UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.     )

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

Check the appropriate box:

IES Holdings, Inc.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

January 9, 2020

To Our Stockholders:

On behalf of the Board of Directors of IES Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), we cordially invite all Company stockholders to attend the Company’s annual stockholders’ meeting to be held on February 19, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. Central Standard Time.

This year’s annual stockholders’ meeting will be a completely virtual meeting, conducted via live audio webcast. The virtual meeting format provides a better opportunity for meeting attendance and participation by our stockholders and a cost savings for the Company. You can attend the meeting via the Internet at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/IESC2020 by using the 16-digit control number which appears on your Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials and your proxy card. You will have the ability to submit questions in advance of the meeting via the meeting website.

This year, we will again be using the “Notice and Access” method of providing proxy materials to you via the Internet. We believe that this process provides you with a convenient and quick way to access the proxy materials and to authorize a proxy to vote your shares, while saving us the cost of producing and mailing documents, reducing the amount of mail you receive and allowing us to conserve natural resources.

On or about January 9, 2020, we will mail to our stockholders the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials containing instructions on how to access our proxy materials and authorize a proxy to vote your shares. The Company’s 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K, which provides additional information regarding the financial results of the Company for its fiscal year ended September 30, 2019, can be found along with the proxy materials at https://annualmeeting.ies-corporate.com. For additional information, please see the General Information About the Annual Meeting section of the proxy statement. The Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials and the proxy statement contain detailed instructions for attending, submitting questions in advance of, and voting at the virtual meeting.

We hope that you will be able to attend the meeting. Your vote is important. Regardless of whether you plan to attend, please make sure your shares are represented at the meeting by submitting your proxy via the Internet, by phone, or by signing, dating and returning the proxy card mailed to those who request paper copies of this proxy statement. If you are able to attend the virtual annual meeting, you may revoke your proxy and vote your shares in person at the meeting. If your shares are not registered in your own name and you would like to attend and vote your shares at the virtual annual meeting, please ask the broker, trust, bank or other nominee in whose name the shares are held to provide you with your 16-digit control number. Thank you for your continued support.

IES HOLDINGS, INC.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

To Be Held On February 19, 2020

TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF IES HOLDINGS, INC.,

Notice is hereby given that the annual meeting of the stockholders of IES Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), will be held on Wednesday, February 19, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. Central Standard Time, via live audio webcast accessible via the Internet at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/IESC2020, for the following purposes:

1. To elect seven directors named in the accompanying proxy statement to the Company’s Board of Directors to serve until the 2021 annual stockholders’ meeting and until their respective successors have been elected and qualified.

2. To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, as the Company’s auditors for fiscal year 2020.

3. To approve by advisory vote the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers.

4. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments thereof.

The holders of record of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, at the close of business on December 23, 2019, are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the meeting with respect to all proposals.

We urge you to promptly vote your shares via the Internet, by phone, or by signing, dating and returning the proxy card mailed to those who request paper copies of this proxy statement, regardless of whether you plan to attend the virtual meeting. No postage is required if mailed in the United States. If you do attend the virtual annual meeting, you may withdraw your proxy and vote your shares in person on all matters brought before the meeting. For additional information on Internet and telephone voting and attending, submitting questions in advance of, and voting at the annual meeting, please see the General Information About the Annual Meeting section of the proxy statement.

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for Stockholders’ Meeting to be Held on February 19, 2020.

The Proxy Statement and 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K are available at https://annualmeeting.ies-corporate.com prior to the date of the annual meeting and at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/IESC2020 on the day of and during the annual meeting.

IES HOLDINGS, INC.

PROXY STATEMENT FOR

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

Table of Contents

IES HOLDINGS, INC.

PROXY STATEMENT FOR

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING

WHEN AND WHERE IS THE 2020 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS BEING HELD?

The 2020 annual meeting of stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of IES Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), will be held on Wednesday, February 19, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. Central Standard Time. This year’s Annual Meeting will be held in a completely virtual format via live audio webcast. You can attend the virtual Annual Meeting via the Internet at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/IESC2020 by using the 16-digit control number which appears on your Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials and your proxy card.

WHY IS THE ANNUAL MEETING BEING HELD IN A VIRTUAL FORMAT?

The Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) believes that the virtual meeting format provides a better opportunity for participation in the Annual Meeting by our stockholders and a cost savings for the Company. The virtual meeting format will increase the number of stockholders who are able to attend the Annual Meeting, by allowing stockholders to attend and participate in the Annual Meeting from any location around the world, at no cost to the stockholder. It also reduces the environmental impact of our Annual Meeting, while simultaneously reducing the costs incurred by the Company in planning, hosting and arranging logistics for an in-person meeting.

We have designed the format of our virtual Annual Meeting to ensure that our stockholders who attend our Annual Meeting will be afforded the same rights and opportunities as they would at an in-person meeting and to enhance stockholder access, participation and communication through online tools. Our directors will also attend the meeting.

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PROXY MATERIALS?

The proxy materials include:

WHEN WILL THE NOTICE FIRST BE SENT TO THE STOCKHOLDERS?

The approximate date on which the Notice was first sent or given to stockholders was January 9, 2020.

WHY DID I RECEIVE A NOTICE OF INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS INSTEAD OF PRINTED PROXY MATERIALS?

Pursuant to rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), we have elected to provide our stockholders access to our proxy materials via the Internet. Accordingly, we are sending a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) to our stockholders. All stockholders will have the ability to access the proxy materials on the website referenced in the Notice or request to receive a printed set of the proxy materials. The Notice contains instructions on how to access the proxy materials over the Internet, how to

1

vote online and how to request a printed copy of the materials. We encourage you to take advantage of the proxy materials on the Internet. By opting to access your proxy materials online, you will save us the cost of producing and mailing documents, reduce the amount of mail you receive and allow us to conserve natural resources.

CAN I VOTE MY SHARES BY FILLING OUT AND RETURNING THE NOTICE?

No. The Notice identifies the items to be voted on at the Annual Meeting, but you cannot vote by marking the Notice and returning it. The Notice provides instructions on how to authorize your proxy via the Internet or by telephone, attend and vote in person at the virtual Annual Meeting, or request a paper proxy card, which also contains instructions for authorizing a proxy via the Internet, by telephone or by returning the signed paper proxy card.

CAN I CHOOSE THE METHOD BY WHICH I RECEIVE FUTURE PROXY MATERIALS?

Yes. There are three methods by which stockholders of record and beneficial owners may receive future proxy materials or notice thereof:

HOW DO I ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING?

2

WHAT ITEMS OF BUSINESS WILL BE VOTED ON AT THE ANNUAL MEETING?

The items of business scheduled to be voted on at the Annual Meeting are:

We will also consider any other business that properly comes before the Annual Meeting.

HOW MANY VOTES DO I HAVE?

Each share of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”) is entitled to one vote upon each of the matters to be voted on at the Annual Meeting.

HOW DO I VOTE?

Prior to the date of the Annual Meeting, you may vote your shares by Internet, telephone or mail, as follows:

On the day of and during the Annual Meeting, you may vote your shares at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/IESC2020.

Votes submitted by mail, telephone or Internet prior to the Annual Meeting will be voted at the Annual Meeting in accordance with the directions you provide the individuals named on the proxy; if no direction is indicated, your shares will be voted in favor of each of the proposals set forth herein.

CAN I CHANGE MY VOTE?

Any stockholder giving a proxy has the power to revoke it at any time before it is voted (i) by notifying us in writing of such revocation, (ii) by submitting a later dated proxy card or telephone or Internet vote, or (iii) by logging into and voting in person at the Annual Meeting at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/IESC2020. Any written notification of revocation of a proxy should be directed to the General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, IES Holdings, Inc., 5433 Westheimer Road, Suite 500, Houston, Texas 77056. If you wish to revoke or change your proxy, other than by logging into and voting in person at the Annual Meeting, we must receive the notice of revocation, later dated proxy card or new vote by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Tuesday, February 18, 2020.

HOW ARE ABSTENTIONS AND BROKER NON-VOTES COUNTED?

Pursuant to the Company’s bylaws, shares not voted on matters, including abstentions and broker non-votes, will not be treated as votes cast with respect to those matters, and therefore will not affect the outcome of any such matter.

3

HOW MANY VOTES MUST BE PRESENT TO HOLD THE ANNUAL MEETING?

The presence, in person or by proxy, of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock is required for a quorum. Shares are considered present “in person” if voted by the holder of those shares or by proxy during the Annual Meeting.

HOW MANY VOTES ARE REQUIRED TO PASS EACH ITEM?

The affirmative vote of holders of a plurality of the shares of Common Stock present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote is required to elect each director nominee.

The affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock voted at the Annual Meeting is required to ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent auditors for fiscal year 2020.

The affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock voted at the Annual Meeting is required to approve by advisory vote the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers.

WHO IS SOLICITING MY VOTE?

The proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors for use at the Annual Meeting and any adjournments thereof.

HOW ARE VOTES BEING SOLICITED?

In addition to solicitation of proxies via Notice and Access, certain directors, officers, representatives and employees of the Company may solicit proxies by telephone and personal interview. Such individuals will not receive additional compensation from the Company for solicitation of proxies, but may be reimbursed for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in connection with such solicitation. Banks, brokers and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries also will be reimbursed by the Company for their reasonable expenses for sending proxy solicitation materials to the beneficial owners of the Company’s Common Stock.

WHO IS PAYING THE SOLICITATION COST?

The expense of preparing, posting online, and printing and mailing any requested hard copies of proxy solicitation materials will be borne by the Company.

CAN I ASK QUESTIONS AT THE ANNUAL MEETING?

Yes. Stockholders will be afforded the opportunity to participate in the Annual Meeting by asking questions via the Internet at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/IESC2020. Through the online forum, our stockholders will be able to submit questions in writing in advance of the day of the Annual Meeting, vote and obtain copies of the proxy materials. In order to submit questions via the online forum, you will need your unique 16-digit control number which appears on your Notice and your proxy card.

As part of the Annual Meeting, we will hold a Q&A session, during which we intend to answer questions submitted prior to the Annual Meeting, which are pertinent to the Company and the meeting matters, as time permits.

WHAT IF I NEED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE DURING THE ANNUAL MEETING?

Beginning 30 minutes prior to the start of and during the virtual Annual Meeting, we will have a support team ready to assist stockholders with any technical difficulties they may have accessing or hearing the virtual

4

Annual Meeting. If you encounter any difficulties accessing the virtual meeting during the check-in or meeting time, you should call our support team at:

WILL THERE BE A REPLAY OF THE ANNUAL MEETING?

Yes. If you are unable to attend the virtual Annual Meeting in person, a replay of the meeting will be made publicly available 24 hours after the meeting at www.ies-co.com. The replay will be available in the Presentations section of the Investor Relations page of the Company’s website at www.ies-co.com for thirty (30) days after the Annual Meeting.

DOES THE COMPANY HAVE A WEBSITE?

The Company has a website, www.ies-co.com, which contains additional information concerning the Company’s corporate governance practices. Information on our website is not incorporated by reference herein, unless specifically stated otherwise.

5

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

At the close of business on December 23, 2019, the record date for the determination of stockholders of the Company entitled to receive notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting or any adjournments thereof, the Company had issued and outstanding 21,184,850 shares of Common Stock.

The following table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our Common Stock as of December 23, 2019 by:

Except as otherwise indicated, the person or entities listed below have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of our Common Stock beneficially owned by them, except to the extent this power may be shared with a spouse.

6

7

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended through May 24, 2016 (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), and Amended and Restated Bylaws, effective November 6, 2019 (the “Bylaws”) provide that the number of members of the Board shall be fixed from time to time by the Board but shall not be less than one nor more than fifteen persons. The Board has set the number of directors at seven. As such, if each of the nominees named below is elected to the Board, there will be no vacancies on the Board following the Annual Meeting. Directors hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors have been elected and qualified. Vacancies may be filled by recommendation from the Nominating/Governance Committee and a majority vote by the remaining directors.

It is the intention of the persons named in the proxy card to vote “FOR” the election of the nominees named below, unless a stockholder has directed otherwise or withheld such authority. The affirmative vote of holders of a plurality of the shares of Common Stock present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote is required to elect each director nominee.

Each of the nominees has consented to being named in this proxy statement and has consented to serve, if elected. If, at the time of or prior to the Annual Meeting, a nominee should be unable or decline to serve, the discretionary authority provided in the proxy may be used to vote for a substitute nominee designated by the Board. The Board has no reason to believe that any substitute nominee will be required. No proxy will be voted for a greater number of persons than the nominees named herein.

The Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines require that a majority of the Board meet the independence standards imposed by the applicable rules and regulations of the Nasdaq Global Market (“Nasdaq”) and the SEC. In addition, the Company’s audit committee charter requires that members of the Audit Committee meet the heightened independence standard set forth in Rule 10A-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. After reviewing all relevant facts and circumstances, the Board has affirmatively determined that Messrs. Cleveland, Dowling, Koshkin, and Luke are independent in accordance with the Corporate Governance Guidelines and the Audit Committee charter.. Additionally, the Board has affirmatively determined that Mr. Jeffrey Gendell is independent in accordance with the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines; however, as Mr. Jeffrey Gendell is the founder and managing member of Tontine Associates, L.L.C., a private investment management firm, which, together with its affiliates, (collectively, “Tontine”) is the Company’s majority stockholder, and is the brother of Mr. David Gendell, who is a director of the Company and until January 2019 served as the Company’s Interim Director of Operations, the Board has determined that Mr. Jeffrey Gendell does not satisfy the heightened independence standard set forth in the Company’s Audit Committee charter. The Board has also affirmatively determined that Mr. David Gendell is not, and may not be determined to be, independent until at least three years after he ceased to serve as the Company’s Interim Director of Operations. The review was undertaken on a director-by-director basis and did not involve a pre-set formula or minimum standard of materiality. Copies of the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and Audit Committee charter may be found in the Corporate Governance section of the Investor Relations page of the Company’s website at www.ies-co.com.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES LISTED BELOW, AND PROXIES EXECUTED AND RETURNED WILL BE SO VOTED UNLESS CONTRARY INSTRUCTIONS ARE INDICATED THEREON.

Mr. Cleveland, 51, has served as the Chief Executive Officer of Patrick Industries, Inc. (“Patrick”), a publicly traded manufacturer of specialized building products and materials, since February 2009, and as a director of Patrick since 2008. Mr. Cleveland was President of Patrick from May 2008 to December 2015, and

8

Chief Operating Officer of Patrick from May 2008 to March 2013. From August 2007 to May 2008, Mr. Cleveland served as Executive Vice President of Operations and Sales and Chief Operating Officer of Patrick. Mr. Cleveland also spent 17 years with Adorn Holdings, Inc., serving as President and Chief Executive Officer from 2004 to 2007; President and Chief Operating Officer from 1998 to 2004; and Vice President of Operations and Chief Operating Officer from 1994 to 1998. Mr. Cleveland was a director of Stag-Parkway, Inc. from 2013 to 2014. Mr. Cleveland has over 25 years of recreational vehicle, manufactured housing and industrial experience in various operating capacities. The Nominating/Governance Committee believes, and the Board agrees, that Mr. Cleveland is qualified to serve on the Board given his extensive operating, executive and board level experience at a publicly traded industrial company, as well as his experience completing numerous mergers and acquisitions transactions.

Mr. Dowling, 55, has served since July 2018 as the Chief Executive Officer of the Brown University Investment Office and from June 2013 to July 2018 served as the Chief Investment Officer of Brown University, where he was responsible for the University’s $4.2 billion endowment. From 1998 to 2013, he served as the founder and managing member of Narragansett Asset Management, LLC, a private investment partnership located in Stamford, Connecticut. From its formation in 1998 through 2006, Narragansett managed funds for institutions, pension funds and college endowments. After 2006, Narragansett focused on managing Mr. Dowling’s personal capital and that of a select group of strategic investors. Prior to forming Narragansett, Mr. Dowling worked at The First Boston Corporation, Tudor Investments and Oracle Partners, L.P. Since September 2017, Mr. Dowling has also served as an independent Trustee of the Board of Trustees of the Harbor Funds. The Nominating/Governance Committee believes, and the Board agrees, that Mr. Dowling is qualified to serve on the Board given his extensive experience in finance, public markets, and private investing.

Mr. Gendell, 59, served as Interim Director of Operations for the Company from November 2017 to January 2019. He previously served as Vice Chairman of the Board from November 2016 to November 2017 and as Chairman of the Board from January 2015 to November 2016. From 2004 to January 2018, he was an employee of Tontine Associates, L.L.C., which, together with its affiliates (collectively, “Tontine”), is a private investment management firm and the majority shareholder of the Company. At Tontine Associates L.L.C., he focused on investment opportunities in industrial, manufacturing and basic materials companies. From 2006 to 2010, he served on the Board of Directors of Neenah Enterprises, one of the largest independent foundries in the United States. Mr. Gendell has also held senior positions at several venture-backed startups. From 1999 to 2002, he was President and Chief Operating Officer of Homserv, LLC, a privately-held data aggregator focused on real estate transactions, and from 2002 to 2003, he served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Cogent Design Inc., a privately-held practice management software system. He also currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Advisors of the Duke Global Health Institute. Mr. Gendell is the brother of Jeffrey Gendell, who has served as a director of the Company and as Chairman of the Board since November 2016 and is the founder and managing member of Tontine, the Company’s majority shareholder. The Nominating/Governance Committee believes, and the Board agrees, that Mr. David Gendell is qualified to serve on the Board given his extensive experience in public and private investing and finance.

Mr. Gendell, 60, is the Chairman of the Board, and is the founder and managing member of Tontine, the majority shareholder of the Company. Mr. Gendell formed Tontine in 1995, and manages all of the investment decisions at the firm. Prior to forming Tontine, Mr. Gendell held senior investment management positions at several other private investment firms, including Odyssey Partners, L.P., and began his career in investment banking over 30 years ago at Smith Barney, Harris Upham & Co., where he was involved in capital markets, corporate finance and M&A activity. Mr. Gendell is the brother of Mr. David Gendell, who has served as a director of the Company since February 2012 and as Interim Director of Operations from November 2017 to January 2019, and served as Vice Chairman of the Board from November 2016 to November 2017 and as

9

Chairman of the Board from January 2015 to November 2016. The Nominating/Governance Committee believes, and the Board agrees, that Mr. Jeffrey Gendell is qualified to serve on the Board given his extensive experience in public and private investing and finance and his historical knowledge of the Company as majority shareholder.

Mr. Koshkin, 72, has worked as an independent financial consultant offering financial and advisory services to a diverse group of clients since 2006. Mr. Koshkin retired as a partner from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in 2006 after a 34-year career with the firm. During his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers, he served as the partner in charge of the firm’s North America Engineering and Construction Industry practice. He also served as a senior client service partner and a consulting partner advising clients and firm partners on technical accounting, SEC issues, Sarbanes-Oxley compliance, risk management, and mergers and acquisitions. From June 2010 to July 2011, Mr. Koshkin served as a director and a member of the audit committee of Sterling Bancshares. Mr. Koshkin is a Certified Public Accountant in Texas and is a member in good standing with the AICPA and TSCPA. The Nominating/Governance Committee believes, and the Board agrees, that Mr. Koshkin’s extensive experience with PricewaterhouseCoopers as a senior client service partner as well as his background in corporate finance and financial reporting make him qualified to serve on the Board.

Mr. Luke, 82, served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of American Fire Protection Group, Inc., a private company involved in the design, fabrication, installation and service of products in the fire sprinkler industry, from 2001 until April 2005. From 1997 to 2000, Mr. Luke was President and Chief Operating Officer of Encompass Services (construction services) and its predecessor company GroupMac. Mr. Luke has also held key positions in product development, marketing and executive management in multiple foreign and domestic publicly traded companies. He also has prior experience as a board member of numerous public and private companies in various industries, including as a director of American Fire Protection Group, Inc. from 2005 to 2011 and as a director of Cable Lock, Inc., which manages the affiliated Olshan Foundation Repair companies, from 2007 to January 2014. The Nominating/Governance Committee believes, and the Board agrees, that Mr. Luke is qualified to serve on the Board given his extensive experience as an officer and director of a diverse group of consolidator public companies, including electrical contractors.

Mr. Matthews, 62, has served as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer since March 4, 2019. He previously served as Managing Director of Morgan Stanley Capital Partners, where he worked with the private equity team in evaluating companies for direct investments and helping to oversee the management and strategies for those businesses, from 2007 until March 2019. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Mr. Matthews led several private equity-backed manufacturing companies, including serving as President of Simmons Bedding Company, Chief Executive Officer of Sleep Innovations, Inc. and Chief Executive Officer of Derby Cycle Corporation, and also led business units of several public companies, including serving as President of Worldwide Consumer Medicines at Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Managing Director for Diageo/Guinness Limited in the UK and President and Chief Executive Officer of Guinness Import Company in Stamford, Connecticut. Mr. Matthews has also held senior management positions at PepsiCo, Inc. and McKinsey & Company. Mr. Matthews currently serves on the board of directors of Pathway Partners Vet, Holding LLC and Manna Pro Products, LLC. He has previously served as Chairman of the board of directors of Hojeij Branded Foods, Creative Circle, LLC and Tops Markets, LLC, and as a member of the board of directors of Lagunitas Brewing Company, Molson Coors Brewing Company, Lenox Group Inc. (previously Department 56), Learning Care Group, Inc., Van Wagner, Inc. and Canyon Ranch. The Nominating/Governance Committee believes, and the Board agrees, that Mr. Matthews is qualified to serve on the Board given his extensive operating, executive and investment experience as well as his experience completing numerous mergers and acquisitions transactions and his experience as director of public and private companies.

10

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Information with respect to the executive officers of the Company is included in the section titled “Executive Officers of the Registrant” in Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019, and is incorporated by reference herein.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD

Core Competencies of the Board

In order to adequately perform the general corporate oversight responsibilities assumed by the Board, the Board as a whole should possess the following competencies:

Accounting & Finance — The Board should have one or more members who are experienced in accounting and finance matters.

Management — In order to oversee the Company’s management team, the Board should have one or more members who have experience as a Chief Executive Officer (or other equivalent position) or a Chief Operating Officer or possess similar significant operating experience.

Industry Knowledge — While the theory of management is important, it is essential that the Board have one or more members with extensive hands-on practical, relevant, industry-specific knowledge.

Long-Range Strategy — In addition to monitoring the Company’s performance in the present, the Board should have one or more members with the skills to look to the future and provide direction for stability and growth.

Track Record — The Board should have one or more members who have achieved prominence and strong reputations in their respective professions.

Committees

The Board has established the Audit, Human Resources and Compensation, and Nominating/Governance Committees to assist in the performance of its functions of overseeing the management and affairs of the Company. The Audit, Human Resources and Compensation, and Nominating/Governance Committees are composed entirely of independent directors under current Nasdaq and SEC standards, have written charters, and have the authority to retain and compensate counsel and experts. Copies of the charters may be found in the Corporate Governance section of the Investor Relations page of the Company’s website, www.ies-co.com. The charters are also available in print to any stockholder who requests them by contacting the General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, IES Holdings, Inc., 5433 Westheimer Road, Suite 500, Houston, Texas 77056.

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee, which met eight times during fiscal year 2019, is comprised of Messrs. Koshkin (Chairman), Dowling and Luke. Pursuant to its written charter, the Audit Committee assists the Board in:

11

The Audit Committee’s role does not provide any special assurance with regard to the Company’s financial statements, nor does it involve a professional evaluation of the quality of the audits performed by the independent registered public accounting firm.

Human Resources and Compensation Committee

The Human Resources and Compensation Committee (the “HR Compensation Committee”), which met eight times during fiscal year 2019, is comprised of Messrs. Cleveland (Chairman), Dowling and Luke. Pursuant to its written charter, the HR Compensation Committee assists the Board in:

The HR Compensation Committee is comprised entirely of independent directors and is responsible for ensuring that the Company’s executive compensation policies and programs are appropriate to the duties of the Company’s executives and reflect the investment interests of our stockholders. The Committee reviews and approves the compensation levels and benefits programs for the Company’s named executive officers.

Nominating/Governance Committee

The Nominating/Governance Committee, which met six times during fiscal year 2019, is comprised of Messrs. Luke (Chairman), Cleveland and Koshkin. Pursuant to its written charter, the Nominating/Governance Committee assists the Board in:

The Nomination Process

The Nominating/Governance Committee of the Board, which, as described above, is composed entirely of independent directors, is responsible in accordance with its charter for establishing standards for members of the Board and overseeing the performance evaluation of the Board and its members. Based upon such evaluations, the Nominating/Governance Committee recommends to the Board whether existing members should be nominated for new terms or replaced and whether more or fewer members are appropriate.

The Board, with the assistance of the Nominating/Governance Committee, establishes criteria for the selection of new members. The basic criteria are found in the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines under “Core Competencies of the Board.” At any given time, in order to maintain a proper balance of expertise, individuals with particular skills may be favored over other candidates who lack such skills but otherwise possess a core competency. The Nominating/Governance Committee seeks to identify candidates who are capable of

12

working with the entire Board and meaningfully contributing to the overall Board process. Attributes considered by the Nominating/Governance Committee in evaluating candidates may include a candidate’s character, judgment and diversity of experience, business acumen, ability to act on behalf of all stockholders and a willingness to devote sufficient time to carrying out the duties and responsibilities of Board membership. The Nominating/Governance Committee also considers gender and ethnic diversity as well as diversity of background experience, age, and specialized training. The Nominating/Governance Committee recognizes the benefits of diversity in the boardroom and strives to identify director candidates who represent a mix of backgrounds and experiences that will enhance the quality of the Board’s deliberations and oversight of the Company’s businesses. While the Nominating/Governance Committee considers diversity, among other factors, when considering potential director nominees, the Board does not have a policy with regard to diversity in identifying director nominees. Since a majority of the Board is to be independent of management, consideration is also given as to whether or not the individual is independent in accordance with the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines.

When there is an opening or anticipated opening for a director position, Board members and the Company’s controlling shareholder are asked to submit recommendations. While the Company has not historically engaged outside sources or third parties to find potential director candidates or evaluate or assist in evaluating nominees brought to the attention of the Nominating/Governance Committee, as the Nominating/Governance Committee increases its focus on identifying and recruiting highly-qualified diverse director candidates, the Company may, from time to time, engage such third party service providers. Should the Company use the services of a third party, it would expect to pay a fee for such services.

The Nominating/Governance Committee will also consider director candidates recommended by stockholders. Such candidates will be evaluated using the same criteria and standards described above. Any such recommendation must be delivered to the Company’s General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at the address set forth below under “Corporate Governance Guidelines,” not later than 80 days prior to the date of the applicable annual meeting. In the event that the date of such annual meeting was not publicly announced by the Company by mail, press release or otherwise more than 90 days prior to the annual meeting, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be delivered to the General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of the Company not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which such announcement of the date of the annual meeting was communicated to the stockholders. The recommendation should also provide the reasons supporting a candidate’s recommendation, the candidate’s qualifications, the candidate’s consent to being considered as a nominee and a way to contact the candidate to verify his or her interest and to gather further information, if necessary. In addition, the stockholder should submit information demonstrating the number of shares he or she owns, the name and address of the stockholder, a description of all arrangements or understandings between the stockholder and each nominee and any other person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which the nomination or nominations are to be made by the stockholder, and such other information regarding each nominee proposed by such stockholder as would be required to be included in a proxy statement filed pursuant to the proxy rules of the SEC had the nominee been nominated, or intended to be nominated, by the Board. Stockholders who themselves wish to nominate an individual to the Board must follow the advance notice requirements and other requirements of the Company’s Bylaws.

13

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Corporate Governance Guidelines

The Company’s management and Board are committed to conducting business consistent with good corporate governance practices. To this end, the Board has established a set of Corporate Governance Guidelines which reflect its view of how to help achieve this goal. These guidelines, which may be amended and refined from time to time, are outlined below and may also be found in the Corporate Governance section of the Investor Relations page of the Company’s website at www.ies-co.com. The guidelines are also available in print to any stockholder who requests them by contacting the General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, IES Holdings, Inc., 5433 Westheimer Road, Suite 500, Houston, Texas 77056.

Independence of the Board

A majority of the Board shall be independent of management. An independent director must meet the standards imposed by the SEC and Nasdaq, as set forth in the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines.

Leadership Structure and Risk Management

The Board does not have a formal policy regarding whether the position of Chairman of the Board may be filled by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer or a similar position. Instead, the Board has adopted a fluid approach to the Board’s leadership structure that allows for variations depending on the circumstances and changing needs of the Company over time. The Company currently has a Board leadership structure under which the Chairman position is separate from the Company’s principal executive officer role, with Mr. Jeffrey L. Gendell serving as the Company’s Chairman of the Board and Mr. Gary S. Matthews serving as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”). The Board believes the current structure enhances corporate governance and allows our Chairman and CEO to remain focused on their distinct roles, which for the Chairman primarily involves Board and corporate governance and for the CEO primarily involves day-to-day management leadership and implementing our corporate strategy. Our Board regularly reviews all the aspects of our governance profile, including our leadership structure, and will make changes as circumstances warrant.

The overall duty of risk identification and management lies with the Board. To assist in this task, the Board utilizes the various Board committees to review their respective areas of responsibility. The Audit Committee addresses accounting controls and general financial risk, the Nominating/Governance Committee addresses Board composition and internal communication risks, such as ethical issues, and the HR Compensation Committee addresses workforce risks and pay levels.

Attendance at Meetings

It is the policy of the Board that all directors of the Company attend the Company’s annual meetings. Each of the directors attended the 2019 annual meeting held on February 6, 2019.

During fiscal year 2019, there were ten meetings of the full Board (four in person and six telephonically or via videoconference), and each member of the Board attended at least 75% of the aggregate number of meetings of the full Board and meetings of Board committees on which he served. Mr. Robert W. Lewey served as the President and a director of the Company until his resignation from such positions effective March 4, 2019, at which time Mr. Gary S. Matthews was appointed as CEO and a director of the Company. Mr. Lewey attended each regularly scheduled meeting of the Board held prior to his resignation, and Mr. Matthews has attended all regularly scheduled meetings of the Board held since his appointment. At all regularly scheduled meetings of the Board, Mr. Jeffrey L. Gendell, the Company’s Chairman of the Board, presided, and an executive session was held without management present.

14

Stockholder Communications with the Board

Stockholders who wish to communicate directly with the Board may do so by writing to IES Holdings, Inc. Board of Directors, c/o General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, IES Holdings, Inc., 5433 Westheimer Road, Suite 500, Houston, Texas 77056. Stockholders may also communicate directly with individual directors by addressing their correspondence accordingly. Interested parties may make any concerns known to non-management directors by contacting the Company’s Ethics Line at 1-800-347-9550.

The Company has adopted a Code of Ethics for Financial Executives and a code of business conduct and ethics for all directors, officers and employees, which has been memorialized as part of the Company’s Legal Compliance and Corporate Policy. Each of these documents can be found in the Corporate Governance section of the Investor Relations page of the Company’s website at www.ies-co.com. The Policy is also available in print to any stockholder who requests it by contacting the General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, IES Holdings, Inc., 5433 Westheimer Road, Suite 500, Houston, Texas 77056.

15

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS

A majority of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock is owned by Tontine Associates, L.L.C. and its affiliates (collectively, “Tontine”). Based on a Form 4 filed on October 3, 2019, Tontine owns approximately 58 percent of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock. As a result, Tontine can control most of our affairs, including most actions requiring the approval of shareholders, including the election of directors and the approval of any potential merger or sale of all or substantially all assets, segments, or the Company itself. Most of Tontine’s shares are registered for resale on a shelf registration statement filed by the Company with the SEC. Tontine’s sale of all or any portion of its shares could result in a change of control, which would trigger the change of control provisions in a number of our material agreements, including our credit facility, bonding agreements with our sureties and our executive severance plan.

The Company is party to a sublease agreement with Tontine Associates, L.L.C. for corporate office space in Greenwich, Connecticut. In November 2019, the sublease agreement was amended, effective as of January 1, 2020, to extend the lease term through February 2023, with current monthly payments due in the amount of approximately $8,100. Aggregate lease payments due on or after October 1, 2018, the beginning of the Company’s last fiscal year, and through February 27, 2023, the remainder of the current lease term, are approximately $429,931. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018, aggregate lease payments were approximately $100,184. The lease has terms at market rates and payments by the Company are at a rate consistent with that paid by Tontine Associates, L.L.C. to its landlord.

On December 6, 2018, the Company entered into a Board Observer Letter Agreement with Tontine Associates, L.L.C. in order to assist Tontine in managing its investment in the Company. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Agreement, Tontine has the right, at any time that it holds at least 20% of the outstanding Common Stock of the Company, to appoint a representative to serve as an observer to the Board. The Board observer, who serves at the discretion of and must be reasonably acceptable to those members of the Board who are not affiliates of Tontine, has no voting rights or other decision making authority. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Agreement, so long as Tontine has the right to appoint a Board observer, the Board observer will have the right to attend and participate in meetings of the Board and the committees thereof, subject to confidentiality requirements, and to receive reimbursement for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in his or her capacity as a Board observer and such rights to coverage under the Company’s directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy as are available to the Company’s directors.

16

REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

Audit Committee Financial Expert

The Board has determined that each member of the Audit Committee is financially literate, meets the independence requirements of the SEC and Nasdaq and qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by SEC rules.

Establishment of Policies and Procedures

The Audit Committee has overseen the establishment of a number of policies and procedures which are intended to facilitate the reporting and disclosure of improper activities as well as to clearly define the use of the Company’s independent auditors for non-audit purposes.

Review of the Company’s Audited Financial Statements for the Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2019

The Audit Committee meets regularly with the Company’s internal auditors and Ernst & Young LLP, the Company’s independent auditors, with and without representatives of management, to discuss the results of their examinations, the evaluations of the Company’s internal controls and the overall quality of the Company’s accounting principles.

The Audit Committee also discussed with the independent auditors those matters required to be discussed by the auditors with the Audit Committee under the rules adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”). The Audit Committee received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent auditors required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding the independent auditors’ communication with the Audit Committee concerning independence and has discussed with the independent auditors their independence. The Audit Committee considered with the independent auditors whether the provision of non-audit services provided by them to the Company during fiscal year 2019 was compatible with their independence.

17

Based on the review and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019 for filing with the SEC. The Audit Committee has also named Ernst & Young LLP to serve as the Company’s independent auditors for fiscal year 2020, subject to stockholder ratification.

Members of the Audit Committee

Joe D. Koshkin (Chairman)

Joseph L. Dowling III

Donald L. Luke

18

AUDIT FEES

Ernst & Young LLP billed the Company fees as set forth in the table below for (i) the audit of the Company’s 2019 and 2018 annual financial statements, reviews of quarterly financial statements and services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements, (ii) assurance and other services reasonably related to the audit or review of the Company’s 2019 and 2018 financial statements, (iii) services related to tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning for fiscal years 2019 and 2018, and (iv) all other products and services it provided during fiscal years 2019 and 2018, including accounting research software tools and permitted non-audit services, as applicable. All of the non-audit services provided and the fees for those services were pre-approved by the Audit Committee in accordance with its pre-approval policy governing non-audit services and audit-related services.

19

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Effective September 10, 2018, the SEC amended the definition of smaller reporting company, thereby expanding the number of public companies that qualify as, and are eligible to comply with the scaled disclosure requirements for, smaller reporting companies. Based on such amendments, we now qualify as a smaller reporting company and, as such, have elected to comply with the smaller reporting company scaled disclosure requirements in preparing this proxy statement. In accordance with such rules, the Executive Compensation disclosure that follows contains only a Summary Compensation Table, an Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End Table, and certain limited narrative disclosures.

In accordance with the foregoing, our named executive officers (“NEOs”) for fiscal year 2019 are:

20

2019 SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

The following table displays the total compensation earned by the NEOs in fiscal years 2018 and 2019.

21

ALL OTHER COMPENSATION

The table below details the compensation information found in the Summary Compensation Table under the “All Other Compensation” column.

22

OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT 2019 FISCAL YEAR-END

The following table sets forth specific information with respect to unexercised options, unvested Common Stock and other unvested equity incentive plan awards outstanding as of September 30, 2019 for each NEO.

23

ADDITIONAL NARRATIVE DISCLOSURE

Presented below are the key characteristics of the primary elements of the NEOs’ compensation.

Compensation elements are either cash-based, partly or solely equity-based (and have a value which is at least partly related to the price of the Company’s Common Stock) or are comprised of other benefits.

Base Pay

The HR Compensation Committee evaluates the Chief Executive Officer’s (“CEO”) performance annually in light of established corporate and personal goals and objectives and recommends adjustments to the CEO’s base salary, as appropriate. NEO salary levels and adjustments (other than for the CEO) are recommended by the CEO and reviewed and approved by the HR Compensation Committee. Any changes in base salary for the CEO and the NEOs are based on responsibility, the external market for similar jobs, the individual’s current salary compared to the market and success in achieving business results.

In December 2018, the HR Compensation Committee agreed to increase the salary levels of each of the then serving NEOs. Effective January 1, 2019, the salary of each of Mmes. McLauchlin and Makode was increased by

24

approximately 6.8%, as a cost of living and performance adjustment, to $370,675. Ms. Makode resigned from the Company effective September 20, 2019. Effective January 1, 2019, Mr. Lewey’s salary was increased by approximately 2.5%, as a cost of living adjustment, to $522,750. Effective March 4, 2019, Mr. Lewey stepped down as President of the Company, but remained employed by the Company in a non-officer role at his then-current base salary until April 30, 2019, at which time, he accepted a senior management role in the Company’s residential division. Pursuant to his Employment Agreement described under “Employment Agreements” below, during the Employment Term (as defined below), Mr. Matthews is entitled to an annual base salary of $650,000, subject to annual review and adjustment by the Board.

Annual Cash and Equity Incentive Awards

Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Incentive Plan

On December 5, 2018, the HR Compensation Committee approved the Annual Incentive Plan for fiscal year 2019 (the “2019 Annual Incentive Plan”). The 2019 Annual Incentive Plan provided for incentive compensation awards for certain key employees and officers of the Company, including the then serving NEOs, which were determined on a recipient-by-recipient basis based on specified performance criteria, with the target award payable set as a percentage of the recipient’s base salary. For NEOs, the HR Compensation Committee determined the maximum, target and threshold levels for each award, specified performance criteria and set an amount payable under each award.

The awards under the 2019 Annual Incentive Plan could be made either in cash, equity or a combination thereof, at the HR Compensation Committee’s discretion. The target award for each of the NEOs, assuming full satisfaction of all performance conditions, was 100% of base salary for Mr. Lewey, 60% of base salary for Ms. McLauchlin and 50% of base salary for Ms. Makode. The performance conditions had two parts, with 66.67% of the award being based upon the Company’s achievement of net income from continuing operations before income taxes, as adjusted in the HR Compensation Committee’s sole discretion (“NIBT”), and 33.33% of the award being based upon achievement of individual goals.

On December 6, 2019, based on a review of financial results for fiscal year 2019, the HR Compensation Committee determined that the Company recorded NIBT of $43,214,000 for fiscal year 2019, which exceeded the threshold target performance level of $40,234,000 by 7.4% and resulted in vesting of 118.5% of the financial goals component of Mr. Lewey’s and Ms. McLauchlin’s eligible awards and, in the HR Compensation Committee’s discretion, 100% of the financial goals component of Ms. Makode’s eligible award (in light of her resignation from the Company on September 20, 2019). The HR Compensation Committee then assessed the performance of each of Mr. Lewey, Ms. McLauchlin and Ms. Makode against their respective individual goals and determined to award them 100%, 133%, and 100%, respectively, of the individual goals component of their respective eligible awards under the 2019 Annual Incentive Plan. As a result, the HR Compensation Committee awarded annual cash incentive awards to Ms. McLauchlin of $274,324, Ms. Makode of $185,338 and Mr. Lewey of $249,393 (prorated, in accordance with the Company’s Executive Officer Severance Benefit Plan and the Transition and Release Agreement that Mr. Lewey entered into with the Company in connection therewith, as described in the tables above), representing approximately 123%, 100% and 48%, respectively, of each participant’s target eligible award under the 2019 Annual Incentive Plan.

Short-Term Incentives

In addition to the annual cash and equity incentive awards, the Company has in the past provided, and may from time to time in the future provide, discretionary equity or cash incentive awards for NEOs that have short-term or no time-based restrictions and that are based on achievement of significant strategic events, such as acquisitions, which the HR Compensation Committee believes will significantly impact the long-term performance of the Company.

25

Short Term Incentive Plan

On February 28, 2019, the Board adopted the Company’s Short-Term Incentive Plan (the “STIP”). The STIP is substantially similar to the Company’s 2019 Annual Incentive Plan. The STIP provides for an annual STIP award to participants that shall be made in cash, equity or a combination thereof, and is based, in part, on Company performance relative to predetermined measures of Company financial performance and, in part, on individual performance relative to predetermined individual performance objectives, with each component vesting at predetermined payout percentages based on actual performance relative to the threshold, target and maximum performance standards for such component. If actual performance falls below threshold performance, then 0% of such component of the award shall vest. During fiscal year 2019, Mr. Matthews received an annual cash incentive award under the STIP, in accordance with the terms of his Employment Agreement, as described under “Employment Agreements” below.

Long-Term Incentives

Performance-Based Phantom Stock Units

On February 6, 2019, the HR Compensation Committee awarded certain officers, including each of its then current NEOs, and key employees, performance-based and time-based phantom stock units (the “Phantom Units”) pursuant to the terms and conditions of 2006 Equity Incentive Plan. Each Phantom Unit represents a contractual right in respect of one share of the Company’s Common Stock.

The vesting of seventy-five percent (75%) of the Phantom Units (the “Cumulative Income Units”) is subject to the achievement of specified levels of Cumulative Income for the three applicable performance periods. “Cumulative Income” means cumulative Comprehensive Income attributable to the Company before provision for income taxes and excluding employee stock compensation expense. Cumulative Income is calculated from the Company’s annual financial statements for each of fiscal years 2019, 2020 and 2021 and is adjusted to exclude the effect of certain extraordinary and other items. There are three performance periods, (i) the 2019 fiscal year, (ii) the 2019 and 2020 fiscal years, and (iii) the 2019 – 2021 fiscal years, which correspond to the vesting of twenty-five percent (25%), twenty-five percent (25%) and fifty percent (50%) of the Cumulative Income Units, respectively. The vesting dates for each of the three performance periods are mid-December 2019, mid-December 2020, and mid-December 2021, respectively (the “Scheduled Vesting Dates”). Between zero percent (0%) and one-hundred twenty percent (120%) of each participant’s target number of Cumulative Income Units may vest for each performance period based on the achievement of Cumulative Income during that period against pre-determined levels. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable award agreement, to vest in the Cumulative Income Units, the recipient must also remain continuously employed through the Scheduled Vesting Date.

The remaining twenty-five percent (25%) of the Phantom Units are subject to a time-based vesting schedule (the “Time-Based Units”), with the vesting of twenty-five percent (25%), twenty-five percent (25%) and fifty percent (50%) of the Time-Based Units scheduled to vest on the three Scheduled Vesting Dates, respectively. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable award agreement, to vest in the Time-Based Units, the recipient must also remain continuously employed through the Scheduled Vesting Date.

The number of Phantom Units granted to each of the then serving NEOs is set forth below:

26

On December 6, 2019, based on a review of financial results for the fiscal year 2019 performance period, the HR Compensation Committee determined that the Company recorded Cumulative Income of $43,214,000 for fiscal year 2019, which exceeded the threshold target performance level of $40,234,000 by 7.4% and, except as described herein, resulted in vesting of 114.8% of each participant’s target number of Cumulative Income Units for the fiscal year 2019 performance period. As a result, Mr. Lewey vested in 6,347 Cumulative Income Units and 3,991.05 Time-Based Units, in accordance with the Company’s Executive Officer Severance Benefit Plan and the Transition and Release Agreement that Mr. Lewey entered into with the Company in connection therewith, as described in the tables above, and Ms. McLauchlin vested in 8,970 Cumulative Income Units and 2,604 Time-Based Units. Ms. Makode’s outstanding equity awards, including her Phantom Units, were forfeited effective as of her resignation date.

Long-Term Incentive Plan

On December 4, 2019, the Board adopted the Company’s Amended and Restated Long-Term Incentive Plan Annual Grant Program (the “LTIP”), subject to the terms and conditions of the 2006 Equity Incentive Plan. The LTIP provides for an annual grant of restricted stock, phantom stock units or other equity or equity-based grants to the Company’s executive officers and such other key employees as the HR Compensation Committee may designate. The annual grants may vest, as determined in the discretion of the HR Compensation Committee, based on: (i) actual performance relative to predetermined performance measures during the three fiscal-year period commencing with the fiscal year in which the grant is made, or such other period as determined by the HR Compensation Committee, (ii) continued service through the scheduled vesting date, or (iii) a combination of the foregoing. Any performance-based awards shall vest (i) at predetermined vesting percentages if actual performance is equal to the threshold, target and maximum performance measures for the relevant performance period, (ii) based on linear interpolation if actual performance is between such measures, and (iii) at 0% if actual performance is below the threshold performance measure. During fiscal year 2019, Mr. Matthews received a grant of restricted stock under the LTIP, in accordance with the terms of his Employment Agreement, as described under “Employment Agreements” below.

401(k) Plan

The Company provides all employees the opportunity to participate in one of several 401(k) plans, which vary by division. Under the Company’s largest 401(k) plan, the IES Holdings, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan (the “401(k) Plan”), the Company matches 30% of the first 5% that an employee contributes to the 401(k) Plan on a pre-tax basis, and for calendar year 2020 expects to continue the same level of match. However, in order for the 401(k) Plan to comply with nondiscrimination requirements of Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code, highly compensated employees (“HCEs”) are generally subject to an aggregate contribution limit in the range of 4-6% of their base annual earnings.

Executive Officer Severance Benefit Plan

All NEOs are subject to the Company’s Executive Officer Severance Benefit Plan (the “Severance Plan”). The HR Compensation Committee annually reviews the Severance Plan to determine its continuing need as well as the amount and nature of compensation potentially payable thereunder. In January 2016, the Severance Plan was amended and restated to include a noncompetition and nonsolicitation provision.

When executive positions become available, we may search for potential replacements not only within the Company but also in the marketplace, with the assistance of placement firms. Since prospective candidates from outside the Company are often already employed, they must be recruited and the total compensation offered must satisfy the need to incentivize and reward the individual. Additionally, we find that, in light of variable economic conditions, prospective executives are often also looking for an element of security, which will ensure a source of income in the event that their employment is terminated without Cause (as defined in the Severance Plan).

27

The risk of unemployment is heightened in the event of a Change of Control (as defined in the Severance Plan) of the Company, since the limited number of executive positions often results in terminations due to non-cost effective duplication. Thus, in order for the Company to recruit the best possible executives, the Severance Plan provides for the mutual benefit of the Company and the executive. Income, under the Severance Plan, is comprised of the same elements of compensation as the Company’s ongoing compensation program discussed above, which includes base salary, annual cash incentives, equity incentives, benefits and, in certain circumstances, perks such as car allowances.

The Severance Plan also includes a “clawback” provision which permits the Company, in the event the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act requires an executive to repay the Company “erroneously awarded” amounts of incentive compensation, to recoup such amount by reducing the severance pay or benefit otherwise due the executive under the Severance Plan.

Employment Agreements

In connection with Mr. Matthews’ appointment as CEO of the Company in March 2019, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Matthews, dated February 28, 2019 (the “Employment Agreement”). The Employment Agreement provides for a term of employment for Mr. Matthews commencing on March 4, 2019 (the “Effective Date”) and ending on September 30, 2022 (the “Employment Term”).

Pursuant to the Employment Agreement, during each year of the Employment Term, Mr. Matthews will be eligible to receive a target annual cash award under the Company’s STIP that is equal to 100% of his base salary for such fiscal year (pro-rated for any partial year of service). The payout percentage of his STIP awards is set at a range of 100% for achievement of target or better performance to 50% for achievement of threshold performance, with a payout percentage of 0% for performance below threshold. If during any fiscal year during the Employment Term, Mr. Matthews’ actual individual performance is less than individual threshold performance, then the individual performance-based component of the award and the Company performance-based component of the award shall both equal zero, regardless of actual Company financial performance. Pursuant to the Employment Agreement, Mr. Matthews’ received a pro-rated STIP cash award for fiscal year 2019 of $379,167, with vesting based only on the individual performance-based component. On December 6, 2019, based on a review of Mr. Matthews’ performance for fiscal year 2019 against his individual goals, the HR Compensation Committee determined to award Mr. Matthews 100% of his eligible award under the STIP. As a result, the HR Compensation Committee awarded Mr. Matthews an annual cash incentive award under the STIP of $379,167.

Pursuant to the Employment Agreement, for each fiscal year during the Employment Term, Mr. Matthews will be eligible for an award under the Company’s LTIP, equal to a number of restricted shares of Common Stock calculated by dividing (i) his base salary for such fiscal year (pro-rated for any partial year of service) by (ii) the average price of the Company’s Common Stock for the five trading days immediately prior to the grant date. Each LTIP award will vest based on Company performance over a three-year performance period at a range of 100% for target or better performance to 50% for threshold performance, with 0% vesting for performance below threshold. Pursuant to the Employment Agreement, for fiscal year 2019, Mr. Matthews received a pro-rated grant of 23,195 shares of restricted stock under the Company’s LTIP, which will vest, if at all, in December 2021.

Pursuant to the Employment Agreement, on the Effective Date, Mr. Matthews was also granted an equity incentive award of 260,000 restricted shares of the Company’s Common Stock, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the respective equity award agreement and the 2006 Equity Incentive Plan. Such restricted shares shall vest as follows:

28

29

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

Directors who are officers of the Company or any of its subsidiaries do not receive a retainer or fees for service on the Board or any committees. On June 12, 2019, the Board authorized and approved, upon recommendation of the HR Compensation Committee, certain changes to the compensation received by the Company’s non-employee directors. The changes were recommended and approved following a review of the director compensation programs of the Company’s peers, an evaluation of recent Company performance, and in light of the Company’s director compensation having not been increased since 2010.

Pursuant to the changes, effective July 1, 2019, (i) each non-employee director will receive an annual fee for service on the Board (the “Annual Fee”) of $145,000, to be paid in quarterly installments, in lieu of (a) $65,000 that had been paid annually to each non-employee director in the form of a $40,000 annual retainer and $25,000 annual meeting grant and (b) $5,000 annual committee service fees that were previously paid to non-employee directors; and (ii) in addition to the Annual Fee, (a) the Chairman of the HR Compensation Committee will receive a $12,500 annual fee, increased from $10,000, (b) the Chairman of the Nominating/Governance Committee will continue to receive a $10,000 annual fee, and (c) the Chairman of the Audit Committee will continue to receive a $25,000 annual fee, each of which will be paid in quarterly installments.

During the first quarter of each fiscal year, each director will continue to be provided the opportunity to elect, in respect of his compensation for his services rendered in the following calendar year, whether to receive the combined amount of his Annual Fee and any additional fee payable for service as Chairman of a committee of the Board (collectively, the “Total Annual Compensation”), in whole or in part, in either (i) cash, (ii) unrestricted Common Stock or (iii) phantom stock units issued pursuant to the 2006 Equity Incentive Plan that convert to shares of Common Stock on the date the director leaves the Board for any reason (“Director PSUs”), provided that at least 50% of each Director’s Total Annual Compensation shall be paid in equity. With respect to the current fiscal year, directors were also provided the opportunity to make such election in connection with the adoption of the new non-employee director compensation program. Based on such elections, during the second half of calendar year 2019, each non-employee director received the following portions of his Total Annual Compensation in the form of (i) cash, (ii) unrestricted Common Stock, or (iii) Director PSUs:

30

Prior to adoption of the new program, each non-employee director was previously provided the opportunity to elect, in respect of his compensation for his services rendered in calendar year 2019, whether to receive the combined amount of his $40,000 annual retainer and any additional retainer payable for serving on, or as Chairman of, a committee of the Board (collectively, the “Annual Retainer”), in whole or in part, in (i) cash, (ii) fully vested shares of Common Stock, or (iii) Director PSUs. Based on such elections, during the first half of calendar year 2019, each non-employee director received the following portions of his Total Retainer in the form of (i) cash, (ii) fully vested shares of Common Stock, or (iii) Director PSUs:

For each director electing to receive a portion of his Total Annual Compensation or Annual Retainer, as applicable, in Director PSUs or Common Stock, the number of Director PSUs or shares of Common Stock granted quarterly is determined by dividing the amount of the quarterly installment of such director’s Total Annual Compensation or Annual Retainer, as applicable, to be paid in either such form by the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on the last trading day of the quarter.

Directors are also reimbursed for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in attending Board and committee meetings and for their reasonable expenses related to the performance of their duties as directors.

The following table reflects the amounts paid to each individual non-employee director who served on the Board in fiscal year 2019.

31

RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

The Audit Committee has re-appointed Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent auditors for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, subject to ratification by the Company’s stockholders. Ernst & Young LLP was the Company’s independent auditor for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019.

Representatives of Ernst & Young LLP are expected to be present at the virtual Annual Meeting and will have an opportunity to make a statement, if they desire to do so, and to respond to appropriate questions from those attending the Annual Meeting. For information on how to submit questions at the virtual Annual Meeting, please see the General Information About the Annual Meeting section of this proxy statement.

The affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock voted at the Annual Meeting is required to ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent auditors for fiscal year 2020.

If the stockholders fail to ratify the appointment, the Audit Committee will reconsider its selection. Even if the appointment is ratified, the Audit Committee, in its discretion, may direct the appointment of a different independent accounting firm at any time during the year if the Audit Committee determines that such a change would be in the Company’s and its stockholders’ best interests.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” RATIFICATION OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP’S APPOINTMENT, AND PROXIES EXECUTED AND RETURNED WILL BE SO VOTED UNLESS CONTRARY INSTRUCTIONS ARE INDICATED THEREON.

32

ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act requires that we provide our stockholders with the opportunity to vote to approve, on a non-binding, advisory basis, the compensation awarded to the Company’s named executive officers, as disclosed in this proxy statement pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K.

We seek to closely align the interests of our named executive officers with the interests of our stockholders. Our compensation programs are designed to reward our named executive officers for the achievement of strategic and operational goals, while at the same time avoiding the encouragement of unnecessary or excessive risk-taking.

The Company has established comprehensive compensation programs for our executive officers, including our named executive officers, and this proxy statement fully and fairly discloses all material information regarding compensation of the Company’s named executive officers as required by Item 402 of Regulation S-K. Stockholders should reference and consider this information in evaluating the Company’s approach to compensating the NEOs.

The Company’s Board of Directors and the HR Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors monitor executive compensation programs of the Company and our competitors and adopt changes in the Company’s executive compensation program to reflect the duties of each executive, the competitive market in which the Company competes for talent, as well as general economic, regulatory and legislative developments affecting executive compensation.

The HR Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors will continue to emphasize compensation arrangements that align the financial interests of our executives with the near-term critical goals of the Company, balanced against the long-term interests of our stockholders.

You have the opportunity to vote for, against or abstain from voting on the resolution approving the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers, as disclosed in this proxy statement. The affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock voted at the Annual Meeting is required to approve the resolution. The Company currently conducts this advisory vote annually, and the next vote will occur in connection with the Company’s 2020 annual stockholders’ meeting.

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

RESOLVED, that the Company’s stockholders approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the named executive officers, as disclosed in the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the 2019 Summary Compensation Table and the other related tables and disclosure.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” APPROVAL, ON AN ADVISORY BASIS, OF THE COMPENSATION OF THE COMPANY’S NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AS DISCLOSED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT, AND PROXIES EXECUTED AND RETURNED WILL BE SO VOTED UNLESS CONTRARY INSTRUCTIONS ARE INDICATED THEREON.

33

OTHER BUSINESS

The Board knows of no business that will come before the Annual Meeting except that indicated above. However, if any other matters are properly brought before the Annual Meeting, it is intended that the persons acting under the proxy will vote thereunder in accordance with their best judgment.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS AND NOMINATIONS OF BOARD MEMBERS

If a stockholder intends to present a proposal for action at the 2021 annual meeting of stockholders and wishes to have such proposal considered for inclusion in the Company’s proxy materials in reliance on Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the proposal must be submitted in writing and received by the General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of the Company on or before September 11, 2020. Such proposal also must meet the requirements of the rules of the SEC relating to stockholder proposals.

The Company’s Bylaws establish an advance notice procedure with regard to certain matters, including stockholder proposals and nominations for individuals for election to the Board of Directors. In general, written notice of a stockholder proposal or a director nomination for the next annual meeting must be received by the General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of the Company not later than 80 days prior to the next annual meeting (or, if less than 90 days’ notice of the date of the meeting is given by the Company, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be received by the General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of the Company no later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the meeting is first made by the Company), and must contain specified information and conform to certain requirements, as set forth in the bylaws. If the presiding officer at any meeting of stockholders determines that a stockholder proposal or director nomination was not made in accordance with the bylaws, the Company may disregard such proposal or nomination.

Stockholder proposals submitted for consideration at the Annual Meeting must be delivered to the General Counsel and Corporate Secretary no later than the close of business on January 19, 2020.

In addition, if a stockholder submits a proposal outside of Rule 14a-8 for the Annual Meeting, and the proposal fails to comply with the advance notice procedures described by the Bylaws, then the Company’s proxy may confer discretionary authority on the persons being appointed as proxies on behalf of the Board of Directors to vote on the proposal.

Proposals and nominations should be addressed to the General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, IES Holdings, Inc., 5433 Westheimer Road, Suite 500, Houston, Texas 77056.

ANNUAL REPORT

We refer you to our Annual Report, containing the Company’s financial statements for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019, filed with the SEC. You may access our Annual Report on the Company’s website at www.ies-co.com. We will provide a copy of our Annual Report, including the financial statements, without charge, upon written request to the General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, IES Holdings, Inc., 5433 Westheimer Road, Suite 500, Houston, Texas 77056.

34

DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS TO STOCKHOLDERS SHARING AN ADDRESS

In some cases only one copy of this proxy statement or the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K is being delivered to multiple stockholders sharing an address unless the Company has received contrary instructions from one or more of the stockholders. The Company will deliver promptly, upon written or oral request, a separate copy of this proxy statement or the Annual Report to a stockholder at a shared address to which a single copy of the document was delivered. Stockholders sharing an address who are receiving multiple copies of proxy statements or annual reports may also request delivery of a single copy. To request separate or multiple delivery of these materials now or in the future, a stockholder may submit a written request to the General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, IES Holdings, Inc., 5433 Westheimer Road, Suite 500, Houston, Texas 77056 or an oral request by calling the General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at (713) 860-1500.

35

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF

IES HOLDINGS, INC.

February 19, 2020

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting:

The Proxy Statement and Annual Report on Form 10-K are available at www.proxyvote.com.

THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED.

IES HOLDINGS, INC.   The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR ALL of the following nominees:

For All

Withhold All

For All Except

To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark “For All Except” and write the number(s) of the nominee(s) on the line below.

☐

☐

☐

______________________________________

1.  ELECTION OF DIRECTORS: TO HOLD OFFICE UNTIL THE 2021 ANNUAL MEETING AND UNTIL THEIR SUCCESSORS ARE ELECTED AND QUALIFIED.

NOMINEES:

01)   TODD M. CLEVELAND             05)  JOE D. KOSHKIN

02)   JOSEPH L. DOWLING III          06)  DONALD L. LUKE

03)   DAVID B. GENDELL                 07)  GARY S. MATTHEWS

04)   JEFFREY L. GENDELL

The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR ALL of the following proposals:

For

Against

Abstain

2.  RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP AS AUDITORS FOR THE COMPANY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020.

☐

☐

☐

3.  ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION.

☐

☐

☐

ALL SHARES WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED HEREIN AND, UNLESS OTHERWISE DIRECTED, WILL BE VOTED “FOR” PROPOSAL 1 (ALL NOMINEES), “FOR” PROPOSAL 2, AND “FOR” PROPOSAL 3, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DISCRETION OF THE PERSON VOTING THE PROXY WITH RESPECT TO ANY OTHER BUSINESS PROPERLY BROUGHT BEFORE THE MEETING.   YOU MAY REVOKE THIS PROXY AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO A VOTE HEREON.

For address changes and/or comments, please check this box and write them on the back where indicated.   Note:  Please sign exactly as your name or names appear(s) on this Proxy. When shares are held jointly, each holder should sign. When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If the signer is a corporation, please sign full corporate name by duly authorized officer, giving full title as such. If signer is a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.

☐

Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX]

Date

Signature (Joint Owners)

Date