Kroger 2014 Annual Report Download - page 10
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PR O X Y S T A T E M E N T
May13,2015
ThisCombinedNotice,ProxyStatementandAnnualReportisbeingfurnishedtotheshareholdersof
TheKrogerCo.inconnectionwiththesolicitationofproxiesbytheBoardofDirectorsforuseattheAnnual
MeetingofShareholderstobeheldonJune25,2015,at11:00a.m.,easterntime,attheMusicHallBallroom,
MusicHall,1241ElmStreet,Cincinnati,Ohio45202andatanyadjournmentsthereof.
Our principal executive offices are located at 1014 Vine Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-1100. Our
telephonenumberis513-762-4000.ThisProxyStatementandAnnualReport,andtheaccompanyingproxy
cardwerefirstfurnishedtoshareholdersonMay13,2015.
YourproxyisbeingsolicitedbytheBoardofDirectorsofTheKrogerCo.,andthecostofsolicitation
willbebornebyKroger.Krogerwillreimbursebanks,brokers,nominees,andotherfiduciariesforpostage
andreasonableexpensesincurredbytheminforwardingtheproxymaterialtotheirprincipals.Krogerhas
retainedD.F.King&Co.,Inc.,48WallStreet,NewYork,NewYork,toassistinthesolicitationofproxiesand
willpaythatfirmafeeestimatedatpresentnottoexceed$15,000.Proxiesmaybesolicitedpersonally,by
telephone,electronicallyviatheInternet,orbymail.
RobertD.Beyer,W.RodneyMcMullen,andRonaldL.Sargent,allofwhomareKrogerdirectors,have
beennamedmembersoftheProxyCommitteeforthe2015AnnualMeeting.
AsofthecloseofbusinessonApril30,2015,therecorddate,ouroutstandingvotingsecuritiesconsisted
of490,201,501 common shares,the holdersofwhich willbe entitledtoonevotepershare at theannual
meeting.Thesharesrepresentedbyeachproxywillbevotedinthemannerspecifiedunlesstheproxyis
revoked before it is exercised. You may change or revoke your proxy by giving us notice in writing sent
to Kroger’s Secretary, or in person at the meeting, or by executing and sending us a subsequent proxy.
Shareholdersmaynotcumulatevotesintheelectionofdirectors.
If you are a registered shareholder and return your proxy card without instructions, the Proxy
CommitteewillvoteinaccordancewiththerecommendationsoftheBoardofDirectors.Ifyouholdshares
instreetnameanddonotprovideyourbrokerwithspecificvotinginstructionsonproposals1,2,4,5and6,
yourbrokerdoesnothavetheauthoritytovoteonthoseproposals.Thisisgenerallyreferredtoasa“broker
non-vote.”Proposal3isconsideredaroutinematterand,therefore,yourbrokermayvoteyoursharesaccording
toyourbroker’sdiscretion.Thevoterequired,includingtheeffectofbrokernon-votesandabstentionsfor
eachofthematterspresentedforshareholdervote,issetforthbelow.
Item No. 1, Election of Directors–Anaffirmativevoteofthemajorityofthetotalnumberofvotes
cast“for”or“against”adirectornomineeisrequiredfortheelectionofadirectorinanuncontestedelection.
Accordingly,brokernon-votesandabstentionswillhavenoeffectonthisproposal.Amajorityofvotescast
meansthatthenumberofsharesvoted“for”adirectornomineemustexceedthenumberofvotes“against”
such director.
Item No. 2, Advisory Vote to Approve Executive Compensation–Advisor yapprovalbyshareholders
ofexecutivecompensationrequirestheaffirmativevoteofthemajorityofsharesparticipatinginthevoting.
Accordingly,brokernon-votesandabstentionswillhavenoeffectonthisproposal.
Item No. 3, Ratification of Independent Auditors–Ratificationbyshareholdersoftheselectionof
independentpublicaccountantsrequirestheaffirmativevoteofthemajorityofsharesparticipatinginthe
voting.Accordingly,abstentionswillhavenoeffectonthisproposal.
Item Nos. 4, 5, and 6, Shareholder Proposals – The affirmative vote of the majority of shares
participatinginthevotingonashareholderproposalisrequiredforitsadoption.Accordingly,brokernon-votes
andabstentionswillhavenoeffectontheseproposals.ProxieswillbevotedAGAINSTtheseproposalsunless
theProxyCommitteeisotherwiseinstructedonaproxyproperlyexecutedandreturned.