UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.    )

 

 

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Ingredion Incorporated

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

N/A

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

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LOGO

5 Westbrook Corporate Center, Westchester, Illinois 60154

April 4, 20178, 2020

Dear Stockholder:fellow stockholders:

It is my pleasure to invite you to Ingredion Incorporated’s 2017Annual2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. This year’s meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 17, 2017,20, 2020, at 9:00 a.m., local time. Due to the Westbrook Corporate Center Meeting Facility, which is located oncoronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and the ground floorprotocols being imposed in response to the outbreak by federal, state and local governments, and in the interest of the annex between Towers 2health and 5well-being of our employees, stockholders and other meeting participants, we have made the Westbrook Corporate Center (neardecision that this year’s annual meeting will be virtual only. The annual meeting will be conducted via the southwesterly corner ofInternet and can be accessed by visitingwww.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/INGR2020, where you will be able to listen to the intersection of Cermak Roadmeeting live, submit questions and Wolf Road),vote online.The decision to have a virtual annual meeting this year does not represent a change in Westchester, Illinois.our stockholder engagement philosophy, and we currently expect to return to an in-person meeting next year. The annual meeting will be held solely to vote on each of the matters described in the accompanying proxy statement, which follows. We do not expect any other business will be transacted.statement.

As in previous years, we will furnish proxy materials to our stockholders primarily through the Internet. On April 4, 2017,8, 2020, we mailed to most of our stockholders a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials. This notice contains instructions on how to access our proxy statement and 20162019 Annual Report to Stockholders and how to votesubmit your proxy or voting instructions online. The proxy statement contains instructions on how you can request a paper ore-mail copy of the proxy statement and annual report, if you received only a notice by mail, and how you can elect to receive your proxy statement and annual report electronically bye-mail if you received them by mail this year. Stockholders who have previously elected delivery of our proxy materials electronically will receive ane-mail with instructions on how to access these materials electronically. Stockholders who have previously elected to receive a paper copy of our proxy materials will receive a full paper set of these materials by mail.

Your vote is important, whether or not you plan to attend the annual meeting via the Internet, and we encourage you to vote promptly. You may votesubmit your sharesproxy or voting instructions on the Internet or via a toll-free telephone number. Alternatively, if you received a paper copy of the proxy card by mail, you may sign, date and mail the proxy card in the envelope provided. Instructions regarding all three methods of submitting your proxy or voting instructions are contained in the proxy statement and the proxy card. Note also that if you hold your shares through a bank, broker or other holder of record, you may votesubmit your sharesvoting instructions in accordance with your voting instruction form or notice provided by the record holder.

Thank you for your support and continued interest in Ingredion.

Sincerely,

 

LOGOLOGO

Ilene S. GordonJames P. Zallie

Chairman, President and

Chief Executive Officer

 

LOGO


Ingredion Incorporated

5 Westbrook Corporate Center

Westchester, Illinois 60154

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

The 20172020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Ingredion Incorporated (the “Company”) will be held atvirtually via the Westbrook Corporate Center Meeting Facility, which is located onInternet and can be accessed by visitingwww.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/INGR2020, where you will be able to listen to the ground floor of the annex between Towers 2meeting live, submit questions and 5 of the Westbrook Corporate Center (near the southwesterly corner of the intersection of Cermak Road and Wolf Road), in Westchester, Illinois,vote online. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 17, 2017,20, 2020, at 9:00 a.m., local time, for the following purposes:

 

to elect to the tenBoard of Directors the 11 director nominees who are named in the attachedaccompanying proxy statement, all of whom are directors whose terms as directors are expiring at the annual meeting, to serve as directors for a term of one year,year;

 

to approve, by advisory vote, the compensation of the company’s “named executive officers,”

to recommend, by advisory vote, whether to have stockholders vote to approve, by advisory vote, the compensation of the company’sCompany’s “named executive officers” every year, every two years or every three years,as disclosed in the accompanying proxy statement;

 

to ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of the companyCompany for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020; and its subsidiaries, in respect of the company’s operations in 2017 and

 

to transact other business, if any, that is properly brought before the meeting or any adjournment or adjournmentspostponement thereof.

StockholdersOnly stockholders of record at the close of business on March 21, 201726, 2020, which is the record date for the annual meeting, will be entitled to vote at the meeting and at any adjournment or adjournmentspostponement of the meeting.

Due to the coronavirus(COVID-19) outbreak and the protocols being imposed in response to the outbreak by federal, state and local governments, and in the interest of the health and well-being of our employees, stockholders and other meeting participants, we have made the decision that this year’s annual meeting will be virtual only. The annual meeting will be conducted via the Internet, and you will not be able to attend the annual meeting in person. Attendance at the virtual meeting will be limited to stockholders those holding proxies from stockholdersof record, beneficial owners of shares with specified proof of ownership, and invited guests from the media and financial community. A list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting will be open to examination by any stockholder for any purpose germane to the meeting for ten days before the meeting during ordinary business hours at the company’sCompany’s offices at 5 Westbrook Corporate Center, Westchester, Illinois 60154. In addition, the list will be available to any stockholder for examination online during the annual meeting. To access the list during the annual meeting, please visitwww.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/INGR2020 and enter the16-digit control number contained on your notice of availability,e-mail notification, voting instruction form or proxy card.

ThisThe proxy statement and our annual report to stockholders and the proxy are first being made available to stockholders on or about April 4, 2017.8, 2020.

Your vote is important. Whether or not you expect to attend the annual meeting via the Internet, please ensure that your vote will be counted by submitting your proxy or voting instructions on the Internet or by using the toll-free telephone number, as described in the enclosedaccompanying materials. Alternatively, if you received a copy of the proxy card by mail, you may sign, date and mail the proxy card in the envelope provided. If you hold your shares through a bank, broker or other holder of record, you may votesubmit your sharesvoting instructions in accordance with your voting instruction form or notice provided by the record holder.

By order of the Board of Directors,

 

LOGO

LOGOMichael N. Levy

Christine M. Castellano

Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Corporate

Assistant Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer

April 4, 20178, 2020

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE STOCKHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON MAY 17, 201720, 2020

The Notice and Proxy Statement and Annual Report to Stockholders are available at www.proxyvote.com.www.proxyvote.com.


ADMISSION TOATTENDING THE 20172020 ANNUAL MEETING VIA THE INTERNET

An admission ticket (or other proof of stock ownership) will be required for admission to the annual meeting.Only stockholders who ownowned Ingredion common stock as of the close of business on March 21, 2017 26, 2020, which is the record date for the annual meeting, will be entitled to attend the meeting. An admission ticketmeeting via the Internet. You will serve as verification of your ownership.be able to access the meeting atwww.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/INGR2020 using a16-digit control number.

 

If you received in the mail a notice of availability of the proxy materials electronically on the Internet, the notice constitutesyour16-digit control number will be contained on your admission ticket.notice.

 

If your Ingredion shares are registered in your name and you received ane-mail with instructions containing a link to the website where those materials are available and a link to the proxy voting website, you may print a copy of theyour16-digit control number will be included contained on youre-mail which will serve as your admission ticket.notification.

 

If your Ingredion shares are held in a bank or brokerage account, vote your shares in accordance with your16-digit control number will be contained on the voting instruction form if one is provided by your bank or broker, orbroker. If you do not receive a voting instruction form with this control number, please contact your bank or broker to obtain a written legal proxy in order to vote your shares at the meeting. If you do not obtain a legal proxy from your bank or broker, you will not be entitled to vote your shares at the meeting, but you can still attend the annual meeting if you bring a recent bank or brokerage statement showing that you owned shares of Ingredion common stock on March 21, 2017.broker.

 

If your Ingredion shares are registered in your name and you received proxy materials by mail, an admission ticket is attached toyour16-digit control number will be contained on your proxy card.

You must present your admission ticketWe encourage you to access the virtual annual meeting before the start time of 9:00 a.m., local time, on May 20, 2020. Please allow ample time for onlinecheck-in, which will begin at the door for admission for yourself and one guest. Seating will be8:45 a.m., local time, on a first-come, first-served basis, and you may be asked to present valid picture identification before being admitted.May 20, 2020.

The use of cameras at thedecision to have a virtual annual meeting is prohibited,this year due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak does not represent a change in our stockholder engagement philosophy, and they will not be allowed in thewe currently expect to return to an in-person meeting room, except by credentialed media. We realize that most cellular phones havebuilt-in digital cameras. While these phones may be brought into the room, the camera function may not be used at any time. No recording devices, large packages, luggage or bags will be permitted in the meeting room.next year.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

General Information

   1 

Proposal 1. Election of Directors

   89 

The Board and Committees

   1420 

Director Ownership Guidelines

   2227 

Director Compensation

   2327 

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

   2430 

Executive Compensation

   2632 

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

   2632 

Executive Summary

26

2016 Business Performance and Executive Pay Highlights

26

2016 Executive Pay Highlights

26

Overview of Compensation Philosophy and Programs

27

Philosophy and Process

29

Elements of Compensation

31

Leadership Transition

39

Executive Stock Ownership Requirements

40

Other Items

40

Fiscal 2019 Summary Compensation Table

   4146 

Grants of Plan-Based Awards in Fiscal 20162019

   4549 

Outstanding Equity Awards at 20162019 FiscalYear-End

   4650 

Option Exercises and Stock Vested in Fiscal 20162019

   4751 

Pension Benefits in Fiscal 20162019

   4752 

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation in Fiscal 20162019

   4953 

Potential Payments upon Termination

   5054 

Risk Arising from Compensation Policies and Practices

   5458

Hedging Related Policies for Employees, Officers and Directors

58

Pay Ratio Disclosure

58 

Compensation Committee Report

   5459 

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

   5559 

Proposal 2. Advisory Vote on Compensation of Our Named Executive Officers

   55

Proposal  3. Advisory Vote on the Frequency of the Advisory Vote on Compensation of Our Named Executive Officers

5659 

Equity Compensation Plan Information as of December 31, 20162019

   57

Independence of Board Members

5761 

Review and Approval of Transactions with Related Persons

   5861 

Certain Relationships2019 and Related Transactions

59

2016 and 20152018 Audit Firm Fee Summary

   5963 

Audit Committee Report

   6063 

Proposal 4.3. Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   6064 

Other Matters

   6164 

Other Information

   61

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

6164 

Appendix A—A���Reconciliation of Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share to Diluted Earnings Per Share Determined in Accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles

   A-1 


Ingredion Incorporated

5 Westbrook Corporate Center

Westchester, Illinois 60154

PROXY STATEMENT

General Information

In this proxy statement we refer to Ingredion Incorporated as “Ingredion,” the “company,” the “Company,” “we,” or “us.”

Why am I receiving these materials?

The Board of Directors of Ingredion Incorporated (the “Board of Directors” or the “board”) is soliciting proxies to be voted at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “annual meeting”) to be held on Wednesday, May 17, 2017,20, 2020, and at any adjournment or adjournmentspostponement of the annual meeting. When we ask you for your proxy, we must provide you with a proxy statement and an annual report to stockholders that contain certain information specified by law. Our Board of Directors has made these materials available to most of our stockholders on the Internet or, if you have previously requested to receive paper copies or you are a participant in one of the Ingredion Incorporated Retirement Savings Plans, has delivered paper copies of these materials to you by mail, in connection with the board’s solicitation of proxies for use at our 20172020 annual meeting. Our stockholders are invited to attend the annual meeting via the Internet, and are requested to vote on the proposals described in this proxy statement. In this proxy statement we refer to Ingredion Incorporated as “Ingredion,” the “company,” the “Company,” the “corporation,” the “Corporation,” “we” or “us.”

What is included in these materials?

These materials include:

 

this proxy statement for the annual meeting, and

 

our 20162019 Annual Report to Stockholders, which includes our audited consolidated financial statements.

If you received paper copies of these materials by mail, these materials also include the proxy card for the annual meeting.

Why did I receive a notice in the mail regarding the Internet availability of the proxy materials instead of a paper copy of the proxy materials?

As in previous years, we are furnishing proxy materials to our stockholders primarily through the Internet. We are mailing to most of our stockholders a notice about the Internet availability of the proxy materials (“notice of availability”) instead of a paper copy of the proxy materials. All stockholders receiving the notice of availability will have the ability to access the proxy materials over the Internet and request to receive a paper copy of the proxy materials by mail. Instructions on how to access the proxy materials over the Internet or to request a paper copy may be found in the notice of availability. In addition, this proxy statement contains instructions on how stockholders may request to receive proxy materials in paper form by mail or electronically bye-mail on an ongoing basis.

Why didn’t I receive a notice about the Internet availability of the proxy materials?

We are providing some of our stockholders, including stockholders who have previously requested to receive paper copies of the proxy materials and our stockholders who are participants in the Ingredion Incorporated Retirement Savings Plans, with paper copies of the proxy materials instead of a notice of availability of the proxy materials.

How can I access the proxy materials over the Internet?

Your notice of availability of the proxy materials, proxy card or voting instruction form contains instructions on how to view our proxy materials for the annual meeting on the Internet.

Our proxy materials are also available on our investor relations website at http:https://www.ingredion.com.ir.ingredionincorporated.com/financial-information/sec-filings. If you received your proxy materials in the mail, you can instruct us on the website to send our future proxy materials to you electronically bye-maile-mail. on the website where you can vote and on our website. Choosing to receive your future proxy materials bye-mail will help us conserve natural resources and reduce the costs of printing and distributing our proxy materials. If you choose to receive future proxy materials bye-mail, you will receive ane-mail with instructions containing a link to the website where those materials are available and a link to the proxy voting website. Your election to receive proxy materials bye-mail will remain in effect until you terminate it.

How may I obtain a paper copy of the proxy materials?

Stockholders receiving a notice about the Internet availability of the proxy materials will find instructions about how to obtain a paper copy of the proxy materials in their notices. All stockholders who do not receive the notice of availability and have not elected to receive proxy materials bye-mail will receive a paper copy of the proxy materials by mail.

What will the stockholders vote on at the annual meeting?

FourThe stockholders will vote on three proposals:

 

in accordance with Proposal 1, election to the board of the ten11 director nominees who are named in this proxy statement, all of whom are directors whose terms as directors are expiring at the annual meeting, to serve as directors for a term of one year,

 

in accordance with Proposal 2, approval, by advisory vote, of the compensation of the company’s “named executive officers,”

to recommend, by advisory vote, whether to have stockholders vote to approve the compensation of the company’sCompany’s “named executive officers” every year, every two years or every three yearsas disclosed in this proxy statement, and

 

in accordance with Proposal 3, ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP (“KPMG”) as our independent registered public accounting firm.firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020.

Will there be any other items of business on the agenda?

We do not expect any other items on the agenda because the deadlines for stockholder proposals and notices to present business at the annual meeting, including, without limitation, director nominations, have already passed. Nonetheless, in case there is anyan unforeseen need,matter or item of business to be presented or acted upon at the annual meeting, the accompanying proxy gives discretionary authority to the persons named in the proxy with respect to other matters that might be brought before the meeting. Those persons intend to vote the proxy as to such matters or items of business in accordance with their best judgment.

Who is entitled to vote?

StockholdersOnly stockholders as of the close of business on March 21, 201726, 2020, which is the record date for the annual meeting fixed by the Board of Directors (the “record date”), may vote at the annual meeting. You have one vote for each share of common stock you held on the record date, including shares:

 

held directly in your name as a stockholder of record,

 

held in your account with a bank, broker or other holder of record, or

 

attributed to your account(s) in the Ingredion Incorporated Stock Fund of the company’sCompany’s Retirement Savings Plans or the company’sCompany’s automatic dividend reinvestment plan.

What constitutes a quorum for the annual meeting?

AThe holders of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of our common stock entitled to vote and present or represented by proxy at the annual meeting will constitute a quorum for the annual meeting. As of the record date, 71,680,75867,038,606 shares of our common stock were issued and outstanding.

How many votes are required for the approval of each proposal?

Under ourby-laws, in uncontested elections, directors are elected by a majority of the votes cast. In contested elections where the number of nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected, directors are elected by a plurality vote, with the director nominees who receive the most votes being elected. In an uncontested election, if any nominee for director does not receive a majority of votes cast “for” his or her election, the nominee will be required to promptly tender his or her offer of resignation to the board. Our Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will recommend to the board whether to accept or reject the tendered offer of resignation. Our board will act on the committee’s recommendation and publicly disclose its decision generally within 90 days from the date of the certification of the election results. Any director who tenders his or her offer of resignation will not participate in the committee’s recommendation or the board action regarding whether to accept or reject the tendered offer of resignation. If all of the members of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee have tendered their offers of resignation, then the board shall act on the offers of resignation. Any vacancies on our board may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office. Abstentions are not counted as votes cast and therefore will result in a nominee receiving fewer votes but will not count as votes against a nominee.

The favorable vote of a majority of the shares present at the meeting in person or by proxy and entitled to vote is required to approve the compensation of the company’s “named executive officers.” A vote to “abstain” on this proposal will be counted as present for quorum purposes and will be considered as being present for the vote on this proposal, but it will not be counted as a vote cast “for” this proposal and will, therefore, havewhat is the effect of a vote “against” this proposal. Because your vote is advisory, it will not be binding on the board or the company. However, the boardabstentions and the Compensation Committee will review the voting results and take them into consideration when making future decisions regarding executive compensation.
brokernon-votes?

 

The vote on whether to hold a stockholders’ vote to approve the compensation of the company’s “named executive officers” every year, every two years or every three years does not involve approval of a proposal. The alternative receiving the most votes cast at the meeting in person or by proxy will constitute the stockholder recommendation with respect to the frequency of such votes. Abstentions with respect to this matter will result in fewer votes with respect to the other alternatives but will not affect which of the proposed alternatives receives the most votes. Because your vote is advisory, it will not be binding on the board or the company. However, the board and the Compensation Committee will review the voting results and take them into consideration when making future decisions regarding the frequency of advisory votes on executive compensation.

Proposal 1 — Election of Directors. Under our bylaws, in uncontested elections, directors are elected by the holders of a majority of the votes cast. In contested elections where the number of nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected, directors are elected by a plurality vote, with the director nominees who receive the most votes being elected. In an uncontested election, if any nominee for director does not receive a majority of votes cast “for” his or her election, the nominee will be required to promptly tender his or her offer of resignation to the board. Our Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will recommend to the board whether to accept or reject the tendered offer of resignation. Our board will act on the committee’s recommendation and publicly disclose its decision generally within 90 days from the date of the certification of the election results. Any director who tenders his or her offer of resignation will not participate in the committee’s recommendation or the board action regarding whether to accept or reject the tendered offer of resignation. If all of the members of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee have tendered their offers of resignation, then the board shall act on the offers of resignation. Any vacancies on our board may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office. A vote to “abstain” on the approval of any nominee will not count as a vote cast and therefore will result in a nominee receiving fewer votes, but will not count as votes against a nominee.

 

The favorable vote of a majority of the shares present at the meeting in person or by proxy and entitled to vote is required to approve the ratification of the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm. A vote to “abstain” on this proposal will be counted as present for quorum purposes and will be considered as being present for the vote on this proposal, but it will not be counted as a vote cast “for” this proposal and will, therefore, have the effect of a vote “against” this proposal. Because your vote is advisory, it will not be binding on the board or the company. If the appointment is not ratified, the Audit Committee will explore the reasons for stockholder rejection and will reconsider the appointment. Even if the appointment is ratified, the Audit Committee, in its discretion, may appoint a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if the Audit Committee determines that it would be in the company’s and our stockholders’ best interests.

Proposal 2 — Approval of Named Executive Officer Compensation. The favorable vote of the holders of a majority of the shares present or represented at the meeting and entitled to vote is required to approve the compensation of the Company’s “named executive officers” as disclosed in this proxy statement. A vote to “abstain” on this proposal will be counted as present for quorum purposes and will be considered as being present for the vote on this proposal, but will not be counted as a vote cast “for” this proposal and will, therefore, have the effect of a vote “against” this proposal. Because your vote is advisory, it will not be binding on the board or the Company. The board and the Compensation Committee, however, will review the voting results and take them into consideration when making future decisions regarding executive compensation.

Proposal 3 — Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. The favorable vote of the holders of a majority of the shares present or represented at the meeting and entitled to vote is required to approve the ratification of the appointment of KPMG as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020. A vote to “abstain” on this proposal will be counted as present for quorum purposes and will be considered as being present for the vote on this proposal, but it will not be counted as a vote cast “for” this proposal and will, therefore, have the effect of a vote “against” this proposal. If the appointment is not ratified, the Audit Committee will explore the reasons for stockholder rejection and will reconsider the appointment. Even if the appointment is ratified, the Audit Committee, in its discretion, may appoint a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if the Audit Committee determines that it would be in the Company’s and our stockholders’ best interests.

Broker nonvotes.non-votes. If your shares are held by a broker, the broker will ask you how you want your shares to be voted. If you give the broker instructions, your shares will be voted as you direct. If you do not give instructions, one of two things can happen, depending on the type of proposal. For the election of directors and the advisory vote on the compensation of the company’sCompany’s “named executive officers” and the advisory vote on whether to have stockholders vote to approve, by advisory vote, the compensation of the company’s “named executive officers” every year, every two years or every three years,officers,” the broker may not vote your shares unless it has received your

specific instructions. For the vote to ratify the appointment of our

independent registered public accounting firm, the broker may vote your shares in its discretion even though you have not provided specific instructions. Accordingly, there are not expected to be any brokernon-votes with respect to Proposal 3. For other proposals, none of which are anticipated, the broker may not vote your shares. When the broker may not vote your shares, it is called a “broker nonvote.non-vote.

Broker nonvotesnon-votes will be counted for purposes of establishing a quorum but will not be counted as entitled tohave no effect on the outcome of the vote on any matter for which instructions are required.the election of directors or the advisory vote on the compensation of the Company’s “named executive officers” as disclosed in this proxy statement.

How does the Board of Directors recommend that I vote on the proposals?

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote your shares:

“FOR” the election of each of the board’s director nominees, as described in Proposal 1,

“FOR” approval of the compensation of the Company’s “named executive officers” as disclosed in this proxy statement, as described in Proposal 2, and

“FOR” ratification of the appointment of KPMG as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020, as described in Proposal 3.

How do I vote?submit proxy or voting instructions if I will not vote at the annual meeting?

If you are a stockholder of record or are holding a proxy for a stockholder of record, you may vote in personvia the Internet at the annual meeting. We will give you a ballot during the meeting. If you do not wish to vote in person or if you will not be attendingvia the Internet at the annual meeting, you may vote by proxy. You can voteBefore the annual meeting, you may submit your proxy or voting instructions by proxy on the Internet by following the instructions provided in the notice of availability of the proxy materials, or, if you received these materials electronically, by following the instructions in thee-mail message that notified you of their availability.

If you received paper copies of the proxy materials by mail, you can votemay submit your proxy or voting instructions on the Internet, by telephone or by mail by following the instructions on the enclosed proxy card.

You can utilize these methods to vote:submit your proxy or voting instructions before the annual meeting:

By the Internet.Internet.You may votesubmit your proxy or voting instructions online atwww.proxyvote.com by following the instructions provided in the notice of availability of the proxy materials or, if you received these materials electronically, by following the instructions in thee-mail message that notified you of their availability, or, if you received these materials by mail, by following the instructions in the enclosed proxy card. You will need your16-digit control number contained on your notice of availability,e-mail notification or proxy card in order to vote online. Votingsubmit your instructions. Submitting proxy or voting instructions on the Internet has the same effect as votingsubmitting such instructions by mail or telephone. InternetYou may submit your proxy or voting will be availableinstructions on the Internet until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 16, 2017.19, 2020.

By telephone.telephone.You may votesubmit your proxy or voting instructions by telephone at1-800-690-6903. You will need the16-digit control number contained on your notice of availability,e-mail notification or proxy card in order to vote by telephone. VotingSubmitting proxy or voting instructions by telephone has the same effect as votingsubmitting such instructions by mail or the Internet. TelephoneYou may submit your proxy or voting will be availableinstructions by telephone until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 16, 2017.19, 2020.

By mail.mail.If you received a paper copy of the proxy materials, you may votesubmit your proxy or voting instructions by signing and dating each proxy card you received and returning each of them to us in the prepaid envelope provided. Sign your name exactly as it appears on the proxy. If you are signing in a representative

capacity (for example, as anattorney-in-fact, executor, administrator, guardian, trustee or the officer, agent or partner of a corporation or partnership), please indicate your name and your title or capacity. If the stock is held in custody for a minor (for example, under the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act), the custodian should sign, not the minor.

CanMay I changerevoke my vote after I have voted?proxy or voting instructions before my shares are voted at the annual meeting?

YouYes, you may revoke your proxy and changeor voting instructions before your voteshares are voted at any time before the final vote at theannual meeting. You may votesubmit your proxy or voting instructions again at a later date on the Internet or by telephone or by signing and returning a new proxy card with a later date, or by attendingyou may attend the meeting via the Internet and voting in person.vote during the meeting. Only your latest Internet, telephone or written proxy submitted prior to the meeting will be counted. You may revoke your proxy at any time before the meeting by (1) notifying the company’sCompany’s Corporate Secretary in writing or (2) delivering a later-dated proxy on the Internet or by telephone or in writing. However, your attendance at the annual meeting via the Internet will not automatically revoke your proxy unless you vote again at the meeting or specifically request in writing that your prior proxy be revoked. Any written notice revoking a proxy should be sent to Christine M. Castellano, Corporate Secretary, Ingredion Incorporated, 5 Westbrook Corporate Center, Westchester, Illinois 60154.

How do I votesubmit voting instructions for shares that are held by my bank, broker or other holder of record?

If you have shares held of record by a bank, broker or other holder of record, you may instruct your bank, broker or other holder of record to vote your shares by following instructions that the bank, broker or other holder of record provides for you. Most banks and brokers offerpermit beneficial owners of shares to submit voting instructions on the Internet, by telephone and by mail.

How do I vote at the annual meeting via the Internet?

The annual meeting will be conducted solely via the Internet. Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, you will not be able to attend this year’s annual meeting in person?

person. If you are a stockholder of record, you may vote your shares in personthrough the online voting platform at the meeting. However,If you are the beneficial owner of shares, and hold the shares in street name, you also may vote the shares you beneficially own through the online voting platform under a legal proxy from your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee and are not required to take any additional action to obtain a legal proxy. Whether you hold your shares of record or in street name, please follow the instructions atwww.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/INGR2020 in order to vote your shares via the Internet during the meeting. You will need the16-digit control number contained on your notice of availability,e-mail notification, voting instruction form or proxy card.

Whether you hold your shares of record or in street name, and even if you plan to attend the meeting virtually via the Internet, we encourage you to votesubmit proxy or voting instructions before the meeting on the Internet, by telephone or by mail even if you plan to attend the meeting.mail.

How will the proxies be voted?

The shares represented by all valid proxies received by Internet, by telephone or by mail will be voted in the manner specified.specified in such proxies. If you fail to indicate your voting preferences, the persons named in the proxy will vote on your behalf for election of the nominees for director listed below, for approval of the compensation of the company’s “named executive officers,” for holding a stockholders’ advisory vote to approve, by advisory vote, the compensation of the company’sCompany’s “named executive officers” every yearas disclosed in this proxy statement and for ratification of the appointment of KPMG as our independent registered public accounting firm.firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020.

Should any matter not described above be properly presented at the meeting, each of the persons named in the proxy will vote on such matter in accordance with herhis best judgment.

How do I vote my shares in the Ingredion Incorporated Stock Fund of the company’sCompany’s Retirement Savings Plans?

You may instruct the plan trustee on how to vote your shares in the Ingredion Incorporated Stock Fund on the Internet, by telephone or by mail as described above. You must provide your instruction on the Internet or by telephone no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 12, 201715, 2020, or by mail received no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 12, 201715, 2020, in order to have your shares in the Ingredion Incorporated Stock Fund voted at the annual meeting.

How many shares in the Ingredion Incorporated Stock Fund of the company’sCompany’s Retirement Savings Plans canmay I vote?

You may vote all the shares allocated to your account on the record date.

What happens if I do not instruct the plan trustee to vote my Retirement Savings PlanPlans shares?

Your shares will not be voted. The plan trustee will not vote shares held in the Retirement Savings Plans as to which it does not receive timely directions.

What does it mean if I receive more than one notice of availability or proxy card?

It means that you hold shares in more than one account. To ensure that all your shares are voted, if you votesubmit proxy or voting instructions on the Internet or by telephone, you will need to votesubmit such instructions once for each notice of availability, proxy card and voting instruction form you receive. To ensure that all your shares are voted if you received more than one proxy card, sign, date and return each card or votesubmit voting instructions once for each card on the Internet or by telephone.

Who tabulates the votes?

The votes are tabulated by an independent inspector of election.

Is my vote confidential?

As a matter of policy, proxies, ballots and voting tabulations that identify individual stockholders are held confidential by the company.Company. Such documents are available for examination only by any independent tabulation agents, the independent inspector of election and certain employees associated with tabulation of the vote. The identity of the vote of any stockholder is not disclosed except as may be necessary to meet legal requirements.

What should I do if I want to attend the annual meeting in person?meeting?

An admission ticket (or other proof of stock ownership)The annual meeting will be required for admissionconducted solely via the Internet. Due to the annual meeting.Only stockholders who own Ingredion common stock as of the close of business on March 21, 2017 will be entitled to attend the meeting. An admission ticket will serve as verification of your ownership.

If you received a notice of availability of the proxy materials in the mail, the notice constitutes your admission ticket.

If your Ingredion shares are registered in your name and you received ancoronaviruse-mail(COVID-19) with instructions containing a link to the website where those materials are available and a link to the proxy voting website, you may print a copy of thee-mail which will serve as your admission ticket.

If your Ingredion shares are held in a bank or brokerage account, vote your shares in accordance with your voting instruction form, if one is provided by your bank or broker, or contact your bank or broker to obtain a written legal proxy in order to vote your shares at the meeting. If you do not obtain a legal proxy from your bank or broker,outbreak, you will not be entitledable to voteattend this year’s annual meeting in person. Whether you hold your shares atof record or you hold your shares in street name as a beneficial owner, you may attend and participate in the meeting but you can still attendby visitingwww.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/INGR2020. To access the annual meeting ifvia the Internet, you bring a recent bankwill need the16-digit control number contained on your notice of availability,e-mail notification, voting instruction form or brokerage statement showing thatproxy card. We encourage you owned sharesto access the annual meeting before the start time of Ingredion common stock9:00 a.m., local time, on March 21, 2017.
May 20, 2020. Please allow ample time for onlinecheck-in, which will begin at 8:45 a.m., local time, on May 20, 2020.

If your Ingredion shares are registered in your name and you received proxy materials by mail,We currently expect to return to an admission ticket is attached to your proxy card.in-person meeting next year.

How do I contact the Board of Directors?

Interested parties may communicate directly with any member of the Board of Directors, including the lead director,Chairman of the Board, or thenon-management directors or the independent directors, as a group, or any individual director, by writing in care of:

Corporate Secretary

Ingredion Incorporated

5 Westbrook Corporate Center

Westchester, Illinois 60154

The Corporate Secretary will collect all such communications and organize them by subject matter. All such communications will be promptly forwarded to the appropriate board committee chairman according to the subject matter of the communication, except for solicitations or other matters inappropriate for the recipient or otherwise unrelated to the company.Company. Communications addressed directly to the lead director,Chairman of the Board, thenon-management directors or the independent directors, as a group, or any individual director will be forwarded in the same manner to the lead director,Chairman of the Board, eachnon-management member of the board, each independent member of the board or the individual director, as the case may be.

Who is paying the costs of this proxy solicitation?

Ingredion is paying the costs of the solicitation of proxies. We have retained Morrow Sodali LLC, 470 West Ave., Stamford, CT 06902, a proxy soliciting firm, to assist in the solicitation of proxies, for an estimated fee of $8,000 plus reimbursement of certainout-of-pocket expenses. We mustwill pay brokerage firms and other persons representing beneficial owners of shares held in street name certain fees associated with:

 

forwarding the notice of availability to beneficial owners,

 

forwarding paper proxy materials by mail to beneficial owners, and

 

obtaining beneficial owners’ voting instructions.

In addition to soliciting proxies by the Internet and mail, our board members, officers and employees may solicit proxies on our behalf, without additional compensation, personally, bye-mail or by telephone.

How do I submit a stockholder proposal for the 20182021 annual meeting?

Proposals for Inclusion in Next Year’s Proxy Statement.Our 20182021 annual meeting is scheduled forto be held on Wednesday, May 16, 2018.19, 2021. If a stockholder intends to present a proposal pursuant to Rule14a-8 ofunder the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), at the 20182021 annual meeting and wishes to have the proposal included in the company’sCompany’s proxy statement for the 20182021 annual meeting, he or she must submit the proposal in writing so that we receive it by December 5, 2017,7, 2020, unless the date of our 20182021 annual meeting is more than thirty days before or after May 16, 2018,19, 2021, in which case the proposal must be received a reasonable time before we begin to print and mail our proxy materials for our 20182021 annual meeting. Proposals should be addressed to our Corporate Secretary, Ingredion Incorporated, 5 Westbrook Corporate Center, Westchester, Illinois 60154. Any stockholder proposal submitted for inclusion must be eligible for inclusion in our proxy statement in accordance with the rules and regulations promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

Pursuant to our bylaws, stockholders may submit director nominees to be included in our annual proxy statement, known as “proxy access.” Stockholders who intend to submit director nominees for inclusion in our proxy materials for the 2021 annual meeting must comply with the requirements of proxy access as set forth in our bylaws. The stockholder or group of stockholders who wish to submit director nominees pursuant to proxy access must deliver the required materials to the Company not less than one hundred twenty nor more than one

hundred fifty days prior to the anniversary of the date that the proxy statement was released for the prior year’s annual meeting, or if the date of the annual meeting has been changed by more than thirty days from the date contemplated at the time of the previous year’s proxy statement, not less than ninety days before the date of the applicable annual meeting, or, if later, the tenth day following the day on which notice of the date of the annual meeting was mailed or public disclosure of the date of the annual meeting, whichever occurs first.

Other Proposals for Consideration at the 2021 Annual Meeting.In addition, ourby-laws bylaws provide that any stockholder wishing to present any other business or nominate directors for election at the annual meeting without including such matters in the company’sCompany’s proxy materials must give the companyCompany written notice not less than ninety nor more than one hundred twenty days in advance of the date which is the anniversary of the date of the previous year’s annual meeting, or, if the date of the annual meeting has been changed by more than thirty days from the date contemplated at the time of the previous year’s proxy statement, not less than ninety days before the date of the applicable annual meeting, or, if later, the tenth day following the day on which notice of the date of the annual meeting was mailed or public disclosure of the date of the annual meeting, whichever occurs first. That notice must provide certain other information as described in ourby-laws.

Pursuant to a recent amendment to our by-laws, stockholders may also submit director nominees to be included in our annual proxy statement, known as “proxy access.” Stockholders who intend to submit director nominees for inclusion in our proxy materials for the 2018 annual meeting must comply with the requirements of proxy access as set forth in our by-laws. The stockholder or group of stockholders who wish to submit director nominees pursuant to proxy access must deliver the required materials to the company not less than one hundred twenty nor more than one hundred fifty days prior to the anniversary of the date that the proxy statement was released for the prior year’s annual meeting, or if the date of the annual meeting has been changed by more than thirty days from the date contemplated at the time of the previous year’s proxy statement, not less than ninety days before the date of the applicable annual meeting, or, if later, the tenth day following the day on which notice of the date of the annual meeting was mailed or public disclosure of the date of the annual meeting, whichever occurs first. bylaws.

There are other procedural requirements in ourby-laws bylaws pertaining to stockholder nominations and proposals. A copy of theby-laws bylaws is available online in the “Governance”“Corporate Governance” section of our investor relations website at http:https://www.ingredion.com.ir.ingredionincorporated.com/corporate-governance/highlights. Any stockholder may also receive a current copy of ourby-laws, bylaws, without charge, by writing to our Corporate Secretary.

I share an address with another stockholder and received one paper copy of the proxy materials. How may I obtain an additional copy of the proxy materials?

The SEC’s rules permit us to deliver a single set of annual meeting materials to one address shared by two or more of our stockholders. This delivery method is referred to as “householding” and can result in significant cost savings with respect to holders who want to receive paper materials. To take advantage of this opportunity, we have delivered only one proxy statement and annual report to multiple stockholders who share an address, unless we received contrary instructions from the affected stockholders prior to the mailing date. This procedure saves printing and postage costs by reducing duplicative mailings. We agree to deliver promptly, upon written or oral request, a separate copy of the annual meeting materials, as requested, to any stockholder at the shared address to which a single copy of these documents was delivered. If you prefer to receive separate copies of the proxy statement or annual report, contact Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. at800-542-1061866-540-7095 or in writing at Broadridge Householding Department, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, New York 11717. Please also keep in

mind that this proxy statement and the accompanying 20162019 Annual Report to Stockholders will be published and available for viewing and copying in the “Investors”“SEC Filings” section of our investor relations website at http:https://www.ingredion.com,ir.ingredionincorporated.com/financial-information/sec-filings, in addition to being available at the site stated in the notice of availability.

If you are currently a stockholder sharing an address with another stockholder and wish to receive only one copy of future proxy statements and annual reports for your household, please contact Broadridge Financial Solutions at the above telephone number or address.

Stockholders who participate in householding and request to receive paper copies of the proxy materials will continue to receive separate proxy cards. Householding will not affect dividend check mailings.

Beneficial stockholders can request information about householding from their banks, brokers or other holders of record.

Proposal 1. Election of Directors

In this Proposal 1, the Board of Directors is asking stockholders to elect to the Board of Directors the 11 director nominees who are named in this proxy statement.

The terms of all ten11 of our incumbent directors are expiring at the 2020 annual meeting. All ten of these ten directors arehave been nominated for electionre-election as directors, with each nominee to hold office for aone-year term expiring at our 20182021 annual meeting. Each director who is elected by our stockholders will hold office until his or her successor has been elected and qualified or until the director’s earlier death, resignation or removal. All of the nominees standing for election are listed on pages 89 to 13,19, with brief biographies.

All of the nominees for election have consented to being named in this proxy statement and to serve if elected. If, for any reason, any of the nominees cannot be a candidate for election at the annual meeting, the proxies will be voted for substitute nominees designated by the board unless it has reduced its membership priorthe board chooses to reduce the annual meeting. The board does not anticipate that anynumber of the nominees will be unavailable to serve if elected. If elected, the nominees will hold office until the 2018 annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors have been elected and have qualified.authorized directors.

LUIS ARANGUREN-TRELLEZ

Age — 5558

Director since May 2003

Member of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee

Executive President of Arancia, S.A. de C.V.

Mr. Aranguren-Trellez has been since September 5, 2011, the Executive President and a director of Arancia, S.A. de C.V., since September 5, 2011, and he has served as the Executive President and a director of Arancia Industrial, S.A. de C.V. since June 1, 2000. These are holding companies with interests in the food and enzyme industries, the rental of special textile rent to the hospital sector and food service and logistics, as well as energy efficiency and smart meters businesses. Arancia and Arancia Industrial are Mexican companies that are owned by Mr. Aranguren-Trellez and his brothers. Arancia Industrial was the former joint venture partner with the companyCompany in corn wet milling and refining operations in Mexico. Previously, Mr. Aranguren-Trellez served as Operations Director of CPIngredientes, S.A. de C.V., Ingredion’s Mexican subsidiary, from 1996 until 2000, and had served in various other management positions with that company and its predecessors since 1989. Mr. Aranguren-Trellez is Chairmana director of PFS de Mexico, S.A. de C.V., a privateprivately held Mexican company in the food service and logistics area previously controlled by Arancia and now a joint venture with Sysco Corporation. Mr. Aranguren-Trellez is also a member of the Regional Consulting Board of Telefonos de Mexico, S.A. de C.V., as well as of Banco Nacional de Mexico, S.A., the Citicorp Mexican bank subsidiary. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Notre Dame and a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School.

Qualifications

The specific qualifications and experiences the board considered in determining that Mr. Aranguren-Trellez should serve as a director of the Company include currently serving as Chief Executive Officer of significant privately held companies, operating and manufacturing experience and general management experience, including living and working outside the U.S., and service as a director on several privately held company boards and on severalnot-for-profit boards.

DAVID B. FISCHER

Age — 5457

Director since May 2013

Member of the CompensationAudit Committee

Former President and Chief Executive Officer of Greif, Inc.

Mr. Fischer served as Chief Executive Officer and a director of Greif, Inc. from November 1, 2011, to October 31, 2015, and as President of Greif, Inc. from October 2007 to October 31, 2015. Greif, Inc. is a manufacturer and provider of industrial packaging and services including steel, fiber, flexible, corrugated, intermediate bulk, reconditioned and multiwall containers and containerboard, and filling, packaging, industrial packaging reconditioning and land management consulting services for a wide range of industries. From 2007 to October 2011, Mr. Fischer also served as Chief Operating Officer of Greif, Inc. From 2004 to 2007, Mr. Fischer served as Senior Vice President and Divisional President, Industrial Packaging & Services-Americas, which also included responsibility for Africa. He assumed additional responsibility for Australia and Asia in 2005 and 2006, respectively. Mr. Fischer serves as a director of Balchem Corporation, a manufacturer of performance ingredients and products for the food, nutritional, feed, pharmaceutical and medical sterilization industries.industries, and DoMedia Inc., a privately held technology company that operates a market forout-of-home advertising sales. Mr. Fischer is also chairman of the board andco-founder of 10x Engineered Materials LLC, a privately held materials science based company which manufactures high tech industrial abrasives. He is also serves as a past director of the followingtwonot-for-profit entities: Habitat for Humanity International and The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and the Zanmi Beni Foundation.Center. Mr. Fischer holds a Bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Purdue University.

Qualifications

ILENE S. GORDON

Age — 63

Director since May 2009

Chairman, PresidentThe specific qualifications and experiences the board considered in determining that Mr. Fischer should serve as a director of the Company include serving as the Chief Executive Officer of a public company, operating and manufacturing, sales and marketing and general management experience, including responsibility for international operations while based in the Company

Ms. Gordon has been Chairman of the Board, PresidentU.S. and Chief Executive Officer of the company since May 4, 2009. She was Presidentwhile based in Switzerland, and Chief Executive Officer of Rio Tinto’s Alcan Packaging, a multinational business unit engaged in flexible and specialty packaging, from October 2007 until she joined the company on May 4, 2009. From December 2006 to October 2007, Ms. Gordon was a Senior Vice President of Alcan Inc. and President and Chief Executive Officer of Alcan Packaging. Alcan Packaging was acquired by Rio Tinto in October 2007. From 2004 until December 2006, Ms. Gordon served as President of Alcan Food Packaging Americas, a division of Alcan Inc. From 1999 until Alcan’s December 2003 acquisition of Pechiney Group, Ms. Gordon was a Senior Vice President of Pechiney Group and President of Pechiney Plastic Packaging, Inc., a global flexible packaging business. Prior to joining Pechiney in June 1999, Ms. Gordon spent 17 years with Tenneco Inc., where she most recently served as Vice President and General Manager, heading up Tenneco’s folding carton business. Ms. Gordon also servesservice as a director on the boards of International Paper Company,two public companies in addition to Ingredion, the board of a global paper and packagingprivately held company and Lockheed Martin Corporation, a global security and aerospace company. She served as a director of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., an international insurance brokerage and risk management business, from 1999 to May 2013 and as a director of Essendant Inc., formerly United Stationers Inc., a wholesale distributor of business products and a provider of marketing and logistics services to resellers, from January 2000 to May 2009. Ms. Gordon also serves as Chairman of The Economic Club of Chicago and as a director of Northwestern Memorial Hospital, The Executives’ Club of Chicago and World Business Chicago. She is also a trustee of The MIT Corporation and a Vice Chair of The Conference Board. Ms. Gordon holds a Bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a Master’s degree in management from MIT’s Sloan School of Management.on twonot-for-profit boards.

PAUL HANRAHAN

Age — 5962

Director since March 2006

Lead Director and Member of the Corporate Governance and NominatingAudit Committee

Former Chief Executive Officer of American Capital Energy & Infrastructure Management, LLCGlobeleq Advisors Limited

Mr. Hanrahan served as the Chief Executive Officer of Globeleq Advisors Limited, a leading independent power producer operating and developing power projects in Africa, from September 18, 2017, to December 31, 2019, when he assumed a board position as a nonexecutive director. Prior thereto, Mr. Hanrahan served as the Chief Executive Officer of American Capital Energy & Infrastructure Management, LLC, an investment company formed to raise, invest and manage funds in the energy and infrastructure industries, from September 2012 to December 16, 2016. He left American Capital Energy & Infrastructure Management, LLC after all its assets were sold as part of its acquisition by Ares Capital Corporation of American Capital, Ltd., a sponsor investor in American Capital Energy & Infrastructure Management, LLC. Mr. Hanrahan served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of The AES Corporation, one of the world’s leading independent power producers, from June 2002 to September 2011. He was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of The AES Corporation and President and Chief Executive Officer of AES China Generating Co., Ltd., a public company formerly listed on NASDAQ, from 1993 to June 2002. Mr. Hanrahan served as a director of The AES Corporation from June 2002 to September 2011. He also previously served on the boards of other major publicly listed utilities in Brazil, Chile and Venezuela. In 2009 Mr. Hanrahan was appointed by the White House to serve on the U.S.-India CEO forum. Mr. Hanrahan is a director of AquaVenture Holdings Limited, a global provider of water services. He is also a director of BMR Energy, a renewable energy company. He served as a director of Arch Coal, Inc., a global coal producer and marketer, from June 2012 to October 2016. He previously served as a director of Azura Power Holdings, Ltd, an electric power generation company in Nigeria;Nigeria, and GreatPoint Energy, Inc., a producer of clean,low-cost natural gas from coal, petroleum coke and biomass. Mr. Hanrahan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy and a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School.

Qualifications

RHONDA L. JORDAN

Age — 59

Director since November 2013

Member ofThe specific qualifications and experiences the Compensation Committee

Former President, Global Health & Wellness, and Sustainability of Kraft Foods Inc.

Ms. Jordan served as President, Global Health & Wellness, and Sustainability of Kraft Foods Inc., one of the largest consumer packaged food and beverage companiesboard considered in North America and one of the largest worldwide among publicly traded consumer packaged food and beverage companies, from September 2010 to March 2012 and indetermining that role led the development of Kraft’s health & wellness and sustainability strategies and plans for that company, including marketing, product development, technology, alliances and acquisitions. Prior to being named President, Health & Wellness in September 2010, Ms. Jordan was the President of the Cheese and Dairy business unit of Kraft from January 2008 to September 2010. From 2006 to January 2008 she served as the President of the Grocery business unit of Kraft, and from 2004 to 2005 she was the Senior Vice President, Global Marketing of Kraft Cheese and Dairy. Ms. Jordan is a director of Colfax Corporation, a diversified global industrial manufacturing and engineering company that providesgas- and fluid-handling and fabrication technology products and services to commercial and governmental customers around the world under the Howden, ESAB and Colfax Fluid Handling brand names, Bush Brothers & Company, a significant, privately held branded vegetable processor, and I and Love and You, a privately held branded manufacturer of grain-free food and healthy chews and treats for pets. She also serves as a director of IES Abroad, anot-for-profit company providing study abroad programs for a consortium of U.S. colleges and universities, and the Chicago Chapter of the National Association of Corporate Directors. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in arts management from Northwestern University and a Masters of Business Administration degree from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

GREGORY B. KENNY

Age — 64

Director since March 2005

Chairman of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee

Former President and Chief Executive Officer of General Cable Corporation

Mr. Kenny served as President and Chief Executive Officer of General Cable Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, from August 2001 to June 30, 2015 and a director of General Cable Corporation from 1997 to June 30, 2015. General Cable Corporation is a manufacturer of aluminum, copper and fiber-optic wire and cable products. From 1999 to 2001 he served as President and Chief Operating Officer of General Cable Corporation; from 1997 to 1999 he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer; from 1994 to 1997 he served as Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing; and from 1992 to 1994 he served as President, Consumer Products Group. Mr. Kenny is the lead director of Cardinal Health, Inc., a Fortune 21 company that improves the cost-effectiveness of healthcare, and a director of AK Steel Holding Corporation, an integrated producer of flat-rolled carbon, stainless and electrical steels and tubular products through its wholly owned subsidiary, AK Steel Corporation. Previously, Mr. Kenny servedHanrahan should serve as a director of the Cincinnati BranchCompany include formerly serving as the Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, IDEX Corporation and numerous professional andnot-for-profit organizations. Mr. Kenny holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Georgetown University, a Master of Business Administration degree from George Washington Universitypublic company and a Masterprivately held company, accounting and financial experience, operating and manufacturing, sales and marketing and general management experience, including living and working outside the U.S., service as a director on the boards of Public Administration degree from Harvard University. Mr. Kenny is a memberthree public companies in addition to Ingredion and on the boards ofIndustry Week’s manufacturing hall two privately held companies and service as the lead director of fame, class of 2013.Ingredion and one other public company.

BARBARA A. KLEINRHONDA L. JORDAN

Age — 62

Director since March 2004

Chairman of the Audit Committee

Former Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of CDW Corporation

Ms. Klein served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of CDW Corporation, a direct marketer of multi-brand information technology products, from 2002 until she retired in May 2008. CDW was acquired by an entity controlled by investment funds affiliated with Madison Dearborn Partners, LLC and Providence Equity Partners in October 2007. Previously, she served as the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Dean Foods Company, a food and beverage company, from 2000 to 2002 and was the Vice President and Corporate Controller of Ameritech Corporation, a telecommunications company, from 1996 to 2000. Ms. Klein is a director of Cabot Microelectronics Corporation, the leading supplier of sophisticated polishing compounds and a provider of polishing pads used in the manufacture of advanced semiconductors (chips) and rigid disks, and a director of anot-for-profit entity, the National Council on Compensation Insurance, Inc., the most experienced source of workers compensation insurance information, tools and services in the U.S. Ms. Klein is a member of The Chicago Network. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting and finance from Marquette University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Loyola University.

VICTORIA J. REICH

Age — 59

Director since November 2013

Member of the Audit Committee

Former Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Essendant Inc.

Ms. Reich served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Essendant Inc., formerly, United Stationers Inc., a wholesale distributor of business products, from June 2007 to July 2011. Prior to that, Ms. Reich spent ten years with Brunswick Corporation, a manufacturer of recreation products, where she most recently was President of Brunswick European Group from 2003 to 2006. She served as Brunswick’s Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from 2000 to 2003 and as Vice President and Controller from 1996 to 2000. Before joining Brunswick, Ms. Reich spent 17 years at General Electric Company, a diversified technology, media and financial services company, where she held various financial management positions. Ms. Reich is a director of H&R Block, Inc., a provider of tax preparation and related services, and a director of Ecolab Inc., a provider of water and hygiene services and technologies for the food, hospitality, industrial and energy markets. Ms. Reich holds a Bachelor of Science degree in applied mathematics and economics from Brown University.

JORGE A. URIBE

Age — 60

Director since July 2015

Member of the Audit Committee

Former Global Productivity and Organization Transformation Officer of The Procter & Gamble Company

Mr. Uribe served as the Global Productivity and Organization Transformation Officer of The Procter & Gamble Company, the world’s largest maker of consumer packaged goods, from December 2012 to July 1, 2015. Prior to that, Mr. Uribe spent more than 30 years with Procter & Gamble, where he most recently was Group President, Latin America and Global Club, Cash and Carry Channel from August 2011 to November 2012. He served as Procter & Gamble’s Group President, Latin America from August 2010 to July 2011 and as President, Latin America from July 2004 to July 2010. Prior to that Mr. Uribe was the Marketing and Sales Vice President for Latin America for three years and Vice President for Venezuela and the Andean Region for the previous two andone-half years. Before that he held a number of positions of increasing responsibility in Switzerland, Cyprus, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates & Gulf Countries, Saudi Arabia and Colombia. Mr. Uribe is a director of General Mills, Inc., a leading global food company, Grupo Argos, a holding company in Colombia holding interests in concrete, electricity generation and transmission, coal extraction, infrastructure and real estate, and Carvajal S.A., a manufacturer of school text books, office equipment and paper products. Mr. Uribe is a director of United Way Worldwide, anot-for-profit, charitable organization. He holds a Bachelor degree in management engineering from Universidad Nacional de Colombia: Sede Medellin and a Masters of Business Administration degree from Xavier University.

DWAYNE A. WILSON

Age — 58

Director since May 2010

Chairman of the Compensation Committee

Former President, Global Health & Wellness, and Sustainability of Kraft Foods Inc.

Ms. Jordan served as President, Global Health & Wellness, and Sustainability of Kraft Foods Inc., one of the largest consumer packaged food and beverage companies in North America and one of the largest worldwide among publicly traded consumer packaged food and beverage companies, from September 2009 to March 2012, and in that role led the development of Kraft’s health & wellness and sustainability strategies and plans for that company, including marketing, product development, technology, alliances and acquisitions. Prior to being named President, Health & Wellness in September 2009, Ms. Jordan was the President of the Cheese and Dairy business unit of Kraft from January 2008 to September 2009. From 2006 to January 2008 she served as the President of the Grocery business unit of Kraft, and from 2004 to 2005 she was the Senior Vice President, Global Marketing of Kraft Cheese and Dairy. Ms. Jordan is a director of Colfax Corporation, a diversified global manufacturing and engineering company that provides fabrication technology products and services through its ESAB division and orthopedic medical devices that address injury prevention through surgical intervention and rehabilitation through its DJO division; Bush Brothers & Company, a significant, privately held branded vegetable processor; G&L Holdings, a large, privately held food ingredient and branded food product company in the U.S.; and I and Love and You, a privately held branded manufacturer of grain-free food and healthy chews and treats for pets. She also serves as a director of IES Abroad, anot-for-profit company providing study abroad programs for a consortium of U.S. colleges and universities. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in arts management from Northwestern University and a Master of Business Administration degree from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Qualifications

The specific qualifications and experiences the board considered in determining that Ms. Jordan should serve as a director of the Company include her 25 years of operating, general management and marketing experience within a large, publicly held, global corporation where she most recently served as President, Global Health & Wellness, and Sustainability, and her service as a director, chairman of the compensation committee and a member of the nominating and corporate governance committee of a public company, as a director and chairman of the compensation committee of a significant, privately held company and as a director of a small privately held company.

GREGORY B. KENNY

Age — 67

Director since March 2005

Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee

Former President and Chief Executive Officer of General Cable Corporation

Mr. Kenny served as President and Chief Executive Officer of General Cable Corporation from August 2001 to June 30, 2015, and a director of General Cable Corporation from 1997 to June 30, 2015. General Cable Corporation, now part of Prysmian Cables & Systems, is a manufacturer of aluminum, copper and fiber-optic wire and cable products. From 1999 to 2001 he served as President and Chief Operating Officer of General Cable Corporation; from 1997 to 1999 he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer; from 1994 to 1997 he served as Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing; and from 1992 to 1994 he served as President, Consumer Products Group. Mr. Kenny is thenon-executive chairman of Cardinal Health, Inc., a Fortune 15 company that improves the cost-effectiveness of healthcare, and a director of AK Steel Holding Corporation, an integrated producer of flat-rolled carbon, stainless and electrical steels and tubular products through its wholly owned subsidiary, AK Steel Corporation. Previously, Mr. Kenny served as a director of the Cincinnati Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, IDEX Corporation and numerous professional andnot-for-profit organizations including an ESOP, Xtek. Mr. Kenny holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Georgetown University, a Master of Business Administration degree from George Washington University and a Master of Public Administration degree from Harvard University. Mr. Kenny is a member of Industry Week’s manufacturing hall of fame, class of 2013.

Qualifications

The specific qualifications and experiences the board considered in determining that Mr. Kenny should serve as a director of the Company include serving as the Chief Executive Officer of a public company, accounting and financial, operating and manufacturing, sales and marketing and general management experience, including responsibility for international operations while living and working outside the U.S., serving as Ingredion’s Chairman of the Board and previously as its lead director, service as a director on the boards of public companies other than Ingredion, including serving as the chairman and previously as the lead director of a Fortune 15 company, and service on the boards of numerousnot-for-profit organizations.

BARBARA A. KLEIN

Age — 65

Director since March 2004

Member of the Compensation Committee

Former Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of CDW Corporation

Ms. Klein served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of CDW Corporation, a direct marketer of multi-brand information technology products, from 2002 until she retired in May 2008. CDW was acquired by an entity controlled by investment funds affiliated with Madison Dearborn Partners, LLC and Providence Equity Partners in October 2007. Previously, she served as the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Dean Foods Company, a food and beverage company, from 2000 to 2002 and was the Vice President and Corporate Controller of Ameritech Corporation, a telecommunications company, from 1996 to 2000. Ms. Klein is a director of Cabot Microelectronics Corporation, a leading supplier of consumable materials to semiconductor manufacturers and pipeline operators, and a director of anot-for-profit entity, the National Council on Compensation Insurance, Inc., the most experienced source of workers compensation insurance information, tools and services in the U.S. Ms. Klein is a member of The Chicago Network. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting and finance from Marquette University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Loyola University.

Qualifications

The specific qualifications and experiences the board considered in determining that Ms. Klein should serve as a director of the Company include her over 30 years of service in corporate financial and accounting roles, serving as the Chief Financial Officer of two public companies, as the controller of a public company, as a financial executive at other companies in a number of industries and in various stages of development, including experience with acquisitions and divestitures, service as chairman of the audit committee of Ingredion as well as of a public company in addition to Ingredion and of a significantnot-for-profit organization, her former licensure as a certified public accountant, and her qualification as an audit committee financial expert as defined in Item 407(d)(5) of RegulationS-K.

VICTORIA J. REICH

Age — 62

Director since November 2013

Chairman of the Audit Committee

Former Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Essendant Inc.

Ms. Reich served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Essendant Inc., formerly, United Stationers Inc., a wholesale distributor of business products, from June 2007 to July 2011. Prior to that, Ms. Reich spent ten years with Brunswick Corporation, a manufacturer of recreation products, where she most recently was President of Brunswick European Group from 2003 to 2006. She served as Brunswick’s Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from 2000 to 2003 and as Vice President and Controller from 1996 to 2000. Before joining Brunswick, Ms. Reich spent 17 years at General Electric Company, a diversified technology, media and financial services company, where she held various financial management positions. Ms. Reich is a director of H&R Block, Inc., a provider of tax preparation and related services, and a director of Ecolab Inc., a provider of water and hygiene services and technologies for the food, hospitality, industrial and energy markets. Ms. Reich also serves as a director of North Valley Hospital and North Valley Hospital Foundation,not-for-profit organizations. Ms. Reich holds a Bachelor of Science degree in applied mathematics and economics from Brown University.

Qualifications

The specific qualifications and experiences the board considered in determining that Ms. Reich should serve as a director of the Company include her 32 years of service in corporate financial and accounting roles, serving as the Chief Financial Officer of two public companies and as a controller, her operating and general management experience, including responsibility for international operations while living and working outside the U.S., her service as chairman of the audit committee and a member of the finance committee of a public company and as chairman of the audit committee and a member of the governance committee of another public company, and her qualification as an audit committee financial expert as defined in Item 407(d)(5) of RegulationS-K.

STEPHAN B. TANDA

Age — 54

Director since August 2019

Member of the Audit Committee

President and Chief Executive Officer of AptarGroup, Inc.

Mr. Tanda has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of AptarGroup, Inc., a NYSE-listed global leader in consumer dispensing, active packaging and drug delivery solutions, since February 1, 2017. Prior to that, Mr. Tanda served as an executive managing board director at Royal DSM NV, a leading global supplier of ingredients and material solutions for the food, dietary supplement, personal care, medical device, automotive, paint, electronic andbio-material markets, and oversaw the global nutrition business as well as its pharma joint ventures and business interests in the Americas. Mr. Tanda’s career spans more than 25 years and includes living in seven countries while working in leadership roles for DuPont, a leading global manufacturer of chemicals, electronic and communication technologies, performance materials, coatings and color technologies, safety and protection materials, and agriculture and nutrition ingredients (including, without limitation, serving as President and Chief Executive Officer, The Solae Co., DuPont Nutrition and Health, and President, DuPont Protein Technologies, DuPont Nutrition and Health), Freudenberg Nonwovens Group, a privately held global manufacturer and pioneer in high performance technical textiles for a wide range of industries and applications, and Royal DSM NV. Over his career, Mr. Tanda has focused on developing local and global talent, building organizations and businesses while successfully delivering increased sales and profits, both via organic growth and via acquisitions. Mr. Tanda serves as a director of AptarGroup since he joined the Company in February 2017. He previously served as a director of Patheon NV, formerly a NYSE-listed company that provided pharmaceutical development and manufacturing services, from March 2016 until the Company was sold to Thermo Fisher Scientific in August 2017, and Semperit AG Holding, a Vienna Stock Exchange-listed manufacturer of industrial rubber and plastic products, from April 2016 to February 2017. Mr. Tanda holds a Master of Business Administration from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and holds a degree in plastics engineering from the University of Leoben, Austria.

Qualifications

The specific qualifications and experiences the board considered in determining that Mr. Tanda should serve as a director of the Company include currently serving as the President and Chief Executive Officer of a public company, operating, manufacturing and general management experience, including living and working outside the U.S., service as a director on the boards of two other public companies, and his qualification as an audit committee financial expert as defined in Item 407(d)(5) ofRegulation S-K.

JORGE A. URIBE

Age — 63

Director since July 2015

Member of the Compensation Committee

Former Global Productivity and Organization Transformation Officer of The Procter & Gamble Company

Mr. Uribe served as the Global Productivity and Organization Transformation Officer of The Procter & Gamble Company, the world’s largest maker of consumer packaged goods, from December 2012 to July 1, 2015. Prior to that, Mr. Uribe spent more than 33 years with Procter & Gamble, where he most recently was Group President, Latin America from July 2004 to November 2012. Prior to that Mr. Uribe was the Marketing and Sales Vice President for Latin America for three years and Vice President for Venezuela and the Andean Region for the previous two andone-half years. Before that he held a number of positions of increasing responsibility in Switzerland, Central America and the Caribbean, Cyprus, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates and the Gulf Countries, Saudi Arabia and Colombia. Mr. Uribe is a director of General Mills, Inc., a leading global food company, Grupo Argos, a Colombian multi-national holding company holding interests in cement, electricity, road and airport concessions and real estate, and Carvajal S.A., a Colombian multi-national manufacturer of packaging, paper products and education material and provider of technology and services. Mr. Uribe previously served as a director of United Way Worldwide, anot-for-profit, charitable organization. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in management engineering from Universidad Nacional de Colombia: Sede Medellin and a Master of Business Administration degree from Xavier University.

Qualifications

The specific qualifications and experiences the board considered in determining that Mr. Uribe should serve as a director of the Company include his more than 33 years of operating and general management experience and sales and marketing experience, including multi-regional and multi-country responsibility for international operations while living and working outside the U.S. within a larger, publicly held, global corporation, and his service as a director on the boards of two public companies in addition to Ingredion, on the board of a privately held company and on the board of a significantnot-for-profit, charitable organization.

DWAYNE A. WILSON

Age — 61

Director since May 2010

Member of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee

Former Senior Vice President of Fluor Corporation

Mr. Wilson served as Senior Vice President of Fluor Corporation, reporting to the Chairman and CEO on key initiatives of strategic importance to the corporation, from June 23, 2014, to June 10, 2016. Fluor is one of the world’s largest publicly owned engineering, procurement, construction, maintenance and project management companies. Mr. Wilson previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC, the managing and operating contractor of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site including the Savannah River National Laboratory, from October 1, 2011, to June 22, 2014. Fluor is one of the owners of Savannah River Nuclear Solutions. Mr. Wilson previouslyalso served from February 2007 to September 2011 as Group President, Industrial of Fluor Corporation. Fluor is one of the owners of Savannah River Nuclear Solutions. Mr. Wilson previously served as President, Fluor Mining & Minerals from 2003 to 2007, President, Fluor Commercial and Industrial Institutional from 2002 to 2003, Vice President & Executive Director, Offices of the Chairman and Chief Operating Officer from 2001 to 2002 and in a variety of positions of increasing responsibility from 1980 to 2001. Mr. Wilson is a director of AK Steel Holding Corporation, an integrated producer of flat-rolled carbon, stainless and electrical steels and tubular products through its wholly owned subsidiary, AK Steel Corporation. He is also a director of South Carolina Hospital Company, anot-for-profit entity. Mr. Wilson was a trustee of the Fluor Foundation and is a past director of the Urban League of Upstate South Carolina. He served as Chairman of the Engineering and Construction Contracting Association from 2002 to 2006. Mr. Wilson is also a National Association of Corporate Directors Fellow. Mr. Wilson holds a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Loyola Marymount University.

Qualifications

The specific qualifications and experiences the board considered in determining that Mr. Wilson should serve as a director of the Company include his more than 36 years of project management, operating and manufacturing, sales and marketing and general management experience, including responsibility for international operations while based in the U.S. within a large publicly held corporation where he served as Group President of a significant international business unit and most recently served as Senior Vice President, his experience serving as President and Chief Executive Officer of the managing and operating contractor of a significant U.S. Department of Energy site, including a National Laboratory, and serving as a director of one public company in addition to Ingredion and serving as a director of anot-for-profit organization.

JAMES P. ZALLIE

Age — 58

Director since September 2017

President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company

Mr. Zallie has been President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since January 1, 2018. Prior thereto he served as Executive Vice President, Global Specialties and President, Americas from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2017. Mr. Zallie previously served as Executive Vice President, Global Specialties and President, North America and EMEA from January 6, 2014, to December 31, 2015. Prior to that Mr. Zallie served as Executive Vice President, Global Specialties and President, EMEA and Asia-Pacific from February 1, 2012, to January 5, 2014. Mr. Zallie previously served as Executive Vice President and President, Global Ingredient Solutions from October 1, 2010, to January 31, 2012. Prior thereto, Mr. Zallie served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Starch business from January 2007 to September 30, 2010. Mr. Zallie worked for National Starch for more than 27 years in various positions of increasing responsibility, first in technical, then marketing and then international business management positions. National Starch LLC was acquired by the Company in October 2010. Mr. Zallie also serves as a director of Northwestern Medicine North Region, anot-for-profit organization. Mr. Zallie served as a director of Innophos Holdings, Inc. from September 2014 to April 2018. Mr. Zallie earned a Bachelor’s degree in food science from Pennsylvania State University, and both a Master’s degree in food science and technology and a Master’s degree in finance from Rutgers University.

Qualifications

The specific qualifications and experiences the board considered in determining that Mr. Zallie should serve as a director of the Company include currently serving as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Ingredion, serving as the Chief Executive Officer of a large business unit of a large public company, operating and manufacturing, sales and marketing and general management experience, including living and working outside the U.S., and service as a director of a public company in addition to Ingredion and of anot-for-profit organization.

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote FOR the nominees for election as directors.

The Board and Committees

The business and affairs of the companyCompany are conducted under the direction of its Board of Directors.

Under our certificate of incorporation the Board of Directors may have not fewer than seven or more than 17 members. The Board of Directors is currently comprised of 1011 directors, nine10 of whom are outside(non-employee) directors.

In the interim between annual meetings, the The board has the authority under the company’sby-lawsCompany’s bylaws to increase or decrease the size of the board and to fill vacancies. In connection with the appointment of Mr. Tanda to the board in August 2019, the number of authorized directors was increased to 11 from 10 directors. Mr. Tanda was identified to the board as a director candidate by a third-party search firm.

The experience, qualifications, attributes and skills that led the board to concludeconsidered in determining that the nominees standing for election should serve as directors are discussed above in their biographies and belowbiographies. See the discussion under the headingThe Board and Committees—Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee.Committee” for a description of the board’s criteria for selecting director nominees.

The Board of Directors has determined that each of the following nine10 directors satisfies the definition of independent director includingunder the definitionCompany’s Corporate Governance Principles, which incorporate the director independence standards established by the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) applicable to members of the Compensation Committee:for board membership: L. Aranguren-Trellez, D. B. Fischer, P. Hanrahan, R. L. Jordan, G. B. Kenny, B. A. Klein, V. J. Reich, S. B. Tanda, J. A. Uribe and D. A. Wilson. In addition, the Board of Directors determined that the members of the Compensation Committee and the Audit Committee satisfied the additional independence requirements established by NYSE rules for membership on those committees. Under the rules of the NYSE, a director is not considered to be independent unless the Board of Directors has affirmatively determined that the director has no material relationship with the Company or any of its subsidiaries (either directly or as a partner, stockholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the Company or any of its subsidiaries). In addition, the NYSE rules stipulate that certain relationships preclude a director from being considered to be independent.

The board held seven11 meetings in 2016.2019. Each director attended at least 75 percent of the meetings of the board and the committees of the board on which he or she served during 2016. As a group,2019 during the directors’ meeting attendance averaged 98 percent for the year.period of such service.

We encourage, but do not require, our directors to attend the annual meeting of stockholders. Last year, allAll of our directors attended theour 2019 annual meeting.meeting of stockholders.

Non-management directors meet regularly in executive sessions without the presence of management. Executive sessions are held in conjunction with each regularly scheduled meeting of the board.“Non-management” directors are all those who are not company officers and may include directors who are not “independent” by virtue of the existence of a material relationship with the company.Company. At least annually the independent directors meet in executive session without the presence of management or any other directors. The Chairman of the Board presides over executive sessions ofnon-management directors.

The board does not impose term limits, as thisit believes term limits could unnecessarily interfere with the continuity, diversity, developed experience and knowledge and the long-term outlook the board must have. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will consider a director’s tenure in making a recommendation to the board as to whether a director should be nominated forre-election. In making such recommendation the committee will consider such factors as effectiveness and productivity of the director, the need for retaining an experienced director and othersother factors identified during the board self-evaluation process.

Board policy requires outsidenon-employee directors to retire no later than the annual meeting following their 72nd birthday. Employee directors, including the Chief Executive Officer, are required to retire from the board upon their retirement or other cessation of service as an employee, unless the board determines otherwise in unusual circumstances. Board policy requires executive officers to retire at age 65.

The company’s Corporate Governance Principles; Code of Ethics for Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Other Executives Involved in Financial Reporting; and Policies on BusinessCode of Conduct are available in the “Governance”“Corporate Governance” section of the company’sour investor relations website at http:https://www.ingredion.com.ir.ingredionincorporated.com/corporate-governance/highlights.

Board Oversight of Risk Management Processes. The board regularly devotes time during its meetings to review and discuss the significant risks facing the companyCompany and the steps that the companyCompany takes to monitor, manage and mitigate such exposures. The full board directly discusses strategic, competitive, economic, geopolitical and political risks.

Significant risks (including, without limitation, risk factors) are identified in the company’sCompany’s disclosures in its Annual Report

on FormForm 10-K and updates, if any, and forward-looking statements disclosures, and are prioritized by management and discussed with the board and the appropriate committees of the board in the exercise of their oversight roles. The board conducts a comprehensive annual review of the company’sCompany’s risk management processes with input from management and all relevant board committees, and the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer report to the board quarterly on risk management matters.

Consistent with the NYSE’s corporate governance standards, the Audit Committee is the board committee with primary responsibility for oversight of the company’sCompany’s risk management profile and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. The charter of the Audit Committee states that the responsibility of the committee with respect to risk assessment is to review policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management, to discuss the company’sCompany’s major risk exposures and the steps management has taken to monitor such exposure, and to review, on an annual basis, a report prepared by the General Counsel on litigation in which the companyCompany is involved and to provide the report to the full board. In the exercise of that responsibility, the Audit Committee discusses with management the major financial, legal and regulatory compliance risk exposures facing the companyCompany and the appropriate responses to such risks. The Audit Committee considers financial risk management policies and exposures relating to commodity prices including corn and energy, foreign exchange rates, interest rates and financial derivatives and reviews insurable risk management policies. The Audit Committee also reviews the company’sCompany’s capital structure, access to capital markets, liquidity, credit availability and related matters. Furthermore, the Audit Committee has oversight with respect to the status of corporate security, the security for the Company’s electronic data processing, information systems and the general security of the Company’s people and assets.

In addition to the Audit Committee, the other committees of the board consider risk in connection with their oversight of the matters within the scope of their charters. The Compensation Committee oversees human resource and labor matters as well as executive and director compensation issues and considers whether the company’sCompany’s compensation plans, policies and practices encourage excessive or inappropriate risk taking.taking that would have a material adverse effect on the Company. Furthermore, the Compensation Committee considers the effect of the company’sCompany’s compensation and benefit programs in regard to the competitive risks faced by the company.Company. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee addresses potential risks that could result from the absence of independence or diversity on the board, potential conflicts of interest, environmental and quality matters and security and safety issues. Each committee provides regular reports on its reviews to the full board with respect to the risk assessment and risk management matters within the scope of its responsibilities.

Board Leadership. I. S. Gordon currently serves as ourBoard policy and the Company’s bylaws allow flexibility to separate or consolidate the positions of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. Ms. Gordon’s twoOfficer, as the Board, from time to time, may determine to be best for governance and effective Board and Company functioning. If the positions are consolidated, then the independent directors shall appoint a Lead Director on an annual basis for so long as the positions are consolidated. G.B. Kenny, one of our independent directors, has served as ournon-executive Chairman of the Board since August 1, 2018. His three predecessors also served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, and her serving as such was a term of the letter of employment with respect to her employment.Officer. The board believes that thisevaluated the leadership structure with an independent lead director is the one that best meets the company’sCompany’s and stockholders’ needs based on the individuals available and circumstances as they exist atexisted following the present time. We believe combining these roles provides clarityprevious Chief Executive

Officer’s retirement and determined that the appointment of Mr. Kenny as to who is responsible for the strategic visionnon-executive Chairman of the company and accountability in terms of who is responsible for executing that strategy. We believe that offering the combined role makes it easier to recruit the highest qualified persons. We also believe the combined role facilitates prompt responses to changing business conditions.Board was advisable.

The board has adopted Corporate Governance Principles which are available in the “Governance”“Corporate Governance” section of our investor relations website at http:https://www.ingredion.com.ir.ingredionincorporated.com/corporate-governance/highlights. These Corporate Governance Principles are designed to promote effective functioning of the board’s activities, to ensure that we conduct our business in accordance with the highest legal and ethical standards and to enhance stockholdershareholder value. We believe thatseek under our Corporate Governance Principles to ensure that strong, independent directors continue to effectively oversee our management and provide vigorous oversight of how we address key issues relating to strategy, risk and integrity. As described in our Corporate Governance Principles, these measures include the appointment by our independent directors of an independent director to act as lead director.

Our lead director is P. Hanrahan, who most recently served as the Chief Executive Officer of American Capital Energy & Infrastructure Management, LLC. The lead director is appointed annually by and from the

company’s independent directors. The lead director oversees the board’s governance processes, including board evaluations, Chief Executive Officer succession planning and other governance-related and oversight matters. The responsibilities of the lead director include presiding at meetings of the Board of Directors in the absence of the Chairman of the Board and presiding at executive sessions conducted without management, except for meetings where executive performance and compensation are discussed, which are presided over by the Chairman of the Compensation Committee. The lead director serves as a liaison between the independent directors and the Chairman of the Board, provides direct feedback to the Chairman of the Board on a variety of matters discussed in the executive sessions without management and serves as an informal communication link between the directors and management. The lead director oversees that the board discharges its responsibilities and helps to manage the boundaries between board and management responsibilities. He or she also works with the Chairman of the Board and the Chairman of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee regarding matters to be included on the board agendas and the informational needs associated with those agendas and presentations and approves the agendas, meeting schedules and information provided to the board. The lead director works with the Chairman of the Board to ensure that the board works in an independent, productive fashion and is alert to its obligations to our stockholders. He or she works with the Chairman of the Board to ensure that board meetings are conducted in such a manner as to allow adequate time and opportunity for appropriate discussion of matters brought before the board. The lead director has the authority to call meetings of the Board of Directors and meetings of the independent directors. The lead director assumes those other responsibilities which the independent directors may designate from time to time and is available as deemed appropriate by the board for consultation and direct communication with stockholders. We believe that this structure recognizes that in most cases one person should speak for and lead the company and board, but also that an independent lead director with substantial authority helps ensure effective oversight by an independent board.

Committees of the Board. The board currently has three standing committees: the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. Each of these committees operates pursuant to a written charter adopted by the board. These charters are available in the “Governance”“Corporate Governance” section of our investor relations website at http:https://www.ingredion.com.ir.ingredionincorporated.com/corporate-governance/highlights.

Audit Committee

Our Audit Committee is comprised entirely of independent directors, as “independent”“independent director” is defined under the rules of the NYSE.NYSE, including the additional independence requirements under SEC rules specific to Audit Committee membership. Each of the members of the Audit Committee is “financially literate” as required by the rules of the NYSE. The board has determined that B. A. Klein,V. J. Reich, the Chairman of the committee, and V. J. Reich, meetmeets the legal requirements of an “audit committee financial expert” as defined under SEC rules.

This committee assistsThe primary responsibilities of the Audit Committee are to:

assist the board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities in the areas related to the financial reporting process and the systems of financial control. The Audit Committee also actscontrol,

act as a separately designated standing audit committee established in accordance with the Exchange Act. The committee’s duties include selectingAct,

select the company’sCompany’s independent auditors, who are accountable to and meet privately with this committee on a regular basis; reviewingbasis,

review the scope of the audit to be conducted by the independent auditors as well asand the results of their audit; overseeingaudit,

oversee our financial reporting activities and that the accounting standards and principles followed; discussingare followed,

discuss with management the company’sCompany’s risk assessment and risk management practices, including risk relating to the company’sCompany’s financial statements, financial reporting processes and the guidelines, policies and processes for monitoring and managing these risks; approvingsuch risks,

approve audit andnon-audit services provided to the companyCompany by the independent auditors; and reviewingauditors,

review the organization, scope and independence of our internal audit function and our disclosure and internal controls. This committee also conductscontrols, and

conduct ongoing reviews of potential related party transactions, including the review and approval of transactions with “related party transactions”persons,” as defined under SEC rules.

Members of the Audit Committee are B. A. Klein (Chairman), V. J. Reich (Chairman), D. B. Fischer, P. Hanrahan and, J. A. Uribe.since his appointment to the board on August 19, 2019, S. B. Tanda. This committee held ten10 meetings during 20162019 and has furnished the report appearing on page 60.63.

Compensation Committee

Our Compensation Committee is comprised entirely of independent directors, as “independent”“independent director” is defined under the rules of the NYSE. Each ofNYSE, including the membersadditional independence requirements specific to Compensation Committee membership.

The primary responsibilities of the Compensation Committee is also a“non-employee director” as that term is defined under Exchange ActRule 16b-3 and an “outside director” as that term is defined in U.S. Treasury Regulation§1.162-27(3).

This committee:are to:

 

together with ourthe other independent outside,non-employeedirectors, dischargesdischarge the board’s responsibilities relating to compensation of our Chief Executive Officer,

 

reviews

review and approvesapprove the compensation of executive officers of the companyCompany, other than the Chief Executive Officer, employee benefit plans in which the executive officers participate and the compensation of outside directors,

 

administers

meet with our Chief Executive Officer annually to review the performance of our executive officers including anin-depth review of our executive officers’ performance and our succession,

administer our executive compensation programs and assuresassure that compensation programs are implemented according to our compensation philosophy as established by the Compensation Committee and that compensation actions are aligned with our business strategy, expected financial results and the interests of stockholders,

 

annually reviewsreview the design of our compensation plans,

 

reviews

review and discussesdiscuss with management the company’sCompany’s compensation discussion and analysis to be included in the company’sCompany’s annual proxy statement or Annual Report on FormForm 10-K filed with the SEC,

 

prepares

prepare the Compensation Committee Report as required by the rules of the SEC,

 

reviews

review the results of the company’sCompany’s stockholders’ advisory vote on executive compensation, determinesdetermine what, if any, actions or policy recommendations are warranted based on the advisory vote and other feedback from stockholders, and makesmake recommendations on how frequently the companyCompany should provide its stockholders with such an advisory vote,

 

reviews

review the performance and succession plans of our executive officers and the developmental actions for the group of managers identified by management as high potential and therefore corporate-monitoredcorporate monitored employees, and

 

administers

administer our deferred compensation plan for ournon-employee directors.

Our Compensation Committee, together with our other independent, outside,non-employee directors, reviews and approves corporate goals and objectives relevant to our Chief Executive Officer’s compensation, evaluates our Chief Executive Officer’s performance in light of those goals and objectives and, together with our other independent, outside,non-employee directors, establishes our Chief Executive Officer’s compensation, based on the committee’s evaluation of the Chief Executive Officer’s performance.

The corporate goals and objectives are developed by our management, consistent with our business strategy, and approved by the board. Management recommends base salaries and short- and long-term incentive awards for our executive officers other than our Chief Executive Officer, based on external market information and internal equity. Our Compensation Committee reviews these recommendations and approves the base salaries and short- and long-term opportunities for the executive officers of the company other than our Chief Executive Officer. The Compensation Committee also reviews and approves compensation under equity-based plans for our executive officers other than our Chief Executive Officer.

Our Compensation Committee retains an independent consultant to advise it with respect to incentive plan design, external market information and other compensation matters. The independent consultant generally attends meetings of the committee and also communicates with the committee outside of meetings. Our Compensation Committee has instructed the independent consultant to:

act independently of management and at the direction of the committee,

understand that their ongoing engagement will be determined by the committee,

keep the committee informed of trends and regulatory developments,

provide compensation comparisons based on information that is derived from comparable businesses of a similar size to us and

provide detailed comparative data regarding executive officer compensation.

The Compensation Committee selected and directly retained the services of Pearl Meyer & Partners, LLC, an independent executive compensation consulting firm, as to its compensation decisions for 2016.2019. Pearl Meyer & Partners did not provide any other services to the companyCompany and worked with the company’sCompany’s management only on matters for which the Compensation Committee is responsible. The Compensation Committee assessed the independence of Pearl Meyer & Partners pursuant to SEC and NYSE rules and concluded that no conflict of interest existed that would prevent Pearl Meyer & Partners from serving as an independent consultant to the committee. The work of Pearl Meyer & Partners in 20162019 did not raise any conflicts of interest.

Pearl Meyer & Partners generally attends meetings of the committee and also communicates with the committee outside of meetings. Our Compensation Committee meets with our Chief Executive Officer annually to reviewhas instructed the performance of our executive officers. This meeting includes anin-depth review of our executive officers’ performance and our succession plans. The same review is presented to the board each year. Similarly, the Compensation Committee reviews the Chief Executive Officer’s performance and meetsindependent consultant to:

act independently of management and at the Chief Executive Officerdirection of the committee,

understand that their ongoing engagement will be determined by the committee,

keep the committee informed of trends and regulatory developments,

provide compensation comparisons based on information that is derived from comparable businesses of a similar size to discuss herus, and

provide detailed comparative data regarding executive officer compensation. This review is also presented to the board each year.

Our Chief Executive Officer generally attends meetings of the Compensation Committee by invitation of the committee.committee, except for meetings in which the Chief Executive Officer’s compensation is being considered.

In 2019, the Compensation Committee delegated authority to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer to award up to $2.5 million inoff-cycle long-term incentive plan grants, which are intended to be used to recruit and retain new senior level talent for the Company. In 2019, this authority was used to grant a total of $1.63 million inoff-cycle grants of restricted stock units.

The members of the Compensation Committee are D. A. Wilson (Chairman), D. B. Fischer and R. L. Jordan.Jordan (Chairman), B. A. Klein and J. A. Uribe. This committee held five5 meetings during 2016.2019.

Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee

Our Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee is comprised entirely of independent directors, as “independent”“independent director” is defined under the rules of the NYSE. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee reviews the composition of the board and the tenure of its members at least annually to help determine the number and experience of directors required. The primary responsibilities of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee are to:

This committee recommends

recommend candidates to be nominated for election as directors at our annual meeting, consistent with criteria approved by the board, develops

develop and regularly reviewsreview corporate governance principles and related policies for approval by the board, oversees

oversee the organizationdischarge of the board to discharge the board’s duties and responsibilities properly and efficiently and seessee that proper attention is given and effective responses are made to stockholder concerns regarding corporate governance. Other specific duties and responsibilities of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee include annually assessinggovernance,

assess the size and composition of the board, including through developing and reviewing director qualifications for approval by the board, identifying

identify and recruitingrecruit new directors and consideringconsider candidates proposed by stockholders, recommending

recommend assignments of directors to committees to ensure that committee membership complies with applicable laws and exchange corporate governance standards, conducting

conduct a preliminary review of director independence and financial literacy and expertise of Audit Committee members and overseeingoversee director orientation and continuing education. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee also reviewseducation,

review proposed changes to our certificate of incorporation,by-laws bylaws and board committee charters, assessesassess and makesmake recommendations regarding stockholder protections, as appropriate, conducts

conduct ongoing reviews of potential conflicts of interest, reviewsreview and

approves approve any executive officers standing for election to outsidefor-profit boards of directors, reviews

review stockholder proposals in conjunction with the Chairman of the Board and recommendsrecommend board responses, oversees

oversee the self-evaluation of the board and its committees, reviews

review requests for indemnification under ourby-laws, oversees bylaws,

oversee the company’sCompany’s sustainability and social responsibility programs, overseesand

oversee the company’sCompany’s business conduct and anti-corruption compliance programs and meetsmeet with the company’sCompany’s corporate compliance officer in executive session as often as the committee deems appropriate.

Director Nomination Criteria. The company retains a professional third-party search firm to help identify and facilitate the screening and interview process for potential director candidates. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee maintains, with the approval of the board, formal criteria for selecting director nominees. Candidates for director are identified for the contributions they can make to the deliberations of the board and their ability to represent impartially all of the company’sCompany’s stockholders and are considered regardless of race or gender.

In addition to other considerations, all potential nominees are expected to have and all our current directors have:

 

the highest personal and professional ethics, integrity and values,

 

education, breadth of experience, insight and knowledge to understand global business problems and evaluate the possible solutions,

 

the ability to think strategically and make decisions with a forward-looking focus, with the ability to assimilate relevant information on a broad range of complex topics,

 

leadership skills,

 

the ability to work effectively with others,

 

respect for the views of others and an open-minded approach to problems,

 

an awareness of the responsibilities of the companyCompany to its employees, its customers and regulatory authorities,

 

a reasoned and balanced commitment to the social responsibilities of the companyCompany,

 

an interest and availability of time to be involved with the companyCompany and its employees over a sustained period,

 

stature and experience to represent the companyCompany before the public, stockholders and the other various individuals and groups that affect the companyCompany,

 

an ability and willingness to represent the stockholders’ short-term and long-term economic interests,

 

the willingness to objectively appraise management performance in the interest of the stockholders,

 

an open mind on all policy issues and areas of activity affecting overall interests of the companyCompany and its stockholders, and

 

no involvement in other activities or interests that create a conflict with the director’s responsibility to the companyCompany and its stockholdersstockholders.

The above attributes are expected to be maintained by board members as a condition of their ongoing membership to the board. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee reviews the makeup of the board and the tenure of its members at least annually to help determine the number and experience of directors required.

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee has also established the following additional criteria as an aid in the selection of potential director candidates. The weight given to any particular item may vary based on the committee’s assessment of the needs of the board, and not all criteria may be applicable to each vacancy.

Similarly, these criteria, in whole or in part, may be modified or waived by the Corporate Governance and

Nominating Committee in connection with a particular vacancy or as otherwise deemed appropriate by the committee. Candidates should have all or a majority of the following important or desired attributes:

 

active employment as a Chief Executive Officer, or a President, Chief Financial Officer, Senior Officer or General Manager (or a comparable position of responsibility) of a publicly traded company (or a significant privateprivately held company) with sales and complexity comparable with Ingredion,

 

international business experience,

 

financial responsibility during career and financial literacy,

 

general management experience during career,

 

experience on publicly traded or significant privateprivately held company boards,

 

experience with corporate governance issues, and ideally, some background in the legal aspects of governance applicable to publicly traded companies,

 

expertise that is useful to the companyCompany and complementary to the background and experience of other board members, so that an appropriate balance of skills and experience of the membership of the board can be achieved and maintained,

 

contribution to board diversity in the broadest sense (age, gender, ethnicity, geography and personal experience), and

 

an understanding of technologies pertinent to the company’sCompany’s businesses, production, marketing, finance, regulation and public policypolicy.

In addition to these minimum requirements and desired attributes, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will also evaluate whether the candidates’ skills and experience are complementary to the existing board members’ skills and experience as well as the board’s need for operational, management, financial, international, technological or other expertise and diversity in a broad sense. The search firm identifies and screens the candidates, performs reference checks, prepares a biography for each candidate for the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee to review and assists in establishing interviews. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee members interview candidates that meet the criteria and select those that it will recommend to the board for nomination. The board considers the nominees and selects those who best suit the needs of the board for nomination for election or appointment to the board. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and the board consider the composition of the entire board and the entire range of diversity in the broadest sense (age, gender, ethnicity, geography and personal experience) in determining who best suits the needs of the board. We do not have a formal diversity policy, but we have historically had a diverse board.

Our At this time our board members have a desirable mixincludes three women, two men of backgrounds, skills and experiences. They are all financially literate and share the personal attributesHispanic descent, both of effective directors described above. Below are some of the specific experiences and skills of the ten nominees for election as directors.

Luis Aranguren-Trellez

Mr. Aranguren-Trellez’s experience includes currently serving as Chief Executive Officer of significant private companies, service as a director on several privately held company boards and on severalnot-for-profit boards, operating and manufacturing experience, general management experience and living and workingwhom live outside the U.S.

David B. Fischer

Mr. Fischer’s experience includes serving as the Chief Executive OfficerUnited States, and one man of a public company, operating and manufacturing and general management experience, including responsibility for international operations while based in the U.S., and service as a director on the boards of two public companies other than Ingredion and on severalnot-for-profit boards.

Ilene S. Gordon

Ms. Gordon’s experience includes currently serving as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ingredion, serving as the Chief Executive Officer of a large business unit of a large public company, operating and manufacturing, sales and marketing and general management experience, including living and working outside the U.S., and service as a director on several public company boards and on severalnot-for-profit boards.

Paul Hanrahan

Mr. Hanrahan’s experience includes serving as the Chief Executive Officer of a public company, serving as the Chief Executive Officer of a private company, service as a director on the boards of three public companies in addition to Ingredion and on the boards of two private companies, accounting and financial experience, operating and manufacturing, sales and marketing and general management experience, including living and working outside the U.S.

Rhonda L. Jordan

Ms. Jordan’s experience includes 25 years of operating, general management and marketing experience within a large, publicly held, global corporation where she most recently served as President, Global Health & Wellness, and Sustainability. She serves as a director, chairman of the compensation committee and as a member of the nominating and corporate governance committee of a public company, as a director and chairman of the compensation committee of a significant, privately held company and as a director of a small privately held company.

Gregory B. Kenny

Mr. Kenny’s experience includes serving as the Chief Executive Officer of a public company, accounting and financial, operating and manufacturing, sales and marketing and general management experience, including responsibility for international operations while based in the U.S., and service as a director on the boards of public companies other than Ingredion, including serving as the lead director of a Fortune 21 company, and on the boards of numerous not-for-profit organizations.

Barbara A. Klein

Ms. Klein’s experience includes serving as the Chief Financial Officer of two public companies, as the controller of a public company, as a financial executive at other companies in a number of industries and in various stages of development, including experience with acquisitions and divestitures, and service as chairman of the audit committee of a public company in addition to Ingredion and of a significantnot-for-profit organization. She is a certified public accountant. Ms. Klein is an audit committee financial expert as defined in Item 407(d)(5) ofRegulation S-K.

Victoria J. Reich

Ms. Reich’s experience includes 32 years of service in corporate financial and accounting roles, serving as the Chief Financial Officer of two public companies, and as a controller, and operating and general management experience, including responsibility for international operations while living and working outside the U.S., and service as chairman of the audit committee and a member of the finance committee of a public company and as chairman of the audit committee and a member of the safety, health and environment committee of another public company. Ms. Reich is an audit committee financial expert as defined in Item 407(d)(5) ofRegulation S-K.

Jorge A. Uribe

Mr. Uribe’s experience includes more than 30 years of operating and general management experience and sales and marketing experience, including multi-regional and multi-country responsibility for international operations while living and working outside the U.S., within a larger, publicly held, global corporation and service as a director on the boards of two public companies in addition to Ingredion, on the board of a private company and on the board of a significant not-for-profit, charitable organization.

Dwayne A. Wilson

Mr. Wilson’s experience includes more than 36 years of project management, operating and manufacturing, sales and marketing and general management experience, including responsibility for international operations while based in the U.S., within a large publicly held corporation where he served as Group President of a significant international business unit and most recently served as Senior Vice President. His experience also includes serving as President and Chief Executive Officer of the managing and operating contractor of a significant U.S. Department of Energy site, including a National Laboratory, and serving as a director of one public company in addition to Ingredion.African-American descent.

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will consider qualified candidates for director nominees suggested by our stockholders. Stockholders can suggest qualified candidates for director nominees by writing to the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, c/o the Corporate Secretary, at Ingredion Incorporated, 5 Westbrook Corporate Center, Westchester, Illinois 60154. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee intends to evaluate candidates proposed by stockholders in the same manner as other candidates.

In addition, ourby-laws bylaws provide that candidates for director may be nominated at the annual meeting (without including such nomination in the company’sCompany’s proxy materials) if the nominating stockholder gives the companyCompany written notice not less than ninety nor more than one hundred twenty days in advance of the date which is the anniversary of the date of the previous year’s annual meeting, or, if the date of the annual meeting has been changed by more than thirty days from the date contemplated at the time of the previous year’s proxy statement, not less than ninety days before the date of the applicable annual meeting, or, if later, the tenth day following the day on which notice of the date of the annual meeting was mailed or public disclosure of the date of the annual meeting, whichever occurs first. That notice must provide certain other information as described in ourby-laws. bylaws.

Pursuant to a recent amendment to our by-laws,bylaws, stockholders may also submit director nominees to be included in our annual proxy statement, known as “proxy access.” Stockholders who intend to submit director nominees for inclusion in our proxy materials for the 20182021 annual meeting must comply with the requirements of proxy access as set forth in our by-laws.bylaws. The stockholder or group of stockholders who wish to submit director nominees pursuant to proxy access must deliver the required materials to the companyCompany not less than one hundred twenty nor more than one hundred fifty days prior to the anniversary of the date that the proxy statement was released for the prior year’s annual meeting, or if the date of the annual meeting has been changed by more than thirty days from the date contemplated at the time of the previous year’s proxy statement, not less than ninety days before the date of the applicable annual meeting, or, if later, the tenth day following the day on which notice of the date of the annual meeting was mailed or public disclosure of the date of the annual meeting, whichever occurs first.

Members of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee are G. B. Kenny (Chairman), L. Aranguren-Trellez and P. Hanrahan.D. A. Wilson. This committee held five4 meetings during 2016.2019.

Director Ownership Guidelines

Our Corporate Governance Principles provide that within five years of his or her election to the board, a director should acquire and hold a number of shares of the company’sCompany’s common stock that from time to time has a market value equal to a minimum of five times the dollar amount of the cash portion of his or her annual board retainer. We count direct and indirect ownership of our common stock, including restricted stock, restricted stock units and phantom stock units, but do not include stock options in determining whether the ownership targets are satisfied. As of December 31, 2016,2019, all of the directors either exceeded their stock ownership targets or were within the five-year compliance window in which to meet those ownership targets. I. S. Gordon,J. P. Zallie, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, is subject to an ownership requirement of six times herhis annual base salary, and he is within the five-year compliance window in which she has satisfied.to meet that ownership target.

Director Compensation

The objective of our compensation program for ournon-management directors is to:

provide fair compensation commensurate with the work required to serve on the board of a company with Ingredion’s size, scope, and complexity,

attract high-quality and diverse talent to the board, and

align directors’ interests with the interests of stockholders.

In order to determine the appropriate director compensation level, we use the same compensation comparator group of companies used in determining executive officer compensation, as described on page 36. The compensation comparator group was selected using companies that were broadly similar in revenue scope to the Company. Not only does the Company use our compensation peer group, but also broader,size-adjusted general industry and index benchmarks. Generally, we position pay with a median range relative to the market which helps ensure directors are paid fairly and the Company can attract qualified and diverse talent to the board. In addition, we pay a majority portion of directors’ pay in equity. This equity and share ownership guidelines further align interests with stockholders.

The following sets forth the individual components of our outside director compensation in 2016. Effective January 1, 2016,2019.

Annual Board Retainer

$220,000, with $100,000 paid in cash and $120,000 paid in common stock issued under the Company’s Stock Incentive Plan

Annual Chairman of the Board Retainer

$140,000, with 50% paid in cash and 50% paid in common stock issued under the Company’s Stock Incentive Plan

Annual Audit Committee Chairman Retainer

$20,000, with 50% paid in cash and 50% paid in common stock issued under the Company’s Stock Incentive Plan

Annual Compensation Committee Chairman Retainer

$15,000, with 50% paid in cash and 50% paid in common stock issued under the Company’s Stock Incentive Plan

Annual Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee Chairman Retainer

$10,000, with 50% paid in cash and 50% paid in common stock issued under the Company’s Stock Incentive Plan

Each of the annual boardforegoing retainers is payable in quarterly installments on the first day of each calendar quarter during 2020. The stock portion of the retainer was increased from $200,000 to $210,000, with the additional amount to be paidis issued in common stock andin the additionalamount of the applicable retainer divided by the closing price of a share of the Company’s common stock on the NYSE on the first day of a fiscal quarter, or if that day is not a day on which the NYSE is open for trading, on the lead director was increased from $15,000 to $20,000.immediately preceding day the NYSE is open for trading.

I. S. Gordon,J. P. Zallie, our ChairmanPresident and Chief Executive Officer, whose compensation is included in the Fiscal 2019 Summary Compensation Table below, did not receive any additional compensation for serving as a director.

Annual Board Retainer

  $210,000 

Annual Audit Committee Chairman Retainer

  $20,000 

Annual Compensation Committee Chairman Retainer

  $15,000 

Annual Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee Chairman Retainer

  $10,000 

Annual Lead Director Retainer

  $20,000 

The annual retainers are intended to compensate our outside directors at levels comparable to those paid by similarly sized companies. The Compensation Committee and the board believe these to be appropriate levels in terms of the responsibilities borne by the directors and the market for director compensation.

$110,000 of each retainer paid in 2016 was paid in stock and the other $100,000 was paid in cash. Directors are permitted to defer all or a portion of their retainers into restricted stock units under our Stock Incentive Plan that are deferred until after the director’s termination of service from the board. All directors are reimbursed for board and committee meeting expenses, but no meeting attendance fees are paid in addition to the annual retainers.

The following table summarizes the compensation earned by our directors other than I. S. GordonJ. P. Zallie for service during 2016.2019.

 

Director Compensation

 

 

Name

  Fees Earned
or Paid in
Cash
($)
   Stock
Awards
($)(1)(2)
   All Other
Compensation
($)(3)
   Total
($)
   Fees Earned
or Paid in
Cash
   Stock
Awards
(1)(2)
   All Other
Compensation
(3)
   Total 

Luis Aranguren-Trellez

  $100,000   $110,000   $—     $210,000   $100,000   $120,000   $—     $220,000 

David B. Fischer(4)

  $100,000   $110,000   $2,000   $212,000   $100,000   $120,000   $18,000   $238,000 

Paul Hanrahan(4)(5)

  $110,000   $120,000   $8,500   $238,500   $100,000   $120,000   $9,628   $229,628 

Rhonda L. Jordan(6)

  $—     $210,000   $8,000   $218,000   $107,500   $127,500   $8,500   $243,500 

Gregory B. Kenny(5)(7)

  $—     $220,000   $8,500   $228,500   $175,000   $195,000   $7,500   $377,500 

Barbara A. Klein(6)

  $110,000   $120,000   $—     $230,000   $100,000   $120,000   $—     $220,000 

Victoria J. Reich(8)

  $100,000   $110,000   $5,035   $215,035   $110,000   $130,000   $6,200   $246,200 

Jorge A. Uribe

  $100,000   $110,000   $—     $210,000 

Dwayne A. Wilson(7)

  $107,500   $117,500   $—     $225,000 

Stephan B. Tanda(9)

  $36,944   $44,333   $—     $81,278 

Jorge A. Uribe(10)

  $100,000   $120,000   $—     $220,000 

Dwayne A. Wilson

  $100,000   $120,000   $—     $220,000 

 

(1)

Restricted stock units have been valued at the grant date fair value computed in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (FASB ASC Topic 718). See notes 2 and 12 to our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016 contained in our Annual Report on FormOther than Mr. Tanda, all10-Knon-management for a statementdirectors deferred 100% of the assumptions made with respect to the valuation under FASB ASC Topic 718. Shares oftheir respective common stock have been valued at the closing price of a share of our common stock on the NYSE on the first day of the applicable fiscal quarter, or if that day is not a day on which the NYSE is open for trading, on the immediately preceding day the exchange is open for trading. Restricted stock units are granted in advance on the first business day of each fiscal quarter equal to the amount of the retainer deferred divided by the closing price of a share of our common stock on the NYSE

on the first day of the fiscal quarter, or if that day is not a day on which the NYSE is open for trading, on the immediately preceding day the exchange is open for trading. Theinto restricted stock units (and phantom stock units issued prior to 2005) earn dividend equivalents. The restricted stock units and dividends earned thereon are not subject to vesting but cannot be transferred until a date not less than six months after the date of the director’s termination of service from the board at which time the units will be settled by delivery of shares of common stock. Shares of common stock are granted in advance on the first business day of each fiscal quarter equal to the amount of the retainer paid in stock divided by the closing price of a share ofunder our common stock on the NYSE on the first day of the fiscal quarter, or if that day is not a day on which the NYSE is open for trading, on the immediately preceding day the exchange is open for trading.Stock Incentive Plan.

Restricted stock units have been valued at the grant date fair value computed in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (FASB ASC Topic 718). See notes 2 and 11 to our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019 contained in our Annual Report on Form10-K for a statement of the assumptions made with respect to the valuation under FASB ASC Topic 718. Shares of common stock have been valued at the closing price of a share of our common stock on the NYSE on the first day of the applicable fiscal quarter, or if that day is not a day on which the NYSE is open for trading, on the immediately preceding day the exchange is open for trading. Restricted stock units are granted in advance on the first business day of each fiscal quarter equal to the amount of the retainer deferred divided by the closing price of a share of our common stock on the NYSE on the first day of the fiscal quarter, or if that day is not a day on which the NYSE is open for trading, on the immediately preceding day the exchange is open for trading. The restricted stock units (and phantom stock units issued prior to 2005) earn dividend equivalents. The restricted stock units and dividends earned thereon are not subject to vesting but cannot be transferred until a date not less than six months after the date of the director’s termination of service from the board at which time the units will be settled by delivery of shares of common stock. Shares of common stock are granted in advance on the first business day of each fiscal quarter equal to the amount of the retainer paid in stock divided by the closing price of a share of our common stock on the NYSE on the first day of the fiscal quarter, or if that day is not a day on which the NYSE is open for trading, on the immediately preceding day the exchange is open for trading.

(2)

As of December 31, 2016,2019, each director had the following aggregate number of restricted stock units and phantom stock units accumulated in his or her deferral account for all years of service as a director, including additional share units credited as a result of the reinvestment of dividend equivalents: L. Aranguren-Trellez, 22,79027,800 units; D. B. Fischer, 3,6606,287 units; P. Hanrahan, 36,44544,522 units; R. L. Jordan, 7,76613,785 units; G. B. Kenny, 36,15844,757 units; B. A. Klein, 27,28432,640 units; V. J. Reich, 3,9277,886 units; S. Tanda, 0 units; J. A. Uribe, no5,479 units; and D. A. Wilson, 11,24915,482 units.

(3)

Amounts shown are matching contributions by the companyCompany made under a charitable matching gift program in which directors may participate and which provides for matching contributions by the companyCompany ($2 match for every $1 of the first $1,000 contributed and $1 match for every $1 of the next $6,500 contributed).

(4)Lead Director.

$8,500 of the matching contributions included above relate to a 2018 donation by Mr. Fischer which was paid by the Company in 2019.

(5)Corporate Governance

Mr. Hanrahan deferred 100% of his cash retainer ($100,000) and Nominating Committee Chairman.his common stock retainer ($120,000) into restricted stock units under our Stock Incentive Plan.

(6)Audit

Compensation Committee Chairman.Chairperson.

(7)Compensation

Corporate Governance & Nominating Chairperson andNon-executive Chairperson of the Board.

(8)

Audit Committee Chairman.Chairperson.

(9)

Mr. Tanda’s retainers were prorated as he joined the Board of Directors in August 2019. He received his $44,333 in common stock.

(10)

Mr. Uribe deferred 100% of his cash retainer ($100,000) and his common stock retainer ($120,000) into restricted stock units under our Stock Incentive Plan.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

The calculation of beneficial ownership of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock presented in the following tables is made in accordance with SEC rules. Under these rules, a person is deemed to be a “beneficial owner” of shares of common stock if that person has or shares the power to vote or direct the voting of the shares or the power to dispose or direct the disposition of the shares. Beneficial ownership as of any date includes any shares as to which a person has the right to acquire voting or investment power as of that date or within 60 days thereafter through the exercise of any stock option or other right or the vesting of any phantom stock unit or restricted stock unit, without regard to whether such right expires before the end of such60-day period or continues thereafter. If two or more persons share voting power or investment power with respect to specific shares, all of such persons may be deemed to be beneficial owners of such shares.

The following table shows, as of December 31, 2016,2019, all persons or entities that the companyCompany knows are beneficial owners of more than five percent of the company’sCompany’s issued and outstanding common stock.

 

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner

  Amount and Nature of
Beneficial Ownership
   Percent of
Class
   Amount and Nature of
Beneficial Ownership
   Percent of
Class
 

BlackRock, Inc.(1)

55 East 52nd Street

New York, NY 10055

   7,452,281    10.30   7,069,576    10.6

The Vanguard Group(2)

100 Vanguard Blvd.

Malvern, PA 19355

   6,387,002    8.82   6,384,990    9.6

 

(1)

The ownership information disclosed above is based solely on the Amendment No. 710 to Schedule 13G report that BlackRock, Inc. filed with the SEC on January 9, 2017February 4, 2020, on behalf of itself and its subsidiaries. According to the Schedule 13G report, BlackRock, Inc. has sole voting power over 6,628,9936,468,422 shares covered by the report and sole dispositive power over 7,452,2817,069,576 shares covered by the report.

(2)

The ownership information disclosed above is based solely on the Amendment No. 47 to Schedule 13G report that The Vanguard Group filed with the SEC on February 10, 201712, 2020, on behalf of itself and its subsidiaries in their capacities as investment advisers. According to the Schedule 13G report, The Vanguard Group has sole voting power over 57,94948,224 shares covered by the report, sole dispositive power over 6,314,6196,321,773 shares covered by the report, shared voting power over 17,23127,313 shares covered by the report and shared dispositive power over 72,38372,217 shares covered by the report.

The following table shows, as of March 26, 2020, information based on filings with the SEC and our records regarding the beneficial ownership of the company’sCompany’s issued and outstanding common stock as of March 21, 2017, of by:

each director eachand director nominee, for director, each named executive officer and

each executive officer named in the Fiscal 2019 Summary Compensation Table under“Executive Compensation,” and

all directors andof our executive officers and directors as a group.

   Amount and Nature of
Beneficial Ownership
     

Beneficial Owner

  Outstanding Shares
of Company
Common Stock(1)
   Shares Underlying
Phantom Stock
Units and Restricted
Stock Units(2)
   Percent
of
Class(3)
 

Luis Aranguren-Trellez

   1,011    23,099    * 

David B. Fischer

   927    3,894    * 

Ilene S. Gordon

   837,198    45,428    1.2

Paul Hanrahan

   —      37,048    * 

Rhonda L. Jordan

   —      8,217    * 

Gregory B. Kenny

   —      36,529    * 

Barbara A. Klein

   2,828    27,630    * 

Victoria J. Reich

   —      4,162    * 

Jorge A. Uribe

   1,169    220    * 

Dwayne A. Wilson

   —      11,528    * 

Jack C. Fortnum

   187,591    12,312    * 

James P. Zallie

   100,153    9,896    * 

Jorgen Kokke

   28,274    3,360    * 

Christine M. Castellano

   54,684    4,634    * 

All directors and executive officers as a group (20 persons)

   1,377,547    251,222    1.9
   Amount and Nature of
Beneficial Ownership
   Percent
of
Class
(3)
 

Beneficial Owner

  Outstanding Shares
of Company
Common Stock(1)
   Shares Underlying
Phantom Stock
Units and Restricted
Stock Units(2)
 

Luis Aranguren-Trellez

   1,075    28,345    * 

David B. Fischer

   1,933    6,683    * 

Paul Hanrahan

   —      45,452    * 

Rhonda L. Jordan

   —      14,260    * 

Gregory B. Kenny

   —      45,628    * 

Barbara A. Klein

   1,123    33,217    * 

Victoria J. Reich

   —      8,327    * 

Stephan B. Tanda

   907    —      * 

Jorge A. Uribe

   1,222    6,140    * 

Dwayne A. Wilson

   —      15,941    * 

James P. Zallie

   195,480    40,322    * 

James D. Gray

   57,928    9,652    * 

Jorgen Kokke

   47,496    7,246    * 

Elizabeth Adefioye

   12,694    10,093    * 

Janet M. Bawcom

   —      9,733    * 

All directors and executive officers as a group (20 persons)

   464,812    306,705    * 

 

(1)

Includes shares of company common stock held individually, jointly with others, in the name of an immediate family member or under trust for the benefit of the named individual and/or one or more children of the named individual. I. S. Gordon disclaims beneficial ownership of 85,370 shares of common stock held in grantor retained annuity trust remainder trusts for the benefit of her adult children. Unless otherwise noted, the beneficial owner has sole voting and investment power. Fractional amounts have been rounded to the nearest whole share.

Includes shares of company common stock that may be acquired within 60 days of March 21, 2017,26, 2020, through the exercise of stock options granted by the companyCompany in the following amounts: I. S. Gordon, 475,420; J. C. Fortnum, 76,629; J. P. Zallie, 71,143;163,385; J. D. Gray, 48,369; J. Kokke 16,259; C.34,627; E. Adefioye, 12,371; J. M. Castellano, 36,914;Bawcom, 0, and for all directors and executive officers as a group, 793,237.369,284.

Includes shares of the company’s common stock subject to restricted stock awards in the following amounts: for each of L. Aranguren-Trellez and B. A. Klein, 888 shares and reinvestment of dividends on those shares; and for all directors and executive officers as a group, 1,776 shares. The shares of restricted stock held by Mr. Aranguren-Trellez and Ms. Klein were granted to these directors as part of their annual retainers, and reinvested dividends on these shares are vested but are restricted as to transfer until termination of service from the board. Holders of restricted stock are entitled to vote those shares prior to vesting.

Includes 1,1414,766 shares of the company’s common stock held in the Ingredion Incorporated Stock Fund of our Retirement Savings PlanPlans by all directors and executive officers as a group.

Fractional amounts have been rounded to the nearest whole share.

 

(2)

Includes shares of company common stock that are represented by deferred phantom stock units and restricted stock units of the companyCompany credited to the accounts of the outside directors and certain executive officers. The directors and executive officers have no voting or investment power over the company’s common stock by virtue of their ownership of phantom stock units or restricted stock units. The restricted stock units held by directors and executive officers and included in this column are not exercisable within 60 days. Fractional amounts have been rounded to the nearest whole share.

(3)

Less than one percent, except as otherwise indicated.percent. Does not include shares in the column headed “Shares Underlying Phantom Stock Units and Restricted Stock Units.”

Executive Compensation

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

This section provides information concerning our compensation programs in which our principal executive officer, our principal financial officer and our three most highly compensated executive officers other than our principal executive officer and principal financial officer (“named executive officers”) participated in 2016.2019. The named executive officers are all based in the U.S. The compensation discussion and analysis is organized as follows:

 

Executive Summary

 

Overview of Compensation Philosophy and Programs

 

Elements of Compensation

 

Executive Stock Ownership Requirements

 

Other Items

Executive Summary

We are a leading global manufactureringredients solutions provider. We turn corn, tapioca, potatoes, grains, fruits, and supplier of starchvegetables into value-added ingredients and sweetener ingredients to a range of industries, including packagedbiomaterials for the food, beverage, brewing and industrial customers.

2016 Business Performance and Executive Pay Highlights

We achieved net sales of $5.70 billion in 2016. Our diluted earnings per common share in 2016 increased by 18.9% to $6.55 compared to $5.51 in 2015, while adjusted diluted earnings per common share increased by 21.3% to $7.13 compared to $5.88 in 2015. The increase in earnings per share was due primarily to significantly improved operating income in the North America, and to a lesser extent, in the Asia Pacific and Europe, Middle East and Africa (“EMEA”) regions, as compared to 2015.1 Operating income was improved primarily due to a better price/product mix in both our specialty and core ingredients, acquisition-related growth and reduced costs resulting from our global optimization efforts. These positive items were partially offset by the negative effect of foreign exchange and difficult macroeconomic conditions in South America.other industries.

2016 Executive PayCorporate Governance Highlights

Effective January 1, 2016, James P. Zallie was given responsibility for the South America region in addition to his responsibility for the North America region, in his new role as Executive Vice President, Global Specialties and President, Americas. Ricardo de Abreu Souza, who retired from the company in February 2016 and had served as Senior Vice President and President, South America Ingredient Solutions through December 31, 2015, had previously been responsible for the South America region.

The Compensation Committee approved base salary increasesis briefed regularly on best practices and corporate governance developments in 2016 including meritrelation to executive compensation. Our executive compensation policies and promotional adjustments for our named executive officers, which averaged 6.5%. Excluding promotional increases, the average was 4.2%.
practices include:

 

A substantial majority

Independent compensation committee. The Compensation Committee, which is comprised solely of independent directors, approves the named executive officers’ compensation was in the form of annual and long-term incentives, providing, as in prior years, a strong incentive to increase shareholder value. From 64% to 86% of the named executive officers’ target total direct compensation was performance-based.

Annual Incentive Plan awards were based on targets of 65% to 125% of base salary of the named executive officers, based on achievement of goals with respect to EBITDA, operating working capital and personal objectives.

1See Appendix A for a reconciliation of adjusted diluted earnings per common share to diluted earnings per common share determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

Reflectingother than the strong financial performance in 2016, the payments under the Annual Incentive Plan for 2016 to Ms. Gordon, Mr. Fortnum, Mr. Zallie, Mr. Kokke and Ms. Castellano were 138%, 137%, 136%, 125% and 147% of their target awards, respectively.Chief Executive Officer.

 

Long-term incentive awards had

Independent compensation consultant. The Compensation Committee has retained an independent compensation consultant.

None of our U.S.-based executive officers has an employment agreement with the Company.

Limited perquisites. Executives receive only limited perquisites.

Excise taxgross-ups. Our severance agreements with executive officers do not provide for “excise taxgross-ups” in the event of a target grant date value of from 41% to 69%change in control.

Share ownership requirements. We have meaningful share ownership requirements for executive officers.

Policies. The Company has a “clawback policy” and a policy prohibiting the hedging and, except in limited circumstances, pledging of the namedCompany’s stock by the Company’s executive officers’ total 2016 target compensation (base salary plus target short-officers and long-term incentive compensation). These awards were in the form of nonqualified stock options, performance shares and restricted stock units granted pursuant to our Stock Incentive Plan. Our goal was to provide awards such that we delivered approximately 40% of the grant date fair value of the long-term incentive award in the form of nonqualified stock options, 35% in the form of performance shares and the remaining 25% in the form of restricted stock units.directors.

 

Double-trigger

Beginning in 2016, double-trigger vesting of equity grants was implemented effective with the 2016 Stock Incentive Planadded to grants tofor named executive officers. In the event that outstanding grants remain exercisable for shares of common stock (i.e., the grants are not assumed or replaced with equity awards) after a Changechange in Control (as defined in the Stock Incentive Plan),control, accelerated vesting will occur only upon a qualifying termination event. The qualifying termination will require an involuntary termination without “cause” or resignation for “good reason” during atwo-year protection period following a Changechange in Control.control.

2019 Business Performance and Executive Pay Highlights

We achieved net sales of $6.21 billion in 2019. Our diluted earnings per common share in 2019 decreased by 0.6% from $6.17 in 2018 to $6.13 in 2019. Adjusted diluted earnings per common share in 2019 decreased by

3.9% from $6.92 in 2018 to compared to $6.65 in 2019.1 The decrease in earnings per share was due primarily to foreign exchange impacts and higher raw material and production costs, partially offset by improved price mix.

Executive Pay Highlights

Janet M. Bawcom joined the Company as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer on April 15, 2019, to succeed Christine M. Castellano who left the company on February 2, 2019.

The Compensation Committee (and, with respect to the Chief Executive Officer, the independent directors) approved base salary increases in 2019 including merit and promotional adjustments for our named executive officers, which averaged 4.8%.

A substantial majority of the named executive officers’ 2019 total target compensation (base salary plus target short- and long-term incentive compensation) was in the form of annual and long-term incentives, providing, as in prior years, a strong incentive to increase shareholder value. From 66% to 87% of the named executive officers’ target 2019 total direct compensation was performance-based.

Annual Incentive Plan awards were based on targets of 65% to 130% of the 2019 base salary of the named executive officers, based on achievement of goals with respect to adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, adjusted as described on page 38), operating working capital (defined as cash conversion cycle), Cost Smart savings, and personal objectives.

The payments under the Annual Incentive Plan for 2019 to Mr. Zallie, Mr. Gray, Mr. Kokke, Ms. Adefioye and Ms. Bawcom were 104%, 105%, 103%, 109% and 101% of their target awards, respectively.

Long-term incentive awards had a target grant date value from 43% to 70% of the named executive officers’ 2019 total target compensation. These awards were in the form of performance shares, nonqualified stock options, and restricted stock units granted pursuant to our Stock Incentive Plan. Our goal was to provide awards such that we delivered approximately 50% of the grant date fair value of the long-term incentive award in the form of performance shares, 25% in the form of nonqualified stock options, and the remaining 25% in the form of restricted stock units.

Payouts under the 2017-2019 performance shares were at 0% as a result of the Company’s total shareholder return (“TSR”) for the performance period ending at the 13th percentile, demonstrating thepay-for-performance link of our executive compensation program.

The 2020 compensation program decisions reflected an incentive structure review conducted in 2019. The new designs further aligned executive pay with key performance metrics. The long-term incentive program in the 2020 compensation program was unchanged. The 2020 Annual Incentive Program will be determined based on achievement of goals with respect to EBITDA, total Company working capital as a percentage of sales (in replacement of operating working capital), Cost Smart savings, and personal objectives.

All awards granted under the 2016 Stock Incentive Plan are “double-trigger” vesting in the event of a change in control (as defined in the Stock Incentive Plan). As a result, accelerated vesting will occur only upon a qualifying termination event. The qualifying termination will require an involuntary termination without “cause” or resignation for “good reason” during atwo-year period following a change in control.

Overview of Compensation Philosophy and Programs

Purpose and Structure

A well-structured executive compensation strategy, like a well-structured business strategy, requires clarity and balance. We need to address many important business variables and time frames in our compensation programs. Among the most important variables that we must manage are:

 

Alignment

alignment with company strategy and performance across time, i.e., short-, intermediate- and long-term performance,

1

Adjusted diluted earnings per common share is not a financial measure calculated in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). See Appendix A for a reconciliation of thisnon-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable GAAP measure.

alignment of compensation strategy and performance objectives with drivers of shareholder value creation,

 

Program

program design that properly encourages the necessary tradeoffs between short-term results and greater long-term value,

 

Reinforcement

reinforcement of prudent risk taking,

 

Facilitation

facilitation of our ability to attract and retain key executive talent,

 

Competitiveness

competitiveness with prevailing practices in both level and mix of pay,

 

Program

program design and overall mix of compensation that is consistent with both managerial effectiveness and sound governance,

 

Program

program design that can be reasonably applied to a broader cross-section of positions than just named executive officers,

 

Programs

programs that are straightforward and understandable, and

 

Facilitation

facilitation of sensible, sustainable and proportionate sharing of company success between shareholdersstockholders and employees.

Our compensation programs are intended to balance these reinforcing (and sometimes competing) objectives. We believe our programs and related pay opportunities allow us to achieve these objectives in a prudent and effective way. Our executive compensation structure is straightforward, competitive in the marketplace and has a strong emphasis on performance. We believe it is one that shareholdersstockholders can understand and support.

Our compensation structure for our named executive officers for 20162019 included the following broad elements:

 

LOGOLOGO

This structure is simple and comprehensive, providing:

 

elements essential to be competitive in the marketplace,

 

a mix that supports the short- and long-term elements of our business strategy, and

 

performance measures that are drivers of and/or directly based on shareholder value.

Performance

Our pay programs are aligned with competitive practice and our performance. We are committed to continuing to manage the companyCompany in a prudent manner for long-term success. We believe we are providing the right incentives to our management for them to do so.

In making decisions with respect to pay for our named executive officers for 2017,2020, our Compensation Committee took into accountconsidered thesay-on-pay vote at our 20162019 annual meeting. In light of the 95.9%93.1% vote in favor of the compensation of our named executive officers, we did not change our compensation plans as a result of thesay-on-pay vote. Our programs for 20172020 are similar to those for 2016.2019.

We continue to evaluate our compensation programs and practices to ensure we incorporate best practices in executive compensation and consider modifications to our programs to support our business strategies and provide an appropriate balance of risk and reward.

Philosophy and Process

Our Compensation Committee establishes our executive compensation philosophy. Our executive compensation programs are approved by our Compensation Committee based on recommendations by management and advice from an independent compensation consultant and are administered by our Human Resources Department. Our Chief Executive Officer and Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer make recommendations concerning base salary, short- and long-term incentive compensation and plan design for executive compensation (other than their own) to our Compensation Committee. Our Compensation Committee (and, with respect to the Chief Executive Officer, the independent directors) approves all forms of compensation, related design provisions and performance goals for our named executive officers.

We are committed to maximizing shareholder value and dedicated to attracting and retaining the necessary talent to accomplish this objective. Our compensation philosophy is designed to directly align the interests of shareholdersstockholders and employeesexecutives through compensation programs that will reward employeesexecutives for performance that builds long-term shareholder value.

The objectives of our compensation programs are to:

 

Align

align and motivate management to execute our business strategy and to enhance shareholder value,

 

Attract

attract and retain outstanding and talented executives who can execute our strategy and deliver the best business results, and

 

Reinforce

reinforcepay-for-performance by aligning earned compensation with results.

To meet our objectives, elements of compensation are based on the following three fundamental principles.

A Substantial Portion of the Named Executive Officers’ Compensation Will Be Performance-Based. Our executive compensation programs are designed to motivate our executive officers to maximize shareholder returns by achieving growth and profitability goals. Our programs provide this motivation in a number of ways.

 

From 64%66% to 86%87% of the named executive officers’ target 2019 total direct compensation in 2016 wasas performance-based.

 

Our named executive officers may earn cash payments under our Annual Incentive Plan with target awards ranging from 65% to 125%130% of the named executive officer’s base salary. The remaining performance-based portion of total direct compensation wasis in the form of long-term incentive compensation.

The amount of the payments is directly related to the level of performance.

 

No payments are made for a particular program component if threshold performance goals are not achieved.

 

The performance goals are recommended by management and reviewedapproved by the Compensation Committee before being(and in the case of the Chief Executive Officer, recommended by the Compensation Committee and approved by the independent members of the Board of Directors.directors).

A Substantial Portion of Named Executive Officer Compensation Will Be Delivered in the Form of Equity Awards. The Compensation Committee believes that a substantial portion of total target compensation should be delivered in the form of long-term equity incentives in order to align the interests of our named executive officers with the interests of our shareholders.stockholders. In 2016, 35%2019, 50% of the equity compensation provided to our named executive officers was delivered in the form of performance shares, 40%25% in the form of nonqualified stock options and 25% in the form of restricted stock units. These allocations are unchanged from 2018. These awards in combination focus executives on the creation of shareholder value over the long term and permit named executive officers to accumulate ownership in the company.Company.

Like awards earned under the Annual Incentive Plan, performance shares are earned based on the achievement of performance goals recommended by management and approved by the Compensation Committee (and in the case of the Chief Executive Officer, recommended by the Compensation Committee and approved by the

independent members of the Board of Directors.directors). No performance shares are earned if threshold performance goals are not achieved. Stock options have no realizable value at the time of grant. Named executive officers will only realize value from stock options if our share price appreciates above the exercise price, which is the closing price of a share of our common stock on the date of grant. Restricted stock units have a value tied to the stock price.

Our Compensation Program for Named Executive Officers Is Designed to Enable Us to Attract and Retain First-Rate Executive Talent. We believe that shareholdersstockholders are best served when we can attract and retain talented executives with compensation packages that are competitive. Therefore, in general we target base salary and annual cash compensation (base salary plus target short-term incentives) and long-term incentive compensation opportunities for the named executive officers at the 50th percentile based on executives with similar responsibilities among a comparator group of companies. However, actual pay opportunities can vary somewhat (above or below) this market reference point based on experience, performance, retention concerns and overall expertise in the role. We prepare market benchmarking on the basis of pay opportunities, that is, “target” and grant date values of compensation. We use target/grant date values in our market analyses because earned compensation (as contrasted with target) is entirely a function of performance. Our objective is to deliver competitive target compensation opportunities. Management provides the Compensation Committee with information regarding compensation practices of the compensation comparator group of companies to assist the Compensation Committee in understanding the external market. In 2016, thisThis market data was provided to management by Aon Hewitt and reviewed by the Compensation Committee and by its advisor, Pearl Meyer & Partners. The compensation comparator group used for 20162019 compensation decisions consisted of the following 3025 companies:

 

Ball Corporation

  Hormel Foods CorporationKeurig Dr. Pepper

BorgWarner Inc.

  The J. M. Smucker CompanyLeggett & Platt, Incorporated

Campbell Soup Company

  Mattel, Inc.

The Clorox Company

  McCormick & Company, Incorporated

Darling Ingredients Inc.

  Mead Johnson Nutrition CompanyMeritor, Inc.

Dover Corporation

Meritor, Inc.

Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc.

  Mohawk Industries, Inc.

Eastman Chemical Company

  Owens-Illinois, Inc.

Federal-Mogul Holdings LLC

Pentair plc

Flowserve Corporation

  Reynolds AmericanPentair, Inc.

Fresh Del Monte Produce, Inc.

  Sonoco Products Company

Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Inc.

  SPX CorporationTenneco Inc.

The Hershey Company

  Tenneco Inc.

Joy Global Inc.

Terex Corporation

Leggett & Platt, IncorporatedHormel Foods Corporation

  Visteon Corporation

The J. M. Smucker Company

We compete for talent with a variety of companies in the U.S. and elsewhere. Accordingly, since our executive talent is likely to come from a variety of industries, the Compensation Committee decided that the comparator group should similarly reflect a robust cross-section of companies and industries. Consequently, a comparator group was developed that was based on companies that provide data to the Aon Hewitt database and which were broadly similar in revenue scope (between $3.7$3.1 billion and $9.5$11.0 billion in annual revenues). The median annual revenue of this group was $5.6 billion. Aon Hewitt applied regression analysis where appropriate to account for differences in size (i.e., revenues) of the companies in the 20162019 comparator group in estimating the market value of each compensation element, a common analytical convention. The median annual revenue of this group was $6.5 billion.

There were a number ofno changes into the 20162019 compensation comparator listgroup when compared to the 2015 list. Three companies were acquired and their revenues fell below the median revenue among Ingredion’s benchmark peer2018 group, (Chiquita Brands International, Inc. acquired by Cutrale Group and Safra Group; MeadWestvaco Corporation acquired by Rock-Tenn Company; and Lorillard, Inc. acquired by Reynolds American Inc.). In

addition, seven companies were removed from the peer groupother than Dr. Pepper Snapple became Keurig Dr. Pepper due to their having a primarily domestic operating footprint (Essendant Inc., Hanesbrands Inc., Trinity Industries, Inc., W.W. Grainger, Inc., Graphic Packaging Holding Company, Masco Corporation and Weyerhaeuser Company). The following two companies were added to the comparator group: Darling Ingredients Inc. and Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc.its acquisition by Keurig Green Mountain during July 2018.

We determine all elements of compensation annually at the same time in order to consider the relationships between all of the compensation elements as well as to assess the appropriateness of the total compensation package for each named executive officer. To accomplish this, we review the strength of our financial performance, the named executive officers’ positions and levels of responsibility, internal comparisons, individual performance and historical grant levels, as well as the competitive market data for the compensation comparator group.

Elements of Compensation

As summarized above, our compensation program has five components: base salary, annual incentives, long-term incentive compensation, benefit programs broadly available to employees and a limited number of perquisites. Each element is addressed in the context of competitive conditions and internal comparisons. The Compensation Committee annually reviews each component of compensation including performance metrics and objectives to determine whether they remain properly aligned. Accordingly, there may be changes from year to year in the metrics or other plan design elements we use to measure performance and as the basis for earning the components of compensation.

Base Salary: We target base salaries at the 50th percentile (actual salaries are adjusted for relative experience for the position) relative to executives with similar responsibilities of the compensation comparator group of companies.group. The specific named executive officer’s salary varies based on the level of his or her responsibility, experience, time in position, internal equity considerations and individual performance. Salaries are reviewed annually. All salary actions with respect to named executive officers, other than the Chief Executive Officer, are recommended by our Chief Executive Officer and reviewed and approved by the Compensation Committee. Our Chief Executive Officer’s recommendations are made at the conclusion of our performance review process. Our performance review process requires our Chief Executive Officer to evaluate the other named executive officers’ performance and contributions against objective metrics and success driversleader imperatives and to assign a performance rating. This rating system is used for all salaried employees. Based on these ratings our Chief Executive Officer makes salary recommendations considering the named executive officers’ time in the position and the salary-50th50th percentile salary for the corresponding position in the compensation comparator group.

In 2016,2019, the Chief Executive Officer recommended salary increases for all of the other named executive officers, and the Compensation Committee approved totalsuch salary increasesincreases. The Compensation Committee recommended the 2019 salary increase for the executive officers including the Chief Executive Officer.Officer, and the independent directors approved such salary increase. The increases for our named executive officers averaged 6.5%, which included promotional increases. Excluding promotional increases, the average was 4.2%4.8%.

Annual Incentive Plan: Our Annual Incentive Plan is our short-term incentive cash compensation program for executive officers, including the named executive officers. This plan was approved by our shareholdersstockholders in 2015.

Since its inception, our Annual Incentive Plan has fostered and supported ourpay-for-performance philosophy by providing direct incentives to achieve specific financial goals. These goals are based on financial goals for the companyCompany recommended by management and approved by our Board of Directors. These plan goals are intended to align performance with our shareholders’stockholders’ interests. Earned annual incentives are based on performance relative to thepre-established financial goals and personal objectives.

The Compensation Committee approves a cash, short-term incentive target opportunity for each named executive officer, other than the Chief Executive Officer, expressed as a percentage of base salary. The independent directors approve the cash, short-term incentive target opportunity for the Chief Executive Officer, which is also expressed as a percentage of base salary. For 2016,2019, the target awards for the named executive

officers ranged from 65% to 125%130% of base salary depending on the named executive officer’s position, as shown in the table on page 33.40 Incentive targets are established by the Compensation Committee in part based on market data and in part based on our Chief Executive Officer’s recommendations concerning short-term incentive target awards for specific named executive officers (other than herself)himself). Ms. Gordon’s 2016Mr. Zallie’s 2019 target was established based on market data and was approved by the Compensation Committee and the independent members of the Board of Directors.

Management recommended and the Compensation Committee (and, with respect to the Chief Executive Officer, the independent directors) approved the performance measures, goalstargets and weightings with respect to the performance goals as shown in the table below. The Compensation Committee (and, with respect to the Chief Executive Officer, the independent directors) approved each performance measure for the following reasons: EBITDA because it serves as a foundation for our growth and, as a result, shareholder value; operating working capital (specifically defined as cash conversion cycle) because it is a key financial metric; Cost Smart savings to align the named executive officers’ payouts with the Company’s cost saving program, and personal objectives because these objectives are important priorities for each individualnamed executive officer to achieve strategic initiatives. Mr. Zallie’s and Mr. Kokke’s goals included a regional EBITDA goalsgoal for the regional operationsregion for which they werehe was responsible in order to provide an incentive for superior performance of those operations.that region. The Compensation Committee (and the independent directors, with respect to the Chief Executive Officer’s EBITDA goal) exercised its discretion to adjust the 2019 EBITDA results for a total of $28 million to excludeone-time costs related to: restructuring/impairment costs associated with our Cost Smart SG&A Program, closure of our Lane Cove, Australia production facility, and costs associated with our Cost Smart cost of sales program; acquisition and integration costs related to Western Polymer; and other matters including the Brazilian indirect tax credit. These adjustments were determined to be appropriate from the EBITDA target level originally established because these events were outside of the ordinary course of business and excluding theseone-time and project related net costs allowed management to monitor performance of the ordinary course of business on a comparable basis year over year.

Weightings Assigned in 20162019 to Each Performance Objective under the

Annual Incentive Plan for the Named Executive Officers

 

   EBITDA(1)  Regional
EBITDA
  Operating
Working
Capital(2)
  Personal
Objectives
 

I. S. Gordon

   60   15  25

J. C. Fortnum

   60   15  25

J. P. Zallie

   35  25%(3)   15  25

J. Kokke

   35  25%(4)   15  25

C. M. Castellano

   60   15  25

Name

  Adjusted
EBITDA
  Adjusted
Regional
EBITDA
  Operating
Working
Capital(1)
  Cost
Smart
Savings
  Personal
Objectives
 

J.P. Zallie

   55   10  15  20

J. D. Gray

   55   10  15  20

J. Kokke

   30  25%(2)   10  15  20

E. Adefioye

   55   10  15  20

J. M. Bawcom

   55   10  15  20

 

(1)EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.
(2)

Operating working capital is defined as cash conversion cycle which is the12-month average of trade accounts receivable plus inventory less trade accounts payable and accrued expenses divided by average monthly net sales multiplied by 30 days.

(3)(2)

The applicable adjusted Regional EBITDA for Mr. Kokke is the North America region and EBITDA for the South America region.North America.

(4)EBITDA for the Asia Pacific region and EBITDA for the EMEA region.

Scales developed for each metric permit participants in our Annual Incentive Plan (“AIP”) to earn from 0% up to 200% of their annual incentive targets based on achievement from 88% to 115% of the adjusted EBITDA goal, and achievement of an operating working capital goal from 0% for 64.772.4 days outstanding to 200% for 54.662.4 days outstanding.outstanding and Cost Smart savings from 0% for $16.0 million to 200% for $38.9 million in cumulative 2019end-of-yearrun-rate SG&A savings targets.

Our Board of Directors approves corporate financial goals and objectives for the company.Company. The Compensation Committee, together with the company’s other independent directors reviewsreview and approves corporateapprove the individual personal goals and objectives relevant to our Chief Executive Officer’s compensation in light of those corporate financial goals and objectivesobjectives. The Compensation Committee does the same for the company. named executive officers other than the Chief Executive Officer.

The Compensation Committee, in conjunction with the company’sCompany’s other independent directors, evaluates the Chief Executive Officer’s performance in light of those goals and objectives. The Compensation Committee discusses the evaluation with the other independent directors and recommends compensation for the Chief Executive Officer to the independent directors, who approve the Chief Executive Officer’s compensation, including base salary and short- and long-term incentive awards.

To be eligible to receive an incentive payment for a performance period, a named executive officer must (i) be an employee of the companyCompany on the last day of the performance period, or have terminated employment during the performance period due to retirement, disability or death, and (ii) have been employed by the companyCompany more than six months of the performance period. A named executive officer who is eligible to receive an incentive payment for a performance period, but who was not actively employed during the entire

performance period, will receive a prorated payment determined in accordance with rules approved by the Compensation Committee. Annual incentive awards for each performance period are to be paid within two andone-half months after the end of theone-year performance period.

The following tables set forth our financial performance goals established for each named executive officer for 20162019 as well as the actual results achieved.

Summary of 20162019 Financial Goals and Actual Results under the

Annual Incentive Plan for the Named Executive Officers

 

Financial Metrics ($ in millions)

  2016 Target-Level
Goals
   2016 Financial
Results
 

EBITDA for the company

  $953.2   $1,020.1 

EBITDA for the North America Region

  $652.5   $729.0 

EBITDA for the South America Region

  $134.4   $111.6 

EBITDA for the Asia Pacific Region

  $132.6   $133.7 

EBITDA for the EMEA Region

  $117.9   $123.3 

Operating Working Capital

   59.6 days    60.6 days 

Financial Metrics ($ in millions)

  2019 Target-Level
Goals
   2019 Financial
Results
 

Adjusted EBITDA for the Company

  $978.9   $911.0 

Adjusted EBITDA for the North America Region

  $678.1   $654.9 

Operating Working Capital

   67.4 days    68.1 days 

Cost Smart Savings

  $20.0   $40.5 

Executive Annual Incentives

Payout Percentage Detail—20162019

 

   EBITDA  Operating
Working Capital
  Personal Objectives  Total 

Name

  % Weighting  % Payout  % Weighting  % Payout  % Weighting  % Payout  % Payout 

I. S. Gordon

   60  147  15  90  25  145  138

J. C. Fortnum

   60  147  15  90  25  140  137

J. P. Zallie

   60  146%(1)   15  90  25  137.5  136

J. Kokke

   60  135%(2)   15  90  25  125  125

C. M. Castellano

   60  147  15  90  25  180  147
   Adjusted EBITDA  Operating
Working Capital
  Cost Smart Savings  Personal Objectives 

Name

  Weighting  Payout  Weighting  Payout  Weighting  Payout  Weighting  Payout 

J.P. Zallie

   55  72  10  93  15  200  20  126.25

J. D. Gray

   55  72  10  93  15  200  20  131.25

J. Kokke

   55  78%(1)   10  93  15  200  20  105.0

E. Adefioye

   55  72  10  93  15  200  20  150.0

J. M. Bawcom

   55  72  10  93  15  200  20  111.25

 

(1)

Based on 35%30% weighting to adjusted EBITDA for the companyCompany and 25% weighting to adjusted EBITDA for the North America region and EBITDA for the South America region.

(2)Based on 35% weighting to EBITDA for the company and 25% weighting to EBITDA for the Asia Pacific region and the EMEA region.

Executive Annual Incentives

Target, Maximum and Actual Awards—20162019

 

   AIP Target   AIP Maximum(1)   2016 Calculated AIP Payout
(paid in March 2017)
 

Name

  % of
Salary
  Amount ($)   % of AIP
Target
  Amount ($)   % of AIP
Target
  Amount ($) 

I. S. Gordon

   125 $1,491,535    200 $2,983,050    138 $2,057,573 

J. C. Fortnum

   80 $490,383    200 $980,766    137 $670,354 

J. P. Zallie

   80 $480,000    200 $960,000    136 $650,760 

J. Kokke

   75 $302,505    200 $605,010    125 $379,493 

C. M. Castellano

   65 $269,588    200 $539,176    147 $395,485 

(1)These amounts reflect 200% of the target opportunity. In 2016, awards granted to our named executive officers were based upon an incentive pool equal to 3% of our total operating income and an individual allocation of this pool of 40% to our Chief Executive Officer and 15% each to our Chief Financial Officer and each of our region Presidents, subject to a maximum award of $5.0 million in each case. The Compensation Committee exercised its discretion to reduce these award amounts based on the metrics described in the discussion of our Annual Incentive Plan.

Annual incentives paid for 2016 were determined based upon achievement of goals set for corporate and regional financial results including EBITDA, operating working capital and personal objectives. The Compensation Committee exercised its discretion to adjust the 2016 EBITDA results to offset expenses of $3.0 million for the acquisition of TIC Gums Incorporated, expenses of $10.8 million related to the outsourcing of our information technology (“IT”) function and severance expenses of $2.2 million for the closing of our Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada plant.

For 2016, the performance goals for each of the named executive officers were recommended by the Compensation Committee and reviewed and approved by the independent members of the Board of Directors. These goals were based upon financial goals for the company recommended by management and reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors.

   AIP Target   AIP Maximum   2019 Calculated AIP Payout
          (paid in March 2020)           
 

Name

  % of
Salary
  Amount   % of AIP
Target
  Amount   % of AIP
Target
  Amount 

J. P. Zallie

   130 $1,296,750    200 $2,593,500    104 $1,350,565 

J. D. Gray

   80 $489,600    200 $979,200    105 $514,815 

J. Kokke

   80 $463,300    200 $926,600    103 $479,053 

E. Adefioye

   65 $292,500    200 $585,000    109 $318,533 

J. M. Bawcom

   65 $223,101    200 $446,203    101 $225,668 

The personal objectives component represented 25%20% of each named executive officer’s potential award opportunity. The personal objectives for the Chief Executive Officer and the other named executive officers were recommended by the Compensation Committee and reviewed and approved by the independent members of the Board of Directors.directors. The personal objectives for the named executive officers, other than the Chief Executive Officer, were recommended by the Chief Executive Officer to the Compensation Committee and approved by the Compensation Committee.

Ms. Gordon’sMr. Zallie’s personal objectives were focused on revenue and cost synergies and delivery of growth. In particular, herhis goals were weighted as follows:

 

Safety (20%(15%),

 

Results-focused new product development

Improve Quality Systems and innovation (20%processes (10%),

 

Strategic planning

Deliver Cost Smart, Continuous Improvement and executionLean Savings (20%),

 

Succession planning, talent assessment

Drive commercial excellence and leadership development (15%customer experience initiatives (10%),

 

Continuous improvement in controllable costs (15%

Drive Specialties Growth and Strategic Agility (25%); and

 

Customer experience (10%

Talent, Capability and Diversity (20%).

The personal objectives of the other named executive officers were aligned with Ms. Gordon’sMr. Zallie’s personal objectives and focused on those same key areas in varying levels of emphasis and weighting.

At the end of the year, each named executive officer submitted a written self-appraisal. For the named executive officers, other than the Chief Executive Officer, the appraisalsself-appraisals were reviewed by the Chief Executive Officer. The self-appraisal for the Chief Executive Officer was reviewed by the Compensation Committee.independent directors. These reviews considered completion of objectives and the quality of work performed and incorporated an element of judgment in assigning individual levels of achievement. A maximum 200% payout on the personal objective component was possible for exceptional achievement.

Based on the Compensation Committee’s review of the individual personal objectives and actual achievements for Ms. Gordon and upon Ms. Gordon’sall named executive officers other than Mr. Zallie, Mr. Zallie’s recommendations for the other named executive officers, and the Board of Directors’ review of Mr. Zallie’s personal objectives, the following achievement percentages were assigned for personal objectives: 145.0% for Ms. Gordon, 140.0% for Mr. Fortnum, 137.5%126.25% for Mr. Zallie, 125.0%131.25% for Mr. Gray, 105% for Mr. Kokke, and 180.0%150% for Ms. Castellano.Adefioye and 111.25% for Ms. Bawcom.

Our Chief Executive Officer can recommend to the Compensation Committee an adjustment to the amount of the Annual Incentive Plan award earned by any other named executive officer (positively or negatively) based on herhis judgment of that individual’s performance and/or herhis judgment of the degree of difficulty of the performance goal. In 2016,2019, the Chief Executive Officer did not recommend any adjustments to named executive officer Annual Incentive Plan awards under this provision. Furthermore, the Compensation Committee can adjust the total amount earned and calculated in accordance with the metrics described above from 0% to 150% based

on its determination of the relative strength or weakness of an individual’s performance. As a result, an outstanding performer can have his or her total bonus payment increased by 50%; conversely, the bonus can be reduced incrementally to $0 for an unsatisfactory performer. No such adjustments were made under this provision for 2016.

2019.

Long-term Incentive Compensation: The principal purpose of our long-term incentive compensation program is to align the rewards to executives with the creation of shareholder value. For our Chief Executive Officer, the grant date value of target long-term incentive compensation comprised 69%70% of 2019 total 2016 target compensation (base salary plus target short- and long-term incentive compensation). For our other named executive officers, the grant date value of target long-term incentive compensation comprised from 41%43% to 56%50% of their 2019 total 2016 target compensation. We feel this provided an appropriate balance between shorter- and longer-term compensation and fixed and variable components. In 2016,2019, we awarded long-term incentives to our executive officers in the form of performance shares, nonqualified stock options, performance shares and restricted stock units granted pursuant to our Stock Incentive Plan. Our goal was to provide awards such that we delivered approximately 40%50% of the grant date fair value of the long-term incentive award in the form of nonqualified stock options, 35%performance shares, 25% in the form of performance sharesnonqualified stock options, and the remaining 25% in the form of restricted stock units. We used these allocations among performance shares, stock options performance shares and restricted stock units to provide a balance of compensation based on absolute stock price growth and superior relative performance-based shareholder return. We continue to evaluate the appropriate mix of long-term incentive compensation vehicles in comparison to the market to best support our long-term business strategy.

Stock Options. We determined For the February 2016 grant of nonqualified2020 grants, the respective weightings for performance shares, stock options, by converting 40% of the targeted long-term incentive compensation value for each named executive officer to a number ofand restricted stock options using an estimated Black-Scholes option value. Stock options were granted to eligible management employees, and the exercise price of such options was established on February 2, 2016. All of these options granted to our named executive officers are nonqualified stock options withten-year terms that vest inone-third increments on the first three anniversaries of the date of the grant. In the event of a retirement (defined as age 65, age 55 with ten years of service or age 62 with five years of service) one year after grant date, these options will continue to vest.

We make long-term incentive grants at the Compensation Committee’s first meeting each year, typically in early February, and at the same time other elements of compensation are determined so that we can consider all elements of compensation simultaneously.units remain unchanged.

Performance Shares.Shares: In 2014, 20152017 and 2016,2018, performance shares comprised 35% of the targeted long-term incentive compensation value, and in 2019 performance shares comprised 50% of the targeted long-term incentive compensation value. Performance shares awarded in 2019 will be earned, if at all, based on two equally weighted metrics: adjusted Return on Invested Capital, a ratio used to assess a company’s efficiency at allocating capital under its control to profitable investments which is calculated by dividing adjusted operating income, net of tax, by average current and prior year total net debt and equity, and our relative total shareholder return (“TSR”)TSR, as defined below, relative to our performance share peer group for a three-year cycle. The performance sharesThese metrics are intended to focus our executive officers on achieving critical multi-year goals, in particular, delivering superior shareholder returns relative to a comparator group. We believe that over time investors will choose our stock if they believe it will perform at least perform as well as a relevant group of peers and with strong expectations that we might outperform those peers. In addition, we believe that over time investors will choose our stock if we consistently achieve an adjusted return on invested capital in excess of our stated performance targets. The Compensation Committee regularly reviews the design of the performance shares, including performance metrics, to ensure the grants continue to be aligned with maximizing shareholder returns by achieving growth and value-generation goals. To further promote executive share ownership and shareholderstockholder alignment, vested performance shares are paid in common stock. No dividends are earned on any performance shares prior to the stock payment.

As with prior years, forFor performance shares awarded in 2016,2019, we set the relative TSR target award at the 55th50th percentile of the performance share peer group described below because we wanted to reward for above-average performance in our long-term incentive plan.below. TSR is defined for purposes of the performance shares as the sum of (a) change in stock price (ending stock price minus starting stock price) plus (b) dividends paid divided by beginning stock price. Beginning stock price is the average of the daily average prices as reported on the NYSE for each of the 20 trading days immediately prior to the first day of the performance period. Ending stock price is the average of the daily average prices as reported on the NYSE for each of the last 20 trading days of the performance period. The daily average prices are the average of the high and low prices as reported on the NYSE for one share of common stock on the date of determination. Dividends paid were the total of all dividends paid on one share of common stock during the applicable calendar quarter(s) during the performance period, with dividends treated as though they were reinvested at the end of each calendar quarter based on the stock price at the end of each calendar quarter.

Performance shares are earned based on our relative percentile ranking with respect to TSR for members of our performance share peer group.group as well as adjusted return on invested capital. The performance/reward scale for the 20162019 grant is as follows:

 

Threshold
Performance
(50% of Shares)
Target
Performance
(100% of Shares)
Maximum
Performance
(200% of Shares)

Relative Total Shareholder Return

40th

percentile

55th

percentile

80th

percentile

   Threshold
Performance
(50% of Shares)
  Target
Performance
(100% of Shares)
  Maximum
Performance
(200% of Shares)

Relative Total Shareholder Return

  25th

percentile

  50th

percentile

  75th

percentile

Adjusted Return on Invested Capital

  11.5%  13.5%  15.5%

The performance share peer group for the TSR metric for the performance shares granted in 20162019 consisted of Ingredion and the 1823 companies listed below.

 

Agrium Inc.Huntsman Corporation
Albemarle CorporationInnophos Holdings, Inc.
Archer-Daniels-Midland CompanyInternational Flavors & Fragrances Inc.
Bemis Company, Inc.

AAK AB (publ.)

  Kerry Group plc
Crown Holdings, Inc.

Albemarle Corporation

Koninklijke DSM N.V

Archer-Daniels-Midland Company

McCormick & Company, Incorporated

Balchem Corporation

  The Mosaic Company
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and

Bemis Company, Inc.

  Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc.Novozymes A/S
Ecolab

Celanese Corporation

Nutrien Ltd. (f/k/a Agrium Inc.)

Crown Holdings, Inc.

  Sealed Air Corporation
FMC Corporation

Ecolab Inc.

  Sensient Technologies Corporation
W. R. Grace & Co.

Givaudan SA

Symrise AG

Huntsman Corporation

  Tate & Lyle PLC

Innophos Holdings, Inc.

W. R. Grace & Co.

International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.

This performance share peer group was updated from the same as the onegroup used for 2018 grants. Nutrien is the prior two years, except fornew name of the removalcompany formed after Potash Corporation of Sigma-Aldrich Corporation and Mead-Westvaco Corporation, which were excluded due to corporate transactions. Saskatchewan Inc. merged with Agrium Inc. In addition, Naturex S.A. was removed after its acquisition by Givaudan SA.

In trying to construct an optimal custom comparator group, the following criteria or “filters” were utilized:

 

Commodity

commodity price sensitivity,

 

Overseas

overseas operations,

 

Basic

basic ingredient, food additives and midstream manufacturing/inputs,

 

Market

market capitalization between $1 billion and $50 billion,

 

Select

select international companies in related segments and/or competitors,

 

Generally

generally capital intensive, and

 

Demonstrated

demonstrated correlation in stock price returns to both Ingredion and the other companies in the comparator group.

The performance share peer group was utilized for this program rather than the compensation comparator group because we believe investors are more likely to consider the stocks of these companies as alternatives to an investment in our stock than the companies in the compensation comparator group, in part because their business operations are more similar to ours. We believe that the compensation comparator group is more representative of industries from which we may attract talent. Therefore, we use itthe compensation comparator group to determine competitive compensation levels. We believe the use of two separate groups of companies is appropriate and not uncommon given the different purposes for comparison.

Results of 2014-20162017-2019 Performance Awards. Relative TSR for thisthe3-year performance cycle ending in 2019 was at the 100th13th percentile. Consequently, 200%0% of the target number of performance shares granted in February 20142017 were earned. TSR was used because it is a direct measure of the value delivered to shareholdersstockholders relative to other comparable investments. The performance/reward scale for the 2014-20162017-2019 cycle established a payout scale with a 40th percentile requirement for a threshold performance payout of 50%, a 55th percentile for target performance payout of 100%, and an 80th percentile requirement for a maximum performance payout of 200%.

Stock Options. We determined the February 2019 grant of nonqualified stock options by converting 25% of the targeted long-term incentive compensation value for each named executive officer to a number of stock options using an estimated Black-Scholes option value. Stock options were granted to eligible management employees, and the exercise price of such options was established on February 8, 2019. All of these options granted to our named executive officers are nonqualified stock options withten-year terms that vest inone-third increments on the first three anniversaries of the date of the grant. In the event of a retirement (defined as age 65, age 55 with ten years of service or age 62 with five years of service) one year or more after grant date, these options will continue to vest.

We make long-term incentive grants at threshold, targetthe Compensation Committee’s first meeting each year, typically in early February, and maximum levels wasat the same as for the 2016-2018 cycle shown above.time other elements of compensation are determined so that we can consider all elements of compensation simultaneously.

Restricted Stock Units. Restricted stock units represent the right to receive a share of common stock upon vesting. Restricted stock units are granted to align the interests of named executive officers with the interests of our shareholders.stockholders. They promote retention of critical executive talent. They also help balance the named executive officers’ long-term incentive compensation mix to minimize risk taking. Finally, they result in the issuance of a lesser amount of shares to provide an equivalent amount of compensation compared to stock options. We determined the February 20162019 grants by converting 25% of the targeted long-term incentive compensation value for each named executive officer to a number of restricted stock units using the closing price of a share of our common stock on the date of grant. Restricted stock units granted to the named executive officers in February 20162019 vest on the third anniversary of the date of the grant. The restricted stock units vest on a pro rata basis in the event of death or disability. The restricted stock units will continue to vest in the event of retirement (defined as age 65, age 55 with ten years of service or age 62 with five years of service) more than one year after grant date. As of each dividend payable date, additional restricted stock units equivalent to the value of the dividend are credited to the award. The additional restricted stock units carry the same terms and conditions as the underlying award.

Retirement and Other Benefits:Benefits. We also provide benefits such as medical, dental and life insurance and disability and accidental death and dismemberment coverage to each U.S.-based named executive officer. These benefits are also provided to all eligible U.S.-based employees. Eligible employees, including the named executive officers, can purchase additional life, dependent life and accidental death and dismemberment coverage as part of their active employee benefits. In addition, all salaried employees in the U.S. are eligible to participate in our Retirement Savings PlanPlans and, subject to certain service requirements, our Cash Balance Pension Plan and our Retiree Health Care Spending Accounts (“RHCSA”). Mr. Fortnum and eleven other current employees who were participating in our legacy Executive Life Insurance Plan that was established by our former parent company prior to our becoming an independent public company are provided with split-dollar life insurance. This plan has been frozen.

Cash Balance Plan. Our Cash Balance Plan is a defined benefit qualified pension plan which is available to all U.S., salaried employees hired before January 1, 2015. Accounts of participants in the Cash Balance Plan accrue pay credits based on years of service and monthly interest credits using a rate equal to a specified amount above the interest rate on short-term U.S. Treasury notes. Pay credits are calculated as a percentage (3% to 10%) of a salaried employee’s eligible compensation (defined as base salary, overtime and earned Annual Incentive Plan award). The pay credit percentage is determined by the employee’s years of service and reaches and remains at 10% after 35 years of service. Due to a recent plan change, credit for service, waswhich is frozen at 2017 levels for purposes of calculating the pay credit percentage.Thepercentage. The value of a participant’s account at retirement is paid out either as a life or a joint and survivor

annuity or in an optional form, such as a lump sum if certain funding conditions are met. The Cash Balance Plan provides for a three-year vesting period. All of the named executive officers other than Mr. KokkeZallie and Mr. Gray participate in the Cash Balance Plan.

Retirement Savings Plan. Our Retirement Savings Plan is atax-qualified 401(k) savings plan that offers U.S., salaried employees the opportunity to contribute up to 75% of their eligible compensation on either abefore-tax orafter-tax basis. The company matches 100% of employee contributions up to the first 6% of eligible compensation contributed. Employee contributions are fully vested upon contribution. Company contributions are vested over three years of qualified employment with the company.

Mr. Kokke participates in the Ingredion Incorporated Third Country National Cash Balance Plan. The plan is a defined benefit qualified pension plan which is available to certain employees who are not working in their country of origin. Accounts of participants in the Third Country National Cash Balance Plan accrue pay credits based on years of service and monthly interest credits using a rate equal to a specified amount above the interest rate on short-term U.S. Treasury notes. Until his transfer to the United States, Mr. Kokke received pay credits under the plan. Pay credits are calculated as a percentage (3% to 10%) of an employee’s eligible compensation (defined as base salary, overtime and earned Annual Incentive Plan award). The pay credit percentage is determined by the employee’s years of service and reaches and remains at 10% after 35 years of service. The value of a participant’s account at retirement is paid out in a lump sum. The Third Country National Cash Balance Plan provides for a three-year vesting period.

Ms. Adefioye and Ms. Bawcom do not participate in the Cash Balance Plan.

Retirement Savings Plan. Our Retirement Savings Plan is atax-qualified 401(k) savings plan that offers U.S., salaried employees the opportunity to contribute up to 75% of their eligible compensation on either abefore-tax orafter-tax basis. The Company matches 100% of employee contributions up to the first 6% of eligible compensation contributed. Employee contributions are fully vested upon contribution. Company contributions are vested over three years of qualified employment with the Company. Because Mr. Kokke, Ms. Adefioye and Ms. Bawcom do not participate in the Cash Balance Plan, they each receive an additional Company contribution of 3% of eligible compensation contributed to their respective Retirement Savings Plan accounts.

Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan. Certain of our U.S.-based eligible employees, including all the named executive officers, other than Mr. Kokke, are entitled to participate in our Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“SERP”). The purpose of this nonqualified, unfunded plan is to (a) permit certain key executives to defer receipt of a portion of current compensation, including short- and long-term incentive payments, until a later year, (b) provide participants and their beneficiaries with the amount of retirement income that is not provided under the Cash Balance Plan or the Retirement Savings Plan by reason of statutory limits on eligible compensation undertax-qualified plans and (c) preserve the opportunity for executives to continue to defer compensation that was deferred under previously maintained plans.

To the extent that an employee’s annual retirement income benefit under the Cash Balance Plan exceeds the limitations imposed by the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, additional benefits may be provided bythrough our nonqualified SERP throughvia a Cash BalanceMake-up Account to which we contribute the amounts that we would contributehave contributed to the Cash Balance Plan absent those statutory limitations. All of the named executive officers other than Mr. KokkeZallie and Mr. Gray participate in Cash BalanceMake-up Accounts. Mr. Kokke, Ms. Adefioye and Ms. Bawcom do not participate in these accounts.

Participants are entitled to participate in Annual Deferral Accounts and Savings PlanMake-up Accounts under the nonqualified SERP. To the extent that benefits are limited under the Retirement Savings Plan due to statutory limits on compensation and deferral undertax-qualified plans, participants are permitted to defer compensation underthrough the SERP. WeIn addition, we make matching contributions on voluntary contributions to the Savings PlanMake-up Accounts in the amount that mirror our contributionswe would have contributed to the Retirement Savings Plan.Plan absent those statutory limitations. A participant is vested in his or her Savings PlanMake-up Account to the extent that he or she is vested in the Retirement Savings Plan matching contributions. SERP participants are general, unsecured creditors of the company.Company.

Retiree Health Care Spending Accounts. A RHCSA account will be provided to Mr. Fortnum and Ms. CastellanoZallie provided his or her employment with the companyCompany is terminated by retirement at or after age 55 with ten years of service. The RHCSA accounts provide assistance in purchasingpre-age 65 retiree medical and dental coverage from the company

Company and to reimburse for a Medicare supplement policy for coverage at age 65 or older. At termination, qualified employees have access to a RHCSA account for themselves and a RHCSA account in an equal amount for their then qualified dependents. The balances in these accounts may be used by thepre-age 65 retiree and dependents to purchase from the company,Company, at the company’sCompany’s full cost, the medical and dental benefits provided by the companyCompany to active employees.

The balances in these notional accounts are forfeited if the employee terminates employment prior to age 55 and ten years of service at the time of termination. The accounts otherwise terminate on the death of the employee for the employee’s RHCSA and upon the death of the qualified dependent in the case of his or her RHCSA.

Mr. Zallie as a former employee of National Starch LLC was entitled to medical coverage with reduced premiums that mirrored the active health plan prior to age 65 if he retired after age 55 with ten or more years of continuous service or he attained age 65 after terminating employment due to total disability. If he retired after age 55 with ten or more years of continuous service or he attained age 65 after terminating employment due to total disability, he and his spouse (after attaining age 65) would each have been entitled to up to $1,500 per year to be spent on specified Medicare supplement medical and prescription drug plans selected by the company. These benefits were replaced with a RHCSA account effective January 1, 2015.

Recent Plan Changes.The following plan changes were effective December 31, 2016:

All participants receive a minimum of 3.0% interest on pay credits since 2015 for the Cash Balance Plan, compared to a minimum of 5.0% on pay credits made in periods prior to 2015.

The annual pay credit (3% to 10% of pay based on years of service) will be frozen at 2017 levels.

Executive Life Insurance Plan. Mr. Fortnum and eleven other current U.S., salaried employees participate in our Executive Life Insurance Plan. This is a legacy plan which was established by our former parent company

before we became an independent public company, and all of the insurance policies were purchased by our former parent company. This plan and plan benefits are frozen, and we will not offer this benefit to any employees who do not already participate in it. This is a split-dollar life insurance plan which provides the participant with a greater death benefit than provided under our basic life insurance plan. Additionally, at the later of age 65 or 15 years from the purchase of a policy included in this plan, participants are given full ownership of the life insurance policies. Participants’ annual premiums are calculated to be the amount sufficient to pay for the cost of the life insurance being provided.

We make payments to the participating named executive officer in the amount of the participant premiums under the Executive Life Insurance Plan and will continue to do so after his expected June 30, 2017 retirement from the company. We also make payments to this named executive officer in the amount of taxes due as a result of such payments.

Perquisites and Other Personal Benefits:Benefits. We provide our named executive officers with perquisites and other personal benefits that we believe are reasonable and appropriate because they help make our compensation packages competitive and better enable the companyCompany to attract and retain executives for key positions and are not excessive.

We provideDuring 2019, we provided each named executive officer with an automobile. Weannual car allowance of $15,000 except for (i) Mr. Zallie, who was provided with a Company automobile, (ii) Mr. Kokke, who switched from a car allowance to a Company provided automobile on October 4, 2019, and, accordingly, received $11,875, and (iii) Ms. Bawcom, who received a prorated annual car allowance of $10,625 based upon her start date with the Company. For those receiving a Company automobile, we lease and pay all the costs of operating these automobiles, including insurance for the U.S.-resident named executive officers. Each of the named executive officers is subject to income tax on the imputed income resulting from his or her benefit.benefit, but the named executive officers are responsible for any imputed taxes. Each of the U.S.-based named executive officers also receives financial planning and tax preparation services, the value of which constitutes taxable income to the recipient.recipient, which is also the recipient’s responsibility.

The values of these perquisites are included in the Fiscal 2019 Summary Compensation Table in the column headed “All Other Compensation.”

Change in Control Agreements. We have a severance agreement with each of theour currently employed named executive officers that requires us or a successor company to make certain payments and provide certain benefits if the named executive officer’s employment is terminated by us or the successor company other than because of death, “Disability” or “Cause,” or is terminated by the named executive officer for “Good Reason,” in each case, within two years after a change in control of the company.Company. Disability, Cause and Good Reason are defined in these severance agreements. These agreements are intended to encourage retention in the face of an actual or rumored change in control. In addition, these agreements are intended to align executives’ and shareholders’stockholders’ interests by enabling executives to consider corporate transactions that are in the best interests of the shareholdersstockholders and other constituents of the companyCompany without undue concern over whether the transactions may jeopardize the executives’named executive officers’ own employment. Because these agreements are provided to satisfy different objectives than our regular compensation program, decisions made under this program do not affect our regular compensation program.

The terms of these agreements are similar to those provided by other companies, and we provide them in part because we believe we need to do so to provide a competitive compensation package. Information regarding potential payments under these agreements for the named executive officers is provided under the heading“Estimated “Estimated Potential Payments upon Change in Control” on page 53.56.

Leadership Transition

Effective January 1, 2016, James P. Zallie was given responsibility for the South America region in addition to his responsibility for the North America region, in his new role as Executive Vice President, Global Specialties and President, Americas. Ricardo de Abreu Souza, who retired from the company in February 2016 and had served as Senior Vice President and President, South America Ingredient Solutions through December 31, 2015, had previously been responsible for the South America region.

Executive Stock Ownership Requirements

We maintain stock ownership requirements for our named executive officers. The ownership requirements are six times herhis current annual base salary for our Chief Executive Officer and three times their annual base salaries for each of the other named executive officers. We count direct and indirect ownership of our common

stock, including restricted stock, restricted stock units and phantom stock units, but do not include stock options or unvested performance shares in determining whether the ownership requirements are satisfied. Named executive officers are expected to attain their ownership targets within five years from the time the targets become applicable. Named executive officers are not permitted to sell shares of common stock other than to fund the payment of the exercise price of stock options or to fund the payment of taxes upon the exercise of stock options or vesting of performance shares, restricted stock units or shares of restricted stock at any time when they have not attained their ownership targets. In 2019, the Compensation Committee exercised its discretion to permit Ms. Adefioye to make aone-time sale of certain shares which she owned prior to becoming an executive officer of the Company. As of December 31, 2016,2019, all of our named executive officers either exceeded their stock ownership targets or were within the five-year compliance window in which to meet those ownership targets.

Other Items

Timing of Stock Option Grants

Our Compensation Committee reviews and approves management’s recommendations for option grants annually. This occurs during the first Compensation Committee meeting of the fiscal year. The Compensation Committee approves grants of stock options to named executive officers, other than the Chief Executive Officer, at the same time they are granted to all other eligible employees. The independent directors approve grants of stock options to the Chief Executive Officer. We do not time such grants in coordination with the company’sCompany’s possession or release of material,non-public or other information. Meetings of the Compensation Committee are generally scheduled at least a year in advance.

Deductibility of Executive Compensation

Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code imposes a $1 million limit on the amount that a public company may deduct for compensation paid to the company’s Chief Executive Officer or any of the company’s four other executive officers, other than the Chief Executive Officer, whose compensation is required to be disclosed in this proxy statement by reason of their being among the most highly compensated officers for the taxable year and who are employed by the company as of the end of the year. This limitation does not apply to compensation that meets the requirements under Section 162(m) for “qualifying performance-based” compensation (i.e., compensation paid only if the individual’s performance meetspre-established objective goals based on performance criteria approved by shareholders). For 2016, the grants of stock options and restricted stock units, the payments under the Annual Incentive Plan and the performance share awards were designed to satisfy the requirements for deductible compensation. However, we may decide to paynon-deductible variable compensation. In addition, salaries are not considered performance-based compensation under Section 162(m); therefore, a portion of our Chief Executive Officer’s salary is not tax deductible by us. Because a 2006 amendment to SEC regulations requires that we disclose our Chief Financial Officer’s compensation in our proxy statement whether or not he or she is one of our four most highly compensated executive officers other than the Chief Executive Officer, Section 162(m) does not limit our deduction for compensation paid to our Chief Financial Officer.

Compensation Recovery Policy

Effective January 1, 2014, the Board of Directors adopted a recoupment or “clawback” policy for cash and equity incentive awards paid to executive officers. The policy provides that in the event there is a restatement of incorrect financial results, the Compensation Committee in its discretion will seek reimbursement of the incremental portion of awards paid to executive officers in excess of the awards that would have been paid based on the restated financial results. All forms of incentive compensation are subject to this policy. The Compensation Committee may look back over the three-year period prior to the restatement for the recoupment and may lookrecoup compensation paid to both current and former

executives. In addition, the policy provides the Compensation Committee the discretion to recoup amounts of excess incentive compensation paid to any executive officer in conjunction with any incorrect financial results (even if not resulting in a restatement), or misconduct on the part of the officer, constituting fraud, commission of a felony, material violation of any written agreement with or policies of the company,Company, or any other material breach of fiduciary duty injurious to the company.Company. In addition, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer are subject to any clawbacks that may be required under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

Anti-Hedging and Anti-Pledging Policies

Effective February 4, 2014,The Company’s Insider Trading Compliance Policy includes, among other items, a provision that prohibits the company adopted an Anti-HedgingCompany’s directors and Anti-Pledging Policy. The policy prohibits our executive officers and directors from (a) hedging the risk of ownership in companythe Company’s stock and incentive awards and (b) except in limited circumstances, pledging shares of companythe Company’s stock as collateral for a loan or other obligation.

Corporate Governance Highlights

The Compensation Committee is briefed regularly on best practicesanti-hedging and corporate governance developments in relation to executive compensation. Our executive compensation policies and practices include:

Independent compensation committee. The Compensation Committee, which is comprised solely of independent directors, approves the compensationanti-pledging provisions of the named executive officers.

Independent compensation consultant. The Compensation Committee has retained an independent compensation consultant.

NoneInsider Trading Compliance Policy are consistent with, but supersede, a prior Anti-Hedging and Anti-Pledging policy which was adopted by the Company’s Board of our U.S.-based executive officers has an employment agreement with the company.

Limited perquisites. Executives receive only limited perquisites.

Excise taxgross-ups. BeginningDirectors in 2010, our executive officers entering into new severance agreements have not been provided with “excise taxgross-ups” in the event of a change in control.

Share ownership requirements. We have meaningful share ownership requirementsFebruary 2014. See page 58 for executive officers.
additional information.

Policies. In 2014, we adopted a “clawback policy” and a policy prohibiting the hedging and pledging of company stock.

Beginning in 2016, double-trigger vesting of equity grants was added to grants for named executive officers. In the event that outstanding grants remain exercisable for shares of common stock, (i.e., the grants are not assumed or replaced with equity awards) after a Change in Control, accelerated vesting will occur only upon a qualifying termination event. The qualifying termination will require an involuntary termination without “cause” or resignation for “good reason” during atwo-year protection period following a Change in Control.

Fiscal 2019 Summary Compensation Table

The following narrative, tables and footnotes describe the total compensation earned by our named executive officers for 2014, 20152017, 2018, and 2016.2019. The components of the total compensation reported in the Fiscal

2019 Summary Compensation Table are described below. For information on the role of each component within the total compensation package, refer to the description under“Compensation “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” beginning on page 26.32.

Salary. This column represents the base salary earned during 2014, 20152017, 2018, and 20162019 and includes any amounts deferred under our Retirement Savings Plan and SERP.

Bonus. No bonuses were paid in 2014, 2015 or 2016.

Stock Awards. This column represents the aggregate grant date fair value of performance shares and restricted stock units granted in the current and prior years, computed in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (FASB ASC Topic 718). Additional information regarding the awards is set forth in the“Grants “Grants of Plan-Based Awards in Fiscal 2016”2019” table on page 4549 and the“Outstanding “Outstanding Equity Awards at 20162019 FiscalYear-End” table on page 46.50. The assumptions used in determining the fair value of the awards are set forth in the notes to our consolidated financial statements contained in our Annual Report on FormForm 10-K for each respective year covered by the Fiscal 2019 Summary Compensation Table (notes 2 and 12 in the reports for 2017 and 2018 and notes 2 and 11 in the report for 2014 and notes 2 and 12 in the reports for 2015 and 2016)2019). We caution that the actual amounts ultimately realized from the disclosed performance share awards and restricted stock units will likely vary from the disclosed amounts based on a number of factors, including the amounts of the actual awards, our actual operating performance, stock price fluctuations, differences from the valuation assumptions used and the timing of exercise or applicable vesting. The actual value the named executive officer receives will depend on the number of shares earned and the price of a share of our common stock when the shares vest. Because the accounting valuation for the performance share awards is calculated using a Monte Carlo simulation model, the target value utilized by the Compensation Committee to determine the number of performance shares to grant differs slightly from the valuation used for accounting purposes.

Option Awards. This column represents the grant date fair value of stock option awards granted in the current and prior years, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. Additional information regarding the awards is set forth in the“Grants “Grants of Plan-Based Awards in Fiscal 2016”2019” table on page 4549 and the“Outstanding “Outstanding Equity Awards at 20162019 FiscalYear-End” table on page 46.50. The assumptions used in determining the fair value of the awards are set forth in the notes to our consolidated financial statements contained in our Annual Report on FormForm 10-K for each respective year covered by the Fiscal 2019 Summary Compensation Table (notes 2 and 12 in the reports for 2017 and 2018 and notes 2 and 11 in the report for 2014 and notes 2 and 12 in the reports for 2015 and 2016)2019). We caution that the actual amounts ultimately realized by the named executive officers from the disclosed option awards will likely vary based on a number of factors, including our actual operating performance, stock price fluctuations, differences from the valuation assumptions used and the timing of exercise or applicable vesting. Because we consider vesting restrictions and forfeiture assumptions to determine the grant date fair value of stock option awards, the target value utilized by the Compensation Committee to determine the number of stock options to grant differs slightly from the valuation used for accounting purposes and disclosed in this column. Stock options granted in 2014, 20152017, 2018, and 20162019 vest in three equal installments on the first three anniversaries of their dates of grant.

Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation. This column represents cash awards earned under our Annual Incentive Plan, which is discussed in further detail beginning on page 3137 under“Compensation “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” beginning on page 26.32.

Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings. This column represents the aggregate actuarial increase in the present value of benefits under all of our pension plans. The amounts were determined by using interest rate and mortality rate assumptions consistent with those used in our consolidated financial statements.

All Other Compensation. Consistent with our emphasis on performance-based pay, perquisites and other compensation are limited in scope and are primarily comprised of retirement benefit contributions, allowances and company-provided automobiles.

 

Fiscal 2019 Summary Compensation Table

 

 

Name and Principal

Position

 Year  Salary
($)
  Bonus
($)
  Stock
Awards(1)
($)
  Option
Awards
($)
  Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)
  Change
in Pension
Value and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings(2)
($)
  All Other
Compensation(3)
($)
  Total
($)
 

Ilene S. Gordon

  2016  $1,189,404  $—    $4,259,191  $2,400,006  $2,057,573  $157,650  $198,738  $10,262,562 

Chairman of the Board,

  2015  $1,145,460  $—    $3,164,776  $2,179,836  $1,637,065  $117,571  $180,465  $8,425,173 

President and Chief

  2014  $1,121,668  $—    $2,885,759  $2,080,388  $1,301,000  $103,440  $153,809  $7,646,064 

Executive Officer

         

Jack C. Fortnum

  2016  $611,252  $—    $937,021  $527,999  $670,354  $197,584  $98,361  $3,042,571 

Executive Vice President

  2015  $590,812  $—    $699,890  $484,408  $532,000  $185,576  $91,956  $2,584,642 

and Chief Financial

  2014  $571,500  $—    $612,263  $439,683  $416,000  $186,732  $84,836  $2,311,014 

Officer(4)

         

James P. Zallie

  2016  $600,000  $—    $958,309  $540,005  $650,760  $208,919  $92,363  $3,050,356 

Executive Vice President,

  2015  $553,197  $—    $635,962  $441,100  $528,000  $93,838  $75,397  $2,327,494 

Global Specialties and

  2014  $532,500  $—    $529,688  $380,021  $398,000  $463,855  $65,064  $2,369,128 

President, Americas(5)

         

Jorgen Kokke

  2016  $403,340  $—    $355,026  $199,999  $379,493  $26,055  $362,346  $1,726,259 

Senior Vice President and

  2015  $360,868  $—    $174,854  $120,300  $248,951  $19,565  $315,656  $1,240,194 

President, Asia-Pacific

         

and EMEA(6)

         

Christine M. Castellano

  2016  $413,104  $—    $337,171  $189,997  $395,485  $43,929  $66,466  $1,446,152 

Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer

         

Name and Principal Position

 Year  Salary  Stock
Awards(1)
  Option
Awards
  Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
  Change
in Pension
Value and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings(2)
  All Other
Compensation(3)
  Total 

James P. Zallie

  2019  $993,542  $4,092,070  $1,350,350  $1,350,566  $525,618  $162,188  $8,474,335 

President and Chief
Executive Officer (4)

  2018  $950,000  $2,824,442  $1,800,335  $515,565  $  $132,201  $6,222,548 
  2017  $627,500  $849,167  $579,996  $510,300  $449,315  $101,569  $3,117,847 

James D. Gray

  2019  $611,000  $833,560  $275,072  $514,815  $30,090  $72,245  $2,336,782 

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (5)

  2018  $587,083  $676,234  $440,264  $184,080  $32,465  $77,102  $1,997,228 
  2017  $430,833  $409,896  $280,004  $338,601  $24,137  $57,967  $1,541,438 

Jorgen Kokke

  2019  $577,948  $700,943  $231,316  $479,053  $4,181  $62,007  $2,055,488 

Executive Vice President, Specialties and President North America (6)

  2018  $555,738  $553,160  $360,234  $166,767  $9,542  $425,915  $2,065,498 
  2017  $423,171  $322,111  $219,997  $330,765  $47,325  $338,979  $1,682,348 
        

Elizabeth Adefioye

  2019  $446,667  $954,625  $150,042  $318,533  $—    $56,088  $1,925,955 

Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources
Officer (7)

        

Janet M. Bawcom

  2019  $340,000  $725,012  $—    $225,668  $—    $14,622  $1,305,302 

Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary & Chief Compliance Officer (8)

        

 

(1)

For the performance shares granted in 2016,2019, assuming the highest level of performance conditions will be achieved, the maximum grant date value would be as follow: Ms. Gordon, $5,518,381; Mr. Fortnum, $1,214,107; Mr. Zallie, $1,241,688;$5,484,118; Mr. Gray, $1,117,121; Mr. Kokke, $459,953;$939,330 and Ms. Castellano, $436,837.Adefioye, $609,305. Ms. Bawcom did not receive any performance shares in 2019.

(2)

For 2016,2019 for U.S.-based named executive officers,Mr. Zallie and Mr. Gray, this consists of the actuarial increase in the value of the company’sCompany’s Cash Balance Plan and Cash BalanceMake-up Account. For Mr. Fortnum, the 2016 amount also includes a $1,991 increase in the value of Mr. Fortnum’s interest in the Ingredion Canada Pension Plan. For Mr. Zallie, the 2016 amount also includes a $102,781 increase in the value of Mr. Zallie’s interest in the National Starch LLC Pension Plan and National Starch Excess Pension Plan. For Mr. Kokke, the 20162019 amount consists of the increase in the value of Mr. Kokke’s interest in the Ingredion Incorporated Third Country National Cash Balance Plan. Ms. Adefioye and Ms. Bawcom do not participate in a Cash Balance Plan.

(3)

The following table provides additional information on the amounts reported in the “All Other Compensation” column of the Fiscal 2019 Summary Compensation Table for 2016.Table.

All Other Compensation Table

 

Named Executive Officer

  Company
Contributions
to Qualified and
Nonqualified
Savings Plans
   Payments
Equal to
Life
Insurance
Premiums
   Tax
Payments
Related to
Life
Insurance
   Payments
Related to
Overseas
Assignment
   Perquisites   Other   Total All Other
Compensation
   Company
Contributions
to Qualified and
Nonqualified
Savings Plans
   Above
Market
Interest
   Perquisites   Other   Total All
Other
Compensation
 

I. S. Gordon

  $169,588   $—     $—     $—     $20,650   $8,500   $198,738 

J. C. Fortnum

  $68,595   $7,711   $5,141   $—     $15,714   $1,200   $98,361 

J. P. Zallie

  $67,680   $—     $—     $—     $16,183   $8,500   $92,363   $90,546   $42,729  $20,412   $8,500   $162,188 

J. D. Gray

  $47,705   $2,540  $15,000   $7,000   $72,245 

J. Kokke

  $—     $—     $—     $328,943   $33,403   $—     $362,346   $44,683   $1,599  $15,725   $—    $62,007 

C. M. Castellano

  $41,526   $—     $—     $—     $16,440   $8,500   $66,466 

E. Adefioye

  $35,171   $3,673  $17,244   $—    $56,088 

J. M. Bawcom

  $—     $2  $14,620   $—    $14,622 

 

Company Contributions to Savings Plans: The companyCompany makes matching contributions for compensation contributed by participants under our Retirement Savings Plan (with an additional 3% contribution for Mr. Kokke, Ms. Adefioye and SERPMs. Bawcom, as they do not participate in the Cash Balance Plan) and, if applicable, to Cash BalanceMake-up Accounts and Savings PlanMake-up Accounts. The matchingCompany contributions for 20162019 are set forth in the table above.

Payments Equal to Life Insurance Premiums: Mr. Fortnum participatesAbove Market Interest: Actual earning in our Executive Life Insurance Plan. The amountsSERP in the table include payments equal to the amount of participant premiums on life insurance policies for his benefit. These policies were

purchased by our former parent company, and we have continued to maintain the policies based upon the commitment to provide such benefits to each participant. The premiums on these policies are based on the insurance company’s underwriting requirements.

Tax Payments Related to Life Insurance: As a participant in the Executive Life Insurance Plan, Mr. Fortnum receives payments in the amount of taxes due as a resultexcess of the payment made equal to the amount of the participant premium.120% applicable federal rate for 2019.

Payments Related to Overseas Assignment: This amount represents payments made to Mr. Kokke by our Singapore subsidiary to fund his relocation from Germany and international assignment-related expenses including housing expenses ($133,612); international living allowance ($24,200); host country tax payments ($19,584); home leave travel expenses ($29,871); tuition ($105,768); and tax and relocation service provider fees ($15,908).

Perquisites: These amounts include the costs of providing a leased automobile or the use of a companyCompany automobile or automobile allowance to each of our named executive officers, financial planning and tax preparation services. The cost of providing Mr. Kokke’s automobile was $33,403 based on a yearly average exchange rate for 2016 of 1.44 Singapore Dollars per U.S. Dollar.

Other: This column reports the total amount of other benefits provided, none of which individually exceeded the greater of $25,000 or 10% of the total amount of perquisites and such other benefits.

 

(4)

Mr. FortnumZallie has served as Executive Vice President and Chief FinancialExecutive Officer fromsince January 6, 2014 to March 1, 2017, at which time he retired from that position and was named Executive Vice President and Advisor to CEO, a role he is expected to hold until his retirement from the company which is expected to occur on June 30, 2017. Mr. Fortnum2018. He previously served as Executive Vice President and President, North America.

(5)Mr. Zallie has served as Executive Vice President, Global Specialties and President, Americas sincefrom January 1, 2016. He2016, to December 31, 2017.

(5)

Mr. Gray was elected Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer effective March 1, 2017.

(6)

Mr. Kokke has served as Executive Vice President, Global Specialties and President, North America and EMEA from January 6, 2014 to December 31, 2015. Mr. Zalliesince February 5, 2018. He previously served as Executive Vice President, Global Specialties and President, EMEA and Asia-Pacific.

(6)Mr. Kokke has served as Senior Vice President and President, Asia-Pacific and EMEA sincefrom January 1, 2016.2016, to February 4, 2018. Mr. Kokke iswas previously employed by our Ingredion Singapore Pte. Ltd. subsidiary,subsidiary.

(7)

Ms. Adefioye has served as Senior Vice President and his salaryChief Human Resources Officer since March 1, 2018. She previously served as Vice President, Human Resources, North America andnon-equity incentive plan compensation were paid in Singapore Dollars. The amounts shown and paid are based on the yearly average exchange rates for the Singapore Dollar per U.S. Dollar published by the Internal Revenue Service. The yearly average exchange rate for Global Specialties from September 12, 2016, was 1.44 Singapore Dollars per U.S. Dollar.to February 28, 2018.

(8)

Ms. Bawcom has served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer since April 15, 2019.

 

Grants of Plan-Based Awards in Fiscal 20162019

 

The following table contains information relating to grants to the named executive officers during 20162019 of awards under our Annual Incentive Plan and performance shares, restricted stock units and stock options under our Stock Incentive Plan.

 

Name

 Grant
Date
  Estimated Future Payouts
UnderNon-Equity
Incentive Plan Awards(1)
 Estimated Future Payouts
Under Equity Incentive
Plan Awards(2)
 All Other
Stock

Awards:
Number
of
Shares of
Stock or
Units
(#)
  All Other
Option

Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options
(#)
  Exercise
or Base
Price
of Option
Awards
($/Sh)(3)
  Grant
Date Fair
Value of
Stock and
Option
Awards
($)(4)
  Grant
Date
  

 

Estimated Future Payouts
UnderNon-Equity
Incentive Plan Awards(1)

 

 

Estimated Future Payouts
Under Equity Incentive
Plan Awards(2)

  All Other
Stock
Awards:

Number
of
Shares of
Stock or
Units
 All Other
Option
Awards:

Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options
 Exercise
or Base
Price
of Stock
Option
Awards
($/Sh)(3)
 Grant
Date Fair
Value of
Stock and
Option
Awards(4)
 
 Threshold
        ($)        
 Target
        ($)        
 Maximum
        ($)        
 Threshold
(#)
 Target
(#)
 Maximum
(#)
  Threshold
      ($)      
 Target
      ($)      
 Maximum
      ($)      
 Threshold
(#)
 Target
(#)
 Maximum
(#)
 

I. S. Gordon

 2/2/2016  $745,768  $1,491,535  $2,983,070        

J. P. Zallie

 2/8/2019  $648,375  $1,296,750  $2,593,500        
 2/2/2016     10,504  21,008  42,016     $2,759,191  2/8/2019     14,698  29,396  58,792     $2,742,059 
 2/2/2016        15,006    $1,500,000  2/8/2019        14,698    $1,350,011 
 2/2/2016         128,137  $99.96  $2,400,006  2/8/2019         96,316  $91.85  $1,350,350 

J. C. Fortnum

 2/2/2016  $245,192  $490,383  $980,766        
 2/2/2016     2,311  4,622  9,244     $607,053 
 2/2/2016        3,301    $329,968 
 2/2/2016         28,190  $99.96  $527,999 

J. P. Zallie

 2/2/2016  $240,000  $480,000  $960,000        

J. D. Gray

 2/8/2019  $244,800  $489,600  $979,200        
 2/2/2016     2,364  4,727  9,454     $620,844  2/8/2019     2,994  5,988  11,976     $558,561 
 2/2/2016        3,376    $337,465  2/8/2019        2,994    $274,999 
 2/2/2016         28,831  $99.96  $540,005  2/8/2019         19,620  $91.85  $275,072 

J. Kokke

 2/2/2016  $217,350  $434,700  $869,400         2/8/2019  $231,650  $463,300  $926,600        
 2/2/2016     876  1,751  3,502     $229,976  2/8/2019     2,518  5,035  10,070     $469,665 
 2/2/2016        1,251    $125,050  2/8/2019        2,518    $231,278 
 2/2/2016         10,678  $99.96  $199,999  2/8/2019         16,499  $91.85  $231,316 

C. M. Castellano

 2/2/2016  $134,794  $269,588  $539,175        

E. Adefioye

 2/8/2019  $146,250  $292,500  $585,000        
 2/2/2016     832  1,663  3,326     $218,418  2/8/2019     1,633  3,266  6,532     $304,652 
 2/2/2016        1,188    $118,753  2/8/2019        1,633    $149,991 
 2/2/2016         10,144  $99.96  $189,997  2/8/2019         10,702  $91.85  $150,042 
 2/16/2019(5)        5,332    $499,982 

J. M. Bawcom

 4/15/2019  $111,551  $223,101  $446,203        
 4/15/2019     0  0  0     $0 
 4/15/2019(6)        7,717    $725,012 
 4/15/2019         0  $91.85  $0 

 

(1)

These amounts reflect the terms of the awards under our Annual Incentive Plan. The actual amounts paid under the Annual Incentive Plan with respect to awards made in 20162019 are included in amounts for 20162019 in the column captioned“Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” in the Fiscal 2019 Summary Compensation Table above.

(2)

These amounts reflect the terms of grants of performance shares under our Stock Incentive Plan. The grant date fair values of these shares are included in the column captioned “Stock Awards” in the Fiscal 2019 Summary Compensation Table above.

(3)

The exercise price for these options is the closing price of a share of our common stock on the date of grant.

(4)

This column shows the grant date fair value of stock awards and option awards under FASB ASC Topic 718. Generally, the full grant date fair value is the amount the companyCompany would expense in its financial statements over the award’s vesting schedule. For stock options, fair value is calculated based on the grant date fair values estimated by us using the Black-Scholes option pricing model for financial reporting purposes, $18.73$14.02 for the grants on February 2, 2016.8, 2019. For additional information on the valuation assumptions, see notes 2 and 1211 to our consolidated financial statements in our Annual Report on Form10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.2019. We caution that the actual amounts ultimately realized by the named executive officers from the disclosed stock and option awards will likely vary based on a number of factors, including the amounts of the actual awards, our actual operating performance, stock price fluctuations, differences from the valuation assumptions used and the timing of exercise or applicable vesting. The options vest in three equal installments on the first, second and third anniversaries of the date of grant.

(5)

This amount reflects a one-time grant of restricted stock units to Ms. Adefioye made by the Compensation Committee, at the recommendation of the Chief Executive Officer, for exceptional performance.

(6)

This amount reflects a one-time grant of restricted stock units to Ms. Bawcom made by the Chief Executive Officer, under a delegation of authority from the Compensation Committee as described under “Proposal 1. Election of Directors—The Board and Committees—Compensation Committee” with respect to incentive plan grants used to recruit and retain new senior level talent for the Company, and for the forfeiture of compensation from a previous employer.

 

Outstanding Equity Awards at 20162019 FiscalYear-End

 

The following table contains information relating to stock options, restricted stock units and performance shares held by our named executive officers at December 31, 2016.2019.

 

 Option Awards Stock Awards  Option Awards Stock Awards 

Name

 Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options

(#)
Exercisable
 Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options

(#)
Unexercisable
 Equity
Incentive
Plan Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Unearned
Options

(#)
 Option
Exercise
Price
($)
 Option
Expiration
Date
 Number of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested

(#)
 Market Value
of Shares

or Units of
Stock that
Have Not
Vested(9)

($)
 Equity
Incentive
Plan Awards:
Number of
Unearned
Shares, Units or
Other Rights
That Have

Not Vested(10)
(#)
 Equity
Incentive
Plan Awards:
Market or
Payout Value

of Unearned
Shares, Units or
Other Rights
That Have

Not Vested(11)
($)
  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
Exercisable
 Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
Unexercisable
 Equity
Incentive
Plan Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Unearned
Options
 Option
Exercise
Price
 Option
Expiration
Date
 Number of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested
 Market Value
of Shares
or Units of
Stock that
Have Not
Vested(9)
 Equity
Incentive
Plan Awards:
Number of
Unearned
Shares, Units or
Other Rights
That Have
Not Vested(10)
 Equity
Incentive
Plan Awards:
Market or
Payout Value
of Unearned
Shares, Units or
Other Rights
That Have
Not Vested(11)
 

I. S. Gordon

 4,408    $47.95  2/7/2021     

J. P. Zallie

  27,500    $82.28   2/3/2025     
 90,300    $55.95  2/6/2022       28,831    $99.96   2/2/2026     
 87,000    $66.07  2/4/2023       16,695   8,348(1)   $118.97   2/7/2027     
 106,933  53,467(1)   $59.58  2/3/2024       24,952   49,906(2)   $139.80   1/1/2028   26,745(4)  $2,485,936   
 45,300  90,600(2)   $82.28  2/2/2025        96,316(3)   $91.85   2/8/2029     40,662  $3,779,533 
  128,137(3)   $99.96  2/1/2026  55,321(4)  $6,912,912   

J. D. Gray

  7,710    $59.58   2/4/2024     
        44,208  $5,524,232   4,988    $82.28   2/3/2025     

J. C. Fortnum

 16,200    $66.07  2/4/2023     
 22,600  11,300(1)   $59.58  2/3/2024     
 10,666  20,134(2)   $82.28  2/2/2025     
  28,190(3)   $99.96  2/1/2026  12,013(5)  $1,501,144   
        9,722  $1,214,861 

J. P. Zallie

 13,900    $66.07  2/4/2023     
 19,533  9,767(1)   $59.58  2/3/2024       4,807    $99.96   2/2/2026     
 9,166  18,334(2)   $82.28  2/2/2025       8,060   4,030(1)   $118.97   2/7/2027     
  28,831(3)   $99.96  2/1/2026  11,043(6)  $1,379,933     6,117   12,235(2)   $130.30   2/6/2028   6,841(5)  $635,827   
        9,427  $1,177,998    19,620(3)   $91.85   2/8/2029     8,943  $831,252 

J. Kokke

 5,133  2,567(1)   $59.58  2/3/2024       2,500    $82.28   2/3/2025     
 2,500  5,000(2)   $82.28  2/2/2025       7,119    $99.96   2/2/2026     
  10,678(3)   $99.96  2/1/2026  3,250(7)  $406,120     6,332   3,167(1)   $118.97   2/7/2027     
        3,051  $381,253   5,005   10,011(2)   $130.30   2/6/2028   5,616(6)  $521,996   
   16,499(3)   $91.85   2/8/2029     7,452  $692,663 

C. M. Castellano

 4,800    $28.75  1/25/2020     

E. Adefioye

  2,532   1,267(1)   $118.97   2/7/2027     
 1,667    $47.95  2/7/2021       2,502   5,006(2)   $130.30   2/6/2028   8,521(7)  $791,982   
 2,800    $55.95  2/6/2022        10,702(3)   $91.85   2/8/2029     4,475  $415,951 
 5,700    $66.07  2/4/2023     
 7,400  3,700(1)   $59.58  2/3/2024     
 3,733  7,467(2)   $82.28  2/2/2025     
  10,144(3)   $99.96  2/1/2026  4,230(8)  $528,581   
        3,563  $445,232 

J. M. Bawcom

       7,840(8)  $728,693   

 

(1)

These options vested on February 4, 2017.7, 2020.

(2)One

For Mr. Zallie, one half of these options vested on January 1, 2020, and the other half will vest on January 1, 2021. For the remaining named executive officers, one half of these options vested on February 3, 2017,6, 2020, and the other half will vest on February 3, 2018.6, 2021.

(3)

One third of these options vested on February 2, 2017,8, 2020, and the other two thirds will vest in equal annual installments on February 2, 20188, 2021 and February 2, 2019,8, 2022, respectively.

(4)23,006

3,247 of these restricted stock units vested on February 4, 2017, 17,1387, 2020, 8,462 of these restricted stock units will vest on January 1, 2021 and 15,035 of these restricted stock units will vest on February 3, 2018 and 15,178 of these restricted stock units will vest on February 2, 2019.8, 2022. During the vesting periods, unvested restricted stock units earn dividend equivalents, which are credited as additional restricted stock units, subject to the same vesting and restricted periods as the original restricted stock units.

(5)4,854

1,567 of these restricted stock units vested on February 4, 2017, 3,8207, 2020, 2,211 of these restricted stock units will vest on February 3, 20186, 2021 and 3,3393,063 of these restricted stock units will vest on February 2, 2019.8, 2022. During the vesting periods, unvested restricted stock units earn dividend equivalents, which are credited as additional restricted stock units, subject to the same vesting and restricted periods as the original restricted stock units.

(6)4,221

1,232 of these restricted stock units vested on February 4, 2017, 3,4077, 2020, 1,809 of these restricted stock units will vest on February 3, 20186, 2021 and 3,4152,576 of these restricted stock units will vest on February 2, 2019.8, 2022. During the vesting periods, unvested restricted stock units earn dividend equivalents, which are credited as additional restricted stock units, subject to the same vesting and restricted periods as the original restricted stock units.

(7)1,055

492 of these restricted stock units vested on February 4, 2017, 9297, 2020, 1,818 of these restricted stock units vested on February 16, 2020, 904 of these restricted stock units will vest on February 3, 2018 and 1,2656, 2021, 1,818 of these restricted stock units will vest on February 2, 2019.16, 2021, 1,670 of these restricted stock units will vest on February 8, 2022 and 1,818 of these restricted stock units will vest on February 16, 2022. During the vesting periods, unvested restricted stock units earn dividend equivalents, which are credited as additional restricted stock units, subject to the same vesting and restricted periods as the original restricted stock units.

(8)1,583 of these restricted stock units vested on February 4, 2017, 1,445 of these

These restricted stock units will vest on February 3, 2018 and 1,202 of these restricted stock units will vest on February 2, 2019.April 15, 2022. During the vesting periods, unvested restricted stock units earn dividend equivalents, which are credited as additional restricted stock units, subject to the same vesting and restricted periods as the original restricted stock units.

(9)

Value stated is the number of unvested restricted stock units multiplied by the closing price of a share of our common stock on December 30, 201631, 2019 ($124.96)92.95).

(10)

Reflects unearned performance shares in the 20152018 and 20162019 performance share awards (at the target performance level).

(11)

Value stated is the number of unearned performance shares in the 20152018 and 20162019 performance share awards (at the target performance level) multiplied by the closing price of a share of our common stock on December 30, 201631, 2019 ($124.96)92.95).

   2015 Performance Shares   2016 Performance Shares 

Name

  Target
Shares (#)
   Value($)   Target
Shares (#)
   Value($) 

I. S. Gordon

   23,200   $2,899,072    21,008   $2,625,160 

J. C. Fortnum

   5,100   $637,296    4,622   $577,565 

J. P. Zallie

   4,700   $587,312    4,727   $590,686 

J. Kokke

   1,300   $162,448    1,751   $218,805 

C. M. Castellano

   1,900   $237,424    1,663   $207,808 

   2018 Performance Shares   2019 Performance Shares 

Name

  Target
Number of
Shares
   Value   Target
Number of
Shares
   Value 

J. P. Zallie

   11,266   $1,047,175    29,396   $2,732,358 

J. D. Gray

   2,955   $274,667    5,988   $556,585 

J. Kokke

   2,417   $224,660    5,035   $468,003 

E. Adefioye

   1,209   $112,377    3,266   $303,575 

J. M. Bawcom

   —      —      —      —   

These performance shares will be earned over three-year performance periods ending December 31, 20172020, and 2018,2021, respectively.

 

 

Option Exercises and Stock Vested in Fiscal 20162019

 

The following table contains information concerning the exercise of stock options by our named executive officers and vesting of performance shares and restricted stock units held by them during 2016.2019.

 

  Option Awards(1)   Stock Awards(2)   Option Awards(1)   Stock Awards(2) 

Name

  Number of
Shares Acquired
on Exercise
(#)
   Value Realized
on Exercise
($)
   Number of
Shares Acquired
on Vesting
(#)
   Value Realized
on Vesting
($)
   Number of
Shares Acquired
on Exercise
   Value Realized
on Exercise
   Number of
Shares Acquired
on Vesting
   Value Realized
on Vesting
 

I. S. Gordon

   74,900   $6,149,927    76,670   $7,728,268 

J. C. Fortnum

   34,800   $2,875,085    13,537   $1,354,648 

J. P. Zallie

   14,900   $1,133,145    11,603   $1,161,127    —     $  —     3,570   $351,645 

J. D. Gray

   —     $—     595   $58,642 

J. Kokke

   14,358   $907,701    1,656   $166,196    —     $—     1,323   $130,304 

C. M. Castellano

   14,400   $545,472    4,681   $468,449 

E. Adefioye

   —     $—     3,933   $325,403 

J. M. Bawcom

   —     $—     —     $—   

 

(1)

Represents the number of stock options exercised in 2016.2019. The value realized upon exercise is equal to the number of stock options exercised multiplied by the difference between the closing price of a share of our common stock on the date of exercise and the exercise price.

(2)

Represents the number of performance shares and restricted stock units that vested in 2016.2019. The number of shares acquired as a result of the vesting of restricted stock units includes the restricted stock units credited as dividend equivalents on each dividend payable date. The value realized upon vesting is computed by multiplying the number of performance shares by the stock price on the date of payment (February 2, 2016)(September 12, 2019, for Ms. Adefioye and February 8, 2019, for all other named executive officers) with respect to the performance shares and by multiplying the number of restricted stock units by the stock price on the vesting date with respect to the restricted stock units.

The final performance shares and restricted stock units vested and the value realized are set forth below.

 

  2016 Performance Shares(1)   Restricted Stock Units 

Name

  2014 Performance Shares   Restricted Stock Units   Number   Value   Number   Value 
(#)   Value($)   (#)   Value($) 

I. S. Gordon

   53,000   $5,297,880    23,670   $2,430,388 

J. C. Fortnum

   9,800   $979,608    3,737   $375,040 

J. P. Zallie

   8,400   $839,664    3,203   $321,463    —     $  —      3,570   $351,645 

J. D. Gray

   —     $—      595   $58,642 

J. Kokke

   —     $—      1,656   $166,196    —     $—      1,323   $130,304 

C. M. Castellano

   3,400   $339,864    1,281   $128,585 

E. Adefioye

   —     $—      3,933   $325,403 

J. M. Bawcom

   —     $—      —     $—   

(1)

Relative TSR for the 2016 Performance Shares’3-year performance cycle was at the 31st percentile. Consequently, 0% of the target number of performance shares granted in February 2016 were earned.

Pension Benefits in Fiscal 20162019

The following table states the actuarial present value of each named executive officer’s accumulated benefit under each of our pension plans.

Cash Balance Plan. Our Cash Balance Plan is a defined benefit qualified pension plan which is available to all U.S., salaried employees hired before January 1, 2015. Accounts of participants in the Cash Balance Plan

accrue pay credits based on years of service and monthly interest credits using a rate equal to a specified amount above the interest rate on short-term U.S. Treasury notes. Pay credits are calculated as a percentage (3% to 10%) of a salaried employee’s eligible compensation (defined as base salary, overtime and earned Annual Incentive Plan award). The pay credit percentage is determined by the employee’s years of service and reaches and remains at 10% after 35 years of service. The value of a participant’s account at retirement is paid out either as a life or a joint and survivor annuity or in an optional form, such as a lump sum, if certain funding conditions are met. The Cash Balance Plan provides for a three-year vesting period.

Mr. Fortnum participated in the Ingredion Canada Pension Plan for Salaried Employees prior to his transfer from our Canadian subsidiary to the parent company on March 1, 1993. Mr. Fortnum ceased to accrue benefits under this plan and had 7.5 years of credited service under the plan at December 31, 2016.

Mr. Zallie participated in the National Starch LLC Pension Plan during his employment with National Starch. The National Starch LLC Pension Plan was frozen effective December 31, 2010, and Mr. Zallie ceased to accrue benefits under this plan. Mr. Zallie had 27 years of credited service under the plan at December 31, 2016.2019.

Mr. Kokke participates in the Ingredion Incorporated Third Country National Cash Balance Plan, which is the plan provided to third country nationals.

Nonqualified Cash BalanceMake-up Accounts. To the extent that an employee’s annual retirement income benefit under the Cash Balance Plan exceeds the limitations imposed by the Internal Revenue Code, additional benefits may be provided by our nonqualified SERP through a Cash BalanceMake-up Account. Except for Mr. Kokke, all of the named executive officersZallie and Mr. Gray participate in Cash BalanceMake-up Accounts. Mr. Fortnum participated in a defined benefit plan operated by the company that owned us before we became an independent public company in January 1998. The named executive officer who became an officer of Ingredion when we became an independent company (Mr. Fortnum) receives additional pay credits in his Cash BalanceMake-up Account to offset a portion of pension benefits lost as a result of our becoming an independent public companyKokke, Ms. Adefioye and the change from a final average pay plan maintained by our predecessor to our Cash Balance Plan.Ms. Bawcom do not.

 

 

Pension Benefits

 

 

Name

  

Plan Name

 Number of
Years of
Credited
Service
(#)
 Present Value
of
Accumulated
Benefit(1)
($)
 Payments During
Last Fiscal Year
($)
   

Plan Name

 Number of
Years of
Credited
Service
 Present Value
of
Accumulated
Benefit(1)
 Payments During
Last Fiscal Year
 

I. S. Gordon

  Cash Balance Plan 7  $80,656  $—   
  Nonqualified Cash BalanceMake-up Account 7  $634,775  $—   

J. C. Fortnum

  Cash Balance Plan 31  $489,712  $—   
  Nonqualified Cash BalanceMake-up Account 31  $1,319,550  $—   
  Ingredion Canada Pension Plan 7.5  $127,959  $—   

J. P. Zallie

  Cash Balance Plan 33  $146,647  $—     Cash Balance Plan  36  $246,857   —   
  Nonqualified Cash BalanceMake-up Account 33  $376,648  $—     Nonqualified Cash BalanceMake-up Account  36  $787,684   —   
  National Starch LLC Pension Plan 27  $1,402,369  $—     National Starch LLC Pension Plan  27  $1,496,117   —   
  National Starch Excess Pension Plan 27  $2,136,290  $—     National Starch Excess Pension Plan  27  $2,296,686   —   

J. D. Gray

  Cash Balance Plan  6  $56,881   —   
  Nonqualified Cash BalanceMake-up Account  6  $74,683   —   

J. Kokke

  Third Country National Cash Balance Plan 6  $62,317  $—     Third Country National Cash Balance Plan  9  $123,366   —   

C. M. Castellano

  Cash Balance Plan 20  $259,536  $—   
  Nonqualified Cash BalanceMake-up Account 20  $81,878  $—   

E. Adefioye

  None        —   

J. M. Bawcom

  None        —   

 

(1)

The present value of the accumulated benefit reflects their current vested balances in the Cash Balance Plan, which will be distributed upon termination, regardless of the age of the participant at termination, and balances in their Cash BalanceMake-up Accounts, which will be distributed in accordance with individual elections. In addition, for Mr. Fortnum, the present value includes the present value of accumulated benefits in the Ingredion Canada Pension Plan. The amount shown for this account is based on the exchange rate of

1.379 Canadian Dollars per U.S. Dollar at December 31, 2016. For Mr. Zallie, the present value includes the accumulated benefits in the National Starch LLC Pension Plan and the National Starch Excess Pension Plan. See note 10 to our consolidated financial statements in our Annual Report on Form10-K for the year ended December 31, 20162019, for a discussion of the assumptions used to determine the present value of accumulated benefits under our pension plans. For Mr. Kokke, the present value includesvalues include the accumulated benefits in the Third Country National Cash Balance Plan. Ms. Adefioye and Ms. Bawcom do not participate in a pension arrangement.

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation in Fiscal 20162019

The following table contains information concerning deferred compensation arrangements under our nonqualified SERP, excluding Cash BalanceMake-up Accounts, which are reflected in the above “Pension Benefits” table. Under the SERP, named executive officers can defer up to 20% of their annual compensation and up to 100% of the awards earned by them under our Annual Incentive Plan and any earned performance shares. Mr. Kokke did not participate in the SERP.

Amounts deferred are, at the election of the named executive officer, deemed to be invested at the prime rate or in phantom units of our common stock, provided that, if deferred, earned performance shares must be deferred into phantom units of our common stock. Deemed investment earnings are credited at the monthly compound equivalent of the prime rate, which is adjusted quarterly based upon the published prime rate, or the increase or decrease of the fair market value of the applicable number of shares of our common stock. When dividends are paid on our common stock, deemed investments in common stock are credited with the amount of the dividends, which isare deemed to be invested in additional phantom stock units at the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the dividend payment date. Phantom stock units are paid through the issuance of shares of common stock at the time of distribution equal to the number of phantom stock units owned at that time.

Our SERP is an unfunded plan and is not regulated or protected under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”). SERP participants are general, unsecured creditors of the company.Company. Our SERP is a combination of plans that mirrors plans being operated by our former parent company at the time we became an independent public company.

 

 

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

 

 

Name

  Executive
Contributions in
2016(1)
($)
   Company
Contributions in
2016(2)
($)
   Aggregate
Earnings
in 2016(3)
($)
   Aggregate
Withdrawals/
Distributions
in 2016
($)
   Aggregate Balance
at December 31,
2016(4)
($)
   Executive
Contributions in
2019(1)
   Company
Contributions in
2019(2)
   Aggregate
Earnings
in 2019(3)
   Aggregate
Withdrawals/
Distributions
in 2019
   Aggregate Balance
at December 31,
2019(4)
 

I. S. Gordon

  $257,019   $153,688   $117,784   $—     $3,560,314 

J. C. Fortnum

  $52,695   $52,695   $211,579   $—     $2,283,756 

J. P. Zallie

  $129,450   $51,780   $29,877   $—     $948,371   $237,741.92   $71,252.65   $95,372.11   $  —    $1,974,619.53 

J. D. Gray

  $44,547.26   $29,374.80   $7,766.50   $—    $230,620.97 

J. Kokke

  $—     $—     $—     $—     $—     $29,330.66   $40,376.56   $3,414.33   $—    $109,324.86 

C. M. Castellano

  $140,858   $25,626   $18,849   $—     $616,877 

E. Adefioye

  $36,296.38   $25,883.18   $8,111.09   $—    $189,957.07 

J. M. Bawcom

  $—    $1,855.38   $4.46   $—    $1,859.84 

 

(1)

Employee contributions include any deferrals of annual compensation, including earned awards under the Annual Incentive Plan and any earned performance shares. These amounts are included in the named executive officers’ compensation under either “Salary,” “Bonus,” “Stock Awards” or“Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” in the Fiscal 2019 Summary Compensation Table.

(2)

These amounts relate to the company matchCompany matching contributions for compensation contributed by participants under our SERP (with an additional 3% contribution for eligible earnings over the IRS qualified compensation limit for Mr. Kokke, Ms. Adefioye and Ms. Bawcom, as they do not participate in the Cash Balance Plan) and, if applicable, Cash BalanceMake-up Accounts and Savings PlanMake-up Accounts andAccounts. These amounts are also included in the named executive officers’ compensation under “All Other Compensation” in the Fiscal 2019 Summary Compensation Table.

(3)

Deemed investment earnings are credited at the monthly compound equivalent of the prime rate, which is adjusted quarterly based upon the published prime rate, or the increase or decrease of the fair market value of the applicable number of shares of our common stock. These amounts appear in the Fiscal 2019 Summary Compensation Table as “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings.”

(4)

These balances include income from prior years which was deferred by the named executive officers and earnings on the amounts previously deferred, as well as deferred 20162019 income which is included as income in the Fiscal 2019 Summary Compensation Table as well as in this amount. With respect to Ms. Gordon, Mr. Fortnum and Mr. Zallie, Mr. Gray, Mr. Kokke, Ms. Adefioye and Ms. Bawcom these amounts include $3,031,733, $1,966,786$1,554,680, $157,004, $69,707, $62,179 and $737,264,$0, respectively, that were reported as compensation to those named executive officers in the company’sCompany’s Summary Compensation Table in years prior to 2016.2019.

Potential Payments upon Termination

The terms of our named executive officers’ severance are the same as the terms for other salaried employees except in the event of a change in control. Ms. Gordon entered into a letter agreement dated as of April 2, 2009 in connection with her being hired as Chairmancontrol of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer. Pursuant to her letter she is employed on an “at will” basis. The letter agreement provides that for all performance awards granted during Ms. Gordon’s employment that provide for other than ratable annual vesting, the awards will be vested on a pro rata basis (based on the number of days employed during the vesting period) on the date of Ms. Gordon’s retirement at any time on or after attaining age 62 and five years of service with the company, with such vested portion subject to attainment of any performance goals that may be provided under any such awards.Company.

In the event of Ms. Gordon’s involuntary termination by the company without cause, the letter agreement provides for a severance payment equal to the sum of her annual base salary plus target annual incentive in effect on the termination date and a pro rata portion of the annual incentive for the year in which the termination occurs based upon actual performance, paid when the annual incentive is paid to other senior executives of the company. The letter agreement contains post-termination restrictions on Ms. Gordon including atwo-yearnon-solicitation of employees covenant and aone-yearnon-competition covenant.

Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control

For terminations other than those relating to a change in control, the named executive officers are not entitled to receive any additional benefits that are not otherwise available to other salaried employees. These benefits, which are also available to other salaried employees, may include distributions under the Cash Balance Plan, Retirement Savings Plan, retiree medical benefits, disability benefits, accrued vacation pay and death severance benefits. However, termination of senior executive officers may result in severance payments in addition to the payments to which the named executive officer is otherwise entitled in exchange for confidentiality,non-compete,non-solicitation or other agreements. Persons who retire after age 55 with at least ten years of service, die or become disabled, in each case, after the first year of a three-year cycle with respect to performance shares issued under our Stock Incentive Plan will receive a prorated award for each such cycle payable after the end of the cycle when other participants receive their payments. If Mr. Fortnum is terminated for any reason, he will be entitled to the continuation of payments equal to the premiums on his executive life insurance policy for his benefit and payments of amounts equal to taxes due as a result of such payments until the later of age 65 or the 15th year of the applicable insurance policy. The amounts of such payments assuming termination as of December 31, 2016 are included in the table under the heading“Estimated Potential Payments upon Change in Control” on page 53. In the case of Mr. Fortnum’s retirement and in cases of prior retirements by persons who were executive officers, the Compensation Committee has exercised its discretion to accelerate the vesting of stock options and restricted stock units.

Executive Severance Agreements

We have a severance agreement with each of the named executive officers that requires us to make certain payments and provide certain benefits if the named executive officer’s employment is terminated by us other than because of death, “Disability” or “Cause” or is terminated by the named executive officer for “Good Reason” within two years after a change in control of the company.Company.

Under the severance agreements a change in control results from any of the following:

 

the acquisition by an individual, entity or group of persons of beneficial ownership of 20% or more of our common stock other than pursuant to most transactions in which we directly issue or purchase shares of our common stock,

 

a majority of our directors at the start of atwo-year period, and persons whose nominations are approved by those directors, or directors approved by those directors not constituting a majority of our board at the end of thetwo-year period,

 

a merger or sale of substantially all of our assets except where owners of our shares own a majority of the voting shares of the surviving corporation or purchaser of the assets, and no person other than us or our benefits plans who owned 15% of our stock before the transaction owns 25% or more of the stock of the survivor or purchaser, and the directors who must be a majority under the preceding provision are a majority of the directors of the surviving corporation or purchaser, or

 

the consummation of a plan of our complete liquidation or dissolution.

For the purposes of the severance agreements:

 

We have “Cause” to terminate the named executive officer if the named executive officer (a) has willfully engaged in conduct which involves dishonesty or moral turpitude which either (1) results in substantial personal enrichment of the named executive officer at our expense or (2) is demonstrably and materially injurious to our financial condition or reputation, (b) has willfully violated the provisions of the confidentiality ornon-competition agreement entered into between the companyCompany or any of its subsidiaries and the named executive officer or (c) has committed a felony.

 

The named executive officer is said to have “Good Reason” to terminate his or her employment (and thereby become entitled to the benefits described below) if we reduce the named executive officer’s base salary, require the named executive officer to relocate more than 35 miles from his or her office location immediately prior to the change in control, reduce in any manner which the officer reasonably considers important the named executive officer’s title, job authorities or responsibilities immediately prior to the change in control or take certain other actions as specified in the definition.

location immediately prior to the change in control, reduce in any manner which the named executive officer reasonably considers important the named executive officer’s title, job authorities or responsibilities immediately prior to the change in control or take certain other actions as specified in the definition.

Each severance agreement requires, as a precondition to the receipt of payments, that the named executive officer sign a standard form of release in which he or she waives all claims that he or she might have against us and certain associated individuals and entities. These agreements also include a prohibition ofon soliciting or recruiting any of our employees or consultants that would apply for one year following the named executive officer’s termination of employment (two years in the case of Ms. Gordon) and confidentiality provisions that would apply for an unlimited period of time following the named executive officer’s termination of employment. Mr. Zallie’s, Mr. Kokke’sGray’s and Ms. Castellano’sMr. Kokke’s agreements each include a three-yearnon-competition agreement in the event his or hersuch named executive officer’s employment is terminated within two years after a change in control orcontrol. Ms. Adefioye’s and Ms. Bawcom’s agreements each include atwo-yearnon-competition agreement in the event such named executive officer’s employment is terminated within two years after a change in control. All named executive officers’ agreements include aone-yearnon-competition agreement if his or herin the event such named executive officer’s employment is terminated other than within two years after a change in control. The agreements provide for the payment of salary and vacation pay accrued through the termination date plus amounts under the Annual Incentive Plan based on the assumption that the target award level was achieved, prorated for the relevant year or portion thereof. In addition, the terminated officerMr. Zallie, Mr. Gray and Mr. Kokke would receive, as a severance payment, a lump sum amount equal to three times the sum of his or her (a) highest base salary in effect during any consecutive12-month period within the 36 months immediately preceding the date of termination and (b) his ortarget Annual Incentive Plan payment for the year in which the termination occurs. Ms. Adefioye and Ms. Bawcom would receive two times the sum of her (a) highest base salary in effect during any consecutive12-month period within the 24 months immediately preceding the date of termination and (b) her target Annual Incentive Plan payment for the year in which the termination occurs. We provide this level of severance because we believe it to be typical and necessary to provide a competitive benefit.

The agreements provide for certain continued insurance and other benefits for a period of 36 months (iffor Mr. Zallie, Mr. Gray and Mr. Kokke and 24 months for Ms. Adefioye and Ms. Bawcom (although, if shorter, the named executive officer is at least 62 years old, our Compensation Committee has the discretion to provide such continued insurance and other benefits only until the time when the named executive officer attainsreaches age 65) and certain allowances for a period of three months, which include, based on current allowances, continued use of a leased automobile for

three months.

These agreements also provide for accelerated vesting pursuant to our Stock Incentive Plan of the terminated officer’s then unvested restricted stock and restricted stock unit awards and other stock-based awards, including, but not limited to, performance share awards under our long-term incentive compensation program on a change in control.

TheseFor named executive officers who participate in our Cash Balance Plan (i.e., Mr. Zallie and Mr. Gray), these agreements also provide for the terminated officer to receive three additional years of service under our Cash Balance Plan based onand also under his nonqualified Cash BalanceMake-up Account, provided, that if the officer’s target total cash compensation (if thenamed executive officer is at least 62 years old, he or she will receive a pro rataprorated amount of additional service credits based on the number of full months until the executivehe reaches age 65) and three65. The additional years of benefits under his or her nonqualified Cash BalanceMake-up Account.service credit will be calculated consistently with and be based on the named executive officer’s total target cash compensation. These agreements also provide for vesting of the named executive officer’s accounts under the Cash Balance Plan and nonqualified Cash BalanceMake-up Accounts, if they are not already vested.

The officerIn addition, Mr. Zallie, Mr. Gray and Mr. Kokke will receive cash payments or nonqualified plan credits equal to three yearstimes the sum of employeethe employer matching contributions in addition(and Ms. Adefioye and Ms. Bawcom will receive nonqualified plan credits equal to two times the sum of the employer matching contributions) made to the contributions made tonamed executive officer’s accounts under the Company’s Retirement Savings Plan and, if applicable, the Savings PlanMake-up Accounts.

Accounts for the most recent plan year that ended before the date of the change in control, or if higher, for the most recent plan year that ended after the date of the change in control (calculated on an annualized basis) as well as the continuation of vesting over the severance period, provided, that if the named executive officer is at least 62 years old (63 in the case of Ms. Adefioye and Ms. Bawcom), he or she will receive a prorated amount of additional service credits based on the number of full months until the named executive officer reaches age 65.

These agreements also provide for vesting of the named executive officer’s accounts under the Retirement Savings Plan and Savings PlanMake-up Accounts, if they are not already vested.

The officernamed executive officers will receive the cash value of his or her current RHCSA and related dependent account. These agreements also provide for vesting of the officer’snamed executive officers’ current RHCSA and related dependent account, if they are not already vested.

We willare obligated to provide a terminated officer with executive-level outplacement services for a period of one year from the date of his or her termination of employment. Such outplacement services are required to be provided through an outplacement firm that is mutually agreed upon by the parties.

Ms. Gordon’s and Mr. Fortnum’s agreements provide that we will reimburse any excise tax paid by the terminated officer as a result of payments under his or her severance agreement unless a less than 10% reduction in the payments would make the excise tax inapplicable, in which case the payments will be reduced by the least amount that would make the excise tax inapplicable. If we are barred from providing any of the benefits contemplated by the severance agreements, we are obligated to arrange to provide substantially similar benefits or theafter-tax cash equivalent. These provisions providing for reimbursement of excise taxes have not been included in severance agreements entered into after June 2009.

To the extent the payments may not be paid from a qualified plan, such amounts will be paid from our general assets.

Mr. Zallie’s, Mr. Kokke’s and Ms. Castellano’sEach of the named executive officer’s agreements each provide for a severance payment of one times his or herthe named executive officer’s base salary in effect on the date of his or her termination of employment in the event of termination of his or her employment other than within two years after a change in control of the company.Company.

Change in Control Provisions of the Stock Incentive Plan

The Stock Incentive Plan provides that, upon a change in control, all outstanding awards made under it will be surrendered to the companyCompany in exchange for a cash payment except in the case of a merger or similar transaction in which the shareholdersstockholders receive publicly traded common stock, in which event all outstanding options and stock appreciation rights immediately will become exercisable in full, all other awards immediately will vest, all performance periods will lapse, each performance period will be deemed satisfied at the target level and each option, stock appreciation right and other award will represent a right to acquire the appropriate number of shares of common stock received in the merger or similar transaction. Beginning with grants made in 2016, such treatment shallwill be afforded to grants to executive officers who are members of our Executive Leadership Team only in the event that the named executive officer terminates his or her employment for “Good Reason” or is terminated by the Company without “Cause” within two years of the change in control. These provisions are intended to permit our senior executives to focus on our success in the event of a change in control

and to encourage them to remain in our employ in the event of a possible change in control. These provisions are similar to terms of other companies’ stock incentive plans and are included in part because we believe we need to do so to provide a competitive compensation package.

Estimated Potential Payments upon Change in Control

The table below shows the estimated amounts payable to each named executive officer upon a change in control and termination of the named executive officer’s employment for reasons other than for death, “Disability” or “Cause,”“Cause” by us or our successor, or by the named executive officer for “Good Reason”Reason,” within two years after a change in control in accordance with the terms of the severance agreements discussed above, are shown in the table below.above. The amounts assume such termination was effective as of December 31, 20162019, and are estimates of the amounts that would be paid to the executivesnamed executive officers upon their termination. Due to a number of factors that affect the nature and amount of any benefits, actual amounts paid or distributed to the named executive officers may be

different from the amounts in the table. Factors that could affect these amounts include the timing during the year of any such event, the company’sCompany’s stock price and the executive’seach named executive officer’s age.

 

 I. S. Gordon J. C. Fortnum J. P. Zallie J. Kokke C. M. Castellano  J. P. Zallie J. D. Gray J. Kokke E. Adefioye J. M. Bawcom 

Cash Severance(1)

 $8,028,473  $3,300,758  $3,240,000  $2,127,902  $2,168,796  $6,882,750  $3,304,800  $3,127,275  $1,485,000  $1,584,000 

Pro rata Bonus Payment(2)(1)

 $1,486,754  $489,001  $480,000  $303,986  $309,828  $1,296,750  $489,600  $463,300  $292,500  $312,000 

Early Vesting of Stock Options(3)(2)

 $10,567,181  $2,303,138  $2,142,111  $648,280  $814,297  $105,948  $21,582  $18,149  $11,772  $0 

Early Vesting of Restricted Stock
Units(4)

 $6,912,912  $1,501,144  $1,379,933  $406,120  $528,581 

Early Vesting of Restricted Stock Units(3)

 $2,485,841  $635,827  $521,996  $791,982  $728,693 

Early Vesting of Performance Shares(5)(4)

 $10,070,638  $2,186,726  $1,270,760  $613,475  $480,292  $3,828,327  $841,983  $701,606  $421,321  $0 

Retirement Benefit Payment(7)(5)

 $167,822  $372,471  $313,020  $—    $124,579  $784,275  $114,780  $0  $0  $0 

Defined Contribution Plan Payments(8)(6)

 $268,514  $205,785  $203,040  $—    $124,578  $271,639  $143,112  $134,049  $105,514  $0 

Health and Welfare Benefit Values(9)

 $47,417  $47,273  $50,675  $—    $38,433 

Post-Retirement Medical Coverage(10)

 $—    $—    $—    $—    $18,409 

Health & Welfare Benefit Values

 $44,746  $58,197  $60,005  $23,038  $15,434 

Outplacement Services

 $25,000  $25,000  $25,000  $25,000  $25,000  $25,000  $25,000  $25,000  $25,000  $25,000 

Personal Allowances(11)

 $5,163  $3,928  $4,046  $8,392  $4,110 

Executive Life Insurance(12)

 $—    $48,722  $—    $—    $—   

Personal Allowances(7)

 $5,853  $3,750  $3,931  $4,311  $3,655 

Post-Retirement Medical Coverage(8)

 $—    $—    $—    $—    $—   

Forfeiture Required by Greater NetAfter-Tax Provision

 $—    $—    $—    $—    $—   
 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

Total(13)

 $37,579,874  $10,483,946  $9,108,585  $4,133,155  $4,636,903 

Total

 $15,731,129  $5,638,631  $5,055,311  $3,160,438  $2,668,758 
 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

 

(1)For Ms. Gordon the Committee has discretion to provide a prorated cash severance payment since she is over the age of 62. These numbers assume the Committee would not exercise this discretion.
(2)

Target award is shown because a guaranteed target payment is triggered by a change in control under the severance agreements.

(3)(2)

Based on the closing price of a share of our common stock on December 30, 201631, 2019 ($124.96)92.95) minus the applicable exercise price.

(4)(3)

The number of restricted stock units multiplied by $124.96$92.95 (the closing price of a share of our common stock on December 30, 2016)31, 2019).

(5)(4)

Reflects the target number of performance shares for 20142018 through 2016, 20152020 and 2019 through 2017 and 2016 through 20182021 performance periods multiplied by $134.80$94.15 (the highest price of a share of our common stock over the90-day period immediately preceding the date of the assumed change in control, December 31, 2016)2019).

(6)(5)For Ms. Gordon and Mr. Fortnum, the amounts reflect the full payment that she or he would receive, which is equal to the sum of the payment due to her or his eligibility for retirement plus the additional incremental payment due to the change in control.

(7)Reflects only the additional amounts earned under the Cash Balance Plan and nonqualified Cash BalanceMake-up Accounts due to a change in control (the value of three extra years of pay credits) as well as the continuation of vesting over the severance period. For Ms. Gordon, who is over age 62, the amount has been prorated to age 65.

(8)(6)

Reflects additional employer contributions to the defined contribution plans based on three times (two times for Ms. Adefioye and Ms. Bawcom) the sum of the employer matching contributions made toCompany’s Retirement Savings Plan and, if applicable, the executive’s accounts under the qualified and nonqualified plansSavings PlanMake-up Accounts for the most recent plan year that ended before the date of the change in control, or if higher, for the most recent plan year that ended after the date of the change in control (calculated on an annualized basis) as well as the continuation of vesting over the severance period. Forperiod, provided, that if the named executive officer is at least 62 years old (63 in the case of Ms. Gordon, who is overAdefioye and Ms. Bawcom), he or she will receive a prorated amount of additional service credits based on the number of full months until the named executive officer reaches age 62, the amount has been prorated to age 65.

(9)(7)For Ms. Gordon,

Reflects the Committee has discretionCompany cost related to provide a prorated healththree months of financial planning services and welfare benefit value since she is over age 62. These numbers assume the Committee did not exercise this discretion.company car lease/allowance payments.

(10)(8)

The RHCSA plan was eliminated for employees who did not meet one of the following sets of requirements as of December 31, 2016:2014: (1) age 55 with at least 10 years of continuous service, or (2) age 45 with at least 15 years of continuous service. In addition, as of January 1, 2015, there are no additional spending credits; however, there continues to be interest applied to each account. All National Starch LLC Postretirement Welfare Plan participants that met the above requirements were transitioned to the RHCSA program on January 1, 2015. As a result of these changes, Ms. Gordon is no longer eligible for this program. Officers were vested in their RHCSA accounts at age 55 with 10ten years of service as of December 31, 2016.service. Mr. Zallie would vest in his RHCSA account as a result of a change in control.

(11)Reflects the company cost related to three months of financial planning services and company car lease payments.
(12)Mr. Fortnum is over 55 years of age; therefore, any termination (regardless if it is related to a change in control) would result in continued participation in the Executive Life Insurance Plan. The amount shown reflects the estimated sum of the continued payments he would receive to assist in the payment of premiums on life insurance policies for his benefit and to assist in the payment of taxes due as a result of such payments.
(13)Mr. Zallie would trigger an excise tax liability of $937,195, which would be his personal responsibility to pay. The full payment also provides a greaterafter-tax benefit. Ms. Castellano would trigger an excise tax liability of $564,564, which would be her personal responsibility to pay. The full payment also provides a greaterafter-tax benefit.

Risk Arising from Compensation Policies and Practices

We believe that risk associated with our incentive plans is low. All eligible employees participate in short-term incentive and long-term incentive plans with substantially similar terms. The metrics and goals for those plans are developed by management and are reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors. Management’s opinion is that our compensation policies and practices do not promote inappropriate risk taking and, therefore, any risks arising from such policies and practices are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the company.Company.

Hedging Related Policies for Employees, Officers and Directors

The use of financial instruments and derivative securities (including, without limitation, short sales, options, puts, calls, straddles, prepaid variable forward contracts, equity swaps, collars or exchange funds) by an employee (including, without limitation, executive officers) or director of the Company may result in the holder of such financial instrument or derivative security not being subject to the full risks and rewards of ownership of the Company’s stock. Through the use of use of financial instruments and derivative securities in hedging transactions, such individuals may have objectives or incentives that diverge from those of the Company’s other stockholders.

To address this concern, the Company’s Insider Trading Compliance Policy includes, among other provisions, a provision prohibiting the Company’s directors and executive officers from hedging the risk of ownership in the Company’s stock and incentive awards. In addition, the Company’s Insider Trading Compliance Policy strongly discourages employees who are not executive officers from entering into hedging transactions with respect to the Company’s stock.

Pay Ratio Disclosure

As required by Section 953(b) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and SEC rules adopted thereunder, we are providing the following disclosure about the relationship of the annual total compensation of our employees to the annual total compensation of, Mr. Zallie, our Chief Executive Officer. To understand this disclosure, we believe it is important to give context to our operations. Our corporate headquarters are in Westchester, Illinois, and, as of March 1, 2020, we operate 16 U.S. manufacturing facilities in 14 states and have 27 manufacturing facilities in international locations. As a global organization, approximately 76% of our employees are located outside of the United States. We strive to create a global compensation program which is competitive in terms of both the position and the geographic location in which the employee is located. We use local compensation benchmark data to ensure that we maintain a competitive level of compensation for our employees. Accordingly, our pay structures vary among employees based on position and geographic location.

In accordance with Instruction 2 to Item 402(u) of RegulationS-K, we are using the same median employee identified in 2017 for our 2019 pay ratio disclosure because there has been no change in our employee population or employee compensation arrangements during the past fiscal year that we reasonably believe would significantly affect our pay ratio disclosure. Accordingly, for 2019, we compared Mr. Zallie’s 2019 total compensation to the 2019 total compensation for the median employee who was identified in 2017. The 2017 process for identifying our median employee involved analyzing the annual total compensation of all company employees, other than Mr. Zallie, as of December 31, 2017. Employee data was gathered from local payrolls and included all 2017 taxable wages as of December 31, 2017. As part of this process, we excluded some small employee populations. As permitted by SEC rules, we excluded all employees in four countries totaling 548 employees (approximately 4.9% of our total workforce of 11,013). Employees in the following countries were excluded: China (296), Indonesia (23), Peru (218) and Philippines (11). As a result, the 2017 analysis to find our median employee included 10,465 of our 11,013 employees.

For purposes of identifying our median employee, we converted the taxable wages of ournon-U.S. employees to U.S. dollars using the 2017 average exchange rate. Employees were then ranked by taxable wages as of December 31, 2017, and the median employee was identified. In addition, because of the disparity in cost of living between the U.S. and the other countries in which 76% of the employee population is located, we calculated adjusted taxable wages, as permitted under SEC rules, to include a cost of living adjustment. Using World Bank data, we adjusted the taxable wages as of December 31, 2017, based on the cost of living in the employees’ countries of residence, and ranked employees again to identify a second median employee.

For the purposes of preparing this disclosure, we calculated the compensation of each such employee in accordance with Item 402(c)(2)(x) of RegulationS-K. This calculation is the same calculation used to determine total compensation for purposes of the Fiscal 2019 Summary Compensation Table with respect to each of the named executive officers.

The 2019 total compensation for Mr. Zallie, as reported in the Total column of the Fiscal 2019 Summary Compensation Table, was $8,474,335. For the median employee, whose compensation was not adjusted for cost of living, 2019 total compensation was $24,439, and the resulting ratio of Mr. Zallie’s total compensation to this median employee’s total compensation for 2019 was 347 to 1. For the median employee whose compensation was adjusted for cost of living, 2019 total compensation was $47,754, and the resulting ratio of Mr. Zallie’s total compensation to this median employee’s adjusted total compensation for 2019 was 177 to 1.

Compensation Committee Report

The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors reports that it has reviewed and discussed with management the section of this proxy statement headed “Compensation“Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” and, on the basis of that review and discussion, recommended that that section be included in this proxy statement and incorporated by reference into our Annual Report on FormForm 10-K and in this proxy statement.for the year ended December 31, 2019.

Compensation Committee

D. A. Wilson, Chairman

D. B. Fischer

R. L. Jordan,

Chairman

B. A. Klein

J. A. Uribe

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

None of the Compensation Committee members:

 

has ever been an officer or employee of the company,Company,

 

  

is or was a participant in a related person transaction in 20162019 (See“Review “Review and Approval of Transactions with Related Persons” beginning on page 5861 for a description of our policy on related person transactions.) or

 

is an executive officer of another entity, at which one of our executive officers serves on the board of directors.

Proposal 2. Advisory Vote on Compensation of Our Named Executive Officers

In this Proposal 2, in accordance with Section 14A of the Exchange Act and the SEC’s rules thereunder, the Board of Directors is asking the stockholders to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement. The Board of Directors has determined to seek such a vote annually until the next required stockholder vote on the frequency of stockholder votes on executive compensation.

In the discussion under the heading“Compensation “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” beginning on page 26,32, we discuss in detail how our compensation programs support our business and financial objectives, how they work, how they are administered under the direction of our Compensation Committee and how the committee’s decisions concerning the 20162019 compensation of our named executive officers were directly tied to our performance.

We seek your advisory vote on our executive compensation programs as required by Section 14A(a)(1) of the Exchange Act. The Board of Directors has determined to seek such a vote annually until the next required stockholder vote on the frequency of stockholder votes on executive compensation and is recommending that the stockholders vote in favor of continuing to vote in favor of holding such a vote annually at our 2017 annual meeting.

At our 20162019 annual meeting, 95.9%93.1% of the shares voted were cast in support of the compensation of our named executive officers.officers as disclosed in the proxy statement for that annual meeting. We ask that you again support the compensation of our named executive officers, as disclosed in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the accompanying compensation tables and the related narrative disclosure in this proxy statement.statement for this annual meeting. Because your vote is advisory, it will not be binding on the board or the company.Company. However, the board and the Compensation Committee will review the voting results and take them into consideration when making future decisions regarding executive compensation.

We have a long-standing tradition of delivering strong performance for our stockholders, customers and the communities in which we operate. Our executive compensation programs have played a material role in our ability to achieve strong financial results and attract and retain a highly experienced, successful team to manage the company.Company.

Our executive team has successfully managed the companyCompany through the recent challenging economic conditions. We are poised to continue our long-standing tradition of excellence and delivering performance results for our stockholders, our customers and the communities in which we operate and to provide a diverse and engaged workforce.

We believe that our executive compensation programs are structured to effectively support our company and our business objectives in a manner that comports with market practices.

 

Our compensation programs are substantially tied into our key business objectives and the success of our stockholders. If the value we deliver to our stockholders declines, so does the compensation we deliver to our executives.

 

We maintain the highest level of corporate governance over our executive pay programs.

 

We closely monitor our compensation programs and the pay levels of executives of companies of similar size and complexity so that we may ensure that our compensation programs are within the norm of a range of market practices.

In 2014, we adopted a clawback policy and a policy prohibiting the hedging and pledging of company stock by our executive officers and directors.

Double-trigger vesting was implemented effective with the 2016 Stock Incentive Plan grants to named executive officers. In the event that outstanding grants remain exercisable for shares of common stock (i.e., the grants are not assumed or replaced with equity awards) after a Change in Control (as defined in the Stock Incentive Plan), accelerated vesting will occur only upon a qualifying termination event. The qualifying termination will require an involuntary termination without “cause” or resignation for “good reason” during atwo-year protection period following a Change in Control.

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote FOR the following proposal:

RESOLVED:RESOLVED, that the stockholders approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the company’sCompany’s named executive officers as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of RegulationRegulation S-K, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the accompanying compensation tables and the related narrative disclosures in the proxy statement for the company’s 2017Company’s 2020 annual meeting of stockholders.

Proposal 3. Advisory Vote on the Frequency of the Advisory Vote

on Compensation of Our Named Executive Officers

We are also seeking your input with regard to the frequency of future stockholder advisory votes on our executive compensation programs as required by Section 14A(a)(2) of the Exchange Act. In particular, we are asking whether the advisory vote should occur every year, every two years or every three years. We ask that you support a frequency period of every year (“1 Year” on www.proxyvote.com and on the proxy card) for futurenon-binding stockholder votes on compensation of our named executive officers. We recommended a vote every year in the proxy statement for our 2011 meeting, our stockholders voted in favor of a vote every year at that meeting and we have held the vote every year since the original vote at that meeting.

You can vote for one of four options: to hold the vote on executive compensation every one, two or three years or to abstain. You are not voting to approve or disapprove the board’s recommendation.

Although this advisory vote on the frequency of the advisory vote on our executive compensation programs is nonbinding, the board and the Compensation Committee will take into account the outcome of this vote when considering the frequency of future advisory votes on our executive compensation programs.

We expect that the next vote on asay-on-pay frequency proposal will occur at our 2023 annual meeting of stockholders.

We ask that you consider the value of having the opportunity every year to voice your opinion on the company’s executive compensation through an advisory vote, weighing that against the additional burden and expense to the company and stockholders of preparing and responding to proposals annually, as well as the other means available to stockholders to provide input on executive compensation.

On balance, we support advisory votes on executive compensation every year and believe that the value of the annual vote has outweighed the burden of preparing annual proposals. We welcome stockholder input and anticipate that the value of an annual vote will likely continue to outweigh the burden of preparing annual proposals.

The Board of Directors recommends that you vote for an advisory stockholder vote to approve the compensation of our named executive officers EVERY YEAR.

Equity Compensation Plan Information as of December 31, 20162019

The following table provides information as of December 31, 20162019, about the company’sCompany’s equity compensation plans.

 

Plan Category

  Number of securities
to be issued
upon exercise of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
 Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding
options,
warrants and
rights
 Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance under
equity compensation
plans (excluding
securities reflected
in the first column)
   Number of securities
to be issued
upon exercise of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
 Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding
options,
warrants and
rights
 Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance under
equity compensation
plans (excluding
securities reflected
in the first column)
 

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

   2,974,265(1)  $61.39(2)  4,480,874    2,698,777(1)  $84.36(2)  2,833,185 

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

   13,366(3)  N/A  (4)    12,573(3)  N/A              (4) 
  

 

  

 

  

 

   

 

  

 

  

 

 

Total

   2,987,923  $61.39(5)  4,480,874    2,711,350  $84.36(5)  2,833,185 
  

 

  

 

  

 

   

 

  

 

  

 

 

 

(1)

This amount includes an aggregate of 91,80496,996 shares of company common stock representing outstanding performance share target awards that will vest only upon the successful completion of the relevant long-term incentive performance cycle and will be payable, if earned, by the companyCompany in shares of company common stock. The amount included in this column in respect of these performance awards assumes that all such performance awards vest 100 percent. This amount also includes 428,566339,000 restricted stock units outstanding as of December 31, 2016.2019. This amount does not include 1,776 shares of restricted stock outstanding as of December 31, 2016.2019.

(2)

This price does not take into account the 91,80496,996 performance share target awards and 428,566339,000 restricted stock units referenced in footnote 1 because those awards have no exercise price.

(3)

This amount assumes that all 1,8902,022 phantom stock units that the companyCompany credited to the Deferred Compensation Plan for Outside Directors and all 11,76810,552 phantom stock units in the SERP will be paid in the form of shares of company common stock.

(4)

Does not include shares available for future issuance. The Deferred Compensation Plan for Outside Directors is a plan that was frozen in 2005 that allowed outside directors to defer, in the form of phantom stock units, all or part of their respective board retainers, and there will be no further issuances under that plan other than deemed dividends on outstanding phantom stock units. The SERP allows its participants to defer portions of their annual and long-term incentive compensation in the form of phantom stock units.

(5)

This price represents the weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options. It excludes the phantom stock units referenced in footnote 3 as well as the 91,80496,996 performance share target awards and 428,566339,000 restricted stock units referenced in footnote 1 because those awards have no exercise price.

Independence of Board Members

Under the rules of the NYSE, a director is not considered to be independent unless the Board of Directors has affirmatively determined that the director has no material relationship with the company or any of its subsidiaries (either directly or as a partner, stockholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the company or any of its subsidiaries). In addition, the NYSE rules stipulate that certain relationships preclude a director from being considered to be independent. Our Board of Directors has determined that each director, except for I. S. Gordon, the company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, is independent.

In making its determination as to the independent directors, the board reviewed relationships between the company and the directors, including ordinary course relationships arising from transactions in 2014, 2015 and 2016 (all of which, other than the transactions described under the heading“Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” in this proxy statement and the proxy statements for our prior two annual meetings represented substantially less than one percent of the revenues of the entities involved) on terms and conditions substantially

similar to those with unaffiliated third parties between the company and entities where the directors or their immediate family members are directors, advisory board members, executive officers or employees or own five percent or more of the equity of the applicable entity (Messrs. Aranguren-Trellez, Fischer, Hanrahan and Uribe and Ms. Jordan and Ms. Reich). The board also reviewed the company’s contributions to charitable andnot-for-profit organizations in 2014, 2015 and 2016 (none of which exceeded $20,000 in any year, other than contributions to United Way charities which did not exceed $200,000 in any year) where the directors or their immediate family members serve as directors or trustees (Messrs. Aranguren-Trellez, Fischer and Uribe and Ms. Reich).

Review and Approval of Transactions with Related Persons

The board has adopted a written policy and procedures for review, approval and monitoring of transactions involving the companyCompany and “related persons” (directors and executive officers or their immediate family members, or stockholders owning five percent or greater of the company’sCompany’s outstanding stock). The policy covers any related person transaction involving amounts exceeding $120,000 in which a related person has a direct or indirect material interest.

Policy

Related person transactions must be approved by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors or if a related person involved is a member of the Board of Directors or a nominee to become a director then by all of

the disinterested independent members of the board. In considering the transaction, the committee or independent directors will consider all relevant factors, including, as applicableapplicable:

 

the size of the transaction and the amount payable, directly or indirectly, to a related person,

 

the nature of the interest or involvement of the related person in the transaction,

 

whether the transaction creates an appearance of a conflict of interest or unfair dealing,

 

whether the rates or charges and other key terms involved in the transaction were determined by competitive bids,

 

whether the transaction involves the provision of goods or services to the companyCompany that are available from unaffiliated third parties and, if so, whether the transaction is on terms and made under circumstances that are at least as favorable to the companyCompany as would be available in comparable transactions with or involving unaffiliated third parties, and

 

the impact of the transaction on the companyCompany and its stockholders.

Procedures

 

The Chief Financial Officer will advise the Chairman of the Audit Committee of any related person transaction of which he or she becomes aware.

 

The Audit Committee will consider such related person transaction at its next regularly scheduled meeting or, if it deems it advisable, prior thereto at an interim meeting called for such purpose. If approval or ratification of the related person transaction requires consideration by all of the disinterested and independent members of the Board of Directors, the related person transaction will be considered at the board’s next regularly scheduled meeting or, if the disinterested and independent directors deem it advisable, prior thereto at an interim meeting called for such purpose.

 

Except as set forth below, any related person transaction not approved in advance by the Audit Committee or a majority of the disinterested and independent directors will not be entered into by the companyCompany unless the consummation of the transaction is expressly subject to ratification by the Audit Committee or a majority of the disinterested and independent directors. If the transaction is not so ratified, the Company will not consummate the transaction. It is the responsibility of management to notify the Chief Financial Officer of all potential related person transactions in advance, so as to allow appropriate review under the Company’s guidelines.

Committee or a majority of the disinterested and independent directors. If the transaction is not so ratified, the company will not consummate the transaction. It is the responsibility of management to notify the Chief Financial Officer of all potential related person transactions in advance, so as to allow appropriate review under the company’s guidelines.

 

If the companyCompany enters into a transaction that (i) the companyCompany was not aware constituted a related person transaction at the time it was entered into but which it subsequently determines is a related person transaction prior to full performance thereof or (ii) did not constitute a related person transaction at the time such transaction was entered into but thereafter becomes a related person transaction prior to full performance thereof, then in either such case the related person transaction will be presented for ratification in the manner set forth above. If the related person transaction is not ratified, then the companyCompany will take all reasonable actions to attempt to terminate its participation in the transaction. Reasonable steps will not be deemed to require that the companyCompany act in breach of any contractual obligations or otherwise expose itself to legal liability.

 

The Chief Financial Officer will update the Audit Committee or the board, as applicable, on the status of any approved related person transaction not less than annually, or upon termination of or anticipated significant change in the related person transaction. Anticipated significant changes will be subject to the approval processes required for initial approval of a related person transaction.

Currently the onlySince January 1, 2019, there have been no such related person transactions are the transactions at competitive market rates described below, through the company’s Mexican subsidiary, with a wholly owned subsidiary of a company owned by Luis Aranguren-Trellez and his brothers.transactions.

Certain Relationships2019 and Related Transactions

During 2016, we, through our Mexican subsidiary, Ingredion Mexico, S.A. de C.V., sold starch and other products at commercial market rates in an amount totaling approximately $462,177 to Enmex, S.A. de C.V., a wholly owned subsidiary of Arancia, S.A. de C.V. During 2016, we, through our Mexican subsidiary, Ingredion Integra, S.A. de C.V., purchased cleaning services from Servicios Estrella Azul de Occidente, S. A. de C. V. for payments totaling approximately $25,083. Servicios Estrella Azul de Occidente, S. A. de C. V. was a wholly owned subsidiary of Arancia until May 2015 when it was acquired by Lavartex SAPI, S.A. de C.V. Arancia holds a 41 percent interest in Lavartex SAPI, S.A. de C.V. Luis Aranguren-Trellez is Vice President of the Board and Executive President of Arancia. He owns aone-third interest in Arancia, the balance of which is owned by his brothers. These sales and purchases were approximately 0.2 percent of Arancia’s revenues. We expect to continue sales to Enmex of starch and other products and to purchase cleaning services from Servicios Estrella Azul de Occidente, S. A. de C. V. totaling approximately $462,000 and $25,000, respectively, in 2017.

2016 and 20152018 Audit Firm Fee Summary

Following is a summary of professional services provided by the company’sCompany’s independent auditors, KPMG LLP, during the years ended December 31, 20162019 and 2015,2018, and the related fees:

 

  2016   2015   2019   2018 

Audit Fees

  $5,914,000   $5,796,000   $5,212,000   $5,170,000 

Total Audit-Related Fees

   107,000    115,000   $84,000   $87,500 

Total Tax Fees

   82,000    7,000   $—     $61,200 

All Other Fees

  $—     $—   
  

 

   

 

 

Total

  $5,296,000   $5,318,700 
  

 

   

 

 

Audit Fees

The audit fees include work related to the annual consolidated financial statements and internal control over financial reporting, completion of limited reviews of quarterly financial information and foreign statutory audits.

Audit-Related Fees

The audit-related fees include benefit plan audits, review of government filings, attestation and filings with the SEC.compliance reports.

Tax Fees

The tax fees primarily relate to tax compliance and consultation in the various countries in which the companyCompany operates.

All audit, audit-related and tax services performed by KPMG are approved by the Audit Committee in advance of the engagement. The Audit Committee has considered and determined the compatibility of the audit-related and tax services provided by KPMG with auditor independence. In addition, allnon-audit related KPMG fees are approved by the Audit Committee in advance of the engagement.

Audit Committee Report

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors reports that it has: (i) reviewed and discussed with management the audited financial statements of the companyCompany for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016;2019; (ii) discussed with KPMG LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm serving as the company’sCompany’s independent auditors, the matters required to be discussed by Auditing Standard No. 1301, as amended (AICPA,Professional Standards, Vol. 1, AU section 380) as adopted bythe applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board in Rule 3200T,and the SEC; and (iii) received the written disclosures and the letter from KPMG required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding KPMG’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and has discussed with KPMG their independence. Based on such review and discussions, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements of the companyCompany for the fiscal year ended December 31, 20162019, be included in the company’sCompany’s Annual Report on FormForm 10-K for 2016the year ended December 31, 2019 for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Audit Committee

B. A. Klein, Chairman

V. J. Reich, Chairman

J. A. UribeD. B. Fischer

P. Hanrahan

S. B. Tanda

Proposal 4.3. Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

In this Proposal 3, the Board of Directors is asking stockholders to ratify the Audit Committee’s appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020.

The Audit Committee has appointed KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as the independent registered public accounting firm of the companyCompany and its subsidiaries in respect offor the company’s operations in 2017. Representatives of KPMG are expected to attend the annual meeting and will be available to respond to appropriate questions and to make a statement if they so desire.fiscal year ending December 31, 2020. KPMG also performs certain other audit-related and tax services for the company.Company. Although the companyCompany is not required to seek stockholder approval of this appointment, the board currently believes that it is a good corporate governance practice to follow. If the appointment is not ratified, the Audit Committee will explore the reasons for stockholder rejection and will reconsider the appointment. Even if the appointment is ratified, the Audit Committee, in its discretion, may appoint a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if the Audit Committee determines that it would be in the company’sCompany’s and our stockholders’ best interests.

Representatives of KPMG are expected to attend the annual meeting and will be available to respond to appropriate questions and to make a statement if they so desire.

The Board of Directors and the Audit Committee recommendunanimously recommends that you vote FOR the following proposal:

RESOLVED: thatratification of the appointment by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the firm of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm offor the company and its subsidiaries, in respect of the company’s operations in 2017, is hereby ratified.fiscal year ending December 31, 2020.

Other Matters

We do not know of any other matters or items of business to be presented or acted upon at the annual meeting. If other proposals are properly presented, each of the persons named in the proxy is authorized to vote on them using herhis best judgment.

Other Information

Any stockholder who wishes to receive a separate copy of this proxy statement or our 20162019 Annual Report to Stockholders can do so by contacting the Corporate Secretary of the company,Company, by telephone at708-551-2600 or by mail at the company’sCompany’s principal executive office, the address of which is Ingredion Incorporated, 5 Westbrook Corporate Center, Westchester, Illinois 60154. Alternatively, you can access our 20162019 Annual Report to Stockholders, which includes our 20162019 Annual Report on FormForm 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and other financial information, on the “Investors” section of our investor relations website at: http:https://www.ingredion.com. You can access our Corporate Governance Principles; our Codeir.ingredionincorporated.com/financial-information/annual-reports.

To the extent that this proxy statement is incorporated by reference into any filing by the Company under the Securities Act of Ethics for Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer1933, as amended, or under the Exchange Act, the sections of this proxy statement entitled“Compensation Committee Report” and Other Executives Involved“Audit Committee Report,” to the extent permitted by SEC rules, will not be deemed incorporated in Financial Reporting; and our Policies on Business Conductsuch a filing, unless specifically provided otherwise in the “Governance”filing. In addition, such section will not be deemed to be soliciting material for purposes of ourthe solicitation of proxies in connection with the annual meeting.

Except as stated otherwise, all website at http://www.ingredion.com. Please note that theaddresses contained in this proxy statement are intended to be inactive, textual references only. The information on, ouror accessible through, any website (including the Company’s website) identified in this proxy statement or any accompanying materials is not a part of, and is not incorporated by reference ininto, this proxy statement.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the company’s directors and executive officers and persons beneficially owning more than ten percent of a registered class of the company’s equity securities to file reports of holdings and transactions in the company’s common stock (including derivatives thereof) on Forms 3, 4 and 5 with the SEC and the NYSE. These persons are also required to furnish the company with copies of all Forms 3, 4 and 5 that they file. Based solely on the company’s review of the copies of such forms it has received and other information, including written representations by such directors and executive officers, the company believes that all of its directors and executive officers complied with all filing requirements applicable to them with respect to transactions during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 as required by Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act.

Please castsubmit your voteproxy or voting instructions on the Internet or by telephone as soon as possible, or if you received a paper copy of the proxy materials and want to votesubmit your proxy or voting instructions by mail, please complete the accompanying proxy card and mail it in the enclosed, postage-paid envelope as soon as possible, or, if you have received a voting instruction form from a bank, broker or other holder of record, please castsubmit your votevoting instructions by following the instructionsdirections provided on that form.

 

By order of the Board of Directors,

LOGO

LOGO

Michael N. Levy

Christine M. Castellano
Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Corporate

Assistant Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer

April 4, 20178, 2020

Appendix A

Reconciliation of Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share to Diluted Earnings

Per Share Determined in Accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles

To supplement the consolidated financial results prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), the company usesnon-GAAP historical financial measures, which exclude certain GAAP items such as acquisition and integration costs, impairment and restructuring costs, and certain other special items. The company uses the term “adjusted” when referring to thesenon-GAAP amounts.

Management usesnon-GAAP financial measures internally for strategic decision making, forecasting future results and evaluating current performance. By disclosingnon-GAAP financial measures, management intends to provide investors with a more meaningful, consistent comparison of the company’s operating results and trends for the periods presented. Thesenon-GAAP financial measures are used in addition to and in conjunction with results presented in accordance with GAAP and reflect an additional way of viewing aspects of our operations that, when viewed with our GAAP results, provide a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting our business. Thesenon-GAAP measures should be considered as a supplement to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, the corresponding measures calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

Non-GAAP financial measures are not prepared in accordance with GAAP; therefore, the information is not necessarily comparable to other companies. A reconciliation of non-GAAP adjusted net income attributable to Ingredion and adjusted diluted earnings per share to net income attributable to Ingredion and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) calculated in accordance with GAAP is provided in the table below.

 

   Year Ended
December 31, 2016
   Year Ended
December 31, 2015
 
   (in millions)   EPS   (in millions)  EPS 

Net income attributable to Ingredion

  $484.9   $6.55   $402.2  $5.51 

Add back:

       

Income tax settlement

   27.0    0.36    —     —   

Impairment/restructuring charges, net of income tax benefit of $4.7 million and $9.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively

   14.6    0.20    18.3   0.25 

Integration/acquisition costs, net of income tax benefit of $1.1 million and $2.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively

   1.9    0.03    7.2   0.10 

Litigation settlement, net of income tax benefit of $2.5 million

   —      —      4.3   0.06 

Gain on sale of plant, net of income taxes of $0.9 million

   —      —      (8.9  (0.12

Charge for the valuemark-up of acquired inventory, net of income tax benefit of $0.7 million and $3.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively

   —      —      6.4   0.09 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

  

 

 

 

Non-GAAP adjusted net income

  $528.4   $7.13   $429.5  $5.88 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

  

 

 

 
  Year Ended
December 31, 2019
  Year Ended
December 31, 2018
 
  (in millions)  EPS  (in millions)  EPS 

Net income attributable to Ingredion

 $413  $6.13  $443  $6.17 

Add back:

    

Acquisition/integration costs, net of income tax benefit of $— and $1 million for the three months and year ended December 31, 2019, respectively(a)

  2   0.03   —     —   

Restructuring/impairment charges, net of income tax benefit of $4 million and $13 million for the three months and year ended December 31, 2019, respectively, and $3 million and $13 million for the three months and year ended December 31, 2018, respectively(b)

  44   0.65   51   0.71 

Other matters, net of income tax expense of $6 million and $8 million for the three months and year ended December 31, 2019, respectively(c)

  (11  (0.16  3   0.04 
 

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Non-GAAP adjusted net income attributable to Ingredion

 $448  $6.65  $497  $6.92 
 

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Net income, EPS and tax rates may not foot or recalculate due to rounding.

    LOGO

 

INGREDION INCORPORATED

5 WESTBROOK CORPORATE CENTER

WESTCHESTER, IL 60154

(a)

VOTE BY INTERNET -www.proxyvote.com

UseThe 2019 period includes costs related to the Internet to transmit your voting instructionsacquisition and for electronic deliveryintegration of information until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 16, 2017 (until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 12, 2017 to instruct the Retirement Savings Plan Trustee). Have your proxy card/voting instruction form in hand when you access the website and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form.business acquired from Western Polymer, LLC.

(b)

ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF FUTURE PROXY MATERIALS

If you would like to reduceDuring the three months and year ended December 31, 2019, the Company recorded $16 million and $57 million of pre-tax restructuring/impairment charges, respectively. During the fourth quarter of 2019, we recorded $11 million of net restructuring related expenses as part of the Cost Smart cost of sales program and $5 million of employee-related and other costs, incurred by us in mailing proxy materials, you can consent to receive all future proxy statements, proxy cardsincluding professional services, associated with our Cost Smart SG&A program. During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company recorded $57 million of pre-tax restructuring charges, including $29 million of net restructuring related expenses as part of the Cost Smart cost of sales program and annual reports electronically viae-mail or the Internet. To sign up for electronic delivery, please follow the instructions above to vote using the Internet$28 million of employee-related and when prompted, indicate that you agree to receive or access proxy materials electronically in future years.other costs, including professional services, associated with our Cost Smart SG&A program.

VOTE BY PHONE -1-800-690-6903

Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 16, 2017 (until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 12, 2017 to instruct the Retirement Savings Plan Trustee). Have your proxy card/voting instruction form in hand when you call and then follow the instructions.

VOTE BY MAIL

Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Ingredion Incorporated, c/o Broadridge,

51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717. (Your voting instructions must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 12, 2017 to instruct the Retirement Savings Plan Trustee.)

If you vote using the Internet or vote by phone, please do not mail your proxy.
THANK YOU FOR VOTING

 

TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS:
E22313-P91133KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS
DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY
THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED.

During the three months and year ended December 31, 2018, we recorded $19 million and $64 million of pre-tax restructuring/impairment charges, respectively. During the fourth quarter of 2018, we recorded $18 million of restructuring expenses as part of the Cost Smart cost of sales, $2 million of restructuring charges as part of the Cost Smart SG&A, these charges were offset by $1 million reduction of expense from the prior year estimate of North America restructuring activities. During the year ended December 31, 2018, we recorded $64 million of pre-tax restructuring charges consisting of $49 million of restructuring expenses as part of the Cost Smart cost of sales program, $11 million of restructuring charges were recorded related to the Cost Smart SG&A program, and $4 million of restructuring charges related to other projects.

 

(c)

During the three months and year ended December 31, 2019, we recorded a $22 million pre-tax benefit for the favorable judgement received by Ingredion from the Federal Court of Appeals in Brazil related to certain indirect taxes collected in prior years. As a result of the decision, the Company expects to be entitled to credits against its Brazilian federal tax payments in 2020 and future years. The benefit recorded represents

 
INGREDION INCORPORATED

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” ALL OF THE NOMINEES LISTED IN PROPOSAL 1, “FOR” PROPOSALS 2 AND 4 AND FOR “1 YEAR” ON PROPOSAL 3:

1.To elect the ten director nominees who are named in the proxy statement, all of whom are directors whose terms as directors are expiring at the annual meeting, to serve as directors for a term of one yearForAgainstAbstain

Nominees:

ForAgainstAbstain2.To approve, by advisory vote, the compensationCompany’s current estimate of the company’s “named executive officers”

1a.

Luis Aranguren-Trellez

1 Year2 Years3 YearsAbstain

1b.

1c.

1d.

1e.

1f.

1g.

1h.

1i.

1j.

David B. Fischer

Ilene S. Gordon

Paul Hanrahan

Rhonda L. Jordan

Gregory B. Kenny

Barbara A. Klein

Victoria J. Reich

Jorge A. Uribe

Dwayne A. Wilson

3.

To recommend,credits and interest due from the favorable decision in accordance with ASC 450,Contingencies. This benefit was offset by advisory vote, whether to have stockholders vote to approve, by advisory vote,other adjusted charges during the compensation of the company’s “named executive officers” every year, every two years or every three years

For

Against

Abstain

4.

To ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of the company and its subsidiaries, in respect of the company’s operations in 2017

The shares represented by this proxy/voting instruction, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned stockholder(s).If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted FOR each of the nominees for election as a director, FOR Proposals 2 and 4 and FOR “1 Year” on Proposal 3.If any other matters properly come before the meeting, or any adjournment or adjournments thereof, each person named in this proxy/voting instruction will vote in his or her or its discretion.

For address changes and/or comments, please check this box and write them on the back where indicated.

Please indicate if you plan to attend this meeting.
Please date and sign as name appears hereon. If shares are held jointly by two or more persons, each stockholder should sign. Executors, administrators, trustees, etc., should indicate so when signing. If the signer is a corporation, please sign full corporate name by duly authorized officer. If a partnership or limited liability company, please sign in partnership or limited liability company name by authorized person.YesNo
Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX]    DateSignature (Joint Owners)Dateperiod.

V.1.1Net income and EPS may not foot or recalculate due to rounding.


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2017 Annual MeetingVOTE BY INTERNET Before The Meeting—Go to www.proxyvote.com Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of Stockholders

Wednesday,information until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 17, 2017

9:00 a.m. at19, 2020 (until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 15, 2020, to instruct the

Westbrook Corporate Center Meeting Facility

Annex between Towers Retirement Savings Plan Trustee). Have your proxy card/voting instruction form in hand when you access the website and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form. During The Meeting—Go to www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/INGR2020 You may attend the meeting via the Internet and vote during the meeting. Have the information that is printed in the box marked by the arrow available and follow the instructions. VOTE BY PHONE—1-800-690-6903 Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 19, 2020 (until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 15, 2020, to instruct the Retirement Savings Plan Trustee). Have your proxy card/voting instruction form in hand when you call and then follow the instructions. VOTE BY MAIL Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Ingredion Incorporated, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717. (Your voting instructions must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 15, 2020, to instruct the Retirement Savings Plan Trustee.) If you vote using the Internet or vote by phone, please do not mail your proxy. THANK YOU FOR VOTING INGREDION INCORPORATED 5 WESTBROOK CORPORATE CENTER WESTCHESTER, IL 60154 D11048-P37033-Z76631 INGREDION INCORPORATED THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” ALL OF THE NOMINEES LISTED IN PROPOSAL 1 AND “FOR” PROPOSALS 2 AND 3: 1. To elect 11 nominees nominated by the Company?s Board of Directors to serve as Directors for a term of one year. For Against Abstain For Abstain Against Nominees: 2. To approve, by advisory vote, the compensation of the Company’s “named executive officers.” ! ! ! ! ! ! 1a. Luis Aranguren-Trellez ! ! ! ! ! ! 3. To ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020. 1b. David B. Fischer ! ! ! 1c. Paul Hanrahan ! ! ! Note: To transact other business, if any, that is properly brought before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. 1d. Rhonda L. Jordan ! ! ! 1e. Gregory B. Kenny The shares represented by this proxy/voting instruction, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned stockholder(s). If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted FOR each of the nominees for election as a director and FOR Proposals 2 and 5, Westchester, Illinois 60154

3. If any other matters properly come before the meeting, or any adjournment or adjournments thereof, each person named in this proxy/voting instruction will vote in his or her or its discretion. ! ! ! 1f. Barbara A. Klein ! ! ! 1g. Victoria J. Reich ! ! ! 1h. Stephan B. Tanda ! ! ! 1i. Jorge A. Uribe ! ! ! 1j. Dwayne A. Wilson ! ! ! ! For address changes and/or comments, please check this box and write them on the back where indicated. 1k. James P. Zallie ! ! Please retain this portion of the Proxy Cardindicate if you wishplan to attend this meeting. Yes No Please date and sign as name appears hereon. If shares are held jointly by two or more persons, each stockholder should sign. Executors, administrators, trustees, etc., should indicate so when signing. If the Annual Meeting of Stockholderssigner is a corporation, please sign full corporate name by duly authorized officer. If a partnership or limited liability company, please sign in partnership or limited liability company name by authorized person. You must present this portion of the Proxy Card at the door for admission for yourself and one guest. Seating will be on afirst-come,first-served basis, and you may be asked to present valid picture identification before being admitted.

The use of cameras at the Annual Meeting is prohibited, and they will not be allowed in the meeting room, except by credentialed media. We realize that most cellular phones havebuilt-in digital cameras. While these phones may be brought into the room, the camera function may not be used at any time. No recording devices, large packages, luggage or bags will be permitted in the meeting room.


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Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting:

Meeting To Be Held on May 20, 2020:Our Notice and Proxy Statement and our Annual Report to Stockholders are available at www.proxyvote.com.

ADMISSION TICKET

q FOLD AND DETACH HEREq

q FOLD AND DETACH HEREq

E22314-P91133        

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FOLD AND DETACH HERE FOLD AND DETACH HERE D11049-P37033-Z76631 Annual Meeting of Stockholders - Stockholders—To Be Held Wednesday, May 17, 2017

20, 2020 THIS PROXY/VOTING INSTRUCTION IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The undersigned, a stockholder of Ingredion Incorporated, acknowledges receipt of the Proxy Statement dated April 4, 2017,8, 2020, and except as described in the next paragraph, appoints ILENE S. GORDONJames P. Zallie and CHRISTINE M. CASTELLANO,Michael N. Levy, and each of them, as proxies andattorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, on behalf of the undersigned and in the undersigned’s name, to represent the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held Wednesday,virtually onWednesday, May 17, 201720, 2020, at 9:00 a.m., localcentral time, at theWestbrook Corporate Center Meeting Facility, Westchester, Illinois 60154,www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/INGR2020, and at any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) of the meeting, and to vote all shares of common stock which the undersigned would be entitled to vote if the undersigned were personally present, on all matters listed on the reverse side.

With respect to any shares represented by this Proxy Card/Voting Instruction Form which are votable and held on behalf of the undersigned in the Ingredion Incorporated Retirement Savings Plans (collectively, the “Plan”), the undersigned directs Fidelity Management Trust Company, as Trustee of the Plan, to vote all such shares on the matters shown, and in the manner directed on the reverse hereof, unless to do so would be inconsistent with the Trustee’s duties.

If you wish to vote the Ingredion Incorporated shares allocated to your Plan account, you cannot do so in person. You must use this Proxy Card/Voting Instruction Form or submit your voting instructions via the Internet or telephone. Thecut-off date for submitting voting instructions on the Internet or by telephone to the Trustee is 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 12, 2017,15, 2020, and such instructions by mail must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 12, 2017.15, 2020. If you do not return your signed Proxy Card/Voting Instruction Form or provide Internet or telephonic voting instructions on a timely basis for the shares allocated to your Plan account, those shares will not be voted. If you return a signed Proxy Card/Voting Instruction Form but do not indicate how the shares should be voted on a matter, the shares represented by your signed Proxy Card/Voting Instruction Form will be voted by the Trustee as the Board of Directors recommends.

IF YOU WISH TO VOTE BY THE INTERNET, TELEPHONE OR MAIL,

PLEASE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE REVERSE SIDE.

Ingredion Incorporated encourages you to take advantage of convenient ways to vote these shares for matters to be covered at the 20172020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Please take the opportunity to use one of the three voting methods outlined on the reverse side to cast your ballot.

PLEASE MARK, SIGN AND DATE THIS PROXY AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. Address Changes/Comments: (If you noted any Address Changes/Comments above, please mark corresponding box on the reverse side.) (Continued, and to be signed and dated, on the reverse side.)

Address Changes/Comments:

(If you noted any Address Changes/Comments above, please mark corresponding box on the reverse side.)

(Continued, and to be signed and dated, on the reverse side.)

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