2018 Proxy Statement

1 TEXTRON 2018 PROXY STATEMENT INFORMATION ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING GENERAL 7KLV SUR[\ VWDWHPHQW ZKLFK LV ¿UVW EHLQJ PDGH DYDLODEOH WR VKDUHKROGHUV RQ RU DERXW 0DUFK LV IXUQLVKHG LQ connection with the solicitation by the Board of Directors of Textron Inc. of proxies to be voted at the annual meeting of VKDUHKROGHUV WR EH KHOG RQ $SULO DW D P DW WKH &RPSDQ\¶V SULQFLSDO H[HFXWLYH RI¿FH ORFDWHG DW :HVWPLQVWHU Street, Providence, Rhode Island, and at any adjournments or postponements thereof. SHAREHOLDERS WHO MAY VOTE All shareholders of record at the close of business on February 26, 2018 will be entitled to vote. As of February 26, 2018, Textron had outstanding 259,333,523 shares of common stock, each of which is entitled to one vote with respect to each matter to be voted upon at the meeting. Proxies are solicited to give all shareholders who are entitled to vote on the matters that come before the meeting the opportunity to do so whether or not they attend the meeting in person. INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS As permitted by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, we are making our proxy materials available to shareholders primarily via the Internet, rather than mailing printed copies of these materials to shareholders. On March 7, 2018, we mailed to many of our shareholders a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) containing instructions on how to access and review our proxy materials, including our Proxy Statement and the Annual Report to Shareholders, and vote online. This process is designed to expedite shareholders’ receipt of proxy materials, lower the cost of the annual meeting, and help conserve natural resources. If you received a Notice by mail, you will not receive a printed copy of the proxy materials unless you request one. If you would prefer to receive printed proxy materials, please follow the instructions included in the Notice. Shareholders who requested paper copies of the proxy materials or previously elected to receive our proxy materials electronically did not receive the Notice and will receive the proxy materials in the format requested. VOTING 6KDUHKROGHUV RI UHFRUG PD\ YRWH YLD WKH ,QWHUQHW RU E\ XVLQJ WKH WROO IUHH WHOHSKRQH QXPEHU OLVWHG RQ WKH SUR[\ FDUG RU 1RWLFH Please follow the instructions for Internet or telephone voting provided on the proxy card or Notice. Alternatively, if you received paper copies of the proxy materials by mail, you can vote by mail by following the instructions on the proxy card. If you vote via the Internet or by telephone, please do not return a signed proxy card. Shareholders who hold their shares through a bank or broker can vote via the Internet or by telephone if these options are offered by the bank or broker. If you received the proxy materials in paper form from your bank or broker, the materials include a voting instruction card so you can instruct the holder of record on how to vote your shares. If voting by mail, please complete, sign, date and return your proxy card enclosed with the proxy statement in the DFFRPSDQ\LQJ SRVWDJH SDLG HQYHORSH <RX FDQ VSHFLI\ KRZ \RX ZDQW \RXU VKDUHV YRWHG RQ HDFK SURSRVDO E\ PDUNLQJ WKH appropriate boxes on the proxy card. If your proxy card is signed and returned without specifying a vote or an abstention on any proposal, it will be voted according to the recommendation of the Board of Directors on that proposal. That recommendation is shown for each proposal on the proxy card. You also may vote in person at the meeting. If your shares are held in the name of your broker or bank and you wish to vote in person at the meeting, you must request your broker or bank to issue you a proxy covering your shares. SAVINGS PLAN PARTICIPANTS If you are a participant in a Textron savings plan with a Textron stock fund as an investment option, the accompanying proxy card shows the number of shares allocated to your account under the plan. When you vote via the Internet or by telephone, or your proxy card is returned properly signed, the plan trustee will vote your proportionate interest in the plan shares in the manner you direct, or if you vote by mail and make no direction, in proportion to directions received from the other plan participants (except for any shares allocated to your Tax Credit Account under the Textron Savings Plan which will be voted only as you direct). All GLUHFWLRQV ZLOO EH KHOG LQ FRQ¿GHQFH