UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A

 

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.           )

 

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Filed by a Party other than the Registrant

 

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SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS HOLDINGS, INC.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

 

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

 

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DEAR FELLOW
STOCKHOLDERS

 

Thomas C. Gentile III PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER             Robert D. Johnson CHAIRMAN

March 11, 2019 On behalf of the Board of Directors, we are delighted to invite you to attend the 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. (the “Company” or “Spirit”). Details of the business to be conducted at the Annual Meeting are included in the attached Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and accompanying Proxy Statement. While 2018 was a challenging year for Spirit, it was also a time of great learning and adaptation that has prepared us well for success in 2019 and beyond. The majority of issues impacted the Boeing 737 program, driven by rate increases, supplier limitations, and a learning curve transitioning to the 737 MAX. Likewise, on the A350 XWB program, we experienced weather delays and technology complications at our plant in Kinston, N.C. However, thanks to tremendous efforts on all programs by our employees and suppliers, we ended the year back on our master delivery schedule and met our financial targets. Highlights of 2018 include: • Reported revenue of $7.222 billion, up 3% from 2017 • Delivered on our 2018 capital deployment plan, returning significant value to investors through share repurchases and dividends (including a 20% increase in the quarterly cash dividend amount) • Received multiple innovation and supplier awards from our customers • Pursued commercial, defense, and fabrication growth opportunities • Increased research and development efforts and our use of digital technologies • Signed a new long-term contract with Boeing covering pricing on a range of programs into the next decade • Engaged with our stockholders and other constituents on various items including strategy, capital deployment, corporate governance, and operational performance In 2019, we will be challenged to continue to meet rate increases and deliver on time and with high quality on all our programs, all while being relentless in safety and cost control. Yet, we remain confident in our ability to have a successful year. We thank you for your continued support of Spirit and look forward to seeing you at the Annual Meeting.

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Notice of 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

 

3801 S. Oliver St.
Wichita, KS 67210-2112

 

March 11, 2019

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS

FOR THE STOCKHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON APRIL 24, 2019

 

The Proxy Statement and Annual Report are available at http://www.proxyvote.com

 

The 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. (“Spirit” or the “Company”) will be held:

 

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 2019

11:00 a.m. Eastern Time

Fairmont Hotel, Dumbarton Room

2401 M St. NW

Washington, DC 20037

 

Items of business include:

 

Stockholders of record of our Class A Common Stock (the “Common Stock”) as of February 25, 2019, are entitled to receive notice of, and may vote at, the Annual Meeting. We are furnishing proxy materials to our stockholders primarily over the internet rather than mailing paper copies. On March 11, 2019, we commenced distributing to our stockholders a Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) or a paper copy of the proxy materials and our Annual Report, along with a proxy card or voting information form. The Notice contains instructions on how to access and review the proxy materials, including this Proxy Statement and our Annual Report, on the internet and instructions on how to vote. Stockholders may vote in person at the Annual Meeting or by internet pursuant to the instructions set forth in the Proxy Statement. In addition, if you received a paper copy of the proxy materials, you may vote by completing and returning a proxy card or voting information form, as applicable, pursuant to the instructions set forth in the Proxy Statement.

 

Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we hope you will vote as soon as possible.

 

By order of the Board of Directors.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Stacy Cozad

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

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Non-GAAP Financial Measures

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PROXY STATEMENT SUMMARY

This summary highlights certain information contained elsewhere in the accompanying Proxy Statement. This summary does not contain all the information you should consider before voting your shares. For more complete information regarding the proposals to be voted upon at the Annual Meeting and our 2018 performance, please review the entire Proxy Statement and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.

We use the terms “Spirit,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” in this Proxy Statement to refer to Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.

Matters to Be Voted On at the Annual Meeting

Casting Your Vote

Stockholders of record of our Common Stock as of February 25, 2019, may vote their shares using any of the following methods:

BY INTERNET VIA COMPUTER Visit www.proxyvote.com	BY INTERNET VIA TABLET OR SMARTPHONE	BY MAIL If you received a paper copy of the materials, complete and return the enclosed proxy card or voting instruction form	IN PERSON Vote in person at the Annual Meeting; see “General Information — How Do I Attend the Annual Meeting”

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About Spirit

Quick Spirit Facts

Business Overview

Spirit is a leading tier-one global aerostructures provider. We manufacture large aerostructures, including fuselages, wing structures, engine nacelles, pylons, fan cowls, thrust reversers, and systems integration for the world’s premier aircraft. Spirit’s capabilities include metal manufacturing and assembly, precision assembly, and composites manufacturing.

Our engineering capabilities, combined with our capacity for high-volume production, have positioned Spirit as a leading aerostructures supplier to both Airbus and Boeing. For Boeing, we manufacture the 737 fuselage, the front section of the 787 fuselage, and otherwise manufacture parts for every Boeing commercial aircraft currently in production. Further, for Airbus, we supply fuselage and wing aerostructures content on the A350 XWB and wing aerostructures content on the A320, A330, and A380. Spirit also supplies aerostructures for various regional and business jet programs, including pylons on the A220 and in-development Mitsubishi Regional Jet, as well as nacelles for Rolls-Royce engines used on Gulfstream aircraft.

In addition to producing aerostructures for commercial aircraft, Spirit designs, engineers, and manufactures structural components for military programs. We have been awarded a significant amount of work for Boeing’s P-8, C-40, and KC-46 tanker, all of which are commercial aircraft modified for military use. We are also involved in the development and production of various parts for the Sikorsky CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter and Bell V-280 tiltrotor aircraft. In addition, Spirit is proud to be a member of the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider industry team. Spirit has invested heavily in research and development labs that enable us to deliver innovation and value on defense programs.

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Spirit Values and Fundamental Behaviors

Values

At Spirit, we believe that culture and values play a determining role in the success of corporate strategy. Values are demonstrated in the way we think, act, and ultimately achieve results.

Fundamental Behaviors

 

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Corporate Citizenship

Spirit’s corporate values are demonstrated through commitments to key community initiatives, from volunteer activities to corporate- and employee-funded grants. Our values are demonstrated through the way we conduct our business and our commitments, which include the following:

 

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About Spirit’s Director Nominees and Governance Practices

Director Nominees

Nominee Qualifications

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Board Composition

 

 

 

 

Corporate Governance Highlights

 

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About Spirit’s Executive Compensation Program and Practices

Overview of Spirit’s Executive Compensation Program

We provide highlights of our executive compensation program below. For a full understanding of the compensation paid to our named executive officers, please review our Compensation Discussion and Analysis and the related compensation tables in this Proxy Statement.

Our compensation objectives are to (i) attract, retain, and motivate highly qualified executive officers, (ii) pay for performance using short-term and long-term incentives, (iii) align interests of the Company’s executive officers with the Company’s stockholders by using compensation performance measures that are meaningful to our stockholders, and (iv) ensure compensation does not encourage inappropriate risk-taking by diversifying performance measures, using payment caps, and maintaining a clawback policy, among other things. The 2018 compensation structure (excluding perquisite or “other” compensation) for our CEO and the other named executive officers (“NEOs”) is below. As the charts below demonstrate, 87% of our CEO’s direct compensation was variable based on performance, while 77% of the other NEOs’ direct compensation was variable based on performance.

 

 

 

 

 

Compensation Practices Checklist

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Overview

The Board of Directors is elected each year at the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders. Spirit currently has nine directors. Each director elected at the Annual Meeting will serve until the 2020 annual meeting of stockholders and until the election and qualification of his or her respective successor, subject to such director’s earlier death or disability.

Based on the recommendations of the Company’s Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee (the “Governance Committee”), the Board has nominated each of the persons listed below for election as directors. All nominees have served as directors of the Company since the 2018 annual meeting of stockholders.

Each of the nominees has agreed to serve if elected and, as of the date of this Proxy Statement, the Company has no reason to believe that any nominee will be unavailable to serve. If any nominee is unable or declines to serve as a director at the time of the Annual Meeting, the proxy holders’ intention is to vote the proxies for such other person as may be designated by the present Board to fill such vacancy.

The following information with respect to the nine nominees is based on information furnished to the Company by each nominee and highlights the specific experience, qualifications, attributes, and skills of the individual nominees that have led the Board to conclude that each should continue to serve on the Board.

Director Nominees

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Voting Standard

The Company’s bylaws provide for simple majority voting in an uncontested election of directors. In order for a director nominee to be elected, the votes that stockholders cast “FOR” the director nominee must exceed the votes that stockholders cast “AGAINST” the director nominee. In the event that an incumbent nominee does not receive the requisite majority of votes cast in this election, the Company will follow the procedure described under “General Information Regarding the Meeting — What Happens if an Incumbent Director Nominee is Not Elected at the Annual Meeting?” Any shares not voted (whether by abstention, broker non-vote, or otherwise) will have no impact on the election of directors. Your broker may not vote your shares on this proposal unless you give voting instructions.

   The Board recommends that you vote FOR each of the director nominees.

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BOARD AND GOVERNANCE MATTERS

The Board’s Role

The Company is governed by its Board of Directors. Other than with respect to matters reserved to stockholders, the Board is the ultimate decision-making body of the Company. The Board is responsible for overseeing the Company’s strategy and performance, and protecting stockholder interests and value. Further, the Board is responsible for selecting and overseeing the Company’s executive officers, who set and execute the Company’s business strategy and handle the Company’s day-to-day operations.

In carrying out its responsibilities, the Board has created and delegated certain responsibilities to four standing committees: the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, the Governance Committee, and the Risk Committee. Additional information about these committees and their responsibilities is described under “Committees.”

Corporate Governance Guidelines

The Board is committed to maintaining corporate governance practices that maximize stockholder value. To further its commitment, the Board has adopted the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines (the “Governance Guidelines”) to ensure that the Board has the necessary authority and practices in place to effectively review and evaluate the Company’s strategy and operations, to make decisions that are independent of the Company’s management, to oversee management, and to monitor adherence to the Company’s standards and policies. The Governance Guidelines are available at http://investor.spiritaero.com/govdocs.

Size

Pursuant to our bylaws, the Board of Directors is required to consist of three or more directors and may be increased or decreased at any time by the Board of Directors. Currently, the Board of Directors consists of nine directors. Pursuant to its charter, the Governance Committee is responsible for reviewing the size of the Board and recommending to the Board any changes it deems appropriate with respect to Board size.

Board Leadership

The Company separates the roles of Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chairman of the Board in recognition of the differences between the two roles and the value of independent leadership oversight. The Board believes that separation of the roles maximizes the ability of the CEO to focus on Company strategy and operations without distraction, while benefiting from the Chairman’s perspective and insight. Because Mr. Johnson, the Chairman of the Board, is an independent director, the Board has not deemed it necessary to appoint a lead independent director.

While the CEO is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the Company and managing the day-to-day operations and performance of the Company, the Chairman of the Board performs the following duties:

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Board Composition

Selecting qualified individuals to serve as directors is key to the Board’s performance. The Governance Committee is responsible for evaluating qualified potential candidates to serve on the Board, and recommending to the Board for its selection nominees to stand for election as directors at the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders. This responsibility is further described in the Governance Committee’s charter, which is available at: http://investor.spiritaero.com/govdocs. In evaluating candidates, the Governance Committee and Board consider the qualifications and expertise of director candidates individually and in the broader context of the Board’s overall composition, taking into account any particular needs that the Company may have based on its strategic initiatives, risks, and opportunities. The Company has engaged a third-party international executive search firm to assist the Governance Committee in identifying and evaluating potential director candidates.

In evaluating individual candidates, the Governance Committee considers the personal ethics and values, experience, judgment, and diversity of the candidates, among other things. It is the policy of the Board that the Board reflect diversity of viewpoint, professional experience, education, skill, expertise, industry knowledge, and such other factors as the Governance Committee and Board believe would enhance the effectiveness of the Board. Nominees must have high standards of integrity and ethics, and convey a commitment to act in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders.

In addition, the Governance Committee considers the candidates’ employment and other commitments, and evaluates whether the candidates have sufficient time available to efficiently and effectively carry out the duties of directors. For example, the Governance Guidelines limit the number of boards that any director may serve on to five (including the Company’s Board), or three boards (including the Company’s Board) in the case of a director who is an active chief executive officer at another public company.

Director Selection Process

 

Stockholder Candidates

It is the Governance Committee’s policy to consider candidates nominated by stockholders in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and the procedures described in the Company’s bylaws and Proxy Statement. If a stockholder desires to recommend a director candidate for nomination by the Governance Committee, the stockholder should follow the procedures described under “Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations for the 2020 Annual Meeting.” Director candidates recommended by stockholders will be considered and evaluated in the same manner as candidates discovered through other sources.

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Director Tenure and Refreshment

While the Company has added four new directors to its Board in the past five years, five of the nominees have served on the Board for more than ten years. Through its annual evaluation process, the Board has determined that each of these five nominees provides diversity of experience and perspective, and plays an integral and necessary role in the boardroom. The Board has periodically evaluated age and term limits along with retirement policies, and has determined that such limits and policies may arbitrarily restrict valuable Board members from service and, thus, reduce stockholder value. Instead, the Board has determined to continue evaluating its members on their merits based on the contributions they make in the boardroom and their ability to enhance overall Board effectiveness. The Board is committed to routine Board and director refreshment as needed to enhance Board effectiveness, and primarily uses rigorous board and committee evaluations and composition discussions as its refreshment mechanisms.

Board and Committee Evaluations

Each year, the Governance Committee oversees an evaluation of the Board and each committee. The 2018 evaluation covered the following topics, among other things:

A summary of the evaluation process is below:

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Director Education

Our director education program is multifaceted and includes site visits and tours, in-depth education seminars on topics of interest by senior management and external advisors, background material on the Company’s operations and strategy, and the regular provision of resources from various educational institutions to directors. Each new Board member receives onboarding programming that involves meetings with senior management, business overviews, and presentations on the Code of Business Conduct, insider trading, and various other policies and procedures. We encourage our directors to attend reputable director education programs sponsored by external advisors and educational institutions.

Director Independence

The Company’s Common Stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”), and the Company uses the NYSE’s listing standards to determine director independence. Under the NYSE’s listing standards and the Governance Guidelines, the Board must consist of a majority of independent directors. For a director to qualify as independent, the Board must determine that the director has no material relationship with the Company (either directly, or as a partner, stockholder, or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the Company). The Board performs an independence assessment of each director annually and as circumstances may otherwise require.

In assessing the existence of a material relationship with the Company, the Board considers all relevant transactions, relationships, and arrangements required by the NYSE’s independence standards. The Board examined each director’s involvement through directorships, employment, consulting relationships, or otherwise, with entities the Company does business with. In particular, the Board evaluated the following:

 

 

Based on this analysis, the Board has determined that all the director nominees are independent under the NYSE’s criteria, with the exclusion of Messrs. Gentile and Gephardt. All the committees of the Board are comprised solely of independent directors.

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Committees

The Board has four committees: the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, Governance Committee, and Risk Committee. The Board has adopted written charters for each committee, which are available at http://investor.spiritaero.com/govdocs. Information on each committee is set forth in the table below.

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The Board’s Role in Risk Oversight

 

Management’s Role in Risk Management

The Company’s management is responsible for the identification, assessment, mitigation, and management of risks relating to the Company’s strategy and operations. Apart from reporting to the Board, management engages in a robust enterprise risk management process that involves: (i) semi-annual risk-assessment surveys and interviews; (ii) reviewing, repositioning, and prioritizing identified risks by a risk council composed of executive leadership (the “Risk Council”); (iii) assigning risks to risk owners based on responsibilities with respect to the Company’s strategic objectives; (iv) developing and reporting mitigation plans by the risk owners and risk management team to the Risk Council; and (v) oversight by the Company’s internal audit function. On a quarterly basis, the status of the top risks identified in management’s enterprise risk management process, along with their associated mitigation plans, are presented to the Risk Committee.

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Cybersecurity

The Risk Committee of the Board is charged with oversight of the Company’s cybersecurity matters. The Company hired a Chief Information Security Officer (“CISO”) in early 2018 to oversee the Company’s cybersecurity practices and procedures. The CISO reports to the Risk Committee quarterly regarding such practices and procedures. The Company took several steps in 2018 to mitigate cybersecurity risks, such as upgrading operating and monitoring systems, hiring specialized personnel, and reviewing and improving applicable policies and procedures. The Company requires cybersecurity education at all levels of the organization.

Communications with the Board

Stockholders and other interested persons may communicate with the Board, the Chairman of the Board, individual members of the Board, members of any committee of the Board, or one or more non-employee directors through the following:

 

The Corporate Secretary will forward communications received to the appropriate party. Receipt of communications clearly not appropriate for consideration by members of the Board, such as unsolicited advertisements, inquiries concerning the Company’s products and services, and harassing communications, are not forwarded to members of the Board.

Commitment to Stockholder Engagement and Responsiveness

Engagement

The Company’s management and subject-matter experts frequently meet with investors to discuss Company performance, governance practices, strategy, operations, and other matters of importance to our stockholders. In 2018, members of the Company’s management held more than 560 in-person and telephonic meetings with investors and analysts, and traveled through the continental U.S. and to the U.K. to attend the meetings. The Company is committed to maintaining a robust stockholder outreach program in addition to regular participation at investor and community events and meeting with analysts. The Company welcomes feedback from all stockholders. Stockholders can contact the Company’s Investor Relations team by calling 316-523-7040 or emailing investorrelations@spiritaero.com.

Responsiveness

At the 2018 annual meeting, two proposals were put forth regarding the stockholders’ right to call special meetings. Proposal 4 was a proposal from the Company’s Board to reduce the threshold required to call a special meeting from a majority of stockholders to 25%. Proposal 5 was a stockholder proposal to reduce the threshold required to call a special meeting from a majority of stockholders to 10%. At the 2018 annual meeting, stockholders voted overwhelmingly in favor of Proposal 5. After the 2018 annual meeting, the Company’s management engaged with several stockholders on the matter and reported the conclusions from the engagement efforts to the Board. On July 23, 2018, after careful consideration of the matter, the Board amended the Company’s bylaws to lower the threshold required to call a special meeting from a majority of stockholders to 10%, consistent with Proposal 5. The Board also adopted a number of customary protections around the right to protect against misuse. The bylaws, as amended, are available on the Company’s website at http://investor.spiritaero.com/govdocs.

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2018 Board and Committee Meetings and Attendance

During 2018, there were four in-person meetings and seven telephonic meetings of the Board. All the Company’s directors attended 75% or more of the aggregate of all meetings of the Board and of committees on which they served in 2018. The Company’s Governance Guidelines provide that director attendance is expected at annual meetings of stockholders, and all the Company’s directors attended the 2018 annual meeting of stockholders.

In addition to scheduled Board meetings, the Board receives monthly reports from Mr. Gentile detailing financial results, operational highlights and challenges, and updates on strategic initiatives.

Executive Sessions

As part of each quarterly in-person Board meeting in 2018, the Company’s non-employee directors met without management present in an executive session. During executive sessions, the non-employee directors reviewed management’s performance, compensation, talent development and succession planning, strategic considerations, corporate governance matters, and other matters of importance.

Code of Business Conduct

The Company is committed to the highest ethical standards and to complying with all laws and regulations applicable to the Company’s business. To support and articulate its commitment and personal responsibility in this regard, the Company has adopted the Code of Business Conduct (the “Code”). The Code addresses a number of topics, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, conflicts of interest, safeguarding assets, insider trading, and general adherence to laws and regulations. All directors and employees, including executive officers, must comply with the Code. The Code is available on the Company’s website at http://investor.spiritaero.com/govdocs.

Succession Planning

The Board is responsible for overseeing management succession planning. At least annually, the Board reviews candidates for succession with respect to the CEO role and other senior management roles. Succession plans have been developed for both ordinary course succession and contingency planning due to an unforeseen event. The Board receives updates on the development of the succession candidates regularly. Directors engage with potential succession candidates during formal presentations at Board and committee meetings, and informal events with directors and candidates present.

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Compensation of Non-Employee Directors

Overview

Non-employee directors receive annual cash and equity compensation as described below. Equity compensation is granted under the Director Stock Program adopted under the 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended (the “OIP”). The Compensation Committee reviews and approves non-employee director compensation amounts and practices annually. As part of their review, the Compensation Committee evaluates non-employee director compensation data from the companies in Spirit’s proxy peer group, including data regarding the size of equity awards. In addition, the Compensation Committee confers with its independent compensation consultant on the magnitude and type of non-employee director compensation, and reviews market data and benchmarking surveys provided by the consultant. Based upon that information, the Compensation Committee makes a recommendation to the Board. The Board approves the form and amount of compensation after considering the Compensation Committee’s recommendation.

In developing its recommendations, the Compensation Committee is guided by the following goals with respect to non-employee director compensation:

Compensation Elements

The following table describes the elements of the 2018 non-employee director compensation program:

 

Cash Retainers

Each Board member receives an annual cash retainer, which is paid quarterly. Further, the Chairman of the Board and each committee chairman receives an additional cash retainer. Directors may elect to have their retainers received in shares of restricted stock or restricted stock units (“RSUs”) in lieu of cash.

Equity Retainer

Each Board member receives an annual equity retainer, which may be paid annually in the form of restricted stock or RSUs. Both types of awards vest if the non-employee director remains continuously in service for the entire term to which the grant relates. If the non-employee director incurs a termination for any reason before the end of the term (before the annual meeting of stockholders following the grant), the awards are forfeited without any payment. The Board may, in its discretion, waive this one-year service condition (in whole or in part) if it deems it to be appropriate and in the best interests of the Company to do so. Upon vesting, shares of restricted stock are delivered to the directors; however, vested RSUs are not paid to the director until the date that the director leaves the Board. Restricted stock confers voting and dividend rights; dividends accrue during the restricted period and are paid out upon vesting. RSUs confer dividend equivalent rights; dividend equivalents accrue during the restricted period and thereafter, and are paid out upon settlement. If the awards are forfeited, dividends or dividend equivalents, as applicable, are also forfeited.

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Board and Committee Meeting Fees

Until April 25, 2018, Board and committee meeting fees of $1,000 per meeting were paid for attendance at formal meetings where notice was duly given, a quorum was present, a matter was presented for consideration, the Board or committee took action on the matter, and minutes were taken. Meeting fees were paid in cash in arrears at the end of the quarter for which the fees were earned. Directors could choose to receive fees in the form of cash, restricted stock, or RSUs. A director was required to attend a majority of his or her required Board and committee meetings to receive any meeting fees. On April 25, 2018, the Board of Directors terminated the practice of paying meeting fees and changed the annual board equity retainer from $105,000 to $125,000.

Other Compensation

Directors are reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with their Board services. The Company does not provide perquisite allowances to non-employee directors.

Non-Employee Director Stock Ownership Requirements

Non-employee directors are required to own stock equal to five times the annual Board cash retainer, which currently amounts to $525,000. Non-employee directors have four years of Board service to meet the minimum stockholder requirements. RSUs held by directors are counted in determining whether the minimum stockholding requirements are satisfied. Information regarding the current stock ownership of the Company’s non-employee directors can be found below under “Stock Ownership — Beneficial Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers.”

As of February 25, 2019, all non-employee directors other than Ms. Wright were in compliance with the stock ownership requirements. Ms. Wright, who joined our Board on February 20, 2018, has until February 20, 2022, to meet the requirements.

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2018 Director Compensation Table

The following table sets forth non-employee director compensation for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.

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Related Person Transactions

Related Person Transaction Policy and Process

The Board has adopted a written Related Person Transaction Policy (the “RPT Policy”) that can be found on the Company’s website at http://www.investor.spiritaero.com/govdocs. The purpose of the RPT Policy is to ensure the proper evaluation, approval or ratification, and reporting of related person transactions. Such transactions are only appropriate if they are fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company.

Under the RPT Policy, a related person transaction is any transaction in which the Company was, is, or will be a participant, where the amount involved exceeds $120,000, and in which a Related Person has, had, or will have a direct or indirect material interest. A Related Person is a director, director nominee, officer, or 5% stockholder, or any of their immediate family members. The existence of a direct or indirect material interest depends upon individual facts and circumstances and is determined by our General Counsel or Governance Committee.

The Governance Committee is responsible for reviewing these transactions and determining whether they are fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company. After review of the relevant facts and circumstances, if the Governance Committee concludes the related person transaction is fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company, it may approve or ratify the transaction.

If the Governance Committee declines to approve or ratify any related person transaction, the Company’s General Counsel will review the transaction, determine whether it should be terminated or amended in a manner that is acceptable to the Governance Committee, and advise the Governance Committee of their recommendation. The Governance Committee will then consider the recommendation at its next meeting. If the General Counsel does not ultimately recommend the transaction to the Governance Committee or if the Governance Committee does not approve the transaction, the proposed transaction will not be pursued; or, if the transaction has already been entered into, the Governance Committee will determine an appropriate course of action with respect to the transaction.

Certain Related Person Transactions

Below are the transactions that occurred between January 1, 2018, and February 25, 2019, and fall within the definition of related person transaction in the RPT Policy or under Item 404 of Regulation S-K. With respect to each transaction, the Governance Committee reviewed the transaction in accordance with the RPT Policy and approved it on the basis that it was fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company.

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STOCK OWNERSHIP

Beneficial Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers

The following table sets forth, as of February 25, 2019, the shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by each director and named executive officer, individually, and by all the Company’s directors and executive officers as a group. Individually and together, they own less than 1% of our Common Stock. The table also includes information about RSUs credited to the accounts of certain non-employee directors. For purposes of the table, shares are considered to be beneficially owned if the person, directly or indirectly, has sole or shared voting or investment power with respect to the shares. In addition, a person is deemed to beneficially own shares if that person has the right to acquire such shares within 60 days after February 25, 2019.

 

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Beneficial Ownership of Major Stockholders

The following table sets forth information with respect to beneficial owners of more than 5% of our outstanding securities as of February 25, 2019. The information set forth below is based on ownership statements filed with the SEC pursuant to Section 15(d) or 13(g) of the Exchange Act.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires directors, executive officers, and persons who own more than 10% of any registered class of a company’s equity securities to file beneficial ownership reports with the SEC. Such reports are filed on Form 3, Form 4, and Form 5 under the Exchange Act, as appropriate. To the Company’s knowledge, based solely on a review of these reports and the reporting persons’ written representations, the Company believes that all filings required to be made by reporting persons holding the Company’s stock were timely filed in accordance with Section 16(a) in 2018, except for one Form 4 for Mr. Johnson (the “Late Form”). The Late Form regarded a sale of 500 shares on March 1, 2018, and was filed on May 9, 2018. The Late Form was not filed on a timely basis because the appropriate staff of the Company did not receive information about the sale until several weeks after it occurred.

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Overview

Stockholders are being asked to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the named executive officers, or NEOs, as set forth under the heading “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.” This vote, which is referred to as the “say-on-pay” vote, is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of the Company’s NEOs and the objectives, policies, and practices described in this Proxy Statement. We conduct a say-on-pay vote annually. The Board believes that executive compensation, as disclosed in this Proxy Statement, aligns with the Company’s peer group pay practices and furthers the Company’s compensation objectives.

Accordingly, the Board asks the Company’s stockholders to vote “FOR” the following resolution at the Annual Meeting:

“RESOLVED, that the Company’s stockholders approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the named executive officers, as disclosed by the Company pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the Summary Compensation Table, and other related tables and disclosures.”

The Board will review the voting results of Proposal 2 and take them into consideration when making future decisions regarding executive compensation.

Voting Standard

The affirmative vote of a majority of stockholders present, in person or by proxy, will constitute the stockholders’ non-binding approval with respect to Proposal 2.

With respect to Proposal 2, a stockholder may vote “FOR,” “AGAINST,” or “ABSTAIN.” Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted as votes “FOR” or “AGAINST” Proposal 2. However, because abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted as present at the Annual Meeting, they will have the effect of votes “AGAINST” Proposal 2.

Under the rules of the NYSE, brokers are prohibited from giving proxies to vote on executive compensation matters unless the beneficial owner of such shares has given voting instructions on the matter. This means that, if your broker is the record holder of your shares, you must give voting instructions to your broker with respect to Proposal 2 if you want your broker to vote your shares on the matter.

 The Board recommends you vote FOR the resolution approving the compensation of our named executive officers.

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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

	TABLE OF CONTENTS

Our 2018 Named Executive Officers

The following Compensation Discussion and Analysis describes the 2018 compensation of our NEOs. Our 2018 NEOs were:

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Compensation Overview

Our executive compensation program is designed to enable us to attract, retain, and incentivize executive officers who can deliver short-term performance results and longer-term stockholder value. The following highlights the key items the Compensation Committee considers in the development, review, and approval of the NEOs’ compensation.

Our Compensation Objectives

The Company’s executive compensation program is designed to:

Setting Target Pay

The Compensation Committee reviews and approves the target pay levels for our NEOs with respect to salary, our annual cash incentive, and our long-term incentives. In setting these levels, the Compensation Committee reviews peer group compensation levels and broad survey samples provided by the Compensation Committee’s independent compensation consultant. In addition, the Compensation Committee reviews the individual responsibilities, goals, and challenges with respect to the position in question, along with the experience, prior performance, and potential of the individual in question. The Company generally sets total annual direct compensation of the NEOs (consisting of base salary, the annual cash incentive, and long-term incentives) at a target level that is at or around the market median, subject to individual circumstances and exceptions. Additional information about the Company’s peer group and compensation-setting process can be found under “The Compensation Decision-Making Process,” and “Benchmarking” sections.

Aligning Pay with Performance

The Company’s success depends largely on the efforts and contributions of its executives and their teams to deliver strong business results and increase stockholder value. The Company uses a balance of short- and long-term incentives as well as cash and non-cash compensation to reward NEOs for their roles in meeting Company objectives. For either short- or long-term incentives, executive officers have the opportunity to earn in excess of market median levels when performance exceeds expectations. Conversely, if performance falls below expectations, the incentives pay below target levels, if at all.

In 2018, we linked pay with performance through the following variable pay:

Additional information on our incentives can be found under “2018 Compensation Program Elements.”

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Our Pay Metrics

The table below explains the metrics we used to measure performance with respect to the Company’s compensation.

* Please see Appendix A for an explanation and reconciliation of these non-GAAP metrics.

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The Company’s Performance

The Company’s one- and three-year total shareholder return compared to its peer group, the Russell 3000 index, and S&P 500 index, is set forth below.

 

Note: TSR is calculated in the chart above using adjusted close prices. Peer TSR is market-cap weighted at the beginning of each period. Three-year TSR is cumulative. The chart above includes data from all members of the Company’s 2016–18 proxy peer group, excluding companies that were acquired during such period (Orbital ATK, B/E Aerospace, Rockwell Collins). For additional information on the companies within our peer group, see “2018 Proxy Peer Group.” Source: S&P’s Capital IQ.

CEO Target Pay Compared to Peers

The target pay of our CEO as compared to the target pay of other CEOs in our peer group is set forth below:

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Significant Program-Wide Compensation Decisions in 2018

The Compensation Committee met in January 2018 to discuss and implement changes to the Company’s compensation program for the year. In large part, from a programmatic standpoint, the 2018 executive compensation program remained the same as the 2017 program except for the following:

2018 Compensation Program Elements

There are three major components to the Company’s compensation program for NEOs:

Pay Structure

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Base Salary

Base salary is a fixed cash amount designed to attract, retain, and motivate executive officers. In determining base salary, the Compensation Committee considers market data for comparable roles, experience, skill set, prior positions held, performance, and responsibility level. The Company reviews each NEO’s base salary annually in January (and as circumstances or changes in responsibilities may require) and makes appropriate adjustments to account for performance, additional responsibilities, and market movement. We set base salary amounts as set forth under “Setting Target Pay.”

Annual Cash Incentive

The ACI is an annual cash award granted under the Company’s Short-Term Incentive Plan (the “STIP”) under the 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended (the “OIP”). Each individual receives a total target ACI that is equal to a percentage of his or her total base salary. For 2018, this target amount was equal to 140% of our CEO’s base salary, and 100% of the other NEOs’ (the “Other NEOs”) base salaries. We set ACI target amounts as set forth under “Setting Target Pay.”

Payout of the ACI depends on the attainment of individual and Company performance goals. Depending on the level of performance achieved, payout can be between 0 — 200% of target. The objectives of the ACI are to support our pay-for-performance philosophy, align the awards with stockholder interests, and motivate executives to achieve the Company’s near-term focus on safety, quality, delivery, and customer focus that drives the Company’s long-term performance.

The performance weighting for the NEOs’ ACIs are as follows:

With respect to the measurement of the performance components, the Compensation Committee used a scoring scale of 0.0 to 2.0, with 0.0 for unacceptable performance and 2.0 for exceptional performance. Individual scores are calibrated to the Company’s performance score as further described below.

Company Performance

The Company Performance component of each NEO’s 2018 ACI is scored based on the performance of the Company with respect to three quantitative metrics, each over a one-year period:

The manner in which Adjusted EBIT and Adjusted FCF are calculated is described in Appendix A.

In 2018, the Company exceeded its target performance goal with respect to revenue and Adjusted FCF, but did not reach its threshold goal with respect to Adjusted EBIT. As a result, the Compensation Committee determined a 0.89 score had been achieved with respect to Company performance, representing a weighted score of 0.712 for the CEO (representing 80% of his total ACI score), and 0.6675 for each of the Other NEOs (representing 75% of their total ACI scores). The following table summarizes the Company’s actual performance relative to the Company’s threshold, target, and maximum performance goals for 2018:

* The manner in which Adjusted EBIT and Adjusted FCF are calculated is described in Appendix A.

Individual Performance

The Individual Performance component of the ACI is intended to further align executive compensation with performance in the Company’s focus areas in any given year by establishing relevant individual performance metrics that relate to each NEO’s assignments. This component was scored based on the achievement of such individual performance goals. Individual scores were calibrated to reflect the Company’s score, which was under the established target of 1.0 for 2018. For example, Mr. Gentile met expectations; however, because the Company score was a 0.89, his individual score was also a 0.89.

To determine the score for the CEO, the Compensation Committee reviewed his annual performance and personal contributions to the Company’s financial and operational results. With respect to the Other NEOs, the Compensation Committee first considered the report and recommendation of the CEO with respect to each person’s performance and score and, subsequently, the Compensation Committee conducted a subjective review of each NEO’s

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contributions to the Company during the fiscal year. With respect to 2018 performance, the NEOs received the following individual performance scores: Gentile: 0.89, Kapoor: 0.89, Marnick: 1.09, Hawkins: 0.75, and Pilla: 1.04.

For additional payout information, please see “2018 ACI Payouts.” Descriptions of the NEOs’ 2018 individual performance contributions are set forth in “2018 NEO Performance and Compensation Decisions.”

2018 ACI Payouts

The formula for determining the 2018 ACIs and the resulting payouts are reflected in the table below:

 

Based on Company and individual performance results, the Compensation Committee believes the 2018 NEO ACIs were appropriate and achieved the objectives of the executive compensation program. While the ACIs were earned based on performance in 2018, they were paid out in January 2019. The ACIs are reported as 2018 compensation in the “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” column of the “Summary Compensation Table.”

Long-Term Incentives

Long-term incentives are an important component of compensation, as they provide long-term, equity-based variable incentive compensation in keeping with the Company’s pay-for-performance philosophy for the entire executive group. Long-term incentives are delivered under the Company’s Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “LTIP”) under the OIP. Under the OIP, the Compensation Committee selects eligible persons to receive such awards and determines the nature and amount of each such award. For 2018, each NEO received an annual target LTIP award equal to the percentage of his or her total base salary, at the time of the award, as provided in the table below:

The total annual target LTIP award consists of three components:

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Time-Based Restricted Stock

In 2018, 60% of the target award amount was delivered in the form of a Time-Based Restricted Stock award vesting in three equal installments on each of the first, second, and third anniversaries of the grant date, subject to the recipient being employed by the Company on the vesting date. The Compensation Committee grants Time-Based Restricted Stock awards to assist in retaining NEOs and increase their stock ownership, which further aligns our NEOs’ interests with those of stockholders. Awards are approved by the Compensation Committee in January and granted in February of each year. The number of shares granted is determined based on the average of the opening and closing Common Stock prices on the third trading day after the Company’s earnings release immediately following the date the award is approved by the Compensation Committee.

Dividends on Time-Based Restricted Stock awards accrue from the grant date and are paid out on vesting. If the underlying award is forfeited, the accrued dividends are forfeited as well.

Performance-Based Restricted Stock Tied to Total Shareholder Return

In 2018, 20% of the target award amount was delivered in the form of a Performance-Based Restricted Stock award tied to TSR. Payout of the award is based on the ranking of the Company’s TSR, expressed as a percentile, relative to the TSR of a group of the Company’s peers over a three-year tracking period as compared to threshold, target, and maximum performance goals. Participants are initially granted a number of unvested shares equal to the number of vested shares to which the participant would be entitled upon achievement of the target performance goal. The table below sets forth these performance goals and vesting percentages:

 

For grants made in 2018, the performance period runs from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2020, and the vesting of the awards is dependent upon the Compensation Committee’s certification of the performance goal being achieved. An individual must be continuously performing services (or deemed to be continuously performing services) throughout the entire performance period, or none of the award will be earned.

For grants made in 2018, the TSR for the Company and each member of its peer group for the tracking period will be determined by calculating the percentage increase in the dividend-adjusted average closing share price for the 20 trading days ending December 31, 2017, and the 20 trading days ending December 31, 2020. If the Company’s TSR percentile ranking falls between the threshold and the target performance goals or the target and the maximum performance goals, the percentage of the award that a participant will receive is interpolated on a straight-line basis. If the Company’s TSR percentile ranking is below the threshold performance goal, the participant will not be entitled to any vested shares, and if the Company’s TSR percentile ranking is equal to or higher than the maximum performance goal, the participant will be entitled to a number of vested shares equal to 200% of the target award. The Compensation Committee may apply negative discretion to the award payout. Dividends on Performance-Based Restricted Stock awards tied to TSR do not accrue until the award vests.

Performance-Based Restricted Stock Tied to FCF Percentage

In 2018, 20% of the target award amount was delivered in the form of a Performance-Based Restricted Stock award tied to FCF Percentage. Payout of the award is based on the Company’s free cash flow as a percentage of revenue over a three-year tracking period as compared to threshold, target, and maximum performance goals. FCF Percentage is a measure of long-term cash generation driven by increasing revenue, reducing costs, improving productivity, and efficiently using capital. Participants are initially granted a number of unvested shares equal to the number of vested shares to which the participant would be entitled on achievement of the target performance goal. The table below sets forth these performance goals and vesting percentages:

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For grants made in 2018, the performance period runs from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2020, and the vesting of the awards is dependent on the Compensation Committee’s certification of the performance goal being achieved. An individual must be continuously performing services through the entire performance period, or none of the award will be earned.

FCF Percentage will be calculated on a cumulative basis over a three-year period (total free cash flow over three years divided by total revenue over three years). If the calculated percentage falls between the threshold and the target performance goals or the target and the maximum performance goals, the percentage of the award that a participant will receive is interpolated on a straight-line basis. If the Company’s percentage is below the threshold performance goal, the participant will not be entitled to any vested shares, and if the Company’s percentage is equal to or greater than the maximum performance goal, the participant will be entitled to a number of vested shares equal to 200% of the target award. The Compensation Committee may apply negative discretion to the award payout. Dividends on Performance-Based Restricted Stock awards tied to FCF Percentage do not accrue until the award vests.

For an explanation and reconciliation of FCF Percentage, please see Appendix A.

2018 NEO Performance and Compensation Decisions

Mr. Gentile, President and Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Kapoor, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

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Ms. Marnick, Executive Vice President and Chief Administration Officer

Mr. Hawkins, Senior Vice President; President, Defense and Fabrication Division

Mr. Pilla, Senior Vice President, Chief Technology and Quality Officer

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The Compensation Decision-Making Process

The Compensation Committee is responsible for establishing, implementing, and monitoring compliance with the Company’s compensation objectives. Further, the Compensation Committee is responsible for setting compensation for, and reviewing performance of, the Company’s executive officers. Pursuant to its charter, the Compensation Committee has the authority to delegate its responsibilities to such subcommittees as it deems appropriate, so long as the subcommittee is solely comprised of one or more members of the Compensation Committee. In setting executive officer compensation, the Compensation Committee takes into consideration the following:

Generally, the Compensation Committee strives for internal equity among the Company’s NEOs and accordingly, the types of compensation and benefits offered to the Company’s NEOs are consistent among the group. The Compensation Committee continues to examine existing and new compensation programs and practices to ensure that the Company’s compensation programs remain appropriate and consistent with the Company’s overall objectives and market practice.

The chart below reflects the annual compensation-setting process by regularly scheduled meeting of the Compensation Committee. In addition to the following, the CEO’s performance, along with all Company performance metrics used in the ACI or long-term incentives, are monitored and discussed quarterly.

 

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Benchmarking

Each year, the Compensation Committee, with the assistance of management and the independent compensation consultant, reviews external market data in order to determine the competitiveness of our compensation packages, highlight trends and regulatory implications, and develop incentive plan design alternatives. The market data reviewed is from the Company’s peer group and nationally recognized published survey data.

2018 Proxy Peer Group 

The Company uses its peer group as a reference point for compensation design and award decisions. The Company’s peer group consists of companies similar to Spirit in size and operations (emphasizing aerospace and defense and auto-component manufacturers) and/or companies that compete with Spirit for executive talent. For 2018, the Company’s peer group was as follows (the companies are ranked by revenue and all ticker symbols are for the NYSE):

Changes to Proxy Peer Group for 2019

In January 2019, the Compensation Committee evaluated the Company’s peer group and added Hexcel (HXL) to the peer group, effective with the Performance-Based Restricted Stock awards tied to TSR that were granted in February 2019.

Survey Data

In addition to benchmarking using the peer group, the Company also uses a broad survey sample from the independent compensation consultant’s executive compensation survey. The survey analysis considers companies in relevant industries (aerospace and defense, machinery, auto-component, and electrical equipment) as well as companies in other industries, when necessary, to complement data limitations. Survey data was size-adjusted to approximate the Company’s revenue either through regression or by limiting the survey sample to comparably sized companies. This information was used by the Compensation Committee in establishing the compensation packages and target goals for the NEOs.

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Independent Compensation Consultant

The Compensation Committee’s Charter allows the committee to engage an independent compensation consultant to advise on executive compensation matters. For 2018, the Compensation Committee engaged Willis Towers Watson directly for the purpose of providing analysis and advice with respect to compensation matters. The Compensation Committee has determined, after considering criteria from the SEC and NYSE, that Willis Towers Watson does not have any conflicts of interest that would prevent objectivity.

Consideration of Advisory Stockholder Vote on Executive Compensation

The Company believes it is appropriate to seek and reflect the views of its stockholders on the design and effectiveness of the Company’s executive compensation program. Accordingly, consistent with the Company’s most recent say-on-pay frequency vote in April 2017, the Company holds an annual say-on-pay vote. At the Company’s 2018 annual meeting of stockholders, approximately 90% of stockholders present in person or by proxy voted in favor of the Company’s executive compensation programs. The Compensation Committee takes the annual say-on-pay proposal voting results into consideration when making future decisions regarding executive compensation.

Compensation Risk Assessment

In October each year, and as otherwise deemed necessary, the Compensation Committee assesses risks presented by our compensation program and award structures. This assessment is used to determine whether any of our compensation components incentivize executives to take risks that are not in the Company’s or stockholders’ best interests. In 2018, our Compensation Committee reviewed the following risk factors relative to our current compensation programs:

After reviewing our current compensation program and award structures, the Compensation Committee determined that our program does not incentivize executives to take such risks in light of the following features:

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Other Compensation Elements and Information

Benefits and Perquisites

In addition to the four basic compensation elements, we provide our NEOs with the additional benefits and perquisites described below. Benefits and perquisites received by NEOs are included in the “All Other Compensation” column of the “Summary Compensation Table.” These benefits are based on an assessment of benefits offered by our peers and competitors and are important for retaining the Company’s executive officers.

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Discontinued and Frozen Benefit Plans and Arrangements

The Company pays certain benefits through discontinued and frozen benefit plans and arrangements, which include the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (the “SERP”) and the Pension Value Plan (the “PVP”). A significant portion of Spirit’s operations related to Boeing aerostructures was owned and controlled by Boeing until 2005. In connection with the acquisition of these assets from Boeing, the Company adopted the SERP in order to attract certain employees from Boeing. The SERP provides supplemental, nonqualified retirement benefits to executives who (1) had their benefits transferred from a Boeing nonqualified plan to the SERP, and (2) did not elect to convert their SERP benefit into phantom stock units as of June 17, 2005. Benefits under this plan were frozen as of the date of the Boeing acquisition. There are no SERP annuity benefits presently payable to any of the NEOs. Mr. Pilla elected to convert his SERP benefit as of June 17, 2005, into 16,023 phantom stock units.

Also in connection with the Boeing acquisition, the Company adopted the PVP for certain eligible employees of Boeing, and allowed for the transfer of pension values from Boeing pension plans. The PVP is a frozen plan and no additional employees are becoming participants in the PVP and no current participants are accruing any additional benefits (other than interest credits). The PVP is fully paid for by the Company, and the Company’s employees are vested after reaching five years of service. Other than Mr. Pilla, none of the NEOs received benefits under the PVP or SERP in 2018 or is eligible to participate in such plans. Mr. Pilla’s participation in the PVP is detailed under “Pension Benefits.” Mr. Pilla’s phantom stock units under the SERP are described under “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation.”

Post-Termination Payments and Change-in-Control Compensation

The Company believes competitive severance protection is an appropriate incentive in attracting and retaining executive talent. The Company has provided for post-termination severance compensation through certain individual employment agreements and has also agreed to individual severance arrangements at the time of termination of employment, taking into account the specific facts and circumstances of termination. Certain of our employment agreements provide benefits upon a change-in-control.

Further, certain of the Company’s benefit plans provide for compensation upon termination or in connection with a change-in-control. Beginning in 2018, the ACI, long-term incentives, and Perquisite Allowance Plan are subject to a double trigger change-in-control provision.

You can find additional information regarding the Company’s practices in providing compensation in connection with termination of employment under the heading “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change-in-Control.”

Stock Ownership Requirements

The Company maintains stock ownership requirements for its NEOs and other senior executives to further promote alignment of management and stockholder interests. The ownership requirements (measured by the value of the Company’s stock required to be held) are based on a multiple of base salary tied to pay grade. The stock ownership requirements establish the following target levels for Company stock ownership:

 

The stock ownership requirements mandate that the CEO and other senior officers accumulate their required positions within the later of: (i) five years after the adoption of the guidelines, or (ii) five years after being hired or promoted into the officer position. The Company believes that five years provides a reasonable goal for executives to accumulate shares through earned incentive awards.

During the five-year accumulation period, all NEOs are expected to continuously accumulate qualifying equity until they meet the minimum stock ownership guideline.

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The Company reviews ownership positions on an annual basis. Based on the review conducted in 2018, the Company determined that the NEOs own appropriate amounts of Company stock in light of the minimum stock ownership requirements and the portions of their respective accumulation periods that have passed. The Company may restrict any officer from liquidating any of his or her then-current holdings in Company stock, except for those shares that are sold to meet Company tax-withholding requirements. The Company may modify or waive the requirements of the guidelines at its discretion if it determines that compliance would result in severe hardship for an officer. Note that the Company’s insider trading policy prohibits Company employees from engaging in short sales of the Company’s securities and entering into short-term trades involving the Company’s securities. Further, the Company’s insider trading policy also prohibits employees from pledging the Company’s securities as collateral for a loan.

Accounting and Tax Treatment of Compensation

When evaluating the Company’s compensation programs, the Company takes into account the various accounting, tax, and disclosure rules associated with such matters, including Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and Section 409A of the Code. Section 162(m) generally imposes a $1 million limit on the amount that a public company may deduct for compensation paid to “covered employees” each year. The Compensation Committee generally seeks to award compensation that would allow it to preserve tax deductions; however, the Compensation Committee reserves the right to set compensation at the levels and in the manner (tax-deductible or not) that it determines to be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.

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Summary Compensation Table

The following table summarizes the compensation of the NEOs for the last three fiscal years.

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Employment Agreements

Spirit has employment agreements with all of its NEOs except for Mr. Pilla. A brief description of certain material terms is below.

Mr. Gentile’s Employment Agreement

On February 13, 2016, we entered into an employment agreement, effective April 1, 2016, with Mr. Gentile with respect to his position as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Pursuant to the employment agreement, Mr. Gentile received a base salary of $1,000,000 per year, which could be changed based on performance. In addition, Mr. Gentile was eligible for an ACI equal to 140% of his base salary and an annual target LTIP award equal to 300% of his base salary. Mr. Gentile was also entitled to participate in the executive relocation program and receive an annual DCP Company contribution of $600,000.

The Company granted Mr. Gentile a sign-on award of $3,000,000 in shares of restricted stock. Half of the award vested on April 1, 2017, and the other half vested on April 1, 2018.

Effective August 1, 2016 (in recognition of Mr. Gentile’s appointment as President and CEO), Mr. Gentile’s base salary was increased to $1,100,000 and his annual target LTIP award was increased to 400% of his annual base salary. Effective February 3, 2017, Mr. Gentile’s base salary was increased to $1,150,000, and his annual target LTIP award was increased to 450% of his base salary. In January 2018, Mr. Gentile’s salary was increased to $1,250,000, and his annual target LTIP award was increased to 500%. In January 2019, Mr. Gentile’s salary was increased to $1,300,000, his annual target ACI award was increased to 145% of his annual base salary, and his annual target LTIP award was increased to 550% of his annual base salary.

Potential payments and termination events under Mr. Gentile’s employment agreement are described under “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change-in-Control — Employment Agreements.”

Mr. Kapoor’s Employment Agreement

On August 23, 2013, we entered into an employment agreement, effective September 23, 2013, with Mr. Kapoor with respect to his position as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. The agreement provided for a three-year initial term and would be automatically extended for successive one-year periods thereafter. Pursuant to the employment agreement, Mr. Kapoor was entitled to a base salary of $525,000, which could be changed based on performance. In addition, Mr. Kapoor was eligible for an ACI equal to 100% of his base salary, an annual target LTIP award of 200% of his base salary, and, from time to time, a target discretionary bonus in the form of cash or equity of 10% of earned base salary. Mr. Kapoor was also entitled to participate in the executive relocation program.

The Company granted Mr. Kapoor $2,000,000 in restricted stock as a sign-on award, which fully vested in 2017. In addition, Mr. Kapoor received a cash signing bonus of $150,000 to be paid within 30 days of the effective date, and an additional cash signing bonus of $100,000 to be paid on the first pay period following the first anniversary of the effective date.

Effective January 30, 2015, Mr. Kapoor’s base salary was increased to $565,000. Effective February 5, 2016, Mr. Kapoor’s base salary was increased to $600,000, and his annual target LTIP award was increased to 220% of his base salary. In May 2016, the Board increased Mr. Kapoor’s base salary to $650,000 and his annual target LTIP award to 280% of his base salary. On July 26, 2016, Mr. Kapoor’s title was changed to Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. In January 2018, Mr. Kapoor’s annual target LTIP award was increased to 300% of his base salary.

Potential payments and termination events under Mr. Kapoor’s employment agreement are described under “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change-in-Control — Employment Agreements.” Mr. Kapoor retired from the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer on January 9, 2019.

Other Employment Agreements

Both Ms. Marnick and Mr. Hawkins have employment agreements with the Company. However, both of their roles have changed significantly since the employment agreements were entered into, and all termination benefits expressly provided by the agreements have expired. Accordingly, the Company does not believe a description of the terms of such agreements is necessary to understand the information disclosed in the “Summary Compensation Table.”

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Grants of Plan-Based Awards in 2018

The following table presents information regarding grants of plan-based awards to the NEOs during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018. For more information on the terms applicable to the awards reflected below, please see “2018 Compensation Program Elements.”