Company: ACCO
Filing Date: 2025-03-28
Form Type: DEF 14A
Source: 0000950170-25-046374
Chunk: 56

Company: ACCO BRANDS Corp
Filing Date: 2025-03-28
Form: DEF 14A
Chunk 56
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 employees equity-based compensation also is a critical factor in attracting, motivating and retaining qualified employees who will contribute to our financial success, thereby advancing the interests of the Company and its stockholders. Additionally, the Plan will provide the flexibility to grant awards to our non-employee directors. Therefore, the Board views the Plan as a key component of the Company’s compensation program, and believes that the increase in the number of shares available for the grant of awards under the Plan will enable it to continue to fulfill this function.

Approval of the amendment to the Plan requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the votes cast (excluding abstentions and broker non-votes) on the matter at the Annual Meeting. If the amendment to the Plan is not approved by stockholders, awards will continue to be granted under the Plan, but no more equity-based awards may be granted once the maximum number of shares reserved under the Plan as currently in effect has been reached.

The principal features of the Plan are highlighted below.

Overview

Our incentive plans are a vital component of our compensation program. The purpose of the Plan is to provide incentives linked to the creation of stockholder value and the achievement of certain long-term strategic and financial goals through a variety of equity-based and cash awards designed to attract, retain and motivate the best available employees and non-employee directors. Historically, our equity

#### ACCO BRANDS| 2025 PROXY STATEMENT75
award program consisted of grants of performance share units (“PSUs”), restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and non-qualified stock options (“NQSOs”). For 2024, our equity award program consisted of grants of performance share units (“PSUs”) and restricted stock units (“RSUs”) only. We ceased granting stock options in 2023 and do not intend to issue stock option awards going forward, as we believe the current mix is a more responsible use of the finite shares available under the Plan.

PSUs represent the principal component of long-term equity incentive compensation for our named executive officers. These grants are indicative of our pay-for-performance philosophy, as discussed under the heading “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Discussion and Analysis—Executive Compensation Philosophy.” PSUs focus management on long-term financial performance, aligning management and stockholders' interests.

RSUs serve as important management retention tools and further align management with stockholders’ interests, including our stockholders’ interest in share price appreciation.

Important Features of the Plan

The Plan includes the following important features that are designed to serve our