UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.    )

Filed by the Registrant  ☒

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant  ☐

Check the appropriate box:

Silgan Holdings Inc.

(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

4 Landmark Square

Stamford, Connecticut 06901

(203) 975-7110

Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders

To be Held on June 11, 2018

YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that the annual meeting of stockholders of Silgan Holdings Inc., or the Company, a Delaware corporation, will be held at the Courtyard by Marriott—Stamford Downtown, 275 Summer Street, Stamford, Connecticut 06901 at 9:00 a.m., on Monday, June 11, 2018, for the following purposes:

The close of business on April 19, 2018 has been fixed as the record date for determining the stockholders of the Company entitled to notice of and to vote at the annual meeting. All holders of record of Common Stock of the Company at that date are entitled to vote at the annual meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the annual meeting.

By Order of the Board of Directors,

Frank W. Hogan, III

Secretary

Stamford, Connecticut

April     , 2018

Please complete, sign and mail the enclosed Proxy in the accompanying envelope even if you intend to be present at the annual meeting. Please sign the enclosed Proxy exactly as your name appears on it. Returning the Proxy will not limit your right to vote in person or to attend the annual meeting. If you hold shares of Common Stock of the Company in more than one name, or if your shares of Common Stock of the Company are registered in more than one way, you may receive more than one copy of the proxy materials. If so, please sign and return each of the Proxies that you receive so that all of your shares of Common Stock of the Company may be voted.

The annual meeting will be held to vote on the first five items listed above, tabulate the votes cast in respect of those items and report the results of the vote. No presentations or other business matters are planned for the annual meeting.

4 Landmark Square

Stamford, Connecticut 06901

(203) 975-7110

PROXY STATEMENT

Annual Meeting of Stockholders

to be held on June 11, 2018

To Stockholders of Silgan Holdings Inc.:

This Proxy Statement and the accompanying proxy card are furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of Silgan Holdings Inc., or Silgan Holdings or the Company, for use at our annual meeting of stockholders, or the Meeting, to be held at the Courtyard by Marriott—Stamford Downtown, 275 Summer Street, Stamford, Connecticut 06901, on Monday, June 11, 2018, at 9:00 a.m., and at any postponements or adjournments of the Meeting. If you need directions to attend the Meeting and vote in person, you should contact the Company by telephone at (203) 975-7110. This Proxy Statement and the accompanying proxy card will first be mailed to stockholders on or about April     , 2018.

Only holders of record of our Common Stock as of the close of business on April 19, 2018, the Record Date, will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting. As of the Record Date, we had              shares of our Common Stock outstanding. Each share of our Common Stock is entitled to one vote. We have no other class of voting securities issued and outstanding. The presence in person or by proxy of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock will be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the Meeting.

All shares of our Common Stock represented by properly executed proxies will be voted in accordance with the instructions indicated on such proxies unless such proxies previously have been revoked. If any proxies are signed and returned but do not contain voting instructions, the shares of our Common Stock represented by such proxies will be voted FOR the election of the nominees for director listed below to serve until our annual meeting of stockholders in 2021 and until their successors are duly elected and qualified, FOR the authorization and approval of an amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended, to permit an increase in the size of the Board of Directors of the Company for a period of time, FOR the authorization and approval of an amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended, to increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stock of the Company from 200,000,000 to 400,000,000 and to make an immaterial administrative change, FOR the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018 and FOR the approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers. We do not anticipate that any other matters will be brought before the Meeting. If any other matters properly come before the Meeting, the shares of our Common Stock represented by all properly executed proxies will be voted in accordance with the judgment of the persons named on such proxies. Shares of our Common Stock abstaining and shares of our Common Stock held in street name as to which a broker has not voted on some matters but has voted on other matters, or Broker Shares, will be included in determining whether a quorum exists at the Meeting. The New York Stock Exchange has adopted rules that eliminate broker discretionary voting for the election of directors and certain other corporate governance matters. These rules apply to us notwithstanding the fact that our Common Stock is traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market. Therefore, your broker is not able to vote on your behalf in any director election or with respect to the second or fifth matter specified in the Notice of Meeting, in each case without voting instructions from you.

Assuming that a quorum exists at the Meeting, approval of the first and fourth matters specified in the Notice of Meeting requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Meeting, approval of the second and third matters specified in the Notice of Meeting requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock and approval, on an advisory basis, of the non-binding resolution with respect to the fifth matter specified in the Notice of Meeting requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Meeting. Stockholders may not cumulate their votes. Abstentions and Broker Shares that have not been voted with respect to the first, fourth or fifth matter specified in the Notice of Meeting will not be counted in determining the total number of votes cast or in determining whether such proposal has received the requisite number of affirmative votes. Abstentions and Broker Shares that have not been voted with respect to the second or third matter specified in the Notice of Meeting will be counted in determining the total number of votes cast and will have the same effect as votes against such proposal.

You may revoke your proxy at any time before it is exercised at the Meeting by: (1) delivering to the Secretary of the Company a duly executed proxy bearing a later date; (2) filing a written notice of revocation with the Secretary of the Company; or (3) appearing at the Meeting and voting in person.

In addition to solicitations by mail, some of our directors, officers and employees may solicit proxies for the Meeting personally or by telephone without extra remuneration. We will also provide persons, banks, brokerage firms, custodians, nominees, fiduciaries and corporations holding shares in their names or in the names of nominees, which in either case are beneficially owned by others, with proxy materials for transmittal to such beneficial owners and will reimburse such record owners for their expenses in doing so. The Company will bear the costs of soliciting proxies.

THE COMPANY HEREBY UNDERTAKES TO PROVIDE WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM A COPY OF THIS PROXY STATEMENT HAS BEEN DELIVERED, UPON THE WRITTEN REQUEST OF ANY SUCH PERSON, A COPY OF OUR ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K, INCLUDING THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES THERETO, THAT HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, OR THE SEC, PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-1 UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017. REQUESTS FOR SUCH COPIES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO SILGAN HOLDINGS INC., 4 LANDMARK SQUARE, STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT 06901 (TELEPHONE NUMBER: (203) 975-7110), ATTENTION: GENERAL COUNSEL.

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PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Nominees

Our Board of Directors is currently composed of seven members, divided into three classes designated as Class I, Class II and Class III. We have two Class I Directors, two Class II Directors and three Class III Directors, with each class of directors serving staggered three-year terms. At each annual meeting of stockholders of the Company, the term of office of one class of directors of the Company expires, and directors nominated to the class of directors whose term is expiring at such annual meeting will be elected for a term of three years and until their successors are duly elected and qualified. Our remaining directors continue in office until their respective terms expire and until their successors are duly elected and qualified. Accordingly, at each annual meeting of stockholders of the Company one class of our directors will be elected, and each of our directors will be required to stand for election once every three years. At the Meeting, the term of office for our Class III Directors expires.

Our Class III Directors currently are Messrs. Anthony J. Allott, William T. Donovan and Joseph M. Jordan. Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement dated as of November 6, 2001, or the Stockholders Agreement, among R. Philip Silver, D. Greg Horrigan and the Company, each of Messrs. Allott, Donovan and Jordan was nominated for re-election at the Meeting as a Class III Director of the Company, to serve until our annual meeting of stockholders in 2021 and until his successor has been duly elected and qualified. You should read the section in this Proxy Statement titled “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions—Stockholders Agreement” for a description of the material provisions of the Stockholders Agreement.

Each nominee for Class III Director of the Company has consented to be named in this Proxy Statement and to serve on our Board of Directors if elected. If, prior to the Meeting, any nominee should become unavailable to serve on our Board of Directors for any reason, the shares of our Common Stock represented by all properly executed proxies will be voted for such alternate individual as shall be nominated pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement.

We provide below certain information regarding each nominee for Class III Director of the Company and each Director of the Company whose term of office continues after the Meeting, including the individual’s age (as of December 31, 2017), principal occupation and business experience during at least the last five years, other directorships currently held or held during the past five years, the year in which such individual was first elected a director of the Company and the experiences, qualifications, attributes or skills that each nominee and Director brings to our Board of Directors. We believe that each nominee and current Director brings a strong and unique background and set of skills to our Board of Directors, giving our Board of Directors as a whole competence and experience in a wide variety of areas, including relevant industry experience, executive management experience, public company board service experience and finance and accounting experience.

Nominees for election as Directors (Class III)—term expiring 2021

Anthony J. Allott, age 53, has been one of our Directors since June 2006 and has been our Chief Executive Officer since March 2006 and our President since August 2004. Mr. Allott was also our Chief Operating Officer from May 2005 until March 2006. From May 2002 until August 2004, Mr. Allott was our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining us, Mr. Allott was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Applied Extrusion Technologies, Inc., or AET, a manufacturer of flexible packaging, since July 1996. From July 1994 until July 1996, Mr. Allott was Vice President and Treasurer of AET. From 1992 until July 1994, Mr. Allott was Corporate Controller and Director of Financial Reporting of Ground Round Restaurants. Prior to that, Mr. Allott was a certified public accountant with Deloitte & Touche LLP. Mr. Allott brings to our Board of Directors considerable executive management experience and serves as our Chief Executive Officer.

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William T. Donovan, age 65, has been one of our Directors since January 2018. Mr. Donovan was Chair of the Board of Rockland Industrial Holdings, LLC, a privately held manufacturer of wood flooring products for the truck trailer and container industries, from April 2006 until December 2013. From 1997 until 2005, he served as President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of Total Logistics, Inc., a company engaged in providing integrated logistic services, facility management and industrial product manufacturing that had been a publicly traded company listed on Nasdaq prior to its acquisition by Supervalu Inc. From 1987 to 1997, Mr. Donovan served as President, Chief Financial Officer and a director of Christiana Companies, Inc., a provider of warehousing and logistic services and manufacturer of drill pipe and downhole tools that had been a publicly traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange prior to its merger with Weatherford International, Inc. From 1980 to 1998, Mr. Donovan was a Principal and Managing Director of Lubar & Co., a private investment and venture capital firm. From 1976 to 1980, Mr. Donovan was an officer with Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company, now part of JPMorgan Chase & Co., where he specialized in merger and acquisition financing. Mr. Donovan is currently a director of Precision Drilling Corporation, an onshore drilling company and service provider to the oil and natural gas industries and a publicly traded company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange, and has served in that capacity since December 2008. Prior to that, Mr. Donovan was a director of Grey Wolf, Inc., an international land-based provider of contract drilling services to the oil and natural gas industries and a publicly traded company that had been listed on the American Stock Exchange, from June 1997 until December 2008 prior to its acquisition by Precision Drilling Corporation. Mr. Donovan has also served as a director of several other private companies. Mr. Donovan brings to the Company’s Board of Directors significant executive management, merger and acquisition and finance experience, as well as experience as a public company director.

Joseph M. Jordan, age 71, has been one of our Directors since March 2014. Mr. Jordan is a retired partner of KPMG LLP, where he was employed from April 1981 until his retirement in September 2009. At KPMG, Mr. Jordan was a partner in its Financial Services practice, serving banking and insurance company clients. He served as partner-in-charge of KPMG’s New York Insurance Practice and was KPMG’s National Director of Insurance Tax Services. Mr. Jordan also served as a partner in KPMG’s Department of Professional Practice, specializing in SEC and PCAOB matters involving auditor independence and other regulatory matters. Following his retirement from KPMG, Mr. Jordan has served as an independent consultant. Prior to joining KPMG, Mr. Jordan began his professional career with the United States Department of Treasury. Mr. Jordan brings to our Board of Directors extensive experience in accounting and financial matters, particularly for public companies.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF ALL NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR (CLASS III) OF THE COMPANY.

Incumbent Directors (Class I)—term expiring 2019

R. Philip Silver, age 75, has been our Co-Chairman of the Board in a non-executive capacity since March 2006. Prior to that, Mr. Silver was our Co-Chief Executive Officer from March 1994 until March 2006. Mr. Silver was also our Co-Chairman of the Board in an executive capacity from August 2004 until March 2006 and, prior to that, our Chairman of the Board in an executive capacity. Mr. Silver is one of our co-founders and has been a Director since our inception in 1987. Prior to founding the Company in 1987, Mr. Silver was a consultant to the packaging industry. Mr. Silver was President of Continental Can Company from June 1983 to August 1986. As one of our co-founders, Mr. Silver brings to our Board of Directors extensive knowledge of the Company and the consumer goods packaging industry and numerous years of executive management experience.

William C. Jennings, age 78, has been one of our Directors since July 2003. Mr. Jennings is a retired partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, where he led its risk management and internal control consulting practice from 1991 until his retirement in 1999. Prior to that, Mr. Jennings served as a senior audit partner at Coopers & Lybrand, as a Senior Executive Vice President at Shearson Lehman Brothers responsible for quality assurance, internal audit and compliance and as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Bankers Trust

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Company. Since retiring from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Mr. Jennings has provided independent consulting services to a number of companies. During the past five years, Mr. Jennings served as a director of The Spectranetics Corporation, a manufacturer of medical devices, and Axcelis Technologies, Inc., a supplier for the semiconductor industry. Mr. Jennings brings to our Board of Directors extensive experience in finance and accounting matters, particularly as they apply to public companies, and he has experience as a public company director.

Incumbent Directors (Class II)—term expiring 2020

D. Greg Horrigan, age 74, has been our Co-Chairman of the Board in a non-executive capacity since March 2006. Prior to that, Mr. Horrigan was our Co-Chief Executive Officer from March 1994 until March 2006. Mr. Horrigan was also our Co-Chairman of the Board in an executive capacity from August 2004 until March 2006 and, prior to that, our President. Mr. Horrigan is one of our co-founders and has been a Director since our inception in 1987. Prior to founding the Company in 1987, Mr. Horrigan was Executive Vice President and Operating Officer of Continental Can Company from 1984 to 1987. As one of our co-founders, Mr. Horrigan brings to our Board of Directors extensive knowledge of the Company and the consumer goods packaging industry and numerous years of executive management experience.

John W. Alden, age 76, has been one of our Directors since November 2001. From 1965 until 2000, Mr. Alden was employed by United Parcel Service of America, Inc., or UPS, serving in various management positions. Until his retirement in 2000, Mr. Alden was Vice Chairman of UPS since 1996 and a director of UPS since 1988. During the past five years, Mr. Alden served as a director of ArcBest Corporation, a provider of freight transportation, HD Supply Holdings Inc., a North American industrial distributor, Barnes Group Inc., an aerospace and industrial components manufacturer, and The D & B Corporation, a provider of commercial information. Mr. Alden has significant executive management experience and experience as a public company director.

Messrs. Allott and Jordan were elected as Directors of the Company at our annual meeting of stockholders in 2015. Mr. Donovan was appointed a Director of the Company in January 2018 by the unanimous vote of the Board of Directors of the Company pursuant to the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, to fill the vacancy created upon the unexpected death of Edward A. Lapekas in December 2017. Messrs. Silver and Jennings were elected as Directors of the Company at our annual meeting of stockholders in 2016. Messrs. Horrigan and Alden were elected as Directors of the Company at our annual meeting of stockholders in 2017.

Each of John W. Alden, William T. Donovan, William C. Jennings and Joseph M. Jordan is an “independent director,” as defined in Rule 5605(a)(2) of the listing standards of the Nasdaq Stock Market. Edward A. Lapekas, who served as a Director of the Company during 2017 until his unexpected death on December 1, 2017, was an “independent director” as defined in Rule 5605(a)(2) of the listing standards of the Nasdaq Stock Market. The independent directors held four meetings during 2017 following regularly scheduled quarterly meetings of the Board of Directors, without the presence of management or any inside directors.

Our Board of Directors met four times and acted by written consent five times during 2017. Each of our Directors attended at least 75 percent of the aggregate of: (1) the total number of meetings of the Board of Directors held in 2017 during which he was a Director and (2) the total number of meetings held in 2017 by all committees of the Board of Directors on which he served during which he was a Director.

The Company does not have a policy with regard to director attendance at annual meetings of stockholders. One of our Directors attended last year’s annual meeting of stockholders.

Risk Oversight and Board Structure

Our Board of Directors as a whole is responsible for risk oversight for the Company. Our Board of Directors risk oversight process builds upon management’s assessment of the Company’s risks and processes for managing

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and mitigating such risks. At meetings of our Board of Directors, the executive officers of the Company regularly address and discuss with our Board of Directors risks of the Company and the manner in which the Company manages or mitigates its risks. While our Board of Directors has the ultimate responsibility for risk oversight for the Company, our Board of Directors works in conjunction with its committees on certain aspects of its risk oversight responsibilities. In particular, our Audit Committee focuses on financial reporting risks and related controls and procedures. Our Compensation Committee strives to create compensation practices that do not encourage excessive levels of risk taking that would be inconsistent with the Company’s strategy and objectives.

Our corporate governance documents provide our Board of Directors with flexibility to select the appropriate leadership structure for the Company. In making leadership structure determinations, our Board of Directors considers many factors. At this time, each of the positions of Co-Chairmen of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company are held by different persons. Our Board of Directors has decided at this time to have different persons hold such positions largely due to the availability to the Company of multiple persons with many years of experience in the consumer goods packaging industry and extensive executive management experience with the Company. Our Co-Chairmen of the Board are co-founders of the Company and each has over thirty years of management experience in the packaging industry. With their experience, our Co-Chairmen of the Board effectively lead our Board of Directors in its fundamental role of overseeing the business and affairs of the Company.

As part of each regularly scheduled quarterly meeting of our Board of Directors, our independent Directors meet without the presence of management or inside directors. These meetings allow our independent Directors to discuss matters involving the Company without the presence of any member of management or any inside director.

Committees of the Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors has two standing committees. The principal responsibilities of each of the standing committees and the members of such committees are set forth below.

1. Audit Committee. The Audit Committee has the responsibility of overseeing the Company’s financial reporting process on behalf of our Board of Directors. The functions performed by the Audit Committee are described in the section of this Proxy Statement titled “Report of the Audit Committee.” During 2017, the Audit Committee held eight meetings and acted by written consent two times. The Audit Committee currently consists of Messrs. Jennings, Alden, Donovan and Jordan, each of whom our Board of Directors has determined is independent as required by the written charter of the Audit Committee, the applicable listing standards of the Nasdaq Stock Market and the applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC. All of our “independent directors” are members of the Audit Committee. Mr. Jennings is the Chairperson of the Audit Committee. Mr. Lapekas served as a member of the Audit Committee until his unexpected death on December 1, 2017, and Mr. Donovan was appointed as a member of the Audit Committee in January 2018 upon his appointment as a Director of the Company. The Board of Directors has determined that each of Messrs. Jennings, Donovan and Jordan meets the criteria of an “audit committee financial expert” under applicable rules of the SEC. Mr. Jennings’ extensive background and experience includes leading the risk management and internal control consulting practice of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, serving as senior audit partner at Coopers & Lybrand and serving as Chief Financial Officer of Bankers Trust Company. Mr. Donovan’s extensive background and experience includes serving as a principal financial officer of a public company and actively supervising a principal financial officer of a public company. Mr. Jordan’s extensive background and experience includes serving as a financial services partner at KPMG and as a partner in KPMG’s Department of Professional Practice specializing in SEC and PCAOB matters involving auditor independence and other regulatory matters.

2. Compensation Committee. Pursuant to its written charter, the Compensation Committee has the responsibility of reviewing and approving matters relating to the compensation of executive officers of the Company, as further described in the section of this Proxy Statement titled “Executive Compensation.” In

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addition, pursuant to the terms of the Silgan Holdings Inc. Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, or the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, the Compensation Committee is responsible for administering the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, making awards and grants under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan to officers and other key employees of the Company and its subsidiaries and setting performance goals and confirming performance levels in respect of performance awards made under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan. Historically, the Compensation Committee in its discretion has periodically consulted with outside consultants (such as Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc.) for certain matters regarding director and executive officer compensation, but it did not consult with outside consultants in 2017. The Compensation Committee held three meetings and acted by written consent once during 2017. The Compensation Committee currently consists of Messrs. Alden, Donovan, Jennings and Jordan, each of whom is an “independent director” as required by the written charter of the Compensation Committee and the applicable listing standards of the Nasdaq Stock Market. All of our “independent directors” are members of the Compensation Committee. Mr. Lapekas served as the Chairperson of the Compensation Committee in 2017 until his unexpected death on December 1, 2017. Mr. Alden was appointed Chairperson of the Compensation Committee in January 2018, and Mr. Donovan was appointed as a member of the Compensation Committee in January 2018 upon his appointment as a Director of the Company.

In November 2001, the Company and Messrs. Silver and Horrigan, our Co-Chairmen of the Board, entered into the Stockholders Agreement, which had amended and replaced previous stockholders and organization agreements. You should read the section in this Proxy Statement titled “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions—Stockholders Agreement” for a description of the material terms of the Stockholders Agreement. Under the Stockholders Agreement, the Group (as defined in the Stockholders Agreement and generally including Messrs. Silver and Horrigan and their affiliates, family members, trusts and estates) has the contractual right to nominate for election all directors of the Company so long as the Group holds an aggregate of at least 28,612,360 shares of our Common Stock (as adjusted for the stock splits effected on September 15, 2005, May 3, 2010 and May 26, 2017). As of the date of this Proxy Statement, the Group held more than 28,612,360 shares of our Common Stock. In the very unlikely event that either of Messrs. Silver or Horrigan notifies our Board of Directors that the Group cannot agree on an individual for any nominee for director or if at least 45 days prior to our annual meeting of stockholders the Group fails to nominate for election at such annual meeting the requisite number of individuals to stand for election, then our Board of Directors has the right to nominate for director the number of individuals that the Group could not agree on as nominees or failed to nominate timely.

Accordingly, our Board of Directors does not have a nominating committee because the right to nominate all directors has been contractually granted to the Group, and our Board of Directors deems it very unlikely at this time that they would have to nominate for election any director. As a result, the Company does not have a nominating committee charter, does not have a policy to consider director candidates recommended by stockholders, does not have a policy regarding the composition or diversity of our Board of Directors and does not have a process for identifying or evaluating nominees for director. All nominees for Class III Director of the Company to be elected at the Meeting were nominated by the Group pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement.

Stockholder Communications with the Board of Directors

The Company’s Board of Directors has a formal process for security holders to send communications to it. Security holders may send written communications addressed to the Board of Directors or to any specified Director of the Company by mail to the Company’s office in Stamford, Connecticut. If the Company receives at its office in Stamford, Connecticut any such written communications, the Company will forward such written communications directly to all members of the Board of Directors or to such specified Director of the Company, as the case may be.

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COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS

Each of our Directors (including our non-executive Co-Chairmen of the Board) who does not receive compensation as an officer or employee of the Company or any of its affiliates is paid an annual retainer of $50,000 for service on our Board of Directors and a fee of $2,000 for each meeting of our Board of Directors or committee thereof attended, plus reimbursement for business related travel and other reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. Each of our non-executive Co-Chairmen of the Board is also paid an annual retainer fee of $50,000 for his service as a Co-Chairman of the Board. The Company also maintains an office for each of Messrs. Silver and Horrigan, our non-executive Co-Chairmen of the Board, at its offices in Stamford, Connecticut, and provides them with access to a shared assistant. Additionally, each of our Directors (including our non-executive Co-Chairmen of the Board) who does not receive compensation as an officer or employee of the Company or any of our affiliates receives an annual equity based director award pursuant to the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan on the first business day after our annual meeting of stockholders, having an aggregate fair market value of $90,000 as of the date of grant. These awards are made in the form of restricted shares of our Common Stock or restricted stock units related to shares of our Common Stock, in the discretion of the Board of Directors, under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan. Each of the members of the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors is also paid an annual retainer fee of $12,000 for his service on the Audit Committee, and each of the chairpersons of the Audit and Compensation Committees of our Board of Directors is also paid an annual retainer fee of $10,000 for his service as chairperson of such committee.

Mr. Allott, who is an officer and an employee of the Company, does not receive any annual retainer or meeting fees or any director awards under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan.

The following table provides information concerning the compensation of Directors of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017.

Director Compensation

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Mr. Silver – 2,854 unvested restricted stock units

Mr. Horrigan – 2,854 unvested restricted stock units and 27,160 vested but deferred restricted stock units

Mr. Alden – 2,854 unvested restricted stock units

Mr. Jennings – 2,854 unvested restricted stock units and 16,198 vested but deferred restricted stock units

Mr. Jordan – 2,854 unvested restricted stock units

There were no outstanding stock options held by any of our non-employee Directors as of December 31, 2017.

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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Our Board of Directors appoints the officers of the Company. The officers of our subsidiaries are appointed by the respective boards of directors of our subsidiaries. We provide below certain information concerning the current executive officers of the Company, including each individual’s age (as of December 31, 2017). Information concerning Mr. Allott, our President and Chief Executive Officer, is set forth in the section of this Proxy Statement titled “Election of Directors.” There are no family relationships among any of the directors or executive officers of the Company.

Adam J. Greenlee, age 44, has been our Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer since August 2009. From October 2007 until August 2009, Mr. Greenlee was our Executive Vice President, Operations. From January 2006 until October 2007, Mr. Greenlee was President of the North American operations of Silgan White Cap, and he was Executive Vice President of the North American operations of Silgan White Cap from March 2005 until January 2006. Prior to that, Mr. Greenlee was Vice President & General Manager of ATI Allegheny Rodney from January 2003 through February 2005 and its Director of Marketing from February 2001 until January 2003.

Robert B. Lewis, age 53, has been our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since August 2004. Previously, Mr. Lewis was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Velocity Express Inc. from January 2004 until August 2004. From December 2000 until December 2003, Mr. Lewis held a series of senior executive positions at Moore Corporation Limited, initially as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and later as President of Business Communication Services, an operating division of Moore Corporation Limited. Prior to joining Moore Corporation Limited, Mr. Lewis served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Walter Industries, Inc. and World Color Press, Inc. and in various senior financial management roles at L.P. Thebault, a U.S. based commercial printer.

Frank W. Hogan, III, age 57, has been our Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary since June 2002. From June 1997 until June 2002, Mr. Hogan was our Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary. From September 1995 until June 1997, Mr. Hogan was a partner at the law firm of Winthrop, Stimson, Putnam & Roberts (now Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP). From April 1988 to September 1995, Mr. Hogan was an associate at that firm.

B. Frederik Prinzen, age 59, has been our Senior Vice President, Corporate Development since February 2014. From July 2008 until February 2014, Mr. Prinzen was our Vice President, Corporate Development. Previously, Mr. Prinzen was Chief Operating Officer of Alcan Pharmaceutical Packaging – Americas, a division of Alcan, Inc. Prior to that, Mr. Prinzen held various management positions with Shorewood Packaging Corporation, a subsidiary of International Paper Company, since 1993, last serving as Senior Vice President, Consumer Products Business and Senior Vice President, Manufacturing. Mr. Prinzen began his career in the consumer goods packaging industry with Paperboard Industries Corporation in 1987.

Anthony P. Andreacchi, age 54, has been our Vice President, Tax since July 2006. Prior to that, Mr. Andreacchi served as Director of Taxes – U.S. for Ingersoll-Rand Company since February 2003. Previously, Mr. Andreacchi held various positions in the tax department of Ingersoll-Rand Company since 1991, and served as International Tax Counsel of Xerox Corporation in 2002. He began his career as an associate at the law firm of LeBoeuf, Lamb, Leiby & MacRae in 1987.

Kimberly I. Ulmer, age 50, has been our Vice President, Finance and Treasurer since January 2018. From March 2006 until January 2018, Ms. Ulmer was our Vice President and Controller. Previously, Ms. Ulmer was our Controller since September 2004. From May 2003 until September 2004, Ms. Ulmer was Controller, Accounting Policies and Compliance for General Electric Vendor Financial Services, a unit of General Electric Capital Corporation. Prior to that, Ms. Ulmer was employed by Quebecor World Inc. (formerly World Color Press, Inc.) from August 1997 until April 2003, last serving as Vice President, Assistant Controller.

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Thomas J. Snyder, age 51, has been President of Silgan Containers, our U.S. metal container operations, since October 2007. Prior to that, Mr. Snyder was Executive Vice President of Silgan Containers from July 2006 until October 2007 and Vice President – Sales & Marketing of Silgan Containers from July 2002 until July 2006. Mr. Snyder was Director of Sales of Silgan Containers from May 2000 until July 2002 and a National Account Manager for Silgan Containers from May 1993 until May 2000.

Code of Ethics

Our Board of Directors has adopted a Code of Ethics applicable to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer or controller in order to deter wrongdoing and to promote the conduct of the Company’s business in an honest, lawful and ethical manner. A copy of this Code of Ethics was filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003.

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

Stockholders Agreement

In November 2001, Messrs. Silver and Horrigan and the Company entered into the Stockholders Agreement. The Stockholders Agreement amended and replaced in its entirety a previous stockholders agreement entered into among Messrs. Silver and Horrigan, the Company and the other parties thereto at the time of the initial public offering of shares of Common Stock of the Company on February 14, 1997. Such previous stockholders agreement had replaced prior organization and stockholders agreements entered into in December 1993 among the Company, Messrs. Silver and Horrigan and the other parties thereto, which prior agreements had replaced an organization agreement among the Company and the founding stockholders of the Company, including Messrs. Silver and Horrigan, entered into in June 1989.

Under the Stockholders Agreement, the Group (as defined in the Stockholders Agreement and generally including Messrs. Silver and Horrigan and their affiliates and related family transferees and estates) has the right to nominate for election all directors of the Company until the Group holds less than one-half of the number of shares of our Common Stock held by it in the aggregate on February 14, 1997. At least one of the Group’s nominees must be either Mr. Silver or Mr. Horrigan during the three year period covering the staggered terms of our three classes of directors. On February 14, 1997, the Group held 57,224,720 shares of our Common Stock in the aggregate (as adjusted for the stock splits effected on September 15, 2005, May 3, 2010 and May 26, 2017), and, as of the date of this Proxy Statement, the Group held more than one-half of such number of shares of our Common Stock. Additionally, the Group has the right to nominate for election either Mr. Silver or Mr. Horrigan as a member of our Board of Directors when the Group no longer holds at least one-half of the number of shares of our Common Stock held by it in the aggregate on February 14, 1997 but beneficially owns at least 5% of our Common Stock. The Stockholders Agreement continues until the death or disability of both of Messrs. Silver and Horrigan.

If either Mr. Silver or Mr. Horrigan notifies our Board of Directors that the Group cannot agree on an individual for any of its nominees under the Stockholders Agreement or if at least 45 days prior to our annual meeting of stockholders the Group fails to nominate for election at such annual meeting the requisite number of individuals to stand for election to our Board of Directors at such annual meeting, then our Board of Directors has the right to nominate for election to our Board of Directors the number of individuals that the Group could not agree on as nominees or that the Group failed to nominate timely.

The provisions of the Stockholders Agreement could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control of the Company and preventing our stockholders from receiving a premium for their shares of our Common Stock in any proposed acquisition of the Company.

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Review, Approval or Ratification of Transactions with Related Persons

Pursuant to its written charter, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company is required to approve any related party transactions that are required to be disclosed under applicable securities rules. In evaluating any such proposed reportable transaction, the Audit Committee will consider the specific facts and circumstances of each transaction, which facts and circumstances will include the related person’s interest in the transaction, whether the transaction is being negotiated on an arm’s length basis, whether the terms of the transaction are fair to the Company and whether the terms of the transaction with the related person are no less favorable to the Company than could be obtained with a non-related third party under similar circumstances.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION

In 2017, the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors consisted of Messrs. Lapekas (until December 1, 2017), Alden, Jennings and Jordan, none of whom was an officer, former officer or employee of the Company. During 2017, none of our executive officers served as: (i) a member of the compensation committee (or other board committee performing equivalent functions or, in the absence of any such committee, the entire board of directors) of another entity, one of whose executive officers served on the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors, (ii) a director of another entity, one of whose executive officers served on the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors, or (iii) a member of the compensation committee (or other board committee performing equivalent functions or, in the absence of any such committee, the entire board of directors) of another entity, one of whose executive officers served on our Board of Directors.

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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

In the table below, we provide information, as of the Record Date, with respect to the beneficial ownership of our Common Stock by (i) each current director and each Named Executive Officer (as defined in the section of this Proxy Statement titled “Executive Compensation—Compensation Discussion and Analysis”) of the Company, (ii) each person or entity who is known by the Company to own beneficially more than 5% of our Common Stock and (iii) by all current executive officers and directors of the Company as a group. Except as otherwise described below, each of the persons named in the table below has sole voting and investment power with respect to the securities beneficially owned.

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EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

In the table below, we provide information about equity securities of the Company authorized for issuance under all of the Company’s equity compensation plans. The information is as of December 31, 2017.

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TOTAL TEN YEAR STOCKHOLDERS RETURN PERFORMANCE

The line graph below compares the performance of our Common Stock for the ten year period ended December 31, 2017 with the performance of the Standard and Poor’s 500 Composite Stock Price Index, or the S&P 500 Index, and the Dow Jones US Containers & Packaging Index for the same period. The line graph assumes in each case an initial investment of $100.00 on December 31, 2007 and that all dividends were reinvested. The Dow Jones US Containers & Packaging Index has been weighted on the basis of market capitalization.

The following line graph and related information shall not be deemed “soliciting material” or “filed” with the SEC, nor should such information be incorporated by reference into any future filings under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act, each as amended, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate it by reference in such filing.

Comparison of Cumulative Total Return Among Silgan Holdings Inc., S&P 500 Index and

Dow Jones US Containers & Packaging Index

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

General

In this section of this Proxy Statement, we discuss the compensation for our executive officers, and we describe how we compensated each of our Chief Executive Officer, our Chief Financial Officer and our three other most highly compensated executive officers in 2017 based on total compensation, or, collectively, our Named Executive Officers. Our Named Executive Officers for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 were:

Compensation Committee

The Compensation Committee is governed by a written charter approved by the Board of Directors of the Company. A copy of the written charter of the Compensation Committee was included as Appendix A to the Company’s Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on April 28, 2017. Pursuant to the Compensation Committee’s written charter, the Board of Directors of the Company has empowered the Compensation Committee to review and approve matters relating to the compensation of executive officers of the Company. Pursuant to its charter, the Compensation Committee is also responsible for administering the Company’s equity compensation plans in which any executive officer of the Company participates (including the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan), including making awards and grants under such plans, setting performance goals for awards and grants as applicable under such plans, confirming performance levels as applicable in respect of performance awards made under such plans and interpreting and prescribing rules for administering such plans. The Compensation Committee also oversees and monitors the Company’s compensation policies, practices and programs for executive officers of the Company in light of the compensation philosophy and objectives of the Company.

As required by its charter, the Compensation Committee must review and consider the outcome of any advisory vote of the stockholders of the Company at an annual meeting of stockholders regarding the compensation of the named executive officers of the Company. In addition, the Compensation Committee is required to review and assess the adequacy of its charter annually and recommend any proposed changes to its charter to the Board of Directors of the Company. In carrying out its responsibilities, the Compensation Committee has the authority, in its sole discretion, to retain and obtain advice of compensation consultants, legal counsel and other advisers, and the Company is required to provide funding therefor.

The Compensation Committee is currently comprised of four members, Messrs. John W. Alden, William T. Donovan, William C. Jennings and Joseph M. Jordan. Mr. Alden is the Chairperson of the Compensation Committee. Mr. Edward A. Lapekas was a member of the Compensation Committee and served as its Chairperson until his unexpected death on December 1, 2017. As required by its charter, all members of the Compensation Committee are (i) “independent directors” as required under the applicable rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market, (ii) “outside directors” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, and (iii) “non-employee directors” for purposes of Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act.

In accordance with its charter, the Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed with the Company’s management this Compensation Discussion and Analysis and has recommended to the Board of

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Directors of the Company that this Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement. The Compensation Committee has also reviewed and approved the Compensation Committee Report included in this Proxy Statement as required by its charter.

Compensation Philosophy

The Compensation Committee strives to establish a compensation program for the executive officers of the Company that meets the following objectives:

The components of the compensation program for all executive officers of the Company are base salary, annual cash incentive bonus and equity-based compensation consisting primarily of restricted stock units and performance awards of restricted stock units. The Compensation Committee believes that such form of equity-based compensation fosters more balanced risk taking because restricted stock units are more closely linked to ownership of stock than other equity-based compensation. By including a combination of cash and at-risk equity compensation, the Compensation Committee believes that the Company’s executive compensation program is consistent with its business strategy and does not encourage its executive officers to take excessive risks that might threaten the long-term value of the Company. In addition, executive officers of the Company other than the Chief Executive Officer, or CEO, Chief Financial Officer, or CFO, and Chief Operating Officer, or COO, receive other benefits typically provided to officers (such as retirement benefits and medical benefits), as further described below in “—Retirement and Other Benefits.”

2017 Advisory Vote on Compensation of Named Executive Officers

At our annual meeting of stockholders in 2017, pursuant to an advisory vote our stockholders overwhelmingly approved the compensation provided to our Named Executive Officers in 2016, with approximately 96% of the votes cast approving such compensation. The Compensation Committee reviewed and considered the results of the advisory vote of our stockholders in 2017 on the compensation of our Named Executive Officers and did not implement any changes to the compensation of our Named Executive Officers as a result of such advisory vote of our stockholders.

Base Salary

The Compensation Committee endeavors to set base salaries for executive officers that enable the Company to attract and retain such officers and provide fair compensation taking into account relevant employment markets. The base salary for an individual executive officer is targeted such that the total compensation for such person is at a competitive level for individuals with similar responsibilities at manufacturing companies of a similar size, including packaging related companies, and, as relevant, in the applicable geographic area.

Generally, each executive officer’s salary is reviewed on an annual basis by the Compensation Committee, and executive officer salaries may be adjusted based on: (i) a general increase associated with inflation in the cost of living; (ii) a change in the individual’s responsibilities over the preceding years; and (iii) changes in competitive pay levels. In making such determinations for our Named Executive Officers, the Compensation Committee has generally reviewed publicly available salary and other compensation data from the following packaging related companies: AptarGroup, Inc.; Avery Dennison Corporation; Ball Corporation; Bemis Company, Inc.; Berry Global Group, Inc.; Crown Holdings, Inc.; Graphic Packaging Holding Company; Greif, Inc.; Owens-Illinois, Inc.; Packaging Corporation of America; Sealed Air Corporation; Sonoco Products Company; and WestRock Company. Additionally, for our Named Executive Officers, the Compensation

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Committee has generally considered publicly available salary and other compensation data from the following other manufacturing companies: Acuity Brands, Inc.; Albemarle Corporation; Armstrong World Industries, Inc.; Carlisle Companies Incorporated; Carpenter Technology Corporation; Domtar Corporation; H.B. Fuller Company; KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation; Olin Corporation; PolyOne Corporation; RPM International Inc.; Sensient Technologies Corporation; and The Valspar Corporation (which was recently acquired by The Sherwin-Williams Company). Although the Compensation Committee does not use benchmarking to determine any element of compensation, the Compensation Committee believes that it is important from time to time to review compensation information from other appropriate companies in order to gain a general understanding of the competitiveness of the Company’s compensation program. For all other executive officers of the Company, the Compensation Committee reviews recommendations of the CEO of the Company and other information available to the Compensation Committee. For 2017, the salaries of each of Messrs. Allott, Lewis, Greenlee, Hogan and Snyder at year end 2016 were increased based on a general increase associated with inflation in the cost of living.

Annual Cash Bonuses under Incentive Programs

All executive officers of the Company are eligible to receive annual cash bonuses, which are provided to enable the Company to attract and retain such officers and provide fair compensation taking into account responsibilities and relevant employment markets. Additionally, the Compensation Committee uses annual cash bonuses to reward executive officers for achieving the Company’s financial and non-financial goals. Executive officers of the Company are eligible for an annual cash bonus based on a percentage of their annual base salary, and that percentage is determined generally based on the person’s responsibilities. In addition, the Compensation Committee may provide an executive officer with a cash bonus for a special assignment or in extraordinary circumstances where warranted.

The table below sets forth summary information for 2017 for our Named Executive Officers with regard to the incentive plan or program in which such individual participated, the bonus range, target bonus award and maximum bonus award as a percentage of salary for each such individual, the actual bonus award for each such individual and the actual bonus award as a percentage of salary for each such individual.

2017 Annual Cash Bonuses under Incentive Programs

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Annual cash bonuses are paid to Mr. Allott under the Company’s Senior Executive Performance Plan, as amended, or the Senior Executive Performance Plan. Currently, Mr. Allott is the only participant in the Senior Executive Performance Plan. Pursuant to the Senior Executive Performance Plan, Mr. Allott could be eligible for an annual cash bonus of up to 200% of his annual base salary, with such maximum amount of Mr. Allott’s annual cash bonus being set annually by the Compensation Committee. For 2017 and 2018, the Compensation Committee evaluated competitive data and approved a maximum annual cash bonus for Mr. Allott of up to 100% of his annual base salary. In setting the maximum amount of the annual cash bonus for Mr. Allott, the Compensation Committee bases its determination on its objective of retaining Mr. Allott and providing him with fair overall annual cash compensation taking into account his responsibilities and relevant employment markets.

At the beginning of each year, the Compensation Committee establishes a performance goal and a performance goal target for the Company for that year pursuant to the Senior Executive Performance Plan. Following such year, the Compensation Committee confirms the extent to which the performance goal target for such year was met. If the performance goal target was met, then the participant under the Senior Executive Performance Plan would receive the maximum amount of his annual bonus for which he was eligible for that year. If the performance goal target was not met, then the participant would receive a pro rata amount of the maximum amount of his annual bonus for which he was eligible for that year. For 2017, the performance goal established by the Compensation Committee under the Senior Executive Performance Plan was the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and rationalization charges, acquisition termination fees (net of related costs) and the impact from any foreign currency devaluations (Adjusted EBITDA) of the Company, and the performance goal target for the maximum amount of the annual bonus was the achievement in 2017 of the Adjusted EBITDA level of the Company for 2016 ($461.8 million), with the amount of Mr. Allott’s annual bonus for 2017 calculated based on the following formula:

X multiplied by the Company’s Adjusted EBITDA for 2017; with X being equal to a percentage, the numerator of which is the maximum amount of Mr. Allott’s annual bonus and the denominator of which is the Company’s Adjusted EBITDA for 2016.

The Company’s Adjusted EBITDA for 2017 was $536.9 million. Therefore, Mr. Allott received the maximum amount of his annual bonus for 2017 of 100% of his annual base salary for 2017 based on the Company’s level of performance in 2017, or an annual bonus of $1,012,165 for 2017.

For 2018, the Compensation Committee set the performance goal for Mr. Allott under the Senior Executive Performance Plan as the Adjusted EBITDA of the Company in 2018 and the performance goal target for the maximum amount of his annual bonus as the achievement of the Adjusted EBITDA level of the Company for 2017, with the manner for calculating the amount of his annual bonus being the same as in 2017. In setting the performance goal under the Senior Executive Performance Plan, the Compensation Committee chose earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and rationalization charges of the Company because it believes that it is an important and accepted measure of performance of the Company, and the Compensation Committee decided to exclude acquisition termination fees (net of related costs) and the impact from any foreign currency devaluations from such calculation because such items are unusual, generally non-recurring and not indicative of the Company’s operating results.

For 2017, each of Messrs. Lewis, Greenlee and Hogan was eligible to be paid an annual cash bonus, in an amount up to a maximum of 40% of his annual base salary, under a program, or the Holdings Executive Officer Program, which was approved by the Compensation Committee pursuant to which their annual cash bonuses were calculated on the same basis that an annual cash bonus was calculated for Mr. Allott under the Senior Executive Performance Plan. Accordingly, Messrs. Lewis, Greenlee and Hogan each received an annual cash bonus for 2017 that was 40% of their respective annual base salaries for 2017. Additionally, the Compensation Committee awarded Mr. Hogan a discretionary bonus of $200,000 in 2017 in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to the Company primarily related to the Company’s acquisition of the Silgan Dispensing Systems operations in 2017. For 2018, the Compensation Committee approved an annual cash bonus program for each of

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Messrs. Lewis, Greenlee and Hogan pursuant to which each of them is eligible to receive an annual cash bonus in an amount up to a maximum of 40% of his annual base salary received in 2018, with the amount of such annual cash bonus being calculated on the same basis that an annual cash bonus is calculated for Mr. Allott for 2018 under the Senior Executive Performance Plan.

The Compensation Committee has established annual bonus programs applicable to Messrs. Allott, Lewis and Greenlee that are different from the annual cash bonus programs applicable to the other executive officers of the Company because Messrs. Allott, Lewis and Greenlee assist the Compensation Committee in establishing the annual cash bonus programs for the other executive officers of the Company, including setting financial and non-financial goals under such programs and determining whether goals were met under such programs. The Compensation Committee believes it is important that it receive an unbiased view from members of top management in establishing such programs, and believes that the best way to accomplish this objective is to not have those assessing such programs participate in them so that these individuals have no conflict of interest. Additionally, the objectives of the annual cash bonus programs for Messrs. Allott, Lewis, Greenlee and Hogan are to retain such individuals and provide them with fair overall annual compensation taking into account relevant employment markets, and such programs are not meant primarily as an award for short-term financial performance. The Compensation Committee believes that it is more advantageous for the Company that Messrs. Allott, Lewis, Greenlee and Hogan focus more on long-term creation of stockholder value rather than short-term goals. Accordingly, the Compensation Committee establishes a performance goal target with respect to annual bonuses payable to Messrs. Allott, Lewis, Greenlee and Hogan that, although not certain, should be attainable.

Annual cash bonuses are paid to participants in the incentive programs of the Company’s business operations based upon the achievement of certain financial goals and certain non-financial goals, all as approved by the Compensation Committee. Participants in those programs, including those deemed to be executive officers of the Company, are viewed on a team basis for purposes of annual cash bonuses and establishing financial and non-financial goals. Mr. Snyder is the only Named Executive Officer who participated in an incentive program for one of the Company’s business operations (U.S. metal containers) in 2017.

The financial goals for the Company’s business operations for a given year are established at the beginning of such year by the CEO, CFO and COO, or the Holdings Executives, subject to approval of the Compensation Committee. The financial goal used for the Company’s business operations is either their (i) budgeted earnings before interest and taxes and rationalization charges, the foreign currency impact from certain intercompany agreements and the impact from any foreign currency devaluations and subject to further adjustment as determined by the Compensation Committee for unusual gains and losses (Adjusted EBIT) or (ii) budgeted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and rationalization charges, the foreign currency impact from certain intercompany agreements and the impact from any foreign currency devaluations and subject to further adjustment as determined by the Compensation Committee for unusual gains and losses. Based on the recommendations of the Holdings Executives, the Compensation Committee determines the portion of annual cash bonuses that would be payable to managers of the business operations of the Company based on the financial goal. The Compensation Committee generally believes that at least a majority of the annual cash bonuses payable to managers of the Company’s business operations should be based on a financial goal. The table below sets forth the percentages for 2017 and 2018 of the annual cash bonuses for managers of the Company’s business operations payable based on such operations’ achievement of their financial goal under their incentive programs:

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Non-financial goals for each of the Company’s business operations for a given year are established at the beginning of the year by the Holdings Executives in conjunction with the managers of such business operations, subject to approval of the Compensation Committee. Such non-financial goals are generally items that both the Holdings Executives and the managers of the particular business operation desire additional attention during the year. Set forth below are the non-financial goals for each of the Company’s business operations (including our U.S. metal container operations which are applicable for Mr. Snyder) for both 2017 and 2018:

In determining levels of achievement by the Company’s business operations of their non-financial goals, the Compensation Committee relies upon the subjective evaluations of Messrs. Allott, Lewis and Greenlee, as well as their own observations of the Company’s business operations obtained from the reports given by the managers of such business operations at the regular quarterly meetings of the Board of Directors of the Company.

For 2017, managers of the Company’s business operations were eligible for an annual target bonus ranging from 20% to 50% of their annual salary if applicable goals were met, with such percentage for any particular person being largely based on such person’s responsibilities. The amount of the bonus of each such manager is determined by a formula which calculates such bonus based on the percentage that the actual applicable financial level achieved represents of the applicable financial goal and, when applicable, based on whether non-financial goals were met, and such managers can receive up to two times their target bonus amount if financial and non-financial goals of the applicable business operations are far exceeded. Generally, however, the Compensation Committee is of the view that non-financial goals, by their nature, are extremely hard to attain at a level warranting two times payment of the amount of the target bonus applicable to such non-financial goals, and therefore realistically managers can expect to receive generally between 50% and 150% of the amount of their target bonus applicable to such non-financial goals. For 2017, the percentages of the financial goals for our business operations that would have needed to have been achieved for a payment of two times the amount of the target bonus applicable to such financial goals ranged from 107% to 115% of such financial goals.

Under the incentive program for our U.S. metal container operations, Mr. Snyder, as President of Silgan Containers, was eligible for an annual target bonus for 2017 of 30% of his annual salary received in 2017. His bonus for 2017 was calculated as follows. For the portion of Mr. Snyder’s bonus payable based upon the achievement of a financial goal (i.e., 70% of his annual target bonus of 30% of his annual salary, or 21% of his annual salary), the budgeted Adjusted EBIT for 2017 for the U.S. metal container operations was compared to the actual Adjusted EBIT for 2017 for the U.S. metal container operations. If the actual Adjusted EBIT of the U.S. metal container operations for 2017 was between 97% and 103% of the budgeted Adjusted EBIT for the U.S. metal container operations for 2017, then Mr. Snyder would have been entitled to 100% of the portion of his bonus payable based on the achievement of a financial goal for 2017 (i.e., 21% of his annual salary). If the actual Adjusted EBIT of the U.S. metal container operations for 2017 was less than 97% (but more than 93%) or greater than 103% (up to 107%) of the budgeted Adjusted EBIT for the U.S. metal container operations for 2017, then the portion of Mr. Snyder’s bonus payable based on the achievement of a financial goal would have been adjusted on a pro rata basis on a sliding scale, as follows:

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For the portion of Mr. Snyder’s bonus payable based on whether non-financial goals were met (i.e., 30% of his annual target bonus of 30% of his annual salary, or 9% of his annual salary), the Holdings Executives determined the percentage (based on 100%) that such non-financial goals were met and recommended such percentage for the non-financial goals to the Compensation Committee for their approval. The approved percentage is then multiplied by such portion of the target bonus payable based on non-financial goals and such amount is added to the amount of the bonus payable for the financial goal achieved to determine the total bonus payable for 2017.

In 2017, the U.S. metal container operations achieved 96.9% of its budgeted Adjusted EBIT and 106.5% of its non-financial goals. Accordingly, the bonus amount payable to Mr. Snyder based on the achievement of a financial goal for 2017 was 20.62% of his annual salary received in 2017 per the chart above. The bonus amount payable to Mr. Snyder based on the achievement of non-financial goals was 9.58% of his annual salary received in 2017, calculated as follows:

106.5% x 9% = 9.58%

Therefore, Mr. Snyder’s bonus for 2017 was the sum of the percentage payable for the financial goal and the percentage payable for the non-financial goals, or 30.20% (20.62% plus 9.58%) of his annual salary received in 2017 (which equates to approximately 100.66% of his annual target bonus of 30% of his annual salary received in 2017).

The officers of Silgan Holdings (other than Messrs. Allott, Lewis, Greenlee and Hogan), all of whom are also executive officers of the Company, are eligible to receive annual cash bonuses pursuant to an incentive program, or the Holdings Bonus Program, in which they participate and which was approved by the Compensation Committee. None of our Named Executive Officers participated in the Holdings Bonus Program in 2017. Bonuses under the Holdings Bonus Program are calculated on the basis of a weighted average of the levels of bonuses paid under the incentive programs of the Company’s business operations, using each business operation’s percentage of the overall Adjusted EBIT of the Company’s business operations as the basis for weighting. Bonuses for such officers are thus determined by means of a pure mathematical calculation based on the weighted average of the levels of bonuses paid under the incentive programs of the Company’s business operations once the bonus amounts under such incentive programs are determined. The officers participating in the Holdings Bonus Program are eligible for an annual target bonus of 30% of their annual salary, and they can receive up to two times their target bonus amount if the Company’s business operations far exceed their applicable financial and non-financial goals. Generally, however, the Compensation Committee is of the view that non-financial goals, by their nature, are extremely hard to attain at a level warranting two times payment of the amount of the target bonus applicable to such non-financial goals, and therefore realistically such officers can expect to receive generally between 50% and 150% of the amount of their target bonus applicable to such non-financial goals.

Equity Based Compensation

The Compensation Committee provides equity-based compensation to executive officers of the Company and its subsidiaries through awards under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan that meet the Compensation Committee’s objectives of attracting and retaining officers and aligning the interests of officers with those of the stockholders of the Company. The purpose of the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan is to promote the long-term success of the Company and the creation of stockholder value by (i) encouraging the attraction and retention of directors and officers and other key employees and (ii) linking directors and officers and other key employees of the Company directly to stockholder interests through stock ownership and appreciation. Although the Company encourages stock ownership by its officers and directors, the Company does not have any requirements or guidelines for stock ownership by its officers and directors.

The Compensation Committee is responsible for administering the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan. The Compensation Committee determines recipients of awards under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, approves

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awards, sets the terms and conditions of awards and interprets and prescribes rules for administering the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan. The 2004 Stock Incentive Plan provides for awards of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units and performance awards.

Since 2005, the Compensation Committee has granted only restricted stock units and performance awards for restricted stock units under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan. At this time, the Compensation Committee has determined to grant only restricted stock units and performance awards for restricted stock units under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan because it believes that restricted stock units are more closely linked to ownership of stock as compared to stock options and stock appreciation rights, thereby aligning the interests of award recipients more closely with those of our stockholders.

Under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, the Compensation Committee generally grants (i) restricted stock units to newly hired individuals (including from acquisitions) and to individuals who are promoted and (ii) performance awards annually to current officers and other key employees, all as described below. In addition, the Compensation Committee may grant awards under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan to officers and other key employees of the Company and its subsidiaries at other times and for other purposes, consistent with the terms of the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan.

In order to attract new officers and other key employees (including from acquisitions), the Compensation Committee will grant restricted stock units to such new individuals, which generally will vest ratably over a five-year period or all at once in a single installment at least one year from the date of grant. The number of restricted stock units that are granted to an individual will be determined by the Compensation Committee generally on the basis of what it believes is necessary to hire and retain such individual, taking into account the salary and bonus offered to such individual and the total nominal value of such restricted stock units. The Compensation Committee may also grant restricted stock units during the course of the year to officers who are promoted, largely on the basis of the nominal value of unvested restricted stock units of such individuals as compared to a targeted multiple of such individual’s new annual base salary. The primary purpose of such equity awards is retention of the individual, and therefore these restricted stock units will generally vest ratably over a five-year period. Typically, the Compensation Committee makes grants to newly hired or promoted individuals on only up to one business day during a fiscal quarter, generally at a regularly scheduled meeting of the Compensation Committee which generally follows the issuance by the Company of its quarterly earnings release. As a result, the general practice of the Compensation Committee is to make grants on up to four dates during each year and, in addition, as applicable, in connection with certain acquisitions.

Additionally, in order to retain current officers and other key employees, the Compensation Committee annually reviews the nominal value of unvested restricted stock units of such persons. For each officer and other key employee of the Company, the Compensation Committee targets a multiple of such person’s annual base salary (plus, in the case of Mr. Allott, targeted annual bonus) as the level of the nominal value of unvested restricted stock units for each such person. The multiple for each individual is determined on the basis of the individual’s anticipated long-term contribution to the Company. Within the first ninety days of each year, the Compensation Committee will fix and establish performance criteria for that year for potential grants of performance awards of restricted stock units in the following year. The minimum level of performance required to be attained for grants to be made in the following year is set by the Compensation Committee at a level that, although not certain, should be attainable because the primary purpose of these grants is retention. For the grants made in 2017, the Compensation Committee established in 2016 the Company’s Adjusted EBITDA as the performance criteria and the minimum level of performance by the Company for 2016 as 75% of the Company’s Adjusted EBITDA level in 2015. At the time the performance criteria is set for a particular year, the Compensation Committee approves a maximum number of restricted stock units that may be granted to each individual in the following year if the Company attains the minimum level of performance. Then, following the end of a particular year, if the Company attains the minimum level of performance for that year, the Compensation Committee will review the nominal value of the unvested restricted stock units previously granted to an individual and compare this to the individual’s target multiple of salary (plus, in the case of Mr. Allott,

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bonus). For Mr. Allott, the target multiple is three times his salary and bonus. For each of Messrs. Lewis, Greenlee, Hogan and Snyder, the target multiple of salary is three times such person’s salary. Generally, at its regularly scheduled meeting during the first quarter, the Compensation Committee will then consider performance awards of restricted stock units to individuals whose aggregate nominal value of unvested restricted stock units is less than their target multiple of salary (plus, in the case of Mr. Allott, bonus) so that the total nominal value of unvested restricted stock units approximates their target multiple of salary (plus, in the case of Mr. Allott, bonus). Any such restricted stock units so granted will generally vest ratably over a five-year period. In 2017, Messrs. Allott, Lewis, Greenlee, Hogan and Snyder were granted performance awards for 21,000 restricted stock units, 9,400 restricted stock units, 11,000 restricted stock units, 8,600 restricted stock units and 11,600 restricted stock units, respectively (as adjusted for the two-for-one stock split effected on May 26, 2017), on the basis described in this paragraph, since the Company achieved the minimum level of performance established by the Compensation Committee for such grants.

In addition to the performance awards granted annually as described in the paragraph above, the Compensation Committee has granted performance awards for restricted stock units from time to time to Messrs. Allott, Lewis, Greenlee, Hogan and Snyder to supplement their total compensation. These grants vest all at once in a single installment at least three years from the date of grant. The primary purpose of these grants is to provide additional long-term compensation to such executive officers to keep them at competitive compensation levels and to do so in a manner that further augments the retention of such executive officers. This type of grant is not made every year to any individual. These grants have been subject to the attainment of performance criteria as established by the Compensation Committee, and such grants have been forfeitable in the event the Company does not attain such performance criteria. The performance criteria for such grants has generally been the Adjusted EBITDA of the Company for the year of or following such grant and the minimum level of performance required for such grant has been 75% of the Company’s prior year Adjusted EBITDA level. In each of March 2013 and August 2014, on the basis described in this paragraph, Messrs. Lewis, Greenlee and Hogan were granted performance awards for 100,000, 100,000 and 50,000 restricted stock units, respectively (as adjusted for the two-for-one stock split effected on May 26, 2017). Since the Company attained the applicable performance criteria for these grants, these performance awards for Messrs. Lewis, Greenlee and Hogan will vest all at once in a single installment on March 1, 2019. In March 2014, on the basis described in this paragraph, Mr. Allott was granted a performance award for 400,000 restricted stock units (as adjusted for the two-for-one stock split effected on May 26, 2017) which, since the Company attained the applicable performance criteria for 2014, will vest all at once in a single installment five years from the date of grant. In November 2014 and March 2017, on the basis described in this paragraph, Mr. Snyder was granted a performance award for 20,000 and 70,000 restricted stock units, respectively (as adjusted for the two-for-one stock split effected on May 26, 2017), which, since the Company attained the applicable performance criteria for such performance awards, will vest all at once in a single installment five years from the applicable date of grant. The Compensation Committee views these performance awards as additional compensation for the applicable individual spread over the entire vesting period, since these performance awards vest all at once in a single installment. For example, in the case of Mr. Allott, the Compensation Committee views the compensation attributable to the performance award of 400,000 restricted stock units granted to him on March 1, 2014 over the five-year vesting period. Therefore, the Compensation Committee allocates the compensation attributable to such award equally over a five-year period as opposed to all in one year as the Summary Compensation Table requires. Accordingly, the Compensation Committee views such award as additional compensation annually of $1,927,600 (using the grant date fair value used in the Summary Compensation Table) for Mr. Allott over the five-year vesting period in contrast to the total amount being recognized all in one year as required in the Summary Compensation Table.

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Restricted stock units granted under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan carry with them the right to receive dividend equivalents in an amount equal to all cash dividends paid on one share of Common Stock of the Company for each restricted stock unit while such restricted stock unit is outstanding and until such restricted stock unit vests. Such dividend equivalents for a restricted stock unit are accrued as dividends and are paid to the individual only upon the vesting of such restricted stock unit. The Compensation Committee added dividend equivalent rights to restricted stock units to further align the interests of officers and other key employees of the Company and its subsidiaries with those of the stockholders of the Company.

Retirement and Other Benefits

The Company also provides pension, 401(k), supplemental retirement, medical, disability, life insurance and other benefits to most of its executive officers for purposes of retention.

The Company does not provide retirement and other benefits to Messrs. Allott, Lewis and Greenlee. Such individuals are eligible for group term life insurance benefits on the same general basis as all other U.S. employees of the Company and its subsidiaries, can make elective contributions to the 401(k) plan but do not receive any matching contributions from the Company and can participate in the medical benefits provided they pay 100% of their premiums. This approach allows Messrs. Allott, Lewis and Greenlee to provide unbiased assistance to the Compensation Committee in its oversight and review of these benefits.

The other officers of the Company (including Mr. Hogan) and the officers of Silgan Containers (including Mr. Snyder) participate in (i) the Silgan Containers Pension Plan for Salaried Employees, or the Silgan Containers Pension Plan (a defined benefit plan intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code), if such officer was hired before 2007, (ii) the Silgan Containers Retirement Savings Plan, or the Containers 401(k) Plan (a 401(k) plan intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code, in which individuals can elect to participate and which provides for matching contributions and, for certain individuals, a potential profit sharing contribution), (iii) the Silgan Containers Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, as amended, or the Containers Supplemental Plan (a non-qualified defined contribution plan that provides for contributions on behalf of participating individuals which are intended to make up for benefits not payable under the pension and 401(k) plans because of limits imposed by the Code), and (iv) medical benefits and group life insurance benefits generally available to all salaried employees on the same basis as they are available to all other salaried employees. Benefits under the Silgan Containers Pension Plan are based on the participant’s average rate of base pay (or salary) over the final three years of employment, with increases to a participant’s rate of base pay following January 1, 2007 (or the first January 1 the participant earned base pay, if later) capped at 3% per year for purposes of the Silgan Containers Pension Plan. The amount of average base pay taken into account for any year is limited by Section 401(a)(17) of the Code, which imposes a cap of $270,000 (to be indexed for inflation) on compensation taken into account for 2017. Benefits under the Silgan Containers Pension Plan are not subject to any deduction for social security or other offset amounts. The Silgan Containers Pension Plan was amended in 2006 to provide that salaried employees hired after 2006 are no longer eligible to participate in the Silgan Containers Pension Plan.

Perquisites and Other Personal Benefits

Generally, the Company does not provide its executive officers with any perquisites or other personal benefits.

Employment Agreements

Mr. Allott, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, entered into an employment agreement with the Company in April 2004. Mr. Allott’s employment agreement provides for, among other things, a severance benefit if Mr. Allott is terminated by the Company without cause, in an amount equal to the sum of (i) his then current annual salary plus (ii) his annual bonus, calculated at the then current maximum amount payable pursuant to the Senior Executive Performance Plan as previously approved by the Compensation Committee (for 2018, 100% of his then current annual salary).

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Mr. Lewis, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, is entitled to a severance benefit, as provided in an employment letter from the Company dated June 30, 2004, if Mr. Lewis is terminated by the Company without cause, in an amount equal to the sum of (i) his then current annual salary plus (ii) his annual bonus, calculated at the then current maximum bonus amount payable to him as previously approved by the Compensation Committee (for 2018, 40% of his then current annual salary).

Mr. Greenlee, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company, is entitled to a severance benefit, as provided in an employment letter from the Company dated October 1, 2007, if he is terminated by the Company without cause, in an amount equal to the sum of (i) his then current annual salary plus (ii) his annual bonus, calculated at the then current maximum bonus amount payable to him as previously approved by the Compensation Committee (for 2018, 40% of his then current annual salary).

Tax Deductibility

For the year ended December 31, 2017, Section 162(m) of the Code disallows a federal income tax deduction to any publicly held corporation for compensation paid in excess of $1 million in any taxable year to an individual who, on the last day of the taxable year, was (i) the chief executive officer or (ii) among the three other most highly compensated executive officers (other than the chief executive officer or chief financial officer) employed by such corporation (or a member of its affiliated group), and allows an exception for “performance-based compensation” which does not count towards the $1 million limit if certain requirements are met. The legislation commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, or the 2017 Tax Act, made significant changes to Section 162(m) of the Code, which may affect the Company as of January 1, 2018. The 2017 Tax Act includes the chief financial officer within the group of individuals covered by Section 162(m) and repeals the “performance-based compensation” exception to Section 162(m), subject to a transition rule for certain existing compensation arrangements covered by binding contractual arrangements. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the 2017 Tax Act on its compensation programs. The Company’s general intention is to maximize the tax deductibility of its compensation programs. However, because the Company believes that the use of prudent judgment in determining compensation levels is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, it may determine to pay amounts of compensation that may not be fully deductible. The Company reserves the right to use prudent judgment in establishing compensation policies to attract and retain qualified executives to manage the Company and to reward such executives for outstanding performance, while taking into consideration the financial impact of such actions on the Company.

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Compensation Committee Report

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the section of this Proxy Statement titled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” with management of the Company. Based on such review and discussion, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors of the Company that the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” be included in the Proxy Statement of the Company for its 2018 annual meeting of stockholders.

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Summary Compensation Table

The table below summarizes the total compensation for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 paid to or earned by our Named Executive Officers, consisting of those individuals who served as Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of the Company during 2017 and the three most highly compensated executive officers of the Company for 2017 (other than those who served as CEO or CFO during 2017).

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Total Compensation with Cliff Vest Stock Awards Allocated Over Vesting Period

The following table, which is not required under the SEC’s rules and is not a substitute for any of the tables required under the SEC’s rules, provides an alternative presentation of the total compensation of our Named Executive Officers by adjusting the total compensation amounts in column (j) of the Summary Compensation Table to reflect the Compensation Committee’s view on the compensation attributable to Cliff Vest Stock Awards. The amounts in the column titled “Total Compensation with Cliff Vest Stock Awards Allocated Over Vesting Period” consist of the total of columns (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h) and (i) of the Summary Compensation Table for the corresponding year, with the amount in column (e) for stock awards being adjusted in respect of Cliff Vest Stock Awards to include compensation attributable to such Cliff Vest Stock Awards spread evenly over the entire vesting period of such Cliff Vest Stock Awards. This presentation is consistent with the Compensation Committee’s view on the compensation attributable to Cliff Vest Stock Awards, in contrast to including the full amounts of the compensation attributable to such Cliff Vest Stock Awards in the year of grant as reflected in columns (e) and (j) of the Summary Compensation Table. For further information on equity based compensation provided by the Company, you should read the sections in this Proxy Statement titled “Executive Compensation—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Equity Based Compensation” and “Executive Compensation—Summary Compensation Table.”

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Grants of Plan Based Awards

The following table provides information concerning each grant of an award made to our Named Executive Officers in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 under any plan. All awards under non-equity incentive plans were paid under the incentive plans or programs described in the section of this Proxy Statement titled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Annual Cash Bonuses under Incentive Programs,” and all equity awards were made under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan. All share and restricted stock unit amounts have been adjusted for the two-for-one stock split of the Company’s Common Stock effected on May 26, 2017.

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Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

The following table provides information concerning stock (in the form of restricted stock units) that has not yet vested for each Named Executive Officer outstanding as of December 31, 2017. No stock options were outstanding for any employee, including any Named Executive Officer, as of December 31, 2017. All share and restricted stock unit amounts have been adjusted for the two-for-one stock split of the Company’s Common Stock effected on May 26, 2017.