RPM 2020 Proxy Statement

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION (CONTINUED) potential for higher than average compensation when our performance levels exceed our annual business plan. Our primary compensation goals are to retain key leaders, reward good past performance, incentivize strong future performance and align executives’ long-term interests with those of our stockholders. Role of the Compensation Committee The Compensation Committee Charter provides for the Compensation Committee to oversee RPM’s compensation programs and, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer, develop and recommend to the Board of Directors an appropriate compensation and benefits philosophy and strategy for RPM. The Compensation Committee consists of four independent Directors who are appointed to the Compensation Committee by, and report to, the entire Board of Directors. Each member of the Compensation Committee qualifies as a “non-employee director” within the definition of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, as an “outside director” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, and as an “independent” director under the rules of the NYSE. The Compensation Committee Charter is available on our website at www.rpminc.com . Role of Executives in Determining Compensation Our Chief Executive Officer, together with the Compensation Committee, reviews assessments of executive compensation practices at least annually against our defined comparative framework. These assessments involve the gathering of compensation data, such as base salary, cash incentive and equity awards for similarly situated officers at companies in the diversified chemicals and specialty chemicals industries which fall within a reasonable size range (in terms of sales) and operate businesses similar to that of the Company. See “Comparative Framework” for more information about this review. With this information in hand, and as stated under the heading “Overview,” our Chief Executive Officer recommends to the Compensation Committee levels of compensation for the named executive officers that are at about the market median for a relevant group of similarly-sized companies and competitors within RPM’s industry and aligned with our intended pay philosophy. After receiving the recommendations of our Chief Executive Officer, the Compensation Committee meets without our Chief Executive Officer present to consider his recommendations. The Compensation Committee must approve any recommended changes before they can be made. Comparative Framework We periodically evaluate the competitiveness of our executive compensation programs. In 2020, the Compensation Committee engaged the professional compensation consulting firm of Willis Towers Watson to conduct a compensation benchmark study. Willis Towers Watson reviewed and evaluated our compensation packages for our key officers in light of the levels of compensation being offered by companies in the specialty chemicals industry and other related industries which fall within a reasonable size range (in terms of revenues) and operate businesses similar to that of the Company. The compensation peer group companies included in Willis Towers Watson’s compensation benchmark study were: Albemarle Corporation Eastman Chemical Company Ecolab Inc. Ferro Corporation FMC Corporation PolyOne Corporation PPG Industries Inc. The Sherwin-Williams Company 27