they become problems. We believe that building and maintaining trust, respect and communication between employees and management and between fellow employees is critical to the overriding goal of efficiently producing high quality products, providing the maximum level of customer satisfaction, and ultimately fueling profitability and growth.
The ATI Ethics Helpline provides confidential, secure, and anonymous reporting available 24 hours a day. Additionally, our Chief Compliance Officer and ethics officers at our operating companies also provide confidential resources for employees to surface their concerns without fear of reprisal.
Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability
At ATI, we recognize the importance of being a good corporate citizen. We encourage integrity from the boardroom to the work floor, and continually review and refine our efforts to enrich our communities, improve employee health and safety, and lessen our environmental impact. Building the Worlds Best Specialty Materials & Components CompanyTM requires nothing less than the highest standards of ethical business conduct and corporate responsibility.
In mid-2018, we anticipate publishing our first stand-alone Sustainability Report, which will be available on atimetals.com.
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18 \ ATI 2018 Proxy Statement
OUR CORPORATE GOVERNANCE | INVESTOR OUTREACH AND STOCKHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
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Investor Outreach and Stockholder Engagement
We value the input we receive from our stockholders. As part of our investor relations program, we engage in a structured and regular communication program with certain investors, actively engaging with them throughout the year. We solicit their feedback on a variety of relevant matters, which may include corporate governance topics, our executive compensation program and sustainability initiatives, among other matters. Our goal is to be responsive to our stockholders and to ensure that we understand and address our stockholders concerns and observations. As a result of stockholder engagement, we have made significant changes to our corporate governance practices and executive compensation program in recent years.
Stockholder Engagement Cycle
Throughout the year, management conducts regular meetings and discussions with investors. During the third quarter of 2017, we offered 50 of our largest stockholders a more structured opportunity for one-on-one discussions with representatives of our management team. As a result of this effort, we conducted outreach sessions with four of our ten largest investors, among others, during which we highlighted key current corporate governance policies and practices, the ongoing success of our redesigned executive compensation programs (as illustrated by the 96% favorable say on pay vote we achieved in 2017) and our upcoming stand-alone Sustainability Report, the first of which we anticipate publishing in mid-2018, among other matters.
Our 2017 outreach dialogue generally solicited very positive feedback from our investors, in particular with regard to the best practices reflected in our executive compensation programs.
ATI 2018 Proxy Statement / 19
OUR CORPORATE GOVERNANCE | BOARD INFORMATION
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The Board does not consider Richard J. Harshman, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of ATI, to be independent. The Board, at its February 20, 2018 meeting, determined that the remaining ten current directors are independent in accordance with the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) listing standards, our own Board Independence Standards and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
In determining that these directors have no relationships with ATI other than as directors and stockholders of the Company, the Board examined certain business affiliations of Mr. Rohr.
James E. Rohr currently serves on the board of directors of General Electric Company (General Electric). During 2017, the Company supplied General Electric with nickel-based superalloys and jet engine disc-quality mill products under an ongoing commercial relationship between the Company and General Electric. The amounts paid to the Company by General Electric in 2017 represent a de minimis portion of the revenues of General Electric, and the compensation received by Mr. Rohr from General Electric for his service as a director is not affected by the ongoing commercial relationship between the Company and General Electric. The Board has determined that the transactions between the Company and General Electric:
The Board determined that Mr. Rohr is an independent director under the existing guidelines of the NYSE and the Companys categorical Board independence standards. Mr. Rohr will not stand for re-election to the General Electric board in April 2018.
Our Board has the flexibility to determine whether it is in the best interests of ATI and its stockholders to separate or combine the roles of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at any given time. Whenever a Chairman and/or Chief Executive Officer is appointed, or at such other times as it deems appropriate, the Board assesses whether the roles should be separated or combined based upon its evaluation of, among other things, the existing composition of the Board and the circumstances at the time. The Board has considered the roles and responsibilities of the Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer, and, while it retains the discretion to separate the roles in the future as it deems appropriate and acknowledges that there is no single best organizational model that is most effective in all circumstances, the Board currently believes that the Company and its stockholders are best served by having Mr. Harshman serve concurrently as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
Why a combined Chairman/CEO leadership structure is best for ATI and our stockholders
Our Board believes that Mr. Harshmans service in both capacities promotes unified leadership and direction for the Company and allows for a single, clear focus on the efficient implementation of ATIs strategies to maximize stockholder value over the long-term. In addition, the Board believes that Mr. Harshman, serving in both capacities, has been an effective bridge between the Board and ATIs management.
20 \ ATI 2018 Proxy Statement
OUR CORPORATE GOVERNANCE | BOARD INFORMATION
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Lead Independent Director
Diane Creel serves as our Lead Independent Director. The Lead Independent Director is the principal liaison between the independent directors and the Chairman on Board-wide issues.
Responsibilities:
|
||||||
Authority to preside, in the absence of the Chairman, at meetings of the Board, including executive sessions of the independent directors;
Ability to call meetings of the independent directors when necessary and appropriate;
Communication with, and appropriately facilitating communication among, independent directors between meetings, when appropriate;
Advising the Chairman regarding schedules, agendas and the quantity, quality and timeliness of information for Board and Committee meetings;
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Serving as a contact for stockholders wishing to communicate with the Board other than through the Chairman, when appropriate, and communicating with other external constituencies, as needed; and
Advising and consulting with the Chairman on matters related to corporate governance and Board performance and generally serving as a resource for, and counsel to, the Chairman. |
The Board believes that this leadership structure is appropriate for ATI and in the best interests of our stockholders at this time. Through governance features such as the establishment of a Lead Independent Director position, the appointment of only independent directors to the standing committees of the Board, and regular use of executive sessions of the independent directors, the Board is able to maintain appropriate independent oversight of our business strategies and activities.
These governance features have been effective in promoting a full and free discussion and analysis at the Board level of issues important to the Company. At the same time, the Board is able to take advantage of the blend of leadership, experience and extensive knowledge of ATI, our industry and the markets in which we compete that Mr. Harshman brings to the combined roles of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
ATI 2018 Proxy Statement / 21
OUR CORPORATE GOVERNANCE | BOARD INFORMATION
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Board And Committee MembershipDirector Attendance At Meetings
During 2017, the Board of Directors held 14 meetings, including a multi-day strategy meeting. In 2017, directors attended 89% of all Board meetings and meetings of Board committees of which they were members.
The independent, non-management directors meet separately in regularly scheduled executive sessions without members of management (except to the extent that the non-management directors request the attendance of a member of management). The Lead Independent Director presides over meetings of the independent directors.
A Board meeting is typically scheduled in conjunction with our Annual Meeting of Stockholders, and it is expected that our directors will attend absent good reason. In 2017, all directors attended our Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
The table below provides information with respect to current Board committee memberships our independent directors. The table also sets forth the number of meetings held by each Board committee in 2017.
Director(1)
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Audit
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Finance
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Nominating and Governance
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Personnel and Compensation
|
Technology
| ||||||||||||||||||||
H. J. Carlisle
|
∎
|
∎
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Corvi
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∎
|
∎
|
∎
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. C. Creel(2)
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Chair
|
∎
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
J. C. Diggs
|
∎
|
Chair
|
∎
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
J. B. Harvey
|
∎
|
∎
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
B. S. Jeremiah
|
∎
|
∎
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
D. J. Morehouse
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∎
|
∎
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
J. R. Pipski
|
Chair
|
∎
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
J. E. Rohr
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Chair
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. D. Turner
|
∎
|
∎
|
Chair
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Number of Meetings held in 2017
|
13
|
7
|
5
|
5
|
3
|
(1) | As Chairman, Mr. Harshman may attend each Committee meeting, except to the extent that a Committee requests to meet without Mr. Harshman present. General Carlisle was appointed to our Board in February 2018 and therefore did not attend any meetings of the Board during 2017. |
(2) | Ms. Creel serves as Lead Independent Director and presides over meetings of the independent directors, and may attend meetings of Committees of which she is not a member. |
The Board has five standing committees: Audit Committee, Finance Committee, Nominating and Governance Committee, Personnel and Compensation Committee, and Technology Committee. All of the standing committees of the Board are comprised entirely of independent directors.
Each committee has a written charter that describes its responsibilities. Each of the Audit Committee, the Nominating and Governance Committee and the Personnel and Compensation Committee has the authority, as it deems appropriate, to independently engage outside legal, accounting or other advisors or consultants. In addition, each committee annually conducts a review and evaluation of its performance and reviews and reassesses its charter.
22 \ ATI 2018 Proxy Statement
OUR CORPORATE GOVERNANCE | BOARD INFORMATION
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Board Committee | Role and Primary Responsibilities | |||||
Audit Committee
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||||||
Chair:
John R. Pipski Financial Expert*
Members:
Herbert J. Carlisle
James C. Diggs
David J. Morehouse
* Mr. Pipski qualifies an audit committee financial expert under applicable SEC criteria and meets the NYSE standard of having accounting or related financial management expertise. |
Assists the Board in its oversight of the integrity of the Companys financial statements, compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, the qualifications and independence of the Companys independent auditors, and the performance of the Companys internal audit function and independent auditors.
Has authority and responsibility for the appointment, retention, compensation and oversight of ATIs independent auditors, including pre-approval of all audit and non- audit services to be performed by the independent auditors. Both the independent auditors and the internal auditors have full access to the Committee and meet on a routine basis without management being present.
Responsible for review of the Companys major financial risk exposures and mitigating actions and for reviewing, approving and ratifying any related party transaction. |
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|
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Finance Committee
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||||||
Chair:
James C. Diggs
Members:
Carolyn Corvi
Barbara S. Jeremiah
John R. Pipski
John D. Turner |
Primarily responsible for making recommendations and providing guidance to the Board regarding major financial policies and actions of the Company.
Reviews and evaluates the Companys debt and equity structure, dividends, authorized capital stock, and credit agreements.
Serves as named fiduciary of the employee benefit plans maintained by the Company, which includes (i) appointment, evaluation, and removal of employee benefit plan trustees and investment managers, (ii) establishment of funding methods and policies, (iii) review of funded status and investment policies and practices, and (iv) appointment of plan administrators. |
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|
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Nominating and Governance Committee
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||||||
Chair:
Diane C. Creel
Members:
James C. Diggs
J. Brett Harvey
John D. Turner |
Responsible for overseeing corporate governance matters. This includes,
Overseeing the annual evaluation of the Board and its committees.
Recommending to the Board individuals to be nominated as directors, including evaluation of new candidates and of current directors who are being considered for re-election.
Making recommendations to the Board concerning committee membership and Board composition.
Administering ATIs director compensation program. |
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ATI 2018 Proxy Statement / 23
OUR CORPORATE GOVERNANCE | BOARD INFORMATION
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Board Committee | Role and Primary Responsibilities | |||||
Personnel and Compensation Committee
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||||||
Chair:
James E. Rohr
Members:
Carolyn Corvi
Diane C. Creel
J. Brett Harvey
Each member of the Personnel and Compensation Committee is a non-employee director of the Company as defined under Rule 16b-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. |
Primarily responsible for establishing and annually reassessing the Companys executive compensation program and executive compensation philosophy.
Reviews, with outside compensation and other advisors, the compensation policies and practices at peer companies.
Oversees CEO and other executive officer compensation.
Reviews and approves corporate goals and objectives relevant to CEO and other executive officer compensation, evaluates the CEOs performance in light of those goals and objectives, and determines and approves the CEOs compensation level (either as a Committee or together with the other independent directors) based on this evaluation.
Reviews and approves non-CEO executive officer compensation and makes recommendations to the Board regarding incentive compensation plans and equity-based plans that require Board approval.
Reviews and approves recommendations from management within plan parameters regarding the compensation of other executives. The Committee may not delegate any authority under those plans for matters affecting the compensation and benefits of the Companys executive officers.
Administers ATIs incentive compensation plans.
Monitors and encourages the development of intellectual capital.
Reviews management succession planning and makes recommendations to the Board concerning executive management organization matters generally.
The Personnel and Compensation Committee has the sole authority to retain, approve fees and other terms for, and terminate any compensation consultant used to assist the committee in the evaluation of CEO or other executive compensation. The Committee also may obtain advice and assistance from internal or external legal, accounting or other advisors.
The Committee has retained an independent compensation consultant, Meridian Compensation Partners, LLC.
The Committee also utilizes external legal advisors and assesses the independence of its advisors.
Please see the Executive Compensation Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this Proxy Statement for more discussion about the Committees role in executive officer compensation. |
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24 \ ATI 2018 Proxy Statement
OUR CORPORATE GOVERNANCE | BOARD INFORMATION
|
Board Committee
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Role and Primary Responsibilities
|
|||||||
Technology Committee
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||||||||
Chair:
John D. Turner
Members:
Herbert J. Carlisle
Carolyn Corvi
Barbara S. Jeremiah
David J. Morehouse
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Primarily responsible for reviewing changing technologies and evaluating how they affect ATI and its technical capabilities and competitive position.
Considers the impact of technologies on the well-being of the Company.
Assesses ATIs technical capabilities in relation to corporate strategies and plans.
Makes recommendations to the Board concerning priorities, asset deployment, and other matters relating to the Companys technical activities. |
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Annually, our Lead Independent Director facilitates the Boards own self-assessment process, the results of which help to inform Board-level discussions regarding Board and Committee composition, Board succession planning and potential Director candidates, corporate governance practices and other matters.
ATI 2018 Proxy Statement / 25
OUR CORPORATE GOVERNANCE | BOARD INFORMATION
|
Our Boards Role in Risk Oversight
The Board, as a whole, actively oversees the risk management of the Company. Enterprise risksthe specific financial, operational, business and strategic risks that the Company faces, whether internal or externalare identified and prioritized by the Board and management together, and then each specific risk is assigned to the full Board or a Board committee for oversight.
Board/Committee Primary Areas of Risk Oversight
Full Board
Strategic and business risks, such as those relating to our products, markets, and capital investments, are monitored by the entire Board. |
||||||
Strategic, financial, operational and execution risk associated with the annual and long-term business plans, including capital investments, asset allocation, acquisitions or divestitures, workplaces safety, regulatory compliance and environmental sustainability.
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External risks associated with cybersecurity and other major safety and security matters, supply chain, and trade policy and global markets. Risks associated with leadership development and Board and key executive succession. |
Audit Committee |
Finance Committee |
Nominating and Governance |
Personnel and Compensation |
Technology Committee |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Oversees management of risks relating to financial accounting and compliance matters, including risks associated with:
accounting, financial reporting, tax compliance, disclosure controls and internal control over financial reporting
legal matters that may have a material impact on the Companys financial statements and/ or involve governmental investigation or allegations of fraud or breach of fiduciary duty
the ethics compliance program.
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Oversees management of market and operational risks that could have a financial impact, such as risks associated with:
capital structure, liquidity and financial markets
raw material availability and hedging
currency and interest rate exposures
pension plan management (including investment performance, asset allocation, funded status and liability management strategies)
insurance strategies. |
Committee
Manages risks relating to corporate governance issues, including periodic evaluation as to whether identified risks are assigned to the appropriate Board committee (or to the Board) for oversight, as well as risks associated with:
Board independence, effectiveness and organization
investor relations matters and stockholder activism
director compensation and director succession planning. |
Committee
Oversees management of risks relating to personnel and compensation issues, such as risks associated with:
the Companys executive compensation plans and practices
employee relations, benefit plans, management development and training
key executive succession. |
Oversees management of risks relating to changing technologies and their impact on ATIs technical capabilities and competitive position, including risks associated with:
process, technology, and product development
adequacy of the Companys existing technical capabilities
changes in competition and other technology- related changes and disruption. |
Management regularly reports to the Board or the relevant Committee on actions that the Company is taking to manage these risks. The Board and management periodically review, evaluate and assess the risks relevant to the Company.
26 \ ATI 2018 Proxy Statement
OUR CORPORATE GOVERNANCE | BOARD INFORMATION
|
|
||||
|
We maintain a process for stockholders and interested parties to communicate with the Board, the Lead Independent Director, or any individual director. ATI stockholders or interested parties who want to communicate with the Board, the Lead Independent Director, or any individual director can write to:
Lead Independent Director c/o Corporate Secretary Allegheny Technologies Incorporated 1000 Six PPG Place Pittsburgh, PA 15222-5479
or call 1-877-787-9761 (toll free).
Your letter or message should indicate whether you are an ATI stockholder.
Depending on the subject matter, the Lead Independent Director and/or the Corporate Secretary will:
forward the communication to the director or directors to whom it is addressed;
attempt to handle the inquiry directly when, for example, it is a request for information about the Company or it is a stock-related matter; or
not forward the communication if it is primarily commercial in nature or it relates to an improper or irrelevant topic.
At each Board meeting, the Corporate Secretary presents a summary of all communications received since the last meeting that were not forwarded and makes those communications available to the directors on request.
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Board of Directors Role and Compensation
Non-employee directors receive compensation for their service that is designed to fairly compensate them for their Board responsibilities and align their interests with our stockholders. The Nominating and Governance Committee periodically reviews and evaluates our non-employee director compensation program to ensure that it is competitive with ATIs industry peers and best practices and serves the purposes of attracting and retaining high quality directors. The Nominating and Governance Committee uses an independent consultant, Meridian Compensation Partners LLC, which is the same consultant retained by the Personnel and Compensation Committee, to provide market and comparison data and information on current developments and practices in director compensation. ATIs non-employee director compensation program is competitive and market-based.
Director Stock Ownership Guidelines
The Board encourages directors to obtain a meaningful stock ownership interest in ATI. Under the stock ownership guidelines applicable to all non-employee directors, each non-employee director is expected to own at least 10,000 shares of ATI Common Stock within five years of his or her initial election to the Board. Furthermore, directors are required to retain one-third of any awarded stock until compliance with the guidelines is achieved. Beginning in 2018, our Directors may opt to receive all or a portion of their cash retainer in shares of ATI stock.
Each of the directors was in compliance with the guidelines as of December 31, 2017 or is reasonably proceeding with compliance as of the applicable five-year anniversary of his or her initial election to the Board.
ATI 2018 Proxy Statement / 27
OUR CORPORATE GOVERNANCE | DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
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Elements of Director Compensation
Pay Component | 2017 Compensation | |
Annual Retainer |
$225,000 $125,000 Cash $100,000 Restricted Stock Value | |
Lead Director Annual Retainer |
$30,000 | |
Committee Chair Retainers |
Audit and Personnel and Compensation Committees $15,0001 Finance, Nominating and Governance and Technology Committees $10,000 | |
Board service travel expenses are also paid by the Company |
1 | Effective beginning in 2018, the Audit Committee Chair Retainer increased to $20,000 |
In 2004, the Board froze and discontinued the Companys Fee Continuation Plan for Non-Employee Directors. Under the frozen plan, an amount equal to the annual retainer fee in effect for 2004 (which was $28,000) will be paid annually to each member of the Board as of December 31, 2004, following the termination of his or her service as a Board member. In each case, the fee will be paid for each year of the directors credited service as a director (as defined in the Plan) up to a maximum of ten years.
2017 Non-Employee Director Compensation
Name(1)
|
Fees Earned
|
Stock
|
Total
|
|||||||||
C. Corvi
|
|
125,000
|
|
|
99,607
|
|
|
224,607
|
| |||
D. C. Creel
|
|
165,000
|
|
|
99,607
|
|
|
264,607
|
| |||
J. C. Diggs
|
|
135,000
|
|
|
99,607
|
|
|
234,607
|
| |||
J. B. Harvey
|
|
125,000
|
|
|
99,607
|
|
|
224,607
|
| |||
B. S. Jeremiah
|
|
125,000
|
|
|
99,607
|
|
|
224,607
|
| |||
D. J. Morehouse
|
|
125,000
|
|
|
99,607
|
|
|
224,607
|
| |||
J. R. Pipski
|
|
140,000
|
|
|
99,607
|
|
|
239,607
|
| |||
J. E. Rohr
|
|
140,000
|
|
|
99,607
|
|
|
239,607
|
| |||
J. D. Turner
|
|
135,000
|
|
|
99,607
|
|
|
234,607
|
|
Non-employee directors are not granted option awards or non-equity incentive plan compensation awards, and do not have company pensions or non-qualified deferred compensation earnings.
(1) | Richard J. Harshman, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, does not receive any compensation for his service on the Board. General Carlisle was appointed to our Board in February 2018 and, therefore, did not receive any director fees during 2017. |
(2) | This column reflects annual retainer fees, including committee chair and Lead Independent Director fees, as well as Board and committee meeting fees paid to the directors. During 2017, all such fees were paid in cash; however, beginning for 2018, our non-employee directors may elect to receive all or a specified portion of such fees in restricted shares of our common stock. |
(3) | This column reflects the aggregate grant date fair value, determined in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, of the restricted stock awards granted to directors under the Companys Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Program. Shares vest on the third anniversary of the date of grant, or earlier upon retirement, death or change of control, and expense is recognized over the vesting period. The fair value of nonvested stock awards is measured based on the average of the high and low trading prices for a share of the Companys stock price on the date of grant, adjusted for non-participating dividends, as applicable, based on the current divident rate. |
28 \ ATI 2018 Proxy Statement
OUR CORPORATE GOVERNANCE | RELATED PARTIES AND STOCK OWNERSHIP MATTERS
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The Board has adopted a written Statement of Policy with respect to Related Party Transactions. The Policy applies to transactions or arrangements between ATI and a related person (namely directors, executive officers, and their immediate family members, and 5% stockholders) with a direct or indirect material interest in the transaction, including transactions requiring disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
Under the Policy, no related party transaction may occur unless it is approved or ratified by the Audit Committee or approved by the disinterested members of the Board. The Audit Committee is primarily responsible for approving and ratifying related party transactions, and in doing so, will consider all matters it deems appropriate, including the dollar value of the proposed transaction, the relative benefits to be obtained and obligations to be incurred by the Company, and whether the terms of the transaction are comparable to those available to third parties.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
No member of the Personnel and Compensation Committee is an officer or employee of the Company. No member of the Committee has a current or prior relationship, and none of our executive officers have a relationship, to any other company that is required to be described under the SEC rules relating to disclosure of executive compensation.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
The rules of the SEC require the Company to disclose late filings of reports of stock ownership (and changes in stock ownership) by its directors and executive officers and by persons who beneficially own more than ten percent of a registered class of the Companys equity securities. Based upon a review of filings with the SEC and written representations, the Company believes that, in 2017, all such persons complied with the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on a timely basis.
ATI 2018 Proxy Statement / 29
STOCK OWNERSHIP INFORMATION | STOCK OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OWNERS
|
Five Percent Owners of Common Stock
The entities listed in the following table are beneficial owners of five percent or more of ATI Common Stock as of December 31, 2017, based on information filed with the SEC. In general, beneficial ownership includes those shares a person has the power to vote or transfer currently, and shares such person has the right to acquire within 60 days.
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner | Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership |
Percentage Of Class(1) |
||||||
BlackRock, Inc. 55 East 52nd Street New York, NY 10055
|
13,383,464 | (2) | 10.65% | |||||
The Vanguard Group 100 Vanguard Boulevard Malvern, PA 19355
|
10,902,267 | (3) | 8.68% | |||||
Iridian Asset Management 276 Post Road West Westport, CT 06880
|
10,880,411 | (4) | 8.66% | |||||
Frontier Capital Management 99 Summer Street Boston, MA 02110
|
7,848,107 | (5) | 6.25% |
(1) | Percentages are based on shares of Company Common Stock outstanding as of March 12, 2018, as of which date there were 125,609,242 shares of Company Common Stock outstanding. |
(2) | Based on a Schedule 13G/A filing under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), made on February 8, 2018 by BlackRock, Inc., reporting sole voting power with respect 13,091,220 shares and sole dispositive power with respect to 13,383,464 shares at December 31, 2017. |
(3) | Based on a Schedule 13G/A filing under the Exchange Act made on February 12, 2018 by The Vanguard Group, reporting sole voting power with respect to 137,239 shares, shared voting power with respect to 13,400 shares, sole dispositive power with respect to 1,760,928 shares, and shared dispositive power with respect to 141,339 shares at December 31, 2017. |
(4) | Based on a Schedule 13G/A filing under the Exchange Act, made on February 6, 2018 by Iridian Asset Management LLC, David L. Cohen and Harold J. Levy, reporting shared voting power and shared dispositive power with respect to 10,880,411 shares at December 31, 2017. |
(5) | Based on a Schedule 13G filing under the Exchange Act, made on February 7, 2018 by Frontier Capital Management Co., LLC, reporting sole voting power with respect 4,200,280 shares, and sole dispositive power with respect to 7,848,107 shares at December 31, 2017. |
30 \ ATI 2018 Proxy Statement
STOCK OWNERSHIP INFORMATION | STOCK OWNERSHIP OF DIRECTORS, BOARD NOMINEES AND EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT
|
Stock Ownership of Directors, Board Nominees and Executive Management
The following table shows the shares of Common Stock reported to ATI as beneficially owned as of March 12, 2018 by the nominees for director, the continuing directors, each officer named in the Summary Compensation Table, and for all directors, officers and other statutory insiders as a group. Unless indicated otherwise below, the information provided in the following table is based on the Companys records, information filed with the SEC, and information furnished by the respective individuals and includes as beneficially owned those shares that each such person has the power to vote or transfer currently, or the right to acquire within 60 days following March 12, 2018.
For biographical information regarding the beneficial owners, please see information under Item 1Election of Directors and Members of ATIs Executive Management of this Proxy Statement. The business address for each beneficial owner is c/o Allegheny Technologies Incorporated, 1000 Six PPG Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.
Beneficial Owner |
Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership(1) |
Percentage Of Class |
||||||
Herbert J. Carlisle(2)
|
|
0
|
|
|
*
|
| ||
Carolyn Corvi
|
|
25,110
|
|
|
*
|
| ||
Diane C. Creel
|
|
47,623
|
|
|
*
|
| ||
Patrick J. DeCourcy
|
|
60,935
|
|
|
*
|
| ||
James C. Diggs
|
|
36,463
|
|
|
*
|
| ||
Richard J. Harshman
|
|
449,295
|
|
|
*
|
| ||
J. Brett Harvey
|
|
36,925
|
|
|
*
|
| ||
Barbara S. Jeremiah
|
|
37,806
|
|
|
*
|
| ||
Kevin B. Kramer
|
|
52,273
|
|
|
*
|
| ||
David J. Morehouse
|
|
15,794
|
|
|
*
|
| ||
John R. Pipski
|
|
34,258
|
|
|
*
|
| ||
James E. Rohr
|
|
65,324
|
|
|
*
|
| ||
John D. Sims
|
|
121,061
|
|
|
*
|
| ||
John D. Turner
|
|
43,360
|
|
|
*
|
| ||
Robert S. Wetherbee
|
|
38,962
|
|
|
*
|
| ||
All directors, nominees, named executive officers and other statutory insiders as a group (18 persons) |
|
1,230,576
|
|
|
1
|
%
|
* | Indicates beneficial ownership of less than one percent (1%) of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock. As of March 12, 2018, there were 125,609,242 shares of Company Common Stock outstanding. |
(1) | The table includes aggregate restricted stock awards as follows: (a) 16,284 shares for each of our directors, other than Mr. Morehouse, who holds 15,794 shares of restricted stock and General Carlisle, who joined our Board in February 2018 and does not hold any of our stock; (b) the following shares of restricted stock for each NEO: Mr. Harshman, 50,141; Mr. DeCourcy 14,735; Mr. Kramer 13,375; Mr. Sims, 16,306; Mr. Wetherbee,11,159; and (c) 274,719 shares of restricted stock held by all directors, nominees and officers as a group. The table includes shares held jointly with the named individuals spouses. The table also includes 25,687 shares owned by Mr. Harshmans spouse with respect to which Mr. Harshman disclaims beneficial ownership. The table does not include restricted stock units granted to our NEOs in 2016, 2017 and 2018, none of which vest within 60 days following March 12, 2018. |
(2) | General Carlisle was appointed to our Board in February 2018. |
ATI 2018 Proxy Statement / 31
MEMBERS OF ATIS EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT
|
Members of ATIs Executive Management
The following lists our executive officers as of March 12, 2018.
Name
|
Biographical information
| |
Richard J. Harshman, 61 Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer since May 2011
|
Mr. Harshman was President and Chief Operating Officer from 2010 until May 2011. Prior to that, he served as Executive Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer from 2003 to 2010. Mr. Harshman joined the Company in 1978 and served in several financial management roles for the Company.
| |
Patrick J. DeCourcy, 56 Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer since December 2013
|
Mr. DeCourcy was Interim Chief Financial Officer from July 2013 to December 2013. From 2011 to July 2013, he provided assistance to ATI executive management with business integration and strategic investments. He was Senior Director, Strategic Projects and Business Integration, from March 2012 to July 2013. From 2000 to April 2010, he served as Vice President, Finance and Administration of ATI Specialty Materials.
| |
John D. Sims, 58 Executive Vice President, High Performance Materials and Components Segment since August 2015 |
Mr. Sims was Executive Vice President, High Performance Components Group from September 2013 to August 2015, and President, ATI Forged Products from September 2013 to April 2014. Previously, he served as Executive Vice President, Primary Titanium Operations, and Engineered Alloys and Products beginning in February 2013. Prior to that, Mr. Sims served as Executive Vice President, Primary Metals and Exotic Alloys from May 2011 to February 2013 and President, ATI Specialty Alloys and Components from 2008 to February 2013. Previously, he was Group President, ATI Primary Metals and Exotic Alloys from February 2011 to May 2011.
| |
Robert S. Wetherbee, 58 Executive Vice President, Flat Rolled Products since January 2015
|
Mr. Wetherbee served as President, ATI Flat Rolled Products beginning in April 2014. Prior to that, Mr. Wetherbee was President and Chief Executive Officer of Minerals Technologies, Inc. from March 2013 until February 2014. He was President of ATIs tungsten materials business from 2010 through 2012. Previously, Mr. Wetherbee was Vice President of Market Strategy of Alcoa Inc. from 2006 through 2009.
| |
Elliot S. Davis, 56 Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Corporate Secretary since May 2011
|
Mr. Davis was Vice President and General Counsel from 2010 to May 2011. Previously, he served as Assistant General Counsel from 2008, when he joined the Company, to 2010. Prior to that, Mr. Davis was a partner of the law firm K&L Gates LLP, where he practiced for nearly 20 years in its corporate, mergers and acquisitions and securities group.
| |
Kevin B. Kramer, 58 Senior Vice President, Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer since February 2014
|
Prior to joining ATI in February 2014, Mr. Kramer was PresidentStoneridge Wiring Division and Vice President of Stoneridge, Inc., from May 2012 through January 2014. Previously, Mr. Kramer worked for Alcoa, Inc. from 2004 until 2012, where he served as PresidentGrowth Initiatives and PresidentWheel and Transportation Products.
| |
Elizabeth C. Powers, 58 Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer since November 2014
|
Ms. Powers served as Vice President, Human Resources and Chief Administrative Officer for Dresser-Rand Group, Inc. from 2010 until 2012 and from 2005 to 2009. She was named Vice President, Human Resources of Dresser-Rand Group in April 2004. From 2012 until she joined ATI in November 2014, Ms. Powers worked in academia. In 2009 and 2010, Ms. Powers worked in the public policy and non-profit sectors.
| |
Karl D. Schwartz, 54 Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer since January 2016
|
Mr. Schwartz served as Controller and Chief Accounting Officer from May 2011 to January 2016, and Controller and Principal Accounting Officer from 2010 to May 2011. Prior to that, Mr. Schwartz was Assistant Controller beginning in 2002, when he joined the Company.
|
32 \ ATI 2018 Proxy Statement
Item 2 Advisory Vote to Approve the Compensation of the Companys Named Executive Officers
Each year we ask our stockholders to approve the compensation of ATIs named executive officers. This proposal, commonly known as a Say On Pay proposal, gives our stockholders the opportunity to express their views on our NEOs compensation. This vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of our NEOs and the philosophy, policies and practices described in this Proxy Statement.
While this vote is advisory, and not binding on our Company, it provides valuable information to our Personnel and Compensation Committee regarding investor sentiment about our executive compensation philosophy, policies and practices. The Committee will consider the outcome of this vote when determining executive compensation for the remainder of 2018 and in future years.
In 2017, our Say On Pay proposal received the support of 96% of the shares voted at our Annual Meeting. We believe that ATIs 2017 executive compensation is appropriately aligned with stockholder interests.
Using Executive Compensation to Create Long-Term Stockholder Value
The Committee continually reviews the compensation program for our NEOs to ensure that it achieves the desired goal of offering total compensation consisting of base salary competitive with an identified peer group of companies and incentive opportunities that are performance-oriented and linked to the interests of stockholders.
When casting your Say on Pay vote, we urge you to consider:
Linking compensation to ATI performance
Approximately 82% of our CEOs 2017 compensation opportunity was tied to performance and, therefore, at risk. Performance drives pay.
Our short-term cash incentive and long-term equity incentive plans are based on the attainment of business plan performance metrics, such as operating profit, EBITDA, net income, cash flow, return on capital, strategic goals, and total stockholder return relative to a peer group.
Payments with regard to the performance-vested components of both our annual and long-term incentive programs are made only when at least threshold performance targets are achieved.
As a consequence of the performance-driven design of our incentive compensation programs and the challenges that our business has faced in recent years, our NEOs have forfeited much of their recent target compensation, particularly awards under our long-term incentive programs, with resulting realized compensation significantly below target compensation.
Aligning compensation to stockholder interests
All of the long-term incentive compensation opportunities for our NEOs are equity-based.
The business plan performance metrics that drive our performance-vested compensation programs are metrics that we believe correlate with the achievement of sustained profitable growth.
Our stock ownership guidelines for senior executives denote ownership as a multiple of base salary, prescribing 6X ownership for our CEO and 100% retention until ownership guidelines are met.
|
ATI 2018 Proxy Statement / 33
ITEM 2 ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE THE COMPENSATION OF THE COMPANYS NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
|
Before voting, we encourage you to read the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section to learn more about our executive compensation program.
We ask our stockholders to vote FOR the following resolution at the Annual Meeting:
RESOLVED, that the stockholders of Allegheny Technologies Incorporated approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the named executive officers, as disclosed in the Companys Proxy Statement for the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the compensation discussion and analysis, the compensation tables and any related material disclosed in the Companys Proxy Statement for the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
34 \ ATI 2018 Proxy Statement
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
This section discusses material information relating to our executive compensation program and plans for the following executive officers of the Company:
Messrs. Harshman, DeCourcy, Sims, Kramer and Wetherbee are collectively referred to as the named executive officers, or NEOs. Each of our NEOs is a member of our Executive Council, which also includes other key members of our senior management.
ATI 2018 Proxy Statement / 35
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS | EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION SUMMARY
|
Executive Compensation Summary
Our 2017 Business Performance
2017 was a year of important milestones in our ongoing journey to deliver sustainable, profitable growth. We substantially completed our restructuring actions and executed on key strategic initiatives:
Continued to reposition ATI as a growth-oriented aerospace and defense company.
| Achieved an 11% year-over-year increase in sales of products for commercial aerospace jet engines, including a 35% increase in product sales for next-generation engine applications. |
Maintained a solid liquidity position and strengthened our balance sheet.
| Extended the maturity of our $100 million term loan and duration of our $400 million revolving credit facility to 2022 at improved interest rates. |
| Improved the funded position of the ATI Pension Plan. |
| Ended the year with $142 million in cash on hand and $305 million of available borrowing capacity under our revolving credit facility. |
| De-levered our balance sheet and reduced near-term refinancing risk through the sale of 17 million additional shares of our common stock at $24.00 per share (before expenses) and subsequent redemption of all $350 million aggregate principle amount of our 9.375% Senior Notes due 2017. |
Capital investments support our growth initiatives.
| Completed our nickel-based powder alloy production expansion in North Carolina and announced plans to expand titanium powder production at the same site. |
| Completed a significant, multi-year period of capital expansion, while continuing to make the capital investments necessary to support our growth initiatives, including our nickel-based powder expansion and the ongoing construction of a third Precision-Rolled Strip manufacturing facility at our STAL joint venture in China. |
2017 Year-End Performance Highlights
For a more detailed discussion of our business and analysis of our 2017 performance, read our 2017 Annual Report included with this Proxy Statement.
36 \ ATI 2018 Proxy Statement
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS | EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION SUMMARY
|
Pay For Performance
Paying for performance is a key attribute of ATIs compensation philosophy. For many years, a fundamental principle of ATIs executive compensation program has been to tie compensation to the achievement of specific financial and performance goals that further ATIs business strategies, reward actual performance and are effective in achieving the Companys underlying compensation goals. As such, a significant portion of our NEOs compensation is subject to the achievement of rigorous performance goals and, therefore, is at risk. The Company uses three-year performance measurement periods for all but our annual cash incentive plan in recognition of performance over a longer period of time and to mitigate compensation risk.
We believe that our compensation program is transparent and easy to understand, performance-driven and appropriately aligned with stockholders interests. Our Program:
|
||||||||
Places significant emphasis on financial results.
Awards under our short-term cash incentive program to our CEO and Executive Council members are 90% contingent on ATIs financial performance. The Personnel and Compensation Committee has the authority to reduce or eliminate the remaining 10% of such awards (which are contingent on the achievement of individual strategic goals) in order to align as closely as possible with stockholder interests.
70% of the long-term incentive awards to our NEOs and other senior executives are contingent on our performance over a multi-year period and include a shareholder return component to take into account our performance relative to our peers. |
Aligns with our business strategies and performance.
Our long-term incentive program incorporates 3-year equity performance-based incentives that are aligned with our business strategies.
Equity awards granted to our CEO and Executive Council are weighted 70% as performance stock units that vest based on our future achievement of financial metrics reflecting our long-term strategies and outlook.
|
Reflects competitive market data.
As part of our 2016 redesign effort, we decreased long-term incentive opportunities for our CEO and Executive Council members, reflecting current market trends.
Compensation levels for our NEOs and other senior executives are reviewed annually in light of market benchmarking data.
Our long-term equity incentive plan, adopted in 2017, provides for double-trigger change in control vesting across all awards.
We implemented robust stock ownership guidelines for executives, officers and other top leadership positions. |
||||||
2017 Pay For Performance: The compensation of our senior executives during 2017 under our redesigned program reflects our financial results.
| Our executives received short term incentive payments under our annual incentive plan for 2017 that were at or near their respective target awards, reflecting key strategic and financial achievements during 2017, including significant improvements in our 2017 financial performance compared to 2016. |
| Our 2017 payment of near-target short term incentive awards follows short-term incentive payments in 2016 and 2015 that were either zero or significantly below target, reflecting the many challenges facing our business at that time. |
| Notably, as we have sought to transform our business, a substantial portion of the long-term incentive awards granted to our NEOs for the performance periods ended in 2015, 2016 and 2017 did not vest, because the applicable performance criteria were not satisfied. |
| As a consequence, our NEOs aggregate realized compensation in 2017 (and for each of the last several years) has been substantially lower than the target compensation established for each of them. |
ATI 2018 Proxy Statement / 37
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS | EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION SUMMARY
|
ATI Performance Impact on NEO Compensation
Each of our NEOs received cash incentives for 2017 under our short term incentive program, the 2017 Annual Performance Plan or APP, at near-target levels as reflected in the table below. For both 2015 and 2016, our Personnel and Compensation Committee determined that our CEO, Rich Harshman, should forego his earned annual cash award under our annual incentive programs due to overall Company financial performance. Moreover, Mr. Harshman did not receive a salary increase for 2017 or 2016, and all of our NEOs have forfeited a significant proportion of their respective target long-term incentive awards in recent years. See the discussion under the heading Total Realized Compensation on pages 8 and 55.
The LTSV portion of our long-term incentive program in effect for the 2015 2017 performance period was earned at a rate equal to 60% of the applicable target awards. Neither the TSR component of the 2015 awards under that program, nor the performance-vested portion of the PRSP awards for the 2015 2017 performance period resulted in any payout.
The following table shows the compensation paid to each NEO based on ATIs 2017 performance.
Named Executive Officer
|
2017 Base Salary ($)(1)
|
2017 APP ($)(2)
|
2015-2017 PRSP ($)(3)
|
2015-2017 TSRP($)
|
2015-2017 LTSV ($)(4)
|
|||||||||||||||
Harshman
|
|
1,060,000
|
|
|
1,255,570
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
524,772
|
| |||||
DeCourcy
|
|
480,000
|
|
|
407,040
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
237,638
|
| |||||
Kramer
|
|
446,346
|
|
|
371,360
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
210,417
|
| |||||
Sims
|
|
510,000
|
|
|
414.120
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
252,479
|
| |||||
Wetherbee
|
|
510,000
|
|
|
412,488
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
222,771
|
|
(1) | Mr. Kramers base salary was $425,000 for approximately the first two months of 2017 and $450,000 for the balance of the year. |
(2) | Reflects awards ranging from 101% to 106% of target. |
(3) | Half of the performance/restricted stock award (including accumulated dividends), which was scheduled to vest based on ATIs achievement of specific financial performance goals for the period from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2017, was forfeited. The remaining half of the 2015 award will vest in February 2020, for NEO participants who remain employed by the Company on the vesting date. |
(4) | Reflects achievement at 60% of the target award. |
The following comparison of target compensation to realized compensation for our NEOs demonstrates our ongoing commitment to compensating our leadership based on the Companys performance and placing a significant proportion of senior executive compensation at risk:
Named Executive Officer
|
2017 Target
|
2017 Realized
|
||||||
Harshman
|
$
|
5,989,000
|
|
$
|
3,524,831
|
| ||
DeCourcy
|
$
|
1,824,000
|
|
$
|
1,340,605
|
| ||
Kramer
|
$
|
1,710,000
|
|
$
|
1,220,086
|
| ||
Sims
|
$
|
1,930,000
|
|
$
|
1,423,376
|
| ||
Wetherbee
|
$
|
1,938,000
|
|
$
|
1,371,768
|
|
38 \ ATI 2018 Proxy Statement
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS | COMPENSATION PHILOSOPHY
|
Role of the Personnel and Compensation Committee
The Committees primary responsibility is to design compensation plans that drive the Boards and managements long-term strategic vision for ATI and to ensure that those plans support ATIs goal of creating stockholder value over the long-term. Over the last several years, the Committee has emphasized design clarity and transparency to better communicate with our stockholders and to ensure that our compensation programs are aligned with evolving best practices.
The Committee is composed of four independent, non-employee directors. The Committee has the sole responsibility to carry out ATIs overarching policy of linking the executive compensation program to the interests of stockholders. The Committee is responsible for determining compensation for the NEOs and other members of the management Executive Council, which is comprised of seven members of senior management, including the CEO. The Committee also has the responsibility for oversight of the Companys equity plans, variable compensation plans for management employees and supervising managements implementation of those plans to ensure a continuing source of leadership and succession planning for ATI. In addition, the Committee reviews compliance with independence standards applicable to ATIs compensation consultant.
Role of Independent Compensation Consultants
The Committee, under its charter, has the sole authority to retain and terminate any compensation consultant used in the evaluation of executive compensation and has the sole authority to approve the retention terms of the consultant, including fees. The compensation consultant retained by the Committee is responsible only to the Committee. The Committee reviews the qualifications of the consultant, including independence. The Committee re-evaluates the consultants independence on an ongoing basis. The Committee may, at any time, contact the consultant without interaction from management.
For 2017, the Committee retained Meridian Compensation Partners, LLC, a nationally recognized executive compensation consultant, for benchmarking compensation and program design and advice on a variety of compensation related matters. Meridian, which the Committee determined is independent, provides no other services to ATI. Further, because Meridian is involved only in the business of executive compensation consulting, Meridian does not attempt to sell other services to the Company.
Our Philosophy
The Committees approach to compensation is to offer a base salary that is competitive with an identified benchmarking peer group of companies and incentive opportunities that are performance-oriented and linked to the interests of stockholders. The Committee has developed a balance of annual and long-term programs using diverse criteria to discourage inappropriate risk taking. For the NEOs, the program consists of base salary, an annual performance-based cash incentive, and longer-term performance-based compensation opportunities.
The Committee views the executive compensation program as a management tool that, through a detailed and quantitative target-setting process establishes challenging financial performance goals that encourage the management team to achieve or surpass ATIs business objectives.
The Committee has determined that the executive compensation program should: |
||||
pay competitively by setting overall target compensation, which is realized when performance targets are met, in line with target compensation at peer companies and other companies and industries with which ATI competes for executive talent;
provide performance-oriented incentive pay opportunities that are linked to the interests of stockholders by (i) putting substantial portions of potential compensation at risk, (ii) supporting ATIs business strategy by tying performance goals to specific Company annual and longer-term strategic objectives; and
retain executives that are essential to driving ATIs strategies and future growth.
|
ATI 2018 Proxy Statement / 39
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS | COMPENSATION PHILOSOPHY
|
Competitive Compensation
The Committee reviews, with outside compensation and other advisors, the compensation policies and practices at peer companies that ATI competes with for talent and skill sets in the Companys multiple locations, or that are in our industry and serving our end markets. We use this information to help establish base compensation levels throughout the management organization at the approximate median of these groups. The incentive plans provide opportunities to earn additional amounts if performance goals are met or exceeded, but do not pay out if performance goals are not met.
Performance-Oriented and Linked to the Interests of Stockholders
The Committee believes that the more senior the manager, the larger the percentage of compensation that, over time, should be at risk. The goals and targets used across all management levels include both company-wide financial performance measures as well as pre-set goals within a particular participants area of responsibility. They are designed to encourage a team-oriented approach to achieving ATI profitability and strategic objectives and positioning the Company for the future challenges. The Committee scales compensation challenges and opportunities by level of responsibility and focuses performance on the measures that particular managers can most directly influence.
The Committee implements its pay-for-performance philosophy by using performance metrics that are linked to the interests of stockholders, such as operating profit, EBITDA, net income/earnings, total stockholder return, and/or strategic goals that are designed to help create stockholder value over the long-term. In 2017, performance goals focused on income, EBITDA, cash flow, and ROIC (return on invested capital). ATIs business plans have focused on internal generation of the funds necessary for sustainable, profitable growth and both product and end market diversification.
Attract and Retain Talent
We designed our program to attract and retain a deep pool of managerial talent who share ATIs commitment to enhancing stockholder value in the short- and longer-terms. The Committee believes that the plans and performance goals will attract, challenge, and retain superior managers experienced in ATIs businesses and direct their efforts toward achieving specific tasks that the Board and senior management determine to be necessary for profitable growth through business cycles.
40 \ ATI 2018 Proxy Statement
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS | EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION HIGHLIGHTS
|
Executive Compensation Highlights
What We Do:
|
||||||||||||
Link compensation to ATI performance. Performance drives pay. A significant portion of compensation opportunities for the NEOs is variable, meaning it is tied to performance. Cash and equity incentive plans are based on the attainment of business plan performance metrics. Payments are made only when at least threshold performance targets are achieved.
Balanced compensation program. The compensation program includes complementary but diverse performance goals, a balance of types of compensation, and caps on the amount of compensation that can be awarded.
Compensation aligned with stockholder interests. Long-term incentive compensation opportunities for the NEOs are equity-based and tied to business plan performance metrics.
Double trigger change in control. ATIs current equity incentive plan, approved by our stockholders in 2017, includes double trigger change in control provisions that apply to our recent equity awards.
|
Independent Compensation Consultant. Our Personnel and Compensation Committee works closely with an independent compensation consultant.
Clawback policy. Clawback arrangements require the return of compensation to the extent that information used to calculate the achievement of earnings or other performance measures is subsequently determined to be materially incorrect.
Robust Stock Ownership Guidelines for Directors and Executive Management. Our stock ownership guidelines for management include 6X base salary ownership for the CEO and require 100% retention until ownership guidelines are met.
Limits on severance arrangements. In 2016, we adopted a policy that limits future severance arrangements to 3X base salary.
Board compensation risk oversight.
|
|||||||||||
What We Dont Do:
|
||||||||||||
X No employment agreements for executive officers.
X No excise tax gross-ups in change in control agreements.
X Executive perquisites. We do not have executive perquisites such as personal air travel, club dues or tax gross-ups. |
X No hedging transactions or pledging of ATI stock by officers and directors. We prohibit officers and directors from hedging or pledging ATI stock.
X No repricing of awards. No previously granted awards can be repriced or surrendered in exchange for new awards.
|
|||||||||||
ATI 2018 Proxy Statement / 41
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS | COMPENSATION SETTING PROCESS
|
Setting Compensation Levels and Opportunities
This section explains the Committees multi-step process for setting compensation levels and opportunities and validating our pay targets. The table below, and description that follows, summarizes the analyses involved in this process:
Process Step/ Analysis
|
Responsibility or Data Source
|
Purpose
|
How Its Used
|
When Its Conducted
| ||||
Review of Annual and Long-Term Business Plans
|
Board/
|
Aligning incentive compensation with business objectives
|
To support determination of performance targets in incentive plans
|
November | ||||
Individual Performance Assessments
|
Committee; Executive feedback
|
Evaluating individual performance of CEO and Executive Council (EC) members (for EC members, based on CEO input)
|
To determine short-term incentive award payments for the award period that recently ended and to assist in setting individual award opportunities for the next year/ award cycle
|
November | ||||
Company Achievement of Performance Goals
|
Committee/
|
Determining award payments based on Company performance in completed performance periods
|
Considered when determining appropriate performance goals for upcoming periods
|
January
| ||||
Market and Peer Analysis
|
Compensation consultants
|
Setting pay for our executives
|
To set competitive base pay and short- and long-term incentive targets and compensation opportunities for the next year/award cycle
|
November | ||||
Pay and Performance Analysis |
Publicly available financial and compensation information
|
Evaluating pay and performance to validate individual compensation plans that were established in February
|
To assess achievement under the incentive plans relative to Company and peer performance
|
Ongoing
| ||||
Tally Sheets
|
Compensation consultants; Internal compensation and benefits data
|
Evaluating total remuneration and internal pay equity of our executives
|
To evaluate the total remuneration and projected payments to the NEOs under various termination scenarios. This helps to determine if each executives compensation package is appropriately aligned with that of internal peers and whether any adjustments to our compensation plans or programs, or an individuals pay package, is necessary
|
Ongoing
| ||||
Stockholder Outreach
|
Board/
|
To obtain stockholder feedback on concerns and questions relating to plan design and performance
|
To understand expectations of investors and monitor trends in executive compensation from the perspective of stockholders. Used to evaluate compensation policies, practices and plans.
|
Ongoing
|
Near the end of each year, the Board (including members of the Committee) reviews ATIs annual and long-term business and strategic plans with management. During the first quarter of the following year, the Committee reviews the Companys year-end financial results and, based on its assessment of ATIs achievement of the predefined financial goals and objectives, determines the extent to which awards with performance measurement periods that concluded at the end of the previous year are payable.
Also during the first quarter of each fiscal year, the Committee authorizes compensation programs for the year and establishes specific financial performance goals for the performance period or periods applicable to awards under such programs in light of the Board-approved business and strategic plans.
42 \ ATI 2018 Proxy Statement
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS | COMPENSATION SETTING PROCESS
|
The Committee considers which incentive plans, award levels and performance goals would optimize the achievement of ATIs future business objectives without introducing systemic risk driven by the executive compensation program. The Committee solicits the views of its advisors as to whether the plans under consideration reflect and support achievement of the Companys short-term and long-term business objectives and strategies. In addition, at that time, the Committee approves individual participation levels in the compensation plans for the CEO and members of the management Executive Council, and directs executive management to establish participation levels in the plans for other eligible employees within the guidelines given by the Committee. Generally, all prospective compensation opportunities under the long-term compensation plans are made at the Committees February meeting.
Internal Pay Equity
Using market data, our independent compensation consultant advises the Committee on relative compensation among the Executive Council members, including the NEOs. While, in recognition of his ultimate management responsibility as Chairman, President and CEO, base pay and compensation opportunities are significantly greater for the CEO than for the other NEOs of the Company, the Committee considers the ratios of CEO compensation opportunities and the compensation opportunities of each of the other NEOs in setting compensation opportunities. The ratio of the 2017 total realized compensation for Mr. Harshman, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, compared to the average of the compensation of the other NEOs, as reflected in the Total Realized Compensation Table, is approximately 3.45:1.
The Committee considers, with information provided by the compensation consultant, compensation practices across a peer group of manufacturing companies. The Committee uses the peer group as a reference in developing its executive compensation program and in determining the competitiveness of its executive compensation levels. The Committee also uses information regarding compensation practices across a broader survey of manufacturing companies as a check against the peer group information. Annually, the Committee reviews the composition of its peer group to ensure that the companies constituting the peer group remain relevant and provide meaningful comparisons for compensation and business purposes. ATI believes that there are no public companies that engage in the full range of the Companys specialty materials and components manufacturing, fabrication, marketing and distribution. Therefore, the Committees independent compensation consultant developed the following criteria to guide the selection of peer companies for benchmarking compensation. Specifically, peer companies should: 1) be competitors for business and/or executive talent and be primarily from the metals industry or adjacent sectors; 2) have stock prices reasonably correlated with ATI over the past five years indicating sensitivity to similar external market influences and 3) be reflective of the general complexity and business orientation of ATI, including with respect to global footprint, product lines and foreign competition. Generally, the peers selected have:
Revenues that approximate 50% to 200% of ATI with some flexibility;
Capital intensive businesses as indicated by lower asset turnover ratios (i.e., 0.5 to 1.5);
Higher stock price volatility, or beta (i.e., greater than 1.0);
Market capitalization reasonably aligned with ATI; Some flexibility for outliers that may be aligned from different perspectives (i.e., revenues, competition); and
Similar number of employees
ATI 2018 Proxy Statement / 43
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS | COMPENSATION SETTING PROCESS
|
As a result, for performance measurement periods under the executive compensation plans beginning on January 1, 2016, the Benchmarking Peer Group consists of the following companies:
($millions) Company
|
Revenue
|
Total
|
Market
|
Employees
|
Asset
|
Beta
|
||||||||||||||||||
Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co.
|
$
|
9,721
|
|
$
|
7,751
|
|
|
$6,255
|
|
|
14,900
|
|
|
1.28
|
|
|
1.73
|
| ||||||
Steel Dynamics Inc.
|
$
|
9,539
|
|
$
|
6,856
|
|
|
$10,220
|
|
|
7,635
|
|
|
1.44
|
|
|
1.94
|
| ||||||
Oshkosh Corporation
|
$
|
7,205
|
|
$
|
4,962
|
|
|
$6,783
|
|
|
14,000
|
|
|
1.52
|
|
|
1.46
|
| ||||||
AK Steel Holding Corporation
|
$
|
6,081
|
|
$
|
4,296
|
|
|
$1,782
|
|
|
9,200
|
|
|
1.46
|
|
|
3.01
|
| ||||||
Commercial Metals Company
|
$
|
4,814
|
|
$
|
2,899
|
|
|
$2,487
|
|
|
8,797
|
|
|
1.63
|
|
|
2.47
|
| ||||||
Terex Corporation
|
$
|
4,363
|
|
$
|
3,463
|
|
|
$4,055
|
|
|
10,700
|
|
|
1.03
|
|
|
1.77
|
| ||||||
Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
|
$
|
3,882
|
|
$
|
6,580
|
|
|
$7,817
|
|
|
18,000
|
|
|
0.59
|
|
|
1.11
|
| ||||||
Trinity Industries Inc.
|
$
|
3,663
|
|
$
|
9,543
|
|
|
$5,686
|
|
|
15,605
|
|
|
0.39
|
|
|
1.55
|
| ||||||
Worthington Industries, Inc.
|
$
|
3,268
|
|
$
|
2,572
|
|
|
$2,677
|
|
|
10,000
|
|
|
1.39
|
|
|
0.85
|
| ||||||
The Timken Company
|
$
|
3,004
|
|
$
|
3,402
|
|
|
$3,815
|
|
|
15,006
|
|
|
0.97
|
|
|
2.33
|
| ||||||
Crane Co.
|
$
|
2,786
|
|
$
|
3,594
|
|
|
$5,295
|
|
|
10,600
|
|
|
0.79
|
|
|
1.44
|
| ||||||
Valmont Industries, Inc.
|
$
|
2,746
|
|
$
|
2,602
|
|
|
$3,749
|
|
|
10,552
|
|
|
1.10
|
|
|
0.83
|
| ||||||
Kennametal Inc.
|
$
|
2,207
|
|
$
|
2,476
|
|
|
$3,924
|
|
|
10,744
|
|
|
0.93
|
|
|
2.66
|
| ||||||
SPX FLOW, Inc.
|
$
|
1,952
|
|
$
|
2,689
|
|
|
$2,016
|
|
|
7,000
|
|
|
0.74
|
|
|
2.03
|
| ||||||
Carpenter Technology Corp.
|
$
|
1,949
|
|
$
|
2,944
|
|
|
$2,387
|
|
|
4,600
|
|
|
0.68
|
|
|
2.61
|
| ||||||
Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc.
|
$
|
1,837
|
|
$
|
986
|
|
|
$883
|
|
|
3,183
|
|
|
1.97
|
|
|
1.70
|
| ||||||
25th Percentile
|
$
|
2,661
|
|
$
|
2,667
|
|
|
$2,462
|
|
|
8,507
|
|
|
0.78
|
|
|
1.45
|
| ||||||
Median
|
$
|
3,466
|
|
$
|
3,432
|
|
|
$3,869
|
|
|
10,645
|
|
|
1.01
|
|
|
1.75
|
| ||||||
75th Percentile
|
$
|
5,131
|
|
$
|
5,367
|
|
|
$5,828
|
|
|
14,225
|
|
|
1.44
|
|
|
2.37
|
| ||||||
ATI
|
$
|
3,525
|
|
$
|
5,185
|
|
|
$2,628
|
|
|
8,600
|
|
|
0.68
|
|
|
3.02
|
| ||||||
Percentile
|
|
51
|
%
|
|
74
|
%
|
|
32
|
%
|
|
26
|
%
|
|
13
|
%
|
|
100
|
%
|
Source: Standard & Poors Capital IQ Database (Compustat financials)
Data represents each companys fiscal year, which may not align with ATIs fiscal year end of December 31
The peer group used for measuring the Companys relative total stockholder return (TSR Peer Group) is different from the benchmarking peer group. The TSR Peer Group companies, though having a range of sizes, all remain aligned with ATI on the basis of relative similarity to one or more of the aspects of the Companys businesses. These companies compete in one or more of the markets in which ATI competes, and the risk profiles typically assigned to those companies by the capital markets are similar to ATI. For further information, please see pages 50 and 52.
Monitoring of Performance and Progress Throughout the Year
The Committee meets regularly during the year to monitor the Companys performance as well as the individual performance of members of our management Executive Council, relative to the incentive plan goals. At these meetings, the Committee is provided with current financial data and with internal status reports on key performance measures. The Committee uses this information to:
| assess managements interim progress toward achieving the predetermined performance goals and the potential payouts under the various executive compensation plans, and |
| assist in the evaluation of whether the compensation plans continue to support and direct performance as required to achieve the Companys business goals. |
Members of management attend portions of these meetings. The Committee also meets with its outside compensation and other advisors during non-management executive session in order to ensure independent feedback on all compensation-related matters.
44 \ ATI 2018 Proxy Statement
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS | 2017 EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION PROGRAM
|
2017 Executive Compensation Program
Our executive compensation program for 2017 consists of the following elements for our NEOs:
Plan | Purpose | Relevant Performance Metric and Description |
||||||
ANNUAL/SHORT TERM INCENTIVE |
Base Salary | To provide fair and competitive compensation for individual performance and level of responsibility of position held.
|
Individual performance | FIXED | ||||
2017 Annual Performance Plan (APP) | To provide performance-based annual cash award for ATI and business unit performance to motivate and reward key employees for achieving our short-term business objectives and drive performance.
|
Mix of metrics, including:
ATI/ Segment EBITDA Cash flow Strategic/Individual goals |
VARIABLE | |||||
LONG- TERM INCENTIVE |
Long-Term Incentive Plan: Performance Stock Units (PSUs) (70%) | To provide performance-based equity compensation in the form of restricted share units to drive ATIs earnings and retain key managers. | Awards vest at the end of a three-year performance period based on achievement of specified goals tied to:
Net Income (50%) Return on invested income (ROIC) (50%) 20% +/- TSR modifier for Executive Council and other leadership participants.
|
|||||
Long-Term Incentive Plan: Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) (30%) | To enhance the programs ability to retain participants and drive long-term behavior by allowing for time-based awards.
|
The RSUs are time-vested awards that generally vest in equal annual installments on the first three anniversaries of the applicable grant date, subject to the award recipients continued employment by the Company.
|
While our legacy long-term incentive programs continued to impact the compensation realized by our NEOs in 2017, base salary and incentive award opportunities for 2017 further reflected both the underlying approach and goals of our 2016 redesign effort and the challenges that our business faced in recent years. Specifically, for 2017:
| Base salaries for the CEO and other NEOs generally have remained at 2015 levels, except that Mr. Wetherbee received a base salary increase in 2016 and Mr. Kramer received an increase in 2017, in each case based on market median data for their respective positions. |
| Our incentive programs promote our one ATI philosophy by placing greater emphasis on financial metrics that measure total ATI performance, rather than segment or individual results, for all participants. |
| Our incentive programs are heavily weighted toward performance-contingent awards, particularly for NEOs. Short-term incentive awards to our NEOs for 2017 were 90% contingent on total ATI and (as applicable) segment financial performance, compared to 70% for our legacy 2015 awards, and 70% of each 2017 long-term incentive award is performance-vested. |
| Long-term incentive awards continued to reflect the substantial reduction in target awards (compared with prior years) implemented in 2016. Our CEOs target long-term award opportunity was 320% of base salary for 2016 and 350% of base salary for 2017, compared to 400% for 2015, and the reduction in target awards for our other NEOs ranged from 20%-33%. Additionally, our 2016 and 2017 awards were weighted to more heavily emphasize performance-vested shares compared to prior year awards. Specifically, for 2017: |
| The PSUs awarded at target as a percentage of base salary were 245% for the CEO and 140% for each other NEO; and |
| The RSUs awarded at target as a percentage of base salary were 105% for the CEO and 60% for each other NEO. |
ATI 2018 Proxy Statement / 45
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS | 2017 EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION PROGRAM
|
The pie charts below show the mix of aggregate NEO compensation by type, form, and length, at target for 2017:
2017 Annual Performance Plan (APP)
Adopted in connection with our 2016 clean-sheet redesign effort, the APP is a short-term cash incentive plan in which approximately 400 key employees (including the NEOs) participate. For Executive Council members, 90% of the performance goals are based on financial metrics, and 10% on strategic/individual goals, as described below.
For Corporate participants (including our CEO):
For Business Segment NEOs:
Performance Criteria. The performance goals for the 2017 APP were set in February 2017 based on ATIs business and operations plans for 2017. Corporate-wide goals are established in a bottom-up process through which each business units business plan and business conditions are separately reviewed in setting targets, as are the expectations for other performance factors at each business unit. The performance goals include a mix of financial targets and strategic and/or individual performance goals.
Level of Difficulty. The Committee sets the APP metrics so that the relative difficulty of achieving the target level is consistent from year to year. The objective is to establish target goals in any given year that are challenging yet achievable, with a much higher level of difficulty to achieve performance that generates the maximum payout.
46 \ ATI 2018 Proxy Statement
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS | 2017 EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION PROGRAM
|
Award Opportunities. The opportunities for the NEOs under the APP are granted at threshold, target and maximum levels expressed as a percentage of base salary and based on predetermined levels of performance. The Committee sets the potential award ranges as percentages of base salary (the annual incentive percentage) for each NEO using comparative market data provided by the compensation consultant. In general, our short-term incentive program is designed so that the payout associated with achieving threshold performance is equal to 50% of target while the payout associated with achieving the maximum performance level is capped at 200% of target. No payout with respect to the financial performance component is earned for performance below the threshold level.
Annual Incentive Percentage
|
||||||||||||||||
Named Executive Officer
|
Below
|
Threshold
|
Target
|
Maximum
|
||||||||||||
Harshman
|
|
0%
|
|
|
57.5%
|
|
|
115%
|
|
|
230%
|
| ||||
DeCourcy
|
|
0%
|
|
|
40%
|
|
|
80%
|
|
|
160%
|
| ||||
Kramer
|
|
0%
|
|
|
40%
|
|
|
80%
|
|
|
160%
|
| ||||
Sims
|
|
0%
|
|
|
40%
|
|
|
80%
|
|
|
160%
|
| ||||
Wetherbee
|
|
0%
|
|
|
40%
|
|
|
80%
|
|
|
160%
|
|
To calculate a potential award amount, the target percentage of salary for each NEO is multiplied by a formula based on performance.
Formula
Base Salary Earned for the Year Ended December 31, 2017
|
x |
Target Annual Incentive Percentage |
x |
Performance Achievement (0-200%) |
= |
Annual
|
2017 Target and Earned Amounts For Each NEO:
At Target (100%) | Actual | |||||||||||||||
Named Executive Officer
|
Target
|
Dollar
|
Actual
|
Earned/Paid
|
||||||||||||
Harshman
|
|
115
|
|
|
1,219,000
|
|
|
103.0
|
|
|
1,255,570
|
| ||||
DeCourcy
|
|
80
|
|
|
384,000
|
|
|
106.0
|
|
|
407,040
|
| ||||
Kramer
|
|
80
|
|
|
357,077
|
|
|
104.0
|
|
|
371,360
|
| ||||
Sims
|
|
80
|
|
|
408,000
|
|
|
101.5
|
|
|
414,120
|
| ||||
Wetherbee
|
|
80
|
|
|
408,000
|
|
|
101.1
|
|
|
412,488
|
|
ATI 2018 Proxy Statement / 47
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS | 2017 EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION PROGRAM
|
2017 Performance Goals and Achievement Levels for the Named Executive Officers:
Messrs. Harshman, DeCourcy and Kramer: |
The 2017 APP awards for Messrs. Harshman, DeCourcy and Kramer were determined by (a) total ATI performance relative to the financial metrics and (b) each such executives individual performance relative to strategic and/or individual goals, in each case established at the inception of the awards in February 2017. The following tables describe the relative weighting of each metric and the individual goals, as well as ATIs and each executives relative level of achievement for the year:
(millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Financial Performance Goals |
Relative Weighting (%) |
Threshold | Target | Maximum | 2017 Actual Performance(a) |
2017 Actual Achievement (% of Goal Target) |
||||||||||||||||||
ATI EBITDA |
60 | $ | 172 | $ | 345 | $ | 448 | $ | 359.7 | 104.3 | % | |||||||||||||
ATI Cash Flow |
30 | $ | 115 | $ | 164 | $ | 205 | $ | 165.9 | 101.1 | % | |||||||||||||
90 | % | 103.3 | % |
(a) | Actual 2017 APP Award performance included certain adjustments to both the EBITDA and Cash Flow metrics, including EBITDA adjustments to exclude the impact of $152 million in goodwill impairment and debt extinguishment charges and Cash Flow adjustments to exclude the impact of $144 million in Pension Plan contributions and certain costs related to the formation of the A&TS joint venture, including restart costs for its facility in Midland, Pennsylvania. |
Aggregate Performance | Financial Performance Goals (90%) |
Strategic/Individual Goals (10%) |
Total 2017 Achievement (%) |
Total 2017 Achievement ($) |
||||||||||||
Harshman |
103.3% | 100% | 103% | $1,255,570 | ||||||||||||
DeCourcy |
103.3% | 130% | 106% | $407,040 | ||||||||||||
Kramer |
103.3% | 110% | 104% | $371,360 |
Mr. Sims: |
The 2017 APP award for Mr. Sims was determined by the achievement of goals relevant to both total ATI performance and performance of the ATI HPMC segment, as well as his performance relative to individual strategic goals. Mr. Sims 2017 earned award was at 101.5% of target, resulting in an award of $414,120 as described in the following table:
Performance Goals | Relative Weighting (%) |
2017 Actual Performance(a ($ in millions) |
2017 Actual Achievement (% of Goal Target) |
|||||||||
ATI EBITDA |
30 | $359.7 | 104.3 | |||||||||
HPMC EBITDA |
30 | $355.8 | 101.6 | |||||||||
HPMC Cash Flow |
30 | $227.9 | 90.7 | |||||||||
Individual/Strategic Goals |
10 | 125 | ||||||||||
100 | % | 101.5 | % |
(a) | Actual 2017 APP Award performance included ATI EBITDA adjustments to exclude the impact of $152 million in goodwill impairment and debt extinguishment charges. |
48 \ ATI 2018 Proxy Statement
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS | 2017 EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION PROGRAM
|
Mr. Wetherbee: |
The 2017 APP award for Mr. Wetherbee was determined by the achievement of goals relevant to both total ATI performance and performance of the ATI FRP business, as well as his performance relative to individual strategic goals. Mr. Wetherbees 2017 earned award was at 101.1% of target, resulting in an award of $412,488 as described in the following table:
Performance Goals | Relative Weighting (%) |
2017 Actual Performance(a) ($ in millions) |
2017 Actual Achievement (% of Goal Target) |
|||||||||
ATI EBITDA |
30 | % | $359.7 | 104.3 | % | |||||||
FRP EBITDA |
30 | % | $54.0 | 124.9 | % | |||||||
FRP Cash Flow |
30 | % | $5.2 | 41.2 | % | |||||||
Individual/Strategic Goals |
10 | % | 200.0 | % | ||||||||
100 | % | 101.1 | % |
(a) | Actual 2017 APP Award performance included certain adjustments to both the EBITDA and FRP Cash Flow metrics, including ATI EBITDA adjustments to exclude the impact of $152 million in goodwill impairment and debt extinguishment charges, and FRP Cash Flow adjustments to exclude the impact of $27 million for certain contractual obligations for the HRPF, prebuild of inventory for shipments pending for the first quarter of 2018, and costs related to the formation of the A&TS joint venture, including restart costs for its facility in Midland, Pennsylvania. |
For further information about ATI financial performance, please see ATIs Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 filed with the SEC.
Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP)
For our NEOs, 70% of the aggregate award under the long-term incentive portion of our redesigned compensation program, the Long-Term Incentive Plan, or LTIP, is performance-based and entirely contingent on the achievement of quantitative performance measures, while the remaining 30% of the LTIP award is time-based to provide retention incentives. Specifically, the LTIP consists of two components, including performance stock units (PSUs) that cliff vest based on the achievement of quantitative financial performance metrics over a three-year performance period and restricted stock units (RSUs) that vest in three equal annual installments, provided that the recipient remains employed by ATI on the applicable vesting date.
Vehicle
|
Performance Metric
|
Vesting
|
Payout Ranges
| |||
Performance Stock Units (70%) |
Income 50%
Return on Invested Capital 50%
h or ¯ TSR Modifier of 20% for Executive Council members and leadership level participants |
3-Year performance period |
Threshold = 50% of Target for each Performance Metric* Target = 100% Maximum = 200% of Target*
* Resulting minimum payout is 25% of the aggregate target award (i.e., when minimum performance is achieved for one Performance Metric, but not the other). At the inception of the award period, the Committee can reduce the threshold and maximum payout levels at their discretion.
For 2017:
Threshold = 50% of Target Target = 100% Maximum = 150% of Target | |||
Restricted Stock Units (30%) | N/A | 3-Year Ratable Vesting |
Individual opportunities under the LTIP are granted at Threshold, Target and Maximum levels, which are expressed as a percentage of base salary. The respective target opportunities granted to the CEO and NEOs under the LTIP for both 2016 and 2017 were reduced compared to 2015 awards, as follows:
2015 Target
|
2016 Target
|
2017 Target
|
||||||||||
CEO
|
|
400%
|
|
|
320%
|
|
|
350%
|
| |||
Other NEOs
|
|
300%
|
|
|
200%
|
|
|
200%
|
|
ATI 2018 Proxy Statement / 49
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS | 2017 EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION PROGRAM
|
Performance Stock Units:
PSUs will vest to the extent that cumulative earnings (defined as income from continuing operations attributable to ATI) and ROIC (defined as net operating profit after taxes divided by average invested capital) meet or exceed a Threshold, Target or Maximum level of performance set by the Committee at the beginning of the three-year performance measurement period. ROIC performance is averaged over the three year performance measurement period. Whether the income or ROIC performance goals are met, and the extent to which the PSUs comprising a particular award vest, will be determined by the Personnel and Compensation Committee at the end of each three-year performance measurement period. When vested, each PSU will convert into a share of the Companys common stock. No dividends are accumulated or paid on the PSUs.
2017 Payout Percentages if Performance Goals are Met
For the 2017 PSU component, which is scheduled to vest subject to goal achievement on December 31, 2019, the Committee reduced the Maximum payout percentage from the plan design of 200% to 150%, as a result of challenges facing the Company at the time the awards were made.
Total Shareholder Return Adjustment. If the Committee determines that the income and ROIC goals for the 2017-2019 performance measurement period meet or exceed Threshold, the number of shares earned by NEOs may be increased or decreased by up to an additional 20% based on the Companys TSR relative to the TSR of a peer group of companies, as follows:
For 2017 awards, we used the SPDR S&P Metals and Mining ETF (XME) as our TSR peer group.
Restricted Stock Units:
RSUs granted under the LTIP vest in equal annual installments on each of the first three anniversaries of their grant date, as long as the award recipient remains an employee of the Company on the relevant vesting date. If and when vested, each RSU converts into a share of Company common stock. No dividends will be accumulated or paid on the RSUs.
50 \ ATI 2018 Proxy Statement
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS | LEGACY LONG-TERM INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PROGRAMS
|
Legacy Plans
In 2014 and 2015, the Company issued equity awards under two long-term equity incentive plans, the Performance/ Restricted Stock Program (PRSP) and the Long-Term Incentive Performance Plan (LTPP). The LTPP, which had two components, including the Total Shareholder Return Program (TSR) and the Long-Term Shareholder Value (LTSV), each of which is described below. Both the PRSP and LTPP were discontinued beginning in 2016. These programs were replaced with our new clean sheet long-term incentive programs, and no new awards are being made under either plan. However, because the terms of awards under these legacy plans included multi-year performance and/or vesting schedules, legacy awards continued to impact the compensation realized by our NEOs in 2017 and may likewise affect annual realized compensation for one or more of our NEOs through 2020.
Legacy Performance/Restricted Stock Program (PRSP)
Overview. Under the PRSP, shares of performance-vested restricted stock were awarded to participants at the beginning of a three-year performance measurement period. Approximately 120 key managers, including the NEOs, participated in this plan. One-half of the award under the remaining PRSP awards has a performance-based vesting feature and the other half has both performance-based and time-based vesting components, as more fully described below.
Performance Criteria. The PRSP used an aggregate net income target that reflected ATIs baseline expectations for earnings under the applicable three-year business plan. For awards under the 20152017 performance measurement period:
| Performance Feature: One-half of the stock-based award was scheduled to vest, if at all, only upon ATIs achievement of at least a minimum, predetermined aggregate net income target for the three-year performance period from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2017. |
The awards provided that, if the net income target were not reached or exceeded on or before the end of the three-year performance period, or if the individual award recipient were to leave the employ of the Company for a reason other than retirement, death or disability before that date, one-half of the award would be forfeited.
| Time-Based and Performance Feature: For our NEOs, one-half of each award was scheduled to vest upon the earlier of (i) five years from the date of grant, if the participant is still an employee of the Company on that date (or if the participant has retired, died or become disabled), or (ii) the last day of the applicable three-year performance period, if the net income performance criteria for the performance period were attained. |
2015-2017 Performance. The PRSP implemented in 2015 had a performance goal of aggregate net income of $325 million for the 2015-2017 performance measurement period, excluding certain facility start-up costs associated with the HRPF and underutilization costs associated with our now-idled Rowley, Utah titanium sponge plant. ATI did not achieve the $325 million aggregate net income target, and consequently, half of each NEOs 2015-2017 award was forfeited as of January 22, 2018. The remaining half of each such award will vest in early 2020, for NEOs who remain employed by ATI employee at that time or have retired, died or become disabled. The fair market value of ATI stock on the grant date for the 2015 2017 awards (February 25, 2015) was $33.86 per share.
|
ATI 2018 Proxy Statement / 51
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS | LEGACY LONG-TERM INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PROGRAMS
|
Legacy Long-Term Incentive Performance Plan (LTPP)
Overview. The Long Term Incentive Performance Plan, which was designed to drive overall ATI performance and the achievement of strategic goals while retaining key managers, included two components:
TSR Component: Measures total stockholder return | LTSV Component: Measures long-term stockholder value | |
The Committee granted a target award to the each LTPP participant, the amount of which was based on a specified percentage of base pay. At the end of the applicable performance measurement period, the number of shares received by the participant, if any, is based on the Companys total stockholder return (generally, the change in the trading prices of a share of Company common stock plus dividends paid) (TSR) relative to the TSR of a peer group of publicly traded companies deemed comparable by the Committee. Approximately 60 key managers participated in this portion of the LTPP.
|
The Committee granted an award of performance-vested restricted stock to each LTSV participant in an amount based on a specified percentage of base pay. The restricted stock awards were scheduled to vest at the end of a three-year performance period, in whole or in part, subject to the achievement of various pre-set strategic operational goals. Only members of our Executive Council participated in this portion of the LTPP. |
Total Shareholder Return (TSR) Component
Performance Criteria, Including Peer Group. For the 2015 TSR awards, the Committee established a three-year performance measurement period extending from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2017, selected the eligible participants, established the number of target shares for each participant, and identified the peer group of companies against which the Companys performance would be measured over the term of the performance period. The target number of shares awarded to each participant was calculated as a percentage of his or her base salary on the date of grant, divided by the average of the high and the low trading prices of ATIs Common Stock on the NYSE on the date of grant.
Measurement Criteria. The Committee established the following performance ranges and corresponding payment percentages for threshold, target and maximum performance, determined on the basis of the Companys TSR relative to that of the specified peer group over the term of the 2015 2017 performance period:
| Threshold: TSR performance by the Company during the performance period in the 35th percentile of the peer group would have resulted in a payout equal to 50% of target; |
| Target: TSR performance by the Company during the performance period in the 50th percentile of the peer group would have resulted in a payout equal to 100% of target; and |
| Maximum: TSR performance by the Company during the performance period in the 90th percentile or greater of the peer group would have resulted in a payout equal to 200% of target. |
2015-2017 Performance. For the 2015 2017 Performance Period, ATIs total shareholder return was at the 14th percentile relative to the TSR for its peer group during the same period, which is below the threshold level of performance required under the terms of 2015 TSR awards and, therefore, participants in the 2015 TSR program did not receive any payment with respect to these awards.
|
Long Term Shareholder Value (LTSV) Component
Performance Criteria. For the 2015 LTSV awards, the Committee established various strategic, operational goals, the achievement of which were considered crucial to the completion and implementation of the Companys capital improvements, acquisitions, and business development strategies, and assigned relative weight to each performance metric. The LTSV awards provided that, at the end of the 2015 2017 performance measurement period, the Committee would determine the degree to which each of the performance goals had been met. The aggregate achievement level of the respective performance goals with relative weighting, expressed as percentage, is multiplied by the target number of shares of restricted stock granted to each participant to determine the number of shares of restricted stock that vest. Dividends declared on the Companys Common Stock are accumulated and paid in stock to the holders of this performance-vested restricted stock award when and if the restrictions lapse on the shares.
2015-2017 Performance. The Committee determined that the operational goals established under the LTSV for the 2015 2017 Performance Period were successfully achieved only in part. As a result, participants in the 2015 LTSV program received a partial payment equivalent to 60% of their respective 2015 target awards and forfeited the remaining 40% of the award.
|
52 \ ATI 2018 Proxy Statement
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS | OTHER COMPENSATION POLICIES
|
Employment Agreements; Change in Control Agreements.
ATI does not have any employment agreements with its NEOs.
The Company has change in control agreements with each NEO and certain other executives that provide for severance payments to each such executive in the event he or she is terminated from his or her position in connection with a change in control, as defined in and provided by the agreements. These change in control agreements do not include an excise tax gross-up provision. The change in control agreements are intended to better enable ATI to retain the NEOs in the event that it is the subject of a potential change in control transaction. Based on past advice from its compensation consultant, the Committee believes that the potential payments under these agreements are, individually and in the aggregate, in line with competitive practices.
For a more detailed discussion of these agreements, see the Employment and Change in Control Agreements section of this Proxy Statement.
Adherence to Ethical Standards; Clawback Policy
Incentive awards (paid in cash or equity) are conditioned on adherence to the Companys Corporate Guidelines for Business Conduct and Ethics, which are published on our website www.atimetals.com. We have clawback agreements with each member of the management Executive Council, including the NEOs, that provide for the return of compensation to the extent that information used to calculate achievement of earnings or other performance measures is subsequently determined to be materially incorrect (including but not limited to circumstances under which any such inaccuracy results in a financial restatement).
Pension and Retirement Plans
ATI maintains a qualified defined benefit pension plan, which has a number of benefit formulas that apply separately to various groups of employees and retirees. Effective December 31, 2014, the Company froze future benefit accruals in the ATI Pension Plan for all participating employees other than those in collectively bargained employment arrangements. Also effective December 31, 2014, the Company froze the defined benefit-type non-qualified deferred compensation plans in which salaried employees participate, which includes the Supplemental Pension Plan in which Mr. Harshman participates and the defined benefit portion of the ATI Benefit Restoration Plan in which Messrs. Harshman, DeCourcy, Sims and Wetherbee participate. The Company continues to sponsor a qualified defined contribution plan and a non-qualified defined contribution restoration plan compliant with Section 409A of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code aimed at restoring the effects of limitations on defined contribution accruals imposed by the Code. For more information regarding the pension plans of the NEOs, see the Pension Benefits table and accompanying narrative.
Perquisites
ATI does not generally provide our executives with perquisites, such as the personal use of corporate aircraft without reimbursement to the Company, payment of club membership dues or tax reimbursement arrangements. ATI does provide a parking benefit to the NEOs who work at corporate headquarters on the same terms as provided to a broader group of corporate employees.
Tax Deductibility of Compensation Expense.
In evaluating compensation program alternatives, the Committee considers, among other factors, the potential impact on the Company of Section 162(m) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, which generally places a $1 million limit on the amount of compensation paid to certain executive officers that a company can deduct in any one year. At the time that the Committee made its 2017 compensation decisions, and prior to recent changes to Section 162(m), compensation that was performance-based and provided under a stockholder-approved plan generally was exempt from the calculation of the $1 million deduction limit and was therefore deductible. Consequently, the 2017 incentive opportunities established by the Committee for our executive officers were designed in a manner intended to be exempt from Section 162(m)s deduction limitation, because they are paid based on achievement of pre-determined performance goals established by the Committee pursuant to our stockholder-approved equity incentive plan.
ATI 2018 Proxy Statement / 53
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS | OTHER COMPENSATION POLICIES
|
The exemption from Section 162(m)s deduction limit for performance-based compensation has since been repealed, effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017. As a result, despite the Committees efforts to structure annual cash incentives and PSUs in a manner intended to be exempt from Section 162(m) and therefore deductible, no assurance can be given that performance-based compensation that was intended to be deductible will in fact be deductible for federal tax purposes because of ambiguities and uncertainties as to the future application and interpretation of Section 162(m), including the uncertain scope of the transition relief under the legislation repealing Section 162(m)s exemption of performance based compensation from the deduction limit.
While the Committee considers the deductibility of awards as one factor in determining executive compensation, the Committee also looks at other factors in making its decisions, and retains the flexibility to award compensation that it determines to be consistent with the goals of our executive compensation program even if the awards are not deductible by the Company for tax purposes. ATIs pay-for-performance philosophy is a key tenant of our executive compensation programs, and performance based compensation is therefore likely to remain a central component of our overall executive compensation structure, irrespective of the extent to which such compensation may continue to be deductible for federal income tax purposes.
No Hedging or Pledging of Stock
ATI policy prohibits directors, officers and key employees from engaging in publicly traded options and hedging transactions with regard to ATI securities, including the pledging of shares to secure personal loans.
Stock Ownership Guidelines
The Company maintains the following robust stock ownership guidelines in place that are applicable to its executives, including for all of the NEOs, which are designed to further link these executives interests with the interests of stockholders generally:
Chief Executive Officer |
6X Base Salary | |||
Executive Vice Presidents and Chief Financial Officer |
3X Base Salary | |||
Senior Vice Presidents |
2X Base Salary |
Executives are required to retain 100% of the after-tax value of shares issued upon the vesting of restricted share units and performance share units until the ownership requirement is satisfied.
We adopted our current guidelines in 2016, transitioning from using a fixed number of shares as the method of determining ownership to targeting a multiple of base salary, which we believe requires a meaningful level of ownership for all NEOs, even during the cyclicality in our markets and declining stock prices.
Executives subject to the guidelines have until the later of February 25, 2021 or five years from the date of promotion to one of the designated positions, as the case may be, to meet the guideline applicable to his/ her position.
Our CEO and each other NEO currently meets his full ownership obligation under the guidelines.
2017 NEO Stock Ownership Guidelines Compliance
54 \ ATI 2018 Proxy Statement
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS | 2017 TOTAL REALIZED COMPENSATION
|
When making determinations and awards under our incentive plans, the Committee looks to the actual dollar value of awards to be delivered to the NEOs in any given year, as illustrated by the Total Realized Compensation figures below. The following comparison of target compensation to realized compensation for our NEOs demonstrates our ongoing commitment to compensating our leadership based on the Companys performance and placing a significant proportion of senior executive compensation at risk:
Named Executive Officer
|
2017 Target
|
2017 Total Realized
|
% of Target
|
|||||||||
Harshman
|
|
$5,989,000
|
|
$3,524,831
|
|
|
58.9%
|
| ||||
DeCourcy
|
|
$1,824,000
|
|
$1,340,605
|
|
|
73.5%
|
| ||||
Kramer
|
|
$1,710,000
|
|
$1,220,086
|
|
|
71.4%
|
| ||||
Sims
|
|
$1,938,000
|
|
$1,423,376
|
|
|
73.4%
|
| ||||
Wetherbee
|
|
$1,938,000
|
|
$1,371,768
|
|
|
70.8%
|
|
Total Realized Compensation is calculated as follows:
Total Compensation as determined by SEC rules in the Total column of the Summary Compensation Table
|
-
|
the aggregate grant date fair value of equity awards (as reflected in the Stock Awards column of the 2017 Summary Compensation Table)
|
-
|
the year-over-year change in pension value and non-qualified deferred compensation (as reflected in the Change in Pension Value and Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Earnings column of the 2017 Summary Compensation Table)
|
+
|
the value realized in 2017 from shares earned under the 2015-2017 LTSV award program and the portion of shares awarded under our Long Term Incentive Plan that vested in 2017 (as reflected in the Options Exercised and Stock Vested Table; no shares vested under the PSRP or TSR programs for the 2015-2017 period).
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
ATI 2018 Proxy Statement / 55
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS | COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT
|
The Personnel and Compensation Committee (referred to in this Report as the Committee) has reviewed and discussed the preceding Compensation Discussion and Analysis with Company management. Based on this review and discussion, the Committee recommends to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in the Companys 2018 Proxy Statement. The Committee furnishes this Report for inclusion in the 2018 Proxy Statement and recommends its inclusion in ATIs Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Submitted by:
PERSONNEL AND COMPENSATION COMMITTEE,
Members:
James E. Rohr, Chairman
Carolyn Corvi
Diane C. Creel
J. Brett Harvey
56 \ ATI 2018 Proxy Statement
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS | SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE FOR 2017
|
Summary Compensation Table for 2017
The following Summary Compensation Table sets forth information about the compensation paid by the Company to the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, each of the other three most highly compensated executives who were serving as executive officers as of December 31, 2017.
Name and Principal Position
|
Year
|
Salary
|
Bonus
|
Stock
|
Non-Equity
|
Change in
|
All Other
|
Total
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Richard J. Harshman |
2017 | 1,060,000 | | 3,973,181 | 1,255,570 | 859,126 | 117,704 | 7,265,581 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chairman, President and |
2016 | 1,060,000 | | 3,438,446 | 0 | 211,890 | 160,618 | 4,870,954 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chief Executive Officer
|
|
2015
|
|
|
1,050,692
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,638,181
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
803,656
|
|
|
380,611
|
|
|
6,873,140
|
| ||||||||
Patrick J. DeCourcy |
2017 | 480,000 | | 1,028,105 | 407,040 | 88,421 | 55,504 | 2,059,070 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Senior Vice President, Finance |
2016 | 480,000 | | 973,147 | 38,400 | 38,707 | 69,892 | 1,600,146 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
and Chief Financial Officer
|
|
2015
|
|
|
472,244
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,550,711
|
|
|
80,909
|
|
|
59,893
|
|
|
119,218
|
|
|
2,282,975
|
| ||||||||
Kevin B. Kramer |
2017 | 446,346 | | 963,836 | 371,360 | | 49,933 | 1,831,475 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Senior Vice President, Chief |
2016 | 425,000 | 150,000 | 861,638 | 29,750 | | 60,884 | 1,527,272 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Commercial & Marketing Officer
|
|
2015
|
|
|
421,122
|
|
|
150,000
|
|
|
1,373,053
|
|
|
71,638
|
|
|
|
|
|
98,384
|
|
|
2,114,197
|
| ||||||||
John D. Sims |
2017 | 510,000 | | 1,092,351 | 414,120 | 322,100 | 76,333 | 2,414,904 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Executive Vice President, High |
2016 | 510,000 | | 1,033,956 | 265,200 | 145,533 | 84,803 | 2,039,492 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Performance Materials & |
2015 | 507,673 | | 1,647,648 | 187,354 | 202,863 | 148,184 | 2,683,722 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Components segment
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Robert S. Wetherbee(1) |
2017 | 510,000 | | 1,092,351 | 412,488 | 34,696 | 56,065 | 2,105,600 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Executive Vice President, |
2016 | 500,714 | | 1,033,956 | 40,000 | 15,669 | 57,968 | 1,648,307 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
ATI Flat Rolled Products Group
|
(1) | Mr. Wetherbee was not a named executive officer in 2015. |
(2) | Reflects actual amounts of target base salary paid in 2017. |
(3) | Stock awards: The values in this column are based on the aggregate grant date fair value, determined in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, of awards made under the Companys LTIP in 2017. For our NEOs, the 2017 LTIP awards were comprised 70% of PSUs and 30% of time-vested RSUs. The PSUs vest based on performance over a three-year performance period relative to predetermined metrics. The RSUs vest over three years based on employment service, with one-third of the award vesting on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the grant date. Grant date fair values of the awards are calculated based on the expected outcome of the related performance conditions to which the awards are subject, as applicable. If maximum performance were to be achieved, the 2017 amounts for each NEO would be as follows: Mr. Harshman, $5,403,273; Mr. DeCourcy, $1,398,154; Mr. Kramer, $1,310,753; Mr. Sims, $1,485,524; and Mr. Wetherbee $1,485,524. Fair values for the PSU awards at target were estimated using Monte Carlo simulations of stock price correlation, projected dividend yields and other variables over three-year time horizons matching the PSU performance measurement period. The per share fair value of PSU awards made to the NEOs in 2017 was $21.41. The fair value of nonvested restricted stock unit awards, or RSUs, are measured based on the stock price at the grant date. For the 2017 RSU awards, the values were calculated using the average of the high and low trading prices of the Companys common stock on the date of grant (February 23, 2017), which was $19.44. See Note 14 to the financial statements in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 for further information. |
(4) | Non-equity Incentive Plan Compensation: Consists of performance-based (and not discretionary) cash awards paid under the 2017 APP. |
(5) | Changes in Pension Value and Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Earnings: The amounts in this column include amounts that are not vested and may not ultimately be received by the named executive officer. The amounts reflect the actuarial change in the present value of the NEOs benefits under all defined benefit pension plans established by the Company, determined using interest rate and mortality rate assumptions consistent with those used in the Companys financial statements. Effective December 31, 2014, the Company froze future benefit accruals in the ATI Pension Plan for all participating employees other than those in contractual employment arrangements. Also effective December 31, 2014, the Company froze the defined benefit-type non-qualified deferred compensation plans in which salaried employees participate, which includes the Supplemental Pension Plan in which Mr. Harshman participates and the defined benefit portion of the ATI Benefit Restoration Plan in which Messrs. Harshman, DeCourcy, Sims and Wetherbee participate. In 2017, the discount rate used was 3.85% and had the effect of increasing the pension benefit to the NEOs. |
(6) | All Other Compensation: The values of any perquisites are calculated based on the aggregate incremental cost to the Company. The Company does not provide perquisites or personal benefits of air travel or club memberships, or tax reimbursements relating to perquisites or personal benefits. Please see the All Other Compensation Table for 2017 that follows for additional information. |
ATI 2018 Proxy Statement / 57
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS | ALL OTHER COMPENSATION FOR 2017
|
All Other Compensation for 2017
Amounts in the All Other Compensation Column include the following:
Name
|
Nonqualified Defined
|
Contributions made by
|
Insurance
|
Other
|
Total
|
|||||||||||||||
Harshman
|
|
76,188
|
|
|
24,512
|
|
|
15,444
|
|
|
1,560
|
|
|
117,704
|
| |||||
DeCourcy
|
|
28,331
|
|
|
20,917
|
|
|
4,696
|
|
|
1,560
|
|
|
55,504
|
| |||||
Kramer
|
|
16,299
|
|
|
26,550
|
|
|
4,336
|
|
|
2,748
|
|
|
49,933
|
| |||||
Sims
|
|
43,218
|
|
|
26,550
|
|
|
5,005
|
|
|
1,560
|
|
|
76,333
|
| |||||
Wetherbee
|
|
22,950
|
|
|
26,550
|
|
|
5,005
|
|
|
1,560
|
|
|
56,065
|
|
(1) | Amounts relate to the ATI Benefit Restoration Plan or the Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, as applicable. Under the non-qualified defined contribution portion of the ATI Benefit Restoration Plan, the Company supplements payments received by participants under the Companys defined contribution plan by accruing benefits on behalf of participants in amounts that are equivalent to the portion of the formula contributions or benefits that cannot be made under such plan due to limitations imposed by the Code. See also the narrative discussion preceding the Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Table. |
(2) | Amounts are for parking and, in the case of Mr. Kramer, payment of certain nominal travel expenses ($1,188) that were incurred by his spouse and necessitated by ATI business. The parking benefit for the NEOs who work at corporate headquarters is provided on the same terms as to a broader group of corporate employees. |
58 \ ATI 2018 Proxy Statement
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS | GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS FOR 2017
|
Grants of Plan-Based Awards for 2017
Estimated Possible Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards |
Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards |
All
Other of Stock |
All
Other Options |
Exercise Awards |
Grant Date Awards |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Name | Description(1) | Grant Date |
Threshold ($) |
Target ($) |
Maximum ($) |
Threshold (#) |
Target (#) |
Maximum (#) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Harshman |
APP | 609,500 | 1,219,000 | 2,438,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
RSU | 2/23/2017 | 57,253 | 1,112,998 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
PSU | 2/23/2017 | 33,398 | 133,591 | 200,387 | 2,860,183 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | 609,500 | 1,219,000 | 2,438,000 | 33,398 | 133,591 | 200,387 | 57,253 | 3,973,181 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
DeCourcy |
APP | 192,000 | 384,000 | 768,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
RSU | 2/23/2017 | 14,815 | 288,004 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
PSU | 2/23/2017 | 8,642 | 34,568 | 51,852 | 740,101 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | 192,000 | 384,000 | 768,000 | 8,642 | 34,568 | 51,852 | 14,815 | 1,028,105 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kramer |
APP | 175,539 | 357,077 | 714,154 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
RSU | 2/23/2017 | 13,889 | 270,002 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
PSU | 2/23/2017 | 8,102 | 32,407 | 48,611 | 693,834 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | 175,539 | 357,077 | 714,154 | 8,102 | 32,407 | 48,611 | 13,889 | 963,836 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sims |
APP | 204,000 | 408,000 | 816,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
RSU | 2/23/2017 | 15,741 | 306,005 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
PSU | 2/23/2017 | 9,182 | 36,728 | 55,092 | 786,346 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | 204,000 | 408,000 | 816,000 | 9,182 | 36,728 | 55,092 | 15,741 | 1,092,351 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wetherbee |
APP | 204,000 | 408,000 | 816,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
RSU | 2/23/2017 | 15,741 | 306,005 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
PSU | 2/23/2017 | 9,182 | 36,728 | 55,092 | 786,346 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | 204,000 | 408,000 | 816,000 | 9,182 | 36,728 | 55,092 | 15,741 | 1,092,351 |
(1) | Represents the Companys Annual Performance Plan and Long-Term Incentive Plan, consisting of Performance Stock Units (PSU) and time-vested Restricted Share Units (RSU). |
(2) | The values in this column are based on the aggregate grant date fair value of awards determined in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 and correspond to the aggregate values disclosed in the Stock Awards column in the Summary Compensation Table. |
ATI 2018 Proxy Statement / 59
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS | OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END FOR 2017
|
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End for 2017
Stock Awards(1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Name | Grant 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 ($)(3) |
Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (#) |
Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights that Have Not Vested ($)(3) |
|||||||||||||||
Harshman |
2/28/2013 | 23,354 | 563,766 | |||||||||||||||||
2/26/2014 | 24,027 | 580,012 | ||||||||||||||||||
2/25/2015 | 23,483 | 566,880 | ||||||||||||||||||
2/25/2016 | 86,531 | 2,088,858 | ||||||||||||||||||
2/25/2016 | 201,905(4) | 4,873,987 | ||||||||||||||||||
2/23/2017 | 57,253 | 1,382,087 | ||||||||||||||||||
2/23/2017 | 133,591(5) | 3,224,887 | ||||||||||||||||||
214,648 | 5,181,603 | 335,496 | 8,098,874 | |||||||||||||||||
DeCourcy |
2/28/2013 | 2,242 | 54,122 | |||||||||||||||||
2/26/2014 | 6,888 | 166,276 | ||||||||||||||||||
2/25/2015 | 7,089 | 117,128 | ||||||||||||||||||
2/25/2016 | 24,490 | 591,189 | ||||||||||||||||||
2/25/2016 | 57,143(4) | 1,379,432 | ||||||||||||||||||
2/23/2017 | 14,815 | 357,634 | ||||||||||||||||||
2/23/2017 | 34,568(5) | 834,472 | ||||||||||||||||||
55,524 | 1,340,349 | 91,711 | 2,213,904 | |||||||||||||||||
Kramer |
2/26/2014 | 6,407 | 154,665 | |||||||||||||||||
2/25/2015 | 6,277 | 151,527 | ||||||||||||||||||
2/25/2016 | 21,684 | 523,452 | ||||||||||||||||||
2/25/2016 | 50,595(4) | 1,221,363 | ||||||||||||||||||
2/23/2017 | 13,889 | 335,280 | ||||||||||||||||||
2/23/2017 | 32,407(5) | 782,305 | ||||||||||||||||||
48,257 | 1,164,924 | 82,097 | 2,003,668 | |||||||||||||||||
Sims |
2/28/2013 | 6,929 | 167,266 | |||||||||||||||||
2/26/2014 | 7,929 | 191,406 | ||||||||||||||||||
2/25/2015 | 7,532 | 181,822 | ||||||||||||||||||
2/25/2016 | 26,020 | 628,123 | ||||||||||||||||||
2/25/2016 | 60,714(4) | 1,465,636 | ||||||||||||||||||
2/23/2017 | 15,741 | 379,988 | ||||||||||||||||||
2/23/2017 | 36,728(5) | 886,614 | ||||||||||||||||||
64,151 | 1,548,605 | 97,442 | 2,352,250 | |||||||||||||||||
Wetherbee |
4/01/2014 | 3,973 | 95,908 | |||||||||||||||||
2/25/2015 | 6,646 | 160,434 | ||||||||||||||||||
2/25/2016 | 26,020 | 628,123 | ||||||||||||||||||
2/25/2016 | 60,714(4) | 1,465,636 | ||||||||||||||||||
2/23/2017 | 15,741 | 379,988 | ||||||||||||||||||
2/23/2017 | 36,728(5) | 886,614 | ||||||||||||||||||
52,380 | 1,264,453 | 97,442 | 2,352,250 |
The Company does not issue stock option awards and has not issued stock options to its employees since 2003.
(1) | This table relates to shares of (i) performance/restricted stock awarded under the PRSP and (ii) awards under the current LTIP, including time-vested RSUs granted in 2016 and 2017, which vest ratably in one-third increments over a three-year period, and performance-vested awards, or PSUs, for the performance measurement periods ending in 2018 and 2019. Half of the PRSP shares awarded in each of the years 2014 and 2015 were forfeited after three years because the Company did not meet the cumulative net income target for that performance period; the remaining one-half of each such award will vest after five years, in 2019 and 2020, respectively, generally subject to the continued employment of the participant. |
(2) | Consists of shares of time-based restricted stock under the PRSP and RSUs under the LTIP. The number of shares reported in this column represents the number of shares that would be awarded pursuant to the time-based vesting portion of the PRSP grants made in 2013, 2014 and 2015 and the time-vested RSUs granted in 2016 and 2017. |
(3) | Amounts were calculated using $24.14 per share, the closing price of Company Common Stock at December 29, 2017. |
(4) | Consists of PSUs granted under the LTIP in 2016. The number of shares reported represents the number of shares that would be awarded if all applicable performance measures under the 2016 PSU grants are met at the end of the applicable three-year performance measurement period. |
(5) | Consists of PSUs granted under the LTIP in 2017. The number of shares reported represents the number of shares that would be awarded if all applicable performance measures under the 2017 PSU grants are met at the end of the applicable three-year performance measurement period. |
60 \ ATI 2018 Proxy Statement
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS | EQUITY AWARDS VESTED FOR 2017; PENSION BENEFITS FOR 2017
|
Option Exercises and Stock Vested for 2017
Stock Awards | ||||||||
Name | Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting (#)(1) |
Value Realized on Vesting ($)(2) |
||||||
Harshman |
48,469 | 1,091,557 | ||||||
DeCourcy |
17,051 | 398,061 | ||||||
Kramer |
15,097 | 352,447 | ||||||
Sims |
18,116 | 422,983 | ||||||
Wetherbee |
17,005 | 393,215 |
The Company does not issue stock option awards and has not issued stock options to its employees since 2003.
(1) | Consists of 19,625 shares, 8,887 shares, 7,869 shares, 9,942 shares and 8,331 shares awarded to Messrs. Harshman, DeCourcy, Kramer, Sims and Wetherbee, respectively, pursuant to the 2015 LTSV program based on payout at 60% and 28,844 shares, 8,164 shares, 7,228 shares, 8, 674 shares and 8,674 shares that vested for Messrs. Harshman, DeCourcy, Kramer, Sims and Wetherbee, respectively, on the first anniversary of the grant date for the RSUs granted to each of them in 2016. |
(2) | Amounts were calculated using $26.74 per share, which was the average of the high and low trading prices of the Companys common stock on the NYSE on February 20, 2018, with respect to the 2015 LTSV shares and $19.65 per share, which was the average of the high and low trading prices of the Companys common stock on the NYSE on February 23, 2017, with respect to the 2016 RSU shares. |
Name | Plan Name | Years of Credited Service (#)(2) |
Present Value of Accumulated Benefit ($) |
Payments During Last Fiscal Year ($) |
||||||||||
Harshman |
ATI Pension Plan | 28 | 2,271,727 | | ||||||||||
ATI Benefit Restoration Plan | 20 | 9,085,066 | | |||||||||||
Supplemental Pension Plan | 10 | 4,016,502 | | |||||||||||
DeCourcy |
ATI Pension Plan | 8 | 311,395 | | ||||||||||
ATI Non-Qualified Benefit Restoration Plan | 8 | 279,728 | | |||||||||||
Kramer(1) |
N/A | | | | ||||||||||
Sims |
ATI Pension Plan | 17 | 681,684 | | ||||||||||
ATI Non-Qualified Benefit Restoration Plan | 17 | 1,625,371 | | |||||||||||
Wetherbee |
ATI Pension Plan | 3 | 106,745 | | ||||||||||
ATI Non-Qualified Benefit Restoration Plan | 3 | 141,853 | |
(1) | Mr. Kramer does not participate in any defined benefit plans. |
(2) | Years of credited service reflect the number of years of service used for determining benefits for each individual during their participation under the respective plans. |
ATI 2018 Proxy Statement / 61
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS | PENSION BENEFITS FOR 2017
|
Plan | Benefit Formulas and Retirement Information | |
ATI Pension Plan
Qualified defined benefit plan
The Allegheny Technologies Incorporated Pension Plan (ATI Pension Plan) is the result of the mergers of several plans previously sponsored by:
Allegheny Ludlum Corporation (Allegheny Ludlum),
Teledyne Inc. (TDY)
Effective December 31, 2014, the Company froze future benefit accruals under the ATI Pension Plan for all participating employees other than those with contractual employment arrangements. |
ATI Pension Plan has a number of benefit formulas that apply separately to various groups of employees and retirees, generally, by work location and job classification. A principal determinant of which formula applied prior to December 31, 2014 is whether the employee was employed by TDY, as in the case of Messrs. Harshman and Sims, at the time the respective companies became members of the controlled group that includes the Company. Mr. DeCourcy s pension benefit formula includes periods of service with both Allegheny Ludlum and TDY.
Allegheny Ludlum ceased pension accruals under its pension formula in 1988, except for employees who then met certain age and service criteria.
Each formula for Allegheny Ludlum and TDY multiplies years of service by compensation and then by a factor to produce a benefit amount payable as a straight life annuity. That benefit amount is reduced with respect to Social Security amounts payable to determine the annuity amount payable. Participants can choose alternate benefit forms, including survivor benefits. The Allegheny Ludlum and TDY definitions of service and compensation differ somewhat, as do the factors used in the respective formulas. However, the differences in the resulting benefits between the two formulas are small for the NEOs to which they apply.
Upon becoming a corporate employee in 1998, Mr. Harshman ceased receiving credit for service under the TDY formula after having been credited with approximately twenty-one years of service under that formula.
Normal retirement age under the ATI Pension Plan is age 65. Participants can retire with immediate commencement of an undiscounted accrued benefit at the normal retirement age or after thirty years of service regardless of age for Allegheny Ludlum and TDY participants.
Participants can retire prior to attaining age 65 or thirty years of service with benefit payments discounted for early payment at age 62 with at least ten years of service or, with a greater discount, at age 55 with at least ten years of service.
| |
ATI Benefit Restoration Plan
Non-Qualified benefit plan
Effective December 31, 2014, the Company froze future benefit accruals under the defined benefit portion of the ATI Benefit Restoration Plan, under which Messrs. Harshman, DeCourcy, and Sims participated.
|
Under the non-qualified ATI Benefit Restoration Plan, the Company accrues benefits for the NEOs that restores to eligible NEOs the amounts that cannot be paid to them under the terms of the Companys defined contribution plans or the defined benefit plan (the ATI Pension Plan), in either case due to the limitations set forth in the Code. All NEOs are eligible to participate in the ATI Benefit Restoration Plan to the extent of benefits that cannot be accrued under the defined contribution plan in which the respective NEO participates.
Distributions under the ATI Benefit Restoration Plan are available only at the times and in the same forms as under the ATI Pension Plan, subject to payment delays to comply with Section 409A of the Code. | |
Supplemental Pension Plan
Effective December 31, 2014, the Company froze future benefit accruals under the Supplemental Pension Plan |
The Supplemental Pension Plan had provided certain key employees of ATI and its subsidiaries, including Mr. Harshman (or their beneficiaries in the event of death), with monthly payments in the event of retirement, disability or death, equal to 50% of monthly base salary as of the date of retirement, disability or death. Monthly retirement benefits start following the end of the two month period (subject to delay to comply with Section 409A of the Code) after the later of (i) age 62, if actual retirement occurs prior to age 62 but after age 58 with the approval of the Board of Directors, or (ii) the date actual retirement occurs, and generally continue for a 118-month period. The plan describes the events that will terminate an employees participation in the plan.
|
62 \ ATI 2018 Proxy Statement
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS | NON-QUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION FOR 2017
|
Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation for 2017
Name
|
Registrant
|
Aggregate
|
Aggregate
|
Aggregate
|
||||||||||||
Harshman
|
|
76,188
|
|
|
44,701
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,204,165
|
| ||||
DeCourcy
|
|
28,331
|
|
|
3,526
|
|
|
|
|
|
173,841
|
| ||||
Kramer
|
|
16,299
|
|
|
1,662
|
|
|
|
|
|
81,955
|
| ||||
Sims
|
|
43,218
|
|
|
3,491
|
|
|
|
|
|
172,130
|
| ||||
Wetherbee
|
|
22,950
|
|
|
1,706
|
|
|
|
|
|
84,112
|
|
(1) | Reflects contributions made pursuant to the non-qualified defined contribution portion of the ATI Benefit Restoration Plan. Under the terms of the plan, the participants do not contribute; only the Company contributes to the plan on the participants behalf. These amounts are included in the All Other Compensation column of the Summary Compensation Table for 2017. |
(2) | Aggregate earnings for the ATI Benefit Restoration Plan are calculated using the fiscal year-end balance, including current year contributions, multiplied by the interest rate on the Fixed Income Fund investment option in the Companys qualified defined contribution plan. For 2017, this rate was 2.07%. |
For 2017, our last completed fiscal year, the ratio of the annual total compensation of our CEO to the annual total compensation of our median employee (identified in accordance with Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K and the SECs related guidance, as described in greater detail below) was 84:1. This ratio is a reasonable estimate calculated in a manner consistent with Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K.
To identify our median employee and to calculate the annual total compensation of our median employee and that of our CEO, we used the following methodology, assumptions and estimates:
| Selection of Determination Date. As permitted under SEC rules, we selected October 1, 2017, as the date on which we would identify the median employee from our adjusted employee population. |
| Determination of Adjusted Employee Population. As of October 1, 2017, we had a total of 8,459 U.S. and non-U.S. employees. In establishing the population from which to identify our median employee, we excluded employees located in a number of foreign jurisdictions under the 5% de minimis exception provided under Item 402(u), including 47 employees in Germany, 15 in France, seven in Japan, six in Korea, five in India, three in Singapore, three in Taiwan, two in Dubai, and one each in Israel, Italy, Norway and Spain. Our remaining employee population as of October 1, 2017 consisted of approximately 7,753 employees of working either full time or part time in the United States, Poland or China at our parent company and consolidated subsidiaries, including our majority-owned joint venture, STAL. |
| Identification of Median Employee. We compared the cash compensation, including wages, overtime, salary and bonuses, paid during our fiscal year 2017 for each employee who was included in our adjusted employee population as the consistently applied compensation measure used to identify the median employee among those included in the adjusted employee population. As part of this analysis, we converted the compensation paid to non-U.S. employees from local currency to U.S. dollars using exchange rates in effect on December 31, 2017 and annualized the compensation of each full-time or part-time employee who was hired in 2017 and included the adjusted employee population. |
| Calculation of Annual Total Compensation. In accordance with the SEC rules, we then determined the median employees 2017 annual total compensation to be $86,332, which is amount that would have been reported for our median employee in the Total column (column (j)) of our 2017 Summary Compensation Table included on page [59] of this Proxy Statement if he had been a Named Executive Officer for fiscal 2017. In accordance with the SEC rules, we determined the CEOs 2017 annual total compensation to be $7,265,581, which is the amount reported for our CEO in the Total column (column (j)) of our 2017 Summary Compensation Table included on page 57 of this Proxy Statement. |
We believe the methodology, assumptions and estimates described above to be reasonable given our employee population. The SEC rules grant companies significantly flexibility in determining the methodology, assumptions and estimates used to comply with the requirements of this disclosure. As acknowledged by the SEC, this flexibility could reduce the comparability of disclosed pay ratios across companies. Therefore, our pay ratio may not necessarily be representative of or comparable to pay ratios disclosed by other companies in the industry or otherwise.
ATI 2018 Proxy Statement / 63
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS | EMPLOYMENT AND CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENTS
|
Employment and Change in Control Agreements
Employment Agreements
ATI does not have any employment agreements with its named executive officers.
Change in Control Agreements
The Company has agreements with each continuing NEO and other key employees to assure that it will have the continued support of the executive and the availability of the executives advice and counsel notwithstanding the possibility, threat or occurrence of a change in control. All members of the management Executive Council and corporate officers have change in control agreements that do not include an excise tax gross-up provision.
Under the agreements, a change in control is defined as:
|
||||||
the Companys actual knowledge that (x) an individual or entity has acquired beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the voting power of Company stock or (y) persons have agreed to act together for the purpose of acquiring 20% or more of the voting power of Company stock,
the completion of a tender offer pursuant to which 20% or more of the voting power of Company stock has been acquired,
|
the occurrence of a successful solicitation electing or removing 50% of the members of the Board or the Board consisting less than 51% of continuing directors, or
the occurrence of a merger, consolidation, sale or similar transaction.
|
In general, the agreements provide for the payment of severance benefits if a change in control occurs, and within 24 months after the change in control either:
| the Company terminates the executives employment with the Company without cause, which is defined to mean a felony conviction, breach of fiduciary duty involving personal profit, or intentional failure to perform stated duties after 30 days notice to cure; or |
the executive terminates employment with the Company for good reason, which is defined to mean:
|
||||||
a material diminution of duties, responsibilities or status or the assignment of duties inconsistent with position,
relocation more than 35 miles from principal job location,
reduction in annual salary or material reduction in other compensation or benefits,
|
failure by the Company to cause a successor corporation to adopt and perform under the agreement, or
purported termination other than as expressly permitted in the agreement. |
An executive officer entitled to severance benefits under a change in control agreement will be paid a lump sum cash payment within thirty days of the date of termination equal to the sum of:
| aggregate amounts accrued through the date of termination (including but not limited to accrued but unpaid salary or cash incentive compensation and amounts accrued under any qualified, non-qualified or supplemental employee benefit plan); |
| base salary plus annual cash incentive at the greater of target or the actual level of performance achieved through the date of termination projected through the end of the year times a multiple (which is 3x for Mr. Harshman and 2x for Messrs. DeCourcy, Kramer, Sims and Wetherbee); |
64 \ ATI 2018 Proxy Statement
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS | EMPLOYMENT AND CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENTS
|
| prorated annual incentive for the then uncompleted year measured at the greater of target or the level of performance achieved through the date of termination projected through the end of the year; and |
| the value of all long-term incentive awards for then uncompleted measurement periods determined at the greater of target or actual performance levels achieved to the date of termination projected through the remainder of the measurement period. |
He or she will also be provided:
| the continuation of perquisites and welfare benefits for a period (36 months); |
| reimbursement for outplacement services up to $25,000 for Mr. Harshman and $15,000 for Messrs. DeCourcy, Kramer, Sims and Wetherbee; and |
| the number of years corresponding to the applicable multiples above of credited service and full vesting under the Companys supplemental pension plans in which the executive participates. |
The agreements have a term of three years, which three-year term will continue to be extended until either party gives written notice that it no longer wants to continue to extend the term. If a change in control occurs during the term, the agreements will remain in effect for the longer of three years or until all obligations of the Company under the agreements have been fulfilled.
The Personnel and Compensation Committee has reviewed the change in control valuation, as well as the purposes and effects of the agreements, and determined that it is in the Companys best interests to retain the change in control agreements on their terms and conditions.
Potential Payments upon Termination
The tables below reflect estimates of the amount of compensation in addition to the amounts shown in the compensation tables payable to each NEO in the event of termination of such executives employment by reason of retirement, death or disability, or within 24 months following a change in control to the extent such termination is without cause or the result of the executives resignation for good reason. The amounts shown assume that such termination was effective as of December 29, 2017. The closing price of Company Common Stock on the NYSE on that date was $24.14. The amounts shown are estimates of the amounts that would be paid out to the executives upon their termination under the circumstances specified. For purposes of the tables, calculations are based on the greater of the target award or the value earned for actual performance against the preset performance goals thorough the assumed date of termination. The actual amounts payable can only be determined at the time of such executives separation from the Company.
Payments Made Upon Termination
Regardless of the manner in which a NEOs employment terminates, he may be entitled to receive amounts earned during his term of employment. Such amounts include:
| non-equity incentive compensation earned during the fiscal year; |
| amounts contributed under the savings portion of the defined contribution plan and the Benefit Restoration Plan; |
| unused vacation pay; and |
| amounts accrued and vested through the ATI Pension Plan and Supplemental Pension Plan. |
Payments Made Upon Retirement
In the event of the retirement of a NEO, in addition to the items identified above, such officer will be entitled (subject to the Companys consent for certain amounts) to:
| receive a prorated share of his outstanding equity awards when the shares subject to such awards would otherwise have become payable as a result of the passage of time or the achievement of the applicable performance criteria; and |
ATI 2018 Proxy Statement / 65
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS | EMPLOYMENT AND CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENTS
|
| receive payments under the Supplemental Pension Plan, beginning two months after retirement, subject in each case to Section 409A of the Code. |
Consent of the Company is required for payments of awards under the long-term compensation plans upon retirement as described.
Payments Made Upon Death or Disability
In the event of the death or disability of a NEO, in addition to the benefits listed under the headings Payments Made Upon Termination and Payments Made Upon Retirement above, the NEO may receive benefits under the Companys disability plan or payments under the Companys life insurance plan, as appropriate, each as generally available to all salaried employees.
Payments Made Upon a Change in Control
The Company is a party to a change in control severance agreement with each NEO that provides the NEO with payments in the event his employment is terminated by the Company for reasons other than cause or by the NEO for good reason (defined to include diminishment of pay, benefits, title or job responsibilities or transfer from the home office) within 24 months after a change in control. See the information under the caption Employment and Change in Control Agreements for definitions. The tables below illustrate the amount of payments due in various circumstances.
As noted, the column Involuntary Not for Cause Termination or Good Reason Termination by Executive (w/in 24 Months of a Change in Control) assumes that there was a change in control at the December 29, 2017 closing price of $24.14 per share and all of the NEOs had a triggering event on December 29, 2017 and all cash amounts due, all deferred compensation enhancements, and all potential benefit payments were to be paid in a single lump sum.
Richard J. Harshman ($ in thousands): | ||||||||||||||||||||
Executive Benefit and Payments Upon Separation
|
Retirement
|
Involuntary Not for Cause Termination or Good Reason Termination by Executive (w/in 24 months of Change in Control)
|
Disability
|
Death
|
||||||||||||||||
Base Severance:
|
|
0
|
|
|
3,180
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
||||||||
Short-Term Incentive Compensation:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
APP
|
|
0
|
|
|
6,095
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
||||||||
Long-Term Incentive Compensation:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
LTIP(1)
|
|
1,883
|
|
|
11,570
|
|
|
1,883
|
|
|
1,883
|
|
||||||||
PRSP
|
|
778
|
|
|
1,711
|
|
|
778
|
|
|
778
|
|
||||||||
Other Benefits:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Non-qualified defined contribution plan
|
|
0
|
|
|
302
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
||||||||
Non-qualified defined benefit plan(2)
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
||||||||
Health & Welfare Benefits
|
|
0
|
|
|
52
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
||||||||
Outplacement
|
|
0
|
|
|
25
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
||||||||
Supplemental Pension Plan(2):
|
|
0
|
|
|
5,000
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
||||||||
Total
|
|
2,616
|
|
|
27,935
|
|
|
2,616
|
|
|
2,616
|
|
||||||||
|
(1) Amounts shown for termination as a result of retirement, disability or death do not include the pro-rata portion of PSU awards that may become payable at a future date based on the Companys actual performance relative to applicable targets. (2) The Company froze future benefit accruals under the non-qualified defined benefit pension plan and the Supplemental Pension Plan effective December 31, 2014. In the event that Mr. Harshman retires, dies or becomes disabled, he (or his beneficiary) is entitled to receive amounts accrued and vested under the ATI Pension Plan and Supplemental Pension Plan, payable in the ordinary course, as described above and under the heading Pension Benefits for 2017. As also described above, such amounts are payable on an accelerated, lump sum basis if he is terminated without cause or resigns for good reason within 24 months following a change in control. The amounts presented above in the change in control column with respect to each such benefit plan represent the additional present value of such lump sum payment of pension benefits.
|
|
66 \ ATI 2018 Proxy Statement
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS | EMPLOYMENT AND CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENTS
|
Patrick J. DeCourcy ($ in thousands): | ||||||||||||||||||||
Executive Benefit and Payments Upon Separation
|
Retirement
|
Involuntary Not for Cause Termination or Good Reason Termination by Executive (w/in 24 months of Change in Control)
|
Disability
|
Death
|
||||||||||||||||
Base Severance:
|
|
0
|
|
|
960
|
|
|
0
|
|
0 | ||||||||||
Short-Term Incentive Compensation:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
APP
|
|
0
|
|
|
1,536
|
|
|
0
|
|
0 | ||||||||||
Long-Term Incentive Compensation:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
LTIP(1)
|
|
507
|
|
|
3,163
|
|
|
507
|
|
|
507
|
|
||||||||
PRSP
|
|
233
|
|
|
392
|
|
|
233
|
|
|
233
|
|
||||||||
Other Benefits:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Non-qualified defined contribution plan
|
|
0
|
|
|
91
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
||||||||
Non-qualified defined benefit plan(2)
|
|
0
|
|
|
277
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
||||||||
Health & Welfare Benefits
|
|
0
|
|
|
45
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
||||||||
Outplacement
|
|
0
|
|
|
15
|
|
|
0
|
|
0 | ||||||||||
Total
|
|
740
|
|
|
6,479
|
|
|
740
|
|
740 | ||||||||||
(1) Amounts shown for termination as a result of retirement, disability or death do not include the pro-rata portion of PSU awards that may become payable at a future date based on the Companys actual performance relative to applicable targets. (2) The Company froze future benefit accruals under the non-qualified defined benefit pension plan effective December 31, 2014. In the event that Mr. DeCourcy retires, dies or becomes disabled, he (or his beneficiary) is entitled to receive amounts accrued and vested under the ATI Pension Plan, payable in the ordinary course, as described above and under the heading Pension Benefits for 2017. As also described above, such amounts are payable on a lump sum basis if he is terminated without cause or resigns for good reason within 24 months following a change in control. The amounts presented above in the change in control column with respect to each such benefit plan represent the additional present value of such lump sum payment of pension benefits.
|
|
Kevin B. Kramer ($ in thousands): | ||||||||||||||||||||
Executive Benefit and Payments Upon Separation
|
Retirement
|
Involuntary
Not
|
Disability
|
Death
|
||||||||||||||||
Base Severance:
|
|
0
|
|
|
900
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
||||||||
Short-Term Incentive Compensation:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
APP
|
|
0
|
|
|
1,440
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
||||||||
Long-Term Incentive Compensation:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
LTIP(1)
|
|
454
|
|
|
2,862
|
|
|
454
|
|
|
454
|
|
||||||||
PRSP
|
|
216
|
|
|
303
|
|
|
216
|
|
|
216
|
|
||||||||
Other Benefits
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Non-qualified defined contribution plan
|
|
0
|
|
|
86
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
||||||||
Non-qualified defined benefit plan(2)
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
||||||||
Health & Welfare Benefits
|
|
0
|
|
|
45
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
||||||||
Outplacement
|
|
0
|
|
|
15
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
||||||||
Total
|
|
670
|
|
|
5,651
|
|
|
670
|
|
|
670
|
|
||||||||
(1) Amounts shown for termination as a result of retirement, disability or death do not include the pro-rata portion of PSU awards that may become payable at a future date based on the Companys actual performance relative to applicable targets. (2) The Company froze future benefit accruals under the non-qualified defined benefit pension plan effective December 31, 2014.
|
|
ATI 2018 Proxy Statement / 67
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS | EMPLOYMENT AND CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENTS
|
John D. Sims ($ in thousands): | ||||||||||||||||||||
Executive Benefit and Payments Upon Separation
|
Retirement
|
Involuntary Not
|
Disability
|
Death
|
||||||||||||||||
Base Severance:
|
|
0
|
|
|
1,020
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
||||||||
Short-Term Incentive Compensation:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
APP
|
|
0
|
|
|
1,632
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
||||||||
Long-Term Incentive Compensation:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
LTIP
|
|
533
|
|
|
3,360
|
|
|
533
|
|
|
533
|
|
||||||||
PRSP
|
|
264
|
|
|
541
|
|
|
264
|
|
|
264
|
|
||||||||
Other Benefits:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Non-qualified defined contribution plan
|
|
0
|
|
|
97
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
||||||||
Non-qualified defined benefit plan(2)
|
|
0
|
|
|
741
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
||||||||
Health & Welfare Benefits
|
|
0
|
|
|
45
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
||||||||
Outplacement
|
|
0
|
|
|
15
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
||||||||
Total
|
|
797
|
|
|
7,451
|
|
|
797
|
|
|
797
|
|
||||||||
(1) Amounts shown for termination as a result of retirement, disability or death do not include the pro-rata portion of PSU awards that may become payable at a future date based on the Companys actual performance relative to applicable targets. (2) The Company froze future benefit accruals under the non-qualified defined benefit pension plan effective December 31, 2014. In the event that Mr. Sims retires, dies or becomes disabled, he (or his beneficiary) is entitled to receive amounts accrued and vested under the ATI Pension Plan, payable in the ordinary course, as described above and under the heading Pension Benefits for 2017. As also described above, such amounts are payable on a lump sum basis in the event that he is terminated without cause or resigns for good reason within 24 months following a change in control. The amounts presented above in the change in control column with respect to each such benefit plan represent the additional present value of such lump sum payment of pension benefits.
|
|
Robert S. Wetherbee ($ in thousands): | ||||||||||||||||||||
Executive Benefit and Payments Upon Separation
|
Retirement
|
Involuntary Not for Cause Termination or Good Reason Termination by Executive (w/in 24 months of Change in Control)
|
Disability
|
Death
|
||||||||||||||||
Base Severance:
|
|
0
|
|
|
1,020
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
||||||||
Short-Term Incentive Compensation:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
APP
|
|
0
|
|
|
1,632
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
||||||||
Long-Term Incentive Compensation:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
LTIP
|
|
533
|
|
|
3,360
|
|
|
533
|
|
|
533
|
|
||||||||
PRSP
|
|
173
|
|
|
256
|
|
|
173
|
|
|
173
|
|
||||||||
Other Benefits:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Non-qualified defined contribution plan
|
|
0
|
|
|
97
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
||||||||
Non-qualified defined benefit plan(2)
|
|
0
|
|
|
75
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
||||||||
Health & Welfare Benefits
|
|
0
|
|
|
45
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
||||||||
Outplacement
|
|
0
|
|
|
15
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
||||||||
Total
|
|
706
|
|
|
6,500
|
|
|
706
|
|
|
706
|
|
||||||||
|
(1) Amounts shown for termination as a result of retirement, disability or death do not include the pro-rata portion of PSU awards that may become payable at a future date based on the Companys actual performance relative to applicable targets. (2) The Company froze future benefit accruals under the non-qualified defined benefit pension plan effective December 31, 2014. In the event that Mr. Wetherbee retires, dies or becomes disabled, he (or his beneficiary) is entitled to receive amounts accrued and vested under the ATI Pension Plan, payable in the ordinary course, as described above and under the heading Pension Benefits for 2017. As also described above, such amounts are payable on a lump sum basis in the event that he is terminated without cause or resigns for good reason within 24 months following a change in control. The amounts presented above in the change in control column with respect to each such benefit plan represent the additional present value of such lump sum payment of pension benefits.
|
|
68 \ ATI 2018 Proxy Statement
Item 3 Ratification of the Selection of Independent Auditors
Ernst & Young LLP (Ernst & Young) serves as our independent registered public accounting firm (the independent auditors). They have unrestricted access to the Audit Committee to discuss audit findings and other financial matters. The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors believes that Ernst & Young is knowledgeable about ATIs operations and accounting practices and is well qualified to act in the capacity of independent auditors.
In appointing Ernst & Young as our independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018, and making its recommendation that stockholders ratify the selection, the Audit Committee considered whether the audit and non-audit services Ernst & Young provides are compatible with maintaining the independence of our outside auditors.
If the stockholders do not ratify the selection of Ernst & Young, the Audit Committee will reconsider the selection of Ernst & Young as the Companys independent auditors.
Representatives of Ernst & Young will be present at the Annual Meeting. They will be given the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so, and they will be available to respond to appropriate questions following the Annual Meeting.
Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policy
Under the Pre-Approval Policy, the Audit Committee will review and approve all services to be provided by Ernst & Young before the firm is retained to perform any such services. Under this policy, the engagement terms and fees of all audit services and all audit-related services are subject to the approval of the Audit Committee. In addition, while the Committee believes that the independent auditor may be able to provide tax services to the Company without impairing the auditors independence, absent unusual circumstances, the Audit Committee does not expect to retain the independent auditor to provide tax services. Under the policy, the Committee has delegated limited pre-approval authority to the Chair of the Committee with respect to permitted, non-tax related services; the Chair is required to report any pre-approval decisions to the Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting. The Audit Committee pre-approved all audit and non-audit services provided by Ernst & Young in 2017 and 2016.
Independent Auditor: Services and Fees
The fees and expenses of Ernst & Young for the indicated services performed during 2017 and 2016 were as follows:
Service
|
2017
|
2016
|
||||||
Audit fees
|
$
|
4,101,000
|
|
$
|
4,044,000
|
| ||
Audit-related fees
|
|
12,000
|
|
|
13,000
|
| ||
Tax fees
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
| ||
All other fees
|
|
2,000
|
|
|
2,000
|
| ||
Total
|
$
|
4,115,000
|
|
$
|
4,059,000
|
|
Audit fees consisted of fees related to the annual audit of the Companys consolidated financial statements and review of the consolidated financial statements in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 attestation services, audit and attestation services related to statutory or regulatory filings, the issuance of consents, and captive insurance company audits.
Audit-related fees consisted of fees related to an audit of a pension plan.
All other fees consisted of subscriptions to Ernst & Youngs web-based EYOnline accounting reference library.
ATI 2018 Proxy Statement / 69
ITEM 3RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS | AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
|
The following is the report of the Audit Committee with respect to the Companys audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2017.
Roles and Responsibilities
The Audit Committee monitors and oversees the financial reporting process on behalf of the Board. Management has the primary responsibility for the Companys internal controls and financial reporting process. The Committee reviews and discusses managements report on internal control over financial reporting. Ernst & Young LLP, our independent auditor, is responsible for performing an independent audit of ATIs financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), expressing an opinion as to their conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, and for attesting to the effectiveness of the ATIs internal control over financial reporting.
Required Disclosures and Discussions
The Audit Committee has reviewed, met and held discussions with ATIs management, internal auditors, and the independent auditors regarding the financial statements, including a discussion of quality, not just acceptability, of the Companys accounting principles, and Ernst & Youngs judgment regarding these matters.
The Audit Committee discussed with the internal auditors and independent auditors matters required to be discussed by Auditing Standard No. 1301, Communications with Audit Committees, as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. The Committee met with the internal auditors and independent auditors, with and without management present, to discuss the results of their examinations, their evaluations of the companys internal controls over financial reporting, and the overall quality of ATIs financial reporting. The Audit Committee has also discussed with Ernst & Young matters required to be discussed by applicable auditing standards.
The Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from Ernst & Young required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) regarding the independent accountants communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence. The Committee also considered the compatibility of non-audit services with Ernst & Youngs independence. This information was also discussed with Ernst & Young.
Committee Recommends Including the Financial Statements in the Annual Report
Based on the review and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the audited financial statements be included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Board of Directors has approved this inclusion.
Submitted by:
AUDIT COMMITTEE:
Chair: | John R. Pipski | |||||||||||
Members: | Herbert J. Carlisle | |||||||||||
James C. Diggs | ||||||||||||
David J. Morehouse |
70 \ ATI 2018 Proxy Statement
ANNUAL MEETING INFORMATION | 2018 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
|
72 \ ATI 2018 Proxy Statement
ANNUAL MEETING INFORMATION | 2018 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
|
ATI 2018 Proxy Statement / 73
ANNUAL MEETING INFORMATION | 2018 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
|
74 \ ATI 2018 Proxy Statement
ANNUAL MEETING INFORMATION | 2018 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
|
2019 Annual Meeting and Stockholder Proposals
Stockholder proposals submitted for inclusion in the proxy statement and form of proxy relating to the 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders must be received no later than November 27, 2018. Stockholder proposals should be sent to the Corporate Secretary, Allegheny Technologies Incorporated, 1000 Six PPG Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15222-5479.
If you wish to submit director nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting, you must give timely notice of your intent to submit a proposal in writing to the Corporate Secretary. For such notices to be timely, notice must be received by the Corporate Secretary not less than 75 days and not more than 90 days before the first anniversary of the date of the preceding years annual meeting. For our 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, we must receive any such notice on or after February 9, 2019 and on or before February 24, 2019. The notice must contain certain information specified in the Companys Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws.
The Nominating and Governance Committee will consider director candidates recommended by stockholders. The Committee will evaluate stockholder-recommended candidates on the same basis as other candidates. Stockholder recommendations should be sent to the Corporate Secretary at the address above, who will forward the information to the Committee.
Stockholders may obtain copies of our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws by writing to the Corporate Secretary at the address set forth above. Copies of our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws have been filed with the SEC and can be viewed on our website, www.atimetals.com at About ATICorporate Governance.
Other Business and Information
The Company knows of no business to be presented for consideration at the meeting other than the items indicated in the Notice of Annual Meeting. If other matters are properly presented at the meeting, the persons designated as proxies on your proxy card may vote on such matters at their discretion.
ATI 2018 Proxy Statement / 75
ANNUAL MEETING INFORMATION | OTHER BUSINESS AND INFORMATION
|
Following adjournment of the formal business meeting, Richard J. Harshman, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, will address the meeting and will hold a general discussion period during which the stockholders will have an opportunity to ask questions about the Company and its business.
Annual Report on Form 10-K
Copies of ATIs Annual Report on Form 10-K, without Exhibits, can be obtained free of charge by written request to the Corporate Secretary, Allegheny Technologies Incorporated, 1000 Six PPG Place, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-5479 or by calling (412) 394-2800.
Proxy Solicitation
We pay the cost of preparing, assembling and mailing this proxy-soliciting material. We will reimburse banks, brokers and other nominee holders for reasonable expenses they incur in sending these proxy materials to our beneficial stockholders whose stock is registered in the nominees name.
ATI has engaged Georgeson Inc., 199 Water Street, 26th Floor, New York, New York 10038 to help solicit proxies from brokers, banks and other nominee holders of Common Stock at a cost of $10,000 plus expenses. Our employees may also solicit proxies for no additional compensation.
On behalf of the Board of Directors:
Elliot S. Davis
Corporate Secretary
Dated: March 27, 2018
76 \ ATI 2018 Proxy Statement
APPENDIX A
|
Allegheny Technologies Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
(Unaudited, dollars in millions, except per share amounts)
The Company reports its financial results in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). However, management believes that certain non-GAAP financial measures, used in managing the business, may provide users of this financial information with additional meaningful comparisons between current results and results in prior periods. Non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, the Companys reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP. The following table provides the calculation of the non-GAAP financial measures discussed in this annual report.
Fiscal Year Ended | ||||||||
December 31 | ||||||||
2016 | 2017 | |||||||
Net loss attributable to ATI |
$ | (641 | ) | $ | (92 | ) | ||
Adjustments: |
||||||||
Debt extinguishment charge, net of tax (a) |
- | 37 | ||||||
Impairment of goodwill, net of tax (b) |
- | 114 | ||||||
Restructuring and other charges, net of tax (c) |
355 | - | ||||||
Rowley excess operating costs, net of tax (d) |
19 | - | ||||||
Work stoppage and return-to-work costs (e) |
28 | - | ||||||
Income tax items including valuation allowances (f) |
142 | (4 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net income (loss) attributable to ATI, as adjusted |
$ | (97 | ) | $ | 55 | |||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Per Diluted Share | ||||||||
Net loss attributable to ATI |
$ | (5.97 | ) | $ | (0.83 | ) | ||
Adjustments: |
||||||||
Debt extinguishment charge, net of tax (a) |
- | 0.29 | ||||||
Impairment of goodwill, net of tax (b) |
- | 1.05 | ||||||
Restructuring and other charges, net of tax (c) |
3.30 | - | ||||||
Rowley excess operating costs, net of tax (d) |
0.18 | - | ||||||
Work stoppage and return-to-work costs (e) |
0.27 | - | ||||||
Income tax items including valuation allowances (f) |
1.31 | (0.03 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net income (loss) attributable to ATI, as adjusted |
$ | (0.91 | ) | $ | 0.48 | |||
|
|
|
|
The following adjustments are more fully described in Item 7. Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data in the 2017 annual report on Form 10-K. The presentation of adjusted results per diluted share includes the effects of convertible debt, if dilutive.
(a) Fiscal year December 31, 2017 results include a debt extinguishment charge of $37 after-tax, or $0.29 per share, for the full redemption of the $350, 9.375% Senior Notes due 2019.
(b) During the third quarter of 2017, the Company performed an interim goodwill impairment analysis, as required by accounting standards, for our Cast Products business and determined that all goodwill assigned to this business unit was impaired. As a result, the Company recorded a $114 non-cash goodwill impairment charge, or $1.05 per share.
(c) During 2016, the Company restructured its titanium operations in the HPMC segment, closed the FRP segments Midland, PA and Bagdad, PA facilities, and implemented salaried workforce reduction actions in the FRP segment. Restructuring and other charges totaled $539 pre-tax, including $471 asset impairment charges primarily related to the indefinite idling of the Rowley, UT titanium sponge production facility, $32 of facility shutdown and idling costs, $24 million of employee benefit costs and $12 million of inventory valuation charges, or $355 after-tax, or $3.30 per share.
(d) These amounts represent the above-market production costs and other operating expenses for the Rowley, UT titanium sponge production facility prior to the indefinite idling, net of expected ongoing carrying costs, and have been adjusted out of the Companys GAAP amounts to provide Company results that are more representative of the future, which exclude these costs.
(e) For the first six months of fiscal year 2016, the Company incurred costs associated with the work stoppage and return-to-work of USW-represented employees including reduced operating efficiencies, out-of-phase raw material costs, and provisions of the new labor agreements.
(f) Amounts for the year ended December 31, 2017 include $4 of tax benefits, or $0.03 per share, from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act legislation. Amounts for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 include $150 of income tax valuation allowance adjustments for U.S. federal deferred tax assets, partially offset by other non-operational income tax benefits, compared to the tax benefit that would apply at a standard 35% tax rate.
Fiscal Year Ended | ||||
December 31, 2017 | ||||
Cash provided by operating activities |
$ | 22 | ||
ATI Pension Plan contribution |
135 | |||
|
|
|||
Cash provided by operating activities, as adjusted |
$ | 157 | ||
|
|
ATI 2018 Proxy Statement / A-1
Our Core Values
While we believe that change is constant, one thing
will not change. As we continue on our journeyBuilding the Worlds Best Specialty Materials & Components Companywe are guided by a shared commitment to ATIs Core Values.
Integrity as the cornerstone of our business.
To that end, we must be honest and forthright in everything we do.
ATI is committed to more than just adherence to laws and regulations. Our commitment is to reflect the highest level of integrity and ethics in our dealings with each other,
and all of our stakeholders.
We expect everyone to be treated with dignity and respect and we embrace the values of innovation, cooperation, accountability, and teamwork.
Safety, Health and Sustainability are the prerequisites to all operations, and our goal is to finish each day incident- and injury-free.
Diversity, Creativity, Learning, and Freedom of people to reach their individual potential is ATIs culture.
Product Quality and Excellence is demonstrated in everything we do.
Admission Ticket
| ||||||||
Electronic Voting Instructions | ||||||||
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! | ||||||||
Instead of mailing your proxy, you may choose one of the voting methods outlined below to vote your proxy. | ||||||||
VALIDATION DETAILS ARE LOCATED BELOW IN THE TITLE BAR. | ||||||||
Proxies submitted by the Internet or telephone must be received by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on May 9, 2018. | ||||||||
Vote by Internet | ||||||||
Go to www.envisionreports.com/ati | ||||||||
Or scan the QR code with your smartphone | ||||||||
Follow the steps outlined on the secure website | ||||||||
Vote by telephone | ||||||||
Call toll free 1-800-652-VOTE (8683) within the USA, US territories & Canada on a touch tone telephone | ||||||||
Using a black ink pen, mark your votes with an X as shown in this example. Please do not write outside the designated areas. |
☒ | Follow the instructions provided by the recorded message |
q IF YOU HAVE NOT VOTED VIA THE INTERNET OR TELEPHONE, FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. q
A | Proposals | The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR all the nominees listed and FOR Proposals 2 and 3. | ||
1. Election of Directors: | For | Against | Abstain | For | Against | Abstain | For | Against | Abstain | + | ||||||||||||||||
01 - Herbert J. Carlisle |
☐ |
☐ | ☐ | 02 - Diane C. Creel | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | 03 - John R. Pipski | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | |||||||||||||||
04 - James E. Rohr |
☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
For | Against | Abstain | For | Against | Abstain | |||||||||||||||||||
2. | Advisory vote to approve the compensation of the Companys named executive officers. | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | 3. | Ratification of the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as independent auditors for 2018. | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
B | Non-Voting Items |
Change of Address Please print your new address below. | Comments Please print your comments below. | Meeting Attendance | ||||||
Mark the box to the right if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting.
|
☐ |
C | Authorized Signatures This section must be completed for your vote to be counted. Date and Sign Below |
Please sign EXACTLY as your name appears hereon. Joint owners should each sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, or custodian, please give your full title as such. |
Date (mm/dd/yyyy) Please print date below. | Signature 1 Please keep signature within the box. | Signature 2 Please keep signature within the box. | ||||||
/ / |
02SUNA
2018 Annual Meeting Admission Ticket
2018 Annual Meeting of Allegheny Technologies Incorporated Stockholders
Thursday, May 10, 2018 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time
Salem Convention Center 200 Commercial Street, SE Salem, Oregon 97301
Upon arrival, please present this admission ticket and photo identification at the registration desk.
For the personal use of the stockholder named hereon - not transferable
Dear Stockholder,
Enclosed or available on the Internet at http://www.envisionreports.com/ati are materials relating to the Allegheny Technologies Incorporated 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The Notice of the Meeting and Proxy Statement describe the formal business to be transacted at the meeting.
Your vote is important. Please vote your proxy promptly whether or not you expect to attend the meeting. You may vote by toll-free telephone, by Internet or by signing and returning the proxy card (below) by mail in the enclosed postage-paid envelope.
Elliot S. Davis Corporate Secretary
Important notice regarding the Internet availability of proxy materials for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The Proxy Statement and the 2017 Annual Report to Stockholders are available at: www.envisionreports.com/ati |
q IF YOU HAVE NOT VOTED VIA THE INTERNET OR TELEPHONE, FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. q
Proxy Allegheny Technologies Incorporated
Proxy for 2018 Annual Meeting
Solicited on Behalf of the Board of Directors of Allegheny Technologies Incorporated
The undersigned hereby appoints Patrick J. DeCourcy, Elliot S. Davis and Amanda J. Skov or any of them, each with power of substitution and revocation, proxies or proxy to vote all shares of Common Stock which the stockholder named herein is entitled to vote with all powers which the stockholder would possess if personally present, at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Allegheny Technologies Incorporated on May 10, 2018, and any adjournments or postponements thereof, upon the matters set forth on the reverse side of this card and, in their discretion, upon such other matters as may properly come before such meeting.
STOCKHOLDERS MAY VOTE BY TOLL-FREE TELEPHONE OR THE INTERNET BY FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE REVERSE SIDE OR STOCKHOLDERS MAY VOTE BY COMPLETING, DATING AND SIGNING THIS PROXY CARD AND RETURNING IT PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE.
This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted as directed herein, but if you do not specify a vote, the proxies will vote FOR Items 1, 2 and 3 and in their discretion on other matters.
If you wish to use this card to vote your shares, please vote, date and sign on the reverse side.
(Continued and to be marked, dated and signed, on the other side)
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Electronic Voting Instructions | ||||||||
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! | ||||||||
Instead of mailing your proxy, you may choose one of the voting methods outlined below to vote your proxy. | ||||||||
VALIDATION DETAILS ARE LOCATED BELOW IN THE TITLE BAR. | ||||||||
Proxies submitted by the Internet or telephone must be received by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on May 4, 2018. | ||||||||
Vote by Internet | ||||||||
Go to www.envisionreports.com/ati | ||||||||
Or scan the QR code with your smartphone | ||||||||
Follow the steps outlined on the secure website | ||||||||
Vote by telephone | ||||||||
Call toll free 1-800-652-VOTE (8683) within the USA, US territories & Canada on a touch tone telephone | ||||||||
Using a black ink pen, mark your votes with an X as shown in this example. Please do not write outside the designated areas. |
☒ | Follow the instructions provided by the recorded message |
q IF YOU HAVE NOT VOTED VIA THE INTERNET OR TELEPHONE, FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. q
A | Proposals | The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR all the nominees listed, FOR Proposals 2 and 3. | ||
1. Election of Directors: | For | Against | Abstain | For | Against | Abstain | For | Against | Abstain | + | ||||||||||||||||
01 - Herbert J. Carlisle |
☐ |
☐ | ☐ | 02 - Diane C. Creel | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | 03 -John R. Pipski | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | |||||||||||||||
04 - James E. Rohr |
☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
For | Against | Abstain | For | Against | Abstain | |||||||||||||||||||
2. | Advisory vote to approve the compensation of the Companys named executive officers. | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | 3. | Ratification of the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as independent auditors for 2018. | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
B | Non-Voting Items |
Change of Address Please print your new address below. | Comments Please print your comments below. | Meeting Attendance | ||||||
Mark the box to the right if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting.
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☐ |
C | Authorized Signatures This section must be completed for your vote to be counted. Date and Sign Below |
Please sign EXACTLY as your name appears hereon. Joint owners should each sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, or custodian, please give your full title as such. |
Date (mm/dd/yyyy) Please print date below. | Signature 1 Please keep signature within the box. | Signature 2 Please keep signature within the box. | ||||||
/ / |
02SWCB
The ATI Retirement Plan The ATI 401(k) Savings Plan
As a Plan participant, you have the right to direct Benefit Trust Company how to vote the shares of Allegheny Technologies Incorporated Common Stock that are allocated to your Plan account and shown on the attached voting instruction card. The Trustee will hold your instructions in complete confidence except as may be necessary to meet legal requirements.
You may vote by telephone, Internet or by completing, signing and returning voting instructions herein by mail. A postage-paid return envelope is enclosed.
The Trustee must receive your voting instructions by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on May 4, 2018. If the Trustee does not receive your instructions by such date, the Trustee shall vote your shares as the Plan Administrator directs.
You will receive a separate set of proxy solicitation materials for any shares of Common Stock you own other than your Plan shares. Your non-Plan shares must be voted separately from your Plan shares.
Important notice regarding the Internet availability of proxy materials for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The Proxy Statement and the 2017 Annual Report to Stockholders are available at: www.envisionreports.com/ati |
q IF YOU HAVE NOT VOTED VIA THE INTERNET OR TELEPHONE, FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. q
Voting Instruction Card for 2018 Annual Meeting
Allegheny Technologies Incorporated
The undersigned hereby directs Benefit Trust Company to vote the full number of shares of Common Stock allocated to the account of the undersigned under the Plans, at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Allegheny Technologies Incorporated on May 10, 2018 and any adjournments or postponements thereof, upon the matters set forth on the reverse of this card, and, in its discretion, upon such other matters as may properly come before such meeting.
PLAN PARTICIPANTS MAY GIVE DIRECTIONS BY TOLL-FREE TELEPHONE OR INTERNET BY FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE REVERSE SIDE OR PARTICIPANTS MAY GIVE DIRECTIONS BY COMPLETING, DATING AND SIGNING THIS CARD AND RETURNING IT PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE.
If you wish to use this card to vote your shares, please vote, date and sign on the reverse side.