Use these links to rapidly review the document
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Contents

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.          )

Filed by the Registrant ý

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o

Check the appropriate box:

o

 

Preliminary Proxy Statement

o

 

Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

ý

 

Definitive Proxy Statement

o

 

Definitive Additional Materials

o

 

Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12

 

Quanex Building Products Corp.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

ý

 

No fee required.

o

 

Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
    (1)   Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
        
 
    (2)   Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
        
 
    (3)   Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
        
 
    (4)   Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
        
 
    (5)   Total fee paid:
        
 

o

 

Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

o

 

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.

 

 

(1)

 

Amount Previously Paid:
        
 
    (2)   Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
        
 
    (3)   Filing Party:
        
 
    (4)   Date Filed:
        
 

Table of Contents

LOGO

QUANEX BUILDING PRODUCTS CORPORATION   January 26, 2018

1800 West Loop South
Suite 1500
Houston, Texas 77027
(713) 961-4600

 

Dear Fellow Stockholder:

You are cordially invited to attend the Company's Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at 8:00 a.m., C.S.T., on Thursday, March 1, 2018, at the Company's principal executive offices at 1800 West Loop South, Suite 1500, Houston, Texas.

 

 

This year you will be asked to vote in favor of the election of four directors, in favor of an advisory vote approving the Company's named executive officer compensation, and in favor of a resolution ratifying the Company's appointment of its independent auditor for the 2018 fiscal year. These proposals are more fully explained in the attached Proxy Statement, which you are encouraged to read.

 

 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE IN FAVOR OF EACH PROPOSAL OUTLINED IN THE ATTACHED PROXY. THE BOARD FURTHER URGES YOU TO VOTE AT YOUR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE, WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING.

 

 

Thank you for your continued support.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

GRAPHIC
    William C. Griffiths
    Chairman of the Board



YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT




Table of Contents


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Item
  Page

Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders

 

Proxy Statement

  1

Matters to Come Before the Meeting

  2

Proposal No. 1: Election of Directors

  2

Proposal No. 2: Advisory Vote Approving Named Executive Officer Compensation

  7

Proposal No. 3: Ratification of Appointment of Independent Audit Firm

  8

Executive Officers

  9

Director and Officer Compensation

  11

Director Compensation

  11

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

  14

Introduction

  14

Business and Compensation Context

  14

Compensation Best Practices

  17

Compensation Objectives

  17

Competitive Positioning

  19

Program Description

  20

Fiscal Year 2017 Long Term Incentive Program Design

  23

Processes and Procedures for Determining Executive Compensation

  28

Other Compensation Items

  31

Employment Agreements and Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control

  33

Post-Employment Compensation Table

  37

Summary Compensation Table

  38

Grants of Plan-Based Awards

  40

Outstanding Equity Awards

  42

Option Exercises and Stock Vested in Fiscal 2017

  44

Pension Benefits

  44

Qualified Defined Contribution Plans

  49

Stock Purchase Plans

  50

Nonqualified Defined Benefit and Other Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans

  52

Common Stock Ownership

  55

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

  55

Corporate Governance

  56

Ongoing Governance Initiative—Board Declassification

  56

Corporate Governance Guidelines

  56

Communications with the Company

  62

Structure and Committees of the Board of Directors

  65

Audit Committee

  65

Compensation & Management Development Committee

  68

Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee

  69

Executive Committee

  70

Risk Oversight

  70

Further Information

  71

Principal Stockholders

  71

Other Matters, Stockholder Nominations, and Stockholder Proposals

  72

Annex A—Non-GAAP Financial Measure Reconciliation

  A-1

Table of Contents

LOGO

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held March 1, 2018



        NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Quanex Building Products Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company" or "Quanex"), will be held at the principal executive offices of the Company, 1800 West Loop South, Suite 1500, Houston, Texas, 77027, on Thursday, March 1, 2018, at 8:00 a.m., C.S.T., for the following purposes:

        Information with respect to the above matters is set forth in the Proxy Statement that accompanies this Notice.

        The Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board of Directors" or "Board") has fixed the close of business on January 10, 2018, as the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting. A complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting will be maintained at the Company's principal executive offices, will be open to the examination of any stockholder for any purpose germane to the meeting during ordinary business hours for a period of ten days prior to the meeting, and will be made available at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof.

        Please execute your vote promptly. Your designation of a proxy is revocable and will not affect your right to vote in person if you find it convenient to attend the meeting and wish to vote in person.

        The Company's Annual Report to Stockholders for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017, accompanies this Notice.

    By order of the Board of Directors,

 

 

GRAPHIC
    Kevin P. Delaney
Senior Vice President—General Counsel and Secretary

Houston, Texas
January 26, 2018


Table of Contents

LOGO



PROXY STATEMENT



Annual Meeting of Stockholders
To Be Held March 1, 2018

        This Proxy Statement and the accompanying form of proxy are to be first mailed on or about January 26, 2018, to all holders of record on January 10, 2018 (the "Record Date"), of the common stock, $.01 par value (the "Common Stock"), of Quanex Building Products Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"). These materials are furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of the Company to be used at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at the Company's principal executive offices, 1800 West Loop South, Suite 1500, Houston, Texas, 77027, at 8:00 a.m., C.S.T., on Thursday, March 1, 2018, and at any adjournment or adjournments thereof. Shares of Common Stock represented by any un-revoked proxy in the enclosed form, if such proxy is properly executed and is received prior to the meeting, will be voted in accordance with the specifications made on such proxy. Proxies on which no specifications have been made will be voted FOR the election as director of the nominees listed herein, FOR ratification of the appointment of the Company's independent auditor for fiscal 2018, and FOR each other proposal included herein. Proxies are revocable by written notice to the Secretary of the Company at the address of the Company set forth below, or by delivery of a later dated proxy, at any time prior to their exercise. Proxies may also be revoked by a stockholder attending and voting in person at the meeting.

        The Common Stock is the only class of securities of the Company that is entitled to vote at the meeting. As of the close of business on the Record Date, the date for determining stockholders who are entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the meeting, there were 35,070,482 shares of Common Stock outstanding. Each share is entitled to one vote. The presence at the meeting, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of shares of Common Stock is necessary to constitute a quorum. Abstentions and broker non-votes are counted as present in determining whether the quorum requirement is satisfied.

        The cost of soliciting proxies will be borne by the Company. Solicitation may be made personally or by mail, telephone or electronic data transfer by officers, directors and regular employees of the Company (who will not receive any additional compensation for any solicitation of proxies), or by the firm of Morrow Sodali, LLC, which has been retained by the Company to assist in the solicitation for a fee of approximately $7,500 plus expenses. The Company will also reimburse brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for their reasonable expenses for sending proxy materials to the beneficial owners of Common Stock. The mailing address of the Company's principal executive office is 1800 West Loop South, Suite 1500, Houston, Texas, 77027.


IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS
FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING TO BE HELD ON MARCH 1, 2018:

        Our Proxy Statement and 2017 Annual Report are available online at the following web address:


http://www.quanex.com/2017AR

        In accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission rules, this website provides complete anonymity with respect to any stockholder accessing it.

1


Table of Contents


MATTERS TO COME BEFORE THE MEETING

PROPOSAL NO. 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

        Four directors are to be elected at the meeting. Prior to March 2016, the Company's Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws provided that the Board of Directors would be divided into three classes as nearly equal in number as possible, with the terms of office of the classes expiring at different times. Class III directors will stand for election at the Company's annual stockholder meeting to be held in 2019, and Class I and Class II directors are standing for election at the annual meeting to which this proxy relates. However, in accordance with amendments approved at the Company's 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the Board of Directors is currently in the process of declassifying, and each director will now be elected to a term of only one year.

        Current directors Robert R. Buck, Susan F. Davis, Joseph D. Rupp and Curtis M. Stevens are the directors currently standing for election. Ms. Davis and Mr. Stevens were each elected by the stockholders in 2017 to a term ending in 2018, while Messrs. Buck and Rupp were each elected by the stockholders in 2015 to a term ending in 2018. Each of these directors are standing for re-election for a term expiring at the 2019 Annual Meeting. Messrs. Griffiths and Nosbaum were elected to a term ending in 2019 at the 2016 Annual Meeting.

        In reviewing the information contained in this Proxy Statement that relates to our directors and officers, it is important to note that Quanex Building Products Corporation was initially created on December 12, 2007, in connection with the April 2008 spin-off of the building products business of Quanex Corporation, and the related merger of Quanex Corporation with Gerdau S.A. In connection with these transactions, the directors and officers of Quanex Corporation became the directors and officers of Quanex Building Products Corporation. As such, we have listed these "carryover" directors and officers as beginning with the Company in 2007 despite the fact that they may have served in similar positions with Quanex Corporation prior to that time. For information related to the transaction, the origins of Quanex Building Products Corporation, and any pre-transaction service as a director or officer of Quanex Corporation, please see (a) the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2008, (b) the Information Statement attached as Exhibit 99.1 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form 10, filed April 4, 2008 and effective April 9, 2008, and (c) Quanex Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended by Form 10-K/A, for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2007.

Nominees for election to a term that will
expire at the 2019 Annual Meeting
(formerly Class I and Class II Directors)
  Principal Occupation   Age   Director
Since
Robert R. Buck   Chairman of the Board of Beacon Roofing Supply, Inc., a leading distributor of roofing materials (Herndon, Virginia).   70   2011

Susan F. Davis

 

Retired Executive Vice President—Asia Pacific of Johnson Controls, Inc., a global leader in automotive systems, building efficiency and power solutions (Milwaukee, Wisconsin).

 

64

 

2007

Joseph D. Rupp

 

Retired Chairman of the Board of Olin Corporation, a basic materials company concentrated in chemicals and ammunition (Clayton, Missouri).

 

67

 

2007

Curtis M. Stevens

 

Retired Chief Executive Officer of Louisiana-Pacific Corporation, a leading building materials manufacturer (Nashville, Tennessee).

 

65

 

2010

2


Table of Contents


Directors whose terms expire
at the 2019 Annual Meeting
(formerly Class III Directors)
  Principal Occupation   Age   Director
Since
William C. Griffiths   Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Quanex Building Products Corporation (Houston, Texas).   66   2009

LeRoy D. Nosbaum

 

Retired President and Chief Executive Officer of Itron, Inc., a leading technology provider to the global energy and water industries and a leading provider of intelligent metering, data collection and utility software solutions (Liberty Lake, Washington).

 

71

 

2010

Director Biographies, Key Attributes, and Skills

ROBERT BUCK, age 70

        Biography:    Mr. Buck is the Chairman of the Board of Beacon Roofing Supply, Inc., a NASDAQ-traded roofing materials distributor with approximately $7 billion in revenue. Prior to becoming Chairman in early 2011, Mr. Buck served as Chairman and CEO of Beacon from 2007 to 2011; as Chairman, President, and CEO in 2007; and as President and CEO from 2003 to 2007. Prior to joining Beacon in 2003, Mr. Buck spent 21 years with Cintas Corporation in various executive positions. Mr. Buck holds a B.S. in Finance from the University of Cincinnati.

        Key Attributes, Experience, and Skills:    During his time at Beacon Roofing and Cintas Corporation, Mr. Buck developed extensive executive leadership, finance and accounting expertise. Mr. Buck also participated in numerous mergers and acquisitions and has strong corporate governance experience. In addition, Mr. Buck's tenure at Beacon Roofing has provided him substantial experience in the building products industry. Mr. Buck has also amassed a good deal of public company board experience through his service on the boards of Beacon Roofing Supply, Multi-Color Corporation, and Kendle International.

        Other Directorships Since 2012:    Mr. Buck currently serves on the boards of Beacon Roofing Supply, Inc., and Multi-Color Corporation. Mr. Buck also serves on the board of privately held Elkay Manufacturing Co.

SUSAN DAVIS, age 64

        Biography:    Ms. Davis retired in 2016 from Johnson Controls, Inc., a global leader in automotive systems, building efficiency and power solutions. Prior to her retirement, Ms. Davis served as the Executive Vice President—Asia Pacific for Johnson Controls, beginning in 2015. Prior to her appointment to that position, Ms. Davis served as the chief human resources officer of Johnson Controls from 1994 to 2015, holding the positions of Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer from 2014 to 2015, Executive Vice President of Human Resources from 2006 to 2014, and Vice President of Human Resources from 1994 to 2006. Prior to that time, she served in various other positions with Johnson Controls, which she originally joined in 1983. Ms. Davis received an MBA degree from the University of Michigan, and received both Master's and Bachelor's degrees from Beloit College.

        Key Attributes, Experience, and Skills:    As the executive leader of Human Resources for Johnson Controls from 1994 to 2015, and through her role as Executive Vice President—Asia Pacific from 2015 to 2016, Ms. Davis acquired extensive management, corporate governance, public company, and international business expertise. She has also worked extensively with executive compensation and management development issues. Further, Ms. Davis' time as a director for Butler Manufacturing and Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, and Johnson Controls' status as a global leader in building efficiency

3


Table of Contents

products and controls, has provided Ms. Davis with the opportunity to accumulate extensive experience in the building products industry and with manufacturing processes, both of which are very valuable in her service as a director of the Company. Ms. Davis also gained public company board experience as a result of her prior service as a director for Butler Manufacturing and Quanex Corporation.

        Other Directorships Since 2012:    Ms. Davis currently serves on the board of Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, which she joined in 2016.

WILLIAM GRIFFITHS, age 66

        Biography:    Mr. Griffiths was named Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of the Company in July 2013, after serving as an independent director of the Company beginning in 2009. Prior to joining the Company as President and CEO, Mr. Griffiths served as the Managing Director and a member of the board of directors of Sealine (International) Ltd., a privately held manufacturer of yachts and other marine vessels based in the United Kingdom. Prior to joining Sealine in January 2012, Mr. Griffiths served as Chairman of the Board, President and CEO of Champion Enterprises, Inc., a NYSE-traded producer of modular and manufactured housing until 2010. He joined Champion as a Director, and as President and Chief Executive Officer, in August 2004, and was named Chairman of the Board in 2006. Champion filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on November 15, 2009. From 2001 to 2004, Mr. Griffiths was President—Fluid Systems Division at SPX Corporation, a global multi-industry company located in Charlotte, North Carolina. Mr. Griffiths graduated from the University of London with a BS with Honors in Mining Engineering. In addition, Mr. Griffiths is a graduate of the Harvard Business School's PMD executive education program.

        Key Attributes, Experience, and Skills:    During his tenure as CEO of Champion Enterprises, Mr. Griffiths gained extensive experience with manufacturing processes, corporate governance, and public company issues. Champion also provided Mr. Griffiths with valuable expertise and insight into the building products industry, which he has continued to build during his tenure at Quanex Building Products Corporation. In addition, Mr. Griffiths' time as a senior leader at SPX Corporation provided him with extensive and wide-reaching expertise in international operations management and international business in general. It also allowed him to build a great deal of experience in mergers and acquisitions, both international and domestic.

LEROY NOSBAUM, age 71

        Biography:    Mr. Nosbaum is the retired Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Itron, Inc., a NASDAQ-traded leading technology provider to the global energy and water industries and a leading provider of intelligent metering, data collection and utility software solutions. Mr. Nosbaum joined Itron in 1996, was promoted to the role of President and CEO in 2000, and was elected as Chairman in 2002. He retired from Itron in 2009, but returned as President and Chief Executive Officer in 2011, before retiring again in December 2012. Prior to his employment with Itron, Mr. Nosbaum served in various positions at Metricom, Inc. from 1989 to 1996, and at Schlumberger Limited from 1977 to 1989. Mr. Nosbaum holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Valparaiso University.

        Key Attributes, Experience, and Skills:    Mr. Nosbaum brings to the board strong sales, marketing and technology expertise, which he gained during his service as the Executive VP of Marketing and Sales for Metricom, Inc. In his various roles at Itron, Mr. Nosbaum also built extensive public company, finance, strategic development, acquisition, technology and manufacturing process expertise. Further, Mr. Nosbaum gained international experience at Itron, which conducts operations throughout Europe, South America, and Asia. In addition, he has built corporate governance expertise both through his role as CEO of Itron, and through his service on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees of Esterline Technologies and Quanex Building Products Corporation.

4


Table of Contents

        Other Directorships Since 2012:    Mr. Nosbaum served as director of Itron from 2000 to 2002 and as Chairman from 2002 to 2009. After a brief interval, Mr. Nosbaum again served as a director of Itron from 2011 until his retirement in December 2012.

JOSEPH RUPP, age 67

        Mr. Rupp is the retired Chairman of the Board of Olin Corporation, an NYSE traded basic materials company concentrated in chemicals and ammunition. Mr. Rupp served as the Chairman of the Board of Olin Corporation from May 2016 to April 2017. Prior to May 2016, Mr. Rupp served as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Olin since 2005. Prior to his election as Chairman, Mr. Rupp was President and Chief Executive Officer of Olin from 2002 to 2005. Prior to 2002, Mr. Rupp served in various positions with Olin, which he originally joined in 1972. Mr. Rupp holds a bachelor's degree in metallurgical engineering from the University of Missouri, Rolla.

        Key Attributes, Experience, and Skills:    As the CEO of Olin, Mr. Rupp amassed strong corporate governance expertise, public company management experience, and solid financial acumen. He also brings a wealth of experience in operations management, lean manufacturing processes, and mergers and acquisitions. In addition, he has gained extensive public board experience as a director of Olin from 2002 to 2017 and as a director of Quanex Building Products since 2008.

        Other Directorships Since 2012:    Mr. Rupp served as a director of Olin Corporation from 2002 to 2005, and as Chairman of Olin's board from 2005 until his retirement in 2017. Mr. Rupp also currently serves on the Boards of Cass Information Systems and Owens-Illinois, Inc.

CURTIS STEVENS, age 65

        Biography:    Mr. Stevens retired in June 2017 from Louisiana-Pacific Corporation, an NYSE traded building materials manufacturer. Prior to his retirement, Mr. Stevens served as the Chief Executive Officer and a director of Louisiana-Pacific from 2012 to June 2017. Prior to becoming CEO in May 2012, Mr. Stevens served as Louisiana-Pacific's Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President beginning in December 2011. Prior to assuming the role of Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Stevens served as Chief Financial Officer of Louisiana-Pacific since 1997, and as Executive Vice President, Administration, since 2002. Before joining Louisiana-Pacific, Mr. Stevens served for 14 years in various financial and operational positions at Planar Systems, a flat-panel display products manufacturer. Mr. Stevens holds a B.A. in Economics and an M.B.A with a concentration in Finance from the University of California at Los Angeles.

        Key Attributes, Experience, and Skills:    Through his various roles at Louisiana-Pacific, Mr. Stevens acquired broad experience in the building products industry. He also possesses a strong background in accounting and finance, as well as extensive expertise in information technology and supply chain management, strategy development, and public company issues. Further, Louisiana-Pacific's international operations have provided Mr. Stevens with strong international business experience.

        Other Directorships Since 2012:    Mr. Stevens served on the board of Louisiana-Pacific from 2012 until his retirement in 2017.

        The Board of Directors has affirmatively determined that Ms. Davis and each of Messrs. Buck, Nosbaum, Rupp, and Stevens have no material relationship with the Company and have satisfied the independence requirements of the New York Stock Exchange. In assessing director independence, the Board of Directors considered the relationships (as a customer or supplier or otherwise) of the Company with various companies with which such directors may be affiliated and has determined that there are no such relationships that, in the opinion of the Board, might impact any director's independence. In making this assessment, the Board took into account the level of transactions with such companies in relationship to the Company's and the other parties' aggregate sales, the level of

5


Table of Contents

director involvement in such transactions and the ability of such directors to influence such transactions. Based on its review, the Board determined that no transactions occurred during the year that might affect any non-employee director's independence. During the fiscal year, the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee determined that there were no "related person" transactions, as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, each of such directors has met the definitions of "non-employee director" under Rule 16b-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and "outside director" under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

        There are no arrangements or understandings between any person and any of the directors pursuant to which such director was selected as a nominee for election at the Meeting, and there are no family relationships among any of the directors or executive officers of the Company. Ms. Davis and Messrs. Buck, Rupp and Stevens have each indicated a willingness to serve if elected. If a nominee should be unable to serve or will not serve for any reason, and if any other person is nominated, the persons designated on the accompanying form of proxy will have discretionary authority to vote or refrain from voting in accordance with their judgment on such other nominee unless authority to vote on such matter is withheld.

Vote Required

        To be elected as a director, a director nominee must receive a majority of votes cast at the meeting with respect to such nominee (the number of shares voted "FOR" a director nominee must exceed the number of votes cast "AGAINST" that nominee). Cumulative voting is not permitted in the election of directors. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be treated as a vote for or against any particular director nominee and will not affect the outcome of the election of directors.

        Pursuant to the Company's Corporate Governance Guidelines, any current director that is nominated for election must tender his or her resignation as a director in the event that he or she receives more "AGAINST" votes than "FOR" votes. In such an event, the Governance Committee and subsequently the full Board would then review and determine whether to accept or reject the tendered resignation. The Board is required to publicly disclose its decision and the rationale behind it within ninety days from the date of the certification of the election results.

Recommendation

        The Board of Directors recommends that you vote "FOR" the elections of Ms. Davis and Messrs. Buck, Rupp and Stevens. Unless you give contrary instructions in your proxy, your proxy will be voted "FOR" the elections of Ms. Davis and Messrs. Buck, Rupp and Stevens. If any nominee should become unable or unwilling to accept nomination or election, the person acting under the proxy will vote for the election of such other person as the Board of Directors may recommend. The Board has no reason, however, to believe that any nominee will be unable or unwilling to serve if elected.

6


Table of Contents


PROPOSAL NO. 2
ADVISORY VOTE APPROVING NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION

        At the meeting, the stockholders will vote on an advisory resolution approving the compensation of the Company's named executive officers, as required pursuant to Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act.

        We believe that our compensation practices and procedures are competitive, focused on pay-for-performance and strongly aligned with the long-term interests of our stockholders. This advisory stockholder vote, commonly known as "Say-on-Pay," gives you as a stockholder the opportunity to express approval or withhold approval of the compensation we pay our named executive officers through voting for or against the following resolution:

        The Company and the Compensation & Management Development Committee (the "Compensation Committee") remain committed to the compensation philosophy, practices, and objectives outlined under the heading "Compensation Discussion and Analysis" located on page 14 of this Proxy Statement. As always, the Compensation Committee will continue to review all elements of the executive compensation program and take any steps it deems necessary to continue to fulfill the objectives of the program.

        Stockholders are encouraged to carefully review the "Compensation Discussion and Analysis" section of this Proxy Statement for a detailed discussion of the Company's executive compensation program.

        Because your vote is advisory, it will not be binding upon the Company or the Board of Directors. However, the Compensation Committee will take into account the outcome of the vote when considering future executive compensation arrangements.

        Unless the Board modifies its policy on the frequency on holding Say-on-Pay advisory votes, Say-on-Pay votes by our stockholders take place at each Annual Meeting, and the next such vote will occur at the annual meeting to which this Proxy Statement relates.

Vote Required

        The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on this proposal is necessary to approve the Say-on-Pay proposal. Abstentions will have the same effect as a vote "AGAINST" the Say-on-Pay proposal. Broker non-votes will have no effect on the Say-on-Pay proposal.

Board Recommendation

        The Board recommends that you vote "FOR" the ratification of the advisory resolution approving the compensation of the Company's named executive officers.

7


Table of Contents


PROPOSAL NO. 3
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDIT FIRM

        The Audit Committee has selected Grant Thornton LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, to audit the Company's consolidated financial statements for fiscal year 2018. Grant Thornton LLP has been the Company's independent registered public accounting firm since April 2014, when it was retained by the Audit Committee after the completion of a competitive process to select an auditor for the Company's fiscal 2014 financial statements. We are asking the stockholders to ratify the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2018. Grant Thornton LLP was appointed by the Audit Committee in accordance with its charter.

        In the event stockholders fail to ratify the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP, the Audit Committee may reconsider this appointment. Even if the appointment is ratified, the Audit Committee, in its discretion, may direct the appointment of a different independent accounting firm at any time during the year if the Audit Committee determines that such a change would be in the Company's and its stockholders' best interests.

        The Audit Committee has approved all services provided by Grant Thornton LLP. A representative of Grant Thornton LLP will be present at the Annual Meeting, will have the opportunity to make a statement, and will be available to respond to appropriate questions you may ask.

Vote Required

        This vote requires approval by the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on this proposal. Abstentions with respect to the approval of this proposal will have the effect of a vote "AGAINST" this proposal. Broker non-votes will not be counted for the purpose of determining the number of votes necessary for approval of this proposal.

Board Recommendation

        The Board recommends that you vote "FOR" the ratification of appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2018.

8


Table of Contents


EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

        Set forth below is certain information concerning the executive officers of the Company, each of whom serves at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. There is no family relationship between any of these individuals or between these individuals and any of the Company's directors. There are no arrangements or understandings between any person and any of the executive officers pursuant to which such executive officer was selected as an executive officer, except for arrangements or understandings with such executive officer acting solely in such executive officer's capacity as such.

Name and Age
  Office and Length of Service
William C. Griffiths, 66   Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer since 2013
Brent L. Korb, 45   Senior Vice President—Finance and Chief Financial Officer since 2008
Kevin P. Delaney, 56   Senior Vice President—General Counsel and Secretary since 2007
George L. Wilson, 49   Vice President—Chief Operating Officer since 2017
M. Dewayne Williams, 47   Vice President—Controller since 2013

        Mr. Griffiths was elected Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company effective July 9, 2013. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Griffiths served as the Managing Director and a member of the board of directors of Sealine (International) Ltd., a privately held manufacturer of yachts and other marine vessels based in the United Kingdom, from 2012 until it was sold in June 2013. Prior to joining Sealine in 2012, Mr. Griffiths served as Chairman of the Board, President and CEO of Champion Enterprises, Inc., a NYSE-traded producer of modular and manufactured housing until 2010. He joined Champion as a Director, and as President and Chief Executive Officer, in August 2004, and was named Chairman of the Board in 2006. Champion filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on November 15, 2009. From 2001 to 2004, Mr. Griffiths was President—Fluid Systems Division at SPX Corporation, a global multi-industry company located in Charlotte, North Carolina. Mr. Griffiths graduated from the University of London with a B.S. with Honors in Mining Engineering. In addition, Mr. Griffiths is a graduate of the Harvard Business School's PMD executive education program.

        Mr. Korb was named Senior Vice President—Finance and Chief Financial Officer of the Company on August 1, 2008. Mr. Korb was named Vice President—Controller of Quanex Corporation in 2005, and was elected to the same position with the Company upon its creation on December 12, 2007. Prior to his election as Vice President—Controller of Quanex Corporation, Mr. Korb served as Assistant Controller of Quanex Corporation from 2003 to 2005. Prior to that time, Mr. Korb was Controller & Director of Business Analysis since 2003, and Manager of Business Analysis since 2001, of Resolution Performance Products, a manufacturer of specialty chemicals. From 1996 to 2001, Mr. Korb held various positions at Service Corporation International, a provider of funeral, cremation and cemetery services, including Director International Finance & Accounting, Manager International Finance & Accounting, Manager Corporate Development, Manager Strategic Planning, and Financial Analyst.

        Mr. Delaney was named Senior Vice President—General Counsel and Secretary of Quanex Corporation on February 24, 2005, and was elected to the same position with the Company upon its creation on December 12, 2007. Prior to that, he was Vice President—General Counsel of Quanex Corporation since 2003, and Secretary since 2004. Prior to that he was Chief Counsel for Trane Residential Systems, a business of American Standard Companies, a global manufacturer with market leading positions in automotive, bath and kitchen, and air conditioning systems, since 2002; Assistant General Counsel for American Standard Companies since 2001; and Group Counsel for The Trane Company's North American Unitary Products Group since 1997. Prior to that time, Mr. Delaney was Vice President—General Counsel with GS Roofing Products Company, Inc. from 1995 to 1997 and Senior Attorney with GTE Directories Corporation from 1991 to 1995.

        Mr. Wilson was named Vice President—Chief Operating Officer of the Company effective August 1, 2017. Prior to his appointment to that role, Mr. Wilson served as President and General

9


Table of Contents

Manager of the Company's Insulating Glass Systems Division since 2011, and as General Manager of Edgetech I.G., Inc. beginning with its purchase by Quanex in March 2011 until it was consolidated with existing Quanex operations to create the Insulating Glass Systems Division. Prior to joining Quanex, Mr. Wilson served as the Vice President of Operations for Lauren Manufacturing from 2008 to 2010, and as the Vice President of Human Resources for its parent company Lauren International, a diversified manufacturer of polymers, rubbers and plastics, from 2010 to 2011. Prior to that time and beginning in 1993, Mr. Wilson served in various capacities of increasing responsibility for Federal Mogul, a Tier 1 manufacturer of various automobile components.

        Mr. Williams was named Vice President—Controller of the Company effective July 1, 2013. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Williams served as the Vice President—Accounting, Corporate Controller, Chief Accounting Officer and Assistant Treasurer of Complete Production Services, Inc., a publicly held oilfield service provider, from 2009 until it was acquired by Superior Energy Services in 2012. In this role, Mr. Williams served as principal accounting officer and also provided cash management services, various treasury functions, and purchase accounting/transaction support. Prior to that, he served as Assistant Controller for Complete Production Services from 2005 to 2009. During the time from his 2012 departure from Complete Production Services until he joined the Company in 2013, Mr. Williams engaged in consulting work primarily related to purchase transaction accounting for several oilfield service companies.

10


Table of Contents


DIRECTOR AND OFFICER COMPENSATION

Director Compensation

        Directors who are also employees of the Company do not receive any additional compensation for serving on the Board. In fiscal 2017, Mr. Griffiths was the only director who also served as an employee of the Company. As such, he did not receive any additional compensation for Board service, and has not since the date on which he became an employee.

        For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017, the Company's non-employee directors received the following compensation:

11


Table of Contents

   


(1)
Non-employee directors are permitted to defer all or any part of their cash retainers and fees under the Quanex Building Products Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan (the "DC Plan"). These deferrals are placed into notional accounts maintained under the DC Plan and are deemed invested in cash, units denominated in Common Stock, or any of the accounts available under the Company's qualified 401(k) plan, as the director elects. The number of units that are deemed invested in Company common stock units and credited to a director's notional account is equal to the number of shares of Common Stock that could have been purchased with the dollar amount deferred based on the closing price of the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the date the amount would have been paid for such share purchase. If a dividend or other distribution is declared and paid on Common Stock, for each notional common stock unit credited to a director's account a corresponding credit will be accrued in the director's notional matching account. All director deferrals are 100% vested. No payments may be made under the DC Plan until a distribution is permitted in accordance with the terms of the DC Plan. In the event of a "change in control" of the Company, any amount credited to a director's account is fully vested and is payable in cash within five days after the change in control occurs. A "change in control" is defined generally as (i) an acquisition of securities resulting in an individual or entity or group thereof becoming, directly or indirectly, the beneficial owner of 20% or more of either (a) the Company's then-outstanding Common Stock or (b) the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, (ii) a change in a majority of the persons who were members of the Board of Directors as of December 12, 2007 (the "Incumbent Board"), (iii) generally, a reorganization, merger, consolidation or sale of the Company or disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or (iv) the approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company. For this purpose, an individual will be treated as a member of the Incumbent Board if he becomes a director subsequent to December 12, 2007, and his election, or nomination for election by the Company's stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board; unless his initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of an individual, entity or group other than the Board. All distributions under the DC Plan will be made in cash. Any deferral or payment permitted under the DC Plan is administered in a manner that is intended to comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

(2)
Mr. Rupp serves as Chairman of the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee, but has chosen to decline the Committee Chairman Fee related to that position.

(3)
Restricted stock unit grants are issued from the Quanex Building Products Corporation 2008 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended.

12


Table of Contents

        The table below shows the total compensation of our non-employee directors for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017.

Name
  Fees Earned
or Paid in
Cash(1)
($)
  Stock Unit
Awards(2)
($)
  Option
Awards(2)
($)
  Change in
Pension Value &
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings(3)
($)
  All Other
Compensation(4)
($)
  Total
($)
 

Robert R. Buck

    69,500     76,873             5,035     151,408  

Susan F. Davis

    71,250     76,873             6,584     154,707  

LeRoy D. Nosbaum

    75,750     76,873             2,567     155,190  

Joseph D. Rupp

    87,500     76,873             3,255     167,628  

Curtis M. Stevens

    76,250     76,873             4,674     157,797  

(1)
Amounts shown reflect fees earned by the directors from Quanex Building Products Corporation during fiscal year 2017. During fiscal 2017, Messrs. Buck and Stevens and Ms. Davis elected to defer cash compensation of $69,500, $38,125 and $17,500, respectively, under the Quanex Building Products Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan in the form of notional units.

(2)
These columns show respectively, the aggregate grant date fair value for restricted stock units and stock options awarded in fiscal 2017 computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. There were no grants of stock options to non-employee directors during fiscal 2017. Director grants vest immediately and as such are expensed on the date of grant. A discussion of the assumptions used in computing the grant date fair values may be found in Note 15, "Stock-Based Compensation," included in the Company's audited financial statements on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2017. These values reflect the Company's assumptions used to determine the accounting expense associated with these awards and do not necessarily correspond to the actual value that may be recognized by the directors.

The following table shows the grant date fair value of restricted stock units and option grants made during fiscal year 2017 as well as the aggregate number of restricted stock units and stock option awards outstanding for each non-employee director as of October 31, 2017:

 
  Restricted Stock Units   Stock Options  
 
  2017 Grants    
  2017 Grants    
 
 
  Total Units
Outstanding as of
October 31, 2017
(#)
  Total Stock Options
Outstanding as of
October 31, 2017
(#)
 
Name
  Grant Date   Grant Date
Fair Value
($)
  Grant Date   Grant Date
Fair Value
($)
 

Buck

    11/1/16     76,873     12,935   n/a         20,876  

Davis

    11/1/16     76,873     20,346   n/a         56,308  

Nosbaum

    11/1/16     76,873     16,046   n/a         35,398  

Rupp

    11/1/16     76,873     20,346   n/a         56,308  

Stevens

    11/1/16     76,873     16,046   n/a         35,398  
(3)
The Company does not provide a pension plan for non-employee directors. None of the directors received preferential or above-market earnings on deferred compensation.

(4)
Amounts shown represent (a) dividends paid during fiscal 2017 on outstanding restricted stock units, and (b) equivalent dividends paid on phantom stock in the Deferred Compensation Plan for Ms. Davis and Messrs. Buck and Stevens of $3,329; $2,965; and $2,106, respectively.

13


Table of Contents


Compensation Discussion and Analysis

Introduction

        This section of the proxy describes the compensation paid to the executive officers listed in the Summary Compensation Table on page 37 of this Proxy Statement:

        The compensation programs described, however, apply more broadly to other officers and management personnel at the Company, with changes as appropriate to reflect different levels and types of responsibility. The Company believes that this approach helps to align Quanex employees into a unified team committed to the Company's corporate objectives.

Business and Compensation Context

Strategic Repositioning and Fiscal 2017 Performance

        Beginning in 2013, the Company embarked on a transformative strategy that began with the hiring of William Griffiths as CEO. Under Mr. Griffith's leadership, and with ongoing oversight from our Board of Directors, the Company's executive team began implementing a strategic transformation plan to improve profitability, increase free cash flow, and adjust the Company's portfolio of businesses and products to drive long-term shareholder value. These strategic actions included:

        These strategic initiatives, including the decision to become a "pure play" building products company, further added to our EBITDA, EBITDA Margin, and free cash flow and reinforced our strategy of value driven business units.

        In fiscal 2017, we consciously exited over $80 million in revenue. These reduced volumes, in combination with operational inefficiencies, dampened profitability and resulted in underperformance on key financial goals. Despite this initial decline, cash flow continued to be strong and allowed us to reduce debt (net of capital leases) by over $45 million for the second consecutive year. Additionally, Total Shareholder Return for the year was 36%. Managing cost structure, maintaining a strong balance sheet, and providing meaningful returns to our shareholders are important elements of our strategy. The actions taken in 2017 are intended to position Quanex to further improve its profitability and cash flow in 2018.

        The following graphs illustrate critical scope and financial metrics over the prior four-year period. They are presented on a pro forma basis to include the results of Nichols Aluminum (excluding a one-time gain on the sale of Nichols) to provide an understanding of the Company's execution on its strategic goals.

14


Table of Contents


Despite Falling Short on Targets in Fiscal 2017, the Strategic Actions taken Reflect our Focus on Investment for the Long Term.

Pro Forma Revenue and Pro Forma EBITDA
Margin Performance
  Pro Forma EBITDA, Free Cash Flow, and Pro
Forma EBITDA Margin Performance

GRAPHIC

 

GRAPHIC


 

While revenue in fiscal 2017 ended below desired levels, EBITDA margin performance remained strong.   In combination with the decision to retire or redeploy assets in fiscal 2017, improvements in EBITDA and free cash flow fell short of Management's goals.

 

Financial Metric(1)
  Fiscal 2014(2)   Fiscal 2015(3)   Fiscal 2016   Fiscal 2017  

Revenue ($M)

  $ 733   $ 646   $ 928   $ 867  

Pro Forma EBITDA ($M)

  $ 47   $ 61   $ 103   $ 96  

Pro Forma EBITDA Margin

    6.4 %   9.4 %   11.1 %   11.1 %

Free Cash Flow ($M)

  $ (13 ) $ 37   $ 49   $ 44  

(1)
For the periods presented above, a reconciliation of Pro Forma EBITDA to Net Income as reported by the Company and a reconciliation of Free Cash Flow to Cash Provided by Operating Activities as reported by the Company, are included in Annex A to this Proxy Statement. Free Cash Flow is defined as cash provided by operations less capital expenditures.

(2)
Fiscal 2014 includes $137 million of Revenue and $38 million of EBITDA attributable to Nichols Aluminum. Fiscal 2014 EBITDA excludes a one-time gain on the sale of Nichols in the amount of $39 million.

(3)
Fiscal 2015 includes no Revenue and $1 million of EBITDA attributable to Nichols Aluminum.

        Despite underperformance on key financial metrics in 2017, since 2014, EBITDA has more than doubled (from $47 million to $96 million), and Free Cash Flow has grown significantly (from $(13) million to $44 million).

Realized Pay and Shareholder Alignment

        The effect of the strategic repositioning has meaningfully reduced realized pay for our executives during this time frame. The following chart illustrates the relationship between the CEO's target and realized pay to the Company's total shareholder return between fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2017.

15


Table of Contents

GRAPHIC

        Note: Target pay includes base salary; target bonus; and the grant date value of options, restricted stock, cash-based performance units, and performance shares for the applicable period. Realized pay includes base salary, bonus payout, in-the-money value of stock options based on the October 31, 2017 stock price, the value of restricted stock granted during the period based on the October 31, 2017 stock price, and the value of cash-based performance units and performance shares paid out during the period. Revenue reflects the Company's fiscal year end revenue for each applicable year. Fiscal 2014 Revenue includes $137 million attributable to Nichols Aluminum.

        The following table shows the payouts (as a percentage of target) for the Company's annual incentive award program ("AIA") and performance awards under the Company's Long-Term Incentive Plan. Over the past five years, incentive plan payouts have been responsive to Company performance—on average, payouts under the AIA and long-term performance award have been approximately 51% of target and 42% of target, respectively.

 
  Payout (as a % of target)  
Award Type
  FY2013   FY2014   FY2015   FY2016   FY2017  

AIA

    0.0 %   78.5 %   92.8 %   81.4 %   0.0 %

Perf. Award

    0.0 %   0.0 %   66.8 %   100.0 %   41.0 %

        In fiscal 2017, we did not earn a payout under the AIA and earned below target on the long-term performance award, consistent with our performance on goals during the year. Mr. Wilson earned a pro rata payout related to his prior service as a division president.

Responding to Shareholders: Changes for 2018

        In line with our commitment to align pay and performance, we undertook careful analysis of the value drivers of our business in relation to our compensation arrangements. As a result, decisions were made to change our compensation programs for fiscal 2018. The Committee believes that the decisions

16


Table of Contents

made to our program going forward demonstrate our ongoing commitment to align executive compensation with stockholder interests and encourage value creation at Quanex. Although these changes are discussed here, the full impact of these decisions will be reflected in 2018 pay and in next year's proxy statement. These recent changes include the following:

Compensation Best Practices

        We use traditional compensation elements of base salary, annual incentives, long-term incentives, and employee benefits to deliver attractive and competitive compensation. We benchmark both compensation and Company performance in evaluating the appropriateness of pay. All of our executive pay programs are administered by an independent compensation committee, with assistance from an independent consultant. Some highlights to our executive compensation program include the following actions:

What We Do   What We Don't Do

Link annual incentive compensation to the achievement of an objective pre-established performance goal.

Provide 50% of our long-term compensation in the form of Performance-Based Long-Term Incentives.

Target the market median for all elements of compensation.

Apply robust minimum stock ownership guidelines.

Maintain a clawback policy.

Use and review compensation tally sheets.

Evaluate the risk of our compensation programs.

Use an independent compensation consultant.

Seek to optimize deductibility of performance-based compensation.

 

No tax gross ups for new executive officers.

We do not allow hedging or pledging of Company stock.

No "single-trigger" change in control cash payments.

No excessive perquisites.

Compensation Objectives

        We design our executive compensation program to further our corporate goal of paying for performance. Our compensation plan and pay strategy focus on and are intended to influence the

17


Table of Contents

profit margins of our businesses, cash flow generation, returns to stockholders and efficient management of our operations.

        Our specific objectives and related plan features include:

Objectives   How We Meet Our Objectives
Attract and retain effective leadership  

We provide a competitive total pay package, taking into account base salary, incentives, benefits, and perquisites for each executive.

We regularly benchmark our pay programs against the competitive market, comparing both fixed and variable, at-risk compensation that is tied to short- and long-term performance; we use the results of this analysis as context in making pay adjustments.

Our plans include three-year performance cycles on long-term incentive awards, three-year vesting schedules on equity incentives, and career-weighted vesting on our supplemental retirement plan to motivate long-term retention.

We compete effectively for the highest caliber people who will determine our long-term success.

Motivate and reward executives for achieving specific financial goals

 

We offer a compensation program that focuses on variable, performance-based compensation (through Annual and Long-Term Incentive Awards).

Specific financial performance measures used in the incentive programs include:

Fiscal 2017 Annual Incentive Awards (AIA) used a corporate scorecard based on 100% Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization and other, net (EBITDA), taking into account operational and strategic goals, provided the Company achieves the initial performance hurdle of positive operating income (excluding any amounts attributable to corporate). Fiscal 2018 AIA replaces EBITDA with Modified Free Cash Flow.

Performance Share awards use compounded Earnings Per Share (EPS) Growth to motivate long-term focus on bottom-line performance, Relative Total Shareholder Return (TSR) to reward executives for performance compared to the market, and Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) to encourage effective capital deployment.

Create a strong financial incentive to meet or exceed long-term financial goals and build long-term value

 

We link a significant part of total compensation to Quanex's financial and stock price performance—over 70% of our compensation mix is performance-based.

We deliver 50% of long-term incentives in the form of performance-based equity compensation.

For SVPs and above, long-term compensation opportunities are weighted to deliver more than two times the target short-term incentive opportunity, resulting in a significant portion of our total compensation delivered in the form of long-term incentives.

18


Table of Contents

Objectives   How We Meet Our Objectives

Align executive and shareholder interests

 

In order to emphasize long-term shareholder returns, we require significant Quanex stock ownership among executives through the use of stock ownership guidelines.

The ultimate value of our annual equity grants is driven by stock price performance over the grant date value.

Competitive Positioning

        The Compensation Committee annually examines the level of competitiveness and continued appropriateness of our executive compensation program. For fiscal 2017, the Company examined the previous comparator group for benchmarking compensation and determined to transition from a reference group approach to a peer group approach comprised of the Company's direct industry peers. For fiscal 2017, Quanex used comparative compensation data from a group of sixteen direct industry companies, referred to in this CD&A as the "Peer Group," as a point of reference in designing and setting its compensation levels. The Peer Group consists of companies selected on criteria including size, complexity, revenue, market capitalization, risk profile, asset intensity, margins, and industrial application of the primary business. The Compensation Committee reviewed and approved the following companies to be included in the Company's fiscal 2017 peer group:

AAON Inc.
American Woodmark Corp.
Apogee Enterprises Inc.
Continental Building Products
Gibraltar Industries Inc.
Griffon Corporation
  LCI Industries (formerly known as Drew Industries, Inc.)
Louisiana-Pacific Corp.
Masonite International
NCI Building Systems Inc.
Patrick Industries Inc.
  PGT, Inc.
Ply Gem Holdings Inc.
Simpson Manufacturing Inc.
Trex Company, Inc.
Universal Forest Products Inc.

The following 18 companies were included in the fiscal 2016 Reference Group but removed from the fiscal 2017 Peer Group: A.M. Castle & Co., Actuant Corp., Albany International Corp., Astec Industries Inc., Builders FirstSource Inc., CLARCOR Inc., Compass Minerals International Inc., Eagle Materials Inc., Encore Wire Corp., EnPro Industries Inc., Graco Inc., H&E Equipment Services Inc., Headwaters Inc., Nordson Corp., Nortek Inc., Olympic Steel Inc., Superior Industries International, and Watts Water Technologies Inc.

        Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc. ("FW Cook"), an independent compensation consultant to the Compensation Committee, used the Peer Group pay information, along with manufacturing and general industry survey data, to develop the appropriate range of compensation for each executive position. FW Cook also prepared an independent analysis of our key performance indicators such as profitability, growth, capital efficiency, balance sheet strength, and total return to stockholders compared to our sixteen industry peers. These results were then reported to the Compensation Committee in order to provide a thorough picture of the competitiveness of pay in the context of our performance as compared with that of our peers. While the Compensation Committee uses this analysis to help frame its decisions on compensation, it uses its collective judgment in determining executive pay. The Compensation Committee exercises discretion in making compensation decisions based on the following inputs: its understanding of market conditions, its understanding of competitive pay analysis, recommendations from the CEO regarding his direct reports, the Committee's overall evaluation of the executive's performance, and our overall compensation strategy.

19


Table of Contents

Changes for Fiscal 2018

        For fiscal 2018, the Company added one company, Insteel Industries, to the peer group. The following seventeen companies comprise the fiscal 2018 peer group:

AAON Inc.
American Woodmark Corp.
Apogee Enterprises Inc.
Continental Building Products
Gibraltar Industries Inc.
Griffon Corporation
  Insteel Industries
LCI Industries
Louisiana-Pacific Corp.
Masonite International
NCI Building Systems Inc.
Patrick Industries Inc.
  PGT, Inc.
Ply Gem Holdings Inc.
Simpson Manufacturing Inc.
Trex Company, Inc.
Universal Forest Products Inc.

Program Description

        Our executive compensation program is a traditional design structure that has been customized to suit the business and organizational objectives of the Company. It includes base salary, annual cash incentive compensation, long-term incentives and executive benefits. Our fiscal 2017 long-term incentive program consisted of stock option grants, restricted stock grants, and performance share awards. The amount of pay that is performance-based for an executive is directly related to the level of responsibility held by the position; accordingly, our highest ranked executive has the most performance-based pay as a percentage of total compensation. We attempt to set realistic but challenging goals in our annual incentive and performance share plans. In both cases, if we fail to meet the pre-determined standards, no plan-based compensation is earned by executives.

        We evaluate the various components of compensation annually relative to the competitive market for prevalence and value. By setting each of the elements against the competitive market within the parameters of our compensation strategy, the relative weighting of each element of our total pay mix varies by individual. We do not set fixed percentages for each element of compensation. The mix may also change over time as the competitive market moves or other market conditions which affect us change. We do not have and do not anticipate establishing any policies for allocating between long-term and currently paid compensation, or between cash and non-cash compensation. We have a process of assessing the appropriate allocation between these elements of compensation on a periodic basis and adjusting our position based on market conditions and our business strategy.

Base Salary

        Purpose:    This pay element is intended to compensate executives for their qualifications and the value of their job in the competitive market.

        Competitive Positioning:    The Company's goal is to target the market median as our strategic target for base salary. We review each executive's salary and performance every year to determine whether base salary should be adjusted. Along with individual performance, we also consider movement of salary in the market, as well as our financial results from the prior year to determine appropriate salary adjustments.

        While the Compensation Committee applies general compensation concepts when determining the competitiveness of our executives' salaries, the Compensation Committee generally considers base salaries as being competitive when they are within approximately 10% of the stated market target (in this case, the market 50th percentile). In the most recent analysis using both our comparator group and general industry data, the salaries for our named executive officers ranged from 82% to 107% of the market 50th percentile.

        Fiscal 2017 Review:    In December 2016, the Compensation Committee decided to maintain current base salaries based on the Company's relative position to the market and overall stockholder return.

20


Table of Contents

Mr. Wilson's base salary was determined in connection with his promotion to COO in August 2017. The table below provides base salaries for fiscals 2016 and 2017:

Name and Principal Position
  Fiscal 2016
Base Salary
  Fiscal 2017
Base Salary
  Base Salary
Increase
 

William C. Griffiths
Chairman, President and CEO

  $ 815,000   $ 815,000     0 %

George L. Wilson(1)
Vice President and COO

 
$

327,000
 
$

450,000
   
38

%

Brent L. Korb
Senior Vice President—Finance and CFO

 
$

418,000
 
$

418,000
   
0

%

Kevin P. Delaney
Senior Vice President—General Counsel and Secretary

 
$

375,000
 
$

375,000
   
0

%

M. Dewayne Williams
Vice President—Controller

 
$

232,000
 
$

232,000
   
0

%

(1)
Mr. Wilson's fiscal 2016 base salary reflects his rate as Division President prior to his promotion to COO.

        Changes for Fiscal 2018:    In October 2017, the Compensation Committee decided to maintain current base salaries, as set forth above, based on the Company's relative position to market.

Annual Incentive Awards (AIA)

        Purpose:    This element of compensation is intended to reward executives for the achievement of annual goals related to key business drivers. It is also intended to emphasize to executives the key business goals of the Company from year to year.

        Competitive Positioning:    The Company's strategy is to target the market median for annual incentives for performance that meets expected levels. We have established the range of possible payouts under the plan so that our competitive position could be above or below our stated strategy based on performance outcomes. Our most recent analysis showed our named executive officers to be in a range of 81% to 108% of the market median on target total cash compensation.

        Plan Mechanics:    The Company's 2008 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended in 2011 and 2014 (the "Omnibus Plan") serves as the governing plan document for our AIA. The AIA is a goal attainment incentive plan design that pays target award levels for expected performance results.

        Fiscal 2017:    The AIA emphasizes earnings and informed decision making with regard to the Company's operational and strategic goals. To integrate the goals of the AIA throughout the Company, the annual incentive program participation includes the top leaders of all of our domestic business divisions. We believe this is necessary in order to align managers throughout the organization with this incentive structure. The plan design requires the Company (excluding any amounts attributable to corporate) to have positive operating income in order for any Annual Incentive Awards to be paid out. If the performance hurdle is met, then the bonus pool for all Annual Incentive Awards is funded at the maximum bonus opportunity level.

        Rigorous Goals:    If funded, the Compensation Committee will assess performance against the fiscal 2017 corporate scorecard weighted 100% on EBITDA. The Company set rigorous performance expectations based on the forecasted results of the operating divisions and the projected markets for

21


Table of Contents

building products. The Committee established performance goals for fiscal 2017 that require the Company to at least perform at last year's levels to earn a payout.

        Target Award Levels:    Based on competitive market practices for annual incentives, and our compensation strategy, we set a target award opportunity for each of our executives. This is the amount of incentive compensation the executive can earn when performance meets expected results, or "target." The table below reflects the payout percentage of a named executive's base salary at the threshold, target and maximum levels of performance for fiscal 2017.


Potential AIA Payout
Expressed as a % of Salary

Participant
  Threshold   Target   Maximum  

CEO

    50 %   100 %   200 %

COO

    37.5 %   75 %   150 %

CFO

    32.5 %   65 %   130 %

GC

    30 %   60 %   120 %

VP-Controller

    25 %   50 %   100 %

        Fiscal 2017 Results:    For fiscal 2017, the performance hurdle of positive operating income (excluding corporate) was met, with the Company having earned operating income of $34.4 million. Once the hurdle was met and the plan was funded, the Compensation Committee determined the incentive payouts. The primary metric for the AIA scorecard considered by the Compensation Committee was the Adjusted EBITDA target of $111.8 million. The Committee adjusted EBITDA results by factoring in the effect of foreign exchange rates, LIFO, stock based compensation, restructuring related costs, loss on sale, and transaction related costs. The Company achieved adjusted EBITDA of $98.5 million, which resulted in an AIA achievement of 0% of target payment for the officers. Mr. Wilson earned a payout equal to 81% of target, based on his role as Division President of IG Systems for the first nine months of the fiscal year, and a 0% of target payout based on his role as COO for the last three months of the fiscal year. The AIA achievement resulted in payments to participants as follows:

Participant
  Target %
(as a % of salary)
  Achieved %
(as a % of salary)
 

CEO

    100 %   0 %

COO

    60 %   30 %

CFO

    65 %   0 %

GC

    60 %   0 %

VP-Controller

    50 %   0 %

        Fiscal 2018 Changes:    For fiscal 2018, the Compensation Committee replaced the EBITDA metric in the AIA with Modified Free Cash Flow. Modified Free Cash Flow is defined as EBITDA minus change in accounts receivable, inventory, and accounts payable minus capital expenditures.

        The fiscal 2018 scorecard will be weighted 100% on Modified Free Cash Flow. We believe that the use of a single financial measure helps focus the management team on operational excellence and profitability. The plan will continue to use positive operating income (excluding any amounts attributable to corporate) as the initial performance hurdle.

        AIA participant target payout percentages will remain the same for fiscal 2018.

22


Table of Contents

Long-Term Incentive Compensation

        Purpose:    We have a long-term incentive program designed to help align the interests of executive management with shareholders and reward executives for the achievement of long-term goals. Long-term incentives are also critical to the retention of key employees and provide executives an opportunity for personal capital accumulation. For these reasons we have placed more value on the long-term incentive element of compensation than on other elements. The result is that this element of compensation represents at least half of the named executive officers' total direct compensation.

        Competitive Positioning:    In 2016, we evaluated the long-term incentive philosophy and made modifications in order to target the 50th percentile of the market. In our most recent analysis versus the market, we found that the named executive officers' competitive positioning is within approximately 10% of the market 50th percentile. The individual performance of each named executive officer is not considered in the value of the long-term incentive awards granted. Since the goals are set prospectively, the Company's financial performance determines the ultimate value of the award.

        Participation:    Participation in the program includes the named executive officers and certain key contributors to the business and is determined based on competitive practices as well as our assessment of which positions contribute to long-term value creation.

        Target Award Levels:    In order to align with our market strategy of targeting the 50th percentile, we have maintained the dollar value of target awards for the CEO, CFO, and GC. Target awards for our VPs are determined based on a percent of salary. The following LTI targets were established for the executives for fiscal 2017:

Participant
  LTI Target

CEO

  $2,145,000

VP—COO

  200% of base salary

CFO

  $700,000

GC

  $594,000

VP—Controller

  70% of base salary

Fiscal Year 2017 Long Term Incentive Program Design

Vehicles and Goals

        The Company's fiscal 2017 program consisted of a combination of stock options, performance shares and restricted stock. The allocation between the long-term incentive vehicles is determined by the Compensation Committee based on market information provided by its compensation consultant, as well as input from senior management regarding the key business drivers that allow for the continuation of a results-oriented culture. The Omnibus Plan does not provide for any specific subjective individual performance component in determining the ultimate value of the award. The following chart illustrates the fiscal 2017 allocation of long-term incentives by vehicle type.

23


Table of Contents

GRAPHIC

Stock Options

        Options to purchase company stock comprised 25% of our long-term incentive target value for fiscal 2017 and provide executives the opportunity to share in the increase in stock value over time. They provide an element of compensation that varies along with changes in stock price over time. These awards also offer our executives the opportunity to accumulate value (if the Company's stock appreciates) since the growth in value occurs over a long period of time (up to 10 years), and gains from that growth are not taxed until such time as the options are exercised. Since we generally use ratable vesting over three years for each award, stock options also serve a meaningful role in the retention of our key employees.

        Our stock options are granted at the fair market value closing price on the date of grant, have a term of ten years, and generally vest ratably over a three-year period.

Restricted Stock

        Restricted stock represents 25% of the participant's long-term incentive value. We chose 25% of the total value because it provides meaningful retentive value to our key executives, helps smooth out market volatility, and is cost efficient. The restricted stock awards vest three years after the award is granted, so long as the participant remains employed by us. We believe restricted stock awards are an effective long-term compensation vehicle through which key employees can be retained, especially through volatile periods in the market.

Performance Shares

        Performance shares represent 50% of each participant's long-term incentive value. Performance shares are payable 50% in cash and 50% in stock and are intended to motivate executives to achieve preset goals that are in line with critical business drivers. These awards also provide an incentive for executives to outperform peer companies as measured by relative total shareholder return.

        We set target award values for each year. These target award values are used to calculate the number of performance shares granted to each executive. The final number of shares to vest is not determined until the end of a three-year performance cycle and is based on Earnings Per Share Growth (or "EPS Growth") and Relative Total Shareholder Return (or "Relative TSR"). Each goal is weighted 50% of the total performance share award. As part of our emphasis on performance-based long-term

24


Table of Contents

incentives, new for 2017, the payouts under these metrics are subject to a modifier based on Return on Invested Capital ("ROIC") improvement.

        EPS Growth is measured as the cumulative value of EPS over the three-year performance period, Relative TSR is expressed as the stock price appreciation plus dividends reinvested relative to appreciation of our peer group, and ROIC performance is measured as the Company's absolute improvement over the three-year performance period. ROIC is defined as net operating profit after taxes divided by average invested capital. Net operating profit after taxes is defined as earnings from continuing operations plus after-tax interest and amortization expense. Average invested capital is defined as the sum of the average debt and shareholders' equity for the year. ROIC excludes other comprehensive loss, goodwill impairments and non-economic accounting changes, as they are not reflective of our operating performance. Modifier payouts can range from 0% to 50% of target, but no modifier will be applied if the Company does not reach at least threshold performance on the EPS Growth and Relative TSR metrics. Performance shares will continue to be capped at 200% of target. The goals for EPS Growth and Relative TSR are listed below:

 
   
   
  Performance Share Modifier  
 
   
  3-Yr. Cumulative
Compounded
Annual
EPS Growth %
 
Milestones
  Relative Total
Shareholder Return
Percentile
  R-TSR
(50% Weighting)
  EPS
(50% Weighting)
  Total  

Maximum

    75 %   12 %   100 %   100 %   200 %

Target

    60 %   9 %   50 %   50 %   100 %

Threshold

    30 %   6 %   37.5 %   37.5 %   75 %

        To measure performance for the fiscal 2017 grant, the three-year cumulative compounded EPS growth will be applied to the starting value of $0.80 per share, which was derived from historical EPS, adjusted for the pro forma results of businesses acquired, restructuring and goodwill impairment charges, less certain transaction costs.

Fiscal 2017 Long-Term Incentive Grants

        The number of long-term incentive awards granted during fiscal 2017 was determined by: (1) taking 25% of the participant's target award value and dividing it by the calculated Black-Scholes value of a Quanex stock option to determine the number of options, (2) taking 25% of the participant's target award value and dividing it by the 10-day average closing stock price between October 18, 2016 and October 31, 2016 to determine the number of restricted stock awards and (3) taking 50% of the participant's target award value and dividing it by the 10-day average closing stock price between October 18, 2016 and October 31, 2016 to determine the number of performance shares. The equity grant calculations apply an average stock price based on the last 10 trading days in October 2016. For more information related to long-term incentive awards granted during fiscal 2017, please see the table entitled "Grants of Plan Based Awards" located on page 40 of this Proxy Statement.

Previously Awarded Performance Shares

        The performance shares awarded to our executives in December 2014 (the "Fiscal 2015 Performance Shares") became payable to executives in December 2017, with a final value determined by the Company's performance period for fiscal 2015 through fiscal 2017. Performance measures and goals for the Fiscal 2015 Performance Shares included EPS Growth and Relative TSR, each weighted 50% of the total performance share award. EPS Growth is measured as the cumulative value of EPS over the three-year performance period, and Relative TSR is expressed as the stock price appreciation plus dividends reinvested relative to appreciation of our peer group. Relative TSR is determined by calculating the change in the value of our stock plus the value of dividends and comparing that value

25


Table of Contents

with that of our peer group. Our performance against these pre-established goals determined the payout to executives within a range from threshold to maximum. The pre-established goals and the actual performance to these goals are set forth below.

 
   
  3 yr.
EPS Growth(1)
  Performance Share Modifier  
 
  Relative
TSR
Percentile
  R-TSR
(50% weighting)
  EPS
(50% weighting)
   
 
Milestones
  Cum.   Percent   Total  

Performance Measures:

                                     

Maximum

    75 % $ 0.83     12 %   100 %   100 %   200 %

Target

    60 % $ 0.79     9 %   50 %   50 %   100 %

Threshold

    30 % $ 0.74     6 %   37.5 %   37.5 %   75 %

Actual Performance

    0 % $ 0.75     6.7 %   0 %   41 %   41 %

(1)
Three Year EPS Growth was determined by using a base year value of $0.22, which represents the fiscal 2014 reported EPS.

        For the Fiscal 2015 Performance Shares, the total actual payout was equal to 41% of target as a result of earning 82% of target associated with EPS Growth and 0% of target associated with relative TSR. Actual payout amounts for each named executive officer were as follows:

Officer
  Fiscal 2015
Performance
Shares
Granted
(#)
  EPS
Growth
Total
Payout
($)
  EPS
Growth
Total
Shares
Granted
(#)
  R-TSR
Total
Payout
($)
  R-TSR
Total
Shares
Granted
(#)
  Cash Paid for
Accumulated
Dividends during
Performance
Period
($)
  Total
Payout
($)
  Total
Shares
Granted
(#)
 

Griffiths

    53,600     243,494     10,988             10,549     254,043     10,988  

Wilson

    7,000     31,800     1,435             1,377     33,177     1,435  

Korb

    17,500     79,499     3,588             3,444     82,943     3,588  

Delaney

    14,800     67,233     3,034             2,913     70,146     3,034  

Williams

    3,900     17,717     800             767     18,484     800  

Fiscal 2018 Long-Term Incentive Grants

        At the Compensation Committee's December 2017 meeting, the Compensation Committee elected to change the Company's LTI plan design from an LTI mix of 25% stock options, 25% restricted stock and 50% performance shares to 25% performance restricted stock units, 25% restricted stock and 50% performance shares. The new LTI design will be 75% performance-based. Other than the replacement of stock options with performance restricted stock units, the design of the LTI plan is the same as in fiscal 2017. The following charts illustrate the change in the allocation of long-term incentives by vehicle type for fiscal 2018.

26


Table of Contents

GRAPHIC

        The fiscal 2018 performance restricted stock units (PRSU) can be earned based on absolute total shareholder return over the three-year performance period. The PRSUs will be settled 100% in equity. In order for executives to receive a target payout, the Company must have absolute TSR improvement of 20%. The table below illustrates the number of shares that will vest based on the Company's absolute TSR under the PRSU awards. Performance will be interpolated for any results in between threshold and target or target and maximum.

Milestones
  Absolute Total
Shareholder Return
Performance
  Performance
Restricted Stock
Units Modifier
 

Maximum

    ³ 50 %   150 %

Target

    20 %   100 %

Threshold

    –20 %   50 %

        The fiscal 2018 performance shares will continue to include EPS Growth and Relative TSR, each weighted 50%, with a modifier based on absolute ROIC improvement. Modifier payouts can range from 0% to 50% of target, but no modifier will be applied if the Company does not reach at least threshold performance on the EPS Growth and Relative TSR metrics. Performance shares will continue to be capped at 200% of target.

 
   
   
  Performance Share Modifier  
 
   
  3-Yr. Cumulative
Compounded
Annual
EPS Growth %
 
Milestones
  Relative Total
Shareholder Return
Percentile
  R-TSR
(50% Weighting)
  EPS
(50% Weighting)
  Total  

Maximum

    75 %   12 %   100 %   100 %   200 %

Target

    60 %   9 %   50 %   50 %   100 %

Threshold

    30 %   6 %   37.5 %   37.5 %   75 %

        For fiscal 2018, the three-year cumulative compounded EPS growth will be applied to the starting value of $0.58 per share, which is the pro forma EPS for fiscal 2017, excluding transaction costs.

        The foregoing goals are not intended to and do not reflect guidance by or expectations of the Company as to actual results. These goals are part of an overall compensation program designed,

27


Table of Contents

among other things, to align executive compensation with the market's reasonable expectations of performance and shareholder returns.

        For fiscal 2018, we will continue to target the market median for long-term incentives. Our review of market conditions for fiscal 2018 indicated no change to target LTI values as compared to last year with the exception of the VP Controller. The Committee chose to raise the LTI value for the VP Controller to $175,000. In addition to holding target LTI values flat, we have maintained the dollar value of target awards for the VPs. This practice has been used for the CEO, CFO, and GC since fiscal 2016. The following table shows the LTI targets for the executives.

Participant
  LTI Target  

CEO

  $ 2,145,000  

VP—COO

  $ 900,000  

CFO

  $ 700,000  

GC

  $ 594,000  

VP—Controller

  $ 175,000  

Processes and Procedures for Determining Executive Compensation

        Guided by the principal objectives described above, the Compensation Committee approves the structure of the executive compensation program and administers the programs for our executive officers, including matters where approval by our independent Compensation Committee members is appropriate for tax or regulatory reasons. The following describes the roles of key participants in the process.

The Role of Executives

        Our Chief Executive Officer is the only executive who works with the Compensation Committee and compensation consultant in establishing compensation levels and performance targets. Our Chief Executive Officer is responsible for reviewing the compensation and performance of the other executive officers and, as such, makes recommendations to the Compensation Committee regarding adjustments in compensation to such executive officers. The Compensation Committee considers the Chief Executive Officer's recommendations along with the Committee's own evaluation of individual and business performance and the market data provided by its compensation consultant. In making recommendations, the Chief Executive Officer relies upon his evaluation of his direct reports' performance and competitive compensation information. The Chief Executive Officer does not recommend his own compensation. The Chief Executive Officer recommends AIA performance goals to the Compensation Committee. The Chief Executive Officer, with input from the compensation consultant, recommends performance goals for long-term incentive awards that are properly aligned with the business goals and compensation strategy.

        Our Senior Vice President—General Counsel and Secretary serves as the liaison between the compensation consultant, the Compensation Committee, and the Governance Committee. In this role, he interfaces with the compensation consultant to carry out the duties of the Compensation Committee and Governance Committee.

The Role of Independent External Advisors

        To facilitate the formulation and administration of our compensation program, the Compensation Committee has retained Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc. ("FW Cook") since July 2012 as its independent consultant on executive compensation matters. FW Cook helps the Compensation Committee assess the

28


Table of Contents

competitiveness and appropriateness of compensation programs throughout the market, including our peers, and develop a compensation program that is consistent with our objectives and market conditions. FW Cook meets with our Compensation Committee in executive sessions and advises the Compensation Committee with respect to a wide range of issues related to executive compensation. The Compensation Committee authorizes the scope of services that it desires FW Cook to provide for the Company, including reviewing and analyzing market data, evaluating our comparator group composition, making recommendations for incentive system designs, providing market and regulatory updates, assisting with deliberations related to CEO compensation, reviewing any relevant information and reporting to the Compensation Committee on all aspects of our compensation programs. FW Cook reports directly to, and takes its charge from, the Compensation Committee. However, the Compensation Committee does not specifically direct the manner in which FW Cook performs the scope of services it provides to the Company. Additionally, the Compensation Committee makes all final decisions regarding compensation.

        The Compensation Committee reviewed the independence of FW Cook based on the NYSE rules for independence which include the following factors: (i) the provision of other services to the Company by FW Cook; (ii) the amount of fees from the Company paid to FW Cook as a percentage of FW Cook's total revenue; (iii) the policies and procedures of FW Cook that are designed to prevent conflicts of interest; (iv) any business or personal relationship of the individual compensation advisors who serve the Committee with any member of the Committee; (v) any stock of the Company owned by such individual compensation advisors, and (vi) any business or personal relationship of FW Cook or the individual compensation advisors who serve the Committee with an executive officer of the Company. The Compensation Committee also reviewed FW Cook's policies for avoiding conflicts of interest. The Compensation Committee has determined, based on its analysis of the factors listed above, that the work of FW Cook and the individual compensation consultants employed by FW Cook does not create any conflicts of interest and that FW Cook meets the NYSE standards for independence.

The Role of the Compensation & Management Development Committee

        The Compensation Committee currently comprises three non-employee independent directors. The Compensation Committee's duties in administering executive compensation programs include the following:

        The Compensation Committee determines the Chief Executive Officer's salary and incentive awards based upon an assessment of individual and Company performance, as well as market data provided by the compensation consultant. The Compensation Committee may form and delegate duties to subcommittees when appropriate. A more expansive list of the Compensation Committee's responsibilities can be found in its charter, which can be viewed on our website at www.quanex.com.

29


Table of Contents

Post-Employment Compensation

        Severance and change in control benefits are provided under the employment agreements of our executives, as well as under our incentive plans. These benefits are discussed at greater length in the section entitled "Employment Agreements and Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control" on page 31 of this Proxy Statement.

        Since 2013, the Company has maintained a policy to no longer provide excise tax gross up benefits to any new executives in the event of a change in control termination.

Deferred Compensation Plan

        The Company has a nonqualified deferred compensation program that gives executives the opportunity to defer income. As with our various other plans and programs, this deferral opportunity is designed to attract and retain key executives.

        The deferred compensation program is administered by the Compensation Committee. Before eligible employees can participate, they must first receive a recommendation from our senior managers and then final approval by the Compensation Committee. Participants in the program may choose to defer up to 100% of their annual and long-term incentive bonuses. Participants may choose from a variety of investment choices in which the Company will invest their deferrals over the defined deferral period.

Executive Benefits

        Purpose:    The role of executive benefits is to provide financial security, enhanced employee welfare, and competitive packages that are meaningful in the markets for which we compete for executive talent. These programs provide post retirement income, and in some cases, additional benefits in place of those that would otherwise be lost due to plan limits imposed by the Internal Revenue Code.

        Competitive Positioning:    Our executive benefits strategy is to provide meaningful yet cost-efficient benefits to executives at a level that aligns with our desired competitive positioning of the market median. We provide executives with health and welfare benefits that are consistent with our program for exempt personnel generally. Supplemental retirement and supplemental life benefits are also provided to our officers.

30


Table of Contents

Other Compensation Items

Clawback Provision (Recovery of Incentive Payments)

        We have a policy to enable the Board, in its judgment and to the extent permitted by governing law, to require reimbursement of any cash bonus or performance shares paid to an executive where (a) the value of the award was predicated upon the achievement of certain financial results that were subsequently the subject of a material restatement, and (b) a lower payment would have been made to the executive based on the restated financial results. In each instance, the Company may seek to recover that portion of the affected executive's annual and/or long-term incentive payments that is higher than the payment that would have originally been paid. No reimbursement will be required if such material restatement was caused by or resulted from any change in accounting policy or rules. In addition, we have amended our performance based award agreements to facilitate a transition to new SEC and stock exchange requirements when they are finalized.

Risk Assessment

        In fiscal 2017, the Compensation Committee discussed and analyzed risks associated with the Company's compensation policies and practices for executive officers and all employees generally. This discussion included, but was not limited to, topics such as eligibility, affordability, retention impact, corporate objectives, alignment with shareholder interests, governance, and possible unintended consequences. The Compensation Committee did not identify any risks arising from the Company's compensation programs or practices that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.

Executive Stock Ownership Guidelines

        We encourage our executives to own our Common Stock because we believe such ownership provides strong alignment of interests between executives and shareholders. Our executive stock ownership guidelines provide that different levels of executives are expected to own a specific value of our Common Stock, expressed as a percentage of salary. The stock ownership requirement for the current CEO is effective five years after assuming his role. For other executives, the stock ownership requirement is effective three years after assuming their respective roles. The chart below shows the guidelines by executive level.

Level
  Typical Executive
Position
  Stock Ownership
Goal

1

  CEO   4x Base Salary

2

  COO   2.5x Base Salary

3

  SVP   2x Base Salary

4

  VP   1x Base Salary

        All of our named executives currently are in compliance with the executive stock ownership guidelines.

31


Table of Contents

Timing of Certain Committee Actions

        The Compensation Committee schedules actions related to executive pay to coincide with its regularly scheduled Board meetings in October and December:

Executive Compensation Element
  Action Item
Base Salaries  

Review and/or adjust based on market review

Short-Term Incentives

 

Determine year-end results and approve payouts

 

Set goals for upcoming year

Long-Term Incentives

 

Determine performance results and approve long-term plan's payouts

 

Set goals for long-term plan's next three-year performance cycle

 

Determine and approve equity awards, including stock options and restricted stock awards

        Compensation decisions related to promotions or new hire awards are addressed on an individual basis, at the time the executive is promoted or first joins the Company.

Accounting Considerations and Tax Deductibility of Executive Compensation

        In designing compensation programs, we consider the effects that accounting and taxation may have on us, the named executive officers or other employees as a group. We account for compensation arrangements in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. All share based payments to employees are measured at fair value on the date of grant and recognized in the statement of operations as compensation expense over their requisite service periods.

        Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code provides that we may not deduct for federal income tax purposes compensation of more than $1,000,000 paid in any year to the Chief Executive Officer or any of the three other most highly compensated executive officers, excluding the Chief Financial Officer, unless the compensation is paid solely on the attainment of one or more pre-established objective performance goals and certain other considerations are met. Under the terms of our annual cash bonus program and performance unit and performance share programs, the Compensation Committee may, in its discretion, adjust payouts to executives downward. Because the plans are intended to comply with Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m), no upward discretion in determining payouts is permitted.

        Tax reform legislation that was enacted in December 2017 will be considered as the Committee administers compensation arrangements in the future.

Influence of Say on Pay Results on Executive Compensation Decisions

        Management and the Compensation Committee are attentive to the outcome of the shareholder "Say on Pay" vote. At the Company's 2017 annual shareholder meeting, the Company received significant support for its executive compensation program, with 98.8% of the votes in favor of the "Say on Pay" resolution. The Compensation Committee remains responsive to shareholder feedback and believes that the strong support from shareholders indicates satisfaction with the executive compensation program.

32


Table of Contents

Employment Agreements and Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control

        The Company has entered into change in control agreements with its named executive officers. We believe that the change in control agreements help us attract and retain our named executive officers by reducing the personal uncertainty and anxiety that arises from the possibility of a future business combination. During a potential change in control, we do not want executives leaving to pursue other employment out of concern for the security of their jobs or being unable to concentrate on their work. To enable executives to focus on the best interest of our stockholders, we offer change in control agreements that generally provide benefits to executives whose employment terminates in connection with a change in control.

        In addition, to attract certain of our named executive officers to accept employment with us, we agreed to provide those officers who previously were employed by Quanex Corporation with severance agreements that will provide them certain of the protections they would have been entitled to if they had remained with Quanex Corporation following the spin-off of Quanex Building Products Corporation from Quanex Corporation in April 2008. The Company also entered into a letter agreement with its President and CEO, effective July 9, 2013, which contains certain executive severance provisions. The Company entered into these arrangements because executives at this level generally require a longer timeframe to find comparable jobs as fewer jobs at this level exist in the market. In addition, executives often have a large percentage of their personal wealth dependent on the status of their employer, given the requirement to hold a multiple of their salary in stock and the fact that a large part of their compensation is stock-based. The amount and type of benefits were based on competitive market practices for executives at this level.

        Provisions of the severance agreements and severance letter arrangement require a termination of employment before any benefits are paid. The change in control agreements require both a change in control and a termination of employment before any benefits are paid (a "double trigger"). If an executive officer who is covered by both a change in control agreement and a severance agreement or letter arrangement experiences both a change in control of the Company and a termination of employment, benefits are payable under only the change in control agreement; in no event will the executive be able to receive payment under both the severance agreement or letter arrangement and the change in control agreement.

Severance Agreements of Certain Executives

        This section describes the severance agreements entered into by Quanex with the SVP—Finance and CFO and the SVP—General Counsel and Secretary. As described above, benefits are payable under the severance agreements following a termination of employment that meets certain requirements. A termination of employment that triggers benefits under the severance agreements includes involuntary termination by the Company without Cause. "Cause" exists if the executive commits gross negligence or willful misconduct in connection with his employment; an act of fraud, embezzlement or theft in connection with his employment; intentional wrongful damage to Company property; intentional wrongful disclosure of our secret processes or confidential information; or an act leading to a conviction of a felony or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude.

        If the executive is entitled to benefits under the severance agreement, the executive will receive the following:

33


Table of Contents

President and CEO Severance Letter Agreement

        This section describes the severance provisions contained in the letter agreement entered into by the Company and Mr. Griffiths upon his assumption of duties as the Company's Chairman, President and CEO. In the event that Mr. Griffiths' employment is terminated by the Board of Directors for any reason other than "Cause," as defined in the change in control agreement, or a material violation of the Company's Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, the following benefits would be payable:

The letter agreement requires Mr. Griffiths to execute a mutually satisfactory release of all claims before the expiration of the 90th day following his termination, or he shall forfeit any and all payment, reimbursements, and benefits due under the letter agreement.

Change in Control Agreements

        As described above, benefits are payable under the change in control agreements following the occurrence of both (i) a change in control of the Company and (ii) termination of the named executive officer's employment with the Company. Each of the following events generally constitutes a change in control of the Company for purposes of the change in control agreements:

        Terminations of employment that meet the termination requirement under the change in control agreements will be similar to but broader than those required under the severance agreements. For these purposes, a termination of employment would include a termination by the Company without

34


Table of Contents

Cause as well as the executive's resignation for "Good Reason." "Good Reason" under the change in control agreements will include (but will not be limited to):

        If the executive officer is entitled to benefits under a change in control agreement, the executive officer would receive the following:

35


Table of Contents

        If an executive officer is entitled to benefits under a change in control agreement, the following would occur immediately upon the occurrence of a change in control (regardless of whether the named executive officer's employment is terminated as a result of the change in control):

        As set forth above, a named executive officer is entitled to benefits under either the severance agreement or the change in control agreement; under no circumstances can a named executive officer receive payment under both agreements.

36


Table of Contents

Post-Employment Compensation Table

        The following table describes the potential payments or benefits upon termination, other post-employment scenarios or change in control for each of the Company's named executive officers. The amounts in the table below show only the value of amounts payable or benefits due to enhancements in connection with each scenario, and do not reflect amounts otherwise payable or benefits otherwise due as a result of employment. In each case, the termination is assumed to take place on October 31, 2017.

Name
  Severance
Payment
($)
  Pro-
rated
Bonus
($)
  Options
(Un-
vested)(1)(10)
($)
  Restricted
Stock
(Un-
vested)(1)(10)
($)
  Performance
Shares(1)
($)
  Health &
Welfare
Benefits(2)
($)
  NQ
Deferred
Comp.
(Unvested)
($)
  Retirement
(SERP &
Restoration)(3)
($)
  Tax
Gross-
Up(4)
($)
  Total
Benefit ($)
 

William C. Griffiths

                                                             

Enhanced Retirement(5)

                    1,333,814 (11)               n/a     1,333,814  

Death/Disability

                1,193,625     1,333,814 (11)               n/a     2,527,440  

Involuntary w/o Cause(6)

    1,630,000     (9)               21,475             n/a     1,651,475  

Change in Control(7)

        815,000         1,938,185     2,040,447                 n/a     4,793,632  

Termination after Change in Control(8)

    4,873,700     815,000         1,938,185     2,040,447     49,151             n/a     9,716,482  

George L. Wilson

                                                             

Enhanced Retirement(5)

    n/a     n/a     n/a     n/a     n/a     n/a     n/a     n/a     n/a     n/a  

Death/Disability

        109,108     71,601     178,918     288,338 (11)               n/a     647,966  

Involuntary w/o Cause(6)

                                    n/a      

Change in Control(7)

        219,263     71,601     302,910     380,608                 n/a     974,382  

Termination after Change in Control(8)

    1,017,898 (12)   219,263     71,601     302,910     380,608     54,631             n/a     2,046,910  

Brent L. Korb

                                                             

Enhanced Retirement(5)

    n/a     n/a     n/a     n/a     n/a     n/a     n/a     n/a     n/a     n/a  

Death/Disability

            141,327     387,836     596,418 (11)           2,953,493 (13)   n/a     4,079,073  

Involuntary w/o Cause(6)

    627,000     271,700                 31,257             n/a     929,957  

Change in Control(7)

        271,700     141,327     629,965     827,128                     1,870,120  

Termination after Change in Control(8)

    2,069,100     271,700     141,327     629,965     827,128     73,474         4,537,465     2,989,348     11,539,506  

Kevin P. Delaney

                                                             

Enhanced Retirement(5)

                    368,818 (11)               n/a     368,818  

Death/Disability

                329,731     368,818 (11)           n/a (14)   n/a     698,549  

Involuntary w/o Cause(6)

    562,500     225,000                 31,257             n/a     818,757  

Change in Control(7)

        225,000         535,580     563,933                     1,324,513  

Termination after Change in Control(8)

    1,800,000     225,000         535,580     563,933     79,328         1,182,594     1,668,082     6,054,517  

M. Dewayne Williams

                                                             

Enhanced Retirement(5)

    n/a     n/a     n/a     n/a     n/a     n/a     n/a     n/a     n/a     n/a  

Death/Disability

            32,641     90,299     136,753 (11)               n/a     259,693  

Involuntary w/o Cause(6)

                                    n/a      

Change in Control(7)

        116,000     32,641     147,065     188,168                 n/a     483,873  

Termination after Change in Control(8)

    696,000     116,000     32,641     147,065     188,168     74,202             n/a     1,254,076  

(1)
Unvested stock options, restricted shares, and performance shares (including accrued dividends) granted under the Quanex Building Products 2008 Omnibus Incentive Plan are forfeited except upon death, Disability, retirement (except restricted stock) or Change in Control.

(2)
Health & Welfare Benefits paid upon involuntary termination without Cause include company paid COBRA premiums. Health & Welfare Benefits paid upon termination after Change in Control include continuation of all health & welfare benefits.

(3)
See Narrative to "Pension Benefit Table" for further description of the SERP and Restoration Plan.

(4)
Tax Gross-Up was calculated using the tax rates in effect on the last day of the Company's fiscal year (October 31, 2017).

(5)
Messrs. Wilson, Korb, and Williams have not reached the minimum retirement requirement of 65 years of age or 55 years of age with five years of service with the Company, but Messrs. Griffiths and Delaney have as of October 31, 2017.

(6)
These benefits would be provided upon termination by the Company without Cause.

(7)
These benefits would be provided upon a Change in Control without termination of employment.

(8)
These benefits would be provided upon termination by the Company without Cause, as well as resignation for Good Reason in connection with a Change in Control.

(9)
Mr. Griffiths' prorata bonus paid upon involuntary termination without Cause absent a Change in Control is determined by the Board of Directors pursuant to his Offer Letter. We assumed the Board of Directors would award Mr. Griffiths with his actual 2017 bonus if he were terminated on the last day of the fiscal year. Mr. Griffiths' actual 2017 bonus was $0.

(10)
The fair market value of Company stock on the date of separation from service was $21.95.

(11)
Executives are entitled to a prorata portion of their performance shares based on actual performance for the full performance period upon their termination due to Retirement, death or Disability. With respect to the 2016 and 2017 awards, since actual performance for the full performance period is unknown, target performance level was used for purposes of these calculations. Messrs. Griffiths and Delaney are the only Executives eligible for Retirement and therefore entitled to this benefit in that scenario.

(12)
Severance payment is shown net of required scaleback.

(13)
The amount represents the present value of the Retirement Benefit as of October 31, 2017.

(14)
Mr. Delaney is retirement eligible and so is not entitled to SERP disability benefits.

37


Table of Contents

Summary Compensation Table

        The following table provides information about the compensation of the Company's Chief Executive Officer, its Chief Financial Officer, and the three most highly compensated officers during the fiscal year ending October 31, 2017. George L. Wilson became Chief Operating Officer on August 1, 2017, and served as President of the Company's Insulating Glass Systems division since fiscal 2011. Amounts presented below for Mr. Wilson for fiscal 2017 include service in these capacities. No amounts are presented for Mr. Wilson for the periods prior to assuming an executive officer role.

Name/Principal Position
  Year   Salary
($)
  Bonus
($)
  Stock
Awards(1)
($)
  Option
Awards(1)
($)
  Non-Equity
Incentive
Plan
Compensation(2)
($)
  Change in
Pension
Value and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings(3)
($)
  All Other
Compensation(4)
($)
  Total
($)
 

William C. Griffiths

    2017     815,000         1,398,744     569,905     254,043     109,202     41,907     3,188,801  

Chairman of the Board,

    2016     813,654         1,103,567     575,904     1,192,359     113,099     31,982     3,830,565  

President & Chief

    2015     780,000         1,163,790     448,224     1,077,821     86,016     37,209     3,593,060  

Executive Officer

                                                       

George L. Wilson

   
2017
   
352,546
   
   
233,641
   
95,589
   
142,285
   
40,684
   
30,768
   
895,513
 

Vice President—Chief

    2016                                  

Operating Officer

    2015                                  

Brent L. Korb

   
2017
   
418,000
   
   
455,688
   
221,445
   
82,943
   
165,149
   
36,939
   
1,380,164
 

Senior Vice

    2016     417,308         359,166     188,160     393,986     457,552     35,688     1,851,860  

President—Finance &

    2015     400,000         378,955     146,624     431,274         34,483     1,391,336  

Chief Financial Officer

                                                       

Kevin P. Delaney

   
2017
   
375,000
   
   
386,566
   
188,195
   
70,146
   
206,398
   
46,758
   
1,273,063
 

Senior Vice President—

    2016     374,423         305,098     159,264     329,790     555,736     44,182     1,768,493  

General Counsel &

    2015     360,000         321,345     129,042     350,443         44,532     1,205,362  

Secretary

                                                       

M. Dewayne Williams

   
2017
   
232,000
   
   
106,201
   
51,205
   
18,484
   
19,919
   
25,789
   
453,598
 

Vice President—

    2016     231,731         83,999     43,680     114,803     24,258     23,171     521,642  

Controller

    2015     225,000         85,693     33,705     84,166     18,315     22,727     469,606  

(1)
These columns show respectively, the aggregate grant date fair value for: (a) restricted stock and the equity portion of performance share awards (assuming the shares will settle at 100%) and (b) stock options computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. A discussion of the assumptions used in computing the grant date fair values may be found in Note 15, "Stock-Based Compensation" included in Quanex Building Products Corporation's audited financial statements on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2017. Performance share awards are expected to settle at target (100%). However, the performance share awards could potentially settle at maximum (200%). If these performance share awards were to vest at maximum, the fair value for the equity portion of these awards and restricted stock granted during fiscal 2017 for Messrs. Griffiths, Wilson, Korb, Delaney and Williams would be $2,157,583; $360,307; $703,261; $596,137; and $163,777, respectively. These values reflect the Company's assumptions to determine the accounting expense for these awards and do not necessarily correspond to the actual value that may be recognized by the named executive officers. For information regarding the restricted stock, performance shares, and option awards granted in fiscal 2017, please see the "Grants of Plan-Based Awards" table located on page 40 of this Proxy Statement.

(2)
"2017" amounts represent payments made in December 2017 for (a) performance from November 1, 2016 to October 31, 2017 for Annual Incentive Awards (AIA), for which only Mr. Wilson received a payment for service as President of IG Systems for the period November 1, 2016 to July 31, 2017, and (b) performance from November 1, 2014 to October 31, 2017 for Performance Share grants in December 2014 (portion settled in cash (50%), including dividends accrued on all performance share equivalents earned (100%) for the performance period). "2016" amounts represent payments made in December 2016 for (a) performance from November 1, 2015 to October 31, 2016 for Annual Incentive Awards (AIA), and (b) performance from November 1, 2013 to October 31, 2016 for Performance Share grants in December 2013 (portion settled in cash (50%), including dividends accrued on all performance share equivalents earned (100%) for the performance period). "2015" amounts represent payments made in December 2015 for (a) performance from November 1, 2014 to October 31, 2015 for Annual Incentive Awards (AIA), and (b) performance from November 1, 2012 to October 31, 2015 for Performance Units granted in December 2012.


The AIA, Performance Unit payouts and Performance Share payouts would include the dollar value of such amounts deferred under the Quanex Building Products Corporation or Quanex Corporation Deferred Compensation ("DC") Plan, as applicable. Under the terms of each DC Plan, participants may elect to defer a portion of their incentive bonus to a mix of cash, or notional common stock units or investment accounts. None of the named executive officers deferred amounts pursuant to these awards for the periods presented.

38


Table of Contents


The amounts paid for the AIA, Performance Units and Performance Shares, along with any respective deferred amounts, are as follows:
 
   
  Annual Incentive   Performance Unit
Payout
  Performance Share
Payout
  Total  
Name
  Year   Total
($)
  Deferred
($)
  Total
($)
  Deferred
($)
  Total
($)
  Deferred
($)
  Total
($)
  Deferred
($)
 

Griffiths

    2017                     254,043         254,043      

    2016     663,018                 529,341         1,192,359      

    2015     723,821         354,000                 1,077,821      

Wilson

   
2017
   
109,108
   
   
   
   
33,177
   
   
142,285
   
 

    2016                                  

    2015                                  

Korb

   
2017
   
   
   
   
   
82,943
   
   
82,943
   
 

    2016     221,033                 172,953         393,986      

    2015     241,274         190,000                 431,274      

Delaney

   
2017
   
   
   
   
   
70,146
   
   
70 146
   
 

    2016     183,042                 146,748         329,790      

    2015     200,443         150,000                 350,443      

Williams

   
2017
   
   
   
   
   
18,484
   
   
18,484
   
 

    2016     75,495                 39,308         114,803      

    2015     84,166                         84,166      

Any deferred amounts noted above would have been deferred pursuant to the Quanex Building Products Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan. Please see the "Compensation Discussion and Analysis" section for a detailed discussion of the performance measures and related outcomes for payments of the awards.

(3)
The amounts in this column represent the change in actuarial present value of each individual's accumulated benefit under all defined benefit pension plans. The change in pension value reflects the difference in the present value of accumulated benefits determined as of the end of the current reporting period compared to the end of the previous reporting period. For instance, the change for fiscal 2017 would represent the difference between the value at October 31, 2016 and October 31, 2017. The key assumptions used to calculate the change in value are shown with the "Pension Benefits" table located on page 44 of this Proxy. If aggregate changes in pension value during a fiscal year are negative, such amounts are excluded from the Summary Compensation Table.



No named executive officer received preferential or above-market earnings on deferred compensation.

(4)
The named executives receive various perquisites and benefits provided by or paid for by the Company. These perquisites and benefits can include life insurance, financial planning, personal use of automobiles, memberships in social and professional clubs, and relocation reimbursement. Also included are the Company's contributions under its 401(k) plan, a 15% match under its Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP), and dividends on unvested restricted stock and restricted stock units. Effective December 31, 2009, the Compensation Committee eliminated tax gross-up payments on perquisites, except as permitted under the relocation reimbursement guidelines.

39


Table of Contents


The amounts reported in Other Annual Compensation for the named executives are set forth below:


All Other Compensation

 
  Year   Life
Insurance
($)
  Financial
Planning
($)
  Auto-
mobile
($)
  Annual Club
Membership
($)
  Relocation
Reimbursement
($)
  401K
Match
($)
  ESPP
15%
Stock
Match
($)
  Unvested
Restricted
Stock
and RSU
Dividends*
($)
  Total
($)
 

Griffiths

    2017     17,520     1,790                 6,304         16,293     41,907  

    2016     8,862     1,830                 6,625         14,665     31,982  

    2015     8,870                     6,250         22,089     37,209  

Wilson

   
2017
   
965
   
   
12,000
   
   
7,701
   
6,388
   
1,350
   
2,364
   
30,768
 

    2016                                      

    2015                                      

Korb

   
2017
   
3,826
   
789
   
14,400
   
6,186
   
   
6,750
   
   
4,988
   
36,939
 

    2016     3,518     650     14,400     6,031         6,625         4,464     35,688  

    2015     3,519     600     14,954     4,776         6,154         4,480     34,483  

Delaney

   
2017
   
7,519
   
7,500
   
14,400
   
6,349
   
   
6,750
   
   
4,240
   
46,758
 

    2016     6,273     6,892     14,400     6,200         6,625         3,792     44,182  

    2015     6,276     6,766     14,954     6,561         6,231         3,744     44,532  

Williams

   
2017
   
4,460
   
   
14,814
   
   
   
5,355
   
   
1,160
   
25,789
 

    2016     4,439         12,361             5,347         1,024     23,171  

    2015     4,437         12,642             4,816         832     22,727  

*
Cash dividends are paid on unvested restricted stock shares and unvested restricted stock units. The dividend rate is not preferential and is equal to the rate paid on the Company's common stock as disclosed in Part II, Item 5 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017.

Grants of Plan-Based Awards

        The following table discloses the estimated range of payouts that were possible for the fiscal year 2017 Annual Incentive Awards along with the potential estimated range of payouts that will be possible with respect to Performance Shares granted in December 2016. The table also shows the actual number of stock options and restricted stock awards granted during fiscal 2017 and their respective grant date fair value, as well as the number of Performance Shares granted in fiscal 2017.


Grants of Plan-Based Awards

 
   
   
   
   
   
  All Other
Stock
Awards:
Number of
Shares of
Stock or
Units(4)
(#)
  All Other
Option
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options(4)
(#)
   
   
   
 
 
   
   
  Estimated Future Payouts
Under Non-Equity
Incentive Plan Awards
  Exercise
or Base
Price of
Option
Awards
($/Sh)
   
   
 
 
   
  Non-Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards(1)
(#)
  Grant Date
Fair Value
of Stock
Awards(5)
($)
  Grant Date
Fair Value
of Option
Awards(5)
($)
 
Name
  Grant Date   Threshold
($)
  Target
($)
  Maximum
($)
 

Griffiths

    2017         407,500 (2)   815,000 (2)   1,630,000 (2)                    

    11/30/16     32,950     284,565 (3)   758,839 (3)   1,517,678 (3)   65,850     102,100   $ 19.45     1,398,744     569,905  

Wilson

    2017         109,631 (2)   219,263 (2)   438,525 (2)                    

    11/30/16     5,500     47,500 (3)   126,666 (3)   253,332 (3)   11,000     17,100   $ 19.45     233,641     95,589  

Korb

    2017         135,850 (2)   271,700 (2)   543,400 (2)                    

    11/30/16     10,750     92,840 (3)   247,573 (3)   495,146 (3)   21,450     33,300   $ 19.45     455,688     221,445  

Delaney

    2017         112,500 (2)   225,000 (2)   450,000 (2)                    

    11/30/16     9,100     78,589 (3)   209,571 (3)   419,142 (3)   18,200     28,300   $ 19.45     386,566     188,195  

Williams

    2017         58,000 (2)   116,000 (2)   232,000 (2)                    

    11/30/16     2,500     21,591 (3)   57,576 (3)   115,152 (3)   5,000     7,700   $ 19.45     106,201     51,205  

(1)
The figures shown reflect the non-equity component of Performance Shares granted in December 2016 under the Omnibus Plan. The performance shares are earned based upon a market condition (relative total shareholder return) and an internal performance condition (earnings per share). The grant date fair value related to the market condition was based on a Monte Carlo simulation. The grant date fair value related to the internal performance condition was based on the closing price of the Company's common stock on the date of grant. The awards settle 50% in cash, and 50% in shares, and the participants can

40


Table of Contents

(2)
These amounts reflect possible Annual Incentive Award (AIA) payments under the Omnibus Plan for fiscal year 2017, under which the named executive officers were eligible to receive a cash bonus based on a target percentage of base salary. The results for Mr. Wilson were calculated pursuant to the terms of his compensation agreements as President of IG Systems for the period from November 1, 2016 through July 1, 2017, and as Chief Operating Officer for the period from August 1, 2017 to October 31, 2017.

Please see the "Compensation Discussion and Analysis" section for more information regarding this program, performance shares granted thereunder, the related performance measures and the actual performance results.

(3)
These amounts reflect possible payments with regard to the Performance Shares granted under the Omnibus Plan in December 2016 which are expected to settle in cash. The amount of cash which is ultimately paid will be determined by the Company's performance over the performance period from November 1, 2016 through October 31, 2019.

Please see the "Compensation Discussion and Analysis" section for more information regarding this program, performance shares granted thereunder, and the related performance measures.

(4)
The amounts shown reflect: (a) grants of restricted stock and the equity-portion of performance share awards (assuming shares settle at 100%) and (b) grants of stock options made under the Omnibus Plan. The stock options are granted at fair market value based on the closing share price as of the grant date.

(5)
The fair value shown in these columns was calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. A discussion of the assumptions used in calculating these values may be found in Note 15, "Stock-Based Compensation" to the Company's audited financial statements on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2017.

41


Table of Contents

Outstanding Equity Awards

        The following table provides information about the outstanding equity awards held by the named executive officers as of October 31, 2017:


Outstanding Equity Awards at October 31, 2017

 
  Option Awards   Stock Awards  
Name
  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#)
Exercisable
  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#)
Unexercisable
  Option
Exercise
Price
($)
  Option
Expiration
Date
  Number of Shares
or Units of Stock
That Have Not
Vested
(#)
  Market Value
of Shares or
Units of Stock
That Have
Not Vested(18)
($)
 

Griffiths

        102,100 (1)   19.45     11/30/2026     65,850 (15)   1,445,408  

    28,567     57,133 (2)   19.31     12/02/2025     57,150 (16)   1,254,443  

    32,200     16,100 (3)   20.28     12/03/2024     53,600 (17)   1,176,520  

    55,800     (4)   17.63     12/05/2023          

    175,500     (5)   16.72     7/09/2023          

    5,987     (6)   19.77     10/31/2022          

    8,132     (6)   14.75     10/31/2021          

    6,390     (6)   18.02     10/29/2020          

    5,000     (6)   15.58     2/26/2020          

    5,489     (6)   14.87     10/30/2019          

Wilson

        17,100 (1)   19.45     11/30/2026     11,000 (15)   241,450  

    4,800     9,600 (2)   19.31     12/02/2025     9,600 (16)   210,720  

    4,200     2,100 (3)   20.28     12/03/2024     7,000 (17)   153,650  

    7,300     (4)   17.63     12/05/2023          

    14,900     (7)   21.11     12/05/2022          

    17,600     (8)   15.08     11/30/2021          

    15,000     (9)   20.27     12/1/2020          

Korb

        33,300 (1)   19.45     11/30/2026     21,450 (15)   470,828  

    9,333     18,667 (2)   19.31     12/02/2025     18,600 (16)   408,270  

    10,533     5,267 (3)   20.28     12/03/2024     17,450 (17)   383,028  

    18,200     (4)   17.63     12/05/2023          

    43,700     (7)   21.11     12/05/2022          

    54,700     (8)   15.08     11/30/2021          

    41,900     (10)   16.90     12/1/2020          

    37,500     (11)   16.21     12/2/2019          

    61,800     (12)   7.83     12/3/2018          

    100,000     (13)   15.32     8/1/2018          

Delaney

        28,300 (1)   19.45     11/30/2026     18,200 (15)   399,490  

    7,900     15,800 (2)   19.31     12/02/2025     15,800 (16)   346,810  

    8,933     4,467 (3)   20.28     12/03/2024     14,800 (17)   324,860  

    15,500     (4)   17.63     12/05/2023          

    35,400     (7)   21.11     12/05/2022          

    46,100     (8)   15.08     11/30/2021          

    35,300     (10)   16.90     12/1/2020          

    32,400     (11)   16.21     12/2/2019          

    50,400     (12)   7.83     12/3/2018          

Williams

        7,700 (1)   19.45     11/30/2026     5,000 (15)   109,750  

    2,167     4,333 (2)   19.31     12/02/2025     4,350 (16)   95,483  

    2,333     1,167 (3)   20.28     12/03/2024     3,950 (17)   86,703  

    4,100     (4)   17.63     12/05/2023          

    4,000     (14)   16.94     7/01/2023          

(1)
Messrs. Griffiths, Wilson, Korb, Delaney and Williams' stock option awards vest annually in equal installments over a three-year period. One-third of the stock options vest on November 30, 2017, with the remaining two-thirds vesting in equal installments on November 30, 2018 and 2019.

42


Table of Contents

(2)
Messrs. Griffiths, Wilson, Korb, Delaney and Williams' stock option awards vest annually in equal installments over a three-year period. One-third of the stock options vested on December 2, 2016, with the remaining two-thirds vesting in equal installments on December 2, 2017 and 2018.

(3)
Messrs. Griffiths, Wilson, Korb, Delaney and Williams' stock option awards vest annually in equal installments over a three-year period. One-third of the stock options vested on December 3, 2015 and one-third of the stock options vested on December 3, 2016, with the remaining one-third vesting on December 3, 2017.

(4)
Messrs. Griffiths, Wilson, Korb, Delaney and Williams' stock option awards vested annually in equal installments on December 5, 2014, 2015 and 2016.

(5)
Mr. Griffiths' stock options vested annually in equal installments on July 9, 2014, 2015 and 2016.

(6)
Mr. Griffiths received these stock option awards while providing service as a non-employee member of the Board of Directors. As such, in accordance with the plan provisions, these stock options vested immediately upon grant.

(7)
Messrs. Wilson, Korb and Delaney's stock options vested annually in equal installments on December 5, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

(8)
Messrs. Wilson, Korb and Delaney's stock options vested annually in equal installments on November 30, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

(9)
Mr. Wilson's stock options vested annually in equal installments on April 1, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

(10)
Messrs. Korb and Delaney's stock options vested annually in equal installments on December 1, 2011, 2012 and 2013.

(11)
Messrs. Korb and Delaney's stock options vested annually in equal installments on December 2, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

(12)
Messrs. Korb and Delaney's stock options vested annually in equal installments on December 3, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

(13)
Mr. Korb's stock options vested annually in equal installments on August 1, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

(14)
Mr. Williams' stock options vested annually in equal installments on July 1, 2014, 2015 and 2016.

(15)
Amounts include restricted stock awards for Messrs. Griffiths, Wilson, Korb, Delaney and Williams of 32,900 shares; 5,500 shares; 10,700 shares; 9,100 shares; and 2,500 shares, respectively; as well as the equity portion of performance share awards (assuming shares settle at 100% of Target) for Messrs. Griffiths, Wilson, Korb, Delaney and Williams of 32,950 shares; 5,500 shares; 10,750 shares; 9,100 shares; and 2,500 shares, respectively. Restricted stock awards vest on November 30, 2019, three years from the date of grant, and the equity portion of the performance shares vest based upon performance for the period November 1, 2016 through October 31, 2019.

(16)
Amounts include restricted stock awards for Messrs. Griffiths, Wilson, Korb, Delaney and Williams of 28,600 shares; 4,800 shares; 9,300 shares; 7,900 shares; and 2,200 shares, respectively; as well as the equity portion of performance share awards (assuming shares settle at 100% of Target) for Messrs. Griffiths, Wilson, Korb, Delaney and Williams of 28,550 shares; 4,800 shares; 9,300 shares; 7,900 shares; and 2,150 shares, respectively. Restricted stock awards vest on December 2, 2018, three years from the date of grant, and the equity portion of the performance shares vest based upon performance for the period November 1, 2015 through October 31, 2018.

(17)
Amounts include restricted stock awards for Messrs. Griffiths, Wilson, Korb, Delaney and Williams of 26,800 shares; 3,500 shares; 8,700 shares; 7,400 shares and 2,000 shares, respectively; as well as the equity portion of performance share awards (assuming shares settle at 100% of Target) for Messrs. Griffiths, Wilson, Korb, Delaney and Williams of 26,800 shares; 3,500 shares; 8,750 shares; 7,400 shares and 1,950 shares, respectively. Restricted stock awards vest on December 3, 2017, three years from the date of grant, and equity portion of the performance shares vest based upon performance for the period November 1, 2014 through October 31, 2017.

(18)
This column shows the total market value of the unvested stock awards as of October 31, 2017, based on the closing price per share of Quanex Building Products Corporation's stock of $21.95 on October 31, 2017.

43


Table of Contents

Option Exercises and Stock Vested in Fiscal 2017

        The following table provides information regarding the value realized by the named executive officers upon the exercise of options, the vesting of restricted stock awards and the vesting of the equity portion of performance shares during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017.

 
  Option Awards   Stock Awards  
Name
  Number of
Shares
Acquired on
Exercise
(#)
  Value Realized
on Exercise(1)
($)
  Number of
Shares
Acquired on
Vesting
(#)
  Value Realized
on Vesting(2)
($)
 

Griffiths

            60,600     1,228,665  

Wilson

            7,850     159,170  

Korb

            19,800     401,445  

Delaney

    104,809     656,815     16,800     340,620  

Williams

            4,450     90,235  

(1)
The value realized upon exercise represents the number of options exercised multiplied by the excess of the closing market price of a share of Quanex Building Products Corporation stock on the exercise date over the price on the grant date.

(2)
The value realized upon vesting represents the number of shares of stock vesting multiplied by the closing market price of a share of Quanex Building Products Corporation stock on the vesting date.

Pension Benefits

        Our named executive officers are eligible to participate in our Salaried and Nonunion Employee Pension Plan, described below, that is generally available to all our salaried and nonunion hourly employees except for employees of certain recent acquisitions. The named executive officers are also eligible to participate in certain plans, also described below, which are only available to a select group of management and highly compensated employees.

Salaried and Nonunion Employee Pension Plan

        We have established the Salaried and Nonunion Employee Pension Plan (the "Pension Plan"), a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan intended to be a tax-qualified plan under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, for the benefit of substantially all of our salaried and nonunion hourly employees with the exception of those employed by the Company's cabinet components division. With some exceptions, an employee hired prior to January 1, 2018, is eligible to participate in the Pension Plan once that employee has completed one hour of service. Employees hired after January 1, 2018, are eligible to participate after reaching age 21 and completing one year of service.

        Under the Pension Plan, two main types of benefits are available to participants, depending upon when they began participating in the Pension Plan or the Quanex Corporation Salaried Employees' Pension Plan (the "Quanex Corporation Pension Plan"). The employees who participated in the Quanex Corporation Pension Plan on or before December 31, 2006, are generally referred to as "Traditional Participants," while employees who began participating in the Quanex Corporation Pension Plan or the Pension Plan after such date are generally referred to as "Cash Balance Participants".

44


Table of Contents

        Under the Pension Plan, a Traditional Participant is entitled to receive a monthly single life annuity, payable following termination of employment at or after age 65, equal to the sum of (i) and (ii), less (iii), where:

        Traditional Participants are eligible for early retirement benefits when they attain age 55 with five years of service. The early retirement benefit is calculated as (x) minus (y), where (x) is the sum of items (i) and (ii) immediately above, reduced by 5/9 of 1% for each of the first 60 months that the early retirement benefit payment commencement date precedes the Traditional Participant's normal retirement date and further reduced by 5/18 of 1% for each of the months in excess of 60 that the payment commencement date precedes the Traditional Participant's normal retirement date, and (y) is item (iii) immediately above, but determined as if the Traditional Participant's benefit under such Quanex Corporation or Company qualified defined benefit plan commences to be paid at the same time as the Pension Plan benefit, using the reduction factors used in connection with such other qualified defined benefit plan.

        Under the Pension Plan, upon termination of employment with the Company, a Cash Balance Participant receives the following after at least three years of vesting:

        The sum of the notional company contributions accrued under the Pension Plan through the date on which the Cash Balance Participant terminates employment, where such contribution generally equals 4% of the Cash Balance Participant's compensation for the applicable year; plus

        The sum of the interest credits on those notional company contributions accrued under the Pension Plan through the date on which the Cash Balance Participant terminates employment with us, where such contribution generally equals the interest rate on the 30-year Treasury security for the fifth month prior to the first day of the applicable year.

        For purposes of both Traditional Participants' benefits and Cash Balance Participants' benefits, the compensation taken into account under the Pension Plan generally comprises salary and bonus compensation for the applicable year.

45


Table of Contents

        Pension Plan benefits for unmarried participants are generally payable as a single life annuity and for married participants as a 50% joint and survivor annuity, unless the participant and his spouse, if applicable, elect to receive the benefit under another optional form of payment available under the Pension Plan. If the participant receives a benefit other than a single life annuity, the benefit will be adjusted to provide the actuarial equivalence of the participant's benefit under the Pension Plan. This adjustment is designed so Pension Plan benefits will be equivalent as if the option had not been chosen.

        Mr. Delaney is presently eligible to receive early retirement benefits under the Pension Plan as a Traditional Participant, and Mr. Griffiths is presently eligible to receive retirement benefits under the Pension Plan as a Cash Balance Participant.

Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan

        We provide additional retirement benefits to certain of our named executive officers under the Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan (the "SERP"). Eligibility to participate in the SERP is determined by the Board of Directors. Currently the SVP—Finance and CFO, and the SVP—General Counsel and Secretary are the only participants in the SERP.

        Under the SERP, an eligible participant receives a monthly single life annuity (or actuarially equivalent optional form of payment) payable at age 65 equal to:

        The eligible executive is required to remain employed until he or she has accumulated five years of service in order to receive a benefit under the SERP. SERP participants are eligible for early retirement benefits when they attain age 55 with five years of service. The early retirement benefit is calculated based on average compensation and service at early retirement, and reduced by 5% for each year benefit commencement precedes age 65. Mr. Delaney is presently eligible to receive early retirement benefits under the SERP.

        Upon an eligible executive's termination of employment after a change in control, he or she will be eligible to receive a lump sum payment in lieu of any other benefit payable from the SERP. The lump sum is equal to the present value of the SERP life annuity, which is payable immediately without reduction for early payment, based on the executive's years of service and compensation at date of termination. The SERP is administered in a manner that is intended to comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code.

Restoration Plan

        We provide additional retirement benefits to our executive officers who do not participate in the SERP under the Restoration Plan (the "Restoration Plan"). Eligibility to participate in the Restoration Plan is determined by a committee appointed by the Company's Board of Directors. Currently, the CEO, the VP—Controller, the Company's VP—Investor Relations & Treasurer, the Company's divisional leaders, certain key employees, and certain former officers and divisional leaders are the only participants in the Restoration Plan.

46


Table of Contents

        Under the Restoration Plan, an eligible participant will receive a lump sum actuarial equivalent of a monthly benefit for life payable at age 65 equal to:

        The specific elements of an executive's compensation taken into account for purposes of the Restoration Plan are the same as those items of compensation taken into account for purposes of the Pension Plan, described above.

        The eligible executive must remain employed until he or she has accumulated five years of service in order to receive a benefit under the Restoration Plan. Restoration Plan participants are eligible for early retirement benefits when they attain age 55 with five years of service. The early retirement benefit is the actuarial equivalent of the participant's lump sum benefit under the Restoration Plan, determined as of his or her early retirement date. Mr. Griffiths is currently eligible to receive retirement benefits under the Restoration Plan. The Restoration Plan is administered in a manner that is intended to comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code.

Pension Benefits Table

        The following table discloses the years of credited service of, present single-sum value of the accrued benefits as of October 31, 2017 for, and payments during fiscal year 2017 for the named executive officers under the SERP, the Pension Plan, and the Restoration Plan. For information related to the valuation method and material assumptions applied in quantifying the present value of the current accrued benefit, please see Note 9, "Retirement Plans" included in the financial statements in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017.

Name
  Plan Name   Number of Years
Credited Service
(#)
  Present Value of
Accumulated Benefit
($)
  Payments During
Last Fiscal Year
($)
 

William C. Griffiths

  Restoration Plan(3)     4.32     325,137      

  Pension Plan(2)     4.32     72,651      

George L. Wilson

  Restoration Plan(3)     9.16     99,968      

  Pension Plan(2)     9.16     113,558      

Brent L. Korb

  SERP(1)     13.95     1,414,176      

  Pension Plan(2)     13.95     253,011      

Kevin P. Delaney

  SERP(1)     14.29     1,597,039      

  Pension Plan(2)     14.29     504,229      

M. Dewayne Williams

  Restoration Plan(3)     4.33     11,181      

  Pension Plan(2)     4.33     70,976      

(1)
The SERP provides retirement benefits for certain designated officers in addition to those provided under the Pension Plan. The purpose of the SERP is to supplement those retirement benefits that a Participant may be entitled to receive as a salaried employee of the Company. The SERP pays a retirement benefit to eligible executives following retirement or termination of employment. As noted above, the benefit formula under the SERP equals: 2.75 percent of final average earnings (defined as the highest 36 months of compensation during the last 60 months preceding retirement or termination) multiplied by years of service (not in excess of 20 years), less the sum of (1) the executive's Pension Plan benefit, and (2) one-half of the executive's Social Security benefit multiplied by a fraction (which shall not exceed one), the numerator of which is

47


Table of Contents

(2)
The Pension Plan was established to provide retirement income to the Company's non-union employees. It is an ERISA qualified pension plan. As discussed above, the Pension Plan pays a retirement benefit to eligible participants depending on whether the participant is a Traditional Participant or a Cash Balance Participant. A Traditional Participant's Pension Plan Benefit generally is equal to 1.5% of the Traditional Participant's average monthly compensation (that is, the participant's high 5 consecutive years of earnings out of the 10 years preceding termination or retirement) times years and fractional years of benefit service earned prior to November 1, 1985 plus the sum of 1% of average monthly compensation up to Social Security covered compensation and 1.5% of the Traditional Member's average monthly compensation in excess of Social Security covered compensation, the total of which is multiplied by years and fractional years of benefit service from, on and after November 1, 1985. Compensation is defined as earned income excluding deferred compensation. Compensation is limited by the compensation limits imposed under the Internal Revenue Code. For Cash Balance Participants, the Pension Plan pays the amount in the participant's account balance with interest at date of termination. The contribution is generally 4% of Pension Plan compensation plus a guaranteed rate of interest. The Pension Plan pays a death benefit prior to retirement to the spouse, or to the estate, if no spouse. The Pension Plan does not provide for a disability retirement. The Pension Plan requires 5 years of vesting service for

48


Table of Contents

(3)
The Restoration Plan was established to provide a retirement pay supplement for a select group of management or highly compensated employees so as to retain their loyalty and to offer a further incentive to them to maintain and increase their standard of performance. The Restoration Plan pays a retirement benefit in the form of a lump sum to eligible employees following retirement or termination of employment. If a participant terminates employment, an actuarial equivalent lump sum of the participant's Pension Plan benefit that would be payable if the applicable limitation under section 401(a)(17) of the Code for each fiscal year of the Pension Plan commencing on or after November 1, 1994, was not limited (indexed for increases in the cost of living), less the Participant's Pension Plan benefit. Early retirement under the Restoration Plan requires a participant to have attained age 55 with 5 Years of Service. Mr. Griffiths is currently eligible to receive a retirement benefit under the Restoration Plan. None of the named executive officers is currently eligible to receive an early retirement benefit under the Restoration Plan. The Restoration Plan requires 5 years of service for vesting purposes for Traditional Participants, and three years of service for Cash Balance Participants. In addition, the Restoration Plan pays a death benefit to the designated beneficiary of a participant if the participant has retired or terminated employment, but has not commenced payment. The Restoration Plan does not provide a disability benefit. The Company has no policy for granting additional service under the Restoration Plan.

Qualified Defined Contribution Plans

Salaried and Nonunion Employee 401(k) Plan

        We have established the Salaried and Nonunion Employee 401(k) Plan (the "401(k) Plan"), a defined contribution plan intended to be a tax-qualified plan under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, for the benefit of substantially all of our salaried and nonunion hourly employees. An employee is eligible to participate in the 401(k) Plan on the later of (i) the date the Company or an affiliate which employs the employee adopts the 401(k) Plan or (ii) the date the employee completes one hour of service for the Company. Effective January 1, 2017, employees of the Company's cabinet components division became eligible to participate in the 401(k) Plan.

        Participants in the 401(k) Plan may contribute from 1% of compensation per payroll period up to a maximum percentage per payroll period to be determined by the administrative committee of the Company's plans appointed by the Board of Directors (the "Benefits Committee"). Effective January 1, 2017, certain highly compensated employees became subject to a maximum payroll contribution of 7% per payroll period. In addition, any new participants who do not affirmatively elect otherwise have 3% of their compensation per payroll period automatically contributed to the 401(k) Plan. To the extent permitted by the Benefits Committee, participants may also make after-tax contributions to the 401(k) Plan. Effective January 1, 2017, participants are also allowed to make Roth contributions to the 401(k) Plan.

        Effective January 1, 2018, the Company makes matching contributions to each participant's account equal to 50% of the pre-tax contributions the participant makes to the 401(k) Plan, up to 5% of the participant's eligible compensation. Prior to January 1, 2018, participants employed by the Company's cabinet components division received matching contributions equal to 35% of pre-tax

49


Table of Contents

contributions, up to 5% of the participant's eligible compensation. The Company may, at its discretion, make profit-sharing contributions to the participants' accounts.

        Participants will always be 100% vested in their pre-tax and after-tax contributions to the 401(k) Plan. Company matching and profit-sharing contributions vest 20% per year and are 100% vested after five years. In addition, a participant will be 100% vested in all amounts under the 401(k) Plan in the event of (i) disability prior to termination of employment, (ii) retirement or (iii) death prior to termination of employment.

        All distributions from the 401(k) Plan will be made in a single lump sum payment.

Stock Purchase Plans

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

        The Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Stock Purchase Plan") is designed to provide our eligible employees the opportunity to invest in our Common Stock through voluntary payroll deductions. In addition, participating employees receive a percentage match from the Company, thereby encouraging employees to share in the Company's success and to remain in its service. The Stock Purchase Plan is not intended to meet the requirements of Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code.

        The Stock Purchase Plan is administered by Wells Fargo Shareowner Services (the "Bank"), who may be removed at management's election. On July 12, 2017, Wells Fargo Bank N.A. announced that it had entered into an agreement to sell the Bank to Equiniti Group plc ("Equiniti Group"). In connection with the sale of the Bank and provided that the sale closes, administration of the Stock Purchase Plan will be transferred to Equiniti Trust Company ("EQ"). Accordingly, following the closing of the sale, EQ will serve as the transfer agent and registrar for Quanex Common Stock and as administrator of the Stock Purchase Plan.

        Regular full time employees of the Company or any of the Company's subsidiaries are eligible to participate in the Stock Purchase Plan. Participation in the Stock Purchase Plan is voluntary.

        Contributions to the Stock Purchase Plan consist of employees' payroll deductions and an amount from the Company equal to 15% of those deductions. The Bank establishes an account under the Stock Purchase Plan as agent for each eligible employee electing to participate in the Stock Purchase Plan and credits the following sources of cash to each employee's account for the purchase of full and fractional shares of Common Stock ("Plan Shares"):

        Participants generally may not add shares of Common Stock held in their name to their accounts. All shares are held in the name of the Bank or its nominee as Plan Shares subject to the terms and conditions of the Stock Purchase Plan.

50


Table of Contents

        The Bank applies cash credited to each participant's account to the purchase of full and fractional Plan Shares and credits such Plan Shares to such participants' accounts. The price at which the Bank is deemed to have acquired Plan Shares for accounts is the average price, excluding brokerage and other costs of purchase, of all Plan Shares purchased by the Bank for all participants in the Stock Purchase Plan during the calendar month. The Bank purchases Plan Shares in negotiated transactions or on any securities exchange where the Company's Common Stock is traded. The purchases are on terms as to price, delivery and other matters, and are executed through those brokers or dealers, as the Bank may determine.

        The Bank holds the Plan Shares of all participants in its name or in the name of its nominee evidenced by as many or as few certificates as the Bank determines. No certificates representing Plan Shares purchased for participants' accounts are issued to any participant unless the participant makes a request in writing or until the participant's account is terminated and the participant makes the election described below under "Termination and Withdrawal by Participants." Certificates are not issued for fewer than ten shares unless the participant's account is terminated.

        The Bank will vote each participant's Plan Shares as instructed by the participant on a form to be furnished by and returned to the Bank at least five days (or such shorter period as the law may require) before the meeting at which the Plan Shares are to be voted. The Bank will not vote Plan Shares for which no instructions are received.

        Except as otherwise described herein, participants cannot sell, pledge, or otherwise assign or transfer their accounts, any interest in their accounts or any cash or Plan Shares credited to their accounts. Any attempt to do so will be void.

        Subject to the restrictions set forth below under "Restrictions on Resale," each participant may request that the Bank sell:

        If a participant elects to sell all of his or her Plan Shares, such participant will be deemed to have terminated participation in the Stock Purchase Plan.

        Participants may terminate their participation in the Stock Purchase Plan at any time by giving proper notice. Upon receipt of such notice, unless the participant has made a contrary election in written response to the Bank's notice relating to such participant's account, the Bank will send the participant a certificate or certificates representing the full Plan Shares accumulated in the participant's account and a check for the net proceeds of any fractional share in the participant's account. After the participant's withdrawal, the sale by the participant of any shares of Common Stock issued to the

51


Table of Contents

participant upon such withdrawal is subject to the restrictions below under "Restrictions on Resale." If a participant elects to terminate his or her participation in the Stock Purchase Plan, he or she may rejoin the Stock Purchase Plan at any time with respect to future offering periods.

        The Company's officers, directors and affiliates (as defined by the relevant securities laws) are subject to certain restrictions on resale that apply to sales by (i) the Bank on their behalf of shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Stock Purchase Plan and (ii) the participant, after he or she withdraws from the Stock Purchase Plan, of shares of Common Stock issued to the participant upon his or her withdrawal from the Stock Purchase Plan.

Nonqualified Defined Benefit and Other Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans

        The Company's directors, executive officers, key management and highly compensated employees are eligible to participate in certain non-tax qualified plans described below.

2008 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended

        The Company recognizes the importance of aligning the interests of its directors, officers, and employees with those of its stockholders. This alignment of interests is reflected in the Omnibus Plan, which provides those persons who have substantial responsibility for the management and growth of the Company and its affiliates with additional performance incentives and an opportunity to obtain or increase their proprietary interest in the Company, thereby encouraging them to continue in their employment or affiliation with the Company and its affiliates.

        The Omnibus Plan provides for the granting of stock options, stock appreciation rights (SARs), restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance share awards, performance unit awards, annual incentive awards, other stock-based awards and cash-based awards. Certain awards under the Omnibus Plan may be paid in cash or in Common Stock. Eligibility will be determined by the Compensation Committee, which has exclusive authority to select the officer and employee participants to whom awards may be granted, and may determine the type, size and terms of each award. The Compensation Committee will also make all determinations that it decides are necessary or desirable in the interpretation and administration of the Omnibus Plan.

Deferred Compensation Plan

        The Company maintains the Quanex Building Products Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan (the "Deferred Compensation Plan"), a plan not intended to be qualified under section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, which allows certain highly compensated management personnel and directors to defer all or a portion of their directors' fees, certain compensation under the Omnibus Plan and compensation under the Management Incentive Plan (the "MIP").

        None of the named executive officers maintained a deferred compensation plan account balance during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017, and, therefore, there were no related contributions, earnings or withdrawals during fiscal 2017.

        The individuals who are eligible to participate in the Deferred Compensation Plan are all participants in the Omnibus Plan or the MIP, and all of the Company's directors, subject to additional eligibility requirements for participation in the Deferred Compensation Plan as the Compensation Committee may determine from time to time.

52


Table of Contents

        A participant may elect, during the designated election periods, (1) the percentage of his bonus awarded under the MIP (an "Incentive Bonus") earned during the applicable year to be deferred under the Deferred Compensation Plan; (2) the percentage of his compensation earned under the Omnibus Plan during the applicable year ("Omnibus Compensation") to be deferred under the Deferred Compensation Plan; (3) the percentage of his director fees earned during the applicable year to be deferred under the Deferred Compensation Plan; (4) the percentage to be deferred in the form of deemed shares of Common Stock or other investment funds provided under the Deferred Compensation Plan; (5) the length of the period for deferral; and (6) the form of payment at the end of the period for deferral (either a lump sum, or quarterly or annual installment payments over a period of time of not less than three nor more than 20 years). All elections made are irrevocable once they are made for a given plan year, except for the election as to how the distribution is to be made or as otherwise permitted under applicable Internal Revenue Service guidance. That election can be changed if the change is made at least 12 months prior to the end of the deferral period, is not effective for at least 12 months and the scheduled payment is no earlier than five years after the date on which the payment would have otherwise have been made or commenced. If the election of the form of distribution is changed and an event causing distribution occurs within one year, the change in election will be ineffective and the original election will remain in effect.

        The deferrals in the form of deemed shares of Common Stock elected by all participants in any plan year will not be allowed to exceed 3% of the shares of Common Stock outstanding on the first day of the plan year.

        Previously, if a participant elected to defer a portion of his Incentive Bonus, Omnibus Compensation or director fees under the Deferred Compensation Plan in the form of deemed shares of the Company's Common Stock for a period of three full years or more, the Company provided a matching award of additional deemed shares of Common Stock equal to 20% of the amount deferred, excluding deferrals of long-term incentives, in the form of deemed shares of our Common Stock. The Company suspended its matching award effective April 1, 2009.

        Under the Deferred Compensation Plan, an account is established for each participant, which the Company maintains. The account reflects the amount of the obligation to the participant at any given time (comprising the amount of compensation deferred for the participant under the Deferred Compensation Plan, the Company match, if any, and the amount of income credited on each of these amounts). If the participant elects his deferral to be in the form of deemed shares of our Common Stock, the number of shares credited to his account as Common Stock will be the number of shares of our Common Stock that could have been purchased with the dollar amount deferred, without taking into account any brokerage fees, taxes or other expenses that might be incurred in such a transaction, based upon the closing quotation on the NYSE on the date the amount would have been paid had it not been deferred. In addition to the option to hold the account as deemed shares of Common Stock, the participant may choose from a variety of investment choices.

        When dividends or other distributions are declared and paid on the Company's Common Stock, those dividends and other distributions will be accrued in a participant's account based upon the shares of Common Stock deemed credited to the participant's account. Such amounts credited to a participant's account will vest at the same time the underlying deemed shares of Common Stock vest

53


Table of Contents

and will be subject to the same forfeiture restrictions. The dividends or other distributions, whether stock, property, cash or other rights, are credited to the account as additional deemed shares of the Company's Common Stock. For this purpose, all dividends and distributions not in the form of deemed shares of the Company's Common Stock or cash are valued at the fair market value as determined by the Compensation Committee.

        At any time during a period commencing three years prior to the earliest time a participant could retire under the Pension Plan and ending on the participant's normal retirement date as established under the Pension Plan, the participant is allowed to elect a retirement date under the Pension Plan and may elect to have all deemed shares of Common Stock in his account converted to cash and deemed to be invested in the participant's selected investment options. At any time which is at least three years after deemed Common Stock is credited to a participant's account, the participant is allowed to elect to have such deemed Common Stock converted to cash and deemed to be invested in the participant's selected investment options.

        All deferrals of the Incentive Bonus, Omnibus Compensation and director fees are 100% vested at all times, except in the event of forfeiture as described below. Company matching contributions and dividends are 100% vested after the earliest of (i) three years after the applicable deemed share of Common Stock is credited to the participant's account, (ii) the participant's death, (iii) the participant's termination of employment due to disability or (iv) the participant's retirement.

        If the Compensation Committee finds that the participant was discharged by the Company for fraud, embezzlement, theft, commission of a felony, proven dishonesty in the course of his employment by the Company that damaged the Company, for disclosing its trade secrets, or for competing directly or indirectly with the Company at any time during the first two years following his termination of employment, the entire amount credited to his account, exclusive of the total deferrals of the participant, will be forfeited. Notwithstanding the foregoing, such forfeitures will not apply to a participant discharged during the plan year in which a change of control occurs.

        Upon a distribution or withdrawal, the balance of all amounts deemed invested in investment funds and the number of deemed shares of Common Stock credited to the participant and required to be distributed is distributed in cash, whether the distribution or withdrawal is in a lump sum or in installments. The value per deemed share of common stock will be calculated based on the closing quotation for the Company's Common Stock on the NYSE. Distributions are made with respect to a participant's interest in the Deferred Compensation Plan upon the expiration of the term of deferral as was previously elected by the participant or upon the participant's earlier death or disability. A withdrawal may be made by the participant prior to an event causing distribution, in an amount needed to satisfy an emergency or in certain unforeseeable events of hardship beyond the control of the participant, as approved by the Compensation Committee.

        The Deferred Compensation Plan is administered in a manner that is intended to comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code.

54


Table of Contents


COMMON STOCK OWNERSHIP

        The following table sets forth, as of the Record Date, the number and percentage of beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock, Restricted Stock Units, shares of Phantom Common Stock credited under the Deferred Compensation Plan, and the amount of shares obtainable upon conversion of options exercisable (or exercisable within 60 days) for each current director and nominee for director of the Company, the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table on page 37 of this Proxy Statement, and all officers and directors as a group. Each of the directors and executive officers has sole voting and investment authority with respect to the securities listed by their name below. Unless otherwise indicated, the directors and current executive officers have not pledged as security any of the shares beneficially owned by them.

 
  Common Stock
Owned of Record
  Restricted
Stock
Units
  Phantom
Common Stock
Credited Under
DC Plan
  Common Stock
Underlying
Exercisable
Options(1)
  Total   Percent  

William C. Griffiths

    186,350     5,954     0     401,764     594,068     1.69 %

George L. Wilson

    36,686     0     0     76,400     113,086     *  

Brent L. Korb

    102,805     0     0     403,366     506,171     1.44 %

Kevin P. Delaney

    109,127     0     0     203,333     312,460     *  

M. Dewayne Williams

    12,672     0     0     17,700     30,372     *  

Robert R. Buck

    0     16,545     20,839     20,876     58,260     *  

Susan F. Davis

    25,182     23,956     20,940     46,308     116,386     *  

LeRoy D. Nosbaum

    2,500     19,656     0     35,398     57,554     *  

Joseph D. Rupp

    0     23,956     0     56,308     80,264     *  

Curtis M. Stevens

    0     19,656     14,438     35,398     69,492     *  

All Officers and Directors as a group(2)

    485,332     109,723     56,217     1,307,950     1,959,222     5.59 %

*
Less than 1.0%

(1)
Includes options exercisable within 60 days.

(2)
Includes 10,109 shares and 11,099 stock options held by Scott Zuehlke, the Company's Vice President—Investor Relations and Treasurer.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

        Under SEC rules, the Company's directors, executive officers and beneficial owners of more than 10% of the Company's equity securities are required to file certain reports of their ownership, and changes in that ownership, with the SEC. Based solely on its review of copies of these reports and representations of such reporting persons, the Company believes that all such SEC filing requirements were satisfied during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017.

55


Table of Contents


CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

        The following sections of this Proxy Statement provide an overview of the Company's corporate governance structure, including our Board leadership structure, certain responsibilities and activities of the Board and its Committees and independence and other criteria we use in selecting Director nominees. We also discuss how our stockholders and other stakeholders can communicate with the Board of Directors.

Ongoing Governance Initiative—Board Declassification

        The Company takes good corporate governance extremely seriously and is committed to evolving to meet—and exceed—corporate governance best practices. To this end, following a careful review of the Company's practices, the Board adopted a number of governance reforms in 2015 and 2016, including a phased declassification of the Board to be achieved over three years. Director nominees at the 2017 Annual Meeting were nominated for terms of only one year, and the same is true for director nominees at the upcoming 2018 Annual Meeting. All future director terms will also be for terms of only one year. As a result, the Board will be fully declassified beginning with the Company's Annual Meeting to be held in 2019.

Corporate Governance Guidelines

        The following corporate governance guidelines have been adopted by the Board of Directors as the framework within which directors and management can effectively pursue the Company's objectives of adding to stockholder value. These guidelines reflect the practices and principles by which the Company operates. The Board periodically reviews and may update these guidelines and other corporate governance matters.

Corporate Governance Guidelines

The Board

Board Committees

56


Table of Contents

Board Procedure

Board Resources

57


Table of Contents

Director Qualifications

58


Table of Contents

Director Responsibilities

Director Compensation

59


Table of Contents

Role of Lead Director

60


Table of Contents

Officer Responsibilities

Incentive Recoupment

Hedging Prohibition

61


Table of Contents

Amendment and Waiver

Communications with the Company

        Quanex invites inquiries to the Company and its Board of Directors. Interested persons may contact the appropriate individual or department by choosing one of the options below.

General

        For Investor Relations matters or to obtain a printed copy of the Company Code of Ethics, Corporate Governance Guidelines or charters for the Audit, Compensation & Management Development, and Nominating & Corporate Governance Committees of the Board of Directors, send a request to the Company's principal address below or by email to inquiry@quanex.com. This material may also be obtained from the Company website at www.quanex.com in the "Investor Relations" section. The Company has also adopted a Code of Business Conduct & Ethics for Senior Financial Executives that applies to the Company's principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting

62


Table of Contents

officer or controller and persons performing similar functions. This Code can be obtained without charge in the same manner as the other material described in this paragraph.

        The Company's required Securities Exchange Act filings such as annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports are available free of charge through the Company's website, as soon as reasonably practicable after they have been filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "1934 Act" or the "Exchange Act"). Forms 3, 4 and 5 filed with respect to equity securities under Section 16(a) of the 1934 Act are also available on the Company's website. All of these materials are located in the "Investor Relations" section of the Company's website at www.quanex.com. They can also be obtained free of charge upon request to the Company's principal address or telephone number below, or by email to inquiry@quanex.com.

        Persons wishing to communicate to the Company's Board of Directors or a specified individual director may do so by sending communications in care of the Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Company's principal address below, or by sending an email to chairman@quanex.com. The Chairman reviews all such messages received. If the communication is from a stockholder about a matter of stockholder interest and is addressed to a specified individual director(s), the Chairman will forward the communication as soon as practicable to such specified director(s). However, because other appropriate avenues of communication exist for matters that are not of stockholder interest, such as general business complaints or employee grievances, communications that do not relate to matters of stockholder interest may not be forwarded to specified Board members or the Board as whole. The Chairman or his delegate has the right, but not the obligation, to forward such other communications to appropriate channels within the Company.

        As noted in the Corporate Governance Guidelines, the Lead Director shall preside at each executive session of non-management directors. Any stockholder wishing to send communications to such presiding director, or non-management directors as a group, may do so by sending them in the care of Lead Director, Quanex Building Products Corporation Board of Directors, at the Company's principal executive offices.

Alert Line

        Persons who have concerns or complaints regarding questionable accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters may submit them to the Senior Vice President—Finance and Chief Financial Officer at the Company's principal address or by contacting the Company's Alert Line by calling (888) 475-0633 or visiting https://quanex.alertline.com.

        Such communications will be kept confidential to the fullest extent possible. If the individual is not satisfied with the response, he or she may contact the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company by sending a communication in care of the Audit Committee Chairman at the Company's principal address below. If concerns or complaints require confidentiality, then this confidentiality will be protected, subject to applicable laws.

        Employees, officers and directors who suspect or know of violations of the Company Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, or illegal or unethical business or workplace conduct by employees, officers or directors have an obligation to report it. If the individuals to whom such information is

63


Table of Contents

conveyed are not responsive, or if there is reason to believe that reporting to such individuals is inappropriate in particular cases, then the employee, officer or director may contact the Chief Compliance Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Vice President of Internal Audit, or any corporate officer in person, by telephone, by letter to the Company's principal address, or online as set forth below. Quanex also encourages persons who are not affiliated with the Company to report any suspected illegal or unethical behavior.

        1)    By Letter

        2)    By Telephone

        3)    Via Internet

        Such communications will be kept confidential to the fullest extent possible. If the individual is not satisfied with the response, he or she may contact the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company. If concerns or complaints require confidentiality, then this confidentiality will be protected, subject to applicable laws.

64


Table of Contents


STRUCTURE AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

        The Company's Board consists of six directors. All directors other than Mr. Griffiths are independent in accordance with the independence requirements set forth in the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange. The Company's independent directors sit on all of the three primary committees. Therefore the Audit, Compensation & Management Development, and Nominating & Corporate Governance Committees are all comprised solely of independent directors. In addition, the Board selects a separate independent Lead Director. Currently, Mr. Rupp serves as the independent Lead Director.

        The Board believes that its leadership structure is best for the Company at the current time. The Board believes that a number of advantages are gained by combining the positions of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer along with an appropriately empowered Lead Director. By vesting chairmanship duties in the Chief Executive Officer, the Board is effectively providing a leadership role to the director who is most familiar with the Company's business and industry, most capable of effectively identifying strategic priorities, and most effective at leading the strategic discussions that will drive the Company's future. By allowing the Chief Executive Officer to lead meetings and discussions, the Board ensures that its focus remains on those items that are most important to the business and its strategic direction, while allowing independent directors to provide advice and oversight based on their own valuable experience and expertise. It also allows for a more effective flow of information between the Board and management, improving efficiency and reducing confusion about the Company's strategic and operational directions. Further, combining the roles provides for strong and stable leadership vested in a single person, thereby avoiding confusion and providing appropriate accountability for the Company's leader. The Board and the Lead Director ensure this accountability by providing oversight of the Chairman and CEO, both directly by the Lead Director through personal conversations with the Chairman and CEO, and also by the Board through its annual CEO performance reviews and periodic director performance reviews.

        The Company's independent directors meet in regularly scheduled executive sessions at each of the Company's regular Board meetings, without management present and with the Lead Director presiding. The Lead Director is actively engaged in facilitating communication with the individual directors and the CEO, and provides guidance and counsel to the CEO on behalf of the independent directors.

        In addition, the Lead Director is responsible for chairing the Board in the absence of the Chairman; acting as liaison between the Board and the Chairman; assisting the Chairman in setting the agenda for Board meetings; ensuring that there are adequate opportunities for executive sessions of the directors and communicating the results of all such sessions; participating in one-on-one discussions with individual directors as requested by the Governance Committee; and working with the Chairman to form Special Committees of the Board, if necessary.

        During fiscal 2017, the Board of Directors met eight times, and the independent directors met five times in executive session with the Lead Director presiding. In addition, the Audit Committee met five times, the Compensation & Management Development Committee met three times, and the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee met twice. The Executive Committee did not meet. All directors attended more than 75% of the combined number of Board meetings and meetings of committees of which they are members. The Company's Board of Directors holds a meeting immediately following each year's annual meeting of stockholders. Therefore, members of the Company's Board of Directors generally attend the Company's annual meetings of stockholders. All Board members attended the 2017 stockholders' meeting, with Ms. Davis attending telephonically.

Audit Committee

        The members of the Audit Committee are Messrs. Buck, Nosbaum, and Stevens (Chairman), each of whom satisfies the independence requirements of the New York Stock Exchange and the 1934 Act

65


Table of Contents

and meets the definitions of "non-employee director" under Rule 16b-3 of the 1934 Act and "outside director" under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. In addition, all members of the Audit Committee have been designated "audit committee financial experts" within the meaning of Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K.

        The Audit Committee's responsibilities to the Board are detailed in the written Audit Committee Charter adopted by the Company's Board of Directors, which is posted on the Company's website at www.quanex.com and incorporated in this Proxy Statement by reference. The Audit Committee's primary functions include monitoring the integrity of the Company's financial reporting process, reviewing the Company's system of internal financial and disclosure controls and the performance of the Company's internal audit function, oversight of the Company's annual independent audit and its public accountant's qualifications and independence, and reviewing compliance with applicable laws and regulations which may represent material financial exposure to the Company. Interested Stockholders may also obtain a copy of the Audit Committee Charter, free of charge, by contacting the Company at the address or phone number listed in the section entitled "Communications with the Company".

Audit Committee Report to Stockholders

        We have reviewed and discussed the Company's audited financial statements for the year ended October 31, 2017, with senior management and with Grant Thornton LLP, certified public accountants and the Company's independent registered public accounting firm. In addition, we have reviewed and discussed with senior management the design and effectiveness of the Company's internal controls over financial reporting and have further reviewed and discussed the opinion and audit of Grant Thornton LLP regarding those controls. We have also discussed various other matters with Grant Thornton LLP related to the Company's consolidated financial statements, including critical accounting policies and practices used, potential alternative treatments for material items that have been discussed with the Company, and all other material written communications between the independent registered public accounting firm and the Company.

        We have reviewed and discussed with Grant Thornton LLP all communications required by auditing standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board ("PCAOB"), including those described in PCAOB Auditing Standard No. 16, "Communications with Audit Committees", and the SEC's Rule 2-07, "Communication with Audit Committees" of Regulation S-X. In addition, we have received and reviewed the written disclosures and the written letter from Grant Thornton LLP regarding its independence, as required by applicable standards of the PCAOB and the New York Stock Exchange listing standards. We have also discussed with Grant Thornton LLP its independence in connection with its audit of the Company's most recent financial statements, and we have reviewed and approved the non-audit services rendered by Grant Thornton LLP and approved all fees paid for audit and non-audit services. Following this review, we are satisfied with Grant Thornton LLP's independence from the Company.

        Based on the various reviews and discussions mentioned above, the Audit Committee recommended to the board of directors that the audited financial statements be included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017, for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

66


Table of Contents

        The information in the foregoing three paragraphs shall not be deemed to be soliciting material, or be filed with the SEC or subject to Regulation 14A or 14C or to liabilities of Section 18 of the Securities Act, nor shall they be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate these paragraphs by reference.

Dated January 26, 2018

Audit Committee

Curtis M. Stevens, Chairman
Robert R. Buck
LeRoy D. Nosbaum

Audit and Related Fees

        The following table reflects fees for professional audit services rendered by Grant Thornton LLP, for (i) the audit of the Company's financial statements for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2017 and 2016; and (ii) fees billed for other services rendered by Grant Thornton LLP during these periods.

 
  FY 2017   FY 2016  

Audit Fees(1)

  $ 1,576,964   $ 1,744,196  

Audit Related Fees(2)

        135,726  

Tax Fees(3)

    55,267     134,337  

All Other Fees(4)

    15,900      

Total

  $ 1,648,131   $ 2,014,259  

(1)
Audit Fees consist of professional services and related expenses rendered by Grant Thornton LLP for the audits of the Company's annual financial statements, audits of internal controls and review of financial statements included in Forms 10-Q and Form 10-K and other statutory or regulatory filings. In addition, the fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2017 audit fees include $92,688 and $100,025, respectively, associated with statutory audits of two affiliates of the Company in the United Kingdom and a German affiliate, each performed by Grant Thornton LLP.

(2)
Audit Related Fees include assurance and related services by Grant Thornton LLP that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Company's financial statements and are not included in Audit Fees. For fiscal 2016, these fees included the audit of the predecessor financial statements of Woodcraft as of October 31, 2015, and services provided in conjunction with pro forma financial information included in a Current Report on Form 8-K.

(3)
Tax Fees include professional services rendered by Grant Thornton LLP for tax return reviews and miscellaneous consulting. Results for fiscal 2016 include a transfer pricing study for the Mexican operations.

(4)
All Other Fees for fiscal 2017 represents services provided by Grant Thornton LLP associated with a consent issued with regard to the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2016.

Procedures for Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services

        Pursuant to its charter, the Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing and approving, in advance, any audit and any permissible non-audit engagement between the Company and its independent auditors. Grant Thornton LLP's engagement to conduct the audit of Quanex Building Products Corporation for fiscal 2017 was approved by the Audit Committee on January 19, 2017.

67


Table of Contents

Additionally, each permissible audit and non-audit engagement or relationship between the Company and Grant Thornton LLP entered into during fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2017 was reviewed and approved by the Audit Committee, as provided in its charter.

        We have been advised by Grant Thornton LLP that substantially all of the work done in conjunction with its audit of the Company's financial statements for the most recently completed fiscal year was performed by full-time employees and partners of Grant Thornton LLP. The Audit Committee has determined that the provision of services rendered for all other fees, as described above, is compatible with maintaining independence of Grant Thornton LLP.

Compensation & Management Development Committee

        The current members of the Compensation & Management Development Committee are Messrs. Rupp and Nosbaum and Ms. Davis (Chairwoman). The Compensation & Management Development Committee's responsibilities to the Board are detailed in the Compensation & Management Development Committee Charter, which is available on the Company's website at www.quanex.com and incorporated in this Proxy Statement by reference. In addition to oversight of compensation related matters, the committee oversees performance, development and succession planning with respect to officers and key executives. Interested Stockholders may also obtain a copy of the Compensation & Management Development Committee Charter, free of charge, by contacting the Company at the address and phone number listed in the section entitled "Communications with the Company".

        During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017, each of Ms. Davis and Messrs. Rupp and Nosbaum satisfied the independence requirements of the New York Stock Exchange and met the definitions of "non-employee director" under Rule 16b-3 under the 1934 Act and "outside director" under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

        None of our employees, officers or former officers serve (or served during the last fiscal year) as a member of our compensation committee. None of our executive officers serve (or served during the last fiscal year) as a member of the board of directors of any other company of which any member of our compensation committee or Board of Directors is an executive officer.

Compensation Committee Report

        The Compensation and Management Development Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis contained elsewhere in this Proxy Statement. Based on this review and discussion, the Compensation and Management Development Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included herein and incorporated by reference into the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2017.

        The information in the foregoing paragraph shall not be deemed to be soliciting material, or be filed with the SEC or subject to Regulation 14A or 14C or to liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, nor shall it be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate this paragraph by reference.

Dated November 30, 2017

Compensation and Management Development Committee

Susan F. Davis, Chairwoman
LeRoy D. Nosbaum
Joseph D. Rupp

68


Table of Contents

Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee

        All directors other than Mr. Griffiths serve as members of the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee, with Mr. Rupp acting as Chairman. Each member of the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee satisfies the independence requirements of the New York Stock Exchange and the SEC.

        The Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee's responsibilities to the Board are detailed in the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee Charter available on the Company's website at www.quanex.com and incorporated herein by reference. Interested Stockholders may also obtain a copy of the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee Charter, free of charge, by contacting the Company at the address or phone number listed in the section entitled "Communications with the Company" on page 60.

        The Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee develops and maintains qualification criteria and procedures for the identification and recruitment of candidates for election to serve as directors of the Company. The Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee relies on the knowledge and relationships of the Company and its officers and directors, as well as third parties when it deems necessary, to identify and evaluate nominees for director, including nominees recommended by stockholders. Although the Company has no formal policy on diversity for board members, the board considers diversity of experience and background in an effort to ensure that the composition of our directors creates a strong and effective board.

        The Company's Corporate Governance Guidelines set forth age limitations for directors and require that a majority of our directors be independent in accordance with the requirements of the New York Stock Exchange and SEC. In addition, the Corporate Governance Guidelines set forth the minimum qualifications for a director and provide that the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee will be responsible for establishing additional qualifications for directors, taking into account the composition and skills of the entire Board. In general, persons considered for Board positions must have demonstrated leadership capabilities, be of sound mind and high moral character, have no personal or financial interest that would conflict with the interests of the Company, possess certain key attributes that benefit the Company, and be willing and able to commit the necessary time for Board and committee service.

        Subject to certain exceptions as set out in its charter, the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for reviewing and pre-approving any financial arrangement, transaction or relationship (including indebtedness or guarantees of indebtedness), or series of similar transactions within a fiscal year, in which the Company is a participant, any related party has a direct or indirect material interest, and the amount involved is $100,000 or more. The Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee is further responsible for providing advance approval of any charitable contribution made on behalf of a related party or to an organization where a related party is an officer or director, if the amount involved is $10,000 or more within a fiscal year, and the Company is a direct or indirect participant.

Nomination of Directors

        The Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee will consider director nominees recommended by stockholders of the Company in accordance with the rules and procedures set forth in the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee's charter and the Company's Amended and Restated Bylaws. Under its charter, the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee will consider nominees for director recommended by stockholders of the Company, provided such recommendations are addressed to the chairman of the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee at the Company's principal executive office and received by the Chairman of the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee in accordance with the time limits set forth in the Company's Bylaws. The

69


Table of Contents

Company's Amended and Restated Bylaws in turn provide that, subject to certain limitations discussed below, any stockholder entitled to vote in the election of directors generally may nominate one or more persons for election as director at the meeting. The Company's Bylaws also provide that a stockholder must give written notice of such stockholder's intent to make such nomination or nominations, either by personal delivery or by United States mail, postage prepaid, which must be delivered to or mailed and received at the Company's principal executive offices not later than the close of business on the 90th day nor earlier than 120 days prior to the first anniversary date of the immediately preceding Annual Meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the Annual Meeting is more than 60 days later than the anniversary date of the immediately preceding Annual Meeting, the notice must be received not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the earlier of the date on which a written statement setting forth the date of the Annual Meeting was mailed to stockholders or the date on which it is first disclosed to the public. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the number of directors to be elected to the Board at an annual meeting is increased and there is no public announcement by the Company naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased board of directors at least 100 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year's annual meeting, a stockholder's notice shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Company at the principal executive offices of the Company not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Company. From time to time, the Company may engage outside director search firms to assist in identifying and recruiting appropriate director nominees.

        There are no differences in the manner in which the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee evaluates nominees for director based on whether the nominee is recommended by the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee or by a stockholder.

Executive Committee

        The current members of the Executive Committee are Messrs. Rupp, Stevens and Griffiths, who is Chairman. When necessary, the Executive Committee acts on behalf of the Board between regularly scheduled meetings of the Board of Directors. Mr. Rupp currently serves as the Board's Lead Director.

Risk Oversight

        Our Board is responsible for oversight of the Company's risk assessment and management process. The Board delegated to the Compensation & Management Development Committee basic responsibility for oversight of management's compensation risk assessment, and the Committee reports to the Board on its review. The Board also delegated tasks related to risk process oversight to the Audit Committee, which reports the results of its review to the Board. In addition to the reports from the Audit and Compensation & Management Development Committees, our Board periodically discusses risk oversight. The Company's Vice President of Internal Audit reports directly to the Audit Committee and has direct and unrestricted access to the Committee. In addition, the Audit Committee meets in executive session at each of its meetings with the Director of Internal Audit, the Company's Chief Financial Officer, and a representative of the Company's outside auditor. The Company's General Counsel also updates the Board at each of its meetings.

70


Table of Contents


FURTHER INFORMATION

Principal Stockholders

        The following table contains information regarding the beneficial ownership of each person or entity that is known by the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Company's outstanding Common Stock as of the Record Date. Such information is based solely upon information provided to the Company by such owners' required SEC filings, including Schedules 13F, 13G and 13D. Beneficial ownership is measured against the Company's total shares outstanding as of the Record Date.

Name and Address
  Amount and Nature of
Beneficial Ownership
  Percent
(%)
 

BlackRock Inc. 

    5,120,523 (1)   14.60  

55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10055

             

Praesidium Investment

   
3,419,624

(2)
 
9.75
 

1411 Broadway, 29th Floor, New York, NY 10018

             

The Vanguard Group, Inc. 

   
3,138,076

(3)
 
8.95
 

P.O. Box 2600, V26, Valley Forge, PA 19482-2600

             

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP

   
2,891,182

(4)
 
8.24
 

6300 Bee Cave Road, Building 1, Austin, TX 78746-5833

             

T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. 

   
2,564,515

(5)
 
7.31
 

P.O. Box 89000, Baltimore, MD 21289

             

Cook & Bieler LP

   
2,329,147

(6)
 
6.64
 

1700 Market Street, Suite 3222, Philadelphia, PA 19103-3991

             

Victory Capital Management, Inc. 

   
1,964,708

(7)
 
5.60
 

4900 Tiedeman Road, 4th Floor, Brooklyn, OH 44144-2338

             

(1)
Based on its most recent Schedule 13G filed with the SEC, as of December 31, 2017, BlackRock, Inc. or its subsidiaries possess sole voting authority over 5,034,919 shares and no voting authority over 85,604 shares.

(2)
Based on its most recent Schedule 13F filed with the SEC, as of September 30, 2017, Praesidium Investment possesses sole voting authority over 3,205,813 shares and no voting authority over 213,811 shares.

(3)
Based on its most recent Schedule 13F filed with the SEC, as of September 30, 2017, The Vanguard Group, Inc. possesses sole voting authority over 41,448 shares, shared voting authority over 6,800 shares, and no voting authority over 3,089,828 shares.

(4)
Based on its most recent Schedule 13F filed with the SEC, as of September 30, 2017, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP possesses sole voting authority over 2,764,342 shares and no voting authority over 126,840 shares.

(5)
Based on its most recent Schedule 13F filed with the SEC, as of September 30, 2017, T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. possesses sole voting authority over 479,619 shares and no voting authority over 2,084,896 shares.

(6)
Based on its most recent Schedule 13F filed with the SEC, as of September 30, 2017, Cooke & Bieler LP. possesses sole voting authority over 2,021,686 shares and no voting authority over 307,461 shares.

71


Table of Contents

(7)
Based on its most recent Schedule 13F filed with the SEC, as of September 30, 2017, Victory Capital Management, Inc. possesses sole voting authority over 1,913,008 shares and no voting authority over 51,700 shares.

Other Matters, Stockholder Nominations, and Stockholder Proposals

        At the date of this Proxy Statement, management is not aware of any matters to be presented for action at the meeting other than those described above. However, if any other matters should come before the meeting, it is the intention of the persons named as proxies in the accompanying proxy card to vote in accordance with their judgment on such matters.

        To be considered for inclusion in our proxy statement and form of proxy relating to our next Annual Meeting of Stockholders, stockholder proposals submitted pursuant to Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act must be received at 1800 West Loop South, Suite 1500, Houston, Texas 77027, Attn: Corporate Secretary, no later than September 28, 2018. We have not yet determined when we will hold our next Annual Meeting of Stockholders. If we determine to hold such meeting more than 30 days from the first anniversary of the date of the Annual Meeting, we will publicly announce such date to stockholders as soon as reasonably practicable.

        The Company's Amended and Restated Bylaws provide that, for business to be properly brought before an Annual Meeting by a stockholder (including director nominations by stockholders or stockholder proposals outside the processes of Rule 14a-8), the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Company. To be timely, a stockholder's notice must be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Company, not less than 90 days (which for the 2018 meeting would be December 1, 2018) nor more than 120 days (which for the 2018 meeting would be November 1, 2018) prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding Annual Meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the Annual Meeting is more than 60 days (which for the 2018 meeting would be April 30, 2019) later than the anniversary date of the immediately preceding Annual Meeting, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be received not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the earlier of the date on which a written statement setting forth the date of the Annual Meeting was mailed to stockholders or the date on which it is first disclosed to the public.

        To be in proper form, a stockholder's notice must set forth the following items:

72


Table of Contents

        Copies of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017 (including the financial statements, the financial statement schedules, and any exhibits), as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, portions of which are incorporated by reference as provided in this Proxy Statement, are available at no charge to stockholders of record upon written request to the address set forth above in the section entitled "Communications with the Company".

Houston, Texas
January 26, 2018

73


Table of Contents

ANNEX A
QUANEX BUILDING PRODUCTS CORPORATION
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURE RECONCILIATION
(In millions)
(Unaudited)

Reconciliation of Pro Forma EBITDA to Consolidated Net Income as reported

        EBITDA (defined as net income or loss before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and other, net) is a non-GAAP financial measure that Quanex's management uses to measure its operational performance and assist with financial decision making. Consolidated Pro Forma EBITDA as presented in this Proxy Statement includes the results of Nichols Aluminum, excluding a gain on the sale of Nichols. The Company believes the non-GAAP measure EBITDA provides a consistent basis for comparison between periods, and will assist investors in understanding our financial performance when comparing our results to other investment opportunities. As used in this Proxy Statement, the Company also believes that EBITDA (including the presentation of Consolidated Pro Forma EBITDA) will assist investors in understanding the effect of certain strategic decisions on the Company's decisions related to its executive pay and compensation structure. The measures of EBITDA as presented by the Company may not be the same as that used by other companies. The Company does not intend for this information to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for other measures prepared in accordance with US GAAP.

 
  FY 2014   FY 2015   FY 2016   FY 2017  

Consolidated Pro Forma EBITDA

  $ 47.0   $ 60.7   $ 102.7   $ 96.4  

Consolidated Pro Forma EBITDA—discontinued operations

    (1.6 )   0.8          

Consolidated Pro Forma EBITDA—continuing operations          

  $ 48.6   $ 59.9   $ 102.7   $ 96.4  

Consolidated Pro Forma EBITDA—continuing operations

 
$

48.6
 
$

59.9
 
$

102.7
 
$

96.4
 

Restructuring

            0.5     4.5  

Depreciation & Amortization

    33.8     35.2     53.2     57.5  

Impairment

    0.5         12.6      

Interest

    0.6     1.0     36.5     9.6  

Other, net

    (0.1 )   0.5     5.5     (0.7 )

Tax

    5.5     7.6     (3.7 )   6.8  

Net income (loss)—continuing operations

  $ 8.3   $ 15.6   $ (1.9 ) $ 18.7  

Consolidated Pro Forma EBITDA—discontinued operations

  $ (1.6 ) $ 0.8          

Depreciation & Amortization

    3.0              

Impairment

    0.5              

Tax

    (2.0 )   0.3          

Net (loss) income—discontinued operations (before gain on sale)

  $ (3.1 ) $ 0.5          

Gain on sale of Nichols (net of tax)

    24.0              

Net income—discontinued operations

  $ 20.9   $ 0.5          

Net income (loss)—as reported

  $ 29.2   $ 16.1   $ (1.9 ) $ 18.7  

Reconciliation of Free Cash Flow to Cash Provided by Operating Activities

        Free Cash Flow (defined as cash provided by operations less capital expenditures) is a non-GAAP financial measure that Quanex's management uses to measure its operational and cash management performance, and to assist with financial decision making. The Company believes this non-GAAP

A-1


Table of Contents

measure will assist investors in understanding our financial and cash management performance. The measure of Free Cash Flow as presented by the Company may not be the same as that used by other companies. The Company does not intend for this information to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for other measures prepared in accordance with US GAAP.

 
  FY 2014   FY 2015   FY 2016   FY 2017  

Free Cash Flow

  $ (13.0 ) $ 37.1   $ 49.2   $ 44.0  

Capital Expenditures

    33.8     30.0     37.2     34.6  

Cash Provided by Operating Activities

  $ 20.8   $ 67.1   $ 86.4   $ 78.6  

A-2


 

Shareowner Services P.O. Box 64945 St. Paul, MN 55164-0945 Vote by Internet, Telephone or Mail 24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week Your phone or Internet vote authorizes the named proxies to vote your shares in the same manner as if you marked, signed and returned your proxy card. Q INTERNET/MOBILE – www.proxypush.com/nx Use the Internet to vote your proxy until 11:59 p.m. (CT) on February 28, 2018. if PHONE – 1-866-883-3382 Use a touch-tone telephone to vote your proxy until 11:59 p.m. (CT) on February 28, 2018. MAIL – Mark, sign and date your proxy card and [8) return it in the postage-paid envelope provided. If you vote your proxy by Internet or by Telephone, you do NOT need to mail back your Proxy Card. The Board of Directors recommends a “for” vote for Items 1, 2 and 3. To elect four directors to serve until the Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2019: 1. FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN 01 Robert R. Buck 03 Joseph D. Rupp 02 Susan F. Davis 04 Curtis M. Stevens 2. To approve an advisory resolution approving the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers; To approve a resolution ratifying the appointment of the Company’s independent auditor for fiscal 2018; and Abstain Abstain For Against 3. For Against 4. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or adjournments thereof. Information with respect to the above matters is set forth in the Proxy Statement that accompanies this Proxy Card. THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED OR, IF NO DIRECTION IS GIVEN, WILL BE VOTED AS THE BOARD RECOMMENDS. Address Change? Mark box, sign, and indicate changes below: Date Signature(s) in Box Please sign exactly as your name(s) appears on Proxy. If held in joint tenancy, all persons should sign. Trustees, administrators, etc., should include title and authority. Corporations should provide full name of corporation and title of authorized officer signing the Proxy.

 


NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Quanex Building Products Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), will be held at the principal executive offices of the Company, 1800 West Loop South, Suite 1500, Houston, Texas, on March 1, 2018, at 8:00 a.m., C.S.T. Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials: You can access and review the Annual Report and Proxy Statement on the Internet by going to the following Quanex Building Products Corporation website: www.quanex.com/2017AR Quanex Building Products Corporation 1800 West Loop South, Suite 1500 Houston, TX 77027 proxy This proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors for use at the Annual Meeting on March 1, 2018. The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on January 10, 2018, as the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting. A complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting will be maintained at the Company’s principal executive offices, will be open to the examination of any stockholder for any purpose germane to the meeting during ordinary business hours for a period of ten days prior to the meeting, and will be made available at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof. By signing the proxy, you revoke all prior proxies and appoint Bill Griffiths and LeRoy Nosbaum, and each of them with full power of substitution, to vote your shares on the matters shown on the reverse side and any other matters which may come before the Annual Meeting and all adjournments. Please execute your vote promptly. Your designation of a proxy is revocable and will not affect your right to vote in person if you find it convenient to attend the meeting and wish to vote in person. The Company’s Annual Report to Stockholders for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017, accompanies this Proxy Card. See reverse for voting instructions.