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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy
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the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
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Wolverine World Wide, Inc. | ||||
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Wolverine World Wide, Inc.
9341 Courtland Drive, N.E.
Rockford, Michigan 49351
March 28, 2017
Dear Fellow Shareholders,
I am pleased to invite you to join me, our Board of Directors, members of Wolverine Worldwide's senior management team, and your fellow shareholders at Wolverine Worldwide's 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders on Thursday, May 4, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. EDT, at the Company's headquarters in Rockford, Michigan. The attached Proxy Statement and Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders provide you with information regarding the business to be conducted. There are a number of proposals for you to consider. Your vote is important, so please be sure to do so whether online, by phone, or by mail with the enclosed proxy or voting instruction card.
2016 was a year of great progress for our Company, with our Board of Directors and senior management team focused on addressing the dynamic and fast-changing consumer marketplace through a prioritization on innovation and growth, omnichannel transformation, and operational excellence. We opened a new design and innovation center, reorganized our European, Canadian, Apparel and Accessories, and Direct-to-Consumer businesses, and restructured our credit facility, while delivering nearly $300 million in operating cash flow, reducing year-end inventories by 25%, and, most importantly, delivering 32.9% in total shareholder return, performance at the 91st percentile of our peer group. Our strong performance has continued into 2017, with 14.0% year-to-date total shareholder return through the March 13, 2017 record date for this year's annual meeting.
In addition, since our last annual meeting, the Compensation Committee engaged a new independent executive compensation consultant, and members of our Board of Directors and senior management team redoubled efforts to speak with shareholders to better understand your perspectives on important governance and compensation matters. Of primary importance this past year, following the disappointing results of our 2016 say-on-pay vote, was discussing our executive compensation program with shareholders and determining how to best demonstrate responsiveness to your concerns. We reached out to shareholders holding nearly two-thirds of our outstanding shares and held meetings, most of them in person, with more than half of these shareholders, including each shareholder who accepted our invitation. Joseph Gromek, the Chair of our Compensation Committee, led these meetings, which focused not only on our executive compensation program, but also on the Company's governance protocols and publicly-announced strategic initiatives. The details of this outreach effort and the changes made by the Compensation Committee in response to shareholder feedback are discussed throughout this Proxy Statement and within the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, but, in summary, we:
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Wolverine Worldwide Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement | | Page 1 |
We greatly value the conversation we have had with our shareholders. We appreciate that this is an ongoing dialogue and look forward to continuing the conversation before, at, and after our 2017 Annual Meeting.
Sincerely,
David
T. Kollat
Lead Independent Director
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Page 2 | | Wolverine Worldwide Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement |
NOTICE OF 2017 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
Wolverine World Wide, Inc.
9341 Courtland Drive, N.E.
Rockford, Michigan 49351
March 28, 2017
To our Shareholders:
We invite you to attend Wolverine Worldwide's Annual Meeting of Shareholders at the Company's headquarters located at 9341 Courtland Drive, N.E., Rockford, Michigan 49351, on Thursday, May 4, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. EDT. At the annual meeting, the shareholders will vote on the following items:
Shareholders of record as of March 13, 2017 can vote at the meeting and any adjournment of the meeting.
This Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, Proxy Statement, proxy or voting instruction card and Annual Report for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 are being mailed or made available to shareholders starting on or about March 28, 2017.
Whether or not you plan to attend, you can ensure that your shares are represented at the meeting by promptly voting and submitting your proxy by telephone or through the internet, or by completing, signing, dating and returning your proxy card in the enclosed envelope.
By Order of the Board of Directors
Brendan
M. Gibbons
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 4, 2017.
Wolverine's Proxy Statement for the 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and the Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, are available at www.wolverineworldwide.com/2017annualmeeting.
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Wolverine Worldwide Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement | | Page 3 |
Wolverine World Wide, Inc. ("Wolverine Worldwide" or the "Company") is furnishing this proxy statement and enclosed proxy card in connection with the solicitation of proxies by its Board of Directors to be used at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company occurring on May 4, 2017 at the Company's corporate headquarters in Rockford, Michigan (the "Annual Meeting"). Distribution of this proxy statement and enclosed proxy card to shareholders is scheduled to begin on or about March 28, 2017.
You can ensure that your shares are voted at the Annual Meeting by submitting your instructions by telephone or through the Internet, or by completing, signing, dating, and returning your proxy form in the enclosed envelope. Submitting your instructions or proxy by any of these methods will not affect your right to attend and vote at the Annual Meeting. The Company encourages shareholders to submit proxies in advance. A shareholder who gives a proxy may revoke it at any time before it is exercised by voting in person at the Annual Meeting, by delivering a subsequent proxy, or by notifying the inspectors of election in writing of such revocation. In order to vote any shares at the Annual Meeting that are held for you in a brokerage, bank, or other institutional account, you must obtain a proxy from that entity and bring it with you to hand in with your ballot.
References to "2016" or "fiscal 2016" in this proxy statement are to the Company's fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, unless otherwise noted in the text. References to "2017" or "fiscal 2017" in this proxy statement are to the Company's fiscal year ending December 30, 2017, unless otherwise noted in the text.
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Page 4 | | Wolverine Worldwide Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement |
2017 PROXY STATEMENT
Table of Contents |
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Wolverine Worldwide Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement | | Page 5 |
2017 PROXY STATEMENT
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Page 6 | | Wolverine Worldwide Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement |
This summary highlights key information that can be found in greater detail elsewhere in this Proxy Statement. This summary does not contain all of the information that shareholders should consider, and shareholders should read the entire Proxy Statement before voting.
SUMMARY OF SHAREHOLDER VOTING MATTERS
Shareholders are being asked to vote on the following matters at the 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders:
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PROPOSAL | BOARD VOTE RECOMMENDATION |
PAGE REFERENCE |
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1. | Election of Directors for Terms Expiring in 2020 | FOR each Nominee | 18 | |||||||
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2. | Advisory Resolution Approving NEO Compensation | FOR | 78 | |||||||
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3. | Frequency of Future Advisory Votes on Executive Officers Compensation to be Every Year | EVERY ONE YEAR | 79 | |||||||
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4. | Ratification of Ernst & Young LLP as Auditor for Fiscal Year 2017 | FOR | 80 | |||||||
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5. | Approval of the Amended & Restated Executive Short-Term Incentive Plan (Annual Bonus Plan) |
FOR | 87 | |||||||
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PROPOSAL 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS FOR TERMS EXPIRING IN 2020
The Company's Board consists of 11 directors. The Company's By-Laws establish three classes of directors, with each class being as nearly equal in number as possible and serving three-year terms.
The Board has nominated four directors for election at the Annual Meeting, as outlined in the table below. Each director has been nominated to serve for a three-year term expiring at the annual meeting of shareholders to be held in 2020. The Board recommends that shareholders vote "FOR" each of the nominees named below.
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Age | Director Since | Independent | Other Public Directorships | Committees | Proposed Term Expiration |
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William K. Gerber Managing Director, Cabrillo Point Capital |
63 | 2008 | ✓ | AK Steel Holding Corporation | Audit (Chair) Compensation |
2020 | ||||||||||
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Blake W. Krueger Chairman, CEO & President of Wolverine World Wide, Inc. |
63 | 2006 | None | None | 2020 | |||||||||||
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Nicholas T. Long Retired CEO of MillerCoors LLC |
58 | 2011 | ✓ | None | Compensation Governance | 2020 | ||||||||||
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Michael A. Volkema Chairman of Herman Miller, Inc. |
61 | 2005 | ✓ | Herman Miller, Inc. | Audit Governance (Chair) |
2020 | ||||||||||
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Wolverine Worldwide Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement | | Page 7 |
The following pie charts illustrate key characteristics of the Company's Board:
Board is Composed of Directors with the Right Mix of Skills and Experiences
The following chart lists the important experiences and attributes that the Company's Directors possess:
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Wolverine Worldwide Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement | | Page 8 |
Corporate Governance Highlights
Wolverine Worldwide is committed to a governance structure that provides strong shareholder rights and meaningful accountability:
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✓ Highly independent Board (All Non-Management Directors) and Committees ✓ Lead Independent Director with clearly defined role ✓ Majority voting with director resignation policy ✓ No supermajority vote requirements ✓ Shareholder right to act by written consent |
✓ Annual Board and Committee self-evaluations ✓ Robust Board and executive succession planning, including annual written director nominee evaluations ✓ Long-standing commitment toward diversity ✓ Director onboarding orientation program ✓ Active shareholder engagement practices |
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Wolverine Worldwide Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement | | Page 9 |
PROPOSAL 2 ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE NEO COMPENSATION
For a more detailed discussion of compensation matters, please reference the CD&A beginning on page 39. While the outcome of this proposal is non-binding, the Board and Compensation Committee will consider the outcome of the vote when making future compensation decisions. The Board recommends that shareholders vote "FOR" the advisory vote to approve named executive officer compensation.
Wolverine Worldwide has a portfolio of brands organized into four key operating groups as illustrated below:
In 2016, the Company launched the WOLVERINE WAY FORWARD, an enterprise-wide initiative to transform the Company in light of the fast-changing retail environment. The WOLVERINE WAY FORWARD includes the following key components:
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| Innovation & Growth | | Operational Excellence | | Portfolio Management | | People & Teams | | ||||||||
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Building great brands through product innovation and compelling marketing Relentless focus on the consumer Consumer-centric product innovation Demand creation initiatives Deep focus on digital connection, specifically eCommerce and social media International expansion |
Healthier supply chain, with improved speed to market Omnichannel transformation focused on aggressively growing highly profitable eCommerce business and right-sizing underperforming store fleet Faster, more efficient structure Aggressive goal to achieve 12% adjusted operating margin by the end of 2018 |
Focus on core, go-forward brands that provide the biggest growth and profit opportunities Identify strategic alternatives for non-core, underperforming businesses Strategic, value-creating acquisitions |
Amazing place to work Build the best team and talent pipeline Modern skillset Investment in enhanced learning and development initiatives |
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Wolverine Worldwide Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement | | Page 10 |
Key 2016 Accomplishments and Financial Highlights
Key 2016 financial highlights and accomplishments against the Company's strategic priorities are below.
Financial Highlights | Business Accomplishments | |
Delivered 32.9% total shareholder return for 2016, performance in the top decile of companies in its peer group Generated operating cash flow for the year of $296.3 million, up $80.8 million or 37.5% versus the prior year Reduced year-end inventory by 25% against a corporate objective to reduce overall inventory by 12% Delivered revenue of $2.495 billion, in line with original guidance Delivered reported diluted 2016 EPS of $0.89, compared to $1.20 in 2015; adjusted diluted EPS of $1.36; and, on a constant currency basis, $1.52 compared to $1.45 in 2015 Returned value to shareholders through $0.24 per share cash dividends and approximately $62 million in share repurchases |
Progressed in our omnichannel transformation closing 101 stores in 2016 while investing in eCommerce; additional 110 store closures anticipated for early 2017 Refinanced debt, expecting to result in $30 million of interest savings through 2020 Reorganized European, Canadian, Apparel and Accessories, and Direct-to-Consumer businesses Opened new design and innovation center Drove considerable efficiencies through supply chain improvements, including consolidation of factory base |
The Company's Board and management team were disappointed with the results of the 2016 say-on-pay vote, which failed to receive majority shareholder support. In response, the Compensation Committee and full Board undertook a thorough review of the Company's compensation program in order to determine how best to respond to shareholders. Since the 2016 annual meeting, the Company's Compensation Committee Chair has reached out to shareholders representing nearly two-thirds of its outstanding shares and has held meetings with more than half of these shareholders, mostly in person. The Company met with every shareholder who accepted its invitation to engage, and the Company's Compensation Committee Chairman, Joseph Gromek, led each of the meetings. After aggregating all shareholder feedback and sharing it with the full Board, the Compensation Committee made significant changes to the executive compensation program. The feedback received and the changes made in response are discussed in greater detail in the CD&A Summary beginning on page 39. Some highlights are summarized below:
What we heard: | What we did: |
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A desire to further strengthen the link between Company performance and NEO compensation |
Reallocated LTI pay mix to be more heavily weighted towards performance units 2017 CEO mix is 70% performance stock units and 30% time-vested restricted stock units
Paid 0% on the CEO's "individual performance bonus," resulting in an overall 2016 annual bonus payout of 58% of target
Reduced 2017 CEO long-term incentive equity grants by $500,000 compared to 2016 |
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An appreciation for the Company's publicly announced aggressive operating margin goal and a desire for NEO compensation to be tied to it |
Incorporated an adjusted operating margin performance modifier into the 2017 annual bonus plan to link NEO compensation to the execution of Company goals |
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Our use of multiple, separate financial metrics (revenue, pretax income, EPS, and BVA) could be complimented with a relative performance metric |
Added a TSR performance modifier (vs. Russell 3000 Consumer Discretionary Index) to the 2017-2019 performance share unit program |
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An observation that select companies in our peer group had grown too large to serve as adequate comparators |
Adopted a new peer group, removing companies that had grown too large and adding other companies to provide greater revenue alignment with the peer group median |
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An opportunity to improve certain governance practices |
Implemented "double-trigger" equity vesting for 2017 grants
Engaged a new independent compensation consultant in 2016 |
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Wolverine Worldwide Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement | | Page 11 |
Compensation Philosophy Pay at Risk
The Company's compensation philosophy is to align the interests of NEOs and shareholders by placing a significant portion of the compensation awarded to its NEOs generally, and the CEO in particular, at-risk (performance shares and annual bonus) and variable (restricted stock and, prior to 2017, stock options). The Compensation Committee believes this incentivizes superior business, stock price and financial performance and aligns the interests of executives with those of shareholders.
The below graphic illustrates the percentage of at-risk and variable target compensation for the CEO and the average of the other NEOs:
CEO 2016 vs. 2017 Target Total Compensation
Note: 2017 CEO equity grants were reduced by $500,000 compared to 2016 to respond to shareholders concerns regarding our 2016 say-on-pay vote. This one-time reduction is not reflected in the graphic above.
Other NEO 2016 vs. 2017 Target Total Compensation (Average)
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Wolverine Worldwide Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement | | Page 12 |
The below graphic illustrates the CEO's actual annual performance bonus compared to his target opportunity over the last three years and demonstrates the Company's pay-for-performance compensation philosophy in action there is a clear link between Company TSR performance and annual bonus achievement over these periods. The CEO's target annual bonus opportunity has not increased over the past three years and was not increased in 2017.
CEO 3-Year Target & Actual Bonus
(in $000s)
What we do | What we do not do | |
✓ Vast majority of pay is at-risk or variable, i.e., performance-based or equity-based or both ✓ Stringent share ownership requirements (6x base salary for CEO) ✓ Broad-based clawback policy ✓ Significant vesting horizon for equity grants ✓ Double-trigger equity acceleration (for grants in 2017 and beyond) |
✗ No dividends or dividend equivalents on unearned performance shares/units ✗ No repricing or replacing of underwater stock options ✗ No overlapping metrics ✗ No excessive or unnecessary perquisites ✗ No hedging, pledging, or short sales of Company stock |
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Wolverine Worldwide Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement | | Page 13 |
2017 PROXY STATEMENT
Corporate Governance |
Wolverine Worldwide is committed to the highest level of corporate governance, and the Board has adopted its Corporate Governance Guidelines to strengthen management accountability and promote long-term shareholder interests. These governance practices include:
✓ Highly independent Board (All Non-Management Directors) and Committees ✓ Lead Independent Director with clearly defined role ✓ Majority voting with director resignation policy ✓ No supermajority vote requirements ✓ Shareholder right to act by written consent |
✓ Annual Board and Committee self-evaluations ✓ Robust Board and executive succession planning, including annual written director nominee evaluations ✓ Long-standing commitment toward diversity ✓ Director onboarding orientation program ✓ Active shareholder engagement practices |
The shareholders elect directors to serve on the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board of Directors" or "Board"). The Board oversees the management of the business by the Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") and senior management. In addition to its general oversight function, the Board's additional responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
The following charts illustrate Key Board characteristics:
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Page 14 | | Wolverine Worldwide Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement |
2017 PROXY STATEMENT
The Board prides itself on its ability to recruit and retain directors who have high personal and professional integrity and have demonstrated exceptional ability and judgment to effectively serve shareholders' long-term interests. The Board believes that its directors, including the nominees for election as directors at the Annual Meeting, have these characteristics and valuable skills that provide the Company with the variety and depth of knowledge, judgment and strategic vision necessary to provide effective oversight of the Company.
To help accomplish this, and to assist in succession planning, the Board, at the recommendation of the Governance Committee, has identified specified skills and attributes it desires its members to possess. The below graphic lists these skills and attributes and indicates which of the directors possess each. As shown, these skills and attributes are well represented within the Board.
SKILLS & ATTRIBUTES | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Totals | Krueger | Kollat | Boromisa | Boswell | Divol | Gerber | Gromek | Lauderback | Long | O'Donovan | Volkema | ||||||||||||||||
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Active Executive | 3 | ✓ | | | ✓ | ✓ | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||
Brand Building | 9 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||||||||||||||||
Current or Former CEO | 5 | ✓ | | | | | | ✓ | | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | | |||||||||||||||
Digital/eComm/IT | 4 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Diversity | 3 | | | | ✓ | ✓ | | | ✓ | | | | | |||||||||||||||
Finance | 9 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||||||||||||||||
Footwear/Apparel | 6 | ✓ | ✓ | | | | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | | ✓ | | | |||||||||||||||
Global Supply Chain | 4 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||||||||||||||||||||||
International Business | 11 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | | |||||||||||||||
Marketing | 10 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||||||||||||||||
Public Company Governance | 8 | ✓ | ✓ | | | | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | | |||||||||||||||
Retail | 6 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
The Governance Committee reviews with the Board on an annual basis the appropriate skills and characteristics desired of Board members in the context of the current make-up of the Board. The Board, with the assistance of the Governance Committee, annually assesses the current composition of the Board across many dimensions. As set forth in the Company's Corporate Governance Guidelines, which are posted on its website, this assessment addresses the above-referred skills and attributes and the individual performance, experience, age and skills of each director.
The Board's Governance Committee serves as its nominating committee. The Governance Committee, in anticipation of upcoming director elections and other potential or expected Board vacancies, evaluates qualified individuals and recommends candidates to the Board. The Governance Committee may retain a search firm or other external parties to assist it in identifying candidates, and the Governance Committee has the sole authority to approve the search firm's fees and retention terms, and to terminate the firm if necessary.
The Governance Committee considers candidates suggested by directors, senior management or shareholders. Shareholders may recommend individuals as potential director candidates by communicating with the Governance Committee through one of the Board communication mechanisms described under the heading "Shareholder Communications Policy." Shareholders that wish to nominate a director candidate must comply with the procedures set forth in the Company's By-Laws, which are posted on its website. Ultimately, upon the recommendation of the Governance Committee, the Board selects the director nominees for election at each annual meeting. In selecting director nominees, the Board considers candidates' performance as a director (which is assessed through an anonymous written peer evaluation), personal and professional integrity, ability and judgment, and likelihood to be effective, in conjunction with the other nominees and directors, in serving the long-term interests of the shareholders. The Governance Committee also considers candidates' relative skills, attributes, background and characteristics; independence under applicable New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") listing standards and the Company's Director Independence Standards; potential to contribute to the composition and culture of the Board; and ability and willingness to actively participate in the Board and committee meetings and to otherwise devote sufficient time to Board duties.
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Wolverine Worldwide Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement | | Page 15 |
2017 PROXY STATEMENT
As part of an annual self-assessment, each director evaluates the performance of the Board, and any committee on which he or she serves, across a number of dimensions. Mr. Kollat, as the Lead Independent Director working with the Governance Committee, reviews the Board self-assessment with directors following the end of each fiscal year, and conducts individual director interviews at the end of each year. Committee Chairpersons review the committee self-assessments with their respective committee members and discuss them with the Board. In addition, the Governance Committee, working with the Lead Independent Director, develops and implements guidelines for evaluating all directors standing for nomination and re-election.
The Corporate Governance Guidelines (including the Director Independence Standards), the Charter for each Board standing committee (Audit, Compensation and Governance), the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, By-Laws, Code of Business Conduct, and its Accounting and Finance Code of Ethics all are available on the Wolverine Worldwide website at: http://www.wolverineworldwide.com/investor-relations/corporate-governance/
The Board and applicable committees annually review these and other key governance documents.
The Board oversees the Company's risk management and mitigation activities with a focus on the most significant risks facing the Company, including strategic, operational, financial, and legal compliance risks. This oversight is conducted through presentations by and discussions with the CEO, Chief Financial Officer ("CFO"), General Counsel, Chief Information Officer, brand and department leaders and other members of management. The Vice President of Internal Audit and Risk Compliance coordinates management's day-to-day risk management and mitigation efforts, and reports directly to the Audit Committee.
The Vice President of Internal Audit and Risk Compliance reviews with the Audit Committee periodically, and with the full Board annually, management's related assessment and mitigation strategies. In addition to the above processes, the Board has delegated risk management and mitigation oversight responsibilities to its standing committees, which meet regularly to review and discuss specific risk topics that align with their core responsibilities.
The Company reviewed its compensation policies and practices to assess whether they are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. As part of this review, the Company compiled information about the Company's incentive plans, including reviewing the Company's compensation philosophy, evaluating key incentive plan design features and reviewing historic payout levels and pay mix. With assistance from Company management and its independent compensation consultant, the Compensation Committee reviewed the executive compensation program, and managers from the Company's human resources and legal departments reviewed the non-executive compensation programs.
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Page 16 | | Wolverine Worldwide Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement |
2017 PROXY STATEMENT
CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT AND ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE CODE OF ETHICS
The Board has adopted a Code of Business Conduct for the Company's directors, officers and employees. The Board also has adopted an Accounting and Finance Code of Ethics ("Accounting and Finance Code") that focuses on the financial reporting process and applies to the Company's CEO, CFO and Corporate Controller.
The Company discloses amendments to or waivers from its Code of Business Conduct affecting directors or executive officers and amendments to or waivers from its Accounting and Finance Code on its website at: www.wolverineworldwide.com/investor-relations/corporate-governance/
SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS POLICY
Shareholders and other interested parties may send correspondence to the Board, the non-employee directors as a group, a specific Board committee or an individual director (including the Lead Director) in the manner described below.
The General Counsel will provide a summary and copies of all correspondence (other than solicitations for services, products or publications) as applicable at each regularly scheduled meeting.
Communications may be sent via email through various links on our website at www.wolverineworldwide.com/investor-relations/corporate-governance/ or by regular mail c/o Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, Wolverine World Wide, Inc., 9341 Courtland Drive, N.E., Rockford, Michigan 49351.
The General Counsel will alert individual directors if an item warrants a prompt response from the individual director prior to the next regularly scheduled meeting. Items warranting a prompt response, but not addressed to a specific director, will be routed to the applicable committee Chairperson.
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Wolverine Worldwide Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement | | Page 17 |
2017 PROXY STATEMENT
Proposal 1 Election of |
The Company's Board consists of 11 directors. The Company's By-Laws establish three classes of directors, with each class being as nearly equal in number as possible and serving three-year terms. At each annual meeting, the term of one class expires. The Board has nominated four directors for election at the Annual Meeting: William K. Gerber, Blake W. Krueger, Nicholas T. Long, and Michael A. Volkema. Each director has been nominated to serve for a three-year term expiring at the annual meeting of shareholders to be held in 2020 or until his successor, if any, has been elected and is qualified.
Messrs. Gerber, Long and Volkema are independent directors, as determined by the Board under the applicable NYSE listing standards and the Company's Director Independence Standards. Each director nominee currently serves on the Board. The shareholders elected Messrs. Gerber, Krueger, Long and Volkema at the Company's 2014 annual meeting by affirmative vote of at least 98% of shares voted.
The Company is not aware of any nominee who will be unable or unwilling to serve as a director. However, if a nominee is unable to serve or is otherwise unavailable for election, the incumbent directors may or may not select a substitute nominee. If the directors select a substitute nominee, the proxy holder will vote the shares represented by all valid proxies for the substitute nominee (unless other instructions are given).
The biographies of the four nominees and the other directors of the Company are below, along with a discussion of the experience and skills of each director.
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Page 18 | | Wolverine Worldwide Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement |
2017 PROXY STATEMENT
Directors with Terms |
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WILLIAM K. GERBER |
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Select Business Experience: |
Board Committees: |
Other Public Directorships: |
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Career Highlights: |
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Experience and Skills: |
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Wolverine Worldwide Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement | | Page 19 |
2017 PROXY STATEMENT
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BLAKE W. KRUEGER |
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Select Business Experience: |
Board Committees: |
Other Public Directorships: |
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Career Highlights: |
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Experience and Skills: |
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Page 20 | | Wolverine Worldwide Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement |
2017 PROXY STATEMENT
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NICHOLAS T. LONG |
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Select Business Experience: |
Board Committees: |
Other Public Directorships: |
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Career Highlights: |
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Experience and Skills: |
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Wolverine Worldwide Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement | | Page 21 |
2017 PROXY STATEMENT
| | | | | | |
MICHAEL A. VOLKEMA |
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Select Business Experience: |
Board Committees: |
Other Public Directorships: |
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Career Highlights: |
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Experience and Skills: |
BOARD RECOMMENDATION
The Board recommends that you vote "FOR" the election of the above nominees for terms expiring in 2020.
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Page 22 | | Wolverine Worldwide Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement |
2017 PROXY STATEMENT
Directors with Terms |
| | | | | | |
ROXANE DIVOL |
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Board Committees: |
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Career Highlights: |
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Experience and Skills: |
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Wolverine Worldwide Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement | | Page 23 |
2017 PROXY STATEMENT
| | | | | | |
JOSEPH R. GROMEK |
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Other Public Directorships: |
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Career Highlights: |
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Experience and Skills: |
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Page 24 | | Wolverine Worldwide Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement |
2017 PROXY STATEMENT
| | | | | | |
BRENDA J. LAUDERBACK |
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Other Public Directorships: |
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Career Highlights: |
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Experience and Skills: |
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Wolverine Worldwide Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement | | Page 25 |
2017 PROXY STATEMENT
Directors with Terms |
| | | | | | |
JEFFREY M. BOROMISA |
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Board Committees: |
Other Public Directorships: |
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Career Highlights: |
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Experience and Skills: |
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Page 26 | | Wolverine Worldwide Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement |
2017 PROXY STATEMENT
| | | | | | |
GINA R. BOSWELL |
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Career Highlights: |
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Experience and Skills: |
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Wolverine Worldwide Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement | | Page 27 |
2017 PROXY STATEMENT
| | | | | | |
DAVID T. KOLLAT |
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Career Highlights: |
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Experience and Skills: |
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Page 28 | | Wolverine Worldwide Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement |
2017 PROXY STATEMENT
| | | | | | |
TIMOTHY J. O'DONOVAN |
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Select Business Experience: |
Board Committees: |
Other Public Directorships: |
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Career Highlights: |
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Experience and Skills: |
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Wolverine Worldwide Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement | | Page 29 |
2017 PROXY STATEMENT
The Company's CEO currently also serves as the Chairman of the Board. Since 1993, the Company has had a lead independent director who functions in many ways similar to an independent Chairman. This long-established structure provides the Board with independent oversight of the CEO's leadership. On an annual basis, the independent directors consider the appropriate leadership structure, including whether to separate the roles of Chairman and CEO, based upon the Board and Company's then-current circumstances. The independent directors believe that its current structure is appropriate at this time, and set the following enumurated responsibilities for the lead independent director:
The Board annually assesses the independence of all directors. To qualify as "independent," the Board must affirmatively determine that the director is independent under the Company's Director Independence Standards, which are modeled after the listing standards of the NYSE. Under NYSE listing standards, the Board has determined that 10 of the Company's 11 directors are independent. Only Mr. Krueger, the Company's CEO, is not independent. All of the Board's committees are comprised entirely of independent directors. The independent directors generally meet in executive session at each regularly scheduled meeting.
The Director Independence Standards define an "Independent Director" as a director who the Board determines otherwise has no material relationship with the Company (either directly or as a partner, stockholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the Company), and who:
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Page 30 | | Wolverine Worldwide Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement |
2017 PROXY STATEMENT
BOARD COMMITTEES, MEETINGS AND MEETING ATTENDANCE
The Board has three standing committees: Audit, Compensation and Governance. Each committee meets periodically throughout the year, and reports its recommendations to the Board. The Company expects directors to attend every meeting of the Board and the committees on which they serve and to attend the annual meeting of shareholders. In 2016, all directors then serving on the Board attended the 2016 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and all directors attended at least 75% of the meetings of the Board (6 meetings in 2016) and the committees on which they served. All directors are typically invited to and attend all committee meetings.
Each committee annually evaluates its performance to determine its effectiveness. The Board has determined that all committee members are "independent" as defined by NYSE listing standards. Furthermore, each Audit Committee member satisfies the NYSE "financial literacy" requirement. In addition, the Board has determined that Mr. Boromisa and Mr. Gerber are "audit committee financial experts" under Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") rules. Each committee's charter, with a complete list of the duties and responsibilities is available on the Company's website at http://www.wolverineworldwide.com/investor-relations/corporate-governance/.
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Wolverine Worldwide Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement | | Page 31 |
2017 PROXY STATEMENT
| | |
Page 32 | | Wolverine Worldwide Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement |
2017 PROXY STATEMENT
Non-Employee Director Compensation |
The Company's non-employee director compensation philosophy is to pay compensation competitive with compensation paid by companies of similar size, in similar industries and with whom Wolverine Worldwide competes for director candidates. The Governance Committee, with input from management and from the Compensation Committee's independent compensation consultant, reviewed director compensation and compared it to market data, including a comparison to director compensation for the Company's Peer Group, as defined on page 56, and to that of companies in the 2014-2015 National Association of Corporate Director Compensation Report. Based on this review non-employee director compensation for 2016 did not change from 2015 levels. The following table provides information concerning the compensation of the Company's non-employee directors for fiscal year 2016. Mr. Krueger receives compensation for his services as the Company's CEO and President, but does not receive any additional compensation for his service as a director or chairman.
|
Fees Paid in Cash |
| |
Cash Amounts Voluntarily Deferred |
| |
Cash Amounts Deferred Through Annual Equity Retainers |
|
Fees Earned or Paid in Cash1 |
|
Option Awards2 |
|
Total |
|||||||||||||
Boromisa |
$97,000 |
+ |
- |
+ |
$70,000 |
= |
$167,000 |
+ |
$50,002 |
= |
$217,002 |
|||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Boswell |
$82,000 | + | - | + | $70,000 | = | $152,000 | + | $50,002 | = | $202,002 | |||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Divol |
$21,250 | + | $63,750 | + | $70,000 | = | $155,000 | + | $50,002 | = | $205,002 | |||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gerber |
$117,000 | + | - | + | $70,000 | = | $187,000 | + | $50,002 | = | $237,002 | |||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gromek |
- | + | $109,000 | + | $70,000 | = | $179,000 | + | $50,002 | = | $229,002 | |||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Kollat |
$130,000 | + | - | + | $92,000 | = | $222,000 | + | $63,002 | = | $285,002 | |||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Lauderback |
$78,375 | + | $26,125 | + | $70,000 | = | $174,500 | + | $50,002 | = | $224,502 | |||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Long |
$94,000 | + | - | + | $70,000 | = | $164,000 | + | $50,002 | = | $214,002 | |||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
O'Donovan |
$70,000 | + | - | + | $70,000 | = | $140,000 | + | $50,002 | = | $190,002 | |||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Volkema |
- | + | $104,500 | + | $70,000 | = | $174,500 | + | $50,002 | = | $224,502 | |||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Name |
Option Awards Outstanding at December 31, 2016 (#) |
Name |
Option Awards Outstanding at December 31, 2016 (#) |
|||||
Boromisa |
75,191 |
Kollat |
85,129 |
|||||
| | | | | | | | |
Boswell |
35,644 | Lauderback |
65,321 | |||||
| | | | | | | | |
Divol |
30,911 | Long |
51,551 | |||||
| | | | | | | | |
Gerber |
62,773 | O'Donovan |
69,083 | |||||
| | | | | | | | |
Gromek |
81,701 | Volkema |
46,235 | |||||
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
Wolverine Worldwide Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement | | Page 33 |
2017 PROXY STATEMENT
The following table shows the non-employee director compensation program for 2016:
| Compensation Plan for 2016 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
Component | | Cash | Options1 | Stock Units2 | ||||||
Newly Appointed or Elected Director |
$0 |
Number of options equal to $65,000, determined using the Black-Scholes method. |
||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
Annual Director Fee | $70,000 | Number of options equal to $50,000, determined using the Black-Scholes method. | Number of stock units with a value equal to $70,000, determined by dividing the dollar amount by the closing market price of the Company's common stock on the grant date. Units are credited to the Amended and Restated Outside Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan, described below. | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
Audit Committee Annual Fee | $15,000 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
Audit Committee Chairperson Annual Fee | $20,000 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
Compensation Committee Annual Fee | $12,000 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
Compensation Committee Chairperson Annual Fee | $15,000 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
Governance Committee Annual Fee | $12,000 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
Governance Committee Chairperson Annual Fee | $15,000 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
Lead Director Annual Fee | In lieu of the standard Annual Director Fee, the Lead Director was paid a Cash Retainer of $130,000. | In lieu of the standard stock option grant, the Lead Director received a number of stock options equal to $63,000, calculated in the same manner as the standard grant. | In lieu of the standard stock unit grant, the Lead Director received stock units with a value equal to $92,000, calculated and credited in the same manner as the standard grant. | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
The Company also:
Deferred Compensation Plan. The Company's Amended and Restated Outside Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan (the "Deferred Compensation Plan") is a supplemental nonqualified deferred compensation plan for non-employee directors. A separate non-employee director deferred compensation plan applies to benefits accrued under that plan before January 1, 2005. The Deferred Compensation Plan
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Page 34 | | Wolverine Worldwide Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement |
2017 PROXY STATEMENT
permits all non-employee directors to voluntarily defer, at their option, 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% of their director fees. The Company establishes a book account for each non-employee director and credits the director's account with the annual equity retainer amount as described above and with a number of stock units equal to the amounts voluntarily deferred, each divided by the closing market price of common stock on the payment/deferral date. The Company also credits director accounts with dividend equivalents on amounts previously deferred in the form of additional stock units. The amounts credited to director accounts are treated as if invested in Wolverine Worldwide common stock. The number of stock units held in director accounts is set forth under the "Stock Ownership By Management and Others" table below.
Upon a director's termination of service, or such later date as a director selects, the Company distributes the stock units in the director's book account in shares of Wolverine Worldwide common stock in either a single, lump-sum distribution or annual installment distributions over a period of up to 20 years (10 years under the plan for benefits accrued before January 1, 2005). The Company converts each stock unit to one share of Wolverine Worldwide common stock.
Upon a "change in control," the Company distributes to the director, in a single, lump-sum distribution, Wolverine Worldwide common stock in a number of shares equal to the stock units credited to a director's book account. The Deferred Compensation Plan defines "change in control" as any of the following:
NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR STOCK OWNERSHIP GUIDELINES
Each non-employee director must attain (and maintain) a minimum stock ownership level (including owned shares, the in-the-money value of stock options, and stock units under the Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan) equal to six times the non-employee director annual cash retainer prior to being able to gift or sell any Company stock. During 2016, all non-employee directors were in compliance with these guidelines.
| | |
Wolverine Worldwide Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement | | Page 35 |
2017 PROXY STATEMENT
Securities Ownership of Officers and Directors and Certain Beneficial Owners |
The following table sets forth information about those holders known by Wolverine Worldwide to be the beneficial owners of more than five percent of Wolverine Worldwide's outstanding shares of common stock as of March 13, 2017:
Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership of Common Stock |
||||||||||||
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner |
Sole Voting Power |
Sole Investment Power |
Shared Voting Power |
Shared Investment Power |
Total Beneficial Ownership |
Percent of Class4 |
||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
BlackRock, Inc.1 |
11,417,003 | 11,646,668 | - | - | 11,646,668 | 12.0% | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Janus Capital Management LLC2 |
7,094,347 | 7,094,347 | 26,059 | 26,059 | 7,120,406 | 7.3% | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
The Vanguard Group3 |
128,438 | 7,959,136 | 11,475 | 134,678 | 8,093,814 | 8.3% | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | |
Page 36 | | Wolverine Worldwide Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement |
2017 PROXY STATEMENT
STOCK OWNERSHIP BY MANAGEMENT AND OTHERS
The following table sets forth the number of shares of common stock beneficially owned as of March 13, 2017, by each of the Company's directors and named executive officers and all of the Company's directors and executive officers as a group:
|
Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership of Common Stock1 | ||||||||||||
|
Deferred Stock Units, Sole Voting and/or Investment Power2,3 |
Shared Voting or Investment Power4 |
Stock Options5 |
Total Beneficial Ownership |
Percent of Class6 |
||||||||
Jeffrey M. Boromisa |
58,901 | 27,972 | 69,083 | 155,956 | * | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gina R. Boswell |
9,481 | - | 35,644 | 45,125 | * | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Roxane Divol |
13,350 | - | 30,911 | 44,261 | * | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
William K. Gerber |
38,061 | - | 58,773 | 96,834 | * | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Joseph R. Gromek |
104,443 | - | 81,701 | 186,144 | * | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Michael Jeppesen |
161,448 | - | 105,112 | 266,560 | * | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
David T. Kollat |
300,776 | - | 79,021 | 379,797 | * | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Blake W. Krueger |
1,363,761 | 50,000 | 971,345 | 2,385,106 | 2.44% | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Brenda J. Lauderback |
58,996 | - | 59,213 | 118,209 | * | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Nicholas T. Long |
16,678 | - | 51,551 | 68,229 | * | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Timothy J. O'Donovan |
617,431 | - | 69,083 | 686,514 | * | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Michael D. Stornant |
153,917 | - | 140,364 | 294,281 | * | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Michael A. Volkema |
58,417 | - | 46,235 | 104,652 | * | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Richard J. Woodworth |
126,907 | - | 58,279 | 185,186 | * | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
James D. Zwiers |
163,732 | 161,003 | 259,041 | 583,776 | * | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
All directors and executive officers as a group (15 people) |
3,246,299 | 238,975 | 2,115,356 | 5,600,630 | 5.65% | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
|
Restricted Units |
Performance Units |
|||
| Krueger |
| 69,196 | | 159,926 | | |
| | | | | | | |
| Jeppesen |
| 13,100 | | 19,649 | | |
| | | | | | | |
| Stornant |
| 15,570 | | 23,355 | | |
| | | | | | | |
| Woodworth |
| 14,643 | | 21,965 | | |
| | | | | | | |
| Zwiers |
| 15,548 | | 23,321 | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | |
Wolverine Worldwide Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement | | Page 37 |
2017 PROXY STATEMENT
A LETTER FROM OUR COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
Dear Shareholders,
As members of the Wolverine Worldwide Compensation Committee, two of our most important responsibilities are to ensure that our executive compensation program pays for performance and aligns with the interests of our shareholders. The disappointing outcome of our 2016 say-on-pay vote was a signal by our shareholders that you took issue with some aspects of our executive compensation program, and we were determined to understand your perspectives on this program and committed to making constructive changes in response.
To accomplish this, the Committee launched a direct shareholder engagement initiative and retained a new independent executive compensation consultant to help us assess our current plans and programs. Since the Company's 2016 annual meeting, we have reached out to shareholders representing nearly two-thirds of our outstanding shares and had conversations with more than half of these shareholders meeting with every shareholder who accepted our invitation. Our Committee Chairman Joseph Gromek led this effort and was present for all of the conversations we had with our investors. The purpose of these meetings was twofold to gain a better understanding of the specific shareholder concerns with our executive compensation program and to also get feedback on a number of changes to the program that the Committee was considering.
After aggregating the shareholder feedback, sharing it with the full Board and deliberating as a Committee, we made significant changes to our executive compensation program and took targeted actions to reduce the CEO's 2016 and 2017 compensation. These changes reflect the thoughtful and constructive insights we received from our shareholders and are summarized below:
We have listened to shareholder concerns and have taken significant steps to address them and improve the Company's overall compensation program. We are committed to the ongoing evaluation and improvement of our executive compensation program to further enhance alignment with the interests of our shareholders. We welcome the opportunity to engage and encourage you to reach out with any questions or concerns related to our program. Correspondence can be addressed to the Compensation Committee care of the Corporate Secretary, as set forth on page 17 of this proxy statement.
Sincerely,
The
Wolverine Worldwide Compensation Committee
Joseph R. Gromek (Chairman), Jeffrey M. Boromisa, William K. Gerber, Nicholas T. Long
| | |
Page 38 | | Wolverine Worldwide Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement |
2017 PROXY STATEMENT
Compensation Discussion |
The Company's Compensation Discussion and Analysis ("CD&A") provides an overview and analysis of the executive compensation for the Company's named executive officers ("NEOs"). For 2016, the Company's NEOs were: | ||
Blake W. Krueger |
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President |
|
Michael Jeppesen |
President, Wolverine Heritage Group and Global Operations Group | |
Michael D. Stornant |
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer | |
Richard J. Woodworth |
President, Wolverine Boston Group | |
James D. Zwiers |
President, Wolverine Outdoor & Lifestyle Group (in 2016); | |
Assumed new role as Executive Vice President in February 2017 |
Compensation Philosophy and Objectives
The Company's compensation philosophy is to provide executives with a competitive compensation package that is heavily weighted towards at-risk (performance shares and annual bonus) and variable (restricted stock and, prior to 2017, stock options) compensation in order to encourage superior business, stock price and financial performance over the short and longer term and to closely align the interests of the Company's NEOs with those of its shareholders. The Compensation Committee (the "Committee") oversees the Company's executive compensation program.
The executive compensation program has four primary objectives:
The Company's say-on-pay proposal received insufficient support at the 2016 annual meeting. Since that meeting, the Company reached out to shareholders representing nearly two-thirds of its outstanding shares and had conversations with more than half of these shareholders. The Compensation Committee Chairman Joseph Gromek led this effort, was present for all of these conversations, and solicited and received direct feedback from shareholders on what drove their 2016 say-on-pay vote and what changes the Committee could make to address these concerns. The feedback was shared with the full Board and significant changes were made in response to the feedback.
| | |
Wolverine Worldwide Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement | | Page 39 |
Below is a list of the key themes heard during Mr. Gromek's conversations with shareholders and the Committee's actions in response, with additional details provided below the chart:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
TOPIC |
|
WHAT WE HEARD FROM SHAREHOLDERS |
|
WHAT WE DID IN RESPONSE |
| ||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
CEO "bridge grants" | Concerns over the one-time "bridge grants" awarded to the CEO in 2015 intended to bring his compensation to peer group median |
The Company understands shareholders' concerns in this area, and these CEO awards were not repeated in 2016 or 2017 |
||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Pay for performance | Desire to see a greater link between the Company's stated strategic and financial goals and its compensation program, and to see relative performance measures used |
Incorporated an adjusted operating margin modifier into the 2017 annual bonus plan and a 3-year relative TSR modifier into the 2017-2019 performance unit plan |
||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
CEO pay in light of Company performance | Notwithstanding positive 2016 total shareholder return (TSR), the CEO's compensation appeared high relative to peers in light of three-year TSR |
Despite very strong 2016 TSR, the Committee reduced the CEO's 2017 total long-term incentive grants by $500,000 |
||||||||||
Paid $0 on the individual performance objectives portion of his 2016 annual bonus despite actual performance in excess of that |
||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Pay mix | Preference to shift the long-term incentive mix to a heavier weighting on performance share units, the most at-risk pay element |
Beginning in 2017, the Company no longer utilizes stock options and increased from 40% to 70% the percentage of CEO long-term compensation that is granted as performance share units; other NEOs' performance share units now make up 60% of the total long-term incentive opportunity |
||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Peer group | Some concern that select peers within the 2015 peer group were significantly larger than the Company |
The Company adopted a new 2017 peer group to create better alignment from a size perspective. The Company is now above the median of the new peer group as measured by market capitalization and enterprise value |
||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Compensation consultant | Some independence concerns that the compensation consultant performed other services for the Company |
For this reason and to provide a fresh perspective on the Company's compensation programs, the Committee appointed a new independent compensation consultant in 2016 |
||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Change in control equity acceleration | Desire to see the Company move away from single-trigger vesting of equity awards upon a change in control |
2017 equity award change in control provisions provide for double-trigger acceleration upon a change in control |
||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | |
Wolverine Worldwide Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement | | Page 40 |
Near the end of 2016, Wolverine Worldwide announced a holistic, enterprise-wide business initiative designed to transform the Company to compete and win in the fast-changing global consumer retail environment the WOLVERINE WAY FORWARD. It includes four critical components:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Innovation & Growth | | Operational Excellence | | Portfolio Management | | People & Teams | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Building great brands through product innovation and compelling marketing Relentless focus on the consumer Consumer-centric product innovation Demand creation initiatives Deep focus on digital connection, specifically eCommerce and social media International expansion |
Healthier supply chain, with improved speed to market Omnichannel transformation focused on aggressively growing highly profitable eCommerce business and right-sizing underperforming store fleet Faster, more efficient structure Aggressive goal to achieve 12% adjusted operating margin by the end of 2018 |
Focus on core, go-forward brands that provide the biggest growth and profit opportunities Identify strategic alternatives for non-core, underperforming businesses Strategic, value-creating acquisitions |
Amazing place to work Build the best team and talent pipeline Modern skillset Investment in enhanced learning and development initiatives |
|||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | |
Wolverine Worldwide Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement | | Page 41 |
Compensation Decisions in Context: Key 2016 Accomplishments and Financial Highlights
The Company performed well in 2016, despite broad-based slowing of consumer demand, destabilizing geopolitical events, the continued strengthening of the U.S. dollar, over-stored U.S. retail sector, and other macroeconomic factors that combined to create a volatile consumer retail environment around the world and a challenging year for companies in the retail, footwear, apparel and consumer soft goods industries, as well as companies with significant international footprints. Notwithstanding this, however, the Company finished 2016 with significant accomplishments against its strategic priorities outlined above.
Despite a solid year in the face of macroeconomic and industry headwinds, NEO compensation was below target on a number of measures and the Compensation Committee took additional actions, including:
| | |
Wolverine Worldwide Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement | | Page 42 |
Year-Over-Year Change in CEO Pay
The graphic below presents the year-over-year change in the CEO's pay as disclosed in the Summary Compensation Table (SCT) on page 60, without impact of change in pension value. As shown, the year-over-year change in CEO's pay decreased from 2015 to 2016 by $2,342,955 or 23%.
Total CEO Pay*
| | |
Wolverine Worldwide Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement | | Page 43 |
The below graphic shows the CEO's actual annual bonus compared to his target opportunity over the last three years and demonstrates a clear link between Company TSR performance and annual bonus achievement over these periods:
CEO 3-Year Target & Actual Bonus
(in $000s)
| | |
Wolverine Worldwide Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement | | Page 44 |
2016 Compensation Program Overview
The Company's executive compensation program consists of base salary, annual bonus, long-term incentive compensation, and benefits. A breakdown of base salary, annual performance bonus, and long-term incentive compensation is illustrated below:
ELEMENT |
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COMPONENT |
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METRICS |
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WHAT THE PAY ELEMENT REWARDS |
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Base
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Cash
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Fixed amount based on responsibilities, experiences and market data
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Scope of core responsibilities, years of experience, and potential to affect the Company's overall performance
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Annual
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Company/Business Unit Cash Bonus Individual Cash Bonus
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85% Revenue and adjusted pretax earnings 15% Specific individualized performance targets
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Achieving specific corporate business and/or divisional objectives over which the NEO has reasonable control Achieving specific personal objectives
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Long-Term
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