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

Filed by the Registrant

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Filed by a Party other than the Registrant

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Check the appropriate box:

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Preliminary Proxy Statement

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

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Definitive Proxy Statement

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Definitive Additional Materials

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Soliciting Material under Rule 14a-12

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NCI BUILDING SYSTEMS, INC.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

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No fee required.

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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

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(1)

Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

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(2)

Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

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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 much it was determined):

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Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

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(5)

Total fee paid:

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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

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

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(1)

Amount Previously Paid:

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Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

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Date Filed:

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April   , 2019

Dear Stockholder:

You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of NCI Building Systems, Inc. to be held at 10:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday, May 23, 2019, at the Umstead Hotel and Spa located at 100 Woodland Pond Drive, Cary, North Carolina 27513. At this meeting you will be asked to:

(1)

Proposal 1:   Elect the four (4) Class II directors named in the accompanying proxy statement to serve until the 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or until their respective successors have been elected and shall have qualified or until their resignation;

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(2)

Proposal 2:   Provide an advisory vote on the frequency of the advisory vote on executive compensation;

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(3)

Proposal 3:   Provide an advisory vote on executive compensation;

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(4)

Proposal 4:   Ratify the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as NCI Building Systems, Inc.’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019;

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(5)

Proposal 5:   Approve the Company’s Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Amendment”) to change the name of the Company from “NCI Building Systems, Inc.” to “Cornerstone Building Brands, Inc.” (the “Name Change”);

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(6)

Proposal 6:   Approve the proposed amendment of the Company’s 2003 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares of the Company’s common stock available for awards thereunder by an additional 6,200,000 shares; and

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(7)

Transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting of Stockholders or any reconvened meeting following any adjournment or postponement thereof.

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It is important that your shares be represented at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Therefore, whether or not you expect to attend in person, please sign and date the enclosed proxy and return it in the enclosed envelope or submit your proxy using the telephone or Internet procedures that may be provided to you at your earliest convenience. Please note that using any of these methods will not prevent you from attending the meeting and voting in person.

Very truly yours,

/s/ James S. Metcalf

JAMES S. METCALF
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

NCI BUILDING SYSTEMS, INC.
5020 Weston Parkway
Suite 400
Cary, North Carolina 27513

NOTICE OF
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD MAY 23, 2019

The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of NCI Building Systems, Inc. will be held at the Umstead Hotel and Spa, located at 100 Woodland Pond Drive, Cary, North Carolina 27513, on Thursday, May 23, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. EDT. The Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held for the following purposes:

(1)

Proposal 1:   Elect the four (4) Class II directors named in the accompanying proxy statement to serve until the 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or until their respective successors have been elected and shall have qualified or until their resignation

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(2)

Proposal 2:   Provide an advisory vote on the frequency of the advisory vote on executive compensation;

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(3)

Proposal 3:   Provide an advisory vote on executive compensation;

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(4)

Proposal 4:   Ratify the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as NCI Building Systems, Inc.’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019;

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(5)

Proposal 5:   Approve Company’s Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to change the name of the Company from “NCI Building Systems, Inc.” to “Cornerstone Building Brands, Inc.”;

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(6)

Proposal 6:   Approve the proposed amendment of the Company’s 2003 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares of the Company’s common stock available for awards thereunder by an additional 6,200,000 shares; and

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(7)

Transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting of Stockholders or any reconvened meeting following any adjournment or postponement thereof.

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Only stockholders of record at the close of business on April 8, 2019 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the meeting or any reconvened meeting following any adjournment or postponement thereof.

We are first sending this proxy statement and the enclosed proxy form to stockholders on or about April 22, 2019.

We believe that it is desirable that as large a proportion as possible of the stockholders’ interests be represented at our Annual Meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend our Annual Meeting, we request that you properly date and sign the enclosed form of proxy and promptly return it to us using the enclosed addressed and stamped envelope. If you are present at the meeting and wish to do so, you may revoke the proxy and vote in person. If, however, you hold your shares through a nominee or broker, you must obtain a signed proxy from the broker in order to be able to vote in person.

By order of the Board of Directors,

/s/ Todd R. Moore

TODD R. MOORE
Executive Vice President, Chief Legal, Risk & Compliance Officer and Corporate Secretary

Cary, North Carolina
April   , 2019

PROXY STATEMENT
FOR
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held May 23, 2019
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS

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NCI BUILDING SYSTEMS, INC.
5020 Weston Parkway
Suite 400
Cary, North Carolina 27513
(888) 975-9436
 
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD MAY 23, 2019

This proxy statement is furnished to stockholders of NCI Building Systems, Inc. (“NCI,” the “Company,” “we,” and “us”) in connection with the solicitation of proxies to be used at our Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) to be held on May 23, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. EDT. By granting a proxy, you authorize the persons named in the proxy to represent you and vote your shares at the Annual Meeting. Those persons will also be authorized to vote your shares to adjourn the Annual Meeting from time to time and to vote your shares at any adjournments or postponements of the Annual Meeting. Stockholders have a choice of voting over the Internet, at www.investorvote.com/NCS, by telephone using the number 1-800-652-8683, or using a traditional proxy card. The deadline for voting by telephone or electronically is 5:00 p.m. EDT, on May 22, 2019.

If you give a proxy on the enclosed form, or by telephone or the Internet, you may revoke it at any time before it is exercised at the Annual Meeting by (1) delivering written notice of revocation to the Corporate Secretary of NCI, (2) signing, dating and delivering to the Corporate Secretary of NCI a later dated proxy at our principal executive offices, which are located at 5020 Weston Parkway, Suite 400, Cary, North Carolina 27513, or (3) attending and voting in person by completing a ballot at the Annual Meeting. Attendance at the Annual Meeting will not, in itself, constitute revocation of a completed and delivered proxy card.

If you are a street name stockholder (meaning that your shares are held in a brokerage account by a bank, broker or other nominee) and you vote by proxy, you may change your vote by submitting new voting instructions to your bank, broker or nominee in accordance with that entity’s procedures.

We are first sending this proxy statement and the enclosed proxy form to stockholders on or about April 22, 2019.

ACTION TO BE TAKEN AT ANNUAL MEETING

When you have appropriately specified how your proxy should be voted, the proxy will be voted accordingly. If you properly complete and return a proxy, but do not indicate any contrary voting instructions, your shares will be voted as follows:

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FOR Proposal 1, the election as directors of the nominees listed under “Election of Directors;”

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FOR Proposal 2, an advisory vote on the frequency of holding an advisory vote on executive compensation;

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FOR Proposal 3, an advisory vote on executive compensation;

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FOR Proposal 4, the ratification of Grant Thornton LLP as NCI’s independent registered public accountants for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019 (“Fiscal 2019”);

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FOR Proposal 5, the amendment and restatement of the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to change the name of the Company from “NCI Building Systems, Inc.” to “Cornerstone Building Brands, Inc.”;

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FOR Proposal 6, the amendment of the Company’s 2003 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares of the Company’s common stock available for awards thereunder by an additional 6,200,000 shares; and

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At the discretion of the proxy holders, either FOR or AGAINST any other matter or business that may properly come before the Annual Meeting.

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As of the date hereof, our Board of Directors (our “Board”) is not aware of any other such matter or business to be transacted at our Annual Meeting. If other matters requiring a vote of the stockholders arise, the persons designated as proxies will vote the shares of common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), represented by the proxies in accordance with their judgment on those matters.

SOLICITATION OF PROXIES

Our Board is soliciting proxies from the holders of record of our Common Stock at the close of business on April 8, 2019. We will bear the entire cost of soliciting proxies, including the cost of the preparation, assembly, printing and mailing of this proxy statement, the proxy card and any additional information furnished to our stockholders in connection with the Annual Meeting, and no other person or persons will bear those costs either directly or indirectly.

The solicitation of proxies by our Board of Directors will be conducted primarily by mail. In addition, our officers, directors and employees may solicit proxies personally or by telephone, facsimile or electronic means. These officers, directors and employees will not receive any extra compensation for these services, but may be reimbursed for their reasonable expenses in forwarding solicitation material.

Our transfer agent, Computershare Trust Company, N.A., will assist us in the distribution of proxy materials and will provide voting and tabulation services for the Annual Meeting. For these services, we estimate that we will pay approximately $45,000 in the aggregate for fees and expenses. In addition, we will reimburse brokers, custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for reasonable expenses incurred by them in forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners of our Common Stock.

OUTSTANDING CAPITAL STOCK

The record date for stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting is April 8, 2019. At the close of business on that date, we had 125,514,093 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding and entitled to be voted at the Annual Meeting. Each share of Common Stock outstanding on the record date is entitled to one vote.

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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

Unless otherwise noted, the following tables set forth, as of April 8, 2019 (the “Ownership Date”), the number of shares of our equity securities beneficially owned by (1) each person or group known by us to own beneficially more than 5% of the outstanding shares of any class of our equity securities, (2) each director and nominee for director, (3) each of our executive officers identified under the caption “Executive Compensation,” and (4) all current directors and executive officers as a group. Except as otherwise indicated, each of the persons or groups named below has sole voting power and investment power with respect to the Common Stock. Unless otherwise noted, the mailing address of each person or entity named below is 5020 Weston Parkway, Suite 400, Cary, North Carolina 27513.

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Less than 1%.

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(1)

Includes shares beneficially owned by the listed persons, including unvested restricted stock granted in December 2018 and prior years, shares owned under our 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and phantom units owned under our Deferred Compensation Plan, but does not include any of the restricted stock units or the performance share units granted to the listed persons in December 2015, December 2016, December 2017 or November 2018 (see “Compensation Discussion & Analysis — Long-Term Incentive Compensation”). If a person has the right to acquire beneficial ownership of any shares by exercise of options or by reason of the vesting of restricted stock units previously granted within 60 days after the Ownership Date, those shares are deemed beneficially owned by that person as of the Ownership Date and are deemed to be outstanding solely for the purpose of determining the percentage of the Common Stock that he or she owns. Those shares are not included in the computations for any other person. Please see the tables accompanying footnotes 5 and 8 below for additional information regarding equity compensation awards held by the listed persons.

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(2)

CD&R Investment Associates X, Ltd. (“CD&R Pisces GP”) is the general partner of CD&R Pisces Holdings, L.P. (“CD&R Pisces”).

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CD&R Pisces GP, as the general partner of CD&R Pisces, may be deemed to beneficially own the shares of Common Stock shown as beneficially owned by CD&R Pisces. CD&R Pisces GP expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of the Common Stock of which CD&R Pisces has beneficial ownership.

Investment and voting decisions with respect to the shares of Common Stock held by CD&R Pisces or CD&R Pisces GP are made by an investment committee comprised of more than ten individuals (the “CD&R Pisces Investment Committee”). All members of the CD&R Pisces Investment Committee disclaim beneficial ownership of the shares of Common Stock shown as beneficially owned by CD&R Pisces.

CD&R Pisces GP expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by CD&R Pisces and the restricted shares held by CD&R, LLC as assignees of director compensation payable to Messrs. Krenicki, Sleeper and Zrebiec. Each of CD&R Pisces and CD&R Pisces GP expressly disclaim beneficial ownership of the restricted shares held by CD&R, LLC as assignees of director compensation payable to Messrs. Krenicki, Sleeper and Zrebiec. CD&R, LLC expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by CD&R Pisces.

The address for CD&R Pisces and CD&R Pisces GP is c/o Maples Corporate Services Limited, P.O. Box 309, Ugland House, South Church Street, George Town, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands. The address for CD&R, LLC is 375 Park Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10152.

(3)

Unless otherwise indicated, Clayton, Dubilier & Rice Fund VIII, L.P. and CD&R Friends & Family Fund VIII, L.P. are referred to collectively as the “CD&R Fund VIII Investors.”

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Does not include 120,626 restricted shares of Common Stock and 20,424 restricted stock units issued to Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, LLC (“CD&R, LLC”), as assignee of director compensation payable to Messrs. John Krenicki, Nathan K. Sleeper and Jonathan L. Zrebiec.

The general partner of each of the CD&R Fund VIII Investors is CD&R Associates VIII, Ltd., whose sole stockholder is CD&R Associates VIII, L.P. The general partner of CD&R Associates VIII, L.P. is CD&R Investment Associates VIII, Ltd.

CD&R Investment Associates VIII, Ltd. is managed by a two-person board of directors. Donald J. Gogel and Kevin J. Conway, as the directors of CD&R Investment Associates VIII, Ltd., may be deemed to share beneficial ownership of the shares of Common Stock shown as beneficially owned by the CD&R Fund VIII Investors. Such persons expressly disclaim such beneficial ownership.

Investment and voting decisions with respect to the shares of Common Stock held by each of the CD&R Fund VIII Investors are made by an investment committee comprised of more than ten individuals (the “CD&R Fund VIII Investment Committee”). All members of the CD&R Fund VIII Investment Committee disclaim beneficial ownership of the shares of Common Stock shown as beneficially owned by the CD&R Fund VIII Investors.

Each of CD&R Associates VIII, L.P., CD&R Associates VIII, Ltd. and CD&R Investment Associates VIII, Ltd. expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by the CD&R Fund VIII Investors and the restricted shares held by CD&R, LLC as assignees of director compensation payable to Messrs. Krenicki, Sleeper and Zrebiec. The CD&R Fund VIII Investors expressly disclaim beneficial ownership of the restricted shares held by CD&R, LLC as assignees of director compensation payable to Messrs. Krenicki, Sleeper and Zrebiec. CD&R, LLC expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by the CD&R Fund VIII Investors.

The address for the CD&R Fund VIII Investors, CD&R Associates VIII, L.P., CD&R Associates VIII, Ltd. and CD&R Investment Associates VIII, Ltd. is c/o Maples Corporate Services Limited, P.O. Box 309, Ugland House, South Church Street, George Town, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands. The address for CD&R, LLC is 375 Park Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10152.

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(4)

Unless otherwise indicated, Atrium Intermediate Holdings, LLC (“Atrium Intermediate”) and GGC BP Holdings, LLC (“GGC BP”) are referred to collectively as the “GG Shareholders.”

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Golden Gate Capital Opportunity Fund, L.P. (“GGCOF”), Golden Gate Capital Opportunity Fund-A, L.P. (“GGCOF-A”), GGCOF Co-Invest, L.P. (“GGCOF Co-Invest”), GGCOF Executive Co-Invest, L.P. (“Executive Co-Invest”) and GGCOF IRA Co-Invest, L.P. (“IRA Co-Invest”, together with GGCOF, GGCOF-A, GGCOF Co-Invest and Executive Co-Invest, the “Funds”) hold all of the equity interests in GGC BP.

Atrium Window Holdings, LLC (“Atrium Holdings”) and Atrium Window Parent, LLC (“Atrium Parent”) are the members of Atrium Intermediate. Atrium Parent is the controlling unitholder of Atrium Holdings. GGC Atrium Window Holdings, LLC (“GGC Atrium”) is the controlling unitholder of Atrium Parent. GGC BP is the controlling unitholder of GGC Atrium.

GGC Opportunity Fund Management, L.P. (“Fund GP”) is the general partner of each of GGCOF and GGCOF-A. GGC Opportunity Fund Management GP, Ltd. (“Ultimate GP”) is the general partner of Fund GP. GGCOF Co-Invest Management, L.P. (“Co-Invest GP”) is the general partner of GGCOF Co-Invest, IRA Co-Invest and Executive Co-Invest. Fund GP is the general partner of Co-Invest GP.

Ultimate GP is governed by its board of directors and has ultimate voting and dispositive authority over the ownership interests of the following entities in the Company: GGC BP, Atrium Holdings, Atrium Intermediate, Atrium Parent and GGC Atrium (collectively, the “Atrium Entities”). Each of the Atrium Entities, the Funds, Fund GP and Co-Invest GP has shared dispositive power with each other with respect to the Common Stock.

The address for the GG Shareholders, Atrium Holdings, Atrium Parent, GGC Atrium, the Funds, Fund GP, Ultimate GP and Co-Invest GP is c/o Golden Gate Private Equity, Inc., One Embarcadero Center, 39th Floor, San Francisco, California 94111.

The information set forth in this footnote (4) was derived from a general statement of acquisition of beneficial ownership on Schedule 13D filed on November 23, 2018 with respect to the GG Shareholders, Atrium Holdings, Atrium Parent, GGC Atrium, the Funds, Fund GP, Ultimate GP and Co-Invest GP.

(5)

The number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by each person reflected in the table above includes options exercisable on the Ownership Date or that would become exercisable within 60 days after the Ownership Date, but excludes (i) options not exercisable within 60 days after the Ownership Date and (ii) unvested restricted stock units and performance share units. The number of options, unvested shares of restricted stock units, and unvested performance shares units beneficially owned by each person shown in the table above is shown in the table below. For more information about outstanding options, restricted stock units, and performance share units, see “Compensation Discussion & Analysis — Long-Term Incentive Compensation.”

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(6)

Does not include 61,930,692 shares of Common Stock held by investment funds associated with or designated by CD&R, LLC, 120,626 restricted shares of Common Stock issued to CD&R, LLC, or 20,424 restricted stock units issued to CD&R, LLC, as assignee of compensation payable to Messrs. Krenicki, Sleeper and Zrebiec. Messrs. Krenicki, Sleeper and Zrebiec are members of our Board and executives of CD&R, LLC. Messrs. Krenicki, Sleeper and Zrebiec disclaim beneficial ownership of the shares held by CD&R, LLC and by investment funds associated with or designated by CD&R, LLC.

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(7)

The number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the directors and executive officers as a group reflected in the table above includes shares beneficially owned by the additional officers listed in the table below. As with the officers and directors listed individually in Note 5, the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the directors and executive officers as a group and reflected in the table above includes options exercisable on the Ownership Date or that would become exercisable within 60 days after the Ownership Date, but excludes (i) options not exercisable within 60 days after the Ownership Date and (ii) unvested restricted stock units and performance share units. The number of options, unvested shares of restricted stock units, and unvested performance shares units beneficially owned by these additional officers is shown in the table below. For more information about outstanding options, restricted stock units and performance share units, see “Compensation Discussion & Analysis — Long-Term Incentive Compensation.”

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QUORUM AND VOTING

The presence in person or by proxy of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the stock entitled to vote at an Annual Meeting is necessary to constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting. Each outstanding share of Common Stock is entitled to one vote. All routine matters will be decided by the vote of a majority of the votes cast by the stockholders present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote on the matter, a quorum being present.

At a Special Meeting of shareholders of NCI held on November 15, 2018 (the “Special Shareholder Meeting”), NCI’s shareholders approved, among other items, (i) the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) among NCI, Ply Gem Parent, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Ply Gem”), and for certain limited purposes set forth in the Merger Agreement, CD&R, LLC, pursuant to which, at the closing of the merger, Ply Gem was merged with and into NCI, with NCI continuing its existence as a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Merger”) and (ii) the issuance in the Merger of 58,709,067 shares of Common Stock in the aggregate, on a pro rata basis, to the holders of all of the equity interests in Ply Gem, including CD&R Pisces and the GG Shareholders (the “Stock Issuance”). The Merger was consummated on November 16, 2018 pursuant to the Merger Agreement.

Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, on November 16, 2018, the Company entered into a stockholders agreement (the “New Stockholders Agreement”) between the Company, CD&R Pisces, the CD&R Fund VIII Investors (together with CD&R Pisces, the “CD&R Investors”), Atrium Intermediate, GGC BP, and AIC Finance Partnership, L.P., a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership (“AIC”, and together with Atrium Intermediate and GGC BP, each individually, a “Golden Gate Investor,” and collectively, the “Golden Gate Investors”).

Pursuant to the New Stockholders Agreement, among other matters, the CD&R Investors are entitled to nominate for election, fill vacancies and appoint five out of twelve initial members of NCI’s post-Merger Board and, thereafter, so long as the CD&R Investors beneficially own at least 7.5% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, to nominate for election, fill vacancies and appoint replacements for a number of Board members in proportion to the CD&R Investors’ percentage beneficial ownership of outstanding Common Stock, but never to exceed one less than the number of independent, non-CD&R-affiliated directors serving on the Board. The New Stockholders Agreement contains voting agreements between the Company and each of the CD&R Investors and the Golden Gate Investors (the Golden Gate Investors, together with the CD&R Investors, the “Investors”), including the requirement that each Investor shall vote all of the shares of Common Stock that it beneficially owns (a) in favor of all director nominees, other than CD&R Investor Nominees (as defined in the New Stockholders Agreement) or director nominees proposed by a Golden Gate Investor, nominated by the Board for election by the stockholders of the Company in accordance with the terms of the New Stockholders Agreement and the By-laws (as defined below), (b) as recommended by the Board on certain enumerated proposals, including any and all proposals relating to or concerning compensation or equity incentives for directors, officers or employees of the Company adopted in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice.

Those nominees receiving a plurality of all of the votes cast on Proposal 1 at the Annual Meeting shall be elected to our Board. Pursuant to the New Stockholders Agreement, the CD&R Investors and the GG Shareholders, which own or beneficially own shares of Common Stock representing approximately 49.4% and 13.3%, respectively, of our outstanding voting power as of April 8, 2019, are required to vote for the election as directors each of the nominees listed under “Election of Directors,” other than Mr. Zrebiec.

The total number of votes cast on Proposal 2, regarding the frequency of required stockholder approval of the Company’s compensation philosophy, policies and procedures described in the Compensation Discussion & Analysis, or “CD&A” must represent at least the majority of the outstanding voting power of NCI entitled to vote on the proposal on the record date for determining stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. The CD&R Investors, which own or beneficially own shares of Common Stock representing approximately 49.4% of our outstanding voting power as of April 8, 2019, have expressed their intention to vote for a frequency of  “every year” (an annual vote) in Proposal 2.

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The total number of votes cast on Proposal 3, for approval of our compensation philosophy, policies and procedures described in the CD&A, and the compensation of our Named Executive Officers (as defined in the CD&A section of this proxy statement), must represent at least the majority of the outstanding voting power of NCI entitled to vote on the proposal on the record date for determining stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. The CD&R Investors, which own or beneficially own shares of Common Stock representing approximately 49.4% of our outstanding voting power as of April 8, 2019, have expressed their intention to vote in favor of Proposal 3.

The total number of votes cast on Proposal 4, for ratification of the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for Fiscal 2019, must represent at least the majority of the votes cast in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting. The CD&R Investors, which own or beneficially own shares of Common Stock representing approximately 49.4% of our outstanding voting power as of April 8, 2019, have expressed their intention to vote in favor of Proposal 4.

The total number of votes cast on Proposal 5, for approval of the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to effectuate the Name Change, must represent at least the majority of the outstanding voting power of NCI entitled to vote on the proposal on the record date for determining stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. The CD&R Investors, which own or beneficially own shares of Common Stock representing approximately 49.4% of our outstanding voting power as of April 8, 2019, have expressed their intention to vote in favor of Proposal 5.

In accordance with rules of the New York Stock Exchange, or “NYSE”, approval of Proposal 6, to amend the LTIP, requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the proposal provided that the total votes cast on the proposal represent over 50% of the stock entitled to vote on the proposal. The CD&R Investors, which own or beneficially own shares of Common Stock representing approximately 49.4% of our outstanding voting power as of April 8, 2019, have expressed their intention to vote in favor of the amendment of the LTIP.

Abstentions are counted for the purpose of determining the presence of a quorum at the Annual Meeting. An abstention has no effect on Proposal 1. With respect to Proposals 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, an abstention has the same effect as a vote against these proposals.

Brokers holding shares must vote according to specific instructions they receive from the beneficial owners. Broker non-votes occur when brokers do not have discretionary voting authority to vote certain shares held in “street name” on particular proposals under the NYSE rules, and the “beneficial owner” of those shares has not instructed the broker to vote on those proposals. The NYSE’s Rule 452 precludes brokers from voting on non-discretionary proposals without specific instructions from the beneficial owner.

If you are a beneficial owner, your bank, broker, dealer, custodian or other nominee is permitted to vote your shares only with regard to Proposal 4 to ratify the appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm, even if the holder does not receive voting instructions from you. A broker non-vote is treated as “present” for purposes of determining the existence of a quorum. For purposes of electing directors, a broker non-vote will not affect the outcome of the elections.

CHANGE IN FISCAL YEAR END

As previously disclosed in our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on November 20, 2018, on November 16, 2018 our Board of Directors approved and changed the Company’s fiscal year from a 52 or 53 week period with the Company’s fiscal year end on the Sunday closest to October 31 to a fiscal year of the 12-month period of January 1 to December 31 of each calendar year, to commence with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019 (the “Fiscal Year Change”). Accordingly, our fiscal period now begins on January 1 and ends on December 31 of each year. This change resulted in a transition period of approximately two months, from October 29, 2018 to December 31, 2018 (the “Transition Period”), for which we filed a Transition Report on Form 10-QT with the SEC on February 11, 2019.

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PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) and Sixth Amended and Restated By-Laws (the “By-Laws”), together with the New Stockholders Agreement, provide that the number of directors on our Board initially following the consummation of the Merger shall be fixed at twelve, and shall be fixed from time to time exclusively pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of our Board. The number of members constituting our Board is currently fixed at twelve, including one vacancy as of the date hereof.

In accordance with our Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws, our Board is divided into three classes, as nearly equal in number as reasonably possible, and members are elected for a term of office expiring at the third succeeding annual stockholders’ meeting following their election to office or until a successor is duly elected and qualified. Except as otherwise provided by the New Stockholders Agreement, under our By-Laws, newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors or any vacancies on our Board resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or other cause shall be filled only by a majority of the votes that can be cast by directors then in office, though less than a quorum, and directors so chosen hold office until the Annual Meeting of stockholders at which the term of office of the class to which the director has been elected expires. The terms of office of each of the Class II directors expire at this Annual Meeting and the terms of office of each of the Class I and Class III directors expire at the Annual Meetings in 2021 and 2020, respectively. Under our By-Laws, no person may stand for election as a director if, on the date of any annual or special meeting held for the purpose of electing directors, such person shall have surpassed the age of 75; however, those directors who are then serving on the board of directors and have already reached the age of 75 as of November 16, 2017 may stand for election as a director if, on the date of any annual or special meeting held for the purpose of electing directors, such person shall not have surpassed the age of 78.

Four Class II directors are to be elected at the Annual Meeting for a term expiring at the Annual Meeting to be held in 2022, or until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified or until their resignation. If, at the time of or prior to our Annual Meeting, any of the nominees should be unable or decline to serve, the discretionary authority provided in the proxy may be used to vote for a substitute or substitutes designated by our Board. Our Board has no reason to believe that any substitute nominee or nominees will be required. However, if a nominee should become unable or unwilling to serve for any reason, proxies may be voted for another person nominated as a substitute by our Board, or our Board may reduce its size. No proxy will be voted for a greater number of persons than the number of nominees named herein.

Our Board believes that each of our directors is highly qualified to serve as a member of our Board. Each of the directors has contributed to the mix of skills, core competencies and qualifications of our Board. Our directors are highly educated and have diverse backgrounds and talents and extensive track records of success in what we believe are highly relevant positions with some of the most reputable organizations in the world. Our Board has also considered the fact that all of our directors have worked for, or served on the boards of directors of, a variety of companies in a wide range of industries. Many of our directors also have served as directors of our company for many years and benefit from an intimate knowledge of our operations and corporate philosophy. Our Board believes that through their varying backgrounds, our directors bring a wealth of experiences and new ideas to our Board.

Described in the following pages are the principal occupations and positions and directorships for at least the past five years of our directors and director nominees, as well as certain information regarding their individual experience, qualifications, attributes and skills that led our Board to conclude that they should serve on the Board. There are no family relationships among any of our directors or executive officers.

Nominees for Election as Director

Class II Nominees for Election as Directors Who Will Serve Until the Annual Meeting to be Held in 2022:

Gary L. Forbes

Mr. Forbes, age 75, has served as a director since December 1991. Mr. Forbes serves on the Executive Committee, Affiliate Transactions Committee, and is the Chair of the Audit Committee of our Board of

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Directors. In addition, Mr. Forbes is our designated Audit Committee financial expert. Mr. Forbes was a Senior Vice President of Equus Total Return, Inc., an investment company, from November 1991 until his retirement in March 2010. Mr. Forbes was a director of Consolidated Graphics, Inc., a publicly traded commercial printing company, where he served on its audit committee, from 1993 until January 2014. Mr. Forbes previously served on the board of directors of Carriage Services, Inc., a publicly traded funeral services company, from May 2007 to February 2009. Mr. Forbes earned a B.B.A. in Accounting from the University of Texas at Austin and is a certified public accountant.

Director Qualifications: Mr. Forbes’ background has provided our Board of Directors with valuable financial and accounting expertise as our financial expert on the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors. Additionally, having served as a member of our Board of Directors since 1991, Mr. Forbes has a deep historical understanding of our business, operations and culture.

George Martinez

Mr. Martinez, age 77, has served as a director since March 2003. He serves on the Audit Committee and the Affiliate Transactions Committee of our Board of Directors. Mr. Martinez is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Allegiance Bancshares, Inc., a publicly traded bank holding company (ABTX Nasdaq) which owns Allegiance Bank, a Texas banking association headquartered in Houston, Texas that opened for business in October 2007. He has been active as a bank executive in Houston for over 40 years and is the former Chairman of Sterling Bancshares, Inc., a publicly traded bank holding company (SBIB Nasdaq). Mr. Martinez served as President of Chrysalis Partners, LLC, a performance consulting firm, from 1999 to 2008. He serves his community on the boards of directors of the University of St. Thomas and Collaborative for Children. Mr. Martinez has a B.A. in Business Administration and Economics from Rice University.

Director Qualifications: Mr. Martinez’s background and experience in performance consulting and as an executive in the banking industry allow him to provide to the Board valuable financial, accounting and operational expertise. Additionally, having served as a member of our Board of Directors since 2003, Mr. Martinez has a high degree of familiarity with our business, operations and culture.

James S. Metcalf

Mr. Metcalf, age 61, has served as a director since May 2017, as the Chairman of our Board of Directors since January 1, 2018 and as our Chief Executive Officer since November 16, 2018. He serves on the Executive Committee, the Routine Transaction Committee, and the Affiliate Transactions Committee of our Board of Directors. Mr. Metcalf retired in October 2016 as the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of USG Corporation. At the time of his retirement, he had served as Chairman since December 2011 and had served as Chief Executive Officer and President since January 2011. From January 2006 through January 2011, he was President and Chief Operating Officer of USG. Prior to that, Mr. Metcalf held many positions at USG including president, Building Systems; president and chief executive officer, L&W Supply; senior vice president, Sales and Marketing, USG Interiors, Inc.; vice president, National Accounts, United States Gypsum Company; director, Retail Marketing, USG Corporation; director, Retail Sales, USG Interiors, Inc.; and national accounts manager, United States Gypsum Company. Mr. Metcalf is a director of Tenneco Inc. Mr. Metcalf is a policy advisory board member for the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University. Mr. Metcalf holds a bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University. He also holds a master’s degree in business administration from Pepperdine University and Stanford University SEP.

Director Qualifications: Mr. Metcalf’s extensive career in a building materials company, including his former role as a chief executive officer and chairman of its board of directors, provides him with the necessary skills to be Chairman of our Board of Directors. As a result of his experience, he has a deep understanding of the industry in which we participate and insight into corporate governance practices, strategy, operations, finance, technology, innovation, and compensation policies and practices generally and, as our Chief Executive Officer for the last five months, our Company in particular.

Jonathan L. Zrebiec

Mr. Zrebiec, age 39, has served as a director since November 2009. Mr. Zrebiec is a partner of CD&R, LLC, the successor to the investment managing business of CD&R, Inc., which he joined in 2004. He serves

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on the Routine Transaction Committee of our Board of Directors. Prior to joining CD&R, Inc., he was employed by Goldman, Sachs & Co. in the Investment Banking Division. He currently serves as a director of Atkore International Group, Inc., a public company, Wilsonart International Holdings LLC, Brand Energy & Infrastructure Services, Inc., Core & Main LP and SunSource Holdings, Inc. Mr. Zrebiec was a director of Roofing Supply Group, LLC from May 2012 to September 2015 and was a director of Hussmann International, Inc. from October 2011 to April 2016. Mr. Zrebiec holds a B.S. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania and holds an M.B.A. from Columbia University.

Director Qualifications: Mr. Zrebiec’s experience in the financial and investing community provides our Board with insight into business strategy, improving financial performance and the economic environment in which we operate. Mr. Zrebiec is a CD&R Investor Nominee (as defined in the New Stockholders Agreement).

Vote Required

The affirmative vote of a plurality of all of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting is required for approval of each of the nominees for Class II director in this Proposal 1. If you own shares through a bank, broker or other holder of record, you must instruct your bank, broker or other holder of record how to vote in order for them to vote your shares so that your vote can be counted on this proposal.

Recommendation of Our Board of Directors

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE CLASS II NOMINEES LISTED ABOVE.

Directors Remaining in Office

Class I Directors Who Serve Until the Annual Meeting to Be Held in 2021:

John Krenicki

Mr. Krenicki, age 56, has served as lead director since November 16, 2018. He serves on the Compensation Committee, as Chair of the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee and as Chair of the Executive Committee of our Board of Directors. Mr. Krenicki served as Lead Director of Ply Gem Holdings, Inc. from April 16, 2018 until the consummation of the Merger. He is currently a Director at Devon Energy Corp. Mr. Krenicki served as Vice Chairman of GE and as President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Energy (“GE”) from July 2005 until December 2012. His responsibilities included oversight of GE’s oil and gas, power and water and energy management businesses. He also serves as chairman of Brand Industrial Services Inc., Wilsonart International Holdings LLC, and PowerTeam Services. He was a Member of GE’s Corporate Executive Council and the GE Capital Board of Directors. He previously served as chairman of ServiceMaster Global Holdings and CHC Group and as a director of Hess Corp. He is a member of the National Petroleum Council. He earned a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Connecticut. He received an M.S. degree in Management from Purdue University.

Director Qualifications: Mr. Krenicki’s leadership roles in diverse manufacturing and services enterprises bring to our Board of Directors an understanding of the global business environment, investment judgment, and valuable insight into the operations of large, complex manufacturing operations.

Lawrence J. Kremer

Mr. Kremer, age 77, has served as a director since October 2009. Mr. Kremer serves on the Affiliate Transactions Committee of our Board of Directors. Mr. Kremer retired in 2007 from Emerson Electric Co., having served as Corporate Vice President of Global Materials. Prior to that, Mr. Kremer was employed by Whirlpool Corporation, a worldwide producer of appliances, as Senior Vice President of International Operations and Global Materials. Mr. Kremer currently serves as a director of Fifth Third Bank Southern Region and St. Mary’s Hospital System, a Midwest Regional Hospital. Mr. Kremer previously served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University of Evansville. Mr. Kremer holds a B.S. and an M.B.A. from the University of Evansville.

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Director Qualifications: Mr. Kremer’s leadership roles in global manufacturing bring to our Board of Directors an understanding of the global business environment and valuable insight into the operations of large, complex manufacturing operations.

John J. Holland

Mr. Holland, age 69, has served as a director since November 2009. He serves on the Audit Committee, the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee and the Affiliate Transactions Committee of our Board of Directors. Mr. Holland served as the President of the International Copper Association from February 2012 until his retirement in November 2015. The International Copper Association is a marketing association for the copper industry. Mr. Holland has been the President of Greentree Advisors, LLC since October 2004. Mr. Holland was the President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of MMFX Technologies Corporation, a privately held steel manufacturing firm, from 2008 until 2009. Prior to that, Mr. Holland was the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Alternative Energy Sources, Inc., an ethanol producer, from August 2006 until June 2008. Mr. Holland previously was employed by Butler Manufacturing Company, a producer of pre-engineered building systems, supplier of architectural aluminum systems and components and provider of construction and real estate services for the nonresidential construction market, from 1980 until his retirement in 2004. Prior to his retirement from Butler, Mr. Holland served as Chairman of the Board from 2001 to 2004, as Chief Executive Officer from 1999 to 2004 and as President from 1999 to 2001. Mr. Holland currently serves as a director and on the audit committee of Cooper Tire & Rubber Co., and as a director and on the audit and compensation committees of Saia, Inc. (formerly SCS Transportation, Inc.). Mr. Holland holds B.S. and M.B.A. degrees from the University of Kansas and is a certified public accountant.

Director Qualifications: Mr. Holland’s extensive career in the metal building industry, including his role as a chief executive officer of a public company, provides the Board with perspective on the particular strategic, manufacturing, sales and marketing, compensation and personnel issues faced by companies in our industry. Further, Mr. Holland’s extensive financial and accounting background as a former chief financial officer and a certified public accountant provides the Audit Committee with valuable expertise.

Class III Directors Who Serve Until the Annual Meeting to Be Held in 2020:

Timothy O’Brien

Mr. O’Brien, age 55, has served as a director since November 16, 2018. He serves on the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee of our Board of Directors. Mr. O’Brien has served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Wilsonart Engineered Surfaces since January 2013. Prior to joining Wilsonart, Tim served as Vice President and General Manager of SABIC Innovative Plastic, responsible for the engineering resins business in the Americas and Europe. SABIC Innovative Plastics, a business unit of Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (“SABIC”), was founded in 2007 with the acquisition of GE Plastics. Prior to SABIC, Tim began his career at General Electric as a Sales Representative for GE Lighting. Throughout his 24-year career at GE, he also held roles of increasing responsibility in Sales, Production Management and General Management, including Vice President of Sales and Distribution Operations for the Asia Pacific, based in Singapore. Mr. O’Brien ultimately served as Senior Vice President for Commercial Finance with GE Capital until 2003, running a global computer leasing business. Mr. O’Brien earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Northeastern University in Massachusetts and his MBA from Baldwin Wallace College in Ohio.

Director Qualifications: Mr. O’Brien’s leadership roles in global manufacturing bring to our Board of Directors an understanding of the global business environment and valuable insight into the operations of large, complex manufacturing operations.

Kathleen J. Affeldt

Ms. Affeldt, age 70, has served as a director since November 2009. Ms. Affeldt serves on the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee, the Executive Committee, the Affiliate Transactions Committee, and is the Chair of the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors. Ms. Affeldt retired from Lexmark International, a developer, manufacturer and supplier of printing and imaging

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solutions for offices and homes, in February 2003, where she had been Vice President of Human Resources since July 1996. She joined Lexmark when it became an independent company in 1991 as the Director of Human Resources. Ms. Affeldt began her career at IBM in 1969, specializing in sales of supply chain systems. She later held a number of human resources management positions. Ms. Affeldt has served as a director of SIRVA, Inc. and as chair of that board’s compensation committee. She also served as a director of Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc., and as the chair of that board’s compensation committee. She currently serves as a director of BTE Technologies, Inc., and as a director and chair of the compensation committee of HD Supply Holdings, Inc. Ms. Affeldt attended the State University of New York and Hunter College in New York City, majoring in Business Administration.

Director Qualifications: Ms. Affeldt’s experience in large, multinational companies in general, as well as in the human resources field in particular, provides our Board of Directors with insight into the attraction, motivation and retention of personnel. Additionally, her service on the boards of other public companies brings to our Board of Directors valuable insight into the strategic, financial and personnel challenges faced by companies similar to NCI.

George L. Ball

Mr. Ball, age 60, has served as a director since February 2014. He serves on the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, the Executive Committee, the Affiliate Transactions Committee, and is the Chair of the Routine Transaction Committee of our Board of Directors. Mr. Ball is the Chief Financial Officer of Parsons Corporation, a global engineering and construction services company that was established in 1944. Mr. Ball joined Parsons in 1995 and has held varying positions of increasing responsibility and was promoted to Chief Financial Officer in 2008. Mr. Ball was formerly a senior accountant with Coopers & Lybrand LLP, now known as PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. Mr. Ball currently serves as a director of Wells Fargo Real Estate Investment Corporation, a publicly traded real estate investment trust, and is a member of its audit committee. Mr. Ball earned his B.S. in Accounting from Drexel University.

Director Qualifications: Mr. Ball’s background and experience as an executive in a large, multinational engineering and construction services company provides the Board with perspective on strategic, financial, compensation, management development and sales issues. Mr. Ball’s extensive experience and financial and accounting background as a chief financial officer provides the Audit Committee with valuable experience. Mr. Ball’s extensive financial experience and knowledge of compensation program design provide the Compensation Committee with valuable experience.

Nathan K. Sleeper

Mr. Sleeper, age 45, has served as a director since October 2009. Mr. Sleeper serves on the Compensation Committee and the Executive Committee of our Board of Directors. Mr. Sleeper is a partner of CD&R, LLC, having joined CD&R, Inc. in 2000. Prior to joining CD&R, Inc., he was employed by Goldman, Sachs & Co. in the Investment Banking Division. He has also been employed by Tiger Management. He currently serves as a director of PowerTeam Services LLC, Wilsonart International Holdings LLC, Brand Energy & Infrastructure Services, Inc., Beacon Roofing Supply, Inc., a public company, SunSource Holdings, Inc., and Core & Main LP. Mr. Sleeper was a director of Atkore International Group, Inc., a public company, HD Supply Holdings, Inc., a public company, Hussmann International, Inc., U.S. Foods, Inc., Hertz Global Holdings, a public company, and CHC Group Ltd. Mr. Sleeper holds a B.A. from Williams College and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

Director Qualifications: Mr. Sleeper’s broad experience in the financial and investment communities brings to our Board of Directors important insights into business strategy and areas to improve our financial performance.

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PROPOSAL 2: ADVISORY VOTE ON THE FREQUENCY OF THE ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

In addition to the advisory “Say on Pay” vote, under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) and Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), stockholders are entitled, at least once every six years, to indicate on an advisory basis their preference regarding how frequently the Company should solicit a related non-binding advisory vote on the compensation of our Named Executive Officers, as disclosed pursuant to the SEC’s compensation disclosure rules, such as Proposal 3 included in this Proxy Statement. By voting on this Proposal 2, stockholders may indicate whether the advisory “Say on Pay” vote should occur every three years, every two years or every year or may abstain from voting. After careful consideration of this Proposal 2, our Board of Directors has determined that an advisory vote on executive compensation that occurs every year (an annual vote) is the most appropriate option for our Company, and therefore our Board of Directors recommends that you support a frequency period of every year for the advisory vote on executive compensation.

Setting a one-year period for holding this stockholder advisory vote will enhance stockholder communication by providing a clear, simple means for our Company to obtain information on investor sentiment about our executive compensation philosophy. An advisory vote once every year will be the most effective timeframe for us to timely respond to stockholders’ feedback about the appropriateness of executive pay levels.

The vote with regard to Proposal 2 will determine the schedule on which future “Say on Pay” proposals like Proposal 3 are presented to stockholders. At our 2014 Annual Meeting, our stockholders approved, on an advisory basis, the three-year option for how frequently stockholders’ advisory votes to approve executive compensation of the Company’s Named Executive Officers shall take place.

Text of the Resolution to be Adopted

You may cast your vote on your preferred voting frequency by choosing the option of one year, two years, three years or abstain from voting when you vote in response to the resolution set forth below.

“RESOLVED, that the option of once every one year, two years, or three years that receives the highest number of votes cast for this resolution will determine the frequency with which NCI Building Systems, Inc. will hold a stockholder “Say on Pay” advisory vote to approve the compensation of the Named Executive Officers, as disclosed pursuant to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s compensation disclosure rules (which disclosure shall include the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the 2018 Summary Compensation Table, and the other related tables and disclosures).”

Vote Required

The period receiving the greatest number of votes as set forth in Proposal 2 will determine the period of time to be used for future “Say on Pay” votes. If you own shares through a bank, broker or other holder of record, you must instruct your bank, broker or other holder of record how to vote in order for them to vote your shares so that your vote can be counted on this proposal.

Recommendation of our Board of Directors

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT, IN PROPOSAL 2, STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR A FREQUENCY OF “ONE YEAR” FOR FUTURE NON-BINDING “SAY ON PAY” STOCKHOLDER VOTES ON COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS.

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PROPOSAL 3: ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Introduction

Our Board of Directors recognizes that executive compensation is an important matter for our stockholders. As described in detail in the “Report of the Compensation Committee” and the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section of this proxy statement, the Compensation Committee is tasked with the implementation of our executive compensation philosophy, and the core of that philosophy has been and continues to be to pay our executives based on our performance. In particular, the Compensation Committee strives to attract, retain and motivate exceptional executives, to reward past performance measured against established goals and provide incentives for future performance, and to align executives’ long-term interests with the interests of our stockholders. To do so, the Compensation Committee uses a combination of short- and long-term incentive compensation to reward near-term excellent performance and to encourage executives’ commitment to our long-range, strategic business goals. It is always the intention of the Compensation Committee that our executive officers be compensated competitively and consistently with our strategy, sound corporate governance principles, and stockholder interests and concerns.

As described in the CD&A, we believe our compensation program is effective, appropriate and strongly aligned with the long-term interests of our stockholders and that the total compensation package provided to our Named Executive Officers (including potential payouts upon a termination or change in control) are reasonable and not excessive. As you consider this Proposal 3, we urge you to read the CD&A section of this proxy statement for additional details on executive compensation, including the more detailed information about our compensation philosophy and objectives and the past compensation of our Named Executive Officers, and to review the tabular disclosures regarding Named Executive Officer compensation together with the accompanying narrative disclosures in the “Executive Compensation” section of this proxy statement.

We believe that the stockholders, by voting for directors individually as described in Proposal No. 1, have had a clear ability to express their approval or disapproval of the performance of our directors and, specifically the directors serving on the Compensation Committee; however, under the Dodd-Frank Act and Section 14A of the Exchange Act, the Company’s stockholders are entitled to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of our Named Executive Officers. This non-binding advisory vote, commonly known as a “Say on Pay” vote, gives our stockholders the opportunity to express their views on our Named Executive Officers’ compensation. This vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of our Named Executive Officers and the philosophy, policies and practices described in this proxy statement.

Pursuant to Proposal 2, the Board has recommended a frequency of  “one year” for the Say on Pay vote, with the vote for the current year being taken pursuant to this Proposal 3. At our 2017 Annual Meeting, our stockholders approved, on an advisory basis, the compensation philosophy, policies and procedures and the compensation of our Named Executive Officers. We welcome the opportunity to again give our stockholders an opportunity to provide us with such a vote on executive compensation at our 2019 Annual Meeting.

As an advisory vote, Proposal 3 is not binding on our Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee, will not overrule any decisions made by our Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee, or require our Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee to take any specific action. Although the vote is non-binding, our Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee value the opinions of our stockholders, and will carefully consider the outcome of the vote when making future compensation decisions for our Named Executive Officers. In particular, to the extent there is any significant vote against our Named Executive Officers’ compensation as disclosed in this proxy statement, we will consider our stockholders’ concerns, and the Compensation Committee will evaluate whether any actions are necessary to address those concerns.

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Text of the Resolution to be Adopted

We are asking stockholders to vote “For” the following resolution:

RESOLVED, that the stockholders approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation philosophy, policies and procedures and the compensation of the Named Executive Officers as disclosed in the proxy statement for NCI Building Systems, Inc.’s 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC, including the CD&A, the 2018 Summary Compensation Table and the other related tables and disclosures.

Vote Required

The affirmative vote of stockholders holding at least a majority of the shares of all of our voting securities entitled to vote on the proposal on the record date for determining stockholders entitled to vote at the 2019 Annual Meeting is required for approval of Proposal 3. If you own shares through a bank, broker or other holder of record, you must instruct your bank, broker or other holder of record how to vote in order for them to vote your shares so that your vote can be counted on this proposal.

Recommendation of Our Board of Directors

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS, IN PROPOSAL 3, AN ADVISORY VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AS DISCLOSED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO THE COMPENSATION DISCLOSURE RULES OF THE SEC.

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PROPOSAL 4: RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

General

The Audit Committee has appointed the firm of Grant Thornton LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019, subject to ratification by our stockholders. Grant Thornton LLP has served as our independent registered public accounting firm since January 8, 2019, commencing with the transition period from October 29, 2018 through December 31, 2018. Ernst & Young LLP served as our independent registered public accounting firm until January 8, 2019. Representatives of Grant Thornton LLP are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting and will have an opportunity to make a statement, if they desire to do so, and to respond to appropriate questions from those attending the meeting. Representatives of Ernst & Young LLP are not expected to be present at the Annual Meeting.

Dismissal of previous independent registered public accounting firm:

On January 8, 2019, the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors approved the dismissal of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. The reports of Ernst & Young LLP on the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of October 28, 2018 and October 29, 2017 and for each of the three fiscal years in the period ended October 28, 2018, did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.

During each of the fiscal years in the period ended October 28, 2018 and the subsequent period through January 8, 2019, (i) there were no “disagreements” (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K) with Ernst & Young LLP on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, any of which, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Ernst & Young LLP, would have caused Ernst & Young LLP to make reference thereto in its reports on the consolidated financial statements for such fiscal years; and (ii) there were no “reportable events” (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K).

Engagement of new independent registered public accounting firm:

Following approval of the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors, on January 8, 2019, the Company entered into an engagement letter with Grant Thornton LLP to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the transition period ended December 31, 2018 and the year ending December 31, 2019. The decision to change the Company’s principal independent accountants was the result of a competitive request for proposal process undertaken by the Company under the supervision of the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors.

During the fiscal years ended October 28, 2018 and October 29, 2017 and through the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP on January 8, 2019, neither the Company nor anyone on its behalf consulted with Grant Thornton regarding:

(i) the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s financial statements, nor did Grant Thornton LLP provide a written report or oral advice to the Company that Grant Thornton LLP concluded was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to the accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue; or

(ii) any matter that was either the subject of a “disagreement” (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions), or a “reportable event” (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K).

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Vote Required

If a majority of the votes cast in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting are voted in favor of this proposal, the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019 will be ratified. If the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP is not ratified, the Audit Committee will reconsider the appointment. No matter the outcome of this Proposal 4, the Audit Committee may, in its discretion, direct the appointment of a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if it believes that such a change would be in the best interests of our stockholders and NCI.

Recommendation of Our Board of Directors

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” RATIFICATION OF GRANT THORNTON LLP’S APPOINTMENT AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2019.

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PROPOSAL 5: AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF OUR ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
TO CHANGE OUR CORPORATE NAME

Overview

Our Certificate of Incorporation currently specifies the Company’s name as “NCI Building Systems, Inc.” On April 2, 2019, the Board of Directors adopted a resolution, subject to stockholder approval, to amend and restate the Certificate of Incorporation to change our corporate name to “Cornerstone Building Brands, Inc.” The proposed Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, including the amendment approved by the Board on April 2, 2019, is set forth in Annex A to this proxy statement. Pursuant to Sections 6.1(a)(x) and 6.1(b) of the New Stockholders Agreement, the CD&R Investors consented to the Name Change on April 2, 2019. Should this amendment be approved by the stockholders, following the filing of the Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, the Company will begin doing business as Cornerstone Building Brands, Inc. Our Board of Directors has discretion to abandon the Name Change prior to its effectiveness.

In connection with, and subject to, the Name Change, we will change our NYSE trading symbol to “CNR” and will change our CUSIP number.

Reasons for Name Change

We are proposing to change our name from NCI Building Systems, Inc. to Cornerstone Building Brands, Inc. Our Board of Directors’ primary reason for approving and recommending the Name Change is part of our rebranding and marketing efforts focused on our newly acquired businesses following the consummation of the Merger. Following the Merger, the Company now operates in the residential and nonresidential construction markets. We believe that changing the name to Cornerstone Building Brands, Inc. will better convey the Company’s strategy and its operations in both the residential and nonresidential construction markets.

Implementation of Name Change

By approving this proposal, the shareholders will authorize the Board of Directors to amend and restate the Certificate of Incorporation to effectuate the Name Change and to change all references in the Certificate of Incorporation from “Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation” to “Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.

The amendment embodies the first paragraph changing the text to:

“FIRST. The name of the Corporation is Cornerstone Building Brands, Inc.”

Management expects formal implementation of the Name Change with the Delaware Secretary of State to be completed as soon as practicable after the effective date of the shareholder vote in favor of this Proposal 5.

The above summary of the Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation is qualified by reference to the full text thereof, which is attached as Annex A to this proxy statement.

Potential Effects of Proposed Name Change

The Name Change will affect all holders of our Common Stock uniformly. The name change is not intended to, and will not, affect any stockholder’s percentage ownership interest in our Company. The Name Change will not change the terms of our Common Stock. After the Name Change, the shares of our Common Stock will have the same voting rights and rights to dividends and distributions and will be identical in all other respects to our Common Stock now authorized. Our Common Stock will remain fully paid and non-assessable.

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Vote Required

The affirmative vote of stockholders holding at least a majority of the shares of all of our voting securities entitled to vote on the proposal on the record date for determining stockholders entitled to vote at the 2019 Annual Meeting is required for approval of Proposal 5. If you own shares through a bank, broker or other holder of record, you must instruct your bank, broker or other holder of record how to vote in order for them to vote your shares so that your vote can be counted on this proposal.

Recommendation of Our Board of Directors

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” APPROVAL OF THE THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO EFFECTUATE THE NAME CHANGE OF THE COMPANY.

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PROPOSAL 6: APPROVE THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE
2003 LONG-TERM STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

We are asking our stockholders to approve an amendment (the “Plan Amendment”) to the Company’s 2003 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (as amended and restated through January 27, 2018, the “Incentive Plan”), to amend the Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Incentive Plan by 6,200,000 shares of Common Stock. Currently, a maximum of 13,350,000 shares of Common Stock are reserved for awards under the Incentive Plan, of which 2,395,666 shares remain available for future grants as of April 8, 2019. Accordingly, if our stockholders approve the Plan Amendment, a total of 8,595,666 shares of Common Stock will be available for grant as awards under the Incentive Plan. No other changes to the Incentive Plan are proposed. If our stockholders do not approve the Plan Amendment, the Incentive Plan will remain in effect in its current form, and no shares will be added to the number reserved for future grant.

Our Board unanimously approved the Plan Amendment on April 10, 2019, subject to approval by our stockholders. Our stockholders originally approved the Incentive Plan at the annual meeting of stockholders held on March 14, 2003, and our stockholders approved amended and restated plans at the annual meetings of stockholders held on March 12, 2008, February 19, 2010, February 26, 2013, and February 28, 2018. The Plan Amendment and the full text of the Incentive Plan are set forth in Annexes B and C, respectively to this proxy statement, which are hereby incorporated by reference into this discussion (and the discussion in this proposal is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Plan Amendment and the Incentive Plan).

At last year’s annual meeting of stockholders, our stockholders approved an amendment increasing the number of shares available under the Incentive Plan by 1,950,000 shares of Common Stock, which the Company then estimated would provide sufficient shares for our equity-compensation program needs for approximately four years after the effective date of the amendment. Subsequent to stockholder approval of that share increase, the Company consummated multiple merger and acquisition transactions (most notably, the Merger with Ply Gem), which more than tripled the number of Company employees from approximately 5,250 employees to approximately 19,700 employees. This significant increase in our employee population materially expanded the pool of employees eligible to participate in our equity compensation program and, as a result, additional shares are needed to maintain our equity compensation program under the Incentive Plan.

If stockholders do not approve the amendment to the Incentive Plan, we expect the number of shares reserved for awards to be substantially depleted by the end of the 2020 fiscal year. Moreover, based on the historic burn rate as calculated below and our expectations for upcoming grants, we do not expect the number of our currently available awards to be sufficient to fulfill the needs for our fiscal year 2020 annual grants.

Our Board believes the additional 6,200,000 shares that would be available for grant under the Incentive Plan, if the Plan Amendment is approved, would provide sufficient shares for our equity compensation program needs, including awards that may be made in connection with future corporate transactions, for approximately two years after the effective date of the Plan Amendment. This estimate is based on our burn rate during the Transition Period as described below, taking into account estimates for our substantially larger award-eligible employee population, anticipated growth, use of performance awards and the need for flexibility around the types of awards that may need to be granted (although actual grants could be materially different from this estimate). In addition, changes in the value of our stock price, which cannot be reliably forecasted, may meaningfully impact the number of shares required to meet our equity compensation program needs.

The Board considered various aspects of our equity compensation program under the Incentive Plan in approving the Plan Amendment, including the number of shares reserved under the Incentive Plan, the number of shares currently available for awards under the Incentive Plan, the Company’s historic grant practices and expectations for future grants, the cost of issuing additional shares, the impact of share dilution on our existing shareholders and the central role of equity-based incentive compensation in our executive compensation program. The Board believes that the proposed increase in the number of shares available for issuance under the Incentive Plan is necessary for retaining the flexibility to grant equity-based

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incentive compensation at optimal levels to motivate and reward the Company’s employees for their contributions to the success of the Company and the growth in value of our stock, and to support the continued growth of the Company through potential future acquisition transactions.

If the Plan Amendment is not approved by our stockholders, our future ability to issue equity-based awards will be limited. As a result, our ability to align employee compensation with stockholders would be constrained. In addition, the inability to maintain our equity award program could impede our ability to attract and retain qualified employees and, under current accounting rules, result in increased volatility of reported earnings if it is necessary to replace stock-settled awards with cash-settled awards.

Incentive Plan Share Utilization Rate and Overhang

Following is a calculation of our share utilization or burn rate over the last three fiscal years and the Transition Period:

(1)

Includes Founders Awards (see “Compensation Discussion & Analysis — Long-Term Incentive Compensation — Long-Term Incentive Awards Granted in the Transition Period to NEOs — Founders Awards”). In order to better align the goals of the Company’s management team and provide a unified incentive structure, the Company, in consultation with FW Cook, determined that our 2019 annual grant of long-term incentives to our key executive officers should be combined with the Founders Awards granted to these individuals.

​

(2)

Reflects the gross number of shares underlying awards made to employees during the respective year (or portion thereof in the case of the Transition Period).

​

(3)

Not adjusted for forfeitures, withholding and expirations (which would reduce burn rate if taken into account).

​

The Board recognizes that the increase in the number of shares under the Incentive Plan will result in additional dilution or “overhang” for our stockholders. As commonly calculated, the total potential overhang resulting from the Plan Amendment would be approximately 10.6%, with the incremental overhang resulting from the share increase equal to approximately 4.4%. This overhang is calculated as follows, in each case as of the record date of April 8, 2019:

(1)

Of such shares, 3,086,216 are underlying option awards.

​

We note that the number of shares remaining available for grant as described above differs from those reported below under Equity Compensation Plan Information, because that information, required by SEC disclosure rules, is dated as of December 31, 2018, and therefore does not take into account year-to-date grants for 2019.

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The following table includes information regarding all outstanding equity awards (i.e., awards under the Incentive Plan, awards under any predecessor plans and the Founders Awards granted as inducement/make-whole awards on a non-plan basis) and shares available for future awards under the Incentive Plan as of April 8, 2019 (and without giving effect to the Plan Amendment under this Proposal No. 6):

Governance Highlights of the Incentive Plan

The Incentive Plan incorporates certain compensation governance provisions that reflect best practices. These provisions are not impacted by the Plan Amendment, and include:

•

No payment of dividends, dividend equivalents and other distributions in respect of unvested stock-based awards;

​

•

Minimum 100% fair market value exercise price for options and stock appreciation rights;

​

•

No repricing of options or stock appreciation rights and no buyout of underwater options or stock appreciation rights without stockholder approval;

​

•

No dividend equivalents on options or stock appreciation rights;

​

•

No “liberal” share recycling of any awards;

​

•

No evergreen provision;

​

•

No “liberal” change in control definition;

​

•

No excise tax gross-up on change in control benefits; and

​

•

Clawback provisions.

​

Summary of the Incentive Plan

The following summary of the Incentive Plan is qualified by reference to the full text thereof, which is attached as Annex C to this proxy statement. The Incentive Plan’s primary purpose is to promote the success of our business by serving as a means to attract and retain qualified personnel, provide additional incentives to employees, directors and consultants, increase participants’ interest in our welfare.

General

The Compensation Committee of our Board administers the Incentive Plan. In the future, the Board or other committees may be allocated some or all of the Compensation Committee’s duties. The Compensation Committee consists solely of two or more directors who are independent in accordance with Rule 16b3 under the Securities Exchange Act and, to the extent required, with the Internal Revenue Code, or “Code”. The Compensation Committee is authorized to:

•

interpret the Incentive Plan and all awards;

​

•

establish and amend rules and regulations for the Incentive Plan’s operation;

​

•

select recipients of awards;

​

•

determine the form, amount and other terms and conditions of awards;

​

•

modify or waive restrictions on awards;

​

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•

amend awards; and

​

•

grant extensions and accelerate awards.

​

Our officers and other employees, directors and consultants, in addition to those of our subsidiaries, are eligible to be selected to participate in the Incentive Plan. Incentive stock options may be granted only to our employees and employees of our subsidiaries in which we own directly or indirectly more than a 50% voting equity interest. The Compensation Committee has the sole discretion to select participants from among the eligible persons. As of December 31, 2018, the Company had 10 directors, 8 officers, approximately 133 employees and consultants or other service providers to the Company who are, in each case, eligible to participate in the Incentive Plan.

Before giving effect to the Plan Amendment, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock which may be issued under the Incentive Plan with respect to awards may not exceed 13,350,000. The Plan Amendment would increase this number of shares by 6,200,000 to 19,550,000. No awards relating to any of these additional shares will be granted unless our stockholders approve the Plan Amendment. The proposed 19,550,000 share limit (giving effect to the Plan Amendment) is subject to adjustment for certain transactions affecting the Common Stock. Each share issued pursuant to awards under the Incentive Plan (whether issued prior to or following the date of stockholder approval of the Plan Amendment) will be counted against the share limit as one full share. If an award is cancelled, forfeited, or expires unexercised, the number of shares of Common Stock under such award will be added back to the shares available for grant under the Incentive Plan. The number of shares available for grant under the Incentive Plan shall not be increased by (a) any shares not issued or delivered as a result of a net settlement of an award, (b) any shares withheld to pay an exercise price or withholding taxes related to an award, or (c) shares of our Common Stock repurchased on the open market with the proceeds of an option exercise.

No individual may be granted, in any fiscal year, awards under the Incentive Plan covering or relating to an aggregate of more than 3,000,000 shares of our Common Stock and no individual shall receive payment for cash awards made under the Incentive Plan during any fiscal year aggregating in excess of $3,000,000. In addition, no non-employee director of the Company may be granted, in any fiscal year, cash and non-cash compensation with an aggregate value in excess of  $500,000.

The Incentive Plan provides for the grant of:

•

stock options, including incentive stock options and nonqualified stock options;

​

•

stock appreciation rights, in tandem with stock options or freestanding;

​

•

restricted stock awards;

​

•

restricted stock unit awards;

​

•

performance share awards;

​

•

phantom stock awards; and

​

•

cash awards.

​

The Compensation Committee may grant awards individually, in combination, or in tandem. The Compensation Committee may also authorize the assumption of awards granted by other entities that are acquired by us or otherwise.

All awards will be evidenced by award agreements, as determined by the Compensation Committee. The award will be effective on the date of grant unless the Compensation Committee specifies otherwise.

The exercise or measurement price will be at least equal to the fair market value of our Common Stock. The fair market value generally is determined to be the closing sales price quoted on the NYSE on the day of the grant of the award.

Awards will normally terminate on the earlier of  (i) ten years from the date of grant, (ii) 30 days after termination of employment or service for a reason other than death, disability or retirement, (iii) one year after death or (iv) one year (for incentive stock options) or five years (for other awards) after disability or retirement.

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Awards are non-transferable except by disposition on death or to certain family members, trusts and other family entities as the Compensation Committee may approve.

Awards may be paid in cash, shares of our Common Stock or a combination, in a lump sum or installments, as determined by the Compensation Committee.

A participant’s breach of the terms of the Incentive Plan or the award agreement will result in a forfeiture of the award.

Options

Options granted under the Incentive Plan may be:

•

incentive stock options, as defined in the Code; or

​

•

nonqualified options, which do not qualify for treatment as incentive stock options.

​

The Compensation Committee selects the recipients of options and sets the terms of the options, including:

•

the number of shares for which an option is granted;

​

•

the term of the option; and

​

•

the time(s) when the option can be exercised.

​

The Compensation Committee determines how an option may be exercised, whether for cash or securities. The exercise price of an option may not be less than the fair market value of a share of our Common Stock on the grant date, and the option term may be no longer than ten years. Arrangements may also be made, if permitted by law, for same-day-sale and margin account transactions through FINRA dealers. The fair market value of Common Stock an employee may purchase during any calendar year by exercise of incentive stock options is limited to $100,000. No dividends, dividend equivalents or other distributions are payable in respect of options until the options are exercised and settled into shares of our Common Stock.

An option agreement or the Compensation Committee’s procedures may set forth conditions respecting the exercise of an option. The Compensation Committee may in its discretion waive any condition respecting the exercise of any option and may accelerate the time at which any option is exercisable.

Stock Appreciation Rights

A stock appreciation right is a grant entitling the participant to receive an amount in cash or shares of Common Stock or a combination thereof, as the Compensation Committee may determine, in an amount equal to the increase in the fair market value between the grant and exercise dates of the shares of Common Stock with respect to which the stock appreciation right is exercised. The exercise price of a stock appreciation right may not be less than the fair market value of a share of our Common Stock on the grant date, and the term of a stock appreciation right may be no longer than ten years. Stock appreciation rights may be granted separately or in tandem with the grant of an option.

A stock appreciation right granted in tandem with a nonqualified option may be granted either at or after the time of the grant of the nonqualified option. A stock appreciation right granted in tandem with an incentive stock option may be granted only at the time of the grant of the incentive stock option. A stock appreciation right granted in tandem with an option terminates and is no longer exercisable upon the termination or exercise of the related option. The Compensation Committee may set the terms and conditions of stock appreciation rights, subject to the limitations set forth in the Incentive Plan. At any time it may accelerate the exercisability of any stock appreciation right and otherwise waive or amend any conditions to the grant of a stock appreciation right.

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Restricted Stock

A restricted stock grant entitles the recipient to acquire, at no cost or for a purchase price determined by the Compensation Committee on the date of the grant, shares of our Common Stock subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Compensation Committee may determine at the time of the grant. The recipient may have all the rights of a stockholder with respect to the restricted stock. These rights include voting and dividend rights, and they are effective as soon as:

•

restricted stock is granted (or upon payment of the purchase price for restricted stock); and

​

•

issuance of the restricted stock is recorded by our transfer agent.

​

Any restricted shares cease to be restricted stock and will be deemed “vested” after the lapse of all restrictions. Restrictions lapse, and restricted stock becomes vested, ratably over a specified period of time or upon the participant’s death, disability or retirement, the occurrence of a change in control (in certain circumstances), or other appropriate event as determined by the Compensation Committee.

A participant will have the right to vote the shares of Common Stock, except that unless otherwise provided in an award agreement, the participant will not be entitled to delivery of the Common Stock until all restrictions lapse.

If a participant’s employment or service is terminated for any reason prior to shares of restricted stock becoming vested, we have the right, in the discretion of the Compensation Committee, to:

•

repurchase the unvested shares at their purchase price; or

​

•

require forfeiture of those shares if acquired at no cost.

​

Restricted Stock Unit Awards

A restricted stock unit award is an award denominated in units evidencing the right to receive shares of our Common Stock, subject to vesting or such other terms and conditions as determined by the Compensation Committee. Prior to vesting, the recipient has no voting or dividend rights with respect to the shares evidenced by a restricted stock unit award, however, the Compensation Committee may award cash dividend equivalents with respect to a restricted stock unit award. Upon vesting or satisfaction of any other conditions established by the Compensation Committee, the recipient of a restricted stock unit award becomes entitled to receive a share of our Common Stock with respect to each restricted stock unit.

Performance Share Awards

The Compensation Committee may grant performance share awards, which are rights to receive shares of our Common Stock or their cash equivalent based on the attainment of pre-established performance goals and such other conditions, restrictions and contingencies as the Compensation Committee may determine. Performance measures may include future performance by the grantee, us or any subsidiary, division or department.

Payment will be made after the performance period based on the achievement of the performance measures as determined by the Compensation Committee.

Phantom Stock Awards

The Compensation Committee may grant phantom stock awards, which are rights to receive the fair market value of shares of our Common Stock, or the increase in the fair market value, during a period of time. The award may vest over a period of time specified by the Compensation Committee. Payment will be made following the prescribed period and may be made in cash, shares of our Common Stock or a combination as the Compensation Committee determines.

Cash Awards

The Compensation Committee may grant cash awards, which are bonuses paid in cash that are based solely upon the attainment of one or more performance goals that have been established by the Compensation Committee. The terms, conditions and limitations applicable to any cash awards will be determined by the Compensation Committee.

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Performance Awards

At the discretion of the Compensation Committee, any of the above-described awards may be designated a performance award. Cash awards may only be designated as performance awards. Performance awards will be contingent upon performance measures applicable to a particular period, as established by the Compensation Committee, based upon any one or more of the following:

•

revenue or increased revenue;

​

•

net income measures (including, but not limited to, income after capital costs, economic profit and income before or after taxes);

​

•

profit measures (including, but not limited to, gross profit, operating profit, net profit before taxes and adjusted pre-tax profit);

​

•

stock price measures (including, but not limited to, growth measures and total stockholder return);

​

•

price per share of Common Stock;

​

•

market share;

​

•

earnings;

​

•

earnings per share or adjusted earnings per share (actual or growth in);

​

•

earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA);

​

•

earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT);

​

•

economic value added (or an equivalent metric);

​

•

market value added;

​

•

debt to equity ratio;

​

•

cash flow measures (including, but not limited to, cash flow return on capital, cash flow return on tangible capital, net cash flow and net cash flow before financing activities);

​

•

return measures (including, but not limited to, return on equity, return on assets, return on capital, risk-adjusted return on capital, return on investors’ capital and return on average equity);

​

•

operating measures (including operating income, funds from operations, cash from operations, after-tax operating income, sales volumes, production volumes and production efficiency);

​

•

expense measures (including, but not limited to, overhead costs and general and administrative expense);

​

•

changes in working capital;

​

•

margins;

​

•

stockholder value;

​

•

total stockholder return;

​

•

proceeds from dispositions;

​

•

total market value;

​

•

customer satisfaction or growth;

​

•

employee satisfaction; and

​

•

corporate values measures (including ethics compliance, environmental and safety).

​

Such performance measures may apply to the grantee, to one or more business units, divisions or subsidiaries of the Company or the applicable sector of the Company, or to the Company as a whole. Goals may also be based upon performance relative to a peer group of companies. The Compensation Committee

27

may modify or waive the performance goals or conditions to the granting or vesting of a performance award unless the performance award is intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code. To the extent not required to preserve deductibility under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee may select other criteria not included in the preceding list. Please see “Compensation Discussion & Analysis — Deductibility of Compensation” for more information regarding Section 162(m) of the Code.

Provisions Relating to a Change in Control, Death, Disability and Retirement

The Incentive Plan provides certain benefits in the event of a change in control, including accelerated vesting and payment if awards are not assumed, substituted or continued by a successor or as may otherwise be determined by the Compensation Committee. A change in control is deemed to have occurred if:

•

with respect to awards granted before May 31, 2016, if any person acquires beneficial ownership of 20% or more of our voting securities;

​

•

granted on or after May 31, 2016, if any person acquires beneficial ownership of 25% or more of our voting securities, unless the acquisition was not entered into for the purpose of, and does not have the effect of, changing or influencing the control of, the Company;

​

•

as a result of, or in connection with, a tender or exchange offer, merger or other business combination, there is a change in the composition of a majority of our Board; or

​

•

we merge or consolidate with, or transfer substantially all of our assets to, another corporation, after which less than 50% of the voting securities of us or the surviving entity outstanding immediately thereafter is owned by our former stockholders; or a tender or exchange offer results in the acquisition of 30% or more of our outstanding voting securities.

​

However, a change in control would not be deemed to occur if a person that already controls us acquires more of our voting securities. Upon the occurrence of a change in control in which awards are not honored, assumed, continued, substituted or replaced, or a participant’s death, disability or retirement, all outstanding awards will immediately vest or become exercisable or payable, and all forfeiture restrictions will lapse, unless the related agreements provide otherwise.

Limitation on Payment of Dividends and Dividend Equivalents

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, during the period of restriction of shares of restricted stock, and prior to the vesting and settlement of restricted stock unit awards and performance share awards, all dividends and dividend equivalents or other distributions paid with respect to such awards will be retained by the Company. Such dividends and dividend equivalents or other distributions will revert to the Company if the awards revert to the Company or are not settled into shares of our Common Stock. Upon the expiration of the period of restriction or upon settlement, all such dividends and dividend equivalents or other distributions made on such awards and retained by the Company will be paid, without interest, to the relevant participant. No dividends, dividend equivalents or other distributions are payable in respect of options, stock appreciation rights or phantom stock awards until the options are exercised and settled into shares of our Common Stock.

Other Modifications

In the event of specified changes in our capital structure, the Compensation Committee will have the power to adjust the number and kind of shares authorized by the Incentive Plan (including any limitations on individual awards) and the number, option price or kinds of shares covered by outstanding awards. The Compensation Committee will also have the power to make other appropriate adjustments to awards under the Incentive Plan.

No Repricing of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights

Outstanding options and stock appreciation rights may not be amended to reduce their exercise price, or cancelled in exchange for cash or other awards with an exercise price that is less than the exercise price of the original options or stock appreciation rights, or otherwise be subject to any action that would be treated as a repricing, without stockholder approval.

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Awards Subject to Clawback Policy

Awards under the Incentive Plan are subject to the Company’s Clawback Policy and any successor policy that the Company may adopt in the future. As such, they may be subject to the requirement that the awards be repaid to the Company after they have been distributed to the participant. See “Compensation Discussion & Analysis — Compensation Philosophy and Objectives of NCI’s Compensation Program.”

Federal Income Tax Consequences

The Code provides that a participant receiving a nonqualified option ordinarily does not realize taxable income upon the grant of the option. A participant does, however, realize compensation income taxed at ordinary income tax rates upon the exercise of a nonqualified option to the extent that the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of exercise exceeds the option price. Subject to the discussion under “— Certain Tax Code Limitations on Deductibility” below, we are entitled to a federal income tax deduction for compensation in an amount equal to the ordinary income so realized by the participant. When the participant sells the shares acquired pursuant to a nonqualified option, any gain or loss will be capital gain or loss. This assumes that the shares represent a capital asset in the participant’s hands, although there will be no tax consequences for us.

The grant of an incentive stock option does not result in taxable income to a participant. The exercise of an incentive stock option also does not result in taxable income, provided that the circumstances satisfy the employment requirements in the Code. However, the exercise of an incentive stock option may give rise to alternative minimum tax liability for the participant. In addition, if the participant does not dispose of the Common Stock acquired upon exercise of an incentive stock option during the statutory holding period, then any gain or loss upon subsequent sale of the Common Stock will be a long-term capital gain or loss. This assumes that the shares represent a capital asset in the participant’s hands.

The statutory holding period lasts until the later of:

•

two years from the date the option is granted; or

​

•

one year from the date the Common Stock is transferred to the participant pursuant to the exercise of the option.

​

If the employment and statutory holding period requirements are satisfied, we may not claim any federal income tax deduction upon either the exercise of the incentive stock option or the subsequent sale of the Common Stock received upon exercise. If these requirements are not satisfied (a “disqualifying disposition”), the amount of ordinary income taxable to the participant is the lesser of:

•

the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of exercise minus the option price; or

​

•

the amount realized on disposition minus the option price.

​

Any excess is long-term or short-term capital gain or loss, assuming the shares represent a capital asset in the participant’s hands. Subject to the discussion under “Certain Tax Code Limitations on Deductibility” below, in the case of a disqualifying disposition, we are entitled to a federal income tax deduction in an amount equal to the ordinary income realized by the participant.

The exercise of an option through the exchange of previously acquired stock will generally be treated as a non-taxable like-kind exchange as to the number of shares given up and the identical number of shares received under the option. That number of shares will take the same tax basis and, for capital gain purposes, the same holding period as the shares that are given up. The value of the shares received upon such an exchange which are in excess of the number given up will be taxed to the participant at the time of the exercise as ordinary income, taxed as compensation. The excess shares will have a new holding period for capital gains purposes and a tax basis equal to the value of such shares determined at the time of exercise. If the tendered shares were acquired through the prior exercise of an incentive stock option and do not satisfy the statutory two-year and one-year holding periods (“disqualified shares”), then the tender will result in compensation income to the optionee taxed as ordinary income equal to the excess of the fair market value of the disqualified shares, determined when the prior incentive stock option was exercised, over the exercise price of the disqualified shares. The optionee will increase his tax basis in the number of shares received on exercise equal to the number of shares of disqualified shares tendered by the amount of

29

compensation income recognized by the optionee with respect to the disqualified shares. Generally, the federal income tax consequences to the optionee are similar to those described above relating to the exercise of an option through the exchange of non-disqualified shares.

If an optionee exercises an option through the cashless exercise method by authorizing a broker designated by NCI to sell a specified number of the shares to be acquired through the option exercise having a market value equal to the sum of the option exercise plus any transaction costs (the “cashless shares”), the optionee should be treated as constructively receiving the full amount of option shares, followed immediately by a sale of the cashless shares by the optionee. In the case of an incentive stock option, the cashless exercise method would result in the cashless shares becoming disqualified shares and taxed in a manner described above for disqualified shares.

In the case of a nonqualified option, the cashless exercise method would result in compensation income to the optionee with respect to both the cashless shares and remaining option shares as discussed above relating to nonqualified options. Since the optionee’s tax basis in the cashless shares that are deemed received and simultaneously sold on exercise of the option is equal to the sum of the exercise price and the compensation to the optionee, no additional gain should be recognized by the optionee upon the deemed sale of the cashless shares.

Under Section 83(b) of the Code, an employee may elect to include in ordinary income, as compensation at the time restricted stock is first issued, the excess of the fair market value of the stock at the time of issuance over the amount paid, if any, by the employee. In this event, any subsequent change in the value of the shares will be recognized for tax purposes as capital gain or loss upon disposition of the shares, assuming that the shares represent a capital asset in the hands of the employee. An employee makes a Section 83(b) election by filing the election with the IRS no later than 30 days after the restricted stock is transferred to the employee. If a Section 83(b) election is properly made, the employee will not be entitled to any loss deduction if the shares with respect to which a Section 83(b) election was made are later forfeited. Unless a Section 83(b) election is made, no taxable income will generally be recognized by the recipient of a restricted stock award until the shares are no longer subject to the restrictions or the risk of forfeiture. When either the restrictions or the risk of forfeiture lapses, the employee will recognize ordinary income, taxable as compensation, in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of lapse over the amount paid, if any, by the employee for the stock.

Generally, an employee will not recognize any taxable income upon the grant of stock appreciation rights, performance shares, restricted stock units, phantom stock or a cash award. At the time the employee receives the payment for the stock appreciation right, performance shares, restricted stock units, phantom stock or cash award, the fair market value of shares of Common Stock or the amount of any cash received in payment for such awards generally is taxable to the employee as ordinary income.

Subject to the discussion under “Certain Tax Code Limitations on Deductibility” below, we or one of our subsidiaries will be entitled to a deduction for federal income tax purposes at the same time and in the same amount that an employee recognizes ordinary income from awards under the Incentive Plan.

The exercisability of an option or a stock appreciation right, the payment of performance share or phantom stock awards or the elimination of restrictions on restricted stock, may be accelerated, and special cash settlement rights may be triggered and exercised, as a result of a change in control. If any of the foregoing occurs, all or a portion of the value of the relevant award at that time may be a parachute payment, discussed under “Golden Parachute Tax and Code Section 280G” below. This is relevant for determining whether a 20% excise tax (in addition to income tax otherwise owed) is payable by the participant as a result of the receipt of an excess parachute payment pursuant to the Code. We will not be entitled to a deduction for that portion of any parachute payment which is subject to the excise tax.

Certain Tax Code Limitations on Deductibility

As in effect prior to the commencement of our Transition Period, Section 162(m) of the Code generally disallowed a federal income tax deduction to any publicly held corporation for compensation paid in excess of  $1.0 million in any taxable year to the chief executive officer or any of the three other most highly compensated executive officers (other than the chief financial officer) who are employed by the corporation on the last day of the taxable year, but did not disallow a deduction for performance-based

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compensation the material terms of which are disclosed to and approved by stockholders. As of the Transition Period, however, these deductions generally are no longer available to the Company as a result of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Act”), which eliminated the “performance based compensation” exception to the Section 162(m) deduction limitations (except for certain “grandfathered” arrangements that qualify for transition relief under the Act), beginning with the next tax year that commences after December 31, 2017 (which, in NCI’s case, began with the Transition Period).

We have structured and intend to implement the Incentive Plan so that resulting compensation would be performance-based compensation for so long as deductions for such compensation remain available. However, we may, in our sole discretion, determine that in one or more cases it is in our best interests not to satisfy the requirements for the performance-based exception. Please see “Compensation Discussion & Analysis — Deductibility of Compensation” for more information regarding Section 162(m) of the Code.

Golden Parachute Tax and Code Section 280G

The Incentive Plan may, in certain circumstances, provide for immediate vesting of all then outstanding unvested awards upon a change in control. If the vesting of the award is accelerated as the result of a change in control, all or a portion of the value of the award at that time might be a “parachute payment” under Section 280G of the Code for certain employees. Section 280G of the Code generally provides that if compensation received by the grantee that is contingent on a change in control equals or exceeds three times the grantee’s average annual compensation for the five taxable years preceding the change in control (a “parachute payment”), the Company will not be entitled to a deduction, and the recipient will be subject to a 20% excise tax with respect to that portion of the parachute payment in excess of the grantee’s average annual compensation. Section 280G of the Code generally applies to employees or other individuals who perform services for the Company if, within the 12-month period preceding the change in control, the individual is an officer of the Company, a stockholder owning more than 1% of the stock of the Company, or a member of the group consisting of the lesser of the highest paid 1% of the employees of the Company or the highest paid 250 employees of the Company.

Additional Medicare Tax

An employee will also be subject to a 3.8% tax on the lesser of  (i) the recipient’s “net investment income” for the relevant taxable year and (ii) the excess of the recipient’s modified adjusted gross income for the taxable year over a certain threshold (between $125,000 and $250,000, depending on the recipient’s circumstances). The recipient’s net investment income generally includes net gains from the disposition of shares. Employees are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the applicability of this Medicare tax to their income and gains in respect of their investment in the shares.

Code Section 409A

The Incentive Plan permits the grant of various types of incentive awards that may or may not be exempt from Section 409A of the Code. If an award is subject to Section 409A, and if the requirements of Section 409A are not met, the award could be subject to tax at an earlier time than described above and could be subject to additional taxes and penalties. We intend that awards under the Incentive Plan either be exempt from, or satisfy the requirements of, Section 409A and the Incentive Plan is intended to be administered and interpreted in accordance with Section 409A.

THE ABOVE SUMMARY OF THE EXPECTED EFFECT OF THE FEDERAL INCOME TAX UPON PARTICIPANTS IN THE INCENTIVE PLAN IS NOT COMPLETE, AND WE RECOMMEND THAT THE PARTICIPANTS CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS FOR COUNSELING. MOREOVER, THE ABOVE SUMMARY IS BASED UPON CURRENT FEDERAL INCOME TAX LAWS, WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. THE TAX TREATMENT UNDER FOREIGN, STATE OR LOCAL LAW IS NOT COVERED IN THE ABOVE SUMMARY.

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New Plan Benefits

Awards under the Incentive Plan, as amended by Plan Amendment, will remain subject to the Compensation Committee’s discretion. As a result, we cannot determine the number or type of awards that will be granted to any participant under the Incentive Plan for the 2019 fiscal year or in subsequent fiscal years. The stock options, RSUs and PSUs granted under the Incentive Plan for our 2018 fiscal year and the Transition Period, which would not have changed if the Plan Amendment had been in place during those time periods, were as follows:

(1)

Dollar value reflects the gross number of stock options, RSUs and PSUs granted by the Company, multiplied by the closing price per share of our Common Stock on the applicable grant date. PSUs are based on assumed target performance.

​

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EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

The following sets forth information relating to our equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2018:

(1)

Includes 1,692,680 shares subject to outstanding stock options, 1,110,698 shares subject to outstanding RSUs and 636,029 shares subject to outstanding PSUs based on assumed target performance, unless performance is otherwise known.

​

(2)

Represents 1,604,466 shares subject to outstanding stock options, 925,561 shares subject to outstanding RSUs and 401,096 shares subject to outstanding PSUs based on assumed target performance granted to legacy Ply Gem employees as “Founders Award” in November 2018. The Founders Awards granted to legacy Ply Gem employees are “employment inducement awards” as described in the employment inducement exemption to New York Stock Exchange Rule 303A.08 (see “Compensation Discussion & Analysis — Long-Term Incentive Compensation — Long-Term Incentive Awards Granted in Fiscal 2019 to NEOs — Founders Awards”).

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(3)

The weighted average remaining contractual life of outstanding options is 9.42 years.

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Vote Required

In accordance with NYSE rules, approval of Proposal 6 requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the proposal provided that the total votes cast on the proposal represent over 50% of the stock entitled to vote on the proposal. Abstentions have the same effect as a vote against this proposal. Broker non-votes could impair our ability to satisfy the NYSE requirement that the total votes cast on this proposal represent over 50% of the stock entitled to vote on this proposal.

Recommendation of Our Board of Directors

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE PROPOSAL TO ADOPT THE AMENDMENT TO THE INCENTIVE PLAN.

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MANAGEMENT

Our current executive officers are as follows:

Information concerning the business experience of Mr. James S. Metcalf is provided under the section titled “Proposal 1: Election of Directors.”

Brian P. Boyle, age 46, has served as Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer since November 16, 2018. Mr. Boyle was Ply Gem Industries, Inc.’s Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer from 2016 until November 16, 2018. Prior to this role, Mr. Boyle served as Ply Gem’s Corporate Controller from 2008 to 2016 participating in Ply Gem’s initial public offering process in 2013. Prior to joining Ply Gem, Mr. Boyle was a senior manager in the audit practice with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in Raleigh, NC working predominantly with manufacturing clients. Mr. Boyle graduated from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill in 1995 with a BSBA and a Master of Accounting.

John L. Buckley, age 54, has served as our President, Siding Business Unit — Residential (formerly known as the Siding Division) since November 16, 2018. Prior to that, Mr. Buckley served as Ply Gem Industries, Inc.’s President of Siding, Fencing and Stone group from 2012 until November 16, 2018. Mr. Buckley joined Ply Gem in 1999, and prior to his appointment as President of the Siding, Fencing and Stone group he had served as Senior Vice President of Sales for Ply Gem’s siding and accessories subsidiaries. Prior to joining Ply Gem, Mr. Buckley worked for CertainTeed from 1991 to 1999, holding a variety of sales management positions. Mr. Buckley currently serves as the Chairman of the VSI Board of Directors and Chairman of the VSI Steering Committee and Primary Marketing Committee. Mr. Buckley received a BA in communications from the University of Michigan in 1986, and a MSA from Madonna University in 1991.

Todd R. Moore, age 59, has served as our Executive Vice President, Chief Legal, Risk & Compliance Officer and Corporate Secretary since May 2017. Mr. Moore served as our Executive Vice President and General Counsel from December 2007 to May 2017, and as our Vice President and General Counsel from March 2003 to December 2007. Mr. Moore has served as a Vice President and General Counsel of all NCI divisions since January 1999 and as our Corporate Secretary since March 2005. Before joining NCI in January 1999, Mr. Moore was a partner in the Trial Section of Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP, a law firm based in Texas. Mr. Moore has a B.A. in Political Science from Southern Methodist University and a J.D. from the University of Tulsa College of Law. He is licensed to practice law in the State of Texas.

Shawn K. Poe, age 57, has served as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer since November 16, 2018. Mr. Poe was Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of Ply Gem Holdings, Inc. from August 2004 until November 16, 2018. He served as Vice President of Finance of Ply Gem Holdings Inc. from March 2000 to August 2004. He served as Corporate Controller and various other accounting positions at Nordyne, Inc., joining in 1990. Mr. Poe graduated from Southeast Missouri State University in 1984 with a BS in Accounting. Mr. Poe graduated from Fontbonne College in 1994 with an MBA.

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Donald R. Riley, age 56, has served as our Chief Executive Officer, Commercial Business Unit (formerly known as the NCI Division) and Head of Supply Chain & Technology since November 2018. Mr. Riley served as our Chief Executive Officer from July 2017 to November 2018, as President from January 2016 to November 2018 and as President of our Group Business Segment from December 2014 to January 2016. Mr. Riley has also served on the Board of Directors and on its Executive Committee from July 2017 to November 2018. Before joining NCI, Mr. Riley was employed by Probuild Holdings, LLC, a supplier of building materials to production builders, custom builders, local contractors and project oriented consumers, where he served as Executive Vice President from November 2011 to November 2014. As Executive Vice President, Mr. Riley managed the supply chain, manufacturing, construction services, marketing, pricing, information technology, strategy and business project management office functions. Prior to joining Probuild Holdings, Mr. Riley was employed by Mohawk Industries, Inc., a floor covering company, from September 2004 to November 2011, serving in various capacities such as Chief Information Officer, Senior Vice President Logistics, and Interim Flooring Executive Vice President Customer Experience. At Mohawk Industries, Mr. Riley was responsible for its global information systems, North America logistic functions, and the flooring segment’s customer service function. Mr. Riley has a B.S. in Engineering from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.

Arthur W. Steinhafel, age 50, has served as President, U.S. Windows Business Unit — Residential (formerly known as the U.S. Windows Division) since November 16, 2018. Prior to that, Mr. Steinhafel served as Ply Gem Industries, Inc.’s President of U.S. Windows and Doors group from 2013 to November 15, 2018. Mr. Steinhafel joined Ply Gem in 2010, and prior to his appointment to President of the Ply Gem’s U.S. Window and Door group had served as Senior Vice President of Sales for Ply Gem’s U.S. Window and Door group. Prior to joining Ply Gem, Mr. Steinhafel worked for Atrium Windows from 2008 to 2010 as President of the Central Region and for Peachtree Window Companies in various capacities from 1999 to 2007. Mr. Steinhafel received a BS in Industrial Technology from the University of Wisconsin-Stout in 1992.

Katy K. Theroux, age 50, has served as our Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer since November 2018. Ms. Theroux served as our Executive Vice President, Corporate Marketing and Chief Human Resources Officer from July 2017 to November 2018, and as our Vice President, Chief Human Resources officer from September 2014 to June 2017. Before joining NCI, Ms. Theroux was employed by 1WORLDSYNC, where she served as Chief Marketing and Administrative Officer from 2012 to 2013, and was responsible for the integration of two multinational technology services companies. Prior to joining 1WORLDSYNC, Ms. Theroux served as Senior Vice President, Customer Engagement & Solutions for its parent, GS1 US and 1SYNC from 2007 to 2012, and was responsible for customer support, marketing, human resources and facilities shared services for all operating units. Ms. Theroux also served as its Chief Human Resources Officer from 2006 to 2012. Ms. Theroux served as Chairman of the Board of Peirce College until June 2015. Ms. Theroux has a B.S. from Syracuse University and an M.B.A. from Saint Peter’s University.

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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS

Introduction

This Compensation Discussion & Analysis (“CD&A”) provides information regarding NCI’s compensation programs for our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), our Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), our former CEO, our former interim CFO, and our three other most highly compensated executive officers during the Transition Period. The CD&A is also intended to place in perspective the information for the Transition Period contained in the executive compensation tables that follow this discussion.

Throughout this discussion, the following individuals are referred to collectively as the “Named Executive Officers” or “NEOs” and are included in the Summary Compensation Table that follows this discussion:

•

James S. Metcalf, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer;

​

•

Shawn K. Poe, Chief Financial Officer;

​

•

Donald R. Riley, former President and Chief Executive Officer, and current Chief Executive Officer, Commercial Business Unit and Head of Supply Chain & Technology;

​

•

Bradley S. Little, former interim Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, and current Senior Vice President, Finance, Commercial Business Unit;

​

•

John L. Buckley, President, Siding Business Unit — Residential;

​

•

Arthur W. Steinhafel, President, U.S. Windows Business Unit — Residential; and

​

•

Katy K. Theroux, Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer.

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Summary of Compensation Matters for the Transition Period

As noted above, this CD&A describes our Named Executive Officers’ compensation during the Transition Period (October 29 to December 31, 2018) resulting from the Fiscal Year Change. Given the brevity of the Transition Period, the Company did not attempt to make significant changes to our overall compensation program for the period described herein. However, as further described in Item 11 of Amendment No. 1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 25, 2019 (the “Fiscal 2018 CD&A”), certain compensation-related events occurred during the Transition Period in connection with the completion of the Merger announced in Fiscal 2018. This CD&A should be read in conjunction with the Fiscal 2018 CD&A for a comprehensive understanding of our executive compensation program.

During the Transition Period, the following events occurred:

•

The Company granted equity awards to certain key employees considered critical to the success of the combined company, including our NEOs, which consisted of options, restricted stock units and performance share units. See “Executive Compensation” — Narrative to the Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table — Fiscal 2018 and Transition Period Long-Term Incentive Awards.”

​

•

The Company appointed Mr. Metcalf as its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and Mr. Poe as its Chief Financial Officer. In connection with these appointments, the Company entered into employment agreements with each of Mr. Metcalf and Mr. Poe. For a description of the material terms of the employment agreements and for a discussion of enhanced severance benefits upon certain terminations in connection with a change in control of the Company, see “Compensation Discussion & Analysis — Other Compensation — Termination and Change in Control Agreements.” Shortly following the Transition Period, Mr. Poe announced that he would resign as the Company’s CFO, effective as of May 31, 2019. The Company has commenced a search for a new CFO, considering both internal and external candidates.

​

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At our most recent shareholder advisory vote on executive compensation at our 2017 Annual Meeting, more than 98% of the votes cast on the advisory “say-on-pay” resolution were voted in favor of the compensation philosophy, policies and procedures and the compensation of the NEOs as disclosed in our 2017 proxy statement. The Compensation Committee viewed the result of this advisory vote as strongly supportive of our pay-for-performance philosophy. Our Compensation Committee continually evaluates NCI’s compensation practices so as to best align the interests of our senior executives and our stockholders and will continue to do so such that they remain aligned with our compensation objectives. Our Board, Compensation Committee and management team all value the opinions of our stockholders and are committed to considering their opinions in making these important decisions. In light of these results, the Compensation Committee maintained many of our existing executive compensation programs during the Transition Period, and made such changes to the long-term incentive compensation program that the Compensation Committee determined were necessary to align the goals of the Company’s management team and provide a unified incentive structure following the Merger. See “Compensation Discussion & Analysis — Long-Term Incentive Compensation.”

Compensation Philosophy and Objectives of NCI’s Compensation Program

Our executive compensation philosophy remains that executive pay should be linked to the performance of NCI and the individual executives. Our Compensation Committee has established the following objectives for our executive compensation programs:

•

attract, retain and motivate exceptional executives;

​

•

reward performance measured against established goals;

​

•

provide incentives for future performance; and

​

•

align executives’ long-term interests with the interests of our stockholders.

​

In support of these goals, we designed our compensation programs to reward excellent short-term performance and to encourage executives’ commitment to NCI’s long-term, strategic business goals. Long-term incentives balance the emphasis on long-term versus short-term business objectives and reinforce that one should not be achieved at the expense of the other. We believe that long-term incentive compensation helps to further NCI’s compensation objectives, including the retention of high-performing, experienced executives whose interests are strongly aligned with the interests of stockholders. Further, a multi-year vesting period for grants of restricted stock or restricted stock units, stock options and performance share units helps to ensure that the value received by executives depends on the strong financial and stock price performance of NCI over time. We balance short- and long-term compensation through salary and performance bonuses, and the grant of restricted stock or restricted stock units, stock options, and performance share units, respectively. Our goal is to increase the proportion of long-term compensation as an executive’s responsibility and accountability for company results increases.

NCI has a clawback policy (the “Clawback Policy”) designed to better align our compensation practices with our stockholders’ interests by providing a mechanism to recover incentive compensation that is based on inaccurate financial information. Our Clawback Policy, which covers all current and former executive officers (including the NEOs), allows for recovery of cash, equity or other incentive compensation in the event NCI is required to prepare a material financial restatement due to noncompliance with any financial reporting requirement under the U.S. securities laws, where the noncompliance is the result of misconduct. The Clawback Policy applies to all incentive compensation that is earned or vested after the date the policy was adopted (regardless of when granted) and which is determined in whole or in part based on application of performance measures. Upon a determination that the Clawback Policy will be applied, the Board may recover up to the excess of the amount of the compensation actually received by a covered officer over the amount that would have been received if the restatement had not occurred, for the three completed fiscal years preceding the fiscal year in which the Board determines the restatement is necessary. The Board, with input from the Compensation Committee and the Audit Committee, has sole discretion to determine whether and how to apply the Clawback Policy. In determining whether to recover compensation, the Board may take into account any and all factors that it determines to be appropriate and relevant under the circumstances, including the likelihood and costs of recovery, compliance with applicable

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law, the ability of the executive officer to repay such amount, the tax consequences of the original payment and/or the recoupment to the executive officer (including whether recoupment shall be on a pre-tax or post-tax basis), and any other potentially adverse consequences for the Company or the executive officer arising from seeking enforcement of the policy.

To further align the interests of our senior management team with those of our stockholders, we also have implemented stock ownership guidelines that require each of our NEOs to acquire and hold a number of shares of our common stock having a value equal to a multiple of his or her annual salary. See “Compensation Discussion & Analysis — Stock Ownership Guidelines.”

We also have an “anti-hedging” policy, which prohibits our executive officers and non-employee directors from engaging in transactions designed to hedge the economic risks associated with ownership of Company securities, and from pledging Company securities as collateral for loans. For purposes of this policy, securities held by CD&R, LLC and its affiliated investment funds are not considered to be owned or held by a non-employee director who is affiliated with CD&R, LLC.

Determination and Administration of Compensation Programs and Amounts

Decisions regarding executive compensation are based primarily on the assessment by the Compensation Committee of each Named Executive Officer’s leadership and operational performance and potential to enhance long-term value to NCI’s stockholders. Since Fiscal 2014 (with the exception of Fiscal 2016), the Compensation Committee has retained a compensation consultant, Frederic W. Cook & Co. (“FW Cook”), to assist it in its comprehensive review of NCI’s executive compensation program. During the Transition Period, FW Cook continued to advise the Compensation Committee regarding compensation packages for new hires and promotions and other governance related matters, as well as our director compensation arrangements (see “Executive Compensation — Compensation of Directors”). The Compensation Committee also relies on its judgment, prior experience, and the judgment of our CEO, Mr. Metcalf, about each individual Named Executive Officer in determining the amount and combination of compensation elements and whether each payment or award appropriately encourages and rewards performance. Key factors considered by the Compensation Committee in this regard include:

•

actual performance compared to pre-established financial, operational and strategic goals for NCI and the Named Executive Officer’s reporting unit;

​

•

the nature, scope and level of the Named Executive Officer’s responsibilities;

​

•

individual contribution to NCI’s financial results, particularly with respect to key measures such as cash flow, revenue, earnings and return on assets (“ROA”);

​

•

effectiveness in leading our initiatives to enhance quality and value provided to customers; and

​

•

individual contribution to a culture of honesty, integrity and compliance with our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and applicable laws.

​

The Compensation Committee also considered each Named Executive Officer’s current salary and prior-year bonus, if any, the appropriate balance between incentives for long-term and short-term performance, and internal “pay equity” — in other words, the relative differences in compensation among the executive officers.

Role of Management and Independent Advisors

The Compensation Committee meets regularly in separate executive sessions without management personnel present and also requests periodically that our officers or employees attend meetings. During the Transition Period, Mr. Metcalf and other senior executives attended certain Compensation Committee meetings at the committee’s request to advise the committee regarding our performance and to recommend proposed modifications to our compensation and benefits. Our management, under the leadership of our CEO, plays an important role in establishing and maintaining our Named Executive Officer compensation programs. Management’s role includes recommending plans and programs to the Compensation Committee, implementing the Compensation Committee’s decisions regarding the plans and programs and

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assisting and administering plans in support of the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee also relied to a certain extent on Mr. Metcalf’s evaluations of other Named Executive Officers whose day-to-day performance was not as visible to the committee as it was to Mr. Metcalf.

The Compensation Committee’s charter provides that it may retain advisors, including compensation consultants, in its sole discretion. In engaging FW Cook, the Compensation Committee determined that FW Cook did not have any economic interest or other relationship that would create a conflict with its services to the Compensation Committee.

In assessing compensation elements and making compensation decisions for our executive officers, our Compensation Committee considers the executive compensation practices of a peer group of companies of similar size to the Company in related industries. As disclosed in the Fiscal 2018 CD&A, our Compensation Committee substantially updated the compensation peer group in November 2018 with the assistance of FW Cook in order to reflect changes to the Company’s size, projected revenue and scope of business resulting from the Merger. The following peer group was used in making compensation decisions for our NEOs during the Transition Period:

Following the Merger, the Company fell near the median of the peer group in terms of size, projected revenue, operating income, and net income, and below the twenty-fifth percentile in terms of market capitalization.

Based on (1) FW Cook’s Fiscal 2018 report, (2) discussions with and recommendations by Mr. Metcalf during the Transition Period and (3) our pay-for-performance policies, the Compensation Committee determined to largely maintain our existing executive compensation programs during the Transition Period. During the Transition Period, however, the Compensation Committee determined to make certain changes to the long-term incentive program in connection with the Merger to align the goals of the Company’s management team and provide a unified incentive structure, including changes to the types of awards granted, timing of awards and to the vesting criteria and schedules of such awards (see “Compensation Discussion & Analysis — Long-Term Incentive Compensation — Long-Term Incentive Awards Granted in the Transition Period to NEOs — Founders Awards”).

Elements of Executive Compensation

The principal elements of compensation provided to our Named Executive Officers consist of a base salary supplemented with the opportunity to earn a bonus under NCI’s annual cash bonus program (the “Bonus Program”) and long-term incentive compensation under the NCI Building Systems, Inc. 2003 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (As Amended and Restated effective January 27, 2018) (the “Incentive Plan”). In connection with the Merger, in November 2018 the Company granted long-term incentive awards that consisted of stock options, restricted stock units and performance share units. See “Executive Compensation — Narrative to the Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table — Fiscal 2018 and Transition Period Long-Term Incentive Awards.”

We also maintain retirement plans for certain of our employees, including a deferred compensation plan (a “Deferred Compensation Plan” or “DCP”) under which our Named Executive Officers can elect to defer a portion of their base salary and bonus. In addition, we provide limited perquisites that enhance our ability to be competitive in attracting and retaining talented executive officers and allow executive officers more time to focus on business objectives.

Base Salary

The Compensation Committee annually reviews base salaries and makes adjustments in light of competitive data regarding compensation from other companies as well as a Named Executive Officer’s

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responsibilities, experience and performance levels relative to other executives and the potential for making significant contributions in the future, to ensure that salary levels remain appropriate and competitive. Because the rate of any increase in base salary levels helps to provide incentives for continuous improvement in individual performance, we view individual factors as more significant than overall company performance in a particular year when determining base salary levels. Base salary also provides the foundation for calculating other benefits such as annual cash bonus and discretionary and restoration matching under the Deferred Compensation Plan and 401(k) plan so the executive’s individual performance has a significant impact on both salary and the benefits derived from salary.

In November 2018, certain of our NEOs received increases in base salary based on a review of market data provided by FW Cook and in light of increased responsibilities resulting from the Merger. Mr. Riley’s base salary was increased from $750,000 to $900,000, and Ms. Theroux’s base salary was increased from $400,000 to $450,000. In addition, in connection with the Merger, Mr. Little was granted a one-time cash retention bonus of  $222,500 in Fiscal 2018, of which $74,093 was paid on the Closing Date, and the remainder of which will become payable in May 2019 subject to Mr. Little’s continued employment through such date.

The Company entered into employment agreements effective as of the Closing Date with each of Mr. Metcalf and Mr. Poe in connection with their appointments to their respective positions with the Company. Mr. Metcalf’s employment agreement provides for an annual base salary of not less than $1,100,000, and Mr. Poe’s provides for an annual base salary of  $525,000. For a description of the material terms of the employment agreements and for a discussion of enhanced severance benefits upon certain terminations in connection with a change in control of the Company, see “Compensation Discussion & Analysis — Other Compensation — Termination and Change in Control Agreements.”

(1)

Reflects annual rate of base salary.

​

Annual Bonus

Short-term annual cash incentive compensation ordinarily is provided through our Bonus Program, under which annual cash bonuses may be paid to executives to reward their contributions to our business during the year. In Fiscal 2014, our stockholders approved our Senior Executive Bonus Plan, which continues to remain in effect. As a result of the Fiscal Year Change, however, the Company did not award bonuses under our Bonus Program during the Transition Period. Instead, cash bonuses for the Transition Period will be included in our Fiscal 2019 annual bonus program and paid to these participants (except former Ply Gem executives, as described below) following Fiscal 2019.

Former Ply Gem executives, including Mr. Poe, Mr. Buckley, and Mr. Steinhafel, did not participate in the Senior Executive Bonus Program during the Transition Period. Instead, these executives received bonuses in respect of the Ply Gem Management Incentive Compensation Program based on performance criteria established for Ply Gem for the period from January 1 to December 31, 2018 (including the Transition Period). Mr. Poe, Mr. Buckley, and Mr. Steinhafel were eligible for short-term annual cash incentive compensation under the Ply Gem annual incentive program. These former Ply Gem executives will not be eligible for additional bonus compensation in respect of the Transition Period. Beginning in Fiscal 2019, former Ply Gem executives will be eligible to participate in NCI’s Bonus Program.

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Long-Term Incentive Compensation

Generally

Our long-term incentive compensation is provided under the Incentive Plan, a stockholder-approved equity-based compensation plan that allows NCI to grant a variety of awards, including stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights, performance share awards, phantom stock awards and performance-based and other cash awards. Long-term incentive grants have typically been made in December of each year. In connection with the Merger, however, long-term incentive grants to our Named Executive Officers were made in November 2018 (see “Long-Term Incentive Compensation — Long-Term Incentive Awards Granted in the Transition Period to NEOs”).

We believe that equity awards to our Named Executive Officers must be sufficient in size to provide a strong, long-term performance and retention incentive for executives and to increase their vested interest in NCI. The value of the equity awards granted to Named Executive Officers is based on individual performance assessments of each of the Named Executive Officers as well as other members of executive management.

Long-Term Incentive Awards Granted to NEOs in 2018 — Treatment of Fiscal 2018 Awards in Connection with the Merger

In December 2017, our Compensation Committee made its annual grant of long-term incentives to certain NEOs, referred to below as the “FY 2018 Awards.” Of the total value granted to an NEO, 40% of the value of the award consisted of restricted stock units and 60% of the value of the award consisted of performance share units. The performance share units were scheduled to vest in part based on satisfaction of performance goals measured over a period of two consecutive fiscal years ending with the 2019 fiscal year, and in part based on the achievement of performance goals measured over a period of three consecutive fiscal years, ending with the 2020 fiscal year, in each case subject to continued employment.

The Merger was a “change in control” under the Incentive Plan. Accordingly, consistent with the terms of the Incentive Plan, in connection with the Merger:

•

the performance share units (“PSUs”) were converted to restricted stock units at target level that vest on the first December 15th (or the first business day thereafter) following the end of the Company’s 2019 fiscal year (see “Compensation Discussion & Analysis — Other Compensation — Termination and Change in Control Agreements); and

​

•

the time-vesting restricted stock units (“RSUs”) will become vested if, during the two years following the Merger, the NEO’s employment is terminated by NCI without cause or the NEO resigns with good reason.

​

Upon any future change in control, awards that remain outstanding will be assumed or replaced by economically equivalent alternative awards of the successor to NCI in the change in control, or will fully vest only to the extent that they are not assumed or replaced with alternative awards (see “Executive Compensation — Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control — FY 2017 Awards and FY 2018 Awards”).

The number of FY 2018 Awards granted to each NEO and the number of each NEO’s PSUs converted to RSUs is set forth in the following table:

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Long-Term Incentive Awards Granted in the Transition Period to NEOs

On November 16, 2018, in connection with the closing of the Merger, the Company granted equity awards (the “Founders Awards”) to certain key employees considered critical to the success of the combined company, including each of our NEOs. The Founders Awards consist of  (i) options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock with a per share exercise price of  $12.16 and having a 10-year term (the “Founders Options”), (ii) restricted stock units (the “Founders RSUs”), each representing the right to acquire on vesting one share of the Company’s common stock, and (iii) except for Mr. Little, performance share units (the “Founders PSUs”), each representing the right to acquire a number of shares of the Company’s common stock to be determined based upon the achievement of performance metrics as measured during the three years following the grant date, subject to the grantee’s continued employment with the Company. The Founders Options and the Founders RSUs vest in five equal installments following the grant date, subject to the grantee’s continued employment with the Company.

We believe that the combination of Founders Options, Founders RSUs and Founders PSUs and their accompanying vesting schedules will align the interests of our NEOs and shareholders, reward our NEOs for delivering the intended benefits of the Merger, and help us retain executives who are critical to the successful execution of our business strategy. The Founders Awards to Mr. Buckely, Mr. Metcalf, Mr. Poe and Mr. Steinhafel are “employment inducement awards” as described in the employment inducement exemption to New York Stock Exchange Rule 303A.08. The Founders Awards, although not granted pursuant to the Incentive Plan, are subject to the same terms and provisions as awards of the same type granted under the Incentive Plan unless otherwise expressly set forth in each Award (see the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S8 filed on November 19, 2018).

In order to better align the goals of the Company’s management team and provide a unified incentive structure, the Company, in consultation with FW Cook, determined that our annual grant of long-term incentives to our key executive officers should be combined with the Founders Awards granted to these individuals. As a result, the Founders Awards granted to the NEOs also included the officer’s annual grant of long-term incentive awards for Fiscal 2019.

The NEOs received the following Founders Awards on November 16, 2018:

Retirement Benefits

Our executive officers, including our NEOs, are eligible to participate in our tax-qualified 401(k) plan. In addition, we believe that benefit programs that address the unique circumstances of executives in light of limitations imposed on benefits payable from qualified welfare, profit-sharing and retirement plans are critical in attracting and retaining quality executives. Therefore, we have adopted a Deferred Compensation Plan that allows key employees to defer a portion of their annual salary and annual cash bonus, subject to certain specified maximum deferral amounts. The DCP also provides discretionary matching contributions in certain circumstances. For the Transition Period, we determined to make discretionary matching contributions only if the Company achieves ROA of 15% from the Transition Period through Fiscal 2019. Amounts deferred under the DCP are deemed invested in one or more phantom investment funds and additional amounts are credited to participants’ accounts based on the hypothetical earnings of such investments. Common Stock is also an investment option for certain of our executive officers. Amounts deferred into the Common Stock fund remain invested in the Common Stock fund until distribution. See “Executive Compensation — Nonqualified Deferred Compensation” for additional details regarding the terms of the DCP.

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Other Compensation

Termination and Change in Control Agreements

Certain compensation arrangements of NCI include provisions providing special payments or benefits upon specified termination events or upon the occurrence of a change in control of NCI. However, these arrangements do not include “gross-ups” for golden parachute excise taxes or other taxes. We believe that these termination and change in control benefits provide our Named Executive Officers an incentive to act in the stockholders’ best interests during a takeover despite the risk of losing their jobs or a significant change in the nature of their benefits and responsibilities. We also believe that, in some cases, our termination and change in control benefits are necessary to attract and retain certain executives. For a description of the terms of the employment agreements, consulting agreement and equity awards, see “Executive Compensation — Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control.”

The Company has entered into employment agreements with each of its NEOs other than Mr. Buckley and Mr. Steinhafel. Except for the agreements with Mr. Metcalf and Mr. Riley, the term of the employment agreements for each NEO who has an employment agreement runs for a period of two years, subject to automatic one-year extensions thereafter, unless either party gives notice of non-renewal. The initial term of Mr. Metcalf’s agreement will expire on November 16, 2021 and the initial term of Mr. Riley’s agreement will expire on June 30, 2020. Each is subject to one-year extensions thereafter, unless either party gives a one year notice of non-renewal. The employment agreements provide for severance payments and termination benefits upon a future termination of an NEO’s employment in a qualifying termination (i.e.upon termination by the Company without “cause” or by the employee with “good reason”), both prior to and following a change in control of the Company. Where a qualifying termination occurs other than during a potential change in control period or following a change in control of the Company, each employment agreement (except for the agreement with Mr. Little) provides for (1) payment of one times (two times, in the case of Mr. Metcalf, Mr. Poe, and Mr. Riley) the executive’s then-current base salary (at the highest annualized rate in effect during the one-year period immediately preceding the date of termination, in the case of Mr. Poe), payable in equal installments on regular payroll dates over the course of the one-year period (two-year period, in the case of Mr. Metcalf and Mr. Poe) immediately following the date of termination, (2) a pro-rated annual bonus based on actual performance in the year of termination, (3) twelve months of continued COBRA coverage (in the case of Mr. Metcalf and Mr. Riley, a lump sum cash payment equal to eighteen months of the premium cost of family medical coverage at the active-employee rate) and (4) in the case of Mr. Metcalf, payment of two times his target annual bonus, payable in equal installments on regular payroll dates over the course of the two-year period immediately following the date of termination (each, a “Qualifying Termination Severance Package”). Mr. Buckley does not have an employment agreement with the Company, but during the Transition Period he was covered by a retention agreement, which expired December 31, 2018. Under the agreement, in the event of his termination without cause or resignation following a material adverse change in his employment, Mr. Buckley would have been entitled to (i) a severance payment equal to twelve months of base salary, paid over a one-year period, (ii) a prorated bonus equal to the lesser of the target or actual amount that would have been paid under the incentive award plan had the officer remained employed through the year of termination, and (iii) continuation of medical and dental benefits for one year following termination of employment.

In the case of Mr. Poe, where a qualifying termination occurs prior to November 16, 2020, the employment agreement provides for the Qualifying Termination Severance Package, except that (1) the base salary payment is payable in a lump sum, (2) the COBRA coverage is for a period of eighteen months, and (3) he is entitled to an additional lump-sum payment equal to two times his target annual bonus.

Where a qualifying termination occurs during a potential change in control period or two years following a change in control of the Company, Mr. Metcalf’s employment agreement provides for his Qualifying Termination Severance Package, except that the target bonus payment is instead equal to three times his target bonus and each of the base salary and target bonus payments are to be paid to the maximum extent permitted under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code in a lump sum (with any remainder paid in installments over two years). In the case of Mr. Riley, his employment agreement provides for his Qualifying Termination Severance Package, except that he is entitled to a payment equal to

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the sum of two times his base salary plus three times his target annual bonus. In the case of Ms. Theroux, the employment agreement provides for (1) the same cash severance payment as is payable upon a qualifying termination prior to a change in control (except that, to the maximum extent practicable, such payment is to be made in a lump sum), (2) an additional lump-sum cash severance payment in an amount equal to the sum of  (x) one times the executive’s then-current base salary and (y) two times the executive’s target annual bonus for the fiscal year in which the termination occurs, (3) a pro-rated annual bonus payment based on actual performance in the year of termination and (4) an additional six months of continued COBRA coverage. For Mr. Little, where a qualifying termination occurs during a potential change in control period or two years following a change in control of the Company, his employment agreement provides for (1) a lump-sum cash payment equal to two times Mr. Little’s annual base salary at the highest annualized rate in effect during the one-year period immediately preceding the date of termination, (2) a pro-rated annual bonus based on actual performance in the year of termination and (3) eighteen months of continued COBRA coverage.

For purposes of the employment agreements, “change in control” means (A) any person who becomes the beneficial owner of 25% or more of the combined voting power of NCI, (B) as a result of, or in connection with, a tender or exchange offer, merger or other business combination, persons who were directors immediately before the transaction cease to constitute the majority of NCI’s Board of Directors, (C) NCI is merged or consolidated with another company or transfers substantially all of its assets to another company and, as a result, either (i) less than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the resulting company are owned in the aggregate by former NCI stockholders or (ii) 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the resulting company continue to be owned in the aggregate by former NCI stockholders but other than in substantially the same relative proportions as immediately prior to the transaction, or (D) a tender or exchange offer is made for 25% or more of the combined voting power of NCI. To the extent payments under the employment agreements to our Named Executive Officer constitute “parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code, the payments to be received by the officer may be reduced to the extent a reduction in the payment amount would put the officer in a better after-tax position than he or she would be in if the excise tax under Section 4999 were imposed on such payments.

The Merger was a change in control for purposes of the employment agreements with Messrs. Riley, and Little and Ms. Theroux. Therefore, if one of the aforementioned NEOs experiences a qualifying termination prior to November 16, 2020, then he or she will be entitled to enhanced change in control severance as described above.

The Merger was also a change in control for purposes of outstanding equity awards under the Incentive Plan. Therefore, in connection with the Merger, RSUs and PSUs held by officers (including our NEOs) that were granted prior to May 31, 2016 and certain restricted stock awards held by Mr. Riley and Ms. Theroux vested in full, with all applicable performance metrics deemed satisfied at maximum, as described in the Company’s Proxy Statement related to the Special Shareholder Meeting filed October 17, 2018.

PSUs held by officers that were granted on or following May 31, 2016 were converted into service-vesting RSUs upon the effective time of the Merger, and will continue to vest based on continued service through the end of the applicable performance period or upon an earlier qualifying termination. The number of shares of Common Stock subject to the service-vesting RSUs following this conversion was determined based on a formula described in the Company’s Proxy Statement related to the Special Shareholder Meeting filed October 17, 2018.

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The table below sets forth, for each NEO, the number of awards that vested or converted in connection with the Merger:

In addition to the change in control arrangements described above, outstanding shares of restricted stock, RSUs, options and PSUs granted to the Named Executive Officers, including RSUs and PSUs held by our NEOs that did not vest in connection with the Merger, may vest in connection with certain termination events during the two years following the effective time of the Merger or in connection with a subsequent change in control of the Company (see “Executive Compensation — Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control — Equity Incentive Awards”).

Perquisites and Personal Benefits

We offer only de minimis perquisites or personal benefits.

Gross-Ups

With the exception of limited, one-time tax indemnification in connection with the incurrence of relocation expenses under our relocation policy, NCI does not provide for any tax assistance or “gross-ups” for any of its executives.

CEO Compensation

The Compensation Committee is directly responsible for determining the salary level of the CEO and all awards and grants to the CEO under the Bonus Program, Incentive Plan and the DCP. In November 2018, the Company entered into an employment agreement with our CEO, Mr. Metcalf, in connection with his appointment as Chairman and Chief Executive. During the Transition Period, 86% of the compensation of Mr. Metcalf was “at-risk,” meaning it was comprised of long- and short-term incentive equity awards and our Bonus Program, none of which are guaranteed to be paid. Mr. Metcalf’s overall compensation package has also been set at a level that we believe provides appropriate differentiation between CEO compensation and the compensation of other executive officers hired from time to time. Information on Transition Period compensation for Mr. Metcalf and for our former CEO, Mr. Riley, is set forth in the compensation tables following this CD&A.

Deductibility of Compensation

Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (“Section 162(m)”) imposes a $1 million limit on the amount that a public company may deduct each year for compensation paid to certain executive officers. As in effect during Fiscal 2018, deduction limitations applied to the Company’s chief executive officer and three other most highly compensated executive officers (other than the chief financial officer) employed as of the end of the year. During the Company’s Fiscal 2018, this limitation did not apply to compensation paid by the Company contingent upon the executive’s performance meeting pre-established objective goals based on performance criteria approved by our stockholders. Where possible and considered appropriate, we took action during Fiscal 2018 to preserve the deductibility of compensation paid to our CEO and our three other highest paid executives (other than the CFO).

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As of the Transition Period, however, these deductions are no longer available to the Company as a result of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Act”), which eliminated the “performance based compensation” exception to the Section 162(m) deduction limitations (except for certain “grandfathered” arrangements that qualify for transition relief under the Act), beginning with the next tax year that commences after December 31, 2017 (which, in NCI’s case, began with the Transition Period). Accordingly, we have chosen to award compensation that might not be fully tax deductible as we have determined that such compensation is nonetheless in the best interests of NCI and its stockholders. While NCI seeks to take advantage of favorable tax treatment for executive compensation where appropriate, we believe that the primary drivers for determining the amount and form of executive compensation must be the retention and motivation of superior executive talent.

We will continue to review NCI’s executive compensation practices and will seek to preserve tax deductions for executive compensation to the extent consistent with our objective of providing compensation arrangements necessary and appropriate to foster achievement of NCI’s business goals.

Stock Ownership Guidelines

In November 2016, our Board approved the NCI Building Systems, Inc. Executive Stock Ownership Guidelines, which were further amended in August 2017. Pursuant to the stock ownership guidelines, certain of our executives, including our NEOs, and non-employee directors are required to acquire and hold a certain level of our common stock based on a multiple of salary or cash retainer, as applicable. The stock ownership guidelines were developed with the assistance of FW Cook and were adopted to further align the interests of our senior management team with those of our stockholders.

Under the stock ownership guidelines, each of our NEOs is required to acquire and hold a number of shares of our common stock having a value equal to a multiple of his or her annual salary as set forth in the table below. The number of shares required to be held by each NEO will be calculated based on his or her annual salary as of the Annual Meeting of the Stockholders, which for the Transition Period will be May 23, 2019, and the average of our month-end closing stock prices throughout the previous fiscal year.

Under the stock ownership guidelines, the required holdings do not have to be met within a specified period of time. However, until the required number of shares is attained, upon (i) the exercise of stock options, (ii) the settlement of performance shares and (iii) the vesting of restricted shares, our NEOs must retain the number of shares received upon the occurrence of these events having a value equal to 50% of the after-tax profit realized upon the occurrence of these events. Once the required number of shares is attained, compensation increases and changes in stock price will no longer have an effect on holding requirements and retention guidelines. As long as the executive continues to hold the required number of shares, he or she will be in compliance with the stock ownership guidelines. Finally, under the stock ownership guidelines, any sale of shares by covered executives and directors, including our NEOs, must be reviewed by our legal department to ensure continued compliance with the guidelines.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION

During the Transition Period, no member of the Compensation Committee served as an executive officer of the Company, and, except as described in “Transactions with Related Persons” below, no such person had any relationship with the Company requiring disclosure herein. During the Transition Period, there were no Compensation Committee interlocks with other companies.

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COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the above CD&A with management and, based on such review and discussions, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the CD&A be included in this proxy statement.

KATHLEEN J. AFFELDT (Chair)
GEORGE L. BALL
NATHAN K. SLEEPER
JOHN KRENICKI

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Transition Period Summary Compensation Table

The following table shows information regarding the total compensation paid to the Named Executive Officers for each of our last three completed fiscal years and the Transition Period. The compensation reflected for each individual was for their services provided in all capacities to us.

(a)

“2MO 18” refers to the Transition Period (October 29 to December 31, 2018). Amounts for the Transition Period are not annualized and reflect actual amounts earned during such period.

​

(b)

The amounts reported in the “Salary” column are calculated by taking into account the NEOs’ increases in base salary in the Transition Period, Fiscal 2018, Fiscal 2017 and Fiscal 2016. See “Compensation Discussion & Analysis — Base Salary” above.

​

(c)

The amount reported in the “Bonus” column reflects: (i) for Mr. Metcalf, a one-time $600,000 signing bonus in connection with his appointment as Chairman and CEO; (ii) for Mr. Riley, a one-time $250,000 cash promotion bonus for Fiscal 2017 in connection with his appointment as CEO; and (iii) for Mr. Little, a $74,093 installment of a one-time cash retention bonus of  $222,500 for Fiscal 2018, the remainder of which will become payable in May 2019 subject to his continued employment through such date.

​

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(d)

The amounts reported in the “Stock Awards” column reflects the aggregate grant date fair value of the awards granted under our Incentive Plan in the relevant fiscal years and as Founders Awards in November 2018 in connection with the Merger, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. See Note 7 of the consolidated financial statements in NCI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 28, 2018 for additional detail regarding assumptions underlying the valuation of equity awards of RSUs and PSUs. See “Compensation Discussion & Analysis — Long-Term Incentive Compensation.”

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(e)

The amounts reported in the “Option Awards” column reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of the option awards, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. See Note 7 of the consolidated financial statements in NCI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 28, 2018 for additional detail regarding assumptions underlying the valuation of equity awards of options. See “Compensation Discussion & Analysis — Long-Term Incentive Compensation.”

​

(f)

The amounts in this column reflect the amounts earned for the relevant fiscal years under the Company’s Bonus Program and, with respect to Mr. Buckley, Mr. Poe, and Mr. Steinhafel, amounts earned in respect of the Ply Gem Management Incentive Compensation Program in the Transition Period. During the Transition Period, the Company did not award bonuses under the Company’s Bonus Program as a result of the Company’s change in fiscal year. Instead, cash bonuses for the Transition Period will be included in our Fiscal 2019 annual bonus program and paid to these participants (except former Ply Gem executives, as described below) following Fiscal 2019. See “Compensation Discussion & Analysis — Annual Bonus.”

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(g)

The “All Other Compensation” column includes NCI 401(k) matching contributions and DCP contributions with respect to the named executive officers described below and the taxable value of a life insurance benefit.

​

In Fiscal 2018, NCI 401(k) matching contributions were made with respect to each of our Named Executive Officers, and a DCP matching contribution of  $31,449 was made with respect to Mr. Riley.

(h)

Messrs. Buckley, Metcalf, Poe and Steinhafel were not Named Executive Officers in Fiscal 2018, Fiscal 2017 or Fiscal 2016. Mr. Little was not a Named Executive Officer in Fiscal 2017 or Fiscal 2016.

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Transition Period Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table

The following table sets forth information concerning grants of plan-based awards to each of the Named Executive Officers under the Bonus Program and the Incentive Plan during the Transition Period.

(a)

Represents target and maximum amounts potentially payable under NCI’s Bonus Program for the Transition Period and, with respect to Mr. Buckley, Mr. Poe, and Mr. Steinhafel, amounts earned in respect of the Ply Gem Management Incentive Compensation Program in the Transition Period. See “Compensation Discussion & Analysis — Annual Bonus.”

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(b)

The grant date fair value of plan-based awards of RSUs and PSUs granted to each of our NEOs is based on a price per share of  $12.16, which was our closing stock price on November 16, 2018. The grant date fair value of option awards granted to each of our NEOs was $5.19, which was calculated using our closing stock price on November 16, 2018.

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Narrative to the Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table

Employment Agreements

The Company has entered into employment agreements with each of its NEOs. For a description of the material terms of the employment agreements and for a discussion of enhanced severance benefits upon certain terminations in connection with a change in control of the Company, see “Compensation Discussion & Analysis — Other Compensation — Termination and Change in Control Agreements.”

Transition Period Bonus Program

During the Transition Period, former Ply Gem executives received bonuses in respect of the Ply Gem Management Incentive Compensation Program based on performance criteria established for Ply Gem for the period from January 1 to December 31, 2018. As a result of the Company’s change in fiscal year, however, the Company did not award bonuses under the Company’s Bonus Program in the Transition Period. See “Compensation Discussion & Analysis — Annual Bonus” for additional information.

Transition Period Long-Term Incentive Awards

In November 2018, our Compensation Committee granted options, RSUs and PSUs to our NEOs. See “Compensation Discussion & Analysis — Long-Term Incentive Compensation — Long-Term Incentive Awards Granted in Fiscal 2018 to NEOs” and “Compensation Discussion & Analysis — Long-Term Incentive Compensation — Long-Term Incentive Awards Granted in the Transition Period to NEOs — Founders Awards.”

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Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

The following table sets forth information concerning unexercised stock options and unvested restricted stock, RSUs and PSUs held by each of our Named Executive Officers as of December 31, 2018.

(a)

All exercisable stock options previously granted (i) have an exercise price not less than the closing price of NCI’s Common Stock on the day before the grant date, (ii) became exercisable with respect to 25% of the total option shares each year, starting on the first anniversary of the grant date, and (iii) were granted for a term of 10 years. Additional terms governing the stock option awards are described in the narrative above entitled “Executive Compensation — Narrative to the Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table — Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Unit Awards and Stock Options.”

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(b)

Reflects the Founders Awards and FY 2018 and FY 2017 Awards granted to the Named Executive Officers on November 16, 2018, December 15, 2017 and December 15, 2016, respectively and (2) one-time awards of restricted stock granted in July 2017 to Mr. Riley and Ms. Theroux. For a description of the vesting of these awards, see “Compensation Discussion & Analysis — Long-Term Incentive Compensation.”

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(c)

This column represents the closing price of our Common Stock on December 31, 2018, the last business day of the Transition Period, which is $7.25, multiplied by the number of shares of restricted stock.

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(d)

This column represents the performance unit award portion of the Founders Awards and FY 2018 and FY 2017 Awards granted to the Named Executive Officers, determined assuming the target level of performance is achieved.

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(e)

This column represents the closing price of our Common Stock on December 31, 2018, the last business day of Transition Period, which is $7.25, multiplied by the number of shares underlying the performance share units, determined assuming the target level of performance is achieved.

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Option Exercises and Stock Vested

The following table sets forth information concerning the exercise of options and vesting of restricted stock, RSUs, and PSUs of each of our Named Executive Officers during the Transition Period:

(a)

The value realized on exercise represents the difference between the market value of our common stock at the time the applicable option was exercised and the exercise price of the option.

​

(b)

This column represents the closing price of our common stock on either November 15, 2018 or December 14, 2018 (whichever is the day before the vesting date of the applicable restricted stock) multiplied by the number of shares of restricted stock held by each NEO.

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Pension Benefits

We do not sponsor or maintain any plans that provide for specified retirement payments or benefits, such as tax-qualified defined benefit plans or supplemental executive retirement plans, for our Named Executive Officers.

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

The following table sets forth information concerning nonqualified deferred compensation benefits of each of our Named Executive Officers under the DCP for the Transition Period:

(a)

Contributions made by the Named Executive Officers during the Transition Period are included in each such executive’s salary and bonus amounts, as applicable, as reported in the “Summary Compensation Table.”

​

(b)

Of the totals in the “Aggregate Balance at Last FYE” column, the following amounts were reported as compensation in the “Summary Compensation Table” of our proxy statements in the Transition Period and previous years pursuant to the SEC’s current disclosure rules: Mr. Riley, $126,312 and Mr. Little, $41,130. Mr. Little was not a Named Executive Officer prior to Fiscal 2018.

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Eligible participants in the DCP include certain employees and non-employee directors of NCI who are selected by the Compensation Committee to participate. The DCP is a nonqualified retirement plan created to provide specified benefits to our highly compensated employees and directors. The DCP allows employees, including the Named Executive Officers, to defer up to 80% of their annual salaries and up to 90% of their annual cash bonuses, and allows NCI’s non-employee directors to defer up to 100% of their annual fees and meeting attendance fees, until a specified date in the future, including at or after retirement. Elections to defer under the DCP must be made prior to the end of the year preceding the year the compensation will be earned. Elections to defer incentive payments based on services to be performed over at least a twelve-month period must be made no later than six months prior to the end of the designated performance period.

The DCP also allows discretionary matching contributions to provide a supplemental retirement benefit to executives. For the Transition Period, we determined to make discretionary matching contributions only if the Company achieves ROA of 15% from the Transition Period through Fiscal 2019. In addition, NCI made discretionary matching contributions to make up for certain limits applicable to the 401(k) Plan (the “Restoration Match”). Executives generally become vested in the Restoration Match in a manner consistent with NCI’s match in the NCI 401(k) plan, which generally vests ratably over a six-year period. Discretionary matching contributions vest ratably over a three-year period. However, effective upon the consummation of the Equity Investment on October 20, 2009, all matching contributions then allocated to a participant’s account under the DCP became 100% vested. Matching contributions allocated to a participant’s account following October 20, 2009, will also become fully vested upon any subsequent change in control or upon the participant’s retirement, death or disability.

Amounts deferred are deemed invested in one or more phantom investment funds and additional amounts are credited to participants’ accounts based on the hypothetical earnings of such investments. No above-market or preferential earnings are paid under the DCP and, therefore, none of the aggregate earnings reported in the table above are included in the Summary Compensation Table. With the exception of amounts deferred into Common Stock, participants may change their investment options at any time, subject to the administrative procedures adopted by the plan administrator. The table below shows the funds available in the DCP and the annual return of each for the Transition Period:

Withdrawal elections under the DCP will be made in conjunction with the deferral election, and the scheduled distribution date elected will be the first day of a plan year at least three years after the end of the plan year to which the amounts subject to the election relate. A participant may elect to receive a scheduled in-service distribution in a lump sum or in installments. Changes to withdrawal elections must be made at least 12 months prior to the initial elected payment date and must defer the new initial payment date at least five years. In-service withdrawals are permitted to satisfy an unforeseeable emergency plus the amounts anticipated to pay taxes on the withdrawal amount. If a participant withdraws amounts from the DCP upon an unforeseeable emergency, the participant’s participation in the DCP may be suspended. Upon a change in control or the participant’s death, disability or other termination (other than due to retirement), a participant will receive his vested plan account in a lump sum. Upon a change in control, a participant’s deferral elections immediately terminate with respect to any prospective compensation payable following the change in control.

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NEOs may defer receipt of the shares of Common Stock that they earn with respect to the awards granted during the Transition Period. If a deferral election is made, these deferrals will be credited as phantom shares of Common Stock. These deferrals must remain in the form of phantom shares during the entire deferral period and may not be exchanged into any of the other investment options under the DCP. The phantom shares will be settled in actual shares of Common Stock on settlement dates elected by the participant at the time of deferral.

We have established a rabbi trust to provide for NCI’s obligations under the DCP and have formed an administrative committee to manage the DCP and its assets. Pursuant to the investment agreement, effective on October 20, 2009 (the “Investment Agreement”), the DCP was amended to eliminate the right to appoint a third-party administrator of the DCP after October 20, 2009. Similarly, the rabbi trust that is the source of funding for obligations under the DCP was amended so that certain administrative protections that would have gone into effect following a change in control did not apply as a result of the Equity Investment. In addition, as a result of the amendment, the requirement to fully fund the rabbi trust upon a change in control did not apply as a result of the Equity Investment. Prior to the Merger, the rabbi trust was amended on November 12, 2018 to provide that neither the Merger nor any transaction contemplated thereunder constituted a change in control for purposes of the DCP.

Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control

We describe below certain payments and benefits that would be received by our Named Executive Officers upon specified terminations of their employment, and up on a change in control of us, under the employment agreements to which we and our Named Executive Officers are parties, as well as under our Incentive Plan and the outstanding equity awards as of the end of the Transition Period, including the Founders Awards which were granted outside the Incentive Plan.

Employment Agreements

Each Named Executive Officer other than Mr. Buckley and Mr. Steinhafel has an employment agreement with the Company that provides for severance payments and termination benefits upon a termination of a Named Executive Officer’s employment by the Company without “cause” or by the Named Executive Officer for “good reason,” both prior to and following a change in control of the Company. For a description of the severance benefits to which Named Executive Officers are entitled under the employment agreements, see “Compensation Discussion & Analysis — Other Compensation — Termination and Change in Control Agreements.”

Mr. Buckley does not have an employment agreement with the Company, but during the Transition Period he was covered by a retention agreement, which expired December 31, 2018. Under the agreement, in the event of his termination without cause or resignation following a material adverse change in his employment, Mr. Buckley would have been entitled to (i) a severance payment equal to twelve months of base salary, paid over a one-year period, (ii) a prorated bonus equal to the lesser of the target or actual amount that would have been paid under the incentive award plan had the officer remained employed through the year of termination, and (iii) continuation of medical and dental benefits for one year following termination of employment.

Equity Incentive Awards

FY 2016 Awards

The unvested RSUs granted to the Named Executive Officers as part of the FY 2016 Awards, FY 2017 Awards and FY 2018 Awards become fully vested prior to the completion of the stated vesting period (1) upon the Named Executive Officer’s death or disability, or (2) upon the occurrence of a change in control.

The unvested performance share units granted to the Named Executive Officers as part of the FY 2016 Awards become vested prior to the completion of the performance period as follows: (1) on a pro rata basis (a) in the event the Named Executive Officer’s employment is terminated by NCI without cause, (b) in the event the Named Executive Officer terminates his or her employment for good reason or (c) upon the

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Named Executive Officer’s death or disability, such pro rata vesting to be determined based on the elapsed portion of the performance period (except that, if the performance period is less than one-half completed, the performance share units will be forfeited upon any such termination other than for death or disability) and measured against the actual satisfaction of the performance criteria; and (2) as to the maximum number of performance share units under the award upon a change in control.

For a discussion of the actual treatment of these awards in the Merger, see “Compensation Discussion & Analysis — Other Compensation — Termination and Change in Control Agreements.”

FY 2017 Awards and FY 2018 Awards

Upon a change in control (as defined above), the FY 2017 Awards and FY 2018 Awards provide that they will be assumed or replaced by economically equivalent alternative awards, and, further, that these awards are intended to fully vest only to the extent that they are not assumed or replaced with alternative awards. The terms of any alternative award must be at least as favorable as the terms of the award being replaced (including an equal or better vesting schedule and, in the case of stock options, an identical or better method of exercise) and must provide for full acceleration in the event that the grantee is terminated by the successor without cause or by the award holder with good reason within two years following the change in control with respect to which the alternative award was granted.

For a discussion of the actual treatment of these awards in the Merger, see “Compensation Discussion & Analysis — Other Compensation — Termination and Change in Control Agreements.”

Transition Period Awards

Upon a change in control (as defined above), the Founders Awards provide that they will be assumed or replaced by economically equivalent alternative awards, and, further, that these awards are intended to fully vest only to the extent that they are not assumed or replaced with alternative awards. The terms of any alternative award must be at least as favorable as the terms of the award being replaced (including an equal or better vesting schedule and, in the case of stock options, an identical or better method of exercise) and must provide for full acceleration in the event that the grantee is terminated by the successor without cause or by the award holder with good reason within two years following the change in control with respect to which the alternative award was granted.

For a discussion of the actual treatment of these awards in the Merger, see “Compensation Discussion & Analysis — Other Compensation — Termination and Change in Control Agreements.”

Quantification of Payments

Termination Payments (unrelated to a Change in Control)

The following table estimates the value of the payments and benefits that each of our Named Executive Officers would receive if his or her employment terminated on December 31, 2018 (the last business day of the Transition Period) under the circumstances shown and making the following assumptions, and for whom the table instead reflects the actual payments and benefits received in connection with their departure. The table excludes (i) amounts accrued through the end of the Transition Period that would be paid in the normal course of continued employment, such as accrued but unpaid salary, (ii) benefits generally available to all of our salaried employees, and (iii) stock options with a strike price below the closing stock price on December 31, 2018. The amounts reflected for the acceleration of the FY 2016 Awards, FY 2017 Awards and FY 2018 Awards assume that these awards would be settled at target levels. The amounts disclosed assume that the price of our Common Stock was $7.25, which was the closing price of our stock on December 31, 2018. Therefore, such amounts and disclosures should be considered “forward looking statements.”

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