DEF 14A

DEF 14A 1 d272855ddef14a.htm DEF 14A DEF 14A

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. )

Filed by the Registrant ☒ Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☐

Check the appropriate box:


☐		Preliminary Proxy Statement

☐		Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

☒		Definitive Proxy Statement

☐		Definitive Additional Materials

☐		Soliciting Material under Rule 14a-12

STEPAN COMPANY

(Name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(Name of person(s) filing proxy statement, if other than the registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):



☒		No fee required.

☐		Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

☐		Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11

LOGO

2022 Proxy Statement and

Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders

STEPAN COMPANY

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

To be held on April 26, 2022

at 9:00 a.m. (CDT)

To the Stockholders:

Notice is hereby given that the 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Stepan Company (the “Company”) will be held at the Company’s offices at 1101 Skokie Boulevard, Northbrook, Illinois 60062, on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. (CDT), for the following purposes:

To elect three directors to the Board of Directors, each for a three-year term;

To approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers (the “Say-on-Pay” vote);

To ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2022;

To approve the Stepan Company 2022 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan; and

To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting.

The Board of Directors has designated the close of business on March 4, 2022, as the record date for determining the holders of record of the Company’s Common Stock entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting.

The Board of Directors extends a cordial invitation to all stockholders to attend the Annual Meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, please mark, sign and mail the enclosed proxy card in the return envelope provided or vote by internet or phone as promptly as possible.

As a reminder, your broker may not vote your shares for non-routine matters such as the election of directors, the Say-on-Pay vote or the approval of the 2022 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan without your specific instructions as to how to vote. Therefore, we urge you to provide your broker with voting instructions by returning your proxy card so your votes for all proposals can be counted.

Directions to the Annual Meeting are available at https://stepan.gcs-web.com/annual-meeting for those stockholders who plan to attend the Annual Meeting.

By order of the Board of Directors,

DAVID G. KABBES

Secretary

Northbrook, Illinois

March 25, 2022

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the

Annual Meeting of Stockholders to Be Held on April 26, 2022

The Company’s Proxy Statement, 2021 Annual Report to Stockholders and Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, are available at http://www.edocumentview.com/SCL.

TABLE OF CONTENTS


Information Concerning Solicitation and Voting			1

Proposal No. 1: Election of Directors			3

Nominees for Director			3

Continuing Directors Whose Terms Are Not Expiring			5

Security Ownership			7

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners			7

Security Ownership of the Board of Directors and Management			7

Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports			9

Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions			10

Policies and Procedures for Approving Related Person Transactions			10

Transactions with Related Persons, Promoters and Certain Control Persons			10

Corporate Governance Principles and Board Matters			11

Corporate Governance Guidelines and Code of Conduct			11

Board Committees			11

Board Performance Evaluations			13

Board Meetings and Attendance			13

Director Nomination Process			13

Board Diversity			14

Director Independence			14

Board Leadership Structure			15

Risk Management			16

Executive Sessions			16

Communication with the Board			17

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation			17

Executive Compensation			18

Compensation Discussion and Analysis			18

Summary of Executive Compensation in 2021			18

Significant Achievements and Developments in 2021			18

Executive Compensation Best Practices the Company Follows			19

Compensation Philosophy			19

Compensation Objectives			20

Role of the Compensation and Development Committee			20

Role of the Compensation Consultant			20

Role of the Committee and Executives in Establishing Executive Compensation			21

Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation			21

Executive Pay Mix			22

Compensation Peer Group and Survey Data			22



Elements of Compensation			23

Clawback Policy			31

Stock Ownership Policy			32

Hedging and Trading Restrictions			32

Post-Termination Benefits			33

Impact of Tax and Accounting Considerations			33

Compensation and Development Committee Report			34

Executive Compensation Tables

2021 Summary Compensation Table			35

2021 Grants of Plan-Based Awards			37

Outstanding Equity Awards at 2021 Fiscal Year-End			38

2021 Option Exercises and Stock Vested			40

2021 Pension Benefits			41

2021 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation			43

Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control			44

CEO Pay Ratio			45

Director Compensation			46

Overview of Director Compensation Program			46

Directors’ Fees			46

Directors Deferred Compensation Plan			46

Stock Awards and Incentive Compensation Program for Non-Employee Directors			46

Non-Employee Directors’ Stock Ownership Policy			47

Hedging and Trading Restrictions			47

2021 Director Compensation Table			47

Proposal No. 2: Advisory Vote to Approve Named Executive Officer Compensation			48

Audit Committee Report			50

Proposal No. 3: Ratify the Appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s Independent Public Accounting Firm for 2022			51

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fees			51

Pre-Approval Policy			52

Proposal No. 4: Approve the Stepan Company 2022 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan			53

Overview			53

Why We Believe You Should Vote for This Proposal			53

2022 Plan Highlights			56

Summary of Other Material Terms of the 2022 Plan			58

New Plan Benefits			66

U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences			66

Registration with the SEC			68

Equity Compensation Plan Information			69



2023 Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations			70

Communications for All Interested Parties			70

Annual Report to Stockholders			71

Appendix A: Explanations of GAAP and Non-GAAP Financial Measures			A-1

Appendix B: Stepan Company 2022 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan			B-1

iii

March 25, 2022

PROXY STATEMENT

For the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of

STEPAN COMPANY

1101 Skokie Boulevard

Northbrook, Illinois 60062

To be held at 9:00 a.m. (CDT) on April 26, 2022

INFORMATION CONCERNING SOLICITATION AND VOTING

The enclosed proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors, and the Company will bear the entire expense of solicitation. Such solicitation is being made by mail, and the Company’s officers and employees may solicit proxies from stockholders personally or by telephone, mail or other means. The Company will make arrangements with the brokers, custodians, nominees and other fiduciaries who request the forwarding of solicitation material to the beneficial owners of shares of the Company’s stock held of record by such brokers, custodians, nominees and other fiduciaries, and the Company will reimburse them for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. This proxy statement and proxy are first being distributed to stockholders commencing on or about March 25, 2022.

At the close of business on March 4, 2022, the record date for the meeting, there were 22,423,076 shares of the Company’s Common Stock (“Common Stock”) outstanding, each share of which is entitled to one vote on each matter to be voted on at the meeting.

You may vote “FOR,” “AGAINST” or “ABSTAIN” on each of the nominees for the Board of Directors and each of the other proposals. If you vote to “ABSTAIN” with respect to a nominee for the Board of Directors or a proposal, your abstention will not be included in the vote totals and will not affect the outcome of the vote.

For any other business that may properly come before the meeting, votes will be cast pursuant to the authority granted by the enclosed proxy in accordance with the best judgment of the individuals acting under the proxy. The Board of Directors is not currently aware of any other business that may come before the meeting.

If you submit your proxy but abstain from voting on one or more matters, your shares will be counted as present at the meeting for the purposes of determining a quorum. In tabulating the voting results for any particular proposal, abstentions have the same effect as votes against the matter (except in the case of director elections, in which abstentions have no effect). You may revoke your proxy by attending the meeting and voting in person or by delivering to the Secretary of the Company a revocation of the proxy or an executed new proxy bearing a later date.

If you hold your shares in street name and do not provide voting instructions to your broker, custodian, nominee or other fiduciary, your shares will not be voted on any non-routine matters and will be considered “broker non-votes.” Non-routine matters include the election of directors, the Say-on-Pay vote and the Equity Incentive Compensation Plan vote. Your broker may vote your shares without instruction on the ratification of the appointment of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. Broker non-votes will be counted as present at the meeting for the purpose of determining a quorum. Please instruct your broker or bank so your vote can be counted on all proposals.

The required quorum at the Annual Meeting is a majority of the outstanding shares of the Company’s Common Stock as of the record date. In order to ensure the necessary quorum at the Annual Meeting, please mark, sign and return the enclosed proxy promptly in the envelope provided. You may also vote via the internet by visiting http://www.envisionreports.com/SCL or by phone by calling (800) 652-8683. Internet and phone voting will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week until 1:00 a.m. (EDT) on April 26, 2022. If voting via the internet or by phone, please have your proxy card available and follow the instructions to vote. Even if you vote prior to the meeting, you are invited to attend the meeting.

In the future, in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), the Company may furnish proxy materials, including its proxy statements and annual reports, to stockholders by providing access to these documents on the internet instead of mailing printed copies. If the Company elects to take this approach, most stockholders would not receive printed copies of the proxy materials. Instead, the notice would provide instructions on how to access and review the proxy materials on the internet. The notice would also provide instructions on how to submit your proxy via the internet. For stockholders who prefer to receive printed copies of the proxy materials, the notice would provide instructions for requesting printed copies.

PROPOSAL NO. 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Stockholders and the persons named in the enclosed proxy will vote, pursuant to the authority granted by the stockholder in the enclosed proxy, on the election of Mr. Scott R. Behrens, Ms. Lorinda A. Burgess and Mr. Edward J. Wehmer as directors of the Company, to hold office until the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in 2025. The Board of Directors is divided into three classes serving staggered three-year terms. Directors for each class are elected at the annual meeting of stockholders in the year in which the term for their class expires. The Board of Directors has nominated Mr. Behrens, currently President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company, for election to the Board of Directors in connection with his appointment as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company effective on April 25, 2022. Ms. Burgess and Mr. Wehmer are current directors whose terms expire in 2022. Ms. Burgess was elected by the Board of Directors on January 27, 2021. Mr. Wehmer was elected by the Company’s stockholders at the 2019 Annual Meeting. The nominations of Mr. Behrens, Ms. Burgess and Mr. Wehmer have each been reviewed and recommended by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Board of Directors.

Mr. Michael R. Boyce, a current director whose term also expires in 2022, has decided not to seek re-election. Mr. Boyce was first elected as a director in 2010. The Board of Directors and the Company wish to thank Mr. Boyce for the valuable leadership and guidance he has provided in his 12 years of service as a director.

In the event any of Mr. Behrens, Ms. Burgess or Mr. Wehmer is unable to serve as director, votes will be cast, pursuant to the authority granted in the proxy, for such person or persons as may be designated by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors at this time is not aware of any nominee who is or will be unable to serve as director, if elected.

Under the Company’s Amended and Restated By-laws, in an uncontested election directors are elected by a majority of the votes cast by stockholders. An uncontested election of directors means an election for which the number of nominees does not exceed the number of directors to be elected at the specific election. Because three directors are to be elected, and Mr. Behrens, Ms. Burgess and Mr. Wehmer are the sole nominees, this election is uncontested, and therefore the nominees must receive a majority of votes cast by stockholders to be elected.

Nominees for Director

The following table sets forth certain information about the nominees for director:


Scott R. Behrens
		Experience President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company since January 2021. Vice President and General Manager – Surfactants of the Company from September 2014 through December 2020. Mr. Behrens will assume the role of President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company on April 25, 2022. Qualifications Mr. Behrens has served the Company for 29 years, including as general manager of the Company’s largest business segment, Surfactants. The Board of Directors believes that Mr. Behrens will provide key insight into the Company’s day-to-day operations.
Age: 52


Lorinda A. Burgess
		Experience Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer, Americas Region of Medtronic Inc., a medical technology company, since March 2015. Vice President, Western Europe and US Customer Care Organization of Medtronic from 2008 to March 2015. Qualifications Ms. Burgess provides the Board of Directors with financial expertise and with broad operational and strategic experience developed throughout her career in a range of financial leadership roles.
Age: 59 Director Since: 2021
Edward J. Wehmer
		Experience Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Wintrust Financial Corporation, a financial services company, since February 2020. President and Chief Executive Officer of Wintrust Financial Corporation from May 1998 to February 2020. Director of Wintrust Financial Corporation (WTFC). Qualifications Mr. Wehmer is also a Certified Public Accountant. Mr. Wehmer provides the Board of Directors with expertise in strategic, financial, banking and accounting matters. Mr. Wehmer also has extensive experience with acquisitions.
Age: 68 Director Since: 2003

PROPOSAL: The Board of Directors recommends that the stockholders vote FOR the election of Mr. Behrens, Ms. Burgess and Mr. Wehmer to the Board of Directors, each for a three-year term.

Continuing Directors Whose Terms Are Not Expiring

The following table sets forth certain information about those directors who are not up for election:


Randall S. Dearth
Age: 58 Director Since: 2012 Term Expires: 2024		Experience Senior Director of SK Capital Partners, LP, a private investment firm, since January 2021. President and Chief Executive Officer of GCP Applied Technologies Inc., a leading global provider of construction products technologies, from August 2019 to September 2020. President and Chief Operating Officer of GCP Applied Technologies Inc. from September 2018 to July 2019. Chairman of Calgon Carbon Corporation, a global manufacturer of activated carbon and innovative treatment systems, from May 2014 to March 2018. President and Chief Executive Officer of Calgon Carbon Corporation from August 2012 to August 2018. Qualifications Mr. Dearth also previously served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of LANXESS Corporation, a global chemicals manufacturer. Mr. Dearth provides the Board of Directors with global executive leadership in the chemical industry and a global perspective on strategy and business conditions.

Joaquin Delgado
		Experience Executive Vice President, Consumer Business Group of 3M Company, a global diversified technology company, from July 2016 to July 2019. Executive Vice President, Health Care Business Group of 3M Company, from October 2012 to July 2016. Trustee of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. and Trustee of two registered investment companies managed by Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. Qualifications Dr. Delgado also held other executive leadership positions at 3M Company and holds a doctorate in polymer science and engineering. Dr. Delgado provides the Board of Directors with chemistry and innovation expertise and current global business, operational, manufacturing, marketing and corporate development experience.
Age: 62 Director Since: 2011 Term Expires: 2023


Gregory E. Lawton
Age: 71 Director Since: 2006 Term Expires: 2024		Experience Consultant. President and Chief Executive Officer of JohnsonDiversey, Inc., a leading global provider of cleaning and hygiene solutions to the institutional and industrial marketplace, from October 2000 to February 2006. Director of General Cable Corporation from 1997 to 2018. Qualifications Mr. Lawton previously held various leadership roles at other companies and is a director of American Trim, LLC. Mr. Lawton provides the Board of Directors with global expertise and executive leadership from the consumer products industry, and extensive experience with employee development.
Jan Stern Reed
Age: 62 Director Since: 2015 Term Expires: 2024		Experience Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc., a global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise, from February 2015 to February 2016. Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Walgreen Co. from October 2014 to February 2015. Director of AngioDynamics, Inc. (ANGO) and Avita Medical, Inc. (RCEL). Qualifications Prior to joining Walgreens, Ms. Reed was the Executive Vice President of Human Resources, General Counsel and Secretary of Solo Cup Company. Ms. Reed provides the Board of Directors with global executive leadership experience in legal, corporate governance and strategic business matters, as well as extensive experience with risk management, compliance, acquisitions and employee development.
F. Quinn Stepan, Jr.
Age: 61 Director Since: 1999 Term Expires: 2023		Experience Chairman of the Company since January 2017. Chief Executive Officer of the Company since January 2006. President of the Company from February 1999 through December 2020. Mr. Stepan will retire from the role of Chief Executive Officer of the Company on April 25, 2022, but will remain in his role as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Qualifications In his over 30-year career with the Company, Mr. Stepan has served in a number of positions of increasing responsibility and in a variety of functions within the Company’s operations. Mr. Stepan’s leadership provides the Board of Directors with extensive knowledge of the Company’s strategy and operations.

SECURITY OWNERSHIP

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners

As of March 4, 2022, the following persons were the only persons known to the Company to beneficially own more than five percent of the Company’s Common Stock, other than members of the Company’s Board of Directors or management, whose ownership is set forth in the table below:


Name and Address	Number of Shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned		Percentage of Outstanding Shares of Common Stock (1)

BlackRock, Inc. (2)		3,621,826		16.2%
The Vanguard Group, Inc. (3)		2,464,865		11.0%
State Street Corporation (4)		1,578,211		7.0%

(1)	Based on 22,423,076 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of March 4, 2022.

(2)

As reported in a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on January 27, 2022, by BlackRock, Inc. (“BlackRock”), 55 East 52nd Street, New York, New York 10055. In the Schedule 13G/A, BlackRock reported that, as of December 31, 2021, it had sole voting power as to 3,560,254 shares of Common Stock and sole dispositive power as to 3,621,826 shares of Common Stock.

(3)

As reported in a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 10, 2022, by The Vanguard Group (“Vanguard”), 100 Vanguard Boulevard, Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355. In the Schedule 13G/A, Vanguard reported that, as of December 31, 2021, it had shared voting power as to 20,108 shares of Common Stock, sole dispositive power as to 2,425,231 shares of Common Stock, and shared dispositive power as to 39,634 shares of Common Stock.

(4)

As reported in a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 14, 2022, by State Street Corporation (“State Street”), State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. In the Schedule 13G/A, State Street reported that, as of December 31, 2021, it had shared voting power as to 1,527,141 shares of Common Stock and shared dispositive power as to 1,578,211 shares of Common Stock.

Security Ownership of the Board of Directors and Management

The following table sets forth, as of March 4, 2022, the security ownership of each executive officer listed in the Summary Compensation Table in this proxy statement, each director and nominee for director, and all currently serving directors and executive officers as a group. The address for each director, nominee for director, and executive officer is c/o Stepan Company, 1101 Skokie Boulevard, Northbrook, Illinois 60062.


Name	Number of Shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned (1)		Percentage of Outstanding Shares of Common Stock (1)

Scott R. Behrens		42,634 (2)		*
Michael R. Boyce		16,020 (3)		*
Lorinda A. Burgess		760		*
Randall S. Dearth		9,500 (4)		*
Joaquin Delgado		9,601		*
Gregory E. Lawton		21,503 (5)		*
Arthur W. Mergner		65,033 (6)		*
Sean T. Moriarty		27,006 (7)		*
Jan Stern Reed		7,441		*
Luis E. Rojo		17,740 (8)		*
F. Quinn Stepan, Jr.		824,929 (9)		3.7%
Edward J. Wehmer		24,795 (10)		*
All Directors and Executive Officers		1,490,847 (11)		6.6%

*	Less than one percent of outstanding shares of Common Stock.

(1)

Based on 22,423,076 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of March 4, 2022. Number of shares of Common Stock for each director, nominee for director, and executive officer (and all directors and executive officers as a group) includes (a) shares of Common Stock owned by the spouse of each director, nominee for director, or executive officer, and shares of Common Stock held by each director, nominee for director, or executive officer, or such person’s spouse as trustee or custodian for the benefit of children and family members if such trustee or custodian has voting or investment power, (b) shares of Common Stock that may be acquired within 60 days through the exercise of stock options or stock appreciation rights (“SARs”) granted pursuant to the Company’s incentive compensation plans, and (c) shares of Common Stock pledged as security by such director, nominee for director, or executive officer, or such person’s family members.

(2)

Includes (a) 3,943 shares of Common Stock allocated to Mr. Behrens under the Company’s Employee Stock Ownership Plan II (“ESOP II”), (b) 13,672 shares of Common Stock that Mr. Behrens has the right to acquire through the exercise of stock options granted pursuant to the Company’s incentive compensation plans, (c) 1,055 shares of Common Stock that Mr. Behrens has the right to acquire through the exercise of SARs granted pursuant to the Company’s incentive compensation plans, and (d) 10,386 shares of Common Stock credited to Mr. Behrens’ stock account under the Management Incentive Plan (as amended and restated effective January 1, 2015, the “Management Incentive Plan”). Amounts credited to an employee’s stock account will be paid to the employee at the time of separation of service from the Company as the employee has elected under the provisions of the Management Incentive Plan.

(3)	Includes 759 shares of Common Stock credited to Mr. Boyce’s account pursuant to the Company’s incentive compensation plans.

(4)	Includes 1,274 shares of Common Stock credited to Mr. Dearth’s account pursuant to the Stepan Company Directors Deferred Compensation Plan (as amended and restated as of January 1, 2012).

(5)	Includes 5,789 shares of Common Stock credited to Mr. Lawton’s account pursuant to the Company’s incentive compensation plans.

(6)

Includes (a) 86 shares of Common Stock allocated to Mr. Mergner under ESOP II, (b) 23,320 shares of Common Stock that Mr. Mergner has the right to acquire through the exercise of stock options granted pursuant to the Company’s incentive compensation plans, (c) 9,865 shares of Common Stock that Mr. Mergner has the right to acquire through the exercise of SARs granted pursuant to the Company’s incentive compensation plans, and (d) 8,477 shares of Common Stock credited to Mr. Mergner’s stock account under the Management Incentive Plan.

(7)

Includes (a) 4,100 shares of Common Stock allocated to Mr. Moriarty under ESOP II, (b) 6,843 shares of Common Stock that Mr. Moriarty has the right to acquire through the exercise of stock options granted pursuant to the Company’s incentive compensation plans, (c) 2,158 shares of Common Stock that Mr. Moriarty has the right to acquire through the exercise of SARs granted pursuant to the Company’s incentive compensation plans, and (d) 5,478 shares of Common Stock credited to Mr. Moriarty’s stock account under the Management Incentive Plan.

(8)

Includes (a) 310 shares of Common Stock allocated to Mr. Rojo under ESOP II, (b) 8,854 shares of Common Stock that Mr. Rojo has the right to acquire through the exercise of stock options granted pursuant to the Company’s incentive compensation plans, (c) 2,674 shares of Common Stock that Mr. Rojo has the right to acquire through the exercise of SARs granted pursuant to the Company’s incentive compensation plans, and (d) 2,230 shares of Common Stock credited to Mr. Rojo’s account under the Management Incentive Plan.

(9)

Includes (a) 11,877 shares of Common Stock allocated to Mr. Stepan under ESOP II, (b) 194,704 shares of Common Stock that Mr. Stepan has the right to acquire through the exercise of stock options granted pursuant to the Company’s incentive compensation plans, (c) 16,574 shares of Common Stock that Mr. Stepan has the right to acquire through the exercise of SARs granted pursuant to the Company’s incentive compensation plans, and (d) 103,161 shares of Common Stock credited to Mr. Stepan’s stock account under the Management Incentive Plan.

(10)	Includes 14,442 shares of Common Stock credited to Mr. Wehmer’s account pursuant to the Company’s incentive compensation plans.

(11)

As of March 4, 2022, directors and executive officers as a group had (a) 22,436 shares of Common Stock allocated to them under ESOP II, (b) the right to acquire 267,517 shares of Common Stock through the exercise of stock options, (c) the right to acquire 42,206 shares of Common Stock through the exercise of SARs, and (d) 132,346 shares of Common Stock credited to their stock accounts under the Management Incentive Plan. In addition, the amount shown includes 168,799 shares of Common Stock that were held in the Company’s qualified plans and deemed to be beneficially owned by the Plan Committee, which is comprised of executive officers of the Company. The Plan Committee selects the investment manager of the Stepan Company Trust for Qualified Plans under the terms of a Trust Agreement effective December 1, 2011, with Bank of America, N.A. (“Bank of America”). Bank of America expressly disclaims any beneficial ownership in the securities of this plan.

Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and the rules thereunder require the Company’s executive officers, directors, and persons who own more than ten percent of the Common Stock, to file reports of beneficial ownership and changes in beneficial ownership of Common Stock with the SEC. Based solely upon a review of such reports filed with the SEC and written representations from certain reporting persons, the Company believes that all such required reports have been timely filed, other than reports due by Mr. Jason Keiper, Mr. Sean Moriarty, Mr. Arthur Mergner, Mr. Luis Rojo and Ms. Debra Stefaniak reporting shares acquired under a Company compensation plan as the result of performance shares vesting on February 15, 2022, which forms were inadvertently filed late due to administrative error.

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Policies and Procedures for Approving Related Person Transactions

The Company has adopted a written policy entitled “Stepan Company Related Party Transaction Policy and Procedures.” The policy was initially approved by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors in February 2007, has been annually reviewed by the Audit Committee and was last amended in April 2021 (“Related Party Transaction Policy”). This policy applies to material transactions (“Related Party Transactions”) involving the Company and a Related Party, which is defined as a person or entity who is a Company executive officer, director, nominee for election as a director, beneficial owner of five percent or more of the Company’s Common Stock, or immediate family member of these persons, or any entity for which any of the foregoing persons is an executive officer, general partner, managing member, principal or greater than five percent beneficial owner. The Related Party Transaction Policy states that the Company will consummate a Related Party Transaction only when the Audit Committee approves the transaction after considering the factors set forth in the Related Party Transaction Policy. If advance Audit Committee approval of a Related Party Transaction is not feasible, then the Company may preliminarily enter into the transaction upon prior approval by the Chair of the Audit Committee, subject to ratification of the transaction by the Audit Committee at its next regularly scheduled meeting. No director may participate in the approval of a Related Party Transaction for which he or she is a Related Party.

The factors considered by the Audit Committee in its evaluation of a Related Party Transaction include the relevant facts and circumstances of the proposed Related Party Transaction, whether the Related Party Transaction is on terms comparable to those that could be obtained in arm’s-length dealings with an unrelated third party, the extent of the related party’s interest in the transaction and the conflicts of interest and corporate opportunity provisions of the Company’s Code of Conduct.

Transactions with Related Persons, Promoters and Certain Control Persons

Mr. Richard Stepan, brother of F. Quinn Stepan, Jr., is a current officer of the Company. Mr. Richard Stepan is neither a director or nominee for director. As an employee of the Company, Mr. Richard Stepan receives a base salary, short-term and long-term incentive compensation as appropriate for his position and other regular and customary employee benefits generally available to all Company employees, and is eligible for other limited perquisites available to employees at his level within the organization. For 2021, Mr. Richard Stepan was paid a salary of $300,000, short-term incentive compensation of $179,265 and a long-term incentive compensation award of stock options, SARs and performance shares with a target value of $450,000. Mr. Richard Stepan also participated in other regular and customary employee benefit programs generally available to all Company employees. The Audit Committee approved the Company’s employment of Mr. Richard Stepan pursuant to the Related Party Transaction Policy and procedures described above.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE PRINCIPLES AND BOARD MATTERS

Corporate Governance Guidelines and Code of Conduct

The Company is committed to having sound corporate governance principles and has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines and a Code of Conduct to maintain those principles. The Company’s Code of Conduct applies to all of the Company’s directors, officers and employees, including the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. The Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and Code of Conduct are available at https://stepan.gcs-web.com/corporate-governance/highlights. Stockholders may also request free printed copies of the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and Code of Conduct by contacting the Company’s Secretary at Stepan Company, Secretary’s Office, 1101 Skokie Boulevard, Northbrook, Illinois 60062.

Board Committees

The Board of Directors has four standing committees: the Audit Committee, the Compensation and Development Committee, the Compliance Committee, and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, each composed entirely of independent directors. The charter of each committee is available at https://stepan.gcs-web.com/corporate-governance/highlights.

Audit Committee

The primary functions of the Audit Committee are to (a) assist the Board of Directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities to stockholders, the investment community and creditors in relation to (i) the quality and integrity of the Company’s financial statements, (ii) the adequacy of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, (iii) the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements (in coordination with the Compliance Committee), (iv) the registered public accounting firm’s qualifications and independence, and (v) the performance of the independent auditors and the Company’s internal audit function; and (b) prepare the Audit Committee report included in each proxy statement. The responsibilities of the Audit Committee include annual selection and engagement of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, review of the proposed fees and scope of work of the independent registered public accounting firm’s year-end audit, review with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm of the results of the year-end audits of the Company’s financial statements and internal control over financial reporting, review of the Company’s financial statements with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm prior to the Company’s filing of each quarterly report on Form 10-Q and annual report on Form 10-K, review of findings reported by the Company’s internal audit department and management’s responses, review of the internal audit program of the Company and review, approval or disapproval of Related Party Transactions pursuant to the Company’s Related Party Transaction Policy and review of the Company’s risk assessment and risk management policies and procedures, including those relating to the Company’s enterprise risks, financial risks and information security risks. The Audit Committee held five meetings in 2021.

The Audit Committee is comprised of Mr. Boyce, Ms. Burgess, Mr. Dearth, Dr. Delgado, Mr. Lawton, Ms. Reed and Mr. Wehmer (Chair), all of whom are financially literate and are independent directors in accordance with the rules of the New York Stock Exchange and the SEC and as described below under “Director Independence.” Mr. Boyce has not been re-nominated as a director and will not stand for re-election at the Annual Meeting. The Board of Directors has determined that each of Ms. Burgess and Mr. Wehmer qualifies as an audit committee financial expert within the meaning of SEC regulations.

Compensation and Development Committee

The primary functions of the Compensation and Development Committee are to (a) establish and administer the Company’s policies, programs and procedures for compensating its executive management and (b) provide advice and counsel to the Company regarding executive development and succession planning. The responsibilities of the Compensation and Development Committee include reviewing and setting or recommending the compensation of the Company’s executive officers, recommending and administering cash-based and equity-based incentive compensation plans, reviewing and recommending director compensation, reviewing and recommending the Company’s Compensation Discussion and Analysis included in each proxy statement, and preparing the Compensation and Development Committee Report included in each proxy statement. The Compensation and Development Committee also reviews and advises management regarding the Company’s human capital management, including culture, diverse representation, inclusion and pay equity strategies, programs and initiatives. The Compensation and Development Committee held four meetings in 2021.

The Compensation and Development Committee is comprised of Mr. Boyce, Ms. Burgess, Mr. Dearth, Dr. Delgado, Mr. Lawton (Chair), Ms. Reed and Mr. Wehmer, all of whom are independent directors in accordance with the rules of the New York Stock Exchange and the SEC and as described below under “Director Independence.” Mr. Boyce has not been re-nominated as a director and will not stand for re-election at the Annual Meeting.

Compliance Committee

The primary functions of the Compliance Committee are to assist the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities with respect to (a) the Company’s overall compliance with significant legal and regulatory requirements, as well as (b) compliance with its business ethics policies and Code of Conduct. The Compliance Committee held four meetings in 2021.

The Compliance Committee is comprised of Mr. Boyce, Ms. Burgess, Mr. Dearth, Dr. Delgado, Mr. Lawton, Ms. Reed (Chair) and Mr. Wehmer, all of whom are independent directors in accordance with the rules of the New York Stock Exchange and as described below under “Director Independence.” Mr. Boyce has not been re-nominated as a director and will not stand for re-election at the Annual Meeting.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

The primary functions of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are to (a) identify individuals qualified to become board members and recommend the director nominees for election at each annual meeting of stockholders, (b) develop and recommend the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, (c) oversee the evaluation of the Board of Directors and (d) recommend the members for each Board committee. In addition, the responsibilities of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee include making recommendations to the Board on corporate governance matters and the Board’s structure. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee held four meetings in 2021.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is comprised of Mr. Boyce (Chair), Ms. Burgess, Mr. Dearth, Dr. Delgado, Mr. Lawton, Ms. Reed and Mr. Wehmer, all of whom are independent directors in accordance with the rules of the New York Stock Exchange and as described below under “Director Independence.” Mr. Boyce has not been re-nominated as a director and will not stand for re-election at the Annual Meeting.

Board Performance Evaluations

Annually, each director completes an evaluation of the full Board of Directors and of each standing committee on which the director serves. The Company’s Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary compiles the results of the assessments and provides the results to the Nominating and Governance Committee and to the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors initially discusses the assessment results with the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in attendance, and if desired by any director, the assessment results are also discussed at Executive Sessions of the non-management directors. This assessment evaluates the Board of Directors’ composition and contribution as a whole to the Company and reviews areas in which the Board of Directors and/or management believes a stronger contribution could be made. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is also responsible for evaluating the performance of current members of the Board of Directors at the time they are considered for re-nomination to the Board of Directors.

Board Meetings and Attendance

During 2021, the Board of Directors held seven meetings. During 2021, all of the directors attended more than 75% of the total number of meetings of the Board of Directors and the meetings of committees of the Board of Directors of which each director was a member. While all directors are encouraged to attend, the Company does not have a formal policy requiring attendance at the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders. Due to COVID-19-related precautions, Mr. Stepan was the only director who attended the 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The Company currently expects that all directors and nominees will attend the 2022 Annual Meeting.

Director Nomination Process

The Corporate Governance Guidelines contain the Board of Directors membership criteria that apply to nominees recommended by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee for a position on the Board of Directors. Under these criteria, members of the Board of Directors should possess qualities that include strength of character, an inquiring and independent mind, practical wisdom and mature judgment. In addition to these qualities, director nominees should also possess recognized achievement, an ability to contribute to some aspect of the Company’s business, and the willingness to make the commitment of time and effort required of a director. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s process for identifying and evaluating director nominees includes recommendations by stockholders, non-management directors and executive officers, a review and background check of specific candidates, an assessment of the candidate’s independence under the director independence standards described below, and interviews of director candidates by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

It is the policy of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to consider candidates recommended by stockholders for membership on the Board of Directors. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s evaluation of a nominee recommended by a stockholder would consider the general criteria and required information previously described in this section, and any other factors the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee deems relevant. Any stockholder recommendation proposed for consideration by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee must comply with the requirements set forth in the Company’s By-laws. Among other things, a stockholder must give written notice containing the information required by the Company’s By-laws to the Secretary of the Company at Stepan Company, Secretary’s Office, 1101 Skokie Boulevard, Northbrook, Illinois 60062. The deadline to submit a director recommendation for the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is set forth in the “2023 Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations” section below.

Board Diversity

The following charts summarize the current composition of the Board of Directors:

In accordance with the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, when identifying director nominees, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Board of Directors consider a broad definition of diversity. This definition includes, but is not limited to, diversity of professional, technical, operational, international and financial experience, skills and characteristics. In addition, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Board will consider demographics such as age, race, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation. The Board has also considered experience related to the Company’s business and industry. If the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee utilizes an outside search firm to identify director nominees, it instructs the search firm to consider broadly-defined diversity in identifying potential nominees.

As the Company has grown, the composition of the Board has evolved. In addition to adding valuable expertise and experience, the Company’s four most recently appointed directors added diversity with respect to age, ethnicity and gender to the Board. For example, the Board’s two most recently appointed directors, Jan Stern Reed, who is Chair of the Board’s Compliance Committee, and Lorinda Burgess, brought gender diversity to the Board. Ms. Burgess and Joaquin Delgado also added ethnic diversity to the Board. The Company sees tremendous value in having diversity of experience, skills, characteristics and demographics on the Board.

Director Independence

For purposes of determining director independence, the Company uses the New York Stock Exchange director independence standards. No director qualifies as “independent” unless the Board of Directors affirmatively determines that the director has no material relationship with the Company (either directly or as a partner, shareholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the Company). In addition, a director is not independent if:

•

The director is, or has been within the last three years, an employee of the Company, or an immediate family member is, or has been within the last three years, an executive officer of the Company;

•

The director has received, or has an immediate family member who has received, during any 12-month period within the last three years, more than $120,000 in direct compensation from the Company, 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);

•

(A) The director is a current partner or employee of a firm that is the Company’s internal auditor or independent registered public accounting firm; (B) the director has an immediate family member who is a current partner of such a firm; (C) the director has an immediate

family member who is a current employee of such a firm and personally works on the Company’s audit; or (D) the director or an immediate family member was within the last three years a partner or employee of such a firm and personally worked on the Company’s audit within that time;

•

The director or an immediate family member is, or has been within the last three years, employed as an executive officer of another company where any of the Company’s present executive officers at the same time serves or served on that company’s compensation committee; or

•

The director is a current employee, or an immediate family member is a current executive officer, of a company that has made payments to, or received payments from, the Company for property or services in an amount which, in any of the last three fiscal years, exceeds the greater of $1 million or 2% of such other company’s consolidated gross revenues.

Under the New York Stock Exchange rules and the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, at least a majority of the Company’s directors and each member of the Audit Committee, Compensation and Development Committee, Compliance Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee must meet the independence standards set forth above. The Board of Directors has determined that each of Ms. Burgess, Mr. Dearth, Dr. Delgado, Mr. Lawton, Ms. Reed and Mr. Wehmer is independent under the standards set forth above. The Board of Directors also determined that Mr. Boyce, who served as a director during 2021 but who will not stand for re-election at the Annual Meeting, is independent under the standards set forth above. In addition, the Board of Directors has determined that each of the members of the standing committees satisfies the Company’s independence standards, including the additional independence standards and financial literacy requirements required for audit committee members and compensation committee members, as applicable, established by SEC and New York Stock Exchange rules. Mr. Stepan is not deemed independent under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange because he currently serves as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Mr. Behrens is not deemed independent under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange because he currently serves as the President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company, and will be the President and Chief Executive Officer at the time of his election to the Board.

In making independence determinations, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, with assistance from the Company’s legal counsel, evaluated responses to a questionnaire completed annually by each director regarding relationships and possible conflicts of interest between each director, the Company and management. In its review of director independence, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considered the commercial, industrial, banking, consulting, legal, accounting, charitable, and familial relationships any director may have with the Company or management. In addition, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considered any relationships between the Company and entities for which any director serves as management or a member of the board of directors. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee recommended, and the Board of Directors approved, that the seven directors named above be considered independent.

Board Leadership Structure

The Board of Directors regularly reviews its leadership structure in light of the Company’s then-current needs, trends, internal assessments of Board effectiveness, and other factors. The Board does not have a policy regarding the separation of the roles of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board because the Board believes it is in the best interests of the Company to make that determination based on the position and direction of the Company and the membership of the Board.

Currently, the Board believes the interests of the Company and its stockholders are best served through a leadership model with Mr. Stepan as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. However, Mr. Stepan will retire as Chief Executive Officer on April 25, 2022. Upon his retirement, the roles of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer will be separated, Mr. Stepan will become the non-executive Chairman of the Board and Mr. Behrens, currently President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company, will become President and Chief Executive Officer on the same date.

The Board believes that Mr. Stepan’s experience puts him in the best position to provide broad leadership for the Board as Chairman as the Board works to deliver value to stockholders. Mr. Stepan possesses extensive knowledge and understanding of the Company and its operations, strategic planning and industry, developed during his over 30-year career with the Company.

To aid the Board of Directors’ independent oversight of the Company and management, the Board has elected Mr. Wehmer as Lead Independent Director. The Board believes that the election of the Lead Independent Director enhances the Board’s commitment to maintaining strong corporate governance and provides effective independent Board leadership. Among other responsibilities, the Lead Independent Director presides at all Executive Sessions of the independent directors, advises the Chairman on Board meeting schedules, agendas and materials, and serves as principal liaison between the independent directors and the Chairman. In addition, prior to Mr. Stepan’s retirement, the Lead Independent Director, in consultation with the chairs of the Compensation and Development Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, leads the process for the evaluation of the Chief Executive Officer.

In addition, the independent directors regularly meet in Executive Sessions without the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer or other members of management present in accordance with the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines.

Risk Management

The Board of Directors takes an active role in overseeing the Company’s financial and non-financial risks. The Audit Committee, which is chaired by Mr. Wehmer, leads the Board’s oversight of Company risks. The Audit Committee reviews the Company’s risk assessment and risk management policies and procedures, including those relating to the Company’s enterprise risks, financial risks and information security risks. The Audit Committee receives reports from the Company’s Director of Internal Audit, the Chief Financial Officer, and the General Counsel, all of whom are responsible for various aspects of the Company’s risk management. The Director of Internal Audit reports directly to the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee also meets with the Company’s external auditors separately from management.

The Compensation and Development Committee, which is chaired by Mr. Lawton, takes the lead role in overseeing the management of risks as they relate to the Company’s compensation policies and practices. During 2021, the Compensation and Development Committee reviewed these compensation policies and practices and did not identify any risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.

The Compliance Committee, which is chaired by Ms. Reed, oversees risk assessment and risk mitigation related to matters within the Compliance Committee’s oversight responsibilities, which may include environmental protection, employee health, safety and security, data privacy, employment, anti-bribery and anti-corruption, product quality compliance, and ethics and compliance training.

Executive Sessions

The Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines require Executive Sessions of independent directors to be held at least once per year. Any independent director can request that additional

Executive Sessions be scheduled. In 2021, six Executive Sessions without management were held by the independent directors and chaired by Mr. Wehmer in his capacity as Lead Independent Director. In addition, Executive Sessions without management were also held after many Board committee meetings during 2021 and were chaired by the respective chairs of the Board committees.

Communication with the Board

A stockholder may communicate with the Board of Directors by writing c/o Secretary’s Office, Stepan Company, 1101 Skokie Boulevard, Northbrook, Illinois 60062. Mail addressed to a specific director or Board committee will be delivered to that director or Board committee. The Secretary initially reviews all correspondence to directors and delivers the correspondence to the addressee, as appropriate. Correspondence that is unrelated to the duties and responsibilities of the Board will not be distributed to the Board, including spam, product complaints or inquiries, new product suggestions, resumes or job inquiries, advertisements or any inappropriate communications.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

The members of the Company’s Compensation and Development Committee in 2021 were Mr. Boyce, Mr. Dearth, Dr. Delgado, Mr. Lawton (Chair), Ms. Reed and Mr. Wehmer. None of the members of the Compensation and Development Committee during 2021 were at any time an officer or employee of the Company nor did any member participate in a Related Party Transaction. In 2021, none of the Company’s executive officers served as a member of the compensation committee of another entity, or as a director of another entity, one of whose executive officers served on the Compensation and Development Committee or as one of the Company’s directors.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

Summary of Executive Compensation in 2021

In 2021, the Company and the Compensation and Development Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Committee”) applied the compensation policies and principles described in this Compensation Discussion and Analysis in determining the compensation for the individuals named in the Summary Compensation Table. Those individuals are referred to herein as the named executive officers (“NEOs”). The NEOs for 2021 were:


NEO		Title
F. Quinn Stepan, Jr.		Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Luis E. Rojo		Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Scott R. Behrens		President and Chief Operating Officer
Arthur W. Mergner		Executive Vice President – Supply Chain
Sean T. Moriarty		Vice President and General Manager – Surfactants

Significant Achievements and Developments in 2021

Record Company Performance

(1)

In 2021, the Company achieved record net income of $137.8 million, or $5.92 per diluted share, compared to $126.8 million, or $5.45 per diluted share, in 2020, a 9% increase. The Company achieved record adjusted net income of $143.5 million, or $6.16 per diluted share, versus $132.0 million, or $5.68 per diluted share, in 2020, a 9% increase.¹

(2)

The Surfactant segment delivered operating income of $166.0 million, a 2% decrease versus prior year. The Polymer segment delivered $73.6 million of operating income, an 8% increase versus prior year. Specialty Product operating income was $14.2 million versus $14.0 million in the prior year.

(3)

For the full year the Company paid $28.1 million of dividends and repurchased $17 million of Company stock. With the increased cash dividend in the fourth quarter of 2021, the Company has increased the dividend on its Common Stock for the 54th consecutive year.

Key Developments Impacting Executive Compensation

(1)

The Company’s advisory Say-on-Pay vote was supported by 98% of votes cast at the Company’s 2021 Annual Meeting.

(2)

After considering all components of the total compensation paid to the NEOs in 2021, the Committee determined that the 2021 NEO compensation was competitive, reasonable, and aligned with both Company performance and stockholder interests.

¹ Adjusted net income is a financial measure that has not been calculated pursuant to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). See Appendix A for a GAAP reconciliation.

Executive Compensation Best Practices the Company Follows


What We Do		What We Don’t Do

✓	Pay for Performance—a Majority of our NEOs’ Annual Total Compensation is Variable and at-Risk	O	No Grants of Discounted Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights

✓	Align Executives’ Total Compensation Mix with Stockholders’ Interests	O	No Repricing or Replacing Outstanding Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights Without Stockholder Approval

✓	Require Significant Executive Stock Ownership	O	No Employment Agreements That Guarantee Employment or Compensation

✓	Limit Performance-Based Incentive Awards to a Maximum of 200% of Target	O	No Standing Individual Severance or Change-in-Control Agreements

✓	Provide Limited Executive Perquisites	O	No Use of Excise Tax Gross-Ups

✓	Subject Incentive Compensation to a Clawback Policy	O	No Dividend Payments on Unearned Performance Shares

Compensation Philosophy

The basic premise of the Company’s executive compensation philosophy is to pay for performance. The Company’s intention is to foster a performance-driven culture with competitive total compensation as a key driver for all employees. Compensation levels commensurate with Company performance are designed to align the interests of our employees with the interests of our stockholders. To better align our NEOs’ compensation with the interests of our stockholders, a substantial portion of compensation is at-risk and performance-based.

The Company’s guiding philosophy in setting executive compensation is that the compensation of executive officers should reflect the scope of their job responsibilities and level of individual and corporate performance achieved. Executive compensation should be competitive internally and externally with like or comparable positions based on job descriptions and responsibilities at similarly sized companies within the Company’s industries, and Peer Group (as defined below) and other appropriate related industry data or survey information. The Company’s compensation philosophy is reviewed at least annually by the Committee.

The effectiveness of the executive compensation program is primarily measured by Company performance, stock price appreciation, the ability of the Company to attract and retain executive officers, and comparison against other relevant, external benchmarks as needed.

The Committee generally does not consider the impact of previously awarded compensation in determining current executive total compensation. The Committee does, however, use both a chemical industry peer group as well as aggregate executive compensation survey data to annually assess executive compensation as described below under “Compensation Peer Group and Survey Data.” Except for the limits regarding incentive compensation as described below, the Committee does not use specific policies to allocate between cash and non-cash compensation or between short-term and long-term compensation.

Compensation Objectives

The overall objectives of the Company’s compensation programs (in which each NEO participates) are as follows:

•

motivate employees to achieve and maintain a high level of performance, and drive results that will help the Company achieve its goals;

•

align the interests of our employees with the interests of our stockholders;

•

provide for market-competitive levels of compensation; and

•

attract and retain employees of outstanding ability.

Role of the Compensation and Development Committee

The Committee is responsible for overseeing the establishment and administration of the Company’s policies, programs and procedures for compensating the Company’s executive management, as further described below. The Committee is also responsible for providing advice to the Company regarding executive development and succession planning. The Committee may, in its discretion, delegate all or a portion of its duties and responsibilities to a subcommittee or, to the extent permitted by applicable law, to any other body or individual.

Role of the Compensation Consultant

The Committee engaged Exequity LLP (“Exequity”) as its independent compensation consultant for 2021. Exequity advises the Committee on a range of executive compensation matters. The scope of Exequity’s services to the Committee includes, but is not limited to, the following:

•

Providing the Committee with an assessment of the market competitiveness of the Company’s executive compensation.

•

Apprising the Committee of executive compensation-related trends and developments in the marketplace.

•

Informing the Committee of regulatory developments relating to executive compensation practices.

•

Assisting the Committee with goal setting, calibrating levels of pay to various levels of performance, and pay for performance alignment.

•

Comparing Company executive compensation plan designs and practices to the marketplace.

•

Recommending changes to the executive compensation program to maintain competitiveness and ensure consistency with business strategies, good governance practices and alignment with stockholder interests.

Exequity reports directly to the Committee. The Committee conducted its annual assessment of Exequity’s independence pursuant to SEC rules and determined that no conflict of interest exists that would prevent Exequity from independently advising the Committee. Exequity does not provide any other services to management or the Company.

Role of the Committee and Executives in Establishing Executive Compensation

The Committee determines the compensation of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer make recommendations to the Committee regarding compensation for all other executive officers, including the NEOs, other than with respect to their own compensation. The Committee then reviews these recommendations and approves the final compensation for all executive officers. All recommendations made to the Committee and all determinations made by the Committee are based upon the Company’s policies and guidelines and other relevant factors outlined in the “Compensation Peer Group and Survey Data” and “Elements of Compensation” sections below.

Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation

The advisory vote in 2021 was the eleventh consecutive year that the Company’s Say-on-Pay vote was supported by its stockholders with the approval of more than 96% of the votes cast at the annual meeting of stockholders. The Committee acknowledges and values the feedback from the Company’s stockholders on the annual Say-on-Pay vote and believes that these results demonstrate stockholder support of the Company’s executive compensation programs. As a result of the strong stockholder support for the 2021 Say-on-Pay vote, the Committee determined that the Company’s compensation practices and processes did not require any significant modifications to achieve the desired results of the Company’s compensation program or to address stockholder concerns. The Committee will continue to consider the outcome of these advisory votes when determining future executive compensation arrangements.

Executive Pay Mix

The Company targets a total compensation mix where fixed pay, consisting of base salary, is less than half of the total compensation that any NEO or executive officer may earn in any given year. The combined mix of both short-term and long-term incentives for executive officer compensation is structured to encourage the necessary focus and motivation to achieve outstanding results on an ongoing basis, both in the short term and long term. In addition, the combined focus on both short-term and long-term objectives is designed to align executive officers’ and stockholders’ interests. Short-term incentives for executive officers are based on individual and Company performance. Long-term incentives for executive officers are based only on Company performance. The Company’s total compensation targets assume above-average Company performance, and potential compensation can vary considerably depending on overall Company performance. The graphics below illustrate the pay mix for our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and other NEOs (on an average basis) using target level of performance for all incentive awards.

LOGO

Compensation Peer Group and Survey Data

To better understand the compensation practices of similar companies, the Committee reviews data gathered from a custom peer group (“Peer Group”) and general market survey data from Mercer LLC (“Mercer”). Information gathered from the Peer Group serves as the primary reference point for the Committee, with Mercer survey data used as a secondary reference.

The Peer Group consists of companies selected on the basis of chemical industry affiliation and size as compared to the Company (e.g., total revenues and market capitalization). The following companies comprised the Peer Group that the Committee referenced when setting 2021 compensation:


AdvanSix Inc.	Innospec Inc.	PolyOne Corporation
Albemarle Corporation	Koppers Holdings, Inc.	PQ Group Holdings Inc.
Ashland Global Holdings Inc.	Kraton Corporation	Quaker Chemical Corporation
Cabot Corporation	NewMarket Corporation	RPM International Inc.
Ferro Corporation	OMNOVA Solutions Inc.	Sensient Technologies Corporation
H.B. Fuller Company

The Committee undertakes annual evaluations of the Peer Group in order to ensure the Company is comparing itself with companies that have the characteristics to appropriately match the Company.

Exequity performed a review of the Company’s Peer Group in July 2021 and, as a result of such review, the Committee removed OMNOVA Solutions Inc. from the Peer Group due to OMNOVA becoming a privately held company in April 2020. The Committee and its independent compensation consultant will continue to monitor the Peer Group going forward as appropriate.

When assessing the competitiveness of Company compensation programs, the Committee in part uses median compensation levels in the Peer Group as a reference point to provide a framework for and on which to base individual compensation decisions. The Committee generally references median total compensation for executive officers (plus or minus 15% of the 50^th percentile), but the Committee retains discretion to determine appropriate compensation levels. The Committee believes that all NEOs’ and executive officers’ total compensation amounts are within appropriate and reasonable levels as compared to the Peer Group data considering performance, experience level, time in position and both external and internal equity evaluations.

Elements of Compensation

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, the principal elements of compensation for the executive officers, including the NEOs, were as follows:



Compensation Element

Purpose		Description

Base Salary

To attract and retain employees of outstanding abilities		Fixed component of pay based on specific position salary ranges determined by job responsibilities and performance, and reference to Peer Group data

Short-Term Incentive Compensation

To drive improvement in year-over-year financial performance; to motivate, attract and retain employees; and to align executives’ interests directly with Company financial objectives		Variable, annual, at-risk cash component of pay that rewards achievement of pre-determined Company and individual goals

Long-Term Incentive Compensation

To promote retention of executives, to reward outstanding Company performance, to encourage a focus on the Company’s long-term financial results, and to align executive interests with stockholder interests		Variable, at-risk, equity component of pay for eligible participants that rewards stockholder value creation over the long term

Retirement Benefits

To promote retention, to attract outstanding employees and to provide employees with a tax deferred retirement savings vehicle directly connected to the Company’s financial results		Company dollar-for-dollar matching contribution up to six percent of base salary under a Savings and Investment Retirement Plan for all U.S. employees, plus supplemental contributions based on the Company’s financial results



Compensation Element

Purpose		Description

Perquisites

To attract and retain superior employees for key positions		Executives and key employees, including the NEOs, are eligible for a limited amount of perquisites which are provided to be market competitive

Other Benefits

To provide for basic life, health and security needs		Benefit programs that are available to all U.S. salaried employees

Base Salary

The Company has established salary grades and ranges for all global employees, including the NEOs. Salary grades reflect the responsibility level of the position, i.e., positions with a greater level of responsibility have a higher salary grade. The salary range for each grade is primarily based on survey data. The salary grade structure enables the Company to ensure that pay among executives is both market competitive and internally equitable.

The Committee, taking into consideration the performance of the Company, the Company’s compensation philosophy, the Peer Group data, and the Company’s salary grades, reviews and determines the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer’s salary on an annual basis. The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and the Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer make recommendations to the Committee regarding compensation for all other NEOs. The Committee has the discretion to approve such recommendations or revise the recommended amounts, higher or lower, based upon each executive officer’s individual performance. The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer’s salary range is determined based on the same factors and criteria as those for the other NEOs and executive officers.

The NEOs’ base salaries, effective as of January 1, 2021 (unless otherwise noted), are shown below:


NEO	2021 Base Salary
F. Quinn Stepan, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer	$	1,000,000
Luis E. Rojo, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer	$	475,000(1)
Scott R. Behrens, President and Chief Operating Officer	$	500,000
Arthur W. Mergner, Executive Vice President – Supply Chain	$	465,000
Sean T. Moriarty, Vice President and General Manager – Surfactants	$	425,000

(1)	Effective as of March 1, 2021.

Short-Term Incentive Compensation

NEOs and certain other employees are eligible for short-term incentive compensation as set forth in the Management Incentive Plan. The purpose of the Company’s short-term incentive compensation program is to promote improvement in year-over-year financial performance; to motivate, attract and retain executive, managerial and key employees of outstanding ability; and to align participants’ interests directly with the Company’s financial targets. The target amount of short-term incentive

compensation for each NEO is expressed as a percentage of the executive’s actual base salary earned during the respective calendar year. Because senior managers have a greater ability to impact Company results, a significant percentage of their total target compensation is at-risk.

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer position has the highest level of responsibility, and therefore, the target percentage exceeds the other NEOs’ target percentages.

The extent, if any, to which an incentive award will be payable to an NEO will be based solely upon the degree of achievement of pre-established performance goals over the specified calendar year. In years when Company performance is exceptional and above the Target level, it is possible for NEOs to receive annual incentive payments above Target, while in years when Company or individual performance is below the Threshold level for a particular metric, no annual incentive will be paid based upon performance on that metric. In addition, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, reduce or eliminate the amount that would otherwise be payable to the NEO with respect to a calendar year.

The following chart reflects the Target Annual Incentive Award and Maximum Annual Incentive Award for each NEO for 2021 under the terms of the Management Incentive Plan:


NEO	Target Annual Incentive Award(% of Base Salary)			Maximum Annual Incentive Award(% of Base Salary)
F. Quinn Stepan, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer		100.0	%		200.0	%
Luis E. Rojo, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer		75.0	%		150.0	%
Scott R. Behrens, President and Chief Operating Officer		100.0	%		200.0	%
Arthur W. Mergner, Executive Vice President – Supply Chain		75.0	%		150.0	%
Sean T. Moriarty, Vice President and General Manager – Surfactants		75.0	%		150.0	%

Each NEO’s annual incentive payment is determined based on the Company’s achievement of overall financial performance objectives (“Corporate Financial Performance Objectives”) and the achievement of individual performance objectives (“Individual Performance Objectives”), as described below. For 2021, each NEO’s Annual Incentive Award could be increased by a prorated amount if Corporate Net Income exceeded the Target objective, with a two times multiplier applied if Corporate Net Income met or exceeded the Maximum objective.

Corporate Financial Performance Objectives

The Committee establishes the Corporate Financial Performance Objectives at the beginning of each calendar year. For 2021, the Committee established targets for the two Corporate Financial Performance Objectives for all NEOs: Corporate Net Income and Corporate Growth Goal.²

For 2021, the following performance levels were established for the Corporate Net Income objective:


	Threshold	Target	Maximum
Corporate Net Income	$116.0 million	$145.0 million	$159.0 million

The Corporate Growth Goal consisted of profit goals for three categories of products and customers. Together, the three categories of products and customers had an assigned profit goal, with a target

² Corporate Net Income is a non-GAAP measure that differs from the Company’s reported net income. See Appendix A for a definition.

increase over 2020 profit. The Corporate Growth Goal was based upon strategic growth priorities for the Company, and was designed to be difficult but achievable. The Corporate Growth Goal consisted of the following categories: Rigid Polyols, Functional Surfactants and Tier 2 and Tier 3 Surfactants Customers.

For 2021, the following payout levels were established for the Corporate Growth Goal with reference to the profit achieved:


	Threshold	Target
Corporate Growth Goal	$530.0 million	$561.0 million

Each NEO’s annual incentive objectives include these Corporate Financial Performance Objectives. For 2021, all NEOs had at least 40% of their annual incentives tied to these objectives. Within the Corporate Financial Performance Objectives, an 80% weighting was assigned to the Corporate Net Income objective and a 20% weighting was assigned to the Corporate Growth Goal objective.

The following table shows the Company’s performance against the Corporate Net Income and Corporate Growth Goal objectives in 2021:


Objective	2021 Results	2021 Target	2021 Payout Against Target
Corporate Net Income	$ 143.5 million	$ 145.0 million	96.1%
Corporate Growth Goal	$ 551.4 million	$ 561.0 million	84.5%

For both the Corporate Net Income objective and the Corporate Growth Goal, the payouts for performance between Threshold and Target levels are determined by linear interpolation. For 2021, the Company did not achieve the Corporate Net Income Target objective of $145.0 million, with a result of $143.5 million, and did not achieve the Corporate Growth Goal Target objective of $561.0 million, with a result of $551.4 million, resulting in payouts at 96.1% and 84.5% of Target, respectively.

Individual Performance Objectives

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and the Committee agreed upon the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer’s Individual Performance Objectives at the beginning of 2021. For executives other than the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and the executive agree upon Individual Performance Objectives at the beginning of each calendar year. These Individual Performance Objectives may either be financial objectives for a particular business segment or organization, or achievement of certain financial, cultural, safety, service or other strategic objectives specific to their function and responsibility. For each business segment leader, the financial performance of the executive’s segment comprises a significant portion of the executive’s Individual Performance Objectives. For example, for 2021, global surfactant operating income comprised 40% of the short-term incentive compensation objectives for Mr. Moriarty, the Company’s Vice President and General Manager – Surfactants.

For 2021, the Corporate Financial Performance Objective and Individual Performance Objective Target payouts and results (as percentages of base salary) for the NEOs were as follows:


							Individual Objectives (2)
	Corporate Financial Performance Objectives						Safety and Compliance Objectives (1)						Other Individual Objectives (2)
NEO	Target			Result			Target			Result			Target			Result
F. Quinn Stepan, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer		80.00	%		75.02	%		—			—			20.00	%		15.00	%
Luis E. Rojo, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer		45.00	%		42.21	%		5.00	%		5.00	%		25.00	%		20.09	%
Scott R. Behrens, President and Chief Operating Officer		60.00	%		56.27	%		10.00	%		10.00	%		30.00	%		17.18	%
Arthur W. Mergner, Executive Vice President – Supply Chain		40.00	%		37.51	%		10.00	%		10.00	%		25.00	%		6.75	%
Sean T. Moriarty, Vice President and General Manager –Surfactants		25.00	%		23.45	%		5.00	%		5.00	%		45.00	%		27.30	%

(1)	The objective consisted of the global recordable incident rate and additional environmental compliance goals. The Company’s global recordable incident rate was 0.54 in 2021.

(2)	Individual objectives include cultural, safety, sustainability, corporate development, financial, compliance and strategic initiative goals that relate to each executive’s areas of responsibility.

The following chart reflects the total Corporate Financial Performance Objective and Individual Performance Objective results, and the resulting Annual Incentive Award earned for each NEO for 2021 under the terms of the Management Incentive Plan. The amounts earned by the NEOs under the Company’s short-term compensation program for 2021 are set forth in the Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation column of the Summary Compensation Table.


NEO	Corporate Financial Performance Objectives and Individual Objectives Results (% of Base Salary)
F. Quinn Stepan, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer		90.02%
Luis E. Rojo, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer		67.30%
Scott R. Behrens, President and Chief Operating Officer		83.45%
Arthur W. Mergner, Executive Vice President – Supply Chain		54.26%
Sean T. Moriarty, Vice President and General Manager – Surfactants		55.75%

Long-Term Incentive Compensation

The Committee typically grants stock options, SARs and performance shares annually to the NEOs under the Company’s long-term incentive plan. In 2021, the Committee reviewed and approved an allocation of long-term incentives for the NEOs other than the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at approximately 15% of the total grant amount as stock options, 45% of the total grant amount as SARs,

and 40% of the total grant amount as performance shares. The long-term incentive components for the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer were allocated at approximately 30% of the total grant amount as stock options, 30% of the total grant amount as SARs, and 40% of the total grant amount as performance shares. The Committee approved this allocation for the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer due to the fact that the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer has delivered multiple successive years of record performance and has the highest level of responsibility for the Company’s direction.


NEO	Stock Option Value		Stock Appreciation Rights Value		Performance Shares Value		Total 2021 LTI Value
F. Quinn Stepan, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer	$	1,020,000	$	1,020,000	$	1,360,000	$	3,400,000
Luis E. Rojo, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer	$	101,250	$	303,750	$	270,000	$	675,000
Scott R. Behrens, President and Chief Operating Officer	$	150,000	$	450,000	$	400,000	$	1,000,000
Arthur W. Mergner, Executive Vice President – Supply Chain	$	101,250	$	303,750	$	270,000	$	675,000
Sean T. Moriarty, Vice President and General Manager – Surfactants	$	90,000	$	270,000	$	240,000	$	600,000

The chart below shows the number of each type of equity award that the Committee granted to the NEOs as part of the annual 2021 equity grant:


NEO	Stock Options		Stock Appreciation Rights		Performance Shares (at Target)
F. Quinn Stepan, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer		27,953		27,953		10,992
Luis E. Rojo, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer		2,775		8,324		2,182
Scott R. Behrens, President and Chief Operating Officer		4,111		12,332		3,233
Arthur W. Mergner, Executive Vice President – Supply Chain		2,775		8,324		2,182
Sean T. Moriarty, Vice President and General Manager – Surfactants		2,467		7,400		1,940

The grants of stock options, SARs and performance share awards to the NEOs are shown in the Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table. The Board of Directors believes that the mix of such awards provide long-term incentive compensation that is market competitive to attract and retain executives who drive long-term growth of the Company and further align the interests of those executives with the interests of the Company’s stockholders.

In addition to the annual long-term incentive awards, grants of stock options, SARs, performance shares and other stock awards may be awarded to executive officers at other times based on factors that the Committee determines to be relevant, including upon hire, upon promotion or for extraordinary job performance.

Stock Options

Stock options are granted annually with an exercise price equal to the average of the opening price and closing price of Common Stock on the date of grant and have a ten-year term. Options vest ratably over a three-year period. Backdating of stock options is prohibited under all circumstances.

Stock Appreciation Rights

SARs are granted annually at the average of the opening price and closing price of Common Stock on the date of the grant and have a ten-year term. SARs vest ratably over a three-year period and are settled in stock.

Stock Awards (Performance Shares)

Performance shares are contingently awarded at a target number of shares and subject to certain performance conditions established by the Committee. The initial target number of shares may increase or decrease by up to 50% based upon of the Company’s Corporate Net Income results for the calendar year in which the grant is made versus Threshold, Target and Maximum Corporate Net Income objectives. If the Company’s Corporate Net Income result for such year is below the Threshold objective, then the performance shares are forfeited entirely. If the Company’s Corporate Net Income result for such year exceeds the Maximum objective, then the target number of shares will be increased by 50%. Following completion of the three-year performance period, the number of shares may further increase or decrease by up to 30%, based on a three-year average Corporate Return on Invested Capital (“ROIC”) modifier.³ For the performance shares granted in 2021, the initial calculation of the number of performance shares was based on the following Corporate Net Income objectives:


Performance Level	2021 Corporate Net Income		Initial Share Award (% of Target)
Threshold	$	116 million	50%
Target	$	145 million	100%
Maximum	$	159 million	150%

The Company will determine the actual number of performance shares issued after the three-year performance period ending December 31, 2023, based on the following ROIC modifiers:


2020-2022 Average ROIC		Award Modifier
Less than or equal to 9.75%		-30%
10.75%		No impact
Equal to or greater than 11.75%		+30%

The 2021 Corporate Net Income result of $143.5 million was below the Target objective level. Therefore, the number of shares ultimately earned and issued for the 2021 grant will be 96.1% of the initial target number of shares, as increased or decreased up to 30% by the ROIC modifier described above and calculated over the three-year period ending December 31, 2023.

Retirement Benefits

Retirement Plan for Salaried Employees

Effective June 30, 2006, the Company froze the Retirement Plan for Salaried Employees (the “Retirement Plan for Salaried Employees”) and ended the benefit accrual for all participants. Eligible participants were all employees not covered by a collective bargaining agreement who were employees prior to July 1, 2006. The Retirement Plan for Salaried Employees was replaced by the Savings and Investment Retirement Plan (“SIRP”), which provides for Company contributions into the employee’s SIRP account (see the discussion below in the “Savings and Investment Retirement Plan” section). The primary purpose of both the Retirement Plan for Salaried Employees and the SIRP is to retain valuable employees.

³ Return on Invested Capital is a non-GAAP measure. See Appendix A for a definition.

The amounts included in the Pension Benefits table are the present values of the benefits expected to be paid under the Retirement Plan for Salaried Employees in the future. The amount of each future payment is based on the current accrued pension benefit. The actuarial assumptions, with the exception of the expected retirement age, are consistent with those used in the Company’s financial statements. The retirement age is the earliest unreduced retirement age as defined in the Retirement Plan for Salaried Employees and the SIRP.

The pension benefit information set forth in this proxy statement has been calculated based on actuarial assumptions that are considered to be reasonable. Other actuarial assumptions could also be considered to be reasonable which would result in different pension benefit estimates.

Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

NEOs participate in the same basic retirement plans as all other employees, with the exception of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, who is also currently eligible for benefits under the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“SERP”). The SERP was created to provide supplemental retirement benefits to any executive affected by IRS limits on benefits that otherwise would be available through the Retirement Plan for Salaried Employees. The benefits are calculated according to the same retirement plan formula that applies to all eligible employees. The Company believes that all elements of the SERP are customary for this type of retirement plan. The SERP was frozen as of June 30, 2006. The funding status of the SERP is reviewed periodically. Currently, the Company has elected not to fund the SERP.

Savings and Investment Retirement Plan

Pursuant to the SIRP, in each payroll period during 2021, the Company made a contribution to the SIRP account of each eligible employee, including the NEOs. The amount of the Company contribution in 2021 was a dollar-for-dollar matching contribution of up to six percent of the participant’s base salary for the portion of the payroll period during which the participant was an eligible employee (subject to certain limits). All of the NEOs received SIRP contributions in 2021 in the amounts set forth in the Summary Compensation Table.

Profit Sharing Contributions

The Company may make additional profit sharing contributions under the SIRP to each eligible employee, including the NEOs and salaried, hourly and union employees. The Company’s profit sharing contributions are designed to (i) provide eligible employees with an element of their retirement savings that is directly connected to the Company’s financial results, (ii) provide a tax-deferred retirement savings vehicle for eligible employees while giving participants the incentive to optimize the Company’s financial results, and (iii) allow eligible employees to enjoy the benefits of the Company’s success.

Each year management determines, based on the Company’s financial results, whether to recommend to the Committee that the Company make a profit sharing contribution to the accounts of eligible participants. The Committee reviews management’s recommendation and, if approved, presents the recommendation to the Board of Directors for approval. In 2021, the Committee recommended a profit sharing contribution that is based on 2.5% of the Company’s pre-tax income.

Employee Stock Ownership Plan

The Stepan Company Employee Stock Ownership Plan II (“ESOP II”), which is applicable to NEOs, is designed to (i) expand stock ownership among employees, (ii) encourage greater employee interest in

the Company’s financial results, (iii) benefit employees financially by enabling them to acquire shares of the Company’s Common Stock without making contributions, and (iv) provide eligible employees with the opportunity to share in the growth of the Company.

Contributions to ESOP II are a part of the profit sharing contribution under the SIRP as described in the “Profit Sharing Contributions” section above and may be reallocated to ESOP II in shares of Company Common Stock. The ESOP II allocation is made to broaden Company stock ownership among employees for further alignment with the interests of Company stockholders. For 2021, the Committee approved a 100% reallocation to ESOP II.

Supplemental Executive Savings and Investment Retirement Contributions

The Board of Directors has the authority to approve supplemental contributions to provide retirement benefits to any executive affected by IRS limits on benefits that otherwise would be available through contributions to the SIRP. The supplemental contributions are provided to executives as a common executive benefit that allows the Company to be competitive for executive compensation and benefits. During 2021, all of the NEOs were eligible to receive supplemental contributions in the amount by which a six percent contribution to the NEO’s SIRP account by the Company would exceed IRS limits. All supplemental contributions to the NEOs in 2021 are included in the Summary Compensation Table.

Perquisites

The Company provides NEOs with limited perquisites that the Company and the Committee believe are reasonable and consistent with the Company’s overall compensation program because they better enable the Company to attract and retain superior employees for key positions. The Committee periodically reviews the perquisites provided to the NEOs and other executives. For 2021, these perquisites represented a small percentage of each NEO’s total compensation, ranging from 0.64% to 1.18%, with a median of 0.87%. The total dollar values of perquisites provided to each NEO ranged from $13,537 to $34,817, with a median of $17,613.

All executives at the Vice President level and higher, including the NEOs, are provided the use of Company-leased vehicles, including fuel, maintenance and insurance. The allowance for the initial vehicle cost is set by salary grade. The personal use value is computed using the IRS annual lease valuation rule. Other travel benefits, including spousal travel on a limited basis, are provided periodically. The Company also provides relocation benefits for newly hired executive officers.

The Company maintained one Company-owned property that is not used solely for business purposes. Executives, including the NEOs, are allowed to use this property for personal use if and when the property is not needed for business purposes. When this property is used by the NEOs for personal reasons, such values are included in the Summary Compensation Table under “All Other Compensation” based on the incremental cost to the Company.

In addition, the Company pays club membership dues for the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer that are not exclusively used for business entertainment. The actual cost paid for club membership dues is included in the Summary Compensation Table under “All Other Compensation.”

Clawback Policy

The Company has adopted a Clawback Policy that applies to the Company’s executive officers who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act. Under this policy, in the event that any executive covered by the policy engages in willful misconduct or fraud that substantially contributes to a material restatement of the Company’s financial statements, the Company will recover from all covered

executives’ compensation that would not have been paid had the restated financial statements initially been correct. The compensation that could be recovered includes short-term and long-term incentive compensation awarded based on the subsequently restated financial statements that was paid during the 12 months preceding the restatement.

Stock Ownership Policy

The NEOs are subject to a stock ownership policy. The Company instituted a stock ownership policy because it believes that ownership of Company stock is desirable in order to focus both short-term and long-term decision-making on the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. Ownership of Company stock aligns NEOs’ interests with the Company’s financial performance, including the performance of the Company’s Common Stock.

The stock ownership guidelines apply to all NEOs and certain other employees. The Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer is required to maintain ownership of shares with a value of at least five times his base salary; each other executive officer is required to maintain ownership of shares with a value of at least two times his or her base salary; and each other participant is required to maintain ownership of shares with a value of at least one times his or her base salary. All executives, including the NEOs, have five years from their initial stock grant to achieve compliance with these stock ownership requirements. In the event of a promotion that would require an increase in stock ownership under the terms of the policy, an executive has five years from the date of the promotion to achieve compliance with the new level of stock ownership requirements. All executives, including the NEOs, must meet their respective stock ownership requirement by making approximately 20% progress each year for five years. Recognizing the importance of retirement planning, an NEO may, commencing at age 61, reduce his or her holdings by 20% per year to a minimum of one times his or her annual base salary by the calendar year he or she attains the age of 65.

The following shares count towards the stock ownership requirements: (i) shares owned directly or by any immediate family member, (ii) shares owned indirectly as trustee or custodian for the benefit of children, (iii) shares owned in the Company’s ESOP II, (iv) shares owned in the Company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan, and (v) shares held in any Company deferred compensation plan. Unvested restricted stock award grants may also count towards the stock ownership requirement. Grants of stock options, SARs and performance shares do not count towards the stock ownership requirement unless actually exercised or earned. No shares other than those stated above count towards the stock ownership requirements.

The stock ownership policy is reviewed by the Committee, as needed, on a periodic basis against general industry benchmarks of stock ownership.

The Committee reviews annually whether executives, including the NEOs, are in compliance with the stock ownership policy. The Committee determined that all executive officers, including the NEOs, were in compliance with the Company’s stock ownership requirements as of March 2022. Executive officers who received their initial stock grant over five years ago are in full compliance and executive officers who received their initial stock grant within the last five years have made the requisite progress towards full compliance. If an executive fails to comply with stock ownership policy and annual progress requirements, the executive is not eligible to receive grants of stock options, SARs, performance shares, or any other awards under the 2011 Incentive Compensation Plan (or successor plan), until the executive complies with these requirements.

Hedging and Trading Restrictions

The Company has an Insider Trading Policy that, among other things, prohibits NEOs, officers, directors and employees from hedging the economic risk of their ownership in the Company’s Common

Stock. This policy bars NEOs, officers, directors and employees from purchasing financial instruments or otherwise engaging in transactions that hedge or offset, or are designed to hedge or offset, any decrease in the market value of Company equity securities granted by the Company as compensation or held, directly or indirectly, by the NEO officer, director or employee. In addition, this policy prohibits short-selling of the Company’s securities. This policy also prohibits directors, officers and covered employees from trading in the Company’s securities outside of trading window periods or without pre-clearance.

Post-Termination Benefits

The Company does not maintain any plans or other arrangements with its executives that provide for severance or post-termination compensation in the event of a future termination of the executive’s employment. In addition, there are no special considerations for Company executives in connection with terminations due to death, disability, for cause or voluntary choice, including retirement. Subject to Committee approval, the Company may, however, occasionally enter into separation agreements with its executives at the time of the executive’s termination of employment that provide for severance payments or benefits.

Impact of Tax and Accounting Considerations

The Company monitors compensation and benefits-related accounting rules, securities rules, tax rules and all other federal and state regulations on an ongoing basis through internal sources and external sources such as consultants, advisors and outside legal counsel. The Company routinely considers such rules and regulations and their impact on plan design alternatives and Company performance.

Compensation and Development Committee Report

In 2021, the Company’s Compensation and Development Committee was comprised of the following independent directors: Mr. Boyce, Mr. Burgess, Mr. Dearth, Dr. Delgado, Mr. Lawton, Ms. Reed and Mr. Wehmer. Each of these directors satisfies the New York Stock Exchange’s rules for independence. During 2021, Mr. Lawton served as Chair of the Committee.

The Compensation and Development Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis with the management of the Company. Based on this review and discussion, we have recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in the proxy statement and in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.

COMPENSATION AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE


		Gregory E. Lawton, Chair
		Michael R. Boyce
		Lorinda A. Burgess
		Randall S. Dearth
		Joaquin Delgado
		Jan Stern Reed
		Edward J. Wehmer

2021 Summary Compensation Table

The table below summarizes the total compensation paid to or earned by each of the NEOs for the fiscal years ended on December 31, 2019, December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2021. Additional information related to each component of compensation for the NEOs is provided above in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis.


Name and Principal Position	Year		Salary		Stock Awards (1)		Option Awards (2)		Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation (3)		Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings (4)		All Other Compensation (5)		Total
F. Quinn Stepan, Jr. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer		2021	$	1,000,000	$	1,316,512	$	2,040,010	$	900,241		—	$	124,200	$	5,380,963
		2020	$	993,333	$	1,157,751	$	1,800,009	$	1,966,802	$	287,035	$	125,715	$	6,330,646
		2019	$	955,000	$	964,837	$	1,500,027	$	828,272	$	334,242	$	115,048	$	4,697,426

Luis E. Rojo Vice President and Chief Financial Officer		2021	$	468,333	$	261,338	$	405,003	$	315,194		N/A	$	56,248	$	1,506,116
		2020	$	430,833	$	231,550	$	360,012	$	616,092		N/A	$	53,782	$	1,692,270
		2019	$	405,000	$	231,593	$	360,018	$	223,263		N/A	$	51,092	$	1,270,966

Scott R. Behrens President and Chief Operating Officer		2021	$	500,000	$	387,216	$	600,005	$	417,240		—	$	66,948	$	1,971,409
		2020	$	432,500	$	231,550	$	360,012	$	620,292	$	45,588	$	58,556	$	1,748,498
		2019	$	416,667	$	231,593	$	360,018	$	168,630	$	54,509	$	57,732	$	1,289,149

Arthur W. Mergner Executive Vice President – Supply Chain		2021	$	465,000	$	261,338	$	405,003	$	252,319		—	$	55,059	$	1,438,719
		2020	$	427,500	$	231,550	$	360,012	$	557,034	$	65,404	$	52,825	$	1,694,326
		2019	$	412,500	$	231,593	$	360,018	$	224,716	$	83,429	$	51,043	$	1,363,299

Sean T. Moriarty Vice President and General Manager – Surfactants		2021	$	425,000	$	232,354	$	360,047	$	236,938		—	$	55,557	$	1,309,896
		2020	$	372,500	$	173,712	$	270,009	$	384,794	$	46,970	$	50,452	$	1,298,437
		2019	$	358,333	$	173,628	$	270,007	$	189,814	$	56,246	$	48,666	$	1,096,694

(1) Amounts for 2021 are performance share awards that are subject to performance-based vesting conditions and reflect the target outcome award value at the date of the grant in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, excluding the effect of estimated forfeitures. See Note 11, Stock-based Compensation, to the consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, for a discussion of relevant assumptions used in calculating the fair values pursuant to ASC Topic 718. These performance share awards are subject to achievement of the performance conditions as described in the section above entitled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Elements of Compensation—Long-Term Incentive Compensation.” The maximum grant date values, assuming achievement of the highest level of performance conditions, would be:


Name	2021
F. Quinn Stepan, Jr.	$	2,567,198
Luis E. Rojo	$	509,609
Scott R. Behrens	$	755,072
Arthur W. Mergner	$	509,609
Sean T. Moriarty	$	453,090

(2) Amounts for 2021 include the grant date fair value of stock options and SARs granted during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. See Note 11, Stock-based Compensation, to the consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, for a discussion of relevant assumptions used in calculating the fair values pursuant to ASC Topic 718.

(3) Amounts for 2021 reflect annual incentive awards earned pursuant to the Management Incentive Plan with respect to 2021 performance, which were paid in March 2022.

(4) Amounts for 2021 are reported at zero due to an actuarial decrease in the present value of the NEO’s benefits under the Company’s pension plan determined using interest rate and mortality rate assumptions consistent with those used in the Company’s financial statements. Pension values decreased by the following amounts during 2021: Mr. Stepan: $70,079; Mr. Behrens: $11,196; Mr. Mergner: $11,810; and Mr. Moriarty: $11,501.

(5) Amounts for 2021 include Company contributions to each NEO’s defined contribution accounts as follows: Mr. Stepan.: $89,383; Mr. Rojo: $41,820; Mr. Behrens: $44,653; Mr. Mergner: $41,522; and Mr. Moriarty: $37,944. Amounts for 2021 also include personal use of Company-leased vehicles. Amount for 2021 for Mr. Stepan also includes club membership dues. The amount of perquisites and other personal benefits provided to Mr. Stepan for 2021 totaled $34,817. Amounts for 2021 for Mr. Rojo and Mr. Behrens also include personal and family use of entertainment events. Amount for 2021 for Mr. Mergner also includes personal and family use of Company-owned property.

2021 Grants of Plan-Based Awards


	Type of Award (1)	Grant Date		Estimated Possible Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards						Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards						All Other Option Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Options (#)		Exercise or Base Price of Option Awards ($/Sh) (3)		Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and Option Awards ($) (4)
Name	Type of Award (1)	Grant Date		Threshold ($)		Target ($) (2)		Maximum ($)		Threshold (#)		Target (#)		Maximum (#)				Exercise or Base Price of Option Awards ($/Sh) (3)
F. Quinn Stepan, Jr.	MIP		—	$	0	$	1,000,000	$	2,000,000
	SA		2/17/2021								5,496		10,992		21,434					$	1,316,512
	SAR		2/17/2021														27,953	$	123.73	$	1,020,005
	NQS		2/17/2021														27,953	$	123.73	$	1,020,005

Luis E. Rojo	MIP		—	$	0	$	351,250	$	702,500
	SA		2/17/2021								1,091		2,182		4,255					$	261,338
	SAR		2/17/2021														8,324	$	123.73	$	303,743
	NQS		2/17/2021														2,775	$	123.73	$	101,260

Scott R. Behrens	MIP		—	$	0	$	500,000	$	1,000,000
	SA		2/17/2021								1,617		3,233		6,304					$	387,216
	SAR		2/17/2021														12,332	$	123.73	$	449,995
	NQS		2/17/2021														4,111	$	123.73	$	150,010

Arthur W. Mergner	MIP		—	$	0	$	348,750	$	697,500
	SA		2/17/2021								1,091		2,182		4,255					$	261,338
	SAR		2/17/2021														8,324	$	123.73	$	303,743
	NQS		2/17/2021														2,775	$	123.73	$	101,260

Sean T. Moriarty	MIP		—	$	0	$	318,750	$	637,500
	SA		2/17/2021								970		1,940		3,783					$	232,354
	SAR		2/17/2021														7,400	$	123.73	$	270,026
	NQS		2/17/2021														2,467	$	123.73	$	90,021

(1)	Type of Award: MIP – Management Incentive Plan award; SA – stock award (performance shares); SAR – stock appreciation rights; NQS – non-qualified stock options.

(2)	Reflects Target payouts under the Company’s Management Incentive Plan. These Target amounts are based on the NEO’s base salary and position as of the date of grant. Actual amounts paid are set forth in the Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation column of the Summary Compensation Table.

(3)	Reflects the option exercise price, which is the average of the opening price and closing price on the date of the grant, February 17, 2021.

(4)

Reflects the grant date fair value calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 for stock awards, SARs and stock options granted during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. See Note 11, Stock-based Compensation, to the consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, for a discussion of relevant assumptions used in calculating the fair values pursuant to ASC Topic 718. The stock awards are subject to achievement of the performance conditions as described in the section above entitled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Elements of Compensation—Long-Term Incentive Compensation.” The grant date fair values of stock awards are calculated using the most probable outcome of applicable performance conditions.

Outstanding Equity Awards at 2021 Fiscal Year-End


	Option Awards								Stock Awards
Name	Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable		Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable (1)		Option Exercise Price ($)		Option Expiration Date		Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#) (2)		Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested ($) (3)		Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (#) (4)		Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested ($) (3)
F. Quinn Stepan, Jr.		18,876				$61.91		2/17/2024		13,231	$	1,644,451		33,866		$4,209,143
		28,883				$41.16		2/16/2025
		34,741				$43.85		2/22/2026
		48,102				$78.58		2/20/2027
		55,148				$72.99		2/20/2028
		56,244				$92.29		2/19/2029
		46,276		23,138		$102.30		2/18/2030
		18,636		37,272		$123.73		2/16/2031

Luis E. Rojo		7,461				$70.86		5/1/2028		3,176	$	394,723		6,757		$839,790
		13,499				$92.29		2/19/2029
		9,256		4,628		$102.30		2/18/2030
		3,700		7,399		$123.73		2/16/2031

Scott R. Behrens		3,165				$78.58		2/20/2027		3,176	$	394,723		7,808		$970,419
		3,447				$72.99		2/20/2028
		13,499				$92.29		2/19/2029
		9,256		4,628		$102.30		2/18/2030
		5,482		10,961		$123.73		2/16/2031

Arthur W. Mergner		583				$63.11		2/18/2023		3,176	$	394,723		6,757		$839,790
		1,573				$61.91		2/17/2024
		3,851				$41.16		2/16/2025
		10,349				$43.85		2/22/2026
		12,659				$78.58		2/20/2027
		13,787				$72.99		2/20/2028
		13,499				$92.29		2/19/2029
		9,256		4,628		$102.30		2/18/2030
		3,700		7,399		$123.73		2/16/2031

Sean T. Moriarty		3,797				$78.58		2/20/2027		2,381	$	295,928		5,372		$667,686
		3,218				$72.99		2/20/2028
		10,124				$92.29		2/19/2029
		6,941		3,472		$102.30		2/18/2030
		3,290		6,577		$123.73		2/16/2031

(1)	Reflects stock options and SARs that vest as set forth in the table below.


Name	SARs (#)		Options (#)		Vesting Date
F. Quinn Stepan, Jr.		20,888		20,888		12/31/2022
		9,317		9,317		12/31/2023
Luis E. Rojo		6,246		2,082		12/31/2022
		2,774		925		12/31/2023
Scott R. Behrens		7,582		2,527		12/31/2022
		4,110		1,370		12/31/2023
Arthur W. Mergner		6,246		2,082		12/31/2022
		2,774		925		12/31/2023
Sean T. Moriarty		5,071		1,690		12/31/2022
		2,466		822		12/31/2023

(2)	Reflects stock awards granted in February 2019 that vested in February 2022 based on the Company’s achievement of pre-established goals for the performance measurement period ended December 31, 2021.

(3)	The market value of stock awards reported in this table is based on the $124.29 closing market price of the Company’s Common Stock on December 31, 2021.

(4)

Reflects stock awards that will vest as set forth in the table below based on the Company’s achievement of pre-established performance goals. The number of shares that vest following the ROIC performance period ending December 31, 2022 will be determined based on the number of shares earned after the one-year Corporate Net Income measurement period ended December 31, 2020, with the shares earned increased or decreased based on the average ROIC achieved for the three-year period ending December 31, 2022. The number of shares that vest following the ROIC performance period ending December 31, 2023 will be determined based on the number of shares earned after the one-year Corporate Net Income measurement period ended December 31, 2021, with the shares earned increased or decreased based on the average ROIC achieved for the three-year period ending December 31, 2023. The number of shares reported for awards with a performance period ending December 31, 2022 is based on achieving Maximum Corporate Net Income performance with the maximum ROIC modifier because the Company exceeded Target Corporate Net Income and ROIC performance in the applicable measurement period. The number of shares reported for awards with a performance period ending December 31, 2023 is based on achieving Target Corporate Net Income performance with no ROIC modifier because the Company exceeded Threshold Corporate Net Income performance and did not exceed Threshold ROIC performance in the applicable measurement period.


Name	Stock Awards (#)	Last Day of Performance Period
F. Quinn Stepan, Jr.	22,874	12/31/2022
	10,992	12/31/2023
Luis E. Rojo	4,575	12/31/2022
	2,182	12/31/2023
Scott R. Behrens	4,575	12/31/2022
	3,233	12/31/2023
Arthur W. Merger	4,575	12/31/2022
	2,182	12/31/2023
Sean T. Moriarty	3,432	12/31/2022
	1,940	12/31/2023

2021 Option Exercises and Stock Vested


	Option Awards (1)				Stock Awards (2)
Name	Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise (#)		Value Realized on Exercise ($)		Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting (#)	Value Realized on Vesting ($) (3)
F. Quinn Stepan, Jr.		—		—	9,530	$	1,155,703
Luis E. Rojo		6,300	$	362,841	2,454	$	297,597
Scott R. Behrens		3,447	$	225,796	2,383	$	288,986
Arthur W. Mergner		6,000	$	543,270	2,383	$	288,986
Sean T. Moriarty		—		—	1,668	$	202,278

(1)	Reflects exercises of stock options, stock-settled SARs and cash-settled SARs.

(2)	The stock awards, which were granted in 2018, vested in 2021 as a result of the Company achieving certain financial performance targets during the performance period ended December 31, 2020.

(3)	The value is based on the market value of the Company’s Common Stock of $121.27 per share, the average of the high and low prices on March 4, 2021, the date of vesting.

2021 Pension Benefits

The pension values included in the table below are the present value of the benefits expected to be paid in the future under the Company’s Retirement Plan for Salaried Employees and the SERP. The amount of each future payment is based on the current accrued pension benefit and the values of the benefits issued under these plans are determined using interest rate and mortality rate assumptions consistent with those used in the Company’s financial statements. The retirement age is the earliest unreduced retirement age as defined in each plan. The Company froze the Retirement Plan for Salaried Employees and the SERP in 2006. Further information regarding the Company’s Retirement Plans is provided above in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis.

For the Retirement Plan for Salaried Employees and the SERP amounts included in the Present Value of Accumulated Benefit column, the normal retirement benefit is based on the following formula:

•

50% of final average earnings less 50% of the participant’s primary Social Security benefit multiplied by service up to 30 years divided by 30.

•

Normal Retirement: Age 65.

•

Early Retirement: Retirement before age 65 but after attaining age 55 and completing five years of vesting service. The normal retirement benefit is reduced by 0.33% per month for each month between the date on which payments begin and the date of the participant’s 63rd birthday. F. Quinn Stepan, Jr. and Arthur W. Mergner are currently eligible for early retirement.

•

Service: Credited from date of hire to June 30, 2006, with a maximum of 30 years.

•

Final Average Earnings: Highest consecutive five years of base compensation during last ten years of service through June 30, 2006. This amount is limited for the Retirement Plan for Salaried Employees to the amount allowed by Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) regulations.

The specific assumptions used in estimating the amounts in the Present Value of Accumulated Benefit column include:

•

Assumed Retirement Age: Pension benefits are assumed to begin at each participant’s earliest unreduced retirement age, but not before the participant’s current age. The earliest unreduced retirement age is 63 for both plans.

•

Discount Rate: The applicable discount rate as of December 31, 2021 was 2.9%.

•

Mortality Table: The mortality table used as of December 31, 2019 is the Pri-2012 table (with contingent survivor mortality rates used after the original retiree’s death) projected forward generationally using MP-2019 improvement scale. The mortality table used as of December 31, 2020 is the Pri-2012 table (with contingent survivor mortality rates used after the original retiree’s death) projected forward generationally using Order 2 variation of scale MP-2020 with separate improvement tables for males and females. The mortality table used as of December 31, 2021 is the Pri-2012 table (with contingent survivor mortality rates used after the original retiree’s death) projected forward generationally using Order 2 variation of scale MP-2021 with separate improvement tables for males and females.

The information shown in the table below has been developed based on actuarial assumptions that the Company believes to be reasonable. Other actuarial assumptions could also be considered to be reasonable and would result in different values.

Name

Plan Name

Number of Years
Credited Service (#)

Present

Value of

Accumulated

Benefit ($)

Payments During

Last Fiscal Year ($)

F. Quinn Stepan, Jr.

Retirement Plan for Salaried Employees

20.7

$ 987,624

—

Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

20.7

$1,122,017

—

Luis E. Rojo

Retirement Plan for Salaried Employees

N/A

Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

N/A

Scott R. Behrens

Retirement Plan for Salaried Employees

13.4

$ 255,392

—

Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

N/A

Arthur W. Merger

Retirement Plan for Salaried Employees

17.4

$ 469,558

—

Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

N/A

Sean T. Moriarty

Retirement Plan for Salaried Employees

13.8

$ 264,135

—

Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

N/A

2021 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

Pursuant to the Company’s Management Incentive Plan, certain executives, including the NEOs, may defer annual incentive awards earned. Deferral elections are made by eligible executives in June of each year for the amounts to be earned for that year. An executive may defer all or a portion of his or her award pursuant to the provisions of the Management Incentive Plan. Deferred amounts are credited with earnings or losses based on the rate of return of mutual funds selected by the executive, which the executive may change as allowed under the Management Incentive Plan. Additional information regarding the Management Incentive Plan is included in the “Elements of Compensation” section of the Compensation Discussion and Analysis.

After an executive has elected to defer all or a portion of his or her annual incentive awards, no amounts can be paid until the executive has separated from service with the Company in accordance with the provisions of the Management Incentive Plan. At that time, benefits in the executive’s account shall be paid in a single sum or in substantially equal annual installments over three, five or ten years, as elected by the executive.

Executives may also elect to defer receipt of all or a portion of certain incentive compensation payments in accordance with the Stepan Company Performance Award Deferred Compensation Plan (effective January 1, 2008) (the “Performance Award Deferred Compensation Plan”). Information regarding deferrals under the Management Incentive Plan and Performance Award Deferred Compensation Plan is included in the table below.


Name	Plan	Executive Contributions in Last Fiscal Year ($) (1)		Registrant Contributions in Last Fiscal Year ($)	Aggregate Earnings in Last Fiscal Year ($)		Aggregate Withdrawals/ Distributions ($)	Aggregate Balance at Last Fiscal Year-End ($) (2)
F. Quinn Stepan, Jr.	Management Incentive Plan		—	—		765,197	—		12,988,684
	Performance Award Deferred Compensation Plan		1,356,045	—		1,167,841	—		23,531,320
Luis E. Rojo	Management Incentive Plan		315,194	—		154,105	—		969,971
	Performance Award Deferred Compensation Plan		—	—		—	—		—
Scott R. Behrens	Management Incentive Plan		137,689	—		133,454	—		1,570,296
	Performance Award Deferred Compensation Plan		—	—		65,290	—		1,315,560
Arthur W. Mergner	Management Incentive Plan		—	—		238,644	—		1,917,036
	Performance Award Deferred Compensation Plan		325,508	—		118,723	—		2,499,396
Sean T. Moriarty	Management Incentive Plan		—	—		55,124	—		743,399
	Performance Award Deferred Compensation Plan		—	—		—	—		—

(1)

Reflects annual incentive awards deferred under the Management Incentive Plan for 2021, which otherwise would have been paid in 2022. The amounts deferred pursuant to the Management Incentive Plan are included in the Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation column of the Summary Compensation Table for 2021. Also reflects performance share awards deferred under the Management Incentive Plan for the performance period ended on December 31, 2020, which otherwise would have been distributed in 2021.

(2)

The following amount included in this column was reflected in the Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation column of the Summary Compensation Table for 2020: Mr. Rojo: $616,092. The following amounts included in this column were included in the Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation column of the Summary Compensation Table for 2019: Mr. Rojo: $223,263; Mr. Mergner: $224,716; and Mr. Moriarty: $47,454.

Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control

The Company has no contracts, agreements, plans or other arrangements with its executives that provide for severance payments to NEOs in connection with a termination or change in control. The Company may, however, occasionally enter into separation agreements with its executives at the time of the executive’s termination of employment that provide for severance payments or benefits.

As previously disclosed, F. Quinn Stepan, Jr. has notified the Company that he will retire as Chief Executive Officer of the Company on April 25, 2022. Mr. Stepan will remain in his role as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company. In recognition of Mr. Stepan’s service to the Company, on April 25, 2022, Mr. Stepan will receive accelerated vesting of 30,205 unvested stock awards, 30,205 unvested stock appreciation rights, and 22,722 unvested performance share awards, which shall otherwise be treated in accordance with, and subject to, the terms and conditions of the governing plan documents and the applicable award agreements. Mr. Stepan will also be eligible to receive an annual incentive award based on Company and individual performance in 2022, with the amount of the award paid to be prorated based on Mr. Stepan’s actual period of employment during the year. The annual incentive award will otherwise be subject to the terms and conditions of the governing plan documents. Following his retirement as an employee of the Company, Mr. Stepan will participate in the Company’s standard non-employee director compensation arrangements. Mr. Stepan will also receive an annual fee of $225,000 for his service as Chairman of the Board of Directors.

CEO Pay Ratio

As required by Section 953(b) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, and Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K, we are providing the following information regarding the ratio of the annual total compensation of the Company’s median employee to the annual total compensation of F. Quinn Stepan, Jr., the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. We consider the pay ratio specified below to be a reasonable estimate, calculated in a manner that is intended to be consistent with the requirements of Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021:

•

The median of the annual total compensation of all employees of the Company, except the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, was $105,330;

•

The annual total compensation of the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer was $5,380,963; and

•

The ratio of the median of the annual total compensation of all Company employees, other than the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, to the annual total compensation of the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer was approximately 1 to 51.

The Company chose December 31, 2020 as the date for determining the employee population used to identify the median employee. The Company used the same median employee as in the proxy statement relating to the 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders because there has been no change in the Company’s employee population or employee compensation arrangements that the Company believes would significantly impact the pay ratio disclosure. The Company identified the median employee using the base salaries of all employees globally, converting local currency non-U.S. base salaries into U.S. dollars using December 31, 2020 exchange rates. Permanent employees who joined in 2020 and permanent employees who were on leave during 2020 were assumed to have worked for the entire year. The Company used base salaries to identify the median employee because the Company does not widely distribute annual equity awards to employees and because this measure approximately reflects the total annual compensation of employees. The Company calculated the median employee’s and the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer’s annual total compensation consistent with the disclosure requirements for the Summary Compensation Table. For purposes of this calculation, the median employee’s annual total compensation consisted of wages, premium pay (including overtime, holiday pay and shift differential), paid time off, non-equity incentive plan compensation, change in pension value and retirement plan contributions.

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

Overview of Director Compensation Program

The Company uses a combination of cash and stock-based incentive compensation to attract and retain qualified candidates to serve on the Board of Directors. The Compensation and Development Committee annually reviews the adequacy and competitiveness of the amount of the annual retainer fee, Board committee chair fees, and stock awards, and makes adjustments as it deems appropriate.

Directors’ Fees

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, directors who were not also employees of the Company (“Non-Employee Directors”) were paid an annual retainer fee (“Annual Director Retainer Fee”) of $100,000. The Lead Independent Director was paid an additional annual fee of $15,000, the Chair of the Audit Committee was paid an additional annual fee of $20,000, the Chair of the Compensation and Development Committee was paid an additional annual fee of $15,000, the Chair of the Compliance Committee was paid an additional annual fee of $15,000, and the Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee was paid an additional annual fee of $15,000. No fees or other compensation for service as a director were paid to directors who were also employees of the Company.

Directors Deferred Compensation Plan

A Non-Employee Director may defer receipt of his or her director compensation into one or more available investment options offered under the Stepan Company Directors Deferred Compensation Plan (as amended and restated as of January 1, 2012) (the “Directors Deferred Compensation Plan”). At the election of a Non-Employee Director, deferred payments generally may be made in shares of Common Stock or cash, depending upon the election made by the Non-Employee Director.

Stock Awards and Incentive Compensation Program for Non-Employee Directors

Pursuant to the 2011 Incentive Plan and upon the terms and conditions as determined by the Compensation and Development Committee, each Non-Employee Director serving as a director of the Company on the date of the annual meeting of stockholders each year will be awarded an annual stock award (“Annual Stock Award”). At the Non-Employee Director’s election, the Annual Stock Award is either delivered at the time of the grant or deferred. For 2021, each Non-Employee Director serving as a director of the Company on April 27, 2021 received an Annual Stock Award of 760 shares of Common Stock. The number of shares was determined by dividing $100,000 by $131.57, the average of the opening and closing prices of Common Stock on the day of grant. The Annual Stock Award is vested upon grant and dividend equivalents are credited on deferred Annual Stock Awards. The Non-Employee Directors did not receive any other stock option or stock grants in 2021.

In addition to the Annual Stock Awards, under the 2011 Incentive Plan, the Compensation and Development Committee is permitted to make grants of stock options or additional stock awards to Non-Employee Directors at the times and in the amounts and subject to such other terms and conditions as determined by the Compensation and Development Committee in its sole discretion. The Compensation and Development Committee granted no such awards in 2021.

Non-Employee Directors’ Stock Ownership Policy

The Company maintains a Non-Employee Directors’ Stock Ownership Policy that requires each Non-Employee Director to own a minimum amount of Common Stock equivalent in value to five times the current Annual Director Retainer Fee. The following shares count towards the stock ownership requirements: (i) shares owned directly or by any immediate family member, (ii) shares owned indirectly as trustee or custodian for the benefit of children and family members, and (iii) shares held in the Non-Employee Director’s deferred compensation plan accounts. Stock options do not count towards the stock ownership requirements unless actually exercised.

Each Non-Employee Director has five years from the date of his or her initial election or appointment as a director to achieve compliance with these stock ownership requirements. Compliance with the stock ownership policy for all Non-Employee Directors is reviewed on an annual basis. Currently, all Non-Employee Directors are in compliance with stock ownership requirements; Non-Employee Directors appointed over five years ago are in full compliance and Non-Employee Directors appointed within the last five years have made the requisite progress towards full compliance. Any Non-Employee Director who is not in compliance with the required stock ownership level will not be eligible for any additional, discretionary grants of stock options or stock awards until compliance is achieved.

Hedging and Trading Restrictions

The Company’s Insider Trading Policy also applies to Non-Employee Directors. This policy, among other things, prohibits Non-Employee Directors from hedging the economic risk of their ownership in the Company’s Common Stock, short-selling the Company’s securities, or trading in the Company’s securities outside of trading window periods or without pre-clearance.

2021 Director Compensation Table

The table below summarizes the compensation paid by the Company to Non-Employee Directors for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.


Name (1)	Fees Earned or Paid in Cash		Stock Awards (2)		Total
Michael R. Boyce	$	115,000	$	99,993	$	214,993
Lorinda A. Burgess	$	75,000	$	99,993	$	174,993
Randall S. Dearth	$	100,000	$	99,993	$	199,993
Joaquin Delgado	$	100,000	$	99,993	$	199,993
Gregory E. Lawton	$	115,000	$	99,993	$	214,993
Jan Stern Reed	$	115,000	$	99,993	$	214,993
Edward J. Wehmer	$	135,000	$	99,993	$	234,993

(1)

F. Quinn Stepan, Jr., the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, is not included in this table because during 2021 he was an employee of the Company and thus received no compensation for his services as a director. The compensation received by Mr. Stepan as an employee of the Company is shown in the Summary Compensation Table.

(2)

Reflects stock awards granted in April 2021, which were vested upon grant. Each Non-Employee Director was awarded 760 shares. The value is based on the market value of the Company’s Common Stock of $131.57, the average of the opening and closing prices of Common Stock on the day of the grant in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718.

PROPOSAL NO. 2: ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION

As required under the Dodd-Frank Act and Section 14A of the Exchange Act, the Company is including in this proxy statement a non-binding advisory vote to approve the compensation of the Company’s NEOs. Each year, the Company asks for the stockholders to indicate their approval of the compensation paid to the Company’s NEOs. The compensation paid in 2021 is described in this proxy statement in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis as well as the compensation tables and related narratives. Those sections describe the Company’s NEO compensation programs and the rationale behind the decisions made by the Compensation and Development Committee.

This Say-on-Pay vote provides stockholders with the opportunity to express their views about the compensation paid to the Company’s NEOs as described in this proxy statement. A stockholder may vote “FOR” or “AGAINST” the resolution or may “ABSTAIN” from voting on the resolution. Approval of this proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote on this matter. The result of the Say-on-Pay vote will not be binding on the Company or the Board of Directors. However, the Board of Directors values the views of the Company’s stockholders and will review the voting results and take them into consideration when making future decisions regarding compensation of the Company’s NEOs. At the 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the Company’s executive compensation was approved by 98% of the votes cast at the meeting on the proposal. The Board of Directors and the Compensation and Development Committee considered these voting results when they made decisions regarding the compensation of the Company’s NEOs. Unless the Board of Directors modifies its determination on the frequency of future Say-on-Pay votes, the next such advisory vote will be held at the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The Company anticipates next seeking an advisory vote on the frequency of Say-on-Pay votes at its 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

The Board of Directors believes that the Company’s executive compensation program is appropriately designed and is operating effectively to compensate the Company’s NEOs based on achievement of annual and long-term performance goals that are aligned with enhanced stockholder value. As described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the Company’s objectives for its compensation program, including the compensation program for the NEOs, are as follows:

•

motivate employees to achieve and maintain a high level of performance, and drive results that will help the Company achieve its goals;

•

align the interests of our employees with the interests of our stockholders;

•

provide for market-competitive levels of compensation; and

•

attract and retain employees of outstanding ability.

In support of these objectives, the Compensation and Development Committee follows these guiding principles for setting and awarding NEO executive compensation:

•

Pay for Performance. The basic premise of the Company’s NEO compensation philosophy is to pay for performance. The Company’s intention is to foster a performance-driven culture with competitive total compensation as a key driver for executive employees. Compensation levels commensurate with Company performance align the interests of the Company’s NEOs with the interests of the Company’s stockholders. For 2021, incentive pay was directly connected to Company and individual performance. See the “Short-Term Incentive Compensation” and the “Long-Term Incentive Compensation” sections in the Compensation

Discussion and Analysis of this proxy statement for a discussion on the connection between Company performance and compensation levels for each incentive compensation component.

•

Competitive Compensation. Base salaries were surveyed and determined to be consistent with similar positions in similar industries. The Company believes that the level of 2021 executive compensation offered as part of its total reward components was necessary to attract and retain talented NEOs. See the “Compensation Peer Group and Survey Data” section in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis of this proxy statement for a description of the process used for comparing the Company’s compensation programs with those of the Company’s peers.

•

Equity-Based Compensation Aligns the NEOs with the Interests of Stockholders. The Compensation and Development Committee has designed the compensation for NEOs to depend on the achievement of objective performance goals that drive and are aligned with stockholder value. Information related to the amount of NEO compensation that is paid as stock options, SARs and performance shares is described in the “Long-Term Incentive Compensation” section in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis of this proxy statement.

•

Stock Ownership Policy. The Company maintains a stock ownership policy because it believes that ownership of Company stock by key executives is desirable in order to focus both short-term and long-term decision-making on the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. See the “Stock Ownership Policy” section in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis of this proxy statement for a more detailed description of this policy.

•

Hedging and Trading Restrictions. The Company has an Insider Trading Policy that prohibits directors, officers and employees from hedging the economic risk of their ownership in the Company’s Common Stock and prohibits short-selling of the Company’s securities. In addition, the Insider Trading Policy prohibits directors, officers and covered employees from trading in the Company’s securities outside of trading window periods or without pre-clearance.

•

Reasonable and Limited Perquisites and Other Benefits. The limited amount of benefits and perquisites offered to the NEOs is common with companies in our industry and is reasonable in both nature and amount.

•

No Standing Severance/Change-in-Control Agreements. None of the NEOs have any arrangement that provides for severance payments. Additionally, none of the NEOs are entitled to payment of any benefits upon a change-in-control.

As summarized above, the compensation earned by the Company’s NEOs for 2021 was generally aligned with both the Company’s pay for performance philosophy and 2021 Company performance. You should read the Compensation Discussion and Analysis and the compensation tables in this proxy statement in determining whether to approve this proposal. For the reasons discussed above, the Board of Directors recommends that the stockholders vote to approve the following resolution:

RESOLVED, that the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables and narrative discussion, is hereby APPROVED.

PROPOSAL: The Board of Directors recommends that the stockholders vote, on an advisory basis, FOR the above resolution approving the compensation of the Company’s NEOs.

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

In 2021, the Company’s Audit Committee was comprised of the following independent directors: Mr. Boyce, Ms. Burgess, Mr. Dearth, Dr. Delgado, Mr. Lawton, Ms. Reed and Mr. Wehmer. During 2021, Mr. Wehmer served as Chair of the Audit Committee.

The Audit Committee has:

(a)

reviewed and discussed with management and Deloitte, the independent registered public accounting firm appointed by the Board of Directors, the Company’s audited financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021;

(b)

discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm the matters required to be discussed by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) and the SEC; and

(c)

received and reviewed the written disclosures and the letter from the independent registered public accounting firm required by the PCAOB regarding the independent accountant’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and has discussed with the independent accountant the independent accountant’s independence.

Based on the reviews and discussions referred to above, we recommended to the Board of Directors that the Company’s audited financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021 be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.

AUDIT COMMITTEE

Edward J. Wehmer, Chair

Michael R. Boyce

Lorinda A. Burgess

Randall S. Dearth

Joaquin Delgado

Gregory E. Lawton

Jan Stern Reed

The information contained in the Audit Committee Report above shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the SEC, nor shall such information be incorporated by reference into any future filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates it by reference in such filing.

PROPOSAL NO. 3: RATIFY THE APPOINTMENT OF DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP AS THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR 2022

The Audit Committee has selected Deloitte as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company for 2022. Stockholder ratification of the selection of Deloitte as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2022 is not required by our By-laws or otherwise. However, the Board of Directors is submitting the selection of Deloitte for stockholder ratification as a matter of good corporate governance practice. The Audit Committee will take the results of the stockholder vote regarding Deloitte’s appointment into consideration in future deliberations. Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit Committee, in its discretion, may direct the appointment of a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time if it determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.

A representative of Deloitte is expected to be present at the Annual Meeting with the opportunity to make a statement, and to be available to respond to appropriate questions.

PROPOSAL: Upon the recommendation of the Audit Committee, the Board of Directors recommends that the stockholders vote FOR the ratification of the appointment of Deloitte as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company and its subsidiaries for fiscal year 2022.

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fees

The following table presents fees and out-of-pocket expenses for professional audit services rendered by Deloitte for the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2021, and December 31, 2020, and fees billed for other services rendered by Deloitte during those periods:


	2021		2020
Audit Fees (a)	$	1,924,400	$	1,633,600
Audit-Related Fees (b)	$	374,700	$	14,600
Tax Fees (c)	$	1,279,200	$	361,400
All Other Fees (d)	$	1,900	$	1,900

Total	$	3,580,200	$	2,011,500

(a)

Audit services consist of the audit of the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements, the review of the Company’s quarterly consolidated financial statements, the audit of internal controls over financial reporting as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and foreign statutory audits.

(b)	Audit-Related Fees consist of transactional due diligence support and fees paid to Deloitte by one of the Company’s employee benefit plans in connection with an audit of the plan.

(c)	Tax Fees consist of tax advisory services, assistance with tax return filings in certain foreign jurisdictions, and preparation of expatriate tax returns. In 2020, Tax Fees also included transactional due diligence support.

(d)	All Other Fees consist of an annual subscription fee for an online accounting research tool licensed from Deloitte.

Pre-Approval Policy

The Audit Committee is responsible for appointing, setting compensation for and overseeing the work of the independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee has established a policy requiring the pre-approval of all audit, audit-related, and permissible non-audit services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm. The policy provides guidance as to the specific services that the independent registered public accounting firm may perform for the Company. The policy requires that a description of the services expected to be performed by the independent registered public accounting firm, together with an estimate of fees, be provided to the Audit Committee for approval on an annual basis. The scope of these services is carefully considered by the Audit Committee to ensure such services are consistent with applicable rules on auditor independence.

Any requests for audit, audit-related, and non-audit services not previously authorized must be submitted to the Audit Committee for specific pre-approval. Normally, pre-approval is provided at regularly scheduled Audit Committee meetings. However, the policy delegates to the Chair or another designated member of the Audit Committee the authority to grant specific pre-approval between meetings provided that the Chair or designated member reports any pre-approval decision to the Audit Committee at its next regularly scheduled meeting.

All of the services related to the Audit Fees, Audit-Related Fees, Tax Fees and All Other Fees described above were approved by the Audit Committee in accordance with its pre-approval requirements.

PROPOSAL NO. 4: APPROVE THE STEPAN COMPANY 2022 EQUITY INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

Overview

We are asking stockholders to approve the Stepan Company 2022 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2022 Plan”). Our Board of Directors is recommending that the Company’s stockholders vote in favor of the 2022 Plan, which will succeed the Company’s 2011 Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended (the “2011 Plan”). The 2011 Plan has shares remaining available for new awards as of the date of this proxy statement, but if the 2022 Plan is approved by our stockholders, no further grants will be made under the 2011 Plan. However, outstanding awards under the 2011 Plan will generally continue in effect in accordance with their terms.

The 2022 Plan will continue to afford the Board’s Compensation and Development Committee (also referred to as the “Committee” in this Proposal No. 4) the ability to design compensatory awards that are responsive to the Company’s needs and includes authorization for a variety of awards designed to advance the interests and long-term success of the Company by encouraging stock ownership among officers and other employees of the Company and its subsidiaries, certain consultants and other service providers to the Company and its subsidiaries, and non-employee directors of the Company.

Stockholder approval of the 2022 Plan would constitute approval of 500,000 new common shares, par value $1.00 per share, of the Company (“Common Shares”), plus the number of shares that remain available under the 2011 Plan and not subject to outstanding awards as of the effective date of the 2022 Plan, to be available for awards under the 2022 Plan, as described below and in the 2022 Plan, with such amount subject to adjustment, including under the 2022 Plan’s share counting rules. If the 2022 Plan is approved by stockholders, it will be effective as of the day of the Annual Meeting. If the 2022 Plan is not approved by our stockholders, no awards will be made under the 2022 Plan, and the 2011 Plan will remain in effect.

The actual text of the 2022 Plan is attached to this Proxy Statement as Appendix B. The following description of the 2022 Plan is only a summary of its principal terms and provisions and is qualified by reference to the actual text as set forth in Appendix B.

Why We Believe You Should Vote for This Proposal

The 2022 Plan authorizes the Committee to provide equity-based compensation in the form of stock options, SARs, restricted stock, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), performance shares, performance units, dividend equivalents, and certain other awards, including those denominated or payable in, or otherwise based on, Common Shares, for the purpose of providing our non-employee directors, officers and other employees of the Company and its subsidiaries, and certain consultants and other service providers of the Company and its subsidiaries, incentives and rewards for performance and/or service. Some of the key features of the 2022 Plan that reflect our commitment to effective management of equity compensation are set forth below in this subsection.

We believe our future success depends in part on our ability to attract, motivate, and retain high quality employees and directors and that the ability to provide equity-based awards under the 2022 Plan is critical to achieving this success. We would be at a severe competitive disadvantage if we could not use share-based awards to recruit and compensate our employees and directors. The use of Common Shares as part of our compensation program is also important because equity-based awards are an essential component of our compensation for key employees, as they help link compensation with long-term stockholder value creation and reward participants based on service and/or performance.

As of March 4, 2022, 319,027 Common Shares remained available for issuance under the 2011 Plan. If the 2022 Plan is not approved, we may be compelled to increase significantly the cash component of our employee and director compensation, which approach may not necessarily align employee and director compensation interests with the investment interests of our stockholders. Replacing equity awards with cash also would increase cash compensation expense and use cash that could be better utilized.

Overhang and Dilution

The following includes aggregated information regarding our view of the overhang and dilution associated with the 2011 Plan (the “Predecessor Plan”), and the potential dilution associated with the 2022 Plan. This information is as of March 4, 2022.


Stock Options / SARs Outstanding (A)		1,267,531
Weighted-Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Stock Options / SARs	$	91.37
Weighted-Average Remaining Term of Outstanding Stock Options / SARs (Years)		6.91
Total Stock-Settled Full Value Awards Outstanding (B)		135,941
Total Shares Subject to Outstanding Awards (A + B)		1,403,472
Total Shares Remaining Available for Issuance under Predecessor Plan (C)		319,027
Additional Shares Requested (D)		500,000
Basic Common Shares Outstanding (E)		22,423,076
Potential Basic Dilution of Shares Remaining Available + Shares Requested ((C+D)/E)		3.65	%
Total Potential Basic Dilution/Overhang ((A+B+C+D)/E)		9.91	%

Based on the closing price on New York Stock Exchange for our Common Shares on March 4, 2022 of $102.71 per share, the aggregate market value as of March 4, 2022 of the new 500,000 Common Shares requested under the 2022 Plan was $51,355,000.

Burn Rate

Burn rate provides a measure of the potential dilutive impact of our annual equity award program. Set forth below is a table that reflects our burn rate as of fiscal year end for 2021, 2020 and 2019, as well as the average over those years:


	2021			2020			2019
Stock Options / SARs Granted (A)		209,456			258,254			240,780
Full Value Awards Granted (B)		40,127			65,278			45,327
Weighted-Average Common Shares Outstanding (C)		22,465,794			22,468,982			22,544,837
Burn Rate ((A+B)/C)		1.11	%		1.44	%		1.27	%
Three-Year Average Burn Rate		1.27	%

In determining the number of shares to request for approval under the 2022 Plan, our management team worked with the Committee and outside advisors to evaluate a number of factors, including our recent share usage and criteria expected to be utilized by institutional proxy advisory firms in evaluating our proposal for the 2022 Plan.

If the 2022 Plan is approved, we intend to utilize the shares authorized under the 2022 Plan to continue our practice of incentivizing key individuals through equity grants. We currently anticipate that the shares available for issuance pursuant to awards after approval of the 2022 Plan will last for about three years, based on our historic grant rates and the approximate current share price, but could last

for a different period of time if actual practice does not match recent rates or our share price changes materially. As noted below, the Committee retains full discretion under the 2022 Plan to determine the number and amount of awards to be granted under the 2022 Plan, subject to the terms of the 2022 Plan, and future benefits that may be received by participants under the 2022 Plan are not determinable at this time.

We believe that we have demonstrated a commitment to sound equity compensation practices in recent years. We recognize that equity compensation awards dilute stockholders’ equity, so we have carefully managed our equity incentive compensation. Our equity compensation practices are intended to be competitive and consistent with market practices, and we believe our historical share usage has been responsible and mindful of stockholder interests, as described above.

In evaluating this proposal, stockholders should consider all of the information in this proposal.

2022 Plan Highlights

Below are certain highlights of the 2022 Plan. These features of the 2022 Plan are designed to reinforce alignment between equity compensation arrangements awarded pursuant to the 2022 Plan and stockholders’ interests, consistent with sound corporate governance practices:

Reasonable 2022 Plan Limits

Generally, awards under the 2022 Plan are limited to 500,000 Common Shares plus the total number of Common Shares remaining available for awards under the Predecessor Plan as of the effective date of the 2022 Plan, plus the number of Common Shares that are subject to awards granted under the 2022 Plan or the Predecessor Plan that are added (or added back, as applicable) to the aggregate number of shares available under the 2022 Plan pursuant to the share counting rules of the 2022 Plan (as described below). This design means that we are essentially “rolling into” the new 2022 Plan the shares that we have remaining under the 2011 Plan. These shares may be shares of original issuance or treasury shares, or a combination of the two. Generally, the aggregate number of Common Shares available under the 2022 Plan will be reduced by one Common Share for every one Common Share subject to an award granted under the 2022 Plan.

Minimum Vesting Requirement

Generally, awards granted under the 2022 Plan will vest no earlier than the first anniversary of the applicable grant date, except that the following awards will not be subject to the foregoing minimum vesting requirement: any (1) awards granted in connection with awards that are assumed, converted or substituted in connection with a corporate acquisition or merger transaction as described in the 2022 Plan; (2) Common Shares delivered in lieu of fully vested cash obligations; (3) awards to non-employee directors that vest on the earlier of the one-year anniversary of the applicable grant date and the next annual meeting of stockholders which is at least 50 weeks after the immediately preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders; and (4) any additional awards the Committee or the Board may grant, up to a maximum of 5% of the available share reserve authorized for issuance under the 2022 Plan (subject to adjustment as described in the 2022 Plan). The minimum vesting requirement does not preclude the Committee, in its sole discretion, from providing for continued vesting or accelerated vesting for any award under the 2022 Plan upon certain events, including in connection with or following a participant’s death, disability, or termination of service or a change in control, or exercising its discretionary vesting authority (as described in the 2022 Plan) at any time following the grant of an award.

Non-Employee Director Compensation Limit

The 2022 Plan provides that in no event will any non-employee director in any one calendar year be granted compensation for such service having an aggregate maximum value (measured at the date of grant, as applicable, and calculating the value of any awards based on the grant date fair value for financial reporting purposes) in excess of $500,000 (or, for a non-executive chair of the Board, $1,000,000).

Incentive Stock Option Limit

The 2022 Plan also provides that, subject as applicable to adjustment as described in the 2022 Plan, the aggregate number of Common Shares actually issued or transferred upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options (as defined below) will not exceed 500,000 Common Shares.

Limited Share Recycling Provisions

Subject to certain exceptions described in the 2022 Plan, if any award granted under the 2022 Plan (in whole or in part) is canceled or forfeited, expires, is settled for cash, or is unearned, the Common Shares subject to such award will, to the extent of such cancellation, forfeiture, expiration, cash settlement, or unearned amount, again be available under the 2022 Plan. Additionally, if after the effective date of the 2022 Plan, any Common Shares subject to an award granted under the Predecessor Plan are forfeited, or an award granted under the Predecessor Plan (in whole or in part) is cancelled or forfeited, expires, is settled in cash, or is unearned (in whole or in part), the Common Shares subject to such award will, to the extent of such cancellation, forfeiture, expiration, cash settlement, or unearned amount, be available for awards under the 2022 Plan. The following Common Shares will not be added (or added back, as applicable) to the aggregate number of Common Shares available under the 2022 Plan:

•

Common Shares withheld by us, tendered or otherwise used in payment of the exercise price of a stock option;

•

Common Shares withheld by us, tendered or otherwise used to satisfy tax withholding with respect to awards;

•

Common Shares subject to a share-settled stock appreciation right that are not actually issued in connection with the settlement of such stock appreciation right on exercise;

•

Common Shares reacquired by the Company on the open market or otherwise using cash proceeds from the exercise of stock options.

Further, if a participant elects to give up the right to receive cash compensation in exchange for Common Shares based on fair market value, such Common Shares will not count against the aggregate number of shares available under the 2022 Plan.

No Repricing Without Stockholder Approval

Outside of certain corporate transactions or adjustment events described in the 2022 Plan or in connection with a “change in control,” the exercise or base price of stock options and SARs cannot be reduced, nor can “underwater” stock options or SARs be cancelled in exchange for cash, other awards or stock options or SARs with a lower exercise or base price, without stockholder approval under the 2022 Plan.

Change in Control Definition and Default Treatment

The 2022 Plan includes a non-liberal definition of “change in control” which is described below. Under the 2022 Plan, upon a change in control (except as otherwise provided for in an evidence of award) if a replacement award is not granted in respect of an outstanding award: (1) all such awards that have been earned but not paid shall become immediately payable in cash; (2) all such awards shall become fully exercisable; (3) all restrictions applicable to all such awards shall terminate or lapse; and (4) management objectives (if any) applicable to any award that has not yet been earned shall be deemed satisfied at the performance level that provides for a target payout. Further, if an outstanding award is replaced with a replacement award, all such replacement awards shall remain outstanding and be governed by such replacement award terms and conditions. However, if within two years following the change in control a participant’s employment or service on the Board is terminated by the Company or a subsidiary without cause, or if a participant terminates his or her employment for good reason, all such replacement awards shall become fully exercisable and all restrictions applicable to all such Replacement awards shall terminate or lapse. A replacement award is an equity award granted in replacement of an outstanding award under the 2022 Plan in connection with a change in control that,

as determined by the Committee (as constituted immediately prior to such change in control), preserves the existing value of the outstanding award and has terms and conditions (including a vesting schedule) that are at least as favorable to the participant as the terms and conditions in effect immediately prior to such change in control, and, with respect to awards subject to management objectives, an equity award granted in replacement thereof shall be deemed a replacement award only if (i) it is subject to only time-based vesting and (ii) its value is determined at the target level of the management objectives applicable to the outstanding award it replaces.

Exercise or Base Price Limitation

The 2022 Plan also provides that, except with respect to certain converted, assumed or substituted awards as described in the 2022 Plan, no stock options or SARs will be granted with an exercise or base price less than the fair market value of a Common Share on the date of grant.

Clawback Provisions

The 2022 Plan provides that awards to executive officers under the 2022 Plan shall be subject to the Company’s clawback policy. Under this policy, in the event that any executive covered by the policy engages in willful misconduct or fraud that substantially contributes to a material restatement of the Company’s financial statements, the Company will recover from all covered executives compensation that would not have been paid had the restated financial statements initially been correct. The compensation that could be recovered includes short-term and long-term incentive compensation (including equity compensation) awarded based on the subsequently restated financial statements that was paid during the 12 months preceding the restatement. In addition, any evidence of award or such clawback policy may provide for cancellation or forfeiture of an award or the forfeiture and repayment of any Common Shares issued under and/or any other benefit related to an award, or other provisions intended to have a similar effect, upon such terms and conditions as may be required by under Section 10D of the Exchange Act and any applicable rules and regulations promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission or any national securities exchange or national securities association on which the Common Shares may be traded.

Summary of Other Material Terms of the 2022 Plan

Administration

The 2022 Plan will generally be administered by the Committee (or its successor(s)), or any other committee of the Board of Directors designated by the Board of Directors to administer the 2022 Plan. However, notwithstanding anything in the 2022 Plan to the contrary, the Board of Directors may grant awards under the 2022 Plan to non-employee directors and administer the 2022 Plan with respect to such awards. References to the “Committee” in this proposal refer to the Compensation and Development Committee, such other committee designated by the Board of Directors, or the Board of Directors, as applicable. The Committee may from time to time delegate all or any part of its authority under the 2022 Plan to a subcommittee. Any interpretation, construction and determination by the Committee of any provision of the 2022 Plan, or of any agreement, notification or document evidencing the grant of awards under the 2022 Plan, will be final and conclusive. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Committee may delegate to one or more of its members or to one or more officers, or to one or more agents or advisors of the Company, such administrative duties or powers as it deems advisable. In addition, the Committee may by resolution, subject to certain restrictions set forth in the 2022 Plan, authorize one or more officers of the Company to (1) designate employees to be recipients of awards under the 2022 Plan, and (2) determine the size of such awards. However, the Committee may not delegate such responsibilities to officers for awards granted to non-employee directors or

certain employees who are subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16 of the Exchange Act. The Committee is authorized to take appropriate action under the 2022 Plan subject to the express limitations contained in the 2022 Plan.

Eligibility

Any person who is selected by the Committee to receive benefits under the 2022 Plan and who is at that time an officer or other employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is eligible to participate in the 2022 Plan. In addition, persons (including consultants) who provide services to the Company or any of its subsidiaries that are equivalent to those typically provided by an employee (provided that such persons satisfy the Form S-8 definition of “employee”), and non-employee directors of the Company, may also be selected by the Committee to participate in the 2022 Plan. As of March 4, 2022, the Company and its subsidiaries had approximately 2,466 employees and no consultants, and the Company had seven non-employee directors. The basis for participation in the 2022 Plan by eligible persons is the selection of such persons by the Committee (or its authorized delegate) in its discretion.

Types of Awards Under the 2022 Plan

Pursuant to the 2022 Plan, the Company may grant stock options (including stock options intended to be “incentive stock options” as defined in Section 422 of the Code (“Incentive Stock Options”)), SARs, restricted shares, RSUs, performance shares, performance units, and certain other awards based on or related to our Common Shares.

Generally, each grant of an award under the 2022 Plan will be evidenced by an award agreement, certificate, resolution or other type or form of writing or other evidence approved by the Committee or the Board (an “evidence of award”), which will contain such terms and provisions as the Committee may determine, consistent with the 2022 Plan. A brief description of the types of awards which may be granted under the 2022 Plan is set forth below.

Stock Options

A stock option is a right to purchase Common Shares upon exercise of the stock option. Stock options granted to an employee under the 2022 Plan may consist of either an Incentive Stock Option, a non-qualified stock option that is not intended to be an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Code, or a combination of both. Incentive Stock Options may only be granted to employees of the Company or certain of our related corporations. Except with respect to awards issued in substitution for, in conversion of, or in connection with an assumption of stock options held by awardees of an entity engaging in a corporate acquisition or merger with us or any of our subsidiaries, Incentive Stock Options and non-qualified stock options must have an exercise price per share that is not less than the fair market value of a Common Share on the date of grant. The term of a stock option may not extend more than ten years from the date of grant. The Committee may provide in an evidence of award for the automatic exercise of a stock option.

Each grant of a stock option will specify the applicable terms of the stock option, including the number of Common Shares subject to the stock option and the required period or periods of the participant’s continuous service, if any, before any stock option or portion of a stock option will vest. Stock options may provide for continued vesting or the earlier vesting of such stock options, including in the event of the retirement, death, disability or termination of employment or service of a participant or in the event of a change in control.

Any grant of stock options may specify management objectives regarding the vesting of the stock options. Each grant will specify whether the consideration to be paid in satisfaction of the exercise price will be payable: (1) in cash or by check acceptable to the Company, or by wire transfer of immediately available funds; (2) by the actual or constructive transfer to the Company of Common Shares owned by the participant with a value at the time of exercise that is equal to the total exercise price; (3) subject to any conditions or limitations established by the Committee, by a net exercise arrangement pursuant to which the Company will withhold Common Shares otherwise issuable upon exercise of a stock option; (4) by a combination of the foregoing methods; or (5) by such other methods as may be approved by the Committee. To the extent permitted by law, any grant may provide for deferred payment of the exercise price from the proceeds of a sale through a bank or broker of some or all of the shares to which the exercise relates. Stock options granted under the 2022 Plan may not provide for dividends or dividend equivalents.

SARs

The Committee may, from time to time and upon such terms and conditions as it may determine, authorize the granting to any participant of SARs. A SAR is the right of the participant to receive from us at the time of exercise an amount equal to the total spread value (the fair market value of a Common Share on the date of exercise minus the base price of the SAR) for all the Common Shares as to which the SAR is being exercised.

Each grant of SARs will specify the period or periods of continuous service, if any, by the participant with the Company or any subsidiary that is necessary before the SARs or installments of such SARs will vest. SARs may provide for continued vesting or the earlier vesting of such SARs, including in the event of the retirement, death, disability or termination of employment or service of a participant or in the event of a change in control. Any grant of SARs may specify management objectives regarding the vesting of such SARs. A SAR may be paid in cash, Common Shares or any combination of the two. SARs granted under the 2022 Plan may not provide for dividends or dividend equivalents.

Except with respect to awards issued in substitution for, in conversion of, or in connection with an assumption of SARs held by awardees of an entity engaging in a corporate acquisition or merger with us or any of our subsidiaries, the base price of a SAR may not be less than the fair market value of a Common Share on the date of grant. The term of a SAR may not extend more than 10 years from the date of grant. The Committee may provide in an evidence of award for the automatic exercise of a SAR.

Restricted Stock

Restricted stock constitutes an immediate transfer of the ownership of Common Shares to the participant in consideration of the performance of services, entitling such participant to dividend, voting and other ownership rights, subject to the substantial risk of forfeiture and restrictions on transfer determined by the Committee for a period of time determined by the Committee or until certain management objectives specified by the Committee are achieved. Each such grant or sale of restricted stock may be made without additional consideration or in consideration of a payment by the participant that is less than the fair market value per Common Share on the date of grant.

Restricted stock may provide for continued vesting or the earlier vesting of such restricted stock, including in the event of the retirement, death, disability or termination of employment or service of a participant or in the event of a change in control.

Any grant of restricted stock may specify management objectives regarding the vesting of the restricted stock. Any grant of restricted stock may require that any and all dividends or distributions paid on

restricted stock that remain subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture be automatically deferred and/or reinvested in additional restricted stock, which will be subject to the same restrictions as the underlying restricted stock. In any event, dividends or other distributions on shares of restricted stock will be deferred until and only paid contingent upon the vesting of such restricted stock.

RSUs

RSUs awarded under the 2022 Plan constitute an agreement by the Company to deliver Common Shares, cash, or a combination of the two, to the participant in the future in consideration of the performance of services, but subject to the fulfillment of such conditions (which may include the achievement of management objectives) during the restriction period as the Committee may specify. Each grant or sale of RSUs may be made without additional consideration or in consideration of a payment by the participant that is less than the fair market value of our Common Shares on the date of grant.

RSUs may provide for continued vesting or the earlier lapse or other modification of the restriction period, including in the event of the retirement, death, disability or termination or employment of service of a participant or in the event of a change in control.

During the restriction period applicable to RSUs, the participant will have no right to transfer any rights under the award and will have no rights of ownership in the Common Shares deliverable upon payment of the RSUs and no right to vote them. Rights to dividend equivalents may be extended to and made part of any RSU award at the discretion of and on the terms determined by the Committee, on a deferred and contingent basis, either in cash or in additional Common Shares. However, dividend equivalents or other distributions on Common Shares underlying RSUs will be deferred until and paid contingent upon the vesting of such RSUs. Each grant or sale of RSUs will specify the time and manner of payment of the RSUs that have been earned. An RSU may be paid in cash, Common Shares or any combination of the two.

Performance Shares and Performance Units

Performance shares and performance units may also be granted to participants under the 2022 Plan. A performance share is a bookkeeping entry that records the equivalent of one Common Share, and a performance unit is a bookkeeping entry that records a unit equivalent to $1.00 or such other value as determined by the Committee. Performance shares and performance units may be payable in cash, Common Shares, or a combination of the two. Each grant will specify the number or amount of performance shares or performance units to which it pertains, which number or amount may be subject to adjustment to reflect changes in compensation or other factors.

Each grant of performance shares or performance units will specify management objectives regarding the earning of the award.

The performance period with respect to each grant of performance shares or performance units will be a period of time determined by the Committee and within which the management objectives relating to such award are to be achieved, which may be subject to continued vesting or earlier lapse or other modification, including in the event of the retirement, death, disability or termination of employment or service of a participant or in the event of a change in control. Each grant will specify the time and manner of payment of performance shares or performance units that has been earned. Any grant may specify that the amount payable with respect thereto may be paid by the Company in cash, in Common Shares, in restricted stock or RSUs or in any combination thereof.

Any grant of performance shares or performance units may provide for the payment of dividend equivalents in cash or in additional Common Shares, subject to deferral and payment on a contingent basis based on the participant’s earning and vesting of the performance shares or performance units, as applicable, with respect to which such dividend equivalents are paid. This means that dividend equivalents or other distributions on Common Shares underlying performance shares and performance units will be deferred until and only paid contingent upon the vesting of such awards.

Other Awards

Subject to applicable law and applicable share limits under the 2022 Plan, the Committee may grant to any participant Common Shares or such other awards (“Other Awards”) that may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, or related to, Common Shares or factors that may influence the value of such Common Shares, including, without limitation, convertible or exchangeable debt securities, other rights convertible or exchangeable into Common Shares, purchase rights for Common Shares, awards with value and payment contingent upon performance of the Company or specified subsidiaries, affiliates or other business units or any other factors designated by the Committee, and awards valued by reference to the book value of the Common Shares or the value of securities of, or the performance of the specified subsidiaries, affiliates or other business units of the Company. The terms and conditions of any such awards will be determined by the Committee. Common Shares delivered under such an award in the nature of a purchase right granted under the 2022 Plan will be purchased for such consideration, paid for at such time, by such methods, and in such forms, including, without limitation, Common Shares, other awards, notes or other property, as the Committee determines.

The Committee may also authorize the grant of Common Shares as a bonus, or may authorize the grant of Other Awards in lieu of obligations of the Company or a subsidiary to pay cash or deliver other property under the 2022 Plan or under other plans or compensatory arrangements (including Common Shares granted to a director upon such director’s election to receive Common Shares in lieu of cash or other consideration), subject to terms determined by the Committee in a manner that complies with Section 409A of the Code.

The Committee may provide for the payment of dividends or dividend equivalents on Other Awards on a deferred and contingent basis, either in cash or in additional Common Shares. However, dividend equivalents or other distributions on Common Shares underlying Other Awards will be deferred until and paid contingent upon the earning and vesting of such awards.

Other Awards may provide for the earning or vesting of, or earlier elimination of restrictions applicable to, such award, including in the event of the retirement, death, disability or termination of employment or service of a participant or in the event of a change in control.

Change in Control

A definition of “change in control” is provided in Section 12(b) of the 2022 Plan. In general, except as may be otherwise provided in an award agreement, a change in control will occur upon any of the following events (as described in further detail in the 2022 Plan): (1) the acquisition by a person unaffiliated with the Company of 35% or more of the Company’s outstanding voting securities; (2) certain changes in the composition of a majority of the Board; (3) the occurrence of certain reorganizations, mergers, consolidations or sales or other dispositions of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or the acquisition of another corporation or similar forms of corporate transactions; or (4) approval by stockholders of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company pursuant to certain corporate transactions provided under (3) above.

Management Objectives

The 2022 Plan generally provides that any of the awards set forth above may be granted subject to the achievement of specified management objectives. Management objectives are defined as the performance objective or objectives established pursuant to the 2022 Plan for participants who have received grants of performance shares, performance units or, when so determined by the Committee, stock options, SARs, restricted stock, RSUs, dividend equivalents or other awards and may include, but are not limited to, objectives related to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, income or net income (loss) (either before or after interest, taxes, depreciation and/or amortization), earnings, changes in the market price of Common Shares, funds from operations or similar measures, sales, revenue (including recurring revenue), growth in revenue, mergers, acquisitions or other strategic transactions, divestitures, financings, operating income (loss), cash flow (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow and free cash flow), return on capital, return on invested capital, return on investments, assets, return on assets, net asset turnover, debt (including debt reduction), return on operating revenue, working capital, regulatory compliance, improvement of financial ratings, annual spend or license annual spend, equity investments, investing activities and financing activities (or any combination thereof) stockholder returns, dividend ratio, orders, return on sales, marketing, gross or net profit levels, productivity, volumes produced and/or transported, margins, leverage ratio, coverage ratio, strategic business objectives (including operating efficiency, geographic business expansion goals, partnerships, customer/client satisfaction, talent recruitment and retention, productivity ratios, product quality, sales of new products, employee turnover, supervision of information technology), operating efficiency, productivity, product innovation, number of customers, customer satisfaction and related metrics, individual performance, quality improvements, growth or growth rate, intellectual property, expenses or costs (including cost reduction programs), budget comparisons, implementation of projects or processes, formation of joint ventures, research and development collaborations, marketing or customer service collaborations, employee engagement and satisfaction, diversity and other human capital and culture metrics, environmental and social measures, information technology, technology development, human resources management, litigation, research and development, working capital, earnings (loss) per Common Share, and market share, any of which may be measured either in absolute terms or as compared to any incremental increase or as compared to results of a peer group.

Additionally, if the Committee determines that a change in the business, operations, corporate structure or capital structure of the Company, or the manner in which it conducts its business, or other events or circumstances render the management objectives unsuitable, the Committee may in its discretion modify such management objectives or the goals or actual levels of achievement, in whole or in part, as the Committee deems appropriate and equitable.

Adjustments; Corporate Transactions

The Committee will make or provide for such adjustments in: (1) the number of and kind of Common Shares covered by outstanding stock options, SARs, restricted stock, RSUs, performance shares and performance units granted under the 2022 Plan; (2) if applicable, the number of and kind of Common Shares covered by other awards granted pursuant to the 2022 Plan; (3) the exercise price or base price provided in outstanding stock options and SARs, respectively; and (4) other award terms, as the Committee in its sole discretion, exercised in good faith, determines is equitably required in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of participants that otherwise would result from (a) any extraordinary cash dividend, stock dividend, stock split, combination of shares, recapitalization or other change in the capital structure of the Company; (b) any merger, consolidation, spin-off, spin-out, split-off, split-up, reorganization, partial or complete liquidation or other distribution of assets, issuance of rights or warrants to purchase securities; or (c) any other corporate transaction or event having an effect similar to any of the foregoing.

In the event of any such transaction or event, or in the event of a change in control of the Company, the Committee may provide in substitution for any or all outstanding awards under the 2022 Plan such alternative consideration (including cash), if any, as it may in good faith determine to be equitable under the circumstances and will require in connection therewith the surrender of all awards so replaced in a manner that complies with Section 409A of the Code. In addition, for each stock option or SAR with an exercise price or base price, respectively, greater than the consideration offered in connection with any such transaction or event or change in control of the Company, the Committee may in its discretion elect to cancel such stock option or SAR without any payment to the person holding such stock option or SAR. The Committee will make or provide for such adjustments to the number of shares available under the 2022 Plan and the share limits of the 2022 Plan as the Committee, in its sole discretion, exercised in good faith, determines is appropriate to reflect such transaction or event. However, any adjustment to the limit on the number of Common Shares that may be issued upon exercise of Incentive Stock Options will be made only if and to the extent such adjustment would not cause any stock option intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option to fail to so qualify.

Prohibition on Repricing

Except in connection with certain corporate transactions or changes in the capital structure of the Company or in connection with a change in control, the terms of outstanding awards may not be amended to (1) reduce the exercise price or base price of outstanding stock options or SARs, respectively, or (2) cancel outstanding “underwater” stock options or SARs in exchange for cash, other awards or stock options or SARs with an exercise price or base price, as applicable, that is less than the exercise price or base price of the original stock options or SARs, as applicable, without stockholder approval. The 2022 Plan specifically provides that this provision is intended to prohibit the repricing of “underwater” stock options and SARs and that it may not be amended without approval by our stockholders.

Grants to Participants of Different Nationalities

In order to facilitate the making of any grant or combination of grants under the 2022 Plan, the Committee may provide for such special terms for awards to participants who are foreign nationals, who are employed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries outside of the United States of America or who provide services to the Company or any subsidiary under an agreement with a foreign nation or agency, as the Committee may consider necessary or appropriate to accommodate differences in local law, tax policy or custom. The Committee may approve such supplements to, or amendments, restatements or alternative versions of, the 2022 Plan (including sub-plans, which are to be considered part of the 2022 Plan) as it may consider necessary or appropriate for such purposes, provided that no such special terms, supplements, amendments or restatements will include any provisions that are inconsistent with the terms of the 2022 Plan as then in effect unless the 2022 Plan could have been amended to eliminate such inconsistency without further approval by our stockholders. Any such special terms, supplements, sub plans, or alternative versions of the 2022 Plan approved by the Committee may be attached as exhibits to the 2022 Plan.

Withholding

To the extent the Company is required to withhold federal, state, local or foreign taxes or other amounts in connection with any payment made or benefit realized by a participant or other person under the 2022 Plan, and the amounts available to us for such withholding are insufficient, it will be a condition to the receipt of such payment or the realization of such benefit that the participant or such other person make arrangements satisfactory to the Company for payment of the balance of such taxes or other amounts required to be withheld, which arrangements may include relinquishment of a portion of such benefit. With respect to participants who are “officers” subject to Section 16 of the

Exchange Act, if the participant’s benefit is to be received in the form of Common Shares, then, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, we will withhold from the Common Shares required to be delivered to the participant, Common Shares having a value equal to the amount required to be withheld under applicable income and employment tax laws. With respect to participants who are not “officers” subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, if the participant’s benefit is to be received in the form of Common Shares, then we may withhold from the Common Shares required to be delivered to the participant, Common Shares having a value equal to the amount required to be withheld under applicable income and employment tax laws.

The Common Shares used for tax or other withholding will be valued at an amount equal to the fair market value of such Common Shares on the date the benefit is to be included in the participant’s income. In no event will the fair market value of the Common Shares to be withheld and delivered pursuant to the 2022 Plan exceed the minimum amount required to be withheld, unless (1) an additional amount can be withheld and not result in adverse accounting consequences, and (2) such additional withholding amount is authorized by the Committee. Participants will also make such arrangements as the Company may require for the payment of any withholding tax or other obligation that may arise in connection with the disposition of Common Shares acquired upon the exercise of stock options.

No Right to Continued Employment

The 2022 Plan does not confer upon any participant any right with respect to continuance of employment or service with the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

Effective Date of the 2022 Plan

The 2022 Plan will become effective on the date it is approved by the Company’s stockholders. No grants will be made under the 2011 Plan on or after the date on which our stockholders approve the 2022 Plan, provided that outstanding awards granted under the Predecessor Plan will continue following such date.

Amendment and Termination of the 2022 Plan

The Board of Directors generally may amend the 2022 Plan from time to time in whole or in part. However, if any amendment, for purposes of applicable stock exchange rules (and except as permitted under the adjustment provisions of the 2022 Plan) (1) would materially increase the benefits accruing to participants under the 2022 Plan, (2) would materially increase the number of securities which may be issued under the 2022 Plan, (3) would materially modify the requirements for participation in the 2022 Plan, or (4) must otherwise be approved by our stockholders in order to comply with applicable law or the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, or, if the Common Shares are not traded on the New York Stock Exchange, the principal national securities exchange upon which the Common Shares are traded or quoted, all as determined by the Board of Directors, then such amendment will be subject to stockholder approval and will not be effective unless and until such approval has been obtained.

Further, subject to the 2022 Plan’s prohibition on repricing, the Committee generally may amend the terms of any award prospectively or retroactively. Except in the case of certain adjustments permitted under the 2022 Plan, no such amendment may be made that would materially impair the rights of any participant under an existing award without his or her consent. If permitted by Section 409A of the Code and subject to certain other limitations set forth in the 2022 Plan, and including in the case of termination of employment or service, or in the case of unforeseeable emergency or other circumstances or in the event of a change in control, the Committee may provide for continued vesting or accelerate the vesting of certain awards granted under the 2022 Plan or waive any other limitation or requirement under any such award.

The Board of Directors may, in its discretion, terminate the 2022 Plan at any time. Termination of the 2022 Plan will not affect the rights of participants or their successors under any awards outstanding and not exercised in full on the date of termination. No grant will be made under the 2022 Plan on or after the tenth anniversary of the effective date of the 2022 Plan, but all grants made prior to such date will continue in effect thereafter subject to their terms and the terms of the 2022 Plan.

Allowances for Conversion Awards and Assumed Plans

Common Shares issued or transferred under awards granted under the 2022 Plan in substitution for or conversion of, or in connection with an assumption of, stock options, SARs, restricted shares, RSUs, or other share or share-based awards held by awardees of an entity engaging in a corporate acquisition or merger transaction with us or any of our subsidiaries will not count against (or be added to) the aggregate share limit or other 2022 Plan limits described above. Additionally, shares available under certain plans that we or our subsidiaries may assume in connection with corporate transactions from another entity may be available for certain awards under the 2022 Plan, under circumstances further described in the 2022 Plan, but will not count against the aggregate share limit or other 2022 Plan limits described above.

New Plan Benefits

Future awards under the 2022 Plan will be made at the discretion of the Committee; therefore, it is not currently possible to quantify the benefits or amounts that may be received by the named executive officers or groups noted in the table below pursuant to the 2022 Plan in the future. However, we have estimated awards that are anticipated to be made in 2022 to our non-employee directors based on the current non-employee director compensation program.


Name and Position	Dollar Value ($)

F. Quinn Stepan, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer		N/A	(1)
Luis E. Rojo, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer		N/A
Scott R. Behrens, President and Chief Operating Officer		N/A
Arthur W. Mergner, Executive Vice President – Supply Chain		N/A
Sean T. Moriarty, Vice President and General Manager – Surfactants		N/A
Executive Officers as a Group		N/A
Non-Executive Directors as a Group	$	875,000	(2)
Non-Executive Officer Employees as a Group		N/A

(1)	Mr. Stepan will be eligible for a stock award for his service as a non-employee director following his retirement as Chief Executive Officer. The value of such award is included below within “Non-Executive Directors as a Group.”

(2)

The amount disclosed is an estimate for all stock awards to be issued to our seven non-employee directors after the 2022 Annual Meeting based on the current non-employee director compensation program, using the current $125,000 target grant date value per non-employee director for equity awards under such program. The total includes the expected grant to Mr. Stepan, who, following his retirement from his position as Chief Executive Officer, will be eligible to receive the same annual stock award as other non-employee directors.

U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences

The following is a brief summary of certain of the Federal income tax consequences of certain transactions under the 2022 Plan based on Federal income tax laws in effect. This summary, which is presented for the information of stockholders considering how to vote on this proposal and not for 2022

Plan participants, is not intended to be complete and does not describe Federal taxes other than income taxes (such as Medicare and Social Security taxes), or state, local or foreign tax consequences.

Tax Consequences to Participants

Restricted Stock

The recipient of restricted stock generally will be subject to tax at ordinary income rates on the fair market value of the restricted stock (reduced by any amount paid by the recipient for such restricted stock) at such time as the restricted stock are no longer subject to forfeiture or restrictions on transfer for purposes of Section 83 of the Code (“Restrictions”). However, a recipient who so elects under Section 83(b) of the Code within 30 days of the date of transfer of the stock will have taxable ordinary income on the date of transfer of the stock equal to the excess of the fair market value of such stock (determined without regard to the Restrictions) over the purchase price, if any, of such restricted stock. If a Section 83(b) election has not been made, any dividends received with respect to restricted stock that are subject to the Restrictions generally will be treated as compensation that is taxable as ordinary income to the recipient.

Performance Shares and Performance Units

No income generally will be recognized upon the grant of performance shares or performance units. Upon payment in respect of the earn-out of performance shares or performance units, the recipient generally will be required to include as taxable ordinary income in the year of receipt an amount equal to the amount of cash received and the fair market value of any unrestricted Common Shares received.

Nonqualified Stock Options

In general:

•

no income will be recognized by an optionee at the time a non-qualified stock option is granted;

•

at the time of exercise of a non-qualified stock option, ordinary income will be recognized by the optionee in an amount equal to the difference between the option price paid for the shares and the fair market value of the shares, if unrestricted, on the date of exercise; and

•

at the time of sale of shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of a non-qualified stock option, appreciation (or depreciation) in value of the shares after the date of exercise will be treated as either short-term or long-term capital gain (or loss) depending on how long the shares have been held.

Incentive Stock Options

No income generally will be recognized by an optionee upon the grant or exercise of an “incentive stock option” as defined in Section 422 of the Code. If Common Shares are issued to the optionee pursuant to the exercise of an incentive stock option, and if no disqualifying disposition of such shares is made by such optionee within two years after the date of grant or within one year after the transfer of such shares to the optionee, then upon sale of such shares, any amount realized in excess of the option price will be taxed to the optionee as a long-term capital gain and any loss sustained will be a long-term capital loss.

If Common Shares acquired upon the exercise of an incentive stock option are disposed of prior to the expiration of either holding period described above, the optionee generally will recognize ordinary

income in the year of disposition in an amount equal to the excess (if any) of the fair market value of such shares at the time of exercise (or, if less, the amount realized on the disposition of such shares if a sale or exchange) over the exercise price paid for such shares. Any further gain (or loss) realized by the participant generally will be taxed as short-term or long-term capital gain (or loss) depending on the holding period.

SARs

No income will be recognized by a participant in connection with the grant of a SAR. When the SAR is exercised, the participant normally will be required to include as taxable ordinary income in the year of exercise an amount equal to the amount of cash received and the fair market value of any unrestricted Common Shares received on the exercise.

RSUs

No income generally will be recognized upon the award of RSUs. The recipient of an RSU award generally will be subject to tax at ordinary income rates on the fair market value of unrestricted Common Shares on the date that such shares are transferred to the participant under the award (reduced by any amount paid by the participant for such RSUs), and the capital gains/loss holding period for such shares will also commence on such date.

Tax Consequences to the Company and its Subsidiaries

To the extent that a participant recognizes ordinary income in the circumstances described above, the Company or the subsidiary for which the participant performs services will be entitled to a corresponding deduction provided that, among other things, the income meets the test of reasonableness, is an ordinary and necessary business expense, is not an “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code and is not disallowed by the $1 million limitation on certain executive compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code.

Registration with the SEC

We intend to file a Registration Statement on Form S-8 relating to the issuance of Common Shares under the 2022 Plan with the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, as soon as practicable after approval of the 2022 Plan by our stockholders.

Vote Required

Approval of this proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote on the matter.

PROPOSAL: The Board of Directors recommends that the stockholders vote FOR the approval of the Stepan Company 2022 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan.

Equity Compensation Plan Information

The following table provides information as of December 31, 2021, about the Company’s securities that may be issued under the Company’s existing equity compensation plans, all of which have been approved by the stockholders:


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

	(a)	(b)	(c)
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders	1,241,183 (1)	$ 87.55 (2)	528,479
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders	—	—	—

Total	1,241,183	$ 87.55	528,479

(1)	Includes unvested performance share awards, with the number of performance shares based on the probable number of shares that will ultimately vest given the projected level of performance.

(2)	Excludes unvested performance share awards.

2023 STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS AND DIRECTOR NOMINATIONS

In order for proposals from Company stockholders to be included in the Proxy Statement and Form of Proxy for the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, in accordance with SEC Rule 14a-8, the Company must receive the proposals at its headquarters at 1101 Skokie Boulevard, Northbrook, Illinois 60062, no later than November 25, 2022.

A stockholder that intends to nominate a candidate for election as a director or to present business at the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders other than pursuant to Rule 14a-8 must comply with the requirements set forth in the Company’s By-laws. Among other things, a stockholder must give written notice containing the information required by the Company’s By-laws, which must be received by the Secretary of the Company not earlier than 120 days nor later than 90 days prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders. Therefore, because the 2022 Annual Meeting is scheduled for April 26, 2022, the Company’s Secretary must receive the requisite notice and information for a nomination of a candidate for director or a stockholder proposal submitted other than pursuant to Rule 14a-8 no earlier than December 27, 2022, nor later than January 26, 2023.

In the event the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is called for a date that is not within 30 days before or after the anniversary date of the 2022 Annual Meeting, then the foregoing notices required by the Company’s By-laws, to be timely, must be received not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the date on which notice of the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is first given to stockholders or public disclosure of such meeting is made, whichever first occurs.

Universal Proxy Rules for Director Nominations

In addition to satisfying the requirements under the Company’s By-laws, to comply with the universal proxy rules (once effective), stockholders who intend to solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than the Company’s nominees must provide notice that sets forth the information required by Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act, which notice must be postmarked or transmitted electronically to the Company at its headquarters no later than 60 calendar days prior to the anniversary date of the 2022 Annual Meeting (for the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, no later than February 26, 2023 (the first business day following February 25, 2023)). However, if the date of the 2023 Annual Meeting is changed by more than 30 calendar days from such anniversary date, then notice must be provided by the later of 60 calendar days prior to the date of the 2023 Annual Meeting or the 10th calendar day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the 2023 Annual Meeting is first made.

COMMUNICATIONS FOR ALL INTERESTED PARTIES

All interested parties may communicate directly with the Board of Directors, Non-Employee Directors, the Lead Independent Director or specified directors of the Company by submitting all communications in writing to the Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, c/o Secretary’s Office, Stepan Company, 1101 Skokie Boulevard, Northbrook, Illinois 60062. The Secretary initially reviews all correspondence and delivers the correspondence to the addressee.

ANNUAL REPORT TO STOCKHOLDERS

The Company has filed an Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 with the SEC. Stockholders may obtain, free of charge, a copy of the 2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K by writing to Stepan Company, Secretary’s Office, 1101 Skokie Boulevard, Northbrook, Illinois 60062. Copies of exhibits will be provided upon request and payment of a nominal fee equal to the Company’s expense in furnishing such exhibits. The Company’s 2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K is also available at http://www.edocumentview.com/SCL.

By order of the Board of Directors,

DAVID G. KABBES

Secretary

Northbrook, Illinois

March 25, 2022

Appendix A

Explanations of GAAP and Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company believes that certain non-GAAP measures, when presented in conjunction with comparable GAAP measures, are useful for evaluating the Company’s operating performance and provide better clarity on the impact of non-operational items. Internally, the Company uses certain non-GAAP information as an indicator of business performance and evaluates management’s effectiveness with specific reference to these indicators. In addition, the Compensation and Development Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors uses certain non-GAAP measures as targets under the Company’s short-term and long-term incentive compensation programs. These measures should be considered in addition to, not a substitute for or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.

SEC Form DEF 14A filed by Stepan Company