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

SCHEDULE 14A

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

 

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March 31, 2016

Dear Shareholder,

        You are cordially invited to attend the 2016 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. to be held at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 11, 2016, at the Conference Center at the offices of Goodwin Procter LLP, Exchange Place, 53 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109.

        At the Annual Meeting, nine persons will be elected to our Board of Directors. We will also seek shareholder approval of the Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. 2016 Incentive Plan. In addition, we will also hold a vote on an advisory resolution on our executive compensation and ask shareholders to ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2016. Our Board of Directors recommends the approval of the proposals to elect the nine directors, to authorize the new equity incentive plan, to approve the advisory vote on our executive compensation and to ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. Such other business will be transacted as may properly come before the Annual Meeting.

        Whether you plan to attend the Annual Meeting or not, it is important that your shares are represented. Therefore, we urge you to complete, sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card promptly in accordance with the instructions set forth on the card. This will ensure your proper representation at the Annual Meeting.

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT.
PLEASE RETURN YOUR PROXY PROMPTLY.

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        Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 11, 2016.

        This Proxy Statement and our Annual Report to Shareholders are available at www.criver.com/annual2016.

        In addition, our Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year 2015 can be found on the same website.

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CHARLES RIVER LABORATORIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.

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NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To be Held on May 11, 2016

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To the Shareholders of
Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.:

        NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Charles River Laboratories International, Inc., a Delaware corporation, will be held on Wednesday, May 11, 2016, at the Conference Center at the offices of Goodwin Procter LLP, Exchange Place, 53 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109, at 8:30 a.m., for the following purposes:

1.

To elect the nine (9) persons named in this Proxy Statement to our Board of Directors to hold office until the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders.



2.

To approve an advisory resolution on our executive compensation.



3.

To approve the Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. 2016 Incentive Plan.



4.

To consider and act upon a proposal to ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016.



5.

To transact such other business as may be properly brought before the Annual Meeting and any adjournments thereof.

        The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on March 15, 2016 as the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting and at any adjournments thereof.

        All shareholders are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting. Attendance at the Annual Meeting will be limited to shareholders and those holding proxies from shareholders.

        An admission ticket and government-issued picture identification will be required to enter the Annual Meeting. Any individual arriving without an admission ticket will not be admitted to the Annual Meeting unless it can be verified that the individual is a Charles River shareholder as of the record date for the Annual Meeting. Shareholders may obtain an Annual Meeting ticket by writing to the Corporate Secretary, Charles River Laboratories International, Inc., 251 Ballardvale Street, Wilmington, Massachusetts 01887. If you are a registered holder, please so indicate in your request. If your shares are held by a bank, broker, or nominee, you must enclose evidence of your ownership of shares with your ticket request, which you can obtain from your broker, bank or nominee. Please submit your ticket request and proof of ownership as promptly as possible in order to ensure you receive your ticket in time for the meeting. Admission to the Annual Meeting will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

March 31, 2016

        Whether you plan to attend the Annual Meeting or not, you are requested to complete, sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card as soon as possible in accordance with the instructions on the proxy card. A pre-addressed, postage prepaid return envelope is enclosed for your convenience.

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PROXY SUMMARY

        The following is a summary which highlights information contained elsewhere in this Proxy Statement. This summary does not contain all of the information you should consider, and you are urged to read the entire Proxy Statement carefully before voting.

Annual Meeting of Shareholders

Voting Matters and Vote Recommendations

        There are four items of business which we currently expect to be considered at our 2016 Annual Meeting. The following table lists those items of business and our Board's vote recommendation.

Director Nominees

        The following table provides summary information about each of our director nominees.

Key: AC: Audit Committee; CC: Compensation Committee; CGNC: Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee; SPCAC: Strategic Planning and Capital Allocation Committee; STC: Science and Technology Committee; EC: Executive Committee; C: Chairperson; M: Member.

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Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation/Changes to Executive Compensation Program in Fiscal 2015

        Charles River shareholders provided very strong majority support for our named executives' compensation at our 2015 annual meeting of shareholders (97.7% of shares voted on this matter; 98.2% excluding abstentions). We attribute this level of support to the significant actions we implemented from 2012 through 2014, including significant changes to our executive compensation program during that period, as noted below:

•

We obtain advice and recommendations on executive compensation best practices from our independent external compensation consultant, Pay Governance LLC.



•

We shifted our Executive Long-Term Equity Incentive Compensation Program for our officers (including each of our named executives) to be more directly performance based by restructuring awards made to those officers so that they were comprised of approximately 60% Performance Share Units (PSUs) incorporating relative Total Shareholder Return (TSR) and non-GAAP Earnings Per Share (EPS) metrics, 20% stock options, and 20% restricted stock/units.



•

For the limited number of our executives with whom we had change-in-control agreements (which included each of our executive officers), we amended these agreements to eliminate any "gross up" payment by the Company of any "golden parachute" excise taxes.



•

We eliminated our Corporate Officer Discretionary Allowance (CODA) program.



•

We added a Clawback Policy to our Corporate Governance Guidelines.



•

We engage in substantial outreach efforts with our major shareholders to gather feedback, including 65% of the holders of our outstanding shares.

        In addition to the changes noted above, we have taken further action this year by including "double-trigger" accelerated equity vesting in the 2016 Incentive Plan, which we are submitting to shareholders for their approval this year.

        The Compensation Committee believes that these changes were responsive to feedback from investors and enhanced the performance orientation of our executive compensation program. In addition, we had a very strong fiscal year in 2015, with a 24.6% increase in our total shareholder return, and an 8.7% increase in non-GAAP EPS from continuing operations. Please see Appendix A to this Proxy Statement for a reconciliation of our non-GAAP EPS to GAAP EPS for 2015.

        Accordingly, we are asking for shareholder approval of the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this Proxy Statement.

2016 Incentive Plan

        We are asking our shareholders to approve our 2016 Incentive Plan (the Plan) authorizing the issuance of up to 6,116,000 shares of our common stock. This includes 3,649,000 new shares and 2,467,000 of the shares remaining available for issuance under the existing 2007 Incentive Plan, which expires in 2017. Our Board believes that our continued growth depends, in large part, upon our ability to attract, motivate and retain key employees and directors, and that stock incentive awards are an important means of doing so. However, our current pool is not likely to be sufficient to satisfy our prospective equity compensation needs and with the 2007 Incentive Plan expiring, approval of a new plan is necessary to ensure that we can continue to issue stock incentive awards without disruption.

        In addition, there are a number of other reasons why we believe approving this 2016 Incentive Plan is important:

•

The Plan will allow us to continue to grant equity awards, an important incentive tool for creating shareholder value.

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Equity awards are critical as a recruiting and retention tool.



•

Equity awards are critical as a motivational tool.



•

We have demonstrated prudent equity compensation practices.



•

The Plan includes features designed to protect shareholder interests.



•

If the Plan is not approved, we would experience a serious disruption of our compensation programs and we would be compelled to increase the cash component of employee compensation.

Ratification of Auditors

        We are asking our shareholders to ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2016. Set forth below is a summary of PricewaterhouseCoopers' fees for services for fiscal years 2015 and 2014.

        Detail regarding these fees can be found on page 82 of this Proxy Statement.

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CHARLES RIVER LABORATORIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
251 Ballardvale Street
Wilmington, Massachusetts 01887
(781) 222-6000

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PROXY STATEMENT

For Annual Meeting of Shareholders
To be Held May 11, 2016

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GENERAL INFORMATION

        This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation by the Board of Directors of Charles River Laboratories International, Inc., a Delaware corporation, of proxies, in the accompanying form, to be used at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held at the Conference Center at the offices of Goodwin Procter LLP, Exchange Place, 53 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109 on Wednesday, May 11, 2016, at 8:30 a.m., and any postponements or adjournments thereof (the Meeting). The Notice of Meeting, this Proxy Statement, the enclosed proxy card and our Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended December 26, 2015 are being mailed to shareholders on or about March 31, 2016. Copies of these documents may also be obtained free of charge through our website at www.criver.com/annual2016.

        When proxies in the accompanying form are properly executed and received, the shares represented thereby will be voted at the Meeting in accordance with the directions noted thereon. If no direction is indicated on the proxy and it is signed, the shares represented thereby will be voted "FOR" the election of the Board's nominees as directors, 2016 Incentive Plan, the advisory vote on executive compensation, and the ratification of the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2016.

        Any proxy given pursuant to this solicitation may be revoked by the person giving it at any time before its use by delivering to us a written notice of revocation or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date. Any shareholder who has executed a proxy but is present at the Meeting, and who wishes to vote in person, may do so by revoking his or her proxy as described in the preceding sentence. Shares represented by valid proxies in the form enclosed, received in time for use at the Meeting and not revoked at or prior to the Meeting, will be voted at the Meeting. The presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock is necessary to constitute a quorum at the Meeting. Votes of shareholders of record who are present at the Meeting in person or by proxy, abstentions, and broker non-votes are counted as present or represented at the Meeting for purposes of determining whether a quorum exists.

        If you hold your shares of common stock through a broker, bank or other representative, generally the broker or your representative may only vote the common stock that it holds for you in accordance with your instructions. However, if it has not timely received your instructions, the broker or your representative may vote on certain matters for which it has discretionary voting authority. Brokers may not vote without specified instruction in the election of directors (Proposal 1), the advisory vote on executive compensation (Proposal 2), and the 2016 Incentive Plan (Proposal 3), but may cast discretionary votes in the ratification of the independent registered public accounting firm (Proposal 4). If a broker or your representative cannot vote on a particular matter because it does not have discretionary voting authority, this is considered to be a "broker non-vote" on that matter.

        The close of business on March 15, 2016 has been fixed as the record date for determining the shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting. As of the close of business on March 15,

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2016, we had 47,101,221 shares of common stock outstanding and entitled to vote. Holders of common stock at the close of business on the record date are entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be voted on by shareholders.

        An admission ticket and government-issued picture identification will be required to enter the Meeting. Any individual arriving without an admission ticket will not be admitted to the Meeting unless it can be verified that the individual is a Charles River shareholder as of the record date for the meeting. You may obtain a Meeting ticket by writing to the Corporate Secretary, Charles River Laboratories International, Inc., 251 Ballardvale Street, Wilmington, Massachusetts 01887. If you are a registered holder, please indicate that in your request. If your shares are held by a bank, broker or nominee, you must enclose with your request evidence of your ownership of shares with your ticket request, which you can obtain from your broker, bank or nominee (and, if you wish to vote in person at the Meeting, you will need to bring a proxy from your broker, bank or nominee). Please submit your ticket request and proof of ownership as promptly as possible in order to ensure you receive your ticket in time for the Meeting. Admission to the Meeting will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

        The cost of soliciting proxies, including expenses in connection with preparing and mailing this Proxy Statement, will be paid by the Company. In addition, we will reimburse brokerage firms and other persons representing beneficial owners of our common stock for their expenses in forwarding proxy material to such beneficial owners. Solicitation of proxies by mail may be supplemented by telephone, facsimile and personal solicitation by our directors, officers or employees. No additional compensation will be paid for such solicitation. We have retained Morrow & Co., LLC to assist in the solicitation of proxies at a cost of approximately $12,500 plus reimbursement of expenses.

Votes Required

        In accordance with our amended and restated by-laws, nominees for election as directors at the Meeting will be elected by a majority of the votes of the shares properly cast at the Meeting. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of common stock cast on the matter is required to approve the 2016 Incentive Plan. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the votes cast is required to approve our 2016 Incentive Plan and ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016, and will constitute the shareholders' non-binding approval with respect to our executive compensation program.

        Shares which abstain from voting as to a particular matter and broker non-votes will not be voted in favor of such matter, and will also not be counted as shares voting on such matter. Accordingly, broker non-votes and abstentions will have no effect on the voting on any matter that requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares cast on the matter (with the exception of Proposal 3, in which case abstentions will have the effect of a vote counted "against" the proposal).

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PROPOSAL ONE
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

        Under our By-laws, the number of members of our Board of Directors is fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors, but may be increased or decreased either by the shareholders or by the majority of directors then in office. Directors serve in office until the next annual meeting of shareholders and until their successors have been elected and qualified, or until their earlier death, resignation or removal.

        The Board of Directors has voted to nominate Mr. James C. Foster, Mr. Robert Bertolini, Mr. Stephen D. Chubb, Dr. Deborah T. Kochevar, Mr. George E. Massaro, Dr. George M. Milne, Jr., Mr. C. Richard Reese, Dr. Craig B. Thompson, and Mr. Richard F. Wallman for election at the Meeting. There are no family relationships between any of our directors or executive officers.

        In the event that any nominee shall become unable or unwilling to serve, the shares represented by the enclosed proxy may be voted for the election of such other person as the Board of Directors may recommend in that nominee's place or the Board may reduce its size. Our Board of Directors has no reason to believe that any nominee will be unable or unwilling to serve.

        The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote "FOR" the election of each of these nominees for directors.

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NOMINEES FOR DIRECTORS

        The following table provides information as of the date of this Proxy Statement about each nominee. In addition to the information presented below regarding each nominee's specific experience, qualifications, attributes, and skills that led our Board to the conclusion that he or she should serve as a director, we also believe that all of our director nominees have a reputation for integrity, honesty, and adherence to high ethical standards. They each have demonstrated business or scientific acumen and an ability to exercise sound judgment, as well as a commitment of service to Charles River and our Board.

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Corporate Governance

        We are committed to operating our business with integrity and accountability. We aim to meet or exceed all of the corporate governance standards established by the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Each member of our Board of Directors (Board), other than Mr. Foster who is also our Chief Executive Officer and President, is independent and has no significant financial, business or personal ties to us or management, and all of our required Board committees are composed of independent directors. Our Board adheres to our Corporate Governance Guidelines and our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, which have been communicated to employees and posted on our website. We are diligent in complying with established accounting principles and are committed to providing financial information that is transparent, timely, and accurate. We have a Related Person Transactions Policy in order to promote the timely identification of transactions with related persons (as defined by the SEC) and to ensure we give appropriate consideration to any real or perceived conflicts in our commercial arrangements. We have established global processes through which employees, either directly or anonymously, can notify management (and the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors) of alleged accounting and auditing concerns or violations including fraud. Our internal Disclosure Committee meets regularly and operates pursuant to formal disclosure procedures and guidelines to help ensure that our public disclosures, including our periodic reports filed with the SEC, earnings releases and other written information that we disclose to the investment community, are complete, accurate and timely. We will continue to monitor developments in the law and stock exchange regulations and will adopt new procedures consistent with new legislation or regulations. Copies of our Corporate Governance Guidelines and our Related Person Transactions Policy are available on our website at www.criver.com under the "Investor Relations—Corporate Governance" caption.

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

        All our employees and officers, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, and members of our Board, are required to abide by our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (Code) to ensure that our business is conducted in a consistently legal and ethical manner. This Code forms the foundation of a comprehensive process that includes compliance with all corporate policies and procedures, an open relationship among colleagues that contributes to good business conduct, and an abiding belief in the importance of integrity of our employees. Our policies and procedures cover areas of professional conduct, including employment policies, conflicts of interest, intellectual property and the protection of confidential information, as well as strict adherence to all laws and regulations applicable to the conduct of our business.

        Employees are required to report any conduct that they believe in good faith to be an actual or apparent violation of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. Consistent with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, we maintain procedures to receive, retain and treat complaints regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters and to allow for the confidential and anonymous submission by employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.

        The full text of our Code is available on our website at www.criver.com, under the "Investor Relations—Corporate Governance" caption. We will disclose any future material amendments to the Code and any waivers granted to any director or officer within the period required following the date of such amendment or waiver on our website.

Contacting the Board of Directors

        In order to provide shareholders and other interested parties with a direct and open line of communication to the Board, we adopted the following procedures for communications to directors. Shareholders and other interested parties may contact the lead director, any other directors, or the

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independent members of the Board as a group through its Lead Director, Dr. Milne, by writing to the Lead Director, c/o Corporate Secretary, Charles River Laboratories International, Inc., 251 Ballardvale Street, Wilmington, Massachusetts 01887, or by email at CRLLeadDirector@crl.com. All communications received in this manner will be kept confidential and relevant information will be forwarded by the Corporate Secretary to the Lead Director or to other directors if the communication is so directed. Items that are unrelated to a director's duties and responsibilities as a board member may be excluded by the Corporate Secretary including, without limitation, solicitations and advertisements; junk mail; product-related communications; job referral materials such as resumes; surveys; and material that is determined to be illegal or otherwise inappropriate. Any communication so excluded will be made available to any independent director upon request.

Director Qualification Standards; Director Independence

        Our Board has adopted a formal set of Director Qualification Standards (Standards) with respect to the determination of director independence. The Standards specify the criteria by which the independence of our directors will be determined, including strict guidelines for directors and their immediate families with respect to past employment or affiliation with us or our independent registered public accounting firm. In accordance with these Standards, we must determine that the director has no material relationship with us other than as a director. The Standards also prohibit Audit Committee members from any direct or indirect financial relationship with us, and restrict commercial relationships of all directors with us. Directors may not be given personal loans or extensions of credit by us, and all directors are required to deal at arm's length with us and our subsidiaries and to disclose any circumstance that might be perceived as a conflict of interest. The full text of our Standards is available on our website at www.criver.com under the "Investor Relations—Corporate Governance" caption, within our Corporate Governance Guidelines.

        The Board has determined that eight of the nine directors standing for re-election to the Board are independent under these Standards. The Board has determined that Mr. Foster does not qualify as an independent director due to his employment as our Chief Executive Officer and President. As a result, with the exception of the Strategic Planning and Capital Allocation Committee and the Executive Committee, Mr. Foster does not serve as a member of any committee of the Board.

        In the course of the Board's determining the independence of each director other than Mr. Foster, it considered any transactions, relationships and arrangements as required by the Standards. In particular, with respect to each of the most recent three completed fiscal years, the Board evaluated:

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for each of our non-employee directors, the annual amount of sales to and/or purchases from any organization where he or she serves as an executive officer; and



•

for Dr. Kochevar, the annual amount of sales (net of any charitable contributions made by us) to and/or purchases from the academic institution where she serves as Dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine.

In all such evaluations, we determined that the applicable amounts were below the greater of (1) $1 million or (2) two percent (2%) of the consolidated gross annual revenue of each of those organizations.

        In addition, with respect to all of our non-employee directors, the Board considered the amount of our discretionary charitable contributions to organizations where he or she serves as an officer, director or trustee, and determined that our contributions constituted less than the greater of $1 million or two percent (2%) of such organization's total annual gross revenue in each of the organization's last three completed fiscal years.

        In conducting this analysis, the Board considered all relevant facts and circumstances, utilizing information derived from our records and responses to questionnaires completed by the directors in

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connection with the preparation of this Proxy Statement. For information about the entities our non-employee directors serve or have served as either (1) an executive officer or (2) an officer, director or trustee of a charitable institution (other than any such charitable institution with which the Company has no transactions, relationships or arrangements), you are directed to their biographies adjacent to their pictures above in this Proxy Statement.

        The independent members of the Board typically meet in executive session following each regularly scheduled meeting of the full Board. Dr. Milne leads these sessions.

The Board of Directors and its Committees

Board Leadership Structure and the Role of the Board of Directors in Risk Oversight

        We are led by Mr. James C. Foster, who has served as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) since 1992 and Chairman of the Board since 2000. Our Board of Directors is currently comprised of Mr. Foster and eight independent directors. One of these directors, currently Dr. George M. Milne, serves as our Lead Director.

        It is our current practice that the positions of Chairman of the Board and CEO be held by the same person. We believe that this leadership structure has been effective for us because it promotes clear accountability, effective decision-making and alignment on corporate strategy. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines require the election, by the independent directors, of a Lead Director. The Lead Director helps to provide independent oversight and is responsible for ensuring that the Board is acting in conformity with good corporate governance practices and in our long-term best interests. Our Lead Director has broad responsibility and authority, including to:

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with the Chairman of the Board, establish logistics of scheduling and setting agendas for Board and committee meetings, including approving meeting agendas and assuring there is sufficient time for discussion of all agenda items;



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develop agendas for, and preside over, executive sessions of the Board's independent directors;



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assist the Board and the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee in monitoring and implementing our Corporate Governance Guidelines;



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serve as the principal liaison between the Chairman and the independent directors;



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interview all director candidates and make recommendations to the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee;



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be available, when appropriate, for consultation and direct communication with shareholders;



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retain outside advisors and consultants who report directly to the Board of Directors on Board-level issues; and



•

on an annual basis, in consultation with the independent directors, review his responsibility and authority and recommend for approval any modifications or changes to the Board.

        We believe that having a combined chairman/CEO, independent chairs for each of our Board committees and an independent Lead Director provides the right form of leadership for us. The benefit of a combined chairman/CEO roles is complemented by the benefit of oversight of our operations by experienced independent directors who have appointed a Lead Director and independent committee chairs. This combination has served us well for many years and we have found it to be an efficient and effective leadership model for us. The Board selects our CEO and Chairman in the manner that it determines to be in the best interests of our shareholders. From time to time, and at least annually, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee conducts an assessment of this leadership structure.

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        The Board oversees our risk oversight process and performs this oversight role using several different levels of review. In connection with its reviews of the operations of our business units and corporate functions, particularly during the annual strategic planning sessions, the Board is informed of the primary risks associated with those units and functions. Principally, the Board satisfies its responsibility through receiving regular reports from each committee chair regarding such committee's consideration and actions, as well as through receiving regular reports directly from officers responsible for oversight of our particular risks, including operational, financial, legal, regulatory, strategic and reputational risks. Such reporting enables the Board to understand our risk identification, management, and mitigation strategies.

        Areas of risk oversight which generally remain at the Board level and are not delegated to any Committee include risks related to our operational regulatory matters (such as quality control and humane care), cybersecurity, and significant business decisions. The Board satisfies this oversight responsibility through regular reports from our officers responsible for each of these risk areas, reports from Board committees and related discussions, as well as through periodic progress reports from officers on our critical on-going initiatives. The Board also consults periodically with outside financial advisors.

        Each of the Board's committees oversees the management of our risks that fall within the committee's areas of responsibility. A description of each committee's risk oversight focus is below. In performing this function, each committee has full access to management, as well as the ability to engage advisors. When a committee receives a report or update regarding an area of potential risk to us, the chairman of the relevant committee determines whether it is materially significant enough to report on the discussion to the full Board at the next Board meeting. This enables the Board and its committees to coordinate the risk oversight role, particularly with respect to risk interrelationships.

Audit Committee and Financial Experts

        The Audit Committee met eight times in 2015. During 2015, the members of the Audit Committee included Messrs. Bertolini, Chubb and Massaro (Chair). The Board of Directors has unanimously determined that Messrs. Bertolini, Chubb, and Massaro qualify as "audit committee financial experts" under Item 401(h) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the NYSE regulations. In addition, the Board has determined that each of the members of the Audit Committee is "independent" under the rules of the NYSE and the SEC. The Audit Committee is responsible for the engagement of our independent registered public accounting firm; reviewing the plans and results of the audit engagement with our independent registered public accounting firm; approving services performed by, and the independence of, our independent registered public accounting firm; considering the range of audit and non-audit fees; discussing with our independent registered public accounting firm the adequacy of our internal control over financial reporting; and reviewing annual and quarterly financial statements. The Audit Committee is also responsible for administering our Related Persons Transaction Policy. A copy of the Audit Committee Charter is available on our website at www.criver.com under the "Investor Relations—Corporate Governance" caption.

        As part of its charter and as required by the NYSE, the Audit Committee discusses our policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management, including our major financial risk exposures and the steps that have been taken to monitor and control these exposures. The Audit Committee assumes primary oversight responsibility for our risk management framework as it applies to our financial reporting, system of internal controls, and operations, including the identification of the primary risks to our business and interim updates of those risks, and periodically monitors and evaluates the primary risks associated with particular business units and functions through participation and monitoring of the development of the annual external and internal audit plans. The Audit Committee is particularly responsible for oversight of our risks relating to accounting matters, financial reporting (including tax,

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legal and related regulatory compliance), financial policies, and cash management. The head of our Internal Audit department, who functionally reports to the Audit Committee, assists us in identifying and evaluating risk management controls and methodologies to address identified risks. At each of its regularly scheduled meetings, the Audit Committee meets in executive session with representatives from our independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee also has direct interaction with our Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer, our General Counsel, and other members of management. In addition to the items mentioned above, the Audit Committee also receives regular reports regarding issues such as the status of material litigation, allegations of accounting and auditing concerns or fraud and related party transactions.

Compensation Committee

        The Compensation Committee met five times during 2015 and was comprised of the following members: Dr. Kochevar and Messrs. Reese (Chair) and Wallman. Our Board of Directors has determined that each of the members of the Compensation Committee is "independent" under the rules of the NYSE and the SEC. The primary objective of the Compensation Committee is to develop and implement compensation policies and plans that are appropriate for us in light of all relevant circumstances and which provide incentives that further our long-term strategic plan and are consistent with our culture and the overall goal of enhancing shareholder value. The Compensation Committee reviews compensation structure, policies, and programs to ensure (1) that legal and fiduciary responsibilities of the Board of Directors are carried out, and (2) that such structure, policies and programs contribute to our success. In addition, the Compensation Committee reviews, approves and makes recommendations on our compensation and benefit plans to ensure that they meet corporate objectives. The Compensation Committee determines and approves the compensation of the CEO and reviews the CEO's recommendations on compensation for all of our executive officers, and approves such compensation when determined. As discussed below under "Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Compensation Elements—Compensation Setting Process," other than Mr. Foster and Mr. David P. Johst, our Corporate Executive Vice President, Human Resources, General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer, none of our executive officers plays a significant, ongoing role in assisting the Compensation Committee in setting executive compensation. The Compensation Committee also administers our equity incentive plans. A copy of the Compensation Committee Charter is available on our website at www.criver.com under the "Investor Relations—Corporate Governance" caption.

        The Compensation Committee is responsible for oversight of risks relating to employment policies and our general compensation and benefits programs. The Compensation Committee considers the impact of our executive compensation program, and the incentives created by the compensation awards that it administers, on our risk profile. To assist it in satisfying these oversight responsibilities, from time to time the Compensation Committee has retained its own outside compensation consultant and it meets both regularly and periodically as needed with management to understand the financial, human resources, and shareholder implications of compensation decisions being made. Between formal Compensation Committee meetings, the Compensation Committee Chairman also interacts regularly with management and the Committee's outside consultants. In addition, at the direction of the Compensation Committee, Mr. Johst and his staff annually conduct a review of our overall compensation programs.

        The Compensation Committee engaged Pay Governance, LLC (Pay Governance) as the sole independent compensation consultant to advise the Compensation Committee on matters related to 2015 executive compensation. Pay Governance is engaged by, and reports directly to, the Compensation Committee, which has the sole authority to hire or dismiss Pay Governance and to approve fee arrangements for work performed. Pay Governance generally assists the Compensation Committee in fulfilling its responsibilities under its charter, including advising on proposed compensation packages for our top executives, compensation program design, and market practices generally. The Compensation

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Committee has authorized Pay Governance (1) to interact with management on behalf of the Compensation Committee, as needed, in connection with advising the Compensation Committee, and (2) to assist with the calculations of compensation information to be included in our proxy statements. For more information on assistance Pay Governance provided to our fiscal year 2015 compensation determinations, please see "Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Compensation Elements—Compensation Setting Process" on pages 48-49 of this Proxy Statement.

        Except as described above, in 2015 we did not receive any other services from Pay Governance, nor have we utilized the services of any other compensation consultant in matters affecting senior executive or director compensation. Any significant Pay Governance fees outside of the normal scope of work are approved for payment by the Chairman of the Compensation Committee, with authority delegated to Mr. Johst to approve the processing of payment of routine invoices.

        Pay Governance provided the Compensation Committee with a letter addressing the independence factors under NYSE listing rules, and in compliance with SEC and the NYSE disclosure requirements regarding the independence of compensation consultants, the Committee took that information into account in concluding that there was no conflict of interest within the meaning of Section 10C-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Based upon this and other relevant factors, the Compensation Committee has assessed the independence of Pay Governance and concluded that Pay Governance's work for the Compensation Committee does not raise any conflict of interest.

Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee

        The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee met three times during 2015. The members of the committee included Drs. Kochevar, Milne (Chair), and Thompson. The Board of Directors has determined that each of the members of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee is "independent" under the rules of the NYSE. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee makes recommendations to the Board on all matters relating to the Board, including development and implementation of policies on composition, participation and size of the Board, changes in the organization and procedures of the Board, the processes used by the Board in its self-assessment, and compensation (including equity compensation) of non-employee directors. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee oversees matters of corporate governance, including Board performance and director education, and considers and selects director nominees, including those submitted by shareholders in accordance with the by-laws. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee also recommends directors for appointment to committees of the Board. Typically, committee rotations are determined in February, made effective immediately following the annual meeting of shareholders, and are reevaluated on a yearly basis. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee oversees our Corporate Governance Guidelines and Code. A copy of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee Charter is available on our website at www.criver.com under the "Investor Relations—Corporate Governance" caption.

        The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee is responsible for conducting an annual evaluation of the performance of the full Board and its committees to determine whether it and the committees are functioning effectively. This process includes annual self-assessments by each Board committee with performance criteria for each committee established on the basis of its charter, as well as interviews conducted by the chair of the committee. As part of this process, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee also assesses the performance of each individual director. This performance assessment addresses factors such as each director's meeting attendance, core competencies, independence, and level of commitment. Upon completion of the individual director evaluation process, the Committee reports its conclusions to the full Board.

        The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee is responsible for oversight of risks relating to Board succession planning, ethics practices, matters addressed in our Corporate Governance

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Guidelines, and other corporate governance issues, particularly to the extent that any of these could affect our operations and strategic decisions. To satisfy these oversight responsibilities, the Committee receives assistance and reports from our senior management from time to time.

        The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee uses a variety of methods to identify and evaluate nominees for director. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee regularly assesses the appropriate size of the Board and whether any vacancies on the Board are expected due to pending retirement or other factors. In the event that vacancies are anticipated, or otherwise arise, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee considers various potential candidates for director. Candidates may come to the attention of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee through current Board members, executive officers, professional search firms, shareholders, or other persons. All candidates complete a nominee questionnaire that solicits information regarding the nominee's background, board experience, industry experience, independence, financial expertise, and other relevant information, and are interviewed by at least one member of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. These candidates are discussed at regular or special meetings of the Committee, and may be considered at any point during the year. As described below, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee considers any director candidates recommended by shareholders as well as properly submitted shareholder nominations for candidates for the Board. If any materials are provided by a shareholder in connection with the nomination of a director candidate, such materials are forwarded to the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. Such nominations must be in accordance with our bylaws. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee also reviews materials provided by professional search firms or other parties. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee evaluates all candidates based on the minimum qualifications described below as well as the criteria set forth in our Corporate Governance Guidelines. In evaluating nominations, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee seeks to recommend to shareholders a group that can best oversee our success and represent shareholder interests through the exercise of sound judgment using its diversity of experience in various areas. Whether the nominee is recommended by a shareholder or the Board, there is no difference in the manner in which the Committee evaluates nominees.

Science and Technology Committee

        The Science and Technology Committee met once during 2015 and was comprised of the following members: Drs. Kochevar, Milne, and Thompson (Chair) and Mr. Chubb. The Science and Technology Committee is responsible for identifying and discussing significant emerging trends and issues in science and technology. The Science and Technology Committee is responsible for periodically reviewing and advising the Board on our strategic direction, and on investment in research and development and in technology. To satisfy these oversight responsibilities, the Committee may obtain advice and assistance from consultants and has access to members of management.

Strategic Planning and Capital Allocation Committee

        The Strategic Planning and Capital Allocation Committee met six times during 2015 and was comprised of the following members: Messrs. Bertolini (Chair), Foster, Reese and Wallman. The Strategic Planning and Capital Allocation Committee is responsible for reviewing our capital structure, financial strategies, major acquisitions and investment policies to support prudent and effective capital allocation. The Strategic Planning and Capital Allocation Committee is responsible for oversight of risks relating to material financial decisions, credit policies and ratings, investment strategies, and our debt and equity structure. To satisfy these oversight responsibilities, the Committee receives assistance and reports from our senior management from time to time.

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Executive Committee

        While it is our general policy that all major decisions be considered by the Board as a whole, the Board has delegated authority to an Executive Committee to act on its behalf only in circumstances in which it is not feasible to convene the full Board or when authority has been specifically delegated to the Executive Committee by the full Board. In 2015, the Executive Committee (which did not meet) consisted of Messrs. Bertolini, Foster (Chair), Massaro, and Reese, and Drs. Milne and Thompson.

Board Nomination Process

        The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee adopted criteria regarding the qualifications required for Board nominees, which can be found in our Corporate Governance Guidelines. These criteria are designed to assure that the Board of Directors is composed of successful individuals who demonstrate integrity, reliability, knowledge of corporate affairs, and an ability to work well together. The primary consideration in the selection and retention of directors is their respective ability to fairly represent the interests of our stakeholders. Diversity in business background, area of expertise, skills, educational background, gender, national origin and ethnicity are also considered, as well as other factors that can provide the Board with a range of informative viewpoints and perspectives. The criteria for director nominees include: the candidate's professional experience and personal accomplishments; the candidate's independence from us and management; the ability of the candidate to attend Board and committee meetings regularly and devote an appropriate amount of effort in preparation for those meetings; the candidate's ability to function as a member of a diverse group; and the candidate's understanding of the Board's governance role. In addition, the Board evaluates each individual in the context of the Board as a whole, with the objective of recommending to shareholders a group that can best oversee the success of the business and represent shareholder interests through the exercise of sound judgment using its diversity of experience in various areas. In determining whether to recommend a director for re-election, the director's past attendance at meetings and participation in and contributions to the activities of the Board is also taken into consideration.

        The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will consider director candidates recommended by shareholders. Shareholders may submit director recommendations to the Corporate Secretary, Charles River Laboratories International, Inc., 251 Ballardvale Street, Wilmington, MA 01887. Pursuant to our bylaws, nominations for directors at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders must be received not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of our Proxy Statement released to shareholders in conjunction with the previous year's meeting For information about submitting shareholder proposals, including director nomination proposals, please see the section of this Proxy Statement entitled "Shareholder Proposals for 2017 Annual Meeting."

Meeting Attendance

        All Board members are expected to attend our Annual Meetings of Shareholders, unless an emergency prevents them from doing so. All members of the Board serving at that time attended the 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. During 2015 there were six meetings of the Board of Directors. Each director attended 75% or more of the aggregate number of Board meetings and the committee meetings of the Board on which he or she served during 2015.

Other Board Service

        Our Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that directors generally may not serve on more than five boards of directors of other publicly traded companies (in addition to our Board or the board of directors of a director's employer). Members of the Audit Committee generally may not serve on more than two publicly traded company audit committees simultaneously (including that of our

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company). In addition, service on boards and/or committees of other organizations must be consistent with our conflict of interest policies.

2015 Director Compensation

        We use a combination of cash and stock-based incentive compensation to attract and retain qualified candidates to serve on our Board. Linking a portion of their compensation to stock aligns the interests of directors with the interests of shareholders. In setting director compensation, we consider the significant amount of time that directors expend in fulfilling their duties to us as well as the skill level required by us of members of the Board.

        The following table sets forth all of the compensation awarded to, earned by, or paid to our directors for the year ended December 26, 2015. Please note that Mr. Foster receives no compensation for his role as director, and the entirety of his compensation is reported in the Summary Compensation Table located on pages 62-63 of this proxy statement.

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        We pay each non-employee director an annual fee of $60,000 for service as our director, except for members of the Audit Committee, who are paid an annual fee of $65,000. Additional fees are paid to the Lead Director ($15,000), the Chair of the Audit Committee ($15,000), the Chair of the Compensation Committee ($10,000), the Chair of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee ($10,000), the Chair of the Science and Technology Committee ($10,000), and the Chair of the Strategic Planning and Capital Allocation Committee ($10,000) for their added responsibilities. No additional fees are paid for attending meetings of the Board or any Committee of the Board. We reimburse expenses incurred by directors in attending Board of Directors meetings and committee meetings.

        The policy established by the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee is to award each unaffiliated non-employee director (1) stock options and restricted stock having an intended value of approximately $275,000 on the first day of the month following his or her initial election or appointment to the Board and (2) stock options and restricted stock having an intended value of approximately $185,000 on an annual basis following our annual meeting of shareholders. Consistent with the long-term incentive equity awards to our employees, the targeted award value has been traditionally issued in the form of a blend of stock options and restricted stock awards/units (in the same proportions as issued to non-officers during that same fiscal year) utilizing Black-Scholes pricing models. At the time this policy was established, effective in 2009, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee consulted with an independent compensation consultant in determining these values, which were based upon a general comparative review of director compensation and competitive market practices for similarly sized companies operating in the area of life sciences, with a target value based upon the 50^th percentile. Options and restricted stock granted to non-employee directors in 2015 expire five years after grant and vest upon the earlier of (1) the first anniversary of the date of grant or (2) the business day prior to the Company's next annual meeting of stockholders after the date of grant of the option or restricted share.

Director Stock Ownership Requirement

        In order to further align the interests of directors and shareholders, the Board of Directors has mandated that, to the extent permissible, directors have a significant financial stake in the Company. Accordingly, as set forth in our Corporate Governance Guidelines, each director who has served on the Board for at least three years is required to own a minimum of 5,000 shares of our stock (excluding stock options, stock subject to future vesting requirement, or other similar unvested and inchoate equity holdings). Board members who are subject to third-party restrictions on their stock holdings (e.g., certain academic institutions) shall be permitted to own stock in an amount that is appropriate for them in light of such other restrictions. As of the date of this Proxy Statement, all of our directors who have served at least three years are in compliance with this holding requirement.

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BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

        The following table sets forth certain information as of March 11, 2016, with respect to the beneficial ownership of shares of our common stock by (1) each person known to us to own beneficially more than 5% of the outstanding shares of common stock, (2) each of our current directors and nominees for director, (3) each of the executive officers listed in the Summary Compensation Table set forth below under the caption "Compensation of Executive Officers" (the named executives), and (4) our current directors and executive officers as a group. As of March 11, 2016, there were 47,101,221 shares of common stock outstanding.

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SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

        Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires our directors and officers, and persons who own more than 10% of our common stock, to file with the SEC initial reports of beneficial ownership and reports of changes in beneficial ownership of our common stock and other equity securities. Officers, directors and such beneficial owners are required by SEC regulation to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. To our knowledge, based solely on a review of the copies of such reports furnished to us and written representations that no other reports were required, during the fiscal year ended December 26, 2015 our officers, directors and such beneficial owners complied with all applicable Section 16(a) filing requirements.

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PROPOSAL TWO—ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

        In 2011, our shareholders approved the Board of Director's recommendation that we conduct an annual advisory vote on executive compensation on an annual basis. Accordingly, Proposal Two requests shareholder approval of the 2015 compensation of our named executives as disclosed in this Proxy Statement.

        We had a very strong fiscal year 2015. Demand for outsourced services increased, as did demand for products and services to support our clients' manufacturing activities. Our pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients continued to intensify their use of strategic outsourcing to improve their operating efficiency and access capabilities that they do not maintain internally. Many of our large biopharmaceutical clients have refocused their efforts on drug discovery and early-stage development, after a period of greater emphasis on delivering late-stage programs to bring new drugs to market. In addition, small and mid-size biotechnology clients benefited from continued strength in the funding environment, including the capital markets, partnering with large biopharmaceutical companies, and investment by venture capital. Academia has also benefited from partnering activities, as large biopharmaceutical companies have increasingly utilized academic research to broaden the scope of their drug discovery activities.

        The primary result of these trends was improved demand for our discovery and safety assessment services in 2015, particularly from biotechnology clients. This improvement led to capacity continuing to fill in our safety assessment facilities which were open during 2015, and in which utilization approached optimal levels.

        Demand for our products and services that support our clients' manufacturing activities was also robust in 2015. Our Biologics Testing Solutions (Biologics) business continued to benefit from increased demand for services associated with the growing proportion of biologic drugs in the pipeline and on the market. Demand for our Microbial Solutions (formerly Endotoxin and Microbial Detection, or EMD) products and services also remained strong as we addressed manufacturers' requirements for a comprehensive rapid microbial testing solution. To further enhance our rapid testing portfolio, we acquired Celsis in 2015 to expand in the non-sterile quality control testing market.

        Our clients' intensified focus on the earliest stages of their pipelines has been visible in increasing demand for discovery services, and the willingness to outsource new areas of their research programs. To address these emerging needs and move further upstream in the drug research and development continuum, we have significantly enhanced our Discovery Services capabilities over the past two years to enable us to work with clients at the earliest stages of the discovery process. We acquired the Discovery Services businesses of Argenta, BioFocus, ChanTest, and VivoPath in 2014, and Oncotest in 2015.

        Demand for research models continued to stabilize in 2015, particularly in North America and Europe. Clients' efforts to consolidate infrastructure and seek greater pipeline productivity have begun to moderate as these initiatives generate the desired benefits.

        We believe the strong results in 2015 were, in part, derived from our focus on our key initiatives of:

•

enhancing our ability to support our clients in today's challenging drug research environment, through a focus on portfolio expansion, scientific expertise, and flexible working arrangements;



•

productivity and efficiency initiatives, and generally strengthening our business model;



•

maintaining disciplined investment in growth businesses; and



•

returning value to shareholders.

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        Our continued actions toward the achievement of these initiatives in 2015 included the following:

•

We continued our focus on operating efficiencies through further optimizing our infrastructure, utilizing automation to reduce manual processes, and generating greater savings from our procurement activities.



•

We expanded our project management office (PMO) in order to strengthen our ability to identify and manage initiatives that contribute to our organization's productivity, efficiency, and risk management. This group participates globally with all businesses to support maximizing revenues, minimizing costs, and reducing risks. The PMO provides regular updates to our Executive Committee, at which projects are prioritized.



•

We made three acquisitions of various sizes and in different business segments:



•

In May 2015, we acquired Sunrise Farms, Inc. (Sunrise), a New York based producer of specific-pathogen-free fertile chicken eggs and chickens used in the manufacture of live viruses.



•

In July 2015, we acquired Celsis Group Limited (Celsis), a leading provider of rapid testing systems for nonsterile bacterial contamination for the biopharmaceutical and consumer products industries, located in Europe and the United States.



•

In November 2015, we acquired Oncotest GmbH (Oncotest), a German CRO providing discovery services for oncology, one of the largest therapeutic areas for biopharmaceutical research and development spending.



•

We continued to repurchase our stock with the intent to offset dilution of shareholder value due to stock and option awards to employees and directors in order to align their interests with those of shareholders. During 2015, we repurchased approximately 1.5 million shares on the open market based on our stock repurchase program. As a result of our repurchase program, weighted average shares outstanding were 47.6 million for the year ending December 26, 2015, essentially unchanged from the prior year.

        We believe these actions significantly contributed to the 24.6% increase in our total shareholder return during 2015, and the 8.7% increase in non-GAAP earnings per share from continuing operations in 2015. For a detailed discussion of our 2015 financial performance, the factors that we believe are influencing demand from our clients, and the actions we have taken during the past years, please see the sections entitled "Our Strategy" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 12, 2016.

        Pursuant to Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act, we are asking our shareholders to approve an advisory resolution on our executive compensation as described in this Proxy Statement. This proposal, commonly known as a "say-on-pay" proposal and required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (Dodd-Frank Act), provides our shareholders with the opportunity to express their views, on an advisory (non-binding) basis, on our executive compensation for our named executives for fiscal year 2015 as described in the "Compensation Discussion and Analysis" (CD&A) section beginning on page 41 of this Proxy Statement, as well as the Summary Compensation Table and other related compensation tables and narratives found on pages 62 through 63 of this Proxy Statement. The advisory vote is not a vote on our general compensation policies, the compensation of our Board of Directors, or our compensation policies as they relate to risk management.

        Charles River shareholders provided very strong majority support for our named executives' compensation at our 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (97.7% of shares voted on this matter; 98.2% excluding abstentions). We attribute this level of support to the significant actions we

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implemented from 2012 through 2014, including significant changes to our executive compensation program during that period, as noted below:

•

We obtain advice and recommendations on executive compensation best practices from our independent external compensation consultant, Pay Governance LLC.



•

We shifted our Executive Long-Term Equity Incentive Compensation Program for our officers (including each of our named executives) to be more directly performance based by restructuring awards made to those officers so that they were comprised of approximately 60% Performance Share Units (PSUs) incorporating relative Total Shareholder Return (TSR) and non-GAAP EPS metrics, 20% stock options, and 20% restricted stock awards/units.



•

For the limited number of our executives with whom we had change-in-control agreements (which included each of our executive officers at the time), we amended these agreements to eliminate any "gross up" payment by the Company of any "golden parachute" excise taxes.



•

We eliminated our Corporate Officer Discretionary Allowance (CODA) program.



•

We added a Clawback Policy to our Corporate Governance Guidelines.



•

We engage in substantial outreach efforts with our major shareholders to gather feedback, including nearly 65%% of the holders of our outstanding shares.

        In addition to the changes noted above, we have taken further action this year by including "double-trigger" accelerated equity vesting in the 2016 Incentive Plan, which we are submitting to shareholders for their approval this year.

        The Compensation Committee believes that these changes were responsive to feedback from investors and enhanced the performance orientation of our executive compensation program. As those elements of our executive compensation program continue today, we encourage shareholders to take these into account in considering the vote presented below.

        Notwithstanding the significant vote of approval for our executive compensation program in 2015, we have embraced the idea of continuing outreach with our shareholders, particularly for executive compensation and corporate governance issues. In the fall of 2015, we reached out to our top 25 shareholders (which included, to the best of our knowledge, shareholders holding nearly 65% of our outstanding stock) and inquired whether they wanted to meet and/or speak with us to discuss our executive compensation and corporate governance practices. We received positive responses from, and held one-on-one conversations with, a small subset of these shareholders, with the remainder indicating they were satisfied with our compensation and governance practices or otherwise not responding to our inquiries. In these one-on-one meetings, shareholders offered their perspectives on relevant issues, and in each case we were informed that the shareholders were very satisfied with our financial performance, changes to our executive compensation program, and corporate governance profile. In the few areas where the shareholders indicated they might see opportunities for enhancement, management forwarded the information to our Board of Directors for future consideration.

        We urge shareholders to read the CD&A on pages 41-60 of this Proxy Statement, which describes in more detail how our executive compensation policies and procedures operate and how they are designed to achieve our compensation objectives. The CD&A includes informative data that demonstrates our pay-for-performance alignment, as well as the Summary Compensation Table and other related compensation tables and narratives. Furthermore, for a detailed discussion of our 2015 financial performance and the actions we have taken during the past four years, please also see the sections entitled "Our Strategy" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on February 12, 2016.

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Advisory Vote and Board Recommendation

        We request shareholder approval of the 2015 compensation of our named executives as disclosed in this Proxy Statement pursuant to the SEC's compensation disclosure rules (which disclosure includes the CD&A, the compensation tables and narrative disclosures that accompany the compensation tables within the Executive Compensation section of this Proxy Statement). This vote is not intended to address any specific element of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of our named executives and the compensation philosophy, policies, and practices described in this Proxy Statement.

        Accordingly, we ask our shareholders to vote on the following resolution at the Annual Meeting:

"RESOLVED, that the Company's shareholders approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the named executives, as disclosed in the Company's Proxy Statement for the 2016 Annual Meeting of Shareholders pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the 2015 Summary Compensation Table, and the other related tables and disclosure within the Executive Compensation section of this Proxy Statement."

        This advisory resolution is non-binding on the Board of Directors. Although non-binding, our Board of Directors and the Committee value the opinions of our shareholders, and will carefully review and consider the voting results when making future decisions regarding our executive compensation program.

        The affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast will constitute the shareholders' non-binding approval with respect to our executive compensation programs. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of this Proposal.

        The Board of Directors recommends a vote "FOR" the approval of the advisory resolution on executive compensation.

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PROPOSAL THREE—APPROVAL OF THE 2016 INCENTIVE PLAN
(INCLUDING SECTION 162(m) PERFORMANCE GOALS)

        The Board of Directors believes that the continued growth of the Company depends, in large part, upon our ability to attract, motivate, and retain key employees and directors, and that stock incentive awards are an important means of doing so.

        On March 28, 2016, the Board of Directors adopted the 2016 Incentive Plan (the Plan), subject to shareholder approval. The Plan is intended to replace the Company's existing equity compensation plan, the Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. Amended and Restated 2007 Incentive Plan (as amended, the 2007 Incentive Plan). The Board of Directors believes that the Plan will help the Company continue to achieve our goals by keeping the incentive compensation program dynamic and competitive with that of other companies, and ensuring that we may continue to attract and retain key employees who are expected to contribute to our success. The Plan will also allow us to accommodate and to create the appropriate incentives for a large pool of employees who will join us following the pending acquisition of WIL Research, and to promote retention among employees of this newly acquired business. Furthermore, as the 2007 Incentive Plan will expire in 2017, approval of a new plan is necessary to ensure that we can continue to issue stock incentive awards without disruption.

        The Plan, similar to the 2007 Incentive Plan, will utilize a fungible pool concept (described in more detail below) where each share issued in connection with awards that do not have option-like features (full-value awards) such as restricted stock and unrestricted stock (including shares issued for above-target payouts earned through performance awards) is counted as 2.3 units, and each share issued that is subject to options, stock appreciation rights, and other awards that have option-like features and that expire no more than seven years from the date of grant is counted as 1 unit against the overall reserved and available shares. The aggregate number of shares being requested for authorization under the Plan is 6,116,000 shares, which includes (i) an initial reserve of 2,467,000 of the shares of stock remaining available for issuance under the 2007 Incentive Plan and (ii) an increase of 3,649,000 shares of stock, as approved by the Board of Directors, subject to approval by the shareholders of the Company. As such, the requested aggregate share reserve under the Plan represents only an additional 2,489,396 shares in excess of the remaining share capacity under the 2007 Incentive Plan (which is 3,626,604 shares as of March 15, 2016). If the Plan is approved by our shareholders, the Plan will replace the 2007 Incentive Plan and no additional grants will be made from the remaining share reserve under the 2007 Incentive Plan. However, shares forfeited or otherwise not delivered in accordance with the 2007 Incentive Plan (such as shares currently reserved for settlement of outstanding Performance Share Unit (PSU) awards at a maximum payout level) will become available for issuance under the Plan.

        Depending on the forms of awards granted under the Plan, a maximum of 6,116,000 stock options or stock appreciation rights or 2,659,130 full-value awards could be granted under the Plan. Except as described above, no further awards are permitted to be granted under any of our preexisting stock option and incentive plans. The number of shares authorized under the Plan is anticipated to enable us to grant stock-based awards through 2019. In 2013, our shareholders approved an amendment to the 2007 Incentive Plan authorizing an increase in the number of shares that could be granted under such plan. Our Board of Directors projected then that shares authorized under the 2007 Incentive Plan would enable the Company to grant stock-based awards through 2016, and we have managed our share reserve to meet this projection.

        The closing price of Charles River common stock on the NYSE on March 15, 2016 was $71.07.

        The Compensation Committee worked with Pay Governance LLC, its outside compensation consultant, to develop the Plan, while taking into account the many institutional investor dilution guidelines, as well as the guidelines of investor advisory firms. We will continue to monitor the comparative advantages and accounting treatment of equity compensation awards going forward, in

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order to ensure that the Plan promotes retention and creates incentives in a manner which benefits our shareholders.

        The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes present or represented and entitled to vote at the Meeting is required to approve the proposed Plan. This means that, assuming a quorum is present, the number of votes cast in favor of the proposal must exceed the number of votes cast against it. In addition, under New York Stock Exchange rules, an "abstention" is counted as a vote "against" the proposal. If the Plan is not approved by shareholders, we will not be able to make the proposed additional 3,649,000 shares available for issuance under the Plan.

There are a number of reasons why we believe approving this Plan is important:

•

The 2007 Incentive Plan will expire in 2017.  Approval of a new plan is necessary to ensure that we can continue to issue stock incentive awards without disruption.



•

The Plan will allow us to continue to grant equity awards, an important incentive tool for creating shareholder value.  The use of equity compensation as a component of our compensation program is critical to our future success. Equity awards create an employee ownership culture that aligns the interests of employees with shareholders. Equity compensation also focuses employees' attention on creating long-term value, since the awards are subject to vesting and/or performance conditions. For example:



•

We have established stock ownership requirements for all corporate officers, which are further described on pages 59-60 of this Proxy Statement; and



•

A substantial portion of the equity compensation granted to executive officers is awarded in the form of performance share units (PSUs), which are earned only if the Company attains specified performance levels, as described in more detail on pages 54-58 of this Proxy Statement.



•

Equity awards are critical as a recruiting and retention tool.  Our success is dependent on having talented employees to drive our growth and performance, and a competitive compensation program that includes equity awards is essential for attracting and retaining such employees. Equity compensation is utilized routinely by other companies with whom we compete for talent, and if we were not able to continue to include stock-based awards in our compensation mix, we would be at a significant competitive disadvantage for critical talent. Without equity compensation, our recruiting efforts could be more challenging, and executives and other leadership staff would no longer have stock awards at risk of forfeiture, which could impact our ability to retain them.



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Equity awards are critical as a motivational tool.  We have placed a significant portion of eligible employees' compensation at risk through the use of our annual bonus and equity grant programs, both of which only provide value to the employee if the Company's performance remains strong. This encourages employees to pair a short-term view of performance (for purposes of the annual bonus) with a long-term view of performance (for purposes of stock grants), which provides sustained motivation for ongoing innovation.



•

We have demonstrated prudent equity compensation practices.  We recognize that equity compensation programs dilute shareholder equity and we take seriously our responsibility to use these programs responsibly. Our compensation programs are designed to be consistent with competitive market practice, and we believe that our historical share utilization has been prudent and mindful of shareholder interests. For example:

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•

Our 3-year average burn rate for 2013-2015 was 4.94%, which is well within the market standard for our industry and company size. The "burn rate" is the ratio of the number of shares underlying awards, including PSUs valued at 100% of target, granted during a year to the number of basic weighted average common shares outstanding at fiscal year-end. For purposes of calculating the burn rate, we have used the higher Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) fungible multiplier (3.0) for every full-value share granted.



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We have a record of effectively estimating and managing our share reserve. For instance, in 2013, when we asked our shareholders to approve an increase in the number of shares that could be granted under the 2007 Incentive Plan, our Board of Directors projected that the share reserve would enable the Company to grant stock-based awards through 2016, and we effectively managed our share reserve to meet this projection. For the 2016 Plan, we are projecting the initial share reserve will allow us to grant stock-based awards through 2019.



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Through our stock repurchase program (described on page 42 of this Proxy Statement), we have offset equity issuances related to stock compensation by repurchasing a sufficient number of shares to avoid a dilutive increase in shares outstanding.



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We generally employ a 4-year vesting schedule for annual, time-based awards which encourages sustained performance and a return of value to shareholders as well as employees; and



•

We emphasize the use of full-value shares over options, which helps to minimize dilution by using fewer shares than a program which emphasizes options. The Company aims to deliver a dollar value through its awards, and because it takes fewer full-value shares than options to deliver a particular dollar value to recipients, an emphasis on full-value shares results in our utilization of fewer shares.



•

The Plan includes features designed to protect shareholder interests:  



•

Awards under the Plan are administered by the Compensation Committee, which consists entirely of independent directors;



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The Plan includes strict recycling provisions. Shares held back in satisfaction of the exercise price or tax withholding requirements will not be available for new grants;



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The Plan prohibits granting stock options and stock appreciation rights (SARs) with an exercise price below the fair market value of a share of stock on the date of grant;



•

The Plan prohibits the repricing of stock options or SARs or the exchange of stock options or SARs for cash or other awards without shareholder approval;



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The Plan provides that at least 95% of all full-value awards to employees that are not performance awards made under the Plan will vest (i.e., become free of forfeiture restrictions) over a period of time at least three years or more from the date of grant; and



•

Material amendments to the Plan require shareholder approval.



•

If the Plan is not approved, we would experience a serious disruption of our compensation programs and we would be compelled to increase the cash component of employee compensation.  If the Plan is not approved and we fail to replace the value of equity compensation, it would create an environment where engagement of our most critical employees (including employees being added as a result of our acquisition of WIL Research) could be severely eroded. Therefore, in order to provide competitive compensation opportunities to attract, motivate and retain employees without equity compensation, we would likely need to employ cash or other non-equity rewards to replace the compensation previously delivered in equity awards. We believe these alternative forms of compensation do not align employee interests with those of

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shareholders as efficiently as stock-based awards, and we feel it is important to continue to provide compensation which continues to effectively align employees with shareholders.

Section 162(m) Performance Goals

        Shareholder approval of the Plan will constitute approval of the material terms of the performance goals under the Plan for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (Code). We are seeking shareholder approval of the material terms of the performance goals under the Plan to provide us with additional flexibility to grant awards that meet the requirements to avoid the disallowance of tax deductibility under Section 162(m) of the Code.

        Section 162(m) of the Code generally limits the federal income tax deduction for compensation paid to any person who serves as chief executive officer or who is one of the three other most highly compensated executive officers, other than the chief financial officer, of a publicly held corporation (each such person, a Covered Employee) to $1 million per year, with an exception for qualified performance-based compensation.

        One of the requirements of the qualified performance-based compensation exception under Section 162(m) of the Code is that the material terms of the performance goals under which compensation may be paid be disclosed to, and approved by, shareholders. For purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code, the material terms of the performance goals are:

•

the individuals eligible to receive compensation (see "—Summary of the Plan—Eligibility to Receive Awards" below);



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a description of the criteria on which the performance goals are based (see "—Summary of the Plan—Description of the Awards, Performance Awards" below); and



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either the maximum amount of compensation that could be paid to an employee if the performance goals are attained, or the formula used to calculate the amount of compensation to be paid to the employee if the performance goals are attained (see "—Summary of the Plan—Certain Share Limits on Awards under the Plan, Individual Award Limitations" below).

        By approving the Plan, our shareholders will provide us with more flexibility and an additional means to ensure that the compensation we pay to our executive officers is fully deductible for federal income tax purposes under Section 162(m) of the Code. If our shareholders do not approve the Plan, the compensation paid to our executive officers may not be entirely deductible under Section 162(m) of the Code.

The Board of Directors believes that the Plan, authorizing the issuance of
6,116,000 shares of common stock, is in the best interest of the Company
and its shareholders and recommends a vote "FOR" the approval of the Plan.

Summary of the Plan

        The following is a brief summary of the material terms of the Plan, as proposed. This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Plan, a copy of which is attached as Appendix B to the electronic version of this Proxy Statement as filed with the SEC and may be accessed from the SEC's website (www.sec.gov). In addition, a hard copy may be obtained by making a written request to our Corporate Secretary.

        The Board of Directors approved the Plan, which authorizes a total of 6,116,000 shares of common stock, on March 28, 2016. The total of 6,116,000 shares of common stock includes (i) an initial reserve of 2,467,000 of the shares of stock remaining available for issuance under the 2007 Incentive Plan as of March 15, 2016, and (ii) an increase of 3,649,000 shares of stock, as approved by the Board of Directors, subject to approval by the shareholders of the Company. The Plan may be

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amended by the Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee, provided that any amendment which requires shareholder approval in order to ensure (i) continued qualification under the NYSE rules, (ii) favorable federal income tax treatment for any incentive stock options under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (iii) eligibility for the performance-based exception under Section 162(m) of the Code or (iv) compliance with, or the avoidance of adverse consequences under, Section 409A of the Code, is subject to obtaining such shareholder approval. As of March 15, 2016, the market value of the total number of shares to be reserved for issuance under the Plan was $71.07. The Plan is being submitted for shareholder approval at the Meeting to ensure qualification of the Plan under the NYSE rules and Sections 422 and 162(m) of the Code.

Eligibility to Receive Awards

        All employees, non-employee directors, and individuals providing services to the Company or its affiliates (approximately 8,700 people as of March 15, 2016) are potentially eligible to participate in the Plan. Eligibility for incentive stock options is limited to those individuals whose employment status would qualify them for the tax treatment of Sections 421 and 422 of the Code. Participants are not required to provide consideration to the Company or its affiliates for the grant or extension of awards under the Plan, other than to provide services to the Company or its affiliates.

Non-Employee Director Limit

        The aggregate grant date fair value (determined as of the date of grant) of any equity award granted under the Plan to an individual upon becoming a non-employee member of the Board of Directors (Initial Non-Employee Director Grant) shall not exceed $800,000. All awards granted under the Plan to any individual non-employee member of the Board of Directors during any one-year term (excluding an Initial Non-Employee Director Grant) shall not exceed $600,000.

New Plan Benefits

        The granting of awards under the Plan is discretionary, and we cannot now determine the number or type of awards to be granted in the future to any particular group or person. Accordingly, a new plan benefits table for the Plan and the benefits or amounts that would have been received by or allocated to participants for the last completed fiscal year under the Plan if the Plan was then in effect, as described in the proxy rules, are not provided because all awards made under the Plan will be subject to the terms of the Plan and made at the discretion of the Compensation Committee (with respect to all participants other than non-employee directors) or the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee (with respect to non-employee directors). As of the date of this Proxy Statement, no awards have been granted under the Plan. Therefore, the benefits and amounts that will be received or allocated under the Plan are not determinable at this time. Nevertheless, the Company anticipates that awards will be made under the Plan (if approved by shareholders at the Annual Meeting) to our non-employee directors in May 2016. If each non-employee director were awarded stock options and restricted stock in 2016 with the same grant date fair value as the award the director received in 2015, then as of March 11, 2016, each director would receive 3,070 stock options and 1,850 shares of restricted stock pursuant to the Plan. For additional information on our annual equity awards to non-employee directors in the last fiscal year, please see the 2015 Director Compensation Table on page 19 of this Proxy Statement. Please also refer to the Summary Compensation Table on page 61 in this Proxy Statement which sets forth certain information regarding awards granted to our named executives during fiscal 2015.

Administration of the Plan

        The Compensation Committee administers the Plan. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Compensation Committee determines the persons to whom awards will be granted, the number of

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shares to be covered by each stock award, and the terms and conditions upon which each of the awards may be granted including vesting periods and transferability.

Available Shares

        Subject to adjustment upon certain corporate transactions or events, as proposed, up to a maximum of 6,116,000 shares of common stock (the Fungible Pool Limit), which includes (i) an initial reserve of 2,467,000 of the shares of stock remaining available for issuance under the 2007 Incentive Plan as of March 15, 2016, and (ii) an increase of 3,649,000 shares of stock, as approved by the Board of Directors, subject to approval by the shareholders of the Company, may be subject to stock options, restricted stock, stock appreciation rights, unrestricted stock, deferred stock, and other equity-based awards under the Plan. Each share issued or to be issued in connection with awards such as restricted stock and unrestricted stock that do not have option-like features (full-value awards) shall be counted against the Fungible Pool Limit as 2.3 units. Each share issued or to be issued that is subject to options, stock appreciation rights and other awards that have option-like features and that expire no more than seven years from the date of grant shall be counted against the Fungible Pool Limit as 1 unit. Awards not denominated in shares shall not count against the Fungible Pool Limit.

        Shares that are forfeited or cancelled shall not be considered to have been delivered under the Plan (and thus will be available for future grant under the Plan), but shares retained by the Company in satisfaction of the exercise price or tax withholding requirements of an award will be considered to have been delivered under the Plan (and thus will not be available for future grant under the Plan). In addition, shares repurchased by the Company with proceeds collected in connection with the exercise of outstanding options will not be added to the number of shares available for future grant under the Plan. The Compensation Committee will administer the appropriate methodology for calculating the number of shares of common stock issued pursuant to the Plan in accordance with the foregoing.

Description of Awards

        The Plan provides for a range of awards including stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, unrestricted stock, deferred stock, cash performance awards, and grants of cash made in connection with other awards in order to help defray in whole or in part the economic cost (including tax cost) of the award to the participant. In addition, the Plan provides that certain awards may be designated as performance awards if they are related to a performance period determined at the time of grant.

Stock Options

        Stock options under the Plan may be either (1) options intended to qualify as "incentive stock options" under Section 422 of the Code or (2) non-qualified stock options. Incentive stock options may be granted under the Plan to employees of the Company and its affiliates. Non-qualified stock options may be granted to employees of the Company and its affiliates, consultants, and directors.

        In accordance with federal tax laws, the aggregate fair market value (determined at the time of grant) of shares issuable pursuant to incentive stock options which first become exercisable in any calendar year under any incentive stock option of the Company may not exceed $100,000 calculated individually for each option holder. Options granted under the Plan may not be granted at a price less than the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant, or 110% of fair market value in the case of incentive stock options granted to an employee holding 10% or more of the voting stock of the Company. The Compensation Committee determines the exercise price of each stock option, provided that each option must have an exercise price that is not less than the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant.

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Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs)

        SARs are rights entitling the holder upon exercise to receive cash or stock, as the Compensation Committee determines, equal to a function (determined by such factors as the Compensation Committee deems appropriate) of the amount by which the stock has appreciated in value since the date of the award. The Compensation Committee determines the exercise price of each SAR, provided that each SAR must have an exercise price that is not less than the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant.

Restricted Stock

        Restricted stock is an award of stock subject to restrictions requiring that such stock be redelivered to the Company if specified conditions are not satisfied.

Unrestricted Stock

        Unrestricted stock is an award of stock not subject to any restrictions under the Plan.

Deferred Stock

        Deferred stock is a promise to deliver stock, other securities, or other property in the future on specified terms described in each deferred stock agreement to a participant (including, for the avoidance of doubt, a director of the Company). Our Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) are a form of Deferred Stock.

Cash Performance Awards

        A cash performance award is a performance award payable in cash.

Performance Awards

        A performance award refers to an award granted to employees where receipt of an underlying final award is dependent upon satisfaction of specified performance criteria. At the beginning of each performance period, targeted performance levels will be established at which a target performance award may be earned, with a threshold or minimum performance level below which no award will be paid, and a maximum beyond which no additional amounts will be paid. The percentage of each performance award that will become a final award will be determined by the Compensation Committee on the basis of the performance goals established and the performance achieved. A final award may be less than or greater than the target performance award. Final awards may relate to, and upon vesting be paid in the form of, restricted stock, unrestricted stock, deferred stock, cash performance awards or cash (or any combination). Except in the case of a participant's full career retirement, which is subject to age, service, and advance notice requirements, payment of final awards will be contingent upon the participant continuing to render services to the Company at such time (unless this condition is waived by the Compensation Committee). For more information about full career retirement provisions in our equity awards, please see page 56 of this Proxy Statement.

Vesting and Exercisability

        The Compensation Committee determines the time or times at which awards under the Plan will vest or become exercisable and the terms on which an award will remain exercisable. However, as discussed below, there are certain minimum vesting periods for issuances of full-value awards that are not performance awards.

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Repricings

        Options and SARs may not be repriced, or replaced with any other award (including full-value awards) or repurchased for cash, without shareholder approval.

Transferability of Awards

        No award granted under the Plan is transferable by the holder except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.

Certain Share Limits on Awards under the Plan

Full-Value Award Limitations

        All full-value awards that are not performance-based shall vest over a period of time at least three years or more from the date of grant and all performance-based full-value awards shall be subject to the attainment of performance objectives which require at least 12 months to achieve. However, full-value awards aggregating not more than 5% of the number of shares reserved for issuance under the Plan, as well as full-value awards to non-employee directors, may be awarded without regard to such vesting requirements.

Individual Award Limitations

        The maximum number of shares of stock for which stock options may be granted to any person annually from and after adoption of the Plan and prior to March 28, 2026, the maximum number of shares of stock subject to SARs granted to any person annually during such period, and the aggregate maximum number of shares of stock subject to other awards that may be delivered (or the value of which may be paid) to any person annually during such period, shall each be 2,000,000, subject to adjustments as provided in Section 5 of the Plan. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the repricing of stock options or SARs will be treated as a new grant to the extent required under Section 162(m) of the Code, assuming that the repricing is permitted by shareholders. Subject to these limitations, each person eligible to participate in the Plan will be eligible to receive awards covering up to the full number of shares of stock then available for awards under the Plan. No awards may be granted under the Plan after March 28, 2026, but previously granted awards may extend beyond that date.

        In addition, no more than $3,000,000 may be paid to any individual with respect to any cash performance award (other than an award expressed in terms of shares of stock or units representing stock). In applying the dollar limitation of the preceding sentence, multiple cash performance awards to the same individual that are determined by reference to performance periods of one year or less ending with or within the same fiscal year of the Company shall be subject in the aggregate to the $3,000,000 limit. Multiple cash performance awards to the same individual that are determined by reference to one or more multi-year performance periods ending in the same fiscal year of the Company are not included in the limit described above; instead, they are subject in the aggregate to a separate $3,000,000 limit.

Reclassification of Stock

        Under the Plan, if the shares of common stock shall be subdivided or combined into a greater or smaller number of shares, or if the Company shall issue any shares of common stock as a stock dividend on its outstanding common stock, the Compensation Committee will make appropriate adjustments to the maximum number of shares that may be delivered under the Plan and to the maximum share limits described above, and will also make appropriate adjustments to the number and kind of shares of stock or securities subject to awards then outstanding or subsequently granted,

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including any exercise prices relating to the awards and any other provision of awards affected by such change.

Certain Transactions

        Other than in connection with awards that are denominated and subject to settlement in cash, awards will not vest in connection with a Covered Transaction unless such Covered Transaction is accompanied by a "double trigger event". For this purpose, a "double trigger event" occurs in connection with a Covered Transaction if (i) the award is not appropriately assumed nor an equivalent award substituted by the surviving, continuing, successor or purchasing company or other business entity or parent thereof, as the case may be, (ii) cash or cash equivalents are the sole or primary form of consideration to be received by the shareholder of the Company or (iii) at the time of, or within 12 months following the Covered Transaction, the participant incurs a termination of employment without Cause or for Good Reason (each as defined in the Plan, which is attached as Appendix B to the electronic version of this Proxy Statement as filed with the SEC and may be accessed from the SEC's website (www.sec.gov)).

        Upon a Covered Transaction "double trigger event": (i) in the case of a stock option or SAR, the stock option or SAR shall become fully vested and exercisable immediately upon the occurrence of the double trigger event; (ii) in the case of restricted Stock, deferred stock or restricted stock units (in each case other than an award of restricted stock, award of deferred stock or award of restricted stock units that is a performance award), the restriction period shall lapse and the restricted stock, deferred stock or restricted stock unit (as applicable) shall fully vest immediately upon the occurrence of the double trigger event; and (iii) in the case of a performance award, payment under the award shall be subject to the terms set forth in the applicable award agreement.

        A Covered Transaction is deemed to occur where the Company undergoes any of (1) a consolidation, merger or other transaction which results in any individual, entity or "group" acquiring the beneficial ownership directly or indirectly of more than 50% of either the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the Company or the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, (2) at any time during a period of 12 consecutive months, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board of Directors and any new member of the Board of Directors whose election or nomination for election was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of such period or whose election or nomination for election was so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority of members of the Board of Directors, (3) a sale or transfer of all or substantially all the Company's assets, or (4) a dissolution or liquidation of the Company.

Forfeiture or Clawback of Awards

        The Compensation Committee may determine that any award under the Plan shall be subject to provisions for the forfeiture and/or reimbursement of all amounts received in connection with an award in the event of breach of noncompetition, nonsolicitation, or confidentiality agreements. All awards granted under the Plan are subject to recoupment, to the extent applicable, under the Company's Corporate Governance Guidelines and/or any other recoupment, clawback or similar policy that may be approved by the Board of Directors or any committee thereof. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, a participant shall be required to reimburse the Company amounts received in connection with an award to the extent required under Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and Section 954 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010.

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Federal Income Tax Considerations

        The following is a description of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences of the issuance and exercise of awards under the Plan under U.S. federal income tax laws as currently in effect:

Incentive Stock Options

        An optionee is generally not taxed on the grant or exercise of an incentive stock option. The difference between the exercise price and the fair market value of the shares on the exercise date will, however, be considered an adjustment for purposes of the alternative minimum tax. If an optionee holds the shares acquired upon the exercise of an incentive stock option for at least two years following grant and at least one year following exercise, the optionee's gain (or loss), if any, upon a subsequent disposition of such shares is a long-term capital gain (or loss). The measure of the gain is the difference between the proceeds received on disposition and the optionee's basis in the shares (which generally equals the exercise price). If an optionee disposes of stock acquired pursuant to exercise of an incentive stock option before satisfying the one and two-year holding periods described above, the optionee will recognize both ordinary income and capital gain (or loss) in the year of disposition. The amount of the ordinary income will be the lesser of (1) the amount realized on disposition less the optionee's adjusted basis in the stock (usually the exercise price) or (2) the difference between the fair market value of the stock on the exercise date and the exercise price. The balance of the consideration received on such a disposition will be short-term capital gain or long-term capital gain depending on the holding period of the share. The Company is not entitled to an income tax deduction on the grant or exercise of an incentive stock option or on the optionee's disposition of the shares after satisfying the required holding periods described above. If the holding periods are not satisfied, the Company will be entitled to a deduction in the year the optionee disposes of the shares, in an amount equal to the ordinary income recognized by the optionee.

Non-Qualified Stock Options

        The grant of a non-qualified option will not result in taxable income to the optionee or deduction to the Company at the time of grant. The optionee will recognize taxable compensation, and the Company will have a corresponding deduction, at the time of exercise in the amount of the excess of the then fair market value of the shares acquired over the exercise price, and the optionee will be required to satisfy the tax withholding requirements applicable to such income. Upon disposition of the shares, the optionee will generally realize capital gain or loss (short- or long-term, depending on the length of the period the shares were held), and the optionee's basis for determining gain or loss will be the sum of the exercise price paid for the shares plus the amount of compensation income recognized on exercise of the option.

Stock Appreciation Rights

        The amount of any cash or the fair market value of any stock received by a participant upon the exercise of SARs under the Plan will be subject to ordinary income tax in the year of receipt, and the Company will be entitled to a deduction for such amount.

Restricted Stock

        A participant who receives restricted stock will recognize no income on the grant of the restricted stock and the Company will not qualify for any deduction, unless the election described below is made by the participant. At the time the restricted stock is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, a participant will recognize ordinary compensation income in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the restricted stock at the time the restriction lapses over the consideration paid for the restricted stock, if any. The holding period that determines whether the

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participant has short- or long-term capital gain or loss begins when the restriction period expires, and the tax basis for the shares will generally be the fair market value of the shares on such date.

        A participant may elect, under Section 83(b) of the Code, within 30 days of his or her receipt of the restricted stock, to recognize ordinary compensation income on the date of transfer in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value on the date of such transfer of the shares of restricted stock, determined without regard to certain restrictions, over the consideration paid for the restricted stock, if any. Additional special tax rules apply if the participant forfeits the shares. On a disposition of the shares, a participant will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized and the tax basis for the shares.

        Whether or not the participant makes an election under Section 83(b), the Company generally will qualify for a deduction, subject to the reasonableness of compensation limitation and Section 162(m) of the Code, at the time and equal to the amount that is taxable as ordinary income to the participant.

Unrestricted Stock

        Upon receiving an award of unrestricted stock under the Plan, the participant will realize ordinary income to the extent of the fair market value (determined at the time of transfer to the employee) of such shares, over the amount, if any, paid by the employee for the shares. Such taxable amounts will generally be deductible as compensation by the Company, subject to Section 162(m) of the Code.

Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)

        A participant generally does not recognize income, and the Company generally will not be allowed a tax deduction, at the time an RSU is granted. When the RSUs vest and are settled for cash or shares, the participant generally will be required to recognize as income an amount equal to the fair market value of the shares or the amount of cash on the date of settlement, and the Company generally will be allowed a corresponding tax deduction at that time, subject to the reasonableness of compensation limitation and Section 162(m) of the Code. Any gain or loss recognized upon a subsequent sale or exchange of the shares (if settled in shares) is generally treated as capital gain or loss for which we are not entitled to a deduction. For purposes of clarity, for federal income tax considerations, our PSUs are considered a variant of RSUs.

Deferred Stock

        A participant who receives an award of deferred stock will recognize no income on the grant of such award. However, he or she will recognize ordinary compensation income on the later transfer of the actual stock. If at the time of transfer the stock received is subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, the tax treatment will be the same as discussed above under the caption "Restricted Stock." The Company generally will qualify for a deduction, subject to the reasonableness of compensation limitation and Section 162(m) of the Code, at the time and equal to the amount that is taxable as ordinary income to the participant.

Cash Performance Awards

        Generally, a participant will recognize ordinary income and the Company will generally be entitled to a deduction (and will be required to withhold federal income taxes), subject to Section 162(m) of the Code, with respect to such cash awards at the earliest time at which the participant has an unrestricted right to receive the amount of such cash payment.

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Section 162(m)

        Section 162(m) of the Code provides that the deduction by a publicly held corporation for compensation paid in a taxable year to the chief executive officer and the three other most highly compensated executive officers of the corporation is limited to $1 million per each individual officer. For purposes of Section 162(m), compensation which meets the requirements of "qualified performance-based compensation" is not subject to the deductibility limitation. There can be no assurance that such compensation under the Plan will be fully deductible under all circumstances.

        This general tax discussion is intended for the information of shareholders considering how to vote with respect to this proposal and not as tax guidance to participants in the Plan. Different tax rules may apply to specific participants and transactions under the Plan, particularly in jurisdictions outside the United States.

Section 409A

        To the extent applicable, awards granted under the Plan are intended to comply with or be exempt from Section 409A of the Code, and the Plan will be interpreted and administered in accordance therewith. The administrator of the Plan will have the authority unilaterally to accelerate or delay a payment to which the holder of any award may be entitled to the extent necessary or desirable to comply with, or avoid adverse consequences under, Section 409A of the Code (including with regard to an individual deemed to be a "specified employee" under Section 409A of the Code who has received an amount under the Plan deemed to be "deferred compensation" subject to Section 409A of the Code).

        Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company does not guarantee that the Plan, any awards or any payments with respect thereto are in compliance with Section 409A of the Code. Unless certain requirements set forth in Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code are satisfied, holders of such awards may be taxed earlier than would otherwise be the case (e.g., at the time of vesting instead of the time of payment) and may be subject to an additional 20% penalty tax (and, potentially, certain interest penalties and additional state taxes).

Registration with the SEC

        If our shareholders approve the Plan, we will file a Registration Statement on Form S-8 with the Securities and Exchange Commission as soon as reasonably practical after the approval, to register the shares available for issuance under the Plan.

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Equity Compensation Plan Information

        The following table summarizes, as of December 26, 2015, the number of options issued under the Company's stock option plans and the number of options available for future issuance under these plans.

        The following table provides additional information regarding the aggregate issuances under our existing equity compensation plans as of December 26, 2015:

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        In February 2016, the Company issued its annual equity compensation awards to its employees and on March 1, 2016 issued awards to new hires. Accordingly, the following table summarizes, as of March 15, 2016, the updated number of options issued under the Company's stock option plans and the updated number of options available for future issuance under these plans.

        The following table provides additional information regarding the aggregate issuances under the Company's existing equity compensation plans as of March 15, 2016.

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Share Utilization Disclosure

        The following table summarizes our share utilization with respect to the 2007 Plan over the past three fiscal years. We include this table in recognition that many shareholders find this information useful in evaluating equity compensation proposals, such as this Proposal 3.

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

        The purpose of our compensation program is to recruit and retain the strongest possible management team, while simultaneously aligning management's interest with those of our shareholders. With these considerations in mind, the Compensation Committee (referred to in this section of the Proxy Statement as the Committee) has overseen the development, implementation and administration of our Executive Compensation Program (the Compensation Program or Program), described below, for members of senior management including the Chief Executive Officer and the other five executives who are identified in the Summary Compensation Table below (our named executives), which includes one former executive officer and another executive officer who retired in March 2016. Our philosophy behind the Compensation Program is that it should appropriately align executive compensation with both the short- and long-term performance of the Company. Our named executives for fiscal year 2015 are: James C. Foster (Chief Executive Officer and President), David R. Smith (Corporate Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer), Thomas F. Ackerman (formerly our Corporate Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; as of the end of fiscal year 2015, Senior Financial Advisor), Dr. Nancy A. Gillett (Corporate Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer), David P. Johst (Corporate Executive Vice President, Human Resources, General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer), and Dr. Davide A. Molho (Corporate Executive Vice President and President, Global RMS, Safety Assessment & Biologics).

Executive Summary

        We believe that the design of our 2015 Compensation Program is best understood by evaluating it in the context of the business environment in which we have been operating since the end of the previous decade. At that time, large pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies began to undertake significant changes in their operations as they endeavored to improve the productivity of their drug development pipelines, and at the same time, streamline their infrastructures in order to improve efficiency and reduce operating costs. Until a few years ago, these actions had an unfavorable impact on sales of our products and services, and our financial performance, and this was reflected in the compensation earned by our officers.

        Over the past four to five years, however, the demand for our outsourced services steadily improved, as has demand for products and services to support our clients' manufacturing activities. We

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took several important steps in the past two years to position the company to meet this increased demand and to maintain responsiveness to clients' needs, including:

•

we enhanced our Safety Assessment and Discovery capacity by opening small amounts of new capacity at existing facilities in 2014 and 2015, and reopening our Charles River Massachusetts facility in the first quarter of 2016;



•

we acquired Celsis Group Limited in July 2015 to further enhance our rapid testing portfolio by expanding in the non-sterile quality control testing market;



•

we acquired Sunrise Farms, Inc. in May 2015 to expand our production of specific-pathogen-free fertile chicken eggs and chickens used in the manufacture of live viruses; and



•

we acquired several Discovery Services businesses in 2014 and 2015 (Argenta, BioFocus, ChanTest, VivoPath and Oncotest) to enhance our early-stage drug research capabilities and enable us to work with clients at the earliest stages of the discovery process.

        Additionally, in the past five to six years we have taken a variety of decisive, and sometimes difficult, actions targeted at strengthening the business, enhancing client satisfaction and returning value to shareholders. Our continued actions toward the achievement of these initiatives in 2015 included the following:

•

We continued our focus on operating efficiencies through further optimizing our infrastructure, utilizing automation to reduce manual processes, and generating greater savings from our procurement activities.



•

We expanded our project management office (PMO) in order to identify and manage initiatives that contribute to our organization's productivity, efficiency, and risk management. This group participates globally across all our businesses to support maximization of revenue, minimization of costs, and reduced risk. PMO projects are prioritized through regular updates to our Executive Committee.



•

We made three acquisitions of various sizes and in different business segments (as noted above).



•

We continued to repurchase our stock with the intent to offset dilution of shareholder value due to stock and option awards to employees and directors in order to align their interests with those of shareholders. During 2015 we repurchased approximately 1.5 million shares on the open market based on our stock repurchase program. As a result of our share repurchase program, weighted average shares outstanding were 47.6 million for the year ending December 26, 2015, and essentially unchanged from the prior year.

        We believe these actions contributed significantly to our strong financial performance in fiscal 2015, in which we achieved:

•

a 5.1% increase in revenue;



•

cash flow from operating activities of $288.2 million;



•

an 8.7% increase in non-GAAP earnings per share from continuing operations; and



•

a 24.6% increase in our total shareholder return.

        We believe that, when viewed in this context, the compensation for our executive officers was appropriately aligned to our financial performance. For instance, our CEO's annual cash bonus amount was 156.6% of the target, due to the fact that we generally outperformed the measures on which the annual cash bonus is based: free cash flow far exceeded expectations, operating income and EPS moderately exceeded expectations, and revenue was slightly above our expectations. Our other named executives received annual cash bonus amounts ranging from 81.4% to 197.3% of the target amount.

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(For a detailed discussion of our 2015 financial performance, the factors that we believe are influencing demand from our clients, and the actions we have taken during the past years, please see the sections entitled "Our Strategy" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 12, 2016.)

2015 Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation

        Charles River shareholders provided very strong majority support for our named executives' compensation at our 2015 annual meeting of shareholders (97.7% of shares voted in support on this matter; 98.2% excluding abstentions). We attribute this level of support to our performance in 2014 and the significant actions we implemented from 2012 through 2014, including significant changes to our executive compensation program during that period, which followed a period of substantial outreach to our shareholders, as follows:

•

Introduced Performance Share Units and Increased the Performance Orientation of the Long-Term Incentive Compensation Program: During fiscal 2012, following a comprehensive review of our long-term equity incentive program, the Compensation Committee approved a new structure for long-term incentive awards granted beginning in fiscal 2013 that significantly increased the emphasis on performance-based equity compensation. The new structure was piloted by our executive officers in fiscal 2013, and expanded to all of our corporate officers in fiscal 2014. Under the revised structure, our officers receive three types of equity awards:



•

Performance Share Units (PSUs), which vest on a "cliff basis" after three years only if service and performance requirements are met and which will be paid out in shares based upon two separate performance metrics: (1) first fiscal year non-GAAP earnings per share (EPS) and (2) three-year relative Total Shareholder Return (relative TSR), as further described on pages 54-58 of this Proxy Statement in the discussion related to Long-Term Equity Incentive Awards. PSUs are intended to comprise approximately 60% of the intended value of long-term equity incentive awards provided to executive officers in any fiscal year.



•

Time-based stock options, which vest over four years. Stock options are intended to comprise approximately 20% of the intended value of long-term equity incentive awards provided to officers in any fiscal year.



•

Time-based restricted stock/restricted stock units, which vest over four years (except in limited circumstances when special awards are granted). Restricted stock/restricted stock units are intended to comprise approximately 20% of the intended value of long-term equity incentive awards provided to officers in any fiscal year.



•

Elimination of 280G Excise Tax Gross-Ups.  For the limited number of our executives with whom we had change-in-control agreements (which included each of our executive officers), we amended these agreements to eliminate any "gross-up" payment by the Company of any of the excise taxes imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code due to "golden parachute" payments.



•

Reduction and Elimination of the Discretionary Allowance.  The Corporate Officer Discretionary Allowance (CODA) program, which provided specific cash allowance tiers based on an executive's officer level, was eliminated effective fiscal 2014.



•

Introduction of Clawback Policy.  In February 2013, our Board of Directors amended our Corporate Governance Guidelines to include a recoupment (also known as a clawback) policy. This policy applies to all of our executive officers. Under this Clawback Policy, in the event of a restatement of all or a significant portion of Charles River's financial statements that has been determined by the Board to be due to the gross negligence, intentional misconduct or fraud by

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an executive officer, the Board has the discretion to require repayment of a portion or all of any incentive-based compensation paid to such executive officer or former executive officer and/or effect the cancellation of any unvested incentive compensation, subject to specified criteria.

        In addition to the changes noted above, we have taken further action this year by including "double-trigger" accelerated equity vesting in the 2016 Incentive Plan, which we are submitting to shareholders for their approval this year.

        The Compensation Committee believes these changes have been responsive to feedback from investors and enhance the performance orientation of our executive compensation program. Following further shareholder outreach in the fall of 2015, we once again received positive response to the changes that were made during the preceding years, and none of our shareholders advocated for any substantial changes to our executive compensation program. Notwithstanding this positive reception, the Board and Committee will continue to explore ways in which Charles River's executive compensation programs could be improved, and we remain committed to ongoing engagement with our shareholders on the various corporate governance topics that are of interest to them.

Historical Elements of Our Compensation Practices

        Certain elements of our compensation practices reflect legacy decisions and changes that were made in prior years (since 2009) which were designed to ensure alignment between executive compensation and Company performance, and which continue to carry forward and have influence in our program:

•

Base Salaries:  We have kept base salary increases modest. While year-to-year there are adjustments (ranging from 0% to 5%) that may be below or above the average, in general annualized merit increases (excluding promotional increases) are consistent with the average annualized merit increase allotted to our North American workforce.



•

Annual Cash Incentive Awards:  With business plans having been scaled to levels below earlier high-growth years, we reduced targeted bonus payouts for each goal under our Executive Incentive Compensation Plan (EICP) from 2009 through 2012. We resumed non-reduced targeted payouts in 2013 following a second consecutive year of solid financial performance, and maintained that level in 2014 and 2015.



•

Perquisites:  We eliminated the majority of individual perquisites/benefits and associated tax gross-ups available to our officers (including the named executives). Between 2010 and 2013, the value of these perquisites was partially replaced by our Corporate Officer Discretionary Allowance (CODA) program. The CODA was fully eliminated effective in fiscal 2014.



•

Severance:  We reduced the severance plan benefits for involuntary terminations of corporate officers under our Officer Separation Plan.

        We believe that all of these adjustments to our Program during this period were appropriate in light of, and consistent with, the economic and market environments, our financial performance, the corporate actions taken, and executive compensation trends. Furthermore, the increased focus on near-term financial and operational objectives properly aligned management's incentives with the interests of our shareholders. For example, our pay mix maintains a continued focus on variable, or "at risk," compensation. On average, approximately 71.9% of 2015 target annual compensation for our named executives was based on long-term equity incentives and performance-based bonuses (87.9% for our CEO). Furthermore, annual base salary for our named executives remains a relatively small portion (28.1%) of our named executives' core intended compensation (12.1% for our CEO). We note that these averages are slightly skewed due to the absence of any 2015 equity grant to Dr. Gillett in light of her impending retirement. Absent Dr. Gillett's compensation, annual base salary for our named executives is only 22.0% of intended core compensation.

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        Furthermore, as seen in the graph below, the alignment between executive pay and our performance is demonstrated by the close correlation from 2008 to 2015 between (1) the total compensation paid (consistent with the Summary Compensation Table) to our CEO in those years and (2) our non-GAAP earnings per share from continuing operations during that period. As illustrated, compensation generally increased with strong performance and decreased when performance declined.

A very similar alignment can be seen between our performance and the average pay (based on Summary Compensation Table disclosure) for the four other named executives who have consistently been included in the summary compensation table during the period from 2010 to 2015 (Mr. Ackerman, Mr. Johst, Dr. Gillett and Dr. Molho).

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        For purposes of these graphs, "Other" refers to the total average amounts set forth in the following columns in the Summary Compensation Table on page 61: (1) Change In Pension Value and Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Earnings; and (2) All Other Compensation. Information with respect to 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 compensation is set forth in our 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 Proxy Statements, respectively.

        Please see Appendix A to this Proxy Statement for reconciliation of our non-GAAP EPS to GAAP EPS for 2008-2015.

        In addition to the changes summarized above and the quantified alignment between executive pay and our performance, we maintain existing compensation practices that represent strong corporate governance, including the following:

•

a cap on the annual EICP bonus opportunity, even for exceptional performance;



•

significant stock ownership guidelines that align executives' interests with those of shareholders and which increase with the level of the executive's officer level;



•

rules prohibiting executives from trading derivative securities, pledging our stock, and from hedging the economic risk of ownership of our stock;



•

an annual risk assessment of our pay practices;



•

an annual shareholder advisory vote on executive compensation;



•

a Compensation Committee comprised entirely of independent directors; and



•

an independent compensation consultant.

        The changes to the Program made during the past few years reflect our flexibility in responding to changing market conditions, our business strategy and financial performance, executive compensation standards, and the opinions and suggestions of our investors.

        In addition to changes to the Program, in light of periodic discussions with shareholders and observation of general governance trends, we have recently made modifications to our corporate governance structure. For instance, in December 2014 we amended our bylaws to provide for a majority vote standard for election of directors in uncontested elections, and in January 2016 we amended our bylaws to authorize the removal of directors by shareholders without cause upon an affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of shares entitled to vote.

        We remain committed to ongoing engagement with our shareholders on various corporate governance topics that are of interest to them. We conduct these efforts through meetings and telephone calls throughout the year with our senior management, and provide shareholders with the opportunity to cast an annual say-on-pay advisory vote on executive compensation. We have determined that our shareholders should vote on a say-on-pay proposal every year, consistent with the preference expressed by our shareholders at the 2011 Annual Meeting. The Committee is always open to the input of our shareholders in making future compensation decisions for the named executives. At the same time, we believe it is important to maintain consistency in our compensation philosophy and approach. While the Committee and our management team understand the impact that immediate economic conditions and our operating performance may have on our stock price, it is important to us that the elements of the Program continue to incentivize management to achieve important short- and long-term operating goals that are intended to strengthen the company and translate ultimately into stock price appreciation for our shareholders.

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Objectives of the Compensation Program

        The Committee reviews and monitors the Compensation Program and compensation policies by reference to specific objectives which are established in accordance with its charter. The Committee recognizes the importance of establishing clear objectives for the Program and evaluating the relative effectiveness of current and proposed compensation policies and practices in advancing those objectives. In keeping with our philosophy that the Program should appropriately align executive compensation with both the short- and long-term performance of the Company, the Committee has determined that the Compensation Program should achieve the following objectives:

•

attract and retain superior talent;



•

support the achievement of desired levels of Company performance;



•

align the interests of executives with the interests of shareholders;



•

differentially and meritoriously reward individual performance; and



•

promote accountability.

        To achieve these broader objectives, the current design of the Compensation Program has also been crafted to accomplish the following:

•

effectively balance fixed and at-risk compensation through a continuum of compensation elements;



•

differentially reward individuals based on performance through the incorporation of both short- and long-term elements;



•

differentially reward individuals who contribute to the success of high-performing business units;



•

promote the achievement of desired levels of Company performance through the utilization of both short-term bonus and long-term equity elements which are closely aligned with our business performance; and



•

accommodate ongoing acquisitions where the motivation and retention of talent is key to integration and business performance.

Compensation Elements

        Our Compensation Program for fiscal year 2015 consisted of the following core and supplemental elements:

        The core elements of compensation are typically those which the Committee evaluates on an annual basis, while the supplemental elements are programs or arrangements that we have included for strategic reasons and are evaluated on a less frequent basis by the Committee.

        Annual base salary represents the smallest portion of our named executives' target core compensation (less than 30%). Over 70% of 2015 targeted annual compensation for our named executives was based on variable or "at-risk" compensation elements, reflecting the Committee's focus on ensuring that senior management is appropriately rewarded for actual performance achievements.

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The following table shows the 2015 total core compensation mix, based on targeted (not actual) compensation.

Compensation Setting Process

        As described above on pages 15-16 of this Proxy Statement, the Compensation Committee engaged Pay Governance as its independent compensation consultant to advise the Compensation Committee on matters related to 2015 executive compensation. Pay Governance generally assists the Compensation Committee in fulfilling its responsibilities under its charter, including advising on proposed compensation packages for our top executives, compensation program design and market practices generally, guidance on how to appropriately compensate officers, and other topics as the Compensation Committee deems appropriate. The Compensation Committee has authorized Pay Governance to interact with management on behalf of the Compensation Committee, as needed, in connection with advising the Compensation Committee and Pay Governance is included in discussions with management. With respect to fiscal year 2015 compensation determinations, Pay Governance specifically assisted in the following:

•

evaluating and recommending adjustments to our peer group;



•

benchmarking and analyzing executive compensation levels and recommending pay strategies (but not necessarily specific pay levels) for 2015; and



•

performing initial and ongoing calculations related to the Performance Share Unit grants to our corporate officers, including tracking and reviewing calculations of Total Shareholder Return relative to peers.

        Pay Governance is directly accountable to the Compensation Committee, which has sole authority to engage, dismiss, and approve the terms of engagement of the compensation consultant. During 2015, Pay Governance did not provide any other services to the Company.

        Only two of the named executives of the Company are regularly involved in assisting the Committee in setting compensation parameters. In his role as our Corporate Executive Vice President, Human Resources, General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer, Mr. Johst assists the Committee by providing data to the Committee's consultants, developing or modifying compensation plans and programs based on the Committee's input, and otherwise supporting the Committee's efforts to obtain the information and data required to make well-reasoned decisions regarding the compensation elements which comprise the Program. In his capacity as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Foster regularly participates in strategic discussions with the Committee regarding the

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design and scope of the Program to help ensure that the compensation elements, policies, and practices underlying the Program are properly aligned with the Company's short-term financial and long-term strategic objectives. Mr. Foster also provides recommendations to the Committee regarding modifications that would allow the Program to function more effectively in the context of our evolving business organization, and assists the Committee in evaluating the individual performance of each executive officer (other than himself) to ensure that their respective levels of compensation take such performance into account. As a matter of process, Mr. Foster and Mr. Johst frequently collaborate to analyze internal and externally-provided compensation data and information, and provide preliminary recommendations to the Compensation Committee during the course of the Committee's determination of annual compensation levels. Other than Messrs. Foster and Johst, none of our executive officers plays a significant, ongoing role in assisting the Committee to set compensation parameters.

Total Compensation Strategy and Peer Group

        The Committee strives in its methodology to provide total core compensation to our named executives that reflects an appropriate market benchmark and a select peer group of companies which are similar to the Company (the peer group). The peer group is primarily comprised of companies operating in the area of life sciences and drug discovery and development, with a particular focus on ensuring that the peer group takes into account the presence of companies, both in the greater Boston area and globally, who compete directly with the Company for scientific and management talent. We draw upon data for comparable companies from public disclosures for the companies in the peer group and from reputable ongoing compensation surveys of similarly sized companies in the industries listed above. Each year the Committee reviews and approves the peer group as well as a target Total Compensation Strategy. The Committee does not target a specific competitive percentile for the named executives, but rather relies on a variety of factors in making pay decisions beyond market data, such as each executive's experience, performance ratings, internal equity, and strategic value of the executive's position to the Company.

Fiscal Year 2015 Compensation Analysis Methodology

        For fiscal year 2015, in conjunction with the changes to the peer group described below, the Committee (with the assistance of Pay Governance) utilized a regression model to analyze the competitiveness of current executive compensation. Accordingly, our target Total Compensation Strategy utilizes a methodology whereby target Total Direct Compensation is evaluated against the size-appropriate benchmark data that factors in our Company's relative size compared to the size of peer group companies and that is established for each position by reference to the peer group. Total Direct Compensation in 2015 for our named executives generally approximated the executive's associated market benchmark.

        The peer group identified by Pay Governance consists of industry comparators both larger and smaller in revenue size than Charles River; accordingly, Pay Governance has developed a method of adjusting proxy compensation data for the peer group using common statistical regression methods to result in a good correlation between the proxy data and Charles River's corporate revenue, such that the regressed proxy revenue is commensurate to Charles River's revenue. This size-adjusted peer group proxy data is then blended with size-appropriate, custom compensation survey data (with proxy data weighted 75% and survey data weighted 25% for the named executive officer benchmarks) to derive a "market composite benchmark" for evaluating our executive compensation. The Committee originally adopted this "market composite benchmark" methodology and a peer group that is relatively large in quantity of component companies for evaluating and setting 2012 executive pay levels, in part due to industry consolidation presenting a challenge to maintaining a consistent group of peer companies year-over-year, and has continued with its use since.

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        For evaluating 2015 compensation levels, the proxy peer group consisted of the following 39 companies:

        Custom compensation survey data included information from 18 peer group companies (noted with *), as well as from Acorda Therapeutics, Alkermes, Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Cepheid, Forest Laboratories (acquired by Actavis in July 2014), Impax Laboratories, Incyte, Luminex, Myriad Genetics, Pharmaceutical Product Development, PRA International, and The Medicines Company.

        For evaluating 2016 compensation levels, the proxy peer group will change to remove Actavis, which merged with Allergan, Inc. in March 2015 and the resulting company, Allergan plc will be included; Covance Inc., which was acquired by Laboratory Corporation of America in February 2015, and Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which was acquired by Merck & Co., Inc. in January 2015; and to add Alere Inc. and Teleflex Incorporated. Pall Corporation, which was acquired by Danaher Corporation in August 2015, and Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC, which was acquired by Merck KGaA. in November 2015, both remain in the 2016 peer group because relevant information with respect to each of them was still available for this purpose.

Annual Base Salary

        Our compensation philosophy embraces the premise that establishing base salaries at a reasonable level helps to promote retention and acts as an appropriate balance to other forms of variable or "at-risk" compensation. We pay base salaries within a range designed to approximate the market benchmark of executives with similar responsibilities in the peer group and surveys. Actual base salaries are determined after considering the competitive data, overall competitive position as compared to our compensation philosophy, prior base salary and other compensation, the performance of the individual and internal equity considerations. None of these considerations is given specific weights.

        In setting base salaries for our named executives, the Committee historically has taken into account the lengthy tenure of executive officers, as well as their continued long-time superior performance, which have resulted in base salaries generally gravitating towards the top of the range approximating the targeted market benchmark. Promotions and changes in responsibilities also impact the determination of salaries. For instance, Dr. Molho received a base salary increase in 2014 to reflect his expanded responsibilities as a Corporate Executive Vice President, and Mr. Smith received a base salary increase upon his promotion to Corporate Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in 2015.

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        Base salaries for our named executives for 2015 (effective as of April 2015) were as follows:

Annual Cash Incentive Awards

        Our Compensation Program includes an annual cash bonus element which closely links a significant portion of executive pay to the achievement of short-term performance targets which are critical to meeting our stated financial objectives for the year. These targets are typically tied to specific financial metrics derived from our fiscal year operating plan. However, where appropriate, the Committee also approves non-financial goals that are designed to focus individuals on attaining objectives which include near-term, non-financial objectives that are also critical to the attainment of long-term strategic goals and ultimately promote positive long-term financial performance of the Company. Our annual cash incentive awards are structured to appropriately reduce or eliminate the amount of such awards if performance falls short of the established performance targets, and to appropriately increase the amount of such awards if performance exceeds established targets, subject to a maximum incentive award opportunity. It is intended that the target award, when aggregated with the base salary, will provide a competitive level of cash compensation when each named executive achieves the performance objectives established for him or her by the Committee. Actual bonus awards are determined according to each named executive's performance in relation to his or her approved objectives, which are primarily based upon corporate and/or business unit performance.

        To implement our annual cash incentive awards, the Committee administers the Executive Incentive Compensation Plan (EICP) which applies to executive officers and other key employees of the Company. We have designed the EICP to reward executives for their contributions to the success of the Company based on predetermined corporate/business unit, functional, and/or individual objectives. The Committee annually establishes performance objectives and corresponding performance ranges for the named executives. These performance objectives and ranges are generally developed through our annual financial planning process, whereby we assess the future operating environment and build projections of anticipated results to align the performance expectations of this plan with the overall business objectives of the Company.

        Target award percentages for the named executives are 70% of base salary for Corporate Executive Vice Presidents and 100% of base salary for the Chief Executive Officer. The participant's total target award opportunity percentage is divided among a variety of weighted performance objectives which may change from year to year, but historically have included non-GAAP operating income (OI), revenue, non-GAAP earnings per share (EPS), non-GAAP free cash flow (FCF), return on net operating assets (RNOA), and other key Company performance metrics. The Committee believes that these financial metrics are very good measurements for assessing how the Company is performing from a financial standpoint. In particular, EPS is generally accepted as a key driver of shareholder return. The OI and FCF metrics measure how efficiently and effectively management deploys its capital and generates capital liquidity for corporate usage in pursuing opportunities that enhance shareholder value.

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Minimum and maximum performance levels for each performance objective are incorporated into the plan. For the performance objectives assigned to each of the named executives, minimum performance levels for 2015 were set at 90% of the target performance objective, and maximum performance levels were set at 108% of the target performance objective, with the exception of Mr. Smith's OI and FCF goals related to the operating business over which he had responsibility prior to his promotion to CFO, which had minimum and maximum performance levels set at 85% and 115% of the target performance objective, respectively. The maximum payout achievable in 2015 was 250% of target. At the end of each fiscal year, we compare the Company's (and applicable business units') final performance for the fiscal year against the Company's (or business units') targeted performance established at the beginning of such fiscal year, except where an adjustment to the targeted performance is warranted due to an unanticipated intervening event which would have an unintended and significant impact to the payout (which occurred in 2015 and is described below). These measurements determine the EICP payout levels for each of the performance objectives tied to corporate (or business unit) performance. To determine a participant's actual award, each performance objective's payment level is multiplied by the relative weight of the performance objective, and the cumulative amounts are aggregated to determine the individual's total EICP award amount.

        On December 1, 2014, the Committee established the 2015 EICP performance criteria for the named executives as described in the table that follows below. The original EPS target of $3.65 was later adjusted upwards during fiscal 2015 to a revised target of $3.71 to take into account the short-term effect of the acquisition of Celsis. Overall, in 2015 we achieved corporate and financial results which exceeded (in some cases substantially) our original targets, with significant variances among our different operating metrics, as recognized in the variable EICP amounts awarded to our named executives. In particular, we achieved results for free cash flow that far exceeded expectations, results for operating income and EPS that moderately exceeded expectations, and performance for revenue that were slightly above our expectations. We believe that the variability in the magnitude of the EICP amounts awarded correlates closely with the relative performance of the officers' respective business units (as compared to the targeted performance goals), and reflects a proper use of bonus compensation to distinguish between levels of annual performance. Year-to-year, EICP awards reflect such changes as shown in the table on page 54 of this Proxy Statement.

        Mr. Smith's original performance objectives (set on December 1, 2014) were based primarily on the Discovery Services business unit for which he had responsibility. Following Mr. Smith's promotion to Corporate Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in August 2015, the Committee re-evaluated these performance objectives, and decided that it was more appropriate to proportionally align his 2015 objectives to closer reflect the actual mix of his 2015 responsibilities, and accordingly adjusted his performance objectives to be two-thirds based on his original objectives and one-third based on the same objectives as Mr. Ackerman, our prior Chief Financial Officer. Ultimately, this resulted in Mr. Smith's overall EICP award being based upon seven different elements, as further detailed in the table below.

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        The Committee has the discretion to employ its judgment in determining individual awards, and in fact approves the entire EICP award for each named executive. In addition to the quantitative factors, final individual EICP awards for the named executives incorporate both (1) other than for the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Executive Officer's recommendations, and (2) the Committee's assessment of each named executive's overall individual performance and contribution. In addition, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may modify or change the EICP at any time. With respect to the 2015 fiscal year, the target amounts and objectives were not modified (with the exception of EPS, as discussed above) and the awards to the named executives were not modified upwards from the amounts they were eligible to receive under the EICP formula. The following table shows the fiscal 2015 target EICP cash bonus, performance goals, goal attainment levels, and cash bonuses actually paid (in February 2016) for each of our named executives:

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        For historical comparative purposes, percentage of targeted vs. actual annual cash incentive awards for our named executives for fiscal years 2010 - 2015 are shown in the table below (including actual cash award magnitude for 2013-2015):

Long-Term Equity Incentive Awards

        Long-term incentive (LTI) compensation, in the form of performance share units (PSUs), stock options, and restricted stock grants or restricted stock units (RSUs), allows individuals to share in any appreciation in the value of our common stock. We design the amounts and types of long-term equity awards to reward performance and create incentives to meet long-term objectives. Because the Committee particularly values long-term shareholder value creation, we target long-term equity incentives to provide total compensation opportunities that, if achieved, would result in approximately market-competitive pay levels for our executives. The Committee reviews and approves long-term equity incentive awards to named executives on an annual basis. The Committee believes that PSU, stock option, and RSU awards align the recipient's interests with those of the shareholders.

        The Committee typically targets the first quarter of our fiscal year for granting annual stock awards to eligible recipients, absent an extraordinary event. We have made such grants in recent years, and in the future it is expected that the Committee will continue to target the first quarter of the fiscal year for making annual stock awards. The Committee seeks to structure equity grants so that they are awarded during an open-window period as designated by our Insider Trading Policy, or, if Committee approval is provided during a non-window period, then the grants are made effective on the second business day following our press release with respect to financial results for the prior quarter. This policy is intended to ensure that options are awarded at a time when the exercise price fully reflects all recently disclosed information. In the case of new hires eligible to receive equity grants, grants are generally made on the first business day of the month following the date the individual commences employment.

        On rare occasions, out-of-period grants are made, including in 2015 in connection with Mr. Smith's promotion. As set forth in his letter agreement, as amended, the Company committed to two grants in 2015: (1) an award to him in February 2015 with an approximate value of $700,000 provided in anticipation of his pending promotion; and (2) an award granted to him concurrently with his appointment to Chief Financial Officer with an approximate value of $300,000. For more information regarding Mr. Smith's agreement with the Company, see the section of this Proxy Statement entitled "Employment-Related Agreements and Arrangements" on page 65.

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        In addition, in 2015 we entered into agreements with two of our named executives as part of their planned transitions from the Company, each of which addressed long term incentive compensation. Specifically:

•

We entered into an agreement with Dr. Gillett effective January 1, 2015 that established parameters regarding a gradual and well-planned transition of her responsibilities over time. Among other things, the agreement provided that during the term of the agreement she would not receive any new grants of long-term equity, although the vesting of previously granted equity awards would be unaffected. Consistent with this agreement, she did not receive a 2015 grant.



•

We entered into an agreement with Mr. Ackerman effective February 25, 2015 that established parameters regarding a gradual and well-planned transition of his responsibilities. The agreement set forth that Mr. Ackerman would receive a grant of equity in 2015 valued at $1 million at the time of grant with a one-year vesting term containing significant performance-based components tied to his satisfactory transition of his then-current global responsibilities to his successor, and that Mr. Ackerman would not be eligible to receive any new equity awards in 2016. The agreement further set forth that vesting of previously granted equity awards would be unaffected and would continue through the conclusion of the consulting period that ends on February 28, 2017. For purposes of Mr. Ackerman's 2015 performance-based equity grant, such performance was assessed by Mr. Foster, who determined that the performance objectives were fully satisfied, and the Committee approved Mr. Foster's recommendation that this grant be paid to Mr. Ackerman at target levels.

        While the Compensation Committee's Charter permits delegation of the Committee's authority to grant equity in certain circumstances, all grants to executive officers are made by the Compensation Committee itself and not pursuant to delegated authority. We have never had any programs, policies or practices which are intended to time stock option grants with the release of material, non-public information in a manner which would provide advantageous option exercise prices to grant recipients. Option exercise prices are, in all cases, equal to the closing price of our common stock on the date of grant. At the beginning of fiscal year 2014, as requested by the Compensation Committee, Company management, in consultation with the outside consultants, recommended to the Committee target values of stock options, shares of restricted stock (units), and PSUs, based on then-current pricing models, which were utilized by the Committee to establish preliminary target values of long-term equity awards for the named executives. In February 2015, when the annual awards were actually granted, the Committee approved stock options, RSUs, and PSUs using this valuation model.

        In determining award levels for annual equity awards to named executives, the Committee takes into account the values of awards made to similarly situated individuals in the peer group, the individual market benchmark for each executive's position, our overall performance, the individual performance of the named executive in the immediately preceding year, and similar factors. An absolute target value of long-term equity awards (determined in dollars) is approved by the Committee. This value is then allocated between the types of LTI awards the Company is awarding during that particular year. These determinations are typically evaluated during the first month of the fiscal year and approved at the Committee's meeting in February. Once the intended value of the awards is determined, the numbers of long-term equity awards (in 2015 stock options, RSUs, and PSUs) are generally fixed utilizing an estimated stock price (the 30-trading-day average closing price as of the date of the grant). We use the estimated stock price methodology to guard against dramatic, short-term stock price movements that might artificially reduce or increase the number of shares granted. We believe this methodology represents the performance of stock in the market and is a better way to deliver the intended value of this form of compensation.

        The intended value of the February 2015 grant was apportioned as follows: approximately 20% in the form of time-vested RSUs, approximately 20% in the form of time-vested stock options, and

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approximately 60% in the form of PSUs, a program developed with the assistance of the Committee's Compensation Consultant and implemented in 2013. For the grant awarded to Mr. Smith in August 2015 upon his promotion to CFO, the grant value was apportioned as follows: approximately 75% in the form of time-vested RSUs, and approximately 25% in the form of time-vested stock options utilizing grant date fair value to determine the number of awards.

        Commencing with our 2015 equity grants, we have generally included a full career retirement provision in equity awards that provides for the continued vesting of unvested equity grants for employees who retire after meeting the following specified criteria:

•

the employee has attained age 55;



•

the employee has a minimum of 10 years of service with the Company;



•

the numerical sum of the employee's age and years of service is equal to at least 70; and



•

the employee has given notice of his or her intent to retire specifying the exact intended date of retirement and remained employed by the Company until the earlier of (a) the one year anniversary of the date of such notice or (b) the date on which the employee experienced a termination of employment due to death or disability or is terminated by the Company without cause.

        The material features of the PSUs granted to our named executives in 2015 (except those granted to Mr. Ackerman) are as follows:

•

they are measured based on a three-year performance period running from the beginning of the fiscal year in which the award is made to the end of the third fiscal year after (and including) the year in which the award is made. For PSUs awarded in February 2015, the performance period is December 28, 2014 through December 30, 2017.



•

the initial PSU award (the Target Award) represents a target number of shares of Company common stock to be paid out after the conclusion of the three-year performance period based upon two performance metrics:



•

non-GAAP EPS for the fiscal year in which the award is made; and



•

relative Total Shareholder Return (rTSR) at the end of the PSU award's three-year performance period.



•

target performance levels for each of the two performance metrics are as follows:



•

non-GAAP EPS: the Company's target non-GAAP EPS for the first fiscal year of the performance period.



•

rTSR: the Company's TSR falling exactly at the 50^th percentile as compared to the TSR of selected companies within the S&P 1500 Healthcare Index (the "Index") (and who are in the Index for all 3 years of the performance period) over the full 3-year performance period. For this purpose, TSR refers to share price appreciation plus any dividends accrued during the reference period of time.


For the 2015 grant, we modified the method of selecting the companies against which the Company's TSR would be compared (the "TSR comparator group"):

•

In 2013 and 2014, the TSR comparator group was comprised of companies in the S&P 1500 with the same two-digit GICS as the company (approximately 150 companies).

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•

Given the broad spectrum of companies and growth profiles included in the index and the Company's historical and expected performance relative to such companies, the Committee investigated, with the assistance of Pay Governance, whether the 2013/14 TSR comparator group methodology should be revised.



•

In connection with this investigation, Pay Governance performed an analysis to identify a more relevant and appropriate relative comparator group, and ultimately recommended to the Committee a group of 53 steady-growth industry comparator companies, comprised of direct CRO competitors and other companies with revenue growth rates falling within a range around Charles River's revenue growth rate. The Committee determined to use this new TSR comparator group for the 2015 and future PSU awards.



•

At the end of the first fiscal year of the performance period, actual non-GAAP EPS will be measured against the target non-GAAP EPS for that fiscal year. This adjusts the Target Award along a slope, ranging between a high of 150% (if non-GAAP EPS is 110% or higher than target non-GAAP EPS), or a low of zero (if non-GAAP EPS is less than 90% of target non-GAAP EPS) to establish the Base Award.



•

At the end of the third fiscal year of the performance period, rTSR performance is measured by comparing the Company's three-year TSR to the TSR of the selected peer companies within the S&P 1500 Healthcare Index. This adjusts the Base Award up to +/-35% to establish the Final Award.



•

The PSUs also include a relative TSR Outperformance Feature that provides for a modest award (10%-30% of the Target Award) only if both (1) EPS performance falls between 85% and 90% of the target goal, and (2) three-year rTSR performance falls at or above the 75^th percentile.



•

Under all circumstances, a non-GAAP EPS performance of below 85% of target in the fiscal year in which the award was granted will result in the PSU award being reduced to zero without the possibility of any upward adjustment.



•

The absolute maximum number of shares that can be awarded at the end of three years (taking into account all possible adjustments) is 200% of the original target number of shares.

        For the 2015 grant, at the end of the fiscal year 2015, actual non-GAAP EPS was compared to target 2015 non-GAAP EPS and the Base Award was calculated. The table below shows this calculation, as well as the adjusted minimum and maximum Final Award amounts that may result based on rTSR at the end of the 3-year performance period.

        In February 2016, the Committee finalized the adjustments for the initial PSUs we awarded in 2013 to our then-executive officers. The chart below shows this calculation, as well as the adjusted Final

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Award Percentage amounts that resulted based on rTSR at the end of the three-year performance period.

Benefits and Perquisites

        The named executives are eligible for certain benefits, such as medical, dental, basic life insurance, and employer contributions to the Company's 401(k) plan, which are generally available to all of our employees. In addition, the Company utilizes leased aircraft for business purposes on infrequent occasions where it is determined that such use is a prudent, economical and efficient method of transportation. Mr. Foster is permitted to utilize the Company-leased aircraft for non-business purposes, including allowing family members to accompany him on business travel. Mr. Foster reimburses the Company for the full incremental costs and/or Standard Industry Fare Level (whichever is higher) of such usage. We believe this benefit increases the level of safety and security for Mr. Foster, enables him to make more efficient use of his travel time, and entails no incremental cost to us for any accompanying family members.

Supplemental Elements of the Compensation Program

        We have a number of supplemental elements in the Compensation Program which are considered by the Committee, but do not factor directly into the annual determination of executive compensation. These elements have unique features and roles in the Program which led to their initial implementation and they continue to be important to the Program generally.

Post-Termination Benefits and Agreements

        As described in more detail in this Proxy Statement under "Executive Compensation and Related Information—Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control," the Compensation Program includes both (1) an Officer Separation Plan and (2) Change-in-Control Agreements. Company policy historically has been to provide eligibility under both the Officer Separation Plan to officers with the position of corporate vice president or higher, and a Change-in-Control Agreement to officers with the position of corporate executive vice president or higher. Both of these compensatory elements operate similarly: upon specified events which result in either the termination of the officer and/or a change in control of the Company, particular benefits will accrue to the officer (although payments made under the Change-in-Control Agreements will generally reduce or offset payments and benefits to which the officer may be entitled under the Officer Separation Plan). Each of the named executives is eligible to receive benefits under the Officer Separation Plan and each has a Change-in-Control Agreement (with the exception of Mr. Smith, although it is expected that Mr. Smith and the Company will enter into a Change-in-Control Agreement in the near future).

        The Company views these compensatory elements as serving three important purposes:

•

there is a critical recruitment and retention aspect;



•

these policies protect the benefits of executive officers who have provided long and meritorious service to the Company, particularly if there is an unexpected employment termination by the Company due to on-going changes in our employment needs; and

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•

these elements avoid personal distractions and encourage employees to remain focused on our business in the event of a rumored or actual takeover.

The Committee periodically conducts formal and informal market checks and believes that both the levels of payment to be made under these programs and the applicable triggers are appropriate and consistent with current general market practices.

Deferred Compensation Plan Contributions

        As described in more detail in this Proxy Statement under "Executive Compensation and Related Information—Nonqualified Deferred Compensation," the named executives receive a compensatory element in connection with our Deferred Compensation Plan. For Messrs. Foster, Ackerman and Johst, who were participants in the Company's now-discontinued Executive Supplemental Life Insurance Retirement Plan (ESLIRP), the Company credits to their accounts the present value of the annual Company accrual as it would have been calculated under the ESLIRP. For Drs. Gillett and Molho, the Company provides an annual contribution to their Deferred Compensation Plan account equal to 10% of the sum of their base salary plus the lesser of (1) their target annual bonus or (2) actual annual bonus. Mr. Smith will be eligible for the same annual contribution starting in fiscal 2016.

        We provide a Deferred Compensation Plan because the Company wishes to permit our executive employees to defer the obligation to pay taxes on certain elements of their compensation while also potentially receiving earnings on deferred amounts. The Deferred Compensation Plan was implemented to motivate and ensure the retention of employees by providing them greater flexibility in structuring the timing of their compensation payments. The employer contributions to the Deferred Compensation Plan ultimately have their origins in the legacy ESLIRP program, which was a long-standing element of our executive compensation package.

Retirement Plans

        As described in more detail in this Proxy Statement under "Executive Compensation and Related Information—Pension Benefits," the Company historically provided a retirement benefit for certain U.S. employees, including certain of the named executives, until 2002, when the Company amended the existing U.S. defined benefit pension plan to exclude new participants. Effective April 30, 2008, we froze the U.S. pension plan, and no additional benefits will accrue to participants (and all participant's rights to benefits under the pension plan have fully vested).

Other Factors Underlying the Ongoing Implementation of the Compensation Program

Stock Ownership Guidelines

        Our officer stock ownership guidelines operate as a related feature to the Compensation Program. The Board of Directors believes that senior management should have a meaningful economic stake in the Company in order to align the interests of management and our shareholders. Therefore, the Board has adopted stock ownership guidelines for senior management which are designed to satisfy an individual executive's need for portfolio diversification, while maintaining management stock ownership at levels high enough to assure our shareholders of management's commitment to creating corporate value.

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        Under these guidelines, members of our senior management are required to maintain an ownership position, expressed as a multiple of salary, as follows:

        Officers have four years from the time they attain the executive level listed above to comply with the ownership requirements. Stock options are not counted toward the holding requirement; however approximately 60% of unvested restricted stock (units) and PSUs are generally counted toward the holding requirement. The Committee periodically reviews stock ownership levels of members of our executive management to ensure compliance. As of the date of this proxy statement, our named executives were in compliance with the holding requirements (and, as demonstrated in the Beneficial Ownership table on page 21 of this Proxy Statement, in many cases, far exceed the required holding).

Clawback Policy

        Our Corporate Governance Guidelines include a recoupment (also known as clawback) policy. This policy applies to all of our executive officers as determined under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Under this Clawback Policy, in the event of a restatement of all or a significant portion of Charles River's financial statements that has been determined by the Board to be due to the gross negligence, intentional misconduct or fraud by an executive officer, the Board has the discretion to require repayment of a portion or all of any annual bonus (including under the Executive Incentive Compensation Plan), vested restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance awards, or other incentive-based compensation (incentive compensation) paid to such executive officer or former executive officer and/or effect the cancellation of any unvested incentive compensation, subject to specified criteria. The action permitted to be taken by the Board under the Clawback Policy is in addition to any and all other rights of the Board and/or the Company under applicable law and contract. The Board intends to revise the Clawback Policy, as necessary, to comply with the final SEC rules regarding recoupment policies of the Dodd-Frank Act.

Derivatives Trading; Hedging; Pledging and Insider Trading Policy

        We grant equity incentives for the reasons discussed above, including aligning the interests of our employees with those of shareholders. Our Statement of Policy Concerning Trading Policies (Insider Trading Policy) prohibits employees (and directors) from trading in our derivative securities, such as puts or calls on our common stock, or to pledge our stock, since such activities may diminish the alignment we are trying to foster, as well as expose the Company to potential embarrassment. Our Insider Trading Policy also prohibits the purchase or sale of Charles River securities while in possession of material, non-public information, or otherwise using such information for their personal benefit. Our executives and directors are permitted to enter into trading plans that are intended to comply with the requirements of Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 so that they can prudently diversify their asset portfolios and exercise their stock options prior to their scheduled expiration dates.

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REPORT OF COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

        The Compensation Committee, comprised of independent directors, has reviewed and discussed the above Compensation Discussion and Analysis (CD&A) with the Company's management and, based on the review and discussions, recommended to Board of Directors that the CD&A be included in this Proxy Statement.

        The foregoing report has been furnished by the Compensation Committee.

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2015 Summary Compensation Table

        The following table sets forth all of the compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to our current named executives (our principal executive officer, our principal financial officer and our three other highest-paid executive officers) and former principal chief financial officer for the years ended December 26, 2015, December 27, 2014, and December 28, 2013.

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2015 Grants of Plan-Based Awards

        The following table sets forth the information regarding grants of plan-based awards made to our named executives during 2015. There can be no assurance that the Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and Option Awards will ever be realized.

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Description of Certain Awards Granted in 2015

        All awards of stock options, restricted stock/units and performance share units were granted pursuant to our 2007 Incentive Plan, as amended. The vesting provisions of our PSUs are set forth above on pages 56-57 of this Proxy Statement. Options vest and become exercisable in equal installments on or about the anniversary date in each of the four years following the date of grant, subject to continued employment. Restricted shares (whether in the form of restricted stock or restricted stock units) generally vest in installments on or about the anniversary date in each of the four years following the date of grant, subject to continued employment. The installments are generally equivalent in amount. Furthermore, 1,397 shares of restricted stock were granted to Mr. Johst on February 27, 2015 which vest in equal installments on or about the anniversary date in each of the two years following the date of grant, subject to continued employment. The exercise price of stock options is equal to the closing price of our common stock on the date of grant. All grants of non-equity incentive plan awards have been made pursuant to our EICP plan.

Employment-Related Agreements and Arrangements

        As described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, we generally and historically have not entered into employment agreements with any of our U.S.-based corporate executive officers. The named executives, however, are beneficiaries of certain separation and change-in-control agreements, as well as defined benefit and deferred compensation arrangements, as further described below in this Proxy Statement.

        We entered into a letter agreement dated March 3, 2015 in connection with Mr. Smith's 2015 promotion to Corporate Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and his commitment to relocate from Europe to our corporate headquarters in Massachusetts. This agreement provides for the following material compensation terms:

•

Annual base salary of $425,000 beginning March 1, 2015, which increased to $470,000 as of the date of his appointment to Chief Financial Officer.



•

Participation by Mr. Smith in the Charles River Executive Incentive Bonus Program, and other benefit and compensation plans, at levels consistent with his position.



•

Promises of grants of two equity awards—(1) an award in February 2015 with an approximate value of $700,000 provided to Mr. Smith in anticipation of his pending promotion; and (2) an award granted concurrently with his appointment to Chief Financial Officer with an approximate value of $300,000.

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•

Provision for payment of certain costs involved in the relocation of Mr. Smith and his family to the U.S., including (1) reimbursement for temporary living expenses between June 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016 and other moving and related travel costs, (2) home start-up expenses, (3) international tax planning and preparation related to the relocation, (4) reasonable costs involved in obtaining visas and other documentation required in connection with the relocation of Mr. Smith and his family, and (5) school and education tuition for one of Mr. Smith's children for up to two academic years (up to a maximum of $50,000 per year).



•

The agreement provides that if Mr. Smith leaves Charles River or is terminated for cause within two years of relocating, he will be required to repay Charles River the total amounts of the reimbursed relocation costs.

        In addition, as described below, during the past year we entered into agreements with two of our named executives as part of their planned transitions from the Company:

•

We entered into an agreement with Dr. Gillett effective January 1, 2015 that established parameters regarding a gradual and well-planned transition of her responsibilities. The agreement set forth that Dr. Gillett would remain an employee of Charles River until March 7, 2016 or until a later date if mutually agreed. Dr. Gillett's base compensation during the term of the agreement was $522,234, with a provision that such base compensation would be proportionally adjusted if she and our Chief Executive Officer agreed to a reduction in hours that resulted in Dr. Gillett moving to a part-time employment status during the term of the agreement. Had she moved to a part-time status, Dr. Gillett's 2015 cash bonus would have been based upon her actual base salary earnings instead of her annualized gross base salary; however, she did not reduce her hours and her cash bonus was therefore calculated in keeping with others who were in a full-time status throughout the year (based on annualized gross base salary as of year-end). The agreement further set forth that during the term of the agreement she would not receive any new grants of long-term equity, although the vesting of previously granted equity awards will be unaffected. The agreement provided that no additional contributions on her behalf would be made to the Deferred Compensation Plan, but that previously made contributions continued to vest in accordance with the terms of the Deferred Compensation Plan. Dr. Gillett was also entitled to reimbursement for costs associated with maintaining a home office. In consideration for the benefits provided by the agreement, Dr. Gillett waived her rights to other severance benefits to which she otherwise might have been entitled pursuant to our Officer Separation Policy or otherwise.



•

We entered into an agreement with Mr. Ackerman effective February 25, 2015 that established parameters regarding a gradual and well-planned transition of his responsibilities. The agreement set forth that Mr. Ackerman was to remain an employee of Charles River until February 29, 2016, after which time he would provide consulting services for another year of at least 125 hours per calendar quarter. Mr. Ackerman's base compensation during the first year of the agreement was $534,465, which has been adjusted to an equivalent hourly rate for the duration of the consulting year. Mr. Ackerman was eligible to receive his cash bonus for fiscal 2015, but is not eligible for a fiscal 2016 cash bonus. Mr. Ackerman received a grant of equity in 2015 valued at $1 million at the time of grant, with a one-year vesting term containing significant performance-based components tied to his satisfactory transition of his then-current global responsibilities to his successor. Mr. Ackerman was not eligible to receive any subsequent equity awards. The vesting of previously granted equity awards is unaffected and will continue through the conclusion of the consulting period. The agreement provided that no additional contributions on Mr. Ackerman's behalf would be made to the Deferred Compensation Plan once the consulting period commenced, but that previously made contributions would continue to vest in accordance with the terms of the Deferred Compensation Plan. Mr. Ackerman is entitled to reimbursement for costs associated with maintaining a home office through the end of the

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consulting period. In consideration for the benefits provided by the agreement, Mr. Ackerman waived his rights to other severance benefits to which he otherwise might have been entitled, other than those offered to him pursuant to our Officer Separation Policy through his last day of employment.

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal 2015 Year-End

        The following table sets forth the information regarding each outstanding unexercised or unvested equity award held by our named executive officers as of December 26, 2015.

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        We have not engaged in any option repricings or other material modifications to any of our named executives' outstanding equity awards during fiscal years 2013, 2014, or 2015, except as described above with respect to the agreement with Mr. Ackerman which continued the vesting of outstanding equity awards through the term of his consulting arrangement.

2015 Option Exercises and Stock Vested

        The following table shows information regarding stock option exercises and vesting of restricted stock awards, restricted stock units, and PSUs with respect to the named executives during the year ended December 26, 2015.

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2015 Pension Benefits

        One of our sponsored defined benefit plans, the Charles River Laboratories, Inc. Pension Plan (Pension Plan), is a qualified, non-contributory plan that covers most U.S. employees hired prior to January 1, 2002. Employees hired after December 31, 2001 are not eligible to participate in this Pension Plan. Each of the named executives, with the exception of Dr. Molho and Mr. Smith, are participants in the pension plan and has an accrued pension benefit thereunder. The Pension Plan was frozen effective April 30, 2008. No additional benefits will accrue to participants after such date. All participants' rights to benefits under this plan have vested.

        Benefits under the Pension Plan are based on the participants' highest five consecutive years of compensation and years of service as of April 30, 2008. The amount of pension payable annually at normal retirement (age 65) is equal to the greatest of: (1) 1¹/8% of participants' highest average five consecutive years of compensation (excluding compensation earned after April 30, 2008) multiplied by years of service earned through April 30, 2008 (up to 40 years), less the maximum offset allowance determined as of April 30, 2008 in accordance with the Code Section 401(l); (2) $180 multiplied by years of service as of April 30, 2008; and (3) $1,500. In addition, certain officers and key employees are entitled to a frozen supplemental benefit ranging in amount from $51,000-$97,000. The applicable amounts for the named executives are as follows: Mr. Foster, $73,000; Mr. Ackerman, $97,000; and Mr. Johst, $79,000. Dr. Gillett is not entitled to a frozen supplemental benefit.

        Compensation under the Pension Plan generally would include amounts shown as salary and non-equity incentive plan compensation for the named executives (as shown on the Summary Compensation Table above) and would exclude any wages derived from stock options or severance pay. Early retirement benefits are provided to any retiring participant who has attained age 55 and completed five years of vesting service. The early retirement benefit is equal to the participant's normal retirement benefit reduced by ⁵/9% per month for the first 60 months and ⁵/18% for each month over 60 by which the participant's benefit commencement date precedes his or her normal retirement date. As of the end of 2015, Messrs. Foster and Ackerman and Dr. Gillett were each eligible for early retirement.

        Participants' rights to benefits under this plan vest upon completion of five years of service.

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        The table below sets forth information regarding the accumulated benefits of the named executives under our Pension Plan.

2015 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

        We maintain the Charles River Laboratories Deferred Compensation Plan (Deferred Compensation Plan) for certain eligible employees, including our named executives. Under the Deferred Compensation Plan, participants may elect to defer bonus and salary amounts, and may select the investment returns to be applied to deferred amounts from among a menu of referenced mutual funds as well as an interest crediting rate.

        The plan is not qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code and is not subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. Participants must specify the distribution date for deferred amounts at the time of deferral, in accordance with applicable IRS regulations. Generally, amounts may be paid in lump sum or installments upon retirement or termination of employment, or later if the employee terminates employment after age 55 and before age 65. Amounts may also be distributed during employment, subject to a minimum deferral requirement of three years.

        In addition to the Deferred Compensation Plan, certain of our officers and key employees also participate, or in the past participated, in our amended and restated Executive Supplemental Life Insurance Retirement Plan (ESLIRP), which is a non-funded, non-qualified arrangement. Annual benefits under this plan equal a percentage of the average of the highest five consecutive years of compensation, offset by amounts payable under our Pension Plan and Social Security. The age-based percentages are 46% at age 59, and up to 55% at age 62 and over. The normal retirement age is 62. Eligible spouses (married one year or longer at the executive's retirement date) receive survivor benefits at a rate of 100% of the benefit paid to the executives during the first 15 years following retirement and at the rate of 50% thereafter. Executive officer participants vest as to 50% of the total benefit after five years of service, with a 10% incremental increase in vesting percentage for each year

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thereafter. In connection with the establishment of the Deferred Compensation Plan in 2006, current active employees who agreed to convert their accrued ESLIRP benefit to a comparable deferred compensation benefit discontinued their direct participation in the ESLIRP. Instead, the present values of the accrued benefits of ESLIRP participants were credited to their Deferred Compensation Plan accounts, and future ESLIRP accruals will now be converted to present values and credited to their Deferred Compensation Plan accounts annually. Messrs. Foster, Ackerman, and Johst were participants in the ESLIRP.

        In addition, we provide certain active employees, including Mr. David Smith, and Drs. Gillett and Molho, an annual contribution into their Deferred Compensation Plan account of 10% of the employee's base salary plus the lesser of (1) their target annual bonus or (2) actual annual bonus. The credited amounts for Mr. Smith and Drs. Gillett and Molho vest in one-quarter increments annually over a four-year period. The named executives become eligible for the employer contribution after they have served one full calendar year in the eligible position; accordingly, Mr. Smith will be eligible to receive such contribution in February 2017 with respect to fiscal 2016.

        Separately, the Deferred Compensation Plan provides certain senior executives, including the named executives, with a pre-retirement life insurance death benefit equal to four times the sum of (1) their base annual salary plus (2) their target bonus amounts (on a net basis taking into account all other company-provided life insurance). For total life insurance amounts potentially payable to the named executive upon their termination of employment due to death, see the section of this Proxy Statement entitled "Executive Compensation and Related Information—Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control."

        The following table sets forth, for each of our named executives, information regarding their participation in our Deferred Compensation Plan during 2015.

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Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control

        The information below describes and quantifies certain compensation that would become payable under existing plans and arrangements if the named executive's employment had terminated on December 26, 2015, given the named executive's compensation and service levels as of such date and, if applicable, based on our closing stock price on that date. (Since our last trading day in fiscal 2015 was December 24, 2015, where applicable we have assumed a stock price of $80.08, the closing price on that date.) Due to the number of factors that affect the nature and amount of any benefits provided upon the events discussed below, any actual amounts paid or distributed may be different. Factors that could affect these amounts include the timing during the year of any such event, our stock price, and the named executive's age.

Disability and Life Insurance

        Separate from the provisions of the Officer Separation Plan or the change in control agreements discussed below, the named executives may be entitled to disability or life insurance proceeds in the event of termination due to such events. For instance, in the event of termination of the U.S.-based named executives as a result of disability, disability insurance could provide, in line with our other employees, up to a maximum additional amount of 100% of salary for up to 26 weeks (short-term disability) and up to 60% of basic monthly earnings up to $25,000 per month (long-term disability). In the event of termination of the named executives as a result of death, additional life insurance payments could provide a maximum additional amount to the named executives' beneficiaries as follows: Mr. Foster, $8,923,703; Mr. Ackerman, $3,634,359; Mr. Smith $3,196,000; Dr. Gillett, $3,551,193; Mr. Johst, $4,026,363; and Dr. Molho $3,927,000 (inclusive of amounts payable as a result of the pre-retirement death benefit pursuant to our Deferred Compensation Plan). The total termination compensation described below does not include these amounts.

Severance Plans

        Under our Officer Separation Plan, a corporate officer whose employment is terminated by us for reasons other than cause, voluntary resignation, disability, early or normal retirement, or death, and who has not been offered a comparable position (as defined under the Officer Separation Plan) with us, is entitled to receive a severance payment in accordance with the following table:

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        During the period in which such officer receives paid outsourcing support from us, the officer is entitled to receive the mitigated severance on a month-to-month basis (up to the maximum period set forth in the table above) to the extent the officer has not accepted an offer for full-time employment, advisory, consulting, or other full-time work. Corporate officers will be entitled to be paid accrued vacation time and unused paid time off. In addition, the Officer Separation Plan provides corporate officers with certain benefits continuing for the length of the severance payments (primarily health and welfare benefits), as well as reimbursement for specified outplacement services. Furthermore, corporate officers who are participants in the EICP plan may be eligible for payouts in accordance with the terms and conditions of the EICP. Payments under the Officer Separation Plan are generally made bi-weekly (our normal payroll cycle), although if any of the payments or entitlements would constitute deferred compensation in accordance with Section 409A of the Code that might subject the officer to additional tax, interest, or penalties under Section 409A, then payment of such amounts will be delayed until the earlier of six months from the separation of service or the officer's death. In exchange for these payments, the officer must execute a release agreement satisfactory to us that includes, among other things, agreement not to compete with us or solicit our employees for one year following the officer's separation. The Officer Separation Plan is not applicable to any corporate officer who has entered into a written employment agreement providing for severance payments. Each of the named executives is a participant in this plan, although Dr. Gillett waived her rights to participate in the benefits of this plan pursuant to her agreement with the Company effective January 1, 2015. For further information regarding Dr. Gillett's agreement see page 66 of this Proxy Statement.

Change in Control Agreements

        We have entered into change in control agreements with many of our corporate officers with the position of corporate executive vice president or above, including each of the named executives with the exception of Mr. Smith (although it is expected that Mr. Smith and the Company will enter into a change in control agreement in the near future). These agreements provide such officer with severance and other benefits in the event his or her employment terminates under certain conditions during the term of the agreement and within one year following a "change in control" (as defined in the agreements). Each agreement has a term of three years, with automatic one-year extensions thereafter. Payments made to the corporate officer under the agreement will generally offset or reduce payments and benefits to which the officer may be entitled under any other severance plan or agreement with us (including the Officer Separation Plan described above). Notwithstanding, each of Dr. Gillett and Mr. Ackerman waived their rights to participate in the benefits of their change in control agreement pursuant to their agreements with the Company effective January 1, 2015 and February 25, 2015, respectively. For further information regarding Dr. Gillett's and Mr. Ackerman's agreements see page 66-67 of this Proxy Statement.

        The agreements provide that any options to acquire our common stock awarded to the corporate officer under any stock option or other long-term incentive plan shall become fully exercisable upon the occurrence of both (1) a change in control, and (2) the termination of the officer within eighteen months following such change-in-control. In addition, restrictions on any shares of our restricted stock, restricted stock units, and PSUs held by the corporate officer shall lapse upon such events, although with respect to PSUs, any such accelerated vesting will occur to the extent that the applicable performance conditions, as adjusted or prorated as necessary, have been satisfied as of the date of such termination of employment.

        Each corporate officer covenants in his or her agreement that, in the event of a change in control during the term of the agreement, he or she will remain in our employ after the change in control until the earliest of (1) six months after the date of the change in control, (2) termination by the corporate officer of his or her employment for "good reason" (as defined in the agreement) or by reason of

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death, disability, or retirement, or (3) termination of the corporate officer's employment by us for any reason.

        If the employment of the corporate officer is terminated during the term of the agreement and on or before the first anniversary of a change in control (1) by us other than for "cause" (as defined in the agreement), death, or disability, or (2) by the corporate officer for good reason, the corporate officer will be entitled to certain severance benefits, as follows:

•

a lump sum cash severance payment equal to a multiple of three (Mr. Foster only) and two (all other named executives) times the sum of (1) the corporate officer's then-annual base salary, and (2) the corporate officer's target bonus for the fiscal year in which the termination occurs;



•

additional service credit of three years (Mr. Foster) and two years (all other named executives) for pension purposes assuming a 4% increase in compensation for each year;



•

continuation of group medical benefits and certain other perquisites for a period of three years (Mr. Foster only) and two years (all other named executives); and



•

26 weeks of outplacement services (up to $50,000), and payment of legal fees incurred in connection with any termination of employment other than a termination by us for cause.

        If any of the payments or entitlements would constitute deferred compensation in accordance with Section 409A of the Code that might subject the named executive to additional tax, interest, or penalties under Section 409A, then payment of such amounts will be delayed until the earlier of six months from the separation of service, or the named executive's death.

        A "change in control" is defined in each agreement as any one of the following: (1) the closing of the sale of all or substantially all of our assets as an entirety to any person or related group of persons; (2) our merger or consolidation with or into another corporation, or the merger or consolidation of another corporation with or into us or one of our subsidiaries, such that immediately after such transaction our outstanding voting securities immediately prior to such transaction represent less than a majority of the total voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the entity surviving such merger or consolidation; or (3) the closing of a transaction pursuant to which beneficial ownership of more than 50% of our outstanding common stock (assuming the issuance of common stock upon conversion or exercise of all then-exercisable conversion or purchase rights of holders of outstanding convertible securities, options, warrants, exchange rights, and other rights to acquire common stock) is transferred to a single person or entity, or a "group" (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(l) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) of persons or entities, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions.

        Under the agreement, the term "cause" is defined as: (1) the willful and continued failure of the corporate officer to perform his or her duties with us, (2) a substantial violation of our Code (and any successor policy), (3) conviction of a felony, or (4) engaging in conduct that violates the confidentiality provisions of the agreement. "Good Reason" is generally defined to include: (1) situations such as the assignment to the corporate officer of duties inconsistent with his or her position or responsibility prior to the change in control, (2) a reduction in annual base salary (excluding across-the-board salary reductions affecting all senior executives), (3) failure to pay any portion of current compensation or deferred compensation when due after the expiration of a grace period (excluding across-the-board reductions or failures affecting all senior executives), (4) failure to maintain any compensation plan that is material to the corporate officer's total compensation, (5) failure to maintain material benefits that are substantially the same as those in effect when the change in control occurs, and (6) job relocations requiring the corporate officer to relocate more than 50 miles from the office where he or she is based.

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Severance Payments Absent a Change-in-Control

        The chart below sets forth the amounts payable to each named executive in the event of termination absent a change in control, which is based upon the following assumptions:

Cash Severance—

•

Termination occurs on December 26, 2015 (last day of the fiscal year 2015).



•

We assumed that the full year's actual bonus was already earned by the named executive and paid by us; therefore it was not included as a part of the cash severance payment. However, in actual practice, under the EICP plan, employees who leave us prior to actual receipt of EICP awards forfeit the total bonus payment (except in instances of retirement, death, or disability).



•

We have assumed that none of the named executives has accrued or unused vacation remaining at the time of termination.

Benefits Continuation—

•

In accordance with the Officer Separation Plan, the benefits continuation value for each named executive includes continuation of medical and dental coverage for the applicable severance period.

Retirement Plan Benefits—

•

The values reflect the total vested account balance in the Deferred Compensation Plan as of December 31, 2015, and the lump sum present value of the accrued benefits under our U.S. Pension Plan as of December 31, 2015. These dates are slightly different than our 2015 fiscal year end (December 26, 2015) solely for the administrative efficiency of calculating these values.



•

Benefits under these plans are currently 100% vested for Messrs. Foster, Johst, and Ackerman and Dr. Gillett and will automatically be paid upon any termination (disregarding any possible delay of payment as a result of compliance with Section 409A of the Code). Benefits under the Deferred Compensation Plan for Dr. Molho vest in one-quarter increments annually over a four-year period, but become fully vested in the event of termination due to death or disability. Mr. Smith has not received any benefits under the Deferred Compensation Plan.

Other Benefits—

•

The Officer Separation Plan provides for professional outplacement services for each of the named executives. The values reflect the maximum cost of professional outplacement services equal to the lesser of: (1) 15% of the executive's base salary and prior year's bonus paid or (2)(a) $75,000 (for executive vice presidents (or higher)) or (b) $50,000 (for senior vice presidents and vice presidents).

Equity—

•

In accordance with the 2007 Incentive Plan, as amended, the named executives are entitled to exercise any vested stock option up to three months after termination of employment (except with respect to retirement eligible executives with respect to stock options granted in 2015 and thereafter). As described in detail on page # of this proxy statement, commencing with our 2015 equity grants, we have generally included a full career retirement provision in equity awards that provide for the continued vesting of unvested equity grants for employees who retire after meeting the following specified criteria. Mr. Foster, Mr. Ackerman, and Dr. Gillett each are retirement eligible and received awards in 2015 that would qualify for continued post-retirement vesting. In accordance with the 2007 Incentive Plan, any unvested options, restricted stock/units, or PSUs after such time are forfeited (except with respect to retirement eligible executives with respect to stock options granted in 2015 and thereafter, as described above), although we note

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that if an employee terminates due to death more than 12 months following the date of grant of a PSU, a pro-rata portion of the PSU is deemed to immediately vest. Accordingly, for purposes of this chart PSUs granted in 2014 are included on a pro-rata basis (assuming two-thirds completion and estimated payout based on estimated adjustments of (1) first year EPS performance and (2) rTSR performance through the end of fiscal 2015; PSUs granted in 2015 are not included as none is deemed to have vested for purposes of this chart. In addition, for purposes of Mr. Ackerman's 2015 PSU grant of long-term equity in 2015 with an one-year vesting term containing significant performance-based components tied to his satisfactory transition of his current global responsibilities to his successor, we have assumed that the award was earned at target levels and vested as of December 26, 2015.

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Severance Payments Following a Change in Control

        The chart below sets forth the amounts payable to each named executive in the event of termination following a change in control, which is based upon the following assumptions:

Cash Severance—

•

A change in control is assumed to have occurred on December 26, 2015 (last day of the fiscal year 2015). However, no change in control actually occurred on the aforementioned date.



•

Termination occurs on December 26, 2015 (last day of the fiscal year 2015).



•

We assumed that the full year's actual bonus was already earned by the named executive and paid by us; therefore, it was not included as a part of the cash severance payment. However, in actual practice, under the EICP plan, employees who leave us prior to actual receipt of EICP awards forfeit the total bonus payment (except in instances of retirement, death, or disability).



•

For purposes of determining the amount of the lump-sum cash severance payment equal to a multiple of three (Mr. Foster only) and two (Mr. Johst and Dr. Molho) times the sum of (1) the corporate officer's then annual base salary and (2) the corporate officer's target bonus for the fiscal year in which the termination occurs, we have assumed that the target bonus is the target bonus for fiscal 2015, as discussed in more detail in the section of this Proxy Statement entitled "Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Compensation Elements—Annual Cash Incentive Awards." Messrs. Ackerman and Smith's cash severance is determined based on the appropriate level pursuant to the Officer Separation Plan.



•

We have assumed that none of the named executives has any accrued or unused vacation remaining at the time of termination.

Benefits Continuation—

•

The benefits continuation value for each named executive other than Dr. Gillett includes 24-month continuation (36 for Mr. Foster and 12 months for Mr. Smith) of medical, dental, basic life/AD&D, long-term disability and other welfare-type benefits at the time of termination.

Retirement Plan Benefits—

•

In addition to the triggered benefits described above, the values reflect the total account balance of the Deferred Compensation Plan as of December 31, 2015, and the lump-sum present value of the accrued benefits under the Pension Plan as of December 31, 2015. These dates are slightly different than our 2015 fiscal year end (December 26, 2015) solely for the administrative efficiency of calculating these values.



•

Under the Pension Plan, no additional compensation for additional years' service credit has been added since the Pension Plan was frozen in 2008.



•

Benefits under these plans are vested and will automatically be paid upon any termination (disregarding any possible delay of payment as a result of compliance with Section 409A of the Code).

Equity—

•

As of December 26, 2015, the change-in-control agreements provide for full acceleration of all unvested equity awards if the named executive is terminated within eighteen months of the change in control. In addition, in accordance with the 2007 Incentive Plan, as amended, all equity awards accelerate and vest immediately upon a change in control. The values below reflect the in-the-money value of all unvested stock options and the value of all unvested restricted stock and unvested PSUs—(PSUs granted in 2015 calculated at target amounts and PSUs granted in 2014 calculated at base amounts (i.e. target amounts X EPS Payout Percentage)).

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Related Person Transaction Policy

        We maintain a written Related Person Transactions Policy (available on our website at www.criver.com under the "Investor Relations—Corporate Governance" caption) which is intended to promote the timely identification of transactions involving "related persons" (as such term is defined pursuant to SEC regulations) and to ensure we give appropriate consideration to any real or perceived

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conflicts in our commercial arrangements. The policy covers any financial transaction, arrangement, or relationship (or any series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships), including indebtedness and guarantees of indebtedness and transactions involving employment and similar relationships. The Board has designated the Audit Committee to oversee this policy.

        If a transaction qualifies as a related person transaction, the Audit Committee then considers all relevant facts and circumstances including, without limitation: commercial reasonableness of the terms; the benefit and perceived benefit, or lack thereof, to us; opportunity costs of alternate transactions; the materiality and character of the related person's direct or indirect interest; and the actual or apparent conflict of interest of the related person. The Committee will not approve or ratify a related person transaction unless it shall have determined that, upon consideration of all relevant information, the transaction is either (1) in the best interests of the Company and our shareholders or (2) is not inconsistent with the best interests of the Company and our shareholders.

        As of the date of this Proxy Statement, we are not aware of the existence of any related person transaction since the beginning of fiscal year 2015.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

        During the 2015 fiscal year, the Compensation Committee consisted of Dr. Kochevar and Messrs. Reese and Wallman. None of these individuals has served as an officer or employee for the Company or for any of our subsidiaries. We are not aware of any compensation committee interlocks.

REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

        The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors consists entirely of directors who meet the independence and experience requirements of the New York Stock Exchange and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. During fiscal 2015, the members of the Audit Committee included Messrs. Bertolini, Chubb, and Massaro.

        The Audit Committee assists the Board in overseeing and monitoring the integrity of our financial reporting process, our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, and the quality of our external audit processes. The Audit Committee is also responsible for overseeing our overall financial reporting process. The role and responsibilities of the Audit Committee are set forth in a written Charter adopted by the Board. The Audit Committee reviews and reassesses the Charter annually and recommends any changes to the Board for approval. The Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing our overall financial reporting process. The Board of Directors has determined that Robert Bertolini, Stephen D. Chubb, and George E. Massaro are each Audit Committee financial experts. In fulfilling its responsibilities for the financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 26, 2015, the Audit Committee took the following actions.

•

Reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 26, 2015, the quarterly financial statements and the annual and quarterly earnings press releases with management, which has primary responsibility for the financial statements, and the earnings releases, and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm.



•

Reviewed and discussed with management the requirements under Sections 302 and 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and monitored the activity surrounding the compliance initiative of our management and the audit-related activity of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.



•

Monitored the Company's continued efforts to improve its internal controls over financial reporting.



•

Met with our management, internal auditors, and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, separately and together, with and without management present, to discuss our financial reporting process and

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internal control over financial reporting in addition to other matters required to be discussed by Public Company Accounting Oversight Board AU Section 380.

•

Reviewed with the independent auditor all services provided during 2015 and found no independence concerns and approved the provision of all services in advance of completion consistent with prescribed policy and procedures. In addition, the Audit Committee received written disclosures and the letter from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP regarding its independence as required by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. The Audit Committee further discussed with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP its independence.



•

Considered the status of taxation matters and other areas of oversight relating to the financial reporting and audit process that the Committee determined appropriate.



•

Evaluated the annual inspection report by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, and discussed the report with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. The Audit Committee also evaluated a report on PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP's quality controls, and discussed the report with them.



•

Monitored compliance with the policies and procedures for the engagement of the independent registered public accounting firm. The Committee engaged the independent registered public accounting firm only for certain services including audit, audit-related, and specifically approved tax and other services.



•

Monitored compliance with the policy and procedures for the confidential and anonymous receipt, retention and treatment of complaints regarding our accounting, internal controls over financial reporting and auditing matters.

        Based on the Audit Committee's review of the audited financial statements, and representations made by and discussions with management and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the audited financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 26, 2015 for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

        The foregoing report should not be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, by any general statement incorporating by reference this Proxy Statement except to the extent that we specifically incorporate this information by reference and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under such Acts.

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PROPOSAL FOUR
RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

        The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, to audit our financial statements for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016, and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP was our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ended December 26, 2015, and audited our financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 26, 2015, and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 26, 2015. The Audit Committee proposes that the shareholders ratify this appointment for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016. We expect that a representative of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP will be present at the Annual Meeting, with the opportunity to make a statement if he or she so desires, and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.

        In the event that ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm is not obtained at the Meeting, the Audit Committee will reconsider its appointment. Even if ratification is obtained, the Audit Committee may decide in the future it is in our interest to no longer retain PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

        The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes properly cast at the Meeting is required to ratify the appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm.

Statement of Fees Paid to Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

        The following table presents fees for professional services rendered by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for the audit of our annual financial statements for the years ended December 26, 2015 and December 27, 2014, and fees for other services rendered by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for those periods.

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(1)

Audit fees consisted of work performed in the integrated audit of our annual consolidated financial statements filed on Form 10-K, audit activity directly related to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, reviews of our quarterly condensed consolidated financial statements filed on Forms 10-Q, and the audits of statutory financial statements of certain foreign subsidiaries. All such services were approved in advance by the Audit Committee.

(2)

Audit-related fees consisted principally of fees for financial due diligence services for potential acquisitions and work performed in the audit of our employee benefit plans. All such services were approved in advance by the Audit Committee.

(3)

Tax fees related to tax compliance, consulting, and tax return preparation. All such services were approved in advance by the Audit Committee.

(4)

All other fees consisted of fees for an accounting research tool. All such services were approved in advance by the Audit Committee.

(5)

None of the non-audit services constitutes a prohibited activity for our independent auditor under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 or related SEC regulations.

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Policy and Procedures on Engagement and Retention of the Independent Auditor for Audit, Audit-Related, and Non-Audit Services

        Consistent with SEC policies regarding auditor independence, the Audit Committee has responsibility for appointing, setting compensation, and overseeing the work of our independent auditor. In recognition of this responsibility, the Audit Committee has established a policy for pre-approving all audit and permissible non-audit services provided by its independent registered public accounting firm.

        Prior to engagement of the independent registered public accounting firm for the next year's audit, management submits to the Audit Committee for approval a summary of services expected to be rendered during that year. Prior to engagement, the Audit Committee pre-approves a budget for each category of services. The Audit Committee requires the independent registered public accounting firm and management to periodically report on the actual fees versus the budget by category of service. Additional service engagements that may exceed these pre-approved limits must be submitted to the Audit Committee for pre-approval. The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has considered whether the provision of the services described above under the captions "tax fees" and "all other fees" is compatible with maintaining PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP's independence. The Audit Committee has concluded that these services do not compromise PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP's independence.

        The Audit Committee recommends a vote "FOR" the ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016.

OTHER MATTERS

Shareholder Proposals for 2017 Annual Meeting

        Shareholders who wish to present proposals for inclusion in the proxy statement relating to our Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held in 2017 may do so by following the procedures prescribed in Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. To be eligible, shareholder proposals must be received by our Corporate Secretary no later than November 29, 2016.

        Under our by-laws, if a shareholder wishes to present a proposal or nomination at the 2017 Annual Meeting separately from the Rule 14a-8 process, such shareholder must give written notice to the Corporate Secretary, Charles River Laboratories International, Inc., 251 Ballardvale Street, Wilmington, MA 01887. The Corporate Secretary must receive such notice no sooner than January 11, 2017, and no later than February 10, 2017, and must comply with our by-laws.

Obtaining Additional Information About Charles River

        The Notice of Meeting, this Proxy Statement, the enclosed proxy and our Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended December 26, 2015 are being mailed to shareholders on or about March 31, 2016. Our Annual Report to Shareholders includes a copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 26, 2015 (other than exhibits thereto), as filed with the SEC. The Form 10-K provides additional information about the Company. Exhibits will be provided upon written request and payment of an appropriate processing fee. A copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K (with exhibits) for the year ended December 26, 2015 can also be found on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. In additional, shareholders may request a copy of the Annual Report on Form 10-K, without charge, by writing to our Corporate Secretary, Charles River Laboratories International, Inc., 251 Ballardvale Street, Wilmington, Massachusetts 01887.

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Certain Matters Relating to Proxy Materials and Annual Reports

        We satisfy SEC rules regarding delivery of proxy statements and annual reports by delivering a single proxy statement and annual report to an address shared by two or more of our shareholders. This delivery method is referred to as "householding" and can result in meaningful cost savings for us. In order to take advantage of this opportunity, we have delivered only one proxy statement and annual report to multiple shareholders who share an address, unless contrary instructions were received from affected shareholders prior to the mailing date. Promptly upon written or oral request, we undertake to deliver a separate copy of the proxy statement and/or annual report, as requested, to a shareholder at a shared address to which a single copy of these documents was delivered. If you hold stock as a registered shareholder and prefer to receive separate copies of a proxy statement or annual report, either now or in the future, please contact Computershare Investor Services: by mail at P.O. Box 30170, College Station, TX 77842-3170; by telephone at 1-877-282-1168; or through the website: http://www.computershare.com/investor. If your stock is held through a broker or bank and you prefer to receive separate copies of a proxy statement or annual report, either now or in the future, please contact your broker or bank.

Other Business

        The Board of Directors knows of no other business which will be presented to the Meeting. If any other business is properly brought before the Meeting, it is intended that proxies in the enclosed form will be voted in respect thereof in accordance with the judgment of the persons voting the proxies.

Wilmington, Massachusetts
March 31, 2016

        WHETHER OR NOT YOU INTEND TO BE PRESENT AT THE MEETING, YOU ARE URGED TO COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY AT YOUR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE.

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Appendix A

CHARLES RIVER LABORATORIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP EARNINGS TO NON-GAAP EARNINGS(1)
(dollars in thousands, except for per share data)

A-1

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A-2

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A-3

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QuickLinks

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS To be Held on May 11, 2016
PROXY SUMMARY
GENERAL INFORMATION
PROPOSAL ONE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
NOMINEES FOR DIRECTORS
2015 Director Compensation
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
PROPOSAL TWO—ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
PROPOSAL THREE—APPROVAL OF THE 2016 INCENTIVE PLAN (INCLUDING SECTION 162(m) PERFORMANCE GOALS)
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
REPORT OF COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
2015 Summary Compensation Table
2015 Grants of Plan-Based Awards
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal 2015 Year-End
2015 Option Exercises and Stock Vested
2015 Pension Benefits
2015 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation
Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
PROPOSAL FOUR RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
OTHER MATTERS

Appendix A

CHARLES RIVER LABORATORIES INTERNATIONAL, INC. RECONCILIATION OF GAAP EARNINGS TO NON-GAAP EARNINGS(1) (dollars in thousands, except for per share data)