Notice of 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders

Virtual Meeting Only – No Physical Meeting Location

Wednesday, May 8, 2024 | 10:00 a.m. Central Time

Dear Shareholders:

The annual meeting of shareholders of Leggett & Platt, Incorporated (the “Company”) will be held on Wednesday, May 8, at 10:00 a.m. Central Time in a virtual meeting format only, via a live webcast.

You will be able to attend and participate in the annual meeting online by registering in advance at register.proxypush.com/LEG no later than 5:00 p.m. Central Time on May 7, 2024. Upon completing your registration, you will receive further instructions via email, including your unique links that will allow you access to the meeting and to submit questions during the meeting. The virtual annual meeting has been designed to provide substantially the same rights to participate as you would have at an in-person meeting.

The annual meeting is being held for the following purposes:

You are entitled to vote only if you were a Leggett & Platt shareholder at the close of business on March 4, 2024. The Company’s notice of internet availability of proxy materials was first sent to our shareholders on March 28, 2024.

By Order of the Board of Directors,

S. Scott Luton

Secretary

Carthage, Missouri

March 28, 2024

 Table of Contents

Proxy Statement Summary

This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this proxy statement. It does not contain all the information that you should consider—please read the entire proxy statement before voting. Our principal executive offices are located at 1 Leggett Road, Carthage, Missouri 64836.

2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders

Board Nominees

All of Leggett’s directors are elected for a one-year term by a majority of shares present and entitled to vote at the 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”). The 2024 director nominees are:

Diversity – Our Nominating, Governance and Sustainability Committee recognizes the value of cultivating a Board with a diverse mix of opinions, perspectives, skills, experiences, and backgrounds. A diverse board enables more balanced, wide-ranging discussion in the boardroom, which, we believe, enhances the decision-making processes. For each new director search, the Committee ensures that the candidate pool includes female and racial or ethnic minority candidates. Subject to unforeseen circumstances, our intention is for the Board to meet or exceed a 30% gender diversity level by the 2025 annual shareholders meeting.

The matrix above reflects some aspects of the Board’s diversity. In addition, six of our nine independent director nominees (67%) are diverse, with three women and four nominees who self-identify as racial or ethnic minorities. Refreshing the Board and recruiting female and racial and ethnic minority directors has been a priority.

Executive Compensation

We seek to align our executives’ and shareholders’ interests through pay-for-performance. In 2023, 84% of our CEO’s target pay was allocated to variable compensation and 63% was delivered in equity-based awards.

Our compensation structure strives to strike an appropriate balance between short-term and long-term compensation that reflects the short- and longer-term interests of the business. We believe this structure helps us attract, retain and motivate high-performing executives who will achieve outstanding results for our shareholders.

Key Components of Our Executive Officers’ 2023 Compensation Program

Key Features of Our Executive Officer Compensation Program

Board Oversight of ESG and Related Matters

Leggett’s Board of Directors and its Committees regularly review the oversight structure for certain environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters. The Nominating, Governance and Sustainability Committee’s charter responsibilities include oversight of the Company’s corporate responsibility and sustainability policies and programs, including environmental and climate change, social and governance matters, reviewing the Company’s sustainability report and any sustainability targets, and annually reviewing the Company’s political and charitable contributions. The Human Resources and Compensation Committee’s charter responsibilities include overseeing the Company’s human resources policies and programs, executive succession planning, senior management leadership development, and the Company’s inclusion, diversity and equity (ID&E) policies and programs.

Although the Board has delegated direct oversight of certain ESG matters to its committees, the Board has retained primary oversight responsibility of the Company’s cybersecurity programs.

Corporate Governance and Board Matters

Leggett & Platt has a long-standing commitment to sound corporate governance principles and practices. The Board of Directors has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines that establish the roles and responsibilities of the Board and management. The Board has also adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applicable to all Company employees, officers and directors, as well as a separate Financial Code of Ethics applicable to the Company’s CEO, CFO, and Chief Accounting Officer. These documents can be found at www.leggett.com/governance. Information on our website does not constitute part of this proxy statement.

Director Independence and Board Service

Board Leadership Structure

Corporate Governance and Board Matters

Communication with the Board

Shareholders and all other interested parties who wish to contact our Board of Directors may email our Lead Director, Mr. Brunner, at leaddirector@leggett.com. They can also write to Leggett & Platt Lead Director, P.O. Box 637, Carthage, MO 64836. The Corporate Secretary’s office reviews this correspondence and periodically provides the Lead Director all communications except items unrelated to Board functions. The Lead Director may forward communications to the full Board or to any of the other independent directors for further consideration.

Board and Committee Composition and Meetings

Leggett’s Board of Directors held five meetings in 2023, and its committees met the number of times listed below. All directors attended at least 75% of the Board meetings and their respective committee meetings. Directors are expected to attend the Company’s Annual Meeting, and all of them attended the virtual 2023 Annual Meeting.

The Board has a standing Audit Committee, Human Resources and Compensation (HRC) Committee, and Nominating, Governance and Sustainability (NGS) Committee. These committees consist entirely of independent directors, and each operates under a written charter adopted by the Board. The Audit, HRC, and NGS Committee charters are posted on our website at www.leggett.com/governance.

Corporate Governance and Board Matters

Board and Committee Evaluations

The Board and each of its Committees conduct an annual self-evaluation of their practices and charter responsibilities. In addition, the Board periodically retains an outside consultant to assist in the evaluations, solicits survey responses from individual directors on Board and Committee effectiveness, and conducts director peer reviews of the qualifications and contributions of its individual members.

Board’s Oversight of Risk Management

Corporate Governance and Board Matters

Consideration of Director Nominees and Diversity

The NGS Committee is responsible for identifying and evaluating the best available qualified candidates for election to the Board of Directors. The Committee’s procedure and the Company’s bylaws can be found at www.leggett.com/governance. Following its evaluation, the NGS Committee recommends to the full Board a slate of director candidates for inclusion in the Company’s proxy statement and proxy card.

Incumbent Directors. In the case of incumbent directors, the NGS Committee reviews each director’s overall service during his or her current term, including the number of meetings attended, level of participation, quality of performance and any transactions between the director and the Company.

New Director Candidates. In the case of new director candidates, the NGS Committee first determines whether the nominee will be independent under NYSE rules, then identifies any special needs of the Board. The NGS Committee will consider individuals recommended by Board members, Company management, shareholders and, if it deems appropriate, a professional search firm.

The NGS Committee believes director candidates should meet and demonstrate the following criteria:

Board Diversity. The NGS Committee recognizes the value of cultivating a Board with a diverse mix of opinions, perspectives, skills, experiences, and backgrounds. A diverse board enables more balanced, wide-ranging discussion in the boardroom, which, we believe, enhances the decision-making processes. Having diverse representation and a variety of viewpoints is also important to our shareholders and other stakeholders.

As such, the NGS Committee actively seeks director candidates from a wide variety of backgrounds, without discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, or any other status protected by law. In furtherance of this non-discrimination policy, for each search, the Committee will ensure that the pool includes female and racial or ethnic minority candidates.

All nominations to the Board will be based upon merit, experience and background relevant to the Board’s current and anticipated needs, as well as Leggett’s businesses.

Director Recommendations from Shareholders. The NGS Committee does not intend to alter its evaluation process, including the minimum criteria set forth above, for candidates recommended by a shareholder. Shareholders who wish to recommend candidates for the NGS Committee’s consideration must submit a written recommendation to the Secretary of the Company at 1 Leggett Road, Carthage, MO 64836. Recommendations must be sent by certified or registered mail and received by December 15^th for the NGS Committee’s consideration for the following year’s Annual Meeting. Recommendations must include the following:

Corporate Governance and Board Matters

Director Nominations for Inclusion in Leggett’s Proxy Materials (Proxy Access). The Board has approved a proxy access bylaw, which permits a shareholder, or group of up to 20 shareholders, owning at least 3% of our outstanding shares continuously for at least three years, to nominate and include in Leggett’s proxy materials up to the greater of two nominees or 20% of the Board, provided the shareholders and nominees satisfy the requirements specified in our bylaws. Notice of proxy access nominees for the 2025 Annual Meeting must be received no earlier than January 8, 2025 and no later than February 7, 2025.

Notice of Other Director Nominees. For shareholders intending to nominate a director candidate for election at the 2025 Annual Meeting outside of the Company’s nomination process, our bylaws require that the Company receive notice of the nomination no earlier than January 8, 2025 and no later than February 7, 2025. This notice must provide the information specified in Section 2.2 of the bylaws, including the information required by Rule 14a-19 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Transactions with Related Persons

According to our Corporate Governance Guidelines, the NGS Committee reviews transactions in which a related person has a direct or indirect material interest, the Company or a subsidiary is a participant, and the amount involved exceeds $120,000. If the transaction with a related person concerns compensation, the HRC Committee conducts the review.

The Company’s executive officers and directors are expected to notify the Company’s Corporate Secretary of any current or proposed transaction that may be a related person transaction. The Corporate Secretary will determine if it is a related person transaction and, if so, will include it for consideration at the next meeting of the appropriate Committee. The appropriate Committee will conduct a reasonable prior review and oversight of any related person transaction for potential conflicts of interest and will prohibit any such transaction if the Committee determines it to be inconsistent with the interests of the Company and its shareholders. If it becomes necessary to review a related person transaction between meetings, the Chair of the appropriate Committee is authorized to act on behalf of the Committee. The Chair will provide a report on the matter to the full Committee at its next meeting.

The full policy for reviewing transactions with related persons, including categories of pre-approved transactions, is found in our Corporate Governance Guidelines available on our website at www.leggett.com/governance.

The Company employs certain relatives of its executive officers, but only one had total compensation (consisting of salary and annual incentive earned in 2023, as well as the grant date fair value of equity awards issued in 2023) in excess of the $120,000 related person transaction threshold: Ashley Hiatt, Staff VP—Segment Reporting, the sister-in-law of Benjamin M. Burns, Executive VP and Chief Financial Officer, had total 2023 compensation of $174,267.

Corporate Governance and Board Matters

Director Compensation

For 2023, our non-management directors received an annual retainer, consisting of a mix of cash and equity, as set forth in the table below. Mr. Dolloff, our President and CEO, does not receive additional compensation for his Board service. Prior to Mr. Glassman’s retirement as an executive officer on May 4, 2023, he received no additional compensation for his service on the Board. Following his retirement, Mr. Glassman began receiving compensation for his continuing service on the Board as a non-management director.

Corporate Governance and Board Matters

Director Compensation in 2023

Our non-management directors received the following compensation in 2023.

Corporate Governance and Board Matters

All non-management directors held unvested stock or stock units as of December 31, 2023 as set forth below. The restricted stock and RSUs will vest on May 7, 2024.

In addition to Mr. Glassman’s restricted stock reported above in connection with his service as a non-management director, he also held 71,791 unvested performance stock units and 59,666 unvested restricted stock units on December 31, 2023 from awards received as an executive officer of the Company prior to his retirement on May 4, 2023.

Three directors held outstanding stock options as of December 31, 2023 which were granted in lieu of prior years’ cash compensation under our Deferred Compensation Program: Ms. Campbell—4,274 options, Mr. Glassman—95,968 options, and Mr. Shah—25,886 options. Mr. Glassman also held 80,449 options from a 2016 award as part of his compensation as the Company’s then-CEO.

Proposals to be Voted on at the Annual Meeting

PROPOSAL ONE: Election of Directors

At the 2024 Annual Meeting, eleven directors are nominated to hold office until the 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, or until their successors are elected and qualified. All nominees have been previously elected by our shareholders. If any nominee named below is unable to serve as a director (an event the Board does not anticipate), proxies will be voted for a substitute nominee, if any, designated by the Board.

In recommending the slate of director nominees, our Board has chosen individuals of character and integrity, with a commitment to the long-term growth and profitability of the Company. We believe each of the nominees brings significant business or public experience relevant and beneficial to the Board and the Company, as well as a work ethic and disposition that foster the collegiality necessary for the Board and its committees to function efficiently and best represent the interests of our shareholders.

Additional information concerning the directors is found in the Proxy Summary at page 1.

Election of Directors

Election of Directors

Election of Directors

Election of Directors

Election of Directors

The Board recommends that you vote FOR the election of each of the director nominees.

Audit Related Matters

PROPOSAL TWO: Ratification of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Audit Committee is directly responsible for the appointment of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and has selected PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024. PwC has been our independent registered public accounting firm continuously since 1991.

The Audit Committee regularly evaluates activities to assure continuing auditor independence, including whether there should be a regular rotation of the independent registered public accounting firm. As with all matters, the members of the Audit Committee and the Board perform assessments in the best interests of the Company and our investors and believe that the continued retention of PwC meets this standard.

Although shareholder ratification of the Audit Committee’s selection of PwC is not required by the Company’s bylaws or otherwise, the Board is requesting ratification as a matter of good corporate practice. If our shareholders fail to ratify the selection, it will be considered a direction to the Audit Committee to consider a different firm. Even if this selection is ratified, the Audit Committee, in its discretion, may select a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if it determines that such a change is in the best interest of the Company and our shareholders.

PwC representatives are expected to be available at the Annual Meeting. They will have an opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and will be available to respond to appropriate shareholder questions.

The Board recommends that you vote FOR the ratification of PwC

as the independent registered public accounting firm.

Audit and Non-Audit Fees

The Audit Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention, and oversight of the independent external audit firm, directly involved in the selection of the lead engagement partner, and responsible for the audit fee negotiations associated with retaining PwC. The fees billed or expected to be billed by PwC for professional services rendered in fiscal years 2023 and 2022 are shown below.

Audit Related Matters

Pre-Approval Procedures for Audit and Non-Audit Services

The Audit Committee has established a procedure for pre-approving the services performed by the Company’s auditors. All services provided by PwC in 2023 were approved in accordance with the adopted procedures. There were no services provided or fees paid in 2023 for which the pre-approval requirement was waived.

The procedure provides standing pre-approval for:

Audit Services: quarterly reviews of the Company’s financial statements; statutory audits, where appropriate; comfort and debt covenant letters; consents and assistance in responding to SEC comment letters; and services in connection with regulatory filings.

Audit-Related Services: consultation on new or proposed transactions, statutory requirements, or accounting principles; reports related to contracts, agreements, arbitration, or government filings; continuing professional education; financial statement audits of employee benefit plans; due diligence and audits related to acquisitions and joint ventures; and other attest services.

Tax Services: preparation or review of Company and related entity income, sales, payroll, property, and other tax returns and tax filings and permissible tax audit assistance; preparation or review of expatriate and similar employee tax returns and tax filings; tax consulting and advice related to compliance with applicable tax laws; tax planning strategies and implementation; and tax due diligence related to acquisitions and joint ventures.

Any other audit, audit-related, or tax services provided by the Company’s auditors require specific Audit Committee pre-approval. The procedure requires the Audit Committee to specifically pre-approve the terms of the annual audit services engagement letter with the Company’s auditor, including all audit procedures required to render an opinion on the Company’s annual financial statements and on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The Audit Committee must also specifically approve, if necessary, any changes in terms of the annual audit engagement resulting from changes in audit scope, Company structure or other matters. The Audit Committee must also specifically approve in advance all other permissible Non-Audit Services to be performed by the Company’s auditors.

Management provides quarterly reports to the Audit Committee regarding the nature and scope of any non-audit services performed and any fees paid to the auditors for all services. The Audit Committee has determined that the provision of the approved Non-Audit Services by PwC in 2023 is compatible with maintaining PwC’s independence.

Audit Committee Report

The current Audit Committee is composed of six non-management directors who are independent as required by SEC and NYSE rules. The Audit Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board which is posted on the Company’s website at www.leggett.com/governance.

Management is responsible for the Company’s financial statements and financial reporting process, including the system of internal controls. PwC, our independent registered public accounting firm, is responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of the audited consolidated financial statements with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

The Audit Committee is responsible for monitoring, overseeing, and evaluating these processes, providing recommendations to the Board regarding the independence of and risk assessment procedures used by our independent registered public accounting firm, selecting and retaining our independent registered public accounting firm, and overseeing compliance with various laws and regulations.

Audit Related Matters

At its meetings, the Audit Committee reviewed and discussed the Company’s audited financial statements with management and PwC. The Audit Committee also discussed with PwC all items required to be discussed by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) and the SEC.

The Audit Committee received the written disclosures and letter from PwC required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding PwC’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence and has discussed PwC’s independence with them.

The Audit Committee has relied on management’s representation that the financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and on the opinion of PwC included in their report on the Company’s financial statements.

Based on review and discussions with management and PwC referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in the Company’s 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Say-on-Pay

PROPOSAL THREE: Advisory Vote to Approve Named Executive Officer Compensation

Pursuant to Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Leggett’s shareholders have the opportunity to vote on an advisory resolution, commonly known as “Say-on-Pay,” to approve the compensation of Leggett’s Named Executive Officers (NEOs), as described in the Executive Compensation and Related Matters section beginning on page 32.

Since Say-on-Pay was implemented in 2011, our shareholders have supported the compensation of our NEOs with over 90% of the vote (with 95% support in 2023). Our Board has adopted a policy providing for an annual Say-on-Pay vote.

Our Human Resources and Compensation Committee is committed to creating an executive compensation program that enables us to attract and retain a superior management team that has targeted incentives to build long-term value for our shareholders. The Company’s compensation package uses a mix of cash and equity-based awards to align executive compensation with our annual and long-term performance. These programs reflect the Committee’s philosophy that executive compensation should provide greater rewards for superior performance, as well as accountability for underperformance. At the same time, we believe our programs do not encourage excessive risk-taking by management. The Board believes that our philosophy and practices have resulted in executive compensation decisions that are appropriate and that have benefited the Company over time.

For these reasons, the Board requests our shareholders approve the compensation paid to the Company’s NEOs as described in this proxy statement, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the executive compensation tables and the related footnotes and narrative accompanying the tables.

Because your vote is advisory, it will not be binding upon the Board; however, the HRC Committee and the Board have considered and will continue to consider the outcome of the vote when making decisions for future executive compensation arrangements.

The Board recommends that you vote FOR the Company’s Named Executive Officer compensation package.

PROPOSAL FOUR: Approval of the Amendment and Restatement of the Flexible Stock Plan

We are asking shareholders to approve the amended and restated Flexible Stock Plan (the “Plan”), last approved by our shareholders in 2020 (the “2020 Plan”). The Plan provides for the award of stock-based benefits to attract and retain valuable employees, directors and other key individuals, align the interests of participants with shareholders, and reward outstanding performance. At its meeting on February 26, 2024, the Board of Directors recommended our shareholders approve the amended and restated Plan set forth in full in Appendix A (the “2024 Restatement”). If approved by the Company’s shareholders, the 2024 Restatement will become effective as of May 8, 2024 (the “Effective Date”) and will continue in effect until the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date.

Under the 2020 Plan, each option or stock appreciation right counted as one share against the shares available under the Plan, but each share granted for any other awards counted as three shares against the Plan. The Company has largely discontinued granting options (although options remain available through the Deferred Compensation Program), and the fungible share feature will be eliminated with the 2024 Restatement. After the Effective Date, each share granted under any type of award (including full value awards, options, and stock appreciation rights) will count as one share against the shares available under the Plan.

As of March 4, 2024, there were 3.7 million shares potentially issuable from prior awards under the 2020 Plan (3.3 million full value awards and 0.4 million options), while 4.7 million shares remained available under the 2020

Flexible Stock Plan

Plan for future grants. If shareholders approve the 2024 Restatement, (i) the current 4.7 million shares available for future grants will be multiplied by 1/3 to account for the elimination of the fungible share feature of the 2020 Plan, resulting in an adjusted 1.6 million shares carried over from the 2020 Plan and (ii) the shares available will be increased by 3.7 million shares to be approved under the 2024 Restatement for a total of approximately 5.3 million shares available for future grants under the Plan (excluding forfeitures of existing awards that again become available for issuance under the Plan).

In addition to increasing the number of shares available under the Plan, the 2024 Restatement also clarifies the double-trigger vesting provisions following a change in control, establishes a mandatory one-year minimum vesting period (subject to a 5% carve-out for vesting due to disability, death or in certain circumstances following a change in control), and updates the Plan for certain tax law changes.

Shareholder approval of the 2024 Restatement will constitute approval of the material terms of the Plan. If our shareholders fail to approve the 2024 Restatement, the 2020 Plan will continue as in effect prior to its amendment and restatement.

While we have tax-qualified stock purchase plans for employees generally, the Flexible Stock Plan is our only vehicle for granting non-qualified equity benefits. The Plan’s flexible design permits equity-based awards to be tailored to the needs of the Company and to comply with changing business, tax and regulatory environments.

Key Features of the Plan

Double-Trigger Vesting of Awards upon a Change in Control. The Plan does not permit awards to vest solely upon the occurrence of a change in control (unless the acquirer requires that outstanding awards be terminated as a result of the change in control), but awards vest in connection with certain terminations of employment following a change in control.

Minimum Vesting. The 2024 Restatement requires a mandatory minimum vesting period of at least one year, except for a maximum 5% of shares that may vest earlier in the case of disability, death or in certain circumstances following a change in control.

Clawback. The Committee is authorized to cancel awards and require repayment to the Company under the circumstances described below at page 29.

No Repricing. The Plan prohibits the cancellation of an outstanding option or stock appreciation right (“SAR”) in exchange for cash or for the purpose of reissuing to the participant at a lower exercise price or granting a replacement award of a different type. Unless following a change in our capital stock, the exercise price of an option or SAR may not be reduced without shareholder approval.

No Discounted Options or SARs. Options and SARs may not be granted with exercise prices lower than the fair market value of the underlying shares on the grant date.

No Evergreen Provision. There is no “evergreen” feature pursuant to which the shares authorized for issuance under the Plan can be automatically increased.

No Tax Gross-ups. The Plan does not provide for any tax gross-ups.

Ten Year Term. The Plan will terminate on May 8, 2034, the tenth anniversary of the date of shareholder approval, provided that if our shareholders fail to approve the 2024 Restatement, the 2020 Plan will continue as in effect prior to its amendment and restatement, including that the Plan will terminate on May 15, 2030.

Independent Administration. The HRC Committee, an independent committee of the Board of Directors, currently administers the Plan.

Flexible Stock Plan

How We Use Stock Compensation

We have encouraged and promoted employee stock ownership at all levels of the Company for many years. In 2023, approximately 2,600 employees contributed their own funds to purchase Company stock under various stock purchase plans. The HRC Committee has weighted our executives’ compensation toward Leggett equity granted and administered through the Plan.

Performance Stock Units. Leggett’s long-term focus emphasizes sustained, profitable growth and shareholder alignment. We grant performance stock unit awards (“PSUs”) as a primary component of our senior executives’ compensation to drive and reward those results, with 60% of the long-term incentive granted as PSUs. The PSU awards granted in 2023 and 2024 support our operational goals by allocating 50% of the payout to total adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) generated over the three-year performance period and 50% of the payout to return on invested capital (ROIC). These results are subject to a payout multiplier of 0.75 to 1.25 based on our relative total shareholder return (TSR). The PSUs, including the calculation of adjusted EBITDA, ROIC and relative TSR, are described on page 37.

Restricted Stock Units. The remaining 40% of our senior executives’ long-term incentive is granted as restricted stock units (“RSUs”), along with RSU grants to a broad base of managers and key employees. These RSUs vest in one-third increments at 12, 24 and 36 months after the grant date. RSUs are also awarded intermittently to select new hires and existing employees for retention, motivation or recognition.

Deferred Compensation. Leggett had 99 managers eligible for the Deferred Compensation Program in 2023, and they collectively deferred approximately $4 million of their cash compensation into stock units and stock options. Stock units and reinvested dividend equivalent accruals are acquired at a 20% discount to the market price of Company stock. Participants may also choose at-market stock options with the underlying shares of common stock having an initial market value five times the amount of compensation forgone, with an exercise price equal to the closing market price of our common stock on the grant date.

Retirement. We also use shares from the Plan for our executives’ primary retirement plan, the Executive Stock Unit Program (the “ESU Program”). Executives contribute up to 10% of their cash compensation above a certain threshold into diversified investments in their accounts, which are held until they retire or terminate employment. The Company matches 50% of the executives’ contributions with stock units acquired at a 15% discount to the market price of Company stock and provides an additional match of up to 50% if the Company meets certain performance targets.

Directors. Our non-employee directors receive a portion of their annual compensation in restricted stock, consisting of an award with a grant date value of $160,000 and additional retainers of $30,000 for the Lead Director and $150,000 for the Board Chairman. The restricted stock vests the day before the following year’s annual shareholder meeting. Directors may elect to receive the equity retainer in restricted stock or RSUs. Electing RSUs enables directors to defer receipt of the shares for two to ten years while accruing dividend equivalent shares at a 20% discount to market price over the deferral period. Directors may also participate in the Deferred Compensation Program described above by deferring some or all of their cash retainers for board and committee service.

Stock Options. Non-qualified stock options (“NQSOs”) are occasionally granted to senior executives in connection with promotions or for retention purposes. These options are granted with an exercise price equal to the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the grant date. Options vest and become exercisable in three annual installments beginning 18 months after the grant date and have a maximum 10-year term. The closing market price for our common stock on March 4, 2024 was $20.84.

Flexible Stock Plan

Burn Rate and Overhang

We believe we have been judicious in our use of shares previously authorized by shareholders under the Plan, and we are committed to closely monitoring share usage. Two common measures of a stock plan’s cost are known as “burn rate” and “overhang.”

Burn rate refers to the rate at which shares issued under the Plan increase the number of shares outstanding. Over the last three years, we have maintained an average burn rate of 0.60% per year. We calculate burn rate as the sum of options granted during each year plus full value awards granted or vested during each year (as detailed below), as a percentage of the weighted average common shares outstanding.

Burn Rate

Overhang measures the degree to which our shareholders’ ownership may be diluted by stock-based compensation awarded under the Plan. Our overhang as of March 4, 2024, was determined by dividing the stock awards outstanding by the common shares outstanding.

Flexible Stock Plan

Overhang

The 3,251,260 full-value awards outstanding consist of 1,656,526 unvested, time-based awards and 1,594,734 unvested, performance-based awards at 200% maximum payout, but excludes 2,196,340 vested stock units in the ESU Program and the Deferred Compensation Program. The 1,559,800 shares available for grant under the 2020 Plan as of March 4, 2024, reduced by a factor of 3 to adjust for the elimination of the fungible share feature in the 2024 Restatement, are not included in the above calculation. Adding those shares to the total awards outstanding would increase the overhang percentage to 3.9%. Adding the new 3,700,000 shares to be available for grant under the 2024 Restatement would increase the overhang percentage to 6.7%.

We are strongly committed to a culture of employee stock ownership. Accordingly, we believe the approval of the 2024 Restatement is critical to our ability to attract, retain and reward the caliber of employees necessary to achieve superior performance.

Description of the Plan

The following description of the Plan is qualified in its entirety by the full 2024 Restatement, which is attached as an Appendix. If approved by the Company’s shareholders, the 2024 Restatement will become effective as of the Effective Date and will continue in effect until the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date.

The Plan provides for awards to eligible participants in the form of stock options, SARs, restricted stock, stock units, performance awards, other stock-based awards and other awards, which may include cash awards.

Awards may be granted to (i) employees, (ii) non-employee directors, and (iii) individuals or entities providing services to the Company or an affiliate of the Company. The number of awards that may be granted to a participant under the Plan is in the discretion of the HRC Committee and therefore cannot be determined in advance. See the Grants of Plan-Based Awards in 2023 table at page 49 for information regarding equity-based awards granted to our named executive officers.

Flexible Stock Plan

Awards settled in cash do not reduce the number of shares available for grant. If an award expires or is terminated, cancelled or forfeited, the shares covered by that award will again be available for issuance under the Plan. The following shares will not become available for reissuance under the Plan:

Under the 2024 Restatement, the Plan’s fungible share feature will be eliminated such that all awards (including full-value awards, options and SARs) will count as one share against the shares available under the Plan. All shares available under the Plan may be granted as any type of award. Up to one hundred percent of the shares available under the Plan may be granted as incentive stock options (“ISOs”).

Outstanding awards, as well as the number of shares reserved under the Plan and the maximum number of shares issuable to participants, will be appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock dividend, stock split, spin-off or similar change to the Company’s capital stock.

The Committee administering the Plan consists of at least two directors who are intended to qualify as “non-employee directors” as defined in Rule 16b-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). Members of the Committee are appointed by the Board. Currently, the HRC Committee of the Board serves as the Committee administering the Plan. The HRC Committee has full authority and discretion to (i) select participants, (ii) determine the type, size, and conditions applicable to awards, (iii) determine to what extent awards may be settled in cash, shares, or other property, or may be cancelled or suspended, (iv) determine to what extent amounts payable from an award under the Plan may be deferred, either automatically or at the election of the participant, (v) interpret and administer the Plan and any agreement issued thereunder, and (vi) establish rules, appoint agents, and take any other action it deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan. To the extent permitted by law, the HRC Committee may delegate all or any part of its authority under the Plan, except for grants to individuals who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

The Board has the sole right and power to amend or terminate the Plan at any time, except that it may not amend the Plan, without approval of Company shareholders, in a manner that would cause ISOs to fail to qualify as such, increase the number of shares available under the Plan (other than in connection with a stock split or similar change to the Company’s capital stock), expand the classes of individuals eligible to receive awards, otherwise require shareholder approval under the rules of the applicable exchange, or violate applicable law. The amendment or termination of the Plan will not adversely affect a participant’s right to any outstanding awards without such participant’s consent.

The Plan provides for double-trigger vesting in the event of a change in control of the Company (as defined in the Plan). If, following a change in control, the participant’s employment is terminated by the Company for reasons other than disability or cause (as defined in the applicable award agreement), or the participant terminates employment for good reason (as defined in the applicable award agreement), then awards that are subject to time-based vesting conditions shall immediately vest and performance awards shall be deemed earned at the maximum payout level and immediately vest. However, if the acquirer in the change in control requires that outstanding awards be terminated as a result of the change in control, then awards that are subject to time-

Flexible Stock Plan

based vesting conditions shall immediately vest and performance awards shall be deemed earned at the maximum payout level and immediately vest. To the extent consistent with the foregoing, the Committee may, among other things: (i) accelerate any time periods relating to the exercise or realization of awards; (ii) purchase an award, upon the participant’s request, for the amount which could have been attained upon the exercise or realization of the award had it been currently exercisable or payable; (iii) adjust outstanding awards as it deems appropriate to reflect such transaction, and (iv) cause outstanding awards to be assumed or substituted by the surviving corporation.

Description of Awards

Restricted Stock. These are awards of common stock, the grant, vesting, issuance, or retention of which is subject to certain conditions expressed in the award agreement. Shares of restricted stock have full voting rights and accrue dividends during the restriction period, unless otherwise determined by the HRC Committee. The HRC Committee will determine the price, if any, at which restricted stock is sold or awarded.

Stock Units. These represent the right to receive the value of a number of shares of common stock, the grant, vesting, issuance, or retention of which is subject to certain conditions expressed in the award agreement. Stock units may be settled in cash or in stock, as determined by the HRC Committee. Stock units represent an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company. Stock units have no voting rights, but may accrue dividend equivalents, as determined by the HRC Committee. The HRC Committee will determine the price, if any, at which stock units are sold or awarded to participants.

Performance Awards. A performance award entitles a participant to receive a specified number of shares of common stock (or cash equal to the fair market value of such shares) at the end of a performance period, as specified in the award agreement. The ultimate number of shares distributed (or cash paid) depends upon the extent to which pre-established performance objectives are met during the applicable performance period.

Stock Options. A stock option is the right to acquire shares of common stock at a fixed exercise price for a fixed period of time not to exceed ten years. The option price per share cannot be less than the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the grant date. Options cannot be exercised until they are vested. All option terms and conditions will be determined by the HRC Committee.

The HRC Committee may grant options intended to qualify as ISOs pursuant to Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code, as well as NQSOs under the Plan. We currently do not grant ISOs and do not have any outstanding ISOs.

Stock Appreciation Rights. This award gives a participant the right to receive, for each SAR exercised, an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of a share of common stock on the date the SAR is exercised over the fair market value of a share on the date the SAR was granted. SARs may have terms up to ten years, may be settled in cash or in stock, as determined by the HRC Committee, and are subject to the terms and conditions of the award agreement. We currently do not grant SARs.

Other Stock-Based Awards. The HRC Committee may grant other stock-based awards which may include, without limitation, the grant of shares of common stock and the grant of securities convertible into shares of common stock.

Other Awards. The HRC Committee may provide types of awards under the Plan in addition to those specifically listed, such as cash awards, if the HRC Committee believes that such awards would further the purposes for which the Plan was established.

Flexible Stock Plan

Award Conditions and Administration

Awards are typically evidenced by an agreement describing the award’s terms and conditions. Such an agreement may include: description of the type of award; the award’s duration; if an option, the exercise price, the exercise period and the person or persons who may exercise the option; the effect of the participant’s disability, death or termination of employment on the award; the award’s conditions, vesting or performance criteria; when, if, and how it may be forfeited, converted into another award, modified, exchanged for another award, or replaced; and the restrictions on any shares purchased or granted under the Plan.

The HRC Committee may require the satisfaction of certain performance criteria as a condition to the grant or vesting of any award.

The HRC Committee may allow the exercise price of an option or payment price of an award to be paid in cash, with shares owned by the participant, or a combination of both. Options also may be exercised in a broker-assisted, cashless exercise or other cashless exercise, as permitted by the HRC Committee.

The Company may withhold from option exercises or other awards any amount necessary to satisfy tax withholding requirements arising from the option exercise or award. The HRC Committee may, at any time, require a participant to pay in cash the amount necessary to comply with withholding requirements.

An award may be granted in tandem with another award, except that only SARs may be granted in tandem with an ISO.

Subject to the requirements of Code Section 409A, and upon the terms established by the HRC Committee, participants may defer receipt of awards, interest may be earned on cash deferrals, and dividends or dividend equivalents may be earned on deferrals denominated in shares. Unless the HRC Committee provides otherwise (except with respect to ISOs), awards may not be pledged, encumbered or charged and are not transferrable or assignable except by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

Modifications to Awards

Any award may be converted, modified, forfeited or cancelled, in whole or in part, by the HRC Committee to the extent permitted in the Plan or applicable award agreement, or with the participant’s consent.

The HRC Committee may permit a participant to surrender an award in exchange for a new award to the extent such surrender would not result in adverse tax consequences under Code Section 409A; however, the HRC Committee may not cancel an outstanding option or SAR that is underwater in exchange for cash or for the purpose of reissuing the option to the participant at a lower exercise price or granting a replacement award of a different type. Unless following a change in the Company’s capital stock, the exercise price of an option or SAR may not be reduced without shareholder approval.

If an award is subject to Code Section 409A, an award may be modified, replaced or terminated in the discretion of the HRC Committee to the extent necessary to comply with such provision. In addition, in the event that a participant is determined to be a specified employee under Section 409A, any payment upon separation from service will be made or begin, as applicable, six months following the date of separation from service.

Clawbacks

The HRC Committee may, in its discretion, cancel all or any portion of an award if the recipient (i) violates any confidentiality, non-solicitation or non-compete obligations or terms in an award agreement, employment agreement, confidentiality agreement, separation agreement, and/or any other similar agreement, (ii) engages in

Flexible Stock Plan

improper conduct contributing to the need to restate any external Company financial statement, (iii) commits an act of fraud or significant dishonesty, or (iv) commits a significant violation of any of the Company’s written policies or applicable laws.

The HRC Committee may require an award recipient to forfeit and repay to the Company any or all of the income or other benefit received on the vesting, exercise, or payment of an award (i) in the preceding three years if, in its discretion, the HRC Committee determines that the recipient engaged in any of the foregoing activities and that such activity resulted in a significant financial or reputational loss to the Company, (ii) to the extent required under applicable law or securities exchange listing standards, or (iii) to the extent required or permitted under any written policy of the Company dealing with recoupment of compensation, subject to any limits of applicable law.

New Plan Benefits

The HRC Committee has discretion to select the individuals who will receive awards under the Plan and the amount of any such awards. As a result, the future recipients of awards (and the amounts of those awards) under the Plan are not presently determinable. In addition, since our directors and executive officers are eligible to receive awards under the Plan, they have an interest in this proposal.

Federal Income Tax Consequences

The following is a summary of the current general federal income tax consequences of awards granted under the Plan to U.S. taxpayers. Tax consequences for any particular individual or transaction may be different and are subject to change.

Non-Qualified Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights. A recipient recognizes no taxable income upon the grant of NQSOs or SARs. Upon exercise of either, the recipient will recognize taxable ordinary income equal to the difference between the fair market value of Company stock on the exercise date and the exercise price. Any additional gain or loss recognized upon the subsequent sale or exchange of the stock will be taxed as a short-term or long-term capital gain or loss, as the case may be.

Incentive Stock Options. A recipient recognizes no taxable income upon the grant or exercise of an ISO (except for purposes of the Alternative Minimum Tax, in which case income recognition is the same as for NQSOs). If a recipient exercises an option and sells the shares more than two years after the grant date and more than one year after the exercise date, they will recognize a long-term capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the sale price and the exercise price. If a recipient exercises an option and sells the shares before the end of either of the two-year or one-year holding periods, they will generally recognize: (1) taxable ordinary income equal to the excess of (i) the fair market value of the shares at exercise (or at sale, if less) over (ii) the exercise price of the option, plus (2) if the sale price exceeds the sum of the exercise price and the amount of the ordinary income recognized as a result of the sale, short-term or long-term capital gain, as the case may be, equal to such difference.

Restricted Stock, Stock Units and Performance Awards. A recipient of restricted stock, stock units, performance awards or other awards that are subject to forfeiture prior to vesting generally will recognize no taxable income at the time of grant. As to restricted stock, when the restrictions have lapsed or the performance criteria have been met (upon vesting), the recipient will recognize taxable ordinary income equal to the excess of the fair market value of the Company’s stock on the vesting date over the amount paid, if any, for the shares; however, the recipient may elect to be taxed based on the fair market value of the award at the time of grant. As to stock units or performance awards, when vested shares are issued, the recipient will recognize taxable ordinary income equal to the excess of the fair market value of the Company’s stock on the issuance date over the amount paid, if any, for the shares, or, if the units or awards are settled in cash, equal to the cash paid.

Flexible Stock Plan

Deferred Compensation. Participants may defer receipt of certain compensation by electing a future distribution date under the terms of an award or program under the Plan. Generally, such deferred compensation becomes taxable when the amounts are distributed. Code Section 409A significantly restricts the ability to defer taxation of compensation, including the deferral of income related to awards granted under the Plan. Any deferral of compensation under the Plan or the terms of an award that does not meet the requirements of Section 409A may cause the recipient to be subject to additional taxation and penalties.

Change in Control. If there is an acceleration of the vesting or payment of benefits or an acceleration of the exercisability of options upon a change in control of the Company, all or a portion of the accelerated benefits may constitute “excess parachute payments” under Section 280G of the Code. The recipient of an excess parachute payment generally incurs an excise tax of 20% of the amount of the payment in excess of their average annual compensation over the five calendar years preceding the year of the change in control. The Company is not entitled to a deduction for excess parachute payments. The Company does not make gross-up payments to employees in the event Section 280G excise taxes are triggered.

Tax Effect to the Company. The Company will generally receive a tax deduction equal to the taxable ordinary income recognized by a recipient from an award granted under the Plan. The Company’s deduction will be taken in the same year the recipient recognizes taxable income.

Vote Required to Approve the Amendment

The adoption of this proposal requires the affirmative vote of (i) a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the annual meeting and (ii) a majority of the votes cast on this proposal.

The Board recommends that you vote FOR the amendment of the Flexible Stock Plan.

Discretionary Vote on Other Matters

We are not aware of any business to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting other than the four items described in this proxy statement. Your signed proxy, however, will entitle the persons named as proxy holders to vote in their discretion if another matter is properly presented at the meeting. If one of the director nominees is not available as a candidate for director, the proxy holders will vote your proxy for such other candidate as the Board may nominate.

Executive Compensation and Related Matters

Compensation Discussion & Analysis

Our Human Resources and Compensation Committee, consisting solely of independent directors, is committed to creating and overseeing an executive compensation program that enables Leggett & Platt to attract and retain a superior management team that receives targeted incentives to build long-term value for our shareholders. To meet these objectives, the Committee has implemented a compensation package that:

This Compensation Discussion and Analysis describes our executive compensation program and the decisions affecting the compensation of our Named Executive Officers (NEOs):

Executive Summary

This section provides an overview of our NEOs’ compensation structure, Leggett’s pay practices, and the Committee’s compensation risk management. Additional details regarding the NEOs’ pay packages, the Committee’s annual review of the executive officers’ compensation, and our equity pay practices are covered in the sections that follow.

Compensation Discussion & Analysis

Structuring the Mix of Compensation

The Committee uses its judgment to determine the appropriate percentage of fixed and variable compensation, the use of short-term and long-term performance periods, and the split between cash and equity-based compensation. The value of the variable elements depends on the Company’s performance and stock prices, aligning our executives’ pay with our shareholders’ interests. The following table shows the key attributes of our 2023 executive compensation structure used to drive performance and build long-term shareholder value.

Incentive Payouts in 2023

Our executives’ 2023 annual incentive payouts under the Key Officers Incentive Plan (KOIP) tracked the Company’s operational results in 2023, in which the adjusted EBITDA was $506.2 million (versus a target of $591 million, resulting in a 71.3% payout) and cash flow was $538.2 million (versus a target of $494 million, resulting in a 135.7% payout). The KOIP, including the calculations and targets for adjusted EBITDA and cash flow, is described on page 35.

The Performance Stock Units (PSUs) granted in 2021 vested on December 31, 2023, with payouts based 50% on the Company’s relative TSR and 50% on the compound annual growth rate of earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT CAGR). Leggett’s cumulative TSR from 2021 to 2023 was -29.1%, which placed us in the 10^th percentile of the peer group which was below the payout threshold. The Company’s -11.9% EBIT CAGR over the three-year performance period was below the 2% payout threshold. The Company’s PSUs, including the calculation of relative TSR and EBIT CAGR, as well as the vesting schedules, are described on page 39.

Compensation Discussion & Analysis

Sound Pay Practices

The Company is committed to executive compensation practices that align the interests of our executives with our shareholders:

Additional Investment in Leggett Stock

In addition to pay packages that are heavily weighted towards equity-based awards, for many years our NEOs have voluntarily deferred substantial portions of their cash compensation into Company stock through the Executive Stock Unit (ESU) Program and the Deferred Compensation Program. Through participation in these programs, particularly the ESU Program, in which Company equity is held until the executive leaves the Company, our NEOs are further invested in the long-term success of the Company.

Managing Compensation Risk

The Committee regularly reviews whether our executive compensation policies and practices (as well as those that apply to our employees generally) are appropriate and whether they create risks or misalignments that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.

We believe that our compensation programs align our executives’ incentives for risk taking with the long-term best interests of our shareholders. We mitigate risk by allocating incentive compensation across multiple components. This structure is designed to reduce the incentive to take excessive risk because it:

Compensation Discussion & Analysis

Additional safeguards against undue compensation risk include stock ownership guidelines, caps on all incentive payouts, and clawbacks for performance-based compensation.

Impact of 2023 Say-on-Pay Vote

At our 2023 Annual Meeting, 95% of the votes cast on the Say-on-Pay proposal approved the compensation of our NEOs. The Committee believes that this shareholder vote strongly endorses the Company’s compensation philosophy and programs. The Committee took this support into account as one of many factors considered in connection with the discharge of its responsibilities (as described in this Compensation Discussion and Analysis) and in exercising its judgment to establish and oversee our executive compensation arrangements throughout the year.

Our Compensation Components and Programs

Base Salary

Base salary is the only fixed portion of our NEOs’ compensation package. Salary levels are intended to reflect specific responsibilities, performance and experience, while taking into account market compensation levels for comparable positions. Although base salary makes up less than one-fourth of our NEOs’ aggregate target compensation, it’s the foundation for the total package with the variable compensation components set as percentages of base salary:

The Committee reviews and determines the NEOs’ base salaries (along with the rest of their compensation packages) during the annual review, which is discussed on page 41.

Annual Incentive

Our NEOs earn their annual incentive, a cash bonus paid under the Key Officers Incentive Plan, based on achieving certain performance targets for the year.

Our executive officers are divided into two groups under the KOIP for 2023, depending upon their areas of responsibility: (i) corporate participants (Dolloff, Burns, and Douglas), whose performance criteria and payouts are based on the Company’s overall results, and (ii) profit center participants (Henderson and Hagale), whose performance targets are set for the operations under their control.

Compensation Discussion & Analysis

Each NEO has a target incentive amount—the amount received for achieving exactly 100% of all performance goals. The target incentive amount is the officer’s base salary multiplied by his target incentive percentage. At the end of the year, the target incentive amount is multiplied by the payout percentages for the various performance metrics (each with its own weighting) to determine the annual incentive payout.

Performance Metrics. For the 2023 KOIP, the Committee chose adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) as the primary incentive target with a 65% weighting to focus on profitable operating performance while accounting for acquisition growth. EBITDA replaced return on capital employed (ROCE) as the primary metric for the KOIP in prior years. In 2023, the Committee added a return metric, in the form of return on invested capital (ROIC), to the PSUs, as described below. The other 35% of the annual incentive is based upon cash flow⁽¹⁾, which is critical to fund the Company’s ongoing operations, capital expenditures, and dividends. Profit center participants are also subject to a formula-based adjustment ranging from a potential 5% increase for exceptional safety performance to a 20% deduction for their operations’ failure to achieve safety, audit and environmental standards.

The EBITDA and cash flow calculations are adjusted for all items of gain, loss or expense (i) from non-cash impairments; (ii) related to loss contingencies identified in the Company’s 10-K relating to the fiscal year immediately preceding the performance period; (iii) related to the disposal of a segment of a business; or (iv) related to a change in accounting principle. Financial results from acquisitions are excluded from calculations in the year of acquisition. Financial results from businesses divested during the year are included, but targets relating to the divested businesses will be prorated to reflect only that portion of the year prior to the divestiture. Financial results from businesses classified as discontinued operations are included in the calculations. Financial results exclude (i) certain currency and hedging-related gains and losses, (ii) gains and losses from asset disposals, and (iii) items that are outside the scope of the Company’s core, on-going business activities.

Targets and Payout Schedules. Upon selecting the metrics, the Committee established performance targets and payout schedules. In setting the payout schedules, the Company evaluated various payout scenarios before selecting one that struck a balance between accountability to shareholders and motivation for participants. The payout for each portion of the annual incentive was capped at 200% in 2023 (increased from a 150% cap under the KOIP in prior years).

Compensation Discussion & Analysis

The following table provides the details of the 2023 annual incentive payouts for our NEOs⁽¹⁾: