<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001023128-18-000041.txt : 20180418
<SEC-HEADER>0001023128-18-000041.hdr.sgml : 20180418
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20180418153817
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001023128-18-000041
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	DEFA14A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		20180418
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20180418
EFFECTIVENESS DATE:		20180418

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LITHIA MOTORS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001023128
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-AUTO DEALERS & GASOLINE STATIONS [5500]
		IRS NUMBER:				930572810
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OR
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		DEFA14A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14733
		FILM NUMBER:		18761151

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		150 NORTH BARTLETT STREET
		CITY:			MEDFORD
		STATE:			OR
		ZIP:			97501
		BUSINESS PHONE:		541-776-6401

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		150 NORTH BARTLETT STREET
		CITY:			MEDFORD
		STATE:			OR
		ZIP:			97501
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>DEFA14A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>proxystatementsupplement2.htm
<DESCRIPTION>DEFA14A
<TEXT>
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<div><a name="sac9087d27f234285be4c702276f357c2"></a></div><div style="line-height:144%;text-align:center;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;font-weight:bold;">UNITED STATES </font></div><div style="line-height:144%;text-align:center;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;font-weight:bold;">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION </font></div><div style="line-height:144%;text-align:center;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;font-weight:bold;">Washington, D.C. 20549 </font></div><div style="line-height:144%;text-align:center;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;font-weight:bold;">SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION</font></div><div style="line-height:144%;text-align:center;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;font-weight:bold;">Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the </font></div><div style="line-height:144%;text-align:center;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;font-weight:bold;">Securities Exchange Act of 1934 </font></div><div style="line-height:144%;text-align:center;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:144%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Filed by the Registrant </font><font style="font-family:Wingdings;font-size:11pt;">&#253;</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Filed by a Party other than the Registrant </font><font style="font-family:Wingdings;font-size:11pt;">&#168;</font></div><div style="line-height:144%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Check the appropriate box:</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:11pt;"><div style="padding-left:0px;text-indent:0px;line-height:normal;padding-top:10px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;"><tr><td colspan="2"></td></tr><tr><td style="width:6%;"></td><td style="width:94%;"></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:middle;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;padding-left:2px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:Wingdings;font-size:11pt;">&#168;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:middle;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;padding-left:2px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Preliminary Proxy Statement</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:middle;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;padding-left:2px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:Wingdings;font-size:11pt;">&#168;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:middle;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;padding-left:2px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;font-weight:bold;">Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only&#160;(as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:middle;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;padding-left:2px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:Wingdings;font-size:11pt;">&#168;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:middle;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;padding-left:2px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Definitive Proxy Statement</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:middle;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;padding-left:2px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:Wingdings;font-size:11pt;">&#253;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:middle;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;padding-left:2px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Definitive Additional Materials</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:middle;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;padding-left:2px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:Wingdings;font-size:11pt;">&#168;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:middle;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;padding-left:2px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Soliciting Material Pursuant to &#167;240.14a-12</font></div></td></tr></table></div></div><div style="line-height:144%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">&#160;</font></div><div style="line-height:144%;text-align:center;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;font-weight:bold;">LITHIA MOTORS, INC. </font></div><div style="line-height:144%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">&#160;</font></div><div style="line-height:144%;text-align:center;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;font-weight:bold;">(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)&#160;&#160;</font></div><div style="line-height:144%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">&#160;</font></div><div style="line-height:144%;text-align:center;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;font-weight:bold;">(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)</font></div><div style="line-height:144%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">&#160;</font></div><div style="line-height:144%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:11pt;"><div style="padding-left:0px;text-indent:0px;line-height:normal;padding-top:10px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;"><tr><td colspan="3"></td></tr><tr><td style="width:6%;"></td><td style="width:12%;"></td><td style="width:82%;"></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;padding-left:2px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:Wingdings;font-size:11pt;">&#253;</font></div></td><td colspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;padding-left:2px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">No fee required.</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;padding-left:2px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:Wingdings;font-size:11pt;">&#168;</font></div></td><td colspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;padding-left:2px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:20px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:20px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:20px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;padding-left:2px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">(1)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;padding-left:2px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">(2)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;padding-left:2px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">(3)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Per unit price or other underlying value of the transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;padding-left:2px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">(4)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Proposed maximum aggregate value of the transaction:</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;padding-left:2px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">(5)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Total fee paid:</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;padding-left:2px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:Wingdings;font-size:11pt;">&#168;</font></div></td><td colspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;padding-left:2px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;padding-left:2px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:Wingdings;font-size:11pt;">&#168;</font></div></td><td colspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;padding-left:2px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 240.0-11 and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:20px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:20px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:20px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;padding-left:2px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">(1)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Amount Previously Paid:</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;padding-left:2px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">(2)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;padding-left:2px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">(3)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Filing Party:</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;padding-left:2px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">(4)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Date Filed:</font></div></td></tr></table></div></div><div style="line-height:144%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">&#160;</font></div><div><br></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div><br></div><div style="line-height:144%;text-align:left;"><hr></div><div style="line-height:144%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;">Supplemental Information Regarding Proposal 1, Election of Directors</font></div><div style="line-height:126%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:126%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">April 18, 2018</font></div><div style="line-height:126%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:126%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Dear Shareholder:</font></div><div style="line-height:126%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:126%;text-align:left;text-indent:24px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">We write to further address the recent reports published by (i) Institutional Shareholder Services (&#8220;ISS&#8221;), who recommends that its clients submit a &#8220;Withhold&#8221; vote on the elections to the Company&#8217;s Board of Directors (the &#8220;Board&#8221;) of Thomas R. Becker, Susan O. Cain and David J. Robino, and (ii) Glass, Lewis &amp; Co. (&#8220;Glass Lewis&#8221;), who recommended that its clients submit a &#8220;Withhold&#8221; vote on the elections to the Board of Thomas R. Becker, Susan O. Cain and Kenneth E. Roberts. We urge you to support the election of all of our director nominees and consider this information before voting. </font></div><div style="line-height:126%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:126%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;font-weight:bold;">Background </font></div><div style="line-height:126%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:126%;text-align:left;text-indent:24px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Lithia entered into a transition agreement with Sidney B. DeBoer on September 14, 2015 (the &#8220;Transition Agreement&#8221;). The Company disclosed the material terms of the Transition Agreement in a current report on Form 8-K on September 17, 2015, including the Transition Agreement as an exhibit to that report. The Transition Agreement was also disclosed in the 2016, 2017, and 2018 proxy statements. Lithia further provided additional details regarding the Transition Agreement and the process undertaken by the Company and the Compensation Committee of the Board (the &#8220;Compensation Committee&#8221;) in entering into the Transition Agreement in a supplemental filing to the Company&#8217;s 2017 proxy statement that was filed on April 10, 2017, and in a supplemental filing to the Company&#8217;s 2018 proxy statement that was filed on April 12, 2018. The terms of the Transition Agreement have not changed since it was signed on September 14, 2015.</font></div><div style="line-height:126%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:126%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;font-weight:bold;">We have been transparent with shareholders regarding the Transition Agreement, and our shareholders have continued to support nominees for the Board.</font></div><div style="line-height:126%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:126%;text-align:left;text-indent:24px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">The Company took an $18.3 million accounting charge for the third quarter of 2015 as a result of its entry into the Transition Agreement, as described in the Company&#8217;s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2015, and as was publicly discussed by the Company&#8217;s management in its earnings press release and in the prepared remarks of its earnings conference call for such quarter.</font></div><div style="line-height:126%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:126%;text-align:left;text-indent:24px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">The terms of the Transition Agreement and its impact on the Company were well publicized and disclosed to the Company&#8217;s shareholders shortly following the Company&#8217;s entrance into that agreement.  The Company&#8217;s shareholders had a substantial period of time to review and discuss the Transition Agreement with the Company prior to the Company&#8217;s 2016 annual meeting of its shareholders (the &#8220;2016 Annual Meeting&#8221;). At the 2016 Annual Meeting, each of the nominees of the then-members of the Compensation Committee received affirmative votes from approximately 98% of the Company&#8217;s shares represented in person or by proxy, including 96% of the Company&#8217;s Class A shares represented in person or by proxy.</font></div><div style="line-height:126%;text-align:left;text-indent:24px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:126%;text-align:left;text-indent:24px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">In advance of the Company&#8217;s 2017 annual meeting of its shareholders (the &#8220;2017 Annual Meeting&#8221;), ISS and Glass Lewis both recommended &#8220;Withhold&#8221; votes for each of Mr. Becker, Mr. Roberts and Ms. </font></div><div><br></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div><br></div><div style="line-height:126%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Cain arising out of those individuals&#8217; involvement in the Company&#8217;s entry into the Transition Agreement. As a result of the recommendations of ISS and Glass Lewis, prior to the 2017 Annual Meeting, the Company attempted to engage with the 30 largest holders of the Company&#8217;s Class A shares as of the record date for the 2017 Annual Meeting (the &#8220;Significant Shareholders&#8221;) in an effort to encourage them to vote in favor of the election of those nominees.</font></div><div style="line-height:126%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:126%;text-align:left;text-indent:24px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Through its shareholder engagement efforts, the Company explained that subsequent to the execution of the Transition Agreement, Mr. DeBoer had at that time reduced the voting power under his control from approximately 52% to approximately 36% (and less than 30% at the current time). Although the Transition Agreement was an unusual arrangement with Mr. DeBoer, understanding that it accelerated the conversion of Class B shares and may eventually result in the elimination of the dual classes of the Company&#8217;s common stock outstanding provided assurance to many of the Significant Shareholders.</font></div><div style="line-height:126%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:126%;text-align:left;text-indent:24px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Based on SEC filings and other publicly available data and conversations with Significant Shareholders, of the 18 Significant Shareholders the Company spoke with in 2017, 14 ultimately voted in favor of the full slate of directors at the 2017 Annual Meeting despite the &#8220;Withhold&#8221; recommendations, and 3 Significant Shareholders that the Company did not contact also voted in favor of the full slate of directors at the 2017 Annual Meeting. Those shareholders voting in favor of the entire slate, and against the recommendations of Glass Lewis and ISS, represented approximately 67% of all shares held by Significant Shareholders.</font></div><div style="line-height:126%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:126%;text-align:left;text-indent:24px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Following the publication of Glass Lewis&#8217;s and ISS&#8217;s &#8220;Withhold&#8221; recommendations for this year&#8217;s annual meeting of the Company&#8217;s shareholders, the Company commenced a shareholder engagement campaign similar to the one undertaken in 2017. While the Company cannot predict the actual outcome of this year&#8217;s shareholder vote, a common theme among shareholders engaged thus far has been a recognition of Mr. DeBoer&#8217;s substantial reduction in voting power to below 30%, and continued support of the recommended slate of independent directors.</font></div><div style="line-height:126%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:126%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;font-weight:bold;">We have improved our corporate governance controls to require shareholder approval of any lifetime compensation agreements with Named Executive Officers.</font></div><div style="line-height:126%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:126%;text-align:left;text-indent:24px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Promptly following the 2017 Annual Meeting, the Board undertook certain changes to the Company&#8217;s corporate governance structure and practices. Included in those changes was a requirement directly responsive to that year&#8217;s &#8220;Withhold&#8221; recommendations from ISS and Glass Lewis. The Company&#8217;s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (available to the public at the Company&#8217;s corporate governance website, </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;color:#2735ff;text-decoration:underline;">www.lithiainvestorrelations.com</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">) now requires approval by the Company&#8217;s shareholders of any lifetime compensation contract with a Named Executive Officer, as defined in SEC rules. As a result, if the Company were to contemplate entering into the Transition Agreement (or any other agreement requiring compensation for any NEO for such NEO&#8217;s lifetime) today or in the future, the Company&#8217;s shareholders would have the final say in whether or not the Company may enter into that agreement (this approval or rejection by the shareholders would be binding on the Company, in contrast to the non-binding compensation advisory vote required by Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended).</font></div><div style="line-height:126%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:126%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;font-weight:bold;">We request that you review the information above and vote </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;">FOR</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;font-weight:bold;">&#32;the election of each of these directors at the 2018 annual meeting.</font></div><div><br></div>	</body>
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