Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc.
For the period ended May 25, 2025. Filed Aug 7, 2025.
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What shareholders are asked to vote on at a company's meeting. It is where to find what directors and top executives are paid, and who owns the most shares.
May 25, 2025 · Filed Aug 7, 2025
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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 Registrantx
Filed by a Party other than the Registranto
Check the appropriate box:
| o | Preliminary Proxy Statement |
|---|---|
| o | Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
| x | Definitive Proxy Statement |
| o | Definitive Additional Materials |
| o | Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
Lamb Weston 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 all boxes that apply):
| x | No fee required |
|---|---|
| o | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials |
| o | Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11 |
Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc.599 S. Rivershore Lane Eagle, Idaho 83616
August 7, 2025
Dear Fellow Stockholders,
I am honored to have recently been appointed Chairman of the Lamb Weston Board and proud of the progress underway to drive profitable growth by reorienting the Company’s strategic focus on customers, execution and innovation. Lamb Weston has made significant strides to identify operational and cost efficiencies as part of its Focus to Win strategic plan and importantly, returned to growth in the second half of the year, building upon its momentum in customer wins and retention.
In addition to the operational and strategic initiatives underway, during 2025, Lamb Weston implemented changes to our senior leadership team, including the promotion of Mike Smith from Chief Operating Officer to President and Chief Executive Officer, the Board, including six new independent directors, and our compensation program designed to drive accountability in cash flow generation and capital deployment. Beginning in fiscal 2026, our annual incentive plan will include a free cash flow target, and our fiscal 2026 long-term incentive plan will include a return on invested capital metric– metrics that stockholders expressed they would like to see in our compensation program. To further enhance stockholder alignment, the Board unanimously elected to have its annual retainer paid in 100 percent equity.
Over the past 75 years, Lamb Weston has earned its reputation as an industry leader through upholding a long track record of category-leading innovation, exceptional products and customer-centric service. I, along with the rest of the Board, am confident that our Focus to Win strategy, centered on unlocking near- and long-term value, will further enhance Lamb Weston’s position as a leading supplier of value-added frozen potato products.
We appreciate the continued interest and support of all our stockholders.
Sincerely,
Brad Alford Chairman of the Board of Directors
LAMB WESTON HOLDINGS, INC.
599 S. Rivershore Lane
Eagle, Idaho 83616
NOTICE OF 2025 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
Date and Time
Thursday, September 25, 2025
8:00 a.m. Mountain Daylight Time
Place
Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc.
533 S. Rivershore Lane
Eagle, Idaho 83616
If you attend the Annual Meeting, you will be asked to present a valid form of government-issued photo identification and an admission ticket or bank/brokerage statement to confirm stock ownership as of the record date.
Whether or not you plan to attend, please be sure to vote your shares by proxy. As always, we encourage you to vote your shares prior to the Annual Meeting. It is important that your shares be represented.
Items of Business
To elect as directors the director nominees named in the Proxy Statement
To hold an advisory vote to approve the compensation of our named executive officers
To ratify the selection of KPMG LLP as our independent auditors for fiscal 2026
To transact any other business properly presented at the Annual Meeting
Who May Vote
Stockholders of record as of the close of business on August 1, 2025 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and at any postponements or adjournments thereof.
August 7, 2025
Phuong T. Lam
Vice President and Corporate Secretary
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE ANNUALMEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2025Our Notice of Annual Meeting, Proxy Statement and Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 25, 2025 are available at www.proxyvote.com. If you receive a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials by mail, you will not receive a paper copy of our Notice of Annual Meeting, Proxy Statement and Annual Report on Form 10-K unless you specifically request a copy. You may request a paper copy by following the instructions on the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials.We began making our proxy materials first available on August 7, 2025.
| Page | |
|---|---|
| PROXY STATEMENT SUMMARY | 1 |
| ITEM 1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS | 4 |
| Director Nomination and Qualification | 4 |
| Cooperation Agreement | 19 |
| ITEM 2. ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION | 21 |
| ITEM 3. RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS | 22 |
| Review of Independent Auditors | 22 |
| Selection of Independent Auditors | 22 |
| CORPORATE GOVERNANCE | 23 |
| Corporate Governance Principles | 23 |
| Key Corporate Governance Practices | 23 |
| Corporate Governance Materials | 25 |
| Board Leadership Structure | 25 |
| Director Independence | 26 |
| Oversight of Risk Management | 26 |
| Meeting Attendance | 27 |
| Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics for Senior Corporate Financial Officers | 28 |
| Stakeholder Engagement and Communications with the Board | 29 |
| Review of Transactions with Related Persons | 29 |
| BOARD COMMITTEES AND MEMBERSHIP | 30 |
| Committee Membership | 30 |
| Audit and Finance Committee | 30 |
| Compensation and Human Capital Committee | 33 |
| Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee | 35 |
| NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR COMPENSATION | 37 |
| Summary of 2025 Compensation Elements | 37 |
| Director Stock Ownership Requirements | 38 |
| 2025 Non-Employee Director Compensation Table | 38 |
| COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS | 40 |
| Overview | 41 |
| What We Pay and Why | 45 |
| How We Make Executive Compensation Decisions | 59 |
| Compensation Committee Report for the Year Ended May 25, 2025 | 60 |
| EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION TABLES | 61 |
| Summary Compensation Table—Fiscal 2025 | 61 |
| Grants of Plan-Based Awards—Fiscal 2025 | 63 |
| Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End—Fiscal 2025 | 64 |
| Option Exercises and Stock Vested—Fiscal 2025 | 65 |
| Pension Benefits—Fiscal 2025 | 66 |
| Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation—Fiscal 2025 | 66 |
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| Page | |
|---|---|
| Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control | 67 |
| CEO Pay Ratio | 73 |
| Pay Versus Performance Disclosure—Fiscal 2025 | 74 |
| INFORMATION ON STOCK OWNERSHIP | 78 |
| OTHER MATTERS THAT MAY BE PRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING | 80 |
| PROCEDURAL MATTERS AND FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS | 80 |
| 2026 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS | 84 |
| Stockholder Proposals for Possible Inclusion in the Company’s 2026 Proxy Statement | 84 |
| Other Proposals and Nominations for the 2026 Annual Meeting | 84 |
| Universal Proxy Rules for Director Nominations | 84 |
| APPENDIX A — RECONCILIATIONS OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES TO REPORTED AMOUNTS | A-1 |
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Forward-Looking Statements
This Proxy Statement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Words such as “will,” “drive,” “enhance,” “focus,” “unlock,” "remain," "invest," "generate," "expect," "anticipate" and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our business and financial outlook and prospects, our plans and strategies and anticipated benefits therefrom, including cost savings actions, and anticipated conditions in our industry and the global economy. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to uncertainties and changes in circumstances. Readers of this Proxy Statement should understand that these statements are not guarantees of performance or results. Many factors could affect these forward-looking statements and our actual financial results and cause them to vary materially from the expectations contained in the forward-looking statements, including those set forth in this Proxy Statement. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things: consumer preferences, including restaurant traffic in North America and our international markets, and an uncertain general economic environment, including tariffs, inflationary pressures and recessionary concerns, any of which could adversely impact our business, financial condition or results of operations, including the demand and prices for our products; the availability and prices of raw materials and other commodities; operational challenges; our ability to successfully implement our restructuring plans or other cost-savings or efficiency initiatives, including achieving the benefits of those activities and possible changes in the size and timing of related charges; difficulties, disruptions or delays in implementing new technology; levels of labor and people-related expenses; our ability to successfully execute our long-term value creation strategies; our ability to execute on large capital projects, including construction of new production lines or facilities; the competitive environment and related conditions in the markets in which we operate; political and economic conditions in the countries in which we conduct business and other factors related to our international operations; disruptions in the global economy caused by conflicts such as the war in Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East and the possible related heightening of our other known risks; the ultimate outcome of litigation or any product recalls or withdrawals; changes in our relationships with our growers or significant customers; impacts on our business due to health pandemics or other contagious outbreaks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, including impacts on demand for our products, increased costs, disruption of supply, other constraints in the availability of key commodities and other necessary services or restrictions imposed by public health authorities or governments; disruption of our access to export mechanisms; risks associated with integrating acquired businesses, including our former European joint venture, Lamb-Weston/Meijer v.o.f.; risks associated with other possible acquisitions; our debt levels; actions of governments and regulatory factors affecting our businesses; our ability to pay regular quarterly cash dividends and the amounts and timing of any future dividends; and other risks described in our reports filed from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements included in this Proxy Statement, which speak only as of the date of this Proxy Statement. We undertake no responsibility for updating these statements, except as required by law.
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