February 2, 2018

Dear Stockholder:

You are cordially invited to join us at the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of The Cooper Companies, Inc., which will be held at 8:00 a.m. (PDT) on March 19, 2018 at The Rose Hotel, 807 Main Street, Pleasanton, California. At the Annual Meeting we will ask our stockholders to vote on the proposals detailed in our Proxy Statement and related materials.

We will be providing access to our proxy materials electronically under the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s “notice and access” rules. As a result, beginning on or about February 7, 2018, we are mailing to many of our stockholders a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials instead of a paper copy of this Proxy Statement and our 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K (the “Annual Report”). This approach conserves natural resources and reduces our printing and distribution costs, while providing a timely and convenient method of accessing the materials and voting.

The Notice contains instructions on how to access our materials through the internet and also contains instructions on how to receive a paper copy of our proxy materials, including this proxy statement, our 2017 Annual Report, and a form of proxy card or voting instruction card. All stockholders who do not receive a Notice, including stockholders who have previously requested to receive paper copies of proxy materials, will receive a paper copy of the proxy materials by mail.

Your vote is important. Regardless of whether you plan to participate in the Annual Meeting, we hope you will vote as soon as possible. You may vote by proxy by following the instructions on the proxy card or voting instruction card. Voting may be done over the internet, by telephone, or by mail (if you received paper copies of the proxy materials). Voting by proxy will ensure your representation at the Annual Meeting regardless of whether you attend.

We look forward to seeing you at the Annual Meeting.

Sincerely,

A. Thomas Bender

Chairman of the Board of Directors

THE COOPER COMPANIES, INC.

6140 Stoneridge Mall Road, Suite 590

Pleasanton, CA 94588

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

Stockholders of record at the close of business on Tuesday, January 23, 2018, or their legal proxy holders, will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.

On or about February 7, 2018, we will mail either (1) a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) or (2) a copy of this Proxy Statement and our Annual Report for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017. The Notice will also contain instructions on how to request a paper copy of our proxy materials.

You may vote by following the instructions on the Notice or by using the proxy card accompanying the paper copy of materials. If phone or internet voting is available to you, instructions will be included on your proxy card.

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT TO US. Regardless of whether you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we encourage you to vote your shares as soon as possible to ensure that your vote is recorded. We look forward to your participation.

By Order of the Board of Directors

Carol R. Kaufman

Secretary

Dated: February 2, 2018

Table of Contents

THE COOPER COMPANIES, INC.

6140 Stoneridge Mall Road, Suite 590

Pleasanton, CA 94588

Our 2018 Annual Meeting will be held at 8:00 a.m. (PDT) on March 19, 2018 in the Boardroom at The Rose Hotel, 807 Main Street, Pleasanton, California.

This Proxy Statement was provided to all stockholders of record at Tuesday, January 23, 2018 and is presented on our behalf by order of the Board of Directors. It contains information about our Company and the proposals to be presented at the Annual Meeting. We have also furnished our 2017 Annual Report to all stockholders of record. The Annual Report contains our financial statements for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017 and other useful information, but it is not part of the materials for the solicitation of proxies.

PROPOSALS TO BE PRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING

The following proposals are presented for consideration by our stockholders.

Detailed information regarding each proposal is presented in this Proxy Statement starting on page 53. Additional information about the Company, our Board and its committees, equity ownership, compensation of officers and directors, and other matters can be found starting on page 10.

You may also find useful information about the Company on our website at http://www.coopercos.com. Information contained on our website is not, and should not be considered, a part of this Proxy Statement or any other filing or report filed with or furnished to with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

We are not aware of any other business to be brought before the meeting. If any additional business is properly brought before the meeting, the designated officers serving as proxies will vote in accordance with their best judgment.

Voting Information

Your vote is important to us. Regardless of whether you plan to attend the meeting, we encourage you to read this Proxy Statement and the accompanying materials and to vote your shares as soon as possible to ensure that your vote is recorded. We look forward to your participation.

Who is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting?

Our Record Date for the Annual Meeting is January 23, 2018. All stockholders who owned our stock at the close of business on the Record Date are entitled to receive proxy materials and to vote at the Annual Meeting and any continuations, adjournments or postponements thereof.

As of the Record Date, there were 49,021,383 shares of our common stock outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.

How many votes do I have?

Each outstanding share of our common stock is entitled to one vote at the Annual Meeting. You have one vote per share that you owned at the close of business on the Record Date.

How do I vote my shares?

You can vote your shares in person at the Annual Meeting or vote by proxy. The method of voting by proxy differs for shares held as a record holder and shares held in “street name.” If you hold your shares of common stock as a record holder you may vote your shares by following the instructions on the Notice, or by completing, dating, and signing the proxy card included with this Proxy Statement and promptly returning it in the pre-addressed, postage paid envelope provided to you. If phone or internet voting is available to you, instructions are included in the Notice or on your proxy card.

If you hold your shares of common stock in “street name,” which means your shares are held of record by a broker, bank, or other nominee, you will receive the proxy materials from your broker, bank, or other nominee with instructions on how to vote your shares. Your broker, bank, or other nominee may allow you to deliver your voting instructions by phone or through the internet. If you wish to vote your shares in person you may do so by attending the Annual Meeting and requesting a ballot.

What happens if I vote my shares by proxy?

When you return a completed proxy card, or vote your shares by telephone or internet, you authorize our officers listed on the proxy card to vote your shares on your behalf as you direct.

If you sign and return a proxy card, but do not provide instructions on how to vote your shares, the designated officers will vote on your behalf as recommended by the Board:

Can I change or revoke my vote after I return my proxy card or voting instructions?

If you choose to vote your shares by proxy, you may revoke or change your vote at any time prior to the casting of votes at the Annual Meeting. To revoke or change your vote, you may take any of the following actions:

Attending the Annual Meeting in person will not automatically revoke your proxy.

How many votes must be present to hold the Annual Meeting?

In order to conduct business and have a valid vote at the Annual Meeting a quorum must be present in person or represented by proxies. A quorum is defined as a majority of the shares outstanding on the Record Date and entitled to vote. In accordance with Delaware law and our Bylaws, broker “non-votes” and proxies reflecting abstentions will be considered present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present.

What are broker “non-votes”?

Broker “non-votes” occur when a broker is not permitted to vote on behalf of shares it holds for a beneficial owner and the beneficial owner does not provide voting instructions. Shares held in a

broker’s name may be voted by the broker, but only in accordance with the rules of the New York Stock Exchange. Under those rules, the broker must follow the instructions of the beneficial owner. If instructions are not provided, NYSE rules determine whether the broker may vote the shares based on its own judgment or is required to withhold its vote. This determination depends on the proposal being voted on. For the proposals to be presented at the Annual Meeting, broker discretionary voting is only permitted for the ratification of our independent registered public accounting firm.

Stockholder Proposals and Nominations for Director

SEC rules and our Bylaws permit stockholders to nominate directors for election and to propose other business to be considered by stockholders at the Annual Meeting under various mechanisms.

To be considered at the 2019 Annual Meeting, director nominations or other proposals must be submitted in writing to:

Carol R. Kaufman, Secretary

The Cooper Companies, Inc.

6140 Stoneridge Mall Road, Suite 590

Pleasanton, CA 94588

and no later than December 19, 2018.

In the event that we set the date for the 2019 Annual Meeting more than 30 days before or more than 70 days after March 19, 2019, submissions may be made no earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the announced meeting date and no later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to the announced meeting date and the 10th day following our first public disclosure of the date of the meeting.

and no later than December 19, 2018.

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will consider director nominees suggested by stockholders on the same terms as nominees selected by the Committee. See page 10 for information about the Committee’s criteria for director nominations.

The person recommending the nominee must be a stockholder entitled to vote at the 2019 Annual Meeting. To be considered, recommendations must include:

If we increase the number of directors to be elected at the 2019 Annual Meeting with less than 100 days’ notice prior to March 19, 2019, stating the size of the increase and naming all the nominees for director, then stockholder nominations for directors will be considered if the proposal is delivered to our Secretary at our principal offices no later than 10 days after we make a public announcement of the increased board size. This only applies to nominations for positions created by the increase and does not apply to nominations for current positions.

Other Q&A

Why did I receive a one-page notice in the mail regarding the internet availability of proxy materials instead of a full set of proxy materials?

The SEC permits us to provide our proxy materials electronically if you have not previously requested to receive only printed materials on an ongoing basis. Accordingly, on or about February 7, 2018, we will mail a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (“the Notice”). The Notice includes instructions on how to access the proxy materials over the internet or to request a printed copy.

The Notice was sent to our stockholders of record at January 23, 2018. All stockholders receiving the Notice have the ability to access the proxy materials electronically through the website referred to in the Notice, and they also have the option to request a printed set of the proxy materials. We encourage stockholders to take advantage of the availability of proxy materials on the internet.

Can I vote my shares by filling out and returning the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials?

No. The Notice only identifies the items to be voted on at the Annual Meeting. You cannot vote by marking the Notice and returning it. The Notice provides instructions on how to cast your vote.

Who pays for the proxy solicitation and how will the Company solicit votes?

We pay all costs associated with the solicitation of proxies, including any costs incurred by brokers and other fiduciaries to forward proxy solicitation materials to beneficial owners.

We may solicit proxies in person or by mail, telephone, facsimile, or e-mail. Proxies may be solicited on our behalf by any of our directors, officers, or employees. Additionally, we have retained the firm of D.F. King & Co., Inc. to assist with the solicitation of proxies and will pay a fee of $16,500 for this service, plus reasonable costs and expenses.

How can I communicate with the Board of Directors?

Any interested party can contact our Board to provide comments, to report concerns, or to ask a question, at the following address:

Carol R. Kaufman

Executive Vice President, Secretary, Chief Administrative Officer & Chief Governance Officer

The Cooper Companies, Inc.

6140 Stoneridge Mall Road, Suite 590

Pleasanton, CA 94588

Communications are distributed to the Board, or to any individual directors as appropriate, depending on the facts and circumstances outlined in the communication. You may also communicate online with our Board of Directors as a group through our website. Please refer to our website at http://www.coopercos.com for any changes in this process.

OWNERSHIP OF THE COMPANY

Principal Securityholders

The following table contains information regarding all individuals or groups who have advised us that they own more than five percent (5%) of the outstanding shares of our common stock. Information presented is as of January 23, 2018.

Securities Held by Insiders

The following table contains information regarding ownership of our common stock by each of our directors, the executives named in the Summary Compensation Table, and all of the current directors and executive officers as a group. The figures in this table represent sole voting and investment power except where otherwise indicated.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

About Our Board of Directors

Directors who are not also employees, or Non-Employee Directors, are compensated for their services as described in Director Compensation on page 53. Mr. Weiss serves as our Chief Executive Officer and receives no additional compensation for his service on the Board. His compensation is discussed in more detail in our Compensation Discussion & Analysis and executive compensation disclosures starting on page 21.

Under our Corporate Governance Principles, directors are not permitted to serve on the boards of more than two other public companies while they serve on our Board. We do not limit service on private company boards of directors or with non-profit organizations.

Identification of Candidates

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee is responsible for identification and selection of qualified candidates for nomination to the Board. The Committee believes that nominees for election to the Board must possess certain minimum qualifications and attributes.

To be nominated for election, an individual must:

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee does not currently maintain a separate diversity policy regarding nominees for director. Instead the Committee relies on diversity as one of many factors in the consideration of director nominees who meet these stated criteria.

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will consider suggestions from stockholders for nominees for election as directors at our Annual Meetings on the same terms as nominees selected by the Committee. Stockholder suggestions must be received on a timely basis and meet the criteria set forth in the information on Stockholder Proposals and Nominations for Director on page 4.

As of the date of this Proxy Statement, no stockholder suggestions for director nominees have been received by the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. Except as set forth above, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee does not currently have a formal process for identifying and evaluating nominees for directors, including nominees recommended by stockholders.

Board Leadership Structure

We maintain separate positions for the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). We also maintain an independent Lead Director position, which is currently held by Dr. Allan E. Rubenstein.

We feel this division provides a balance between the independence of our directors and the experience of our officers. Our current Chairman has significant business experience with the Company, but has also been affirmatively determined to be independent by our Board. We feel that maintaining an independent Chair provides for strong, knowledgeable leadership of the Board separate from the CEO position’s immediate, day-to-day involvement with the Company.

Board Committees

The Board maintains four standing committees as described below. Committee membership is determined by the Board and reviewed regularly.

As required by the SEC and NYSE, all members of our Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, Audit Committee, and Organization and Compensation Committee are independent directors. At the Board’s discretion, other committees may include directors who have not been determined to be independent. Currently the Board maintains one committee, the Science and Technology Committee, which has non-independent director membership.

Each committee maintains a written charter detailing its authority and responsibilities. These charters are updated periodically as legislative and regulatory developments and business circumstances warrant. The committee charters are available in their entirety on our website at http://www.coopercos.com.

The Audit Committee provides advice with respect to our financial matters and assists the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities regarding: (i) the quality and integrity of our financial statements, (ii) our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, (iii) review of our potential risk factors, (iv) the qualifications, independence, and performance of the independent registered public accounting firm serving as auditors of the Company, (v) retention and engagement of the independent registered public accounting firm, and (vi) the performance of the Company’s Internal Audit function and internal controls. The Audit Committee advises and makes recommendations to the Board regarding our financial, investment, and accounting procedures and practices.

The Organization and Compensation Committee reviews and approves all aspects of the compensation paid to our Chief Executive Officer and all executives identified by the Organization and Compensation Committee as officers under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act. The Organization and Compensation Committee also approves all compensation for employees whose total combined annual base salary plus target non-equity incentive bonus is $500,000 or greater, regardless of whether they have been designated as officers under Section 16(a). Members of the Organization and Compensation Committee are not eligible to participate in any of our executive compensation programs.

The Organization and Compensation Committee also approves the composition of our designated comparative peer group for compensation review, approves all awards under our equity and non-equity incentive bonus plans, and has approval authority for all agreements providing for the payment of benefits following a change in control of the Company, severance following a termination of employment, or any other special arrangement with the executive officers or employees which would affect their compensation. The Organization and Compensation Committee also oversees succession planning, diversity & inclusion, and management development programs designed to strengthen our internal pool of candidates for executive level positions and promote mentoring of senior level employees.

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee develops, implements, and maintains the corporate governance standards by which we conduct business, and advises and makes recommendations to the Board concerning our primary governance policies. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee meets with the Chief Executive Officer and senior corporate staff as it deems appropriate to fulfill its obligations with regard to our corporate governance standards. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee also performs the functions described under Identification of Candidates on page 10.

The Science and Technology Committee evaluates new and existing technologies. The Science and Technology Committee’s primary functions are to: (i) discuss technology that falls outside the usual scope of current business, (ii) periodically review our research and development projects and

portfolio, (iii) annually review our key technologies and assess the position of these technologies versus third party products and processes, and (iv) provide information and guidance to the Board on matters relating to science and technology. The Science and Technology Committee functions on an ad hoc basis.

Meetings

The Board and its committees met as follows during our most recent fiscal year:

The Non-Employee Directors hold executive sessions in connection with regular meetings of the Board and more often as they deem appropriate. Either Mr. Bender, as Chair, or Dr. Rubenstein, as Lead Director, presides over executive sessions.

During the 2017 fiscal year, each director attended at least 85% of the board meetings and meetings of committees on which the director served. Currently we do not maintain a formal policy regarding director attendance at the Annual Meeting.

Corporate Governance Policies

We have an ongoing commitment to good governance and business practices. In furtherance of this commitment, we regularly monitor developments in the area of corporate governance and review our policies and procedures in light of such developments. We seek to comply with the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC and the NYSE and implement other corporate governance practices we believe are in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders. In keeping with this commitment, our corporate Bylaws include a majority voting standard for the election of our directors and we maintain various corporate policies that reflect our dedication to good governance. We have also allowed our shareholder rights plan to expire by its terms as of the end of the 2017 fiscal year. We believe that the policies currently in place enhance our stockholders’ interests.

Corporate Governance Principles

The Board has approved a set of Corporate Governance Principles for the Company. The Principles are available in their entirety on our website at http://www.coopercos.com. The Principles set out our standards for director qualifications, director responsibilities, Board committees, director access to officers and employees, director orientation and continuing education, and performance evaluations of the Chief Executive Officer and of the Board and its committees.

The Principles also address compensation and stock ownership requirements for our Non-Employee Directors. These topics are discussed in more detail in the section on Director Compensation starting on page 50.

Ethics and Business Conduct Policy

We have adopted an Ethics and Business Conduct Policy, or Ethics Policy, which is available in its entirety on our website at http://www.coopercos.com. All our employees, officers, and directors, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, are required to adhere to the Ethics Policy in discharging their work-related responsibilities. Employees are encouraged to report any conduct that they believe in good faith to be an actual or apparent violation of the Ethics Policy.

The Ethics Policy includes provisions relating to: (i) conflicts of interest, (ii) the protection and proper use of Company assets, (iii) relationships with customers, suppliers, competitors and associates, (iv) government relations and anti-corruption regulations, and (v) compliance with laws and regulations, including laws and regulations relating to insider trading, equal employment opportunity, harassment, health and safety.

The Ethics Policy is translated into multiple languages to facilitate readability for our employees and all employees receive a copy of the Ethics Policy both at their date of hire and annually. The Ethics Policy is also posted on our internal web pages for ease of access.

Amendments to the Ethics Policy and any waivers from the Ethics Policy granted to directors or executive officers will be made available through our website. As of the date of this proxy statement, no waivers or requests have been requested or granted.

Stock Trading Policy: Hedging & Pledging

We have implemented a Stock Trading Policy that applies to our senior executives, including our Named Executive Officers, and all members of the Board of Directors. Under this Policy, trading in Company securities is prohibited except during specifically designated windows. Additionally, executives and members of the Board are prohibited from engaging in various trading practices which would suggest speculation in our securities, including short sales, puts, calls, forward sales, equity swaps, or other hedging transactions. Our policy does permit executives and members of the Board to pledge securities as collateral, but only upon prior notice to, and approval from, the Company.

Procedures for Handling Accounting Complaints

The Audit Committee has established procedures for receipt and handling of potential complaints we may receive regarding accounting, internal accounting controls, or auditing matters, and to allow for the confidential, anonymous submission by our employees of concerns regarding accounting or auditing matters. In furtherance of this goal, we have established a confidential reporting system managed by an independent third-party vendor through which employees may report concerns about our business practices. The reporting system provides both a telephone hotline and online reporting options in multiple languages.

Board of Directors’ Role in Risk Oversight

Our Board of Directors recognizes the importance of appropriate oversight of potential business risks in running a successful operation and meeting its fiduciary obligations to our business and our stockholders. While our management team has responsibility for the day-to-day assessment and management of potential business risks, the Board maintains responsibility for creating an appropriate culture of risk management and setting the proper “tone at the top.”

In this function, the Board, directly and through its committees, takes an active role in overseeing our aggregate risk potential and in assisting management with addressing specific risks, including competitive, legal, regulatory, operational, and financial risks. Each committee of the Board regularly reviews risks related to its area of focus as follows:

Each committee reports regularly to the Board on these topics and contributes to the overall Board review of potential business risks.

The Board believes that its current leadership structure and majority independent membership facilitate risk oversight by combining experienced leadership with independent direction from the Board and committees. Both our Chairman and our CEO have in-depth understanding of our history and specific challenges we face as a business. Our CEO’s experience allows him to promptly identify and raise key business risks to the Board and our Chairman’s history with the Company provides the Board with an independent voice who can also provide insight into management decisions and market dynamics based on our specific business operations. The Board believes that the balance between our Chairman, CEO, Lead Director, and the independent committees of the Board enhances our risk oversight process and appropriately limits levels of risk within our enterprise.

Additionally, we maintain both an internal Risk Committee and a Chief Governance Officer position. Our Risk Committee is composed of members of senior management and is responsible for the review of our potential and identified business risks. Regular reports from the Risk Committee are presented to the Board of Directors. The Chief Governance Officer holds responsibility for ensuring compliance training and communication of key policies to our employees. The Board feels that the appointment of executive officers that are directly responsible for monitoring risk and compliance issues ensures active positions dedicated to the identification of potential business risks and enhances the “tone at the top” message of the importance of risk oversight, governance, and compliance.

Risk and Executive Compensation

Our Organization and Compensation Committee reviews and assesses the possible risks related to our executive compensation programs. Based on this assessment, the Organization and Compensation Committee has concluded that our compensation program structure does not create unreasonable risk or the likelihood of a material adverse impact on the Company. In making this determination, the Organization and Compensation Committee considered possible compensation-based risks and means by which potential risks may be mitigated, including through the operation of our internal control structure and the Committee’s oversight. The Organization and Compensation Committee also considered the structure of our compensation plans, including the use of a combination of short- and long-term compensation programs, equity ownership guidelines for our senior executives, capped bonus targets under short-term incentive plans, and clawback provisions for short-term bonus awards.

Management Succession Planning

At least annually, and more often as deemed appropriate, the Organization and Compensation Committee meets with management to discuss succession plans for our executive management, including our CEO. Succession plans are designed to allow for an orderly transition of the top executive posts either in the ordinary course of business or in response to emergency situations. Management develops and presents plans for identification, mentoring, and continuing development of potential internal candidates for executive leadership positions. The Committee provides oversight, input, and recommendations with regard to the criteria to be used for identification of potential candidates for succession to leadership positions. The Committee also meets with individual members of management occasionally throughout the year to assess leadership development within the executive team.

Related Party Transactions

We review all relationships and transactions in which the Company and our directors and executive officers or their immediate family members are participants. The Company’s legal and governance staff is primarily responsible for monitoring and obtaining information from the directors and executive officers with respect to related party transactions and for then determining, based on the facts and circumstances, whether the Company or a related party has a direct or indirect material interest in the transaction.

KPMG LLP, as our independent registered public accounting firm, reviews our controls around the identification and reporting of related party transactions as required by current accounting standards.

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee of our Board reviews and approves or ratifies all transactions between the Company and related parties that are required to be disclosed under SEC rules, and we disclose such transactions in our Proxy Statement.

We have determined that there were no material related party transactions during the 2017 fiscal year.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

During the 2017 fiscal year, all of the members of the Organization and Compensation Committee were independent directors, no member was an employee or former employee of the Company, and no Committee member had any relationship requiring disclosure as a related party transaction. Also, none of our executive officers served on the compensation committee (or its equivalent) or board of directors of another entity whose executive officer served on the Organization and Compensation Committee.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our executive officers, directors, and anyone owning more than ten percent of a registered class of our equity securities to file reports with the SEC detailing their ownership and any changes in ownership. SEC regulations also require these persons to provide us with a copy of all reports filed.

Based solely on our review of the copies of reports and related amendments we have received, we believe that during and with respect to the 2017 fiscal year, all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to our officers, directors and greater-than-ten-percent owners were met.

REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

Our Audit Committee currently has four members: Jody S. Lindell (Chair), Michael H. Kalkstein, William A. Kozy, and Gary S. Petersmeyer. Our Board has determined that all members of the Audit Committee are independent directors and are financially literate as required by the NYSE. Our Board has also determined that Ms. Lindell meets the qualifications of an audit committee financial expert as defined by the SEC.

The Audit Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board in December 2003 and most recently amended in March 2017. The Audit Committee’s charter is available in its entirety on our website at http://www.coopercos.com.

The Audit Committee’s primary duties and responsibilities relate to:

The Audit Committee provides advice with respect to our financial matters and assists the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities regarding: (i) the quality and integrity of our financial statements, (ii) our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, (iii) review of our potential risk factors, (iv) the qualifications, independence and performance of KPMG LLP (“KPMG”), in its role as our independent registered public accounting firm, (v) retention and engagement of KPMG, and (vi) the performance of our internal audit function and review of our internal controls.

Management is responsible for the Company’s internal controls and the financial reporting process. The Committee has engaged Ernst & Young LLP (“EY”) to assist in the assessment of the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting and to provide internal audit services. Such services provided by EY are jointly directed by management and the Audit Committee.

KPMG, as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, is responsible for performing an independent audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and to issue a report on the audit process. The Audit Committee’s responsibility is to monitor and oversee these processes. In this context, the Audit Committee has met and held discussions with management and KPMG regarding the fair and complete presentation of the Company’s financial results.

The Audit Committee held 10 meetings during the 2017 fiscal year, including regular meetings in conjunction with the close of each fiscal quarter, during which the Audit Committee reviewed and discussed the Company’s financial statements with management and KPMG. These Audit Committee meetings routinely include executive sessions of the committee, as well as private sessions with each of KPMG, Internal Audit, EY, and management.

The Audit Committee reviewed and discussed the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017 with management and KPMG, and management

represented to the Audit Committee that the Company’s consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The Audit Committee discussed with KPMG the matters required to be discussed by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Auditing Standard No. 16 “Communication with Audit Committees.”

The Audit Committee also reviewed and discussed with KPMG, Internal Audit, EY, and management the processes and procedures associated with our assessment of internal controls over financial reporting, including management’s assessment of such controls.

The Audit Committee maintains policies and procedures for the pre-approval of work performed by KPMG. Under its charter, the Audit Committee must approve all engagements in advance. All engagements with estimated fees above $150,000 require consideration and approval by the full Audit Committee. The Chair of the Audit Committee has the authority to approve on behalf of the full Audit Committee all engagements with fees estimated to be below $150,000. Management recommendations are considered in connection with such engagements, but management has no authority to approve engagements.

In the 2017 fiscal year, the Audit Committee received both the written disclosures and the letter from KPMG that are mandated by applicable requirements regarding the independent registered public accounting firm’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence and the Audit Committee discussed KPMG’s independence from the Company with the lead engagement partner. The Audit Committee or its Chair approved all audit services provided by KPMG for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017. The total fees paid or payable to KPMG for the last two fiscal years are as follows:

Based on the Audit Committee’s discussions with KPMG, Internal Audit, EY, and management, the Audit Committee’s review of the representations of management, the certifications of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, and the written disclosures and the letter from KPMG to the Audit Committee, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that our audited consolidated financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017 for filing with the SEC.

THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

Jody S. Lindell (Chair)

Michael H. Kalkstein

William A. Kozy

Gary S. Petersmeyer

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY

Set forth below is information regarding our current executive officers and other senior employees named in this Proxy Statement who are not also directors. The individuals listed below served in the positions set forth as of the date the Notice was mailed.

Mr. McBride has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer since November 2013 and as the President of CooperVision, our contact lens subsidiary since February 2014. He previously served as our Chief Risk Officer from July 2011 through October 2013, as our General Counsel from November 2007 through January 2014, and as Vice President from July 2006 through October 2013. He also served as Senior Counsel from February 2005 through November 2007. Prior to joining Cooper, Mr. McBride was an attorney with Latham & Watkins LLP from October 1998 to February 2005, concentrating on mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance matters.

Mr. White has served as Chief Financial Officer since November 2016. He also serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, positions he has held since December 2015 and July 2011, respectively. Since August 2015, Mr. White also oversees and directs our women’s healthcare business and is currently Chief Executive Officer of Cooper Medical, Inc., the parent company to CooperSurgical, Inc. Previously, he served as Vice President, Investor Relations from November 2007 through March 2013 and as Vice President and Treasurer from April 2006 through December 2012. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. White was a Director with KeyBanc Capital Markets for three years and held a number of leadership positions within KeyBank National Association over the prior eight years.

Ms. Kaufman has served as Executive Vice President since July 2012 and Chief Governance Officer since March 2013. She previously served as Senior Vice President of Legal Affairs from December 2004 to July 2012. She has also served as Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer since October 1995 and as Vice President of Legal Affairs and Secretary since March 1996. From January 1989 through September 1995, she served as Vice President, Secretary and Chief Administrative Officer of Cooper Development Company, a healthcare and consumer products company. She previously held a variety of financial positions with Cooper Laboratories, Inc. (our former parent) since joining that company in 1971. Ms. Kaufman currently serves as a director for Insperity, Inc. (NYSE: NSP), a publicly traded provider of human resources outsourcing options, and is a member of its nominating and corporate governance and compensation committees. She is also a member of the western region advisory board for FM Global, the world’s largest property insurer. She formerly

served as a director of Chindex International, Inc. (NASDAQ: CHDX) and as a member of its audit and compensation committees and chaired the nominating and corporate governance committees. She also served as a member of the Special Transaction Committee in connection with sale of Chindex to TPG in 2014.

Mr. Golden has served as Vice President since November 2014 and as our General Counsel from February 2014. He previously served as our Assistant General Counsel from May 2013 through January 2014. He also served as senior counsel from March 2010, when he joined the Company, until May 2013. Prior to joining Cooper, he served as Senior Director & Legal Counsel at Align Technology, Inc. from 2005 through 2010 and as Director of Legal Affairs & Senior Counsel with Nokia, Inc. from 2000 to 2005. Mr. Golden also held various associate and senior legal positions prior to 2000, focusing on litigation and commercial and business law.

Mr. Ricupati has served as our Chief Accounting Officer since October 2017 and as Senior Vice President, Finance & Tax since July 2017. Mr. Ricupati previously served as Vice President, Tax for the Company from July 2013 to July 2017. Prior to joining Cooper, he served as International Tax Director for Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC) from 2010 to 2013 and in various other senior finance and tax positions over the past 20 years. He holds a masters degree from DePaul University and is a Certified Public Accountant.

REPORT OF THE ORGANIZATION AND COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

The Organization and Compensation Committee of the Board has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis with management. Based on this review and discussion, the Organization and Compensation Committee has recommended to the Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement and incorporated by reference in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017.

ORGANIZATION AND COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

Michael H. Kalkstein (Chair)

Colleen E. Jay

Jody S. Lindell

Gary S. Petersmeyer

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

This Compensation Discussion and Analysis describes our philosophy, strategies, policies and practices for compensating our Named Executive Officers (“NEOs”).

The Organization and Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors (referred to below as the “OCC”) oversees our executive compensation program and regularly reviews our program to ensure that we maintain an effective link between pay and performance. The OCC continually monitors for compensation-related risks that could have a material adverse effect on the Company.

This oversight responsibility is described in more detail throughout this Compensation Discussion and Analysis, which also includes information regarding our compensation governance policies and practices, the outcome of our most recent stockholder advisory vote on NEO compensation (the “Say-on-Pay” vote), the use of compensation consultants, and the selection and composition of our peer group.

Our Named Executive Officers

Our NEOs for the 2017 fiscal year are listed below with the titles they held at the end of the fiscal year.

The Year in Review

Financial and Operational Highlights

We reported strong financial results for fiscal 2017, with record revenue growth, earnings per share, and free cash flow, and both CooperVision and CooperSurgical successfully closed strategic acquisitions that will create growth for their businesses and continue to expand our global presence. In addition to overall robust financial results, we had a number of other important achievements worthy of note this past year, including:

Puerto Rico Recovery Effort

Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico in September 2017, impacting the CooperVision manufacturing facility on the island. Our local management team implemented disaster recovery procedures and were able to restore limited operations within one week of the storm and near-full function of our facility within a month. CooperVision also immediately implemented support measures for our employees affected by the hurricane, including providing clean drinking water, emergency kits, and laundry facilities for employees in the immediate aftermath of the storm.

CooperVision continues to work to address the needs of our employees affected by the storm and to assist with local relief efforts. We have established the Puerto Rico Relief Fund, a charitable donation organization which contributes directly to our employees affected by the hurricane and to surrounding communities. Local management has also worked closely with regional utilities, providing technical labor, logistics support, and equipment, to assist with maintaining service to our facility and the surrounding area.

Executive Compensation Highlights

For fiscal 2017 the compensation for our NEOs, including Mr. Weiss, was provided as follows:

Compensation Objectives / Pay for Performance

The compensation packages for our NEOs are designed to reward achievement of both short-term and long-term goals, as reflected in specific financial measures, and continued service to the Company. Encouraging long-term service and continued financial achievement has created strong results for us and we have maintained steady growth and returns for our stockholders (see below).

We consider our executive compensation program design to be integral to our success and believe the selected performance measures serve as significant indicators for our continued success.

Compensation Governance

The OCC works closely with its independent compensation consultant and management to ensure that we maintain sound governance and compensation policies and practices. In designing and overseeing our executive compensation program, we strive to employ best practices.

THINGS WE DO:
		Entirely independent OCC						Thorough assessment of individual and Company performance and linkage to compensation
		Independent compensation consultant, retained by and reporting only to the OCC						Limited use of employment and change-in-control agreements; all change-in-control payments and benefits subject to “double-trigger” requirements
		A majority of NEO compensation is “at risk”						Robust succession planning process with annual review by the OCC
		Stock ownership guidelines applicable to our NEOs, with our CEO required to hold five times his annual base salary						Perquisites are limited in scope and have specific business rationale
		Annual review of executive compensation program and individual compensation packages						Compensation recovery (“clawback”) provision incorporated in our annual incentive plan
THINGS WE DON’T DO:
❖		No loans to NEOs				❖		No tax gross-ups for NEOs
❖		No Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan or other exceptional deferred compensation options. Also no defined benefit or other actuarial plans which are not available generally to our employees				❖		No hedging or speculative transactions in Company securities; no purchases of Company securities on margin
❖		No stock option repricing, reload options, or option exchanges without stockholder approval				❖		No related party transactions without approval from our Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee

In addition to these policies and practices, the OCC stays informed and regularly assesses the alignment between our compensation packages and our performance as follows:

The OCC considers management input, the advice of compensation consultants, and publicly available peer information to be valuable tools in its evaluation of the relationship between executive compensation and Company performance.

2017 Say-on-Pay Vote

The OCC considers the outcome of our annual “Say-on-Pay” vote in determining the design of our executive compensation program and the composition and levels of individual compensation packages.

At our 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, 94% of the votes cast on our Say-on-Pay proposal were voted in favor of the compensation program for our NEOs. The OCC views this result as a strong affirmation of our program structure and considered these results when developing the compensation packages for fiscal 2017 as described in this Compensation Discussion and Analysis.

We also presented a proposal regarding the frequency with which Say-on-Pay proposals are presented to our stockholders, and 91% of votes cast were voted in favor of continuing the annual presentation of our Say-on-Pay vote. As a result of this positive result, the OCC made no significant changes in our compensation program structure and will continue to present a Say-on-Pay vote to our stockholders annually.

Stock Ownership Guidelines

The OCC reviewed the guidelines in fiscal 2017 and increased the recommended ownership for Mr. Weiss from 3 times his base salary to 5 times his base salary.

All NEOs were in compliance with the applicable ownership guidelines during fiscal 2017.

Use of Compensation Consultants

The OCC retains Compensia, a national compensation consulting firm, to provide advice on compensation of our executive officers and the non-employee members of our Board of Directors. Under this engagement, Compensia reports directly to the OCC and does no other work for the Company. The OCC also maintains sole authority to determine the terms of Compensia’s retention and services. A representative of the firm generally attends OCC meetings. Management interaction with Compensia is generally limited to communication of information provided by management to the OCC.

The OCC has reviewed the nature of the relationship between itself and Compensia as an independent consulting firm, and its relationship with the members of Compensia as individuals, for potential conflicts of interest. In conducting this review, the OCC gave consideration to the factors identified by the SEC and the NYSE as possibly contributing to conflicts, including the scope of work performed for the OCC by Compensia, the fees paid to Compensia for services, and any personal or business relationships between our executive officers or members of the OCC and Compensia or its individual members. Based on its review, the OCC has determined there are no conflicts of interest or potential conflicts of interest arising in connection with the OCC’s engagement of Compensia.

Management separately retains Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc. (“Frederic Cook”) to serve as its compensation consultant and assist in the preparation of information provided to the OCC. Mr. Weiss has final authority for the retention of Frederic Cook. A representative of the firm generally attends OCC meetings as an invited guest, but Frederic Cook does no work directly for the OCC and is not considered to be an independent consultant. The OCC considers recommendations from Frederic Cook on the same basis as recommendations from management.

Role of Management

Frederic Cook provides an annual report analyzing executive officer compensation. This report presents comparative compensation information based on peer group data and contains information regarding key trends in executive compensation for other comparable publicly-traded companies. This information is one factor in evaluating the design of our executive compensation program and the compensation elements and levels provided to our executive officers. Compensia evaluates the recommendations provided by management and reviews the work done by Frederic Cook and advises the OCC on these findings.

In addition to the annual compensation report, Mr. Weiss provides recommendations to the OCC regarding:

Mr. Weiss uses Frederic Cook’s analyses and guidance to develop these recommendations. The OCC gives full consideration to his recommendations and reviews these recommendations with Compensia before making its own decisions on the compensation of our executive officers. Mr. Weiss does not participate in discussions of his own compensation.

Peer Group

The OCC uses a peer group for understanding and assessing competitive compensation levels and practices within our industry. It reviews this peer group annually, with consideration given to the recommendations and input of management, Frederic Cook, and Compensia.

Our peer group is drawn from publicly-traded companies headquartered in the United States. Recommendations for peer group companies are based on similarity of product lines or industry and similarity in company size as measured by annual revenue, market capitalization, operating margins, and other financial measures of organizational scope and complexity. For fiscal 2017, companies were considered for inclusion in the peer group that: (i) had revenue and/or market capitalization between 0.5x and 2.0x of the Company in the past fiscal year, (ii) were in the medical device industry, and (iii) were identified as a peer by at least three other current peer companies, used the Company as a peer, or had been identified as a peer by one of the major proxy advisory firms.

The peer group for fiscal 2017 was comprised of the following companies:

In August 2017 the OCC reviewed our peer group as part of its consideration of compensation planning for fiscal 2018 and determined that no changes would be made.

Compensation Elements

Compensation for our executive officers is determined based on their current role, recent changes to their responsibilities, and overall execution of duties throughout the prior fiscal year. Company performance, internal alignment among our executive officers, peer group compensation practices, and competitive market changes and conditions are also taken into account.

The primary elements of our executive compensation program are as follows:

Each of these elements, other than base salary, require achievement of strong financial results to realize significant (or any) amounts of compensation. Because of this dependence on specific financial metrics (in the case of performance based equity and annual bonus) and significant increases in our stock price (in the case of time-based equity), we consider these elements to be “at risk” for our NEOs.

In the 2017 fiscal year, approximately 85% of Mr. Weiss’s target total direct compensation and approximately 76% of our other NEO’s target total direct compensation was “at risk”.

Chief Executive Officer Compensation

Mr. Weiss’ target total direct compensation recognizes his significant role in driving our performance and future growth and his overall responsibility for our strategic direction, management, and leadership. The practices of our peer group and our industry sector are also considered.

In setting Mr. Weiss’ compensation for fiscal 2017, the OCC considered the following factors:

The OCC approved an increase of approximately 2% in Mr. Weiss’ target total direct compensation for fiscal 2017 as set out below:

Incentive Payment Plan (“IPP”)

Fiscal 2017 Performance Measurement

The OCC approves an annual Incentive Payment Plan, or IPP, to provide annual performance-based cash incentive opportunities. Target levels for the pre-established performance measures used in the IPP are based on budgeted goals reflected in our annual operating plan. The IPP is discussed in more detail in the narrative to the Grants of Plan Based Awards Table on page 42.

Each NEO’s opportunity under the IPP is allocated into two components:

Taken together, these elements of the IPP encourage our executive officers, including our NEOs, to focus on both immediate business objectives and financial performance as well as other factors that support longer-term performance.

Financial targets were based on our annual operating plan, as approved by our Board of Directors at the beginning of fiscal 2017. Targets were subject to adjustment for acquisitions and/or divestitures or other items during the fiscal year as determined by the OCC. The table below describes the relationship between the earned award and Company performance for each of the finance measures

included in the 2017 IPP. No award was payable with respect to any financial performance measure that did not reach its minimum achievement threshold. For each NEO, the incentive that can be paid for any individual financial performance measure was capped at 200%.

Further, any two of the three quantitative measures were required to exceed 95% of their target level before awards for any quantitative performance measure could exceed 100% of target.

In addition to approving the calculation of achievement based on financial results under the 2017 IPP (discussed in more detail below), the OCC also had the separate authority to reduce the quantitative portion of the bonus by up to 25%. This determination would be based on any facts and circumstances the OCC considered to be in the Company’s best interests. Award payments could also be reduced or cancelled by the OCC if a review of the results for the first two months of fiscal 2018 reflected anomalous unfavorable events that were attributable to fiscal 2017. The OCC did not determine that any adjustments to awards for fiscal 2017 were necessary under these provisions.

The discretionary component of individual IPP awards is based entirely on the OCC’s assessment of executive performance during the fiscal year. The discretionary component allows the OCC the flexibility to recognize factors such as:

The OCC believes this flexibility, which can account for factors that impact our results either positively or negatively, is important to connect cash incentive awards with its assessment of executive achievement in individual roles.

2017 IPP Results

Financial Measure Achievement

In approving the actual achievement levels for fiscal 2017, the OCC reviewed management’s presentation of our financial results and gave consideration to the events during the fiscal year that impacted budget targets. On review, the OCC approved achievement under the 2017 IPP based on the GAAP results as reported for the Company with no adjustments.

The target levels for each of the financial performance measures, our actual achievement as approved by the OCC, and the associated award amounts earned with respect to each of these measures under the 2017 IPP is set out below, and a full discussion of our financial results can be found in Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017.

Corporate Achievement

(Basis of Awards Paid to NEOs)

Discretionary Award Determinations

As discussed above, the 2017 IPP provides for 25% of each NEO’s target annual cash incentive opportunity to be entirely at the discretion of the OCC and not linked to the quantitative financial measures under the 2017 IPP. The IPP achievement of the discretionary portion may range from 0% to a percentage deemed appropriate by the OCC, subject to a cap on the total bonus earned by any NEO equal to 200% of their target award.

In determining the discretionary payout for each NEO, the OCC made an independent assessment of individual performance and leadership, operational achievements not otherwise enumerated in the 2017 IPP, and such other factors as the OCC considers indicative of executive performance, including those described under The Year in Review above at page 22 and factors such as market share growth, new product launches, business development, and executive leadership.

There is no formulaic relationship between the OCC’s assessment of each NEO and the payout of the discretionary component of the IPP. The OCC does not rely on a formal performance evaluation or consider achievement of pre-established goals for each NEO, other than the Chief Executive Officer. The OCC does consider, among other factors, the input of our Chief Executive Officer regarding recommended award levels (other than in respect to his own IPP award) and the performance of the other NEOs, and each executive’s self-assessment of accomplishments within their area of responsibility.

For fiscal 2017, the OCC chose to make discretionary awards in the amounts described below for each NEO.

Named Executive Officer Awards Under the 2017 IPP

Long-Term Incentive Compensation

The OCC uses a combination of performance-based and time-vested equity awards to deliver long-term incentive compensation to our executive officers, including our NEOs. The OCC believes the combination of performance-based and time-vested awards maximizes retention value, effectively links our executive officers’ long-term compensation opportunities to stockholder gains, and controls cost to the Company. The OCC discusses appropriate award design with its compensation consultant and management to set challenging performance goals and award terms that drive a long-term focus on strategic objectives.

In setting award amounts for our executive officers, including our NEOs, the OCC considers recommendations from management and Frederic Cook, as well as advice from Compensia. The OCC also reviews historical grant levels based on the role and position of each executive officer, as well as economic and accounting implications, when determining the type and appropriate size of individual awards. Equity awards are generally granted in the first quarter of the fiscal year, after financial results for the prior fiscal year are available.

The OCC may also grant equity awards periodically to new hires, upon a promotion or other circumstances, or to accomplish specific retention goals. When such awards are approved, the grant date is set by the OCC. Grant dates are never set prior to the date of approval by the OCC.

Performance Share Awards

Our NEOs receive performance based equity awards that require achievement of pre-established increases in EPS over a three-year performance period. These awards are designed to reflect the direct influence of our NEOs on our long-term financial performance. The OCC has selected compounded EPS growth over a three-year period as the performance measure for these awards due to its belief that this measure provides a strong link to stockholder returns.

Fiscal 2017 Performance Share Awards

In setting targets for each grant of performance share awards, the OCC considers our ongoing performance and the level of achievement under prior performance share awards. Target levels are set to require significantly challenging, but attainable, levels of growth. The OCC reviews these target achievement levels with its compensation consultant to ensure that they are reasonable and appropriate. The OCC also considers the objectives for long-term growth set by our Board of Directors, the Company’s historical achievements, and the OCC’s goals for executive compensation. The amount of these performance share awards was determined based on their target accounting value. In setting award levels, the OCC considered competitive market practices and the analyses provided by Frederic Cook and Compensia.

For the 2017 fiscal year, the OCC modified its grant practices to limit performance share awards to select senior executives, as identified below:

For other executives, including Mr. Ricupati, the Compensation Committee determined that a mix of time vesting stock options and RSUs provide strong alignment with company performance, effectively support retention objectives, and align with competitive market practice. Performance shares were not granted more broadly based in part on the less direct relationship between individual performance and company EPS growth over a multi-year time horizon, with consideration given to the variety of factors that can impact results, but that are not transparent to a broader group of executives. Such factors include currency fluctuations and the impact of acquisitions during the performance period.

Results for Fiscal 2015 Performance Share Awards

The performance share awards granted in fiscal 2015 completed their performance cycle at the end of fiscal 2017. Based on our EPS growth over the three-year performance period, the OCC certified achievement of the “Target” level for these awards.

Based on this methodology, adjusted EPS was confirmed at $7.77 and achievement was certified to be at or above the requirements for Target payout. As granted, these awards do not provide for proration between levels of achievement. Therefore, the NEOs will receive 100% of the target shares with no adjustments as follows:

Time-Vested Stock Options and Restricted Stock Units

The OCC also uses equity awards with time-based vesting to encourage executive retention while maintaining a link to long-term Company performance. Time-based vesting requires continued service to benefit from these equity awards, and the potential compensation realizable by our executive officers, including our NEOs, is dependent on increases in the market price of our common stock over time.

In fiscal 2017 our NEOs were granted either time-vested stock option awards or a combination of time-vested stock options and time-vested RSUs. The OCC believes that these award types have strong retention value while also closely linking executive compensation to stockholder gains. Stock options only have value to the recipient if we also see growth in our stock price, putting a portion of the executives’ compensation at risk of no return, and RSUs provide guaranteed value if the executive remains with the Company. Both award types provide the opportunity for long-term gain tied to stockholder returns while also encouraging longevity and stable management for the Company.

The amount of equity grants was determined based on target accounting value and our stock price at the time of grant. In setting award levels, the OCC considered competitive market practices and the analyses provided by Frederic Cook and Compensia. These awards generally vest ratably over a five-year period starting on the first anniversary of the date of grant. Mr. Ricupati also received a grant of RSUs in lieu of performance share awards. These shares will vest in full after three years.

Employee Benefits & Perquisites

Our NEOs are eligible to receive benefits under programs provided to our employees generally, including participation in our 401(k) plan (with matching contributions up to a specified dollar value, set annually), benefits under our Retirement Income Plan (a defined benefit plan), health, life and disability insurance, and severance payments and benefits in accordance with our standard separation policy. Matching contributions to our 401(k) plan are equal to the matching contributions provided to employees generally. Benefits under the Retirement Income Plan are discussed in more detail in the Narrative to the Pension Benefits Table on page 48.

Our NEOs also participate in our Change-in-Control Severance Plan, under which they have change in control agreements that provide for severance benefits if the participating executives were to be terminated within a specified time after a change in control of the Company. These agreements are discussed in more detail in the section titled Potential Payments on Termination or a Change in Control on page 49.

Our NEOs also receive limited perquisites or other personal benefits, generally in the form of automobile allowances and expenses, income attributable to life insurance policies, and some limited reimbursement for spousal travel to business functions. In all cases, the OCC reviews these amounts

and takes them into consideration when reviewing overall executive compensation. We only provide perquisites or other personal benefits to our executive officers, including our NEOs, in situations where we believe it is appropriate to assist an individual in the performance of his or her duties, to make our executive officers more efficient and effective, and for recruitment and retention purposes.

Tax Deductibility of Compensation

Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code has generally provided that publicly held companies may not deduct compensation in excess of $1 million paid in any fiscal year to its chief executive officer and the other three most highly compensated NEOs employed at the end of the year (other than its chief financial officer), with the exception that, pursuant to regulations issued by the U.S. Treasury Department, a limited exemption to the Section 162(m) deduction limit applies with respect to “qualified performance-based compensation.”

Based on these regulations, the OCC has historically considered ways to maintain the tax deductibility of the compensation for our NEOs without limiting its discretion to compensate our executive officers in ways that will incentivize stockholder returns.

As part of the 2017 Tax Cuts & Jobs Act, the ability to rely on the performance-based compensation exception was eliminated and the limitation on deductibility generally was expanded to include all NEOs. As a result of the 2017 Tax Reform Act, the Company will no longer be able to deduct any compensation paid to its NEOs in excess of $1 million for any grants made after November 2, 2017. The OCC will be assessing the impact of the 2017 Tax Cuts & Jobs Act, and the amendments to Section 162(m) included in that legislation, to determine what adjustments to our executive compensation practices, if any, it considers appropriate. The OCC has the discretion to provide compensation which may not be deductible by reason of Section 162(m).

Equity Compensation

Our equity compensation plan is designed to be performance-based and the performance share awards granted to executives in fiscal 2017 are intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m). Stock options granted at or above market value prior to November 2, 2017 are also intended to be performance-based compensation and deductible under Section 162(m). However, time-vested full value equity awards will not be qualified as performance-based and may not be deductible.

Annual Cash Incentive

The 2017 Incentive Payment Plan is governed by the 2017 Executive Incentive Plan approved by our stockholders in March 2017. The Executive Incentive Plan is intended to qualify our executive cash bonuses granted in 2017 as “performance-based compensation” for purposes of IRC Section 162(m).

Conclusion

The OCC believes that each element of executive compensation and the total compensation provided to each of our NEOs is reasonable, competitive, and appropriate. The amount of compensation payable to our NEOs depends largely on our financial performance and returns to our stockholders. The OCC believes that our executive compensation program provides an appropriate mix of elements that will allow us to continue to attract, retain, and motivate a top performing management team, without encouraging excessive or inappropriate risk-taking by our executive officers and that its compensation arrangements create incentives that drive our continued strong financial performance.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION TABLES

Summary Compensation Table

The table below shows compensation paid to the individuals who served as our Named Executive Officers during the past fiscal year.

Personal Travel / Other amounts represent airfare, food, lodging, and other expenses paid for these executives in connection with Company events and other amounts determined to not be reimbursable expenses under IRS regulations.

Performance Share Awards

Amounts included in the “Stock Awards” column of the Summary Compensation Table include the value of deferred share awards granted as Performance Share Awards. These awards are designed to deliver a variable number of shares depending on the achievement of specified levels of growth in our earnings per share over a three-year period. If these awards do not achieve at least the threshold level of achievement, no shares will be distributed.

The value of the awards presented in the Summary Compensation Table for fiscal 2017 is based on the target level of achievement. The following table shows the grant date value of these awards at each level of possible achievement. Each of these awards is subject to interpolation between levels of achievement.

Equity award grants are discussed in more detail in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis beginning on page 21.

Grants of Plan Based Awards Table

This table presents information regarding the possible awards payable under our 2017 Incentive Payment Plan and the value of certain equity awards made in the 2017 fiscal year. Our equity grant practices and calculation of awards under the 2017 Incentive Payment Plan are discussed in more detail below and in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis on page 21.

Annual Non-Equity Incentives

The Compensation Committee adopts an annual Incentive Payment Plan, or IPP, to provide for short-term cash incentive awards tied to the achievement of our business goals. Financial targets are derived from our approved fiscal year budget. The IPP is governed by the 2017 Executive Incentive Plan (the “2017 EIP”), as approved by stockholders in March 2017. Under the 2017 EIP, awards under the IPP potentially qualify for tax deductibility under Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m).

Participation levels in the IPP are set by the Compensation Committee for our executives. Targets represent a designated percentage of base salary for the fiscal year and that percentage controls the potential award that can be achieved under the IPP as follows:

As presented in the Grants of Plan Based Awards Table, target amounts represent the potential bonus that would be paid on 100% achievement of both quantitative factors and the discretionary portion of awards. Threshold amounts represent the minimum achievement necessary for payment on only the lowest weighted quantitative factor and no award of discretionary amounts. All awards are capped at a maximum of 200% of the target bonus opportunity.

Specific budget targets and actual achievement under the 2017 IPP are discussed in more detail in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis on page 21.

Equity Awards

We grant equity incentive awards as a tool to promote retention and to connect compensation with our long-term performance and stockholder returns. These awards are granted under our 2007 Long-Term Incentive Plan (as restated and amended in March 2016) and may vest based on continued service over time and/or performance criteria.

The Compensation Committee utilizes a mixture of equity award types, including stock options and performance shares. Stock options are granted at 100% of fair market value on the date of grant and have a 10-year life. Options vest over a five-year period. Performance share awards vest on the achievement of specified levels of earnings per share over a three-year performance period.

Equity award grants are discussed in more detail in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis beginning on page 21.

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End Table

This table provides information regarding the equity award holdings of the Named Executive Officers as of the end of the 2017 fiscal year.