UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by the Registrant x 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)) | |
x | Definitive Proxy Statement | |
¨ | Definitive Additional Materials | |
¨ | Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
THE HOME DEPOT, INC.
(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):
x | 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:
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(2) | Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
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(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):
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(4) | Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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¨ | 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. | |||
(1) | Amount Previously Paid:
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(2) | Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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THE HOME DEPOT
PROXY STATEMENT
AND
NOTICEOF 20142015 ANNUAL MEETINGOF SHAREHOLDERS
TO MY FELLOW SHAREHOLDERS:
It is my pleasure to invite you to attend our 20142015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders on Thursday, May 22, 201421, 2015 at 9:00 a.m., Eastern Time. The meeting will be held at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, Georgia.
The enclosed notice of meeting and proxy statement contain important information, including a description of the business that will be acted upon at the meeting, as well as the voting procedures and information on obtaining admission tickets. At the meeting, we will also report on the Company’s performance and operations and respond to your questions. If you will need special assistance or seating, please contact Audrey DaviesCaitlyn Dardich at (770) 384-2700.384-3602.
If you are unable to attend the meeting, you can listen to the meeting and view the presentation on the Company’s performance through the live webcast on the Internet. Visit our Investor Relations website at http://ir.homedepot.com and click on “Events & Presentations” for details. The webcast will be archived and available for replay beginning shortly after the meeting.
Your vote is important. Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, we urge you to vote and submit your proxy over the Internet, by telephone or by mail.
I hope you will be able to join us, and I look forward to seeing you.
Sincerely,
Francis S. BlakeCraig A. Menear
Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer and President
THE HOME DEPOT, INC.
2455 Paces Ferry Road, N.W.
Atlanta, Georgia 30339
NOTICEOF 20142015 ANNUAL MEETINGOF SHAREHOLDERS
TIME: | 9:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on Thursday, May | |||
PLACE: | Cobb Galleria Centre Two Galleria Parkway, S.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30339 | |||
ITEMS OF BUSINESS: | (1) | To elect as directors of the Company the | ||
(2) | To ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending | |||
(3) | To cast an advisory vote to approve executive compensation; | |||
(4) | To act on two shareholder proposals described in the Proxy Statement, if properly presented; and | |||
(5) | To transact any other business properly brought before the meeting. | |||
WHO MAY VOTE: | Shareholders of record as of the close of business on March | |||
ANNUAL MEETING MATERIALS: | A copy of this Proxy Statement and our http://reports.homedepot.com. | |||
DATE OF MAILING: | A Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or this Proxy Statement is first being mailed to shareholders on or about April |
By Order of the Board of Directors,
Teresa Wynn Roseborough
Corporate Secretary
THE HOME DEPOT, INC.
2455 Paces Ferry Road, N.W.
Atlanta, Georgia 30339
PROXY STATEMENT
ANNUAL MEETINGOF SHAREHOLDERS
We are providing this Proxy Statement in connection with the solicitation by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of The Home Depot, Inc. (the “Company”) of proxies to be voted at our 20142015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Meeting”) and at any reconvened or rescheduled meeting following any adjournment or postponement. The Meeting will be held at the Cobb Galleria Centre, Two Galleria Parkway, S.E., Atlanta, Georgia, on Thursday, May 22, 2014,21, 2015, at 9:00 a.m., Eastern Time.
This Proxy Statement contains important information for you to consider when deciding how to vote. Please read this information carefully.
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The Home Depot |
THE HOME DEPOT 20142015 PROXY STATEMENT SUMMARY
This summary highlights information contained in this Proxy Statement. This summary does not contain all of the information you should consider. Please read the entire Proxy Statement carefully before voting.
(see pages | Items of Business | |||||
Time: 9:00 a.m., Eastern Time
Location: Cobb Galleria Centre, Two Galleria
Record Date: March
Admission: To attend the Meeting in person, you
Meeting Webcast: http://ir.homedepot.com under | Proposal | Board Recommendation | Page Number | |||
1. Election of | For | |||||
2. Ratification of appointment of KPMG LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm | For | |||||
3. “Say-on-Pay” advisory vote to approve executive compensation | For | |||||
4. Shareholder proposal regarding | Against | |||||
5. Shareholder proposal regarding | Against | |||||
Fiscal (see page | ||||||
• Increased net sales by
• Increased operating income by
• Increased diluted earnings per share by 25.3% to • Generated $8.2 billion in operating cash flow
• Increased return on invested capital from
• Returned value to shareholders during Fiscal 2014 through a
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Fiscal 2014 Executive Compensation Highlights (see pages | ||||||
We pay for performance:
• A significant portion of our named executive officers’ (“NEOs”) target compensation is performance-based:
• Approximately
• Approximately
• 100% of annual incentive compensation and
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We seek to mitigate compensation-related risk through a variety of vehicles:
• Annual compensation risk assessment
• Compensation recoupment policy applicable to
• Anti-hedging policy applicable to all associates, officers and directors
• Stock ownership and retention guidelines for executive officers
• No change in control agreements |
The Home Depot |
THE HOME DEPOT 20142015 PROXY STATEMENT SUMMARY
Our Corporate Governance Policies Reflect Best Practices: |
• Annual election of directors
• Majority voting standard in director elections
• Independent lead director
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• Independent directors meet without management
• Anti-hedging policy applicable to all associates, officers and directors
• No shareholder rights plan or “poison pill”
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• Stock ownership and retention guidelines for executive officers
• Shareholder ability to act by written consent and call special meetings
• Director store walk policy
• Board orientation and education program
• Management succession policy set forth in Corporate Governance Guidelines
• Annual Board and committee self-evaluations |
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Current committee assignments are reflected by (ü); anticipated committee assignments following the Meeting, subject to the election of the 11 director nominees listed above, are reflected by (*). Please see pages 11-12 for additional information.
ABOUTTHE 2014 ANNUAL MEETINGOF SHAREHOLDERS
WHAT AM I VOTING ON?
You will be voting on the following items:
Election to the Board of Directors of the 11 persons named in “Election of Directors” below;
Ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP (“KPMG”) as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for the fiscal year ending February 1, 2015 (“Fiscal 2014”);
An advisory vote to approve executive compensation, also referred to as “say-on-pay”;
Two shareholder proposals described in this Proxy Statement; and
Transaction of any other business properly brought before the Meeting.
WHO IS ENTITLED TO VOTE?
Holders of record of shares of the Company’s common stock as of the close of business on March 24, 2014, the record date for the Meeting, are entitled to vote. Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote on each matter presented for a vote of the shareholders. As of March 24, 2014, we had 1,368,097,079 shares of common stock outstanding.
HOW DO I VOTE BEFORE THE MEETING?
If you are a registered shareholder, which means you hold your shares in certificate form or through an account with our transfer agent, Computershare Trust Company, N.A., you have three options for voting before the Meeting:
Over the Internet, at www.proxyvote.com, by following the instructions on the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) or proxy card;
By telephone, by dialing 1-800-690-6903; or
By completing, dating, signing and returning a proxy card by mail.
If you are a beneficial holder, meaning you hold your shares in “street name” through an account with a bank or broker, your ability to vote over the Internet or by telephone depends on the voting procedures of your bank or broker. Please follow the directions on the voting instruction form that your bank or broker provides.
MAY I VOTE AT THE MEETING?
Yes. If you are a registered shareholder, you may vote your shares at the Meeting if you attend in person. If you hold your shares through an account with a bank or broker, you must obtain a legal proxy from the bank or broker in order to vote at the Meeting. A legal proxy is an authorization from your bank or broker for you to vote the shares it holds in its name on your behalf. Even if you plan to attend the Meeting, we encourage you to vote your shares before the Meeting. See “How Can I Attend the Meeting?” below.
MAY I REVOKE MY PROXY AND/OR CHANGE MY VOTE?
Yes. You may revoke your proxy and/or change your vote by:
Signing another proxy card with a later date and delivering it to us before the Meeting;
Voting again over the Internet or by telephone prior to 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on May 21, 2014;
Voting at the Meeting before the polls close if you are a registered shareholder or have obtained a legal proxy from your bank or broker; or
Notifying the Company’s Corporate Secretary in writing before the Meeting that you revoke your proxy.
WHAT IF I SIGN AND RETURN MY PROXY BUT DO NOT PROVIDE VOTING INSTRUCTIONS?
Proxies that are signed, dated and returned but do not contain voting instructions will be voted:
“For” the election of all of the 11 named director nominees;
“For” the ratification of the appointment of KPMG;
“For” the advisory vote to approve executive compensation;
“Against” each shareholder proposal; and
On any other matters properly brought before the Meeting, in accordance with the best judgment of the named proxies.
If your shares are held through an account with a bank or broker, see “Will My Shares Be Voted If I Do Not Provide My Proxy or Voting Instruction Form?” below.
HOW DO I VOTE IF I PARTICIPATE IN ONE OF THE COMPANY’S RETIREMENT PLANS?
You may vote your shares over the Internet, by telephone, by mail or in person at the Meeting as if
ABOUTTHE 2014 ANNUAL MEETINGOF SHAREHOLDERS
you were a registered shareholder, as described in this Proxy Statement. By voting, you are instructing the trustee of your plan to vote all of your shares as directed. If you do not vote, the shares credited to your account will be voted by the trustee in the same proportion that it votes shares in other accounts for which it received timely instructions. If, however, you hold shares through the self-directed brokerage window of your plan, or you participate in one of the Company’s Canada-based retirement plans, and, in either case, you do not vote those shares, those shares will not be voted.
WILL MY SHARES BE VOTED IF I DO NOT PROVIDE MY PROXY OR VOTING INSTRUCTION FORM?
If you are a registered shareholder and do not provide a proxy by voting over the Internet, by telephone or by signing and returning a proxy card, you must attend the Meeting in order to vote.
If you hold shares through an account with a bank or broker, the voting of the shares by the bank or broker when you do not provide voting instructions is governed by the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”). These rules allow banks and brokers to vote shares in their discretion on “routine” matters for which their customers do not provide voting instructions. On matters considered “non-routine,” banks and brokers may not vote shares without your instruction. Shares that banks and brokers are not authorized to vote are referred to as “broker non-votes.”
The ratification of KPMG as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for Fiscal 2014 is considered a routine matter. Accordingly, banks and brokers may vote shares on this proposal without your instructions, and there will be no broker non-votes with respect to this proposal.
The other proposals will be considered non-routine, and banks and brokers therefore cannot vote shares on those proposals without your instructions. Please note that if you want your vote to be counted on these proposals, including the election of directors, you must instruct your bank or broker how to vote your shares. If you do not provide voting instructions, no votes will be cast on your behalf with respect to those proposals.
HOW MANY VOTES ARE NEEDED TO APPROVE THE PROPOSALS?
With respect to the election of directors, each director nominee receiving a majority of votes cast with respect to that director nominee’s election will be elected as a director. If any of the incumbent director nominees does not receive a majority of votes cast, under Delaware law he or she would continue to serve on the Board until a successor is elected. However, our By-Laws provide that any incumbent director who fails to receive a majority of votes cast must promptly tender his or her resignation to the Board for consideration. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will then recommend to the Board whether to accept or reject the resignation or to take any other action. The Board will act on that recommendation and publicly disclose its decision within 90 days following certification of election results. The director who tenders his or her resignation will not participate in the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s recommendation or in the Board’s decision. If a nominee who is not an incumbent director fails to receive a majority of the votes cast, the Board may, in accordance with our By-Laws, fill the resulting vacancy or decrease the size of the Board.
The ratification of KPMG as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and each of the shareholder proposals require a majority of votes cast to be approved.
Under the Company’s By-Laws, the advisory vote to approve executive compensation also requires a majority of votes cast to be approved. While this proposal is advisory in nature and not binding on the Company, our Leadership Development and Compensation Committee (“LDC Committee”) and Board will consider the results of the voting on this proposal in formulating future executive compensation policy.
A “majority of votes cast” means the number of “For” votes exceeds the number of “Against” votes. A proxy marked “Abstain” with respect to any proposal therefore generally will not have any effect on the outcome of the vote on that proposal. Similarly, broker non-votes will not be counted as votes cast and therefore generally will have no effect on the outcome of the vote on any proposal.
HOW MANY SHARES MUST BE PRESENT TO HOLD THE MEETING?
In order for us to conduct the Meeting, holders of a majority of our outstanding shares of common stock
ABOUTTHE 2014 ANNUAL MEETINGOF SHAREHOLDERS
as of the close of business on March 24, 2014 must be present in person or by proxy. This is referred to as a quorum. Your shares are counted as present if you attend the Meeting and vote in person or if you properly return a proxy over the Internet, by telephone or by mail. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted for purposes of establishing a quorum. If a quorum is not present at the Meeting, the Meeting may be adjourned from time to time until a quorum is present.
HOW CAN I ATTEND THE MEETING?
To attend the Meeting, you will need to bring (1) an admission ticket if your shares are registered in your name or a legal proxy from the bank or broker that is the record owner of your shares and (2) valid picture identification. If your shares are registered in your name and you received a Notice, the Notice is your admission ticket. If your shares are registered in your name and you received proxy materials by mail, your admission ticket is attached to your proxy card. If you hold shares through an account with a bank or broker, you will need to contact your bank or broker and request a legal proxy, which will serve as your admission ticket.
If you do not have valid picture identification and either an admission ticket or a legal proxy, you will not be admitted to the Meeting.
You may indicate whether you plan to attend the Meeting by checking the appropriate box if completing a proxy card or voting instruction card, responding when prompted if voting by telephone, or making the appropriate selection at the bottom of the screen after entering your control number at www.proxyvote.com if voting over the Internet.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN IF I RECEIVE MORE THAN ONE NOTICE, PROXY CARD OR VOTING INSTRUCTION FORM?
This means that your shares are registered in different names or are held in more than one account. To ensure that all shares are voted, please vote each account over the Internet or by telephone, or sign and return by mail all proxy cards and voting instruction forms. We encourage you to register all shares in the same name and address by contacting our transfer agent, Computershare, at 1-800-577-0177. If you hold your shares through an account with a bank or broker, you should contact your bank or broker and request consolidation.
AVAILABILITY OF ANNUAL REPORT AND PROXY STATEMENT TO SHAREHOLDERS
Only one copy of the Notice or this Proxy Statement and the 2013 Annual Report is being delivered to shareholders sharing an address unless the Company has received contrary instructions from one or more of the shareholders. Shareholders sharing an address who wish to receive separate copies of the Notice or this Proxy Statement and the 2013 Annual Report, or who wish to begin receiving a single copy of such materials, may make such request as follows:
If you are a registered shareholder, by writing to Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions, Inc., Householding Department, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717 or by calling 1-800-542-1061; or
If you are a beneficial owner, by contacting your broker, dealer, bank, voting trustee or other nominee.
Registered shareholders sharing an address who elect to receive a single copy of the Notice or this Proxy Statement and the 2013 Annual Report will continue to receive separate proxy cards.
You may also elect to receive the Notice or this Proxy Statement and the 2013 Annual Report via e-mail by contacting Broadridge if you are a registered shareholder, by contacting your bank or broker if you are a beneficial owner, or by visiting our website at http://reports.homedepot.com.
Additional copies of this Proxy Statement and the 2013 Annual Report will be provided without charge to shareholders upon written request to Investor Relations, The Home Depot, Inc., 2455 Paces Ferry Road, N.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30339, by calling (770) 384-4388 or via the Internet at http://ir.homedepot.com.
WHERE AND WHEN WILL I BE ABLE TO FIND THE VOTING RESULTS?
You can find the official results of the voting at the Meeting in our Current Report on Form 8-K that we will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) within four business days after the Meeting. If the official results are not available at that time, we will provide preliminary voting results in the Form 8-K and will provide the final results in an amendment to the Form 8-K as soon as they become available.
Our Board currently has 11 members: F. Duane Ackerman, Francis S. Blake, Ari Bousbib, Gregory D. Brenneman, J. Frank Brown, Albert P. Carey, Armando Codina, Helena B. Foulkes, Bonnie G. Hill, Karen L. Katen and Mark Vadon. Each director who served during the fiscal year ended February 2, 2014 (“Fiscal 2013”) was, and each current director continues to be, independent other than Mr. Blake, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”).
Under our Corporate Governance Guidelines, directors who reach age 72 by the end of the calendar year preceding an annual meeting cannot stand for re-election at that meeting. Because Ms. Hill reached age 72 in 2013, she is not standing for re-election and will be retiring from the Board at the Meeting. As discussed further below, the Board has nominated Wayne M. Hewett to fill the seat to be vacated by Ms. Hill. Following the Meeting, the size of the Board will therefore remain at 11 members.
BOARD LEADERSHIP
We believe that having a combined Chair and CEO, an independent Lead Director, and Board committees composed entirely of independent directors currently provides the best Board leadership structure for The Home Depot. This structure, together with our other strong corporate governance practices, provides robust independent oversight of management while ensuring clear strategic alignment throughout the Company. Specifically, Mr. Blake proposes strategic priorities to the Board (with input from the Lead Director), communicates the Board’s guidance to management, and is ultimately responsible for implementing the Company’s key strategic initiatives.
Our Lead Director is an independent director who is elected annually by the independent members of the Board. Bonnie G. Hill, a director since 1999, currently serves as our Lead Director. As noted above, Ms. Hill is not standing for re-election to the Board, and Gregory D. Brenneman, a director since 2000, has been elected by the independent members of the Board to be our Lead Director effective immediately following the Meeting. Our Lead Director:
Chairs Board meetings when the Chair is not present, including presiding at executive sessions of the Board (without management present) at every regularly scheduled Board meeting;
Works with management to determine the information and materials provided to Board members;
Approves Board meeting agendas, schedules and other information provided to the Board;
Consults with the Chair on other matters that are pertinent to the Board and the Company;
Has the authority to call meetings of the independent directors;
Is available for communication and consultation with major shareholders upon request; and
Serves as liaison between the Chair and the independent directors.
RISK OVERSIGHT
In accordance with NYSE requirements and our Audit Committee charter, our Audit Committee has primary responsibility for overseeing risk assessment and management, including the Company’s major financial exposures and the steps management has taken to monitor and control those exposures. The Audit Committee stays apprised of significant actual and potential risks faced by the Company in part through review of quarterly reports from our Enterprise Risk Council (the “ERC”). The Audit Committee reports to the Board at each quarterly Board meeting.
Our ERC is composed of leaders from the functional areas of the Company and meets at least quarterly to coordinate information sharing and mitigation efforts for all types of risks applicable to the Company. The chair of the ERC, who is also our Vice President of Internal Audit and Corporate Compliance, reports the ERC’s risk analyses to senior management regularly and attends each Audit Committee meeting. The chair of the ERC also provides a detailed annual report regarding the Company’s risk assessment and management process to either the Audit Committee or the full Board.
The Audit Committee also receives quarterly reports from our FCPA Oversight Committee, which oversees enterprise-wide compliance with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the anti-bribery laws of the other jurisdictions in which we conduct business. The FCPA Oversight Committee, which is chaired by our Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, is composed of our Chief
BOARDOF DIRECTORS INFORMATION
Financial Officer and Executive Vice President – Corporate Services, our Vice President of Internal Audit and Corporate Compliance, and representatives from each non-U.S. division, the business functions responsible for administration of our policies, and the business functions that manage our transactions outside of the U.S.
Our other Board committees also consider significant risks within their areas of responsibility. As discussed in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis beginning on page 28, our LDC Committee oversees risks related to our compensation programs, including an annual review and risk assessment of the Company’s compensation policies and practices, and monitors the independence of its compensation consultant. Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee oversees risks related to our governance policies and practices, including review and approval of any related-party transactions and relationships involving our directors and executive officers. Our Finance Committee oversees risks related to our capital structure, financial resources, utilization of derivatives and accelerated share repurchase agreements, and related financial matters. Each of our committees reports to the Board at each quarterly Board meeting.
In addition, the Board and each committee receive presentations throughout the year from management regarding specific potential risks and trends as necessary. At each Board meeting, the Chairman and CEO addresses in a directors-only session matters of particular importance or concern, including any significant areas of risk requiring Board attention. Annually, through dedicated sessions focusing exclusively on corporate strategy, our full Board reviews in detail the Company’s short- and long-term strategies, including consideration of significant risks facing the Company and their potential impact. We believe that the practices described above and our current leadership structure facilitate effective Board oversight of our significant risks.
DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The Director Independence Standards in the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines exceed the independence standards adopted by the NYSE. Our independence standards are attached as Appendix A to this Proxy Statement. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines are available at http://ir.homedepot.com under “Corporate Governance > Corp. Governance Overview” and in print upon request. Pursuant to these guidelines, the Board and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee reviewed the independence of each director and our director nominee in early 2014. During this review, the Board and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considered all relevant facts and circumstances related to transactions and relationships between each director and director nominee (and his or her immediate family and affiliates) and the Company and its management to determine whether any such relationship or transaction would prohibit a director or director nominee from being independent under SEC rules, the NYSE listing standards and the Company’s Director Independence Standards.
Based on this review and the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the Board affirmatively determined that all of the individuals nominated for election to the Board at the Meeting are independent except Francis S. Blake, because of his position as our Chairman and CEO.
The Company has purchase, sale and other transactions and relationships in the normal course of business with companies with which certain Company directors are associated, but which our Board determined are not material to the Company, the directors or the companies with which the directors are associated. All of these transactions were reviewed and considered by the Board and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee in determining the independence of Company directors. In particular, the Board and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee took into account the following transactions during Fiscal 2013:
Mr. Ackerman served as a director of United Parcel Service, Inc., from which we purchased freight services, and as a director of The Allstate Corporation, from which we purchased insurance coverage;
Mr. Brenneman served as a director of Automatic Data Processing, Inc., from which we purchased payroll and tax services, and as the Chairman of CCMP Capital Advisors, LLC, which manages funds that have or had an equity interest in Aramark Corporation, from which we purchased food services and uniform apparel; Generac Power Systems, Inc., from which we purchased generators and related merchandise; and Cabela’s, Inc., from which we purchased outdoor goods;
BOARDOF DIRECTORS INFORMATION
Mr. Brown served as Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of General Atlantic LLC, which manages funds that have or had an equity interest in Acumen Brands, Inc., from which we purchased online marketing services; Bazaarvoice, Inc., from which we purchased software; Facebook, Inc., from which we purchased social media marketing services; Genpact Ltd., from which we purchased business process and technology consulting services; Mu Sigma Inc., from which we purchased data analytics consulting services; and Web.com Group, Inc., from which we purchased online marketing services;
Mr. Carey served as Chief Executive Officer of PepsiCo Americas Beverages, from which we purchased food and beverage products;
Ms. Foulkes served as Executive Vice President of CVS Caremark Corporation and President of CVS/pharmacy, from which we purchased prescription management and on-site pharmacy services;
Ms. Hill served as a director of YUM! Brands, Inc., from which we purchased food products; and
Ms. Katen served as a director of Air Liquide, from which we purchased industrial gases.
In each instance described above, the amount of payments made and received by each entity represented an immaterial percentage of the Company’s and the other entity’s revenues. The Board and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee believe that all of the transactions and relationships during Fiscal 2013 described above were on arm’s-length terms that were reasonable and competitive and that the directors did not participate in or personally benefit from these transactions.
SELECTING NOMINEES TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for considering candidates for the Board and recommending director nominees to the Board. All members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee have been determined to be independent by the Board pursuant to SEC rules, NYSE listing standards and the Company’s Director Independence Standards. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s charter, as well as the charters for the Audit Committee, LDC Committee and Finance Committee, are available on the Company’s website at http://ir.homedepot.com under “Corporate Governance > Committee Members & Charters.”
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers candidates for nomination to the Board from a number of sources. Current members of the Board are considered for re-election unless they have notified the Company that they do not wish to stand for re-election and provided they have not reached age 72 by the calendar year-end immediately preceding the Company’s next annual meeting of shareholders. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may also consider candidates recommended by current members of the Board, members of management and shareholders, as discussed below under “Director Candidates Recommended by Shareholders.”
From time to time, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee engages independent search firms to assist in identifying potential Board candidates. Services provided by the search firms include identifying and assessing potential director candidates meeting criteria established by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, verifying information about the prospective candidate’s credentials, and obtaining a preliminary indication of interest and willingness to serve as a Board member. During Fiscal 2013, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee engaged Russell Reynolds Associates to assist it in identifying and assessing potential director candidates, including Ms. Foulkes, who was appointed to our Board in September 2013, and Mr. Hewett, who has been nominated for election as a director at the Meeting.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee evaluates all candidates, regardless of who recommended the candidate, based on the same criteria. The criteria and the process by which director nominees are considered and selected are discussed further below under “Election of Directors.”
DIRECTOR CANDIDATES RECOMMENDED BY SHAREHOLDERS
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider all candidates recommended by a shareholder (or group of shareholders) who owns at least one percent of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock and who has held such shares for at least one year as of the date of the
BOARDOF DIRECTORS INFORMATION
recommendation. We refer to a shareholder (or group of shareholders) who meets these requirements as an “Eligible Shareholder.” If the shareholder is not an Eligible Shareholder, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may, but is not obligated to, evaluate the candidate and consider him or her for nomination to the Board. A shareholder wishing to recommend a candidate must submit the following documents to the Corporate Secretary, The Home Depot, Inc., 2455 Paces Ferry Road, N.W., BuildingC-22, Atlanta, Georgia 30339 not less than 120 calendar days prior to the anniversary of the date on which the Company’s Proxy Statement was released to shareholders in connection with the previous year’s annual meeting of shareholders:
A recommendation that identifies the candidate and provides contact information for that candidate;
The written consent of the candidate to serve as a director of the Company, if elected; and
Documentation establishing that the shareholder making the recommendation is an Eligible Shareholder.
If the candidate is to be evaluated by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the Corporate Secretary will request from the candidate a detailed résumé, an autobiographical statement explaining the candidate’s interest in serving as a director of the Company, a completed statement regarding conflicts of interest, and a waiver of liability for a background check. These documents must be received from the candidate before the first day of February preceding the annual meeting of shareholders.
COMMUNICATING WITH THE BOARD
Shareholders and others who are interested in communicating directly with members of the Board, including those wishing to express concerns relating to accounting, internal controls, audit matters, fraud or unethical behavior, may do so by e-mail at HD_Directors@homedepot.com or by writing to the directors at the following address:
[Name of Director or Directors]
c/o Corporate Secretary
The Home Depot, Inc.
2455 Paces Ferry Road, N.W.
Building C-22
Atlanta, Georgia 30339
The Corporate Secretary reviews and provides the Board and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee with a summary of all such communications and a copy of any correspondence that, in the opinion of the Corporate Secretary, deals with the functions of the Board or the standing committees of the Board, or that otherwise requires the attention of the Board and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Correspondence relating to accounting, internal controls or auditing matters is brought to the attention of the Company’s internal audit department and, if appropriate, to the Audit Committee. All communications are treated confidentially.
MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board met six times during Fiscal 2013. The number of times that each standing committee of the Board met in Fiscal 2013 is shown below. Each incumbent director attended at least 75% of the meetings of the Board and of the standing committees of which he or she was a member during Fiscal 2013, other than Karen L. Katen, whose attendance fell below the 75% threshold as a result of meetings missed due to a death in her family. Company policy provides that all directors are expected to attend annual shareholder meetings, absent extraordinary circumstances. Every director serving on our Board at the time of the 2013 Annual Meeting of Shareholders attended that meeting.
BOARDOF DIRECTORS INFORMATION
During Fiscal 2013, the Board had standing Audit, Nominating and Corporate Governance, Leadership Development and Compensation, and Finance Committees. The current members of our committees, the principal functions of each committee and the number of meetings held in Fiscal 2013 are shown below. Each member of each committee during Fiscal 2013 was, and each current member continues to be, independent under our Director Independence Standards and applicable SEC and NYSE rules.
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BOARDOF DIRECTORS INFORMATION
Subject to the election of the 11 director nominees discussed below under “Election of Directors,” the members of the committees following the Meeting are expected to be as follows:
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(ITEM 1 ON THE PROXY CARD)
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, when considering the composition of our Board, focuses on ensuring a mix of directors that collectively possess the breadth of expertise and experience appropriate for a retailer of our size and geographic scope. The Company is the world’s largest home improvement specialty retailer, with more than 2,260 retail stores in the United States, Canada and Mexico, and our business involves all facets of retail, including finance, marketing, information technology, e-commerce, supply chain, real estate and strategic management. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee evaluates each director candidate on the basis of the length and quality of the candidate’s business experience, the applicability of the candidate’s skills and expertise to the Company and its business, the perspectives that the candidate would bring to the entire Board and the personality or “fit” of the candidate with existing members of the Board and management.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee seeks directors who can:
Demonstrate integrity, accountability, informed judgment, financial literacy, creativity and vision;
Be prepared to represent the best interests of all Company shareholders, and not just one particular constituency;
Demonstrate a record of professional accomplishment in his or her chosen field; and
Be prepared and able to participate fully in Board activities, including membership on at least two committees.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee recognizes the importance of selecting directors from various backgrounds and professions in order to ensure that the Board as a whole has a wealth of experiences and perspectives to inform its decisions. Consistent with this philosophy, in addition to focusing on the skills and experience necessary to meet the core needs of the Company, as well as the basic qualifications set forth above, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers the ability of the nominee to contribute to the Board’s viewpoint, ethnic, gender, and racial diversity. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee assesses the composition of the Board at least once a year and more frequently as needed, particularly when considering potential new candidates.
After evaluating the performance and experience of each of the current directors and the composition of the full Board, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has recommended the election of all ten of the eligible incumbent Board members and one new nominee, Wayne M. Hewett, who has been nominated to fill the seat held by Bonnie G. Hill. As previously noted, Ms. Hill reached age 72 in 2013. In accordance with our Corporate Governance Guidelines, she is retiring from service on the Board and is not standing for re-election at the Meeting. Each of the 11 individuals nominated for election to the Board would hold office until the 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until his or her successor is elected and qualified. Each nominee has agreed to serve as a director if elected. If for some unforeseen reason a nominee becomes unwilling or unable to serve, proxies will be voted for a substitute nominee selected by the Board in accordance with our By-Laws.
The 11 nominees for election to the Board are set forth below.
ELECTIONOF DIRECTORS
(ITEM 1 ON THE PROXY CARD)
F. DUANE ACKERMAN, 71, Director since 2007
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ELECTIONOF DIRECTORS
(ITEM 1 ON THE PROXY CARD)
ARI BOUSBIB, 53, Director since 2007
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ELECTIONOF DIRECTORS
(ITEM 1 ON THE PROXY CARD)
J. FRANK BROWN, 57, Director since 2011
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ELECTIONOF DIRECTORS
(ITEM 1 ON THE PROXY CARD)
ARMANDO CODINA, 67, Director since 2007
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ELECTIONOF DIRECTORS
(ITEM 1 ON THE PROXY CARD)
WAYNE M. HEWETT, 49, Director nominee
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ELECTIONOF DIRECTORS
(ITEM 1 ON THE PROXY CARD)
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WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF EACH
NOMINEE TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
RATIFICATIONOFTHE APPOINTMENTOF KPMG LLP
(ITEM 2 ON THE PROXY CARD)
The Audit Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention, evaluation and oversight of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. As part of this responsibility, the Audit Committee annually evaluates the independent registered public accounting firm’s qualifications, performance and independence and assesses whether to continue to retain the firm or select a different firm.
The Audit Committee has appointed KPMG LLP to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for Fiscal 2014. KPMG (or its predecessor firms) has served in that capacity for the Company since 1979. The Audit Committee and its Chair are also involved in and approve the selection of the lead audit partner, who is limited to no more than five consecutive years in that role before the position must be rotated in accordance with SEC rules.
The Audit Committee and the Board believe that the continued retention of KPMG as the Company’s independent auditor is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. Although we are not required to submit this matter to shareholders, the Board believes that it is a sound corporate governance practice to seek shareholder ratification of the appointment of KPMG. If shareholders do not ratify the appointment of KPMG, the Audit Committee will reconsider the appointment.
One or more representatives of KPMG will be present at the Meeting. The representatives will have an opportunity to make a statement if they desire and will be available to respond to questions from shareholders.
WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU
VOTE “FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF
KPMG LLP AS THE COMPANY’S
FISCAL 2014 INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTING FIRM.
Each member of the Audit Committee is independent under SEC rules, the NYSE listing standards and the Director Independence Standards set forth in the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and attached as Appendix A to this Proxy Statement. The Board has determined that Mr. Brown is an “audit committee financial expert” as such term is defined in SEC rules.
The Audit Committee acts under a written charter, which sets forth its responsibilities and duties, as well as requirements for the Audit Committee’s composition and meetings. The Audit Committee charter is available on the Company’s website at http://ir.homedepot.com under “Corporate Governance > Committee Members & Charters” and is also available in print upon request.
The Audit Committee has:
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Received from KPMG the written disclosures and the letter required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding KPMG’s independence, discussed with KPMG its independence, and concluded that KPMG is independent from the Company and its management;
After review and discussions with management and KPMG, recommended to the Board that the audited consolidated financial statements for the Company be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for Fiscal 2013 for filing with the SEC; and
Reviewed and discussed the fees billed to the Company by KPMG for audit, audit-related, tax and all other services provided during Fiscal 2013, which are set forth below under “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm’s Fees” and determined that the provision of non-audit services is compatible with KPMG’s independence.
This report has been furnished by the current members of the Audit Committee:
F. Duane Ackerman, Chair
Ari Bousbib
*
*C
Gregory D. Brenneman
(Lead Director)
J. Frank Brown
(Audit Committee Financial Expert)
*C
*
Albert P. Carey
*C
*
Armando Codina
*
*C
Helena B. Foulkes
*
*
Wayne M. Hewett
*
*
Karen L. Katen
*
*
Craig A. Menear
Mark Vadon
2012 | ü | Chairman, zulily, Inc. | ü * | ü * | |||||||||||||
Current committee assignments are reflected by (ü); anticipated committee assignments following the Meeting, subject to the election of the ten director nominees listed above, are reflected by (*); and committee chairs are indicated by (C). Please see pages 10-11 for additional information.INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM’S FEES
AUDIT AND OTHER FEES
The | iii |
ABOUTTHE 2015 ANNUAL MEETINGOF SHAREHOLDERS
WHAT AM I VOTING ON?
You will be voting on the following items:
WHO IS ENTITLED TO VOTE?
Holders of record of shares of the Company’s common stock as of the close of business on March 23, 2015, the record date for the Meeting, are entitled to vote. Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote on each matter presented for a vote of the shareholders. As of March 23, 2015, we had 1,298,358,570 shares of common stock outstanding.
HOW DO I VOTE BEFORE THE MEETING?
If you are a registered shareholder, which means you hold your shares in certificate form or through an account with our transfer agent, Computershare Trust Company, N.A., you have three options for voting before the Meeting:
If you are a beneficial holder, meaning you hold your shares in “street name” through an account with a bank or broker, your ability to vote over the Internet or by telephone depends on the voting procedures of your bank or broker. Please follow the directions on the voting instruction form that your bank or broker provides.
MAY I VOTE AT THE MEETING?
Yes. If you are a registered shareholder, you may vote your shares at the Meeting if you attend in person. If you hold your shares through an account with a bank or broker, you must obtain a legal proxy from the bank or broker in order to vote at the Meeting. A legal proxy is an authorization from your bank or broker for you to vote the shares it holds in its name on your behalf. Even if you plan to attend the Meeting, we encourage you to vote your shares before the Meeting. See “How Can I Attend the Meeting?” below.
MAY I REVOKE MY PROXY AND/OR CHANGE MY VOTE?
Yes. You may revoke your proxy and/or change your vote by:
WHAT IF I SIGN AND RETURN MY PROXY BUT DO NOT PROVIDE VOTING INSTRUCTIONS?
Proxies that are signed, dated and returned but do not contain voting instructions will be voted:
If your shares are held through an account with a bank or broker, see “Will My Shares Be Voted If I Do Not Provide My Proxy or Voting Instruction Form?” below.
HOW DO I VOTE IF I PARTICIPATE IN ONE OF THE COMPANY’S RETIREMENT PLANS?
You may vote your shares over the Internet, by telephone, by mail or in person at the Meeting as if you were a registered shareholder, as described in thousands):
Fiscal 2013 | Fiscal 2012 | |||||||
Audit Fees | $ | 5,115 | $ | 4,657 | ||||
Audit-Related Fees | 185 | 180 | ||||||
Tax Fees | 653 | 589 | ||||||
All Other Fees | 230 | — | ||||||
Total Fees | $ | 6,183 | $ | 5,426 |
The Home Depot 2015 Proxy Statement | 1 |
ABOUTTHE 2015 ANNUAL MEETINGOF SHAREHOLDERS
this Proxy Statement. By voting, you are instructing the trustee of your plan to vote all of your shares as directed. If you do not vote, the shares credited to your account will be voted by the trustee in the same proportion that it votes shares in other accounts for which it received timely instructions. If, however, you hold shares through the self-directed brokerage window of your plan, or you participate in one of the Company’s Canada-based retirement plans, and, in either case, you do not vote those shares, those shares will not be voted.
WILL MY SHARES BE VOTED IF I DO NOT PROVIDE MY PROXY OR VOTING INSTRUCTION FORM?
If you are a registered shareholder and do not provide a proxy by voting over the Internet, by telephone or by signing and returning a proxy card, you must attend the Meeting in order to vote.
If you hold shares through an account with a bank or broker, the voting of the shares by the bank or broker when you do not provide voting instructions is governed by the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”). These rules allow banks and brokers to vote shares in their discretion on “routine” matters for which their customers do not provide voting instructions. On matters considered “non-routine,” banks and brokers may not vote shares without your instruction. Shares that banks and brokers are not authorized to vote are referred to as “broker non-votes.”
The ratification of KPMG as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for Fiscal 2015 is considered a routine matter. Accordingly, banks and brokers may vote shares on this proposal without your instructions, and there will be no broker non-votes with respect to this proposal.
The other proposals will be considered non-routine, and banks and brokers therefore cannot vote shares on those proposals without your instructions. Please note that if you want your vote to be counted on those proposals, including the election of directors, you must instruct your bank or broker how to vote your shares. If you do not provide voting instructions, no votes will be cast on your behalf with respect to those proposals.
HOW MANY VOTES ARE NEEDED TO APPROVE THE PROPOSALS?
With respect to the election of directors, each director nominee receiving a majority of votes cast with respect to that director nominee’s election will be elected as a director. If any of the incumbent director nominees does not receive a majority of votes cast, under Delaware law he or she would continue to serve on the Board until a successor is elected. However, our By-Laws provide that any incumbent director who fails to receive a majority of votes cast must promptly tender his or her resignation to the Board for consideration. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will then recommend to the Board whether to accept or reject the resignation or to take any other action. The Board will act on that recommendation and publicly disclose its decision within 90 days following certification of election results. The director who tenders his or her resignation will not participate in the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s recommendation or in the Board’s decision.
The ratification of KPMG as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and each of the shareholder proposals require a majority of votes cast to be approved.
Under the Company’s By-Laws, the advisory vote to approve executive compensation also requires a majority of votes cast to be approved. While this proposal is advisory in nature and not binding on the Company, our Leadership Development and Compensation Committee (“LDC Committee”) and Board will consider the results of the voting on this proposal in formulating future executive compensation policy.
A “majority of votes cast” means the number of “For” votes exceeds the number of “Against” votes. A proxy marked “Abstain” with respect to any proposal therefore generally will not have any effect on the outcome of the vote on that proposal. Similarly, broker non-votes will not be counted as votes cast and therefore generally will have no effect on the outcome of the vote on any proposal.
HOW MANY SHARES MUST BE PRESENT TO HOLD THE MEETING?
In order for us to conduct the Meeting, holders of a majority of our outstanding shares of common stock as of the close of business on March 23, 2015 must be present in person or by proxy. This is referred to as a quorum. Your shares are counted as present if you attend the Meeting and vote in person or if you
2 | The Home Depot 2015 Proxy Statement |
ABOUTTHE 2015 ANNUAL MEETINGOF SHAREHOLDERS
properly return a proxy over the Internet, by telephone or by mail. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted for purposes of establishing a quorum. If a quorum is not present at the Meeting, the Meeting may be adjourned from time to time until a quorum is present.
HOW CAN I ATTEND THE MEETING?
To attend the Meeting, you will need to bring (1) an admission ticket if your shares are registered in your name or a legal proxy from the bank or broker that is the record owner of your shares and (2) valid picture identification. If your shares are registered in your name and you received a Notice, the Notice is your admission ticket. If your shares are registered in your name and you received proxy materials by mail, your admission ticket is attached to your proxy card. If you hold shares through an account with a bank or broker, you will need to contact your bank or broker and request a legal proxy, which will serve as your admission ticket.
If you do not have valid picture identification and either an admission ticket or a legal proxy, you will not be admitted to the Meeting.
You may indicate whether you plan to attend the Meeting by checking the appropriate box if completing a proxy card or voting instruction form, responding when prompted if voting by telephone, or making the appropriate selection at the bottom of the screen after entering your control number at www.proxyvote.com if voting over the Internet.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN IF I RECEIVE MORE THAN ONE NOTICE, PROXY CARD OR VOTING INSTRUCTION FORM?
This means that your shares are registered in different names or are held in more than one account. To ensure that all shares are voted, please vote each account over the Internet or by telephone, or sign and return by mail all proxy cards and voting instruction forms. We encourage you to register all shares in the same name and address by contacting our transfer agent, Computershare, at 1-800-577-0177. If you hold your shares through an account with a bank or broker, you should contact your bank or broker and request consolidation.
AVAILABILITY OF ANNUAL REPORT AND PROXY STATEMENT TO SHAREHOLDERS
Only one copy of the Notice or this Proxy Statement and the 2014 Annual Report is being delivered to shareholders sharing an address unless the Company has received contrary instructions from one or more of the shareholders. Shareholders sharing an address who wish to receive separate copies of the Notice or this Proxy Statement and the 2014 Annual Report, or who wish to begin receiving a single copy of such materials, may make such request as follows:
Registered shareholders sharing an address who elect to receive a single copy of the Notice or this Proxy Statement and the 2014 Annual Report will continue to receive separate proxy cards.
You may also elect to receive the Notice or this Proxy Statement and the 2014 Annual Report via e-mail by contacting Broadridge if you are a registered shareholder, by contacting your bank or broker if you are a beneficial owner, or by visiting our website at http://reports.homedepot.com.
Additional copies of this Proxy Statement and the 2014 Annual Report will be provided without charge to shareholders upon written request to Investor Relations, The Home Depot, Inc., 2455 Paces Ferry Road, N.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30339, by calling (770) 384-4388 or via the Internet at http://ir.homedepot.com.
WHERE AND WHEN WILL I BE ABLE TO FIND THE VOTING RESULTS?
You can find the official results of the voting at the Meeting in our Current Report on Form 8-K that we will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) within four business days after the Meeting. If the official results are not available at that time, we will provide preliminary voting results in the Form 8-K and will provide the final results in an amendment to the Form 8-K as soon as they become available.
The Home Depot 2015 Proxy Statement | 3 |
Our Board currently has 11 members: F. Duane Ackerman, Ari Bousbib, Gregory D. Brenneman, J. Frank Brown, Albert P. Carey, Armando Codina, Helena B. Foulkes, Wayne M. Hewett, Karen L. Katen, Craig A. Menear and Mark Vadon. Each director who served during the fiscal year ended February 1, 2015 (“Fiscal 2014”) was, and each current director continues to be, independent other than Mr. Menear, our Chairman, Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and President, and Francis S. Blake, our former Chairman and CEO, who retired at the end of Fiscal 2014.
Under our Corporate Governance Guidelines, directors who reach age 72 by the end of the calendar year preceding an annual meeting cannot stand for re-election at that meeting. Because Mr. Ackerman reached age 72 in 2014, he is not standing for re-election and will be retiring from the Board at the Meeting. Following the Meeting, the size of the Board will therefore be reduced to ten members.
BOARD LEADERSHIP
We believe that having a combined Chairman, CEO and President, an independent Lead Director, and Board committees composed entirely of independent directors currently provides the best Board leadership structure for The Home Depot. This structure, together with our other robust corporate governance practices, provides strong independent oversight of management while ensuring clear strategic alignment throughout the Company. Specifically, Mr. Menear proposes strategic priorities to the Board (with input from the Lead Director), communicates the Board’s guidance to management, and is ultimately responsible for implementing the Company’s key strategic initiatives.
In his position as Chairman, CEO and President, Mr. Menear serves as a conduit between the Board and Company management to promote communication and provide consistent leadership on the Company’s key strategic objectives. During Fiscal 2014, Mr. Blake, our former CEO, served as executive Chairman for three months following Mr. Menear’s appointment as CEO and President. This interim arrangement supported a smooth leadership transition. It also allowed Mr. Blake to continue to focus on matters related to the data breach discovered in September 2014, as discussed below under “Risk Oversight,” while Mr. Menear focused more of his time on our strategic priorities. Following Mr. Blake’s decision to retire at the end of Fiscal 2014, the independent members of the Board determined that it was in the Company’s best interests to return to a leadership structure that includes a combined Chairman and CEO role.
At the same time, the Company recognizes the importance of providing additional, independent oversight of the Board. Accordingly, since 1998, the Company has had a Lead Director. Our Lead Director is an independent director elected annually by the independent members of the Board. Gregory D. Brenneman, a director since 2000, currently serves as our Lead Director. Our Lead Director:
In August 2014, the Board determined that, as a best practice and to maximize the effectiveness of the Lead Director role, our Lead Director should no longer serve on any standing Board committee but instead should be available to attend meetings of any of our Board committees and serve as a resource for the committees as needed. As a result, Mr. Brenneman no longer serves as a member of any of our standing Board committees.
RISK OVERSIGHT
The Company’s risk oversight is accomplished through the identification of key risks facing the Company and the mapping of those risks to the appropriate Board committee or to the full Board, based on the nature of the risk. In accordance with NYSE requirements and
4 | The Home Depot 2015 Proxy Statement |
BOARDOF DIRECTORS INFORMATION
our Audit Committee charter, our Audit Committee has primary responsibility for overseeing risk assessment and management, including the Company’s major financial exposures and compliance risks and the steps management has taken to monitor and control those exposures and risks. The Audit Committee also has primary responsibility for overseeing risks related to information technology and data privacy and security, which we generally refer to as “IT and data security,” as discussed in more detail below. The Audit Committee stays apprised of significant actual and potential risks faced by the Company in part through review of quarterly reports from our Enterprise Risk Council (the “ERC”). The quarterly ERC reports not only identify the risks faced by the Company, but also identify whether primary oversight of each risk resides with a particular Board committee or the full Board.
Our ERC is composed of leaders from the functional areas of the Company and meets at least quarterly to coordinate information sharing and mitigation efforts for all types of risks applicable to the Company. The chair of the ERC, who is also our Vice President of Internal Audit and Corporate Compliance, reports the ERC’s risk analyses to senior management regularly and attends each Audit Committee meeting. The chair of the ERC also provides a detailed annual report regarding the Company’s risk assessment and management process to the full Board.
The Audit Committee also receives quarterly reports from our FCPA Oversight Committee, which oversees enterprise-wide compliance with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the anti-bribery laws of the other jurisdictions in which we conduct business. The FCPA Oversight Committee, which is chaired by our Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, is composed of our Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President – Corporate Services, our Vice President of Internal Audit and Corporate Compliance, and representatives from each non-U.S. division, the business functions responsible for administration of our policies, and the business functions that manage our transactions outside of the U.S. In addition, the Audit Committee meets with the chair of the ERC; our Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary; our Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President – Corporate Services; and KPMG, our independent registered public accounting firm in a private session at each quarterly Audit Committee meeting.
In accordance with our risk mapping, our other Board committees consider significant risks within their areas of responsibility. As discussed in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis beginning on page 26, our LDC Committee oversees risks related to our compensation programs, including an annual review and risk assessment of the Company’s compensation policies and practices, and monitors the independence of its compensation consultant. Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee oversees risks related to our governance policies and practices, including review and approval of any related-party transactions and relationships involving our directors and executive officers. Our Finance Committee oversees risks related to our capital structure, financial resources, utilization of derivatives and accelerated share repurchase agreements, and related financial matters. Each of our committees reports to the Board at each quarterly Board meeting.
In addition, the Board and each committee receive presentations throughout the year from management regarding specific potential risks and trends as necessary. At each Board meeting, our Chairman, CEO and President has the opportunity to discuss in a directors-only session matters of particular importance or concern, including any significant, evolving or nascent risks that may be of concern to the Board or the Company, and our Lead Director presides over an executive session of our independent directors. Annually, through dedicated sessions focusing exclusively on corporate strategy, our full Board reviews in detail the Company’s short- and long-term strategies, including consideration of significant risks facing the Company and their potential impact. We believe that the practices described above and our current leadership structure facilitate effective Board oversight of our significant risks.
The Data Breach and Related Oversight
In September 2014, we discovered that our payment data systems had been breached (the “Data Breach”). The Data Breach potentially impacted customers who used payment cards at self-checkout systems in our U.S. and Canadian stores between April 2014 and September 2014. We subsequently announced that separate files containing approximately 53 million email addresses were also taken during the Data Breach. The investigation of the Data Breach is ongoing, and we are supporting law enforcement efforts to identify the responsible parties.
The Home Depot 2015 Proxy Statement | 5 |
BOARDOF DIRECTORS INFORMATION
As noted above, our Audit Committee has primary oversight responsibility for risks related to IT and data security, although our full Board also exercises oversight over these risks. For a number of years, IT and data security risks have been included in the risks reviewed on a quarterly basis by the ERC and the Audit Committee and in the annual report to the Board on risk assessment and management. In the last few years, the Audit Committee and/or the full Board have also regularly received detailed reports on IT and data security matters from senior members of our IT and internal audit departments. These reports were given at every quarterly Audit Committee meeting in fiscal 2014, including an additional half-day Audit Committee session devoted exclusively to these matters that was held prior to the discovery of the Data Breach. The topics covered by these reports included risk management strategies, consumer data security, the Company’s ongoing risk mitigation activities, and cybersecurity strategy and governance structure. Recent reports also included publicly available information about and analysis of breaches experienced by other companies, including learnings from and actions taken as a result of those incidents. In addition, our internal audit department routinely performs audits on various aspects of IT and data security and reports the results of these audits in its quarterly internal audit report for the Audit Committee.
Since 2013, the Company has had a Privacy Governance Council responsible for the development of enterprise standards and best practices for using, collecting and securing customer information; creating and deploying privacy training; and developing policies and procedures for compliance with new privacy laws. The Council includes representatives from the Company’s legal, government relations, internal audit, store operations, online, corporate compliance, IT, public relations, marketing, and services departments. Going forward, the Council’s activities will be conducted under the direction of the Data Security and Privacy Governance Committee discussed on page 7.
To further support our IT and data security efforts, in 2013 the Company enhanced and expanded the Incident Response Team (“IRT”) formed several years earlier. The IRT is charged with developing action plans for and responding rapidly to data security situations. At the time of the Data Breach, the IRT included representatives from the Company’s legal, internal audit, corporate compliance, credit, online, IT security, government relations, corporate security, human resources, store operations, and public relations departments. The IRT enabled us to respond quickly to the Data Breach in an organized and structured manner once it was discovered. The IRT provided daily updates to the Company’s senior leadership team, who in turn periodically apprised the Lead Director, the Audit Committee and the full Board, as necessary.
Under the Board’s and the Audit Committee’s leadership and oversight, the Company had taken significant steps to address evolving privacy and cybersecurity risks before we became aware of the Data Breach:
6 | The Home Depot 2015 Proxy Statement |
BOARDOF DIRECTORS INFORMATION
Following discovery of the Data Breach, in addition to continuing the efforts described above, the Company and the Board took a number of additional actions:
DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The Director Independence Standards in the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines exceed the independence standards adopted by the NYSE. Our independence standards are attached as Appendix A to this Proxy Statement. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines are available at http://ir.homedepot.com under “Corporate Governance > Corp. Governance Overview” and in print upon request. Pursuant to these guidelines, the Board and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee reviewed the independence of each director in early 2015. During this review, the Board and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considered all relevant facts and circumstances related to transactions and relationships between each director (and his or her immediate family and affiliates) and the Company and its management to determine whether any such relationship or transaction would prohibit a director from being independent under SEC rules, the NYSE listing standards and the Company’s Director Independence Standards.
Based on this review and the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the Board affirmatively determined that all of the individuals nominated for election to the Board at the Meeting are independent except Craig A. Menear, our Chairman, CEO and President.
The Company has purchase, sale and other transactions and relationships in the normal course of business with companies with which certain Company directors are associated, but which our Board determined are not material to the Company, the directors or, except as otherwise indicated below, the companies with which the directors are associated. All of these transactions were reviewed and considered by the Board and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee in determining the independence of Company directors. In particular, the Board and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee took into account the following transactions during Fiscal 2014:
Mr. Brown served as Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of General Atlantic LLC, which manages funds that have or had an equity interest in (1) Appirio Inc., from which we purchased cloud
The Home Depot 2015 Proxy Statement | 7 |
BOARDOF DIRECTORS INFORMATION
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In each instance described above, the amount of payments made and received by each entity represented an immaterial percentage of the Company’s and, except as otherwise stated above, the other entity’s revenues. The Board and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee believe that all of the transactions and relationships during Fiscal 2014 described above were on arm’s-length terms that were reasonable and competitive and that the directors did not participate in or receive any direct personal benefit from these transactions.
SELECTING NOMINEES TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for considering candidates for the Board and recommending director nominees to the Board. All members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee have been determined to be independent by the Board pursuant to SEC rules, NYSE listing standards and the Company’s Director Independence Standards. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s charter, as well as the charters for the Audit Committee, LDC Committee and Finance Committee, are available on the Company’s website at http://ir.homedepot.com under “Corporate Governance > Committee Members & Charters.”
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers candidates for nomination to the Board from a number of sources. Current members of the Board are considered for re-election unless they have notified the Company that they do not wish to stand for re-election and provided they have not reached age 72 by the calendar year-end immediately preceding the Company’s next annual meeting of shareholders. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may also consider candidates recommended by current members of the Board, members of management and shareholders, as discussed below under “Director Candidates Recommended by Shareholders.”
From time to time, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee engages independent search firms to assist in identifying potential Board candidates. Services provided by the search firms include identifying and assessing potential director candidates meeting criteria established by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, verifying information about the prospective candidate’s credentials, and obtaining a preliminary indication of interest and willingness to serve as a Board member. During Fiscal 2014, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee engaged Russell Reynolds Associates and Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. to assist it in identifying and assessing potential director candidates.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee evaluates all candidates, regardless of who recommended the candidate, based on the same criteria. The criteria and the process by which director nominees are considered and selected are discussed further below under “Election of Directors.”
DIRECTOR CANDIDATES RECOMMENDED BY SHAREHOLDERS
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider all candidates recommended by a shareholder (or group of shareholders) who owns at least one percent of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock and who has held such shares for at least one year as of the date of the recommendation. We refer to a shareholder (or group of shareholders) who meets these requirements as an “Eligible Shareholder.” If the shareholder is not an Eligible Shareholder, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may, but is not obligated to, evaluate the candidate and consider him or her for nomination to the Board. A shareholder wishing to recommend a candidate must submit the following documents to the Corporate Secretary, The Home
8 | The Home Depot 2015 Proxy Statement |
BOARDOF DIRECTORS INFORMATION
Depot, Inc., 2455 Paces Ferry Road, N.W., Building C-22, Atlanta, Georgia 30339 not less than 120 calendar days prior to the anniversary of the date on which the Company’s Proxy Statement was released to shareholders in connection with the previous year’s annual meeting of shareholders:
If the candidate is to be evaluated by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the Corporate Secretary will request from the candidate a detailed résumé, an autobiographical statement explaining the candidate’s interest in serving as a director of the Company, a completed statement regarding conflicts of interest, and a waiver of liability for a background check. These documents must be received from the candidate before the first day of February preceding the annual meeting of shareholders.
COMMUNICATING WITH THE BOARD
Shareholders and others who are interested in communicating directly with members of the Board, including those wishing to express concerns relating to accounting, internal controls, audit matters, fraud or unethical behavior, may do so by e-mail at HD_Directors@homedepot.com or by writing to the directors at the following address:
[Name of Director or Directors]
c/o Corporate Secretary
The Home Depot, Inc.
2455 Paces Ferry Road, N.W.
Building C-22
Atlanta, Georgia 30339
The Corporate Secretary reviews and provides the Board and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee with a summary of all such communications and a copy of any correspondence that, in the opinion of the Corporate Secretary, deals with the functions of the Board or the standing committees of the Board, or that otherwise requires the attention of the Board and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Correspondence relating to accounting, internal controls or auditing matters is brought to the attention of the Company’s internal audit department and, if appropriate, to the Audit Committee. All communications are treated confidentially.
MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board met eight times during Fiscal 2014. The number of times that each standing committee of the Board met in Fiscal 2014 is shown in the table below. Each incumbent director attended at least 75% of the meetings of the Board and of the committees of which he or she was a member during Fiscal 2014. Company policy provides that all directors are expected to attend annual shareholder meetings, absent extraordinary circumstances. Every director serving on our Board at the time of the 2014 Annual Meeting of Shareholders attended that meeting.
The Home Depot 2015 Proxy Statement | 9 |
BOARDOF DIRECTORS INFORMATION
During Fiscal 2014, the Board had standing Audit, Nominating and Corporate Governance, Leadership Development and Compensation, and Finance Committees. The current members of our committees, the principal functions of each committee and the number of meetings held in Fiscal 2014 are shown below. Each member of each committee during Fiscal 2014 was, and each current member continues to be, independent under our Director Independence Standards and applicable SEC rules and NYSE listing standards.
During a portion of Fiscal 2014, our Lead Director, Gregory D. Brenneman, served on our Nominating and Corporate Governance and Leadership Development and Compensation Committees. However, as noted above under “Board Leadership,” in August 2014 the Board determined that, as a best practice and to maximize the effectiveness of the Lead Director role, our Lead Director should no longer serve on any standing Board committee but instead should be available to attend meetings of any of our Board committees and serve as a resource for the committees as needed. As a result, Mr. Brenneman no longer serves as a member of any of our standing Board committees.
Name of Committee and Current Members | Committee Functions | Number of Meetings | ||
Audit: F. Duane Ackerman, Chair Ari Bousbib J. Frank Brown Karen L. Katen Mark Vadon | • Oversees the • Has primary responsibility for overseeing risk assessment and risk management • Has primary responsibility for overseeing IT and data security risks • Reviews the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, including Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other anti-bribery regulations • Reviews the qualifications and independence of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm • Oversees the performance of the Company’s internal • Reviews and monitors the | 10 | ||
Nominating and Corporate Governance: Armando Codina, Chair F. Duane Ackerman Albert P. Carey Karen L. Katen | • Oversees the Company’s corporate governance practices and procedures and related risks • Reviews and monitors the performance and composition of the Board and its committees • Makes recommendations for director nominees • Reviews the independence of directors • Oversees communications between directors and shareholders • Reviews related-party transactions involving executive officers and directors • Oversees director education and engagement activities | 4 | ||
Leadership Development and Compensation: Albert P. Carey, Chair Armando Codina Helena B. Foulkes Wayne M. Hewett | • Reviews and recommends compensation of directors and the CEO and approves compensation of other executive officers • Reviews and recommends policies, practices and procedures concerning human resource-related matters • Administers stock incentive and stock purchase plans, including determining grants of equity awards under the plans | 7 |
10 | The Home Depot 2015 Proxy Statement |
BOARDOF DIRECTORS INFORMATION
Name of Committee and Current Members | Committee Functions | Number of Meetings | ||
• Undertakes annual review and risk assessment of compensation policies and practices • Oversees senior management succession planning policies and procedures • Monitors the independence of its compensation consultant | ||||
Finance: Ari Bousbib, Chair J. Frank Brown Helena B. Foulkes Wayne M. Hewett Mark Vadon | • Oversees the management of the Company’s • Reviews and recommends policies, practices and strategies concerning financial matters, including the Company’s management of financial risk, capital structure, investments, utilization of derivatives and accelerated share repurchase agreements, credit programs, credit ratings, and insurance • Oversees the Company’s annual capital plan, significant capital investments and strategies with respect to mergers and acquisitions activity | 6 |
Subject to the election of the ten director nominees discussed below under “Election of Directors,” the members of our standing committees following the Meeting are expected to be as follows:
AUDIT | NOMINATING AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE | LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND COMPENSATION | FINANCE | |||
J. Frank Brown, Chair | Armando Codina, Chair | Albert P. Carey, Chair | Ari Bousbib, Chair | |||
Ari Bousbib | Albert P. Carey | Armando Codina | J. Frank Brown | |||
Wayne M. Hewett | Helena B. Foulkes | Helena B. Foulkes | Karen L. Katen | |||
Mark Vadon | Karen L. Katen | Wayne M. Hewett | Mark Vadon |
The Home Depot 2015 Proxy Statement | 11 |
(ITEM 1 ON THE PROXY CARD)
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, when considering the composition of our Board, focuses on ensuring a mix of directors that collectively possess the breadth of expertise and experience appropriate for a retailer of our size and geographic scope. The Company is the world’s largest home improvement specialty retailer, with more than 2,260 retail stores in the United States, Canada and Mexico, and our business involves all facets of retail, including finance, marketing, information technology, e-commerce, supply chain, real estate and strategic management. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee evaluates each director candidate on the basis of the length and quality of the candidate’s business experience, the applicability of the candidate’s skills and expertise to the Company and its business, the perspectives that the candidate would bring to the entire Board, and the personality or “fit” of the candidate with existing members of the Board and management.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee seeks directors who can:
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee recognizes the importance of selecting directors from various backgrounds and professions in order to ensure that the Board as a whole has a wealth of experiences and perspectives to inform its decisions. Consistent with this philosophy, in addition to focusing on the skills and experience necessary to meet the core needs of the Company, as well as the basic qualifications set forth above, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers the ability of the candidate to contribute to the Board’s viewpoint, ethnic, gender, and racial diversity. To accomplish this, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is committed to including in each search candidates who reflect diverse backgrounds, including diversity of race and gender. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee assesses the composition, including the diversity, of the Board at least once a year and more frequently as needed, particularly when considering potential new candidates.
After evaluating the performance and experience of each of the current directors and the composition of the full Board, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has recommended the election of all ten of the eligible incumbent Board members. As previously noted, Mr. Ackerman reached age 72 in 2014. In accordance with our Corporate Governance Guidelines, he is not standing for re-election and is retiring from service on the Board at the Meeting. Each of the ten individuals nominated for election to the Board would hold office until the 2016 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until his or her successor is elected and qualified. Each nominee has agreed to serve as a director if elected. If for some unforeseen reason a nominee becomes unwilling or unable to serve, proxies will be voted for a substitute nominee selected by the Board in accordance with our By-Laws.
The ten nominees for election to the Board are set forth below.
12 | The Home Depot 2015 Proxy Statement |
ELECTIONOF DIRECTORS
(ITEM 1 ON THE PROXY CARD)
ARI BOUSBIB, 54, Director since 2007
Mr. Bousbib plays a key role in the Board’s oversight of the Company’s supply chain, information technology, international and finance matters, as well as providing insight into the development of corporate strategy. Since 2010, Mr. Bousbib has served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of IMS Health Incorporated (“IMS Health”), an information services company, and has served as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of IMS Health Holdings, Inc., the parent holding company of IMS Health, since its initial public offering in April 2014. Prior to IMS Health, Mr. Bousbib spent 14 years at United Technologies Corporation (“UTC”), a diversified company, where he most recently served as Executive Vice President of UTC and President of UTC’s Commercial Companies, responsible for the strategic direction and operational performance of subsidiaries Otis Elevator Company, Carrier Corporation and UTC Fire & Security. From 2002 to 2008, he served as President of Otis Elevator Company, and from 2000 to 2002 he served as its Chief Operating Officer. From 1997 to 2000, Mr. Bousbib was Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Development of UTC. Prior to joining UTC, Mr. Bousbib was a partner at Booz Allen Hamilton, a global management and technology consulting firm. In serving on our Board, Mr. Bousbib draws from his experience with managing large, sophisticated businesses, including oversight of extensive global operations, as well as strategic, finance, supply chain and information technology matters. | ||
Other U.S. Public Company Board Memberships in Past Five Years IMS Health Holdings, Inc. (2014 to present) | ||
GREGORY D. BRENNEMAN, 53, Director since 2000 | ||
A successful business leader who has been involved in several well-known corporate spin-off and turnaround-driven transformations, Mr. Brenneman brings to our Board an extensive background in general management of large organizations and expertise in accounting and corporate finance, retail, supply chain, marketing and international matters. Since 2008, Mr. Brenneman has served as Chairman of CCMP Capital Advisors, LLC, a private equity firm with over $12 billion under management, and he was named its President and Chief Executive Officer in February 2015. He is also Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of TurnWorks, Inc., a private equity firm focusing on corporate turnarounds, which he founded in 1994. In prior management roles, Mr. Brenneman served as Executive Chairman of Quiznos, a national quick-service restaurant chain, from 2008 to 2010, and as its President and Chief Executive Officer from 2007 to 2008. Prior to joining Quiznos, Mr. Brenneman led restructuring and turnaround efforts at Burger King Corporation, PwC Consulting, a division of PricewaterhouseCoopers (“PwC”), and Continental Airlines, Inc. that resulted in improved customer service, profitability and financial returns. | ||
Other U.S. Public Company Board Memberships in Past Five Years Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (2001 to 2014) Francesca’s Holdings Corporation (2010 to present) Baker Hughes Incorporated (2014 to present) |
The Home Depot 2015 Proxy Statement | 13 |
ELECTIONOF DIRECTORS
(ITEM 1 ON THE PROXY CARD)
J. FRANK BROWN, 58, Director since 2011
Mr. Brown is a seasoned international business and academic leader whose strong technical expertise in financial and accounting matters qualifies him as an “audit committee financial expert” under SEC guidelines, as described in the “Audit Committee Report” on page 19 of this Proxy Statement, and he serves in such capacity on our Audit Committee. Mr. Brown serves as Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of General Atlantic LLC, a global growth equity firm, which he joined in 2011. From 2006 to 2011, Mr. Brown was Dean of INSEAD, an international business school with campuses in France, Singapore and Abu Dhabi. Before his appointment as Dean of INSEAD, he served as a member of its Board and as Chairman of its U.S. Council. Prior to his tenure at INSEAD, Mr. Brown spent 26 years at PwC, where he held a series of leadership roles, including head of its Assurance and Business Advisory Service, Transactions Services and Corporate Development practices, and most recently the leader of the $3.5 billion Advisory Services operating unit of PwC. He also launched PwC’s Genesis Park, a leadership development program to train the next generation of global leaders within the firm. Mr. Brown is a trustee of The Asia Society and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He is also an author and frequent speaker on leadership. | ||
Other U.S. Public Company Board Memberships in Past Five Years None. | ||
ALBERT P. CAREY, 63, Director since 2008 | ||
Having served in a number of senior executive positions at PepsiCo, Inc., a consumer products company, Mr. Carey enhances our Board’s experience in and oversight of retail, supply chain and marketing matters, as well as contributing to the general management and strategic business development skills of our Board. In 2011, Mr. Carey was named Chief Executive Officer of PepsiCo Americas Beverages, assuming responsibilities for all aspects of PepsiCo’s beverages business in the Americas. From 2006 to 2011, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Frito-Lay North America, a snack food company and the largest North American business division of PepsiCo. He also served as President of PepsiCo Sales, the sales division of PepsiCo, from 2003 to 2006, in charge of PepsiCo’s sales and customer management for its retail, food service and fountain businesses. Other positions that Mr. Carey has held at PepsiCo include Chief Operating Officer of PepsiCo Beverages & Foods North America, Senior Vice President of Sales for Pepsi-Cola North America and Chief Operating Officer of Frito-Lay North America. Prior to his career at PepsiCo, Mr. Carey spent seven years at Procter & Gamble. | ||
Other U.S. Public Company Board Memberships in Past Five Years None. |
14 | The Home Depot 2015 Proxy Statement |
ELECTIONOF DIRECTORS
(ITEM 1 ON THE PROXY CARD)
ARMANDO CODINA, 68, Director since 2007
Mr. Codina’s extensive expertise in commercial real estate development and management provides our Board with significant insight into and understanding of the real estate issues faced by a large retail organization. Mr. Codina founded Codina Group, a South Florida-based commercial real estate firm, in 1980. As Codina Group’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, he led the company through significant growth for 26 years and successfully merged it with Florida East Coast Industries in 2006 to become Florida East Coast Industries’ full-service real estate business, Flagler Development Group. In 2006, Mr. Codina was appointed Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Flagler Development Group, where he served until September 2008. He continued to serve as non-executive Chairman of Flagler until December 2010. Mr. Codina is currently the Chairman of Codina Partners, LLC, a real estate investment and development company that he formed in 2009, and he also served as its Chief Executive Officer until December 2013. Prior to founding Codina Group, Mr. Codina served as President of Professional Automated Services, Inc., a pioneer in the development of comprehensive medical management systems that provided data processing services to physicians. Mr. Codina’s deep roots in Florida have afforded the Board a unique insight into this market. In addition, Mr. Codina’s prior and current service on a number of public company boards of directors provides significant and valuable perspective into corporate management and board dynamics. | ||
Other U.S. Public Company Board Memberships in Past Five Years AMR Corporation (1995-2013) | ||
HELENA B. FOULKES, 50, Director since 2013 | ||
Having served in a number of executive marketing, operations and strategic planning roles for CVS Health Corporation (“CVS”), an integrated pharmacy health care provider and retailer, Ms. Foulkes has significant experience in innovative marketing strategies, retail operations and merchandising, as well as insight into health care and associate wellness-related issues. She is currently Executive Vice President of CVS and President of CVS/pharmacy, a position she has held since January 2014. Previously, she was Executive Vice President and Chief Health Care Strategy and Marketing Officer from 2011 to 2013, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer from 2009 to 2011, Senior Vice President of Health Services of CVS/pharmacy from 2007 to 2009, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Operations Services during a portion of 2007, and Senior Vice President, Advertising and Marketing from 2002 to 2007. In her 20-plus years with the CVS, Ms. Foulkes also has held positions in Marketing and Operations Services, Strategic Planning, Visual Merchandising and Category Management. | ||
Other U.S. Public Company Board Memberships in Past Five Years None. |
The Home Depot 2015 Proxy Statement | 15 |
ELECTIONOF DIRECTORS
(ITEM 1 ON THE PROXY CARD)
WAYNE M. HEWETT, 50, Director since 2014
Mr. Hewett has significant experience executing company-wide initiatives across large organizations, developing proprietary products, optimizing a supply chain, and using emerging technologies to provide new products and services to customers. His experience and skills enhance our Board’s ability to provide thoughtful oversight as we continue to implement our four key initiatives of customer service, product authority, disciplined capital allocation and interconnected retail. Mr. Hewett is currently President of Platform Specialty Products Corporation, a global producer of high technology specialty chemical products and provider of technical services, a position he has held since February 2015. From January 2010 to February 2015, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer and as a member of the board of directors of Arysta LifeScience Corporation, one of the world’s largest privately held crop protection and life science companies, which was acquired by Platform Specialty Products in February 2015. Prior to joining Arysta LifeScience as its Chief Operating Officer and a director in October 2009, Mr. Hewett served as a senior consultant to GenNx360, a private equity firm focused on sponsoring buyouts of middle market companies, from January to August 2009. Mr. Hewett’s career has also included over twenty years with GE. From October 2007 to December 2008, he served as GE’s Vice President, Supply Chain and Operations. He also served as President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Advanced Materials, a global leader in providing a range of high-technology materials solutions, from 2005 until December 2006, when the company was sold to Apollo Management and renamed Momentive Performance Materials, Inc. Mr. Hewett remained with Momentive and served as its President and Chief Executive Officer from December 2006 to June 2007. His other roles at GE included President of GE Plastics Pacific and membership on GE’s Corporate Executive Council. Drawing from his various roles, Mr. Hewett brings to our Board extensive experience in general management, finance, supply chain, operational and international matters. | ||
Other U.S. Public Company Board Memberships in Past Five Years Ingredion Incorporated (2010 to present) | ||
KAREN L. KATEN, 65, Director since 2007 | ||
Ms. Katen enhances our Board’s understanding of international, supply chain and marketing matters, with her expertise in those areas gained through her career at Pfizer Inc., a global pharmaceutical company. Ms. Katen began her career at Pfizer in 1974 and held a series of management positions with increasing responsibility, including President of Pfizer Global Pharmaceuticals and Executive Vice President of Pfizer Inc. from 2001 to 2005 and President of Pfizer Human Health from 2005 to 2007. She retired in 2007 as Vice Chairman of Pfizer Inc. She also served as Chairman of the Pfizer Foundation, a charitable foundation affiliated with Pfizer. Currently, Ms. Katen serves as Senior Advisor of Essex Woodlands Health Ventures, a healthcare venture capital firm which she joined in 2007. Ms. Katen is also a director of Air Liquide, an international leader in gases for industry, health and the environment. Ms. Katen has served with several healthcare-related organizations, including as a member of the Global Advisory Board of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Treasurer of PhRMA, an industry association representing research-based pharmaceutical companies in the U.S., a board member of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health, a member of the Healthcare Leadership Council, and a member of the RAND Corporation’s Health Board of Advisors. She is also on the Board of Trustees of the University of Chicago and is a council member of the Booth Graduate School of Business at the University of Chicago. Ms. Katen has also served on a variety of international policy bodies, including as Chairman of the U.S.-Japan Business Council. | ||
Other U.S. Public Company Board Memberships in Past Five Years Catamaran Corporation (2012 to present) Harris Corporation (1994 to present) IMS Health Holdings, Inc. (2015 to present) |
16 | The Home Depot 2015 Proxy Statement |
ELECTIONOF DIRECTORS
(ITEM 1 ON THE PROXY CARD)
CRAIG A. MENEAR, 57, Director since 2014
As our Chief Executive Officer and President since November 2014 and our Chairman since February 2015, Mr. Menear brings to our Board extensive retail experience and knowledge of our business, including leadership experience in retail operations, merchandising, supply chain and vendor management. He previously served as our President, U.S. Retail from February 2014 to October 2014. In that role Mr. Menear was responsible for oversight of store operations and all merchandising departments, services and strategy; the Company’s supply chain network and global sourcing and vendor management programs; and the Company’s marketing and online business activities. Mr. Menear has more than three decades of experience in the retail and hardware home improvement industry. From 2007 to February 2014, Mr. Menear served as our Executive Vice President – Merchandising, where he led our merchandising and supply chain transformations. From 2003 to 2007, he served as Senior Vice President – Merchandising, and from 1997 to 2003, he held several positions of increasing responsibility in the Company’s Merchandising department, including Merchandising Vice President of Hardware, Merchandising Vice President of the Southwest Division and Divisional Merchandise Manager of the Southwest Division. Prior to joining the Company in 1997, Mr. Menear held various merchandising positions within the retail industry with companies such as IKEA, Builders Emporium, Grace Home Centers and Montgomery Ward, as well as operating an independent retail business. | ||
Other U.S. Public Company Board Memberships in Past Five Years None. | ||
MARK VADON, 45, Director since 2012 | ||
Mr. Vadon is one of the country’s leading internet retailing entrepreneurs, having co-founded two highly successful online specialty retail businesses. He brings to our Board in-depth experience in developing online businesses, effectively managing the use of technology, developing mobile applications and the associated user interfaces, as well as critical business analytic acumen. His expertise is an invaluable resource for the Company as we continue to implement our interconnected retail strategy. In 2009, Mr. Vadon co-founded zulily, Inc., a daily deals site for moms, babies and kids, and currently serves as the Chairman of its board of directors. In 1999, Mr. Vadon founded Blue Nile, Inc., the leading online retailer of diamonds and fine jewelry, and served as the Chairman of its board of directors from its inception through 2013. During Blue Nile’s history, Mr. Vadon has also served as its Executive Chairman (from 2008 to 2011), Chief Executive Officer (from 1999 to 2008) and President (from 1999 to 2007). Prior to founding Blue Nile, Mr. Vadon was a consultant for Bain & Company, a management consulting firm, which he joined in 1992. | ||
Other U.S. Public Company Board Memberships in Past Five Years zulily, Inc. (2013 to present) Blue Nile, Inc. (1999-2013) |
WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF EACH
NOMINEE TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
The Home Depot 2015 Proxy Statement | 17 |
RATIFICATIONOFTHE APPOINTMENTOF KPMG LLP
(ITEM 2 ON THE PROXY CARD)
The Audit Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention, evaluation and oversight of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. As part of this responsibility, the Audit Committee annually evaluates the independent registered public accounting firm’s qualifications, performance and independence and assesses whether to continue to retain the firm or select a different firm.
The Audit Committee has appointed KPMG LLP to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for Fiscal 2015. KPMG (or its predecessor firms) has served in that capacity for the Company since 1979. The Audit Committee and its Chair are also involved in and approve the selection of the lead audit partner, who is limited to no more than five consecutive years in that role before the position must be rotated in accordance with SEC rules.
The Audit Committee and the Board believe that the continued retention of KPMG as the Company’s independent auditor is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. Although we are not required to submit this matter to shareholders, the Board believes that it is a sound corporate governance practice to seek shareholder ratification of the appointment of KPMG. If shareholders do not ratify the appointment of KPMG, the Audit Committee will reconsider the appointment.
One or more representatives of KPMG will be present at the Meeting. The representatives will have an opportunity to make a statement if they desire and will be available to respond to questions from shareholders.
WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU
VOTE “FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF
KPMG LLP AS THE COMPANY’S
FISCAL 2015 INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTING FIRM.
18 | The Home Depot 2015 Proxy Statement |
Each member of the Audit Committee is independent under SEC rules, the NYSE listing standards and the Director Independence Standards set forth in the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and attached as Appendix A to this Proxy Statement. The Board has determined that Mr. Brown is an “audit committee financial expert” as such term is defined in SEC rules.
The Audit Committee acts under a written charter, which sets forth its responsibilities and duties, as well as requirements for the Audit Committee’s composition and meetings. The Audit Committee charter is available on the Company’s website at http://ir.homedepot.com under “Corporate Governance > Committee Members & Charters” and is also available in print upon request.
The Audit Committee has:
• | Reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements
|
This report has been furnished by the current members of the Audit Committee:
The Home Depot 2015 Proxy Statement | 19 | |
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM’S FEESADVISORY VOTETO APPROVE EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION –
“SAY-ON-PAY”
(ITEM 3 ON THE PROXY CARD)
AUDIT AND OTHER FEES
The following table presents fees for services rendered by KPMG during Fiscal 2014 and the fiscal year ended February 2, 2014 (“Fiscal 2013”) (amounts in thousands):
Fiscal 2014 | Fiscal 2013 | |||||||
Audit Fees | $ | 4,850 | $ | 5,115 | ||||
Audit-Related Fees | 317 | 185 | ||||||
Tax Fees | 360 | 653 | ||||||
All Other Fees | — | 230 | ||||||
Total Fees | $ | 5,527 | $ | 6,183 |
Audit fees consist of fees for the annual audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K, the annual audit of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, the quarterly reviews of the Company’s consolidated financial statements included in its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, services related to other regulatory filings made with the SEC, comfort letters and statutory audits of certain subsidiaries.
Audit-related fees consist of fees for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the financial statements but are not reported in the prior paragraph. These fees are related to employee benefit plan audits.
Tax fees for Fiscal 2014 consist of fees of $285,000 for tax compliance and preparation services and fees of $75,000 for tax planning, advisory and consulting services. Tax fees for Fiscal 2013 consist of fees of $271,000 for tax compliance and preparation services and fees of $382,000 for tax planning, advisory and consulting services.
All other fees for Fiscal 2013 consist of financial due diligence services related to acquisition targets.
PRE-APPROVAL POLICY AND PROCEDURES
The Audit Committee has adopted a policy regarding the retention of the independent registered public accounting firm that requires pre-approval of all services by the Audit Committee or by the Chair of the Audit Committee. When services are pre-approved by the Chair, notice of such approvals is given simultaneously to the other members of the Audit Committee and presented to the full Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting.
In accordance with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 and Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), the Company provides its shareholders with the opportunity each year to vote to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers.
20 | The
|
ADVISORY VOTETO APPROVE EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION –
“SAY-ON-PAY”
(ITEM 3 ON THE PROXY CARD)
In accordance with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 and Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), the Company provides its shareholders with the opportunity each year to vote to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers. The Company recommends that you vote for the approval of the compensation of our named executive officers as described in this Proxy Statement. Accordingly, you may vote on the following resolution at the Meeting:
RESOLVED, that the shareholders approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers as disclosed in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the accompanying compensation tables, and the related narrative disclosure in the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
As described in our “Fiscal 2014 Executive Compensation Report Card” and the Compensation Discussion and Analysis beginning on page 26, the Company’s compensation philosophy is to align executive pay with Company performance. We believe that this alignment motivates our executives to achieve our key financial and strategic goals, creating long-term shareholder value.
Our executive compensation program links pay to performance as follows:
Because the vote on this proposal is advisory in nature, it will not affect any compensation already paid or awarded to any named executive officer and will not be binding on or overrule any decisions by the LDC Committee or the Board. Because we value our shareholders’ views, however, the LDC Committee and the Board will consider the results of this advisory vote when formulating future executive compensation policy. As noted on page 32 in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the LDC Committee considered the result of last year’s vote, in which over 98% of the shares voted were voted in support of the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers. Your advisory vote serves as an additional tool to guide the LDC Committee and the Board in continuing to align the Company’s executive compensation program with the interests of the Company and its shareholders and is consistent with our commitment to high standards of corporate governance.
This vote is not intended to express a view on any specific element of compensation, but rather the overall named executive officer compensation program and philosophy as described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the accompanying compensation tables, and the related narrative disclosure as set forth in the “Executive Compensation” section of this Proxy Statement. We encourage you to carefully review these disclosures and to indicate your support for our named executive officer compensation program.
WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” THE
APPROVAL OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AS PRESENTED IN THIS PROXY
STATEMENT.
The Home Depot 2015 Proxy Statement | 21 |
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSAL REGARDING INDEPENDENT CHAIRMANOFTHE BOARD
(ITEM 4 ON THE PROXY CARD)
Mr. John Chevedden, located at 2215 Nelson Avenue, No. 205, Redondo Beach, CA 90278, is the beneficial owner of at least 100 shares of the Company’s common stock and has notified the Company of his intention to present the following proposal at the Meeting. The Company is not responsible for the accuracy or content of the proposal, which is presented as received from the proponent in accordance with SEC rules.
Proposal 4 – Independent Board Chairman
Resolved: Shareholders request that the Board of Directors adopt a policy that the Chairman of our Board of Directors shall be an independent director who is not a current or former employee of the company, and whose only nontrivial professional, familial or financial connection to the company or its CEO is the directorship. The policy should be implemented so as not to violate existing agreements and should allow for departure under extraordinary circumstances such as the unexpected resignation of the chair. The proponent of this proposal has been a continuous company shareholder since 1998.
When our CEO is our board chairman, this arrangement can hinder our board’s ability to monitor our CEO’s performance. Many companies already have an independent Chairman. An independent Chairman is the prevailing practice in the United Kingdom and many international markets. This proposal topic won 50%-plus support at 5 major U.S. companies in 2013 including 73%-support at Netflix.
This topic is particularly important for Home Depot because our Lead Director, Gregory Brenneman, may not be the most qualified person to be Lead Director. Mr. Brenneman had the longest tenure on our board and long-tenure can negatively impact director independence, which is critical to the role of Lead Director. Plus Mr. Brenneman lead our executive pay committee when Francis Blake was given $17 million in 2013 Total Realized Pay.
Our clearly improvable corporate governance (as reported in 2014) is an added incentive to vote for this proposal:
Home Depot is the only company still with 2 directors who had director duties during the General Motors bankruptcy: Armando Codina and Karen Katen. Mr. Codina was also involved with the AMR Corporation bankruptcy and received the highest negative votes from Home Depot shareholders in 2014. Ms. Katen was potentially overextended with director duties at 4 public companies and was on our audit committee, the most demanding committee.
GMI Ratings, an independent investment research firm, said multiple related party transactions and other potential conflicts of interest involving the company’s board or senior managers should be reviewed in greater depth. There was not one independent director who had general expertise in risk management, based on GMI’s standards.
Returning to the core topic of this proposal from the context of our clearly improvable corporate governance, please vote to protect shareholder value:
Independent Board Chairman – Proposal 4
22 | The Home Depot 2015 Proxy Statement |
RESPONSETO PROPOSAL REGARDING INDEPENDENT CHAIRMANOFTHE BOARD
The Board recommends that you vote against this shareholder proposal. Shareholders of the Company rejected a similar proposal in 2006, 2007 and 2010. The Board believes that the stability and consistency in the leadership provided by one person serving as its Chairman and CEO, together with our independent Board committees, our independent Lead Director and our other robust governance practices, provide the most effective Board leadership structure for our Company. This structure provides strong independent oversight of management while ensuring clear strategic alignment throughout the Company.
In his position as Chairman, CEO and President, Mr. Menear serves as a conduit between the Board and the operating organization to promote communication and provide consistent leadership on the Company’s key strategic objectives. During Fiscal 2014, our former CEO, Frank Blake, served as executive Chairman for three months following Mr. Menear’s appointment as CEO. This interim arrangement supported a smooth leadership transition, and it allowed Mr. Blake to continue to focus on matters related to the Data Breach while Mr. Menear focused more of his time on our strategic priorities. The independent members of the Board determined that it was in the Company’s best interests to return to a leadership structure that includes a combined Chairman and CEO role following Mr. Blake’s retirement at the end of Fiscal 2014.
At the same time, the Company also recognizes the importance of providing additional, independent oversight of the Board. Accordingly, since 1998, the Company has had a Lead Director. Our Lead Director is an independent director elected by the independent members of the Board. Our Lead Director’s role and responsibilities are described in more detail in the “Board of Directors Information” section on page 4 of this Proxy Statement.
As provided in the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, our directors also have full and direct access to management and information about the Company’s operations. Furthermore, the independent members of the Board, led by our Lead Director, regularly meet without management present to consider Company matters, including the performance of the CEO. The Company believes that the Board, which consists entirely of independent directors (other than Mr. Menear), is best situated to determine which director should serve as Chairman.
WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU
VOTE “AGAINST” THE ADOPTION OF
THIS SHAREHOLDER PROPOSAL.
The Home Depot 2015 Proxy Statement | 23 |
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSAL REGARDING SPECIAL SHAREHOLDER MEETINGS
(ITEM 5 ON THE PROXY CARD)
Ms. Myra K. Young, located at 9295 Yorkship Court, Elk Grove, CA 95758, is the beneficial owner of 45 shares of the Company’s common stock and has notified the Company of her intention to present the following proposal at the Meeting. The Company is not responsible for the accuracy or content of the proposal, which is presented as received from the proponent in accordance with SEC rules.
Proposal 5 – Special Shareowner Meetings
Resolved, Shareowners ask our board to take the steps necessary (unilaterally if possible) to amend our bylaws and each appropriate governing document to give holders in the aggregate of 10% of our outstanding common stock the power to call a special shareowner meeting. This proposal does not impact our board’s current power to call a special meeting.
Delaware law allows 10% of shareholders to call a special meeting and many companies have adopted the 10% threshold. Special meetings allow shareowners to vote on important matters, such as electing new directors that can arise between annual meetings. Shareowner input on the timing of shareowner meetings is especially important when events unfold quickly and issues may become moot by the next annual meeting.
This proposal topic won more than 70% support at Edwards Lifesciences and SunEdison in 2013. Vanguard sent letters to 350 of its portfolio companies asking them to consider providing the right for shareholders to call a special meeting.
This proposal is more important to Home Depot shareholders due to the restrictions on Home Depot’s shareholder right to act by written consent. Shareholders acting by written consent could save Home Depot the cost of a meeting and still bring an important matter to the attention of management and shareholders.
Please vote to enhance shareholder value:
Special Shareowner Meetings – Proposal 5
24 | The Home Depot 2015 Proxy Statement |
RESPONSETO PROPOSAL REGARDING SPECIAL SHAREHOLDER MEETINGS
The Board recommends that you vote against this shareholder proposal. Currently, shareholders of 25% of our common stock have the right to call a special meeting, pursuant to a Company proposal adopted by our shareholders at our 2009 annual meeting. At our 2012 and 2014 annual meetings, our shareholders rejected a proposal for a 15% threshold, and the proponent is now seeking an even lower threshold, which would allow an even smaller minority of shareholders to call a special meeting. Our Board of Directors continues to believe that 25% is an appropriate threshold, particularly when viewed together with our robust corporate governance practices and the many shareholder protections that we have adopted.
As noted in our Corporate Governance Factsheet, located on our Investor Relations website (http://ir.homedepot.com, under “Corporate Governance > Corp. Governance Factsheet”), in addition to a shareholder right to call a special meeting, we have adopted extensive governance best practices, including majority voting for directors, annual director elections and a shareholder right to act by majority written consent. In 2013, 2014 and 2015, Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) gave us its highest ranking of “1” under its QuickScore governance rating system, reflecting its conclusion that our corporate governance risk is low.
If adopted, this proposal would have the effect of allowing a relatively small minority of shareholders with narrow interests to call an unlimited number of special meetings to consider matters that may not be in the best interests of all of our shareholders. We believe that at least 25% of our shareholders should agree that a matter be addressed before a special meeting is called. Therefore, in the best interests of our shareholders and Company and in light of the many shareholder protections we already have in place, we recommend that you vote against this shareholder proposal.
WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU
VOTE “AGAINST” THE ADOPTION OF
THIS SHAREHOLDER PROPOSAL.
The Home Depot 2015 Proxy Statement | 25 |
COMPENSATION DISCUSSIONAND ANALYSIS
Fiscal 2014 Performance Measures | Fiscal 2014 Company Performance | Fiscal 2014 Executive Compensation Results | ||||||||||||
Management Incentive Plan (“MIP”):
• Sales, operating profit and inventory turns – operating profit threshold level must be met for any MIP payout to occur ($ billions):
|
Exceeded target levels for each of sales and operating profit goals and achieved performance slightly below target for the inventory turns goal:
• Sales of $83.18 billion
• Operating profit of $10.47 billion
• Inventory turns of 4.63 times |
Target Payout Levels:
• MIP payout levels are determined as a percentage of base salary, based on position, and are prorated for the periods in which a promoted executive served in each position
Actual MIP Payout:
| ||||||||||||
Threshold | Target | Maximum | ||||||||||||
Sales (40%) | $78.49 | $82.62 | $99.15 | NEO | Performance as a % of Target | MIP Amount | ||||||||
Operating Profit (40%) | $9.19 | $10.22 | $12.26 | |||||||||||
Inventory Turns (20%) | 4.28 | 4.76 | 5.71 | C. Menear | 104.0% | $2,136,504 | ||||||||
F. Blake | 101.5% | $1,523,101 | ||||||||||||
C. Tomé | 101.5% | $1,300,982 | ||||||||||||
M. Holifield | 104.8% | $759,652 | ||||||||||||
M. Carey | 101.5% | $705,703 | ||||||||||||
T. Crow | 101.5% | $599,086 | ||||||||||||
M. Ellison | — | — | ||||||||||||
Performance-Based Restricted Stock:
• Operating profit – restricted stock forfeited if Fiscal 2014 operating profit is not at least 90% of MIP target (at least $9.19 billion)
|
Operating profit of $10.47 billion exceeded the 90% threshold |
Shares of restricted stock were not forfeited, and will vest 50% after 30 months and 50% after 60 months from grant date | ||||||||||||
Fiscal 2014-2016 Performance Share Award:
• Three-year average return on invested capital (“ROIC”) and operating profit ($ billions):
|
As of the end of Fiscal 2014:
• ROIC of 24.9%
• Operating profit of $10.47 billion |
Shares are received following the end of the three-year performance period, if and to the extent the performance measures are met | ||||||||||||
Threshold | Target | Maximum | ||||||||||||
Three-Year Average ROIC (50%) | 21.5% | 26.9% | 32.2% | |||||||||||
Three-Year Average Operating Profit (50%) | $8.82 | $11.03 | $13.24 | |||||||||||
Payout as a Percent of Target | 25% | 100% | 200% | |||||||||||
Stock Options:
• Stock price performance:
• Annual grant with exercise price of $78.87 on March 26, 2014
• Promotional grant to Mr. Menear with an exercise price of $97.57 on November 20, 2014 |
• 39% increase in stock price in Fiscal 2014
• One-year Total Shareholder Return (“TSR”) of 38.8% compared to the one- year TSR for the S&P 500® Index of 14.2%
|
• At the end of Fiscal 2014, options from the annual grant on March 26, 2014 were in-the-money by $25.55 per share, and the promotional grant to Mr. Menear on
• Options vest 25% on the second, third, fourth and fifth anniversaries of the grant date
|
26 | The Home Depot 2015 Proxy Statement |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Fiscal 2014 Company Business Objectives and Performance
As discussed below, we experienced a number of changes in our executive team in Fiscal 2014. Our strategic framework, however, remained largely the same, with a focus on four core principles aimed at driving shareholder return and a sustainable competitive advantage:
By executing against the strategic initiatives that support these principles, our business again performed well. Highlights of the Company’s Fiscal 2014 performance include the following:
As a result of our significant cash flow from operations and disciplined capital allocation, we were also able to return value to our shareholders during Fiscal 2014 through a 39% increase in our stock price, a 21% increase in our dividend for a total of $2.5 billion in dividends, and $7.0 billion in share repurchases.
Fiscal 2014 Management Transitions
Fiscal 2014 was a year of transition in executive leadership for the Company. In February 2014, Craig Menear, then our Executive Vice President – Merchandising, was promoted to President, U.S. Retail, marking the first step of a CEO succession process executed by our Board. In addition to his existing responsibilities for the Company’s merchandising services and strategy, supply chain network, global sourcing, vendor management, marketing, and online sales, Mr. Menear assumed responsibility for all U.S. store operations. Following this change, Marvin Ellison, our Executive Vice President – U.S. Stores, reported to Mr. Menear. At the same time, Mark Holifield was promoted from Senior Vice President – Supply Chain to Executive Vice President – Supply Chain and Product Development, with expanded responsibility for sourcing and proprietary brands, and continued to report to Mr. Menear.
Subsequently, in July 2014, Ted Decker, formerly Senior Vice President – U.S. Retail Finance, was appointed as the Company’s new Executive Vice President – Merchandising, with responsibility for all aspects of merchandising strategy and operations and reporting to Mr. Menear.
In August 2014, the Company announced that after over seven years as our Chairman and CEO, Frank Blake had decided to step down from the CEO position, effective November 1, 2014. The Company announced the appointment of Mr. Menear to our Board effective immediately and his appointment as the Company’s CEO and President, effective November 1, 2014. After stepping down as CEO on November 1, 2014, Mr. Blake became the executive Chairman of the Board. As executive Chairman, Mr. Blake supported the leadership transition process and, as discussed above under “Board of Directors Information—Risk Oversight,” continued to focus on matters related to the Data Breach discovered in September 2014. Mr. Blake retired from the Board at the end of Fiscal 2014 on February 1, 2015, and the Board appointed Mr. Menear as Chairman, in addition to his position as CEO and President, effective February 2, 2015.
In October 2014, Mr. Ellison left the Company to assume a leadership position at another retailer, and the Board appointed Marc Powers, formerly Senior Vice President – Operations, as the new Executive Vice President – U.S. Stores, with responsibility for the Company’s three U.S. operating divisions, as well as the Company’s Pro, Tool Rental and Installation businesses, and reporting to Mr. Menear.
CEO and Executive Chairman Pay Highlights
In connection with our CEO succession process, the independent members of our Board, upon the recommendation of our LDC Committee, set the compensation for Mr. Menear as our new CEO and President and for Mr. Blake in his role as executive Chairman.
The Home Depot 2015 Proxy Statement | 27 |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Mr. Menear. With respect to Mr. Menear, the independent directors and the LDC Committee, with support from the LDC Committee’s independent compensation consultant, considered the compensation of CEOs at peer companies, as discussed below under “Compensation Determination Process—Benchmarking,” as well as compensation paid in connection with CEO transitions at Fortune 100 and S&P 100 companies in the past three years. They also considered the Company’s existing pay structure for executive officers, noting that the Board had been conservative in setting executive compensation and that Mr. Blake had declined to accept any salary increases since 2010. As a result, the Company faced significant salary compression at the NEO level, and Mr. Blake’ salary as CEO was at the 8th percentile of the Fortune 50 and at the 33rd percentile of retail peers, despite Company revenues at the 30th and 87th percentile, respectively.
In light of these considerations, and taking into account Mr. Menear’s performance in 2014 in his role as President, U.S. Retail, the independent directors determined to set Mr. Menear’s annual base salary at $1.3 million and to increase his Management Incentive Plan, or “MIP,” target to 200% of base salary, the Company’s standard MIP target for its CEO, effective with Mr. Menear’s promotion on November 1, 2014. Mr. Menear’s new annual base salary ranked at approximately the 25th percentile of the Fortune 50 and slightly below the 75th percentile of retail peers. The independent directors also granted him a promotional award of stock options with a grant date fair value of $3.5 million that vest over a five year period. The independent directors selected stock options as the sole equity vehicle for the promotional grant to directly align Mr. Menear’s interests with that of our shareholders, as the intrinsic value of the options will depend upon the increase in value of our stock following Mr. Menear’s promotion to CEO.
Mr. Blake. In determining the compensation for Mr. Blake in his role as executive Chairman, the independent directors considered his performance and tenure as CEO; the demands of the leadership transition process; and the expectation that his new role would continue to be a full-time, executive level position with a shift in focus to Board and investor matters as well as matters related to the Data Breach. The independent directors also considered the compensation paid by similarly situated companies in the Fortune 100 and S&P 100 that had recently experienced a transition of a CEO to an executive chair role, along with Mr. Blake’s request that his annual base salary be lowered in his new role. Based on these considerations, the independent directors reduced Mr. Blake’s annual base salary to $750,000, effective November 1, 2014, but maintained his fiscal 2014 MIP target at 200% of base salary, reflecting his active role and contributions throughout Fiscal 2014.
Named Executive Officers
Our named executive officers for Fiscal 2014 were:
As of the end of Fiscal 2014, all of the then active Executive Vice Presidents listed above reported directly to the CEO.
Compensation Philosophy and Objectives: Pay for Performance
We designed our compensation program for associates at all levels with the intent to align pay with performance. By doing so, we seek to motivate associate performance and enhance morale, which drives superior customer service. We believe this alignment encourages achievement of our strategic goals and creation of long-term shareholder value.
The principal elements of our compensation program for executive officers are base salary, annual incentives and long-term incentives. The amount of incentive compensation paid, if any, is determined by our performance against our Fiscal 2014 business plan, a plan intended to be challenging in light of
28 | The Home Depot 2015 Proxy Statement |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
prevailing economic conditions, yet attainable through disciplined execution of our strategic initiatives.
The following features of our compensation program for executive officers illustrate our performance-based compensation philosophy:
Non-management associates participate in our Success Sharing bonus program, which provides semi-annual cash awards for performance against our business plan, including sales plan and productivity goals. In addition, these associates are eligible to earn awards for superior performance and customer service at the individual, store and district levels.
Impact of Fiscal 2014 Business Results on Executive Compensation
The compensation earned by our named executive officers in Fiscal 2014 reflects our corporate performance for the fiscal year, as well as the management transition that occurred in Fiscal 2014:
We do not provide tax reimbursements, also known as “gross-ups,” to executive officers; we have limited perquisites; and we do not have any supplemental executive retirement plans (“SERPs”), defined benefit pension plans, guaranteed salary increases or guaranteed bonuses; and
We prohibit all associates, as well as directors, from entering into hedging or monetization transactions designed to limit the financial risk of ownership of Company stock.
The named executive officers (other than Mr. Ellison1) earned approximately
|
Fiscal 2014 Non-Management Compensation
Compensation of our non-management associates in Fiscal 2014 aligned with our philosophy of taking care of our store associates and motivating superior customer service. Due to the outstanding performance of our non-management associates in Fiscal 2014, we made substantial payouts under our Success Sharing program, with approximately 97% and 100% of stores qualifying for Success Sharing in the first and second halves of Fiscal 2014, respectively. This resulted in total Success Sharing bonus payments
1 Mr. Ellison forfeited his 2014 MIP award and all unvested equity, including the 2012-2014 performance shares, upon his resignation on October 31, 2014.
The
| 29 |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
to our non-management associates of approximately $198 million for Fiscal 2014 performance. We also provided a 2.5% merit increase budget for our associates in Fiscal 2014, and we continued to make matching contributions under the FutureBuilder 401(k) Plan. We also provided a variety of recognition and teambuilding awards to recognize and reward top performing store associates and support store morale.
Opportunity for Shareholder Feedback
The LDC Committee carefully considers feedback from our shareholders regarding executive compensation matters. Shareholders are invited to express their views or concerns directly to the LDC Committee or the Board in the manner described above under “Communicating with the Board” on page 9 of this Proxy Statement.
COMPENSATION DETERMINATION PROCESS
Role of LDC Committee
The LDC Committee determined the compensation of our named executive officers other than the CEO and the executive Chairman. Although it may delegate its responsibilities to subcommittees, the LDC Committee did not delegate any of its authority with respect to the compensation of any executive officer for Fiscal 2014. The LDC Committee made recommendations regarding compensation for the CEO and the executive Chairman, but all decisions with respect to the compensation of the CEO and the executive Chairman were made by the independent members of the Board, consisting of all Board members other than Mr. Menear and Mr. Blake.
Role of Executive Officers in Compensation Decisions
The Executive Vice President – Human Resources (“EVP-HR”) made recommendations to the LDC Committee as to the amount and form of executive compensation for executive officers other than the CEO, the executive Chairman and himself. The CEO has input on the recommendations to the LDC Committee with respect to the compensation of all of our executive officers (other than himself and the executive Chairman). Recommendations as to the amount and form of compensation for the CEO and the executive Chairman were made by the LDC Committee with support from its independent compensation consultant. At the request of the LDC Committee, both the EVP-HR and the CEO regularly attend LDC Committee meetings, excluding executive sessions where their respective compensation and other matters are discussed.
Compensation Consultant
In November 2013, the LDC Committee engaged Pay Governance LLC as its independent compensation consultant for Fiscal 2014 to provide research, market data, survey information and design expertise in developing executive and director compensation programs. Pay Governance provides consulting services solely to compensation committees.
A representative of Pay Governance attended LDC Committee meetings in Fiscal 2014 and advised the LDC Committee on all principal aspects of executive compensation, including the competitiveness of program design and award values and specific analyses with respect to the Company’s executive officers, including the CEO and the executive Chairman. The compensation consultant reports directly to the LDC Committee, and the LDC Committee is free to replace the consultant or hire additional consultants or advisers at any time.
Pursuant to the independent compensation consultant policy adopted by the LDC Committee, its compensation consultant provides services solely to the LDC Committee and is prohibited from providing services or products of any kind to the Company. Further, affiliates of its compensation consultant may not receive payments from the Company that would exceed 2% of the consolidated gross revenues of the compensation consultant and its affiliates during any year. Pay Governance provided services solely to the LDC Committee in Fiscal 2014, and none of its affiliates provided any services to the Company. In addition, under the independent compensation consultant policy, the LDC Committee assessed Pay Governance’s independence and whether its work raised any conflicts of interest, taking into consideration the independence factors set forth in applicable SEC and NYSE rules. Based on that assessment, including review of a letter from Pay Governance addressing each of those factors, the LDC Committee determined that Pay Governance was independent and that its work did not raise any conflicts of interest.
Benchmarking
We do not target any specific peer group percentile ranking for total compensation or for any particular
30 | The Home Depot 2015 Proxy Statement |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
component of compensation for our named executive officers. The LDC Committee considers each executive’s compensation history and peer group market position as reference points in awarding annual compensation. For both our current and former CEO, the LDC Committee considered data provided by Pay Governance from two peer groups. The first consisted of the Fortune 50 companies, excluding certain financial services companies due to their unique compensation structure. This group reflects companies of similar size and complexity to us. The second group, listed below, consisted of retailers with revenues greater than $10 billion with whom we compete for executive talent. The retail peer group remained unchanged from Fiscal 2013, with the exception of the addition of CST Brands, Inc., Liberty Interactive Corporation, Murphy USA, Inc., and Sysco Corporation.
Retail Peer Group | ||
AutoNation, Inc. | Office Depot, Inc. | |
Best Buy Co., Inc. | Penske Automotive Group, Inc. | |
CarMax Inc. | Rite Aid Corp. | |
Costco Wholesale Corporation | Safeway, Inc. | |
CST Brands, Inc. | Sears Holding Corporation | |
CVS Health Corporation | Staples, Inc. | |
Dollar General Corporation | SuperValu Inc. | |
Genuine Parts Company | Sysco Corporation | |
J. C. Penney Company, Inc. | Target Corporation | |
Kohl’s Corporation | The Gap, Inc. | |
L Brands, Inc. | The Kroger Co. | |
Liberty Interactive Corporation | The TJX Companies Inc. | |
Lowe’s Companies, Inc. | Walgreen Co. | |
Macy’s, Inc. | Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. | |
Murphy USA, Inc. | Whole Foods Market, Inc. | |
Nordstrom, Inc. | ||
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
In reviewing the benchmarking data in February 2014 in connection with setting Mr. Blake’s Fiscal 2014 compensation as CEO, our LDC Committee and the independent directors also reviewed the percentile ranking of our revenues and Mr. Blake’s target total compensation compared to each of these peer groups, as reflected below:
Category | Percentile Rank | |||
Fortune 50 | Retail Peers | |||
Company Revenue(1) | 30% | 87% | ||
CEO Target Total Compensation | 16% | 64% |
(1) | Based on fiscal 2013 revenue as reported in SEC filings. |
For Mr. Menear’s compensation as CEO, the LDC Committee and the independent directors similarly reviewed the target total compensation of the Fortune 50 and retail peer groups and the percentile ranking of each element of his compensation against the Fortune 50 peer group. They also reviewed the compensation paid to newly promoted or hired CEOs at Fortune 100 and S&P 100 companies in the past three years, as discussed above under “CEO and Executive Chairman Pay Highlights.” The broader group was considered to provide a more representative sample given the relative infrequency of CEO turnover. As noted above, this broader group was also used in assessing the compensation for Mr. Blake as executive Chairman, for the same reason.
For our other named executive officers, the LDC Committee considers data from the Hay Group’s Retail Industry Total Remuneration Survey, which provides information and comparisons on compensation for executive and industry specific positions at the corporate and division level of retail companies. This survey data helps the LDC Committee understand the competitive market for the industry in which the Company principally competes for retail-specific talent and for customers.
Mitigating Compensation Risk
In November 2013, the LDC Committee undertook its annual broad-based review and risk assessment of the Company’s compensation policies and practices for its associates for Fiscal 2014. Based on that assessment, the LDC Committee determined that our compensation policies and practices do not create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. In reaching that conclusion, management and the LDC Committee evaluated each key element of our compensation plans and practices for our executive officers and associates against the following factors identified as part of our risk assessment process:
2 The excluded companies were American International Group, Inc., Bank of America Corporation, Berkshire Hathaway Inc., Citigroup Inc., Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, INTL FCStone Inc., JP Morgan Chase & Co., State Farm and Wells Fargo & Company.
Named Executive Officers
Our named executive officers for Fiscal 2013 were:
The Home Depot 2015 Proxy Statement | 31 |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Consideration of Last Year’s Advisory Shareholder Vote on Executive Compensation
At our annual meeting of shareholders on May 22, 2014, over 98% of the shares voted were voted in support of the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers. Since then, as part of our regular interaction with our institutional shareholders, we have continued to request input on our compensation practices. In considering the results of the 2014 advisory vote on executive compensation and feedback from these shareholders, the LDC Committee concluded that the compensation paid to our executive officers and the Company’s overall executive pay practices have strong shareholder support and therefore determined to maintain the current overall compensation structure for Fiscal 2015.
At our 2011 annual meeting, our shareholders expressed a preference that advisory votes on executive compensation occur every year, as recommended by our Board. Consistent with this preference, the Board implemented an annual advisory vote on executive compensation until the next advisory vote on the frequency of shareholder votes on executive compensation, which will occur no later than the Company’s annual meeting of shareholders in 2017.
ELEMENTS OF OUR COMPENSATION PROGRAMS
The principal elements of our compensation programs are discussed below.
Base Salaries
We provide competitive base salaries that allow us to attract and retain a high-performing leadership team. Base salaries for our named executive officers are reviewed and generally adjusted annually based on a comprehensive management assessment process. In January 2014, based upon a review of competitive market data, the Company’s high level of performance in Fiscal 2013 despite challenging economic conditions, and assessments of the Company’s business plan and anticipated economic conditions in Fiscal 2014, the LDC Committee approved a Company-wide 2.5% merit increase budget.
In establishing the actual base salaries for the named executive officers for Fiscal 2014, the LDC Committee considered total compensation, scope of responsibilities, performance over the previous year, experience, internal pay equity, potential to assume additional responsibilities, and the competitive marketplace. As a result of this assessment, Ms. Tomé and Messrs. Carey, Crow and Ellison received annual salary increases in April 2014 of between 2.5% – 3.1%, as set forth in the table below.
Name | 2014 Base Salary | 2013 Base Salary | Percent Increase | |||
Carol B. Tomé | $1,025,000 | $1,000,000 | 2.5% | |||
Matthew A. Carey | $ 695,000 | $ 677,000 | 2.7% | |||
Timothy M. Crow | $ 590,000 | $ 574,000 | 2.8% | |||
Marvin R. Ellison | $ 740,000 | $ 718,000 | 3.1% |
Mr. Blake again declined any increase in base salary for Fiscal 2014. His salary as CEO, therefore, remained unchanged since Fiscal 2010 at $1,066,000. As discussed above under “CEO and Executive Chairman Pay Highlights,” the independent directors set his annual base salary as executive Chairman at $750,000, effective November 1, 2014.
As noted above under “Fiscal 2014 Management Transitions,” in February 2014 Mr. Menear was promoted from Executive Vice President –
Francis S. Blake, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”);
Carol B. Tomé, Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President – Corporate Services (“CFO”);
Craig A. Menear, Executive Vice President – Merchandising;
Marvin R. Ellison, Executive Vice President – U.S. Stores; and
Matthew A. Carey, Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer.
In Fiscal 2013, the named executive officers (other than the CEO) all reported directly to the CEO. In February 2014, Mr. Menear was promoted to President, U.S. Retail.
COMPENSATION DETERMINATION PROCESS
Role of LDC Committee
32 | The |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Role of Executive Officers in Compensation Decisions
The Executive Vice President – Human Resources (“EVP-HR”) makes recommendations to the LDC Committee as to the amount and form of executive compensation for executive officers other than the CEO and himself. Recommendations as to the amount and form of CEO compensation are made by the LDC Committee’s independent compensation consultant. The CEO has input on the recommendations to the LDC Committee with respect to the compensation of all of our executive officers (other than himself). At the request of the LDC Committee, both the EVP-HR and the CEO regularly attend LDC Committee meetings, excluding executive sessions where their respective compensation and other matters are discussed.
Compensation Consultant
In November 2012, the LDC Committee engaged Pay Governance LLC as its independent compensation consultant for Fiscal 2013 to provide research, market data, survey information and design expertise in developing executive and director compensation programs. Pay Governance provides consulting services solely to compensation committees.
A representative of Pay Governance attended LDC Committee meetings in Fiscal 2013 and advised the LDC Committee on all principal aspects of executive compensation, including the competitiveness of program design and award values and specific analyses with respect to the Company’s executive officers. The compensation consultant reports directly to the LDC Committee, and the LDC Committee is free to replace the consultant or hire additional consultants or advisers at any time.
Pursuant to the independent compensation consultant policy adopted by the LDC Committee, its compensation consultant provides services solely to the LDC Committee and is prohibited from providing services or products of any kind to the Company. Further, affiliates of its compensation consultant may not receive payments from the Company that would exceed 2% of the consolidated gross revenues of the compensation consultant and its affiliates during any year. Pay Governance provided services solely to the LDC Committee in Fiscal 2013, and none of its affiliates provided any services to the Company. In addition, under the independent compensation consultant policy, the LDC Committee assessed Pay Governance’s independence and whether its work raised any conflict of interest, taking into consideration the independence factors set forth in applicable SEC and NYSE rules. Based on that assessment, including review of a letter from Pay Governance addressing each of those factors, the LDC Committee determined that Pay Governance was independent and that its work did not raise any conflict of interest.
Benchmarking
We do not target any specific peer group percentile ranking for total compensation or any particular component of compensation for our named executive officers. The LDC Committee considers each executive’s compensation history and peer group market position as reference points in awarding
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Merchandising to President, U.S. Retail, and assumed additional responsibility for all U.S. store operations. In connection with his promotion, the LDC Committee considered the expanded scope of his responsibilities, the base salary of executives with similar roles at peer companies, his performance in Fiscal 2013, and internal pay equity, and determined to increase his annual base salary to $900,000, from $771,500 in Fiscal 2013. Subsequently, upon his promotion to CEO and President effective November 1, 2014, the independent directors determined to increase his base salary to $1,300,000, as discussed above under “CEO and Executive Chairman Pay Highlights.”
Upon Mr. Holifield’s promotion in February 2014 from Senior Vice President – Supply Chain to Executive Vice President – Supply Chain and Product Development, with expanded responsibility for sourcing and proprietary brands, the LDC Committee similarly considered the expanded scope of his responsibilities, the base salary of executives with similar roles at peer companies, his performance in Fiscal 2013, and internal pay equity, and determined to increase his annual base salary to $740,000, from $701,000 in Fiscal 2013.
Annual Incentive
All named executive officers participate in the MIP, our cash-based annual incentive plan. The Fiscal 2014 MIP payout was contingent on the achievement of financial performance goals set by the LDC Committee at the beginning of the Fiscal 2014 performance period. The LDC Committee bases the payout on achievement of financial metrics to more directly align MIP goals with shareholder value creation and achievement of the Company’s business plan.
Performance Goals. Set forth below are the MIP financial performance measures and the threshold, target and maximum Company achievement levels selected by the LDC Committee for Fiscal 2014 (dollars in billions):
Fiscal 2014 Performance Measures | ||||||||||||||||
Measure | Weighting | Threshold | Target | Maximum | ||||||||||||
Goal | % of Goal | % of Target Payout | Goal | Goal | % of Goal | % of Target Payout | ||||||||||
Sales | 40% | $78.49 | 95% | 10% | $82.62 | $99.15 | 120% | 200% | ||||||||
Operating Profit | 40% | $ 9.19 | 90% | 10% | $10.22 | $12.26 | 120% | 200% | ||||||||
Inventory Turns | 20% | 4.28 | 90% | 10% | 4.76 | 5.71 | 120% | 200% |
The operating profit threshold must be met for any MIP payout to occur. The relative weighting among the goals was determined by the LDC Committee with input from the CEO and the EVP-HR to reflect the Company’s priorities for Fiscal 2014. The LDC Committee aligned the weighting of the sales and operating profit goals to emphasize top line sales growth balanced with the Company’s continued focus on profitability as a means to drive bottom line results for shareholders. The pre-established definitions of sales and operating profit under the MIP provided for adjustments for the impact of acquisitions or dispositions of businesses with annualized sales of $1 billion or more and, for operating profit, nonrecurring charges and write-offs exceeding $50 million in the aggregate for specified types of strategic restructuring transactions. The LDC Committee adopted these definitions for plan purposes because it believes these types of strategic decisions support the long-term best interests of the Company and should not adversely affect incentive opportunities. For Fiscal 2014, there were no adjustments to sales or operating profit under the MIP, including no adjustments relating to the Data Breach.
For achieving the target level of performance for the Fiscal 2014 MIP, executive officers receive 100% payout. The target performance level was consistent with our 2014 business plan and the forecast disclosed at the beginning of Fiscal 2014. For Fiscal 2014, the LDC Committee set the threshold performance levels at 95%, 90% and 90% of the performance targets for the sales, operating profit and inventory measures, respectively, with a threshold payout at 10% of target. The threshold performance level encourages incremental performance even when achievement of the target appears to be unlikely. At the same time, the relatively low level of payout incentivizes performance above the threshold level.
The LDC Committee also sets maximum performance levels to reward participants for above-target performance while at the same time capping payouts to avoid windfalls due to a better than expected external environment. For Fiscal 2014, the LDC Committee reduced the payout for maximum achievement for the sales and inventory turns measure to 200% of target payout (from 250% in the prior year), and set the maximum performance goal for those measures at 120% of the target performance goal
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATIONannual compensation. For our CEO, the LDC Committee considered data provided by Pay Governance from two peer groups. The first consisted of the Fortune 50 companies, excluding certain financial services companies due to their unique compensation structure.1 This group reflects companies of similar size and complexity to us. The second group, listed below, consisted of retailers with revenues greater than $10 billion with whom we compete for executive talent. The retail peer group remained unchanged from Fiscal 2012, with the exception of the addition of CarMax Inc.Home Depot 2015 Proxy Statement33
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In reviewing the benchmarking data, our LDC Committee also reviewed the percentile ranking of our revenues and our CEO’s target total compensation compared to each of these peer groups, as reflected below:
Category | Percentile Rank | |||
Fortune 50 | Retail Peers | |||
Company Revenue(1) | 38% | 85% | ||
CEO Target Total Compensation | 18% | 59% |
(from 130% in the prior year). The LDC Committee maintained the payout for maximum achievement for the operating profit measure at 200% of target payout and 120% of target performance. The LDC Committee changed the maximum payout for the sales and inventory turns goals because it believed that the 250% cap exceeded that of most of the Company’s peers and was no longer consistent with the market. The LDC Committee also believed that the 130% maximum performance level represented a goal for which achievement was unrealistic and which therefore was not effectively motivating performance. By setting the maximum payout and performance levels at 200% and 120%, respectively, the LDC Committee believed that achievement would require extraordinary performance, but at realistic levels that would still drive incremental execution of the Company’s goals.
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For our other named executive officers, the LDC Committee considers data from the Hay Group’s Retail Industry Total Remuneration Survey, which provides information and comparisons on compensation for executive and industry specific positions at the corporate and division level of retail companies. This survey data helps the LDC Committee understand the competitive market for the industry in which the Company principally competes for retail-specific talent and for customers.
Mitigating Compensation Risk
In November 2012, the LDC Committee undertook a broad-based review and risk assessment of the Company’s compensation policies and practices for its associates for Fiscal 2013. Based on that assessment, the LDC Committee determined that our compensation policies and practices are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. In reaching that conclusion, management and the LDC Committee evaluated each key element of our compensation plans and practices for our executive officers and associates against the following factors identified as part of our risk assessment process:
Performance/payment time horizons are appropriate and not overweight in short-term incentives;
The relationship between the incremental achievement levels and corresponding payouts in our incentive plans is appropriate, and all incentives, other than equity incentives that are tied to growth in our share price, have payout caps;
Programs employ a reasonable mix of performance metrics and are not concentrated on a single metric. Although the operating profit metric is used in more than one incentive, it is a key corporate goal, and the risk is mitigated by using it across time horizons;
Criteria for payments are closely aligned with our strategic goals and shareholder interests;
Payout curves are reasonable and do not contain steep “cliffs” that might encourage unreasonable short-term business decisions to achieve payment thresholds;
Equity for officers is paid in a balanced mix of performance-based restricted stock, performance shares and stock options; other associates receive equity in the form of service-based restricted stock;
Bonus and equity awards to executive officers are subject to a recoupment policy, as described below on page 37, to discourage manipulation of incentive program elements; and
Stock ownership guidelines are in place to further align the interests of shareholders and executive officers, as described below on page 37.
1 The excluded companies were American International Group, Inc., Bank of America Corporation, Berkshire Hathaway Inc., Citigroup Inc., Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, INTL FCStone Inc., JP Morgan Chase & Co., State Farm and Wells Fargo & Company.
The Company uses interpolation to determine the specific amount of the payout for each named executive officer with respect to the achievement of financial goals between the various levels. The LDC Committee does not have discretion to increase the MIP payout earned by a named executive officer, but it may decrease the payout even if the performance goals are achieved.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Consideration of Last Year’s Advisory Shareholder Vote on Executive Compensation
At our annual meeting of shareholders on May 23, 2013, over 93% of the shares voted were voted in support of the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers. Since the 2013 annual meeting, as part of our regular interaction with our institutional shareholders, we have continued to request input on our compensation practices. In considering the results of the 2013 advisory vote on executive compensation and feedback from these shareholders, the LDC Committee concluded that the compensation paid to our executive officers and the Company’s overall executive pay practices have strong shareholder support and therefore determined to maintain the current overall compensation structure for Fiscal 2014.
At the 2013 annual meeting, we also asked our shareholders to approve the material terms of officer performance goals under our MIP, as required at least every five years to comply with Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m). Following the meeting, we discussed the vote results from the MIP proposal and the say-on-pay proposal with some of our institutional shareholders. We received feedback from those shareholders regarding the structure of the maximum payout provision in our MIP, which limited the annual payout to any one participant to no more than 0.3% of the Company’s net income for the relevant fiscal year. The shareholders requested that we include a specific dollar limit, rather than a limit based solely upon a percentage of net income. Based on the feedback we received, our LDC Committee approved an amendment to the MIP stating that the maximum amount of compensation that may be paid under the MIP to any participant in any one fiscal year is the lesser of $15 million or 0.3% of the Company’s net income for that fiscal year. For Fiscal 2013, the highest payout to any participant was $2.6 million. The actual payouts to the named executive officers for Fiscal 2013 under the MIP are set forth below under “Elements of our Compensation Programs – Annual Incentive – MIP Results” on page 35 and in the Summary Compensation Table on page 40.
At our 2011 annual meeting, our shareholders expressed a preference that advisory votes on executive compensation occur every year, as recommended by our Board. Consistent with this preference, the Board implemented an annual advisory vote on executive compensation until the next advisory vote on the frequency of shareholder votes on executive compensation, which will occur no later than the Company’s annual meeting of shareholders in 2017.
ELEMENTS OF OUR COMPENSATION PROGRAMS
The principal elements of our compensation programs are discussed below.
Base Salaries
We provide competitive base salaries that allow us to attract and retain a high-performing leadership team. Base salaries for our named executive officers are reviewed and generally adjusted annually based on a comprehensive management assessment process. In January 2013, based upon a review of competitive market data, the Company’s high level of performance in Fiscal 2012 despite challenging economic conditions, and assessments of the Company’s business plan and anticipated economic conditions in Fiscal 2013, the LDC Committee approved a Company-wide 2.5% merit increase budget.
In establishing the actual base salaries for the named executive officers for Fiscal 2013, the LDC Committee considered total compensation, scope of responsibilities, performance over the previous year, experience, internal pay equity, potential to assume additional responsibilities, and the competitive marketplace. As a result of this assessment, the named executive officers other than the CEO received annual salary increases in April 2013 of 2.6%, as set forth below. Mr. Blake again declined any increase in base salary. His salary, therefore, has remained unchanged since Fiscal 2010. Mr. Blake’s base salary falls below the 25th percentile for the retail peer group and below the 20th percentile for the Fortune 50 peer group.
Name | 2013 Base Salary | 2012 Base Salary | Percent Increase | |||
Francis S. Blake | $1,066,000 | $1,066,000 | 0.0% | |||
Carol B. Tomé | $1,000,000 | $ 975,000 | 2.6% | |||
Craig A. Menear | $ 771,500 | $ 752,000 | 2.6% | |||
Marvin R. Ellison | $ 718,000 | $ 700,000 | 2.6% | |||
Matthew A. Carey | $ 677,000 | $ 660,000 | 2.6% |
Annual Incentive
All named executive officers participate in the MIP, our cash-based annual incentive plan. The Fiscal 2013
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
MIP payout was contingent on the achievement of financial performance goals set by the LDC Committee at the beginning of the Fiscal 2013 performance period. The LDC Committee bases the payout on achievement of financial metrics to more directly align MIP goals with shareholder value creation and achievement of the Company’s business plan.
Performance Goals. Set forth below are the MIP financial performance measures and the threshold, target and maximum Company achievement levels selected by the LDC Committee for Fiscal 2013 (dollars in billions):
Fiscal 2013 Performance Measures | ||||||||||||||||
Measure | Weighting | Threshold | Target | Maximum | ||||||||||||
Goal | % of Target | % of Target Payout | Goal | Goal | % of Target | % of Target Payout | ||||||||||
Sales | 40% | $72.23 | 95% | 10% | $76.03 | $98.84 | 130% | 250% | ||||||||
Operating Profit | 40% | $ 7.55 | 90% | 10% | $ 8.39 | $10.91 | 130% | 200% | ||||||||
Inventory Turns | 20% | 4.03 | 90% | 10% | 4.48 | 5.38 | 120% | 250% |
The operating profit threshold must be met for any MIP payout to occur. The relative weighting among the goals was determined by the LDC Committee with input from the CEO and the EVP-HR to reflect the Company’s priorities for Fiscal 2013. The LDC Committee aligned the weighting of the sales and operating profit goals to emphasize top line sales growth balanced with the Company’s continued focus on profitability as a means to drive bottom line results for shareholders. The pre-established definitions of sales and operating profit under the MIP provided for adjustments for the impact of acquisitions or dispositions of businesses with annualized sales of $1 billion or more and, for operating profit, nonrecurring charges and write-offs exceeding $50 million in the aggregate for specified types of strategic restructuring transactions. The LDC Committee adopted these definitions for plan purposes because it believes these types of strategic decisions support the long-term best interests of the Company and should not adversely affect incentive opportunities. For Fiscal 2013, there were no adjustments to sales or operating profit under the MIP.
For achieving the target level of performance for the Fiscal 2013 MIP, executive officers receive 100% payout. The target performance level was consistent with our 2013 business plan and the forecast disclosed at the beginning of Fiscal 2013. For Fiscal 2013, the LDC Committee set the threshold performance levels at 95%, 90% and 90% of the performance targets for the sales, operating profit and inventory measures, respectively, with a threshold payout at 10% of target. The threshold performance level encourages incremental performance even when achievement of the target appears to be unlikely. At the same time, the relatively low level of payout incentivizes performance above the threshold level.
The LDC Committee also maintained the payout for maximum achievement at 250% of target for the sales and inventory turns goals and 200% of target for the operating profit goal and set the maximum performance goals at levels that require extraordinary performance. The maximum performance level rewards participants for above-target performance while at the same time capping payouts to avoid windfalls due to a better than expected external environment.
The Company uses interpolation to determine the specific amount of the payout for each named executive officer with respect to the achievement of financial goals between the various levels. The LDC Committee does not have discretion to increase the MIP payout earned by a named executive officer, but it may decrease the payout even if the performance goals are achieved.
The annual target payout levels are determined as a percentage of base salary: 200% for the CEO, 125% for the CFO and 100% for the other NEOs. For Messrs. Blake and Carey and Ms. Tomé, payouts for achievement of the performance goals were based on overall Company performance. For Messrs. Menear and Ellison,
The annual target payout levels are determined as a percentage of base salary: 200% for the CEO and the executive Chairman; 150% for the President, U.S. Retail; 125% for the CFO; 100% for Executive Vice Presidents; and 75% for Senior Vice Presidents. The amount of Mr. Menear’s Fiscal 2014 annual incentive award was determined using the applicable target percentage for the portion of the year that he served in each of the three roles he held during the fiscal year. Similarly, the amount of Mr. Holifield’s Fiscal 2014 annual incentive award was determined using the applicable target percentage for the portion of the year that he served in each of the two roles he held during the fiscal year. For Messrs. Menear (for the period of time he served as CEO), Blake, Carey and Crow and Ms. Tomé, payouts for achievement of the performance goals were based on overall Company performance. For Messrs. Menear (for the portion of the year he served as President, U.S. Retail and Executive Vice President – Merchandising) and Holifield, payouts were based upon performance of the portion of the Company’s business for which they were accountable. The specific performance levels for the portions of the Company’s business for which Messrs. Menear (in his prior roles) and Holifield were responsible are not critical to an understanding of the Company’s compensation program, and we do not believe disclosure of this information would be meaningful to shareholders since it would not be apparent how this information correlates to our consolidated financial statements. Mr. Ellison forfeited his MIP payment when he resigned from the Company on October 31, 2014.
MIP Results. For Fiscal 2014, for purposes of determining the achievement of MIP awards, sales were $83.18 billion, operating profit was $10.47 billion and inventory turns were 4.63 times, exceeding the target level for each of the sales and operating profit goals and reflecting performance slightly below target for the inventory turns goal.
Based on performance in Fiscal 2014 against the performance goals, the following were the target and actual MIP awards for Fiscal 2014 for each of the named executive officers:
Name | At Target Performance | At Actual Performance | ||||||
% of Base Salary | Dollar Amount | % of Base Salary | Dollar Amount | |||||
Craig A. Menear | 158%(1) | $2,058,333 | 164.4% | $2,136,504 | ||||
Francis S. Blake | 200% | $1,500,000 | 203.1% | $1,523,101 | ||||
Carol B. Tomé | 125% | $1,281,250 | 126.9% | $1,300,982 | ||||
Mark Q. Holifield | 98%(1) | $ 724,583 | 102.7% | $ 759,652 | ||||
Matthew A. Carey | 100% | $ 695,000 | 101.5% | $ 705,703 | ||||
Timothy M. Crow | 100% | $ 590,000 | 101.5% | $ 599,086 | ||||
Marvin R. Ellison | 100% | $ 740,000 | — | —(2) |
(1) | Percent of base salary reflects a blended rate based on the portion of the
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(2) | Mr. Ellison forfeited his Fiscal 2014 MIP |
Long-Term Incentives
For Fiscal 2014, we awarded the named executive officers annual long-term incentives consisting of one-third each of performance shares, stock options and performance-based restricted stock. The LDC Committee believed that this balanced mix reflects a focus on pay for performance and alignment with longer-term shareholder interests. The LDC Committee also believed that this mix of equity components provided an appropriate balance of mid- and long-term performance measures and retention incentive, without promoting excessive risk-taking.
Name | At Target Performance | At Actual Performance | ||||||
% of Base Salary | Dollar Amount | % of Base Salary | Dollar Amount | |||||
Francis S. Blake | 200% | $2,132,000 | 245.6% | $2,618,076 | ||||
Carol B. Tomé | 125% | $1,250,000 | 153.5% | $1,534,988 | ||||
Craig A. Menear | 100% | $ 771,500 | 127.4% | $ 982,547 | ||||
Marvin R. Ellison | 100% | $ 718,000 | 127.4% | $ 914,412 | ||||
Matthew A. Carey | 100% | $ 677,000 | 122.8% | $ 831,350 |
Long-Term Incentives
For Fiscal 2013, we awarded the named executive officers annual long-term incentives consisting of one-third each of performance shares, stock options and performance-based restricted stock. This balanced mix reflected a change from the previous mix, which was weighted more toward stock options and performance-based restricted stock.
34 | The
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The total value of the annual equity awards granted in March 2014 was determined by the LDC Committee after considering the value of equity grants of officers with similar responsibilities at peer group companies described under “Benchmarking” in the “Compensation Determination Process” section above and individual performance relating to financial management, leadership, talent management and operational effectiveness, as well as retention risk. For Fiscal 2014, Mr. Blake again declined any increase in his total equity value for his annual award. For Fiscal 2014, the annual equity award for Mr. Blake as CEO at the target level was 668% of his base salary at the time the awards were granted. For the other named executive officers, the target equity value for the annual equity grant ranged from 270% to 383% of base salary.
Performance Shares. The Fiscal 2014-2016 performance share award provides for the grant of shares of our common stock at the end of a three-year period based on the achievement of average ROIC and operating profit goals over that period, as follows (dollars in billions):
Fiscal 2014-2016 Performance Shares | Threshold | Target | Maximum | |||
Three-Year Average ROIC | 21.5% | 26.9% | 32.2% | |||
Three-Year Average Operating Profit | $8.82 | $11.03 | $13.24 | |||
Percent of Target Payout | 25% | 100% | 200% |
For results between these levels, the number of shares is determined by interpolation. There is no payout for results below the threshold level. Each performance measure is separately determined and equally weighted. The pre-established definition of operating profit is the same as the one used for the MIP. The pre-established definition of ROIC (a measure of after-tax operating income over the average of beginning and ending equity and long-term debt for the fiscal year) provides for adjustments for share repurchase activity, dividend increases above a specified level and the impact of acquisitions or dispositions of businesses with annualized sales of $1 billion or more. Dividend equivalents accrue on the performance share awards (as reinvested shares) and will be paid upon the payout of the award based on the actual number of shares earned.
In Fiscal 2013 and the fiscal year ended February 3, 2013 (“Fiscal 2012”), the LDC Committee also granted performance share awards that were structured similarly to the Fiscal 2014-2016 award. The Fiscal 2013-2015 and Fiscal 2012-2014 awards each provide for the grant of shares of our common stock at the end of the respective three-year period based on the achievement of average ROIC and operating profit goals over that period, as follows (dollars in billions):
Fiscal 2013-2015 Performance Shares | Threshold | Target | Maximum | |||
Three-Year Average ROIC | 13.8% | 17.3% | 20.8% | |||
Three-Year Average Operating Profit | $7.32 | $9.15 | $10.98 | |||
Percent of Target Payout | 25% | 100% | 200% |
Fiscal 2012-2014 Performance Shares | Threshold | Target | Maximum | |||
Three-Year Average ROIC | 12.1% | 15.1% | 18.1% | |||
Three-Year Average Operating Profit | $6.29 | $7.87 | $9.44 | |||
Percent of Target Payout | 25% | 100% | 200% |
Operating profit and ROIC under these prior awards are defined in the same manner as under the Fiscal 2014-2016 award, except that the pre-established definition of ROIC under these prior awards also provides for adjustments for share repurchase activity and dividend increases above a specified level. Dividend equivalents accrue on the performance share awards (as reinvested shares) and will be paid upon the payout of the award based on the actual number of shares earned.
The performance period for the Fiscal 2012-2014 performance share awards ended on February 1, 2015. Over the three-year period, the Company achieved an average ROIC of 15.8% and average operating profit of $9.18 billion, as calculated pursuant to the terms of the awards. As a result, the named executive officers earned approximately 154.5% of their 2012-2014 performance share award, reflecting performance in excess of the target level for each metric. Pursuant to the pre-established definitions of operating profit and ROIC, operating profit was adjusted by $145 million due to charges incurred in connection with the closing of the Company’s big box stores in China in Fiscal 2012, and ROIC was adjusted for share repurchases and dividend increases above the dividend level at the time the award was granted. Average ROIC and operating profit over the three-year period without the adjustments were 20.9% and $9.13 billion, respectively. The named executive officers earned the
The Home Depot 2015 Proxy Statement | 35 |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
following shares under the award, which include reinvested accrued dividends:
Name | Value (3/21/2012) | Shares Earned at End of Performance Period | Value at End of Performance Period(2) (2/1/2015) | |||
Craig A. Menear | $ 624,964 | 20,540 | $2,144,787 | |||
Francis S. Blake | $1,749,969 | 57,515 | $6,005,716 | |||
Carol B. Tomé | $ 774,981 | 25,470 | $2,659,577 | |||
Mark Q. Holifield | $ 374,968 | 12,323 | $1,286,768 | |||
Matthew A. Carey | $ 474,997 | 15,611 | $1,630,101 | |||
Timothy M. Crow | $ 437,455 | 14,377 | $1,501,246 | |||
Marvin R. Ellison | $ 624,964 | —(3) | —(3) |
(1) | Reflects the grant date fair value. |
(2) | Reflects the value based upon the closing stock price of $104.42 on January 30, 2015, the last trading day of Fiscal 2014. |
(3) | Mr. Ellison forfeited his unvested performance share awards upon his resignation on October 31, 2014. |
Stock Options. In Fiscal 2014, we granted stock options as part of the annual equity grant with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of our stock, which is defined as the market closing price on the date of grant. The options vest 25% on each of the second, third, fourth and fifth anniversaries of the grant date. Option re-pricing is expressly prohibited by our Amended and Restated 2005 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan (the “Amended and Restated 2005 Plan”) without shareholder approval.
Performance-Based Restricted Stock. In Fiscal 2014, we granted performance-based restricted stock awards as part of the annual equity grant that were forfeitable if operating profit was less than 90% of the MIP target for Fiscal 2014. The performance goal was met at the end of Fiscal 2014. As a result, the restricted stock will vest 50% on each of the 30 and 60 month anniversaries of the grant date. Dividends on the restricted stock awards are accrued and not paid out unless the performance goal is met. Once the performance goal is met, dividends are then paid currently on the shares of restricted stock.
Promotional Equity Grants. As discussed above under “CEO and Executive Chairman Pay Highlights,” in connection with Mr. Menear’s promotion to CEO, the independent directors granted Mr. Menear an award of stock options with a grant date fair value of $3.5 million. In accordance with our equity grant procedures, the options were granted on November 20, 2014, the date of the first regularly scheduled LDC Committee meeting following his promotion. The options vest 25% on each of the second, third, fourth and fifth anniversaries of the grant date and have an exercise price of $97.57 per share.
In connection with Mr. Holifield’s promotion to Executive Vice President – Supply Chain and Product Development, the LDC Committee granted him a promotional equity award consisting of $250,000 in restricted stock and $250,000 in stock options. The restricted stock will vest 50% on each of the 30 and 60 month anniversaries of the grant date, and the options will vest 25% on each of the second, third, fourth and fifth anniversaries of the grant date.
Deferred Compensation Plans
In addition to the FutureBuilder 401(k) Plan (a broad-based tax-qualified plan), we have two nonqualified deferred compensation plans for our management and highly compensated associates, including executive officers:
The plans are designed to permit participants to accumulate income for retirement and other personal financial goals. The Deferred Compensation Plan for Officers and the Restoration Plan are described in the notes to the “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation for Fiscal 2014” table beginning on page 49. Deferred compensation arrangements are common executive programs, and we believe that these arrangements help us in the recruitment and retention of executive talent; however, we do not view nonqualified deferred compensation as a significant element of our compensation programs. None of these plans provides above-market or preferential returns.
Perquisites
We provide very limited perquisites to our executive officers and do not view them as a significant element of our compensation program. We do not provide tax reimbursements, or “gross-ups,” on perquisites.
36 | The Home Depot 2015 Proxy Statement |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Our named executive officers participate in a death-benefit-only program, under which they are entitled to a $400,000 benefit upon death if they are employed by the Company at that time. In addition, the benefit is continued for life for executive officers with ten years of service with the Company. Currently, Messrs. Menear, Blake, Crow and Ellison and Ms. Tomé have met this service requirement and are entitled to lifetime death benefit coverage. In Fiscal 2009, we discontinued this benefit for any new executive officers.
The Company requests that Mr. Menear, and Mr. Blake while he served as CEO and executive Chairman, travel by Company aircraft, including travel for personal reasons. We also permit non-business use of Company aircraft by other named executive officers on a more limited basis.
Other Benefits
Our named executive officers have the option to participate in various employee benefit programs, including medical, dental, disability and life insurance benefit programs. These benefit programs are generally available to all associates. We also provide all associates, including our named executive officers, with the opportunity to purchase our common stock through payroll deductions at a 15% discount through our Amended and Restated Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”), a nondiscriminatory, tax-qualified plan. All associates, including our named executive officers, are also eligible to participate in our charitable matching gift program through the Home Depot Foundation.
MANAGEMENT OF COMPENSATION-RELATED RISK
We employ a number of mechanisms to mitigate the chance of our compensation programs encouraging excessive risk-taking, including those described below.
Annual Risk Assessment
As discussed above under “Mitigating Compensation Risk” on page 31, our LDC Committee undertakes an annual review and risk assessment of our compensation policies and practices.
Compensation Recoupment Policy
Pursuant to the executive compensation clawback policy set forth in our Corporate Governance Guidelines, if the Board determines that any bonus, incentive payment, equity award or other compensation awarded to or received by an executive officer was based on any financial results or operating metrics that were achieved as a result of that officer’s knowing or intentional fraudulent or illegal conduct, we will seek to recover from the officer such compensation (in whole or in part) as the Board deems appropriate under the circumstances and as permitted by law.
Stock Ownership and Retention Guidelines
Our Executive Stock Ownership and Retention Guidelines require our named executive officers to hold shares of common stock with a value equal to the specified multiples of base salary indicated below. This program assists in focusing executives on long-term success and shareholder value. Shares owned outright, restricted stock, and shares acquired pursuant to the ESPP, the FutureBuilder 401(k) Plan and the Restoration Plan are counted towards this requirement. Unearned performance shares and unexercised stock options are not counted toward this requirement. Newly hired and promoted executives have four years to satisfy the requirements.
As of March 6, 2015, all of our active named executive officers complied with the stock ownership and retention guidelines and held the following multiples of base salary (rounded to the nearest whole multiple):
Name | Multiple of Base Salary | |||
Current Ownership | Guideline | |||
Craig A. Menear | 10x | 6x | ||
Carol B. Tomé | 67x | 4x | ||
Mark Q. Holifield | 7x | 4x | ||
Matthew A. Carey | 14x | 4x | ||
Timothy M. Crow | 41x | 4x |
Anti-Hedging Policy
In Fiscal 2012, the Company adopted a policy that prohibits all associates, officers and directors from entering into hedging or monetization transactions designed to limit the financial risk of ownership of Company stock. These include prepaid variable forward contracts, equity swaps, collars, exchange funds and other similar transactions, as well as speculative transactions in derivatives of the Company’s securities, such as puts, calls, options (other than those granted under a Company compensation plan) or other derivatives.
The Home Depot 2015 Proxy Statement | 37 |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Equity Grant Procedures
Company-wide equity grants, including equity grants to named executive officers, are awarded annually effective as of the date of the March meeting of the LDC Committee, which is generally scheduled at least a year in advance. Throughout the year, equity awards are made to new hires, promoted employees, and, in rare circumstances, as a reward for exceptional performance. In all cases, the effective grant date for these mid-year awards is the date of the next regularly scheduled quarterly LDC Committee meeting. The exercise price of each of our stock option grants is the market closing price on the effective grant date.
SEVERANCE AND CHANGE IN CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS
We have a limited severance arrangement with Ms. Tomé. When Ms. Tomé’s employment arrangement was adopted in 2001, the severance provisions reflected the terms provided to our other executives at that time and were consistent with the terms provided in the competitive market for executive talent. This severance arrangement is discussed below under “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control—Termination Without Cause or For Good Reason” on page 51. We do not have a severance arrangement with our CEO or any of our other named executive officers. Mr. Ellison did not receive any severance benefits in connection with his resignation on October 31, 2014, and Mr. Blake did not receive any severance benefits in connection with his retirement on February 1, 2015.
We do not have any change in control agreements with our executives. However, our equity awards granted prior to Fiscal 2013, including those granted to the named executive officers, provide for accelerated vesting on a change in control. This type of vesting can be an effective means to retain associates through completion of a value-creating transaction, especially for more senior executives for whom equity represents a significant portion of total compensation. In the event the value of such accelerated vesting constitutes an “excess parachute payment,” the executive would be subject to a 20% excise tax on such amount, and the amount would not be tax deductible by the Company. In Fiscal 2013, in connection with the adoption of the Company’s Amended and Restated 2005 Plan, the LDC Committee adopted a new form of equity award agreement, beginning with awards granted in Fiscal 2013, that eliminates this accelerated vesting of equity triggered solely by a change in control of the Company. The awards granted in Fiscal 2013 and Fiscal 2014 only provide for accelerated vesting if the executive is terminated within 12 months following the change in control.
TAX DEDUCTIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code generally denies a corporate tax deduction for annual compensation exceeding $1 million paid to the chief executive officer and the three other most highly compensated executive officers of a public company, other than the chief financial officer. The limitation does not apply to compensation based on achievement of pre-established performance goals if certain requirements are met. Our Amended and Restated 2005 Plan, and the stock options, performance-based restricted stock, and performance shares granted under this plan, as well as the annual cash incentive award under the MIP, are intended to permit such awards to qualify as performance-based compensation to maximize the tax deductibility of these awards. There can be no assurance that these awards will be fully deductible under all circumstances, however, as a number of additional requirements must be met for the awards to qualify as performance-based compensation. In addition, the LDC Committee reserves the discretion to award compensation that is not exempt from the deduction limits of Section 162(m).
38 | The Home Depot 2015 Proxy Statement |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth the compensation during the last three fiscal years paid to or earned by (1) each individual who served as the Company’s CEO during Fiscal 2014; (2) the CFO; (3) the three other most highly compensated executive officers who were serving as executive officers as of the end of Fiscal 2014; and (4) one individual who would have been among the Company’s three other most highly compensated executive officers, but for the fact that such individual was not serving as an executive officer at the end of Fiscal 2014 (collectively, the “named executive officers”).
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
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Name and Principal Position | Year | Salary ($)(1) | Bonus ($) | Stock Awards ($)(2) (3) | Option ($)(2) | Non-Equity ($) | Change in Pension ($) | All Other ($)(4) (5) | Total ($) | |||||||||
Craig A. Menear | 2014 | 991,104 | — | 2,349,258 | 4,649,994 | 2,136,504 | — | 45,005 | 10,171,865 | |||||||||
Chairman, Chief Executive | 2013 | 767,000 | — | 1,825,574 | 891,659 | 982,547 | — | 51,493 | 4,518,273 | |||||||||
Officer & President(6) | 2012 | 759,211 | — | 1,634,265 | 937,496 | 929,195 | — | 77,700 | 4,337,867 | |||||||||
Francis S. Blake | 2014 | 987,000 | — | 4,868,238 | 2,374,990 | 1,523,101 | — | 105,504 | 9,858,833 | |||||||||
Former Chairman & | 2013 | 1,066,000 | — | 4,865,877 | 2,374,991 | 2,618,076 | — | 122,837 | 11,047,781 | |||||||||
Chief Executive Officer(6) | 2012 | 1,086,500 | — | 4,591,142 | 2,624,997 | 2,499,386 | — | 291,889 | 11,093,914 | |||||||||
Carol B. Tomé | 2014 | 1,019,231 | — | 2,380,206 | 1,149,996 | 1,300,982 | — | 133,626 | 5,984,041 | |||||||||
Chief Financial Officer & | 2013 | 994,231 | — | 2,275,766 | 1,099,988 | 1,534,988 | — | 89,670 | 5,994,643 | |||||||||
Executive Vice President – Corporate Services | 2012 | 986,250 | — | 2,074,472 | 1,162,498 | 1,428,765 | — | 115,972 | 5,767,957 | |||||||||
Mark Q. Holifield | 2014 | 737,300 | — | 1,623,288 | 916,661 | 759,652 | — | 35,057 | 4,071,958 | |||||||||
Executive Vice President – | ||||||||||||||||||
Supply Chain & Product Development(7) | ||||||||||||||||||
Matthew A. Carey | 2014 | 690,846 | — | 1,477,490 | 716,661 | 705,703 | — | 20,741 | 3,611,441 | |||||||||
Executive Vice President & | 2013 | 673,077 | — | 1,408,221 | 683,330 | 831,350 | — | 16,696 | 3,612,674 | |||||||||
Chief Information Officer | 2012 | 666,192 | — | 1,261,505 | 712,495 | 773,731 | — | 41,388 | 3,455,311 | |||||||||
Timothy M. Crow | 2014 | 586,308 | — | 1,352,842 | 658,329 | 599,086 | — | 40,860 | 3,237,425 | |||||||||
Executive Vice President – | ||||||||||||||||||
Human Resources | ||||||||||||||||||
Marvin R. Ellison | 2014 | 549,923 | — | 1,866,537 | 933,322 | — | — | 33,401 | 3,383,183 | |||||||||
Former Executive Vice | 2013 | 713,846 | — | 1,829,601 | 891,659 | 914,412 | — | 18,975 | 4,368,493 | |||||||||
President – U.S. Stores(8) | 2012 | 705,961 | — | 1,641,095 | 937,496 | 864,943 | — | 97,396 | 4,246,891 |
(1) | Amount of salary actually received in any year may differ from the annual base salary amount due to the timing of payroll periods and the timing of changes in base salary, which typically occur in April or following a mid-year promotion. In addition, Fiscal 2012 contained 53 weeks, compared to 52 weeks in Fiscal 2014 and Fiscal 2013, so Fiscal 2012 salary amounts include one more week of pay than Fiscal 2014 and Fiscal 2013. |
(2) | Amounts set forth in the Stock Awards and Option Awards columns represent the aggregate grant date fair value of awards granted in Fiscal 2014, Fiscal 2013 and Fiscal 2012 computed in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (“FASB ASC Topic 718”). The assumptions made in the valuation of the awards are set forth in Note 1 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the SEC on March 26, 2015 (the “2014 Form 10-K”). The valuation of restricted stock awards is based on the closing stock price on the grant date. Mr. Ellison forfeited all of the stock and option awards granted to him in Fiscal 2014 upon his resignation on October 31, 2014. |
The Home Depot 2015 Proxy Statement | 39 |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
(3) | Amounts reflect the grant date fair value of performance share and performance-based restricted stock awards granted to the named executive officers during Fiscal 2014, Fiscal 2013 and Fiscal 2012, plus the value of share equivalents under the Restoration Plan in Fiscal 2014, Fiscal 2013 and Fiscal 2012, as set forth in the table below. Fiscal 2012 contributions to the Restoration Plan reflect contributions for two plan years, since the January 31, 2012 and January 31, 2013 allocation dates both fell within Fiscal 2012. |
Name | Grant Date Fair Value for Performance Shares ($) | Grant Date Fair Value for Performance-Based Restricted Stock ($) | Value of Share Equivalents Under Restoration Plan ($) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fiscal 2014 | Fiscal 2013 | Fiscal 2012 | Fiscal 2014 | Fiscal 2013 | Fiscal 2012 | Fiscal 2014 | Fiscal 2013 | Fiscal 2012 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Craig A. Menear | 1,149,925 | 891,659 | 624,964 | 1,149,925 | 891,659 | 937,496 | 49,409 | 42,255 | 71,805 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Francis S. Blake | 2,374,933 | 2,374,995 | 1,749,969 | 2,374,933 | 2,374,995 | 2,624,979 | 118,371 | 115,886 | 216,194 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Carol B. Tomé | 1,149,925 | 1,099,982 | 774,981 | 1,149,925 | 1,099,982 | 1,162,497 | 80,357 | 75,801 | 136,994 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mark Q. Holifield | 666,609 | N/A | N/A | 916,536 | N/A | N/A | 40,143 | N/A | N/A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Matthew A. Carey | 716,613 | 683,267 | 474,997 | 716,613 | 683,267 | 712,495 | 44,264 | 41,688 | 74,013 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Timothy M. Crow | 658,328 | N/A | N/A | 658,328 | N/A | N/A | 36,187 | N/A | N/A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Marvin R. Ellison | 933,269 | 891,659 | 624,964 | 933,269 | 891,659 | 937,496 | — | 46,282 | 78,635 |
The grant date fair value of the performance shares reflected in the table above is computed based upon the probable outcome of the performance goals as of the grant date, in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, excluding the effect of estimated forfeitures. For all performance-based awards other than the performance shares granted in Fiscal 2014, Fiscal 2013 and Fiscal 2012, this value is the same as the value calculated assuming the maximum level of performance under the awards. The value of the performance share awards granted in Fiscal 2014, Fiscal 2013 and Fiscal 2012 as of the grant date, assuming that the maximum level of the performance goals will be achieved, is as follows for each of the named executive officers:
Name | Value of Performance Shares Assuming Maximum Performance ($) | ||||||||||||||
Fiscal 2014 | Fiscal 2013 | Fiscal 2012 | |||||||||||||
Craig A. Menear | 2,299,849 | 1,783,319 | 1,249,928 | ||||||||||||
Francis S. Blake | 4,749,867 | 4,749,991 | 3,499,938 | ||||||||||||
Carol B. Tomé | 2,299,849 | 2,199,965 | 1,549,963 | ||||||||||||
Mark Q. Holifield | 1,333,218 | N/A | N/A | ||||||||||||
Matthew A. Carey | 1,433,226 | 1,366,533 | 949,993 | ||||||||||||
Timothy M. Crow | 1,316,656 | N/A | N/A | ||||||||||||
Marvin R. Ellison | 1,866,537 | 1,783,319 | 1,249,928 |
(4) | Incremental cost of perquisites is based on actual cost to the Company. The incremental cost of personal use of Company aircraft is based on the average direct cost of use per hour, which includes fuel, maintenance, crew travel and lodging expense, landing and parking fees, and engine restoration cost. Any applicable deadhead flights are allocated to the named executive officers. No incremental cost for personal use of the Company aircraft was attributed to a named executive officer where the plane was already traveling to the destination for business reasons. Since our aircraft are used primarily for business travel, we do not include the fixed costs that do not change based on usage, such as crew salaries, depreciation, hangar rent and insurance. In addition to the incremental cost of personal aircraft use reported in the All Other Compensation column and in footnote 5 below, we also impute taxable income to the named executive officers for any personal aircraft use in accordance with Internal Revenue Service regulations. We do not provide tax reimbursements, or “gross-ups,” on these amounts. |
40 | The Home Depot 2015 Proxy Statement |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
(5) | The following identifies the perquisites and other compensation for Fiscal 2014 that are required to be quantified by SEC rules. In addition to personal aircraft use, the Company made matching contributions to charitable organizations on behalf of each of the named executive officers, as shown below. Other perquisites and personal benefits for Fiscal 2014 were long-term disability insurance premiums, gifts from an executive business conference, personal use of Company tickets to entertainment events for Mr. Carey, and incremental amounts accrued during Fiscal 2014 under the death-benefit-only program. We do not provide tax gross-ups on any of these perquisites or personal benefits. |
Name | Use of Airplane ($) | Matching Charitable Contributions ($) | ||||||||
Craig A. Menear | 15,766 | 5,000 | ||||||||
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Francis S. Blake | 72,307 | 10,000 | ||||||||
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Carol B. Tomé | 70,287 | 42,496 | ||||||||
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Mark Q. Holifield | — | 12,470 | ||||||||
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Matthew A. Carey | — | 280 | ||||||||
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Timothy M. Crow | 6,406 | 12,496 | ||||||||
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Marvin R. Ellison | 18,007 | 660 | ||||||||
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(6) | Mr. Menear served as Executive Vice President – Merchandising until February 27, 2014, when he was promoted to President, U.S. Retail. On November 1, 2014, Mr. Blake stepped down from the CEO position and was appointed as executive Chairman, and Mr. Menear was promoted to CEO and President. Following Mr. Blake’s retirement from his position as executive Chairman at the end of Fiscal 2014, Mr. Menear was also appointed Chairman of the Board, effective February 2, 2015. |
(7) | Mr. Holifield was promoted to Executive Vice President – Supply Chain and Product Development on February 27, 2014. |
(8) | Mr. Ellison resigned from the Company on October 31, 2014. |
The Home Depot 2015 Proxy Statement | 41 |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
MATERIAL TERMS OF NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICER EMPLOYMENT ARRANGEMENTS
This section describes employment arrangements in effect for the named executive officers during Fiscal 2014. All of these arrangements are “at-will” arrangements set forth in the offer letters provided to the named executive officers at the time of hire or promotion, as applicable. These offer letters have no set duration and consequently no renewal or extension provisions. The offer letters are all filed as exhibits to the 2014 Form 10-K.
The offer letters state each named executive officer’s initial base salary and annual MIP target as a percentage of base salary, payout of which is subject to the achievement of pre-established goals. Both the base salary and MIP target are subject to adjustment upon future review by the LDC Committee, or independent members of the Board in the case of Mr. Menear and Mr. Blake. The Fiscal 2014 base salary and MIP target as a percentage of base salary for each named executive officer are set forth above in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis. The offer letters for Mr. Menear and Mr. Holifield also reference their promotional equity grants, as discussed above in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis under “Long-Term Incentives—Promotional Equity Grants” on page 36. In addition, the offer letters provide that the named executive officers are eligible to participate in other benefit programs available to salaried associates and/or officers. These benefits include the ESPP, the Deferred Compensation Plan For Officers, the Restoration Plan and the death-benefit-only insurance program. Any provisions in the letters regarding termination of employment are discussed below in the section entitled “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control” beginning on page 51.
The offer letter for Mr. Menear for his position as CEO and President states that the Company has requested that he travel, whenever practicable, by Company aircraft, including when traveling for personal reasons. However, to the extent he or his family uses Company aircraft for personal reasons, the Company will not provide a tax gross-up for any imputed compensation. The offer letters for Mr. Blake, in both his position as CEO and as executive Chairman, similarly stated that the Company requested that he travel by Company aircraft, but would not provide a tax gross-up for any imputed compensation for such use by him or his family. Following his retirement at the end of Fiscal 2014, Mr. Blake no longer uses Company aircraft for personal travel.
42 | The Home Depot 2015 Proxy Statement |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
FISCAL 2014 GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS
The following table sets forth the plan-based awards granted to the named executive officers pursuant to Company plans during Fiscal 2014.
FISCAL 2014 GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS(1)
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Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards | Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards | All Other Stock Awards: Number of Shares of Stock | All Other Option Awards: Number of Securities Underlying | Exercise or Base Price of Option | Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and Option | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Name | Grant Date(3) | Approval Date(3) | Threshold ($) | Target ($) | Maximum ($) | Threshold (#) | Target (#) | Maximum (#) | or Units (#) | Options (#) | Awards ($/Sh) | Awards(4) ($) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Craig A. Menear | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Performance Shares | 3/26/2014 | 2/27/2014 | — | — | — | 1,822 | 14,580 | 29,160 | — | — | — | 1,149,925 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Annual Stock Grant | 3/26/2014 | 2/27/2014 | — | — | — | — | 14,580 | — | — | — | — | 1,149,925 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Annual Option Grant | 3/26/2014 | 2/27/2014 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 83,630 | 78.87 | 1,149,996 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Promotional Option Grant | 11/20/2014 | 10/15/2014 | — �� | — | — | — | — | — | — | 215,305 | 97.57 | 3,499,998 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 MIP(2) | 2/27/2014 | 2/27/2014 | 82,333 | 2,058,333 | 4,116,667 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Francis S. Blake | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Performance Shares | 3/26/2014 | 2/27/2014 | — | — | — | 3,764 | 30,112 | 60,224 | — | — | — | 2,374,933 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Annual Stock Grant | 3/26/2014 | 2/27/2014 | — | — | — | — | 30,112 | — | — | — | — | 2,374,933 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Annual Option Grant | 3/26/2014 | 2/27/2014 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 172,714 | 78.87 | 2,374,990 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 MIP(2) | 2/27/2014 | 2/27/2014 | 60,000 | 1,500,000 | 3,000,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Carol B. Tomé | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Performance Shares | 3/26/2014 | 2/27/2014 | — | — | — | 1,822 | 14,580 | 29,160 | — | — | — | 1,149,925 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Annual Stock Grant | 3/26/2014 | 2/27/2014 | — | — | — | — | 14,580 | — | — | — | — | 1,149,925 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Annual Option Grant | 3/26/2014 | 2/27/2014 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 83,630 | 78.87 | 1,149,996 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 MIP(2) | 2/27/2014 | 2/27/2014 | 51,250 | 1,281,250 | 2,562,500 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mark Q. Holifield | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Performance Shares | 3/26/2014 | 2/27/2014 | — | — | — | 1,056 | 8,452 | 16,904 | — | — | — | 666,609 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Annual Stock Grant | 3/26/2014 | 2/27/2014 | — | — | — | — | 8,452 | — | — | — | — | 666,609 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Promotional Stock Grant | 2/27/2014 | 2/27/2014 | — | — | — | — | 3,049 | — | — | — | — | 249,927 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Annual Option Grant | 3/26/2014 | 2/27/2014 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 48,481 | 78.87 | 666,662 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Promotional Option Grant | 2/27/2014 | 2/27/2014 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 17,587 | 81.97 | 249,999 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 MIP(2) | 2/27/2014 | 2/27/2014 | 28,983 | 724,583 | 1,449,167 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Matthew A. Carey | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Performance Shares | 3/26/2014 | 2/27/2014 | — | — | — | 1,135 | 9,086 | 18,172 | — | — | — | 716,613 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Annual Stock Grant | 3/26/2014 | 2/27/2014 | — | — | — | — | 9,086 | — | — | — | — | 716,613 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Annual Option Grant | 3/26/2014 | 2/27/2014 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 52,117 | 78.87 | 716,661 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 MIP(2) | 2/27/2014 | 2/27/2014 | 27,800 | 695,000 | 1,390,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Timothy M. Crow | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Performance Shares | 3/26/2014 | 2/27/2014 | — | — | — | 1,043 | 8,347 | 16,694 | — | — | — | 658,328 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Annual Stock Grant | 3/26/2014 | 2/27/2014 | — | — | — | — | 8,347 | — | — | — | — | 658,328 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Annual Option Grant | 3/26/2014 | 2/27/2014 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 47,875 | 78.87 | 658,329 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 MIP(2) | 2/27/2014 | 2/27/2014 | 23,600 | 590,000 | 1,180,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Marvin R. Ellison | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Performance Shares | 3/26/2014 | 2/27/2014 | — | — | — | 1,479 | 11,833 | 23,666 | — | — | — | 933,269 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Annual Stock Grant | 3/26/2014 | 2/27/2014 | — | — | — | — | 11,833 | — | — | ��� | — | 933,269 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Annual Option Grant | 3/26/2014 | 2/27/2014 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 67,873 | 78.87 | 933,322 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 MIP(2) | 2/27/2014 | 2/27/2014 | 29,600 | 740,000 | 1,480,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
(1) | All awards were granted under the Amended and Restated 2005 Plan, other than MIP awards. |
(2) | The Fiscal 2014 MIP was based on achievement of pre-established performance goals as described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis. The amount in the “Threshold” column for the 2014 MIP reflects the minimum possible payout based upon assumed achievement of the threshold performance levels as discussed below under “Terms of Plan-Based Awards Granted to the Named Executive Officers for Fiscal 2014—2014 MIP.” |
(3) | Annual equity awards under the Amended and Restated 2005 Plan were approved at the February 27, 2014 meeting of the LDC Committee (or by the independent Board members on that date for the CEO) but were effective as of March 26, 2014. The promotional stock option award for Mr. Menear was approved by the independent Board members on October 15, 2014, but was effective on November 20, 2014. See discussion under “Equity Grant Procedures” on page 38 in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis above. |
The Home Depot 2015 Proxy Statement | 43 |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
(4) | Amounts represent the grant date fair value of awards granted in Fiscal 2014 computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. The assumptions made in the valuation of the awards are set forth in Note 1 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements as filed with the SEC in the 2014 Form 10-K. The valuation of restricted stock awards is based on the closing stock price on the grant date. Mr. Ellison forfeited all of the equity awards granted to him in Fiscal 2014, as well as his 2014 MIP award, upon his resignation on October 31, 2014. |
TERMS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS GRANTED TO NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS FOR FISCAL 2014
The LDC Committee approved the Fiscal 2014 annual grants of performance shares, performance-based restricted stock and stock options under the Amended and Restated 2005 Plan for the named executive officers other than Mr. Blake and, in the case of the stock option grant upon his promotion to CEO and President, Mr. Menear. Mr. Blake’s awards and Mr. Menear’s promotional award were approved by the independent members of the Board.
Performance Shares
For Fiscal 2014, one-third of the annual equity grant provided to the named executive officers was in the form of performance shares. The terms and conditions of the awards are described under “Long-Term Incentives” in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis above. In the event of death, disability or retirement at or after age 60 with at least five years of continuous service (“retirement”), the executive or his or her estate will be entitled to receive any performance shares ultimately earned, and in the event of death or disability before retirement, a pro rata portion of any shares ultimately earned. Because Mr. Blake had reached age 60 and had more than five years of service prior to his retirement at the end of Fiscal 2014, he was “retirement eligible,” and his performance share award is non-forfeitable, although payout is based on achievement of the performance goals. Upon termination of employment within 12 months following a change in control, the executive would be entitled to a pro rata portion of performance shares based on actual performance for the portion of the performance period before a change in control, plus a pro rata portion of the target performance shares for the portion of the performance period after a change in control. Dividend equivalents accrue on performance share awards (as reinvested shares) and are paid upon the payout of the award based on the actual number of shares earned.
Annual Stock Grants
For Fiscal 2014, one-third of the annual equity grant provided to the named executive officers was in the form of performance-based restricted stock, which was forfeitable if Fiscal 2014 operating profit was less than 90% of the MIP target for Fiscal 2014. If the performance target is met, as it was for Fiscal 2014, the awards are then subject to time-based vesting. The annual restricted stock grants vest 50% on each of the 30th month and 60th month anniversaries of the grant date, subject to continued employment through the vesting date, or, if sooner, upon termination due to death or disability or termination within 12 months following a change in control. In addition, if the performance target is met, the restricted stock becomes non-forfeitable once the executive reaches retirement eligibility but is not transferable before the time-based vesting dates. Mr. Blake’s award became non-forfeitable when the performance condition was met for Fiscal 2014 because he had met the retirement eligibility conditions prior to his retirement at the end of Fiscal 2014. Dividends on the restricted stock are accrued (as cash dividends) and not paid out to executive officers unless the performance target is met. Once the performance target is met, dividends are then paid currently on the shares of restricted stock.
Annual Stock Option Grants
For Fiscal 2014, one-third of the annual equity grant provided to the named executive officers was in the form of nonqualified stock options. The stock option awards vest 25% per year on the second, third, fourth and fifth anniversaries of the grant date, subject to continued employment through the vesting date, or, if sooner, upon termination due to death or disability or termination within 12 months following a change in control. In addition, the stock option awards become non-forfeitable once the executive becomes retirement eligible but are not exercisable before the time-based vesting dates. Generally, stock options may be exercised, once vested, over the remainder of
44 | The Home Depot 2015 Proxy Statement |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
the ten-year option term. Mr. Blake’s option award is non-forfeitable because he met the retirement eligibility conditions prior to his retirement at the end of Fiscal 2014, but it is not exercisable until the time-based vesting dates.
Promotional Equity Grants
Mr. Menear received a stock option award upon his promotion to CEO and President, and Mr. Holifield received restricted stock and stock option awards upon his promotion to Executive Vice President – Supply Chain and Product Development. The terms and conditions of the stock option awards are the same as those described above under “Annual Stock Option Grants,” and the terms and conditions of the restricted stock award are the same as those described above under “Annual Stock Grants” except that the award only has time-based vesting and is not subject to the performance-based requirement.
2014 MIP
Each of the named executive officers participated in the Fiscal 2014 MIP, the Company’s annual cash-based incentive plan. The Fiscal 2014 MIP payout was based upon achievement of pre-established financial performance goals, as described above in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis. The pre-established definitions of the sales and operating profit goals provided for adjustments for the impact of acquisitions or dispositions of businesses with annualized sales of $1 billion or more and, for operating profit, nonrecurring charges and write-offs in Fiscal 2014 exceeding $50 million in the aggregate for specified types of strategic restructuring transactions. There were no adjustments made to the sales or operating profit goals in Fiscal 2014.
The LDC Committee approved threshold, target and maximum payout levels for Fiscal 2014 for the named executive officers under the MIP. The threshold, target and maximum potential payouts under the MIP for the named executive officers reflect the following percentages of base salary at the end of Fiscal 2014:
Name |
Percentage of Base Salary | |||||
Threshold |
Target |
Maximum | ||||
Craig A. Menear |
6% |
158% |
317% | |||
Francis S. Blake |
8% |
200% |
400% | |||
Carol B. Tomé |
5% |
125% |
250% | |||
Mark Q. Holifield |
4% |
98% |
196% | |||
Matthew A. Carey |
4% |
100% |
200% | |||
Timothy M. Crow |
4% |
100% |
200% | |||
Marvin R. Ellison |
4% |
100% |
200% | |||
Because the operating profit threshold must be met for any payout to occur, the threshold percentage above reflects the minimum possible payout based upon assumed achievement of that threshold. The potential payouts for Messrs. Menear and Holifield are based on the applicable percentage for each position in which they served during the fiscal year, pro-rated based on the number of months they served in those positions. The actual amounts earned based on achievement of Fiscal 2014 MIP performance goals are reported in the Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation column of the Summary Compensation Table.
The Home Depot 2015 Proxy Statement | 45 |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT 2014 FISCAL YEAR-END
The following table sets forth information regarding outstanding equity awards as of the end of Fiscal 2014 granted to the named executive officers.
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT 2014 FISCAL YEAR-END
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Option Awards | Stock Awards | |||||||||||||||||||
Name | Number of (#) Exercisable | Number of (#) | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Unearned Options (#) | Option Exercise Price | Option Date | Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#)(2) | Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested ($) | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (#)(3) | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested ($) | |||||||||||
Craig A. Menear | 34,446 | — | — | 38.74 | 3/20/2017 | 2,500 | 261,050 | 20,540 | 2,144,787 | |||||||||||
11,781 | — | — | 38.95 | 5/23/2017 | 5,000 | 522,100 | 26,559 | 2,773,283 | ||||||||||||
140,372 | — | — | 26.84 | 3/18/2018 | 12,183 | 1,272,149 | 14,809 | 1,546,340 | ||||||||||||
90,661 | — | — | 18.52 | 11/19/2018 | 11,520 | 1,202,918 | — | — | ||||||||||||
113,687 | — | — | 23.28 | 3/24/2019 | 9,415 | 983,114 | — | — | ||||||||||||
87,995 | 29,332 | — | 32.32 | 3/23/2020 | 12,802 | 1,336,785 | — | — | ||||||||||||
56,734 | 56,734 | — | 36.62 | 3/22/2021 | 14,580 | 1,522,444 | — | — | ||||||||||||
23,818 | 71,456 | — | 49.79 | 3/20/2022 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
— | 68,468 | — | 69.65 | 3/26/2023 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
— | 83,630 | — | 78.87 | 3/25/2024 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
— | 215,305 | — | 97.57 | 11/19/2024 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
Francis S. Blake | 347,056 | — | — | 26.84 | 3/18/2018 | 23,371 | 2,440,400 | 57,515 | 6,005,716 | |||||||||||
388,930 | — | — | 23.28 | 3/24/2019 | 20,626 | 2,153,767 | 70,742 | 7,386,829 | ||||||||||||
293,317 | 97,773 | — | 32.32 | 3/23/2020 | 13,721 | 1,432,747 | 30,585 | 3,193,649 | ||||||||||||
176,506 | 176,506 | — | 36.62 | 3/22/2021 | 17,748 | 1,853,246 | — | — | ||||||||||||
66,692 | 200,076 | — | 49.79 | 3/20/2022 | 30,112 | 3,144,295 | — | — | ||||||||||||
— | 182,369 | — | 69.65 | 3/26/2023 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
— | 172,714 | — | 78.87 | 3/25/2024 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
Carol B. Tomé | 43,381 | — | — | 23.28 | 3/24/2019 | 6,000 | 626,520 | 25,470 | 2,659,577 | |||||||||||
125,707 | 41,903 | — | 32.32 | 3/23/2020 | 6,000 | 626,520 | 32,764 | 3,421,220 | ||||||||||||
78,167 | 78,167 | — | 36.62 | 3/22/2021 | 6,000 | 626,520 | 14,809 | 1,546,340 | ||||||||||||
29,535 | 88,605 | — | 49.79 | 3/20/2022 | 30,000 | 3,132,600 | — | — | ||||||||||||
— | 84,465 | — | 69.65 | 3/26/2023 | 25,000 | 2,610,500 | — | — | ||||||||||||
— | 83,630 | — | 78.87 | 3/25/2024 | 25,000 | 2,610,500 | — | — | ||||||||||||
— | — | — | — | — | 25,000 | 2,610,500 | — | — | ||||||||||||
— | — | — | — | — | 20,000 | 2,088,400 | — | — | ||||||||||||
— | — | — | — | — | 17,404 | 1,817,326 | — | — | ||||||||||||
— | — | — | — | — | 15,872 | 1,657,354 | — | — | ||||||||||||
— | — | — | — | — | 11,674 | 1,218,999 | — | — | ||||||||||||
— | — | — | — | — | 15,793 | 1,649,105 | — | — | ||||||||||||
— | — | — | — | — | 14,580 | 1,522,444 | — | — | ||||||||||||
Mark Q. Holifield | — | 18,856 | — | 32.32 | 3/23/2020 | 7,832 | 817,817 | 12,323 | 1,286,768 | |||||||||||
— | 37,823 | — | 36.62 | 3/22/2021 | 7,680 | 801,946 | 15,885 | 1,658,727 | ||||||||||||
14,291 | 42,873 | — | 49.79 | 3/20/2022 | 5,649 | 589,869 | 8,585 | 896,411 | ||||||||||||
— | 40,953 | — | 69.65 | 3/26/2023 | 7,657 | 799,544 | — | — | ||||||||||||
— | 17,587 | — | 81.97 | 2/26/2024 | 3,049 | 318,377 | — | — | ||||||||||||
— | 48,481 | — | 78.87 | 3/25/2024 | 8,452 | 882,558 | — | — | ||||||||||||
Matthew A. Carey | 20,943 | — | — | 23.28 | 3/24/2019 | 8,702 | 908,663 | 15,611 | 1,630,101 | |||||||||||
62,853 | 20,952 | — | 32.32 | 3/23/2020 | 8,960 | 935,603 | 20,352 | 2,125,129 | ||||||||||||
44,126 | 44,127 | — | 36.62 | 3/22/2021 | 7,155 | 747,125 | 9,229 | 963,652 | ||||||||||||
18,102 | 54,306 | — | 49.79 | 3/20/2022 | 9,810 | 1,024,360 | — | — | ||||||||||||
— | 52,471 | — | 69.65 | 3/26/2023 | 9,086 | 948,760 | — | — | ||||||||||||
— | 52,117 | — | 78.87 | 3/25/2024 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
Timothy M. Crow | 34,386 | — | — | 38.74 | 3/20/2017 | 2,500 | 261,050 | 14,377 | 1,501,246 | |||||||||||
67,044 | 22,348 | — | 32.32 | 3/23/2020 | 9,282 | 969,226 | 18,864 | 1,969,806 | ||||||||||||
44,126 | 44,127 | — | 36.62 | 3/22/2021 | 8,960 | 935,603 | 8,478 | 885,275 | ||||||||||||
16,673 | 50,019 | — | 49.79 | 3/20/2022 | 6,590 | 688,128 | — | — | ||||||||||||
— | 48,631 | — | 69.65 | 3/26/2023 | 9,093 | 949,491 | — | — | ||||||||||||
— | 47,875 | — | 78.87 | 3/25/2024 | 8,347 | 871,594 | — | — | ||||||||||||
Marvin R. Ellison(4) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
46 | The Home Depot 2015 Proxy Statement |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
(1) | Unexercisable stock options as of the end of Fiscal 2014 for each named executive officer vest as follows: |
Vesting Date | C. Menear | F. Blake | C. Tomé | M. Holifield | M. Carey | T. Crow | ||||||||||||||||||
March 21, 2015 | 23,819 | 66,692 | 29,535 | 14,291 | 18,102 | 16,673 | ||||||||||||||||||
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March 23, 2015 | 28,367 | 88,253 | 39,083 | 18,911 | 22,063 | 22,063 | ||||||||||||||||||
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March 24, 2015 | 29,332 | 97,773 | 41,903 | 18,856 | 20,952 | 22,348 | ||||||||||||||||||
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March 27, 2015 | 17,117 | 45,592 | 21,116 | 10,238 | 13,117 | 12,157 | ||||||||||||||||||
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February 27, 2016 | — | — | — | 4,396 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
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March 21, 2016 | 23,818 | 66,692 | 29,535 | 14,291 | 18,102 | 16,673 | ||||||||||||||||||
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March 23, 2016 | 28,367 | 88,253 | 39,084 | 18,912 | 22,064 | 22,064 | ||||||||||||||||||
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March 26, 2016 | 20,907 | 43,178 | 20,907 | 12,120 | 13,029 | 11,968 | ||||||||||||||||||
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March 27, 2016 | 17,117 | 45,592 | 21,116 | 10,238 | 13,118 | 12,158 | ||||||||||||||||||
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November 20, 2016 | 53,826 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
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February 27, 2017 | — | — | — | 4,397 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
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March 21, 2017 | 23,819 | 66,692 | 29,535 | 14,291 | 18,102 | 16,673 | ||||||||||||||||||
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March 26, 2017 | 20,908 | 43,179 | 20,908 | 12,120 | 13,029 | 11,969 | ||||||||||||||||||
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March 27, 2017 | 17,117 | 45,592 | 21,116 | 10,238 | 13,118 | 12,158 | ||||||||||||||||||
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November 20, 2017 | 53,826 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
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February 27, 2018 | — | — | — | 4,397 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
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March 26, 2018 | 20,907 | 43,178 | 20,907 | 12,120 | 13,029 | 11,969 | ||||||||||||||||||
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March 27, 2018 | 17,117 | 45,593 | 21,117 | 10,239 | 13,118 | 12,158 | ||||||||||||||||||
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November 20, 2018 | 53,826 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
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February 27, 2019 | — | — | — | 4,397 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
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March 26, 2019 | 20,908 | 43,179 | 20,908 | 12,121 | 13,030 | 11,969 | ||||||||||||||||||
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November 20, 2019 | 53,827 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Total | 524,925 | 829,438 | 376,770 | 206,573 | 223,973 | 213,000 |
(2) | Restricted stock as of the end of Fiscal 2014 for each named executive officer vests as follows: |
Vesting Date | C. Menear | F. Blake | C. Tomé | M. Holifield | M. Carey | T. Crow | ||||||||||||||||||
March 24, 2015 | 12,183 | 23,371(a) | 17,404 | 7,832 | 8,702 | 9,282 | ||||||||||||||||||
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September 27, 2015 | 6,401 | 8,874(a) | 7,896 | 3,828 | 4,905 | 4,546 | ||||||||||||||||||
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March 20, 2016 | — | — | 20,000 | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
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March 23, 2016 | 11,520 | 20,626(a) | 15,872 | 7,680 | 8,960 | 8,960 | ||||||||||||||||||
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August 27, 2016 | — | — | — | 1,524 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
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September 26, 2016 | 7,290 | 15,056 | 7,290 | 4,226 | 4,543 | 4,173 | ||||||||||||||||||
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March 21, 2017 | 9,415 | 13,721(a) | 11,674 | 5,649 | 7,155 | 6,590 | ||||||||||||||||||
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May 8, 2017 | — | — | — | — | — | 2,500 | ||||||||||||||||||
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March 27, 2018 | 6,401 | 8,874(a) | 7,897 | 3,829 | 4,905 | 4,547 | ||||||||||||||||||
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January 8, 2019 | — | — | 123,000 | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
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February 27, 2019 | — | — | — | 1,525 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
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March 26, 2019 | 7,290 | 15,056 | 7,290 | 4,226 | 4,543 | 4,174 | ||||||||||||||||||
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August 2, 2019 | 7,500 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Total | 68,000 | 105,578 | 218,323 | 40,319 | 43,713 | 44,772 |
(a) | These shares became non-forfeitable and are reflected net of withholding tax obligations incurred when the performance condition on the shares was met, but the shares remain restricted until the time-based vesting dates are reached. |
The Home Depot 2015 Proxy Statement | 47 |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
(3) | The named executive officers’ performance share awards are earned upon the completion of the three-year performance periods ending February 1, 2015, January 31, 2016, and January 29, 2017, based on achievement of pre-established average ROIC and operating profit goals, as described above in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis under “Long-Term Incentives—Performance Shares.” The awards are paid out following certification by our LDC Committee of the achievement of the goals after completion of the applicable performance period. These performance share awards vest sooner in the event of a change in control of the Company for the 2012-2014 award or in the event of termination of employment within 12 months following a change in control for the 2013-2015 award and the 2014-2016 award. The number of shares earned is determined based on actual results achieved through the date of the change in control, prorated based on the number of days in the performance period before the change in control, plus the target award amount, prorated based on the number of days in the performance period after the change in control. Dividend equivalents accrue on the performance shares (as reinvested shares) and will be paid upon the payout of the award based on the actual number of shares earned.
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(4) | Upon his resignation on October 31, 2014, Mr. Ellison forfeited all of his unvested equity awards. He also exercised all of his remaining outstanding vested options, as reflected in the Options Exercised and Stock Vested in Fiscal 2014 table below, prior to their expiration. |
OPTIONS EXERCISED AND STOCK VESTED IN FISCAL 2014
The following table sets forth the options exercised and the shares of restricted stock that vested for the named executive officers during Fiscal 2014.
OPTIONS EXERCISED AND STOCK VESTED IN FISCAL 2014
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Option Awards | Stock Awards | |||||||||||||||||||
Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise | Value Realized on Exercise | Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting | Value Realized on Vesting | |||||||||||||||||
Name | (#) | ($) | (#) | ($) | ||||||||||||||||
Craig A. Menear | — | — | 49,287 | 4,096,871 | ||||||||||||||||
Francis S. Blake | 248,000 | 16,168,011 | 135,478(1) | 11,116,309 | ||||||||||||||||
Carol B. Tomé | 326,610 | 17,204,038 | 69,036 | 5,717,655 | ||||||||||||||||
Mark Q. Holifield | 57,962 | 3,518,684 | 32,946 | 2,730,158 | ||||||||||||||||
Matthew A. Carey | 239,626 | 14,889,494 | 37,499 | 3,117,923 | ||||||||||||||||
Timothy M. Crow | 82,295 | 4,780,973 | 37,794 | 3,134,095 | ||||||||||||||||
Marvin R. Ellison | 232,042 | 14,870,127 | 49,287 | 4,096,871 |
(1) | Includes 16,351 shares withheld to pay taxes on a performance-based restricted stock grant that became non-forfeitable on March 26, 2014 due to Mr. Blake being retirement eligible. The |
48 | The Home Depot 2015 Proxy Statement |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION FOR FISCAL 2014
The following table sets forth information regarding the participation of the named executive officers in the Company’s nonqualified deferred compensation plans for Fiscal 2014.
NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION FOR FISCAL 2014
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Executive Contributions in Last FY | Registrant Contributions in Last FY | Aggregate Earnings in Last FY | Aggregate Withdrawals/ Distributions | Aggregate Balance at Last FYE | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Name | ($)(1) | ($)(2) | ($)(3) | ($) | ($)(4) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Craig A. Menear | N/A 245,637 | 49,409 — | 226,228 77,185 | — — |
| 858,214 1,631,238 |
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Francis S. Blake | N/A | 118,371 | 582,735 | — | 2,201,753 | (7) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Carol B. Tomé | N/A | 80,357 | 611,690 | — | 2,267,259 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Mark Q. Holifield | N/A | 40,143 | 140,734 | — | 543,292 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Matthew A. Carey | N/A | 44,264 | 88,504 | — | 360,682 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Timothy M. Crow | N/A | 36,187 | 167,442 | — | 634,823 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Marvin R. Ellison | N/A — | — — | 194,087 9,611 | — — |
| 693,895 77,711 | (8) (8) |
(1) | Executive contributions represent deferral of base salary and incentive awards under the MIP during Fiscal 2014, which amounts are also disclosed in the Fiscal |
(2) | All Company |
(3) | Deferred Compensation Plan For Officers earnings represent notional returns on participant-selected investments. Restoration Plan earnings represent an increase in |
(4) | For the Restoration Plan, amounts in the aggregate balance for |
(5) | The Restoration Plan, an unfunded, nonqualified deferred compensation plan, provides management-level associates with a benefit equal to the |
The Home Depot 2015 Proxy Statement | 49 |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
converted to
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(6) | The Deferred Compensation Plan
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(7) | Mr. Blake will receive payment of his account balance under the Restoration Plan in January 2016, in accordance with the terms of the plan. |
(8) | Mr. Ellison will receive payment of his account balance under the Restoration Plan and the Deferred Compensation Plan For Officers six months after his termination of employment on October 31, 2014, in accordance with the terms of the plans. |
50 | The Home Depot 2015 Proxy Statement |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION OR CHANGE IN CONTROL
Termination Without Cause or For Good Reason
Messrs. Menear, Holifield, Carey and Crow’s employment arrangements do not entitle them to any severance payments upon employment termination. They would, however, be entitled to any vested benefits under Company plans in which they participate. Messrs. Menear, Holifield, Carey and Crow are subject to non-competition and non-solicitation restrictions for 24 months and 36 months post-termination, respectively. Each named executive officer is also subject to confidentiality restrictions on employment termination.
The following table sets forth the estimated value of benefits that Ms. Tomé would be entitled to receive, assuming a termination of employment by the Company without cause or by Ms. Tomé for good reason as of February 1, 2015, the last day of Fiscal 2014. She would also be entitled to any vested benefits under Company plans in which she participates, including amounts under the Restoration Plan as set forth in the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation table on page 49 of this Proxy Statement. Ms. Tomé is not entitled to payment of any benefits upon termination for cause or resignation without good reason other than for accrued compensation earned prior to employment termination and any vested benefits under Company plans in which she participates.
TERMINATION WITHOUT CAUSE OR FOR GOOD REASON
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Name | Value of Salary Continuation ($) | Value of Equity Awards Vesting on Termination ($) | Total ($) | |||||||||||
Carol B. Tomé | 2,050,000 | 20,699,306 | 22,749,306 |
Under Ms. Tomé’s employment arrangement, pursuant to provisions that were adopted in 2001, in the event her employment is terminated by the Company without cause, or by Ms. Tomé for good reason, the Company will continue to pay her base salary for 24 months in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices, subject to any delay necessary to comply with the requirements of Internal Revenue Code Section 409A. Also, vesting will be accelerated on her outstanding restricted stock and stock option awards that would otherwise have vested during the salary continuation period (242,279 options with an intrinsic value of $13,550,503 and 68,462 shares of restricted stock with a value of $7,148,802 at the end of Fiscal 2014, based upon the closing stock price of $104.42 on January 30, 2015). Any unvested equity at the end of the salary continuation period will be forfeited.
Termination for cause by the Company under this arrangement generally means that the executive: (a) has engaged in conduct that constitutes willful gross neglect or willful gross misconduct with respect to employment duties that results in material economic harm to the Company, (b) has been convicted of a felony involving theft or moral turpitude, or (c) has violated Company policies. Termination of employment for good reason by the executive generally means the occurrence of certain events without the executive’s consent, including: (a) the assignment of a principal office outside of the Atlanta metropolitan area, (b) decrease in base salary or failure to pay the agreed-upon compensation, or (c) cessation of a direct reporting relationship to the CEO.
In exchange for the foregoing severance payments, Ms. Tomé agreed that during the term of her employment and for 24 months thereafter, she will not, without the prior written consent of the Company, be employed by or otherwise participate in the management of competitors of the Company. She also agreed not to solicit any employee of the Company to accept a position with another entity during the 36-month period following termination.
The Home Depot 2015 Proxy Statement | 51 |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Change in Control
The Company does not maintain change in control agreements for its executives. However, equity awards made prior to Fiscal 2013 to salaried associates, including the named executive officers, generally provide for accelerated vesting of the award upon a change in control of the Company. As noted above in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the LDC Committee adopted a new form of award agreement in February 2013 that no longer provides for automatic acceleration of vesting of awards solely upon a change in control. Awards granted in Fiscal 2013 and Fiscal 2014 only vest if the executive’s employment is terminated without cause within 12 months following the change in control.
The following table sets forth the estimated value that the currently employed named executive officers would be entitled to receive due to accelerated vesting of outstanding awards assuming a change in control of the Company as of February 1, 2015, both with and without a termination of employment.
CHANGE IN CONTROL ONLY
| CHANGE IN CONTROL FOLLOWED BY
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Value of Restricted Stock and Option Awards | Value of Performance Shares | Total Assuming Change in Control and NO Termination of Employment | Value of Additional Restricted Stock and Option Awards Vesting on Termination | Value of Additional Performance Shares Vesting on Termination | Total Assuming Change in Control AND Termination of Employment | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Name | ($)(1) | ($)(2) | ($) | ($)(3) | ($)(4) | ($) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Craig A. Menear | 14,106,375 | — | 14,106,375 | 8,851,447 | 3,024,839 | 25,982,661 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Carol B. Tomé | 32,787,159 | — | 32,787,159 | 8,245,143 | 3,398,349 | 44,430,651(5) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Mark Q. Holifield | 8,475,701 | — | 8,475,701 | 5,057,932 | 1,782,867 | 15,316,500 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Matthew A. Carey | 10,060,578 | — | 10,060,578 | 5,129,126 | 2,113,670 | 17,303,374 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Timothy M. Crow | 10,189,647 | — | 10,189,647 | 4,735,191 | 1,951,923 | 16,876,761 |
(1) | Value reflects outstanding shares of restricted stock granted prior to Fiscal 2013, multiplied by a closing stock price of $104.42 on January 30, 2015, and the intrinsic value as of February 1, 2015 of outstanding unvested stock options granted prior to Fiscal 2013, using the closing stock price of $104.42 on January 30, 2015. |
(2) | Does not include the value of the Fiscal 2012-2014 award because it was earned as of February 1, 2015, the last day of the performance period, and would be received regardless of whether there was a change in control. |
(3) | Value reflects outstanding shares of restricted stock granted in Fiscal 2013
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION Termination Due to Death, Disability or Retirement Equity awards made to salaried associates, including the named executive officers, generally provide for accelerated vesting of the award upon employment termination due to death or disability. The following table sets forth the estimated value of benefits that the currently employed named executive officers would be entitled to receive assuming death or disability as of February 1, 2015. In addition, the named executive officers would be entitled to receive vested benefits under Company plans in which they participate, including amounts under the Restoration Plan and, if applicable, the Deferred Compensation Plan For Officers, as set forth in the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation table on page 49 of this Proxy Statement.
Certain equity awards made to salaried associates, including the named executive officers, provide that the awards are no longer forfeitable upon retirement on or after age 60 with five years of continuous service with the Company. As of February 1, 2015, none of the named executive officers (other than Mr. Blake, who is discussed below) had met this condition.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Mr. Ellison. Mr. Ellison did not receive any severance benefits upon his resignation on October 31, 2014. Mr. Ellison is entitled to amounts under the Restoration Plan and the Deferred Compensation Plan For Officers as set forth in the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation table on page 49 of this Proxy Statement, which had vested prior to his resignation and will be paid to him six months following his departure. Upon his resignation, Mr. Ellison forfeited his MIP award for Fiscal 2014 and all outstanding unvested equity awards, as noted above in the Outstanding Equity Awards at 2014 Fiscal Year-End table on page 46.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
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