DEF 14A
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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

(Rule 14a-101)

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.         )  

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

 

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

EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

         

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
  No fee required.
  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11
  (1)  

Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

 

 

   

 

  (2)  

Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

 

 

   

 

  (3)  

Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

 

 

   

 

  (4)  

Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

 

 

   

 

  (5)   Total fee paid:
   
   

 

  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
  Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
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Amount Previously Paid:

 

 

   

 

  (2)  

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March 19, 2018

Dear Fellow Stockholder:

Our 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held in the Cumberland Amphitheatre of the MeadowView Marriott Conference Resort & Convention Center, 1901 Meadowview Parkway, Kingsport, Tennessee, on May 3, 2018 at 11:30 a.m. Doors to the meeting will open at 10:30 a.m. The business to be considered and voted upon at the meeting is explained in this proxy statement. A copy of Eastman’s 2017 Annual Report to Stockholders is also included with these materials.

Your vote is important for this year’s annual meeting, regardless of the number of shares you own. Signing and returning a proxy card or submitting your proxy by Internet or telephone in advance of the meeting will not prevent you from voting in person, but will assure that your vote is counted if you are unable to attend the meeting. Whether you choose to vote by proxy card or by telephone or the Internet, I urge you to vote as soon as possible. If you are a record holder of Eastman stock, an admission ticket for the meeting is included with your proxy card or electronic form of proxy. Please bring this ticket with you if you plan to attend the meeting in person. If you received our proxy materials from a broker or bank and do not have an admission ticket but wish to attend the meeting, please call (423) 229-4647.

Thank you for your support of our Company.

 

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Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Mark J. Costa

Board of Directors Chair and

Chief Executive Officer

  


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Table of Contents

Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement

 

 

 

 

Notice of Annual Meeting

  

Information about the Meeting and Voting

       1  
Proxy Statement and Annual Meeting        1  
Voting by Proxy        1  
How to Revoke Your Proxy        2  
Record Date; Stockholders Entitled to Vote; Voting Rights        2  
Quorum; Abstentions and Broker Non-Votes        2  
Votes Required for Approval of Matters to be Considered        2  
Proxy Solicitation Costs        3  
Matters to be Acted Upon at the Meeting Not Included in Proxy Statement        3  
Stockholder Proposals for the 2019 Annual Meeting        3  
Nominations by Stockholders for Election to the Board of Directors and Stockholder Nomination Proxy Access        3  
Annual Report to Stockholders, Annual Report on Form 10-K, and Corporate Governance Materials        4  
Communications to the Board of Directors        4  
Stock Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers        5  
Principal Stockholders        8  
Proposals to be Voted on at the Annual Meeting        9  
Item 1 — Election of Directors        9  
Nominees for Director      10  
The Board of Directors and Corporate Governance      16  
Board Leadership Structure      16  
Risk Oversight      17  
Director Independence      17  
Transactions with Directors, Executive Officers, and Related Persons      18  
Board Committees      19  
Audit Committee      19  
Audit Committee Report      19  
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee      21  
Director Nominations      21  
Compensation and Management Development Committee      23  
Compensation Consultant      23  
Compensation Committee Report      24  
Finance Committee      24  
Health, Safety, Environmental and Security Committee      24  
Director Compensation      25  
Item 2 — Advisory Approval of Executive Compensation      28  
Executive Compensation      29  
Compensation Discussion and Analysis      29  
Compensation Tables      47  
Termination and Change-in-Control Arrangements      57  
Pay Ratio      61  
Item 3 — Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm      62  
Item 4 — Advisory Vote on Stockholder Proposal Requesting that the Board Take Steps Necessary to Permit Stockholders to Act by Written Consent      63  
 

 

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Eastman Chemical Company

200 South Wilcox Drive

Kingsport, Tennessee 37662

(423)  229-2000

Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders

 

To Our Stockholders:

The 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Eastman Chemical Company (“Eastman” or the “Company”) will be held in the Cumberland Amphitheatre of the MeadowView Marriott Conference Resort & Convention Center, 1901 Meadowview Parkway, Kingsport, Tennessee, on May 3, 2018 at 11:30 a.m. The purposes of the meeting are:

 

1.

Elect Directors. To elect eleven directors to serve until the 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified;

 

2.

Advisory Approval of Executive Compensation. To approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of certain of the Company’s executive officers;

 

3.

Ratify Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. To ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company for 2018;

 

4.

Advisory Vote on Stockholder Proposal. To vote on a proposal submitted by a stockholder, if properly presented at the meeting, requesting that the Board take steps necessary to permit stockholders to act by written consent; and

 

5.

Transact Any Other Business. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting.

 

By order of the Board of Directors

 

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David A. Golden

Chief Legal & Sustainability Officer

and Corporate Secretary

March 19, 2018

Meeting information

 

DATE:

Thursday, May 3, 2018

 

TIME:

11:30 a.m. (EDT)

 

PLACE: MeadowView Marriott Conference Resort

    & Convention Center

Cumberland Amphitheatre

1901 Meadowview Parkway

Kingsport, Tennessee 37660

How to Vote by Proxy

Only stockholders of record at the close of business on March 15, 2018 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the meeting. It is important that your shares be represented and voted at the meeting. Please vote by proxy in one of these ways:

 

 

LOGO

 

By Phone

 

Use the toll-free telephone number shown on your proxy card, electronic form of proxy, or voting instruction form (if you received the proxy materials by mail from a broker or bank).

 

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By Internet

 

By Internet at the web address shown on your proxy card, electronic form of proxy, or voting instruction form.

 

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By Mail

 

Mark, sign, date, and promptly return or submit your proxy card, electronic form of proxy, or voting instruction form (in the postage-paid envelope provided if you are returning a paper proxy card).

Signing and returning the proxy card or submitting your proxy electronically by Internet or telephone does not affect your right to vote in person if you attend the meeting.

 


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Proxy Statement for Annual Meeting of Stockholders of

Eastman Chemical Company to be Held on May 3, 2018

Information about the Meeting and Voting

 

 

 

Proxy Statement and Annual Meeting

This proxy statement is dated March 19, 2018 and is first being mailed and delivered electronically to Eastman stockholders, and made available on the Internet at the Company’s website (www.eastman.com) and at www.ReadMaterial.com/EMN, on or about March 22, 2018. Our Board of Directors (the “Board”) is furnishing you this proxy statement in connection with its solicitation of proxies to be voted at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company to be held on May 3, 2018 and at any adjournments or postponements of the meeting. A proxy statement is a document that Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) regulations require us to give you when we ask you to vote your stock by proxy. At the meeting, stockholders will be asked to consider and vote on the items of business listed and described in this proxy statement.

Voting By Proxy

A proxy is a legal designation of another person to vote stock you own. That other person is called a proxy. If you designate someone as your proxy in a written or electronic document, that document is also called a proxy, a proxy card, or a form of proxy.

By completing and returning your proxy (either by returning the paper proxy card, by submitting your proxy electronically by Internet, or by telephone), you appoint Curtis E. Espeland, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, and David A. Golden, the Company’s Chief Legal & Sustainability Officer and Corporate Secretary, to represent you at the meeting and direct them to vote your shares at the meeting. Shares of common stock represented by proxy will be voted by the proxy holders at the meeting in accordance with your instructions as indicated in the proxy. If you properly execute and return your proxy (in paper form, electronically by the Internet, or by telephone) but do not indicate any voting instructions, your shares will be voted in accordance with the recommendations of the Board as to the matters identified in this proxy statement and in the best judgment of the proxy holders as to any other matters.

If your shares are registered in your name, you are a stockholder of record. Stockholders of record may vote by proxy in one of three ways:

 

 

by telephone: call (888) 693-8683 and follow the instructions on your proxy card or electronic form of proxy;

 

 

by Internet: visit the website www.cesvote.com and follow the instructions on your proxy card or electronic form of proxy; or

 

 

by mail (if you received a paper proxy card): mark, sign, date, and mail your proxy card in the enclosed postage-paid envelope.

If you received the “Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials”, follow the instructions on that notice to access an electronic form of proxy. Internet and telephone voting procedures are designed to authenticate stockholder identities, to allow stockholders to give voting instructions, and to confirm that stockholders’ instructions have been recorded properly.

If your shares are held in “street name” through a broker, bank, or other holder of record, you will receive instructions from that registered holder that you must follow in order for your shares to be voted for you by that record holder. Telephone and Internet voting may be offered to stockholders who own their shares through certain brokers or banks.

 

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Information about the Meeting and Voting

 

 

How to Revoke Your Proxy

If you give a proxy, you may revoke it at any time before its exercise at the meeting by:

 

 

giving written notice of revocation to the Corporate Secretary of the Company;

 

 

executing and delivering a later-dated, signed proxy card or submitting a later-dated proxy by Internet or by telephone before the meeting; or

 

 

voting in person at the meeting.

All written notices of revocation or other communications with respect to revocation of proxies should be sent to Eastman Chemical Company, P.O. Box 431, Kingsport, Tennessee 37662-0431, Attention: Corporate Secretary, so that they are received before the meeting.

Record Date; Stockholders Entitled to Vote; Voting Rights

The record date for the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is March 15, 2018. Stockholders of record of common stock at the close of business on the record date are entitled to receive notice of the meeting and to vote at the meeting. The record date is established by the Board as required by Delaware law. If your shares are held in “street name” through a broker, bank, or other holder of record, you must obtain a proxy, executed in your favor, from the holder of record to be able to vote in person at the meeting.

On the record date, there were 142,758,750 shares of common stock issued and outstanding. Holders of common stock are entitled to one vote on each of the eleven director-nominees and one vote on each other matter voted upon at the meeting for each share of common stock they hold of record on the record date.

Quorum; Abstentions and Broker Non-Votes

The presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the shares of common stock entitled to vote at the meeting is necessary to constitute a quorum to conduct business. Abstentions and “broker non-votes” will be counted as present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining a quorum. A “broker non-vote” occurs when a registered holder holding shares in “street name” for a beneficial owner does not vote on a particular proposal because the registered holder does not have discretionary voting power for that particular item and has not received voting instructions from the beneficial owner. Brokers which have not received voting instructions from their clients cannot vote on their clients’ behalf on the election of directors, the advisory approval of executive compensation, or the advisory vote on the stockholder proposal, but may, although they are not required to, vote their clients’ shares on the ratification of the appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm.

Votes Required for Approval of Matters to be Considered

Each director nominee who receives a majority of votes cast (number of shares voted “for” exceeds the number of shares voted “against”) will be elected as a director. With respect to the election of directors, stockholders may (1) vote “for” all eleven of the nominees, (2) vote “against” all eleven of the nominees, (3) vote “against” any individual nominee or nominees but vote “for” the other nominee(s), or (4) “abstain” from voting on one or more nominees. Shares not present, in person or by proxy, at the meeting and abstentions will have no effect on the outcome of the election of directors. Similarly, broker non-votes will not be considered to be votes cast and therefore will have no effect on the outcome of the election of directors.

The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast is required for the advisory approval of executive compensation, the ratification of the appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm, and the advisory approval of the stockholder proposal. With respect to each of these items, stockholders may (1) vote “for,” (2) vote “against,” or (3) “abstain” from voting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be considered to be votes cast and therefore will have no effect on the outcome of the vote on these matters.

 

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Information about the Meeting and Voting

 

 

Proxy Solicitation Costs

We will bear the cost of soliciting proxies and the cost of the meeting. In addition to the solicitation of stockholders by mail and electronic means, proxies may be solicited by telephone, facsimile, personal contact, and similar means by our directors, officers, or employees, none of whom will be specially compensated for these activities. We have also contacted brokerage houses, banks, nominees, custodians, and fiduciaries which can be identified as record holders of common stock. Such holders, after inquiry by us, have provided certain information concerning beneficial owners not objecting to the disclosure of such information and the quantities of proxy materials and annual reports needed to supply such materials to beneficial owners, and we will reimburse such record holders for the expense of providing such beneficial ownership information and of mailing or otherwise delivering proxy materials and annual reports to beneficial owners. We have retained Georgeson LLC to assist with the solicitation of proxies and vote projections for a fee of $23,500 plus reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses.

Matters to be Acted Upon at the Meeting Not Included in Proxy Statement

We do not expect any business to be acted upon at the meeting other than as described in this proxy statement. If, however, other matters are properly brought before the meeting, the persons appointed as proxies will have the discretion to vote or act on those matters for you according to their best judgment.

Stockholder Proposals for the 2019 Annual Meeting

In accordance with the rules of the SEC, if you wish to submit a proposal for presentation at Eastman’s 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, it must be received by the Company at its principal executive offices no later than November 22, 2018 in order to be included in the Company’s proxy materials for its 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Any such proposal should be sent to Eastman Chemical Company, P.O. Box 431, Kingsport, Tennessee 37662-0431, Attention: Corporate Secretary.

In addition, our Bylaws require that a proposal to be submitted by a stockholder for a vote of the Company’s stockholders at an annual meeting of stockholders, whether or not also submitted for inclusion in the Company’s proxy materials, must be preceded by adequate and timely notice to the Corporate Secretary of the Company. To be adequate, the notice must set forth certain information specified in our Bylaws about the stockholder and the proposal. The Bylaws are available through the “Investors — Corporate Governance” section of the Company’s website, and also will be provided to any stockholder upon written request to Eastman Chemical Company, P.O. Box 431, Kingsport, Tennessee 37662-0431, Attention: Investor Relations. To be timely, the notice must be delivered to the Corporate Secretary of the Company no earlier than 150 days and not later than 120 days prior to the day of the month on which the notice of the immediately preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders was first sent to the stockholders of the Company. If, as expected, notice of the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is first sent to stockholders on March 22, 2018, then such advance notice must be delivered no earlier than October 23, 2018 and not later than November 22, 2018.

Nominations by Stockholders for Election to the Board of Directors and Stockholder Nomination Proxy Access

Our Bylaws provide that nominations by stockholders of persons for election to the Board may be made by giving adequate and timely notice to the Corporate Secretary of the Company. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board will consider persons properly and timely nominated by stockholders and recommend to the full Board whether any such nominees should be included with the Board’s nominees for election by stockholders. In addition, our proxy access Bylaw provision allows qualifying stockholders to include their director nominees in the Company’s proxy materials by giving adequate and timely notice to the Corporate Secretary. SeeNominating and Corporate Governance Committee — Director Nominations” later in this proxy statement. To be adequate, the nomination notice or the notice of proxy access

 

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Information about the Meeting and Voting

 

 

nomination, as applicable, must set forth certain information specified in our Bylaws about each stockholder submitting a nomination and each person being nominated. The Bylaws are available through the “Investors — Corporate Governance” section of the Company’s website, and also will be provided to any stockholder upon written request to Eastman Chemical Company, P.O. Box 431, Kingsport, Tennessee 37662-0431, Attention: Investor Relations. To be timely, the nomination notice and the notice of proxy access nomination each must be delivered to the Corporate Secretary of the Company no earlier than 150 days and not later than 120 days prior to the day of the month on which the notice of the immediately preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders was first sent to the stockholders of the Company. If, as expected, notice of the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is first sent to stockholders on March 22, 2018, then such notice must be delivered no earlier than October 23, 2018 and not later than November 22, 2018.

Annual Report to Stockholders, Annual Report on Form 10-K, and Corporate Governance Materials

Our Annual Report to Stockholders for 2017, including our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2017, is being mailed and delivered electronically to stockholders, and made available on the Internet at the Company’s website (www.eastman.com) and at www.ReadMaterial.com/EMN, concurrently with this proxy statement. The Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 as filed with the SEC is also available on the Internet on the Company’s website and on the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov).

We also make available free of charge, through the “Investors — Corporate Governance” section of the Eastman website, the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, the Charters of each of the Committees of the Board, and Codes of Business Conduct and Ethics for our directors, officers, and employees. Such materials are also available in print upon written request of any stockholder to Eastman Chemical Company, P.O. Box  431, Kingsport, Tennessee 37662-0431, Attention: Investor Relations.

Communications to the Board of Directors

We believe that communication and engagement with the Company’s stockholders and other interested parties is an essential component of the Company’s corporate governance practices. We have adopted a Board Stockholder Communication and Engagement Policy to facilitate communication between stockholders and other interested parties and the Board. Stockholders and other interested parties may send communications to the Board, any individual director, or the independent directors as a group in writing by mail or email to: Board of Directors, Eastman Chemical Company, c/o Corporate Secretary, P.O. Box 1976, Kingsport, Tennessee 37662-1976, email: corpsecy@eastman.com. Stockholders should indicate in the “ATTN:” line of the envelope or the subject line of the email, as applicable, whether the communication is directed to the Board, an individual director, or the independent directors as a group.

The Board Stockholder Communication and Engagement Policy is available in the “Investors — Corporate Governance” section of the Eastman website (www.eastman.com).

 

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Stock Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers

 

 

 

Common Stock

Unless otherwise noted, the table below sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of Eastman common stock as of December 31, 2017 by each director (which includes each director nominee) and by each executive officer named in the Summary Compensation Table (under “Executive Compensation — Compensation Tables” below, referred to as the “named executive officers”) and by the directors, the named executive officers, and the other executive officers as a group.

 

Name

  

 Number of Shares of 

 Common Stock 

 Beneficially Owned(1)(2) 

Mark J. Costa

       657,653 (3)

Curtis E. Espeland

       281,262 (4)

Brad A. Lich

       102,405 (5)

Lucian Boldea

       27,730 (6)

Stephen G. Crawford

       41,924 (7)

Humberto P. Alfonso

       6,128 (8)

Gary E. Anderson

       17,271 (9)

Brett D. Begemann

       7,193 (10)

Michael P. Connors

       12,005 (11)

Stephen R. Demeritt

       17,732 (12)

Robert M. Hernandez

       46,683 (13)

Julie F. Holder

       6,252 (14)

Renée J. Hornbaker

       17,925 (15)

Lewis M. Kling

       11,693 (16)

James J. O’Brien

       2,177

David W. Raisbeck

       25,091 (17)

Directors, named executive officers, and other executive officers as a group (22 persons)

       1,707,561 (18)
(1)

Information relating to beneficial ownership is based upon information furnished by each person using “beneficial ownership” concepts set forth in rules of the SEC. Under those rules, a person is deemed to be a “beneficial owner” of a security if that person has or shares “voting power,” which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting of such security, or “investment power,” which includes the power to dispose of, or to direct the disposition of, such security. A person is also deemed to be the beneficial owner of any security of which that person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership (such as by exercise of options) within 60 days (on or before March 1, 2018). Under such rules, more than one person may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of the same securities, and a person may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of securities as to which he or she may disclaim any beneficial interest. Except as indicated in other notes to this table, directors and executive officers possessed sole voting and investment power with respect to all of their respective shares of common stock in the table.

 

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Stock Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers

 

 

 

(2)

The total number of shares of common stock beneficially owned by the directors, the named executive officers, and the other executive officers as a group is 1.18 percent of the shares of common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2017. The number of shares beneficially owned by each director and executive officer is less than one percent of the shares of common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2017. Shares not outstanding which are subject to options exercisable within 60 days by persons in the group or a named individual are deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage of outstanding shares of common stock owned by each individual and the group.

 

(3)

Includes 497,225 shares that may be acquired upon exercise of options.

 

(4)

Includes 187,087 shares that may be acquired upon exercise of options and 6,500 shares held indirectly in a family trust of which Mr. Espeland is trustee.

 

(5)

Includes 82,876 shares that may be acquired upon exercise of options.

 

(6)

Consists of shares that may be acquired upon exercise of options.

 

(7)

Includes 35,930 shares that may be acquired upon exercise of options.

 

(8)

Includes 958 restricted shares that generally vest in May 2018, but as to which Mr. Alfonso has voting power.

 

(9)

Includes 4,000 shares that may be acquired upon exercise of options and 2,047 restricted shares that generally vest in May 2018, but as to which Mr. Anderson has voting power.

 

(10)

Includes 2,047 restricted shares that generally vest in May 2018, but as to which Mr. Begemann has voting power.

 

(11)

Includes 2,047 restricted shares that generally vest in May 2018, but as to which Mr. Connors has voting power.

 

(12)

Includes 4,000 shares that may be acquired upon exercise of options and 958 restricted shares that generally vest in May 2018, but as to which Mr. Demeritt has voting power.

 

(13)

Includes 2,047 restricted shares that generally vest in May 2018, but as to which Mr. Hernandez has voting power.

 

(14)

Includes 2,047 restricted shares that generally vest in May 2018, but as to which Ms. Holder has voting power.

 

(15)

Includes 2,047 restricted shares that generally vest in May 2018, but as to which Ms. Hornbaker has voting power.

 

(16)

Includes 2,047 restricted shares that generally vest in May 2018, but as to which Mr. Kling has voting power.

 

(17)

Includes 4,000 shares that may be acquired upon exercise of options and 2,047 restricted shares that generally vest in May 2018, but as to which Mr. Raisbeck has voting power.

 

(18)

Includes a total of 1,088,051 shares that may be acquired upon exercise of options and 18,292 restricted shares as to which directors have voting power but no investment power. Also includes 50,798 shares owned by the Eastman Foundation, of which shares two executive officers each may have been deemed a beneficial owner by virtue of shared voting and investment power as a director of the Foundation but as to which they have no pecuniary interest.

 

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Stock Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers

 

 

Director and Executive Stock Ownership Expectations; No Hedging or Pledging of Company Stock

Eastman has stock ownership expectations for its directors and executive officers. These persons are expected to acquire and maintain a stake in the Company valued at $262,500 for non-employee directors (five times the portion of the annual retainer fee designated as “service retainer”), five times annual base pay for the Chief Executive Officer, and two and one-half times annual base pay for the other executive officers. Directors and executive officers are expected to attain these levels of stock ownership within five years of first becoming a director or an executive officer. Hypothetical units of the Eastman common stock fund that are credited to an executive’s account under the Eastman Executive Deferred Compensation Plan (the “EDCP”) and to a director’s account under the Directors’ Deferred Compensation Plan (the “DDCP”) are counted with shares of common stock actually owned for purposes of determining stock ownership under the director and executive ownership expectations. SeeDirector Compensation” note (4) and “Executive Compensation — Compensation Tables — 2017 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation” later in this proxy statement.

Company directors and executive officers are prohibited from use of derivative financial instruments to hedge or mitigate their exposure to changes in the market price of Eastman common stock, and are prohibited from pledging Eastman common stock as security or collateral for loans or in margin brokerage accounts.

The table below shows the number of shares of common stock and EDCP and DDCP common stock units owned under the ownership expectations as of December 31, 2017 by each director and each named executive officer. All directors and executive officers have met or are on schedule to meet their ownership expectations.

 

Name

  

 Number of Shares of 

 Common Stock 

 and Common 

  Stock Units Owned 

Mark J. Costa

       160,428

Curtis E. Espeland

       94,175

Brad A. Lich

       21,712

Lucian Boldea

       0

Stephen G. Crawford

       5,994

Humberto P. Alfonso

       24,276

Gary E. Anderson

       29,183

Brett D. Begemann

       24,118

Michael P. Connors

       39,068

Stephen R. Demeritt

       56,543

Robert M. Hernandez

       63,845

Julie F. Holder

       11,830

Renée J. Hornbaker

       46,157

Lewis M. Kling

       39,624

James J. O’Brien

       4,793

David W. Raisbeck

       57,470

 

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Principal Stockholders

 

 

 

The following table sets forth information about persons we know to be the beneficial owners of more than five percent of Eastman common stock as of December 31, 2017.

 

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner

   Amount  and Nature of 
Beneficial Ownership
    Percent of 
 Class(1) 

The Vanguard Group, Inc.
100 Vanguard Boulevard
Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355

       13,865,811 (2)       9.71 %

BlackRock, Inc.
55 East 52nd Street
New York, New York 10055

       12,147,844 (3)       8.50 %
(1)

Based upon the number of shares of common stock outstanding and entitled to be voted at the meeting as of March 15, 2018, the record date for the Annual Meeting.

 

(2)

As of December 31, 2017, based on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC by The Vanguard Group, Inc., an investment adviser. According to the Schedule 13G, The Vanguard Group has sole investment power with respect to 13,633,963 of such shares, shared investment power with respect to 231,848 of such shares, sole voting power with respect to 204,546 of such shares, and shared voting power with respect to 35,677 of such shares.

 

(3)

As of December 31, 2017, based on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC by BlackRock, Inc. as parent holding company of certain broker-dealer and investment adviser entities, including certain non-U.S. institutions. According to the Schedule 13G, BlackRock and such affiliated entities together have sole investment power with respect to all of such shares and sole voting power with respect to 10,518,080 of such shares.

 

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Table of Contents

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Proposals to be Voted on at the Annual Meeting

Item 1 — Election of Directors

 

 

 

Stockholders are being asked to vote on the election of eleven directors to serve until the 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and their successors are duly elected and qualified. The terms of office of all twelve current directors will expire at the 2018 Annual Meeting, and eleven of those directors have been nominated for reelection for a one-year term. As previously reported, Gary E. Anderson, who has served as a director since 2007, has notified the Board of Directors that he will not stand for reelection at the Annual Meeting. If any nominee is unable or unwilling to serve (which we do not anticipate), the persons designated as proxies will vote your shares for the remaining nominees and for another nominee proposed by the Board or, as an alternative, the Board could reduce the number of directors to be elected at the Annual Meeting.

Majority Vote Standard for Election of Directors.    The Company’s Bylaws provide that directors are elected by a majority of votes cast by stockholders. If a nominee who is serving as a director is not reelected by a majority of votes cast at a meeting, under Delaware law the director would continue to serve on the Board as a “holdover director.” However, under the director election provision of our Bylaws, any incumbent director who is a holdover director whose successor has not been elected by stockholders would be required to offer to resign from the Board. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee would then make a recommendation to the Board whether to accept or reject the resignation, or whether other action should be taken. The Board would act on the recommendation and publicly disclose its decision and rationale within 90 days from the date the election results are certified. The director who tenders his or her resignation would not participate in the Board’s decision. If a nominee who was not already serving as a director was not elected by a majority of votes cast by stockholders at an annual meeting, under Delaware law that nominee would not become a director and would not serve on the Board as a holdover director.

Set forth below is certain information about background, skills, and expertise of each director nominated for election relevant to their service as a director.

 

 

LOGO

 

 

The nominees have been recommended to the Board by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board. The Board recommends that you vote “FOR” the election of each of the eleven nominees identified below.

 

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Table of Contents

Item 1 — Election of Directors — Nominees for Director

 

 

Nominees for Director

(For One-Year Term Expiring Annual Meeting 2019)

 

 

LOGO

 

 

Humberto P. Alfonso

 

Age: 60

 

(Director since January 2011)

 

Committees:

•   Audit

•   Finance

•   Health, Safety, Environmental
and Security

 

Retired Chief Executive Officer, Global, of Yowie Group Ltd.

 

Background: Retired Chief Executive Officer, Global, of Yowie Group Ltd. He served as CEO from June 2016, and a director from March 2017, until January 2018 of Yowie, a global brand licensing company specializing in the development of Yowie character children’s consumer products. Mr. Alfonso was President, International, of The Hershey Company, the largest producer of quality chocolate in North America and a global leader in chocolate and sugar confectionery, from April 2013 until his retirement in June 2015. He was Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Administrative Officer from November 2011 to April 2013, and Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from July 2007 to November 2011. He joined Hershey in July 2006, initially serving as Vice President, Finance and Planning, U.S. Commercial Group from July 2006 to October 2006, and then serving as Vice President, Finance and Planning, North American Commercial Group from October 2006 to July 2007. Before joining Hershey, Mr. Alfonso held a variety of finance positions at Cadbury Schweppes, a producer of soft drinks and premium beverages, most recently serving as Executive Vice President Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages from March 2005 to July 2006 and Vice President Finance, Global Supply Chain from May 2003 to March 2005. Prior to that, Mr. Alfonso held a number of senior financial positions at Pfizer, Inc.

 

Skills and Expertise: In addition to serving on the Board, Mr. Alfonso is Chair of the Audit Committee and a member of the Finance Committee and the Health, Safety, Environmental and Security Committee. Mr. Alfonso possesses a strong financial management and accounting background. His experience includes various senior financial positions held during his career, including his service as an executive vice president and chief financial officer, which provide a solid platform for his service on the Audit Committee, especially concerning financial and audit-related matters and, as Chair of the Audit Committee, to lead the Audit Committee’s oversight of the Company’s financial reporting process and its internal and disclosure controls and of the work of the independent registered public accounting firm. In addition, Mr. Alfonso’s substantial senior level management experience, including his previous position as a chief executive officer, brings significant operational insight to the Board.

 

 

 

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Item 1 — Election of Directors — Nominees for Director

 

 

 

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Brett D. Begemann

 

Age: 57

 

(Director since February 2011)

 

Committees:

•   Compensation and Management Development

•   Finance

•   Health, Safety, Environmental
and Security

•   Nominating and Corporate Governance

 

President and Chief Operating Officer of Monsanto Company

 

Background: Mr. Begemann has been President and Chief Operating Officer of Monsanto Company, a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality, since October 2013, with responsibility for Monsanto’s worldwide sales and operations, corporate affairs, and global business organization. He joined Monsanto in 1983, initially serving in the company’s sales and marketing organization and later in various senior management and executive positions with increasing responsibility. Most recently Mr. Begemann served as Executive Vice President, Global Commercial from October 2007 to October 2009, as Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer until August 2012, and President and Chief Commercial Officer from August 2012 to October 2013. Bayer has most recently announced that it expects its previously reported pending acquisition of Monsanto to be completed during the first half of 2018.

 

Skills and Expertise: In addition to serving on the Board, Mr. Begemann serves as Chair of the Compensation and Management Development Committee and as a member of the Finance Committee, the Health, Safety, Environmental and Security Committee, and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. His substantial and varied experience as an executive of an international public company, including working closely with the Board of Directors of Monsanto, brings to the Board a significant depth of knowledge and experience in global biotechnology and chemicals business operations and international and emerging markets growth strategies, and public company management development and compensation. This wide-ranging experience and knowledge contributes to the Board and its Committees significant insight into a number of functional areas critical to Eastman, including as Chair of the Compensation and Management Development Committee.

 

 

 

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Michael P. Connors

 

Age: 62

 

(Director since March 2005)

 

Committees:

•   Compensation and Management Development

•   Nominating and Corporate Governance

•   Finance

•   Health, Safety, Environmental
and Security

 

Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Information Services Group, Inc.

 

Background: Mr. Connors has been Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Information Services Group, Inc., an information-based services company, since July 2006. Mr. Connors served as a member of the Executive Board of VNU N.V., a major worldwide media and marketing information company, from the merger of ACNielsen into VNU in 2001 until 2005, and served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of VNU Media Measurement & Information Group and Chairman of VNU World Directories until 2005. He previously was Vice Chairman of the Board of ACNielsen from its spin-off from the Dun & Bradstreet Corporation in 1996 until 2001, was Senior Vice President of American Express Travel Related Services from 1989 until 1995, and before that was a Corporate Vice President of Sprint Corporation. Mr. Connors is also a member of the Board of Directors of Chubb Limited (formerly ACE Ltd.).

 

Skills and Expertise: Mr. Connors brings to the Board substantial corporate management experience in a variety of industries as well as expertise in marketing through his high-level positions at marketing and information-based companies. Mr. Connors’ skills are enhanced through his experience serving on several public company boards, which furthers his ability to provide valued oversight and guidance to the Company and strategies to inform the Board’s general decision-making, including with respect to management development and compensation. For these reasons, Mr. Connors is a member of the Compensation and Management Development Committee, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Health, Safety, Environmental and Security Committee.

 

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Table of Contents

Item 1 — Election of Directors — Nominees for Director

 

 

 

LOGO

 

Mark J. Costa

 

Age: 52

 

(Director since

May 2013)

 

Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors Chair of Eastman Chemical Company

 

Background: Mr. Costa has been Chief Executive Officer since January 2014 and Board of Directors Chair since July 2014. Since joining Eastman in 2006, he has held a number of executive positions. He has been instrumental in developing Eastman’s growth strategies, and has led Eastman’s manufacturing and global supply chain. Mr. Costa has served as Executive Vice President of the Polymers Group, Executive Vice President, Specialty Polymers, Coatings, and Adhesives, and Executive Vice President, Additives & Functional Products and Advanced Materials. In addition, he served as Chief Marketing Officer and had responsibility for the Company’s corporate innovation organization. He was appointed President in May 2013 and served in that position until he became Chief Executive Officer. Before joining Eastman, Mr. Costa was a senior partner with Monitor Group, a global management consulting firm. He played a crucial role in developing Monitor’s techniques in corporate transformations and portfolio management and designing client business and marketing capability building programs.

 

Skills and Expertise: Since he joined the Company, Mr. Costa has led a variety of business, marketing, functional, and strategic areas and initiatives, currently serving as Chief Executive Officer, and has senior management, corporate transformation and portfolio management, and business and marketing capability experience and expertise from both his years with the Company and previously as a consultant. As a result, he is appropriately and uniquely able to advise the Board on the opportunities and challenges of managing the Company and its strategy for value creating growth, as well as its day-to-day operations and risks. We believe the perspective of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company is critical for the Board in order for it effectively to oversee the affairs of the Company and its strategy for growth. Through serving a number of executive positions at Eastman and being instrumental in developing Eastman’s growth strategies for its businesses, Mr. Costa’s unique knowledge of the opportunities and challenges associated with our business and familiarity with the Company, as well as of the chemical industry and various market participants, also make him uniquely qualified to lead and advise the Board as Chair. SeeThe Board of Directors and Corporate Governance — Board Leadership Structure”.

 

 

 

LOGO

 

Stephen R. Demeritt

 

Age: 74

 

(Director since

February 2003)

 

Committees:

•   Audit

•   Finance

•   Health, Safety, Environmental
and Security

 

Retired Vice Chairman of General Mills, Inc.

 

Background: Mr. Demeritt served as Vice Chairman of General Mills, Inc. from 1999 until his retirement in 2005. General Mills is a leading producer of packaged consumer foods. He joined General Mills in 1969 and served in a variety of marketing positions, including President, International Foods from 1991 to 1993 and Chief Executive Officer of Cereal Partners Worldwide, General Mills’ global cereal joint venture with Nestle, from 1993 to 1999.

 

Skills and Expertise: In addition to serving as a member of the Board, Mr. Demeritt served as the Lead Director from May 2013 to May 2015, and currently serves as a member of the Audit Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Health, Safety, Environmental and Security Committee. He provides to the Board a significant base of marketing and operational expertise through his professional experience at consumer-products companies with significant marketing capabilities and operations, and he also furthers the Board’s knowledge base in corporate and product branding. Mr. Demeritt’s experience serving on the board of directors of a large public company allows us to leverage his experiences with respect to, among other things, appropriate oversight and related actions utilized in the board environment.

 

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Item 1 — Election of Directors — Nominees for Director

 

 

 

 

LOGO

 

 

Robert M. Hernandez

 

Age: 73

 

(Director since

August 2002)

 

Committees:

•   Compensation and Management Development

•   Health, Safety, Environmental
and Security

•   Finance

•   Nominating and Corporate Governance

 

Retired Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer of USX Corporation

 

Background: Mr. Hernandez was Vice Chairman of the Board and Chief Financial Officer of USX Corporation, an integrated oil and gas and steel producer, from 1994 until his retirement in 2001. He joined U.S. Steel Corporation, the predecessor of USX, in 1968, and held positions of increasing responsibility in the financial and operating organizations, including Vice President and Treasurer from 1984 to 1987, Senior Vice President and Controller from 1987 to 1989, President, U.S. Diversified Group from 1989 to 1990, Senior Vice President, Finance from 1990 to 1991, and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from 1991 to 1994. Mr. Hernandez is Lead Director of Chubb Limited (formerly ACE Ltd.) and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of BlackRock Open-End Long Term Bond & Equity Funds. He was non-executive Chairman of the Board of RTI International Metals, Inc. from 1990 until 2015 and a member of the Board of Directors of USX from 1991 until 2001.

 

Skills and Expertise: Mr. Hernandez brings a diverse financial and business management background to the Board and to his responsibilities as Lead Director. In addition, Mr. Hernandez also serves as a member of the Compensation and Management Development Committee, the Health, Safety, Environmental and Security Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. He has held a variety of senior management positions throughout his career in a company producing basic materials and commodity-type products. This history and experience is critical to the Board’s knowledge base in a variety of areas. Mr. Hernandez has also served as a member of several boards of directors, which allows him to leverage his experience as Lead Director for the further benefit of the Company.

 

 

 

 

LOGO

 

 

Julie F. Holder

 

Age: 65

 

(Director since

November 2011)

 

Committees:

•   Health, Safety, Environmental
and Security

•   Compensation and Management Development

•   Finance

•   Nominating and Corporate Governance

 

Retired Senior Vice President of The Dow Chemical Company

 

Background: Ms. Holder has been the Chief Executive Officer of JFH Insights LLC, a consulting firm primarily dedicated to leadership coaching for high potential women executives, since founding the company in 2009. Previously, Ms. Holder served as Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing, Sales and Reputation Officer, U.S. Area Executive Oversight of The Dow Chemical Company, a diversified, worldwide manufacturer and supplier of products used primarily as raw materials in the manufacture of customer products and services, from 2007 until her retirement in 2009, and before that was Vice President, Human Resources, Public Affairs and Diversity and Inclusion of Dow from 2006. Prior to that, Ms. Holder served in various positions with increasing seniority at Dow from 1975 to 2006. Ms. Holder is also a member of the Board of Directors of W.R. Grace & Co., a leading global supplier of catalysts and engineered materials.

 

Skills and Expertise: In addition to serving on the Board, Ms. Holder is Chair of the Health, Safety, Environmental and Security Committee and is a member of the Compensation and Management Development Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Ms. Holder brings to the Board substantial corporate management experience as well as expertise in international sales and marketing and the chemicals industry through her various senior management positions at Dow. Ms. Holder’s long history at Dow provides her substantial chemical industry experience across a broad range of functional areas and allows her to offer management and operational insight to the Board with an in-depth understanding of the opportunities and challenges associated with our business, including as Chair of the Health, Safety, Environmental and Security Committee. In addition, Ms. Holder’s experience in human resources management adds to the Compensation and Management Development Committee’s oversight of and decisions concerning management development and compensation and her professional background of overseeing increasingly large and diverse business units results in her having the financial sophistication and understanding of a company similar to Eastman which is of great benefit to the Board and the Finance Committee.

 

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Item 1 — Election of Directors — Nominees for Director

 

 

 

LOGO

 

 

Renée J. Hornbaker

 

Age: 65

 

(Director since

September 2003)

 

Committees:

•   Audit

•   Finance

•   Health, Safety, Environmental
and Security

 

Retired Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Stream Energy

 

Background: Ms. Hornbaker served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of Stream Energy, a retail energy provider operating in Texas, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Jersey, from 2011 to December 2017. Ms. Hornbaker served as Chief Financial Officer of Shared Technologies, Inc., a provider of converged voice and data networking solutions, from 2006 to May 2011, and was Consultant to the Chief Executive Officer of CompuCom Systems, Inc., an information technology services provider, from 2005 to 2006. She was Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Flowserve Corporation, a global provider of industrial flow management products and services, from 1997 until 2004, and served as Vice President of Business Development and Chief Information Officer from 1997 to 1998. In 1977, Ms. Hornbaker joined the accounting firm Deloitte, Haskins & Sells, where she became a senior manager of its audit practice in the firm’s Chicago office. Following that, she served in senior financial positions with several major companies from 1986 until 1996, including five years at Phelps Dodge Corporation where she had financial responsibilities for its international businesses including Columbian Chemicals Corporation. Ms. Hornbaker is also a member of the Boards of Directors of Tri Global Energy, LLC, a private clean energy development company, The Freeman Company, a family and employee-owned company which produces expositions, conventions, trade shows, and other corporate events and exhibits, and WatchGuard Video, Inc., a private company which provides mobile video solutions for law enforcement.

 

Skills and Expertise: Ms. Hornbaker’s expertise in a variety of financial and accounting matters, experience in business development, strategy and technology, and service with large global businesses makes her a valuable member of the Board, and enhances the value of her service as a member of the Audit Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Health, Safety, Environmental and Security Committee. Ms. Hornbaker’s significant experience in several senior financial positions at various companies, including her previous service as a chief financial officer and as a senior manager at an accounting firm, provides a solid platform for her to advise and consult with the Board on financial and audit-related matters.

 

 

 

 

LOGO

 

 

Lewis M. Kling

 

Age: 73

 

(Director since October 2006)

 

Committees:

•   Finance

•   Compensation and Management Development

•   Nominating and Corporate Governance

•   Health, Safety, Environmental
and Security

 

Retired President, Chief Executive Officer of Flowserve Corporation

 

Background: Mr. Kling served as President, Chief Executive Officer, and a director of Flowserve Corporation, a global provider of industrial flow management products and services, from 2005 until October 2009, and was Executive Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Flowserve until his retirement in February 2010. He was Chief Operating Officer of Flowserve from 2004 to 2005. Before joining Flowserve, Mr. Kling was Group Vice President and Corporate Vice President of SPX Corporation from 1999 to 2004, and served as President of Dielectric Communications, a division of General Signal Corporation, purchased by SPX Corporation, from 1997 to 1999. Mr. Kling also is a member of the Board of Directors of Alclear, LLC, a private company doing business as CLEAR, which provides a secure identity platform for faster entry at airports and other venues, and was a member of the Board of Directors of Accuride Corporation during the last five years.

 

Skills and Expertise: In addition to his Board service, Mr. Kling also serves as Chair of the Finance Committee and as a member of the Compensation and Management Development Committee, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, and the Health, Safety, Environmental and Security Committee. Mr. Kling’s extensive corporate management experience and expertise in manufacturing through his high-level positions at several industrial product companies, including as CEO of a global manufacturer and aftermarket service provider of flow control systems to oil and gas, basic materials, and chemical manufacturing companies, allow him to offer a unique perspective on long-term growth strategies for manufacturing companies. In addition, his significant experience on various committees of Eastman’s Board, and his prior and current directorships, provide Mr. Kling with the background and knowledge to effectively lead the Finance Committee.

 

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Item 1 — Election of Directors — Nominees for Director

 

 

 

LOGO

 

James J. O’Brien

 

Age: 63

 

(Director since February 2016)

 

Committees:

•  Audit

•   Finance

•   Health, Safety, Environmental
and Security

 

Retired Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Ashland, Inc.

 

Background: Mr. O’Brien served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Ashland Inc., a leading global specialty chemical company, from 2002 until his retirement in December 2014, and previously served as President and Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President and Group Operating Officer from 2001 to 2002. He joined Ashland (then known as Ashland Chemical Company) in 1976, and after serving in various positions, became President of the Valvoline business in 1995. Mr. O’Brien is also a member of the Boards of Directors of Albemarle Corporation and Humana Inc., and was during the last five years a member of the Board of Directors of WESCO International, Inc.

 

Skills and Expertise: In addition to serving as a member of the Board, Mr. O’Brien serves on the Audit Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Health, Safety, Environmental and Security Committee. Mr. O’Brien brings to the Board extensive knowledge of the chemical industry and substantial experience as an executive of an international public company that allow him to offer management insight and understanding of industry challenges to the Board. Under his leadership, Ashland was transformed to a global specialty chemical company. His significant experience serving on other public company boards and management experience and knowledge in the areas of finance, accounting, international business operations, risk oversight and corporate governance provide a solid platform for his service on the Board and the Audit Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Health, Safety, Environmental and Security Committee.

 

 

 

LOGO

 

David W. Raisbeck

 

Age: 68

 

(Director since December 2000)

 

Committees:

•   Nominating and Corporate Governance

•   Compensation and Management Development

•   Health, Safety, Environmental
and Security

•   Finance

 

Retired Vice Chairman of Cargill, Incorporated

 

Background: Mr. Raisbeck was Vice Chairman of Cargill, Incorporated, an agricultural trading and processing company, from 1999 until his retirement in 2008, and was a director of Cargill until September 2009. He joined Cargill in 1971 and held a variety of merchandising and management positions focused primarily in the commodity and financial trading businesses. Mr. Raisbeck was appointed President of Cargill’s Financial Markets Division in 1988 and President of Cargill’s Trading Sector in 1993, was elected a director of Cargill in 1994 and Executive Vice President in 1995. Mr. Raisbeck was a director of CarVal, a distressed asset management company owned by Cargill, and of Black River Asset Management, a hedge fund owned by Cargill, until 2009.

 

Skills and Expertise: Mr. Raisbeck’s depth of experience in the areas of trading and risks related to commodities and raw materials, which are significant components of our operations and the manufacturing of our products, is a valuable addition to our Board and its Finance Committee. Given his professional experience managing trading businesses and other risk-based, finance-related transactions, we believe Mr. Raisbeck has unique capabilities and insight with respect to the managing of risk exposure and execution of financing transactions. His substantial experience serving on the boards of directors of other companies and his varied corporate management experience allows us to leverage his experiences with respect to, among other things, appropriate oversight and related actions utilized in the board environment, including corporate governance matters as Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, and as a member of the Compensation and Management Development Committee, the Health, Safety, Environmental, and Security Committee, and the Finance Committee.

 

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Table of Contents

Item 1 — Election of Directors — The Board of Directors and Corporate Governance

 

 

The Board of Directors and Corporate Governance

The Board is elected by the stockholders to oversee management and to assure that the long-term interests of the stockholders are being served. The primary role of the Board is to maximize stockholder value over the long-term. Eastman’s business is conducted by its employees, managers, and officers, under the direction of the Chief Executive Officer and with the oversight of the Board. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board periodically reviews and assesses the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and governance practices.

The Board held five meetings during 2017. Each director attended at least 75% of the aggregate of the total number of meetings of the Board and the total number of meetings held by all Committees of the Board on which he or she served. The Board meets immediately before each annual meeting of stockholders, and the directors in attendance at such Board meeting attend the annual meeting of stockholders. All directors who attended the May Board meeting in person attended the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

Board Leadership Structure

The Chair of the Board provides leadership to the Board and works with the Board to define its structure and activities in the fulfillment of its responsibilities. The Company believes that the members of the Board possess considerable experience and unique knowledge of the challenges and opportunities the Company may face from time to time, and therefore are in the best position to evaluate the needs of the Company and how best to organize the capabilities of our directors and senior executives to meet those needs at any time. As a result, the Company believes that the decision as to who should serve as Chair and as Chief Executive Officer, and whether the offices should be combined or separate, is properly the responsibility of the Board, to be exercised from time to time in appropriate consideration of then-existing facts and circumstances. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines provide the Board the flexibility to determine whether or not the separation or combination of the Chair and Chief Executive Officer offices is in the best interests of the Company.

Effective July 1, 2014, the Board designated Chief Executive Officer and director Mark J. Costa to serve as Chair, having determined that this was the appropriate time for the appointment and the most efficient manner to facilitate effective communication between management and the Board and provide strong and consistent leadership as well as a unified voice for the Company. In addition, the Board believes that currently combining the roles of Chair and Chief Executive Officer helps ensure that the Chief Executive Officer understands and can effectively and efficiently oversee the implementation of the recommendations and decisions of the Board.

In order to give a significant voice to our non-management directors and to reinforce effective, independent leadership on the Board, when the same person holds the Chief Executive Officer and Chair positions or if the Chair is not otherwise independent, the Company’s Bylaws and Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that the Company shall have a Lead Director. The Lead Director’s responsibilities, which are described in more detail in the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, include:

 

 

calling, setting agendas for, and presiding over executive sessions of the non-management directors at each regularly scheduled meeting of the Board, or at such other times as the non-management directors may determine;

 

 

calling special meetings of the full Board or the non-employee, independent directors;

 

 

presiding over Board meetings in the absence of the Chair;

 

 

collaborating and consulting with the Chair and Chief Executive Officer and other senior management concerning and approving or directing the approval of agendas, schedules, and materials for Board meetings;

 

 

acting as a liaison between the independent directors and the Chair; and

 

 

being available with the Chair for consultation and direct communication with stockholders.

Robert M. Hernandez has served as Lead Director since May 2016.

 

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Item 1 — Election of Directors — The Board of Directors and Corporate Governance

 

 

We believe that the foregoing structure, policies, and practices, when combined with the Company’s other governance policies and procedures, provide appropriate opportunities for oversight, discussion, and evaluation of decisions and direction from the Board.

Risk Oversight

The Board maintains oversight responsibility for the management of the Company’s risks, and oversees an enterprise-wide approach to risk management, designed to provide a holistic view of organizational objectives, including strategic objectives, to improve long-term organizational performance, to prioritize and manage identified risks, and to enhance stockholder value. A fundamental part of risk management is not only understanding the risks the Company faces and what steps management is taking to manage those risks, but also understanding what level of risk is appropriate for the Company. The full Board reviews with management its process for managing enterprise risk. Additionally, the Audit Committee is charged with overseeing our risk assessment and management process each year, including ensuring that management has instituted processes to identify major risks and has developed plans to manage such risks and reviewing with management the identified most significant risks and management’s plans for addressing and mitigating the potential effects of such risks. During the Company’s risk management review process, risk is assessed throughout our entire business, and is reported to a management corporate risk committee comprised of members of our various business units and control functions. Risks that are identified as “high-level” risks are reported to the Audit Committee and thereafter assigned, as appropriate, to various of the Board’s Committees, or to the Board as a whole, for further review, analysis, and development of appropriate plans for management and mitigation.

While the Board maintains the ultimate oversight responsibility for risk management and responsibility for risk management oversight of certain specific areas, each of the various Committees of the Board have been assigned responsibility for risk management oversight of specific identified areas. In particular, and in addition to its responsibility to conduct an annual assessment of the risk management process and report its findings to the Board, the Audit Committee maintains responsibility for overseeing risks related to the Company’s financial reporting, audit process, internal controls over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures, and cyber security and security of Company information. The Finance Committee has oversight responsibility related to the Company’s financial position and financing activities, including such areas as capital structure, raw material and energy costs, availability, and price volatility and hedging, large capital projects, pension obligations and funding, and acquisitions, divestitures, and joint ventures. The Health, Safety, Environmental and Security Committee assists the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibility with respect to health, safety, environmental, security, sustainability, and political activities issues that affect the Company and works closely with the Company’s legal and regulatory management with respect to such matters. In addition, in setting compensation, the Compensation and Management Development Committee endeavors to develop a program of incentives that encourage an appropriate level of risk-taking behavior consistent with the Company’s long-term business strategy and also reviews the leadership development of our employees. Finally, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee conducts an annual assessment of nominees to our Board and is charged with developing and recommending to the Board corporate governance principles and policies and Board Committees structure, leadership, and membership, including those related to, affecting, or concerning the Board’s and its Committees’ risk oversight.

Director Independence

The Board and its Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee have reviewed the standards of independence for directors established by applicable laws and regulations, including the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange, and by the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and have reviewed and evaluated the relationships of directors with the Company and its management. Based upon this review and evaluation, the Board has determined that none of the non-employee members of the Board (that is, all directors but Mr. Costa) has or had a relationship with the Company or its management that would interfere with such director’s exercise of independent judgment, and that each non-employee member of the Board is an independent director.

 

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Table of Contents

Item 1 — Election of Directors — The Board of Directors and Corporate Governance

 

 

In making these determinations, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Board reviewed and evaluated all direct and indirect transactions and relationships between the Company and the non-employee directors and their affiliates and immediate family members. Under the New York Stock Exchange listing standards and Eastman’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, an “independent” director is one who has “no direct or indirect material relationship with the Company or its management” and who:

 

 

has not been employed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, and who has no immediate family member who has been an executive officer of the Company, within the previous three years;

 

 

has not received, and whose immediate family member has not received, in any 12-month period within the previous three years, more than $120,000 in direct compensation from the Company, other than director and committee fees and pension or other forms of deferred compensation for prior service, provided such compensation is not contingent in any way on continued service;

 

 

as to the Company’s internal or external auditor, is not, and whose immediate family member is not, a partner; is not employed by; has not been, and whose immediate family member has not been, within the last three years, and is not currently, a partner or employee and personally worked on the Company’s audit;

 

 

is not and has not in the past three years been employed, and whose immediate family member is not and has not in the past three years been employed, as an executive officer of another company where any of the Company’s present executives at the same time serve or served on that company’s compensation committee;

 

 

is not an employee of, and whose immediate family member is not an executive officer of, another company that has made payments to, or received payments from, the Company for property or services in an amount that exceeds, in any of the last three years, the greater of $1 million or 2% of such other company’s consolidated gross revenues;

 

 

has no personal services contract with the Company, any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company or any executive officer;

 

 

does not have any other business relationship with the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates (other than service as a director) that the Company would be required to disclose in proxy statements or in annual reports on Form 10-K filed with the SEC;

 

 

is not an executive officer of another company that is indebted to the Company or to which the Company is indebted and the total amount of either company’s indebtedness to the other is more than 1% of the total consolidated assets of the company that he or she serves as an executive officer;

 

 

is not an officer, director, or trustee of a charitable organization to which discretionary charitable contributions to the organization by the Company or an affiliate are more than 1% of that organization’s total annual charitable receipts or $100,000, whichever is less; and

 

 

is not a director, executive officer, partner, or greater than 10% equity holder of an entity that provides advisory, consulting, or professional services to the Company, any of its affiliates, or any executive officer.

Transactions with Directors, Executive Officers, and Related Persons

As described above, at least annually the Board reviews and evaluates all current and recent past transactions involving the Company in which non-employee directors and their affiliates (including immediate family members and other firms, corporations, or entities with which the director has a relationship) have or had a direct or indirect interest. The Board also reviews any such transactions and relationships in which executive officers of the Company or members of their immediate families have or had an interest. Written Company policies require approval by the Board (in the case of the Chief Executive Officer) or senior management (in the case of all other employees) of each Company transaction in which an employee has a direct or indirect financial or other personal interest, and restrict reporting relationships between immediate family member employees.

 

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In the most recent such review, the Board considered purchases and sales of products and services in the ordinary course of business to and from a company of which a non-employee director is an executive officer and a payment by a third-party to a partnership of which a non-employee director is a partner for professional services to the third-party for which the Company paid fees to the third party. Each such transaction was below the thresholds of the categorical standards listed above and determined by the Board not to be a material transaction or relationship.

The Board also reviewed employment by the Company of immediate family members of certain executive officers, and determined that no such executive officer has a material interest in his immediate family member’s employment relationship or transactions that creates a conflict of interest. The terms of such employment, including compensation and benefits, were in all respects according to standard Company employment policies and practices. Each executive’s immediate family member worked in an organization that was not in the executive’s line of management or the executive had no direct reporting relationship with his immediate family member, and in each case the executive made no hiring, compensation, promotion, or evaluation decisions regarding his immediately family member.

Board Committees

The Board has an Audit Committee, a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, a Compensation and Management Development Committee, a Finance Committee, and a Health, Safety, Environmental and Security Committee. All committee members are non-employee, independent directors. The written charter of each committee of the Board is available in the “Investors — Corporate Governance” section of the Company’s website (www.eastman.com).

Audit Committee.    The members of the Audit Committee are Messrs. Alfonso (Chair), Anderson, Demeritt, and O’Brien and Ms. Hornbaker. The Audit Committee held nine meetings during 2017. The purpose of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board in fulfilling the Board’s oversight responsibilities relating to:

 

 

the integrity of the financial statements of the Company and the Company’s system of internal controls and disclosure controls and procedures;

 

 

the Company’s management of and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements;

 

 

the independence and performance of the Company’s internal auditors;

 

 

the qualifications, independence, and performance of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm;

 

 

the retention and termination of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, including the approval of fees and other terms of their engagement and the approval of non-audit relationships with the independent registered public accounting firm; and

 

 

risk assessment and risk management.

The Board of Directors has determined that each member of the Audit Committee is “independent” and that each of Messrs. Alfonso, Anderson and O’Brien and Ms. Hornbaker is an “audit committee financial expert” under applicable provisions of the New York Stock Exchange’s listing standards and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Audit Committee Report

On behalf of the Board of Directors, the Audit Committee oversees the Company’s financial reporting process and its internal control over financial reporting and related disclosure controls and procedures, areas for which management has the primary responsibility. The independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of the Company’s audited financial statements with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and for issuing its report on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. All audit and non-audit services provided to the Company by the independent registered public accounting firm are pre-approved by the Audit Committee or by the Chair of the Audit Committee pursuant to delegated authority, and the Committee considers the compatibility of

 

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such non-audit services with the accounting firm’s independence. At the beginning of the year, the Audit Committee reviewed and approved all known audit and non-audit services and fees to be provided by and paid to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. During the year, specific audit and non-audit services or fees not previously approved by the Audit Committee were approved in advance by the Audit Committee or by the Chair of the Audit Committee pursuant to delegated authority.

The Audit Committee evaluates the performance of the independent registered public accounting firm, including the senior audit engagement team, each year and determines whether to reengage the current independent registered public accounting firm or consider other independent registered public accounting firms. In doing so, the Audit Committee considers the quality and efficiency of the services provided by the firm, the firm’s global capabilities, and the firm’s technical expertise, tenure as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, and knowledge of the Company’s global operations and industry. Based on this evaluation, the Audit Committee decided to retain PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to serve as independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2018. Although the Audit Committee has the sole authority to appoint the independent registered public accounting firm, the Audit Committee has continued its long-standing practice of recommending that the Board ask stockholders to ratify the appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm at the 2018 Annual Meeting (seeItem  3 — Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm”).

Of the Audit Committee’s nine meetings during 2017, five were regular in-person meetings that included separate private (or “executive”) sessions of the Committee with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and with Company management, including the director of internal audit, the chief legal officer, the chief financial officer, the chief accounting officer, the corporate controller, the vice president of corporate compliance, the chief information officer, and other financial and legal management employees, and among the Committee members themselves. These executive sessions included discussion of specific financial management, legal, accounting, auditing, internal and disclosure controls, corporate compliance, and risk management matters. As part of its oversight of the Company’s risk management process, the Committee reviewed and discussed management’s risk assessment and risk management program, including individual areas of risk and the overall risk management process. SeeRisk Oversight” earlier in this proxy statement. The Audit Committee also met with the chief legal officer and the director of corporate compliance to discuss the effectiveness of the Company’s compliance program and received regular corporate compliance program status reports and updates.

Four of the Audit Committee’s meetings were conference calls to review the Company’s planned public disclosures of quarterly financial results. These meetings included review with management and the independent registered public accounting firm of the financial statements and management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations disclosures in the Company’s annual Form 10-K and quarterly Form 10-Q filings prior to filing with the SEC and of matters relating to the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures for such filings.

Numerous other informal meetings and communications among the Chair, various Committee members, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, and the director of internal audit and other members of the Company’s management also occurred. The agenda for each of the Audit Committee’s meetings is established by the Audit Committee Chair and the director of internal audit.

Throughout the year, the Committee reviewed with the Company’s financial management, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, and the director of internal audit the overall audit scope and plans, the results of internal and external audit examinations, evaluations by management and the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting, and the quality of the Company’s financial reporting.

Management has reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements and related disclosures in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K with the Audit Committee. This review and discussion included the quality of accounting principles, the reasonableness of the significant accounting judgments and estimates, the clarity of disclosures in and concerning the

 

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financial statements, and the internal controls and disclosure controls and procedures that support management’s accounting and disclosure judgments and the certifications of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer that the financial statements of the Company fairly present, in all material respects, the financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows of the Company.

In its meetings with representatives of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Audit Committee asked them to address, and discussed their responses to, questions relevant to the Audit Committee’s oversight. These discussions included significant accounting judgments or estimates made by management in preparing the financial statements, fair presentation to investors in the financial statements of the Company’s financial position and performance in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and SEC disclosure requirements, and implementation of internal controls and internal audit procedures that are appropriate for the Company.

The Committee also discussed with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP the matters required to be discussed by the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”). The Committee has received from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP the written disclosures and the letter required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding the independent registered public accounting firm’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and discussed with them their independence from the Company and its management. In addition, the Committee has received written materials addressing PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP internal quality control procedures.

In reliance on these reviews and discussions and the reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Audit Committee has recommended to the Board of Directors, and the Board has approved, that the audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 filed with the SEC.

Audit Committee

Humberto P. Alfonso (Chair)

Gary E. Anderson

Stephen R. Demeritt

Renée J. Hornbaker

James J. O’Brien

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.    The members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are Messrs. Raisbeck (Chair), Begemann, Connors, Hernandez and Kling and Ms. Holder. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee held four meetings during 2017. The purpose of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is to:

 

 

identify individuals qualified to become Board members;

 

 

recommend to the Board candidates to fill Board vacancies and newly-created director positions;

 

 

recommend to the Board whether incumbent directors should be nominated for reelection to the Board upon the expiration of their terms;

 

 

review, develop, and recommend corporate governance principles and practices, and regularly review and evaluate corporate governance trends and developments;

 

 

review and make recommendations to the Board regarding director compensation (seeDirector Compensation”); and

 

 

recommend committee structures, membership, and chairs and, if the Chairman is not an independent director, the independent director to serve as Lead Director.

The Board of Directors has determined that each member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is “independent” under applicable provisions of the New York Stock Exchange’s listing standards.

Director Nominations.    The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for reviewing and recommending to the Board potential directors who possess the skills, knowledge, and understanding necessary to be

 

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valued members of the Board in order to assist it in successfully performing its role in corporate oversight and governance. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers not only an individual director’s or possible nominee’s qualities, performance, and professional responsibilities, but also the then-current composition of the Board and the challenges and needs of the Board as a whole in an effort to ensure that the Board, at any time, is comprised of a diverse group of members who, individually and collectively, best serve the needs of the Company and its stockholders. In general, and in giving due consideration to the composition of the Board at that time, the desired attributes of individual directors, including those of any nominees of stockholders, are as follows:

 

 

integrity and demonstrated high ethical standards;

 

 

experience with business administration processes and principles;

 

 

the ability to express opinions, raise difficult questions, and make informed, independent judgments;

 

 

knowledge, experience, and skills in at least one specialty area, for example:

 

   

accounting or finance,

 

   

corporate management,

 

   

marketing,

 

   

manufacturing,

 

   

technology,

 

   

information systems,

 

   

the chemical industry,

 

   

international business, or

 

   

legal or governmental affairs;

 

 

the ability to devote sufficient time to prepare for and attend Board meetings (it is assumed that service on up to three other boards of directors will not impair a director’s service on the Company’s Board; the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee reviews instances in which a director serves on more than three other for-profit companies’ boards of directors);

 

 

willingness and ability to work with other members of the Board in an open and constructive manner;

 

 

the ability to communicate clearly and persuasively; and

 

 

diversity with respect to other characteristics, which may include, at any time, gender, ethnic background, geographic origin, or personal, educational and professional experience.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider persons nominated by stockholders and recommend to the full Board whether such nominee should be included with the Board’s nominees for election by stockholders. Our Bylaws contain provisions that address the process (including the required information and deadlines) by which a stockholder or group of stockholders may nominate an individual for consideration by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to stand for election at an annual meeting of stockholders. In addition, the proxy access provision in our Bylaws provides that, under certain circumstances, a stockholder, or a group of up to 20 stockholders, owning 3% or more of our outstanding common stock continuously for at least the previous three years may nominate and include director nominees constituting up to 20% of the number of directors then serving on the Board in the Company’s proxy materials, provided that such stockholder(s) and nominee(s) satisfy the disclosure and other requirements set forth in our Bylaws. In order to use this proxy access Bylaw provision, stockholders are required to hold shares until the date of the applicable annual meeting. For additional information on how stockholders may submit nominees for election to the Board,

 

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seeInformation About the Meeting and Voting  — Nominations by Stockholders for Election to the Board of Directors and Stockholder Nomination Proxy Access.

The Board and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee have from time to time utilized the services of director search firms to assist in the identification of qualified potential director nominees.

Compensation and Management Development Committee.    The members of the Compensation and Management Development Committee (the “Compensation Committee”) are Messrs. Begemann (Chair), Connors, Hernandez, Kling, and Raisbeck and Ms. Holder. The Compensation Committee held six meetings during 2017. The purpose of the Compensation Committee is to establish and administer the Company’s policies, programs, and procedures for evaluating, developing, and compensating the Company’s senior management. Among other responsibilities included in its charter, the Compensation Committee oversees the Company’s compensation and benefits philosophy and strategy, including risk assessment of compensation programs and practices, determines the compensation of the Company’s executive officers, reviews management’s executive compensation disclosures, approves adoption of cash and equity-based incentive management compensation plans, and oversees management’s administration of the Company’s benefits plans. The Compensation Committee has exclusive authority to grant stock-based incentive awards under the 2017 Omnibus Stock Compensation Plan and has delegated to the Chair and Chief Executive Officer authority to make certain limited stock-based compensation awards to employees other than executive officers. The Compensation Committee receives input from Company management on compensation and benefits matters, and considers such input in establishing and overseeing management’s compensation programs and in determining executive compensation. For additional description of the Committee’s processes and procedures for consideration and determination of executive compensation, including the role of management in recommending compensation, see “Executive Compensation — Compensation Discussion and Analysis” later in this proxy statement.

The Board of Directors has determined that each member of the Compensation Committee is “independent” under applicable provisions of the New York Stock Exchange’s listing standards.

Compensation Consultant.    The Compensation Committee has directly engaged Aon Hewitt as its external compensation consultant. Aon Hewitt reports to, and receives its direction from, the Compensation Committee, and a representative of Aon Hewitt attends each meeting of the Compensation Committee as its advisor. Aon Hewitt provides the Compensation Committee with third-party survey information used in setting short- and long-term compensation levels, perspective on emerging compensation issues and trends, and expertise in incentive compensation structure, terms, and design. SeeExecutive Compensation — Compensation Discussion and Analysis.” Aon Hewitt also provides such services to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee for its recommendations to the Board regarding non-employee director compensation. SeeDirector Compensation.” Any other services provided by Aon Hewitt and its affiliates to Eastman are approved by the Compensation Committee. Company management also uses the services of several other outside firms for compensation analysis, third-party surveys, and management pay research and analysis. None of these other firms provide any consulting services to the Compensation Committee or to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

In reviewing Aon Hewitt’s performance in 2017 and considering its continued engagement for 2018, the Compensation Committee evaluated Aon Hewitt’s independence from Company management and any conflicts of interest in accordance with applicable New York Stock Exchange listing requirements. The Compensation Committee considered Aon Hewitt’s provision of other services to the Company, the fees paid by the Company to Aon Hewitt as a percentage of the firm’s total revenue, Aon Hewitt’s policies and procedures to prevent conflicts of interest, and the confirmation by Aon Hewitt that it and its representatives have no business or personal relationship with any member of the Compensation Committee, do not own any stock of the Company, and have no business or personal relationship with any executive officer of the

 

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Company. The Compensation Committee concluded that Aon Hewitt is independent of the Committee and of Company management and has no conflicts of interest in its performance of services to the Committee.

Compensation Committee Report

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” which appears later in this proxy statement. Based on this review and discussion, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 filed with the SEC and in this proxy statement.

Compensation and Management Development Committee

Brett D. Begemann (Chair)

Michael P. Connors

Robert M. Hernandez

Julie F. Holder

Lewis M. Kling

David W. Raisbeck

Finance Committee.    All of the directors except Mr. Costa are members, and Mr. Kling is the Chair, of the Finance Committee. The Finance Committee held four meetings during 2017. The purpose of the Finance Committee is to review with management and, where appropriate, make recommendations to the Board regarding the Company’s financial position and financing activities, including consideration of the Company’s financing plans, cost of capital, significant corporate transactions (including acquisitions, divestitures, and joint ventures), capital expenditures, financial status of the Company’s defined benefit pension plans, payment of dividends, issuance and repurchase of stock, and use of financial instruments, commodity purchasing, insurance, and other hedging arrangements and strategies to manage exposure to financial and market risks.

Health, Safety, Environmental and Security Committee.    All of the directors except Mr. Costa are members, and Ms. Holder is the Chair, of the Health, Safety, Environmental and Security Committee. The Health, Safety, Environmental and Security Committee held two meetings during 2017. The purpose of the Health, Safety, Environmental and Security Committee is to review with management and, where appropriate, make recommendations to the Board regarding the Company’s policies and practices concerning health, safety, environmental, security, sustainability, and political activities matters.

 

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Director Compensation

Director compensation is determined by the Board of Directors based upon the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Committee’s compensation consultant. The Board uses a combination of cash and stock-based incentive compensation to attract and retain qualified candidates to serve as directors. In setting the compensation of non-employee directors, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Board consider the significant amount of time that the Board and its Committees are expected to expend, the skills, knowledge, and understanding needed for service on the Board, and the types and amounts of director pay of other similar public companies (including the compensation peer comparison companies listed under “Executive Compensation — Compensation Discussion and Analysis — Review of 2017 Executive Compensation”). The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Board annually review non-employee director compensation, and the Board, upon the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, has from time to time changed the amounts and forms of director pay (most recently, increases in annual director and Committee Chair retainers, increased annual restricted stock award, and the addition of elective deferral of the annual restricted stock award, effective January 1, 2017). The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee in 2017 concluded that non-employee director total pay is in line with external market comparisons, and accordingly the Board made no changes to non-employee director compensation for 2018.

The following table provides information concerning compensation paid to the Company’s non-employee directors for 2017. Directors who are also employees of the Company (Mr. Costa) receive no additional compensation for their service as directors.

Director Compensation for Year Ended December 31, 2017

 

Name

   Fees
Earned or
Paid in
Cash
($)(1)
   Stock
Awards
($)(2)
   Option
Awards
($)(3)
   Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)
   Change in
Pension Value
and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($)(4)
   All Other
Compensation
($)(5)
   Total($)

Humberto P. Alfonso

     $ 128,000      $ 85,062    $0    $0    $0      $ 60,000      $ 273,062   

Gary E. Anderson

       105,000        85,062      0      0      0        60,000        250,062   

Brett D. Begemann

       125,000        85,062      0      0      0        60,000        270,062   

Michael P. Connors

       105,000        85,062      0      0      0        60,000        250,062   

Stephen R. Demeritt

       105,000        85,062      0      0      0        60,000        250,062   

Robert M. Hernandez

       145,000        85,062      0      0      0        60,000        290,062   

Julie F. Holder

       129,000        85,062      0      0      0        60,000        274,062   

Renée J. Hornbaker

       117,000        85,062      0      0      0        60,000        262,062   

Lewis M. Kling

       120,000        85,062      0      0      0        60,000        265,062   

James J. O’Brien

       106,500        85,062      0      0      0        60,000        251,562   

David W. Raisbeck

       120,000        85,062      0      0      0        60,000        265,062   

 

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1)

Compensation in this column consists of director retainer fees and, where applicable, Lead Director or Committee Chair retainer fees. This column also includes compensation paid on an “event” basis for significant time spent outside Board or Committee meetings for director training, interviewing director candidates, meeting with Company management, meeting with external auditors, or other meetings or activities as directed by the Board or one of its Committees. Cash fees for 2017 were paid according to the following schedule:

 

Director Retainers (Service and Meeting Retainers)

   $ 105,000    

“Event” Fee (Per Event)

     1,500    

Lead Director Retainer

     40,000    

Chair Retainer — Audit Committee

     23,000    

Chair Retainer — Compensation and Management Development Committee

     20,000    

Chair Retainer — Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

     15,000    

Chair Retainer — Finance Committee

     15,000    

Chair Retainer — Health, Safety, Environmental and Security Committee

     15,000    

 

    

Cash retainers and event fees are paid in two semi-annual payments. Event fees were paid in 2017 to Ms. Holder ($9,000), Ms. Hornbaker ($12,000), and Mr. O’Brien ($1,500).

 

2)

Grant date fair value, computed in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 718 (Stock Compensation), of annual award of restricted shares of common stock (“restricted shares”) to each non-employee director having a fair market value equal to $85,000 (with the number of restricted shares awarded rounded up in the case of fractional shares) made on the date of the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders under the Director Stock Compensation Subplan of the 2017 Omnibus Stock Compensation Plan (the “DSCS”). Messrs. Alfonso, Demeritt, and O’Brien each elected to defer receipt of his annual restricted stock award as described in note (4) below. See note 17 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements in the Annual Report to Stockholders for 2017, mailed and delivered electronically with this proxy statement, for a description of the assumptions made in the valuation of stock awards under FASB ASC Topic 718.

 

    

The restricted shares are not transferable (except by will or the laws of descent and distribution or as described below) and are subject to forfeiture until the earliest of (i) the third anniversary of the award date for restricted shares awarded prior to 2016 and the first anniversary of the award date for restricted shares awarded in or after 2016 (provided the grantee is still a director), (ii) death, disability, or resignation due to attaining retirement age or another approved reason during the restricted period, or (iii) departure from the Board at the end of the term of service to which elected. During the restricted period, the director has all of the rights of a stockholder with respect to the restricted shares (other than the right to transfer the shares), including voting and dividend rights. The DSCS contains provisions regarding the treatment of restricted shares in the event of a “change in control” (as defined in the DSCS, generally circumstances in which the Company is acquired by another entity or its controlling ownership is changed). In such event, all outstanding restricted shares would immediately vest and become transferable, and would be valued and cashed out on the basis of the change in control price as soon as practicable, but in no event more than 90 days after the change in control. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has the discretion, even if a change in control event will occur, to determine that immediate vesting of restricted shares under the DSCS should not occur for that event and that the restricted shares will not become fully vested when that event occurs.

 

    

Messrs. Alfonso and Demeritt each held 958 restricted shares, and Messrs. Anderson, Begemann, Connors, Hernandez, Kling, and Raisbeck and Mses. Holder and Hornbaker each held 2,047 restricted shares, at December 31, 2017.

 

3)

No stock options were granted in 2017. Messrs. Anderson, Demeritt, and Raisbeck each held 4,000 stock options at December 31, 2017 (all of which were exercised after December 31, 2017).

 

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4)

The Directors’ Deferred Compensation Plan (the “DDCP”) is an unfunded, nonqualified, deferred compensation plan under which each non-employee director may elect to defer compensation received as a director until he or she ceases to serve as a director. Non-employee directors may make an annual advance irrevocable election to defer compensation for services to be rendered the following year. Compensation that may be deferred is (i) all or a portion of cash compensation for service as a director, including retainer and “event” fees and (ii) the annual restricted stock award for service as a director. If a director elects to defer the annual restricted stock award, it is converted upon the scheduled vesting in the year after the award to a cash equivalent amount that is initially deferred into the phantom stock account of the DDCP. In addition, as described in note (5) below, each non-employee director receives a non-elective annual deferral of $60,000 that is initially deferred into the director’s Eastman phantom stock account of the DDCP. Directors may elect to credit deferred compensation accounts in the DDCP to individual hypothetical investment alternatives, including an Eastman phantom stock fund. Upon termination of service as a director, the value of the director’s DDCP account is paid, in cash, in a single lump sum or in up to ten annual installments as elected in advance by the director. For 2017, no nonqualified deferred compensation earnings are reported because there were no preferential or above-market earnings on amounts in individual hypothetical investment accounts (defined as appreciation in value and dividend equivalents earned at a rate higher than appreciation in value and dividends on the underlying common stock or interest on amounts deferred at a rate exceeding 120% of the federal long-term rate).

 

    

Eastman does not have a director pension plan.

 

5)

Amount of annual retainer not included in “Fees Earned or Paid in Cash” column that was automatically deferred into the director’s Eastman phantom stock investment account of the DDCP. The value of non-employee director perquisites and personal benefits that have an incremental cost to the Company (personal liability insurance and Company-provided insurance for non-employee director travel) are not reported for 2017 since the total amount per individual was less than $10,000.

 

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Item 2 — Advisory Approval of Executive Compensation

 

 

 

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) provides stockholders with the right to vote to approve, on an advisory (nonbinding) basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers as disclosed pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC. This advisory vote is commonly referred to as the “say-on-pay” vote. In the Company’s advisory say-on-pay vote at the 2017 Annual Meeting, 92% of votes cast were “for” approval of the executive compensation as disclosed in the 2017 Annual Meeting proxy statement. The Compensation Committee considered the outcome of this vote in its establishment and oversight of the compensation of the executive officers during 2017, as further discussed in “Executive Compensation — Compensation Discussion and Analysis” later in this proxy statement.

The Company’s business strategy for value creating business and financial growth from innovation, market development, and differentiated technologies and applications development leverages the capabilities of its employees to innovate and execute its growth strategy while remaining committed to maintaining a strong financial position with appropriate financial flexibility and liquidity. Our compensation philosophy supports this strategy by stressing the importance of pay for corporate and individual performance in meeting strategic and business goals for growth, innovative value creation and financial strength and flexibility, while maintaining flexibility to meet changing employee, business, and market conditions. Our executive compensation program is designed to attract and retain a talented and creative team of executives who will provide disciplined leadership for the Company’s success in dynamic, competitive markets. The Company seeks to accomplish this by motivating executives with an appropriate mix of compensation elements. Please read the “Executive Compensation — Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section of this proxy statement for additional details about our executive compensation philosophy and programs, including information about the compensation of our named executive officers for 2017 as detailed in the tables and narrative.

The say-on-pay vote gives stockholders the opportunity to indicate their views on the compensation of our named executive officers. This vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of our named executive officers disclosed and the philosophy, objectives, and practices described in this proxy statement.

Because this vote is advisory, it will not be binding on the Compensation Committee, the Board, or the Company. However, the Compensation Committee and the Board value the opinions of the Company’s stockholders, and the Compensation Committee will consider the outcome of the vote in its establishment and oversight of the compensation of the executive officers.

 

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Stockholders are being asked to approve the compensation of the named executive officers as disclosed in the “Executive Compensation” section of this proxy statement, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables, and narrative. The Board recommends that you vote ”FOR” the advisory approval of the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement.

 

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Executive Compensation

 

 

 

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

This “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” is intended to provide context for the executive compensation information detailed in the tables and narrative in the following sections of this proxy statement. The Compensation and Management Development Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Compensation Committee” or the “Committee”) establishes and oversees the administration of the policies, programs, and procedures for evaluating, developing, and compensating our senior management, and determines the components, structure, forms, terms, and amounts of the compensation of our executive officers. What follows is a summary of compensation philosophy and objectives for executive officers, the relationship of corporate performance to executive compensation, and the bases for the compensation of executive officers.

Overview

As described in detail below, the Compensation Committee believes that the compensation of the executive officers is appropriate based on Eastman’s performance and the competitive market. For 2017, the compensation of the executive officers named in the “Summary Compensation Table” below (the “named executive officers”) consisted of three principal elements: base salary, annual incentive pay opportunities, and long-term stock-based incentive awards in the form of stock options, performance shares, and restricted stock units. Base salary helps us to attract and retain executive talent and is the fixed element of our pay program. The Company uses annual incentive pay opportunities to tie executive compensation to the attainment of key Company and individual objectives. Long-term stock-based incentive pay is designed to align executive compensation with the long-term interests of the Company’s stockholders, focus on achievement of strategic long-term financial objectives, and further attract and retain an outstanding executive team. The Compensation Committee believes that this mix of executive pay components strikes an appropriate balance between the short- and long-term focus of the executives and the types of performance incented and risks encouraged, and aligns the interests of executive officers with those of other stockholders.

Our compensation program includes and does not include the following practices and features:

 

What We Do     

 

Oversight and decisions by a Compensation Committee comprised solely of independent directors with significant executive compensation and management experience who understand drivers of long-term corporate performance.

   

 

Use an independent compensation consultant to the Compensation Committee with no conflicts of interest.

   

 

Annual assessment by the Compensation Committee of potential risks associated with the compensation program.

   

 

Benchmark executive pay and overall program design based on data from the Committee’s independent compensation consultant.

   

 

Significant portion of pay based on corporate and individual performance.

   

 

Provide for the reimbursement (or “clawback”) by executive officers of certain incentive-based compensation in the event of certain accounting restatements.

   

 

Maintain stock ownership expectations.

   
What We Don’t Do     

×

 

Reprice or change performance criteria for stock options or other long-term stock-based incentive awards after those awards are granted.

 

   

×

 

Include value of equity awards in pension benefit calculations.

 

   

×

 

Allow pledging or hedging of Company stock by our executive officers.

 

   

×

 

“Gross-up” taxes for any imputed income on limited executive perquisites.

 

   

×

 

“Gross-up” tax payments, or accelerate equity vesting without termination following change-in-control, under limited change-in-control severance agreements.

 

 

   
 

 

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Executive Compensation — Compensation Discussion and Analysis

 

 

For 2017, our executive officers were compensated based on the competitive market, the Company’s financial, business, and stockholder value performance and its businesses’ performance compared to annual and longer-term performance standards established by the Compensation Committee, and the individual performance of each executive.

 

 

Following the Compensation Committee’s review of market competitive pay levels and targeted total compensation of the executive officers, certain executive officer base salaries were increased up to 11% to keep executive salaries at competitive levels compared to executives with similar positions at peer companies.

 

 

Executive officers received annual incentive pay awards from 81% to 108% of target amounts as a result of the Company’s below target adjusted earnings from operations and above target free cash flow, the Committee’s discretionary reduction of the cash payout pool to reflect overall corporate performance, and the Committee’s evaluation of each executive’s organizational and individual performance compared to expectations.

 

 

Executive officers received payouts of common stock at 140% of target award levels under previously awarded long-term performance shares as a result of the Company’s three-year (2015-2017) total stockholder return ranking in the 2nd quintile of compared companies and the Company attaining an average return on capital of 10.80% (compared to a target return goal of 10.51%).

 

 

Executive officers received stock option grants and long-term performance share and restricted stock unit awards which directly link future compensation to stockholder and capital returns and as retention incentives.

In addition, in 2017 the Compensation Committee:

 

 

Updated the companies used for executive and director compensation benchmarking to make the group more appropriate for Eastman’s recent and continuing transition to a more specialty global chemical company.

 

 

Updated the companies used for measurement of relative shareholder return in 2017-2019 performance share awards from companies in previous performance periods to make the group more appropriate for Eastman’s continuing transition to a more specialty global chemical company.

Management Compensation Philosophy, Objectives, and Program

Our Business.    Eastman is a global advanced materials and specialty additives company that produces a broad range of products found in items people use every day. The Company sells differentiated products into diverse markets and geographic regions. Eastman’s objective is to be an outperforming specialty chemical company with consistent earnings growth and strong cash flow. Eastman works with customers to meet their needs in existing and new markets through the development of innovative products and technologies. Management believes that the Company can deliver consistent financial results by leveraging the Company’s unique innovation-driven growth model consisting of applications development, world-class technology platforms, and relentless market engagement. The Company also benefits from significant integration and scale, aggressive and disciplined portfolio management, and aggressive cost management. A consistent increase in earnings is expected to result from both organic (internal) growth initiatives and strategic inorganic (external growth through acquisitions complementary or additive to existing products and joint ventures) initiatives.

In 2017 the Company’s products and operations were managed and reported in four operating segments: Additives & Functional Products (“AFP”), Advanced Materials (“AM”), Fibers, and Chemical Intermediates (“CI”). This reporting structure reflects the Company’s organizational structure and management supporting the Company’s continuing strategy to increase emphasis on specialty businesses and products. In addition to these segments, the Company manages certain costs and initiatives at the corporate level, including various research and development initiatives. Eastman had 2017 revenues of $9.5 billion, compared to 2016 revenues of $9.0 billion.

 

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Executive Compensation — Compensation Discussion and Analysis

 

 

Our Compensation Philosophy.    The Company’s strategy for value creating business and financial growth from innovation, market development, and differentiated technologies and applications development leverages the capabilities of its employees to innovate and execute its growth strategy while remaining committed to maintaining a strong financial position with appropriate financial flexibility and liquidity. Our compensation philosophy supports this strategy by stressing the importance of pay for corporate and individual performance in meeting strategic and business goals for growth, innovative value creation and financial strength and flexibility, while maintaining flexibility to meet changing employee, business, and market conditions. Our executive compensation program is designed to attract and retain a talented and creative team of executives who will provide disciplined leadership for the Company’s success in dynamic, competitive markets. The Company seeks to accomplish this by motivating executives with an appropriate mix of compensation elements.

As described below, our compensation program has been designed so that a significant portion of compensation is based on the measures of performance that we believe are most relevant to our corporate business strategy and significant to investors, including cumulative total shareholder return and return on capital for multi-year periods, annual adjusted earnings from operations, cash from operations and free cash flow, and multi-year stock price appreciation. Performance goals for each of these measures are designed to be challenging so that payouts at target levels will only occur if target performance is achieved (as evidenced by the below target payout pool for 2017 annual cash incentive compensation and above target 2015-2017 performance share payouts described below under “Annual Incentive Pay — Unit Performance Plan” and “Long-Term Performance Shares”).

Our Compensation Objectives.    Within the management compensation program, our primary objectives are to:

 

 

Provide the appropriate amount of annual pay that allows us to compete for talent.

 

 

Attract and retain highly-qualified executives by providing incentive opportunities for the attainment of the Company’s strategic business objectives, while providing financial incentives to achieve superior performance.

 

 

Provide appropriate short-term and long-term incentives to reward the attainment of short-term and long-term corporate and individual objectives consistent with corporate growth strategy and objectives.

 

 

Ensure performance targets are appropriately challenging and properly aligned with business strategy and stockholder interests.

 

 

Maintain balance in the types of corporate and individual performance incented and the levels and types of risks managers are encouraged to evaluate and take.

Primary Components of our Management Compensation Program and How Each Component Complements our Philosophy and Objectives.    Our management compensation program has three primary components:

 

Annual base salary

Provides a market-based annual salary at a level consistent with the individual’s position and contributions.

 

Annual cash incentive pay opportunity

Designed to align senior managers’ financial interests with the Company’s short-term business objectives, making a portion of annual cash compensation dependent upon the annual success of the Company, business unit performance, and attainment of individual objectives.

 

Long-term stock-based incentive pay opportunity

Encourages an ownership mindset by aligning the interests of senior managers with stockholders, focusing on the achievement of strategic long-term financial objectives and outperforming peer companies.

The Compensation Committee, with input from management and the Committee’s independent compensation consultant, designs, administers, and assesses the effectiveness of all executive compensation elements against the market and our

 

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overall compensation philosophy and objectives. The Committee’s assessment includes review of the value of each element of pay and of total pay on a recognized and a realizable basis. The table below describes each element of pay and its primary links to the objectives of our compensation philosophy.

 

Compensation Element

   Compete
in  Market
   Attract  and
Retain
Executive
Talent
   Reward
Business
Performance
and
Attainment
of Individual
Objectives
  

 Reward 

 Long-Term 

 Performance in 

  Alignment 
 with 

 Stockholders’ 

 Interests 

  

Balance
Among
 Performance 
 Incented and 

Risk
 Management 

Annual Base Salary

   X    X          X

Annual Cash Incentive Pay Opportunity

   X    X    X       X

Long-Term Stock-Based Incentive Pay Opportunity — Stock Options

   X    X       X    X

Long-Term Stock-Based Incentive Pay Opportunity — Performance Shares and Restricted Stock Units

   X    X    X    X    X

Other Compensation and Benefits

   X    X              X

Each year, the Compensation Committee, with the assistance of its independent compensation consultant, compares the relative mix of compensation components with those of peer benchmarking companies. The Compensation Committee does not have a fixed method for determining how the total mix of an executive officer’s total compensation should be allocated among these compensation components. Instead, the Compensation Committee uses a flexible approach to compensation to help us better achieve our business objectives from year to year and to attract and retain executive talent. As described below, the Company believes that a significant portion of our executives’ compensation should be “at risk” to business and individual performance, and that the at-risk amount should increase with the executive’s level of responsibility. At-risk compensation is only earned if at least a threshold level of targeted business and individual performance is met. We believe it is also important to encourage a balance between the short-term and long-term focus of executives, and in the types of performance incented and risks encouraged, as well as to align their interests with those of stockholders, by providing a meaningful portion of their compensation in the form of stock-based pay.

Other Compensation and Benefits.    The Company’s executive officers also participate in benefits plans generally available to all other employees, including two nonqualified supplemental retirement plans for U.S. employees with pay above Internal Revenue Code limits, and in a deferred compensation plan for management-level employees. These benefits are intended to keep us competitive in attracting and retaining executive and other management-level employees by restoring benefits that will not be paid to them under our pension plan or 401(k) plan due to tax law limits. SeePension Benefits” and “2017 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation” in the “Compensation Tables” section below. We have also entered into limited change in control severance agreements with certain of our executive officers and provide a modest program of executive perquisites and personal benefits which serve the specific purposes described in this Compensation Discussion and Analysis and the tables that follow.

 

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Executive Compensation — Compensation Discussion and Analysis

 

 

Mix of Total Target Compensation.    The following charts illustrate the percentage of target total compensation for our CEO and our other named executive officers on average, respectively, represented by each element of compensation for 2017. For 2017, 90% of total target CEO compensation and 80% of total target compensation of the other named executive officers was dependent on corporate and individual performance and relative total stockholder return.

 

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*

Target cash payment for 2017 target corporate and individual performance.

**

Grant date fair value of stock options granted in 2017, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 (Stock Compensation). See Note 1 to the Summary Compensation Table below.

***

Grant date fair value of target shares of Eastman common stock underlying performance shares awarded for the 2017-2019 performance period and of shares underlying restricted stock units awarded in 2017, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 (Stock Compensation). See Note 1 to the Summary Compensation Table below.

****

For a description of other compensation, see Note 5 to the Summary Compensation Table below.

Risk Analysis of Executive Compensation.    The balance of short-term and long-term compensation as tools to drive individual behaviors and risk management is carefully considered in the design and administration of the Company’s overall employee compensation programs. While a significant portion of our executive compensation is performance-based, we do not believe that our philosophy or objectives encourage excessive risk-taking. The Compensation Committee has focused our management compensation program on aligning the Company’s compensation with the long-term interests of Eastman, and has designed the elements of our executive compensation program to discourage management decisions that could pose inappropriate long-term risks to the Company and its stockholders, using the following methods:

 

 

The compensation of our executive officers is not overly-weighted toward short-term incentives. For instance, our CEO’s and other named executive officer’s target annual cash incentive pay opportunity for 2017 was 12% to 15% of his total target compensation. Moreover, annual cash incentive pay awards are capped at 200% of an executive’s target award opportunity to protect against disproportionately large short-term incentives, and the Compensation Committee has broad discretion in determining the amount of the variable cash payout to each executive based upon individual performance and other factors, including whether an executive has caused Eastman to take excessive risk.

 

 

Our stock ownership expectations are for the CEO to hold Eastman stock and stock-equivalents having a value of at least five times base annual pay and for the other executive officers to hold Eastman stock and stock-equivalents having a value of at least two-and-one-half times their respective base annual pay. We also prohibit our executive officers from entering into arrangements designed to hedge their exposure to changes in the market price of Eastman stock or from pledging Eastman stock as security or collateral for loans or in margin brokerage accounts. SeeStock Ownership of

 

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Executive Compensation — Compensation Discussion and Analysis

 

 

 

Directors and Executive Officers — Director and Executive Stock Ownership Expectations; No Hedging or Pledging of Company Stock”. These policies ensure that each executive will have a significant amount of personal wealth tied to the long-term performance of Eastman stock and that their interests will remain aligned with those of our other stockholders.

 

 

The largest portion of total target executive pay is long-term, stock-based incentive compensation that vests, if earned, over a period of years. The stock payout opportunity combined with a multi-year vesting period encourages our executives to focus on maximizing Eastman’s long-term performance. These awards are made annually, so executives will continue to have unvested awards that will provide value only if our business continues to be appropriately managed and performing over the long term.

 

 

A significant portion of executives’ long-term incentive compensation opportunities consist of performance share awards. Performance share award payouts are tied to how Eastman performs on certain metrics identified by the Compensation Committee as appropriately driving long-term stockholder value over a three-year period. This approach focuses management on sustaining the Company’s long-term performance. These awards also have overlapping performance periods, thereby discouraging excessive risk-taking in the near-term because such behavior could jeopardize the potential long-term payouts under other awards. To further ensure that there is not a significant incentive for excessive risk-taking, the payout of these awards has been capped at 250% of target for the 2015-2017, 2016-2018 and 2017-2019 performance periods.

 

 

The variety of corporate and individual performance evaluated by the Compensation Committee to determine various forms of long-term and short-term incentive pay (including operating earnings, earnings per share, cash flow, free cash flow, return on capital, employee safety, and total stockholder return relative to peer companies) is designed to minimize the risk that executives will focus excessive attention on a single area of performance or performance measure.

 

 

Company policies and the plan under which our long-term stock-based incentive compensation awards are made require repayment of certain variable and incentive compensation amounts in the event of an accounting restatement due to material noncompliance by the Company with financial reporting requirements. SeeCompensation Recoupment ‘Clawback’ Policy” below.

We believe that this combination of factors encourages our executives to manage our businesses and execute our strategy for growth in a prudent manner.

In 2017, Aon Hewitt, the Compensation Committee’s independent external compensation consultant, conducted a risk assessment of our compensation policies, programs, and practices, including executive compensation and broad-based compensation programs for all employees. Based on the results of Aon Hewitt’s assessment, the Compensation Committee concluded that the Company’s compensation programs and practices are well aligned with corporate strategy, contain appropriate risk balancing and mitigation features, and are not structured in a way that should incent risk taking that is reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.

Review of 2017 Executive Compensation

The Compensation Committee reviewed overall compensation of the Chief Executive Officer and the other executive officers and determined each component of executive compensation for 2017 as described below. As part of this review, the Compensation Committee:

 

 

Reviewed the value of each type of compensation and benefit for each executive officer, including annual incentive pay opportunities and long-term stock-based compensation awards, perquisites and personal benefits, deferred accounts, and retirement plans and determined that the amounts, individually and in the aggregate, were appropriate and in line with external market and internal comparisons.

 

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Executive Compensation — Compensation Discussion and Analysis

 

 

 

 

Considered the estimated value of outstanding unvested, unexercised, and unrealized stock-based awards in its review of the types and values of each executive officer’s compensation.

 

 

Determined the amount and forms of compensation considering:

 

   

Company and individual performance,

 

   

compensation relative to that for similar positions in other companies,

 

   

the mix of short- and long-term compensation, and total compensation, relative to other Eastman executive officers and employees,

 

   

whether the features of each form of compensation are appropriately balanced in terms of the types of corporate and individual performance being incented, the levels and types of risk they encourage managers to evaluate and take, and whether the compensation encourages managers to take unnecessary risks,

 

   

background information and recommendations from the Company’s management compensation organization and from the external compensation consultant engaged by the Compensation Committee, and

 

   

the recommendations of the Chief Executive Officer regarding pay for the other executive officers.

For 2017, the Compensation Committee compared total annual cash compensation opportunity (base salary and target incentive pay opportunity) levels and the value and mix of long-term stock-based incentive pay opportunity levels for the Company’s executive officers with those of the following companies, taking into account differences in the relative size and businesses of these companies. Companies were selected with assistance from Aon Hewitt based upon similarity of their industry, number of employees, revenues, number and type of commercialized products, and market capitalization with Eastman. In 2016 the Committee reviewed with Aon Hewitt and made changes to its compensation benchmarking peer group for 2017 given recent changes to the business, products, strategy for growth, and size of the Company and to make the group more appropriate for Eastman’s continuing transition to a larger, more specialty global chemical company.

 

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.

Ashland Global Holdings Inc.

Ball Corporation

Celanese Corporation

Danaher Corporation

Dover Corporation

The Dow Chemical Company

Eaton Corporation Plc

Ecolab Inc.

E. I. DuPont de Nemours and Company

FMC Corporation

The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company

Ingersoll-Rand Plc

Monsanto Company

Mosaic Company

Parker-Hannifin Corporation

PPG Industries Inc.

Praxair Inc.

Sealed Air Corporation

Rockwell Automation, Inc.

The Sherwin-Williams Company

The Valspar Corporation

 

 

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Evaluation of Stockholder Say-on-Pay Vote Results

As described in “Item 2 — Advisory Approval of Executive Compensation” of this proxy statement, at the 2018 Annual Meeting stockholders will again have the opportunity to indicate their views on the compensation of our named executive officers by an advisory “say-on-pay” vote. At the Company’s 2017 Annual Meeting 92% of the votes cast on the say-on-pay proposal were voted in favor of the proposal. The Compensation Committee considered this vote result as general approval of the Company’s approach to executive compensation. Therefore, it did not make any significant changes in the structure of our executive compensation program for 2017. Instead, the Committee focused on refining select elements of the program, as summarized above under “Overview”. The Compensation Committee will continue to consider the results of future say-on-pay proposals, and other appropriate executive compensation and corporate governance developments, in future years when making compensation decisions for our named executive officers.

Elements of our Executive Compensation

Annual Cash Compensation — Base Salary and Incentive Pay

How Base Salary and Annual Incentive Pay Levels Are Determined.    For executive officers, targeted total cash compensation is intended to be competitive with comparable pay for similar jobs when target levels of corporate, business and functional organization, and individual performance are achieved. The targeted levels of cash compensation are based upon information provided by Aon Hewitt and from publicly available information. For 2017, a significant portion of each executive officer’s total pay was variable, as shown in the charts under “Mix of Total Target Compensation”. Depending upon Company, business and functional unit, and individual performance, executive officers could receive more or less than their target amount.

As requested by the Compensation Committee, Aon Hewitt provided benchmarking analyses of the total cash compensation for executives with similar positions at the comparator companies listed above. Aon Hewitt also advised the Compensation Committee of general market cash compensation practices and trends. In determining each executive officer’s targeted total cash compensation, the Compensation Committee considered this benchmarking data and also applied its judgment in considering the competitive market for executive talent, comparative pay levels of other executive officers, relative cash compensation of other jobs in the Company, and differences between the Company’s executive positions and those of the comparator companies. For 2017, the Compensation Committee set the targeted cash pay for executives within a range of 10% above or below the median level of the total targeted cash compensation for comparable positions at the comparator companies, with exceptions for changes in individual scope of responsibilities, corporate performance, and time and experience in position.

Base Salary.    In late 2016 and early 2017, after reviewing market competitive pay levels and the targeted total cash compensation of the executive officers, the Compensation Committee determined that base salary increases were appropriate for each of the executive officers because their targeted total cash compensation was below the median of the comparator companies. In addition to external comparisons, the Committee considered the cash compensation levels of each executive officer relative to that of each other executive officer. Even with these increases in base salary, our executive officers’ total annual compensation for 2017 consisted primarily of variable compensation. The base salary amounts reported in the “Salary” column of the Summary Compensation Table were determined by the Committee based on the Committee’s target total cash compensation decisions for 2017.

 

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Executive Compensation — Compensation Discussion and Analysis

 

 

Annual Incentive Pay — Unit Performance Plan.    For 2017, the variable portion of cash compensation paid to approximately 900 management level employees, including the executive officers, was determined under the Unit Performance Plan (the “UPP”). Under the UPP, the Compensation Committee sets a cash payout pool target amount at the beginning of each year, with the total available payout ranging from 0 to 200 percent of target amount depending on the Company’s financial performance. Notwithstanding the payout pool calculated based on actual corporate financial performance against the pre-set target measures, the Committee reserves discretion to adjust the total payout pool amount to reflect overall corporate performance, business and financial conditions and other corporate objectives. The total UPP award pool is determined after the end of the performance year as the aggregate of the UPP payouts for each participant if the individual’s organizational and individual performance were at target levels multiplied by a “performance factor” determined by calculated actual corporate performance compared to the pre-set performance goals, subject to adjustment for overall corporate performance and business and financial conditions.

 

HOW THE UPP WORKS
At the start of the year — establish corporate performance measures and individual performance goals    LOGO    Throughout the year — track corporate and individual performance, consider adjustments to GAAP corporate performance measures    LOGO    After year end — determine corporate performance and any adjustments, evaluate individual performance, and fund payout pool and distribute awards

2017 UPP named executive officer target opportunities.    Consistent with our compensation objectives, as employees assume greater responsibilities more of their pay is linked to Company and individual performance. Variable UPP cash pay targets (expressed as a percentage of base salary) are established at the beginning of the performance year based on job responsibilities, relative targets for other Company positions, and comparator company practices. For the named executive officers, the target annual UPP incentive opportunities for 2017 were as follows:

 

Name

  Title   Target UPP
Opportunity as % of
Base Salary

Mark J. Costa

  Chief Executive Officer  

140%

Curtis E. Espeland

  Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer     90%

Brad A. Lich

  Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer     90%

Lucian Boldea

 

Senior Vice President, Additives & Functional Products

    80%

Stephen G. Crawford

  Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer     70%

2017 UPP Company performance measure and targets.    The 2017 UPP payout pool was determined based 75% on Company adjusted earnings from operations (“EFO”) and 25% on free cash flow (“FCF”).

 

 

EFO under the 2017 UPP is earnings from operations as adjusted by the Compensation Committee for certain cost, charge, and income items that were not included in the Company’s targeted financial performance under management’s annual business plan as approved by the Board in early 2017 (the “annual business plan”) and that were excluded from operating earnings in the non-GAAP financial measures disclosed by the Company in its quarterly and annual public disclosures of financial results as non-core or unusual items. The selection of adjusted EFO as a measure of 2017 corporate performance was intended to focus management level employees on both top-line revenue and bottom-line earnings and to allow measurement of UPP performance throughout the year based upon reported Company quarterly financial results. The Committee chose adjusted EFO to tie the performance measure and targets to the strategy and corresponding annual business plan targets on which UPP participant performance would be evaluated in 2017.

 

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Executive Compensation — Compensation Discussion and Analysis

 

 

 

 

FCF under the 2017 UPP is GAAP cash provided by operating activities less GAAP cash used in additions to properties and equipment, subject to adjustment for any unusual items that the Committee considers distortive of free cash flow and that were not included in the Company’s targeted performance under the annual business plan. FCF reflects the cash generated in the current year that enables the Company to invest in innovation in the core businesses and inorganic growth through acquisitions, and allows measurement of performance throughout the year based upon reported Company quarterly financial results.

In establishing the 2017 UPP EFO and FCF performance targets, the Committee considered the targeted 2017 financial and strategic performance under the annual business plan. The UPP payout pools were set for above-target payout if the Company exceeded target annual business plan performance and below-target payout if performance did not meet target annual business plan EFO and FCF.

2017 UPP Company performance and payout pool.    Near target adjusted EFO and above target FCF and the Committee’s exercise of its discretion to adjust the payout pool to reflect overall corporate performance resulted in a below target payout pool for 2017. The 2017 UPP threshold, target, and maximum adjusted EFO and FCF targets and corresponding payout multiples, actual adjusted EFO and FCF, the Committee’s adjustment to the calculated total payout pool, and resulting payout multiples for the UPP award pool are described and shown below.

 

 

Adjusted EFO for 2017 was $1.631 billion and FCF for 2017 was $1.008 billion ($1.657 billion cash provided by operating activities less $649 million cash used in additions to properties and equipment), resulting in a calculated “performance factor” under the UPP of .99X of target for executives and other senior managers. The calculation of EFO under the UPP for 2017 was adjusted to exclude from GAAP operating earnings as an unusual item net costs resulting from the disruption of manufacturing operations in the Kingsport site’s coal gasification area in fourth quarter 2017 and as non-core items mark-to-market pension and other postretirement benefit net gain and asset impairments and restructuring charges. These adjustments increased the calculated EFO under the UPP by $99 million and the UPP award pool by $4.6 million. The Committee exercised its discretion to adjust the calculated total payout pool to reflect overall corporate performance by reducing the total payout pool amount by $2.8 million due to the impact on business and financial results of the coal gasification incident, resulting in a total UPP award pool for all management level employees of .90X of target ($33 million).

 

 

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Executive Compensation — Compensation Discussion and Analysis

 

 

The chart below shows the multiples of target UPP payouts for each of 2015 (the sole corporate performance measure for 2015 was adjusted EFO), 2016 and 2017.

Multiple of UPP Target Payout 2015-2017

 

 

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2017 UPP named executive officer payouts.    The Compensation Committee determined the portions of the overall UPP award pool to be allocated to the CEO and to the other executive officers as a group. The Chief Executive Officer, in consultation with the other executive officers, determined the allocation of the overall UPP award pool to the various organizations within the Company for payouts to other management-level employees. The allocation was based on their assessment of the performance of each organization relative to objectives established at the beginning of the performance year.

Once each organization’s portion of the overall award pool was determined, management within each organization (the Chief Executive Officer and the Compensation Committee in the case of the executive officers other than the CEO and, in the case of the Chief Executive Officer, the Compensation Committee) allocated the organization’s portion of the Company award pool for individual payouts, based upon individual performance against the financial, organizational, and strategic performance objectives and expectations established at the beginning of the performance year.

The Compensation Committee determined the CEO’s payout based upon the Compensation Committee’s assessment of his individual performance as described below. The portion of the overall UPP award pool allocated to the other executive officers which was paid to the named executive officers was based upon the CEO’s and the Committee’s assessment of each executive’s individual performance as described below.

For 2017, the following corporate performance objectives were established for the CEO and the other executive officers based upon targeted 2017 performance under the annual business plan, with no specific weighting among the corporate performance objectives for the purpose of evaluating individual performance. Actual performance against these objectives was assessed by the Compensation Committee (for the CEO) and by the CEO and the Compensation Committee (for the other executive officers) as part of their determination of the amounts of the individual payouts:

 

Measure

   Target    Actual

Adjusted earnings from operations*

   $1.635 billion    $1.631 billion

Adjusted earnings per share*

   $7.30    $7.61

Free cash flow*

   ³$1 billion    $1.008 billion

Employee safety — days away from work
(measured as days away from work per 200,000 hours worked)

   £0.12    0.20

OSHA recordable injuries (measured per 200,000 hours worked)

   £0.54    0.71
*

Non-GAAP financial measure, with adjustments and calculations as described above.

 

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Additionally, each of the executive officers had individual performance commitments specific to each executive’s area of responsibility, with no specific weighting among the commitments. Performance of the CEO (as assessed by the Compensation Committee) and of the other named executive officers (as assessed by the CEO and the Compensation Committee) was as follows:

 

Named Executive  Officer

   Commitments   Performance

 

Mark J. Costa

  

 

Overall financial and business performance (including progress in transformation to more specialty product earnings mix and management of impact of coal gasification incident)

 

 

Met

  

 

Growth and innovation (including market development, new product and technology initiatives, and portfolio management)

 

 

Exceeded

  

 

Productivity (including cost reductions and targeted growth and innovation spending)

 

 

Met

  

 

Organizational capabilities enhancement (including management development and succession, talent development and retention, and diversity and inclusion initiatives)

 

 

Exceeded

  

 

Employee safety and wellness

 

 

Met partially

 

Curtis E. Espeland

  

 

Earnings (including contribution of lower interest expense and effective tax rate and capital and cash allocation and uses)

 

 

Met

  

 

Cash flow

 

 

Met

  

 

Corporate growth strategy leadership and capabilities enhancements

 

 

Met

  

 

Management of response to and impact of tax law changes

 

 

Met

 

Brad A. Lich

  

 

AM and Fibers segments business results (including revenue and EFO)

 

 

Met

  

 

AM and Fibers segments organic growth and innovation initiatives (including new technology and product development and commercialization)

 

 

Exceeded

  

 

Productivity (including Fibers business changes and cost reduction and procurement initiatives)

 

 

Met

  

 

Organizational capabilities enhancement (including senior management and leadership development and core business processes capabilities improvement initiatives)

 

 

Exceeded

 

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Named Executive  Officer

   Commitments   Performance

 

Lucian Boldea

  

 

AFP segment business results (including revenue, EFO, and cost management)

  Exceeded
  

 

AFP segment organic growth and innovation initiatives (including new technology and product development and commercialization)

 

 

Exceeded

  

 

Organizational capabilities enhancement (including senior management and leadership development, sales and technology capabilities, and customer engagement)

 

 

Exceeded

 

Stephen G. Crawford

  

 

Growth and innovation (including technology initiatives and product development and commercialization)

 

 

Exceeded

  

 

Organizational capabilities enhancement (including targeted research and development innovation initiatives)

 

 

Exceeded

    

 

Productivity (including technology-driven manufacturing debottlenecks, operating improvements, and cost reduction)

 

 

Met

The Compensation Committee determined that, based upon actual corporate performance against targets as listed above, each named executive’s individual performance and leadership that contributed to this performance was satisfactory and met or exceeded expectations for purposes of determining his allocated individual portion of the respective award pools. The Compensation Committee also evaluated each executive’s individual performance against his individual commitments as described above, and concluded that each named executive’s individual performance was overall at or above target levels for purposes of determining their individual portions of the respective award pools.

Based upon the amount of the UPP award pool allocated to the CEO and to the other executive officers, respectively, and the assessments of the CEO’s and other executives’ individual performance against established goals and expectations as described above, the Compensation Committee determined the amounts of the individual payouts from the allocated portions of the UPP award pools based upon the Committee’s judgment of overall Company performance and performance of applicable business or functional units, each individual executive’s overall contribution and leadership, and external business conditions and circumstances, as follows:

 

Named Executive Officer

  UPP  Payout   Target UPP  Payout  

 UPP Payout 

 as % of Target 

Mark J. Costa

    $ 1,449,000     $ 1,610,000       90 %

Curtis E. Espeland

      612,000       679,500       90 %

Brad A. Lich

      511,000       567,000       90 %

Lucian Boldea

      458,000       424,000       108 %

Stephen G. Crawford

      390,000       360,500       108 %

 

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The 2017 UPP payouts to the named executive officers are reported in the “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation Table below.

Stock-Based Incentive Pay

Equity-Based Compensation Program.    Equity-based compensation is designed to facilitate stock ownership in order to link senior managers’ pay to the Company’s long-term performance to further align those managers’ interests with the interests of other stockholders. Important elements of the executive equity-based compensation program are:

 

Stock Options

Granted under the Company’s Omnibus Stock Compensation Plan (the “Omnibus Plan”), stock options create a direct link between compensation of key Company managers and long-term performance of the Company through appreciation of stock price.

 

Performance Shares

Awarded under the Omnibus Plan to provide an incentive for key managers to earn stock awards by meeting specified multi-year business or individual performance goals.

 

Other Stock-Based Incentive Pay

Under the Omnibus Plan, the Compensation Committee may also award additional stock-based compensation (with or without restrictions), including restricted stock units, performance units, stock appreciation rights, and additional stock options with performance-based or other conditions to vesting.

 

Stock Ownership Expectations

Established for executive officers to encourage long-term stock ownership and the holding of shares awarded under the Omnibus Plan or acquired upon exercise of options. Over a five-year period, executive officers are expected to accumulate stock with a value of two and one-half times their annual base salary (five times base salary for the Chief Executive Officer) in Company stock and stock equivalents. SeeStock Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers — Director and Executive Stock Ownership Expectations.” All executive officers have met or are on schedule to meet their ownership expectations.

How Stock-Based Incentive Pay Levels Are Determined.    The Compensation Committee establishes the annual value and mix of total stock-based incentive pay opportunities by considering recommendations from Aon Hewitt based on long-term compensation survey data for the comparator companies listed under “Review of 2017 Executive Compensation”.

As requested by the Compensation Committee, Aon Hewitt provides benchmarking analysis of this long-term stock-based compensation information, and also advises the Compensation Committee of general market stock-based incentive compensation practices and trends.

The Compensation Committee also regularly reviews with Aon Hewitt the potential realizable value of each named executive officer’s outstanding unvested, unexercised, and unrealized stock-based awards compared to similar pay of executives at the comparator companies in determining stock-based incentive pay opportunity levels.

For 2017, stock options and performance shares were awarded at a target opportunity level intended to align total stock-based compensation with the mid-range of comparable stock-based compensation of the comparator companies.

Stock Options.    In 2017, the Compensation Committee determined to provide approximately 25% of the value of each executive officer’s stock-based compensation in the form of stock options. The Compensation Committee grants time-based vesting stock options with an exercise price equal to the market price of the underlying stock on the grant date, and on the date of its authorization of grants it sets a grant date that is on or after the date of approval of the grant. In determining the size and terms of option awards, the Compensation Committee used the services of Aon Hewitt to derive

 

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values of options using a variation of the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. In addition, Aon Hewitt advises the Compensation Committee on the design of retention and performance incentive features of option grants. Computation of the value of option awards is comparable to values determined under FASB ASC Topic 718 and reported in the “2017 Grants of Plan-Based Awards” table below.

Long-Term Performance Shares.    Other than the executives who received restricted stock unit awards as described below, the other 75% of each executive officer’s 2017 stock-based compensation was in the form of performance shares. Shares of Company common stock are paid under performance shares based on the Company’s multi-year performance based on two measures:

 

 

a return on capital target established at the beginning of the three-year performance period, and

 

 

the Company’s total return to stockholders (change in stock price plus dividends declared during the performance period, assuming reinvestment of dividends) relative to a peer group of industrial companies.

The return on capital target is established considering corporate and strategic business plans and expectations for the performance period. Performance relative to the total return to stockholders target is determined by the Company’s quintile placement relative to the peer group of industrial companies at the end of the three-year performance period. If earned, awards are paid after the end of the performance period in unrestricted shares of Eastman common stock. Consistent with recent and ongoing changes to the Company’s business, products, and strategy for growth, the Committee designed the 2015-2017 and the 2016-2018 performance shares with greater weight on relative total stockholder return and less relative reward for higher levels of return on capital than for prior periods to reflect the strategic emphasis on specialty businesses and products and, as described in “Overview”, removed certain companies (The Chemours Company and Rayonier Advanced Materials) from and added certain companies (Celanese Corporation, Westlake Chemical Corporation, and Huntsman Corporation) to the peer group of industrial companies (the group of companies within the “Materials Sector” classified as Chemical companies from the Standard and Poor’s Super Composite 1500 Index) used in measurement of relative total shareholder return for purposes of the 2017-2019 performance shares. Although the actual payout of the performance share awards in 2017 will not be determinable until after the end of the performance period in 2019, a grant date fair value of such awards is reported in the 2017 “Stock Awards” column of the Summary Compensation Table, the range of possible share payouts is reported in the “Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards” column of the “2017 Grants of Plan-Based Awards” table, and the targets and payout matrix is included in the form of the 2017-2019 performance share award filed as Exhibit 10.23 to the Company’s 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

In early 2018, the Compensation Committee reviewed performance results and approved a payout of shares to the executive officers under performance shares previously awarded for the 2015-2017 performance period. The payouts to the named executive officers under the 2015-2017 performance shares are reported in the “Stock Awards” column of the “2017 Option Exercises and Stock Vested” table below. The following tables show the targets and the payout matrix for the 2015-2017 performance shares:

 

Performance Years

  Target  Return on Capital  

Total Stockholder Return

(“TSR”) Target Quintile

2015, 2016 and 2017

      10.51 %         3rd Quintile 50 – 59 %  

 

    Weighted Return on Capital

Eastman TSR Relative

to Comparison Companies

  ³ 7.50 to
9.0%
  9.01 to
10.5%
  10.51 to
12.0%
  12.01 to
13.5%
  13.51 to
15.0%
  > 15%    

0-19% (5th quintile)

      0.0       0.0       0.0       0.2       0.3       0.4

20-39% (4th quintile)

      0.0       0.2       0.4       0.6       0.8       0.9

40-49% (3rd quintile)

      0.4       0.6       0.8       1.0       1.2       1.4

50-59% (3rd quintile)

      0.6       0.8       1.0       1.3       1.5       1.7

60-79% (2nd quintile)

      1.0       1.2       1.4       1.7       1.9       2.1

80-99% (1st quintile)

      1.0       1.8       2.0       2.3       2.4       2.5

 

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Payouts for the 2015-2017 performance period to the named executive officers ranged from 4,658 shares to 86,717 shares, and represented 140% of each executive’s target award (of a possible 250% of the target award) based upon the Company’s total stockholder return ranking in the 2nd quintile of the compared companies and an average return on capital of 10.80%. Measurement of return on capital under the performance shares was based on reported GAAP earnings, and did not exclude items excluded in the non-GAAP financial measures disclosed by the Company.

Restricted Stock Unit Awards.    From time to time, the Committee grants special cash or equity awards for recognition of sustained valuable performance or to retain key individuals who have critical skills of strategic importance.

The Compensation Committee awarded restricted stock units to each of named executive officer Stephen G. Crawford and one other executive officer on February 28, 2017. These awards, which will vest and be paid in unrestricted shares of Company common stock on February 28, 2020, subject to each executive’s continued employment, were awarded as retention incentive and as recognition and incentive for their continued leadership.

The Compensation Committee set the values and terms of these awards to be consistent with recent similar special retention and performance incentive awards to executive officers.

Stock-Based Incentive Awards in 2017.    In 2017, the named executive officers were awarded stock options, performance shares, and restricted stock units as described above in the numbers of shares below:

 

   

M.J.

Costa

   

C.E.

Espeland

   

B.A.

Lich

   

L.

Boldea

   

S.G.

Crawford

 

Ten-Year Stock Options (underlying shares)

    167,959       37,468       38,760       23,687       18,304  

Three-Year Performance Shares (target payout shares)

    74,304       16,576       17,147       10,479       8,098  

Restricted Stock Units (underlying shares)

    —         —         —         —         12,700  

Executive Perquisites and Personal Benefits

The Company provides only limited perquisites to our named executive officers, and those perquisites are designed to provide specific benefits. The Compensation Committee annually reviews the types and amount of perquisites provided to executives, and tax treatment of those perquisites for both the Company and the executive officers. Perquisites provided to executives for 2017 were:

 

 

personal umbrella liability insurance coverage,

 

 

home security system,

 

 

non-business travel on corporate aircraft by executives, their families, and invited guests when seats are available and the aircraft is otherwise being used for Company business, and

 

 

supplemental long-term disability insurance for a portion of executives’ annual cash compensation not replaced in the event of their disability under the all-employee long-term disability insurance plan.

In addition, in light of the significant time demands on our Chief Executive Officer, the Compensation Committee has determined that it is appropriate that the Chief Executive Officer use corporate aircraft whenever possible for both business and personal travel (and for his family when they are traveling with him). This personal use is accounted for and periodically reviewed by the Compensation Committee.

There are no tax gross-up payments made by the Company for any imputed income to the executive officers on perquisites or personal benefits.

Executive Termination and Change-in-Control Agreements

The Company believes that severance protections in the context of a change-in-control transaction can play a valuable role in attracting and retaining key executive officers, and that the occurrence, or potential occurrence, of a change-in-control

 

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transaction will create uncertainty regarding the continued employment of our executive officers. This uncertainty results from the fact that many change-in-control transactions result in significant organizational changes, particularly at the senior executive level. In order to eliminate such a distraction and encourage our executive officers to remain focused on maximizing value when their prospects for continued employment following a transaction are often uncertain, we provide certain of our executive officers with severance benefits if their employment is terminated by the Company without “cause” or by the executive for “good reason” in connection with a change-in-control. Detailed information regarding these change-in-control severance agreements and the benefits they provide is included in the “Termination and Change-in-Control Arrangements” section of this proxy statement.

The Compensation Committee evaluates the level of severance benefits payable to each executive officer, and considers these severance protections an important part of executives’ compensation and consistent with practices of peer companies. Consistent with recommendations from Aon Hewitt and current market and peer company practices, the Compensation Committee has approved and the Company has entered into change-in-control severance agreements with the named executive officers and certain other executive officers that provide for payments of no more than three-times base salary plus target annual variable cash pay opportunity for the CEO and two-times base salary plus target annual variable cash pay opportunity for other executive officers and which do not provide for any tax “gross up” payments to executives.

Tax Treatment of Executive Officer Compensation

Historically, the Compensation Committee has sought to preserve the Company’s ability to deduct compensation paid to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers for tax purposes to the extent possible while also maintaining the flexibility to compensate such officers in accordance with the Company’s compensation philosophy.

For tax years prior to 2018, Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code generally limited the deductibility to the Company of annual compensation (other than qualified “performance-based” compensation) in excess of $1 million paid to certain of the Company’s executive officers. Base salaries, variable cash compensation under the UPP, any bonus payments outside the UPP, and stock and stock-based compensation payable other than solely based on corporate performance conditions were generally subject to the $1 million limit on tax deductible compensation. Compensation attributable to stock options and performance shares could qualify for deductibility under Section 162(m). Changes in tax laws (and interpretations of those laws), as well as other factors beyond the Company’s control, also affected the deductibility of executive compensation. In addition, the Committee could determine that corporate objectives justified the cost of being unable to deduct annual and long-term incentive compensation. For these and other reasons, the Company did not necessarily in all circumstances limit executive compensation to the amount which was permitted to be deductible as an expense of the Company under Section 162(m).

A portion of named executive officer compensation for 2017 was non-deductible to the Company under Section 162(m). The anticipated amount of the Company’s taxes for non-deductible compensation in 2017 is approximately $450,000 and the additional tax cost of such non-deductible compensation has been determined by the Committee to be reasonable relative to total executive compensation cost and in context of overall compensation objectives.

For tax years starting in 2018, the “performance-based” compensation exception to the $1 million deduction limitation under Section 162(m) has been repealed. In general, all compensation (other than certain grandfathered compensation) in excess of $1 million to anyone who has served as a named executive officer in 2017 or later will be non-deductible. The Compensation Committee will continue to retain the discretion to pay non-deductible amounts. The Compensation Committee believes that such flexibility best serves the interests of the Company and its stockholders by allowing the Committee to recognize and motivate executive officers as circumstances warrant.

 

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Compensation Recoupment “Clawback” Policy

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, Company policy, and pending provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act govern the process for reimbursement by executive officers of certain cash bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation (sometimes referred to as “clawback”) received following public disclosure of an accounting restatement due to material noncompliance by the Company with any financial reporting requirements. In addition, certain outstanding awards under our Omnibus Long-Term Compensation Plans require reimbursement of certain amounts from awards following an accounting restatement due to material noncompliance by the Company with any financial reporting requirement.

The Compensation Committee has adopted an additional executive clawback policy which requires that, if the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to material noncompliance with financial reporting requirements, then any current and former executive officers who willfully committed an act of fraud, dishonesty, or recklessness that contributed to the noncompliance would be required to repay the amount of incentive-based compensation paid or granted to that executive within three years before the accounting restatement that was in excess of the amount that would have been paid or granted to that executive if the restated financial statements had originally been prepared and disclosed. The clawback policy was adopted in advance of final rules or regulations (“Final Regulations”) expected to be adopted by the SEC and listing requirements expected to be adopted by the New York Stock Exchange that would implement the incentive-based compensation recovery requirements of the Dodd-Frank Act. We expect that the clawback policy will remain operative until it may be amended to conform to any requirements that may be contained in the Final Regulations and, if necessary, the clawback policy will be interpreted and administered consistent with such Final Regulations.

 

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Compensation Tables

The following Summary Compensation Table provides information concerning compensation of the individuals serving as Eastman’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer during 2017 and the Company’s three other most highly compensated executive officers who were serving as executive officers at December 31, 2017 (the “named executive officers”).

Summary Compensation Table

 

Name and

Principal Position

  Year  

Salary

($)

 

Bonus

($)

 

Stock

Awards

($)(1)(2)

 

Option

Awards

($)(1)

 

Non-Equity

Incentive Plan

Compensation

($)(3)

 

Change in

Pension Value

And

Nonqualified

Deferred

Compensation

Earnings

($)(4)

 

All Other

Compensation

($)(5)

 

Total

($)

Mark J. Costa

Chief Executive Officer

      2017     $ 1,139,436     $ 0     $ 9,124,531     $ 1,980,237     $ 1,449,000     $ 448,854     $ 347,598     $ 14,489,656
      2016       1,102,895       0       6,295,442       1,771,578       1,301,300       564,900       361,952       11,398,067
      2015       1,117,070       0       5,181,984       1,422,197       1,673,100       251,440       231,514       9,877,305

Curtis E. Espeland

Executive Vice President

and Chief Financial Officer

      2017       751,506       0       2,035,533       441,748       612,000       356,010       73,631       4,270,428
      2016       736,887       0       1,445,156       406,680       723,000       436,151       75,450       3,823,324
      2015       737,956       0       2,715,367       367,404       774,000       111,334       62,249       4,768,310

Brad A. Lich

Executive Vice President

and Chief Commercial

Officer

      2017       626,161       0       2,105,652       456,980       511,000       329,942       66,481       4,096,216
      2016       611,007       0       2,949,348       399,056       705,000       328,834       63,900       5,057,145
      2015       620,902       0       1,165,969       319,998       668,000       140,442       51,559       2,966,870

Lucian Boldea

Senior Vice President,

Additives & Functional

Products(6)

      2017       522,729       0       1,286,821       279,270       458,000       141,175       41,596       2,729,591

Stephen G. Crawford

Senior Vice President

and Chief Technology

Officer(6)

      2017       512,200       0       2,013,609       215,804       390,000       367,955       42,598       3,542,166
      2016       484,892       0       767,778       216,054       341,000       372,108       43,792       2,225,624
                                                                                                             
(1)

Grant date fair value of awards of performance shares and restricted stock units (reported in the “Stock Awards” column) and options (reported in the “Option Awards” column) made in the year indicated, computed in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 718 (Stock Compensation). See note 17 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements in the Annual Report to Stockholders for 2017 mailed and delivered electronically with this proxy statement for a description of the assumptions made in the valuation of 2017 stock awards under FASB ASC Topic 718. For more information about stock and option awards, see2017 Grants of Plan-Based Awards”, “Outstanding Equity Awards at 2017 Year-End”, and “2017 Option Exercises and Stock Vested” tables.

 

(2)

Value of contingent stock awards (“performance shares” and “restricted stock units”) with future payment subject to satisfaction of continued employment for specified time periods and the achievement of specified performance-based conditions. Performance share awards were made for performance periods beginning January 1, 2015 and ending December 31, 2017, beginning January 1, 2016 and ending December 31, 2018, and beginning January 1, 2017 and ending December 31, 2019, respectively. Restricted stock units were awarded to Mr. Crawford on February 28, 2017, to Mr. Lich on February 28, 2016, and to Mr. Espeland on January 1, 2015 for the three year period following the award date. The potential maximum grant date value of the performance share awards assuming the highest level of

 

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performance conditions, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, were: Mr. Costa (2015 — $7,663,960, 2016 — $9,372,705, 2017 — $9,124,531); Mr. Espeland (2015 — $1,979,927, 2016 — $2,151,560, 2017 — $2,035,533); Mr. Lich (2015 — $1,724,425, 2016 — $2,111,260, 2017 — $2,105,652), Mr. Boldea (2017 — $1,286,821) and Mr. Crawford (2016 — $1,143,075, 2017 — $994,434).

 

(3)

Cash payments made in the following year for performance in the year indicated under the Unit Performance Plan (the “UPP”). As described in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” preceding these tables and in the “2017 Grants of Plan-Based Awards” table below, the UPP is the Company’s annual incentive pay program under which a portion of the total annual compensation of executive officers and other management-level employees is dependent upon corporate, organizational, and individual performance.

 

(4)

“Change in Pension Value” is the aggregate change in actuarial present value of the executive officer’s accumulated benefit under all defined benefit and actuarial retirement plans, which are the Company’s tax-qualified defined benefit pension plan (the Eastman Retirement Assistance Plan, or “ERAP”) and unfunded, nonqualified retirement plans supplemental to the ERAP that provide benefits in excess of those allowed under the ERAP (the Eastman Unfunded Retirement Income Plan, or “URIP”, and the Eastman Excess Retirement Income Plan, or “ERIP”). These changes in present value are not directly in relation to final payout potential, and can vary significantly year-over-year based on (i) promotions and corresponding changes in salary; (ii) other one-time adjustments to salary or other reasons; (iii) actual age versus predicted age at retirement; (iv) the interest (or “discount”) rate used to determine present value of benefit; and (v) other relevant factors. A decrease in the discount rate results in an increase in the present value of the accumulated benefit without any increase in the benefits payable to the named executive officer at retirement and an increase in the discount rate has the opposite effect.

 

  

The aggregate increase in actuarial value of the pension plans is computed as of the same pension plan measurement date used for financial statement reporting purposes with respect to the Company’s financial statements for 2017, 2016, and 2015. The actuarial present value calculations are based on prescribed IRS mortality tables and assume individual compensation and service through December 31, 2017, December 31, 2016, and December 31, 2015, respectively, with benefit commencement at the normal retirement age of 65. Benefits are discounted using a 3.63% discount rate for the ERAP and a 3.59% discount rate for the URIP for the 2017 calculation, a 3.97% discount rate for the ERAP and a 3.78% discount rate for the URIP for the 2016 calculation, and a 4.25% discount rate for the ERAP and the URIP for the 2015 calculation. See the “Pension Benefits” table for additional information about the named executive officers’ benefits under the pension plans.

 

  

“Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings” refers to above-market or preferential earnings on compensation that is deferred on a basis that is not tax-qualified, including such earnings on amounts in nonqualified defined contribution plans. The Company maintains the Executive Deferred Compensation Plan (the “EDCP”), an unfunded, nonqualified deferred compensation plan into which executive officers can defer compensation until retirement or termination from the Company. For 2017, 2016, and 2015, there were no preferential or above-market earnings on amounts in individual EDCP accounts (defined as appreciation in value and dividend equivalents earned at a rate higher than appreciation in value and dividends on common stock and interest on amounts deferred at a rate exceeding 120% of the federal long term rate). See the “2017 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation” table for additional information about the named executive officers’ EDCP accounts.

 

(5)

“All Other Compensation” for 2017 consists of the following:

 

   

Annual Company contributions to defined contribution plans.    The amounts reported for 2017 are the total annual Company contributions to the accounts of Messrs. Costa ($121,892), Espeland ($73,631), Lich ($66,481), Crawford ($42,598) and Boldea ($41,596) in the Eastman Investment Plan, a 401(k) retirement plan, and in the EDCP. Contributions to the Eastman Investment Plan equaled $13,500 for each named executive officer, with the remaining Company contributions to their respective EDCP accounts. See the “2017 Nonqualified Deferred

 

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Compensation” table for additional information about Company contributions into the named executive officers’ EDCP accounts. Annual Company contributions were based upon actual compensation paid during the calendar year.

 

   

Perquisites and other personal benefits.     Perquisites and personal benefits to the named executives (described in “Compensation Discussion and Analysis — Executive Perquisites and Personal Benefits”) are not reported for 2017 except for Mr. Costa, since the total incremental cost to the Company per individual was less than $10,000.

The amount reported for Mr. Costa for 2017 is the aggregate value, based upon the incremental cost to the Company, of the following perquisites and other personal benefits: personal umbrella liability insurance coverage ($1,553), home security system ($1,451), supplemental long-term disability insurance ($13,353), and non-business travel on corporate aircraft by Mr. Costa and his family ($209,349). The aggregate incremental cost to the Company for operating the corporate aircraft for personal flights for the Chief Executive Officer and his family is based upon calculation of direct operating costs including fuel, fuel additives, lubricants, maintenance, reserves for engine restoration and overhaul, landing and parking expenses, crew expenses, and miscellaneous supplies and catering (including for any “deadhead” segments of such flights when the aircraft flies empty before picking up or dropping off Mr. Costa). The aggregate incremental costs to the Company of the umbrella liability insurance, the home security system, and supplemental long-term disability insurance are the actual amounts paid by the Company.

 

(6)

Mr. Crawford became an executive officer on January 1, 2014 and was a named executive officer in 2016 and 2017. Mr. Boldea became an executive officer on July 1, 2016 and was a named executive officer in 2017.

 

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The following table provides certain information regarding the 2017 award opportunities under the Unit Performance Plan (the “UPP”) and equity incentive awards made in 2017 to the individuals named in the Summary Compensation Table.

2017 Grants of Plan-Based Awards

 

Name

  Approval
Date
(1)
  Grant
Date
(2)
 

 

Estimated Future Payouts Under
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards(3)

     

 

Estimated Future
Payouts Under Equity
Incentive Plan Awards(4)

  All Other
Stock
Awards:
Number of
Shares of
Stock or
Units
(#)(5)
  All Other
Option
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options
(#)(6)
  Exercise or
Base Price
of Option
Awards
($/Share)
(7)
 

 Grant
Date 

 Fair Value 

 of Stock 

 and
Option 

 Awards 

 (8) 

      Threshold
($)
  Target
($)
  Maximum
($)
      Threshold
(#)
  Target
(#)
  Maximum
(#)
       

M. J. Costa

          1/1/2017     $ 805,000     $ 1,610,000     $ 3,220,000                                
      2/15/2017       1/1/2017                                               14,861       74,304       185,760                                   $ 9,124,531   
      2/15/2017       2/28/2017                                       167,959     $ 80.25       1,980,237   

C. E. Espeland

          1/1/2017       339,750       679,500       1,359,000                                
      2/15/2017       1/1/2017                                               3,315       16,576       41,440                                     2,035,533   
      2/15/2017       2/28/2017                                       37,468       80.25       441,748   

B. A. Lich

          1/1/2017       283,500       567,000       1,134,000                                
      2/15/2017       1/1/2017                                               3,429       17,147       42,868                                     2,105,652   
      2/15/2017       2/28/2017                                       38,760       80.25       456,980   

L. Boldea

          1/1/2017       212,000       424,000       848,000                                
      2/15/2017       1/1/2017                                               2,096       10,479       26,198                                     1,286,821   
      2/15/2017       2/28/2017                                       23,687       80.25       279,270   

S. G. Crawford

          1/1/2017       180,250       360,500       721,000                                
      2/15/2017       1/1/2017                                               1,620       8,098       20,245                                     994,434   
      2/15/2017       2/28/2017                                                                                       18,304       80.25       215,804   
        2/15/2017       2/28/2017                                                                             12,700                           1,019,175   
(1)

The Compensation Committee made stock option grants, performance share awards for the 2017-2019 performance period, and special restricted stock unit awards in February 2017.

 

(2)

Performance share awards for 2017-2019 were effective as of the beginning of the performance period on January 1, 2017. The UPP award opportunities relate to 2017 performance.

 

(3)

Estimated possible payouts for 2017 under the UPP. The “Threshold” column reflects the 50% payout level if performance is at minimum of 85% of target levels. The “Target” column reflects the 100% payout level if performance is at 100% of target levels. The “Maximum” column reflects the 200% payout level if performance is at or above 115% of target levels for specified above-goal performance. See the “Summary Compensation Table” for actual payouts under the UPP for 2017 and “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” for a description of the UPP and how the payouts were determined.

 

(4)

Estimated future share payouts at threshold, target, and maximum levels for performance shares for the 2017-2019 performance period, assuming performance conditions are satisfied. See alsoCompensation Discussion and Analysis” for a description of how performance share payouts are determined, “Outstanding Equity Awards at 2017 Year-End” table, and “Termination and Change-in-Control Arrangements”.

 

(5)

Restricted stock units, representing the right to receive the same number of unrestricted shares of common stock on the third anniversary of the award date, subject to continued employment (other than in the event of termination by reason of death or disability). An amount equal to cash dividends paid on common stock during the period that the restricted stock units are outstanding and unvested is payable in cash on the vesting date of the restricted stock units.

 

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(6)

Nonqualified stock options granted during 2017. Options granted in 2017 have an exercise price equal to the closing price on the New York Stock Exchange of the underlying common stock on the date of grant. The stock options vest and become exercisable in one-third increments on each of the first three anniversaries of the grant date, with acceleration of vesting in the event of a “change in ownership” or in certain circumstances following a “change in control.” Stock options generally expire ten years from the date of grant. Upon termination by reason of death, disability, or retirement, the stock options remain exercisable for the lesser of five years following the date of termination or the expiration date. If an employee resigns, the stock options remain exercisable for the lesser of ninety days or the expiration date. Stock options not previously exercised are canceled and forfeited upon termination for cause. SeeSummary Compensation Table”, “Outstanding Equity Awards at 2017 Year-End” and “2017 Option Exercises and Stock Vested” tables, and “Termination and Change-in-Control Arrangements”.

 

(7)

Per-share exercise prices of the stock options granted in 2017. The exercise price is the closing price of common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the grant date.

 

(8)

Grant date fair value of each stock-based award, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718.

 

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The following table provides information regarding outstanding option grants and stock awards as of December 31, 2017 held by individuals named in the Summary Compensation Table.

Outstanding Equity Awards at 2017 Year-End

 

    Option Awards       Stock Awards
  Name   Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable
  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable
  Equity Incentive
Plan Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unearned
Options (#)
  Option
Exercise
Price ($)
  Option
Expiration
Date
      Number of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested
(#)
  Market Value
of Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested
($)(1)
  Equity Incentive
Plan Awards:
Number of
Unearned
Shares, Units or
Other Rights
That Have Not
Vested (#)(2)
 

 Equity Incentive 

 Plan Awards: 

 Market or 

 Payout Value of 

 Unearned 

 Shares, Units or 

 Other Rights 

 That Have Not 

 Vested ($)(3) 

M. J. Costa

      55,000                         $ 27.82       10/26/2019                                                  
      52,000                           39.84       11/1/2020                                                  
      33,000                           38.30       10/31/2021                                                  
      30,246                           69.73       2/27/2023                                                  
      3,361                           69.73       2/27/2023                                                  
      57,580                           87.43       2/27/2024                                                  
      68,260       34,130 (4)                 74.46       2/26/2025                                                  
      53,831       107,662 (5)                 65.16       2/25/2026                                                  
          167,959 (6)           80.25       2/27/2027                    
                                      236,674     $ 21,925,479

C. E. Espeland

      47,000                           39.84       11/1/2020                                                  
      35,000                           38.30       10/31/2021                                                  
      22,685                           69.73       2/27/2023                                                  
      2,521                           69.73       2/27/2023                                                  
      16,227                           87.43       2/27/2024                                                  
      17,634       8,817 (4)                 74.46       2/26/2025                                                  
      12,357       24,715 (5)                 65.16       2/25/2026                                                  
                37,468 (6)                 80.25       2/27/2027                                                  
                                                                  18,000 (7)     $ 1,667,520                    
                                      53,512       4,957,352

B. A. Lich

      3,068                           39.84       11/1/2020                                                  
      5,134                           38.30       10/31/2021                                                  
      4,537                           69.73       2/27/2023                                                  
      505                           69.73       2/27/2023                                                  
      9,423                           87.43       2/27/2024                                                  
      15,358       7,680 (4)                 74.46       2/26/2025                                                  
      12,125       24,252 (5)                 65.16       2/25/2026                                                  
                38,760 (6)                 80.25       2/27/2027                                                  
                                                                  23,500 (7)       2,177,040                    
                                                                                        54,009       5,003,394

 

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    Option Awards       Stock Awards
  Name   Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable
  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable
  Equity Incentive
Plan Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unearned
Options (#)
  Option
Exercise
Price ($)
  Option
Expiration
Date
      Number of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested
(#)
  Market Value
of Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested
($)(1)
  Equity Incentive
Plan Awards:
Number of
Unearned
Shares, Units or
Other Rights
That Have Not
Vested (#)(2)
 

 Equity Incentive 

 Plan Awards: 

 Market or 

 Payout Value of 

 Unearned 

 Shares, Units or 

 Other Rights 

 That Have Not 

 Vested ($)(3) 

L. Boldea

      3,706                           69.73       2/27/2023                                                  
      412                           69.73       2/27/2023                                                  
      3,267                           87.43       2/27/2024                                                  
      3,666       1,833 (4)                 74.46       2/26/2025                                                  
      3,475       6,952 (5)                 65.16       2/25/2026                                                  
                23,687 (6)                 80.25       2/27/2027                                                  
                                                                  4,450 (7)       412,248                    
                                                                                      24,939       2,310,349

S. G. Crawford

      2,042                           69.73       2/27/2023                                                  
      227                           69.73       2/27/2023                                                  
      3,926                           87.43       2/27/2024                                                  
      7,002       3,502 (4)                 74.46       2/26/2025                                                  
      6,565       13,130 (5)                 65.16       2/25/2026                                                  
                18,304 (6)                 80.25       2/27/2027                                                  
                                                                  12,700 (7)       1,176,528                    
                                                                                        27,226       2,522,217
(1)

Market value of shares of common stock payable under restricted stock units, based on the per share closing price of the common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on December 31, 2017.

 

(2)

Number of shares of common stock to be paid under outstanding performance share awards, based upon actual performance through 2017, for 2016-2018 and 2017-2019 performance periods. See Compensation Discussion and Analysis” for a description of how performance share payouts are determined. If earned, the awards will be paid after the end of the performance period in unrestricted shares of Eastman common stock (subject to proration if the executive’s employment is terminated during the performance period because of retirement, death, or disability, and to cancellation in the event of resignation or termination for cause).

 

(3)

Value of shares of common stock to be paid under outstanding performance share awards, based upon actual performance through 2017, for 2016-2018 and 2017-2019 performance periods, assuming a market value equal to the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on December 31, 2017. Any payments under these performance share awards will be determined based on actual performance through 2018 and 2019, respectively, and not on any interim measure of performance.

 

(4)

Option became exercisable as to the remaining shares on February 27, 2018.

 

(5)

Option became exercisable as to one-half of the shares on February 26, 2018, and becomes exercisable for remaining shares on February 26, 2019.

 

(6)

Option became exercisable as to one-third of the shares on February 28, 2018, and becomes exercisable for remaining shares in equal amounts on February 28, 2019 and February 28, 2020.

 

(7)

Restricted stock units, representing the right to receive the same number of unrestricted shares of common stock on the third anniversary of the award date, subject to continued employment (other than termination by reason of death or disability) and, in the case of Mr. Espeland, satisfactory performance in leadership of the financial integration of mergers and acquisitions and of development and execution of business plans that result in improved financial performance of the Company considering external market conditions. Mr. Espeland’s restricted stock unit vested and paid out on January 1, 2018, and Mr. Boldea’s restricted stock unit vested and paid out on January 31, 2018. An

 

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amount equal to cash dividends paid during the period that the restricted stock units are outstanding and unvested with respect to shares underlying restricted stock units which vest is payable in cash on the vesting date of the restricted stock units.

The following table summarizes aggregate values realized upon exercise of options by and payouts of vested stock for 2017 to the individuals named in the Summary Compensation Table.

2017 Option Exercises and Stock Vested

 

     Option Awards(1)        Stock Awards(2)
  Name    Number of
Shares Acquired
on Exercise
(#)
   Value Realized
on Exercise($)
       Number of
Shares Acquired
on Vesting
(#)
  

 Value Realized 

 on Vesting($) 

M. J. Costa

       0      $ 0            86,717      $ 8,682,973

C. E. Espeland

       17,100        768,135            22,403        2,243,212

B. A. Lich

       0        0            19,512        1,953,737

L. Boldea

       0        0            4,658        466,406

S. G. Crawford

       3,800        161,267                  8,897        890,857
(1)

Number of acquired shares and aggregate net value realized upon exercise of options during 2017.

 

(2)

Number of shares received by each named executive officer upon payout under 2015-2017 performance share award and the aggregate value of such shares of common stock based upon the per share closing price of the common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the payout date.

The following table summarizes the portion of post-employment benefits payable to the individuals named in the Summary Compensation Table from Company pension plans as of December 31, 2017.

Pension Benefits

 

  Name    Plan  Name
(1)(2)
   Number  of
Years of Credited
Service (#)
   Present  Value
of Accumulated
Benefit ($)(3)
  

 Payments 

 During 

 Last Year($) 

M. J. Costa

       ERAP        12      $ 167,741      $ 0   
       ERIP/URIP        12        1,766,700        0   

C. E. Espeland

       ERAP        22        377,218        0   
       ERIP/URIP        22        1,726,332        0   

B. A. Lich

       ERAP        16        237,628        0   
       ERIP/URIP        16        1,058,435        0   

L. Boldea

       ERAP        21        276,838        0   
       ERIP/URIP        21        492,745        0   

S. G. Crawford

       ERAP        34        527,492        0   
         ERIP/URIP        34        907,702        0   

 

54    2018 Proxy Statement     LOGO


Table of Contents

Executive Compensation — Compensation Tables

 

 

(1)

The Eastman Retirement Assistance Plan (“ERAP”) is a tax-qualified, non-contributory defined benefit pension plan that generally covers employees who became employed on or before December 31, 2006. A participant’s total ERAP benefit consists of his or her “Pre-2000 Benefit” and “Pension Equity Benefit,” as described below:

Pre-2000 Benefit.    Prior to 2000, the ERAP used a traditional pension formula which gave each participant a life annuity commencing at age 65. A participant is eligible for an unreduced Pre-2000 Benefit when such participant’s aggregate age plus years of eligible service totals 85, or at age 65. At retirement, the actuarial present value of the future annual Pre-2000 Benefit payments may at the election of the participant be paid in a lump sum. Benefits earned during 1998 and 1999, upon the election of the participant, may be payable over five years. The Pre-2000 Benefits payable upon retirement are based upon the participant’s years of service with the Company and “average participating compensation,” which is the average of three years of those earnings described in the ERAP as “participating compensation.” “Participating compensation,” in the case of the named executive officers consists of salary, bonus, and non-equity incentive plan compensation, including an allowance in lieu of salary for authorized periods of absence, such as illness, vacation, and holidays. To the extent that any participant’s annual Pre-2000 Benefit exceeds the amount payable under the ERAP, such excess will be paid from one or more unfunded, supplementary plans.

Pension Equity Benefit.    Effective January 1, 2000, the Company redesigned the ERAP to use a pension equity formula. Under the pension equity formula, beginning January 1, 2000, a participant earns a certain percentage of final average earnings each year based upon age and total service with the Company. When a participant terminates employment, he or she is entitled to a pension amount, payable over five years. The amount may also be converted to various forms of annuities. To the extent that any participant’s Pension Equity Benefit exceeds the amount payable under the ERAP, such excess will be paid from one or more unfunded, supplementary plans.

 

(2)

The Company maintains two unfunded, nonqualified plans, the Unfunded Retirement Income Plan (“URIP”) and the Excess Retirement Income Plan (“ERIP”). The ERIP and the URIP will restore to participants in the ERAP benefits that cannot be paid under the ERAP because of applicable tax law limits, and benefits that are not accrued under the ERAP because of a voluntary deferral by the participant of compensation that would otherwise be counted for benefit calculation under the ERAP. The Company has established a “Rabbi Trust” to provide a degree of financial security for the participants’ unfunded account balances under the ERIP and URIP. SeeTermination and Change-in-Control Arrangements — Benefit Security Trust.

 

(3)

Actuarial present value of the accumulated benefit, computed as of the same pension plan measurement date used for financial statement reporting purposes with respect to the Company’s audited financial statements for 2017. The actuarial present value calculation is based on the prescribed IRS mortality tables, and assumes individual compensation and service through December 31, 2017, with benefit commencement at normal retirement age of 65. Benefits are discounted to present value using a 3.63% discount rate for the ERAP and 3.59% discount rate for the URIP.

The following table is a summary of participation by the individuals named in the Summary Compensation Table in the Executive Deferred Compensation Plan (the “EDCP”), an unfunded, nonqualified deferred compensation plan into which executive officers and other management-level employees can defer compensation until retirement or termination from the Company. Annual base and incentive cash compensation, stock and stock-based awards which are payable in cash and allowed to be deferred, and special compensation payable in connection with the employee’s initial employment with the Company, may be deferred into the EDCP. Compensation deferred into the EDCP is credited at the election of the employee to multiple hypothetical investment alternatives, including an Eastman stock fund. Amounts deferred into the Eastman stock account increase or decrease in value depending on the market price of Eastman common stock. When cash dividends are declared on Eastman common stock, each stock account receives a dividend equivalent which is used to hypothetically “purchase” additional shares. Upon retirement or termination of employment, the value of a participant’s