Rite Aid Corporation Corporate Governance Guidelines
Role of the Board
The role of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Rite Aid Corporation (the “Company” or “Rite Aid”) is to oversee the management of the Company and to represent the interests of all Rite Aid stockholders. In this role, each director must fulfill his or her duties of care and loyalty and must otherwise exercise his or her business judgment in the best interests of Rite Aid and its stockholders. The directors are also responsible for acting as advisors to the senior management team. The Board is committed to legal and ethical conduct in fulfilling its responsibilities.
Responsibilities of the Board
The responsibilities of the Board, acting directly and through its committees, include oversight of the following areas:
- Strategy and Performance. The Board engages in constructive dialogue with senior management on the Company’s business and financial goals and strategies, and reviews and evaluates the Company’s performance and management’s progress in delivering on Rite Aid’s strategic framework for long-term stockholder value creation. The Board recognizes that the long-term interests of stockholders are advanced by responsibly considering the concerns of other stakeholders and interested parties, including associates, customers, suppliers, partners, government, local communities, and the public at large.
- Risk Management. The Board oversees the Company’s approach to managing risk. Board committees consider risks within their respective areas of responsibility and advise the Board of any significant risks.
- Management Performance and Compensation; Succession Planning. The Board evaluates the performance and approves the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer and other senior executives. The Board also reviews succession planning for senior executives.
- Human Capital Management. The Board oversees the Company’s strategies for attracting and retaining a qualified and motivated workforce and developing talent. The Board, through the Compensation Committee, reviews employee engagement and diversity and inclusion initiatives, objectives and progress.
- Corporate Responsibility. The Board, through the Nominating and Governance Committee, reviews and considers the environmental, social, and corporate governance policies, trends, and activities related to the Company.
Size of the Board
The Board in recent years has had between 8 and 14 members. This range permits diversity of perspectives and experience without hindering effective discussion.
Board Membership Criteria
The Board seeks to maintain an engaged, independent Board with broad experience and judgment that is committed to representing the long-term interests of our stockholders. The Nominating and Governance Committee is responsible for reviewing with the Board the appropriate criteria for membership on the Board. Generally, outside directors should be persons with broad experience in areas important to the operation of the Company, such as business, executive management, healthcare, finance/accounting, law, education, or government, and should possess qualities reflecting integrity, independence, wisdom, an inquiring mind, vision, a proven record of accomplishment, and an ability to work with others. In addition, the Nominating and Governance Committee takes into account a candidate's ability to contribute to the diversity of background, experiences, and perspectives represented on the Board, as well as diversity with respect to race, ethnicity, and gender. To reflect the Board’s commitment to diversity, the Nominating and Governance Committee will instruct any third party search firm to include in its initial list of candidates qualified individuals who reflect diverse backgrounds, including diversity of gender and race or ethnicity.
Selection of New Directors
The Nominating and Governance Committee is responsible for identifying, evaluating, and recommending candidates to the full Board for membership, including potential nominees recommended by stockholders. The full Board is responsible for selecting its members and recommending them for election by the stockholders or by a majority vote of the Board to fill vacancies. The invitation to join the Board should be extended by the Chairman, on behalf of the entire Board.
Independent Directors
The Board's policy is that a majority of its members be independent directors. No director shall qualify as "independent" unless the Board affirmatively determines on an annual basis that the director has no material relationship with the Company. Only independent directors may serve on the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and Nominating and Governance Committee.
Selection of Chairman
The Board shall appoint the Chairman. As reflected in the Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Company (“By-Laws”), the Board has determined that the Chairman shall be a director who is independent under the New York Stock Exchange listing standards and these Guidelines, subject to the provisions set forth in the By-Laws.
The Company shall provide the Chairman with appropriate staff support. The Chairman coordinates the activities of the other non-management directors and:
- Presides at all meetings of the Board, including executive sessions of the non-management directors.
- Has the authority to call meetings of the Board and of the non-management directors.
- Serves as a liaison between the Chief Executive Officer and the independent directors, and facilitates communications between other members of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer. Any director is free to communicate directly with the Chief Executive Officer. The Chairman’s role is to attempt to improve such communications if they are not entirely satisfactory.
- Works with the Secretary of the Company and/or Chief Executive Officer in the preparation of, and approves, Board meeting agendas and schedules and the information to be provided to the Board.
- Chairs the annual review of the performance of the Chief Executive Officer.
- Otherwise consults with the Chief Executive Officer on matters relating to corporate governance and Board performance.
- If requested by major stockholders, ensures that he or she is available, when appropriate, for consultation and direct communication.
Directors Who Change Their Present Job Responsibility
When a director's principal occupation or business association changes substantially from the position he or she held when originally invited to join the Board, the Nominating and Governance Committee will evaluate whether the individual continues to satisfy the Board's membership criteria in light of his or her new occupational status.
Other Directorships
The Board believes that directors should limit the number of boards of other public companies on which they serve in order to ensure their effectiveness as a Board member. Accordingly, a director who serves as chief executive officer of a public company should serve on no more than a total of two public company boards, while all other directors should not serve on more than a total of four public company boards.
Directors should advise the Chairman and the Nominating and Governance Committee in advance of accepting an invitation to serve on another board, in order to evaluate whether the new directorship adversely impacts the director’s Board service, including whether the directorship creates any potential conflicts of interest. The Nominating and Governance Committee and the full Board will take into account the nature of and the time involved in a director's service on other boards in evaluating the suitability of individual directors.
Term Limits
The Board does not endorse arbitrary term limits on Board service, nor does it believe in automatic re-nomination. The Board self-assessment process is an important determinant for continuing service. The Board’s goal is to maintain a mix of tenures so that the Board has a balance of fresh perspectives and continuity of experience.
Board Compensation
The Compensation Committee is responsible for reviewing and recommending, on an annual basis, the compensation for independent directors. Any change in Board compensation is made upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee following discussion and concurrence by the full Board. A director who is also employed by the Company shall not receive additional compensation for such service as a director.
Stock Ownership Guidelines
Directors are required to comply with the Company’s Stock Ownership Guidelines, as administered by the Compensation Committee.
Retirement Age
The Board's policy is that no person shall be elected or appointed to serve as a director after having reached 75 years of age.
A director who fails to receive the required number of votes for reelection in accordance with the By-Laws will, within five days following the certification of the stockholder vote, tender his or her written resignation to the Chairman of the Board for consideration by the Nominating and Governance Committee (referred to as the "Committee" in this policy).
The Committee will consider such tendered resignation and, within 45 days following the date of the stockholders' meeting at which the election occurred, will make a recommendation to the Board concerning the acceptance or rejection of such resignation. In determining its recommendation to the Board, the Committee will consider all factors deemed relevant by the members of the Committee, including, without limitation, the stated reason or reasons why stockholders voted against such director's reelection, the qualifications of the director (including, for example, whether the director serves on the Audit Committee of the Board as an "audit committee financial expert", and whether there are one or more other directors qualified, eligible, and available to serve on the Audit Committee in such capacity), and whether the director's resignation from the Board would be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.
The Committee also will consider a range of possible alternatives concerning the director's tendered resignation as the members of the Committee deem appropriate, including, without limitation, acceptance of the resignation, rejection of the resignation, or rejection of the resignation coupled with a commitment to seek to address and cure the underlying reasons reasonably believed by the Committee to have substantially resulted in such director failing to receive the required number of votes for reelection.
The Board will take formal action on the Committee's recommendation no later than 75 days following the date of the stockholders' meeting at which the election occurred. In considering the Committee's recommendation, the Board will consider the information, factors, and alternatives considered by the Committee and such additional information, factors, and alternatives as the Board deems relevant.
Following the Board's decision on the Committee's recommendation, the Company, within four business days after such decision is made, will publicly disclose, in a Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Board's decision, together with a full explanation of the process by which the decision was made and, if applicable, the Board's reason or reasons for rejecting the tendered resignation.
No director who, in accordance with this Policy, is required to tender his or her resignation, shall participate in the Committee's deliberations or recommendation, or in the Board's deliberations or determination, with respect to accepting or rejecting his or her resignation as a director. If a majority of the members of the Committee fail to receive the required number of votes for reelection, then the independent directors then serving on the Board who were elected at the stockholders' meeting at which the election occurred, and the independent directors, if any, who were not standing for election at such stockholders' meeting, will appoint an ad hoc Board committee from amongst themselves (the "Ad Hoc Committee"), consisting of such number of directors as they may determine to be appropriate, solely for the purpose of considering and making a recommendation to the Board with respect to the tendered resignations. The Ad Hoc Committee shall serve in place of the Committee and perform the Committee's duties for purposes of this Policy. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Ad Hoc Committee would have been created but fewer than three directors would be eligible to serve on it, the entire Board (other than the individual director whose resignation is being considered) will make the determination to accept or reject the tendered resignation without any recommendation from the Committee and without the creation of an Ad Hoc Committee.
This Policy, as it may from time to time be amended, will be summarized or included in the "Governance" section of the Company's website and the Company's proxy statement for each meeting of stockholders (annual or special) at which directors are to be elected.
Director Attendance
Directors are expected to regularly attend Board meetings and meetings of committees on which they serve. Directors should spend the time needed and meet as frequently as necessary to properly discharge their responsibilities. Directors are expected to review meeting materials prior to Board and committee meetings. Directors are encouraged to ask questions and communicate concerns at any time.
Director Orientation and Continuing Education
The Nominating and Governance Committee, in conjunction with the CEO, will make available orientation programs for new directors and, from time to time, continuing education programs for directors, when appropriate. The Company will reimburse directors for reasonable costs and expenses for third party director education programs.
Board Interaction with Institutional Investors, Analysts, Press, and Customers
It is the policy of the Company that, as a general matter, management speaks for the Company and, accordingly, directors should refer all inquiries from investors, analysts, the press, or others to the Chief Executive Officer or his or her designee. Nevertheless, it is expected that independent directors, including the Chairman, may from time to time meet or otherwise communicate with external constituencies, including stockholders. Typically, those meetings or communications will be coordinated through the Investor Relations department or the Secretary of the Company.
Evaluating the Board's Performance
With the assistance of the Nominating and Governance Committee, the Board will conduct an annual self-evaluation of its performance for the purpose of increasing the effectiveness of the Board and its committees.
This evaluation should be of the Board's contribution as a whole and specifically review areas in which the Board and/or management believe improvement may be desirable. The evaluation results and any recommendations will be presented to the full Board.
Ethics and Conflicts of Interest
The Board expects its directors, officers, and other associates to act ethically at all times and to acknowledge adherence to the Company's Code of Business Ethics and Conduct. Any waiver of the Code of Business Ethics and Conduct for directors and executive officers may be made only by the Board of Directors or a Board committee and must be promptly disclosed to stockholders. Directors are expected to avoid any action, position, or interest that conflicts with an interest of the Company, or that gives the appearance of a conflict. If any actual or potential conflict of interest arises for a director, the director shall promptly inform the Chief Executive Officer and the Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee. If a significant conflict exists and cannot be resolved, the director should resign. All directors will recuse themselves from any discussion or decision affecting their personal, business, or professional interests.
Related Person Transactions
The Company’s Related Person Transactions Policy requires that any Related Person Transactions (as defined therein), including those involving in excess of $120,000 in which the Company is a participant and any director, executive officer, greater than five percent stockholder, or any member of their immediate family has a material interest, be disclosed to and reviewed, approved, or ratified by the Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board. The Committee (or the Chair) will approve only those related person transactions that are in, or are not inconsistent with, the best interests of the Company and its stakeholders, as the Committee (or the Chair, as applicable) determines in good faith.
Frequency of Meetings
The Board has a minimum of four regularly scheduled meetings per year. In addition, special meetings may be called from time to time, as determined by the needs of the Company's business.
Selection of Agenda Items for Board Meetings
The Chairman of the Board and the Secretary of the Company and/or the Chief Executive Officer will establish the agenda for Board meetings. Any Board member, however, may recommend the inclusion of specific agenda items. The agenda will be distributed in advance of the meeting to each director.
Board Materials Distributed in Advance
Information, data, and presentation materials that are important to the Board's understanding of the business will be distributed in writing to the Board before the Board meets. Management will make every attempt to ensure that the materials being distributed are as concise as possible while giving directors sufficient information to make informed decisions. The Board acknowledges that, under certain circumstances, written materials may be unavailable to directors in advance of a meeting, and that certain items to be discussed at the Board meetings are of an extremely sensitive nature such that the distribution of materials on these matters prior to the Board meeting may not be appropriate.
Executive Session
The non-management directors of the Board generally hold an executive session as part of each regularly scheduled Board meeting.
Attendance of Non-directors at Board Meetings
The Board welcomes the attendance at Board meetings of non-Board members who are present for the purpose of making presentations, responding to questions by the directors, or providing counsel on specific matters within their area of expertise.
Board Access to Management and Outside Advisors
Board members have complete access to the Company's management and outside advisors. Board members’ contact with such individuals shall be handled in a manner that would not be disruptive to the business operation of the Company. Furthermore, the Board encourages management to bring executives into Board meetings who (a) can provide additional insight into the items being discussed because of personal involvement in these areas, and/or (b) are executives with future potential that the senior management believes should be given exposure to the Board.
Number, Structure, and Independence of Committees
The Board currently has four committees: Audit, Compensation, Nominating and Governance, and Executive. From time to time the Board may want to form a new committee or disband a current committee, depending upon the circumstances. The Nominating and Governance Committee is responsible for evaluating and recommending to the Board the responsibilities of the Board committees, including the structure, operation, and authority to delegate subcommittees. Each of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and Nominating and Governance Committee shall be comprised solely of independent directors. The responsibilities of each of these committees is set forth in a committee charter.
Assignment of Committee Members
The Nominating and Governance Committee is responsible, after consultation with the Chairman of the Board and with consideration of the desires of individual Board members, for recommending to the Board the assignment of Board members to various committees. The Board shall determine committee assignments and designate the chairman of each committee.
Consideration should be given to rotating committee members periodically, but the Board does not have a firm policy mandating rotation of committee assignments, since there may be reasons to maintain an individual director's committee membership for a longer period.
Frequency and Length of Committee Meetings
The committee chair, in consultation with committee members, will determine the frequency and length of the meetings of the committee. The committee chair will report the highlights of meetings to the full Board following each meeting.
Committee Agendas
The committee chair, in consultation with the appropriate members of the committee and management, will develop the committee's agenda. Any director, however, may recommend the inclusion of a specific agenda item for any committee meeting, regardless of whether the director is a member of such committee.
Committee Self-Evaluations
Each committee will conduct an annual self-evaluation of its performance and report its assessment to the Board.
Annual Evaluation of the Chief Executive Officer
The independent directors perform an annual evaluation of the Chief Executive Officer, and the results of such evaluation are conveyed by the Chairman to the Chief Executive Officer. The evaluation should be based on objective criteria, including performance of the business, accomplishment of long-term strategic objectives, and development of management succession. The evaluation will be used by the Compensation Committee in the course of its deliberations when considering the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer.
Succession Planning
The Chief Executive Officer should provide to the Board an annual assessment on succession planning. There should also be available, on a continuing basis, the Chief Executive Officer's recommendation as a successor should he or she become unexpectedly disabled. This topic should be addressed regularly in Executive Session.
The Nominating and Governance Committee is responsible for reviewing these principles, as well as considering other corporate governance principles that may, from time to time, merit consideration by the Board.
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