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

SCHEDULE 14A
(Rule 14a-101)

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

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

Filed by the Registrant ☒                Filed by a Party other than the Registrant

Check the appropriate box:

T. Rowe Price Group, Inc.
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT!

Please execute and return the enclosed proxy promptly whether or not you plan to attend the T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

T. ROWE PRICE GROUP, INC.
100 EAST PRATT STREET
BALTIMORE, MD 21202

NOTICE OF 2019 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

We will hold the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., at the Company’s offices located at 4435 Painters Mill Road, Owings Mills, Maryland 21117, on Thursday, April 25, 2019, at 10 a.m. At this Annual Meeting, we will ask stockholders to:

Stockholders who owned shares of our common stock as of February 22, 2019, are entitled to attend and vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjournments.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

David Oestreicher
Chief Legal Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Baltimore, Maryland
March 14, 2019

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

This proxy statement is being made available to you in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. (Price Group or the Company) Board of Directors (Board) for the 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (Annual Meeting). The purpose of the Annual Meeting is to:

This proxy statement, the proxy card, and our 2018 Annual Report to Stockholders containing our consolidated financial statements and other financial information for the year ended December 31, 2018, form your “Proxy Materials.” We have adopted the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) “Notice and Access” model of proxy notification, which allows us to furnish proxy materials online, with paper copies available upon request. We sent you a notice on how to obtain your Proxy Materials on March 14, 2019.

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Stockholder Meeting to Be Held on April 25, 2019

This proxy statement and our 2018 Annual Report to Stockholders may be viewed, downloaded, and printed, at no charge, by accessing the following Internet address: materials.proxyvote.com/74144T.

Stockholders who wish to attend the Annual Meeting in person must follow the instructions on page 3 under the section titled “Do I need to bring anything in order to attend the Annual Meeting?”

Questions and Answers About the Proxy Materials and the Annual Meeting

Why did I receive in the mail a Notice of the Internet Availability of Proxy Materials?

You received in the mail either a notice of the Internet availability of proxy materials or a printed proxy statement and 2018 Annual Report to Stockholders because you owned T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., common stock at the close of business on February 22, 2019, which we refer to as the “Record Date,” and that entitles you to vote at the Annual Meeting. This proxy statement, the proxy card, and our 2018 Annual Report to Stockholders containing our consolidated financial statements and other financial information for the year ended December 31, 2018, constitute the “Proxy Materials.” The Board is soliciting your proxy to vote at the Annual Meeting or at any later meeting if the Annual Meeting is adjourned or postponed for any reason. Your proxy will authorize each of David Oestreicher and Jean-Marc Corredor as proxies to vote on your behalf at the Annual Meeting. By use of a proxy, you can vote whether or not you attend the Annual Meeting.

This proxy statement describes the matters to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting, provides information on those matters, and provides information about Price Group that we must disclose when we solicit your proxy.

Pursuant to rules adopted by the SEC, we have elected to provide access to our Proxy Materials over the Internet. We believe that Internet delivery of our Proxy Materials allows us to provide our stockholders with the information they need, while lowering the costs of delivery and reducing the environmental impact of our Annual Meeting. Accordingly, we are sending a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, which we refer to as the “Notice,” to many of our stockholders (including beneficial owners) as of the Record Date. Our stockholders who receive the Notice will have the ability to access the Proxy Materials on a website referred to in the Notice or request to receive a printed set of the Proxy Materials. The Notice contains instructions on how to access the Proxy Materials over the Internet or to request a printed copy. In addition, stockholders may request to receive Proxy Materials in printed form by mail or electronically by email on an ongoing basis by calling Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (Broadridge) at 1-800-579-1639. Please note that you may not vote using the Notice. The Notice identifies the items to be voted on at the Annual Meeting and describes how to vote, but you cannot vote by marking the Notice and returning it.

Can I view the Proxy Materials on the Internet?

Yes. As described in more detail in response to the prior question, most stockholders will receive the proxy statement online. If you received a paper copy, you can also view these documents on the Internet by accessing our website at troweprice.gcs-web.com/financial-information. The SEC also maintains a website at sec.gov that contains reports, proxy statements, and other information regarding Price Group.

Who is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting?

Holders of our common stock at the close of business on the Record Date are entitled to vote their shares at the Annual Meeting. As of the Record Date, there were 236,705,942 shares outstanding. Each share outstanding on the Record Date is entitled to one vote on each proposal presented at the Annual Meeting.

What am I voting on, and what are the Board voting recommendations?

Our stockholders will be voting on the following proposals:

Can other matters be decided at the Annual Meeting?

At the time this proxy statement went to press, we were not aware of any other matters to be presented at the Annual Meeting. If other matters are properly presented for consideration at the Annual Meeting, the proxy holders appointed by our Board (i.e., David Oestreicher and Jean-Marc Corredor) will have the discretion to vote on those matters in accordance with their best judgment on behalf of stockholders who provide a valid proxy by Internet, by telephone, or by mail.

What is the procedure for voting?

Whether you hold shares directly as the stockholder of record or beneficially in street name, you may vote before the Annual Meeting by granting a proxy to each of David Oestreicher and Jean-Marc Corredor or, for shares you beneficially own, by submitting voting instructions to your broker, bank, or other nominee. Stockholders have a choice of voting by using the Internet, by calling a toll-free telephone number within the United States or Puerto Rico, or by completing a proxy or voting instruction card and mailing it in the postage-paid envelope provided. Please refer to the summary instructions below and carefully follow the instructions included on your Notice; your proxy card; or, for shares you beneficially own, the voting instruction card provided by your broker, bank, or other nominee. The Notice identifies the items to be voted on at the Annual Meeting and provides instructions on how to vote, but you cannot vote by marking the Notice and returning it.

If you hold shares in multiple accounts, you may receive multiple proxy material packages. If you hold shares in multiple accounts, please be sure to vote all of your Price Group shares in each of your accounts in accordance with the voting instructions you receive for each such account.

By Internet or Telephone

Internet and telephone voting facilities for registered stockholders will be available 24 hours a day until 11:59 p.m., eastern daylight time, on April 24, 2019. If you vote your shares on the Internet or by telephone, you do not have to return your proxy card.

Please have your proxy card (or the Notice or the email message you receive with instructions on how to vote) in hand when you go online. You will have an opportunity to confirm your voting selections before your vote is recorded.

The availability of Internet and telephone voting for beneficial owners will depend on the voting processes of your broker, bank, or other nominee. You should follow the voting instructions in the materials that you received from your nominee.

By Mail

If you’d like to vote by mail, please request a paper proxy card in accordance with the instructions contained in the Notice and then complete, sign, and date the proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope provided. If voting instructions are provided, shares represented by the proxy card will be voted in accordance with the voting instructions.

For shares held in street name, please use the voting instruction card provided by your broker, bank, or other nominee and mark, sign, date, and mail it back to your broker, bank, or other nominee in accordance with their instructions.

In Person at the Annual Meeting

All registered stockholders can vote in person at the Annual Meeting. Voting your proxy electronically via the Internet, by telephone, or by mail does not limit your right to vote at the Annual Meeting. You also can choose to be represented by another person at the Annual Meeting by executing a legally valid proxy designating that person to vote on your behalf.

If you are a beneficial owner of shares, you must obtain a legally valid proxy from your broker, bank, or other nominee and present it to the inspectors of election with your ballot to be able to vote at the Annual Meeting. A legal proxy is an authorization from your broker, bank, or other nominee to vote the shares held in the nominee’s name that satisfies Maryland law and the SEC requirements for proxies.

What is the difference between holding shares as a registered stockholder and as a beneficial owner?

If your shares are registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, you are considered the “registered stockholder” (also known as a “record holder”) of those shares. We mail the Notice or Proxy Materials directly to you. Equiniti Trust Company (EQ) serves as the transfer agent and registrar for T. Rowe Price Group, Inc.

If your shares are held in a stock brokerage account or by a bank or other holder of record, you are considered the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name,” and these Proxy Materials or the Notice are being forwarded to you by your broker, bank, or other nominee who is considered the stockholder of record with respect to those shares. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker, bank, or other nominee on how to vote your shares, and you also are invited to attend the Annual Meeting.

Because you are not the stockholder of record, however, you may not vote these shares in person at the Annual Meeting unless you bring with you to the Annual Meeting a legally

valid proxy, executed in your favor, from the stockholder of record. Your broker, bank, or other nominee also is obligated to provide you with a voting instruction card for you to use to direct them as to how to vote your shares.

Do I need to bring anything in order to attend the Annual Meeting?

Yes. You must bring documentation that allows us to verify your stock ownership. For “record holders”, this means you must bring a valid, government-issued photographic identification. For stockholders who own their shares in “street name”, you must bring a valid, government-issued photographic identification and a brokerage account statement or letter from your broker, bank, or other nominee reflecting stock ownership. If you do not have valid identification and documentation sufficient to verify your stock ownership, you will not be admitted into the Annual Meeting.

For security reasons, all hand-carried items will be subject to inspection. Cameras, audio and video recorders, communication devices, and similar equipment will not be allowed in the meeting room.

Can I change my proxy vote?

Yes. If you are a registered stockholder, you can change your proxy vote or revoke your proxy the day before the Annual Meeting by:

In addition, a registered stockholder may change their vote by submitting a written ballot in person at the Annual Meeting.

If you are a beneficial owner of shares, you can submit new voting instructions by contacting your broker, bank, or other nominee. You also can vote in person at the Annual Meeting if you obtain a legal proxy from your bank, broker, or other nominee (the registered stockholder) as described in the answer to the question “What is the procedure for voting?” on page 2.

Your personal attendance at the Annual Meeting does not revoke your proxy. Unless you vote at the Annual Meeting, your last valid proxy prior to or at the Annual Meeting will be used to cast your vote.

What if I return my proxy card but do not provide voting instructions?

Proxies that are signed and returned but do not contain voting instructions will be voted:

How many shares must be present to hold the Annual Meeting?

In order for us to lawfully conduct business at our Annual Meeting, the presence in person or by proxy of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at the Annual Meeting is required. This is referred to as a quorum. Your shares are counted as present at the Annual Meeting if you attend the Annual Meeting and either vote in person or abstain from voting, or if you properly return a proxy by Internet, by telephone, or by mail in advance of the Annual Meeting and do not revoke the proxy.

Will my shares be voted if I don’t provide my proxy or instruction card?

Registered Stockholders

If your shares are registered in your name, your shares will not be voted unless you provide a proxy by Internet, by telephone, or by mail or vote in person at the Annual Meeting.

Beneficial Owners

If you hold shares through an account with a broker, bank, or other nominee and you do not provide voting instructions, under the NASDAQ Global Select Market rules, your broker may vote your shares on routine matters only. The ratification of the appointment of KPMG (Proposal 3) is considered a routine matter, and your nominee can therefore vote your shares on that proposal even if you do not provide voting instructions. No other proposal is considered a routine matter, and your nominee cannot vote your shares on those proposals unless you provide voting instructions. Votes withheld by brokers, banks, and other nominees in the absence of voting instructions from a beneficial owner are referred to as “broker non-votes.”

Multiple Forms of Ownership

The Company cannot provide a single proxy or instruction card for stockholders who own shares as registered stockholders or beneficial owners. As a result, if your shares are held in multiple types of accounts, you must submit your votes for each type of account in accordance with the instructions you receive for that account.

What is the vote required for each proposal?

For Proposal 1, the votes that stockholders cast “FOR” a director-nominee must exceed the votes that stockholders cast “AGAINST” a director-nominee to approve the election of each director-nominee. Please also see the discussion of our “Majority Voting” provisions within Proposal 1 on page 6. For each of Proposals 2 and 3, the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast is required to approve the proposal. Proposal 2 is advisory and non-binding, so the Board will review the voting results on this proposal and take the results into account when making future decisions regarding these matters. “Votes cast” exclude abstentions and broker non-votes.

What is the effect of an abstention?

A stockholder who abstains on some or all matters is considered present for purposes of determining if a quorum is present at the Annual Meeting, but an abstention is not counted as a vote cast. An abstention has no effect on the vote on any other proposal.

What is the effect of a broker non-vote?

If a broker casts a vote on Proposal 3 (ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm), the vote will be included in determining whether a quorum exists for holding the Annual Meeting. The broker does not have authority to vote on the other proposals absent directions from the beneficial owner.

As a result, if the beneficial owner does not vote on Proposals 1 or 2, so that there is a “broker non-vote” on those items, the broker non-votes do not count as votes cast for those proposals. Thus, a broker non-vote will not impact the following:

Who will count the votes?

Representatives of our proxy tabulator, Broadridge, will tabulate the votes and act as inspectors of election for the Annual Meeting.

Where can I find the voting results of the Annual Meeting?

The preliminary voting results will be announced at the Annual Meeting. The final voting results will be tallied by the inspectors of election and disclosed by the Company in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC within four business days following the Annual Meeting.

Is my vote confidential?

Yes. The vote of each stockholder is held in confidence from Price Group’s directors, officers, and employees. We do not know how any person or entity votes unless this information is voluntarily disclosed.

What is “householding” and how does it affect me?

Some banks, brokers, and other nominees engage in the practice of “householding” our Proxy Materials. This means that only one copy of our Proxy Materials may be sent to multiple stockholders in your household unless you request otherwise. We will promptly deliver a separate copy of Proxy Materials to you if you share an address subject to householding. Please contact our chief legal counsel and corporate secretary at 100 East Pratt Street, Mail Code BA-1360, Baltimore, MD 21202, or by telephone at 410-345-2000.

Please contact your bank, broker, or other nominees if you wish to receive individual copies of our Proxy Materials in the future. Please contact your bank, broker, or other nominee or our chief legal counsel and corporate secretary at 100 East Pratt Street, Mail Code BA-1360, Baltimore, MD 21202, or by telephone at 410-345-2000, if members of your household are currently receiving individual copies and you would like to receive a single household copy for future meetings.

Can I choose to receive the proxy statement and the 2018 Annual Report to Stockholders on the Internet instead of receiving them by mail?

Yes. If you are a registered stockholder or beneficial owner, you can elect to receive future annual reports and proxy statements on the Internet only and not receive copies in the mail by visiting proxyvote.com. You will need to have your proxy card (or the Notice or the email message you receive with instructions on how to vote) in hand when you access

the website. Your request for electronic transmission will remain in effect for all future annual reports and proxy statements, unless withdrawn. Withdrawal procedures also are at this website.

If you hold Price Group shares in your own name and received more than one copy of our Proxy Materials at your address and wish to reduce the number of reports you receive and save the Company the cost of producing and mailing these reports, you should contact Price Group’s mailing agent Broadridge, at 1-866-540-7095 to discontinue the mailing of reports on the accounts you select.

At least one account at your address must continue to receive a proxy statement and an annual report, unless you elect to view future annual reports and proxy statements over the Internet. The mailing of dividend checks, dividend reinvestment statements, and special notices will not be affected by your election to discontinue duplicate mailings of proxy statements and annual reports. Registered stockholders may resume the mailing of our Proxy Materials to an account by calling Broadridge at 1-866-540-7095. If you own shares through a broker, bank, or other nominee and received more than one set of our Proxy Materials, please contact the holder of record to eliminate duplicate mailings.

Who pays the cost of this proxy solicitation?

We will pay for the costs of preparing materials for the Annual Meeting and soliciting proxies. We expect that solicitation will occur primarily through the mail, but proxies also may be solicited personally or by telephone, email, letter, or facsimile. To assist in soliciting proxies, we have retained Morrow Sodali LLC, 470 West Avenue, Stamford, CT 06902 for a fee of $7,000, plus reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses. We ask brokers, banks, and other nominees to forward materials for the Annual Meeting to our beneficial stockholders as of the Record Date, and we will reimburse them for the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses they incur. Directors, officers, and employees of Price Group and our subsidiaries may solicit proxies personally or by other means, but will not receive additional compensation. Stockholders are requested to return their proxies without delay.

Can I find additional information on the Company’s website?

Yes. Although the information contained on our website is not part of the Proxy Materials, you will find information about the Company and our corporate governance practices at troweprice.gcs-web.com/corporate-governance. Our website contains information about our Board, Board committees, Corporate Governance Guidelines, and other matters.

Proposal 1
Election of Directors

In this proxy statement, nine director nominees are presented pursuant to the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. All have been nominated by the Board of Directors to hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their respective successors are elected and qualify.

RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS; VOTE REQUIRED

We recommend that you vote FOR all the director nominees under Proposal 1. All properly executed proxies received in time to be tabulated for the Annual Meeting will be voted FOR the election of the nominees named below unless otherwise specified. Shares held by a bank, broker, or other nominee will not be voted on this Proposal absent specific instruction from you, which means your shares may go unvoted and not affect the outcome if you do not specify a vote. If any director nominee becomes unable or unwilling to serve between now and the Annual Meeting, proxies will be voted FOR the election of a replacement recommended by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and approved by the Board of Directors.

MAJORITY VOTING

We have adopted a majority voting standard for the election of our directors. Under our current By-Laws, in an uncontested election, a nominee will not be elected unless he or she receives more “FOR” votes than “AGAINST” votes. Under Maryland law, any incumbent director not so elected would continue in office as a “holdover” director until removed or replaced. As a result, the By-Laws also provide that any director who fails to obtain the required vote in an uncontested election must submit his or her resignation to the Board. The Board must decide whether to accept or decline the resignation, or decline the resignation with conditions, taking into consideration the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s recommendation after consideration of all factors deemed relevant, within 90 days after the vote has been certified. Plurality voting will apply to contested elections.

NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE DETERMINATIONS

The Board of Directors has considered the independence of current Board members and nominees not employed by T. Rowe Price and has concluded each such director qualifies as an independent director within the meaning of the applicable rules of the NASDAQ Global Select Market. To our knowledge, there are no family relationships among our directors or executive officers.

In making its determination of independence, the Board applied guidelines that it has adopted concluding that the following relationships should not be considered material relationships that would impair a director’s independence:

The Board believes that this policy sets an appropriate standard for dealing with ordinary course of business relationships that may arise from time to time.

THE NOMINEES AND THEIR QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE

In considering the overall qualifications of our nominees and their contributions to our Board, and in determining our need for additional members of the Board, we seek to create a Board consisting of members with a diverse set of experiences and attributes who will be meaningfully involved in our Board activities and will facilitate a transparent and collaborative atmosphere and culture. Our Board members generally develop a long-term association with the Company, which we believe

facilitates a deeper knowledge of our business and its strategies, opportunities, risks, and challenges. At the same time, we periodically look for additions to our Board to enhance our capabilities and bring new perspectives and ideas to our Board. We will consider Board members with diverse capabilities, and we generally look for Board members with capabilities in one or more of the following areas: accounting and financial reporting, financial services and money management, investments, general economics and industry oversight, legal, government affairs and corporate governance, general management, international, marketing and distribution, and technology and facilities management.

Each of our directors provides significant individual attributes important to the overall makeup and functioning of our Board, which are described in the biographical summaries provided below:

The Board of Directors recommends that you vote FOR all of the following nominees:

Mark S. Bartlett Retired Managing Partner Ernst & Young Age 68	Mr. Bartlett has been an independent director of Price Group since 2013 and serves as chair of the Audit Committee and as a member of the Executive Compensation and Management Development Committee. Until retiring in 2012, Mr. Bartlett was a partner at Ernst & Young, serving as managing partner of the firm’s Baltimore office and senior client service partner for the mid-Atlantic region. Mr. Bartlett began his career at Ernst & Young in 1972 and has extensive experience in financial services, as well as other industries.     Mr. Bartlett received his B.S. from West Virginia University and attended the Executive Program at the Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern University. He also earned the designation of certified public accountant.     Mr. Bartlett is a member of the board of directors and chair of the audit committee of both Rexnord Corporation and Williams Scotsman. He is also a member of the nominating and corporate governance committee of Williams Scotsman. He also serves as a member of the board of directors and a member of the audit committee of FTI Consulting, Inc.     Mr. Bartlett offers the Board significant accounting and financial reporting experience as well as expertise in the accounting-related rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. He has extensive finance knowledge, with a broad range of experience in financing alternatives including the sale of securities, debt offerings, and syndications.
Mary K. Bush Chairman Bush International, LLC Age 70	Ms. Bush has been an independent director of Price Group since 2012 and serves on the Executive Compensation and Management Development Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. She has served as the chairman of Bush International, LLC, an advisor to U.S. corporations and foreign governments on international capital markets and strategic business and economic matters, since 1991. Earlier in her career, she managed global banking and corporate finance relationships at New York money center banks including Citibank, Banker’s Trust, and Chase.     Ms. Bush holds an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago and a B.A. in economics and political science from Fisk University.     Ms. Bush is a member of the board of directors, risk oversight committee, and nominating and corporate governance committee of Discover Financial Services; a member of the board of directors, audit and compensation committees, and chair of the retirement plan committee of ManTech International Corporation; a member of the board of directors, audit committee, and compensation committee of Marriott International; and a member of the board of directors and chair of the audit committee for Bloom Energy. Ms. Bush also was a director of the Pioneer Family of Mutual Funds from 1997 to 2012 and UAL Corporation from 2006 to 2010.     Ms. Bush brings to our Board extensive financial and governmental affairs experience, her knowledge of corporate governance and financial oversight gained from her membership on the boards of other public companies, knowledge of public policy matters, and her significant experience providing strategic advisory services in the financial and international arenas.

Alan D. Wilson Retired Executive Chairman McCormick & Company, Inc. Age 61

Mr. Wilson has been an independent director of Price Group since 2015 and serves as a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the Executive Compensation and Management Development Committee, and the Executive Committee. He is also the lead independent director of the board. Mr. Wilson retired as executive chairman of McCormick & Company, Inc., in 2017 where he held many executive management roles, including chairman, president, and chief executive officer.     Mr. Wilson graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1980 with a B.S. in communications. He attended school on a R.O.T.C. scholarship and, following college, served as a U.S. Army captain, with tours in the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany.     Mr. Wilson currently serves on the board of directors of Westrock Company and is a member of the nominating and corporate governance committee and the chair of the finance committee. He also chairs the board of visitors of University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and currently serves on the University of Tennessee’s Board of Trustees and the University of Tennessee’s Business School advisory board.     Mr. Wilson brings to our Board significant executive management experience, having led a publicly traded, multinational company. He also adds additional perspective to the Board regarding matters relating to general management, strategic leadership, and financial matters.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND COMMITTEES

During 2018, the Board of Directors held six meetings and approved one matter via unanimous written consent. Each director attended at least 75% of the combined total number of meetings of the Board and Board committees of which he or she was a member. Consistent with the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, the independent directors met in executive session at each of the Board meetings in 2018. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that all directors are expected to attend the annual meeting of stockholders. All nominees for director submitted to the stockholders for approval at last year’s annual meeting on April 26, 2018, attended that meeting, and we anticipate that all nominees will attend the 2019 Annual Meeting.

Corporate Governance

Our Board of Directors has an Executive Committee, an Audit Committee, an Executive Compensation and Management Development Committee, and a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The Board has also authorized a Management Committee that is made up entirely of senior officers of the Company. The Board has adopted a separate written charter for the Audit Committee, the Executive Compensation and Management Development Committee, and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Current copies of each charter, our Corporate Governance Guidelines, and our Code of Ethics for Principal Executive and Senior Financial Officers can be found on our website, troweprice.com, by selecting “Investor Relations” and then “Corporate Governance.”

Code of Ethics

Pursuant to rules promulgated under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Board has adopted a Code of Ethics for Principal Executive and Senior Financial Officers. This Code is intended to deter wrongdoing and promote honest and ethical conduct; full, timely, and accurate reporting; compliance with laws; and accountability for adherence to the Code, including internal reporting of Code violations. A copy of the Code of Ethics for Principal Executive and Senior Financial Officers is available on our website. We intend to satisfy the disclosure requirements regarding any amendment to, or waiver from, a provision of the Code of Ethics for Principal Executive and Senior Financial Officers by making disclosures concerning such matters available on the Investor Relations page of our website.

We also have a Code of Ethics and Conduct that is applicable to all employees and directors of the Company. Our Code of Ethics and Conduct prohibits all employees and directors of the Company from (i) any short sales of our common stock, (ii) purchasing options on our common stock, or (iii) entering into any contract or purchasing any instrument designed to hedge or offset any decrease in the market value of our common stock. It is the Company’s policy for all employees to participate annually in continuing education and training relating to the Code of Ethics and Conduct.

Executive Committee

During 2018, Mr. Rogers, Mr. Stromberg, and Anne Marie Whittemore served on the Executive Committee, until Ms. Whittemore’s retirement from the Board on April 26, 2018. Following Ms. Whittemore’s retirement from the Board, Mr. Wilson joined the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee functions between meetings of the Board of Directors

and possesses the authority to exercise all the powers of the Board except as limited by Maryland law. If the Executive Committee acts on matters requiring formal Board action, those acts are reported to the Board of Directors at its next meeting for ratification. The Executive Committee approved one matter via unanimous written consent during 2018.

Audit Committee

Messrs. Bartlett, MacLellan, and Verma, Dr. Hrabowski, and Ms. Wijnberg serve on the Audit Committee, which met eight times during 2018. The Board of Directors has determined that each of the Audit Committee members meet the independence and financial literacy criteria of the NASDAQ Global Select Market and the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Board also has concluded that Messrs. Bartlett and MacLellan and Ms. Wijnberg meet the criteria for an audit committee financial expert as established by the SEC. Mr. Bartlett is a certified public accountant, was an audit partner at Ernst & Young for 28 years until he left the firm in 2012, and serves as the chair of the audit committee of Rexnord Corporation and Williams Scotsman and as a member of the audit committee of FTI Consulting, Inc. Mr. MacLellan is a chartered accountant, and serves as a member of the audit committee of Magna International, Inc., and was a member of the audit committees for Ace Aviation Holdings, Inc., and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, Ltd. Ms. Wijnberg was the chief financial officer of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc., from 2000 to 2006 and interim chief financial officer of YUM! Brands in 1999. She is currently the chair of the audit committee for Automatic Data Processing, Inc., and she served as member and chair of the audit committees of Tyco International and TE Connectivity, respectively.

Audit Committee’s Primary Responsibilities

The primary purpose of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities with respect to: (1) the integrity of our financial statements and other financial information provided to our stockholders; (2) the retention of our independent registered public accounting firm, including oversight of the terms of its engagement and its performance, qualifications, and independence; (3) the performance of our internal audit function, internal controls, and disclosure controls; and (4) the Company’s risk management framework. The Audit Committee also provides an avenue for communication among our internal auditors, financial management, chief risk officer, independent registered public accounting firm, and the Board. The Audit Committee is also responsible for procedures involving the receipt, retention, and treatment of complaints or concerns regarding accounting, internal accounting controls, and auditing matters, including confidential, anonymous employee submissions. The independent registered public accounting firm reports directly to the Audit Committee and is ultimately accountable to this committee and the Board for the audit of our consolidated financial statements. In addition, the head of the Company’s internal audit department also reports directly to the Audit Committee.

Related Person Transaction Oversight

The Audit Committee is responsible under its charter for reviewing related person transactions and any change in, or waiver to, our Code of Ethics for our Principal Executive and Senior Financial Officers. Our Board has adopted a written Policy for the Review and Approval of Transactions with Related Persons. Any transaction that would require disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K will not be initiated or materially modified until our Audit Committee has approved such transaction or modification and will not continue past its next contractual termination date unless it is annually reapproved by our Audit Committee. During its deliberations, the Audit Committee must consider all relevant details regarding the transaction including, but not limited to, any role of our employees in arranging the transaction, the potential benefits to our Company, and whether the proposed transaction is competitively bid or otherwise is on terms comparable to those available to an unrelated third party or our employees generally. The Audit Committee approves only those transactions that it determines in good faith to be on terms that are fair to us and comparable to those that could be obtained in an arms-length negotiation with an unrelated third party. Please see the disclosure provided in the section entitled “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” beginning on page 54.

Risk Management Oversight

The Audit Committee oversees and evaluates our policies with respect to significant risks and exposures faced by the Company and the steps taken to assess, monitor, and manage those risks. The Company’s Risk and Operational Steering Committee (formerly known as the Risk Management Oversight Committee), comprised of senior members of management including our chief risk officer, oversees the Company’s risk management strategy on behalf of the Management Committee. The Risk and Operational Steering Committee develops and maintains the Company’s risk management policies and procedures, and regularly monitors the significant risks inherent to our business, including investment risk, reputational risk, business continuity risk, and operational risk. The chief risk officer, head of internal audit, and officers responsible for financial reporting, legal, and compliance periodically report on these matters to the Audit Committee. Based on these reports, the Audit Committee reports and makes recommendations as necessary to the full Board with respect to managing our overall risk.

The report of the Audit Committee appears on page 53.

Executive Compensation and Management Development Committee

All of the non-employee independent directors of the Board serve on the Executive Compensation and Management Development Committee (Compensation Committee), which met six times during 2018. The Board of Directors has determined that each of these members meets the independence criteria of the NASDAQ Global Select Market. The report of the Compensation Committee appears on page 40.

Committee Authority

The Compensation Committee is responsible to the Board, and ultimately to our stockholders, for:

Delegation Authority

The Compensation Committee has delegated compensation decisions regarding nonexecutive officers, including the establishment of specific salary and incentive compensation levels and certain matters relating to stock-based compensation, to the Management Compensation Committee, a committee comprised of senior leaders of Price Group.

Committee Procedures

Early each year, the Compensation Committee meets with the president and CEO and members of senior management in order to discuss goals and objectives for the coming year, including goals and objectives applicable to the named executive officers (NEOs) listed in our Summary Compensation Table. In addition, the Compensation Committee determines eligibility for the AICP bonus pool and sets forth the maximum percentage that may be paid to each participant. At its meeting in December, the Compensation Committee evaluates executive performance during the year as part of its determination of appropriate incentive compensation awards.

The Compensation Committee awards annual equity incentive grants to employees from stockholder-approved long-term incentive plans as part of the Company’s annual compensation program.

Role of Executive Officers

The Compensation Committee solicits input from the president and CEO and the Management Compensation Committee regarding general compensation policies, including the appropriate level and mix of compensation. The Compensation Committee also consults with the president and CEO regarding the appropriate bonus and salary levels for other executive officers.

Role of Compensation Consultants

Johnson Associates has been the Compensation Committee’s compensation consultant, since 2017. Johnson Associates has no relationship with Price Group other than as the Compensation Committee’s consultant. See the “Role of Independent Compensation Consultant” section of our Compensation Discussion and Analysis for additional details of their role.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

Mses. Snowe and Bush, and Mr. Wilson serve on our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, which met on six occasions during 2018. The Board of Directors has determined that all Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee members meet the independence criteria of the NASDAQ Global Select Market. The principal purpose and goal of this committee is to maintain and cultivate the effectiveness of Price Group’s Board of Directors and oversee its governance policies. Among the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s responsibilities are Board and committee composition, director qualifications, orientation and education, and Board evaluations. Members identify, evaluate, and nominate Board candidates; review the compensation of independent directors; and oversee procedures regarding stockholder nominations and other communications to the Board. In addition, they are responsible for monitoring compliance with and recommending any changes to the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines. A report on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s activities begins on page 17 of this proxy statement.

Management Committee

The Management Committee is responsible for guiding, implementing, and reviewing major policy and operating initiatives of the Company. Mr. Stromberg is the chair of the Management Committee and other senior officers of the Company are also members. The Management Committee reports to the Board on the management and operation of the Company through Mr. Stromberg. As of March 14, 2019, current members of the Management Committee include: Christopher D. Alderson, co-head of global equity; Scott B. David, head of individual and retirement plan services; Cèline S. Dufétel, chief financial officer and treasurer; Nigel K. Faulkner, head of global technology; Robert C.T. Higginbotham, head of global investment management services; Andrew C. McCormick, head of fixed income; David Oestreicher, chief legal counsel and corporate secretary; Sebastien Page, head of global multi-asset; Dorothy C. “Dee” Sawyer, head of human resources; Robert W. Sharps, head of investments and group chief investment officer; and Eric L. Veiel, co-head of global equity. Each of these members brings extensive experience and wisdom to the management and leadership of the Company.

Compensation of Directors

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for periodically reviewing non-employee director compensation and benefits and recommending changes, if appropriate, to the full Board. Our non-employee director compensation program is designed to accomplish a number of objectives:

We provide both cash and equity compensation to our directors and believe that, over time, cash and equity compensation should reflect approximately 40% and 60%, respectively, of the total compensation paid to our directors. The cash compensation component is based primarily on an annual retainer coupled with fees for committee attendance, lead director role, and committee chair roles. The equity compensation component is in the form of full value awards. We believe our total compensation package and compensation structure is comparable to and in line with other major financial service companies.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee periodically reviews and considers competitive market practices. In 2018 there were no changes to the compensation program for our non-employee directors.

Fees and Other Compensation in 2018

All non-employee directors received the following in 2018:

The annual retainer and fees noted above are prorated for the period of time during the calendar year that each director held the position. Pursuant to the Outside Directors Deferred Compensation Plan, non-employee directors can elect to defer payment of their director fees until the next calendar year. Any such election needs to be received prior to the beginning of the year they wish to have their payment deferred. Dr. Hrabowski, Ms. Snowe, and Mr. Wilson elected to have their 2018 director fees deferred to 2019.

Equity-Based Compensation in 2018

Pursuant to the 2017 Non-Employee Director Equity Plan (2017 Director Plan) approved by the stockholders on April 26, 2017, each newly elected Board member is awarded an initial grant in the form, at their election, of restricted shares or restricted stock units (RSUs) having a value on the date of grant of $300,000 that vests one-year after the grant date. In each subsequent year, each non-employee director, except Mr. Rogers, is awarded, at their election, restricted shares or RSUs having a value on the date of grant of $200,000 on the first business day after the Annual Meeting. For Mr. Rogers, the Committee determined that, in light of his already significant stock ownership, they would pay him a cash amount of $200,000 in lieu of participating in the annual equity award provided to other non-employee directors.

Each of the award types vest upon the earliest of the non-employee director’s death or date on which the director becomes totally and permanently disabled, one year after the grant date, or the day before the annual meeting held in the calendar year after the year in which the grant is made, or the date on which a change in control occurs, provided the director continues to be a member of the Board on the applicable date.

Restricted shares entitle the holder to the rights of a stockholder, including voting, dividend, and distribution rights, but are nontransferable until they vest. Vested stock units will be settled in shares of our common stock or cash, in the case of fractional shares, upon a non-employee director’s separation from service. Non-employee directors holding stock units are not entitled to voting, dividend, distribution, or other rights until the corresponding shares of our common stock are issued upon settlement; however, if and when we pay a cash dividend to our common stockholders, we will issue dividend equivalents in the form of additional stock units. Under the 2017 Director Plan, dividends and dividend equivalents payable with respect to unvested restricted shares and unvested stock units will be subject to the same vesting and risks of forfeiture as the restricted shares and stock units to which they are attributable. The 2017 Director Plan includes a provision that accelerates the vesting of all outstanding awards in connection with a change in control of Price Group. Upon a change in control, any outstanding stock units will be settled in cash or shares at the discretion of the Board.

Ownership and Retention Guidelines

Each non-employee director added to the Board in 2015 or 2016 is required to hold shares of our common stock having a value equal to $300,000 within five years of the director’s appointment to the Board and directors added to the Board prior to 2015 have an ownership goal of $225,000 (in each case an amount equal to three (3) times the applicable cash retainer at the time of appointment). Directors who were new to the Board in 2017 or who will join in the future, have an ownership goal of five times the annual cash retainer in effect on the date they join the Board. For purposes of the calculation, unvested restricted shares and outstanding stock units are counted, but unexercised stock options are not. Once this ownership goal is achieved, the number of shares required to be held becomes fixed and must be maintained until the end of the director’s service on the Board. Until the ownership goal is achieved, the director is expected to retain “net gain shares” resulting from the exercise of stock options or vesting of restricted stock granted under the applicable director plan. Net gain shares are the shares remaining after payment of the stock option exercise price and taxes owed with respect to the exercise or vesting event. In addition, net gain shares realized under the applicable director plan after the ownership goal is achieved are expected to be held for two years prior to sale or other transfer, but not beyond the end of the director’s service on the Board. All of our directors, other than Mr. Verma who joined the Board in 2018, have achieved and maintain the ownership goal as of the date of this proxy statement.

2018 Director Compensation¹

The following table sets forth information regarding the compensation earned by, or paid to, directors who served on our Board during 2018. Directors who are also officers of Price Group do not receive separate directors’ fees and have been omitted from this table. Mr. Stromberg and Mr. Bernard appear in our Summary Compensation Table as named executive officers.

Report of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has general oversight responsibility for governance of the Company, including the assessment and recruitment of new director candidates and the evaluation of director and Board performance. We monitor regulatory and other developments in the governance area with a view toward both legal compliance and maintaining governance practices at the Company consistent with what we consider to be best practices. In this regard, we routinely receive written and verbal information relating to best governance practices for institutions such as the Company, including input and reports from members of the Company’s proxy voting group concerning relevant trends and practices. In 2018, we adopted with approval of stockholders certain amendments to our charter that eliminated voting limitations on stockholders holding 15% or more of our outstanding common stock and removed a related super majority voting provision in our charter.

Board Leadership

Chair of the Board of Directors

In April 2017, Mr. Rogers assumed his role as the nonexecutive chair of the Board. Mr. Rogers has indicated he will retire from the Board effective as of the April 2019 Annual Meeting and, accordingly, will step down as our nonexecutive chair. The Board has announced that it will appoint Mr. Stromberg as the chair of the Board in addition to his current role as our president and CEO. By serving in both positions, Mr. Stromberg will be able to draw on his detailed knowledge of the Company to provide leadership to the Board in coordination with the lead independent director. The combined role of chair and CEO reflects our confidence in the leadership of Mr. Stromberg and also ensures that the Company presents its strategy to stockholders, employees and clients with a unified voice from the person most knowledgeable about and responsible for the implementation

of the strategy. The Board has determined that the appointment of an independent lead director, together with a combined chair and CEO, serve the best interests of the Company and its stockholders at this time. The Board is confident that the duties and responsibilities allocated to its independent lead director, together with its other corporate governance practices and strong independent board, provides appropriate and effective independent oversight of management.

Lead Independent Director

The lead independent director role was created in 2004 and has continually developed since that time. The lead independent director chairs Board meetings at which the chair is not present, approves Board agendas and meeting schedules, and oversees Board materials distributed in advance of Board meetings. The lead independent director also calls meetings of the independent directors, chairs all executive sessions of the independent directors, and acts as liaison between the independent directors and management. The lead independent director is available to the chief legal counsel and corporate secretary to discuss and, as necessary, respond to stockholder communications to the Board.

Mr. Wilson was appointed by our independent directors as Lead Independent Director after the 2018 Annual Meeting and is expected to be reappointed after the Annual Meeting.

Independent Leadership

We believe that a well-empowered lead independent director provides independent leadership to our Board. The Company has a strong independent Board, and following the Annual Meeting, all of the members of the Board other than Mr. Stromberg will be independent under the NASDAQ Global Select Market standards. In addition, this Committee, the Audit Committee, and the Compensation Committee are all composed entirely of independent directors, and our chair and lead independent director, together with these Committees, have significant and meaningful responsibilities designed to foster critical oversight and good governance practices. We believe that our structure is appropriate at this time and serves well the interests of the Company and its stockholders.

Committee Leadership

During 2015, Mr. Bartlett became chair of the Audit Committee, Mr. MacLellan became chair of the Executive Compensation Committee and Ms. Snowe became chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that periodic rotation of committee membership and chairpersons is desirable, and that chairpersons will generally be considered for change at least every five years. This is not an absolute rule, however, and in some circumstances continued service on a committee or as chair by persons with particular skills may be warranted.

Director Qualifications and the Nominations Process

Director Replenishment and Tenure

Messrs. Rogers and Bernard are stepping down as members of our Board effective as of the 2019 Annual Meeting. They both have been longtime members of our Board and important contributors to the Company as senior executives holding a number of roles at the Company. H. Lawrence Culp, Jr. also resigned as a member of the Board in October 2018 in connection with his appointment as the chief executive officer of General Electric Company. Richard Verma was first elected to our Board at the 2018 Annual Meeting.

A number of our long-tenured directors retired over the last five years. After the 2019 Annual Meeting, the Board will have nine directors, eight of whom are independent. The tenure of our independent directors ranges from one to nine years, with an average tenure of approximately five years. Only three of our directors have a tenure of greater than five years. Given the foregoing, and in light of trends with other boards of directors, during 2018 we increased our mandatory retirement age for directors from 72 years of age to 75 years of age.

We believe that the nominees presented in this proxy statement constitute a Board with an appropriate level and diversity of experience, education, skills, and independence. We routinely assess and monitor the capabilities of our existing directors and whether additional capabilities and independent directors should be added to the Board. In considering the need for additional independent directors, we consider any expected Board departures and retirements and factor succession planning for the Board members into our deliberations, with particular reference to specific skills and capabilities of departing Board members. We are very pleased with our current complement of directors and the varied perspectives they bring to the Board.

This committee supervises the nomination process for directors. We consider the performance, independence, diversity, and other characteristics of our incumbent directors, including their willingness to serve for an additional term, and any change in their employment or other circumstances in considering their renomination each year. In considering diversity, we consider

diversity of background and experience as well as ethnic, gender, racial, and other forms of diversity. Although we do not have a formal policy regarding diversity in identifying nominees for a directorship, we monitor the diversity profile of the Board and consider it an important factor relevant to any particular nominee and to the overall composition of our Board.

In the event that a vacancy exists or we decide to increase the size of the Board, we identify, interview and examine, and make recommendations to the Board regarding appropriate candidates. We identify potential candidates principally through suggestions from the Company’s directors and senior management. The chair and CEO and other Board members may also seek candidates through informal discussions with third parties. During 2018, we elected to engage a national search organization to assist us in our identification of potential director candidates with capabilities fitting our required profile for potential Board members. We also consider candidates recommended or suggested by stockholders as described below.

In evaluating potential candidates, we consider independence from management, background, experience, expertise, commitment, diversity, number of other public board and related committee seats held, and potential conflicts of interest, among other factors, and take into account the composition of the Board at the time of the assessment. All candidates for nomination must:

In addition, candidates expected to serve on the Audit Committee must meet independence and financial literacy qualifications imposed by the NASDAQ Global Select Market and by the SEC and other applicable law. Candidates expected to serve on this committee or the Compensation Committee must meet independence qualifications set out by the NASDAQ Global Select Market, and members of the Compensation Committee must also meet additional independence tests imposed by the NASDAQ Global Select Market. Our evaluations of potential directors include, among other things, an assessment of a candidate’s background and credentials, personal interviews, and discussions with appropriate references. Once we have selected a candidate, we present him or her to the full Board for election if a vacancy occurs or is created by an increase in the size of the Board during the course of the year, or for nomination if the director is to be first elected by stockholders. All directors serve for one-year terms and must stand for reelection annually.

In accordance with the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considered Ms. Bush’s membership on four other public company board of directors, and approved her continued service on such public company boards, and renominated her to serve on the Board.

Board Evaluations

In January 2019, we asked all Board members to reply to an anonymous evaluation questionnaire regarding the performance of the Board and its committees during 2018. Feedback from these questionnaires was supplemented by interviews of each independent director by our Lead Independent Director. We discussed the results of the evaluations and interviews at our meeting on February 11, 2019 and provided a full report to the Board. Consistent with past practice, we will implement suggestions and conclusions from the evaluation process during the course of the upcoming year. We plan to continue to conduct evaluations and interviews each year and to periodically modify our procedures to ensure that we receive candid feedback and are responsive to future developments and suggestions from our directors.

Director Orientation and Continuing Education and Development

When a new independent director joins the Board, we provide an orientation program for the purpose of providing the new director with an understanding of the operations and the financial condition of the Company as well as the Board’s expectations for its directors. Each director is expected to maintain the necessary knowledge and information to perform his or her responsibilities as a director. To assist the directors in understanding the Company and its industry and maintaining the level of expertise required for the director, the Company will, from time to time and at least annually, offer Company-sponsored continuing education programs or presentations in addition to briefings during Board meetings relating to the competitive and industry environment and the Company’s goals and strategies.

The Board has joined the National Association of Corporate Directors, which provides resources that help directors strengthen board leadership. Each director is encouraged to participate at least once every three years in continuing education programs for public-company directors sponsored by nationally recognized educational organizations not affiliated with the Company. The cost of all such continuing education is paid for by the Company.

Stockholder Proposals

We from time to time receive stockholder proposals from our stockholders intended for inclusion in our proxy statement. We typically will work with Company management in reviewing these proposals and determine an appropriate course of action in response, including, where necessary, a statement of our position for or in opposition to the proposal from the stockholder.

Policy With Respect to the Consideration of Director Candidates Recommended or Nominated by Stockholders

Recommendations

A stockholder who wishes to recommend a candidate for the Board should send a letter to the chair of this committee at the Company’s principal executive offices providing (i) information relevant to the candidate’s satisfaction of the criteria described above under “Director Qualifications and the Nominations Process” and (ii) information that would be required for a director nomination under Section 1.11 of the Company’s Amended and Restated By-Laws. The committee will consider and evaluate candidates recommended by stockholders in the same manner it considers candidates from other sources. Acceptance of a recommendation does not imply that the committee will ultimately nominate the recommended candidate.

Proxy Access and Nominations

We have adopted a proxy access right to permit a stockholder, or a group of up to 20 stockholders, owning 3% or more of the Company’s outstanding common stock continuously for at least three years, to nominate and include in the Company’s proxy materials director-nominees constituting up to two individuals or 20% of the Board (whichever is greater), provided that the stockholder(s) and the nominee(s) satisfy the requirements specified in the amended By-Laws. Section 1.13 of Price Group’s Amended and Restated By-Laws sets out the procedures a stockholder must follow to use proxy access. Section 1.11 of Price Group’s Amended and Restated By-Laws sets out the procedures a stockholder must follow in order to nominate a candidate for Board membership outside of the proxy access process. For these requirements, please refer to the Amended and Restated By-Laws as of February 12, 2019, filed with the SEC on February 13, 2019, as Exhibit 3.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K.

Olympia J. Snowe, Chair
Mary K. Bush
Alan D. Wilson

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

Stock Ownership of 5% Beneficial Owners

To our knowledge, these are the following beneficial owners of more than 5% of our outstanding common stock as of February 22, 2019.

Stock Ownership of Management

The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of the record date, February 22, 2019, by (i) each director and each nominee for director, (ii) each person named in the Summary Compensation Table, and (iii) all directors and executive officers as a group. Share amounts and percentages shown for each individual or group in the table assume the exercise of all stock options exercisable by such individual or group within 60 days of the record date and the settlement of RSUs that are vested or will vest within 60 days of the record date. Except as otherwise noted, all shares are owned individually with sole voting and dispositive power.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

We believe that all filing requirements to comply with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act were met during the calendar year 2018.

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

The Compensation Discussion and Analysis (CD&A) provides an overview and analysis of our executive compensation philosophy, addresses the principal elements used to compensate our executive officers and explains how our executive compensation design aligns with the Company’s strategic objectives. We address the 2018 compensation decisions and their rationale for those determinations for our named executive officers (NEOs). This CD&A should be read together with the compensation tables that follow this section. Our NEOs for 2018 are as follows:

Executive Summary

Our compensation programs recognize and reward performance, with a focus on rewarding the achievements of our NEOs, as measured by a number of factors over the short-term and long-term. Those factors include:

Our compensation programs are also designed to reward NEOs for their contributions to the Company’s culture, service quality, customer retention, risk management, corporate reputation, and to the quality and collaboration of our associates. A significant portion of NEO compensation is performance-based and includes a material long-term incentive component tied to Company stock performance, thereby ensuring compensation is dependent on the Company’s short-term and longer-term performance.

Overall, we were pleased with our results during 2018. We continued to perform well for our clients while achieving strong financial results for the Company. Below is a summary of results for key measures that the Compensation Committee considers when evaluating NEO performance and making annual and long-term incentive compensation decisions.

2018 FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS

2018 STRATEGIC PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS

2018 COMPENSATION DECISIONS FOR OUR CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND OTHER NEOs

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION PRACTICES

At the 2018 Annual Meeting, our stockholders cast a non-binding advisory vote on the compensation of the NEOs. Nearly 96% of the shares voted approved the compensation paid to our NEOs. The Compensation Committee welcomed this feedback and considers this outcome supportive of our approach to executive compensation. The Compensation Committee continues to implement and maintain practices in our compensation programs and related areas that reflect responsible corporate governance and compensation programs. These include:

	What We Do	What We Don’t Do
	Include all independent directors on the Compensation Committee.		Allow executives or independent directors to short-sell the Company stock or hedge to offset a possible decrease in the market value of Company stock held by them.
	Impose stock ownership and retention requirements on our independent directors, NEOs, and other select members of senior management.		Enter into change-in-control agreements with any of our executive officers.
	Emphasize variable compensation, including long-term equity incentive compensation.		Provide excise tax gross-ups.
	Award RSUs that are subject to a 12-month objective performance-based earning period and a five-year ratable vesting schedule. In 2019, performance-based RSUs will be subject to a three-year performance goal.		Enter into broad-based employment agreements with our United States-based executive officers.
	Impose double-trigger vesting on acceleration of awards granted under our 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan (2012 Incentive Plan) in the event we are acquired or taken over by another company.		Pay dividends on unearned performance-based RSUs.
	Engage an independent compensation consultant who provides services only to the Compensation Committee and provides no other services to the Company or its management.		Accelerate the vesting of equity awards on an executive officer’s retirement.
	Use a comprehensive risk management program designed to identify, evaluate, and control risks and our compensation and stock ownership programs work within this risk management framework.		Permit the repricing or exchange of equity awards in any scenario without stockholder approval.
	Have a recoupment policy for both cash and equity incentive compensation in place for executive officers in the event of a material restatement of our financial results within three years of the original reporting.		Sponsor any supplemental executive retirement plans or provide significant perquisites and other personal benefits to our executive officers.

Executive Compensation Philosophy and Objectives

Our NEO compensation programs are designed to satisfy two core objectives:

We believe NEO compensation should be straight-forward, goal-oriented, longer-term focused, transparent, and consistent with stockholder interests. In addition, NEO compensation should be linked directly to our overall corporate performance, as well as to our success in achieving our long-term strategic goals.

KEY ELEMENTS OF 2018 NEO COMPENSATION

Our compensation program consists primarily of three elements: base salary, annual cash incentives, and long-term equity awards. Most NEO compensation is performance-based, which aligns pay to Company performance and to their individual performance against goals. There is no pre-established formula for the allocation between cash and non-cash compensation or between short-term and long-term awards. Instead, each year the Compensation Committee determines, at its discretion, the appropriate level and mix of short-term and long-term awards to our NEOs to reward annual performance and to encourage meeting our long-term strategic goals. The key features and purpose of the primary compensation elements are detailed in the table below.