Company: AOS
Filing Date: 2025-02-27
Form Type: DEF 14A
Source: 0001193125-25-037641
Chunk: 83

Company: SMITH A O CORP
Filing Date: 2025-02-27
Form: DEF 14A
Chunk 83
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 an opportunity to respond to the information contained in the background check. The same process is followed for all candidates. |

| • |     | A. O. Smith has successfully hired numerous employees with conviction records through this process. Further, related to NorthStar’s statements regarding the demographic makeup of formerly incarcerated individuals, the company notes that many of its locations have established relationships with local felony re-entry programs. In addition, local human resource teams make routine use of minority hiring agencies and minority job posting sites as part of its commitment to diverse and inclusive hiring. |

Board Recommendation In summary, our Board has concluded that devoting additional time and resources to further assess and report on hiring practices is unnecessary, would distract from the ongoing efforts underway at A. O. Smith, and is not in the best interests of our stockholders or employees. Accordingly, the Board recommends that our stockholders vote AGAINST this proposal. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “AGAINST” THIS PROPOSAL. 2025 Proxy Statement 67

| Shareowner Services P.O. Box 64945 St. Paul, MN 55164-0945 |

| A. O. SMITH CORPORATION                  
 NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS 
 Tuesday, April 8, 2025                   |
|:-----------------------------------------|
| 8:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)    |

<div align='center'>**Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the

Stockholders’ Meeting to be Held on April 8, 2025.**</div>

**Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of A. O. Smith Corporation will be held on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. (EDT) at the National Association of Manufacturers, 733 10th Street NW, Suite 700, Washington, D.C.

This communication presents only an overview of the more complete proxy materials that are available to you on the Internet. We encourage you to access and review all of the important information contained in the proxy materials before voting. The Proxy Statement and Annual Report are available at www.proxydocs.com/aos.

If you want to receive a paper copy or an email with links to the electronic materials, you must request one. There is no charge to you for requesting a copy. Please make your request for a copy as instructed on the reverse side of this notice on or before March