UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. __)
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THE AZEPANY 2022 PROXY STATEMENT
THE AZEK® COMPANY 2023 PROXY STATEMENT
THE AZEK COMPANY INC.
1330 W FULTON STREET #350
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60607
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Friday, March 1, 2024
Dear Stockholder of The AZEK Company Inc.:
You are cordially invited to attend the 2024 annual meeting of stockholders, or the Annual Meeting, of The AZEK Company Inc., a Delaware corporation, or AZEK, which will be held virtually, via live audio webcast at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/AZEK2024, on Friday, March 1, 2024 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time, for the following purposes, as more fully described in the accompanying proxy statement:
Our board of directors recommends that you vote “FOR” the director nominees named in Proposal One of the accompanying proxy statement, “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent public accounting firm as described in Proposal Two and “FOR” the approval of the compensation of our named executive officers as described in Proposal Three.
Our board of directors has fixed the close of business on January 12, 2024 as the record date, or the Record Date, for the Annual Meeting. Only stockholders of record as of the Record Date are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. Further information regarding voting rights and the matters to be voted upon is presented in the accompanying proxy statement.
To be admitted to the Annual Meeting at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/AZEK2024 and to ask questions and/or vote, you will be required to enter the 16-digit control number found on your proxy card, voting instruction form or notice previously received. Stockholders may vote in advance of the Annual Meeting at www.proxyvote.com or by telephone at 1-800-690-6903, 24 hours a day through 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the day before the Annual Meeting and may vote during the Annual Meeting by following the instructions available at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/AZEK2024.
Each share of common stock that you own represents one vote for each of the matters to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting.
We appreciate your continued support of AZEK.
By order of the board of directors, |
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Jesse Singh |
Chief Executive Officer, President and Director |
Chicago, Illinois |
January 18, 2024 |
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. Whether or not you plan to attend the virtual Annual Meeting, you are urged to vote and submit your proxy as soon as possible by following the voting procedures described in these proxy materials.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Executive Compensation Highlights and Pay-for-Performance Alignment |
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE PROXY MATERIALS AND OUR ANNUAL MEETING |
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Why are you holding a virtual Annual Meeting and how can stockholders attend? |
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What matters am I voting on and how does the board of directors recommend that I vote? |
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How may my broker, bank or other nominee vote my shares if I fail to provide timely directions? |
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Identification and Evaluation of Nominees for Directors; Board Diversity |
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Code of Conduct and Ethics and Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers |
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2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
i |
TABLE OF CONTENTS |
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
ii |
TABLE OF CONTENTS |
Who We Are at Our Core
Our core values guide how we work—influencing our decisions, our interactions with colleagues and customers and our standards for behavior. It is in part due to our fundamental commitment to living our core values that our employees are inspired to be part of our winning team and culture.
Always Do the Right Thing
We make decisions according to what is right, not what is cheapest, fastest or easiest. We always operate with integrity, transparency and courage.
It Starts and Ends with the Customer
For every action we take, we ask ourselves, “How will this affect our customers?” Our responsibility is to understand their expectations, then surpass them.
Value Every Individual
We strive to truly understand our colleagues’ everyday realities and empathize with their challenges and aspirations. We are committed to providing an inclusive culture where every individual feels engaged, safe, respected and supported with the necessary tools to be successful.
Lead Through Innovation
We consistently bring unique, high-tech and environmentally sustainable products to market. We are constantly investing in the future, creating new solutions to address current and future opportunities.
The Best Team Wins
Our goal is to win, period. We hire and develop the most talented individuals, with a focus on bringing diverse perspectives together in pursuit of this shared goal.
Better Today Than Yesterday
We always ask, “How can we do this better?” We accomplish every goal by rigorously implementing the AZEK Integrated Management System (AIMS). Our continuous improvement methodology includes Policy Deployment, Lean Six Sigma, Sales and Operations Planning, Stage Gate and Digital.
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
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WHO WE ARE AT OUR CORE |
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PROXY STATEMENT SUMMARY |
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This proxy statement summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this proxy statement. This summary does not contain all of the information you should consider, so please read the entire proxy statement carefully before voting. In this proxy statement, the terms “AZEK,” “the Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to The AZEK Company Inc. |
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2024 Annual Meeting Information
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MEETING DATE: |
March 1, 2024 |
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RECORD DATE: |
January 12, 2024 |
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MEETING PLACE: |
www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/AZEK2024 |
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MEETING TIME: |
8:00 a.m. Eastern |
Matters To Be Voted Upon and Voting Recommendations
AGENDA ITEM |
BOARD RECOMMENDATION |
PAGE REFERENCE |
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(1) |
Election of directors |
FOR |
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(2) |
Ratification of appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, or PwC, as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2024 |
FOR |
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(3) |
Advisory resolution approving the compensation of our named executive officers |
FOR |
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2023 Financial Performance Highlights
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$1.37B FY2023 NET SALES $68M FY2023 NET INCOME $291M FY2023 ADJUSTED EBITDA (1)
$363M FY2023 CASH FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
$274M FY2023 FREE CASH FLOW (1)
$115M RETURNED TO SHAREHOLDERS VIA SHARE REPURCHASES |
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2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
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PROXY STATEMENT SUMMARY |
Corporate Governance Highlights
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
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Independent board chair |
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Board composed of all non-employee directors (other than CEO) |
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100% independent committee members |
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50% board gender and/or race/ethnic diversity |
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Include gender and ethnically diverse candidates in any pool of candidates from which board of director nominees are chosen |
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Demonstrated board refreshment, including two new directors in fiscal year 2023 |
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Independent directors regularly meet in executive sessions without management |
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Four audit committee financial experts serving on audit committee |
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Board declassification in process and to be completed by 2025 |
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE |
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Policies in place prohibiting short sales, hedging, margin accounts and pledging of our stock applicable to all employees and directors |
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Robust stock ownership policy for officers and directors |
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Clawback policy in place applicable to executive officers allowing for recovery of certain compensation |
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Robust whistleblowing procedures and strict non-retaliation policy |
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BOARD OVERSIGHT OF ESG RELATED STRATEGIES, POLICIES AND DISCLOSURES |
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PRODUCTS MADE FROM UP TO 85% RECYCLED WASTE & SCRAP MATERIAL |
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COMMITTED TO SET SCIENCE-BASED EMISSIONS REDUCTION TARGETS VIA SCIENCE-BASED TARGETS INITIATIVE |
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67% EXECUTIVE TEAM GENDER AND/OR RACE/ETHNIC DIVERSITY |
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NAMED A 2024 BEST COMPANY TO WORK FOR BY U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT AND A 2023 CLIMATE LEADER BY USA TODAY |
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REDUCED TOTAL RECORDABLE INCIDENT RATE BY 27% YEAR OVER YEAR |
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2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
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PROXY STATEMENT SUMMARY |
Select ESG Awards and Recognition
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2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
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PROXY STATEMENT SUMMARY |
Executive Compensation Highlights and Pay-for-Performance Alignment
Our executive compensation program is designed by our compensation committee to (i) align executive compensation with our financial and operational performance; (ii) attract, retain and motivate key executives critical to achieving our vision and strategy; and (iii) reward such executives for delivering desired business results and stockholder value, while protecting against excessive risk taking. Our executive compensation program is described in more detail in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section beginning on page 41 of this proxy statement. The following table summarizes our key executive compensation practices:
WHAT WE DO |
WHAT WE DON’T DO |
• Benchmark for total target compensation among our peers with an independent compensation consultant |
• No hedging of our stock by employees |
• Cap incentive program payments |
• No pledging of our stock by employees |
• Maintain a clawback policy |
• No excessive perquisites |
• Maintain robust stock ownership requirements |
• No option repricing without stockholder approval |
• Fully disclose incentive plan targets and results |
• No evergreen provision in omnibus incentive plan |
• Provide 50% of our annual long-term incentives in the form of performance-based compensation |
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We believe in paying for performance and that tying a significant portion of our named executive officers’, or our NEOs’, compensation to our long-term financial and growth objectives aligns the interests of our NEOs with the interests of our stockholders. For fiscal year 2023, the following factors highlight our commitment to our pay-for-performance philosophy:
In each case, target compensation consists of base salary, target annual incentive awards and long-term incentive awards. For more information, see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Fiscal Year 2023—Compensation Tables and Narrative Disclosures—Summary Compensation Table.” Figures may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
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PROXY STATEMENT SUMMARY |
Fiscal Year 2023 Pay-for-Performance Alignment
The following chart shows our three-year and one-year total shareholder return, or TSR, and the three- and one-year TSR of our fiscal year 2023 compensation peer group, as set forth in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis below, the S&P Composite 1500 Building Products Index and the Russell 3000, in each case assuming a $100 investment on the first day of the period. Relative to our peers, our three-year TSR also reflects the impact of our initial public offering, or IPO, in June 2020, including the fact that we were a newly public company during the period with a significant portion of our common stock held by our former private equity sponsors, or the Sponsors, as well as the significant rise in interest rates beginning in 2022 that resulted in housing and residential repair & remodel market uncertainty. For fiscal year 2023, our one-year TSR significantly outperformed our peers and market indices, reflecting our strong financial results for the year after navigating a channel inventory recalibration at the beginning of the year and an uncertain broader macroeconomic and repair & remodel market. In the aggregate, our stock price since IPO increased approximately 30% through our 2023 fiscal year end.
Our strong pay-for-performance alignment is illustrated by the chart below, which compares our CEO’s fiscal years 2023 and 2022 total target compensation to his fiscal years 2023 and 2022 realizable compensation, shown against our stock price performance during the fiscal year. As reflected below, the compensation realizable by our CEO decreased during the periods when our TSR underperformed our peers and market indices and increased during periods where we out-performed. Realizable compensation includes (i) base salary paid during the fiscal year, (ii) actual earned annual cash incentive award amounts paid for the fiscal year, (iii) the value of long-term incentive awards granted during the fiscal year, measured as of the end of the fiscal year, and (iv) all other compensation actually paid or received for the fiscal year. Realizable compensation is primarily impacted by changes in our stock price, since a substantial majority of our CEO's compensation is awarded in the form of long-term equity compensation, the value of which is directly impacted by our stock price.
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
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PROXY STATEMENT SUMMARY |
Director Nominees
Our nominating and corporate governance committee has recommended, and our board of directors has approved, Gary Hendrickson, Sallie B. Bailey, Pamela Edwards, Howard Heckes, Vernon J. Nagel, Harmit Singh, Jesse Singh and Fiona Tan as nominees for election as directors at the Annual Meeting. If elected, they each will serve until our 2025 annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified, or until their earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal.
Gary Hendrickson served as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Valspar Corporation, a global paint and coatings manufacturer, and was its President and Chief Operating Officer prior thereto. Mr. Hendrickson’s experience as Chief Executive Officer of a global company provides expertise in corporate leadership and development and execution of business growth strategy. He also brings to the board of directors significant global experience and knowledge of competitive strategy.
Jesse Singh is our Chief Executive Officer and President. Prior to joining us, Mr. Singh worked for 14 years at the 3M Company, a manufacturer and marketer of a range of products and services through its safety & industrial, transportation & electronics, health care and consumer segments, and served in numerous leadership roles at 3M, including Chief Commercial Officer, President of 3M’s Health Information Systems business and VP of the Stationery and Office supplies business, which included the iconic Post-it and Scotch Brands. Mr. Singh brings to our board of directors extensive senior leadership experience and a comprehensive knowledge of our business and perspective of our day-to-day operations.
Sallie B. Bailey most recently served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Louisiana-Pacific Corporation, a leading manufacturer of engineered wood building products for residential, industrial and light commercial construction. Prior thereto, Ms. Bailey worked as the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Ferro Corporation, a global specialty materials company, following an eleven-year career at The Timken Company, a global producer of engineered bearings and alloy steel. Ms. Bailey brings to our board of directors a broad knowledge of corporate finance, strategic planning, banking relationships, operations, complex information technology and other systems, enterprise risk management and investor relations gained through prior service as a senior executive of large global manufacturing companies, including as Chief Financial Officer, and she also has knowledge of and experience with complex financial and accounting functions and internal controls.
Pamela Edwards most recently served as Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of Citi Trends, Inc, a retail clothing chain selling products targeted primarily at urban customers. Previously, Ms. Edwards held various roles at L Brands Inc., one of the world’s leading specialty retailers, including as Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of its Mast Global division, Chief Financial Officer of its Victoria’s Secret division (n/k/a Victoria’s Secret & Co.), and Chief Financial Officer of its Express division. Ms. Edward’s extensive background, especially as Chief Financial Officer of large retail operations and consumer brand experience, brings valuable perspective and expertise to our board of directors.
Howard Heckes is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Masonite International Corporation. Prior to joining Masonite, Mr. Heckes served as Chief Executive Officer of Energy Management Collaborative, a provider of LED lighting and controls and IoT conversion systems and service solutions and served in various senior operations roles at The Valspar Corporation, including as Executive Vice President and President of Global Coatings and as Senior Vice President, Global Consumer. Mr. Heckes brings to our board of directors extensive experience in corporate leadership, the development and execution of business growth strategies and significant consumer brand and business operating experience.
Vernon J. Nagel most recently served as Executive Chairman of Acuity Brands, Inc., a publicly traded, leading industrial technology company focused on providing building and lighting solutions primarily for commercial and industrial applications, and was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Acuity Brands, Inc. from September 2004 until January 2020. Mr. Nagel joined Acuity Brands in 2001 as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. While at Acuity Brands, Mr. Nagel significantly enhanced shareholder value by introducing innovative technologies, expanding markets served through organic growth and numerous acquisitions, and driving company-wide productivity through the implementation of LEAN business processes. We believe that Mr. Nagel’s extensive experience in strategic, operational, and financial matters as well as executive leadership and corporate governance, over his more than 40-year career, qualifies him to serve on our board of directors.
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
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PROXY STATEMENT SUMMARY |
Harmit Singh currently serves as the Chief Financial and Growth Officer of Levi Strauss & Co., where he is responsible for managing finance, strategy, information technology, strategic sourcing, real estate and global business services functions globally. Previously, Mr. Singh was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Hyatt Hotels Corporation. Prior to that, he spent 14 years at Yum! Brands, Inc. in a variety of global leadership roles, including Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Yum Restaurants International. Mr. Singh brings over 30 years of experience driving growth for global consumer brands and significant experience as a finance executive to our board of directors. Mr. H. Singh is not related to Jesse Singh, our CEO.
Fiona Tan is the Chief Technology Officer for Wayfair Inc. and previously served as its Global Head of Customer and Supplier Technology. Prior thereto, Ms. Tan held various leadership positions at Walmart Inc., including Head of Technology, Walmart US; Senior Vice President, Engineering, Customer Technology, Walmart Labs; and Vice President, Engineering, International Markets, Walmart Labs Strategy and Operations. Prior thereto, Ms. Tan was Vice President, Engineering for Ariba, Inc. and worked for 16 years at TIBCO Software, Inc., as well as for Oracle Corporation. Ms. Tan brings to our board of directors additional senior executive experience and decades of information technology and cyber expertise, having spent her entire career in information technology roles focused on supporting and improving business strategy and operations, including with a focus on external constituents, such as customers and suppliers.
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
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PROXY STATEMENT SUMMARY |
Director Skills, Independence and Diversity
Our directors possess a combination of skills, professional experience and diversity of viewpoints necessary to oversee our business. Although we do not maintain a formal board diversity policy, our board believes in the importance of diversity and inclusion and maintains a policy of ensuring diverse candidates are included in any pool of candidates interviewed for open director positions, whether such position will be filled by a board appointment for a current vacancy or by a stockholder vote. In addition, our board believes that a balance of director tenures is important to maintaining continuity of our corporate vision and strategy while also recognizing the value of fresh insights and ideas that new directors can bring to our Company.
Reflecting this commitment to diversity of skills, professional experience and viewpoints, from March 2022 through September 2023, our board reflected 30% gender diversity and 40% racial/ethnic diversity. |
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In September 2023, in connection with the exit of the Sponsors, the board underwent changes to its composition resulting in four directors stepping off the board and the appointment of two new directors, both of whom are diverse. The size of the board was also reduced from ten to eight members. Subsequently, our board determined to nominate Fiona Tan to our board, with Ms. Tan to be elected at the Annual Meeting. Assuming Ms. Tan's election at the Annual Meeting, the size of our board will be increased to nine members, and our board will reflect approximately 33% gender diversity and 44% ethnic diversity.
The below charts highlight the various skills and qualifications, diversity, independence and tenure metrics that are currently reflected by our continuing director and director nominees and that the board believes are relevant to the Company’s current profile and strategic needs. |
Director Independence, Diversity and Refreshment
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3.5 |
AVERAGE YEARS OF CURRENT DIRECTOR TENURE |
46-67 |
AGE RANGE OF DIRECTORS AND NOMINEES |
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2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
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PROXY STATEMENT SUMMARY |
Stockholder Engagement
Fostering strong, long-term relationships with stockholders and other stakeholders is a key objective. We maintain a robust year-round stockholder engagement program to properly understand stockholder interests, and our senior management and investor relations team routinely communicate with our stockholders to solicit their views with respect to key corporate matters, such as corporate strategy, corporate governance, risk oversight, executive compensation, environmental, social and governance, or ESG, matters and human capital deployment. In fiscal year 2023, we interacted with stockholders who owned shares of common stock representing approximately 74% of the outstanding shares of our common stock as of September 30, 2023. The below information highlights our stockholder engagement efforts in 2023. We believe our proactive engagement approach has resulted in constructive feedback and input from stockholders and we intend to continue these efforts.
WHO WE ENGAGE |
HOW WE ENGAGE |
KEY TOPICS OF ENGAGEMENT |
Institutional Investors |
One-on-one and Group meetings |
Overall Business Strategy |
Sell-side Analysts |
Earnings Calls |
Executive Compensation |
Retail Stockholders |
Industry Presentations and Conferences |
Current Business and Financial Conditions |
Proxy Advisory Firms |
Written and Electronic Communications |
ESG Matters |
KEY ENGAGEMENT RESOURCES |
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Our Website at investors.azekco.com |
Annual Proxy Statement |
Annual Report |
Quarterly Earnings |
Annual Meeting |
ESG Report |
2023 Stockholder Engagement by the Numbers
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98% |
Percentage of Top 30 Holders, as of September 30, 2023, of our Common Stock with whom We Engaged |
~270 |
Investor Interactions in FY2023 |
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2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
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PROXY STATEMENT SUMMARY |
THE AZEK COMPANY INC.
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PROXY STATEMENT FOR 2024 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS |
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To Be Held at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Friday, March 1, 2024
This proxy statement and the enclosed form of proxy are furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by our board of directors for use at the 2024 annual meeting of stockholders, or the Annual Meeting, of The AZEK Company Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any postponements, adjournments or continuations thereof. The Annual Meeting will be held virtually via live audio webcast on Friday, March 1, 2024 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The Annual Meeting can be accessed via the Internet at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/AZEK2024 where you will be able to attend and listen to the Annual Meeting live, submit questions and vote your shares electronically at the Annual Meeting. You will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting physically in person.
Our board of directors has fixed the close of business on January 12, 2024 as the record date, or the Record Date, for the Annual Meeting. Stockholders of record as of the Record Date are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. The Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, or the Notice, containing instructions on how to access this proxy statement and our annual report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year 2023, or our 2023 Annual Report, is first being mailed on or about January 18, 2024 to all stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.
In this proxy statement, the terms “AZEK,” “the Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to The AZEK Company Inc. The mailing address of our principal executive offices is 1330 W Fulton Street #350, Chicago, Illinois 60607.
Notice of availability of proxy materials
On or about January 18, 2024, we expect to mail to our stockholders the Notice. The Notice provides instructions on how to vote via the Internet, mobile device, or by telephone and includes instructions on how to receive a paper copy of our proxy materials by mail. The accompanying proxy statement and our 2023 Annual Report can be accessed directly at the following Internet address: www.proxyvote.com. You will be asked to enter the sixteen-digit control number located on your Notice or proxy card.
Questions and answers about the proxy materials and our annual meeting
The information provided in the “question and answer” format below is for your convenience only and is merely a summary of the information contained in this proxy statement. You should read this entire proxy statement carefully. Information contained
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS |
on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not intended to be incorporated by reference into this proxy statement and shall not be deemed filed under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, and references to our website address in this proxy statement are inactive textual references only.
Why are you holding a virtual Annual Meeting and how can stockholders attend?
We will be hosting the Annual Meeting via live webcast only. We believe hosting our Annual Meeting virtually helps to expand access, facilitate stockholder attendance, reduce costs and enable improved communication. It also reduces the environmental impact of our Annual Meeting. To participate in our virtual Annual Meeting, visit www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/AZEK2024 with your 16-digit control number included in the Notice, on your proxy card if you are a stockholder of record of shares of common stock, or included with your voting instructions received from your broker, bank or other nominee if you are a street name stockholder, as described below.
The Annual Meeting live webcast will begin promptly at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Friday, March 1, 2024. Stockholders may vote and submit questions while attending the meeting online. We encourage you to access the meeting prior to the start time. Online check-in will begin at 7:45 a.m. Eastern Time, and you should allow ample time for the check-in procedures. Participants should allow plenty of time to log in and ensure that they can hear streaming audio prior to the start of the virtual Annual Meeting. If you encounter any difficulties accessing the virtual meeting during the check-in or meeting time, please call the technical support number that will be posted on the virtual meeting platform at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/AZEK2024.
What matters am I voting on and how does the board of directors recommend that I vote?
PROPOSAL |
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS VOTING RECOMMENDATION |
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PROPOSAL NO. 1 |
The election of eight directors to serve until our 2025 annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified. |
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FOR each nominee |
PROPOSAL NO. 2 |
Ratification of the appointment of PwC as our independent registered public accounting firm for our year ending September 30, 2024. |
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FOR |
PROPOSAL NO. 3 |
Approval, on an advisory, non-binding basis, of the compensation of our named executive officers. |
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Other than the three items of business described in this proxy statement, we are not aware of any other business to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting. You may be asked to consider any other business that properly comes before the Annual Meeting.
Who is entitled to vote?
Holders of our Class A common stock as of the close of business on the Record Date will be entitled to one vote for each share of our Class A common stock held by them on the Record Date with respect to all matters to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting. As of the Record Date, there were 145,826,079 shares of our Class A common stock and zero shares of our Class B common stock outstanding. We refer to our Class A common stock and our Class B common stock collectively as our common stock. Stockholders do not have cumulative voting rights for the election of directors.
If shares of our common stock are registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, Equiniti Trust Company, you are considered the stockholder of record with respect to those shares, and the Notice was provided to you directly by us. As the stockholder of record, you have the right to grant your voting proxy and indicate your voting choices directly to the individuals listed on the proxy card or to vote virtually at the Annual Meeting. Throughout this proxy statement, we refer to these registered stockholders as “stockholders of record.”
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS |
Street name stockholders
If shares of our common stock are held on your behalf in a brokerage account or by a bank or other nominee, you are considered to be the beneficial owner of shares that are held in “street name,” and the Notice was forwarded to you by your broker, bank or other nominee, who is considered the stockholder of record with respect to those shares. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker, bank or other nominee as to how to vote your shares in the manner provided in the voting instructions you receive from your broker, bank or other nominee. If you request a printed copy of our proxy materials by mail, your broker, bank or other nominee will provide a voting instruction form for you to use. Street name stockholders are also invited to attend the virtual Annual Meeting. However, because a street name stockholder is not the stockholder of record, you may not vote your shares of our common stock virtually at the Annual Meeting unless you follow your broker, bank or other nominee’s procedures for obtaining a legal proxy. Throughout this proxy statement, we refer to stockholders who hold their shares through a broker, bank or other nominee as “street name stockholders.”
How many votes are needed for approval of each proposal?
PROPOSAL |
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VOTE NEEDED FOR APPROVAL AND EFFECT OF ABSTENTIONS AND BROKER NON-VOTES |
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PROPOSAL NO. 1 |
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The election of eight directors to serve until our 2025 annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified. |
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Our bylaws state that, to be elected, a nominee must receive a plurality of the votes, which means that the nominees that receive the highest number of votes of the shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the election of directors at the Annual Meeting “FOR” are elected as directors. As a result, any shares not voted “FOR” a particular nominee (whether as a result of stockholder abstention or a broker non-vote) will have no effect on the outcome of this proposal. Brokers do not have authority to vote on this proposal without instructions from the beneficial owner. |
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PROPOSAL NO. 2 |
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Ratification of the appointment of PwC as our independent registered public accounting firm for our year ending September 30, 2024. |
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The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares of our common stock entitled to vote on the proposal that are present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions are considered votes present and entitled to vote on this proposal, and thus, will have the same effect as a vote against this proposal. This proposal is considered a routine matter with respect to which a broker or other nominee can generally vote in its discretion. Therefore, no broker non-votes are expected in connection with this proposal. |
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PROPOSAL NO. 3 |
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Approval, on an advisory, non-binding basis, of the compensation of our named executive officers. |
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The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares of our common stock entitled to vote on the proposal that are present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions are considered votes present and entitled to vote on this proposal, and thus, will have the same effect as a vote against this proposal. Broker non-votes are not counted as shares entitled to vote on this proposal, and thus, will have no effect on the outcome of the proposal. Brokers do not have authority to vote on this proposal without instructions from the beneficial owner. |
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Voting results will be tabulated and certified by the inspector of election appointed for the Annual Meeting.
What is a quorum?
A quorum is the minimum number of shares required to be present at the Annual Meeting to properly hold an annual meeting and conduct business under our bylaws and Delaware law. The presence in person or represented by proxy of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares of stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote on a matter at the Annual Meeting will constitute a quorum for that matter at the Annual Meeting. Where a separate vote by a class or classes is required for any matter, the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of such class or classes, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum to take action with respect to that vote on that matter.
How do I vote?
If you are a stockholder of record, there are four ways to vote:
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS |
VOTING VIA THE INTERNET OR BY TELEPHONE IS FAST AND CONVENIENT, AND YOUR VOTE IS IMMEDIATELY CONFIRMED AND TABULATED. VOTING EARLY WILL HELP AVOID ADDITIONAL SOLICITATION COSTS AND WILL NOT PREVENT YOU FROM VOTING ELECTRONICALLY DURING THE ANNUAL MEETING IF YOU WISH TO DO SO.
If you are a street name stockholder, you will receive voting instructions from your broker, bank or other nominee. You must follow the voting instructions provided by your broker, bank or other nominee in order to direct your broker, bank or other nominee on how to vote your shares. As discussed above, if you are a street name stockholder, you may not vote your shares electronically at the Annual Meeting unless you obtain a legal proxy from your broker, bank or other nominee.
Can I change my vote?
Yes. If you are a stockholder of record, you can change your vote or revoke your proxy any time by:
If you are a street name stockholder, your broker, bank or other nominee can provide you with instructions on how to change your vote.
What is the effect of giving a proxy?
Proxies are solicited by and on behalf of our board of directors. Jesse Singh (our President and Chief Executive Officer), Peter Clifford (our Chief Operations Officer and Chief Financial Officer) and Morgan Walbridge (our Chief Legal Officer and Secretary) have been designated as proxy holders by our board of directors. When proxies are properly dated, executed and returned, the shares represented by such proxies will be voted at the Annual Meeting in accordance with the instructions of the stockholder. If no specific instructions are given, however, the shares will be voted in accordance with the recommendations of our board of directors as described above. If any matters not described in this proxy statement are properly presented at the Annual Meeting, the proxy holders will use their own judgment to determine how to vote the shares. If the Annual Meeting is postponed, adjourned or continued, the proxy holders can vote the shares on the new Annual Meeting date as well, unless you have properly revoked your proxy instructions, as described above.
Why did I receive a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials instead of a full set of proxy materials?
In accordance with the rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, we have elected to furnish our proxy materials, including this proxy statement and our 2023 Annual Report, primarily via the Internet. The Notice containing instructions on how to access this proxy statement and our 2023 Annual Report is first being mailed on or about January 18, 2024 to all stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. Stockholders may request to receive all future proxy materials in printed form by mail or electronically by email by following the instructions contained in the Notice. We encourage stockholders to take advantage of the availability of our proxy materials on the Internet to help reduce the environmental impact and the cost of our annual meetings of stockholders.
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS |
How are proxies solicited for the Annual Meeting?
Our board of directors is soliciting proxies for use at the Annual Meeting. All expenses associated with this solicitation will be borne by us. We will reimburse brokers, banks and other nominees for reasonable expenses that they incur in sending our proxy materials to you if a broker, bank or other nominee holds shares of our common stock on your behalf. In addition, our directors and employees may also solicit proxies in person, by telephone, or by other means of communication. Our directors and employees will not be paid any additional compensation for soliciting proxies. We have also retained D.F. King & Co. to solicit proxies for a fee of $13,500 plus a reasonable amount to cover expenses.
How may my broker, bank or other nominee vote my shares if I fail to provide timely directions?
Brokers, banks and other nominees holding shares of our common stock in street name for their customers are generally required to vote such shares in the manner directed by their customers. In the absence of timely directions, your broker, bank or other nominee will have discretion to vote your shares on our sole “routine” matter: the proposal to ratify the appointment of PwC as our independent registered public accounting firm for our year ending September 30, 2024. Your broker, bank or other nominee will not have discretion to vote on the election of directors or the approval of the compensation of our named executive officers, each of which is a “non-routine” matter, absent direction from you. If the broker, bank or other nominee that holds your shares in street name returns a proxy card without voting on a non-routine proposal because it did not receive voting instructions from you on that proposal, this is referred to as a “broker non-vote.” Broker non-votes are considered in determining whether a quorum exists at the Annual Meeting. The effect of broker non-votes on the outcome of each proposal to be voted on at the Annual Meeting is explained above.
Where can I find the voting results of the Annual Meeting?
We will announce preliminary voting results at the Annual Meeting. We will also disclose voting results on a Current Report on Form 8-K that we will file with the SEC within four business days after the Annual Meeting. If final voting results are not available to us in time to file a Current Report on Form 8-K within four business days after the Annual Meeting, we will file a Current Report on Form 8-K to publish preliminary results and will provide the final results in an amendment to the Current Report on Form 8-K as soon as they become available.
The rules promulgated by the SEC permit companies, brokers, banks or other intermediaries to deliver a single copy of proxy materials, or, where applicable, a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, to households at which two or more stockholders reside. Each stockholder, however, still receives a separate proxy card if they receive paper copies. This practice, known as “householding,” is designed to reduce duplicate mailings and save significant printing and postage costs as well as natural resources. Stockholders sharing an address who have been previously notified by their broker, bank or other nominee and have consented to householding will receive only one copy of our proxy statement and annual report or Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials. If you would like to opt out of this practice for future mailings and receive a separate proxy statement and annual report or Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials for each stockholder sharing the same address, please contact your broker, bank or other nominee.
You may also obtain a separate proxy statement or annual report or Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials without charge by sending a written request to Broadridge Householding Department, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, New York 11717, or by calling Broadridge’s Householding Department at 1-866-540-7095. We encourage stockholders to contact us by telephone instead of physical mail to help ensure timely receipt of any request for proxy materials. Additional copies of the proxy statement or annual report or Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials will be sent promptly upon receipt of such request. Stockholders sharing an address that are receiving multiple copies of the proxy statement or annual report or Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials can request delivery of a single copy of the proxy statement or annual report or Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials by contacting their broker, bank or other nominee or sending a written request to Broadridge Householding Department at the address above or by calling 1-866-540-7095.
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS |
What is the deadline to propose stockholder actions and director nominations for consideration at next year’s annual meeting of stockholders?
RULE 14A-8 STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
As prescribed by Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, stockholders may present proper proposals for inclusion in our proxy statement and for consideration at next year’s annual meeting of stockholders. For a Rule 14a-8 stockholder proposal to be timely and considered for inclusion in our proxy statement for our 2025 annual meeting of stockholders, the proposal must comply with all applicable requirements of Rule 14a-8, including with respect to ownership of our common stock, and our Corporate Secretary must receive the written proposal at our principal executive offices by the deadline prescribed by Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act (provided that the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders is not held more than 30 days from the first anniversary of the Annual Meeting, the applicable deadline will be September 20, 2024). Stockholder proposals should be addressed to:
The AZEK Company Inc.
Attention: Corporate Secretary
1330 W Fulton Street #350
Chicago, Illinois 60607
If a stockholder who has notified us of his, her or its intention to present a Rule 14a-8 stockholder proposal at an annual meeting does not appear and a qualified representative of that stockholder does not appear to present his, her or its proposal at such annual meeting, such proposal shall be disregarded and we are not required to present the proposal for a vote at such annual meeting.
ADVANCE NOTICE STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
Our bylaws also establish an advance notice procedure for stockholders who wish to present a proper proposal, including director nominations, before an annual meeting of stockholders (regardless of whether the proposal is intended to be included in our proxy statement). Any such advance notice stockholder proposal, including director nominations, must comply with all of the requirements set forth in our Certificate, our bylaws and applicable laws, rules and regulations. Our bylaws provide that, for business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, (i) the stockholder must be a stockholder of record at the time of the giving of the notice and at the time of the annual meeting, (ii) the stockholder is entitled to vote at the meeting, (iii) the business must be a proper matter for stockholder action, and (iv) the stockholder must give timely written notice to our Corporate Secretary, which notice must contain the information specified in our bylaws. For an advance notice stockholder proposal, including director nominations, to be timely for our 2025 annual meeting of stockholders, our Corporate Secretary must receive the written proposal at our principal executive offices at the address listed above:
In the event that we hold our 2025 annual meeting of stockholders more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after the one-year anniversary of the Annual Meeting, notice of an advance notice stockholder proposal must be received no earlier than the close of business on the 120th day before our 2025 annual meeting of stockholders and no later than the close of business on the later of the following two dates:
If a stockholder who has notified us of his, her or its intention to present an advance notice stockholder proposal, including director nominations, at an annual meeting does not appear and a qualified representative of that stockholder does not appear to present his, her or its proposal at such annual meeting, such proposal shall be disregarded and we are not required to present the proposal for a vote at such annual meeting.
You are advised to review our bylaws, which contain additional requirements regarding advance notice stockholder proposals, including director nominations.
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS |
RULE 14A-19 STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
To comply with the universal proxy rules, stockholders who intend to solicit in support of director nominees other than our nominees must comply with the advance notice procedures set forth in our bylaws and described above and provide a notice that sets forth the information required by Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act by no later than December 31, 2024. However, note that this date does not supersede any of the requirements or timing required by our bylaws.
Availability of amended and restated bylaws
A copy of our amended and restated bylaws is available via the SEC’s website at https://www.sec.gov. You may also contact our Corporate Secretary at the address set forth above for a copy of the relevant bylaw provisions regarding the requirements for making stockholder proposals and nominating director candidates.
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS |
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Board of Directors Composition
We are managed under the direction of our board of directors, which is currently composed of eight members. All of our directors, including our new director nominee, Fiona Tan, but excluding our Chief Executive Officer, are independent within the meaning of the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange, or the NYSE.
Our Certificate currently provides for a board of directors comprised of three classes of directors. Our Certificate also provides for the phasing out of the classification of our board of directors. Our directors to be elected at the Annual Meeting shall each serve a one-year term. Beginning with our annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2025, the declassification of our board of directors will be complete and all directors will be subject to annual election for one-year terms.
Director Term and Committee Membership Information
The following table sets forth the names, ages as of January 17, 2024, and certain other information for each of the members of our board of directors with terms expiring at the Annual Meeting (who are also nominees for election as a director at the Annual Meeting), for our new director nominee and for the continuing member of our board of directors. Full biographical information follows the table.
NAME |
CLASS |
AGE |
DIRECTOR SINCE |
CURRENT TERM EXPIRES |
EXPIRATION OF TERM FOR WHICH NOMINATED |
INDEPENDENT |
AUDIT COMMITTEE |
COMP. COMMITTEE |
NOMINATING AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE |
Nominees: |
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Sallie B. Bailey |
I |
64 |
2018 |
2024 |
2025 |
X |
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Vernon J. Nagel |
I |
66 |
2021 |
2024 |
2025 |
X |
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Pamela Edwards |
I |
61 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
X |
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Harmit Singh |
I |
60 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
X |
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Gary Hendrickson (C) |
III |
67 |
2017 |
2024 |
2025 |
X |
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Howard Heckes |
III |
58 |
2020 |
2024 |
2025 |
X |
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Jesse Singh |
III |
58 |
2016 |
2024 |
2025 |
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Fiona Tan(1) |
III |
53 |
N/A |
N/A |
2025 |
X |
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Continuing Director: |
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Brian Spaly |
II |
46 |
2020 |
2025 |
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X |
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Legend: (C) Chair of the Board | Chair |
Member |
Audit Committee Financial Expert
(1) Ms. Tan's committee appointments, if any, will be determined following her election at the Annual Meeting.
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
Nominees for Director
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GARY HENDRICKSON Gary Hendrickson, a director since May 2017, is the Chair of our board of directors, a position he has held since May 2017. Mr. Hendrickson previously served as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Valspar Corporation, a global paint and coatings manufacturer, from June 2011 to June 2017, and was its President and Chief Operating Officer from February 2008 until June 2011. Mr. Hendrickson held various executive leadership roles with the Valspar Corporation from 2001 until 2017, including positions with responsibilities for the Asia Pacific operations. Mr. Hendrickson also serves as a director of Polaris Industries Inc., a publicly traded global manufacturer and seller of off-road vehicles, including all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles and served as a director of Waters Corporation, a leading specialty measurement company and pioneer of chromatography, mass spectrometry and thermal analysis innovations serving the life, materials and food sciences, from 2018 to 2022. Mr. Hendrickson’s experience as President and Chief Executive Officer of a global company provides expertise in corporate leadership and development and execution of business growth strategy. He also brings to the board of directors significant global experience and knowledge of competitive strategy. |
Age: 67 Director Since: 2017 |
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JESSE SINGH Jesse Singh, a director since he joined us in June 2016, is our Chief Executive Officer and President. Prior to joining us, Mr. Singh worked for 14 years at the 3M Company, a manufacturer and marketer of a range of products and services through its safety & industrial, transportation & electronics, health care and consumer segments, and served in numerous leadership roles at 3M, including Chief Commercial Officer, President of 3M’s Health Information Systems business and VP of the Stationery and Office supplies business, which included the iconic Post-it and Scotch Brands. During his career at 3M, Mr. Singh was involved in running 3M’s worldwide, customer-facing operations, which was comprised of approximately 4,000 shared services, 12,000 sales and 5,000 marketing professionals. He also served as CEO of 3M’s joint venture in Japan and led 3M’s global electronics materials business. Mr. Singh currently serves on the board and as a member of the audit and compensation committees of Carlisle Companies Incorporated. Mr. Singh brings to our board of directors extensive senior leadership experience and a comprehensive knowledge of our business and perspective of our day-to-day operations. |
Age: 58 Director Since: 2016 |
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Age: 64 Director Since: 2018 |
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SALLIE B. BAILEY Sallie B. Bailey, a director since November 2018, previously served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Louisiana-Pacific Corporation, a leading manufacturer of engineered wood building products for residential, industrial and light commercial construction, from December 2011 to July 2018. Prior to working for Louisiana-Pacific Corporation, Ms. Bailey worked as the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Ferro Corporation, a global specialty materials company, from January 2007 to July 2010 following an eleven-year career at The Timken Company, a global producer of engineered bearings and alloy steel, in various senior management positions of increasing responsibility, lastly as Senior Vice President, Finance and Controller between 2003 and 2006. Ms. Bailey also currently serves as a director of L3 Harris Technologies, Inc., a technology company, defense contractor and information technology services provider, and NVR, Inc., a homebuilding and mortgage banking company. Ms. Bailey brings to our board of directors a broad knowledge of corporate finance, strategic planning, banking relationships, operations, complex information technology and other systems, enterprise risk management and investor relations gained through prior service as a senior executive of large global manufacturing companies, including as Chief Financial Officer, and she also has knowledge of and experience with complex financial and accounting functions and internal controls.
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
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VERNON J. NAGEL Vernon J. Nagel, a director since November 2021, previously served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Acuity Brands, Inc., a publicly traded, leading industrial technology company focused on providing building and lighting solutions primarily for commercial and industrial applications, from September 2004 until January 2020. He was Executive Chairman from February 2020 until his retirement in December 2020. He joined Acuity Brands in December 2001 as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. While at Acuity Brands, Mr. Nagel significantly enhanced shareholder value by introducing innovative technologies, expanding markets served through organic growth and numerous acquisitions, and driving company-wide productivity through the implementation of LEAN business processes. Mr. Nagel currently serves on the board of directors of Southwire, a privately held company that is a leading provider of wire and cable and other electrical solutions, and ScanSource, Inc., a publicly traded company that is a leading hybrid technology distributor. Mr. Nagel received a B.B.A. from the University of Michigan and is a Certified Public Accountant (Inactive). We believe that Mr. Nagel’s extensive experience in strategic, operational, and financial matters as well as executive leadership and corporate governance, over his more than 40-year career, qualifies him to serve on our board of directors.
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Age: 66 Director Since: 2021 |
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PAMELA EDWARDS Pamela Edwards, a director since September 2023, most recently served as Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of Citi Trends, Inc., a retail clothing chain selling products targeted primarily at urban customers from January 2021 until April 2022. Previously, Ms. Edwards held various roles at L Brands Inc., one of the world’s leading specialty retailers, including as Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of its Mast Global division from April 2017 to September 2020, Chief Financial Officer of its Victoria’s Secret division (n/k/a Victoria’s Secret & Co.), from 2007 to April 2017, and Chief Financial Officer of its Express division from 2005 to 2007. Prior to that, Ms. Edwards worked in various business and financial planning roles at Gap/Old Navy, Sears Roebuck and Kraft Foods. Ms. Edwards currently serves on the board of directors of NMG Holding Company, Inc. (formerly known as Neiman Marcus Group LLC), where she is Chair of the Audit Committee, and Hibbett, Inc. Ms. Edwards received an M.B.A. from Duke University and a B.S. in Finance from Florida A&M University. Ms. Edwards is also NACD Directorship Certified®. Ms. Edward’s extensive background, especially as Chief Financial Officer of large retail operations and consumer brand experience, brings valuable perspective and expertise to our board of directors. |
Age: 61 Director Since: 2023 |
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HARMIT SINGH Harmit Singh, a director since September 2023, also currently serves as the Chief Financial and Growth Officer of Levi Strauss & Co. where he is responsible for managing finance, strategy, information technology, strategic sourcing, real estate and global business services functions globally. Previously, Mr. Singh was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Hyatt Hotels Corporation from August 2008 to December 2012. Prior to that, he spent 14 years at Yum! Brands, Inc. in a variety of global leadership roles, including Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Yum Restaurants International. Before joining Yum!, Mr. Singh worked in various financial capacities for American Express India & Area Countries. Mr. Singh also served on the board of directors and the audit committees of Buffalo Wild Wings Inc. and OpenText Corporation. Mr. Singh received a B.A. in Commerce from the University of Delhi (India) and is a Chartered Accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. Mr. Singh brings over 30 years of experience driving growth for global consumer brands and significant experience as a finance executive to our board of directors. Mr. H. Singh is not related to Jesse Singh, our CEO. |
Age: 60 Director Since: 2023 |
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2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
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HOWARD HECKES Howard Heckes, a director since November 2020, is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Masonite International Corporation and has served in that role since June 2019. From 2017 to 2019, Mr. Heckes served as Chief Executive Officer of Energy Management Collaborative, a privately held company providing LED lighting and controls and IoT conversion systems and service solutions based in Plymouth, Minnesota. Previously, Mr. Heckes served in various senior operations roles at The Valspar Corporation, including as Executive Vice President and President of Global Coatings from 2014 to 2017 and as Senior Vice President, Global Consumer from 2008 to 2014. Prior to joining Valspar, Mr. Heckes held various leadership roles at Newell Rubbermaid, including President of Sanford Brands and President of Graco Children’s Products. Mr. Heckes currently serves on the board of directors of Masonite International Corporation. Mr. Heckes holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Iowa State University and an M.S. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Iowa. Mr. Heckes brings to our board of directors extensive experience in corporate leadership, the development and execution of business growth strategies and significant consumer brand and business operating experience.
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Age: 58 Director Since: 2020 |
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FIONA TAN If elected, Fiona Tan will become a member of our board of directors in March 2023. Ms. Tan has served as Chief Technology Officer for Wayfair Inc. since March 2022, and as Global Head of Customer and Supplier Technology for Wayfair Inc. from September 2020 to March 2022. Prior to that Ms. Tan held various leadership positions at Walmart Inc., including Head of Technology, Walmart US from March 2019 to September 2020, Senior Vice President, Engineering, Customer Technology, Walmart Labs from January 2017 to March 2019 and Vice President, Engineering, International Markets, Walmart Labs Strategy and Operations from April 2014 to January 2017. Prior to that Ms. Tan was Vice President, Engineering for Ariba, Inc. Ms. Tan also previously worked for 16 years at TIBCO Software, Inc., as well as for Oracle Corporation. Currently, Ms. Tan also serves on the board of WM Technology, Inc., a leading cannabis technology platform. Ms. Tan holds an M.S. in Computer Science from Stanford University and a B.S. in Computer Science and Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Ms. Tan brings to our board of directors additional senior executive experience and decades of information technology and cyber expertise, having spent her entire career in information technology roles focused on supporting and improving business strategy and operations with a focus on customers and suppliers. |
Age: 53 New Director Nominee |
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2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
Continuing Director
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BRIAN SPALY Brian Spaly, a director since August 2020, is a General Partner at Brand Foundry Ventures. Mr. Spaly served as Chairman of Tecovas, Inc. from 2017 to 2022, and is the founder and former Chief Executive Officer of Trunk Club, a personal styling startup focused on making it easy for men and women to discover and acquire stylish clothing without the hassles of the traditional shopping experience. Mr. Spaly led Trunk Club during its acquisition in August 2014. From 2006 to 2009, Mr. Spaly was the founder of Bonobos, a men’s clothing company, which was acquired in July 2017. From June 2018 to September 2021, he served as a member of the board of directors of Deckers Brands, a global portfolio of footwear brands such as UGG, Hoka, Teva and Sanuk. In addition to serving on the board of directors of Tecovas, Inc., Mr. Spaly currently serves on the boards of several other early-stage growth companies. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Princeton University and an M.B.A. from Stanford University Graduate School of Business. We believe that Mr. Spaly’s experience leading high-growth companies as CEO and public companies as a board member, along with his proven digital and direct marketing experience, will continue to benefit AZEK as we continue to focus on growing our business and further differentiating our leading product offering.
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Age: 46 Director Since: 2020 |
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2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
PROPOSAL NO. 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Our board of directors is currently composed of eight members. In accordance with our Certificate, as currently in effect, our board of directors is divided into three classes of directors. The classification of our board of directors is currently being phased out, such that, beginning with our 2025 annual meeting of stockholders, the declassification of our board of directors will be complete and all directors will be subject to annual election for one-year terms. There are seven directors with terms of office expiring at our Annual Meeting.
At the recommendation of our nominating and governance committee, our board of directors has nominated eight candidates for election as directors at the Annual Meeting. In connection with the nominations, our board of directors has approved an increase in the size of the board of directors from eight to nine members, which increase in the size of the board is conditioned on and only effective in the event that our new director nominee, Fiona Tan is affirmatively elected as a director at the Annual Meeting. In the event our new director nominee, Fiona Tan, is not elected, the size of the board of directors will remain at eight directors.
Nominees
Our nominating and corporate governance committee has recommended, and our board of directors has approved, Gary Hendrickson, Sallie B. Bailey, Pamela Edwards, Howard Heckes, Vernon J. Nagel, Harmit Singh, Jesse Singh and Fiona Tan as nominees for election as directors at the Annual Meeting. If elected, each of them will serve until our 2025 annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified, or until their earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal. Each of the nominees, other than Fiona Tan, is a current member of our board of directors. Pamela Edwards and Harmit Singh were appointed by the board of directors effective September 14, 2023, and are each subject to reappointment by our stockholders at the Annual Meeting. In addition, in connection with our continued efforts to enhance the composition our board of directors, the board of directors has nominated Fiona Tan for appointment by the stockholders of the Company at the Annual Meeting. For information concerning the nominees, please see “Board of Directors—Nominees for Director.”
If you are a stockholder of record and you sign your proxy card or vote by telephone or over the Internet but do not give instructions with respect to the voting of directors, your shares will be voted “FOR” the election of each of Messrs. Hendrickson, Heckes, Nagel, H. Singh and J. Singh and Mses. Bailey, Edwards and Tan. We expect that each of them will accept such nomination; however, in the event that a director nominee is unable or declines to serve as a director at the time of the Annual Meeting, the proxies will be voted for any nominee designated by our board of directors to fill such vacancy; provided, however, that in the event that Ms. Tan is not appointed as a director at the Annual Meeting, the size of the board of directors will remain at eight directors and there will not be a vacancy with respect to the position on the board of directors that would have been filled by Ms. Tan. If you are a street name stockholder and you do not give voting instructions to your broker, bank or other nominee, your broker, bank or other nominee will not vote your shares on this matter.
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
23 |
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS |
Vote Required; Recommendation of the Board of Directors
Our bylaws state that, to be elected, a nominee must receive a plurality of the votes of the shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the election of directors at the Annual Meeting, which means that the individuals who receive the largest number of votes cast “FOR” are elected as directors. As a result, any shares not voted “FOR” a particular nominee (whether as a result of stockholder abstention or a broker non-vote) will have no effect on the outcome of this proposal. Brokers do not have authority to vote on this proposal without instructions from the beneficial owner.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF EACH OF GARY HENDRICKSON, SALLIE B. BAILEY, PAMELA EDWARDS, HOWARD HECKES, VERNON J. NAGEL, HARMIT SINGH, JESSE SINGH AND FIONA TAN TO THE BOARD FOR A ONE-YEAR TERM EXPIRING IN 2025.
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
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ELECTION OF DIRECTORS |
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Corporate Governance Highlights
We are committed to operating with integrity and accountability. Our corporate governance policies set clear expectations and responsibilities for our board of directors, leaders, employees and business partners to ensure we conduct our operations in a manner that is consistent with the highest standards of business ethics and accountability. Corporate governance highlights include the following:
Commitment to Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility
We are committed to having a positive and lasting impact on the world and, as both a recycler and consumer of hundreds of millions of pounds of otherwise landfill-bound waste and scrap each year, our commitment to ESG stewardship is fundamental to the products and innovations we bring to market. By focusing on what positively impacts our products, people and planet the most, our ESG strategy, which we call our FULL-CIRCLE ESG strategy, fuels AZEK’s growth and profitability. It future proofs our business, enables us to attract and engage employees, customers, suppliers, investors and other key stakeholders, and positions us for long-term success and shared value creation.
In alignment with our core value of always striving to be better today than yesterday, we are committed to building on our strengths and improving how we measure and monitor our progress on our ESG-related initiatives. Our board of directors oversees ESG matters, including corporate social responsibility and sustainability initiatives, policies and disclosures. See “Role of the Board in ESG Oversight” below. We believe the following further highlight our commitment to sustainability and corporate responsibility:
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE |
Human Capital and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
We are committed to social responsibility within our workforce and believe that cultivating a diverse and inclusive workplace provides for a broad array of viewpoints, talents and skills that drive operational excellence and build a more inclusive future. Our culture is comprised of innovative, growth-minded individuals committed to always doing the right thing, continuous improvement and solving problems for our customers and partners. We believe the following further highlight our commitment to social responsibility within our workforce:
Role of the Board in ESG Oversight
The Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing the Company’s strategic direction, including the integration of ESG risks and opportunities into the Company’s strategy. Each Board committee also plays an important role in overseeing aspects of ESG, and provides regular updates to the full Board on its areas of ESG oversight responsibility. The Board, taking into account these reports, monitors ESG-related risks and opportunities as part of its overarching risk management and strategy responsibilities. At the management level, we have also established an ESG Steering Committee consisting of leaders from across our organization. The ESG Steering Committee generally meets monthly and is responsible for oversight of the day-to-day management of ESG matters, as well as formulating strategies for achieving ESG targets and tracking performance to completion. In addition, our Vice President of ESG oversees our day-to-day initiatives and execution and reports directly to our CEO on these matters. All levels of the organization support the board of directors with its oversight of our ESG strategy.
Board of Directors
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Oversees all aspects of our ESG strategy, including corporate responsibility and sustainability matters, human capital and diversity, equity and inclusion programs, the Company’s annual ESG Report and the integration of ESG risks and opportunities into the Company’s strategy |
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Audit Committee |
Compensation Committee |
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee |
Oversees financial reporting and internal controls relating to ESG matters, cybersecurity and legal and regulatory compliance with ESG |
Oversees ESG components included in our executive compensation program and our compensation disclosures |
Oversees board composition and performance, corporate governance and sustainability matters and ESG-related disclosures |
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Senior Management and ESG Steering Committee |
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Responsible for establishing ambitious but achievable ESG targets as well as day-to-day management of ESG matters |
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
26 |
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE |
Board Leadership
Our board of directors is responsible for the supervision and oversight of our business affairs. In executing this responsibility, our board of directors establishes corporate policies, sets strategic direction and oversees management. Our board of directors has not adopted a formal policy with respect to the separation of the offices of Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Board. It is our board of directors’ view that rather than having a rigid policy, our board of directors should determine, as and when appropriate upon consideration of all relevant factors and circumstances, whether the two offices should be separate. Currently, our leadership structure separates the offices of Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Board, with Mr. J. Singh serving as our Chief Executive Officer and Mr. Hendrickson serving as non-executive Chair of the Board. We believe this is appropriate as it provides Mr. J. Singh with the ability to focus on our day-to-day operations while Mr. Hendrickson focuses on the oversight by our board of directors.
Director Independence
Pursuant to the corporate governance standards of the NYSE, a director employed by us cannot be deemed an “independent director,” and each other director will qualify as “independent” only if our board of directors affirmatively determines that they have no material relationship with us, either directly or as a partner, stockholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with us. In making such determinations, the board of directors considered that certain directors serve as directors of other companies with which we engage from time to time in the ordinary course of business and, in accordance with our independence standards, determined that none of these relationships were material or impaired the independence of any of our directors or our new director nominee. The fact that a director may own our capital stock is not, by itself, considered a material relationship. Based on information provided by each director concerning their background, employment and affiliations, our board of directors has affirmatively determined that each of Gary Hendrickson, Sallie B. Bailey, Pamela Edwards, Howard Heckes, Vernon J. Nagel, Harmit Singh, Brian Spaly and Fiona Tan are independent in accordance with the NYSE rules. There are no family relationships among any of our directors or executive officers.
In addition, our board of directors has determined that each member of our audit committee and compensation committee satisfies the independence requirements for audit committee members or compensation committee members, as applicable, under the listing standards of the NYSE and Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act, as applicable. Each of Sallie B. Bailey, Pamela Edwards, Howard Heckes and Vernon J. Nagel has been determined to be an “audit committee financial expert” as defined under SEC rules. All members of the audit committee are able to read and understand fundamental financial statements, are familiar with finance and accounting practices and principles and are financially literate.
Meetings of the Board of Directors
Our board of directors held four (4) meetings (including regularly scheduled and special meetings) during our fiscal year 2023. Every incumbent director attended 100% of the meetings of our board of directors and of any board committees of which they were a member during our fiscal year 2023. Our non-employee directors meet by themselves, without non-independent directors and management present, not less than two times per year. Meetings of our non-employee directors are presided over by the chair of our board of directors. Under our Corporate Governance Guidelines, directors are encouraged and expected to attend our annual meeting of stockholders. Seven of our then-current directors attended our 2023 annual meeting of stockholders.
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
27 |
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE |
Our Board Committees
Our board of directors has three standing committees: an audit committee, a compensation committee and a nominating and corporate governance committee, each of which has the composition and responsibilities described below. From time to time, our board of directors may establish other committees to facilitate the management of our business. A copy of each committee’s charter is posted on the environmental, social and governance section of our website, www.azekco.com. Members serve on these committees until their resignation or until as otherwise determined by our board.
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AUDIT COMMITTEE |
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Current Members: Vernon J. Nagel (Chair), Sallie B. Bailey, Pamela Edwards, Howard Heckes, Brian Spaly Number of Meetings Held in Fiscal 2023: 10 |
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Our audit committee’s responsibilities include, among other things: • Overseeing the quality and integrity of our financial statements and the financial reporting process; • Appointing and overseeing our external auditors and meeting separately with our external auditors to discuss the scope of their work and their findings; • Overseeing our annual audit process, including considering and discussing with our external auditors and management significant accounting and reporting issues, the results of the audit, whether the financial statements are complete and the audit opinion; • Reviewing and discussing with our external auditors and management our annual and quarterly financial statements and earnings press releases; • Providing oversight with respect to our capital structure, key financial ratios and liquidity; • Overseeing compliance with our financial covenants and authorizing prepayment, redemption, repurchase or defeasance of our material indebtedness; |
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• Overseeing our internal controls and advising management, our internal audit department and our external auditors with respect to internal control matters; • Reviewing and discussing significant changes to our accounting policies with management and our external auditors; • Reviewing internal audit reports and regularly evaluating the effectiveness of our internal audit function; • Monitoring and discussing with management our risk assessment and risk management policies and processes, including risks related to financial reporting, cybersecurity, and compliance; • Overseeing the effectiveness of our systems for detecting fraud and monitoring compliance with laws and regulations; and • Reviewing and assessing audit committee members’ individual performance and the performance of the audit committee as a whole. |
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Each member of our audit committee meets the requirements for independence under the listing standards of the NYSE and SEC rules and regulations. Our board of directors has determined that each of Sallie B. Bailey, Pamela Edwards, Howard Heckes and Vernon J. Nagel is an “audit committee financial expert” as such term is defined under the SEC rules. Mr. Nagel became our audit committee chair on May 23, 2023. Ms. Edwards joined our audit committee on September 14, 2023. Fumbi Chima stepped down from the board and the audit committee on September 14, 2023. |
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2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
28 |
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE |
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COMPENSATION COMMITTEE |
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Current Members: Gary Hendrickson (Chair), Vernon J. Nagel, Harmit Singh Number of Meetings Held in Fiscal 2023: 4 |
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Our compensation committee’s responsibilities include, among other things: • Annually reviewing and approving corporate goals and objectives relevant to our Chief Executive Officer’s compensation; • Evaluating our Chief Executive Officer’s performance; • Approving or recommending to our board of directors to approve our Chief Executive Officer’s compensation; • Reviewing and approving, or recommending to the board to approve, the compensation of our other executive officers; • Reviewing, approving and overseeing our compensation and benefits plans; • Approving equity grants and awards; |
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• Developing and recommending to the board of directors to approve our CEO succession plan; • Reviewing executive compensation disclosures; • Reviewing and assessing any “say on pay” advisory votes and the frequency with which we conduct such votes; • Overseeing our incentive compensation arrangements vis-à-vis our risk management practices and otherwise oversee our compensation programs from a risk mitigation perspective; and • Reviewing and approving other policies and practices related to the compensation of our directors, officers and employees. |
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Each member of our compensation committee meets the requirements for independence under the listing standards of the NYSE and SEC rules and regulations. The compensation committee may delegate, to the extent permitted by applicable law, to management or management committees certain of its duties and responsibilities, including the authority to determine the individual amounts of grants to our employees other than our executive officers. Mr. H. Singh joined our compensation committee on September 14, 2023. Each of Natasha Li and Ashfaq Qadri stepped down from the board and the compensation committee on September 14, 2023. |
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NOMINATING AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE |
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Current Members: Gary Hendrickson (Chair), Sallie B. Bailey, Howard Heckes Number of Meetings Held in Fiscal 2023: 4 |
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Our nominating and corporate governance committee’s responsibilities include, among other things: • Reviewing and recommending to our board of directors the skills, experience, characteristics and other criteria for identifying and evaluating directors; • Evaluating the composition of our board of directors; • Identifying, selecting and recommending to our board of directors individuals to become members of our board of directors; • Reviewing our board of directors’ committee structure and making recommendations regarding the appointment of directors to committees; • Reviewing the performance and qualifications of our directors; • Discussing succession planning for our board of directors and key leadership roles on our board of directors and its committees; • Overseeing the annual evaluation of the performance of our board of directors and each committee thereof; |
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• Reviewing our corporate governance guidelines, bylaws and other appropriate policies applicable to our corporate governance; • Reviewing each director’s compliance with the requirements of our corporate governance guidelines relating to service on other boards; • Reviewing and making recommendations with respect to any stockholder proposals; • Developing and overseeing our director orientation program and our continuing education program for our directors; and • Reviewing and resolving potential conflicts of interest involving our directors and officers. |
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Each member of our nominating and corporate governance committee meets the requirements for independence under the listing standards of the NYSE and SEC rules and regulations. |
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2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
29 |
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE |
Corporate Governance Guidelines
Our board of directors has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines, which are designed to assist our board of directors in performing its duties to us and our stockholders. These guidelines provide general guidance to our board of directors with a view to continuing a strong and effective working relationship both among the board members and also between our board of directors and management. The goal of these guidelines is to reflect current governance practices for our board of directors and to enhance the ability of our board of directors and management to guide the Company in its continuing growth and success. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines may be amended by our board of directors at any time. A copy of our Corporate Governance Guidelines is available under the environmental, social and governance section of our website, www.azekco.com.
Our Corporate Governance Guidelines address items such as:
Identification and Evaluation of Nominees for Directors; Board Diversity
The nominating and corporate governance committee considers candidates for director from a variety of sources, including candidates who are recommended by other board members and by management, as well as those identified by third-party search firms retained to assist in identifying and evaluating possible candidates. The nominating and corporate governance committee also considers candidates for director recommended by stockholders who submit such recommendations in writing to our Corporate Secretary and evaluates director candidates recommended by stockholders in the same way it evaluates candidates recommended by the other sources referenced above.
In the cases of Pamela Edwards, Harmit Singh and Fiona Tan, a third-party professional search firm identified each of them as a potential director nominee. Prior to their respective nomination, each of them met with, among others, the chair of our board of directors, our Chief Executive Officer and each member of our nominating and governance committee. In addition, a professional search firm retained by the nominating and governance committee verified information and completed a background check with respect to each of them before a final recommendation was made to the board of directors. After review and discussion, the nominating and governance committee recommended, and the board of directors approved, each of their appointment or nomination, as applicable, to our board of directors.
In accordance with our Corporate Governance Guidelines, the nominating and corporate governance committee identifies and considers candidates based on a diversity of skills, expertise, industry knowledge, diversity of opinion and perspectives and other attributes. The nominating and corporate governance committee has also committed to including candidates with a diversity of age, gender, ethnicity/race and education in any pool of candidates from which board of director nominees are chosen. The board of directors also confirms that our policy of non-discrimination applies in the selection of directors.
Director Commitments and Service on Other Boards
Our board of directors believes that service on other boards is value-additive by allowing our directors to gain insight and experience applicable to our corporate governance and risk oversight practices, as well as our business and operations more
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
30 |
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE |
broadly. However, our board of directors also recognizes the time commitment that service on a board of directors requires, as well as other commitments applicable to our directors, and our Corporate Governance Guidelines therefore establish limits on the number of boards our directors may serve on. Directors who are not public company chief executive officers may serve on a total of four public company boards, including our board. Directors who are also chief executive officers of public companies may serve on a total of two public company boards, including our board. All of our directors and director nominees are in compliance with this policy, and directors are required to consult with the chair of the board and the chair of our nominating and corporate governance committee prior to accepting an invitation to join any other board. In addition, our nominating and corporate governance committee periodically, and at least annually, reviews and evaluates director time commitments, including outside board service and other roles, and considers such commitments when making recommendations regarding director nominations and board leadership roles.
Code of Conduct and Ethics and Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers
We have adopted a Code of Conduct and Ethics for all officers, directors and employees. We have also adopted a Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers applicable to our Chief Executive Officer and senior financial officers. We intend to disclose future amendments to certain provisions of our Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers, or waivers of such provisions applicable to any principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or other persons performing similar functions, on our website. A copy of each of our Code of Conduct and Ethics and our Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers is available under the environmental, social and governance section of our website, www.azekco.com.
Our Code of Conduct and Ethics addresses items such as:
Our Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers addresses items such as:
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
31 |
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE |
Insider Trading Policy; Hedging and Pledging, Derivatives Trading
We have adopted an insider trading policy that is designed to promote compliance with insider trading laws, rules and regulations, as well as NYSE listing standards. Our insider trading policy prohibits the trading of our securities on the basis of material, nonpublic information, establishes regular blackout periods wherein certain designated employees are prohibited from trading in our securities and requires that all insider 10b5-1 plans comply with applicable law, including with respect to cooling off periods. In addition, under our insider trading policy, our directors, officers and employees are prohibited from engaging in hedging and other monetization transactions (which may include prepaid variable forward contracts, equity swaps, collars and exchange funds) involving our securities, holding our securities in a margin account or pledging our securities as collateral for a loan. We also prohibit our directors, officers and employees from speculating in our equity securities, including through the use of short sales or by trading in options or other derivative securities with respect to our securities.
Stock Ownership Policy
We have adopted a stock ownership policy for our executives. Our stock ownership policy was put in place in connection with our IPO and is intended to increase the alignment of interests between our executives and stockholders. The guidelines and policies of peers and, on a broader basis, industry practices were considered in developing this policy. Our policy provides the following:
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Ownership |
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Category |
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salary) |
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CEO |
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6x |
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CFO/COO |
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3x |
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Other CEO Direct Reports |
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2x |
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Other Executive Officers |
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1x |
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Ownership requirements and progress toward their achievement are reviewed annually as part of the compensation planning process. The policy requires retention of 100% of net shares acquired upon any vesting or exercise of equity awards until the ownership requirements are met for our Chief Executive Officer and retention of 50% of net shares acquired upon any vesting or exercise of equity awards until the ownership requirements are met for our other executives. For purposes of the stock ownership policy, we include direct ownership of shares, beneficially owned shares held indirectly (e.g. by family members and trusts), and vested deferred stock units, or DSUs. Unvested stock awards and unexercised options are not included in determining whether an executive has achieved the ownership levels. The compensation committee is responsible for monitoring the application of our stock ownership policy. Each of our current named executive officers is in compliance with this policy.
We have also adopted a stock ownership policy for our directors that requires each non-employee director to hold 100% of after-tax shares from director equity awards until the director holds shares and DSUs with an aggregate value equal to five times the annual cash retainer paid to non-employee directors. All of our non-employee directors currently meet the requirements or are otherwise in compliance with the policy via the retention requirement.
Role of the Board in Risk Oversight; Compensation Risk; Cybersecurity Risk
Our board of directors takes an active role in the oversight of risk management, while management is responsible for addressing the day-to-day risks facing our Company. While our board of directors has primary responsibility for overseeing risk management, our board of directors also delegates certain oversight responsibilities to its committees. For example, our audit committee oversees management of financial risks, including those related to our internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures, audit and auditor matters and other accounting matters. With the assistance of our independent compensation consultant, our compensation committee regularly considers and evaluates risks related to our cash and equity-based compensation programs. Our nominating and corporate governance committee oversees management of risks associated with director independence, conflicts of interest, composition and organization of our board of directors, director succession planning and corporate governance. While each committee is responsible for evaluating certain risks and overseeing the management of such risks, our full board of directors keeps itself regularly informed regarding such risks through committee reports and otherwise. For additional information on the roles and responsibilities of each committee, see "—Our Board Committees."
As noted above, our compensation committee considers and evaluates risks related to our compensation programs. Our compensation committee believes that our compensation programs appropriately incentivize our executive officers to take
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
32 |
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE |
prudent risks and are focused on both the short-term and the long-term interests of our stockholders, which is reflected by the fact that our executive officers receive a balanced mix of short-term and long-term, performance-based, variable compensation, as well as fixed salary compensation and long-term, service-based compensation. Our compensation committee also believes that excessive risk taking is mitigated by compensation policies we maintain, including our executive officer stock ownership policy, our hedging and pledging prohibitions and our clawback policy. Consistent with SEC disclosure requirements, the compensation committee has worked with management to assess compensation policies and practices for our employees and has concluded that such policies and practices do not create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on us.
Cybersecurity continues to be a particularly acute area of risk for companies of all sizes and in all industries, including us. While management is responsible for our cybersecurity program and managing our cybersecurity risks, including our procedures and day-to-day operations, our audit committee oversees our enterprise risk assessment and management program, which includes oversight of cybersecurity risks, including related to artificial intelligence. In performing its oversight responsibilities, our audit committee receives regular reports from, and meets with, our Chief Information Officer and Chief Information Security Officer quarterly to review our information technology and cybersecurity risk profile and to discuss our activities to manage those risks. We use a variety of security products and vendors to protect our information technology infrastructure and data. Our programs continue to adapt and mature as threats continue to evolve. We maintain data encryption, monitoring, loss prevention, data storage, identity / authentication controls, including two-factor authentication tools, and anti-malware and anti-virus solutions. We perform periodic penetration tests to identify and address vulnerabilities and perform cyber simulations to practice our incident response procedures. Our cybersecurity response plans are reviewed not less frequently than annually, and we prioritize new and updated programs as needed to respond to the evolving cybersecurity risks we face. We train employees on cybersecurity risks semi-annually and generate internal phishing campaigns to assess the effectiveness of the training. We have not experienced a known material information security breach nor incurred material breach-related expenses over the last three years. We also regularly review and update our privacy policies in light of evolving data privacy regulations that are applicable to us. We update our privacy policies on our website following such updates.
We have adopted formal written procedures for the review, approval or ratification of transactions with related persons, or the Related Persons Transaction Policy. The Related Persons Transaction Policy provides that the audit committee of our board of directors is charged with reviewing for approval or ratification all transactions with “related persons” (as defined in paragraph (a) of Item 404 of Regulation S-K) that are brought to the audit committee’s attention. A copy of our Related Persons Transaction Policy is available under the environmental, social and governance section of our website, www.azekco.com. See “Related Person Transactions” below for a description of related person transactions for fiscal year 2023.
Communications with the Board of Directors
Although we do not have a formal policy regarding communications with our board of directors, stockholders, employees and others who are interested in communicating with our board of directors may do so by writing to us at The AZEK Company Inc., Attn: Corporate Secretary, 1330 W Fulton Street #350, Chicago, Illinois 60607. The Corporate Secretary will forward to the chair of our board of directors and such other board members as may be deemed appropriate any such communication, provided that such communication addresses a legitimate business issue.
Non-Employee Director Compensation
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION PROGRAM
We have adopted a director compensation program that was developed primarily based on peer benchmark data in consultation with our independent compensation consultant. The program is annually reviewed and considered relative to the programs of the same peer group used for our executive compensation program, and, if appropriate, modified, by our compensation committee, also with the assistance of our independent compensation consultant. In September 2023, to further align our non-employee director compensation to market levels and continue to attract and retain qualified board candidates, we increased the annual cash retainer by $5,000 and increased the annual equity award by $10,000. We also increased the annual retainer for the chair of our board by $50,000, to be paid in time-vesting restricted stock units, or RSUs. In addition, we allow our directors to
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
33 |
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE |
defer compensation in the form of DSUs, which are subject to our director stock ownership policy describe above. As of September 30, 2023, the program provided the following compensation for non-employee directors:
|
Annual Cash Retainer ($)(2) |
Equity Compensation Grant Value ($) |
One-Time AZEK Product Reimbursement ($) |
Board Member |
90,000 |
125,000(3) |
25,000 |
Chair of the Audit Committee |
20,000 |
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Chair of the Compensation Committee |
17,500 |
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Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee |
15,000 |
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Non-executive Chair(1) |
50,000 |
50,000(3) |
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Inaugural Equity Award |
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105,000(4) |
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FISCAL 2023 DIRECTOR COMPENSATION TABLE
The following table sets forth information regarding the compensation earned for service on our board of directors during the year ended September 30, 2023 by the directors who were not also NEOs. Mr. J. Singh did not receive any additional compensation for his service on the board of directors during the year ended September 30, 2023. Mr. J. Singh’s compensation for the year ended September 30, 2023 is set forth under “Executive Compensation—Summary Compensation Table.”
Name |
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Fees Earned |
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Stock |
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Option |
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All Other Compensation(6) |
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Total |
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Sallie B. Bailey |
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$ |
98,145 |
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$ |
120,013 |
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|
|
— |
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|
|
|
— |
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|
|
|
$ |
218,158 |
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Fumbi Chima(1) |
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$ |
81,319 |
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|
|
$ |
287,562 |
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|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
368,881 |
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|
|
Pamela Edwards(2) |
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|
$ |
4,158 |
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|
|
|
$ |
167,545 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
171,703 |
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|
|
Howard Heckes |
|
|
$ |
85,232 |
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|
|
|
$ |
120,013 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
13,336 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
218,581 |
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|
Gary Hendrickson |
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|
$ |
117,734 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
120,032 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
237,766 |
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|
|
Natasha Li(1) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
||||
Vernon J. Nagel |
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|
$ |
92,320 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
120,060 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
212,380 |
|
|
|
Ashfaq Qadri(1) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
||||
Bennett Rosenthal(1) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
||||
Harmit Singh(2) |
|
|
$ |
4,158 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
167,545 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
171,703 |
|
|
|
Brian Spaly |
|
|
$ |
85,232 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
120,013 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
205,245 |
|
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2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
34 |
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE |
For each non-employee director, the aggregate number of stock awards outstanding as of the end of fiscal year 2023 was: Ms. Bailey: 8,843; Ms. Edwards: 5,287; Mr. Heckes: 7,996; Mr. Hendrickson: 12,484; Mr. Nagel: 12,847; Mr. H. Singh: 5,287 and Mr. Spaly: 4,932. This includes unvested restricted stock, RSUs that had not yet vested or for which settlement has been deferred, and DSUs that had not settled.
Director and Officer Indemnification Agreements
In addition to the indemnification and advancement of expenses required in our Certificate and bylaws, we have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our current directors and executive officers. These agreements provide for the indemnification of, and the advancement of expenses to, such persons for all reasonable expenses and liabilities, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and settlement amounts, incurred in connection with any action or proceeding brought against them by reason of the fact that they are or were serving in such capacity. For additional information, please see “Related Person Transactions—Indemnification of Directors and Officers.”
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
35 |
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE |
PROPOSAL NO. 2
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Our audit committee has appointed PwC as our independent registered public accounting firm to audit our consolidated financial statements for the year ending September 30, 2024. PwC has served as our independent registered public accounting firm since 2010.
At the Annual Meeting, our stockholders are being asked to ratify the appointment of PwC as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending September 30, 2024. Stockholder ratification of the selection of PwC as our independent registered public accounting firm is not required by Delaware law, our Certificate or our bylaws. However, our audit committee is submitting the appointment of PwC to our stockholders because we value our stockholders’ views on our independent registered public accounting firm and as a matter of good corporate governance. Notwithstanding the appointment of PwC and even if our stockholders ratify the appointment, our audit committee, in its discretion, may appoint another independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if our audit committee believes that such a change would be in the best interests of our Company and our stockholders. If our stockholders do not ratify the appointment of PwC, our board of directors may reconsider the appointment. Representatives of PwC are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting, will have an opportunity to make a statement if they so desire, and are expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions from our stockholders.
Fees Paid to the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The audit committee engaged PwC to perform an annual audit of the Company’s financial statements for fiscal year 2023. The audit committee was responsible for determination and approval of audit fees primarily based on audit scope, with consideration of audit team skills and experiences.
Pursuant to SEC rules, the fees billed by PwC are disclosed in the table below:
|
|
|
FY 2023 |
|
|
|
FY 2022 |
|
|
|
||
Audit Fees |
|
|
$ |
1,700,000 |
|
|
|
$ |
1,750,000 |
|
|
|
Audit Related Fees |
|
|
|
165,000 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
Tax Fees |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
All Other Fees |
|
|
|
900 |
|
|
|
|
7,900 |
|
|
|
Total PwC Fees |
|
|
$ |
1,865,900 |
|
|
|
$ |
1,757,900 |
|
|
|
Audit Fees
Consists of fees billed for professional services rendered in connection with the audit of our consolidated financial statements, reviews of our quarterly consolidated financial statements, issuances of consents and similar matters.
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
36 |
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM |
AUDIT-RELATED FEES
Consists of fees for professional services rendered in connection with our secondary offering completed in fiscal year 2023.
TAX FEES
Consists of fees for professional services for tax advisory and compliance services.
ALL OTHER FEES
Consists of fees for permitted products and services other than those that meet the criteria above.
Auditor Independence
In our fiscal year ended September 30, 2023, there were no other professional services provided by PwC, other than those listed above, that would have required our audit committee to consider their compatibility with maintaining the independence of PwC.
Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
Consistent with requirements of the SEC and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, or the PCAOB, regarding auditor independence, our audit committee is responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the work of our independent registered public accounting firm. In recognition of this responsibility, our audit committee pre-approves all audit and permissible non-audit services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm. These services may include audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other services. All services provided by PwC in fiscal 2023 and 2022 were pre-approved by our audit committee.
Vote Required; Recommendation of the Board of Directors
The ratification of the appointment of PwC requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares of our common stock entitled to vote on the proposal that are present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and are voted for or against the proposal. Abstentions are considered votes present and entitled to vote on this proposal, and thus, will have the same effect as a vote against this proposal. This proposal is considered a routine matter with respect to which a broker or other nominee can generally vote in its discretion. Therefore, no broker non-votes are expected in connection with this proposal.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP AS THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
37 |
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM |
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
The audit committee is composed of directors who each satisfy the independence, financial literacy and other requirements of NYSE listing standards and U.S. federal securities laws.
The primary purpose of the audit committee is to assist our board of directors in overseeing (1) the integrity of our financial statements, (2) our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, (3) our internal controls, (4) our independent auditors’ qualifications and independence, (5) the performance of the independent auditors and our internal audit function and (6) other matters as set forth in the audit committee’s charter. The audit committee is further responsible for the appointment and oversight of our independent auditor and is involved in the selection of the independent auditor’s lead audit partner.
Our management has responsibility for preparing our financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for assessing the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. PwC, the audit committee-appointed independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023, is responsible for auditing our financial statements and expressing opinions on the conformity of our audited financial statements with generally accepted accounting principles and on management’s assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting.
In its role of financial reporting oversight, the audit committee has reviewed and discussed the Company’s audited financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2023 with management and PwC and reviewed and discussed the results of PwC’s examination of the financial statements. The audit committee also discussed with management, PwC and our internal auditors, the quality and adequacy of our internal controls and the processes for assessing and monitoring risk. The audit committee reviewed with both PwC and our internal auditor their audit plans, audit scope and identification of audit risks.
Representatives of PwC attended all regularly scheduled meetings of the audit committee during the year ended September 30, 2023. The audit committee has discussed with PwC the matters required to be discussed by the PCAOB. The audit committee has also received the written disclosures and the letter from PwC required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding the independent auditor’s communications with the audit committee concerning independence and has discussed PwC’s independence with PwC. In addition, the audit committee has received written material addressing PwC’s internal quality control procedures and other matters. The audit committee also met with PwC and the head of Internal Audit, with and without management present, to discuss the results of their respective examinations, the reasonableness of significant judgments, the evaluations of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and the overall quality of the Company’s financial reporting. Management has represented to the audit committee that the Company’s consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Based on the foregoing, the audit committee has recommended to our board of directors that such audited financial statements be included in our 2023 Annual Report as filed with the SEC.
Respectfully submitted by the members of the audit committee of the board of directors:
Vernon J. Nagel (Chair)
Sallie B. Bailey
Pamela Edwards
Howard Heckes
Brian Spaly
This report of the audit committee is required by the SEC and, in accordance with the SEC’s rules, will not be deemed to be part of or incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this proxy statement into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, or under the Exchange Act, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate this information by reference, and will not otherwise be deemed “soliciting material” or “filed” under either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
38 |
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE |
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following table identifies certain information about our executive officers as of January 17, 2024. Our executive officers are appointed by, and serve at the discretion of, our board of directors. There are no family relationships among any of our directors or executive officers.
Name |
Age |
Position(s) |
Jesse Singh |
58 |
Chief Executive Officer, President and Director |
Peter Clifford |
53 |
Senior Vice President, Chief Operations Officer and Chief Financial Officer |
Jonathan Skelly |
46 |
President, Residential and Commercial |
Sandra Lamartine |
54 |
Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer |
Morgan Walbridge |
45 |
Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary |
Samara Toole |
58 |
Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer |
Christopher Latkovic |
57 |
Senior Vice President of Operations |
Michelle Kasson |
53 |
Vice President and Chief Information Officer |
Amanda Cimaglia |
40 |
Vice President, ESG and Corporate Affairs |
Jesse Singh, a director since he joined us in June 2016, is our Chief Executive Officer and President. Prior to joining us, Mr. Singh worked for 14 years at the 3M Company, a manufacturer and marketer of a range of products and services through its safety & industrial, transportation & electronics, health care and consumer segments, and served in numerous leadership roles at 3M, including Chief Commercial Officer, President of 3M’s Health Information Systems business and VP of the Stationery and Office supplies business, which included the iconic Post-it and Scotch Brands. During his career at 3M, Mr. Singh was involved in running 3M’s worldwide, customer-facing operations, which was comprised of 4,000 shared services, 12,000 sales and 5,000 marketing professionals. He also served as CEO of 3M’s joint venture in Japan and led 3M’s global electronics materials business. Mr. Singh currently serves on the board and as a member of the audit and compensation committees of Carlisle Companies Incorporated. Mr. Singh brings to our board of directors extensive senior leadership experience and a comprehensive knowledge of our business and perspective of our day-to-day operations.
Peter Clifford is currently serving as our Senior Vice President, Chief Operations Officer and Chief Financial Officer and joined us in August 2021. Prior to joining us, Mr. Clifford served as President and Chief Operating Officer, from May 2019 to August 2021, as well as Chief Financial Officer, from March 2015 to May 2019, of Cantel Medical Corp., which was publicly traded until its acquisition by STERIS plc in June 2021. Before joining Cantel Medical Corp., from March 2006 to March 2015, Mr. Clifford held many senior financial positions at IDEX Corporation, including as Chief Financial Officer of IDEX Corporation’s Fluid Metering Technology and Health & Science Technologies Divisions. Mr. Clifford also worked in various financial leadership roles at General Electric Company before joining IDEX Corporation.
Jonathan Skelly is currently serving as our President, Residential and Commercial and joined us in January 2018. Mr. Skelly has more than 20 years of sales, customer service, strategy, mergers & acquisitions, and integration experience. He most recently served as our President, Residential Segment, and prior thereto, as our Senior Vice President of Customer Experience. Prior to joining us, Mr. Skelly served as Vice President of Corporate Development for W. W. Grainger, Inc., an industrial supply company, from 2010 to December 2017. During that time, Mr. Skelly was responsible for all global and domestic corporate development and mergers and acquisitions. Prior to that, he held a variety of leadership positions including Director of Strategic Business Development for The Home Depot Inc. and Director of Mergers & Acquisitions for Hughes Supply, Inc.
Sandra Lamartine is currently serving as our Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer and joined us in April 2021. Ms. Lamartine brings to AZEK more than two decades of experience in organizational design, leadership development and talent management, spanning a number of industries, including building products, professional services, telecommunications and nutrition/dairy. Most recently, from 2016 to 2021, Ms. Lamartine served as Chief People Officer for Glanbia Nutritionals under Glanbia, Inc. Previously, from 2007 to 2016, Ms. Lamartine held various roles at James Hardie Building Products, including serving
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
39 |
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS |
as the top HR executive from 2010 to 2016, overseeing initiatives that created a significant reduction in employee turnover, as well as the creation of award-winning development and onboarding programs.
Morgan Walbridge is currently serving as our Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary. Prior to joining us in February 2021, Ms. Walbridge served as Deputy General Counsel and Secretary of Century Aluminum Company from March 2014 to February 2021. Prior thereto, Ms. Walbridge was Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of Thompson Creek Metals Company from March 2011 to March 2014. Ms. Walbridge began her legal career as a corporate transactional attorney at McDermott, Will & Emery. Ms. Walbridge has nearly 20 years of experience as a corporate attorney and has spent over a decade in-house at publicly traded companies.
Samara Toole is currently serving as our Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. Prior to joining us in October 2021, Ms. Toole had over 20 years of experience driving growth and building brands for purpose-driven companies in the home, lifestyle, and consumer products industries. Most recently, Toole served as Chief Marketing Officer of California Closet Company, Inc. from November 2014 to April 2021, where she drove significant growth by developing a sophisticated multi-touchpoint marketing strategy, up leveling ecommerce and marketing software tools, and overseeing the production of award-winning content. Prior to that, Ms. Toole served as the Senior Vice President of Marketing for Serena & Lily, Inc., a luxury lifestyle brand, from January 2006 to November 2014, and Ms. Toole held other senior-level roles in the lifestyle and consumer product categories prior thereto.
Christopher Latkovic is currently serving as our Senior Vice President of Operations and joined us in March 2022. From April 2017 to March 2022, Mr. Latkovic served as Head of Global Operations for the Industrial Fluid Solutions business unit within the ContiTech Division of Continental AG where he oversaw manufacturing operations and supply chain for its large network of manufacturing facilities in multiple countries. Mr. Latkovic had a strategic focus on efficiency, Industry 4.0 and growth. Prior to Continental AG, Mr. Latkovic held a number of operations roles at Henkel Corporation, most recently as VP of Operations.
Michelle Kasson is currently serving as our Chief Information Officer and joined us in December 2019. Ms. Kasson has over 25 years of corporate IT experience in the consumer product goods, food and pharmaceutical industries. She most recently served as IT Director at the J.M. Smucker Company for 11 years with responsibilities including enterprise software development, managed service delivery, portfolio development and project execution. Prior to that, Ms. Kasson held a variety of information technology roles at Procter and Gamble, from May 1992 to October 2008.
Amanda Cimaglia is currently serving as our Vice President, ESG and Corporate Affairs. Prior to joining us in January 2021, Ms. Cimaglia was a Managing Director with Solebury Trout’s ESG 360 platform, where she advised private and public companies on the development and communication of ESG strategies, including investor relations and corporate communications initiatives. From 2012 to 2019, Ms. Cimaglia held a variety of roles at Hannon Armstrong, the first U.S. public company solely dedicated to investments in climate solutions, where she most recently served as head of investor relations and ESG. Ms. Cimaglia has served as a member of the ESG working groups for the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE), the NYSE and Green Builder.
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
40 |
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS |
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
This Compensation Discussion and Analysis describes our executive compensation program and philosophy, the decisions made by our compensation committee and the various factors that the compensation committee considers when making those decisions. We intend for our compensation program to align with the interests of our stockholders as well as our other stakeholders, including our other employees and the communities in which we operate. For fiscal year 2023, our NEOs were:
Jesse Singh |
Peter Clifford |
Jonathan Skelly |
Samara Toole |
Morgan Walbridge |
President and Chief Executive Officer |
SVP, Chief Operations Officer and Chief Financial Officer |
President, Residential and Commercial |
SVP, Chief Marketing Officer |
SVP, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary |
Fiscal Year 2023 Financial Performance Summary
During fiscal year 2023, we continued to execute against our strategy of delivering long-term, sustainable growth and value creation. We achieved impressive financial results, including delivering an eighth straight year of Residential net sales growth after navigating a channel inventory recalibration at the beginning of the year and an uncertain broader macroeconomic and repair & remodel market. Net sales for fiscal 2023 increased by $14.7 million year-over-year, or 1.1%, to approximately $1.37 billion, driven by Residential net sales, which grew 5% year-over-year, after delivering 12% growth in fiscal 2022 and 35% growth in fiscal 2021. Fiscal year 2023 net income and Adjusted EBITDA decreased year over year by 10% to $68.0 million, and by 3.3% to $291.2 million, respectively, primarily driven by inventory reductions during the first half the fiscal year as we proactively managed our channel and our own finished goods inventory to below historical average levels. We outperformed in fiscal 2023 by driving above-market revenue growth and by delivering against productivity initiatives, resulting in significant margin expansion in the second half of the year. Fiscal 2023 cash from operating activities increased year over year by $256.7 million and Free Cash Flow increased year over year by $339.1 million, driven by our focus on cash conversion and disciplined capital allocation. We also returned $115 million to shareholders through share repurchases in fiscal year 2023.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS |
|
|
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS |
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS |
|
|
$1.37B |
Consolidated Net Sales |
|
|
|||
|
|
|
||||
$68.0M |
Net Income |
|
||||
$362.5M |
Cash Flow from Operations |
|
RECEIVED NUMEROUS AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS |
|||
$291.2M |
Adjusted EBITDA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
$274.0M |
Free Cash Flow |
|
||||
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
||||
1 Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow are non-GAAP financial measures and should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for any financial measures reported under GAAP. For more information, including reconciliations to their closest comparable GAAP measures, see pages 45-49 of our 2023 Annual Report. |
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|||||
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|
*Source: 2023 JLC Brand Use Study by Zonda (categories ranked incude Decking: Composite/PVC, Decking Railing and Decorative Moulding/Trim/Columns: Exterior). |
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
41 |
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS |
Fiscal Year 2023 Pay-for-Performance Alignment
We believe in paying for performance and that tying a significant portion of our NEOs’ compensation to our long-term financial and growth objectives aligns the interests of our NEOs with the interests of our stockholders. For fiscal year 2023, the following factors highlight our commitment to our pay-for-performance philosophy:
In each case, target compensation consists of base salary, target annual incentive awards and long-term incentive awards. For more information, see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Fiscal Year 2023—Compensation Tables and Narrative Disclosures—Summary Compensation Table.” See also "Proxy Statement Summary—Executive Compensation Highlights and Pay-for-Performance Alignment" for a discussion of our CEO's realizable compensation for fiscal years 2022 and 2023.
Compensation Philosophy
Our executive compensation program is designed by our compensation committee to (i) align executive compensation with our financial and operational performance; (ii) attract, retain and motivate key executives critical to achieving our vision and strategy; and (iii) reward such executives for delivering desired business results and stockholder value, while protecting against excessive risk taking.
Consistent with this philosophy, performance-based compensation represented a significant portion of our NEO’s target total compensation for fiscal 2023. In particular, 100% of the cash incentive awards paid to our NEOs under our annual incentive plan are tied to pre-established financial and/or individual performance goals designed to be aligned with our operational and long-term strategic initiatives. In addition, 50% of the equity awards granted to our NEOs under our 2023 long-term incentive compensation program were PSUs, which vest based on pre-established financial goals and are awarded to incentivize achievement of our financial and performance goals over a multi-year timespan and tie our NEOs’ compensation to those goals and long-term stockholder value. 25% of such awards are granted in the form of stock options, which are awarded to motivate our NEOs by ensuring that they only have value to the extent the market price of our Class A common stock increases. The remaining 25% of such awards are granted in the form of RSUs, which are awarded to promote retention and tie our NEOs’ compensation to long-term stockholder value. Our compensation committee believes that this balancing of PSUs, stock options and RSUs appropriately motivates our NEOs in furtherance of our success and our stockholders’ realization of value.
We assess the market competitiveness of our executive compensation program based on peer group data to deliver a total package consisting of base salary, annual incentive awards, long-term incentive awards, retirement benefits and other perquisites intended to be competitive for the relevant market for executive talent and closely aligned with the interests of our stockholders. The compensation committee may position an executive’s target compensation below or above the median range to balance our overall performance and the individual performance of our executive officers with our pay-for-performance philosophy. In setting target compensation levels, the compensation committee also considers an executive’s experience and skill set, among other factors.
At our 2023 annual meeting of stockholders, our stockholders demonstrated their strong support of our executive compensation program, with over 93% of shares of our common stock present and entitled to vote voted in favor of the advisory “say on pay” proposal. We believe this vote reflected support for our executive compensation program design, including its focus on (i) incentives and metrics that align executive officer interests with our financial and operational performance, (ii) attracting, retaining and motivating our executive officers and (iii) rewarding such executives for delivering desired business results and stockholder value. Although no specific changes were made to our executive compensation program based on the 2023 say-on-pay vote, we continue to regularly solicit feedback from our stockholders and evaluate our executive compensation program to ensure alignment with stockholder interests, which alignment we view to be essential to our long-term success.
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
42 |
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS |
Roles and Responsibilities
Role of the Compensation Committee
Our compensation committee is primarily responsible for establishing and overseeing our general compensation strategy. In addition, the compensation committee oversees our compensation and benefit plans and policies, administers our omnibus equity incentive plan and reviews and approves compensation decisions relating to our executive officers, including our Chief Executive Officer. Our compensation committee has structured our executive compensation program to align with a compensation philosophy that is based on several objectives, including instilling an ownership culture and linking the interests of our executive officers with those of our stockholders and our other stakeholders; paying for performance; rewarding executive officers for achievement of both our annual and longer-term financial and key operating goals; and facilitating the attraction, motivation and retention of highly talented executive leaders. In addition to structuring our overall executive compensation program, our compensation committee routinely reviews, with the assistance of management and our independent compensation consultant, the actual compensation of our executive officers in the context of both our corporate goals and performance and our performance relative to our peers, as well as our peers’ executive compensation levels and programs. Further, our compensation committee reviews and approves annual grants and other incentive compensation awarded to our executive officers and certain other key employees, ensures that proper due diligence, deliberations and reviews of our executive compensation and overall compensation philosophy and strategy are conducted and oversees risks associated with our compensation practices.
While our compensation committee reviews our executive compensation programs throughout the year, decisions with respect to salary increases, annual incentives and long-term incentives, including the metrics and goals used to measure the performance of our executive officers and other employees, are typically made during the first fiscal quarter of each fiscal year. These decisions follow discussions that our compensation committee holds with and without management and our independent compensation consultant. In determining annual and long-term compensation amounts, our compensation committee reviews our performance over the prior year and, more generally, the performance of each individual executive officer. In determining our Chief Executive Officer’s compensation, our compensation committee considers, among other things, our performance relative to our peers, the value of incentive awards granted to Chief Executive Officers of our peers and the value of awards granted to our Chief Executive Officer in prior years. Consideration is also given to compensation elements such as bonuses and perquisites, if any. The compensation committee considers recommendations from our Chief Executive Officer regarding the compensation of our executive officers other than himself. Our Chief Executive Officer makes such recommendations regarding base salary and short-term and long-term compensation for our executive officers based on our results, an executive officer’s individual contribution toward these results, the executive officer’s role and performance of their duties and their achievement of individual goals. Our compensation committee then reviews the recommendations and other data, including various compensation survey data and publicly available data of our peers, and makes decisions as to the target total direct compensation for each executive officer, including our Chief Executive Officer, as well as each individual compensation element. While our Chief Executive Officer typically attends meetings of the compensation committee, the compensation committee meets outside the presence of our Chief Executive Officer when discussing his compensation and when discussing certain other matters.
Role of Management
Management, and in particular our Chief Executive Officer, consults with our compensation committee with respect to our overall compensation philosophy, our compensation programs and objectives and compensation decisions with respect to individual executives and other employees. Management also presents regularly to the compensation committee with respect to our performance and strategy, both in order to keep the compensation committee apprised of how our performance will impact outstanding incentive awards and to inform the compensation committee with respect to future compensation decision-making. Management also provides the compensation committee with individual evaluations of each executive officer in connection with determining such officer’s achievement of personal objectives and such officer’s target compensation for the following fiscal year.
Role of the Independent Compensation Consultant
Under its charter, our compensation committee has the right to retain or obtain the advice of compensation consultants, independent legal counsel and other advisers. For fiscal year 2023, our compensation committee retained Frederic W. Cook &
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
43 |
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS |
Co., Inc., or FW Cook, as its independent compensation consultant. FW Cook primarily advised the compensation committee with respect to our compensation philosophy and objectives, our determination of appropriate peers for benchmarking executive compensation levels and practices, market pay levels, our executive compensation risk assessment, the positioning of our director and executive compensation policies within these frameworks, the forms of long-term incentive awards issued to our directors and executive officers, and our compensation-related proxy disclosure. The compensation committee consulted with FW Cook regularly throughout the year, and one or more representatives of FW Cook attended portions of our compensation committee meetings. The compensation committee considered the information presented by its independent compensation consultant, but all decisions regarding the compensation of our executive officers were made independently by the compensation committee. In fiscal year 2023, in compliance with SEC and NYSE rules, the compensation committee assessed the independence of FW Cook and concluded that no conflict of interest exists that would prevent FW Cook from independently advising the compensation committee. FW Cook did not provide any services to us in fiscal year 2023 other than the services provided directly to the compensation committee.
Benchmarking
Each year, our compensation committee, with the advice of our independent compensation consultant, evaluates each of our NEO’s total direct compensation opportunity, which reflects that executive’s base salary and target award amounts under both our annual incentive and long-term incentive plans, as well as the form of such long-term incentive awards, against total direct compensation opportunities for comparable executives of similarly-situated companies. The compensation committee does not necessarily set total compensation opportunities for our NEOs to be higher or lower than any specific peer company, nor does the compensation committee restrict compensation of our NEOs to any particular range based on our peers. The compensation committee does take such peers into consideration to determine whether our NEOs’ individual total compensation opportunities are reasonable and appropriate in the context of such executive’s background, performance and other factors. We strive to balance offering competitive compensation to attract and retain the best talent available with ensuring that such compensation remains aligned with our stockholders’ and other stakeholders’ objectives and best interests. The companies included in our peer group for fiscal year 2023 benchmarking purposes are below. This was the same peer group that was used for fiscal year 2022 compensation decisions. As of the time when fiscal 2023 compensation decisions were made, our revenue approximated the 25th percentile of the peer group, and our market capitalization was between the 25th percentile and the median of our peer group.
A.O Smith Corporation |
Floor & Décor Holdings, Inc. |
Pool Corporation |
AAON, Inc. |
Gibraltar Industries, Inc. |
RH |
Advanced Drainage Systems |
Installed Building Products, Inc. |
Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. |
American Woodmark Corporation |
James Hardie Industries plc |
SiteOne Landscape Supply, Inc. |
Armstrong World Industries, Inc. |
Lennox International Inc. |
Trex Company, Inc. |
CSW Industrials, Inc. |
Masonite International Corporation |
|
Eagle Materials Inc. |
PGT Innovations, Inc. |
|
We regularly evaluate whether our peer group remains appropriate for benchmarking purposes for subsequent fiscal years, and the companies included in our peer group for fiscal year 2024 total direct compensation opportunity benchmarking purposes are below. For fiscal year 2024, we removed A.O. Smith Corporation, American Woodmark Corporation, Eagle Materials Inc., Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc., Lennox International Inc. and Pool Corporation from our peer group because each of those companies is no longer sufficiently comparable in terms of size, financial performance or business fit. We added Fortune Brands Innovation, Hayward Holdings, Scotts Miracle-Gro and Yeti because they are more closely aligned with us than certain members of our fiscal year 2023 peer group across multiple metrics, including total assets, revenue, market capitalization and enterprise value, and they more closely resemble us in terms of product offerings and targeted markets. The companies included in our peer group for fiscal year 2024 total direct compensation opportunity benchmarking purposes are below.
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
44 |
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS |
AAON, Inc. |
Hayward Holdings, Inc. |
Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. |
Advanced Drainage Systems |
Installed Building Products, Inc. |
Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. |
Armstrong World Industries, Inc. |
James Hardie Industries plc |
SiteOne Landscape Supply, Inc. |
CSW Industrials, Inc. |
Masonite International Corporation |
Trex Company, Inc. |
Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc. |
PGT Innovations, Inc. |
Yeti Holdings, Inc. |
Gibraltar Industries, Inc. |
RH |
|
Elements of Executive Compensation
Our executive compensation program is made up of the following principal components. Detailed narratives of these compensation elements are provided below under "—2023 NEO Compensation Details."
Base Salary |
Annual Incentive |
Long-Term Incentives |
Base salaries provide a fixed level of compensation for our executive officers and are designed to attract and retain talented executives and to provide a competitive and stable component of income. |
Our annual incentive provides a competitive incentive opportunity for achieving financial performance and operational and individual objectives over a one-year performance period. |
Long-term incentives are composed of PSUs, stock options and RSUs. For our NEOs, PSUs comprise 50% of the overall award, with stock options and RSUs each comprising 25%. |
2023 NEO Compensation Details
Base Salary
Base salaries are designed to be competitive and fairly compensate our executive officers, including our NEOs, for the responsibility level of each respective position. Our compensation committee reviews the salaries of our executive officers annually to determine whether adjustments are appropriate. In determining the base salaries for our executive officers, our compensation committee reviews each individual’s role and responsibilities, previous year’s salary and individual performance, as well as the base salaries of similarly situated executives at comparable companies from peer group and survey data. Annual adjustments are generally effective in January, but our compensation committee may also review the salaries of our executive officers in connection with a promotion or other change in responsibility.
In light of a potentially uncertain economic environment in fiscal 2023, our compensation committee did not increase base salaries for any of Mr. Singh, Mr. Clifford or Ms. Toole. Mr. Skelly and Ms. Walbridge received salary increases of 2% and 3% respectively based on market comparisons.
The following table sets forth the 2022 fiscal-year-end base salary, 2023 fiscal-year-end base salary and the percentage increases for each NEO:
Named Executive Officer |
FY2022 Ending Salary |
FY2023 Ending Salary |
Percentage Increase |
Jesse Singh |
$825,000 |
$825,000 |
0% |
Peter Clifford |
$600,000 |
$600,000 |
0% |
Jonathan Skelly |
$440,000 |
$450,000 |
2% |
Samara Toole |
$400,000 |
$400,000 |
0% |
Morgan Walbridge |
$390,000 |
$400,000 |
3% |
Annual Incentive
Our annual incentive compensation is paid in cash during the first fiscal quarter following the completion of each fiscal year. Annual incentive compensation is designed to motivate and reward achievement of corporate annual performance goals
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
45 |
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS |
established by our compensation committee as well as performance with respect to annual goals of each individual executive officer. In determining an executive officer’s actual annual incentive compensation payable following a fiscal year, our compensation committee measures the actual outcomes for each performance metric as compared to the pre-established, target goals, adjusting for matters such as material acquisitions as the compensation committee deems appropriate. For more information regarding our alignment of our NEO’s compensation to our performance for fiscal year 2023, see “—Fiscal 2023 Pay-for-Performance Alignment.” The annual incentive compensation paid to each of our NEOs for fiscal year 2023, including the methodology used to calculate such compensation, is described below.
TARGET INCENTIVE OPPORTUNITIES
For our executive officers, 75% of each individual’s target annual incentive award is determined by reference to corporate objectives, which can be Company-wide, based on such individual’s specific operating segment or a combination of both. For the remaining annual incentive opportunity, 15% is determined by our compensation committee based on the NEOs’ performance relative to individual goals established at the beginning of the fiscal year, and 10% is determined based on the achievement of our ESG goals, highlighting our commitment to our ESG goals and performance. For fiscal year 2023 and in light of a potentially uncertain economic environment, our compensation committee did not increase target incentive opportunities for any of our NEOs. The target opportunity for fiscal year 2023 for each of the NEOs was as follows:
Named Executive Officer |
|
Target |
|
Target |
||||||
Jesse Singh |
|
|
110 |
% |
|
|
|
907,500 |
|
|
Peter Clifford |
|
|
75 |
% |
|
|
|
450,000 |
|
|
Jonathan Skelly |
|
|
65 |
% |
|
|
|
290,750 |
|
|
Samara Toole |
|
|
50 |
% |
|
|
|
200,000 |
|
|
Morgan Walbridge |
|
|
50 |
% |
|
|
|
198,654 |
|
|
FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES
For fiscal year 2023, the financial performance component of the annual incentive opportunities was determined based on our Adjusted EBITDA (as described in our 2023 Annual Report) and net sales, which accounted for 50% and 25%, respectively, of each NEO’s aggregate annual incentive opportunity. These metrics and their assigned weights were designed to motivate and reward our NEOs for achieving our fiscal year 2023 financial and operational objectives. We view each of these metrics as critical to driving sustainable stockholder value creation and continuing to grow our business.
Each year, the compensation committee sets the performance ranges for our financial performance goals based upon the best available information and makes an informed decision as to where the threshold, target and maximum performance levels should be set. Target net sales and Adjusted EBITDA goals for fiscal year 2023 were set at approximately $1.29 billion and $270 million, respectively, reflecting a decrease of approximately 5% and 10% from prior year actual results. Although financial performance targets for the 2023 annual incentive awards were set below fiscal year 2022 actual results, the compensation committee deemed such goals to be rigorous and achievement not certain at the time such goals were set. For example, at the time that fiscal year 2023 executive compensation decisions were being made in December 2022, economic conditions for fiscal year 2023 remained uncertain, especially in the repair and remodel market, and sales were expected to be down year-over-year primarily driven by planned inventory reductions during the first half the fiscal year as we proactively managed our channel and internal finished goods inventory to below historical average levels. In addition, while below prior year actual performance, the 2023 annual incentive financial performance targets were established at levels to exceed our planning assumptions for the year.
For each performance factor, the compensation committee set performance at target to result in a payout of 100% of the target payment for that factor. However, to balance the projected decrease in financial performance year-over-year while continuing to incentivize outperformance relative to our planning assumptions and the market, the compensation committee made multiple changes to the performance and payout curves for fiscal year 2023:
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
46 |
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS |
For fiscal 2023, we outperformed against the expectations set at the beginning of the year, including delivering an eighth straight year of Residential net sales growth after navigating a channel inventory recalibration at the beginning of the year and an uncertain broader macroeconomic and repair & remodel market. Increases in net sales and productivity initiatives especially during the second half of fiscal year 2023 more than offset the expected decline in net sales and Adjusted EBITDA, resulting in a payout of approximately 109% of target for the financial performance component of our annual incentive awards. The financial performance objectives and actual fiscal 2023 performance as determined for purposes of the annual incentive awards to each NEO were as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Performance Targets and Results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Payout Factor |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Performance Goal |
|
Weighting |
|
Threshold |
|
Target |
|
Maximum |
|
Actual |
|
Unweighted |
|
Weighted |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Company Adjusted EBITDA(1) |
|
|
50 |
% |
|
|
$ |
230.9 |
|
|
|
$ |
270.0 |
|
|
|
$ |
315.9 |
|
|
|
$ |
291.2 |
|
|
|
|
110.7 |
% |
|
|
|
55.4 |
% |
|
Percentage of Target |
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
% |
|
|
|
100 |
% |
|
|
|
150 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Company Net Sales |
|
|
25 |
% |
|
|
$ |
1,111.3 |
|
|
|
$ |
1,299.8 |
|
|
|
$ |
1,481.8 |
|
|
|
$ |
1,370.3 |
|
|
|
|
107.1 |
% |
|
|
|
26.8 |
% |
|
Percentage of Target |
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
% |
|
|
|
100 |
% |
|
|
|
150 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Company Performance Factor: |
|
|
82.1 |
% |
|
INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES
For the remaining annual incentive payout, 15% was determined by our compensation committee based on the NEOs’ individual performance relative to individual goals established at the beginning of the fiscal year, and 10% was determined based on such NEO’s individual contributions to the achievement of our ESG goals. The maximum award that an NEO can earn for the individual performance component was 130% of the target incentive attributable to this metric, which maximum is intended to reward exceptional performance. Our compensation committee considers each NEO’s individual performance compared to pre-established goals throughout the year and makes final determinations following each fiscal year end.
Individual performance results for each of our NEOs for fiscal year 2023 reflect, among other accomplishments:
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
47 |
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS |
For each of our NEOs, such NEO’s ESG-related performance was determined primarily in connection with our ability to improve employee safety by reducing our TRIR, which we did by 27% compared to the prior year; to sustain our employee engagement performance, which remains in the top quartile of participating companies; to promote diversity through awareness and inclusiveness programs and training to set and communicate science-based carbon emissions reduction targets; to increase our total pounds of recycled material consumption; and to enhance our engagement with our stockholders regarding ESG matters relevant to our company.
After considering each NEO’s self-assessment and an assessment by the Chief Executive Officer (for Messrs. Clifford and Skelly and Mses. Toole and Walbridge), our compensation committee determined that our NEOs achieved their individual performance goals as follows:
Name |
|
Non-ESG Component |
|
ESG Component |
|
|
||||
Jesse Singh |
|
|
130 |
% |
|
|
|
115 |
% |
|
Peter Clifford |
|
|
115 |
% |
|
|
|
115 |
% |
|
Jonathan Skelly |
|
|
115 |
% |
|
|
|
115 |
% |
|
Samara Toole |
|
|
108 |
% |
|
|
|
115 |
% |
|
Morgan Walbridge |
|
|
115 |
% |
|
|
|
115 |
% |
|
After incorporating the results of the financial and individual performance components, our compensation committee approved the following payouts for fiscal year 2023:
|
|
75% of Annual Incentive |
|
25% of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
|
Company |
|
Individual and ESG |
|
2023 |
|
2023 |
|
Percentage |
|||||||||||||||
Jesse Singh |
|
|
745,443 |
|
|
|
|
281,325 |
|
|
|
|
907,500 |
|
|
|
|
1,026,768 |
|
|
|
|
113 |
% |
|
Peter Clifford |
|
|
369,641 |
|
|
|
|
129,375 |
|
|
|
|
450,000 |
|
|
|
|
499,016 |
|
|
|
|
111 |
% |
|
Jonathan Skelly |
|
|
238,829 |
|
|
|
|
83,591 |
|
|
|
|
290,750 |
|
|
|
|
322,420 |
|
|
|
|
111 |
% |
|
Samara Toole |
|
|
164,285 |
|
|
|
|
55,250 |
|
|
|
|
200,000 |
|
|
|
|
219,535 |
|
|
|
|
110 |
% |
|
Morgan Walbridge |
|
|
163,179 |
|
|
|
|
57,113 |
|
|
|
|
198,654 |
|
|
|
|
220,292 |
|
|
|
|
111 |
% |
|
Long-Term Incentives
Our compensation committee administers our long-term incentive compensation program and approves grants of equity awards to each of our NEOs in the form of PSUs, stock options and RSUs. PSUs cliff vest, subject to the achievement and certification by the compensation committee of specified performance objectives and continued employment by the NEO, following the third anniversary of the grant date. The stock options and RSUs typically vest, subject to continued service through the applicable
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
48 |
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS |
vesting date, in equal annual increments over a three-year period. Stock options have exercise prices based on the closing price of our Class A common stock on the grant date.
FISCAL YEAR 2023 LONG-TERM INCENTIVES
For fiscal year 2023 awards, each NEO received PSUs equal to approximately 50% of the total long-term incentive award dollar value and stock options and RSUs each equal to approximately 25% of the total long-term incentive award dollar value. Our compensation committee believes that awarding a relatively large portion of our NEO's compensation in the form of PSUs directly aligns their interests with our financial performance over the long term as the PSUs require achievement of specified financial performance goals, and the ultimate value of PSUs, as well as stock options and RSUs, is directly impacted by our stock price.
In determining the target value for equity awards, the compensation committee reviews market practice of comparable companies, historical values used for that executive officer and officers who have performed the same or similar roles and that individual’s performance and expectations for future contributions to our business. The compensation committee also considers the aggregate cost of executive compensation, share usage under our 2020 Plan and potential dilution to our stockholders.
The long-term incentive compensation awarded to each of our NEOs in fiscal year 2023 is set forth below. The values set forth below reflect award values as determined by the compensation committee and may differ slightly from their grant date fair values, typically due to rounding and truncating of shares and stock options. Annual long-term incentive awards for a fiscal year are determined by our compensation committee and awarded during the first fiscal quarter of that fiscal year.
|
|
Stock |
|
RSUs |
|
PSUs |
|
Total |
||||||||||||
Jesse Singh |
|
|
840,000 |
|
|
|
|
840,000 |
|
|
|
|
1,680,000 |
|
|
|
|
3,360,000 |
|
|
Peter Clifford |
|
|
330,000 |
|
|
|
|
330,000 |
|
|
|
|
660,000 |
|
|
|
|
1,320,000 |
|
|
Jonathan Skelly |
|
|
220,000 |
|
|
|
|
220,000 |
|
|
|
|
440,000 |
|
|
|
|
880,000 |
|
|
Samara Toole |
|
|
135,000 |
|
|
|
|
135,000 |
|
|
|
|
270,000 |
|
|
|
|
540,000 |
|
|
Morgan Walbridge |
|
|
150,000 |
|
|
|
|
150,000 |
|
|
|
|
300,000 |
|
|
|
|
600,000 |
|
|
For fiscal 2023-2025 PSUs, the compensation committee established specific three-year performance goals with respect our cumulative net sales (45% weighting), cumulative Adjusted EBITDA (45% weighting) and average return on net tangible assets, or RONTA, (10% weighting). RONTA is defined as our Adjusted EBITDA less depreciation divided by our average total net tangible assets for the vesting period. For each of cumulative net sales and Adjusted EBITDA, payout is at 100% if the target goal is achieved, payout is 50% of target if threshold performance is achieved and maximum payout is equal to 200% if stretch goals are achieved. For the RONTA metric, payout is equal to 100% if the target goal is met or exceeded, and there is no payout if the target goal is not met. Final performance is measured on a cumulative basis for the three-year measurement period. Our compensation committee believes that a significant portion of the equity awards granted to our executive officers should be earned based on the level of our performance pursuant to the financial and operating objectives over a three-year performance period. Tying a significant portion of the annual equity grants to our long-term performance serves to align a greater portion of our NEOs’ total compensation to the achievement of our long-term financial and operating performance objectives over a three-year period and serves as a balance to our annual incentive compensation, which measures our performance over a one-year period. For more information regarding our alignment of our NEO’s compensation to our performance for fiscal year 2023, see “—Fiscal 2023 Pay-for-Performance Alignment.”
FISCAL YEAR 2021-2023 PSU PERFORMANCE
The three-year performance period for PSUs granted in December 2020 concluded on September 30, 2023. This grant of PSUs represents the first set of PSUs that have vested in our history as they were granted shortly after our IPO. Performance measures for these PSUs were set by the compensation committee in December 2020 and were based on the factors described above,
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
49 |
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS |
namely net sales (45% weighting), Adjusted EBITDA (45% weighting) and RONTA (10% weighting). The performance measures established in December 2020 were as follows:
(Dollar values in millions) |
FY2021 |
FY2022 |
FY2023 |
3-Year Total (or Average RONTA) |
Adjusted EBITDA(1) |
$245.5 |
$275.0 |
$308.0 |
$828.5 |
Target increase year-over-year |
15% |
12% |
12% |
|
Net Sales |
$1,007.2 |
$1,097.8 |
$1,196.6 |
$3,301.6 |
Target increase year-over-year |
12% |
9% |
9% |
|
Return on Net Tangible Assets(1) |
35.9% |
38.0% |
41.9% |
38.6% |
Similar to how our compensation committee establishes our targets for our annual incentive opportunity, the compensation committee sets the performance ranges for our PSU financial performance goals based upon the best available information and makes an informed decision as to where the threshold, target and maximum performance levels should be set. For net sales, achievement of target performance required a 12% year-over-year increase in net sales for the first year of the performance period and a 9% increase year-over-over-year for the second and third years of the performance period. For adjusted EBITDA, achievement of target required a 15% increase for the first year of the performance period and a 12% increase year-over-over-year for each of the second and third years of the performance period. For the RONTA metric, payout is equal to 100% if the target goal of 38.6% average RONTA for the three-year term is met or exceeded, and there is no payout if the target goal is not met. Net sales and adjusted EBITDA were both measured in the aggregate after the completion of the three-year performance period. Threshold and maximum payout levels are determined in a similar manner as those for our annual incentive opportunity, namely to incentivize our executive officers to achieve at least a minimum performance level, below which no shares are received, and to offer significant upside for extraordinary performance across multiple years.
As shown below, these PSUs attained a payout of 152.1% of target. The higher-than-target achievement was primarily a result of our strong net sales, which grew by 35% in fiscal year 2021 and 12% in fiscal year 2022, above our expected performance levels for such years, and strong Adjusted EBITDA performance in fiscal years 2021 and 2022, particularly 28% growth in fiscal year 2021. These results were partially offset by our lower-than-target Adjusted EBITDA performance in fiscal year 2023 and failure to achieve the RONTA target for the performance period. We believe that the three financial measures reflected below align our executive compensation incentives with long-term stockholder interests by focusing management on both revenue expansion and profitability.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Performance Targets and Results(2) |
|
|
|
|
|
Payout Factor |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Performance Goal |
|
Weighting |
|
Threshold |
|
Target |
|
Maximum |
|
Actual |
|
Unweighted |
|
Weighted |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Company Adjusted EBITDA(1) |
|
|
45.0 |
% |
|
|
$ |
720.8 |
|
|
|
$ |
828.5 |
|
|
|
$ |
928.0 |
|
|
|
$ |
866.4 |
|
|
|
|
138.1 |
% |
|
|
|
62.1 |
% |
|
Percentage of Target |
|
|
|
|
|
|
50 |
% |
|
|
|
100 |
% |
|
|
|
200 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Company Net Sales |
|
|
45.0 |
% |
|
|
$ |
2,971.4 |
|
|
|
$ |
3,301.6 |
|
|
|
$ |
3,565.7 |
|
|
|
$ |
3,905.3 |
|
|
|
|
200.0 |
% |
|
|
|
90 |
% |
|
Percentage of Target |
|
|
|
|
|
|
50 |
% |
|
|
|
100 |
% |
|
|
|
200 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Return on Net Tangible Assets(1) |
|
|
10.0 |
% |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
|
38.6 |
% |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
|
31.1 |
% |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Payout Ratio: |
|
|
152.1 |
% |
|
As a result of the achievement level for these PSUs, Mr. Singh's award resulted in the vesting of 57,715 shares and Mr. Skelly's award resulted in the vesting of 8,326 shares. Ms. Walbridge also received an pro-rata award of 2021-2023 PSUs in March 2021 upon her commencement of employment. As a result of the achievement level described above, Ms. Walbridge's award resulted in the vesting of 2,964 shares. Mr. Clifford and Ms. Toole did not receive any 2021-2023 PSUs and therefore had no shares vest.
Special One-Time Equity Grants or Payments
There were no special one-time equity grants or payments to our NEOs in fiscal year 2023.
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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS |
Other Compensation and Benefits
Employee Benefits
The NEOs participate in a variety of insurance plans, including medical and dental welfare benefits on the same basis as our other employees. In lieu of long-term disability benefits provided to other executives, Mr. Singh is entitled, pursuant to his employment agreement, to a long-term disability insurance policy funded by us that provides a monthly benefit of $25,000 in the event of total and permanent disability. We offer reimbursement for physicals to certain of our employees, including the NEOs. We also offer financial and tax consulting and preparatory services to our executive officers, including our NEOs.
Retirement Benefits
We maintain a tax-qualified defined contribution plan, the AZEK Company 401(k) Plan, or the 401(k) Plan, in which all employees may contribute up to 100% of their salary, subject to Internal Revenue Code limits. During fiscal year 2023, we matched 100% of the first 1% of an employee’s salary contributed to the 401(k) Plan and 50% of the next 5%, for a total matching contribution of 3.5% on the first 6% of an employee’s salary contributed to the 401(k) Plan. As of January 1, 2024, we have increased the total matching contribution to 4% of an employee's salary. The NEOs are eligible to participate in the 401(k) Plan on the same terms as other participating employees.
Stock Ownership Policy and Hedging/Pledging Restrictions
Our NEOs are subject to our executive officer stock ownership policy as well as restrictions on hedging and pledging shares of our capital stock. For more information, see “Corporate Governance—Stock Ownership Policy” and “Corporate Governance—Hedging and Pledging Policies, Derivatives Trading.”
Clawback Policy
As required by the Dodd-Frank Act and related SEC rules, in the event we are required to prepare an accounting restatement due to our material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirement under U.S. securities laws, our compensation committee is required to direct us to recover from any executive officer the amount of erroneously awarded cash or equity incentive-based compensation.
Termination and Change-in-Control Benefits
The NEOs are entitled to certain severance and change in control benefits, the terms of which are described below under “Fiscal Year 2023—Compensation Tables and Related Disclosures—Potential Payments and Benefits upon Termination or Change-in-Control.” We provide our NEOs with these severance and change-in-control benefits to assist us in recruiting and retaining talented individuals and to help us ensure the continued focus and dedication of our NEOs, notwithstanding any concern that they may have regarding their continued employment, including prior to or following a change in control transaction.
Beginning with long-term incentive equity awards granted on November 19, 2021, for employees whose combined age and years of service with the Company is 65 with a minimum age of 58 and two years of service, unvested awards, or, in the case of PSUs, a pro rata portion of unvested awards, will remain outstanding and continue to vest upon retirement as though the employee continued to be employed by us on the applicable vesting date, subject to certain conditions. At present, based on age and length of service, Mr. Singh is the only NEO that qualifies for such treatment.
Other Compensation and Benefits
Other compensation for fiscal year 2023 includes items as set forth under “—Fiscal Year 2023—Compensation Tables and Related Disclosures—Summary Compensation Table.”
Tax Considerations
The compensation committee considers tax deductibility and other tax implications when designing our executive compensation program. However, the compensation committee believes that there are certain circumstances where the provision of compensation that is not fully tax deductible, including by reason of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, is more consistent with our compensation philosophy and objectives. The compensation committee retains discretion and flexibility to
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
51 |
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS |
award non-deductible compensation to our NEOs as it deems appropriate and in furtherance of its compensation philosophy and objectives.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
None of our executive officers currently serves, or in the past fiscal year has served, as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving on our board of directors or compensation committee. None of the members of the compensation committee is, nor has ever been, an officer or employee of our Company.
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS |
Compensation Committee Report
The compensation committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K with management. Based on such review and discussions, the compensation committee recommended to the board of directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement and incorporated by reference into the 2023 Annual Report.
Respectfully submitted by the members of the compensation committee of the board of directors:
Gary Hendrickson (Chair)
Vernon J. Nagel
Harmit Singh
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53 |
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS |
Fiscal Year 2023 – Compensation Tables and Related Disclosures
Summary Compensation Table
The following table provides compensation information for fiscal years 2023, 2022 and 2021 for each of our NEOs, except in the cases of Mses. Toole and Walbridge, who were not NEOs in fiscal year 2021.
Name and |
Year |
Salary |
Bonus |
Stock |
Option |
Non-Equity |
All Other |
Total |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jesse Singh |
|
2023 |
|
|
|
825,000 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
2,520,018 |
|
|
|
|
840,006 |
|
|
|
|
1,026,768 |
|
|
|
|
75,758 |
|
|
|
|
5,287,550 |
|
|
President and Chief |
|
2022 |
|
|
|
815,678 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
2,100,061 |
|
|
|
|
700,002 |
|
|
|
|
710,490 |
|
|
|
|
62,527 |
|
|
|
|
4,388,758 |
|
|
Executive Officer |
|
2021 |
|
|
|
790,974 |
|
|
|
|
576,505 |
|
|
|
|
1,950,066 |
|
|
|
|
650,010 |
|
|
|
|
1,425,463 |
|
|
|
|
80,228 |
|
|
|
|
5,473,246 |
|
Peter Clifford |
|
2023 |
|
|
|
600,000 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
990,011 |
|
|
|
|
330,006 |
|
|
|
|
499,016 |
|
|
|
|
28,992 |
|
|
|
|
2,448,025 |
|
|
SVP, Chief Operations Officer and |
|
2022 |
|
|
|
600,000 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
750,022 |
|
|
|
|
250,014 |
|
|
|
|
339,144 |
|
|
|
|
371,140 |
|
|
|
|
2,310,320 |
|
|
Chief Financial Officer |
|
2021 |
|
|
|
80,769 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
908,655 |
|
|
|
|
1,401,094 |
|
|
|
|
105,535 |
|
|
|
|
15,595 |
|
|
|
|
2,511,648 |
|
|
Jonathan Skelly |
|
2023 |
|
|
|
447,288 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
660,007 |
|
|
|
|
220,007 |
|
|
|
|
322,420 |
|
|
|
|
25,764 |
|
|
|
|
1,675,486 |
|
|
President, Residential and |
|
2022 |
|
|
|
412,109 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
356,324 |
|
|
|
|
118,767 |
|
|
|
|
154,909 |
|
|
|
|
26,103 |
|
|
|
|
1,068,212 |
|
|
Commercial |
|
2021 |
|
|
|
395,201 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
281,288 |
|
|
|
|
93,751 |
|
|
|
|
344,252 |
|
|
|
|
47,400 |
|
|
|
|
1,161,892 |
|
|
Samara Toole |
|
2023 |
|
|
|
400,000 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
405,012 |
|
|
|
|
135,002 |
|
|
|
|
219,535 |
|
|
|
|
86,415 |
|
|
|
|
1,245,964 |
|
|
SVP, Chief Marketing Officer |
|
2022 |
|
|
|
396,712 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
700,073 |
|
|
|
|
100,012 |
|
|
|
|
139,565 |
|
|
|
|
78,727 |
|
|
|
|
1,415,090 |
|
|
Morgan Walbridge |
|
2023 |
|
|
|
397,288 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
450,034 |
|
|
|
|
150,003 |
|
|
|
|
220,292 |
|
|
|
|
31,524 |
|
|
|
|
1,249,141 |
|
|
SVP, Chief Legal Officer and |
|
2022 |
|
|
|
367,534 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
400,073 |
|
|
|
|
75,009 |
|
|
|
|
122,934 |
|
|
|
|
30,498 |
|
|
|
|
996,048 |
|
|
Secretary |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
54 |
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS |
2023 Grants of Plan Based Awards
The following table shows information regarding the long-term incentive awards granted to our NEOs in fiscal year 2023.
|
|
Grant |
Estimated future payouts |
Estimated future payouts |
All other |
All other |
Exercise |
Grant date |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Name |
Grant Date |
Approval |
Threshold |
Target |
Maximum |
Threshold |
Target |
Maximum |
or units |
options |
awards |
awards |
||||||||||||||||||||
Jesse Singh |
|
|
|
454 |
|
|
907,500 |
|
|
1,315,875 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12/12/2022 |
12/12/2022 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
93,127 |
|
|
20.18 |
|
|
840,006 |
|
|
12/12/2022 |
12/12/2022 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
45,788 |
|
|
83,251 |
|
|
158,177 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,680,005 |
|
|
12/12/2022 |
12/12/2022 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
41,626 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
840,013 |
|
Peter Clifford |
|
|
|
225 |
|
|
450,000 |
|
|
652,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12/12/2022 |
12/12/2022 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
36,586 |
|
|
20.18 |
|
|
330,006 |
|
|
12/12/2022 |
12/12/2022 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17,988 |
|
|
32,706 |
|
|
62,141 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
660,007 |
|
|
12/12/2022 |
12/12/2022 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,353 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
330,004 |
|
Jonathan Skelly |
|
|
|
145 |
|
|
290,750 |
|
|
421,588 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12/12/2022 |
12/12/2022 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
24,391 |
|
|
20.18 |
|
|
220,007 |
|
|
12/12/2022 |
12/12/2022 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11,992 |
|
|
21,804 |
|
|
41,428 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
440,005 |
|
|
12/12/2022 |
12/12/2022 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,902 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
220,002 |
|
Samara Toole |
|
|
|
100 |
|
|
200,000 |
|
|
290,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12/12/2022 |
12/12/2022 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14,967 |
|
|
20.18 |
|
|
135,002 |
|
|
12/12/2022 |
12/12/2022 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,359 |
|
|
13,380 |
|
|
25,422 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
270,008 |
|
|
12/12/2022 |
12/12/2022 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,690 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
135,004 |
|
Morgan Walbridge |
|
|
|
99 |
|
|
198,654 |
|
|
288,048 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12/12/2022 |
12/12/2022 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,630 |
|
|
20.18 |
|
|
150,003 |
|
|
12/12/2022 |
12/12/2022 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,177 |
|
|
14,867 |
|
|
28,247 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
300,016 |
|
|
12/12/2022 |
12/12/2022 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,434 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
150,018 |
|
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
55 |
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS |
Outstanding Equity Awards at 2023 Fiscal Year-End
The following table shows all outstanding equity awards held by each of the NEOs as of September 30, 2023.
|
Option Awards |
Stock Awards |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Name |
Grant |
Number of |
Number of |
Option |
Option |
Number |
Market |
Equity |
Equity |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jesse Singh |
06/16/2020 |
|
|
917,894 |
|
|
|
|
40,602 |
|
(1) |
|
23.00 |
|
|
|
06/16/2030 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|||||
|
12/04/2020 |
|
|
36,848 |
|
|
|
|
18,425 |
|
(2) |
|
34.27 |
|
|
|
12/04/2030 |
|
|
|
64,038 |
|
(2) |
|
|
1,904,490 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
11/19/2021 |
|
|
14,124 |
|
|
|
|
28,249 |
|
(2) |
|
41.21 |
|
|
|
11/19/2031 |
|
|
|
11,325 |
|
(2) |
|
|
336,806 |
|
|
|
|
33,973 |
|
(7) |
|
|
1,010,357 |
|
|
|
|
12/12/2022 |
|
— |
|
|
|
|
93,127 |
|
(2) |
|
20.18 |
|
|
|
12/12/2032 |
|
|
|
41,626 |
|
(2) |
|
|
1,237,957 |
|
|
|
|
83,251 |
|
(8) |
|
|
2,475,885 |
|
|
||
Peter Clifford |
08/02/2021 |
|
|
72,916 |
|
|
|
|
36,459 |
|
(3) |
|
36.81 |
|
|
|
08/02/2031 |
|
|
|
8,229 |
|
(3) |
|
|
244,730 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|||
|
11/19/2021 |
|
|
5,044 |
|
|
|
|
10,090 |
|
(2) |
|
41.21 |
|
|
|
11/19/2031 |
|
|
|
4,045 |
|
(2) |
|
|
120,298 |
|
|
|
|
12,133 |
|
(7) |
|
|
360,835 |
|
|
|
|
12/12/2022 |
|
— |
|
|
|
|
36,586 |
|
(2) |
|
|
20.18 |
|
|
|
12/12/2032 |
|
|
|
16,353 |
|
(2) |
|
|
486,338 |
|
|
|
|
32,706 |
|
(8) |
|
|
972,676 |
|
|
|
Jonathan Skelly |
06/11/2020 |
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
37,008 |
|
(6) |
|
|
1,100,618 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|||||
|
06/16/2020 |
|
|
157,000 |
|
|
|
|
26,829 |
|
(4) |
|
23.00 |
|
|
|
06/16/2030 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|||||
|
12/04/2020 |
|
|
5,314 |
|
|
|
|
2,658 |
|
(2) |
|
34.27 |
|
|
|
12/04/2030 |
|
|
|
9,238 |
|
(2) |
|
|
274,738 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
11/19/2021 |
|
|
2,018 |
|
|
|
|
4,036 |
|
(2) |
|
41.21 |
|
|
|
11/19/2031 |
|
|
|
1,618 |
|
(2) |
|
|
48,119 |
|
|
|
|
4,854 |
|
(7) |
|
|
144,358 |
|
|
|
|
07/01/2022 |
|
|
831 |
|
|
|
|
1,663 |
|
(5) |
|
17.39 |
|
|
|
07/01/2032 |
|
|
|
720 |
|
(5) |
|
|
21,413 |
|
|
|
|
2,157 |
|
(7) |
|
|
64,149 |
|
|
|
|
12/12/2022 |
|
— |
|
|
|
|
24,391 |
|
(2) |
|
20.18 |
|
|
|
12/12/2032 |
|
|
|
10,902 |
|
(2) |
|
|
324,225 |
|
|
|
|
21,804 |
|
(8) |
|
|
648,451 |
|
|
||
Samara Toole |
11/01/2021 |
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
7,142 |
|
(3) |
|
|
212,403 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|||||
|
11/19/2021 |
|
|
2,018 |
|
|
|
|
4,036 |
|
(2) |
|
41.21 |
|
|
|
11/19/2031 |
|
|
|
1,618 |
|
(2) |
|
|
48,119 |
|
|
|
|
4,854 |
|
(7) |
|
|
144,358 |
|
|
|
|
12/12/2022 |
|
— |
|
|
|
|
14,967 |
|
(2) |
|
20.18 |
|
|
|
12/12/2032 |
|
|
|
6,690 |
|
(2) |
|
|
198,961 |
|
|
|
|
13,380 |
|
(8) |
|
|
397,921 |
|
|
||
Morgan Walbridge |
03/01/2021 |
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
3,614 |
|
(3) |
|
|
107,480 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|||
|
11/19/2021 |
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
1,416 |
|
(2) |
|
|
42,112 |
|
|
|
|
2,124 |
|
(7) |
|
|
63,168 |
|
|
|||
|
06/01/2022 |
|
|
2,822 |
|
|
|
|
5,644 |
|
(5) |
|
20.67 |
|
|
|
06/01/2032 |
|
|
|
2,420 |
|
(5) |
|
|
71,971 |
|
|
|
|
7,257 |
|
(7) |
|
|
215,823 |
|
|
|
|
12/12/2022 |
|
— |
|
|
|
|
16,630 |
|
(2) |
|
20.18 |
|
|
|
12/12/2032 |
|
|
|
7,434 |
|
(2) |
|
|
221,087 |
|
|
|
|
14,867 |
|
(8) |
|
|
442,145 |
|
|
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
56 |
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS |
2023 Option Exercises and Stock Vested
The following table shows information regarding shares of our Class A common stock that were issued upon exercise of option awards and vesting of RSUs and shares of restricted stock during fiscal year 2023 for each of our NEOs.
|
|
Option Awards |
|
Stock Awards |
||||||||||||||||||||
Name |
|
Number |
|
Value |
|
Number |
|
Value |
||||||||||||||||
Jesse Singh |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
11,985 |
|
|
|
|
|
234,194 |
|
|
||
Peter Clifford |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
10,250 |
|
|
|
|
|
301,266 |
|
|
||
Jonathan Skelly |
|
|
|
20,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
209,922 |
|
|
|
|
|
29,216 |
|
|
|
|
|
662,234 |
|
|
Samara Toole |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
4,380 |
|
|
|
|
|
76,929 |
|
|
||
Morgan Walbridge |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
2,566 |
|
|
|
|
|
57,909 |
|
|
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
57 |
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS |
Potential Payments and Benefits upon Termination or Change-in-Control
The following table sets forth the amount of compensation payable to each of our current NEOs upon termination because of death or disability, involuntary termination not-for-cause (or with good reason), involuntary termination for cause, a change in control, termination in connection with a change in control, and retirement. The amounts shown assume that such event was effective as of September 30, 2023. The actual amount to be paid can only be determined at the time of such event. Amounts below do not include payments and benefits to the extent they are provided on a non-discriminatory basis to salaried employees generally upon termination, including for matters such as accrued salary and vacation pay and distributions of 401(k) Plan balances. Other than with respect to the accelerated vesting of certain equity awards issued in connection with the conversion of pre-IPO profits interests, there are no single-trigger change-in-control arrangements.
|
Cash |
|
Continuation |
|
Acceleration |
|
Total |
||||||||||||||||
Jesse Singh |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Death/Disability |
|
|
1,026,768 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
3,752,356 |
|
|
|
|
|
4,779,124 |
|
|
|
Termination by Company Other Than for Cause |
|
|
3,584,268 |
|
|
|
|
|
45,775 |
|
|
|
|
|
3,966,577 |
|
|
|
|
|
7,596,620 |
|
|
Termination by Officer for Good Reason |
|
|
3,584,268 |
|
|
|
|
|
45,755 |
|
|
|
|
|
3,966,577 |
|
|
|
|
|
7,596,620 |
|
|
Termination by Company for Cause |
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
||||
Change in Control |
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
||||
Qualifying Termination in Connection with a Change in Control |
|
|
3,584,268 |
|
|
|
|
|
45,775 |
|
|
|
|
|
7,541,189 |
|
|
|
|
|
11,171,232 |
|
|
Retirement |
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
3,963,923 |
|
|
|
|
|
3,963,923 |
|
|
||
Peter Clifford |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Death/Disability |
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
873,827 |
|
|
|
|
|
873,827 |
|
|
||
Termination by Company Other Than for Cause |
|
|
1,050,000 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
1,148,362 |
|
|
|
|
|
2,198,362 |
|
|
|
Termination by Officer for Good Reason |
|
|
1,050,000 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
1,148,362 |
|
|
|
|
|
2,198,362 |
|
|
|
Termination by Company for Cause |
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
||||
Change in Control |
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
||||
Qualifying Termination in Connection with a Change in Control |
|
|
1,050,000 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
2,534,641 |
|
|
|
|
|
3,584,641 |
|
|
|
Retirement |
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
||||
Jonathan Skelly |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Death/Disability |
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
869,756 |
|
|
|
|
|
869,756 |
|
|
||
Termination by Company Other Than for Cause |
|
|
440,000 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
933,729 |
|
|
|
|
|
1,373,729 |
|
|
|
Termination by Officer for Good Reason |
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
||||
Termination by Company for Cause |
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
||||
Change in Control |
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
153,776 |
|
|
|
|
|
153,776 |
|
|
||
Qualifying Termination in Connection with a Change in Control |
|
|
440,000 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
2,975,737 |
|
|
|
|
|
3,415,737 |
|
|
|
Retirement |
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
||||
Samara Toole |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Death/Disability |
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
435,540 |
|
|
|
|
|
435,540 |
|
|
||
Termination by Company Other Than for Cause |
|
|
400,000 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
473,155 |
|
|
|
|
|
873,155 |
|
|
|
Termination by Officer for Good Reason |
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
||||
Termination by Company for Cause |
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
||||
Change in Control |
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
||||
Qualifying Termination in Connection with a Change in Control |
|
|
400,000 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
1,144,847 |
|
|
|
|
|
1,544,847 |
|
|
|
Retirement |
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
||||
Morgan Walbridge |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Death/Disability |
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
540,078 |
|
|
|
|
|
540,078 |
|
|
||
Termination by Company Other Than for Cause |
|
|
390,000 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
619,967 |
|
|
|
|
|
1,009,967 |
|
|
|
Termination by Officer for Good Reason |
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
||||
Termination by Company for Cause |
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
||||
Change in Control |
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
||||
Qualifying Termination in Connection with a Change in Control |
|
|
390,000 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
1,222,642 |
|
|
|
|
|
1,612,642 |
|
|
|
Retirement |
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
58 |
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS |
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
59 |
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS |
Additional Narrative Disclosures
Employment Agreements
The AZEK Group LLC (f/k/a CPG International LLC), the Company's wholly owned, direct subsidiary, entered into an employment agreement or offer letter with each of the NEOs in connection with the commencement of their employment.
Restrictive Covenants. In connection with the commencement of their employment, each of the NEOs agreed to confidentiality, non-disparagement, non-competition and non-solicitation of employees and customers covenants. The non-competition and non-solicitation covenants with each of the NEOs continue for two years following the termination of his employment for any reason. The NEOs also agreed to covenants assigning us rights to intellectual property.
Severance Under Employment Agreements. Each employment agreement or offer letter, as applicable, provides for certain severance and termination benefits that are described under “—Potential Payments and Benefits upon Termination or Change-in-Control.” Severance benefits to each of the NEOs are subject to their execution of a release in our favor and compliance with post-employment restrictive covenants.
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
60 |
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS |
2023 CEO PAY RATIO DISCLOSURE
As required by Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K, we are providing the ratio of the annual total compensation of Mr. Singh, our CEO, to the annual total compensation of our median employee.
The values for fiscal year 2023, our last completed fiscal year, are as follows:
Accordingly, the ratio of Mr. Singh’s annual total compensation to our median employee’s total compensation for 2023 was 74:1.
For fiscal year 2023, we have used the same median employee that was identified in our proxy statement covering fiscal year 2022. We believe there have been no significant changes in our employee population or compensation arrangements during fiscal year 2023 that would significantly affect our CEO pay ratio calculation.
The process to identify our median employee involved examining the annualized base pay rate for all individuals (excluding our CEO) who were employed by us in the United States on September 30, 2022, the last day of fiscal year 2022. We included all employees, whether employed on a full-time and part-time basis, and excluded all employees located outside the United States (11 employees in Canada). Our employee population as of September 30, 2022 included 2,082 employees. We did not perform adjustments to the compensation paid to part-time employees to calculate what they would have been paid on a full-time basis. From this group, we identified a cohort of 51 employees consisting of the employee with the absolute median compensation value and the 25 employees above and 25 employees below that employee and chose our median employee after considering anomalous characteristics, including, among others, overtime, bonuses and tenure. Our median employee identified through the methodology outlined above, and their earnings for the period of October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023, were used in the fiscal year 2023 CEO pay ratio calculation.
This information is being provided for compliance purposes and is a reasonable estimate calculated in a manner consistent with SEC rules, based on our internal records and the methodology described above. The SEC rules for identifying the median employee and in calculating the pay ratio allow companies to adopt a variety of methodologies, exclusions and assumptions that reflect their employee populations and compensation practices. As such, the pay ratio reported above may not be comparable to the pay ratio reported by other companies. We believe this pay ratio is a reasonable estimate calculated in a manner consistent with Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K. Neither the Compensation Committee nor management of the Company used the CEO pay ratio measure in making compensation decisions.
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
61 |
2023 CEO PAY RATIO DISCLOSURE |
PAY-VERSUS-PERFORMANCE
As required by Section 953(a) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, and Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K, or Item 402(v), we are providing the following information regarding the relationship between the executive “Compensation Actually Paid” as defined in Item 402(v)) and our financial performance over the applicable time period of the disclosure, calculated in a manner consistent with Item 402(v).
Although we are required to disclose “Compensation Actually Paid”, these amounts do not necessarily reflect compensation that our NEOs actually earned in the fiscal years shown. Instead, “Compensation Actually Paid” reflects a calculation computed in accordance with the pay-versus-performance rules, including adjustments of the values of unvested and vested equity awards based on changes in our stock price and various accounting valuation assumptions. “Compensation Actually Paid” generally fluctuates due to stock price performance.
For a more accurate description of our executive compensation program and the factors used by the Compensation Committee to determine pay for our NEOs, see the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section of this Proxy Statement. Accordingly, the following table sets forth the “Compensation Actually Paid” for the Company’s Principal Executive Officer, or PEO, and the average “Compensation Actually Paid” for non-PEO NEOs and the Company’s financial performance metrics for 2023, 2022 and 2021.
Pay-Versus-Performance Table
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment Based On: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO ($)(1) |
Compensation Actually Paid to PEO ($)(2) |
Average Summary Compensation Table Total for Other NEOS ($)(3) |
Average Compensation Actually Paid to Other NEOS ($)(2) |
Total Shareholder Return ($)(4) |
Peer Group Total Shareholder Return ($)(5) |
Net Income (in millions) ($) |
Adjusted EBITDA ($)(6) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
2022 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
2021 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CEO Summary Compensation Table to "Compensation Actually Paid" Reconciliation:
|
|
Deductions ($)(i) |
|
Additions ($)(ii) |
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Stock Awards ($) |
Option Awards ($) |
|
Year-End Fair Value of Unvested Equity Awards Granted in the Year ($) |
Change in Year-End Fair Value of Unvested Equity Awards Granted in Prior Years ($) |
Change in Year-End Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted in Prior Years that Vested in the Year ($) |
Compensation Actually Paid ($) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
||||||
2022 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
2021 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
62 |
PAY-VERSUS-PERFORMANCE |
Other NEO Summary Compensation Table to "Compensation Actually Paid" Reconciliation:
|
|
Deductions ($)(i) |
|
Additions ($)(ii) |
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Stock Awards ($) |
Option Awards ($) |
|
Year-End Fair Value of Unvested Equity Awards Granted in the Year ($) |
Change in Year-End Fair Value of Unvested Equity Awards Granted in Prior Years ($) |
Change in Year-End Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted in Prior Years that Vested in the Year ($) |
Compensation Actually Paid ($) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 |
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|
|
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|
|
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|
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|
||||||
2022 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
2021 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
63 |
PAY-VERSUS-PERFORMANCE |
Relationships Between "Compensation Actually Paid" and Specified Financial Performance Measures
Relationship Between "Compensation Actually Paid" and Total Shareholder Return
As shown in the following graph, the "Compensation Actually Paid" to our CEO and our Other NEOs highly correlates with our TSR. Fluctuations in "Compensation Actually Paid" amounts are generally proportional to changes in our share price, including as a result of changes in the fair value of unvested stock options, PSUs and RSUs, the value of each of which is directly connected to our share price. Because a significant portion of our NEO’s compensation, 66% and 52% in fiscal year 2023 for our CEO and our Other NEOs, respectively, is linked to stock price performance, in line with our pay-for-performance philosophy, "Compensation Actually Paid" for our NEOs will inherently rise and fall with TSR. Relative to our peers, our three-year TSR reflects the impact of our IPO in June 2020, including the fact that we were a newly public company during the period with a significant portion of our common stock held by our Sponsors, as well as the significant rise in interest rates beginning in 2022 that resulted in housing and residential repair & remodel market uncertainty.
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
64 |
PAY-VERSUS-PERFORMANCE |
Relationships Between "Compensation Actually Paid" and Adjusted EBITDA and Net Income
The following charts provide a graphical representation of "Compensation Actually Paid" alongside our net income and Adjusted EBITDA over the periods presented. We believe that long-term stockholder value is driven by growth in net income and Adjusted EBITDA. As reflected in the following charts, however, “Compensation Actually Paid” in any given year does not necessarily correlate with changes in net income and Adjusted EBITDA. For fiscal year 2022, for example, net income declined 19.3% from $93.2 million to $75.2 million, but "Compensation Actually Paid" declined approximately 94%. Similarly, Adjusted EBITDA grew 9.8% from $274.2 million to $301.0 million but "Compensation Actually Paid" declined year over year due to a decline in our stock price over the course of the year. On the other hand, for fiscal year 2023, net income declined 9.6% from $75.2 million to $68.0 million and Adjusted EBITDA declined 3.3% from $301.0 million to $291.2 million, but "Compensation Actually Paid" increased, reflecting the increase in our stock price during fiscal year 2023. Similarly, while both net income and Adjusted EBITDA fluctuated over the periods presented, “Compensation Actually Paid” fluctuated much more significantly, reflecting the volatility in our stock price over the same periods.
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
65 |
PAY-VERSUS-PERFORMANCE |
Table of Financial Performance Measures
Set forth below are the most important financial performance measures that the Compensation Committee considers when making executive compensation decisions, including in order to link compensation actually paid to performance and to align executive performance with shareholder interest. The measures in this table are not listed in order of importance. For a discussion of how the Compensation Committee applies the below measures, see the Compensation Discussion and Analysis beginning on page 41.
Most Important Financial Performance Measures |
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
66 |
PAY-VERSUS-PERFORMANCE |
PROPOSAL NO. 3
ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Pursuant to Section 14A of the Exchange Act, we are providing our stockholders with the opportunity to vote to approve, on a non-binding, advisory basis, the compensation of our NEOs as set forth in this proxy statement in accordance with the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC. This proposal is also referred to as the “Say on Pay” vote. Our current policy is to hold Say on Pay votes annually. We anticipate that the next advisory vote on executive compensation will occur at our 2025 annual meeting of stockholders.
Our executive compensation program is designed by our compensation committee to (i) align executive compensation with our financial and operational performance; (ii) attract, retain and motivate key executives critical to achieving our vision and strategy; and (iii) reward such executives for delivering desired business results and stockholder value, all while protecting against excessive risk taking. Our Compensation Discussion & Analysis, which begins on page 41 of this proxy statement, describes in detail the components of our executive compensation program.
At the beginning of fiscal year 2023, the compensation committee established performance targets for fiscal year 2023 executive compensation. These targets were intended to exceed our planning assumptions for the year and were deemed to be rigorous and their achievement not certain at the time such goals were set, in particular considering the highly uncertain economic environment at that time. The repair and remodel market was especially uncertain, and sales were expected to be down year-over-year primarily driven by planned inventory reductions during the first half the fiscal year as we proactively managed our channel and internal finished goods inventory to below historical average levels.
Actual results for fiscal year 2023 exceeded the targets established by the compensation committee at the beginning of the year. As a result, and consistent with our pay-for-performance philosophy, our annual incentive plan for fiscal year 2023 paid out at approximately 109% of target for the financial performance component. PSUs granted in December 2020 with a performance period covering fiscal years 2021 to 2023 also achieved an above-target payout level based on our achievement of over 9-12% net sales growth per year and over 12-15% Adjusted EBITDA growth per year measured cumulatively over the three-year performance period. In addition, our one-year total shareholder return was approximately 79%, meaningfully ahead of all of our fiscal year 2023 compensation peer group, the S&P Composite 1500 Building Products Index and the Russell 3000.
For fiscal year 2023, approximately 84% of our CEO’s target compensation and approximately 70% of our other NEOs’ target compensation, on average, was “at risk” in that the ultimate realized value is dependent on the achievement of performance goals or subject to changes in our stock price. In addition, approximately 66% of our CEO’s target compensation and approximately 52% of our other NEOs’ target compensation, on average, was granted in the form of long-term equity incentive compensation, the value of which is linked directly to our share price, further aligning management with the interests of our stockholders. Finally, approximately 51% of our CEO’s target compensation and approximately 44% of our other NEOs’ target compensation, on average, was, or in the case of PSUs, is, contingent upon our achievement of pre-established financial targets.
We are asking our stockholders to approve the adoption of the following resolution:
"RESOLVED, that the stockholders of The AZEK Company Inc. (the “Company”) approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company's named executive officers, as disclosed in the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables and narrative discussion is hereby APPROVED."
This vote is non-binding; however, we highly value the opinions of our stockholders. Accordingly, the Board and the Compensation Committee will consider the outcome of this advisory vote in connection with future executive compensation decisions.
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
67 |
ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION |
Vote Required; Recommendation of the Board of Directors
We will consider the proposal to be passed if it receives the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares of our common stock entitled to vote on the proposal that are present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions are considered votes present and entitled to vote on this proposal, and thus, will have the same effect as a vote against this proposal. Broker non-votes are not counted as shares entitled to vote on this proposal, and thus, will have no effect on the outcome of the proposal. Brokers do not have authority to vote on this proposal without instructions from the beneficial owner.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF COMPENSATION PAID TO THE NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023.
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68 |
ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION |
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of January 1, 2024 by the following individuals or groups:
The percentage ownership information shown in the table is based upon 145,781,173 shares of Class A common stock and 0 shares of Class B common stock outstanding as of January 1, 2024.
The beneficial ownership information presented below includes, for each beneficial owner, (i) shares of common stock beneficially owned (including restricted shares of Class A common stock) and (ii) shares issuable upon exercise of options to purchase shares of Class A common stock, shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the settlement of DSUs and shares of Class A common stock subject to RSUs, in each case that are vested or will vest within 60 days of January 1, 2024. The beneficial ownership information presented below does not include shares issuable upon the exercise of options to purchase shares of Class A common stock, shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the settlement of DSUs or shares of Class A common stock subject to RSUs, in each case that will vest outside of such 60-day period. Shares subject to options, shares issuable upon the settlement of DSUs and shares subject to RSUs, in each case that are vested or will vest within 60 days of January 1, 2024, are deemed outstanding for purposes of calculating the percentage ownership of the person holding such options, DSUs or RSUs, but they are not deemed outstanding for purposes of calculating the percentage ownership of any other person.
We have determined beneficial ownership in accordance with the rules of the SEC. These rules generally attribute beneficial ownership of securities to persons who possess sole or shared voting power or investment power with respect to those securities, or have the right to acquire such powers within 60 days. Under these rules, more than one person may be deemed beneficial owner of the same securities and a person may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of securities as to which such person has no economic interest. The information contained in the following table is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose, and the inclusion of any shares in the table does not constitute an admission of beneficial ownership of those shares. Unless otherwise indicated, the persons or entities identified in this table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares shown as beneficially owned by them, subject to applicable community property laws.
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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS |
Except as otherwise noted below, the address for persons listed in the table is c/o The AZEK Company, 1330 W Fulton Street, Suite #350, Chicago, IL 60607.
Name of Beneficial Owner |
|
Shares Owned |
|
Percentage |
|
||||||||
Director Nominees and Continuing Director: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Gary Hendrickson(1) |
|
|
|
792,721 |
|
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
|
Sallie B. Bailey(2) |
|
|
|
107,902 |
|
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
|
Pamela Edwards(3) |
|
|
|
2,005 |
|
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
|
Howard Heckes(4) |
|
|
|
16,406 |
|
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
|
Vernon J. Nagel(5) |
|
|
|
28,901 |
|
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
|
Harmit Singh(6) |
|
|
|
1,973 |
|
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
|
Brian Spaly(7) |
|
|
|
77,672 |
|
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
|
Fiona Tan(8) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
||
Named Executive Officers: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Jesse Singh(9) |
|
|
|
2,834,076 |
|
|
|
|
|
1.9 |
% |
|
|
Peter Clifford(10) |
|
|
|
126,545 |
|
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
|
Jonathan Skelly(11) |
|
|
|
353,075 |
|
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
|
Samara Toole(12) |
|
|
|
14,013 |
|
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
|
Morgan Walbridge(13) |
|
|
|
15,571 |
|
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
|
Directors and current executive officers as a group(14) |
|
|
|
4,595,111 |
|
|
|
|
|
3.1 |
% |
|
|
5% or Greater Stockholders: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
The Vanguard Group(15) |
|
|
|
13,012,414 |
|
|
|
|
|
8.9 |
% |
|
|
Wellington Management Group(16) |
|
|
|
12,110,854 |
|
|
|
|
|
8.3 |
% |
|
|
Capital Research Global Investors(17) |
|
|
|
10,625,433 |
|
|
|
|
|
7.3 |
% |
|
|
* Represents beneficial ownership of less than 1%.
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70 |
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS |
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following table sets forth information concerning our equity compensation plans as of September 30, 2023:
Plan Category(1) |
|
Number of |
|
Weighted- |
|
Number of |
||||||||||||
Equity compensation plans approved by stockholders |
|
|
|
5,770,686 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
24.83 |
|
|
|
|
|
6,150,571 |
|
|
Equity compensation plans not approved by stockholders |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|||
Total |
|
|
|
5,770,686 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
24.83 |
|
|
|
|
|
6,150,571 |
|
|
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
71 |
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS |
We describe below transactions and series of similar transactions, since the beginning of our last fiscal year, to which we have been or will be a participant in which:
Registration Rights Agreement
In connection with our IPO, we entered into a registration rights agreement, or the Registration Rights Agreement, with the Sponsors and certain members of our management. Until December 2023 when the Sponsors ceased to hold shares of our common stock, the Registration Rights Agreement provided the Sponsors with up to four “demand” registrations each and unlimited “demand” registrations at any time we are eligible to register shares on Form S-3, as well as customary “piggyback” registration rights. The Registration Rights Agreement currently provides certain members of our management with customary “piggyback” registration rights and contains certain limitations on the ability of the members of our management party to the Registration Rights Agreement to offer, sell or otherwise dispose of shares of our common stock. The Registration Rights Agreement also provides that we will pay certain expenses of these holders relating to such registrations and indemnify them against certain liabilities which may arise under the Securities Act.
Limitations of Liability; Indemnification of Officers and Directors
Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that we will limit the liability of and indemnify and advance expenses to our directors and officers, and may indemnify and advance expenses to our employees and other agents, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, which prohibits our certificate of incorporation from limiting the liability of our directors or officers for the following:
In addition, an officer may not be exculpated for any action brought by or in the right of the corporation and a director may not be exculpated for improper distributions to stockholders. If Delaware law is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors or officers, then the liability of our directors and officers, except in connection with actions brought by or in the right of the corporation, will be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, as so amended. Our certificate of incorporation does not eliminate a director’s or officer’s duty of care and, in appropriate circumstances, equitable remedies, such as injunctive or other forms of non-monetary relief, remain available under Delaware law. This provision also does not affect a director’s or officer’s responsibilities under any other laws, such as the federal securities laws or other state or federal laws. Under our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, we will also be empowered to purchase insurance on behalf of any person whom we are required or permitted to indemnify.
In addition to the indemnification and advancement of expenses required in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, we have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our current directors and executive officers. See “Corporate Governance—Director and Officer Indemnification Agreements”
The limitation of liability, indemnification and advancement provisions in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against directors or officers for breach of their fiduciary duties. They may also
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
72 |
RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS |
reduce the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors and officers, even though an action, if successful, might benefit us and our stockholders. A stockholder’s investment may be harmed to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers and controlling persons pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been advised that, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act, and is, therefore, unenforceable. There is no pending litigation or proceeding naming any of our directors or officers as to which indemnification is being sought, nor are we aware of any pending or threatened litigation that may result in claims for indemnification or advancement by any director or officer.
Purchases of Products in the Ordinary Course of Business
Certain of our related persons may, either directly or through their respective affiliates, enter into commercial transactions with us from time to time in the ordinary course of business, primarily for the purchase of merchandise. We believe that none of the transactions with such persons is significant enough to be considered material to such persons or to us.
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
73 |
RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS |
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
2023 Annual Report, SEC Filings and Regulation FD
Our financial statements for our fiscal year ended September 30, 2023 are included in our 2023 Form 10-K, which we filed with the SEC on November 29, 2023. This proxy statement and our 2023 Annual Report are posted on our website at www.azekco.com and are available from the SEC at its website at https://www.sec.gov. You may also obtain a copy of our 2023 Annual Report without charge by sending a written request to The AZEK Company Inc., Attention: Corporate Secretary, 1330 W Fulton Street #350, Chicago, Illinois 60607. Also, we use our Investor Relations website at investors.azekco.com as a means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with our disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Accordingly, investors should monitor this website, in addition to following our press releases, SEC filings, public conference calls and webcasts. Information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not intended to be incorporated by reference into this proxy statement and shall not be deemed filed under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This proxy statement contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this proxy statement, including statements regarding future operations are forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward looking statements may be identified by words such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “could,” “would,” “expect,” “objective,” “plan,” “potential,” “seek,” “grow,” “target,” “if,” or the negative of these terms and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements primarily on our current expectations and projections about future events and trends that we believe may affect our company. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those described in the section titled “Risk Factors” set forth in Part I, Item 1A of our 2022 Annual Report and in our other SEC filings. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks emerge from time to time. It is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements we may make. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the future events and trends discussed in this proxy statement may not occur and actual results may differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. You should read this proxy statement with the understanding that our actual future results, levels of activity, performance and events and circumstances may be materially different from what we expect. In addition, statements that “we believe” and similar statements reflect our beliefs and opinions on the relevant subject. These statements are based on information available to us as of the date of this proxy statement. While we believe that such information provides a reasonable basis for these statements, such information may be limited or incomplete. Our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain, and investors are cautioned not to unduly rely on these statements.
2024 THE AZEK COMPANY Proxy Statement |
74 |
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION |
OTHER MATTERS
Our board of directors does not know of any other matters to be presented at the Annual Meeting. If any additional matters are properly presented at the Annual Meeting, the persons named in the enclosed proxy card will have discretion to vote the shares of our common stock they represent in accordance with their own judgment on such matters.
It is important that your shares of our common stock be represented at the Annual Meeting, regardless of the number of shares that you hold. You are, therefore, urged to vote by telephone or by using the Internet as instructed on the enclosed proxy card or execute and return, at your earliest convenience, the enclosed proxy card in the envelope that has also been provided.
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75 |
OTHER MATTERS |
SCAN TO VIEW MATERIALS & VOTE THE AZEK COMPANY INC. 1330 W FULTON STREET, #350 CHICAGO, IL 60607 VOTE BY INTERNET Before The Meeting - Go to www.proxyvote.com or scan the QR Barcode above Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information. Vote by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on February 29, 2024. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form. During The Meeting - Go to www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/AZEK2024 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. Vote by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on February 29, 2024. Have your proxy card 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 Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717. V27407-P01950 For All Except For All Withhold All THE AZEK COMPANY INC. To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark "For All Except" and write the number(s) of the nominee(s) on the line below. The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR the following: 1. Election of Directors Nominees: 01) Sallie Bailey 02) Pamela Edwards 03) Howard Heckes 04) Gary Hendrickson 05) Vernon J. Nagel 06) Harmit Singh 07) Jesse Singh 08) Fiona Tan The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR the following proposals: For Against Abstain 2. To ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for our fiscal year ending September 30, 2024. 3. To approve, on an advisory, non-binding basis, the compensation of our named executive officers. Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) hereon. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, or other fiduciary, please give full title as such. Joint owners should each sign personally. All holders must sign. If a corporation or partnership, please sign in full corporate or partnership name by authorized officer.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting: The Notice and Proxy Statement and Annual Report are available at www.proxyvote.com. V27408-P01950 THE AZEK COMPANY INC. Annual Meeting of Shareholders March 1, 2024 8:00 AM, EST This proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors The shareholder(s) hereby appoint(s) Jesse Singh, Peter Clifford and Morgan Walbridge, and each of them, as proxies, each with the power to appoint (his/her) substitute, and hereby authorize(s) them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse side of this ballot, all of the shares of (Common/Preferred) stock of THE AZEK COMPANY INC. that the shareholder(s) is/are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held at 8:00 AM, EST on March 1, 2024, virtually at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/AZEK2024, and any adjournment or postponement thereof. This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein. If no such direction is made, this proxy will be voted in accordance with the Board of Directors' recommendations. Continued and to be signed on reverse side