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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.            )
 
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Check the appropriate box:
 
[   ]        Preliminary Proxy Statement
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[X]   Definitive Proxy Statement
[   ]   Definitive Additional Materials
[   ]   Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

  Aflac Incorporated  
  (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)  
 
       
 
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
 

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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
 
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Notice of

2019 Annual Meeting

of Shareholders and

Proxy Statement

 

Monday, May 6, 2019 10:00 am | Columbus Museum (the Patrick Theatre)

1251 Wynnton Road, Columbus, Georgia

 

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Our Long-Term Growth Strategy

 

 

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Notice of 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders

 

The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Aflac Incorporated (the “Company”) will be held on Monday, May 6, at the Columbus Museum (in the Patrick Theatre), 1251 Wynnton Road, Columbus, Georgia, for the following purposes, all of which are described in the accompanying Proxy Statement:

 

        
 

1. to elect as Directors of the Company the eleven nominees named in the accompanying Proxy Statement to serve until the next Annual Meeting and until their successors are duly elected and qualified;

 

2. to consider a non-binding advisory proposal on the Company’s executive compensation (“say-on-pay”);

 

3. to ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2019; and

 

4. to transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting and at any adjournments or postponements of the meeting.

 
        

 

How to Vote

 

It is important that you vote your shares. We offer several easy and cost-effective voting methods for your convenience.

 

     
             
Internet:   Telephone:   Mail:   In Person:
             
Visit www.proxyvote.com. You will need the control number that appears on your proxy card.   If your shares are held in the name of a broker, bank, or other nominee, follow the telephone voting instructions, if any, provided on your proxy card. If your shares are registered in your name, call 1-800-690-6903 and follow the telephone voting instructions. You will need the control number that appears on your proxy card.   If you received a full package by mail, complete and sign the proxy card and return it in the enclosed postage pre-paid envelope.   You may attend the Annual Meeting and vote orally or by ballot.

 

The accompanying proxy is solicited by the Company’s Board of Directors. The Proxy Statement and the Company’s 2018 Year in Review and Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, are enclosed.* The record date for determining which shareholders are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting is February 27, 2019. Only shareholders of record at the close of business on that date will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting and any adjournment thereof.

 

Your vote is important! Even if you expect to attend the Annual Meeting, please vote in advance. If you attend the Annual Meeting, you may revoke your proxy and vote in person.

 

By order of the Board of Directors,

 

 

J. Matthew Loudermilk

Secretary
March 22, 2019
Columbus, Georgia

 

*Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting to be held on May 6, 2019. This Proxy Statement and the Annual Report are available at proxyvote.com.

 

   
AFLAC INCORPORATED 2019 PROXY STATEMENT i
 

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By delivering on our promise to be there when policyholders need us most, paying claims fairly and promptly, and managing our business The Aflac Way, we’ve gained the trust of more than 50 million people worldwide.

 

 

March 22, 2019

 

Dear Fellow Shareholder:

 

It is my pleasure to invite you to attend the 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders on Monday, May 6, 2019, where you can learn more about Aflac Incorporated’s recent business performance and strategy for the future. I encourage you to review the enclosed proxy materials and Aflac Incorporated’s 2018 Year in Review and Annual Report on Form 10-K to learn more about your company and our latest accomplishments. Then, please vote your shares, even if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting. We want to be sure your shares and your viewpoints are represented.

 

Aflac Incorporated has always managed the business for the long term while keeping our more immediate financial objectives top of mind. Our activities are centered on providing protection to our policyholders, growing our business, and driving shareholder value. By delivering on our promise to be there when policyholders need us most, paying claims fairly and promptly, and managing our business The Aflac Way, we’ve gained the trust of more than 50 million people worldwide. Following are some highlights that stand out from 2018:

 

GROWTH

 

Aflac Incorporated generated $2.9 billion in net earnings and an increase in adjusted earnings per diluted share on a currency-neutral basis of 21.5% to $4.13, driven by strength in core margins, investment income and benefits of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed into law on December 22, 2017 (“U.S. Tax Reform”) on lowering our effective tax rate. Our results are especially meaningful given the low-interest-rate environment in Japan and increased expenses associated with the build-out of our technology platform in both segments. Earned premium was supported by strong sales and persistency in both of our key markets. In addition, Aflac U.S. not only produced record sales in the amount of $1.6 billion, but also recorded pretax adjusted earnings of $1.3 billion, which is 3.2% higher than a year ago. 2018 marked Aflac Japan’s largest combined sales of third and first sector protection in a decade, with ¥93.9 billion in sales.

 

AFLAC JAPAN BRANCH CONVERSION

 

We successfully completed the conversion of Aflac Japan from a branch to a subsidiary on April 1, 2018, without disrupting day-to-day operations. The conversion better aligns our Japan legal structure with global best practices and allows the Company to better optimize our capital by aligning with the risk profile of our business segments.

 

CAPITAL DEPLOYMENT

 

Investing in our profitable business model remains the first priority for our capital. We remain committed to returning capital to our shareholders in the form of dividends and share repurchase. Accordingly, our Board of Directors increased the cash dividend 19.5% in 2018, marking the 36th consecutive year of dividend increases. This continued trend of increasing the dividend placed us among a very elite category of companies. In addition, we repurchased $1.3 billion, or 28.9 million shares. We will continue to seek the right balance of investing in our business, continuing our long record of dividend growth, and repurchasing stock.

 

   
II AFLAC INCORPORATED 2019 PROXY STATEMENT
 

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We believe that creating and nurturing a diverse working environment isn’t just a corporate initiative on paper; it’s a living, breathing way of doing business that represents the right thing to do for all of our constituents ...

 

 

CORPORATE CULTURE

 

We believe that creating and nurturing a diverse working environment isn’t just a corporate initiative on paper; it’s a living, breathing way of doing business that represents the right thing to do for all of our constituents, and it’s who we are. Our commitment to maintaining a diverse corporate culture highlights our commitment to including people who represent different viewpoints, and also shows the importance of maintaining a balance of historical perspectives with fresh viewpoints and new ideas at all levels of the Company, including our Board of Directors. Ultimately, we believe that fostering and welcoming all forms of diversity in our daily operations, throughout our management team and in the composition of our Board, enhances our ability to respond to all of our constituents the best way we can—The Aflac Way.

 

CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP

 

At Aflac Incorporated, we have worked to be a strong corporate citizen for decades because it’s the right thing to do. In addition to delivering strong results to our shareholders, there is an important element of our Company’s purpose that is made possible by these results.

 

U.S. Tax Reform provided us with an opportunity to increase our investments in initiatives that reflect our Company’s purpose and values: providing for our employees’ financial well-being; ensuring future growth for our Company by strategically investing in our business; and giving back to the community.

 

In 2018, we introduced My Special Aflac Duck, a smart comforting companion that helps children feel less alone by using interactive technology during their cancer treatment. Its compatible web-based app enables children to mirror their care routines, including medical play, lifelike movement and different emotions to help bring comfort to children during their cancer care journey. In December, My Special Aflac Duck was named to Time Magazine’s list of the Top 50 Inventions of 2018.

 

The Company’s success comes from the efforts of many, including you, our shareholders; our employees; our distribution channels and alliances; and our Board of Directors. On his retirement from the Board on May 6, 2019, I would like to take this opportunity to offer my sincere gratitude to Doug Johnson for his commitment to excellence and decades of dedicated service to the Company.

 

I also would like to thank you, our shareholders, for putting your faith, confidence, and resources in Aflac Incorporated. As we look ahead, delivering on our promise will remain our priority because that is not only what sets us apart, it’s who we are, and it’s how we’re here to help.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Daniel P. Amos

Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President

 

 

  Letter from the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President
AFLAC INCORPORATED 2019 PROXY STATEMENT iii
 

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March 22, 2019

 

TO MY FELLOW SHAREHOLDERS:

 

It has been my honor to serve as Lead Non-Management Director on your behalf, and I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to work with a diverse and experienced team of Board members who are dedicated to effectively and prudently overseeing Aflac Incorporated’s corporate governance and business strategy. I want to share some of the key areas on which my fellow directors and I have focused over the past year.

 

Shareholder Engagement: As lead director, it has been my privilege to engage our investors and gain insight into their perspectives. The Board continues to work with the Company’s Investor Relations team and Corporate Secretary to ensure we listen to and consider the viewpoints and positions of those who invest in our business. As a result, the Board regularly receives valued feedback related to our Board practices, executive compensation structure, and sustainability efforts, to name a few areas. This results in productive discussions and actions representing you, our shareholders. Over the last year, the discussion around corporate purpose has come up more often than in the past. In fact, we began establishing and defining this corporate purpose many years ago, even before investors began showing an interest. We highlight some of our related efforts each year both in Aflac Incorporated’s Year in Review and Corporate Social Responsibility reports, which I invite you to read. I think that you will agree that the Company has a good story to tell.

 

Furthering Corporate Purpose: The Board is committed to ensuring that Aflac Incorporated is well-positioned to succeed in both the short and long term. In 2018, the Board oversaw the successful completion of converting Aflac’s Japan branch to a subsidiary. In addition, following the U.S. Tax Reform, the Board oversaw investments into the business and its employees that are consistent with our values and utilize a long-term perspective. With a dedicated committee of the Board, the Company continues to focus on the importance of corporate social responsibility and sustainability. We’re fortunate that while working to achieve our objectives, the Company continues to receive a tremendous amount of positive feedback. For 13 consecutive years, Aflac Incorporated has been recognized by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. In 2018, Fortune magazine recognized Aflac Incorporated as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work for in America for the 20th consecutive year and in 2019 Fortune included Aflac on its list of World’s Most Admired Companies for the 18th time. These accolades confirm our strong belief that you can still survive, and even thrive, while doing the right things. To help children facing cancer, Aflac also accelerated the rollout of My Special Aflac Duck and made the ongoing commitment to deliver these smart companions to children diagnosed with cancer in the U.S. We hope to do the same in Japan in the near future. To support future growth of the Company, Aflac Incorporated also increased its original investment in the Aflac Ventures Fund from $100 million over three years to $250 million over three to four years. The Board takes an active role in activities such as these to place the Company in a better position for the future.

 

Risk Oversight: It is vitally important that our Board continually works to identify risks that are relevant to both the industry and to the Company. Along with carefully monitoring traditional risks associated with investments and our product risk profile, as well as, maintaining strong capital ratios and operational risk, the Board has overseen significant advancements in information security and has adopted an information security policy with the goal of ensuring that the Company’s information assets and data, and the data of its customers, are appropriately protected.

 

Board Composition and Refreshment: The Board has worked hard to ensure that its members represent a diverse cross-section of knowledge and experience that bring value to the Board room. The Board engages in a regular self-evaluation process to ensure we maintain a cohesive, diverse, and well-constituted board of high integrity that exemplifies the right balance of perspective, experience, independence, skill sets, and subject matter experts required for prudent oversight of the Company. Recognizing the importance of striking the right balance of longer tenured members who lend a historical perspective with newer members who infuse the Company with fresh viewpoints, we have added five new directors over the last five years. Through our own deliberations as well as discussions with investors, it became clear that cyber security is a growing concern that requires expertise within the Company and at the Board level. As such, we made it a priority to identify suitable candidates with cyber security experience to our Board. We believe we found an excellent candidate in Georgette Kiser.

 

With these comprehensive but vital topics in mind, I encourage you to review the accompanying Proxy Statement and associated materials and to vote your shares before our annual meeting on May 6, 2019.

 

The Board looks forward to obtaining and acting upon feedback from our investors, and we thank you for your support and the privilege of representing you and your shares. It has been my pleasure, and my privilege, to have served on Aflac Incorporated’s Board, and I look forward, as a fellow shareholder, to all of the ways the Company will continue to uphold its promises.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Douglas W. Johnson

Lead Non-Management Director

 

Letter from the Lead Non-Management Director  
IV AFLAC INCORPORATED 2019 PROXY STATEMENT
 

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Contents

 

Notice of 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders i
How to Vote i
Proxy Summary 2
Information about our Board Members 2
2018 Business Highlights 4
Executive Compensation Highlights 5
Executive Compensation Program Changes 5
Solicitation and Revocation of Proxy 6
Solicitation of Proxies 6
Proxy Materials and Annual Report 6
Multiple Shareholders Sharing the Same Address 7
Description of Voting Rights 7
Quorum and Vote Requirements 7
Effect of Not Casting a Vote 8
Election of Directors (Proposal 1) 9
Corporate Governance 17
Shareholder Outreach 17
Director Independence 17
Board Leadership Structure 17
Lead Non-Management Director 18
Board Self-Evaluation 18
Director Nominating Process 18
Enterprise-Wide Risk Oversight 20
Chief Executive Officer and Executive Management Succession Planning 21
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics 22
Communications with Directors 22
Board and Committees 22
Board Committee Refreshment 22
Ownership Reporting 28
Director Compensation 29
2018 Director Compensation 30
Compensation Discussion & Analysis 31
Executive Compensation 50
2018 Summary Compensation Table 50
2018 All Other Compensation 51
2018 Perquisites 51
2018 Grants of Plan-Based Awards 52
2018 Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End 53
2018 Option Exercises and Stock Vested 55
Pension Benefits 55
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation 57
Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control 58
CEO Pay Ratio 62
Equity Compensation Plan Information 62
Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation (Proposal 2) 63
Audit and Risk Committee Report 64
Related Person Transactions 66
Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (Proposal 3) 67
Other Matters 68
Submission of Shareholder Proposals and Nominations for the 2020 Annual Meeting 68
Annual Report 69
Exercise Your Right to Vote 69
Appendix – Definition of Non-U.S. GAAP Measures and Reconciliations to Corresponding U.S. GAAP Measures 70
 
AFLAC INCORPORATED 2019 PROXY STATEMENT 1
 

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Proxy Summary

 

This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this Proxy Statement, but it does not contain all of the information you should consider. Please read the entire Proxy Statement before voting. This Proxy Statement and the accompanying proxy are being delivered to shareholders on or about March 22, 2019.

 

For more complete information regarding the Company’s 2018 performance, please review the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K. In this Proxy Statement, the terms “Company,” “we,” or “our” refer to Aflac Incorporated. The term “Aflac” refers to the Company’s subsidiary, American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus, which operates in the United States and operated as a branch in Japan (“Aflac Japan”) through March 31, 2018. The conversion of Aflac Japan from a branch to a legal subsidiary, Aflac Life Insurance Japan Ltd., was completed on April 1, 2018. The term “Aflac U.S.” refers collectively to the Company’s United States insurance subsidiaries: Aflac; American Family Life Assurance Company of New York (Aflac New York), a wholly owned subsidiary of Aflac; and Continental American Insurance Company (CAIC), branded as Aflac Group Insurance.

 

 

ANNUAL MEETING OF
SHAREHOLDERS

 

Date May 6, 2019
Time 10:00 am
Place Columbus Museum
  (the Patrick Theatre),
  1251 Wynnton Road,
  Columbus, Georgia
Record Date February 27, 2019

AGENDA AND VOTING MATTERS

Proposal Board
recommendation
Page
1. to elect as Directors of the Company the eleven nominees named in this Proxy Statement For each
nominee
9
2. to consider a non-binding advisory proposal on the Company’s executive compensation (“say-on-pay”) For 63
3. to ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm For 67


 

Information about our Board Members

 

BOARD TENURE   DIVERSITY OF SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
     
2019 Independent Director nominees (10)   2019 all Director nominees (11)
     


7 of our 10 Independent Director
nominees are minority and/or
women
 
     
 
2 AFLAC INCORPORATED 2019 PROXY STATEMENT
 

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DIRECTOR NOMINEES

 

Each Director stands for election annually. The following table provides summary information about the nominees. Our Board believes it is appropriate to maintain a diverse balance of longer tenured members, who bring stability and valuable Company-specific knowledge with a historical perspective, and newer members, who bring fresh viewpoints and new ideas.

 

                Committee Memberships
Name   Age   Director
Since
  Ind.   Audit &
Risk(2)
Compensation Corporate
Development
Corporate
Governance
Executive Finance &
Investment
Corporate
Social
Responsibility
&
Sustainability
Daniel P. Amos                            
Chairman, Chief Executive
Officer and President
of Aflac Incorporated
  67   1983               CHAIR    
W. Paul Bowers(1)                            
Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer of
Georgia Power Co.
  62   2013       CHAIR    
Toshihiko Fukuzawa                            
President and CEO,
Chuo Real Estate Co., Ltd.
  62   2016                
Robert B. Johnson                            
Retired Senior Advisor,
Porter Novelli PR
  74   2002       CHAIR      
Thomas J. Kenny                            
Former Partner and Co-Head of
Global Fixed Income, Goldman
Sachs Asset Management
  55   2015             CHAIR  
Georgette D. Kiser                            
Chief Information Officer,
Managing Director
The Carlyle Group
  51   *                  
Karole F. Lloyd                            
Certified Public Accountant
and retired Ernst & Young LLP
audit partner
  60   2017              
Joseph L. Moskowitz                            
Retired Executive Vice President,
Primerica, Inc.
  65   2015            
Barbara K. Rimer, DrPH                            
Dean and Alumni Distinguished
Professor, Gillings School of
Global Public Health, University
of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
  70   1995               CHAIR
Katherine T. Rohrer                            
Vice Provost Emeritus,
Princeton University
  65   2017                
Melvin T. Stith                            
Interim President of Norfolk State
University and Dean Emeritus of
the Martin J. Whitman School of
Management at Syracuse University
  72   2012           CHAIR  

 

* First year nominated
(1) Nominated for Lead Non-Management Director effective May 6, 2019
(2) The current Chair, Douglas W. Johnson, is retiring from the Board on May 6, 2019. The Board will determine the new Chair in May.

 

Proxy Summary
AFLAC INCORPORATED 2019 PROXY STATEMENT 3
 

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2018 Business Highlights

 

In 2018, the Company delivered strong operating results.

 

We generated net earnings of $2.9 billion. Excluding the significant benefit of U.S. Tax Reform in 2017, the net earnings increased 10%.
Adjusted earnings per diluted share, excluding foreign currency effect*, increased 21.5% over 2017, meeting our objective for the 29th consecutive year (including the significant benefit of U.S. Tax Reform in 2018).
Combined, we generated $2.5 billion in total sales(1), in the United States and Japan, driven by a 3.2% increase in sales in the United States, and a 2.0% increase in third and first sector protection sales (which includes cancer and medical insurance) in Japan.
We repurchased approximately $1.3 billion or 28.9 million of the Company’s shares as part of a balanced capital allocation program.
We increased the 2018 cash dividend by 19.5%, marking the 36th consecutive year of increasing the dividend.
We are committed to achieving a high level of total return for our shareholders. From August 1990, when Daniel P. Amos was appointed the CEO, through December 31, 2018, the Company’s total return to shareholders, including reinvested cash dividends, has exceeded 7,502%, compared with 1,664% for the Dow Jones Industrial Average, 1,305% for the S&P 500 Index, and 793% for the S&P 500 Life & Health Insurance Index(2).

 

We generated a strong return on equity of 12.2%, and our adjusted return on shareholders’ equity (“AROE”)*, for the full year was 15.3%.   We have successfully executed converting our Japanese operations from a branch to a subsidiary. We believe that converting to this structure will allow the Company to further align with emerging global best practices in the financial services sector while also ensuring that our financial profile is as strong as it is today.
Total adjusted revenues increased 1.8% to $22.0 billion reflective of continued growth of the inforce business in both United States and Japan. Total adjusted revenues on a currency-neutral basis* increased 0.8% to $21.8 billion.  

 

* Adjusted earnings per diluted share excluding foreign currency impact, total adjusted revenues on a currency-neutral basis, and AROE, are not calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP). See the Appendix to this Proxy Statement for definitions of these non-GAAP measures and reconciliation to the nearest GAAP measure.
(1) As defined in Item 1. Business in the Company’s 2018 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
(2) Copyright © 2019 Standard & Poor’s, a division of S&P Global, Inc. All rights reserved.

 

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4 AFLAC INCORPORATED 2019 PROXY STATEMENT
 

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Executive Compensation Highlights

 

Our executive compensation philosophy is to provide pay that is aligned with the Company’s results. We believe this is the most effective method for creating shareholder value and that it has played a significant role in making the Company an industry leader. Our pay-for-performance compensation program generally targets market median positioning and delivers the majority of direct compensation through performance-based elements. This ensures proper alignment with our shareholders and ties compensation for named executive officers to the Company’s performance.

 

The Company’s executive compensation program reflects our corporate governance best practices principles:

 

The Board’s independent Compensation Committee oversees the program.

 

The Compensation Committee retains an independent compensation consultant that reports only to that Committee.

 

In 2017, the CEO’s annual long-term incentive (“LTI”) grant was transitioned from our historic pay ranking-performance matrix approach to a more typical market-based approach.

 

The independent compensation consultant briefs the full Board annually on CEO pay and performance alignment.

 

We were the first public company in the U.S. to voluntarily provide shareholders with a say-on-pay

 

vote–three years before such votes became mandatory.

 

Executive officers and Directors may not enter into 10b5-1 plans (unless approved by the Compensation Committee) or hedge or pledge the Company’s stock.

 

Executive officers and Directors have been subject to stock ownership guidelines for almost two decades.

 

We have had a clawback policy since 2007.

 

We do not provide for change-in-control excise tax gross-ups.

 

All employment agreements contain double trigger change-in-control requirements.

 

Executive Compensation Program Changes

 

From our first voluntary “say-on-pay” advisory vote in 2008 until 2013, the Company received endorsement rates from our shareholders that averaged more than 96%.

 

For a few years after that, the support for our executive compensation program was less favorable, falling in the 80-90% range. However, we are pleased that 96% of our shareholders voted in favor of our 2018 say-on-pay proposal. We believe this renewed support reflects favorably on changes we have made to our executive compensation program over the past few years in response to what we learned from our engagement with shareholders. These changes are described in the Compensation Discussion & Analysis under the heading “Response to Say-on-Pay Vote.”

 

We work hard to ensure we continue to lead in executive compensation best practices, and stay focused on performance-based program elements that align with shareholder interests. Accordingly, we will continue to review our compensation program to determine if additional changes are warranted.

 

 

Proxy Summary
AFLAC INCORPORATED 2019 PROXY STATEMENT 5
 

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Solicitation and Revocation of Proxy

 

This Proxy Statement is furnished to shareholders in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) for use at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on Monday, May 6, for the purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting and described in detail herein, and any adjournment of that meeting. The Annual Meeting will be held at 10 a.m. at the Columbus Museum (in the Patrick Theatre), 1251 Wynnton Road, Columbus, Georgia.

 

The mailing address of our principal executive offices is Aflac Incorporated, 1932 Wynnton Road, Columbus, Georgia 31999.

 

All properly executed proxies returned to the Company will be voted in accordance with the instructions contained thereon. If you return your signed proxy with no voting instructions indicated, the proxy will be voted FOR the election of all Director nominees named in this Proxy Statement, FOR approval of Proposals 2 and 3, and according to the discretion of the proxy holders on any other matters that may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof. If you are a shareholder of record, you also may submit your proxy online or by telephone in accordance with the procedures set forth in the enclosed proxy, or you may vote in person at the Annual Meeting. Shareholders can revoke a proxy at any time before it is exercised by giving written notice to that effect to the Secretary of the Company or by submitting a later-dated proxy or subsequent internet or telephonic proxy. Shareholders who attend the Annual Meeting may revoke any proxy previously granted and vote in person orally or by written ballot.

 

This Proxy Statement and the accompanying proxy are being delivered to shareholders on or about March 22, 2019.

 

Solicitation of Proxies

 

The Company will pay the cost of soliciting proxies. The Company will make arrangements with brokerage firms, custodians, and other fiduciaries to send proxy materials to their customers, and will reimburse these entities for the associated mailing and related expenses. In addition, certain officers and other employees of the Company may solicit proxies by telephone and by personal contacts, but those individuals will not receive additional compensation for these efforts. The Company has retained Georgeson LLC to assist in the solicitation of proxies for a fee of $9,500, plus reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.

 

Proxy Materials and Annual Report

 

As permitted by SEC rules, we are making these proxy materials available to our shareholders electronically. We believe providing online access to our critical documents will conserve natural resources and reduce the costs of printing and distributing our proxy materials. Accordingly, we have mailed to most of our shareholders a notice about the internet availability of this Proxy Statement and the Company’s 2018 Year in Review and Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 (together, the “Annual Report”) instead of paper copies of those documents. The notice contains instructions on how to access our reports online, how to vote at proxyvote.com, and how to request and receive a paper copy of our proxy materials, including this Proxy Statement and our Annual Report. If you select the online access option for the Proxy Statement, Annual Report, and other account mailings through aflinc®, the Company’s secure online account management system, you will receive an electronic notice of availability of your proxy materials. If you do not receive a notice and did not already elect online access, you will receive a paper copy of the proxy materials by mail.

 
6 AFLAC INCORPORATED 2019 PROXY STATEMENT
 

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Multiple Shareholders Sharing the Same Address

 

The Company is sending only one Annual Report and one Proxy Statement or notice of availability of these materials to shareholders who consented and who share a single address. This is known as “householding.” However, any registered shareholder who wishes to receive a separate Annual Report or Proxy Statement may contact Shareholder Services by phone at (800) 227-4756, by email at shareholder@aflac.com, or by mail at the address set forth above and we will promptly provide additional copies. If you receive multiple copies of the Annual Report or Proxy Statement or notice of availability of these materials, you may request householding by contacting Shareholder Services (if you are a registered shareholder) or by contacting the holder of record (if you own the Company’s shares through a bank, broker, or other holder of record).

 

Description of Voting Rights

 

The Company believes that long-term shareholders should have a greater say in our success. Accordingly, the Company’s Articles of Incorporation provide that each share of the Company’s Common Stock is entitled to one vote until it has been held by the same beneficial owner for a continuous period of longer than 48 months prior to the record date of the meeting, at which time each share becomes entitled to ten votes. If a share is transferred by gift, devise, or bequest, or otherwise through the laws of inheritance, descent, or distribution from the estate of the transferor, or by distribution to a beneficiary of shares held in trust, the transferee is deemed to be the same beneficial owner as the transferor for purposes of determining the number of votes per share. Shares acquired as a direct result of a stock split, stock dividend, or other distribution with respect to existing shares are deemed to have been acquired and held continuously from the date on which the underlying shares were acquired. Shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of a stock option are deemed to have been acquired on the date the option was granted.

 

Shares of Common Stock held in “street” or “nominee” name are presumed to have been held for less than 48 months and are entitled to one vote per share unless this presumption is rebutted by evidence to the contrary. If you wish to demonstrate that you have held your Common Stock in street name for longer than 48 months, please complete and execute the affidavit appearing on the reverse side of your proxy. The Board may require evidence to support the affidavit.

 

Quorum and Vote Requirements

 

Holders of record of Common Stock at the close of business on February 27, 2019, will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. At that date, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote was 748,849,833. According to the Company’s records, this represents the following voting rights:

 

Number of shares   Votes per share     Yields this many votes  
695,133,073 @ 1   = 695,133,073  
53,716,760 @ 10   = 537,167,600  
748,849,833   Total     1,232,300,673  

 

If all of the outstanding shares were entitled to ten votes per share, the total number of possible votes would be 7,488,498,330. However, for purposes of this Proxy Statement, we assume that the total number of votes that may be cast at the Annual Meeting will be 1,232,300,673.

 

The holders of a majority of the voting rights entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, will constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business that comes before the meeting. Abstentions are counted as “shares present” for purposes of determining whether a quorum exists. A broker non-vote occurs when a nominee holding shares for a beneficial owner does not vote on a particular proposal because the nominee does not have discretionary voting power with respect to that item and has not received voting instructions from the beneficial owner. Broker non-votes are counted as “shares present” at the Annual Meeting for purposes of determining whether a quorum exists.

 

Solicitation and Revocation of Proxy  |  Multiple Shareholders Sharing the Same Address
AFLAC INCORPORATED 2019 PROXY STATEMENT 7
 

Table of Contents

The following table shows the voting requirements for each proposal we expect at the Annual Meeting.

 

Proposal   Vote required to Pass   Effect of abstentions and broker non-votes
Uncontested election of directors   Votes cast for a nominee exceed votes cast against that nominee   Abstentions and broker non-votes are not counted as votes cast and have no effect
Advisory say-on-pay   Majority of the votes cast   Abstentions and broker non-votes are not counted as votes cast and have no effect
Ratification of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm   Majority of the votes cast   Abstentions are not counted as votes cast and have no effect. Brokers and other nominees may vote without instructions, so we do not expect broker non-votes.

 

If a nominee who is already serving as a Director is not re-elected at the Annual Meeting in an uncontested election, Georgia law provides that Director would continue to serve on our Board as a “holdover director.” However, our Director Resignation Policy provides that holdover directors must tender a resignation to our Chairman of the Board. The Corporate Governance Committee will consider such resignation and recommend to the Board whether to accept or reject it. In considering whether to accept or reject the tendered resignation, the Corporate Governance Committee will consider all factors its members deem relevant, including the stated reasons why shareholders voted against such Director, the qualifications of the Director, and whether the resignation would be in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. The Board will formally act on the Corporate Governance Committee’s recommendation no later than ninety days following the date of the Annual Meeting at which the election occurred. The Company will, within four business days after such decision were made, publicly disclose that decision in a Form 8-K filed with the SEC, together with a full explanation of the process by which the decision was made and, if applicable, the reasons for rejecting the tendered resignation. If there were a nominee who was not already serving as a Director, and that individual was not elected at the Annual Meeting, that nominee would not become a Director or a holdover director.

 

In a contested election at an annual meeting of shareholders (meaning the number of nominees exceeds the number of Directors to be elected), the standard for election of Directors would be a plurality of the shares represented in person or by proxy at such meeting and entitled to vote on the election of Directors.

 

Effect of Not Casting a Vote

 

If you hold your shares in street name, it is critical that you provide voting instructions to the record owner. Your bank or broker is not permitted to vote without your instructions in the election of Directors (Proposal 1) or on the advisory vote on executive compensation (Proposal 2). Broker non-votes on these matters will have no effect on the outcome of the proposals. Your bank or broker may vote uninstructed shares on the ratification of the appointment of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm (Proposal 3).

 

If you are a shareholder of record and you do not return your proxy card, no votes will be cast on your behalf on any item of business at the Annual Meeting.

 

Solicitation and Revocation of Proxy  |  Quorum and Vote Requirements
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Proposal 1: Election of Directors

 

The Company proposes that the following eleven individuals be elected to the Board. These individuals have been nominated by the Board’s Corporate Governance Committee and, if elected, are willing to serve until the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until their successors have been elected and qualified. The people named in the accompanying proxy (or their substitutes) will vote to elect these nominees unless specifically instructed to the contrary. However, if any nominee becomes unable or unwilling to serve or is otherwise unavailable for election, the people named in the proxy (or their substitutes) will have discretionary authority to vote or to refrain from voting on any substitute nominee. The Board has no reason to believe that any of the nominees will be unable or unwilling to serve.

 

We expect all of our Directors to have a demonstrated ability to make a meaningful contribution to the Board’s oversight of the business and affairs of the Company. As shown below, our nominees have a range of skills and experience in areas that are critical to our industry and our operations. All but one of the nominees are currently members of our Board. Upon the recommendation of the Corporate Governance Committee, Georgette D. Kiser has been nominated to serve on the Board. Ms. Kiser was recommended for the Board by the Chair of the Compensation Committee.

 

Douglas W. Johnson, who has served on our Board since 2003, has reached our mandatory retirement age and is not eligible to be nominated for re-election.

 

DIRECTOR SKILLS SUMMARY

 

Name  Independent   Marketing and
Public Relations
   Current or
former CEO
   Operations
Experience
   Japanese Market
Experience
   Investment and
Financial Expertise
   Regulatory and Risk
Mgmt. Experience
   Industry
Experience
   Public Health
Experience
   Digital/Cyber
Security
Experience
Daniel P. Amos                       
W. Paul Bowers                      
Toshihiko Fukuzawa                     
Robert B. Johnson                          
Thomas J. Kenny                         
Georgette D. Kiser                        
Karole F. Lloyd                         
Joseph L. Moskowitz                         
Barbara K. Rimer, DrPH                           
Katherine T. Rohrer                          
Melvin T. Stith                          

 

The Board of Directors recommends a vote “for” the election of each of the following nominees as Directors.

 
AFLAC INCORPORATED 2019 PROXY STATEMENT 9
 

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AGE

67

 

DIRECTOR SINCE

1983

 

COMMITTEES

Executive (Chair)

 

Daniel P. Amos      Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Aflac Incorporated

 

Mr. Amos has been Chief Executive Officer of the Company and Aflac since 1990, Chairman since 2001, President of Aflac from July 2017 to May 2018, and President of Aflac Incorporated since February 2018. He has spent 40 years in various positions at Aflac.

 

SKILLS AND RECOGNITION

 

Institutional Investor magazine has named Mr. Amos one of America’s Best CEOs in the life insurance category five times. Harvard Business Review has named Mr. Amos among the World’s Best Performing CEOs in each of the past four years. CR Magazine recently honored him with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his dedication to corporate responsibility.

 

Mr. Amos’ experience and approach deliver insightful expertise and guidance to the Board of Directors on topics relating to corporate governance, people management, and risk management.

OTHER BOARD OR LEADERSHIP POSITIONS

 

•  Synovus Financial Corp. (2001-2011)

 

•  Southern Company (2000-2006)


 

INDEPENDENT

 

AGE

62

 

DIRECTOR SINCE

2013

 

NOMINATED FOR
LEAD NON-
MANAGEMENT
DIRECTOR

(May 6, 2019)

 

COMMITTEES

Corporate
Development

(Chair)

 

Audit and Risk*

 

Corporate Social
Responsibility &
Sustainability

Executive

 

*Financial Expert

W. Paul Bowers      Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Georgia Power Co.

 

Mr. Bowers has been chairman, president and chief executive officer of Georgia Power, the largest subsidiary of Southern Company, since 2011. Before that, Mr. Bowers served as chief financial officer of Southern Company from 2008 to 2010. Previously, he served in various senior executive positions across Southern Company in Southern Company Generation, Southern Power, and the company’s former U.K. subsidiary, where he was president and chief executive officer of South Western Electricity LLC/Western Power Distribution.

 

SKILLS AND RECOGNITION

 

Mr. Bowers brings to the Board a valuable and unique perspective from his considerable financial knowledge; national and international business experience, including operating in a highly regulated industry; and expertise in corporate development and managing the evolving risks associated with cyber security.

OTHER BOARD OR LEADERSHIP POSITIONS

 

•  Chair, Atlanta Committee for Progress (2016)

 

•  Nuclear Electric Insurance Ltd. (since 2009) current Chairman

 

•  Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia (2014-2018)

 

•  Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s Energy Policy Council (2008-2018)


 

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10 AFLAC INCORPORATED 2019 PROXY STATEMENT

 

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INDEPENDENT

 

AGE

62

 

DIRECTOR SINCE

2016

 

COMMITTEES

Finance and
Investment

 

Toshihiko Fukuzawa      President and CEO of Chuo Real Estate Co., Ltd

 

Mr. Fukuzawa has been the president and chief executive officer of Chuo Real Estate Co., Ltd., a real estate development and leasing company in Japan, since July 2018. Previously, he was the president and chief executive officer of Yushu Tatemono Co., Ltd., also a real estate development and leasing company in Japan, from June 2015 to June 2018. He served as deputy president and a representative director at Mizuho Trust & Banking Co., Ltd. from April 2013 to March 2015, managing executive officer and head of the IT System Group at Mizuho Bank Ltd. from June 2011 to March 2013, and deputy president and a representative director at Mizuho Information & Research Institute from June 2009 to June 2011. From 2002 to 2011, he held executive officer and general manager positions at Mizuho Bank, Ltd., part of Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. Mr. Fukuzawa held various positions of increasing responsibility at Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank, Ltd., which he joined in 1979.

 

SKILLS AND RECOGNITION

 

Over a 36-year career as a professional banker in Japan, Mr. Fukuzawa gained extensive business and IT knowledge and experience with a wide range of Japanese financial services institutions, including insurance companies. He provides the Board with valuable insight and expertise relevant to the Company’s Japanese business.


 

INDEPENDENT

 

AGE

74

 

DIRECTOR SINCE

2002

 

COMMITTEES

Compensation

(Chair)

 

Corporate
Governance

 

Executive

 

Robert B. Johnson      Retired Senior Advisor, Porter Novelli PR

 

Mr. Johnson retired from Porter Novelli PR, where he was a senior advisor from 2003 until 2014. Until 2008, he served as chairman and CEO of the One America Foundation, an organization that promotes dialogue and solidarity among Americans of all races and provides education, grants, and technical equipment to disadvantaged youth. Before that, he served in President Clinton’s administration as an assistant to the President and director of the President’s initiative for One America. He served two years in the Carter Administration, and then was the Business Regulations Administrator for Washington, D.C.

 

SKILLS AND RECOGNITION

 

Mr. Johnson has extensive experience in political and media strategic planning and community involvement. He also brings to the Board substantial experience in executing public relations strategies and promoting diversity.

OTHER BOARD OR LEADERSHIP POSITIONS

 

•  Deputy Chair, Democratic National Committee (2003-2004)


  Proposal 1: Election of Directors
AFLAC INCORPORATED 2019 PROXY STATEMENT 11

 

Table of Contents

 

INDEPENDENT

 

AGE

55

 

DIRECTOR SINCE

2015

 

COMMITTEES

Finance and
Investment

(Chair)

 

Corporate
Development

 

 

Thomas J. Kenny      Former Partner and Co-Head of Global Fixed Income, Goldman Sachs Asset Management

 

Mr. Kenny has served as a TIAA-CREF Funds Board trustee since 2011, and as chair of the board since September 2017. He recently served as chair of the TIAA-CREF Funds Investment Committee and on the TIAA-CREF Funds Operations Committee. Prior to his role at TIAA-CREF, Mr. Kenny held a variety of leadership positions at Goldman Sachs for twelve years, most recently serving as partner and advisory director. He also served as co-head of the Global Cash and Fixed Income Portfolio team at Goldman Sachs Asset Management, where he was responsible for overseeing the management of more than $600 billion in assets across multiple strategies with teams in London, Tokyo, and New York. Before joining Goldman Sachs, Mr. Kenny spent thirteen years at Franklin Templeton. He is a CFA charter holder.

 

SKILLS AND RECOGNITION

 

Mr. Kenny’s extensive experience in investment management and financial markets provides the Board with valuable insight and expertise.

OTHER BOARD OR LEADERSHIP POSITIONS

 

•  CREF Board of Trustees, Chairman

 

•  TIAA-CREF Fund Complex Executive Committee, Chair

 

•  TIAA-CREF Fund Complex Investment Committee

 

•  TIAA-CREF Fund Complex Operations Committee

 

•  TIAA-CREF Fund Complex Nominating and Governance Committee


 

INDEPENDENT

 

AGE

51

 

DIRECTOR NOMINEE

 

Georgette D. Kiser      Chief Information Officer, Managing Director The Carlyle Group

 

Ms. Kiser is a managing director and chief information officer at The Carlyle Group, a global alternative asset management firm, where she has been responsible for leading the firm’s global technology and solutions organization since February 2015. In this role, Ms. Kiser develops and drives information technology strategies across the global enterprise, which includes the firm’s application development, data, digital, infrastructure, cyber security, and program management and outsourcing activities. Prior to joining The Carlyle Group, Ms. Kiser held positions of increasing responsibility at T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., also a global alternative asset management firm, from 1996 to 2015, including the role of vice president, Enterprise Solutions and Capabilities within the services and technology organization.

 

SKILLS AND RECOGNITION

 

Throughout Ms. Kiser’s three-plus decade career, she has established extensive experience and success developing and leading talented teams to deliver decision support systems and technical solutions for financial services firms. She has consistently been recognized for bringing credibility to solutions and technical organizations in addition to building strong business partnerships, leveraging human and technical resources, implementing investment and customer management systems, and producing advanced data management solutions.

OTHER BOARD OR LEADERSHIP POSITIONS

 

•  Adtalem Global Education (since 2018)

 

•  YearUp.org (National Capital Region) Board of Trustees (since 2016)

 

•  The Boys’ Latin School of Maryland Board of Trustees (since 2009)

 

•  Previously served on the Boards of Trustees for the University of Baltimore Foundation, T. Rowe Price Foundation, the University of Baltimore Merrick School of Business Advisory Board, The Maryland Business Roundtable STEMnet board, and the Greater Baltimore Committee Leadership


 

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12 AFLAC INCORPORATED 2019 PROXY STATEMENT

 

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INDEPENDENT

 

AGE

60

 

DIRECTOR SINCE

2017

 

COMMITTEES

Audit and Risk*

Finance and
Investment

 

*Financial Expert

 

Karole F. Lloyd      Certified Public Accountant and retired Ernst & Young LLP audit partner

 

Ms. Lloyd is a certified public accountant and retired as vice chair and managing partner for Ernst & Young, LLP, a global accounting firm, in December 2016. She brings more than 37 years of work experience and leadership, most recently as part of the board of Ernst & Young, and has extensive experience in the audits of large financial services, insurance, and health care companies. She has served as an audit partner for publicly held companies in both the United States and Canada. Ms. Lloyd’s other experience includes leadership and consulting with respect to financial reporting, board governance and legal matters, regulatory compliance, internal audit, and risk management.

 

SKILLS AND RECOGNITION

 

Ms. Lloyd’s extensive accounting and advisory experience across the financial service industry, combined with her leadership skills and strategic thinking, provide valuable perspective for our Audit and Risk Committee.

OTHER BOARD OR LEADERSHIP POSITIONS

 

•  Churchill Downs Incorporated (since 2018)

 

•  The University of Alabama President’s Advisory Council (since 2003)

 

•  The University of Alabama Board of Visitors for the Commerce and Business School (since 2001)

 

•  Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors (since 2010)

 

•  Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Board of Trustees and Executive Committee (2009-2016)


 

INDEPENDENT

 

AGE

65

 

DIRECTOR SINCE

2015

 

COMMITTEES

Audit and Risk*

 

Compensation

 

Corporate
Development

 

*Financial Expert

Joseph L. Moskowitz      Retired Executive Vice President, Primerica, Inc.

 

Mr. Moskowitz retired from Primerica, Inc., an insurance and investments company, where he served as executive vice president from 2009 until 2014, leading the Product Economics and Financial Analysis Group. He joined Primerica in 1988, and served in various capacities, including managing the group responsible for financial budgeting, capital management support, earnings analysis, and analyst and stockholder communications support. He served as chief actuary from 1999 to 2004. Before joining Primerica, Mr. Moskowitz was vice president of Sun Life Insurance Company from 1985 to 1988 and was a senior manager at KPMG from 1979 to 1985.

 

SKILLS AND RECOGNITION

 

With forty years of actuarial experience and leadership roles in the financial services industry, Mr. Moskowitz provides insight into the analysis and evaluation of actuarial and financial models, which form the basis of various aspects of corporate planning, financial reporting, and risk assessment, to the Board.

OTHER BOARD OR LEADERSHIP POSITIONS

 

•  Fellow, Society of Actuaries

 

•  Member, American Academy of Actuaries


 

  Proposal 1: Election of Directors
AFLAC INCORPORATED 2019 PROXY STATEMENT 13

 

Table of Contents

INDEPENDENT

 

AGE

70

 

DIRECTOR SINCE

1995

 

COMMITTEES

Corporate Social
Responsibility &
Sustainability

(Chair)

 

Corporate
Governance

Barbara K. Rimer, DrPH      Dean and Alumni Distinguished Professor, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Dr. Rimer has been dean of the University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health since 2005, and alumni distinguished professor since 2003. Previously, she was director of the Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences at the National Cancer Institute. She is a former director of Cancer Control Research and professor of community and family medicine at the Duke University School of Medicine. She was elected to the Institute of Medicine in 2008.

 

SKILLS AND RECOGNITION

 

At the Gillings School of Public Health, Dr. Rimer works to improve public health, promote individual well-being, and eliminate health inequities across North Carolina and around the world. In 2012, Dr. Rimer was appointed Chairman of the President’s Cancer Panel and has been reappointed twice since then. Her insight and leadership with respect to the public health sector are extremely relevant to the Company’s business and operations.

OTHER BOARD OR LEADERSHIP POSITIONS

 

•  Chair, President’s Cancer Panel (since 2012)


 

INDEPENDENT

 

AGE

65

 

DIRECTOR SINCE

2017

 

COMMITTEES

Corporate
Governance

 

Katherine T. Rohrer Vice Provost Emeritus, Princeton University

Dr. Rohrer is vice provost emeritus, Princeton University, having served as vice provost for Academic Programs from 2001 until 2015. Prior to assuming this role, starting in 1988, Dr. Rohrer held several senior leadership positions at Princeton University, including associate dean of the faculty and assistant dean of the college. Following her retirement, she served as interim associate dean of the graduate school in 2016-17. At Columbia University, she was an assistant professor from 1982 to 1988. Dr. Rohrer is also a trustee of Emory University, where she chairs the academic affairs committee and serves on the finance and executive committees.

 

SKILLS AND RECOGNITION

 

With more than 30 years as a university leader, Dr. Rohrer brings a wealth of experience highlighted by a commitment to academic rigor and financial management. Her operational expertise includes executing on institutional budgetary decisions; leading academic governance and priority-setting; spearheading the recruitment of deans and other senior academic administrators; developing university-level messaging and communications; and managing endowments. Dr. Rohrer’s management career has included a focus on social responsibility, inclusion, and diversity.

OTHER BOARD OR LEADERSHIP POSITIONS

 

•  Emory University Board of Trustees (since 2008; chair, Academic Affairs Committee; member, Executive Committee, Finance Committee)

 

•  Previously served on the boards of Morristown-Beard School, Morristown, NJ; Trinity Church, Princeton, NJ; Crisis Ministry of Trenton and Princeton (now “Arm in Arm”); and Dryden Ensemble.


 

Proposal 1: Election of Directors  
14 AFLAC INCORPORATED 2019 PROXY STATEMENT

 

Table of Contents

INDEPENDENT

 

AGE

72

 

DIRECTOR SINCE

2012

 

COMMITTEES

Corporate
Governance (Chair)

 

Corporate Social
Responsibility &
Sustainability

 

Executive
(beginning
February 14, 2019)

Melvin T. Stith      Interim President of Norfolk State University and Dean Emeritus of the Martin J. Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University

 

Dr. Stith is interim president of Norfolk State University and dean emeritus of the Martin J. Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University, having served as dean from 2005 until 2013. Prior to assuming this role, Dr. Stith was the dean emeritus and the Jim Moran Professor of Business Administration at Florida State University for thirteen years. He has been a professor of marketing and business since 1977 following his service as a captain in the U.S. Army Military Intelligence Command.

 

SKILLS AND RECOGNITION

 

Dr. Stith’s financial acumen and his leadership skills in consensus-building, risk management, and executive management add an important dimension to the composition of our Board.

OTHER BOARD OR LEADERSHIP POSITIONS

 

•  Synovus Financial Corp. (since 1998)

 

•  Flowers Foods, Inc. (since 2004)

 

•  Jim Moran Foundation (since 2000)

 

•  Previously served on the boards of Correctional Services Corporation, JM Family Enterprises Youth Automotive Training Center, the Keebler Company, United Telephone of Florida, and Rexall Sundown.


 

 

DIRECTORS NOT STANDING FOR RE-ELECTION

 

Under the Company’s Bylaws, Mr. Douglas W. Johnson, who has turned 75 prior to our Annual Meeting, is not eligible to be nominated for re-election. Mr. Johnson has served on our Board since 2003.

 

  Proposal 1: Election of Directors
AFLAC INCORPORATED 2019 PROXY STATEMENT 15

 

Table of Contents

The following information is provided with respect to each Director and nominee:

 

Name   Shares of Common Stock
Beneficially Owned on
February 27, 2019(1)
  Percent of Outstanding
Shares
  Voting Rights on
February 27, 2019
  Percent of Available Votes
Daniel P. Amos   4,506,368   .6   36,004,850   2.9
W. Paul Bowers   27,717   *   124,265   *
Toshihiko Fukuzawa   3,011,228   .4   30,011,228   2.4
Douglas W. Johnson   172,011   *   859,438   .1
Robert B. Johnson   35,254   *   197,902   *
Thomas J. Kenny   52,434   *   232,434   *
Georgette D. Kiser        
Karole F. Lloyd   22,058   *   22,058   *
Joseph L. Moskowitz   34,814   *   34,814   *
Barbara K. Rimer, DrPH   137,672   *   944,900   .1
Katherine T. Rohrer   5,223   *   5,223   *
Melvin T. Stith   33,378   *   211,423   *
* Percentage not listed if less than .1%.
   
(1) Includes 614,344 shares of restricted stock awarded under the Long-Term Incentive Plan for Daniel P. Amos that he has the right to vote. These shares will vest three years from the date of grant if the Company attains certain performance goals. Includes options to purchase shares, which are exercisable within 60 days for: Douglas W. Johnson, 136,172; Thomas J. Kenny, 29,470; Joseph L Moskowitz, 19,426; and Barbara K. Rimer, DrPH, 114,008. Also includes shares of restricted stock awarded under the Long-Term Incentive Plan for W. Paul Bowers, Tohsihiko Fukuzawa, Robert B. Johnson, Karole F. Lloyd, Barbara K. Rimer, DrPH, Katherine T. Rohrer, and Melvin T. Stith 3,536 each, Thomas J. Kenny, 8,192 and Joseph L. Moskowitz, 4,868, for which these individuals have the right to vote. These shares will vest four years from the date of grant, except shares granted after May 2015, which will vest one year from the date of grant.

 

Also includes the following shares:

 

Daniel P. Amos: 4,916 shares owned by his spouse; 957,560 shares owned by a partnership of which he is a partner; 908,632 shares owned by trusts of which he is trustee; 31,682 shares owned by a corporation; 238,008 shares owned by the Daniel P. Amos Family Foundation, Inc.; 823,159 owned by the Soma Foundation, Inc.; and 224,888 shares owned by the Paul S. Amos Family Foundation, Inc.

 

Toshihiko Fukuzawa: 3,000,000 shares owned by The Mizuho Trust & Banking Co., Ltd. Mr. Fukuzawa represents the power to vote these shares.

 

Proposal 1: Election of Directors
16 AFLAC INCORPORATED 2019 PROXY STATEMENT
 

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Corporate Governance

 

Shareholder Outreach

 

The Company has a long history of engaging shareholders to learn about the issues and concerns that are important to them. We believe that open communications can have a positive influence on our corporate governance practices. For example, we are proud to have been the first publicly traded company in the United States to voluntarily allow shareholders a say-on-pay vote. In keeping with this governance philosophy, we communicate with our shareholders on a regular basis and incorporate their feedback into our decision-making process.

 

Director Independence

 

The Board annually assesses the independence of each Director nominee. Daniel P. Amos is an employee of the Company. The Board has determined that all of the other nominees are “independent” under New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) listing standards. None of the independent nominees has a material relationship with the Company, either directly or as a partner, shareholder, or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the Company. The Board made its determination based on information furnished by all Directors regarding their relationships with the Company and research conducted by management.

 

Board Leadership Structure

 

Daniel P. Amos has served as Chairman of the Board since 2001 and as CEO since 1990. The Board believes the most effective Board leadership structure for the Company is for the CEO to continue to serve as Chairman, working with a Lead Non-Management Director. This structure has served the Company well for many years. The CEO is ultimately responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Company and for executing the Company’s strategy, and the Company’s performance is an integral part of Board deliberations. Accordingly, the Board believes that Mr. Amos is the Director most qualified to act as Chairman. The Board believes that Mr. Amos’ in-depth, long-term knowledge of the Company’s operations and his vision for the Company’s development provides decisive and effective leadership for the Board. However, the Board retains the authority to modify this structure to best advance the interests of all shareholders if circumstances warrant such a change.

 

The Board believes its existing corporate governance practices achieve independent oversight and management accountability. These governance practices are reflected in the Company’s Guidelines on Significant Corporate Governance Issues and the Committee charters. In particular:

 

  a substantial majority of our Board members are independent;

 

  the Audit and Risk, Compensation, and Corporate Governance Committees all comprise independent Directors;

 

  the Company has a Lead Non-Management Director with significant responsibilities, as described below; and

 

  the Non-employee Directors meet at each regularly scheduled Board meeting in executive session without management present.

 

AFLAC INCORPORATED 2019 PROXY STATEMENT 17
 

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Lead Non-Management Director

 

If the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer roles are filled by the same person, or if the Chairman is not independent, the Board believes that an independent Director should be appointed to serve as the Lead Non-Management Director. The Lead Non-Management Director is elected annually by the Board (effective at the first Board of Director’s meeting following the Annual Meeting of Shareholders) based upon a recommendation by the Corporate Governance Committee. Although subject to an annual election, the Lead Non-Management Director is generally expected to serve for more than one year, but no more than four years.

 

Douglas W. Johnson is currently the Lead Non-Management Director. The Corporate Governance Committee has nominated Mr. W. Paul Bowers to serve as Lead Non-Management Director, which will be considered by the Board after Mr. Johnson retires from the Board effective May 6, 2019.

 

The responsibilities of the Lead Non-Management Director include:

 

  consulting with the Chairman and Secretary to establish the agenda for each Board meeting;

 

  setting the agenda for, and leading, all executive sessions of the Non-employee Directors;

 

  when appropriate, discussing with the Chairman matters addressed at such executive sessions;

 

  presiding over meetings of the Board at which the Chairman is not present;

 

  presiding over discussions of the Board when the topic presents a potential conflict of interest for the Chairman;

 

  facilitating discussions among the Non-employee Directors between Board meetings;

 

  serving as a liaison between the Non-employee Directors and the Chairman;

 

  when appropriate, serving as a liaison between management and the Board;

 

  representing the Board in shareholder outreach; and

 

  in coordination with the Chairman, facilitating the annual Board self-evaluation.

 

The Lead Non-Management Director has the authority to call meetings of the independent Directors.

 

Board Self-Evaluation

 

The effectiveness of our Board is of the utmost importance. The Board recognizes that we live in a dynamic world that requires regular self-evaluation to ensure that we have the best skill set and experience to serve the Company and that the Board is fulfilling its responsibilities. To that end, the Corporate Governance Committee is charged with overseeing an annual process of self-evaluation for the Board as a whole and for its individual members.

 

The Board’s annual self-evaluation process involves both the Chairman and the Lead Non-Management Director separately scheduling one-on-one conferences with the Directors to address a variety of topics related to the Board’s performance and oversight responsibility. Among other things, the Board considers its composition, with the goal of ensuring its members have the mix of skills and subject matter expertise required for prudent oversight of the Company. In addition, the Board evaluates its processes and operations, organization and committee structure, oversight, and performance, as well as the quality of the information provided to Directors by the Audit and Risk Committee about the Company’s risk-management and corporate compliance programs.

 

In addition to the formal self-evaluation process, the Non-employee Directors regularly meet in executive session, during which the Board’s performance and oversight responsibilities are frequently discussed.

 

Director Nominating Process

 

The Corporate Governance Committee believes that, at a minimum, nominees for Director must have two qualifications:

 

1.  a demonstrated ability to make a meaningful contribution to the Board’s oversight of the business and affairs of the Company; and   2.  an impeccable record and reputation for honest and ethical conduct in both professional and personal activities.

 

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Beyond these threshold requirements, the Corporate Governance Committee examines each prospective candidate’s specific experiences and skills, time availability in light of other commitments, potential conflicts of interest, and independence from management and the Company. The Corporate Governance Committee strives to build a diverse Board that is strong in its collective knowledge. In particular, the Corporate Governance Committee looks for nominees with experience in the following areas:

 

accounting and finance business operations corporate governance
           
management and leadership business judgment global markets
           
vision and strategy industry knowledge    

 

Finally, the Corporate Governance Committee considers diversity (including gender, ethnicity, race, color, and national origin) in nominating Directors. Nominees must be between the ages of 21 and 74.

 

The Corporate Governance Committee identifies potential nominees from three sources. The Committee seeks suggestions from current Directors and executive officers; may engage firms that specialize in identifying director candidates; and, as discussed below, considers candidates recommended by shareholders.

 

Once the Corporate Governance Committee identifies a potential nominee, members review publicly available information and contact candidates who warrant further consideration. If a potential nominee is willing to be considered for a seat on the Board, the Corporate Governance Committee will request more information.

 

Generally, the Corporate Governance Committee conducts one or more interviews with each prospective nominee. Committee members also may contact references provided by candidates, and speak with members of the business community or other people who may have firsthand knowledge of a candidate’s record. This process enables the Corporate Governance Committee to compare the accomplishments and qualifications of all potential nominees.

 

The Corporate Governance Committee will consider Director candidates recommended by shareholders. As with any prospective nominee, the Corporate Governance Committee will evaluate shareholder-nominated candidates in light of the needs of the Board and the qualifications of the particular individuals. In addition, the Corporate Governance Committee may consider the number of shares held by the recommending shareholder and the length of time such shares have been held.

 

To recommend a candidate for the Board, a shareholder must submit the recommendation in writing, including: (i) the name of the shareholder and evidence of the person’s ownership of Common Stock, including the number of shares owned and the length of time of ownership; and (ii) the name of the candidate, the candidate’s resume or qualifications to be a Director, and the candidate’s consent to be named as a Director if nominated by the Board.

 

The shareholder recommendation and information described above generally must be received by the Corporate Secretary not less than 90 nor more than 120 days prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of shareholders. However, if the annual meeting is called for a date that is not within 25 days before or after such anniversary date, notice by the shareholder, to be timely, must be received no later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which notice of the date of the annual meeting was mailed or public disclosure of that date was made, whichever occurs first.

 

Shareholder recommendations and accompanying information should be sent to the Corporate Secretary at Aflac Incorporated as described at the end of this Proxy Statement under the heading “Other Proposals or Director Nominations to be brought before our 2020 Annual Meeting.”

 

Our proxy access bylaw permits a shareholder (or group of up to twenty shareholders) owning shares of our outstanding capital stock representing at least 3% of the votes entitled to be cast on the election of Directors to nominate and include in our proxy materials Director candidates constituting up to 20% of the Board. The nominating shareholder or group of shareholders must have owned their shares continuously for at least three years, and the nominating shareholder(s) and nominee(s) must satisfy other requirements specified in our Bylaws.

 

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Enterprise-Wide Risk Oversight

 

Our Board oversees an enterprise-wide approach to risk management designed to achieve organizational and strategic objectives, to improve long-term performance, and to enhance shareholder value. Risk management requires more than just understanding the risks we face and the steps management takes to manage those risks. The Board also must understand what level of risk is appropriate for the Company. Our Directors are equipped to make all of these determinations because they are integral to the process of setting the Company’s business strategy.

 

While the Board oversees the risk-management process generally, several Board and management committees have specific roles that correspond with their areas of responsibility.

 

Audit and Risk Committee

 

Under its charter, the Audit and Risk Committee’s responsibilities include risk management and compliance oversight. Specifically, the Audit and Risk Committee:

 

  discusses guidelines and policies governing the process by which senior management and the relevant departments of the Company assess and manage exposure to risk;

 

  reviews the Company’s risk assessment and enterprise risk-management framework, including risk-management guidelines, risk appetite, risk tolerances, key risk policies, and control procedures;

 

  reviews critical regulatory risk-management filings and enterprise risk-management material shared with regulators and rating agencies;

 

  reviews the general structure, staffing models, and engagement of the Company’s risk governance departments and practices;

 

  reviews the Company’s major financial risk exposures and evaluates processes and controls that management has adopted to monitor and manage those risks;

 

  meets in executive session with key senior leaders involved in risk management;

 

  reviews with the internal auditors, the independent auditor, and the Company’s financial management team the adequacy and effectiveness of our internal controls, including information security policies and internal controls regarding information security, and any special steps adopted in light of material control deficiencies; and

 

  reports to the Board, at least annually, with respect to matters related to key enterprise risks and risk management areas of concentration.

 

The Board has adopted an information security policy directing management to establish and operate an information security program with the goal of ensuring that the Company’s information assets and data, and the data of its customers, are appropriately protected. The Board has delegated oversight of the Company’s information security program to the Audit and Risk Committee. The Company’s senior officers, including its Global Security and Chief Information Security Officer, are responsible for the operation of the information security program and regularly communicate with the Audit and Risk Committee on the program, including with respect to the state of the program, compliance with applicable regulations, current and evolving threats, and recommendations for changes in the information security program. The information security program also includes a cyber security incident response plan that is designed to provide a management framework across Company functions for a coordinated assessment and response to potential security incidents. This framework establishes a protocol to report certain incidents to the Global Security and Chief Information Security Officer and other senior officers, with the goal of timely assessing such incidents, determining applicable disclosure requirements and communicating with the Audit and Risk Committee. The incident response plan directs the executive officers to report certain incidents immediately and directly to the Lead Non-Management Director.

 

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Finance and Investment Committee

 

The Finance and Investment Committee oversees the investment process and investment risk management of the Company and its subsidiaries by monitoring investment policies, strategies, and transactions and reviewing the performance of the investment portfolio.

 

Investment process The manner in which we invest cash flows of the Company and its subsidiaries and manage investments to emphasize safety, liquidity, returns, tax considerations, applicable laws and regulations, and conformity with the needs of the Company and its subsidiaries.
Investment risk Includes liquidity risk, market risk, and credit risk.
Liquidity risk When an investment is not marketable and cannot be bought or sold quickly enough to prevent or minimize a loss.
Market risk The risk that market movements will cause fluctuations in the value of our assets, the amount of our liabilities, or the income from our assets.
Credit risk The risk of loss arising from the failure of a counterparty to perform its contractual obligations.

 

Compensation Committee

 

The Compensation Committee strives to create incentives that encourage a level of risk-taking behavior consistent with the Company’s business strategy. As more fully discussed in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this Proxy Statement, the Compensation Committee establishes incentive compensation performance objectives for management that are realistically attainable so as not to encourage excessive risk taking.

 

Management Committees

 

The Company’s management is responsible for day-to-day risk management. Our enterprise risk-management framework, which is aligned with and overseen by the Board and its committees, includes several executive management committees whose roles incorporate risk management across the enterprise. For example, executive management’s Global Risk Committee oversees the processes for identifying, assessing, measuring, monitoring, controlling, and mitigating the key risks associated with the Company. Other management committees are responsible for implementing policies and risk-management processes relating to strategic, operational, investment, competitive, regulatory and legislative, product, reputational, and compliance risks.

 

Chief Executive Officer and Executive Management Succession Planning

 

The Board, in coordination with the Corporate Governance Committee, is responsible for succession planning for key executives to ensure continuity in senior management. As part of that effort, the Board and the Corporate Governance Committee ensure that the Company has an appropriate process for addressing Chief Executive Officer succession as a matter of regular planning and in the event of extraordinary circumstances.

 

The Chief Executive Officer plays an active role in the succession-planning process for other executive management positions. In coordination with the Company’s executive management team, including the General Counsel and the Director of Human Resources, the Chief Executive Officer periodically evaluates potential successors, reviews development plans recommended for such individuals, and makes recommendations to the Corporate Governance Committee. Together these parties also identify potential successors for other critical executive management positions. In addition, the Chief Executive Officer reviews executive succession planning and management development at an annual executive session of independent Directors.

 

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Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

 

The Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applies to all Directors, executives, and employees of the Company and its subsidiaries. In addition, there are provisions specifically applicable to the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, and the Chief Accounting Officer. The Company intends to satisfy any disclosure requirements regarding amendments to, or waivers of, any provision of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics by posting such information on our website, aflac.com, under “Investors,” then “Corporate Governance.”

 

Communications with Directors

 

Shareholders and other interested parties may contact members of the Board by mail. If you wish to communicate with the Board, any individual Director, or any group or committee of Directors, address your correspondence to the Board or to such individual Director, group, or committee, c/o the Corporate Secretary of Aflac Incorporated, 1932 Wynnton Road, Columbus, Georgia 31999. The Corporate Secretary will forward any message that is not in the nature of advertising, promotions of a product or service, or patently offensive material.

 

It is Company policy that each Director should attend the Annual Meeting. All Directors serving at the time attended the 2018 Annual Meeting.

 

Board and Committees

 

The Board met 8 times in 2018, and all Directors attended at least 75% of the meetings of the Board and the committees on which they served.

 

The Board has seven standing committees: Audit and Risk; Compensation; Corporate Development; Corporate Governance; Executive; Finance and Investment; and Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability. Each committee (other than the Executive Committee) operates under a written charter adopted by the Board. Charters for the Audit and Risk Committee, the Compensation Committee, and the Corporate Governance Committee, as well as the Company’s Guidelines on Significant Corporate Governance Issues and the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, all can be found on the Company’s website, aflac.com, under “Investors,” then “Corporate Governance.” Shareholders can request printed copies of these documents by submitting a request to the Corporate Secretary at the address shown above.

 

Board Committee Refreshment

 

The Corporate Governance Committee considers the periodic rotation of committee members and committee chairs to introduce fresh perspectives and to broaden and diversify the views and experience represented on Board committees. On February 14, 2019, the Board appointed Dr. Stith to serve on the Executive Committee and the Corporate Governance Committee has nominated Mr. Bowers to serve as Lead Non-Management Director, which will be considered by the Board after Mr. Douglas W. Johnson retires from the Board, effective May 6, 2019.

 

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MEMBERS*

 

Douglas W. Johnson

(Chairman until May 6, 2019)

 

W. Paul Bowers
Karole F. Lloyd
Joseph L. Moskowitz

 

NUMBER OF

MEETINGS IN 2018

11

        The Audit and Risk Committee
           
  RESPONSIBILITIES
           
 

   ensuring that management maintains the reliability and integrity of the reporting process and systems of internal controls of the Company and its subsidiaries regarding finance, accounting, and legal matters;

 

   issuing annually the Audit and Risk Committee Report set forth below;

 

   selecting, overseeing, evaluating, determining funding for, and, where appropriate, replacing or terminating the independent registered public accounting firm;

 

   monitoring the independence of the independent registered public accounting firm;

 

   pre-approving audit and non-audit services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm;

 

   pre-approving or ratifying all related person transactions that are required to be disclosed in this Proxy Statement;

 

   overseeing the performance of the Company’s internal auditing department;

 

   assisting with Board oversight of the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements;

 

   overseeing the Company’s policies, process, and structure related to enterprise risk engagement and management, including information security; and

 

   providing an open avenue of communication among the independent registered public accounting firm, management, the internal auditing department, and the Board.

             
    OVERVIEW
     

* All members of the committee are Financial Experts

 

The independent registered public accounting firm has direct access to the Audit and Risk Committee and may discuss any matters that arise in connection with its audits, the maintenance of internal controls, and any other matters relating to the Company’s financial affairs. The Audit and Risk Committee may authorize the independent registered public accounting firm to investigate any such matters, and may present its recommendations and conclusions to the Board. At least annually,

 

 

the Audit and Risk Committee reviews the services performed and the fees charged by the independent registered public accounting firm.

 

All Audit and Risk Committee members qualify as “Non-employee Directors” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and independent Directors under the NYSE listing standards, and have been determined by the Board to be “audit committee financial experts,” as such term is defined in Item 401(h) of SEC Regulation S-K.

             

 

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MEMBERS

 

Robert B. Johnson

(Chairman)

 

Douglas W. Johnson

(until May 6, 2019)

 

Joseph L. Moskowitz

 

NUMBER OF

MEETINGS IN 2018

6

 

        The Compensation Committee
           
  RESPONSIBILITIES
           
 

   reviewing, at least annually, the goals and objectives of the Company’s executive compensation plans;

 

   evaluating annually the performance of the CEO with respect to such goals and objectives and determining the appropriate compensation level;

 

   evaluating annually the performance of the Company’s other executive officers in light of such goals and objectives, and setting their compensation levels

 

    based on this evaluation and the recommendation of the CEO;

 

   reviewing the Company’s incentive compensation programs to determine whether they encourage excessive risk taking, and evaluating compensation policies and practices that could mitigate any such risk; and

 

   reviewing the Company’s general compensation and benefit plans to ensure they promote our goals and objectives.

             
    OVERVIEW
     
   

The Compensation Committee reviews and approves compensation levels, equity-linked incentive compensation, and annual incentive awards under the Company’s Management Incentive Plan.

 

The Compensation Committee recommended and the Board adopted a policy regarding Non-employee Director compensation and actual Non-employee Director compensation consistent with that policy. If the Board creates a special purpose committee made up of Non-employee Directors, the Compensation Committee recommends remuneration for the individuals who serve. The Board makes final determinations regarding Non-employee Director compensation.

 

All Compensation Committee members qualify as “outside” Directors as defined by Section

 

162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, “Non-employee Directors” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and independent Directors under NYSE listing standards.

 

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation. No member of the Compensation Committee is a current or former employee or officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. During 2018, no Director was an executive officer of another entity on whose compensation committee any executive officer of the Company served. In addition, no member of the Compensation Committee had any relationship requiring disclosure under the section titled “Related Person Transactions” in this Proxy Statement.

             

 

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MEMBERS

 

W. Paul Bowers

(Chair)

 

Thomas J. Kenny

 

Joseph L. Moskowitz

 

NUMBER OF

MEETINGS IN 2018

4

 

        The Corporate Development Committee
           
  RESPONSIBILITIES
           
 

   reviewing the Company’s corporate and strategic organizational development to identify, evaluate, and execute on appropriate opportunities that could enhance long-term growth and build shareholder value;

 

   assisting the Board in reviewing, evaluating, and approving specific strategic plans for corporate development activities, including mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, joint venture marketing and distribution arrangements, and strategic equity investments;

 

 

   assisting the Board in reviewing proposals to enter new geographic markets;

 

   reviewing corporate development proposals prepared by the Company’s officers and managers and other strategic projects as determined by the Board to ensure consistency with the Company’s long-term strategic objectives; and

 

   assisting the Board in monitoring the nature of investments made as part of Aflac Ventures in both the U.S. and Japan, including the Company’s overall corporate venture capital strategy.

             

 

MEMBERS

 

Melvin T. Stith

(Chair)

 

Robert B. Johnson

 

Katherine T. Rohrer

 

Barbara K. Rimer,

DrPH

 

NUMBER OF

MEETINGS IN 2018

2

 

        The Corporate Governance Committee
           
  RESPONSIBILITIES
           
 

   selecting individuals qualified to serve as Directors to be nominated to stand for election to the Board;

 

   recommending assignments to the Board’s standing committees;

 

   advising the Board with respect to matters of Board structure, composition, and procedures;

 

   developing and recommending to the Board a set of corporate governance principles applicable to the Company;

 

   monitoring compliance with the Company’s political participation program;

 

   overseeing the evaluation of the Board; and

 

   ensuring that the Company’s management and succession plans are appropriate.

 

             
    All Corporate Governance Committee members qualify as “outside” Directors as defined by Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, “Non-employee Directors” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and independent Directors under NYSE listing standards.
             

 

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MEMBERS

 

Barbara K. Rimer, DrPH

(Chair)

 

W. Paul Bowers

 

Melvin T. Stith

 

NUMBER OF

MEETINGS IN 2018

2

 

        The Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability Committee
           
  RESPONSIBILITIES
           
  CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
           
 

   overseeing the Company’s policies, procedures, and practices with respect to corporate social responsibility and sustainability, recognizing that these goals and initiatives vary widely among industries, organizations and geographies, in the context of what is appropriate and relevant to the Company, our people and the communities we serve;

 

   monitoring the impact of the Company’s activities on customers, employees, communities, and other stakeholders in light of the Board’s fundamental duty to preserve and promote long-term value creation for the Company’s shareholders;

 

   monitoring and reviewing the Company’s strategies, procedures, and

 

    practices related to social responsibility on a global basis, including significant philanthropic and community engagement activities;

 

   monitoring and reviewing the development of metrics, information systems, and procedures to track progress toward achievement of the Company’s social responsibility objectives;

 

   monitoring preparation of the Company’s annual Corporate Social Responsibility report, and reviewing such report before it is published; and

 

   monitoring and reviewing the Company’s support of charitable, educational, and business organizations.

             
    SUSTAINABILITY
             
   

   monitoring and reviewing the Company’s policies, procedures, and practices to foster the sustainable growth of the Company on a global basis;

 

   monitoring and reviewing the Company’s strategies, policies, procedures, and practices related to environmental and related health and safety matters;

 

   monitoring and reviewing the Company’s policies, procedures, and practices that enable us to proactively respond to evolving public sentiment and government regulations with regard

 

    to sustainability, especially in the areas of environmental stewardship, energy use, recycling, and carbon emissions (i.e., our carbon footprint);

 

   reviewing the goals and objectives of the Company’s environmental stewardship policy, and amending or, to the extent an amendment requires Board approval, recommending that the Board amend, these goals and objectives if the Committee deems appropriate; and

 

   reviewing the Company’s communication and marketing strategies related to sustainability.

 

             
    OVERVIEW
     
    We believe “sustainable growth” means being able to meet the needs of our shareholders and customers while taking into account the needs of future generations, and also ensuring the   long-term preservation and enhancement of the Company’s financial, environmental, and social capital.
             

 

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MEMBERS

 

Daniel P. Amos

(Chairman)

 

W. Paul Bowers

 

Douglas W. Johnson

(until May 6, 2019)

 

Robert B. Johnson

 

Melvin T. Stith

 

NUMBER OF
MEETINGS IN 2018

5

 

        The Executive Committee
           
  OVERVIEW
           
 

Under the Company’s Bylaws, the Executive Committee must consist of at least five Directors, including the Chief Executive Officer, the Chairman of the Board, the President, and such additional Directors as the Board may from time to time determine. Currently, the membership of the Executive Committee also includes the chairpersons of the Audit and Risk, Compensation, and Corporate Governance Committees, and includes the Company’s Lead

 

Non-Management Director. The Chief Executive Officer (or another member of the Executive Committee chosen by him) is the Chairman of the Executive Committee. During the intervals between meetings of the Board, the Executive Committee may exercise all of the powers of the Board that may be delegated under Georgia law.

 

On February 14, 2019, Dr. Rimer rotated off the Executive Committee and Dr. Stith joined the Executive Committee.

 

             
             

MEMBERS

 

Thomas J. Kenny

(Chairman)

 

Toshihiko Fukuzawa

 

Karole F. Lloyd

 

NUMBER OF

MEETINGS IN 2018

5

 

        The Finance and Investment Committee
           
  FINANCE RESPONSIBILITIES
           
 

   reviewing and reassessing significant financial policies and matters of Treasury and corporate finance, including the Company’s overall capital structure, dividend policy, share repurchase program and liquidity, and the issuance or retirement of debt and other capital securities;

 

   reviewing and providing guidance to the Board on significant reinsurance transactions and strategies;

 

   reviewing and providing guidance on the Company’s credit ratings, ratings strategy, and overall rating agency dialogue;

 

   reviewing and providing guidance to the Board on the financing strategy and capital impact of corporate development activities and multiyear strategic capital project expenditures;

 

   reviewing and reassessing the Company’s overall hedging strategy, including foreign exchange and cash flow hedging, and ensuring proper governance over policies and procedures associated with trading in derivative instruments;

 

   in partnership with the Compensation Committee, overseeing the Company’s processes for managing the finances of the employee pension and defined contribution benefit plans, including the related investment policies, actuarial assumptions, and funding policies; and

 

   in partnership with the Audit and Risk Committee, reviewing and providing guidance on the Company’s corporate insurance coverages.

 

             
    INVESTMENT RESPONSIBILITIES
     
   

   overseeing the investment process and the policies, strategies, and programs of the Company and its subsidiaries relating to investment risk management;

 

   periodically reviewing and assessing the adequacy of the Global Investment Policy of the Company and its subsidiaries, and approving any changes to that policy;

 

   reviewing and approving investment transactions made on behalf of the Company and its subsidiaries; and

 

   reviewing the performance of the investment portfolios of the Company and its subsidiaries.

 

             

 

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Ownership Reporting

 

As of February 27, 2019, no person was the owner of record or, to the knowledge of the Company, beneficial owner of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock or of the available votes of the Company other than as shown below.

 

Name and Address
of Beneficial Owner
  Title of Class
Common Stock
  Amount of Beneficial
Ownership Shares
  Amount of Beneficial
Ownership Votes
  Percent of
Class
 

Percent of
Available Votes

BlackRock, Inc.*
55 East 52nd Street
New York, NY 10055
  1 Vote Per Share   51,647,878   51,647,878   6.6   4.2
The Vanguard Group*
100 Vanguard Boulevard
Malvern, PA 19355
  1 Vote Per Share   68,193,987   68,193,987   8.7   5.5
State Street Corporation*
State Street Financial Center
One Lincoln Street
Boston, MA 02111
  1 Vote Per Share   40,431,543   40,431,543   5.2   3.3
* The above information is derived from Schedule 13G filings filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, dated February 4, 2019, by BlackRock, Inc., dated February 11, 2019, by The Vanguard Group, and dated February 13, 2019, by State Street Corporation. According to the Schedule 13G filings; BlackRock, Inc., has sole voting power with respect to 44,516,207 shares and sole dispositive power with respect to 51,647,878 shares. The Vanguard Group has sole voting power with respect to 888,903 shares, shared voting power with respect to 248,120 shares, sole dispositive power with respect to 67,072,595 shares and shared dispositive power with respect to 1,121,392 shares. State Street Corporation has shared voting power with respect to 36,685,753 shares and shared dispositive power with respect to 40,393,623 shares.

 

Security Ownership of Management

 

The following table sets forth, as of February 27, 2019, the number of shares and percentage of outstanding shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by: (i) our named executive officers, comprising our CEO, CFO, and the three other most highly compensated executive officers as listed in the Executive Compensation section of this Proxy Statement whose information was not provided under the heading “Proposal 1: Election of Directors,” and (ii) all Directors and executive officers as a group.

 

COMMON STOCK BENEFICIALLY OWNED AND APPROXIMATE PERCENTAGE OF CLASS AS OF FEBRUARY 27, 2019

 

Name   Shares(1)   Percent of Shares   Votes   Percent of Votes
Frederick J. Crawford   270,086   *   270,086   *
Audrey Boone Tillman   300,285   *   1,847,151   .1
Eric M. Kirsch   259,188   *   1,130,172   .1
Charles D. Lake ll   218,466   *   1,225,494   .1
All Directors, nominees, and executive officers as a group (24 individuals)   10,042,681   1.3   77,682,119   6.3
* Percentage not listed if less than .1%.
(1) Includes options that are exercisable within 60 days for Frederick J. Crawford, 87,764; Audrey Boone Tillman, 115,592; Eric M. Kirsch, 38,230; Charles D. Lake II, 54,096; and for all Directors and executive officers as a group to purchase 892,618 shares. These shares will vest 3 years from the date of grant if the Company attains certain performance goals. Also includes the following shares of restricted stock awarded under the Long-Term Incentive Plan: in 2017, 2018 and 2019 for Frederick J. Crawford, 140,592; Audrey Boone Tillman, 85,225; Eric M. Kirsch, 89,949; Charles D. Lake II, 68,771; and for all Directors and executive officers as a group of 1,364,858. The grantees have the right to vote their restricted stock, but they may not transfer the shares until they have vested. No Director nominee or executive officer has any pledged shares. For information on the Company’s pledging policy, please see “Stock Ownership Guidelines; Hedging and Pledging Restrictions” on page 48.

 

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

 

Pursuant to Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, executive officers, Directors, and holders of more than 10% of the Common Stock are required to file reports of their trading in Company equity securities with the SEC. Based solely on a review of the copies of such reports received by the Company, or written representations from certain reporting persons, the Company believes that all filings required to be made by its reporting persons complied with all applicable Section 16 filing requirements during the last fiscal year with one exception: Ms. Audrey Tillman, a named executive officer, did not timely report a June 22, 2017 gift from a third party to her son of two shares (which was adjusted to four shares due to the two-for-one stock split of the Company’s Common Stock effective March 19, 2018). A Form 4 for this transaction was filed on August 9, 2018.

 
28 AFLAC INCORPORATED 2019 PROXY STATEMENT
 

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Director Compensation

 

Directors who also serve as employees of the Company or its subsidiaries do not receive compensation as Board members. The Compensation Committee reviews the policy regarding total compensation for Non-employee Directors at least every other year and recommends compensation to the Board consistent with that policy. When making its recommendation, the Compensation Committee considers a variety of factors, including the Non-employee Director pay packages at our peer group companies, the skills and backgrounds required of Non-employee Directors to serve on the Company’s Board, and the balance between the cash and equity components of the package. The Board makes final determinations regarding Non-employee Director compensation.

 

Cash Compensation

 

In 2018, cash compensation for the Non-employee Directors was as follows:

 

All Non-employee directors   $115,000 annually
Audit and Risk Committee members   Additional $10,000 annually
Chairs—Compensation, Corporate Governance, Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability, Corporate Development, Finance and Investment   Additional $20,000 annually
Chair—Audit and Risk   Additional $30,000 annually
Lead Non-Management Director   Additional $35,000 annually

 

Non-employee Directors may elect to have all or a portion of their Board annual retainer paid in the form of immediately vested nonqualified stock options, restricted stock that vests after one year of continued service, or a combination thereof as determined by the Board. In 2018, one Non-employee Director elected to receive restricted stock in lieu of a cash annual retainer, and no Non-employee Director elected to receive stock options.

 

Equity Compensation

 

As shown below, Non-employee Directors also receive equity on a regular basis to ensure that their interests are aligned with those of our shareholders.

 

Timing of equity grant   Form of equity grant(1)   Value of equity grant(2)
Upon joining the Board   nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, or a combination thereof   aggregate value as determined by the Board not in excess of the value of a nonqualified stock option covering 20,000 shares of Common Stock
Annually, at the discretion of the Board   restricted stock, nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, or a combination thereof   aggregate dollar value of approximately $155,000
(1) If the Board grants restricted stock, it may permit Non-employee Directors to elect to receive nonqualified stock options instead. In 2018, Mr. Douglas W. Johnson elected to receive all nonqualified stock options, Mr. Moskowitz elected to receive ½ in nonqualified stock options and ½ in restricted stock awards, and the remaining nine Non-employee Directors received all restricted stock.
(2) The values of any stock options or stock appreciation rights are determined based upon the most current Black-Scholes-Merton three-year period valuation price of option shares as determined by the Compensation Committee’s independent compensation consultant. For grants made in the three-year period of 2016 to 2018, our deemed fair value of a stock option was $6.95.

 

For additional information, please see “Stock Ownership Guidelines; Hedging and Pledging Restrictions” on page 48.

   
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Vesting

 

Grants of stock options or, if elected, restricted stock, made to Non-employee Directors upon joining the Board become vested one year from the grant date. Grants of restricted stock or, if elected, stock options, made to Non-employee Directors at the time of an annual meeting become vested at the next annual meeting, generally subject to continued service. Upon death or disability or a change in control of the Company, Non-employee Directors will become 100% vested in all outstanding options and stock awards.

 

Retirement Plans

 

The Company maintains a retirement plan for Non-employee Directors who have attained age 55 and completed at least five years of service on the Board, but that plan was closed to new participants effective 2002. The dollar value and length of payment of the annual retirement benefits were frozen effective May 3, 2010. For qualifying participants, payments under the plan begin upon termination of service as a Non-employee Director and continue for the shorter of the number of years the participant served as Non-employee Director prior to May 3, 2010, or the life of the participant (or, if applicable, his or her surviving spouse). On an annual basis, such payments are equal to the annual compensation paid to a participant during his or her service as a Non-employee Director during the 12-month period immediately preceding May 3, 2010, excluding committee fees, and subject to a cap of $30,000 for the annual retainer fee and $2,000 per meeting. The Non-employee Directors do not participate in any nonqualified deferred compensation plans. Former directors Elizabeth J. Hudson and Charles B. Knapp began receiving payments under this plan in July 2018.

 

2018 Director Compensation

 

The following table identifies each item of compensation paid to Non-employee Directors for 2018.

 

Name(1)   Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash(2)
($)
  Stock
Awards(3)
($)
  Option
Awards(4)
($)
  Chang in Pension Value
and Nonqualified Deferred
Compensation Earnings(5)
($)
  All Other
Compensation(6)
($)
  Total
($)
W. Paul Bowers   145,000   155,039         300,039
Toshihiko Fukuzawa   115,000   155,039         270,039
Elizabeth J. Hudson*   38,333           38,333
Douglas W. Johnson   190,000     393,068     20,050   603,118
Robert B. Johnson   135,000   155,039         290,039
Thomas J. Kenny   135,019   155,039         290,058
Charles B. Knapp*   41,667           41,667
Karole F. Lloyd   125,000   155,039       17,639   297,678
Joseph L. Moskowitz   125,000   77,542   196,539     16,458   415,539
Barbara K. Rimer, DrPH   135,000   155,039       14,996   305,035
Katherine T. Rohrer   115,000   155,039       15,225   285,264
Melvin T. Stith   135,000   155,039       16,182   306,221

* Elizabeth J. Hudson and Charles B. Knapp’s term on the Board of Directors ended May 7, 2018.
(1) Daniel P. Amos is not included in the table because he is an employee and thus did not receive compensation for his services as a Director. The compensation received by Mr. Amos as an employee is shown in the Summary Compensation Table.
(2) Thomas J. Kenny elected to receive his annual retainer in restricted stock. The value of these shares on the grant date was $135,019.
(3) This column represents the dollar amount recognized in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (“ASC 718”) for financial statement purposes with respect to the 2018 fiscal year for the fair value of restricted stock granted in 2018. The fair values of the awards granted in 2018 were calculated using the closing per-share stock price on the date of grant of $44.59 for the awards granted on May 7, 2018. As of December 31, 2018, the following Non-employee Directors held the following number of restricted stock awards: W. Paul Bowers, 3,477; Toshihiko Fukuzawa, 3,477; Robert B. Johnson, 3,477; Thomas J. Kenny, 8,081; Karole F. Lloyd, 3,477; Joseph L. Moskowitz, 4,839; Barbara K. Rimer, 3,477; Katherine T. Rohrer, 3,477; and Melvin T. Stith, 3,477.
(4) In accordance with the SEC’s reporting requirements, this column represents the dollar amount recognized in accordance with ASC 718 for financial statement purposes with respect to the 2018 stock option grants. The Company’s valuation assumptions are described in Note 12, “Share-Based Compensation,” in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC for the year ended December 31, 2018. Stock options granted to Non-employee Directors vest after one year, generally subject to continued service. As of December 31, 2018, the following Non-employee Directors held stock options covering the following number of shares of Common Stock: Elizabeth J. Hudson, 32,052; Douglas W. Johnson, 190,777; Thomas J. Kenny, 29,470; Joseph L. Moskowitz, 41,729; and Barbara K. Rimer, 114,008.
(5) Represents change in pension value. Elizabeth J. Hudson, Charles B. Knapp, and Barbara K. Rimer participate in the Directors’ retirement plan. The other directors do not participate in the Directors’ retirement plan since they first became Directors after the plan was closed to new participants in 2002. The aggregate change in the actuarial present value of the accumulated benefit obligation was a decrease for: Elizabeth J. Hudson, $38,293; Charles B. Knapp, $37,559; and Barbara K. Rimer, $34,814.
(6) Amounts include premiums for Aflac cancer insurance polices provided to all Directors and charges for spousal travel, meals, and entertainment costs.

 

Director Compensation  | 2018 Director Compensation  
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Compensation Discussion & Analysis

 

Executive Summary

 

This Compensation Discussion and Analysis (“CD&A”) provides a detailed description of our executive compensation philosophy and programs, the decisions made by the Compensation Committee related to those programs, and the factors considered when making those decisions.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS  
   
Executive Summary 31
Elements of our Executive Compensation Program 36
Independent Compensation Consultant 46
Retirement, Deferral, and Savings Plans 46
Additional Executive Compensation Practices and Procedures 47
Compensation Committee Report 49

 

This CD&A focuses on our named executive officers (“NEOs”) for 2018, who were:

 

Daniel P. Amos Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President
Frederick J. Crawford Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
Audrey Boone Tillman Executive Vice President, General Counsel
Eric M. Kirsch Executive Vice President, Global Chief Investment Officer; President, Aflac Global Investments
Charles D. Lake II President, Aflac International; Chairman and Representative Director, Aflac Life Insurance Japan

 

Pay-for-Performance Compensation Philosophy

 

Our compensation programs are designed to ensure that a substantial amount of executive pay is directly linked to the Company’s results. We believe this is the most effective method for creating shareholder value and that it has played a significant role in making the Company an industry leader. Importantly, performance-based elements of our compensation programs apply to all levels of Company management—not just the executive officers. In fact, pay-for-performance components permeate compensation at every employee level. As a result, we are able to attract, retain, motivate, and reward talented individuals who have the necessary skills to manage our growing global business on a day-to-day basis and to position the Company for success in the future.

 

The Board’s independent compensation consultant, Mercer LLC, works with the Compensation Committee to review executive compensation practices, including the competitiveness of pay levels, design issues, market trends, and other technical considerations.

 

Our executive compensation program is designed to drive shareholder value via three critical features:

 

1

 

A pay-for-performance philosophy and compensation program structure that directly motivates our executives to achieve our annual and long-term strategic and operational goals

 

2

 

Compensation elements that help us attract and retain high-caliber talent to lead the Company

 

3

 

“Best practice” compensation governance policies, such as stock ownership guidelines, clawback provisions, and no change-in-control excise tax gross-ups

 

   
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2018 Business Overview

     
             
 

The Company’s stock hit an all-time high during the year.

 

 

We enhanced our strategic business alliance with Japan Post Holdings focused on future growth.

 

Capital strength as measured by Japan’s solvency margin ratio was 965%*, and by the U.S. risk-based capital ratio was 560%*.

 

We increased our cash dividend by 19.5%, marking the 36th consecutive year of increasing the dividend.

 

 

Combined, we generated $2.5 billion in total sales(1), in the United States and Japan, driven by a 3.2% increase in sales in the United States, and a 2.0% increase in third and first sector protection sales (which includes cancer and medical insurance) in Japan.

 

Our annual total shareholder return* was 6.2%, versus a negative 21.6% for the S&P 500 Life and Health Insurance subindex.

 

We successfully converted Aflac’s Japan branch to a subsidiary, aligning with global best practices and improving financial flexibility.

 

 

We generated net earnings of $2.9 billion. Excluding the significant benefit of U.S. Tax Reform in 2017, net earnings increased 10%.

 

Adjusted earnings per diluted share, excluding the impact of foreign currency, grew 21.5% (including the significant benefit of U.S. Tax Reform in 2018).

 

We repurchased approximately $1.3 billion or 28.9 million of the Company’s shares as part of a balanced capital allocation program.

 

 
           
   

We are committed to achieving a high level of total return for our shareholders. From August 1990, when Daniel P. Amos was appointed the CEO, through December 31, 2018, the Company’s total return to shareholders, including reinvested cash dividends, has exceeded 7,502%, compared with 1,664% for the Dow Jones Industrial Average, 1,305% for the S&P 500 Index, and 793% for the S&P 500 Life & Health Insurance Index.

 

 

 

*As of December 31, 2018
(1) As defined in Item 1. Business in the Company’s 2018 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

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The adjusted earnings excluding the impact of foreign currency metric is one of the principal financial measures used to evaluate management’s performance, and we believe it continues to be a key driver of shareholder value.

 

On December 1, 2017, the Company gave guidance for 2018 consolidated adjusted earnings per diluted share of $6.66 to $6.95 using an exchange rate of 112 ¥/$. With the release of first quarter 2018 earnings, the Company affirmed the outlook but adjusted this guidance range to $3.72 to $3.88 for the recently completed stock split and 2017 average exchange rate of 112.16 ¥/$. After consistent strong performance in the first half of 2018, the Company upwardly revised the range to $3.90 to $4.06 and ultimately closed the year at $4.13, after continued strong performance driven by strong overall insurance margins, investment results in Japan and the U.S., and disciplined capital management.

 

In 2018 the Company advanced the vision of offering high-quality voluntary products, solutions, and service through diverse distribution outlets, building upon our market-leading position to drive long-term shareholder value.

 

In Japan, management enhanced and expanded our distribution network to provide more opportunities to be where the customer wants to purchase insurance products. We also are strengthening non-traditional distribution channels, such as walk-in shops and visits by salespersons, to further enhance sales. We continue to strengthen relationships with sales channels and to enhance the product line with two new cancer products and one new medical product to ensure we continue to meet the needs of our policyholders. These actions were instrumental in maintaining the Company’s status as the leading provider of both medical and cancer insurance in Japan. Despite the competitive market for cancer and medical products and the persistent low interest rate environment in Japan, the Company exceeded financial objectives—driving pretax operating profit margins to exceed the high end of the forecasted range.

 

In the U.S., strong sales growth across all channels and record persistency drove record pretax operating income margins, despite stepped-up investments in the platform. While investments in the platform drove elevated expenses, these investments are intended to drive growth and long term efficiencies. We increased our agents’ adoption of our Everwell enrollment platform, which is now being used by more than 350,000 businesses across the country. We paid 2.6 million claims through One Day Pay, our industry-leading initiative that allows us to process, approve and pay eligible claims in just one day. Additionally, we further expanded our broker business driven by improved technology and benefit solutions.

 

Management and the Board are committed to ensuring comprehensive risk management and to safeguarding the Company’s financial strength. In 2018, core capital strength measures remained very strong. The Company’s strong capital and cash flow positions continue to support our financial strength ratings, which are among the highest in the industry, and our 36-year track record of increased Common Stock dividends.

 

 

Response to Say-on-Pay Vote

 

The Company has a history and a well-earned reputation with its shareholders as a transparent organization. That commitment to transparency on all levels was a driving force behind our decision in 2008 to allow shareholders a “say-on-pay” advisory vote, years before such votes became mandatory for most public companies. In 2018, 96% of our shareholders voted in favor of our executive compensation program.

 

Consistent with our approach in prior years, the Company engaged in shareholder outreach efforts throughout 2018. The feedback from these conversations, together with a thorough analysis of best practices and guidance from our compensation consultant, was incorporated into the Compensation Committee’s regular review of our compensation programs. This review prompted the following changes for 2018.

 

 

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The Compensation Committee made the following changes:

 

The Management Incentive Plan (“MIP”) was structurally consistent with 2017, including weightings with specific targets and ranges adjusted for our 2018 financial plan. The performance metric Operating Earnings per diluted share, excluding the impact of foreign currency, was renamed in 2018 to Adjusted Earnings per diluted share, excluding the impact of foreign currency (calculation of this metric has not changed). Earned premium has replaced direct premium to align with our public guidance and a more economically impactful definition of premium revenue. In Japan, the definitions of new annualized premium and earned premium were changed to include both cancer and medical products as well as first sector protection products (life insurance). This change reflects renewed focus on the sale and growth rate of these products, and a continued deemphasis of savings products that are more sensitive to the low interest rate environment in Japan.

 

The Performance-Based Restricted Stock (“PBRS”) program structure includes the same performance metrics as prior year: Adjusted return on shareholders’ equity (“AROE”), Risk-Based Capital (“RBC”), and Solvency Margin Ratio (“SMR”). The performance metric operating return on equity (“OROE”), excluding the impact of foreign currency, was renamed in 2018 to AROE (calculation of the metric has not changed). Determining that while capital metrics are important, pay-for-performance on capital metrics should be reduced, the Compensation Committee increased the weighting for currency-neutral AROE (to 70%) and reduced the weightings for RBC and SMR (to 15% each). The structure also preserves the total shareholder return (TSR) modifier approach.

 

Compensation program changes are made with a focus on ensuring that pay is aligned with corporate strategy, as demonstrated by the above changes. We continually analyze our compensation program to ensure that we remain current in our approaches, a leader in executive compensation best practices, and cognizant of shareholder concerns. Moreover, we pride ourselves on incorporating ethics and transparency into everything we do, including compensation disclosure. Accordingly, we will continue our review and dialogue with investors to determine if additional changes are warranted.

 

Compensation Discussion & Analysis  |  Executive Summary: Response to Say-on-Pay Vote
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Summary of Our Executive Compensation Program

 

As a leader in our industry segment, we recognize that a sound management compensation program is one of the things that make us an employer of choice. Our executive compensation program directly links compensation incentives with our business goals and shareholder interests.

 

KEY ELEMENTS OF OUR 2018 EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION PROGRAM

 

Element   Terms   Performance Measure(s)   Objective
Base salary   The fixed amount of annual cash compensation for performing day-to-day responsibilities. Generally reviewed biennially for potential increase based on a number of factors, including market levels, performance, and internal equity.   Levels set based on market data, job scope, responsibilities, experience, and individual performance.   Attract and retain talent
Management Incentive Plan (“MIP”)   Annual variable cash compensation based on the achievement of predetermined annual performance goals.  

Performance metrics align with our business strategy, geographic segment goals, and key value drivers:

 

 Corporate goal: adjusted earnings per diluted share, excluding the impact of foreign currency

 

 U.S. goals: increase in new annualized premium, increase in earned premium

 

 Japan goals: new annualized premium (third sector and first sector protection sales), increase in earned premium (third sector and first sector protection sales)

 

 Global Investments goals: net investment income; credit losses/impairments

 

Performance goals are rigorous and set to align the Company’s business plan with the expectation of achieving target performance.

 

 Motivate executives and reward annual operational and strategic performance

 

 Focus on key near-term drivers of long-term value for our business

 

 Retain key talent

 

 Exercise sound risk-management practices

 

Long-term incentives (“LTI”)   Long-term variable equity awards granted annually in PBRS (100% of LTI for the CEO and other NEOs) under the Company’s Long Term Incentive Plan. PBRS vests based on three-year financial performance.   AROE, RBC, and SMR are metrics that affect our long-term business strategy and operating environment. Payout is also contingent on the relative TSR modifier.  

 Motivate executives and reward long-term operational and strategic performance

 

 Focus on key long-term value drivers for our business

 

 Align executives’ interests with shareholder interests

 

 Retain key talent

 

 Exercise sound risk-management practices

 

Target Pay Elements

 

Base salary is the smallest component of compensation for the NEOs. We consider annual and long-term incentive compensation to be the most important compensation awarded: these pay elements represent the largest part of total rewards for executives and provide the strongest link to Company results and shareholder value creation. Moreover, incentive compensation enables us to attract, retain, motivate, and reward talented individuals who have the necessary skills to manage our growing global enterprise now and for the future.

 

2018 CEO TARGET PAY ELEMENTS

 

The target pay mix demonstrates that 89% of the CEO’s target pay is performance-based variable pay. 100% of the CEO’s LTI awards are performance based. The distribution of compensation elements in the CEO’s target pay package generally aligns with the average target pay mix for CEOs at the Company’s peers.

 

Base
Salary
Target
MIP
Target Long-Term
Incentive Awards
11% 24% 65%
     
    89% Performance-based


 

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Strong Compensation Governance Policies and Leader in Best Practices

 

The Company has long been a leader in corporate governance best practices. Our executive compensation programs reflect the strong, long-standing governance principles outlined below.

 

 

 

What We Do

 

  First public company in the U.S. to provide shareholders with a say-on-pay vote (voluntary action starting in 2008, three years before such votes were required)

 

  Prioritize active engagement with our shareholders regarding our compensation program

 

  History of responding to our shareholders’ feedback

 

  Adherence to a rigorous pay-for-performance philosophy in establishing program design and targeted pay levels for NEOs

 

  Independent Compensation Committee oversees the program

 

  Independent compensation consultant is hired by and reports to the Compensation Committee

 

  Annual report by the independent compensation consultant to the full Board on CEO pay and performance alignment

 

  Long-standing stock ownership guidelines for executive officers and Directors

 

  Long-standing clawback policy

 

  Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan frozen to new participants effective January 1, 2015

 

  Double trigger change-in-control requirements in all employment agreements

 

 

What We Don’t Do

 

  No golden parachute payments for CEO following a change in control

 

  Officers and Directors may not implement 10b5-1 plans unless approved by the Compensation Committee

 

  Officers and Directors may not hedge or engage in short sales of Company stock

 

  Executive officers and Directors may not pledge Company stock

 

  No repricing underwater stock options

 

  No change-in-control excise tax gross-ups

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elements of Our Executive Compensation Program

 

 

 

Importance of the Peer Group

 

The Compensation Committee sets target compensation for the NEOs at market competitive levels with the assistance of its independent compensation consultant. Factors considered include target pay levels in the market for comparable roles, the primary duties and responsibilities of the role at the Company, and the individual’s relevant experience and performance.

 

As discussed in this CD&A, the Compensation Committee considers our peer group when setting compensation amounts or targets. Each year, the Compensation Committee, with the assistance of its independent compensation consultant, reviews the composition of the peer group to ensure it remains appropriate. Key factors the Compensation Committee considers during this annual review include operating characteristics, revenue size, asset size, profitability, market value, and total number of employees. Based on the annual review, the Compensation Committee selects a peer group of companies that are engaged in businesses similar to that of the Company, are of a similar size as the Company, and compete against the Company for talent.

 

 

2018 Peer Group:

 

   Aetna Inc.

 

   The Allstate Corporation

 

   Assurant, Inc.

 

   Brighthouse Financial

 

   The Chubb Corporation

 

   CIGNA Corporation

 

   CNO Financial Group, Inc.

 

   The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.

 

   Humana Inc.

 

   Lincoln National Corporation

 

   Manulife Financial Corporation

 

   MetLife, Inc.

 

   Principal Financial Group, Inc.

 

   The Progressive Corporation

 

   Prudential Financial, Inc.

 

   The Travelers Companies, Inc.

 

   Unum Group

 

 

 

 

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The 2018 peer group reflects two changes from the peer group used in 2017. First, Genworth was removed because it was smaller than the peer group norm, its share price had decreased significantly, and its acquisition was pending. Second, Brighthouse Financial was added. Brighthouse Financial, the former MetLife US Retail business focused on life insurance and retirement income annuities, was spun off from MetLife in August 2017. It fits the size criteria and operating characteristics of the Company’s other peers.

 

The data below shows how the Company’s revenues, total assets, and market value compare to the peer group medians, excluding Aetna, which was acquired in November 2018:

 

 
($ millions)
 
 
 
 
Revenue
(1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Assets
(2)
 
 
 
 
Market Value
(2)
 
 
Aflac Incorporated     $21,758       $140,406     $34,684  
Peer Median     $30,178       $132,738     $28,108  
Percentile Rank for Aflac Incorporated vs. Peers     42nd     51st   71st

 

(1)For the year ending December, 31, 2018.
(2)As of December 31, 2018.

 

The 2018 peer group consists of the companies shown on the previous page. In terms of the size factors considered, the Company is positioned near the middle of this group.

 

Our peer group will change in 2019. Aetna will be removed from the 2019 peer group since it was acquired by CVS Health in late 2018. Additionally, CIGNA will be removed from the 2019 peer group due to its acquisition of Express Scripts in late 2018. No additional peer will be added by reason of such removals.

 

Base Salary

 

Base salary is the smallest component of total compensation for the NEOs.

 

The base salaries of our executive officers are competitively positioned relative to comparable executives at our peers and in the broader insurance sector, generally targeting market median, but also reflect each individual’s scope of responsibilities and performance. The Compensation Committee uses comparative market data for salaries in reviewing and determining the CEO’s salary, and the CEO uses the market data to inform his recommendations to the Compensation Committee regarding the salaries of the other executive officers.

 

Mr. Amos has not received a salary increase in the last seven years. Mr. Kirsch did not receive a salary increase in 2018. Mr. Crawford, Mrs. Tillman, and Mr. Lake received base salary increases of approximately 3.6%, 18.9%, and 32.5%, respectively, to align their base salaries competitively relative to similar roles in the market and to help secure their continued service and leadership for the Company. Certain of Mr. Lake’s perquisites were reduced to rebalance his compensation to market, and when including perquisites, Mr. Lake’s total target direct compensation increase is 17.3% for 2018.

 

Management Incentive Plan (MIP)

 

All NEOs are eligible to participate in an annual non-equity incentive plan referred to as the MIP, which was originally submitted to and approved by shareholders in 2012. The new MIP, which became effective January 1, 2018, was approved by shareholders in 2017.

 

HOW MIP PERFORMANCE GOALS ARE SET

 

The Board believes it is important for the Company to manage the business to provide long-term value to our shareholders. Therefore, performance goals under the MIP involve metrics that drive shareholder returns, and the MIP payout depends entirely upon the level of achievement of those goals.

 

We have used the same methodology for setting MIP goals for many years. MIP segment metrics for Aflac U.S., Aflac Japan, and Global Investments are consistent with assumptions used in developing segment financial projections (described below) based on the Company’s best estimates for the coming year. The segment projections are consolidated into the corporate financial projection used to develop earnings per share guidance.

 

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The goal-setting process generally proceeds in two stages.

 

1. The Company’s CEO and CFO recommend to the Compensation Committee the specific Company performance objectives that are aligned with corporate strategy, and thus will drive shareholder value and ensure financial soundness. Recommended ranges are based, in part, on past performance results and scenario tests of the Company’s financial outlook as projected by a complex financial model. The model projects the impact on various financial measures using different levels of total new annualized premium, investment returns, budgeted expenses, morbidity, and persistency.

 

2. The Compensation Committee refers to these modeled results to establish a target performance level, as well as a minimum and maximum level, for each performance measure. The target goal is not equidistant between the minimum and maximum goals. Instead, for the majority of metrics the MIP payout curve is “sloped” to require significant above-target performance to achieve a maximum payout. Correspondingly, the payout for a minimum result is one-half of the target payout, while the payout for a maximum result (or better) is twice the target payout. No payouts are made for performance below the minimum goal. Interpolation is used to calculate incentive payouts for results between minimum and target goals or target and maximum goals. The 2018 MIP goals were approved by the Compensation Committee in February 2018.

 

IMPORTANCE OF MEASURING MANAGEMENT’S PERFORMANCE EXCLUDING THE IMPACT OF CURRENCY

 

Since 1991, the Company has communicated external earnings guidance that excludes foreign currency effects. Similarly, MIP objectives are set on a currency-neutral basis.

 

Aflac Japan is important to our results, as the Japan segment reflects approximately 70% of total revenues for the year ending December 31, 2018. The Company’s reported U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) revenue, earnings, assets, book value, and cash flow are affected by changes in the relative values of the yen and the dollar, which is outside management’s control. Recognizing that strengthening and weakening of the yen can affect the value of the Company’s shares, the Compensation Committee believes it is important to ensure that executives bear the same exposure to the yen/dollar exchange rate as our shareholders and that equity awards under the LTI program and stock ownership requirements serve to align management with shareholders. When setting the MIP objectives, the Compensation Committee strongly believes that management should not be unduly rewarded because of short-term movement in the yen/dollar exchange rate when the yen is strong or penalized in periods of yen weakening when those currency shifts influence key incentive compensation metrics.

 

TARGET-SETTING CONSIDERATIONS

 

In addition to currency neutrality, the Compensation Committee considers the current business operating environment and forecasts emerging from the Company’s strategic planning process when setting MIP objectives for each metric. For example, new product launches and distribution expansion can materially affect the Company’s sales results in Japan from one year to the next. In addition, low interest rates were expected to continue in 2018, especially in Japan. A low rate environment would continue to pressure Aflac Japan’s net investment income, as private placement investments were called or matured, and lead the Company to continue actively managing down sales of first sector savings-type products, which have returns that are more interest rate-sensitive. The goals for these metrics are generally consistent with the Company’s public guidance as provided during the annual December Outlook Call.

 

Corporate Metric

 

Adjusted earnings per diluted share excluding foreign currency effect rose 6.3% in 2017 at the high end of the increased guidance range communicated on the Company’s third quarter 2017 earnings call. Within the context of Japan’s low rate environment, we planned to continue shifting capital away from lower return, asset-leveraged first sector savings products to higher return third sector business. The impact of this strategy emerges over time in the form of improved FSA earnings and cash flow but pressured GAAP revenues and earnings over the course of the transition. We expect our third sector benefit ratio to continue benefiting from favorable claims trends. Likewise in the U.S., our assumptions included a continuation of experiencing favorable benefit ratios and underlying claims trends. At the same time, we expected expense ratios to be elevated in both segments as a result of continued investment in IT platforms and digital growth initiatives. We assumed net investment income to be stabilized in Japan but still pressured by low rates, while also challenged by our planned capital draw down in the U.S. When taken all together, the Compensation Committee increased the 2018 adjusted earnings per diluted share, excluding the impact of foreign currency, targets and ranges from 2017 levels, and “sloped” those goals as described above in order to properly challenge management to achieve maximum payout results.

 

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U.S. and Japan Segment Metrics

 

On the back of 4.7% sales growth for Aflac U.S. in 2017, we expected to deliver stable 2018 sales growth within a range of 3-5% based on improved productivity of agents and brokers. We also expected the sales growth and improved persistency to lead to 2-3% growth of net earned premium.

 

Aflac Japan continued to focus on third sector sales complemented to a lesser degree by the sales of first sector protection insurance products in 2018 primarily in exclusive agencies. The successful launch of our new medical insurance product in 2017 presented challenging comparable sales for 2018, which would include the introduction of new cancer insurance products, Days 1 and Days 1 Plus, after the conversion of the branch. These factors, together with uncertainty of launching a refreshed cancer product in Japan Post distribution channel led the Compensation Committee to conclude that widening the performance range on the sales target for third and first sector protection products was justified for 2018. Total earned premium would continue to face a headwind from certain first sector savings products reaching paid up status. Excluding the headwind of paid up savings policies, the Compensation Committee set a goal for third sector and first sector protection earned premium to increase 2-3%.

 

Global Investments Metrics

 

For 2018, Aflac Japan net investment income including hedge costs was expected to increase, as we expected hedge costs to remain neutral relative to 2017 and to build out the U.S. dollar floating rate portfolio. In addition, we expected to face a continued headwind from the reinvestment of higher yielding, called and maturing yen fixed income investments.

 

As mentioned earlier, we also expected net investment income for Aflac U.S. to decline as assets were reduced as part of the RBC drawdown strategy, which modestly shifted net investment income from our Aflac U.S. segment to Aflac Incorporated.

 

The increased concentration in floating rate investments and associated hedge costs resulted in widening and sloping the net investment income metrics. While based on a plan and outlook calling for increase in net investment income and favorable realized losses and impairments, in order to properly balance income and risk, targets for 2018 were expressed as a range around budget set based on a bottom-up review of asset allocation and cash flows and were sloped accordingly to require above budget performance for maximum payout while not encouraging excessive risk-taking.

 

TARGET MIP OPPORTUNITY

 

The Compensation Committee, with assistance from its independent compensation consultant, established target MIP levels for 2018 for the NEOs. These targets, shown to the right, were determined to be competitive generally relative to market median targets for executives with comparable positions within our peer group.

 

The MIP payouts for the NEOs cannot exceed 200% of their target opportunities.

 

  Target MIP
Named Executive Officer (as percent of base salary)
Daniel P. Amos 220 %
Frederick J. Crawford 125 %
Audrey Boone Tillman 120 %
Eric M. Kirsch 200 %
Charles D. Lake II 100 %


 

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MIP PERFORMANCE METRICS

 

The incentive measures include statistical and non-GAAP financial measures, as more fully described below.

 

CORPORATE METRIC

 

Adjusted earnings per diluted share, excluding the impact of foreign currency, is calculated as:

 

 

Adjusted earnings, excluding the
impact of foreign currency*
  Weighted-average diluted shares outstanding

 

* Adjusted earnings, excluding the impact of foreign currency, is not calculated in accordance with GAAP. See the Appendix to this Proxy Statement for a definition for this non-GAAP financial measure and a reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP measure.

 

Growth in adjusted earnings per diluted share, excluding the impact of foreign currency, is computed using the average yen/dollar exchange rate for the prior year, which eliminates fluctuations from currency rates that can magnify or suppress reported results in dollar terms.

 

U.S. AND JAPANESE SEGMENTS

 

For both the U.S. and Japanese segments, we use a metric referred to as the increase in total new annualized premium (on policies sold and converted) during the reporting period. The new annualized premium (sales) target range has been widened significantly to recognize recent years of variability in results and timing issues associated with the branch conversion and new product launch. The U.S. segment’s MIP metrics include new annualized premium and Earned Premium. MIP metrics for the Japan segment include third sector and first sector protection for new annualized premium and Earned Premium. Earned Premium has replaced direct premium to align with the Company’s public guidance and to provide a more economically impactful definition of premium revenue. The Japan segment focuses on maintaining our leadership position in cancer and medical (third sector) insurance while also offering first sector protection products. Both of these types of products are less interest-rate sensitive than savings-type products and have strong and stable margins.

 

GLOBAL INVESTMENTS METRICS

 

Net investment income and credit loss budget recognizes the need to invest responsibly the premium and other cash flows to maximize the risk-adjusted performance of our portfolio, subject to our liability profile and capital requirements.

 

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WEIGHTINGS OF EACH PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVE FOR 2018

 

The performance measures are weighted differently for each NEO and for all other officer levels in the Company. We vary the weightings to reflect how each position can and should influence the outcome of particular metrics.

 

   Weightings of Annual Incentive Metrics as a Percent of Target
   Daniel P. Amos  Frederick J. Crawford  Audrey Boone Tillman  Eric M. Kirsch  Charles D. Lake II
Corporate Objective:               
Adjusted earnings per diluted share on a consolidated basis for the Company (excluding foreign currency effect)  45.45%  41.60%  37.50%  25.00%  24.00%
Subtotal Aflac Incorporated  45.45%  41.60%  37.50%  25.00%  24.00%
U.S. Segment:               
New Annualized Premium  9.09%  8.00%  15.625%  4.00% 
Earned Premium  9.09%  8.00%  15.625%  4.00% 
Subtotal  18.18%  16.00%  31.25%  8.00% 
Japan Segment:               
New Annualized Premium               
(third sector and first sector protection sales)  13.64%  17.20%  15.625%  6.00%  32.00%
Earned Premium               
(third sector and first sector protection sales)  13.64%  17.20%  15.625%  6.00%  32.00%
Subtotal  27.28%  34.40%  31.25%  12.00%  64.00%
Global Investments:               
Net Investment Income               
(U.S. and Japan GAAP Segments only)  9.09%  8.00%    40.00%  12.00%
Credit Losses/Impairments        15.00% 
Subtotal  9.09%  8.00%    55.00%  12.00%
GRAND TOTAL  100.00%  100.00%  100.00%  100.00%  100.00%

 

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2018 MIP TARGETS AND ACTUAL PERFORMANCE

 

Actual performance relative to 2018 MIP targets was determined after the end of the year and presented to the Compensation Committee for discussion and approval at its February 2019 meeting. The following table shows the corporate and business segment metrics, objectives, and results for the 2018 MIP awards.

 

   Minimum Goal  Target Goal  Maximum Goal  2018 Actual  2018 Payout
Percentages
Corporate Metric:               
Adjusted earnings per diluted share on a consolidated basis for the Company (excluding foreign currency effect)(1)  $3.72  $3.82  $3.95  $4.13  200%
U.S. Segment Metrics:               
Increase in New Annualized Premium  3.00%  4.25%  6.00%  3.16%  55.26%
Increase in Earned Premium  1.75%  2.40%  3.25%  2.61%  125%
Japan Segment Metrics:               
Increase in New Annualized Premium in billions of Yen (third sector and first sector protection sales)  ¥ 86.90  ¥ 91.50  ¥ 96.10  ¥ 93.90  152.70%
Increase in Earned Premium               
(third sector and first sector protection sales)(2)  2.20%  2.56%  2.95%  2.41%  79.54%
Global Investments Metrics:               
Net Investment Income  Budget     Budget  Budget   
(U.S. and Japan GAAP segments only)(3)  minus 2%  Budget  plus 2.5%  plus 5.24%  200%
Credit Losses/Impairments (in millions)(4)  ($350)  ($225)  ($75)  ($76)  199.33%

 

(1) Corresponds to increases of 9.41%, 12.4%, and 16.2% for the minimum, target and maximum goals, respectively, from the 2017 base of $3.40 per share (net of foreign currency effect).
(2) When initially approved by the Compensation Committee in February 2018, the Japan earned premium projection for 2018 was inadvertently elevated by a net 4 billion Yen due to errors in the projection process that were later identified by the Company in July 2018. The source of the errors existed in the treatment of sales converting to earned premium for projection purposes only. The errors had no impact on the Company’s financial statements, sales reporting, or outlook guidance. The impact was isolated to forecasted earned premium in Japan. In August 2018, the Committee approved adjustments to the MIP minimum, target, and maximum goals for the Japan earned premium metric to correlate with the corrected forecast. Mr. Amos was excluded from the corrections, and as such, his minimum, target and maximum goals were 2.60%, 2.94%, and 3.35%, respectively.
(3) Excludes Aflac Incorporated portfolio income, alternative investments (externally managed private equity and real estate equity), and the impact of any corporate-driven change in Japan portfolio U.S. dollar hedging strategy. Make-whole income is included but capped at $15 million and net of lost income on reinvestment.
(4) This measure excludes realized losses on securities sold for pre-approved tax purposes, Japan principal reserve matching and segregated portfolio asset liability management, corporate-shift in RBC drawdown plan, switch trades in excess of $100 million in assets, and compliance with internal risk limits. Excludes accounting policy driven mark-to-market losses on equities, alternatives, and perpetual securities.

 

Corporate Metric

 

Adjusted earnings per share on a currency-neutral basis for the full year came in at $4.13 per share, above our guidance range of $3.90 to $4.06 per share. Setting aside the impact of U.S. Tax Reform on the Company’s effective tax rate and currency impact, pretax adjusted earnings were up 5.7%. Adjusted earnings reflect stronger than expected net investment income, especially in Japan due to the accelerated growth of the floating rate U.S. dollar floating rate portfolio. In addition, the Company continued to achieve strong overall margins in the insurance segments with benefit ratios outperforming expectations. It is important to note that benefit ratios can fluctuate and recent positive results are not necessarily assurance of continued positive trends.

 

U.S. Segment Metrics

 

Aflac U.S. sales increased 3.16% in 2018 to $1.6 billion, which amounted to the largest sales year in the history of Aflac U.S. The 2018 sales were driven by improvements in productivity and strong growth in broker distribution.

 

U.S. earned premium grew 2.61% and benefited from strong sales and record persistency, which was 78.7% at the end of the year.

 

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Japan Segment Metrics

 

Strong sales campaigns around the new cancer insurance products drove respective sales 19.3% higher and offset the 26% decline in medical insurance sales, which were strong in 2017 due to a revision of the core medical insurance product, EVER. As a result, third sector sales amounted to ¥88.8 billion, which were up 1.6%, and complemented by first sector protection sales of ¥5.1 billion, which were up 8.6%. In combination, new annualized premium sales for the third sector and first sector protection products reached its highest point in ten years at ¥93.9 billion and increased by 2% in 2018. Japan third sector and first sector protection earned premium increased 2.4% driven by strong sales of the new cancer product, partially offset by a modest reduction in persistency.

 

Global Investments Metrics

 

2018 saw a divergence between interest rates in Japan and the U.S. Both the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) and U.S. Treasury rates ended the year higher, while Japanese Government Bonds were slightly down. The higher allocation and accelerated investment in dollar-denominated floating rate assets for both Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. helped drive net investment income for the year. Hedge costs for Aflac Japan’s U.S. dollar portfolio for the full year were $236 million, 3.5% higher than the prior year but below the original forecast for 2018. Overall credit conditions and asset quality remained strong for the year, with only a modest level of impairments associated with a de-risking of energy exposures in December.

 

Please refer to the 2018 Business Overview section beginning on page 32 for additional information.

 

2018 MIP PAYOUTS

 

The table to the right reflects target and earned percentages of salary for each NEO for the MIP based on 2018 performance results.

 

The Compensation Committee has the discretion in certain limited circumstances to adjust the MIP results related to particular performance measures if the Committee determines that a class of MIP participants would be unduly penalized or rewarded because a payout is incompatible with the performance measure. There were no adjustments to the NEOs’ MIP payouts for 2018, and these awards were paid in February 2019.

   As a % of base salary
NEO  Target  Earned
Daniel P. Amos  220%  322%
Frederick J. Crawford  125%  192%
Audrey Boone Tillman  120%  167%
Eric M. Kirsch  200%  362%
Charles D. Lake II  100%  146%


 

For additional information about the MIP, please refer to the 2018 Grants of Plan-Based Awards table below, which shows the threshold, target, and maximum award amounts payable under the MIP for 2018, and the 2018 Summary Compensation Table, which shows the actual amount of non-equity incentive plan compensation paid to the NEOs for 2018.

 

Long-term Equity Incentives

 

OVERVIEW OF LTI PROGRAM

 

The Compensation Committee administers the Long-Term Incentive Plan. In February 2018, the Compensation Committee authorized grants of LTI awards to executive officers, including NEOs, in the form of PBRS. All eligible non-executive officers received time-based restricted stock units.

 

In determining the number of shares of PBRS to be granted to NEOs, the Compensation Committee is advised by its independent compensation consultant. The Compensation Committee’s decision is informed by market data regarding comparable executive positions within the Company’s peer group and the broader insurance sector, and each NEO’s tenure and performance. Based on these considerations, the Committee determines award levels that it believes are competitive within the Company’s peer group and the broader insurance sector, generally targeting the market median, and will be effective at aligning the NEO’s compensation with performance and the interests of our shareholders. Future payouts (if any) on the February 2018 PBRS awards will be based on the Company’s performance from 2018 through 2020, and will vary between 0% and 200% of the target number of shares of PBRS granted, which is consistent with typical market practices.

 

LTI awards will vest three years from the issuance date, subject to satisfaction of performance conditions and final Compensation Committee authorization.

 

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TARGET LTI AWARDS

 

Since 2017, the pay program for the CEO follows a market-based approach (rather than the previous matrix approach). The Company granted the CEO his target annual LTI award in February 2018 at a market-competitive level, based primarily on peer market data. Specifically, the CEO’s target LTI was set at an amount that approximates the 50th percentile LTI of his fellow CEOs at the Company’s peers for 2018. This resulted in the CEO’s target LTI being 589% of his base salary.

NEO  Target LTI
(as percent of
base salary)
Frederick J. Crawford  250%
Audrey Boone Tillman  200%
Eric M. Kirsch  200%
Charles D. Lake II  200%


 

2018 annual LTI award targets as a percent of base salary for the other NEOs were as shown to the right:

 

LTI PERFORMANCE METRICS

 

The PBRS will vest based on the Company’s achievement on three measures—AROE, RBC, and SMR—for the cumulative three-year performance period beginning January 1, 2018, and ending December 31, 2020. As described below, each metric has been assigned a weight that determines its effect on the LTI payout. Once a payout is calculated based on the weighted average achievement on these three metrics, that amount will be modified (up to +/-20%) based on our total shareholder return relative to the members of our peer group. We refer to this fourth metric as relative total shareholder return, or RTSR.

 

Adjusted return on shareholders’ equity (or AROE)

 

The Compensation Committee determined that this AROE metric is an appropriate measure for the LTI program because it enables shareholders to evaluate our financial achievements relative to other organizations in terms of how effectively we use capital to generate earnings. We believe this metric has a significant influence on the value our shareholders place on the Company.

 

We define AROE (or currency-neutral AROE) as follows:

 

 

Adjusted earnings, excluding the
impact of foreign currency*
  Adjusted book value*

 

* AROE, adjusted earnings, excluding the impact of foreign currency, and adjusted book value are not calculated in accordance with GAAP. See the Appendix to this Proxy Statement for definitions for these non-GAAP financial measures and reconciliations to the most directly comparable GAAP measures.

 

For the 2018 LTI awards, AROE was assigned a 70% weighting, up from 50% in prior years. This adjustment recognizes the alignment of AROE, shareholder value, and refreshed capital management strategies in the year of the Japan branch conversion to a subsidiary.

 

While recognizing the importance of maximizing profitability and return on equity to shareholders, the Compensation Committee also believes it is appropriate to pursue those objectives within the context of a solid risk framework, which is best represented by the current regulatory solvency measures in the U.S. and Japan.

 

RBC is determined on a U.S. statutory accounting basis at each calendar year end. This performance measure was selected because the Company believes capital adequacy is a significant concern for the financial markets and shareholder confidence. For the 2018 LTI awards, RBC was assigned a 15% weighting, down from 25% in prior years.

 

SMR is the principal capital adequacy measure in Japan. For the 2018 LTI awards, SMR was assigned the same 15% weighting as RBC, down from 25% in prior years.

 

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2018 LTI PERFORMANCE TARGETS

 

The following illustrates the terms of the 2018 PBRS grant.

 

 

70%
Currency-neutral
AROE result
  15%
SMR result
  15%
RBC result
  RTSR
Modifier
  Final
Payout

 

Awards earned based on three-year average results for each of the
currency-neutral AROE, SMR, and RBC metrics. Earned amounts will be
modified based on the Company’s TSR performance relative to our peers
PAYOUT
2018 2019 2020   2021

 

    GOALS   RELATIVE TSR
(RTSR) MODIFIER
Performance
Level
 

3-yr. avg. currency-
neutral AROE goal
(70% weighting)

  3-yr. avg. SMR goal
(15% weighting)
  3-yr. avg. RBC goal
(15% weighting)
 

Payout
(% of Target)

 

3-yr. RTSR
percentile
rank vs. peers

 

Modifier to
earned amounts

Maximum   16.5%   700%   600%   200%   75th percentile or greater   1.20x
Target   13.75%   600%   500%   100% Between 25th and 75th percentile   1.00x
Threshold   12.5%   500%   400%   50%   25th percentile or worse   0.80x


 

For financial performance (AROE, SMR, and RBC), linear interpolation will be used to determine payouts for performance between the corresponding goals (i.e., threshold to target, or target to maximum).
   
For RTSR, adjustments of 1.20x or 0.80x will be made only if the Company’s RTSR is in the upper or lower quartile, respectively, versus our peers. There will not be any adjustments to the payout if RTSR falls between the 25th and 75th percentiles of the peers.
   
Maximum potential payouts will be capped at 200% of target.

 

The goals for these metrics are generally consistent with the Company’s public guidance as provided during the annual December Outlook Call. SMR and RBC targets have been adjusted to reflect the Company’s capital management strategy following conversion of the Japan branch to a subsidiary, effective April 2018. Overall, we believe these changes for 2018 further enhance our longstanding strong pay-for-performance philosophy, while also being responsive to the business and talent markets in which we compete.

 

SPECIAL AWARDS

 

From time to time, we may make special awards in the form of restricted stock units (“RSUs”) to recognize major milestones, to secure leadership stability, or to achieve other strategic objectives. On August 14, 2018, the Compensation Committee awarded an RSU grant to Mr. Crawford to recognize his leadership and critical position with the Company. The grant will vest on the third anniversary of the grant date generally subject to continued service through the vesting date. On December 11, 2018, the Compensation Committee awarded an RSU grant to Mr. Kirsch to recognize his leadership and significant efforts in the building of Aflac Global Investments. The grant will vest on the third anniversary of the grant date generally subject to continued service through the vesting date. For more information regarding the special awards see the 2018 Grants of Plan-Based Awards table on page 52.

 

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Independent Compensation Consultant

 

The Compensation Committee has retained a nationally recognized compensation consultant, Mercer LLC (“Mercer”), to assist and advise the Compensation Committee in its deliberations. Mercer typically assists in the following areas:

 

providing comparative company performance to determine CEO pay; assessing proposed performance goals and ranges for incentive plans;
       
evaluating the competitiveness of the Company’s executive compensation and benefit programs; providing comparative company data to determine NEO compensation;
reviewing plan design issues and recommending improvements; conducting training sessions for the Compensation Committee; and
       
apprising the Compensation Committee of trends and developments in the marketplace; proposing the compensation for Non-employee Directors.
       
assessing the relationship between executive pay and performance;  

 

Fees paid to Mercer for these services totaled $146,102 in 2018. Management retained certain Mercer affiliates to provide additional services not pertaining to executive compensation during 2018, and approved payments totaling $56,962. In addition, as the Company grows the sales of its insurance products through brokers in the U.S., this has resulted in commission payments totaling $26,831,539 during 2018 to the broker subsidiaries of Mercer. These subsidiaries are separate from the subsidiary that provides compensation consulting to the Company. As reported by Mercer to the Compensation Committee, the total payments from the Company represented less than 0.18% of Mercer’s parent company’s annual revenue. The Compensation Committee assessed Mercer’s independence pursuant to SEC rules and concluded that no conflict of interest exists with respect to the work Mercer performs for the Committee.

 

Retirement, Deferral, and Savings Plans

 

The retirement, deferral, and savings plans described below were established in order to provide competitive post-termination benefits for officers and employees, including the NEOs, in recognition of their service and contributions to the Company.

 

Defined Benefit Pension Plans

 

As described further in “Pension Benefits” below, the Company maintains tax-qualified, noncontributory defined benefit pension plans covering substantially all U.S. employees, including the NEOs, who satisfy the eligibility requirements. Mr. Lake, who became a Japan employee on August 1, 2013, has benefits accrued in the U.S. tax-qualified plan from his 14 years as a U.S. employee. The Company also maintains nonqualified supplemental retirement plans covering some of the NEOs. No change has been made to the pension plans and the benefit level remains the same as it was last year. Mr. Lake currently participates in a Japan nonqualified supplemental retirement plan, which is described on page 56.

 

Executive Deferred Compensation Plan

 

The NEOs (other than Mr. Lake), together with other U.S.-based eligible executives, are entitled to participate in the Executive Deferred Compensation Plan (“EDCP”). Messrs. Amos and Crawford and Mrs. Tillman are the only NEOs currently participating in this plan. Mr. Lake has funds in the plan from his 14 years as a U.S. employee, but he no longer actively participates in the plan. The EDCP is discussed in more detail below under “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation.”

 

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401(k) Savings and Profit Sharing Plan

 

The Company maintains a tax-qualified 401(k) Savings and Profit Sharing Plan (the “401(k) Plan”) in which all U.S.-based employees, including the U.S.-based NEOs, are eligible to participate on the same terms. Until 2018, the Company matched 50% of the first 6% of eligible compensation contributed to the 401(k) Plan. As a result of U.S. Tax Reform, the Company announced it would increase its matching contributions to 100% of each employee’s contributions up to 4% of the employee’s annual cash compensation. This increase became effective on January 1, 2018. Employee contributions made to the 401(k) Plan are 100% vested. Employees vest in Company contributions at the rate of 20% for each complete year of service. After five years of service, employees are fully vested in all Company contributions.

 

The Company provides a nonelective contribution to the 401(k) Plan of 2% of annual cash compensation for employees who elected to opt out of the future benefits of the U.S. defined benefit plan and for U.S. employees who started working for the Company after September 30, 2013. Mr. Crawford is the only NEO who is eligible to receive a nonelective contribution.

 

Other Benefits

 

The Company provides NEOs with other benefits that we believe are reasonable, competitive, and consistent with our overall executive compensation program. For details, see the “All Other Compensation” column in the 2018 Summary Compensation Table on page 50. Included in Mr. Lake’s employment agreement are certain perquisites including tax equalization between U.S. and Japan unvested earnings distributed after August 1, 2013, payment of premiums for a life insurance policy for $10 million (including tax gross-up) and tax consultant fees. The Company also pays for Mr. Lake’s use of a leased car, driver compensation and related expenses, which are customary perquisites for senior executives at Aflac Japan.

 

The Company maintains medical and dental insurance, group life insurance, accidental death insurance, cancer insurance, and disability insurance programs for all employees, as well as paid time off, leave of absence, and other similar policies. The U.S.-based NEOs and other officers are eligible to participate in these programs along with, and on the same basis as, the Company’s other salaried employees. In addition, the NEOs are eligible to receive reimbursement for medical examination expenses.

 

For security and time-management reasons, certain officers of the Company occasionally travel on corporate aircraft for business and personal purposes. Personal travel on corporate aircraft and security services are provided where considered by the Board to be in the best interest of the Company and its business objectives.

 

Additional Executive Compensation Practices and Procedures

 

Equity Granting Policies

 

Each year, typically in February, the Compensation Committee meets shortly after the Company’s fiscal year results are released to the public. At that time, the Compensation Committee reviews recommendations developed by the CEO and CFO (with input from Mercer) for awards of PBRS, stock options, and time-based restricted stock. Option grants are awarded on the date of the meeting, and have a per share exercise price set at the closing price on the date of grant. The Company has never engaged in “backdating” of options.

 

The Company may periodically make additional equity grants during the course of the year, but as a matter of policy does not make equity grants in advance of material news releases.

 

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Stock Ownership Guidelines; Hedging and Pledging Restrictions

 

The Company believes its executive officers and Directors should have a significant equity interest in the Company and has enforced stock ownership guidelines for executive officers and non-employee Directors for almost two decades. The stock ownership guidelines, as amended on February 14, 2019, are as follows:

 

Position Ownership guideline
Chairman of the Board/CEO 8x base salary
President of Aflac Incorporated 5x base salary
Chairman/Vice Chairman/President of Aflac U.S. 4x base salary
Chairman/Vice Chairman/President of Aflac Japan 4x base salary
All other executive officers 3x base salary
Non-employee Directors 4x cash annual retainer

 

Prior to this change, the stock ownership guidelines were as follows:

 

Position Ownership guideline
Chairman, CEO, President, and President of Aflac 5x base salary
All other executive officers 3x base salary
Non-employee Directors 4x cash annual retainer

 

Officers have four years from their hire or promotion date to satisfy their respective stock ownership requirements. Non-employee Directors have five years from the date first elected to the Board to satisfy these requirements. Upon any increase in the these stock ownership guidelines or an increase in base salary or annual retainer, impacted individuals will have an additional two years from the effective date of the change to comply with the increased requirements.

 

Ownership includes all shares held by the officer or Director and the individual’s spouse, as well as time-based, unvested restricted shares. Shares pledged as collateral for a margin account or other loan, PBRS, and stock options (vested or unvested) do not count toward these stock ownership guidelines.

 

Each current NEO and Director has stock ownership that exceeds the ownership guidelines or is working toward meeting the requisite guideline within the allowed time frame. Progress toward meeting the guidelines is reviewed regularly and reported to the Board.

 

The Company’s insider trading policy prohibits our Directors, officers and other covered individuals from selling our Common Stock “short,” engaging in option trading (puts, calls, or other derivative securities) relating to our Common Stock, entering into a 10b5-1 plan (unless approved by the Compensation Committee), or hedging. In addition, executive officers and Directors are prohibited from pledging the Company’s stock. All other covered individuals under the Company’s insider trading policy must pre-clear with the policy’s compliance officer before pledging Company stock as collateral for a margin account or other loan.

 

Employment Agreements

 

The Company has employment agreements with the NEOs and certain other executives in key roles. The agreements generally address role and responsibility; rights to compensation and benefits during active employment; termination in the event of death, disability, or retirement; termination for cause or without cause; and resignation by the employee. Some agreements also contain termination and related pay provisions in the event of a change in control. These change-in-control provisions do not apply unless there is both a change in control and either a termination by the Company without cause or a resignation by the executive for good reason. This is commonly referred to as a “double trigger” requirement. No agreement provides for excise tax gross-ups. Further, each agreement stipulates that the subject executive may not compete with the Company for a prescribed period following termination of employment, or disclose confidential information. Mr. Amos has voluntarily waived all “golden parachute” and other severance components in his employment agreement. The payments that may be made under each NEO’s employment agreement upon termination of employment under specified circumstances are described in more detail below under “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control.”

 

Compensation Discussion & Analysis  |  Additional Executive Compensation Practices and Procedures
48 AFLAC INCORPORATED 2019 PROXY STATEMENT
 

Table of Contents

 

Change-in-Control Policy and Severance Agreements

 

The Company has no formal change-in-control or severance policy. However, as noted above, individual employment agreements incorporate provisions related to these matters.

 

Compensation Recovery (“Clawback”) Policy

 

The Company has a “clawback” policy that allows the Compensation Committee to review any adjustment or restatement of performance measures and determine whether that adjustment or restatement warrants modifying or recovering non-equity incentive awards. If it is deemed that such a modification or recovery is appropriate, the Compensation Committee is charged with determining the amount of recovery and the officer group to be affected.

 

Certain Tax Implications of Executive Compensation

 

Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code generally limits to $1 million annually the federal income tax deduction that a publicly held corporation may claim for compensation payable to certain of its current and former executive officers, but that deduction limitation historically did not apply to performance-based compensation that met certain requirements. As part of the U.S. Tax Reform, Section 162(m) was amended, effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, to expand the range of executive officers subject to the deduction limitation and also to eliminate the exception for performance-based compensation–though the exception generally continues to be available on a “grandfathered” basis for compensation payable under a written binding contract in effect on and not materially modified after November 2, 2017.

 

In determining compensation for our executive officers, the Compensation Committee considers the extent to which the compensation is deductible, including the effect of Section 162(m). In prior years, the Compensation Committee generally sought to structure our executive incentive compensation awards to qualify as performance-based compensation exempt from the Section 162(m) deduction limitation where doing so was consistent with the Company’s compensation objectives, but it reserved the right to award nondeductible compensation, and on occasion did so. While the Compensation Committee continues to consider the effect of the Section 162(m) deduction limit when designing the Company’s compensation programs, the Compensation Committee’s primary focus in its compensation decisions will remain on most productively furthering the Company’s business objectives and not on whether the compensation is deductible. The Compensation Committee did not make significant changes to the Company’s executive compensation program for 2018 or 2019 in response to the tax code changes.

 

Compensation Committee Report

 

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the preceding CD&A with management and, based on that review and discussion, has recommended to the Board to include the CD&A in this Proxy Statement.

 

Compensation Committee

 

Robert B. Johnson, Chairman
Douglas W. Johnson
Joseph L. Moskowitz

 

Compensation Discussion & Analysis  |  Additional Executive Compensation Practices and Procedures
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Table of Contents

Executive Compensation

 

2018 Summary Compensation Table

 

The following table provides information concerning total compensation earned or paid to our CEO, CFO, and the three other most highly compensated executive officers who were serving as executive officers during 2018. These five officers are referred to as our NEOs in this Proxy Statement.

 

Name and
Principal Position
  Year   Salary
(1)
($)
  Bonus
($)
  Stock Awards
(2)(3)
($)
  Option
Awards
(3)
($)
  Non-equity
Incentive
Plan
Compensation
($)
  Change in
Pension
Value and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
(4)
($)
  All Other
Compensation
(5)
($)
  Total
($)
  Total
without
Change in
Pension
Value*
($)
Daniel P. Amos
Chairman, CEO and President
  2018   1,441,100     8,922,142     4,638,345   2,166,871   366,940   17,535,398   15,368,527
  2017   1,441,100     8,607,889     5,946,758   6,487,909   347,328   22,830,984   16,343,075
  2016   1,441,100     13,773,466     4,884,442     313,002   20,412,010   20,412,010
                                       
Frederick J. Crawford
Executive Vice President, CFO
  2018   725,000     4,905,453     1,391,688     366,214   7,388,355   7,388,355
  2017   700,000     2,793,738     1,643,851     390,911   5,528,500   5,528,500
  2016   700,000     1,420,062   280,003   1,400,700     454,628   4,255,393   4,255,393
                                       
Audrey Boone Tillman
Executive Vice President, General Counsel
  2018   670,333     1,429,765     1,121,759   1,135,561   13,739   4,371,157   3,235,596
  2017   564,000     1,867,158     829,844   1,534,867   18,859   4,814,728   3,279,861
                                       
                                       
Eric M. Kirsch
Executive Vice President, Global Chief Investment Officer; President, Aflac Global Investments
  2018   593,800     2,248,570     2,150,087   22,820   28,620   5,043,897   5,021,077
  2017   593,800     1,217,238     2,210,442   47,012   25,592   4,094,084   4,047,072
  2016   593,800     950,052   237,519   1,906,407   36,505   17,281   3,741,564   3,705,059
                                       
Charles D. Lake II(6)
President, Aflac International; Chairman and Representative Director, Aflac Life Insurance Japan
  2018   597,880     1,237,224     874,799   282,725   837,230   3,829,858   3,547,133
  2017   444,009     1,563,541     716,885   39,691   1,192,582   3,956,708   3,917,017
                                       
                                       

 

* Total without Change in Pension Value represents total compensation, as determined under applicable SEC rules, minus the change in pension value reported in the Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings column. This additional column has been included to show the effect that the year-over-year change in pension value had on total compensation as determined under applicable SEC rules. The amounts reported in the Total without Change in Pension Value column differ from the amounts reported in the Total column required under SEC rules and are not a substitute for total compensation. The change in pension value, as discussed in footnote 4 below, is subject to many external variables that are not related to the Company’s performance.
   
(1) In each of the three years above, includes $441,100 deferred for Mr. Amos. This amount is included in the 2018 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation table below. See “Elements of Our Executive Compensation Program — Base Salary” in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this Proxy Statement for information about adjustments to base salaries in 2018.
   
(2) In addition to his 2018 annual LTI grants, on August 14, 2018, Mr. Crawford received a special recognition grant of 64,503 time-based restricted stock units. Mr. Crawford’s grant will vest on the third anniversary of the grant date, generally subject to continued service through the vesting date. In addition to his 2018 annual LTI grants, on December 11, 2018, Mr. Kirsch received a special recognition grant of 23,453 time-based restricted stock units. Mr. Kirsch’s grant will vest on the third anniversary of the grant date, subject to continued service through the vesting date.
   
(3) In accordance with the SEC’s reporting requirements, we report all equity awards at their full grant date fair value under ASC 718 at the target level of performance for PBRS. The Company’s valuation assumptions are described in Note 12, “Share-Based Compensation,” in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC for the year ended December 31, 2018. See “Elements of Our Executive Compensation Program — Long-term Equity Incentives” in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this Proxy Statement for additional information about these long-term incentives and their terms. Assuming achievement of performance goals at the maximum level, the aggregate grant date fair value of the PBRS would be: Daniel P. Amos, $17,844,285; Frederick J. Crawford, $3,810,837; Audrey Boone Tillman, $2,859,530; Eric M. Kirsch, $2,497,067; and Charles D. Lake II, $2,474,447. See page 53 for a more detailed discussion of our outstanding equity grants compared to fair market value as of December 31, 2018.
   
(4) No amount in this column is attributable to above-market earnings on deferred compensation. Mr. Crawford is not eligible to participate in the Company’s defined benefit plans because the plans were frozen before he joined the Company. See the “Pension Benefits” section and the accompanying table beginning on page 55 for a more detailed discussion of the retirement plans. The change in pension value for 2018 was driven largely by the increase in discount rate from 3.75% in 2017 to 4.25% in 2018.
   
(5) Additional information regarding all other compensation is provided in the “All Other Compensation” and “Perquisites” tables detailed on the following page.
   
(6) Includes payments made to Mr. Lake in yen for salary, non-equity incentive plan compensation, and some perquisites, and converted to dollars by dividing the actual yen-denominated payments by the 2018 annual weighted average exchange rate of 110.39 yen to the dollar.

 

   
50 AFLAC INCORPORATED 2019 PROXY STATEMENT
 

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2018 All Other Compensation

 

The following table identifies the amount of each item included for 2018 in the All Other Compensation column in the 2018 Summary Compensation Table on the previous page.

 

Name  Perquisites and Other
Personal Benefits
(1)
($)
  Company Contribution
to 401(k) Plan
($)
  Company Contribution
to Nonqualified
Deferred Compensation
(2)
($)
  Total
($)
Daniel P. Amos  356,090  10,850    366,940
Frederick J. Crawford  32,440  16,271  317,503  366,214
Audrey Boone Tillman  2,889  10,850    13,739
Eric M. Kirsch  17,770  10,850    28,620
Charles D. Lake II  837,230      837,230

 

(1) Perquisites are more fully described in the Perquisites table below.
(2) A $317,503 Company deferred compensation contribution for Mr. Crawford. This amount is included in the 2018 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation table below.

 

2018 Perquisites

 

The following table identifies the incremental cost to the Company of each perquisite included for 2018 in the All Other Compensation table above.

 

Name   Personal Use of
Company Aircraft
(1)
($)
  Security
Services
(2)
($)
  Life Insurance
(3)
($)
  Tax Related
Reimbursements
(4)
($)
  Car Allowance
(5)
($)
  Other
(6)
($)
  Total Perquisites
and Other Personal
Benefits
(7)
($)
Daniel P. Amos   140,400   196,997         18,693   356,090
Frederick J. Crawford   24,300   420       543   7,177   32,440
Audrey Boone Tillman           399   2,490   2,889
Eric M. Kirsch             17,770   17,770
Charles D. Lake II       181,221   426,991   204,182   24,836   837,230

 

(1) Incremental cost for the personal use of corporate aircraft is the calculated standard hourly cost rate based upon actual operating expenses for corporate aircraft, including fuel costs, airport fees, catering, in-flight phone, crew travel expenses, and maintenance cost. This rate is recalculated annually. The personal use of corporate aircraft has been authorized by the Board for security reasons and to maximize the effectiveness of the executives’ time.
(2) Incremental costs for security services include the salaries and benefits of security officers and the actual costs of any security equipment, monitoring, and maintenance fees.
(3) Amounts included in the Life Insurance column for Mr. Lake represent life insurance premiums paid for his policy during 2018.
(4) Amounts included in the Japan tax-related reimbursements for Mr. Lake represent tax equalization and tax gross-up payments paid during 2018.
(5) Amounts included in the Car Allowance column for Mr. Crawford and Mrs. Tillman are charges for the use of Company automobile transportation in the U.S. The amount included in the Car Allowance column for Mr. Lake includes the cash cost to the Company for the use of a leased car, driver compensation and related expenses.
(6) Amounts included in the Other column are charges for guest travel in the amount of $18,693 (Mr. Amos), $7,177 (Mr. Crawford), and $2,490 (Mrs. Tillman). Mr. Kirsch incurred amounts totaling $17,770 for personal tax return preparation and financial planning. Mr. Lake also incurred amounts totaling $24,836 for tax return consulting.
(7) Other than tax gross-ups reflected in the tax-related reimbursements, the Company did not gross up for tax purposes any of the other perquisites described in this table.

 

Executive Compensation  |  2018 All Other Compensation
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Table of Contents

2018 Grants of Plan-Based Awards

 

The following table provides information with respect to the 2018 grants of plan-based awards to the NEOs.

 

        Estimated Possible Payouts
Under Non-Equity
Incentive Plan Awards(1)
  Estimated Future Payouts
Under Equity
Incentive Plan Awards(2)
  All Other
Stock Awards:
Number of
Shares of Stock
  Grant Date
Fair Value
of Stock
and Option
Name and
Principal Position
  Grant
Date
  Threshold
($)
  Target
($)
  Maximum
($)
  Threshold
(#)
  Target
(#)
  Maximum
(#)
  or Units(3)
(#)
  Awards
($)
Daniel P. Amos   2/13/2018         98,609   197,218   394,436     8,922,142
    N/A   1,585,210   3,170,420   6,340,840          
Frederick J. Crawford   2/13/2018         21,059   42,118   84,236     1,905,418
  8/14/2018               64,503   3,000,035
    N/A   453,125   906,250   1,812,500          
Audrey Boone Tillman   2/13/2018         15,802   31,604   63,208     1,429,765
  N/A   402,200   804,400   1,608,800          
Eric M. Kirsch   2/13/2018         13,799   27,598   55,196     1,248,534
    12/11/2018               23,453   1,000,036
    N/A   593,800   1,187,600   2,375,200          
Charles D. Lake II   2/13/2018         13,674   27,348   54,696     1,237,224
    N/A   298,940   597,880   1,195,760          

 

(1) The amounts shown in Estimated Possible Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards reflect the payout levels for the NEOs under the Company’s MIP, based on the potential achievement of certain performance goals approved by the Compensation Committee on February 28, 2018. For additional information, please see “Elements of Our Executive Compensation Program—Management Incentive Plan (MIP)” beginning on page 37. For each Company performance goal, a minimum, target, and maximum performance level is specified. The amount paid for each performance goal depends on the results attained.
(2) The amounts shown under Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards for February 14, 2018, reflect the number of shares of PBRS. Those shares incorporate restrictions that will lapse upon the attainment of performance goals set by the Compensation Committee. Awards vest on the third anniversary of the grant date, based on the attainment of the cumulative three-year average target performance goals for Company AROE and the RBC and SMR ratios. For the cumulative three-year average performance period from 2018 to 2020, shares of PBRS will vest at 50% of target if the Company attains the minimum goals and at 200% if the Company reaches or exceeds the maximum goals. Earned amounts may then be modified based on the Company’s TSR performance versus peers. All NEOs possess the same rights as all other holders of Common Stock in respect of the shares underlying the PBRS, including all incidents of ownership (except the right to transfer the shares while they remain subject to forfeiture) and the right to vote such shares. The dividends accrued on the PBRS will be reinvested in Common Stock at the same dividend rate received by other holders of Common Stock. Those additional restricted shares will be held in book entry form in the custody of the Company subject to the same terms and conditions attributable to the original grant until such time as all restrictions have lapsed on the shares of Common Stock with respect to which the dividend was accrued.
(3) On August 14, 2018, the Compensation Committee awarded shares of time-based restricted stock units to Mr. Crawford. The time-based restricted stock units will vest for Mr. Crawford on the third anniversary of the grant date (generally subject to continued employment). On December 11, 2018, the Compensation Committee awarded shares of time-based restricted stock units to Mr. Kirsch. The time-based restricted stock units will vest for Mr. Kirsch on the third anniversary of the grant date (generally subject to continued employment).

 

Executive Compensation  |  2018 Grants of Plan-Based Awards
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2018 Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

 

The following table provides certain information with respect to the equity awards outstanding at the 2018 fiscal year-end for the NEOs.

 

    Option Awards   Stock Awards
                                    Equity Incentive Plan Awards:
        Number of Securities
Underlying
Unexercised Options
  Option
Exercise
  Option   Stock   Number of
Shares or Units
of Stock
That Have
Not Vested
  Market Value of
Shares or Units
of Stock
That Have
Not Vested
  Number of
Unearned
Shares, Units
or Other Rights
That Have
Not Vested
  Market or
Payout Value
of Unearned
Shares, Units
or Other Rights
That Have
Not Vested
Name   Option Grant Date   Exercisable  (#)   Unexercisable (#)   Price
($)
  Expiration
Date
  Award Grant
Date
  (1)
(#)
  (2)
($)
  (1)
(#)
  (2)
($)
Daniel P. Amos                       2/09/16   171,585   7,817,413        
                      12/30/16   274,497   12,506,083        
                        2/14/17           247,262   11,265,257
                        2/13/18           201,773   9,192,778
Frederick J. Crawford   7/01/15   42,696       31.215   7/01/25                    
  2/09/16       45,068   28.965   2/09/26                    
                        2/09/16   41,429   1,887,505        
                        8/09/16   8,683   395,597        
                        2/14/17           51,523   2,347,388
                        8/08/17   25,451   1,159,548        
                        2/13/18           43,091   1,963,226
                        8/14/18   65,233   2,972,015        
Audrey Boone Tillman   2/10/09   9,036       11.065   2/10/19                    
                                       
  2/09/10   24,000       23.530   2/09/20                    
    2/08/11   3,454       28.950   2/08/21                    
    2/14/12   13,900       24.280   2/14/22                    
    2/12/13   13,900       24.750   2/12/23                    
    2/11/14   13,194       31.205   2/11/24                    
    8/12/14   3,086       29.665   8/12/24                    
    2/10/15   24,744       30.725   2/10/25                    
    2/09/16       19,314   28.965   2/09/26                    
                        2/09/16   17,755   808,918        
                        2/14/17           24,907   1,134,763
                        8/08/17   16,967   773,017        
                        2/13/18           32,334   1,473,137
Eric M. Kirsch   2/09/16       38,230   28.965   2/09/26                    
                      2/09/16   35,142   1,601,070        
                        2/14/17           34,965   1,593,005
                        2/13/18           28,235   1,286,387
                        12/11/18   23,453   1,068,519        

 

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Table of Contents

    Option Awards   Stock Awards
                                    Equity Incentive Plan Awards:
        Number of Securities
Underlying
Unexercised Options
  Option Exercise   Option   Stock   Number of
Shares or Units
of Stock
That Have
Not Vested
  Market Value of
 Shares or Units
of Stock
That Have
Not Vested
  Number of
Unearned
Shares, Units
or Other Rights
That Have
Not Vested
  Market or
Payout Value
of Unearned
Shares, Units
or Other Rights
That Have
Not Vested
Name   Option Grant
Date
  Exercisable
(#)
  Unexercisable
(#)
  Price
($)
  Expiration
Date
  Award Grant Date   (1)
(#)
  (2)
($)
  (1)
(#)
  (2)
($)
Charles D. Lake II   2/08/11   20,400       28.950   2/08/21                    
                                       
    2/12/13   17,480       24.750   2/12/23                    
    2/11/14   16,040       31.205   2/11/24                    
    2/10/15   22,378       30.725   2/10/25                    
    2/09/16       15,678   28.965   2/09/26                    
                        2/09/16   14,410   656,520        
                        2/14/17           16,186   737,434
                        8/08/17   16,967   773,017        
                        2/13/18           27,980   1,274,769

 

(1) Includes dividend shares accumulated as of December 31, 2018 for PBRS and RSU awards granted as follows: awards granted on February 9, 2016, December 30, 2016, February 14, 2017, and February 13, 2018, respectively, of 11,435, 12,005, 10,814, and 4,555 shares for Mr. Amos; awards granted on February 9, 2016, August 9, 2016, February 14, 2017, August 8, 2017, February 13, 2018, and August 14, 2018, respectively, of 2,761, 475, 2,253, 831, 973, and 730 for Mr. Crawford; awards granted on February 9, 2016, February 14, 2017, August 8, 2017, and February 13, 2018, respectively, of 1,183, 1,089, 736, and 730 for Mrs. Tillman; awards granted on February 9, 2016, February 14, 2017, and February 13, 2018, respectively, of 2,342, 1,529, and 637 for Mr. Kirsch; awards granted on February 9, 2016, February 14, 2017, August 8, 2017, and February 13, 2018, respectively, of 960, 708, 736, and 632 for Mr. Lake .
(2) Based on the per share closing price of our Common Stock of $45.56 as of December 31, 2018.

 

Option Grant Date Option Vesting Schedule
02/09/16 100% vesting on the third anniversary of the option for Messrs. Crawford, Kirsch, and Lake and Mrs. Tillman
   
Stock Award Grant Date Stock Award Vesting Schedule
02/09/16 and 08/09/16 Cliff vesting on the third anniversary of the grant date based on the attainment of the cumulative target performance goals for RBC ratios of Aflac for three consecutive calendar years beginning with the year of grant. For the three-year period, stock will vest at 50% if the threshold RBC ratio is achieved and 100% if target is attained.
12/30/16 Cliff vesting on 2/9/2019 based on the attainment of the cumulative target performance goals for RBC ratios of Aflac for three consecutive calendar years beginning with the year of grant. For the performance period, stock will vest at 50% if threshold RBC ratio is achieved and 100% if target is attained.
02/14/17 and 2/13/2018 Cliff vesting on the third anniversary of the grant date based on the attainment of the cumulative three-year average target performance goals for AROE, SMR, and RBC for three consecutive calendar years beginning with the year of grant. For the three-year period, stock will vest at 50% if the threshold of the three ratios is achieved, and 200% if the maximum is attained. Earned amounts can then be modified based on the Company’s TSR performance versus peers (maximum payout up to 200%).
08/08/17 For the award granted to Mr. Crawford, cliff vesting on the third anniversary of the grant date. For Mr. Lake and Mrs. Tillman, vesting ratably on the first, second and third anniversaries of the grant date.
08/14/18 and 12/11/18 Cliff vesting on the third anniversary of the grant date.

 

Executive Compensation  |  2018 Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
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Table of Contents

2018 Option Exercises and Stock Vested

 

The following table provides information with respect to options exercised and stock awards vested during 2018 for each of the NEOs.

 

   Option Awards  Stock Awards
   Number of Shares  Value Realized  Number of Shares  Value Realized
   Acquired on Exercise  on Exercise  Acquired on Vesting  on Vesting
Name  (#)  ($)  (#)  ($)
Daniel P. Amos      168,667  7,350,089
Frederick J. Crawford      29,157  1,250,563
Audrey Boone Tillman      28,798  1,271,490
Eric M. Kirsch  80,074  989,037  33,474  1,440,566
Charles D. Lake II  37,900  759,710  23,684  1,051,429

 

Pension Benefits

 

The Company maintains tax-qualified, noncontributory defined benefit pension plans that cover the NEOs other than Mr. Crawford, and nonqualified supplemental retirement plans covering the NEOs other than Messrs. Crawford and Kirsch. All of these plans were frozen before Mr. Crawford joined the Company.

 

The Company does not credit extra years of service under any of its retirement plans, unless required by employment agreements upon certain termination events. Mr. Amos is eligible to receive immediate retirement benefits, which fall under the provisions of the U.S. tax-qualified plan and the Retirement Plan for Senior Officers. For Mrs. Tillman, retirement benefits fall under the U.S. tax-qualified plan and the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan. For Mr. Kirsch, retirement benefits fall under the U.S. tax-qualified plan. For Mr. Lake, retirement benefits fall under the U.S. tax-qualified plan for services when employed in an Aflac U.S. company and the Aflac Japan Officer Retirement Plan for current and previous services with Aflac Japan.

 

Qualified Defined Benefit Pension Plan

 

The Aflac Incorporated Defined Benefit Pension Plan (“Plan”) is a funded tax-qualified retirement program that covers all eligible U.S.-based employees. Benefits under the Plan are calculated in accordance with the following formula:

 

 

  1% of average   years of credited   0.5% of average   years of credited  
  final monthly   service up   final monthly   service in excess  
  compensation   to 25 years   compensation   of 25 years  

 

 

For purposes of the Plan, final average monthly compensation is the participant’s highest average compensation (salary and non-equity incentive plan compensation) during any five consecutive years of service within the ten consecutive plan years of service immediately preceding retirement. Participants are eligible to receive full retirement benefits upon attaining a retirement age of 65 or, if earlier, when their years of credited service plus age equals or exceeds 80. Participants with at least fifteen years of credited service are eligible to receive reduced retirement benefits upon reaching an early retirement age of 55. The Plan was frozen to new employees hired, or former employees rehired, on or after October 1, 2013.

 

Benefits payable under the Plan are not subject to adjustment for Social Security benefits or other offsets. The benefits are paid monthly over the life of the participant, with joint and survivor options available at actuarially reduced rates. The maximum annual retirement benefit was limited, in accordance with Section 415 of the Internal Revenue Code, to $220,000 for 2018. The maximum annual compensation that may be taken into account when calculating retirement benefits was limited, in accordance with Section 401(a)(17) of the Internal Revenue Code, to $275,000 for 2018. The limitation amounts for future years will be indexed for cost-of-living adjustments.

 

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Executive Retirement Plans

 

The Company’s U.S. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“SERP”) is an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company and is not a tax-qualified plan. The SERP provides retirement benefits to certain officers of the Company in addition to those provided by the qualified Plan. Participation in the SERP is limited to certain key employees as periodically designated by the Compensation Committee. Currently, Mrs. Tillman is the only NEO who participates in the SERP. To be eligible for benefits under the SERP, participants generally must be employed with the Company or a subsidiary at age 55. The SERP was frozen to new participants effective January 1, 2015.

 

The SERP includes a four-tiered benefit formula that provides for a benefit based on final three-year average compensation (base salary and non-equity incentive plan compensation) earned for a calendar year as described below. The annual benefit varies based on the participant’s age at retirement: 40% is paid to someone who retires between the ages of 55 and 59, 50% is paid to someone who retires between the ages of 60 and 64, and 60% is paid to someone who retires at or after the age of 65. A reduced 30% benefit is available to participants with at least fifteen years of service who terminate employment prior to age 55.

 

Benefits generally are payable in the form of an annuity for the life of the participant. The participant may elect to receive reduced lifetime benefits, in which case any surviving spouse will receive a benefit equal to 50% of the amount paid to the participant. Benefits are calculated based upon the average annual compensation for the three consecutive calendar years out of the final ten consecutive calendar years of employment that yield the highest average. Benefits under the SERP are subject to offset for amounts paid under the qualified Plan.

 

The Company’s Japan Officer Retirement Plan is also a non-funded and unsecured obligation of the Company and is not a tax-qualified plan. The retirement benefit for the plan is calculated as follows: for each year of service (with a minimum of two years and maximum of twelve), a Japan participating officer would receive one month salary plus one year salary for the last year. The total amount calculated is paid in a lump-sum at retirement. Currently, Mr. Lake is the only NEO who participates in the Japan Officer Retirement Plan, and he has accumulated the maximum service.

 

Retirement Plan for Senior Officers

 

The CEO is the only active employee who participates in the Retirement Plan for Senior Officers (“RPSO”). Participants in the RPSO receive full compensation for the first twelve months after retirement. Thereafter, a participant may elect to receive annual lifetime retirement benefits equal to 60% of final compensation (base salary plus non-equity incentive), or 54% of final compensation with 50% of final compensation to be paid to a surviving spouse for a specified period after death of the participant. Final compensation is deemed to be the higher of either (i) the compensation paid during the last twelve months of active employment with the Company, or (ii) the highest compensation received in any calendar year of the last ten years preceding the date of retirement.

 

Generally, no benefits are payable until the participant accumulates ten years of credited service at age 60, or twenty years of credited service. Reduced benefits may be paid to a participant who retires (other than for disability) before age 65 with less than twenty years of credited service. Mr. Amos has 45 years of credited service, meaning he is fully vested for retirement benefits under the RPSO. The RPSO was frozen to new participants on January 1, 2009.

 

All benefits under the RPSO are subject to annual cost-of-living increases as approved by the Compensation Committee. Retired participants and their spouses also are entitled to receive full medical expense benefits for their lifetimes. The benefits payable under the RPSO are not subject to Social Security or qualified Plan offsets.

 

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2018 Pension Benefits

 

The following table provides certain information regarding the Company’s pension benefits at December 31, 2018, and for the year then ended.

 

Name   Plan Name   Number of Years
Credited
Service (#)
  Present Value of
Accumulated Benefit*
($)
  Change from
Prior Year
($)
  Payments During
Last Fiscal Year
($)
Daniel P. Amos   Retirement Plan for Senior Officers   45   60,316,082   2,100,274  
    Aflac Incorporated Defined Benefit Pension Plan   45   1,442,069   66,597  
Audrey Boone Tillman   Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan   23   7,611,203   1,112,418  
    Aflac Incorporated Defined Benefit Pension Plan   23   952,718   23,143  
Eric M. Kirsch   Aflac Incorporated Defined Benefit Pension Plan   7   203,329   22,820  
Charles D. Lake II   Aflac Incorporated Defined Benefit Pension Plan   14   334,325   (18,315)  
    Japan Officer Retirement Plan   12   1,251,176   301,040  

 

* Assumed retirement age for all calculations was the earliest retirement age for unreduced benefits. Assumptions used to calculate pension benefits are more fully described in Note 14, “Benefit Plans,” in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC for the year ended December 31, 2018.

 

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

 

The following table provides information on the NEOs’ participation in the Aflac Incorporated Executive Deferred Compensation Plan (“EDCP”).

 

2018 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

 

Name   Executive Contributions
in Last Fiscal Year
($)
  Registrant Contributions
in Last Fiscal Year
($)
  Aggregate Earnings (Loss)
in Last Fiscal Year(3)
($)
  Aggregate Withdrawals/
Distributions
($)
  Aggregate Balance at Last
Fiscal Year-End
($)
 
Daniel P. Amos(1)     441,100   (640,134)     7,809,295  
Frederick J. Crawford(2)     317,503   (23,238)     1,000,505  
Audrey Boone Tillman   39,930     (3,995)     1,164,999  
Eric M. Kirsch            
Charles D. Lake II       (433,800)     7,413,912  

 

(1) The $441,100 deferred compensation for Mr. Amos is included in the Salary column of the Summary Compensation Table for the current year. Additionally, previous years’ deferrals included in the Aggregate Balance column were reported as compensation in prior periods. The funds are 100% vested.
   
(2) The $317,503 deferred compensation for Mr. Crawford represents unvested Company-funded executive employer contributions in the amount of 15% of Mr. Crawford’s annual compensation (base salary plus MIP). The funds for 2018 were credited to the EDCP in February 2019. This is an annual contribution approved by the Compensation Committee since Mr. Crawford is not eligible to participate in the Pension Plan or the SERP. Annual contributions will be 100% vested on the earlier of (i) the later of 15 years of employment or 5 years participation, (ii) age 65, (iii) change in control, (iv) death, or (v) disability. The amount shown in the table is included in the Summary Compensation Table for the current year in the All Other Compensation column. Additionally, previous years’ deferrals included in the Aggregate Balance column were reported as compensation in prior periods.
   
(3) The Company does not pay or credit above-market earnings on amounts deferred by or on behalf of executives.

 

The EDCP allows certain U.S.-based officers, including the NEOs (the “Participants”), to defer up to 75% of their base salaries and their annual non-equity incentive awards. The Company may make discretionary matching or other discretionary contributions in such amounts, if any, that the Compensation Committee may determine each year.

 

The EDCP is subject to the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code. Deferred amounts earned and vested prior to 2005 (“grandfathered” amounts) under the EDCP are not subject to Section 409A’s requirements and continue to be governed generally under the terms of the EDCP and the tax laws in effect before January 1, 2005. All NEOs have met the applicable vesting requirements with the exception of Mr. Crawford.

 

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The amounts in the Aggregate Balance column include investment earnings (and losses) determined under phantom investments. Account balances may be invested in phantom investments selected by Participants from an array of investment options that substantially mirror the funds available under the Company’s 401(k) Plan, except for Common Stock. Participants can change their investment selections (unless prohibited by the fund) in the same manner that applies to participants in the 401(k) Plan.

 

Each year, when Participants elect whether to defer compensation under the EDCP for the following year, they also elect the timing and form of future distributions arising from those deferrals, with a separate election permitted for each type of deferral (i.e., salary and non-equity incentive award). Specifically, a Participant may elect distributions beginning in a specific year (even if employment has not then ended) or beginning six months after the termination of employment. Participants may choose to have any distribution made in a lump sum or in up to ten annual installments. Employee deferrals are 100% vested. Distributions attributable to discretionary contributions are made in the form and at the time specified by the Company.

 

A Participant may delay the timing and form of distributions attributable to deferrals as long as the change is made at least twelve months before the initial distribution date. With respect to non-grandfathered amounts, new elections also must satisfy the additional requirements of Section 409A. In general, Section 409A provides that distributions may not be accelerated (other than for hardships) and any delayed distribution may not begin earlier than five years after the original distribution date.

 

Deferral amounts for which no distribution elections have been made are distributed in a lump sum six months after a Participant separates from service.

 

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control

 

The Company has employment agreements with each of the NEOs. Except as described below, the agreements are similar in nature and contain provisions relating to termination, disability, death, and a change in control of the Company.

 

Mr. Amos has voluntarily waived all “golden parachute” and other severance components in his employment agreement. The elimination of these potential payments is reflected in the 2018 Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control table.

 

For each remaining NEO, the Company remains obligated to continue compensation and benefits for the scheduled term of the agreement if the NEO’s employment is terminated by the Company without “good cause” or by the NEO with “good reason.” The remaining term for each of the NEOs as of December 31, 2018 are as follows: Mr. Crawford, 30 months; Mrs. Tillman, 29 1/3 months; Mr. Kirsch, 36 months; and Mr. Lake, 36 months. In addition, upon a termination by the Company without “good cause” or by any of the NEOs (including Mr. Amos) for “good reason”, all outstanding equity awards become fully vested, except that equity awards of the NEOs subject to Company performance will remain subject to that performance. Mr. Lake entered into a new agreement effective January 1, 2018, that provides compensation and benefits (including vesting of future equity awards) similar to the compensation and benefits provided for the other NEOs. Mrs. Tillman will not be entitled to continued compensation once she earns the maximum benefit under the SERP, but she has not yet earned the maximum SERP benefit. Messrs. Crawford, Lake, and Kirsch do not participate in the SERP. Regardless of the reason for his termination, under his agreement, Mr. Lake will receive a retirement benefit equal to two times his base salary.

 

If an NEO’s employment is terminated by the Company for “good cause,” or by the NEO without “good reason,” the Company generally is obligated to pay compensation and benefits only to the date of termination (except that the NEO, to the extent otherwise eligible, is entitled to benefits under the RPSO or under the SERP if the termination is not for “good cause”). Under the NEOs’ employment agreements, “good cause” generally means the Company has determined that any of the following have occurred or exist: (i) the willful failure by the NEO to substantially perform assigned management duties (other than due to sickness, injury, or disability); (ii) intentional conduct by the NEO causing substantial injury to the Company; or (iii) the NEO’s conviction of or plea of guilty to a felony. “Good reason” generally is defined to include (i) a material breach of the employment agreement by the Company in regard to compensation or benefits, or termination of the employment agreement; (ii) a material diminution or change in the NEO’s title, duties, or authority; (iii) a material relocation of the Company’s principal offices (or in Mr. Kirsch’s case, the Company’s principal New York office or his own office; or in Mr. Lake’s case, the Japan operation’s office or his own office); or (iv) the failure of the Company’s successor to assume the employment agreement. Upon voluntary termination without “good reason” or termination by the Company for “good cause,” an NEO is prohibited for a two-year period from directly or indirectly competing with the Company.

 

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The NEOs’ employment agreements provide that compensation and benefits continue for certain specified periods in the event the NEO becomes totally disabled. The amount of continued compensation for Mrs. Tillman will be reduced by 60% if she is eligible for the maximum benefit percentage under the SERP, but she has not yet earned the maximum SERP benefit. Upon the death of an NEO, the NEO’s estate is to be paid an amount, over a three-year period, equal to the NEO’s base salary and any non-equity incentive awards actually paid during the last three years of the NEO’s life. In addition, all outstanding equity awards will be honored and vest upon the date of death.

 

Upon a “change in control” of the Company, employment agreements for the NEOs (other than Mr. Amos) are extended for an additional three-year period. If, following a “change in control”, the employment of an NEO (other than Mr. Amos) is terminated by the Company without “good cause” or by the NEO for “good reason,” the Company must pay to the NEO, among other payments but in lieu of any further salary payments, a lump-sum severance payment equal to three times the sum of the NEO’s base salary and non-equity incentive award under the MIP (as paid during periods specified in the agreement). If Mrs. Tillman has attained the maximum benefit percentage under the SERP at the time of her termination following a “change in control”, she will not receive the lump-sum award described above. Mrs. Tillman has not yet earned the maximum SERP benefit. Amounts payable upon a “change in control” will be reduced to the extent they are not deductible by the Company for income tax purposes. If, following a “change in control”, the employment of an NEO is terminated by the Company without “good cause” or by the NEO for “good reason,” all of that NEO’s outstanding equity awards (except in the case of Mr. Amos) will become fully vested, and all performance criteria will be considered satisfied at the maximum performance level.

 

A “change in control” generally is deemed to occur when (i) a person or group acquires ownership of 50% or more of the Common Stock; (ii) a person or group acquires ownership of 30% or more of the Common Stock over a consecutive twelve-month period; (iii) during any period of twelve consecutive months, a majority of individuals who constitute the Board are replaced without endorsement by a majority of the Board members at the beginning of the period; or (iv) a person or group acquires ownership of 40% or more of the total gross fair market value of the Company’s assets.

 

Mrs. Tillman is a participant in the SERP, but she is not yet fully vested. Under the SERP, in the event the Company terminates a participant’s employment within two years after a “change in control” other than for cause, or a participant terminates employment during such period for “good reason”, the participant will become 100% vested in her retirement benefits and entitled to receive a lump-sum amount equal to the actuarial equivalent of the annual retirement benefit to which she would have been entitled had she remained in the employ of the Company until (i) age 55 (in the case of a participant who is not yet 55); (ii) age 60 (in the case of a participant who is at least 55, but not yet 60); or (iii) age 65 (in the case of a participant who is at least 60, but not yet 65), as the case may be. A “change in control” will be deemed to occur under the same circumstances described above, but only with respect to the Company. “Cause” for this purpose generally means (i) the participant’s continued failure to substantially perform her duties with the Company (other than due to illness or after a participant gives notice of termination of employment for “good reason”) after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to the participant by the Board, (ii) the participant’s engaging in conduct materially injurious to the Company, or (iii) the participant’s conviction of, or plea of guilty or no contest to, a felony or crime involving moral turpitude. “Good reason” is generally defined for this purpose to include various adverse changes in employment status, duties, or compensation and benefits following a “change in control”.

 

The following table reflects the amount of compensation payable to each of the NEOs in the event of termination of such executive’s employment under various termination scenarios. The amounts shown assume in all cases that the termination was effective on December 31, 2018, and therefore include amounts earned through such time and estimates of the amounts that would be paid to the NEOs upon their termination. Because a number of factors affect the nature and amount of any benefits actually paid, amounts paid or distributed may be different from those shown below. Mr. Amos is the only NEO who is eligible to receive immediate retirement benefits. See “Pension Benefits” and “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation” above for more information.

 

  Executive Compensation  |  Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control
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As noted in the table below, the benefits provided and requirements imposed vary with the circumstances under which the termination occurs.

 

2018 POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION OR CHANGE IN CONTROL

 

        Before Change in Control              
        Company                       Change  
        Termination       Voluntary               in Control  
        without “Good       Termination               Termination  
        Cause” or   Company   without “Good   Voluntary           without “Good  
        by Employee   Termination for   Reason”   Termination           Cause” or for  
        for “Good   “Good   and No   with           “Good  
        Reason”   Cause”   Competition   Competition   Death   Disability   Reason”  
        (1)   (2)   (3)   (4)   (5)   (6)   (7)  
Name   Benefit   ($)   ($)   ($)   ($)   ($)   ($)   ($)  
Daniel P. Amos   Salary           4,323,300   2,161,650    
  Non-equity Incentive Award(8)           16,340,562   4,638,345    
    Severance                
    Retirement(9)   60,316,082   60,316,082   60,316,082     31,952,651