UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.    )

Filed by the Registrant   ☑                            Filed by a Party other than the Registrant  ☐

Check the appropriate box:

Graphic Packaging Holding Company

March 30, 2018

Dear Graphic Packaging Holding Company Stockholders:

It is my pleasure to invite you to Graphic Packaging Holding Company’s 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be held at our offices located at 1500 Riveredge Parkway, Suite 100, Atlanta, Georgia 30328, on Wednesday, May 23, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. local time.

The formal Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement are enclosed with this letter. The Proxy Statement describes the matters to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting. It also describes how our Board of Directors operates and provides compensation and other information about the management and Board of Directors of Graphic Packaging Holding Company.

Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, your vote is important, and I hope you will vote as soon as possible. You may vote over the internet, by telephone or by mailing a proxy or voting instruction card. Voting over the internet, by telephone or by written proxy will ensure your representation at the Annual Meeting, regardless of whether you attend in person. If you hold your shares in your own name and choose to attend the Annual Meeting, you may revoke your proxy and personally cast your votes at the Annual Meeting. If you hold your shares through an account with a brokerage firm, bank or other nominee, please follow instructions from such firm to vote your shares.

Sincerely yours,

Michael P. Doss

President and

Chief Executive Officer

Notice

of

Annual Meeting of Stockholders

of

Graphic Packaging Holding Company

The purposes of the Annual Meeting of Stockholders are to:

Only stockholders of record at the close of business on March 26, 2018 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and at any adjournment thereof.

By order of the Board of Directors,

Lauren S. Tashma

Senior Vice President, General Counsel

and Secretary

1500 Riveredge Parkway, Suite 100

Atlanta, Georgia 30328

March 30, 2018

YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT.

EVEN IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS IN PERSON, PLEASE AUTHORIZE YOUR PROXY OR DIRECT YOUR VOTE BY INTERNET OR TELEPHONE, AS DESCRIBED IN THE ENCLOSED PROXY STATEMENT, OR COMPLETE, SIGN AND DATE THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD OR VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY BY MAIL IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED. IF YOU MAIL THE PROXY CARD, NO POSTAGE IS REQUIRED IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Proxy Statement

for the

Annual Meeting of Stockholders

on

May 23, 2018

GENERAL INFORMATION

Annual Meeting and Voting Information

This Proxy Statement is being furnished in connection with the solicitation by the Board of Directors (the “Board of Directors” or “Board”) of Graphic Packaging Holding Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), of proxies to be voted at the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at the Company’s offices, located at 1500 Riveredge Parkway, Suite 100, Atlanta, Georgia 30328, on Wednesday, May 23, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. local time (the “Annual Meeting”). This Proxy Statement and the enclosed proxy card or notice of their availability on the Internet will first be sent on or before March 30, 2018 to the Company’s stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 26, 2018 (the “Record Date”). References in this Proxy Statement to “Graphic Packaging,” “GPHC,” “we,” “us,” and “our” or similar terms are to Graphic Packaging Holding Company.

Outstanding Shares

As of the close of business on the Record Date, there were 310,279,527 shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding and entitled to vote. Stockholders are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters to come before the Annual Meeting.

Who May Vote

Only stockholders who held shares of the Company’s common stock at the close of business on the Record Date are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof.

How to Vote in Person

If your shares are registered directly in your name, you are considered a stockholder of record and you may vote in person at the Annual Meeting. If your shares are registered through a bank or brokerage firm, your shares are considered to be held beneficially in street name. If your shares are held beneficially in street name and you wish to vote in person at the Annual Meeting, you will need to obtain a proxy from the bank or brokerage firm that holds your shares. Please note that even if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting in person, the Company recommends that you vote before the Annual Meeting.

How to Vote by Proxy

Whether you hold shares directly as a stockholder of record or beneficially in street name, you may direct how your shares are voted without attending the Annual Meeting. If you are a stockholder of record, you may vote by any of the methods described below. If you hold shares beneficially in street name, you may vote by submitting voting instructions to your broker, trustee or nominee. For directions on how to vote, please refer to the instructions below and those included on your proxy card or, for shares held beneficially in street name, the voting instruction card provided by your bank or brokerage firm.

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Voting over the Internet. Stockholders of record of the Company’s common stock with Internet access may submit proxies by following the “Vote by Internet” instructions on their proxy cards. In addition, most of the Company’s stockholders who hold shares beneficially in street name may vote by accessing the website specified on the voting instruction card provided by their bank or brokerage firm. Please check the voting instruction card to determine Internet voting availability.

Voting by Telephone. Stockholders of record of the Company’s common stock may submit proxies by following the “Vote by Phone” instructions on their proxy cards. Most of the Company’s stockholders who hold shares beneficially in street name may vote by phone by calling the number specified on the voting instruction card provided by their bank or brokerage firm. Please check the voting instruction card to determine telephone voting availability.

Voting by Mail. Stockholders of record of the Company’s common stock may submit proxies by completing, signing and dating the enclosed proxy card and mailing it in the accompanying pre-addressed envelope. The Company’s stockholders who hold shares beneficially in street name may vote by mail by completing, signing and dating the voting instruction card provided by their bank or brokerage firm and mailing it in the accompanying pre-addressed envelope.

How Proxies Work

The Board of Directors is asking for your proxy. By giving the Board your proxy, your shares will be voted at the Annual Meeting in the manner you direct. If you do not specify how you wish to vote your shares, your shares will be voted “FOR” the election of each of the Director nominees, “FOR” the approval of the ratification of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, and “FOR” the proposal to approve the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers, every year. The proxyholders will vote shares according to their discretion on any other matter properly brought before the Annual Meeting.

If for any reason any nominee for election as Director is unable or declines to serve as a Director, discretionary authority may be exercised by the proxyholders to vote for a substitute proposed by the Board.

If the shares you own are held beneficially in street name by a bank or brokerage firm, such firm, as the record holder of your shares, is required to vote your shares according to your instructions. To vote your shares, you will need to follow the directions your bank or brokerage firm provides to you. Under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”), if you do not give instructions to your bank or brokerage firm, it will still be able to vote your shares with respect to certain “discretionary” items, but will not be allowed to vote your shares with respect to certain “non-discretionary” items. In the case of non-discretionary items, the shares will be treated as “broker non-votes.” Banks and brokerage firms are allowed to exercise discretionary voting authority for beneficial owners who have not provided voting instructions only with respect to Proposal 2 set forth in this Proxy Statement and not with respect to any other proposal to be voted on at the Annual Meeting.

How to Vote Your 401(k) Plan Shares

If you participate in the Company’s 401(k) Savings Plan or in the Company’s Hourly 401(k) Savings Plan (the “401(k) Plans”), you may give voting instructions as to the number of share equivalents held in your account as of the Record Date to the trustee of the 401(k) Plans. You provide voting instructions to the trustee, Fidelity Management Trust Company, by completing and returning the proxy card accompanying this Proxy Statement. The trustee will vote your shares in accordance with your duly executed instructions if received by 12:00 midnight on May 20, 2018. If you do not send instructions, the trustee will not vote the number of share equivalents credited to your account.

You may also revoke voting instructions previously given to the trustee by filing either a written notice of revocation or a properly completed and signed proxy card bearing a later date with the trustee no later than 12:00 midnight on May 20, 2018. Your voting instructions will be kept confidential by the trustee.

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Quorum

In order to carry out the business of the Annual Meeting, there must be a quorum. This means that at least a majority of the outstanding shares eligible to vote must be represented at the Annual Meeting, either by proxy or in person. Proxies received but marked as abstentions and broker non-votes will be included in the calculation of the number of votes present at the Annual Meeting for purposes of calculating whether a quorum is present.

Votes Needed

The Director nominees receiving the largest number of votes cast are elected, up to the maximum number of Directors fixed by the Board to be elected at the Annual Meeting. As a result, any shares not voted, whether by abstention, broker non-vote or otherwise, have no effect on the election of Directors, except to the extent that the failure to vote for a particular nominee may result in another nominee receiving a larger number of votes. However, under the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, a nominee for director who receives a greater number of votes “withheld” than “for” is expected to tender his or her resignation to the Board promptly following certification of the election results. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider any resignation tendered under this policy and recommend to the Board whether to accept or reject it. The Board will act on such resignation within 90 days following the certification of election results. A Director who tenders his or her resignation will not participate in the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s recommendation or in the Board’s decision regarding whether to accept such resignation. Approval of Proposals 2 and 3 requires the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the shares present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote on such matter at the Annual Meeting. An abstention with respect to these matters will have the effect of a vote against such proposal and broker non-votes will have no effect, as broker non-votes are not treated as shares entitled to vote.

Changing Your Vote

Shares of the Company’s common stock represented by proxy will be voted as directed unless the proxy is revoked. Any proxy may be revoked before it is exercised by sending an instrument revoking the proxy or a proxy bearing a later date to the Company’s Corporate Secretary. Any notice of revocation should be sent to: Graphic Packaging Holding Company, 1500 Riveredge Parkway, Suite 100, Atlanta, Georgia 30328, Attention: Corporate Secretary. Any proxy submitted over the Internet or by telephone may also be revoked by submitting a new proxy over the Internet or by telephone. A proxy is also revoked if the person who executed the proxy is present at the Annual Meeting and elects to vote in person.

Attending in Person

Only stockholders, their designated proxies and guests of the Company may attend the Annual Meeting. If your shares are held beneficially in street name, you must bring an account statement or letter from your brokerage firm or bank showing that you are the beneficial owner of shares of the Company’s common stock as of the Record Date in order to be admitted to the Annual Meeting.

Internet Availability of this Proxy Statement and Form 10-K

The Company’s Proxy Statement, 2017 Annual Report to Stockholders and 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K are available on the Company’s website at www.graphicpkg.com in the Investors section.

Annual Report

The Company’s 2017 Annual Report accompanies this Proxy Statement. The Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 for GPHC is included in the Annual Report and is available without charge upon written request addressed to Graphic Packaging Holding Company,

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Investor Relations, 1500 Riveredge Parkway, Suite 100, Atlanta, Georgia 30328. The Company will also furnish any exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, if specifically requested.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE MATTERS

Information Regarding the Board of Directors

Who are Graphic Packaging’s Directors?

The Board of Directors currently consists of Messrs. David D. Campbell, Paul D. Carrico, Michael P. Doss (who serves as President and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of the Company), Robert A. Hagemann, Peter Kelly, Philip R. Martens (who serves as Chairman of the Board), Larry M. Venturelli and Ms. Lynn A. Wentworth. Mr. G. Andrea Botta resigned from the Board effective February 21, 2018 and Mr. Harold R. Logan, Jr. retired effective May 23, 2017. Mr. Peter Kelly joined the Board on May 24, 2017.

How does Graphic Packaging determine which Directors are independent?

For purposes of this Proxy Statement, “independent” and “independence” have the meanings set forth under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), the rules and regulations adopted thereunder by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), the corporate governance listing standards of the NYSE, and the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, all as in effect from time to time. A Director will not qualify as independent unless the Board affirmatively determines that the Director has no material relationship with the Company (either directly or as a partner, stockholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the Company). In addition, in accordance with the corporate governance listing standards of the NYSE, the Company will also apply the following standards in determining whether a Director is independent:

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Who are the members of the Compensation and Benefits Committee?

The members of GPHC’s Compensation and Benefits Committee are currently Messrs. Campbell, Hagemann, Kelly and Venturelli, with Mr. Hagemann serving as Chairman. Mr. Botta served as Chairman and a member of the Committee until his resignation on February 21, 2018. Messrs. Campbell, Hagemann, Kelly and Venturelli joined the Committee on May 24, 2017. Messrs. Carrico and Martens served on the Committee until May 24, 2017. Messrs. Botta, Campbell, Carrico, Hagemann, Kelly, Martens and Venturelli are each “independent directors,” as defined by Section 303A of the NYSE’s Listed Company Manual.

How many meetings did the Compensation and Benefits Committee have last year?

The Compensation and Benefits Committee held five meetings during 2017.

Did the Compensation and Benefits Committee engage a compensation consultant to assist it in making recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding the amount or form of compensation paid to non-employee directors or executive officers?

Yes, the Compensation and Benefits Committee engaged Meridian Compensation Partners, LLC (“Meridian”) to serve as an independent compensation advisor to the Compensation and Benefits Committee. Representatives from Meridian attended Compensation and Benefits Committee meetings and advised the Compensation and Benefits Committee on compensation trends, best practices and regulatory compliance issues, in addition to providing executive compensation benchmarking analysis. While representatives from Meridian work with members of management to collect information and prepare materials for the Compensation and Benefits Committee, such representatives report directly to the Compensation and Benefits Committee and the decision to retain Meridian is made solely by the Compensation and Benefits Committee. Fees paid to Meridian for executive compensation advisory services in 2017 totaled approximately $152,000.

Did Meridian Compensation Partners, LLC provide any services other than executive compensation advisory services to the Compensation and Benefits Committee to the Company in 2016?

No, Meridian was hired solely to assist the Compensation and Benefits Committee in its review of executive compensation practices, including regulatory compliance issues.

Does the Company have compensation policies and practices that create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company?

No, the Company does not believe its compensation policies and practices for its employees create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. The Company uses performance measures in its short-term and long-term incentive programs that encourage employees to focus on achieving Company-wide profitability and strategic goals. In addition, the design and payout of the Company’s incentive programs are subject to the review and approval of the Compensation and Benefits Committee and, with respect to the President and CEO, the full Board of Directors.

What does the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee do?

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for, among other things, identifying qualified individuals for nomination to the Board, recommending new members to the Board, and developing and recommending a set of corporate governance principles to the Board.

Who are the members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee?

The members of GPHC’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are currently Messrs. Campbell, Carrico, Martens and Ms. Wentworth, with Mr. Martens serving as Chairman. Mr. Logan served on

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the committee until his retirement on May 23, 2017 and Mr. Botta served until his resignation on February 21, 2018. Messrs. Botta, Campbell, Carrico, Logan, Martens and Ms. Wentworth are each “independent directors,” as defined by Section 303A of the NYSE’s Listed Company Manual.

How many meetings did the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee hold last year?

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee held three meetings during 2017.

Does Graphic Packaging have Corporate Governance Guidelines?

Yes, the Board has formally adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines to assure that it will have the necessary authority and practices in place to review and evaluate the Company’s business operations as needed and to assure that the Board is focused on increasing stockholder value. The Corporate Governance Guidelines set forth the practices the Board will follow with respect to Board composition and selection, Board meetings and involvement of senior management, evaluation of the CEO’s performance and senior management succession planning, and Board committees and compensation. You may find a copy of the Corporate Governance Guidelines on the Company’s website at www.graphicpkg.com in the Investors section.

Does Graphic Packaging have a code of ethics and conduct, and, if so, where can I find a copy?

Yes, the Board has formally adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, which applies to all of the Company’s employees, officers and Directors. A copy of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is available on the Company’s website at www.graphicpkg.com in the Investors section.

Does Graphic Packaging have a policy governing related-party transactions, and, if so, where can I find a copy?

Yes, the Board has delegated authority to the Audit Committee to review and approve related-party transactions. The Audit Committee has adopted a Policy Regarding Related Party Transactions that is available on the Company’s website at www.graphicpkg.com in the Investors section.

Have the Board’s standing committees adopted charters and, if so, where can I find copies?

Yes, the Audit Committee, Compensation and Benefits Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee have each adopted charters, copies of which can be found on the Company’s website at www.graphicpkg.com in the Investors section.

How can I obtain printed copies of the information described above?

The Company will provide printed copies of the charters of the Audit Committee, Compensation and Benefits Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, as well as the Policy Regarding Related Party Transactions, the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and Corporate Governance Guidelines to any person without charge upon request.

Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions

The Board recognizes that Related Party Transactions (as defined below) can present potential or actual conflicts of interest and create the appearance that Company decisions are based on considerations other than the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. In March 2007, the Board of Graphic Packaging Corporation (the publicly-traded predecessor to the Company, “GPC”) delegated authority to the Audit Committee to review and approve Related Party Transactions, and the Audit Committee has adopted a Policy Regarding Related Party Transactions.

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The Policy Regarding Related Party Transactions defines a “Related Party Transaction” as any transaction, arrangement or relationship (including any indebtedness or guarantee of indebtedness) in which (a) the aggregate amount involved will or may be expected to exceed $120,000 in any fiscal year, (b) the Company is a participant, and (c) any Related Party (as defined below) has or will have a direct or indirect interest, other than an interest that arises solely as a result of being a director or beneficial owner of less than 10% of another entity. The policy defines a “Related Party” as any (a) person who is or was since the beginning of the last fiscal year an executive officer, director or nominee for election as a director of the Company, (b) any beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Company’s common stock, (c) an immediate family member of any of the foregoing, or (d) any firm, corporation or other entity in which any of the foregoing is employed, is a principal or serves in a similar position, or has a beneficial ownership of more than 5%.

The Policy Regarding Related Party Transactions provides that the Audit Committee shall review all of the material facts and circumstances of all Related Party Transactions and either approve, ratify or disapprove of the entry into the Related Party Transaction. In determining whether to approve a Related Party Transaction, the Audit Committee will take into account, among other factors it deems appropriate, whether the Related Party Transaction is on terms no less favorable than terms generally available to an unaffiliated third-party under the same or similar circumstances, the benefits to the Company, the extent of the Related Party’s interest in the transaction, and if the Related Party is a director or a nominee for director, the impact on such director’s independence. The policy provides that certain Related Party Transactions, including certain charitable contributions, transactions involving competitive bids and transactions in which all stockholders receive proportional benefits, are pre-approved and do not require an individual review by the Audit Committee. You may find a copy of the Policy Regarding Related Party Transactions on the Company’s website at www.graphicpkg.com in the Investors section under Corporate Governance.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

Messrs. Botta, Campbell, Carrico, Hagemann, Kelly, Martens and Venturelli served as members of the Compensation and Benefits Committee during 2017. None of the members is or has ever been an officer or employee of the Company. No member had any relationship requiring disclosure as a compensation committee interlock during 2017.

PROPOSAL 1 — ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

The Company’s Board of Directors currently has eight members divided into three classes, with one class being elected each year for a three-year term. The three nominees standing for election as Class II Directors are: Messrs. Carrico and Martens and Ms. Wentworth.

If elected, each Class II nominee will serve three consecutive years with the term expiring in 2021, and until a successor is elected and qualified. The election of the Director nominees is by plurality vote, which means that the three nominees receiving the highest number of affirmative votes will be elected. If at the time of the Annual Meeting, any of these nominees is unable or unwilling to serve as a Director for any reason, which is not expected to occur, the persons named as proxies will vote for such substitute nominee or nominees, if any, as shall be designated by the Board.

Set forth below is certain information regarding the Director nominees and each of the incumbent Directors whose term will continue after the Annual Meeting, including the particular experience, qualifications and skills that led the Board to conclude that the Director nominee or incumbent Director is qualified to serve as a Director of the Company. There are no family relationships among any Directors or executive officers of the Company.

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Information Concerning the Nominees

Class II Directors — Term to Expire in 2021

Paul D. Carrico, 67, joined Graphic Packaging Holding Company’s Board on September 18, 2014. In 2015, Mr. Carrico retired as President and Chief Executive Officer of Axiall Corporation (“Axiall”), a manufacturer and international marketer of chemicals and vinyl-based building products. Mr. Carrico joined a predecessor company of Axiall, Georgia Gulf Corporation, in 1999, and held a variety of positions before being named President and Chief Executive Officer of Georgia Gulf Corporation in 2008. Prior to joining Georgia Gulf Corporation, Mr. Carrico was employed by Condea Vista, Conoco Chemicals Company and American Air Filters in various management, manufacturing and engineering positions, respectively. Mr. Carrico holds a Masters of Engineering, specialized in Chemical Engineering from the University of Louisville and a Masters in the Science of Management from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The Board concluded that Mr. Carrico is qualified to serve as a director of the Company because of his experience as a director and the Chief Executive Officer of a global manufacturing company similar in size to Graphic Packaging Holding Company. In addition, he has significant financial restructuring and international marketing experience.

Philip R. Martens, 57, was appointed Chairman of the Graphic Packaging Holding Company Board on May 25, 2016. He joined Graphic Packaging Holding Company’s Board on November 21, 2013. Mr. Martens is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of Novelis Inc., a rolled aluminum manufacturing company and he served in this capacity from 2009 to 2015. Prior to his employment with Novelis, Mr. Martens served as Senior Vice President of light vehicle systems for ArvinMeritor Inc., a distributor for engine and transmission parts and President and Chief Executive Officer designate of Arvin Innovation, a leading global provider of dynamic motion and control automotive systems. Prior to that, Mr. Martens served as President and Chief Operations Officer of Plastech Engineered Products. From 1987 to 2005, he held various engineering and leadership positions at Ford Motor Company, most recently serving as group Vice President of product creation. Mr. Martens currently serves on the Board of Directors for Trinseo Corporation. In addition, Mr. Martens is a member of the Board of Directors for Make-A-Wish Georgia.

The Board concluded that Mr. Martens is qualified to serve as a director of the Company because he has over 25 years of senior management experience, including serving as Chief Executive Officer of two public manufacturing companies, including a company which is significantly larger than Graphic Packaging Holding Company. Mr. Martens also has extensive experience in international operations and business in Europe, South America and Asia where the Company currently has operations.

Lynn A. Wentworth, 59, joined Graphic Packaging Holding Company’s Board on November 18, 2009. Ms. Wentworth is the former Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of BlueLinx Holdings, Inc., a building products distributor, where she served from January 2007 until February 2008. Prior to joining BlueLinx, she was, most recently, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for BellSouth Corporation’s Communications Group and held various other positions there from 1985 until 2007. She is a certified public accountant. She is on the Board of Directors for Cincinnati Bell, Inc. where she chairs the Audit and Finance Committee and is a member of the Executive and Compensation Committees. Ms. Wentworth was also appointed to the Board of Directors for CyrusOne, Inc. in May 2014, where she serves as Chair of the Audit and Finance Committee and as a member of the Compensation Committee.

The Board concluded that Ms. Wentworth is qualified to serve as a director of the Company because she has over 30 years of public accounting and corporate finance experience, including her service as the Chief Financial Officer of BlueLinx Holdings, Inc., a public company, and the Communications Group of Bellsouth Corporation.

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The Board concluded that Mr. Campbell is qualified to serve as a director of the Company because he has over 20 years of executive management experience, including management and operational experience at several manufacturing companies. He also has significant transactional experience, including mergers, acquisitions and dispositions of businesses.

Robert A. Hagemann, 61, joined Graphic Packaging Holding Company’s Board on May 21, 2014. Mr. Hagemann, who is currently retired, was most recently Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (“Quest”) from May 2003 to July 2013. Prior to that, Mr. Hagemann served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Quest from August 1998. Mr. Hagemann joined a predecessor company, Corning Life Sciences, Inc. (“Corning”), a subsidiary of Quest’s former parent, Corning Incorporated, in 1992, and held a variety of senior financial positions before being named Vice President and Corporate Controller of Quest in 1996. Prior to joining Corning, Mr. Hagemann was employed by Prime Hospitality, Inc. and Crompton & Knowles, Inc. in senior financial positions. He was also previously employed by Arthur Young & Co., a predecessor company to Ernst & Young. Mr. Hagemann holds a B.S. in accounting from Rider University and an MBA in finance from Seton Hall University. Mr. Hagemann serves on the Board of Directors of Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. and Ryder System, Inc.

The Board concluded that Mr. Hagemann is qualified to serve as a director of the Company because of his 15 years of experience as the Chief Financial Officer of Quest, as well as his experience as a board member of both Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. and Ryder System, Inc. Mr. Hageman serves as Chairman of the Audit Committee and a member of the Research, Innovation and Technology Committee for Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. In addition, Mr. Hagemann serves as Chairman of the Audit Committee and is a member of the Finance Committee for Ryder System, Inc. Mr. Hagemann also has extensive acquisition experience, having completed and integrated numerous acquisitions over the course of his career.

Peter Kelly, 61, was appointed to Graphic Packaging Holding Company’s Board on May 24, 2017. He has worked for NXP Semiconductors, B.V., a Netherlands-based designer and manufacturer of semiconductors since 2011, initially serving as General Manager of Operations, then as Chief Financial Officer. From 2007 to 2011, Mr. Kelly served as Chief Financial Officer for UGI Corporation, a distributor and marketer of energy products and services. Prior to joining UGI, Mr. Kelly worked for Agere Systems from 2000 to 2007, where he served as Executive Vice President of Operations, and then as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Kelly has a BS from the University of Manchester (UK) Institute of Science and Technology, he is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and he has served on the Board of Directors of Plexus (PLXS) since 2005, currently serving as the company’s Chair of the Audit Committee.

The Board concluded that Mr. Kelly is qualified to serve as a director of the Company because he has over 17 years of executive management experience, including over 10 years of corporate finance experience as the Chief Financial Officer of Agere Systems, UGI Corporation and NXP Semiconductors B.V. He also has significant international and transactional experience, including mergers, acquisitions and dispositions of businesses.

Criteria for Potential Directors

The Company’s Board is responsible for selecting nominees for election as Directors by stockholders and for filling vacancies on the Board. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for identifying and recommending to the Board individuals for nomination as members of the Board and its committees and, in this regard, reviewing with the Board on an annual basis the current skills, background and expertise of the members of the Board, as well as the Company’s future and ongoing needs. This assessment is used to establish criteria for identifying and evaluating potential candidates for the Board. However, as a general matter, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee seeks individuals with significant and relevant business experience who demonstrate:

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The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee does not have a specific diversity policy used in identifying nominees for director. As described above, however, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee regularly assesses the skills, background and expertise of the members of the Board and identifies the Company’s needs. As part of this process, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee strives to select nominees with relevant business experience, the personal characteristics described above and a wide variety of skills and viewpoints. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee also recognizes the importance of selecting directors from a range of backgrounds and professions to provide the Board a wealth of experiences and perspectives to inform its decisions and enhance its cognitive diversity. Consistent with this philosophy, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee evaluates the ability of a potential director to contribute to the Board by leveraging a broad range of experiences, as well as the potential director’s ethnic, gender, generational and racial diversity.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers candidates recommended by its members and other Directors, as well as those identified by a third-party search firm retained to assist in identifying candidates. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will also consider whether to nominate any person recommended by a stockholder pursuant to the provisions of the Company’s By-Laws relating to stockholder nominations as described in “Stockholder Proposals and Nominations,” below. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee uses the same criteria to evaluate proposed nominees that are recommended by Directors or a search firm as it does for stockholder-recommended nominees.

Compensation of Directors

The following table sets forth information regarding the compensation of the non-employee Directors of GPHC in 2017.

Director Compensation

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During 2017, each non-employee Director of the Company was eligible to receive an annual cash retainer fee payable in quarterly installments. Such retainer was raised in February 2017 from $75,000 to $90,000. Each of the Audit Committee and the Compensation and Benefits Committee Chairs are eligible to receive a further retainer fee of $20,000 and $15,000, respectively, and the Chairman of the Board and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Chairman was eligible to receive a further retainer of $150,000, all payable in quarterly installments. In addition to the cash retainers, each non-employee Director (except for Mr. Logan who retired effective May 23, 2017) received an annual grant of shares of the Company’s common stock with a value of approximately $110,000 on the date of grant. The Company no longer pays Board or committee meeting fees, but continues to reimburse all Directors for reasonable and necessary expenses they incur in performing their duties as Directors.

Board Recommendation

The Board believes that voting for each of the three nominees for Director selected by the Board is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. The Board recommends a vote “FOR” each of the three nominees for Director.

AUDIT MATTERS

Report of the Audit Committee

This report by the Audit Committee is required by the rules of the SEC. It is not to be deemed incorporated by reference by any general statement that incorporates by reference this Proxy Statement into any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, and it is not to be otherwise deemed filed under either such Act.

The Audit Committee is currently comprised of five members, each of whom is an “independent director,” as defined by Section 303A of the NYSE Listed Company Manual. Each of the members of the Audit Committee is financially literate and qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” under federal securities laws. The Audit Committee’s purposes are to assist the Board in overseeing: (a) the quality and integrity of our financial statements; (b) the qualifications and independence of our independent auditors; and (c) the performance of our internal audit function and independent auditors.

In carrying out its responsibilities, the Audit Committee has:

Based on the review and discussions noted above and our independent auditors’ report to the Audit Committee, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that our audited financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017.

Lynn A. Wentworth (Chair)

Paul D. Carrico

Robert A. Hagemann

Peter Kelly

Larry M. Venturelli

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Audit Fees

Aggregate fees billed to us for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 by our independent auditors, Ernst & Young LLP, are as follows:

Audit Fees. This category includes the aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered for the audit of our consolidated financial statements and internal control over financial reporting for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, for the reviews of the financial statements included in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q during 2017 and 2016, and for services that are normally provided by the independent auditors in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for the relevant fiscal years.

Audit-Related Fees. This category includes the aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for assurance and related services by the independent auditors that are reasonably related to the performance of the audits or reviews of the financial statements and are not reported above under “Audit Fees,” and generally consist of fees for accounting consultation and audits of employee benefit plans.

Tax Fees. This category includes the aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by the independent auditors for tax compliance, tax planning and tax advice.

All Other Fees. This category includes the aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for products and services provided by the independent auditors that are not reported above under “Audit Fees,” “Audit-Related Fees,” or “Tax Fees.”

The Audit Committee reviews and pre-approves audit and non-audit services performed by the Company’s independent auditors as well as the fees charged for such services. The Audit Committee has considered whether the provision of non-audit services by Ernst & Young LLP is compatible with maintaining the firm’s independence. The Audit Committee may delegate pre-approval authority for such services to one or more members, whose decisions are then presented to the full Audit Committee at its scheduled meetings. In 2017 and 2016, all of the audit and non-audit services provided by our independent auditors were pre-approved by the Audit Committee in accordance with the Audit Committee Charter.

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PROPOSAL 2 — RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has evaluated the qualifications, performance and independence of Ernst & Young LLP and has appointed Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2018. Ernst & Young has served as the Company’s registered public accounting firm continuously since 2008. To assure continuing auditor independence, the Audit Committee periodically considers whether there should be a rotation of the independent external audit firm. Further, in connection with the mandated rotation of the audit firm’s lead engagement partner, the Audit Committee and its chair were directly involved in the selection of the new lead engagement partner. Although the Company is not required to submit the appointment of its independent registered public accounting firm to the stockholders for ratification, the Board of Directors believes that it is important to do so as a matter of good corporate governance. This proposal asks you to ratify this selection. Representatives of Ernst & Young LLP are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting and will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so. In addition, they will be available to respond to appropriate questions from stockholders.

Pursuant to its charter, the Audit Committee has sole and direct responsibility for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the work of the independent registered public accounting firm engaged by the Company. The Audit Committee will consider the results of the stockholder vote on ratification, but will exercise its judgment, consistent with its responsibilities under its charter, with respect to the appointment and retention of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. Additionally, the engagement of Ernst & Young LLP will be subject to the Audit Committee and Ernst & Young LLP reaching agreement on satisfactory terms of the engagement.

Board Recommendation

The Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR” ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.

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COMPENSATION MATTERS

Compensation and Benefits Committee Report

The members of GPHC’s Compensation and Benefits Committee listed below reviewed and discussed the following Compensation Discussion and Analysis with management of the Company. Based on such review and discussion, the Compensation and Benefits Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement and incorporated by reference into the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.

Compensation and Benefits Committee

Robert A. Hagemann, Chairman

David D. Campbell

Peter Kelly

Larry M. Venturelli

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

This Compensation Discussion and Analysis section (“CD&A”) describes the Company’s compensation principles, policies and practices, as well as the specific factors considered by the Compensation and Benefits Committee (referred to in this CD&A as the “Committee”) in making compensation decisions. This CD&A focuses on the compensation of our Named Executive Officers (referred to herein as our “Executives”), who are set forth below and included in the Summary Compensation Table and other tables in this Proxy Statement:

Executive Summary

The goal of our compensation program is to align the interests of our key employees with those of our stockholders by implementing compensation practices designed to attract, retain, motivate and reward key members of management. A significant portion of the compensation packages of our Executives is intended to be at-risk pay for performance earned based on specific financial and operational achievements. During 2017, the Company was successful in:

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Throughout 2017, our compensation program performed as designed, allowing the Company to attract new talent, retain important members of management and reward key members of management appropriately for performance. As demonstrated below, the aggregate total compensation of our five most highly paid executives for each of the past five years (as set forth in the Summary Compensation Table each year, but excluding changes in pension value and above-market non-qualified deferred compensation earnings, “Top Five Compensation”) remains aligned with the performance and value of the Company as reflected in the price of its common stock at year end, while also reflecting the retirement of David W. Scheible as President and CEO and Mr. Doss’ promotion into that role as of January 1, 2016.

Top Five Compensation* v. Stock Price Performance

Guiding Principles and Policies

The Committee’s objective is to set each of the primary components of the Company’s executive compensation program, (base salary, short-term cash incentive and long-term equity-based incentives), at a market-competitive rate, which is determined by reference to the 50^th percentile of the comparator group, resulting in each Executive’s total compensation opportunity being set at approximately the 50^th percentile of the comparator group’s total pay for executives with similar positions and responsibilities. The Committee does not employ a mechanical process based on external compensation data, however, as other considerations such as time in position, tenure, position and succession with the Company are considered. As data for the comparator group fluctuates or the comparator group members are updated to reflect changes in the market, the Committee may make adjustments in one or more components of compensation to more closely align with market. The Committee and, with respect to the President and CEO, the Board of Directors, have full discretion to choose the elements of executive compensation that the Executives will be paid or will be eligible to earn each year and to adjust the proportion of total compensation opportunity that each element provides. Company performance, market data, individual performance, executive succession, retention needs and internal equity among our Executives’ compensation packages have been the primary factors considered in decisions to change compensation materially.

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Peer Group and Market Data

Annually we obtain an analysis of compensation market data to assist in setting pay opportunities for our Executives for the following year. Compensation of the Executives is compared to the pay opportunities provided to executives holding comparable positions at companies with which we compete for business and for talent. The companies used for this comparison are recommended by the Company and the Committee’s compensation consultant and approved by the Committee. The companies selected and shown below under the Industry Specific Peer Group heading consist of a group of public companies with revenues approximately one-half to double the revenues of the Company or its immediate competitors. The Industry Specific Peer Group served in 2017 as the primary reference point for comparing the compensation paid to the Company’s President and CEO and Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. The Survey Peer Group, comprised of a broader set of industrial companies, served in 2017 as the primary reference point for executive officers other than the President and CEO and Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Both peer groups are reviewed annually and updated, if necessary, to ensure their appropriateness given any market changes. The companies used to develop 2017 compensation are listed below.

Industry Specific Peer Group

Survey Peer Group

Role of the Compensation and Benefits Committee

The Committee is responsible for establishing the Company’s general compensation philosophy and working with management to develop all equity compensation plans or programs and other compensation programs in which the CEO and other executive officers participate. Annually the Committee reviews market data provided by the Committee’s compensation consultant, reviews and approves all of the compensation arrangements of the Company’s executive officers and directs the Board’s process for evaluating the performance and compensation of the President and CEO. From time to time the Committee also reviews, evaluates and approves the Company’s health and welfare plan offerings and the Company’s retirement and savings plans. The Committee is also responsible for directing the annual succession planning (except for the CEO) and facilitating the Board’s review and approval of all succession matters.

Role of Compensation Consultants

The Committee retained Meridian to act as the Committee’s independent advisor on executive compensation and benefits throughout 2017. The mandate of the compensation consultant is to work for the Committee in its review of executive compensation practices and programs, including assessing the overall competitiveness of pay levels and program design, and providing updates on market trends and technical considerations. The Committee instructed the compensation consultant to compile and provide data on both total

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pay and individual elements of compensation among companies in the peer groups, as well as trends in compensation practices that they observed within the peer groups and generally among public companies. The Committee does not rely on the compensation consultant to recommend specific levels of total pay or any specific element of compensation to our Executives; such recommendations are developed by management based on information provided by the compensation consultant and then presented to the Committee for consideration. The compensation consultant attended all of the five Committee meetings in 2017 at the Committee’s request and were available to provide information to the Committee as questions and issues arose. The Committee determined that the compensation consultant is independent after consideration of the SEC’s independence factors.

Role of Executive Officers

The President and CEO and Senior Vice President, Human Resources recommend to the Committee the compensation program design and award amounts for the Executives (other than themselves).

Pay and Performance

As noted above, target compensation for each of our Executives is established at the beginning of each year with reference to the 50^th percentile of the comparator group. Each Executive’s actual compensation each year may be above or below the target level based on individual, business unit and overall Company performance, as well as changes in the price of the Company’s common stock. The chart below illustrates the relationship between the Top Five Compensation and the Company’s Adjusted EBITDA and also reflects the retirement of David Scheible as President and CEO and Mr. Doss’ promotion into that role as of January 1, 2016. The Company calculates Adjusted EBITDA for purposes of its incentive plans as consolidated net income before equity income of unconsolidated subsidiaries, interest expense, income tax expense, and depreciation and amortization, as adjusted for: expenses related to merger, acquisition and disposition activities; refinancing or early retirement of debt; acquisition integration costs; and asset or goodwill write-downs; as well as other adjustments for unusual items all as approved by the Compensation and Benefits Committee (“Adjusted EBITDA”). Adjusted EBITDA is used by the Company as a performance measure for both the short-term cash incentive program and the long-term equity incentive program.

Top Five Compensation* v. Adjusted EBITDA Performance

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Key Compensation Practices

Listed below are certain of the Company’s executive compensation practices that we believe are instrumental in achieving the Company’s compensation goals of attracting, retaining, motivating and rewarding key members of management, while mitigating risk and maintaining sound compensation practices.

Overview of Executive Compensation Components

Our executive compensation program currently consists of the following compensation elements:

Each of these elements is discussed below, as well as the methodology used for setting the amount of each type of compensation.

Base Salary

Philosophy. The purpose of base salaries is to compensate our Executives for their role and level of responsibility within the Company. Increases in base salary also serve to reward performance and recognize significant increases in the scope of an Executive’s position and responsibilities. Our philosophy is to set salaries for our Executives at approximately the 50^th percentile of the comparator group’s salaries for executives with

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similar positions and responsibilities (with adjustments made to reflect the various sizes of the companies in such group). Changes to base salaries occur in connection with changes in position and on a periodic basis that is generally twelve months after the most recent adjustment for the Executive. Base salary changes take into account market data for similar positions, the Executive’s experience and time in position, any changes in responsibilities and individual performance. Individual performance is determined by considering achievement against each Executive’s specific performance goals established at the beginning of each year. Generally, such individual performance goals are established to support the financial and operational goals established by the Board for the Company, and may include earnings before income taxes, depreciation, amortization and other non-cash charges, debt reduction, new product innovation targets, business unit revenue, profitability and cost-saving goals and certain more subjective goals such as improvement in culture, succession planning and implementation of compliance initiatives and management effectiveness.

In 2017, the Committee approved base salary increases for the Executives ranging from 3.0% to 8.0%, based upon each Executive’s performance, scope of position and market data for executives with similar positions and responsibilities. Such increases became effective as of January 1, 2017.

Short-Term Cash Incentive

The Company provides a short-term cash incentive opportunity under the Management Incentive Plan (“MIP”). The purpose of the MIP is to provide a meaningful short-term cash incentive that rewards the achievement of specified annual financial goals. For 2017, the financial measures used to set such financial goals or targets were Adjusted EBITDA and Cash Flow Before Debt Reduction. The Company calculates Cash Flow Before Debt Reduction as the year-over-year change in net debt, as adjusted for merger, acquisition, disposition, share repurchase, dividend and capital market activities, as well as other adjustments for unusual items (such as restructuring or reorganization activities, weather, or disaster-related expenses), all as specifically approved by the Compensation and Benefits Committee.

Target Opportunities. We set the MIP target percentage for each Executive at approximately the 50^th percentile of comparator group companies. Adjustments to MIP target levels are made periodically, taking into consideration the comparator group, the CEO’s recommendations (for Executives other than himself) and input from Meridian. The annual incentive target (as a percentage of salary) for each of the Executives for 2017 is set forth below:

Performance Goals. We set performance goals for the MIP so that achievement of such goals at target is aligned with our annual operating plan. The degree to which MIP pays out varies both up and down based on business performance. If the threshold performance goal of 85% of our Adjusted EBITDA goal is not met or the Company fails to meet any of its quarterly financial covenant measures during the year, no payout under the MIP is earned. Our performance goals for 2017 were Adjusted EBITDA of $780.0 million (weighted at 50% in the calculation) and Cash Flow Before Debt Reduction of $400.0 million (weighted at 50% in the calculation). Achieving these performance goals would present an opportunity for a MIP award at target. The payout for performance at 95% of our Adjusted EBITDA and 90% of Cash Flow Before Debt Reduction goals was set at 50% of the MIP target, and no payout would be earned for performance at or below 85% of our Adjusted EBITDA and Cash Flow Before Debt Reduction performance goals. The payout for performance at 105% or more of our Adjusted EBITDA and 110% of Cash Flow Before Debt Reduction goals (after appropriate accrual for the greater compensation expense) was set at a maximum of 200% of the MIP target.

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Actual Short-Term Cash Incentive Payouts for 2017. Actual short-term cash incentive payouts for 2017 for the Executives are shown in the Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation column of the Summary Compensation Table. The Company’s performance with respect to both its Adjusted EBITDA and Cash Flow Before Debt Reduction performance goals, were achieved at 91.9% and 93.9% of target, respectively, resulting in a calculated MIP payout at 52.1% of target. As a result, the Committee and the Board of Directors approved payouts under the MIP at up to 50.0% of the target level.

For more information on the 2017 annual incentive opportunities for the Executives, refer to the “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” table in this Proxy Statement. The column titled “Estimated Possible Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards” provides the estimated payouts for the Executives at threshold, target and maximum performance levels for 2017.

Long-Term Incentives

The Company’s long-term incentive program has two elements: Service RSUs and Performance RSUs. Service RSUs make up one-third of the total long-term incentive value that the Company grants to its Executives and Performance RSUs make up two-thirds of such total value. A greater proportion of Performance RSUs is consistent with the Company’s desire to tie a larger percentage of the Executives’ compensation to Company performance. Both Service RSU and Performance RSU grants are intended to retain Executives during a multi-year vesting period, align the long-term interests of Executives with our stockholders and provide stock compensation.

Service RSUs represent the right to receive one share of the Company’s common stock for each vested Service RSU granted. The Performance RSUs represent the right to earn from 0% to 200% of the target award based upon the Company’s achievement of specific performance goals established for a three-year performance period. Service RSUs and Performance RSUs are payable solely in shares of the Company’s common stock.

Service RSUs and Performance RSUs granted under the long-term incentive program generally vest in full on the third anniversary of the date of grant (assuming the Executive has continued in his or her employment by the Company through such date). Upon death, disability, retirement (as defined in the grant agreement) or involuntary termination without cause, a proportion of the RSUs vests. In the event of a change of control (as defined in both the Graphic Packaging Holding Company Amended and Restated 2004 Stock and Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2004 Plan”) and the Graphic Packaging Holding Company 2014 Omnibus Stock and Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2014 Plan”)), all Service RSUs and earned Performance RSUs vest in full. The number of Performance RSUs considered earned in the event of a change of control is determined based on assumed target performance for the performance period.

Payout of 2014 Grants. In January 2017, the Committee approved the payout of the Performance RSUs granted in 2014 at 107.0% of target, based the achievement of the performance goals for the three-year performance period. For the three year performance period ending on December 31, 2016, the performance goals were aggregate Adjusted EBITDA of $2,250.00 million and Return on Invested Capital of 12.50%.

2017 Grants. In February 2017, the Company granted both Service RSUs and Performance RSUs to each Executive, under the long-term incentive program. For Executives, the total number of RSUs granted was set based on a value delivered as a percentage of salary formula, with the percentage established based on a review of responsibilities, market data and internal equity considerations. The value of RSUs granted under the long-term incentive program (as a percentage of salary) during 2017 for each of our Executives is set forth below:

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For the Performance RSUs, the performance goals are achievement of a minimum aggregate Adjusted EBITDA amount and a minimum return on invested capital percentage. Each performance goal is weighted in the calculation of the Company’s annual achievement at 50%.

Health and Welfare Benefit Plans

The Company provides the Executives and other employees with health and welfare benefits comparable to those they would receive at other companies and that are necessary for the Company to remain competitive in the marketplace for high-performing talent. Executives participate in employee benefit plans available to all salaried employees, including medical, dental, vision, accidental death and dismemberment, business travel accident, prescription drug, life and disability insurance. Senior executives of the Company, including the Executives, are eligible for an executive physical benefit in which the Company pays for an annual physical exam through a specified provider under the Company’s medical plan. Continuation of health and welfare benefits for a limited time may occur as part of severance upon certain terminations of employment.

Perquisites

The Company does not provide significant perquisites to its Executives, other than Company-requested international assignment and relocation benefits and tax gross-ups with respect thereto, executive physicals, and certain other perquisites specifically approved by the Chairman of the Board.

Retirement Benefits

The Company maintains qualified defined benefit and defined contribution retirement plans for our employees in which certain of the Executives participate. These plans provide retirement benefits to retain eligible employees and Executives and encourage and reward tenure with the Company. In addition to the qualified defined benefit and defined contribution plans, the Company maintains non-qualified defined benefit and defined contribution plans in which certain of the Executives also participate. The qualified benefit plans have a maximum compensation limit and a maximum annual benefit limit, which restrict the benefit to participants whose compensation exceeds these limits. To provide retirement benefits commensurate with pay levels, the non-qualified plans provide benefits to key salaried employees, including the Executives, using substantially the same formula for calculating benefits as used in the qualified plans, but on compensation in excess of the compensation limitation and maximum annual benefit.

Qualified and Non-Qualified Defined Benefit Plans. Executives and other employees hired before January 1, 2008, participate in either the Riverwood International Employees Retirement Plan or the Graphic Packaging Retirement Plan and the Graphic Packaging Excess Benefit Plan (together, the “Pension Plans”). As of June 30, 2011, the Company froze the Pension Plans and no longer makes pension contributions for future service on behalf of any employees who were not at least 50 years old with five years of completed service to the Company as of such date. As a result, the Company no longer makes pension contributions on behalf of any of the Executives, although Messrs. Doss and Yost have frozen benefits thereunder.

The Executives who participate in the Pension Plans also participate in either the Riverwood International Supplemental Retirement Plan or the Graphic Packaging Supplemental Retirement Plan (together, the “Supplemental Plans”). Mr. Doss participated in the Graphic Packaging Retirement Plan and the Graphic Packaging Supplemental Plan until January 1, 2005, the date he transferred into the Riverwood International Employees Retirement Plan and the Riverwood International Supplemental Retirement Plan. The Supplemental Plans provide a benefit based upon compensation that exceeds the limits set by the IRS for the Pension Plans and makes total retirement benefits under the Company’s defined benefit plans for the Executives commensurate with those available to other employees as a percent of pay. When the Company froze the Pension Plans, it also froze the Supplemental Plans for those employees who were not at least 50 years old with five years of completed service to the Company as of such date, so the Company no longer makes contributions to the Supplemental Plans on behalf of any of the Executives, although Messrs. Doss and Yost have frozen benefits thereunder.

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Qualified and Non-Qualified Defined Contribution Plans. Executives and all other non-union employees who meet certain service requirements are eligible to participate in the Graphic Packaging International, Inc. Savings Plan (the “401(k) Plan”), which is a qualified defined contribution plan under the rules of the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”). Employees who choose to contribute to the 401(k) Plan receive matching contributions from the Company equal to 100% of the first three percent (3%) of employee contributions and 50% of the next two percent (2%) of employee contributions. Employees hired on or after January 1, 2008 are eligible for an annual supplemental contribution by the Company to their 401(k) Plan account equal to 3% of eligible earnings.

In 2011, the Company implemented a deferred compensation and 401(k) restoration plan that permits Executives and other eligible senior employees to contribute to and receive contributions from the Company on a basis that would be commensurate with other employees as a percent of pay. This plan, the Graphic Packaging International, Inc. Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan (the “NQDCP”), permits participants to defer and contribute from 1% to 50% of their base salary and up to 100% of their payment under the MIP to the plan. The plan offers investment options that generally mirror those available under the Company’s 401(k) Plan. Annually, the Company makes a 401(k) restoration matching contribution on behalf of those participants who do not participate in or receive future service accruals under the Company’s Pension Plans equal to a percentage of their annual deferral amount divided by compensation over the annual IRS limit, up to a maximum of 4%. The Company also makes a supplemental contribution equal to 3% of eligible pay over the annual IRS limit for those Executives and senior executives of the Company who do not participate in or receive future service accruals to one of the Company’s Pension Plans or Supplemental Plans and who have met the one year of service eligibility requirement. The NQDCP also provides an employer contribution equal to 3% of total pay for eligible senior executives (including Messrs. Doss, Scherger, Nichols, Yost and Ms. Tashma) who do not receive contributions to one of the Company’s Pension Plans.

Employment Agreements and Potential Payments on Termination

Executive officers serving prior to January 2014 (Messrs. Doss, Scherger and Nichols) have employment agreements with generally uniform provisions, including non-competition and non-solicitation covenants as well as claims releases and severance provisions. The employment agreements specify current position, base salary and aggregate annual bonus opportunity (as a percentage of base salary) for each Executive at the time the Agreement was entered into, as well as severance arrangements under different circumstances. Executives may receive severance benefits if they are terminated involuntarily or terminate voluntarily for Good Reason (as defined below) within 30 days of the Good Reason event. The Executive must deliver written notice of intention to terminate for Good Reason, specifying the applicable provision, and provide the Company a reasonable opportunity to cure. The Good Reason provision in the agreements was designed to equalize the treatment of voluntary terminations for Good Reason with involuntary terminations without cause. Doing so enables the contracts to fulfill their purpose of promoting retention during times of uncertainty and transition. “Good Reason” as defined in the agreements includes material reduction in position, responsibilities or duties, failure by the Company to obtain the assumption of the agreement by a successor company, reduction in base salary (unless the reduction does not exceed 10% and is applied uniformly to all similarly situated executives), breach of agreement or mandatory relocation (other than in connection with promotion) of more than 50 miles.

For Mr. Doss, the severance benefit is an amount equal to one year’s base salary, his target bonus for the year in which termination occurs and his actual bonus based on the plan targets, prorated for the number of days Mr. Doss is employed during the year in which termination occurs. For Messrs. Scherger, Nichols and Yost, the severance benefit is one times base salary. Executives also receive health and welfare benefits for one year after termination and a pro-rata bonus payout. Mr. Doss also vests in any unvested equity awards on the date of his termination as if he were retirement eligible (daily pro-rata vesting) without regard to his actual age or years of service on the date of termination. In addition, if an Executive is separated from service without cause or for Good Reason within one year of a change in control, the Executive receives (i) an additional 1/2 year of base

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salary (one year for Mr. Doss) and (ii) instead of the pro-rata bonus, a bonus equal to the Executive’s target level bonus for the year in which the separation occurs (assuming that all performance targets had been achieved) multiplied by 1.5 (multiplied by 2 for Mr. Doss). All benefit payments under the employment agreements are conditioned upon the Executive executing and returning a claims release to the Company.

Executives who do not have employment agreements are eligible to participate in the Graphic Packaging International, Inc. Executive Severance Plan. Similar to the provisions in the employment agreements, the Executive Severance Plan provides severance benefits equal to one year’s base salary and a pro-rata bonus if the Executive is terminated involuntarily without cause or terminates his or her employment for Good Reason. If such a termination occurs within one year after a change in control, Executives receive an additional one-half year’s base salary and an amount equal to his or her bonus at target level as if he or she had been employed for the entire year multiplied by 1.5. Payments under the Executive Severance Plan are conditioned upon the participant executing a release that includes a general release of claims against the Company and an agreement to certain confidentiality, non-competition and non-solicitation of employee and customer provisions.

In addition to the change in control provisions in the employment agreements and the Executive Severance Plan, the award agreements for Service RSUs and Performance RSUs provide for accelerated vesting and payout in the event of a change in control. A “change-in-control” means any of the following events:

The forgoing events were chosen to trigger the vesting and payout of RSUs because they constitute a fundamental change in the ownership or control of the Company, which materially alters the prospects and future of the Company and, therefore, the employment conditions and opportunities for the members of management who receive RSUs.

Timing of Compensation

Base salary adjustments, annual incentive payments and annual RSU grants are generally approved at the first or second Committee meeting and first Board meeting of the year. Our policy is that for awards of equity compensation the date of grant is no earlier than the date upon which the grant is approved by the Committee or the Board, as appropriate.

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Tax Issues

Favorable accounting and federal corporate income tax treatment of the various elements of our compensation program is a consideration in its design, but because of the Company’s net operating loss carry-forwards, which are expected to offset the Company’s federal income tax obligations for several years and because the Committee’s policy is to maximize long-term stockholder value, it is not a primary consideration.

Consideration of Most Recent Advisory Stockholder Vote on Executive Compensation

At the Annual Meeting of Stockholders on May 24, 2017, 91.5% of the shares represented and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting were voted to approve the compensation of the Company’s Named Executive Officers, as discussed and disclosed in the 2017 Proxy Statement. In considering the results of this advisory vote on executive compensation, the Committee concluded that the compensation paid to our named executive officers and the Company’s overall pay practices enjoy strong stockholder support. Going forward, future advisory votes on executive compensation, including the vote on the executive compensation described in this Proxy Statement will serve as an additional tool to guide the Board and the Committee in evaluating the alignment of the Company’s executive compensation program with the interests of the Company and its stockholders.

At the Annual Meeting of Stockholders on May 24, 2017, our stockholders expressed a preference that advisory votes on executive compensation occur every year. Consistent with this preference, the Board has implemented an advisory vote on executive compensation once every year. The next required vote on the frequency of stockholder votes will occur at the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. See Proposal 3 in this Proxy Statement.

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Compensation of Executive Officers

The following table sets forth the compensation paid to or earned by the Company’s Principal Executive Officer (Mr. Doss), Principal Financial Officer (Mr. Scherger), and the Company’s three other most highly paid executive officers who were serving as executive officers on December 31, 2017, (collectively, the “Named Executive Officers”) for each of the three fiscal years ended December 31, 2017.

Summary Compensation Table

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In accordance with Section 953(b) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 and Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Exchange Act, the Company is required to determine and disclose the total annual compensation of the Company’s Principal Executive Officer (who is Michael P. Doss, the Company’s President and CEO) and the total annual compensation of the employee with the median of the total annual compensation of all employees of the Company (excluding Mr. Doss) and then express these amounts as a ratio.

To determine the employee with the median total annual compensation, the Company chose all cash compensation paid during 2017 to each of its domestic and international employees as of December 31, 2017 as its consistently applied compensation measure. The Company did not annualize salaries for those employees who started working for the Company during 2017 or those employees who were on leave for a portion of 2017. For those international employees paid in a different currency, the Company converted the total of all cash compensation paid to such employees to U.S. dollars, based on the exchange rate in effect on December 31, 2017. Using this methodology, the Company determined the median employee’s total annual compensation was $54,695. The total annual compensation of our President and CEO was $5,976,240. The ratio of the total annual compensation of our President and CEO to the median employee’s total annual compensation was 109:1.

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The following table sets forth information regarding the grants of annual cash incentive compensation and annual equity compensation during 2017 to the Named Executive Officers.

Grants of Plan-Based Awards in Fiscal 2017

Additional Information regarding the Summary Compensation Table and the Grants of Plan-Based Awards in Fiscal 2017 Table

Salary. The amounts shown as salaries in the Summary Compensation Table for 2017 represent amounts actually paid during 2017 and may not be the same as current base salary levels. The salaries shown include amounts contributed to the Company’s NQDCP by the Executive.

Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation. The Company’s MIP is designed to provide short-term incentive awards based upon the accomplishment by the Company of performance goals established at the beginning of

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each year. Awards are paid in cash during the first quarter of the following year. The amounts shown in the Summary Compensation Table represent amounts earned in 2017 and paid during the first quarter of 2018.

Stock Awards. In 2017, the Compensation and Benefits Committee and the Board approved grants of RSUs under the 2014 Plan to our Named Executive Officers. These grants were made up of Service RSUs (1/3 of total grant) and Performance RSUs (2/3 of total grant). The number of shares paid out pursuant to the Performance RSUs is determined by the accomplishment of certain performance metrics established by the Board of Directors. Specifically, the performance metrics are Adjusted EBITDA for the three-year period ending December 31, 2019 (50% weight) and return on invested capital for the three-year period ending December 31, 2019 (50% weight). All of the RSUs vest on the third anniversary of the date of grant and are payable in shares of the Company’s common stock.

Change in Pension Value and Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Earnings. Amounts shown in the Change in Pension Value and Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation column of the Summary Compensation Table represent only the aggregate increase in the present value of accumulated benefits under our Pension Plans and Supplemental Plans. None of the named Executive Officers realized above-market or preferential earnings on deferred compensation.

The following table sets forth the aggregate outstanding RSUs held by the Named Executive Officers at the end of fiscal 2017. None of the Named Executive Officers held any stock options at the end of fiscal 2017.

Outstanding Equity Awards at 2017 Fiscal Year End

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The following table sets forth information regarding RSUs held by the Named Executive Officers that vested and were paid out during 2017.

Option Exercises and Stock Vested

Pension Benefits at 2017 Fiscal Year End

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Additional Information regarding the Pension Benefits at 2016 Fiscal Year End Table

The Riverwood International Employees Retirement Plan and Riverwood International Supplemental Retirement Plan. All U.S. salaried employees hired prior to January 1, 2008, who satisfied the service eligibility criteria and who were not participants in the Graphic Packaging International Corporation Retirement Plan (the “GPIC Retirement Plan”) are participants in the Riverwood International Employees Retirement Plan (the “Employees Retirement Plan”). Pension benefits under this plan are limited in accordance with the provisions of the Code governing tax-qualified pension plans. The Company also maintains the Riverwood International Supplemental Retirement Plan for participants in the Employees Retirement Plan that provides for payment to participants of retirement benefits equal to the excess of the benefits that would have been earned by each participant had the limitations of the Code not applied to the Employees Retirement Plan and the amount actually earned by such participant under such plan. Service benefits were frozen under the plan for all participants other than those who were 50 years old and had 5 years of service (the “Grandfathered Participants”) as of June 30, 2011. Benefits under the Riverwood International Supplemental Retirement Plan are not pre-funded; such benefits are paid by the Company.

Annual remuneration, defined as “Salary” in the Employees Retirement Plan, includes annual salary paid, amounts paid as bonuses under the annual incentive compensation plan and certain other bonus awards, but excludes payments in lieu of perquisites and payments under any equity incentive plan or long-term incentive plan.

As of December 31, 2017, Mr. Doss and Mr. Yost had the completed years of credited service set forth above in the Pension Benefit Table. Estimated benefits are not subject to a reduction to reflect the payment of Social Security benefits or other offset amounts. The years of service calculated for Mr. Doss include years of service credited under the GPIC Retirement Plan described below. Mr. Doss participated in the GPIC Retirement Plan until January 1, 2005 when he was transferred into the Employees Retirement Plan.

GPIC Retirement Plan. The Company’s U.S. salaried employees who (i) were previously employed by Graphic Packaging International Corporation (“GPIC”), (ii) satisfied the service eligibility criteria and (iii) did not participate in the Employees Retirement Plan participate in the GPIC Retirement Plan. Pension benefits under the GPIC Retirement Plan are limited in accordance with the provisions of the Code governing tax qualified pension plans. GPIC also maintained the Graphic Packaging Supplemental Retirement Plan that provided the benefits that were not payable from the qualified retirement plan because of limitations under the Code. None of the Company’s Named Executive Officers participated in the GPIC Retirement Plan during 2017.

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The following table sets forth information regarding the Named Executive Officers’ participation in the Company’s NQDCP.

2017 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

Deferred Compensation. In 2011, the Company implemented the NQDCP, a nonqualified deferred compensation plan to which Executives and other eligible senior employees may defer a portion of their annual base salary and/or payment under the MIP, and to which the Company may also make additional contributions. Contributions to the NQDCP were first made during 2012. The NQDCP permits participants to defer and contribute from 1% to 50% of their base salary and up to 100% of their payment under the MIP to the plan. The NQDCP offers deemed investment options that generally mirror those available under the Company’s 401(k) Plan. The Company may, in its discretion, make contributions to the NQDCP, such as 401(k) restoration matching contributions and other supplemental contributions for Executives and eligible senior employees who do not participate in or receive future service accruals to one of the Company’s Pension Plans or Supplemental Plans. NQDCP distributions will be made or commence on the earlier of the six month anniversary of a participant’s separation from service with the Company, a change in control of the Company or, if elected by the participant, on a specified date. Payment will be made in a lump sum or in annual installments (up to 10) as elected by the participant.

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The following table provides information as of December 31, 2017, with respect to the Company’s compensation plans under which equity securities are authorized for issuance:

2017 Equity Compensation Plan Information

Potential Payments Upon Termination

The table below reflects the amount of compensation that would become payable to each of the Named Executive Officers under existing plans and arrangements if the Named Executive Officer’s employment was terminated (i) because of death; (ii) because of disability; (iii) by the Company without cause or by the Named Executive Officer for Good Reason (as described in such Named Executive Officer’s employment agreement or, with respect to Ms. Tashma and Mr. Yost, the Executive Severance Plan); or (iv) by the Company without cause or by the Named Executive Officer for Good Reason within one year following a change in control of the Company, in each such case as of December 31, 2017, given the Named Executive Officer’s compensation and service levels as of such date and, if applicable, based on the Company’s closing stock price on that date. These benefits are in addition to benefits available prior to the occurrence of any termination of employment and benefits available to all salaried employees, such as distributions of employee contributions and Company matching contributions under the Company’s 401(k) Plans and any accrued untaken vacation pay. These benefits are also in addition to the benefits described above in the Pension Benefits table.

In the event that a Named Executive Officer is terminated for cause, no cash severance is payable and the Named Executive Officer forfeits all unvested equity awards. In addition, no continued welfare benefits or outplacement services are provided to the Named Executive Officer.

The actual amounts that would be paid upon a Named Executive Officer’s termination of employment can be determined only at the time of an executive’s actual separation from the Company. Due to the number of factors that affect the nature and amount of any benefits provided upon the events shown below, actual amounts paid or distributed may be higher or lower than reported below. Factors that could affect these amounts include the timing during the year of any such event, the maximum payouts under any incentive plans and the executive’s age.

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