UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 20, 2018

 

 

LOWE’S COMPANIES, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

 

North Carolina   1-7898   56-0578072

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

1000 Lowe’s Blvd., Mooresville, NC   28117
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (704) 758-1000

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions ( see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company  ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

 

 

 


Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On May 20, 2018, the Board of Directors of Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (the “Company”) appointed Marvin R. Ellison as President and Chief Executive Officer, in each case, effective as of July 2, 2018 (the “Effective Date”), at which time he will also join the Board of Directors (the “Board”). On May 20, 2018, the Board also appointed Richard W. Dreiling as Chairman of the Board, effective as of the Effective Date. Mr. Ellison and Mr. Dreiling will succeed Robert A. Niblock, who will be retiring as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and member of the Board, in each case, effective as of the Effective Date.

Mr. Ellison, 53, has served as Chairman of the Board of major retailer J. C. Penney Company, Inc. since 2016, Chief Executive Officer since 2015 and President from 2014 to 2015. Previously, he was Executive Vice President – U.S. Stores of The Home Depot, Inc. from 2008 to 2014. Mr. Ellison also previously served in a variety of operational roles at Target Corporation from 1987 to 2002.

On May 21, 2018, the Company and Mr. Ellison entered into an offer letter (the “Offer Letter”). Pursuant to the Offer Letter, during the term of his employment with the Company, Mr. Ellison will receive (i) an annual base salary of $1,450,000, (ii) eligibility for an annual cash incentive bonus with a target payout of 200% of Mr. Ellison’s annual base salary and a maximum payout of 200% of target, provided that Mr. Ellison’s annual cash incentive bonus for the current fiscal year will be (a) calculated at no less than target if certain strategic plans are formulated by Mr. Ellison by November 8, 2018, and such plans are approved by the Board, and (b) prorated based on Mr. Ellison’s start date, (iii) an annual equity incentive award grant (consisting of a mixture of performance-based restricted share units, time-based restricted shares and stock options) with a target award value equal to 565% of Mr. Ellison’s annual base salary (to be prorated for the current fiscal year based on Mr. Ellison’s start date), (iv) a sign-on equity incentive grant consisting of (a) time-based restricted shares with an award value of $3,500,000, which such grant will vest in full on the third anniversary of the grant date, and (b) nonqualified stock options with an award value of $2,500,000, which such grant will vest in equal annual installments on the first three anniversaries of the grant date, in each case generally subject to Mr. Ellison’s continued employment with the Company through the applicable vesting date, (v) reimbursement for certain expenses incurred by Mr. Ellison in connection with his relocation from Texas to the Charlotte, North Carolina area, (vi) reimbursement of up to $12,000 annually for costs incurred by Mr. Ellison for his personal tax and financial planning, (vii) reimbursement of up to $25,000 for reasonable legal fees incurred by Mr. Ellison in connection with the negotiation of the Offer Letter, (viii) personal use (including immediate family members accompanying Mr. Ellison) of the Company’s aircraft(s) in accordance with the Company’s aircraft usage policy as in effect from time to time, (ix) four weeks of vacation per year and (x) an annual executive physical exam. Mr. Ellison is also eligible to participate in those change in control, retirement, welfare and fringe benefits programs available to senior executives of the Company generally. Upon an involuntary termination of Mr. Ellison’s employment with the Company other than for cause, subject to Mr. Ellison’s (x) execution and non-revocation of a general release and waiver of claims in favor of the Company and certain related parties and (y) compliance with certain post-termination obligations set forth in the Offer Letter, Mr. Ellison

 

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will be entitled to receive severance payments to be paid over twenty-four (24) months in accordance with the Company’s payroll practices equal in the aggregate to two (2) multiplied by the sum of Mr. Ellison’s annual base salary and target annual bonus. Pursuant to the Offer Letter, Mr. Ellison is subject to certain non-competition and non-solicitation restrictions, in each case that apply during the term of his employment and for twenty-four (24) months thereafter, and confidentiality restrictions that apply indefinitely.

The foregoing summary of Mr. Ellison’s compensation and terms of employment generally is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by the Offer Letter, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

There are no family relationships between Mr. Ellison and any director or executive officer of the Company, and Mr. Ellison has no direct or indirect material interest in any transaction required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

 

Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year

At a meeting of the Board held on May 20, 2018, the Board approved and adopted effective immediately amendments (the “Amendment”) to the Bylaws of the Company (the “Bylaws”) to reflect the separation of the roles of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, including but not limited to amendments in respect of, among other things, (i) the ability of each of the Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer to call a special meeting of the shareholders and of the Board (if the Chief Executive Officer is a director), (ii) the ability of the Chief Executive Officer to act as chairman and preside at each meeting of the shareholders in the absence of the Chairman of the Board and (iii) the allocation of responsibilities to the Chief Executive Officer position, including the general supervision, direction and control of the business of the Company, subject to the oversight of the Board of Directors and the power of the Chief Executive Officer to sign certificates for shares of the Company and any deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts, or any other instruments or documents which may be lawfully executed on behalf of the Company. The Bylaws were also amended to clarify that the compensation of non-employee directors shall be recommended to the Board by the appropriate committee thereof.

The foregoing description of the Amendment does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Bylaws, attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.

On May 22, 2018, the Company issued a press release announcing the planned retirement of Mr. Niblock and the appointments of Mr. Ellison and Mr. Dreiling, in each case, effective as of July 2, 2018. A copy of the Company’s press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference into this Item 7.01.

This information, including Exhibit 99.1, is being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

 

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Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits:

 

Exhibit
No.
  

Description

  3.1    Bylaws of Lowe’s Companies, Inc., as amended and restated on May 20, 2018
10.1    Offer Letter between Marvin R. Ellison and Lowe’s Companies, Inc. entered into on May 21, 2018
99.1    Press Release dated May 22, 2018

 

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SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

Date: May 22, 2018     LOWE’S COMPANIES, INC.
    By:  

/s/ Ross W. McCanless

    Name:   Ross W. McCanless
    Title:   Chief Legal Officer and Secretary

 

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Exhibit 3.1

BYLAWS

OF

LOWE’S COMPANIES, INC.

As Amended and Restated May 20, 2018

INDEX

 

ARTICLE I. OFFICES      1  
ARTICLE II. SHAREHOLDERS      1  
  SECTION 1.    ANNUAL MEETING      1  
  SECTION 2.    SPECIAL MEETINGS      1  
  SECTION 3.    PLACE OF MEETING      2  
  SECTION 4.    NOTICE OF MEETING      2  
  SECTION 5.    CLOSING OF TRANSFER BOOKS OR FIXING OF RECORD DATE      3  
  SECTION 6.    VOTING LISTS      3  
  SECTION 7.    QUORUM      4  
  SECTION 8.    PROXIES; ELECTRONIC AUTHORIZATION      4  
  SECTION 9.    VOTING OF SHARES      5  
  SECTION 10.    CONDUCT OF MEETINGS      5  
  SECTION 11.    NOMINATION OF DIRECTORS      5  
  SECTION 12.    NOTICE OF BUSINESS      8  
  SECTION 13.    ADJOURNED MEETING      11  
  SECTION 14.    PROXY ACCESS      11  
ARTICLE III. BOARD OF DIRECTORS      16  
  SECTION 1.    GENERAL POWERS      16  
  SECTION 2.    NUMBER, TENURE AND QUALIFICATIONS      16  
  SECTION 3.    REGULAR MEETINGS      17  
  SECTION 4.    SPECIAL MEETINGS      17  
  SECTION 5.    NOTICE      17  
  SECTION 6.    QUORUM      17  
  SECTION 7.    MANNER OF ACTING      18  
  SECTION 8.    VACANCIES      18  
  SECTION 9.    COMPENSATION      18  
  SECTION 10.    PRESUMPTION OF ASSENT      18  
  SECTION 11.    ACTION WITHOUT MEETING      18  
  SECTION 12.    INFORMAL ACTION BY DIRECTORS      18  
  SECTION 13.    COMMITTEES GENERALLY      18  
  SECTION 14.    DIRECTOR COMPENSATION      18  
ARTICLE IV. INDEMNIFICATION      19  


  SECTION 1.    INDEMNIFICATION    19
  SECTION 2.    LIMITATION ON INDEMNIFICATION    19
  SECTION 3.    BOARD DETERMINATION    19
  SECTION 4.    RELIANCE    19
  SECTION 5.    AGENTS AND EMPLOYEES    19
  SECTION 6.    EXPENSES    19
  SECTION 7.    INSURANCE    20
  SECTION 8.    VESTING    20
ARTICLE V. OFFICERS    20
  SECTION 1.    TITLES    20
  SECTION 2.    ELECTION AND TERM OF OFFICE    20
  SECTION 3.    REMOVAL    20
  SECTION 4.    CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER    20
  SECTION 5.    PRESIDENT    21
  SECTION 6.    VICE PRESIDENTS    21
  SECTION 7.    SECRETARY    21
  SECTION 8.    TREASURER    21
  SECTION 9.    CONTROLLER    21
ARTICLE VI. DEPARTMENTAL DESIGNATIONS    21
ARTICLE VII. CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES AND THEIR TRANSFER    21
  SECTION 1.    CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES;   
     NON-CERTIFICATED SHARES    21
  SECTION 2.    TRANSFER OF SHARES    22
  SECTION 3.    LOST CERTIFICATES    22
ARTICLE VIII. FISCAL YEAR    23
ARTICLE IX. DIVIDENDS    23
ARTICLE X. SEAL    23
ARTICLE XI. WAIVER OF NOTICE    23
ARTICLE XII. AMENDMENTS    23
ARTICLE XIII. CONSTRUCTION OF BYLAWS    23


BYLAWS

OF

LOWE’S COMPANIES, INC.

As Amended and Restated May 20, 2018

ARTICLE I. OFFICES

The principal office of the corporation in the State of North Carolina shall be located in the County of Iredell. The registered office of the corporation, required by law to be continuously maintained in the State of North Carolina, may be, but need not be, identical with the principal office and shall be maintained at that location identified as the address of the business office of the registered agent with the North Carolina Secretary of State. The corporation may have such other offices either within or without the State of North Carolina, as the Board of Directors may designate or the business of the corporation may require from time to time.

ARTICLE II. SHAREHOLDERS

SECTION 1. ANNUAL MEETING . The annual meeting of shareholders shall be held each year on a day in the month of May or June to be designated by the Board of Directors, at an hour to be designated by the Chairman of the Board, for the purpose of electing directors and for the transaction of such other business (other than director nominations, which are subject to the requirements of Section 11 or Section 14, as applicable, of this Article II) as may properly come before the meeting in accordance with Section 12 of this Article II. If the annual meeting shall not be held on the day designated by this Section 1, a substitute annual meeting shall be called in accordance with the provisions of Section 2 of this Article II. A meeting so called shall be designated and treated for all purposes as the annual meeting.

SECTION 2. SPECIAL MEETINGS .

(a) Special meetings of the shareholders for any purpose or purposes may be called by the Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board or by a majority of the Board of Directors, and shall be called by the Secretary upon the written request of shareholders owning in the aggregate not less than twenty-five percent (25%) of the total number of shares of capital stock of the corporation outstanding and entitled to vote on the matter or matters to be brought before the proposed special meeting.

(b) A request to the Secretary of the corporation shall be signed by each shareholder, or a duly authorized agent of such shareholder, requesting the special meeting and shall set forth: (i) a statement of the specific proposal or proposals to be brought before the special meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the special meeting and any material

 

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interest in such business of each shareholder requesting the special meeting and any Shareholder Associated Person (as defined in Section 11(g) of this Article II); and (ii) any other information that would be required to be set forth in a shareholder’s notice required to be delivered pursuant to Section 11 or Section 14 (with respect to director nominations) or Section 12 (with respect to other business) of this Article II, if such provisions were applicable; provided, however, that the provisions of Section 11, Section 12 or Section 14, as applicable, of this Article II shall continue to apply with respect to the nomination of directors and the proposal of other business to be conducted at such meeting. A request to call a special meeting shall include documentary evidence of each requesting shareholder’s record and beneficial ownership of the corporation’s shares of capital stock.

(c) A special meeting requested by shareholders shall be held at such date and time as may be fixed by the Board of Directors; provided, however, that the date of any such special meeting shall be not more than 90 days after the request to call the special meeting is received by the Secretary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a special meeting requested by shareholders shall not be held if (i) the Board of Directors calls or has called an annual or special meeting of shareholders to be held within 90 days after the Secretary receives the request for the special meeting and the Board of Directors determines in good faith that the business of such meeting includes (among any other matters properly brought before the annual meeting) the purpose or purposes specified in the request; or (ii) an annual or special meeting was held not more than 12 months before the date on which the request for a special meeting was delivered to the Secretary that included the purpose or purposes specified by the requesting shareholders in their request for a special meeting, with such determination being made in good faith by the Board of Directors.

(d) Business transacted at a special meeting requested by shareholders shall be limited to the purpose or purposes stated in the request for the special meeting; provided, however, that nothing herein shall prohibit the Board of Directors from submitting additional matters to shareholders at any such special meeting.

(e) Any shareholder may revoke a request for a special meeting at any time by written revocation delivered to the Secretary and, if, following such revocation, there are un-revoked requests from shareholders holding in the aggregate less than the requisite number of shares entitling the shareholders to request the calling of a special meeting, the Board of Directors, in its discretion, may cancel the special meeting.

SECTION 3. PLACE OF MEETING . The Board of Directors may designate any place, either within or without the State of North Carolina, as the place of meeting for any annual or special meeting of the shareholders. In the event the directors do not designate the place of meeting for either an annual or special meeting of the shareholders, the Chairman of the Board may designate the place of meeting. If the Chairman of the Board does not designate the place of meeting, the meeting shall be held at the offices of the corporation in Mooresville, North Carolina.

SECTION 4. NOTICE OF MEETING . Written notice stating the place, day and hour of the meeting and, in case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the

 

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meeting is called, shall be given not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the day of the meeting, by any means of communication permitted under or authorized by the North Carolina Business Corporation Act, including without limitation, in person; by electronic means; or by mail or private carrier, by or at the direction of the Secretary, or the officer or persons calling the meeting, to each shareholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting. When a meeting is adjourned it shall not be necessary to give any notice of the adjourned meeting other than by announcement at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken unless a new record date for the adjourned meeting is or must be fixed, in which event notice shall be given to shareholders as of the new record date.

SECTION 5. CLOSING OF TRANSFER BOOKS OR FIXING OF RECORD DATE . For the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at the meeting or any adjournment thereof, or shareholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend, or in order to make a determination of shareholders for any other proper purpose, the Board of Directors of the corporation may provide that the stock transfer books shall be closed for a stated period but not to exceed, in any case, 60 days. If the stock transfer books shall be closed for the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of shareholders, such books shall be closed for at least 10 days immediately preceding such meeting. In lieu of closing the stock transfer books, the Board of Directors may fix in advance a date as the record date for any such determination of shareholders, such date in any case to be not more than 70 days and, in case of a meeting of shareholders, not less than 10 days prior to the date on which the particular action, requiring such determination of shareholders, is to be taken. If the stock transfer books are not closed and no record date is fixed for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of shareholders, or of shareholders entitled to receive payment of a dividend, the date on which notice of the meeting is mailed or the date on which the resolution of the Board of Directors declaring such dividend is adopted, as the case may be, shall be the record date for such determination of shareholders. When a determination of shareholders entitled to vote at any meeting of shareholders has been made as provided in this Section 5, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof if the meeting is adjourned to a date not more than 120 days after the date fixed for the original meeting.

SECTION 6. VOTING LISTS . The officer or agent having charge of the stock transfer books for shares of the corporation shall make before each meeting of shareholders a complete list of the shareholders entitled to vote at such meeting arranged in alphabetical order and by voting group (and within each voting group by class or series of shares), with the address of and the number of shares held by each. For a period beginning two business days after notice of the meeting is given and continuing through the meeting, this list shall be available at the corporation’s principal office for inspection by any shareholder at any time during usual business hours. The list shall also be produced and kept open at the time and place of the meeting and shall be subject to the inspection of any shareholder during the whole time of the meeting. The original stock transfer books shall be prima facie evidence as to who are the shareholders entitled to examine such list or transfer books or to vote at any meeting of shareholders.

 

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SECTION 7. QUORUM . Shares entitled to vote as a separate voting group may take action on a matter at a meeting if a quorum of that voting group exists with respect to that matter. In the absence of a quorum at the opening of any meeting of shareholders, the meeting may be adjourned from time to time by the vote of the majority of the votes cast on the motion to adjourn. A majority of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter by the voting group constitutes a quorum of that voting group for action on that matter. Once a share is represented for any purpose at a meeting, it is deemed present for quorum purposes for the remainder of the meeting and for any adjournment of the meeting unless a new record date is or must be set for the adjourned meeting. If a quorum exists, action on a matter (other than the election of directors) by a voting group is approved if the votes cast within the voting group favoring the action exceed the votes cast opposing the action, unless the Articles of Incorporation, a Bylaw adopted by the shareholders, or the North Carolina Business Corporation Act requires a greater number of affirmative votes. The standard for electing directors shall be as set forth in the corporation’s Articles of Incorporation.

SECTION 8. PROXIES; ELECTRONIC AUTHORIZATION .

(a) At all meetings of shareholders, a shareholder may vote by proxy executed in writing by the shareholder or by his or her duly authorized attorney in fact. Such proxy shall be filed with the Secretary of the corporation before or at the time of the meeting. No proxy shall be valid after 11 months from the date of its execution, unless otherwise provided in the proxy. If a proxy for the same shares confers authority upon two or more persons and does not otherwise provide a majority of them present at the meeting or if only one is present at the meeting then that one may exercise all the powers conferred by the proxy; but if the proxy holders present at the meeting are divided as to the right and manner of voting in any particular case, and there is no majority, the voting of such shares shall be prorated.

(b) The Secretary may approve procedures to enable a shareholder or a shareholder’s duly authorized attorney in fact to appoint another person or persons to act for him or her as proxy by transmitting or authorizing the transmission of a telegram, cablegram, internet transmission, telephone transmission or other means of electronic transmission to the person who will be the holder of the proxy or to a proxy solicitation firm, proxy support service organization or like agent duly authorized by the person who will be the holder of the proxy to receive such transmission, provided that any such transmission must either set forth or be submitted with information from which the inspectors of election can determine that the transmission was authorized by the shareholder or the shareholder’s duly authorized attorney in fact. If it is determined that such transmissions are valid, the inspectors shall specify the information upon which they relied. Any copy, facsimile telecommunications or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission created pursuant to this Section 8 may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing or transmission for any and all purposes for which the original writing or transmission could be used, provided that such copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission.

 

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(c) If a shareholder intends to appoint another person to act for him or her as proxy to present a proposal at any annual or special meeting of shareholders, the shareholder shall appoint such other person and give notice of such appointment in writing to the Secretary not less than three business days before the date of the meeting, including the name and contact information for such person. For the avoidance of doubt, the advance notice requirements of this subsection (c) shall apply to the appointment of persons as proxies to present (i) proposals submitted in accordance with the eligibility and procedural requirements of Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and included in the corporation’s proxy statement and (ii) proposals submitted by a shareholder in compliance with the notice provisions set forth in Section 12 of this Article II that are not included in the corporation’s proxy statement.

SECTION 9. VOTING OF SHARES . Except as otherwise provided by law, each outstanding share of capital stock of the corporation entitled to vote shall be entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of shareholders. The vote of a majority of the shares voted on any matter at a meeting of shareholders at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the shareholders on that matter, unless the vote of a greater number is required by law or by the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws. Voting on all substantive matters shall be by a ballot vote on that particular matter. Voting on procedural matters shall be by voice vote or by a show of hands unless the holders of one-tenth of the shares represented at the meeting shall demand a ballot vote on procedural matters.

SECTION 10. CONDUCT OF MEETINGS . At each meeting of the shareholders, the Chairman of the Board or, in his absence, the Chief Executive Officer, shall act as chairman and preside. In their absence, the Board may designate another officer or director to preside. The Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, or in their absence, a person whom the chairman of such meeting shall appoint, shall act as secretary of the meeting.

SECTION 11. NOMINATION OF DIRECTORS .

(a) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at any annual or special meeting of shareholders only (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (ii) by any shareholder of the corporation who is a shareholder of record at the time of giving of notice as provided for in this Section 11, who shall be entitled to vote for the election of directors at the meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 11, or (iii) by any shareholder (or group of shareholders) of the corporation who meets the requirements of and complies with all of the procedures set forth in Section 14 of this Article II. In addition to any other applicable requirements, such nominations made pursuant to clause (ii) of this Section 11(a) shall be made pursuant to timely notice in proper written form to the Secretary of the corporation, as provided by this Section 11, and nominations made pursuant to clause (iii) of this Section 11(a) shall be made pursuant to the requirements and procedures set forth in Section 14 of this Article II.

(b) To be timely, a shareholder’s notice of any nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors to be presented by a shareholder at any annual meeting of shareholders pursuant to clause (ii) of Section 11(a) shall be delivered to, or mailed and received at, the

 

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principal executive offices of the corporation not less than 120 days nor more than 150 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting of shareholders; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced by more than 30 days or delayed by more than 60 days from such anniversary date, or if no annual meeting was held in the preceding year, then to be timely notice by a shareholder must be so delivered, or mailed and received, not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the date of such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to the date of such annual meeting or, if the first public announcement (as defined in Section 11(f) of this Article II) of the date of such annual meeting is less than 100 days prior to the date of such annual meeting, the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the corporation. To be timely, a shareholder’s notice of any nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors to be presented by a shareholder at any special meeting of shareholders pursuant to clause (ii) of Section 11(a) shall be delivered to, or mailed and received at, the principal executive offices of the corporation not earlier than 150 days prior to the date of the special meeting nor later than the later of 120 days before the date of the special meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the special meeting was first made by the corporation. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual or special meeting of shareholders, or the public announcement thereof, commence a new time period for the delivery of a shareholder’s notice pursuant to clause (ii) of Section 11(a).

(c) To be in proper form, a shareholder’s notice of any nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors to be presented by a shareholder at any meeting of shareholders pursuant to clause (ii) of Section 11(a) must include or be accompanied by the following:

(i) as to each person whom the shareholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director, (1) the name, age, business address and residence address of such person, (2) the principal occupation or employment of such person, (3) the class and number of shares or other securities of the corporation which are owned of record or beneficially by such person, (4) any derivative positions held of record or beneficially by such person related to, or the value of which is derived in whole or in part from, the value of any class of the corporation’s shares or other securities and whether and the extent to which any hedging or other transaction or series of transactions has been entered into by or on behalf of, or any other agreement, arrangement or understanding has been made, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, or to manage the risk or benefit from share price changes for, or to increase or decrease the voting power of, such person with respect to the corporation’s shares or other securities, (5) a written statement executed by the person acknowledging that as a director of the corporation, the nominee will owe a fiduciary duty under North Carolina law with respect to the corporation and its shareholders, (6) such person’s written consent to being named as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected, (7) such person’s written consent to provide any information that the Board of Directors reasonably requests to determine whether such person would qualify as “independent” under the corporation’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, the requirements of the Corporate Governance Rules of the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”), any applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) or any publicly

 

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disclosed standards used by the Board of Directors in determining and disclosing the independence of the corporation’s directors (collectively, the “Independence Standards”), to determine the eligibility of such person to serve as a director of the corporation, or to determine whether such person meets the requirements for serving as a member of any of the committees of the Board of Directors set forth in Article III of these Bylaws, (8) such person’s written consent to provide any information that could be material to a reasonable shareholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such person, including any compensation arrangement with a third party for such person’s services as a director, (9) any other information regarding such person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with a contested solicitation of proxies for the election of directors pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, if Section 14 of the Exchange Act were applicable, and (10) such person’s written consent to further update and supplement any information provided to the corporation or its shareholders pursuant to such person’s nomination, if necessary, so that all such information shall be true and correct as of the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to vote at the applicable meeting of shareholders, and to ensure that any such update and supplement shall be delivered to, or be mailed and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation not later than five business days after the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to vote at the applicable meeting of shareholders; and

(ii) as to the shareholder giving the notice, (1) the name and address, as they appear on the corporation’s books, of such shareholder and the name and address of any Shareholder Associated Person (as defined in Section 11(g) of this Article II) covered by clauses (2), (3) or (4) below, (2) the class and number of shares or other securities of the corporation which are owned of record or beneficially by such shareholder or by any Shareholder Associated Person, (3) any derivative positions held of record or beneficially by the shareholder or any Shareholder Associated Person related to, or the value of which is derived in whole or in part from, the value of any class of the corporation’s shares or other securities and whether and the extent to which any hedging or other transaction or series of transactions has been entered into by or on behalf of, or any other agreement, arrangement or understanding has been made, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, or to manage the risk or benefit from share price changes for, or to increase or decrease the voting power of, such shareholder or any Shareholder Associated Person with respect to the corporation’s shares or other securities, (4) any other information regarding such shareholder or any Shareholder Associated Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with a contested solicitation of proxies pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, if Section 14 of the Exchange Act were applicable, (5) a written statement whether either such shareholder or any Shareholder Associated Person will deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of the corporation’s voting shares, and (6) such shareholder’s written consent to further update and supplement any information provided to the corporation or its shareholders pursuant to such shareholder’s nomination of persons for election to the Board of Directors, if necessary, so that all such information shall be true and correct as of the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to vote at the

 

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applicable meeting of shareholders, and to ensure that any such update and supplement shall be delivered to, or be mailed and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation not later than five business days after the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to vote at the applicable meeting of shareholders. At the request of the Board of Directors, any person nominated by the Board for election as a director shall furnish to the Secretary of the corporation that information required to be set forth in a shareholder’s notice of nomination pursuant to this clause (ii) of Section 11(c) which pertains to the nominee.

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 11, a shareholder nominating any person for election to the Board of Directors to be presented by a shareholder at any meeting of shareholders pursuant to clause (ii) of Section 11(a) shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by the SEC with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 11; provided, however, that any references herein to the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit any requirements applicable to shareholder nominations pursuant to clause (ii) of Section 11(a). Nothing in this Section 11 shall be deemed to affect any rights of the corporation’s shareholders to request inclusion of nominees in the corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act and the requirements and procedures set forth in Section 14 of this Article II.

(e) The chairman of any meeting of shareholders shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a nomination pursuant to clause (ii) of Section 11(a) was not made in accordance with the provisions prescribed by this Section 11 and, if the chairman should so determine, the chairman shall so declare to the meeting and the defective nomination shall be disregarded.

(f) For purposes of Section 11 and Section 12 of this Article II, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by a national news service or in a document publicly filed by the corporation with the SEC pursuant to Section 13, Section 14 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

(g) For purposes of Section 2, Section 11 and Section 12 of this Article II, “Shareholder Associated Person” of any shareholder means (i) any person controlling, directly or indirectly, or acting in concert with, such shareholder, (ii) any beneficial owner of shares of stock of the corporation owned of record or beneficially by such shareholder and (iii) any person controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Shareholder Associated Person.

SECTION 12. NOTICE OF BUSINESS .

(a) Only business (other than director nominations, which are subject to the requirements of Section 11 or Section 14, as applicable, of this Article II) that is submitted in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Section 12 of Article II may be presented

 

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for consideration by shareholders of the corporation at any annual or special meeting of shareholders. Business may be presented for consideration by the shareholders of the corporation at an annual or special meeting of shareholders (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, or (ii) by any shareholder of the corporation (or another person authorized to act for him or her as proxy) who is a shareholder of record at the time of giving of notice as provided for in this Section 12, who shall be entitled to vote for such business at the meeting and who complies with the notice provisions set forth in this Section 12. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing clause (ii) of this Section 12(a) shall be the exclusive means for a shareholder to present proposals (except proposals submitted in accordance with the eligibility and procedural requirements of Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act and included in the corporation’s proxy materials) for consideration by the corporation’s shareholders at any annual or special meeting of shareholders. In order to be considered by the shareholders of the corporation at any annual or special meeting of shareholders, and in addition to any other applicable requirements, business submitted by a shareholder must be a proper matter for shareholder consideration and must be made pursuant to timely notice in proper written form to the Secretary of the corporation, as provided by this Section 12.

(b) To be timely, a shareholder’s notice of any business to be presented by a shareholder at any annual meeting of shareholders shall be delivered to, or mailed and received at, the principal executive offices of the corporation not less than 120 days nor more than 150 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting of shareholders; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced by more than 30 days or delayed by more than 60 days from such anniversary date, or if no annual meeting was held in the preceding year, then to be timely notice by a shareholder must be so delivered, or mailed and received, not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the date of such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to the date of such annual meeting or, if the first public announcement of the date of such annual meeting is less than 100 days prior to the date of such annual meeting, the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the corporation. To be timely, a shareholder’s notice of any business to be presented by a shareholder at any special meeting of shareholders shall be delivered to, or mailed and received at, the principal executive offices of the corporation not earlier than 150 days prior to the date of the special meeting nor later than the later of 120 days before the date of the special meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the special meeting was first made by the corporation. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual or special meeting of shareholders, or the public announcement thereof, commence a new time period for the delivery of a shareholder’s notice under this Section 12.

(c) To be in proper form, a shareholder’s notice of any business to be presented at any shareholders meeting must set forth:

 

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(i) as to each matter the shareholder proposes to bring before the meeting, (1) the text of the proposal desired to be brought before the meeting and (2) a brief written statement of the reasons for bringing such business before the meeting; and

(ii) as to the shareholder giving the notice, (1) the name and address, as they appear on the corporation’s books, of such shareholder and the name and address of any Shareholder Associated Person covered by clauses (2), (3), (5) and (6) below, (2) the class and number of shares or other securities of the corporation which are owned of record or beneficially by such shareholder or by any Shareholder Associated Person, (3) any derivative positions held of record or beneficially by the shareholder or any Shareholder Associated Person related to, or the value of which is derived in whole or in part from, the value of any class of the corporation’s shares or other securities and whether and the extent to which any hedging or other transaction or series of transactions has been entered into by or on behalf of, or any other agreement, arrangement or understanding has been made, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, or to manage the risk or benefit from share price changes for, or to increase or decrease the voting power of, such shareholder or any Shareholder Associated Person with respect to the corporation’s shares or other securities, (4) a representation that such shareholder is entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy to present the proposal at such meeting, (5) a detailed description of any material interest of such shareholder or any Shareholder Associated Person in such business other than his or her interest as a shareholder of the corporation, (6) any other information regarding such shareholder or any Shareholder Associated Person or such business that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with a contested solicitation of proxies pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, if Section 14 of the Exchange Act were applicable, (7) a statement whether either such shareholder or any Shareholder Associated Person will deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the corporation’s voting shares required under applicable law to carry the proposal, and (8) such shareholder’s written consent to further update and supplement any information provided to the corporation or its shareholders pursuant to such shareholder’s submission of business for consideration by the corporation’s shareholders at any meeting of shareholders, if necessary, so that all such information shall be true and correct as of the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to vote at the applicable meeting of shareholders, and to ensure that any such update and supplement shall be delivered to, or be mailed and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation not later than five business days after the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to vote at the applicable meeting of shareholders.

(d) Notwithstanding anything in these Bylaws to the contrary, no business (other than nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors to be presented by a shareholder at any meeting of shareholders) shall be conducted at a meeting of shareholders except in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Section 12. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 12, a shareholder presenting any business for consideration by the corporation’s shareholders at any annual or special

 

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meeting of shareholders shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by the SEC with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 12; provided, however, that any references herein to the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit any requirements applicable to shareholder proposals pursuant to this Section 12. Nothing in this Section 12 shall be deemed to affect any rights of the corporation’s shareholders to request inclusion of proposals in the corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act.

(e) The chairman of any meeting of shareholders shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that any business was not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with the provisions prescribed by this Section 12. If the chairman should so determine, any such business not so properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted.

SECTION 13. ADJOURNED MEETING . At any meeting of shareholders, the chairman of the meeting shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting or as may be required by law. At such adjourned meeting, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified.

SECTION 14. PROXY ACCESS .

(a) The notice procedures and all other relevant provisions of Section 11 of this Article II shall apply to all nominations made pursuant to this Section 14.

(b) The corporation shall include in its proxy statement for any annual meeting of shareholders the name, together with the Required Information (as defined below), of any person nominated for election to the Board of Directors (a “Shareholder Nominee”) identified in a timely notice that satisfies this Section 14 delivered by one or more shareholders who at the time the request is delivered satisfy the ownership and other requirements of both Section 11 of this Article II and this Section 14 (such shareholder or shareholders, and any Shareholder Associated Person of such shareholder or shareholders, the “Eligible Shareholder”), and who expressly elect as a part of providing the notice required by Section 11 of this Article II (the “Notice”) to have its nominee included in the corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to this subsection (b).

(i) For purposes of this subsection (b), the “Required Information” that the corporation shall include in its proxy statement is (A) the information concerning the Shareholder Nominee and the Eligible Shareholder that, as determined by the corporation, is required to be disclosed in a proxy statement prepared or filed pursuant to the proxy rules of the SEC, and (B) if the Eligible Shareholder so elects, a Statement (as defined below).

(ii) The corporation shall not be required to include a Shareholder Nominee in its proxy materials for any special meeting of shareholders or for any annual meeting of shareholders for which (A) the Secretary of the corporation receives a notice that the

 

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Eligible Shareholder has nominated a person for election to the Board of Directors pursuant to the notice requirements set forth in Section 11 of this Article II and (B) the Eligible Shareholder does not expressly elect as a part of providing the notice to have its nominee included in the corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to this subsection (b).

(iii) The maximum number of Shareholder Nominees appearing in the corporation’s proxy materials with respect to a meeting of shareholders shall not exceed the greater of (A) two Shareholder Nominees and (B) twenty percent (20%) of the number of directors in office as of the last day on which notice of a nomination may be delivered pursuant to Section 11 of this Article II, or if such amount is not a whole number, the closest whole number below twenty percent (20%); provided, however, that this maximum number shall be reduced by (1) any director candidate who had been a Shareholder Nominee at any of the preceding two annual meetings of shareholders and whose reelection at the upcoming annual meeting is being recommended by the Board of Directors and (2) any Shareholder Nominee who was submitted by an Eligible Shareholder but either is subsequently withdrawn or that the Board of Directors decides to nominate as a Board of Director nominee (a “Board Nominee”). In the event that the number of Shareholder Nominees submitted by Eligible Shareholders pursuant to this subsection (b) exceeds this maximum number, each Eligible Shareholder shall select one Shareholder Nominee for inclusion in the corporation’s proxy materials until the maximum number is reached, going in the order of the number (largest to smallest) of shares of capital stock of the corporation entitled to vote in the election of directors each Eligible Shareholder disclosed as owned in the written notice of the nomination submitted to the corporation. If the maximum number is not reached after each Eligible Shareholder has selected one Shareholder Nominee, this selection process shall continue as many times as necessary, following the same order each time, until the maximum number is reached.

(iv) An Eligible Shareholder must have owned (as defined below) three percent (3%) or more of the outstanding shares of the corporation’s stock entitled to vote in the election of directors continuously for at least three years (the “Required Shares”) as of both the date the Notice is delivered to, or mailed and received by, the corporation in accordance with Section 11 of this Article II and the record date for determining shareholders entitled to vote at the meeting and must continue to own the Required Shares through the meeting date. For purposes of satisfying the foregoing ownership requirement under this subsection (b), (A) the shares of stock of the corporation owned by one or more shareholders, or by the person or persons who own shares of the corporation’s stock and on whose behalf any shareholder is acting, may be aggregated, provided that the number of shareholders and other persons whose ownership of shares is aggregated for such purpose shall not exceed 20, and further provided that the group of shareholders shall have provided to the Secretary of the corporation as a part of providing the Notice a written agreement executed by each of its members designating one of the members as the exclusive member to interact with the corporation for purposes of this Section 14 on behalf of all members, and (B) a group of funds under common management and investment control shall be treated as one shareholder or person for this purpose. Within the time period specified in Section 11 of this Article II for providing the Notice, an Eligible Shareholder must provide (or, in the case of a group of shareholders acting

 

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together as an Eligible Shareholder, each member of the group must provide) the following information in writing to the Secretary of the corporation (in addition to the information required to be provided by Section 11 of this Article II): (A) one or more written statements from the record holder of the shares (and from each intermediary through which the shares are or have been held during the requisite three-year holding period) verifying that, as of a date within seven calendar days prior to the date the Notice is delivered to, or mailed and received by, the corporation, the Eligible Shareholder owns, and has owned continuously for the preceding three years, the Required Shares, and the Eligible Shareholder’s agreement to provide, within five business days after the record date for the meeting, written statements from the record holder and intermediaries verifying the Eligible Shareholder’s continuous ownership of the Required Shares through the record date, (B) the written consent of each Shareholder Nominee to be named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serve as a director if elected, (C) a representation that the Eligible Shareholder (1) acquired the Required Shares in the ordinary course of business and not with the intent to change or influence control of the corporation, and does not presently have such intent, (2) has not nominated and will not nominate for election to the Board of Directors at the meeting any person other than the Shareholder Nominee(s) being nominated pursuant to this subsection (b), (3) has not engaged in and will not engage in, and has not and will not be, a “participant” in, another person’s “solicitation” within the meaning of Rule 14a-1(l) under the Exchange Act in support of the election of any individual as a director at the meeting other than its Shareholder Nominee(s) or a Board Nominee, (4) will not distribute to any shareholder any form of proxy for the meeting other than the form distributed by the corporation, (5) intends to continue to own the Required Shares through the date of the meeting, and (6) will provide facts, statements and other information in all communications with the corporation and its shareholders that are or will be true and correct in all material respects and has not and will not omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, (D) an undertaking that the Eligible Shareholder agrees to (1) assume all liability stemming from any legal or regulatory violation arising out of the Eligible Shareholder’s communications with the corporation’s shareholders or out of the information that the Eligible Shareholder provided to the corporation, (2) indemnify and hold harmless the corporation and each of its directors, officers and employees individually against any liability, loss or damages in connection with any threatened or pending action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, against the corporation or any of its directors, officers or employees arising out of any nomination submitted by the Eligible Shareholder pursuant to this subsection (b), (3) file with the SEC all soliciting and other materials as required under this subsection (b), and (4) comply with all other applicable laws, rules, regulations and listing standards with respect to any solicitation in connection with the meeting, and (E) if the Eligible Shareholder did not submit the name(s) of the Shareholder Nominee(s) for consideration to the committee of the Board of Directors that is responsible for nominating Board Nominee(s), a brief explanation why the Eligible Shareholder elected not to do so. The inspectors of election shall not give effect to the Eligible Shareholder’s votes with respect to the election of directors if the Eligible Shareholder does not comply with each of the representations in clause (C) above.

 

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(v) For purposes of this subsection (b), an Eligible Shareholder shall be deemed to “own” only those outstanding shares of the corporation’s stock as to which a shareholder who is the Eligible Shareholder or is included in the group that constitutes the Eligible Shareholder possesses both (A) the full voting and investment rights pertaining to the shares and (B) the full economic interest in (including the opportunity for profit and risk of loss on) such shares; provided that the number of shares calculated in accordance with clauses (A) and (B) shall not include any shares (1) sold by or on behalf of such shareholder or any of its affiliates in any transaction that has not been settled or closed, (2) borrowed by or on behalf of such shareholder or any of its affiliates for any purpose or purchased by such shareholder pursuant to an agreement to resell or (3) subject to any option, warrant, forward contract, swap, contract of sale, other derivative or similar agreement entered into by or on behalf of such shareholder or any of its affiliates whether any such instrument or agreement is to be settled with shares or with cash based on the notional amount or value of outstanding shares of the corporation’s stock, in any such case which instrument or agreement has, or is intended to have, the purpose or effect of (x) reducing in any manner, to any extent or at any time in the future, such shareholder’s or its affiliates’ full right to vote or direct the voting of any such shares, and/or (y) hedging, offsetting or altering to any degree gain or loss arising from the full economic ownership of such shares by such shareholder or its affiliates. A shareholder shall “own” shares held in the name of a nominee or other intermediary so long as the shareholder retains the right to instruct how the shares are voted with respect to the election of directors and possesses the full economic interest in the shares. A shareholder’s ownership of shares shall be deemed to continue during any period in which the shareholder (A) has delegated any voting power by means of a proxy, power of attorney or other instrument or arrangement that is revocable at any time by the shareholder, or (B) has loaned such shares, provided that the person has the power to recall such loaned shares on not more than three business days’ notice and has in fact recalled the loaned shares as of the time the notice of intent is submitted to the Secretary and does not re-loan them through the annual meeting date. The terms “owned,” “owning” and other variations of the word “own” shall have correlative meanings. Whether outstanding shares of the corporation’s stock are “owned” for these purposes shall be determined by the Board of Directors, which determination shall be conclusive and binding on the corporation and its shareholders.

(vi) The Eligible Shareholder may provide to the Secretary of the corporation, within the time period specified in Section 11 of this Article II for providing the Notice, a written statement for inclusion in the corporation’s proxy statement for the meeting, not to exceed 500 words, in support of the Shareholder Nominee’s candidacy (the “Statement”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 14, the corporation may omit from its proxy materials any information or Statement (or portion thereof) that it believes would violate any applicable law, rule, regulation or listing standard.

(vii) The corporation shall not be required to include, pursuant to this subsection (b), a Shareholder Nominee in its proxy materials (A) for any meeting for which the Secretary of the corporation receives a notice that the Eligible Shareholder or any other shareholder has nominated a Shareholder Nominee for election to the Board of Directors pursuant to

 

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the requirements of Section 11 of this Article II and does not expressly elect as a part of providing the notice to have its nominee included in the corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to this subsection (b), (B) if the Eligible Shareholder who has nominated such Shareholder Nominee has engaged in or is currently engaged in, or has been or is a “participant” in, another person’s “solicitation” within the meaning of Rule 14a-1(l) under the Exchange Act in support of the election of any individual as a director at the meeting other than its Shareholder Nominee(s) or a Board Nominee, (C) who is not “independent” under the requirements of the Corporate Governance Rules of the NYSE, any applicable rules of the SEC and any publicly disclosed standards used by the Board of Directors in determining and disclosing the independence of the corporation’s directors, as determined by the Board of Directors, (D) whose election as a member of the Board of Directors would cause the corporation to be in violation of these Bylaws, the corporation’s Articles of Incorporation, the listing standards of the NYSE, or any applicable state or federal law, rule or regulation, (E) who is or has been, within the past three years, an officer or director of a competitor, as defined in Section 8 of the Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914, (F) who is a named subject of a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses) or has been convicted in such a criminal proceeding within the past 10 years, (G) who is subject to any order of the type specified in Rule 506(d) of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (H) if such Shareholder Nominee or the applicable Eligible Shareholder shall have provided information to the corporation in respect to such nomination that was untrue in any material respect or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, as determined by the Board of Directors, or (I) if the Eligible Shareholder or applicable Shareholder Nominee otherwise breaches any of its or their obligations, agreements or representations under this Section 14.

(viii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, the chairman of the meeting shall declare a nomination by an Eligible Shareholder to be invalid, and such nomination shall be disregarded notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the corporation, if the Shareholder Nominee(s) and/or the applicable Eligible Shareholder shall have breached its or their obligations, agreements or representations under this Section 14, as determined by the Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting.

(ix) In addition to the information required to be provided by the Eligible Shareholder by Section 11 of this Article II and this subsection (b), each Shareholder Nominee and each Board Nominee shall provide to the Secretary of the corporation, within two weeks of receipt of the Secretary’s written request therefor, the following information: (A) a completed copy of the corporation’s form of director’s questionnaire; (B) the Shareholder Nominee’s or the Board Nominee’s agreement to comply with the corporation’s corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality, stock ownership and share trading policies, as provided by the Secretary; (C) written confirmation that the Shareholder Nominee or the Board Nominee (1) does not have, and will not have, any agreement or understanding as to how he or she will vote on any matter and (2) is not a party to, and will not become a party to, any outside compensation arrangement relating

 

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to service as a director of the corporation that has not been disclosed to the Secretary of the corporation; (D) written disclosure of any transactions between the Eligible Shareholder and the Shareholder Nominee or the Board Nominee within the preceding five years; and (E) the consent of the Shareholder Nominee or the Board Nominee to the corporation engaging in a background investigation of the Shareholder Nominee or the Board Nominee, including the possible use of one or more third parties to assist with the investigation.

(x) The Eligible Shareholder shall file with the SEC any solicitation or other communication with the corporation’s shareholders relating to the meeting at which the Shareholder Nominee will be nominated, regardless of whether any such filing is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, or whether any exemption from filing is available for such solicitation or other communication under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act.

(xi) No person may be a member of more than one group of persons constituting an Eligible Shareholder under this subsection (b); provided, however, that a bank, broker or fiduciary holding shares in a similar capacity as a record holder acting on behalf of one or more beneficial owners will not be counted separately as a shareholder with respect to the shares owned by beneficial owners on whose behalf such record holder has been directed in writing to act.

(xii) Any Shareholder Nominee who is included in the corporation’s proxy materials for a particular meeting of shareholders but either (A) withdraws from or becomes ineligible or unavailable for election at such meeting, or (B) does not receive at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the votes cast in favor of the Shareholder Nominee’s election, shall be ineligible to be a Shareholder Nominee pursuant to this subsection (b) for the next two annual meetings of shareholders following the meeting for which the Shareholder Nominee has been included in the corporation’s proxy materials.

ARTICLE III. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

SECTION 1. GENERAL POWERS . The business and affairs of the corporation shall be managed by the Board of Directors except as otherwise provided by law, by the Articles of Incorporation or by the Bylaws.

SECTION 2. NUMBER, TENURE AND QUALIFICATIONS . In accordance with the Articles of Incorporation, the Board of Directors shall each year, prior to the annual meeting of shareholders, determine by appropriate resolution the number of directors which shall constitute the Board of Directors for the ensuing year. The directors may by appropriate resolution adopted between annual meetings of shareholders increase or decrease the number of directors, but may not decrease the number of directors below the minimum number specified in the corporation’s Articles of Incorporation. One director shall be designated and elected by the Board as Chairman of the Board of Directors (who may, but need not, be an officer of the corporation) and shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors. The Board may elect a Vice Chairman from among its members (who may, but need not, be an officer of the corporation) whose only duties shall be to

 

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preside at Board meetings in the absence of the Chairman. Directors need not be residents of the State of North Carolina or shareholders of the corporation.

SECTION 3. REGULAR MEETINGS . Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held with such frequency (but no less than quarterly) and at a time and place as shall be determined by the Chairman of the Board of Directors. Any one or more of the directors or members of a committee designated by the directors may participate in a meeting of the Board or committee by means of a conference telephone or similar communications device which allows all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other and such participation in a meeting will be deemed presence in person.

SECTION 4. SPECIAL MEETINGS . Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by or at the request of the Chief Executive Officer (if a director), Chairman of the Board of Directors or two of the directors. The person or persons authorized to call special meetings of the Board of Directors may fix any place, either within or without the State of North Carolina, as the place for holding any special meeting of the Board of Directors called by them.

SECTION 5. NOTICE . Regular meetings of the Board of Directors, or a committee thereof, may be held without notice. Notice of any special meeting of the Board of Directors, or a committee thereof, shall be given, at least two days before the meeting, by any usual means of communication, including without limitation, in person; by telephone, facsimile, electronic mail or other electronic transmission; or by mail or private carrier. Notice shall be deemed effective at the earliest of the following:

(a) when received, or, in the case of oral notice, when actually communicated to the director;

(b) when deposited in the United States mail, as evidenced by the postmark or postage meter date, if mailed with postage thereon prepaid and correctly addressed;

(c) if by facsimile or other electronic transmission, by acknowledgement by the director or the director’s agent or representative of receipt of the electronic transmission; or

(d) on the date shown on the confirmation of delivery issued by a private carrier, if sent by private carrier to the address of the director last known to the corporation.

Any director may waive notice of any meeting. The attendance of a director at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where a director attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at nor the purpose of any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors, or a committee thereof, need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting.

SECTION 6. QUORUM . A majority of the number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or a committee

 

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thereof, but if less than such majority is present at a meeting, a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice.

SECTION 7. MANNER OF ACTING . The act of the majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors unless otherwise required by the Articles of Incorporation.

SECTION 8. VACANCIES . Any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors shall be filled as provided in the Articles of Incorporation.

SECTION 9. COMPENSATION . The directors may be paid such expenses as are incurred in connection with their duties as directors. The Board of Directors may also pay to the directors compensation for their service as directors.

SECTION 10. PRESUMPTION OF ASSENT . A director of the corporation who is present at a meeting of the Board of Directors, or a committee thereof, at which action on any corporate matter is taken shall be presumed to have assented to the action taken unless his or her dissent shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting or unless he or she shall file his or her written dissent to such action with the person acting as secretary of the meeting before the adjournment thereof or shall forward such dissent by registered mail to the Secretary of the corporation immediately after the adjournment of the meeting. Such right to dissent shall not apply to a director who voted in favor of such action.

SECTION 11. ACTION WITHOUT MEETING . Action taken by a majority of the Board, or a committee thereof, without a meeting is nevertheless Board, or committee, action if written consent to the action in question is signed by all of the directors, or committee members, and filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board, or committee, whether done before or after the action so taken.

SECTION 12. INFORMAL ACTION BY DIRECTORS . Action taken by a majority of the directors without a meeting is action of the Board of Directors if written consent to the action is signed by all of the directors and filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board of Directors, whether done before or after the action so taken.

SECTION 13. COMMITTEES GENERALLY . The Board may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the corporation, to have and exercise such power and authority as the Board shall specify. Each of the committees established by the Board pursuant to this Section 13 of Article III shall establish such other rules and procedures for its operation and governance, as it shall see fit and may seek such consultation and advice as to matters within its purview as it shall require.

SECTION 14. DIRECTOR COMPENSATION . The compensation of non-employee directors shall be recommended to the Board of Directors by the appropriate committee thereof.

 

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ARTICLE IV. INDEMNIFICATION

SECTION 1. INDEMNIFICATION . In addition to any indemnification required or permitted by law, and except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws, any person who at any time serves or has served as a director or officer of the corporation, or in such capacity at the request of the corporation for any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall have a right to be indemnified by the corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law against (i) reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually and necessarily and as incurred by him or her in connection with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, seeking to hold him or her liable by reason of the fact that he or she is or was acting in such capacity; and (ii) payments made by him or her in satisfaction of any judgment, money decree, fine, penalty or reasonable settlement for which he or she may have become liable in any such action, suit or proceeding.

SECTION 2. LIMITATION ON INDEMNIFICATION . The corporation shall not indemnify any person hereunder against liability or litigation expense he or she may incur on account of his or her activities which were at the time taken known or believed by him or her to be clearly in conflict with the best interests of the corporation. The corporation shall not indemnify any director with respect to any liability arising out of N.C.G.S. § 55-8-33 (relating to unlawful declaration of dividends) or any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit as provided in N.C.G.S. § 55-2-02(b)(3).

SECTION 3. BOARD DETERMINATION . If any action is necessary or appropriate to authorize the corporation to pay the indemnification required by this Bylaw, the Board of Directors shall take such action, including (i) making a good faith evaluation of the manner in which the claimant for indemnity acted and of the reasonable amount of the indemnity due him or her; (ii) giving notice to, and obtaining approval by, the shareholders of the corporation, and (iii) taking any other action.

SECTION 4. RELIANCE . Any person who at any time after the adoption of this Bylaw serves or has served in any of the capacities indicated in this Bylaw shall be deemed to be doing or to have done so in reliance upon, and as consideration for, the right of indemnification provided herein. Such right shall inure to the benefit of the legal representatives of any such person and shall not be exclusive of any other rights to which such person may be entitled apart from the provision of this Bylaw.

SECTION 5. AGENTS AND EMPLOYEES . The provisions of this Bylaw shall not be deemed to preclude the corporation from indemnifying persons serving as agents or employees of the corporation, or in such capacity at the request of the corporation for any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, to the extent permitted by law.

SECTION 6. EXPENSES . The corporation shall be entitled to pay the expenses incurred by a director or officer in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding in advance

 

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of final disposition upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director or officer to repay such amount unless it shall ultimately be determined that he or she is entitled to be indemnified by the corporation against such expenses.

SECTION 7. INSURANCE . As provided by N.C.G.S. § 55-8-57, the corporation shall have the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or who is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise or as a trustee or administrator under an employee benefit plan against any liability asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the corporation has the power to indemnify him or her against such liability.

SECTION 8. VESTING . The rights to advancement of expenses and indemnification provided for in these Bylaws are contract rights and neither the amendment nor repeal of such rights, nor the adoption of any provision of the Articles of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the corporation, nor, to the fullest extent permitted under or authorized by the North Carolina Business Corporation Act, any modification of law, shall eliminate or reduce the effect of the rights to advancement of expenses and indemnification in respect of any acts or omissions occurring prior to such amendment, repeal, adoption or modification without the affected individual’s express written consent.

ARTICLE V. OFFICERS

SECTION 1. TITLES . The officers of the corporation may consist of the Chief Executive Officer, President and such Vice Presidents as shall be elected as officers by the Board of Directors. There shall also be a Secretary, Treasurer, Controller and such assistants thereto as may be elected by the Board of Directors. Any one person may hold one or more offices in the corporation. No officer may act in more than one capacity where action of two or more is required.

SECTION 2. ELECTION AND TERM OF OFFICE . The officers of the corporation shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors at the first meeting of the Board held after the annual meeting of shareholders, or at any other meeting of said Board. If the election of officers shall not be held at such meeting, such election shall be held as soon thereafter as conveniently may be. Each officer shall hold office until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and shall have qualified or until his or her death or until he or she shall resign or shall have been removed in the manner hereinafter provided.

SECTION 3. REMOVAL . Since officers serve at the pleasure of the Board, any officer may be removed at any time by the Board of Directors, with or without cause. Termination of an officer’s employment with the corporation by the appropriate official shall also end his or her term as an officer.

SECTION 4. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER . The Chief Executive Officer shall, subject to the oversight of the Board of Directors, have general supervision, direction and control

 

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of the business and the officers, employees and agents of the corporation. In the absence of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, if such officer is a director, shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors, unless the Board of Directors determines otherwise. Except as otherwise required by law, the Chief Executive Officer shall have power to sign certificates for shares of the corporation and any deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts, or any other instruments or documents which may be lawfully executed on behalf of the corporation. The Chief Executive Officer shall vote as agent for the corporation the capital stock held or owned by the corporation in any corporation. The Chief Executive Officer is authorized to delegate the authority to vote capital stock held or owned by the corporation and to execute and deliver agreements and other instruments to other officers of the corporation. The Chief Executive Officer shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors shall designate from time to time.

SECTION 5. PRESIDENT . The President shall perform such duties and have such responsibilities as are assigned by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.

SECTION 6. VICE PRESIDENTS . The Vice Presidents shall perform such duties and have such responsibilities as are assigned by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.

SECTION 7. SECRETARY . The Secretary shall perform such duties and have such responsibilities as are assigned by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.

SECTION 8. TREASURER . The Treasurer shall perform such duties and have such responsibilities as are assigned by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.

SECTION 9. CONTROLLER . The Controller shall perform such duties and have such responsibilities as are assigned by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.

ARTICLE VI. DEPARTMENTAL DESIGNATIONS

The Chief Executive Officer may establish such departmental or functional designations or titles pertaining to supervisory personnel as the Chief Executive Officer in his or her discretion deems wise. The designations or titles may be that of Senior Vice President, Vice President or such other term or terms as the Chief Executive Officer desires to utilize. The designation or title contemplated by this Article VI is for the purpose of administration within the department or function concerned and is not with the intent of designating those individuals bearing such titles as general officers of the corporation. These individuals bearing these titles shall be known as administrative managers of the corporation.

ARTICLE VII. CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES AND THEIR TRANSFER

SECTION 1. CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES; NON-CERTIFICATED SHARES .

 

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(a) Certificates representing shares of the corporation shall be in such form as shall be determined by the Board of Directors. Such certificates shall be signed by the Chief Executive Officer and by the Secretary, provided that where a certificate is signed by a transfer agent, assistant transfer agent or co-transfer agent of the corporation or with the duly designated transfer agent the signatures of such officers of the corporation upon the certificate may be facsimile engraved or printed. Each certificate shall be sealed with the seal of the corporation or a facsimile thereof. All certificates for shares shall be consecutively numbered or otherwise identified. The name and address of the person to whom the shares represented thereby are issued, with the number of shares and class and date of issue, shall be entered on the stock transfer books of the corporation by the transfer agent. All certificates surrendered to the corporation for transfer shall be canceled and no new certificate shall be issued until the former certificate for a like number of shares shall have been surrendered and canceled, except that in case of a lost, destroyed or mutilated certificate a new one may be issued therefor upon such terms and indemnity to the corporation as the Board of Directors may prescribe.

(b) The Board of Directors may authorize the issuance of some or all of the shares of any or all of the corporation’s classes or series of stock without certificates. Such authorization shall not affect shares already represented by certificates until such shares are surrendered to the corporation. Within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of shares without certificates, the corporation shall send the shareholder a written statement with information required on certificates by N.C.G.S. § 55-6-25(b) and (c), and, if applicable, N.C.G.S. § 55-6-27, or any successor law.

SECTION 2. TRANSFER OF SHARES . Transfer of shares of the corporation shall be made only on the stock transfer books of the corporation by the holder of record thereof or by his or her legal representative, who shall furnish proper evidence of authority to transfer, or by his or her attorney thereunto authorized by power of attorney duly executed and filed with the Secretary of the corporation, and on surrender for cancellation of the certificate for such shares. The person in whose name shares stand on the books of the corporation shall be deemed by the corporation to be the owner thereof for all purposes. Transfer of shares not represented by certificates shall be made upon receipt of proper transfer instructions from the registered holder of the shares or by his or her attorney thereunto authorized by power of attorney duly executed and filed with the Secretary of the corporation and in accordance with requirements with respect to transfer of securities not represented by certificates as appear in Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of North Carolina.

SECTION 3. LOST CERTIFICATES . The Board of Directors may authorize the issuance of a new certificate in place of a certificate claimed to have been lost or destroyed, upon receipt of an affidavit of such fact from the person claiming the loss or destruction. In authorizing such issuance of a new certificate, the Board may require the claimant to give the corporation a bond in such sum as it may direct to indemnify the corporation against loss from any claim with respect to the certificate claimed to have been lost or destroyed; or the Board, by resolution reciting that the circumstances justify such action, may authorize the issuance of the new certificate without requiring such a bond. This function

 

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or duty on the part of the Board may be assigned by the Board to the transfer agent of the common stock of the corporation.

ARTICLE VIII. FISCAL YEAR

The fiscal year of the corporation shall end on the Friday nearest to January 31 of each year. The fiscal year shall consist of four quarterly periods, each comprising 13 weeks, with the 13-week periods divided into three periods of four weeks, five weeks and four weeks. Periodically, the fiscal year shall be a 53-week year, with the fourth period comprising four weeks, five weeks and five weeks, in order to account for the 365 th day of each year and the 29 th day of February in a leap year.

ARTICLE IX. DIVIDENDS

The Board of Directors may from time to time declare, and the corporation may pay, dividends on its outstanding shares in the manner and upon the terms and conditions provided by law and as provided in a resolution of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE X. SEAL

The Board of Directors shall provide a corporate seal which shall be circular in form and shall have inscribed thereon the name of the corporation, the state of incorporation, and the word “Seal.”

ARTICLE XI. WAIVER OF NOTICE

Whenever any notice is required to be given to any shareholder or director of the corporation under the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation or under the provisions of applicable law, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice.

ARTICLE XII. AMENDMENTS

Unless otherwise prescribed by law or the Articles of Incorporation, these Bylaws may be amended or altered at any meeting of the Board of Directors by affirmative vote of a majority of the directors. Unless otherwise prescribed by law or the Articles of Incorporation, the shareholders entitled to vote in respect of the election of directors, however, shall have the power to rescind, amend, alter or repeal any Bylaws and to enact Bylaws which, if expressly so provided, may not be amended, altered or repealed by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE XIII. CONSTRUCTION OF BYLAWS

Unless the context requires otherwise, the general provisions, rules of construction and definitions in the North Carolina Business Corporation Act shall govern the construction

 

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of these Bylaws. Without limiting the generality of this provision, the singular number includes the plural, the plural number includes the singular, and the term “person” includes both an entity and a natural person. All references in these Bylaws to rules or regulations issued under the Exchange Act shall mean the then-current and effective rules or regulations promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act, and shall include with respect to any specified rule or regulation, any similar or successor rule or regulation that is then-current and effective.

 

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Exhibit 10.1

 

LOGO

 

 

   

LOWE’S COMPANIES, INC.

1000 LOWE’S BLVD.

MOORESVILLE, NC 28117

May 20, 2018

Dear Marvin:

We are delighted to offer you the position of Chief Executive Officer and President of Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (the “ Company ”) effective as of your employment start date, which is currently contemplated to be July 2, 2018. During your employment with the Company, the Company shall use its best efforts to cause you to be elected as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “ Board ”). The Board will consider you for the position of Chairman of the Board within the first three (3) years of your employment with the Company. Your employment shall be located at the Company’s headquarters in Mooresville, North Carolina, provided that you may be required to travel as necessary in order to perform your duties and responsibilities hereunder. You shall report solely and directly to the Board.

The Company agrees, in consideration for your services and your agreement to the terms and conditions of this offer letter, to provide you the following compensation and benefits during your employment with the Company:

Salary . Annual base salary rate of $1,450,000 which will be reviewed by the Compensation Committee of the Board on an annual basis.

Annual Cash Incentive Award . Eligibility for an annual cash incentive payment under the Lowe’s Companies, Inc. 2016 Annual Incentive Plan, as it may be amended by the Board from time to time, or any replacement executive bonus program as may be established and approved by the Board (the “ Annual Incentive Plan ”) with a target award percentage of 200% of your annual base salary and a maximum opportunity of 200% of target; provided that, in respect of the current fiscal year, you will be eligible to receive a payment of no less than target (pro-rated based on your start date) payable in March 2019, subject to the development by you of certain strategic plans by November 9, 2018 that are approved by the Board.

Annual Long Term Equity Incentive Award . Eligibility for an annual long term equity incentive award under the Lowe’s Companies, Inc. 2016 Long Term Incentive Plan, as it may be amended by the Board from time to time, or any replacement executive equity plan as may be established and approved by the Board (the “ LTI Plan ”) with a target award value of 565% of your annual base salary; provided that, in respect of the current fiscal year, your target award value will be 565% of your annual base salary prorated based on your start date. The Compensation Committee will determine the mix of equity award types to be


granted each year under the LTI Plan (which shall be no less favorable than that provided to other senior executives of the Company). For the current fiscal year, your target award value will be granted as follows: 25% in nonqualified stock options which will vest equally on the first three (3) anniversaries of the grant date, 25% in time-based restricted shares which will vest in full on the third anniversary of the grant date, and 50% in performance share units (“ PSUs ”), which will vest based upon Company performance over a three (3)-year period (commencing as of February 3, 2018), subject in each case to the terms and conditions set forth in the LTI Plan and grant agreements which will be the same as the equity awards granted to senior executives of the Company in April of 2018. Your equity awards will be granted to you on your start date.

Sign On Awards .

Grants of (i) time-based restricted shares with an award value of $3,500,000 under the LTI Plan which will vest in full on the third anniversary of the grant date, and (ii) nonqualified stock options with an award value of $2,500,000 under the LTI Plan which will vest equally on the first three (3) anniversaries of the grant date, in each case subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the LTI Plan and grant agreement which will be the same as the restricted share awards and nonqualified stock option awards, respectively, granted to senior executives of the Company in April of 2018. This award will be granted to you on your start date.

Benefit Programs . Eligibility to participate in all savings and retirement, welfare benefit and fringe benefit plans, practices, policies and programs provided by the Company to other senior executives of the Company from time to time in accordance with their terms, including without limitation:

 

    Annual physical examination.

 

    Reimbursement of up to $12,000 per year of fees and expenses incurred by you for personal financial and tax advice and planning.

 

    Reimbursement of all reasonable business expenses.

 

    Four (4) weeks of paid time off.

Severance . In the event your employment with the Company is involuntarily terminated other than for Cause, subject to your execution and non-revocation of a valid general release and waiver of claims in a form no less favorable than that typically used for other senior executives of the Company) in favor of the Company, its affiliates and certain of their respective related parties in the form provided to you and within the timeframe specified by the Company and your compliance with your post-termination obligations under this letter, aggregate severance payments in an amount equal to the product of (i) two (2) multiplied by (ii) the sum of your annual base salary and your target annual bonus under the Annual Incentive Plan, in each case as of the date of the termination (the “ Severance Payments ”). The Severance Payments will be paid to you in equal installments over the twenty-four (24) months immediately following the

 

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termination in accordance with the Company’s normal and customary payroll practices. Except as provided in this paragraph and the Change-in-Control Agreement (as defined below), and except for (i) any vested benefits under any tax qualified pension plans of the Company, (ii) continuation of health insurance benefits on the terms and to the extent required by Section 4980B of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Code”) and Section 601 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (which provisions are commonly known as “COBRA”), (iii) earned but unpaid base salary, (iv) accrued but unused vacation and (v) your equity awards, the treatment of which shall be governed by the LTI Plan and the grant agreements applicable to such awards in the event your employment terminates, the Company shall have no contractual obligations to you in connection with or following the termination of your employment. For purposes of this letter, “ Cause ” shall mean: (i) your failure to attempt in good faith to perform your duties (other than as a result of physical or mental illness or injury), which failure is not corrected within thirty (30) days following written notice to you from the Board; (ii) your willful misconduct or gross negligence in connection with the performance of your duties as an employee or as a member of the Board, which is or could reasonably be expected to be injurious to the Company or any of its affiliates (whether financially, reputationally or otherwise); (iii) a breach by you of your fiduciary duty or duty of loyalty to the Company or any of its affiliates; (iv) the willful performance by you of any act or acts of dishonesty in connection with or relating to the Company’s or any of its affiliates’ business or the willful misappropriation (or willful attempted misappropriation) of any of the Company’s or any of its affiliates’ funds or property; (v) your indictment or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to any felony or crime involving moral turpitude; (vi) a material breach of any of your obligations under any agreement entered into between you and the Company or any of its affiliates, including this letter, which material breach is not corrected within thirty (30) days following written notice to you from the Board; or (vii) your material breach of the Company’s policies or procedures, which breach causes or could reasonably be expected to cause material harm to the Company or its business reputation or to be injurious to the Company or any of its affiliates (whether financially, reputationally or otherwise), which material breach is not corrected within thirty (30) days following written notice to you from the Board.

Company Aircraft . Use of the Company’s aircraft for personal (including immediate family members accompanying you) travel when practical in accordance with the Board-approved Company aircraft policy as in effect from time to time. The Company’s Compensation Committee will review utilization on an annual basis and establish a reasonable cap on personal use. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company will not reimburse you for any taxes incurred by you in connection with your personal use of the Company’s aircraft.

Change-in-Control Agreement . A Change-in-Control Agreement (Tier 1) with substantially similar terms as the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Change-in-Control Agreement”) to be executed by you and the Company on or promptly following your start date.

Relocation . You will promptly relocate to the Charlotte, North Carolina area. You shall be provided a relocation package in connection with your relocation to the Charlotte, North Carolina area consistent with what is provided to other senior executives of the Company.

 

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Indemnification . Indemnification protection to the fullest extent permitted by law and provided by the Company’s by-laws and articles of incorporation and D&O insurance to the same extent provided to senior executives and Board members.

Legal Fees . Reimbursement for your reasonable legal fees incurred in connection with the negotiation of this offer letter on or promptly following your start date, provided , however, that such reimbursement shall not exceed $25,000.

The Company may withhold from any amounts payable to you such federal, state, local or foreign taxes as shall be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

The intent of the parties is that payments and benefits under this letter comply with Section 409A of the Code and the regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder (except to the extent exempt as short-term deferrals or otherwise) and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this letter shall be interpreted to be in compliance therewith. In the event the parties reasonably agree that any provision of this letter or any award agreement fail to comply with Section 409A of the Code, the parties shall reasonably cooperate in good faith to attempt to correct such failure while preserving the economic benefits of this letter and/or the award. A termination of employment shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of any provision of this letter providing for the payment of any amounts or benefits subject to Section 409A of the Code upon or following a termination of employment unless such termination is also a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and, for purposes of any such provision of this letter, references to a “termination”, “termination of employment” or like terms shall mean “separation from service.” The determination of whether and when a separation from service has occurred shall be made in a manner consistent with, and based on the presumptions set forth in, U.S. Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h) or any successor provision thereto. It is intended that each installment, if any, of the payments and benefits provided hereunder shall be treated as a separate “payment” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code. Neither the Company nor you shall have the right to accelerate or defer the delivery of any such payments or benefits except to the extent specifically permitted or required by Section 409A of the Code; and if, as of the date of the “separation from service,” you are a “specified employee” (within the meaning of that term under Section 409A(a)(2)(B) of the Code, or any successor provision thereto), then with regard to any payment or the provision of any benefit that is subject to this paragraph (whether under this letter, or pursuant to any other agreement with or plan, program, payroll practice of the Company) and is due upon or as a result of your separation from service, such payment or benefit shall not be made or provided, to the extent making or providing such payment or benefit would result in additional taxes or interest under Section 409A of the Code, until the date which is the earlier of (i) the expiration of the six (6)-month period measured from the date of such “separation from service,” and (ii) the date of your death (the “ Delay Period ”) and each such agreement, plan, program, or payroll practice shall hereby be deemed amended accordingly. Upon the expiration of the Delay Period, all payments and benefits delayed pursuant to this paragraph (whether they would have otherwise been payable in a single sum or in installments in the absence of such delay) shall be paid or reimbursed to you in a lump sum, and any remaining payments and benefits due under this letter shall be paid or provided in accordance with the normal payment dates specified for them herein.    All reimbursements provided under this letter or otherwise to you shall be made or provided in accordance with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code to the extent that such reimbursements are subject to Section 409A of the Code. All expenses or other

 

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reimbursements paid pursuant herewith and therewith that are taxable income to you shall in no event be paid later than the end of the calendar year next following the calendar year in which you incur such expense or pay such a related tax. With regard to any provision herein that provides for reimbursement of costs and expenses, except as permitted by Section 409A of the Code, the right to reimbursement shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit, the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, provided, during any taxable year shall not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement in any other taxable year.

You agree, in return for the Company’s offer of employment under the terms of this offer letter, that:

Company Policies . During your employment with the Company, you will be subject to, and will comply with, all of the Company’s policies and procedures applicable to senior executive officers and directors of the Company, as in effect from time to time, including without limitation (i) the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, (ii) stock ownership and retention guidelines for senior executives (currently with a target ownership of 10.0x annual base salary for your role) and any policy with respect to insider trading, anti-hedging and clawback of compensation.

Confidential Information . During your employment with the Company and thereafter, you will hold in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of the Company all trade secrets, confidential information, and knowledge or data relating to the Company and its businesses, which are obtained by you during your employment with the Company. You will not, without the prior written consent of the Company or as may otherwise be required by law or legal process communicate or divulge any such trade secrets, information, knowledge or data to anyone other than the Company and those designated by the Company.

Non-Competition . You understand that the Company and its affiliated entities comprise an international, omni-channel provider of goods and services for building, expanding, enhancing, customizing, maintaining, innovating, connecting, and outfitting its customers’ living spaces (“ Home Environment Business ”) and that the Company’s Home Environment Business requires a complex sourcing and supply network, multi-channel distribution and delivery systems, innovative information technology resources, and a robust infrastructure support organization. You recognize and acknowledge that the Company operates over 1,800 retail locations in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, and has significant internet-based sales to customers spread across the United States. Furthermore, you acknowledge that the Company has a legitimate and reasonable business interest in maintaining its competitive position in a dynamic industry and that restricting employees for a reasonable period from performing work for, or providing services to an enterprise which engages in business activities which are in competition with the Company and would likely cause damage to the Company’s business would not unreasonably restrict employees from engaging in work or business activities. You further acknowledge that, during your employment in your position with the Company, you will be provided access to or help develop business information proprietary to the Company and that you would inevitably disclose or otherwise utilize such information if you were to work for, or provide services to a Competing Enterprise during the Non-Competition Period (each as defined below).

 

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During your employment with the Company and for the two (2) year period thereafter (the “ Non-Competition Period ”), you will not directly or indirectly provide or perform services for a Competing Enterprise, whether as an employee, consultant, agent, contractor, officer, director or any other capacity. You acknowledge that the Non-Competition Period is reasonable in duration under the terms herein.

You acknowledge and agree for purposes of this offer letter that a “ Competing Enterprise ” is defined as any business: (i) with total annual sales of at least five hundred million dollars ($500 million USD) with retail locations or distribution facilities in any US State or territory; and (ii) that provides goods and/or services to customers in the United States, through retail or electronic means (internet, mobile application, etc.), that are the same as, substantially similar to, or otherwise in competition with the Company’s products or services. The term “Competing Business” shall specifically include, but not be limited to, the following entities: The Home Depot, Inc.; Sears Holdings, Inc.; Costco Wholesale Corporation; Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.; Menard, Inc.; Amazon.com, Inc.; Best Buy, Inc.; Ace Hardware Corp.; Tractor Supply Co.; Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc.; Wayfair, LLC; Jet.com, Inc.; and True Value Company.

You acknowledge that during your employment in your position with the Company, you will be exposed to, and play a crucial role in, the development and implementation of the Company’s strategic business operations, financial performance, marketing strategy, and/or plans for existing and future products and services, and that the Company’s business success and competitive position in the industry are dependent on its exclusive possession of secret, proprietary or confidential information, knowledge or data, and its relationships with customers and suppliers. As such, you agree that the foregoing non-competition restrictions are reasonable as to the time, territory, and line of business, and are reasonably necessary to protect the Company’s legitimate business interests, protect customer goodwill, and prevent severe and irreparable harm to the Company.

Non-Interference . During your employment with the Company and for the two (2) year period thereafter, you will not directly or indirectly (i) solicit or induce any officer, director or vice president of the Company or any of its affiliates to terminate his or her employment with the Company or any of its affiliates or (ii) solicit, contact or attempt to influence any vendor or supplier of the Company or any of its affiliates to limit, curtail, cancel or terminate any business it transacts with the Company or any of its affiliates .

Enforcement . In the event of a breach or threatened breach of your obligations under the foregoing confidential information, non-competition or non-interference provisions of this offer letter, you consent and agree (i) that the Company shall be entitled to immediately cease payment of any Severance Payments as of the date of such breach or threatened breach, and following the date of such breach or threatened breach, you shall have no further rights to any Severance Payments, and (ii) that the Company shall be entitled to, in addition to other available remedies, seek equitable relief (by injunction, restraining order, or other similar remedy) against such breach or threatened breach from a court of competent jurisdiction without the necessity of showing actual damages and without the necessity of posting a bond or other security. In the event a court of competent jurisdiction

 

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determines your obligations under the foregoing confidential information, non-competition and non-interference provisions of this offer letter are more restrictive than necessary to protect the Company’s legitimate business interests, such court may reduce the scope of the restriction(s), or sever and remove the unenforceable provision(s), to the extent necessary to make the restriction(s) enforceable.

No Conflict . You have informed us that you have no non-compete, non-solicit, confidentiality or other agreement that would restrict your employment with the Company. You understand that this offer is contingent upon there being no employment agreement, covenant not to compete or solicit, confidentiality agreement or other arrangement that would prohibit or restrict the performance of all of your duties for the Company. In the course of your work for the Company, you will not use or disclose any confidential information of a third party (including your current employer).

Notwithstanding anything in this offer letter or in any other agreement with or policy (including without limitation any code of conduct or employee manual) of the Company and its affiliates, nothing herein or therein is intended to or shall: (i) prohibit you from making reports of possible violations of federal law or regulation (even if you participated in such violations) to, and cooperating with, any governmental agency or entity in accordance with the provisions of and rules promulgated under Section 21F of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 806 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 or of any other whistleblower protection provisions of state or federal law or regulation; (ii) require notification to or prior approval by the Company or any of its affiliates of any such reporting or cooperation; or (iii) result in a waiver or other limitation of your rights and remedies as a whistleblower, including to a monetary award. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you are not authorized (and the above should not be read as permitting you) to disclose communications with counsel that were made for the purpose of receiving legal advice or that contain legal advice or that are protected by the attorney work product or similar privilege. Furthermore, you will not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made (1) in confidence to a federal, state or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney, in each case, solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law or (2) in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or proceeding, if such filings are made under seal.

It is our understanding that you currently serve as a member of the Board of Directors of FedEx Corporation (“ FedEx ”). You may continue to serve on the FedEx Board of Directors or, subject to the reasonable approval of the Board, on the board of directors of another company in lieu of FedEx, as you and the Board may deem appropriate in the future.

This offer letter is not, and should not be construed as, an agreement to employ you for any specific duration. As is the case for all our employees, your employment will be “at will” which means the Company is free to terminate the employment relationship at any time, for any reason, with or without notice. The Company requests that you provide no less than thirty (30) days’ written notice to the Company in advance of any voluntary termination of your employment initiated by you. In addition, the Company reserves the right to amend or terminate its compensation plans or programs, and benefits and any of these related changes that are applicable to the senior executive officer level will also be applicable to you.

This letter shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of North Carolina without reference to its principles of conflicts of law.

 

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On behalf of Lowe’s Board of Directors and employees, we look forward to welcoming you to the Company.

Sincerely,

 

/s/ Marshall O. Larsen

Marshall O. Larsen

Director

ACCEPTED and AGREED:

/s/ Marvin Ellison

Marvin Ellison
DATE:  May 21, 2018                                                         

 

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EXHIBIT A

MANAGEMENT CONTINUITY AGREEMENT

THIS MANAGEMENT CONTINUITY AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is made and entered into as of the          day of                     ,                     , by and between LOWE’S COMPANIES, INC., a North Carolina corporation (the “ Company ”), and                              (“ Executive ”).

WHEREAS, the Company desires to enter into this Agreement to (i) assure that the Company will have the continued dedication of Executive, notwithstanding the possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change in Control (as defined below) of the Company, (ii) diminish the inevitable distraction of Executive by virtue of the personal uncertainties and risks created by a pending or threatened Change in Control, (iii) encourage Executive’s full attention and dedication to the Company currently and in the event of any threatened or pending Change in Control, and (iv) provide Executive with compensation and benefits arrangements upon a Change in Control which ensure that the compensation and benefits expectations of Executive will be satisfied and which are competitive with those of other corporations,

NOW THEREFORE, in order to accomplish these objectives, the Company and Executive agree as follows:

1.         Effective Date . The “ Effective Date ” shall mean the first date on which a Change in Control (as defined in Section 2) occurs. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if a Change in Control occurs and if Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated prior to the date on which the Change in Control occurs, and if it is reasonably demonstrated by Executive that such termination of employment (i) was at the request of a third party who has taken steps reasonably calculated to effect a Change in Control or (ii) otherwise arose in connection with or anticipation of a Change in Control, then for all purposes of this Agreement the “Effective Date” shall mean the date immediately prior to the date of such termination of employment.

2.         Change in Control . For the purposes of this Agreement, a “ Change in Control ” shall mean:

(a)        individuals who, at the Effective Date, constitute the Board (the “ Incumbent Directors ”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board, provided that any person becoming a director after the Effective Date and whose election or nomination for election was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the Incumbent Directors then on the Board (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such person is named as a nominee for director, without written objection to such nomination) shall be an Incumbent Director; provided , however , that no individual initially elected or nominated as a director of the Company as a result of an actual or threatened election contest (as described in Rule 14a-11 under the Exchange Act (“ Election Contest ”) or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of any “person” (as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act and as used in Section 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) other than the Board (“ Proxy Contest ”), including by reason of any agreement intended to avoid or settle any Election Contest or Proxy Contest, shall be deemed an Incumbent Director;

(b)        any person becomes a “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d- 3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 25% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities eligible to vote for the election of the Board (the “ Company Voting Securities ”); provided , however , that the event described in this subparagraph (b) shall not be deemed to be a Change in Control of the Company by virtue of any of the following acquisitions: (i) an acquisition directly by or from the Company or any affiliated companies; (ii) an acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any affiliated companies, (iii) an acquisition by an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, or (iv) an acquisition pursuant to a Non-Qualifying Transaction (as defined in subparagraph (c) below); or

(c)        the consummation of a reorganization, merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or similar form of corporate transaction involving the Company that requires the approval of the Company’s shareholders, whether for such transaction or the issuance of securities in the transaction (a “ Reorganization ”), or the sale or other disposition of

 

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all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to an entity that is not an affiliate of the Company (a “ Sale ”), unless immediately following such Reorganization or Sale: (i) more than 60% of the total voting power of (A) the corporation resulting from such Reorganization or the corporation which has acquired all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (in either case, the “ Surviving Corporation ”), or (B) if applicable, the ultimate parent corporation that directly or indirectly has beneficial ownership of 100% of the voting securities eligible to elect directors of the Surviving Corporation (the “ Parent Corporation ”), is represented by the Company Voting Securities that were outstanding immediately prior to such Reorganization or Sale (or, if applicable, is represented by shares into which such Company Voting Securities were converted pursuant to such Reorganization or Sale), and such voting power among the holders thereof is in substantially the same proportion as the voting power of such Company Voting Securities among the holders thereof immediately prior to the Reorganization or Sale, (ii) no person (other than (A) the Company, (B) any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Surviving Corporation or the Parent Corporation, or (C) a person who immediately prior to the Reorganization or Sale was the beneficial owner of 25% or more of the outstanding Company Voting Securities) is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 25% or more of the total voting power of the outstanding voting securities eligible to elect directors of the Parent Corporation (or, if there is no Parent Corporation, the Surviving Corporation), and (iii) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the Parent Corporation (or, if there is no Parent Corporation, the Surviving Corporation) following the consummation of the Reorganization or Sale were Incumbent Directors at the time of the Board’s approval of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such Reorganization or Sale (any Reorganization or Sale which satisfies all of the criteria specified in (i), (ii) and (iii) above shall be deemed to be a “ Non-Qualifying Transaction ”).

3.         Employment Period . The Company hereby agrees to continue Executive in its employ, and Executive hereby agrees to remain in the employ of the Company subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, for the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the second anniversary of such date (the “ Employment Period ”).

4.         Terms of Employment .

(a)         Position and Duties .

(i)        During the Employment Period, (A) Executive’s position (including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties and responsibilities shall be at least commensurate in all material respects with the most significant of those held, exercised and assigned at any time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date and (B) Executive’s services shall be performed at the location where Executive was employed immediately preceding the Effective Date or any office or location less than 35 miles from such location.

(ii)        During the Employment Period, and excluding any periods of vacation and sick leave to which Executive is entitled, Executive agrees to devote reasonable attention and time during normal business hours to the business and affairs of the Company and, to the extent necessary to discharge the responsibilities assigned to Executive hereunder, to use Executive’s reasonable best efforts to perform faithfully and efficiently such responsibilities. During the Employment Period it shall not be a violation of this Agreement for Executive to (A) serve on corporate, civic or charitable boards or committees, (B) deliver lectures, fulfill speaking engagements or teach at educational institutions and (C) manage personal investments, so long as such activities do not significantly interfere with the performance of Executive’s responsibilities as an employee of the Company in accordance with this Agreement. It is expressly understood and agreed that to the extent that any such activities have been conducted by Executive prior to the Effective Date, the continued conduct of such activities (or the conduct of activities similar in nature and scope thereto) subsequent to the Effective Date shall not thereafter be deemed to interfere with the performance of Executive’s responsibilities to the Company.

 

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(b)         Compensation .

(i)         Base Salary . During the Employment Period, Executive shall receive an annual base salary (“ Annual Base Salary ”), which shall be paid at a monthly rate, at least equal to 12 times the highest monthly base salary paid or payable, including any base salary which has been earned but deferred, to Executive by the Company and its affiliated companies in respect of the 12-month period immediately preceding the month in which the Effective Date occurs. During the Employment Period, the Annual Base Salary shall be reviewed no more than 12 months after the last salary increase awarded to Executive prior to the Effective Date and thereafter at least annually. Any increase in Annual Base Salary shall not serve to limit or reduce any other obligation to Executive under this Agreement. Annual Base Salary shall not be reduced after any such increase and the term Annual Base Salary as utilized in this Agreement shall refer to Annual Base Salary as so increased. As used in this Agreement, the term “ affiliated companies ” shall include any company controlled by, controlling or under common control with the Company.

(ii)         Annual Bonus . In addition to Annual Base Salary, Executive shall be awarded, for each fiscal year ending during the Employment Period, an annual bonus opportunity (the “ Annual Bonus ”) at least as favorable as that to which he would have been entitled under the annual bonus plan of the Company in effect for the last year prior to the Effective Date (annualized in the event that Executive was not employed by the Company for the whole of such fiscal year) (the “ Recent Annual Bonus ”). Each such Annual Bonus shall be paid in a single lump sum in cash at a time determined by the Company but in no event later than 2-  1 2 months after the end of the fiscal year for which the Annual Bonus is awarded, unless Executive shall elect to defer the receipt of such Annual Bonus.

(iii)         Incentive, Savings and Retirement Plans . During the Employment Period, Executive shall be entitled to participate in all incentive, savings and retirement plans, practices, policies and programs applicable generally to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies (“ Peer Executives ”).

(iv)         Welfare Benefit Plans . During the Employment Period, Executive and/or Executive’s family, as the case may be, shall be eligible for participation in and shall receive all benefits under the welfare benefit plans, practices, policies and programs provided by the Company and its affiliated companies (including, without limitation, medical, prescription drug, dental, disability, employee life, group life, accidental death and travel accident insurance plans and programs) (“ Welfare Plans ”) to the extent applicable generally to Peer Executives.

(v)         Expenses . During the Employment Period, Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable expenses incurred by Executive in accordance with the policies, practices and procedures of the Company and its affiliated companies to the extent applicable generally to Peer Executives.

(vi)         Fringe Benefits . During the Employment Period, Executive shall be entitled to fringe benefits in accordance with the plans, practices, programs and policies of the Company and its affiliated companies with respect to Peer Executives.

5.         Separation from Service .

(a)         Death, Retirement or Disability . Executive’s employment shall terminate automatically upon Executive’s death or Retirement (pursuant to the definition of Retirement set forth below) during the Employment Period. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Retirement ” shall mean Executive’s voluntary separation from service on or after the later of (i) 90 days after Executive has provided written notice to the Company’s corporate secretary of his decision to retire, or (ii) Executive’s attainment of age 60 (but shall not include Executive’s voluntary termination after he has been given notice that he may be terminated for Cause). If the Company determines in good faith that the Disability of Executive has occurred during the Employment Period (pursuant to the definition of Disability set forth below), it may give to Executive written notice in accordance with Section 12(b) of this Agreement of its intention to terminate Executive’s employment. In such event, Executive shall separate from service with the Company effective on the 30th day after receipt of such notice by Executive (the “ Disability Effective Date ”), provided that, within the 30 days after such receipt, Executive shall not have returned to full-time performance of Executive’s duties. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Disability ” shall mean mental or physical disability as determined by the Board in accordance with standards and procedures similar to those under the Company’s employee long-term disability plan, if any. At any time that the Company does not maintain such a long-term disability plan, Disability shall mean any illness or other physical or mental condition of Executive that renders Executive incapable of

 

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performing his customary and usual duties for the Company, or any medically determinable illness or other physical or mental condition resulting from a bodily injury, disease or mental disorder which, in either case, has lasted or can reasonably be expected to last for at least 180 days out of a period of 365 consecutive days. The Board may require such medical or other evidence as it deems necessary to judge the nature and permanency of Executive’s condition.

(b)         Cause . The Company may terminate Executive’s employment during the Employment Period for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Cause ” shall mean:

(i)        the willful and continued failure of Executive to perform substantially Executive’s duties with the Company (other than any such failure resulting from incapacity due to physical or mental illness and specifically excluding any failure by Executive, after reasonable efforts, to meet performance expectations), after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to Executive by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer of the Company which specifically identifies the manner in which the Board or Chief Executive Officer believes that Executive has not substantially performed Executive’s duties, or

(ii)        the willful engaging by Executive in illegal conduct or gross misconduct which is materially and demonstrably injurious to the Company.

For purposes of the definition of Cause, no act or failure to act, on the part of Executive, shall be considered “willful” unless it is done, or omitted to be done, by Executive in bad faith or without reasonable belief that Executive’s action or omission was in the best interests of the Company. Any act, or failure to act, based upon authority given pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the Board or upon the instructions of the Chief Executive Officer or a senior officer of the Company or based upon the advice of counsel for the Company shall be conclusively presumed to be done, or omitted to be done, by Executive in good faith and in the best interests of the Company. The cessation of employment of Executive shall not be deemed to be for Cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to Executive a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the entire membership of the Board at a meeting of the Board called and held for such purpose (after reasonable notice is provided to Executive and Executive is given an opportunity, together with counsel, to be heard before the Board), finding that, in the good faith opinion of the Board, Executive is guilty of the conduct described in subparagraph (i) or (ii) above, and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.

(c)         Good Reason . Executive’s employment may be terminated by Executive for Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Good Reason ” shall mean:

(i)        the assignment to Executive of any duties inconsistent in any material respect with Executive’s position (including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties or responsibilities as contemplated by Section 4(a) of this Agreement, or any other action by the Company which results in a material diminution in such position, authority, duties or responsibilities, excluding for this purpose an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent action not taken in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by Executive;

(ii)        any failure by the Company to comply with any of the provisions of Section 4(b) of this Agreement, other than an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent failure not occurring in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by Executive;

(iii)        the failure by the Company (A) to continue in effect any compensation plan in which Executive participates as of the Effective Date that is material to Executive’s total compensation, unless an equitable arrangement (embodied in an ongoing substitute or alternative plan) has been made with respect to such plan, or (B) to continue Executive’s participation therein (or in such substitute or alternative plan) on a basis not materially less favorable, both in terms of the amount of benefits provided and the level of Executive’s participation relative to Peer Executives;

(iv)        the Company’s requiring Executive, without his consent, to be based at any office or location more than 35 miles from the office or location at which Executive was based on the date immediately prior to the Effective Date, or to travel on Company business to a substantially greater extent than required immediately prior to the Effective Date;

 

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(v)        any purported termination by the Company of Executive’s employment otherwise than as expressly permitted by this Agreement; or

(vi)        any failure by the Company to comply with and satisfy Section 11(c) of this Agreement.

(d)         Notice of Termination . Any termination by the Company for Cause, or by Executive for Good Reason, shall be communicated by Notice of Termination to the other party hereto given in accordance with Section 12(b) of this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, a “ Notice of Termination ” means a written notice which (i) indicates the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, (ii) to the extent applicable, sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of Executive’s employment under the provision so indicated, and (iii) if the Date of Separation from Service (as defined below) is other than the date of receipt of such notice, specifies the termination date (which date shall be not more than 30 days after the giving of such notice). If a dispute exists concerning the provisions of this Agreement that apply to Executive’s termination of employment (other than a determination of “Cause” which shall be made as provided in Section 5(b)), the parties shall pursue the resolution of such dispute with reasonable diligence. Within 5 days of such a resolution, any party owing any payments pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement shall make all such payments together with interest accrued thereon at the rate provided in Section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code. The failure by either party to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance which contributes to a showing of Good Reason or Cause shall not waive any right of such party hereunder or preclude such party from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing such party’s rights hereunder.

(e)         Date of Separation from Service . “ Date of Separation from Service ” means (i) if Executive’s employment is terminated for any reason other than death, Retirement or Disability, the date specified in the Notice of Termination, and (ii) if Executive’s employment is terminated by reason of death, Retirement or Disability, the Date of Separation from Service shall be the date of death or Retirement of Executive or the Disability Effective Date, as the case may be, provided in each such case, Executive’s termination of employment also constitutes a separation from service under Section 409A of the Code.

6.         Obligations of the Company upon Separation from Service .

(a)         Good Reason; Other Than for Cause, Death or Disability . If, during the Employment Period, the Company shall terminate Executive’s employment other than for Cause or Executive’s death or Disability or Executive shall separate from service for Good Reason, then in consideration for services rendered by Executive prior to the Date of Separation from Service:

(i)        the Company shall pay to Executive in a lump sum in cash within 30 days after the Date of Separation from Service the aggregate of the following amounts:

(A)        the sum of (1) Executive’s Annual Base Salary through the Date of Separation from Service to the extent not theretofore paid, and (2) any accrued vacation pay to the extent not theretofore paid (the sum of the amounts described in clauses (1) and (2) shall be hereinafter referred to as the “ Accrued Obligations ”); and

(B)        the amount equal to the present value of the continuation of Executive’s Base Salary for a period of 2.99 years after the Date of Separation from Service; such present value to be determined by applying a discount rate equal to 120 percent of the applicable federal rate provided in Section 1274(d) of the Code, compounded semi-annually (the “ Discount Rate ”); and

(C)        the amount equal to the present value of 2.99 times the greater of (1) Executive’s annual bonus for the year prior to the year in which the Change in Control occurred (the “ Prior Year ”), or (2) Executive’s target annual bonus for the year in which the Change in Control occurred (the “ Current Year ”); such present value to be determined by applying the Discount Rate and assuming two equal annual payments on each of the first and second anniversaries of the Date of Separation from Service; and

 

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(D)        the amount equal to the present value of 2.99  times the annual cost to the Company and Executive of participation in the Welfare Plans described in Section 4(b)(iv) of this Agreement with respect to either the Prior Year or the Current Year, whichever year in which such annual cost was higher; such present value to be determined by applying the Discount Rate and assuming 36 monthly payments beginning on the Date of Separation from Service; and

(ii)        to the extent not theretofore paid or provided, the Company shall timely pay or provide to Executive any other amounts or benefits required to be paid or provided or which Executive is eligible to receive under any plan, program, policy or practice or contract or agreement of the Company and its affiliated companies (such other amounts and benefits shall be hereinafter referred to as the “ Other Benefits ”) at the time and in the manner provided in the documentation establishing or describing such Other Benefits.

(b)         Death, Retirement or Disability . If Executive’s employment is terminated by reason of Executive’s death, Retirement or Disability during the Employment Period, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to Executive’s legal representatives under this Agreement, other than for payment of Accrued Obligations and the timely payment or provision of Other Benefits. Accrued Obligations shall be paid to Executive’s estate or beneficiary, as applicable, in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of Separation from Service. Other Benefits shall be paid at the time and in the manner provided in the documentation establishing or describing such Other Benefits. With respect to the provision of Other Benefits, the term Other Benefits as utilized in this Section 6(b) shall include without limitation, and Executive’s estate and/or beneficiaries shall be entitled to receive, death, retirement or disability benefits then applicable to Executive.

(c)         Cause; Other than for Good Reason . If Executive’s employment shall be terminated for Cause, or if Executive voluntarily separates from service during the Employment Period, excluding a separation from service for Good Reason, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to Executive, other than for Accrued Obligations and the timely payment or provision of Other Benefits. In such case, all Accrued Obligations shall be paid to Executive in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of Separation from Service. Other Benefits shall be paid at the time and in the manner provided in the documentation establishing or describing such Other Benefits.

(d)         Special Rule for Specified Employees . Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if Executive is a specified employee as of the Date of Separation from Service, then to the extent, and only to the extent, necessary to comply with Code Section 409A: (i) if any payment or distribution is payable hereunder in a lump sum, Executive’s right to receive payment or distribution will be delayed until the earlier of Executive’s death or the 7th month following the Date of Separation from Service, and (ii) if any payment, distribution or benefit is payable or provided hereunder over time, the amount of such payment, distribution or benefit that would otherwise be payable or provided during the 6 month period immediately following the Date of Separation from Service will be accumulated, and Executive’s right to receive such accumulated payment, distribution or benefit will be delayed until the earlier of Executive’s death or the seventh month following the Date of Separation from Service and paid or provided on the earlier of such dates, without interest, and the normal payment or distribution schedule for any remaining payments, distributions or benefits will commence. For purposes of this Agreement, Executive shall be a “ specified executive ” during the 12 month period beginning April 1 each year if the Executive met the requirements of Section 416(i)(1)(A)(i), (ii) or (iii) of the Code (applied in accordance with the regulations thereunder and disregarding Section 416(i)(5) of the Code) at any time during the 12 month period ending on the December 31 immediately preceding the Date of Separation from Service.

7.         Non-exclusivity of Rights . Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or limit Executive’s continuing or future participation in any plan, program, policy or practice provided by the Company or any of its affiliated companies and for which Executive may qualify, nor, subject to Section 12(f), shall anything herein limit or otherwise affect such rights as Executive may have under any contract or agreement with the Company or any of its affiliated companies. Amounts which are vested benefits or which Executive is otherwise entitled to receive under any plan, policy, practice or program of or any contract or agreement with the Company or any of its affiliated companies at or subsequent to the Date of Separation from Service shall be payable in accordance with such plan, policy, practice or program or contract or agreement except as explicitly modified by this Agreement.

 

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8.         Full Settlement; Cost of Enforcement . The Company’s obligation to make the payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other claim, right or action which the Company may have against Executive or others. In no event shall Executive be obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement and such amounts shall not be reduced whether or not Executive obtains other employment. The Company agrees to pay as incurred, to the full extent permitted by law, all legal fees and expenses which Executive may reasonably incur as a result of any contest (regardless of the outcome thereof) by the Company, Executive or others of the validity or enforceability of, or liability under, any provision of this Agreement or any guarantee of performance thereof (including as a result of any contest by Executive about the amount of any payment pursuant to this Agreement).

9.         Obligations of the Executive .

(a)         Non-Competition . For the one (1) year period beginning on the Date of Separation from Service, the Executive shall not directly or indirectly engage in Competition (as defined below) with the Company; provided, that it shall not be a violation of this Section 9(a) for the Executive to become the registered or beneficial owner of up to 5% of any class of the capital stock of a competing corporation registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, provided that the Executive does not actively participate in the business of such corporation until such time as this covenant expires. For purposes of this Agreement, “Competition” by the Executive shall mean the Executive’s engaging in, or otherwise directly or indirectly being employed by or acting as a consultant or lender to, or being a director, officer, employee, principal, agent, stockholder (other than as specifically provided for herein), member, owner or partner of, or permitting his name to be used in connection with the activities of any other business or organization that owns, operates, controls or maintains retail or warehouse hardware or home improvement stores in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada or Mexico with total annual sales of at least $500 million. Such businesses or organizations include, but are not limited to, the following entities and each of their subsidiaries, affiliates, assigns, or successors in interest, in whole or in part: The Home Depot, Inc., Sears Holdings Corporation, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and Menard, Inc.

(b)         Non-Interference . For the one (1) year period beginning on the Date of Separation from Service, the Executive shall not directly or indirectly (i) solicit or induce any officer, director, regional vice president, district manager, co-manager, store manager, regional human resource manager or regional loss prevention manager of the Company to terminate his or her employment with the Company or (ii) solicit, contact or attempt to influence any vendor or supplier of the Company to limit, curtail, cancel or terminate any business it transacts with the Company.

(c)         Confidential Information . The Executive shall hold in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of the Company all trade secrets, confidential information, and knowledge or data relating to the Company and its businesses, which were obtained by the Executive during the Executive’s employment by the Company. The Executive shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company or as may otherwise be required by law or legal process, communicate or divulge any such trade secrets, information, knowledge or data to anyone other than the Company and those designated by the Company.

10.         Enforcement . The Executive understands and agrees that any breach or threatened breach by the Executive of any of the provisions of Section 9 shall be considered a material breach of this Agreement, and in the event of such a breach or threatened breach, the Company shall be entitled to pursue any and all of its remedies under law or in equity arising out of such breach. The Executive further agrees that in the event of his breach of any of the provisions of Section 9, unless otherwise prohibited by law, (i) the Company shall be released from any obligation to make any payments or further payments to the Executive under Section 6 and no payments shall be due or payable to the Executive thereunder, and (ii) the Executive shall remit to the Company, upon demand by the Company, any payments previously paid by the Company to the Executive pursuant to Section 6. The Executive further agrees that the remedies in the immediately preceding sentence will not preclude injunctive relief, and if the Company pursues either a temporary restraining order or temporary injunctive relief, then the Executive waives any requirement that the Company post a bond.

 

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11.         Successors .

(a)        This Agreement is personal to Executive and without the prior written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by Executive otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive’s legal representatives.

(b)        This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns.

(c)        The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to assume expressly and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. As used in this Agreement, “ Company ” shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise.

12.         Miscellaneous .

(a)        This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of North Carolina, without reference to principles of conflict of laws. The captions of this Agreement are not part of the provisions hereof and shall have no force or effect. This Agreement may not be amended or modified otherwise than by a written agreement executed by the parties hereto or their respective successors and legal representatives.

(b)        All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the other party or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

If to Executive:

At the Executive’s address of record on file with the Company

If to the Company:

Lowe’s Companies, Inc.

1000 Lowe’s Boulevard

Mooresville, North Carolina 28117

Attention: Chief Legal Officer

or to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith. Notice and communications shall be effective when actually received by the addressee.

(c)        The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement.

(d)        The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement such Federal, state, local or foreign taxes as shall be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

(e)        Executive’s or the Company’s failure to insist upon strict compliance with any provision of this Agreement or the failure to assert any right Executive or the Company may have hereunder, including, without limitation, the right of Executive to terminate employment for Good Reason pursuant to Section 5(c) of this Agreement, shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such provision or right or any other provision or right of this Agreement.

(f)        Executive and the Company acknowledge that, except as may otherwise be provided under any other written agreement between Executive and the Company, the employment of Executive by the Company is “at will” and prior to the Effective Date, Executive’s employment and/or this Agreement may be terminated by either

 

8


Executive or the Company at any time prior to the Effective Date, in which case Executive shall have no further rights under this Agreement. From and after the Effective Date this Agreement shall supersede any other agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Executive has hereunto set Executive’s hand and, pursuant to the authorization from its Board of Directors, the Company has caused these presents to be executed in its name on its behalf, all as of the day and year first above written.

 

EXECUTIVE

 

 

LOWE’S COMPANIES, INC.
By:  
Name:  
Title:  

         

 

9

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 22, 2018    

 

Contacts:    Shareholders’/Analysts’ Inquiries:    Media Inquiries:
   Tiffany Mason    Colleen Penhall
   704-758-2033    704-758-2958
   tiffany.l.mason@lowes.com    colleen.b.penhall@lowes.com

LOWE’S NAMES MARVIN ELLISON PRESIDENT AND

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

30-Year Retail Industry Veteran Brings Significant Experience in Leadership, Operations and Omni-Channel Strategies

Lowe’s Director Richard W. Dreiling to Become Chairman of the Board

MOORESVILLE, N.C. – Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) today announced that Marvin R. Ellison has been named president and CEO, effective July 2, 2018. He will also join Lowe’s board of directors at that time. Ellison succeeds Robert A. Niblock, who previously announced his intention to retire. The Lowe’s board has also appointed Richard W. Dreiling, a director of Lowe’s since 2012, as chairman, effective July 2, 2018.

As a 30-year industry veteran, Ellison brings significant leadership and operational expertise to Lowe’s, including experience managing a large network of stores and associates as well as insights and perspectives on managing global logistics networks. Ellison currently serves as chairman and CEO of J. C. Penney Company, Inc., where he implemented a turnaround strategy which has improved the company’s balance sheet, increased store productivity, optimized operations and grown key categories. He also has an extensive track record in the home improvement industry, having spent 12 years in senior-level operations roles with The Home Depot, Inc., where he served as executive vice president of U.S. stores. At The Home Depot, Ellison oversaw U.S. sales, operations and Pro strategic initiatives, dramatically improving customer service and efficiency across the organization to serve both do-it-yourself (DIY) and Pro customers.


Marshall O. Larsen, lead director of the board, said, “Attracting Marvin is a great win for the entire Lowe’s team. Marvin is an experienced retail CEO with extensive expertise in a complex omni-channel consumer-facing company. He also brings significant experience in the home improvement industry, with a proven track record of global operational excellence and driving results from both DIY and Pro customers. Marvin joins Lowe’s at a critical inflection point as we work to enhance our competitive position and capitalize on solid project demand in an evolving consumer environment. We look forward to shepherding an exciting new chapter for Lowe’s under Marvin’s leadership.”

Ellison said, “I am thrilled to take on the role as Lowe’s next president and CEO. Working closely with Lowe’s board, management team and the more than 310,000 talented employees, I believe we will not just compete, but win in today’s complex retail environment. Together, we will leverage Lowe’s omni-channel capabilities to deliver the most simple and seamless customer experiences as we execute with purpose and put the customer first in everything we do.”

Larsen added, “On behalf of the board, I would like to thank Robert for his leadership and dedication to Lowe’s over the last 25 years. Robert played a key role in driving our omni-channel strategy and positioning the company as a leader in home improvement. We wish him all the best in his retirement.”

Niblock said, “It has been an honor to serve as Lowe’s chairman, president and CEO. I am confident in the company’s prospects for growth and value creation under Marvin’s leadership. I know that Marvin’s deep appreciation for Lowe’s culture, people and customers make him the ideal choice to serve as this great company’s next leader, and I look forward to a smooth transition.”

About Marvin R. Ellison

Marvin Ellison currently serves as chairman and CEO of J. C. Penney Company, Inc., and previously served as president and CEO-designee of JCPenney from 2014 to 2015. Prior to that, Ellison spent more than 12 years at The Home Depot, Inc., where he served as executive vice president of U.S. stores from 2008 to 2014 and was responsible for sales, profit and overall operations for 2,000 stores, more than 275,000 employees and $65 billion in annual sales volume. Prior to joining The Home Depot, Ellison spent 15 years at Target Corporation in a variety of operational roles.

Ellison is currently a director of FedEx Corporation, the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) and the National Retail Federation. Ellison was named to Fortune’s “World’s Greatest Leaders in 2016” and recognized as the “2016 Corporate Executive of the Year” by Black Enterprise. Ellison holds a BBA degree in marketing from the University of Memphis and a MBA from Emory University.


About Richard W. Dreiling

Rick Dreiling joined Lowe’s board of directors in 2012 and brings more than 40 years of retail industry experience at all operating levels. He is a past chairman of the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) and serves on the board of Aramark, Kellogg Company and PulteGroup, Inc. Dreiling served as CEO of Dollar General Corporation from January 2008 to June 2015, and as chairman from December 2008 until January 2016.

About Lowe’s

Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) is a FORTUNE ® 50 home improvement company serving more than 18 million customers a week in the United States, Canada and Mexico. With fiscal year 2017 sales of $68.6 billion, Lowe’s and its related businesses operate or service more than 2,390 home improvement and hardware stores and employ over 310,000 people. Founded in 1946 and based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe’s supports the communities it serves through programs that focus on K-12 public education and community improvement projects. For more information, visit Lowes.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements including words such as “believe”, “plan”, “will”, “strategy”, “look forward” and similar expressions are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about Lowe’s plans, objectives, priorities, expectations and intentions, and any statement of an assumption underlying any of the foregoing and other statements that are not historical facts. Although we believe that the expectations, opinions and comments reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties and we can give no assurance that such statements will prove to be correct. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements.

A wide variety of potential risks, uncertainties and other factors could materially affect our ability to achieve the results either expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements including, but not limited to (i) risks relating to management and key personnel changes and (ii) our ability to successfully execute on our strategy and implement our strategic initiatives. For more information about these and other risks and uncertainties that we are exposed to, you should read the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and the description of material changes thereto, if any, included in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or subsequent filings with the SEC.


The foregoing list of important factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. We expressly disclaim any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, change in circumstances, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

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