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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A
(Rule 14a-101)

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN
PROXY STATEMENT

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.          )

 

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Preliminary Proxy Materials
Subject to Completion

April 2, 2019

Dear Stockholder:

        It is my pleasure to invite you to attend our 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which will be held on Friday, May 17, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. at our principal executive offices located at 815 Chestnut Street, North Andover, Massachusetts 01845. On the pages following this letter you will find the notice of our 2019 Annual Meeting, which lists the business matters to be considered at the meeting, and the proxy statement, which describes the business matters listed in the notice. Following completion of the scheduled business at the 2019 Annual Meeting, we will report on our operations and answer questions from stockholders.

        We are pleased to take advantage of the Securities and Exchange Commission rules that allow issuers to furnish proxy materials to their stockholders through the Internet. We believe these rules allow us to provide you with the information you need while lowering the costs of delivery and reducing the environmental impact of the 2019 Annual Meeting.

        Whether or not you plan to attend the 2019 Annual Meeting, your vote is important and we encourage you to vote promptly. After you have read the attached proxy statement, please mark your vote on the proxy card, sign and date the proxy card, and return it per the instructions on the card. Alternatively, you may cast your vote by telephone, or through the Internet. Instructions for voting by telephone or through the Internet are included with your proxy.

        We hope that you will be able to join us at the 2019 Annual Meeting.

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WATTS WATER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
815 Chestnut Street
North Andover, MA 01845

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NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

To Be Held on May 17, 2019

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To the Stockholders of
Watts Water Technologies, Inc.

        Notice is hereby given that the 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Watts Water Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation, will be held at our principal executive offices located at 815 Chestnut Street, North Andover, Massachusetts 01845, on Friday, May 17, 2019, at 9:00 a.m., local time, for the following purposes:

1.

To elect the nine directors named in the proxy statement to our Board of Directors, each to hold office until our 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until such director's successor is duly elected and qualified;



2.

To approve, by a non-binding advisory vote, named executive officer compensation;



3.

To approve an amendment to our Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, to increase the number of authorized shares of class A common stock from 80,000,000 shares to 120,000,000 shares and to increase the number of authorized shares of capital stock from 110,000,000 shares to 150,000,000 shares; and



4.

To ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2019.

        The stockholders will also consider and act upon any other matters that may properly come before the Annual Meeting.

        Only stockholders of record at the close of business on March 21, 2019 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting or any continuation, adjournment or postponement thereof.

North Andover, Massachusetts
April 2, 2019

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WATTS WATER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

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ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
May 17, 2019

PROXY STATEMENT

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        Our 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held on Friday, May 17, 2019 at 9:00 a.m., local time, at our principal executive offices located at 815 Chestnut Street, North Andover, Massachusetts 01845. If you have any questions about the Annual Meeting, you may contact our Investor Relations department by email at investorrelations@wattswater.com or by mailing a written request for information addressed to our Corporate Secretary at our principal executive offices.

        You have received this proxy statement because the Board of Directors of Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (which we also refer to as Watts or the Company) is soliciting your proxy to vote your shares at the 2019 Annual Meeting and at any continuation, adjournment or postponement of the 2019 Annual Meeting. This proxy statement includes information that we are required to provide to you under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, and is designed to assist you in voting your shares. Only stockholders of record at the close of business on March 21, 2019 are entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting.

        Beginning on or about April 2, 2019, we are mailing or making available to our stockholders of record as of March 21, 2019 a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials containing instructions on how to access our proxy statement, proxy and 2018 Annual Report and how to vote. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 is available in the Investors section of our website at https://www.watts.com. If you are a stockholder and would like a copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K or any of its exhibits sent to you, we will send it to you without charge. Please address all such requests to our Corporate Secretary at our principal executive offices.

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be Held on May 17, 2019

        This proxy statement and annual report to security holders are available at https://materials.proxyvote.com/942749.

        Each share of our class A common stock, par value $0.10 per share, outstanding on the record date is entitled to one vote on each matter submitted, and each share of our class B common stock, par value $0.10 per share, outstanding on the record date is entitled to ten votes on each matter submitted. As of the close of business on March 21, 2019, there were outstanding and entitled to vote                  shares of class A common stock and 6,279,290 shares of class B common stock.

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Stockholders of Record

        Stockholders of record may vote in person at the Annual Meeting or by proxy. There are three ways to vote by proxy:

If a choice is specified in a proxy, shares represented by that proxy will be voted in accordance with such choice. If no choice is specified, the proxy will be voted "FOR" the election of each of the nine nominees for director named in this proxy statement, "FOR" our named executive officer compensation, "FOR" the amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation, and "FOR" the ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP.

        You may revoke or change your proxy at any time before it is exercised by (i) delivering to us a signed proxy card with a date later than that of your previously delivered proxy, (ii) voting in person at the Annual Meeting, (iii) granting a subsequent proxy through the Internet or by telephone, or (iv) sending a written revocation to our corporate Secretary at our principal executive offices. Attending the Annual Meeting will not revoke your proxy unless you specifically request that your proxy be revoked by sending a written revocation to our corporate Secretary before the proxy is exercised or you vote in person at the Annual Meeting.

Beneficial Owners

        If you are a beneficial owner and your shares are held in "street name" by a bank, broker or other holder of record, you will receive instructions from the holder of record as to how to vote your shares. You will need to follow the instructions of the holder of record in order to vote your shares. Many banks and brokers offer the option of voting over the Internet or by telephone, instructions for which would be provided by your bank or broker on a voting instruction form. If your shares are not registered in your own name and you plan to vote your shares in person at the Annual Meeting, you must contact your broker or agent to obtain a legal proxy or broker's proxy card and bring it to the Annual Meeting in order to vote.

        The presence, in person or by proxy, of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of class A common stock and class B common stock entitled to be cast at the Annual Meeting is necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present for the transaction of business at the Annual Meeting. A "broker non-vote" occurs when a bank, broker or other nominee holder has not received voting instructions with respect to a particular matter and the nominee holder does not have discretionary authority to vote on that matter. A nominee holder has discretionary authority under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, to vote street name shares on the approval of the amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation and the ratification of the

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appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm, even if the nominee holder does not receive voting instructions from the beneficial owners, but will not have discretionary authority to vote on the election of directors, the approval of our named executive officer compensation, or any other proposals submitted for approval at the Annual Meeting.

Proposal 1: Election of Directors

        Under our by-laws, directors are elected by plurality vote. This means that the nine director nominees receiving the highest number of affirmative votes will be elected as directors. You may vote for all of the director nominees, withhold your vote from all of the director nominees or withhold your vote from any one or more of the director nominees. Votes that are withheld and broker non-votes will not be included in the vote tally for the election of directors and will have no effect on the results of the vote.

Proposal 2: Advisory Vote on the Compensation of Our Named Executive Officers

        Under our by-laws, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the votes present or represented at the Annual Meeting and entitled to be cast will be required for approval on a non-binding, advisory basis, of the compensation of our named executive officers. If you submit a proxy or attend the meeting but choose to abstain from voting on this proposal, you will be considered present at the meeting and entitled to vote on such proposal. As a result, an abstention will have the same effect as if you had voted against such proposal. Broker non-votes, however, will have no effect on the proposal because they will not be considered to have been entitled to vote on such proposal.

Proposal 3: Approval of the Amendment to Our Certificate of Incorporation

        Under our Certificate of Incorporation and the Delaware General Corporation Law, approval of the amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the votes represented by the outstanding shares of class A common stock and class B common stock, voting together as a class. In addition, the amendment requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of class A common stock and the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of class B common stock, each voting as a separate class. An abstention will have the same effect as a vote against the proposed amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation because such proposal requires an affirmative vote by a majority of the shares outstanding. Because brokers have discretionary authority under NYSE rules to vote street name shares on Proposal 3, we do not expect any broker non-votes on this proposal.

Proposal 4: Ratification of Our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

        Under our by-laws, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the votes present or represented at the Annual Meeting and entitled to be cast will be required for approval of the ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm. If you submit a proxy or attend the meeting but choose to abstain from voting on this proposal, you will be considered present at the meeting and entitled to vote on such proposal. As a result, an abstention will have the same effect as if you had voted against such proposal. Because brokers have discretionary authority under NYSE rules to vote street name shares on Proposal 4, we do not expect any broker non-votes in connection with this proposal.

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        We will bear the expenses of preparing, printing and assembling the materials used in the solicitation of proxies. In addition to the solicitation of proxies by use of the mail or the Internet, we may also use the services of some of our officers and employees (who will receive no compensation for such services in addition to their regular salaries) to solicit proxies personally and by telephone and email. Brokerage houses, nominees, fiduciaries and other custodians will be requested to forward solicitation materials to the beneficial owners of shares held of record by them, and we will reimburse them for their reasonable expenses.

        Our management does not know of any business other than the matters set forth in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and described above that will be presented for consideration at the Annual Meeting. If any other business should properly come before the Annual Meeting, the proxies will be voted in accordance with the direction of the proxy holders. Each of the persons appointed by the enclosed form of proxy present and acting at the meeting, in person or by substitute, may exercise all of the powers and authority of the proxies in accordance with their judgment.

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        Our entire Board is elected annually at each Annual Meeting. Our Board has nominated each of the nine individuals named below for election as a director at our 2019 Annual Meeting. If elected, each nominee will serve until our 2020 Annual Meeting and until such director's successor has been duly elected and qualified. Proxies will be voted for each of the nominees named below unless otherwise specified in the proxy. All of the nominees are currently members of our Board and were elected by our stockholders at the 2018 Annual Meeting. We expect that all of the nominees will be available for election, but if any of the nominees is not available at the time of the 2019 Annual Meeting, proxies solicited hereby may be voted for a substitute nominee designated by our Board or our Board may choose to reduce the number of directors serving on the Board.

        Our Board of Directors recommends that stockholders vote "FOR" the election of each nominee as a director of Watts Water Technologies, Inc.

Information as to Nominees for Director

        Set forth below are the names of the nominees for our Board of Directors, their ages, principal occupations for at least the past five years, the years they originally became members of our Board of Directors and certain other information. The information provided below is current as of February 1, 2019 except for the ages of the nominees, which are current as of May 17, 2019, the date of our 2019 Annual Meeting.

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Director Compensation

        Our non-employee directors are compensated for their service as directors. During 2018, our Chief Executive Officer, Robert J. Pagano, Jr., was the only member of our Board of Directors who was an employee of Watts, and he did not receive any additional compensation for his service as a director. Our current compensation arrangements for non-employee directors were set effective as of the first quarter of 2019, informed by a comprehensive competitive analysis of non-employee director compensation performed for the Compensation Committee by its independent compensation consultant, Pearl Meyer & Partners, LLC. This review included a consideration of non-employee director compensation practices among a peer group of companies identical to the peer group roster we use when benchmarking executive pay practices. As a result of its review of Pearl Meyer's analysis, in November 2018 the Board approved an increase in the annual cash retainer for non-employee directors from $70,000 to $75,000, an increase in the additional annual retainer for the Chairperson of the Board from $60,000 to $90,000 and an increase in the value of the annual grant of Class A common stock to non-employee directors from $100,000 to $110,000. Set forth below is a summary of all of the current compensation arrangements for our non-employee directors.

        We also reimburse non-employee directors for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with attending Board and committee meetings and for fees and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses for their attendance at director education seminars and programs they attend in connection with their Board service. Non-employee directors do not receive any additional compensation for attendance at Board or committee meetings.

        Our Board typically approves grants of stock awards to non-employee directors at its first quarterly meeting following the election of directors at our Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Such awards are not subject to vesting or any other conditions or restrictions. Under our 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, the maximum aggregate number of shares of class A common stock with respect to one or more awards that may be granted to a non-employee director during any one calendar year is 100,000. In 2018, we continued our practice of determining the number of shares awarded to our non-employee directors using a twelve-month trailing average stock price, which resulted in a grant date fair value that is more than the value of the annual stock grant to non-employee directors, which at the time of the grant was $100,000. However, in February 2019, the Board decided that beginning in 2020 the Board would change its practice for determining the number of shares to be awarded to non-employee directors by using a three-month trailing average stock price. On July 30, 2018, we granted 1,356 shares of class A common stock to each of Messrs. Conway, Dunbar, Hansen, Kissel, Noonan and Reitmeier and Mses. Goeser and Raines. Non-employee directors who are first elected to our Board during the year receive a pro-rated award of shares for the remaining portion of the then-current Board term. Ms. Goeser was elected to the Board on March 12, 2018 and received an award of 372 shares of class A common stock, which represented one-quarter of the value of the annual grant of stock awarded to non-employee Board members for the 2017-2018 term.

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        We have instituted a program under which our non-employee directors may defer receipt of their annual grant of shares of class A common stock. If any dividends are paid on our class A common stock during the period in which the stock is deferred, the non-employee director accrues dividends in the amount he or she would have received if the shares had been issued and held by the director at the time the dividend was paid. The accrued dividends will be distributed, without interest, in cash at the end of the deferral period chosen by such director when the stock is issued to the director. Messrs. Conway and Reitmeier and Ms. Raines elected to defer receipt of their 2018 stock awards.

        Our non-employee directors are subject to stock ownership guidelines. These guidelines stipulate that each non-employee director should own shares of our class A common stock with a market value of at least three times the amount of the annual cash retainer payable to non-employee directors, which market value was $210,000 for 2018. It is expected that this ownership level will generally be achieved within a three-year period beginning when a director is first elected to the Board. For purposes of determining a director's compliance with these ownership guidelines, any deferred shares are considered held by the director. The Compensation Committee reviews each non-employee director's compliance with these guidelines on an annual basis. Compliance is typically measured based on stock ownership as of the last day of the second quarter. At the end of the second quarter of 2018, all of our non-employee directors who had been members of our Board for three or more years were in compliance with our stock ownership guidelines.

        The following table contains information on compensation for the non-employee members of our Board of Directors during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.

2018 DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

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Our Commitment to Good Corporate Governance

        We believe that good corporate governance and an environment of the highest ethical standards are important for us to achieve business success and to create value for our stockholders. Our Board is committed to high governance standards and continually works to improve them. We periodically review our corporate governance policies and practices and compare them to those suggested by various authorities on corporate governance and employed by other public companies. We also review guidance and interpretations provided from time to time by the SEC and the NYSE and consider changes to our corporate governance policies and practices in light of such guidance and interpretations.

Role of Our Board of Directors

        Our Board monitors overall corporate performance and the integrity of our financial controls and legal compliance procedures. It appoints executive officers and oversees succession planning and our executive officers' performance and compensation. Our Board oversees the development of fundamental operating, financial and other corporate plans, strategies and objectives, and conducts a year-long process which culminates in Board review and approval each year of a business plan, a capital expenditures budget and other key financial and business objectives.

        Members of our Board keep informed about our business through discussions with our Chief Executive Officer and other members of our senior management team, by reviewing materials provided to them on a regular basis and in preparation for Board and committee meetings and by participating in meetings of the Board and its committees. We regularly review key portions of our business with the Board, and we introduce our executives to the Board so that the Board can become familiar with our key employees. In addition, we hold periodic strategy sessions between members of senior management and the Board, during which members of the senior management team provide in-depth reviews of various aspects of our business operations and discuss our strategy with respect to such operations.

        In 2018, our Board met six times and each incumbent director who was a member of our Board during 2018 attended at least 75% of the total number of meetings of the Board and all committees of the Board on which the director served.

The Role of our Board in Risk Oversight

        The Board's role in our risk oversight process includes receiving regular reports from members of senior management on areas of material risk to us, including operational, financial, legal, regulatory, strategic and reputational risks. The full Board (or the appropriate committee in the case of risks that are under the purview of a particular committee) receives these reports from senior management to enable it to understand our risk identification, risk management and risk mitigation processes and strategies. When a committee receives a report on a particular risk, the chairperson of the relevant committee reports on the committee's discussion of such risk to the Board during the next Board meeting. This enables the Board and its committees to coordinate the risk oversight role. As part of its charter, the Audit Committee discusses the guidelines and policies that govern the process by which our exposure to risk is assessed and managed by management. The Board does not believe that its role in the oversight of our risks affects the Board's leadership structure.

Management Succession Planning

        Our Board believes that one of its primary responsibilities is to oversee the development and retention of executive talent and to ensure that an appropriate succession plan is in place for our

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Chief Executive Officer and other members of senior management. Each year, the Board meets with our Chief Human Resources Officer and Chief Executive Officer to conduct a comprehensive review of management succession planning and to address potential vacancies in senior leadership, including succession planning for our Chief Executive Officer. In addition, each quarter the Board focuses on a particular business unit and/or function and conducts a comprehensive review of that business unit or function, including management succession planning and potential leadership vacancies within such business unit or function. Our Board has also adopted an emergency succession process framework in the event of a sudden or unanticipated absence of our Chief Executive Officer. Under this framework, the Board periodically assesses and updates a prioritized list of emergency interim chief executive officer candidates and the framework outlines other high-level planning, notification and other actions with respect to the temporary or permanent absence of our Chief Executive Officer.

Board Leadership Structure

        We separate the roles of Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson of the Board in recognition of the differences between the two roles. Our Chief Executive Officer is responsible for our operational management, providing day-to-day leadership and managing our performance. The Chairperson of the Board provides guidance to our Chief Executive Officer, works with our Chief Executive Officer to set the agenda for Board meetings and presides over meetings of the Board, including executive sessions of the non-management and independent directors.

Performance of Our Board and Committees

        Our Board considers it important to continually evaluate and improve its effectiveness and that of its committees. Our Board and each of its standing committees conduct annual self-evaluations. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee oversees our Board's self-evaluation process. The results of each committee's annual self-evaluation are reported to the Board.

Business Ethics and Compliance

        We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct applicable to all officers, employees and Board members worldwide. The Code of Business Conduct is posted in the "Investors" section of our website at https://www.watts.com. Any amendments to, or waivers of, the Code of Business Conduct which apply to our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Controller or any person performing similar functions will be disclosed on our website within four business days of the date of such amendment or waiver.

Director Independence

        As of March 1, 2019, members of the Horne family beneficially owned 6,229,290 shares of our class B common stock that are subject to The George B. Horne Voting Trust Agreement—1997. These shares represented approximately 68.8% of our total outstanding voting power. As trustee of The George B. Horne Voting Trust Agreement—1997, Timothy P. Horne has sole power to vote all of the shares subject to the trust and effectively exercises control over voting power for the election of our directors. As a result, we are a "controlled company" under NYSE rules. As a controlled company, under NYSE rules, we are not required to have a majority of independent directors or compensation or governance committees consisting solely of independent directors. However, we strive to achieve the highest standards of corporate governance, including with respect to director independence, despite our status as a controlled company. Accordingly, we have chosen not to take advantage of the controlled company exemption under NYSE rules and are committed to having a Board with at least a majority of independent directors.

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        Under our Corporate Governance Guidelines, we require that at least a majority of the members of our Board meet the independence requirements of the NYSE. Under NYSE rules, a director qualifies as "independent" if the Board affirmatively determines that the director has no material relationship with the company of which he or she serves as a director. The Board is required to consider broadly all relevant facts and circumstances in making an independence determination. Material relationships can include commercial, industrial, banking, consulting, legal, accounting, charitable and familial relationships. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee annually evaluates the independence of each non-employee director nominee and makes recommendations to the Board. In making its recommendations, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee applies NYSE rules to determine a director's independence and evaluates any other business, legal, accounting or family relationships between all non-employee director nominees and us.

        The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and our Board reviewed all relationships between us and each non-employee director nominee to determine compliance with the NYSE independence rules and our Corporate Governance Guidelines, and to evaluate whether there are any other facts or circumstances that might impair the director's independence. Based on the results of this review and the recommendations of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the Board determined that seven of our nine current directors (Messrs. Conway, Dunbar, Hansen, Kissel and Reitmeier and Mses. Goeser and Raines) are independent under NYSE rules and that the composition of our Board therefore complies with our Corporate Governance Guidelines. With respect to Mr. Noonan, the Board determined that he is a non-management director under NYSE rules, but not independent under NYSE rules because he is the son-in-law of Timothy P. Horne, our controlling stockholder. Mr. Pagano was deemed not to be independent since he serves as our Chief Executive Officer.

Horne Family Board Participation

        As described above, as of March 1, 2019 Timothy P. Horne controlled approximately 68.8% of the voting power of our stock. Mr. Horne served as a member of our Board of Directors until our 2010 Annual Meeting, when he retired from the Board in compliance with the age limitation for Board members contained in our Corporate Governance Guidelines. Since his retirement from the Board, Mr. Horne has served as a director emeritus and has selectively participated in certain Board discussions at the invitation of our Board. Pursuant to our by-laws, Mr. Horne was reappointed as a director emeritus by our Board of Directors in February 2019 to serve a one-year term beginning on the date of our 2019 Annual Meeting and ending on the date of our 2020 Annual Meeting. As a director emeritus, Mr. Horne may be invited by our Board to attend Board or committee meetings, but he does not have the right to vote and he is not considered to be a member of the Board for any purpose (including quorum). Mr. Horne has an agreement with us, which provides Mr. Horne with the use of an office at our corporate headquarters and administrative support. The agreement also provides that Mr. Horne will make himself reasonably available to provide services to us at the request of our management as long as he is physically able to do so. Mr. Horne's obligation to provide services to us will cease upon a change in control of our Company.

        In May 2013, Mr. Horne's son-in-law, Joseph T. Noonan, was elected as a member of our Board. We believe that it is strategically important for a Horne family member to be actively engaged in the oversight of our Company, including by serving on our Board of Directors. Through Mr. Noonan's participation on the Board, the Horne family's long-term perspective is considered in all Board decisions. Having a Horne family member on the Board serves as an effective link between the Board and the controlling Horne family stockholders. Board service also provides the controlling Horne family stockholders with an active means by which to oversee their investment.

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Corporate Governance Guidelines

        Our Board has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines that govern the structure and functioning of the Board and set out the Board's policies on governance issues. The Corporate Governance Guidelines are posted in the "Investors" section of our website at https://www.watts.com.

Executive Sessions

        In accordance with our Corporate Governance Guidelines, our non-management directors meet in executive session at least quarterly. The Chairperson of the Board or, in his or her absence, a director chosen by the non-management directors in attendance, presides at such meetings.

Communications with the Board

        Our Board welcomes the submission of any comments or concerns from stockholders and any interested parties. Communications should be in writing and addressed to our corporate Secretary at our principal executive offices and marked to the attention of the Board or any of its committees, individual directors or non-management or independent directors as a group. All correspondence will be forwarded to the intended recipient(s).

Annual Meeting Attendance

        Directors are encouraged to attend our annual meetings of stockholders. Nine of our directors attended the 2018 Annual Meeting either in person or by telephone conference call.

Committees of the Board

        Our Board currently has three standing committees: the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Each committee is composed solely of directors determined by the Board to be independent under the applicable NYSE rules. The Board has adopted a written charter for each standing committee. You may find copies of the charters of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee in the "Investors" section of our website at https://www.watts.com. The Board also appoints from time to time ad hoc committees to address specific matters.

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        The Compensation Committee holds one regularly scheduled meeting each quarter and schedules additional meetings as often as necessary in order to perform its duties and responsibilities. During 2018, the Compensation Committee held six meetings. The Chairperson of the Compensation Committee works with management to establish the agenda for each meeting. Compensation Committee members receive and review materials in advance of each meeting. These materials include information that management believes will be helpful to the Compensation Committee as well as materials that members of the Compensation Committee request. The Compensation Committee may establish and delegate authority to one or more subcommittees consisting of one or more of its members when the Compensation Committee deems it appropriate to do so in order to carry out its responsibilities.

        The Compensation Committee is authorized under its charter to retain consultants to assist it in the evaluation of executive compensation and to approve the fees and other retention terms for its consultants. The Compensation Committee has retained Pearl Meyer & Partners, LLC as a compensation consultant to review our compensation programs and provide advice to the Compensation Committee with respect to executive compensation. Pearl Meyer does not provide any other services to us. The Compensation Committee has assessed the independence of Pearl Meyer and whether its work raised any conflict of interest, taking into consideration the independence factors set forth in the NYSE listing standards and SEC rules. Based on that assessment, the Compensation Committee believes that Pearl Meyer is independent and that its work does not raise any conflicts of interest. As appropriate, the Compensation Committee also looks to our human resources department to support the Compensation Committee in its work and to provide necessary information. In addition, the Compensation Committee also considers the recommendations of our Chief Executive Officer when approving the compensation of our executive officers other than the Chief Executive Officer.

        In May 2018, the Compensation Committee conducted a review and assessment of risk as it relates to our compensation policies and practices and determined that our compensation policies and practices do not encourage excessive or inappropriate risk taking and are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our business.

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Director Candidates

        The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider for nomination to the Board candidates recommended by stockholders. Recommendations should be sent to our corporate Secretary at our principal executive offices and marked to the attention of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Recommendations must be in writing and must contain the information set forth in Section IV.C of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee charter, which is available in the Investors section of our website at https://www.watts.com, or on written request to our corporate Secretary at our principal executive offices.

        In addition to considering candidates suggested by stockholders, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may consider potential candidates suggested by current directors, Company officers, employees, third-party search firms and others. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee screens all potential candidates in the same manner regardless of the source of the recommendation. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee's review is typically based on any written materials provided with respect to the potential candidate. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee determines whether the candidate meets our minimum qualifications and possesses specific qualities and skills for directors and whether requesting additional information or an initial screening interview is appropriate.

        Stockholders also have the right under our by-laws to directly nominate director candidates, without any action or recommendation on the part of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee or the Board, by following the procedures described later in this proxy statement under "Stockholder Proposals".

Criteria and Diversity

        We believe that our Board should be composed of directors who, as a group, have the experience and skills that are collectively required to make informed Board decisions and provide effective Board oversight. The composite skills of the Board members and the ability and willingness of individual Board members to complement each other and to rely on each other's knowledge and expertise should produce informed Board members who are not afraid to disagree and who can intelligently assess management's performance and evaluate our strategic direction. In considering whether to recommend any candidate for nomination to the Board, including candidates recommended by stockholders, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee must be satisfied that the recommended nominee has, at a minimum:

•

the highest personal and professional integrity;



•

sound business and strategic judgment;



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the ability to devote sufficient time and energy to the Board; and



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the ability and will to challenge management while refraining from assuming management's role.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee also considers experience in our industry or markets, international business experience, experience serving on the boards of public companies, experience acquiring companies and diversity of background and experience to be favorable characteristics in evaluating recommended nominees. In addition, the nominee must not serve on more than two public company boards in addition to our Board.

        Our Corporate Governance Guidelines and our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee charter specify that the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Board understand the importance of diversity among members of the Board to our long-term success. Diversity encompasses a wide range of individual characteristics and experiences, including such

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things as gender, age, race, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, political affiliation, marital status, disability, and geographic background. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee does not assign specific weights to particular criteria, and no particular criterion is necessarily applicable to all prospective nominees. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee believes that the backgrounds and qualifications of the members of the Board, considered as a group, should provide an appropriate mix of experience, knowledge and abilities that will allow the Board to fulfill its responsibilities.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

        During 2018, Robert L. Ayers, Christopher L. Conway, Louise K. Goeser and Jes Munk Hansen served as members of the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors. None of the directors who served as members of the Compensation Committee during 2018 is or has been an officer or employee of our Company.

        None of our executive officers serves as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of any entity that has one or more of its executive officers serving as a member of our Board of Directors or Compensation Committee.

Restrictions on Hedging, Pledging and Other Transactions

        We prohibit all hedging transactions and short sales involving our securities by all employees and directors under our Insider Trading Compliance Policy. We also prohibit all employees and directors from purchasing our securities on margin or holding any of our securities in margin accounts. In addition, no employee or director may pledge any of our securities as collateral for a loan. Finally, all employees and directors are prohibited from engaging in transactions in puts, calls or other derivative securities involving our securities.

Policies and Procedures for Related Person Transactions

        Our Board has adopted a written Related Person Transaction Policy, which requires the review of any transaction, arrangement or relationship in which we are a participant, the amount involved exceeds $120,000, and one of our executive officers, directors, director nominees or 5% stockholders (or their immediate family members), each of whom we refer to as a "related person," has a direct or indirect material interest.

        If a related person proposes to enter into such a transaction, arrangement or relationship, which we refer to as a "related person transaction," the related person must report the proposed related person transaction to our General Counsel. The policy calls for the proposed related person transaction to be reviewed and, if deemed appropriate, approved by the Board's Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Whenever practicable, the reporting, review and approval will occur prior to entry into the transaction. If advance review and approval is not practicable, the committee will review, and, in its discretion, may ratify the related person transaction. The policy also permits the chairperson of the committee to review and, if deemed appropriate, approve proposed related person transactions that arise between committee meetings, subject to ratification by the committee at its next meeting. Any related person transactions that are ongoing in nature will be reviewed annually.

        A related person transaction reviewed under the policy will be considered approved or ratified if it is authorized by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee after full disclosure of the

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related person's interest in the transaction. As appropriate for the circumstances, the committee will review and consider:

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the related person's interest in the related person transaction, regardless of the amount of any profit or loss;



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the approximate dollar value involved in the related person transaction;



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whether the transaction was undertaken in the ordinary course of our business;



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whether the terms of the transaction are no less favorable to us than terms that could have been reached with an unrelated third party;



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the purpose of, and the potential benefits to us of, the transaction; and



•

any other material information regarding the related person transaction or the related person.

        The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may approve or ratify the transaction only if it determines that, under all of the circumstances, the transaction is in, or is not inconsistent with, our best interests. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may impose any conditions on the related person transaction that it deems appropriate.

        In addition to the transactions that are excluded by the instructions to the SEC's related person transaction disclosure rule, the Board has determined that the following transactions do not create a material direct or indirect interest on behalf of related persons and, therefore, are not related person transactions for purposes of this policy:

•

interests arising solely from the related person's position as an executive officer of another entity (whether or not the person is also a director of such entity), that is a participant in the transaction, where (a) the related person and all other related persons own in the aggregate less than a 10% equity interest in such entity, (b) the related person and his or her immediate family members are not involved in the negotiation of the terms of the transaction and do not receive any special benefits as a result of the transaction, (c) the amount involved in the transaction equals less than the greater of $1 million or 2% of the annual consolidated gross revenues of the other entity that is a party to the transaction, and (d) the amount involved in the transaction equals less than 2% of the annual consolidated gross revenues of our Company; and



•

a transaction that is specifically contemplated by provisions of our charter or by-laws.

        The policy provides that transactions involving compensation of executive officers shall be reviewed and approved by the Compensation Committee in the manner specified in its charter.

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        The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our class A and class B common stock by:

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each person or entity known by us to own beneficially more than 5% of either class of our common stock;



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each of our directors and director nominees;



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each of the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table; and



•

all of our current directors and executive officers as a group.

        Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes, the information in the following table is provided as of March 1, 2019. In accordance with SEC rules, we have included in the number of shares beneficially owned by each stockholder all shares over which such stockholder has sole or shared voting or investment power, and we have included all shares that the stockholder has the right to acquire within 60 days after March 1, 2019 through the exercise of stock options or any other right. Unless otherwise indicated, each stockholder has sole voting and investment power with respect to shares beneficially owned by that stockholder. For purposes of determining the equity and voting percentages for each stockholder, any shares that such stockholder has the right to acquire within 60 days after March 1, 2019 are deemed to be outstanding, but are not deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of determining the percentages for any other stockholder.

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Overview

        The following Compensation Discussion and Analysis describes the material elements of our fiscal year 2018 compensation program and compensation paid thereunder. Most of the discussion relates to our "named executive officers" for fiscal year 2018, who were:

The Compensation Committee makes decisions for the total direct compensation of the named executive officers based on the factors described below. The Compensation Committee consists solely of independent, non-employee directors.

Executive Summary

Company Performance

        We are proud to report that Watts successfully executed on its operational and financial commitments in 2018. We delivered a record financial performance and continued to grow, while reinvesting millions of dollars back into our business. Our strong topline performance enabled us to accelerate funding for productivity and growth initiatives with a heavy focus on our smart and connected strategy, increased customer intimacy and innovation.

        Sales for 2018 were $1.57 billion, up $108 million, or 7%, from 2017and an all-time record for Watts. This increase was primarily driven by our Americas business, with reported sales up approximately 8%, while our businesses in Europe and Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, which we refer to as APMEA, reported sales increases of approximately 6% and 2%, respectively. Operating margin for 2018 was 12%, a record result for our Company. We expanded our operating margin while simultaneously investing an additional $16 million in sales and marketing, research and development, information technology and continuous improvement initiatives. Earnings per share for 2018 were $3.73, which represented an increase of 76% over the prior year and another record for our Company, driven by strong operations, reduced restructuring costs, the benefits of tax reform, lower interest expense and favorable foreign currency transaction movements. We saw our stock price hit an all-time high in 2018 following our strong operating and financial performance.

Significant Changes in Our Senior Leadership Team During the Year

        This past year we welcomed Shashank Patel as our new Chief Financial Officer, and Todd Trapp left the Company. Mr. Trapp resigned as our Chief Financial Officer in April 2018 and, after a comprehensive search process, Mr. Patel joined the Company in July 2018. As an inducement to join our Company, Mr. Patel received a special performance stock unit award in connection with his hiring that is entirely performance-based in that the number of shares ultimately issued to Mr. Patel, if any, will be determined based on the Company's performance relative to a set of goals with respect to revenue growth and return on invested capital that we consider challenging. Mr. Patel also received a time-vesting restricted stock award that was intended to replace the value of equity grants from his prior employer that he forfeited in order to join us. These initial grants were specific to the hiring of Mr. Patel and are not intended to be continuing.

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Alignment of Pay with Performance

        A substantial portion of each executive's compensation opportunity is performance-based or aligned with stockholder value creation over time in the form of equity grants. Set forth below for our Chief Executive Officer, and separately for the other named executive officers, are charts illustrating the percentage of total target compensation corresponding to base salaries, annual incentives and long-term incentives for 2018.

        Other compensation decisions in 2018 reflected our compensation philosophy, as set forth in more detail below. Each of our named executive officers other than Mr. Patel received base salary increases in 2018, reflecting a consideration of individual and Company performance as well as competitive position relative to market, among other factors.

Other Practices and Policies to Promote Effective Compensation Governance

        Examples of practices and policies that the Committee has implemented to ensure effective governance of compensation plans include:

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Our executives are subject to robust stock ownership guidelines.

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•

Our executives are subject to a compensation recovery policy, or "claw back" policy, under which they may be required to repay unearned compensation in the event of a financial restatement due to fraud or misconduct.



•

The Compensation Committee has the authority to hire independent counsel and other advisors.



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The Compensation Committee has conducted a review and assessment of risk as it relates to our compensation policies and practices.



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Our Insider Trading Compliance Policy prohibits hedging and short sale transactions, and no employee or director may pledge Company securities as collateral.



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None of our executive officers has an employment agreement with us.



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We do not provide excise tax gross-ups under any of our change in control severance arrangements.



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We hold an annual shareholder say-on-pay advisory vote.

Say on Pay and Say on Frequency

        We submitted our executive compensation program to an advisory vote of our stockholders at our 2018 Annual Meeting and it received the support of over 97% of the total votes present and entitled to vote at the meeting. Our Board of Directors viewed the results of the 2018 advisory vote as broad stockholder support for our executive compensation program and did not make any changes to our executive compensation program or policies as a result of the advisory vote. The Compensation Committee will, in consultation with its independent compensation consultant, consider changes to our compensation programs as appropriate in response to evolving factors such as the business environment and competition for talent. In considering changes to our compensation programs and policies, the Compensation Committee may seek additional input from stockholders with respect to our executive compensation policies and decisions.

        At our 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, our shareholders strongly supported a frequency of "every year" for holding future advisory votes to approve the compensation of our named executive officers, consistent with the recommendation of our Board. As a result, our Board decided to hold annual "Say on Pay" votes, and we are presenting a proposal to our shareholders to approve on an advisory basis the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement. See Proposal 2 of this proxy statement.

Compensation Philosophy

        Our executive compensation philosophy, as adopted by the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors, is to provide compensation programs that attract, retain and motivate our key executives who are critical to our long-term success. We implement this philosophy through the following principles:

•

Positioning total direct compensation and each component of compensation at approximately the median of our peer companies, which are industry and size relevant and which are identified by a rules-based selection process. Some variation in competitive positioning by executive is expected to account for factors such as relevant business experience, individual performance and criticality of role.



•

Rewarding achievement relative to short-term goals that we believe will drive long-term stockholder value creation.

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•

Aligning long-term pay outcomes with stockholder value creation over time. This necessitates tying a significant portion of each executive's compensation to Company and individual performance, placing that compensation at risk.

        The following key elements are used to compensate our executives:

•

Base salaries, representing the only fixed element of total direct compensation.



•

Annual incentives, currently consisting of a performance-based bonus under the Executive Incentive Bonus Plan, which reward achievement relative to Company goals, both financial and strategic in nature.



•

Long-term incentives, currently consisting of performance stock units and restricted stock awards, which link pay outcomes to long-term stockholder value creation. Executive officers may also purchase restricted stock units under our Management Stock Purchase Plan, providing additional alignment with stockholder value creation.

In addition, we provide our executive officers with other employee benefits and limited perquisites, which are primarily intended to maintain our competitive position for attracting and retaining executive talent. However, in general, the Compensation Committee strives to mitigate the use of these non-performance based forms of compensation without jeopardizing our ability to offer a compensation program that will attract and retain executives in a competitive market.

Benchmarking

        Benchmarking is one factor, among many, that we rely on in establishing our compensation levels and program design. We use information regarding pay practices at other comparable companies in two respects. First, we use benchmarking information to evaluate whether our compensation practices are competitive in the marketplace in which we compete for executive talent. Second, we use marketplace information as one factor in assessing the reasonableness of our executive compensation.

        During 2018, the Compensation Committee used an executive compensation peer group consisting of the following companies:

        In May 2018, the Compensation Committee requested Pearl Meyer to perform a comprehensive review of our executive compensation peer group. Pearl Meyer used a rules-based process to evaluate the Company's existing executive compensation peer group and to identify proposed changes to the peer group based on the similarity to Watts of the amount of their annual revenues, market capitalization and number of employees as well as the similarity of their industry, business models, scope of international operations, industrial classification codes, customers and analyst coverage, while attempting to minimize year-over-year changes in order to foster consistency in the benchmarking approach. Based on its review, Pearl Meyer recommended retaining the existing peer group with no changes. The Compensation Committee accepted Pearl Meyer's recommendation and approved retaining the existing peer group. At the time of review, the executive compensation peer group had median trailing twelve months annual revenue of approximately $1.5 billion, consistent with our own revenue of approximately $1.5 billion for the same period. At the time of review, this peer group also had median market capitalization of $2.8 billion, as compared to our market capitalization of approximately $2.7 billion.

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Elements of Compensation

        The following describes each of the elements of our compensation program for 2018.

Base Salary

        We provide each of our executive officers with a fixed salary that provides a secure base of compensation in an amount that recognizes each officer's role and responsibilities as well as experience, performance and contributions. The Compensation Committee considers base salary increases for our executive officers annually. The amount of any increase is based primarily on the executive officer's performance, level of responsibilities, leadership, experience, employee retention and internal pay equity considerations and the external competitiveness of the officer's base salary and overall total compensation. The Compensation Committee typically meets with the Chief Executive Officer annually to review proposed adjustments in the base salary amounts for our executive officers other than our Chief Executive Officer and in such review discusses each officer's performance evaluation. The Compensation Committee also typically reviews the proposed adjustment in base salary and the performance of our Chief Executive Officer with the other independent members of the Board of Directors and conducts a separate discussion with our Chief Executive Officer regarding his performance. As part of its review, the Compensation Committee receives and discusses tally sheets setting forth the total compensation of our executive officers, including base salary, bonus potential, equity awards, retirement benefits, perquisites and other compensation, and information regarding the competitiveness of our compensation programs relative to companies in our benchmarking peer group and other industry survey data. Based on this review, in February 2018 the Compensation Committee approved a 3.47% increase in base salary for Mr. Nanda, a 3.02% increase in base salary for Mr. Melhem, a 3.42% increase in base salary for Mr. Lepage, and a 3.56% increase in base salary for Mr. Trapp. The Compensation Committee's considerations included recognition of Mr. Nanda's strong leadership of our transformation efforts and new product development efforts; Mr. Melhem's excellent performance in managing our business in APMEA; Mr. Lepage's strong performance in leading the global legal function; and Mr. Trapp's successful efforts to restructure and upgrade the finance function and implement new information technology systems.

        In February 2018, the Compensation Committee conducted a separate review of our Chief Executive Officer's performance and base salary in conjunction with the other independent members of the Board. The independent members of the Board reviewed Mr. Pagano's performance against his established goals for 2017 and input from Pearl Meyer with respect to the competitiveness of Mr. Pagano's base salary relative to the Company's executive compensation peer group. Based on this review and the Board's assessment that Mr. Pagano had done an exceptional job in addressing the Company's business needs and executing on a global growth initiative, in addition to achieving substantially all of his other goals, the Compensation Committee approved a 7.14% increase in Mr. Pagano's base salary from $840,000 to $900,000.

        Mr. Patel joined the Company in July 2018, and his base salary of $400,000 was approved by the Compensation Committee following arm's length negotiations in connection with his hire. In approving Mr. Patel's base salary, the Compensation Committee reviewed compensation survey data and Mr. Patel's compensation arrangements with his previous employer and considered the most recent competitive compensation assessment data with respect to the Company's compensation peer group. The Committee also sought the advice and guidance of Pearl Meyer, its independent compensation consultant.

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Annual Incentives

        Under the Executive Incentive Bonus Plan, each of our executive officers is eligible for an annual cash bonus. We offer our executives an opportunity to earn a bonus in order to focus our executives on execution against specific financial and strategic goals and reward performance based on achievement of such goals. For each of our executive officers, the Compensation Committee sets a target bonus amount expressed as a percentage of base salary. The Compensation Committee determines the target bonus amount for each executive officer based on a variety of factors, including competitive conditions for the executive officer's position within our executive compensation peer group and in the broader employment market, length of employment, level of responsibility and experience, input from Pearl Meyer, and, in the case of executive officers other than the Chief Executive Officer, the recommendations of the Chief Executive Officer. In May 2018, the Compensation Committee approved a modified 2018 bonus target for Mr. Patel in conjunction with his hiring. The modified target included a guaranteed payment of $85,000, to compensate him for the bonus opportunity he forfeited at his previous employer to join us, and six months of bonus earned under the Watts Executive Incentive Bonus Plan at his target percent of salary. The 2018 target bonus amounts for our named executive officers were set as follows:

        The actual bonus payout for each named executive officer depends on the level of performance achieved with respect to various performance objectives. The relationship between the level of performance achieved and overall bonus payout for each performance objective is as follows, with bonus payout levels interpolated for performance between Threshold and Target and between Target and Maximum:

        Corporate performance objectives under our Executive Incentive Bonus Plan are established by the end of the first quarter of each fiscal year by our Compensation Committee after consultation with our Chief Executive Officer. For 2018, the objectives for our named executive officers under the Executive Incentive Bonus Plan consisted of sales objectives, net income and operating earnings objectives, free cash flow objectives and an individual performance objective. Free cash flow represents the amount of cash generated by operations during the year less net capital expenditures. For the individual performance objectives, each executive officer established several personal or team goals related to Company initiatives or segment initiatives that were aligned with the strategy of the business and the goals of our Chief Executive Officer. For 2018, the primary focus areas that were established at the start of the performance period were driving growth in the Americas and in APMEA, launching global product innovation initiatives, driving productivity savings and other key strategic initiatives.

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        In setting our 2018 financial performance targets, the Compensation Committee determined that the targets and results should exclude the effect of unbudgeted restructuring, acquisitions, dispositions, foreign exchange, impairments, discontinued operations, legal settlements, employee separation costs, product liability charges, retroactive tax law changes, environmental remediation, adjustments for undifferentiated products, and one-time costs relating to the consolidation of manufacturing facilities and distribution centers. However, the Compensation Committee reviews all excluded items each year and may exercise its discretion to reduce bonus payouts to reflect the impact of any excluded item.

        Our bonus objectives are intended to align the interests of our management team with the interests of our stockholders. We believe that the capital markets evaluate companies in our industry based primarily on their ability to grow their businesses profitably while maintaining adequate returns on their invested capital. Our bonus objectives provide an incentive to management to maintain a balanced approach to growth, with appropriate emphasis on revenues, profitability, cash flow and execution of strategic initiatives. If we are successful in meeting or exceeding our goals under these objectives, we believe that this will lead to the creation of additional value for our stockholders.

        The Compensation Committee, in consultation with our Chief Executive Officer, determined the relative weight to be assigned to each objective for 2018. For 2018, the financial objectives for Messrs. Pagano, Patel, Trapp, Lepage and Nanda were based entirely on the performance of our Company as a whole. Since the responsibilities of Mr. Melhem were substantially tied to our APMEA business segment, most of his bonus achievement was based on his segment performance. The following table shows the weighting assigned to each named executive officer for each performance objective:

For 2018, the Compensation Committee placed greater emphasis on the net income and operating earnings measures because it wanted management to emphasize growing the business profitably while maintaining its focus on encouraging productivity, cost containment and cash generation.

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Our results for 2018 as determined under our Executive Incentive Bonus Plan with respect to each financial performance measure for our Company as a whole and our APMEA businesses are set forth in the following table:

        Based on these results, the weighted achievement of the financial performance metrics for 2018 by each of our named executive officers is set forth in the following table. Mr. Trapp was not eligible to receive a bonus payout for 2018 as he terminated employment with us in April 2018.

        The Compensation Committee reviewed with our Chief Executive Officer the performance of each of the other named executive officers with respect to their individual performance objectives. Based on this review and the recommendations of our Chief Executive Officer, the Compensation Committee was satisfied that each of Messrs. Nanda, Lepage and Patel had achieved higher than the target level of performance with respect to his individual performance objectives. In recognition of their strong performance, the Compensation Committee approved a 17.5% achievement for the individual performance component of the incentive bonus award for Mr. Nanda and a 15.5% achievement for the individual performance component of the incentive bonus awards for Messrs. Lepage and Patel. Mr. Melhem faced headwinds in the Asia-Pacific markets, but exceeded expectations in our Middle Eastern markets and on the Free Cash Flow objectives for the APMEA segment. The Compensation Committee approved a 12.5% achievement for the individual performance component of Mr. Melhem's incentive bonus award. The Compensation Committee separately reviewed the performance of Mr. Pagano with respect to his individual performance objectives and determined that Mr. Pagano had exceeded his objectives, awarding him a 17.5% achievement for the individual performance component of the incentive bonus award.

        In line with our pay-for-performance philosophy, our executives received bonus awards for 2018 commensurate with our financial results and their individual performance. The 2018 Executive

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Incentive Bonus Plan awards for our named executive officers that were paid in March 2019 are set forth in the table below.

Long-Term Incentives

        We provided long-term incentive compensation for our named executive officers during 2018 by granting performance stock units and restricted stock awards covering shares of class A common stock under our 2004 Stock Incentive Plan. In addition, our named executive officers are eligible to participate in our Management Stock Purchase Plan, which provides for the purchase of restricted stock units at a discount, as described below. The Compensation Committee believes in granting equity-based incentive compensation as an important component of our executive compensation program to encourage sustainable growth and long-term value creation, align the interests of our executives with those of our stockholders by exposing executives to stock price changes during the vesting or deferral periods, and to attract and retain executive talent.

Management Stock Purchase Plan

        Our Management Stock Purchase Plan is intended to provide an incentive for our executives to purchase and hold more of our class A common stock, thereby more closely aligning their interests with the interests of our stockholders. The Compensation Committee approves the participants in the Management Stock Purchase Plan based on recommendations made by executive management. For 2018, participants were entitled to purchase restricted stock units under the Management Stock Purchase Plan at a discount of 20% from the closing sale price of our class A common stock on February 12, 2019 using up to 50% of their pre-tax 2018 performance bonus. The restricted stock units vest in three equal annual installments beginning one year after the date of grant. In addition, participants in the Management Stock Purchase Plan may elect to defer settlement of vested restricted stock units to a specified future date. For 2018, Messrs. Pagano, Melhem and Lepage each elected to contribute 50% of his annual performance bonus to the purchase of restricted stock units under the Management Stock Purchase Plan. Messrs. Patel and Nanda did not participate in the Management Stock Purchase Plan for 2018. Mr. Trapp was not eligible to participate in the Management Stock Purchase Plan, as he terminated employment in April 2018 and therefore did not receive an annual bonus for 2018.

Long-Term Equity Incentive Awards

        In 2018, we granted performance stock units and restricted stock awards to our executive officers, with each type of award accounting for 50% of the targeted value of long-term equity incentive awards for executive officers. The Compensation Committee believes that the use of

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performance stock unit awards and restricted stock awards in combination provide strong shareholder alignment, retention value, and the opportunity to leverage the value of awards up and down consistent with the Company's stock price performance as well as Company performance over the long term.

        The targeted value of the long-term equity incentive award grants made to our named executive officers was determined taking into account base pay and annual incentive values, a competitive analysis of executive compensation prepared by Pearl Meyer, and the Committee's assessment of the appropriate mix of fixed versus variable and short-term versus long-term incentives. The Compensation Committee also considered each named executive officer's role, potential long-term contribution, performance, experience and skills. Based on its analysis, the Compensation Committee determined that the performance stock units and restricted stock awarded to the Company's Chief Executive Officer should have a targeted total grant date fair value approximating three times his annual base salary and the annual equity grant to each of our other named executive officers should have a targeted total grant date fair value approximating one-and-a-half times his annual base salary. The following table shows the values used to determine the number of shares underlying the annual restricted stock awards and the target performance stock unit awards granted to our named executive officers in March 2018. In determining the number of shares underlying the awards granted to each named executive officer, we used a trailing twelve-month average stock price in order to prevent short-term fluctuations in our stock price from having a significant positive or negative impact on the number of shares awarded. For this reason, the targeted values indicated below differ from the grant date fair values of the grants reflected in the Summary Compensation Table.

        In February 2019, the Compensation Committee reevaluated its practice of using a twelve-month trailing average stock price to determine the number of shares underlying equity awards granted to employees and directors. This review included a consideration of current industry practices and advice and guidance from Pearl Meyer. Based on this review, the Compensation Committee decided that beginning in 2020 it would begin using a three-month trailing average stock price to determine the number of shares underlying equity awards.

        Performance Stock Unit Awards.    The performance stock units granted in 2018 will be settled in shares at the end of a performance vesting period ending on December 31, 2020, with the number of shares to be delivered to be determined based on a payout matrix that determines what percentage of the target number of units will be delivered at each level of achievement relative to specified performance goals. The performance goals include a combination of the Company's

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compound annual growth rate in revenue ("Revenue CAGR") and return on invested capital ("ROIC"). Revenue CAGR measures the rate of our growth over time, while ROIC measures how efficiently and effectively we use capital to generate profits. For purposes of our performance stock unit awards, ROIC means the Company's return on invested capital calculated as a percentage by dividing net operating profit after tax by average invested capital. For the purposes of calculating ROIC, "net operating profit" will be adjusted to exclude the impact of all restructuring, foreign exchange, impairments, legal settlements, employee separation costs, product liability charges, pension plan and supplemental employee retirement plan terminations and retroactive tax law changes to the extent such items were not contemplated and included in the target upon which the ROIC goals were based. The Revenue CAGR and ROIC goals are also subject to adjustment to reflect the impact of any acquisitions or dispositions that occur during the performance period. The Compensation Committee selected these two measures primarily because they are generally accepted as two fundamental drivers of sustained shareholder value, they provide shorter line-of-sight measurements than many alternative measures and both measures are contained in the Company's strategic plan. The number of shares delivered can range from zero to 200% of the target number of performance stock units initially awarded, depending on performance, and delivery generally requires employment throughout the three-year performance period. At the threshold level of performance, 60% of the target number of units would be earned. The level of performance required to attain the threshold performance metrics was set at a level of performance where the Compensation Committee believes that a reduced payout is appropriate and below which no payout is appropriate. The level of performance required to attain the target payout is designed to be reasonably challenging. The level of performance required to attain a maximum payout was set at a level of performance that the Compensation Committee deems exceptional. Performance stock units do not grant dividend or voting rights to the holder during the performance period, but dividend equivalents are accrued and paid on shares delivered after the vesting date.

        Settlement of the 2016 Performance Stock Unit Awards.    The performance period for the 2016 performance stock unit awards concluded on December 31, 2018. The performance stock units granted in 2016 were settled in shares on February 6, 2019. The 2016 awards had their performance tied to a combination of Revenue CAGR and ROIC targets, which were adjusted as provided in the grant agreements to account for acquisitions completed during the performance period. The performance targets for the 2016 performance stock units were as follows, with the payout percentage interpolated for performance between Threshold and Target and between Target and Maximum:

        The financial results for the 2016 awards were a Revenue CAGR of 4.4%, which was above the threshold Revenue CAGR of 3.5% but fell below the target Revenue CAGR of 5.5%, and ROIC of 13.2% which was above the target ROIC of 12.1% but below the maximum ROIC of 14.8%.

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According to the performance matrix, the resulting payout percentage achieved was 106% of the target award value. Mr. Pagano earned 21,821 shares, Mr. Nanda earned 6,351 shares, Mr. Melhem earned 5,439 shares, and Mr. Lepage earned 5,275 shares. Mr. Trapp did not earn any shares as he terminated his employment prior to the end of the performance period for the 2016 performance stock unit awards.

        Restricted Stock Awards.    Restricted stock awards are shares of the Company's stock issued in the recipient's name but which are subject to forfeiture in the event the recipient's employment with the Company terminates prior to the time the shares vest. Upon vesting, the recipient owns the shares without restriction or risk of forfeiture. Recipients have voting and dividend rights with respect to restricted stock awards throughout the vesting period. The 2018 restricted stock awards vest one-third each year over three years. In May 2018, after consulting with Mr. Pagano, the Compensation Committee awarded a special, one-time grant of restricted stock to Mr. Nanda to reward his strong performance managing both the Americas and Europe businesses and to provide a strong retention incentive. The special restricted stock award for Mr. Nanda had a value of $500,000 and will vest in its entirety on the fifth anniversary of the date of grant.

        CFO New Hire Grants.    In connection with Mr. Patel's commencement of employment with us as our Chief Financial Officer, we granted to Mr. Patel: (i) a restricted stock award valued at $700,000, which vests as to 50% on each of the first two anniversaries of his employment commencement date, (ii) a restricted stock award valued at $300,000, which vests in full on the third anniversary of his employment commencement date, (iii) a restricted stock award valued at $150,000 which vests as to one-third on each of the first three anniversaries of his employment commencement date, and (iv) a performance stock unit award valued at $150,000 at target, which vests at the end of 2020 based on the Company's performance relative to a set of goals with respect to revenue growth and return on invested capital that we consider challenging. These grants were intended to replace the value of unvested equity grants from Mr. Patel's prior employer that he forfeited in order to join us and were approved by the Compensation Committee following arms-length negotiations with Mr. Patel in connection with his hire.

Benefits and Perquisites

        We provide our executive officers with certain employee benefits and perquisites as a means of providing additional compensation that is designed to be competitive with other compensation provided by companies in our peer group.

        Retirement benefits are provided through a qualified defined contribution 401(k) plan for all of our full-time eligible employees who are United States residents.

        We also provide our named executive officers with a limited number of perquisites as part of their compensation arrangements, which we consider to be reasonable and consistent with competitive practice. These perquisites include a cash automobile allowance, supplemental disability insurance, a financial planning allowance and a comprehensive executive physical examination. The amount of the automobile allowance is determined by our Chief Executive Officer and reviewed by the Compensation Committee, and the Compensation Committee determines the maximum amount of our Chief Executive Officer's automobile allowance. We reimburse our executives for certain financial planning expenses so they may focus more on their business responsibilities. We typically also reimburse recently hired executives for certain relocation-related expenses. In connection with Mr. Patel's commencement of employment with us, we agreed to pay customary out-of-pocket expenses incurred by him in connection with his relocation or, alternatively, to pay him a lump-sum cash payment of $50,000 to cover such expenses.

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        In addition, in connection with his assignment outside of the United States, we provided Mr. Melhem with customary expatriate benefits to address the unique circumstances arising from living and working abroad, as described in more detail in the Summary Compensation Table below.

Compensation Recovery Policy

        We have a Compensation Recovery Policy, commonly referred to as a "claw back" policy, for our executive officers and chief accounting officer. Under this policy, in the event of a financial restatement due to fraudulent activity or intentional misconduct as determined solely by the Compensation Committee, our executive officers and chief accounting officer may be required to reimburse the Company for the difference between any incentive compensation (such as payments under the Executive Incentive Bonus Plan), equity awards or other compensation that was based on having met or exceeded Company performance targets that would not have been met based upon accurate financial data and the compensation that would have been granted, received, vested or accrued had such compensation been calculated based on the accurate data or restated results.

Employment Agreements

        None of our executive officers has an employment agreement with us.

        We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers. The indemnification agreements provide indemnity, including the advancement of expenses, to our directors and executive officers against liabilities incurred in the performance of their duties to the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

Post-Termination Compensation and Change in Control Arrangements

Severance Benefits

        We maintain an Executive Severance Plan, which provides severance benefits for our senior executives, including all of our named executive officers. The Compensation Committee believes that the Executive Severance Plan is an important recruitment incentive for executives, provides a valuable retention incentive and is competitive with the practices of most of the companies in our executive compensation peer group. Under the Executive Severance Plan, a named executive officer involuntarily terminated for reasons not meeting the definition of cause under the Executive Severance Plan will receive a lump-sum payment equal to (i) an amount equal to twelve months of premiums the named executive officer would have to pay for COBRA medical coverage, and (ii) one year of base salary, except for Mr. Pagano who as Chief Executive Officer would receive two years of base salary. In connection with the receipt of any severance payments under the Executive Severance Plan, a named executive officer would be required to sign a written agreement that would contain a release of claims against the Company and such other restrictions, such as non-competition, non-solicitation and non-disparagement covenants, as the Compensation Committee determines are appropriate.

Change in Control Benefits

        We believe that the consideration of a change in control transaction would create uncertainty regarding the continued employment of our executive officers. This uncertainty results from the fact that many change in control transactions result in significant organizational changes, particularly at the senior executive level. In order to encourage our executive officers to focus on seeking the best return for our stockholders and to remain employed with the Company during an important time when their prospects for continued employment following a change in control transaction are often uncertain, we provide certain key executives (including our named executive officers) with severance benefits in connection with a change of control of the Company under the Executive Severance

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Plan. Further, we believe that providing these executive officers with severance benefits upon certain terminations following a change in control is consistent with the practices of the companies in our executive compensation peer group and provides an important recruitment incentive for future executives. Under our Executive Severance Plan, if a named executive officer is involuntarily terminated without cause or resigns for good reason (as defined in the Executive Severance Plan) within 24 months following a change in control of the Company, or is involuntarily terminated without cause in the six months prior to such change in control, such named executive officer will receive an amount in cash equal to (i) 24 months of premiums the named executive officer would have to pay for COBRA medical coverage, and (ii) two times the sum of the named executive officer's annual base salary and target annual bonus immediately prior to the change in control. In addition, the terminated executive would be entitled to full accelerated vesting and, as applicable, exercisability of unvested equity or equity-based awards of the Company that are not subject to performance vesting conditions and, for awards that are subject to performance vesting conditions, accelerated vesting and, as applicable, exercisability at the greater of target or the level that would apply based on actual performance calculated as if the final day of the Company's last completed fiscal quarter prior to the date of the employment termination were the final day of the applicable performance period. Should the amount of payments an executive were to receive under the Executive Severance Plan and any other plan in connection with a change in control were to cause the executive to be subject to the excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code, then the executive's benefits would be reduced by an amount necessary to avoid application of the tax, but only if such reduction would result in a better after-tax result to the executive. In connection with the receipt of any severance benefits under the Executive Severance Plan, a named executive officer would be required to sign a written agreement that would contain a release of claims against the Company and such other restrictions, such as non-competition, non-solicitation and non-disparagement covenants, as the Compensation Committee determines are appropriate. In addition, our 2004 Stock Incentive Plan and Management Stock Purchase Plan provide that in connection with a change in control all unvested performance stock units, shares of restricted stock, stock options and restricted stock units will become fully vested.

Stock Ownership Guidelines

        The Compensation Committee monitors compliance with the stock ownership guidelines approved by the Compensation Committee for all of our executive officers. For 2018, our Chief Executive Officer was required to hold shares of our stock with a value of at least five times the amount of his base salary, our Chief Financial Officer was required to hold shares of our stock with a value of at least three times the amount of his base salary, and our other executive officers were required to hold shares of our stock with a value of at least twice their base salary. In determining the number of shares owned by an executive, the Compensation Committee takes into account shares held directly, the shares underlying restricted stock units purchased by the executive under our Management Stock Purchase Plan and shares of restricted stock, but not stock options or performance share units. Our officers are expected to comply with these requirements within five years of their appointment as an executive officer. The Compensation Committee evaluates compliance with these guidelines in connection with making its compensation decisions and recommendations at its regularly scheduled third quarter meeting. Compliance is typically measured based on stock ownership as of the last day of the second quarter. At the end of the second quarter of 2018, all of our executive officers who had been executive officers of Watts for five or more years were in compliance with our stock ownership guidelines. For information on the Company's policy prohibiting hedging, please see "Restrictions on Hedging, Pledging and Other Transactions" above.

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Impact of Regulatory Requirements

        The financial reporting and income tax consequences of individual compensation elements are important considerations for the Compensation Committee when it is analyzing the overall level of compensation and the mix of compensation paid to our executive officers. The Compensation Committee considers the tax and accounting consequences of utilizing various forms of compensation. However, the Compensation Committee believes that it is important to preserve flexibility in administering compensation programs in a manner designed to promote varying corporate goals. Accordingly, we have not adopted a policy regarding financial reporting and income tax consequences of our executive compensation programs.

        The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis included in this proxy statement with management. Based on such review and discussion with management, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy statement and in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.

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Compensation Summary

        The following table contains information with respect to the compensation of our named executive officers for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016.

2018 SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

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Grants of Plan-Based Awards

        The following table shows information concerning grants of plan-based awards made to the named executive officers during 2018.

2018 GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS

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Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

        The following table shows information regarding unexercised stock options and unvested performance stock units, restricted stock awards and restricted stock units held by the named executive officers as of December 31, 2018.

2018 OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END

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Option Exercises and Stock Vested

        The following table shows amounts received by the named executive officers upon exercise of stock options and vesting of performance stock units, restricted stock and restricted stock units during 2018.

2018 OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED

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Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

        Under our Management Stock Purchase Plan, executives may elect to purchase restricted stock units, which vest in three annual installments beginning one year after the date of grant. However, shares are not delivered in settlement of the restricted stock units until the end of the deferral period selected by the named executive officer. Once vested, the restricted stock units constitute deferred compensation and are reported in the table below as contributions by the named executive officer. Restricted stock units that vested prior to 2018 and were issued at the end of their deferral period during 2018 are listed in the table as distributions of deferred compensation.

        Prior to 2012, we maintained a Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan that was available to all of our employees whose annual compensation was greater than $90,000. Of the named executive officers, only Mr. Lepage has deferred compensation under the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan. Under the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan, participants were allowed to defer up to 100% of base salary and bonus. Participant deferrals earn returns based on the participant's selection from a list of investments that are generally the same as those provided in our 401(k) plan. The allocation of investments may be changed once each year. We did not make any matching contributions under the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan.

        Generally, account balances under the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan may be paid at the earliest of termination of employment, normal retirement, early retirement, or becoming disabled as a lump sum or systematic installments over ten years. Account balances may be distributed prior to termination of employment only in the event of a financial hardship due to an unforeseeable emergency, but not in excess of the amount needed to meet the hardship. Distributions from the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan to our named executive officers cannot be made until at least six months after termination of employment. Mr. Lepage did not receive any distributions, or make any withdrawals, from the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan during 2018.

2018 NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION

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Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control

Executive Severance Plan

        Our Executive Severance Plan covers all of our named executive officers. Under the Executive Severance Plan, a named executive officer involuntarily terminated for reasons not meeting the definition of cause under the Executive Severance Plan will receive a lump sum amount equal to (i) twelve months of premiums the named executive officer would have to pay for COBRA medical coverage, and (ii) one year of base salary, except for Mr. Pagano who as Chief Executive Officer would receive two years of base salary. In connection with the receipt of any severance payments under the Executive Severance Plan, a named executive officer would be required to sign a written agreement that would contain a release of claims against the Company and such other restrictions, such as non-competition, non-solicitation and non-disparagement covenants, as the Compensation Committee determines are appropriate.

        If a named executive officer is involuntarily terminated without cause or resigns for good reason (as defined in the Executive Severance Plan) within 24 months following a change in control of the Company, or is involuntarily terminated without cause in the six months prior to such change in control, such named executive officer will receive a lump sum amount equal to (i) 24 months of premiums the named executive officer would have to pay for COBRA medical coverage, and (ii) two times the sum of the named executive officer's annual base salary and target annual bonus immediately prior to the change in control (less any payments previously received under the Executive Severance Plan).

        The following table sets forth the amounts of cash severance that would have been due to each of our named executive officers under the Executive Severance Plan in the event the named executive officer's employment with the Company terminated as of December 31, 2018.

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        In addition, under the Executive Severance Plan, if a participant is involuntarily terminated without cause or resigns for good reason (as defined in the Executive Severance Plan) within 24 months following a change in control of the Company, or is involuntarily terminated without cause in the six months prior to such change in control, such participant would be entitled to full accelerated vesting and, as applicable, exercisability of unvested equity or equity-based awards of the Company that are not subject to performance vesting conditions and, for awards that are subject to performance vesting conditions, accelerated vesting and, as applicable, exercisability at the greater of target or the level that would apply based on actual performance calculated as if the final day of the Company's last completed fiscal quarter prior to the date of the employment termination were the final day of the applicable performance period.

Equity Plans

        Under our 2004 Stock Incentive Plan and the award agreements thereunder, upon the termination of employment of a participant for any reason other than death or disability, all unvested performance stock units immediately terminate and unvested shares of restricted stock are automatically forfeited. If the participant's employment is terminated for cause, all stock options immediately terminate regardless of whether they are vested or unvested. If a participant's employment is terminated by reason of death or disability, all shares of restricted stock immediately vest in full. For performance stock units, if a participant's employment is terminated due to death or disability during the last twelve months of the performance period, the participant will receive the number of shares actually earned and vested at the end of the performance period as if the participant had not terminated employment. If the participant's employment is terminated due to death or disability within the first twenty-four months of the performance period, the participant will receive the target number of shares pro-rated based on the portion of the performance period during which the participant was employed.

        Under our Management Stock Purchase Plan, upon the termination of employment of a participant for any reason including death or disability, all vested restricted stock units will be exchanged for shares of class A common stock and the participant will receive a cash payment equal to the lesser of (i) the original purchase price paid for the unvested restricted stock units plus interest, or (ii) an amount equal to the number of unvested restricted stock units multiplied by the fair market value of our class A common stock on the termination date.

        Our 2004 Stock Incentive Plan and Management Stock Purchase Plan provide that in connection with a change in control all unvested shares of restricted stock, performance stock units and restricted stock units will become fully vested. As of December 31, 2018, the named executive

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officers held the following unvested shares of restricted stock, performance stock units and restricted stock units that would have become fully vested upon a change in control.

Pay Ratio Disclosure

        As required by Section 953(b) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, and Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K, we are providing the following information about the relationship of the median annual total compensation of our employees and the annual total compensation of Robert J. Pagano, Jr., our Chief Executive Officer. For 2018:

•

the median of the annual total compensation of all employees of the Company (other than our Chief Executive Officer) was $49,162; and



•

the annual total compensation of our Chief Executive Officer was $5,854,532.

Based on this information, for 2018 the ratio of the annual total compensation of our Chief Executive Officer to the median of the annual total compensation of all employees was 119 to 1.

        Since there have been no changes in the Company's employee population or employee compensation arrangements that we believe would significantly impact the pay ratio disclosure, we have chosen to use the same median employee for the 2018 pay ratio disclosure that we used for the 2017 disclosure. As permitted under the SEC rules, to determine our median employee, we used

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a definition that was not the equivalent of the total compensation reflected in the Summary Compensation Table and instead chose base pay as our measure since our incentive and equity plans do not have broad participation across our employee population. We used annual base pay using a reasonable estimate of hours worked during 2017 for hourly employees and upon base pay earned in 2017 for salaried employees. Using the compiled data, we identified the median employee as of December 31, 2017. For our 2018 pay ratio disclosure, we determined the median employee's total 2018 compensation using the same criteria as in the Summary Compensation Table.

        Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires certain officers, directors and persons who own more than 10% of our class A common stock to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and changes in ownership of our stock and provide copies of such forms to us. Based on a review of the copies of such forms provided to us and written representations furnished to us, we believe that during the year ended December 31, 2018, all reports required by Section 16(a) to be filed by these persons were filed on a timely basis.

        We provide our stockholders with the opportunity to vote annually to approve, on a nonbinding, advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement in accordance with the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC.

        As described in detail under the heading "Compensation Discussion and Analysis," we seek to closely align the interests of our named executive officers with the interests of our stockholders. Our compensation programs are designed to reward our named executive officers for the achievement of short-term and long-term strategic and operational goals and the achievement of increased total stockholder return, while at the same time avoiding the encouragement of unnecessary or excessive risk-taking. We encourage you, before voting, to read the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this proxy statement and to review all compensation information in light of the information the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section provides about our alignment of pay with performance and our compensation philosophy. We believe our compensation programs reflect a strong pay for performance philosophy and have been effective at incenting the achievement of financial performance goals and the creation of stockholder value. Examples of practices and policies that we have implemented to ensure effective governance of our compensation plans include:

•

Our executives are subject to robust stock ownership guidelines.



•

Our executives are subject to a compensation recovery policy, or "claw back" policy, under which they may be required to repay unearned compensation in the event of a financial restatement due to fraud or misconduct.



•

The Compensation Committee has the authority to hire independent counsel and other advisors.



•

The Compensation Committee has conducted a review and assessment of risk as it relates to our compensation policies and practices.



•

Our Insider Trading Procedures prohibit hedging and short sale transactions, and no employee or director may pledge Company securities as collateral.



•

None of our executive officers has an employment agreement with us.

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•

We do not provide excise tax gross-ups under any of our change in control severance arrangements.

        The vote on this resolution is advisory, which means that the vote is not binding on the Company, our Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. However, to the extent there is any significant vote against the compensation of our named executive officers, the Compensation Committee will evaluate whether any actions are necessary or advisable to address the concerns of our stockholders. Our Board of Directors has adopted a policy of providing for annual advisory votes from stockholders on executive compensation. Unless our board of directors modifies its policy on the frequency of future stockholder votes on executive compensation, the next such advisory vote will be held at the 2020 annual meeting of stockholders.

        We believe our compensation program and policies described in this proxy statement are aligned with stockholder interests and are worthy of stockholder support. Accordingly, we ask our stockholders to approve the following resolution at the Annual Meeting:

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

        Our Board of Directors recommends that stockholders vote to approve the compensation of our named executive officers by voting "FOR" Proposal 2.

        On February 6, 2019, the Board of Directors voted to adopt, and to recommend to our stockholders that they approve, an amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of shares of class A common stock authorized for issuance from 80,000,000 to 120,000,000.

        To effect this change, the total number of shares of capital stock authorized in our Certificate of Incorporation would increase from 110,000,000 to 150,000,000, because we are currently authorized to issue up to 25,000,000 shares of class B common stock and 5,000,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock. We are not proposing any change to the authorized number of shares of class B common stock or preferred stock.

Purpose and Effect of the Proposed Amendment

        As of March 1, 2019, we had a total of 27,759,111 shares of class A common stock outstanding, 6,279,290 shares of class B common stock outstanding, no shares of preferred stock outstanding and an aggregate of 2,047,256 shares of class A common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to our 2004 Stock Incentive Plan and our Management Stock Purchase Plan. Accordingly, as of March 1, 2019, we had 43,914,343 shares of class A common stock available for future issuance in excess of the outstanding shares of class A common stock and the shares of class A common stock reserved for issuance under existing stock plans and upon conversion of shares of class B common stock.

        Our Board of Directors believes that it is important to have available for issuance a number of authorized shares of class A common stock to meet our future corporate needs. If our stockholders approve the proposed amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation, the additional authorized shares of class A common stock, together with shares of class A common stock that are presently authorized but not issued or reserved for issuance, would be available for issuance for any proper corporate purpose as the Board may determine, including public offerings, private placements, acquisitions, stock splits, stock dividends, or issuances under current and future stock plans. The

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newly authorized shares of class A common stock would be issuable at the discretion of the Board, without further stockholder action except as may be required for a particular transaction by law or the rules of the New York Stock Exchange. The Board believes that the additional shares of class A common stock will provide us with needed flexibility to issue shares in the future without the potential expense and delay incident to obtaining stockholder approval for a particular issuance. We do not currently have any plans, proposals, understandings or agreements for the issuance or use of the additional shares of class A common stock for general corporate or any other purposes.

        Amending our Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of shares of authorized class A common stock requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the votes represented by the outstanding shares of class A common stock and class B common stock, voting together as a class. In addition, the amendment requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of class A common stock and the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of class B common stock, each voting as a separate class. Holders of shares of class A common stock and class B common stock sufficient to obtain approval of the proposed amendment by the class A common stock and class B common stock, voting together as a class, and by the class B common stock, voting as a separate class, have indicated an intention to vote for the proposed amendment. Assuming receipt of stockholder approval for the proposed amendment, we will file a certificate of amendment effecting the proposed amendment with the Secretary of State of Delaware.

        The proposed amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation will not affect the rights of existing holders of our capital stock except to the extent that future issuances of class A common stock will reduce each existing stockholder's proportionate ownership. Future issuances of our class A common stock could also have a dilutive effect on our earnings per share, book value per share and the voting power and interest of current stockholders. There are no preemptive rights with respect to our class A common stock, class B common stock or preferred stock, which means that current stockholders do not have a prior right to purchase any new issue of any class of our capital stock to maintain their proportionate ownership interest, and the holders the class A common stock, class B common stock and our preferred stock are not entitled to cumulative voting.

        The issuance of additional shares of class A common stock could have the effect of making it more difficult for a third party to acquire, or discouraging a third party from attempting to acquire, control of us. We are not aware of any attempts on the part of a third party to effect a change of control of the corporation, and the amendment has been proposed for the reasons stated above and not for any possible anti-takeover effects it may have. This proposal is not being presented with the intent that it be used to prevent or discourage any acquisition attempt, but nothing would prevent our Board of Directors from taking any appropriate actions not inconsistent with its fiduciary duties. We do not have a poison pill plan and have not made any non-stockholder approved repricings of our equity awards.

        If our stockholders approve this proposal, then the first sentence of Article FOURTH of our Certificate of Incorporation will be deleted and replaced in its entirety to read as follows:

"The total number of shares of capital stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue shall be one hundred and fifty million (150,000,000) shares, of which one hundred and twenty million (120,000,000) shall be Class A Common Stock, par value $.10 per share ("Class A Common Stock"), twenty-five million (25,000,000) shall be Class B Common Stock, par value $.10 per share ("Class B Common Stock"), and five million (5,000,000) shall be Preferred Stock, par value $.10 per share, issuable in series ("Preferred Stock")."

        The Board of Directors believes the amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation is advisable and in the best interests of the corporation and its stockholders, and therefore recommends a vote "FOR" Proposal 3.

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        The responsibilities of the Audit Committee are set forth in the charter of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee, among other matters, is responsible for assisting the Board in its oversight of the integrity of the Company's financial statements, compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, the qualifications, independence and performance of the Company's independent registered public accounting firm, and the performance of the Company's internal audit function. The Audit Committee's oversight role includes the appointment and evaluation of the Company's independent registered public accounting firm, oversight of the Company's systems of internal control over financial reporting, a review of management's assessment and management of risk, a review of the annual independent audit of the Company's consolidated financial statements and internal control over financial reporting, review of the Company's Code of Business Conduct, the establishment of "whistle-blowing" procedures, and oversight of other compliance matters.

        The Audit Committee reviewed and discussed the Company's audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018 with management. The Audit Committee also reviewed and discussed the audited consolidated financial statements, the audit of internal control over financial reporting and the matters required to be discussed with KPMG LLP, the Company's independent registered public accounting firm, under Public Company Accounting Oversight Board standards. The Audit Committee received from KPMG the written disclosures and letter required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent accountant's communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and discussed with KPMG the matters disclosed in this letter and their independence. The Audit Committee also considered whether KPMG's provision of other, non-audit related services to the Company is compatible with maintaining their independence.

        Based on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Company's audited consolidated financial statements be included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.

        Although Delaware law does not require that the appointment by the Audit Committee of our independent registered public accounting firm be approved each year by the stockholders, the members of the Audit Committee and the other members of the Board believe it is appropriate to submit the appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm to the stockholders for their ratification. The Audit Committee appointed KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2019, and the Audit Committee and Board recommend that the stockholders ratify such appointment. If the stockholders do not ratify the appointment of KPMG, the Audit Committee will reconsider its appointment.

        We expect that representatives of KPMG will be present at the Annual Meeting. They will be given the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and will also be available to respond to questions from stockholders.

        During 2018, KPMG provided various audit, audit-related and tax services to us. The Audit Committee has adopted policies and procedures that require the Audit Committee to pre-approve all

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audit and non-audit services performed by KPMG in order to ensure that the provision of such services does not impair KPMG's independence. The term of any pre-approval is twelve months from the date of pre-approval, unless the Audit Committee specifically provides for a different period, and the Audit Committee sets specific limits on the amount of each such service we obtain from KPMG.

        The aggregate fees billed for professional services by KPMG in 2017 and 2018 for audit, audit-related, tax and non-audit services were:

        Audit fees primarily include fees we paid KPMG for professional services for the audit of our annual financial statements included in our annual report on Form 10-K, review of financial statements included in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and for services that are normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements, such as consents. Audit fees for 2017 and 2018 also include the audit of our internal control over financial reporting, as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Audit-related fees were for preparation of statutory financial statements and statutory financial statement tagging. Tax fees include fees for review or preparation of tax returns and advice on indirect taxes.

        The Audit Committee and the Board of Directors recommend that stockholders vote "FOR" the ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2019.

        Some banks, brokers and other nominee record holders may be participating in the practice of "householding" proxy statements, annual reports and notices of Internet availability of proxy materials. This means that only one copy of such materials may have been sent to multiple stockholders in your household. We will promptly deliver a separate copy of any such document to you if you write or call us at the following address or telephone number: Watts Water Technologies, Inc., 815 Chestnut Street, North Andover, MA 01845, Attention: Corporate Secretary, (978) 688-1811, or you can request a copy of any such document by visiting https://materials.proxyvote.com/942749. If you want to receive separate copies of the annual report, proxy statement and notice of Internet availability of proxy materials in the future, or if you are receiving multiple copies and would like to receive only one copy for your household, you should contact your bank, broker or other nominee record holder, or you may contact us at the above address and telephone number.

        In order for any stockholder proposal to be included in the proxy statement for our 2020 Annual Meeting pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 14a-8, such proposal must be received at our principal executive offices, 815 Chestnut Street, North Andover, MA 01845, Attention: Corporate Secretary, not later than December 4, 2019 and must satisfy certain rules of the SEC.

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        Nominations and proposals of stockholders may also be submitted to us for consideration at the 2020 Annual Meeting if certain conditions set forth in our by-laws are satisfied, but will not be included in the proxy materials unless the conditions set forth in Exchange Act Rule 14a-8 are satisfied. Such nominations (or other stockholder proposals) must be delivered to or mailed and received by us not more than 120 days nor less than 75 days prior to the anniversary date of the 2019 Annual Meeting, which dates will be January 18, 2020 and March 3, 2020, respectively. Stockholder proposals received by us outside of these dates will be considered untimely received for consideration at such Annual Meeting. If the date of the 2020 Annual Meeting is subsequently moved to a date more than seven days (in the case of director nominations) or ten days (in the case of other stockholder proposals) prior to the anniversary date of the 2019 Annual Meeting, we will publicly disclose such change, and nominations or other proposals to be considered at the 2020 Annual Meeting must be received by us not later than the 20th day after such disclosure (or, if disclosed more than 75 days prior to such anniversary date, the later of 20 days following such disclosure or 75 days before the date of the 2020 Annual Meeting, as rescheduled). To submit a nomination or other proposal, a stockholder should send the nominee's name or proposal and appropriate supporting information required by our by-laws to the attention of our Secretary at the address provided above. To be considered, all nominations or proposals must comply with the requirements of our by-laws, a copy of which may be obtained without charge by sending a request to our Corporate Secretary at our principal executive offices.

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