DEF 14A

DEF 14A 1 d180940ddef14a.htm DEF 14A DEF 14A

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

(Rule 14a-101)

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

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Mallinckrodt public limited company

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2021

Notice of

Annual General Meeting

of Shareholders and Proxy Statement

LOGO

July 2, 2021

Dear Shareholder,

This serves as notice to you of the 2021 Annual General Meeting (the “Annual General Meeting” or “AGM”) of Mallinckrodt plc, which will be held on Friday, August 13, 2021, at 2:00 p.m., local time, at the offices of Arthur Cox LLP, Ten Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2, D02 T380, Ireland.

The well-being of attendees, employees and service providers at the AGM is a primary concern for the directors of Mallinckrodt plc and in this context we are closely monitoring developments in relation to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The Annual General Meeting will proceed subject to the guidance provided by the Government of Ireland and the Department of Health (of Ireland) or any other governmental agency in place at the time of the meeting and such other measures as the Board considers appropriate to address health and safety concerns. As a result, there may be restrictions on travel and/or gatherings that affect or prohibit travel to and in-person attendance at the Annual General Meeting. In addition, to promote the health and safety of attendees, we may impose additional procedures or limitations on meeting attendance based on applicable governmental requirements or recommendations or facility requirements. Such additional procedures or limitations may include, but are not limited to, thorough screenings of attendees (including temperature checks), limits on the number of attendees to promote social distancing and requiring the use of face masks.

As a result, we strongly encourage all shareholders to submit proxy forms as soon as possible to ensure you can vote and be represented at the AGM as personal attendance at the Annual General Meeting may present a health risk to themselves and others and is therefore not recommended. This can be done in advance of the AGM by availing of one of the options detailed in the accompanying Proxy Statement. In addition, details of the business to be presented at the meeting can also be found in the accompanying Proxy Statement.

Your vote is important and I encourage you to submit your proxy as soon as possible so that your shares will be represented at the meeting.

Mallinckrodt plc will continue to monitor the impact of COVID-19 and any relevant updates regarding the AGM will be available on mallinckrodt.com. Should we determine that alternative arrangements are necessitated due to public health recommendations regarding containment of COVID-19, we will announce our decision by press release and/or filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission and also post information on the investor relations page of the company’s website found at https://www.mallinckrodt.com/investors/. We encourage shareholders to keep up-to-date with, and follow the guidance from the Government of Ireland and the Department of Health (of Ireland) (as appropriate) as circumstances may change at short notice.

On behalf of the Board of Directors and the management of Mallinckrodt, I extend our appreciation for your continued support.

Yours sincerely,

LOGO

ANGUS C. RUSSELL

Chairman

MALLINCKRODT PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY

Registered In Ireland — No. 522227

Principal Executive Office:

College Business & Technology Park, Cruiserath,

Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, Ireland

NOTICE OF 2021 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

TO BE HELD AUGUST 13, 2021

The 2021 Annual General Meeting of Mallinckrodt plc (“Mallinckrodt” or the “Company”), a company incorporated under the laws of Ireland, will be held on August 13, 2021, at 2:00 p.m., local time, at the offices of Arthur Cox LLP, Ten Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2, D02 T380, Ireland, for the following purposes:

By separate resolutions, to elect as directors and to hold office, expiring at the end of the Company’s Annual General Meeting of Shareholders in 2022, the following individuals:


(a) David R. Carlucci	(e) Carlos V. Paya, M.D.	(h) Mark C. Trudeau
(b) J. Martin Carroll	(f) JoAnn A. Reed	(i) Anne C. Whitaker
(c) Paul R. Carter	(g) Angus C. Russell	(j) Kneeland C. Youngblood, M.D.
(d) David Y. Norton

To hold an advisory non-binding vote to approve the re-appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent auditors of the Company and, by binding vote, to authorize the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors (also referred to in this Proxy Statement as the Board) to set the independent auditors’ remuneration.

To hold an advisory vote to approve the Company’s executive compensation.

To act on such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.

Proposals 1 through 3 are ordinary resolutions, requiring the approval of a simple majority of the votes cast at the meeting, in person or by proxy. The foregoing items are more fully described in the Proxy Statement accompanying this Notice of Annual General Meeting of Shareholders. Shareholders as of June 14, 2021, the record date for the Annual General Meeting, are entitled to vote on these matters.

During the meeting, following a review of the Company’s affairs, management will also present and the auditors will report to shareholders on Mallinckrodt’s Irish Statutory Accounts for the fiscal year ended December 25, 2020.

By Order of the Board of Directors,

LOGO

Stephanie D. Miller,

Secretary

July 2, 2021

Our current plan is for the Annual General Meeting to be held in person on August 13, 2021. The Annual General Meeting will proceed subject to the guidance provided by the Government of Ireland and the Department of Health (of Ireland) or any other governmental agency in place at the time of the meeting and such other measures as the Board considers appropriate to address health and safety concerns. As a result, there may be restrictions on travel and/or gatherings that affect or prohibit travel to and in-person attendance at the Annual General Meeting. In addition, to promote the health and safety of attendees, we may impose additional procedures or limitations on meeting attendance based on applicable governmental requirements or recommendations or facility requirements. Such additional procedures or limitations may include, but are not limited to, thorough screenings of attendees (including temperature checks), limits on the number of attendees to promote social distancing and requiring the use of face masks.

Should we determine that alternative arrangements are necessitated due to public health recommendations regarding containment of COVID-19, we will announce our decision by press release and/or filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission and also post information on the investor relations page of the company’s website found at https://www.mallinckrodt.com/investors/. We encourage shareholders to keep up-to-date with, and follow the guidance from the Government of Ireland and the Department of Health (of Ireland) (as appropriate) as circumstances may change at short notice. We strongly encourage all shareholders to submit proxy forms promptly to ensure you can vote and be represented at the AGM as personal attendance at the Annual General Meeting may present a health risk to themselves and others and is therefore not recommended.

Any shareholder entitled to attend and vote at the Annual General Meeting may appoint one or more proxies, who need not be a shareholder(s) of Mallinckrodt to act on your behalf. Proxies may be appointed via the internet or by phone in the manner set out in our proxy card. Alternatively, they may be appointed by depositing a signed instrument of proxy (or proxy card) to the following locations, in each case at least 48 hours before the meeting:

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Mallinckrodt plc c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717 (which Broadridge will arrange to forward to Mallinckrodt plc’s registered address electronically).

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Mallinckrodt plc, College Business & Technology Park, Cruiserath, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, Ireland, attention Corporate Secretary.

If you wish to appoint a person other than the individuals specified on our proxy card, please contact our Company Secretary via email at corporate.secretary@mnk.com and also note that your nominated proxy must attend the Annual General Meeting in person in order for your votes to be cast.

This Proxy Statement, our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 25, 2020, as amended, and our Irish Statutory Accounts are available to shareholders of record at proxyvote.com. These materials are also available on the Investor Relations section of our website at mallinckrodt.com.

Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this Proxy Statement that are not strictly historical, including statements regarding future financial condition and operating results, legal, economic, business, competitive and/or regulatory factors affecting Mallinckrodt’s businesses and any other statements regarding events or developments the Company believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future, may be “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and involve a number of risks and uncertainties.

There are a number of important factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from those suggested or indicated by such forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. These factors include risks and uncertainties related to, among other things: Mallinckrodt’s ongoing Chapter 11 cases; the ability of Mallinckrodt and its subsidiaries to obtain approval from the bankruptcy court with respect to motions or other requests made to the bankruptcy court throughout the course of the Chapter 11 cases and to negotiate, develop, obtain court approval of, confirm and consummate the plan of reorganization contemplated by the restructuring support agreement or any other plan that may be proposed, the effects of the Chapter 11 cases, including increased professional costs, on the liquidity, results of operations and businesses of Mallinckrodt and its subsidiaries; the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the restructuring support agreement, including the ability of the parties to negotiate definitive agreements with respect to the matters covered by the term sheets included in the restructuring support agreement, the

occurrence of events that may give rise to a right of any of the parties to terminate the restructuring support agreement and the ability of the parties to receive the required approval by the bankruptcy court and to satisfy the other conditions of the restructuring support agreement, including satisfying the milestones specified in the restructuring support agreement; governmental investigations and inquiries, regulatory actions and lawsuits brought against Mallinckrodt by government agencies and private parties with respect to its historical commercialization of opioids, including the amended non-binding agreement in principle reached by Mallinckrodt in connection with the announcement of its filing of the Chapter 11 petitions regarding the terms and conditions of a global settlement to resolve all current and future opioid-related claims; potential delays in Mallinckrodt’s Chapter 11 process; the proposed settlement with governmental parties to resolve certain disputes relating to Acthar Gel; the possibility that such settlement will not be consummated and the risks and uncertainties related thereto, including the time and expense of continuing to litigate this dispute and the impact of this dispute on Mallinckrodt’s financial condition and expectations for performance; the ability to maintain relationships with Mallinckrodt’s suppliers, customers, employees and other third parties as a result of the Chapter 11 cases; the availability of operating capital during the pendency of the Chapter 11 cases, including events that could terminate Mallinckrodt’s right to continue to access the cash collateral of Mallinckrodt’s lenders; the possibility that Mallinckrodt may be unable to achieve its business and strategic goals even if the Chapter 11 plan is successfully consummated; the possibility that Mallinckrodt’s Chapter 11 cases may be converted into Chapter 7 cases under the bankruptcy code; the potential termination of Mallinckrodt’s exclusive right to file a Chapter 11 plan; the possibility that certain claims against Mallinckrodt may not be discharged as part of the bankruptcy process; developing, funding and executing Mallinckrodt’s business plan and continuing as a going concern; Mallinckrodt’s post-bankruptcy capital structure; scrutiny from governments, legislative bodies and enforcement agencies related to sales, marketing and pricing practices; pricing pressure on certain of Mallinckrodt’s products due to legal changes or changes in insurers’ reimbursement practices resulting from recent increased public scrutiny of healthcare and pharmaceutical costs; the impact of the outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus; the reimbursement practices of governmental health administration authorities, private health coverage insurers and other third-party payers; complex reporting and payment obligations under the Medicare and Medicaid rebate programs and other governmental purchasing and rebate programs; cost containment efforts of customers, purchasing groups, third-party payers and governmental organizations; changes in or failure to comply with relevant laws and regulations; Mallinckrodt’s and its partners’ ability to successfully develop or commercialize new products or expand commercial opportunities; Mallinckrodt’s ability to navigate price fluctuations; competition; Mallinckrodt’s and its partners’ ability to protect intellectual property rights; limited clinical trial data for Acthar Gel; clinical studies and related regulatory processes; product liability losses and other litigation liability; material health, safety and environmental liabilities; potential indemnification liabilities to Covidien pursuant to the separation and distribution agreement; business development activities; retention of key personnel; the effectiveness of information technology infrastructure including cybersecurity and data leakage risks; customer concentration; Mallinckrodt’s reliance on certain individual products that are material to its financial performance; Mallinckrodt’s ability to receive procurement and production quotas granted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; complex manufacturing processes; conducting business internationally; Mallinckrodt’s ability to achieve expected benefits from restructuring activities; Mallinckrodt’s significant levels of intangible assets and related impairment testing; labor and employment laws and regulations; natural disasters or other catastrophic events; Mallinckrodt’s substantial indebtedness and its ability to generate sufficient cash to reduce its indebtedness; Mallinckrodt’s ability to generate sufficient cash to service indebtedness even if the existing indebtedness is restructured; future changes to U.S. and foreign tax laws or the impact of disputes with governmental tax authorities; and the impact of Irish laws.

These and other factors are identified and described in more detail in the “Risk Factors” section of Mallinckrodt’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 25, 2020. The forward-looking statements made herein speak only as of the date hereof and Mallinckrodt does not assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events and developments or otherwise, except as required by law.

Voluntary Filing Under Chapter 11

On October 12, 2020, Mallinckrodt plc and certain of its subsidiaries voluntarily initiated proceedings (the “Chapter 11 Cases”) under chapter 11 of title 11 (“Chapter 11”) of the United States Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”). The entities that filed the Chapter 11 Cases include Mallinckrodt plc, substantially all of our U.S. subsidiaries, including certain subsidiaries of Mallinckrodt plc operating the Specialty Generics business (the “Specialty Generics Subsidiaries”) and the Specialty Brands business (the “Specialty Brands Subsidiaries”), and certain of our

international subsidiaries (together with Mallinckrodt plc, Specialty Generics Subsidiaries and Specialty Brands Subsidiaries, the “Debtors”). In connection with the filing of the Chapter 11 Cases, we entered into a restructuring support agreement (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, “Restructuring Support Agreement” or “RSA”) as part of a prearranged plan of reorganization. The transactions contemplated by the RSA are subject to approval by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (the “Bankruptcy Court”), among other conditions. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the transactions described therein will be consummated.

TABLE OF CONTENTS


Proxy Statement Summary			1
General Information			3

Questions and Answers about Proxy Materials, Voting, Attending the Meeting and Other General Information			3
Corporate Governance			8

Corporate Governance Guidelines			8

Independence of Nominees for Director			9

Director Nominations Process			9

Majority Vote for Election of Directors			11

Executive Sessions of the Board			11

Board Leadership Structure			11

Code of Ethics			11

Board Risk Oversight			12

Compensation Risk Assessment			12

Transactions with Related Persons			12

Communications with the Board of Directors			13
Board of Directors and Board Committees			14

General			14

Board Committees			14
Compensation of Non-Employee Directors			17
Compensation of Executive Officers			19

Compensation Discussion and Analysis			19

Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation			32

Executive Compensation Tables			33
Security Ownership and Reporting			43

Security Ownership of Management and Certain Beneficial Owners			43

Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports			44
Audit and Audit Committee Matters			45

Audit and Non-Audit Fees			45

Policy on Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services			45

Audit Committee Report			46
Equity Compensation Plan Information			47
Proposals Requiring Your Vote			48
Proposals 1(a) through 1(j): Election of Directors			48
Proposal 2: Advisory Non-Binding Vote to Approve the Re-Appointment of the Independent Auditors and a Binding Vote to Authorize the Audit Committee to Set Their Remuneration			52
Proposal 3: Advisory Vote to Approve Executive Compensation			53
Other Matters			54

Presentation of Irish Statutory Accounts			54

Registered and Principal Executive Offices			54

Shareholder Proposals for the 2022 Annual General Meeting			54

United States Securities and Exchange Commission Reports			54

Delivery of Documents to Shareholders Sharing an Address			54

General			55

PROXY STATEMENT SUMMARY

PROXY STATEMENT SUMMARY

This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this Proxy Statement, which we are making available to you on or about July 2, 2021 on the internet, or by delivering printed versions to you by mail. It does not contain all the information that you should consider in deciding whether to approve the items to be presented at the Annual General Meeting of Mallinckrodt plc (“Mallinckrodt,” the “Company,” “we,” “our” or “us”). You should read this entire Proxy Statement carefully before voting. For information regarding our fiscal 2020 operating performance, please review our Annual Report on Form 10-K.

2021 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders

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Date and Time: August 13, 2021, at 2:00 p.m., local time.

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Place: Arthur Cox LLP, Ten Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2, D02 T380, Ireland.

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Record Date: June 14, 2021.

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Voting: If you owned Mallinckrodt ordinary shares at the close of business on the record date, then you may vote at the Annual General Meeting by following the procedures outlined

in this Proxy Statement. Each ordinary share is entitled to one vote on each matter properly brought before the Annual General Meeting.

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Ordinary Shares Outstanding as of Record Date: 84,713,826.

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Transfer Agent: Computershare Inc. (“Computershare”).

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Place of Incorporation: Ireland.

Meeting Agenda and Voting Recommendations


Proposal		Our Board’s Recommendation

1. Elect directors (page 48)		FOR each nominee

2. Advisory non-binding vote to approve the re-appointment of the independent auditors and binding vote to authorize the Audit Committee of the Board to set the independent auditors’ remuneration (page 52)		FOR

3. Advisory vote to approve executive compensation (page 53)		FOR

2020 Company Performance Highlights

You should refer to the more comprehensive discussions contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 25, 2020 for additional information about these highlights.

Key performance highlights for fiscal 2020 include:

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Net sales of $2,213.4 million, which include continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Acthar^® Gel (repository corticotropin injection) (“Acthar Gel”) CMS retrospective one-time charge of $536.0 million; and

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Operating cash flow was $499 million.

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Advancing our pipeline. For StrataGraft^®, an inspection of our manufacturing facility was delayed as a result of COVID-19 travel restrictions. However, we

were pleased to announce on June 15, 2021 that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) had approved StrataGraft for the treatment of adults with deep partial-thickness burns. With respect to terlipressin, a Type-A Meeting with the FDA was held in January 2021, and we are continuing to work with the FDA to bring terlipressin to the market.

MALLINCKRODT PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY – Proxy Statement 1

PROXY STATEMENT SUMMARY

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Maximizing the value of the diversified in-line portfolio. We are continuing to make progress on our modernization efforts for Acthar Gel and INOmax^®. For Acthar Gel, we anticipate completing the development of our delivery device to support a product launch in 2022. Also, we recently received approval on a safety labeling update that supports Acthar Gel’s differentiation from corticosteroids and modernizes its tolerability profile. With respect

to INOmax, we plan to file a 510(k) application with the FDA for marketing clearance of next-generation INOmax device which is designed to offer a compact, portable design that we believe will further enhance the safety of the product, as well as the simplicity and flexibility of use in a number of settings with plans to launch in 2022.

Our Director Nominees


Name	Age		Director Since		Principal Occupation	Current Committee Memberships	Other Public Boards

David R. Carlucci*		67		2013	Former Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of IMS Health	Human Resources and Compensation		—

J. Martin Carroll*		71		2013	Former President and Chief Executive Officer of Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation	Governance and Compliance (Chair); Human Resources and Compensation		2

Paul R. Carter*		60		2018	Former Executive Vice President, Commercial Operations of Gilead Sciences, Inc.	Audit; Science and Technology		2

David Y. Norton*		69		2017	Former Company Group Chairman, Global Pharmaceuticals of Johnson & Johnson	Human Resources and Compensation (Chair)		1

Carlos V. Paya, M.D.*		62		2019	Former President and Chief Executive Officer of Immune Design Corp.	Science and Technology (Chair); Governance and Compliance		1

JoAnn A. Reed*		65		2013	Healthcare services consultant and former Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Medco Health Solutions	Audit (Chair)		2

Angus C. Russell*		65		2014	Former Chief Executive Officer of Shire plc	Audit; Science and Technology		3

Mark C. Trudeau		59		2013	President and Chief Executive Officer of Mallinckrodt plc			1

Anne C. Whitaker*		54		2018	Managing Partner of Anne Whitaker Group, LLC	Human Resources and Compensation		2

Kneeland C. Youngblood, M.D.*		65		2013	Founding Partner of Pharos Capital Group	Governance and Compliance		3

*	Independent Director

2 MALLINCKRODT PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY – Proxy Statement

GENERAL INFORMATION

GENERAL INFORMATION

Questions and Answers about Proxy Materials, Voting, Attending the Meeting and Other

General Information

Why did I receive this Proxy Statement?

We are making this Proxy Statement available to you on or about July 2, 2021 on the internet, or by delivering printed versions to you by mail, because our Board of Directors is soliciting your proxy to vote at our 2021 Annual General Meeting on August 13, 2021. This Proxy Statement contains information about the items being voted on at the Annual General Meeting and important information about Mallinckrodt.

This Proxy Statement and the following documents relating to the 2021 Annual General Meeting are available on the Investor Relations section of our website at mallinckrodt.com:

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Our Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials;

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Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 25, 2020, as amended; and

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Our Irish Statutory Accounts for the fiscal year ended December 25, 2020 and the reports of the Directors and auditors thereon.

How do I access the proxy materials and vote my shares?

The instructions for accessing proxy materials and voting can be found in the information you received either by mail or e-mail.

For shareholders who received a notice by mail about the internet availability of proxy materials: You may access the proxy materials and voting instructions over the internet via the web address provided in the notice. In order to access this material and vote, you will need the control number provided on the notice you received in the mail. You may vote by following the instructions on the notice or on the website.

For shareholders who received a notice by e-mail: You may access the proxy materials and voting instructions

over the internet via the web address provided in the e-mail. In order to vote, you will need the control number provided in the e-mail. You may vote by following the instructions in the e-mail or on the website.

For shareholders who received the proxy materials by mail: You may vote your shares by following the instructions provided on the proxy card or voting instruction form. If you vote by internet or telephone, you will need the control number provided on the proxy card or voting instruction form. If you vote by mail, please complete, sign and date the proxy card or voting instruction form and mail it in the accompanying pre-addressed envelope.

Who may vote at the Annual General Meeting and how many votes do I have?

If you owned our ordinary shares at the close of business on the record date, June 14, 2021, then you may vote at the Annual General Meeting by following the procedures outlined in this Proxy Statement. At the close

of business on the record date, we had 84,713,826 ordinary shares outstanding and entitled to vote. Each ordinary share is entitled to one vote on each matter properly brought before the Annual General Meeting.

MALLINCKRODT PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY – Proxy Statement 3

GENERAL INFORMATION

May I vote my shares in person at the Annual General Meeting?

Yes, you may vote your shares in person at the Annual General Meeting as follows:

If you are a shareholder of record and you wish to vote in person at the Annual General Meeting, you may do so. If you do not wish to attend yourself, you may also appoint a proxy or proxies to attend, speak and vote in your place. A proxy does not need to be one of our shareholders. You are not precluded from attending, speaking or voting at the Annual General Meeting, even if you have completed a proxy form. To appoint a proxy other than our designated officers, please contact our Company Secretary.

If you are a beneficial owner of shares and you wish to vote in person at the Annual General Meeting, you must obtain a legal proxy from the bank, brokerage firm or

nominee that holds your shares. You will need to bring the legal proxy with you to the meeting and hand it in with a signed ballot that you can request at the meeting. You will not be able to vote your shares at the Annual General Meeting without a legal proxy and a signed ballot.

Even if you plan to attend the Annual General Meeting, we recommend that you also vote by proxy as described above so that your vote will be counted if you later decide not to attend the meeting.

You do not need to attend the Annual General Meeting to vote your shares and, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, we strongly recommend that you vote your shares in advance of the meeting as instructed above.

What is the deadline for voting my shares if I do not vote in person at the Annual General Meeting?

If you are a shareholder of record, you may vote by internet or by telephone until 11:59 p.m., United States Eastern Time, on August 12, 2021.

If you are a beneficial owner of shares held through a bank or brokerage firm, please follow the voting instructions provided by your bank or brokerage firm.

What is the difference between holding shares as a shareholder of record and as a beneficial owner of shares held in street name?

Shareholder of Record. If you hold ordinary shares and your name appears in the Register of Members of Mallinckrodt, you are considered the shareholder of record of those shares.

Beneficial Owner of Shares Held in Street Name. If your ordinary shares are held in an account at a brokerage firm, bank, broker-dealer or other similar organization, then you are the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name.” As a beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your bank or brokerage firm how to vote the shares held in your account.

Can I change my vote after I have submitted my proxy?

Yes. You have the right to revoke your proxy before it is voted at the Annual General Meeting. You may vote again on a later date within the proxy voting deadlines described above by internet or by telephone (only your latest proxy submitted prior to the meeting will be counted), or by signing and returning a new proxy card with a later date, or by attending the meeting and voting

in person. However, your attendance at the Annual General Meeting will not automatically revoke a previously submitted proxy unless you actually vote in person at the meeting or file a written instrument with our Company Secretary prior to the start of the meeting requesting that your prior proxy be revoked.

What happens if I do not give specific voting instructions when I deliver my proxy?

Shareholders of Record. If you are a shareholder of record and you:

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Indicate when voting by internet or by telephone that you wish to vote as recommended by our Board of Directors; or

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If you sign and return a proxy card without giving specific voting instructions,

then the Company-designated proxy holders will vote your shares in the manner recommended by our Board of Directors on all matters presented in this Proxy Statement and as the proxy holders may determine in their discretion regarding any other matters properly presented for a vote at the meeting.

4 MALLINCKRODT PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY – Proxy Statement

GENERAL INFORMATION

Beneficial Owners of Shares Held in Street Name. If you are a beneficial owner of shares and your bank or brokerage firm does not receive instructions from you about how your shares are to be voted, one of two things can happen, depending on the type of proposal. Pursuant to New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) rules, brokers have discretionary power to vote your shares with respect to “routine” matters, but they do not have discretionary power to vote your shares on

“non-routine” matters. Pursuant to NYSE rules, (i) the election of directors and (ii) the advisory vote to approve the Company’s executive compensation are considered non-routine matters. A bank or brokerage firm may not vote your shares with respect to non-routine matters if you have not provided instructions. This is called a “broker non-vote.” We strongly encourage you to submit your proxy and exercise your right to vote as a shareholder.

What is the “quorum” requirement for the Annual General Meeting?

In order to conduct any business at the Annual General Meeting, holders of a majority of our ordinary shares outstanding and entitled to vote on the record date must be present in person or represented by valid proxies. This is called a quorum. Your shares will be counted for purposes of determining if there is a

quorum, whether representing votes for, against or abstained, or broker non-votes, if you:

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Are present and vote in person at the meeting;

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Have voted by internet or by telephone; or

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Have submitted a proxy card or voting instruction form by mail.

Assuming there is a proper quorum of shares represented at the Annual General Meeting, how many shares are required to approve the proposals being voted upon at the Annual General Meeting?

The voting requirements for each of the proposals are as follows:


Proposal		Vote Required

1. Elect directors		Majority of votes cast

2. Advisory non-binding vote to approve the re-appointment of the independent auditors and binding vote to authorize the Audit Committee of the Board to set the independent auditors’ remuneration		Majority of votes cast

3. Advisory vote to approve executive compensation		Majority of votes cast

How are abstentions and broker non-votes treated?

Abstentions and broker non-votes are considered present for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be considered votes properly cast at the Annual General Meeting pursuant to our Articles of Association. Because

the approval of all of the proposals is based on the votes properly cast at the Annual General Meeting, abstentions and broker non-votes will not have any effect on the outcome of voting on these proposals under Irish law.

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

As explained in more detail below, we are using the “notice and access” system adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) relating to delivery of our proxy materials over the internet. As a result, we mailed to many of our shareholders a notice about the internet availability of the proxy materials instead of a paper copy of the proxy materials. Shareholders who received the notice will have the ability to access the proxy materials over the internet

and to request a paper copy of the proxy materials by mail, by e-mail or by telephone. Instructions on how to access the proxy materials over the internet or to request a paper copy may be found on the notice. In addition, the notice contains instructions on how shareholders may request proxy materials in printed form by mail or electronically by e-mail on an ongoing basis. This notice of internet availability of proxy materials also serves as a Notice of Meeting.

MALLINCKRODT PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY – Proxy Statement 5

GENERAL INFORMATION

What are the “notice and access” rules and how do they affect the delivery of the proxy materials?

The SEC’s notice and access rules allow us to deliver proxy materials to our shareholders by posting the materials on an internet website, notifying shareholders of the availability of the proxy materials on the internet and sending paper copies of proxy materials upon shareholder request. We believe that the notice and access rules allow us to use internet technology that

many shareholders prefer, continue to provide our shareholders with the information they need and, at the same time, assure more prompt delivery of the proxy materials. The notice and access rules also lower our cost of printing and delivering the proxy materials and minimize the environmental impact of printing paper copies.

Why didn’t I receive a notice in the mail about the internet availability of the proxy materials?

Shareholders who previously elected to access the proxy materials over the internet will not receive a notice in the mail about the internet availability of the proxy materials. Instead, you should have received an e-mail with links to the proxy materials and the proxy voting website. Additionally, we mailed copies of the proxy materials to shareholders who previously requested to receive paper copies instead of the

notice.

If you received a paper copy of the proxy materials, you may elect to receive future proxy materials electronically by following the instructions on your proxy card or

voting instruction form. Choosing to receive your future proxy materials by e-mail will help us conserve natural resources and reduce the cost of printing and distributing our proxy materials. If you choose to receive future proxy materials by e-mail, you will receive an e-mail with instructions containing a link to the website where those materials are available and a link to the proxy voting website. Your election to receive proxy materials by e-mail will remain in effect until you terminate it.

How do I attend the Annual General Meeting?

The Annual General Meeting will be held at the offices of Arthur Cox LLP, Ten Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2, D02 T380, Ireland.

Shareholders of Record. For admission to the Annual General Meeting, shareholders of record should bring picture identification to the Registered Shareholders check-in area, where ownership will be verified. If you would like someone to attend on your behalf, please contact our Company Secretary prior to the meeting.

Beneficial Owners of Shares Held in Street Name. Those who have beneficial ownership of ordinary shares held by a bank, brokerage firm or other nominee should come to the Beneficial Owners check-in area. To be

admitted, beneficial owners must bring picture identification, as well as proof from their banks or brokers that they owned our ordinary shares on June 14, 2021, the record date for the Annual General Meeting.

Registration will begin at 1:30 p.m., local time, and the Annual General Meeting will begin at 2:00 p.m., local time. For directions to the Annual General Meeting, please call +353 1 696 0000. Information on how to vote in person at the Annual General Meeting is discussed above. However, you do not need to attend the AGM to vote your shares and, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, we strongly recommend that you vote your shares in advance of the meeting as instructed above.

How will voting on any other business be conducted?

Other than matters incident to the conduct of the Annual General Meeting, we do not know of any business or proposals to be considered at the Annual General Meeting other than those set forth in this Proxy Statement. If any other business is proposed and

properly presented at the Annual General Meeting, the proxies received from our shareholders give the proxy holders the authority to vote on the matter at their discretion.

Who will count the votes?

Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. will act as the inspector of elections and will tabulate the votes.

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GENERAL INFORMATION

Who will pay the costs of soliciting the proxies?

Mallinckrodt will pay the costs of soliciting proxies. Proxies may be solicited on our behalf by our directors, officers or employees in person or by telephone, facsimile or other electronic means. We have retained Innisfree M&A Incorporated (“Innisfree”) to assist in solicitation of proxies and have agreed to pay Innisfree

$17,500, plus out-of-pocket expenses. As required by the SEC and the NYSE, we also will reimburse brokerage firms and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries, upon request, for their reasonable expenses incurred in sending proxies and proxy materials to beneficial owners of our ordinary shares.

Who is Mallinckrodt’s transfer agent?

Mallinckrodt’s transfer agent is Computershare. All communications concerning accounts of shareholders of record, including address changes, name changes, inquiries as to requirements to transfer Mallinckrodt

ordinary shares and similar issues, can be handled by calling toll-free 1-877-487-1633 (U.S.) or +1-732-645-4170 (outside the U.S.) or by accessing Computershare’s website at computershare.com.

Where can I find more information about Mallinckrodt?

For other information about Mallinckrodt, you can visit our website at mallinckrodt.com.

We use our website as a channel of distribution of important company information, such as press releases, investor presentations and other financial information. We also use our website to expedite public access to time-critical information regarding us in advance of or in lieu of distributing a press release or a filing with the SEC disclosing the same information. Therefore, investors should look to the Investor Relations page of our website

for important and time-critical information. Visitors to our website can also register to receive automatic e-mail and other notifications alerting them when new information is made available on the Investor Relations page of our website.

We make our website content available for information purposes only. It should not be relied upon for investment purposes, and it is not incorporated by reference into this Proxy Statement.

What impact could the COVID-19 pandemic have on the AGM?

and requiring the use of face masks.

As a result, we strongly encourage all shareholders to submit proxy forms as soon as possible to ensure you can vote and be represented at the AGM as personal attendance at the Annual General Meeting may present a health risk to themselves and others and is therefore not recommended.

We will continue to monitor the impact of COVID-19 and any relevant updates regarding the AGM will be available on mallinckrodt.com. Should we determine that alternative arrangements are necessitated due to public health recommendations regarding containment of COVID-19, we will announce our decision by press release and/or filing with the SEC and also post information on the investor relations page of the company’s website found at https://www.mallinckrodt.com/investors/. We encourage shareholders to keep up-to-date with, and follow the guidance from the Government of Ireland and the Department of Health (of Ireland) (as appropriate) as circumstances may change at short notice.

MALLINCKRODT PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY – Proxy Statement 7

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

On October 13, 2020, the NYSE filed a Form 25 with the SEC to delist our ordinary shares from the NYSE. The delisting became effective October 26, 2020. Nevertheless, our Board of Directors has elected to continue to adhere to NYSE corporate governance rules in anticipation of possibly relisting our ordinary shares on the NYSE if and when such relisting becomes available to us.

Our Corporate Governance Guidelines, general approach to corporate governance and internal policies and procedures are guided by U.S. practice and applicable federal securities laws and regulations as well as NYSE requirements. Although we are an Irish public limited company, we are not subject to the listing rules of the Irish Stock Exchange or the listing rules of the U.K. Listing Authority and we are therefore not subject to, nor have we adopted, the U.K. Corporate Governance Code or any other non-statutory Irish or U.K. governance standards or guidelines. While there are many similarities and overlaps between the U.S. corporate governance standards we apply and the U.K. Corporate Governance Code and other Irish and U.K. governance standards or guidelines, there are differences, relating in particular to the extent of the authorization to issue share capital and effect share repurchases that may be granted to the Board of Directors and the criteria for determining the independence of directors.

Our Board of Directors believes that good governance requires not only an effective set of specific practices, but also a culture of responsibility throughout an organization, and governance at Mallinckrodt is intended to achieve both. The Board also believes that good governance ultimately depends on the quality of an organization’s leadership, and it is committed to recruiting and retaining directors and officers of proven leadership ability and personal integrity.

Corporate Governance Guidelines

The Board has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines designed to assist Mallinckrodt and the Board in implementing effective corporate governance practices. These guidelines, which are reviewed annually by the Governance and Compliance Committee, address, among other things:

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Director responsibilities;

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Composition and selection of the Board, including qualification standards and independence guidelines;

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Majority voting for directors;

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The role of the Chairman of the Board or of an independent Lead Director;

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Board committee establishment, structure and guidelines;

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Officer and director share ownership requirements;

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Meetings of non-employee directors;

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Director orientation and continuing education;

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Board access to management and independent advisors;

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Communication with directors;

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Board and committee self-evaluations;

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Succession planning and management development reviews;

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CEO performance reviews;

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Recoupment, or “clawback”, of executive compensation; and

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Ethics and conflicts of interest.

Our Corporate Governance Guidelines are posted on our website at mallinckrodt.com.

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Independence of Nominees for Director

As noted above, the Corporate Governance Guidelines include criteria adopted by the Board to guide determinations regarding the independence of its members. The criteria, summarized below, are consistent with the NYSE listing standards regarding director independence. To be considered independent, a director must be determined by the Board to have no material relationship, directly or indirectly, with us. In assessing independence, the Board considers all relevant facts and circumstances. In particular, when assessing the materiality of a director’s relationship with us, the Board considers the issue not just from the standpoint of the director, but also from that of the persons or organizations with which the director has an affiliation. A director will not be considered independent if he or she, at the time of determination:

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Is, or has been within the prior three years, an employee of Mallinckrodt or any of its subsidiaries;

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Has an immediate family member who is, or has been within the prior three years, an executive officer of Mallinckrodt;

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Is a current partner or employee of our external auditor;

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Has an immediate family member who is a current partner of our external auditor or who is an employee of our external auditor and personally works on our audit;

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Has been, or has an immediate family member who has been, within the prior three years, a partner or employee of our external auditor who personally worked on our audit during that time;

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Is, or has an immediate family member who is, or has been within the prior three years, employed as an executive officer of another company that has or had on the compensation committee of its board of directors one of our executive officers (during the same period of time);

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Has, or has an immediate family member who has, received more than $120,000 in direct compensation from Mallinckrodt, other than director and committee fees and pension or other forms of deferred compensation for prior service (provided such compensation is not contingent in any way on continued service), in any 12-month period within the prior three years (compensation received by an immediate family member for service as an employee, other than as an executive officer, is not included for purposes of this determination);

•

Is a current employee, or has an immediate family member who is a current executive officer, of a company that does business with Mallinckrodt and has made payments to, or received payments from, Mallinckrodt for property or services in an amount that, in any of the prior three fiscal years, exceeds the greater of $1 million or 2% of such other company’s consolidated gross revenues; or

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Is, or his or her spouse is, an executive officer, director or trustee of a charitable organization to which our contributions, not including our matching of charitable contributions by employees, exceed, in any single fiscal year within the prior three years, the greater of $1 million or 2% of such organization’s total charitable receipts during that year.

The Board has considered the independence of its members in light of these criteria, has reviewed our relationships with organizations with which our directors are affiliated and has determined that none of these current business relationships is material to us, any of the organizations involved, or our directors. Based on these considerations, the Board has determined that each of our directors, other than Mark C. Trudeau, our President and Chief Executive Officer, satisfies the criteria and is independent. Each independent director is expected to notify the chair of the Governance and Compliance Committee, as soon as reasonably practicable, of changes in his or her personal circumstances that may affect the Board’s evaluation of his or her independence.

Director Nominations Process

The Governance and Compliance Committee is responsible for developing the general criteria, subject to approval by the full Board, used in identifying, evaluating and selecting qualified candidates for election or re-election to the Board. The Governance and Compliance Committee periodically reviews with the Board the appropriate skills and characteristics required of Board members in the context of the then-current make-up of the Board. Final approval of director candidates is determined by the full Board, and invitations to join the Board are extended by the Chairman of the Board on behalf of the entire Board.

MALLINCKRODT PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY – Proxy Statement 9

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

The Governance and Compliance Committee, in accordance with our Corporate Governance Guidelines, seeks to create and maintain a Board that is strong in its collective knowledge and has a diversity of backgrounds, skills and experience with respect to accounting and finance, management and leadership, vision and strategy, business operations, business judgment, industry knowledge, corporate governance and global markets. When the Governance and Compliance Committee reviews a potential new candidate, the Governance and Compliance Committee looks specifically at the candidate’s qualifications in light of our needs and the needs of the Board at that time, given the then-current mix of director attributes.

As described in our Corporate Governance Guidelines:

•

Directors should be individuals of the highest ethical character and integrity;

•

Directors should have demonstrated management ability at senior levels in successful organizations, including as the chief executive officer of a public company or as the leader of a large, multifaceted organization, including government, educational and other non-profit organizations;

•

Each director should have the ability to provide wise, informed and thoughtful counsel to senior management on a range of issues and be able to express independent opinions, while at the same time working as a member of a team;

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Directors should be free from any conflict of interest or business or personal relationship that would interfere with the duty of loyalty owed to us; and

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Directors should be independent of any particular constituency and be able to represent all of our shareholders.

The Governance and Compliance Committee assesses independence and also monitors adherence by the members of the Board with the NYSE listing standards for populating the Audit, Human Resources and Compensation and Governance and Compliance Committees. Directors may not serve on more than four public company boards of directors (including ours). If the director is employed as CEO of a publicly traded company, the director may serve on no more than three public company boards of directors (including ours).

As provided in its charter, the Governance and Compliance Committee will consider nominations submitted by shareholders. To recommend a nominee, a shareholder should write to our Company Secretary at our registered address, Mallinckrodt plc, College Business & Technology Park, Cruiserath, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, Ireland. Any such recommendation must include:

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The name and address of the candidate;

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A brief biographical description, including his or her occupation for at least the last five years, and a statement of the qualifications of the candidate, taking into account the qualification requirements set forth above; and

•

The candidate’s signed consent to serve as a director if elected and to be named in our Proxy Statement.

The recommendation must also include documentary evidence of ownership of our ordinary shares if the shareholder is a beneficial owner, as well as the date the shares were acquired and the name and address of the shareholder, as required by our Articles of Association.

To be considered by the Governance and Compliance Committee for nomination and inclusion in our Proxy Statement for the 2022 Annual General Meeting, a shareholder recommendation for director must be received by our Company Secretary not earlier than the close of business on April 15, 2022 and not later than the close of business on May 15, 2022, provided, that in the event the date of the 2022 Annual General Meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after the anniversary of the prior year’s annual general meeting, notice must be received no earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the date of such annual general meeting and no later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to the date of such annual general meeting or, if the first public announcement of the date of such annual general meeting is less than 100 days prior to the date of such annual general meeting, the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such annual general meeting is first made. Once our Company Secretary receives the recommendation, we will deliver a questionnaire to the candidate requesting additional information about the candidate’s independence, qualifications and other

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

information that would assist the Governance and Compliance Committee in evaluating the candidate, as well as certain information that must be disclosed about the candidate in our Proxy Statement, if nominated. Candidates must complete and return the questionnaire within the time frame provided to be considered for nomination by the Governance and Compliance Committee.

The Governance

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SEC Form DEF 14A filed by Mallinckrodt plc